Heron. (_Ardea cinerea_, Lath.) _See_ Chapter XXII., pp. 273, 274. I have known a pair lay, in one instance, at Boldrewood, as late as June 23rd. Common Redshank. (_Totanus calidris_, Lin.) This bird is certainly a resident throughout the year. I have repeatedly put it up during the autumn in some of the swamps near Stoney Cross, more especially in the evening, when it will hover round and round, just keeping overhead, not unlike a pewit. Several nests are yearly taken. Last year Mr. Farren found one near Burley, April 4th, with a single egg, and another, May 3rd, containing four, at Bishopsditch. Woodcock. (_Scolopax rusticola_, Lin.) Breeds in great numbers in some seasons. Common Snipe. (_Scolopax gallinago_, Lin.) The greatest numbers occur in December, though many remain to breed not only in the “bottoms” of the Forest, but the meadows of the Avon. Mr. Rake informs me that a Sabine’s snipe (_Scolopax Sabini_, Vigors), which is now generally regarded as only a melanism of this species, was shot at Picket Post, Jan., 1859. Another was shot not far from the borders of the Forest, at Heron Court, 1836. Water Rail. (_Rallus aquaticus_, Lin.) Most common in the winter. Some few, however, breed in the valley of the Osmanby Ford stream, where I have seen a pair or two in the summer time. Coot. (_Fulica atra_, Lin.) A straggler generally every year remains to breed on the Avon. Mute Swan. (_Cygnus olor_, Boie.) Large numbers belonging to Lord Normanton’s swannery may be always seen on the Avon, near Fordingbridge and Ibbesley. Wild Duck. (_Anas boschas_, Lin.) Breeds, like the teal, in most of the bottoms throughout the Forest, as also in the Avon. The fowlers round Exbury say that the wigeon, too, stays to nest; but I do not know of any authenticated case. Mr. Rake has observed the tufted duck as late in the year as May. Teal. (_Anas crecca_, Lin.) Little Grebe. (_Podiceps minor_, Lath.) Known in the Forest as the di-dapper. A few breed in the Boldre Water, and, perhaps, even in the Osmanby Ford stream. Mr. Rake tells me that it breeds plentifully in the Avon, between Fordingbridge and Downton. Guillemot. (_Uria troile_, Lath.) Locally known as the “spratter.” Razorbill. (_Alca torda_, Lin.) Cormorant. (_Carbo cormoranus_, Meyer.) Locally known as the “Isle of Wight parson.” Shag. (_Carbo cristatus_, Tem.) Herring Gull. (_Lotus argentatus_, Brün.) It is to be seen at all seasons with the four birds above mentioned, breeding like them in the Freshwater Cliffs of the Isle of Wight. The shag and the cormorant were the commonest birds along the south-east coast of the Forest in Gilpin’s time (vol. II. pp. 172, 302, third edition), but are now becoming rare; and Mr. More, in his excellent account of the birds of the Isle of Wight, doubts whether more than one or two pairs now annually breed in the Island.