Z5 ~?Z bRITmiRDS ! ITH WHICH WAS INCORPORATED IN JANUARY, 1917, “ THE ZOOLOGIST. AN ILLUSTRATED MAGAZINE DEVOTED HIEFLY TO THE BIRDS ON THE BRITISH LIST EDITED BY H. F. WITHERBY m.be. F.Z.S. m.b.o.u. h.f.a.o.u. ASSISTED BY Rev. F. C. R. JOURDAIN M.A. M.B.O.U. H.F.A.O.U. H.M.G.O.S. AND NORMAN F. TICEHURST o.b.e. m.a. f.r.c.s. m b.o.u. Volume XXXII JUNE 1938— MAY 1939 H. F. & G. WITHERBY Ltd. 326 HIGH HOLBORN LONDON LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. PAGE Plate i. Map showing rate of spread of the Swallow over Europe during the spring ( Drawn by H. N. Southern) ... ... ... facing 4 Plate 2. Nuthatch at Nest, showing the large AMOUNT OF PLASTERING COVERED WITH BEAK marks ( Photographed by H. N. Southern) facing 26 Nesting of the Little Ringed Plover in Hertford- shire. View of the breeding ground ( Photo- graphed by O. G. Pike) ... ... 90 Plate 3. Upper — The Nest, July 4th ... ... facing 90 Lower — Two Chicks (1st Day) July 7th, 4.30 p.m. ... ... ... facing 90 Plate 4. Upper — Young, a fortnight old, July 21st facing 92 Lower — Young, three and a half weeks old, July 31st ( Photographed by O. G. Pike) ... ... ... ... facing 92 Fig. 1. The first egg, June 10th, 1938 (. Photographed by R. C. B. Ledlie) ... 94 Fig. 2. Two eggs, June nth, 1938 ( Photo- graphed by H. Rait-Kerr) ... ... 95 Bird-Migration by the Overland Route between Killala Bay and Galway Bay : Sketch Map ... ... ... ... ... 131 Male Nuthatch Singing ( Photographed by C. C. Doncaster and M. H. Dunsheath) ... ... 137 Great Spotted Woodpecker and Pine Cones : — Litter of worked cones lying at the feet of the two main feeding-trees ... ... ... 148 Clefts in one of the trunks ( Photographed by L. S. V. Venables) ... ... ... ... 149 Gannet Colonies of Shetland : — IJlate 5. Panorama of the Hermaness Hill and Muckle Flugga Groups ( Photographed by Malcolm Stewart) ... ... ...facing 162 Vesta Skerry, seen from NW. Hermaness in background ( Photographed by James Fisher) 163 The Neap from Saito ( Photographed by Malcolm Stewart) ... ... ... ... 165 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. PAGE Burra Stack from WNW. ( Photographed by James Fisher) ... ... ... ... ... 166 Sketch Map of Hermaness Gannet Colonies, Unst, Shetland — Based upon the Ordnance Survey Map with the sanction of the Con- troller of H.M. Stationery Office ... ... 167 Upper — -The Muckle Flugga group seen from SW. ( Photographed by James Fisher) ... ... 168 Lower — Neapna Stack ( Photographed by Malcolm Stewart) ... ... ... ... 168 Map showing Rate of Spread of the Willow- War bier ( Phylloscopus t. trochilus ) over Europe during the spring (Drawn by H. N. Southern) ... 205 Lapwing Population on a Surrey Farm : — I. Annual Fluctuations. Chart I. — Graph showing fluctua- tions in numbers in months and years 263 II. Relation to Agriculture— Chart II. — Numbers in a permanent grass field ... ... ... ... 269 Chart III. — Numbers in a field partly ploughed and partly with oats and stubble ( Drawn by M. D. Lister) ... 270 Sandwich Terns Mating during Incubation (Photographed by A. T. Wallis) ... 277, 278 Migration of the Gannet : — Charts showing positions of winter recoveries of first-year birds and older birds (Drawn by A. Landsborough Thomson) ... ... ... 287 Nest of Moustached Warbler built under a heap of mown reedstems, Lake Valencze, Hungary (Photographed by Fr. Haverschmidt) ... ... 306 History of Irish Gannet Colonies : — Charts showing numbers of breeding pairs in a series of years at Little Skellig and Bull Rock (Drawn by James Fisher) ... ... 316 Plate 6. Male Ring-Ouzel carrying small common lizard as food for nestlings (Photographed by G. K. Yeates) facing 370 BIRDS M®USTF«in)'mGOTC DDOTTOHmYTOTHE-BIRDS ^ONTTlL-BRnSnUST^ MONTHIV ls9d.YEARLV20s. ■526HKiHHOLBOf?fEMDOr+ flF&GWlTIIEf\BtLTD — A SELECTED LIST OF BIRD BOOKS — — A HISTORY OF THE BIRDS OF ESSEX William E. Glegg, f.z.s., m.b.o.u. Numerous Photographs and a Map. Demy 8vo. 25/-. A HISTORY OF THE BIRDS OF MIDDLESEX William E. Glegg , f.z.s., m.b.o.u. 6 Plates and Map. Demy 8vo. 18/-. A HISTORY OF THE BIRDS OF NORFOLK B. B. Riviere , f.r.c.s., f.z.s., m.b.o.u. 16 Plates and Map. Demy 8vo. 25/-. THE BIRDS OF THE FALKLAND ISLANDS Arthur F. Cobh. Numerous Photographs. Demy 8vo. 7/6. THE BIRDS OF THE FIRTH OF CLYDE Including Ayrshire, Dumbartonshire, Renfrewshire, Buteshire and South Argyllshire J. M. McWilliam. Plates and Map. Demy 8vo. 12/6. THE BIRDS OF THE ISLAND OF BUTE J. M. McWilliam , b.a. (dublin), f.r.p.s. (Edinburgh) Photographs and a Map. Demy 8vo. 8/6. BIRD-LIFE IN THE ISLE OF MAN Colonel H. W. Madoc , c.b.e., m.v.o. Photographs. Crown 8vo. 6/-. THE BIRDS OF MIDLOTHIAN Fhe late J . Kirke Nash , l.d.s., r.c.s.e. Plates and Map. Demy 8vo. 21/-. THE BIRDS OF SOUTH-EAST DEVON L. R. W. Loyd, f.z.s., m.b.o.u. 6 Plates and Maps. Demy 8vo. 10/6. FROM H. F. & G. WIFHERBT LTD. BRITISH BIRDS With which was Incorporated in January, 1917, " The Zoologist.” 7 JUN EDITED BY H. F. WITHERBY, M.B.E., F.Z.S.,M.B.O.U.,II.F.A.O.U. PURCHA ASSISTED by 1-Rev. F. C. R. Jourdain, m.a., m.b.o.u., ii.f.a.o.u., f.z.s., and Norman F. Ticehurst, o.b.e., m.a., f.r.c.s., m.b.o.u. Contents of Number i, Vol. XXXII., June i, 1938. PAGE Additions and Alterations to the British List. By H. F. Witherby 2 The Spring Migration of the Swallow over Europe. By H. N. Southern ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 4 Some Observations on the Breeding-Habits of Birds. By J. D. Bletchly ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 8 'Notes on the Land-Rail. By R. H. Brown ... ... ... 13 MSTotes : — • House-Sparrows excavating Nest-hole (W. R. Philipson) ... 17 Shore Larks in Norfolk in May (B. T. Brooker) ... ... 17 Irish Dipper in Bute (C. M. N. White and J. M. McWilliam) ... 17 Alpine Swift seen in Co. Dublin (E. L. Arnold) ... ... 18 Incubation-Period of the Peregrine (Seton Gordon) ... ... 18 Spoonbills in Sussex (J. F. Monk, R. K. Cornwallis and Miss J. M. Swan) 18 Eider Ducks in Sussex (Philip Rickman) ... ... ... 18 Red-necked Grebe in Sussex in Spring (B. T. Brooker) ... 19 'Short Notes : — Rose-coloured Starling in Yorkshire. Blue-headed Wagtail in Hertfordshire. Black Redstart in Middlesex. Ospreys in Hertfordshire and Wales. Pink-footed Geese in Co. Down. Common Scoter in Oxfordshire. Spoonbill in Co. London- derry. Increase of Black-necked Grebes Breeding in Fifeshire. Early Migration of Golden Plover. Iceland Gull in Dorset ... ... ... ... ... ... 19 Reviews : — Results of marking Ducks in Russia: (1) The Mallard, (2) The Pintail ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 20 Transactions of the Norfolk and Norwich Naturalists’ Society for the Year 1937. Vol. XIV., Pt. Ill ... ... ... 22 Report on Somerset Birds, 1937 ... ... ... ... ... 22 Letters : — Territorial Dispute between two Goldcrests (J. D. Wood) ... 22 Habits of Robins (D. Lack) ... ... ... ... ... 23 A ADDITIONS AND ALTERATIONS TO THE BRITISH LIST. BY H. F. WITHERBY. The following changes appearing in Volume I. of the Handbook of British Birds have not previously been notified in these pages and as the reasons are fully explained in the Handbook it is not necessary to repeat them here. Changes of Name and Status. Corvus for the Jackdaws instead of Colcens. Emberiza calandra for the Corn-Bunting instead of Emberiza calandra calandra. Anthus cervinus for the Red-throated Pipit instead of Anthns rufogularis. jEgithalos candatus rosaceus for the British Long-tailed Tit instead of Hi. c. roseus. Additions. Hebridean Rock-Pipit — Anthus spinoletta meinertzhageni. Besides the above, various other changes have been considered by the B.O.U. List Committee and the following have been accepted. To be Added to the List. The Western Little Bustard — Otis tetrax tetrax L. vide antea, Vol. XXXI., p. 334. The Northern Razorbill — A lea tor da tor da L. vide antea, Vol. XXXI., p. 90. Alterations. The British Green Woodpecker — Picus viridis pluvius Hart. Picus viridis pluvius Hartert, Brit. B., V. 125 (1911 — Ninfield, Sussex). instead of Picus viridis virescens as Continental ornithologists have decided that German birds cannot be distinguished from Swedish, but British birds are certainly smaller than Swedish. As the B.O.U. List Committee has now accepted the date of Pallas’s Zoographia Rosso-Asiatica as 1811 (for reasons, see Ibis, 1938, pp. 137-140 and Handbook of British Birds, Vol. I., p. 199) the following changes must be made : — /ol. xxxii.] ADDITIONS AND ALTERATIONS. 3 The Flamingo — Phcenicopterus ruber roseus Pallas. Phcenicoperus roseus Pallas, Zoog. Rosso-Asiat., u, p. 207 (1811 — S. Russia, Kirghiz Steppes), nstead of Phcenicopterus ruber antiquorum Temminck. The Whiskered Tern — Chlidonias hybrida hybrida (Pallas). Sterna hybrida Pallas, Zoog. Rosso-Asiat., 11, p. 338 (1811 — S. Russia), asteacl of Chlidonias leucopareius leucopareius (Temm.). (4) THE SPRING MIGRATION OF THE SWALLOW OVER EUROPE. BY H. N. SOUTHERN. (Plate i.) The accompanying map, showing the isochronal lines for the northward movement of the Swallow (. Hirundo r. nistica ) over Europe in spring, is the first of a small series of species studies, which it is proposed to make on roughly the same lines. The present text is not intended to be more than a rather super- ficial introduction to the subject, and it is hoped, when similar short notes have been published with maps for the other species, to collect the whole material and make a more extended study, showing the peculiar characteristics of the various migrations, and the way in which they are related on broad lines to climatic factors. It is also hoped that it will be possible to review critically the large body of facts and theory that has already been published upon the subject. It is useless to attempt anything of the sort yet. An initial caveat must be entered concerning the kind of information that may be expected from such a study. As Landsborough Thomson has pointed out [i] there are two ways in which migration may be related to climate and weather. In the first place there is the immediate relation between particular weather conditions and a single migration movement, such as has been worked out, to quote a single instance, by Schenk [2] for the Woodcock ( Scolopax r. rusticola). Secondly, there is the wider relation between average arrival dates and the average movement of the spring isotherms northwards through Europe, and the present study is of this kind. There are two things to be said about this method. First, that it is concerned with a concept that is largely teleological since it seems impossible to relate causally the progression of the isotherms and the isochronal lines except with reference to particular factors occurring in a single year. For the moment it will suffice to grant this with the reservation that what is being investigated is some more fundamental correlation, which may take the form of a law. Secondly, it may be said that since both the isotherms and isochronal lines do move northwards over Europe every spring, the map does no more than demonstrate an obvious fact, a coincidence rather than a correlation. This may again be subjected to the qualification mentioned above, but the British Birds, Vol. XXXII., PI. i. Map showing rate of spread of the Swallow ( Hirundo r. rustica) over Europe during the spring. The continuous black lines, dated at the right-hand ends, are isochronal lines, showing the stage achieved every fortnight. The dotted lines, dated at the left-hand ends, show the movement of the 48'F. isotherm for comparison. Each square represents a place for which an average arrival date was worked out from local data. 7 ol. xxxii ] MIGRATION OF THE SWALLOW. 5 mmediate point is that the maps for each species will illustrate he particular kind of correlation that is their characteristic, n this way the hereditary make-up of each is being investi- . ?ated and the results may make an interesting comment upon nter-specific differences. Characteristics of the Swallow Migration. The map was compiled from published information and rom personal records, which have been very kindly supplied )y many people in many countries. It is impossible in the present space to make acknowledgement of the innumerable - ources, but it is hoped to do so later when the whole material ; s gathered together. Each square on the map represents a locality for which lefinite information has been obtained. The averages* have in learly every case been worked out from a ten-year period, hough a number have been accepted ranging down to five 'ears, and some of the dates in Russia, where information vas not easy to obtain, have had to be based on even less. The isochronal lines have been continued across areas of ;ea, though naturally they have no meaning in such situations. This has been done for the sake of clarity. The average progression of the 48 °F. isotherm as published n Bartholomew's Atlas [3] is shown by the dotted lines to llustrate the degree of correspondence with the isochronal ines. In general the migration of the Swallow over Europe lasts rom February 13th (Gibraltar) to June 2nd (Varanger), a oeriod of 109 days in which to cover something over 2,500 niles. There is apparently considerable lag at the beginning, ■ince the south of France and the south coast of Europe generally is not reached until March 15th, so that in effect he 2,000 miles over the main part of Europe is covered in 79 days, making an average rate of spread of about 25 miles Der day. This may be regarded as a fairly leisurely speed, vhen compared with the migrations of some American birds see below). Furthermore, this advance is maintained at a fairly constant evel, since the isochronal lines follow each other at regular listances. There is a slight spurt up the western coast of France, Paris being reached at the same time as Switzerland md the top of the Adriatic. This tendency is also continued *Arrival date is taken to mean the day upon which the first big nflux of the species takes place. In this way misleading averages from sporadic exceptionally early birds have been avoided. 6 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XXXII. along the coast to Schleswig-Holstein, since the April 15th line drops away southwards in Central Europe and South Russia. In Norway there is a tendency for a spread to occur up the coast in advance of the inland areas shown by the lines for May 15th and June 1st and the same may be said about the coast of Finland. Such irregularities are no doubt correlated with the higher ground in Norway, and with the warmer climate on the west coast of Europe. The isothermal lines show similar variations. The high ground of Switzerland and Central Europe shows the same anomaly, though these have been omitted from the present map for the sake of clarity. In general it may be seen that to start with, the migrants tend to lag behind the isothermal line of March 15th, but by April 1st they have caught up and show a remarkable coincidence. This continues roughly until May 1st except for a rather quicker spread of the migrants over Central Europe. Beyond this date the isothermal lines are left considerably behind and at Varanger the migrants arrive a whole month or more ahead of the 48°F. isotherm. This is a very rough and provisional summary of the main points, emerging from the map, which may need modification and extension upon a more critical examination in relation to other maps. Finally a word may be said about the work that has been done in America upon this subject. Cooke [4] in his summary of the vast amount of data accumulated by him, points out that the spring migrations vary a great deal with the species. In the cases of the American Robin ( Turdus m. migratorius ) and of the Canada Goose ( Branta canadensis) , the movements follow very closely the progress of the 35°F. isotherm. In the case of the Robin this is even paralleled in the quicker progress of birds along either coast and in the acceleration of speed with which they reach the high northern breeding grounds. Even in face of this remarkable correlation it is a little rash to speak of the isotherm as the “ governing factor ”. It can only be so in an indirect way, which it is difficult to elucidate. Only in the case of the Ruby-throated Hummingbird (. Archilochus colubris) can the governing factor be identified with probability, for this bird, being largely a nectar eater, follows the isotherm northwards, which brings the opening of the flowers upon which it feeds. In other migrations analyzed by Cooke, such as that of the Blackpoll Warbler ( Dendroica striata ) there is a tendency, which is similar to that of the European Swallow, to lag vol. xxxii] MIGRATION OF THE SWALLOW. 7 behind the spring to begin with, and then to outstrip it when the northward rush begins in earnest. The rates of spread, however, are greatly in advance of that of the Swallow ; the species mentioned advances over the first part of its journey from Mexico to Minnesota at 30-35 miles a day, but when completing the last part of the migration up the Mackenzie valley to Alaska, increases its speeds to 200 miles a day. The even progress of the European Swallow in comparison may undoubtedly be related to the more even speed of the isotherms in Europe. In conclusion, the provisional nature of this work should again be stressed. The author will be glad to hear of points that occur to readers, which will be fully considered, while the rest of the work is being prepared. References : — [1] A. Landsborough Thomson (1926). Problems of Bird Migration, London. [2] J. Schenk (1930). Die Prognose des Friihjahrzuges der Wald- schnepfe in Ungarn, Proceedings of the 7th International Ornithological Congress, Amsterdam. [3] Bartholomew’s Physical Atlas (1899). Vol. 3. London. [4] W. W. Cooke (1915). Bird Migration, U.S. Dep. of Agriculture, Bulletin No. 185. (8) SOME OBSERVATIONS ON THE BREEDING- HABITS OF BIRDS. BY J. D. BLETCHLY. The following data regarding some of our commoner birds were obtained in mid-Gloucestershire during the years 1930-33. The district consisted of fields divided by hedges and stone walls, and was mainly a grazing one, but there was some arable land and included in it were ponds, streams, lanes, also a few houses, barns and haystacks, a large garden and the edges of some others. There were also two woodland areas, one mainly beech with undergrowth and bordered by hedge and wall, and the other where sycamore, hawthorn, beech, etc., all struggled in the process of ecological succession. The elevation was from about 250 to 600 feet. During each nesting-season this same area of some two square miles was frequently searched and the nests found were, in most cases, visited daily at the periods of commencement of incubation, hatching and fledging. In these four years a total of 1,364 nests was discovered, and with a very few exceptions, all were confined within this one area. Some of the information was collected by my brother, G. H. Bletchly, and Mr. B. W. Tucker and Mr. H. N. Southern have given helpful advice on the arrangement of the data. Unfortunately the eggs were in no cases marked so that it is not exactly known how far the order of hatching corresponds with the order of laying, nor the place of infertile eggs in the order of laying. The method of determining the start of incubation was to ascertain (a) if the bird was sitting and/or (b) the temperature of the eggs by contact with a sensitive part of the skin. The former alone is not sufficient criterion. The length of true incubation is taken as the ensuing period till the first bird hatched, and the fledging period from then to the time when the first bird flew. This method of reckoning entails a small degree of error, since, without marking eggs and young, it is not known whether the first egg to hatch might, if laid after the start of incubation, not have had a shorter incubation period than the others. The same applies to fledging since it is not known whether the first young bird hatched flew before the others. Actually the error involved is probably almost negligible but would tend to reduce the true periods somewhat. In the cases where incubation started on the full clutch this source of inaccuracy does not crop up, but a distinction has not been made in the respective columns. vol. xxxii] BREEDING-HABITS OF BIRDS. 9 Table i. — Incubation Periods. The figures in brackets represent the number of nests on which each observation is based. On which egg True Length of Species. incubation incubation hatching began. period. period. Greenfinch ... C/5 3rd egg (1) 14 or 15 days (1) 1 day (1) Chloris ch. chloris. C/7 3rd or 4th egg (1) Goldfinch ... C/6 6th egg (1) — — Carduelis c. britannica. Chaffinch ... C/3 3rd egg (2) Max. 13 or 14 Fringilla c. 2nd or 3rd (1) days 1 day (1) gengleri C/4 3rd egg (1) Min. 13 days Bullfinch 3rd or 4th (1) C/5 4th egg (2) Av. 13.3 days (2) C/6 5th egg (1) Max. 12 or 13 days Pyvrhula p. nesa. 5th or 6th (1) Min. 11 or 12 davs Av. 12 days (2) Yellow Bunting C/3 3rd egg (3) Max. 12 or 13 days Emberiza c. ist or 2nd (1) Min. 10 days 1 day (3) citrinella. C/4 3rd egg (1) 4th egg (5) Av. 1 1.3 days (2) Goldcrest ... C/9 xst egg (1) 23 days (1) 7 days (1) Regulus r. anglorum Long-tailed Tit See below. 17 days (1) JEgithalos c. rosaceus. Red-backed Shrike C/5 5th egg (1) 13 days (1) — Lanius collurio. Common Whitethroat C/5 4th egg (1) Max. 13 or 14 days Sylvia c. communis. 5th egg (1) Min. 11 or 12 days Av. 12.7 days (3) Lesser Whitethroat C/6 5th egg (1) 11 days (1) 1 day (1) Sylvia c. curruca. Willow-Warbler ... C/5 4th or 12, 13 or 14 Phylloscopus t. 5th egg (1) days (1) trochilus. Song-Thrush C/4 3rd egg (2) Max. 12 days 1 day (6) T urdus e. 2nd or 3rd (1) Min. 11 or 12 2 days (2) ericetorum. 4th (10) days C/5 3rd egg (1) 5th (1) Av. 13.3 days (8) Blackbird ... C/3 3rd egg (6) Max. 14 days 1 day (i5) T urdus m. merula. ist egg (1) Min. 11 days 2 days (8) C/4 2nd egg (1) Av. 12.7 days 3 days (3) 3rd egg (5) 4th egg (5) (17) C/5 2nd egg (1) 5th egg (1) Robin C/4 4th egg (1) Max. 15 days 1 day (1) Erithacus r. C/5 4th egg (2) Min. 13 days 2 days (2) melophilus. 5 th egg (1) Av. 14 days (3) C/6 6th egg (1) 10 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XXXII. Species. Hedge-Sparrow Prunella m. occidentalis. Wren Troglodytes t. troglodytes. On which egg incubation began. True incubation period. Length of hatching period. C/3 3rd egg (3) Max 13 days 1 day (5) C/4 3rd egg (1) Min. 11 days 2 days (2) 4th egg (3) Av. 1 1. 9 days (9) C/5 5th egg (1) C/5 Prob. 5th egg 16 days (1) 1 day (1) (1) C/6 6th egg (1) C/7 7th egg (2) Table 2. — Fledging-periods and Mortality. The figures in brackets represent the number of broods observed in each case. Av. No. of Av. No. of Percen- eggs hatched young Fledging- Species. tage of in all fledged period fertile eggs. nests occupied. from all nests in days, occupied. Greenfinch — (5) 1-6 (5) Max. 14 Min. 13 (2) Chaffinch 100% (4) 1.3 (20) 0.7 (22) 13 (1) Bullfinch... — 2-5 (4) 2-5 (4) 15 or 16 (2) Yellow Bunting... 94.6% (n) 11 (54) 0-5 (5i) Max. 11 or Min. 9 12 (2) Goldcrest 67% (0 6 (x) 4 (1) 23 (1) Long-tailed Tit ... Common 18 (1) Whitethroat 100% (5) 4.2 (6) 2-9 (7) 14 or 15 (1) Lesser Whitethroat — i-7 (3) i-7 (3) — Willow-Warbler. . . — i-5 (2) 1 (3) 14 or 15 (1) Song-Thrush 95-9% (12) 0.9 (70) 0.8 (70) Max. 14 or Min. 12 Av. 13.4 15 (7) Blackbird 98.5% (50) o-9(33o) 0.7(303) Max. 14 Min. 9 Av. 12.5 (24) Robin 97-i% (7) 3-i7(i7) 1.6 (18) Max. 16 Min. 14 Av. 15 (3) Hedge-Sparrow ... 83% (12) i-3 (63) 0.8 (65) Max. 13 Min. 10 or Av. 1 1. 9 I I (8) W ren i-3 (9) 1-2 (13) Max. 17 Min. 15 or : Av. 16.5 [6 (3) Moorhen ... — 1.6 (9) 1.6 (9) — Gallinula c. chloropus. The term “ fertile ” has usually been applied to those eggs which hatch, and “ infertile ” to those which do not hatch. Many of the latter, however, contain partially formed young vol. xxxil] BREEDING-HABITS OF BIRDS. 11 and are probably allowed to become too cold. Such eggs are clearly fertile, and so, under the heading “ fertile ” in Table 2 are included only those nests where the facts of each egg are known. With reference to the Chaffinch, in one instance incubation started on the 2nd egg, but the size of the clutch was not ascertained. The Goldcrest probably started incubating from the first egg as night covering seemed customary. A comparison between the order of laying and hatching is of interest, and the following figures show the days on which eggs were laid and young hatched : — Laying period : i, o, i, i, i, o, o, o, i, i, i, o, o, o, i, i. Hatching period : 2, i, i, o, o, o, o, o, i, i. Finally, it is surprising to find that all four surviving young flew together. The greatest care was taken in examining the nest and I do not think the irregularity in laying and hatching could have been due to disturbance, but the case would appear to have been abnormal. In the case of the Long-tailed Tit’s nest, building was still in progress on May ioth ; on the 12th there were 5 eggs which from then onwards never seemed really cold. It is assumed that the first eggs were laid on the nth and since the tem- perature inside a Long-tailed Tit’s nest is generally rather high, incubation may be taken as starting with the commencement of laying. The total clutch probably exceeded 8. One Hedge-Sparrow with a clutch of 3 began to incubate on the second egg, but this was a very exceptional nest with irregular laying and not on successive days. A Wren laid an egg in a nest on July 17th and was con- stantly flushed from the nest till the 28th, although the egg had gone on the 22nd. Either it was too late in the season for the bird to lay more, or it did so and the nest was robbed. The figures given for the average number of Wrens which hatched and flew are unreliable as they are taken from nests producing fewer young than the average, and they would have been higher had it been possible to include several more nests which produced more offspring than these. With reference to those Blackbirds’ nests where hatching was spread over 3 days, in one instance incubation started on two eggs, in another on the full clutch, in the third the point at which it started is unknown. A few other notes may be added on some nests not included in the tables. Little Owl ( Athene n. vidalii) : one, in which 5 eggs were laid 12 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XXXII. and incubation commenced on the fifth egg. While laying was in progress the Little Owl’s eggs were mud-bespattered, indicating that the bird probably visited the nest a fair amount, although it was not put up from it but flushed from the neighbouring trees once or twice. Incubation began either one or two days after the full clutch was laid. Cuckoo ( Cuculus c. canorus) : 5 nests were found, each with a Cuckoo’s egg. Of these 4 were Hedge-Sparrows and 1 a Robin, and further there was a Hedge-Sparrow’s nest which contained a young Cuckoo when found. Apart from the last case where more than one Cuckoo’s egg may have been laid, none of the hosts’ nests contained more than 1 egg of the “ guest ”. In 5 of these nests 80 per cent, of the Cuckoos hatched and 20 per cent. flew. It appeared that the great mortality of young was due to their vociferous demand for food, thus advertizing their presence. The observations on the lengths of incubation and fledging time of the following species : Bullfinch, Yellow Bunting, Long-tailed Tit, Goldcrest, Red-backed Shrike, differ con- siderably from those in the Practical Handbook. In obtaining records it would appear that in some cases it has been assumed by the recorders that incubation began on the first egg. In the present investigations it was found that this, so far from being normal, was highly exceptional. Mr. Jourdain, in his article in British Birds (Vol. XXIV., p. 139) was desirous of obtaining information (a) on this matter, ( b ) whether or not all the young hatched on the same day, and if not at what intervals. It might be objected that those instances where hatching was spread over 2 days were due to the fact that the nests were visited too early in the day and if they had been visited later in the first day all the young would have been found to be hatched. However, those cases where hatching was spread over 3 days show clearly that there are instances where the young do not all hatch together. (13) NOTES ON THE LAND -RAIL. BY R. H. BROWN. In Cumberland the Land- Rail (Crex crex) nests commonly in the clover-hay and meadow-hay fields ; sometimes in young plantations where the trees have not yet smothered the grass, and occasionally in the waste land of small bushes and rough grass about country railway stations, also on one occasion a nest was found in a grass orchard and distant only six yards from a cottage. The birds arrive from the last week of April onwards and immediately frequent the hayfields where the grass is at that period quite short ; the cocks at once begin craking during the day whilst as the days lengthen and become warmer they crake throughout the night. In 1935 craking was not heard until mid-May, whilst in 1936 the birds were scarce as breeders but in 1937 the number of breeding pairs was as usual. I believe that it is only the cock that crakes, and that his craking is a signal to any hens in the vicinity that there is a cock willing to mate. Once he has obtained a mate, his craking still continues, but not quite as much as formerly, especially during the day, until the hen begins to sit when he ceases. All cocks are not fortunate enough to obtain hens early in the season ; some have to crake day and night for several weeks before attracting their hens, whilst a few unfortunates crake throughout the summer and apparently never obtain mates although in possession of suitable breeding grounds. In this neighbourhood the majority of nests are found in clover-hay fields, a few feet from an “ open furrow ” which is the slight hollow that runs the length of the field and is formed during ploughing. Unless the birds select a nest-site near one end of this “ open furrow ” the nest is not situated near a hedge ; a nest has not been found closer than twenty-five yards to a hedge, and many have been situated in the centre of an eight-acre or ten-acre field. If the ground is soft and moist a fairly deep hollow is made and lined profusely with fine grasses on which the eggs repose, the tops of the eggs usually level with the surface of the ground. During the hot dry summers of 1931 and 1934 the ground was so baked with the heat of the sun that the birds were unable to hollow nest-sites, and the eggs were laid on a covering of fine grasses placed on the surface of the ground. When the birds have nested in a young plantation or about a country railway station the nest has been hollowed-out in a small tuft of 14 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XXXII. rough grass. I have never seen the birds hollowing out their nest-sites and do not know whether it is the work of one or both sexes. More than forty nests with eggs have been seen, and the usual clutch has been six to nine eggs, occasionally ten ; one clutch each of eleven, twelve and fourteen eggs has been found. The earliest date for a clutch, found in a two-year-old larch plantation, is May nth, 1928, the nine eggs hatching on May 30th. Otherwise in most years the hens do not begin sitting before the third or fourth week of May, the young hatching out from mid-June onwards. In 1935 when the birds were late in arriving the first brood of young was not seen until the first week of July. Incubation seems to be mainly the work of the hens, and when disturbed off eggs in a hayfield they usually run away ; flight is only used as a last resource. Whilst no doubt the birds make their nests close to an “ open furrow ” because it serves as a useful landmark to help them locate their nests, it also forms a convenient escape for a hen disturbed from her eggs, as owing to the shallowness of the soil the hay never grows so rank and dense there as over the rest of the field, therefore a disturbed hen can run more quickly through this rather scanty herbage. Unless a hayfield is very banky, necessitating the use of the scythe for mowing, all haylields are nowadays mown by mowing-machines. In this neighbourhood hay-making is not general before the third or fourth week of June, whilst in cold or backward seasons it may be July before it begins. Thus many pairs of Land- Rails have hatched out their downy black nestlings (“ black chickens ” of country people) before the mowing-machines enter the hayfields. This, however, is no gain to them unless the hen has the instinct to lead them out of the hayfield into a neighbouring pasture. A few have this instinct and as soon as their nestlings hatch lead them, by calling, a short high-pitched creaking note, into the surrounding hedge or nearby pasture field and thus save their chicks from the knives of the mowing-machines. The majority, unfortunately, stay with their chicks in the hayfields when mowing begins ; and although the field, owing to its acreage or the inclemency of the weather, may take several days to cut, thus affording the hen each night an opportunity to lead her chicks to safety, she stays with them in the hay until the last swathe is mown when she and her chicks run to safety in the nearest hedge. Fortunate, indeed, is the hen who can get all her chicks off scot-free from the hayfield whilst mowing is in progress. vol. xxxii ] NOTES ON THE LAND -RAIL. 15 Usually two or three out of every brood are cut by the machine-knife. Occasionally the hen is caught too and loses a leg or part of a wing, whilst if the brood is very young every chick may be lost. This happened to a brood of ten downy chicks in a clover-hay field in July, 1935. The mowing-machine is more destructive to the young than to eggs. I have several records of a field being mown without eggs being damaged. If a nest-hollow has been made, the can lie safely in it without the knife bar of the machine catching them. It is only when the eggs lie on the surface of the ground, in dry weather, that the knife-bar destroys them. In July, 1937, a nest of seven eggs was mown over without being destroyed ; the hen continued incubation whilst the hay was turned and cocked and led. Finally, when the seven chicks hatched, she kept them in the nest for two days, feeding them on flies and other winged insects that she caught around the nest. At the end of the two days she led her chicks into a neighbouring field. When the hen was approached she ran away from her chicks for a few feet, then turned and faced the intruder, usually making a clicking noise with her mandibles, and at times a high-pitched creaking note. I have assumed it is the hen who looks after the young. In almost every instance where young were seen only one idult was present. In July, 1928, two nests, one with seven eggs, the other with four, were found about sixty yards apart in a ten-acre lay field. In July, 1937, another two nests with seven and ; une eggs were found in an eight-acre hayfield about one mndred and twenty yards apart. Only rarely is an infertile egg found in a nest. Yet although • lx to nine chicks will commonly hatch out, the mortality ate is high. After the hay is cut in a field and the Land-Rails have lost heir shelter they seem to skulk mainly about the hedges and ledge-bottoms though occasionally when a field is in cock, m odd young one may be disturbed from a hay-cock where t had evidently been sheltering. The young birds get all heir body-plumage before their flight feathers begin to sprout Jet no Land-Rail will seek escape by flight if it can escape >y running. Thus, one May day I was walking along a country ane when an adult Land-Rail suddenly appeared out of the ough grass bordering the lane and ran swiftly along the lane ri front of me for about fifty yards then disappeared again hrough a low hawthorn-hedge that bordered one side of the 16 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XXXII. lane. When I reached the place where it had disappeared, I looked through the hedge and was surprised to find it struggling to force a way through a fine-meshed wire-netting that was placed on the far side of the hedge. I caught and ringed it, then tossed it up into the air, when it flew away with legs hanging-down. If this bird, like any other species of wild bird, had flown away when first disturbed I should never have caught it but being a Land-Rail it preferred to try and escape by running rather than by flight. If only Land-Rails would take to nesting amongst the “ seeds corn ” they and their broods would be safe from any machines until mid-August at the earliest, and certainly from the end of May onwards would find as good nesting-cover and insect food as ever they find in the clover-hay fields. HOUSE-SPARROWS EXCAVATING NEST-HOLE. As I have not been able to find any record of the House- Sparrow ( Passey d. domesticus ) excavating a nesting hole in rotten wood, such an occurrence seems to be worth recording. Both the cock and the hen excavated, both birds sometimes being in the confined space together. They dropped the echips as they worked, coming to the entrance when the hole had advanced, or sometimes they flew to a nearby branch to drop them. The hole, which was in an oak at Ruislip, Middlesex, was at about thirty feet from the ground, just below :the broken off end of a branch, which was about three inches in diameter. The branch was completely dead and inclined at forty-five degrees. Excavation was first noticed on April 6th. Later both birds carried nest material and are now feeding young (May 12th). W. R. Philipson. SITORE-LARKS IN NORFOLK IN MAY. As there are only two May records of the Shore-Lark ( Eremo - t>hila a. flava) in the Handbook, it may be of interest to record four birds of this species seen by me on May 9th, 1938, on iGcolt Head, Norfolk. B. T. Brooker. IRISH DIPPER IN BUTE. We have now been able to examine a Dipper obtained on the Ettrick Burn, Bute, in March, 1938. Comparison with the series of Cinclus c. hibernicus in the British Museum including i;he examples from Arran shows that it is clearly referable to (the Irish form. This record furnishes a link between the known occurrences 1 Df this race on Arran and the recent announcement by P. A. Clancy of its existence in Renfrewshire and Ayrshire. With ■ regard to the latter further more explicit details of exact distribution would be of great value since it is in general not possible to map any very clear distribution of Hebridean races ■ on the west mainland, but in the case of the Dipper it would : .eem more practicable on account of its partiality for chosen stretches of water. Though we doubt the theory of direct climatic control (humidity) of these races, in such an instance a much more sharply defined comparison of climatic condition would then be possible than is the case with other ; races. 18 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XXXII. In addition it would make possible a second line of investiga- tion by indicating whether the boundaries between drainage areas in any way determine the distributions of C. c. hibernicus and C. c. gularis. C. M. N. White, J. M. McWilliam. ALPINE SWIFT SEEN IN CO. DUBLIN. On April 3rd, 1938, at Killiney, near Dublin, I saw a Swift flying above the cliff road, which, though there were no comparable birds flying near it, appeared larger than a common Swift as on first sight I thought it was a Hawk. The bird then circled above me several times and through binoculars I could see that the underparts looked as though suffused with white, although I was not able to observe the exact extent of the white. The rest of the plumage was dark brown, the bird had a well-marked forked tail, and I have no doubt it was an Alpine Swift (Apus melba). After flying round for a short time, it passed out of sight over a hill. E. L. Arnold. INCUBATION-PERIOD OF THE PEREGRINE. On Lambay a Peregrine ( Falco p. peregrinus ) laid her first egg on April 12th, 1938. On April 15th there were four eggs in the eyrie. On May 18th there were two young Peregrines and one egg in the eyrie. The young were newly hatched. On May 1 6th there was no sign of chipping on the eggs. Provided the falcon began to brood when the third egg was laid, the period of incubation was five weeks- — not four as stated in the Practical Handbook. Seton Gordon. SPOONBILLS IN SUSSEX. On May 19th, 1938, we saw two Spoonbills ( Platalea l. leuco- rodia) on the Midrips in the Sussex half of the Dungeness- Romney Marsh area. One bird had a noticeable crest and a dark bill, whereas the other had no crest and the whole of the lower half of the bill coloured an orange brown. J. F. Monk. R. K. Cornwallis. Miss J. M. Swan. [The younger bird was seen again, about a mile eastward of the Midrips, on the 21st.— N.F.T.] EIDER DUCKS IN SUSSEX. On April 5th, 1938, Mr. George Lodge and I watched two female Eiders ( Soniateria mollissima) in the sea near Birling Gap. There was a third bird which appeared to be an adult male. Philip Rickman. NOTES. 19 VOL. XXXII.] RED-NECKED GREBE IN SUSSEX IN SPRING. On April igth, 1938, I found a dead Red-necked Grebe (. Podiceps g. griseigena ) on the edge of the water at the Wicks, Dungeness, a few yards within the Sussex boundary. The bird was in full breeding plumage and had a thick coating of oil on the breast and belly. It could not have been dead more than a few days, as Mr. F. W. Blake informs me that on April 10th he watched a bird of this species at the same spot. This was undoubtedly the same bird, as Mr. Blake caught it and noticed the breeding plumage and oiled underparts. When released it walked into the water and commenced swimming, but it was evidently then in a sickly condition owing to the oil. B. T. Brooker. Rose-coloured Starling in Yorkshire. — A Rose-coloured Starling (. Pastor roseus) was seen near Sandburn on September 20th, 1937 (Nat., 1938, p. 81). Blue-headed Wagtail in Hertfordshire. — Mr. G. R. McCulloch informs us that he had good views of a Blue- headed Wagtail ( Motacilla f. flava) which was evidently an adult male from his description, on April 30th, 1938, near Rickmansworth. Black Redstart in Middlesex. — Mr. R. W. Pethen writes that he and Mr. E. Mann had a male Black Redstart (Phcenicurus 0. gibraltariensis) under observation for twenty minutes at Edmonton Sewage Farm on May 8th, 1938. Ospreys in Hertfordshire and Wales. — The Rev. C. E. Martin writes that on May 6th, 1938, he and Mr. Roger Harkness watched an Osprey ( Pandion h. halicetus ) at Wilstone Reservoir, Tring. When first seen it was sitting on a post and being mobbed by a pair of Carrion-Crows. The observers were able to get within fifty yards of it and make out its distinctive features with glasses. It was later seen soaring over the reservoir. Mr. G. C. Wright also informs us that on May 8th he saw an Osprey over one of the lakes in mid-Wales. Pink-footed Geese in Co. Down. — Lord Dunleath states (Irish Nat. Journ., 1938, p. .8) that Mr. Peter Scott observed two Pink-footed Geese (Anser brachyrhynchus) on the Downpatrick marshes and a few days later on November 3rd, 1937, one was shot there. The Pink-footed Goose is a rare bird in Ireland, but has occurred on several occasions in recent years in Co. Wexford. 20 BRITISH BIRDS [VOL. XXXII. Common Scoter in Oxfordshire. — Mr. W. D. Campbell informs us that he observed an adult drake Common Scoter ( Oidemia n. nigra ) on a pond in Wychwood Forest, near Charlbury, from March 15th to 24th, 1938. The bird was observed diving in a deep part of the pond (about 15 feet) but had gone on the 25th when the water level dropped about 2 feet. Spoonbill in Co. Londonderry. — A Spoonbill (. Platalea leucorodia ) was seen on October 28th or 29th, 1937, at Lough Beg by Mr. Peter Scott (Irish Nat. Journ., 1938, p. 9). Increase of Black-necked Grebes Breeding in Fife- shire. — Miss E. V. Baxter and Miss L. J. Rintoul state (Scot. Nat., 1938, p. 59) that they found two broods of Black-necked Grebes (Podiceps nigricollis ) on a loch in south Fifeshire in 1937, where they had not seen the bird before. On revisiting a known locality, they found the colony there increased. Early Migration of Golden Plover. — Mr. H. Tully informs us that on July 17th, 1937, he found a flock of some 300 Golden Plover (Charadrius apricarius ) on Fenham Flats, Northumberland, and that eight days later only a single bird remained, the others having already presumably moved farther south. Iceland Gull in Dorset. — Mr. G. B. Gooch informs us that an immature Iceland Gull (Lams leucopterus) was present in Swanage Bay on March 30th and 31st, 1938, and was seen on seven other occasions up to May 10th. REVIEWS. RESULTS OF MARKING DUCKS IN RUSSIA. W. Wuczeticz and A. Tugarinov : " Seasonal distribution and migration of Ducks on the base of bird ringing in the U.S.S.R. I. The Mallard — Anas platyrhyncha L.” Moscow, 1937. W. Wuczeticz and A. Tugarinov : “ Seasonal distribution and migration of Ducks on the base of bird ringing in the U.S.S.R. II. The Pintail — - Dafila acuta L.” Moscow, 1937. Although these two pamphlets are printed in English as well as in Russian, and are illustrated with maps, they are not likely to be accessible to many readers in this country. An abstract of their con- tents, which are of much interest, may therefore be useful. To take the Pintail report first ; it is mainly concerned with an excellent series of 121 recovery records of birds marked in late July as moulting adults in the Astrakhan Reserve, which is situated in the i 'OL. XXXII.] REVIEWS. 21 elta of the Volga at the head of the Caspian Sea. The species, it is ■ tated, does not usually breed in this area, and the birds have therefore lready performed part of their migration before they are ringed, 'he sex is not given in every case, but 69 are recorded as males and 2 as females : it may be wondered, however, whether the latter 1 /ere not really males in eclipse plumage, as females should not be undergoing wing-moult at that season. The breeding area from which the birds are drawn is indicated by 1 recoveries in subsequent summers. It lies to the northward, com- prising the Ural region of Russia and part of western Siberia ; it extends 0 the Arctic coast and eastwards to the seventieth meridian. Two of he records are from farther west. White Russia and Finland respec- tively. There are also 1 1 records from the region of marking, of which ve relate to the same autumn, three to the autumn of a subsequent ear, and three to spring. The remaining records indicate migration routes or winter quarters, nd most of these fall into two groups. In the first place, 12 show omparatively short southward journeys to the Caucasus region and he southern part of the Caspian, and 1 an eastward journey to the Ural Sea. Secondly, numerous records show a more extensive movement outh-westwards and westwards, as follows : 4 southern Russia, 3 Bulgaria, 9 Greece, 1 Rumania, 1 Hungary, 1 Jugo-Slavia, 10 Italy ncluding one in Sicily), 3 southern France, 4 Egypt, 1 Algeria. First eason records are well distributed among the total. There are 2 records showing a south-easterly trend, from Turkestan nd northern India respectively, and x from French West Africa (on he Niger), but none of these is for the first season. Then there are everal records from northern Europe — 3 Germany (one from east ’russia, two from Schleswig), 2 Denmark, 1 Holland. Except the last January 1st, five months after ringing), these are all for the autumn f subsequent years and probably indicate a different migration from tat performed in the year of marking. Comparing these results with those of ringing in other regions, the uthors suggest that the main European population of Pintail migrates xwards the Atlantic seaboard ; the European-Siberian to the Caspian nd Mediterranean basins ; and the middle Siberian to India. The Mallard ‘report similarly deals with a series of 161 recovery 1 :cords of birds marked in July and August as moulting adults in the olga delta. Among the 140 of which the sex is stated, there are only females. The breeding area from which these birds are drawn is idicated by 52 records in subsequent summers. It extends from the >wer Volga northwards to 62°N. lat. on the Ob : the lateral extremes re in the Ukraine and in Siberia, 77°E. long. There are 31 records •om the ringing area, nearly all in the same or subsequent autumns ; xere are, indeed, only two in spring, which may indicate the use of a ifferent route at that season. Of the records showing further migration, 40 are from the southern aspian and the Caucasus region, including a number from the Black ea coast of the latter. There are also 2 from the north coast of Asia linor, 2 from Syria and 1 from Palestine. Other 13 are from southern lussia, in the region of the Sea of Azov. The remainder show a more xtended westerly movement, as follows : 8 Bulgaria, 4 Greece, 1 Rumania, 3 Jugo-Slavia, 1 Italy (near Venice). Most of these recoveries •ere naturally in the winter months, but one from Jugo-Slavia was in uly of the next year. Records for first and subsequent seasons after nging do not appear to differ in their distribution. 22 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XXXII. These movements of Mallard are clearly more restricted than those of Pintail ringed in similar circumstances. A comparison is also possible with the movements already indicated by the results of ringing m western Europe. Eastwards, as the authors point out, there are a few records of Mallard, marked in winter in India and m Japan being recovered in summer in different parts of Siberia. Aiji- Transactions of the Norfolk and Norwich Naturalists' Society for the Year 1937. Vol. XIV., Part III. As usual there is plenty to interest the ornithologist in these Transac- tions Capt. H. A. Gilbert gives an account of the duck-ringing experiments at the Orielton Decoy ; Dr. N. F. Ticehurst writes a further instalment of his history of Swan-marks in Norfolk Mr R P Bagnall-Oakeley contributes a paper on nesting habits ot Woodcock, and Mr. E. A. Ellis one on a very large April visitation of Starlings Under “ Wild Bird Protection in Norfolk m 1937 there are a number of interesting notes and amongst these we note that a Roseate Tern mated with a Common Tern at Scolt Head Island and two young hatched but died. On the same island two Red-breasted Flycatchers were noted in the first half of October. At Cley a pr ° Short-eared Owls nested and it is almost certain that Bitterns did also. In the Salthouse-Cley area Mr. R. M. Garnett records a Marsh-Harrier in January and Avocets in December, 1936, and January, I937> a unusual dates, an Aquatic Warbler is reported for May 12th and lour Ortolan Buntings, a pair of Wood-Larks nested, a Rose-coloured Starling was seen on July 7th and other interesting birds noted. In the Horsey-Hickling area the Harriers again did badly. Four pairs of Marsh attempted to nest but when the eggs of one were about to hatch the cock disappeared and the hen subsequently deserted ; another pair and the hen of another disappeared and the eggs of the fourth pair were infertile. Major Buxton states : ' It is clear that the de^ ruc- tion of these birds is being systematically and efficiently carried 01 1, and I have no doubt that it is being done by some person or persons who are familiar with their habits” ; and the Marsh-Harrier is almost the rarest of our breeding birds. Report on Somerset Birds , 1937- I This Report contains a large number of carefully made notes a,nd . some excellent photographs. Ravens and Buzzards appear to be doing well, but the same cannot be said of the Black Grouse which appears I to be dwindling as it is elsewhere, and we are glad to see that tie I Society propose to inquire into the subject. A Gadwall was observed on Barrow Gurney Reservoir from August to the end of the year and a pair of Garganeys almost certainly nested on Sedgemoor as did several pairs of Shoveler. Interesting tables are given ol counts ol duck throughout the year at the Barrow Gurney and Blagdon Reservoirs. LETTERS. TERRITORIAL DISPUTE BETWEEN TWO GOLDCRES1S. To the Editors of British Birds. Sirs - — In view of Mr. D. L. Lack’s interesting article and the subsequent correspondence on “the function of the Goldcrest s crest ” (antea, Vol. XXXI., pp. 82, 127, 160), the following incidenti may be worth recording. At about 8.30 a.m. on April 5th, I93». L. XXXII.] LETTERS. 23 Engelbrecht, J. G. Goodbody, G. A. R. Wood and mvself were Iking through a wood at Dale, Pembs., when our attention was iwn by a loud continuous twittering some 20 or 30 yards ahead of We soon traced the sound to two male Goldcrests ( Regulus r. Riorum). They were a little below us on a steep slope and as, after : manner of this species, they seemed quite indifferent to the presence human beings we had a good view of what was going on. The two ds were facing one another, but in this instance both had the st raised and spread out “in a gorgeous flame of colour” as scribed by Mr. Lack. Though they moved about in the undergrowth, ;y maintained the same position relative to one another, heads /ered and beaks about 6 inches apart. Throughout the performance, ich must have lasted several minutes, they kept up a continuous ttenng which we should describe as loud rather than soft. It was . long before we discovered first one and then another female in endance on the two males. They kept at a distance, the one some r 3 yards below, the other the same distance above the “ battle ”. ere was no sign of aggressiveness on the part of the females, which, eed, seemed more or less indifferent to the struggle, and the males ntually parted without a chase or any actual fighting. The fact t both males had adopted the attitude of defiance suggests that mis instance each (or neither) was the aggressor. J. D. Wood. HABITS OF ROBINS. To the Editors of British Birds. hrs, I would like to direct attention to a book by G. J. Renier Tale of Two Robins { Peter Davies, 1934), which, being published manly for children, is liable to be overlooked. The author who is ider m Dutch History and Institutions in the University of London, tes to me that all the facts relating to Robins are accurately recorded indeed, seems obvious from the writer's style, while I might add t my own four years study of the Robin corroborates much that lier records. he book is an intimate account of two tamed male Robins, which author could distinguish individually, and their mates. I select 3 J,ust a few of the most interesting observations, but the account aid certainly be read in the original by students of bird behaviour, he soft warbled song with swaying from side to side is interpreted ’ Tectly) as aggressive. Once when the supply of meal-worms gave , this anger song was directed against the author, and when the mor came close to the nest for the first time, his tamed male Robin tured frenziedly opposite his head. During the moult, the male’s ■etite dwindled, he sat for long periods doing nothing, and when a .nge young Robin tried to claim the territory, he retired into cover ang a cold spell soon after pairing up, the two members of a pair imed individual territories, but later again paired up and did not irate in a second cold spell During the second cold spell the male not chase out a neighbouring male, which regularly trespassed for 1, but hostilities were resumed with the return of warmer weather formally the male courts the female by preferring food which she es from him. One male tended to turn away with the food when female approached, and sometimes he swallowed the food himself ■ r several days of this behaviour, the female ceased to take the food :n it was preferred, and the male tried to follow her with it • some s later, she did at length accept a worm, and the male promptly 24 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XXXII. returned with worm after worm (up to twenty). One male whose i female was killed deserted the young in the nest, but another widower fed the young till they left the nest five days later, and then reared : them safely. When fledged, these young begged food from any passing , bird, not only their own parent. The adjoining male once began to put food down the throat of one of these young, but suddenly drew it back and went off to his own brood. One male in the autumn and the other in late May left the garden for another territory ; before departure each looked excited, uttered a throaty warble at the author, the May bird also at its young ; then left. David Lack. 7 JiJN 1938 PURCHASED THE POPULAR SERIES OF BIRD-LOVERS’ MANUALS MORE SONGS OF WILD BIRDS M. Nicholson and L. Koch. Illustrated. 15s. net boxed. With gramophone records of bird-song. SONGS OF WILD BIRDS E. M. Nicholson and L. Koch. Illustrated. 15s. net boxed. With gramophone records of bird-song. BIRD MIGRATION A. Landsborough Thomson. Ulus. Sm.Cr.8vo. 5s. net. HOW TO KNOW BRITISH BIRDS Norman H. Joy. Ulus. Sm.Cr.8vo. 5s. net. BIRDS OF THE GREEN BELT R. M. Lockley. Illus. Sm.Cr.8vo. 5s. net. EVERY GARDEN A BIRD SANCTUARY E. L. Turner. Illus. Sm.Cr.8vo. 5s. net. H. F. & G. W1THERBY LTD., LONDON LE GERFAUT REVUE BELCE D'ORNITHOLOGIE i. 1910 La seule publication scientifique beige traitant des oiseaux, specialement des oiseaux de la Belgique Abonnement 25 francs beiges -5 Belgas par an Direction : Square Prince Charles 21, Bruxelles- Laeken (Belgique) Just Published The First Volume of THE HANDBOOK OF BRITISH BIRDS [Crows to Flycatchers] • EARLY REVIEWS “ It is accurate, complete, and fully authoritative and its position is assured.” — 44 The Times.” “ I cannot speak too highly of this volume ... it should (there can be no question about it) be in the hands of every ornithologist and every bird -lover.” — “ The Field.” 44 Most comprehensive and delightful book to all lovers of birds. It is the successor of the 4 Practical Handbook of British Birds’, which has been out of print for some years, but it is largely a new compila- tion and gains immensely from the inclusion of a generous supply of very beautiful coloured plates.” — 44 Yorkshire Post.” 44 It can claim to put British birds on the map in a manner at which other less fortunate countries may aim, but which they can never hope to excel.” — G. K. YEATES in 44 Shooting Times ”. IN FIVE VOLUMES— 2i/- NET PER VOLUME A few copies of the work are being prepared bound in io volumes and interleaved at £7/7/0 the set H. F. & G. WITHERBY LTD., LONDON 7 JUL 1938 PURCHASED BRmsn BIRDS iVfltusiwarD-msOTE DEWTimaomYTornEBiRDs '^C'NTnBBfOlSnUST^ M0NTHlVls9dYF.ARLY2Oi 326H(WBOI.B<5f!f*I2MDOr+ ttF^CWITHEKBYITD A SELECTED LIST OF BIRD BOOKS * A HISTORY OF THE BIRDS OF ESSEX William E. Glegg, f.z.s., m.b.o.u. Numerous Photographs and a Map. Demy 8vo. 25/-. A HISTORY OF THE BIRDS OF MIDDLESEX William E. Glegg, f.z.s., m.b.o.u. 6 Plates and Map. Demy 8vo. 18/-. A HISTORY OF THE BIRDS OF NORFOLK B. B. Riviere , f.r.c.s., f.z.s., m.b.o.u. 16 Plates and Map. Demy 8vo. 25/-. THE BIRDS OF THE FALKLAND ISLANDS Arthur F. Cobh. Numerous Photographs. Demy 8vo. 7/6. THE BIRDS OF THE FIRTH OF CLYDE Including Ayrshire, Dumbartonshire, Renfrewshire, Buteshire and South Argyllshire J . M. McWWiam. Plates and Map. Demy 8vo. 12/6. THE BIRDS OF THE ISLAND OF BUTE J. M. MeWilliam, b.a. (dublin), f.r.p.s. (Edinburgh) Photographs and a Map. Demy 8vo. 8/6. BIRD-LIFE IN THE ISLE OF MAN Colonel H. W. Madoc , c.b.e., m.v.o. Photographs. Crown 8vo. 6/-. THE BIRDS OF MIDLOTHIAN The latej. Kirke Nash , l.d.s., r.c.s.e. Plates and Map. Demy 8vo. 21/-. THE BIRDS OF SOUTH-EAST DEVON L. R. W. Loyd , f.z.s., m.b.o.u. 6 Plates and Maps. Demy 8vo. 10/6. FROM H. F. y G. WITHERBT LTD. 7 JUL 1938 MnsrroiKDS ITH WHICH WAS INCORPORATED IN JANUARY, IQI7, " TlIE ZOOLOGIST.” EDITED BY F. WITHERBY, F.Z.S.,M.B.O.U.,H.F.A.O.U. ASSISTED BY EiV. F. C. R. JOURDAIN, M.A., M.B.O.U., H.F.A.O.U., F.Z.S., AND Norman F. Ticeiiurst, o.b.e., m.a., f.r.c.s., m.b.o.u. Contents of Number 2, Vol. XXXII., July i, 1938. i sting of the Nuthatch. By I.. S. V. Venables ... 1 mmaries of Inland Occurrences of some Waterfowl and 'Waders, 1924-1936. By P. A. D. Hollom ituary : William Eagle Clarke, 1853-1938 ; tes : — Nests and Broods in the successive seasons at Whipsnade (Dr. Julian S. Huxley)... Che Display of the Bullfinch (B. W. Tucker ... Incubation Period of British Coal-Tit (R. Ware) 1 Hedging Period of British Marsh-Tit (J. A. G. Barnes) British Willow-Tit in Glamorgan (G. C. S. Ingram and H. M. Salmon) ... vVood-Warbier Nesting in Co. Cork (C. Oldham) Abnormal Nest-building of Reed-Warbler (Rev. C. J. Pring) Cock Blackbird feeding young Song-Thrushes (S. Marchant) 1 ncubation Period of Wheatear (J. F. Thomas) 1 Dipper attacking House-Sparrow (Rev. J. R. Hale.) ... Abnormal Southward Movement of Swallows in June (Major A. A. Dorrien-Smith) ... ^ength of Nightjar’s Song (T. R. Goddard) ... Ahort-eared Owl Breeding in Denbighshire (Major W. M. Congreve) I led-necked Grebe in Pembrokeshire (G. C. S. Ingram and H. M. Salmon) ... 'Notes on Birds seen in the North Atlantic (H. B. Moore) ... ncubation Periods of Lapwing and Redshank (J. F. Thomas) Dunlin Nesting in Norfolk (Dr. S. H. Long) ... Iffect of Drought on Nesting-site of Redshank in Kent (Rev. J. R. Hale) Behaviour of Black-tailed Godwits in Carmarthenshire (J. F. Thomas) ... 5nipe Rolling over in Flight (E. L. Roberts) ... kittle Gulls and Black Terns in Somerset (H. Tetley)... )rt Notes — - ATiite-Spotted Bluethroat in Cumberland. Glossy Ibis in Aberdeenshire ... view :■ — • 3ird Flocks and the Breeding Cycle. By F. Fraser Darling ... ters : — 3ird Song Inquiry (H. G. Alexander) ncubation Period of the Peregrine (Rev. F. C. R. Jourdain) PAGE 26 34 38 40 41 42 42 42 43 44 44 45 45 45 46 46 47 47 48 49 50 50 51 52 53 53 56 56 (26) NESTING OF THE NUTHATCH. BY L. S. V. VENABLES. (Plate 2.) These observations were made at two nests only and must therefore be necessarily somewhat incomplete. They show, however, that the Nuthatch ( Sitta e. affinis) would well repay more thorough study. Nest i was visited spasmodically between April 5th and May 29th, 1937. It was situated in an old stone kiln near a stream running through an apple orchard in S. Devon. Nest 2 was first found in 1935 and was regularly visited (with one interval) in 1938 between March 14th and late April. It was built in a hole in an oak tree ; one of a line of oak and beech trees running out of a mixed wood in S.W. Surrey. The actual nesting tree was about 100 yards from the wood, that is to say that the nest was about 100 yards from the main feeding area. Early Stages. At Nest 2, I first saw the Nuthatches visit the hole on March 14th. They kept up this behaviour for several days, both inspecting the entrance (which had grown in a good deal smaller than in the previous year, and all the mud gone), the female going in fairly often and the male singing from the tree. In this singing he used not only the well-known musical titter and the falcon-like “ whee-whee-whee-whee ” but also a hoarse, whistling “ tow-ee tow-ex ” and a creaking “ tee-a tee-a ”. A pair of Blue Tits ( Pams c. obscurus) were also showing a similar interest in the hole (which they kept up until incubation commenced), looking at it from nearby branches, clinging to the entrance, or even going inside. After plastering had been commenced, however, they ceased to go into the hole though they still often clung to the entrance. In these early stages,! both Nuthatches and Blue Tits were equally “ jumpy clinging to the entrance, peeping in for a few seconds and then gazing all round or, if inside, looking out every few moments. Later the Nuthatches much gained in confidence, but not the Blue Tits. The Nuthatches came frequently to the hole until March 18th but always with empty beaks. On this last date the first sign of nest-building was observed. At about 10 a.m. the female, which had been peeping into the hole and then gazing round or “ running ” away up the branch in her usual British Birds, Vol. XXXII., PI. 2. Nuthatch at Nest i, showing the large amount of plastering covered with beak marks. ( Photographed by H. N. Southern.) ^ol. xxxii ] NESTING OF THE NUTHATCH. 27 lervous manner, broke off a piece of dead wood, carried it i moment and dropped it. Presently she broke off another and carried it into the hole, but in a few moments put out rer head and dropped the wood outside. I saw no more ndications of building until March 21st when, after driving iway the Blue Tits, the female carried another piece of dead vood into the hole and left it there. This definite start to building after successful territorial aggression may be akin 0 the similar incident described by Eliot Howard [1] of the Yellow Bunting ( Emberiza c. citrinella), and Venables and -ack [2] record a Great Crested Grebe ( Podiceps c. cristatus) vhich frequently added reeds to its nest after a territory ight with Coots ( Fulica a. atra). On March 22nd I saw the female bring another piece of lead wood to the nest but drop it before getting it into the lole, and on the next two (probably three) days several >ieces were brought and most of them successfully taken ito the hole. The vague, dead-wood stage of building then ame to an end (save that she threw out again one of these >ieces on March 28th). Plastering and Building. On March 24th the female commenced pecking at the top nd top corners of the entrance hole. Whether this was done, 'S has been recorded with nest-box pairs, with a view to nlarging it seems doubtful — certainly she made no progress 1 dth the living oak wood — but the roughening of the surface imuld be of use in holding the mud and she confined her necking to this part alone. The plastering commenced on March 26th. This was nmediately after the first rain for 24 days, though there 1 ras always plenty of mud in their wood where most of the est material was collected. The female did all this work ; re would arrive with a lump of mud, “ the size of a pea”, in re tip of her beak, place it, and hammer for several minutes ntil it was a thin layer. The whole performance was much lore leisurely than with Nest 1 (see below) ; it slackened ff as the morning advanced and ceased altogether after noon. : r the earlier part of the morning she would average 4 loads 1 half an hour, but when both building the actual nest and lastering (March 29th) she once came 8 times in half an hour. ' md was built across the top until March 28th, then work rgan on the top corners which were finished, or practically >, by April 2nd. (I left the district until April 13th and >uld detect no change on my return.) 28 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XXXII. Owing to the ingrowing of the hole there was no room for mud down the sides or across the bottom. I'.C.R.J. [3] says : “ Entrance to hole is always reduced in size with hard mud”, but it would be worth seeing what would happen to such a hole when there was still room for the bird to enter but none for plastering. Serious work on the actual nest commenced on March 28th, (i.e., much overlap with the plastering) and was continued, though very spasmodically towards the end, until the third week in April. The main material was loose shreds of the outer bark of Scots pine and on March 30th I spent some time in watching the female collecting it from one of the few pines in the wood. She was very fastidious, tearing off several pieces before being satisfied, and only carrying one piece to the nest at a time. It is interesting that Scots pine should form one of the main nest materials (“ Usually lined with flakes of bark of Scots pine.”— F.C.R.J. — loc. cit.) when, no doubt, owing to lack of suitable food, the Nuthatch is uncommon in pure pine woods (Lack and Venables : in press). The male played little part in nest building. He accom- panied the female when she was collecting material and frequently waited for her while she was building it in. and sang a good deal. On March 28th he placed one piece of bark in the hole and attempted to do the same thing the next day but dropped it before getting it to the nest — a vague form of building much like that of the male Cirl Bunting ( Emberiza c. cirlus) (Venables : in press). However, right through the building period he frequently came down the line of trees, inspected the entrance and, if necessary, drove off tits. During incubation I once saw him place a dead leaf in the nest (while the female was off feeding) and, on April 29th, he repaired a little damage to the mud plastering. The leisurely method of plastering was very noticeable with Nest 2, but Nest 1 shows that it can be much speeded up when necessary. At this latter place quite a large amount of mud was needed to fill up the gap between the stones (see Plate) and this was already complete when I found it on April 9th — though lichen was still being carried into the actual nest. I cut a triangular piece from the hole in the evening and returned at 7.30 a.m. the next day. Both birds had a spell of repairing, getting mud from the undamaged part of their wall and building it into my cut. Both worked with amazingly rapid movements of the head (much more so than in the normal plastering activities of Nest 2) and the whole surface of the, wall, which was damp with recent VOL. XXXII.] NESTING OF THE NUTHATCH. 29 rain, was covered with beak marks which can be seen on the Plate. On April nth lichen was still being carried into the hole and I saw the male pecking rapidly at the place where the mud had been removed in order to carry out the repairs. On April 13th I smoothed over all this right-hand side, again damp from recent rain, with my finger, and found it next day covered with peck marks once more. On April 27th I smoothed it again and returning in 24 hours found a small group of beak marks. I visited the place again on May 1st and found 6 small groups of these marks. There were no more after this ; and with Nest 2 there was none after the plastering had been finished and had dried. On about May 4th some unknown hand slightly^ enlarged the hole but the Nuthatches continued with their incubation and feeding of the young until May 22nd when the “ unknown hand ” tore away the greater part of the wall. Both birds were working rapidly when I passed in the early morning and the repair was completed four and a half hours later, though the work was a great deal rougher than is usual — the dead leaves, used for “ binding ” the mud, sticking out most untidily and more were used than is customary. The mud was collected from the stream bank by both birds, put into position, and rammed home with the head moving so fast as to be almost a blur. Occasionally food would be brought for the young and droppings removed from the nest and one could not fail to be impressed by the complete efficiency of the whole under- taking. In spite of the abnormal rapidity of the work, the young were kept going and the nest kept clean and no time 'was lost by any mistake. When building in a normal manner (i.e., without artificial accidents late in the season), Pair 2 took at least 8 days to complete their quite small amount of plastering, whereas under abnormal conditions Pair 1 completed a much larger amount in one morning. Venables and Lack [4] show that when a nest is destroyed, a Great Crested Grebe can have a ■ aew nest and egg in 48 hours, and Addicott [5] gives a graph showing that even under normal circumstances there is a liminution in the time required by the Bush Tit ( Psaltriparus Minimus) to build its nest with the advance of the season. Territory. It has been mentioned above that a pair of Blue Tits was usually in the vicinity of Nest 2. During the first few days >f observation (i.e., until plastering commenced) they often 30 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XXXII. actually entered the hole. Later they contented themselves with looking at it or clinging to the entrance and gazing in. This went on until incubation commenced. Other “ in- habitants ” of the row of trees were a pair of Marsh-Tits (Pams p. dresseri) and a pair of Great Tits ( P . m. newtoni), both rare visitors, and a pair each of Greenfinches ( Chloris c. chloris) and Chaffinches ( Fringilla c. gengleri ) which were always present. After mid-April a Tree-Pipit ( Anthus t. trivialis) used the nesting tree as one of his song-posts. The Nuthatches invariably drove off the Tits from the tree (nest-site competitors) but completely ignored the finches and Pipit. In driving off these birds the female Nuthatch would swoop at them with wings held straight out and head held fairly high, while the male duplicated these actions but fluttered his wings. Sometimes these swoops were silent but on other occasions the aggression call, a shrill scraping “ sirrrr ”, would be used. This apparent distinguishing of nest-site competitors by hole-nesting species would be an interesting subject to follow up. My only other personal experience on this point was when 1 was using stuffed birds (“ mounts ”) to study posturing and general behaviour reactions with the technique described by Noble and Vogt [6]. On May 13th I placed a Blue Tit mount 2 feet from a Marsh-Tit’s nest (with young). There was great excitement from the adults — scolding and emotional quivering — and mild attack. On the next day I placed a Willow- Warbler ( Phylloscopus t. trochilus ) mount — not a nest-site competitor- — in the same place, but only the mildest interest was aroused. When, however, I increased the stimulus by putting the Blue Tit 4 feet away, the Willow- Warbler then became the centre of as much excitement as the Blue Tit had been the day before. On removing the Willow-Warbler, the excitement was transferred to the Blue Tit. Mr. W. H. Thompson tells me that during March he was watching a pair each of Coal- (Pams. a. britannicus) , Willow- (P. a. kleinschmidti ) and Marsh-Tits building near together. The nest-site competitors — Coal- and Marsh-Tits — fought a good deal, but the Willow-Tits excavated their own nest cavity unmolested and unmolesting. During the latter part of the building of Nest 2 I used a pair of Nuthatch mounts, kindly loaned by Mr. David Lack. On April 14th the female mount, which had a half-spread tail, was erectecl a yard from the hole. When the male arrived he “ ran ” up and down the trunk posturing and giving the excitement call (a quiet, squeaking “ tzick-tzick-lzick ”) and 'OL. xxxil] NESTING OF THE NUTHATCH. 31 hen fluttered to the mount and attacked. After about wo seconds he completely changed his behaviour and, fluttering ip on to the back, attempted to copulate. I then drove him >ff and substituted the male mount. He returned in io minutes md repeated the performance save that he made no attempt o copulate but carried on the attack with violent pecks at he head until I drove him off. The next morning I again rected the female mount but this time he cut down posturing o a minimum before attacking and did not copulate. I drove urn off and when he returned he ceased to react (see below). also erected the female mount for the female to see as she eft the nest ; she was interested in it and inspected it from lose quarters for a minute and then gave a very mild attack. (Incidentally these mounts kept the Blue Tits from the lole, but in spite of recognising the Nuthatches by sight they ■ vere unable to do so by ear, for on more than one occasion a ' Nuthatch called from the far side of the tree but the Blue Tits ontinued to gaze at or into the hole until the Nuthatch ctually appeared round the trunk.) It is not surprising that the male so quickly ceased to eact to the mount as, of course, the latter was immobile thus ipsetting the behaviour pattern. In posturing or allied move- nents, as is pointed out by Lorenz [7, 8] postures should call orth the appropriate response in the other bird. Lack (in >ress) finds that most Robins (. Erithacus r. melophilus) soon ease to react to mounts placed in the territory. In similar experiments with another hole-nester, the Flicker an American Woodpecker — Colaptes auratus luteus) by Noble [9], the male attacked the male mount but, unlike the Nuthatch, ignored the female mount. He states : “ A quiescent orm is not a sexual object to a male Flicker. Unlike many ther birds which will mate with mounted birds, he requires distinctive cry from the female to release his copulatory •ehaviour. Various other birds are known to have a similar avitation call.” The male Nuthatch apparently recognised the sex of the k emale mount as he attempted copulation but knew that it •/as not his own mate (see Noble, Wurm and Schmidt [10] ), i s not only did he attack, until no doubt her immobility tarted off another trend of behaviour, but he postured in a afferent way. When displaying to his mate he stood still ; pread and cocked his tail, thus showing the white markings ; eld up his head and waved his wings, thus apparently rawing attention to the chestnut flanks — the male charac- teristic. To the mounts he “ ran ” up and down the trunk 32 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XXXII. with rapidly fluttering wings, and head up but tail not spread or erected. In the first case he was silent but to the mounts he gave his squeaking excitement cry. (The only posturing I saw from the female was occasional wing-quivering and subdued squeaking as she left the nest.) In many cases “ mating display ” is the same as “ intimida- tion display ” as has been summarized, for example, by Lloyd Morgan [n], who points out that under quite different emo- tions birds have the same form of expression but “ ...as they are presented to the recipient of the impression, they are no wise thus isolated. They are set in the context of the situation as a whole”. Hingston [12] also stresses this point. Certainly the male Nuthatch at Nest 2 had different mating and intimidation displays but, in any case, the above theory is not universal among birds. Recently Allen [13] has shown the two displays to be quite different with the Ruffed Grouse ( Bonasa umbellus), Venables and Lack [4] with the Great Crested Grebe, and Lack (in press) with the Robin. Summary. With the pair of Nuthatches that were watched right through their nest construction there was a vague period of building by the female, consisting of carrying pieces of dead wood, but often failing to get them into the hole, before serious work on the nest and mud wall began. One pair, nesting in a hole that is gradually growing in and therefore room for only a little mud, took at least eight days over the plastering. Another pair, plastering a considerably larger area for a necessarily rapid repair, took only one morning and also had to feed the young and clean the nest at the same time. In the normal building of Nest 2 the female only did the plastering ; slight damage to the wall, while the female was busy incubating, was repaired by the male. In the rapid repairs to Nest 1, while the young were being fed, both birds worked. With Nest 1 a small repair was effected with mud from the rest of the wall, but considerable damage, late in the season, with new mud. With one pair, only birds that were nest-site competitors were attacked in the nesting territory which, in this case, was not the feeding area. Another pair, living in their nesting territory, had no nest-site competitors in the vicinity, and no birds were attacked. A study of one pair showed that the “ mating display ” of the male was not the same as his “ intimidation display”. vol. xxxil] NESTING OF THE NUTHATCH. 33 No display at all was observed, however, before a bird of another species was attacked. REFERENCES. [1] Howard, Eliot. The Nature of a Bird’s World. Cambridge r935- [2] Venables, L. S. V., and Lack, David. “ Territory in the Great Crested Grebe.” British Birds, Vol. XXVIII. December, 1934. [3] WlTHERBY, Id. F., JOURDAIN, F. C. R., TlCEHURST, NORMAN F., and Tucker, Bernard W. The Handbook 0/ British Birds. Vol. I. London, 1938. [4] Venables, L. S. V., and Lack, David. “ Further Notes on Territory in the Great Crested Grebe.” British Birds, Vol. XXX., August, 1936. [5] Addicott, A. B. " Behavior of the Bush Tit in the Breeding Season.” Condor, XL., April, 1938. [6] Noble, G. K., and Vogt, William. “ A Study of Sex Recognition in Birds.” Auk, LII., July, 1935. [7] Lorenz, Konrad Z. " Der Kumpan in der Umwelt des Vogels — ” Journ.f. Ornith., LXXXIII., Nos. 2-3, 1935. [8] Lorenz, Konrad Z. “ The Companion in the Bird’s World.” Auk, LIV., July, 1937. [9] Noble, G. K. " Courtship and Sexual Selection of the Flicker — ” Auk, LIII., July, 1936. [10] Noble, G. K., Wurm, M., and Schmidt, A. “ Social Behavior of the Black-crowned Night Heron.” Auk, LV., January, 1938. [n] Morgan, C. Lloyd. " Psychical Selection : Expression and Impression.” British Journal of Psychology, XI., January, 1921. [12] Hingston, R. W. G. The Meaning of Animal Colour and 'Adornment. London, 1933. [13] Allen, A. A. “ Sex Rhythm in the Ruffed Grouse — ” Auk, A.., April, 1934. (34) SUMMARIES OF INLAND OCCURRENCES OF SOME WATERFOWL AND WADERS, 1924-1936. BY P. A. D. HOLLOM. In recent years there has been a great increase in the observa- tion of waterfowl and waders inland, especially at reservoirs and sewage farms, and as a result many species are known to appear inland more regularly than was formerly thought to be the case. At the suggestion of Mr. H. F. Witherby some of the records of these birds have been analysed for the years 1924 to 1936 inclusive. They have been extracted chiefly from local reports, the references to which are given below. The counties covered by the reports and the chief localities are : — Berkshire ... Reading sewage farm, Virginia Water, Great Meadow Pond, Bearwood Lake. Slough and Langley sewage farms, Weston Turville reservoir, Shardeloes. Cambridge sewage farm. Altrincham sewage farm, Marbury, Ros- therne and Tatton Meres, Doddington. King George V and Walthamstow reser- voirs, Chigwell sewage farm. Tring and Elstree reservoirs, Hamper Mill. Staines, Littleton, Ruislip and Brent reservoirs, Edmonton sewage farm. Port Meadow, Blenheim Lake, Otmoor. Barrow and Blagdon reservoirs. Bellfields reservoir and Gailey Pool. Barn Elms and Molesey reservoirs, Brooklands and Beddington sewage farms. Bartley reservoir, Curdworth. Bittell reservoir. Occasional notes from other counties, in England only, have been found in British Birds and elsewhere, but only observa- tions from inland counties have been included, except in the case of Cheshire, Essex and Somerset where there are inland reservoirs or sewage farms which are watched regularly. In the case of the Black Tern, however, records both inland and coastal have been included. The number of records of each species given below refer to the number of occurrences and not to the actual number of birds seen. Thus, if at a certain sewage farm there were ten Buckinghamshire Cambridge Cheshire ... Essex Hertfordshire Middlesex Oxfordshire Somerset... Staffordshire Surrey Warwickshire Worcestershire vol. xxxii.] WATERFOWL AND WADERS. 35 Green Sandpipers on August 7th, eight on the 14th and five on the 2 1st, it would be considered as one occurrence only ; but if there were five on the 7th, eight on the 14th and ten on the 2 1st, this would be counted as three occurrences because some fresh birds were undoubtedly seen on each occasion. If, however, a species is reported from, say, July 25th to September 9th, it would be counted as three occur- rences— one for July, one for August and one for September — in order that effect may be given to the months in which the bird occurs. Records not assignable to any particular month have been ignored. The summaries aim at giving some information on dis- tribution, numbers and dates of appearance, but in estimating their value it must be remembered that working out the inland distributions is greatly hampered by the number of ■ counties for which no records are available ; that the number of records for a county varies according to the number of observers ; and that often no mention is made even in local 'eports of certain species if they occur regularly. With regard both to distribution and numbers it is realized that the character of a reservoir or sewage farm may be more important than its geographical position in determining what birds visit it ; but it is hoped that the summaries will at least give 1 fair idea of the months in which the species dealt with occur. No attempt has been made to draw conclusions or to follow t :he movement of species through the country because this would be impossible without also considering the coastal records. It is stressed that any apparent generalizations in the summaries refer only to those counties and years for which 1 local reports, have been examined and the various factors uniting the validity of comparison between one county and another must be borne in mind. My thanks are due to Messrs. H. B. Booth, A. W. Boyd, R. C. Homes, C. Oldham and Dr. N. F. Ticehurst for supplying nformation, to Mr. H. F. Witherby for advice, and above all :o Mrs. E. B. Bevan for much invaluable assistance. It will be seen that the list of references is by no means •exhaustive and the records shown in the tables, therefore, nust not be regarded as complete. They are given merely for ; :he purpose of comparison. REFERENCES. British Birds, 1924-1936. Proceedings of the Bournemouth Natural Science Society, 1933-1935. Cambridge Bird Club Report, 1927-1928, 1930-1936. Transactions of the Cardiff Naturalists Society, 1929-1935. Ornithological Record for Derbyshire, 1933-1936. 36 BRITISH BIRDS [VOL. XXXII. The Hastings and East Sussex Naturalist, 1926-1936. Transactions of the Hertfordshire Natural History Society, 1925-1936. Lancashire and Cheshire Fauna Committee Report, 1924-1936. London Naturalist, 1924-1935. London Bird Report, 1936. Report of the Oxford Ornithological Society, 1925-1936. Report on Somerset Birds, 1928-1936. South-Eastern Bird Report, 1934-1936. Report on the Birds of Warwickshire, Worcestershire and South Staffordshire, 1934-1936. Table No. i. — Summary of occurrences 1924-1936 arranged UNDER 0 rz MONTHS. •O c >> (A to > 0 ft — 1 O U-i S P. < s P *— > *—> < in O O £ a Sheld-Duck ... I I 15 17 20 16 3 4 1 I 16 IO 8 16 Pintail... 23 24 25 h 3 I I 3 7 IO 20 Scaup-Duck ... 3i 30 36 24 5 3 4 4 5 12 14 20 Goldeneye 5i 54 51 36 13 4 4 5 6 16 40 39 Long-tailed Duel - 5 5 5 3 — — — — I 5 1 1 8 Common Scoter 2 — 7 28 6 IO 8 7 8 7 14 5 Velvet-Scoter... 1 2 2 3 3 4 Goosander 63 6S 57 12 3 I I I I 2 17 44 Red-breasted Merganser ... 3 3 4 4 2 I Smew ... 46 46 22 3 I — I — I — - 3 30 Slavonian Grebe 6 3 2 4 I — 2 5 5 6 9 Red-necked Grebe 5 3 4 I — — I I 2 I 5 6 Black-necked Grebe 9 8 IO 12 4 3 9 17 23 20 13 !7 Great Northern Diver 5 I 3 9 15 Red-throated Diver 4 6 4 I I I I 4 5 Oyster-catcher — 4 5 2 - — - 1 I 4 3 I I 3 Turnstone — — — I 17 I 4 J4 5 — I I Ruff 4 2 18 16 7 3 IO 24 50 20 7 2 Sanderling — 1 2 27 I 3 7 8 3 — — Knot ... — — — I 4 I — 2 9 4 6 2 Curlew-S’piper — — — 2 4 — 3 I 2 54 17 — — Little Stint I — — — 2 I I 5 3i 18 3 3 Wood-S’piper... — — — 2 5 I 5 18 9 2 I — Green S’piper... I I 14 19 23 8 8 4i 88 7i 41 3i 15 Spotted Redshank ... 2 2 I 4 3 10 l6 4 3 2 Greenshank ... — I I 5 22 — 8 53 59 14 I — Bar-tailed Godwit I 5 13 2 4 3 1 Black-tailed Godwit 4 IO 6 3 12 15 3 2 I Curlew 6 6 24 31 15 13 16 42 14 15 21 7 Whimbrel — — — 4 22 2 5 12 7 I — — Jack Snipe 20 13 13 7 — I 2 3 3 15 20 18 Black Tern — — I 25 IOI 16 1 1 48 82 21 I — Sandwich Tern — — — 2 5 I I 4 4 4 I — CommonTern . . . — — I L5 55 19 9 41 63 24 2 3 Little Tern — — — I 19 I — 7 9 4 — — OL. XXXII .1 WATERFOWL AND WADERS. 37 i ble No. 2.- — Summary of some occurrences 1924-1936 arranged UNDER COUNTIES. \ number of records from counties other than those listed below have • sn omitted from this Table, but are included in Table No. 1. in X > 0) in X in u 0 in u a> £ u in O «/) t/i 03 O air perched side by side on a branch. The male with his tail >ent conspicuously to one side kept bending over in a rather tiff fashion with the whole body flexed on the legs and from ume to time wiped his bill on the branch. He did not always ice towards the female and was less obviously displaying to er than is often the case with “ courting ” birds. The female t first ignored this behaviour, but presently began to show line interest and bent her tail to the side in the same way. hey then sidled towards one another and gave little pecks t each other, not mutual billings such as some finches idu ge m, but directed, so far as I could see, at about the loulder region of the other bird. It was hard to be quite ire whether this was an expression of irritation by the female ) which the male responded similarly or not, but it gave le impression of being part of the ceremonial. The male ave a few notes of “song” now and again, with a little attural churr recurring in it. After a minute or two they flew .1 and there was something of a chase, in which a third bird iparently joined, but I soon lost sight of them. The peculiar id unnatural-lookmg lateral bending of the tail, reminding ie irresistibly of a stuffed specimen which has had a bad lock, is evidently the most notable feature of the Bullfinch’s courtshiP ”• B. W. Tucker. D 42 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XXXII. INCUBATION PERIOD OF BRITISH COAL-TIT In The Handbook of British Birds the incubation period of the British Coal-Tit ( Parus a. britannicus) is given as 17-18 days though Mr. Jourdain, the author of the section, evidently had doubts. This year I watched 3 pairs which built in nesting-boxes, making observation easy ; the nests were examined daily. In nest A incubation began on the day the last egg was laid, 6 eggs hatched on the 13th day, that is, 13 days later, and 3 early on the 14th. In nest B incubation also began on the day the last egg was laid, 2 eggs hatched on the 12th day, 4 on the 13th, and 2 on the 14th. In nest C incubation was delayed for 2 days, all eggs hatched 13 days from its commencement. R. Ware. FLEDGING PERIOD OF BRITISH MARSH-TIT. As the new Handbook only gives the fledging period of an “ allied race” under “ Marsh-Tit ”, the following observation may be worth recording. On April 26th, 1938, a Marsh-Tit ( Pants p. dresseri) was found incubating 7 eggs in a bank wall in south Westmorland. The eggs hatched between noon May 9th and noon May 10th, and the young left the nest at intervals from early morning to 7 p.m. on May 26th, all flying strongly. Both parents had been ringed in the same garden in winter, February 22nd, 1937, and November 26th, 1937, and both were recovered twice at the same trap site between December 8th and 15th. Perhaps this suggests that the pair were together during the winter, as only one other Marsh-Tit was trapped. Two other nests in the district had fully feathered young at the same date as this brood, so laying must have begun about mid-April, about a fortnight earlier than Blue Tits and Great Tits. J. A. G. Barnes. BRITISH WILLOW-TIT IN GLAMORGAN. Although we have seen and heard birds during the last twenty years we were pretty certain were British Willow-Tits (Parus a. kleinschmidti) , more especially one watched at close quarters on March 18th, 1923, we have not been sufficiently satisfied to feel justified in publishing a record of this species. We have, however, this year watched three birds under exceptionally favourable circumstances that not only enabled VOL. XXXII.] NOTES. 43 US to note and check plumage details, i.e., dull sootv-blaok eads at all angles of lighting in bright sunlight, light patch ™ties of clos^d wmg- and loose looking head-feathers, Xhed‘‘tZy’’y StmCt n0t6S indudmg the deeP’ low- The first bird was seen at Llanishen on March 6th ioa8 and a week later on March 13th, two in the same locality3^’ bk?anLime OtWl° TltS {PamS maj°r) Gngaged in n^ob- ° b a Llttle 0wl Athene n. vidalii) that was sitting in m ivy-covered tree. Both birds seen on March 13th had con Ticuous light patches on their secondaries, but one bird’s ater iff ‘thaffh" “lan °,rler' We hoPed t0 find at a I- hev haw Inf 1 y Were breedl"g in the neighbourhood but v th a nark „ "Tt F°SsMy they were ““dated a party of tits which had wandered into the district anefTOs n u f‘y yardS radiUS 3t the Same time 12 W fcolrritifp1 Uhalos?- 8 Blue Tits (Farm carule j), {Regalus Geoffrey C. S. Ingram. H. Morrey Salmon. WOOD-WARBLER NESTING IN COUNTY CORK. June 8th, 1938 in the large oak woods at Glengarriff mv c 1 baard the unmistakable, but unexpected shWerSa umnTtat|Wfd Waibler {PI,yW,'eg cokrtLltorfTe Tearf from thftfef ovSfSfhe n P oJfgoingTo tt own nesting range of the Wood-Warbler in Ireland Chas. Oldham. 44 BRITISH BIRDS. [vol. xxxii. ABNORMAL NEST-BUILDING OF REED-WARBLER. The Reed- Warbler ( Acrocephalus s. scirpaceus) is a fairly common summer resident in the withey beds in the Sedgemoor district of central Somerset. This area is usually well flooded in early spring, and remains fairly moist and damp through the summer. The land is of little use for grazing, especially for sheep, owing to the danger of liver fluke. Owing to the long drought in the spring of 1938, the district in question became exceedingly dry, and a number of sheep were put to graze on the moor. A small flock was turned into an old withey bed usually haunted by Reed-Warblers, and as a result, quantities of sheep’s wool were left sticking to the withey stumps and undergrowth. This wool the Reed- Warblers have utilized as nest material, and on June 16th, 1938, seven nests were found in this one withey bed constructed almost entirely of wool with a few bents inter- spersed, and lined with fine bents. These nests were bulky structures, and far larger than the normal nest, one being about 8 ins. from rim to base. It was only in the one withey bed where the sheep had been grazing that these wool nests were found. In other withey beds close at hand where no sheep had been, several other nests were found, and all were quite normal in construction. The contrast in size between the two types of nest was particularly striking ; the wool-built nests being double or treble the size of the others. C. J. Pring. COCK BLACKBIRD FEEDING YOUNG SONG-THRUSHES. On April nth, 1938, I found a nest of fully feathered young Song-Thrushes (' T urdus e. ericetorum ), in a clump of Cupressus I macrocarpa, at Ravenglass. Later in the same day I thought I I noticed a male Blackbird ( T urdus m. merula) fly away from •the nest, and continuing observations during that afternoon •established the fact that this bird was bringing food to the I young Thrushes. During about an hour’s watching the I Blackbird was seen to visit the nest three times with food, I but owing to the situation its behaviour at the nest could not I be observed. Over the whole period it was regularly in the I vicinity, carrying food and behaving in an alarmed manner, I flying from bush to bush and often approaching the nest, but I not venturing in. During two of its visits, one of the adult f Thrushes returned while the Blackbird was at the nest, but .seeing the intruder, retired to a neighbouring tree, and waited, s VOL. XXXII.] NOTES. 45 giving the alarm note. After the Blackbird had gone, the Thrush immediately went to the nest. For the next four days the Blackbird often fed the young birds. It became very much bolder and would fly direct to the nest without hesitation. It also became very solicitous for the young Thrushes, and would go so far as to drive away the parents. Unfortunately I had to leave on April 16th and was unable to see what happened when the young left the nest. In the same clump of macrocarpa there was a Blackbird’s nest on April nth with three incubated eggs, which hatched on the 16th. There was no definite proof that this nest belonged to the usurping Blackbird, but it seems probable that this was so since it was seen in company with the female of this nest. S. Marchant. INCUBATION PERIOD OF WHEATEAR. In British Birds, Vol. XXIV., p. 141, the Rev. F. C. R. Jourdain said that there was no recent information as to the incubation-period of the Wheatear ( CEnanthe ce. cenanthe). The following seems to confirm the figure given in the Practical Handbook. Wheatear. Seaford, Sussex, 1931 : May 6th, building ; nth (5 p.m.), 3 eggs ; 14th (5 p.m.), 6 eggs ; 27th (5 p.m.), (6 eggs ; 28th (5 p.m.), all hatched. Incubation period, ddays. J. F. Thomas. DIPPER ATTACKING HOUSE-SPARROW. My friend, Mr. Tim Reeves, was staying at Alford, Aberdeen- shire, and while fishing on the Don, saw a House-Sparrow Passer d. domesticus) approach a Dipper’s (Cinclusc. gidaris ) ■ rest situated under a bridge. A Dipper at once attacked it, drove it down into the water and drowned it. My friend saw the Sparrow under the water, coming down- stream, and fished it out with a landing net, apparently dead, )ut on being placed on the roof of his car it revived in about an lour and a half and disappeared. James R. Hale. ABNORMAL SOUTHWARD MOVEMENT OF SWALLOWS IN JUNE. )n June 2nd, 1938, I returned to Tresco, Isles of Scilly, and loticed an abnormal number of Swallows ( Hirundo r. rustica), louse-Martins ( Delichon u. urbica) and several Swifts (A pus apns) hawking flies about the pools and flying very low. 46 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XXXII. On June 3rd the numbers had increased from hundreds to thousands, the weather was unsettled and on the 1st there had been heavy rain, 1.93 inches being recorded. The wind on that day blew hard from N.E. at first, then S.E., and ended up with a 70 m.p.h. gale from N.W. in the evening. At 12 noon on June 3rd I steamed out into the Atlantic to the north of the islands to see what was happening and met several batches of Swallows travelling in driblets like they do on an autumn migration, all coming south. When I returned home at about 5 p.m. I found the freshwater pools black with birds, chiefly Swallows and House-Martins, and there were several thousands of them ; by the 5th the numbers were much reduced and on the 8th there were no abnormal numbers about. The weather became much warmer on the 6th. Presumably these birds had retreated from farther north and it will be interesting to know of any report regarding desertion of nests, etc. Arthur A. Dorrien Smith. LENGTH OF NIGHTJAR’S SONG. On June 8th, 1932, I spent some time listening to Nightjars (' Caprimulgus e. curopceus) churring on Ivelling Heath, Norfolk. As one bird appeared to be an unusually good vocalist I timed the duration of its churrs. On this particular night at 9.45 I concealed myself in the bracken a few yards from the foot of a post from which the bird was in the habit of churring. At 9.55 p.m. the Nightjar flew over, clapped its wings, settled on the stump and com- menced to churr. The first churr lasted approximately 1 minute, the second 1 minute 25 seconds, the third 1 minute 55 seconds, the fourth 1 minute 10 seconds. Here the bird flew away and presently I heard some churring in the distance. Whether this was my bird or another one it was impossible to judge. After a short time my bird came back to the stump again. The fifth churr from the stump lasted 3 minutes 8 seconds, the sixth 3 minutes 47 seconds. After this last very long churr the bird flew away. T. Russell Goddard. SHORT-EARED OWL BREEDING IN DENBIGHSHIRE. On June 12th, 1938, 1 visited a moorland gamekeeper, between Ruthin and Cerrig-y-Druidion, and he informed me that on May 14th he flushed an owl from a nest hollow on the ground VOL. XXXII.] NOTES. 47 in deep heather near a hill-top. The hollow contained 5 large and 3 small young. The old birds were exceedingly bold and at times he thought they would attack him. On June 2nd there were still 3 young in the nest and the remainder were in the neighbourhood. On hearing this I at once went with the keeper to investigate and was shown the nest hollow in 2 ft. high old heather, at approximately 1,600 feet above sea level. There was a plentiful supply of owl castings in the sodden hollow, but only two minute feathers could be discovered — obviously those of an owl. However, after a considerable search in the neighbourhood we came upon what was pre- sumably the cock bird and it flew continuously above us, often at a great height, making an angry call. It also occa- sionally perched in full view and made identification of it as a Short-eared Owl ( Asio f. flammeus) a simple matter. Owls of this species frequent this moor in the winter and I have often seen them when game shooting, but this is the first I definite record of actual breeding in Denbighshire I know of. W. M. Congreve. RED-NECKED GREBE IN PEMBROKESHIRE. ,j On April 21st, 1938, while returning from Skokholm to Dale, | we passed near a Red-necked Grebe ( Podiceps g. griseigena ) j diving close in to the rocks off St. Ann’s Head. This bird was assuming summer plumage, the top of its head being warm, brown-black and the back and sides of its neck, light reddish brown. The species appears to be a rare visitor to the county and no definite specimens are recorded in Mathew’s Birds of Pembrokeshire. We know of one, assuming summer plumage, from Tenby, -which was taken in the spring of 1898 and is now ! in the National Museum of Wales. Mr. C. Mackworth-Praed I informs us that one was shot during a Coot drive at Crick- j marren Pond, near Orielton, on March 1st, 1917, while the late Mr. H. W. Evans of Solva sent us a record of one shot in the harbour there, September 10th, 1920. Geoffrey C. S. Ingram. H. Morrey Salmon. I 'NOTES ON BIRDS SEEN IN THE NORTH ATLANTIC. The following observations were made during a voyage from Liverpool to Bermuda in November, 1937 : — November $th. — Noon Position : 50° 13' N., 6° 53' W. 3-4 p.m. Many Great Shearwaters ( Puffinus gravis ) were - ;een — as many as 50 being in sight at once. These birds 48 BRITISH BIRDS. [vol. xxxii. were farther east than those seen by E. M. and B. D. Nicholson in October ( antea , Vol. XXIV., pp. 273). November yth. — Noon Position : 440 59' N., 70 03' W. 9.20-10.40 a.m. Two Wheatears ( (Enanthe cenanthe subsp.), one Robin ( Erithacus rubecula subsp.), one Song-Thrush ( T urdiis ericetorum subsp.), one Skua (? species). 12. 10-12. 50 p.m. One Robin, two Song-Thrushes (J- 1 ?), two finches, one Great Skua ? (Stercorarius skua skua). 2.30-3.5° p.m. One Robin, three Yellow Buntings ( Emberiza citrinella), two Great Skuas. Many small birds were seen at too great a distance for identification ; most of them were flying from the north, or north-east. November gth. — Noon Position : 38° 15' N., 220 55' W. 8.45- 9 a.m., 9.45-12.30 a.m., 2-4 p.m., 4.45-6.30 p.m. No birds seen. St. Michael (Azores) sighted at 4.45 p.m. November 10 th. — Noon position 36° 46' N., 30° 47' W. 9. 45- 1 1. 45 a.m., twenty-one Atlantic Shearwaters ( P . kuhlii), one Petrel (sp ?), nine Phalaropes (sp ?). 2.15-2.45 p.m. Four Atlantic Shearwaters. Atlantic Shearwaters were farther west than the October limits found by Messrs. Nicholson ( loc . cit.), but Jespersen* noted their occurrence in the waters round the Azores. November nth. — Noon position 350 34' N., 38° 37' W. From here to Bermuda, reached on November 15th, no more birds were seen. Jespersen {loc. cit.) observed a birdless area west of 30° W. and south of 350 S. Hilary B. Moore. INCUBATION PERIODS OF LAPWING AND REDSHANK. The Practical Handbook gives the incubation period of the Lapwing ( Vanellus vanellus ) as 25-28 days, and of the Red- shank [Tringa t. totanus) as 23-25 days. The following results were obtained in Carmarthenshire, all except the first Lapwing in 1938, and agree pretty well with the Practical Handbook figures. Lapwing (1) : April 12th and 13th, 1937, 2 eggs ; April 15th, 4 eggs ; May nth, 4 eggs ; May 12th, 4 young. Incubation period, 27 days. Lapwing (2) : March 28th, 1938, 2 eggs ; March 29th (11 a.m.) and 30th (3 p.m.), 3 eggs ; March 31st (1 p.m.), * Jesperson, P. 1930. Ornithological observations in the North Atlantic. Danish “Dana” Expedition 1920-2, No. 7. VOL. XXXII.] NOTES. 49 4 eggs ; April 26th (3 p.m.), 4 eggs ; April 27th (4 p.m.), 4 young, no egg-teeth and 9 yards from nest. Incubation period, 26-27 days. Lapwing (3) : March 27th (3 p.m.), 2 eggs ; March 28th (4 p.m.) and 29th (noon), 3 eggs ; March 30th (3 p.m.), 4 eggs ; Apr4l 26th (3 p.m.), 4 eggs; April 27th (4 p.m.), 4 young in nest, two still wet. Incubation period, 28 days. Lapwing (4) : March 27th (3 p.m.) and 28th (4 p.m.), 1 egg ; March 29th (noon), 2 eggs ; March 30th (3 p.m.) and 31st (1 p.m.), 3 eggs ; April 1st (11 a. in.), 4 eggs ; April 28th (3 p.m.), 4 eggs; April 29th (1 p.m.), 2 young and 2 eggs; April 30th (10 a.m.), 4 young, 23 yards from nest. Incubation period, 28-29 days. Lapwing (5) : March 30th (10 a.m.), 1 egg ; April 2nd (10 a.m.), 3 eggs; April 3rd, 4 eggs; April 29th (4 p.m.), 4 eggs ; April 30th (noon), 3 young, 1 egg ; (3 p.m.), 4 young. Incubation period, 27-28 days. Lapwing (6) : April 2nd (11 a.m.), 1 egg ; April 6th, 4 eggs ; May 4th (2 p.m.), 4 young, just hatched, i.e., egg-teeth still present, and within 2 yards of nest. Incubation period, 27-28 days. Redshank ( Tringa t. britannicus) (1) : April 17th and 18th (3 p.m.), 2 eggs ; April 19th (noon), 3 eggs ; April 20th (noon), 4 eggs (sitting) ; May 14th (3 p.m.), 3 hatched and 4th almost out of shell. Incubation period, 24-25 days. Redshank (2) : April 28th and 29th, 1 egg ; April 30th (2 p.m.) and May 1st (3 p.m.), 2 eggs ; May 2nd (2 p.m.), 3 eggs ; May 3rd (2 p.m.), 4 eggs ; May 25th (4 p.m.), 4 eggs ; May 26th (4 p.m.), 4 young in nest, two still wet. Incubation ; period, 23-24 days. It will be seen that, though in most cases eggs are laid at intervals of apparently two days, this is not always the rule md frequently two eggs of the clutch are laid on consecutive days. It would be interesting to know the exact times of the day for the laying of each of the four eggs of the clutch. J. F. Thomas. DUNLIN NESTING IN NORFOLK. There is no evidence of the Dunlin ( Calidris alpina) having oreviously nested in Norfolk, so that the following should >e put on record : On June 5th, 1938, the keeper of the Salthouse marshes, N. Holman, found on one of these grazing marshes a pair of dunlins in a state of great excitement, the cause of which vas found to be a very small chick running in the grass. The 50 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XXXII. parent birds allowed him to approach to within two or three yards of them, one of them running about with trailed wing, as does a Ringed Plover with young. On June nth I visited the marsh in the company of Miss C. E. Gay, the Cley watcher (W. Bishop) and Holman, who took us to the place where he had seen the birds. After we had sat down for a few minutes a pair of Dunlins in breeding plumage appeared and continued to fly round and round us, the flight being very similar to that of the nuptial flight of the Common Snipe. At the same time the birds were calling with a trilling sound quite unlike any note one hears from them in Norfolk. We did not find the young bird, which was doubtless hiding in a tuft of grass somewhere near to us. The marsh was under salt-water for two to three weeks after the exceptional high tide and gale of February 12th, which may have a bearing upon its selection as a nesting site by this pair of birds. Sydney H. Long. EFFECT OF DROUGHT ON NESTING SITE OF REDSHANK IN KENT. There was a drought in Kent in 1922 and I then recorded [B.B., Vol. XVII., p. 88) the nesting of the Redshank ( Tringa totanus ) on the Downs in Boxley Parish at an altitude of over 500 ft., where there was plenty of rough grass and weeds. There has been a drought again this year (rainfall to May 30th, 6.5 inches) and three pairs have nested in rough grass on the Downs in Boxley at an altitude of 600 ft. ! — the highest point in the parish. On June gth two pairs had eggs and one had young birds. I have noticed that Redshanks, when they have eggs, leave the nesting sites and are usually silent and disappear, but before they have eggs and when the eggs have hatched and they have young, they fly round and make their usual noise. James R. Hale. BEHAVIOUR OF BLACK-TAILED GODWITS IN CARMARTHENSHIRE. During the last seven or eight years a certain district in Carmarthenshire has been a favourite autumn, winter and spring resort of the Black-tailed Godwit ( Limosa l. limosa). A few birds usually appear early in August and their numbers gradually increase until they have reached the full complement at the beginning of September ; this “ full complement ” varies from year to year and may be anything from 20 to 40 birds. If the winter is a mild one, the number remains fairly constant till May, when they drift away by VOL. XXXII.] NOTES. 51 degrees, the last in 1938 being seen on May 28th (a party of eight). If the weather turns cold with sufficient frost to freeze their usual feeding-grounds, they disappear at once and are not seen again till the following March. Black-tailed Godwits have a very characteristic method of feeding ; standing in water just up to their bellies or a little deeper they probe in the mud with heads nearly cover d ; on finding food they remove it from the water and, holding the bill at an angle of 30° down from the horizontal, they give a little forward jerk of the head and the morsel is swallowed. Occasionally they may be seen probing where there is no water, but only mud, and then it is noticed that' the bill is pointed vertically downwards and three-quarters is covered by the ooze ; here again we see the forward jerk of the head in swallowing. Generally they feed fairly close together, and their advance is extremely slow, perhaps 20 yards in half an hour. Much of their time is spent in sleeping and preening, with I vater just covering their legs, usually as a fairly close flock [-30 that it is not easy then to count their numbers correctly. It is difficult to estimate the speed of birds flying, but in ] :he case of the Black-tailed Godwit it appears very rapid, I and should the flock contain more than 10 birds it is irnposs- 1 ble to make an accurate count as individuals keep on altering if heir position in the formation. If they are flying right away 1 :rom their haunt, they rise to a good height, perhaps 200 feet, I and after about half a mile they appear to have formed a line nr a V. As a rule they are not at all shy ; in full view I have walked i lowly past them at a distance of 60 yards ; Mallard, Teal, 1 Redshank, Lapwing and other birds all flew away — the flack-tailed Godwits were left alone with two Swans. On ne occasion a Peregrine ( Falco p. peregrinus) passed over ; airly low ; 27 Godwits that had been quietly feeding rose as a i ock, and started to mob the tiercel forcing him to rise higher nd higher till he flew right away. J. F. Thomas. SNIPE ROLLING- OVER IN FLIGHT. ' >N May nth, 1938, 1 was standing by a hedge on some marshy ■ ind in Hampshire, when a Common Snipe ( Capella g. 1 allinago) flew low over the hedge, coming in my direction. /hen about twenty yards away, the bird ceased its wing ; eats and turned over completely in a “ half-roll”, gliding on f s back for a distance of about ten yards, then turning over 1 > normal position, resumed its flight. A friend standing with e also remarked upon this. E. L. Roberts. 52 BRITISH BIRDS. [vol. xxxii. LITTLE GULLS AND BLACK TERNS IN SOMERSET. A quite unusual passage of Little Gulls ( Larus minutus ) and Black Terns ( Chlidonias n. niger) occurred in Somerset in May, 1938. Five of the former and three of the latter were first observed by Mr. H. H. Davis and the writer on the new Cheddar reservoir on May 4th ; these were all adults in summer plumage. Two days later the Rev. F. L. Blathwayt and the writer saw 12 of the former (8 adults, 4 immatures) and 18 of the latter, though later on the same day Mr. K. I). Smith counted 21 Black Terns. On May 7th there were 4 Little Gulls (1 adult and 3 immatures) and 2 Black Terns (both adults), but on May 8th they had all gone. In addition, Mr. K. D. Smith saw 8 Black Terns at Blagdon reservoir on May 5th. and 2 on the coast at Woodspring Bay the following day. There were, however, none at Blagdon on May 8th, nor did Mr. Davis see any at Barrow Gurney reservoirs either on that date or on May 7th. Other observers who saw the birds on one or other occasion were Messrs. J. H. F. Fursdon, A. C. Leach, J. H. Savory and W. R. Taylor. There are only one or two records of the Little Gull in Somerset, and those only of isolated birds in the autumn ; there have, up to the present, been no records in spring. As regards the Black Tern, though there are one or two records in the spring, they have not previously been recorded in any- thing like such numbers. The weather was mainly fine and calm though there was some rain on May 3rd. Attention was first drawn to the Little Gulls by noticing the very dark underwing of a small “ black-headed ” Gull flying over the reservoir and it was then seen to settle among four others. The head was deep black, including the whole of the nape and neck ; the base of the neck was very white and a striking contrast between the black head and grey mantle. The bill was dark and may have been black or very dark red ; the inside of the mouth was reddish. The legs and feet were red. The tail was short and square and white. The primaries seemed pale grey with a noticeable very small white tip ; the I wing beneath was slaty-black with a white edging on the i hinder edge. The breast was white but with a distinct pink flush. In size the birds were about one-third smaller than the j Black-headed Gulls ( Larus r. ridibundus ) of which a number were present. Their flight was active and rather like that of a Black Tern in the way they turned and at times swooped down to the surface of the water. The wings were rounded very I much more than those of the Black-headed Gulls. The VOL. XXXII.] NOTES. 53 above description is taken from the adults. Full details could not be obtained of the immatures as the birds did not settle, but they had a dark mark on a white head ; the wings had a distinct dark band running diagonally from the carpal joint towards the body, in front of which was white. The primaries were dark and the wing beneath light, not slate-black as in the adult ; the tail had a dark tip. All the Black Terns seen were in full summer plumage. One interesting feature was observed on May 6th. In common with the Little Gulls, 16 of these Terns wheeled higher and higher in the air as if they might have been resuming their migration. But, instead, they came down lower in steep dives and after flying backwards and forwards for some little time, they resumed their flight low over the water and eventually settled on the edge in a close body. During this flight they kept close together and at a distance looked much more like dark grey waders than Terns. On no occasion were either the Little Gulls or Black Terns heard to utter any note. H. Tetley. White-spotted Bluethroat in Cumberland. — Mr. Richard Perry writes {Field, May 14th, 1938) that while watching migrants at the head of the Solway on April 15th, 1938, he had a White-spotted Bluethroat ( Luscinia s. cyane- . cula), evidently from his description an adult male, under observation for an hour. He appears to have obtained unusually good views of the bird. Glossy Ibis in Aberdeenshire. — Mr. W. Arbuthnot- Leslie records [Field, June 4th, 1938) the shooting of a Glossy Ibis ( Plegadis f. falcinellus ) near Warthill, Aberdeenshire, on May 3rd, 1938. REVIEW. Bird Flocks and the Breeding Cycle. By F. Fraser Darling (Cambridge University Press, 1938), pp. x., 124. 6s. net. This is an original and stimulating book devoted to a study of colonial breeding sea-birds whose social habits and ecology the author investi- gated in two successive years on one of the charmingly named Summer Isles, off the coast of Wester Ross. Its main thesis is that in colonial nesting birds the displays and social inter-actions of the members of the colon)'- exert a cumulative stimulatory effect on the reproductive functions of the component individuals which is necessary, or at least 1 factor of first-rate importance, for successful breeding, and that 1 below a certain threshold of numbers the group will fail to complete che breeding-cycle. Since ornithologists as a class are unfortunately not remarkable for familiarity with current developments in general oiology having a bearing on their subject, it is perhaps desirable to state that such an idea will not be at all startling to the general biologist. The importance of the influence exerted by visual and what 54 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XXXII. may perhaps be called " emotional ” stimuli on physiological and more especially on reproductive processes in animals is to-day widely recognized. There can be no doubt, for example, that the primary role of “ courtship ” and sexual displays in birds is a stimulatory one serving to induce the requisite synchronization of reproductive condition in the members of a pair, and the channel of stimulation is the eye, reinforced in some species by the ear. It may also not be irrelevant to recall that Chance’s observations a good many years ago appeared to indicate that ovulation in the female Cuckoo is induced by a period of concentrated watching of the activities of the intended fosterers. We recall the scorn of a well-known ornithologist at such a — to him — absurd idea, but the results of modern biological research are entirely consistent with the conclusion to which Chance’s field observations led him and make the critic’s sneer look foolish. To-day we can conclude in the words of Marshall that “ in all the higher animals sexual period- icity while conditioned by the environment, is regulated in its successive phases by the combined integrative action of the nervous and endocrine systems ”. Endocrine organs are those which pass into the blood secretions or hormones which initiate or control a variety of both general and localized processes in the body, and it is now known that the principal regulator in connexion with reproductive processes is a part of the pituitary body at the base of the brain. There is no doubt that visual and other stimuli coming from outside the organism- — what are called exteroceptive factors — exert through the sense organs and nervous system, as well as perhaps in other ways, important effects on the pituitary, and amongst such exteroceptive factors must be included “ equally with the physical factors of the environment those psychical ones provided bv the presence of another individual or the attitudes struck by a companion”. Having thus briefly noted the psycho-physiological background of Mr. Darling’s work, we may turn to the field observations on which he bases his views. These are principally concerned with colonies of Herring- and Lesser Black-backed Gulls ( Larus argentatus and fuscus). Four colonies of the former on Priest Island consisted in 1936 of 84-90, 30-34, 20 and 4 birds and in 1937 °f 1 30-150, 34» 4°. 16 and 4, while two of the latter numbered 72-80 and 18 in the first year and 120 and 30 in the second. It was found that in almost all cases the larger colonies not only started laying earlier, but the time taken by the whole colonies to lay their whole quota of eggs was shorter than in the colonies of lesser numbers. Thus, in 1936 the laying period began in the largest Herring-Gull colony on May 7th and lasted 17 days, in the second it began on May 12th and lasted 23 days, and in the third it began on May 1 8th and lasted 26 days, while the group of 4 birds made nests in the few days following May 26th, but failed to lay at all. Other results were comparable. As the author says, the results are too striking to allow of coincidence “ and it is suggested that the most obvious interpretation is to be found in the total value of visual-auditory stimulation for each pair in the larger flocks, compared with the total amount of such stimulation in the smaller flocks”. The nature of the stimulation is indicated by a good account of the individual and collective displays of the two species under discussion, accompanied by various other valuable observations on habits and behaviour. An interesting corollary of the state of affairs described is that the per- centage of young reared in the larger colonies is greater than in the smaller ones. This seems to be due to the fact that the percentage of VOL. XXXII.] REVIEW. 55 y'oung killed by Herons and Great Black-backed Gulls, which only • :ake downy chicks, is less when the total period during which such i chicks are available is relatively short than when it is more extended. I in this we seem to see a visible advantage in the better synchronization i )f breeding activities which appears to prevail in the larger colonies. In a further chapter the author gives interesting descriptions of i communal displays in various species (including the Eider, Grey Lag- i Toose, Black Guillemot, Razorbill, etc.) most of which, so far as we ire aware, are new. There can be no doubt that these communal Phenomena present a most promising and little worked field for study, md one recalls the remarkable and little understood spring assemblies >f the Jay and the Magpie, which seem to have nothing to do with the hoice of mates, as most, if not all, of the birds are paired already. The author’s discussion of the Petrel family is of particular interest, t is suggested that the communal night flights of the smaller petrels -t their breeding places may subserve an important stimulatory unction in forms whose whole breeding cycle, as suggested by the asual parental care and slow growth of the chick, “ seems to be •itched an octave lower than that of most birds ”. Again, as may have 'Ccurred to the reader already, the well-known way in which a few pairs f Fulmars will frequent a new breeding site and behave as if breeding or several years before they actually do so would receive a complete xplanation if the author’s main contention is correct. Mr. Darling is prudent in not claiming too much for his theory. He does not wish to over estimate the significance of the social factor i the breeding cycle, but to point to its existence ”. As he observes, when other environmental conditions are of an optimum character he social factor would play a lesser part, and when they are bad it lay become crucially important”, and he recognizes that its importance lay vary in different social species. This would certainly seem to be le case ; in the Rook, for example, quite small colonies are commoner Man big ones and often remain small for considerable periods. Again e feel that the author’s extension of his theory to non-colonial or facultatively ” colonial species which have some sort of communal splay, although it may turn out to be quite justified, seems clearly ore insecure than its application to the more fully social breeders : e do not really know at present how far the communal performances ■ birds which are not or need not be colonial nesters have any sexual ' ;pect at all. It is clear, however, that the author has made a very good • 'ima facie case for at least the colonial sea-birds and he has opened up very promising line of inquiry which we hope that he and others ith comparable opportunities will not fail to follow farther. In conclusion we may be excused a little criticism of the rather care- •ss way in which the author has quoted the work of others. We are Id on page 7 that Rowan discovered the effect of light on gonad ivelopment and migratory impulse in the Canadian (usually called e American) Crow and later followed this up with work on Juncos, tiereas in fact the order of the experiments was just the reverse. A w lines on, it is stated that Crows with their gonads brought into ring condition in winter by artificial illumination migrated north- irds when released. It is true that there was considerable evidence at a majority of the experimental birds probably did go north, but, fact, the numbers actually recovered respectively northward and uthward of the place of release were precisely the same ! On the same ge Bissonette’s experiments are said to have been performed on e "American Starling ”, a non-existent species, the subject of the 56 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XXXII. experiment having been in realP in America. Little slipshod inac serious in themselves, but they ai^ lrru^. avoided. They do not, however, affect original contribution to bird bio) 'gy. 'an Starling acclimatized is sort may not be very .g and ought to have been the value of the author’s B.W.T. LETTERS. BIRD SONG INQUIRY. To the Editors of British Birds. Sirs,— A number of your readers are already assisting with the Bird Song Inquiry, organized under the auspices of the British Trust for Ornithology. It has been suggested that the observations on the six selected species should be continued for a second year. There can be no doubt that a comparison of two seasons — in which weather con- ditions are sure to differ in various ways — will be of much greater value than the records for a single year. Those who are already known to be assisting have received a circular asking for their co-operation for a second year. But I shall be glad to have the co-operation of other observers too, and if they will write to me I will send particulars. 144, Oaktree Lane, H. G. Alexander. Birmingham, 29. INCUBATION PERIOD OF THE PEREGRINE. To the Editors of British Birds. Sirs, — -Unfortunately owing to absence abroad I had no opportunity of seeing Mr. Gordon’s note on this subject ( antea , p. 18) before publica- tion. The conclusion he arrives at is invalidated by an error of observation. The first egg was laid on April 12th, and then comes the astonishing statement that “ on April 15th there were four eggs in the nest ” (!) If this was really the case they were certainly not laid by the Peregrine. More probably, however, it is merely an error caused by observation from a distance. The minimum interval between the eggs of all the British Accipitres is two days — and it may extend to three or four days in the case of the Peregrine ( Falco p. peregrinus) or even a week in certain other species. Even if the second egg were laid prematurely, the rest would be developed in the usual way. The fourth egg could not have been laid before April 18th, possibly a day or two later. As two eggs were hatched by May 18th incubation lasted about a month (not five weeks as suggested by Mr. Gordon), but no accurate period can be deduced from the particulars given, for it does not follow that the falcon began to sit on the third egg, nor do we know which of the four eggs disappeared or the dates on which they were laid. The same mistake as Mr. Gordon’s was also made by the late Dr. F. Heatherly in his work on “ The Peregrine Falcon at the Eyrie”, who " assumed that an egg is laid daily till the clutch is complete”. He found one egg on April 7th and four on the nth and it is just possible that the first egg was really laid on April 5th and that when the nest was visited on the 7th, the falcon was about to lay her second egg. The third would be laid on the 9th and the fourth on the nth. Perhaps Mr. Gordon’s case was really similar, and the one egg seen by him on the 12th had been laid a couple of days earlier. The fact that the eggs (or some of them) duly hatched out shows that we are not dealing with a case of abnormal or dwarf eggs, and it is quite incredible that three eggs in succession should be developed and laid in half the normal period. F. C. R. Jourdain. 7 Jl J! 1S38 purchased THE POPULAR SERIES OF BIRD-LOVTRS’ MANUALS MORE SONGS OF WILD BIRDS E. M. Nicholson and L. Koch. Illustrated. 15s. net boxed. With gramophone records of bird-song. SONGS OF WILD BIRDS E. M. Nicholson and L. Koch. Illustrated. 15s. net boxed. With gramophone records of bird-song. BIRD MIGRATION A. Landsborough Thomson. Ulus. Sm.Cr.8vo. 5s. net. HOW TO KNOW BRITISH BIRDS Norman H. Joy. Illus. Sm.Cr.8vo. 5s. net. BIRDS OF THE GREEN BELT R. M. Lockley. Illus. Sm.Cr.8vo. 5s. net. j EVERY GARDEN A BIRD SANCTUARY E. L. Turner. Illus. Sm.Cr.8vo. 5s. net. H. F. & G. WITHERBY LTD., LONDON SWAN HISTORY For disposal a few complete sets of Dr. N. F. Ticehurst’s papers on Swan History (23 papers) at two guineas the set ; also separate copies of the following: — Kent, Surrey, London and Middlesex, Herts, Suffolk, Northants Leicester and Rutland, 1/6 each; Oxon and Bucks, Berks, 3 j- each; £. Norfolk (3 papers) 4/6; W. Norfolk, Cambs and Hunts, Lincoln 5/» each. Apply 24, Pevensey Road, St. Leonards-on~Sea. — LE GERFAUT REVUE BELGE D’ORNITHOLOGIE i9h> La seule publication scientifique beige traitant des oiseaux, specialement des oiseaux de la Belgique Abonnement 25 francs beiges - 5 Belgas par an Direction : Square Prince Charles 21, Bruxelles- Laeken (Belgique) Recently Published The First Volume of THE HANDBOOK OF BRITISH BIRDS [Crows to Flycatchers] • EXTRACTS FROM REVIEWS “ It is accurate, complete, and fully authoritative and its position is assured.” — “ The Times.” “ I cannot speak too highly of this volume ... it should (there can be no question about it) be in the hands of every ornithologist and every bird -lover.” — “ The Field.” “ Most comprehensive and delightful book to all lovers of birds. It is the successor of the * Practical Handbook of British Birds’, which has been out of print for some years, but it is largely a new compila- tion and gains immensely from the inclusion of a generous supply of very beautiful coloured plates.” — “ Yorkshire Post.” “ It can claim to put British birds on the map in a manner at which other less fortunate countries may aim, but which they can never hope to excel.” — G. K. YEATES in 4‘ Shooting Times ”. IN FIVE VOLUMES— 21/- NET PER VOLUME A few copies of the work are being prepared, bound in 10 volumes and interleaved at £7/7/0 the set H. F. & G. WITHERBY LTD., LONDON BIRDS /jwusrpeaED-mcrariE DDiOTnMHtnyTOTHtBIRDS '^vC'NTMEDraiSIlUST^ MONTHiyis9 rSSl HhfS de?+CienCy and also t0 Place uPon record some ynal data. It is not our intention to discuss all that has een written on the subject. M. Madon goes back as far as ■uflon, whose correspondent M. Hebert (. Histoire Natuvelle es Oiseaux, tome IX, 1784, p. 51) gaVe more than a century ad a half ago a very good account of the Dipper’s walking i n agree*ng closely with the modern observations ?„r^lded belo'v‘ But f°r references to the earlier literature .aders may be referred to M. Madon’s paper. We shall mhne oursdves here to modern observations and of these • Madon is able to quote three. His( correspondent M. F. de Chapel, wrote (translation) AnPrh m11’ Stan?mg ?n a bnd§e’ was able to observe a £ , *'alk;n§ and pecking about on an old wall under ater at a depth of about 75 cms. It walked with ease C ngbt and left’ and emerged still walking to regain ms np-/n°m WhlCh * Started' 11 m0ved in different dfrec- ms, neither opening nor agitating its wings The observations of MM. Calemard and de Feligarde are nv.nc.ngly detailed. They were made under exceptionally ourable conditions m extremely clear water. " The depth about 40 cms. ; the clearness of the water is perfect the rrent gentle. We have seen the Dippers (singly) arrive on 3 wm« a the edge of the water, settle on a low branch P ‘n»° the,™‘f fd deS“nd Iike a st0"e to the bottom' d rthfs he beak downwards ; on reaching the bottom the dngMs rfself and appears just as though it was on land, p cks about in search of its favourite food, a white larva haft T 'a S , ant debnS °f wood which fishermen use , ' ,n tbls P. moves in a leisurely manner turns f S raCTks’ aud its object achieved, rises again to the face. In rising it has very much the appearance of a great We °J- ^lr at thls mstant it has the wings half open ■ it ^ery ifficult to say whether it assists itself with its feet . we are inclined to think it keeps them drawn up. In any hteneddMonShf ^ ltS wings’ moving them 3ast lik* a ’ Wr d A?°orhen when swimming. When it is walking on bottom the wings are folded to the body, but it partfallv sanot 'as?/11 °rder t0 nSG t0 the t0p; the submergence s not last long some seconds only, for the bird has been - rom the surface to see the insect it requires and which ns its favourite food. Under water it appears silverv and ered with bubbles of air. In repeatedly makmg7 tht have the sun behind ™ 60 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XXXII. M. Madon further mentions that he himself many years previously observed a Dipper enter, cross and re-cross a clear pool about 40 cms. deep with a fine sandy bottom, walk- ing apparently just as if it was on land. These three original observations and the six affirmative statements which he has extracted from the literature* show a marked agreement in essentials, and it must be admitted that the account of MM. Calemard and de Feligarde is remarkably clear and precise. Madon’s conclusions may be briefly summarized as follows : the Dipper is undoubtedly able to walk on the bottom completely submerged when the current is not too strong, but this appears to be a faculty exercised at times rather than a constant habit ; it does so with ease and there is no evidence of its grasping pebbles on the bottom ; it moves in all directions and not only against the current ; the wings are sometimes moved while it is on the bottom, but this is not essential, the movement being merely incidental to maintaining its balance where the bottom is uneven or to an extra effort where the current is stronger. With regard to the him of air bubbles on the surface of the plumage the accounts differ ; some observers have described it very definitely, others have not seen it. There can be no reasonable doubt that it exists, but its visibility depends on the angle at which the bird is observed and the incidence of the light. As a matter of fact, having regard to the natural oiliness of the plumage and the microscopic structure of the vane of the feather, it is only to be expected that a quantity of fine air-bubbles will be held in the interstices of the latter ; indeed, even the dried skin of a Dipper, or for that matter almost any bird, plunged under water shows such a film on the feathers very clearly, as anyone can verify. The experience of two of the writers (G.C.S.I. and H.M.S.) accords completely in essentials with M. Madon’s conclusions. The subject was alluded to briefly in our book Birds in Britain To-day (p. 41), but it will be desirable here to give the original observations more fully. It was not intended to infer that the Dipper invariably walked along the bottom, for there is ample evidence that it swims as described by Coward, wherever the water is deep and still. On the other hand, we have on a number of separate occasions watched a Dipper walk into the centre of a shallow, rapid mountain stream and walk up its course without making *These are Buffon ( loc . cit.), Vieillot (18x6), Homeyer in Brehm’s Tierleben (1820), Crespon (Ornithologie du Garde, 1840), Gerbe (Deg- lande and Gerbe, Ornithologie europ&enne, ed. 2, 1866), D’Hamonville (La Vie des Oiseaux, 1890). vol. xxxii.] THE DIPPER UNDER WATER. 61 any use of its wings. The streams were so shallow that every now and then the back of the bird was just awash, but at other times it was completely submerged for a few seconds. At short intervals it walked out on to an exposed ■stone and paused in its search for food, then entered the water again and proceeded upstream for some distance before appearing again on another stone. We quote below an extract from a letter from Mr. Arthur Brook confirming the habit, based on his experience dating back to 1910-12. Our own experience dates back equally long and we have in consequence never taken seriously the suggestions that the Dipper does not walk under water. Thirty years ago Dippers bred regularly on several streams within what are now the boundaries of the City of Cardiff and we had the birds under frequent observation. In particular, when photographing a pair at their nest on a Brecknockshire stream in May, 1910, ve had opportunities over a period of watching their progress inder water at close quarters. The nest was built near a niniature waterfall, which cascaded into a small pool a couple if yards across. The Dippers, on many occasions daily, valked deliberately into the shallow water on the far side >f the pool and every movement could be followed as they valked across the bottom, picking up food (caddis larvae so ar as we could see) from amongst the stones. They proceeded hus until they reached the broken water of the fall, when they /ould be lost to sight. Whether they gripped the stones with heir feet, as has been suggested, we cannot say, but occa- ionally they would appear to lose contact with the bottom, robably overcome by the current and eddies, when a rapid ; ick of the wings could be seen. Sometimes this enabled the ird to regain its equilibrium, but often it would rise to the irface in the middle of the broken water, sometimes flying lence direct up to the nest to feed the young, at others vimming on the surface to the near side of the pool before ying up to the nest. On very many occasions, however, they ■alked in at one side of the pool and walked out of the water a the other side ; only in the broken water in the middle ere they lost to view ; otherwise they could be seen walking 1 the bottom for a distance of about six feet. When under ater they appeared somewhat elongated, with head and 3ck stretched forward. We did not here at any time see lem use their wings to swim any of this distance under ater, though they may have done so in the broken water. On a number of occasions subsequently we have watched ippers walking on the bottom over short distances, 1 to id 62 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XXXII. yards at most, from bridges over streams in South Wales, and G.C.S.I. has a note of a bird watched in April, 1928, moving 5 to 6 yards or probably more, as it came into view under water. This was in shallow, fairly rapidly running water, and in this distance three times the bird's head and back appeared above water, when it presumably went over a largish, flat stone. We have never seen a Dipper actually swim under water using its wings, although it undoubtedly sometimes does so. In our experience the water, when deep enough, is usually too disturbed to make sure, or even to see at all, what the bird is doing. When entering fairly fast- running water it appears always to face the current, but in pools where the current is slow and eddying it seems immaterial to the bird how it enters, and certainly it crosses irrespective of eddies. We have not observed the film of air bubbles on the plumage, butM.Madon’sexplanationof this is doubtless correct. Mr. Arthur Brook, who was born in and lived in Dipper country for over forty years, writes, “ I have seen the Dipper walking under water without the aid of its wings on many occasions. In the years 1910-12 I spent quite a lot of time in photographing and observing this bird at various nests. It was a regular thing for one or other of the Dippers to alight in the middle of a shallow and rapid part of the stream and to walk up it in search of food, exactly as you have described it, with its back sometimes just awash, at others completely disappearing. It is in the smoother and deeper parts of the stream that I have watched the Dipper swimming under water, using its wings to propel itself ; the young birds can do this as soon as they are able to leave the nest.” It will not be irrelevant to add to these European observa- tions the testimony of Mr. A. H. Cordier with regard to the closely allied Cinclus mexicanus in America (Auk, 1927, p. 172). This observer writes of the female bird : “ She waded leisurely into the still water to the bottom and walked deliberately about hunting under the edges of rocks for her prey. One half-minute was the longest I saw her remain immersed. If she succeeded in catching anything, she came to the surface like a cork, secured a good hold on her prey, and flew towards the nest. When gathering food in swift water, she seemed to go down head first with her feet holding on to the rock beneath the surface and fed upstream. The toe nails are long and the flexors are strong, thus the feet are constructed like ice creepers, giving the bird much foot power. This was beautifully illustrated by the bird’s ability to scale the water-splashed, glazed surface of the almost vol. xxxil] THE DIPPER UNDER WATER. 63 vertical face of the cliff down which the Seven Falls rush. Repeatedly the bird flew from the nest and alighted on the slick face of the cliff within a few inches of the massed waters of the fall, and climbed up its perpendicular surface, all the while gathering some form of food for the young.” Cordier was even able to take a photograph of the bird under water which is reproduced in the paper quoted. He disputes the statement of J. H. Studer ( The Birds of North America, 1876), who refers, like some of the European observers, to the “ film of air surrounding them which looks like silver.” He points out that some of the under-covering of oily down may often be seen " protruding through or between the heavier coat of feathers producing a shimmering halo about some parts of the bird’s body.” It seems doubtful whether the descriptions of Calemard and others can be sufficiently accounted for in this way and, indeed, with a skin immersed in water it is easy to see that the film extends over the whole surface of the contour feathers and is in no wise confined to places where the down protrudes, though it may well be that it is more conspicuous at these points in life. We have already expressed the opinion that Madon’s explanation of the conflicting statements on this subject is probably correct. It may be hoped, at any rate, that the Dipper problem, so far as the fact of its walking under water is concerned, will now be considered settled, but the means by which the bird accomplishes this feat remain a puzzle. Comte G. de Vogue (Alauda, Vol. VI., 1934, p. 526) has offered a tentative mechanical explanation, the essence of which is that the bird is kept down by having its head constantly lowered and allowing the force of the current to play against its slanting back. Coward (see above) describes the bird moving in this position, but we ourselves cannot state definitely that the lead is always lowered, though it seems to be always stretched lut. But our own observations and the conclusions of Madon ire in agreement that it does not necessarily face into the mrrent. It is difficult to resist the assumption that the bird must grip the stones of the bottom with its claws, yet there seems to be very general agreement that it moves without loticeable effort, and there remains the puzzling and presum- ibly reliable observation of M. Madon himself of the bird valking over fine sand. The problem of the mechanical explanation of the Dipper’s performance is thus one urgently n need of study and it may be hoped that the admittedly ;reat practical difficulties in the way of effective investigation vill not indefinitely prevent its solution. (64) SUMMARIES OF INLAND OCCURRENCES OF SOME WATERFOWL AND WADERS, 1924-1936. BY P. A. D. HOLLOM. (i Continued from page 37.) Sheld-Duck ( Tadorna tadorna). — It occurs several times every year in the lower Thames Valley (Middlesex and Surrey) and is less frequent but still almost annual farther up the river (Oxford, Berks and Bucks). Cambridge is also generally visited. In the Midlands the bird has been recorded annually for the past six years (7 times in 1935), chiefly from South Staffs, while in Cheshire there are several records almost every year. To other counties it is only an occasional visitor. Most birds appear between February and May, but par- ticularly in April, and there are a number of records for September and December. They are scarcest in June and July but two July records from Cheshire deserve special notice. In 1926 probably hundreds were heard flying over at midnight on July 20th-2ist, and on July 22nd, 1934, 60 or 70 flew over towards the east. Confirmation of both easterly and westerly movement presumably involving overland travel comes from ringing records, birds ringed in Dumfries and Germany being re- covered in Germany and Lancs respectively. (There are also five records of birds crossing the North Sea between the east or south coast of Britain and Germany.) One or two birds are the usual number seen, but there are records of 14 in Cambs and Cheshire, 12 in Surrey, and between 6 and 8 have been seen in different parts of the country about ten times. Wigeon ( Anas penelope). — A winter resident inland. The majority have gone by mid- April but generally one or two remain into May and there are even records for June. It is unusual for birds to return before the end of September or the beginning of October — early dates are Surrey, September 7th, 1936, and Herts, September 14th, 1933. Numbers vary considerably, but the largest count is 700 at Staines reservoir on December 19th, 1933, while about 400 each have been recorded for Berks, Somerset (April nth, 1936) and Staffs. Pintail (Anas a. acuta). — From the records it appears that there is no inland locality where the Pintail occurs regularly in winter. It is reported most often from Middlesex and Oxford where two or three are seen nearly every winter ; vol. xxxii.] WATERFOWL AND WADERS. 65 it is rather less frequent in Herts and Bucks, and there are considerable gaps in the records from the other counties under consideration. Most records are of one or two birds, but in March there is an increase both in the number of records and the number of birds seen, and in this month flocks of ten and eleven have been recorded in Cambs and seven in Warwick. There is also a Bucks record of 9 in February. Birds seldom appear before October (early dates : Surrey, August 13th, 1936, and Essex, September 12th, 1925) and spring migration is usually over by the end of April. Late dates are Middlesex, May 28th, 1936, and Surrey, May 21st, 1934, and a bird was seen in Staffs on June 16th, 1930. Shoveler ( Spatula clypeata). — Some breed in most of the counties under review. Numbers are usually greatest in spring. Cambridge 400 on March 23rd, 1928, and Somerset 400 on April nth, 1936 (both of these are exceptionally large figures), Berks 40 on February 25th, 1933, and Staffs c. 50 on March 28th, 1932. But in Herts considerable packs appear in autumn. 65-70 in Somerset in December, 1935, and 52 in Cheshire in November, 1933, are the only records over about a score in the winter months of November, December and January. Common Pochard ( Nyroca f. ferina). — In the lower Thames Valley (Essex, Middlesex, and Surrey) there is normally considerable passage commencing early in July, but there is I tmo evidence elsewhere inland of movement so early in the autumn. In Somerset a large influx occurs in September when :flocks often contain 100 or more birds, but elsewhere large : cumbers seem confined to the winter months, and may reach :heir peak any time between November and March. The bird i'.s erratic in its movements and numbers fluctuate widely. I IFlocks exceeding 100 birds may appear anywhere where there as a large enough sheet of water, and the greatest numbers luring the period under review were reported during December, 1935, when there were over 1,000 in the lower Thames Valley, • some hundreds in Bucks and Oxford and 1,200 at one group if reservoirs in Somerset. Tufted Duck ( Nyroca fuligula). — Breeds in the great najority of inland counties, and numbers are much increased n winter, the greatest concentration being in the lower Thames Valley. Large counts are Walthamstow reservoir, 795 on March 10th, 1934 ; Molesey reservoir, 514 on October 14th, 1931, and 730 at Barn Elms and Lonsdale Road reser- voirs on January 30th, 1935. Flocks of over 100 birds are ecorded for Cambs, Herts, Berks, Bucks, Oxford, Somerset fi6 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XXXII. and Staffs, chiefly in January, February or March. There is some evidence of passage in July/August in Somerset and in October in Surrey, but very few series of counts are available. Scaup-Duck ( Nyroca m. mania). — One or two birds appear almost every year in Essex, Middlesex, Surrey, Somerset and Cheshire, but it is less regular in Herts, and there are only odd records for other counties. Very few remain after the third week in April (late dates : Cheshire, May 9th, 1932, and Somerset, May 10th, 1934) but there are two records of sum- mering in Essex and two of birds in Cheshire in June and July. They seldom reappear before October (early dates : Surrey, September 16th, 1933, and Herts, September 19th, 1926) and most of the records are for the first four months of the year, particularly March. Records of more than two or three birds are scarce, but 8 were seen in Essex in the early part of 1933, and 9 or 10 in Cheshire on February 24th, 1934. Goldeneye ( Bucephala c. clangula). — The species is a regular winter visitor to most of the inland counties. In the south-east it is particularly attracted, like many other ducks, by the large reservoirs round London, where the highest count recorded at Staines was 50 in February, 1931, but the numbers there do not usually exceed about 30 birds and are lower on the other reservoirs in the area. A dozen or so winter every year in Berks but in Bucks, and Oxford where there are few apparently suitable waters it only occurs irregularly. The number of wintering birds in Somerset is small, seldom exceeding half a dozen but there is a considerable increase in April, the largest count being c. 30 on April 13th, 1930. In the Midlands, birds occur in most winters in Worcs, and are regular on reservoirs in Warwick and Staffs, where the unusual number of 40/50 was seen on January 1st, 1927. In Cheshire, flocks are generally small, but here, as in Somerset, there is evidence of a regular April passage. Birds generally begin to return in the second half of October (early dates : Essex, September 26th, 1936, and Oxford, September 26th, 1925) and numbers inland continue to increase often until February or early March. Most have gone by mid-April but there are several May records (late dates : Essex, May 18th, 1932, and Middlesex, May 24th, 1935) and one in Somerset on June 21st, 1933. Birds have summered in Cheshire and Middlesex and probably Herts. Long-tailed Duck ( Clangula hyemalis). — This species only appears exceptionally on inland waters, where during the last 13 years not more than a dozen birds in all have been recorded from the counties of Cheshire, Essex, Herts, VOL. XXXII.] WATERFOWL AND WADERS. 67 Somerset, Staffs, Surrey and Worcs, chiefly in the months of November and December. In Middlesex, however, one or two have wintered regularly for the past five years on Staines reservoir, arriving between September 29th and November 5th, and leaving between March 21st and April 25th. Twice in autumn four birds have been seen here together. Common Scoter ( Oidemia n. nigra). — Although reported from several different counties every year it does not occur regularly in any except perhaps Middlesex and Cheshire. There are scattered records for all the others. Many more birds have appeared in April than in any other month, but there are a number of records throughout the summer and autumn, particularly in June, and there is an increase again in November. Occurrences are scarcest in January and February. Usually only one or two birds are seen at a time, occasionally more in June, July and November, but in Middlesex in April up to sixteen have been reported. Velvet-Scoter ( Oidemia f. fusca). — A scarce bird inland, with ten records in the south-east (Essex, Middlesex, Herts and Surrey) and five elsewhere. Unlike the Common Scoter it has only occurred in winter and spring, between the dates of November 16th and April 17th and not more than two have appeared together. Goosander ( Mergus m. merganser). — As in the case of the Smew, this species occurs in the lower Thames Valley in much greater numbers than elsewhere and wintering birds arrive there earlier and stay later. Thus eight out of the twelve April records refer to this area, and Middlesex is the only county where an arrival is reported for October. The maximum counts are 58 in Essex in January, 1936, 152 in Middlesex, March 3rd, 1935, and 143 in Surrey, February, 1934, but numbers in these counties do not usually exceed 60 to 80 birds on any one reservoir and are, of course, frequently much less. Higher up the Thames it is seen almost every year in Berks and Bucks, usually in small numbers, but there are very few records for Oxford, Somerset or Wilts. The bird occurs regularly in the Midlands where as many as 40 have been seen in Staffs in January, but only 2 or 3 at a time in Worcs, and it is also regular on the Cheshire meres in numbers up to a dozen. A few birds are seen in most years in Herts. The first arrivals usually appear in November (early dates : Middlesex, October 26th, 1935, and November 1st, 1936 ; Berks, November 5th, 1926) and numbers reach their peak 68 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XXXII. in January-February or early March, by the end of which month nearly all have left. However, there were still 63 on Staines reservoir on April 1st, 1934, and late dates are Worcs, May 17th, 1928, and Middlesex, May 13th, 1934. There is one record of three birds summering in Surrey. Red-breasted Merganser ( Mergus senator). — Scarce inland, most of the records coming from the south-east, especially Middlesex, and a single occurrence in Somerset is the only one in midland or western counties. There are records for all the winter months between the dates of November nth and April 20th, usually of single birds, but five were seen together in Middlesex on March 8th, 1929- Smew [Mergus albellus). — Up to two or three score now winter regularly on reservoirs in Surrey, Middlesex and Essex ; it is also seen almost every year in Herts and rather less frequently in Berks. Records are scarce for Bucks, Oxford, Somerset, Worcs and Warwick, but a few birds occur most winters in Staffs and Cheshire. Generally the firstcomers in the south-east arrive during the second half of November (early dates are : Cambs, November 5th, 1928, and Herts, November 8th, 1928 ; there is an isolated record of July 13th, 1924 in Surrey, and the last are gone by mid- March (late dates : Essex, April 6th, 1935, and Middlesex, April 7th, 1934). Elsewhere the bird is rarely seen before the turn of the year. Apart from the resident winter flocks in the south-east, where 51 on a Surrey reservoir is the largest single count, a Staffs flock of 16 is the only record where numbers have exceeded 10. Most records are of 1 to 3 birds. Slavonian Grebe (Podiceps auritus). — Much scarcer inland than the Black-necked Grebe. About two-thirds of the records refer to the south-eastern counties of Middlesex, Surrey and Essex, in one or other of which counties birds have been seen annually for the past nine years. In all other districts, except perhaps Somerset where there have been occurrences in each of the last three years, the bird is only of very irregular appearance. It is chiefly a mid-winter visitor, but there are records for all the autumn months dating from August 10th and they continue until April when there is a suggestion of a passage movement. The latest spring date is Herts, April 27th, 1931. There is one summer record of June 16th, 1934, in Essex, from which county also come both the August and most of the September records. The bird is nearly always seen singly, but four have been observed in Middlesex. vol. xxxil] WATERFOWL AND WADERS. 69 Red-necked Grebe (Podiceps g. griseigena). — In the period under review, which does not include the great influx of Grebes and Divers which occurred early in 1937, there were 29 inland records, covering all the months of the year except May and June. The bird, however, generally appears in winter (November to January) and the great majority of the records come from Herts, Essex and Middlesex. There are three Cheshire records but elsewhere it is very rare. The earliest date on which it has been seen in autumn is July 13th, 1930 (Middlesex) and the latest spring date is April 6th, 1935 (Essex). On two occasions two birds have been seen, but otherwise they have appeared singly. Black-necked Grebe ( Podiceps n. nigricollis) . — Several now appear every year in Somerset and Middlesex, while in Herts pairs have bred or summered on a number of occasions. Recently also one or two have been seen annually in Surrey and Staffs, but records are less regular in Essex and Cheshire and are non-existent for the counties of Oxford, Warwick and Worcs. Most birds are seen on autumn passage particularly in September after which numbers fall off but there is a slight recovery in December. Spring passage is less noticeable, reaching a peak in April. Birds, however, may appear in any month of the year so that it is impossible to give dates for the beginning or ending of passage movements, except to say that autumn migration may begin about : mid- July. Records seldom refer to more than two birds but eight were 1 -seen in Somerset, November 4th, 1935. Great Northern Diver ( Colymbus immer). — This is the Diver most commonly observed inland, but even in Middlesex, where there are nine records, several years may pass without any being seen. It has been seen five times in Cheshire, and the remaining records are scattered throughout the country. It is essentially a winter visitor inland appearing during the months of November, December and January, but there are three October records (earliest, Herts, October 23rd, 1934) and one February 2oth-28th, 1932, from Essex. It is nearly always recorded singly but three have been seen in Middlesex. Red-throated Diver ( Colymbus stellatus). — Although a year seldom passes without this bird appearing inland, its occurrences are irregular and very scattered and are in total fewer than those, for example, of the Red-necked Grebe or Great Northern Diver. Middlesex and Essex have twelve 70 BRITISH BIRDS. | VOL. XXXII. records between them, but there are only one or two for each of the remaining eleven counties in which it has been observed. All records fall between the dates of October 30th, 1936 (Worcs) and April 25th, 1934 (Middlesex) except for one bird which was present at Staines reservoir from May 2nd to June 9th, 1929. There are a few records of two but the majority are of single birds. Oyster - catcher ( Hcematopus ostralegus) One or two are observed every year at reservoirs or sewage farms, chiefly in Cambs, Cheshire and the lower Thames Valley, but its appearances are always very irregular. It has been seen more often in spring than in autumn, and appears to migrate early, as the records date from February 7th, 1932, for Staffs, to April 23rd, 1931, for Middlesex. A few have been seen in August, September and December and there are single records for June, July, October and November. It is seldom that more than one appears at a time but four have been noted in Surrey. Turnstone ( Arenaria i. interfiles). — Occurs annually inland on passage and like so many other Waders the bulk have been seen at the well-watched sewage farms in Cambs and Cheshire. Most of the remainder have appeared in the Thames Valley. The number of autumn birds only slightly exceeds that of spring when all have occurred in May, except two Berkshire records— April 25th, 1933 and June 1st and 3rd, 1935. On the return passage the majority have occurred in August, and extreme dates are Cambs, July 19th, 1936 and Herts, September 12th, 1928. There is also a Middlesex record on November 25th, 1934, and one in Derby, December 26th, 1927. Nine birds have been seen together in Cambs in May and eight in Berks in September, while there are several records of three to five birds from different parts of the country. Ruff ( Philomachus fiugnax). — Is a regular visitor in some numbers to the great sewage farm at Altrincham and probably to the Cambridge farm, although there are some gaps in the records from the latter. It also appears every year, in varying numbers and localities in the Thames Valley but records are rather less regular in Somerset and the Midlands. In spring most birds are seen in March when early dates are Cheshire, March 4th, 1934, and Oxford, March 8th, 1928, and passage continues into May (Berks May 26th, 1935). Birds have been seen in June in Cambs, Cheshire and Staffs, and in recent years, particularly in Cheshire, autumn passage has begun in July. This is on two or three times the scale of the spring movement and reaches its climax in September. It is usually over by the end of October, but occasionally lasts 71 vol. xxxii ] WATERFOWL AND WADERS. j jutil mid-November for which month there are records from Oxford, Berks, Cambs and Cheshire. There are also eight records for the winter months of December, January and February, coming from the three last-named counties. The majority of observations are of one or two birds, but 3ften more are seen. There were twenty at Cambridge on A.piil 22nd, 1928, but otherwise numbers in spring have not exceeded seven. In autumn up to twenty have been seen n Berks and twelve in Oxford, but all other records are ^hpsed by one of over sixty birds in Cheshire on September 7th, 1934. Sanderling ( Crocethiu cilba).—'YY\Qve have been between >ne and ten inland records for each of the last nine years fairly t distributed between Cambs, Herts, Thames Valley, Midlands and Cheshire. Somerset, however, has only one record. Jates of spring records tend to come close together : thus )irds were seen in Oxford on May 17th and Cambs and Herts >n the 18th, 1931 ; in Herts and Berks on May 17th and in Tafts on May 18th, 1934 ; in Herts on May 19th and in Worcs nd Cheshire on May 20th, 1935, suggesting a simultaneous /idespread movement. Spring records, nearly all in May— reatly predominate over those of autumn. Early dates are heshire March 5th, 1935, and April 25th, 1931. ‘ Berkshire, une 3rd 1935, is the only June date. Most autumn records re for August and September but early dates are Staffs, uly I4th, 1929, and Cheshire, July 15th, 1931, and late dates’, .ambs, October 3rd, 193°) a.nd Herts, October 12th, 1935. umbers vary between one and six birds. Knot ( Calidris c. canutus). — Two or three Knots have popeared inland most years, particularly in Cambridge, where has been seen in six out of the last seven years. There are Uso several Cheshire records, but elsewhere it is very unusual ' few have been seen in spring, in Cambs and Cheshire only itween the dates of April 3rd and June 3rd. In autumn the earliest date is August gth, but it has been at mos^ °^en in September, and there are several records >r November and December. Ten have been seen in Middlesex November, but other records do not exceed five birds Curlew-Sandpiper ( Calidris testacea).— Cheshire, Cam- 'ldge and Berkshire are the counties with the greatest umber of records, the bird being most regular in Cheshire here it has only failed to appear once in the last nine years, nere are only about half a dozen records for the lower lames Valley, and as many for the Midlands. Spring records e scarce, the earliest being Berks, April 3rd 1927, and the test Worcs, May 29th, 1934. In autumn September records 72 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XXXII. vastly outnumber all others and birds stay into October in most years. Early dates are Cheshire, July 26th, 1929, and Cambs, July 28th, 1931, and late dates Cheshire, October 2 1st, 1929, and Berks, October 24th, 1934. One to three birds are most often reported but in Cheshire much larger numbers are of frequent occurrence and flocks have reached thirty and once forty or fifty birds. Elsewhere flocks of ten to twenty are occasionally seen. Little Stint ( Calidris minuta). — There are now several inland records every year and as many as sixteen in 1936, when birds were seen in exceptional numbers. They do not appear regularly anywhere but have been recorded most often from the large sewage farms in Cambs and Cheshire, and there are from one to five records for ten other counties. Except in 1936 when birds appeared in many places in the second half of September, there is no apparent date connec- tion between occurrences in different parts of the country. There are only three spring records, Bucks, May 24th, 1936 and Cambs, May 25th, and June 6th, 1930. In autumn the earliest date is Cambs, July 28th, 1931, but the great majority are seen in September and the first half of October. There are three records for November and December, two from Cheshire and one from Cambs. The Cambridge bird was last seen on January 24th, 1933. Birds are usually reported in ones or twos, but on September 22nd, 1936, there were twenty-five in Bucks, and nineteen in Cambs. Wood - Sandpiper ( Tringa glareola). — Appears almost annually in Cheshire and Cambridge, but elsewhere is a scarce bird only recorded from Herts, and the Thames Valley. Spring records, all but two of which come from Cambs, fall between the dates of April 12th and June 9th. In autumn most birds appear in August but early and late dates are, Herts, July 12th, 1926, and Cheshire, October 8th, 1933. There is also an isolated Cheshire record of November nth, 1934. Twelve have twice been seen in Cambs, in August, and five in Cheshire in October, but elsewhere records are of one or two birds only. Green Sandpiper ( Tringa ochropus). — Is a regular visitor on autumn passage to Berks, Cambs, Cheshire, Essex, Herts, Middlesex and Surrey, and there are a number of records from the Midlands but not every year. It has occurred in most counties in spring but is nowhere regular, although in Somerset there have been spring records in four out of the past five years, and the bird has wintered in Essex for the past five seasons. vol. xxxil] WATERFOWL AND WADERS. 73 Passage usually occurs between the second or third week of March and the end of April, but early and late dates cannot be given owing to the possibility of any particular record referring to a wintering or summering bird. There are eight records for both May and June. The return movement begins in the first half of July, reaches its peak in August and generally lasts until the second half of November. There have been a number of wintering records especially during the last four or five years from Bucks, Cambs, Cheshire, Essex, Herts, Middlesex and Somerset. As would be expected, the greatest numbers are seen at the large sewage farms, but not more than six at a time have been observed in spring and twelve in autumn except in 1925, when parties of fifty or more were seen in Berks. Common Redshank ( Tringa totanus). — The records of migrant Redshanks are confusing in their numbers, and com- plicated by breeding birds which are present in nearly every county. Odd birds may appear anywhere at any time of year, but the main movements appear to be as follows : — Birds sometimes return to their breeding grounds before the end of February, but passage does not become marked until about mid-March, and may reach its peak by the end of that month or during April. It continues into May and has even been recorded up to June 10th, soon after which date the return movement begins, and there are many records for the first half of July. By the end of that month local breeding birds have gone and passage is virtually over in the eastern counties and Thames Valley, so that the birds’ scarcity in August and September is a matter of comment in various local reports. In Cheshire, on the contrary, an increase in August has been noted several times, and in 1936, for example, there were scores throughout the year at Altrincham sewage farm, with a maximum of about a hundred in late August and September. About two hundred have been seen in Cheshire in July, 1932 and October, 1935, and a hundred in Berks, in May, but numbers in other counties have not exceeded forty or fifty and are larger in spring than in autumn. Spotted Redshank ( Tringa erythropus) . — Observed inland most years, usually at Altrincham sewage farm, and has also been seen several times at Reading sewage farm. Records elsewhere are exceptional. In Cheshire birds have wintered in two seasons and been seen in every month of the year except June and July. Most appear in August and September, when as many as seven have been seen together. Latest spring date is May 29th, 1935, and the earliest autumn date is 74 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XXXII. August 7th, 1936. In other parts of the country it has only been recorded in April and May, August and September. Greenshank ( Tringa nebularia). — Appears regularly in the Thames Valley, in Cheshire and probably also in Cambs or Herts. It has been observed most often in Cheshire, where it is nearly always seen in autumn at Altrincham sewage farm. There are also many records for Reading and Cambridge sewage farms, where numbers in some years exceed those in Cheshire, but there are several gaps in the Berks, and Cambs. records. A few appear almost every year in Surrey, but in Essex, Middlesex and Somerset the bird has only been seen in autumn and its numbers appear largely to depend on the presence of suitable conditions such as a low reservoir. Although principally an autumn visitor it is seen in May almost every year. The earliest spring dates are Cambs, February 6th, 1935 and Berks, March 17th, 1936, and there are two records for the first week in April, but some of these birds may have wintered in this country. The majority appear in May, when the latest dates are Surrey, May 30th, 1931, and Cheshire, May 25th, 1935. The return passage has begun by mid-July (July 14th in Cambs, 1932, Essex, 1934, and Surrey, 1929), reaches its peak in the second half of August and September, and usually lasts into October. Late dates are Surrey, October 27th, 1934, and Cheshire, October 28th, 1934. There is also a Cheshire record of November 28th, 1933. Numbers in both spring and autumn do not usually exceed three, but eleven birds were seen in Middlesex on September 2nd, 1928, and ten in Essex on September 16th, 1933. Bar-tailed Godwit ( Limosa l. lapponica) . — Only occasion- ally found inland except in Cambs, where it has occurred thirteen times. There are from one to four records for most counties bordering the Thames, and Worcs, Staffs and Cheshire, but none for Herts, Essex and Somerset. Spring records considerably exceed those of autumn and refer chiefly to May (earliest date Cambs, April 15th, 1932, and latest, Cambs, May 24th, 1930). The first autumn bird is Cheshire, August 18th, 1935, and late dates are Berks, October 30th, and November 24th, 1925. There is one January record for Middlesex. Numbers have never exceeded three except once in Cambs. Black-tailed Godwit ( Limosa l. limosa). — Appears to be visiting this country with increasing regularity and is now recorded inland annually ; most frequently in Cheshire, but there are also several occurrences in Somerset, Cambs, and Berks, and scattered records in the other counties. Records in spring are scarcer than in autumn but birds VOL. XXXII.] WATERFOWL AND WADERS. 75 have been seen in Berks in spring in each of the last four years. It has appeared chiefly in April or the first week of May, and the extreme dates are Cheshire, March 30th, 1931, and Cheshire May 31st, 1934. In autumn the earliest date is Staffs, July 25th, 1935, but the bulk of the records have occurred between mid-August and the end of September. Birds have lingered in Cheshire and Somerset until the first week of November in 1934, and there is a Cheshire record for December 14th, 1932. In the autumn of 1934 flocks in Cheshire and Somerset reached ten and twenty-three birds respectively, but otherwise numbers have not exceeded six. Curlew ( Numenius a. arquata). — Is a regular breeding species in several inland counties, but is not attracted to sewage farms in the same way as other Waders. Almost every county has some migrant records but most come from Oxford, where the bird is usually noted flying over or at Port Meadow. The spring movement appears to last from early March to the first half of May, but odd birds may appear at any time. In autumn most birds pass through in August, and there are several winter records, chiefly for the more southerly counties. The largest number recorded is about fifty in Surrey on July 16th, 1929, and about forty have been seen in Oxford in winter. Whimbrel ( Numenius p. phceopus). — No year passes without the bird appearing inland and there are scattered records for nearly all counties, but no localities are particularly favoured, and in no county has it been recorded in more than five out of the past thirteen years. Slightly more birds have been seen in spring than in autumn, occurring between the dates of April nth, 1927 (Cheshire) and June 2ist, 1935 (Cheshire), but the great majority have appeared in May. In autumn the bird has been seen from July 15th (Herts and Cheshire) to October 2nd, 1925 (Oxford) but August has the greatest number of records. Most records are of single birds but in Cambs a flock of fifteen has been seen in May and nine in August. Common Snipe ( Capella g. gallinago). — So many natural localities are available for Snipe that observations, made chiefly at sewage farms, must be treated with particular caution, but the following points emerge : — In Oxford and Cheshire marked decrease in numbers has been observed at the end of March or early in April. Autumn movement begins early and considerable numbers have been recorded in July or the beginning of August in Cambs, Cheshire, Staffs, Worcs and Surrey. For example. 76 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XXXII. c. ioo were seen in Staffs in mid-July, 1935, and in 1933 in Cheshire there was a sudden invasion on July 10th, numbers continuing large throughout August and reaching c. 500 on September 14th. This is the greatest number recorded. Jack Snipe ( Lymnocryptes minimus). — This is for the most part a winter visitor from mid-October to mid-March, but there are several earlier records, particularly from Cheshire, where in 1926 the bird was first seen on July 25th and by August 24th there were fifteen or twenty. This is the largest number recorded. Cheshire has two other August occurrences and Cambs has one for July 26th, 1935, while in Berks there is an isolated record, June 27th, 1927. In spring the latest dates are, Middlesex, April 27th, 1935 and Berks, April 28th, 1935- Black Tern ( Chlidonias n. niger). — In the case of the Black Tern coastal as well as inland observations have been analyzed in an attempt to trace the movement of the species through- out the country. The number of birds appearing each year varies, but there are usually between twenty and forty records. The majority occur in the south-east, from Kent to Norfolk on the coast, and inland in Cambs, Herts, Middlesex and Surrey. Records are scarcer on the south coast. From the south-east a number of birds appear to work up the Thames judging by the number of records from Berks and Oxford, and it is presum- ably by this route, continuing through Worcs that most of the Cheshire birds come, as the species is scarce elsewhere in the west. What becomes of the birds after reaching Cheshire or South Lancs is something of a mystery, as there are practically no records for Scotland or the most northerly English counties. Yorkshire would appear to be the obvious outlet, but correspondence with Yorkshire observers has failed to reveal more than a handful of occurrences during the period under review, although a few birds were seen in the spring of 1937 in the West Riding. There are slightly fewer records in spring than in autumn, early dates being Glamorgan, March 21st, 1926, and Worcs, April 4th, 1933, but the great majority of spring birds occur in May. Passage lasts into early June but it is impossible definitely to separate spring from autumn movement as there are records for every week of June and July. Autumn passage increases during the second half of August to reach its peak in September, and in most years lasts into October. Late dates are Sussex, October 17th, 1933, and Lancs, October 14th, 1934, while in Herts in 1932 a bird was present from September 14th to November 4th. vol. xxxil] WATERFOWL AND WADERS. 77 Although from one to five birds are most frequently recorded, ten or more are seen together in most years, and the largest records are of about ioo on the north Kent marshes in mid-September, 1936, and probably eighty at Tring (Herts) on May qth-5th, 1928. Sandwich Tern ( Sterna s. sandvicensis). — In recent years two or three tirds have been recorded inland annually on passage, particularly in Middlesex where the species has occurred in five out of the past six years. There are eight spring records, dated between April 20th, I935. (Bucks) and June 6th, 1927, (Berks) ; birds are a little more frequent in autumn from mid- August to mid-October, and extreme dates are Worcs, July 25th, 1932, and Middlesex, November 4th, 1934. The largest numbers are recorded from Herts, where eight were seen on May 19th, 1935, and five on October 9th, 1929. Common Tern ( Sterna h. hirundo). — A regular double passage migrant in the Thames Valley, particularly in the counties of Oxford, Middlesex and Surrey. There are also a number of records for Herts and Cheshire, but it is not recorded there every year, and is less frequent in the remaining counties. The earliest spring records are Essex, March 9th, 1924, and Oxford, April 5th, 1930 ; the movement reaches its height in May and appears to last until mid- June, but it is impossible to give exact dates as there are records throughout the summer. Autumn passage does not become marked until August and most birds are seen at the end of that month or in Sep- tember. The movement is virtually over by mid-October but there are two November records, both from Oxford, and three for December (Essex, December 9th, 1932 and Surrey, December 16th and 17th, 1925). The numbers seen are usually small, but occasionally both in spring and autumn parties of about 50 are recorded. Note. — Some of the records for this species may refer to the Arctic Tern ( Sterna macrura). Little Tern ( Sterna a. albifrons). — Several appear inland every year and the Thames Valley counties of Oxford, Middlesex and Surrey account for over half the total. Spring records slightly exceed those of autumn and all refer to May, except one on April 21st, 1934, (Middlesex) and one on June 1st, 1927 (Worcs). In autumn most birds have been seen in September but extreme dates are Surrey, August 6th, 1926, and Surrey, October 26th, 1932. There are no records of more than five birds being seen together. (78) RECOVERY OF MARKED BIRDS. COMMUNICATED BY E. P. LEACH. Hon. Sec. Bird-Ringing Committee, British Trust for Ornithology. .Vo. 402489 402220 79033 RW.8985 RW. 898S AG. 602 RX. 2492 RX.7801 3 birds CA.1371 RX.5478 3 birds 2 birds CA.1207 2 birds RX.9047 GE.667 OM.343 YP.463 Ringed. Recovered. Raven (Corvus c. corax). Machynlleth (Mont), 26.4.37, Carnarvon, 20.4.38. young, by W. A. Cadman. Skokholm Bird Obs., 25.7.36, Angle (Pem), 10.1.38. juv. Rook ( Corvus f. frugilegus) . RINGED AS NESTLINGS. Dorney (Bucks), 1.5.26, by A. Wokingham (Berks), 20.1.38. Mayall. Hatfield Peverel (Essex), Where ringed, — .3.38. 21.4.37, by L. C. Kaye. Ditto, 21.4.37. Ditto, 8.2.38. RINGED AS FULL-GROWN. Gt. Budworth (Ches), 24.7.37, Wirral (Ches), 19.2.38. by A. W. Boyd. Whipsnade (Beds), 18.10.36, Where ringed, 1.12.37. by Zool. Soc. Jackdaw ( Corvus m. spermologus) . RINGED AS NESTLING. Aberdovey (Merioneth), 5.6.37, Talybont (Cardigan), by W. A. Cadman. 20.3.38. RINGED AS FULL-GROWN. (a) RECOVERED AWAY FROM WHERE RINGED. Whipsnade (Beds), — 8.37, by St. Albans (Herts), — .4.38. Zool. Soc. Ditto 22.8.37. Little Offiey (Herts), 17.5.38. Ditto 25.11.36. Aldbury (Herts), 22.5.38. ( b ) RECOVERED WHERE RINGED. Whipsnade (Beds), — .11.36, by Zool. Soc. —.11.37. Ditto, • — -.1.37. — -12.37. Ditto, 14.2.37. 13. 11. 37. Ditto, —.3.37. 13- ii- 37. Magpie ( Pica p. pica). Aberdovey(Merioneth), 19.6.37, Where ringed, — .1.38. voung, by W. A. Cadman. Starling ( Sturnus v. vulgaris). RINGED AS NESTLINGS. Chathill (Northumb), 20.5.34, Craster (Northumb), 28.4.38. by W. J. Eggeling. Glenridding(Westmor), 30.5.36, Ellenborough (Cumb), by H. J. Moon. 24.2.38. Rugby (Warwick), 19.5.37, by Narborough (Leics), 12.4.38. Rugby Sch. vol. xxxii.] RECOVERY OF MARKED BIRDS. 79 No. Ringed. Recovered. Starling {continued). T.2781 Leamington(Warwick),i7.5.32, Where ringed, 7.3.38. by P. Chance. OL.130 Whipsnade (Beds), 25.5.36, by Newport (Essex), 9.1.38. Zool. Soc. RINGED AS FULL-GROWN. ZX.36 Largo (Fife), 4.10.36, by A. H. Leslie (Fife), 19.5.38. Eggeling. PF.823 Edinburgh, 26.1.33, by R. Baillie. YD. 706 Thornton - le - Dale (Yorks), 18.1.38, by R. M. Garnett. OA.513 York, 22.2.36, by Bootham Sch. XE.516 Hale (Ches), 18.12.37, by E. L. Arnold. GS.358 Alderley Edge (Ches), 3.1 1.34, by E. Cohen. XC.847 Wilmslow (Ches), 9.1.38, by E. Cohen. GK.437 Gt. Budworth (Ches), 14. 11.34, by A. W. Boyd. Where ringed, 12.2.38. Beverley (Yorks), 10.5.38. Sejero (Sjaelland), Denmark, 6.3-38. Lymm (Ches), 28.5.38. Calver (Derby), 26.4.38. Den Helder, Noord Holland, 26.5.38. Malpas (Ches), 22.1.38. XC.624 Ditto 19.12.37. Stoke-on-Trent, 17.1.38. XC.329 Ditto 8.12.37. Wem (Salop), — .3.38. XC.446 Ditto 10.12.37. Southport (Lancs), 15.2.38. XC.382 Ditto 912. 37. Mariampoles, Lithuania, 10.5.38. GK-334 Ditto 5-H-34 Krokstad (Bohus) , Sweden, 22.5.38. XC.311 Ditto 8-!2.37. Prestebakke (Ostfold), Nor- way, 8.4.38. XC..300 Ditto 8.12.37. t’Zand, Noord Holland, 3-3-38. OX. 82 Malvern (Worcs), P. Morshead. 28.10.36, by Shirley (Warwick), 26.5.38. ZX.310 Ditto 12.3.36. Nuneaton (Warwick), 24. 2. 38. OX. 172 pitto 31.10.36. Slough (Bucks), 20.3.38. ZA.181 Ditto 8.12.35. Diss (Norfolk), - — .1.38. YV.324 Ditto 27.1.38. Bremen, Germany, 26.4.38. YD.93 Ditto 2i.ii.37- Enkoping, Sweden, 21.5.38. ZT.437 Evesham (Worcs), A. J. Harthan. 20.12.37, by Bremen, Germany, 30.4.38. YT.967 Binton (Warwick), C. A. Norris. 27.11.37, by Redditch (Worcs), 11.4.38. ZB.93, Moreton - in - Marsh (Glos), 15.2.36, by G. Charteris. Salford Priors (Warwick), 30.1.38. ZB. 894 Ditto 15.2.36. Abingdon (Berks), — .3.38. XE.3 Charlbury (Oxon), Oxford Orn. Soc 13.12.37, by Kislingbury (Northants), 20.4.38. ZW.131 Oxford, 12.1.36, Orn. Soc. by Oxford Beckley (Oxon), — .3 38. YE. 57 Ditto 4-3-37- Bristol, 8.1.38. XF.624 Ditto 17. 11. 33. (a cinnamon coloured bird). Where ringed, 26.2.38. 80 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XXXII. No. OT.401 ON. 419 XH.i YB.218 YE. 926 FH.460 GW 746 GW.894 YX.586 XH.60 YX.921 HK.663 JM.915 GF.73 KK.i 77 or LK.177 JN.871 KK.638 KK.832 JS.761 JS.671 LJ-959 HV.423 MV. 926 MR. 674 Ringed. Recovered. Starling ( continued ). (Beds), 22.8.36, by Hemel Hempstead (Herts), Whipsnade Zool. Soc. St. Neot’s (Hunts), 26.11.36, by C. F. Tebbutt. Ditto 17.1.38. Ditto 22.x. 38. Harrow (Middx), 27.12.37, by C. Owen. Friern Barnet, London, 5.1.34, by London N.H.S. Kelling (Norfolk), 30.1.37, by R. M. Garnett. Burgess Hill (Sussex), 17.2.35, by D. Steinthal. Figheldean (Wilts), 31.12.37, by A. Wainwright. Ditto 6.2.38. Winchester (Hants), 27.1.38, by Winchester Coll. 14.5.38. Shefford (Beds), 1.5.38. Helsingfors, Finland, 10.4.38. Boskoop, Zuid Holland, 20.2.38. Dragor (Sjaelland), Denmark, 27-5-38- Tottenham, London, 25.3.38. Norwich, 6.1.38. Stanmer (Sussex), 7.2.38. Benschop (Utrecht), Hol- land, 6.5.38. Pritzwalk, Brandenburg, Germany, 27.5.38. Oxford, 5.2.38. Greenfinch (Chloris ch. chloris). RINGED AS NESTLING. Bealings (Suffolk), 10.7.37, by Crowfield (Suffolk), 19.2.38. A. May all. Linnet ( Carduelis c. cannabina) . Ascott - u - Wychwood (Oxon), St. Pierre-du-Mont (Landes), 13.10.36, ad., by Oxford Orn. France, 20.12.37. Soc. Chaffinch (Fringilla ccelebs). RINGED AS FULL-GROWN. Chester, 7.5.38. 28.12.35,1 4-T-35. by Liege, Belgium, 13. 11.37. Gt. Budworth (Ches), 30.10.32, by A. W. Boyd. Redditch (Worcs), Evesham (Worcs), G. Charteris. Evesham (Worcs), 8.2.37, by A. J. Harthan. Moreton - in - Marsh (Glos), 15.2.36, by G. Charteris. Ditto 15.2.36. Ditto 5-2-37- Ditto 5-2-37- Stanway (Glos), 28.2.35, by G. Charteris. Toddington (Glos), 24.1.38, by G. Charteris. Chobham (Surrey) 2. 11.34, by H. F. Witherby. Coedcanlas (Pern), 13.2.35, by Skokholm Bird Obs. Halifax (Yorks), 3.4.38. Toddington (Glos), 23.2.38. Evesham (Worcs), 3.2.38. Stroud (Glos), 8.3.38. Ghent, Belgium, 1 4. 1 0.3 7. Evesham (Worcs), 6.12.37. Moreton Morrell (Warwick), 20.3.38. Farnborough (Hants), 3.3.38 Brecon, — .4.38. vol. xxxii ] RECOVERY OF MARKED BIRDS. 81 No. Ringed. Recovered. Brambling ( Fringilla montifringilla) . KN.909 Redditch (Worcs), 27.12.36, by Cootehill (Cavan), 3.3.38. G. Charted s. NIC. 539 JD-389 HL.940 KH.850 GT.698 HV.451 L.7066 JP831 Reed-Bunting ( Emberiza s. schceniclus) . Wilmslow (Ches), 18.3.33, ad., Where ringed, 5.12.37. by E. Cohen. Meadow-Pipit ( Anthus pratensis). Frodsham (Ches), 6.6.37, young, Jerez (Cadiz), Spain, 27.1.38- by A. W. Boyd. Great Tit ( Pams major) . RINGED AS FULL-GROWN. Wilmslow (Ches), 5. 11.37, by J. Buxton. Birmingham, 29.12.35, by H. G. Alexander. Ditto, 6.2.37, by W. E. Kenrick. Stanway (Glos), 25.1.38, by G. Charteris. Reading (Berks), 8.2.32, by Leighton Park Sch. Brent Knoll (Som), 15.3.37, by E. G. Holt. Ellesmere (Salop), 12.3.38. Denver (Norfolk), 14.1.38. Chaddesley Corbett (Worcs), — .6.38. Ettington(Warwick), — .4.38. Where ringed, 21.2.38. Wells (Som), 2.4.38. REMOVED TO A DISTANCE AND RELEASED EXPERIMENTALLY. JM.164 Ravenglass (Cumb), 4.1.37, by Where ringed, 13. 1.37. S. Marchant, released 10 miles N. Blue Tit ( Pams ccemleus). KN.816 Winchester (Hants), 2.3.36, Farnham (Surrey), 3. 11.37. ad., by C. W. Heycock. Whitethroat ( Sylvia c. communis) . HP. 445 Skokholm Bird Obs., 3.5.38, Cheddar (Som), 22.5.38. . migrant. HB.31 Ditto 16.5.37. Ramsey, I. of Man, 9.6.38. Mistle-Thrush ( Turdus v. viscivoms) . OP. 1 Temple Sowerby (Westmor), Where ringed, — -.2.38. 7.6.36, young, by H. J. Moon. 210583 Brookland (Kent), 18.5.37, Lenharn (Kent), 31.7.37. young, by R. G. Williams. Continental Song-Thrush ( Turdus e. philomelus) . XB.22 Ascott-u-Wychwood (Oxon), Cowley, Oxford, 14.1.38. 4. 1 1. 37, by Oxford Orn. Soc. Song-Thrush ( Turdus e. ericetomm). OF. 916 Mobberley (Ches), 9.5.36, St. Columb (Cornwall), young, by E. Cohen. 26.1.38. YJ.216 Holt (Norfolk), 6.6.37, young, Wighton (Norfolk), — .12.37. by E. L. Arnold. 82 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XXXII. No. OR. 277 FS314 ZL. 594 OW.535 OD.257 ZM. 841 YB.293 OW.471 OS. 730 XD.293 GV. 184 AN. 5761 TF.i 13 BF.200 SF.941 KH.623 N.3612 HM. 986 LP.221 N-3745 FW.359 Ringed. Recovered. Redwing ( Turdus m. musicus). Redditcli (Worcs), 2.1.37, by Regello, Tuscany, Italy, G. Charteris. 27.2.38. Toddington (Glos), 10.3.34, by Pistoia, Tuscany, Italy, Cr. Charteris. 6.11.34. Blackbird ( Turdus m. merula). RINGED AS NESTLINGS. Pooley Bridge (Cumb), —.6.35, Carrick-on-Shannon by H. J. Moon. (Leitrim), — .1.38. Wetherby (Yorks), 26.4.37, by Headford (Galway), 5.1.38. “ Wippletree”. RINGED AS FULL-GROWN. RECOVERED AWAY FROM WHERE RINGED. I. of May Bird Obs., 28.3.37. Kilbarchan (Renfrew), 9.10.35, by F. J. Ramsay. Ravenglass (Cumb), 2.1.37, by S. Marchant. York, 30.9.37, by “ Wipple- tree”. York, 26.11.37, by Bootham Sch. Gt. Budworth (Ches), 25.2.38, by A. W. Boyd. Oxford, 25.7.35, by Oxford Orn. Soc. RECOVERED WHERE RINGED. Kirkwall, Orkney, 9.7.33, by D. Robertson. Birmingham, 11. 12.32, by W. Kenrick. Ditto, 8.11.33. Beckenham (Kent), 3.9.33, by L.N.H.S. Robin ( Erithacus rubecula). Brough ty Ferry (Angus), 7.5.38. Beith (Ayr), 19.2.38. Hawick (Roxburgh), 21.3.38. Crowle (Lines), 7.4.38. Mussel (Groningen), Hol- land, 20.4.38. Newstead (Notts), 1.5.38. Woburn (Beds), 24.2.38. 8- 5-38- 3-3-38. '3-3 A8- 9- 5 38. I. of May Bird Obs., 22.3.36, ad. Duns (Berwick), 4.2.38. Reading (Berks), 14.10.32, ad., Where ringed, 22.2.38. by Leighton Park Sch. Swallow ( Hinindo r. rustica). Cirencester (Glos), 23.8.37, Where ringed, 22.5.38. young, by E. P. Leach. Laugharne (Carms), 28.7.37, Ditto, 15.5.38. ad., by J. F. Thomas. Swift ( Apus a. apus). Oxford, 12.5.34, y°ung. by Where ringed, 14.5.38. Oxford Orn. Soc. Nightjar ( Caprimulgus e. europceus). Kelling (Norfolk), 25.7.35, Where ringed, — -5-38. young, by R. M. Garnett. (To be continued .) HIGH SITE FOR GOLDCREST’S NEST. At the beginning of June, 1938, 1 located a nest of a Goldcrest (. Regulus r. anglorum) in a Wellingtonia tree about 65-70 feet up. The birds were feeding young and I watched them most of the day. I could hardly believe they would build at such a height. Unfortunately that night we had a very heavy rain- storm and gale, and the following day there was no sign of the birds. It was almost impossible for the nest to survive that gale. H. S. Millard. REED-WARBLER’S NEST OF SHEEP’S WOOL. Mr. C. J. Pring’s note ( antea , p. 44) reminded me of a similar nest I had seen. A Reed-Warbler ( Acrocephalns s. scirpaceus) built in reeds at Cley, Norfolk, and the nest contained two eggs on June 9th, 1927. I made a note at the time that it was “ largely composed of sheep’s wool with a lining of fine grass”, and I remember how strangely white it appeared ; to the best of my recollection it was unusually large, though I did not make a note to that effect at the time. A. W. Boyd. INCUBATION PERIOD OF MALLARD. I have recently been able to watch the nest of a Mallard (Anas p. platyrliyncha ) with the following results : — May 22nd, nest found with 5 eggs ; May 23rd, 6 eggs ; May 24th and 25th, 7 eggs ; June 20th (9.30 a.m.), 7 eggs ; June 2 1st (7 p.m.), all hatched, young in nest, female brooding. Incubation period 28-28^ days. J. F. Thomas. LONG-TAILED DUCK IN WARWICKSHIRE. From May 5th to May nth, 1938, on one of the lakes at Earlswood, near Birmingham, an adult male Long-tailed Duck (Clangula hyemalis) was seen, first by Mr. G. B. Jackson, and later by a number of other observers. The bird was remarkably tame, continually feeding within a few yards of the road which borders the lake at one end, thus giving excellent opportunities for observation. Of hfteen dives, the average time under water was a little over 32 seconds, whilst the bird was on the surface for only 5 — this was in water varying in depth from two to about ten feet. 84 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XXXII. In view of the impression, created by the illustrations in a number of bird books, that the male holds his tail well clear of the water, it may be of interest to note that in this case the tail was continually immersed. On only one occasion, when preening, was it seen raised. This is confirmed by an observer who has studied these birds on the west coast of Scotland. This appears to be only the second record for Warwickshire. The first, a female, was seen at Packington in October, 1913 (antea British Birds, Vol. VII., pp. 199-200). It seems unusual for a bird of this species to be so far south in May. C. A. Norris. LITTLE EGRET IN PEMBROKESHIRE. On the afternoon of May 25th, 1938, I saw in the Dale Estuary, Milford Haven, a small Heron which was undoubtedly a Little Egret ( Egretta garzetta). I watched the bird again in the evening of the same day, when it stood, preening its feathers, on the mud-flats of the estuary. On the following day, the 26th, one of the men who work in the vicinity, and who was with me when I saw the bird on the previous day, told me that the Egret chased away a Herring-Gull which was feeding in the stream near it. On the 27th, the Little Egret was seen for the last time by the same man flying low across the sea towards the cliffs near the entrance to Milford Haven. I watched the bird from about forty yards with binoculars and was able to observe the following points The plumage was pure white and two long plumes from the nape were clearly seen. The bill was bluish-black and the legs were black and when the bird walked out of a stream on to the mud-flats it was noticeable that the toes were yellow. I was very impressed by the speed with which it captured small fish and water insects. At one time a Common Heron settled beside it. The Heron stood with head and neck erect, while the Little Egret walked stealthily about in the stream with its head drawn back, a few yards away from the larger bird which was watching it with great curiosity. I judged the height of the Little Egret to be about two feet. Its flight was slow and Heron-like, with legs held straight out behind. H. Lloyd-Philipps. vol. xxxii.] NOTES. 85 EARLY NESTING OF THE GREAT CRESTED GREBE. On April 23rd, 1938, Mrs. Woolley saw young Great Crested Grebes ( Podiceps c. cristatus) with their parents on the pool at Cotebrook, Cheshire. When I saw the three youngsters on May 1st, they were already of considerable size and cannot very well have been hatched much later than the middle of the month. As this Grebe’s period of incubation is about four weeks, it follows that the eggs were laid about mid- March ; this is very much earlier than any previously known in Cheshire. In Ornithological Notes from Norfolk for 1921 ( British Birds, Vol. XV., p. 290) it is recorded that the Rev. M. Bird found two nests on February 21st, but in the Great Crested Grebe Enquiry (Vol. XVI., p. 186) mid-March is given as the earliest date for eggs, except for this one Norfolk record. A. W. Boyd. OYSTER-CATCHER BREEDING INLAND IN YORKSHIRE. Between 1935 and 1937 I noticed one or two pairs of Oyster- catchers ( HcBmatopus 0. occidentalis) on the River Ribble, near Settle (W. Yorks), but was not able to stay long enough in the neighbourhood to observe if they were breeding or not. In 1938 my brother, C. C. Clark, with Mr. E. G. Earnshaw, found a nest with three eggs on a shingle bank of the river on April 24th, and on May 15th two chicks hatched from this nest were seen as well as a nest with three eggs belonging to another pair. The latter were, however, eventually flooded out. A. Clark. [Oyster-catchers were reported breeding at Gargrave in 1936 and 1937 {Nat., 1938, p. 30) and this is not very far from Mr. Clark’s locality.— Eds.] SANDERLINGS INLAND IN WESTMORLAND. On June 8th, 1938, a flock of Sanderlings ( Crocethia alba), estimated at 70 birds, flew low over the village of Staveley, Westmorland, from a north-westerly direction and a number of them hit some telephone wires, though it was light and clear — 10. 10 p.m. B.S.T. Eleven were picked up, nine of which were dead. Two, which were only stunned, were put into a coop and flew away when released next morning ; one of these was, from the description given, in winter plumage. Unfortunately a cat got at the dead birds during the night and only four were fit for examination. They were all males in full summer plumage and on dissection by Miss Marjory 86 BRITISH BIRDS. [vol. xxxii. Garnett, of Windermere, and Mr. Blezard, of the Carlisle Museum, proved to be in breeding condition. Staveley lies at the south-eastern edge of the Lake District and it is puzzling to know what the birds were doing so far inland and flying from the direction of the mountains and so late in the year. E. U. Savage. DISPLAY OF GREEN SANDPIPER. On April 13th, 1938, a Green Sandpiper ( Tringa ochropus ) was displaying by a small loch surrounded by pines in Inverness-shire. When first seen, it was perched on a small rock in the water. It lowered the head, with the body held forward, so that, from front view, the spread and partially erected tail was very prominent, the white base and barred tip being well contrasted. The wings were somewhat drooped. The call was a repeated “ ki-too-wi-it ki-too-wi-it,” the second syllable being strongly accented, the others short, the timbre being somewhere between the display calls of the Greenshank and Common Sandpiper, and different from the ordinary call-note of the species. The display flight was similar to that of related species, the bird rising into the air with rapidly vibrated wings, then turning over in the air and diving steeply, then again rising with vibrated wings, and again diving, all the time keeping up the “ ki-too-wi-it ” call. The descending glides were very much steeper than in any other wader that I have seen displaying, and the contrasted black and white of the plumage were well brought out. Indeed, both the aerial and the ground displays seemed well suited to bring out the most prominent feature of this bird’s plumage, namely the white base to the tail contrasted with the dark, almost black, colour of the rest of the plumage. The most interesting feature was that the ground display was directed at a pair of copulating Greenshank some four yards away. When the latter stopped, the Green Sandpiper stopped, but so soon as the Greenshank took wing for an aerial display, the Green Sandpiper followed suit. Presumably this was correlated with the absence of other Green Sandpipers. David Lack. SNIPE ROLLING OVER IN FLIGHT. I have twice noticed the remarkable gliding on its back of a Snipe ( Capella g. gallinago) to which Mr. E. L. Roberts refers (antea, p. 51). I first saw it some years ago by a Staffordshire reservoir and on June 5th, 1938, again witnessed the VOL. XXXII.] NOTES. 87 performance in exactly the same place. The bird, which was drumming, turned over on its back three times in rapid succession and passed through the air at great speed upside down and parallel to the ground. A. W. Boyd. INCUBATION-PERIOD OF COMMON GULL. As the incubation-period of the Common Gull ( Lams c. canus) appears to be not definitely known, the following observations made on Dungeness, Kent, may be of interest, though they cannot be considered as fixing the period accurately, for in no case had I the opportunity of ascertaining the exact dates upon which the eggs were laid or when incubation actually commenced. At nest A the bird was found to be incubating three eggs on May 15th, these were chipping on the afternoon of June 4th and hatched on the 5th. Incubation therefore lasted at least 22 days. Nest B was found on the afternoon of June 4th empty, though the bird was sitting on it. On the 9th she was sitting on three eggs, which hatched on the 30th, giving a minimum incubation-period of 22 days and a possible maximum, if the bird laid an egg daily from the 5th, of 24 days. Nests C and D were found on the afternoon of May 28th, one empty and one with a single egg, though birds were sitting on both. In the severe gale of the night of June ist-2nd, both nests were washed away by the sea, which flooded the entire nesting area of these two pairs. On the 10th both pairs had new nests, close to their previous sites, and were sitting on two and three eggs respectively, giving a replacement-period of nine days, which seems to be about normal. Both pairs hatched their eggs on the 30th, though D with three did not hatch her third until the morning of July 1st, which suggests that, having an extra egg to lay, she did not begin to sit for some hours after C with two. Incubation in both cases must therefore have lasted at least 21 days. Any period longer than this would correspondingly reduce the replacement-period, so that it seems improbable that the actual incubation-period can have been more than 22 or 23 days. It will be noted that, although there cannot be any claim to complete accuracy, the times in the four cases correspond very closely. N. F. Ticehurst. [The only incubation-period I have is one of 28 days, recorded from a captive bird. From the facts given above it is probable that even if correct, this long period was due tc frequent disturbance of the sitting bird or some similar cause, and so not normal. — F.C.R.J.] 88 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XXXII. Midland Naturalists’ Union. — Mr. G. Brian Hindle informs us that it has been decided to form a Midland Naturalists’ Union, membership of which is open to Natural History, Archaeological and similar Societies in the counties of Monmouth, Hereford, Worcester, Warwick, Leicester, Rutland, Nottingham and Lincoln. It is intended to organize an Annual Congress, Field Meetings, lectures, a panel of referees for specimens and information, and a system of lantern-slide exchange among members. It is felt that the Union will facilitate co-operative work among the Societies as well as bringing workers into touch with others in their own branches of the subject. Further information may be obtained from Mr. G. Brian Hindle, at 55, Newhall Street, Birmingham. Nests and Broods in the Successive Seasons at Whipsnade. — ( Correction ). — For “the successive seasons” read “ two successive seasons ’ ’ ( antea , p. 40 and in Contents P- 25). Shore-Larks in Northumberland. — As there seem to be few recent records of Shore-Larks ( Eremophila a. flava) in Northumberland it should be stated that Mr. M. C. Tate observed a flock of twelve at Alnmouth, from the middle of February to the middle of April, 1938. Late Fieldfare in Yorkshire.— Mr. W. S. Medlicott informs us that he had a close view of a single Fieldfare ( T urdus pilaris) at Goathland on June 29th, 1938. The bird appeared to be perfectly healthy. Dunlin Breeding in Norfolk. — In confirmation of Dr. S. H. Long’s interesting note on this subject (antea, p. 49) it should be stated that a young bird was picked up dead on July 10th on the marsh, and that on July 14th Miss Gay, in company with the watcher, Holman, saw two live young ones of about the same size as the dead bird, and the two old Dunlin flying round over them. Dr. Long has sent me the dead young one, which was a Dunlin feathered and about half grown. The wing and tail feathers were enclosed with sheaths for about half their length, which was proof that the bird could not have flown more than a few yards. — H.F.W. ” 1938 PURCHASE P THE POPULAR SERIES OF BIRD-LOVERS’ MANUALS MORE SONGS OF WILD BIRDS E. M. Nicholson and L. Koch. Illustrated. 15s. net boxed. With gramophone records of bird-song. SONGS OF WILD BIRDS E. M. Nicholson and L. Koch. Illustrated. 15s. net boxed. With gramophone records of bird-song. BIRD MIGRATION A. Landsborough Thomson. nius. Sm.Cr.8vo. 5s. net. HOW TO KNOW BRITISH BIRDS Norman H. Joy. Ulus. Sm.Cr.8vo. 5s. net. BIRDS OF THE GREEN BELT R. M. Lockley. Illus. Sm.Cr.8vo. 5s. net. EVERY GARDEN A BIRD SANCTUARY E. L. Turner. Illus. Sm.Cr.8vo. 5s. net. H. F. & G. WITHERBY LTD., LONDON SWAN HISTORY For disposal a few complete sets of Dr. N. F. Ticehurst’s papers on Swan History (23 papers) at two guineas the set ; also separate copies of the following: — Kent, Surrey, London and Middlesex, Herts, Suffolk, Northants Leicester and Rutland, 1/6 each; Oxon and Bucks, Berks, 3/«* each; E. Norfolk (3 papers) 4/6; W. Norfolk, Cambs and Hunts, Lincoln 5/" each. Apply 24, Pevensey Road, St. Leonards~on-Sea. LE GERFAUT REVUE BELGE D’ORNITHOLOGIE (fy Pauillac (Gironde), France, C. I7. Tebbutt. 11.3.38. RECOVERED WHERE KINGED. £'.8095 Sliap. (VV'estrnor), .5.31, by H. J. Moon. 7.5.38. 203231 Kibbleltead (Yorks), 16.5.36, by If. J. Moon. r 5-5-3^- 205x25 Settle (Yorks), *7.5.30, by If. J. Moon. 24.4.38. \S.9151 I lietford (Norfolk), 12.5.37, by C. S. Clarke. 21.5.38. 210358 Laugharne (Carms). 3.5.37, by J. I-. I bornas. 13.3.38. Curlew (Numenim a. arquuta). IX. 6667 Langwathby (Cumb), 15.O.37, Santoria (Santander), Spain, young, by II. J. Moon. 13.12.37. Snipe ( Capella g. gallinago). OH. 410 Fermanagh, 1 1 .6.36, young, by Where ringed, 22.12.37. A. Bracken. Woodcock (Scdopax r. rusticola). KINGED AS NESTLINGS. RECOVERED AWAY FROM WHERE RINGED. 2033°7 Aberlady (E. Lothian), 22.4.36, Selkirk, — .4.38. by G. Charteris. RINGS ISSUED FOR WOODCOCK INQUIRY, 1 934-35. 202858 Salisbury (Wilts), 25.4,37. Ostergarn, Gotland, Sweden, 25-5.38. RECOVERED WHERE RINGED. 202405 Tarbat (Ross), 29.4.37. 13. ii. 37. AS.926 Hilary (Argyll), 23.6.37. 311.38. AS. 858 Eskdale (Cumb), 1935 or 1936. 19.1.38. 202606 Fermanagh, 24.7.36. RINGED AS FULL-GROWN. 27.12.37. 200139 Ballymena (Antrim), 18.7.37. 11.1.38. Sandwich Tern {Sterna s. .sandvicensis) . RINGED AS NESTLINGS. OP.866 Tentsmuir (Fife), 3.7.36, by Port St. John, Cape Province, P. Hollom. 14. 1 1. 37. 20736 9 Kavenglass (Cumb), 13.6.37, by Keta, Gold Coast, 28.1.38. S. Marchant. 213831 Salthouse (Norfolk), 27.6.37, Ditto, 31.1.38. by E. Cohen. Common Tern (Sterna h. hirundo). •2.4 DWTisn s BIRDS mitusiKaiD-mGAZirc DEWiroanEnYTOTflEBlRDS ^ oNTncBKnsnusT^' MONTHLY ls9d.YEARLY2a4 326HHffiHOLB©F?H2ND0Ii- ftF^GWHEPwCYLTD Now Ready A HISTORY OF SUSSEX BIRDS By JOHN WALPOLE-BOND Author of “The Birds of Bromley {Kent) and its Neighbourhood ”, “ Bird-Life in Wild Wales ”, “Field Studies of Some Rarer British Birds ” and Part- Author of “ The Book of the Open Air”. WITH 53 PLATES IN COLOUR BY PHILIP RICKMAN This new work by Mr. Walpole-Bond is published in three volumes simultaneously at £$ 5s. the set. A prospectus embodying specimen page will be sent on request. “A truly monumental work . . . stands head and shoulders above all other county histories . . . One is lost in admiration . . . it is difficult to conceive a finer achievement. It is a book of which not only he, but all Sussex men and women can be proud.” Sussex County Magazine. H. F. & G. WITHERBY LTD. 326 High Holborn , London , W.C.i BRITISH BIRDS With which was Incorporated in January, 1917, “ The Zoologist.” EDITED BY H. F.WITHERBY, M.B.E., F.Z.S.,M.B.O.U.,H.F.A.O.U. ASSISTED by Rev. F. C. R. Jourdain, m.a., m.b.o.u., h.f.a.o.u., f.z.s., and Norman F. Ticeiiurst, o.b.e., m.a., f.r.c.s., m.b.o.u. Contents of Number 6, Vol. XXXII., November i, 1938. page Gannet Colonies of Shetland. By James Fisher, Malcolm Stewart and L. S. V. Venables ... ... ... ... ... 162 Report on the Lapwing Habitat Inquiry, 1937. By E. M. Nicholson ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 170 Proportion of Sexes in Roosting Chaffinches, II. By the Hon. Guy Charteris ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 192 Notes : — Nutcracker carrying Nut in its Foot (Mrs. and Col. R. F. Meiklejohn) Pertinacious Wagtails and Cuckoos (Hon. G. Charteris) The Hebridean Hedge-Sparrow in Sutherland (P. A. Clancey) Period between Broods of Swallow ( J . F. Thomas) Spoonbills in Northumberland (T. R. Goddard) The Calls of Long-tailed Duck, Wigeon and Sheld-Duck (H. W. Robinson) Deep Diving by Shags (Collingwood Ingram) Probable North Atlantic Great Shearwaters off Cornwall (A. Farrant) Arctic Skua Inland in Essex (W. A. Wright) Razorbill Brooding two Eggs (Seton Gordon) Western Little Bustards in Somerset and Carmarthenshire (H. Tetley and J. F. Thomas) 194 194 195 195 196 197 197 197 198 198 199 Short Notes : — Early Fieldfares in Cornwall. Continental Robin Inland in Kent. House-Martins Breeding in Cliffs. Large numbers of Greenshankin Sussex. Early Arctic Terns in Hertfordshire 200 ! Letter : — Spread of Tail in Pigeon’s quick Turn (W. H. Workman) ... 200 M (162) GANNET COLONIES OF SHETLAND.* BY JAMES FISHER, MALCOLM STEWART and L. S. V. VENABLES. {Plate 5.) In Shetland there are two colonies of Gannets (Sula bassana ), one on the east cliffs of the island of Noss and the other on the stacks and cliffs of Hermaness, North Unst. The Noss colony has been visited by L.S.V.V. in all breeding seasons between 1934 and 1938. J.F. visited it in 1937 and 1938, and M.S. in 1938. All three writers were at Hermaness, Unst, on various dates in June and July, 1938. Noss. J-F. and L.S.V.V. [2] have described the previous counts and estimates of the Noss colony. They are as follows : — 1914 ... ... 1 pair 1915 ... ... 4 pairs 1918 3 young reared 1919 ... ... 5 pairs 1920 ... ... 10 pairs 1930 or 1931 ... 200 pairs (estimate) 1934 or 1935 ... 800 pairs (estimate) 1937 ... ... 913 pairs (estimate) 1938 ... ... 1,518 pairs (count) Details of the 1937 estimate and 1938 count can be found in [2]. In all cases the number of breeding pairs is recorded. The particular cliffs colonized are the north and south faces of the Noup and Rumble Wick. Hermaness. All the writers visited this gannetry in June and July, 1938, and it is definite that Gannets only nest in three main groups near Hermaness, which can be divided as under : — 1. Vesta Skerry (In Muckle Flugga group) ( Humla Stack 2. Hermaness Hill - Burra Stack ( Humla Houl ((a) Neapna Stack \{b) ) 3- NeaP m The Neap [(e) j *Gannet Population Studies, No. 7. British Birds, Yol. XXXII., PI. 5. [Photographed by Malcolm Stewart.) 164 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XXXII. The written history of this gannetry is somewhat involved ; it is summarized in Table 2. Many errors must be due to recorders mistaking the names of the stacks and cliffs. Those used by the authors are from the Ordnance Survey six-inch maps of Zetland, second edition, 1902. The name “ Humla Houl ” was not recorded on these maps, but is used by the inhabitants of Unst and by Macpherson [5]. TABLE 2. The History of the Hermaness Gannet Colonies. 1917 1920 1928 1932 1934 1935 1938 /Muckle estab- Flugga lished (6)* Rumb- estab- no lings lished colony ; (6)* never Muckle Flugga ( occupied (5) Group Vesta estab- gprs. (4), 1,000 colony 200 200 653 Skerry lished 100 prs. prs. present prs. prs. prs. (4) on S. (4) (5) (1) side, N. side not seen (7) 'Humla estab- colony no 156 Stack lished present colony ; prs. (6)t. (4) t never small occupied colony (5) Herma- seaward ness Hill \ side (7) t Group Burra colony 200 234 Stack present prs. prs. (5) , 20° Humla colony “prs.? 200 192 Houl present 00 prs. prs. V (5) 'Neapna colony ' '200 34i Stack present prs. prs. Neap (5) 200 Group Neap estab- prs.? “ 200 469 lished (1) prs. prs. (1) Total No. of Pairs ? ? ? 600 ? 1,000 2,045 (1) ♦Almost certainly erroneous. fProbably Burra Stack is meant. vol. xxxil] SHETLAND GANNET COLONIES. 165 Macpherson [5] suspected the possibility of the colony extending to the Greing on Hermaness and to the Saxavord cliffs on the east side of Burra Firth. On the latter were found no traces of either breeders or non-breeders. On the other hand the Greing was seen on one occasion to afford a resting place for birds in immature plumage, though there The Neap from Saito. "A” = Neapna Stack. “ B ” to " E ” = The Neap ( Sensu stricto). [Photographed by Malcolm Stewart.) were definitely none breeding on it. In the same way a large flock of non-breeders or non-incubators used the Rumblings next to Vesta Skerry, and 350 were counted on one occasion. There are certain cliffs at Clibberswick between Norwick and Haroldswick, on the east coast of Unst, and which are marked on the map as “ Sula ”. The name, or word, “ Sula ”, of course, suggests the Gannet ; there are, however, no Gannets on these cliffs, and indeed they would appear unsuitable for a nesting-site. Inquiries were made locally in Unst, but no one could state the meaning of the word “ Sula ” as applicable to the cliffs. 166 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XXXII. Colonization. It is not known how many pairs were present at the probable start of the colony in 1917, but it can be easily imagined that the total of 2,045 breeding pairs in 1938 must have been attained by regular colonization from outside. If all Gannets were immortal and perpetually fertile, but did not colonize, then using the reasoning set out in [2] it can be calculated that the present population could have been derived from a stock of 18 or 19 pairs in 1917. Burra Stack from W.N.W. ( Photographed by James Fisher.) Comparison of the Two Colonies. Of the 20 colonies in the world (Funk Island [3] has now been added to those recorded in [1] ), all are on small islands, with the exception of Anticosti Island, Cape St. Mary and Hermaness. Though Noss is a small island, the channel which separates it from the large island of Bressay is only 200 yards wide, so it is possible that this colony should be also placed in the large island or " mainland ” category. With a few exceptions the Gannets on Hermaness nest on smallish detached stacks of a maximum height and approxi- mate depth of 150 feet. On Noss, however, the Gannets nest in the neighbourhood of the sheer 592 foot Noup, and the cliffs they have chosen have a minimum height of about 250 feet. vol. xxxii.] SHETLAND GANNET COLONIES. 167 Sketch Map of Hermaness Gannet Colonies, Unst, Shetland. Based upon the Ordnance Survey Map with the sanction of the Controller of H.M. Stationery Office. 168 BRITISH BIRDS [VOL. XXXII The Mucltle Flugga group, seen from S.W. Left — Muckle Flugga, showing lighthouse. Left centre foreground — Vesta Skerry. Right — The Rumblings. ( Photographed by James Fisher.) Neapna Stack from top of " D ”, [Photographed, by Malcolm Stewart.) vol. xxxil] SHETLAND GANNET COLONIES. 169 It is noticeable that non-breeders and birds in immature plumage are almost unknown on Noss, whereas at Hermaness they are to be seen constantly and in considerable numbers. Another point of difference is the relationship of the Gannets with the bonxies or Great Skuas ( Stercorarius skua skua). At both places there are colonies of the latter, but it should be remembered that the bonxies colonized these places before the arrival of the Gannets. At Hermaness it is a common spectacle to see a bonxie chasing a Gannet and attempting to make it disgorge, in fact, very often several of these chases can be seen taking place at the same time. On the other hand at Noss one can watch (for long periods of time) the Gannets returning with food, without seeing one of them attacked by a bonxie. The writers wish to record their gratitude to Mr. G. T. Kay, of Lerwick, who so kindly took them to these colonies in his boat the Soldian ; and to Laurence Bruce and James Jamieson, the R.S.P.B. watchers on Hermaness and Noss respectively. REFERENCES. [1] Edwards, V. C. Wynne-, Lockley, R. M., and Salmon, H. M* (1936). Brit. Birds 29 : 262-76. “ The Distribution and Numbers of Breeding Gannets ( Sula bassana L.).” [2] Fisher, J., and Venables, L. S. V. (1938). J. Anim. Ecol. 7 : (in press, Nov. issue). " Gannets ( Sula bassana) on Noss, Shetland, with an analysis of the rate of increase of this species.” [3] Gilliard, E. T. (1937). Auk 54 : 379-81. “ The Gannets of Funk Island.” [4] Griffith, A. F. (1929). Bull. Brit. Orn. Cl. 49 : 99-102. [5] Macpherson, A. H. (1933). Scot. Nat. 1933 : 118. “ Gannets in Shetland.” [6] Ritchie, J. (1929). Scot. Nat. 1929 : 127-32. " The Gannets of the Bass Rock. Estimated numbers and a count.” [7] Meade-Waldo, E. G. B. (1920). Brit. Birds 14 : 93-4. "A New Nesting-place of the Gannet.” (170) PUBLICATION OF THE BRITISH TRUST FOR ORNITHOLOGY. REPORT ON THE LAPWING HABITAT INQUIRY, 1937. BY E. M. NICHOLSON. In launching a Lapwing Habitat Inquiry there were three main objects in mind — to secure fuller and more accurate knowledge of the factors governing distribution and numbers of the Lapwing ( V anellus vanellus), a species of exceptional economic importance, to gain experience in the technique of studying habitats comparatively and on a national scale, and to create the nucleus of a body of trained and keen observers able to carry out further research in this difficult and somewhat neglected branch of ornithology. In all these objects the 1937 Inquiry may claim to have had some success, although in each case much more remains to be done, both by individual initiative and by further organized investigations, than has yet been accomplished. Fifty-five different observers or societies sent in 56 com- pleted schedules relating to areas in 26 counties of England and 1 of Wales. These areas were most thickly distributed in the Thames Valley (Surrey, Berks and Bucks) and in the north-west central parts of England (Cheshire, Lancashire and West Riding of Yorkshire), the first group accounting for 13 returns and the second for 16. Returns were fewest from eastern England between Essex and the Humber, and from Wales and south-west England, while Northumberland and Durham, and Scotland were not covered. As no sort of census or distribution inquiry was involved there would have been no great advantage in securing a more even coverage, but in order to check any possible distortions arising out of regional differences of habit or of differences of interpretation between observers the present writer carried out in the summer of 1938 a comprehensive sample investigation covering con- siderably over a hundred Lapwing sites in 17 different counties; of these 9 were not represented in the 1937 Inquiry, including 6 Scottish counties, Northumberland, Durham and Lincoln- shire. The report is therefore able to take into account information regarding Lapwing habitats over a substantial part of Great Britain, including most if not all of the relevant types of ground. The schedules and other data submitted were of very varying completeness, ranging from records of very small VOL. XXXII.] LAPWING HABITAT INQUIRY. 171 areas or for a part only of the year to intensive studies of large numbers of birds, their habits and nesting sites, or extensive surveys of up to ioo square miles. For this reason the returns demand a highly qualitative treatment, rather than statistical analysis, and an attempt has been made to include in this report, often in the observers’ own words, precise descriptions of as many as possible of the more sig- nificant observations sent in, with a reference to the observer and area concerned. The reader should therefore be in a position to judge the value of the various points, many of which require fuller investigation before any conclusions can safely be drawn. In reading the report it is important to bear in mind that where counties or localities are mentioned any statements refer simply to the material submitted for this Inquiry ; thus any reference to conditions in say Derbyshire relates exclusively to the sample area observed in that county and to the year 1937. Conversely the omission of counties or other areas where, for instance, distribution of habitats is discussed does not mean that the given habitat is not used in such areas, but simply that there is no note of it in the 1937 material, which only covers a small sample of the entire area frequented by Lapwings. Attention must be drawn to the abnormal weather of 1937, during which the investigation took place. Observers were asked to report on conditions at four periods of the year ; March 20th to April 15th, June 20th to July 10th, September 15th to 30th and December 15th to 30th. Of these the spring period was cold and wet, and in some areas the birds were either prevented from nesting by floods or were exceptionally late in laying, with the result that the second period found large numbers still on the breeding grounds at a time when many more would normally have gathered into flocks. The September period was rather dry in a number of areas but not markedly abnormal. In December, however, there was abnormally severe frost and in some parts snow, which undoubtedly affected results. While some allowance must clearly be made for these conditions it must not be overlooked that of the six years 1933-38 no less than four (1933, 1934, 1937 and 1938) have produced conspicuously “ abnormal ” weather conditions, with far-reaching effects on Lapwing habitats over prolonged periods, and in fact some sort of “ abnormal ” weather might almost be taken as the normal background of the Lapwing’s recent existence. In addition to the completed schedules this report owes much to two more elaborate studies, ofie by Michael D. Lister dealing 172 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XXXII. with flocking habits on a Surrey farm from 1933 to 1938, and the other by J. F. Thomas dealing with nesting sites in Carmarthenshire. For supplementary information use has been made of the 1938 summer samples carried out by the present writer, including examination of 100 consecutive fields in Northumberland and 50 in Berkshire for Lapwings and other ground-feeding birds, and the making of notes on some 87 other Lapwing sites in 17 English and Scottish counties. The following list shows the names of the observers to whom the Inquiry is indebted for material, and the counties in which they worked. LIST OF HELPERS IN THE INQUIRY. Devon : D. Lack. Wilts : Dauntsey’s School Bird Trust, A. F. Smith. Dorset : Bryanston School Natural History Society. Hants : Mrs. Ernest Harrington. Sussex : Rev. H. J. Emmet, J. F. Thomas. Kent : Miss E. Darwall, Miss A. V. Stone (2). Surrey : C. L. Collenette, P. W. E. Currie, R. S. R. Fitter, R. C. Homes, K. P. Iveywood, M. D. Lister, Miss D. L. Taylor. Essex : R. Warren. Herts : Miss B. A. Carter. Berks : G. Brown, A. C. Garrett, P. A. D. Hollom, B. T. Parsons. Bucks : O. Hohn, J. E. P. Kavanagh. Norfolk : Miss J. M. Ferrier, Miss F. E. Johnson. Hunts, Cambs and Beds : C. F. Tebbutt. Mon- mouth : J. E. Beckerlegge. Worcs : J. S. Elliott. Warwicks : H. G. Alexander, C. A. Norris. Salop : Shrewsbury School Ornithological Society, R. H. Hardy, L. C. Lloyd. Carmarthen : J. F. Thomas, Notts : G. H. Spray. Derby : J. Armitage. Cheshire : A. W. Boyd, F. J. Brown, E. Cohen, E. Hardy and Liverpool Naturalists’ Field Club, A. G. Haworth, R. de L. Holden, F. Scott, R. Storey, S. V. Wild. Lancs : L. Ford, (E. Hardy and Liverpool Naturalists’ Field Club.) W. Hide, C. Oakes, J. S. Taylor and H. J. Cookson. Yorks, West Riding: R. Chislett, J. C. S. Ellis, Miss D. Steinthal ; North Riding : J. P. Utley. Cumberland : E. Blezard. Treatment of Results. The results of the inquiry are analysed in the following pages, beginning with the somewhat slight available material on effects of geology, soil, altitude, exposure, and climate, and continuing with a narrative description of each possible Lap- wing habitat and the information concerning its use, in the order adopted for the original schedule. Next follows a list of habitats showing the frequency of their occurrence, their use for breeding and their use by flocks, as indicated in the returns. Subsequent sections deal with changes in habitats, analyse nest sites and discuss the relation between the Lapwing’s habits and its habitats. The review of material is completed by sections on relations with man and with other animals, including livestock, wild mammals and wild birds. A concluding section reviews the results witli special refer- ence to points requiring further investigation and to the VOL. XXXII.] LAPWING HABITAT INQUIRY. 173 application of the experience gained by this preliminary Inquiry towards improvement of technique in future work. The report is finally summarized, and some of the special studies not fully described in the text are outlined in the form of an appendix. Effects of Geology and Soil, Altitude, Exposure and Climate. Twenty-two of the returns made some reference to these aspects, but few went into them at all fully. Differences in geological formation and soil were not generally regarded as an important factor. The Dauntsey’s School (Wilts) return notes that Lapwings are “ seen with equal frequency on green- sand and chalk — the only two important local formations ”. Bryanston School (Dorset) return notes that they are frequent both on alluvial fields along the river and on chalk downs, but states that flocks are usually smaller on the alluvial fields and on downland pasture than on downland ploughland. Several other returns refer to chalk areas, and others to carbon- iferous limestone, millstone grit, boulder clay over new red sandstone, keuper marl, coal measures, clay, silt, gravel and sand, but where a preference is suspected it is usually on account of slope, drainage, cultivation, altitude or exposure rather than geological formation or even soil. H. G. Alexander, referring to south Birmingham, says that these characters must be taken together ; the Lapwing’s “ persistent habitat, in winter and in the breeding season, is in damp fields near streams and pools, on clay soil ”. G. H. Spray (Nottingham) says : “ they seem to favour soils of the black, heavy type which hold water for a considerable time ”, and this emphasis on dampness and surface water on badly drained fields* recurs in other returns, such as those of C. F. Tebbutt (Hunts) and Eric Hardy (Liverpool), the former noting high clay as favoured (whether under arable or grass cultivation), together with silt or gravel grassland by the river. J. F. Thomas, however, finds that, in spite of this general apparent preference for damp, dry sites are preferred in the nesting season, and perhaps for this reason breeding birds are much more plentiful at Laugharne on very sandy soil and the inner sandhills than on clay soil, which in fact has no nests except where it is more or less mixed with sand. He points out, however, that the clay zone happens to be within easy range of Carrion-Crows, Magpies and Jackdaw and Rook colonies along some tree- covered inland cliffs, and this may be at least partly responsible *J. C. F. Fryer suggests that abundance of earthworms brought near the surface by the high water-table may play some part here. 174 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XXXII. for the contrast. Outside the breeding season the sandhills were practically deserted, and in December most of the birds were on clay with relatively little sand in it. Other observers point out that nests frequently occur in wet situations, and some eggs laid even on ridges in fields were flooded in the wet spring of 1937. R. H. Hardy (Shropshire) notes that stony soil is never used for nesting in his area, and finds that fairly sheltered level ground is preferred for this purpose, Miss D. Steinthal also notes that at Ben Rhydding they leave high ground on windy days, but other observers have had different experiences ; thus the Shrewsbury School Ornithological Society notes a liking for high exposed places, and John Annitage describes his upland Derbyshire area, where the birds are increasing, as “ exposed and windswept ”. Data regarding altitude are limited, but in the area last mentioned, breeding haunts are chiefly between 1,100 to 1,500 feet, with some of the feeding and roosting fields just below. No birds were found here at the December count, and several observers comment on the desertion of the higher altitudes after the breeding season, while even during it Lapwings became scarce at the greater elevations ; in a Yorkshire area John P. Utley notes them as not frequent above 1,000 feet ; and D. Lack notes that on Speyside in April Lapwings, although regular in the valley were not seen " after the hillside began to slope up to the Cairngorms (roughly above 1,200 feet) or on top On the other hand in south Devon he notes that in summer the Lapwing is “ regular on the moors above about 800 feet but normally absent from all the 1 typical ’ haunts lower ”, except occasionally on passage, and a very few on the Exe meadows and marshes. In winter Lapwings leave Dartmoor. On the Bcrks-Hants border also G. Brown notes that they “ seem to have a slight preference for land over 600 to 700 feet ”. E. Cohen notes “ not on very steep slopes in east Cheshire hills even if terrain otherwise suitable ”, and other observers find the same. M. D. Lister, as a result of long study of field preferences on a Surrey farm, suggests that the much greater popularity of one out of two apparently similar fields on his area may be related to the fact that in cross-section either from north-east to south-west or from north-west to south-east it presents a gentle hollow instead of the straight slope which the other shows from north-west to south-east and the ridge presented by its profile from north-east to south-west. The 1938 summer samples brought out a marked tendency for the birds in windy and rainy vol. xxxil] LAPWING HABITAT INQUIRY. 175 weather to choose for resting and preening hollows, furrows on ploughland, shallow trenches in root fields, cover of well- grown root and fodder crops and similar places where shelter could be found without such restriction on visibility as would occur under say a hedge, wall or cliff. The most confined place which Lapwings were observed to visit, with some hesitation, was a io-yards wide pool in a Galloway stone quarry with a io-foot high rock face on one side and a 4-foot grass bank on the other, where the birds went to bathe or to drink or both. To sum up this section there does not seem to be any reason to believe that different geological formations or different soils influence very substantially the distribution of the Lapwing, except indirectly through such factors as the type of vegetation cover which they support, the degree of dampness or wetness they involve, and the altitude, slope and exposure of the particular site. Of this group of factors it appears that the most important and generally traceable are high altitude which acts as a barrier even more strongly in winter than in summer, and steep slopes at any altitude. There is however room for intensive study of some of these factors, which might in some respects modify the present provisional findings. Types of Habitat Frequented. From the standpoint of Lapwing habitats the land surface of Great Britain may be broadly divided into areas which are impossible, improbable, and apparently suitable, the last category being capable of subdivision into areas which are favoured, in practice and areas which are not, or only rarely or irregularly favoured. The obviously “ impossible ” areas are of comparatively limited extent, including woods, scrubs and thickets, orchards, gardens, cliffs and land occupied by buildings, roads and railways. Areas which according to present knowledge must rank as “ improbable ” for Lapwings are also limited, and these, together with the apparently suitable areas, were included in the Inquiry and are discussed below, the information available for each habitat being reviewed in the order of the list of habitats on the original schedule. In reading these sections it should be borne in mind that habitats grouped under the same description may differ not only in respect of such factors as altitude and drainage (which have already been discussed) and of the state of growth of crops or recent events affecting the soil such as liming (which are briefly reviewed later on), but also by such general considerations as whether fu Ids are small or large, whether they 'are separated by trees, low 176 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XXXII. hedges, ditches or baulks, whether a field drainage system exists and if so whether it is working efficiently or choked up, and many similar matters, to deal with which at all adequately would involve a survey of British agricultural policy and farm and estate management. Perhaps the most important of these last factors, and the one most suitable for further ornithological study, is the minimum size of field favoured by Lapwings for breeding and other purposes in cases where the boundaries are marked by either trees or well-grown hedges. There is a strong suspicion that otherwise suitable fields are often ruled out for Lapwings simply on this account, but data are lacking. Tidal Beach or Shore. Out of the 27 counties covered by the 1937 returns only 4 yielded notes of the use of this habitat in any of its five sub-divisions. No note of occurrence on a rocky shore is found in the material except in the 1938 summer sample, when four were seen on intertidal rocks, as well as shingle, on the beach at Portyerrock, Wigtownshire. Single or scattered birds are also noted on shingly beach near Lancaster, both at the March to, April and June to July checks, and flocking is recorded on it in September and regularly in December from the same area, while farther south around Liverpool it is also credited with an occasional flock at this period. The three remaining subdivisions may be taken together. Single or scattered birds are noted from the same two Lancashire areas for muddy, sandy and estuary tidal shore in the June-July period, and the same or occasional flocks for the other three periods (flocks given as regular, Lancaster, December). Occasional single or scattered birds were noted feeding on muddy beach and estuary in Monmouthshire during the March-April period, but the return does not cover other periods. At Laugharne, Carmarthen, on an estuary one mile by half a mile, Lapwings were occasional in March- April and there were none in December, but in September flocking birds were feeding regularly among glasswrack to the number of 500-4,000. This area has one of the most notable expanses of sand in England and Wales, but no Lapwings were seen on it either in the period or at any other time. Margins of salt or brackish standing water. Only five areas watched, in three counties, included this habitat. In Devon it was not used in March-April or June-July, but Lapwings were common on it in December. In Carmarthen where there was one largish area of this type under observation it was on the contrary not used in December but used regularly VOL. XXXII.] LAPWING HABITAT INQUIRY. 177 for bathing and a rest in March- April, and by 50 to 300 birds for bathing in September. In two Lancashire areas this was given as a breeding habitat, and three returns from the Lancashire coast agreed in finding Lapwings more or less frequently on it at the other periods. Margins of fresh standing water, canals, slow-flowing fresh water, and torrents or fast-flowing water. Lapwings often go to bathe, rest or drink at any available fresh water, while a large number of other Lapwing habitats adjoin one or other of these types of fresh water without it being possible to determine whether the presence of the water has much importance in making the birds regard the site as suitable. Different observers took different views of the appropriate category in which to place say a pair of Lap- wings breeding in a pasture by a stream, and for this reason it does not seem useful to attempt to analyse in detail the notes under these headings, which show, as one would expect, that the birds occur near fresh water at all seasons.* For certain species only the presence of water or its margins gives any attraction to a site and the nature of the hinter- land is more or less immaterial unless it is, say, a source of serious disturbance. For others the land surface is apparently all-important, and whether water occurs and in what form seem to be of little influence. The Lapwing seems to fall between these extremes, but probably rather nearer the second than the first It has been suggested that proximity of water to which the chicks can be led is an important factor in choice -of breeding site, but no light is thrown on this by the material. Open areas immediately adjoining water of all kinds, including dried-up parts of river-beds, are freely used for feeding and resting where available, even alongside fast-flowing streams ( e.g ., in Yorkshire, Dumfries, Selkirk) but their relative share in supporting the Lapwing population is probably insignificant unless the category is stretched to include sites more appropriately referred to some of the types following. Salt marsh. This habitat, which is closely linked with “ margins of salt or brackish standing water ” only occurred on the watched areas in Lancashire and Monmouthshire, and was only noted as used by breeding pairs in Lancashire, where it was regularly frequented at all seasons. Use in the other cases was irregular or occasional. *A Cheshire return records small passing flocks often using a sand- spit in a local mere, especially in March, September and November. 178 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XXXII. Dry shingle tracts. These are used for breeding fairly commonly in certain very limited areas (e.g., on the Midrips, Sussex, near Dunge- ness) but no such area was included among those watched except in Lancashire, where Lapwings were only noted as occurring occasionally. A pair breeding in 1937 on “ shingly ground ” on Lundy Island is recorded on a return referring to another area. Sand dunes. The most important area of this type under observation was at Laugharne, Carmarthen, where the birds were absent in December and very infrequent and irregular in September, but very common in the nesting season. Although some of the nests were on bare sand the zone in which the great majority occurred was that next to the farms, and was covered with plentiful and various vegetation. A few Lapwings nested here and there on the flat patches in the middle zone, which had fewer species of plants and less of them, while the outside zone nearest the seashore, with little but marram grass, was entirely avoided. (A similar distribution was found in the summer 1938 sample (July 22nd) at Ross Links, Northumberland, both the inland farmland and the naked sandhills nearest the sea being avoided, although a number penetrated into areas with little vegetation except marram grass, in one case within 30 yards of the shore.) In a Norfolk and a Lancashire area where they occurred sand dunes yielded only negative returns, but in another Lancashire area single or scattered birds were occasional in March-April and June- July, while on a third a pair or pairs on breeding territory were noted, with occasional occurrences throughout the year. Rushy fields. Rushy fields were recorded in observed areas representing some two-thirds of the counties in the 1937 returns, and only three gave negative reports at all seasons. Although all the southern and south-eastern counties except Cornwall and Suffolk were represented it is perhaps significant that all except three of the records of breeding on or other regular use of rushy fields come from farther north and west. Breeding occurrence in rushy fields is noted for Devon, Surrey, Bucks, Monmouth, Carmarthen, Shropshire, Warwick- shire, Notts, Derbyshire, Cheshire, Lancashire and Yorkshire, to which may be added from the 1938 summer sample Northumberland, Cumberland, Selkirk and Dumfries. In several of the areas regular occurrence in autumn and winter vol. xxxii ] LAPWING HABITAT INQUIRY. 179 is noted, sometimes in considerable flocks. Although the preference which rushy fields enjoy is more marked in the breeding season than at other times it seems clear that they are frequented throughout the year, where altitude and other conditions permit, especially in the western and northern counties where they are most abundant. Marshes. What has been said above applies almost equally to marshes, it being often difficult to say at what point a rushy field ceases and a marsh begins. The area of what can strictly be termed marshland in Great Britain is, however, very much smaller than the area of badly drained fields, often former marshland, in which rushes flourish. River-levels, floodland and water meadows. This habitat occurs in nearly half the observed areas, and is noted as carrying breeding pairs on about one-third of those where it occurs. Flocks are noted on it in June- July in three cases (all small) ; in September in seven cases (some larger) and in December in eleven areas, estimates of numbers running up to 1,000, 3,000 and even 6,ooo. Some of these flocks occur at breeding places, and others on areas with no Lapwing population in spring. Moorland bogs and swamps. Moorland with coarse grasses. M oorland with heath or ling. These three habitats only occur in a group of eight returns for Shropshire, Cheshire, Derbyshire, Lancashire, Yorkshire and Devon in the 1937 Inquiry. Two Shropshire returns report occasional or single birds, not breeding pairs, in March- April, and none at other seasons. The Cheshire return is entirely negative. In the Derby area of 4 square miles, moor- land with coarse grasses is frequent and Lapwings bred, fed and roosted regularly on it during the two earlier periods, but only scattered birds or small flocks occurred in September and none in December, the altitude being over 1,000 ft. The other two habitats are infrequent and only occasional birds are noted for the two earlier periods, the position in the two later ones being the same as for moorland with coarse grasses. One Lancashire return notes breeding in all three habitats for June- July with occasional occurrences for March- April and September and none for December ; as this refers to 30 square miles round Liverpool the moorland referred to evidently 180 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XXXII. consists of low Lancashire “ mosses ” and not the better- known upland form. A second Lancashire return notes breeding on a moorland bog at between 1,000 ft. and 1.500 ft. Three Yorkshire returns refer to moorland, but only one notes breeding, both on moorland with coarse grasses and moorland with heath or ling, nests being found in both cases. On both Lapwings are noted as feeding and roosting, and being frequent with young in June- July, while smallish occasional flocks are noted for September and occasional birds also for December. This return covers 100 square miles, but notes moorland bogs and swamps as an infrequent habitat, with rc gular feeding in the three earlier periods and single or scattered birds in December, but no breeding or flocks. The Devon return combines the second and third habitat, noting birds as breeding on grass-ling moor adjoining the bog on the edge of which they feed. None are present in December ; September and June-July are not recorded. These reports, although not numerous, are in some cases very carefully worked out and appear sufficient to rank moorland with coarse grasses and with heath or ling among typical Lapwing breeding habitats, although the degree of their use and the factors determining suitability require much fuller study. Moorland with bracken. This habitat occurs in the same areas as the last group with the exception of Derby and Cheshire. There are no breeding records, and only occasional occurrences at each of the four periods in Yorkshire and (except for December) in Lancashire, Shropshire and Devon giving entirely negative returns. It is clear that the habitat is unsuitable and can only be casually used. Alpine, bare stony mountain. Specific information on this habitat was sent in only from North Lancashire and (in litt.) from the Cairngorms, no Lapwings being found on it in either case in the breeding season, the only time at which it would be at all likely to be occupied. It is doubtful whether the habitat is suited to Lapwings. Low heath and common, lately burnt or not lately burnt. Low heath and common occurred in less than a quarter of the areas observed, and only three of them included any lately burnt areas, on two of which, in Lancashire and Yorkshire, the Lapwing was occasional at the three earlier periods of the year, and in Lancashire during the December vol. xxxii.] LAPWING HABITAT INQUIRY. 181 period also. In Surrey, however, it was reported that a few years ago after a fire Lapwings frequented, and probably bred on, the burnt area in spring, while in the 1938 summer sample a party of ten was found feeding between the burnt heather stems on a moor with a good deal of grass growing up after fire. Of ten areas returning low heath and common not lately burnt only six yielded any positive records, and four of these were in Lancashire, all of them noting Lapwings as breeding, three as occurring in September and two as occurring in December regularly or in numbers. In Warwick- shire this was also returned as a breeding habitat, with occasional occurrences in September and December, while in Yorkshire breeding pairs were noted both in March-April and frequently with young in June- July, a flock of about 50 feeding and roosting in September and occasional occurrence in December. This habitat does not account for a very large acreage, and much of it is rendered unsuitable for Lapwings by self-sown trees, bushes or very tall vegetation ; apparently, however, where such obstacles do not exist it is freely used at all seasons. Bare peat. Only four areas included this habitat, all in Lancashire or Cheshire, and returns were negative except in the Liverpool area, where it was stated to be used for breeding and to be much favoured by gathering flocks, and one locality in Fylde, where it was occasional in September and December and absent earlier in the year. High hill pastures and rough grazing. Nearly a third of the returns showed some land in this category, and over half of these noted breeding on it, although in one or two of these cases the entry might more properly be referred to the next type. The two fullest returns are for Derbyshire and Yorks, the first showing regular breeding pairs on this “ ideal Lapwing breeding ground ” for the March- April and June-July periods, with single birds and small flocks in September and none in December, while the second also shows breeding pairs at the earlier periods, frequent with young in June-July, and a regular flock of about 50 in September, with merely occasional occurrence in December. Only on the lower hills and downland are winter flocks noted, and except for a case of 50-100 in December at the compara- tively low altitude of 482 ft. in I£ent such flocks appear to be quite small. 182 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XXXII. Rough lowland pasture. Only rushy fields show breeding occurrences in more counties than rough lowland pasture, although it is equalled in popularity by ploughland and arable under green crops. It is returned as used for breeding in well over half the areas where it occurs, and is even more notable as a flocking ground. Even in March-April flocks of up to 90 birds are recorded from no less than five areas in Essex, Wilts, Lancs (2) and Yorks, and although flocking is found only in three areas in June-July it becomes more widespread (8 areas) in September, as many as 920 birds being counted on ground on the Lancs- Yorks border where only 14 pairs bred. Unlike many of the previous habitats rough lowland pasture showed a larger Lapwing population in December than in spring and summer, flocks being widespread and in some cases fairly large (Yorks up to 200 ; Shropshire up to 300 ; Essex some hundreds). Fair permanent pasture above alluvial level. Where rough pasture ceases and fair pasture begins is a point on which agricultural experts as well as ornithologists may disagree, and there has doubtless been some overlapping between this and the previous category, although such a grazing county as Cheshire includes this habitat in seven returns, always positively, against four (2 of them negative) under the previous heading. Nearly a third of all returns received give this as a breeding habitat, with a very marked predominance of northern and western localities as against southern and eastern, whereas use outside the breeding season seems much more widespread, flocks of a hundred or more being noted both in September and December from Berkshire, Surrey, Shropshire and Yorkshire, with smaller or unspecified flocks in Cumberland, Lancashire, Cheshire, Notts, Wilts, Dorset and Kent at one or both of these periods. Flocks also occur on this type in five of the June-July returns (Cheshire 70 birds ; Notts 80) and one flock of 50 (Wilts) and another of unspecified size (Lancs) are also noted for March-April. Of over 4,000 Lapwings examined in the 1938 summer sample between July 16th and August 16th more than two- fifths were on ground predominantly of this type, which often received marked preference from large summer flocks both for resting and for feeding. Thus in the Northumberland 100 Fields Sample only about 10 per cent, of the fields were short green pasture, but they accounted for quite 80 per cent, of the Lapwings present. VOL. XXXII.] LAPWING HABITAT INQUIRY. 183 Hay fields above alluvial level. About half the returns record the occurrence of this habitat, but in three cases out of four no breeding pairs are noted, and even in the remainder there is no definite evidence of nests, which would have to be early ones if the broods were to leave before the grass became inconveniently high. There is only one mention of flocks for the June- July period after haycutting, but flocks are noted on seven returns for September and on four for December. At no season, however, does the number of positive entries appreciably exceed the number of negatives. This suggestion that even after cutting hayfields are only of limited attraction to Lapwings was confirmed for most districts by the 1938 summer samples. In the Northumberland 100 fields sample 12 per cent, of the fields were hayfields, mostly cut, but though they accounted for appreciable numbers of Rooks, Starlings, Woodpigeons and other birds, which showed marked preference for them, they yielded no Lapwings. Out of 32 Lapwing fields examined in Northumberland, and 46 in northern England as a whole in July-August, 1938, only one was a hayfield, and that contained only 8 out of a total of more than 1,500 birds located and observed in this region. In southern Scotland, however, the position was notably different. Out of rather more than 1,700 Lapwings observed in 38 different sites in Berwick, Roxburgh, Selkirk, Dumfries, Kirkcudbright and Wigtown nearly 600 birds were in hayfields, which accounted for nearly one-third of the sites. Actually in Kirkcudbright in July Lapwings in hayfields outnumbered Lapwings on all other habitats by more than four to one. To some extent this result may be due to exceptionally wet weather at the time, but whatever the reason the preference in this region was unmistakable. Arable laid down to grass. Rotation grasses form a habitat markedly distinct from the permanent grass which is much more frequent in current British agricultural practice, and the possibility that the two may have different degrees of suitability for Lapwings deserves examination. For this purpose, however, an intensive study would be needed, since the habitat as defined in the Inquiry would include a large number of fields recently converted from arable to permanent pasture or long leys, and the data collected throw little light on the problem. Nearly half the returns mention the existence of this habitat, but it is only noted as used for breeding in about a third of the areas where it occurs, and another third of the entries for March- 184 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XXXII. April are negative ; in September and December entirely negative entries amount to almost half, while notes of flocks are remarkably infrequent, the largest of which details are given being of So birds (Berks, December). The 1938 summer samples similarly failed to yield evidence of this habitat being of major importance for the species. It must be borne in mind that temporary grassland may be left down for one, two, three, four or more years and may within this time be used for pasture or hay or both, in which case it would be entered in other categories. Arable under green crops. More than sixty per cent, of the 1937 returns noted occur- rence of this habitat in the area covered, but it was only used for breeding in less than half the cases, mostly in Cheshire Lancashire, Norfolk and Surrey. One-fifth of the returns were negative at all seasons. Four noted flocks in the spring period, five in summer, two in autumn and nine in winter, the largfest counted being of 100 (Norfolk) and 125 (Berks) both in December. Only two of the returns reported anything like regular use at all four periods. In the 1938 summer samples 19 of the hundred fields examined as a check in Northumberland fell in this category, but 10 of these were under cereals, too tall at this season to be available for Lapwings. Of the remaining 9 no less than 5 contained one or more birds, the total being about 34 out of about 285 Lapwings on the entire hundred fields. The Berkshire sample of fifty fields contained only two in this category apart from cereals, and no Lapwings occurred on them. In the general sample of Lapwing fields nearly 900 birds were found on this habitat, representing more than one-fifth of all Lapwings observed, and about the same proportion of all sites on which any Lapwings were noted. Some sixty per cent, of these, however, were in a small region consisting of three of the fifteen counties covered — Northumberland, Berwick and Roxburgh, and most of the remainder were also localized in Lincolnshire and Dumfries, where more Lapwings occurred on this habitat than on any other. This habitat includes a number of fairly distinct types, such as cereals, fodder crops, roots and potatoes, and the differences in suitability between these are complicated by varying agricultural practice and by the rapid development of suitable into unsuitable types where growth is tall and dense. Thus fields planted with wheat, oats, clover and vol. xxxii ] LAPWING HABITAT INQUIRY. 185 rye-grass are noted as being favoured for nesting when the crops were young — wheat about 4 inches high — but several observers point out that as growth becomes taller the site becomes unsuitable and is therefore used chiefly for early nests. Again, some turnip and similar fields are frequented when the leaves are higher than the birds, but apparently only where there are wide spaces of bare soil, or trenches between the rows, in which free movement is possible ; in such fields there is often a conspicuous preference for patches where the crop has partly failed, or where leaves have been eaten short by Wood-Pigeons. It is rarely possible to examine fields of growing crops so thoroughly as pasture or ploughed land, and the extent of their use by Lapwings may, therefore, easily be underrated unless repeated observations are made. In spite of these obstacles the habitat ranks fourth in order of numbers of returns for breeding pairs, and equal second for early summer flocks. Market gardens and allotments. Less than half the returns record occurrence of this habitat, and in only one case is breeding noted, in a Bucks area where the market gardens are stated to be extensive and Lapwings to be found on them “ in abundance all the year round.” A large proportion of the returns are negative at all seasons, only a single flock being noted (Surrey, June-July). Allot- ments are evidently not attractive to Lapwings, while market gardens only become so when the fields are large enough to bring them into the previous category, several observers noting, for example, occurrences on large cabbage fields. Fallow or stubble. Except for ploughed land this is the most universally recorded habitat, occurring in over three-quarters of the returns, and it also ranks high for presence of flocks, taking first place in the June-July period, second in December and third in September. For breeding, however, it is relatively less favoured, taking only sixth place, and it may or may not be significant that more than two-thirds of the breeding records come from southerly and south-easterly counties. During the September and December periods flocks noted range fairly large, eight returns mentioning figures of between 100 and 300. In the 1938 summer samples fallow and stubble occupied a much less prominent place, although in some cases large flocks resting by day on ploughed land or other habitats are known to have resorted to stubble for feeding purposes. 186 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XXXII. Newly ploughed land. About 80 per cent, of the 1937 returns noted newly ploughed land as occurring, and no habitat exceeded it in frequency of breeding reports, but for flocking at the three later periods it took a lower place, being second to permanent pasture in September, fourth in December and equal fourth in June-July. Breeding records were well spread over the regions represented, and the later flocks were also widespread, some reaching a size of 300-500 birds, although the majority of figures men- tioned were much lower. An unusual feature of this habitat was the frequency on it of smallish flocks in March-April, which considerably exceeded the records of flocks for June- July, partly no doubt owing to the normal wide seasonal fluctuation of the acreage of land in this category. In the 1938 summer samples, taken after mid- July, it was favoured only in the east and south of England, actually accounting for more than 90 per cent, of the Lapwings found on the 50 fields sample for Berkshire, while five other fields in the same county yielded a total of over 400 birds, partly owing to a habit of resting in the middle of the day in conspicuous massed flocks on large tracts of ploughed land and dispersing to feed in the earlier and later hours in adjoining pasture, fallow and other habitats. Whatever qualifications may be made for seasonal and local divergences plough remains one of the most attractive of all types of land for the species. Aerodromes. The relatively small acreage used for this purpose rules out aerodromes as an important Lapwing habitat, but more than one-sixth of the returns covered one or more sites of this type, and in only one case was the report entirely negative. Breeding pairs were recorded both from Lancashire and Surrey, and the number of September flocks was greater than for any form of moorland, hill pasture or marshes. In view of the rapid recent and anticipated transfer of land to this from other uses it is reassuring to know that its suitability at any rate for this species is so adequate, although the disturbance by aviation is not a negligible factor. Playing fields outside towns. Although considerably more frequent than aerodromes this habitat ranked lower on every score, the nature of the use of the land rendering it unsuitable for anything but feeding purposes at certain hours. A Sussex return notes for vol. xxxii ] LAPWING HABITAT INQUIRY. 187 June-July that although the birds were not seen, having left before 7 30 a.m., they undoubtedly made free use of some playing fields during the night and early morning, their feathers being found on several occasions on the cricket pitch at breakfast-time. The same thing had been noted in previous years. The Shrewsbury School Ornithological Society’s return notes that in December from one to three Lapwings frequented the school grounds, changing position daily between playing fields and rough grazing. These notes suggest that even where the birds are little seen playing fields may play a part in providing extra feeding grounds for Lapwings where they are of special importance for the sur- vival of the species, adjoining built-up areas. Only in one return was breeding on playing fields noted, on the pitch of the Preston Grasshoppers Rugby Union Football Club. Urban public parks and recreation grounds. Although nearly a quarter of the areas observed included land given to this use it yielded no breeding pairs, and only one flock, on the recreation ground of a small Norfolk seaside resort in December. Elsewhere even occasional use was recorded only in Lancashire. The habitat is evidently unsuit- able. The history of Lapwings in Richmond Park, Surrey, is outlined later in this Report. Golf courses. Although occurring more than twice as frequently, these ranked below aerodromes for breeding (only one record) and for flocking at every period except June-July, when the two were equal. This somewhat surprising result may be explicable on the same grounds as the status of playing fields. Rabbit warrens. Nearly half the returns covered rabbit warrens, but only one recorded breeding on this type, and small flocks were noted in only two instances (Shropshire, March-April ; Lancs, September). Heath scrub with trees and bushes ; Grassland with scrub. Eight returns dealt with the first of these types and 17 with the second, but only a single breeding pair was noted for either (heath scrub, Berks) and in this case only for the June-July period. No flocks were met with, nor did any other return show more than , occasional use, the majority in both cases being entirely negative. 188 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XXXII. Sites of felled woodland ; Woodland clearings. Neither of these habitats produced any breeding pairs or flocks. A single North Lancashire reply indicating occasional use of site of felled woodland in the latter part of the year was the only positive note, although each type was covered by ten returns, from widely differing regions. Parks with scattered trees. Although mentioned on 19 returns this habitat produced only two breeding records, for Lancashire and Yorkshire. In the second case there were 6 pairs on rough grassland with scattered trees (mainly oak) but the observer for this park commented “ probably the presence of trees acts as a deterrent ” and noted nesting “ in well-drained situations away from shelter of trees”. There were only three records of flocks, in the last two periods of the year. Rubbish dumps. Only 'one breeding record and no flocks were reported on this habitat, covered by 12 returns, the remainder of which were wholly negative. Sewage farms. Sewage farms ranked considerably higher both for breeding and for flocks at all seasons than the frequency of their occurrence would suggest, yielding breeding records in Bucks, Essex, Surrey, Wilts and Lancs, while for frequency of early summer flocks they were surpassed only by fallow, arable under green crops and fair permanent pasture. The size of the flocks, where shown, ranges very large, exceeding 250 in two counties during June- July and September and three counties in December. But for the difficulty, pointed out in the returns, about lack of nesting sites and excessively rank growth of vegetation, sewage farms would probably be even more attractive to the species than they are. Other habitats. Very few observers met with any habitat which had not been specifically provided for in the schedule. A freak case of breeding among cinders by inland water formed through subsidence, some summer flocking on ground in low-lying pasture left bare by the abnormal spring floods of 1937, a horse-racing track, and some sea-level fields divided by a system of ditches were the only cases which would not lit easily under any of the headings, and none of these yielded vol. xxxii ] LAPWING HABITAT INQUIRY. 189 results which call for extended treatment, the most important numerically being flocks of some hundreds both on the pasture killed by floods and on the racecourse in December. Frequency of Occurrence of the Various Habitats, AND OF THEIR USE FOR BREEDING AND FLOCKS. (The following table lists the 45 habitats in order of their appearance on the schedule and indicates where each comes in order of frequency of inclusion in the returns, the first, newly ploughed land, being included in 41 returns and the 45th, rocky tidal beach, only in a single return. Where any breeding is recorded the next column shows the order of frequency under that head, the habitats bracketed first showing breeding in 15 returns each, and those bracketed twentieth, showing breeding in only one return each. Those not ranked have no breeding records in the returns. Similarly for flocking in the last three periods of the year habitats with one or more records are ranked in order of frequency, the first place going to a habitat with 7 flocking returns in June- July, a habitat with 18 in September and a habitat with 17 in December. The actual number of returns in each case is shown by the figures in italics. The number of returns showing flocking in spring is comparatively small and these are not tabulated. This table, therefore, gives a general idea of the relative frequency of the various habitats and of their relative attractiveness to Lapwings. Conclusions should, however, only be drawn from it with caution. The areas chosen were selected by observers at their own convenience and inclination, thus giving comparatively heavy representation to some infrequent habitats such as aerodromes and sewage farms, and deficient representation to some common but less access- ible habitats such as moors. The areas covered vary from 100 square miles to less than 100 acres, some being watched repeatedly and thoroughly at all seasons, others much less thoroughly with the omission of one or more seasons, and as no census was taken each of these returns must count as one, however many birds it covers and however systematically. Finally, the weather background of no less than three of the four periods in 1937 proved seriously abnormal, and this may have affected relative preference as between certain habitats. Nevertheless, so far as present knowledge and available checks go, there is no reason to doubt the broad validity of the impression given by these figures.) 190 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XXXII. («) ( b ) (c) (d) (e) (/) Number [in italics) and Order of Frequency of Occurrences Habitat. for for for flocking in each breeding June- Sept. Dec. habitat. pairs. July. Tidal beach or shore — rocky ... 1 (45) — — — — shingly 2 (42) ■ — — — x (21) sandy ... 4 (4°) — — x (21) x (21) muddy... 5 (36) — — x (21) X (21) estuary Margins of salt or brackish 5 (36) — — 2 (12) X 12I) standing water Margins of fresh standing 5 (36) 2 (17) — x (21) 3 (12) water ... 21 (11) 5 (11) 1 (9) 4 (9) 3 (12) Margins of canals Margins of slow-flowing 13 (21) 1 (21) fresh water Margins of torrents or 25 (10) 1 (21) x (21) 4 (8) fast-flowing water 7 (34) — — — — Salt marsh 6 (35) j (21) — 2 (12) 3 (12) Dry shingle tracts 2 (42) — Sand dunes 5 (36) 1 (21) — — — Rushy fields 27 (9) 15 (1) 2 (8) * (4) 4 (8) Marshes ... River levels, floodland 17 (16) 8 (8) 1 (9) 2 (12) 4 (8) and water-meadows ... Moorland bogs and 28 (7) 9 (7) 4 (4) <5 (7) n (3) swamps 8 (29) 2 (17) — x (21) — Do. with coarse grasses 9 (28) 5 (11) — 2 (12) — Do. heath or ling 10 (25) 4 (16) — 2 (12) — Do. with bracken ... Alpine, bare stony moun- 8 (29) — — tain Low heath and common, 2 (42) — — — — lately burnt ... 8 (29) — — — — Do. not lately burnt ... 14 (20) 5 (11) — 2 (12) x (21) Bare peat High hill pastures and 4 (4°) x (21) — rough grazing... L5 (19) 7 (10) 1 (9) 3 (n) 3 (12) Rough lowland pasture Fair permanent pasture 28 (7) i3 (5) 4 (4) 5 (4) 5 (6) above alluvial level . . . Hayfields above alluvial 38 (3) 15 (1) 5 (2) 18 (1) 17 (1) level 33 (5) 5 (11) 1 (9) 7 (6) 5 (7) Arable laid down to grass 31 (6) 5 (8) 1 (9) 2 (12) 2 (17) Arable under green crops Market gardens and allot- 37 (4) 14 (4) 5 (2) 2 (12) 9 (5) ments 21 (11) 1 (21) 1 (9) — — Fallow or stubble 30 (2) II (6) 7 (1) 13 (3) 14 (2) Newly ploughed land ... 4i (1) 15 (1) 4 (4) 14 (2) 10 (4) Aerodromes Playing fields outside 8 (29) 2 (17) 1 (9) 4 (9) 3 (12) towns ... 13 (21) x (21) — x (21) 2 (17) vol. xxxii ] LAPWING HABITAT INQUIRY. 191 (a) (b ) (c) ( d ) (e) (f) Number (in italics ) and Order of Frequency of Occurrences Habitat. for for for flocking in Urban public parks and each habitat. breeding pairs. • 1 Sept. Dec. recreation grounds ... 11 (24) — — ■ — - 1 (21) Golf courses 18 (15) 1 (21) 1 (9) 2 (12) 2 (17) Rabbit warrens ... Heath scrub with trees or 19 (i3) 1 (21) 1 (9) X (21) bushes 8 (29) 1 (21) — — — Grassland with scrub . . . 17 (16) — — — Sites of felled woodland 10 (25) — — — — Woodland clearings 10 (25) — - — — — Parks with scattered trees 19 (13) 2 (17) — x (21) 2 (17) Rubbish dumps 12 (23) x (21) — Sewage farms 1 7 (16) 5 (11) 4 (4) 6 (7) 4 (8) Total Habitats Ranked 45 (To be 3i continued.) 17 28 26 (192) PROPORTION OF SEXES IN ROOSTING CHAFFINCHES, II. BY THE HON. GUY CHARTERIS. In September, 1936, a short paper appeared in British Birds (Vol. XXX., pp. 117-119) under this heading, giving the numbers of male and female Chaffinches ( Fringilla Calebs) ringed during two winters at five different localities. Four of these showed a large and more or less consistent majority of males, whilst the fifth showed a small majority of females. The tables set out below give the results for the last two winters as well as the totals of the figures already published. It will be seen that a greater number of Chaffinches have been ringed at the four first-named roosts than in the two preceding winters and that the sex ratio shows remarkably little variation. Mr. A. J. Harthan has again given the figures for -the fifth roost — Woodnorton — and these continue in strong contrast. Actually there was a small majority of males but fewer Chaffinches were netted and in the aggregate females still prevail. To account for these exceptional results a theory was advanced that at Woodnorton locally bred Chaffinches predominate “ over foreigners if any ”. That may be the reason but in the meantime there have been two recoveries abroad of birds ringed in that locality. One of these was reported from Sweden and ranks with the Chaffinch ringed at Hewell in February, 1934, which was caught at Stanway about 30 miles to the south a fortnight later, and finally recovered in Norway in May, 1936. The other was caught in Belgium, where seven birds ringed at the other four roosts have been captured in autumn, presumably on their way back to this country. Add to these a third Chaffinch recovered in Yorkshire in April and the theory that Woodnorton has a mainly local population is difficult to sustain. At Hewell in particular I have watched the Chaffinches settling down to roost, and, although it is manifestly imprac- ticable in this way to estimate accurately the sex ratio, I have been struck by the apparently overwhelming majority of males. I mention this lest it be said that males are more easily caught and that, if it were possible to examine all the roosting birds, the results would resemble those of Wood- norton where admittedly the disposition and height of the bushes enable a higher proportion of birds to be netted. Of 573 Chaffinches ringed at Woodnorton, January to March, VOL. XXXII.] PROPORTION OF SEXES. 193 I935. 42 have since been recovered there, 9 last winter ; and of 390 ringed during the same period of 1936, 25 have been recovered, 12 last winter. I have not analysed the “ recoveries where ringed ” but, except at Stanway where daytime trapping of residents has helped, these would show a lower percentage of returns. During the last four winters, 500 Bramblings ( Fringilla montifringilla) , mostly caught at Batsford and Hewell, work out at 63 per cent, males. In the winter 1935-36 only 5 were ringed. Winter. Males. Females. Total. Stanway, Cheltenham : 1936-37 124 76 200 1937-38 64 36 IOO 188 (63%) 1 12 (37%) 300 Toddington, Cheltenham : 1936-37 137 80 217 1937-38 152 81 233 289 (64%) 161 (36%) 450 Batsford, Moreton-in-Marsh : 1937 249 153 402 1938 96 60 156* 345 (62%) 213 (38%) 558 Hewell, Redditch : 1936-37 368 175 543 !937-38 401 170 571 769 (69%) 345(3i%) I»II4t Total : 1,591 (66%) 831(34%) 2,422 Winters -[ T934 35 1 1 1935-36 ) 1,227 (64%) 691(36%) 1,918 Grand Total : Four winters Woodnorton, Evesham : 2,818(65%) 1.522(35%) 4.34° Winter. Males. Females. Total. 1937 137 144 281 T937-38 197 174 37i 334 (5i%) 318 (49%) 652 J934-35 1 1935-36 ) 45i (47%) 512 (53%) 963 Grand Total : 785 (49%) 830 (51%) 1,615 *One night ; preceding winter highest, 169. t Highest one night, 1936-37, 212 ; 1937-38, 191. o NUTCRACKER CARRYING NUT IN ITS FOOT. While staying near Interlaken in September, 1938, we watched with binoculars a Nutcracker (. Nucifraga c. caryo- catactes) on a tree some fifteen yards from where we were sitting. The bird had brought a nut from some bushes near by. This was held in the ball of the foot while the bird dug with its beak a small hole in a mossy bough in which the nut was placed. It was then pecked vigorously, the noise resembling the tapping of a Nuthatch. Apparently this failed to crack the nut, which was then taken on to the ground and held in the foot. We had remarked how clumsily these birds moved in the nut bushes, and the reason for this was presumably that they were carrying a nut in one foot, which seems frequently done, as well as in the beak. We have also seen them feeding on beech-mast and fir cones. Margaret Meiklejohn [nee Barclay). R. F. Meiklejohn. PERTINACIOUS WAGTAILS AND CUCKOOS. The following history of the persistent attempts of a pair of Pied Wagtails ( Motacilla a. yarrellii) to bring off a brood in 1938 at Stanway, Gloucestershire, and their victimization by two Cuckoos ( Cuculus c. canorus ) may have interest. At the beginning of May the first nest was built but was destroyed when three eggs had been laid. A second nest was built but no eggs were laid in it. The third nest was found on May 28th in the capital of a gutter pipe. There were six eggs and incubation had begun. The drought broke and water poured on the edge of the nest. The Wagtails must have hatched on June 7th or 8th. In the meantime, a Cuckoo laid, and the discovery of the eggshell on the lawn led to a second examination on June 12th. The young Cuckoo was then not more than a day old and four dead nestlings lay on the rim of the nest. Two of these showed signs of external injury. I submitted the corpses to the Bird Room of the British Museum and they were pronounced to be “ under five days old ”. I should have estimated four days. In these circumstances it seems remarkable that the Cuckoo’s egg hatched and that, having hatched, the nestling was able to eject young Wagtails so much larger and older VOL. XXXII.] NOTES. 195 than itself. The situation of the nest precluded the possibility of ejection beyond the rim of the nest. On June 20th the nest was again examined with the object of ringing the Cuckoo but it was empty. June 15th was the last day on which it is known that the Wagtails took food to the nest. The fourth nest was not found until June 27th when it held 5 eggs, one a Cuckoo’s ; this nest the Wagtails deserted after the Cuckoo’s egg had been taken. All the eggs in the nest were at least four days incubated. Assuming four days and allowing five days for laying, there remain, at the most, three days for readjustment and the building of the nest. The two Cuckoos’ eggs, judging from the fragment of the first, were not the product of the same bird. Cases of Cuckoos laying after the completion of the clutch are not uncommon, and it was only the necessity of carrying a very long ladder that prevented the discovery of the first Cuckoo’s egg. These four nests were on Stanway House and finally the Wagtails built in the hollow of an elm opposite the stables where they reared four young which left the nest early in August. Guy Charteris. THE HEBRIDEAN HEDGE-SPARROW IN SUTHERLAND. During a brief trip to the Dornoch district of Sutherlandshire in September, 1938, I was able to collect a series of freshly moulted Hedge-Sparrows, which are clearly referable to the Hebridean race Prunella modularis hebridium. Taking the series as a whole the specimens show a very slight tendency to paler grey throats and breasts than in the great majority of specimens of hebridium examined by me. All other characteristics are well defined. The discovery of P. m. hebridium in such a northern county as Sutherland was to be expected, and connecting this up with the known range of this race in south-west Scotland it would appear that hebridium must extend throughout the whole of the intervening districts. Philip A. Clancey. PERIOD BETWEEN BROODS OF SWALLOW. An effort was made during the nesting season of 1938 to find out the period between the broods of the Swallow ( Hirundo r. rustica) in south Carmarthenshire, in other words, the time that elapses between a definite stage in the first brood and the corresponding stage in the 'second, or similarly with the 196 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XXXII. second and third. The stage chosen was the time of ringing ; as one can ring nestling Swallows from about u days old to 15 or 16, a certain amount of inaccuracy may have crept into the following figures, but where a brood was ringed very young or very old, adjustments have been made accordingly. Before giving the actual figures it may be mentioned that in his “ Report on the Swallow Inquiry ” (B.B., Vol. XXX p. 104) Mr. A. W. Boyd gave, inferentially, four such periods for N.W. Cheshire in 1935 ; these were obtained from two pairs which had three broods each, and the periods work out as 50 and 41 days in one case, and 42 and 42 days in the other. Thirty-four pairs were observed in Carmarthenshire during 1938, and the average period was 55J days ; ten of these were under 50 days and averaged 47, the least being 44 ; ten were over 60 days averaging 65, the greatest being 74. It is interesting to note that all but one of these latter ten pairs occupied a different nest for the second brood, whereas when the period was shorter, five pairs used the same nests and five used different ones. In only one case was a pair noted to make a completely new nest, mud and all, and the period was then 70 days. Besides the above, one pair had three broods, relining a different nest each time. Unfortunately the date of the second brood was missed, but the double period was 97 days. J. F. Thomas. SPOONBILLS IN NORTHUMBERLAND. On June 28th, 1938, Miss Elizabeth Rothera reported to me that she had seen Spoonbills ( Platalea leucorodia) on Fenham Flats during the previous week. On the following day I visited Fenham Flats and saw two Spoonbills in company with eighteen Herons ( Ardea cinerea). I managed to get within 90 yards of the birds without being seen and watched them preening and walking about for a long time. I also saw them in flight. They were in the complete white plumage of the adult, but the crests were only rudimentary. The bill of one of the birds was heavily barred and mottled with black but the bill of the other was yellowish in colour with hardly any black markings upon it. In flight the heads and necks of the birds were stretched out to full extent. The two Spoonbills were seen by various ornithologists on numerous occasions during July and the early part of August and at one time they were consorting with thirty-six Herons. They were last seen on August 14th, 1938. T. Russell Goddard. VOL. XXXII.] NOTES. 197 THE CALLS OF LONG-TAILED DUCK, WIGEON AND SHELD-DUCK. In A Practical Handbook the voice of the Long-tailed Duck (■ Clangula hyemalis) is described as a curious guttural one. No mention is made of the musical call of the drake of “ Cal-o, Cal-oo”, which rings over the sea when he leaves the water, to my ear easily the most beautiful of all the duck calls. Neither is any mention made here or by any other author I have consulted, of the screeching call sometimes made by the female Wigeon ( Anas penelope). A friend of mine has a number of wild geese, Mallard, Sheld-Duck and Teal on his small pond, and one female Wigeon, whose shrill scream, not often given, sets all the dogs in the town barking, the only call from the pond to do so. The well-known call of the drake Sheld-Duck ( Tadorna tadorna) is also not mentioned. It is generally uttered at night and carries a long distance, but is not an alarm note. It is : “ Tat-a-tata-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat,” with the last syllable sometimes repeated 40 times, rather like a machine gun. H. W. Robinson. DEEP DIVING BY SHAGS. Mr. Thomas Mackenzie, manager of the salvage operations in Scapa Flow, informs me that during the course of his work he had frequently had occasion to dive to depths of over twenty fathoms. Both he and his employees operating at this depth (60 or 70ft.) have often encountered Shags ( Phala - crocorax a. aristotelis) , and possibly Cormorants ( Ph . c. carbo), searching, for their food on the sea-bed. The birds are apparently looking for small green crabs which appear to be a favourite food of these species in this district. Mr. Mackenzie described their actions when so occupied as partially walking or crawling over the bottom, the wings being used as a means of forward propulsion. COLLINGWOOD INGRAM. PROBABLE NORTH ATLANTIC GREAT SHEARWATERS OFF CORNWALL. On August 23rd, 1938, during a trip to the Scilly Isles, I saw several Great Shearwaters, probably of the North Atlantic form ( Puffmus kuhlii borealis). I only saw them when the steamer was about five miles from Lands End and until we came within the same distance from the islands. Their flight was characteristic of the Shearwaters and they circled around the steamer at a distance, skimming low over the water. In size they were considerably larger than Manx Shearwaters 198 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XXXII. (P. p. puffinus ) and approximated most nearly to that of a Lesser Black-backed Gull ( Lams fuscus). It was difficult to make any accurate observations as they flew at some distance from the steamer. The wings and back were dark brown, the wing tips and tail rather darker than the rest ; the head and neck dark ash-brown without a distinct darker cap ; upper tail-coverts considerably lighter than the back ; under tail-coverts and vent dark ash-brown ; lower cheeks, chin, throat and breast white, but dingier in appearance than those of a Manx Shearwater. The bill was grey-green. It was more usual to see a single bird only, but occasionally parties of four or five could be seen skimming across the wake of the steamer. On the return journey (August 29th) I did not see a single Great Shearwater. A. Farrant. ARCTIC SKUA INLAND IN ESSEX. On August 21st, 1938, Messrs. R. McKenzie Smith and B. T. Ward were on Yardley Hill, Chingford, Essex, which overlooks the King George Reservoir, and from thence they saw a dark, gull-like bird flying over the water. Owing to the great distance identification was impossible but they strongly suspected a Skua. Later in the day I visited the reservoir and saw an immature Arctic Skua ( Stercorarius parasiticus) . Altogether I had the bird under observation for about two hours and most of the time it was swimming ; on two occasions when it was flying, I saw it dip down to the water and apparently take something from the surface. In flight white markings on the wings were noticeable. This is probably the first occasion this species has been recorded in the Lea Valley. W. A. Wright. RAZORBILL BROODING TWO EGGS. On May 26th, 1938, my wife saw a Razorbill (Alca t. britannica) leave a ledge on Skokholm, Pembrokeshire, that could only have held one sitting bird, but to her surprise there were two eggs on this ledge, side by side. I watched carefully and saw the Razorbill return from sea and shuffle first one egg and then the other beneath her, so there is no reasonable doubt that she was the owner of both eggs. Seton Gordon. [In this connexion it is of some interest to note that F. Faber in his book ‘Ueber das Leben der hochnordischen Vogel, pub- lished in 1826, states that in the Razorbill there are two incubation patches, while the Guillemot has only one (p. 142 etc). Faber was a good ornithologist and this statement has so far as I know, never been disproved during the century which has elapsed since it was made. F. C. R. Jourdain.] VOL. XXXII.] NOTES. 199 WESTERN LITTLE BUSTARDS IN SOMERSET AND CARMARTHENSHIRE. The Bristol Museum and Art Gallery has recently acquired part of the collection left by the late H. Stone, a taxidermist of Drayton, Somerset. This includes a specimen of the Little Bustard ( Otis tetrax) and it was recorded by Stone in The Field of November 3rd, 1894, p. 706, as follows : “ Little Bustard in Somerset. A specimen of this bird was shot on the moor here on October 19th. It was a female in, I should say, full adult winter plumage. The bird measured 20 in. in length, and weighed 2 lb. 2 oz.” Recent detailed examination has shown the bird to be in juvenile, not adult, plumage and also that it is an example of the Western Little Bustard (Otis tetrax tetrax). The bird has been examined by Mr. H. F. Witherby who also found the measurements of the wing to be 254 mm. and so higher than his previous record of 248 mm. This is only the second definite record of this race for the British Isles, the previous one being given by Witherby, (Brit. Birds, Vol. XXXI, p. 334), all other Little Bustards examined being the Eastern race Otis tetrax orientalis. The records for Somerset are three, viz. : — 1. Female, about 1872, on Sedgemoor. Rev. W. Fox, Field, July 13th, 1907. 2. Female, Drayton, Somerset, October 19th, 1894 (as above). 3. One shot at Isle Abbots, December 28th, 1914. A. W. Turner, Field, February 6th, 1915. It is not known to which race Nos. 1 and 3 belong. H. Tetley. On September 9th, 1938, a male Little Bustard was shot on Laugharne Marsh, Carmarthenshire, in mistake for a Curlew. The bird was given to me to send to the National Museum of Wales, Cardiff ; it weighed 2 lb. 2 oz. The skin, has now been examined by Mr. H. F. Witherby who has determined it as of the western race Otis tetrax tetrax. The bird had been put up from a field of long grass and rushes. My informant mentions also that on rising it uttered for a short time a note, which he likened to that of “ a Cuckoo when mobbed by small birds ”. Messrs. G. C. S. Ingram and H. M. Salmon state that there appear to be only two other records of the Little Bustard in South Wales : at Gileston, Glamorganshire, November 19th, 1885, and Laugharne Marsh, Carmarthenshire, November, 1901. I am told that this latter bird is in the Cardiff Museum, but in neither case is there any evidence of race. J. F. Thomas. 200 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XXXII. Early Fieldfares in Cornwall. — Mr. W. R. Swann informs us that he saw about twenty Fieldfares ( T urdus pilaris) at St. Feock, near Truro, on August 22nd, 1938 ; they were in company with Mistle-Thrushes and Song- Thrushes. Continental Robin Inland in Kent. — Dr. James M. Harrison informs us that a first-year male Robin in new autumn plumage obtained at Seal Chart, near Sevenoaks, on September 5th, 1934, and now in his possession is an example of the Continental form Erithacus r. rubecula. As few examples of this form have been positively identified from inland localities this should be put on record. The date is somewhat early. House-Martins Breeding in Cliffs. — We have received a number of notes on this subject ( cf . antea p.118) and hope shortly to publish an account of them. Large Numbers of Greenshank in Sussex. — Mr. E. L. Arnold writes that on August 26th, 1938, at Thorney Island he and Mr. John Wilkins counted 63 Greenshank ( Tringa nebularia ) resting together in a flock at the water’s edge. On the 28th there were certainly more, one flock of at least 70 flew up together and there were several others scattered elsewhere amongst numerous Redshank. Two days later there were fewer to be seen, the largest number together being a party of 32 birds. Early Arctic Terns in Hertfordshire. — Mr. G. K. McCulloch writes that on July 10th, 1938, he watched two adult Arctic Terns ( Sterna macrura ) on a gravel pit at Maple Cross, near Rickmansworth. He had them under observation at close quarters for half an hour and from his description his identification is certain. LETTER. SPREAD OF TAIL FEATHERS IN PIGEON’S QUICK TURN. To the Editors of British Birds. Sirs, — On September 22nd, 1938, a domestic pigeon came very rapidly round the corner of a church quite close to me. For some reason or other it suddenly turned in its tracks and as it did so I noticed a very curious thing : the tail feathers were gathered fairly close together (as a pigeon usually does carry its tail when flying straight) but the outside tail feather on each side was sticking out at nearly right angles to the rest of the tail, in the same position as one sees in the common illustra- tions of a Snipe’s tail when drumming. The pigeon was so close that I got a splendid view of this action. It looked to me as if it were using these two feathers to add rapidity to the already quick turn and it occurred to me that the above observation might be of interest, to readers who are studying flight. W. H. Workman. 1938 PURCHASED Now Ready THE FLIGHT OF BIRDS BY C. 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MORTIMER BATTEN’S Our Garden Birds Their Food, Habits and Appearances A book not only for the serious ornithologist, but also for the urban and suburban bird-lover who wishes to know more about the feathered visitors to his garden. With 39 coloured plates. 5s. net. DB BRITISH DI KD5 With which was Incorporated in January, 1917, " The Zoologist.” EDITED BY H. F. WITHERBY, M.B.E., F.Z.S.,M.B.O.U.,H.F.A.O.U. ASSISTED BY Rev. F. C. R. Jourdain, m.a., m.b.o.u., h.f.a.o.u., f.z.s., and Norman F. Ticehurst, o.b.e., m.a., f.r.c.s., m.b.o.u. Contents of Number 7, Vol. XXXII., December i, 1938. PAGE The Spring Migration of the Willow-Warbler over Europe. By H. N. Southern ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 202 Report on the Lapwing Habitat Inquiry, 1937 ( continued ). By E. M. Nicholson ... ... ... ... ... ... 207 Some Breeding-habits of Marsh-Warblers in South Worcester- shire. By A. J. Harthar... ... ... ... ... ... 230 Notes : — Red -throated Pipit seen in Kent (H. G. Alexander) ... ... 233 Food of Nestling Swallows (J. F. Thomas) ... ... ... 233 Yellow-billed Cuckoo in Cornwall (Col. B. H. Ryves)... ... 236 Snowy Owl in Norfolk (Col. & Mrs. R. F. Meiklejohn) ... 236 Buzzard feeding on Maggots in Toadstool (J. E. Roberts) ... 236 Black Kite in the Isles of Scilly (Major A. A. Dorrien-Smith) 237 Behaviour of Leach’s Fork-tailed Petrel (E. J. Cottier) ... 237 Roseate Tern in Sussex (R. W. Hale) ... ... ... ... 238 Cannibalism among Gulls (R. M. Lockley) ... ... ... 238 Razorbill Brooding two Eggs (R. M. Lockley)... ... ... 239 Short Notes : — Late Sand-Martin in Surrey. Flamingo in Lewis. Deep Diving by Shags — Correction. Curlew-Sandpiper in Surrey. Spotted Redshanks in Gloucestershire and Hertfordshire. Large numbers of Black-tailed Godwits and Whimbrels in Sussex. Black Tern in Bedfordshire in October. ... ... 239 Letter : — A List of the Birds of Pembrokeshire (R. M. Lockley) ... 240 p (202) THE SPRING MIGRATION OF THE WILLOW- WARBLER OVER EUROPE. BY H. N. SOUTHERN. This article and map compose the second of a small series of studies, showing the specific characteristics of certain passerine spring migrations over Europe. The species dealt with here, the Willow- Warbler ( Phylloscopus t. trochilus ), was chosen for inclusion in the series, as representing a bird of rather different habits from the Swallow, the map for which has already been published, and from other species, which will come under review later. It was thought that possibly some evidence of this difference in habits might be discovered in the type of migration shown. How far this is so can be judged from the following account, though a detailed comparison has not been made. It has been thought better to reserve this until the other three maps have been published. Perhaps it is as well to stress here the very generalized nature of the maps. Isochronal lines have been given only at fortnightly intervals, and this procedure may be criticized as not giving a sufficiently detailed picture of the migration of any of the species, since of necessity many of the small irregularities in the lines, which would have appeared if the intervals had be n smaller, have been smoothed out. Two things may be said in answer to this : first, that the nature of the data does not admit of a trustworthy result, if greater detail is drawn from them. The “ average arrival date” itself is slightly nebulous, as explained by the author in the previous paper [i], and observations cannot be of as precise a nature as to justify basing so much on them. This applies more to the Willow-Warbler than to the Swallow, since its arrival may not be noticed for some while, if adverse weather conditions restrain it from singing. Secondly, it must again be insisted that the maps do not endeavour to depict the course of migratory movements. Irregularities in the iso- chronal lines must not be taken to indicate flight lines, but merely to show variation in the average rate of spread. Lines drawn at much closer time intervals are liable to give an erroneous impression of routes, while their meanderings would probably indicate only inaccuracies in the data. Characteristics of the Willow-Warbler Migration. Practically the same sources have been used in the com- pilation of this map as in the previous one. Naturally not so great a mass of observations is obtainable for this species as vol. xxxii ] MIGRATION OF WILLOW-WARBLER. 203 for the Swallow. Nevertheless it is believed that the results are accurate enough within the limits of interpretation prescribed above. More difficulty was experienced in obtaining records for Russia and for some of the central European states, while the Iberian peninsula and the Balkans remain rather blank areas as before. However, for western Europe, most of central Europe and the Scandinavian countries a large amount of records was obtainable from publications and from observers. As before, the averages have been based on a ten-year period, whenever possible, and each datum is indicated by a black square on the map. The isothermal lines are taken from the same source [2] and in general the map is in every way strictly comparable with that given for the Swallow. The migration of the Willow- Warbler over Europe lasts from March 5th (Gibraltar) to June 1st (Inari), a period of 88 days, during which a distance of over 2,500 miles is covered. As in the case of the Swallow, there is again a certain lag at the beginning, but this is not nearly so pro- nounced as in the case of that bird. The Willow-Warbler migration at Gibraltar commences a full 20 days later than that of the Swallow, and yet the rate of spread over the main part of Europe is not so very greatly in advance of it, and at the extreme north both migrants arrive at very much the same time. Thus the progress of the Willow- Warbler is more even, the whole distance right from the Mediterranean being covered at a rate of about 29 miles a day. It has been suggested to the author by Mr. M. Spooner that this difference between the two species may be correlated with differences in feeding habits. The delay of the Swallow in Spain from the middle of February to the middle of March may be occasioned by the lack of insect food, which can be taken on the wing. They may, in fact, have to wait for the hatch of forms, which fly at suitable altitudes, and in this connexion it is interesting to note that the Swift, which probably feeds at consistently higher altitudes than other species, is one of the later arrivals. It has been shown further- more [3] by the use of nets suspended from a kite that the insect fauna up to 100 ft. from ground level does not reach its peak until June, and in March is still presumably scanty, particularly so on windy and cold days. The Willow-Warbler on the other hand is able to find sufficient food in its usual habitat at a comparatively earlier date than the Swallow, since it exists mostly during the early days of the spring on adult Chironomids [4]. 204 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XXXII. Perhaps the effect of the difference in feeding habits may also be seen in the Willow- Warbler’s ability to winter at higher latitudes than the Swallow, some remaining regularly along the north coast of the Mediterranean. In general the migration of the Willow- Warbler, as shown by the isochronal lines, may be said to exhibit more irregularity than that of the Swallow, once the latter has got started. The quicker rate of spread during the early part of the migration up the west coast of Europe is much more marked than in the other species, and the curvature of the lines for March 15th and April 1st illustrates this well. There is a difference of nearly 8° of latitude between the eastern and the western ends of the lines. This is later made up for by the increased speed shown by the migration over the main part of Russia, where over twice as much country is covered between April 1st and April 15th as between March 15th and April 1st. Thus, by May 1st the inclination of the isochronal lines has swung in the other direction, though not so markedly. Rate of spread is again quick, though patchy, over Scandinavia and by May 15th the line is again fairly level except for a pocket around the upper end of the Baltic, where the arrival is sooner than on the inland and higher ground. A general tendency is observable for the spread of the Willow-Warbler to go forward more quickly along the sea- boards, and even in the British Isles the isochronal line for April 15th shows a marked deflection inland. To a small extent this appears on the west coast of Norway and along the south-east coast of Sweden. Why there should also be delay along the west coast of Sweden and in the Danish islands is not so clear. In the previous article it was remarked that the even progress of the Swallow, when compared with the migrations of some North American species, was probably correlated in some way with the more even spread of the European isotherms. This correlation with the advance of the spring is even more marked in the present map. Not only do the isotherms tilt in the same direction at the beginning of the migration, but the quick advance over Russia from April 1st to April 15th is faithfully echoed by the isotherms for April 15th and May 1st. The conformity in Scandinavia also is remarkable, the isochronal lines and the isotherms running almost parallel in their convolutions. Nevertheless, the same tendency is noticed, as in the case of the Swallow, for the spread of the migrants to outstrip that of the spring. Starting roughly level at March 15th, there is vol. xxxii.] MIGRATION OF WILLOW-WARBLER. 205 Map showing Rate of Spread of the Willow-Warbler ( Phylloscopus t. trochilus ) over Europe during the spring. The continuous black lines, dated at the right-hand ends, are isochronal lines showing the stage achieved every fortnight. The dotted lines, dated at the left-hand ends, show the movement of the 48°F. isotherm for comparison. Each square represents a place for which an average arrival date was worked out from local data. [ Projection : Bonne’s.] 206 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XXXII. already some advance by April ist, while the arrival at Varanger is again a month or more ahead. It may be pointed out that both Swallow and Willow-Warbler arrive in the high north about the same time, and so their difference in feeding habits has no effect here. Conditions, however, are not the same, for the sudden appearance of the Arctic spring brings an immediate appearance of flying insects, particularly Diptera, to such a degree that the discomfort from a human point of view is notorious. Furthermore, it may be seen from the maps that the movement up Scandinavia is generally later in the case of the Swallow, which on May ist is almost a fortnight behind the Willow-Warbler, so that except in the extreme north the same cause of delay, as was suggested further south in the Iberian peninsula, may be operating. In this brief account of the Willow- Warbler’s spring migration over Europe there are several interesting points that have emerged in contrast with the Swallow. They may be summarized as follows : (1) More even rate of spread taking the migration as a whole. (2) For the most part the migration is in advance of that of the Swallow except in the extreme north, and (3) An even more remarkable conformity with the isotherms is exhibited. REFERENCES. [1] Southern, H. N. (1938), The Spring Migration of the Swallow over Europe, British Birds, Vol. XXXII, pp. 4-7. [2] Bartholomew’s Physical Atlas (1899), Vol. III. London. [3] Freeman, J. A. (1938), “Composition of the Aerial Insect Fauna up to 300 ft.”, Nature Supplement, July 23rd. [4] Howard, H. E. (1907-14), The British Warblers (Willow-Warbler), London. (207) PUBLICATION OF THE BRITISH TRUST FOR ORNITHOLOGY. REPORT ON THE LAPWING HABITAT INQUIRY, 1937. BY E. M. NICHOLSON. [Continued from page 191.) Changing Habitats. Even more than most species Lapwings are confronted with the problem of meeting changes through which a suitable habitat may become unsuitable and vice versa. A large proportion of their normal territory consists of farmland on which ploughing, harrowing, sowing, rolling, cutting or lifting crops and other forms of disturbance frequently occur without any thought of their effect on the birds, and even land undisturbed in this way may quickly become unsuitable through growth of dense vegetation or through burning, flood- ing or other events. Lapwings are able to meet such difficulties successfully through their great mobility, which enables them instantly to switch over to a different area, if necessary many miles distant from their previous locality, and also through their adaptability, which enables them to change quarters from grassland to ploughed land, or from fallow to a sewage farm, and still maintain themselves. They gain further flexibility from their capacity to band into immense flocks or to disperse individually over wide areas, and from their exceptional faculty, as compared with most field birds, for feeding at apparently any hour out of the twenty-four. Although often wary, they are not so much in fear of enemies and disturbance as to lose much time and to be debarred from otherwise favourable haunts on this account, like, for example, the Grey Geese, and there is no reason to believe that much potentially suitable Lapwing ground in Great Britain is avoided by the species through fear of danger. The most vulnerable period is evidently the nesting season, when the birds are habitually distributed over a number of territories on which they have to lay eggs and rear young in the open. The returns show that apart from the collection of eggs nests are liable to be unintentionally destroyed by farm operations ; thus, on the Berks-Hants border “ most of my early nests were ploughed and harrowed in ” (A. C. Garrett) ; on Derbyshire uplands “ eggs sometimes smashed on lower farm lands by chain harrowing ” (John Armitage) ; in Cheshire 20S BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XXXII. “ nests on my farm are usually started in late March or earl}7 April on land under wheat or oats. They are often disturbed by harrowing or rolling and later nests are on grass, permanent or temporary ” (A. G. Haworth) ; in Yorkshire, West Riding, (John C. S. Ellis) “ there was one arable field here which in 1932 held 12 nests. Many of these were disturbed by rolling and since then numbers have decreased. Now (1937) not more than 4 pairs ” ; while in Surrey P. W. E. Currie notes a 15-acre field ploughed in March and sown with roots on which apparently only one pair bred “ possibly owing to the dis- turbance caused by ploughing and sowing during the breeding season.” In a Cheshire area where 9 nests were found on potato drills E. Cohen observes that these nests “ were the latest and had to be moved about a lot as the farmer went over the drills again ; some were moved three or four times, but the birds did not desert.” The fact remains that newly ploughed land, despite its exposure to disturbance, is yet one of the three most popular breeding habitats for Lapwings according to the returns, and is markedly more popular for breeding than at other times of the year. On the other hand such habitats as rushy fields, moorland, and hill pasture are particularly attractive to breeding birds, perhaps partly owing to their relative freedom from disturbance, although in bad years this may be offset by greater exposure to cold or floods. Other references to effects of agricultural operations were few, but the attractiveness of animal manure on fields was mentioned by one or two observers. R. Warren (Essex) recorded “ in December one large ploughed field had been limed except for one corner. I found Peewits concentrated on this corner.” Bryanston School Natural History Society noted that in pastures where straw had been laid down the Lapwings (and other birds) avoided the straw. A significant record of the attachment of Lapwings to certain fields despite changes in their cultivation was sent from Dowles, Worcester- shire, by J. S. Elliott who has observed a farm, running up to about 300 ft., since 1902, when there was no available grassland and some 4 to 6 pairs of Lapwings nested on the arable land of the higher part of the farm. “ Years afterwards all this arable was seeded down and the same number of Lapwings continue nesting there. No Lapwings appear to winter here at all and in 36 years’ residence I have only once seen Lapwings (then only a few on migration) on my meadow, and the same applies to the River Severn meadows in this darish.” The recent trend in agriculture has been towards vol. xxxii.] LAPWING HABITAT INQUIRY. 209 more permanent grass in most districts, and C. A. Norris (Warwickshire) suggests that increasing waste land, blocked drains and more marshy fields have helped the Lapwing. Nesting. In response to question 6 a few observers gave details of an appreciable number of nests in different situations. The Laugharne (Carmarthen) return from J. F. Thomas actually analysed 50 nest sites on 6 square miles, 29 of these being on sand dunes, 16 on rushy fields, 4 on hill pastures and 1 on marsh. In each case the most favoured site for the nest was on grass. This was used for the only nest on marsh, while for the three other habitats the numbers on various sites were : Sand Rushy Hill Site. dunes. fields. pasture. Grass ... 8 8 3 Marshy or wet 3 1 ■ — Bare sand 6 5 — Moss ... 3 — Cowdung ... I I • — Other or mixed sites 8* it it 29 16 4 * Grass-moss 1 ; grass-horsedung 2 ; grass-dwarf willow 1 ; sand- moss 1 ; moss-spurge 1 ; cowdung, grass and moss 1 ; moss-dwarf willow 1. f Sand-grass. J Poor grass and other dry plants. The nature of the ground was : Sand Rushy Hill * dunes. fields. pasture. Level or almost so* 8 6 — Slope to N. 5 2 — NE. ... 1 — — E. ... 8 3 — SE. ... — I S. ... I 2 3 SW. ... — w. ... 4 2 — NW..„ 2 — — Not stated — I — *Incl. tops of mounds. 29 16 4 The single nest on marsh was level. These records bring out fairly clearly the Lapwing’s preference, mentioned by other observers, for a raised, bare or otherwise dry site even where the surroundings are wet. It may be significant that the only direction in which none of the nests face is SW., into the prevailing wind, some 210 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XXXII. three-quarters of those in sand dunes and rushy fields being either on level sites or on a slope in the quadrant between N. and E. while on the hill pasture all of a small sample fall (perhaps for accidental reasons) in the quadrant between E. and S. Mr. Thomas also recorded nest linings, with the following results : Sand Rushy Hill Lined with dunes. fields. pasture. Grass ... 9 12 2 Hay I I — Marram grass 6 — — Rushes — 2 — Ragwort 4 1 — Dwarf willow twigs ... I — — Dry stiff plants — — I Grass and dwarf willow 3 — — Grass and moss 2 — 1 Grass and ragwort 2 — , — Dwarf willow and ragwort 1 — — 29 16 4 The single marsh nest was grass-lined. Thus 24 nests— -48 per cent. — were lined simply with grass and a further 7 — 14 per cent. — partly with grass. The area is evidently untypical in the frequent choice of marram and of dwarf willow, and perhaps also of ragwort, although on the Berks-Hants border hills G. Brown notes that the nest “ is lined fairly heavily, and nearly always in this district with old dead ragwort-stems ( Senecio jacobea) usually broken up into say 3 in. to 4 in. lengths One other point examined by Mr. Thomas was the distance between nests, the shortest noted being 19 yards, with 10 cases of 30 yards or less. On the Lancs-Yorks border two pairs were noted breeding within 10 yards (C. Oakes). No other observer gave information of so thorough a character, but several other returns are worth briefly sum- marizing. E. Cohen (NE. Cheshire) gave the following comparative returns for nests found : Rushy fields ... 1934- 1935- 7 1937 3 Rough lowland pasture 3 X — Fair permanent pasture 3 4 12 Arable dowm to grass — 1 5 Cereals... 2 6 — Wheat — — 1 Oats... — — 9 Potato drills ... . — 3 9 Roots ... 5 3 VOL. XXXII.] LAPWING HABITAT INQUIRY. 211 These figures illustrate the wide range of habitats used in well-farmed country, but not changes from year to year, as the observer concentrated on different types of land in different years within the same area. He obtained very similar results for 1932 and 1933, and his findings are paralleled, in another Cheshire district, by A. W. Boyd who reports sites of 8 nests, 3 being in winter wheat, 2 in oats, 1 on “ black soil ” prepared for potatoes and 2 on permanent pasture. In 1930 out of 13-14 pairs breeding in this same area on 750 acres all nested in potatoes, corn or permanent pasture except for 2 in a small marshy field — the only one included in the survey. A broadly similar choice is shown in Judith M. Ferrier’s sites for 15 May nests in the Norfolk Broads district, 5 being on ploughed fields, 3 on meadow lan d, 6 on marsh land and 1 in roots. Among other sites specified are four nests with from 1 to 3 eggs each on about half an acre of “ wet and sour ” bog covered with short rushes and coarse grass on a N. Lancs moor between 1,000 and 1,500 ft. above sea-level as early as March 27th, 1937 (L. J. Ford) ; three with 1, 2 and 3 eggs on a small corner of a small lowland pasture, unlined on the grass (N. Lancs, April 3rd, L. J. Ford) ; three containing 1, 3 and 4 eggs on oat stubble near coast (N. Lancs, April 4th, L. J. Ford) ; two on the line of driftwood marking winter flood level of the Lune (here a fast, stony river) on short sheep-cropped turf about 50 yards from the waterside (Westmorland, May 16th, J. C. S. Ellis) ; and the regular use of patches of flint stone, usually on a ridge, and always in the open away from brambles and bracken, on the high chalk downs on the Berks-Hants border (G. Brown). When the investigation was launched it could not be foreseen that the spring of 1937 would be one of the wettest on record, and several observers refer to the effects of abnormal weather on nesting. Thus Ralph Chislett (Yorks-Notts-Lincs border) records on April 13th a nest and 3 eggs (clutch complete) “ on ground from which temporary water had not yet drained. Eggs on platform of strong yellow bent stems crossing. When water drained away the nest was insecurely supported by the grass below and tilted. Bird deserted ”. The same observer notes another nest and 4 eggs (April 22) on ploughed land with furrows lined with water, the nest being on top of the turned earth ; he adds “ the early spring was very wet in the district and nests were farther away from the wet and rushy areas than usual ”. Similarly C. F. Tebbutt (St. Neots) notes that in 1936 10 young were ringed from nests on rushy floodable pasture near the river, but 3 to 4 212 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XXXII. pairs which stayed all spring 1937 trying to breed had their nests destroyed by floods each time, and hatched no young. On the other hand 13 young were ringed in 1937 (against 8 in 1:936) on a rough pasture above alluvial level where the channels between the “ lands ” were flooded all the nesting period and even on the height of the ridge the nests were often awash. It is hardly surprising that Snipe, Redshank and Moorhens were found nesting among the Lapwings in these conditions. In the Fylde (Lancashire) W. Hide noted a nest in growing oats very near a road ; four young hatched but two were drowned in a dyke when about a week old. He found no late nests among green crops. G. H. Spray (Notts) notes that nests in his area are usually in the furrows of fields under root crops, beans, etc., or sometimes in young corn. “ Owing to growth of crops, late nests are seldom found in the same fields as early ones. The late nests are usually on rough pasture or marshy fields, sometimes, however, being on fallow land or fields growing roots such as beet and turnip, with short foliage. The vast majority of birds nest during March and early April, and eggs later than the second week of May are an exception.” Near Carlisle E. Blezard notes two late nests (one with 4 eggs on May 3rd) in a hayfield, earlier nests on pasture having been robbed. In the Liverpool area Eric Hardy notes early nests as being “ on the low fields near the coast that are dry enough for nesting, or the drier parts of the peaty fields farmed on the mosslands”. Most of the winter Lapwings from this area leave it to breed, but some nest in the sand dunes “ either on the dry sand or on dry tussocks of grass in the slacks or brackish water pools between the sand hills”. On the Derbyshire hills John Armitage notes : “ Most nests are on dry, well-drained land, sometimes gently sloping, and a favourite spot is where the ground is grass-covered but broken up by the tunnelling activities of moles during the first two months of the year. A few are on wet and rushy ground. ...” He adds that early and late nests are in the same habitat, and the same report comes from other upland areas such as the Yorkshire dales (John P. Utley) and the downs on the Berks-Hants border (G. Brown) while a number of observers in low-lying districts find marked differences in choice of site as the season advances. At Laugharne, Car- marthen, J. F. Thomas shows that, while 5 out of 13 nests in rushy fields and 10 out of 30 nests in sand dunes hatched out by April 30th, nests on hill pasture were from five days to a week later, only 2 out of 7 having hatched by May 6th. VOL. XXXII.] LAPWING HABITAT INQUIRY. 213 Relation of Habitat and Habits. In order to understand the Lapwing’s choice of habitat, both for breeding and other purposes, some knowledge of its habits is necessary, although the relation between the two can only be discussed here very briefly, and many gaps in our information remain to be filled. The main needs of the bird which are important in relation to habitat appear to be feeding, drinking, resting or roosting, play, bathing, moulting and breeding, the first six being everyday requirements and the last two seasonal. The Lapwing is one of those fortunate species which are normally able to get all the food they need within relatively short periods at relatively long intervals, leaving the greater part of the twenty-four hours free for other purposes. Being able to feed during the night apparently as well as by daylight, and to fly, strongly and rapidly, over large tracts of country, Lapwings have peculiar opportunities of developing specialized habitats for their various needs, and of passing freely from one to the other. It does not appear, however, that the evolution of the species has taken this line. It has produced nothing comparable to the daily roosting flights of Rooks, Starlings and Gulls, or to the wide adaptability which leads the Herring-Gull, usually a marine cliff-breeder, and the tree-nesting Rook and Wood-Pigeon, to forage side by side with Lapwings in the fields. Lapwings, although capable of flying hundreds of miles in a day, and able when weather conditions demand, to evacuate large regions and move hastily to others, seem normally content to spend long periods haunting a single field or group of fields, even when they have no breeding ties, and often in areas where most or all of the birds concerned do not breed. Several observers noted the same flocks, or even in one case recognizable individual birds, frequenting the same small area for long periods, although others refer to wandering small flocks, and where repeated counts are made large fluctuations in numbers appear to be the rule. Thus, in Michael D. Lister’s study of PriesthiJl Farm it is common for the weekly average number of birds on the ground over five years to vary by 30 per cent, or more from one week to the next, some ot the fluctuations reaching thousands per cent. Although some of the more spectacular of such changes are no doubt due to migration or large-scale weather movements a number of observers suggest that many of them simply represent the concentration into larger flocks or dispersal into smaller 214 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XXXII. flocks and parties of a relatively stable local Lapwing popula- tion. Several Lancashire and Cheshire observers note that hard weather drives the Lapwings to coastal and estuary meadows, saltings, and sewage farms, some of the inland cultivated districts being entirely evacuated, while mild weather brings them back to the inland fields. Until much more work has been done on the numbers of Lapwings frequenting typical and fairly extensive areas over a period of years, bringing out seasonal fluctuations and showing how far these are due to purely local movements, it will be impossible to explain the significance of the flocking habits. It is known that flocks occur in every month of the year, although they are undoubtedly rarest, and usually also smallest, from April until the latter part of June. During June and July flocking becomes widespread if not universal, and the size of flocks rapidly increases. According to such estimates of numbers as are available it appears that for most habitats flocks do not normally much exceed one hundred birds, and are often considerably smaller, until about the middle of July. During the latter part of July and the whole of August flocks of ioo to 250 are widespread, and considerably larger gatherings may not infrequently be noted. According to M. D. Lister flocks on the farm under his observation normally reach a preliminary peak (with maxima varying between 150 and 500 birds) during the last ten days of July or in August, some 4 to 11 weeks after flocking begins. This is followed by a more or less distinct trough, after which numbers rapidly increase to a higher autumn peak by mid- September. During October, November, December and January large flocks are commonly recorded, although according to Lister’s records these rarely reach the levels of the autumn peak. From early February there is a rapid drop, no doubt owing to taking up of breeding territory. (Even in the period December I5th-30th at Laugharne J. F. Thomas noted that some birds seemed already to be occupying territory.) Exceptional conditions may be created anywhere and at any time by abnormalities of weather,* and are endemic in certain areas, notably sewage farms, where flocks of about 250 (Windsor, Berks, P. A. D. Hollom) and about 700 (Slough, Bucks, O. Hohn) are recorded by the *For instance, Judith M. Ferrier reports very late nesting in the Broads district in 1937 as many Lapwings which settled in breeding fields during March and early April left again after April 15th and did not return and lay until well into May. Similarly the Dauntsey’s School return (Wilts) notes that early in the breeding season “ the birds seemed to flock again when cold weather and snow set in”. VOL. XXXII.] LAPWING HABITAT INQUIRY. 215 early part of July. At Slough a series of counts and estimates throughout the year show only two figures above the July level, both of these being in September. It was no part of the Habitat Inquiry to investigate sizes of flocks, but from such data as were submitted it is clear that reliable observers find numbers occasionally ranging very considerably above a thousand in one flock. J. F. Thomas records up to 4,000 for Carmarthen, while Eric Hardy reports a gathering of some 10,000 birds caused by momentary fusion of two very large flocks over a 300-acre sewage farm in hard weather. Density of population was also not investigated, but it may be useful to record that in 1930 A. W. Boyd found an average of 18 breeding pairs of Lapwings to 1,000 acres of typical N. Cheshire farmland. The question of increases or decreases was also outside the scope of the Inquiry ; those observers who dealt with the point agreed (with one exception as regards winter flocks) that the species is either increasing or at least holding its own, and local instances of marked advances in numbers were recorded. In N. Lancs, however, L. Ford found that the species had become more scattered as a breeder, numbers in formerly crowded haunts being reduced, while new areas had been colonized. Reported cases of the use of different habitats for different purposes, such as feeding and roosting, were surprisingly few, and only a single return (C. F. Tebbutt, St. Neots) noted a flight at dusk, stated to take place, especially on windy nights, along the flooded Ouse Valley, where very few Lapwings were seen in December during the day. The number of birds involved was, however, small. In the 1938 summer samples an attempt was made by the writer to secure fuller material on the precise relation of habitat and time of day to the activities of the birds. The results indicated very marked variations in practice even within the same area. In one field all the birds would be resting, in many cases actually asleep, while in another they would be feeding briskly. Often the same flock would prove to contain a number of sleeping biids, crouched or standing, while others were preening, bathing or pursuing one another, and yet others feeding. There is, moreover, a very con- spicuous difference between a flock feeding briskly, the birds scattered mostly yards apart over a large field and a flock in which a certain amount of leisurely pecking about is occurring, but the birds are more or less closely packed and are not taking the task very seriously. Of twenty clear cases of mainly or wholly resting flocks noted in different parts of 216 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XXXII. England and Scotland in July-August, 1938, 9 occurred between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m., and a further 4 between noon and 3 p.m., while 3 were between 6 and 9 p.m. and the remaining 4 between 10 a.m. and noon. On the other hand, out of 26 clear cases of wholly or mainly feeding flocks only 3 occurred between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m., while 5 were earlier than 10 a.m. and 3 were later than 9 p.m., 7 being between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. and the remaining 8 between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. These figures are too limited to support any far-reaching con- clusions, but they suggest the possibility that in summer at any rate there may be a tendency for the birds to rest, preen or sleep more during the afternoon than during the morning and evening, which may be preferred for feeding. In Berkshire, where a number of flocks were under frequent observation during August both on the uplands and the river levels there could be no question of the existence of such a preference, and the birds invaded during the morning and evening a number of pastures, fallows and other habitats which were deserted in favour of large ploughed fields and root crops for resting or roosting purposes in the middle of the day. In North England and Scotland the position appeared rather different. In Cumberland two large flocks, one of over 100 birds and the other of over 340 were found resting and preening in large rushy fields shortly after 10 o’clock on a fine August morning. Again in Selkirkshire a flock of about 126 birds which was watched feeding in a hayfield in rain between 6 and 7 p.m. on a July evening had dispersed by 10 o’clock next morning over several adjoining fields, in which many of them were resting, some actually crouched on the ground. Two adjoining hayfields in Kirkcudbright which contained over no Lapwings feeding actively in heavy rain on July 29th contained double that number, also feeding actively in evening sunshine at 8.45 p.m. two days later. Flocks could be found either feeding or roosting in all weather conditions, and at all times of day, subject to the apparent distinct preference already mentioned. Moreover while some dispersed to feed and concentrated to rest others concentrated to feed and dispersed for resting. The first of these practices appeared, however, to be most general, and in either case there was a very marked tendency for resting birds to pack close in some hollow or on a slope or sheltered patch of ground while feeding birds would scatter widely over the foraging area. Relations with Man. The effects of human interferences with the environment 217 vol. xxxii.] LAPWING HABITAT INQUIRY. of Lapwings have already been discussed, but it remains to deal with protection, persecution and disturbance of various kinds. The species is protected in Great Britain by a special Act of Parliament which, unlike some legislation relating to birds, appears to be relatively well obeyed. No observer reports shooting of Lapwings or the taking of their eggs on any serious scale, although isolated instances are mentioned in a few localities, particularly the robbing of first clutches. All observers who deal with the point also agree that even heavy traffic by road and rail does not normally disturb Lapwings on adjoining land, and several returns relating to aerodromes show that even in this extreme case the distur- bance is not acute although E. Cohen (N.E. Cheshire) remarks that two local aerodromes “ would almost certainly be more used if it were not for disturbance”. At Brooklands (Surrey) Lapwings are noted as being unaffected by both the aero- drome and car racing on the encircling motor track. Some returns refer to the movements of farm workers and the use of footpaths running across Lapwing haunts, which again are not found to be a source of serious disturbance. On the other hand a number of observers suggest, with varying degrees of confidence, and most frequently in respect of the breeding season, that land indiscriminately overrun by people and dogs is avoided. K. P. Keywood notes “ birds very sensitive to approach by human beings and are commonest in the less frequented parts of the area ” and several others say the same, but some very experienced observers take the opposite view, or are much more uncertain, on this point. R. H. Hardy, reporting for Shropshire, suggests that freedom from disturbance may be required for breeding, but not for roosting or feeding necessarily, while H. G. Alexander rejecting freedom from disturbance as a factor apparent in the case of South Birmingham, writes “ one place constantly resorted to, winter by winter, until it was quite built up was on meadows by a very busy road with trams on it, between two factories, and now they have moved to another region fairly near, also not far from roads and houses ”. Eric Hardy notes that in winter they “ still haunt fields beside busy main Mather Avenue, Liverpool, with its tramlines, as this was once part of the low lying badly drained land of the Mersey banks . . . which they favour ”. A similar case of clinging to old haunts in process of large-scale building development was noted in July, 1938, on the Team Valley Trading Estate, Co. Durham (E.M.N.). Lapwings may, however, in some cases be dispossessed not Notes : — Nest of Moustached Warbler (Fr. Haverschmidt) ... ... 306 Sparrow-Hawk taking Little Grebe from Water (C. A. Norris) 307 Scarce Birds Inland in Surrey (P. W. E. Currie) ... ... 307 Breeding of Wigeon in Merionethshire (H. E. Forrest) ... 307 Eider in Dorsetshire (G. B. Gooch) ... ... ... ... 308 Some Waders Scarce in Anglesey (M. H. Rowntree) ... ... 308 Purple Sandpiper in Warwickshire (W. E. Groves) ... ... 308 Spotted Redshank in Co. Dublin (G. R. Humphreys) ... 309 Long-tailed Skua in Lancashire (R. A. H. Coombes) ... ... 309 - Fort Notes : — Display Flight of Chaffinch. Display by Hedge-Sparrow in December. Late House-Martins in Sussex. Unusual Influx of Bewick’s and Whooper Swans. Gadwall in Sussex. Gannets in Gloucestershire ... ... ... ... ... 309 Reviews : — The Feathered Folk of an Estuary. By Guy B. Farrar... Bird Sketches and Some Field Observations. By Philip Rickman Birds Through the Year. By “ Fish-Hawk ” ... Wild Country. By F. Fraser Darling ... I Know an Island. By R. M. Lockley Repertoirs des Stations Ornithologiques. Par M. A. Chappellier. 3*1 311 3” 312 312 312 v (282) A PUBLICATION OF THE BRITISH TRUST FOR ORNITHOLOGY. THE MIGRATION OF THE GANNET : RESULTS OF MARKING IN THE BRITISH ISLES. BY A. LANDSBOROUGH THOMSON, c.b., d.sc. The object of this paper is to analyse the recovery records, in the case of the Gannet (Sula bassana), of birds ringed in the British Isles under the scheme formerly directed by the Editor of British Birds and now under the auspices of the British Trust for Ornithology. These records constitute the only body of data of this kind relating to the species, although as a matter of historical interest it may be mentioned that Gurney (1904) marked nearly a hundred Gannets — at the date and place thus indicated— with rings inscribed “ 1904 Bass Rock ”. The Gannet has a breeding distribution restricted to less than twenty localities, all on marine islands, but certain of the colonies are of great size. There are seven Scottish, one Welsh and two Irish stations. According to recent estimates by Edwards, Lockley and Salmon (1936), these account for a total British population of about 53,500 pairs with nests. One station in the Faeroes and two or three in Iceland account for about 12,500 pairs, according to the same authors, and one station in Newfoundland and three in Canada for about 12,000 pairs. The Gannet is thus predominantly a British species. The Gannet is found in British waters throughout the year, and even some of the breeding stations are said to be not wholly deserted for more than a few weeks in mid-winter. There is, however, a considerable southward movement in winter, and the range of the species then extends along the Atlantic seaboard as far as tropical West Africa (and to the Gulf of Mexico on the American side) ; there are also occasional records from the Baltic and the Mediterranean. A further point to be borne in mind is that the birds take about four years to reach maturity. The Data Available. The recovery records here considered are those verified up to July 31st, 1938. They number 203, after eliminating records of young birds which had probably never flown. As the number of birds marked under the auspices of the scheme up to and including 1937 is 6,384, the proportion of recoveries vol. xxxii ] MIGRATION OF THE GANNET. 283 with some records of the more recently marked birds still to come is 3.2 per cent. (Extensive further ringing during the 1938 breeding season has, of course, not contributed to these records.) Most of the individual records have already been published in these pages, in periodical lists by Witherby (1:913 et seq.) and by Leach (1937 et seq.) and, as regards recoveries abroad, in more collected form by Witherby and Leach (1931 et seq.). A partial list of recoveries of Bass Rock birds has also been given by Robinson (1937). All the recoveries relate to birds ringed at three colonies, and as a few ringers were responsible for the great majority it is possible to name these separately, as follows : Bass Rock, Firth of Forth (mostly by J. M. Campbell or H. W. Robinson) ; Ailsa Craig, Firth of Clyde (mostly by the Earl of Dumfries ar D. Macdonald) ; and Grassholm, off Pembrokeshire (mostly by R. M. Lockley or C. Wontner Smith). The number of recovery records is shown below. NUMBER OF RECOVERIES. Breeding Station. Ringed as young. Ringed as adults Gass Rock \ilsa Craig ... Grassholm ... Total recovered Age of Recovered Birds. The age distribution of the birds ringed as nestlings is as : ollows, the years being reckoned for convenience from May 1st (approximate beginning of breeding season) AGE AT RECOVERY (RINGED AS YOUNG). Year of Life ist -znd yd 4th 5th 6th 7 th 8th 9 th Wo. of recoveries 1173814 5 1 x The oldest bird was one marked as a nestling on Ailsa waig and recovered a few miles away in June nearly nine /ears later. Recoveries of birds ringed as adults, similarly, were thus distributed in the years after marking : 7, 8, 5, 6, 1. )f these, 8 were Grassholm birds re-caught there in subsequent weeding seasons — 3 after one year, 1 after two years, and ;. after three years. Directions and Distances of Movement. In general terms, the recovery records are evidence of a lefinite southward movement down the Atlantic seaboard of iurope and Africa. There are many records from the Bay of liscay, from both the French and Spanish coasts, but only a ew from the west coast of Spain and Portugal. There is a ood number from the west coast of North Africa, and also 39 4 46 O 9i 23 176 27 284 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XXXII. from tropical waters off West Africa — several from Rio de Oro and Mauritania, and one from as far south as Senegal (i4°25'N. lat.). There is one record from the Mediterranean— from near Oran, Algeria. There are also some records showing northward and eastward journeys — from the Faeroes, Norway and the Baltic. As regards directions and distances of movement, then, the results of marking show that Gannets native to the British Isles range southwards to the limits of the Old World range of the species as known from observational evidence. In the circumstances of the case, this merely confirms a reasonable expectation ; one of the most valuable results of the marking method is usually to pick out the migration of birds from particular parts of the breeding range of the species, but that obviously does not apply here. A close analysis of the data, however, brings out some points of interest regarding the seasonal distribution of the Gannet population. It also enables comparisons to be made between the movements of first year and older birds, respectively, and between those of birds from different colonies. For the purposes of this analysis, four arbitrary zones are distinguished : — North European Waters : British coasts, North Sea, and English Channel (including also isolated records from farther north and from the Baltic). West European Waters : from Ushant (48J°N. lat.) south- wards. North African Waters : from Straits of Gibraltar (36° N. lat.) southwards (including isolated record from the Mediter- ranean). Tropical Waters : from Tropic of Cancer (23J0 N. lat.) southwards. Young Birds in First Year. The table showing the distribution of recoveries of birds in their first year, after ringing as nestlings, gives a clear picture of a seasonal movement. There is a southward spread, becoming noticeable in September, into West European waters ; and a further spread in November into North African and Tropical waters. During December, January and February, the two more distant zones provide the greater proportion of the records ; as the chances of recoveries being reported from there are presumably much smaller, it is reasonable to suppose that a great part of the Gannet population in the first year of age must be in that area. vol. xxxii ] MIGRATION OF THE GANNET. 285 DISTRIBUTION OF RECOVERIES: FIRST- YEAR BIRDS. N. European. W .European. N . African. Tropical. August I I I — — September 3i 13 — — ■ October 24 9 — — November 5 2 3 1 December I — 2 2 January I — I 2 February — — 2 4 March ... I — — I April ... — — — — Total 74 25 8 IO Keeping the same considerations in view, the scarcity of mid-winter records from North European waters and their absence from West European waters is indeed striking. It would seem that relatively few of these young birds remain in the home region, and that those which move southwards tend to pass beyond European limits by December. The latest southern record is of a Bass Rock bird off Cape Blanco, Rio de Oro, in March. Young Birds After First Year. The figures given in the table, showing the distribution of recoveries subsequent to the first year after ringing as nestlings, are unfortunately not very large. They seem sufficient, however, to warrant the statement that the proportion of mid-winter records from the more distant zones is smaller than in the case of first-year birds. DISTRIBUTION OF RECOVERIES : YOUNG BIRDS AFTER FIRST YEAR. N. European. W . European. N. African. Tropical. May ' ... — 2 — — June ... 7 — July ... 4 2 — • — August 4 2 — - — September 5 4 — — - October — 3 — — November ... 2 — December 2 3 — I January 2 2 — February 2 5 2 — March ... I I — April ... 2 I — Total 31 24 3 Comparison by Ages. 1 The recoveries of birds marked as adults are still fewer, and include none from African waters. The following summary 286 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XXXII. of the distribution of winter records in the different categories provides a ready comparison in respect of the proportions of recoveries in the various zones. DISTRIBUTION OF WINTER RECOVERIES (NOVEMBER- FEBRUARY). N. European. W. European. Young, first year 7 2 Young, second year 5 8 Third and later years 3 2 Adults (ringed as) 4 3 N. African. 8 Tropical. 9 1 This shows, among first-year birds, 9 winter records from European waters and 17 from African waters ; and among all other birds, 25 from European waters as against only 3 from African waters. The difference is of the same order if the com- parison is between the first and second years of life only — 9 : 17 and 13 : 2. The contrast seems sufficiently striking to justify the conclusion that the southward movement is more pronounced in the first year of life than in subsequent seasons taken as a whole or than in the second year by itself. There are not many summer recoveries at all, and none to confirm the fact — known from observation— that some non-breeding birds then remain in southern waters. Comparison by Colonies. The only notable difference between the movements of birds from the respective colonies is that in autumn the Grassholm birds spread southwards into West European waters to a greater extent than those from the two Scottish colonies, which is not surprising. Of 42 Scottish birds recovered in September and October of their first year, after ringing as nestlings, only 6 had passed south of Ushant ; whereas of 35 Grassholm birds, 16 had done so. Later in the season, however, it is found that the Scottish birds have travelled as far south as the others, although the proportion recovered in northern waters remains higher. For what they may be worth, the numbers of recoveries of first-year birds in the different zones, from November to February inclusively, are as follows : Scottish birds, 6, 2, 5, 4 ; Grassholm birds, 1, o, 3, 5. The southernmost record of all, from Senegal, refers to a Bass Rock bird in December of its first year. There are no records of Bass Rock birds from the western side of Great Britain. The only record from the western side of Ireland is that of a Grassholm bird from Donegal in January of its first winter. vol. xxxii.] MIGRATION OF THE GANNET. 287 First-year birds. All older birds. British Gannets : Winter Reccneries (Nov. -Feb.). Eastward and Northward Movement. Some birds from the west coast stations, Ailsa Craig and Grassholm, pass eastwards into the North Sea, but there are no records which show this happening during the first year. In subsequent years, 3 Ailsa Craig birds have been recorded from the coast of Holland ; and 3 Grassholm birds from Essex, the North Frisian Islands, and southern Norway, respectively. One Grassholm bird has penetrated into the Baltic, being recovered on the coast of Mecklenburg in March of its second year. A bird ringed on Grassholm as an adult was recovered in the North Sea, 120 miles off Spurn Head, in August of the following year. These are additional to records of Bass Rock birds, both in the first and subsequent winters, from Heligoland (2), the North Frisian Islands, and southern Norway. Two Bass Rock birds have performed considerable north- ward journeys. One, ringed as a nestling, was recovered in 288 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XXXII. June two years later at Waag, in the Faeroes ; and one, ringed as an adult, was recovered in January, three and a half years later, near Aalesund (about 62j°N. lat.), western Norway. Another young bird from the Bass was recovered at sea (59°i5'N. 4°2o'W.) within a dozen miles of Sule Stack, westward of the Orkney Islands, in March of its first year. A young bird from Ailsa Craig was recovered 20 miles N.W. of the Muckle Flugga, Shetland Islands, in June two years after ringing. It may have no great significance that three of these records (the fourth being in mid-winter) come from the vicinity of other breeding stations, as the birds were still immature ; but it suggests that the latter had possibly gone north in company with birds from these other colonies met during the winter. Summary. (1) The ringing of 6,384 Gannets ( Sula bassana), mainly as nestlings, has yielded 203 definite recovery records — or 3.2 per cent., with a few still to come. (2) The results confirm, for Gannets drawn from three British breeding stations, that there is a southward movement in winter along the Atlantic seaboard of Europe and Africa, as far as Senegal ; that birds also visit the opposite coasts of the North Sea, and on occasion penetrate into the Baltic and Mediterranean Seas. (3) An analysis of the recoveries shows that the southward spread of young birds of the year into West European waters (Bay of Biscay, etc.) becomes pronounced in September, and is followed by a further spread into North African and Tropical waters in November. (4) There are many more mid-winter records of first year birds from African than from European (including British) waters, in spite of the presumably smaller chances of recoveries being reported ; the figures suggest that relatively few of these young birds remain in the home region, and that those which move southwards tend to pass beyond European limits by December. (5) There is evidence that the southward movement is more pronounced in the first year of life than subsequently, the proportion of recoveries from North African and Tropical waters being considerably higher than for second year or older birds ; actually, in this series, there are no recoveries from these zones of birds ringed as adults, but the total number of the latter is small. (6) In autumn, the young birds from Grassholm spread vol. xxxii ] MIGRATION OF THE GANNET. 289 south into West European waters to a greater extent than those from the Scottish stations ; but in winter the latter reach as far south as the others. (7) There are records showing that birds from Ailsa Craig and Grassholm, on the west of Great Britain, sometimes pass into and across the North Sea and even into the Baltic, but none of these relates to a bird in its first year. A bird ringed as an adult on the Bass Rock was recorded from western Norway (62|°N. lat.) in mid-winter, three and a half years later. (8) Of three immature birds recorded in spring or summer considerably north of their native localities — including a Bass Rock bird from the Faeroes — all were then near other breeding-stations of the species. (9) Several birds marked as adults on Grassholm have been recovered there in subsequent breeding seasons, after intervals of up to three years. (10) The oldest bird of known age was recovered after nearly nine years ; it was then within a few miles of Ailsa Craig, where it had been ringed as a nestling. REFERENCES. Edwards, V. C. Wynne, Lockley, R. M., and Salmon, H. Morrey (1936). “ The distribution and numbers of breeding Gannets ( Sula bassana L.).” Brit. Birds, Vol. XXIX, p. 262. Gurney, J. H. (1904). Note on “ Marking Gannets at the Bass Rock”. Ann. Scot. Nat. Hist., 1904, p. 245. Leach, E. P. (1937 et seq.). “ Recovery of Marked Birds.” Brit. Birds, Vol. XXXI, p. 112 (and subsequent periodical lists). Robinson, H. W. (1937). ** Recoveries of Gannets from the Bass Rock.” Scot. Nat., 1937. P- x33- [Witherby, H. F.] (1913 et seq.). “ Recovery of Marked Birds.” Brit. Birds, Vol. VII, p. 162 (and subsequent periodical lists). Witherby, H. F., and Leach, E. P. (1931 et seq.). “ Movements of Ringed Birds from Abroad to the British Islands and from the British Islands Abroad.” Brit. Birds, Vol. XXV, p. no (and subsequent addenda). (290) THE DISPLAY OF THE BLACKCOCK. I. MID-APRIL OBSERVATIONS. BY DAVID LACK. Introduction. Many writers, notably Selous (1909-10) have described the display of the Blackcock ( Lyrurus tetrix britannicus) . This and the following paper deal mainly with certain aspects which have not received full attention, and are not to be regarded as a complete account. The observations were made in Rothiemurchus, Inverness-shire, and I am greatly indebted to Miss W. M. Ross for information and assistance ; also to Mr. Brian Roberts for kindly correcting the proofs while I am abroad. The Rothiemurchus Leks. The seven leks I examined were all in the open but with pine or birch forest near by. Four were on flat grass, one on marshy grass, and two on marshy grass with some ling. Miss W. M. Ross, with her much wider experience, states that grass is typical for the leks, though ling is much commoner than grass in the district, and, when one grassy lek became overgrown with ling, the birds deserted it. The grassy turf provides the birds with a smooth surface for running. From April 26th-28th, 1937, I watched at the first Rothie- murchus lek, which was visited by 11 males and 4 females. From April I3th-2ist, 1938, I watched both at this lek, which was visited regularly by only 2 males, and at a second lek visited by 8 males in one group and 4 in another. At a third lek, only one male displayed regularly, a second, which came only sometimes, did not display. No females visited these leks between April 13th and 21st ; 1938 seems to have been a late season. Another male displayed for three successive mornings, but not a fourth, from the top of a larch tree. Other males displayed in the trees when disturbed at the leks ; crowing, rookooing and display fighting were recorded from the trees, and Selous also records male chasing female in the trees. Attitudes in Display. The description of the display by Selous (1909-10) is fully confirmed by me, with some additions. The male Blackcock has five main display attitudes : crowing, rookooing, display, vol. xxxii ] DISPLAY OF BLACKCOCK. 291 fighting, circling and crouching. In all of these, the lyre-shaped tail is fully spread, from in front appearing as a black bow with the tips of the white coverts showing over the top at the centre, from behind as a white circle with black on each side. In all of them, also, the wings are partially drooped, showing the white at the carpal angle and sometimes the white bars. In addition, the red head-combs are distended until they are markedly higher than the top of the head ; they seem specially prominent in the two close-quarters displays, rookooing and circling. At the lek the male is not invariably in one of these five attitudes, but when standing stationary, and often when feeding, tail and wings are retained in the full display positions. At other times, especially later in the morning, the bird assumes a “ normal ” position. Crowing. The crow is a two-syllabled " tchu-whai ” or “ whushee ”. Head and neck are held upright, and the neck is not swelled as in rookooing. The male may either keep stationary, or slightly raise the head and lower the wings, or take a small jump, or take a big jump with fluttered wings and alight several feet away. The white bars on the upper surface and the pale under-surface of the wing are then prominent. The crow has sometimes been described as a “ challenge ”. This does not seem the case. It is “ infectious ” in that, when one male does it others often follow suit, and they do not seem to do it “ at ” each other, but together. I regard it as more on a social than a rivalry plane. Yeates (1936) seems of the same opinion ; the left-hand bird in his upper plate opposite page 34 shows the attitude. The function of the crowing seems mainly that of advertising the lek at a distance, primarily to females, but other males may also be attracted. Rookooing, Fighting and Territory. Selous (1909-10) first noted that each male Blackcock has a territory at the lek, but he does not seem to have realized the extent of the parallel with the territory of a song-bird. The Blackcock’s fighting has often been described as “ pointless ”, but this is not the case ; it is closely correlated with the defence of a restricted and exclusive area. Fights are of two kinds : (1) an intruding male Blackcock well inside the territory is vigorously attacked, the aggressor putting head and neck forward and making a rapid rush, while the intruder normally flees with closed tail and offers no resistance ; (2) most fights occur along the common 292 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XXXII. boundary between two territories, and here “ display fighting” is the rule, both males being in full display and taking quick runs at each other, one usually retreating as the other advances, and then reversing this. Such encounters often end without any contact, but at times the birds strike, with beak, wings or breast, and occasionally one knocks the other down and may trample on it ; but such violent attacks are rarer than in the first type of fighting. Attacking males often give a rather weak, rattled “ arrrr ” or “ ca-ca-ca-ca-ca”, not unlike a note of the domestic fowl. A shepherd informed me that he had picked up a male dead at one lek, and Chapman (1924) and Gordon (1938) also record death as occasional. In “ rookooing ” the male stands with head and neck thrust forward, the neck enormously swelled, and utters a musical, bubbling, dove-like “ rookooing ”, often in long continuous phrases, the whole body shaking with the calls. One male may do it alone, and frequently two males do it alternately at each other, like singing Passerine males. As correctly assumed by Yeates (1936), this is an aggressive display. One can readily see how the attitude developed out of the attacking attitude with head and neck forward. The rookooing is to be regarded as a song, since it is uttered by the male in his territory at other males ; it has all the continuity of a true song, but a weaker carrying power, the latter presumably correlated with the much smaller size of territory involved. In a typical Passerine bird, song functions both as threat to rival males and to advertize to females ; in the Blackcock, rookooing would seem to serve mainly the first function, the second being primarily served by the crowing, but rookooing perhaps also advertizes the lek. Yeates (1936 ; right-hand bird in lower plate opposite page 34) shows the rookooing position. The use of the term “ territory ” seems justified, since the Blackcock usually fights, sings, displays aggressively, courts and copulates only within this area, but the area is not, of course, used for nesting, and the birds feed all over the lek. The size of a territory varies considerably, male A’s (see later) which was bordered on all sides by those of other males, measured only 7 by 5 yards. The other males at the second lek tended to keep to similar areas, but those with no neighbour on one side sometimes extended farther in this direction. At the first lek, in 1938, with only two males, the birds fought along a boundary of 70 yards, each using a belt some 12 yards broad ; in 1937, when 11 males were present, each territory was much smaller. Observations were not continued long vol. xxxii ] DISPLAY OF BLACKCOCK. 293 enough to know if each male keeps to the same territory throughout the spring ; when the males first fly in to the lek, each seems to know its place, which suggests habitual use. Fighting and display are not confined to the territory, since the birds regularly do it in the near-by trees, and sometimes elsewhere if disturbed. Immature Males. A few males at the leks show variable traces of the juvenile brown feathers on the wings, have relatively poor tails and no, or only a poor, display. Millais (1892) also records such males, which seem to be immature. Displaying adults violently attack both such birds and also trespassing adults which have closed the tail and assumed “ normal ” appearance, e.g., when feeding. If, instead of running away, such an attacked adult assumes the display attitude, the attacker promptly changes over from true attack to “ display fighting ” — a beautiful example of the effect of threat display. Two males which displayed typically but had rather poor tails were attacked much more fiercely than adults in full plumage, also perhaps correlated with the poorer development of their threat characters. Courtship : Circling, Crouching and Copulation. (It is hoped to study this aspect more fully later.) When a female appears, the male occasionally, but not commonly sinks to the ground in front of her, which is a common attitude in the Ruff ( Philomachus pugnax). More usually, the male puts head and neck forward and circles round the female with short and extremely rapid steps. Frequently, but by no means always, he tilts the tail sideways towards her as he passes across in front. Selous states that the male does not circle behind the female, but stops and circles back, but he does circle right round her at times. A male may circle round two, three or even four females together. The rapid run requires flat ground, and when a female was on the stony edge of a lek, the male omitted to circle on this stony side, which would have necessitated his jumping. Circling is a prelude to copulation. With a female mount the male finished his run just behind it, then turned to face the same way and mounted. In copulation the male flaps the wings violently, and grips the back of the female’s neck. Uninterrupted copulations of the mount lasted some 30 seconds, much longer than in a Passerine bird. 294 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XXXII. Sex Recognition. Three stuffed specimens, a female, a male in the “ normal ” attitude, and a male in full rookooing attitude, the last accurately mounted for me by Mr. A. H. Bishop, to whom I am very grateful, were put out on the leks in 1938. The four male Blackcocks tested with a female mount all circled and copulated, but none of them copulated with either male mount, even when it was placed on the spot just previously occupied by the female mount. Therefore the Blackcock agrees with various sexually dimorphic species tested by Noble and Vogt (1935) in that the male can differentiate between the sexes by plumage differences. The first two males tested with the female mount were interrupted after they had copulated a few times ; neither had produced seminal fluid. Each once turned round on the mount and vigorously pecked at where the cloaca should have been. The third male had access to the female mount for 45 minutes, in which time it copulated as many as 56 times and an area of 3 by 2 inches on the mount was soaked with seminal fluid. Each copulation was preceded by the circling display ; towards the end the male behaved much less eagerly, more “ automatically ”, and mounted for shorter periods, sometimes only a few seconds, but it seemed unable to stop. Many species have copulated with female mounts, but only one other, the Golden Pheasant ( Chrysolophus pictus), another game bird, has so far been found to produce seminal fluid ; Noble and Vogt (1935). The fourth male Blackcock had copulated twelve times before it was disturbed ; the mount was already too soaked to tell if fresh seminal fluid was produced. The third and fourth males copulated repeatedly although the mount had had both wings broken off by the first male to mount, and it also had wires instead of legs. The “ normal ” male mount was presented to two of the above males, one of which just walked round it twice, the other struck it repeatedly. The rookooing male mount was presented to three males, one of which just walked round it, the second ran at it twice but stopped when close, the third struck it repeatedly, first once on the tail, then repeatedly on the head, especially on the red combs and the nape, eventually removed the head and continued to strike the neck repeatedly, also once running off to strike the head where it had fallen three feet away. vol. xxxii ] DISPLAY OF BLACKCOCK. 295 The Breeding Cycle. Howard (1929) describes three main stages in the earlier part of the breeding cycle of a territorial bird like the Reed- Bunting ( Emberiza schceniclus) . In the first, there are isolated territorial males ; in the second the females appear, the males display but the females are not sexually mature ; in the third copulation occurs. Howard postulates that the male has a long, the female a short, period of sexual maturity. Physiological data on this are lacking. Allen (1934) considers the period may also be short in the male. The Blackcock shows three similar stages. Miss W. M. Ross informs me that the males display regularly in Rothiemurchus in March, some weeks before the females first appear, and this stage was also observed by Selous from April 12th to 18th in Sweden and probably by me from April 13th to 21st, 1938, in Rothiemurchus. (Miss Ross states that females have usually appeared at Rothiemurchus leks by mid-April, but 1938 seems to have been unusually late ; my data were for three leks.) In the second stage females visit the leks, the males display but the females are not ready for copulation ; this was observed by me April 26th to 28th, 1937, in Rothiemurchus. In the third stage, copulation occurs, as observed by Selous in Northumberland in May. A fourth stage might be added, since the males are said to display for some weeks after the females have ceased to visit the leks. The experiments with the female mount suggest that the male Blackcock has a longer period of sexual maturity than the female, since males copulated with the mount between April 13th and 21st, 1938, when no living females seemed sufficiently -advanced to visit the leks. Function of the Territory. The fighting and threat display of the Blackcock are so closely correlated with its territory that the latter presumably has a function. Most of the functions usually ascribed to territory are clearly inapplicable, but it seems to have one obvious function, namely to reduce the amount of interference between neighbouring males during copulation. Selous recorded one copulation which was definitely prevented by another male, and disturbance was frequent. It was also frequent in the mount experiments, as follows At the second Rothiemurchus lek, male A repeatedly copulated with the female mount during 45 minutes. Males B and C, whose territories adjoined, repeatedly displayed 290 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XXXII. (attitude 4) at the mount, but never crossed the territorial boundaries. A little later male D returned, whose territory adjoined that of A on the other side. So soon as A next copu- lated, D crossed the boundary and ran six yards up to A, who got off the mount and drove him back. On six further occasions D crossed the boundary towards the mount but each time A promptly got off and drove him back. All male D’s attempts were made when male A was actually copulating, none during the frequent intervals. When the mount was later placed in male D’s territory, the three neighbouring males did not attempt to enter, either before he returned, when the mount was “ unguarded ”, or later when male D was copulating. At the first Rothiemurchus lek were only two males, K and L. When the female mount was placed on the boundary of the two territories, K returned first, and mounted ; L arrived and drove him off, and K did not attempt to get back. Five days later the mount was placed five yards within K’s territory. K mounted, at which L rushed up, drove him off, and mounted himself. After copulating, L returned to his territory ; K mounted, at which L returned. In the resulting fight K successfully drove L back to the boundary, but when K returned to copulate, L again drove him off and K did not now attempt to get back. The stuffed mount was then placed ten yards within K’s territory. K mounted, L again rushed up, but K drove him back. The same happened twice more and K now copulated and retained possession of the mount. These experiments show clearly that the male Blackcock tends to attack a copulating male and endeavours to mount in turn. As a result, copulation is at times disturbed or prevented, but the possession of individual territories, to which each male normally confines its display, and within which each male is normally successful against other males, certainly restricts the amount of disturbance that occurs. Even L, who seemed an exceptionally aggressive bird, was driven off by K when well inside his territory, though K was unsuccessful near the edge. There seem as marked differences in the degree of aggressiveness of different individual male Blackcocks as there are among male Robins (Lack (1939a)). It may be noted that excitement on seeing another individual copulating seems widespread among birds ; see, for instance, Lack (19396). The presence of a female mount on the lek certainly increased the vigour of the fighting males. vol. xxxii.] DISPLAY OF BLACKCOCK. 297 Communal Nature of Display. Although each male Blackcock attacks its neighbours and maintains a territory, the communal or social nature of the display is clear. At the second Rothiemurchus lek eight males all displayed close together, and did not spread out over the surrounding ground which offered identical con- ditions. At the first lek the two males displayed along a seventy yards boundary, but at any given moment the two males were always close together ; when disturbed from the lek, they flew off and fought in the trees together, and both would return to the lek together. After great disturbance they did not return to the lek but settled to fight four hundred yards away in the heather, both still together. Clearly each male Blackcock is attracted closely to other males when displaying, though each male secondarily maintains an isolated territory. Such communal, as compared with isolated, display may have survival value for two reasons. First, one value of male display is gamosematic, Huxley (1938), to enable females to locate potential mates. A group of males is more conspicuous, both visually and vocally, than a solitary male, as Chapman (1935) has pointed out for Gould’s Manakin ( Manacus vitellinus). Further, Blackcocks are specially conspicuous when they leap into the air with fluttered wings in crowing, and this behaviour is infectious ; when one male leaps, the others usually follow suit. Hence the larger leks are more conspicuous than the smaller not only because there are more birds, but because each individual performs more, since it requires only one bird to start off the whole group, and the more birds that are present, the greater the chance of one starting off. Secondly, all the types of display seem more vigorous at larger than smaller leks. On two mornings the birds at the larger Rothiemurchus lek ceased displaying at least thirty minutes later than those at the smaller lek, and their per- formance was more vigorous throughout. Also, Selous found that the performance was much poorer at the smaller of his two leks, and started an hour later in the morning. A second function of display is epigamic, to raise the psycho- physiological state of the female so that she will copulate. It therefore seems possible that courtship and copulation will be more efficient at the larger than the smaller leks, but this has not yet been tested. This would fit in with Darling’s views (1938) on the function of communal display in the Herring-Gull ( Larus argentatus), in which egg-laying, and therefore presumably courtship, was more efficient in larger than smaller colonies. w 298 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XXXII. Convergent Evolution in Behaviour. Convergent evolution of structure is stressed in almost every text-book on evolution, convergence of behaviour is rarely mentioned. The communal display of the Blackcock presents a remarkable parallel to that of two other species, Gould’s Manakin, Chapman (1935), and the Ruff, Selous (1906-7), Portielje (1926). (Various other species also display communally, but too little is know'n for these displays to be discussed here.) Blackcock, Manakin and Ruff agree in that : — the birds are polygamous (perhaps promiscuous) ; the males display in groups at the “ leks ”, where each male defends an exclusive territory (perhaps not so definite in the Ruff) ; only the male is brightly coloured, the female being dull coloured and undertaking the whole of nesting, incubation and rearing of the young. Females visit the leks, and enter the territories of males for copulation. The male has a unilateral epigamic display. The males of all three species possess unusually vigorous sexual habits. Most male birds presented with a female mount have copulated only a few times ; one male Blackcock copulated 56 times in 45 minutes, and a Gould’s Manakin 85 times in an hour. The Ruff has not been tested but is known to attempt copulation with tufts of grass. As in other cases of convergent evolution, species closely related to each of these three birds show quite different types of behaviour. This striking convergence affords strong evidence that such communal display with individual territories has survival value, presumably along the lines already suggested. Summary. 1. The crow and ‘‘flutter-jump” seem social activities. The display is essentially communal, which may assist females and also other males in locating the leks, and may also increase the efficiency of copulation, for display is more vigorous at larger leks. 2. Each male defends with fighting, threat display and ” song ” (rookooing) an exclusive territory on the lek, the function of which is probably to reduce interference with copulation. 3. Circling and crouching are epigamic displays, leading to copulation. 4. The male copulates with a female mount but either fights or ignores a male mount. Earlier in the season only males visit the leks but some males copulated with the female mount at this stage. 299 vol. xxxii.] DISPLAY OF BLACKCOCK. 5. There is striking convergence with the behaviour of Gould’s Manakin and the Ruff, which belong to quite different orders of birds. II. THE OCTOBER DISPLAY. Introduction. Abel Chapman (1907) drew attention to the fact that, in Tyneside, the Blackcock displays not only in spring but also regularly in October and to a lesser extent in November. Miss W. M. Ross informed me that display was also regular in October in Inverness-shire, and with her assistance I was able to study the performance from October 21st to 24th, 1938. Comparison with Spring Behaviour. In general the October display seems much less intense than that of spring. At the second Rothiemurchus lek already described in Part I, five males were present from 7 a. m. to 7.20 a.m. on October 22nd, but showed no trace of display. A new, fourth, lek was also watched. This was visited by thirteen males which displayed quite a lot. But the birds spent far more time feeding or standing about in “ normal ” attitude than they do in spring, and it was uncommon to see as many as half the birds in the display position simultaneously, while often when in full display position they just stood about. Crowing, display fighting and the attacking call were fairly common, and quite typical. As in spring, violent chases were observed of trespassing males in “ normal ” attitude, and “ boundary disputes ” were regular and occasionally violent. The approach of a displaying male to a neighbour in “ normal ” attitude sometimes led to the latter assuming the display position. Rookooing was much less frequent than crowing or display fighting in comparison with the spring behaviour ; only one male regularly assumed the rookooing position, and his note was poor and thin in quality. At such a large lek, it is hard to tell if territories are strictly maintained. During one hour’s special watch, six of the males kept to their own areas and defended them so soon as another male intruded, but there seemed to be a certain amount of wandering on the edges of the lek, in connection with feeding, and the birds seemed to be displaying in a rather different area during one visit than during another. As in spring, display also occurs in the near-by trees where 300 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XXXII. three males assumed the full display attitudes and one attacked and drove another out. One of these males had previously displayed on the ground. Time of Display. All bird books stress the need for rising early to see the Blackcock displaying. For example, on April 13th, 1938, 1 arrived at the first Rothiemurchus lek at 3.40 a.m., G.M.T., when Curlew, Oystercatcher and Lapwing were already calling. At 4.05 the first Red Grouse called ; at 4.13 the first Skylark sang, and at 4.25 the Blackcock came in. They continued to display for about two hours, but, as the day brightened, they spent more time feeding with folded tails and closed wings and eventually they flew off into the forest. This is a typical record. The leks are sometimes revisited in the evening. On October 24th the Blackcock came in at 6.45 a.m., G.M.T., and next day, which was darker, with drizzle, at 7 a.m. The October display seems typically to be confined to the early morning, but one lek is different from most in that the birds display here most of the day. On October 25th they were disturbed at 7.30 a.m., were back before 9 a.m., were disturbed soon after 10 a.m., and were back again and displaying at 12.15. Miss W. M. Ross has seen them displaying here at 2 p.m., and she informs me that they also display here nearly throughout the day during the spring. This is a large and relatively little disturbed lek, but, even so, presents a remark- able divergence from the usual habits. The Stuffed Mounts. At 7 a.m. on October 24th, after the Blackcock had been displaying normally for fifteen minutes, they were disturbed and the female and “ normal ” male mounts (see antea, p. 294) were placed on the lek. The Blackcock soon returned, and some fighting and crowing were recorded. But the birds nearest the mounts assumed the “ alarm ” attitude with stretched necks ; this communicated itself to the other males, and a little later all left the lek. On October 25th the female mount alone was placed on the lek, this time at 6.30 a.m. before the Blackcock came in. At 7 a.m. the Blackcock arrived, and the outer birds began to crow and fight, but the alarmed attitude of those nearest the mount communicated itself to the others, and all stood motionless with stretched necks for over five minutes. Then six flew up and settled to feed thirty yards from the lek ; four remained, but simply vol. xxxii ] DISPLAY OF BLACKCOCK. 30 1 kept still, so that at 7.22 a.m. I disturbed them and removed the mount. The Blackcock had returned before 9 a.m., and were then displaying typically. Hence the female mount, which in spring was courted so soon as a male saw it, in October caused an indefinite “ alarm ”, and inhibited display.* Behaviour After Leaving the Lek. When flushed from the lek, the males went off in one, sometimes two, parties. They kept together during the whole day for feeding ; clearly their social habit is strongly developed, as also evidenced by the communication of alarm from one bird to another noted above. Though they displayed at the lek most of the day, they were not seen to display at these other feeding grounds, even between 7 and 8 a.m. Significance of the Autumn Display. Miss W. M. Ross, also Gordon (1938), record males displaying at the leks even in mid-winter, but Chapman’s observations (loc. cit.) suggest that the October display is stronger than that of December. No female Black Grouse were seen at the Rothiemurchus leks in October, and Miss W. M. Ross, from a much longer experience, fully confirms this. Further, the female mount did not elicit sexual display from the males. f Ali the evidence suggests that the October display is quite functionless, and is simply correlated with a partial revival of the internal state which induces the male Blackcock to display in spring. This revival concerns only aggressive behaviour and crowing, and not sexual behaviour. The display is more definite than an automatic or reflex response arising simply from the fact that male Blackcocks find themselves close to each other, for display occurs only at the lek (and in the trees beside it), and not at the other winter feeding grounds, the lek is specially visited, and further, each male seems to defend a territory. The autumn display of the Blackcock is parallel to that of the Robin, in which fighting and aggressive display are as well developed as in spring, but sexual behaviour is normally absent. Many other birds show more sporadic autumn song * The alarm was definitely not due to the observer’s presence. I was hidden in the same place for the observations made when no mounts were present. fChapman described a male displaying in October “ surrounded by his harem ”, who apparently took no notice ; this is quite contrary to the normal procedure in Rothiemurchus in October, and since he does not record the type of display involved, this observation cannot now be interpreted. 302 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XXXII. and fighting, but sexual behaviour seems very rare in autumn, though it was recorded from one Chiffchaff (Lack (1939)). The observations in this paper refer to old male Blackcocks. The juvenile males flock with the females, and Chapman (1907) has observed juvenile males displaying among the females in December, the display being less good than that of the old males in October. Chapman does not state whether this was the aggressive or sexual display. Periodicity. As first shown by Rowan, periodicity of the gonad cycle is correlated in many birds with the increased day-length of spring. It seems generally believed that light influences the gonads secondarily, by stimulating the gonadotropic hormones. It also seems generally believed that territorial and sexual behaviour in birds are primarily induced by the gonadotropic hormones. If these assumptions are all true, then the occur- rence of autumn displays (primarily aggressive and not sexual) in birds is of great significance, since they occur when the day-length is decreasing, but their occurrence has so far been overlooked in discussions of periodicity phenomena. (Howard (1935), Marshall (1936), Rowan (1938) and Witschi (1937), among many other workers, have recently discussed various aspects of this subject.) Summary. 1. Mature male Blackcocks visit the leks in October, and show well-marked aggressive display and crowing, but no sexual behaviour. 2. The display seems functionless and associated with a partial revival of the internal state of early spring. Similar autumn display occurs in many species, and is of interest with regard to periodicity phenomena. REFERENCES. Allen, A. A. (1934). “ Sex rhythm in the Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa umbellus Linn.) and other birds.” Auk, LI., pp. 180-99. Chapman, A. (1907). “ Bird Life of the Borders.” Pp. 208, 209. Chapman, A. (1924). " The Borders and Beyond.” Pp. 45-54. Chapman, F. M. (1935). “ The courtship of Gould’s Manakin (Manacus vitellinus vitellinus) on Barro Colorado Island, Canal Zone.” Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist. 68. pp. 471-525. Darling, F. F. (1938). “ Bird Flocks and the Breeding Cycle.” Gordon, S. (1938). " Wild Birds in Britain.” Pp. 41-2. Howard, H. E. (1929). " An Introduction to the Study of Bird Behaviour.” Howard, H. E. (1935). " The Nature of a Bird’s World.” vol. xxxii. 1 DISPLAY OF BLACKCOCK. 303 Huxley, J. S. (1938). “ Threat and warning colouration in birds.” Proc. VIII. Int. Orn. Cong. Oxford, 1934. Lack, D. (1939). “ The behaviour of the Robin. I. The life-history, with special reference to aggressive behaviour, sexual behaviour and territory.” Proc. Zool. Soc. (in Press). Lack, D. (1939a). “ The Behaviour of the Robin. I. The life-history, with special reference to aggressive behaviour, sexual behaviour and territory.” Proc. Zool. Soc. (in Press). Lack, D. (1939ft). ” The Behaviour of the Robin. III. Observations on captive birds.” Brit. Birds (in Press). Marshall, F. H. A. (1936). “ Sexual periodicity and the causes which determine it.” Phil. Trans. Roy. Soc. B. CCXXVI., pp. 423-56 Millais, J. G. (1892). ” Game Birds and Shooting Sketches.” Noble, G. K. and Vogt, W. (1935). ” An experimental study of sex recognition in birds.” Auk LII., pp. 278-86. Portielj e, J. A. (1926). Versuch einer verhaltungspsychologischen Deutung des Balzgebarens der Kampfschnepfe ( Philomachus pugnax L.). Proc. VII. Int. Orn. Cong. Amsterdam. Rowan, W. (1938). “ London Starlings and seasonal reproduction in birds.” Proc. Zool. Soc. 108., pp. 51-77. Selous, E. (1906-7). “ Observations tending to throw light on the question of sexual selection in birds, including a day-to-day diary on the breeding habits of the Ruff ( Machetes pugnax).” Zoologist 10 and 1 r. Selous, E. (1909-10). “ An observational diary on the nuptial habits of the Blackcock ( Tetrao tetrix) in Scandinavia and England. Zoologist, 1909, pp. 400-13 ; 1910, pp. 23-9, 51-6, 176-82, 248-65. Witschi, E. (1937). “ Comparative physiology of the Vertebrate Hypophysis (anterior and intermediate lobes).” Cold Spring Harbor Symposia on Quantitative Biology. Vol. V., pp. 180-90. Yeates, G. K. (1936). “ On the fighting of the Blackcock.” Brit. Birds. XXX., pp. 34-7. (304) THE BLACK TERN IN THE LOWER THAMES. BY R. B. SIBSON As little seems to be known about the status of the Black Tern ( Chlidonias niger) in the lower Thames, I have thought it worth while to compile this account of some observations on this species during the last few years. Hollom (antea, Vol. XXXII, p. 76) says that a number of Black Terns appear to work up the Thames ; and Ticehurst in Hist. Birds of Kent states that “ in the Thames and Medway, where they are practically unknown in spring, their appearance in autumn is tolerably regular ” ; but no details are given. As far as the Thames is concerned, this is borne out by my own observations. The stretch of the river and its adjoining marshes which I have been able to watch with some regularity, lies below Gravesend between Higham Bight and Egypt Bay. I have found that the best vantage point for observing them is near Cliffe fort, where owing to the deep water and the swift current caused by the bend and the narrowing of the river, they usually come close inshore. It is here, too, that the majority of them seem to decide that they have penetrated up the river far enough ; and before departing with the ebb tide, they rest and preen on some adjacent saltings, sitting on buoys, stakes and the skeletons of long-abandoned barges. This turning point of their Thames journey is. incidentally, directly opposite East Tilbury, where as recorded in Hist. Birds of Essex, W. E. Glegg saw several Black Terns on September nth, 1927. Besides this reach of the river I have paid some attention to Grain. In spring they are decidedly rare. I have only four records varying between April 27th and June 17th, three of which are of single birds and one of a small party. All these birds have been seen over fresh-water pools on Cliffe marshes. None have been noted over the river itself, nor at Grain where they might have been expected. It may be added that it is unusual to see any of the other terns penetrating far up the Thames estuary in spring. It is a different story when we come to the visits of the Black Tern in autumn. It would seem that the first migrants reach the Thames in the first half of July. There is a rather interesting series of occurrences of Black Terns, all in full or almost full breeding plumage, which have been seen consorting with the Lesser Terns ( Sterna albifrons ) breeding tit Grain. There is evidence that Ruffs ( Philomachus pugnax) and Black-tailed Godwits ( Limosa limosa ) usually arrive on the North Kent marshes at the same time. Is it too fanciful to VOL. XXXII. THE BLACK TERN. 305 suggest that these three species come across from Holland by the direct east-to-west route ? As might be expected, Black Terns are commonest in the lower Thames during August and the first half of September. The latest date on which they have been noted is September 22nd in 1935. At the same season Common Terns in con- siderable numbers, usually with a sprinkling of Lesser Terns, enter and depart with the tide ; and as a rule when Common Terns are abundant, Black Terns also will be found. Strong westerly winds, however, appear to keep terns out of the river, or to diminish their numbers considerably. Owing to their restless nature, it is seldom easy when Black Terns are plentiful to estimate their numbers over the great expanse of the river. The biggest counts I have made are : about 40 on August 2nd, 1930 ; 30+ on September 12th, 1936 ; 30-40 on August 9th, 1938. Tireless though they seem as they flit up and down like butterflies, the Black Terns usually rest at Higham Saltings, jostling with Common Terns for available sitting accom- modation and often bullied by them; and not infrequently I have seen them riding down the river on drifting logs or boxes. Occasionally odd birds remain resting on the mud after it is exposed, but normally they depart soon after the ebb has set in. It would be interesting to know what they find to eat ; for though they seem to be particularly attracted by the main tidal current, only once have I seen any dive into the water, and on that occasion three hovered over one place and plunged one after the other, but I could not see that they captured anything. The middle of a broad river, where there is usually a breeze, hardly seems the right place to find an abundance of insect life. What then is the meaning of this almost incessant swooping up and down over the tideway ? A most noticeable habit of autumn Black Terns as contrasted with spring birds, is their preference for the river. Indeed, only twice in autumn have I seen a Black Tern over a marshland pool away from the river. There is still a lot to be learnt about the autumnal move- ments of Black Terns in the Thames. Do the same birds, for instance, come up the river day after day ; and if so, after they have gone down the river, where do they roost, if at all, at night ? As to the first question, judging from the sameness of their behaviour at their resting place in Higham Bight day after day, I am inclined to think that the answer is “ Yes ”. As to the second I can only suggest that there are considerable stretches of shingle at the mouth of the Thames on both the Kent and Essex sides, and a midnight excursion, organized perhaps by the energetic members of the London Natural History Society, might have interesting and profitable results. NEST OF MOUSTACHED WARBLER. It is a well-known fact that the Moustached Warbler (Lusciniola m. melanopogon) often builds its nest among reeds under the knots made by fishermen tying reeds together in Hungary, as stated in The Handbook of British Birds (Vol. II, p. 30). On a visit to Lake Velencze, Hungary, a well-known breeding place of this species, on June 13th, 1928, I saw several nests in such a situation. I also found some nests of the Moustached Warbler immediately under Nest of Moustached Warbler. Built among reeds at side of a narrow waterway under a heap of mown reedstems thrown in the reed bed by fishermen. Lake Velencze, Hungary. June 13th, 1928. Photographed by Fr. Haverschmidt heaps of reeds which had been cut and thrown into the reed-bed at the sides of narrow waterways by fishermen. As I believe that a photograph of the nest of this species has not previously been published, the accompanying one of a nest in the last-mentioned situation may be of interest. Fr. Haverschmidt. VOL. XXXII.] NOTES. 307 SPARROW-HAWK TAKING LITTLE GREBE FROM WATER. Whilst walking in the gardens of Edstone Hall, Warwickshire, on December 4th, 1938, I saw a female Sparrow-Hawk ( Accipiter n. nisus) make an unsuccessful attack on a Robin. A few minutes later, and within thirty yards of the first attack, a second was made with an equal lack of success, the intended victim, a Pied Wagtail, disappearing into a holly hedge. About twenty minutes later I was sitting under a tree near a small lake about fifty yards from the gardens, and had been watching the activities of a pair of Little Grebes (Podiceps r. ruficollis) when suddenly a Sparrow-Hawk, presumably the same bird, appeared from behind a small island and lifted one of the grebes from the water and carried it away scream- ing. The sudden appearance of the hawk from behind the island, close to which the grebes were feeding, was doubtless respon- sible for the success of the attack. Although the light was fading at the time, I was within forty yards of the island and had an excellent view of both hawk and grebe. C. A. Norris. SCARCE BIRDS INLAND IN SURREY. On December 17th, 1938, a party of eight Brent Geese (Branta bernicla ? subsp.) came down to the water at Island Barn Reservoir and stayed for about an hour before flying off in a north-westerly direction. On the 28th at Walton, amongst a large number of Goosanders and some Smews, I identified four Mergansers ( Mergus senator), all red headed. On the 31st the numbers had dropped and only one Merganser remained. On this same day I saw a Little Gull ( Lams minutus ) in juvenile plumage at Island Barn. My other record concerns Beddington Sewage Farm. On December 23rd I saw a party of ten Pink-footed Geese ( Anser brachyrhynchtis) on the farm, and was shown one which had been shot the previous day. I was told that there had then been also another party of seven, apparently of the same kind, but I could find no trace of these on the 23rd. The birds were never left long in peace by shooters, and appear to have departed on the morning of the 24th, without suffering any further casualties. P. W. E. Currie. BREEDING OF WIGEON IN MERIONETHSHIRE. In my Vertebrate Fauna of North Wales (1907) I recorded the fact (page 283) that a pair of Wigeon ( Anas penelope) reared a BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XXX II. 308 brood at a mountain lake near Bala in 1898 and that two pairs were seen at the same place in April 1902 and a young bird was shot there in September, 1904. In 1935 the late Max Wenner wrote to me that there was a pair of Wigeon in the same lake when he visited it late in April, 1933, and that in 1934 he found a nest of the Wigeon there with ten eggs which eventually hatched safely. At the same time he sent me a photograph of the hen Wigeon brooding and gave me to understand that he intended to publish a note in this magazine. Owing to the tragic death of Max Wenner this was never done and the fact should now be made known. H. E. Forrest. EIDER IN DORSETSHIRE. As the Eider ( Somateria mollissima ) is a “ rare vagrant ” to Dorset, it may be of interest to record that my wife and I had a very good view of one on January 12th, 1939, off Poole Harbour. The bird appeared to be a male in first winter plumage. G. B. Gooch. SOME WADERS SCARCE IN ANGLESEY. Amongst waders I saw between July and September, 1938, on the S.W. coast of Anglesey the following, of which records appear to be sparse, may be worth noting. Ruff ( Philomachus pugnax) — Two males at Llyn Penrhyn, August 23rd. Knot ( Calidris c. canutus) — Five birds in grey plumage at Malldraeth Bay, August 19th. Several about on September 24th, but they were not numerous. Green Sandpiper ( Tringa ochropus) — One at Llyn Pen- rhyn, August 23rd. Spotted Redshank ( Tringa erythropus ) — One at Mall- draeth Bay, August 24th. The dark secondaries were visible and the call note, “ tu-whit”, was distinctive. M. H. Rowntree. PURPLE SANDPIPER IN WARWICKSHIRE. On December 20th, 1938, when I was walking by the Rotton Park Canal Reservoir, approximately ij miles from the centre of Birmingham, a small and very dark wader rose from the side of the water and flew a few yards when it alighted and I was able to get a good view of its plumage, etc., both with and without glasses. It proved to be a Purple Sandpiper {Calidris maritima). It was notably tame, and after remaining for a few seconds on the grass bank it flew about 20 yards to the edge of the ice (the Reservoir being partially frozen) VOL. XXXII.] NOTES. 309 where it ran about in the “ surf ” caused by the wind, taking frequent leaps and hovering. After a few minutes it took flight showing prominently the white markings of the secondaries and giving a musical “ wheet whit ” call. As far as I am aware the occurrence of a Purple Sandpiper has not before been recorded for Warwickshire. W. E. Groves. SPOTTED REDSHANK IN CO. DUBLIN. Dr. G. W. Scroope informs me that on November gth, 1938, he had a close view, through binoculars, of a Spotted Redshank ( Tringa erythropus) , feeding in company with several Common Redshanks ( Tringa totanus) on the mud-flats on the Dolly- mount side near the North Bull Bridge, Co. Dublin. Over forty years have elapsed since this rare visitor was last recorded from Co. Dublin. G. R. Humphreys. LONG-TAILED SKUA IN LANCASHIRE. During a south-westerly gale on November 1st, 1938, 1 shot a Long-tailed Skua ( Stercorarius longicaudus ) at Bolton-le- Sands, Lancashire. The bird was flying south-east and had apparently just crossed Morecambe Bay. This seems to be the only specimen obtained in the county since 1891, in which year H. A. Macpherson ( Fauna of Lakeland) states that “ about a dozen ” were obtained on Walney Island, Lancashire, and as many more in Cumberland and Westmorland. In view of the unusual number of storms from S.W. and W. during the autumn of 1938 one might have looked for a similar invasion. This specimen is in juvenile plumage, but the legs were not “ slate-grey ” as stated in most books. The legs were bright pale blue and this colour extended on the middle and outer toes half way along the first (proximal) bone and on adjacent parts of each web. The hallux, “ heel ” and base of the inner toe were pale pink and the rest of each toe and webs black. There is also a sight record for the county, one seen in the Ribble estuary by F. W. Holder and S. J. Hunt on May 15th, 1916. R. A. H. Coombes. Display Flight of Chaffinch.— Miss Averil Morley writes that the peculiar flight of a male Chaffinch ( Fringilla c. gengleri) described in the Handbook (Vol. I, p. 105), as “ with tail raised conspicuously above body axis, head down and wings abnormally fluttering ” was seen by her being per- formed by a female on May 16th, 1938, with the difference that the head was held straight forward and the sexual “ tzit ” note was uttered. The male was present, and shortly afterwards fed the female. 310 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XXXII. Display by Hedge-Sparrow in December. — Miss Averil Morley informs us that on December nth, 1938, near Oxford, she observed a male Hedge-Sparrow ( Prunella m. occidental^) displaying to another bird. Uttering loudly the “ si-i-i ” note, it spread out both wings and waved them independently of each other, at the same time flickering the tips. It then wiped its beak vigorously, and was beginning to go after the other bird when it was disturbed, flew back whence it had come, again wiped its bill several times, and sang. It was mentioned in the Handbook (Vol. II, p. 210) that the display had been noted on the Continent as early as December 25th. Late House-Martins in Sussex. — Mr. Norman Orr writes that he saw three House-Martins ( Delichon u. urbica ) flying from E. to W. along the coast at St. Leonards on December 21st, 1938. They were accompanying an extensive weather- migration of thrushes (Redwings and some Fieldfares), finches and larks that was in progress on that and the following day. Unusual Influx of Bewick’s and Whooper Swans.— Several observers in various parts of the country have given us information on unusual numbers of Bewick’s and Whooper Swans, especially the former, which appeared during the severe weather in December. With a view to making a combined report we should be glad to have observations from all who have seen these birds. Numbers, exact dates and localities should be stated, not only of first appearances but of subsequent increases and decreases and the last date seen. Wherever possible the time of day when first and last seen should also be stated as this may help in tracing movements. We need hardly stress the importance of careful identification of the species. All notes should be addressed to H. F. Witherby, Gracious Pond Farm, Chobham, Surrey. Gadwall in Sussex. — As the Gadwall ( Anas strepera ) appears to have been seldom recorded for Sussex, it should be noted that Mr. F. Penfold informs 11s that he identified a male which was shot near Pulborough on December 20th, 1938. Gannets in Gloucestershire.— With reference to Mr. W. E. Glegg’s note on this subject ( antea page 276), Mr. H. Tetley writes that Gannets have been recorded as occur- ring in the county during the prevalence of gales from W. orS.W., andinstanc.es one being picked up on September 21st, 1935, to the north-east of Bristol, while at the same time about 30 occurred in north Gloucestershire. On October 5th, 1938, one was seen flying over Severn Beach. In both these years at the periods mentioned there were severe W. or S.W. gales. VOL. XXXII.] REVIEWS. 311 The Feathered Folk of an Estuary . By Guy B. Farrar. Plates. (Country Life.) ios. 6d. This book centres on the Dee estuary where the author has spent much time watching and photographing birds and wild-fowling. His plan has been to erect a hide on an island and to wait for the tide to push birds up within range of his camera. In this way he has obtained some very good and rather unusual photographs of various waders at rest and in flight. Many of them adorn the book and are interspersed with others of more usual type depicting terns, gulls and other birds at the nest. He writes enthusiastically of his favourite pursuit at this spot and the birds he sees there. He has something of interest to say about geese and ducks, the hunting habits of Peregrines and the ways of waders. His most exciting day was on August 1 7th, 1936, when seven Avocets came into view and a month later he again saw two, this being apparently a first record for Cheshire for the species, which is always rare on the west coast. Bird Sketches and Some Field Observations. Written and illustrated by Philip Rickman. (Eyre and Spottiswoode.) 15s. This book contains a number of delightful pencil sketches and one coloured plate. All the sketches are beautifully done and very nicely reproduced. Many show birds in action and some showing phases of courtship are instructive and one could have wished for more of these. The attitudes are cleverly depicted and the softness of the effect often combined with considerable detail and always with enough to show the texture of feathers, is very attractive. Certainly Mr. Rickman has brought out in this book some of his best and most careful work. The letterpress is of secondary importance but it is a pity that Mr. Rickman did not give more of his field-notes, some of which have considerable interest, instead of filling up the space with descriptions of birds which seem out of place in a book of this kind. Birds Through the Year. Written and illustrated by “ Fish-Hawk ” (David K. Wolfe Murray). (Duckworth.) 10s. 6d. The author's drawings are probably the main attraction of this book. The most successful are those of ducks and waders in flight, some of these being very effective. With birds at rest he is not to our eye so successful. His style tends to make a bird too smooth to be reallv natural and often they seem too long and torpedo-like in shape. In his letterpress the author devotes a short chapter to each month of the year and various birds and subjects more or less appropriate to the month are discussed. The observations are slight and often the statements are loose or dogmatic in an airy way, as for instance that most birds pair for life, that all wild geese are hill-nesters, that in London alone there are many hundreds of thousands of resident Wood-Pigeons, that the Hen-Harrier does not nest in Great Britain and so on. It is irritating to find Montagu’s name wronglv spelt. As one of our own country’s pioneers in ornithology his name should be known. It is mentioned that Great Shearwaters are numerous off Rockall in July and the author appears to think this rock has not been landed on and that these Shearwaters may breed there or elsewhere in the north. He should consult Mr. V. C. Wynne-Edwards’ account of their migrations and the brief study of the landing on Rockall bv the late Dr. Charcot in our pages (Vol. XXX, p. 251). On page 73 under September there is an account of a Kite seen in the New Forest from a train. No date is given and it is doubtful what sort of Kite is intended since the author states that he has seen “ thousands of his kind in India and on the Continent”. 312 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XXXII. Wild Country. A Highland Naturalist’s Notes and Pictures. By F. Fraser Darling. Illustrated. (Cambridge University Press.) ios. Od. Mr. Fraser Darling is a biologist who has recently given us a stimulat- ing study in Bird Flocks and the Breeding Cycle, but this new little book is made up of a number of observations made when he was “ off duty ” from serious work. He has used his camera very skilfully to show what he has seen. So that we have here something different from the ordinary bird photographers’ book which is so often little more than a series of portraits and how they were obtained. Mr. Darling has a trained eye and usually what he describes he has watched several times and thoroughly understands. Moreover, he describes what he has seen very clearly and often very charmingly. He has a great love for his wild country and small islands of western Scotland, and the photographs of birds and animals illustrate very admirably the scenes and actions he describes so well. / Know an Island. By R. M. Lockley. (Harrap.) Illustrated, ios. 6d. It was ten years ago that Mr. Lockley went to live on Skokholm and he begins and ends this book with an excellent little account of the life there. The rest of the book is concerned with other small inhabited islands which he has visited and explored with a specialist's eye during recent years. These include Ramsey and Bardsey off his own Welsh coast, the Blaskets off the extreme SAV. of Ireland, Heligoland, Fair Isle, North Ronaldshay, the Faeroes, and the Westmann Islands off the south of Iceland. On all these islands Mr. Lockley made a point of living with the people and taking part in their activities and he has much to say concerning the character of the islanders and their methods of living. His remarks on this subject are perhaps the most interesting part of the book. But birds are by no means neglected and are, indeed, one of the chief features in the life of most small islands. In Heligoland he was fortunate to come in for a big rush of migrants. In North Ronaldshay he found Fulmars breeding on buildings in daily use, in the Faeroes they seem to be increasing and according to the islanders are driving away other birds more useful to them as food, while in the Westmann Islands he found in many sites single Fulmars incubating two eggs. In the Faeroes also he saw Eider ducks nesting at 1,300 ft. above the sea, while on Sudurey, one of the Westmann group, he found Fork-tailed Petrels, birds he had long wished to see in their breeding haunts. To all those interested in island life Mr. Lockley’s book will have special appeal, but apart from this there are many things in it which the ornithologist should not miss. Repertoirs des Stations Ornithologiques . Stations de baguage, Europe, Amerique, Asie. Par M. A. Chappellier. (Post free 100 francs from the author, 7, Avenue Pierre Curie, Saint-Cyr-l’Ecole, Seine-et- Oise.) In L’Oiseau M. Chappellier published in instalments between 1936 and 1938 particulars of all the ringing organizations in Europe, America and Asia. He has now revised this and brought it up to date and issued it as a separate publication in an edition limited to 100 copies. The list gives the following particulars of each station : its foundation, organization, personnel and address, as well as its publications, the number and kinds of birds ringed and diagrams of the rings showing the types used and their sizes and inscriptions. Ringing organizations will be greatly indebted to M. Chappellier for the trouble he has taken in compiling this work which should prove extremely useful. I FEB 1939 PURCHASED THE FLIGHT OF BIRDS By C. HORTON-SMITH Foreword by Sir Gilbert T. Walker. Crown 8 vo. Illustrated. js. 6d. net. “ The ornithologist as well as the man of science should find considerable value in this study, as the diverse methods and varieties of flight exercised by birds must have a close connexion with the various problems connected with their lives. . . . He has tried to state the problems fairly and to give unbiased accounts of conflicting views upon them. Such a book is needed.” — Times Literary Supplement. “ The fascination of the book is enhanced by many fine photographs.” — Times Educational Supplement. “ Mr. Horton-Smith has done ornithology a good service in this short survey of the subject.” — Manchester Guardian. “ The stories of the experiments of the early pioneers make good reading, and a highly inter- esting chapter is devoted to safety devices employed by birds in flight. . . . This book supplies an urgent need.” — Belfast News-Letter. H. F. & G. WITHERBY LTD . THE BIRD-LOVERS’ BOOK OF VERSE Collected by CHRISTINA CHAPIN Lino-cuts by RAPHAEL NELSON Crown 8 vo 6/- net “ A book of sheer delight.”— Country Life. “ A good book, and a beautiful book, and it should be on the shelf of every bird-lover.” — The Field. “ I have been astonished and delighted by the variety and beauty of this selection. I do not believe the work could have been better done. ... It is a lovely piece of work.” — Arthur Waugh in his Foreword. “ Nobody is likely to produce a better anthology on birds than Miss Chapin, and she has been lucky in her collaborator, Raphael Nelson, whose lino-cuts, intensely simple and formalised, catch the very spirit of bird life.” — Truth. H. F. & G. WITHERBY LTD. DWT15I1 BIRDS /'imisrreaiDwscrariE DEVOTED'CHIErLY'TOniE'BIRDS ^cwTHEDRiiauisr^ *• 6 . J39 PURCHASED MAR. 1, 1939. Vol. XXXII. No. 10. HONTfflY ls9dTEARLY-20-s> •326HIGfllIOLBOEPHBNDOr+ »F6(rWHE^ SALE OF BRITISH BIRDS’ EGGS COLLECTION OF THE LATE Mr. PERCY F. BUNYARD, M.B.O.U. AT STEVENS’S AUCTION ROOMS 38 King Street, Covent Garden, London, W.C.2 The second part of this unique Collection will be offered on Tuesday, March 7th, 1939, commencing at one o’clock The Eggs will be on view on the day before and on the morning of Sale, exactly as arranged by Mr. Bunyard, and will be sold from the Cabinet drawers. Ornithologists will welcomethe opportunity of seeing the wonderful varieties as arranged in their series by the Collector, before the Collection is finally broken up. The Sale will include the rest of the Warblers, and Buntings ; many of the Raptores ; Rails and Crakes and Game Birds ; some of the Limicolae, the Corvidae, the Divers and some Guillemots. There are six clutches of Greater Yellowshank, from Alberta, taken by Prof. Rowan and Henderson, in this sale. A great many of the series have been exhibited at the B.O.C. and are described in the Bulletins. Catalogues on application to the Auctioneers. REPORT OF THE LITTLE OWL FOOD INQUIRY 1936-7 Organized by the British Trust for Ornithology BY ALICE HIBBERT-WARE, M.B.O.U. (Analyst) Illustrated 3s. 6d. net PUBLISHED FOR THE BRITISH TRUST FOR ORNITHOLOGY BY H. F. & G. WITHERBY LTD., 326 HIGH HOLBORN. W.C.I LE GERFAUT REVUE BELGE D’ORNITHOLOGIE m i9in La seule publication scientifique beige traitant des oiseaux, specialement des oiseaux de la Belgique Abonnement 25 francs beiges - 5 Belgas par an Direction : Square Prince Charles 21, Bruxelles-Laeken (Belgique) BRITISH BIRDS With which was Incorporated in January, 1917, “ The Zoologist.” EDITED BY H. F. WITHERBY, FZ.S.,M.B.O.U.,H.F.A.O.U. ASSISTED by Rev. F. C. R. Jourdain, m.a., m.b.o.u., h.f.a.o.u., f.z.s., and Norman F. Ticehurst, o.b.e., m.a., f.r.c.s., m.b.o.u. Contents of Number 10, Vol. XXXII., March i, 1939. The History of the Irish Gannet Colonies. By James Fisher The Irish Gannet Colonies, 1938. By S. Marchant Hen-Harriers Breeding in Anglesey. ByWm.Aspden ... Recovery of Marked Birds. By Miss E. P. Leach PAGE 314 320 326 329 Notes : — Number of Nests and Young reared in an Essex Locality (Mrs. I. Steuart)... ... ... ... ... ... ... 336 Water- Pipit in Somerset (H. H. Davis)... ... ... ... 336 Census of Swallows in a Yorkshire District (T.W. I. Cleasbv and R. K. Martin) ... ... ... ... ... ... 337 Rough-legged Buzzards in Cornwall (P. I. R. Maclaren) ... 338 Unusual Birds inland in Somersetshire (S. Lewis) ... ... 338 Fulmar Petrel in Dorset (H. Tetley) ... ... ... ... 340 Glaucous Gull Inland in Norfolk (H. R. Griggs) ... ... 340 Iceland Gull in Dorsetshire (J. G. Bacchus) ... ... ... 341 Iceland Gull in Lancashire (E. Cohen) ... ... ... ... 341 Short Notes : — Chiff chaffs in Sussex in February. Blackcap in Kent in Winter. Unusual Influx of Bewick’s and Whooper Swans 341 Review : — A History of Sussex Birds. By John Walpole-Bond ... ... 342 Letters Subalpine Warbler — Colour of Legs and Display (G. K. Yeates) 343 The Black Tern in the Lower Thames (H. G. Alexander) ... 343 The Gannets of Sula Sgeir (M. Stewart) ... ... ... 344 x (314) THE HISTORY OF THE IRISH GANNET COLONIES.* BY JAMES FISHER. The literature of the colonies of the Gannet (Sula bassana ) on Little Skellig and the Bull Rock, though scattered widely through books and periodicals, repays the trouble involved in sorting it by a picture of the fluctuations in number of two colonies of a sea-bird over the period of 90 years in one case and its existence in the other. Of course, it is not proper to use any figures given in past years without careful scrutiny, but nevertheless none of the counts and estimates which I have cited can have failed to represent the geometric order of numbers to which the population belonged at that time. I have accordingly plotted the histories of the colonies on Little Skellig and Bull Rock each in the form of a table (Tables 1 and 2), and have shown the changes in their numbers in the form of graphs (Figs. 1 and 2). TABLE 1.— HISTORY OF THE LITTLE SKELLIG Date. Number of pairs. COLONY. Remarks. A uthority. 1700 ? Present and breeding. Abbott [1]. c. 1748 ? “ An incredible number ” Smith [22]. 1828 p breeding. Present and breeding. Fleming [9]. 1850 500 Young eaten by man. Thompson [23]. 1880 c. 30 Barrington [3.] 1882 4°°t H. [13]. 1884 150-200 ? Increasing. " Never so many Gallwey [1 x] . Barrington 1890 Several as this year.” Suggests birds driven from Bull Rock. [3, 6], Turle [24]. 1896 thousand. Many Suggests increase largely due Sapsworth [20] 1906 thousands. 15-20,000 to birds driven from Bull by lighthouse construction. Entire rock inhabited. Great Barrington [5]. 1908 15-20,000 increase since “ nearly 20 years ago”. E. ridge, N. & S. sides covered. H. [13]. 1913 8,000 Extend from 16 ft. above sea Gurney [12], to top of rock (500 ft.), pushing out other species. Ussher [26]. ♦Gannet Population Studies, No. 8. fProbably erroneous. vol. xxxii. 1 IRISH GANNET COLONIES. 315 Number of Date. pairs. Remarks. Authority. 1914 p Now largest single colony in world. Range extended to S.W. side, last bit of room available. Barrington [6] , Anon [2]. 1930 10,000 “Almost every available ledge occupied.” Roberts in [7]. 193S 9-10,000 W, 1,000; N., 5-6,000; S., 3,000. Marchant [16]. TABLE 2.— HISTORY OF THE BULL ROCK COLONY. Number of Date. pairs. Remarks. Authority. 1853 1856 1858 11 Gannets first seen on rock. First nests found. Gurney [12]. c. 1859 None.* Ussher [25]. 1868 Many Only a few addled eggs. Non- Flemyng [10]. £884 hundreds 500-1,000* breeders present. Lighthouse begun. Gannets Ussher [25]. 1,000 on N. face driven off by blasting. Thought that they may desert in 2 or 3 years.* 600-750 S. face, none E., Barrington [3]. 1885 1889 ? 500 several W. Lighthouse completed. Colony not decreased during Barrington [4a]. 1890 last 5 years. 1,000 birds (on W. side ?*). At least 50-60 immature. Deserted.* Turle [24]. 1891 IOO-IIO Certainly 100 pairs. Barrington [4b]. 1896 Colony greatly diminished Sapsworth [20]. 1899 C. IOO since building of lighthouse. Suggests birds colonized Little Skellig instead. A hundred or so. Newton in [12]. 1902 1908 1,000 3°° Several hundreds. Decreasing. Ussher and Warren [27]. Gurney [12]. c. 1909 Remarks probably copied H. [131- 1913 250 from Saps worth (20). Gurney [12]. 1930 400 Rock “nearly full”. Very Roberts in [7]. 1936 2-3,000* considerable increase over 1908. Carroll and 1937 c. 450 Montgomery in [14]. Lockley in [16] 1938 442-500 Marchant [16]. ♦Probably erroneous. 316 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XXXI 1. > ear uak Numbers of breeding pairs of Numbers of breeding pairs of Gannets on Little Skellig, Eire, Gannets on Bull Rock, Eire, between 1 850 and 1938 (arithlog. between 1856 and 1938 (arithlog. scale) . scale) . Numbers of Gannets in pairs. — • — ' — • — • — • Rate of increase if all Gannets are immortal and perpetually fertile, in the absence of colonization. • Bull Rock lighthouse built. Represents an approximation to the actual figure. The graphs are on " arithlog.” paper, since a logarithmic scale can be used best to represent changes in a population from which it is desired to deduce rate of increase, amount of colonization, etc. Thus the scale on the ordinate is a simple arithmetical one, the years running 1850, 60, 70, 80, etc., but that on the abscissa is geometrical, the number of pairs running 10, 100, 1,000, 10,000, etc. In an imaginary colony in which all Gannets were immortal vol. xxxii.] IRISH GANNET COLONIES. 317 and perpetually fertile, and in which there was no colonization from outside, the rate of increase would be approximately 25 per cent, per annum [8]. On an arithlog. graph this can be represented as a straight line, which enables a quick comparison to be made with any actual rate of increase in an existing colony. From inspection of the tables and graph we can reach the following conclusions : — 1. Spfxial. (a) Little Skellig. Between 1850 and 1880 this decreased rapidly, and then increased even more rapidly, at a rate which for 10 years was faster than that possible in a closed com- munity, and for another 16 was almost as fast. Colonization was therefore taking place for almost certainly the whole time between 1880 and 1906. It is interesting to note that this colonization began before the building of the lighthouse on the Bull Rock, and while the Bull Rock colony was itself increasing. It is not safe to claim that the drop in numbers on the Bull due to quarrying had an effect on the numbers of the Little Skellig colony. There is no direct evidence for this at all, though Barrington [3, 6] and Sapsworth [20] have suggested it. Since 1906 the Little Skellig colony has remained of the order of 10,000 pairs, and there is no evidence for any further colonization. ( b ) Bull Rock. Since its establishment in 1856 the Bull Rock colony has gone through two cycles of fluctuation. There is evidence for colonization between 1856 and 1868, and the increase between 1868 and 1884 can have been derived from the existing stock. In 1884 and 1885 the lighthouse was built, and the numbers decreased to preserve a low level in the nineties of the last century. Between 1899 and I902. however, rapid colonization took place ; after this there was another decrease followed by a gradual increase from 1913 onwards. It can be claimed that building activity was the factor behind the first decrease, but it is doubtful whether the presence of the lighthouse had anything to do with the second cycle. 2. General. (a) As with the colony of Noss, Shetland [8], rapid 318 BRITISH BIRDS. [vol. xxxii. colonization was a feature of the early stages of the Bull Rock colony. This may, then, be a general rule.* (b) Colonization seems also to be a feature of other stages in the history of an established colony, as can be seen with Little Skellig 1880-1906 and Bull Rock 1899-1902. (c) The fluctuations in numbers of Gannets can sometimes (Bull Rock 1884-1899) be ascribed to definite factors belonging to the immediate environment, but they cannot always (Bull Rock 1899 onwards, Little Skellig 1850 onwards) be so ascribed. REFERENCES. [1] Abbott, W. M. (1913). Irish Nat. 22 : 123. “ Gannets on the Skelligs in 1700.” [2] Anon (1914). Brit. Birds, 8 : 55 : “ Increase of Gannets on Little Skellig (Kerry).” [3] Barrington, R. M. (1884). Zoologist, Ser. 3, vol. 8 : 473-9. " The Irish Breeding Stations of the Gannet, Sula bassana.” [4] Barrington, R. M. (1900). The Migration of Birds as observed at Irish Lighthouses and Lightships, etc. (a) pp. 120-1, (b) p. 260, London. [5] Barrington, R. M. (1906). Irish Nat. 15 : 235. “ Gannets on the Little Skellig.” *It does not, on the other hand, appear to be a law, since it is not a feature of the early stages of the colony on Great Saltee Island, Co. Wexford, as may be seen from the following table : — TABLE 3.— HISTORY OF THE GREAT SALTEE COLONY. Date. Number of pairs. Remarks. Authority. 1929 2 Both eggs taken by gulls or jackdaws. One pair deserted entirely. Pollard [17, 18, 19]. 1930 1 Pair that deserted in 1929 (?) occupied same site. Nest empty. Pollard [17, 18, 19]. 1932 2 Each had an egg. No young reared. Pollard [18, 19]. 1933 1 Young successfully reared. Pollard [18, 19], Kennedy [15]. 1934 1 Moffat in [14]. 1935 1 One nest and one pair. Moffat in [14], Edwards, Lockley and Salmon [7]. 1936 1 Moffat in [14]. 1937 2 " I believe they were not successful ” (in hatching). Mason [30]. I938 3 " I understand they were able to rear their young.” One pair: egg taken by Herring Gulls ; one pair : reared ; one pair: fate unsettled. Mason [29]. Moffat in [28]. (Seebohm [21] saw no breeders at the end of the last century.) 319 vol. xxxii.] IRISH GANNET COLONIES. [6] Barrington, R. M. (1914). Irish Nat. 23 : 133-5. “ Fulmars, Gannets and other Sea-birds on the Skelligs.” [7] Edwards, V. C. Wynne, Lockley, R. M., and Salmon, H. M. (1936). Brit. Birds, 29 : 262-76. “ The Distribution and Numbers of Breeding Gannets.” [8] Fisher, J., and Venables, L. S. V. (1938). J . Anim. Ecol., 7 : 305-13. “ Gannets [Sula bassana) on Noss, Shetland, with an analysis of the rate of increase of this species.” [9] Fleming, J. (1828). A History of British Animals, etc., p. 118. Edinburgh. [10] Flemyng, W. W. (1882). Zoologist, ser. 3, vol. 6 : 110-1. " The Breeding Haunts of the Gannet in Ireland.” [11] Gallwey, R. Payne (1882). The Fowler in Ireland, etc., p. 261. London. [12] Gurney, J. H. (1913). The Gannet, a Bird with a History, pp. 73-74. London. [13] H. (1910). Field, 115:948. ” Sea-fowl on the Skelligs.” [14] Humphreys, G. R. (1937). A List of Irish Birds, showing the species contained in the National Collection. 5th ed., p. 33. Dublin. [15] Kennedy, P. G. (1934). Brit. Birds, 27 : 362. " Gannets and Choughs on Great Saltee Island.” [16I Marchant, S. (1938). Brit. Birds, 32 : 320-5 The Irish Gannet Colonies.” [17] Pollard, R. S. (1931). Irish Nat. J., 3 : 150-1. “ Bird Life on the Great Saltee Island, Co. Wexford, 1930.” [18] Pollard, R. S. (1934). Irish Nat. J., 5 : 30-3. " Bird Life on the Saltees.” [19] Pollard, R. S. (1934). Brit. Birds, 27 : 290-2. " Problems of Colonization and Increase of Sea-birds on Great Saltee Island.” [20] Sapsworth, A. D. (1896). Field, 88 : 347. “ Sea-fowl on the Skelligs.” [21] Seebohm, H. (1890). Ibis., ser. 6, vol. 2 : 397-411. “ Notes on Irish Ornithology.” [22] Smith, C. (1756). The Antient and Present State of the County of Kerry, etc., p. iti. Dublin. [23] Thompson, W. (1851). The Natural History of Ireland, vol. 3. Birds, comprising the Order Natatores, p. 264. London. [24] Turle, W. H. (1891). Ibis., ser. 6, vol. 9 : 1-12. " A Visit to the Blasket and the Skellig Rocks.” [25] Ussher, R. J. (1884). Zoologist, ser. 3, vol. 8 : 479-82. " Irish Breeding Stations of the Gannet, Sula bassana.’’ [26] Ussher, R. J. (1913). Irish Nat., 22 : 178-9. “ Notes from the Skelligs.” [27] Ussher, R. J., and Warren, R. (1900). Birds of Ireland, p. 157. London. Personal Communications. [28] Humphreys, G. R. (1938), letter dated October 3rd. [29] Mason, T. H. (1938), letter dated September 21st. [30] Mason, T. H. (1938), letter dated October 5th. (320) THE IRISH GANNET COLONIES,* 1938. BY S. MARCHANT. The two main breeding-stations of the Gannet (Sula bassana) in Ireland, Little Skellig and the Bull Rock, are situated off the coasts of Cork and Kerry. Owing to its exposed position in a remote locality attempts to land on Little Skellig have rarely been successful. It is the more easterly of two islands, lying about io miles south-west of Valentia and apart from its sea-bird colonies has little of interest ; this is in contrast to the Great Skellig, which, with its lighthouse and ruined monastery, is regularly visited by boats. Sixteen miles to the south-east lies the Bull Rock, the site of another lighthouse, a fact which makes this island comparatively accessible. It can be reached without great difficulty from either Castle- townbere or Dursey Sound, both in Co. Cork. In spite of the fact that the Gannet colony on this rock is more accessible and has been visited more recently than that on the Little Skellig, it is curious to find that the numbers of breeding birds in recent years are not known with any degree of accuracy. During the summer of 1938 I was able to visit these islands. In the case of the Little Skellig I was no more successful than others, being only able to sail round the island. On the Bull Rock, however, I had the opportunity of studying the Gannets between July 3rd and 12th. As I was alone during this time, some difficulty was experienced in getting really accurate figures for the number of breeding birds, but by relying on direct counts of the nests, which could be approached closely, and supplementing these by counts through glasses from the cliff-top, figures were reached which, I believe, only contain an error of a score or two either way. Little Skellig. I sailed round the rock in fairly calm weather on July 1st. The island consists of a ridge of rock, running roughly east-west, with steep sloping sides to the north and south. The westerly end swings round somewhat to the north and provides a steep slope, on which some of the Gannets nest. By far the largest concentration of birds is on the north side, which forms the wide arc of a circle. The Gannets breed from the top of the ridge to almost within reach of the waves, being thickest on a guano-covered slope roughly in the centre of *Gannet Population Studies, No. 9. vol. xxxii ] IRISH GANNET COLONIES. 321 the island and more scattered elsewhere where they can only nest on rather widely separated ledges. On the south side there are again a large number of birds, partly on ledges and partly on steep slopes. My estimates of the numbers in each of these three areas is as follows : — West side ... 1,000 pairs North side ... 5-6,000 pairs South side ... 3,000 pairs making in all a total of 9-10,000 pairs as the breeding population. It must be remembered that these figures have no great claim to accuracy ; they are an estimate in the strict sense of the word. Previous* figures seem to have been reached much in the same way as those given here, and were obviously more accurate in the days when the colony was of the order of tens or hundreds rather than thousands of pairs. As will be seen, my own estimate agrees closely with that of Mr. Roberts in 1930 and if any reliance can be placed on these figures, it seems reasonable to suppose that the numbers have not altered appreciably in the last eight years. The Bull Rock. Gannets are almost confined to the west side of the rock, though a few pairs have spread round to the north. The main cliff can be fairly easily divided into six areas, while POSITION OF there are two small patches on the north side. The accom- panying diagram, traced from a photograph taken by Mr. R. M. Lockley in the autumn of 1937, shows the distribution of these areas, with the exception of 7 and 8 which are out of sight round the north corner. Details of these may now be given. *See Mr. J. Fisher’s notes in this issue. 322 BRITISH BIRDS. [vol. xxxn. Area i : All the nests could be approached and counted accurately. Area 2 : Ditto. Area 3 : This area was difficult to separate from the follow- ing, and to count single-handed. 72 nestlings were ringed in this area, but many more nests were counted than could be actually reached : the uncertainty in the counts is due to doubts whether nests had been counted twice. A count by glasses from the cliff-top was of little help as the whole of the area could not be seen from any one place and it was difficult to know where one had left off and should start again. Area 4 : This area was not reached nor was it easy to count with glasses owing to lack of clear division from Area 3. Fifty nests seemed to be a reasonable estimate. Area 5 : Inaccessible. 83 nests were counted by glasses ; probably about 100, allowing for those hidden by rocks. Area 6 : Partially inaccessible. 15 nests counted exactly in one part ; more than twice as many estimated. Area 7 : All nests could be approached and counted accurately. Area 8 : Ditto. As far as possible, only those nests with an egg or nestling were counted. The following table summarizes the results: — - No. of Nests. Nestlings Nests Direct With Estim- Total. ringed. with eggs Area. Count. glasses. ated. Min Max. or small young. I. 70 — — 70 70 45 25 2. IO — — IO IO 5 5 3- 170-200 — — 170 200 (72) — 4- — 83 50 50 50 — — 5- — IOO 83 IOO — — 6. (15) — 35‘45 35 45 (5) — 7- 22 — — 22 22 16 6 8. 2 — — 2 2 2 0 442 499 The totals thus reached can be roughly checked by the numbers of ringed birds. In four areas, viz., 1, 2, 7, 8, where strict accuracy can be claimed, 68 nestlings were ringed out of a total of 104 nests. The total number of young birds ringed was 145, and assuming that the proportion of eggs, small and large young to remain constant, it must have been possible to reach 222 nests. As the area covered was approximately half the colony, the figure obtained for the whole is about 450. vol. xxxii ] IRISH GANNET COLONIES. 323 Mr. G. R. Humphreys* says that “ considerable variation is recorded in numbers on the Bull Rock during the past fifty years ” and goes on to say that “ Messrs. C. J. Carroll and L. W. Montgomery estimated that at least 2,000 pairs were breeding there in 1936”. Mr. R. M. Lockley told me in conversation that when he passed by the rock in the autumn of 1937 he considered that tiiere were probably about 450 pairs, as there was not sufficient room on the cliff for more. As the figures obtained this year cannot admit of an error of some hundreds per cent., it is necessary to consider what possibility there is of an alarming decrease in the colony within two years at the most. From personal observation it seemed unlikely that the area of the colony in the past year or so has been greatly different from what it is to-day. Except for the two small patches on the north side no other part of the rock outside the west cliff was frequented by Gannets, and no trace of old nests was seen, though these might well be swept away by winter gales. The most likely area in which the Gannets might be expected to have bred recently, is to the north of the main cliff on a fairly steep slope formed by a series of long rock slabs. Enquiries among the light-keepers and fishermen failed to confirm that Gannets had bred here as far as they could remember. Within the area of the colony it would not be possible for the numbers to increase very considerably ; there are not enough suitable sites. There remains the possibility that human activity has influenced numbers. In the spring of 1937 there was a landslide on the rock which destroyed part of the dwellings and neces- sitated repair work. In the course of the work it became necessary to quarry away large quantities of rock from above the dwellings and to dump it over the cliff. At first this debris was thrown over at a point almost directly above area 4 of the diagram and resulted in the destruction of some Gannets. Reliable evidence for the numbers thus killed was difficult to obtain, but one of the light-keepers said that he thought it was not more than 30. Certainly from the evidence still visible on the cliff it seemed unlikely that more than fifty nests, if as many, could have been destroyed, since the width of the dump was scarcely five yards at its widest and only affected perhaps fifty feet of likely breeding ground. As soon as the foreman mason became aware of this destruction, he changed the site of the dump to the north cliff, where it cannot have dislodged more than a very few pairs. Another * “A List of Irish Birds, showing the species contained in the National Collection.” 5th ed., p. 33. Dublin, 1937. 324 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOI,. XXXII. dump directly under the tower of the light only consisted of refuse and tin cans and can never have seriously affected the Gannets. Finally, I was told by a former light-keeper, who was stationed on the rock before 1936, that he thought there were about 300 breeding pairs in his time. From the above evidence it is clear that there is no good reason for supposing a great decrease of Gannets on the Bull Rock in the last two years, while it is not impossible that their numbers have remained much the same for a considerably longer period. The only reasonable assumption is that the 1936 figures were a wild guess. Yet Mr. Humphreys in a letter tells me that Messrs. Carroll and Montgomery, when informed of Lockley’s estimate in 1937, stuck to their figures, saying that they had been all over the rock with ropes and were in a far better position to estimate numbers than any one in a boat. As far as I could learn, these two observers spent most of their time on the rock collecting eggs, and all one can say is that, if this were so, they ought to have been in a position to give more accurate figures. Finally a brief mention should be made of non-breeding birds and infant mortality. On the Little Skellig it seemed from the casual observations made that few non-breeding birds were present. If this is actually so, it would furnish further evidence for a suggestion made to me by Mr. James Fisher that non-breeders (in large numbers) only frequent those colonies where there is suitable resting ground. This rock appears to be far too steep to provide any such place not occupied by nests. On the Bull Rock, however, the steepish slope indicated on the diagram provided a resting place for perhaps 200 birds in all stages of plumage from almost completely black to almost completely white. Prac- tically every morning at about 10 a.m. they were to be found here as far up the slope as a low stone hut, which was itself a favourite resting site. In addition, birds were sometimes resting on the lower rocks to the north, more particularly in quiet weather. Since there was no beach below the Gannet cliff it was impossible to look for birds that had fallen out of the nest, but while climbing over the ledges, two fairly large nestlings were found dead, and on two occasions adult birds were noticed to drag or sweep their offspring over the cliff. One of these was a tiny bird just hatched, while the other was well grown. In addition a ringed nestling was picked up later but this may well have been the well-grown bird which was seen to be knocked off the ledge. vol. xxxii.] IRISH GANNET COLONIES. 325 Summary. A brief description of the position of the gannetries of the Little Skellig and Bull Rock is given. Numbers on the Little Skellig are estimated as 9-10,000 pairs, which agree with Mr. B. B. Roberts’s figures for 1930. The colony on the Bull Rock is described in detail and the total number of breeding pairs is shown to be between 442 and 500. Evidence is put forward which makes it unlikely that these numbers have altered considerably in the past few years. Finally notes are given on the questions of non-breeding birds and mortality among the young. (326) HEN-HARRIERS BREEDING IN ANGLESEY. BY Wm. aspden. During the second week of May, 1924, a client brought me an egg which he wished identified. It had been found by his son in a nest among some rushes near a small stream in a marsh in Anglesey. Behind this marsh is an extensive area of sand-dunes and rough uncultivated land. The egg was pale bluish-white and showed no trace of markings, but its shape gave me a clue and I felt sure that it was either that of a Hen-Harrier ( Circus cyaneus) or Montagu’s Harrier (C. pygargus). A week later I went over the area where the nest had been found but saw nothing of it. I did, however, catch a fleeting glimpse of an obvious Harrier working a few feet above the rushes on the other side of the river, but as the bird was some hundred yards away when I first saw it and was travelling away from me, I could not be certain of its identity. The curious limp, flapping beat of the wings, three of four beats and then a short glide was quite unmistakable, however, as was the fact that its very light colouring established it as a male. On June 6th of that year I went again to the district and once more saw the bird, but again at too great a distance to be certain of identity. It was not until June 19th that I was more fortunate. Some half a mile or so from the edge of the marsh is a ruined cottage consisting of little more than a chimney stack and broken walling. I was walking towards the marsh and had to pass this ruin, but when about fifty or sixty yards away I noticed two birds on the broken walls. After working round to the other side to get a better light I saw that there were three birds. Through a telescope I could see that one had a strongly marked facial disc, a dark brown crown and “ eye- brows ” of pale buff. The tail was strongly barred and there was a very conspicuous white patch on the rump. I looked carefully for distinguishing features but still could not be certain whether the bird was a Montagu’s or Hen-Harrier. A few minutes later, however, the matter was settled definitely as the male arrived carrying a half-grown Oyster-catcher. He was pearly-grey with black primaries and there was a total absence of streaks or any marks which I could see on the almost white underparts. As he dropped his prey on the ground and alighted on the wall I had him in good light for quite five minutes. He was definitely smaller than the female vol. xxxii ] HEN-HARRIERS IN ANGLESEY. 327 and appeared altogether neater and more compact. The female dropped to ground and began to tear up the Oyster- catcher and the two immature birds joined her. I was struck by the entire absence of any bickering between the young. They merely stood by and accepted their rations without comment or signs of a desire to break up the food for them- selves. A few minutes later the male flew off again over towards the marsh. After about ten further minutes the female also left and I then walked towards the two young birds to see what would happen. I got within a few feet of them before they consented to notice me and then they both rose and followed in the line of the adults. My experience suggested that it might be possible to obtain photographs, so on June 23rd I went again. That day I again saw the male at sixty yards or so. On that occasion he was with the two young at the ruin and had apparently just fed them. All three rose as I attempted to get nearer and photography was out of the question. Twice again that season I was able to get sight of the family. On July 7th I saw the female with one of the young, quartering a marshy patch of rush-grown land in among the dunes and they were mobbed by a colony of Common Terns which had nested on the seaward side of the area. The nature of the country is such that a bird quartering the ground at a low altitude is very easily missed, especially in early morning and late evening when the shadows are long. I found that it was at just those times the Harriers hunted most. During the greater part of the day they were definitely lethargic and would perch for long periods on the old ruin. On July 12th I saw all four birds there about 10.30 a.m. and they were also there when I passed again about 4 p.m. I did not see them again that summer and certainly did not expect to see anything more of them during the winter, but on February 17th, 1925, I again saw a male Hen-Harrier and managed to get him clearly focussed through my glasses. I was therefore more interested to keep watch over the district during the summer of 1925. I saw the birds about the ruined cottage again several times that season. There were three young reared that year and my first sight of them was on June 16th when the young seemed to have only recently left the nest. I had several times searched the suitable nesting ground for the nest but without success. When I saw the family on June 16th, the male was with the young and I again was able to ascertain definitely that they were Hen-Harriers, the very white unstreaked underparts of the male making 328 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XXXII. the matter certain. On July 27th the five birds were all together and I had them under observation throughout the whole afternoon. During the winter I was unable to get down to the neigh- bourhood, but on March 4th, 1926, I again saw both the male and female bird. I lost sight of them for a time and, when I went to try and find the nest in May, saw no trace of either bird though I paid three separate visits. However on June 29th they again turned up at the usual place by the old ruin and I had them under observation again on July 5th, nth and 28th. Twice I saw young Oyster-catchers brought in as food that season. Once a young rabbit and another occasion what I thought was a water-vole. I later discovered the tail and other remains of a common rat which had clearly been recently eaten. Again there was no possible mistake as to species as the male entirely lacked streaking on the underparts. I was struck by the silence of the birds. Only twice did I hear them make any cry and that was uttered each time by the female. A somewhat querulous cry rather like a weak imitation of the cry of the Peregrine. She gave utterance to this once when I was endeavouring to get nearer to the group and it seemed more in the nature of a warning, for all the birds immediately took to wing. The other occasion was when she was swinging over the small pool in the heart of the marsh. She had made one or two attempts to take something from the water, I could not see what it was. She suddenly wheeled up into the wind and made a circular glide at a greater height, this without a single wing beat. She then swooped down with a speed far greater than I had ever seen her attain and rose again with some tiny bird in her talons and made off away from me. It seemed to me like a young Moor-hen or a duckling and there were broods of both species about the pool at the time. It arises from all this then that there were Hen-Harriers about in that corner of Anglesey, winter and summer, from May, 1924, to late July, 1926. Whether the same pair stayed on during the whole period or whether there was a change of individuals during the spring and autumn of each year, I was unable to establish, but it is interesting to note that the only previous records for Anglesey appear to be : One shot Holyhead, 1881, and one wounded near Bryngrwn on Decem- ber 20th, 1900. There would appear to be no record of the species having previously nested in the county, although there is much very suitable country available. (329) RECOVERY OF MARKED BIRDS. COMMUNICATED BY E. P. LEACH. Hon. Sec. Bird-Ringing Committee, British Trust for Ornithology SZftLmVheTniKSra0/! C°mm'tt5-6.37, by W. A. Cadman. RINGED AS FULL-GROWN ‘ pVeMorsECS)' 7 7 38' b7 Ch(a3™“g| ;G1“)- Magpie ( Pica p. pica) Cuy“y ftbLr-36' Wh;re ring 1935- 1936, '37- ’38- LL.727 Ditto I935- 1936, ’3s- LL.720 Ditto 1935- 1938. KW.393 Ditto W36- 1937, ’38. JA.243 Ditto 1936. 1938. 10 birds Ditto 1937- 1938. Rock-Pipit ( Anthus s. petrosus) . Skokholm Bird Obs., 20.7.36, Where ringed. 25.7.38. juv. ZA.549 332 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XXXII. No. LP.746 HB.638 H.6566 N.3010 NM.130 R.3582 GJ.683 XX.512 YE. 481 YP.218 May all B-343 FX.S25 YR.273 WA.605 XE.722 XP. 102 OD.460 YB.34 AP.291 5 P-3171- Ringed. Recovered. Pied Wagtail ( Motacilla a. yarrellii). Brightwell (Suffolk), 29.5.35, Harkstead (Suffolk), 24. 12.38, young, by A. Mayall. (7 m. SW.). I. of May Bird Obs., 29.4.37, Where ringed, 17.4.38. ad. Blue Tit ( Parus c. obscurus). RINGED AS FULL-GROWN. RECOVERED WHERE RINGED. Arnside (Westmor), 14.12.30, by J. Barnes. 22.5.38. Birmingham, 30.12.31, by F. R. Barlow. 26.1.38. Ditto, 15.12.32, by H. G. Alexander. 15.3.38. Song-Thrush [Turdus e. ericetorum). RINGED AS NESTLINGS. Dundee (Angus), 16.5.30, by E. C. Sharp. Newcastle-on-Tyne, 23.5.35, bv M. G. Robinson. Cliburn (Cumb), 15.6.38, by Moon and Cooper. Wilmslow (Ches), 4.5.37, by E. Cohen. Oxford, 20.5.38, by " Wipple- tree.” Le Pellerin (Loire Inf.), France, 29.1.38. Otterburn (Northumb), 20.9.38 (27 m. NW.). Killarney (Kerry), — .1.39. Horwich (Lancs), 25.8.38 (23 m. NW.). Portchester (Hants), 14.12.38 (63 m. S.). Bealings (Suffolk), 15.5.38. Granville (Manclie), France, 27.12.38. Brede (Sussex), 7.5.34, by Hayward’s Heath (Sussex), P. Allen. 15.7.38 (30 m. W.). RINGED AS FULL-GROWN. Blackburn (Lancs), 14.9.37, by Wadebridge (Cornwall), J. Barnes. 23.11.38 (245 m. SW.). Oxford, 28.10.38, by Oxford Clacton (Essex), 9.1.39 Orn. Soc. (100 m. E.). Cambridge, 20.1.38, by S. Waltham Cross (Herts), Marchant. 24.12.38 (37 m. S.). Haslemere (Surrey), 10.5.38, Plouay (Morbihan), France, by M. Hutchinson. — .12.38. Redwing ( Turdus m. musicus). I. of May Bird Obs., 30.3.38. Spiekeroog, East Frisian Is., 14.8.38. Blackbird ( Turdus m. merula). RINGED AS NESTLINGS. Whipsnade (Beds), 21.5.37, by Ennistymon (Clare), 7.1.39. Zool. Soc. Ullswater (Cumb), — -5-32, by Where ringed, — -7-38. Moon and Cooper. Malvern (Worcs), 19. 5. 31, by Ditto, 19.7.38. P. Morshead. vol. xxxii.] RECOVERY OF MARKED BIRDS. 333 No. Ringed. Blackbird ( continued ) . RINGED AS FULL-GROWN. Recovered. OD.268 I. of May Bird Obs., 5.4.37. S. Norway, WA.543 Ascott-u-Wychwood (Oxon), 17.10.38, by Oxford Orn.Soc. GW. 748 Kelling (Norfolk), 30.1.37, by R. M. Garnett. YK.322 Woodford Green (Essex), 27.11.37, by Lond. N.H.S. S.2375 Malvern (Worcs), 20.2.30, by P. Morshead. FG.717 Skokholm (Pem), 20.7.34, by R. M. Lockley. [This bird was bred on Skokholm, but appears to have returned as migrant, since there was no nest after 1935.] Flekkefjord, —•7-38. Goodwick (Pem), — .12.38, (140 m. W.). Driebergen (Utrecht), Hol- land, 2.7.38. Bildeston (Suffolk), 10.7. 38, (50 m. NE.). Where ringed, 19. 11.38. Where ringed, 30.11.38. Wheatear ( (Enanthe ce. cenanthe). RINGED AS MIGRANTS. XH.281 SkokholmB ird Obs., 7.8.38. Dar Bel Hamri, West Morocco, 6.9.38. XH.291 Ditto 18.8.38. Arcachon (Gironde), France, 12.9.38. XH.315 Ditto 30.8.38. Lacanau-Ocean (Gironde), h-9-38. LL.849 Ditto 6.4.36. Where ringed, 20.8.37 1 21.4.38. OV.535 Ditto 23-7-37- Ditto, 21.7.38. Whinchat ( Saxicola r. rubetra). ED. 7 Laugharne (Carms), 13.6.38, Faro (Algarve), Portugal, young, by J. F. Thomas. — .9.38. Redstart ( Phcenicurus ph. phcenicurus) . EM. 179 Glenridding (Westmor), 14.6.38, Portalegre (Alemtejo), young, by Moon and Cooper. Portugal, 26.9.38. Nightingale ( Luscinia m. megarhyncha) . May all A. 854 Playford (Suffolk), 10.6.38, Tournay-Charente (Char- young. ente Inf.), France, 22.9.38. Robin ( Erithacus r. melophilus). RINGED AS JUVENILE. HN.609 Woodford Green (Essex), 10.5.38, Guethary (Basses by Lond. N.H.S. Pyrenees), France, 16.9.38. RINGED AS MIGRANTS. JA.225 Skokholm Bird Obs., 4.9.36. Where ringed, — -9-37 1 30.11.38. HH.128 Ditto 22.9.37. Ditto, 3.9.38 ; 6.12.38. 334 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XXXII. No. L.5967 ME. 444 LL.825 KW.274 JA.385 KS.914 HH.273 HD. 676 LG. 790 LN.908 KH.128 3 birds 8 birds KJ.523 JL-535 AB.6077 AA.9051 4OII37 AC. 6015 24109 24123 AA.8235 Ringed. Recovered. Hedge-Sparrow ( Prunella m. occidentalis) . RINGED AS FULL-GROWN. RECOVERED WHERE RINGED. Gt. Budworth (Ches), 30.10.31, by A. W. Boyd. 13. 1.39. Bealings (Suffolk), 17.8.33, by A. Mayall. 21.9.38. Skokholm Bird Obs., 5-9-35- 1 1.5.38. Ditto, 19.5.36. 22.5.38. Wren ( Troglodytes t. troglodytes). RINGED AS MIGRANT. Skokholm Bird Obs., 1.10.36. 12.4.37 ; 10.4.38. Swallow ( Hirundo r. rustica). RINGED AS NESTLINGS. RECOVERED AWAY FROM WHERE RINGED. Torosay, Mull, 14.8.36, by M. Ulva Ferry, Mull, 5.9.38 Williams. (18 m. W.). Wilmslow (Ches), 1.7.37, by E. Cheadle Hulme (Ches), Cohen. 27.6.38 (4 m. N.). RECOVERED WHERE RINGED. Wolsingham (Durham), 12.7.37, by R. Martinson. 11.7.38. Laugharne (Carms), 30.7.35, by J. F. Thomas. 17.8.36; 27.6.38. Ditto, 30.7.36. 25.6.38. RINGED AS FULL-GROWN. RECOVERED WHERE RINGED. Mytton (Lancs), 2.9.35, by Oakes and Battersby. —.6.36 ; 12.8.38. Laugharne (Carms), 1936, by J. F. Thomas. 1938. Ditto, 1937. 1938. Swift (Apus a. apus). Langwathby (Cumb), 1.6.36, ad.. Where ringed, 28.6.38. by Moon and Cooper. Kingfisher ( Alcedo a. ispida). Alderley Edge (Ches), 21.5.37, Stoke-on-Trent (Staffs), young, by E. Cohen. 4.10.38 (22 m. S.). Tawny Owl ( Strix a. sylvatica). Closeburn (Dumfries), 6.5.38, Where ringed, — .11.38. young, by O. J. Pullen. Canterburjr (Kent), 13-5-37. Ditto, — .6.38. young, by St. Edmund’s Sch. Shipley (Yorks), 22.4.37, ad., by Ditto, 3.4.38. C. Wontner-Smith. Barn-Owl ( Tyto a. alba). Buxton (Derby), 27.8.38, young, by T. Tallis. Macclesfield (Ches), 15.8.37, young, by R. E. Knowles. Ditto, 13.7.36, ad. Pembroke, 17.8.33, ad., by R. M. Lockley. Ashover (Derby), 5.10.38 (20 m. SE.). Dove Holes (Derby), 15.10.38 (9 m. NE.). Where ringed, 23.12.37. Ditto, 7.1.39. vol. xxxii ] RECOVERY OF MARKED BIRDS. 335 No. 215027 307543 307549 RW.9409 Ringed. Merlin ( Falco c. cesalon). RINGED AS NESTLINGS. Recovered. 7-7-38, by Wolsingham (Durham), by R. Martinson. Sedbergh (Yorks), 27.6.38, Sedbergh Sch. Dent (Yorks), 2.7.38, by Sedbergh Sch. Ditto, 2.7.38. [The last two were in the same brood.] 307544 Sedbergh (Yorks), 30.6.38, by Sedbergh Sch. 77170 Goathland (Yorks), 20.6.38, by R. M. Garnett. Blandford (Dorset), — .10.38 (270 m. S.). Brough (Yorks), 25.8.38 (88 m. SE.). Warrington (Lancs), 3.12.38 (58 m. S.). Dax (Landes), France, 20.10.38. Bridgnorth (Salop) , 10.12.38 (125 m. S.). Durham, 30.7.38 (45 m. NW.). 305709 RV.7448 305514 RR.898 RT.1732 Kestrel ( Falco t. tinnunculus) RINGED AS NESTLINGS. Rugby (Warwick), 4.7.38, by Worksop Rugby Sch. Malvern (Worcs), 2.7.38, by P. Morshead. Crowthorne (Berks), 19.6.38, by G. Hawes. Marlborough (Wilts), 3.6.27, by W. D. Shaw. (Notts), 27.8.38 (65 m. N.). Honiton (Devon), — .11.38 (92 m. SW.). Brinkworth (Wilts), 7.11.38 (53 m. NW.). Pailton (Warwick), — .6.38 (76 m. NE.). Sparrow-Hawk ( Accipiter n. nisus). Grassington (Yorks), 27.6.37, Kirkby Malham (Yorks), young, by T. Kerr. 19. 1.39 (7 m. SW.). Heron (Ardea c. cinerea). RINGED AS NESTLINGS. 121076 Gainford (Durham), 30.4.38, by Barnard Castle Sch. I I 3097 Cartmel (Lancs), 9.5.37, by J. Barnes. I2III2 Ely (Cambs), 24.4.38, by C. S. Clarke. 121090 -Ditto, 18.4.38. I2II2I Ditto, 30.4.38. I2II08 Eaton Socon (Beds), 23.4.38, by C. S. Clarke. 121109 Ditto, 23.4.38. (These two in same brood.) 113127 Ditto, 10.5.37. 121 127 Ditto, 5-5-38- 106883 Walton (Surrey), 12.4.30, by P. Hollom. II3372 Beckley (Sussex), 27.6.34, by P. Hollom. II4597 Ditto 11. 5-35- (To be continued .1 Langleydale (Durham), 24.10.38 (8 m. W.). Calderbridge (Cumb), 9.7.38 (27 m. NW.). Cottenham (Cambs), 15. 1. 39 (11 m. S.). S wa vesey (Cambs) , 29. 12. 38 (14 m SW.). Rinxent (Pas-de-Calais), France, — .1.39. Whitacre ( W arwick) , — .11.38 (60 m. NW.). Shardlow (Derby), 15.6.38 (65 m. NW.).' Surfleet (Lines), - — -.1.39, (44 m. N.). Burgh-le-Marsh (Lines), 29.7.38 (70 m- NE.). Where ringed, 2.10.38. Camber (Sussex), 9.1.39 (7 m. SE.). Fareham (Hants), 1936 (80 m. W.). mnOTESl NUMBER OF NESTS AND YOUNG REARED IN AN ESSEX LOCALITY. The particulars given in the following table though drawn from observations in one small area may be of some value if taken in conjunction with similar observations in other districts. All the nests detailed were observed in 1938 and, except for those of the Lapwing and Redshank, were in my garden on the Crouch estuary, Essex. This consists of 14 acres including a spinney, shrubbery, uncut field and a few flower beds. The Redshank and Lapwing nests were in reclaimed meadow-land below sea-level, and on a reedy, brackish stretch of water. All situations are J mile from the nearest house except mine in any direction and there has been no human interference with nests. Total Total Total No. Total No. No. of No. of of young of young Species. nests. eggs. hatched. reared. Chaffinch ( Fringilla c. gengleri) ... 10 39 28 28 Meadow-Pipit ( Anthus pratensis) 5 24 15 15 Song-Thrush ( Turdus e. ericetorum) 26 94 59 47 Blackbird ( Turdus m. merula) Hedge-Sparrow ( Prunella m. 64 240 167 146 occidentalis ) 8 3i 26 12 Swallow ( Hirundo r. rustica) 6 26 26 23 Lapwing ( V anellus vanellus) 15 43 21 Unknown Redshank ( Tringa t. britannica) ... 10 23 8 Unknown Remarks. Hedge-Sparrow — two nests were occupied by Cuckoos. In one case two nestlings being found alive were given foster- mothers (another Hedge-Sparrow and a Lesser Whitethroat) and fledged. As this was an interference with Nature, two nestlings were counted in this chart as casualties. Lapwing and Redshank — the marshes were littered with sucked and broken eggshells. I have counted 16 in one hour. The culprits are Carrion-Crows, which I have seen spearing eggs on their beaks. I have not seen Black-headed Gulls take eggs. I. Steuart. WATER-PIPIT IN SOMERSET. When visiting Cheddar reservoir on January 15th, 1939, I saw at the water’s edge what I at once suspected to be a Water-Pipit ( Anthus s. spinoletta). When viewing the bird VOL. XXXII.] NOTES. 337 at close range (with telescope) I was immediately struck by the warm brown coloration of the mantle and wings, and, apart from the streaking, the clear white of the under-parts. Other details noticed were the pale greyish head with fairly distinct eye-stripe, and the dark legs. Although resembling a Rock-Pipit ( Anthus s. petrosus) in size, carriage and flight, it was in comparison, a much cleaner bird, with an entire lack of any olivaceous tints. When it flew the white outer tail feathers were plainly visible. Mr. H. G. Alexander, to whom I sent a detailed description of the bird, agrees that it must have been a Water-Pipit. As no mention is made in the Handbook of this species having been observed in Somerset, this is, presumably, the first recorded occurrence for the county. H. H. Davis. CENSUS OF SWALLOWS IN A YORKSHIRE DISTRICT. This census of breeding Swallows (. Hirundo r. rustica) was made in 1938 in the Sedbergh district and covered an area of roughly eight square miles. The district is one of small, scattered farms given over entirely to grazing and is, in fact, a typical Pennine valley. The height of the enclosed land varies between 280 ft. and 620 ft. above sea-level, and after this the fells rise sharply. The following were the results : — Area in acres. Number of Breeding Density per [Enclosed land) Farms. Pairs. 1,000 acres. 4,250 66 71 16.7 pairs. As regards choice of nesting site it was found that what are known in this part of the world as “ hulls ” were most favoured^-these are small buildings, generally open to the rafters and used for keeping young cattle or pigs. Of located nests 20 were found in such places, followed by 17 in barns, and 13 in cow-byres. The next largest number was of those in stick sheds, altogether 10. All these buildings were evidently selected primarily because the rafters were exposed and consequently offered suitable nesting sites ; buildings with lofts or upper stories were invariably passed over, presumably because they lacked this essential amenity. What relations existed between breeding Swallows and animals was difficult to decide, since few animals at all are housed during the summer months in this area. It seemed, however, that Swallows nested where animals were present mainly because the top halves of the doors of such buildings were invariably left open as a means of ventilation. In this 338 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XXXII. way Swallows had little difficulty of access to whatever nesting sites the buildings offered and, other things being equal, apparently preferred these to those where animals were not present. Even so the figures were 17 with animals as against 54 without ; but it must be realized that the former figure could scarcely have been much larger since there were few additional buildings at all which contained the necessary animals. T. W. I. Cleasby, R. K. Martin. ROUGH-LEGGED BUZZARDS IN CORNWALL. On December 14th, 1938, at Callestick Bottoms, near Truro, Cornwall, I saw a pair of birds which I identified as Rough- legged Buzzards ( Buteo lagopus). They flew like the Common Buzzard, but I never saw them soar. Their under-parts shone white in the sun from very far off, but on closer inspection were mottled or barred with darker streaks. The upper-parts in one were dull blue-grey, in the other murky brown and both had a white tail with a band of dark coloration at the end. When one settled in a tree and the other on a pylon I got within forty yards and could see with my glasses that their legs were feathered nearly to the feet — much farther down than in the Common Buzzard of which I have watched many. P. I. R. Maclaren. UNUSUAL BIRDS INLAND IN SOMERSETSHIRE. The following rather unusual birds for the county were seen in 1938 at the new reservoir belonging to the Bristol Water- works Company. This reservoir was not filled until the end of 1936 and now attracts a large number of birds. It is constructed with banks, mainly of concrete, and has an almost circular circumference of 21 miles. It lies between Cheddar and Axbridge and is some 10 miles from the coast. Its open position to the west where moorlands stretch away to the Bristol Channel no doubt makes it visible from a long way off by birds passing at a high altitude up and down the Channel. This is probably the reason why Cormorants visit it from Steep Holm in a daily stream through the summer and take heavy toll of the trout which abound in the lake. It also proves a great attraction to gulls and ducks of various species. I have counted up to close on three thousand ducks at one time, made up of several species and on occasions as many as a thousand gulls, chiefly Herring and Black-headed. Osprey ( Pandion h. halicetus). — On November 8th I had a rather good view of an Osprey which flew over the water for VOL. XXXII.] NOTES. 339 some distance towards me. When first seen its feet were dangling, and as it came on, the head, breast and underparts looked almost white, with some darker feathers, the rest of the plumage being brown. When about half-way over the lake the bird left the water, rising higher and higher in short broken circles until it disappeared in the mist at a great height in a north-easterly direction. Common Scoter ( Oidemia n. nigra). — One, seemingly an adult, was present from October 6th to the 14th when it was found dead. On October 8th I timed its dives which varied from sixty-five to seventy-five seconds. Leach’s Fork-Tailed Petrel ( Oceanodroma leucorrhoa). — An undoubted example was present on October 6th. I did not see it, but the bird was described, to me just after it had been seen by three workmen, as being like a Swift, black, but with a white back and very forked tail, and having a whitish line through its wings. Fulmar Petrel ( Fulmarus g. glacialis). — A dead bird was washed ashore on November 25th, having no doubt been storm-driven by the gales a few days previously. Great Northern Diver ( Colymbus immer). — On November 14th a juvenile was present all day. On November 28th there were two diving in company. Off and on one bird was present until December 21st. Watching from a hide on December 8th, it was noticed that as the bird rose after a dive the bill only was first discernible above the water and some seconds elapsed before the rest of the bird appeared, it having swum some yards with its bill above the calm surface of the water. This observation caused us to doubt the accuracy of times (100 and 120 seconds) we had taken of dives in rather choppy water when the bird’s bill would not have been observed. Common Tern ( Sterna hirundo). — From one to three birds were at the reservoir from July 2nd until October 16th but were not seen after this date. I noticed that while the Terns eat the fish they caught on the bank, the Black-headed Gulls swallowed small fish as they were snatched from the water and Common Gulls took the fish to a height of about fifteen feet, dropped it and recovered it as it touched the water, repeating the performance again and again. These small fish swarmed in countless thousands near the surface. Arctic Skua ( Stercorarius parasiticus.) — One with dark underparts on October 5th during tempestuous weather. Great Skua ( Stercorarius s. skua). — On October 6th I had good views of one during a heavy N.W. wind. The almost 340 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XXXII. black primaries as compared to the general plumage, and the white patches on the wings showed up prominently. On October 7th while the gale was still blowing another arrived. They flew fairly low over the water, much to the consternation of the ducks and coots as they passed, and occasionally went down on the water. Black Guillemot ( JJria g. grylle). — On November 8th I approached one fairly closely which was diving not far from the bank. The bird had been seen previously by Mr. Channon the ranger, who described to me its appearance and extreme wariness. One was shot at Weston-super-Mare on December 3rd, 1896, by Mr. E. Collins. S. Lewis. FULMAR PETREL IN DORSET. The Bristol Museum and Art Gallery recently received a Fulmar Petrel ( Fulmar us g. glacialis). This was picked up alive at Charmouth, Dorset, on November 19th, 1938, and died two days later. The weather at the time was stormy with severe gales from south to west. The bird was an adult female of the “ blue ” phase, being blue-grey above and paler beneath. It had a conspicuous dark mark just in front of the eye, and the primaries were slate. The following details were taken from the bird in the flesh : — Soft parts : Bill, nasal tubes blackish, culmen greenish mottled brown, terminal portion yellow ; lower mandible, basal portion, pink, tip dark ; legs and feet, pale bluish-pink. Measurements in mm. : wing 316, bill 34, tarsus 46, middle toe with claw 67. The Rev. F. L. Blathwayt in “ A revised list of the birds of Dorset ” ( Proc . Dorset Nat. Hist, and Arch. Soc., Vol. LV), p. 195, says that the Fulmar is “ a rare winter visitor to the coast. Very few records.” H. Tetley. GLAUCOUS GULL INLAND IN NORFOLK. Early in January, 1939, when visiting the Breckland district of Norfolk I saw amongst some Great Black-backed Gulls which were resting on the ice covering one of the lakes, a gull of a pale greyish-buff in general appearance. A closer view showed it to be equal in size to the Great Black-backed Gulls and that it had sandy markings on its dull white plumage and no black on the wings which were almost pure white on the tips. The bill was very pale with a black tip. It was evident that the bird was a Glaucous Gull ( Lams hyperboreus ) in immature plumage. H. R. Griggs. VOL. XXXII.] NOTES. 341 ICELAND GULLS IN DORSETSHIRE AND LANCASHIRE. On January 6th, 1939, I had an excellent view of an Iceland Gull ( Lams leucopterus) . The bird was in company with Herring- and Black-headed Gulls about twenty yards from the main road between Poole and Sandbanks. Its upper-parts were almost as pale as its breast and its wing-feathers were white. Later the bird came ashore and I had a good view of its legs which were almost cerise in colour. The bill was dark and evidently the bird was an immature. J. G. Bacchus. An Iceland Gull ( Larus leucopterus) frequented the boating- lake in Platt Fields, Rusholme, a suburb within 2 miles of the centre of Manchester, from January 25th until February 4th, 1939. I first saw it on January 25th on the water with other gulls in a foggy light and when I had no field-glasses, but thought it was probably an Iceland or a Glaucous Gull, as I could see no black on the wing tips. I next saw it on February 1st well enough to be almost sure of its identity and on February 2nd Mr. A. W. Boyd saw it with me and confirmed the identification ; the lake was then frozen and on both days there was a splendid view of the bird at close quarters, sitting, standing and flying ; it was almost exactly the same size as the Herring-Gulls. The off-white plumage was lightly flecked with oatmeal and the tail-feathers when seen spread in flight quite near appeared of a uniform light oatmeal shade ; thus the bird was probably in second winter plumage. The distal quarter of the bill was black, the rest very faintly flesh ; the legs were pronounced flesh-pink, the nails black. One day I got a very good view of the gape which was flesh-pink, almost pale rose — this is not mentioned in the Practical Handbook. The iris was dark brown with no noticeable eye-rim. The bird was last seen, Mr. Boyd tells me, on February 4th. The only other record for Lancashire appears to be in Lancaster, February-March, 1929, reported in Brit. Birds, Vol. XXIII, page 24. Edwin Cohen. [In addition to the instances mentioned one was seen on the Duddon Estuary, October 24th, 1885 ( Fauna of Lakeland , p. 437) and an immature bird picked up on Formby shore November 8th, 1873 ( Zool ., 1874, p. 3912). F.C.R.J.] Chiffchaffs in Sussex in February. — Mr. N. Y. Tessier writes that near Arundel on February 6th, 1939, he observed 342 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XXXII. a Chiffchaff ( Phylloscopus collybita), “ moving along the road, picking up a straw, dropping it and then picking up another.” Mrs. J. D. Mills also informs us that she had a close view of a Chiffchaff in her garden at Seaford on February nth. Blackcap in Kent in Winter. — Miss A. Mercer informs us that she identified a Blackcap ( Sylvia atricafiilla) in her garden at Hythe on January 6th, 1939. Unusual Influx of Bewick’s and Whooper Swan. — We have received a number of notes in reply to our request (antea, p. 310) for observations on this subject, but as the swans have not yet left all the localities in which they appeared a summary of results is postponed. Meanwhile we shall be glad to have any further notes of occurrences. REVIEW. A History of Sussex Birds. By John Walpole-Bond. 3 Vols. (Witherby.) £5 5s- This long-awaited work is now before us and is indeed of a monumental character. Whether the lengthy treatment and sumptuous style of production adopted, placing it beyond the financial means of the majority of field observers, are desirable in a county fauna is very much open to question, and it may be hoped it will not set a precedent in this respect. But certainly it is a very important addition to county literature on birds. In writing it Mr. Walpole-Bond, unlike most authors of local bird books, has been able to give himself full rein, as may be judged from the fact that a species like the Peregrine is allotted no less than nineteen pages, amounting to almost a complete life-history of the bird, while many other species are also treated in great detail. The work is full of excellent and original field observations which may be read with profit by every field ornithologist, though many will at times experience a certain twinge of mental discomfort from Mr. Bond’s peculiar style. But when we find detailed descriptions of the notes and habits of many widely distributed and even common birds we cannot help wondering whether much of such matter would not have been more appropriately published in the form of separate papers or a book on the lines of the author’s well-known Field Studies, instead of going to swell an already over-bulky work to which it has little real relevance. Still we are glad to have these observations available and shall not cavil unduly at their inclusion here. Mr. Bond’s research into the literature of Sussex ornithology has evidently been most thorough, and records of the occurrences of rare birds are very carefully and fully examined. This is not to sa}^ that we invariably agree with his judgment, for several species seem to be admitted on very slim evidence, but as these have already been criticized elsewhere it is unnecessary to enlarge on them here. After what has been said of the fullness of treatment of individual species it must be confessed that it is a little disconcerting to find no account of the topography or ecological characteristics of Sussex in their relation to bird-life, no general account of migration in the county or indeed any of the introductory matter which one looks for in a modern county fauna, and this must be accounted a serious omission, least of all excusable in a work whose bulk and cost entitles one VOL. XXXII.] REVIEW. 343 at any rate to expect completeness. It is only fair to say that the author is not unconscious of these gaps and seeks in his brief introduction to forestall criticism on this head. All the same we feel that the criticism must stand. The inclusion of a large number of coloured plates is in keeping with the general “ de luxe ” plan of the work, though it may be doubted whether there is very much point in the numerous pictures of common birds not specially characteristic of Sussex, such as the " Herring-Gulls on Seaford Head,” looking exactly like Herring-Gulls on a headland anywhere else. Mr. Rickman’s paintings are of somewhat unequal merit ; a number of them are very good, but others are decidedly stiff and “ wooden ” and rather disappointing. This is in most ways an excellent piece of work and the fact that it lays itself open to criticism in certain respects should not obscure recognition of its importance as a contribution to the ornithology of the British Islands and the wide knowledge and research which have gone to its making. It should be added that it is beautifully produced and a credit to publishers and printers as well as the author. B.W.T. LETTERS. SUBALPINE WARBLER— COLOUR OF LEGS AND DISPLAY. To the Editors of British Birds. Sirs, — In the Handbook of British Birds, Vol. II., p. 97, the colour of the legs of the Subalpine Warbler ( Sylvia c. cantillans) is given as yellow-brown. As you have ( antea , Vol. XXX., p. 73) appealed for sight observations of the colour of the soft parts of birds, it may be worth while to record that in the case of the bird which I watched feeding its chicks at a range of six feet in Provence last April, I was particularly impressed by the pinkness of the legs and feet. This seemed so strange a colour for a warbler’s legs that I asked Mr. J. Armitage, who also knows the bird very well at close quarters, to look up his field notes, and he tells me that he noted the colour as flesh. He points out that a bright light might make this look pink, and that I am prepared to believe. Certainly, however, the colour was not yellow-brown. The Handbook also mentions no display or posturing except song- flight and “ injury -feigning”. At Les Baux I watched for some little time a male courting a female. The main feature of the display seems to be the use of the black-and-white markings beneath the tail. This is cocked up over the back in a Wren-like attitude, and is constantly turned towards the female. For the rest the wings are hung into a shivering position and the pink feathers of the breast are puffed out. Owing to thickness of vegetation it was difficult to follow the details. I did not see coition follow these antics. G. K. Yeates. [The colour of the legs was taken from a Spanish bird examined in the flesh, immediately after death, by myself. I find on other collectors’ labels the colour of the legs variously described as : yellow, light brown and raw sienna. Dresser describes them as fleshy brown, Arrigoni pale brown, and Hartert pale red-brown. — H.F.W.] THE BLACK TERN IN THE LOWER THAMES. To the Editors of British Birds. Sirs, — I was much interested to read Mr. R. B. Sibson’s article on this subject (pp. 304-5), for on August 20th, 1938, coming up the Thames to Gravesend after crossing from Holland, I saw at least two lots of Black Terns ( Chlidonias niger) estimated at about eight and 344 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XXXII. about twelve (and there may well have been more) with some Common Terns and a crowd of Black-headed Gulls “ swooping up and down over the tideway ” along the very stretch of river that Mr. Sibson specifies. I am interested that Mr. Sibson says : " Strong westerly winds . . . appear to keep terns out of the river, or to diminish their numbers considerably.” On August 19th, 1938, a strong wind from the west was blowing on the Dutch coast and I was acutely aware of its con- tinuance through the night. There was still quite a breeze on the morning of the 20th. H. G. Alexander. THE GANNETS OF SULA SGEIR. To the Editors of British Birds. Sirs, — In my paper ( antea , Vol. XXXI, p. 291) on this gannetry I stated that J. H. Gurney had estimated the Gannet population at 8,000. Lockley and others have quite correctly pointed out that Gurney’s figure related to adult birds, not pairs, and this oversight is willingly admitted. If therefore one can accept Gurney’s estimate of 8,000 adult birds, i.e., 4,000 pairs, and my 1937 estimate of 4,500 pairs there is an apparent increase of 500 pairs, in spite of the continual slaughter of some 2,000 young annually. Gurney’s estimate ( The Gannet, p. 154) was based on the knowledge that in 1884 2,800 young Gannets were taken. But the method of Gurney’s estimate has already been challenged [antea, Vol. XXIX, p. 271), for at Grassholm, where the Gannets are more readily accessible than at any other colony, it was only possible to catch and ring 40 per cent, of the nestlings. It would therefore seem that the 2,800 young taken in 1884 would only represent a maximum of 40 per cent, of the total number of breeding pairs. This gives a figure of 7,000 pairs, not 4,000 as estimated by Gurney. In addition it appears from the records of J. A. Harvie-Brown ( Verte- brate Fauna of the Outer Hebrides, p.lii.)that eggs and adults were also taken about this date. Harvie-Brown specifically mentions eggs, and states that the visit of the Ness men must have taken place prior to 1 8th June, 1887 — the date on which he was at Sula Sgeir — in view of the large number of Gannets’ heads he found near the huts. It would appear therefore that this must refei to adult birds, as it is difficult to see how nestlings could have been taken at so early a date as prior to 18th June. If it is correct that eggs and adults were taken in addition to young, then it is obvious that at that time the potential breeding stock of Gannets at Sula Sgeir must have been far larger than 7,000 pairs. In view of certain remarks in the Press recently, it is interesting to note that both Harvie-Brown and John Swinburne ( Proc . Roy. Phys. Soc. Edin., viii., 53) referred to the considerable number of Gannets nesting on top of the island, as they do to-day. Of course, all the above remarks refer not to counts but to estimates which cannot be regarded as exact, but it might appear that the Gannet population of Sula Sgeir has dropped from at least 7,000 pairs in 1884 to about 4,500 in 1937, while the nesting area has decreased by some 50 per cent, between 1932 and 1937. In any event it seems more than safe to say that the Gannet population at Sula Sgeir cannot have increased during the fifty-three years in question, as it has done at most other colonies. It is hoped to be able to arrange anew census of all gannetries this year, and if possible to obtain an actual count at Sula Sgeir. Malcolm Stewart. 6 'A 1239 PURCHASED THE FLIGHT OF BIRDS By C. HORTON-SMITH Foreword by Sir Gilbert T. Walker. Crown 8 vo. Illustrated. js. 6d. net. “ The ornithologist as well as the man of science should find considerable value in this study, as the diverse methods and varieties of flight exercised by birds must have a close connexion with the various problems connected with their lives. . . . He has tried to state the problems fairly and to give unbiased accounts of conflicting views upon them. Such a book is needed.” — Times Literary Supplement. “ The fascination of the book is enhanced by many fine photographs.” — Times Educational Supplement. “ Mr. Horton-Smith has done ornithology a good service in this short survey of the subject.” — Manchester Guardian. “ The stories of the experiments of the early pioneers make good reading, and a highly inter- esting chapter is devoted to safety devices employed by birds in flight. . . . This book supplies an urgent need.” — Belfast News-Letter. H. F. & G. WIT HERBY LTD . A HISTORY OF SUSSEX BIRDS By JOHN WALPOLE-BOND Author of “ The Birds of Bromley {Kent) and its Neighbourhood,” “ Bird-life in Wild Wales,” “ Field Studies of Some Rarer British Birds ” and Part- Author of “ The Book of the Open Air.” WITH 53 PLATES IN COLOUR BY PHILIP RICKMAN This new work by Mr. Walpole-Bond is published in three volumes at £5 5s. the set. The first volume describes the Crows, Finches, Buntings, Larks, Pipits, Titmice, Shrikes and Flycatchers ; volume two begins with the Warblers and ends with Geese and Teal, while the final volume is mainly an account of the sea birds, waders and game birds. “ Magnificent work.” — West Sussex Gazette. “ It is difficult to conceive a finer achievement.” — Sussex County Magazine. “ A beautiful book.” — Sir William Beach Thomas. H. F. & G. WITHERBY LTD. 526 High Hoi horn , London , TV.C.i BRITISH BIRDS ATMtlSTKOEDmCOTC DDOTIDOllEnYTOTHCBIRDS ^CTSTtlEBPITISnUST^' J«Z-' >- is • • APRIL 1, 1939. Vol. XXXII No. 11. MONTHLY Is 9dL YEARLY 2 •326ra938 Skokholm (Leighton Park School). 23 Birds 1937 >938 Skokholm (London N.H.S.). 64 Birds 1937 1938 Skokholm (S. Marchant). 28 Birds 1937 1938 Skokholm (J. Staton). 3 Birds 1937 1938 REMOVED TO A DISTANCE FROM SKOKHOLM BIRD OBSERVATORY, AND RELEASED EXPERIMENTALLY. SAT. 342 Adult. Released Le Havre, Skokholm, 15. 5. 38. France, 16.4.38. SAT. 306 Adult. Released Venice, Italy, Ditto, 30.3.38. 10.7.37. Wood-Pigeon ( Coluniba p. palumbus). RV.8528 Ayr, 26.4.37, young, by W. Where ringed, Spring, 1938. Pollok-Morris. Stock-Dove ( Columba cenas). RV.7184 Shipley (Yorks), 28.7.34, ad., Where ringed, 14.8.38. by C. Wontner-Smith. Stone-Curlew ( Burhinus ce. cedicnemus). 76094 Kelling (Norfolk), 29.5.32, Hevingham (Norfolk), young, by R. M. Garnett. 12. 11.38 (15 m. SE.). 361 vol. xxxii ] RECOVERY OF MARKED BIRDS. No. 306240 216211 216213 218408 219982 AR. 1963 AS. 1982 AR. 6573 AS. 9823 P.5328 AS. 2334 AP.7413 209254 209324 P.8284 206004 AR.6887 AN. 6709 218415 210828 AS. 7856 AS. 5860 AS. 2036 AA Ringed. Recovered. Oyster-Catcher (Hcematopus 0. occidentalis). Eynhallow, Orkney, 9.6.38, Larne (Antrim), — .10.38. young, by D. Robertson. Golden Plover ( Charadrius a. apricarius). RINGED AS NESTLINGS. Amulree (Perth), 193S, by Lord Douglas (Lanark), 18.9.38 Mansfield. (65 m. S.). Ditto, 1938. Grangemouth (Stirling), 20.8.38 (34 m. S.). Lapwing ( Vanellus vanellus). RINGED AS NESTLINGS. RECOVERED AWAY FROM WHERE RINGED. Aldourie (Inverness), 5.6.38, by A. G. B. Wainwright. Glenorchard (Stirling), 7.7.38, by J. Bartholomew. Barnard Castle (Durham), 24.5.38, by Barnard Castle Sch. Langwathby (Cumb), — .6.35, by Moon and Cooper. Ditto - — .6.34. Plumpton (Cumb), 12.5.36, by Moon and Cooper. Penrith (Cumb), — -5-3L by Moon and Cooper. Shap (Westmor), • — .6.35, by Moon and Cooper. Tebay (Westmor), — .5.33, by Moon and Cooper. Ribblehead (Yorks), 13.5.38, by Moon and Cooper. Ditto I3-5-38- Ingleton (Yorks), — .6.31, by Moon and Cooper. Haverthwaite (Lancs), 17.5.37, by H. S. Greg. Melling (Lancs), 6.5.36, by M. Darlington. Macclesfield (Ches), 11.6.32, by E. Cohen. Netheravon (Wilts), 1.7.38, by A. G. B. Wainwright. Winchester (Hants), 25.5.37, by Win. Coll. N.H.S. Hossegor (Landes), France, 26.12.38. Braga (Minho), Portugal, 23.12.38. Raby Castle (Durham), 10.12.38 (5 m. NE.). Bordeaux, France, 14.3.38. Hossegor (Landes), France, 26.12.38. Bordeaux, France, 14.3.38. St. Pierre d'Aurillac (Gironde), France, 11.T.39. Naas (Kildare), 31.12.38. Ashbourne (Meath), 27.1 1 .38. Kenyon (Lancs), — .11.38 (53 m. S.). Lisbon, Portugal, 23.12.38. St. Jean-de-Luz (Basses Pyrenees), France, 21.12.38. Leix or Kerry, - — .12.38. Tallaght (Dublin), 3.1.39. Whaley Bridge (Derby), 13.6.38 (6 m. NE.). Wrington (Som), 1.9.38 (40 m. W.). Estarreja (Douro), Portugal, 25.12.38. RECOVERED WHERE RINGED. Aberarder (Inverness), 26.6.36, by Oxford Orn. Soc. 17.4.38. Burgh Marsh (Cumb), 1.6.35, by R. H. Brown. 19.6.38. Pooley Bridge (Cumb), 3.5.35, by Moon and Cooper. —.7.38. 362 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XXXII. No. AS. 7183 AS. 485 1 AS. 2367 AS. 9782 XA.218 AB.32 10 RX.6943 AB.8828 XT. 80 1 AS. 523 216039 216082 216096 215053 207138 2071 I I AR-5559 203302 210632 203323 Y.1688 AP.1808 206553 AR. 7744 AS. 7287 210842 202778 201049 202596 Ringed. Lapwing [continued.). Recovered. Cowan Bridge (Westmor), 4.5.36, by Moon and Cooper. 16.6.38. Mytton (Lancs), 12.6.35, by Oakes and Battersby. 15.6.38. Clapham (Yorks), 22.5.35, by Moon and Cooper. 5.6.38. Ingleton (Yorks), 14.5.36, by Moon and Cooper. 13. 11.38. Redshank ( Tringa t. britannica) . Largo (Fife), 24.5.38, young, by Where ringed, 12. 11.38. A. H. Eggeling. Curlew [Numenius a. arquata). RINGED AS NESTLINGS. Watermillock (Curnb), 2.7.35, Strangford Lough (Down), by Moon and Cooper. 12. 11.38. Langwathby (Cumb), 26.5.38, Ballinlough (Roscommon), by Moon and Cooper. 7.1.39. Bampton (Westmor), 29.5.38, Camel Estuary (Cornwall), by Moon and Cooper. 28.9.38 (290 m. S.). Snipe [Capella g. gallinago). Mytton (Lancs), 8.6.38, ad. by New Ross (Wexford), Oakes and Battersby. 11.12.38. Woodcock (Scolopax r. rusticola). RINGED AS NESTLINGS. RECOVERED AWAY FROM WHERE RINGED. Almondbank (Perth), 5.6.35, by Lord Mansfield. Ditto 1938. Ditto 1938. Ditto 1938. Wolsingham (Durham), 2.7.38, by R. Martinson. Abbeystead (Lancs), — -6.37, by H. W. Robinson. Ditto — -6.37. I. of Islay (Argyll), — .12.38 (i 10 m. W.). Ditto 14. 1. 39. Lough Erne (Fermanagh), 24.12.38. Queenstown I. (Cork) 23.12.38. Foulshaw Moss (Westmor), 7-1-39 (53 m. SW.). Barnstaple (Devon), 26. 12. 38 (210 m. SW.). Crannford (Wexford), 12. 11. 38. RECOVERED WHERE RINGED. Aberlady (E. Lothian), 15.5.35, by G. Charteris. 8.1.38. Ditto 16.4.36. 28.12.37. Ditto 4-5-37- 29.1.38. Ditto 18.5.37. 1.1.38. Earlstoun (Kirkcudbr), 1937, by A. H. Greg. 10. 11.38. Wolsingham (Durham), 24.5.32. 16.8.38. Ditto 4-6.37. I-7-38- Abbeystead (Lancs), — .6.35, by H. W. Robinson. 21.12.38. Ditto — .6.36. — .12.38. Beaulieu (Hants), 27.4.37, by E. Crispin. 17.12.38. RINGS ISSUED FOR WOODCOCK INQUIRY, I934~35- Brechin (Angus), 12.6.38. Laurencekirk (Kincard), 26.11.38 (12 m. NE.). Earlstoun (Kirkcudbr.), — .6.38. Where ringed, 10. 11.38. Fermanagh, 5.7.37. Ditto, 3.1.39. VOI-. XXXII.] RECOVERY OF MARKED BIRDS. 363 No. AS. 5726 AS. 5728 AS.5052 AS. 5204 218770 218748 218850 2 191 14 219164 214127 2 Birds 3 Birds AP-7755 2x3098 AR. 9424 AS. 4388 FA. 214 CF.917 RX.8922 RW.9077 RW.9091 306219 RX.1416 RT.9482 Ringed. Recovered. Sandwich Tern ( Sterna s. sandvicensis) . RINGED AS NESTLINGS. Fame Is. (Northumb), 9.7.37, by Mrs. Hodgkin. Ditto 9-7-37- Walney I. (Lancs), 13.6.35, by H. W. Robinson. Ditto 16.6.35. Salthouse (Norfolk), 12.6.38, by J. Ferrier. Ditto 12.6.38. Ditto 12.6.38. Ditto, 12.6.38, by E. Cohen. Ditto Ditto Ditto Ditto Ditto, 8.6.33, 12.6.38. 12.6.38. 12.6.38. 12.6.35. 7 R. M. Garnett. Ditto 10.6.37. Ditto 12.6.35. Ditto 8.6.36. Dakar (Senegal), 26.6.38. Ditto, 24.8.38. Moelan (Finistere), France, —.8.38. Mossamedes, Angola, — .8.38. Liman Bay (Angus), 25.7.38 (285 m. N.). N. Somercotes (Lines), 16.8.38 (53 m. NW.). Dunkirk (Nord), France, 16.8.38. Skegness (Lines), 22.8.38 (35 m. NW.). Pakefield (Suffolk), 7.8.38, (45 m. SE.). Ambleteuse (Pas-de-Calais), 15.8.38. Iveta, Gold Coast, Nov. -Dec., 1938. Mossamedes, Angola, — .8.38. Cabourg (Calvados), France, 23-7-3S- Accra, Gold Coast, 18. 11.38. Porto Alexandre, Angola, 21.8.38. Ditto, 21.8.38. Common Tern ( Sterna h. hirundo). RINGED AS NESTLINGS. Blakeney (Norfolk), 12.8.33, by Frampton Marsh (Lines), Cheltenham Coll. N.H.S. 21.8.38 (41 m. W.). Ditto, 22.7.33, by Mrs. Wilson. Where ringed, 17.7.38. Black-headed Gull ( Lams r. ridibundus). RINGED AS YOUNG. Loch Moan (Kirkcudbr), Soullans (Vendee), France, 20.7.37, by W. Pollok-Morris. 16.12.37. RINGED AS FULL-GROWN. Molesey (Surrey), 7.12.36, by Nykobing (Sjaelland), Den- P. Hollom. mark, 22.10.38. Ditto 7.12.36. Folding (Jvlland), Denmark, 18.6.38. Common Gull ( Lams c. canus). RINGED AS NESTLINGS. Evnhallow, Orkney, 18.6.38, Ivillaloo (Londonderry), by D. Robertson. Dornoch (Suth), 5.7.38, by E. Cohen. Drumashie (Inverness), 28. 6. 34, by Oxford Orn. Soc. .11.38. Blacksboat (Moray), 19.8.38 (40 m. SE.). I. of Bute, — .9.35 (105 m. S.) 364 BRITISH BIRDS. | VOL. XXXII. No. AC. 3669 AC. 1053 AB.7664 AB. 7503 AC. 3038 AC. 4 784 AC. 3033 AB.7291 AB.9496 AB. 4186 AE.498 400278 AC. 43 74 AB.4506 AB.7754 AB.7732 308599 AB. 5583 402142 AC. 1671 RV.9757 404055 404050 404042 Ringed. Recovered. Herring-Gull ( Lams a. argentatus). Eynhallow, Orkney, 11.6.38, by D. Robertson. Cruden Bay (Aberdeen), 6.7.37, by C. S. Clarke. North Berwick (E. Lothian), 15.8.36, by Midlothian O.C. Ditto 15.8.36. Douglas, I. of Man, 17.6.38, by Manx Field Club. Ditto 6.7.38. Ditto 17.6.38. Puffin I., Anglesey, 29.6.36, by M. Mitchell. Ditto, 16.6.38, by T. Tallis. Ditto 16.6.38. Pentire (Cornwall), 25.6.37, by E. G. Holt. Ballintoy (Antrim), 29.6.35, by T. Kerr. Muck I. (Antrim), 17.6.38, by W. Macve. Strangford Lough (Down), 30.6.38, by J. Cunningham. (Caithness), 1.8.38 (48 m. S.). Menmuir (Angus), 21.6.38 (55 m. S.). Gullane (E. Lothian), 11.9.38 (6 m. SW.). Dunbar (E. Lothian), 4.10.38 (10 m. SE.). Whitehaven (Cumb), — .7 38 (45 m. NE.). Blackpool (Lancs), 31.10.38 (65 m. SE.). Southport (Lancs), 49.38 (70 m. SE.). Ditto, 15.8.38 (47 m. NE.). Hale (Ches), — .1.39 (70 m. E.). Manchester (Lancs), — .11 .38 (80 m. E.). Newton St. Petrock (Devon), 25-7-38 (35 m. NE.). Portrush (Antrim), 12.8.38 (9 m. W ). Greencastle (Antrim), 24.12.38 (17 m. S.). Beith (Ayr), 17. 1.39. RINGED AS FULL-GROWN. RINGED AS NESTLINGS. Wick Badbea (Caithness), 11.7.38, by Portsoy (Banff), 29.9.38 E. Cohen. (45 m. SE.). Ditto 11.7.38. Pilling (Lancs), 7.11.38 (300 m. S.). Skokholm Bird Obs., 18.8.38. North Petherwin (Cornwall), 2.1-39 (85 m. SE.). Lesser Black-backed Gull ( Lams f. graellsii). Walney I. (Lancs), 16.6.36, Preston (Lancs), — .6.38 young, by H. W. Robinson. (28 m. SE.). Skokholm Bird Obs., 10.7.35, C. Gris Nez, France, — .8.38. juv. Ditto, 23.5.38, ad. Oporto, Portugal, 7.12.38. Kittiwake ( Rissa t. tridactyla). Fame Is. (Northumb), 22.6.35, Where ringed, 26.6.3S. young, by Mrs. Hodgkin. Great Skua ( Stercorarius s. skua). RINGED AS NESTLINGS. Noss, Shetland, 14.7.38, by Rousay, Orkney, — .11.38 T. Kerr. (100 m. SW.). Ditto 14.7.38. Goathland (Yorks), 17.9.38 (420 m. S.). Ditto 14.7.38. Pontevedra, Spain, 4.9.38. vol. xxxii.] RECOVERY OF MARKED BIRDS. 365 Razorbill ( Alca t. britannica). RINGED AS NESTLINGS. 307642 Skorner (Pem), 1.7.38, by W. A. Cadman. Javea (Alicante), Spain, 24.12.38. AB.6838 Skokholm Bird Obs. , 11.7.36. Port Erin, I. of Man, 12.6.38 (170 m. N.). AC. 53 75 Ditto I3-7-38- Carnarvon, — .10.38 (no m. N.). AC.151S Ditto 18.7.37. Selsey (Sussex), 27.11.38 (200 m. SE.). AC. 1549 Ditto I9-7-37- Ivristiansund (Nordmor), Norway, 2.10.38. AC. 1 746 Ditto 26.6.38. Ceriale (Liguria), Italy, 15.12.38. AC. 5452 Ditto 1 3-7-38- Cap Martin (Alpes Mari- times), France, 4.1.39. AC. 5 1 53 Ditto 3-7-38- Bormes (Var), France, —.1.39. AC.5126 Ditto 3.7-38. Marseilles, France, 13.12.38. AC. 5176 Ditto 4.7.38. Ditto, 29.12.38. TSA.i 79 Ditto 4.7.37. Where ringed, 3.7.38. AC.3841 Bull Rock (Cork), S. Marchant. 7.7.38. by Barcelona, Spain, 9.12.38. RINGED AS FULL-GROWN. TSA.i 89 Skokholm Bird Obs. . 4.7.37. Lorient (Morbihan), France, I7.I.39. RECOVERED WHERE RINGED. AB.2058 Skokholm Bird Obs. , 10.7-35. 18.7.38. AB.4647 Ditto 1.7.36. 24.6.38. TSA.362 Ditto 8.7.36- 4-7-37 ; 5.7.38. 2 Birds Ditto 1937- 1938. Northern Guillemot [Uria a. aalge). 307828 Barra Head, Hebrides, 7.7.38. Egersund, S. Norway, young, by M. Henderson. 6.11.38. AC, 2967 Northumberland 27.7.38. Flekkefjord, S. Norway, . young, by Bootham Sch. 9.11.38. Southern Guillemot ( Uria a. albionis ). RINGED AS NESTLINGS. AC. 1 41 3 Skokholm Bird Obs., 1 1.7.37. Egersund, South Norway, 27.10.38. AC.1593 Ditto 22.7.37. Where ringed, 1.7.38. RINGED AS FULL-GROWN. RECOVERED WHERE RINGED. AB.6867 Skokholm Bird Obs., I5.7.36. 18.7.38. AC. 1623 Ditto 23.7.37 3-7.38. AC. 1339 Ditto IO.7.37. 12.7.38. Puffin (F ratercula a. grabce). RINGED AS FULL-GROWN. 2 Birds Orkney, — .6.36, by H. W. Where ringed, — .7.38. Robinson. 23 Birds Ditto — .5.37. Ditto, — .7.38. ORNITHOLOGICAL NOTES FROM GALWAY AND MAYO. The following few notes were made mostly during the summer of 1938, and are the result of short expeditions and visits to the two counties. Chough ( Pyrrhocorax p. pyrrhocorax). — It was pleasing to be able to count twenty-one together on the grassy slopes on an island off the Galway coast on September 13th. There were in addition a few more about. House-Sparrow (Passer d. domesticus) Has become less common and widespread than it was some years ago in Con- nemara and the coastal regions. Possibly the replacement of thatch by slate roofs has had some effect. It is noticeable that House-Sparrows are more in evidence where thatch still exists. I noted House-Sparrows less plentiful in Belmullet than they were in 1924. It is noticeable that this very common bird of most places is found but locally in the far west. However, it is definitely local even as regards the areas it frequents in some towns. Roundstone and Belmullet are instances. It might easily be missed in either town, but frequents a particular area in each. In Belmullet the area is the same as that which it was found to frequent in 1924. Tree-Sparrow. ( P . m. montanus). — A pair and two newly hatched young were seen by my brother in Belmullet in September, 1937. They were the only ones seen in the course of a ten-day stay. I spent one day in Belmullet in August. The day was very wild with sheets of rain making search for birds definitely difficult. I examined a number of sparrows but no case of Passer montanus came to view. At my brother’s request a friend of his who spent most of September, 1938, in Belmullet, and is a reliable observer, kept a sharp lookout for Tree-Sparrows but observed none. The colony which at one time existed in the ruins of St. Cummin's Church, near Killala, Co. Mayo, appears to have ceased to exist. Although I could only visit it in August, I found no trace of Tree- Sparrows ; a careful search only revealed House-Sparrows. Search of other ruins and likely places on that coast was also negative. The status of the Tree-Sparrow has therefore evidently greatly changed in Mayo. Any ornithologist visiting those VOL. XXXII.] NOTES. 367 parts in spring and summer should try for evidence of the Tree-Sparrow’s presence to help bring our knowledge up to date. Grasshopper- Warbler ( Locustella n. ncevia). — Little has been recorded of this warbler in either Galway or Mayo. On July 19th I heard two, possibly three, in song after dark on the banks of the Shannon near Portumna, Co. Galway. In the early morning of July 20th I came on five in a small area in the same vicinity, but no nest was found. Observation of a bird in song from a distance of 3 yards showed two distinct positions adopted when uttering the " trill.” Sometimes the bird would sit horizontally on a twig and while uttering the song there was a quivering of the wings, the head was steady and the beak wide open. At other times the bird would sit up much more vertically than before. The head was moved slowly from side to side as the song was poured forth. This movement of the head even at so short a distance from one had the effect of making the trill rise and fall. The two positions were never combined in one spasm of trill. Sparrow-Hawk ( Acci filter n. nisus). — My brother informs me of a nest on the treeless Mullet which was placed 10 feet from the ground in a bush. Curlew (Numenius a. arquata). — On September 15th Curlews were still heard uttering the bubbling love-song though not performing the hovering flight. Whimbrel ( Numenius fill, fihceofius). — One heard going south after dark at Carna, in Connemara, on July 15th, forms my earliest record for return passage in autumn. Oystercatcher ( Hcematofius 0. occidentalis). — One seen flying very high to the south over Lough Carra and one over Lough Mask on September 30th form another inland record for these lakes. The bird was only recognizable by its call and flight. I have never seen an Oystercatcher so high. Oyster- catchers were still heard uttering at least part of what is described as their love-song on September gth. Arctic Tern ( Sterna macrura). — There is a colony on Lough Skannive near Carna on an island covered with grass, bracken and osmunda fern. There is no sand nor even shingle nor pebbles. Sandwich Tern ( Sterna s. sandvicensis) . — Seen on numerous occasions along the Connemara coast throughout May-July. Nesting site not found. I counted 25 at rest, and there were more in the air, on the sands at Finish Island near Carna on 368 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XXXII. July 15th. Two were seen off Roundstone on September 9th. Fulmar Petrel ( Fulmams g. glacialis). — Nesting in small numbers at Downpatrick Head, on the pinnacle Doonbristy and a few on the cliffs at Benaderreen. All these places are on the North Mayo coast and so far as I am aware are hitherto unrecorded sites. With reference to my notes (antea vol. XXVII, p. 158} about the Yellow Wagtail ( Motacilla f. rayi) on the Connaught lakes further investigation seems necessary. I made special search of the shores of L. Corrib near Oughterard and the islands off there May 20th-22nd this year but failed to find any trace of Yellow Wagtails. Mrs. Zoe Hall informs me that she saw none about the south end of Lough Mask, nor on the Oughterard side of L. Corrib during visits in the late summers of 1936 and 1937. Robert F. Ruttledge. ON THE DISPLAY OF THE HOUSE-SPARROW. As the display and sex-life of the House-Sparrow ( Passer d. domesticus) are not apparently fully understood, this note may be of interest. On April 27th, 1935, at a village in Inverness- shire I watched a male House-Sparrow, with drooping wings, etc., simultaneously direct his “ song-dance ” display at two females. Of these, one responded by frequently attacking and pecking him, but the other flew up on to a post, adopted a flat stance, and with quivering wings, solicited coition, unions twice taking place in quick succession. It may well be, therefore, that the sexual desire of the female governs her reaction to the male’s display, and that these displays are not mere “ relics of former genuine courtship ” (Gengler). It is also worth recording that in March solitary males sometimes take up “ territory ” on a shed near my cottage (1,200 feet above sea-level) where, for several days, they sing and appear to stake claims. In no case so far, however, has breeding or mating taken place. D. Nethersole-Thompson. FEBRUARY MIGRANTS AT DUNGENESS, KENT. The early spring move of migrants has been of interest this year (1939), and one wonders if the spell of warm weather brought it on. In the Handbook of British Birds the Contin- ental Song-Thrush ( Turdus e. philomelus ) is stated to “occur with British Song-Thrushes ( Turdus e. ericetorum ) amongst returning migrants on south coast late February.’’ The first to be ringed at Dungeness lighthouse was on the night of February 9th-ioth. Two more were caught the next night, with a Mistle-Thrush (T. v. viscivorus) and Starling VOL. XXXII.] NOTES. 369 (. Sturnus v. vulgaris) and two were picked up dead the next morning. I identified these as in first winter plumage, which Dr. J. M. Harrison confirmed. The Mistle-Thrush was also in this plumage. Two more were picked up on the 15th. The light colour of all these was very distinctive. A Blackbird (T. m. merula), adult male, was caught on the night of February I4th-i5th. The wind was W. during these captures. On the night of February 24th-25th the wind was at first very cold from N., and it veered around to W. A few birds were seen around the light during all the three watches after 11 p.m., and the next morning the following were seen in the lighthouse keepers’ gardens — Chaffinch ( Fringilla ccelebs), Continental Song-Thrush and Blackbird, the last in first winter plumage, in a cage trap. A British Robin ( Erithacus r. melophilus ) was picked up. Norman H. Joy. HEBRIDEAN SONG-THRUSH ON MIGRATION IN ISLE OF ARRAN. In the new Handbook it is stated that the Hebridean Song- Thrush (T urdus e. hebridensis ) is confined to the Outer Hebrides and possibly Skye though there is some evidence of local movement in that group. It is of interest, therefore, to note that I have twice received specimens killed at the Pladda Lighthouse on the Isle of Arran. The first was a female killed at the light on April 7th, 1937. This has been followed by three males and a female which were among a variety of birds killed at the light on October 25th, 1938. Both passages are therefore represented. The specimens are now in my collection. Hugh Whistler. CONTINENTAL SONG-THRUSH IN PEMBROKESHIRE. On February 23rd, 1939, I trapped and ringed a Continental Song-Thrush ( T urdus e. philomelus ) at Skokholm Bird Observatory. The bird was very noticeable after the British Song-Thrushes which I had been catching in this month. On comparison with the skins of Continental Song-Thrushes in the Observatory collection this individual was found to be paler than even these. There was practically no brown on the sides of the throat, the under-parts were very white and the spots small in comparison. The most striking feature on handling was the comparative greyness of the nape and back. According to the Handbook of British Birds, Vol. II., this sub-species has not yet been definitely recorded for Wales. R. M. Lockley. 370 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XXXII. RING-OUZEL TAKING LIZARD TO YOUNG. While engaged in watching a pair of Ring-Ouzels ( Turdus t. torquatus) on Exmoor in May, 1938, I took the accompanying photograph of the male bird on its way to the nest, which contained three well-fledged chicks. I have submitted it to friends for identification of the food carried in the bill, and Mr. B. W. Tucker states that there can be no possible doubt that it is a small common lizard ( Lacerta vivipara). I can find no mention elsewhere of such food being used by Ring-Ouzels. G. K. Yeates. [Mr. J. E. Roberts informed me (in litt. May 16th, 1938) that he and Mr. A. Brook saw a Ring-Ouzel eat a lizard on one occasion. — F.C.R.J.] SPOONBILLS IN CORNWALL. On December 16th, 1938, I saw four Spoonbills ( Platalea l. leucorodia ) on the Ruan River, West Cornwall. The next day they were still there. Though close then, the light was bad and even with a telescope the peculiar bill seemed uniformly black. In flight the black legs and bill were held straight, neck elongated. One bird was noticeably smaller than the others. P. I. R. Maclaren. [Mr. G. R. Peck records 5 Spoonbills flying over Poole Har- bour, Dorset, on December 25th, 1938 (Field, Feb. 4th, 1939).] BITTERN PERCHING IN A TREE. On January 7th, 1939, after the intensely cold night of the 5th which had been followed by a snowstorm on the 6th, Mr. R. L. Collett and I visited a number of Midland reservoirs, but found almost every one frozen over. By the lake at Packington, near Coventry, we disturbed from a patch of reeds a large bird which we immediately identified as a Bittern ( Botaurus s. slellaris). The bird then flew across the water, at this point about 75 yards wide, and settled on a bough approximately 40 ft. up in an oak, the tallest tree in the wood which there borders the lake. Fearing that our original diagnosis might be incorrect we quickly got telescopes on the bird (30 magnification in good light) and could see distinctly the striped breast and the general coloration, and were at once convinced that our identification was correct. We had just taken up new positions, the better to rest our telescopes on a fallen tree-trunk, when the sound of gun-fire caused the bird to stretch its head and neck almost perpendicularly upwards, thus assuming the familiar attitude so well adapted for concealment in a reed-bed. British Birds, Vol. XXXII., Plate 6. Male Ring-Ouzel carrying small common lizard as food for nestlings (. Photographed by G. K. Yeates) VOL. XXXII.] NOTES. 371 The bird remained in this position for some two or three minutes before carefully lowering its head. It then assumed the rather hunched up position in which we finally left it, about half an hour after it had first entered the tree. Although neither of us had ever heard of the Common Bittern perching in a tree, it is mentioned as occasionally doing so in Yarrell’s British Birds and Charles Stonham’s Birds of the British Isles. It is interesting to note that the record is of some local value as it appears to be only the eighth for Warwickshire, and the first since January, 1909. C. A. Norris. [Mr. G. M. King informs us that he and Mr. J. F. C. Jackson saw a Bittern at Blakedown, Worcestershire, on February 15th, 1939, and one was seen in the same place on January 2nd. — Eds.] GADWALL IN CHESHIRE. The Gadwall ( Anas strepera) is so rarely seen in Cheshire that its recent occurrences may be worth recording. A drake was seen on Booth’s Mere, Knutsford, by Mr. Michael Simon on November 15th, 1938, and when I went there on November 2 1st I found a drake and a duck swimming together. Mr. Simon reports that this pair frequented Booth’s Mere till mid-December ; on December 7th they were absent and were discovered at Tatton Mere, a couple of miles distant. They were last seen at Tatton on December 21st when Booth’s Mere was frozen. On January 16th, 1939, I found another pair on Doddington Pool in south-east Cheshire in a large flock of Mallard, and I also saw a drake there on March 18th. A. W. Boyd. NORTH ATLANTIC (OR MEDITERRANEAN) GREAT SHEARWATER IN CORNISH SEAS. The following notes on the occurrence of Puffinus kuhlii in Cornish waters, in conjunction with previous records (Cf. antea, Vol. XXX., p. 229, Vol. XXXI., p. 333, and Vol. XXXII. p. 197) appear to reinforce the suggestion of Wynne-Edwards ( Proc . Boston Soc. Nat. Hist., XL., No. 4, p.233) that it is this species and not Puffinus gravis which appears in the English Channel in August and September every year. On a voyage from Penzance to the Scilly Is. on September 5th, 1938, one P. kuhlii, and on the return journey on Sept- ember 10th, three or four P. kuhlii were seen. Their uniform pale ashy-brown upper-parts, with no dark cap or white 372 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XXXII. patch at the base of the tail distinguished them from P. gravis , and their large size from the Manx Shearwater (P. p. puffinns), a few of which were also seen on each date. I was not able to distinguish certainly to which of the two- subspecies of Puffmus kuhlii these birds belonged, but in view of Wynne-Edwards’ statements, they were presumably of the North Atlantic or Cory’s form (P. k. borealis). R. S. R. Fitter. KILLDEER PLOVER IN DEVONSHIRE. Ox January 6th, 1939, I was visiting Smithfield Market when I noticed an unusual looking wader among a miscellaneous- collection of Knots, Redshanks and other birds (with which was also a Starling). I was informed by the dealer that the bird was a Sky-Lark ; and he would be glad to let me have it for sixpence ! It proved to be a Killdeer Plover ( Charadrius v. vociferus). I was able to get in touch with the dealer who had sent up the bird and who stated that it had been shot by a local farmer living at Meeth Hatherleigh, N. Devon, a few days before I bought it. It had been around his farmyard for about a month before he shot it, and was even seen to feed with his chickens. The bird was fairly fresh when I bought it and was in rather a poor condition, but not emaciated. It was a male with the testes small. The skin is now in the British Museum (Natural History). This appears to be the first record of the species for Devonshire. C. R. Stonor. GLAUCOUS AND ICELAND GULLS IN GLOUCESTERSHIRE. On December 27th and 30th, 1938, a large greyish-buff Gull was seen by Mr. H. W. Neal in the Severn Estuary, and was confidently identified by him as being an immature Glaucous Gull ( Lams hyperboreus). Mr. Neal noted that the primaries were entirely white and that the legs and bill were pale pink, the latter with frontal portion dark brown. He further noted that when seen alongside a Great Black-backed Gull (Lams marinus) the bird was correspondingly large with an equally massive bill. There is only one previous record of this species in the county — that of an adult shot on the Severn in 1840, and figured in Yarrell’s British Birds. When at Cumberland Basin, Bristol, on January 31st, 1939. I saw on the dock-side, with a mixed flock of Black-headed VOL. XXXII.] NOTES. 373 and Herring-Gulls, an immature Iceland Gull ( Lams leu- copterus). The bird allowed a close approach and I was able to note the following details — plumage entirely creamy- white flecked lightly on the mantle and tail with pale brown and the primaries inclined to pure white. The bill was pale flesh with frontal half dark brown, and the legs flesh-pink. An immature Iceland Gull visited the docks at Bristol in January, 1933, and stayed in the locality for at least two years (anted, Vol. XXVII., p. 170, and Vol. XXVIII., p. 199) but the present bird was not seen subsequently. H. H. Davis. Unusual Birds Inland in Somersetshire. — Correction .— Antea, p. 338, line 6 for “ circumference of 21 miles ” read “ circumference of 2J miles.” Display of Chaffinch. — In connexion with Miss A. Morley’s note (antea, p. 309) on the display-flight of a female Chaffinch ( Fringilla c. gengleri) Mr. D. Nethersole- Thompson writes as follows : “ In Inverness-shire, in late April, 1938, a female frequently solicited by crouching with fluttering wings, and a continuous succession of the sexual note ” zit.” Prior to coition, the male several times fluttered above the female with Lark-like flight in the manner described by Mr. Nicholson in The Handbook, Vol. I. Each time this was seen the female was always holding a small feather in her bill. This display attracted two other males from neighbouring territories, which they temporarily abandoned in an attempt to mate with the female, and despite the guardian-husband at least two stolen wooings took place. The ‘ sex-drive,’ therefore, being in this instance more powerful than the ' territory drive.’ Almost identical displays and reactions were also observed with two other pairs of Chaffinches in May, 1938.” Early Chiffchaff in Gloucestershire. Mr. R. Gulliford informs us that he heard a Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita) on March 3rd, 1939, on the outskirts of Gloucester and that another observer heard one on the 6th. Ruff in Dorset in Winter. — Mr. G. B. Gooch informs us that he had a close view of a Ruff ( Philomachus pugnax) near Wareham on January 22nd, 1939. Iceland Redshanks in Sussex and Ayrshire. — Mr. Richard N. Ticehurst informs us that two Redshanks shot at Rye Harbour on December 27th, 1938, exhibit on compari- son all the characters ascribed to the Icelandic bird ( Tringa BRITISH BIRDS. 374 [VOL. XXXII. t. robusta). The male’s wing measures 167 mm. and the female’s 163.5 mm. Mr. P. A. Clancey informs us that an adult female Redshank obtained near Barassie on January 2nd, 1939, measured 175 mm. in the wing and was evidently of this form. Bar-tailed Godwit in Hertfordshire. — Mr. J. Kenyon- Bell informs us that he saw a Bar-tailed Godwit ( Limosa lapponica ) at Startops End Reservoir, Tring, on May 6th, 1938. The species appears to have been rarely recorded in Hertfordshire. Black Redstart in Gloucestershire. — Mr. R. N. H. Whitehouse gives us a description of a Black Redstart ( Phcenicurus 0. gibr altar iensis) which he and Mr. D. J. Brown watched near the centre of Gloucester on March 9th, 1939. REVIEW. The Flight of Birds. By C. Horton-Smith. (Witherby). Illustrated. 7s. 6d. Although flight is one of the most obvious of bird-habits it is one of the most neglected by observers, largely no doubt because of the technical knowledge needed to understand it. It is therefore valuable to have a simple and clear up-to-date account of the subject, and Mr. Horton-Smith’s work should do much to secure for it the attention it deserves. He explains very lucidly the complex problems of aero- dynamics which the bird’s complex structure has to solve, and shows by diagrams what happens in normal flight and in landing and taking off. Flapping flight is complicated not only by the different rate of movement, at different stages, of the inner and outer sections of the wing, but also by the rotation of the wing on its axis and by the fact that it is cambered and often fitted with slots. The action of the wing “ is screw-like in respect of lifting and propulsive power ” but ‘‘although the principle underlying wing-movement is similar to that of a ship’s propeller, the motion is a reciprocating and not a rotatory one.” The up-stroke, as well as the down-stroke, may assist in propulsion. The author distinguishes between birds of flapping flight such as the thrushes and ducks, low soarers such as the albatroses and gulls, and high soarers such as eagles and vultures. He shows how types of flight are governed by the shape and size of the wing, which in turn depends on the bird’s way of life, species with long wings being generally associated with open spaces. Flapping birds, having a lower ratio of wing-area to weight than soarers, require a higher power to weight-ratio. While in a Herring-Gull the pectoral muscle accounts for 13 per cent, of total weight, in a Starling it exceeds 20 per cent., and in a Snipe reaches nearly 29 per cent. Birds with long wings and large lifting surfaces make slow beats, the Pelican averaging little more than one per second while the House-Sparrow makes thirteen per second. The author claims that birds of typically flapping flight are of small weight, but such a generalization hardly covers the swans, geese and bustards. Soaring is aptly described as " really a downward glide in an ascending current of air whose vertical component is greater than VOL. XXXII.] REVIEW. 375 the bird’s speed of descent ” and the distinction is made between static soaring on rising currents and dynamic soaring by the use of air currents of different speed. The albatros is a master of this latter type, which is, however, only possible where the wind reaches something like 12 m.p.h. at sea-level, and then only for a fast flier. In the northern hemisphere gulls following ships provide some of the best exhibitions of this type of soaring, using the contrast between the weak winds in the wake and the stronger one in the open. Another well-known flight-pattern is the V or echelon formation of a flock of birds each keeping clear of the air turbulence caused by the wings of the others. Among suggestions for further observation it is proposed that diagrammatic records should be made of the flight of birds showing alternate flapping and gliding and periods occupied by each, while the author also gives a useful summary of the technique to be followed in recording speeds of flight. It would have been interesting to have had a fuller discussion of velocities, and the inclusion of so slow a flier as the Swallow among “ high-speed birds ” is puzzling. E.M.N. LETTERS. GANNETS AND OTHER BIRDS IN SOUTHERN WATERS. To the Editors of British Birds. Sirs, — In his article on the Migration of the Gannet, Dr. Lands- borough-Thomson says ( antea , p. 288) : “ There are many more mid-winter records of first year birds from African than from European waters . . . the figures suggest . . . that those [young birds] which move southwards tend to pass beyond European limits by December. There is evidence that the southward movement is more pronounced in the first year of life than subsequently ...” The following observations in support of this statement should be of interest. At the beginning of December, 1938, I travelled up the west of Africa from Senegal to Gibraltar. It was not until we were actually off Gibraltar itself, on December 14th, that any Gannets were observed ; about thirty were then seen, of which all but one were first-year birds. On the return journey at the beginning of February, on the other hand, no Gannets were present in the neighbourhood of Gibraltar, and it was not until we reached 240 N. lat., on February 5th, that six Gannets were observed ; of these five were first-year birds and the sixth just attaining adult plumage. On February 6th, off Dakar (about 150 N. lat.) Gannets were constantly in sight, often in large parties ; I estimate the number of birds seen at 1,500. Only two of all these birds were in full adult plumage ; about a quarter of them showed a large amount of white on the head and the upper tail-coverts, and were perhaps second-year birds ; all the rest were typical first -year birds. A few further notes on British species in their winter quarters may be worth recording. On February 8th, large numbers of Greater Black-backed Gulls (Lanes marinus ) were present at Dakar — probably an unusual occur- rence so near the southern limit of their range. Out of the many Black-headed Gulls ( L . ridibundus) seen at Dakar the same day about thirty had already assumed the brown hood. In England I have rarely seen birds in breeding plumage before the end of the month. On three winter journeys to or from South Africa, I have noticed that two species, the Pomatorhine Skua ( Stercorarius pomarinus ) and the Little Tern ( Sterna albifrons) appear to occupy a definite area BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XXXII. 37(5 of sea off the west coast of the continent. This area lies roughly at n° N. lat. On all three voyages I have observed large flocks of Little Terns there and parties of Pomatorhine Skuas have followed the ship — on one occasion, February yth, 1939, there were as many as thirty of the latter species at the same time. It is interesting to note that, when the terns were fishing, the skuas paid no attention to them, evidently finding it easier to get their living from scraps thrown over- board. The Little Tern I have not observed in winter outside this area ; the Pomatorhine Skua 1 have seen as far north as lat. 150 N., and as far south as lat. 40 S. — in this case a solitary individual. On December 3rd, 1938, fair numbers of European Storm-Petrels (Hydrobates pelagicus) were observed following the ship between lat. 310 and 28° S., usually about ten birds together. Their occurrence in numbers so far south is perhaps worth recording. On February 24th, 1939, I visited a lake in the neighbourhood of Capetown where were large numbers of Ruffs ( Philomachus pugnax). Although they yet showed no sign of developing the ruff itself, the colour variations between individuals was already apparent ; some had completely white heads and necks and others were heavily barred with black or brown. I am told by Dr. Morris of Capetown that he had observed the plumage variations at least a fortnight before this date, about the tenth of February. M. F. M. Meiklejohn. The University, Cape Town. EARLIEST REFERENCES TO THE PUFFIN. To the Editors of British Birds. Sirs, — J. H. Gurney, in his Early Annals of Ornithology (1921), p. 62, says that the earliest mention of the Puffin seems to be in 1337, when the possession of the Scilly Islands, it was said at an inquisition post mortem to have been leased by King Edward III (asEarlofCornwall) to Abbot Ranulphus of Blancminster for 6s. 8d. or 300 Puffins. I write to point out that there is another reference to Puffins in the same quarter at about the same time. The Descriptive Catalogue of Ancient Deeds preserved in the Public Records Office includes a chirograph indent, dated 10 Edward III ( i.e ., about 1337), witnessing that, whereas John de Allet holds all his lands, etc., in Scilly of Sir Ranulph de Blaunchminster by knight-service and by service of keeping Ranulph's castle in the said isle for a certain time, etc., the said Ranulph has released and quitclaimed for self and heirs to John and his heirs the service of keeping the said castle for ever ; for which release John has granted to Ranulph and his heirs 13s. qd. rent from all his land in Braver, Brethiel, and Seynt Maudut in the said isle with right of distraint ; and Ranulph grants for self and heirs that, whenever John or his heirs have made default in part or in whole payment of a rent of 1.50 puffins ( poffonum ) at the terms in a charter of Richard de Wyk con- tained, it may be lawful to John and his heirs to pay id. for 3 puffins ( poffonis ) and so for single ones. C. Sufeern. 1 APR 1939 PURCHASED THE FLIGHT OF BIRDS By C. HORTON-SMITH Foreword by Sir Gilbert T. Walker. Crown 8 vo. Illustrated. js. 6d. net. “ The ornithologist as well as the man of science should find considerable value in this study, as the diverse methods and varieties of flight exercised by birds must have a close connexion with the various problems connected with their lives. . . . He has tried to state the problems fairly and to give unbiased accounts of conflicting views upon them. Such a book is needed.” — Times Literary Supplement. “ A good book, well illustrated, and with a useful glossary and full index.” — The Field. “ Mr. Horton-Smith has done ornithology a good service in this short survey of the subject.” — Manchester Guardian. “ The stories of the experiments of the early pioneers make good reading, and a highly inter- esting chapter is devoted to safety devices employed by birds in flight. . . . This book supplies an urgent need.” — Belfast News-Letter. H. F. & G. WIT HERBY LTD. A HISTORY OF SUSSEX BIRDS By % JOHN WALPOLE-BOND n arm arjts^ * /w strnm tfs*** Ann.-.* f *rt-J*3i*r /' “ -r.v .'wc :v Oim {;f.“ WITH 55 PLATES IN COLOUR BY PHILIP RICKMAN TVs ne > W.'X r Mr. ;$ published :r. three .'httv.es it *; ;$ the s:. he “rst vch:.'te .t esc: the* the Cr.-A's, F thany. Lnbt Pipits. Titmice. Shrikes u»d Fhtttdm; ratuM f«A $ with the WitKn i"i er.i> wth Geese ir.i '.'eh. ^ hhe the ' • - *r. ;.\vuv.: at the sei btris. vr*oe.ts *r.i c i .-t e h . . . '* MiCtuacent wiL* — J»V : .V v.s o-erj-rir. It i iiSctih to coecesTt i haer *chkr enter. th* — $ms./s CV*irv ** A beitturh. xvi. " — Si: William Bet ch Ihoma. H. F. & G. IIITHERBY LTD. H:- h Hoi born, LjrJ.'r. Jl'.C.I BRITISH BIRDS Ai^sn'earomcrariE ^ONTtlEDRTtSnUST^ M0NTHIY-ls9d. YEARLY- 20-& S26HKHHOI.BOPJ'ffiNDON- ilF&GWrrnt'f\BYLTD TO BE PUBLISHED SHORTLT Volume Three of THE HANDBOOK OF BRITISH BIRDS ® The third volume of this recognized standard work on British birds deals with the swans, geese and ducks, diurnal birds of prey, storks and herons. As in previous volumes, there are a great number of coloured plates. The geese have been specially drawn for the work by PETER SCOTT. ® IN FIVE VOLUMES— 21 1- NET PER VOLUME H. F. & G. WITHERBY LTD . 326 High Holborn , London , W.C.i mimiiitm With which was Incorporated in January, 1917, " The Zoologist.” EDITED BY H. F. WITHERBY, M.B.E., F.Z.S.,M.B.O.U.,H.F.A.O.U. ASSISTED BY Rev. F. C. R. Jourdain, m.a., m.b.o.u., h.f.a.o.u., f.z.s., and Norman F. Ticeiiurst, o.b.e., m.a., f.r.c.s., m.b.o.u. Contents of Number 12, Vol. XXXII., May, i, 1939. PAGE The Influx of Bewick’s and Whooper Swans, Winter, 1938-9. By H. F. Witherby 378 Report of the Bird-Ringing Committee : Progress for 1938. By A. Landsborough Thomson, C.B., D.Sc. ... ... ... 382 Birds of Inner London. By A. Holte Macpherson ... ... 390 Notes from Reservoirs and Sewage Farms : South Staffordshire and Cheshire. By A. W. Boyd... ... ... ... ... 394 Notes : — Blackbird taking Minnows or Sticklebacks (R. E. Pochin) ... 397 Unusual Singing by Wrens (G. Marples) ... ... ... 397 Kestrel attacking Grey Squirrel (A. J. Harthan) ... ... 398 Golden Eagles Mating (Seton Gordon) ... ... ... ... 398 Ruddy Sheld-Duck in Sussex (J. P. Wilkins) ... ... ... 399 Large Number of Sheld-Ducks in Sussex (J. P. Wilkins) ... 399 Unusual Ducks in Gloucestershire (Dr. O. H. Wild) ... ... 399 Petrels and Other Birds in the Minch (R. S. R. Fitter) ... 399 • Short Notes : — Early Blackcap in Dorsetshire. Sanderling in’Surrey ... ... 400 BB 2 MAY 1939 PURCHASED (378) THE INFLUX OF BEWICK’S AND WHOOPER SWANS, WINTER 1938-9. BY H. F. WITHERBY. Bewick’s Swan ( Cygnus b. bewickii). The influx of Swans during the severe weather towards the end of December, 193S, was very unusual in the case of Bewick’s though so far as reports go not extraordinary in the case of the Whooper, which will be discussed more briefly at the end of this report. There is no doubt that the Bewick’s Swans came to us from Holland. Since the water has become fresh in the Zuiderzee (or Ysselmeer as it is now called) large numbers of this species winter there and counts made in the last few years have ranged from 1,800 to 3,200 (see G. A. Brouwer and L. Tinbergen, Limosa, 12, 1, March, 1939). Mr. A. A. Tjittes informed me that on December nth, 1938, he counted 1,080 in one part of the sea on a coast-length of 25 km., adults predominating by 5 to 1 juvenile. On December 16th frost set in and the sea was soon frozen over and on December 17th and 18th he saw 41 Swans on the ice and on the 21st he saw none. By January 15th the ice had disappeared, but the Swans did not return. Whooper Swans do not visit the Zuiderzee. Only a fraction of these Bewick’s Swans have been reported in Great Britain, but we have no observations from Ireland, which is a favourite resort of this bird. Some 200 in all were seen in England between December 18th and 31st, the chief numbers, as will be seen by the details given below, being in Northumberland, Yorkshire, Norfolk, Hampshire, Scilly Isles, Gloucester and Cheshire. Other considerable flocks reported later on in January in Somerset, Glamorgan and Lanarkshire were probably due to movements of some of the earlier arrivals, but observations are insufficient both in time and space to enable us to connect the disappearance of birds in one area with their appearance in another. In England the majority departed at the end of February, but it was not until March nth that a large number arrived on the River Clyde, and half of these did not leave until March 16th or 17th, while a few were still left in the middle of March in England, the last date in Norfolk being the 14th, 5 were in Surrey on the iSth, 2 present in Cheshire for over 6 weeks left on the 19th, while the last in Glamorgan did not leave until after April 2nd, a young bird was seen in N. Devon as late as the 15th and two young re-appeared in Norfolk on the 16th. VOL. XXXII.j INFLUX OF SWANS. 379 It will be noted in the summaries given below that in some localities the Swans were attracted to flooded areas and when the floods went down they had to leave. A habit noticed in several places was for a small party (usually a family of two adults and two or three young) to break off occasionally from the main flock and visit some smaller pool thus causing fluctuations in numbers. In several places they are reported with Whoopers and Mutes and in some of these it is definitely stated that the species did not mix. The proportion of young to adults in the Bewick’s was not consistently recorded. Most of the small parties were made up of from 2 to 4 adults with from i to 3 juveniles, but in the larger flocks adults predominated, averaging 4 or 5 to 1 young and that appears to have been the proportion on the whole. Fifeshire. — Kinghovn Loch — January 28th (2) ( L . J. Rintoul, F.. V. Baxter). Northumberland. — Loughs — December 18th (12 and 1) all gone by 2 1st ( H . Tully, G. W. Temperley). February 2nd and 5th (8) (C. J. Gent, IV. R. Philipson). Durham. — Darlington — January 1st (1) (W. K. Richmond). Yorks. — Pickering Vale — bitter SE. wind December 18th, heavy snow igth-2ist, followed by thaw and floods. First arrival date of sw'ans unknown but small numbers of Whooper and Bewick’s present 28th and very large influx of Bewick’s 29th and 31st, minimum number 31st 79 all on one pool. Owing to floods becoming frozen, number reduced to 22 on January 5th and 1 on 6th. Subsequent thaw increased flooded area and from 12th to 28th, 15 to 18. In early February floods abated and only 7 on 8th and none on 12th (R. M. Garnett). Fewston Reservoir, Blubberhouses — January 22nd (3) ( D . Steinthal, V. Maynard). Semerwater, Wensleydale — -February 25th and 28th (7) (M. G Robinson) . Lincs. — Spalding — about February 18th (it), March 4th (3) (P. Scott, D. I . Molteno, E. L. Arnold). Norfolk. — Salthouse — On December 24th 30 arrived, but were disturbed by shooting and from this date to March 14th when the last 8 left various numbers were reported. Reports indicate that during January and first part of February most of flock was elsewhere as only from 5 to 10 visited Salthouse and from mid-January only a family party of 5, until February nth when 18 were reported, and on 19th (30), 23rd (22) and subsequently 18 paid occasional visits up to March 5th, while on 14th 8 were present in the morning but were gone in the afternoon and these were the last seen until April 16th when two young appeared. [A flock of 14 thought to be Bewick’s was noted flying over Cley on December 22nd.] ( Gresham’s School N.H.Soc., J. M. Ferrier, R. B. Sibson.) Cambs. and Hunts. — R. Ouse Washes — February 18th (11), 22nd and 23rd (3), 26th (8), 27th (11), March nth (2) (M. D. Brindley, C. F. Tebbutt, E. L. Arnold, D. I. Molteno). Surrey. — Frensham — March iSth (5) (R. Blockey). 380 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XXXII. Hants. — • Christchurch — December 25th (26), all gone next day (C. Popham). Devon. — Silverton — December 28th and 29th (4), gone January 1st (S. Cropper). Braunton- — April 15th ( B . King). Scilly Is. — December 21st to January 4th (13). Flock 25^ ? sp. reported December 22nd and next few days {A. A. Dorrien-Smith) . Somerset. — Catcott Burtle and Muchelney — Flock of 22 reported in each of these areas on a number of days from January 18th to 27th were evidently two different lots. Later at Catcott the numbers rose to between 20 and 30 on February 8th and between 30 and 40 on February nth and 12th, and 42 23rd to 25th, indicating that the two flocks joined. On March 2nd water had gone and Swans had left (V. Goodwin, H. Tetley, F. L. Blathwayt, M. J . Ingram, A. A . Adams, B. King, H. H. Davis, W. R. Taylor, A. C. Leach). Gloucester. — Nr. Tewkesbury — December 26th (12) ( O . H. Wild). Frampton — February 15th (19) ( H . Tetley, H. H. Davis). Glamorgan. — Kenfig Pool — December nth to 23rd (7). January nth to February 22nd (17 to 26), variations being due to small parties feeding in smaller pools. March 1st (18), 5th, one only, March 14th to April 2nd (3), 15th (none) (6. C. S. Ingram, H. M. Salmon, B. King). Brecon. — Llangorse — April 4th and 5th (3), not known how long present ( E . L. Arnold). Carmarthen. — Laugharne — February 16th (date of arrival unknown) to 20th (7), March 1st (6), 4th to 20th (4), 22nd (1), 24th none (/. F. Thomas). Cardigan. — Tregaron — -January 5th (4), 27th (3 and one dead), February 15th (5), 25th (1), March 4th none (T. C. E. Hughes). Worcester. — Bittell Reservoirs — 6 from December 27th to February 25th ( E . St. G. Betts, H. A. K. Auster, H. G. Alexander). Cheshire. — Rostherne Mere — -December 27th (23), 28th none. 19 flying over Delamere Forest December 27th, considered to be Bewick’s. Northwich — February 12th (3), 20th (1) (A. W. Boyd, M. H. H. Simon). Hilbre — February nth (4) (D. Shackleton, E. Prince). Cumberland. — Thurstonfield — January 1st (9) (R. H. Brown) (regular winter haunt of about 6 — E. Blezard). R. Eden — February i8thj (for a week (4) (/?. F. Metcalfe). Watendlath — March 4th (11) ( H . Tally) Isle of Man. — March 12th and 19th (1) and April 7th (5) (K. Williamson, W. S. Cowin). Lanarks. — -Nr. Motherwell— December 10th (6), 17th (23), 25th hard frost, no Swans, 30th (16), January 5th (5), 12th (13), February 5th (4), 14th, 1 8th ( 1 1 ) , March 4th (9), nth (62), 15th (45), 16th (33), 18th gone, but April 7th (2). Whoopers in usual numbers (10-20) this winter, but Bewick’s, especially at end of period, in much greater numbers (R. Y. Ferguson). Whooper Swan ( Cygnns cygnus). As already mentioned the influx of Whooper Swans was not on the whole remarkable. A certain number of flocks of flying swans were reported and some of these were thought to have been Whoopers, but definite identification must VOL. XXXII.] INFLUX OF SWANS. 381 remain doubtful. The following are brief details of the records of unusual numbers. Northumberland. — Very unusual numbers were seen in December, 1938. Since 1914 the numbers in the loughs have varied from 22 to 33 except in March, 1934, when 50 were counted. In the present winter the following numbers are recorded : October 29th (27, probably the normal winter flock), December 4th (about 40), 10th (90 at Hallington), 14th (none at Hallington), 27th (over 80 at Hallington). After this date not more than iS were seen on the loughs ( H . Tully, G. W. T emperley) . Norfolk. — On December 28th 30 passing over Holkham were considered to be of this species (R. B. Sibson). Sussex. — Unusual numbers were reported, February 26th 33 at Knepp Lake, W. Grinstead, and on March 13th 29 on the Arun floods at Greatham ( L . P. Alder). On December 24th at Rye a passing flock of 40 was identified as of this species ( E . M. Cawkell). Dorset. — 22 were reported on December 25th and 24 on the 26th near Weymouth and 25 on the 27th at Abbotsbury (F. L. Blathwayt). Gloucester. — December 26th near Tewkesbury about 20 ( O . H. Wild). Lancs. — At Silverdale the following were observed : January 16th to 20th (19), 27th, 28th (17), February 5th (17), 26th (5) (J . F. Monk, J. A. G. Barnes, E. H. L. Dickson). (382) A Publication of the British Trust for Ornithology. REPORT OF THE BIRD-RINGING COMMITTEE: PROGRESS FOR I938.* A. LANDSBOROUGH THOMSON, c.b., d.sc., f.r.s.e. Chairman of the Committee. Although this is the second annual report to be issued on behalf of the Bird-Ringing Committee of the British Trust for Ornithology, 1938 was, in fact, the first complete year of working under the present arrangements. It is gratifying that it has been a record year as regards the number of birds ringed, and one which has also yielded many very interesting recoveries of marked birds. The steady progress which was being made while the Scheme was directed personally by Mr. H. F. Witherby, in association with British Birds, is therefore being maintained under the auspices of the Committee. Management. The headquarters of the work are now in the Bird Room of the British Museum (Natural History) at South Kensington, by kind permission of the Trustees, and that is also the address of the Scheme. All new rings are being inscribed “ BRITISH MUSEUM NAT. HIST. LONDON,” but remaining stocks with the former address will still be used. British Birds continues to be the medium of publication. The Committee is constituted as follows : Dr. A. Lands- borough Thomson (Chairman), Mr. A. W. Boyd, Mr. A. B. Duncan (representing Scottish ringers), Mr. P. A. D. Hollom, Lord Ilchester (representing the British Museum Trustees), Lord Mansfield, Mr. H. F. Witherby (representing British Birds) and Miss E. P. Leach (Hon. Secretary). The last-named, with the assistance of Miss Joyce Baggallay, is responsible for the whole of the headquarters work of the Scheme, which includes heavy correspondence, much record keeping, and arrangements for the issue of rings and receipt of subscriptions. Her colleagues on the Committee would wish to acknowledge most cordially the great extent to which the Scheme depends on the unremitting labour given to it by Miss Leach, and on her skill and experience in the matter. *The previous Report in this form was published in British Birds, 1938, Vol. XXXI, p. 345, in continuation of the series of Annual Reports by H. F. Witherby, published in this journal from 1910 onwards under the general title, " The British Birds Marking Scheme.’’ vol. xxxii ] REPORT OF BIRD -RINGING. 383 Finance. The finances of the Committee are quite independent of the main funds of the Trust, and the Ringing Scheme has to be self- supporting. Apart from a generous subvention from British Birds in lieu of former office services, the only regular source of income consists of the subscriptions from co-operators at the rate of 6s. per hundred rings issued. This would be in- sufficient even for the ordinary working if it were not supple- mented by further donations from ringers and others interested. In these circumstances the Committee is particularly grateful for a grant of £ 200 which it has received from the Trustees of the late Viscount Leverhulme. This is being used as a special fund, which may be drawn upon both to meet excess in ordinary expenditure and to permit of developments in special directions. The audited accounts for the nineteen months from 1st June, 1937, to 31st December, 1938, have been published in the Fifth Report of the Trust. Progress of Ringing. As already stated, 1938 established a new record. The total number of birds ringed under the scheme during the year was 50,324 ; the appended table gives a comparison with former years. Of this total, 26,162 were ringed as young birds and 24,162 were trapped or captured in other ways. The other usual tables are also printed at the end of this Report, showing the contributions to the total which have been made by individual ringers and giving statistics by species. A few points may be picked out for special mention. Gannets and Starlings have been ringed on a larger scale than ever. The numbers for a good many other species have been increased, notably those for Manx Shearwaters, Lapwings, Herring-Gulls and Kestrels. Some relatively uncommon birds make a greater showing than previously : one notes, for instance, 31 Merlins and 29 Grasshopper-Warblers. On the other hand some species, such as Swallows and Common Terns, disclose a decrease. Some ringers have paid great attention to particular species, with remarkable results. Thus, Dr. Moon and Mr. Cooper have ringed 129 Pied Flycatchers and 220 Pied Wagtails ; and Mr. Pollok-Morris has ringed 50 Corncrakes. Mr. Kerr has made an interesting contribution of 20 Great Skuas, from which three recoveries have already been obtained. The 384 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XXXII number of birds caught for ringing during migration, at Skokholm and the Isle of May, has increased. A few species appear for the first time. A young Quail was ringed by Mr. Pease, a Knot by Dr. Joy, and a Scarlet Grosbeak at the Isle of May. The three members of the one and only British brood of Little Ringed Plovers were marked at Tring. Special Developments. The Committee is anxious to encourage increased ringing of particular species which seem likely to yield interesting and sufficiently numerous recoveries. It is hoped to arrange for greater numbers of Kittiwakes to be ringed during the coming season, and any help in this direction will be welcomed. Ringers are likewise invited to take all opportunities of ringing Redshanks. Rings are being supplied for the ringing of various species of Ducks, caught at decoys, under the auspices of the Wild- fowl Inquiry Committee appointed by the British Section of the International Committee for Bird Preservation. It has also been suggested that Nightjars, Coots and Peregrine Falcons might with advantage receive greater attention from ringers. Ring Sizes and Patterns. To meet requests for smaller rings for Gannets and Herons than those hitherto issued, a new size has been introduced midway between “ Clip 4 ” and “ 5.” This can be ordered under the name “ G H Special.” Mr. R. M. Lockley is making experiments for the Com- mittee with a new pattern of sizes “ 3 ” and “ 4,” for ringing Shearwaters and Razorbills respectively. These birds have caused much difficulty because of the rapidity with which they obliterate the inscriptions on the rings. The type now being tried, which is not at present available for general issue, has the address and number stamped in two places, and one of these inscriptions is protected by an overlap. Trapping Methods. The Committee has in view the publication of a pamphlet on recommended methods for trapping, having regard both to efficiency for ringing purposes and to the necessity of avoiding injury to the birds. Some valuable contributions have already been received, and Mr. P. A. D. Hollom has undertaken to edit them. With the ever-growing use of vol. xxxii.] REPORT OF BIRD -RINGING. 385 trapping, as distinct from the marking of nestlings, an authoritative statement on methods will certainly be useful to many ringers. It has been considered desirable, however, to ensure that the publication will cover all requirements that can be foreseen, rather than to issue it hastily in a form likely to be of less ultimate value. Special methods of capturing particular kinds of birds continue to be introduced by ingenious ringers. Mr. Hollom’s own success in catching Goosanders on reservoirs in winter may be mentioned as an example. Mr. Pollok-Morris was able to ring so many Corncrakes by netting a small island of grass left in the middle of a field after the cutting machine had gone round and round, gradually driving the birds into the centre. Recoveries. Among recoveries of special individual interest, a few examples may be mentioned. A Robin has been recorded from south-western France, a Redstart and a Whinchat from Portugal, and a Great Skua from Spain ; all of these were ringed as nestlings in 1938 and recovered in September. A Merlin ringed as a nestling in 1938 was recovered in western France in October — the first overseas record for the species — and a Kestrel from the Isle of Man was recovered in Belgium in the same month. Of special interest are seven recoveries of Razorbills in the Mediterranean, from the south-east coast of Spain to the Ligurian coast of Italy. These show that the single previous recovery of this kind, at Genoa, was not merely an exceptional case. A further instance of erratic behaviour in a Woodcock is that of a nestling ringed in England in April, 1937, and recovered in Sweden in May, 1938. Three Wheatears ringed at Skokholm in August were recovered in September, two in France and one in Morocco. A Skylark ringed as a migrant at Dungeness in November, 1937, was recovered in western France in January, 1939 ; this is the first case of a bird of this species ringed here being recovered abroad. Of birds ringed in this country in winter, ducks -of different species have yielded further interesting records. Goosanders have been recovered in Sweden and Finland in summer, and a Wigeon in Italy in a subsequent winter. Another Wigeon has been recovered abroad in the same winter— ringed at Orielton in October, 1938, and recovered in Portugal in January, 1939. 38G BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XXXII. Publication of Results. Since the last Report, two further lists of recoveries and one analytical paper have been published for the Committee, as follows : — E. P. Leach (1938) : “ Recovery of marked birds.” British Birds, Vol. XXXII, pp. 78 and 107. E. P. Leach (1939) : “ Recovery of marked birds.” British Birds, Vol. XXXII, pp. 329 and 352. A. L. Thomson (1939) : “ The migration of the Gannet : results of marking in the British Isles.” British Birds, Vol. XXXII, p. 282. The last-named paper brings out several points, including a strong indication that the proportion of first-year birds which migrate is substantiallv greater than among older birds : in the case of the former most of the mid-winter records are from African waters. In addition, reference may be made to the following papers not issued directly under the auspices of the Committee but dealing in part with work under the Scheme or with its results : — G. Charteris (1938) : “ Proportion of sexes in roosting Chaffinches. II.” British Birds, Vol. XXXII, p. 192. R. M. Lockley (1938) : ” The seabird as an individual : results of ringing experiments.” Proc. Roy. Inst., Vol. XXX, Pt. iii (also Nature, 1939, Vol. CXLIII, p. 141). N. F. Ticehurst (1939) : “ The migratory status of the Heron in Great Britain.” British Birds, Vol. XXXII, p. 242. Number of Birds Ringed. Trapped. Nestlings. Total. In 1938 24,162 26,162 50,324 „ 1937 21,900 23,281 45-lSl ,, 1936 19.235 29,428 48,663 „ 1935 16,066 30,364 46,430 .. 1934 17.835 31,816 49.651 „ 1933 10,466 27,975 38,441 ,, 1932 7.643 22,950 30,593 „ I93i 7,041 22,513 29,554 From 1909 to 1930 ... 287,401 Grand Total 626,238 vol. xxxii ] REPORT OF BIRD-RINGING. 387 Nest- Nest- Trapped. lings. Total. Trapped. lings. Total. SkokholmB.Obs.3,469 2,783 6,252 Oakes and Moon & Cooper 420 4.322 4,742 Battersby 3 146 149 P. Morshead 2,072 296 2,368 W. E. Kenrick... 137 7 144 Oxford Orn.Soc. 1,972 249 2,221 Zool. Society ... 118 23 141 G. Charteris 1,725 495 2,220 Canford School... 60 78 138 S. Marchant 1 ,146 938 2,084 A. Id. Zair 41 90 131 E. Cohen 544 1 ,180 1,724 G. M. King too 29 129 A. W. Boyd 1 ,358 193 L55i C. S. Clarke 6 114 120 Winchester Coll. 894 359 1,253 Miss Morse 12 99 ill A. Wainwright... 452 747 1,199 Mrs. Greenlees ... — 108 108 Bootham School 360 817 Li77 W. Hobson 54 53 107 A. J. Harthan ... 977 107 1,084 W. Macve 1 106 107 Leighton Park S. 7i3 254 967 W. S. Cowin 55 5° 105 J. F. Thomas ... 76 830 906 Miss Henderson 39 61 100 H. W. Robinson 69 747 816 St. Edmund’s Sch 97 97 W. A. Cadman... 318 406 724 J. Staton 84 1 1 95 London N.H.S. 434 239 673 D. J. Robertson 1 9i 92 J. Barnes 262 350 612 D. Lack 54 36 90 W. Pollok-Morris 154 450 604 Miss Hutchinson 10 77 87 Miss Ferrier 2 600 602 E. Wishart 1 86 87 “Wippletree” ... 309 2 79 588 F. J. Brown 1 85 86 Rugby School . . . 54 524 578 Repton School... 27 56 83 A. Darlington ... 37 529 566 H. Trimnell 40 43 83 R. M. Garnett ... 497 5i 548 Woodcock Inquiry 81 81 I. 0. May B. Obs. 494 2 496 H. R. Mole 65 !3 78 Mrs. Hodgkin ... 20 467 487 G. Brown 2 75 77 Manx Field Club 5 478 483 Marlboro’ Coll ... 9 68 77 Wildfowl Inquiry 474 474 Miss Maxse 73 — 73 R. Martinson ... 25 429 454 Mrs. Cornish 61 1 1 72 J. Bartholomew 29 387 416 J. Law 72 — 72 E. G. Holt 388 12 400 C. Wontner-Smith 3 68 7i Dauntsey’s Sch. 286 107 393 E. U. Savage ... 67 67 J. Buxton 328 59 387 M. C-olquhoun ... 32 34 66 Sedbergh Sch. ... 46 301 347 F. A. Craine 8 58 66 P. Maclaren 80 247 327 Sir S. Bilsland ... — 64 64 A. Clark 271 19 290 Blundell’s Sch.... — 61 61 J. Cunningham 16 261 277 Brooker and Miss Medcalf ... 60 203 263 Cawkell 3 58 61 C. F. Tebbutt ... 112 146 258 P. Hollom 29 32 61 M. Stewart 1 251 252 F. H. Lancum ... 42 19 61 Shrewsbury Sch. 151 9i 242 H. Tully 61 ■ — 61 M. Wainwright... 136 106 242 R. O. Blyth ... 14 45 59 E. Arnold 106 J3 3 239 M. Board man ... 59 — - 59 T. R. Tallis - — 232 232 Wellington Coll. 4 54 58 A. H. Bishop ... 102 hi 213 H. S. Langstaff 1 54 55 P. Hirst 9i 122 213 H. Martin 35 19 54 H..G. Alexander 205 2 207 F. J. Ramsay ... 20 3i 5^ MidlothianOrn.C. 119 85 204 P. Ray field 10 38 48 T. Kerr 15 180 195 Miss Russell 7 40 47 R. H. Brown ... 2 189 191 C. A. Norris 45 • — ■ 45 Cambs. B. Club 187 — 187 H. B. Smith 45 — 45 N. H. Joy 164 6 170 J. Ellis 7 37 42 A. H. Eggeling... 85 83 168 J. Graham 1 40 4i D. Garnett 103 64 167 C. H. Kaye 3i 9 40 Cheltenham Coll. 48 108 156 R. G. Williams... 4 36 40 388 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XXXII. NUMBERS OF EACH SPECIES igon RINGED. 1038 Grand RECOVERED of those to 1937 Trapped. Nest- Total, lings. Total. ringed 1909-37. Per- centage. Raven... 133 — 25 25 158 I I 8-3 "Crow, Carrion II51 3 153 156 1307 62 5-4 Rook ... 4508 59 123 182 4680 213 4-7 J ackdaw 3260 107 225 332 3592 140 4-3 "Magpie 803 I I 98 109 912 26 3-2 Jay 421 2 33 35 456 27 6.4 Chough 19 — 15 15 34 — Starling 49754 5155 1006 6161 55915 2188 4-4 Greenfinch 23672 1962 478 2440 26112 1634 6.9 "Goldfinch 393 I X 27 38 43i 8 2.0 Redpoll, Lesser 558 4 7 1 1 569 5 0.9 Linnet 9048 226 423 649 9697 66 0.7 Bullfinch 1436 29 25 54 1490 5i 3-6 Chaffinch 26071 2559 561 3120 29I9I 1088 4-2 Brambling 780 188 — 188 968 33 4-2 Sparrow, Tree 2103 32 30 62 2165 46 2.2 Bunting, Yellow 4C>55 363 r35 498 5i53 240 5-2 Bunting, Reed 1683 50 66 I l6 1799 81 4.8 Lark, Sky 3458 30 30 60 35i8 38 1. 1 Pipit, Tree 1666 8 59 67 1733 5 0.3 Pipit, Meadow 45i3 358 170 528 5041 96 2.1 Pipit, Rock ... 5ii 43 I I 54 565 25 4-9 Wagtail, Yellow 93s 7 38 45 983 4 0.4 Wagtail, Grey 684 4 5i 55 739 1 O.I Wagtail, Pied 5463 191 400 59i 6054 76 1 -4 Wagtail, White 62 15 — 15 77 Flycatcher, S. 3217 40 27 67 3284 IO o-3 Flycatcher, Pied 1094 12 140 152 1246 8 0.7 Chiffchaff 822 33 14 47 869 5 0.6 Warbler, Willow 9345 525 37 562 9907 48 0.5 Warbler, Wood 970 3 17 20 990 2 0.2 Warbler, Sedge 1156 65 1 I 76 1232 7 0.6 Warbler, Garden 1206 24 3i 55 1261 5 0.4 Blackcap 871 6 13 19 890 2 0.2 Whitethroat ... 3893 408 3i 439 4332 23 0.6 Thrush, Mistle 4135 56 187 243 4378 88 2.1 Thrush, Song... 59997 b43 2668 3311 63308 ii43 1-9 Redwing 576 72 — 72 648 2 0.3 Ouzel, Ring ... 479 4 23 27 506 5 1.0 Blackbird 50718 1254 2606 3860 54578 2208 4-4 Wheatear 1622 96 23 119 1741 32 2.0 Whinchat 1571 13 30 43 1614 II 0.7 Stonechat 74i 9 61 70 811 5 0.7 Redstart 1868 53 IOI 154 2022 12 0.6 Redbreast 19793 902 569 1 471 21264 1765 8.9 Sparrow, Hedge 13091 652 244 896 13987 1124 8.6 Wren ... 3583 56 II 67 3650 17 05 Dipper I IO4 5 88 93 1197 IO 0.9 Swallow 38656 >38 1771 1909 40565 359 0.9 Martin 10776 107 251 358 III34 78 0.7 Martin, Sand... 4471 68 9 77 4548 1 1 0.2 Swift ... 870 33 14 47 917 56 6.4 Kingfisher 6l I 10 49 59 670 28 4.6 Cuckoo 648 IO 38 48 696 19 2.9 Owl, Little 50° r t 44 55 555 46 9.2 vol. xxxii ] REPORT OF BIRD-RINGING. 389 NUMBERS OF EACH SPECIES RINGED. RECOVERED 1909 —1938 — — — Grand of those to Trapped. Nest- Total. Total. ringed Per- 1937 lings. 1909-1937 centage. Owl, Long-eared 193 — 1 1 II 204 7 36 Owl, Barn 539 6 33 39 578 50 9-3 Owl, Tawny ... 835 6 61 67 902 50 6.0 Peregrine Falcon 62 — 4 4 66 7 H-3 ♦Merlin... 183 4 27 31 214 39 21.3 Kestrel 761 — IOI IOI 862 82 10.8 ♦Buzzard 261 — 44 44 305 13 5-o Hawk, Sparrow 450 7 32 39 489 61 13.6 Heron, Common 1878 1 123 124 2002 21 1 11. 2 Sheld-Duck ... 436 — 25 25 461 20 4.6 Mallard 5979 142 229 37i 6350 905 151 Teal ... 1043 119 14 133 1176 138 13.2 Wigeon 237 165 — 165 402 26 11.0 Duck, Tufted 156 20 — 20 176 29 18.6 Goosander 35 15 — 15 50 6 2.0 Cormorant 1825 — 265 265 2090 358 19.6 Shag ... 1557 5 118 123 1680 *54 9-9 Gannet 6384 104 2180 2284 8668 221 3-5 Petrel, Storm 303 94 5 99 402 34 1 1. 2 Shearwater .Manx 1 0 1 3 2 3394 629 4023 I4I55 505 5-0 Petrel, Fulmar 234 5 16 21 255 1 0.4 Wood-Pigeon 2590 7 92 99 2689 94 3-6 Dove, Stock ... 547 11 36 47 594 49 9.0 Dove, Turtle... 573 30 8 38 611 63 11.0 Stone-Curlew... 214 21 21 235 10 4-7 Oyster-catcher 1245 1 136 137 1382 45 3-6 Plover, Ringed 1253 4 42 46 1299 15 1.2 Plover, Golden 278 3 17 20 298 3 1. 1 Lapwing 32750 5 2657 2662 35412 718 2.2 Dunlin 86 5 1 1 16 102 1 1.2 Sandpiper, C. 817 2 33 35 852 3 0.4 Redshank 1962 1 136 137 2099 70 3-6 Curlew, Common 2622 1 175 176 2798 105 4.0 Snipe, Common 1403 2 52 54 1457 75 5-3 Woodcock 4887 — 238 238 5125 365 7-5 Tern, Sandwich 14332 — 1117 1117 ^5449 269 i-9 Tern, Roseate 149 — *4 *4 163 I 0.7 Tern, Common 17844 — 566 566 18410 463 2.6 Tern, Arctic ... 1982 - — 311 3ii 2293 8 0.4 Tern, Little ... 667 — 39 39 706 6 0.9 Gull, B. -headed 13638 102 10 1 12 13750 638 4-7 Gull, Common 1648 3 98 IOI 1749 48 2.9 Gull, Herring... 6807 57 873 930 7737 159 2-3 Gull,L.Blk.-bkd. 10151 71 3°4 375 10526 386 3-8 Gull,G.Blk.-bkd. 4W 5 82 87 504 M 3-4 Kittiwake 1476 25 148 173 1649 17 1.2 Skua, Great ... 78 — 52 52 130 — — Razorbill 2785 174 701 875 3660 61 2.2 ♦Guillemot 1854 76 295 37i 2225 47 2-5 Puffin 4143 179 92 271 4414 7i i-7 Rail, Land 388 50 — 50 438 4 1 .0 Moor-hen 1516 65 17 82 1598 35 23 *Of species so marked no count was kept of the numbers ringed from 1913 to 1920. (390) BIRDS OF INNER LONDON. BY A. HOLTE MACPHERSON. During 1938 there were no additions to the list published in this magazine in 1929 (Vol. XXII, pp. 222-244) and sub- sequently extended*. Additional Notes in 1938. Mr. O. Addison saw a Hooded Crow ( Corvus c. cornix) with some Carrion-Crows on November 21st in Regent’s Park. It remained several days and was reported to be there on the 26th by Mr. C. M. Swaine. On May 8th Mr. K. Piercy and two other observers found the nest of a Jay [Gan ulus g. rufttevgum ) about 30 feet from the ground in a white beam near the top of Primrose Hill. The bird was seen sitting on the nest, but though it was observed regularly for some time, no evidence was seen of young birds. Jays were noticed during the summer near the Ranger’s Lodge in Hyde Park, and the Superintendent reported that on July 15th five young birds were seen. Jays were also noticed in July and August in St. James’s Park by several observers (Mr. C. S. Bayne) and Mr. D. Ingle Gotch on August 25th saw one flying across the Green Park. A Goldfinch ( Carduelis c. britannica) was observed by Mr. K. Piercy in August in Regent’s Park, and I saw one on December 23rd in Kensington Gardens. Bramblings ( Fringilla montifr ingill a) were seen in company with other finches on Primrose Hill in February and March by Mr. K. Piercy and Mr. D. Seth-Smith. During the cold spell in December I am informed by Mr. H. F. Witherby that Col. R. Meinertzhagen had from 20 to 30 Bramblings at his bird table in Kensington Park Gardens. At this time in the adjoining Ladbroke Square Mr. A. Simms noticed three ; and one visited Mrs. H. Rait Kerr’s bird table at 22 Elm Tree Road, Regent’s Park [The Times, December 28th, 1938). On December 22nd thousands of Sky-Larks ( Alauda a. arvensis) passed over London, all flying west, mostly in flocks of from 50 to 200, and at a height of about 100 feet. I heard them at dawn and they continued passing overhead all day. Some exhausted birds alighted and could be seen looking for food on the snow in the parks and gardens, and even in *For other reports on this subject see Vol. XXIII, pp. 266-268 ; Vol. XXIV, pp. 323-325 ; Vol. XXV, pp. 355-356 ; Vol. XXVI, pp. 292-294 ; Vol. XXVIII, pp. 34-35 and 292-294 ; Vol. XXIX, pp. 345- 348 ; Vol. XXX, pp. 365-368; and Vol. XXXI, pp. 372-375. [vol. xxxii. BIRDS OF INNER LONDON. 391 crowded streets. Many succumbed. I saw a similar great westerly passage of Sky-Larks across London on January 22nd, 1895, at the beginning of a very severe and prolonged spell of frost. A Grey Wagtail ( Motacilla c. cinerea) was observed by Mr. K. Piercy on January 22nd by the Regent’s Canal ; Mr. R. S. R. Fitter saw one on October 21st in St. James’s Park ; and Mr. D. Seth-Smith reported that another was seen on November 3rd in the Zoological Gardens. In July a Tree-Creeper ( Certhia /. britannica) was seen in St. James’s Park by Mr. J. Hinton, the bird-keeper. Mr. Simms informs me that he observed a Marsh-Tit (. Parus p. dresseri) on December 3rd in Ladbroke Square. A party of Long-tailed Tits {Mgithalos c. rosaceus) appeared on October nth and stayed for about two months. At one time I heard of them almost daily from one spot or another, and so was able to trace their movements. Though the numbers seen varied, there was apparently only one party, for they were never reported on the same day from separate districts. The greatest number seen was twelve, counted by Mr. E. G. Pedler on November 2nd in Hyde Park. Kensington Gardens, where they were first noticed, was their headquarters, and they returned there after visits to St. James’s Park on October 28th (Mr. W. Sladen), November 6th (Mr. C. S. Bayne) and November 9th (Mr. R. S. R. Fitter). They were also seen in Markham Square, Chelsea (Mrs. G. Blakiston) on November 5th. Apart from an excursion to Campden Hill on November 19th (Miss M. S. van Oostveen), they seem to have spent the middle of November in Kensington Gardens and were last reported from there by Sir Cyril Hurcomb on November 25th. After that date they were noticed on December 1st near the Royal Hospital, Chelsea, by Mr. E. L. Warre {Field, December 17th, 1938), and in Ladbroke Square on December 3rd and 6th by Mr. A. Simms. I did not hear of them after December 14th, when about ten were seen by Mr. A. H. Bishop in the grounds of the Natural History Museum, South Kensington. One or two Goldcrests ( Regulus r. anglomm ?) were to be seen in Kensington Gardens early in October and were reported by several observers up to the middle of December. At least three broods of Spotted Flycatchers ( Muscicapa s. striata) were reared ; one in Kensington Gardens, one in the grounds of Holland House, and one seen by Mr. K. Piercy in the Inner Circle, Regent’s Park. 392 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XXXII. A Wood- Warbler ( Phylloscopus sibilatrix) was seen and heard by Miss M. S. van Oostveen on July 5th in Kensington Gardens. The cold weather in December did not bring reports of as many Fieldfares (Turdus pilaris) as might have been expected. Mr. A. Simms saw 16 on December 23rd in Ladbroke Square ; and two were noticed on December 30th by Mr. W. Sladen near the Long Water. Some Redwings ( Turdus m. musicus) were seen in January, and a very large number flew over London in a westerly direction at the end of December. A few of these alighted, and some were to be seen in Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens till the end of the year. Little was seen of Wheatears ( (Enanthe ce. cenanthe). One was noticed by Mr. B. Vesey-FitzGerald in St. James’s Park on March 8th [Field, March 19th, 1938). Mr. R. W. Hayman saw one on August 30th in the grounds of the Natural History Museum, South Kensington. A Whinchat ( Saxicola r. rubetra) was seen on May 3rd by Miss M. S. van Oostveen in Kensington Gardens. A Kingfisher ( Alcedo a. ispida ) by the Regent’s Canal on January 20th was reported by one of the keepers of the Zoological Gardens. In October one was seen in Kensington Gardens, St. James’s Park, and the grounds of Buckingham Palace. On February 22nd I heard and saw a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker [Dryobates m. comminutus ) in Kensington Gardens, and Miss M. S. van Oostveen reported one on two occasions in March. My wife heard a Cuckoo [Cuculus c. canorus) in the grounds of Holland House on May 4th ; another was heard by Miss Knobel on May 17th in Regent’s Park. Mr. E. G. Pedler saw one on August 24th in Kensington Gardens. A Little Owl [Athene n. vidalii) was noticed by Miss M. S. van Oostveen in Kensington Gardens in October and November. Mr. D. Seth-Smith reports that a Sparrow-Hawk [Accipiter n. nisus) was seen flying over the Zoological Gardens on November 22nd, and was observed again on December 4th. Over 80 Tufted Ducks [Nyroca fuligula) are reported to have been hatched in St. James’s Park ; but in Kensington Gardens I only saw one duckling, and that did not appear till July 28th. A Smew [Mergus albellus ) was observed by Dr. G. Carmichael Low on December 20th on the Long Water ; and when this vol. xxxii.] BIRDS OF INNER LONDON. 393 became entirely frozen, the bird moved to the east end of the Serpentine which remained clear of ice. It was joined by another Smew on December 23rd (Mr. C. W. Baxter), and Sir Cyril Hurcomb and I saw three there on December 24th. They left the next day. All were brown-headed birds. The species has only once before been recorded from Inner London ( antea , Vol. XXI, p. 262). A Dunlin ( Calidris a. alpina) was found dead on December 29th in the grounds of the Natural History Museum, South Kensington. A few Common Sandpipers ( Tringa hypoleucos) were noticed in spring and autumn in St. James’s Park (Mr. C. S. Bayne) and in Kensington Gardens. A Redshank ( Tringa totanus ? subsp.) passed over Prince’s Square, Bayswater, on the night of May 2nd, and was heard calling by Miss M. R. Jellicoe. Mr. T. Hay reports that on December 20th a Curlew ( Numsnius a. arquata) flew calling over the Serpentine and then went westwards. A Woodcock ( Scolopax r. rusticola) was found on December 24th in the netting of the decoy in St. James’s Park. It was uninjured and was released by the bird-keeper. One was seen during the same week by Mr. A. D. Sapsworth in Regent’s Park (Mr. D. Seth-Smith). A Snipe ( Capella g. gallinago) was flushed by Mr. Eric Hodgson on March 10th in Battersea Park. Another was seen flying over the Green Park on December 23rd by Mr. J. W. Chance. A Scandinavian Lesser Black-backed Gull ( Lams f. fusctcs) spent most of December 23rd standing on the frozen Round Pond. In August, a Land-Rail ( Crex crex) was heard on Primrose Hill by Mr. James Fisher. Another was found on October 20th on her own doorstep by Mrs. Warner of 29, Medburn Street, St. Pancras, and was taken to the Zoological Gardens. cc (394) NOTES FROM RESERVOIRS AND SEWAGE FARMS. SOUTH STAFFORDSHIRE RESERVOIRS, 1938. Messrs. H. G. Alexander and W. F. Ireland have kindly sent me their notes of birds seen and the following list com- prises these (referred to as A. and I.) and my own (referred to as B.). All the notes are from Bellfields except those specially mentioned as from Gailey Pool. Water-Pipit ( Anthus s. spinoletta). — Three adults watched on October 22nd for nearly half an hour at close quarters on the wall. Dark legs plainly visible ; white outer tail-feathers only once or twice visible in flight. (A. and I.). White-fronted Goose (Anser albifrons). — Two on January 2nd (I.). Sheld-Duck ( Tadorna tadorna). A drake on May nth (I.). Teal ( Anas c. crecca). — An unusual performance by three Teal was witnessed on September 12th. They were chasing one another along the water and in short flights. At the end of each flight they dived headlong into shallow water, completely submerging themselves. This was repeated again and again. Numbers at this date 150 to 200. (B.). Wigeon (Anas penelope).- — Between 200 and 250 on March 14th (B.) ; reduced to about 40 on April 2nd (A.) ; a pair in May till 21st ; on October 6th one and at the end of December more than 500 (A.). Pintail ( Anas a. acuta). — One from January 2nd to March 20th (I.) ; a drake February 25th (A.) and March 14th (B.). A duck on September 12th (B.) and a drake December 27th (A.). Shoveler (Spatula clypeata). — Flocks of from 20 to 30 or more in February, Match, April (30 drakes April 2nd (I.)), October and December (A. and B). On Tuly 24th twelve or more adults and a duck with young (B.). Pochard (Nyroca f. fcrina). — Seen in May, June and July, but no evidence of breeding (A. and B.). Tufted Duck (Nyroca fuligula). — Bred as usual, no in one flock at Gailey, March 14th and others present (B.). Goldeneye (Bucephala c. clangula).— Far fewer than usual. Nine on February 26th (A.) and ten on November 7th (I.) the largest numbers. Goosander (Mergus m. merganser).- — A good flock in the early months of the year evidently frequented both Bellfields and Gailey. On January 2nd 36 at Bellfields (I.). On February 14th there were 15 at Bellfields and about 40 at Gailey ; these 40 were persistently attacked by Black-headed Gulls and all dived simultaneously and repeatedly till they suddenly rose from the water and flew off together (B.). Forty-one on March 14th at Bellfields (I.). On December 27th about 20 and about six at Gailey (A.). Smew [Mergus albellus). — Two on Febiuarv26th (A.) ; one from October 30th to November 7th (I.). Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo). — One at Gailey on May 12th (A.). Great Northern Diver (Colymbus immer). — One from January 23rd to April 2nd (A., I. and B.). Ringed Plover (Charadrius hiaticula) . — Seen in four months : May 12th one (A.), July 23rd one (I.), July 24th two (B.), September 12th thirteen (B.), October 15th one (1.). VOL. XXXII.] NOTES FROM RESERVOIRS. 395 Lapwing [Vanellus vanellus). — In extraordinary numbers— .several thousands — on September 12th (B.) ; over 1,000 on November 7th (I.). Turnstone ( Arenaria i. interpres). — One on May 12th (A.) ; one on December 19th (Miss C. K. James). Ruff yPhilomachus pugnax). — Two on September 12th (B.) ; one on October 15th (L). Dunlin ( Calidris alpina). — Seen in the months of April, May, June, July, September, October, November, December (A., I. and B.). The largest numbers were 23 on July 15th (I.) and 25 on December 19th (Miss C. K. James). Green Sandpiper ( Trinea ochropus). — One on Tuly 23rd (I.), and on October 23rd (B.). Black-tailed Godwit ( Limosa l. limosa). — One on April 24th (I.). Black Tern ( Chlidonias n. niger). — Two on September 23rd (I.), one on October 6th (A.), one on October 15th (I.). Black-headed Gull ( Larus r. ridibundus). — Seen in most months including May, June and July (A. and B). About 100 on October 22nd (A.). Common Gull ( Larus c. canus).- — On October 22nd three, and two or three juveniles December 27th (A.). Herring-Gull ( Larus a. argentatus) — Six on February 26th (A.) ; one March 14th (B.) ; about twenty December 27th (A.). Lesser Black-backed Gull ( Larus fuscus). — One February 26th and one October 22nd (A.). Greater Black-backed Gull ( Larus marinus). — One on August 14th (I.) and one on September 12th which was violently attacked by a Lapwing (B.). One was seen at Dimmingsdale Pool on June 19th (I.j. Coot ( Fulica a. atra). — -Its abundance may be judged from the number of adults seen in the summer months ; 180 on June 5th and 170 on July 24th (B.). A. W. BoYD. ALTRINCHAM SEWAGE FARM, CHESHIRE, 1938. Messrs. R. Storey, G. G. Uttley and E. L. Arnold have sent me their notes of birds observed and from these and my own I have compiled the following list. A Red-necked Phala- rope, seen in October, was a bird new to the farm. Ringed Plover (Charadrius hiaticula). — Seen in March, April and July, but in largest numbers in August and September. Maximum 30 to 35 on August 20th. (In 1937 largest number (39) on August 21st.) Grey Plover ( Squatarola s. squatarola). — -One on October 8th (A. W. B.). Ruff ( Philomachus pugnax). — One on February 19th, two March 17th ; one March 24th ; two July 30th ; one August 20th and four 30th. In varying numbers through September and October (twelve on September 10th the largest number) and two on several days in November and on December 4th and 9th. Sanderling ( Crocethia alba). — One on April 15th (R. S.). Knot ( Calidris c. canutus). — One on July 31st and August 2nd (M. Simon) and one on August 8th (A. R. Sumerfield). Dunlin ( Calidris alpina). — As in 1937 seen in every month except June. Greatest numbers: 35 on February 6th; 60 July 30th; 41 August 8th and 60 on the 30th ; 50 on November 13th and 20th. Curlew-Sandpiper ( Calidris testacea)s — Seen only twdce — September 26th (A. W. B.) and October 1st (E. L. A.). 396 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XXXII. Green Sandpiper ( Tringa ochropus). — In July, August, September and October. At least six on August 15th and three on October 6th. Redshank ( Tringa totanus).— In every month of the year in greatly varying numbers but never quite so numerous as in 1937, though often 50 or 60 present. On January 23rd 100 to 150 and on September 26th about 100. Spotted Redshank ( Tringa erythropus). — One was seen on nine days between September 10th and 26th by several observers. Greenshank ( Tringa nebular ia). — Few seen ; three on August 15th and one August 20th (A. W. B.) ; two September 8th ; one September 16th (R. S.). Red-necked Phalarope ( Phalaropus lobatus). — First seen on October 6th by E. L. A. Seen frequently until October 17th by five observers. It permitted very close observation and frequently spun rapidly when swimming — always, so far as was observed, counter clockwise. Common Snipe ( Capella g. gallinago). — A great increase occurred in the middle of August and large numbers persisted till at least the end of October. Probably most abundant in the second week of October, when, as often happens after an invasion by this species, three or four score could be seen flying about in close wisps. Black Tern ( Chlidonias n. niger). — On September 24th five (E. L. A.) and three on the next day (G. G. U.). One from October 6th to 9th and two on October 16th. A. W. Boyd. fcMOTE S* BLACKBIRD TAKING MINNOWS OR STICKLEBACKS. In May, 1937, I watched a hen Blackbird ( Turdus m. merula ) at the weir at Cropston Reservoir, Leicestershire, catching what I took to be minnows, but they may have been stickle- backs. The fish had been stranded in small shallow pools and were swimming about making ripples on the surface. The bird actually caught these while they were swimming and killed them by repeated blows with her beak or by smashing them on a stone. The water was about 1 to 2 inches deep. She was feeding a nestful of young some hundred yards away. In the new Handbook stranded minnows are recorded as brought to the nest. R. Eric Pochin. [The statement in the Handbook is based on a note by Mr. A. Astley ( antea , Vol. XXIV, p. 76) where a cock Blackbird was seen feeding young on minnows, probably taken from shallow water or stranded. — F.R.C.J.] UNUSUAL SINGING BY WRENS. For some time a Wren ( Troglodytes t. troglodytes) had been in the habit of commencing its day’s vocal efforts by singing a loud song close to the house, then moving a little way down the hedge, singing a second time, then a third time still farther off, continuing in this way as it travelled down the fence until the song, slowly fading away, was lost in the distance. One morning at nine minutes before sunrise the Wren broke into its first song of the day. Immediately this song was finished the bird sang again, again and yet again, and, thus repeating its song, continued without the slightest pause until it had sung over twenty times. Then short intervals began to occur between the song- repetitions, intervals which by degrees increased in length. During this performance the bird, unlike previous occasions, did not materially move from one spot. Soon it became evident that another and distant Wren was singing also, fitting its song into the spaces between those of the near-by bird, so that singing still continued without a break though now it was a duet, for, no sooner had the nearer bird finished than the distant one repeated its song like an echo of that of the first. Once again the intervals lengthened until between the songs of the first bird were regular hiatuses of six to seven seconds. After noting seventy songs given by the near bird I 398 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XXXII. discontinued counting but the song and the distant reply were kept up for a considerable time afterwards, the intervals gradually becoming longer until both birds, seemingly tired out with the contest, fell into silence. The songs of the two birds were exactly alike but differed from the normal song as given by the Wrens of south Hampshire in being a little shorter. George Marples. KESTREL ATTACKING GREY SQUIRREL. On February 16th, 1939, I was watching a pair of grey squirrels playing about on the ground beneath an oak tree when a male Kestrel ( Falco t. tinnunculus) dropped through the boughs overhead on to the back of one of them, which squealed loudly but shook off the Kestrel after a short struggle. Later, about a mile away, I saw another grey squirrel in a tree and was amazed to witness a similar attack, presumably by the same bird. Both combatants soon fell out of the tree into the undergrowth from which I flushed the Kestrel and saw a dazed squirrel slink slowly away into a thick bramble cover. A. J. Harthan. GOLDEN EAGLES MATING. On April 1st, 1939, 1 saw a Golden Eagle ( Aquila ch. chrysaetus) leave her eyrie in a rock. She had sailed only a little way into the air when she was joined by her mate. After soaring above the cliff for a short time both birds swooped down on to a grass-grown rock and stood about six feet apart. In the field of my glass the birds were brought quite near and after a time I saw the female lower her head. This was evidently a gesture of invitation to the male, who walked towards her, and mounted on to her back. Mating then took place, the male flapping his great wings vigorously. Both Eagles then preened and shook out their feathers, and perhaps a couple of minutes later, sprang one after another over the cliff, opened their wings and began to sail on an uprising cur- rent of air, the male at times flapping his wings hard and rising quickly to a height, when he would close his wings and fall plummet-like a considerable distance. The Eagles then separated, and the female returned to the eyrie. She stood awhile on the edge of the nest, then very gently and quietly lowered herself to brood. The formation of the cliff made it impossible for me to see into the eyrie, but I have little doubt that she had laid her eggs. This was the same pair of Eagles which I saw some years ago mate at the same place, after the female had been brooding close on a month. Seton Gordon. VOL. XXXII.] NOTES. 399 RUDDY SHELD-DUCK IN SUSSEX. On April ist, 1939, on Thorney Deeps, Sussex, I had an excel- lent view of one Ruddy Sheld-Duck ( Casarca ferruginea). It was swimming near four common Sheld-Duck and uttered at intervals a “ barking ” note quite distinct from the call of that species. It allowed approach within 50 yards giving me a good view of the brownish-orange body and the light brown head and neck. It then flew away and with its large white wing-patches presented a striking sight. John P. Wilkins. [It is impossible to say in such cases if the bird was wild or from captivity. — Eds.] LARGE NUMBER OF SHELD-DUCKS IN SUSSEX. On February 5th, 1939, I counted the exceptional number of l, 270 Sheld-Ducks ( Tadorna tadorna) resting on Pilsey Sands in Chichester Harbour, Sussex. They came in in flocks with the falling tide. The previous largest number was 320 in the same place on December 27th, 1937. John P. Wilkins. UNUSUAL DUCKS IN GLOUCESTERSHIRE. As the following ducks are only very seldom recorded as visiting Gloucestershire it seems worth while reporting them. They all occurred on the River Avon, near Tewkesbury, during December, 1938. A Red-breasted Merganser ( Mergns senator) in first winter plumage was shot on November 15th, 1938. The bird disgorged fifteen fish (largest if inches) amongst which were chub, dace and gudgeon. These were kindly identified for me by Mr. J. R. Norman of the British Museum. On December 22nd, 1938, several Goosander ( Mergns m. merganser) were present on the River Avon. One of these contained a roach, 2 oz. in weight, while on December 27th there were two first winter male Smew ( Mergus albellus) and on December 31st a male and female Pintail (Anas a. acuta) were shot on the Avon near Tewkesbury. O. H. Wild. PETRELS AND OTHER BIRDS IN THE MINCH. In view of previous records ( antea , Vol. XXX, pp. 174, 324, 378, and Vol. XXXI, p. 232) some notes on the sea-birds seen on a voyage across the Minch from Kyle of Lochalsh to Stornoway on the afternoon of September 8th, 1937, may be of interest. 400 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XXXII. The weather at the time was showery, with a westerly gale, decreasing to a strong wind, and good visibility. Leach’s Fork-tailed Petrel ( Oceanodroma l. leucor- rhoa). — One seen off Scalpay and another off Rona, one of them close enough to the ship for the forked tail to be clearly seen. The curious, darting, zigzag flight described by Wynne- Edwards was a very noticeable characteristic. Manx Shearwater ( Puffinus p. puffinus ). — One or two near Rona, numbers between the Shiant Is. and Stornoway. Great Shearwater ( Puffinus gravis).— Upwards of 20 seen off the Shiant Is. and between there and Stornoway. At a distance the colouration of the back and wings seemed to vary according to the light, sometimes resembling that of a Manx Shearwater and sometimes that of a Fulmar. The dark cap, however, was at all times distinctive, and the white under-parts served to distinguish from the Sooty Shearwater. Sooty Shearwater ( Puffinus griseus). — A very close view of two which rose from under the bows of the ship off the Shiant Is. ; they appeared to be much darker above than the Great Shearwaters, and of course had the distinctive sooty under-parts. One or two others were also seen. Great Skua (Stercorarhis skua skua). — Two pairs seen. A pair of smaller skuas were also seen, but at too great a distance for identification. Gannets ( Sula bassana were common all the way across, and Fulmars ( Fulmarus g. glacialis) were abundant well out at sea, but not many Kittiwakes ( Rissa t. tridactyla) were seen. It is, perhaps, worth noting that on September 17th, 1937, Mr. C. W. G. Paulson made the same crossing, in fine weather, with very good visibility and a fresh north-easterly wind, and saw no Shearwaters out at sea, only Herring-Gulls, Fulmars, and a few Gannets and Kittiwakes. R. S. R. Fitter. Early Blackcap in Dorsetshire. — Mrs. E. M. Kennedy gives us particulars of a male Blackcap ( Sylvia atricapilla) of which she and her son obtained close views on two occasions in the early days of February, 1939, at Charmouth. Sanderling in Surrey. — Mr. Edward G. Pedler informs us that at Barn Elms Reservoir on April 6th, 1939, he saw a small, very white-looking wader fly across calling “ pheet, pheet, pheet ”. The bird eventually settled to feed and Mr. Pedler had close views of it which showed it to be a Sanderling ( Crocethia alba ) in winter plumage. (401) INDEX. Note. — The nomenclature followed in this volume is in accordance with the “ Systematic List ” printed at the end of the Volume II of A Practical Handbook of British Birds and reprinted in A Check List of British Birds and the additions and alterations appearing on pages 101-2 of Volume XXII, pages 24 and 25 of Volume XXIV, pages 8 and 16 of Volume XXVI, pages 2 and 3 of Volume XXVII, pages 90-96 and 186-187 of Volume XXVIII, pages 7-13 of Volume XXXI and pages 2-3 of Volume XXXII of British Birds. aalge, TJria a., see Guillemot, Northern. acuta, Anas, see Pintail. cesalon, Falco c., see Merlin. affinis, Sitta e., see Nuthatch. alba, Crocethia, see Sanderling. , Tyto a., see Owl, Barn-. albifrons, Sterna a., see Tern, Little. albionis, Uria a., see Guillemot, Southern. Alexander, H. G., Notes on Waders, Terns and Little Gull in Worcestershire, 122 ; Red- throated Pipit seen in Kent, 233 ; Letters on Bird Song Inquiry, 56 ; Black Tern in the Lower Thames, 343. alpina, Calidris, see Dunlin. americanus, Coccyzus a., see Cuckoo, Yellow-billed. anglicus, Dry abates m., see Wood- pecker, Great Spotted. anglorum, Regulus r., see Goldcrest. apricarius, Charadrius a., see Plover, Golden. apus, A pus a'., see Swift. aquaticus, Rallus, see Rail, Water- argentatus, Lams a., see Gull, Herring-. aristotelis, Phalacrocorax a., see Shag. Armitage, John, Note on Song of the Ortolan Bunting, 1 14. Arnold, E. L., Note on Alpine Swift seen in Co. Dublin, 18. arquata, Numenius a., see Curlew, Common. arvensis, Alanda a., see Lark, Sky-. Aspden, Wm., Hen-Harriers breed- ing in Anglesey, 326. Atlantic, North, Birds seen in, 47. atra, Fulica, see Coot. atricapilla, Sylvia, see Blackcap. auritus. Podiceps, see Grebe, Slavon- ian. Bacchus, J. G., Note on Iceland Gulls in Dorsetshire and Lan- cashire, 341. Barnes, J. A. G., Note on Fledging period of British Marsh-Tit, 42. bassana, Sula, see Gannet. bernicla, Branla, see Goose, Brent. bewickii, Cygnus, see Swan, Be- wick’s. Bittern perching in a tree, 370 ; at Blakedown, Worcestershire, 371- Blackbird, Incubation period, 9, 11; FI edging-period, 10 ; Cock feeding young Song-Thrushes, 44 ; Recovery of marked, 82, 332 ; Laying four times in year and feeding young while laying again, 117 ; Taking minnows or sticklebacks, 397. Blackburne, C. I., Note on White Stork in Norfolk and Essex, 154- Blackcap in Kent, in winter, 342 ; Early, in Dorsetshire, 400. Blackcock, Display of, 290. Bletchly, J. D., Some obser- vations on the Breeding-habits of Birds, 8. Bluethroat, White-spotted, in Cum- berland, 53. borealis, Puffinus kuhlii, see Shear- water, Atlantic Great. Boyd, A. W., Notes on Reed- warbler’s nest of sheep’s wool 83 ; Early nesting of Great Crested Grebe, 85 ; Snipe rolling over in flight, 86 ; Gadwall in Cheshire, 371 ; Notes from Staffordshire Reservoirs and Altrincham Sewage Farm, W38- 394- | brachyrhynchus, Anser, see Goose, Pink-footed. 402 BRITISH BIRDS. Brambling, Recovery of marked, 8 1 ; in Inner London, 390. britannica, A lea t., see Razorbill. , Carduelis c„ see Goldfinch. — , Tringa totanus, see Red- shank, British. britannicus, Lyrurus t., see Grouse, Black. , Parus a., see Tit, British Coal-. British List, Additions and Altera- tions to, 2. British Trust for Ornithology, Publications of : The Index of Heron Population 1938, 138 ; Report of the Lapwing TIabitat Inquiry 1937, 170, 207, 255 ; The Migration of the Gannet : Results of Mark- ing in the British Isles, 282 ; Report of the Bird-Ringing Committee, 382. Brooker, B. T., Note on Red- necked Grebe in Sussex in spring, 19. Brown, R. H., Notes on the Land- Rail, 13. Bullfinch, Incubation and Fledging- period, 9, 10 ; Display of, 41 ; Recovery of marked, 331. Bunting, Corn-, Change of name, 2 ; Habits of, 145. , Ortolan, Song of, 114. — Reed-, Recovery of marked, 81. -, Snow-, Winter feeding-habits in Lakeland, 272. — -, Yellow, Incubation and FI edg- ing-period, 9, 10. Bustard, Western Little, Added to the British List, 2 ; in Somer- set, 199 ; in Carmarthenshire, 199. buteo, Buteo b., see Buzzard. Buzzard feeding on Maggots in toadstool, 236. , Rough-legged, Analysis of pellets of, from Swedish Lapp- land, 274 ; in Cornwall, 338. Buxton, E. J. M., Note on Display of Green Sandpiper, 119. calandra, Emberiza, see Bunting, Corn-. canadensis, Branla, see Goose, Canada. cannabina, Carduelis c., see Linnet. canorus, Cuculus c., see Cuckoo. cantillans, Sylvia c., see Warbler, Subalpine. canus, Larus c., see Gull, Common. canutus, Calidris c., see Knot. carbo, Phalacrocorax c., see Cormor- ant. caryocatactes, Nucifraga c., see Nut- cracker. cervinus, Anthus, see Pipit, Red- throated . Chaffinch, Incubation period, 9, 11 ; Fledging-period, 10 ; Propor- tion of sexes in roosting, 192 ; Display flight of, 309 ; Recov- ery of marked, 80, 331 ; Display of, 373- Charteris, Hon. Guy, Proportion of sexes in roosting Chaffinches, II, 192 ; Note on pertinacious Wagtails and Cuckoos, 194. C.hiffchaff in Sussex in February, 341 ; Early in Gloucestershire, 373- Chislett, Ralph, Notes on Habits of Corn-Bunting, 145 ; Late date for Cuckoo’s egg, 147. chloris, Chloris ch., see Greenfinch. chloropus, Gallinula ch., see Moor- hen. chrysaelus, Aquila ch., see Eagle, Golden. ciconia, Ciconia, see Stork, White. cinclus, Cinclus c., see Dipper, Black-bellied. cinerea, Ardea c., see Heron, Common. , Motacilla c., see Wagtail, Grey. citrinella, Emberiza, see Bunting, Yellow. Clancey, Philip A., Note on the Hebridean Hedge-Sparrow in Sutherland, 195. clangula, Encephala c., see Golden- eye. Clark, A., Note on Oyster-catcher breeding inland in Yorkshire, 85- Clarke, William Eagle., Obit- uarial notice of, 38. Cleasby, T. W. I., and Martin, R. K„ Note on Census of Swallows in a Yorkshire District, 337. clypeata. Spatula, see Shoveler. INDEX 403 ccelebs, Fringilla c., see Chaffinch. Cohen, Edwin, Note on Iceland Gulls in Dorsetshire and Lanca- ! shire, 341. collurio, Lanius c., see . Shrike, Red-backed. colly bita, Phylloscopus c., see Chiff- I chaff. communis, Sylvia c., see White- throat, Common. Congreve, Major W. M., Note on Short-eared Owl breeding in Denbighshire, 46. Coombes, R. A. H., Note on Long-tailed Skua in Lanca- shire, 309. Coot destroying egg of Great Crested Grebe, 158. corax, Corvus c., see Raven. Cormorant, Recovery of marked, 109, 356. Corncrake, see Rail, Land-. cornix, Corvus c., see Crow, Hooded. Cottier, E. J., Note on behaviour of Leach’s Fork-tailed Petrel, 237- coturnix, Coturnix, see Quail. Cowin, W. S., Note on Black- bird laying four times in year and feeding young while laying again, 117. crecca, Anas c., see Teal. Creeper, Wall-, seen in Sussex, 272. crex, Crex, see Rail, Land-. crislatus, Podiceps c., see Grebe, Great Crested. 1 Crow, Hooded, in Inner London, 390. Cuckoo, Late date for egg, 147 ; Pertinacious, 194. , Yellow-billed, in Cornwall, 236. Curlew, Inland occurrences of, 75 ; Recovery of marked, 111, 362 ; Migrating, North Sea, 113 ; in Inner London, 393. , Stone-, Recovery of marked, 360. curonicus, Charadrius d., see Plover, Little Ringed. Currie, P. W. E., Note on scarce birds inland in Surrey, 307. curruca, Sylvia, see Whitethroat, Lesser. cyanecula, Luscinia s., see Blue- throat, White-spotted . cyaneus, Circus, see Harrier, Hen-. cygnus, Cygnus, see Swan, Whooper. Davis, H. H., Notes on Great Skua in Gloucestershire, 278 ; Glauc- ous and Iceland Gulls in Gloucestershire, 372 ; Water- Pipit in Somerset, 336. Derscheid, J. M., Note on Incubation-periods of Mallard, Pintail, and Long-tailed Duck, 151- Dewar, Dr. J. M., The Dipper walking under water, 103. Dipper attacking House-Sparrow, 45; Movements of, under water, 58, 103, 160 ; Behaviour of, feeding in still water, 350. , Irish, in Bute, 17. Diver, Great Northern, Inland occurrences of, 69 ; in Somer- set 339 ; in Staffordshire, 394. , Red-throated, Inland occur- rences of, 69. domesticus, Passer d., see Sparrow, House-. Doncaster, C. C. and Duns- heath, M. H., Some Obser- vations on Nuthatches at the nest, 136. Dorrien-Smith, Major Arthur A., Notes on abnormal south- ward movement of Swallows in June, 45 ; Black Kite in the Isles of Scilly, 237. dougallii, Sterna, see Tern, Roseate. Dove, Stock-, Recovery of marked, no, 360. , Turtle-, As prey of Kestrel, 125 ; Late in Hertfordshire, 280. dresseri, Parus p., see Tit, British Marsh-. Duck, Long-tailed, Inland occur- rences of, 66 ; in Warwickshire, 83 ; Incubation-periods of, 151 ; Calls of, 197. , Ruddy Sheld-, in Sussex, 399. , Scaup-, Inland occurrences of, 66. , Sheld-, Inland occurrences of, 64 ; calls of, 197 ; Large number in Sussex, 399. 404 BRITISH BIRDS. Duck, Tufted, Inland occurrences of, 65 ; Recovery of marked, io9. 356 ; Distribution of, as breeding-birds in England and Wales, 275. Dunlin nesting in Norfolk, 49, 88 ; in Worcestershire, 123 ; in Inner London, 393. Dunsheath, M. H., see Don- caster, C. C. Eagle, Golden, Mating, 398. Egret, Little, in Pembrokeshire, 34- Eider, in Dorsetshire, 308. Ellis, John C. S., Note on effect of frost on distribution of Wood-Warbler, 116. ericetorum, Turdus e., see Thrush, British Song-. ery thro pus, Tringa, see Redshank, Spotted. europaeus, Caprimulgus, see Night- jar. falcinellus, Plegadis, see Ibis, Glossy. Falcon, Peregrine, Incubation- period of, 18, 56. Farrant, A., Note on Probable North Atlantic Great Shear- waters off Cornwall, 197. ferina, Nyroca /., see Pochard, Common. ferruginea, Casarca, see Duck, Ruddy Sheld-. • Fieldfare, Late in Yorkshire, 88 ; Early in Cornwall, 200, 279 ; Early in Cumberland, 279. Fisher, James, Stewart, Malcolm and Venables, L. S. V. Gannet Colonies of Shetland, 162. Fisher, James, The history of the Irish Gannet Colonies, 314. Fitter, R. S. R., Notes on North Atlantic (or Mediterranean) Great Shearwater in Cornish Seas, 371 ; Petrels and other birds in the Minch, 399. Flamingo, Change of name, 3 ; in Londonderry, 125 ; in Lewis, 239- flammeus, Asio /., see Owl, Short- eared. flava, Eremophila a., see Lark, Shore-. , Motacilla /., see Wagtail, Blue-headed. Forrest, H. E., Note on breeding of Wigeon in Merionethshire, .307. frugilegus, Corvus /., see Rook. fuligula, Nyroca, see Duck, Tufted. Fulmar, See Petrel, Fulmar. fusca, Oidemia /., see Scoter, Velvet - fuscus, Larus /., see Gull, I.esser Black-backed, Scandinavian. Gadwall, in Sussex, 310 ; in Cheshire 371- gallinago, Capella g., see Snipe, Common. Galway and Mayo, Overland migra- tion-route, 130. Gannet, Recovery of marked, no, 358 ; Colonies of Shetland, 162 ; in Gloucestershire, 276, 310 ; Migration of, 282 ; Results of Marking in the British Isles, 282 ; History of the Irish Colonies, 314, 320 ; of Sula Sgeir, 344 ; in Southern Waters, 375- Garganey in Cambridgeshire in October, 280. garrulus, Coracias g., see Roller. garzetta, Egretta, see Egret, Little. gengleri, Fringilla c., see Chaffinch. gibraltariensis, Phcenicurus o., see Redstart, Black. glacialis, Fulmarus g., see Petrel, Fulmar. glareola, Tringa, see Sandpiper, Wood-. Glegg, William E., Note on Gannet in Gloucestershire, 276. Goddard, T. Russell, Notes on length of Nightjar’s song, 46 ; Spoonbill in Northumberland, 196. Godwit, Bar-tailed, Inland occur- rences of, 74 ; in Hertfordshire, 374- INDEX. 405 Godwit, Black-tailed, Behaviour in Carmarthenshire, 50 ; Inland occurrences of, 74 ; in Scotland, 126 ; in Northumberland in June, 155 ; Large flocks of, in Co. Limerick, 156 ; Large numbers in Sussex, 240 ; in Pembrokeshire, 240 ; in Staf- fordshire, 395. Goldcrest, Incubation and Fledging- period, 9, 10, n ; Territorial dispute between, 22 ; High site for nest of, 83. Goldfinch, Incubation-period, 9 ; in Inner London, 390. Goldeneye, Inland occurrences of, 66. Gooch, G. B., Letter on Birds rolling over in flight, 128 ; Note on Eider in Dorsetshire, 308. Goosander, Inland occurrences of, 67 ; Recovery of marked, 109, 356 ; Incubation-period of, 153; in Gloucestershire, 399. Goose, Brent, Seen in Surrey, 307. , Canada, Status of, as a British Bird, 1 19. ■ , Pink-footed, in Co. Down, 19 ; Seen in Surrey, 307. Gordon, Seton, Notes on In- cubation-period of the Pere- grine, 18 ; Jackdaws taking fish discarded by Guillemots, 145 ; Fulmar in Skye, 154 ; Razorbill brooding two eggs, 198 ; Golden Eagles mating, 398. grabcs, Fratertula a., see Puffin. graellsii, Lams /., see Gull, British Lesser Black-backed. gravis, Puffinus, see Shearwater, Great. Grebe, Black-necked, Increase of breeding in Fifeshire, 20 ; Inland occurrences of, 69, , Great Crested, Early nesting of, 85. — — , Red-necked, in Sussex in spring, 19 ; Inland occurrences of, 69 ; in Pembrokeshire, 47. , Slavonian, Inland occurrences of, 68. Greenfinch, Incubation-period, 9 ; Fledging-period, 10 ; Recovery of marked, 80, 331. Greenshank, Inland occurrences of, 24 ; in Worcestershire, 122 ; Large numbers of, in Sussex, 200 ; in Cheshire, 396. Griggs, H. R., Note on Glaucous Gull inland in Norfolk, 340. griseigena, Podiceps g., see Grebe, Red-necked. zriseus, Puffinus, see Shearwater, Sooty. Grouse, Red, Sexual-life, display and breeding, 247. Groves, W. E., Note on Purple Sandpiper in Warwickshire, 308. grylle, Uria g., see Guillemot, Black. Guillemot, Black, in Somerset, 340. , Northern, Recovery of marked, 112, 365. , Southern, Recovery of marked, 112, 365. gularis, Cinclus c., see Dipper. Gull, Black-headed, Recovery of marked, in, 363. , Common, Incubation-period, 87 ; Recovery of marked, 363. , Glaucous, in Pembrokeshire, 240 ; in Cornwall, 280 ; Inland in Norfolk, 340 ; in Gloucester- shire, 372. — , Great Black-backed Gull, Cannibalism among, 238. ■ , Herring-, Recovery of marked, 112, 364. • , Iceland, in Dorset, 20 ; in Gloucestershire, 372 ; in Dorset- shire, 341 ; in Lancashire, 341. , Lesser Black-backed, British, Recovery of marked, 112, 364. • , — - — - , Scandinavian, in Inner London, 393. , Little, in Somerset, 52 ; in Worcestershire, 123 ; Seen in Surrey, 307. guttata, Tyto a., see Owl, Dark- breasted Barn-. Hale, Rev. J. R., Notes on Dipper attacking House-Sparrow, 45 ; Effect of drought on nesting- site of Redshank in Kent, 50- 40 (» BRITISH BIRDS. Hale, R. W., Note on Roseate Tern in Sussex, 238. halicetus, Pandion, see Osprey. Harrier, Hen-, Bleeding in Angle- sey, 326. ■ , Pallid, in Dorset — second British occurrence, 150. Harrison, Dr. James M., Note on Aquatic Warbler in Kent, 273- Harthan, A. J., Some breeding- habits of Marsh-Warblers in South Worcestershire, 230 ; Note on Kestrel attacking grey squirrel, 398. Haverschmidt, Fr., Note on Nest of Moustached Warbler, 306. Hawk, Sparrow-, Recovery of marked, 107, 335 ; Migrating, North Sea, 113 ; Unmarked clutch of, 150 ; Taking Little Grebe from water, 307 ; Nest in a bush, 367 ; in Inner London, 392. hebridensis, Turdus e., see Thrush, Hebridean Song-. hebridium, Prunella m., see Sparrow, Hebridean Hedge-. Heron, Recovery of marked, 107, 335 ; Population, 1938, 138 ; At sea off Pembrokeshire, 159; Migratory status in Great Britain, 242 ; Flocking of immature, 346. hiaticula, Charadrius h., see Plover, Ringed. hibernicus, Cinclus c., see Dipper Irish. himantopus, Himantopus, see Stilt, Black-winged. hirundo, Sterna h., see Tern, Common. Hobby, in Argyllshire, 124 ; in North Argyllshire, 150. Hollom, P. A. D., Summaries of inland occurrences of some Waterfowl and Waders, 1924- 1936, 34. 64. Holmes, P. F., Note on Snipe rolling over in flight, 121 ; Behaviour of a Dipper feeding in still water, 350. hortnlana, Emberiza, see Bunting, Ortolan. Humphreys, G. R., Note on Spotted Redshank in Co. Dublin, 309. Huxley, Dr. Julian, Notes on nests and broods in two successive seasons at Whips- nade, 40 ; House-Martins breeding in Dorset cliffs, 118. hybrida, Chlidonias, see Tern, Whiskered. hyemalis, Clangula, see Duck, Long- tailed. hyperboreus, Lams, see Gull, Glaucous. hypoleucos, Tringa, see Sandpiper, Common . Ibis, Glossy, in Aberdeenshire, 53. immer, Colymbus, see Diver, Great Northern. Ingram, Collingwood, Letter on the Dipper walking under water, 160 ; Note on deep diving of Shags, 197. Ingram, Geoffrey C. S. and Salmon, H. Morrey, Notes on British Willow-Tit in Glamor- gan, 42 ; Rcd-necked Grebe in Pembrokeshire, 47. Ingram, G. C. S., Salmon, H. Morrey and Tucker, B. W., The Movements of the Dipper under water, 58. inter pres, Arenaria i., see Turnstone. ispida, Alcedo a., see Kingfisher. Jackdaw, Change of generic name from Coloeus to Corvus, 2 ; Recovery of marked, 78, 329 ; Taking fish discarded by Guille- mot, 145. Jay, Recovery of marked, 329. Jourdain, Rev. F. C. R., Letter on Incubation-period of the Pere- grine, 56 ; Notes on incubation- period of Common Gull, 87 ; Late Dates for Cuckoo's eggs. 147 ; Hobby in North Argyll- shire, 150 ; Pallid Harrier in Dorset — second British occur- rence, 150 ; Size of eggs of Mallard and Icelandic Wild Duck, 153 ; Razorbill brooding two eggs, 198. INDEX. 407 Joy, Dr. Norman H., Notes on Great Shearwater in Kent, 276 ; February migrants at Dungeness, Kent, 368. Kennedy, Rev. P. G., Note on large flocks of Black-tailed Godwits in Co. Limerick, 156. Kestrel, Preying on Turtle-Dove, 125 ; Recovery of marked, 335 ; Attacking grey squirrel, 398. Kingfisher, Recoverv of marked, 334 Kite in Argyllshire, 124. Black, in the Isles of Scilly, 237- Kittiwake, Recovery of marked, 112, 364. kleinschmidti, Parus a., see Tit- mouse, Willow-, British. Knot, Inland occurrences of, 71 ; Seen in Anglesey, 308. kuhlii, Puffinus, see Shearwater, Atlantic Great. Lack, David, The Display of the Blackcock ; i, Mid-April Ob- servations, 290 ; ii, The October Display, 299 ; Letter on habits of Robins, 23 ; Note on display of Green Sandpiper, 86. lagopus, Bttteo /., see Buzzard, Rough-legged. lapponica, Limosa, see Godwit, Bar-tailed. Lapwing, Incubation-period, 48 ; Recovery of marked, no, 361 ; Migrating North Sea, 113 ; Report of Habitat Inquiry, 1937. I7°. 207, 255 ; Popula- tion on a Surrey Farm, 261. Lark, Shore-, in Northumberland, 88. , Sky-, in Inner London, 390. Leach, Miss E. P., Recovery of marked birds, 78, 107, 329. Ledlie, R. C. B., and Pedler, E. G., Nesting of the Little Ringed Plover in Hertford- shire, 90. leucopterus, Lay us, see Gull, Iceland- leucorodia, Platalea /., see Spoonbill. leucorrhoa, Oceanodroma, see Petrel, Leach’s Fork-tailed. Lewis, Stanley, Notes on Black- winged Stilt in Somerset, 156 ; Unusual Birds in Somerset- shire, 338. limosa, Limosa, see Godwit, Black- tailed. Linnet, Recovery of marked, 80, 33 !• Lister, M. D., An account of the Lapwing Population on a Surrey Farm, 261. lobatus, Phalaropus, see Phalarope, Red-necked. Lockley, R. M., Notes on Canni- balism among Gulls, 238 ; Razorbill brooding two eggs, 239 ; Continental Song-Thrush in Pembrokeshire, 368 ; Letter on a List of the Birds of Pembrokeshire, 240. Lodge, J., Note on Quails, in Cheshire and their calls, 123. London, Birds of Inner, 390. Long, Sydney H., Note on Dunlin nesting in Norfolk, 49. longicaudus, Stercorarius, see Skua, Long-tailed. Low, Dr. G. Carmichael, Note on Spotted Redshank in Surrey, 156. Maclaren, P. I. R., Notes on Rough-legged Buzzard in Corn- wall, 338 ; Spoonbills in Corn- wall, 370. Macpherson, A. Holte, Birds of Inner London, 390. macrourus, Circus, see Harrier, Pallid. macrura, Sterna, see Tern, Arctic. Magpie in Scotland, 124 ; Recovery of marked, 78, 329. major, Parus, see Titmouse, Great. Mallard, Incubation-period of, 83, 151 ; Recovery of marked, 107, 352- Marchant, S., The Irish Gannet Colonies, 1938, 320 ; Note on Cock Blackbird feeding young Song-Thrush, 44. mania, Nyroca m., see Duck, Scaup. 408 BRITISH BIRDS marinus, Larus, see Gull, Great Black-backed. maritima, Calidris, see Sandpiper, Purple. Marples, George, Note on unusual singing by Wrens, 397. Martin, Rev. Cyril E., Note on excavating of British Willow- Tit, 1 16. Martin, House-, Breeding in Dorset cliffs, 1 18 ; Breeding in cliffs, 200 ; Late in Sussex, 310. Martin, R. K., see Cleasby, T. W. I. Martin, Sand-, Late, in Surrey, 239. Mayo and Galway, overland migra- tion-route, 130. McWilliam, Rev. J. M., see White, C. M. N. megarhyncha, Luscinia m., see Nightingale. Meiklejohn, M. F. M., Letter on Gannets and other birds in southern waters, 375. Meiklejohn, Mrs., and Col. R. F., Notes on Nutcracker carrying nut in its foot, 194 ; Snowy Owl in Norfolk, 236. meinerlzhageni , A nthus spinoletta, see Pipit, Hebridean Rock-. melanopogon, Lusciniola m., see Warbler, Moustached . melba, A pus, see Swift, Alpine. melophilus, Erithacus r., see Robin, British. merganser, Mergus m., see Goos- ander. Merganser, Red-breasted, Inland occurrencies of, 68 ; in Pem- brokeshire, 240 ; Seen in Surrey, 307 ; in Gloucestershire, 399. Merlin, Recovery of marked, 335. merula, Turdus m., see Blackbird. Midland Naturalist's Union, Pro- posed formation of a, 88. migrans, Milvus m., see Kite, Black. Millard, H. S., Note on High site for Goldcrests' nest, 83. milvus, Milvus, see Kite. minimus, Lymnocryptes , see Snipe, Jack. minuta, Calidris, see Stint, Little. minutus, Larus, see Gull, Little. mollissima, Somateria m., see Eider. Monk, J. F., Cornwallis, R. K., and Swan, Miss J. M., Note on Spoonbills in Sussex, 18. montanus, Passer m., see Sparrow, Tree-. montifringilla, Fringilla, see Bramb- ling. Moore, Hilary B., Notes on Birds seen in the North Atlan- tic, 47. Moorhen, Fledging-period, 10. Mountfort, G. R., Note on Coot destroying egg of Great Crested Grebe, 158. muraria, Tichodroma, see Creeper, Wall-. Murray, Miss A. R., Note on an analysis of Rough-legged Buzzard pellets from Swedish Lappland, 274. musicus, Turdus, see Redwing. ncevia, Locustella n., see Warbler, Grasshopper-. nebularia, Tringa, see Greenshank. nesa, Pyrrhula p., see Bullfinch. Nethersole-Thompson, Caroline and Desmond, Some obser- vations on the Sexual-life, Display and Breeding of the Red Grcuse as observed in Inverness-shire, 247. Nethersole-Thompson, D., Note on the Display of the House- Sparrow, 368. newtoni, Pants m., see Tit, Great. Nicholl, Miss Joan B., Note on Wall-Creeper seen in Sussex, 272. Nicholson, E. M., The Index of Heron Population, 1938, 138 ; Report of the Lapwing Habitat Inquiry, 1937, l7°> 2°7. 255 i Note cn Marsh- and Willow- Tits in the Border Area, 115. Nightingale, Recovery of marked, 333- Nightjar, Length of Song, 46 ; Recovery of marked, 82. niger, Chlidonias n., see Tern, Black. nigra, Oidemia n., see Scoter, Common. nigricollis, Podiceps n., see Grebe, Black-necked. nisus, Accipiter, see Hawk, Spar- row- . INDEX. 409 nivalis, Plectrophenax, see Bunting Snow-. Norris, C. A., Notes on Long- tailed Duck in Warwickshire, 83 ; Sparrow-Hawk taking Little Grebe from water, 307 ; Bittern perching in a tree, 370 ; Letter on Corncrake Inquiry, 128. Nutcracker carrying nut in its foot 194- Nuthatch, Nesting of, 26 ; Some observations at the nest, 136. obscurus, Parus c., see Titmouse, Blue. occidentalis, Prunella m . , see Spar- row, Hedge-, British. ■ — — , Hczmatopus 0., see Oyster- catcher. ochropus, Tringa, see Sandpiper, Green. cedicnemus, Burhinus, see Curlew, Stone-. cenanthe, (Enanthe ce., see Wheatear. cenas, Columba, see Dove, Stock-. Oldham, Chas., Note on Wood- Warbler nesting in Co. Cork, 43- orientalis, Otis t., see Bustard, Little Eastern. oriolus, Oriolus 0., see Oriole, Golden. Osprey, in Hertfordshire 19, in Wales, 19 ; in Somerset, 338. ostralegus, PLcematopus, see Oyster- catcher. Ouzel, Ring-, Taking lizard to young, 370. Owl, Barn-, Recovery of marked, 334- — , Dark-breasted Barn-, in Kent, 273 ; in Sussex, 273. , Little, Incubation-period, 11. Recovery of marked, 107. — , Short-eared, Breeding in Denbighshire, 46. , Snowy in Norfolk, 236. , Tawny, Recovery of marked, 107, 334- Oyster-catcher, Inland occurrences of, 70 ; Breeding inland in Yorkshire, 85 ; Recovery of marked, no, 361. paludicola, Acrocephalus, see Warb- ler, Aquatic. palumbus, Columba p., see Pigeon, Wood-. palustris, Acrocephalus, see Warb- ler, Marsh-. parasiticus, Stercorarius, see Skua, Arctic. Pedler, E. G., see Ledlie, R. C. B. pelagicus, Hydrobates, see Petrel, Storm-. penelope, Anas, see Wigeon. peregrinus, Falco p., see Falcon, Peregrine. Petrel, Fulmar, in Skye, 154 ; in Somerset, 339 ; in Dorset, 340 ; Nesting in N. Mayo, 368. , Leach’s Fork-tailed, Be- haviour of, 237 ; in Somerset, 339 ; in the Minch, 400. — - — , Storm-, Recovery of marked, 359- petrosus, Anthus s., see Pipit, Rock-. phceopus, Numenius p., see Whim- brel. Phalarope, Red-necked, in Cheshire, 396. Philipson, W. R., Notes on House- Sparrows excavating Nest-hole, 16 ; Winter feeding habits of Snow-Buntings in Lakeland, 272. Phillips, H. Lloyd, Note on Little Egret in Pembroke- shire, 84. philomelus, Turdus e., see Thrush, Continental Song-. phasnicurus, Phcenicurus ph., see Redstart. pica, Pica p., see Magpie. Pigeon, Spread of tail-feathers, in quick turn, 200. , Wood-, Recovery of marked, 360. pilaris, Turdus, see Fieldfare. Pintail, Inland occurrences of, 64 ; Incubation -period of, 151 ; Recovery of marked, 356; in Gloucestershire, 399. Pipit, Hebridean Rock-, Addition to the British List, 2. -, Meadow-, Recovery of mark- ed, 81, 331. — — , Red-throated, Change of name, 2 ; Seen in Kent, 233. 410 BRITISH BIRDS. Pipit, Rock-, Recovery of marked, 33i , Water-, in Yorkshire, 124 ; in Somerset, 336 ; in Stafford- shire, 394. platyrhyncha, Anas p., see Mallard. Plover, Golden, Early Migration, 20 ; Recovery of marked, 361. , Grey, in Cheshire, 395. , Kildeer, in Devonshire. 372. , Little Ringed-, Nesting of, in Hertfordshire, 90 ; in Kent, 102; in Norfolk, 155. — , Ringed, Breeding in West Yorkshire, 126. pluvius, Picus v., see Woodpecker, Green. Pochard, Inland occurrences of, 65 ; Distribution of, as breeding birds in England and Wales, 275- Pochin, R. Eric, Note on Black- bird taking minnows or stickle- backs, 397. Podmore, R. E., Note on Whisk- ered Tern in Northumberland, 157- Pounds, Hubert E., Note on unmarked clutch of Sparrow- Hawk, 150. pratensis, Anthus, see Pipit, Meadow-. Price, M. Philips, Note on Dis- appearance of Wood -Warbler in Gloucester and Buckingham, ”7- Pring, Rev. C. J., Note on Abnor- mal Nest-building of Reed- Warbler, 44. Puffin, Recovery of marked, 365 ; Earliest references to, 376. puffinus, Puffmus p., see Shear- water, Manx. pugnax, Philomachus, see Ruff. Quails, in Cheshire and their calls, 123. querquedula, Anas, see Garganey. Rail, Land-, Notes on, 13 ; Inquiry, 128 ; in Inner London, 393. Raven, Recovery of maiked, 78. Rawlins, Mrs. M. Z., Note on Roller in Buckinghamshire, 1 18. Razorbill, Recovery of marked, 112, 365 ; Brooding two eggs, 198, 239- , Northern, Added to the British List, 2. Redshank, Incubation-period, 48 ; Effect of drought on nesting- site of, 50 ; Inland occurrences of, 73 ; Suspected polygamy, 120 ; Recovery of marked, 362. , Iceland, in Sussex, 373, in Ayrshire, 373. , Spotted, Inland occurrences of, 73 ; in Worcestershire, 122 ; in Northumberland in July, 155 ; in Surrey, 156 ; in Gloucestershire, 240 ; in Hert- fcrdshire, 240 ; Seen in Angle- sey, 308 ; in Co. Dublin, 309 ; in Cheshire, 396. Redstart, Recovery of marked, 333. , Black, in Middlesex, 19 ; in Gloucestershire, 374. Redwing, Recovery of marked, 82, 332. Reviews : — Results of marking Ducks in Russia, 20. Transactions of the Norfolk and Norwich Naturalists’ Society for the year 1937, 22. Report on Somerset Birds, 1937, 22. Bird Flocks and the Breeding Cycle, 53. In search of the Gy r- Falcon, 126. Report of the British Trust for Ornithology, iv., summer, 1938, 127.' London Bird Report for 1937, 127. Report on the Birds of War- wickshire, Worcestershire and S. Staffordshire, 1937, 159- Annual Report of the Oundle School Natural History Soci- ety, 1938, 159. Report of the Marlborough College Natural History Society for 1937, 159- INDEX. 411 Reviews ( continued ) : — Ornithological Report for the County of Hampshire, 1937, I59- Tenth Report of the Devon Bird-watching and Preserva- tion Society, 1937, I59- The Feathered Folk of an Estuary, 31 1. Bird Sketches and Some Field Observations, 31 1. Birds Through the Year, 31 1. Wild Country, 312. I know an Island, 312. Repertoirs des Stations Orni- thologiques, 312. The Flight of Birds, 374. A History of Sussex Birds, 342. Rickman, Philip, Note on Eider Ducks in Sussex, 18. ridibundus, Larus, see Gull, Black- headed. Ringing, Bird-, Report of the Committee : Progress for 1938, 382. riparia, Riparia r., see Martin, Sand-. Roberts, E. L., Note on Snipe rolling over in flight, 51. Roberts, J. E., Note on Buzzard feeding on maggots in toad- stool, 236. Robin, Incubation-period, 9 ; Fledg- ing-period, 10 ; Habits of, 23 ; Recovery of marked, 82, 333. , Continental, Inland in Kent, 200. Robinson, H. W., Note on the calls of Long-tailed Duck, Wigeon and Sheld-Duck, 197. robusta, Tringa t., see Redshank, Iceland. Roller in Norfolk, 158. Rook, Recovery of marked, 78, 329, 352. rosaceus, Aigit halos caudatus, see Tit, British Long-tailed. roseus, Pastor, see Starling, Rose- coloured . Phcenicopterus r., see Flam- ingo. Ross, Miss Winifred M., Notes on Willow-Tit, in Inverness, 147 ; Incubation-period of the Goos- ander, 153. Rowntree, M. H., Note on some Waders scarce in Anglesey, 308. rubecula, Erithacus r., see Robin, Continental. rubetra, Saxicola r., see Whinchat. Ruff, Inland occurrences of, 70 ; Seen in Anglesey, 308 ; in Dorset in winter, 373 ; in Staffordshire and Cheshire, 395. rufitergum, Garrulus g., see Jay. rustica, Hirundo r., see Swallow. rusticola, Scolopax r., see Woodcock. Ruttledge, Robert F., Bird- migration by the overland route between Killala Bay and Galway Bay, 130 ; Ornitholo- gical Notes from Galway and Mayo, 366. Ryves, Lt.-Col. B. R., Note on Yellow-billed Cuckoo in Corn- wall, 236. Salmon, H. Morrey, see Ingram Geoffrey C. Sanderling, Inland occurrences of, 71 ; Inland in Westmorland, 85 ; in Cheshire, 395 ; in Surrey, 400. Sandpiper, Common, Migrating, North Sea, 113. — , Curlew-, Inland occurrences of, 71 ; in Durham in July, 155; in Surrey, 239; in Cheshire, 395. — , Green, Inland occurrences of, 72 ; Display of, 86, 119 ; Seen in Anglesey, 308. — , Purple, in Warwickshire, 308. — , Wood, Inland occurrences of, 72. sandvicensis, Sterna s., see Tern, Sandwich. Savage, Rev. E. U., Note on Sanderlings inland in West- morland, 85. scandiaca, Nyctea, see Owl, Snowy. schoeniclus, Emberiza s., see Bunting Reed-. scirpaceus, Acrocephalus s., see Warbler, Reed-. Scoter, Common, in Oxfordshire, 20 ; Inland occurrences of, 67. , Velvet-, Inland occurrences of, 67. 412 BRITISH BIRDS. scoticus, Lagopus s., see Grouse, Red. serrator, Mergus, see Merganser, Red -breasted. Shag, Deep diving of, 197 ; Correc- tion to, 239 ; Recovery of marked, 358. Shearwater, Atlantic Great, Seen in North Atlantic, 48 ; Off Cornwall, 197, 371. — — -, Great, Seen in North Atlantic, 47 ; in Kent, 276 ; in the Minch, 400. — , Manx, Recovery of marked, no, 360 ; in the Minch, 400. — , Sooty, in the Minch, 400. Sheld-Duck, see Duck, Sheld-. Shoveler, Inland occurrences of, 65 ; Recovery of marked, 356. Shrike, Red-backed, Incubation and Fledging-period, 9, 12. sibilatrix, Phylloscopus, see Warbler, Wood-. Sibson, R. B., The Black Tern in the Lower Thames, 304. Skua, Arctic Inland in Essex, 198 ; in Wiltshire, 280. , Great, in Gloucestershire, 278 ; in Somerset, 339 ; Recovery of marked, 364 ; in the Minch, 400. , Long-tailed, in Lancashire, 309- skua, Stercorarius, see Skua, Great. Smew, Inland occurrences of, 68 ; in Inner London, 392 ; in Staffordshire, 394 ; in Glouces- tershire, 399. Snipe, Common, Rolling over in flight, 51, i2r ; Inland occur- rences of, 75 ; Recovery of marked, in, 362 ; in Inner London, 393. , Jack, Inland occurrences of, 76. Southern, H. N., The Spring Migration of the Swallow over Europe, 4 ; The Spring Migra- tion of the Willow-Warbler over Europe, 202 ; The Flock- ing of Immature Herons, 346. Sparrow, Hedge-, Incubation and Fledging-period, 10, 11 ; Dis- play in December, 310 ; Re- covery of marked, 334. -, Hebridean Hedge-, in Suther- land, 195. Sparrow, House-, Excavating Nest- hole, 16 ; Increase of, in Connemara, 366 ; Display of, 368. - — — , Tree-, Nesting in drainage pipes, 1 1 3 ; Change of status of, in Co. Mayo, 366. spermologus, Corvus m., see Jack- daw. spinoletta, Anthus s., see Pipit, Water-. Spoonbill in Sussex, 18 ; in Co. Londonderry, 20 ; in Wexford, 125 ; in Northumberland, 196 ; in Cornwall, 370. Starling, Percentage of broods in two successive seasons, 40, 88 ; Recovery of marked, 78, 329 ; Migrating, North Sea, 113. -, Rose-coloured, in Yorkshire, T9- stellaris, Botaurus, see Bittern. stellatus, Colymbus , see Diver, Red- throated. Steuart, Mrs. I., Note on number of nests and jroung reared in an Essex locality, 336. Stewart, Malcolm, Letter on the Gannets of Sula Sgeir, 344. Stewart, Malcolm, see Fisher, James. Stilt, Black-winged, in Somerset, 156- Stint, Little, Inland occurrences of, 72 ; in Worcestershire, 122. , Temminck’s, Nesting in Scot- land, 280. Stonor, C. R., Note on Ivildeer Plover in Devonshire, 372. Stork, White, in Norfolk, 154 ; in Essex, 154 ; in Yorkshire, 279. strepera, Anas, see Gadwall. subbuteo, Falco s., see Hobby. Suffern, C., Letter on Earliest references to the Puffin, 376. Swallow, Spring Migration over Europe, 4 ; Abnormal south- ward Movement, in June, 45 ; Recovery of marked, 82, 334 ; Period between broods, 195 ; Food of nestling, 233 ; Late in Hampshire, 279 ; Cen- sus of, in a Yorkshire District, 337- Swan, Bewick's, Unusual influx of, 310, 342, 378. INDEX. 413 Swan, Whooper, Unusual influx of, j 310, 342, 378 ; Return of, to j Hampshire, 279. Swift, Recovery of marked, 82, 334- — — -, Alpine, Seen in Co. Dublin, 18. sylvatica, Strix a., see Owl, Tawny. tadorna, Tadorna, see Duck, Sheld-. Teal, Recovery of marked, 107, 352- Tebbutt, C. F., Note on Migration in the North Sea, July, 1938, 113 temminckii, Calidris, see Stint, Temminck’s. Tern, Arctic, Early in Hertford- shire, 200. , Black, in Somerset, 52 ; Inland occurrences of, 76 ; in Worcestshire, 123 ; in Bed- fordshire in October, 240 ; in the Lower Thames, 304, 343 ; in Staffordshire, 395 ; in Cheshire, 396. — • — , Common, Inland occurrences of, 77 ; Recovery of marked, hi, 363- , Little, Inland occurrences of, 77 ; in Worcestershire, 123. • — — , Roseate, in Argyllshire, 124 ; in Sussex, 238. , Sandwich, Inland occuiren- ces of, 77 ; Recovery of marked, in, 363 ; Mating during incubation, 277 ; On Connemara coast, 367. -, Whiskered, Change of name, 3 ; in Northumberland, 157 ; Breeding in Holland, 157. testacea, Calidris, see Sandpiper, Curlew-. Tetley, H. Notes on Little Gulls and Black Terns in Somerset, 52 ; Western Little Bustards in Somerset, 199 ; Fulmar Petrel in Dorset, 340. ietrax, Otis t., see Bustard, West- ern Little. Thomas, J. F., Notes on Incubation- period of Wheatear, 45 ; Incu- bation-periods of Lapwing and Redshank, 48 ; Behaviour of Black-tailed Godwits in Car- marthenshire 50 ; Incubation- period of Mallard, 83 ; Period between broods of Swallows, 195 ; Western Little Bustard in Carmarthenshire, 199 ; Food of Nestling Swallows, 233. Thomson, Dr. A. Landsborough, The Migration of the Gannet ; Results of Marking in the British Isles, 282 ; Report of the Bird-Ringing Committee ; Progress for 1938, 382. Thrush, British Song-, Incubation period, 9 ; Fledging-period, 10 ; Young fed by cock Blackbird, 44 ; Recovery of marked, 81, 332. , Continental Song-, Recovery of marked, 81 ; in Kent in February, 368 ; in Pembroke- shire, 369. ■, Hebridean Song-, On migra- tion in Isle of Arran, 369. , Mistle-, Recovery of marked, 81. Ticehurst, Dr. N. F., The Migra- tory Status of the Heron in Great Britain, 242 ; Notes on Spoonbill in Sussex, 18 ; In- cubation-period of Common Gull, 87 ; Dark-breasted Barn- Owls in Kent and Sussex, 273- tinnunculus, Falco t., see Kestrel. Tit, Blue, Percentage of broods in two successive seasons, 40, 88 ; Recovery of marked, 8r, 332. -, British Coal-, Incubation- period, 42 ; Apparent second brood of, in Surrey, 146. , British Great, Percentage of broods in two successive seasons, 40, 88 ; Recovery of marked, 81 ; Apparent second brood of, in Surrey, 146. , British Long-tailed, Change of name, 2 ; Incubation and Fledging-periods, 9, ic, 11 ; in Inner London, 391. • , British Marsh-, Fledging- period, 42 ; in the Border area, 115. -.British Willow-, in Glamorgan, 42 ; Excavating of, 116 ; in the Border area, 115 ; in Argyll- shire, 124. 414 BRITISH BIRDS. torda, A lea torda, see Razorbill. lorquatus, T Urdus t., see Ouzel, Ring-. totanus, Tringa t., see Redshank. tridactyla, Rissa t., see Kittiwake. trochilus, Phylloscopus t., see War- bler, Willow-. troglodytes, Troglodytes, see Wren. Tucker, B. W., see Ingram, G. C. S. Tucker, B. W., Note on the Display of the Bullfinch, 41. Tully, H., Note on Waders in ! Northumberland and Durham j at unusual dates, 155. Turnstone, Inland occurrences of, 70 ; in Worcestershire, 122 ; in Staffordshire, 395. tartar, Streptopelia, see Dove, Turtle-. urbica, Delichon u., see Martin, House-. vanellus, Vanellus, see Lapwing. vidalii, Athene n., see Owl, Little. Venables, L. S. V., see Fisher, James. Venables, L. S. V., Nesting of the Nuthatch, 26 ; Note on Great J Spotted Woodpecker and pine [ cones, 147. Vincent, Jim, Note on Little Ringed Plover in Norfolk, 155. viscivorus, Tardus v ., see Thrush, Mistle-. vociferus, Charadrius, see Plover, | Kildeer. vulgaris, Sturnus v., see Starling. Wagtail, Blue-headed, in Hertford- j shire, 19. , Grey, Treble-brooding in the, | 114. — , Pied, Pertinacious, 194 Recovery of marked, 332. — , Yellow, Status of in Con- naught, 368. Wallis, A. T., Note on Sandwich Terns mating during incuba- tion, 277. Warbler, Aquatic, in Kent, 273 ; seen in Sussex, 273. , Grasshopper-, in Galway, 367. — — , Marsh-, Some breeding-habits, 230. , Moustached, Nest of, 306. ■ — — , Reed-, Abnormal nest-build- ing, 44 ; Nests of sheep's wool, 83. JC25. -, Subalpine, Colour of legs, 343 ; Display of. 343. — .Willow-, Incubation-period, 9; Fledging-period, 10 ; Spring migration over Europe, 202. ■ Wood-, Nesting in Co. Cork, 43 ; Effect of frost in distribu- tion of, 1 16 ; Disappearance of, in Gloucester and Buckingham, 1 17 ; in Inner London, 392. Ware, R., Note on Incubation- period of British Coal-Tit, 42. Wheatear, Incubation-period, 45 ; Recovery of marked, 333. Whimbrel, Inland occurrences of, 75 ; Large numbers of, in Sussex, 240. Whinchat, Recovery of marked, 333- Whistler, Hugh, Note on Hebri- dean Song-Thrush on migration in Isle of Arran, 369. White, C. M. N., and McWilliam, Rev. J. M., Note on Irish Dipper in Bute, 17. Whitethroat, Common, Incubation, period, 9 ; Fledging-period, 10 ; Recovery of marked, 81. , Lesser, Incubation-period, 9 ; Fledging-period, 10. Wigeon, Inland occurrences of, 64 ; Recovery of marked, 109, 352 ; Calls of, 197 ; Breeding in Merionethshire, 307. Wild, Dr. O. H., Note on unusual ducks in Gloucestershire, 399. Wilkins, J. P., Notes on Aquatic Warbler, seen in Sussex, 273 ; Ruddy Sheld-Duck and Large numbers of Sheld-Duck in Sussex, 399. Williamson, Kenneth, Notes on treble-brooding in the Grey Wagtail, 114 ; Suspected poly- gamy in the Redshank, 120. INDEX. 415 Witherby, H. F., Additions and Alterations to the British List, 2 ; The Influx of Bewick’s and Whooper Swans, Winter 1 938-9, 378 ; Notes on Dunlin breeding in Norfolk, 88 ; Status of Canada Goose as a British Bird, 1x9; Apparent second broods of Great and Coal-Tits in Surrey, 146 ; Yellow-billed Cuckoo in Cornwall, 236 ; Distribution of the Pochard, and Tufted Duck as breeding birds in England and Wales, 275 ; Colour of legs of Sub- alpine Warbler, 343. Wood, J. D., Letter on Territorial Dispute between two Gold- crests, 22. Woodcock, Recovery of marked, hi, 362 ; in Inner London, 393. Woodpecker, British Green, change of name, 2 ; Recovery of marked, 107. Woodpecker, Great Spotted, as a breeding bird in the Isle of Wight, 125; and pine-cones, 147. Workman, W. H., Letter on spread of tail-feathers in Pigeon’s quick turn, 200. Wren, Incubation-period and Fledg- ing-, xo, 11 ; Recovery of marked, 334 ; Unusual singing by, 397- Wright, W. A., Notes on Tree- Sparrows nesting in drainage pipes, 1 13 ; Arctic Skua inland in Essex, 198. yarrellii, Motacilla a., see Wagtail, Pied. Yeates, G. K., Letter on Subalpine Warbler— colour of legs and Display, 343 ; Note on Ring- Ouzel taking lizard to young, 37°- 2 MAY 1939 PURCHASED THE POPULAR SERIES OF BIRD-LOVERS’ MANUALS MORE SONGS OF WILD BIRDS E. M. Nicholson and L. Koch. Illustrated. 15s. net boxed. With gramophone records of bird-song. SONGS OF WILD BIRDS E. M. Nicholson and L. Koch. Illustrated. 15s. net boxed. With gramophone records of bird-song. BIRD MIGRATION A. Landsborough Thomson. Ulus. Sm.Cr.8vo. 5s. net. HOW TO KNOW BRITISH BIRDS Norman H. Joy. Illus. Sm.Cr.8vo. 5s. net. BIRDS OF THE GREEN BELT R. M. Lockley. Illus. Sm.Cr.8vo. 5s. net. EVERY GARDEN A BIRD SANCTUARY E. L. Turner. Illus. Sm.Cr.8vo. 5s. net. H. F. & G. WITHERBY LTD., LONDON THE BIRD-LOVERS9 ROOK OF VERSE Collected by Christina Chapin, with over 30 Lino-cuts by Raphael Nelson, F.R.S.A. 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