In the _Manchester Guardian_ of December 28, 1881, it is stated that there is a heronry "within about fourteen miles of the Exchange," and that within forty miles of Manchester there are a dozen other stations for this beautiful and celebrated bird. The former is probably that one which it is further stated has existed since 1871 in Tabley Park, though the older stations, Dunham Park, Oulton Park, and the trees near the water at Arley Hall, have long since been deserted.--(_Vide_ also the _Guardian_ of March 18th, 1882.) II. PERIODICAL VISITORS. I. COMING IN SPRING AND SUMMER. THE WHEAT-EAR (_Sylvia Oenanthe_), iii., 142. The earliest of our summer visitants, coming by the end of March, but staying in the fields not longer than two or three weeks, when it moves off to the mountainous districts to breed. Very fond of placing its nest in deserted rabbit-holes, and in cavities in old stone walls. THE GRASSHOPPER WARBLER (_Sylvia locustella_), iii., 143. No one who has heard this bird can ever forget it, the note resembling the voice of the grasshopper, but prolonged into a whirr, like the noise of a spinning-wheel. Towards midnight, when all other birds are still, if approached, it will begin. Found haunting thickets and hedge-bottoms, but rather uncommon, and rarely seen, though often heard, on account of its habit of running among the low brushwood. THE SEDGE WARBLER (_Sylvia salicaria_), iii., 145. Common by the sides of pitsteads. This is the bird so often mistaken in our neighbourhood for the nightingale. No bird takes more care to let us know of its presence; the moment it is disturbed, it begins to sing. THE BLACK-CAP WARBLER (_Sylvia atricapilla_), iii., 150. A most beautiful song-bird, and common in woods. When it arrives, it is fond of mounting high into the trees; the males, like most of the warblers, coming a week or two before the females, and selecting a station, where they sing until their mates arrive. THE GARDEN WARBLER (_Sylvia hortensis_), iii., 152. Unlike the preceding, this bird never gets up high into the trees to sing, nor does it care to warble until the female arrives, when its lovely trill is heard plentifully in the low bushes. It will build in gardens among peas. Common in Hough-end Clough and about Urmston. THE COMMON WHITETHROAT (_Sylvia cinerea_), iii., 153. Common everywhere, and apt to warble when on the wing, springing up out of the hedge, with its jar-jar-jar, jee-jee-jee, and in a minute or two diving down into it again. THE LESS WHITETHROAT (_Sylvia sylvicella_), iii., 154. Rare about Manchester, building in hedges a large and clumsy nest, similar to that of a greenfinch. The song is given only from the very heart of thick-foliaged trees. THE WOOD WARBLER, OR WOOD WREN (_Sylvia sylvicola_), iii., 155.