Report on First Appearances of Birds, Insects, &c., and the First Flowering of Plants

IN DORSET DURING 1901.

By NELSON M. RICHARDSON, B.A., F.E.S.

THE names of those who have this year sent in returns

(H. J. M.)

(E. S. R.)

(G. H.)

(D. C.)

(S. C.)

(W. H. D.)

are as follows; they are denoted in the Report

by initials :

(J. C. M.-P.)

(N. M. R.)

(E. R. B.)

J. C. Mansel-Pleydell, What

combe, near Blandford.
Nelson M. Richardson, Monte-
video, near Weymouth.

E. R. Bankes, Norden, Corfe
Castle.

H. J. Moule, Dorchester.

E. S. Rodd, Chardstock House, Chard.

G. Hibbs, Bere Regis.

D. Curme, Childe Okeford, near Blandford.

S. Creed, Coombe Farm, Sherborne.

Rev. W. Hughes D'Aeth, Buckhorn Weston
Rectory, Wincanton.

In this section, as indeed in all others in the Club, we have sustained a great and irreparable loss in the death of our late President in May, 1902. His records were always wonderfully full, and, more often than not, earlier than those of any other observer. He loved the animals and plants, and nothing seemed to delight him so much as watching their ways and

habits. I could wish that every observer would look back at the records made by him in past years and endeavour, in this as in many other respects, to tread somewhat in his footsteps.

Some new observers are much wanted, as 9 or 10 are hardly sufficient to represent the county, even though, as at present, they are fairly evenly distributed. Very little scientific knowledge is required, and a great interest is added to country walks. One of the most regular observers for many years, Rev. O. P. Cambridge, has this year sent no return, as having been unable to visit the localities where his observations have usually been taken, he felt rightly that those taken elsewhere would be misleading. I would emphasise the importance of selecting the same small locality year after year for the observation of the same plant, and in the case of shrubs and trees it is even best to keep to the same individual, as even in the same hedge there will be great variations in the date of flowering.

NOTES ON RARE AND OTHER BIRDS IN 1901.

PIED WAGTAIL (Motacilla lugubris).-This is only a partial migrant, some individuals remaining with us through the winter. One was feeding on Jan. 9 and succeeding days on the lawn at Montevideo, Chickerell, with other birds on bread, raisins, and medlars. (N. M. R.)

HOUSE MARTIN (Chelidon urbica).-First seen Ap. 28 at Corfe Castle. (E. R. B.)

HOOPOE (Upupa epops).-Seen at Norden, Corfe Castle, by A. E. and E. R. Bankes on Ap. 25. (E. R. B.)

GRASSHOPPER WARBLER (Locustella navia).-First heard at Corfe Castle on Ap. 27. (E. R. B.)

BITTERN (Botaurus stellaris).—Shot at Merley, near Canford, by E. Christopher, one of the Canford gamekeepers, during the winter of 1900-1 and recorded in the Dorset County Chronicle. (E. R. B.) BROWN OWL (Strix aluco).—One found sitting on her nest in a hollow oak tree at Chardstock on Mar. 9. (E. S. R.)

NIGHTINGALE (Daulias luscinia).-From six nests observed near Bere Regis, spread over a considerable area, 28 young were reared.

A hen was observed sitting on 4 eggs on May 13; the young hatched May 27 and left the nest on June 7. They leave early, and the season, being very dry, was favourable to them. (G. H.) THRUSH (Turdus musicus), &c.-Thrush's nest with 4 eggs at Bere Regis on Mar. 11. (G. H.)

SKYLARKS, BLACKBIRDS, AND THRUSHES sang beautifully through October. (S. C.), SHerborne.

SNIPE (Gallinago cælestis).-Male bird heard on Mar. 10 in his swift descent an early date for this. The peculiar sound is termed in some districts "summer lamb," "moor lamb," or "heather bleat." A nest with 3 eggs on May 3. (G. H.), BERE REGIS. RING OUZEL (Turdus torquatus).-One seen on Feb. 9. (D. C.), CHILDE OKEFORD.

WOOD PIGEON (Columba palumbus).-Heard cooing in Honeycombe Wood, Sherborne, on Jan. 16. (S. C.)

ROBIN (Erithacus rubecula).-About the middle of March one was seen in Coombe Lane, near the second milestone from Sherborne on the Marston Road, which, when flying, looked yellow or dirty white, but, on closer inspection, was found to be yellow with the natural colour showing through the yellow, especially the red about the throat and breast; it has been mistaken for a canary. It was not observed for the 15 days ending Ap. 26, and was probably sitting. On May 9th its nest was found, containing four young ones nearly fledged and all of the natural colour. It was last seen the third week in June mile from Coombe Farm, going S.W., having come from the N.E. (S. C.)

SPARROW (Passer domesticus).-A brownish yellow variety (believed to be this species) amongst a large flock chiefly composed of sparrows and linnets. (S. C.)

STARLING (Sturmus vulgaris).—A nest of young starlings left their nest in the roof of my house two days before Christmas Day, 1901. (W. H. D.), (BUCKHORN WESTON).

Rook (Corvus frugilegus),-During April several rooks constantly frequented my lawn at Norden, near Corfe Castle, the great attraction being obviously the bulbs of the common buttercup (Ranunculus bulbosus) upon which they fed largely. Although they were often closely watched while feeding on the

lawn I never saw them eat anything but buttercup bulbs, which they dug up with great zest and vigour, and the evidences they left behind them told the same tale, for beside each of the numbers of conspicuous holes made by their powerful beaks, was to be found an uprooted buttercup plant, of which the bulb alone was missing. (E. R. B.)

NOTES ON REPTILES.—On April 28th, I captured a fine melanic variety of the Viviparous Lizard (Zootica vivipara) on Knowle Hill near Corfe Castle. (E. R. B.)

July 8th, killed a Common Grass Snake while haymaking on the lawn here. In 29 years, living at Chardstock House, I have only seen three or four snakes and never a viper. There is no spring of water above ground nearer than half a mile straight from Chardstock House, &c., situated on the chalk. (E. S. R.)

NOTE ON INSECT.-A Herald Moth (Gonoptera libatrix) began to hibernate in an outhouse at Montevideo, near Weymouth, in October, 1900, where it remained sitting on the wall until the night of April 2nd, 1901, when it flew away. (N. M. R.)

BOTANICAL NOTES.

WEYMOUTH.--Buttercup in flower March 16th. (N. M. R.) DORCHESTER.-As far as I remember, the leaves never clung so perseveringly to the trees as in the autumn of 1901. A group of 9 or 10 trees, mostly elms, was sketched on November 2nd, with nearly a full show of leaves on almost all of them. (H. J. M.) CHILDE OKEFORD.- Brambles have not lost their leaves or changed colour this year. (D. C.)

SHERBORNE.-Honeysuckle had been in leaf a fortnight on January 1. Scarcely any more growth took place until April 1. (S. C.)

GENERAL NOTES.

Mr. E. S. Rodd, of Chardstock House, Chard, sends the following note on the weather generally :

On the evening of June 25th, a sun column or pillar was observed by me at Chardstock House, between 8 and 9 p.m. This was the first I ever saw, and it was a remarkable and beautiful phenomenon. The day had been very hot and bright. There

was a considerable drought throughout the South of England during April, May, till the middle of June, terminating on the night of 29th-30th, in a tremendous thunderstorm, accompanied with torrents of rain, much needed for everything except the hay. A remarkably changeable November and December for weather. December 12th, very heavy rain fell, the country flooded. Seven inches of rain fell, and was registered at Tatworth Vicarage, 1 mile from Chardstock House.

December was one of the wettest months for the year. Yet, the rainfall is below the average, owing to the general dryness of the seasons the last 2 or 3 years.

December 27th was clear, bright, and a hard frost. December 28th was a most complete and sudden contrast, and it was one of the wettest days I ever remember. I was out hunting all day with the Cattistock Hounds. The country flooded and washed out.

About November 5th (?) a very beautiful meteor was observed at Chardstock and throughout the South of England. (E. S. R.) I insert, with hesitation, on account of the improbability of the correctness of the records, owing to the rarity of the occurrences, the two following notes by Dr. Curme :

1. A nightjar was heard singing on Jan. 1 by Mrs. and the Misses Curme.

I can find no similar record of a nightjar in winter, and cannot help thinking it to be an error.

2. A Mazarine blue butterfly (Lycæna acis) was seen on August 1st by Mrs. Curme and by the late Surgeon-Col. Archer, Dr. Curme's brother-in-law, whom he states to have been "a very good naturalist, a competent observer, and moreover a butterfly collector, and he drew attention to the underwings, and he also remarked that he had not seen one in England for many years."

This, if reliable, would be a most interesting observation, as the butterfly has been considered practically extinct in England for many years, no captures having been recorded. But "blue butterflies" much resemble each other, and unless actually caught, which would surely have been done if practicable in this case by a butterfly collector, such a record is in my opinion much in need of confirmation.