Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 2 (1898).djvu/297

Rh may have extended I cannot say. I have noted the circumstance since to various friends in the neighbourhood, but none of them being "observers" of "natural history" facts, I have been unable to obtain any information as to whence the Thrushes came or whither they went. The normal number of Thrushes in my shrubberies and adjoining fields at the time of this immigration I should compute (from many years' observation of nests, &c.) at about five or six pairs, or may be one or two more. These I had seen constantly through the past winter and early spring. On March 19th, however, the number of birds on the lawn and adjoining field (of four acres) appeared to be unusual. The next day there were more still. On the following day, and up to the 26th, they continued to increase. On the 25th I counted up to fifty hopping about in the part of the field nearest to me, but the whole field was fairly covered with them. Of course it was impossible to count all of them accurately, but I feel quite within bounds when I say there must have been at least two hundred, and on the 26th even more. On the 27th the numbers were much fewer, and by the evening of the 28th the whole of them had disappeared. Since that only the normal few pairs have been seen. I have the following note of a somewhat similar but less numerous immigration on Feb. 3rd, 1892:—"A large number of Thrushes in the front field just before sunset. Probably an immigration. The normal number during all the past winter very small." This immigration was followed by a similar disappearance in the course of a few days. Scarcely a year passes but that we have a sudden appearance, in the month of August, of many Thrushes, which disappear again more or less quickly, often remaining no more than a single day; but, excepting on the two occasions noted, I have not noticed such an immigration in the spring. I believe the August movement of Thrushes has been noted before, but I fancy this spring movement has not been noted, even if observed. During the time the birds were here they were occupied in hopping aimlessly about and feeding. There was no indication of their having paired, though at the same moment there were nests building, and in one case eggs laid, of the same species in the adjoining shrubberies.— (Bloxworth Rectory, Wareham).

Melodious Warblers in South-east Devon.—Wishing to ascertain if the Warblers (Hypolais) which I heard singing in May last year in the wooded undercliff at Ware, about a mile to the west of Lyme Regis, the Devonshire side of the town, had returned this season, I visited the spot on the very same day (May 4th) that T had identified the song last year, but it was cold and cheerless, and not even a Thrush was singing. On the afternoon of the 6th the weather was more favourable, and three of the Warblers were singing within a yard or two of the whitethorn bush from which the