Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 2 (1898).djvu/159

Rh Sept. 24th I saw several on some tall thistles in the water-meads. Mr. S. Davies sends me the following notes from Langston Harbour:—"Sept. 1st, several Turnstones and two Greenshanks seen. 16th, a good many Grey Plovers, Bar-tailed Godwits, and Knots about. Shot five Grey Plovers and two Knots. I saw four Little Stints near the harbour." On the 7th a Wryneck was shot at Basingstoke. Mr. Kelsall reports an Osprey at Barton Cliff, on the coast, on the 10th of this month. Mr. Stares, from Porchester, reports a flock of Pochard in a marsh on the coast on the 20th, and that he flushed a Quail on the 21st, while out Partridge-shooting. He also tells me that Mr. Carders (the Portsmouth taxidermist) received a Black-tailed Godwit from Langston Harbour, and a pair of Ring Ouzels from Portsea Island.

October was another warm month, with preponderating south wind. The beginning of this month was notable for the large flocks of mingled Gulls, Rooks, Peewits, and Starlings, in the ploughed fields on the east side of the Itchen valley. I have watched these flocks a great deal, and it has struck me that the Starlings are not good friends of the other birds, and usually end in being driven away. The similarity of the other three birds' cries when together has also struck me. By the end of the month these flocks were quite broken up. The Gulls (Larus canus) that came inland at the beginning of the month had the brown on the wings reduced to a minimum, but those that arrived at the beginning of November had the brown well developed. This species, though very shy of human beings, follows the plough with the greatest confidence. On the 14th I traced the Itchen north of the town, There were a great many Dabchicks on the river, but I did not see a single Pied or Grey Wagtail, or any Gulls, except a few passing over. I saw six Snipe (Gallinago cœlestis) started from a bed of tall reeds on the river by some dogs, and two parties of Geese (sp.?) flying high along the valley; also more flights of Peewits, going in an extended line. On the 15th I noticed the first influx of Chaffinches (male) into the watermeads. On the 18th I saw the last Swallows at Winchester, and on this date I saw a Sedge Warbler, on the river about seven miles south of Winchester. This is a late date, and Mr. Chalkley says that when fishing on the Itchen during the first week of this month, he saw a great many of these birds about. Mr. Kelsall reports the last Swallow at Milton, near the coast, on the 23rd; and Mr. S. Davies sends me the following notes from Langston Harbour:—"Oct. 2nd, shot two Knots. A flock of twenty Wigeon came in. One Grey Plover and a large bunch of Knots. Oct. 12th, last Swallow seen." Mr. Chalkley received the following interesting birds during the month:—Kite, adult female from Shoeburyness; on the 2nd, a fine female Peregrine from Micheldever; 4th, two Curlews from Longwood, two miles from the town; 13th, a Golden Plover from a flock passing over