98 
JSTGHT heeof. 
fruit tree—a curious instance, as W. E. Fisher, Esq. hag 
observed in a letter to me, of the odd places in which birds 
will alight on their first arrival. In America, however, but 
the species there, as I have already remarked, may be distinct, 
it would appear from what I have presently to quote from 
Audubon, that they must frequently resort to trees, as it is 
on them that their nests are placed; and, indeed, it seems 
that they go to them regularly at night to roost. Six or 
seven other examples have occurred in the same neighbourhood 
at different times. Eight of these birds were killed on the 
Eiver Erme, Devonshire, in June, 1849, one of them by E. 
A. Julian, Esq., Jun. In Cornwall one, a male, was shot on 
the 28th. of March, 1844, and one near Helston, about the 
end of April, 1850. In Lancashire, one near Blackpool, on 
the 14th. of June, 1853. Specimens have also occurred in 
Buckinghamshire, Sussex, Dorsetshire, Bedfordshire, where one 
was shot near Ampthill, in 1791; Suffolk, and Kent. 
In Wales, in Flintshire and in the Isle of Anglesea. 
In Scotland one, a male, at Hirsel, near Coldstream, in 
Berwickshire, in the spring of the year 1823; and another in 
Dumfriesshire, near Dumfries, on the banks of the Cluden, 
a tributary of the Eiver Kith. 
In Ireland, two have been procured, as recorded by the 
late William Thompson, Esq., of Belfast, namely, one at 
Letterkenny, the other, a young bird, in the county of 
Armagh. 
It is a migratory species, moving southwards during the 
months of September and October, and northwards again in 
April and May. They appear to move, for the most part, 
singly and by night. 
These birds live together in societies. They are active, and 
feed during the night, resorting, in the day-time, to tall trees 
in the neighbourhood of swamps, lakes, and rivers. They 
frequent such situations, returning at night-fall to their 
feeding-grounds. If alarmed during the day-time, they do 
not move off to any great distance, but to the next most 
convenient place of concealment. They may be kept in con¬ 
finement, but mope in a dull and heavy manner while day¬ 
light continues. The young are esteemed as an article of 
food, and are much sought after in consequence. During the 
time that they are engaged with incubation, the old birds 
are said to be very noisy, as well as very watchful. 
When on the wing their flight is soft and noiseless. 
