30, 1 saw a few martins, which probably had nests about the rocks there:[1] and two days since (Sept. 13) I saw a few more (six or eight) on the same coast, about six or seven miles south of St. Abb's, which I ascertained had nests, with young. With these two exceptions, I have hardly seen a martin for four or five weeks. Up to the middle of August I used to see great numbers of them whenever I went out, and especially when walking by the river. It is the same with the sand-martin: they were almost as numerous as the martins: and at one spot on the north bank of the Tweed, about a quarter of a mile below "Norham's castled steep," where a sand-bank above a quarry is perforated by their holes to the number of some hundreds, they really swarmed: but when I was there ten days since, there was not one to be seen, nor had I seen any at my previous visits to the Tweed for three weeks or more before that. What then has become of the great majority of the martins, and (as it seems) of all the sand-martins? Whither have they gone—and for what purpose? The swallows are still remaining, and in undiminished numbers, and seem to find abundance of food. The weather has been splendid, and the season unusually warm of late. In fact every thing would seem to have been adapted to induce them to prolong their stay.—Id.
Note on dates of migration at Kelvedon, Essex. For some years past I have been in the habit of noticing the period of arrival of a few of the commoner migratory birds, and have found the time to vary but very little. The swallow (Hirundo rustica), for instance, has generally appeared here from about the 15th to the 20th of April; and the martin (Hirundo urbica) a few days later. The cuckoo, the wryneck and the nightingale generally within a few days of the same time. Fieldfares were still remaining here this year almost till the end of May.—John Atkinson; Kelvedon.
Note on a singular locality for a Redstart's Nest. In the spring of 1841, I noticed that when I went to a particular part of my garden, a male redstart (Motacilla Phœnicurus) always appeared much distressed, which convinced me that its nest was close at hand, but I could not find it. One day, having occasion for a common flower-pot, not of a very large size, I took one which had been left inverted on a narrow path between two sea-kale beds. On lifting it up, I discovered a nest with five eggs, placed on the ground. I carefully replaced the pot over the nest, inclining it a little towards the south, so that when the sun was shining I could just discern the eggs through the hole at the bottom (now from its inverted position the top) of the pot. On passing it soon after, I found the hen bird was on the nest; and she succeeded in hatching and bringing up her brood; paying no regard to my looking down upon her as I passed by, if I did not stop.—Id.
Note on the Black Redstart. A correspondent (Zool. 101) enquires whether Phœnicura Tithys retains its black garb during the winter, as examples which he met with in Cornwall at that season were without it. Those specimens were, no doubt, in immature plumage. An adult male was shot a few winters ago, near Alverstoke, Hants, and is now in my possession: another was also shot by the Rev. C. A. Bury, last winter, on the 2nd of December, above the cliffs at Bonchurch. Both these specimens have the throat, neck and breast black; but while the throat is very glossy, the feathers on the sides of the neck and breast are slightly interrupted with slate-colour. The specimen obtained at Brighton in the month of March (Zool. 188), is described- ↑ See Mr. Yarrell's account of the martin; but for "Northumberland" after the mention of St. Abb's head, read "Berwickshire."
