Page:The Zoologist, 3rd series, vol 1 (1877).djvu/280

254 several occasions, a short time before sunset, I have watched flocks arriving from all directions to this roosting-place, and, when several miles away from it, have seen flocks flying towards it. Many of these flocks unite on arriving, and spend some time in sailing and wheeling about, as if waiting for the arrival of others before alighting in the laurels, which they do quite unexpectedly, for when wheeling about they suddenly sweep down almost perpendicularly into the wood. After this, when they have disappeared from view, the noise they make is so loud that it is heard at a distance of several hundred yards, although there is a fall of water close by. The noise may be described as a harsh, half-hissing and half-whistling sound, and resembles the sound of water rushing through a narrow channel; it is kept up until after it is dark, I suppose until they have done disputing about the places they are to occupy. The number of flocks and the size of many of them make it difficult to conjecture the probable number of birds that came to the place each evening, but I think there must have been at least from 200,000 to 300,000. An uncle of mine, who saw these assemblages oftener than I did, thinks that there were 1,000,000; but the difference in these estimates only tends to show the impracticability of arriving at the true number. I do not know when the Starlings began to frequent this wood, but am told it was in October; they quitted it in the first week of April. Several authors allude to instances of Starlings roosting in immense flocks, as though this practice was an uncommon one; but I have heard of several similar instances, and believe it is the usual habit of Starlings to roost together in great numbers during the winter half of the year. Mr. Gould, writing of the Starling, in his 'Birds of Europe,' says:—"They congregate in large flocks in autumn and winter. On the approach of evening many of these flocks unite, and before going to roost this immense body may be seen traversing, with undulating sweeps and evolutions, the immediate neighbourhood of their resting-place. They prefer for this purpose secluded and warm situations, such as thickly set reedbeds, coppices, or plantations of fir."— (Lucan, Co. Dublin).

—On March 16th a nest of the Crossbill was found by some boys in a fir tree on the outskirts of the town of Bournemouth. It contained four young birds, one of which escaped, one was killed with a stone, and two were brought to the birdstuffer, Mr. Green. Their colour was a dull green with blackish streaks; the mandibles very slightly crossed: the note much the same as that of the old bird. The nest was made of sticks, moss, and wool.— (Woodhill, Oswestry).

[Many instances are on record of the Crossbill nesting in other parts of England, but this is the first occasion, we believe, on which it has been known to rear its young in Hampshire. One reason, doubtless, why the nest is not more frequently found is that the Crossbill breeds so very early