NATURAL HISTORY NOTES 
79 
more than one of the family knew by experience what their sting was like. 
Several years later, between 1S60 and 1870, I was living in the north-west of 
Worcestershire. In one year I heard of three nests within a short distance of St. 
Michael’s College, in which I Was a master. They were frequently found in 
the College. I knocked one down once, and it fell on my pillow. For the last 
twenty-eight years I have lived in Kent, and here have never seen a hornet, or 
heard of a nest. 
One evening last summer I saw a bird hawking and catching cockchafers. 
Personally, I have no doubt the bird was a skylark. I admit that the Field 
suggested that it must have been a starling ; but having lived all my life in the 
country I venture to say that I do know a lark from a starling, whether flying 
or running, and I saw this bird in both positions. On the same grounds I am 
quite confident that it was not a shrike. 
Hawfinches are reported this week (February 13-19) in more than one county. 
I saw one close to my own house. It remains to be seen whether they are 
harbingers of hard weather. 
Otham Parsonage, Maidstone. F. M. Millard. 
Hawfinches. — Two hawfinches are still frequenting this garden, well into 
the month of March. It is not at all the first time that they have been seen 
here ; but, so far as I have observed, it is the second time that they have been 
seen in the garden, day after day, for weeks together. The first year of their 
doing so was, I should think, not less than twenty years ago. Then, as this year, 
they were first seen (I am almost sure) in February. Perhaps some other 
correspondent will give the result of his observations of them. February seems 
a somewhat singular month for their arrival. They hardly seem quite so shy 
as they are sometimes said to be. At any rate, they show a certain dogged 
pertinacity in coming to two holly-trees near our front gate, close to the road, 
and — even more often — to the gravel drive on which several berries have fallen. 
One day, as I came in at this gate, a hawfinch flew just over my head : he passed 
the holly-trees, but lighted on a small walnut-tree (of course bare of leaves at this 
time) close by. A missel-thrush — and they also come to these hollies — would 
hardly have come or stayed so near. When they fly by on a sunny day, they look 
very handsome with the rich brown purple contrasting with the white on the 
wings and tail. On the ground I should think no English bird is less springy or 
sprightly : their short laborious hop seems like what Joe, the fat boy, might 
achieve if he were set to jump in a sack. I should say that they also resemble 
him in the healthy vigour of their appetites. I have not myself seen them in the 
summer; but I think they have been shot in cherry orchards. 
F. M. Millard. 
During the months of December, January, and part of February, I have 
had in my garden a good specimen of the “ Coccothrausfes vulgaris,” or gros- 
beak hawfinch. He consorted with chaffinches and others of the Fringillinte 
common in our garden in winter. I have never seen one of these birds in this 
part of England before. 
Weston Lea , near Bath. Charles Gaine. 
NEWS FROM THE BRANCHES. 
Bath.— On Feb. 28 a lecture was given by Mr. E. A. Martin, F.G.S., 
at the Museum, entitled “A Countryside Ramble.” The lecture was illustrated 
by the lantern under the able manipulation of Mr. E. J. Appleby. 
Brighton. — On February 1, Mr. E. A. Martin, F.G.S., gave a Selbornian 
address to the children of St. Peter’s Schools, on the invitation of the Rev. 
Douglas Secretan. 
Clapton. —At the Social Meeting held at Upland College, Stoke Newington, 
on February 5, Mr. Ferdinand Coles gave a very instructive lecture on “ Mosses,” 
which he illustrated with a large number of most interesting specimens. On 
Saturday, March 5, the Annual General Meeting was held, at which the report 
for the year was presented, showing a balance in hand of £$ 18s. 5d. All the 
officers of the Branch were re-elected. Mr. R. Marshman Wattson, at the 
