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BRfIBHfilW)5

W ITH WHICH WAS INCORPORATED IN JANUARY, 1917, “ THE ZOOLOGIST.”

AN ILLUSTRATED MAGAZINE DEVOTED
CHIEFLY 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.

me XXXIII \

\,

■ A'

N ' ^

JUNE 1939— MAY 1940

H. F. & G. WITHERBY Ltd.

326 HIGH HOLBORN LONDON

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

PAGE

Plate I. Chart showing times of songs before sunrise
and after sunset as given by Song-Thrush
and Robin {Drawn by G. Marples) ... facing 4

Map showing Rate of Spread of the Redstart
OVER Europe during the Spring {Drawn by
H. N. Southern) ... ... ... ... 37

Chart of Day Lengths of home-roostingStarlings

{Drawn by Miss A. Morley) ... ... ... 40

Plate 2. Flower buds of Apple showing damage by

Bullfinch {Provided by J. C. F. Fryer) facing 90

Graph showing approximate annual numbers of
Black-tailed God wit {Drawn by Miss A.
Morley) 103

The Scar Rocks, Wigtownshire {Photographed

by the Rev. J. M. McWilliam) ... ... 105

Young Gannet in nest on the Scar Rocks, August
1ST, 1939 {Photographed by the Rev. T. M.
McWilliam) ... ... ... ... ... 106

Plate 3. Whinchat {Plate reprodviced from Mrs. C. L. E.

Perrott’s Selection of British Birds, 1835,
Provided by H. S. Gladstone)... ... facing 122

Title-page of Part i of Mrs. C. L. E. Perrott's
A Selection of British Birds {Provided by
H. S. Gladstone) ... ... ... ... 125

Long-tailed Duck — an adult male in breeding
PLUMAGE {Photographed by the Rev. Dr. C. E.

Raven) ... ... ... ... ... ... 139

Plate 4. Display of Slavonian Grebe {Photographed by

E. J. Hosking) ... ... ... ... facing 170

Display of Slavonian Grebe {Photographed by
E. J. Hosking) ... ... ... ... ... 171

Plate 5. Display of Slavonian Grebe {Photographed by

E. J. Hosking) ... ... ... ... facing 172

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

Abnormally Marked Guillemot seen on Handa

[Drawn by G. Salter)

Map of Black-headed Gull colonies in England
and Wales in 1938 [Drawn by P. A. U.
Hollom)

Map of Black-headed Gull colonies in England
and Wales in 1913 (Drawn by P. A. D.
Hollom)

Map showing breeding densities of Black-headed
Gull in Counties of England and M ales

Plate 6. F. C. R. Jourdain. Corsica, June, 1937
[Photographed by ]. Armitage) ...facing

Map of Island of Oigh-sgeir, North Uist, Hebrides

PAGE

180

204

205
207
286

330

Dwnsn

-BIRDS

ArtEusnvatDtvscrarc

DEyfTinHMtnyTOTHEBiRtis

'>«.CTiTi1EDHimiJSr^

MONTHiy ls9d.YEARLY 20 &
326I1HiffHOUK>Kfl2nDOM-

ftr&CWHEI\BTIJD

JUNE 1,
1939.

Vol. XXXIII.
No. 1.

TO BE PUBLISHED THIS MONTH

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.
jz6 High Holborn, London^ W.C.i

britbudirds^

r. 1 1 r ,

ISS9

UROHASEd

With which was Incorporated in January, 1917, “ The Zoologist.”

EDITED BY

H. F.WITHERBY, 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.tj., 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. XXXIII. , June i, 1939.

PAGE

Additions and Alterations to the British List. By H. F. Witherby 2
Some Notes on the Diurnal Song of Birds. By George Marples,

A.R.E., A.R.C.A., M.B.O.U. ... ... ... ... ... 4

Notes on the Lapwing and Curlew Breeding Populations of a

Cumberland Farm. By R. H. Brown ... ... ... 12

Cliff-Breeding in the House-Martin. By F. C. R. Jourdain and

H. F. Witherby ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 16

Notes : —

Blackbirds feeding on Tadpoles (Sir Cyril Hurcomb) ... ... 25

Exodus from a Breconshire Heronry (R. G. Sandeman) ... 25

Velvet-Scoter in Somerset (H. Tetley) ... ... ... ... 26

Cormorants Roosting in Trees in Dumfriesshire (Oliver

Carruthers) ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 26

Little Ringed Plover in Sussex (K. B. Rooke) ... ... 28

Iceland Guilin Surrey (D. A. T. Morgan) ... ... ... 28

Short Notes t — •

Birds at Spurn, Yorks. Spoonbills in Cornwall. Bittern perch-
ing in a Tree in Lancashire. Influx of Bewick’s Swans.
Unusual number of Smews in Somerset. Early Lapwings’
Nests in Shropshire. Black-tailed Godwits in Northumber-
land. Black Tern in Wiltshire. Kittiwake in Berkshire.

Spoonbill in Kent ... ... ... ... ... ... 29

Reviews : —

Birds as Animals. By James Fisher ... ... ... ... 30

At the Turn of the Tide. By Richard Perry ... ... ... 31

British Trust for Ornithology . Fifth Report. Spring, 1939 ... 32

Report on Somerset Birds, 1938 ... ... ... ... ... 32

Letter : —

Trapping Methods (P. A. D. Hollom) ... ... ... ... 32

A

(2)

ADDITIONS AND ALTERATIONS TO THE
BRITISH LIST.

BY

H. F. WITHERBY.

Several changes appearing in Volume II. of The Handbook
of British Birds have not previously been notified in these
pages and these are briefly referred to below. In addition
there are some changes in Volume III., and as this is about
to be published it will be convenient to refer to them here
so that the same names can be used throughout this volume
of British Birds. Further alterations agreed by the “ B.O.U.
List Committee ” are also included.

The Yellow Wagtail — Motacilla flava flavissima Blyth,
Motacilla flavissim.a Blyth, Loudon’s Mag., VIE, p. 342
(1834 — England).

instead of Motacilla flava rayi (Bp.). The possibility of a change
here was indicated in ^"ol. I. of The Handbook (p. 219, footnote)
and the B.O.U. List Committee have since accepted flavissima
as the correct name of the British Yellow Wagtail (see Ibis,
1939, pp. 137-8).

R.a.dde’s Bush-Warbler — Phylloscopus schwarzi (Radde),

instead of Herbivocitla schwarzi, see The Handbook, Vol. II.,
p. 26.

The Siberian Stonech.\t — Saxicola torquata maura (Pallas),

instead of 5. t. indica (Blyth). For reasons for this change,
see The Handbook, Vol. IF, p. 177.

The House-Martin — Delichon urbica itrbica (L).

In The Handbook (\U1. IF, p. 235) we adopted the generic
name MarUda for the House-Martin, but as will be explained
in the Preface to Vol. III. the B.O.U. List Committee has
now resolved that this name cannot properly be used. The
decision rests on the opinion that the specific name fenestra
used by Wood in conjunction with Martida and designated
by Mr. G. M. Mathews as the type of the genus is under the
Rules a nomen nudum. It therefore follows that the other
species rifaria becomes the type and MarUda becomes a
synonym of Riparia Forster, 1817, which antedates it. We
must in consequence revert to Delichon Moore, 1855, as the
generic name of the House-Martin.

VOL. XXXIII.] ADDITIONS AND ALTERATIONS.

3

The following changes will be adopted and explained in
Vol. III. of The Handbook :

The Pink-Footed Goose — Anser fabalis brackyrhynchus
Baillon,

instead of Anser brachyrhynchus as we consider the Bean- and
Pink-footed Geese to be geographical races of one species.

The Greater Snow-Goose — Anser hyperboreiis atlanticus
(Kennard),

Chen atlantica Kennard, Proc. New Engl. Zool. Club., IX.,
p. 93 (Feb. i6, 1927 — Black Bay, Princess Anne County, Virginia)

instead of Anser hyperboreus nivalis (Forster) as Mr. F. H.
Kennard has demonstrated that Forster’s description of
nivalis is insufficient to show to which form the bird belonged
and that from present knowledge of distribution Forster’s
specimens were probably of the lesser form.

The Canada Goose — Branta canadensis canadensis (L.).

An.\s canadensis Linnaeus, Syst. Nat., ed. X., i., p. 123 {1758 —
“ Habitat in Canada ”).

This we add to the list on the grounds that though originally
introduced it has lived many years in a feral state in many
parts of the country {vide antea, Vol. XXXII, p. 119).

Aythya Boie, Tagebuch Reise Norwegen, pp. 308 and 351
(1822 — Monotype Aythya marila—Anas marila L.),

is to be used instead of Nyroca for the generic name of the
Common Pochard, Ferruginous Duck, Tufted Duck and
Scaup-Duck.

Melanitta Boie, Tagebuch Reise Norwegen, pp. 291 and 351
(1822— Type by subsequent designation of Eyton, 1838,
Anas fusca L.),

is to be used instead of Oidemia for the Scoters.

These two names replace Nyroca Fleming and Oidemia
Fleming, Philosophy of Zoology published in the same year.
It has now been clearly proved that Boie’s Tagebuch antedates
Fleming. In an article by himself in the Isis No. 5 (May), 1822,
Boie refers to his Tagebuch so that it must have been published
prior to this. On the other hand, Fleming’s Philosophy was
entered at Stationers’ Hall on June 28th, and it must have
been published subsequent to that date in order to comply
with the law of copyright at that time.

(4)

SOME NOTES ON THE DIURNAL SONG
OF BIRDS.

BY

GEO. MARPLES, a.r.e., ..^.r.c.a., m.b.o.u.

(Plate I.)

Mr. H. G. Alexander in his invaluable paper on the “ Song
of Birds” {antea, Vol. XXIX, pp. 190-8) dealt with, as it may
be called, the “longitudinal aspect ” of the subject, that is
to say with the duration of song between the beginning and
end of the year. The following notes contain an effort to
present another phase of the matter, one dealing with the
times birds begin their songs in the morning and cease singing
at night. This may be termed, in contrast to Alexander’s
“ longitudinal aspect,” a “ transverse view,” the “ diurnal ”
as distinct from the “ annual ” one.

For some years I have practised the habit of rising before
the sun with the object of noting the times at which various
species of birds begin to sing. This I have done on more than
150 occasions and have noted the vocal efforts of 51 species.
As a complement to this I have recorded the times at the
other end of the day when birds cease their singing.

The accompanying chart gives two specimen sets of times
in detail showing the commencing and the ceasing to sing
on the part of the Song-Thrush {Turdus e. ericdorum) and
the Robin {Erith'acus r. melophilus) .

A few words in explanation of the chart may be useful.
The two lines labelled respectively “ sunrise ” and “ sunset ”
are datum lines to which the times of beginning and ending
song are related. The figures above the “ sunrise ” line show
the exact times in minutes before sunrise when a Song-Thrush,
or a Robin, gave its first song of the day on which the observa-
tion was made. Similarly the figures below the line marked
“ sunset ” show the same thing with regard to the last songs
given by birds of these two species before going to roost. A
vertical line joining a “ sunrise ” song-figure to a " sunset ”
song-figure serves to emphasize the length of diurnal song on
that particular date. One may hope that the line connects
the time of beginning and of ending of the full day’s singing
of the same bird, but without any certainty. The months
and days of the month on which the observations were made
are given above the song-times. The times of sunrise and
sunset to which the records relate are throughout to be
understood as those given in Whitaker’ s Almanack which are

Britisli Birds, Vol. XXXIIX,, PI. i

SONG THRUSH.

JANUAHV. t-tBRUAKV. NURCH. APRIL, MAY. JUNE, JULY. SEPT.ItKI

S 7 II JO IS JO Jl I J i 4 S M 2J JS I J J 4 S 7 » II l» 20 11 J2 23 24 25 26 17 2t I 2 3 4 S 6 8 9 II 13 M IS 17 19 10 II 22 13 24 25 16 27 28 29 I 3 S 6 7 8 IS 18 17 ID 21 22 21 26 29 20 I 2 2 < 5 6 7 8 9 >0 II 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 23 24 25 24 27 27 28 29 30 1 5 9 27 28 29 II 23

SUNRISE -
SUNSET —

4 V 4 I 4 6 4 8

70 7273

5 2 5 0 5 65 8s ,59 jS 57

5 » 5 7 .

40 46 4749 ^5

ROBIN'.

I

SUNRISE >
SUNSET —

FEBRUARY,

2 3 4 5 14 23 U

APRIL.

I 2 3 5 6 7 8 9 10 II 13 14 17 21 23 24 2S 26 27 2B 29

3 6 J J) J 3 6

25 25 38]4

‘ * 13 6 T

LP

'4 3 4 040

MAY.

3 S 7 I

» 2 7

#

JULY,

I 2 7 9 12 16 24 30 31

AUGUST.

6 8 12 14 IS IB 22 14 30

3 1 3 1 V J 5 i.6 3

SEPT.

5 26 27 29

Times in minutes of
SONGS BEFORE SUNRISli:
and

SONGS AFTER SUNSET
as given by
SONG-THRUSH
[Tuydtis e. ericetorum)
and

ROBIN

{Erithacus r. melophilus)
by

George Marples

VOL. XXXIII.] NOTES ON DIURNAL SONG.

5

Greenwich Mean Time and all records are “ real ” time not
“ summer ” time.

Most of the observations were made in my garden in south
Hampshire which accounts for the somewhat restricted
number of species appearing in my notes. But some recording
was done in the Inverness district of Scotland where, owing
to the fact that the sun rises earlier in the north than on the
meridian of Greenwich, the birds seem to start singing at a
much earlier hour than in the south of England. It was
necessary, therefore, in order to arrive at a correct relation
between sunrise and the songs to make an adjustment which
would bring all song-times of the northern birds into relation
with Greenwich times of sunrise and sunset. This was done
by deducting the appropriate number of minutes. As an
example, the average time the Blackbird [Ttirdiis m. merula)
began to sing in Inverness-shire was 63.35 niinutes before
sunrise as compared with the average for the same species
of 40.46 minutes in Hampshire. After the adjustment men-
tioned had been made it was found that the actual average
time of commencement of the Scottish bird was 47.04 minutes
before sunrise, but this, curiously enough, is still distinctly
earlier by yh minutes than the time of beginning at the more
southern station.

Some particulars must now be given of the species which
do not appear on the chart. These fall into groups having
different singing habits. With some their first songs were
always sung before sunrise. On the other hand the first songs
of others were never heard until after sunrise. Another group
failed entirely to relate their first songs to the rising of the
sun for they began to sing before that event on some days and,
on others, tuned up after the sun had risen. Then again
others were heard singing not only in the daytime but through-
out the night also.

It was observed too that similar grouping was repeated
at the end of day in relation to sunset.

Of the early singers, which began in the grey light of the
coming day, I found that the Blackbird, Song-Thrush and
Wood-Pigeon {Columba p. paliimhts) closely competed for
the distinction of being the first member of the well-known
“ dawn-chorus ” to sing, for 96 records of the Blackbird
showed this bird commencing to sing, on an average, 43.76
minutes before sunrise, while 107 records of the Song-Thrush
gave 42.73 minutes and 56 records of the Wood-Pigeon
42.35 minutes as their average time of beginning. The Robin
was found to come next with an average time of commencing

6

BRITISH BIRDS.

[vOL. XXXIII.

of 34.04 minutes before sunrise as shown by 73 records and
then the Mistle-Thrush {Turdns v. viscivoi'us), whose 40 records
gave its time of beginning as an average of 32.47 minutes.

It may be noted that the Blackbird, Song-Thrush and Robin
are species which invariably sang their hrst song before
sunrise and in this way they differed from other species. It
was intriguing to find that these birds disclosed the same
idiosyncrasy, but reversed, at the end of the day, for they
always gave their last song after sunset.

After the five species mentioned above had taken the

lead in beginning to sing, others

then sang

their first song

in the following order ; —

Average time in

Name of Bird.

No. of

minutes of

records.

beginning before

sunrise.

Turtle-Dove [Streptopelia t. tiirtur)

8

27

Pheasant (Phasianns colchicus)

33

2336

Willow-Warbler [Phylloscopus t. trochilus)

13

22.46

Wren (Troglodytes t. troglodytes)

69

21.55

Great Tit (Pams ni. newtoni)

27

17-44

House-Sparrow (Passer d. doynesticiis)

33

16.62

Bullfinch (Pyrrhula p. nesa)

2

12.5

Green Woodpecker (Picus v. phivius)

10

12.3

Blue Tit (Partis c. obsciirus)

2

9-5

Chaffinch (Fringilla c. gengleri)

13

8.69

Whitethroat (Sylvia c. communis) ...

3

6.66

In addition to these species were

others

which, though

they may or may not be regarded

as

‘ singers,” made vocal

testimony to their presence before

sunrise. These were noted

as beginning to sing in this order :

—

Average time in

No. of

minutes of

Name of Bird.

records.

beginning before

sunrise.

Black-headed Gull (Lams r. ridibitndus)

1

80.71

Mallard (Anas. p. platyrhyncha)

2

69.5

Common Sandpiper (Tringa hypoleucos)

3

63.66

Heron (Ardea c. cinerea)

2

61.5

Herring-Gull (Larus a. argentatus) ...

3

59

Carrion-Crow [Corvus c. corone)

3

30

Moor-hen [Gallinula ch. chloropus)

13

28

Rook (Corvus f. frugilegus)

27

18.03

(Pica p. pica)

7

17.57

Jackdaw (Corvus m. spermologus) ...

2

6

It should be pointed out that these birds, with the exception
of the Sandpiper, Moor-hen and Magpie, have their roosting
or nesting places some miles away, hence it is almost certain
that their earliest vocalization of the day would be earlier
than the times they were first heard from the garden.

VOL. xxxiii.J NOTES ON DIURNAL SONG.

7

Several smaller species may now be quoted which began
much earlier than any of the species already mentioned, for
they started to sing in the darkness of the small hours.
Unfortunately as regards two of these, the records are meagre
for the birds are not commonly to be heard. Thus, the
Reed-Warbler {Acrocephalus s. scirpaceus) , of which I secured
two records, began to sing, as the average of these reveals,
at 76 minutes before sunrise, its earliest time being 106 minutes,
while the Reed-Bunting {Emberiza s. schceniclus) began
48 minutes before sunrise. Also the Yellow Bunting’s
{Emberiza c. citrinella) “ Little bit of bread and no cheese ”
was sung on one occasion at 73 minutes, while the average
of 8 records show it as beginning at 50.25 minutes before
sunrise.

Though these birds started to sing so early they were easily
beaten by the Sky-Lark {Alanda a. arvensis), of which I took
30 records. The first of these was at 124 minutes before
sunrise and the average was at 98.52 minutes. Sky-Larks are
well known as very early singers ; often they may be heard
pouring out their song in concert when it is quite dark.

But to me the astonishing and entirely unexpected voice
to be heard in the darkness was that of the Hedge-Sparrow
{Prunella m. occidentalis) of whose early singing I made
43 records, which give an average of 55.56 minutes before
sunrise for commencing. Among these records was one of a
song given on an April day 225 minutes before sunrise, that
is, about I o’clock in the morning. This effort, together with
II other songs heard respectively at the early times of 195,
180, 177, 94, 83, 76, 74, 67, 66 and 64 minutes, may be held
dehnitely to place the Hedge-Sparrow in the category of
“ singers of the night ” along with the Nightingale, Sedge-
\\'arbler and other “ aquatic ” warblers.

There is yet another group of early vocalists to be chronicled.
One or other of these birds was to be heard at almost any
time before or after midnight during the breeding-season
though, saving one perhaps, they are not usually regarded as
night-singers. This exception is the Nightjar {Caprimiilgus
e. europceus), which, decidedly as its name implies, comes into
this category. I have heard its curious song as early as
15 1 minutes before sunrise and also at 132 minutes after
sunset.

Of the others belonging to this group the Lapwing {Vanellus
vanellus) not only “ calls ” but gives its courting song and
characteristic display-flight intermittently through the night.
It is a most uneasy bird, never quiet. Notes I have made

8

BRITISH BIRDS.

[VOL. XXXIII.

on 10 occasions show this plover as singing its first song, on an
average 100.5 rninutes before sunrise, the earliest being at
195 minutes. Four records taken near the close of day give
an average of last singing as 92.25 minutes after sunset with
139 minutes as the latest.

A Snipe {Capella g. gallinago) was chronicled as “ bleating ”
at midnight and 3 other records of this bird are first perform-
ances given at 196, 73 and 69 minutes before sunrise.

The Curlew [Numonus a. arquata) was noted 15 times as
calling, on an average at 85. 53 minutes before sunrise while
its congener, the Whimbrel {N. ph. phceopus) was noticed
once only, at 127 minutes before.

The Oystercatcher [Hcematopus 0. occicientalis) was often
heard very early in the day giving its distinctive “ whittering,’'
the first of these being heard 156 minutes before sunrise. Six
records taken of this bird’s song give a before-sunrise average
for beginning as 120.16 minutes.

The Cuckoo {Cucuhis c. canorus) is almost as much a bird
of the night as the Nightjar, so early and late does it sing.
The earliest song in my notes was 316 minutes before sunrise,
and the latest no minutes after sunset, the average of
51 before-sunrise commencings being 86.39 mhiutes.

A Land-Rail {Crex c. crex) was noted one evening to sing
(except for a “ crake ” dropped at long intervals), without
cessation until midnight, at which hour I, unfortunately, fell
asleep. On waking at 3 a.m. I found the bird still singing as
though it had never stopped through the small hours. About
sunrise inter-spaces occurred in the song, these continued and
increased in length until the bird was “craking ” only at
longish intervals. These intervals extended until about 7 a.m.
in broad daylight, when the song was abandoned altogether.
Records made of the first and last singing of other Land-Rails
were 176 and 151 minutes before sunrise and 88 and 96 minutes
after sunset.

With regard to these morning singers it was found that
certain species were never heard to sing before sunrise ; the
Starling {Sturnus v. vulgaris) was one of these, its earliest
song noted being at 9.5 minutes after sunrise. The Goldfinch
[Carduelis c. britannica) sang next, its average time of
commencing being 12.66 minutes after sunrise. The Greenfinch
{Chloris ch. chloris) began to sing, on an average, 7 minutes
later. The Nuthatch {Sitta e. affinis) was the last of this
group to begin, its average time for the first song of the day
being 30.66 minutes after sunrise.

And so, with this late group having begun, the day’s

VOL. XXXIII.] NOTES ON DIURNAL SONG.

9

singing was in full swing ; it continued until, as sunset
approached, one species and then another began to close down
for the night.

The last song of the day of any bird is not so easy to
chronicle as is its first, consequently on this phase of my
subject my information is less complete. Nevertheless I
secured sufficient observations to realize that a reverse order
of singing occurred at the close of the day. That is to say,
species which began their songs before sunrise were the
birds which continued their singing until after sunset. Similarly
those species which were noted as commencing their song
after sunrise seem to bring their singing to a close before
sunset. And the birds which started their singing in the dark-
ness of early morn sang on until darkness set in towards night.

From this, just as Alexander has shown the annual duration
of song as varying in length with different species, so, it is
evident, certain birds have a diurnal duration of song more
extended than that of others. In the case of annual song,
climatic influence, the approach of the breeding-season and
the effect of the moult seem disposing factors. But reasons
for differences in duration of diurnal song are not so apparent.
The stimulating effect of the dawning light is probably of
importance, though this suggestion does not cover all the
ground. It does not make clear, for example, the cause of the
night vocalization of so many birds of different types. Nor
does it throw any light on the difference in the duration of the
diurnal singing of, say, the Sky-Lark and Chaffinch, both
alike in being birds of remarkable energy.

The birds which I observed as ending their song-period
before sunset were the Starling, whose average of 3 last-song
records was 9.33 minutes before, the Greenfinch, which
finished on an average at 24 minutes, the Goldfinch at 31.5
minutes a'nd the Nuthatch at 35 minutes before sunset. It is
of interest to compare these times of ceasing song with the
times of beginning song of the same birds as already related.

Other species belonging to the group of those completing
their song-period before sunset were the Great Tit whose
average time was at 28.75, Bullfinch at 28, Whitethroat at 27,
House-Sparrow at 24.66, Blue Tit at 15.2 and Chaffinch at 12 ;
all minutes before sunset.

Some species were found, as in the morning, to be without
any regular routine, for sometimes their song ended before,
and, at other times, after sunset. Among these irregulars
were the Mistle-Thrush, Wood-Pigeon, Green Woodpecker,
Willow- Warbler, Hedge-Sparrow and Turtle-Dove.

I

10 BRITISH BIRDS. [vol. xxxiii.

Tlie three birds, Blackbird, Song-Tlirush and Robin, |]
referred to as always giving their hrst song before sunrise
and never after, were appropriately enough, found to give
their last song after sunset and never before. Of the evening
song of the hrst of these birds I took 21 records which show
that the Blackbird always continued to sing until quite late,
its average time of closing down being at 35.38 minutes after
sunset. Once, however, a Blackbird’s last song was recorded
at 88 minutes after sunset.

The average time the Song-Thrush ceased after sunset as
shown by 31 records was 34.69 minutes, and a ver}^ late song
was given at 67 minutes. The Robin as shown by 29 records
had an average time of ceasing of 33.13 after sunset ; the
latest song heard was just over i-l hours after sunset.

The unlovely song of Swift {Apiis a. apus) was heard as
late as 69, 75 and 75 minutes after sunset.

By comparing the times of evening-ending of Blackbird,
Song-Thrusli and Robin songs with the times of their morning-
commencing, it will be seen that, like the after-sunrise singers,
they adopt the reverse order at night. Other species chronicled
as singing very early in the morning were found to carry on
their singing very late at night. The Cuckoo, for instance,
ceased, as 16 records show, on an average at 69 minutes after
sunset. But this bird was not the latest of this group by
any means, for tlie Land-Rail was recorded as singing at
88 and 96, the Sky-Lark at 64, 82 and 124, the Snipe as
“ bleating ” at 58, 82 and 118, and the Curlew as having been
heard at 97, 122, 131 and 132 minutes after sunset ; all these
being last songs of the day. *

So far nothing has been said about Owls. Of these only two
species were heard from my garden — the Tawny Owl {Strix
a. sylvatica) and tlie Little Owl [Athene n. vidalii). As befits
a night bird the former sings all through the darkness, though
intermittently. But although it is said to be “ essentially
nocturnal ” this Owl, on occasion, will sing after sunrise
and even when it is full day. Among the times noted of a
number of these daylight-songs was one given 171 minutes
after sunrise ! As for the Little Owl, being mostly diurnal in
its habits, it usually sings or calls at intervals through
the day ; still, it may, not uncommonly, be heard in the night.

I have 8 records of this being done at times ranging from
25 minutes after sunset to 171 minutes before sunrise. And
one night T heard a Little Owl singing at intervals from

11 p.m. until dawn and being answered in like manner by,
at least, two others.

VOL. XXXIII.] NOTES ON DIURNAL SONG.

11

How far the vocal efforts of many of the birds under review
may be considered as “ song ” is perhaps a moot point and
this is not the occasion for a discussion of its merits, but,
in any case, those I have mentioned seemed to be more
signihcant than “ calls ” or “ cries ” for they range from the
short, challenging “ crow ” of the Pheasant and the “ scream ”
of the Swift, through the brief, accepted “ song-bursts ” of
the Wren and Chaffinch, to the drawn-out formless, but
indubitable “ singing ” of the Song-Thrush and Nightingale.

In this connection attention may be drawn to the curious
fact that all Blackbird records made in January and February,
with one exception, related to “ tickings ” which never
developed into true song. And that the same thing was
revealed at the end of the season when all records made in
August and September, again with the exception of one
song, related to “ tickings " also.

Stress has been laid on the early singing of the Hedge-
Sparrow. Attention may also be called to the odd circum-
stance that on April 8th, 1938, a Wood-Pigeon was heard
abnormally to sing nearly three hours (173 minutes) before
the sun had risen. And that on March 23rd, a Blackbird began
to sing at 79 minutes before sunrise, there being a full moon
by way of incitement. On another, but moonless occasion,
a Blackbird was noted singing at 88 minutes after sunset.

Other unusual vocal happenings noted were : Herring-Gulls
calling, inland, at 98 minutes before sunrise ; a Carrion-Crow
croaking at 74 minutes, a Heron vociferous at 80 minutes, a
Mallard “ quarking " at 81 minutes, and a Rook cawing at
94 minutes after sunset.

(12)

NOTES ON THE LAPWING AND CURLEW
BREEDING POPULATIONS
OF A CUMBERLAND FARM.

BY

K. H. BROWN.

During 1937 and 1938 a census was undertaken of the
Lapwings {Vanellus vanelliis) and Curlews [Numenius a.
arquata) breeding on an area of farm-land in Cumberland
extending to 650 acres or approximately one square mile.
This area is about three hundred feet above sea-level, and
lies within a “ ring fence ” as it is encircled by a third-class
country road. The larger half of the land is permanent
pasture ; about one-sixth is meadow ; the remainder is
ploughed out in a five-year to seven-year rotation according
as to how long the land lies down in grass. The soil is clay.
The fields are divided by hawthorn hedges with numerous
oaks and ash growing in them, whilst scattered alders fringe
the banks of a little stream that meanders through the area.
Except for a copse of oaks and beech and odd pines extending
to half-acre adjacent to a farmhouse and supporting a breeding
colony of Rooks [Corvus f. fmgilegus) the area is e.xclusively
agricultural.

Lapwing.

In 1937 fifty-one pairs of Lapwings and twelve pairs of
Curlews bred or attempted to breed within this area whilst
in 1938 forty-seven pairs of Lapwings and ten pairs of Curlews
bred or attempted to breed.

In both years twelve fields, consisting of permanent pasture
or meadow and aggregating over one hundred acres, held no
breeding pairs of Lapwings, whilst several large fields of
permanent pasture or meadow held only one or two pairs.
Thus a permanent pasture of thirty acres held one breeding
pair each year, whilst a meadow of eighteen acres held two
pairs in 1937 and one pair in 1938. The heaviest density of
breeding pairs was found each year on the cornfields or the
fallow-fields to be worked for turnips. A grass field of twenty-
three acres that had not been ploughed out for twenty years
was limed and ploughed out in the spring of 1937 and sown
with oats. Twelve pairs of Lapwings nested in this field, and
the following spring, when it was worked and sown with
turnips, ten pairs nested. When this field was in grass it
never carried more than three or four pairs of breeding
Lapwings. An adjacent grass field of twenty-five acres,
that had not been ploughed out for seventy years, was limed

VOL. XXXIII ] BREEDING POPULATIONS.

13

and ploughed and sown with oats in the spring of 1938 and
it held ten pairs. When in grass two or three pairs nested in
it. Four pairs nested each year in an eight-acre field that
was sown with turnips in 1937 and with oats in 1938. The
smallest field that supported Lapwings was a four-acre field
of oats that held one pair. These fields supported the heaviest
density of breeding pairs. Other corn and fallow fields,
apparently just as suitable as breeding areas, carried fewer
pairs. Thus a field of twenty-five acres, sown with turnips
in 1937 and with oats in 1938, carried five pairs each year ;
another field of fifteen acres, similarly sown, supported two
pairs each year.

In general. Lapwings rarely nest in clover-hay fields, no
doubt due to the fact that in a forward spring it is difficult
for the nestlings to make their way through the tangled
clover stems and long grasses. In backward springs they will
occasionally use clover-hay fields for breeding purposes but
the nestlings are led out of the field as soon as possible. In
1937 no pairs were found breeding in five clover-hay fields
aggregating seventy acres, but in the exceptionally dry spring
of 1938, with considerable frost at night retarding the growth
of vegetation, two pairs nested in a fifteen-acre clover-hay field.
The previous spring, when sown with oats, this field supported
five pairs.

When the nestlings hatch out in cornfields many pairs
immediately lead them into neighbouring pasture fields.
A few pairs keep them in the cornfields until the corn reaches
a certain length when they, too, forsake the fields, evidently
regarding the cornfields at this stage in the same light as
they regard clover-hay fields. In 1937 two pairs hatched out
two nestlings each in a nine-acre turnip-field and both pairs kept
their young in the turnip-field until they were feathered.
In 1938 two pairs nested in a ten-acre turnip-field, the two
nests being thirty-eight yards apart ; each pair hatched out
four nestlings and within twenty-four hours of hatching
each pair had led their downy chicks into neighbouring
pasture fields. Ten days later the cock of one pair led two
nestlings back into the turnip-field, where they remained
another fortnight, and were then led into a meadow hayfield
that was in haycock.

In 1937 two nests in a cornfield were eighteen yards apart and
in 1938 two nests in a fallow-field were thirty yards apart.

Curlew.

Unlike the Lapwing the Curlew commonly nests in clover-
hay fields and in both years the majority of nesting pairs

14

BRITISH BIRDS.

[VOL. XXXIII.

were found in these fields or else in meadows, usually one pair
to a field, although in 1937 two pairs were found breeding in a
fifteen-acre clover-hay field. No pair was found breeding in
either year in a cornfield or fallow-field or a well-drained
pasture field and in general the birds only feed in clover-hay
or meadow or pasture fields. The exception to this was seen
during April and May of 1938 when owing to the continued
drought the grass and clover fields were as hard as metal
roadways and the birds could only probe their long bills
in the looser earth of the newly harrowed or cultivated corn
or fallow fields. As a result of the hardness of the ground
the birds were unable to scrape out their nesting hollows,
which they hollow with their feet, and although ten pairs
frequented this area in early May when the census was
undertaken only four pairs hatched out nestlings, the other
pairs forsaking the area by the end of May. Each year several
apparently suitable meadows and rough pastures held no
breeding pairs yet within two miles a flock of fifty to sixty
Curlews frequented during May and June of both years a
large area of derelict woodland overgrown with heather
and self-sown silver birches.

When the nestlings hatch they and the adults lead a
wandering life from one grass field to another. Frequently
the family party splits up, one adult looking after two nestlings,
tlie other adult the other two. They may not unite again
until the nestlings are about feathered by which time there
is probably only one or two young left. The majority of dogs
can scent and run down the nestlings in a grass field. One nip
from a dog’s sharp teeth and the nestling is killed. In districts
where foxes are common they take toll of the nestling Curlews.
One day in mid- June, about noon, a fox was watched,
obviously searching for nestling Curlews in a meadow hayfield
where annually one pair of Curlews breed. Six Curlews
were flying around above the fox, calling repeatedly, and
swooping down at it whilst another adult, presumably the
breeding hen, was flapping along the ground evidently trying
to distract the fox’s attention. As I had a dog with me I set
it after the fox and thus scared it out of the field but I imagine
that during a summer’s night, a prowling fox will often scent
and run down a nestling Curlew.

Although both Lapwings and Curlews commonly hatch
out four nestlings, yet the average brood reared by either
species seldom exceeds two young and with many pairs it is
only one young. The heaviest mortality amongst the nestlings
of both species occurs whilst they are in the small downy

VOL. XXXIII.] BREEDING POPULATIONS.

15

stage ; if the adults are kept off the nestlings during cold wet
weather many die from exposure. When the downy nestlings
are led from one field to another, and this often involves cross-
ing a gutter on one side of the hedge and scrambling up the
hedge-bank then underneath the hedge and down the opposite
bankside one nestling or occasionally two may get lost and
left behind and provided the adult has one or two nestlings
with her she does not trouble about the others. This is
especially the case with the Lapwing ; as regards the Curlew,
when the family party splits up each adult has only one or
two nestlings to look after and can usually lead them from
field to field without overlooking one. A pair of Lapwings
hatched out four nestlings in a turnip field ; as soon as the
down of two was dry the hen led them, by calling, into a
neighbouring pasture field. The other two were left, calling
repeatedly, in the nest hollow and during an afternoon of
five hours the hen never returned to them. Finally I carried
the two nestlings into the pasture field and placed them
beside the others, otherwise they would apparently have
been left to die in the nest. Hawks and the several species
of the crow family take their toll of the nestlings of both
species as well as stoats and weasels. On two occasions a
stoat has been seen with a nestling Lapwing in its mouth and
pursued by all the breeding adults of that field. Cattle and
horses kill a certain number of nestlings through walking
on them or galloping over them. Usually both Lapwings and
Curlews will lead their nestlings out of a grass field if several
horses are regularly grazed there.

I

(16)

CLIFF-BREEDING IN THE HOUSE-MARTIN.

BY

F. C. R. JOURDAIN and H. F. ^YITHERBY.

In response to the editorial appeal {antea, Vol. XXXII, p. iiS)
for information on cliff-breeding in the House-Martin {Delichon
u. urbica) a number of observers have sent in records. From
these it is obvious that breeding under natural conditions is
far more extensive than was previously suspected, and many
reports have been received from England, Wales and the
Isle of Man and a certain number from Scotland and Ireland.
It is, however, probable that the extent to which this species
breeds in cliffs in the two latter countries is as yet imperfectly
known owing to the comparatively small number of observers,
and present-day notes from many parts of Scotland and Ireland
are wanting.

In the following paper we have given a summary of the
observations, followed by the detailed reports under each
county. For convenience the counties have been arranged in
the order of the Watsonian Provinces and the information
under each county includes the details culled from published
sources, which are given first, together with dates, followed in
a separate paragraph by the notes sent in by correspondents.
To distinguish further the two sources of information the
names of the latter are given in italic type.

We are much indebted to Mr. P. A. D. Hollom for assistance
in extracting and collating the records.

England and Wales.

In summarizing the results of this inquiry it is more con-
venient to deal with England and W’ales first, as having been
more effectively worked than Scotland or Ireland. Out of
the 54 counties and vice-counties cliff-breeding has been
recorded in the following : Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Hants
(Isle of Wight only), Sussex, Kent, Surrey, Norfolk, Stafford,
Glamorgan, Pembroke, Cardigan, Carnarvon, Anglesey,
Derby, East and West Yorks, Northumberland, Cumberland
and the Isle of Man. It will at once be noticed that all these
counties are maritime, with the exception of Surrey, Stafford,
W. Yorks and Derby. The only Surrey record dates back
to 1900 and relates to isolated nests in chalk quarries. The
Stafford record is nearly half a century old and seems to need
confirmation from the workers of to-day. Modern evidence
of inland cliff breeding all relates to W. Yorks and Derby.

Leaving these for further consideration later on, and

VOL. XXXIII.]

CLIFF-BREEDING.

17

returning to the maritime counties, it becomes clear that the
absence of records from the remaining coastal districts is
due to the partial or total absence of sea-cliffs in most cases.
The low-lying coasts of Essex, Suffolk, most of Norfolk,
Lincoln, Gloucester, Cheshire and nearly all Lancashire are
necessarily e.xcluded. Some of the Welsh coastal counties
may yet prove to be inhabited, but have not been closely
worked. There are on the other hand a number of inland
counties from which no records are available, but which
provide numerous possible sites. Among these we may
mention Brecon, Radnor, Montgomery, Denbigh, Monmouth,
E. Lancashire and M'estmorland. It is, of course, possible
that colonies may be discovered here, but it is certainly
remarkable that the only two districts where this habit has
been known and recorded for many years past are both in
the middle of England, roughly about 6o miles from the most
northerly to the most southerly locality and yet separated
by about 40 miles of country, much of it apparently c]uite
suitable and yet as far as cliff-breeding is concerned,
uninhabited.

In the case of our coastal breeding birds there seems to be
no connexion between breeding and any particular type of
geological formation ; the sites may range from tertiary (mud
cliffs) to secondary (cretaceous and Jurassic), primary (mill-
stone grit, carboniferous limestone, old Red Sandstone,
Silurian, etc.) and also igneous rocks. The inland colonies
are mainly on the carboniferous limestone in the Derbyshire
Wye and Derwent valleys and on the limestone (possibly
also on millstone grit) in the dales of the Aire and Wharfe.

Scotland.

It will be noted that although the great majority of the
records come from the coast, breeding also has been established
in Perth far inland as well as in a few other cases up valleys
at no great distance from the sea. None of these records are
recent and some date back over 30 years.

Ireland.

Here our records are probably very imperfect, but R. J.
Ussher’s summary {Birds Ireland, 1900) no doubt still holds
good : that the great cliffs on the west coast are too much
exposed to the Atlantic storms to be colonized, though the
more sheltered parts of the Ulster, Leinster and Munster
coasts are inhabited at many points. Limestone cliffs seem
to have a special attraction for the species, though sandstone
is also recorded.

B

18

BRITISH BIRDS.

[VOL. XXXIII.

With regard to the nest-sites, there is considerable variation
and generalization is difficult. Cliffs fully exposed to prevalent
gales are avoided. In one case (in Co. Cork) where the cliff
faced south-west, it was protected on the east and north.
A distinct preference is indicated in the records for cliffs
wliich have some degree of oi’erhang. Where this is not present
the nests are often built under the shelter of projecting ledges
of rock. Where large caverns or recesses exist at the foot of a
range of cliffs, the nests may be placed against the roof, so
long as it is high enough to be out of reach of spray. The
height from the ground seems to be very variable. Many
sites are quite inaccessible, high np on overhung cliffs, some-
times with caves at the foot ; others have been recorded
within arm’s reach of a man standing at the cliff foot. Probably
the higher sites, which naturally are not always available,
are preferred where high winds and consefjuent rough seas,
are prevalent.

ENGL.\ND AND WALES.

Province I. — Cornwall, Devon and Somerset (nil).

Cornwall. About 30 years ago many were nesting on the cliffs
about 4 miles south of Helston {E. Herbert). At the Lizard there were
5 nests in 1938 about 18 ft. from the top of a 50 ft. cliff, placed beneath
small overhangs [B. T. Brooker, H. A. K. Cawkell). Near St. Anthony
lighthouse, Falmouth, a small colony has existed for at least four years
on black shale cliffs. There were eleven occupied nests in 1935, seven
in 1937 ^ud five in 1938. They were built under an overhang about
20 ft. above the shore (A. Farrant).

Devon. J. Gatcombe (ZooL, 1872, p. 3168) states that they breed
on cliffs at Seaton and Beer Head and probably Berry Head, Tor Bay.
C. Young {op. c., 1883, p. 34) also records their breeding at Berry Head,
and W. S M. D’CTban and 'SI. A. Mathew {Birds Devon, 1895) state
that they breed on the cliffs at Beer, Teignmouth, Wembur\' and
Berry Head. M'. E. H. Pidsley {Birds Devon, 1891) states that Rawson
noticed them breeding between Dawlish and Starcross.

Upwards of 30 nests in 1919 beneath overhung slabs of rock and
on the adjacent perpendicular face of the cliffs at Man Sands, Bri.xham
{J. E. S. Dallas). In 1908 young were being fed in nests on the face
of I’eak Hill, Sidmouth. In 1923 there were some nests built of red mud,
difficult to see on the red cliffs of Ladram Bay, a few miles west of
Sidmouth {F. L. Blathwayt). In 1929 about 15 nests Ladram Bay,
but they gradually decreased and are perhaps now extinct there
(IF. Walmesley White). few pairs have nested regularly for past
ten years in a high, shallow cave in the cliffs west of the mouth of the
R. Yealm {G. M. Spooner).

Province II. — Wilts (nil), Dorset, Hants .\nd Sussex.

Dorset. Were nesting certainly before 189400 the cliff at Arishmell,
mentioned by Dr. J. Huxley {antea, Vol. XXXII, p. 118) {F . L. Blath-
wayt, H. IF. Mapleton-Bree) ; here 8 nests in 1935, 10 in 1936. .\lso
breeds east side Worbarrow Tout, manv nests 1936 (S. Smith). In

VOL. XXXIII.]

CLIFF-BREEDING.

19

1924 and subsequent years one or two nests on the stone (not chalk)
clifi above “ Mouse Hole ” immediately west of Lulworth Cove
(T. G. Longstaff) . Nesting in one or two places on the oolitic limestone
cliffs of Portland [John Armitage) . Nest on cliff wall (Purbeck marble)
between Swanage and Kinneridge (C. I. Evans).

Hampshire (Isle of Wight). J. E. Kelsall and P. W. Munn
[Birds Hants, 1905) state that they have been noted by Poole to nest
under ledges of the cliffs at Small Hope Cliff, Shanklin and by Munn
at Dunnose and Freshwater, “ and indeed they are found on most
of the island cliffs.” R. H. Fox [Nat. Hist. Isle of Wight, 1906) also
notes that many nest at the Culvers and freely on cliffs in the Island,
both sand and chalk.

Sussex. J. Walpole-Bond [Hist. Birds Sussex, 1938) states that a
few nest in sea-cliffs, usually under excrescences however slight, and
that he never found them in chalk-pits and cuttings inland.

A few years ago Martins nested regularly on the big (inland) chalk-
cliffs just outside Lewes near the Eastbourne road. Up-to-date
information is lacking [D. W. Musselwhite) .

Province HI. — Kent, Surrey, Essex (nil), Herts (nil), Middlesex
(nil), Berks (nil), Oxon (nil) and Bucks (nil).

Kent. N. F. Ticehurst [Hist. Birds Kent, 1909) believed that a
considerable number bred in cliff's east of Dover, but his observations
were limited and required confirmation.

A nest was seen on the cliffs at Dover about 40 years ago before
the present harbour was built [H. A. Gilbert).

Surrey. J. A. Bucknill [Birds Surrey, 1900) states that the nest is
not unfrequently affixed to projecting ledges in chalk quarries, the
material in these cases consisting of pow'dered chalk and the nests
consequently difficult to see.

Province IV. — Suffolk (nil), Norfolk, Cambridge (nil), Bedford
(nil), Huntingdon (nil) and Northampton (nil).

Norfolk. H. Stevenson [Birds Norfolk, 1866) records one instance
of a nest at Hunstanton in the face of the chalk cliff.

Province V. — Gloucester (nil), Monmouth (nil), Hereford (nil),
Worcester (nil), Warwick (nil), Stafford and Salop (nil).

Staffordshire. A. M. McAldowie [Birds Staffs, 1893) states that
the rugged cliffs and castellated rocks formed by the millstone grit
of N. Staffs are favourite nesting-places and that along the Roaches
especially hundreds breed annually. There is no reference to this
colony by J. R. B. Masefield [Viet. Hist. Stafford, 1908).

Province VI. — Glamorgan, Brecon (nil), Radnor (nil), Carmarthen
(nil), Pembroke .\nd Cardigan.

Glamorgan. At least two fair-sized colonies on the coastal cliffs
between Porthkerry and Rhoose (G. C. S. Ingram and H. M. Salmon).
In 1938 several pairs nesting on the sea-cliffs at Llantwist Major
[W. R. Philipson).

Pembrokeshire. T. Ground [Brit. B., Vol. XVIII, p. 233 (1925) )
stated that it nested on the coastal cliffs, but in smaller numbers of
late years and refers to a colony of about 30 nests at Penrhyn Castle
which in 1914 was reduced to one nest.

20

BRITISH BIRDS.

[voL. xxxm.

In 1926 several pairs nesting on the limestone cliffs near Castle
Martin. A few pairs on the ordorician cliffs between Newport and
Dinas Head (C. Oldham). Bertram Lloyd records colonies on the
coastal cliffs at Newport in the north, and Bosheston in the south.
In large numbers in many places on the Pembrokeshire cliffs
{H. A. Gilbert). A large coastal colony at Tenby some years ago
(A'. Williamson).

Cardigan. In June, 1924, several small colonics of half a dozen
pairs on the ordorician cliffs for 4 miles NE. of Cardigan Island (C.
Oldham). Professor J. H. Salter records a few small colonies on sea-cliffs
between Idangranog and Aberporth (G . C. S. Ingram and H. M . Salmon).

Province VH.^ — Montgomery (nil), Denbigh (nil), Flint (nil),

Carnarvon, Anglesey.

Carnarvonshire. H. Candler (Zool. 1884, p. 470) records several
nesting near Conway under Pen-niaen-bach. H. E. Forrest {Vert.
Fauna N . Wales, 1907) states that considerable numbers nest in cliffs
of the two Ormes Heads as well as in roofs of caverns beneath them.
He also states that R. \V. Calvert has observed a small colony nesting
on a rock at the foot of IMoel Siabod. [This observation is noteworthy
as though the locality mentioned is only some 12 miles from the nearest
part of the sea, it is nevertheless definitely an inland locality and
seems to show that possibly more intensive exploration mav result
in the discovery of other inland colonies in the Welsh mountains.]

There are now about a dozen nests annually on the Great Orme,
Llandudno. In 1900 there were considerably more, many below the
marine drive about 25 ft. above sea-level, and others higher up above
the drive. They were built of reddish clay, conspicuous against the
grey limestone {W. H. Dobie, C. Oldham, E. Peake, E. Ward, G. C. S.
Ingram, H. M. Salmon and R. B. Sibson). In 1907 many pairs Great
Orme (A. W. Boyd).

Anglesey. H. E. Forrest (Vert. Fauna N. Wales, 1907) says that
it is common on cliffs of E. Anglesey and in his Handbook (1919)
mentions nests in “ Swallows Cave,” Bull Bay, N.E. Coast.

In 1902 and 1903 about 30 pairs nesting on the limestone cliffs at
Dinmor IMint, S.E. coast, and a large colony at Point Lynas. Small
scattered colonies all along the E. and N. coasts from Dinmor Point
to Carmel Head, limestone cliffs preferred but some small colonies on
the ordorician rocks of the N.W. (C. Oldham).

Province VIII. — Lincoln (nil), Leicester (nil), Rutland (nil),
Nottingham (nil) and Derby.

Derbyshire. The earliest record of cliff-breeding dates back to
June, 1835, when W. Thompson saw many nests on the ” chalk ”
(limestone) cliffs overhanging the R. Derwent near Cromford (Birds
Ireland I, p. 391). Seebohm in a note communicated to Dresser (Birds
Europe III, p. 500), says, " I have, however, met with small colonies
in Dovedale (a limestone district in North [sic] Derbyshire).” This
was written in 1875. Later Seebohm writes more strongly : “ Thousands
of Martins breed on the limestone rocks in Dov'edale and in other
parts of the Peak of Derbyshire ” (Hist. Brit. Birds, 1884). Vet strange
to say, there is not a single record of a Martin’s nest in Dovedale for
the last forty years and there is no mention of feral breeding here in
Whitlock (Birds Derbyshire, 1893). (Juoting Storrs h'ox, however, he

VOL. XXXIII. J

CLIFF-BREEDING.

21

says that near Stoney Middleton great numbers place their nests on
high precipitous rocks on the road to Eyam and a few nests have
been seen in Miliers Dale. Whitlock also himself records nests on the
rocks in Ashford Dale [Nat. 1886, p. 132). It seem probable that
Seebohm confused his localities when writing from memory (Jourdain,
Viet. Hist. Derby, 1905).

At the present time they nest in the valley of the Wye annually
and in good numbers, starting in Chee Dale on the carboniferous
limestone rocks, at times within 10 ft. of the ground, continuing in
Millers Dale, where they are most plentiful on Ravens Tor, while a
few pairs breed on the rock face about the middle of Water-cum-Jolly
Dale {/. Armitage, Miss M. Wolley, T. R. Tallis and F. C. R. Jourdain) .

Province IX. — Cheshire and Lancashire (nil).

Province X. — -Yorkshire.

Yorkshire. Coastal. J. Cordeaux [Birds Humber District, 1872)
found considerable number of nests attached to underside of projecting
shelves, Flamborough. T. H. Nelson [Birds Yorks, 1907) states that
along the sea-cliffs a great number breed annually, placing their nests
under ledges, and colonies exist at Saltburn, Boulby, Whitby,
Scarborough and Flamborough range.

There was a large colony some years ago on the cliffs at Gristhorpe
Bay, midway between Scarborough and Filey, many of the nests not
more than 6 ft, from the base of the cliff (IF. J. Clarke). Stray pairs
nest on the Bempton and Flamborough cliffs [H. B. Booth, W. B.
Alexander) . A few nests in 1937 the high cliffs on Colbourn Nab,
Staithes, N. Yorkshire coast [T . G. Longstaff).

Inland. Nelson [op. c.) states that they breed in cliffs in a few
inland localities, as at Malham Cove in Upper Airedale, in a quarry
between Kirkbv-in-Cleveland and Bilsdale, and at Kilnsey Crag in
Wharf edale. The Malham Cove colony has been known for many
years. II. Seebohm [Hist. Brit. Birds, 1884) has a reference to it and
it is also mentioned by W. E. Clarke and W. D. Roebuck [Handbook
V. F. Yorks, 1881). Nesting in Kilnsey Crag is also mentioned in a
review of Studies in Nidderdale [Zool., 1884, p. 439).

At Malham Cove during recent years from six to twelve pairs have
nested annually high up on the cliffs [H . B. Booth, R. O. B. Garnett,
C. Oldham and E. Peake). On Kilnsey Crag in pre-war days up to
135 nests have been counted, but the numbers are fewer now [H. B.
Booth, IF. F. Fearnley). In 1935 a number of pairs were seen on a
moorland cliff near Grassington, perhaps the same locality [L. S. V.
V enables) . Not less than ten pairs breeding under the overhang of the
cliff face from 30 ft. upwards at Kilnsey Crag in 1938 [C. Oakes).

Province XI. — Durh.\m (nil) and Northumberland.

Northumberland. G. Bolam [Birds Xorthumberland and E. Borders'
1912) states that along the northward coast there are many populous
colonies both in sandstone and silurian rocks, of which Swallows' Craig
near Cockburnspath and the headland beyond the Needle’s Eye are
but examples. Inland there are also several.

A colony at Cullernose Point near Howick consisted of about 20 pairs
in 1922, since when it has increased greatly. A few of the most northerly
nests are on the rocks of the basaltic outcrop, but the others are upon
the sandstones and limestones of the carboniferous series which are
more irregularly weathered [G. IF. Temperley, C. J. Gent, K. Ilderton).

22 BRITISH BIRDS. [vol.xxxiii.

Province XII. — N. Lancs (nil). Westmorland (nil), Cumberland

AND Isle of Man.

Cumberland. In 1924 a pair apparently nesting on crags of
Blencathra (Saddleback) (E. Blezard).

Isle of Man. There are seven active colonies : Port Soderick,
Pistol (Santan), Contrary Head (Patrick), Maughold Head, near Peel,
in two coastal coves in Kirk Christ Rushen, and “ under the roof of
a kind of abortive cavern ” at Skin.scoe (Kirk Lonan). The first named,
Port Soderick, has the longest history, having consisted of 5 nests in
1832 ; there were over 17 nests there in 1927, only 5 in 1932, but again
nearly 20 more recently. None of the colonies exceed 20 pairs. In
addition to the above, there used to be a colony, now extinct, at
Keristal (Braddan) (C. B. Moffat, E. U. Savage, K. Williamson).

SCOTLAND.

As the faunal areas based on water-partings are in use in Scotland,
we follow them here, taking the areas in the order of the Watsonian
groups.

Solway. Kirkcudbright. The only record for the area is of a
colony on Solway coastal cliffs in i\Iay, 1927, at Douglas Hall ; most
nests built under a shallow arched overhang {E. Blezard).

Clyde. Ayr. R. Gray (Birds Ayr and Wigtown, 1869, etc.) mentions
among cliff colonies a large one at Currarie, south of Ballantrae, and
J. M. McWilliam (Birds Forth of Clyde 1936) gives the same locality.

Arran. J. M. McWilliam (loc. cit.) states that there is a colony at
Bennane Head.

Tweed. Berwick. G. Bolam (Birds Northumberland, etc. 1912)
reports many populous colonies on the coast north of Berwick both
in sandstone and silurian rocks ; also several inland breeding-places.
This is confirmed by A. H. Evans (Vert. Fauna Tweed Area, 1911) who
states that a very large number of colonies are to be found on the
coast from Berwick-on-Tw'eed to St. Abbs Head and northw'ard, and
also on cliffs by the R. Whiteadder. There is also an early reference
by R. Gray (Birds West Scotland, 1871) to cliff colonies visited at Cove
Bay. G. Muirhead (Birds Berwick, 1889) gives some details as to
localities and defines the Whiteadder locality as near Edrington.
The St. Abbs colony is also referred to by Selby as far back as 1833.

Many birds were noted at St. Abbs in June, 1930, apparently
breeding (IE. B. Alexander).

Forth. E. Lothian. L. J. Rintoul and E. V. Baxter (Vert. Fauna
Forth, 1935) state that in 1838 Jardine mentions a colony of over
100 nests on the coast opposite the Bass Rock. In 1933 the authors
found them breeding the whole way along the cliffs from St. Abbs
Head to the cliffs w^est of Tantallon Castle and reckoned the colony
at the latter place at about 70 pairs. INIacGillivray (Hist. Brit. Birds,
1840) also mentions this locality.

E. Lothian. Near Tantallon there are colonies between 20 and
80 ft. above the shore (/. Berry, G. L. Charteris, R. K. Martin, H. B.
Pounds).

Fife. L. J. Rintoul and E. V. Baxter (loc. cit.) state that they
used to breed on the cliffs below Wemyss Castle but there were none

VOL. XXXIII.]

CLIFF-BREEDING.

23

in 1933. Also that they breed at Kincraig, near Elie, about two dozen
pairs being counted in 1933.

Fife. At Elie 8 nests noted in 1936 (P. A. D. Hollom).

Tay, Perth. J. A. Harvie-Brown {Vert. Fauna Tay, 1907) says
that among many other sites which could be instanced are Glen Tilt
and the cliffs of Ben-y-Gloe, far inland (Col. Drummond Hay) ; also
above the junction of the Tarff and Tilt, near Pol Tarff.

Angus. Considerable numbers breed on the cliffs near Lunan Bay
(J . Berry, G. Carmichael Low). 3 or 4 nests immediately north of
Arbroath in 1938 on cliffs of marl and soft red rock (P. E. Pochin).

Dee. G. Sim {Vert. Fauna Dee, 1903) states that 30-40 years ago
nesting took place in villages, but now great numbers breed on the
sea-coast in dark caverns and instances a locality on the Kincardine
coast.

Moray. Banff. J. A. Harvie-Brown and T. E. Buckley {Vert.
Fauna Moray, 1895) state that T. Edwards speaks of their breeding
on the cliffs of the coast.

Cromarty. C. Young {Zool. 1883, p. 34) records breeding in rocks
in a gully near the sea in red sandstone. Also in sandstone rocks by
side of small stream in woods of Darnaway (Moray) .

Argyll and I. Hebrides. R. Gray {Birds W. Scotland, 1871)
mentions cliff colonies near Oban.

North-West Highlands, etc. J. A. Harvie-Brown and H. A.
Macpherson {Vert. Fauna N.W. Highlands, etc., 1904) refer to an
“ old and at one time well-known haunt among the Stronchrubie
limestone cliffs,” now apparently deserted, but recorded by Selby as
far back as 1834.

Sutherland and Caithness. It bred in great numbers on E. coast
all round, on high cliffs from Noss southward (H. Osborne MSS. in
Vert. Fauna Caithness and Sutherland, 1887). Harvie-Brown saw none
till reaching Dunbeath, where he found a few, and more at Berriedale
{loc. cit.).

Outer Hebrides (nil).

Orkneys. G. Low {Tour Orkney, etc., 1774) states that he found
” Swallows, Martins and Sand-Martins breeding at Stowse Head in
S. Ronaldsay.”

Shetlands. a. H. Evans and T. E. Buckley {Vert. Fauna Shetland,
1899) record breeding once on a cliff at Spiggie.

IRELAND.

Munster. Co. Cork. Cynthia Longfield {London Nat., 1937)
records that observations on a colony on limestone cliffs during a
period of 7 years (1929-1935) showed that the number of pairs varied
from 9 to 15. Sites faced S.W.

Co. Waterford. W. Thompson {Nat. Hist. Ireland, 1849) refers to
breeding in sea-cliffs near Ardmore, and R. J. Ussher {Zool., 1883)
states that for over 30 years he has known the two colonies on sand-
stone cliffs of Ardmore, under lofty arches overhanging the sea.

Leinster. Co. Wicklow. R. M. Barrington {Irish Nat., 1897)
records a colony in the cliffs of Bray Head only about 30 ft. above
high-water mark.

24 BRITISH BIRDS. [voL.xxxiii.

Co. Dublin. \V. Thomp.son [op. cit.) records nesting on Lambay
Is. as does R. J. Ussher (Birds Ireland, igoo).

There is a colony in the Howth Cliffs [G. B. Moffatt, J. B. Watson).

Ulster. Co. Antri.m. W. Thompson states [op. cit.) that “ some
hundreds ” breed annually at the Gobbins (Isle Magee). He also men-
tions a considerable number of nests in cliffs at Little Deer Park,
Glenarm, in 1842, and gives Church Bay, Rathlin Island as a nesting
locality, while Howard Saunders stated [Zool., 1867, p. 621) that
they nested abundantly on the cliffs of this island. Thompson also
mentions their presence (but not specifically breeding) at Giants
Causeway.

Two nests reported at the Gobbins in 1935 Intake). Nine nests

located on the sea-cliffs under broad overhangs 1-2 miles south of
Glenarm in 1938 [R. K. Martin). Four or five years ago there were
2 or 3 colonies on the cliffs near Cushendun. Many of the nests were
on the sides of roofs of caves [Mary Henderson). About the limestone
cliffs of Larrybane Head (east of Ballintoy) they nest commonly in
caves and under large cracks running transversely across the cliff face.
A few also nest on the limestone cliffs west of Church Bay, Rathlin
Island [M. N. and D. H. Rankin).

Londonderry. W. Thompson [op. cit., p. 390) refers to their
presence in the breeding-season on the sea-cliffs east of Portstewart,
although absent from the town.

Donegal. Horn Head is another long established site mentioned
by Thompson [op. cit.) and H. C. Hart [Zool., 1891, p. 378) states that
in Donegal they seem to prefer cliffs to dwelling houses, in,stancing
the cliffs along Lough Swilly and in caves below Carrablagh.

Ch.'vnnel Isles. Cliffs in Fermarn and Petit Bo Bay seem very
favourite nesting-places (Cecil Smith, Birds Guernsey, 1879).

We have also received some information from correspondents as
to the prevalence of cliff-nesting abroad, but not enough to justify
a further report on this widely spread habit at present.

BLACKBIRDS FEEDING ON TADPOLES.

The recent note about Blackbirds {Tnnhts m. merula) feeding
on small fish {antea, Vol. XXXII, P- 397) recalls to me that
six or seven years ago I watched a pair take repeatedly
small tadpoles from a shallow bay of the Little Exe, above
Dulverton. Both birds caught the tadpoles, as I witnessed
on at least three separate days when I was hshing there.
They took the tadpoles in mouthfuls to their half-grown
young in a nest about lOO yards away. Occasionally the birds
swallowed some on their own account. The edge of the water
was very shallow and the tadpoles crowded as close in as
they could, no doubt to avoid the current and keep in the
warmth.

Once in a later year I again saw a Blackbird take tadpoles,
but not, so far as my observation went, for the purpose of
feeding young. This was on the same stretch of the river,
though not quite in the same place. Cyril Hurcomb.

[I have two records of small frogs being taken ; one half-
grown being dropped (S. J. White, in Hit.) ; the other by
iMiss H. Terras of a frog 2\ in. long brought to a nest by the
male [antea, Vol. XXVII, p. 73). I have no previous records
of tadpoles. — F.C.R.J.]

EXODUS FROM A BRECONSHIRE HERONRY.

The heronry in the Rheld Wood, Cwrt-y-Gollen, Dan-y-Parc,
Crickhowell, Breconshire, has been in existence for an unknown
number of years and the date of its founding is immemorial.

Last year (1938) in early April there was an exodus from
this site, and the Herons [Ardea c. cinerea) nested in several
clumps of trees in our park near the banks of the River Usk,
and also in two tall larch trees close to the house. The distance
of the new sites from the Rheld Wood is some 800 yards S.W.

Early in April I noticed that the birds were leaving the
heronry and frequenting the clumps in the park. These clumps
are small and consist of oak, elm, larch, spruce, and Scots
pine, some 60 feet in height. In due course the Herons built
14 nests. In one clump there were 4 nests in one larch, and
3 in three oaks. In the next clump some 150 yards away were
one nest at the top of a spruce and 2 in a Scots pine and one
in an oak.

In the next clump 100 yards west of No. i was a single nest

26 BRITISH BIRDS. [vol. xxxiii.

in a sycamore. About 400 yards west of this clump were two
nests in tall larch trees close to the house.

The Herons kept visiting a large rookery on the hill above
the house, and at first I was under the impression that an
attempt was being made to build nests there, but found, to
my astonishment, that the birds were pulling out sticks from
the Rooks’ nests to carry to the nests in the clumps. Furious
fights often took place, the Rooks chasing away the intruders,
who returned again and again to the attack. I have never
heard of or seen this happening before. The Herons in due
course hatched their young.

This year another change has taken place. There are only
two nests in the clump — one in the spruce and one in the Scots
pine tree. There are about 8 nests in the Dukes Wood in tall
spruce fir about one mile S.W. of the Rheld Wood, whilst eight
birds have returned to the Rheld Wood in the old site.

What was the cause of this exodus I am at a loss to explain.

There is a large rookery situated at the further end which
has been in existence for probably as long as the heronry
itself, but I have never noticed any friction between the
birds, and it is separated from the heronry by almost half a
mile. Perhaps your readers can suggest a cause ?

R. G. Sandeman.

\'ELVET-SCOTER IX SOMERSET.

As there has been only one record of a \Tlvet-Scoter {Melanitta
f. fusca) in Somerset since 1906, and even that is not definite,
and as this duck is very scarce on inland waters, it is worth
recording that a male was present on Blagdon reservoir in
1939 on January 22nd, February loth, March loth to 14th
and 26th, and was not seen after this date. From observations
made on these occasions it would seem to have been an
immature male changing into adult plumage. On many
occasions it was seen to dive, and each time it half-raised its
wings before doing so, and presumably its wings were open
under water ; three dives were timed at 65, 67 and 70 seconds.
The observers were H. H. Davis, B. King, H. M’. Xeal and
the writer. H. Tetley.

CORMORANTS ROOSTING IN TREES IN
DUMFRIESSHIRE.

Eor the last fifty years Cormorants have fished in tlie lake at
Dormont, in Dumfriesshire. In pre-war days they used to
sit in a very high beech tree on the bank and dry their feathers.
There were never very many of them, only three or four at a

I

VOL. XXXIII.]

NOTES.

27

time. This was hardly surprising, for Dormont is five miles
from the sea, and about forty miles from the nearest stretch
of rocky coast, the Dumfriesshire coasts consisting entirely
of mud-flats.

After the war the birds came in small numbers, and roosted
at night in trees standing on the banks of the River Annan,
about 200 yards from the lake. They have been doing this
ever since, and now as many as fifty roost there at a time,
though more often there are about twenty or thirty of them,
sometimes less. But now they only use this district for
roosting ; there is only an occasional one at the lake, and the
birds seldom leave the trees, having once flown up, before
dawn.

They roost on five very tall and very old Sitka spruce
which are right on the bank of the river and are the border
trees of a small plantation of spruces. They perch a few
yards from the top on branches overhanging the water and
have stripped these branches of all bark and twigs. There
is seldom more than one on a branch at a time and they
are inclined to sit in a line, all the same height up, the two
outside ones being about fifty yards apart. There are one
or two other trees interspersed with the spruces but the
Cormorants never use these.

They are there in greater numbers in the late summer and
autumn than in the breeding season. I have found that they
are very regular in their habits, arriving in summer between
the hours of 6.45 and 7.15 in the evening and leaving early
the next morning.

It would interest me very much to know where they come
from as, instead of coming from the south and the sea, they
always fly down the River Annan in a southerly direction ;
to the north the nearest water is the Clyde, except for a
certain number of reservoirs. They might have come from
the Ayrshire coast, Arran or Ailsa Craig. But this is a con-
siderable distance to fly every night. By the time they reach
Dormont they are flying quite low and having circled round a
few times they fly up as if they were going to settle, but always
have a good look round before they actually alight in the
trees.

One which I shot on April 12th, 1939 was ringed, No.
114028, and I am informed by Miss E. P. Leach that this
bird was ringed as a young one at Mochrum, Wigtownshire,
on July 3rd, 1935. When disturbed by shooting the Cor-
morants seldom return the same night and must find some
other place in which to roost. Oliver Carruthers.

28

BRITISH BIRDS.

[vOL. XXXIII.

LITTLE RINGED PLOVER IN SUSSEX.

On ^lay 6th, 1939, at 6 p.m., Mr. John Pease and I saw a
party of three Common Ringed Plover [Charadnus hiaticiila)
and one Little Ringed Plover [Charadrius dubius curonicus) at
Cuckmere Haven, Sussex. They were resting on the mud by a
brackish pool in the water-meadows, neither feeding nor
sleeping, some (piarter of a mile from the beach. We watched
them for about five minutes through .\6 Zeiss glasses at
twenty yards range, with the sun behind us. After a detailed
comparison had been made between them, they flew off
across the marsh and were lost to view. The following
description compares the Little Ringed Plover with its larger
companions, and is from notes taken down in the field, when
neither of us was aware of the most distinctive field-characters
of the species. Comparison of our notes with those in British
Birds, \"ol. XXXII, pp. 90-102, left no doubt whatever as
to the correctness of the identification.

At rest : Smaller and more delicately shaped about the
head and bill. Crown, back and wings definitely sandy-brown
in contrast with the muddy-brown of the other three. Black
and white head, neck and breast markings similar in dis-
tribution, but black banding narrower, especially breast-band
which looked about half the thickness of that of the Common
Ringed Plover. Eye-ring : yellow markings in eye region
first noted by Pease and appeared to me as a narrow ring
round the eye, recorded at the time as ? iris, but obviously
was on eyelids. Bill : upper mandible was dark or black,
in marked contrast with the broad basal orange band of the
others ; yellow was not noticed on the lower mandible.
Legs : we both noted, independently, that these were paler
and yellower than the orange legs of the other species ;
Pease thought they were tinged with green.

In flight : Size, more noticeably smaller, giving impression
of wing-area ratio of the order of 3:4 compared with the
larger birds. The most obvious of all distinguishing features
was the absence of any wing-bar on the sandy back and
wings. The white bars of the Common Ringed Plovers showed
up in striking contrast.

Call ; Either this was not uttered or it was not distinguished
from that of the other three. K. B. Rooke.

ICELAND GULL IN SURREY.

On April 15th, 1939, I watched an Iceland Gull {Bar us
Icucopterus) at Barn Elms reservoirs, Hammersmith. When
first seen the bird was flying with Lesser Black-backed Gulls

VOL. XXXIII.]

NOTES.

29

{Lamsfuscus) so that the size could be compared. At a distance
it appeared strikingly white, and the uniformly white wing-
tips could be clearly seen.

From the absence of any ashy-brown markings at close
range, I judged it to be an adult. I know of no previous
record for Surrey. D. A. T. Morgan.

Birds at Spurn, Yorks. — We are glad to see that Yorkshire
ornithologists are taking up regular watching and recording
of migrants at Spurn Point, which years ago attracted many
students of migration. Mr. Ralph Chislett contributes an
article to the Nahiralist (1939, pp. 37-42) on the results of
visits paid by several ornithologists between July and
November, 1938. Among the birds identified may be men-
tioned a Firecrest {Regulus i. ignicapillus) on October 23rd,
a Red-breasted Flycatcher {Muscicapa p. parva) on September
24th, two Barred Warblers {Sylvia nisoria) between August
2 1st and September loth and two Black Redstarts {Phoenicums

0. gibr altar iensis) on October 23rd.

Spoonbills in Cornwall. — Messrs. W. L. and U. M.
Francis inform us that they saw three Spoonbills {Platalea

1. leucurodia) in the Fal Estuary near Ruan Lanihorne on
April i6th, 1939. The wing-tips of these birds in flight appeared
black indicating that they were immature. Four Spoonbills
were recorded in the same locality on December i6th, 1938
{antea, Vol. XXXII, p. 370).

Bittern Perching in a Tree in Lancashire. — In
connection with the note by Mr. C. A. Norris on this subject
{antea, Vol. XXXII, p. 370) Miss N. Medcalf informs us that
Mr. Blundell at the end of January, 1939, when riding across
the park at Scarisbrick Hall, near Ormskirk, saw a Bittern
{Botaurus^stellaris) which flew up into a tree about 20 to 25 feet
from the ground. Mr. Blundell watched the bird, which
remained motionless except for turning its head from side to
side, for some 20 minutes. Later the same bird was seen in
the tree by Mr. S. E. Williams, a gamekeeper.

The Influx of Bewick’s Swans. — With reference to the
notes on this subject {antea, Vol. XXXII, pp. 378-380), Mr.
J. S. Watson writes that in Oxfordshire there were 16 Bewick’s
Swans (all adults) on the floods in the Cherwell Valley between
Somerton and N. Aston from December 31st, 1938, to February
I2th, 1939. Five were seen in the same place in February
and March, 1938. Mr. H. E. Forrest has informed us of a
large flock of Swans which passed over Ellesmere, Shropshire,

30

BRITISH BIRDS.

[VOL. XXXIII.

about January 6th. Seventy were counted and they were
thought to be Bewick’s, but the identification of the species
cannot be regarded as certain.

Unusual Number of Smews in Somerset. — Mr. H.
Tetley informs us that an unusual number of Smews {Mergus
albellus) was present on the reservoirs in N. Somerset during
the winter of 1938-39, the cold weather of December being
no doubt responsible. Numbers varied between December
nth and March 26th, the largest being 12 at Cheddar on
February loth, 7 at Blagdon on January 20th, while there
were 2 at Barrow Gurney on December 29th and 30th.
All were either females or young birds with the exception
of one adult male at Blagdon on January 9th and two on
the 20th.

Early Lapwings’ Nests in Shropshire. — Mr. J. H. Owen
informs us that he found a nest of the Lapwing {Vanellus
vanellus) with four chipped eggs and another nest with four
freshly hatched young on April 14th, 1939, at 1,000 feet
altitude, near Oswestry.

Black-tailed Godwits in Northumberland. — Mr. H.
Tully informs us that he saw 28 Black-tailed Godwits {Limosa
limosa) on April 22nd, 1939, at Grindon Lough where they
were present until the 25th. The birds were mostly in summer
plumage.

Black Tern in Wiltshire. — As the Black Tern [Chlidonias
n. niger) appears not to be recorded frequently in Wiltshire,
it should be noted that l\Ir. C. Rice saw one on May 5th,
1939, hawking over a pond near Chippenham.

Kittiwake in Berkshire. — Mr. George Brown informs us
that a male Kittiwake {Rissa t. tridactyla) in first-year
plumage was picked up dead near Hungerford at the beginning
of April, 1939.

Spoonbill in Kent. — Mr. A. J. Rabbets informs us that
he watched a Spoonbill {Platalea leucorodia) at Pegwell Bay
on April 8th, 1939.

REVIEWS.

Birds as Animals. By James Fisher. (Heinemann.) 12s. 6d. net.

In this book Mr. Fisher has, to put it briefly, reviewed the life of the
bird by reviewing the literature concerning it. Fie gives a reference
for every statement and his bibliography, which embraces over 800
books and papers, is one of the features of the book. There are objections
to this method and some readers will be irritated bj'^ the constant
references, and often the arguments are so pithy that a good deal of

VOL. XXXIII.]

REVIEWS.

31

previous knowledge of the subject is necessary to appreciate the
points, while here and there facts are related so bare of explanatory
context as to become almost a catalogue. But on the whole Mr. Fisher
has performed his difficult task successfully and has arranged and put
together a vast array of facts and ideas so cleverly that a valuable
and interesting book results. He begins by tracing briefly the birth
and rise of the study of birds and follows with a short statement of
the probable evolution of the bird itself. Subsequent chapters, some
of which are divided rather arbitrarily, deal with Adaptation and
Habitat Selection, V'ariation and Distribution, Environment, Habitat,
Numbers, Migration, Colours and Display, Territory, Reproduction, and
lastly Birds and IMan. Considering the mass of material Mr. Fisher has
consulted, his treatment of it is for the most part fair and accurate,
but there are some rather careless statements as, for instance, the
implication that Pallas's Sandgrouse bred in all the years mentioned,
that Mr. Holte Macpherson was one of the discoverers of Fair Island,
and that the female (meaning apparently the female alone) incubates in
the case of most waders. But these are minor blemishes and Mr. Fisher’s
book not only reviews in an interesting way what has been learnt about
birds, but incidentally reveals how little we know of certain aspects of
their lives.

At the Turn of the Tide : A Book of Wild Birds. By Richard Perry,

8vo, pp. XV., 206. With coloured and monochrome plates.

(Drummond). 12s. 6d. net.

Bird-books are written (and presumably bought) for various reasons.
Some write to give observed facts in structure, colour, size, life-story
or distribution to the world ; others grouping these facts together,
search for underlying rules and laws, but generally produce more or
less satisfactory theories. Writers of a third class are content to picture
in words what they have seen of some aspect of bird life, while the
fourth class is content to cut out scraps from other works, rearranging
and altering the wording before giving the hotch-potch to the public.
Mr. Perry’s work does not come under the last heading, for what he
writes about is what he has seen ; but it does come within the range
of the third class, for he caters for those to whom word-painting is the
real interest and attraction. " Butterfly-dusted emerald wing-slots
exquisitely a-sheen glancing in the sun ! ” This is not an unfair example
of the “ purple patches ” which occur at intervals throughout the
book, and cause either exasperation or admiration according to the
type of reader.

We are, however, in entire sympathy with what the author says in
his introduction. One sentence will suffice : “ We are breeding a nation
of urbanites, whose cheap, artificial pleasures are found in towns . . .
No longer does a man plant a wood and watch with pride from year
to year how fine it grows . . . instead he hacks it down and builds a
row of villas in three months, which is a slum in a generation.” This is
painfully true.

Some of the sketches of estuary and shore life are vivid and the
reproductions of many birds’ notes are effective and recognizable,
but there are curious slips which might well have been avoided.
" Colourless ” is a strange word to apply to the black bill of the
immature Arctic Tern ; even more surprising is the paragraph on the
colour of the Roseate Tern’s bill (p. 105). ‘‘ Antarctic ” is hardly justifi-
ably used to include Australia and Patagonia (p. 122). Mr. Perry tells
us that he can end an age-old controversy as to the Fulmar’s ability

32

BRITISH BIRDS.

[VOL. XXXIII.

to stand and walk upright and no doubt he can, but scores of other
observers have also seen Fulmars stand (yet not without a certain
amount of “ give ” in the tarsus) and walk a pace or two. In a chapter
on Eclipse (curiously entitled “ a new theory ”) he writes : " If the
object of ihe Eclipse is protective, then how foolish it is for the helpless
Eider to pack about the reefs at the mercy of any predatory beast.”
What predatory beasts haunt these reefs beyond an occasional seal,
and would not an Eider have a better chance against a seal with a reef
at hand than in the open sea ?

The illustrations from paintings and photographs area little unequal
in merit but some are really good. F. C. K. Jourdain.

British Trust for Ornithology . Fifth Report. Spring, 1939.

Although this Report covers onl)' eight months owing to a change
in date of issue, it shows very considerable progress not only in the
scientific work achieved, but in the necessarily slow process of putting
the Trust on to a firm basis. The incorporation of the Trust has now-
been officially agreed, which will enable the Lord Grey iMemorial Fund
to be transferred to it, the Edward Grey Institute at Oxford has been
definitely established, though in temporarv quarters, at 39, Museum
Road, the library is increasing, a national collection of bird-photographs
is being formed and most important of all the number of members is
rising though this is still all too small. The Report show's the progress
made in the scientific work and our readers must now be well aware of
the varied nature of the inquiries already reported on. The Land-Rail
inquiry is to continue in 1939, more information being required especially
from Ireland, N.W. England and N.W. Scotland ; the song-period
inquiry is also to continue; w-hile reports on those concerning the
Woodcock, Fulmar and Black-headed Gull are nearing completion.
A survey of the breeding distribution of the Redshank and an investiga-
tion into mortality during hatching and fledging are tw-o new inquiries
which have been begun.

Report on Somerset Birds, igjS.

This report is as usual w-ell draw-n up and the observations have been
carefully and critically edited. It contains a large number of notes
from an active band of observers. The records of ducks (with tables
of counts on many dates), waders and gulls, especially at reservoirs,
are a notew'orthy feature of the Report. We may draw attention here
to a paper by Mr. H. Tetley in the Proceedings of the Bristol Nat. Soc.
on the birds of the Barrow- Gurney Reservoirs.

LETTER.

TRAPPING METHODS.

To the Editors 0/ British Birds.

Sirs, — As Dr. Landsborough Thomson mentioned in the Report of the
Bird-Ringing Committee {antea, Vol. XXXII, p. 384), a pamphlet is
being prepared on traps and trapping. Descriptions of some well-known
methods such as the ” Potter ” trap, string and stick drop-traji,
house-trap and bat-fowling have already been received, but a number
of ringers have no doubt evolved improvements or modifications of
their own which w-ould be of use to others, and I should be very glad
to hear of these, as w-ell as any other methods of trapjung or special
devices for catching particular birds, which have been }->roved to be
successful. 1’. A. D. Hollom.

Rolvenden, Hook Heath, Woking.

£ ^UN 1939

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ASSISTED BY

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Norman F. Ticehurst, o.b.e., m.a,, f.r.c.s., m.b.o.u.

Contents of Number 2, Vol. XXXIII. , July i, 1939.

PAGE

The Spring Migration of the Redstart over Europe. By H. N.

Southern ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 34

I Rising and Roosting of a pair of Resident Starlings in Winter and

early Spring. By Averil Morley ... ... ... ... 39

The Vocal Activity of Blackbirds at a winter Roost. By M. K.

Colquhoun ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 44

' On the Courtship-display of the Goldeneye. By Donald Gunn 48

! Notes : —

A Case of Bigamy in Montagu’s Harrier (G. Dent) ... ... 51

Nest -building by male Mallard (A. T. Best) ... ... ... 52

Association of drake Mallard with the Duck and young Brood

(C. Oldham) ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 53

Lapwings nesting at High Altitude (Seton Gordon) ... ... 54

Temminck’s Stint in Hertfordshire (K. B. Rooke) ... ... 54

■ Short Notes : —

Barred Warblers at the Isle of May. Green Woodpecker in
Lanarkshire. Ruddv Sheld-Duck in Lanarkshire. Pintail

Breeding-in Yorkshire. Nest of Shag with Nine Eggs ... 55

! Reviews : —

Transactions of the Hertfordshire Natural History Society and

Field Club. Vol. XXI, Part I 56

Transactions of the Norfolk and Norwich Naturalists’ Society,

1938 _ ... 56

Annual Report of the Oundle School Natural History Society ... 56

Report of the Cambridge Bird Club, 1938 ... ... ... 56

I

7 JUL 1939
PURCHASED

(34)

THE SPRING MIGRATION OF THE REDSTART

OVER EUROPE.

BY

H. N. SOUTHERN.

This study forms the third of a series of five whose object is
to show the characteristic migrations of v'arious widespread
passerine species northward over Europe every spring.
Maps showing the rate of spread of the Swallow {Hirundo
r. rustica) and of the Willow-M’arbler {Phylloscopus trochilus)
have already been published [i and 2], and the present map
and article deal with the Redstart [Phcenicurus ph. phccnicunis).

This is an abundant and vigorous species, though only in
some parts of its range attaining the commonness of the
Willow- Warbler. Like the latter it feeds in the vegetation.
This means that it probably will suffer no delay in its migra-
tion, once started, as might be occasioned in species which
live mostly on flying prey (for a discussion of this point see
the article on the Willow-M’arbler [2]). The Redstart winters
rather farther north than the bulk of the Willow- Warblers,
being concentrated in North Africa, while a large proportion of
the Asiatic population winters at comparatively high latitudes.
Some are said to winter in Asia Minor, and, if this is true,
it is curious to notice from the map that the spread northwards
starts latest at this corner of Europe.

It is interesting to note that we are dealing for the first
time in this series with a species whose numbers in the
British Isles are small, at any rate in comparison with the
two summer visitors previously considered. This may be
the reason why the quickest rate of spread is seen over the
Continent, and there seems to be a slight lag in the bird’s
appearance on our shores. This contrasts with the Swallow
especially and also with the Willow- Warbler, and such
contrast can best be seen in the conformation of the April 15th
line, which in the case of the two earlier species tilts up
towards the west. In the Redstart the westward tilt starts
over continental Europe, but declines again when the North
Sea is reached. Thus, the main thrust in the spreading of
this migrant northwards is through France, and then directly
from Holland and north-west Germany across to western
Scandinavia. It would appear from this that the British
Isles receive only the wash of the main movement, tlirown
off along its flank, and therefore the arrival is comparatively
later.

If migratory behaviour is one result of changes in the

VOL. XXXIII.] MIGRATION OF REDSTART.

35

balance of internal secretions, and an expression of a more
general raising of the level of activity by reason of these
changes, then it is reasonable to suppose that in a crowd of
birds this effect will be most sharply marked. Heightened
activity on the part of one individual, whether in feeding or
in any other competitive way, must react upon neighbours,
and, where neighbours are thickest, the total resultant
activity will be much more than the sum of individual
exertions, if the birds were more spaced out. Thus the main
drive of migration in the Redstart is earlier than the progress
of sparser breeding populations on the edge of its range.
It may be remarked here that the Redstart shows particularly
well how careful one must be to distinguish between the
general arrival date and isolated birds appearing much
earlier. The analysis of the data .showed such isolated records
much more commonly than in the other species, and it seems
as if this may be another manifestation of the same phenom-
enon. In a sparse population not only will the general level
of activity be lower and later but it will be less well regulated
and more ill-defined.

This whole point of view accords well with the theories
advanced recently by Fraser Darling [3], that breeding
activity is synchronized and forwarded by the proximity of
a number of individuals. The fact that these passerine migrants
subsequently take up territory and subject themselves to
intense isolation in no way invalidates the idea suggested.
That is a subsequent phase of behaviour and belongs to a
totally different environment. In any case Venables and
Lack [4] have shown in the case of the Great Crested Grebe
how closely related to each other are territorial and colonial
behaviour. Such splitting of breeding behaviour into two
radically opposed principles is phylogenetically speaking of
late occurrence.

That heightened activity may produce changes not only
in behaviour but in morphology is known from the case of
the migratory locusts, where the activity caused by the
collection of great numbers induces the appearance of a form
different in colour and shape as well as in behaviour {i.e.,
migratory as opposed to sedentary).

Characteristics of the Redstart Migration.

The map has been compiled in exactly the same way as
the previous two. Data were more numerous than for the
Willow-Warbler, and the picture may be regarded as fairly
complete. Records from the Mediterranean were difficult

36

BRITISH BIRDS.

[VOL. XXXIII.

to trace, and many of them too dubious to be included, while
there is a signal lack of information for Sweden. Norway
and Finland are, however, so well supplied with observers
that this creates little disturbance.

The thick black lines represent the appearance and settling
in of a Redstart population at fortnightly intervals, the
dates being given on the right-hand side of the map. The
dotted lines represent the northward movement of the 48° F.
isotherm, as shown in Bartholomew’s Physical Atlas [5]. The
black squares give the points for which average arrival
dates were worked out in most cases from a ten-year period.

The migration of the Redstart over Europe lasts from
March 15th (Pyrenees, south Italy and the north-east African
coast) to May 15th (Inari), a period of 61 days, in which a
distance of 2,000 miles in the west is covered and 2,500 miles
in the east. This means that the average rate of spread varies
from 33 miles per day in the west to 41 in the east. Thus
it may be seen that the Redstart spreads northwards at a
greater rate than either the Willow- Warbler or the Swallow,
which only average 29 and 25 miles per day respectively.

This progress is not quite regular, for the last part of the
spread takes place at a much faster rate. Thus, from the
Crimea to the White Sea (1,500 miles) a month suffices, and
the average rate of progress is here at its greatest, 50 miles
per day. Both the previous migrations dealt with have shown
a similar tendency to accelerate as they go on, but neither of
of them to the same degree. Even then the behaviour of the
Redstart does not nearly approach that of some American
birds mentioned in the first article of this series [i].

If the isochronal lines are compared with the isotherms,
the lag along the western seaboard becomes even more
pronounced, as also does the drive forward through France
and western Germany. This is shown well in the lines for
•A.pril 1st and April 15th. Apart from these anomalies there
is a rough tendency for the isochronal lines to keep pace with
the spring from April ist to April 15th, but after that the
isotherms are left behind, and arrival in the high north is
six or seven weeks ahead of the 48° isotherm. In the east,
however, the effect is marked in the wide gap between the
isochronal lines for April 15th and May ist, and between the
isothermal lines for the same dates. It is evident that all
migrants, as well as the spring, spread fast over the steppes
of southern Russia, and that a similar synchronous effect is
shown in the delay, which occurs in southern Sweden and
Denmark.

VOL. XXXIII.] MIGRATION OF REDSTART

37

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38 BRITISH BIRDS. [vol.xxxiii.

The spread of the Redstart on its spring migration therefore
is marked by : —

(1) a faster rate than either of the two previous species;

(2) a lag along the western seaboard of Europe, possibly

correlated with a- sparser population in these districts,
and a thrust forward through France and western
Germany to western Scandinavia ; and

(3) a marked tendency to outstrip the spring from April

15th onwards.

REFERENCES.

[1] Southern, H. N. (1938). “ The Spring ^Migration of the Swallow
over Europe.” British Birds, Vol. XXXII, pp. 4-7.

[2] Southern, H. N. (1938). “ The Spring Migration of the Willow-
M'arbler over Europe.” British Birds, Vol. XXXII, pp. 202-6.

[3] Darling, F. F. (1938). " Bird Flocks and the Breeding Cycle.”
Cambridge.

[4] Venables, L. S. V. and Lack, D. (1936). ” Further Notes on
Territory in the Great Crested Grebe.” British Birds, Vol. XXX,
pp. 60-9.

[5] Bartholomew’s Physical Atlas (1899). Vol. 3. London.

(39)

RISING AND ROOSTING OF A PAIR OF RESIDENT
STARLINGS IN WINTER AND EARLY SPRING.

BV

AVERIL MORLEY.

Though the roosting of flocks of the Starling {Sturnus vtilgaris)
has been well studied by Wynne-Eclwards, in England work
on the roosting of individuals does not seem to have been
so thoroughly done, so that the following observations made
on a pair in the winter of 1937-3S may be of interest. They
differ from Kluiiver’s experience of birds in Holland [i],
which appear to have continued social roosting until the eggs
were laid. But A. W. Boyd (in conversation) said he found a
pair of ringed Starlings roosting together in a nesting box
from December for two successive winters, though not
consistently in the same box.

The pair about which I write had been formed in November,
though the male had been in possession of the nucleus of
their area when watching began in October. They were part
of a group regularly watched in a suburban road in Oxford
near open ground.

Erom November to January the pair flew off independently
of each other to the communal roost outside the city, which
served not only the resident birds of the neighbourhood but
flocks from the open ground and fields not far away. Towards
the end of December the male, some seconds before leaving,
shared with the other resident males the habit of displaying
excitement on his chimney stacks-cum-songposts by energetic
singing, bill wiping and wing-twitching (two common signs of
excitement ; the former first seen November 24th, the latter
December 22nd). The return was also generally separate,
the birds dropping out of different parties flying overhead,
from a height of about 40 ft. above the house-tops with a tine
zig-zag twisting swoop, the female usually going straight to
the back gardens (the feeding ground) or to the “ communal ”
trees, the male perching on his stack or tree for a few seconds
to half a minute to display excitement in similar fashion to
the evening performance, before going to feed.

On December 30th the male was noticed to be the last of the
group leaving his stack for the roost, and later I found this
tardiness and unwillingness to leave is a sign that the urge
to stay in the territory is not now so easily overcome by the
urge to join the distant roost. The home-roosters and away-
roosters with no conflict of desires sometimes went to roost
10 minutes before the uncertain birds yielded to one or other
urge. They flew off at the same time, perhaps, as the flocks

40

BRITISH BIRDS.

[VOL. XXXIII.

passing overhead, only soon to return to sing and violently
display emotion until the roosting urge grew stronger again
and they flew off once more. Normally birds leaving for the
roost mounted in a sharp angle and flew unhesitatingly away,
but uncertain birds often showed their stress by a low zig-zag
course, perching frequently. Uncertain birds appeared
sometimes as much as ten minutes earlier in the morning than

6 JAN. FEB. MARCH 14

Day Lengths of Home-roosting Starlings.

either away- or home-roosters. There was sometimes a
range of 20 minutes between first and last birds in the group,
but the first were consistently first, the last consistently last.

On January 6th the pair first roosted together in a hole under
a roof in their area. Contrary to away-roosting, home-roosting
was a joint affair, the birds acting dependently. The procedure
was normally as follows : —

About 5 to 15 minutes before the actual time of going
into the hole the pair would fly up to the tree in their area,
about 12 yards away, where they stayed still or quietly
preening (to be distinguished from violent preening, a sign
of great stress of emotion). One to two minutes before roosting
the male began to display emotion and restlessness by bill-
wiping, wing-flickering, plumage-shaking (this excitement
action, first seen January 2nd, shows greater intensity than

VOL. XXXIII.] RISING AND ROOSTING.

41

the previous two), and by flying to the roof-peak or to the
gable-point above the hole, or to the rain-gutter in front of it,
but however restless he was, never going in before the female.
She, usually without any display, would suddenly glide to
the gutter, stare fixedly at the hole for half a minute then
dart in, the male following very shortly. Gradually the
preliminaries lengthened, till, in March, taking over an hour,
they seemed to form part of the breeding activity. Abnormally,
if through some cause his attention was distracted and he did
not follow, after 2 to 4 minutes the female would come out
again and was not always ready to return. The male, impatient,
would at last fly in himself, also to come out again after 2 to
4 minutes if she had not joined him. After half an hour they
might manage to go through the ceremony correctly. Rarely,
after such a fiasco, they roosted in separate holes, one in the
traditional place, the other in a hole near by.

In the morning the male invariably flew out first, followed
either directly or from half to two minutes by the female.
Generally he went straight to the tree or one of his stacks
(he “ owned ” 8, but had favourites for song-posts) where he
displayed similarly as before roosting.

The actual rising and roosting times (taken from the
first bird to fly out and the first to fly in) are as follows* : —

Jan.

Fe

b.

Date. Sunrise. Weather. Rising. Roosting. Weather. Sunset.

I

8. II

6

7

Clear

8

8.10

9

12

13

15

8.5

Dark

18

19 ...

Clear

20

Dull

21

22

7-58

26

Dull

28

Dark

29

7-49

I

Dull

2

Clear

3

Clear

4

Clear

5

7-38

Fine

6

Clear

7

Dull

8

Dull

9

10

7-58

3-41

3-38

Dull

Dull

4.6

4.14

—

3-57

Dull

—

3-45

Dull

8.1

3-47

3-30

Dark

4.24

—

3-40

Dull

7-5.5

7-55

348

Clear

7-51

3-30

Dull

436

7-55

348

Dark

4.48

7-45

7-44

7-37

4-39

Fine

7-44

4.0

Clear

7-33

• —

5-1

7.27

4-13

Clear

7.29

7-35

7.27

7.29

4.8

Fine

42 BRITISH BIRDS. [vol. xxxiii.

Date.

Sunrise.

Weather.

Rising.

Roosting. Weather.

Sunset

Feb. I i

Fine

725

—

,, 12

7-27

—

—

513

,, 16

Dark

732

—

„ 17 •••

Dark

7-45

4.0

Dark

,, ig

713

—

—

5.26

, , 21

Dull

730

430

Dull

22

Dull

7.29

4.22

Dull

^3

Clear

7.10

5.C

Clear

,, 24

Clear

7.10

,, 26

6.58

.5 ■39

28

Dull

7.10

50

Dull

Mar. 3 ...

Fine

7-5

525

Fine

4

Misty

b.55

—

.. 5

6.43

5-51

7

INlisty

6.40

5-3 >

Fine

.. iO

—

5-37

Clear

,, 12

6.28

6.4

„ 14

Clear

6.8

—

*I am indebted to the Radclifte Observatory for the once-a-week
sunrise and sunset times.

From these figures for one pair it will be seen that from
January 15th to February loth (27 days) they lengthened
their whole day 70 minutes or by an average of just over
2-i- minutes a day, but from February loth to March 7th
(26 days), by 132 minutes, or just over 5 minutes a day.
It is interesting to compare the morning times with Wynne-
Edwards for flocks [3] though they were obtained at a different
period and place.

Wynne-Edwards’s flocks from January 15th to February loth
(27 days) stretched their morning by an average of 32 minutes
(over I minute a morning), agreeing exactly with the Oxford
pair’s extra 32 minutes on their morning for the same period ;
but whereas his birds from February 14th to March i6th
(31 days) lengthened their morning by 56 minutes (not quite
2 minutes a morning), the pair lengthened their morning in
27 days, February 16 to March 14th, by 84 minutes (just
over 3 minutes a day), having almost trebled their rate of
increase, while the flocks’ increase was progressing at almost
the same pace as before.

Now Wynne-Edwards [4] suggested of Starlings “ that the
state of maturity of their reproductive organs influence the
the birds’ day-length, i.e., the time they get up in the morn-
ing.” Until the second week of February parties of Starlings
from the Oxon communal roost appeared before the pair
” got up,” and likewise after they were in their hole parties
continued to fly overhead, so that if Wynne-Edwards’s
supposition is correct, internall}’ at first the pair were no more

VOL. xxxiiL] RISING AND ROOSTING.

43

advanced than the flocks, and at flrst as shown above, the rate
of increase of day length is the same. The big difference after
the end of the flrst week of February might thus indicate a
more rapid development of the reproductive organs in the
resident pair than in the flock-components.

Lastly, I would like to point out that the roost-hole was
not only a sleeping-place but a centre of pre-breeding activity.
From January 26th visits were paid to it, as Marples [2] noted
away-roosting males visiting future nest-sites, by the male,
the female showing her interest by accompanying him to the
gutter, but she was not seen to enter till February 5th, and
this tardiness agrees with Kluijver’s experience. From
February 23rd grass was brought into it (and thrown out by
the female) ; various forms of flights were performed from it
or across it. Moreover the next-door male and female became
divorced, in spite of coition (in January) in February, and
I think one of the contributory causes of this sad event was
the inability to roost together because the only hole possible
was the subject of dispute with another, “ older,” pair.
Separate roosting did not help to further (if it did not actively
hinder) that “ togetherness ” which seems necessary for a
winter-formed pair, who, with no obvious physiological urge
to seek each other out, appear to depend on psychological
influences for the permanence of the bond.

I may add that these Starlings were definitely backward
in “ courtship ” activity in winter compared to country birds
I have watched, which, one concludes from Rowan’s findings,
were probably less developed in their reproductive organs at
that season than their suburban brethren, though personally
I find crowing cocks and bleating sheep more conducive to
restless nights than sounds of traffic !

I wish to thank Mr. C. Elton for the graph and Mr. L. S. V.
\’enables fo'r help and advice.

REFERENCES.

[1] H. N. Kluijver. Bidrage tot de Biol, ende Ecol. van de Spreeuw
J'ers. en Med. van den Plantenzeiktenkundigen Dienst te Wageningen.
No. 69, 1933. English summary.

[2] G. Marples. British Birds, Vol. XXX, 1936, p. 14.

[3] V. C. Wynne-Edward. British Birds, Vol. XXIII, 1929, p. 138
and 170.

[4] V. C. Wynne-Edwards. British Birds, Vol. XXIV, 1931, p. 346.

(44)

THE VOCAL ACTIVITY OF BLACKBIRDS AT A
WINTER ROOST.

BY

M. K. COLQUHOUN.

The noise made by the Blackbird {Turdus m. nierida) in going
to roost is a characteristic part of the countryside in winter,
and is associated in the minds of many with a frosty evening.
The following note describes an attempt to measure these
roosting calls quantitatively in order that such “ vocal
activity ” might be compared with the meteorological con-
ditions prevailing. The area (one acre) chosen was the corner
of a mixed Berkshire copse — mostly dense hazel. Counts
were begun 30 minutes after sunset each evening and were
continued until complete silence had settled over the wood ;
only calls coming from within the area were included, all
others being ignored. By “ call ” is meant any vocal
sound emitted by a Blackbird, separated from a previous call
made by the same bird by a period of not less than two
seconds. Thus, a single “ chick- ” {Handbook, 1938) was
given the same value as a complete “ alarm-rattle ” consisting
of many notes, providing that there had been a period of two
seconds silence between it and the previous “ chick-.” Calls
varied from a single ‘‘ chick- ” to a succession lasting a
minute or more, or from one ” alarm-rattle ” to a whole
stream uttered without break. The hysterical (calling)
Blackbird is, of course, a difficult subject for any quantitative
method, but in the field these counts proved quite practicable.
For each day that a count was made general weather con-
ditions were noted and the wind force on the Beaufort Scale
was estimated as carefully as possible (no anemometer was
used) within the wood, while outside, 100 yards away,
temperatures and relative humidity were recorded throughout
the winter.

The counts are given in Table I, together with the wind
force on the respective evenings — 30 observations being
recorded for 1938 and the same number for 1939. During the
winter there were two cold spells, each with heavy snow
lying a week or more, but there was no evidence that the
number of Blackbirds was reduced by the end of the period.
(Throughout the winter they had access to artificial food.)
The greatest number heard or seen together in the roost was
four, this number being noted in February as well as Novem-
ber ; the necessity for keeping absolutely still (so as not to
provoke extra calls) prevented a more accurate count of birds.

voL.xxxiii ] VOCAL ACTIVITY OF BLACKBIRDS. 45

The Table supplies the following means for each value of
I wind force :

Wind force ... 012345678

Number of calls... 67.954.620.721.511.2 i.o 2.6 i.o 0.3

(13-6)

Thus, a wind force of 2 (approx. 5 m.p.h.) cuts down the
calls to one third the number on a calm day, while a value of
over 4 (approx. 15 m.p.h.) inhibited all calling. Throughout
the 60 evenings there was only one exception — February nth.
— and it was recorded then that only the group under observa-
tion was calling, other Blackbirds being silent ; it seems
likely that a prowling mammal was the centre of disturbance,
and the figure in brackets above excludes this count. Perhaps
an obvious criticism is that an evening of high wind is often
accompanied by cloud, and that on such evenings the birds
would settle early because of the increased darkness, but
this was allowed for by arriving early on the site on many
dark evenings and in all instances it was found that the birds
were roosting silently. It was more essential to arrive early
on a frosty clear day in order to allow the disturbance to die
down before counting began.

The winter of 1938-9 was one of almost continuous winds
and there were only 18 evenings of calm or light air (wind
o and i) ; for these the temperatures are given in Table II.
There is a significant correlation between the number of calls
and the minimum temperature of the previous 24 hours, while
the evening temperature shows a rather similar correlation.
Thus, a fall in temperature has a decided restrictive effect
on vocal activity, noticeable in the field. There is a slight
correlation with the mean relative humidity, but as a rise
in humidity usually coincided with a rise in temperature, this
is of little -value. It should perhaps be recalled that Alcock
{antea, Vol. XVIII, pp. 306-312) collected some limited data
on what he called “ vocal-energy ” — being the number of
minutes after sunset when a bird ceased singing — in which
it appears that wind was the most unfavourable factor for
prolonged song, with lov/ temperature exerting less influence.

Activity (other than vocal) did not appear to be diminished
by a high wind, and on many occasions a bird was driven
from the roost without either Blackbird making a sound
audible to an observer ; after being driven out it usually
flew some distance, returning in a few minutes. On calm
evenings such silent scuffling was rarer, and there was nothing
to explain the frequent volleys of calls which were the more
usual order. Calling was contagious within the area but was

46 BRITISH BIRDS. [voL.xxxiii.

not taken up by distant Blackbirds, in the manner of the
Pheasant {Phasiamis colchicus).

TABLE I.

Date

No. of Wi

nd Force

Date.

AT. of

Wind Force

1938

calls. 5 p.m.

1939

calls.

5 P-m.

Nov.

20

I

4*

Jan. 13

21

0

> }

21

20

I*

.. 14

0

6

n

22

33

3*

15

0

8

t >

23

0

6*

17

0

3

i i

24

44

I *

„ 18

1

2

1 1

25

8

6*

,, 19

50

I

7 7

26

83

I*

,, 20

133

I

7 7

27

I

8*

,, 21

84

0

7 7

29

71

2

,, 22

15

3

7 7

30

33

3

23

0

5

Dec.

I

0

6

.. 24

41

0

7 7

2

0

4

.. 25

0

3

7 7

3

82

0

,, 26

0

4

7 7

4

0

6

.. 27

9

2

7 7

5

50

I

.. 28

3

3

7 7

6

22

2

29

0

3

7 7

7

8

6

30

0

3

7 7

8

2

5

.. 31

5

3

7 7

9

0

8

Feb. I

12

3

7 7

10

13

4

.. 2

21

I

7 7

1 1

20

3

3

3

0

7 7

12

25

2

.. 4

15

2

7 7

13

9

2

5

55

I

7 7

14

92

0

b

131

0

7 7

15

5

4

.. 7

42

3

7 7

16

42

0

,, 9

48

4

7 7

17

2

6

,, 10

115

0

7 7

18

2

7

,, 11

1 16

3

7 7

19

0

7

.. 12

19

2

7 7

20

15

2

13

35

I

Number of Blackbird

Calls within a Roosting Area compared

TO

THE Estimated Wind Force

ON THE Beaufort Scale

(from 30 minutes after sunset until darkness)

*6 p.m.

TABLE

II.

Date.

No. of

Temperature Minimum

1938

calls.

5 P-‘>n-

{previous night)

Nov. 21

20

43°F*

36

„ 24

44

43°F*

37

„ 26

83

44°F

4

I

Dec. 3

82

43°F

40

„ 5

50

43°F

40

14

92

47°F

45

16

42

48°F

47

1939

Jan. 13

21

4i“F

33

„ 19

50

47°F

46

„ 20

133

47°F

45

VOL. XXXIII.] VOCAL ACTIVITY OF BLACKBIRDS. 47

Date.

No. of

Temperature Minimum

1938

calls.

5

(previous night)

Jan.

21

84

50°F

44

> >

24

41

4I°F

36

Feb.

2

21

35°F

31

1 >

3

3

45°F

31

> i

5

55

47°F

40

6

131

48°F

38

t }

10

115

55°F

49

13

35

45°F

38

Number of Blackbird

Calls (on

Evenings

WITH Wind Force

OF Value less than 2) compared to Temperature.

*6 p.m.

(48)

ON THE COURTSHIP-DISPLAY OF
THE GOLDENEYE.

BY

DONALD GUNN.

The courtship-display of the Goldeneye [Bucephala c. clangula)
is perhaps more spectacular than that of any other duck and
therefore has attracted the attention of several naturalists
who have described it at considerable length. Among them
I may mention F. Briiggemann (1876), J. B. Gilpin (1880),
C. W. Townsend (1910), J. G. Millais (1913), W. Brewster
(1923) and H. Boase (1924). J. C. Phillips (1923) may also be
mentioned as he gives a short description of certain stages
of the courting-parade and happens to include one that is of
special value because of its rarity.

Like all other ducks, the Goldeneye reserves his most
extravagant demonstrations for the occasions when he is in
company with other males, as well as in the presence of a
female ; and it is in this essentially competitive performance
that he “ shows off ” most effectively and goes through with
his programme to the last item.

But his display, when addressed to an amatory female and
immediately preliminary to the act of coupling is less com-
prehensive, being made up only of details selected from the
general repertoire, and such details do not always comprise
its most showy features.

And herein — that he uses gestures borrowed from the
general display as an approach to sexual union — he differs
from the Mallard who, though displaying elaborately when
in male company, reserves for this critical stage one simple
movement which is not used when he is “ showing off ” against
rivals. The Mallard’s motion peculiar to this occasion is
head-dipping, which is done by both sexes and seems to serve
both as an auto-excitant and as a signal of assent.

But among those descriptions of the courtship of the
Goldeneye to which I have alluded — some of which were
made under favourable conditions and set forth the stages
of the display in great detail — I have seen no mention of the
phase to which I wish to draw attention here. It consists in
the exhibition by the drake of the upper surface of his out-
spread wing while it is supported by his foot. In order to do
this effectively he careens his body and extends the wing
that then comes uppermost.

There is, of course, a great difference in the advertisement
value of the two wing-surfaces, for the under is partly “ mouse-

VOL. XXXIII.] GOLDENEYE COURTSHIP-DISPLAY. 49

grey ” in colour and shows little of interest, while the upper
surface is made up of large black and white areas in con-
spicuous contrast. It follows, therefore, that the most complete
method of showing his wing-pattern is for him to roll towards
the duck and, while his back is towards her, to spread his
uppermost wing. The object in supporting the wing with the
foot is, presumably, to enable the drake to retain this some-
what awkward pose, with the wing at full stretch, longer than
he could in the absence of such a strut ; that it serves its
purpose efficiently is certain, for, in a back view, his orange-
coloured toes may sometimes be seen projecting between the
quills.

When, as sometimes happens, he makes the mistake of
careening away from the duck, instead of towards her,
the exhibition becomes something of a damp squib, for he
then shows only the under surface of his wing ; but, as a
result of watching him over a good many years, I can state
conhdently that he is much more often right than wrong in
his selection of the proper attitude to adopt and wing to
extend.

The item of display mentioned by Phillips — and which
I classed as rare because I had never seen it — is for the drake
in the culminating stage of his excitement to_jnake repeated
rushes backwards. But this has been witnessed by A. H.
Maepherson who described it in a letter which he wrote me
in 1932.

And now, apropos the wing-display, I might add that the
female bird also does this. I am induced to mention it because
some writers say that the female does not display at all, or
they credit her with only the mildest of gesticulations, in
spite of the fact that display in the case of captive females
has been -described by Lilford. But, though .she is less
demonstrative and vigorous than the male, there is only one
of his various gestures and poses that she lacks, and that is his
astonishing “ jack-knife ” movement (as I call it), when he
flashes his fluffed-out head on to his back, holds it there for a
second, and then as quickly snaps it forwards again.

She dips her bill ; splashes water sideways with it ; protrudes
her neck at an angle of 45° (the “ bowsprit pose ” of Brewster) ;
she stabs the zenith ; kicks water up behind her ; and, as
I say, rolls and e.xtends her wing. More than that, she has
one curious little performance which is never seen in the
male, and which I may describe by an extract from my notes.
‘‘ A movement by the duck when attracting the attention of
the drake ; usually associated with periods of ‘ lying along ’

D

50

BRITISH BIRDS.

[VOL. XXXIII.

the surface. The head is slowly and completely submerged
and then carried forwards in a curve having an upward
direction, so as to reappear with the bill pointing upwards
at an angle of 45°. As soon as the eyes arc clear of the water
the movement is arrested, and this position of the head is
retained while the whole of the neck is out of sight. At the
same time the stern is well elevated in a humped-up way, the
heels being exposed though the tail is not lifted from the
water. The bird then is more or less in the position taken
up by a Great Crested Grebe chick which has been bullied
by a stronger brother and, after making his esca]ic by diving,
rises and peeps to see if ‘ the coast is clear.’ This pose forms
part of an active display by the female bird ; and, as such,
differs from the common attitude of solicitation, when she
half sinks her body and lies extended flat along the surface
of the water.”

[The above article was written by the late Donald Gunn a
few days before his death in March, 1939, at the age of 78.
He was of very retiring habits and published little, though a
man of wide learning on many subjects. By profession he
was a surgeon, but retired from practice to reside in Canada,
France and South Africa. He also travelled through Burma.
Early in the present century he returned to live in London.
He had an extensive knowledge of birds, and during the
last twenty years devoted much time studying the habits
of ducks. — A. Holte M.\cpherson.]

A CASE OF BIGAMY IN MONTAGU’S HARRIER.

I THINK it will be of interest to record a case of bigamy
in Montagu’s Harrier {Circus pygargus), which I had under
observation in England during the summer of 1938. It is
well known that this species has a tendency to nest in small
colonies, but I do not know whether cases of one male bird
serving more than one hen have been recorded. I have heard
of one possibly similar instance, which occurred in Norfolk
a good many years ago. Probably these two cases were caused
by the rarity of the species, and the consequent difficulty of
finding a mate in this country. In this particular case the
birds were under continuous observation by a watcher and
by myself from the time of their arrival until the young
birds left the nests.

The hrst bird to appear on the territory was a female on
May 14th. On the following day she was joined by the male
and a second female. All three birds were about together
during the morning and there was some sparring between
the two hens. Hen No. 2 then left and we did not see her
again until May 21st. In the meanwhile hen No. i was courted
and fed by the cock, and selected her nesting-site in some
long sedge. On May 21st hen No. 2 returned and was playing
all day with the cock, who was also seen to feed hen No. i,
who had apparently already laid, although we did not visit
the nest, \\ffien hen No. 2 appeared over the nest of hen
No. I, the latter at once rose and a fierce aerial battle ensued,
hen No. 2 retiring a short distance. This sparring continued
for a day or two. At the end of that time a working agreement
seemed to have been come to and hen No. 2 selected a nesting-
site within 70 yards of hen No. i. For a few days she still
showed a tendency to come off the nest out of her turn, and
would rise when the cock called hen No. i off to take the
pass. On these occasions the cock drove her back to her nest,
before feeding hen No. i. After a week all seemed to have
settled down amicably, and both hens were fed in turn, only
the one who was called off rising to take the prey. After
passing his kill, the cock would settle on one of a row of posts
close to the nest of whichever hen he had fed, until she had
finished her meal and returned to her eggs.

Hen No. i laid 4 eggs and hen No. 2 laid 5. The former
hatched and reared all 4 which left the nest July 23rd. The

52

BRITISH BIRDS.

[VOL. XXXIII.

latter hatched only 3, two eggs being infertile. One young
bird hatched some time after the others and did not leave the
nest until a fortnight after the others had flown.

There was never any (]ue.stion of there being more than one
male bird, as he was easily recognizable, and at one time had a
broken pinion feather, which showed uj) clearly. On one
occasion he was seen to pass prey to hen No. i and then,
without going out of sight, killed and plucked a lark close to
the observer and fed hen No. 2. On another occasion when
the young were well grown in the first nest I saw him bring
prey and pass to hen No. i. She circled round for some time
with the prey. Within a few minutes he was back with
another kill. He called to her and circled with her over the • |
nest. Seeing she had not disposed of his previous kill he
immediately flew over to nest No. 2 and called off and fed
the other hen. On one occasion I timed him and he brought
five kills in an hour, two to nest No. i, and 3 to nest No. 2,
during the same hour hen No. i brought in 2 kills herself.

I only saw the cock take prey to the nest himself on two *

occasions each time to No. i nest, when the hen was off
hunting. Neither of the hens hunted much until their young j

were well grown, and both broods were reared almost entirely 1

by the efforts of the one cock bird, no mean achievement on j

his part. G. Dent. j

[Bigamy has been recorded in this species by P. A. Hens t
[Avif. cl. Nederl. Prov. Limburg : cf. Beitrage z. Fortpfl. Biol. d.

Vogel, III, p. 22). Mr. P. E. Chance also gave me details v

of a similar case in Norfolk many years ago observed by his '

brother, but I believe the particulars have never been j

published. — F.C.R.J.] .

NEST-BUILDING BY MALE MALLARD.

On March 31st, 1939, banks of the Regent’s Park

Canal close to the Zoo in Prince Albert Road, I noticed a
nest of a Mallard (A nas p. platyrhyncha) in the construction
of which the male appeared to be taking part. This seemed '
to me so unusual that I watched the birds for some minutes.

The nest was in a hollow at the base of a tree. The duck ,
entered the nest and began to arrange material round the
sides, at the same time turning and shaping the nest with
her breast. This continued for three or four minutes, during
which time the drake was standing a few feet away. The
duck then left the nest and her place was taken by the drake,
which continued to shape the nest and to arrange material
in the same way as the duck, only for a longer period,

VOL. XXXIII.]

NOTES.

53

eventually settling down on the nest in a position similar
to a duck when brooding.

It seemed to me that such exceptional behaviour deserved
record.

It would be interesting to know if other observers have
noted similar behaviour, especially in ducks nesting in such
artificial and unusual surroundings. A. T. Best.

ASSOCIATION OF DRAKE MALLARD WITH THE DUCK
AND YOUNG BROOD.

On the afternoon of April 24th, 1939, ten newly hatched
ducklings, with a duck and a drake Mallard {Anas p. platy-
rhyncha) in attendance, were swimming in the rough water
at the foot of the retaining wall of Wilstone Reservoir, Tring.
I came on the party suddenly as I topped the embankment
and the birds at once took fright. The ducklings, huddled
together, scuttled off towards the open water in one direction,
whilst the old birds took another at right angles to it. The
quacking duck squattered along the water with thrashing
wings — characteristic behaviour when the young are in
sudden danger. Its excitement decreased as the cause of it
grew more and more remote, until ultimately it swam with
the drake to rejoin the ducklings, then some fifty yards away,
and the whole party made for the middle of the reservoir.
The drake did not squatter at all ; at the outset he rose
from the water but after flying for four or five yards dropped
at the side of the squattering duck. In the interval between
his doing so and the time when, their composure regained,
both birds swam to meet the ducklings, he sprang a couple
of feet into the air three or four times only to flop clumsily
on to the water again at her side. All his actions and his
perplexed and inconsequent demeanour suggested something
out of the common, a situation to which he was not accus-
tomed and a departure from routine that gave rise to indecision
and a muddled mental state. It seems unlikely that the
drake’s eccentric behaviour was due wholly or in part to
attachment to his mate or solicitude for their young, and an
alternative explanation occurs to me.

If a pair of Mallards are faced with sudden danger, whether
on land or water, the duck almost invariably rises first,
although only by a fraction of a second and the precedence is a
real one and evident enough. This habit is not peculiar to
the Mallard, but is common to many species of surface-feeding
and diving ducks. A strong urge to flight is set in motion by
a sudden danger, but when a duck has a young brood that

54

BRITISH BIRDS.

[VOL. XXXIII.

urge is overcome by another to which she reacts by squattering,
and so diverts the attention of an enemy from the young
birds to herself. This behaviour is stereotyped, is always
adopted in similar circumstances, and there is no reason to
suppose that it is the outcome of a thought-out plan to meet
a particular case, or is indeed anything but an evolved and
perfected instinctive routine. But in this routine the drake
Mallard has usually no part. It is exceptional for him to
take any interest in mate or young after the eggs are hatched,
and it is probable that the drake at Wilstone had neither
individual nor ancestral experience of a threatened danger to
mate or young.

When the birds were alarmed by my sudden appearance,
the impulse of the duck to fly was overborne or supplanted
by the impulse to squatter and swim away from her brood,
whilst the drake’s impulse to fly was frustrated or deflected
by the failure of the duck to give him a lead, and possibly by
the, to him, unwonted behaviour of the duck in squattering
instead of rising in flight.

The episode supports Bertram Lloyd’s contention {antea,
\’ol. XXX., p. 336) that the occasional association of a drake
Mallard with a duck and a young brood is a real and not
merely a fortuitous one. Chas. Oldham.

LAPWINGS NESTING AT HIGH ALTITUDE.

At the beginning of June, 1939, in the western Cairngorms,
my wife and I passed two pairs of nesting Lapwings {Vanellns
vanellus) in Ptarmigan country at a height of approximately
2,800 feet above the sea. I do not remember having seen them
nesting so high on a Scottish hill before. Seton Gordon.

[Mr. D. Nethersole Thompson states that in the central
Highlands the Lapwing nests up to 1800 ft., but that he has
met with a few in summer at 3,500 — 4,000 ft. but has no
proof of breeding there. — E.C.R.J.]

TEMMINCK’S STINT IN HERTFORDSHIRE.

A Temminck’s Stint {Calidris iemminckii) was feeding on
the mud at Startup’s End Reservoir, Tring, in the evening
of May 24th, 1939. I was able to watch it in a good light,
often so close that it filled the whole field of the telescope,
and took down a full description, of which the following are
the most important points.

Shorter, though larger in body, than Yellow W’agtail.
Strong resemblance to small Common Sandpiper, due especially
to abrupt demarcation between grey-brown upper breast and
white of rest of underparts. Head and neck grey-brown.

VOL. XXXIII.]

NOTES.

55

streaked blackish, with very faint creamy superciliary line ;
mantle mottled and warmer, due to scattered black-centered
and buff-margined feathers. Tail, fanned on landing, showed
large white areas on either side of dark central patch. Bill,
tapering and slightly decurved. Legs, yellowish-green,
browner in some lights. Call, subdued rippling twitter —
“ twirrik,” several times repeated — uttered usually on taking
wing.

Mr. Charles Oldham confirmed these details the same
evening, and found the bird had gone by ii a.m. next morning.

A reputed occurrence at Tring in 1887 is unreliable (Hartert
and Jourdain, Novit. ZooL, XXVII., p. 237), and this appears
to be the first definite record for Hertfordshire. K. B. Rooke.

Barred Warblers at the Isle of May. — During August
and September, 1938, one to three Barred Warblers {Sylvia
■nisoria) were seen on twelve days. It was difficult to be sure
how many passed through, but nine were caught in the trap
and ringed between August nth and September 9th.

Green Woodpecker in Lanarkshire. — Mr. R. Y. Ferguson
reports {Scot. Nat., 1939, p. 49) that a Green Woodpecker
{Ficus viridis) was seen near Dalziel House on November
23rd, 1938.

Ruddy Sheld-Duck in Lanarkshire. — Mr. N. Hopkins
records {Scot. Nat., 1939, p. 86) seeing a Ruddy Sheld-Duck
{Casarca ferniginea) in Summerston Marshes on April 12th,
1939-

Pintail Breeding in Yorkshire. — In the “ Yorkshire
Naturalists’ Union ” Annual Report for 1938 {Nat., 1939,
p. 16) there is a brief statement that a Pintail {Anas a. acuta)
bred at Skipwith in 1938, a duck with young being seen on
July 2nd. No other particulars are given but we are informed
that the statement is reliable, but it is a pity that an important
observation of this kind should not be recorded in a more
convincing way, and that it should have been hidden away
amongst a mass of ordinary observations.

Nest of Shag with Nine Eggs. — Mr. Duncan J.
Robertson informs us that he recently found a nest of
Phalacrocorax a. aristotelis on Eynliallow, Orkney, with nine
eggs, though one had fallen out of the nest. The maximum
clutch of this bird in the British Isles is six, which has been
recorded twice, though eight are said to have been met with
in nests in Norway and Finland. It seems probable in the
present case that the large number was due to two females,
while the single egg might have been displaced by fighting.

56 BRITISH BIRDS. [vol.xxxiii.

REVIEWS.

Transactions of the Hertfordshire Natural History Society and Field
Club, Vol. XXI, I’art i.

This contains a very well deserved tribute to Mr. Charles Oldham,
signed by a number of naturalist friends and addressed to him on the
occasion of his seventieth birthday. The report on the birds of the
county for 1937 besides other notes contains as usual a full account of
the birds seen at the Tring reservoirs. The chief events were the divers
and grebes in the early part of the year (already fully reported in our
pages) and the presence of Shags in the early spring and Cormorants
in late summer. We note that INIr. M. F. M. Meiklejohn finds W'illow-Tits
common in winter over the district of Harpenden. An article on gulls
in the Colne Valley by tieoffrey McCulloch should prove of considerable
value in connexion with other studies of the movements and numbers
of gulls in the Greater London area.

Transactions of the Norfolk and Norwich Naturalists' Society, 1938.
Norfolk ornithologists have suffered a very severe loss by the death
of Dr. Sydney Long, an obituary notice of whom appears in this part,
and it will be difficult to replace him. The county has sustained another
blow during the year by the disastrous sea floods in February, 1938,
at Horsey and Hickling. A full account of these and their effect on
animal life is given and should be studied by all interested. I’artridges
and Pheasants seemed unable to escape across the flooded area ; the
mice and rats being killed. Kestrels and Owls disappeared ; many of
the Bitterns appear to have dispersed into other areas ; ducks nested
but failed to rear young ; two pairs of Marsh- Harriers hatched only
one young; but the Bearded Tits though much disturbed by the altered
conditions did passably well. A number of Spotted Crakes appeared
in the autumn. Mr. Vincent records a \Vater-Pipit on March 24th, a
Roller (no date given), a Gull-billed Tern on June 14th, and an unusual
number of waders in August and September included Spotted Redshank,
Ruff, Temminck’s Stint and Wood-Sandpiper. A pair each of Arctic
and Roseate Terns bred at Scolt Head Island and a single Roseate
mated with a Common Tern. A Kentish Plover was satisfactorily
identified at Cley on September 24th and a number of other interesting
birds were reported.

Annual Report of the Oiindle School Natural History Society.

In a short Report on the birds we note that larger numbers of geese
were seen in the winter, 1938-9, at Tichmarsh than at any time since
the winter of 1923-4. On January 19th, 150 were counted, of wliich
143 were White-fronted and the re.st Pink-footed, while a flock of about
250 geese were seen on the wing and 170 counted on other days.

Report of the Cambridge Bird Club, 1938.

The most interesting events recorded in this report are the nesting
again of the Black Redstart and the breeding of the Bittern. The
Black Redstart’s nest with five eggs was deserted, but the birds
appear to have nested again, as on August 15th a female with one young
one was watched. The Bittern bred at Burwell and it is about a hundred
years ago since the last was known to breed in the fens. The Gadwall
also bred, this being the second record, or perhaps the first really
definite record, and about twelve pairs of Garganey bred. Among
other observations we may note that a party of five Dotterel was seen
in August and a number of waders, including Grey I’lover, Ruff,
Sandcrling, Temminck’s Stint (August 28th) and Wood-Sandpiper,
were seen at the sewage farm.

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Contents of Number 3, Vol. XXXIII., August i, 1939.

PAGE

Timing the Under-water Activities of Diving Birds. By T- M.

Dewar, M.D 58

Movements of Ringed Birds from Abroad to the British Isles
and from the British Isles Abroad. Addenda VI. Omitting
records of British-bred birds. By H. F. Witherby and E. P.

Leach ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 62

Obituary : Ernest Urmstcn Savage ... ... ... ... 76

Notes : —

The Return of the Raven as a Nester to Sussex (J. Walpole-

Bond) ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 77

Down-plumage of Nestling and Soft Parts of Juvenile Chough

(K. Williamson)... ... ... ... ... ... ... 78

Greenfinch Singing at Night (E. H. Lancum) ... ... ... 78

Crossbills breeding in Sussex in 1939 (J. Walpole-Bond) ... 79

Sky-Lark carrying young Bird (G. R. Mountfort) ... ... 79

Water-Pipit in Cheshire (A. W. Boyd) ... ... ... ... 79

Red-backed Shrike as Fosterer of Cuckoo (W. H. Bramwell) 80

Status of Nuthatch in W. Merionethshire (E. H. T. Bible) ... 80

Black Redstart in London in May and June (J. Le C. Sumner) 81
Stones in Gizzard of Nightjar (G. Marples) ... ... ... 81

Short-eared Owls in Surrey (H. Bentham) ... ... ... 82

Storks in Sussex (E. M. Cawkell) ... ... ... ... 83

Unusual Behaviour of Duck Mallard and Brood (C. E. Tebbutt) 83
Green-winged Teal in Outer Hebrides (Dr. J. W. Campbell) ... 84

Great Crested Grebes’ unusual Nest-site (A. W. Boyd) ... 84

Early Nesting of Great Crested Grebe in Cheshire (A. W. Boyd) 85

Incubation-Periods of Some Waders and Eledging-Period of

Lapwing (J. E. Thomas) ... ... ... ... ... 85

Lapwing’s Nest with Six Eggs (E. E. Paget-Tomlinson) ... 86

Waders in Somerset (H. Tetley) ... ... ... ... 86

White-winged Black Tern in Sussex (J. Walpole-Bond) ... 87

Spotted Crake in Sussex in June (J. Walpole-Bond) ... ... 87

Short Notes : —

Great Spotted Woodpecker Nesting in Bute and Sutherland.
Barnacle-Geese in Northumberland in June. Sooty Shear-
water in Irish Sea. Lapwings Nesting at High Altitude.

Nestling Lapwing " Breezing ’’ Upside Down. Breeding
Season of the Dunlin. Moorhen’s Nest Built of Grass ... 87

Review : —

Skokholm Bird Observatory. Report for 1938 ... ... ... 88

E

(58)

TIMING THE UNDER-WATER ACTIVITIES OF
DIVING BIRDS.

BY

J. M. DEWAR, M.D.

According to the 20-10 seconds rule the average period of
the dive in 6 feet of water is 20 seconds, and it is suggested
that of this period, 10 seconds are spent in going up and down
and 10 seconds on the bottom in search of food (Dewar, 1924).
As a direct approach to the problem of the distribution of
the time spent under water is almost impossible owing to the
wildness of the birds and the normal turbidity of the water,
other means had to be found to test the validity of the
suggestion.

When the bird dives at a fairly steep angle by the propulsant
action of the feet alone, a column of water is forced up to the
surface by the action of the feet, and the place of immersion
is marked by a limited area of up-welling water mixed with
bubbles of air. The up-welling I call " turmoil.” Turmoil
begins when the bird is immersed and continues for some
time after the bird reaches the bottom. Turmoil ends abruptly
and its duration can be timed with a stop-watch. A perfectly
calm day is essential for correct timing.

When the bird reaches the bottom the up-welling of water
ceases to be produced, since the direction of the foot-stroke
becomes more oblique and much less thrust is required to hold
the bird on the bottom. Turmoil does not end at the moment
the bird reaches the bottom, because the water, which is
forced upwards, takes time to reach the surface. Thereafter,
nothing comes to the surface e.xcept bubbles of air. The air-
bubbles record the bird’s horizontal travel over the bottom
and the final ascent to surface. The difference between the
bird’s time of descent and the time taken by the turmoil to
cease appearing I call ” lag.”

A floating body moves in one direction at the same rate
as its propelling apparatus forces a column of water in the
opposite direction, less slip. Slip has not been actually
measured. Its value varies with the speed of the floating
body, and is put at 5 per cent, at 10 knots (Seaton, 1928).
At very low speeds, such as are at present being considered,
slip is very small and may safely be neglected.

The column of water forced upwards by the bird’s feet must
slow down as the initial impulse exhausts itself. In shallow
water the ebullition at the surface is so lively that it may be
assumed that there is no appreciable loss of speed on this
account. The assumption is also apjilicable to the retarding
effect of gravity on the up-rising water.

VOL. XXXIII.] UNDER-WATER ACTIVITIES.

59

Apart from these disturbing factors which are here assumed
to be negligible, but which would need to be taken into
account in very accurate work, the result of the analysis is
that the duration of the bird’s descent to bottom equals the
duration of lag. Hence, by dividing the duration of turmoil in
seconds by two the approximate duration of descent is
obtained, and by dividing the depth in inches by the duration
of descent in seconds the speed of descent is got in inches a
second.

Ascent to surface by the species investigated is almost
invariably by buoyancy alone. If the feet are used there is
generally a reason for it, such as avoidance of collision with
another bird.

A dead Mallard drake of a domestic variety {Anas
platyrhyncha) weighed 6f pounds and had a specific gravity
of 0.6. Heinroth (1938) recorded the same figure for this
species. As diving birds from their less buoyant appearance
on the surface should have a higher specific gravity than the
Mallard, it would be interesting to know the specific gravities
of these birds. Unfortunately, the only determination, so
far traced, is of the Little Grebe [Podiceps r. mficollis)
which, at 0.66, has a higher specific gravity than the Mallard
(Stubbs, 1910).

The Mallard was found to rise through one foot of water
in an average time of 1.2 seconds and through 6 feet of
water in 5 seconds, giving a rate of acceleration of 15.8 inches
a second. It is possible that the living bird with its air-sacs
distended with air has a lower specific gravity and a more
rapid -rate of acceleration but data for the living bird have
not been ascertained. This experiment gives an approximate
figure for rate of ascent by buoyancy alone.

The rate of descent and of ascent being known approxi-
mately, it is now possible to make a closer analysis of the
period of the dive. The material is small in amount, however,
and it is not suggested that, at present, the results have more
than a limited application.

Three species were studied — Coot {Ftdica a. atra).
Tufted Duck {Aythya fuligula) and Pochard Duck {A.
f. ferina). These species have a marked tendency, useful
in the present investigation, to repeat dives at one spot.
In 1924 I pointed out that the Coot is peculiar in that it has
no bottom-time, and I believed this was a general rule for
the species. Since that time I have found that, under certain
conditions, the Coot may have bottom-time, but the Coot
which provided the material used in the present analysis had
no bottom-time.

The observations were made in calm weather, on lakes in

60

BRITISH BIRDS.

[VOL. XXXIII.

Holyrood Park, Edinburgh. In every case the depth was
ascertained by sounding in the position of the dives with
the aid of cross-bearings, and I am indebted to H.M. Office of
Works for permission to take the necessary soundings. It
will be understood that the appropriate combination of all
the requisite conditions has seldom occurred. This is the
reason why it has not been found possible to collect more
than eight cases in nine years of intermittent observation.

Coot : Depth 5^ feet. 10 dives averaging 9.2 secs.

Turmoil lasted 9.2 secs.

lag 4.6 secs.

4.6 secs.

Hence descent lasted 4.6 seconds, equal to 14.4 inches a
second ; ascent, by remainder, lasted 4.6 seconds ; equal to
14.4 inches a second, as compared with 14.2 inches a second
in experiment with Mallard.

Tufted Duck ; Depth 4 feet. 25 dives averaging 16.8 secs.
Turmoil lasted 6.6 secs.

lag 3.3 secs.

3.3 secs.

Hence descent lasted 3.3 seconds, equal to 14.5 inches a
second, and as ascent in e.xperiment with Mallard lasted
3.4 seconds, there remains out of 16.8 seconds, the period of
the dive, 10. i seconds, as the duration of bottom-time.

Tufted Duck : Depth 4 feet. 5 dives averaging 18.4 secs.
Turmoil lasted 5.8 secs.

lag 2.9 secs.

2.9 secs.

Hence descent lasted 2.9 seconds, equal to 16.5 inches a
second, and as ascent by Mallard lasted 3.4 seconds, there
remains out of 18.4 seconds, the period of the dive, 12. i
seconds, as the duration of bottom-time.

Tufted Duck : Depth 4J feet. 4 dives averaging 17.3 secs.

Turmoil lasted 6.2 secs.

lag 3.1 secs.

3.1 secs.

Hence descent lasted 3.1 seconds, equal to 17.4 inches a
second, and as ascent by Mallard lasted 3.86 seconds, there
remains out of 17.3 seconds, the period of the dive, 10.4
seconds, as the duration of bottom-time.

VOL. XXXIII ] UNDER-WATER ACTIVITIES.

61

Tufted Duck : Depth 6 feet. 5 dives averaging 21.6 secs.
Turmoil lasted 9.4 secs.

lag 4.7 secs.

4.7 secs.

Hence descent lasted 4.7 seconds, equal to 15.3 inches a
second, and as ascent by Mallard lasted 5 seconds, there
remains out of 21.6 seconds, the period of the dive, 11.9
seconds, as the duration of bottom-time.

Pochard Duck : Depth 3 feet. 5 dives averaging 15.6 secs-
Turmoil lasted 4.6 secs.

lag 2.3 secs. ‘

2.3 secs.

Hence descent lasted 2.3 seconds, equal to 15.3 inches a
second, and as ascent by Mallard lasted 2.72 seconds, there
remains out of 15.6 seconds, the period of the dive, 10.6
seconds, as duration of bottom-time.

To summarize : In three species of diving birds the speed
of descent ranged from 14.4 to 17.4 inches a second and the
speed of ascent from 13.4 to 14.4 inches a second according
to depth of water within a limit of six feet ; in two species,
bottom-time ranged from 10. i to 12. i seconds, the average
period for 44 dives being 10.6 seconds.

The effect of dense weed in slowing down the rate of descent
is well shown by the following observations. Incidentally,
it may be noted the presence of dense weed is one reason for
the average period of the dive failing to conform to expectation
under the 20-10 seconds rule. The rate of ascent by buoyancy
in dense weed has not been determined.

Pochard Duck : Depth 6 feet. 46 dives averaging 26 secs-
Turmoil lasted 10.3 secs.

lag 5.15 secs.

5.15 secs.

Hence descent lasted 5.15 seconds, equal to 13.9 inches a
second.

Pochard Duck : Depth 6 feet. 7 dives averaging 28.1 secs.
Turmoil lasted 14.8 secs.

lag 7.4 secs.

7.4 secs.

Hence descent lasted 7.4 seconds, equal to 9.7 inches a
second.

Dewar, J. M. (1924) : The Bird as a Diver. London.

Heinroth, O. (1938) : Aus dem Leben der Vogel. Berlin.

Seaton, E. A. 1928) : A Manual of Marine Engineering. London.

Stubbs, F. J. (1910) : Zool. 14, 201. The Mechanism of the Plumage
in Water Birds.

MOVEMENTS OF RINGED BIRDS FROM ABROAD
TO THE BRITISH ISLES AND FROM THE
BRITISH ISLES ABROAD.

ADDENDA VIA

Omitting records of British-bred birds.

BY

H. F. WITHERBY and E. P. LEACH.

Hitherto in this series of articles we have thought it best to
collect together all records of ringed birds, which have moved
either from this country to abroad or from abroad to this
country. This has meant a certain amount of duplication as
the birds ringed here are also included in the lists of recoveries
under the British ringing scheme.

As the number of recoveries is constantly increasing it is
now necessary to modify this plan and in this instalment we
are omitting all records of birds ringed in the British Islands
as nestlings or as breeding birds, but we shall continue to
include those British-ringed birds which appear to be winter
visitors or passage-migrants so as to give, with the records of
those ringed abroad and recovered here, as complete an account
as possible of the movements of these birds as shown by
ringing. In the cases of the Starling and Black-headed and
Common Gulls, as in our last instalment, we have summarized
the records and omitted the detailed lists. The fresh records
of these species are numerous, but do not materially affect the
maps and summaries previously published. It should be
mentioned that careful records of all unpublished cases are
kept for reference in case they should be required. Reverting
to the omission of the British-breeding birds it is to be hoped
that when sufficient records have been accumulated each
species will be fully dealt with as has been recently done in
the case of the Heron and the Gannet {antea, Vol. XXXII.,
pp. 242 and 282).

We have once more to express our grateful thanks to many
ringing stations as well as to correspondents for notifying
recoveries and supplying details.

To the list of Ringing Stations already published three new
ones have to be added.

*For previous parts see Vol. XXV., pp. 110-128; pp. 174-192 ;
pp. 245-268 ; pp. 357-360 ; Vol. XXVI, pp. 352-361 ; Vol. XXVIII,
pp. 106-112 ; pp. 133-141 ; Vol. XXIX, pp. 132-144 ; Vol. XXXI,
pp. 14-24 ; pp. 42-53.

VOL. XXXIII ] MOVEMENTS OF RINGED BIRDS. 63

Abbrevia- Inscription Organization. Director,

tion used. on Ring.

P-V Polonia Varsovia Zool. Museum, Warsaw. W. Rydzewski.
Tsch. Ecke, Tschammendorf, Orn. Ring-Station, Hansgeorg Ecke
Germania. Tschammendorf,

(No longer operative.) Breslau, Silesia.

Ba. Univ. Bologna Italia. Laboratorio di Zoologia Prof. A. Ghigi.

deir Universita,

Bologna.

Note. — The only cases of Recoveries with Warsaw rings are of
Starlings, which do not appear in detail.

HOODED CROW [Corvus c. cornix).

RINGED ABROAD, TRANSPORTED TO A DISTANCE AND
RELEASED EXPERIMENTALLY.

Ringed. Recovered.

R. D56031 East Prussia, released Schleswig, Perths. 3-4-39

{470 m. W.) 12.4.38

ROOK {Corvus f. frugilegus).

RINGED ABROAD AS NESTLINGS.

Ringed.

Recovered.

L.

157804

Overyssel, Holland

17-5-35

Sussex

30.11.35

L.

157870

Ditto

I7-5-35

Norfolk

9-12.35

L.

119555

Zuid Holland

14.6.36

Suffolk

23.10.36

R.

D56656

Mecklenburg, Germany

I3-5-33

Norfolk

26.10.38

RINGED ABROAD

AS MIGRANT.

R.

D44622

East Prussia

8.4-37

Bedford

5-2.39

STARLING {Sturnus v. vidgaris).

Altogether 234 records of Starlings have accumulated since
our last Addenda. Added to previous records we now have
details of some 640 immigrants.

Of the new records eighty were ringed as young or in
breeding quarters between the end of April and July (mostly
in May and June) in Belgium, Holland, Scandinavia, Germany,
Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, W. Russia (one), and S. Finland
(two). - These were reported from all parts of England, two
from S. Wales and two from Ireland, but none from Scotland,
mostly between October and February and a few in March.
The following are worth noting specially owing to the dates.

Ringed. Reported.

Holland

20.6.36

At sea off Flamborough

3.4.37

Latvia

3.6.37

Northumberland

—.4.38

Germany

21.5.36

Kent

12-4-39

Germany

21.5-38

Kent

12.5.39

Belgium

—.5.32

Devon “ Summer,” 36

Holland

26.5.35

Kent

22.7.35

Sweden

8.6.36

Mayo

26.7.37

There are ninety-nine records of full-grown birds ringed in
Belgium, Holland, Germany and Memel Territory, some no
doubt on migration, but a good many probably at or near
their breeding-places. These were reported from all parts of

BRITISH BIRDS.

G4

[VOL. XXXIII.

England, six from W'ales, three from Ireland and one from
Scotland (Wigtown). Of these we may list the following, the
dates of which are rather unusual.

Ringed.

Recovered.

Holland

18.9.36

Cornwall

14-7-37

Holland

22.10.35

Essex

—.4.36

Rossitten

9.4-32

Bucks

II-4-34

Memel Territory

18.6.34

Somerset

15-5-36

Memel Territory

21-7-33

Yorkshire

23-5-34

A third group of fifty-five birds were ringed in England
and one in Fifeshire between October and March and were
subsequently reported abroad (Belgium, Holland, Germany,
Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia,
Estonia and Finland). Most of these were evidently winter
visitors to us but the following records seem to indicate that
the same birds do not perhaps reach so far westward every
winter.

Oxford

Berkshire

Warwick

Worcester

Kent

Ringed.

Recovered.

28.11.33 Belgium — -11.37

29.12.37 S. Holland — .11.38

22.3.32 X. Holland 21.12.37

8.12.37 Belgium 26.12.38

4.11.37 Belgium 30.12.38

As SO few ringed Starlings have been reported from Scotland
it may be mentioned that the one ringed in Fifeshire was
recovered in N. Norway and the one recovered in Wigtown-
shire was ringed in Memel Territory. Of previous Scottish
records another was derived from Memel, one from Latvia,
seven from Norway and two from Denmark.

CHAFFINCH {Fringilla ccelebs).

RINGED GREAT BRITAIN AS WINTER VISITOR AND RECOVERED
ABROAD PROBABLY IN BREEDING-PLACE.

Ringed. Recovered.

Worcester

RINGED

Ringed.

4.2.35 Norrbotten, Sweden
GREAT BRITAIN AS MIGRANT.

Recovered.

1936

I. of May

18.4-37

RINGED GREAT BRITAIN.

BREEDING-PLACE

Ringed.

Stockholm, Sweden

RECOVERED ABROAD.
UNCERTAIN.

Recovered.

4-5-37
(at sea)

Worcester, Winter 1934 or 35

Liege, Belgium

I3-II-37

Ditto

4-3-38

Ditto

2.11.38

Gloucester

27-1-35

Antwerp, Belgium

15-10.37

Worcester

29.1.38

Ditto

8.11.3S

Ditto

8.2.37

Ditto

23.10.38

Ditto

28.12.37

Ditto

16. II. 38

Ditto

2.3-38

East Flanders

11. II. 38

Gloucester

5-2.37

Ditto

14-10.37

Oxford

8.12.36

Ditto

—.11.38

Worcester

3. 2. 38

Brussels

24.10.38

VOL. XXXIII ] MOVEMENTS OF RINGED BIRDS.

65

RINGED ABROAD. BREEDING-PLACE UNCERTAIN.

Ringed. Recovered.

L. A29822

Noord Holland

2-4-35

Durham

28.2.36

L. B6840

Zuid Holland

3-11.34

I. of Arran

14-3-35

L. B4945

Ditto

12.10.37

Dumfries

—.2.38

L. B6367

Ditto

24.10.34

'S’orkshire

7-2-35

L. A21254

Ditto

8.10.33

Kent

7.2.36

L. B16400

Ditto

22.10.35

Ditto

12.5.36

L. A21340

Ditto

14-10-33

Hampshire

20.2.36

L. A20988

Ditto

14-10.33

Cornwall

14-12.35

B. 10B2044

Brussels

6.10.36

Dorset

12.3.37

BRAMBLING {Fringilla niontifringilla) .

The first two records indicate different wintering

areas in

subsequent years.

RINGED GREAT BRITAIN AS WINTER VISITORS.

Ringed.

Recovered.

Worcester

I4-2-37

Gironde, France

—-12.37

Gloucester

29.12.34

Tarn-et-Garonne, France

5-1-38

RINGED ABROAD.

BREEDING-PLACE

UNCERTAIN.

Ringed.

Recovered.

H. 888340A

Stavanger, Norway 12.3.37

Warwick

24.2.38

L. A21365

Zuid Holland

14-10.33

Hampshire

10.12.35

]\IEADO\V-PIPIT {Anthus pratensis).

RINGED ABROAD AS MIGRANT.

Ringed. Recovered.

B. 6A5181 Antwerp, Belgium 18.10.34 Lancashire 18.4.36

CONTINENTAL GREAT TIT [Parus m. major).

This record, which has already been reported [antea,
Vol. XXXI, p. 352), is a very interesting one. So far the
bird has been known chiefly as a migrant in the northern isles
and along the east coast of Great Britain though in the
large migration of igio some reached the Scilly Islands.

RINGED ABROAD AS NESTLING.

Ringed. Recovered.

R. G463182 Saxony, Germany 20.5.37 Gloucester 4-2-38

BRITISH SONG-THRUSH [Turdus e. ericetorum).

RINGED ABROAD AS NESTLINGS.

L. D4755 Utrecht, Holland 29.4.36 Glamorgan 17.12.37

L. D15654 Ditto 6.5.37 Kent 2.2.38

RINGED ABROAD AS FULL-GROWN.

B. 3C992 West Flanders, Belgium 1.8.34 Kent — .2.39

CONTINENTAL SONG-THRUSH {Turdus e. philomelus).

RINGED ABROAD AS MIGRANTS.

Ringed. Recovered.

H. 8313618 Heligoland 30.12.36 Leicester — O-SS

H. 7018764 East Frisian Is. 8.3.38 I.ancashire 26.3.38

66

BRITISH BIRDS.

[VOL. XXXIII.

REDWING {Turdus m. musicus).

The two records from Italy indicate that these birds were
wintering in a different area to that of previous j^ears.

RINGED GREAT BRITAIN AS WINTER VISITORS
OR MIGRANTS.

Ringed. Recovered.

I. of IMay

30.3.38 East Frisian Is.

14.8.38

Gloucester

10.3.34 Tuscany, Italy

6.11.34

Worcester

2.1.37 Ditto

27.2.38

BLACKBIRD [Tnrdns m. merula).

RINGED ABROAD

AS NESTLINGS.

Ringed.

Recovered.

St. Y5753

Gavleborg, Sweden

18.6.37

Durham

16.12.37

St. Y3231

Orebro, Sweden

156.35

Mayo

24.12.38

G. 1128B

Goteborg, Sweden

8.6.34

Yorks

1-4-38

G. 19711B

Vastergotland, Sweden

2.6.37

Orkney

71I-37

C. T7494

Sjaelland, Denmark

21 .6.38

Dumfries

8.2.39

L. D3454

Gelderland, Holland

I4-5-36

Essex

4.11.36

L. D1215

Zuid Holland

16.6.35

Sussex

18.11.35

B. 5C3228

Antw'erp, Belgium

26.4.38

Cavan

—.11.38

H. 753120

Hanover, Germany

40-35

Suffolk

23.1.36

FI. 6064585

Ditto

I3-5-37

Dublin

— ■11-37

H. 794867

Westphalia, Germany

I3-5-36

Cornwall

8.1.37

RINGED .ABROAD

AS MIGRANTS.

7031245

Heligoland

910. 37

Devon

11.12.37

H. 7069380

Ditto

28.3.38

Cork

— 1.39

RINGED GREAT BRIT.\IN

■\S WINTER VISITORS

OR MIGRANTS.

Ringed.

Recovered.

Cheshire

14.2.36 South Norway

26.1.37

I. of May

8.4.37 Ditto

4.11.37

Ditto

5.4.37 Ditto

—.7.38

Yorkshire

26.11.37 Groningen, Holland

20.4.38

Norfolk

30.1.37 Utrecht, Holland

2.7.38

LONG-EARED OWL {Asio o. oius).

RINGED ABROAD.

Ringed. Recovered.

L. 71752 Noord Holland 4.6.32 Lincoln 18.2.35

PEREGRINE FALCON {Falco p. peregrinus).

These are the hrst ringed Peregrines reported from abroad.

RINGED ABROAD IN BREEDING SEASON.

Ringed. Recovered.

Slav. 30260 Lofoten Is., Norway, young

1938 Berks 4.11.38

G. 23514D Vastergotland, Sweden, adult

5.6.35 Kent 18.1.37

KESTREL [Falco t. iinnunculus).

RINGED ABROAD AS NESTLING.

Ringed. Recovered.

Tsch. 261E Silesia, Germanj'^ 5-7.36 Yorkshire 14. 11.37

VOL. XXXIII ] MOVEMENTS OF RINGED BIRDS.

67

SPARROW-HAWK (Accipiter n. nisus).

RINGED ABROAD AS MIGRANTS.

Ringed. Recovered.

L.

16S809

Zuid Holland

16.10.37

Stafford

5-2.38

L.

173293

Gelderland, Holland

3I-IO-38

Monaghan

1. 1. 39

COMMON HERON

(Ardea c.

cinerea) .

RINGED ABROAD

AS NESTLINGS.

Ringed.

Recovered.

0.

04832

Rogaland, Norway

11.6.37

East Lothian

7-10-37

0.

04846

Ditto

11.6.37

Lancs

2.10.37

G.

3977E

Vastergotland, Sweden

6.6.36

Orkney

27-3-37

G.

463 1 E

Halland, Sweden

4-6.37

Sutherland

22.9.37

R.

B48668

Pomerania., Germany

17-5-34

Derby

28.4.35

R.

B47936

Ditto

1934

Jersey

12.11.34

B.

K3527

West Flanders, Belgium 5.5.36

Ditto

13-3-37

B.

K3519

Ditto

5-5.36

Hampshire

20.4.37

V.

O1553

Pas-de-Calais, France

19. 5-37

Hampshire

7-4-38

V.

O1560

Ditto

19.5-37

Waterford

6.12.37

V.

B1753

Ditto

9-5-37

Kent

13-11-38

V.

B2138

Ditto

8.5.38

Ditto

14.12.38

GREY LAG-GOOSE (Anser

anser).

RINGED ABROAD AS YOUNG.

Ringed.

Recovered.

RK.

2.330

South Iceland

14-9.37

Angus

—-12.37

RK.

2.372

South-east Iceland

10.7.38

Kilkenny

— -1-39

SK.

E995

North Iceland

20.6.29

Perths

21.10.29

and E996

MALLARD (Anas p. platyrhyncha) .

RINGED GREAT BRITAIN AS ADULTS IN AUTUMN
AND WINTER.

_ Ringed.

Recovered.

Norfolk

11.10.37

East Prussia

5.11.38

Ditto

27-9.37

Pomerania

22.9.38

Wigtown

2.3-38

Skaraborg, Sweden

14-9.38

Norfolk

30.9-37

Jylland, Denmark

15-9.38

Ditto

10.8.37

Friesland, Holland

—.10.38

Ditto

30.1.37

Zuid Holland

24.12.37

RINGED ABROAD AS YOUNG.

Ld. D10342

Ringed.

L. Ilmen, Novgorod,

Russia,

21.6.33

Recovered.

Angus

30.8.37

Hs. H9808

North Finland

23. 7-37

Northumberland

15-2.38

Hs. H6444

Central Finland

4-7-36

Suffolk

16.12.36

Hs. D7962

South-east Finland

3-7-37

Essex

28.1.38

Hs. H10767

South-west Finland

RINGED ABROAD

7.7.38 Cumberland

AS FULL-GROWN.

2.1.39

Hs. H7093

South-east Finland

21.10.38

Kent

14-I-39

68

BRITISH BIRDS.

[VOL. XXXIII.

TEAL {Anas c. crecca).

RINGED GREAT BRITAIN AS ADULTS IN AUTUMN
AND WINTER.

Ringed.

Recovered.

Pembroke

8.1.38

Indiga River, North Russia

5.6.38

Ditto

20.1 1.37

Pechora River, North Russia

29.5.38

Ditto

9-II-37

Archangel, North Russia

15.5.38

Ditto

2.1 1 .36

Leningrad, Russia

29.4.37

Ditto

7.11.36

Ditto

29.4.37

Ditto

ii.ii.37

L. Ilmen, W. Russia

3.5.38

Ditto

21.12.36

North Finland

20.8.37

Ditto

23-I.37

Ditto

21.S.37

Ditto

27.11.36

Central Finland

26.5.37

Ditto

25.12.35

South-East Finland

14.5.37

Ditto

27.12.36

West Finland

23.8.38

Dorset

15.2.38

Ditto

15.8.38

Pembroke

24.11.36

Kurland, Latvia

25.7.37

Ditto

27.11.36

Riga, Latvia

23.4.38

Ditto

7.12.35

Posen Grenzmark, Germany

3.8.37

Ditto

15.1.38

Pomerania

18.9.38

Ditto

2.12.37

Mecklenburg

5.9.38

Ditto

13.2.36

Hamburg

18. II. 38

Ditto

2.12.37

Ditto

18. II. 38

Dorset

15.2.38

Ditto

II. 10. 38

Pembroke

29.12.37

Oldenburg

30.9.38

Ditto

23.11.37

Hordaland, Norway

12.10.38

Ditto

15.1.37

Hallingdal, Norway

—.9.37

Ditto

18.1.36

Norrbotten, Sweden

— .6.36

Ditto

30.1.37

Ditto

1.9.37

Ditto

2.12.37

Ditto

26.8.38

Ditto

16.12.37

Ditto

28.4.38

Wigtown

8.2.38

Ditto

25.5.38

Pembroke

24.9.36

Vasterbotten, Sweden

3.5.37

Ditto

30.1.37

Ditto

6.5.37

Ditto

17.1.36

Helsingland, Sweden

— .5.3S

Wigtown

1.3.37

Ditto

3.7.37

Dorset

13.1.38

Vastmanland, Sweden

25.9.38

Pembroke

14.11.36

Sodermanland, Sweden

4.8.37

Ditto

19.12.36

Skaraborg, Sweden

—.10.38

Ditto

6.1.38

Bohus, Sweden

5.10.38

Ditto

15.2.37

Goteborg, Sweden

19.8.38

Ditto

26.10.35

Jylland, Denmark

—.8.38

Ditto

11.2.36

Ditto

26.9.38

Ditto

18.1.38

Ditto

17.8.38

Dorset

15.2.38

Ditto

31.8.38

Pembroke

20.12.35

Sjoelland, Denmark

—•8.37

Ditto

7.11.37

Ditto

28.8.38

Ditto

10. II. 37

Ditto

6.11.38

Ditto

24.11.37

Moen, Denmark

—.9.38

Ditto

23.12.35

N. Frisian Is.

19.9.37

Ditto

18.11.37

Ditto

30.9.38

Ditto

2.12.37

Ditto

19.9.38

Ditto

1.2.38

Ditto

10.10.38

Ditto

17.1.36

Schleswig-Holstein

5.8.37

Ditto

17.10.36

Dit1o

18.10.37

Dorset

15.2.38

Dit1o

22.9.38

VOL. xxxiiL] MOVEMENTS OF RINGED BIRDS.

09

Ringed.

Recovered.

Pembroke

29.12.35

Holland

—.11.37

Ditto

22.1.36

Ditto

—■11.37

Ditto

2.1.37

Groningen, Holland

3.10.38

Ditto

12.2.36

Friesland, Holland

27.7.38

Ditto, Autumn i

936 [3 birds] Ditto

—.9.37

Ditto, Autumn i

936 [2 birds] Ditto

—.9.38

Ditto, Autumn i

937 [4 birds] Ditto

Autumn, 1938

Ditto

24.10.36

Overyssel, Holland

16.9.37

Dorset

20.1.38

Ditto

27.8.38

Pembroke

26.1.37

Zuid Holland

7.12.38

Ditto

10.11.37

Ditto

23.9.38

Ditto

21.11.37

Ditto

16.1.38

Ditto

4.2.37

North Brabant, Holland

3.9.37

Ditto

14.12.36

Antwerp, Belgium

28.3.37

Ditto

23.12.36

West Flanders

25.2.38

Ditto

9.1.38

Ditto

12.3.38

Ditto

14.10.36

Nord, France

15.8.37

Ditto

27.11.37

Ditto

21.8.38

Ditto

11.1.37

Pas-de-Calais, France

27.9.37

Ditto

27.12.37

Somme, France

14.8.38

Ditto

20.12.38

Manche, France

30.12.38

Ditto

2.1.37

Maine-et-Loire

— 11.37

Ditto

12.1.37

Loire Inf., France

51.38

Ditto

27.1.37

Ditto

29.1.38

Ditto

5.11.36

Landes, France

10.9.37

Ditto

21.11.36

Lombardy, Italy

13.2.38

Ditto

28.11.36

Bessarabia, Rumania

22.8.38

RINGED ABROAD FROM DECOY.

Ringed.

Recovered.

L. 171444

Friesland, Holland

11.9.37

Argyll

16.11.37

L. 179518

Ditto

24.9.38

Wigtown

27.12.38

L. 171751

Ditto

30.8.37

Yorks

3.3.38

L. 179517

Ditto

24.9.38

Lancs

26.12.38

L. 179657

Ditto

1.10.38

Lines

20.11.38

L. 172416

- Ditto

26.11.37

Cheshire

22.1.38

L. 172521

Ditto

2.3.38

Bucks

18.2.39

£.172752

Ditto

30.8.37

Norfolk

2411.37

.^'■172375

Ditto

27.10.37

Ditto

21.1.38

L. 172542

Ditto

24.8.38

Ditto

8.10.38

£.172319

Ditto

27.9.37

Suffolk

8.12.37

£.172410

Ditto

26.11.37

Ditto

15.11.38

£.172465

Ditto

15.12.37

Ditto

9.2.38

£.182504

Ditto

26.11.38

Ditto

17.2.39

£.171710

Ditto

28.8.37

Essex

6.12.37

£.172309

Ditto

29.9.37

Ditto

12.1.38

^■172435

Ditto

26.11.37

Ditto

17.1.38

£.172436

Ditto

26.11.37

Ditto

1.1.38

£.179576

Ditto

24.9.38

Ditto

15.2.39

£.172323

Ditto

27.9.37

Kent

23.10.37

£.172594

Ditto

24.9.38

Sussex

— 1.39

£.172368

Ditto

27.10.37

Somerset

23.1.38

£.171719

Ditto

28.8.37

Ditto

4.1.38

£.182538

Ditto

6.12.38

Ditto

21.12.38

70

BRITISH BIRDS.

[vOL. XXXIII.

Ringed. Recovered.

L.I7I470

Friesland, Holland

II.9-37

Dorset

15.2.38

L. 171796

Ditto

6. 9-37

Cornwall

3012. 37

L.179441

Ditto

24-9-38

Ditto

21.12.38

T. 171774

Ditto

308. 37

Glamorgan

10.2.38

L. 172546

Ditto

24.8.38

Pembroke

9-I-39

L. 182523

Ditto

26.1 1.38

Ditto

7.12.38

L. 172363

Ditto

27.10.37

Donegal

9.1.38

L. 179430

Ditto

24.9.38

Down

28.1.39

L.179588

Ditto

24-9-38

Armagh

19.1.39

L. 171461

Ditto

II-9-37

Fermanagh

28.1.38

L. 179637

Ditto

1.10.38

Dublin

1.1.39

T. 1 79569

Ditto

24-9-38

Roscommon

— .r.39

L. 179496

Ditto

24.9.38

Galway

10.2.39

T. 172393

Ditto

27.10.37

Wexford

—.11.37

GARGANEY (Anas qnerquedula) .

RINGED ABROAD FROM DECOY.

Ringed. Recovered.

L.171742 Friesland, Holland 2.8.37 Tipperary — -H-SZ

WIGEON (Anas penelope).

RINGED GREAT BRITAIN AS ADULTS IN WINTER.

Ringed.

Recovered.

Pembroke

1. 1. 37

Vashka R., North Russia

II. 5. 37

Suffolk

28.1.38

Memelland, Germany

9.10.38

Ditto

14.1.38

Danzig Free State

22.9.38

Pembroke

29.11.36

N. Frisian Is.

26.10.37

Ditto

10. II. 38

Friesland, Holland

18.12.38

Suilolk

14.1.38

Seine Inf., France

18.12.38

Norfolk

28.1.38

Emilia, Italy

15.10.38

RINGED

ABROAD AS ADULT.

Ringed. Recovered.

Rk. 4.102

North Iceland

24.6.32 Lancs

20.12.38

PINTAIL (Anas a. acuta).

RINGED GREAT BRITAIN AS ADULTS IN WINTER.

Ringed. Recovered.

Pembroke 26.11.36 Pechora River, N. Russia

Ditto 5.12.37 North Iceland

Ditto 16.12.37 Noord Holland

6. 5-37
10.8.38
9-4 38

SHOVELER (Spatula clypeata).

RINGED GREAT BRITAIN AS ADULTS IN WINTER.

Pembroke

Ditto

Ditto

Z,. 168521

Ringed. Recovered.

II. 12. 36 Overyssel, Holland 28.8.37

4.12.36 Zuid Holland 6.10.37

26.1.38 Gelderland, Holland 25.8.38

RINGED ABROAD AS YOUNG.

Ringed. Recovered.

W. Frisian Is. 17.6.37 Kirkcudbright 6.8.37

VOL. XXXIII.] MOVEMENTS OF RINGED BIRDS.

71

TUFTED DUCK [Aythya fuligula).

RINGED ABROAD AS YOUNG OR IN THE BREEDING
SEASON.

Ringed. Recovered.

Rk. 4.596

North Iceland

29.6.35 Orkney

17.11.37

Sk. V.9163

Ditto

13.7.36 Aberdeen

4.11.36

Hs. D.4318

Helsingfors, Finland 13.6.33 Yorkshire

25.1.35

Hs. H.3919

West Finland

11.8.35 L. Neagh, Ireland

—•11.35

G. 2319E

Gotland, Sweden 29.6.33 Cumberland

8.10.37

RINGED GREAT BRITAIN AS ADULT IN WINTER.

Ringed.

Recovered.

Pembroke

31.1.38

Pechora River, North Russia

7.6.38

SCAUP-DUCK [Aythya m. marila).

RINGED

ABROAD AS YOUNG.

Rin^

oed. Recovered.

Sk. V. 11580

North Iceland

18.8.38 Renfrew

4.12.38

Sk. \liio93

Ditto

27.6.36 Dumfries

5.2.39

Rk. 3.686

Ditto

22.7.35 Galway

—.12.38

GOOSANDER [Mergus m. merganser).

RINGED GREAT BRITAIN AS WINTER VISITORS.

Ringed.

Recovered.

Surrey

18.12.37

West Finland

26.9.38

Ditto

28.11.36

Ostergotland, Sweden

15.4.37

Ditto

9.2.37

Stockholm

—.4.38

Ditto

19.12.37

Svenska Hogar, Baltic

4.4.38

RED-BREASTED MERGANSER {Mergus serrator).

RINGED ABROAD AS ADULT.

Ringed. Recovered.

Sk. Vi 1004 North Iceland 27.6.36 Ross 27.3.37

SOUTHERN CORMORANT {Phalacrocorax c. sinensis).

RINGED ABROAD AS YOUNG.

Ringed. Recovered.

L. 118357 Znid Holland 4 6.35 Jersey 19.4.36

B. K.3146 West Flanders, Belgium 26.5.37 Kent 25.7.38

OYSTER-CATCHER [Hceniatopus ostralegus sub-species ?).

RINGED .ABROAD AS YOUNG.

Ringed. Recovered.

Rk. 4.996 South Iceland 19.6.37 Lancashire — ii-37

Rk. 4.999 Ditto 26.6.37 Ditto 5.10.38

RINGED PLO\^ER {Charadrius h. hiaticnla).

RINGED ABROAD AS YOUNG.

Ringed. Recovered.

Sii- 55496 Jylland, Denmark 4.6.36 Hampshire 23.9.36

NORTHERN GOLDEN PLOVER [Charadrius a. altifrons).

RINGED ABROAD AS YOUNG.

Ringed. Recovered.

Sk. A. 6020 Husavik, Iceland 5-6. 33 Dumbarton 4-I.36

BRITISH BIRDS.

[VOL. XXXIII.

/

•2

LAPWING {Vanellus vanellns).

Special attention should be drawn to the case of the bird
ringed in Italy and reported here four years later.

RINGED ABROAD AS YOUNG.

Ringed. Recovered.

R. E98515

Brandenburg, Germany

27-5-34

Hertford

—.4.38

H. 53716

Liibeck, Germany

3-5-25

Dublin

28.1.39

Slav. 6852

Stavanger, Norway

235-34

Durham

18. II. 37

H. 6075854

Ditto

1.6.37

Yorks

17.11.38

St. D6425

Ostergotland, Sweden

28.5.33

Norfolk

13.10.37

C. T.2674

Jylland, Denmark

19.5.35

Essex

—.1.36

C. Z.1574

Moen, Denmark

19.5.33

Nottingham

22.6.38

C. Z.4632

Sjaelland, Denmark

9.5.36

Lincoln

8.12.38

c. T.4581

Ditto

30.5.36

Norfolk

17.10.38

L. 42950

Friesland, Holland

3.6.32

Lincoln

10.12.35

L. 89862

Noord Holland

28.6.31

Essex

5.2.36

L. 174370

Zuid Holland

20.6.38

Gloucester

10.9.38

L. 134667

Zeeland, Holland

16.6.36

Nottingham

7. II. 37

Ba. A8079

Ancona, Italy

12.3.33

Suffolk

6.1.37

KNOT [Calidris

c. canutus).

RINGED .ABROAD AS MIGRANTS.

Ringed.

Recovered.

Slav. 71085

Jaeren, Norway

28.9.38

Norfolk

12.12.38

Slav. 71015

Ditto

9.9.38

Wexford

12.1.39

DUNLIN [Calidri

s a schinzii).

RINGED ABROAD

AS YOUNG.

Ringed.

Recovered.

St. ZA8942

Oland, Sweden

22.8.37

Suffolk

27.10.37

DUNLIN [Calidris alpina sub-species).

RINGED ABROAD AS MIGRANTS.

Ringed.

Recovered.

Stav. 82391

Jaeren, Norway

29.9.38

Yorkshire

5.11.38

Stay. 82177

Ditto

10.9.38

Lancs

4-2. 39

Stav. 82010

Ditto

9.9.38

Antrim

II. II. 38

BAR-TAILED GODWIT {Limosa 1. lapponica) .

This is the first ringed Bar-tailed Godwit reported from

abroad.

RINGED ABROAD

AS MIGRANT.

Ringed.

Recovered.

Stav. 60225

Jaeren, Norway

4.10.38

Lines 12.10.38

CURLEW [Nunienius a. arquata).

RINGED ABROAD

AS YOUNG.

Ringed.

Recovered.

Hs. C. 22482

South-west Finland

3.6.36

Gloucester 1.11.36

G.

1360D

Oland, Sweden

21.6.25

East Lothian 7.12.36

G.

25779D

Ditto

24.6.36

Essex 1936

G.

5367D

Ditto

26.6.28

Antrim 17.12.37

G.

201 76D

Scania, Sweden

26.5.35

Hampshire 6.8.37

L.

154356

Gelderland, Holland

24.6.36

Cornwall 1 1.9.30

L.

S7484

Zuid Holland

16.5.35

Devon — .8.30

73

voL.xxxiii ] MOVEMENTS OF RINGED BIRDS.

COMMON SNIPE {Capella g. gallinago).

RINGED ABROAD AS YOUNG.

Ringed. Recovered.

St. Y.5404 Skaraborg, Sweden 20.6.37 Ross 6.11.37

F-EROE SNIPE [Capella g. fcsroeensis) .

RINGED ABROAD IN BREEDING SEASON.

Ringed. Recovered.

South Iceland 16.7.38 Tiree, Scotlandi 1.11.38

Ditto, adult 7-7-37 Cork 12.2.39

Myvatn, Iceland 19.6.36 Tyrone 22.12.38

WOODCOCK [Scolopax r. rusiicola).

RINGED ABROAD AS MIGRANT.

Ringed. Recovered.

B. CC.7334 Brabant, Belgium 21.3.36 Waterford 2.12.36

COMMON TERN (Sterna h. hiriindo).

RINGED ABROAD AS YOUNG.

Ringed. Recovered.

Hs. A11494 South Finland 9-7-34 Norfolk 2.9.34

LITTLE GULL [Larus minutus).

This is the second ringed Little Gull reported.

RINGED ABROAD AS YOUNG.

Ringed. Recovered.

St. Y6522 Gotland, Sweden I-7-37 Lincoln 20.11.37

BLACK-HEADED GULL [Larus r. ridibundus).

Since publication of our last instalment of these articles 105
records of Black-headed Gulls have been added to the previous
total of 320 and as they do not materially alter the accounts
already given it seems unnecessary to give the records in
detail.

Ninety-seven of these birds were ringed abroad as young
and four as adult, while four were ringed in England in winter
and were subsequently recovered in Denmark. The areas of
ringing abroad do not differ appreciably from previous records.
It may be mentioned that a second bird from Iceland was
reported, this being from Antrim.

The dispersal over the British Islands was very much as
before : 70 out of loi being reported from the eastern half of
England and 27 from the western half, while only two were
reported from Wales (Flint, Pembroke), one from Scotland
(Wigtown) and one from Ireland (Antrim). Of the eastern
birds 77 per cent, were reported from Norfolk southwards.

The months in which the birds were reported ranged from
August to April with the exception of the following all of
which were ringed as nestlings.

Rk. 6.2175
Rk. 5.1020
Rk. 7.875

74

BRITISH BIRDS.

[voL. xxxiir.

RINGED

ABROAD AS NESTLINGS.

Ringed.

Recovered.

Finland

270-37

Kent

1-5-38

Gland, Sweden

22.6.36

Cambridge

9-5-37

Denmark

12.6.33

Gloucester

18-5-3&

Ditto

12.6.33

Cheshire

26. 5-35

Gland, Sweden

16.6.35

Middlesex

26.5.38

Sweden

27.6.29

Essex

6.6.37

Denmark

20.7.35

Hampshire

9-7-3&

Gland, Sweden

19.6.36

Lancashire

11-7.37

Finland

27-5-37

Essex

--7-38

Sweden

20.6.35

Kent

—-7-38

COMMON GULL {Larus c. canus).

Since our last report 62 records of Common Gulls have
come to hand making with previous lists over 260 cases of
these birds ringed abroad and recorded as recovered here. As
in the case of the Black-headed Gull the new records do not
materially affect the summaries previously given and we there-
fore do not give a detailed list. All the new records are of
birds ringed as nestlings. The countries of origin are Germany,
Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Finland.

So far as their distribution in this country is concerned
about 76 per cent, were reported from the eastern half of
England and 24 per cent, from the western half, this being
a slightly greater proportion in the west than the previous
average (20 per cent.). So far only four recoveries of Common
Gulls have been reported from Wales and there is no addition
in the present list. A new Irish record is from Galway far
to the west, which is remarkable as the only previous record
is one from Wexford. There are also two new records from
Scotland (E. Lothian and Caithness) making only three in all.
Of those reported on the eastern side of England over 30 per
cent, were from north of Norfolk against rather over 20 per
cent, in the Black-headed Gull ; this difference in range pointed
out in previous reports being sustained.

The dates on which the birds were recovered were mostly
from September to March. Details of those in other months
are given below as they have some interest.

RINGED ABROAD AS NESTLINGS.

Ringed. Recovered.

Sweden 27.6.33

Kent

i5-4-3<>

Bornholm, Denmark 28.6.36

Norfolk

27-4-37

Sweden 17.6.36

Lines

18.5-38

Bornholm, Denmark 28.6.36

Gloucester

14-6-37

Gland, Sweden 22.6.34

Lines

1.7.36

Ditto 25.6.35

Kent

17-7-36

Denmark 23.6.37

Susse.x

1.8.38

VOL. xxxiii.l MOVEMENTS OF RINGED BIRDS.

75

Ringed. Recovered.

Sweden

23-6.35

Lancashire

1-8.37

Denmark

19.6.37

Kent

2.8.37

Ditto

17.6.38

Hants

4.8.38

Ditto

16.6.38

Norfolk

8.8.38

Bornholm, Denmark 28.6.37

Kent

29.8.37

HERRING-GULL [Lartis a. argentatus).

RINGED ABROAD AS YOUNG.

Ringed. Recovered.

L. 138103 West Frisian Is. 5-8.36 Lincoln 6.9.37

138557 Texel. Holland 8.7.34 Essex 10.5.36

GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL [Larus marinus).

RINGED ABROAD AS YOUNG.

Ringed. Recovered.

Sk. E9961 Iceland 1 -1 Outer Hebrides 22.2.37

Stay. 13 West Norway 7.6.36 Durham 4-2.37

SOUTHERN GUILLEMOT {Uria a. albionis).

RINGED ABROAD AS YOUNG.

Ringed. Recovered.

H.

Heligoland

1935

Durham

28.1.36

H.

Ditto

1928

Kent

—•4.30

H.

Ditto

1930

Ditto

3.3.31

H.

Ditto

1936

Ditto

8.1.37

WATER-RAIL {Rallus a. aquaticiis).

This is the second ringed Water-Rail reported ; both from
Heligoland.

RINGED ABROAD AS MIGRANT.

Ringed. Recovered.

H. 7004589 Heligoland 22.9.36 Carmarthen 26.11.37

(76)

OBITUARY.

ERNEST URMSTON SAVAGE.

(1879-1939.)

L.\keland ornithology has suffered a severe loss in the death
of the Rev. E. U. Savage on June 23rd, 1939, at the age of
sixty. Since ill health forced him to retire two years ago, he
had lived at Staveley, Westmorland, and before that he held
livings at Levens, Barbon and Ings in Westmorland, and
Raughton Head in Cumberland, and was domestic chaplain
and secretary to the Bishop of Carlisle from 1921 to 1924.

The son of Canon E. B. Savage, his early years on the
Isle of Man gave him a love for ships and seafaring folk as
well as an interest in birds, and after he was ordained he
served as assistant chaplain to the Mersey Mission to Seamen
from 1901 to 1914. He married in 1904 Mabel Bertha, daughter
of John Edward Cussans, who survives him with one daughter
and one son. His holidays were often spent in the Lake
District and he came to live there as vicar of Levens in 1914.

In spite of his parochial duties and varied interests — he was
an authority on Manx Gaelic which he had spoken from
childhood, and in earlier years a keen fisherman — Mr. Savage
found time to make a thorough study of ornithology and
did much useful work. He was elected a member of the British
Ornithologist’s Union in 1909. He was a delightful and stimu-
lating companion, loved and respected by people in all walks
of life, and, himself an excellent and careful observer, he was
always keen to exchange views with other bird students. His
lectures on birds and the “ Nature Notes ” he wrote at one
time for a local paper brought him many friends, and like
his friend Arthur Astley, he acted as a clearing house for
local bird news and was able to save some valuable records from
oblivion. He contributed some very interesting notes, chiefly
to British Birds and the Field. In 1936 he edited The Watcher
by the Bridge, letters on natural history by the late T. B.
Wright of Gaisgill, Westmorland.

Latterly, though failing health prevented him from doing
active field work he was as ready as ever with help and en-
couragement for others, and his cheery counsel will be greatly
missed. The Carlisle Natural History Society, in the prepara-
tion of their forthcoming book on Lakeland birds, has had
the benefit not only of his local notes but of his fine scholarshi])
and help on the literary side. The writer of these notes had
the happy task of going over the MS. of the book with him,
and will not soon forget his unfailing patience in tracking
down obscure records or his sense of humour which lightened
the most scientific di.scussions. M.G.

THE RETURN OE THE RAVEN AS A NESTER

TO SUSSEX.

Easily the outstanding ornithological event in Sussex for the
year 1939 was the accomplished breeding, for the first time
since about 1895, of a pair of Ravens [Corvus c. corax) in a
sea-cliff some miles removed from the one in which, in 1938,
(?) another couple built what was, in my opinion, merely a
play-nest. Regarding the expression “ (?) another,” I now
begin to believe that in 1938 there were two pairs of this
species in Sussex — that an unattached bird was about, I well
knew. My reasons for the above idea are twofold. The first
is that in the 1939 nest-cliff (which, not anticipating the
possible presence of a second pair, I foolishly omitted to
explore in 1938) are two Raven’s citadels, neither in my
estimation (for very weighty reasons) being a “ repeat the
second, that in July, 1938, Mr. C. E. Palmar and Captain C.
Bradley and his son at a certain point of our sea-bastions saw
five Ravens together — almost assuredly a brood with their
parents. As against the above being a correct view, however,
one must never lose sight of the fact that in 1939 the headland
occupied in 1938 was deserted, though here, of course, the
chances of ” accidents ” to the once-tenants will have to
be considered.

To return to the successful hatch of 1939, on May 15th I
fell in with two young Ravens on “ falls ” beneath the home-
cliff, actually, indeed, all but catching one (a Peregrine nearly
got it, too), such feeble fliers and, on the whole, so stupid are
the young of this species for a while after leaving their birth-
place ; and I understand that two days earlier three had there
been seen by Mr. D. M. Turner-Etlinger. In all likelihood
there was an addled egg or so, since a trio constitutes a very
poor brood for the Raven.

It gives me pleasure to add that, for the locating of this
nest, all credit must go, firstly to Messrs. N. Orr andF. Leng,
and then to Mr. J. T. Mayo. They forestalled me.

To the above must be added that in 1939 I met with another
pair of Ravens on Sussex cliffs (though these, quite obviously,
were non-nesters) and at another place (behind the bastions)
a “ singleton,” so that, altogether, hopes of two nests in
1940 are highly promising. John Walpole-Bond.

78 BRITISH BIRDS. [vol.xxxiii.

DOWN-PLUMAGE OF NESTLING AND SOFT PARTS OF
JUVENILE CHOUGH.

The following notes on the down-plumage of the nestling
Chough {Pyrrhocorax p. pyrrhocorax) and the colours of the
soft parts of the juvenile bird may be of interest, as the former
has not been described and the latter differ somewhat from
those given in the Handbook.

Three nestlings were examined, one of which was seven
days old, the others rather less. The skin was bright pinkish-
flesh, but blackish in the region of the down-tracts. The down
was greyish-brown and less than an inch in length, covering
the inner and outer supraorbital, occipital, spinal, humeral,
ulnar and femoral tracts. The skin of the under-side was a
deep pinkish. The bill was mauve, but whitish towards the
tip and along the cutting edges, with pale yellow flanges. The
inside of the mouth was salmon-pink, with small white spurs
on the palate, and the tongue-bases yellowish. The legs,
toes and claws were flesh-pink, but after death the tarsi
become yellow and the claws white.

A fairly well-fledged youngster examined on June 2nd had
the bill dark purplish-brown, flesh-colour at the tip and along
the cutting-edges, with the gape-flanges yellowish- white. The
tarsi were markedly scutellate, and dark purplish-brown
relieved by orange-pink rings in the interstices between the
scutes. The orange-pink was most noticeable on the toes.
The claws were blackish-brown and the mouth as in the
nestling.

Subsequently I examined three almost fully-fledged birds,
which agreed in description with the last, except in the tarsus.
In these more advanced youngsters the frontal-plate was well
developed, and the orange-pink rings were only faintly indi-
cated where fusion of the scutes was not quite complete. The
rings were still pronounced, however, on the lower tarsus and
toes. In all these birds the plumage was suffused with a dull
greenish gloss, and the irides were brown.

Kenneth Williamson.

GREENFINCH SINGING AT NIGHT.

It may be of interest to record that at Roborough, South
Devon, I heard a Greenfinch {Chloris ch. Moris) in full song
between 2 and 2.30 a.m. on June 7th, 1939. During the
period stated the bird was singing almost continuously. 'Fhe
night was a fine, warm one, and brilliantly moonlit.

F. Howard Lancum.

VOL. XXXIII.]

NOTES.

79

CROSSBILLS BREEDING IN SUSSEX IN 1939.
About midday on January i8th, three Crossbills {Loxia c.
curvirostra) flew into an apple tree in the very small
garden next to mine at Hove — a curious spot wherein
to find them. They called, and, making but a short
stay, proceeded eastwards, still calling. The nearly
regular breeding haunt — unoccupied in 1938 — was, this
year, tenanted by at least two pairs. Mrs. E. Wolley-Dod,
General G. V. Clarke, Mr. P. Boughton-Leigh and I saw the
nest of one of these, and to the best of my belief a brood was
reared in safety. In addition. General Clarke heard, on good
authority, of a nest in Ashdown, where on May 21st Mr.
Boughton-Leigh and I met with a pair quite evidently feeding
young out of the nest, whilst in a spot not far removed thence
two pairs were suspected of breeding (A. G. Kerwin). Moreover,
in May there was ample evidence in the garnered cones present
of Crossbills being about in Broadwater Eorest. Incidentally,
the old male has a hoarse, almost menacing “ sgr-r-r-r ” (the
“ r’s ” being a bit rolled), followed on the instant by several
rapid “ chicks." The " sgr-r-r-r ” part of this cry (which I
cannot recollect ever having seen previously recorded) is
rather reminiscent of one cry of the old female Red-backed
Shrike. John Walpole-Bond.

SKYLARK CARRYING YOUNG BIRD.
Recently, while photographing a Skylark feeding its
almost fledged family, I was astonished to see the hen rise
from the nest carrying a young one. After flying a distance
of fifteen feet at a height of about eight feet the young bird
fell, or was dropped, into the long grass, where, after some
searching, I found it quite uninjured and replaced it in the
nest. The manoeuvre was not repeated and all four young
were still in the nest next day. Whether the action was
accidental, or a deliberate effort to move the young away
from the frightening camera, I can only guess. I was watching
from a hut only twenty feet from the nest, and had an
uninterrupted view of the incident, and it appeared that the
young one was carried, dangling by the neck or a wing, in
the parent’s claws. G. R. Mountfort.

WATER-PIPIT IN CHESHIRE.

On April 3rd, 1939, several pipits flew up from the margin of
Barmere, in south Cheshire, and disappeared across a meadow.
One of them turned back and flitted up and down for a time,
finally coming to rest near the mere on a wooden fence close
to me. It proved to be a M’ater-Pipit {Anthus s. spinoletta)

80

BRITISH BIRDS.

[VOL. XXXIII.

in full plumage, with grey head, white eye-stripe and a
beautiful clear pink breast. When it flew I saw that its outer
tail-feathers were white and that its general colour was far
greyer than that of a Meadow Pipit. The other pipits also
appeared to be of good size and of grey colour and I think
that they too were probably of the same species, though I was
unable to get more than a passing view of them.

The W'ater-Pipit has been recognized in Cheshire on only
one other occasion (H. G. Alexander, B.B., Vol. XXXI,
p. 26). A. W. Boyd.

RED-BACKED SHRIKE AS FOSTERER OF CUCKOO.

Although I understand that in certain parts of the Continent
the Red-backed Shrike [Laniiis c. collurio) is a fairly common
fosterer, it may be sufficient of a rarity in this country to be
worth recording. On June 7th, 1939, near Brandon, Suffolk,
I found a nest of Red-backed Shrike containing a young
Cuckoo which I estimated to be about three days old. The
newly hatched Shrikes had been ejected in the usual manner,
and one young bird, together with an egg, was lying on some
twigs a few inches below the edge of the nest. Mr. Arthur
Whitaker of Sheffield visited the spot on June 25th, and
informs me that the young Cuckoo was still in the nest,
though it was able to fly quite strongly. W. H. Bramwell.

STATUS OF NUTHATCH IN W. MERIONETHSHIRE.

In Vol. I (page 243) of the Handbook it is stated that the
Nuthatch [Sitta e. affinis) is unknown in W. Merioneth !

In the Pennal district (S.W. Merioneth.) I have myself seen
birds for some years past, and after making careful inquiries
I find that it has been known as a resident for about fifteen
years over an area of several miles. Usually six or more
nests are found but this year I can only trace four. I have
no doubt that the Nuthatch also nests in the Cerris Valley
but 1 cannot say that it is a resident there.

Near Dolgelley it has been a resident at Caerynwch for at
least four years, and Mrs. Richards has also known it at Bala
for a number of years though she is unable to give me any
idea of its numbers.

So far as I know it does not nest in the Aberdovey district
and is only a very rare visitor there. E. H. T. Bible.

[It is interesting to know that the Nuthatch extends to
Pennal and Dolgelley farther west in the county than 1 was
able to discover from published or private sources. Bala is,
of course, not in the west. — H.F.W.]

VOL. XXXIII.]

NOTES.

81

BLACK REDSTART IN LONDON IN MAY AND JUNE.
On May 20th, 1939, I heard a Black Redstart [Phcenicurus
0. gibraltariensis) singing on the tower of the University of
London building in Bloomsbury. The porter told me that
the bird had begun singing about a week before. It continued
to sing irregularly till June 22nd, being silent for periods up
to a week in length ; I heard it at most times of the day on
different occasions. It would perch on some corner of the
tower, sometimes even on the flagpole (270 ft.),, or on the
King Edward VII wing of the British Museum. On June 17th
I saw it fly down from the north-east corner of the British
Museum wing, where it had been singing, to the waste
excavated area east of the University building, adjoining
Montague Place. After a few minutes’ activity, apparently
in searching for food, it flew back and sang again for about
half an hour. It repeated this performance several times,
and with Mr. A. Holte Macpherson and others I was able to
observe it closely on the ground. It was a one-year-old male,
having no white on its wing. Neither then nor at any other
time was a female seen, and it was clear then from its behaviour
that it was alone. It was not heard or seen after June 22nd.

J. Le C. Sumner.

STONES IN GIZZARD OF NIGHTJAR.

The gizzard of the Nightjar [Caprimulgus e. europmis) is
pear-shaped and 25 mm. in diameter in its widest part ;
the whole digestive organ, including the pro-ventriculus, is
approximately 55 mm. in length. The walls are leathery and
thin, quite different from the thick muscular walls of the
gizzard of grain-eating birds with which one usually associates
swallowed gravel.

In the gizzard of a Nightjar I picked up on the road were
two stones, one of them small — 5 mm. by 3 mm. by 2 mm.
and the other 5 mm. by 4 mm. by 3 mm., weighing together
70 mg. But in the pro-ventriculus, which showed as a
swelling of the oesophagus, were fourteen stones, small flints,
probably picked up on the gravelled roads of south Hampshire.
These stones ranged from the largest which measured 10 mm.
by 8 mm. by 4 mm. and weighed 300 mg. to a small one of
4 mm. by 3 mm. by 2 mm. weighing only 5 mg. Seven of
the stones were little less than the biggest. The whole sixteen
weighed i g. 750 mg. which, one would think, must have
been a handicap to a small bird relying on swift flight and
quick turns to obtain its food. Possibly the weight of the
stones may account for the bird being killed as it had been
by a motor car.

82

BRITISH BIRDS.

[VOL. XXXIII.

In addition to the stones in the gizzard were the wing-cases
of several beetles, the integuments of three spiders, some
wings of the crane fly and much matter which, on microscopical
examination, appeared to be entirely vegetable in origin.

Geo. M.\rples.

SHORT-EARED OWLS IN SURREY.

On February 12th, 1939, I flushed three Short-eared Owls
{Asia f. flammeus) on Walton Heath, and on the following day
when in company with Mr. L. Parmenter and Mr. L. I.
Carrington we put up five from beneath a small group of tall
gorse bushes. The birds were closely bunched when rising
but quickly scattered widely as they gained height, and one
soared to an altitude of about 2,000 feet when a mixed flock
of Rooks and Gulls made a great commotion as the Owl
approached them.

The Owls were seen on various occasions by several observers
during February and March, and were always on the same
part of the heath, and usually in the immediate vicinity of
a small rush-grown pool. Three birds were noticed by Mr.
W. D. Park on March 25th, and on the same day Mr. Carrington
reported one passing over Chipstead about three miles away.
The Owls apparently departed during the closing days of
March, when I failed to find any.

I found a few single pellets scattered over the ground near
the small pool, but Mr. Park informs me that in this area he
found on one occasion eighteen castings and on another ten,
beneath one of the lower branches of a gorse bush on which
an Owl had been perching. He submitted eighteen pellets to
Dr. C. B. Ticehurst, who very kindly undertook to analyze
them, and he reports that they did not contain any remains
of mammals, but only those of small birds. Mr. Park examined
nine other pellets with the same result, except that a few of
these contained the jaws of small rodents, and in one case a
complete skull.

I may mention that the remains of several Starlings and
Blackbirds, and those of a Song-Thrush and Skylark were
found on the ground frequented by the Owls, and in view
of the composition of the 27 pellets which were anah^zed it
seems probable that these birds had been killed by the Owls.

The presence of the Short-eared Owls does not appear to
have been due to an unusual abundance of small rodents, but
may have resulted from the very severe weather towards tlie
end of December.

This species is a rare and very irregular winter visitor to

VOL. XXXIII.]

NOTES.

83

Surrey, and although some of the earlier records are lacking
in precise details, they all appear to relate to the occurrence
of solitary birds. Howard Bentham.

STORKS IN SUSSEX.

On April 28th, 1933, from a train between Tangmere and
Chichester, I saw two White Storks {Ciconia ciconia) in a
field beside the line. I had a good view of them. The train
clearly scared the birds and they were preparing to leave
when they were suddenly blotted from my view. I had
omitted to publish this observation and in consequence it
does not appear in Mr. Walpole-Bond’s A History of Sussex
Birds. The birds may have been “ escapes.” E. M. Cawkell.

UNUSUAL BEHAVIOUR OF DUCK MALLARD
AND BROOD.

The characteristic behaviour of the duck Mallard {Anas p.
platyrhyncha) in charge of her brood when faced with sudden
danger is well known, and it may be of interest to record a
modification of this apparently instinctive action in particular
circumstances.

On May 13th, 1939, 1 mounted the bank of a small fen dyke
in Bluntisham Fen, Hunts, at exactly the spot where, on
the opposite side, a small pool or pond for cattle to drink had
been made by digging away the bank of the dyke. This pool
was quite bare of vegetation or cover and in it was a duck
Mallard and brood of eleven ducklings several weeks old.

Instead of the duck flying and “ squattering,” and the brood
scattering and diving as I had expected, all instantly froze,
the duck near the edge of the pool and the ducklings extending
in a line out into the middle. The ducklings all had their
heads up and turned towards their parent while the duck
held hers rather low against the bank.

I stood for some moments watching at 6 to 7 yards range
and then threw some crumbs of earth at the ducklings. As
these fell beside them several lost station and moved nearer
to me and soon all were moving hesitatingly towards me and
into the main stream of the dyke. As soon as the brood had
all successfully gained the actual dyke the duck at once rose,
flew over the intervening neck of land down into the dyke
and squattered down it in the normal way, followed by the
ducklings which at once dived and disappeared.

This incident would seem to me remarkable as showing that
in what must be the unusual circumstances of being suddenly
surprised and cut off from a line of retreat, immediately an
unusual instinctive behaviour was adopted by both duck and

84

BRITISH BIRDS.

[VOL. XXXIII.

brood. Even after the ducklings had moved and had been
obviousl}^ discovered the duck remained “ frozen ” until they,
instinctively swimming towards their line of retreat (in spite
of having thereby to approach the intruder), w^ere in a position
to employ with her help their usual strategy. C. F. Tebbutt.

GREEN-WINGED TEAL IN OUTER HEBRIDES.

As the American Green-winged Teal {Anas c. carolinensis)
has been satisfactorily identified only on three or four occasions
in England and never previously in Scotland, it will be of
interest to give details of an adult male, which, as already
noted in The Handbook of British Birds, Vol. 3, was shot at
Newton, North Uist, on October 24th, 1938. The bird was
obtained in a muddy creek near Ard Teilem, to the east of Beinn
Mhor (Newton), an area of tortuous channels and sea bays, with
banks of soft ooze and tangle-covered skerries exposed at
low water, which is a favourite haunt of Teal during the
autumn and winter months. This bird which was alone when
killed, flew up the creek from seaward whilst my spaniel was
retrieving a female Teal which had been shot from a bunch
of 30 to 40 Teal. The Green-winged Teal fell in soft ooze and
was completely obscured by it when brought to hand, but
while carrying the bird to a nearby burn to wash off this ooze,
I noticed that the tarsus was a light chocolate-brown, quite
unlike the colouring of any Teal I had ever handled. With
the removal of the mud, the characteristic features in the
plumage of the adult male Anas c. carolinensis were disclosed.
The web was more dusky than the tarsus ; the bill was black
and the weight of the bird when the plumage had dried was
13! ounces. The gullet, oesophagus and proventriculus were
empty, but the gizzard contained fine “ sandy grit ” of the
type usually found in Teal from this area, and three small
flat seeds which have not yet been satisfactorily identified.
However it is hoped by growing them to settle the identifica-
tion of these seeds which are of a species occurring fairty
frequently in “ stomachs ” of wildfowl killed in Great Britain.

James W. Campbell.

GREAT CRESTED GREBES’ UNUSUAL NEST-SITE.
For years a pair of Great Crested Grebes {Podiceps c. cristatus)
has nested at the edge of an island in Witton Flashes, North-
wich, Cheshire, attaching their nest to rushes or boughs of
an old thorn, which had been submerged by subsidence. Sub-
sidence has continued, and this year, though only a small
bare islet remained, the birds still nested there. The nest was
built on the solid bare earth, and while one bird was sitting

VOL. XXXIII.]

NOTES.

85

the other used to waddle across a few feet of the island to add
fresh weed to the nest. There were four eggs on April 2ist,
and one young was hatched on May i8th. A. W. Boyd.

EARLY NESTING OF GREAT CRESTED GREBES

IN CHESHIRE.

Great Crested Grebes {Podiceps c. cristahis) in Cheshire
usually wait for new growth to begin in the reed-beds before
building their nests by the meres. An early nest was recorded
last year (Vol. XXXII, p. 85), when young were seen at
Cotebrook on April 23rd. This year they were seen even
earlier on the same pool. On April 20th I watched two young
sitting on one parent’s back, and swimming strongly after
the other when it brought food. They were obviously a
number of days old, so that the eggs must have been laid not
later than March 15th.

Another early brood was reared on Tabley Mere. Mr. D. J.
Hemming saw two young there, already half-grown, on
May 4th. A. W. Boyd.

INCUBATION PERIODS OF SOME WADERS AND
FLEDGING PERIOD OF LAPWING.

Ringed Plover [Charadrius hiatimla), 1939: April 22nd
{II a.m.), 3 eggs ; April 23rd (3 p.m.), 4 eggs ; May i8th
(ii a.m.), 4 eggs ; May 19th (ii a.m.), 4 young in nest.
Incubation Period, 26 days.

Curlew {Numenhis a. arqttata), 1939 : April 26th (noon),
I egg ; April 27th (i p.m.), 2 eggs ; April 28th (noon) and
29th (4 p.m.), 3 eggs ; April 30th (3 p.m.), 4 eggs ; May 26th
(3 p.m.), 4 eggs chipping ; May 27th (2 p.m.), 4 young in nest,
two with pieces of shell attached to down. Incubation Period,
27-28 days.

In the following nine cases the Lapwing {Vanellus vanellus)
showed results which differ but little from those published in
Vol. XXXII, p. 48. The dates given are those of hatching.
April nth, 27I days ; April nth, 27 ; April 12th, 28^ ; April
13th, 28J ; May 3rd, 27 ; May 4th, 27J ; May 4th, 27^ ; May
6th, 26^ ; June ist, 26J.

In the first nest the young were ringed on April nth ;
32 days later (May 13th) one of these ringed birds was picked
up within 50 yards of the nest, but it made no attempt to
fly when tossed a short distance into the air. On May 14th
another of the same brood was seen running, and on being
chased it rose about 3 feet in the air and flew a distance of
10 yards ; it was then caught and identified. The fledging period
in this case seems to be just over 33 days. J. F. Thomas.

86

BRITISH BIRDS.

[VOL. XXXIII.

LAPWING’S NEST WITH SIX EGGS.

On May 14th, 1939, I found a nest of a Lapwing {Vanellus
vanellus) with 6 eggs. On May 17th 3 were hatched ; on the
i8th two more and on the 20th I found the shell of the remaining
egg. 1 cannot vouch for all six eggs having been hatched
successfully, as I was only able to hnd four of the young
birds. There is a possibility of two females having laid in the
same nest. The nest was on low moorland in Lancashire and
there were always three old birds circling over me when
I went near it. Even so I thought the fact of there being six
eggs in a nest is uncommon and is worth noting.

E. E. Paget-Tomlinson.

WADERS IN SOMERSET.

The following occurrences of waders in Somerset at the end
of May or beginning of June 1939, are those of species which
are either very scarce in this county on spring migration
(Ruff, Sanderling, Greenshank) or have not been recorded at any
season for many years (Temminek’s Stint, Wood-Sandpiper) ; —

Turnstone {Arenaria i. interpres). Two, including one adult male,
were seen at Barrow Gurney reservoirs on June 4th by Messrs. B. King
and H. H. Davis. This is only the second record for these reservoirs.

Rufe {Philomachus pugvax). A Ruff and a Reeve were seen at
Cheddar reservoir on June 2nd by Messrs. B. King and H. W. Neal.

S.\NDERLiNG {Cvocethia alba). A party of five were seen at Cheddar
reservoir on June 7th by Mr. B. King and the writer. Two were adults
in full summer plumage and the other three were immature.

Temminck’s Stint {Calidrix temminckii). Three were seen at Cheddar
reservoir on June 4th by Messrs. B. King and H. H. Davis. The last
Somerset record is of one on November 14th, 1874. The birds, watched
at very close range, strongly resembled miniature Common Sandpipers
several of which were also present. The upper parts, however, were
less uniformly marked, some feathers having black centre spots. Other
details noted were : absence of eye-stripe, greyish-white chin, huffish
foreneck and upper-breast with brown streaking forming a well-defined
bib over the pure white underparts. Bill blackish and slightly decurved .
Legs drab colour. Flight much as Common Sandpiper, and as the
birds took wing or alighted the white outer tail-feathers were v'ery
noticeable. The tirr-ick alarm note was well heard. One bird repeatedly
uttered the trilling courtship call. This it did from the ground.

Wood-Sandpiper {Tringa glareola). One was seen in a marshy pool
below Cheddar reservoir on May 31st by Messrs. B. King, and H. H. Davis
and the writer. The last record of one in Somerset was at Badgworth
on September 7th, 1903. Among other points noted, the wings beneath
were light and not dark but were not raised high above the head when
in flight as in the Green-Sandpiper. The call was a whistle, usually
triple, but sometimes longer, something like a subdued call of a
Redshank. When the bird was being watched at close quarters and with
the observer in full view, it jerked its body up and down like a Redshank.

Greenshank {Tringa nebularia). One was seen at Barrow Gurney
reservoirs on May 30th by Mr. B. King, and one at Cheddar reservoir
on May 31st by Mr. King and the writer. H. TetLEY.

VOL. XXXIII.]

NOTES.

87

WHITE-WINGED BLACK TERN IN SUSSEX.

On May i8th, 1939, I had the extreme good fortune to meet
with a White-winged Black Tern {Chlidonias leucopterus) on
Pevensey Level. It was an adult in full summer plumage,
and, of course, quite unmistakable, the white of carpal joint,
tail, rump and under tail-covert showing up magnificently
against the black of head, neck and body and grey part of the
wings. The tail was not much forked. I had excellent views
of it at different angles. John Walpole-Bond.

SPOTTED CRAKE IN SUSSEX IN JUNE.

On June 14th, 1939, near Newhaven, on the fringe of a most
unpleasant, quaking morass, I almost trod on a Spotted Crake
{Porzana porzana). As it rose, and before it plunged into the
dense cover near by, it uttered a single, rather loud, shrill and
very human -like whistle. Without much doubt it was breeding
or had bred there. The spot would be extremely difficult to
work, not to say dangerous, unless ropes were used ; even on
its edge, just after flushing the bird, I speedily found myself
embedded up to the hips and only able to get out with
difficulty. John Walpole-Bond.

Great Spotted Woodpecker Nesting in Bute and
SuTHERL.\ND. — Mr. D. Stuart states [Scot. Nat., 1939, p. 100)
that the Great Spotted Woodpecker [Dryobates m. angUcus)
is now resident in Bute and that he has both seen and heard
it frequently this spring (1939). Although fairly common on
the neighbouring mainland the bird had not previously been
found in Bute. Mr. D. Macdonald (Field, I, \TI, 39) records
that a pair nested in a wood near Dornoch in 1938 and 1939.
The bird had been previously recorded as breeding in this
neighbourhood in 1930 [antea, Vol. XXIV, p. 161).

Barnacle-Geese in Northumberland in June. — Mr.
I. R. English reports a pair of Branta leucopsis seen by him
and Mr. Russell Goddard off the Fame Islands on Tune loth,

1939-

Sooty Shearwater in Irish Sea. — Mr. J. A. Gibb informs
us that he and Mr. C. A. Norris identified a Sooty Shearwater
[Puffinus griseus) about eight miles due east of Kingstown,
Dublin, in the evening of July 5th, 1939. The bird was flying
SSE. and small numbers of Manx Shearwaters were proceeding
in the same direction.

Lapwtngs Nesting at High Altitude. — In connection
with Mr. Seton Gordon’s note [antea, p. 54) on Lapwings
[Vanellus vanellus) nesting at high altitude in the Highlands,

88

BRITISH BIRDS.

[VOL. XXXIII.

Mr. R. H. Brown writes that on the fells of the Lake District
he has found Lapwings’ nests with eggs at an altitude of
2,100 ft., whilst on the Pennine fells nests with eggs have
been found at 2,400 ft., and young birds at 2,700 ft.

Nestling Lapwing “ Freezing ” Upside Down. — Mr.
R. J. Foster describes how on June i6th, 1939, he found a
nestling Lapwing {Vanellus vanellus) “ freezing ” on its
back in a held near Winchester. The held was strewn with
white stones and so the bird’s white underparts rendered it
very difficult to see. The incident is curious, but it seems
more likely that the attitude, in which the young bird was
found, was due to accident rather than to design.

Breeding-Season of the Dunlin. — Mr. R. H. Brown
points out that in his paper on the “ Breeding- Habits of the
Dunlin ” {antea, Vol. XXXI, pp. 362-66) he stated that
day-old nestlings of the Dunlin {Calidris a. schinzii) had not
been found earlier than May 27th. But he now notes that on
one of the Solway salt-marshes on May 22nd, 1938, he flushed
a Dunlin from a brood of four newly hatched nestlings still
in the nest-hollow.

Moorhen’s Nest Built of Gr.\ss. — Mr. R. O. B. Garnett
informs us that a Moorhen [Gallimila ch. chlorop-iis) has twice
built a nest (the first one having been washed away) in a
dyke near Weston-super-Mare of long strands of meadow
grass. The second nest was built on a pile of dead sticks in
the water and had a number of thin twigs woven into its
foundations.

Skokholm Bird Observatory. Report for 1938.

As this interesting report shows, Mr. R. M. Lockley is gradually
building up at Skokholm a bird observatory which is doing valuable
work. A large number of people visited the island during the year
and helped in the observing and ringing. The latter has reached large
proportions and a ringing office has now been built, which has caused
a deficit in the funds and it is hoped that those interested in the work
being done will remove this. A great attempt has been made to
exterminate the rabbits and if this has been accomplished, the ecological
results should be very interesting. It has been found by ringing that
both Guillemots and Razorbills appear to breed when a year old,
whereas Manx Shearwaters apparently do not, but they have been
proved to visit the island during late summer a year after hatching.
The Skokholm Shearwater homing experiments are now well known,
and it is interesting to learn from this Report that the second ringed
Shearwater released in Venice in 1937, which did not return that year,
was found at its old burrow on March 30th, 1938. Fulmar Petrels
haunted the coast as they did in 1937, but were not seen to alight.
An Ortolan Bunting is recorded on May 19th and a number of other
interesting items are included in the Report.

REVIEW.

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Contents of Number 4, Vol. XXXIII., September i, 1939.

PURCHASEC

PAGE

The Destruction of Buds of Trees and Shrubs by Birds. By
J. C. F. Fryer

Observations on Sand-Martins at the Nest. By R. E. Moreau
and W. M. Moreau

The Black-tailed Godwit in the British Isles, 1890-1937. By
Averil Morley

Breeding of the Gannet on the Scar Rocks, Wigtownshire. By
Rev. J. M. McWilliam

90

9.5

98

105

Notes : —

Evidence for male House-Sparrow selecting Nesting-Site
(Rev. C. E. Martin)

Two Black Redstarts in London in June (S. P. W. Chave) ...
Nesting Association of Swallow and House-Martin (L. C. Lloyd)
iMistle-Thrush, Kittiwake and Quail breeding in Scilly Islands
(Major A. A. Dorrien-Smith) ...

Food and method of feeding fledged young of Great Spotted
Woodpecker (Rev. C. E. Martin)

Little Owl taking House-Martin (J. H. Owen)...

Hobby in Pembrokeshire (H. E. Pounds)

Fledging Period of the Golden Eagle (Seton Gordon)...
Common Pochard breeding in Sussex (J. P. Wilkins)...
Occurrences of Velvet-Scoters in Somerset (S. Lewis)
Incubation Period of the Oystercatcher (W^ S. Cowin and
E. F. Ladds)

Greater Yellowshank seen in Scilly Islands (Major A. A.
Dorrien-Smith) ...

Incubatian Period of the Avocet and Notes on the Nestling
(J. M.'Derscheid)

108

108

109

1 10

1 10

111
III

111

1 1 2
1 12

1 12

113

114

Short Notes : —

The late Rev. E. U. Savage. — Correction. Broods of two in
House-Sparrow. Willow-W'^arbler taken by Kestrel.
Arrival of Marsh-Warbler in Isle of Wight. Great Spotted
Woodpecker nesting in Bute. — Correction. Pintail breeding
in Yorkshire. Tufted Duck Breeding in Worcestershire.

Shag’s Nest with seven Eggs. Knot inland in Somerset.
Temminck’s Stints in York.shire ... ... ... ... 114

Letters : — -

Diurnal Song and its relation to Latitude and Twilight (Dr.

J. .M. Dewar)

Size of Eggs and Incubation Period of Icelandic Mallards
(J. M. Derscheid)

Lapwings Nesting at High Altitude in Norway (E. J. M.
Buxton) ...

Reviews : — ■

London Bird Report for

Birmingham Bird Club

Lancashire and Cheshire Fauna Committee

Ornithological Report for Derbyshire for

Committee on Bird Sanctuaries in Royal Parks [England)

Ornithology of the Isle of Man,

Hastings and East Sussex Naturalist,

1 16

117

118

119
1 19

119

120
120
120
120

G

(90)

A PUBLICAriON OF THE BRITISH TRUST FOR

ORNITHOLOGY.

THE DESTRUCTION OF BUDS OF TREES
AND SHRUBS BY BIRDS.

BY

J. C. F. FRYER.

(Plate 2.)

The destruction of the buds of trees and shrubs by birds
during late autumn, winter and spring, is a perennial source
of complaint by fruit-growers and gardeners, but it has never
received the attention from the ornithological point of view
that its economic importance, or, indeed, its scientific interest,
would seem to merit. Not only is there uncertainty as to the
species of bird responsible for the damage, but also there
has been controversy as to the motive for the attack, some
arguing that it is merely incidental to the search for insects,
and others that the presence or absence of insects in the buds
is of no importance. Since the birds under suspicion comprise
many common species, the problem seemed to be one that
might be widely studied, and in 1935 the British Trust for
Ornithology agreed to sponsor an inquiry. The lack of
precise information already available on a subject of such
general interest suggested, however, that its further elucidation
might be found to present some special difficulty, and it was
therefore decided to make in the hrst place a preliminary or
“ test ” inquiry confined to a relatively small number of
observers. The present note records the results of this
preliminary inquiry.

The method adopted was that of direct observation in the
field, the results being recorded on a questionnaire form, and
for various reasons which need not be discussed here, no
endeavour was made to secure post-mortem examinations of
numerous dead birds. The points to which special attention
was drawn were the necessity of making absolutely sure that
birds frequenting trees showing bud injury were, in fact,
responsible for the damage, and the desirability of recording
with precision the kinds of trees attacked and the circumstances
in which such attack took place. The need for care in the
former respect had already become apparent from random
observations over a long period, and the curious distribution
of the attack in certain places — one tree being denuded of
buds and a neighbouring tree of the same species being left —
suggested that precise records might throw light on the
question of motive. At the same time, a request was made

OF

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VOL. XXXIII ] DESTRUCTION OF BUDS.

91

for samples of twigs from attacked trees, and also of buds
pecked off and allowed to fall on the ground.

As a result of the issue of the questionnaires, about 50 reports
were received, some referring to a single case in which bud
destruction had been observed, and others to several, but the
total number is clearly too small to justify any attempt to
draw final conclusions. This paucity of results is in part
explained by the limitation in the number of observers, but
it appears to have been due quite as much to the real difficulty
of making the observations. As an instance of this difficulty,
a case of damage to sycamore trees may be quoted. The loss
of buds was considerable and large numbers were found
lying under the trees. Blue Tits were seen apparently pecking
at the twigs, and were at first believed to be responsible for
the damage, but the manner in which the buds had been
sheared off rendered it doubtful whether the injury could be
attributed to any species of tit, and by further observations
these birds were satisfactorily exonerated. Next Greenfinches,
then Chaffinches, Siskins, and Bramblings came under sus-
picion, but the evidence against them was not satisfactory
and in spite of long and careful observation the culprit was
never identified. Incidentally, it may be mentioned that
the nature of the injury was quite typical of the Bullfinch,
a species so scarce in the neighbourhood that it could hardly
have been responsible for the large amount of bud damage
noted.

A suggested explanation of the difficulty of observation,
which seems to have been more or less general, is that
extensive bud-eating (as opposed to the desultory picking of
an occasional bud) is confined, with the partial exception of
the Bullfinch, to daybreak, not only an inconvenient time
for most'observers, but also a time when observations in the
winter are often rendered difficult by poor light conditions.

With this general introduction some reference may be
made to the species of birds regarding which some definite
information was obtained.

Bullfinch {Pyrrhula p. nesa).

The evidence obtained supports the view (if support is
necessary) that the buds of trees and shrubs form an important
part of the diet during winter and spring. In most cases the
buds concerned were those containing the flowers, and the
part actually eaten is confined to the “ embryonic ” flower,
the outer part of the buds (bud scales, etc.) being neatly
sheared off, so that the part dropped often looks like a
complete bud. The damage continues from the time when

92

BRITISH BIRDS.

[vOL. XXXIII.

the bud is dormant to when the flower is fully out, and then
the base of the flower, the future “ fruitlet,” alone is eaten,
the petals being nipped off and dropped.

Species of plants attacked : Apple, pear, plum, damson,
cherry, gooseberry, almond (flowers), Pruniis vars. {cerasifera,
etc.), Pyrus vars., Cydonia, Syringa, Euonymns alatns,
Forsythia.

As to varietal susceptibility, there is insufficient information
to justify any conclusion, but one or two observers suggest
that the buds of the desert, i.e., sweeter varieties of apples,
are more attractive than those of the cooking varieties, such
as Bramleys. This did not hold throughout, however, and at
another centre a variety most attacked in some years will
be least attacked in others {e.g., at this centre the apple
" Ecklinville ” is usually the variety most seriously attacked
while “ King of the Pippins ” escapes, but in 1938-39 winter
the former was left untouched and the latter was damaged).
It is clear that the birds have marked idiosyncrasies which
have not so far been related to any particular feature in the
plant, but from the negative point of view there is no evidence
whatever to suggest that the presence of insects in or on the
buds is in any way concerned.

Greenfinch {Chloris ch. chloris).

One definite case was reported of Wistaria flower buds and
gooseberry buds being eaten in the same garden.

Chaffinch {Fringilla ccelebs).

Two cases of damage proved, one to alder and the other to
Prunus. It would appear that the birds were feeding, but that
some factor other than hunger may also have been concerned
in the attack (it is suggested that tearing flowers or buds to
pieces may be concerned with “ display ”).

Brambling {Fringilla montifringilla) .

A single but very interesting record from Gloucestershire
in 1938, where a flock caused extensive damage to a plum
orchard in full bloom. Only the base of the flower [i.e., the
future fruitlet) was eaten and the corolla dropped. The
fruit-grower had never seen Bramblings before and shot one,
which he sent to the British Museum (Natural History)
where the pares of the flower eaten were found in the crop.

House-Sparrow {Passer d. domesticus).

The results indicate that the buds of bushes or trees have
become a definite part of the diet. The buds eaten are
generally but not invariably flower buds, and with the latter

93

voL.xxxiii ] DESTRUCTION OF BUDS.

it is chiefly the “ embryonic ” flower that is taken, but the
bird’s work is more untidy than that of the Bullfinch and
gives the impression that the House-Sparrow is not similarly
adapted to a bud diet.

Damage* was recored to : apples, black currant, Prunus,
Syringa, Berberis.

Tits.

The results are inconclusive, although suggestive. In one
case only is it alleged that fruit buds are eaten, and here it
was difflcult to make quite sure that Bullfinches may not have
been concerned. In other cases the damage seems to be
incidental to the search for insects, e.g., a report from Evesham
concerns slight injury to plum blossom, the petals being
pulled off, often while the bird was “ hovering like a fly-
catcher.” This concerned a party of ” Two Great Tits, three
Marsh and perhaps five to eight Blue Tits.” The insects for
which the birds were searching have been identified in one
or two instances, e.g., the sycamore aphis {Periphyllus
testudinatns) on sycamore and plum aphis [Anur aphis padi)
on plum. In some cases the buds are pecked off, more or
less by mistake in the search for insects and a particularly
interesting case is one from near Huddersfield in which the
flower buds of the wych elm {Ulmtis montana) were attacked
by Blue Tits {Pams ccendeus), specimens of pecked buds
dropped to the ground being received. A considerable propor-
tion of these buds were found to contain larvae of a midge, a
species of Contarinia, probably new to Great Britain, which
almost certainly were the object of the attack.

(Reports were also received of tits damaging the flowers of
rhododendrons and sweet peas, but they hardly come within
the scope of the present inquiry ; the motive for the attack
was not established with certainty but it is possible that
nectar was the attraction.)

Conclusion.

Apart from the Bullfinch and House-Sparrow, the part
played by the different species of bird in bud destruction is
still undecided, and requires further investigation. The subject,
however, is not easily dealt with, and the study is not without
pitfalls, so that it is hardly appropriate to those who can
only give it but casual attention. Intensive observations on
the other hand would yield results of much interest, and it is

*There were numerous records of damage by House-Sparrows to
the flowers of Crocus, Polyanthus, and various herbaceous plants,
but they are omitted here as being rather outside the scope of the
inquiry.

94 BRITISH BIRDS. [voL.xxxiii.

hoped that this preliminary inquiry may incite others to
carry out more systematic work.

Acknowledgments.

Since this note is only a summary, it has not been possible
to acknowledge separately the different observations made
by each reporter ; sincere thanks must, however, be expressed
to the following for the assistance they have given in a
somewhat difficult inquiry ;

M. H. Babb, Devonshire ; S. Baron, Buckinghamshire ;
F. L. Blathwayt, Gloucestershire ; A. W. Boyd, Cheshire ;
A. Buxton, Norfolk ; Mrs. W. S. Charles, Buckinghamshire ;
J. E. S. Ellis, Yorkshire ; T. B. Hart, Buckinghamshire ;
A. J. Harthan, Worcestershire ; C. J. Hewlett, Berkshire ;
C. Ingram, Kent ; A. E. Jones, Worcestershire ; F. C. R.
Jourdain, Hants ; N. B. Kinnear, London ; F. H. Lancum,
Kent ; Miss A. Morley, Herefordshire ; E. M. Nicholson,
Surrey ; B. Pickard, Lancs. ; Miss F. Pitt, Shropshire ; Miss
Ryan, Surrey ; A. H. Spicer, Sussex ; R. S. Stanley, Gloucester-
shire ; G. Witherby, Hants. ; H. Wormald, Norfolk.

(95)

OBSERVATIONS ON SAND-MARTINS AT
THE NEST.

BY

R. E. MOREAU and W. M. MOREAU.

Incubation in the Sand-Martin {Riparia r. riparia) is said
to be “ by both sexes but positive data scanty” (F. C. R.
Jourdain, 1938)* ; males had been found on eggs by Stoner
(1936), but the nature of their participation in the brooding
was not ascertained.

We had a nest containing eggs under observation for
7 hours on July ist and 2J hours on July 2nd, in hne weather.
The most usual thing was for the birds to make what appeared
to be instantaneous change-overs, one bird entering and the
other emerging at once. On one occasion the exit took place
first, the sitting bird probably having seen its mate pass.
(During its spell in the nest the sitter occasionally came to
the entrance.) The spells we recorded between ” change-overs”
lasted 9, 13, 16, 20, 21, 28, 29, 30, 35, 46 and 47 minutes. In
addition, two spells exceeded 70 and 77 minutes. Once
two birds were inside together for ii minutes. During the
2J hours on July 2nd there was always a bird in the hole ;
during the 7 hours on July ist the hole was unoccupied for
intervals of 9, 15 and 16 minutes.

It appears that in this species the parent-birds share the
incubation more or less equally and sit assiduously.

Mests containing young were watched also at Farnham,
Surrey, as follows ; —

A with 4 young and B with 3 young (all frequently at the
entrance and nearly ready to fly) for 7 hours concurrently
on July 1st and for 3 hours concurrently on July 2nd.

C with 3 }mung, estimated to be 14 days old, for 2 hours
{concurrently with nests A and B) on July 2nd.

D, with 3 young, estimated to be 13 days old, for 2 hours
on June 30th.

The weather throughout was fair or fine. As would be
expected from the ages of the young birds, the}^ were not
brooded {cf. Moreau, in Press, for evidence that in African
Hirundinidae brooding ceases about halfway through the
fledging period.) The fact that the families consisted of only
3 and 4 young suggests that they were second broods {cf.
Stoner, 1936) ; the date is early for a second brood, but

*The statement in The Handbook was based on observations at the
nest by J- Walpole-Bond, D. Nethersole-Thompson and F. C. R.
Jourdain, but the approximate share of the sexes was not determined. —
Eds.

96 BRITISH BIRDS. [vol.xxxiii.

there is evidence that many first clutches had been destroyed
in the working of the sandpit.

The total number of visits made at each nest by both
parents* in each observed hour is shown in Table I. It may
be taken that food was brought to one young on practically
all visits, a presumption that could be verified at those nests
where the young were old enough to sit at the entrance.

TABLE I.

Number of Feeds Brought to Sand-Martins’ Nests.

Nest.

I I .00

Number of feeds during Hour Ended.
12.00 13.00 14.00 15.00 16.00 17.00

18.00

A.

July ist

43

38

12

—

47

37 34

30

B.

> >

43

42

26

—

29

32 35

15

A.

July 2nd

37

33

36

—

—

— —

—

B,

,,

28

31

28

■ — •

—

— ■ — ■

—

r.

> >

—

39

49

—

—

- — • — ■

— -

D.

June 30th

— ■

—

—

31

25

— —

—

It will be seen that in 24 separate hours, distributed between
the 4 nests, the number of feeds brought was nearly always
between 25 and 43. The only 2 exceptions are for one mid-day
hour at nest A and one early evening hour at nest B. The
feeding rate was thus on the whole surprisingly regular and
also much higher than the only other feeding rate recorded
for this species, which, over one whole day, was an average
of 8 an hour divided between 2 young (Beyer, 1938). It
compares also with a feeding-rate of only 5 for 2 young in
very long series of observations on the African Saw-wing
Bank-Martin {Psalidoprocne holomelcena massaica) (Moreau, in
Press).

The regularity in feeding by these Martins is further
emphasized by analyzing the intervals between the feeds.
Our data for the 726 feeds show that more than half of the
intervals lasted less than 2 minutes ; only about 10 per cent.
(78) lasted more than 3 minutes and only 19 more than 5.
The six longest intervals were ii, 13, 16, 18, 26 and 32 minutes.
The last two were at nests A and B respectively during the
hours (ended 13.00 and 18.00) when it is already apparent
from Table I that the parent birds slackened their efforts.

It will be seen that the brood of 4 young did not receive
proportionately more food than that of 3. This has also been
found with African species on much more extensive data
(Moreau, in Press).

adult at another nest had the tail entirely white e.xcept for the
central pair, a peculiarity that would have enabled the share of the
parents in either incubation or feeding to be determined, but unfortun-
atel}'’ the hole was inaccessible and therefore its contents could not be
examined.

VOL. XXXIII.] OBSERVATIONS ON SAND-MARTINS. 97

Summary.

At a nest of Riparia r. riparia with eggs the parent birds
changed over instantaneously as a rule and the eggs were
covered over 90 per cent, of the time. At 2 nests with 3 young
about 14 days old and 2 nests with 3 and 4 young nearly ready
to fly the number of feeds brought per hour varied between
25 and 43. In 726 feeds only 19 of the intervals exceeded
5 minutes.

References.

Bever, L. K., 1938. Nest life of the Bank Swallow. Wilson Bull.,
50, 122-37.

JouRD.\iN, F. C. R., 1938, in The Handbook of British Birds, Vol. II.
London.

Moreau, R. E., in Press. Numerical data on African birds’ behaviour
at the nest. Proc. Zool. Soc., London and Ibis.

Stoner, D., 1936. Studies on the Bank-Swallow, Riparia r. riparia.
Roosevelt Wild Life Annals, 4 (2), 126-233.

(08)

THE BLACK-TAILED GODWIT IN THE
BRITISH ISLES, 1890-1937.

BY

AVERIL MORLEY.

It has been known for some years that the Black-tailed Godwit
{Limosa limosa) was occurring in the British Isles more
often and in larger parties than formerly. At the suggestion
of Dr. N. F. Ticehurst, and with his constant help, an attempt
has been made to show the manner of this increase. Literature
from 1830 was searched for records, but for this paper it has
not been thought necessary to give any earlier than i8go
as it is evident that for some years before and after that
date the status of the species was fairly stable.

It must be emphasized that the hgures obtained from the
records make no pretence to be complete, which would be
impossible, but are only approximate, their value lying merely
in their relativity. The degree of approximation for each
year in the period is probably about the same ; for, though
there are more observers nowadays, in the beginning of the
period ornithologists did tend to record the ones and twos ;
whereas now the bird has become commoner, ornithologists
in districts which it regularly visits do not always record,
or give details of, small numbers. Thus, the difference in
numbers is probably, if anything, greater than the records
disclose.

About 1829 began the nadir and lowest ebb of the Black-
tailed Godwit, when from being a breeding species it sank
to the status of a rare bird. Since its last supposed attempt,
in Lincolnshire in 1885, breeding has at least twice been
suspected in the British Isles, 1914 in the Moray area and
1934 in Norfolk, the evidence for the latter being strong
(B.B., Vol. XXVIII, p. 363).

But one swallow does not make a summer, and, unless
supported by other facts, isolated and erratic nesting of
solitary pairs (isolated and solitary, that is, in time) will not
bring a species back as a regular breeder. More satisfactory,
at present, is the evidence that this Godwit is occurring not
only in greater numbers but appearing more and more often
all the year round, and from being mainly a passage migrant
at spring and fall is now cropping up in every month of the
year, with a tendency, in Great Britain, to winter with us.
(Wintering in Ireland is no new thing.)

The table shows this increase clearly. Here we see that
August and September have, since 1890, produced the

VOL. XXXIII ] BLACK-TAILED GODWIT.

99

heaviest batch of records. Consistently, however, solitary
birds or pairs have been recorded in May. Leading up to
these two peaks are occurrences in the remaining months
of the year, first beginning as a slender and interrupted trickle
of figures, latterly thickening, especially during the spring
migration time.

The slump after the August-September peak has never
been so heavy as that after May (as one would, of course,
expect from the nearness of the breeding-season to the latter,
and less heavy influx) and lately has greatly decreased before
it, i.e., in July. This leaves June as a gap. The other notice-
able empty space is January-February, which is less wide
than it seems as the spring migration has not yet begun and
wintering birds have already been recorded earlier and so
do not appear in the table.

The big increase seems largely due to the appearance of
large parties which is quite obviously a new feature in the
Black-tailed Godwit’s status and not the result of the present
plenitude of observers. This tendency shows no lessening
up to 1938, and the rough total for Sussex in 1937 — a record
one — was in 1938 eclipsed by a single flock in the county of
150 birds. It should be noted that the 1923 peak shown in
the graph is caused by a Lancashire record of over 100 birds.
It does not appear whether this was an unusual influx or a
normal figure that by chance got recorded for that one year.

Regional Distribution.

The increase appears to be by far the greatest along the
south coast of England from Devon to Kent. For the period
1930-37 Devon, Dorset, Hants, Sussex and Kent provided
approximately two-thirds of the total numbers in the British
Isles. ■ In many of the seventy-six counties and islands
for which there are figures no remarkable increase is
perceptible. Indeed, it seems in Scotland, except in the
east, there has been a falling off since the 1900-15 boom years
there, when more birds were reported than from England,
though with two less occurrences. For the next 15 years,
to 1930, with the notable exception of the Tay area, I could
find only six places where the bird was reported, the rest
complete silence, now being broken from the far northern
islands. In the east of Scotland the wintering numbers of
1936-7 should be noted.

South-east Ireland appears to have shared in the Scottish
boom, either of birds or observers ; but there has been a
latter-day paucity of records, 1914-37, so that it is hard to

lUO

BRITISH BIRDS.

[VOL. XXXIII.

tell whether this represents a true decrease or a scarcity of
the human element unfortunately necessary for observation.
The latter seems the most likely.

Since 1890 Sussex-Kent and Suffolk-Norfolk have been
Black-tailed Godwit haunts. The hrst of these areas is one
of the chief places for the 1930-37 leap. Less striking is
Norfolk-Suffolk where actually the 1917 approximate total
has not been exceeded in the records, but where for the last
twenty-one years, 1917-1937, for every year but one (1918)
occurrences are recorded. Cheshire-Lancashire apparently
began to get a steady flow about 1909. On the fringes of
these areas Essex, between the first and second, Cumberland
to the north of the third, show an unchanged tradition,
regular irregularity. Perhaps both suffer from lack of observers
and detail in recording, such as in the Humber district where
“ up to about 20 years ago the Bar-tailed was the prevailing
type on the Yorkshire estuary with the Blacktail in the
proportion of one in 20. Nowadays the Blacktail has increased
to a point where it is almost as common as the Bar-tail.
Never in my time have they been sufficiently scarce to be
worth recording ” (Mr. C. E. Proctor, in litt.), or as at Tees-
mouth where the Vascnlitm (1937) tells us, every year “ now ”■
in May small parties are seen.

Coincidentally with the Sussex-Kent increase the neigh-
bouring south-coast counties of Devon, Dorset and Hants,
show a remarkable increase, in Dorset and Devon apparently
reaching a peak in 1935. To the north of this area Somerset
as a fringe county has shared less strikingly in the increase,
and the records are mainly at inland reservoirs, which is
interesting. At one of these, Blagdon, occurred in 1934 the
peak figure of 23 in September, staying in dwindling numbers
to November. The Somerset occurrences bring the species
to the Severn Channel region, otherwise scanty of records,
especially before the 1930-37 period, though its muddy
estuaries, sandbanks and marshy coastal ground look good
Godwit places. The exception to this bleakness is Carmarthen
which in the winters of 1932-33, 1936-37, had a large flock
staying, c. 30 birds and c. 48 birds respectively.

Mention of the Somerset reservoir occurrences brings us
to the 1930-37 increase in inland counties, which in nearly all
cases comes from reservoirs and sewage farms, e.g., Surrey,
Berks, Bucks, Cambridge, Worcs, \Varwicks and Staffs.
Taking into consideration the fact that these man-made
habitats are not recent and also that the reservoir and
sewage-farm gazing so popular with field-naturalists has

voL.xxxiiL] BLACK-TAILED GODWIT.

101

been flourishing for at least eighteen years, one feels that this
sprinkled increase is real and like the spray thrown inland
from a wave. However, all spatial inferences must be tentative.

Obviously there might be a close connexion between the
variations of numbers of visitors to the British Isles and the
population variations on the breeding grounds. Thus, an
effort was made to find out if there had been any noticeable
and marked increase in the population of the species’ chief
breeding ground, Holland. Mr. J. H. Savory kindly got in
touch with H. Drijver, Secretary of the Nederlandsche
Vereeniging tot Bescherming van Vogels, who wrote that
it was hard to say if the species has increased during the
last 10 or 20 years in the Netherlands ; old breeding places
have been lost by cultivation, but through protection there
are far more young birds early in the year than formerly.
I feel this point is certainly suggestive though it could not
explain the tendency to winter with us, etc.

Dr. G. C. A. Junge of The Rijksmuseum, Leiden, kindly
told me that both he and other people whom he asked do
not think there has been much increase in the population in
Holland, though this is an opinion only as there are no figures
to prove it. However, he adds that if there had been a large
increase the fact would have been striking enough to attract
attention.

As over a hundred publications were consulted it would
take up too much space to give a detailed list. This is composed
of all the county faunas, articles in the Victorian County
Histories, etc., and the following journals, and reports of
Societies : Zoologist, British Birds, B.O.C. Migration Reports,
Devon Bird-Watching and Preservation Society, Somerset
Arch, and Nat. Hist. Society, Dorset Nat. Hist, and Antiq.
Field Club, Hants. Field Club and Arch. Society, Bournemouth
Nat. Sci. Society, Hastings and East Sussex Nat., South-
eastern Bird Reports, Essex Field Club, Herts. Nat. Hist.
Society, London Nat., Oxford Orn. Society, Norfolk and
Norwich Nat. Society, Wild Bird Prot. Com. of Norf. Nat.
Trust, Cambridge Bird Club, Bristol Nat. Soc., Birmingham
Bird Club, Cardiff Nat. Society, Caradoc and Severn Valley
Field Club, Lancs, and Cheshire Fauna Committee, Yorkshire
Nat. Society, Northumberland, Durham and Newcastle-on-
Tyne Nat. Hist. Society, Annals of Scott. Nat. History, Scottish
Naturalist, Irish Naturalist, Irish Nat. Journal.

This literature was obtained from the libraries of Dr. N. F.
Ticehurst, Mr. B. W. Tucker, Rev. F. L. Blathwayt, Capt.
H. Morrey Salmon, British Trust for Ornithology, Bureau of

102

BRITISH BIRDS.

[VOL. XXXIII.

Animal Population and the Radcliffe Library, all of whom
I would like to thank either for giving me access to literature
or for sending me the information contained therein. 1 thank
also Messrs. G. H. Caton Haigh, J. A. Cox and B. H. Pye for
kindly giving me Lincolnshire records.

The writer wishes to emphasize that her work is only
subsidiary to the original observations of others.

Summary.

1. The Black-tailed Godwit is increasingly occurring in
the British Isles {a) at all times of the year, (b) in flocks.

2. The increase is greatest on the south coast of England
with pockets elsewhere.

3. Present knowledge does not show whether the increase
has its cause in the breeding population of the Netherlands.

Methods.

All occurrences were obtained from printed sources and no
effort was made to supplement these by private communication
except to fill the obstinate gap of Humber-Lincs. All printed
information was disregarded to which no year-date was
attached.

When the estimation of a flock ranged between two figures
the greater was taken. It is clear in some cases the figures
represent counts of a party made at different times. When
Godwits are mixed with other waders, especially, it is perhaps
easier to miss outlying birds than to imagine birds, so the
larger estimate was probably the truer. From the evidence
of plumage a bird seen on a certain spot one day may not be
the same bird seen there the next day even in places where
the species does not habitually occur. This might happen
more often than one thinks when the plumage gives no clue.
Whenever the observer has thought it was the same bird
seen on different days, I have treated it as such. Lhiless it
was made clear to the contrary, where a bird has been recorded
in the same place in a week it also is assumed to be one and
the same. In the case of flocks, diminishing numbers seen
within a week, or, if large, for much longer periods, were
assumed to be remnants of the original number, therefore
not counted. If the flock increased the largest number was
taken and earlier counts disregarded. The big wintering flocks
of late years have provided rather a problem as, though
they arrive in one year, they also form part of the total of the
next. However, they have only been reckoned for this paper
in the year when first seen.

VOL. XXXIII.] BLACK-TAILED GODWIT.

103

Where a large flock appeared and dwindled and then later
another number of much the same magnitude reappeared,
this has been treated as the same flock returned from another
feeding ground, e.g., Eden, Fife : Nov. i, 30 birds (Nov. 27,
5 birds ; Dec. 28, c. 30 birds, records that were disregarded).

The result of these methods is undoubtedly that a good
many birds have been counted twice and a good many not
counted at all !

Approximate Annual Numbers of Black-tailed Godwit, to the

Nearest Ten.

104

BRITISH BIRDS

[VOL. XXXIII

Recorded Monthly Totals.

Jan. Feb. Mar. April May June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. ?

1890

I

-

-

2

I

-

3

-

I

I

-

-

1891

1892

-

-

-

-

—

-

-

8

6

-

-

-

1893

-

-

-

-

I

-

I

I

I*

3

-

-

1894

—

—

-

-

—

-

-

-

2

-

-

-

1895

-

-

-

-

3

-

-

I

2

-

-

-

1896

—

-

-

-

2

-

—

2*

II*

-

-

-

1897

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

2

-

I

-

1898

—

—

—

_

I

—

—

2

—

I

—

—

1899

-

-

-

-

2

-

-

-

2

-

-

-

1900

I

“

-

-

4

—

-

3

10*

3

-

I

1901

—

-

-

—

—

-

32*

2

-

-

-

1902

—

-

-

-

I

-

-

4

2

I

1

-

1903

-

-

-

I

-

-

-

5*

2

I

-

-

1904

2

I

-

-

1905

I

—

-

-

—

—

-

I

I

—

-

1906

-

-

-

1*

I

-

-

-

2

-

-

-

1907

-

-

-

I

3

I

-

-

I

-

I

I

1908

-

-

-

I

-

-

—

I

-

-

10

1909

-

-

-

5

2

-

-

8

18

19

I

-

1910

-

I I

1

-

-

I

-

-

8

-

-

-

I9II

-

-

-

I

-

-

-

8*

17*

-

-

I

1912

4

2

-

-

I

2

-

7

9*

3

—

1913

I

-

-

-

—

-

I

7

I

—

-

1914

—

-

-

2

3

—

—

1

2

—

—

~

1915

—

-

-

—

—

-

—

2

-

—

—

-

1916

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

3

3

-

I

-

1917

-

-

10

-

I

—

8

2

I

-

2

-

1918

20

1919

-

-

-

-

-

-

I

6*

I

2

-

1920

-

—

—

I

-

9

-

2

4

—

I

3

1921

-

-

-

_

-

-

I

I

I

—

—

1922

-

-

*

-

I

-

—

4

-

—

—

1923

-

-

I

21

1

I

7

3

3

—

—

-

1924

-

2

-

6

9

I

—

3

5

—

I

-

1925

-

-

-

I

-

-

I I

3'>

3

—

3

-

1926

-

-

I

21

-

2

10

3

4

I

-

-

1927

-

-

-

-

8

-

2

I

21

5

-

-

1928

I

2

3

5*

4

-

-

3*

16*

13

-

-

1929

-

-

5

6

2

2

-

18

7

3

I

-

1930

-

-

-

-

-

I

2

2

I

—

—

—

1931

-

I

I

2

I

-

2

9

8

-

I

—

1932

2

6

T

4

7

6

“

13

7

-

I

32

1933

-

-

38

17

4^

2

*

36

28

10

—

-

1934

-

2

15

10

4

-

2*

J9

46

6

I

—

193.5

-

20

5

6

12*

17

42

179

86

34

4

77

193^'

2

-

3

19*

12*

7

15

14*

II*

21

30

49

1937

17

2

7

25

1 7*

16

24

189

42

I

113

82

* = Number not stated in records.

Figures in final column are those of indefinitely dated records.

I

2

r

♦

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

lO*

*

*

*

So*

I *

*

*

♦

♦

*

I

*

♦

N *

(105)

BREEDING OF THE GANNET ON THE
SCAR ROCKS, WIGTOWNSHIRE.

BY

Rev. J. M. McWILLIAM.

On July 5th, 1939, Lord David Stuart and I visited the Scar
Rocks in Luce Bay, Wigtownshire. As we came near the
island we saw three or four Gannets {Sula bassana) apparently
resting on one of the higher points. We naturally spoke of
the possibility of the birds nesting, but thought it most

at

I

L

The Scar Rocks from the West.
[Photographed by J. M. McWilliam.)

unlikely. We spent an hour and a half ringing or photo-
graphing the rock birds, and then had to leave rather suddenly
as the wind was rising. We both walked over the place where
the Gannets were seen, but if we saw the nest with the
Gannet’s egg we took it for granted that it belonged to a
Cormorant or Shag.

On August ist we re-visited the Scar Rocks and again there
were a few Gannets at the same spot. Lord David was

H

106

BRITISH BIRDS.

[VOL. XXXIII.

ringing Kittiwakes on another part of the rock when I found
a nest with a young Gannet. Shortly afterwards when I was
some distance away he came independently on the nest.
The photograph which I then took shows the species quite
clearly.

The parent birds showed no sign of anxiety and did not
come close to the rock while we were on it, though as we were
leaving one of them came fairly close to us.

Young Gannet in nest on the Scar Rocks, August ist, 1939-
{Photographed by J. M. iWcWilliam.)

We searched carefully for other nests but saw none, though
on account of the extreme roughness of the ground it is not
impossible that there may have been another nest somewhere
near.

In view of the recent increase of Gannets in certain other
places it is quite possible that this may represent the begin-
ning of a new Gannet colony. The Scar Rocks are roughly

VOL. XXXIII ] BREEDING OF THE GANNET.

107

a hundred yards in length and about fifty feet high with a
good colony of the ordinary rock birds. They are not very
easily visited as they are in fairly open sea and from their
small size they give little shelter for landing. Though of no
great size they are in places very precipitous and if Gannets
were to nest on the Stack at the south-east end they could
probably do so in complete safety, but this nest was on the
main part of the rock where it was easily approached.

SKTDTESaf

EVIDENCE FOR MALE HOUSE-SPARROW SELECTING

NESTING-SITE.

Proof of the sex of the bird choosing the nesting-site is
generally so difficult to obtain that it seems worth while to
record some evidence in the case of a House-Sparrow {Passer
d. doniesticns) in my garden in the spring of 1939. Early
in March I noticed for several days a male Sparrow sitting
on the top of a nesting-bo.x or in a tree within a foot or two of
it and chirping continuously about a dozen notes in succession.
He was always alone. A few days later a hen accompanied
him in the neighbourhood of the bo.x. After she appeared
he ceased his regular song. He frequently entered the box,
but the hen’s attempts to do so always failed. I noticed that
the male put in one shoulder first and so squeezed into the
small hole, but the female tried to go in straight and never
succeeded. On March i6th the male stood for a moment on
the hen’s back. From the 19th to 23rd, he spent the early
part of each day on or just near the box, but there was no
sign of the female. On the 24th, both defended the box
against Blue Tits. After a cold spell, he again appeared near
the box on April ist and 2nd, but alone, and the last I saw of
either bird was the male attacking Blue Tits at the box on
April 14th. Eventually the Tits reared a family there.

The abandoment of the site by the Sparrows appeared due
to the hen’s inability to enter the hole, although I saw her
trying again and again, a feat which the male had no difficulty
in performing. The incident seems to produce good evidence
that in this case it was the male House-Sparrow that selected
the nesting-site and that the choice later proved impossible.

Cyril E. Martin.

TWO BLACK REDSTARTS IN LONDON IN JUNE.
With reference to the Black Redstart {Phocnienrus 0.
gibraltariensis) reported from Bloomsbury {antea, p. 81,)

I saw the bird at intervals from May 22nd. On June 14th
I was watching it singing on the north-east corner of the
British Museum, when it flew off the building and was joined
by a second bird. With binoculars I was able to see the
orange-red tails of both birds. They flew together quite
low over Montague Place in an involved flight as though
engaged in battle, the tails being expanded fanwise. After
a short time both birds disappeared over the Lhiiversity

VOL. XXXIII.]

NOTES.

109

building. Later in the day one bird was singing from the
British Museum, when it flew above the roof and was joined by
the second bird. They then flew off over the Museum.

After that, I saw only one bird, the last occasion being on
June 19th. S. P. W. Chave.

NESTING ASSOCIATION OF SWALLOW AND
HOUSE-MARTIN.

Under the eaves of a gable of my house on the outskirts of
Shrewsbury, a pair of Swallows {Himndo r. rustica) and
a pair of House-Martins {Delichon u. iirbica) have built their
nests in exactly similar situations, about a foot apart, one
each side of the apex of the gable. This, I believe, is
sufficiently unusual to be worth putting on record. Owing
to their inaccessibility the nests cannot be inspected closely,
and the darkness of their situation makes it impossible to see
clearly how they are constructed, even with field-glasses. My
impression is that the Swallows have dispensed with the usual
bottom support for their nest, but they may have taken advan-
tage of what appears to be a narrow ridge, perhaps three-
quarters of an inch wide, in the boarding.

The Swallows were first noticed taking an interest in the
site on May 27th, but the House-Martins were the first to
take definite possession, and were first seen building on
June 1st. The Swallows continued to frequent the site and
for a period of about ten days there was a good deal of friction
between the two pairs of birds. The Martins had completed
building by June 17th, and two days later the Swallows had
made some progress with the construction of their nest. At
the date of writing (July 15th) both nests contain young.

The nesting site above described is, of course, quite normal
for the House-Martin. It is rare for the Swallow to adopt
such a site ; the Handbook of British Birds (Vol. II, p. 227)
says that it “ has been known to build on sides of wall under
eaves, like House-Martin, but nest open above.” What seems
to me the most remarkable feature of the case is the association
in close propinquity of the two species — the Swallow a
decidedly non-social nesting species, though several pairs may
frequently be met with breeding in one long cowshed.

L. C. Lloyd.

[A similar case to that recorded above came under my
notice in Derbyshire, where a pair of Swallow's placed their
nest on the outside wall of an outbuilding, under the eaves,
and within a few feet of nests of the House-Martin in exactly
similar situations. — F.C.R.J.J

no

BRITISH BIRDS.

[VOL. XXXIII.

In July, 1939, while waiting at a station in the Rhone
Valley, Switzerland, I noticed many Swallows and House-
Martins going to nests built near the top of the wall at the
back of the platform. A board had been fixed under the
nests (probably to keep the platform clean) and the Swallows
had taken advantage of this as a support. The nests of the
two species were often nearly touching each other. I saw no
signs of friction between the birds. — H.F.W.]

MISTLE-THRUSH, KITTIWAKE AND QUAIL
BREEDING IN SCILLY ISLANDS.

A PAIR of Mistle-Thrushes {Turdus v. viscivorus) nested in the
Tresco Abbey gardens this year (1939). The bird is by no
means a regular visitor to the islands but this is apparently
not the first record of its breeding.

Kittiwakes {Rissa t. tridactyla) ceased to breed here about
1900. In 1937 I had suspicions that some were breeding again
as there were birds about. In 1938 there were 28-30 pairs
nesting and this year {1939) there appear to be quite double
that number.

A young Quail (Coturnix c. coturnix) unable to fly was
caught and released by the keeper in his rearing field this
summer (1939). He did not see the old birds.

Arthur A. Dorrien-Smith.

FOOD AND METHOD OF FEEDING FLEDGED YOUNG
OE GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER.

On July 8th, 1939, a male Great Spotted Woodpecker
[Dryobates nt. anglicus), which had previously on occasions
in April visited my bird-table in Buckinghamshire and eaten
coconut, appeared accompanied by a juvenile. After eating
on the coconut for at least two minutes, the parent bird went
to the young one and fed it, the bill of the young being inserted
into the parent’s bill and their necks moving rapidly back-
wards and forwards. I have watched this process several
times since, though the young bird also at times ate direct
from the coconut on the table and has learnt to cling upside
down on a suspended coconut.

Although I could detect no gulping movements the birds
remained some time with their bills interlocked suggesting
that the food was being augmented by regurgitation, a method
recorded in the case of the Green Woodpecker [Picus v. pluvms),
though not so far as I know in that of the Great Spotted.

Cyril E. Martin.

VOL. XXXIII.]

NOTES.

Ill

[The unnatural nature of the food and the difference
between this and living insects must be considered. That
this was a case of true regurgitation is not definitely shown
and the coconut may have become soft and filled the mouth
and taken time to extract. But that feeding methods may
be different before and after fledging was shown by some
Green Woodpeckers which I watched at the end of July.
These were an old male and two young birds feeding on the
grass close to my windows. Although the young were full
grown and perfectly able to feed themselves one or other
went up to the old bird every now and then and received
direct from his bill some food which he had iust picked up.

H.F.W.]

LITTLE OWL TAKING HOUSE-MARTIN.

Mr. Royle of Perry Moor Farm, near Whittington, Salop,
informed me that he saw a Little Owl {Athene n. vidalii)
take a House-Martin {Delichon u. urbica) in his drift-house
about one p.m. (S.T.) on July 20th, 1939. There are at least
a dozen occupied nests of House-Martins in the roof of the
drift-house, which is a covered way to bring a load under for
shelter from storms. I may add that the Little Owl is very
abundant in many places near Oswestry at present.

J. H. Owen.

HOBBY IN PEMBROKESHIRE.

As the Hobby {Falco s. subbuteo) has rarely been recorded in
Pembrokeshire it would seem of interest to note that on
May 30th, 1939, at 4.45 p.m. (B.S.T.), while I was on Ramsey
Island, a Hobby passed close to me flying at a height of about
twenty feet and pursuing a northerly course. A few minutes
later it was followed by another which likewise passed from
sight towards the northern end of the island. Weather
conditions at the time were perfect, brilliant sunshine, blue
sky, and a light north-easterly breeze. Hubert E. Pounds.

FLEDGING PERIOD OF THE GOLDEN EAGLE.

On May 3rd, 1939, my wife and I visited the eyrie of a Golden
Eagle {Aquila ch. chrysaetus) in a cliff, and could see one
small eaglet moving about. The nest is inaccessible and
we were unable to see both eaglets at that early stage. On
July 19th, exactly eleven weeks later, we were watching the
eyrie again. There were two full grown eaglets in the nest,
and we were fortunate enough to see one of the eaglets take

112

BRITISH BIRDS.

[VOL. XXXIII.

its first flight. We were some distance off, and watching
through a glass, and so our presence had nothing to do with
the fact that the Eagle chose this time for making its first
flight. We saw that the bird was very restless, looking out
over the edge of the nest repeatedly, and then suddenly it
sprang into the air, opened its wings, and flew unsteadily to a
buttress of rock, where it made a heavy, but safe landing.

From the active movements of the eaglet we watched on
May 3rd it was certainly several days old at the time, and the
fledging period in this instance must have been nearer twelve
than eleven weeks. Seton Gordon.

COMMON POCHARD BREEDING IN SUSSEX.

As Mr. J. Walpole-Bond includes only a few definite cases of
breeding of the Common Pochard {Aythya f. ferina) in his
History of Sussex Birds, it is worth while recording that a
pair bred in the south-west of the county in 1939. I first
saw one bird on April 21st, and on May 7th there were a pair
and a single bird. The pair remained and I first saw a brood
of six quite small young ones on June 22nd. Although I
approached the birds within about 10 yards they did not
dive nor did the parent bird take flight, which struck me as
curious. These young were also seen by Mr. H. Beeston.

Mr. Beeston found a Pochard’s nest at Stanstead in 1906
as reported in Mr. Walpole-Bond’s book, but he allows me
to add that he also saw a duck and seven young at Aldsworth.
Pond in the same vicinity on May ist 1921, a record which is
not included by Mr. Walpole-Bond. J. P. Wilkins.

OCCURRENCES OF VELVET-SCOTERS IN SOMERSET.

Since the year 1906 given by Mr. H. Tetley {antea, p. 26) as
the year of the last records of this species in Somerset, I can
add three definite subsequent records. January 4th, 1925,
adult male consorting with nine of the common species near
Brean Down ; January 19th, 1926, two birds, adult male and
female, on No. i Reservoir, Barrow Gurney.

Stanley Lewis.

INCUBATION-PERIOD OF THE OYSTER-CATCHER.

On May i8th, 1939, we found a nest of the Oyster-catcher
{Hcematopus 0. occidenfalis) containing two eggs on Langness
Peninsula, Isle of Man. On our next visit the nest held three
eggs. The eggs were chipped on the evening of June i6th,
and presuming they were hatched the next day (the young

VOL. XXXIII.]

NOTES.

113

had left the nest on the i8th) the incubation period would
be 29 days. \V. S. Cowin.

E. F. Ladds.

In the above note it is presumed that the third egg was laid
on the 19th but this is not necessarily the case. Incubation
may begin before the clutch is complete and hatching may
extend from one to three days, but as the young had left
by the i8th, it is a fair deduction that in this case incubation
began with the last egg. From the data given I should
estimate the period as “ about 28-29 days.” 28 days is a
fairly common period, but when a bird has been frequently
disturbed it may be exceeded considerably. The period of
21-24 days given in the Practical Handbook is now known to
be incorrect ; F. G. Paynter’s record of an egg hatched out
in an incubator in 21 days is evidently a case of a partly
incubated egg and 24 days is apparently the minimum.

F. C. R. JOURDAIN.

GREATER YELLOWSHANK SEEN IN SCILLY

ISLANDS.

On May 7th, 1939, at about 7 p.m., when in the garden at
Tresco Abbey close to the Little Pool, I heard the piercing
notes of a Yellowshank which had apparently been flushed
by some people approaching the gardens. The bird came
close over my head and I distinctly noticed the orange-
coloured legs and that the bird was nearly as big as a Bar-
tailed Godwit. The loud piercing note ” chew-chew-chew,
chew-chewk, chew-chew-chewk ” with the orange legs and
the large size of the bird convinced me that it was a Greater
Yellowshank [Tringa melanoleuca) .

The bird circled again overhead, but this time too high up
for me to see it distinctly, and then it flew away in a westerly
direction.

It is well to state that I shot a bird of this species here
on September i6th, 1906, and watched one, which was very
tame, in 1927, the bird being first seen on August 23rd and
last on the 28th. (The date given in The Ibis, 1927, p. 781, is
incorrect).

I should also like to take this opportunity of correcting
the date of the Yellowshank [T. flavipes) recorded by the
late Dr. H. Langton as having been shot at Tresco on
September 2nd, 1920 {Bidl. B.O.C., XLI, pp. 26-7). This
bird was first observed on September 7th, 1920, and was
shot on the same date. Arthur A. Dorrien-Smith.

114 BRITISH BIRDS. [vol.xxxiii.

INCUBATION PERIOD OF THE AVOCET AND NOTES
ON THE NESTLING.

On June 14th, 1939, I visited a marshy spot near the River
Scheld and rescued there a chick of an Avocet {Recurvirosira
avosetta). This was two or three weeks old and still entirely
in down. I hand-reared the bird with a young Lapwing as
companion and it proved from the beginning quite easy to
feed. It is now (July 7th) fully grown and completely
feathered. This gives an approximate fledging period of five
to six weeks.

On the same date, June 14th, the keeper showed me three
nests of Avocets which he had found two days before with
fresh eggs. When we approached the place we saw two
Carrion-Crows there and only one egg had escaped their
attention. This I took and put under a bantam on the following
day, June 15th, at 2 p.m. This egg, which on being tested
by a strong light in my laboratory showed no sign of having
been incubated, hatched on July 7th exactly at 12 noon,
giving a period of 21 days and 22 hours.

Not much has been written about the length of incubation
in this species, the old German ornithologist Naumann having
estimated it 17 to 18 days, while on the other hand R. I.
Pocock gave approximately 24 days from observation on the
behaviour of a captive pair breeding in the London Zoo.

Another point on which there are discrepancies among the
published accounts is the shape of the bill in the newly born
Avocet. As I had transferred the chipped egg from the
bantam’s nest to one of my incubators (run at 105° Fahr.) in
order to make accurate notes on the hatching, I was able to
examine and measure the beak of the little Avocet a few
minutes after it was born, in fact well before the chick was
dry. I have satisfied myself that the bill is at that stage
absolutely straight although the culmen seems to be slightly
concave, this being due to the fact that the tip of the bill is
noticeably swollen, an appearance still emphasized by the '
persisting egg-tooth. The latter instead of being roundish is
conspicuously elongated along the culmen. Measurement of
the bill along culmen 14.7 mm. ; tomium 18. i mm. ; tarso
metatarsus (2 hours after hatching) 33.5 mm. The shape of
the bill at that age shows practically no difference from that
of newly hatched Redshanks. J. M. Derscheid.

[Heinroth gives the incubation period as 23 days — F.C.R.J.]

The late Rev. E. U. Savage. — Correction. — We regret
that in the obituary notice [antea, p. 76) Mr. Savage’s second
name Urmson was wrongly spelt Urmston.

VOL. XXXIII.]

NOTES.

115

Broods of Two in House-Sparrow. — Mr. R. H. Higgins
reports nests of House-Sparrow {Passer d. domesticus) seen by
him on July loth, 1939, in Sussex with two fully fledged
young in one case and two eggs in another. When revisited
the two young had flown and the two eggs had hatched. It
is possible that one or more of the chicks had fallen out of
the nest and the two eggs may have been laid by a bird whose
nest had been destroyed while laying, but the sets are unusually
small.

Willow-Warbler Taken by Kestrel. — Mr. R. H.
Brown informs us that in a nest of a Kestrel {Falco t. tinnun-
culus) in Cumberland in 1938 he found amongst other food
remains a Willow-Warbler {Phylloscopus t. trochilus) a species
which is not recorded in the Handbook.

Arrival of Marsh-Warbler in Isle of Wight. — Mr. H.
Whistler informs us that he received a Marsh-Warbler
{Acrocephalus palustris) which was killed at the St. Catherine’s
Lighthouse with several other common warblers on May 19th,
1939. As most first-arrival dates recorded are at breeding-
places and rather later this record has interest.

Great Spotted Woodpecker Nesting in Bute. —
Correction. — The recorder’s name given in this note {antea
p. 87) as Mr. D. Stuart should have been Lord David Stuart.

Pintail Breeding in Yorkshire. — With reference to the
note on the Pintail {Anas a. acuta) breeding at Skipwith in 1938
{antea, p. 55) Mr. R. F. Butler informs us that on June 21st,
1931, he watched a Pintail with two young at the same place.
He saw a pair there in 1930 and again in 1932, but has only
seen young in 1931, and has not found a nest. Mr. Butler
has watched Pintail on Loch Leven. He writes that he had
withheld the information for the benefit of the birds.

Tufted Duck Breeding in Worcestershire. — Mr. G. M.
King has recorded {Birmingham Bird Club Rep., 1938) that
in 1936 a pair of Tufted Duck {Ay thy a f. fuligula) bred at
Blakedown in north Worcestershire, three young being seen,
and he now informs us that a pair bred again in 1939 when
one duckling was seen. These appear to be the only definite
records of breeding for the county.

Shag’s Nest with Seven Eggs. — Mr. K. Williamson
informs us that a nest of Shag {Phalacrocorax a. aristotelis)
was found on the Calf of Man on June ist, 1939, with 7 eggs.
Out of large numbers of nests examined here during the

116

BRITISH BIRDS.

[VOL. XXXIII.

past two years only one contained more than 4 eggs so that
it seems probable that this was a case of two hens laying in
the same nest.

Knot Inland in Somerset. — Mr. S. Lewis informs us that
he observed two juvenile Knots {Calidris c. canutus) at the
Cheddar reservoir on August loth, 1939. The birds were
tired and he was able to approach within four yards of them.

Temminck’s Stints in Yorkshire. — Mr. G. Edwards,
who discovered the Temminck’s Stint [Calidris temminckii)
breeding in Scotland, states [Nat., 1939, p. 197) that he and
others clearly identified a party of seven of these birds at
Ringstone Edge Reservoir, Halifax, on June ist and 2nd, 1939.

LETTERS.

DIURNAL SONG AND ITS RELATION TO LATITUDE AND

TWILIGHT.

To the Editors of British Birds.

Sirs, — In “Some Notes on the Diurnal Song of Birds ” [antea, p, 4)
Mr. Marples states that on the average the Blackbird, at Inverness,
begins to sing in the morning yi minutes earlier than Blackbirds do in
Hampshire, that is, after correction for effect of difference of latitude
on time of sunrise. Since twilight lasts longer in the north than in the
south, it is to be expected that song starts earlier in the north, and it is
interesting, perhaps for the first time, to have expectation confirmed
by observation.

Inverness is approximately in 3° long, west of the longitude of
Hampshire, and at Inverness the sun rises 12 minutes later than in
Hampshire, after correction for latitude. Birds at Inverness ought,
therefore, to start singing 1 2 minutes later than in Hampshire. Actually,
as noted bv IMr. Marples, the Blackbird starts 7^ minutes earlier. The
duration of twilight is always greater at Inverness than in Hampshire,
and the greatest difference is reached at midsummer day. Twilight
lasts throughout the year for minutes longer at Inverness than in
Hampshire ; in June or July, the monthly average difference is 18^
minutes. Thus, in June or Julv, at Inverness, the Blackbird ought to
start singing in the morning minutes earlier than in Hampshire. The
result is arrived at in the following way. After correction for latitude,
the Blackbird, at Inverness, gains 18J minutes due to the greater
length of twilight, and loses 12 minutes due to the difference of longitude,
the net figure being bi minutes early. This figure compares very
closely with Mr. Marples’s observed time of yi minutes. If there is a
difference of altitude between the stations in Hampshire and at Inver-
ness, a correction would also need to be ajiplied for altitude since the
light lasts longer at high than at lo\v levels.

The importance of making these corrections of crude observations
lies in the necessity of reducing all station records to a common denom-
inator just as all barometric observations are reduced to sea-level
and a standard temperature. Onl\- then can true comparisons be made
of station records of diurnal song periods. J. M. Dewar.

Edinburgh.

voL.xxxm.] LETTERS. 117

SIZE OF EGGS AND INCUBATION PERIOD OF ICELANDIC

MALLARDS.

To the Editors of British Birds.

Sirs, — In British Birds (antea, Vol. XXXII, p. 151) appeared a few
observations which I made last year on half a dozen Mallard eggs
received from Iceland for hatching purposes.

In the beginning of June, 1939, I received some more Icelandic
Mallard eggs, and I took care to make accurate measurements of these
before entrusting them to bantams for incubation. I got in all twenty-
four eggs ; 12 of these proved to be clear or addled, and I have kept
the shells. The measurements of these twelve eggs are as follows :

Average length 56.75, width 40.74 (in mm.)

Minimum ,, 54.9 ,, 40.0

^laximum ,, 60.8 ,, 41.5

The other 12 eggs duly developed, although one duckling died in the
shell. The measurements of these eggs (which could not be preserved,
but which are perhaps more interesting as there is no doubt about the
specific identity of the egg) were as follows ;

Average length 55.17, width 40.86 (in mm.)

Minimum ,, 53.1 ,, 40.1

Maximum ,, 57.5 „ 41.3

Total measurements on the 24 eggs : —

Average length 55.96, width 40.80 (in mm.)

Minimum ,, 53.1 ,, 40.0

iMaximum ,, 60.8 ,, 41.5

This is rather in accordance with the average (of 36) given by the
Rev. F. C. R. Jourdain for Icelandic eggs, working out at 55.66 by
41.77 mm. The new measurements emphasize the fact that the
breadth of the Icelandic eggs is not above the average width of British
eggs of Mallard ; in a general way, the Icelandic eggs appear to be slightly
but decidedly smaller than British eggs, especially in bulk.

The two dozen eggs received by me are .said to have been collected
in northern Iceland, probably in the Laxa vallev or near Lake Myvatn.
They were remarkably uniform in colour, being all of a verv pale
bluish-green grey, certainly much paler than most of the INIallards’
eggs laid in this country.

I haVe also made an accurate note on the incubation period of the
eleven eggs which duly hatched ; average time 24 days 16 hours 40
minutes ; minimum 23 days 20 hours ; maximum 25 days 3 hour.s ; this
confirms entirely my 1938 observation based only on two eggs, hatched
in about 25 days.

I may perhaps be forgiven if I add a few words to explain mv opinion
about the validity of Anas platyrhyncha subboschas, as an Icelandic
distinct sub-species of the Mallard. In spite of the difference in size of
eggs, incubation period and some minor and inconstant details of
coloration, I believe that the Icelandic sub-species is not valid (and
perhaps the Greenland one is no better).

Since Roman times. Mallards have been domesticated and extensively
kept in confinement all over western Europe, and this was continued
during the middle ages, especially around the monasteries, for utility
purposes. It has resulted in gradually evolving a number of strains of
domestic Mallards of larger size, laying as a rule larger eggs. For
centuries, thousands and tens of thousands of these domestic ducks

118

BRITISH BIRDS.

[VOL. XXXIII.

have been kept and bred in semi-liberty in France, Belgium, England,
Germany, etc., but above all in the Netherlands and it is beyond doubt
that a large contingent of these domestic ducks have and are still
reverting to the wild every year, joining the wild Mallards, especially
at the time of migration, and crossing with these in subsequent years,
thus spoiling the wild strain. One consequence of this fact is that the
so-called wild Mallard of Holland, Belgium and France at least, is nearly
always a half-domestic mongrel and French ornithologists, as well as
water-fowl painters have already called attention on the heavy clumsy
look of most of their “ Canards sauvages."

Pure-strain wild Mallards may be known at once by their alert, slim
appearance, quite similar to the alertness of the other members of the
subgenus Anas which we import from foreign countries. In fact, my
friend D. G. Schuyl, who knows as much or probably more about
water-fowl than anybody else in Holland, says that to get pure-strain
Mallards, one has to import them from Hungary or from British India,
two countries where they are not spoiled by domestic blood. I can
supply confirmatory evidence of this : In 1936 and 1937 I kept on my
waters quite a number of wild-caught Mallards, netted in the duck
decoys of Holland and western Belgium. Out of some 800 eggs laid
for me, about 90 had a perfectly white shell, which is unknown in the
wild bird, and is evidently a proof of intermixture of domestic blood.
I must take it for granted that at least the stock of Mallards visiting
our countries are abnormally large birds, laying large eggs (often white
shelled) and belonging to a strain mixed with domestic blood. My
experience is that everything else being equal, a larger egg of a certain
species of bird takes more time to hatch than a smaller one. This
explains why our Mallards (mixed with domestic blood) have an
average incubation period of 28 days or more, when their near cousins,
the American Dusky Duck, Indian and Japanese Spotbills, Meller
Duck, Australian Duck, etc., hatch after 26 or 27 days ; this supplies
us also with a satisfactory explanation of the great variation in the
incubation period of Mallard eggs, given as from 22 to 30 days.

My conclusion is that we have probably in the Icelandic Mallard a
remnant of the completely unspoiled stock of wild duck of the Pale-
arctic region, and that observations based on Mallards from India and
central Asia would probably prove these birds to be more or less
identical with the Iceland and perhaps Greenland Mallards.

J. M. Derscheid.

LAPWINGS NESTING AT HIGH ALTITUDE IN NORWAY.

To the Editors of British Birds.

Sirs, — In June, 1938, at Eokstumyren in the Dovrefjeld, Norway,

I found four pairs of Lapwings {Vanellus vanellus) breeding. I found
the nests of three pairs. It is remarkable that the Lapwing, a widely
distributed but local bird in Norway, had not previously been recorded
from this well-known district. The nests were on cultivated land at
3,200 feet, and when the eggs were laid the snow could not have been
more than 100 feet vertically, and perhaps a quarter of a mile horizon-
tally, from them. Possibly the vertical extension of breeding range
in the Highlands suggested in Mr. Seton Gordon’s note {antea, p. 54)
is thus paralleled in Norway. E. J. M. Buxton.

[This must be a comparatively recent extension of breeding range.
There were certainly no Lapwings in that region in 1896. N.F.T.]

VOL. XXXIII.]

REVIEWS.

119

London Bird Report for 1938. Compiled by R. C. Homes, is. 6d.
(London Nat. Hist. Soc.).

Besides the classified notes this issue contains an interesting account
of the effects on birds of the severe veather in December, 1938 as
observed in the area and an article by Mr. M'. E. Glegg on changes of
bird-life in relation to the increase of London. The most striking
effect of the cold spell was a great movement of Sky-Larks and their
appearance in numbers in London and its suburbs. At the reservoirs
eight Brent Geese appeared at Molesey on December, 17th and eleven
Pink-footed at Beddington Sewage Farm on the 22nd, while there was
a great increase of ducks of various species at different reservoirs, and
single birds of the three scarce Grebes and also Red-throated Divers
appeared, as well as a party of nine Knots (Barn Elms) and an unusual
number of Dunlins.

In his article Mr. Glegg has collected together some interesting facts
regarding the presence and status of certain birds in London in the past,
and although the species about which information is to be found are
comparatively few one can get some sort of idea when one realizes that a
London bird observer a hundred years ago could watch Ravens in
Hyde Park, Harriers in Deptford and Dartford, and Reed-Warblers at
Wandsworth. On the other hand it would surprise that observer to see
all the “Wood-Pigeons, ducks and gulls of the present day.

Many interesting appearances are recorded in the classified list.
In the case of rarities difficult to identify the excellent plan has been
introduced of giving a summary of the observer’s notes, and we hope
that other reports will adopt this idea. Such notes appended to records
of a Water-Pipit seen at Walthamstow Reservoir on March 30th and
a pair of Firecrests on Ruislip Common on December 31st make these
acceptable. Other records which may be mentioned are : Gadwalls

breeding at Barn Elms and Beddington (perhaps the result of the
rearing of full-winged birds in St. James’s Park), Common Pochard
breeding at Osterley, and occurrences of Long-tailed Ducks, Common
Scoters, Red-breasted Mergansers, Shags and several unusual waders.

Birmingham Bird Club. Report for 1938.

This issue contains an account of the Bittell Reservoirs and the birds
which have been noted there by H. G. Alexander, an account of the
movements of birds ringed in Warwickshire and Worcestershire, notes
on first and last days, dates of arrival and departure of migrants and
classified notes. Among occurrences of note not alreadv published
in our pages we may mention the following : W^ater-Pipits were seen at
Bittell, Worcester, in November and December and at Bellfields (S. Staffs)
in October, Shags and Common Scoters also visited Bittell and Scaups
were seen in several places in Warwickshire, while there are records
of Grey Plover, Spotted Redshanks, Black-tailed Godwits and other
interesting waders.

Lancashire and Cheshire Fauna Committee. Report on birds for 1937,
by A. W. Boyd.

There are several items in this report which call for special mention.
A flock of about forty Redpolls at Antrobus (Cheshire) on April iith
appeared to Mr. Boyd to be all or mostly Mealy Redpolls. A male
(with a female) “Vt^agtail seen by Mr. and Mrs. F. W'. Holder at Southport
on May 24th, 1934, was a blue-headed bird without an evestripe and
with dark ear-coverts and is considered referable to the Grey-headed
form {M. f. thunbergi). The Little Owl is stated to be well distributed
throughout N. Lancs., but the localities mentioned are south of the

120

BRITISH BIRDS.

[VOL. XXXIII.

River Ribble and this is surely a mistake for S. Lancs. There are several
inland records in both counties of Scaup and Scoter. A Black-headed
Gull nested in a fir tree twelve feet up at Oakmere where two pairs
nested in a similar site in 1934 (c{. aniea, Vol. XXVHI, pp. 1 15-17).
Special reports are given of the distribution of the Red-backed Shrike,
Magpie and Coot.

Ornithological Record for Derbyshire for 1938. By Rev. F. C. R. Jourdain.
This short Report gives notes on arrival dates of migrants and some
dates of songs. In the classified list there area number of items of local
interest. The breeding of the Shoveler for the second time, the presence
of a Black-throated Diver in February and iNIarch, a Green Sandpiper on
February 26th and Quails heard calling in two localities in June are
noteworthy.

Committee on Bird Sanctuaries in Royal Parks {England). Report for
1938. (H. M. Stationery Office) 9d.

These reports are carefully drawn up and make very interesting
reading. The chief events of the year in Inner London have already
been reported in our pages by i\Ir. A. Holte Macpherson. The fact that
introduced Gad wall, Wigeon and Common Pochards breed and in-
crease and fly about freely should be noted in case of future breeding
records elsewhere. At Bushy and Hampton Court Parks the Reed-
Bunting was added as a breeding bird, and Tree-Sparrows bred and a
Great Grey Shrike was reported as seen on September loth, an early
date. To the list of visitors to Richmond Park four species were added —
a Short-eared Owl, a Curlew-Sandpiper, a Golden Plover and several
Great Black-backed Gulls. Two Wood-larks were heard singing and a
family party was later seen, and the breeding birds numbering fifty-six
species seem to have had a successful season on the whole.

Ornithology of the Isle of Man, 1938. Compiled by F. A. Craine (Manx
INIuseum) 3d.

This is a very useful Report and appears to be carefully and critically
compiled. We are glad to see that Choughs are holding their own — a
flock of over fifty having been observed in September. Notes on the
breeding of Lesser Redpoll and Long-tailed Tit as not frequent should be
mentioned, also a Wood-Warbler singing in June and the breeding of a
Lesser Whitethroat. A Pink-footed Goose shot in November and a
Garganey seen in April are also noteworthy. A number of Fulmars
were seen and some appeared to be settled but no case of definite
breeding is given.

Hastings and East Susse.v Naturalist, 1938.

One of the chief events here recorded is the big westward weather-
movement of birds which began on December i8th with many species
of ducks and geese and was continuous until the 21st. The movement
of smaller birds began with the snow on the 20th and involved large
numbers of many species, Sky-Larks, Lapwings and Starlings being
conspicuously numerous. A number of Coot were observed on the sea
at this time and Common Snipe were seen coasting in flocks. The
usual classified list contains a large number of records. A Serin on
April 22nd appears to have been satisfactorily identified, several
Barnacle-Geese were also seen and one shot, and two Iceland Redshanks
in December, a Spotted Redshank on December 4th and a Greenshank
on the 26th may be mentioned. The Common Gulls nesting in the
Dungeness area increased to twenty-one and the Lesser Black-backed
to twenty-six pairs.

6 SEP 1939

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Contents of Number 5, Vol. XXXIIL, October 2, 1939.

page

^Irs. C. L. E. Perrott’s Selection of British Birds. By Hugh S.

Gladstone ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 122

Recover}' of Marked Birds. By Miss E. P. Leach ... ... 127

Notes ; —

Unusual Nesting Sites and Food of Grey Wagtail (Mrs. H.

Rait Kerr) ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 137

Cliff-Breeding in the House-Martin (Rev. F. C. R. Jourdain,

H. F. Witherby) ... ... ... ... ... ... 137

Scaup-Ducks in Bedfordshire (A. R. Jenkins) ... ... ... 138

Nestling Wood-Pigeon with Undigested Food in Crop

(G. Marples) ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 138

Lond-tailed Duck in Sutherland in June (Rev. Dr. C. E.

Raven) ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 139

Stock-Doves flocking in May in Wiltshire (B. J. Ringrose) ... 140

Turtle-Dove breeding in Ireland (E. O’Mahony) ... ... 140

Black Guillemots breeding in Holes in Harbour W’alls in

Wigtownshire and Co. Down (H. F. Witherby) ... ... 141

Short Notes : —

Status of Nuthatch in West Merionethshire. Flamingos in
Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. Breeding of the Gannet on the
Scar Rocks, Wigtownshire. Curlew attacking Rabbit. Black
Guillemot breeding in Yorkshire ... ... ... ... 141

Reviews : —

South-Eastern Bird Report, 1938 ... ... ... ... 143

Ornithological Report for Hampshire, 1938 ... ... ... 143

Eleventh Report of the Devon Bird-Watching and Preservation

Society, 1938 ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 144

Letter : —

Possible occurrence of the Faeroe Rock-Pipit in the British

Isles (L. S. V. Venables) ... ... ... ... ... 144

I

(122)

MRS. C. L. E. PERROTT’S

SELECTION OE BRITISH BIRDS.

BY

HUGH S. GLADSTONE.

(Plate 3.)

In Messrs. Mullens and Kirke Swann’s Bibliography of British
Ornithology , 1917, mention is made (pp. 469-70) of a book —
or part of a book — by Mrs. C. L. E. Perrott which they had
never seen.

As it has recently been my good fortune to handle a copy of
this work it seems desirable that I should give a description
of it and, at the same time, amplify and correct the account
of the authoress given by Messrs. Mullens and Kirke Swann.

Mrs. Charlotte Louisa Emily Perrott’s maiden name was
Yates and she married (1808) George Wiggley Perrott,
Captain in the King’s Dragoon Guards, of Craycombe House,
W'orcestershire, who was the son of George Perrott of Eladbury,
Worcestershire. Her father was Joseph Yates of Peel Hall,
Lancaster, who married (March 31st, 1787) the Honourable
Charlotte St. John, daughter of John, nth Baron St. John.*

Mrs. Perrott — who must have married at an early age — was
predeceased by her husband (May 9th, 1831) ; after his
death she lived at The Chantry, Eladbury, and she died, at
Worcester, August 21st, 1836, leaving three sons and one
daughter.!

There is evidence that she was not only the possessor of a
museum containing considerable collections, both zoological
and geological, but also an ardent ornithologist and an artist
of no mean skill. She was elected an honorary corresponding
member of the Worcestershire Natural History Society in
December, 1833.! She supplied a considerable amount of
information which is given in Sir Charles Hastings’ Natural
History of Worcestershire : i834§ (her name being repeatedly

*The obituary notice of Mrs. Perrott in the Worcestershire Guardian,
August 27th, 1836, states that she was the “ grand daughter of the
late Right Honourable St. Andrew' Lord St. John ”, an error which is
repeated by E. L. Barnwell (Perrot Notes : 1867 ; p. log), and which
is reiterated by Messrs. Mullens and Kirke Swann {Bibliography of
British Ornithology : 1917 ; p. 469) w'here this author is referred to as
E. L. Burnwell.

\ Worcestershire Guardian, August 27th, 1836.

IMS. Minute Book of Worcestershire Natural History Society, p. 21.

§I have already pointed out {British Birds, Vol. XII, pp. 247-8)
that the ornithological portion, at least, of Sir Charles Hastings’ book
W'as actually by Edw'in Lees.

British Birds, Vol. XXXIII., PL 3.

V

n

irx.,

VOL. XXXIII.]

MRS. PERROTT.

123

mentioned with gratitude)* and she was a donor to the Society
of ornithological, geological and mineralogical specimens, as
well as a contributor of papers on these subjects which were
often illustrated by her drawings,! her most important
papers being those on “ The Fish of the Avon ” and “ A list
of Worcs. Birds.”

The last mentioned contribution only exists in the manu-
script minute-book of the Worcestershire Natural History
Society (which covers the period April 3rd, 1833 to May 24th,
1837) where, on pp. 27-40, is written a paper, read on December
31st, 1833, entitled ‘‘ List of Birds ” in which 148 species are
recorded as occurring in Worcestershire or on the borders of
the adjoining counties and it may be noted that in these
minutes there are several other papers, many of them on
birds,! t>y Mrs. Perrott.

I do not know the extent of Mrs. Perrott’s contributions
to the ornithological publications of her day but in The
Analyst, Vol. I, 1834, there is a paper (pp. 248-9) entitled
” Memorandum respecting the nidification of the Common
Wren ” signed C.L.E.P. ; and it is probable that an article
(pp. 171-7), ‘‘ A few general observations on Natural History,”
but signed ‘‘ G.L.E.P.,” is also attributable to her. I doubt
whether some unsigned notes (pp. 98-109) are by her, but in
The Analyst, Vol. II, 1835, there is a curious contribution
(pp<. 22-6) entitled “ Quizzing,” which deals with such
heterogeneous subjects as staring, flirting, etc., signed C.L.E.P.

I now come to the description of Mrs. Perrott’s book which
was only known to Messrs. Mullens and Kirke Swann by the
critique in Neville Wood’s Ornithologist’ s Text-hook,^ and by
notices, or reviews, in The Analyst\\ and in Loudon’s Magazine
of Natural History.^

The book— or ‘‘ Part I ” of the book— has been described
as an ‘‘elephant folio”** and is contained in brown paper

♦Sir Charles Hastings’ Natural History of Worcestershire, 1834 ;

pp. 62, 65, 68, 70, 71, 72, 134. , , Tx.

tStreetcn, Robert J. N. The Addyess of the Couficil of the 14 oycestej^
shire Natural History Society, delivered at their first anniversary meeting,
on Friday, May i6th, 1834, by : Worcester; 1834; pp. 5, 7, lo,

22, Larus tridactylus or young of the Kittiwake ; pp. 61-3,
Common Wren; pp. 64-6, Crossbill; pp. 90-1, Kmgfisher ; pp^ 92-8.
General Observations of Natural History [many references to birds] ;
pp 99-100, ash tree and Nuthatch. , , o ^ x:

^Neville Wood : The Ornithologist's Text-book : 1836; PP- 96, 200.

\\The Analyst : 1835. Vol. II, p. 442 ; Vol HI pp. 97-8, 2 o

IfJ C -Loudon-. The Magazine of Natural History . 1835. Vol. Vlll,

pp. 248,’ 523-4. 1836 : Vol. IX, p. 52.

124

BRITISH BIRDS.

[VOL. XXXIII.

covers [now somewhat dilapidated] which are inscribed:^ —

Part I I A Selection of j British Birds, j From Drawings
by j C. L. E. Perrott, j Honorary corresponding Member of
the Worcestershire Natural History Society j And Dedicated by
permission to j Her Royal Highness j The Landgravine of
Hesse Homburg. j Engraved by Robt. Havell, / Engraver, &c.
of the Birds of America. / Each part contains Five Plates with
descriptive Letterpress 14s. plain il. is. Coloured, j London. /
Pubd. by Robt. Havell Zoological Gallery jj. Oxford St. j Mr.
Evans, Honorary Secretary, Broad Street, Worcester, j Mr.
Lees, Honorary Curator, ... do ... do j Mr. Dighton,
Bookseller ... do j Mr. Wheeler ... do J

There is no title page and within the covers are five single
sheets (measuring 19 in. by ii4 in.) unnumbered, of text ; —

[1] Preface ; 55 lines of text : verso blank.

[2] Common Fowl ; 53 lines of text, with 51 lines of text
on verso.

[3] Ring Dove : 44 lines of text : verso blank.

[4] Raven : 54 lines of text : verso blank.

[5] Whin Chat : 24 lines of text : verso blank.

There are five, numbered, coloured plates (varying from
15I in. to i6| in. by ii| in.) : —

I, Cock. 2, Ring Dove. 3, Raven, 4, Whin Chat. 5, Blue
Titmouse.

and it will be noticed that there is no text to accompany
plate 5 of the Blue Titmouse.

The whole is stitched together with three 8vo leaves
(9^ in. by in.) — inserted at end — advertising E. Donovan’s

An Epitome of the Natural History of the Insects of India ;
ditto of China ; and R. Havell’s “ Zoological Gallery, 77,
Oxford Street,” where collectors may be facilitated ‘‘ in
forming and completing Ornithological Collections, both
British and Foreign ” and ‘‘ Beasts and Birds Stuffed and
preserved in the highest perfection at his establishment.”

Neither the major publication nor these advertisements
bear date of publication but plate 4 is watermarked ‘‘ W'hat-
man, Turkey Mill 1835 ” and, since the second review of the
book in ” The Analyst ” is dated ‘‘12 Sept. 1835,” it may be
surmised that this Part 1 was published in the first half of 1835.

It is, 1 think, certain that no other parts were published :
in my copy of Sir Charles Hastings’ Illustrations of the Natural
History of Worcester there is a manuscript note by Edwin
Lees (p. 134) regarding Mrs. C. L. E. Perrott : —

‘‘ She was an ardent intelligent woman and had drawn a
great number of British Birds in water-colours. These she

MRS. PERROTT.

125

VOL. XXXIIL]

intended to have engraved and published, but only one

number in folio ever came out.”

and it is known that she died on August 2ist, 1836.

p.\ R r. j

ction

ITI'SB ■ BISB S.

■j-^( / ■

Uuii„ra..T cu-n MhiiIkt d' Hr Vfon Naurol ttston-

Soi-iotv

r

T3!K lAyuCKiWO'E OT liESSK HO.MBI'RCJ

/.\on.\v>./t Af <.r Ttu HmI>^ of

JC Kfll*! /(•■n.

..

>r A

IT If/U'A,-

• Av' ,<i>wy

J>’ /K

As far as I know the copy in the “ Hastings ” Museum,
Worcester, is the only one now extant and it is difficult to
speculate as to how and why such a pretentious publication
can have so thoroughly disappeared. It is true that Neville
M'ood wrote ; —

126

BRITISH BIRDS.

[vOL. XXXIIl.

“ We neither subscribe to this work, nor intend to do so ”*
and “ the work is beneath criticism, and we have never
taken the needless trouble of inquiring whether a second part
of it ever dared to show its face,” etc.f

Reviewing the work — at a distance of a hundred years —
I cannot agree with Neville ^^"ood’s damning criticism ; there
have been plenty of books published both before, and since,
1835 which were (?) embellished with less meritorious illustra-
tions and if her letterpress shows signs of mere compilation
and lack of originality this was at the time (and still is) surely
no egregious fault. As regards the superfluity of Mrs. Perrott’s
projected book I can feel no doubt and it is possible that she
too may have realized this and that this is the reason why
only Part I of her Selection of British Birds was ever published.

I am, however, unable to think of any reason why it should
have disappeared (by suppression or otherwise) to such an
extent that the copy of ” Part I,” in the ‘‘ Hastings ” Museum,
M'orcester, should now have to be regarded as unique.

The illustrations which accompany this paper are of the
cover and plate 5 of Mrs. Perrott’s book ; the original of the
former measures 17 in. by ii^ in. and the engraved (coloured)
surface of the latter 9 in. by 6f in.

I have had a photostatic facsimile made of the book and
have given copies of this to the libraries of the Zoological
Society of London and the British Museum.

Mr. W. J. Else, curator of the ‘‘ Hastings ” Museum, has
informed me that he cannot find any of the pictures, or
specimens, of birds which were presented to the Museum by
Mrs. C. L. E. Perrott and I must thank him for all the help
he has given me in the compilation of this paper and also
Messrs. W. A. Marsden, A. I. Ellis, A. C. Townsend (all of the
British Museum Library) and the Lady Eorester for their
welcome assistance.

*Neville Wood : The Ornithologist’s Text-book . 1836 ; p. 96.

]Op. cit., p. 200.

(127)

RECOVERY OF MARKED BIRDS.

communicated by
E. P. LEACH.

Hon. Sec. Bird-Ringing Committee, British Trust for Ornithology.

Owing to the increasing number of recoveries, the Committee has decided
to omit from the published lists, all those within ten miles of the place of
ringing, in the case of those species which are already omitted when
recovered where ringed. These species (as set out in Vol. XXIX, p. 277)
are : Starling, Greenfinch, Chaffinch, Yellow Bunting, Song-Thrush,
Blackbird, Robin and Hedge-Sparrow.

Although they are excluded from the printed lists it is still of great
importance that all such recoveries shall be notified as before, in order
that full records may be kept for the purpose of special studies. In the
case of other species, recovered where ringed, records will not be published
when the recovery occurs at an earlier time than the second quarter of
the year of ringing, at a shorter distance than ten miles.

Further restrictions may be made from time to time as circumstances
render these necessary.

The distance and direction of a bird’s movement within Great Britain
will in future be given.

No.

RS.1955

CA.1380

305479

RX.2488

CAJ247

RW.6441

RV.7412

RV.7438

CA.1132

CA.1216

CA.1316

CA.1152

CA.1406

RS.1072

FA. 925

Ringed. Recovered.

Rook {Corviis f. frugilegus).

Evesham (Worcs), 25.4.34, ad.. Where ringed, 24.3.39.
by A. J. Harthan.

Whipsnade (Beds), 22.8.37, Ditto, 21.11.38.
juv., by Zool. Soc.

Ringdufferin (Down), 11.5.38, Ditto, — .6.39.
young, by C. D. Deane.

Jackdaw {Corvus m. spermologtis) .

RINGED AS NESTLINGS.

Whipsnade (Beds), 31.7.36, by Where ringed, 18.11.38.
Zool. Soc.

RINGED AS FULL-GROWN.

Whipsnade (Beds), 7.3.37, by Grafton Regis (Northants),
Zool. Soc. 28.4.39 [24 m. NW.].

RECOVERED WHERE RINGED.

Kilbarchan (Renfrew), 21.9.38, by F. J. Ramsay.

Malvern (Worcs), 17.7.37. by P. Morshead.

Ditto 21.6.38.

Whipsnade (Beds), 19.12.36, by Zool. Soc.

—.6.39.

30.6.38.

—.6.39.

18.12.38.

18.12.38.

9-3-39-

16.5.39.

23.12.38.

Ditto 18.2.37.

Ditto 23.3.37.

Ditto 71-37-

Ditto II. II. 37.

Jay {Garriilns g. ntfitergum).

Styal (Ches), 3.6.38, young, by Rostherne (Ches), — .7.39
T. Perrin. [7 m. W.].

Starling {Stitrnus v. vulgaris).

RINGED AS NESTLING.

Penrith (Cumb), • — .5.33, by Where ringed, 1 1.2. 39.

H. J. Moon.

128

A'o.

VJ.3S6

WA.S43

YD. 622

OA.677

OS.672

XM.943

XM.979

OS. 750
XM.710

OJ.456

YX.i

XA.S45

GT.328

BRITISH BIRDS.

[VOL. XXXIII.
Recovered.

Ringed.

Starling [continued).

RINGED AS FULL-GROWN.

Tinglev, (Slesvig), Denmark,
15-3-39-

Rudskoga, (V'armland),
Sweden, 4.4.39.

Edge (Sjaelland), Denmark,

10.6.39.

Rochdale (Lancs), 18.6.40
[45 m. SW.].

Flint, 20.2.39 [95 m. SW.].
Vologda, Russia, 3.6.39.
Nagusocken, S.W. Finland,

20.5.39.

Hamburg, Germany, — .4.39.
Husby Lyhundra (Stock-
holm), Sweden, 8.6.39.
Heligoland, 23.3.39, [ringed
Heligoland 7088989].
^^’ilmslow (dies), 22.11.37, by Dore (Derby), 5.5.39, [29 m.
J. Buxton.

Ditto, 23.11.37, by E. Cohen.

Ullswater (Westmor), 13.12.37,
by Moon & Cooper.

.\rnside (Westmor), 30.10.38,
by J. Barnes.

Thornton Dale (Yorks),
14.12.37, by R. M. Garnett.

York, 10.3.36, by Bootham
School.

Ditto

Ditto

Ditto

Ditto

Ditto

Ditto

24.2.38.
4-2. 39-
11-2.39.

12.12.37.

I7-2-39-

9-12.37.

5-5-39,

Gt. Bud worth (dies), by A. W.
Boyd, 9.1 1.35.

F.].

Longton (Staffs) ,

[24 m. SE.].

Gainford (Durham) , 24.2.39,
[90 m. NE.].

WB.12S

Ditto

7-1-39-

Scunthorpe (Lines), 16.4.39

[82 m. NE.].

ZF.491

Ditto

21.12.35.

Prestbury (Ches), 14.4.39

[16 m. E.].

ZF.349

Ditto

19-12.35.

Whitchurch (Salop), 18.4.39

[25 m. S.].

ZV.923

Ditto

23-11-37-

Siauliai, Lithuania, 7.5.39.

ZV.827

Ditto

24.10.37.

Kammin, Pomerania, Ger-

many, 23.7.39.

ZW.97

Ditto

8.12.37.

Aurich (East Friesland),

Germany, 20.3.39.

ZF.399

Ditto

20.12.35.

Sandshamn (Siinnmor), Nor-

way, 1.4.39.

ZV.398

Ditto

23-11-36.

Mogeltonder (Slesvig), Den-

mark, 14.7.39.

F.73S5

Llandyrnog( Denbigh) ,12.12.37,

Stralsund, Pomerania, Ger-

by W

. IM. Congrev^e.

many. 23.7.39.

YW.636

Haglev

(Worcs), 23.12.38, by

Flatow, West Prussia,

G. M.

King.

11. 3-39-

FL.793

Evesham (Worcs), 6.1.34, by

Boddington (GIos), 16.4.39

A. J.

Harthan.

[17 m. SW.].

^VL.745

Ditto

3-2-39-

Stade (Hanover), Germany,

2.7-39.

XM.230

Ditto

20.12.38.

Plon, Schleswig-Holstein,

—-4-39-

ZA.39

Malvern

(Worcs), 16.11.35, bv

Culmington (Salop), 24.7.39

P. Morshead.

[28 m. NW.].

OX.695

Ditto

29.1 1 .36.

Tiegenort, Danzig Free

State, 24.3.39.

VOL. XXXIII.] RECOVERY OF MARKED BIRDS.

129

No.

OX, 792

WR.63

WR.40
OR. 380

WD.387

ZR.677

YE. 61

AR.9795

0^^^772

OB. 320
WD.165
OT.496
YE. 922
U.7458
WA.905

Ringed.

Starling [continued) .
Malvern (Worcs), 10.12.36, by
P. Morshead.

Ettington (Warwick), 10.3.39,
by C. A. Norris.

Ditto 10.3.39.

Moreton - in - Marsh (Glos),
9.1.37, by G. Charteris.

Recovered.

Zuid

Charlbury (Oxon),
Oxford Orn. Soc.
Oxford, 24.12.35,
Orn. Soc.

Ditto

Ditto

15.1.39, by
by Oxford

4-3-37-

1-12.35.

Whipsnade (Beds), 22.10.36, by
Zool. Soc.

St. Neot’s (Hunts), 17.12.37, by
C. F. Tebbutt.

Ditto 22.12.38.

Holland,
East Prussia,

Schiedam,

9-3-39-
Gumbinnen,

4-5-39-

Hamburg, Germany, 15.7.39-
Kalmar, S. Sweden, 27.6.38.

Holt (Norfolk), 29.10.36, by
E. L. Arnold.

Harrow (Middx.), 24.12.37, by
C. Owen.

Mitcham (Surrey), 26.12.38, by
Lond. N.H.S.

Rochester (Kent), 27.11.38, by
Rochester N.H.S.

214594 Dungeness (Kent), 15.3.39, by
N. H. Joy.

WA.244 Figheldean (Wilts), 22.12.38,
by A. G. B. Wainwright.

OS. 63 Winchester (Hants), 23.11.36,
by Winchester Coll.

YV.969' Taunton (Som), 18.1.38, by
H. R. Mole.

WJ.452 Branscombe (Deyon), 14.1.39,
by P. Morshead.

RECOyERED WHERE RINGED AFTER

Stotfold (Beds), — -3-39
[56 m. NE.].

West Hagbourne (Berks),
— .6.39 [12 m. S.].

Labes, Pomerania, Germany,

—-3-39.

Zwischenahn, Oldenburg,
Germany, — .2.39.
Amersham (Bucks), — .5.39
[14 m. S.].

Rushden (Northants),i6.5.39
[15 m. NW.].

Egham (Surrey), 19.4.39
[55 m. S.].

Eyesham (Worcs), 25.12.38
[135 m. SW.].

Astwick (Beds), 21.5.39 [32
m. N.].

Eyck, East Prussia, — .5.39.

Smallfield (Surrey), 1.7.39
[30 m. SW.].

Lehrte (Hanoyer), Germany,

6.5-39.

Zarasai, Eastern Lithuania,

4.5.39.

Zwischenahn (Oldenburg),
Germany, —.3.39-
Halmstad (Halland), Sweden
—.6.39.

Leeuwarden (Friesland),
Holland, 4.5.39.

5 YEARS AND OyER.
by F. J. Ramsay.

EF.654 Kilbarchan (Renfrew), 14.5.34,

FH.358 Wilmslow (Ches), 17.12.33, by E. Cohen
XF.624 Oxford, 1 7. 1 1. 33, b}^ 0.0. S. (cinnamon bird).

AP.1944 Ditto I-I-34-

AP.9813 Ditto 29.3.34.

TF.996 Medmenham (Bucks), 30.11.32, by H. Pease.

FK.543 Barnet, London, 9.12.33, by L. N.H.S.

Greenfinch [Chi oris ch. chloris).

RINGED AS FULL-GROWN.

XD.386 Gt. Budworth (Ches), 23.4.38, Stockport (Ches),
by A. W. Boyd. [17 m. NE.].

YL.436 Redditch (Worcs), 29.1.38, by Chesterfield (Derby), 15.6.39
G. Charteris. [68 m. NE.].

2.6.39
7-5-39

—•5.39

7.5.39

10-5.39

4-2-39

14. 4.39.

4.1.39

130

BRITISH BIRDS.

[VOL. XXXIII.

No.

WK.3

\VB.672

JC.485

JC.495

XM.15

KJ.893

EW.278

JS.836

YC.555

HV.214

JJ967

MP.604

KH.650

JN.483

Ringed. Recovered.

Greenfinch [continued).

Evesham (Worcs), 31. 12. 38, bv Droitwich (Worcs). 18.6.39
A. J. Harthan. ' [12 m. XW.].

Epsom (Surrey), 24.2.39, by Blackheath (Kent), 25.3.39
Lond.X.H.S. [15 m. XE.].

Linnet [Carditelis c. cannabina).

RINGED AS FULL-GROWN.
recovered where ringed.

Ascott-u-Wychwood (O.xon), 22.9.36 by 0.0. S. — .9. 38.

Ditto 28.9.36. 4.10.37.

Bullfinch [Pyrrhiila p. nesa).

Dereham (Norfolk), 4.6.38, Where ringed, —.1.39.
young, by S. Marchant.

Chaffinch [fringilla coelebs).

RINGED AS FULL-GROWN.

Tliornton Dale (Yorks), 6. 10.37,
by R. IM. Garnett.

Enville (Staffs), 14.3.39, by
G. M. King.

Redditch (Worcs), 6.2.37, t>y
G. Charteris.

ISlalvern (Worcs), 23.3.37,

P. Morshead.

Scarborough (Yorks), 31 .5.39;

I-7-39 ['4 m. E.].
Karlshamn, S. Sweden,
16.5.39.

Where ringed, 15.4.39 (in
Tawny Owl’s pellet).
Portlaw (^^'aterford) ,29. 1.39.

Brambling [Fringilla mo nt if r ingill a).

Redditch (Worcs), 29.1.38, ad., Yarmouth(Norfolk),i9.i 2.3S
by G. Charteris. [150 m. E.j.

Tree-Sparrow [Passer m. montanus).

Malvern (Worcs), 14.7.37, juv.. Where ringed, 25.2.38.
by P. Ylorshead.

Yellow Bunting [Emberiza c. citvinella).

Evesham (Worcs), 7.4.34, ad., W’here ringed, 1.1.39.
by A. J. Harthan.

Reed-Bunting [Emberiza s. schcenicliis).

Oxford, 25.3.36, ad., by Oxford Where ringed, 5.2.38.

Orn. Soc.

Ditto 15.2.37. Ditto, 9.3.38.

Sky-Lark [Alauda a. arvensis).

RINGED AS FULL-GROWN.

Dungeness (Kent), 4.1 1.37, b\'’ Chatellerault (Vienne),

N. H. Joy. I'rance, 27.1.39.

HD.483

VOL. XXXIII.] RECOVERY OF MARKED BIRDS.

131

A’o.

ZX.486
OX. 851
YT.552

L.3784

K J.716

XX. 1 72
LE.Q03
HM.591
HM.'834

HX.876

HW.841

HM.679

HM.681

HM.815

HT.953

JR-247

EM.151

KL.460

AS. 3154

Ringed. Recovered.

Sky-Lark [continued) .

RECOVERED WHERE RINGED.

Malvern (Worcs), 1.6.36, bj' P. Morshead. 10.6.38.

Ditto 13.12.36. 26.3.38 ; 19.12.38.

Ditto 18.12.37. 21.12.38.

Tree-Pipit [Anthus t. trivialis).

Penrith (Cumb) , — .6. 31, young, Portugal, winter, 1937-38.
by H. J. Moon.

Meadow-Pipit [Anth'us pratensis).

RIXGED AS YOUNG.

Salthouse (Xorfolk), 1.9.36, by Where ringed, — ■5-39-
R. 31. Garnett.

RIXGED AS EULL-GROWX.

RECOVERED WHERE RINGED.
3Ialvern (Worc.s), 27.3.33, by P. 3Ior,shead.
Ditto 28.11.34.

Ditto I. II. 37.

Ditto 14.2.38.

I5-2.3S-

5-3-3S-

25.10.38.

30.11.38.

Pied Wagtail [Motacilla a. yanellii).

RINGED AS FULL-GROWN.

I. of May Bird Obs., 23.4.38. Cardiff (Glam.), 2.3.39 [320

m. S.].

3Ialvern (Worcs), I5-7-38, by Cheltenham (Glos),- — .4.39
P. Morshead. [17 m. SE.].

recovered WHERE RINGED.

3Ialvern (Worcs), 16.12.37, by P. 3Iorshead. 3-7-38-

Ditto 16.12.37. 21.11.38.

Ditto 24.1.38. 3.12.38.

Great Tit [Pams m. newtoni).

Winchester (Hants), 24.2.38, Liphook (Hants), 30.3.39
ad., by Winchester Coll. [23 m. E.].

Blue Tit [Pams c. obscums).

Exeter (Devon), 30.1.37, by Tiverton (Devon), 12.3.39
L. A. Harvey. [13 m. N.].

Pied Flycatcher [Muscicapa h. hypoleuca).

Ullswater (Westmor), 13.6.38, Where ringed, 7.5.39.
young, by Moon & Cooper.

Willow-Warbler [Phylloscoptis t. trochilus).

Ascott-u-Wychwood (Oxon), Where ringed, 29.5.38.
4.6.36, ad., by Oxford Orn.

Soc.

Mistle-Thrush [Turdiis v. viscivoms).

Holyhead, N. Wales, 25.4.37, Where ringed, — .7.39.
by St. Edmund’s Sch.

132

BRITISH BIRDS.

[VOL. XXXIII.

No.

GP.243

XW.470

GH.784

XK.311

YX.S49

^B.955

WA.607

GW.323

ZH.983
XV. 765
OS. 360
XV. 74 7
OV.712

OD.280
YD. 688
GIv.838
XB.828
XB.760

YB.335

EJ.27S

Ringed. Recovered.

Song-Thrush [Turdiis e. ericetoritm) .

RINGED AS NESTLINGS.

Perth, 6.6.36, by Perth N.H.S.

Pooley Bridge (Cumb), 11.6.38,
by Moon & Cooper.

Water Eaton (Oxon), 13.6.37,
by E. M. Nicholson.
Winchester (Hants), 4.6.38, by
Winchester Coll.

Dromore West (Sligo),
— 1-39-

Egremont (Cumb), — -5 -39
[32 m. SW.].

Olnev (Bucks), 30.6.39 [35m.
NE.].

Beaulieu (Hants), 11.6.39
[18 m. S.].

RINGED AS EULL-GROWN.

Arnside (Westmor), 14.12.37, Sedgefield (Durham), 22.4.39
bv J. Barnes. [64 m. NE.].

Whipsnade (Beds), 5.1.39, by S. Norwood, London, 18.6.39
Zool. Soc. [36 m. SE.].

Oxford, 30.10.38, by O.xford Biarritz (Basses Pyrenees),
Orn. Soc. France, 4.1.39.

Redwing {Turdtis m. musicits).

Redditch (Worcs), 2.2.35, Nienburg (Hanover), Ger-

by G. Charteris, many, 1.4.39.

Blackbird {Tnrdus m. meriila).

RINGED AS NESTLINGS.

Duddingston (Midlothian),

9-5 -35. by Serle & Bryson.
Pooley Bridge (Cumb), 5.6.38,
by Moon & Cooper.

Tirril (Westmor), 28.6.36, by
Moon & Cooper.

Ditto 5.6.38.

Polmont (Stirling), 15.7.39
[23 m. W.].

Kells (Meath), — -.2.39.
Rossmore (Cork), 25.1.39.
Clough (Antrim), 17. 1.39.

N. Ronaldshay,

30.10.37, bv
Bird Obs.

I. of May Bird Obs., 6.4.37.

Thornton Dale (Yorks), 5.1.38,
by R. M. Garnett.

Taynton (Glos), 25.7.34, by
M. Philips Price.

Charlbury (Oxon), 29.11.37, by
Oxford Orn. Soc.

Radley (Berks), 22.2.38, by
Oxford Orn. Soc.

Cambridge, 30.1.37, by S.
Marchant.

Hardanger, Norway, — .7-39-

Carlton (Notts), 23.1.39
[225 m. S.].

^'ork, 21.12.38 [23 111. SW.].

Where ringed, 7.7.39.

Southsea (Hants), 10.2.39
[80 m. S.].

Chumleigh (Devon), 5.2.39
[130 m. SW.].

Wantage (Berks), 14.4.39
[76 m. SW.].

RINGED AS FULL-GROWN.
Orkney,

Skokholm

Robin {Erithaais r. melophilits) .

RINGED AS NESTLING.

Banbury (Oxon), 15.5.38, by Rugby (Warwick), Spring,
A. Darlington. 1939 [22 m. N.].

VOL. XXXIII.]

RECOVERY OF MARKED BIRDS.

133

No.

EA.431
HW.860
M K . 1 2

AS. 3061

EA.16

EJ.931

NG.61 3
MK.658

EP.574

HB.863

HJ.235

HE. 527
NG.563
MK.889
LE.513
LS.878
JD.iii
JM.379

JC.424

8 birds

Ringed.

Recovered.

Robin {contimied)

RINGED AS FULL-GROWN.

Kilnsea (Yorks), 1.10.38, by
“ Wippletree.”

Malvern (Worcs), 23.7.38, by
P. Morshead.

Cambridge, 6.2.34, by Sanc-
tuary Club.

Thorner (Yorks), 7.6.39 [66
m. NW.].

Mitcheldean (Glos), 30.4.39
[19 m. SW.].

Where ringed, 22.6.39.

Dipper {Cinclus c. gularis).

Edale (Derby), 18.6.36, young, Castleton (Derby), 23.2.39
by T. Kirkwood. [4 m. SE.].

Swallow {Hirundo r. nistica).

RINGED AS NESTLINGS.

Carperby (Yorks), 23.6.38, by Barningham (Yorks), 3.6.39

" Wippletree.” [14 m. NE.].

RECOVERED WHERE RINGED.

Dalston (Cumb), 25.6.38, by R. H. Brown. 6.5.39.

Gt. Budworth (Ches), 4.8.32, by A. W. Boyd. 27.5.34 ; 22.6.35.
Ditto 4-8. 34- I2.9-35-

Wilmslow (Ches), 10.8.38, by E. Cohen. 20.5.39.

Handforth (Ches), 21.7.38, by E. Cohen. — -7-39-

Over Alderley (Ches), 20.6.38, by E. Cohen. 4.6.39.

RINGED AS FULL-GROWN.

RECOVERED WHERE RINGED.

Ravenglass (Cumb), 11.8.37, by S. Marchant. 9-9-38.

Gt. Budworth (Ches), 21.7.32, by A. W. Boyd. 20.6.35.

Ditto 23.8.34. 19.6.35.

Ditto 19-6.35. 9-7-36.

Ditto 15.8.35. 2.9.36.

Ditto 9-7-36- 13-8.38.

Ascott-u-Wychwood (Oxon), 22.5.37, by 0.0. S. 6.8.38.

Martin {Delichon u. urbica).

Ascott-u-Wychwood (Oxon), Where ringed, 30.7.38.

1.8.36, young, by Oxford
Orn. Soc.

Ditto, 1937, 3-d. 1938.

Swift [Apns a. apiis).
RINGED AS FULL-GROWN.
recovered where ringed.

JM.4I0

Charlbury (Oxon), 24.6.36, by 0.0. S.

24.6.37 ; 29. 5. 38.

[ZW.53I]

J ^1-393

Ditto

28.5-37-

29-5-38-

JM.392

Ditto

28. 5-37-

29-5-38-

Little Owl [Athene n. vidalii)

306081

Blean (Kent), 6.6.38, young, by Staple

(Kent), 6.2.39 [10 m.

RS.5149 High Hoyland (Yorks), 28.5.36,
ad., by J. Ellis.

RS.2009 Gt. Budworth (Ches), 17.5.34,
ad., by A. W. Boyd.

RV.9ori Ditto 4.6.36.

SE.].

Bretton (Yorks), 14.7.39
[9 m. NW.].

Where ringed, 1.6.35.

Ditto 17.6.37 ; 9.6.38.

134

BRITISH BIRDS.

[VOL. XXXIII.

AG.601
AC. 4897
AG. 442

RW. 6171
305710

RX. 5581

305825

305827

305810

305811

305812

305300

305291

106600

113096

113144

113171
3 Birds
121097
121098
121125
121105
121101

Barn-Owl {Tyto a.

Gt. Budw'orth (Ches), 17.7.37,
young, by A. W. Boyd.

Capel (Surrey), 21.7.38, young,
by W. A. Cad man.

Antrobus (Ches), 26.6.33, ad.,
by A. W. Boyd.

Kestrel [Falco t. linn

St. Mark’s, I. of Man, 10.7.38,
young, by W. S. Cowin.

Rugby (W arwick) , 4.7.38,

young, by Rugby Sch.

Waxham (Norfolk), 30.5.37,
ad., by Oxford Orn. Soc.

alba).

Holmes Chapel (Ches),
19-9-37 [12 m. E.].
Merstham (Surrey), 20.2.39
[i I m. NE.].

Where ringed, 27.8.34.

nciilits).

Eecloo, East Flanders,
15.10.38.

Lakenheath (Suffolk), 29. 1.39
[75 m. E.].

Where ringed, 22.3.39.

Sparrow-Hawk {Accipiter n. 7iisns).
RINGED AS NESTLINGS.

Southwaite (Cumb), 25.6.38, by
E. Blezard.

Ditto (same brood), 25.6.38.

Dalston (Cumb), 30.6.38, by
R. H. Brown.

Ditto (same brood), 30.6.38.

Ditto (same brood), 30.6.38.

Rochester (Kent), 9.7.38, by
P. Ray field.

Ditto 2.7.38.

Edenhall (Cumb), 5.6.39
[ii m. SE.].

Longtown (Cumb), 28.6.39
[16 m. N.].

Calderbridge (Cumb), 21.6.39
[30 m. SW.].

Armathwaite (Cumb), 2.6.39
[10 m. SE.].

Where ringed, 25.3.39.

Farnborough (Kent), 14.7.39
[20 m. SW.].

Where ringed, — .7.39.

Heron {Ardea c. cincrea).
RINGED AS NESTLINGS.

Uldale (Cumb), 4.5.30, by
R. H. Brown.

Holker (Lancs), 7.5.38, by
J. Barnes.

Henley-on-Thames, 5.5.34, by
Oxford Orn. Soc.

Ditto 5-5-34-

Ely (Cambs), Spring,

1938, by

C. S. Clarke.

Eaton Socon (Beds),

I9-4-38,

by C. S. Clarke.

Ditto (same brood).

19.4.38.

Ditto

5-5-38.

Ditto

19.4.38.

Ditto

19.4.38.

Armathwaite (Cumb), — .1.35
[18 m. NE.].

River Ehen (Cumb), — .2.39
[31 m. NW.].

Marton (Lines), — -4-39

[125 m. N.].

Weston Zoyland (Som),

— .2.39 [100 m. SW.].

Where ringed, — .2.39.

Peakirk (Northants), 27.2.39
[30 m. N.).

Aldwincle(Northants)2o.2.39
[18 m. NW.].

Grendon (Northants), 24.1 .39
[18 m. W.].

Biggleswade (Beds), 12.2.39
[9 111. S.].

Southoe (Hunts), 22.1.39
[4 ni. N.].

VOL. XXXIII.] RECOVERY OF MARKED BIRDS.

135

No. Ringed. Recovered.

Mallard {Anas p. platvrhyncha).

RINGED AS FULL-GROWN.

401660

Leswalt (Wigtown), 25

• 1-38, by

Somerleyton (Suffolk), 2.2.39

j. Law.

[320 m. SE.].

401693

Ditto

8.2.38.

Stargard, Pomerania, Ger-

many, — .12.38.

402795

Ludham (Norfolk), 2

8-37. by

Cumwhitton (Cumb), — .2.39

M. Boardman.

[235 m. NW.].

402944

Ditto

24-9-37-

River Fal (Cornwall), 5.1.39

[330 m. SW.].

RECOVERED

WHERE ringed.

401643

Leswalt (Wigtown), 28.2.36, by J. Law. — .11.38.

401659

Ditto

25-1.38.

21.10.38.

401679

Ditto

27.1.38.

16.3.39.

401627

Ditto

8.2.38.

21.10.38.

40x630

Ditto

13-38.

15.2.39-

3 Birds

Ludham (Norfolk), —

.10.37, by i\I. Boardman. — .8.38.

402963

Ditto

6.10.37.

21.1.39.

402964

Ditto

7.10.37.

26.11.38.

Or. I II 7

Pembroke, 12.10.36, by S. Greenslade. 28.2.39.

Teal {Anas c. crecca).

RINGED AS FULL-GROWN.

RW.8724

Leswalt (Wigtown), i

-3-37. by

Where ringed, 21.10.38.

J. Law.

RT.9899

Ditto

8.2.38.

Ditto 30.1.39.

RW.8707

Ditto

25.2.36.

Myvatn, Iceland, 27.5.39.

RINGS ISSUED TO WILDFOWL INQUIRY COMMITTEE.

900467

Dilham, (Norfolk),

22.1 1 .38.

River Schelde, Belgium,

4. 4-39.

901989

Pembroke,

28.12.38.

Bryngwran, Anglesey, 7.2.39

[no m. N.].

901468

Ditto

5-12.38.

Tregaron (Cards), 7.2.39

[60 m. NE.].

901840

Ditto

19.12.38.

Daventry (Northants),

30.1.39 [165 m. NE.].

901672

Ditto

12.12.38.

Northampton, 23. 2. 39 [i8om.

NE].

901789

Ditto

19.12.38.

Newark (Notts), 21.2.39

[200 m. NE].

901764

Ditto

19.12.38.

Clevedon (Som), 13.2.39

[90 m. E.].

901997

Ditto

28.12.38.

Lakenheath (Suffolk), 16. 1.39

[250 m. E.].

901499

Ditto

6.12.38.

River Fal (Cornwall), 6.2.39

[95 m. S.].

901778

Ditto

19.12.38.

Upper L. Erne (Fermanagh),

9.2.39.

901259

Ditto

8.11.38.

Ballintober (Roscommon),

26.2.39.

901351

Ditto

18. II. 38.

Fuerty (Roscommon), 27. 2. 39

901666

Ditto

12.12.38.

Enniscorthy (Wexford),

30.1.39. '

901878

Ditto

20.12.38.

Rosslare (Wexford), 28.2.39.

901355

Ditto

18. II. 38.

Gortalea (Kerry), 8.2.39.

136

BRITISH BIRDS.

[vOL. XXXIII.

No. Ringed. Recovered.

Teal {continued).

901683

Pembroke,

13.12.38.

Tralee (Kerry), 6.1.39.

901330

Ditto

15. II. 38.

Feakle (Clare), 28.1.39.

902046

Ditto

1. 1. 39.

Ennis (Clare), 28.2.39.

901978

Ditto

27.12.38.

Kovrov, Russia, 17.4.39
[56°28T\., 4I°30^E-].

90I2I4

Ditto

29.10.38.

Viipuri, S.E. Finland, 24. 4. 39.

90I77I

Ditto

19.12.38.

Valkeamaki, S.W. Finland,
28.5.39.

901707

Ditto

16.12.38.

Hammerdal (Jamtland),

Sweden, 8.5.39.

901270

Ditto

10. II. 38.

Bjerringbro (Jylland), Den-
mark, 9. 4-39.

901475

Ditto

5-12. 38.

Moerdyk, Zuid Holland,
24.2.39.

902216

Ditto

171-39.

Zillebeke, West Flanders,

14-3.39.

90I3I9

Ditto

1411-38.

Arcachon (Gironde), France,
23.12.38.

900376

Abbotsbury (Dorset),

16.2.38.

Where ringed, 28.1.39.

RINGS OF THE ORIELTON DECOY, PEMBROKE.

835

16.1.36.

Bryngwran, Anglesey, 28. 2. 39
[i 10 m. N.].

810

3-I-36-

Northampton, ■ — .11.38
[180 in. NE.].

2928

19.12.37.

Brampton (Lines), 4.2.39
[220 m. NE.].

595

20.12.35.

River Kennet (Berks), 24. 1.39
[155 m. E.].

2421

18.11.37.

Wallingford (Berks), 22.2.39
[160 m. E.].

2174

28.10.37.

Burnham (Som), 26.12.38
[85 m. SE.].

2627

251I-37-

Cheddar (Som), 8.2.39 [95 m.
SE.].

3030

3112. 37.

Sherborne (Dorset), 28.1.39
[115 m. E.].

2597

23II-37-

Roscommon, 14. 1.39.

2483

19. 11.37.

Wexford, — .1.39.

2951

23.12.37.

Ungurmuiza, East Latvia,
20.7.38.

2419

18. II. 37.

Hamburg, Germany, 24.9.38,-

2229

6.11.37.

Arjeploug, (Norrbotten),
Sweden, — .7.38.

1785

18.12.36.

Mullholm (fsforrbotten),

Sweden, 15.5.38.

3015

30.12.37.

Tipperne (jylland), Den-
mark, 10.10.38.

681

25-12.35.

Tournai (Hainaut), Belgium
19.2.39.

3156

9.1.38.

St. Laurent (Landes), France,
20.12.38.

2 Birds

Winter, 1936-7.

Where ringed, — .2.39.

13 Birds

Winter, 1937-8.

Ditto, Winter, 1938-9.

{To he continued.)

mDTESJf

UNUSUAL NESTING SITES AND FOOD OF GREY

WAGTAIL.

For some years a pair of Grey Wagtails (Motacilla c. cinerea)
have nested in and round a house in Ireland choosing as sites
the window ledges of upstairs windows or the thick stems of a
Virginian creeper, the nest being either built along a branch
or in a fork.

There is no water in the garden, but the house lies near
water, about a quarter of a mile off on one side and only a
few hundred yards on the other where the overflow of a pond
comes down in a small stream ; although this last gave very
suitable sites for the birds to nest they never made any
attempt to do so but preferred the house walls.

One pair of Grey Wagtails became so tame that the parents
and later the young birds, came to the tea table in the garden
and took crumbs of cake and biscuits both for themselves and
to feed the young. H. Rait Kerr.

[Nests away from water have been recorded previously
(c/., e.g., Brit. Birds, Vol. V, pp. 133 and 165). A ledge of a
building is not a very uncommon site. — Eds.]

CLIFF-BREEDING IN THE HOUSE-MARTIN.

Supplementary Notes.

The following additional notes have been received since the
publication of the paper on this subject {antea, pp. 16-24).

ENGLAND AND WALES.

Devon (p. 18). L. A. Harvey, in July, 1939, saw two groups of
nests at Ladram Bay, west of Sidmouth, probably not containing more
than half a dozen nests in all, so that this colony is certainly not extinct
as thought possible.

Norfolk (p. 19). Only one nest at Hunstanton was recorded and
that as far back as 1866, but H. B. Booth noted 2 or 3 nests on the cliff
at Old Hunstanton in 1890, 1891 and 1892.

Yorkshire (p. 21). Some further information has been supplied
by H. B. Booth. Both Malham Cove and Kilnsey Crag are huge blocks
of mountain limestone. On June i8th, 1936, the number of breeding
pairs at Kilnsey was estimated at abqut 40, a considerable reduction.
The note by L. S. V. Venables “ near Grassington ” undoubtedly refers
to Kilnsey Crag, which is only 3 miles from the village.

Isle of Man (p. 22). At Port Soderick, near Douglas, there were
8 or 10 pairs breeding on June 25th, 1939 ; three in the roof of a cave
(H. B. Booth).

SCOTLAND.

Solway. Kirkcudbright (p. 22). The site near Douglas Hall
was visited in 1939, and four nests (possibly more) were located on
Cow Snout (G. M. King).

138

BRITISH BIRDS.

[VOL. XXXIII.

Clyde. Ayr (p. 22). In addition to the Currarie colony, there is also
a large one on the coast at Dunure, some five miles south of Ayr
(W. F. B. Pollok Morris).

IRELAND.

Munster. Co. Cork (p. 23). C. J. Evans reports House-Martins
in 1930 on the clifis at Ballyandreen, two miles west of Ballycottin Pt.
and Wilson Strangman states that there are colonies there and that
they nest sporadically all along this stretch of coast.

Ulster. Co. Antrim (p. 24). M. N. and D. H. Rankin report two
nests, f mile S. of Portmuck, Islandmagee ; six on an overhanging
limestone cliff N. of Portmuck, two of them in a horizontal crack ;
and twenty-one on limestone cliffs of Larrybane Bay (E. of Ballintoy),
mostly under overhanging rock, but a few in large cracks. About
8 were among stalactites, resembling the nests in size and shape. No
occupied nests at Ballintoy harbour and eastward, but traces of old
nests seen. Eleven nests at Portbraddan and one unoccupied.

Also nine on face of limestone quarry at the Whiterocks, Portrush,
under slight overhangs. At Rathlin Is. in 1937 and July, i939, none.sts
found, but many birds seen and breeding strongly suspected on clifis
in several parts of island. There are no houses suitable for nesting on
the island.

Co. Londonderry (p. 24). Sixteen nests under small overhangs on
basalt cliff at Downhill ; also two disused nests on small limestone
cliff west of the other colony (M. N. and D. H. Rankin).

F. C. R. JOURDAIN,
H. F. WiTHERBY.

SCAUP-DUCKS IN BEDFORDSHIRE.

During very severe weather on December 30th, 1938,
I observed nine Scaup-Duck {Aythya marila) (5 adult males
and 4 adult females) at the Arlesey Pit, Bedfordshire, some
70 miles from the nearest salt water. There were six birds
left on January 2nd, 1939, two on the 6th and one female
stayed until February 5th.

The Scaup is an extremely rare bird in this district and
definite records are few and far between. A. Reavley Jenkins.

NESTLING WOOD-PIGEON WITH UNDIGESTED
FOOD IN CROP.

Squab pigeons are commonly said to be fed on “ re-gurgitated”
food, using the term in Pycraft’s sense of “ food which has
been completely changed by digestion.”

That this is not always the case is exampled by a young
Wood-Pigeon {Columba p. palumhus) which fell from its
nest on to my lawn at Sway, Hants, for its crop instead of
containing ” pigeon milk ” was hard and distended and
crammed with seeds. These seeds consisted of two oats
{Avena fatua), a few others resembling cooked rice which
I could not identify, and sufficient seeds of the bulbous

VOL. XXXIII.]

NOTES.

139

crowfoot [Ranunculus bulbosus) to fill a cup. The crowfoot
seeds were quite fresh and green as though just gathered,
being not digested at all.

In the gizzard, in addition to two small white flints were a
number of crowfoot seeds slightly triturated.

The young bird was, I should judge, about a week old.
It was about 5 in. to 6 in. long and was covered with down
and very small pin feathers were showing in its wings only.
Whether its diet had killed it and in consequence it had been
thrown from the nest or whether it had fallen out I do not know
but as it was quite fresh, I think it must have fallen
accidentally. George Marples.

LONG-TAILED DUCK IN SUTHERLAND IN JUNE.

On a visit to Sutherlandshire in June of this year (1939) my
friend the Rev. E. C. Sherwood and I observed a male Long-
tailed Duck [Clangula hyemalis) in full breeding plumage in

one of the bays opposite Handa Island. The bird was there
on the afternoon of June nth and all day on the 12th,
and the boatman declared that it had been in the neighbour-
hood for some time. It was very tame and allowed us to
get close enough to see clearly the salmon-pink band on the
beak and to take several photographs. I suspect that in

140

BRITISH BIRDS.

[VOL. XXXIII.

this plumage the Long-tailed Duck has not previously been
photographed in British waters. Charles E. Raven.

STOCK-DOVES FLOCKING IN MAY IN WILTSHIRE.
On May 30th, 1939, my wife and I saw about 100 Stock-Doves
{Columba cenas) and 10 or 12 Turtle-Doves {Streptopelia
turtur) near Rockbourne, Wiltshire, on a newly harrowed and
sown field. It is surely very unusual for such a large number
of these not very common birds in this neighbourhood to get
together at that time of the year. B. J. Ringrose.

TURTLE-DOVE BREEDING IN IRELAND.

On May 20th, 1939, 1 heard a pair of Turtle-Doves {Streptopelia
t. turtur) calling in the woods of “ St. Annes,” Clontarf, Co.
Dublin, a large well-wooded estate to the north-east of the
city.

I was informed by two of the gardeners, James Doherty
and Thomas McDonnell, that they had heard the birds for
“ the last two or three days.” At my request they watched
and reported to me anything they noticed regarding the
behaviour of the doves.

Father P. G. Kennedy, S.J., Mr. P. Dunn and I searched
for the nest on various days, and I personally climbed many
trees to examine nests, but we were unsuccessful, though we
saw the birds many times, and as I live quite close and have
permission to collect on the estate, I did a lot of searching on
my own with the same result.

The birds were heard calling every day and were often seen
in the gardens till June 14th when they became silent, only
being heard calling twice, in the mornings, till June 25th,
when the two gardeners told me they had seen the birds on
the ground and that they must “ surely be breeding as the
cock was chasing the hen and flirting with her.” From this
date they were heard calling two or three times up to August
25th, when McDonnell and Doherty reported that they had
seen the two old birds accompanied by two young on a tree
behind the gardens and the same afternoon I saw the parents
and one of the young fly across from one plantation to another.
The young bird appeared browner than the adults.

About the time these birds were first seen, Father Kennedy
told me that a party of ten had been reported from the Co.
Wexford.

I wish to thank James Doherty and Thomas McDonnell
for their help in looking after the birds and Lt.-Col. Jones for
permission to bring Father Kennedy and Mr. Dunn into
‘‘St. Annes.” Eugene O’Mahony.

VOL. XXXIII.]

NOTES.

141

BLACK GUILLEMOTS BREEDING IN HOLES IN
HARBOUR WALLS IN WIGTOWNSHIRE AND

CO. DOWN.

Some years ago the late J. G. Gordon informed me that
Black Guillemots {Uria g. grylle) bred in holes in the harbour
wall of Portpatrick, Wigtownshire. He assured me that he
had already published this observation, but as we have been
unable to trace the reference and as the fact has been again
reported by Mr. E. Richmond Paton who saw five or six pairs
flying in and out in 1938, and by Mr. H. W. Robinson in 1939,
it is advisable to put it on record.

Mr. D. Nethersole-Thompson also informs us that he saw
Black Guillemots nesting in holes in the sea wall at Port
Halbert in 1932 and Mr. C. V. Stoney states that they nest
regularly there, and in a similai site at Ballywalter they had
nested long before 1921 when he first saw them. Both these
localities are in Co. Down. H. F. Witherby.

Status of Nuthatch in W. Merionethshire. — ^With
reference to the note on this subject {antea, p. 80), Mr. A. H. V.
Smith informs us that on August 6th, 1938, he observed six
Nuthatches {Sitta e. affinis) at Cymmer Abbey, on the bank
of the Mawddach, a little to the north-west of Dolgelly.

Flamingos in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. — Mr. G. R.
Edwards informs us that a Flamingo (Phcenicoptenis r. roseus)
arrived at sewage works two miles from Halifax on August
14th, 1939. The first day it was wild, but later it became
tame and could be approached. It was found dead on
September 12th. In plumage it was like an adult, but the
legs were dull greyish. When the bird flew it could be seen that
some of the inner primaries were short and made a gap.
Evidently this bird had escaped from captivity.

Mr. F. J. F. Barrington, F.R.C.S., and Col. A. E. Hamerton
write that on August i6th at 8 p.m. they observed a Flamingo
flying along the shore in a north-westerly direction between
Boston and Wainfleet on the Wash. The bird appeared to be
in good plumage and was a rich pink with pink legs and not
faded as is usual in captive birds. Also none of the wing-quills
appeared to be ragged or missing. The bird continued to fly
strongly in a north-westerly direction until out of sight.

Col. Hamerton remarks that most captive Flamingos when
imported by dealers have one wing clipped and not pinioned.
If the wing is not subsequently pinioned these birds, of course,
regain the power of flight after they have moulted, but often
some of the cut feathers are not dropped. If subsequently

142

BRITISH BIRDS.

[VOL. XXXIII.

handled and carefully examined, escaped birds would probably
show some other signs of captivity, but we have known of
cases where a Flamingo, subsequently proved to have escaped
from capitivity, has been as unapproachable as a genuine
wild bird and has looked like one. It seems therefore probable
that both these birds were escapes from captivity.

Breeding of the Gannet on the Scar Rocks, Wigtown-
shire.— ^With reference to Mr. McWilliam’s article on this
subject {antea, pp. 105-7) it is as well to state that the Rev.
F. C. R. Jourdain, who was away when Mr. McWilliam’s
article came in, visited the Scar Rocks in company with the
Rev. C. J. Pring on June 6th, 1939. Five or six adult Gannets
were sitting on the highest part of the Great Scar and one
remained until approached within a few yards. A careful
search disclosed no egg or nest though Shags’ nests were all
around. The egg from which the young Gannet was hatched
must have been laid within about a week of this visit.

Curlew Attacking Rabbit. — Mr. G. M. King writes that
he watched a Curlew {Numenms a. arquata) attacking a rabbit
in Kirkcudbrightshire in June, 1939. The first attack merely
surprised the rabbit and the second and third were not
pressed hard, but the fourth was fierce and drove the rabbit
away. Probably the bird had young near at hand, but Mr. King
could not find them. Curlews have been seen to fly up repeat-
edly at the face of a sheep grazing in the direction of its eggs.

Black Guillemot Breeding in Yorkshire. — We have
hitherto overlooked a remarkable record, which is hidden
away in a mass of matter in the Yorkshire Naturalists’ Union
Report for 1938 [Nat., 1939, p. 15), that Mr. V. G. F.
Zimmerman reports that early in July he saw a Black
Guillemot {Uria g. grylle) on several occasions on Bempton
Cliffs. On the 24th he watcheo a pair of these birds feeding
two young ones. We much regret to learn that Mr. Zimmerman
died some months ago and no more details are available as
no one else appears to have seen the birds. Pennant visiting
Flamborough cliffs in July, 1769, observed a few Black
Guillemots and about 1814 A. Strickland shot one there in
the breeding season but could not say if they were nesting.
An egg from Charles Waterton’s collection was stated to be
of this species by Newton and Nelson, but it was labelled
“ Razorbill, Flamborough, 1834,” by Waterton, who evidently
had no knowledge of the Black Guillemot breeding there and
there are dwarf eggs of Razorbill which could be mistaken
for those of the Black Guillemot.

VOL. XXXIII.]

REVIEWS.

143

South-Eastern Bird Report, 1938. Edited by Ralph Whitlock. (R.

Whitlock, Pitton, Salisbury.) 3s. 6d.

This Report is now published under the auspices of the South-Eastern
Union of Scientific Societies and a committee of management under
the chairmanship of Dr. J. M. Harrison has been formed. The position
of Hampshire is different to the other counties covered by the report,
as it already has a report of its own under the auspices of the Hampshire
Field Club and this has a prior claim. To avoid duplication and other
difficulties, we understand that special arrangements are being made
with regard to this county. The committee for the South-Eastern
Report promises certain regulations, especially with regard to doubtful
or important records and we think that this is a very wise move, as
such reports cannot be too critical and a number of very questionable
items have appeared in previous issues of this Report.

In our view it is much better to leave a record unpublished rather
than to publish a doubtful one. Such records once published merely
add unnecessary burdens to an already over-burdened literature
and are a constant source of worry to conscientious compilers. The
most expert observers sometimes see birds that they cannot identify
with any certainty owing to various circumstances and most are
content to leave such records in their notebooks and that should be
the rule of all. A publication rule which is more than ever necessary
at the present day when there are so many observers with varied
qualifications, is that in the case of a rarity the observations made at
the time by the observer should be submitted to the editor, and if
publication results, the points bearing on the identification should be
printed. The more experienced an observer is the more meticulous
we find he is in doing this. Others so often appear to think that all
they have to do to convince others is to state that they have convinced
themselves ! A compiler has either to rule out such records as unproven
or endeavour to obtain the evidence, but this is usually impossible
after the lapse of years.

Besides the classified list the Report includes tables and notes on
migration and song and a useful account of Sussex heronries by E. M.
Cawkell from which it would appear that the breeding population has
increased somewhat since the census of 1928. The classified notes
contain many items of interest, among which we may notice that
Crossbill-s are said to have nested in Surrey, an Iceland Redwing struck
Dungeness Light on November i6th, a pair of Montagu’s Harriers
nested in Sussex but failed to hatch, several Kentish Plovers are
reported from E. Kent and a bird claimed to have been a Marsh-
Sandpiper was seen in E. Kent on July 8th. We can gather that the
bird was grey but otherwise we are given no idea how such a rare bird,
which very few British observers have ever seen, came to be identified.
As it stands this is a very good case of an unacceptable record because
it is quite unsupported by any details to show how the bird was
identified.

Ornithological Report for Hampshire, 1938. By the Rev. F. C. R.

Jourdain. {Proc. Hampshire Field Club and Arch. Soc., Vol. XIV,

part 2.)

Besides the notes in the classified list this Report contains dates for
departure of summer migrants and their latest heard songs and the
earliest dates of songs of residents. In the first list there is no indication
as to which dates refer to song. The early date of August 17th is given

144

BRITISH BIRDS.

[vOL. XXXIII.

for the appearance of about thirty Fieldfares near Longparish, which
is interesting in connection with the arrivals in Cornwall in the same
month {antea, Vol. XXXII, pp. 200 and 279). It is denied that the
Raven has established itself in the New Forest as was stated in the
S.E. Report for 1937. The large westward movement of Sky-Larks in
December was very marked, especially along the coast, and where
cabbages were exposed above the snow they concentrated and destroyed
the leaves. A Great Grey Shrike was seen from July 4th to i6th, a very
late date, and others in May and June. The Dartford Warbler appears
to have had a setback owing to fires, but this has led to some spreading
to new localities. A male Blackbird was observed to bring material
and work it into the nest. Spoonbills were seen in Christchurch Harbour
in March and September. An Oyster-catcher nested and this seems the
first record for the Hampshire mainland (excluding the Isle of Wight).
There are other notes of interest and it is hoped that more observers
will contribute in future.

Eleventh Report of the Devon Bird-Watching and Preservation Society,

1938.

There are a number of interesting items in this Report, but some of the
records are very unsatisfactory as no details of identification are given.
An Alpine Swift is reported at Lympstone on October 2nd but without
a word of description. Another record is of a " large hawk probably
a Goshawk.” A “ Black Woodpecker ” flew past a member of a shoot.
We are taken to task for not admitting this species to the Handbook,
but a record of this kind certainly provides no inducement for revision.
A Nutcracker seen at Budleigh Salterton on December 27th is bettei
authenticated though whether it was of the slender-billed form or
not is, of course, quite uncertain. A Hooded Crow was noted at Dunster
in December ; a pair of Chaffinches brought off two successive broods at
Porlock ; Montagu’s Harrier bred in one locality ; an Eider Duck is
recorded from Ilfracombe in April ; large numbers of Black-tailed
Godwits were seen (Exe, forty-four, November 17th ; Tamar, seventy
at the end of January and varying numbers at other dates) and a Black
Guillemot was noted at Dawlish in February.

LETTER.

POSSIBLE OCCURRENCE OF THE F^ROE ROCK-PIPIT
IN THE BRITISH ISLES.

To the Editors of British Birds.

Sirs, — Some time during the evening of August 30th, 1939, a Rock-
Pipit flew aboard the steam trawler ” Southcoates ” as she was lying
in Thorshavn (Faeroe) harbour and roosted there. We sailed at dawn
the next morning and I frequently saw the bird pecking about on the
deck and among the nets. Judging by the dark upper-parts and, more
especially, by the locality it would appear pretty certain that this was
the Faeroe Rock-Pipit [Anthus spinoletta kleinschmidti) .

On September 2nd, as we w'ere passing within 2 miles of North
Ronaldsay (Orkney) in beautiful calm, sunny weather, the bird, after
much disturbance owing to deck-washing, took off and flew straight
towards the land until it was out of sight. Owing to the excellent
weather conditions, it seems quite possible that it reached there safely.

It has frequently occurred to me that these Passerine insular
sub-species might quite often get carried from island to island by boat
and I merely publish this note to show a case in which it quite possibly
actually happened. L. S. V. Venables.

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Contents of Number 6, Vol. XXXIII., November i, 1939.

PAGE

Observations on Swallows and House-Martins at the Nest.

By R. E. Moreau and W. M. Moreau ... ... ... ... i^6

Birds seen on an autumn and a spring Atlantic Crossing. By

L. S. V. Venables ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 1^2

Recovery of Marked Birds. By Miss E. P. Leach ... ... 155

Notes : —

Same pair of Chaffinches mating three times (E. W. Hendy) 162
Fecundity of Blue Tits in relation to Age (Hon. G. Charteris) 162

Song-Thrush nesting in its First Year (E. W. Hendy) ... 162

Grey Lag-Goose with pink Bill (T. C. Gregory) ... ... 163

Nesting of the Black-necked Grebe in Cheshire (A. W. Boyd) 163

Fulmar Petrels in Carnarvonshire (R. W. Jones) ... ... 164

Stock-Doves flocking in May in Hertfordshire (B. Lloyd) ... 165

Ruff and Black-tailed Godwit in the Isle of Man

(K. Williamson)... ... ... ... ... ... ... 165

Wood-Sandpipers in Surrey (P. A. D. Hollom) ... ... 166

Great Snipe in Lincolnshire (Dr. J. M. Harrison) ... ... 166

Short Notes : —

Late Breeding of Bullfinch. Spoonbills in Hampshire. Red-
necked Grebe in Somerset. Late Breeding of Storm-Petrel.
Killdeer Plovers in Ireland. Grey Plover in Hertfordshire.

Knot in Hertfordshire. Red-necked Phalarope in Yorkshire.

Black Guillemots breeding in Holes in Flarbour Walls in
Co. Down ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 166

Reviews :■ —

Report of Marlborough College Natural History Society, 1938... 168

Annual Report of Gresham’s School Natural History Society,

1938-9 ... ... ... ... ••• ... ••. 168

Letter : —

Lapwings Nesting at High Altitude in Norway (E. J. M. Buxton) 168

7 NOV 1939

PURCHASED

(146)

OBSERVATIONS ON SWALLOWS AND HOUSE-
MARTINS AT THE NEST.

BY

R. E. MOREAU and W. M. MOREAU.

Recent studies of the parental care by African Hirundinidae
and Swifts have suggested that, in addition to specific
differences in the share taken by the sexes, certain rhythms
of the behaviour may be specific, especially the favourite
duration of the individual spell on the eggs, the duration of
the intervals when the eggs are left uncovered and the
frequency with which food is brought to the young (Moreau,
1939 (a), and in Press). During our leave in this country
we hoped to make for comparison some preliminary observa-
tions on the British Hirundiniaae. Owing to bad weather and
other circumstances beyond our control we have been able
to do much less than we had hoped ; but so little has been
published on the numerical aspect of these birds’ behaviour
that it seems worth while to put some of our information on
record. Some notes on the Sand-Martin have already appeared
(Moreau, 1939 (b)). Taken in conjunction with the African
data, those on the British species certainly suggest the
possibility of specific differences that would repay further
investigation.

Our observations were made near Farnham, Surrey.
Especially in connection with those on the House-Martins
we have to thank Mr. W. F. Rankine for facilities and
co-operation.

Incubation.

Swallow {Himndo r. rustica).

The information in The Handbook of British Birds is that
incubation is “ apjiarently by female only or share of male
is small.” On eleventh and twelfth days of incubation
(July 2 1st and 22nd) we watched a Swallow’s nest from 4 p.m.
to 6.50 p.m. and 2.15 p.m. to 5.15 p.m. respectively. On
the first day the eggs were brooded 9 times by the female,
4 times by the male ; on the second day 6 times by each bird.
Individual spells on the eggs lasted from 5 to 16 minutes
(with no obvious sexual difference) ; and of the 21 complete
spells recorded, ii were of durations of 8 to 12 minutes.

No instantaneous change-overs took place. The eggs were
left uncovered for intervals of 2 to 9 minutes, more than half
of the intervals lasting 5 to 6 minutes. There was no regular
alternation between male and female ; and on one occasion
both returned at once, tlic male settling on the eggs. (As a

VOL. XXXIII.] OBSERVATIONS ON SWALLOWS. 147

rule the male alighted for a short time — up to 2 minutes —
on a neighbouring beam before going on the nest, while the
female regularly flew straight to the nest from outside the
building.)

Both afternoons were cool, the shade temperatures not
exceeding 18° C. (65° F.) ; the eggs were, however, covered
for only 64 per cent, and 65 per cent, of the observed time.

House-Martin [Delichon u. urbica).

Thirty yards away from the Swallow’s nest just referred to,
two House-Martins’ nests, a foot apart, were under observa-
tion : —

Nest A : June 24th, 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. ; 25th, 10 a.m. to i p.m.
(About the eighth and ninth days of incubation.)

Nest B : July loth, 3.40 to 7 p.m. (About the seventh day
of incubation.)

Apparently an important characteristic of the House-
Martin’s incubation is the instantaneous change-over by the
parents. As a rule what the observer saw was a bird entering
the nest and after a short interval (up to 45 seconds) a bird
emerging. It was (and would be at most nests) usually
impossible to be certain that the emergent bird was not the
one that had entered just before ; but on a few occasions
we were able to exclude this po.ssibility and to see with
certainty that the sitting bird came off and was not merely
visited by its mate. Provisionally, then, we conclude that
each entrance followed by an exit at nests A and B repre-
sented a change-over on the eggs.

At nest A 21 of the 28 spells “on”, that we recorded, were
terminated by this sort of change-over, and at nest B all the
recorded spells. None of the intervals when the eggs in nest A
were uncovered exceeded 4 minutes ; so that in the two nests
the eggs were covered 95 to 100 per cent, of the observed time.

At the two nests together 41 complete spells " on ” were
recorded, varying in duration from 4 to 24 minutes, with a
strong preference for durations 7 to 15.

Feeding of Young.

Swallow.

Four nests. A, B, C, U, each with 3 young (an abnormally
.small number), on rafters immediately under the slates of a
timber shed, were under observation at various dates in July.
Another nest, E, with 4 young, on a beam in a cowshed, was
watched on July loth.

Owing to the striking effect of rain on feeding (see below)
the following data on feeding-rates relate to rain-free periods

148

BRITISH BIRDS.

[VOL. XXXIII.

only. The ages given for the young are estimated on the
assumption that on the dates they flew (which are known)
they were 21 days old, the usual fledging age according to
The Handbook of British Birds.

Nests B and C were observed concurrently.

TABLE I.

Nest.

No. of

Estimated

No. of feeds brought in separate >

Young.

Age in days.

rain-free hours.

A

3

3

24, 20, 24, 27

4

23

20

21, 25

B

3

1 1

16, 19

C

3

15

13. 14

E

4

18

38, 39, 38 (see below)

The consistent nature of the feeding during rain-free periods
is shown by the fact that of the 340 intervals between feeds
recorded, only 32 exceeded 5 minutes and only 5 exceeded
9 minutes. These lasted ii, ii, 12, 13 and 14 minutes.

Owing to the dimly lit situations of the nests and the
rapidity of the visits with food it was difficult to assess the
shares of male and female. At nest E, where it was least
difficult, it appeared that rather less than half the visits were
made by the male and that a second female was visiting the
nest, at least occasionally. More than once a bird (? sex)
approaching the nest before the food-bringer had departed
was chased away by the latter. Subsequently the male,
making a visit to the nest, was followed by a female, which
he drove away before feeding the young. While he was still
busy two birds (? sex) flew in and out chasing each other past
the nest. Six minutes later two apparently adult females
arrived at the nest together and both fed the young.* The
feeding-rate at this nest was relatively high, even allowing
for the fact that it contained one more young bird than the
others ; and this might to some extent be accounted for by
the participation of the third “ parent.” (The date being July
loth it is impossible that this could have been a member of
an earlier 1939 brood.)

The effects of rain are shown by the following details : —

On July 4th heavy rain fell 10.13 to ii.io a.m. At nest A,
with young 4 days old, the parents remained active and
visited the nest 19 times during the 57 minutes — nearly as
often as in the rain-free hours (Table i). At 10.29 o-.m. one

♦Emmet (1939) has observed that “ Swallows other than the parents
paid visits to the nest.” He has recorded 48 feeds brought to 4 young
in a single hour.

VOL. XXXIII.] OBSERVATIONS ON SWALLOWS. 149

bird brought a fair-sized moth, but did not try to give it
to the young ; and after sitting near the nest with it for a few
minutes it carried it out of the building again.

On July 6th light rain began at 2.1 p.m. and from 2.18
onwards continued more or less heavily until the end of the
watch at 4 p.m.

At nest A, with young 6 days old, 9 feeds were brought up
till 2.46 p.m., and only 2 more (at 3 p.m. and 3.46 p.m.) during
the remaining 74 minutes. (But the young birds were brooded
more than during the rain-free periods.)*

At nest B (observed concurrently with A), with young ii
days old, 14 feeds were brought 2.1 p.m. to 2.36 p.m., none
2.36 p.m. to 3.36 p.m. and four 3.36 p.m. to 4 p.m.

At nest C (observed concurrently with B and A), with young
15 days old, 13 feeds were brought 2.1 p.m. to 2.37 p.m.,
none 2.37 p.m. to 3.18 p.m. and five 3.18 p.m. to 4 p.m.

On July 20th very heavy rain fell 10.55 fo 11.18 a.m.
At nest A, where the young were now about 20 days old,
feeding, which both before and after was at over twenty
times an hour, stopped entirely 10.56 a.m. to 11.27 s--™-

From the foregoing examples it appears that heavy rain
practically stops the feeding of the young. On July 6th
there was a lag of about 15 minutes after heavy rain began
before feeding was seriously affected, but then feeding
stopped — at nests B and C almost simultaneously. Except
at nest A on July 20th we had no evidence that parents
with grown young came in to shelter near the nest.

The amount of attention given to the young at nest D was in
striking contrast to that at the other four Swallows’ nests.
Nest D was watched from 1.25 p.m. to 5.15 p.m. on July 3rd,
and, concurrently with nest A, from 9.32 a.m. to 12.26 p.m.
and July 4th. On the 5 th, or early on the 6th, the young left
the nest.

The parents at the other four nests fed their young very
regularly and practically never approached the nest without
giving food. The parents at nest D entered the building fairly
often, either singly or together, but as a rule either settled
near the nest or fluttered for a few seconds a short distance
from the clamouring young. During these “ feints ” the old
birds sang a good deal ; and several times after a “ feint ” or

*We formed the opinion that only the female actually brooded,
though the male often sat for a few minutes on the edge of the nest.
This is what happens with Hiriindo smithii. But nest A could not be
seen clearly enough for our observations to be as precise as we should
wish.

150

BRITISH BIRDS.

[VOL. XXXIII.

an actual feed the parents sat for a short time on a beam near
the nest and then “ feinted ” again. On July 3id there were
13 visits 1.25 p.m. to 3.16 p.m., 8 of them certainly feints,
followed by 10 feeds 3.17 p.m. to 3.34 p.m., 6 feints 3.35 p.m.
to 4.24 p.m., 21 feeds and 4 feints 4.25 p.m. to 5.2 p.m.
On the 4th, during the period g.32 a.m. to 11.25 a.m., which
included the rainy spell 10.13 a.m. to ii.io a.m. (not inhibiting
activity at nest A), the parents at U made only 5 visits, all
feints, and no visits at all 12.3 p.m. to 12.26 p.m., but brought
25 feeds in the 37 minutes 11.26 a.m. to 12.3 p.m. The young
birds between them dropped at least four faical pellets during
the “ hungry spell ” 9.32 a.m. and 11.25 a.m., so they had
evidently had a number of feeds early in the morning before
observation started.

Since these young birds were practically ready to fly we
take it that the parents’ behaviour may have been intended
to hurry them out of the nest, partly by positive persuasion
and partly by making The food-supply irregular. We have
some evidence of similar procedure, but not so marked, at
African nests of some Hirundinidie. It is to be noted that the
behaviour of the parents at nest A when the young appeared
to be practically fledged, did not resemble that at D.

House-Martin.

To a nest with three young about ten or eleven days old
46, 39, 42 and 36 feeds were brought in 4 separate complete
rain-free hours observed. The feeding was very regular ; only
three intervals exceeded 4 minutes and those lasted 5, 7 and
8 minutes. The young first left the nest on the morning of
July 2ist, when they were all out on surroimding roofs. In
the afternoon there was much movement in and out of the
nest, but most of the time two were in and one was out on a
roof, all receiving frequent feeds. The following morning
they mostly spent out again, according to Mr. Rankine’s
information, but all three passed practically the whole
afternoon and evening in the nest, where in complete hours
they received 31 and 32 feeds. Incidentally this is a good
example of how easily a deceptive fledging period might be
obtained for a nest.

Summary.

Data are derived from about 45 and 20 hours’ observations
on Swallows’ and on House-Martins’ nests respectively. At a
Swallow’s nest incubation was shared fairly equally by the
parents, with a preference for individual durations “ on ” of
8 to 12 minutes and “ off ” of 5 to 6. House-Martins’ eggs at

VOL. XXXIII ] OBSERVATIONS ON SWALLOWS. 151

two nests were covered much more consistently, the sitter
very rarely coming off until relieved. The usual spell “ on ”
lasted 7 to 14 minutes. In the Swallow three broods of three
received on the average 21 feeds an hour when no rain fell,
compared with over 30 at a House-Martin’s and at Sand-
Martins’ nests, all with three young. A brood of four Swallows
averaged 38 feeds an hour, but apparently a third adult
(a female) was helping. One brood of Swallows nearly ready
to fly was fed very irregularly and most visits were “ feints,”
apparently to coax them out. Except at this nest food was
brought most regularly during rain-free periods, hardly any
intervals exceeding 5 minutes. Heavy rain usually stopped
feeding after a lag (15 to 20 minutes).

References.

Emmet, H. J. 1939. “ A diary of Swallows.” Bird Notes and News,
18, 145-8.

Moreau, R. E, (1939) (a). “ Parental care by some African Swallows
and Swifts.” Bull. Brit. Orn. Club, 59, 145-9.

Moreau, R. E., in Press. ‘‘ Numerical data on African Birds’
behaviour at the nest.” I. Hirundo smithii. II. Psalidoprocne holonie-
Icsna. Proc. Zool. Soc. London and Ibis.

Moreau, R. E. and Moreau, W. M. (1939) (6). “ Observations on

Sand-Martins at the nest.” Brit. Birds, XXXII, 95-7.

(152)

BIRDS SEEN ON AN AUTUMN AND A SPRING
ATLANTIC CROSSING.

BY

L. S. V. VENABLES.

In the autumn of 1938 and the spring of 1939 1 made voyages
across the Atlantic. The first one was in the “Europa” from
Cherbourg to New York and the second in the “Columbie” from
Guadeloupe in the Leeward Isles to Plymouth. Several hours
counting of birds were undertaken every day at sea and the
visibility was usually very good, but both transects were
remarkable for the small numbers of birds seen.

Details of the counts arc given below arranged as follows.
First, the date ; then the noonday position ; next the wind
direction and force followed by the number of hours during
which I counted and finally the birds seen.

October ist (sailed Cherbourg 8.30 a.m.) ; 49°4p'N., 3°54'W. ;
SW. 4-6 : 1 1 hours (from 4.30 to 6 p.m., i.e., well past Bishop
Rock) ; sixteen (2 immature) Gannets [S'ula hassana).

October 2nd ; 49°38'N., 20°44'\V. ; W. 7 ; 3 hours ; no birds.

October 3rd ; 47°ii'N., 36°4o'\V. ; N\\h 7-5 to NNE. 2 ;
3 hours. Seven North Atlantic Shearwaters {Puffinus kuhlii
? borealis) ; a single Shearwater probably of the same species ;
one Leach’s Fork-tailed Petrel {Oceanodroma leucorrhoa) .

October 4th; 42°59'N., 5i°04'W. ; ENE. 3, SW. 5 ;

2 hours ; party of about forty Terns {sp. P).

October 5th ; 4i°24'N., 65°38'W. ; W. 3-4 ; 3 hours ; three
Fulmars {Fulmar Jis glacialis) ; one North Atlantic Shearwater;
two Pomatorhine Skuas {Stercorarius pomarinus).

October 6th ; passed Ambro.se Light at 1.24 a.m.

Unusually few birds were seen compared with other recorded
observations on this crossing. Not much is available, however,
at a similar time of year. The most numerous bird I saw was
Puffinus kuhlii and these were mostly around 47°W., while
Mayr (1938) in early August found them mostly around 49°W.
Wynne-Edwards (1935) shows that the majority of these
birds are farther south. He states that Puffinus kuhlii
“ reaches its northern limit at about the 50th parallel in late
-August and September . . . and in October the majority
work south once more. Out to sea it is tolerably common
west to 30°W. from late July to October, but by December
all except the odd stragglers have moved south of the area.”

The large Shearwater usually most numerous on this
crossing is the Great Shearwater {Puffinus gravis) but on this
October voyage none was seen. Owing to the fact that both

VOL. XXXIII ] BIRDS ON ATLANTIC CROSSING. 153

these birds fly low over the water the conspicuous white base
to the tail and the white neck (giving a “ capped ” effect) of
P. gravis can easily be seen. Both these features are lacking
in P. kuhlii though there is a little whitish at the base of the
tail. Wynne-Ed wards (1935, Plate 3) gives an admirable
picture of the diagnostic characteristics and Mayr (1935. P- 5^)
discusses differences in flight actions and other features.
Rooke (1935) in September, 1934, found P. gravis “ numerous
between . . . 47°3o' and 8°5o'W.” and in September, 1935,
(Rooke, (1936) ), "not uncommon between 47° and i2°3o'W.”
Wynne-Edwards (1935) in September, 1933, found them
mostly between 10° and 40 °W.

Kittiwakes {Rissa tridactyla), the most numerous birds on
January and March crossings (Venables, 1938) were completely

absent on the above October transect.

* * *

April 26th, sailed from Guadeloupe (Leeward Isles) at
3.30 p.m. Almost dark when we lost sight of the Isle of
Desirade.

April 27th ; i9°39'N., 58°07'W. ; E. 4 ; 3 hours ; one Wilson’s
Petrel {Oceanites oceanicus) ; one Sooty Shearwater (Puffinus
griseus) .

April 28th; 24°I3'N., 53°48'W. ; SE. 4 ; 3 hours; three
Wilson’s Petrels ; one White-tailed Tropic bird [Phaeton
lepturus) . Sargasso weed very common all day.

April 29th; 28°45'N., 4S°57W. ; S. 2-3 ; 3 hours; two
Wilson’s Petrels ; four Terns [sp. ?). Sargasso weed becoming
uncommon by evening.

April 30th ; 33°03'N., 43°27'W. ; SSW. 3 ; 3 hours ; one
Pomatorhine Skua ; last flying fish seen.

May . 1st ; 37°04'N., 37°3oW. ; NNE. i ; 3 hours; two
Wilson’s Petrels ; one Sooty Shearwater ; one Red-necked
Phalarope [Phalaropus lohatus).

May 2nd ; 4o°55'N., 30°53'W. ; NNW. 3 ; 3 hours ; nineteen
Pufinus kuhlii ; eight Red-necked Phalaropes.

May 3rd; 44°I9'N., 23°55W. ; SSW. 3 ; 3 hours; four
Wilson’s Petrels ; four Storm-Petrels [sp. ?) ; three Pomatorhine
Skuas ; three Puffinus kuhlii.

May 4th ; 47°22'N., i5°3bW. ; W. 6 ; 4 hours ; ten Wilson’s
Petrels ; three Manx Shearwaters [Puffinus puffinus) (others
seen during the day) ; two Pomatorhine Skuas ; two Skuas
[? sp.) ; one Kittiwake ; three Terns [sp. ? ) ; two Puffins
[Fratercula arctica) . All the latter three species in the evening.

May 5th; 49°32'N., 6°5i'W. ; SW. 4 ; 2 hours (between
9 a.m. and ii a.m.) ; six Wilson’s Petrels ; thirty-two

154

BRITISH BIRDS.

[VOL. XXXIII.

Kittiwakes ; fifteen Gannets and one Arctic Skua [Stercorarius
parasiticus). Herring-Gulls {Larus argentatus) and Lesser
Black-backed Gulls [L. fuscus) began to appear just before
noon. The Longships Light was abeam at 2.30 p.m.

Of the deep sea birds the most obvious facts of their
distribution stand out as follows ; Puffmus kiihlii were almost
all around 40°N., 30°W. ; Manx Shearwaters were seen only
around 47°N., I5°W. ; Wilson’s Petrels were most numerous
between 44°N., 23AV. and 49°N., 6°W., and with Pomato-
rhine Skuas a few were seen between 33°N., 43 °W. and 47°N.,
i5°W.

The only records of this particular transect to which I am
able to refer are the three voyages by the Nicholsons (1931),
but these were made in late summer and winter ; seasons too
different from my spring transect for comparison. They
show, as with my figures, however, “ The existence between
the Azores and Barbados of a vast almost birdless area,
confirming the experience of previous observers.”

Referenxes.

Mayr, Ernst (1938). " Birds on an Atlantic Crossing.” Proceedings
of the Linnaean Society of New York. No. 49.

Nicholson, E. M. and B. D. (1931). ” An Ornithological Transect
of the North Atlantic.” British Birds, XXIV.

Rooke, K. B. (1935). " Birds seen in the North Atlantic, August
and September, 1934.” British Birds, XXVUI.

Rooke, K. B. (1936). ‘‘ Birds seen in the North Atlantic, August

and September, 1935.” British Birds, XXIX.

Venables, L. S. V. (1938). “ Birds seen in Two Winter Transects
of the North Atlantic.” British Birds, XXXI.

Wynne-Edw.^rds, V. C. {1935). ‘‘ On the Habits and Distribution
of Birds on the North Atlantic.” Proceedings of the Boston Society of
Natural History. Vol. XL, No. 4.

(155)

RECOVERY OF MARKED BIRDS.

COMMUNICATED BY

E. P. LEACH.

Hon. Sec. Bird-Ringing Committee, British Trust for Ornithology.
[Concluded from page 136.)

No. Ringed. Recovered.

Wigeon [Anas penelope).

RINGED AS FULL-GROWN.

RW.8720 Leswalt (Wigtown), 28.2.37, by Castlerea (Roscommon),

J. Law. 1.2.39.

2 Birds Ditto, Winter, 1937-8. Where ringed, Winter, 1938-9

RINGS ISSUED TO WILDFOWL INQUIRY COMMITTEE.

900106

Dereham (Norfolk), 8.2.38.

Oundle (Northants), 12. 1.39
[62 m. W.].

900259

Ditto, 28.1.38.

Great Ouse Estuary (Nor-
folk), 21. 1. 39 [25 m. W.].

900230

Ditto, 28.1.38.

Saltmills (Wexford), 5.2.39.

900234

Ditto, 8.2.38.

Kalinin, West Russia, 15. 9. 38
[56°52'N., 36°E.].

900152

Somerleyton (Suffolk), 14.1.38.

Mouth of R. Welland (Lines) .
24.12.38 [76 m. NW.].

RINGS OF THE ORIELTON DECOY, PEMBROKE.

1490

26.11.36.

Saltash (Cornwall), 12. 1.39
[90 m. S.].

3558

3.11.38.

Williamstown (Galwaj^),

41-39-

1383

21. II. 36.

River Vychegda, Russia,
2.5-39 [6i°3o'N., 53°4o'E.]

3733

20.12.38.

Samara, S.E. Russia, 22.4.39.

741

2712. 35.

Riga, Latvia, 1938.

3495

23.10.38.

Gouda, Zuid Holland, 13. 2. 39.

3529

31.10.38.

Setubal (Estremadura), Por-

•

tugal, 12.1.39.

Pintail [Anas a. acuta).

Or.3571

Pembroke, 7.11.38, ad., by

R. Elbe, Schleswig-Holstein,

S. Greenslade.

16.7.39.

Shoveler [Spatnla clypeata).
RINGED AS FULL-GROWN.

RINGS OF THE ORIELTON DECOY, PEMBROKE.

3760

21.12.38.

Moscow, Russia, 1.5.39.

3908

19.1.39.

Kalinin, West Russia,

Spring, 1939.

3280

19.1.38.

Where ringed, 4.2.39.

Pochard [Aythya f.ferina).

900183

Somerleyton (Suffolk), 23.1.38, Where ringed, 10.2.39.

ad., for Wildfowl Inquiry
Committee.

156

BRITISH BIRDS.

[VOL. XXXIII.

No.

Or.3050

1 13345

AB.8572

1 14203

114028

1 1 3979

119703

120353

122031

107695

122082

12141 1

3 Birds
121364

121359

3 Birds

122566

112873

120377

121269

121308

121995

122585

Ringed. Recovered.

Tufted Duck {Aythya fuligula).

Pembroke, 2.1.38, ad. Where ringed, 17.1.39.

Eider {Somateria m. mollissima) .

Colliestoii (Aberdeen), 27.5.34, Peterhead (Aberdeen), 7. 3. 39
ad., by M. Portal. [12 m. N.].

Goosander {Mergus m. merganser) .

Molesey (Surrey), 19.12.37, by Slough (Bucks), 20.1.39
P. Hollom. [11m. NW.].

Cormorant [Phalacrocorax c. carbo).

RINGED AS NESTLINGS.

Mochrum (Wigtown), 3.8.34,
by Lord Dumfries.

l^itto 3-7-35

Ditto 30-6.35

Ditto 15-7-37-

Ditto, 15.7.36, by Lord David
Stuart.

Northumberland, 27.7.38, by
Bootham Sch.

Puffin I., N. Wales. 16.6.38, by
T. Tallis.

Ditto 24.7.38.

S. Pembroke, 16.6.38, by Skok-
holm Bird Obs.

Ditto 16.6.38.

Ditto 16.6.38.

Kilmeena (Mayo), 23.6.38, by
S. M archant.

Roundstone (Galway), 24.6.38,
by S. Marchant.

Ditto 24.6.38.

Shag [Phalacrocorax a.

Troon (Ayr), 1.7.39 [47 m.
N.].

Dormont (Dumfries), 11.4.39
[53 m. E.].

.Annan (Dumfries), — .7-39
[55 m. E.].

Ditto 10.2.39.

Dittisham (Devon), 27.3.39
[310 m. S.].

Berwick-on-Tweed, — .2.39.

Machynlleth (Merioneth) ,
—-3-39 [52 m. S.].

Exeter (Devon), 23.2.39
[190 m. S.].

Calstock (Cornwall), ■ — .3.39.

Brittany, Dec. -April, 1938-9.

Ancenis (Loire Inf.), France,
— .11.38.

Ballina (Mayo), — .2.39
[25 m. NE.].

Galway, Jan. -April, 1939.

Ministric (Ille-et-Vilaine),
France, 4.12.38.

aristotelis).

Tonga, N. Shetland,
by T. Kerr.

Badbea (Caithness), 11.7.38, by
E. Cohen.

Bass Rock, 2.7.38, by Mid-
lothian O.C.

Ditto 2.7.38.

Calf of Man, 26.6.38, by Manx
Field Club.

Cleggan (Galway), 26.6.38, by
S. Marchant.

Hoganess, S. Shetland,
—-4-39 [46 m. S.].

Pennan (Aberdeen), 23.7.39
[59 m. SE.].

Redcar (Yorks), — -1-39
[125 m. S.].

Whitstable (Kent), 6.2.39
[360 m. S.].

Point of Ayre, I. of Man
30-4-39 [30 m. N.].

Where ringed, 26.3.39.

RINGED AS NESTLINGS.
23-7-38,

^OL. XXXIII.] RECOVERY OF MARKED BIRDS. 157

No.

Ringed.

Gannet [Sula bassana).

RINGED AS NESTLINGS.

Recovered.

112780

Bass Rock, 2.6.38,

by Mid-

Bay of Biscay, 19. 11.38

lothian O.C.

[46°2o'N., 3°4o'W.].

124554

Ditto, 28.7.38, by

Bootham

R. Moulouya, Eastern

School.

Morocco, 14.6.39.

125082

Ailsa Craig, 18.8.38, by A.

Melilla, Spanish Morocco,

Darlington.

—.1.39.

125177

Ditto

24.8.38.

Llanbedr (Merioneth), 19. 7. 39

[180 m. S.].

116635

Grassholm, 9.6.36,

by Skok-

80 m. N.W. of St. Anne’s

holm Bird Obs.

Hd. (Pern), 20.5.39.

115609

Ditto

17-7-34-

Cape Cornwall, 21. 1.39.

II7773

Ditto

1.8.37.

Off Fastnet (Cork), — .5.39.

117672

Ditto

1.8.37.

Off Scarborough (Yorks),

21.7.39.

117822

Ditto

29-6.35-

Henqueville (Calvados),

France, 1.5.39.

121561

Ditto

16.7.38.

Montmar tin (Manche),

France, — .7.39.

123933

Ditto

16.7.38.

Camber Sands (Sussex),

20.7.39 [270 m. SE.].

116851

Ditto

4-8. 35-

Kerlouan (Finistfere), France,

—.3.39.

122997

Ditto

31-8.38.

Oporto, Portugal, — .6.39.

116612

Ditto

9.6.36.

Mouth of Tagus, Portugal,

—.1.39.

124247

Ditto

31.8.38.

Faro (Algarve), Portugal,

8.12.38.

RINGED AS FULL-GROWN.

AV.393

Grassholm, 31.5.39,

by Skok-

At sea, 70 m. S., 24.6.39.

holm Bird Obs.

123677

Ditto

16.7.38.

Off Mine Hd. (Waterford),

17.4-39.

123377

Ditto

16.7.38.

Ballycottin Bay (Cork) ,

Manx Shearwater [Puffinus p. puffinus).

RINGED AS FULL-GROWN.

304609

Skokholm Bird

Obs.

, 20.6.38.

316100

Ditto

7-7-39.

SAT.407

Ditto

13-5.37-

300280

Ditto

4-8.37-

AT.234

Ditto

7-5-39-

303401

Ditto, 11.4.38,
Park Sch.

by

Leighton

301262

Ditto, 17.8.37,
N.H.S.

by

London

305525

Ditto

18.7.38.

306709

Ditto, 24.7.38, by S. Marchant.

Harlyn Bay (Cornwall) ,
4.6.39 [80 m. S.].

Hartland Point (Devon),
.I3-7-39 [53 m. SE.].

Biarritz (Basses Pyren6es),
France, 28.2.39.

St. Jean de Luz (Basses
Pyrenees), 6.5.39.

Lequeitio (Vizcaya), Spain,
I4-5-39.

Ditto, 25.5.39.

Penmarch(Finistere) .France,
21.4.39.

Biarritz (Basses Pyrenees),
France, 12.5.39.

Ditto, 10.6.39.

158

BRITISH BIRDS.

[VOL. XXXIII.

No.

Ringed.

Recovered.

Wood-Pigeon [Coliimba f. palumhus).

309706 Blankney (Lines), 9.8.38, Where ringed, 10.5.39.
young, by j. Barnes.

307701 Gog Magog Hills (Cambs), Ditto 25.7.39.
young, by P. Maclaren. 17.7.38.

Stock-Dove [Coliimba cenas).

RINGED AS FULL-GROWN.

RV.9021

RV.9026

RV.9031

RV.9019

RV.9018

RV.9064

RV. 9066

RW. 7294

RECOVERED WHERE RINGED.

Gt. Bud worth

(Ches), 7.7.35, by A. W.

Boyd.

28.6.37.

Ditto

12.7.35-

29.7-37

; 4-8.38.

Ditto

3I-7-35-

7-3-37

: 4-6.38.

Ditto

13.6.36.

28.6.37.

Ditto

10.6.36.

6.7.38.

Ditto

S.7-37-

19.6.38.

Ditto

18.7.37.

4.8.38.

Romney Marsh (Kent), 25.4.37,

10.4.38 :

14-5-39.

by Brooker and Cawkell.

Turtle-Dove [Streptopelia t. tiirtiir).

RINGED AS NESTLING.

RX.9641 Gt. Shelford (Cambs), 24.7.37, St. Jean de Luz (Basses
By C. F. Tebbutt. Pyrenees), France, 13.5.39.

RINGED AS FULL-GROWN.

RECOVERED WHERE RINGED.

1<R-4573

Gt. Budworth (Ches), 10.6.32, by A. W. Boyd. io-5-37

RS.2095

Ditto

28.6.35.

4.8.36 ; 10.7.38

RV.9016

Ditto

30-5-36.

11.6.38

RV.9017

Ditto

2.6.36.

4.7.37 ; 16.6.38

2 Birds

Ditto

—.7.36.

—-6.37

2 Birds

Ditto

—.7.36.

Summer, 1937 I 1938

5 Birds

Ditto,

Summer, 1937.

Summer, 1938

Oyster-Catcher [Hcematopus 0.

occidentalis) .

306231

Ejmhallow,

Orkney, 15.6.38,

Dingle (Kerry), 91. 39

young, by D. Robertson.

220076

217464

S.7839

213328

219965

Lapwing [Vanellns vanellus).

RINGED AS NESTLINGS.

Sunday, Orkney, 6.7.38, by
E. L. Arnold.

Newburgh (Aberdeen), 11.6.38,
by J. Garden.

Perth, 10.6.31, by Lord
Mansfield.

Glenorchard (Stirling), 13.5.38,
by J. Bartholomew.

Ditto I5-7-38.

Andreas, I. of Man, 21.2.39
[370 m. S.].

Clonmel (Tipperary), 29.1.39.

Millstreet (Cork), 26.1.39.

Talence (Gironde), France,
3-3-39.

Pointe de Grave (Gironde),
France, I3-3-39-

voL.xxxiii] RECOVERY OF MARKED BIRDS.

159

No.

217120

217586

206047

AP.4505

AR. 6410

AS. 5635

AR. 6315

AS. 7902
AS. 1814
AP.2547

217283

Z.5732

AR. 1334

AS. 2350

OF. 602

Ringed.

Recovered.

Lapwing [continued).

Penrith (Cumb), 18.5.38,
Moon and Cooper.

Ditto

by Corral de Calatrava (Ciudad
Real), Spain, — .2.39.
18.6.38. Meknes, Western Morocco,
12. 1. 39.

Clitheroe (Lancs), 1.2.39
[25 m. S.].

St. Helen Auckland (Dur-
ham), 30.5.39 [ii m. NE.].
Vic Fezensac (Gers), France,
24.12.38.

Andoain (Guipuzcoa), Spain,

24.12.38.

Levignac (Landes), France,

20.12.38.

Vejer (Cadiz), Spain, 12. 1.39.

(Westmor) ,
Greg.
(Durham),

by

Kirkby Lonsdale
i3-7-37. by H. S

Barnard Castle

24 -5 -33, by Barnard Cas.Sch

Alderley (Ches), 9.6.34, by
E. Cohen.

Mobberley (Ches), 11.5.36,

E. Cohen.

Cassington (Oxon), 4.5.36,

Oxford Orn. Soc.

Wytham (Berks), 5.5.36,

Oxford Orn. Soc.

Newbury (Berks), 28.5.35,

G. Brown.

Felsham (Suffolk), 2.6.34,

London N.H.S.

Mildenhall (Suffolk), 6.6.38, by
P. Maclaren.

recovered where ringed.

Kilmacolm (Renfrew), 29.5.29, by R. O. Blyth

Clapham (Yorks), 4.5.34, by H. J. Moon.

Ditto — .5.35.

by

by

by

by

Bilbao (Vizcaya), Spain,
26.12.38.

Icklingham (Suffolk), 8.5.39
[15 m. NW.].

Bordeaux (Gironde), France,

—■2.39.

— .4-39.
— .4-39.
—■5-59-

Redshank [Totanus t. britannica).

Settle (Yorks), 17.5.36, young,
by H. J. Moon.

Newport (Mon),
[175 m. S.].

—•3.39

RX.1417

AB.3194

25881

RV.2651

Curlew [Numenius a. arquata).

RfNGED AS NESTLfNGS.

Glen Loth (Suth), 6.7.38, by
E. Cohen.

Greystoke (Cumb), 19.6.36, bv
H.J.Moon.

Shap (Westmor), — .6.28, by
H. J. Moon.

Staveley (Westmor), 8.6.36, by
the late E. U. Savage.

Clyne Milton (Suth), • — -.3.39
[4 m. S.].

High Head Castle (Cumb),
13.4.39 (9 m. N.].
Ringaskiddy (Cork), 26.2.39.

Foulshaw Moss (Westmor),
II. 12. 38 [10 m. S.].

Woodcock [Scolopax r. rusticola).

RINGED AS NESTLINGS.

207128 Abbeystead (Lancs), — -6.37, Llanwrda (Carms), 2.2.39
by H. W. Robinson. [150 m. S.].

G. Cong Cong (Mayo), 1935- Filey (Yorks), — .1.39-

{Private Ring)

recovered where ringed.

AR. 9244 Bridge of Allan (Stirling), i937-

12.5.35, by J. Bartholomew.

AS. 8193 Botley (Hants), 10.6.38, by O. W. Cornwallis.

10. 1. 39.

160

BRITISH BIRDS.

[VOL. XXXIII.

No.

202773

200404

202246

213540

215728
219518
218897
2 Birds
212890

LB. 382
RV.2505

306208

306185

305263

AB.2107

AB.5559

AB.5697

306904
RX.5382
2 Birds

Ringed.

Woodcock {continued).

Recovered.

RINGS issued for WOODCOCK INQUIRY, I934-35.

Brechin (Angus), 12.6.38.
Glen ^Peebles), 26.4.38.

Lissadell (Sligo), 23.4.35.

Where ringed, 28.1.39.
Walkerburn (Peebles) 13.5.39
[5 m. NE.].

Where ringed, 30.12.38.

Sandwich Tern {Sterna s. sandvicensis) .

RINGED AS NESTLINGS.

Firth of Forth, 16.6.38, by
Mrs. Greenlees.

Ravenglass (Cumb), 18.6.38, by
S. Marchant.

Fame Is. (Northumb), 27.6.38,
by Mrs. Hodgkin.

Scolt Head (Norfolk), 22.6.38,
by J. Ferrier.

Salthouse (Norfolk), 12.6.38,
by J. Ferrier.

Ditto, 12.6.38, by E. Cohen.

Mossamedes, Angola, 6.12.38.

Cape Coast, Gold Coast,

14. 1. 39.

Dakar, Senegal, 25.2.39.
Ditto, — .2.39.

Accra, Gold Coast, 7.1.39 ;

20.2.39.

Ditto, 20.2.39.

Little Tern [Sterna a. albifrons).

Pagham (Susse.x), 20.7.35, Eastbourne (Sussex), 15.6.39
young, by P. Hollom. [47 m. E.].

Black-headed Gull {Larus r. ridibundus) .

Littleton (Middx.), 27.12.34, by Acton, London, 28.2.39
P. Hollom. [10 m. NE.].

Common Gull {Larus c. canus).

RINGED AS NESTLINGS.

Eynhallow, Orkney, 22.6.38, Kilmarnock (Ayr), 5.4.39
by D. Robertson. [245 m. S.].

Ditto 26.6.38. Durisdeer (Dumfries), 18. 5. 39

[250 m. S.].

Aldourie (Inverness), 8.6.38, by Bunchrew(Inverness),25.6.39
A. Wainwright. [6 m. N.].

Lesser Black-backed Gull {Larus f. graellsii) .

RINGED AS NESTLINGS.

Walney I. (Lancs), 9.6.35, by Where ringed, 4.6.39.

H. W. Robinson.

Ditto 16.6.36. At sea, off I. of Man, 23.3.39

[30 m. NW.].

Ditto 26.6.37. Stanbury Moor (Yorks),

4-6-39 [53 m. SE.].

Kittiwake {Rissa t. tridactyla).

Bull Rock (Cork), 8.7.38,
young, by S. Marchant.
Fame Is. (Northumb), 20.6.37,
ad., by “ Wippletree.”

Ditto, 26.6.38, by Mrs. Hodgkin.

Wesley ville, Newfoundland,
28.5.39.

Where ringed, — .6.39.

Ditto, — .6.39.

161

voL.xxxiii ] RECOVERY OF MARKED BIRDS.

No. Ringed. Recovered.

Razorbill [Alca t. britannica).

RINGED AS NESTLINGS.

TSA.395 Skokholm Bird Obs., 4.7.37. Walberswick (Suffolk), 7.3.39

[520 m. by coast].

TSA.334 Ditto 2.7.37. Genoa, Italy, 21.12.38.

AC. 1809 Ditto 30.6.38. Ditto, 1 1.12.38.

AC. 5168 Ditto 4.7.38. Ditto, 4.2.39.

RINGED AS FULL-GROWN.

AC. 5005 Skokholm Bird Obs., 1.7.38. Sunderland (Durham), 2. 4. 39.

Moor-Hen {Gallinula ch. chloropus).

RINGED AS FULL-GROWN.

AC. 1905 Wilmslow (Ches), 29.7.38, by Where ringed, 6.5.39.

J. Buxton.

AB.6497 Winchester (Hants), 1. 11.37, Leckford (Hants), 19. 1.39

by Winchester Coll. [9 m. NW.].

Coot [Futica a. atra).

Or.3889 Pembroke, 14. 1.39, ad., by Whitland (Carms), 17. 1.39

S. Greenslade. [20 m. NE.].

M

stnoTCsi

SAME PAIR ()1< CH A]' FINCHES MATING THREE

TIMES.

For some seven years 1 have marked Chaffinches {Fringilla
c. gengleri) frequenting my garden with coloured rings for
identification. One pair so marked mated and fed young in a
copse opposite my gate in June, 1937. In the spring of 1938
the same pair nested in a holly just outside my garden and
bi ought off their brood. In June of that year the same pair
again mated and nested in the wisteria on my house ; only
two eggs were laid and two young were reared. The pair
remained together until November 9th when the hen dis-
appeared. She was not seen again until February 5th, 1939,
when she was constantly in company with the same cock till
the end of that month. Flnfortunately on March 5th I found
her dead with a fractured skull and other injuries which were
almost certainly caused in a fight. The cock, too, was acci-
dentally killed in a trap on April 29th. As the pair remained
together in February, 1939, it seems likely that they would
have mated for a fourth time. E. W. Hendy.

FECUNDITY OF BLUE TITS IN RELATION TO

AGE.

The following examples of the fecundity of Blue Tits {Pams
c. obscums) in relation to age, discovered by marking may be
of interest. One of a brood of twelve ringed as nestlings at
Stan way, Gloucestershire, on May i6th, 1938, laid in May,
1939, fifteen eggs and hatched thirteen young. Another ringed
as an adult in January, 1935, reared in 1939 eleven young
from twelve eggs.

It will be seen that one bird attained its maximum fecundity
in its first breeding season, whilst the other maintained it
in its fifth (at least) breeding season. Guy Charteris.

SONG-THRUSH NESTING IN ITS FIRST YEAR.

A FLEDGLING Song-Thrush {Turdus e. ericeiorum), ringed by
me in my garden in July, 1933, was not seen again till May ist,
1934, when it returned and built a typical nest in a macrocarpa
hedge in my garden and reared a brood which flew June 2nd,
1934. E. W. Hendy.

[So far as is known, the thrushes breed in their first year, but
Mr, Hendy’s case is interesting as it was ringed as late as

VOL. XXXIII.]

NOTES.

163

July as a fledgling. Miss E. P. Leach informs us that there
is only one definite case of a Song-Thrush recorded under
the ringing scheme — a nestling ringed in Anglesey on April
17th, 1935, having been found dead at a nest in the same
place on April 24th, 1936. Probably there are other cases
where coloured rings have been used. — Eds.]

GREY LAG-GOOSE WITH PINK BILL.

A FOOTNOTE on page 185 of Vol. Ill of The Handbook of
British Birds states that “ several ornithologists intimately
acquainted with geese state that they have never seen a
British-taken Grey Lag with a pink bill.” It may, therefore,
be interesting to record that I shot a Grey Lag {Anser anser)
in east Kent during the past winter, the bill of which was
predominantly pink in colour. The bird was one of a skein
of six and has been set up. T. C. Gregory.

NESTING OF THE BLACK-NECKED GREBE
IN CHESHIRE.

When T. A. Coward's Fatma of Cheshire was published in 1910
the Black-necked Grebe {Podiceps n. nigricollis) was regarded
as a rare winter visitor to the estuaries ; four only had been
recorded, two each from the estuaries of Dee and Mersey,
and of these three were known to have been killed in
September, November and December.

Since 1912, however, when on February i8th I first saw
two on Rosthernc Mere, there have been at least forty
occurrences. They have appeared in every month of the year,
and more than once in every month, but most frequently
in April (in breeding plumage), in July, and in September
and October. They have been found on the meres at Rostherne,
Tatton, Marbury near Northwich, Pettypool and Oakmere ;
on the Flashes at Witton, near Northwich ; on the reservoirs
at Bosley and Hurleston ; at the Altrincham Sewage Farm ;
on the marine lake at West Kirby and in the estuary of the
Mersey. No doubt they also occur at times on most or all
of the other meres, which have been less under observation.

The appearance of birds in breeding plumage in April
gave hope that they would eventually remain to breed, but
usually their stay in April was short. It was not until
September 13th, 1928, that a bird of the year was seen
when Mr. J. Moore watched one at Marbury. It had a striped
head and neck, and followed an adult and uttered the ” hunger
cry ” ; it was not full}^ the size of the older bird, but there was

164

BRITISH BIRDS.

[VOL. XXXIII.

no certainty that it had been reared in the county. In July,
1937, for three weeks a bird or birds in full plumage lived
in or near a reed bed, but there was no sign of young.

In 1938 I watched a pair from April loth to June loth or
1 2th on a little-frequented mere ; on June loth only one
could be seen, patrolling outside a bed of reeds and it seemed
probable that the other was sitting, but once again no young
ones appeared. In 1939, however, a pair reached this same
mere on April 22nd and eventually brought off two young.
It took them two months to decide on a nesting-site, a reed-bed
in shallow water. After they had settled down, one bird con-
tinually patrolled in the neighbourhood and was occasionally
joined by the other when it was disturbed by my approach,
or by cattle, which ate much of the reeds they had occupied.
Though the patrolling bird usually fed by diving, it spent
much of its time on June 29th catching insects on the surface
of the water and in the air ; it would shoot its neck out at
right angles and snap them in the air, or point its bill per-
pendicularly in the air and catch them with a little leap.
In the middle of July they seemed to become more secretive
and, owing to the absence of the observer, it was not until
August 13th that they were seen with two youngsters, then
almost half grown. Each adult was accompanied by one
young bird, and each couple kept well apart. Adult and
youngster used to diVe simultaneously, but it was noticeable
that the latter always came to the surface first and was
frequently fed with some very small object as it followed
its parent with a “ whit-whit-whit ” or “ fit-fit-fit ” — a
thinner and less robust cr}^ than that of a young Great Crested
Grebe. A. W. Boyd.

FULMAR PETRELS IN CARNARVONSHIRE.

As the P'ulmar {Fulmarus g. glacialis) has not been recorded
from Carnarvonshire it may be of interest to note that on
April 17th, 1937, I saw two of these birds glide to and fro
right up against the Great Orme cliffs. On May 28th in the
same year I saw a single individual flying in front of the same
cliffs. In the following year — on April 20th, 1938 — a single
individual, which I watched, all but alighted on the same
stretch of cliffs. Again, on April 22nd, 1939, the same cliffs
were visited by a Fulmar.

I watched the cliffs almost daily throughout the months
of April and May, 1937, 1938 and 1939, and am confident
that no Fulmars bred on the rock shelves. Rich.\rd W. Jones.

VOL. XXXIII.]

NOTES.

165

STOCK-DOVES FLOCKING IN MAY
IN HERTFORDSHIRE.

The note by Mr. B. J. Ringrose on a flock of Stock-Doves
{Columba cenas) on May 30th in Wiltshire {antea, p. 140) is
very interesting ; but the occurrence though unusual, is at
any rate not unique. I can evidence similar, though somewhat
smaller flocks in recent years in Hertfordshire (where, I think,
none had previously been recorded) at dates when nesting
is at its height.

During May and early June, 1933, a dozen were seen feeding
daily with a flock of Wood-Pigeons near Elstree, Herts, at a
spot where the former are virtually unknown as nesters.

In 1934 I again saw a flock of about 35 Stock-Doves and a
few Wood-Pigeons on May 3rd at the same spot. This party
haunted the neighbouring fields for some weeks, for I saw
them on May 6th and June 7th, but by July they had left.

On May 3rd, 1936, I watched a flock of 40 Stock-Doves near
Bushey, only about three miles distant from Elstree. Such
little summer flocks I assumed to be made up of nomad
non-breeding birds.

These occurrences were recorded in the relevant orni-
thological Reports in the Transactions of the Hertfordshire
Nat. Hist. Society, Vol. 20. Bertram Lloyd.

RUFF AND BLACK-TAILED GODWIT IN THE
ISLE OF MAN.

On September 29th, 1938, Messrs. R. Wagstaffe, E. E. Ladds
and myself were fortunate enough to meet with a juvenile
Ruff {Philomachus pugnax) associating with half a dozen
Bar-tailed Godwits [Limosa 1. lapponica) on a sandy shore at
Langness, Isle of Man.

On September 17th, 1939, Mr. George Gill and I came
across an adult Black-tailed Godwit {Limosa 1. limosa) at
the very same spot, the bird also associating for a few minutes
with the Bar-tailed, which are regular frequenters of this
shore in the autumn and winter months. It was a much
darker brown and noticeably longer in the leg than its cogeners,
and in flight the legs projected beyond the tail and the bird
could be distinguished at once by the white bar on the coverts.
Judging by the amount of reddish-brown on the under- parts
it did not appear to be very far advanced in moult.

There is only one previous record of the Ruff in Man, a
bird in winter plumage seen by the late Col. H. W. Madoc on

166

BRITISH BIRDS.

[voL. xxxiir.

August 25th, 1929 {North-W estern Naturalist, Vol. V, p. 12),
whilst the Black-tailed Godwit has two records, for November
i8th, 1931 {t.c., Vol. VII, p. 306) and early October, 1932
{t.c., Vol. VIII, p. 311). Kenneth Willl\mson.

WOOD-SANDPIPERS IN SURREY.

I OBSERVED a Wood- Sandpiper {Tringa glareola) at close
quarters at Guildford sewage farm on August 7th, 1939.
Three were seen together on the 12th, on which date fifteen
or sixteen Green- Sandpipers {T. ochropus) were also present,
and one Wood-Sandpiper remained on August 13th. The
Wood- Sandpiper is seldom observed in Surrey.

P. A. D. Hollom.

GREAT SNIPE IN LINCOLNSHIRE.

On September 20th, 1939, a Great Snipe [Capella media) was
shot at Tetney. On sexing the bird proved to be a male. The
bill shows an old, healed, gunshot wound of the maxilla at
the junction of middle and distal thirds. The bird, which
was solitary, was otherwise in good condition and was
moderately fat. James M. Harrison.

Late Breeding of Bulleinch. — Lt.-Col. W. A. Payn
writes that a Bullfinch [Pyrrhula p. nesa) was sitting on eggs
at Andover, Hants, on September 24th, 1939, and young
were still being fed at the nest on October 4th. Nests with
young, which flew between September 6th and 12th and
eggs (September 3rd) were recorded from Burnham Beeches
in 1920.

Spoonbills in Hampshire. — Mr. H. J. de S. Disney
writes that he and Dr. C. Suffern observed three Spoonbills
(Platalea 1. leucorodia) on the R. Meon on August 30th and
31st, 1939. These birds have been seen at intervals from
May 26th or 27th by several observers, the latest record being
dated September 30th (C. Suffern).

Red-necked Grebe in Somerset. — Mr. J. M. Simister
sends us particulars of a Red-necked Grebe [Podiceps
griseigena) mostly in summer plumage, which he watched at
close quarters on October 5th, 1939, on Barrow Gurney
Reservoir. The bird is rarely seen in Somerset.

L.vte Breeding oi' Storm-Petrel.— Mr. Seton Gordon
informs us that he and Mrs. Gordon found a Storm-Petrel

VOL. XXXIII.]

NOTES.

167

{Hydrohates pelagicus) brooding an egg, which was near to
hatching, in a Hebridean island on September 20th, 1939.
Mr. R. M. Lockley has given the shortest fledging period as
fifty-four days and the longest as sixty-eight, so that if the
bird hatched on the 21st, it would not fly until between
November 15th and 29th. W. Eagle Clarke has recorded
young just hatched on September 4th, 1908, (Fair Isle), and
young just able to fly on October 2nd, 1907, also young
still in down on October 3rd at the Flannans.

Killdeer Plovers in Ireland. — Two examples of the
Killdeer Plover {Charadritis vocifertis) are reported in The
Irish N aturalist' s Journal. The first was shot in a field at
Carrigengoure, near Crookhaven, Co. Cork, on November 30th,
1938 (/. Nat. J., 1939, p. 144). It was stated that what was
thought to be another Killdeer Plover was seen in the same
locality on December iith and may have been a companion
of the other This was probably the bird, which was picked
up dead on March 19th, 1939, at Crookhaven, having
apparently struck a telegraph wire {op. cit., p. 188). Both
birds arc now in the National Museum at Dublin. It will be
remembered that one was recorded in our pages {antea,
Vol. XXXII. , p. 372) as having been found in Smithfield
Market in January, 1939, and was traced to N. Devon where
it had been for about a month previously. It seems possible
that all three birds may have crossed the Atlantic at about
the same time.

Grey Plover in Hertfordshire. — Mr. R. Harkness
informs us that he watched two Grey Plovers {Squatarola
squatarola) at Wilstone Reservoir, Tring, on October 6th, 1939.
The birds were not seen on the 7th, but one appeared on the
8th and one was seen by Mr. C. Oldham on the loth. There
are few recorded occurrences of the species in the county.

Knot in Hertfordshire. — I'he Rev. C. E. Martin informs
us that he saw a Knot {Calidris c. camdus) at Tring reservoirs
on August 30th, 1938, and another on February ist, 1939.

Red-necked Phalarope in Yorkshire. — Messrs. L. Smith
and H. O. Bunce state {Nat., 1939, p. 236) that they watched
a Red-necked Phalarope {Phalaropus lohatus) at Kilnsea,
E. Yorkshire on July i6th, 1939. The bird was in summer
plumage. This is an extraordinary date for the species to
appear on migration.

168

BRITISH BIRDS.

[VOL. XXXIII.

Black Guillemots breeding in Holes in Harbour
Walls in Co. Down. — Mr. J. A. S. Stendall informs us that
Black Guillemots {Uria g. grylle) have bred for several years
in holes in the stonework of Bangor pier, co. Down. It will
be remembered that two other similar sites in co. Down were
recorded in our last number {antea, p. 141).

REVIEWS.

Report of Marlborough College Natural History Society, 1938.

The number of bird-observers this year is low, but we may hope that
this is only a temporary fluctuation. A very late Willow-Warbler is
recorded for November 9th, a Greenshank was seen in September and
Quail are reported from three localities.

Annual Report of Gresham's School Natural History Society, 1938-9.
Birds figure largely in this Report as may be expected owing to the
number of interesting species which can be seen in the neighbourhood.
A Bittern was booming on Salthouse in May 1939, and was thought to
have nested. The influx of Bewick’s Swans in January and February was
well observed, Spoonbills, Avocets and Bar-tailed Godwits were seen in
May and June, 1938, and many other interesting species were watched.

LETTER.

I.APWINGS NESTING AT HIGH ALTITUDE IN NORWAY.

To the Editors 0/ British Birds.

Sirs, — The e.xtension of the breeding range of the Lapwing {Vanellus
vanellus) to Fokstumyren referred to in my previous letter [antea,
p. 118) is certainly recent. Neither H. Tho. L. Schaanning in 1917 nor
H. L. Lovenskiolci in 1929 and 1930 found the bird there. Possibly
it first came there in 1933, for in the hotel I found a pencilled note (in
an unknown Norwegian hand) recording it for that year. When it first
bred I do not know.

My friend, Mr. H. N. Southern, who was at Fokstumyren this year
(1939). tells me that he saw none. It appears that 1938 was an
exceptionally favourable j’ear in the area for many birds.

E. J. M. Buxton.

7 ‘ /1939

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Contents of Number 7, Vol. XXXIII. , December i, 1939.

PAGE

Courtship and Display of the Slavonian Grebe. By Eric J.

Hosking, F.R.P.S., M.B.O.U 170

Notes on the Percentage of Bridled Guillemots. By Julian S.

Huxley, F.R.S. ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 174

The Breeding of the Oyster-catcher. By E. J. M. Buxton ... 184

Notes : —

Interbreeding of a Hooded and a Carrion-Crow in Co. Dublin

(Rev. P. G. Kennedy, S.J.) ... ... ... ... ... 194

Jackdaw nesting in its First Year (C. Wontner-Smith) ... 194

Fecundity of Blue Tit and Tawny Owl in Relation to Age

(J. A. G. Barnes) ... ... ... ... ... ... 195

Common Buzzard in Shetland (Rev. C. J. Pring) ... ... 195

Association of Drake Mallard with alarmed Call Duck and

Brood (G. K. McCulloch) ... ... ... ... ... 195

Summer Plumage of Female Red-breasted Merganser (J. G.

Williams) ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 196

Stock-Dove flocks in the Breeding Season (L. S. V. Venables) 196

Nuptial Song of Little Stint (T. C. Gregory) ... ... ... 197

Purple Sandpiper and other birds in Middlesex (A. H. Mac-

pherson, W. E. Glegg, Dr. G. C. Low) ... ... ... 197

Sooty Tern in Stirlingshire (J. Ritchie)... ... ... ... 197

Incubation Period of Capercaillie and Precocity of Chicks

(E. J. Hosking) ... ... ... ... ... ... 198

Short Notes : —

Sky-Lark nesting in October in Lancashire. Black Kites
released in London. Honey-Buzzard in Yorkshire recorded
as Goshawk. Garganey in Pembrokeshire ... ... ... 198

Review : —

The Birds of Staffordshire. By T. Smith ... ... ... 199

Letter ; —

Notes on the Swallow (A. W. Boyd) ... ... ... ... 200

N

(170)

COURTSHIP AND DISPLAY OF THE
SLAVONIAN GREBE.

BY

ERIC J. HOSKING, f.r.p.s., m.b.o.u.

(Plates 4 and 5.)

During the nesting season of 1939 I was staying in Scotland
and had the opportunity of witnessing a unique courtship
and display of the Slavonian Grebe {Podiceps auritus).
I am indebted for this experience to the Rev. H. M. Stone,
of Worcester, who escorted me to a loch where these Grebes
have been known to nest for many years and several nests
were found. One was selected giving the best surroundings
and position for photography and a photographic hide was
erected some distance away. This was on June 7th, and the
nest then contained three eggs which were fresh. On revisiting
the site the following day with a view to moving the hide
nearer to the nest, we found that one egg was missing. On
June 15th there was only one egg remaining in the nest, and,
as the Grebes were still incubating this egg and appeared
to be quite tame, it was decided to bring the hide within
working distance. The reason for the disappearance of two
eggs was puzzling, but was eventually attributed to a nearby
colony of Black-headed Gulls which were continually foraging
round the loch. It was noticed on this day that the egg was
not being covered by the parent bird when leaving, and it
was found uncovered on subsequent occasions.

One of the pair, which when mating occurred proved to
be the hen, was in very unusual plumage. The golden ear-tufts
of the normal bird in summer plumage were absent and there
were in their place stripes of pale chestnut, the feathers of
which were of the length of ordinary feathers. The black
feathers of the sides of the head and neck were also of ordinary
length so that there was no appearance of a “ tippet.” The
black of these parts and of the crown was not so glossy as
in the other bird. Mr. Witherby, to whom I have submitted
colour photographs thinks that the bird may have been in
its first summer as he has examined skins of birds in similar
plumage. Mr. Witherby adds that this plumage is little
known and as such birds appear to be scarce it seems probable
that only certain individuals acquire this undeveloped
plumage.

On June i8th I arrived at the hide at 2.45 p.m. Nothing
of an unusual nature took place until 4.10 p.m., when I noticed
the hen swimming towards the nest carrying a small quantity

Bl'itisli Birds, \^ol. XXXIII., PI, 4.

Display of Slavonian Grebe

Ui’PKK : The cock displays his golden-yellow tufts as he bows his head
in front of the hen.

Lower : The cock displays to the hen bv swimming round her and
raising his tufts and moving his head from side to side and
ipi and down.

(Phntogyaphed by I^ric J. Hosking.)

VOL. XXXIII.] SLAVONIAN GREBE.

171

of material. This she placed on the edge of the nest, and
carefully arranged. Then she leaped from the water on to
the nest, and lowered herself as though to brood, but instead
fell into the water again and swam from sight. Very shortly
afterwards the cock followed exactly the same procedure.
He had only just gone from sight when the hen reappeared

“ The cock leaned right forward and watched
every movement made by the hen. The ear-
tufts were not raised but only slightly spread.”

with more nesting material. After this had been placed into
position the hen paddled backwards for a short distance,
then, paddling rapidly forward, she leapt on to the side of
the nest. Her next action is worthy of note, for she went
through the motions of removing non-existent nesting
material from the top of the single egg. There appears,
therefore, to be a firmly implanted instinct both to cover and
remove, which in this instance had functioned in the latter
case, but not in the former. The hen then settled to brood.

172

BRITISH BIRDS.

[VOL. XXXIII.

At 4.25 p.m. the hen, still brooding, began to call very
excitedly and a moment later the cock emerged from the
reeds just behind the nest. He also called excitedly, and it
was noticed that on this occasion he did not carry any nesting
material. The excitement became intense. The hen solicited
by stretching out her head and neck, curving the latter in a
snake-like manner, while the chin almost rested upon the
surface of the water. Both called excitedly. The cock swam
rapidly and jerkily round the nest, spreading and displaying
the gorgeous golden-yellow ear-tufts. His head was jerked
from side to side and bowed up and down. He stopped in
front of the hen and bowed until his bill rested on the water,
the ear-tufts being brought right forward so that their vivid
colouring showed to best advantage. For some moments the
cock remained like this, while the hen was motionless, looking
straight at the cock as though hypnotized. Next the cock
swam round the nest twice, then hesitated whilst at the
rear of the hen. He proceeded to paddle backwards, then
very rapidly forwards, and leaping out of the water jumped
on the hen’s back. With his large, white-lobed feet he smacked
the shoulders of the hen alternately and very rapidly, after
which coition took place. The hen remained prone all the
time and the cock left immediately afterwards. She then
readjusted the feathers along her back and continued to
brood. I waited until 6.15 p.m. when the hen was still
brooding and no further incident had taken place.

On the following day, June 19th, I spent another period of
observation in the hide, and again witnessed the courtship,
display and mating, which was similar in every respect to
that already described. There was, however, an interesting
preliminary. I was left in the hide at 12.30 p.m. and before
my wife was out of sight the two Slavonian Grebes swam
towards the nest, calling excitedly. Both carried nesting
material. Several journeys were made and I noticed that
the rotting vegetation used in the construction of the nest
was collected from just beneath the surface of the water.
In the middle of these operations, and while the hen was in
the near vicinity of the nest, the cock stopped and displayed.
He swam alongside the nest, but remained in the water,
stretched out his neck, raised the golden-yellow ear-tufts
and called. He remained in this attitude for some seconds
before he continued to add nesting material. The hen took
no notice of this display and had, in fact, continued building
through it all. Shortly afterwards the hen came on to brood
and the cock swam out on the loch.

British Birds, Vol. XXXIII., Id. 5.

Displ.w of Sl.\voni.\x Grebe

Upper : The cock swam round the nest twice, tlien liesitatcd wlicn
behind the hen.

Lower ; The cock stretched liis neck upwards at an angle of about
4=5° from the body and the ear-tufts were fully raised.

(Photographed bv ICric J. Hosking.)

VOL. XXXIII ] SLAVONIAN GREBE.

173

At 1.25 p.m. the hen left the nest and stayed away until
2.20 p.m., when she returned bringing a further supply of
building material. She brooded until 2.45 p.m., when the
cock swam into view. The display and mating then took
place as already mentioned. At 3.10 p.m. a change over took
place. As the cock approached the nest, the hen slipped off
and swam into the reeds. The cock, instead of coming on to
brood, stopped just behind the nest and remained there for
over half an hour. He then collected further material which
was piled on the side of the nest and at 3.50 p.m. came on to
brood. Fourteen minutes later he left and set about nest-
building once again. In five minutes he was back brooding
again and remained so until 4.12 p.m. At this time he began
to call and display while brooding the egg. His neck was
stretched not downwards as formerly but upwards at an angle
of about 45 degrees from the body and the ear-tufts were
fully raised. During the display the hen arrived and swam
rapidly backwards and forwards while collecting nesting
material. She took little notice of the cock’s behaviour, though
the cock watched every movement she made with intense
interest. The hen swam towards the hide and came within
a foot of where I was sitting. The cock leaned right forward,
still watching every movement but the ear-tufts were not
raised, only slightly spread. The hen made for the reeds where
she whinnied, and a few moments later the cock left the nest
and joined her, at 4.20 p.m.

It was not possible to keep a continual watch on this nest,
but on June 21st I noticed that a second egg was laid, while
on the 25th there were three fresh eggs. Needless to
say, by this time, the courtship and display had been
discontinued, and it was interesting to note that since the
laying of the second egg, the nest was covered whenever left.
The original egg was left in the nest, and it was with regret
that we had to leave the neighbourhood before witnessing
the completion of the brooding and hatching.

It is to be presumed that this particular pair of birds were
unique in not recommencing the breeding cycle on being
interrupted by the theft of most of their first clutch and in
continuing to incubate the single egg during the courtship
period. Although all Grebes add nesting material during the
whole of the stages of incubation, this pair brought much
more than normal, so that it would seem that they went
through a partial phase of nest building concurrently with
that of courtship and display, but the fact remains that the
single egg held them to the original nest.

(174)

A PUBLICATION OF THE BRITISH TRUST FOR

ORNITHOLOGY.

NOTES ON THE PERCENTAGE OF
BRIDLED GUILLEMOTS.

BY

JULIAN S. HUXLEY, f.r.s.

Under the auspices of the British Trust for Ornithology,
Mr. H. N. Southern has organized an inquiry into the quan-
titative distribution of the bridled or spectacled form of the
common Guillemot {Uria aalge). The results of the hrst year’s
work have been published (Southern, 1939) and the investiga-
tion is still being continued. The general conclusions are of
considerable interest, and may be briefly summarized here.
The bridled variety (var. ringvia) is a mutant form apparently
dependent on a single Mendelian gene-difference, though it
cannot yet be said whether it is dominant or recessive to the
non-bridled type. Bridled birds are present in all colonies
so far investigated, but their proportions vary enormously.
In the south of England, the percentage is very low, apparently
0.5 per cent, or less. The percentage increases in a graded
way, until in certain regions, such as southern Iceland, Bear
Island, etc., the bridled birds out-mmiber the “ normal.”

The slope of the gradient is not uniform, but alters its
steepness at certain points. The most marked discontinuity
is on the west coast of Britain, though, as is pointed out
later, many more observations are necessary before we have
a proper picture of the situation in this part of the world.
There is again marked discontinuity between Fair Isle and
Shetland (Southern, 1938), the proportions rising from 10 or
13 per cent, to 24 per cent. Finally, in the region of rapid
change off the Northumberland and Berwick coasts there is
even a reversal of the slope at St. Abb’s Head and the Fames.
This region appears to coincide with the boundary between
two subspecies, U. a. aalge and U. a. albionis. Such gradual
alterations in the proportion of two alternative types con-
stitute a particular instance of character-gradients in general,
which appear to be commoner in nature than is generally
supposed and for which the word dine has been suggested as a
convenient technical term (Huxley, 1938, 1939). The particular
interest of a dine such as that in percentage of bridled birds
lies in the fact that, as R. A. Fisher has demonstrated (see
discussion in Ford, 1939), two sharply contrasted types such
as this cannot exist in equilibrium within a species unless
there is some balance of selective advantage between them —

VOL. XXXIII.] BRIDLED GUILLEMOTS.

175

e.g., if the hybrid (heterozygote) between the two is more
viable or vigorous than either pure (homozygote) type. If
this were the case here, then we would have to suppose further
that the ringed type enjoyed a greater advantage in more
northerly latitudes and vice versa. As an alternative, the two
types may not be in equilibrium, but one may be in process
of replacing the other (see discussion later). Either condition
would obviously repay further analysis.

While visiting the northern Scottish coast and islands this
spring, opportunity was taken to count the percentage of
ringed Guillemots wherever possible. Assistance in counting
was kindly given by the other members of the party, C. P.
Blacker, James Fisher and E. M. Nicholson. It appears
worth while to record the data, partly because they modify
those given by Southern (1939) in certain particulars, partly
to draw the attention of ornithologists to the need for further
counts and to certain statistical and methodological points
arising.

Counts were made at the following localities : Noss (Shet-
land) ; Handa Island (Sutherland) ; Loch Erriboll (Suther-
land) ; St. Kilda. The table gives the total number of birds
counted at each, with the percentage of bridled specimens.

The chief points of interest are as follows : —

(1) St. Kilda percentage. The figure of 10 per cent, bridled
birds given by Southern must be corrected. However, as
this was based on a count of only 30 birds (Harrisson and
Lack, 1934), it was clearly inadequate. The present figure of
16.5 per cent, has a standard error of ±1-256. This high
figure indicates an E-W. gradient as well as a S-N. one, and
Mr. Southern tells me that unpublished data from Ireland
and the Hebrides confirm this.

(2) St. Kilda, differences in different islands. If the
figures are grouped, they give the following results ; Dun
and S. of Hirta, 18.2 per cent. (450 birds) ; Soay and N. of
Hirta, 15.9 per cent. (151 birds) ; Boreray (including the
Stacks) 14 per cent. (272 birds). This suggests a gradient,
the percentage of bridled decreasing from S. to N. within the
archipelago ; but the differences are not statistically significant.
Further data are needed to settle this interesting point.
Boreray is 4 miles distant from the nearest point of Hirta,
but the other islands are almost contiguous.

(3) Loch Erriboll. No previous counts are recorded from
here. The birds presumably came from Whiten Head or
Clomore Cliffs. Although the numbers are too small for

176

BRITISH BIRDS.

[VOL. XXXIII.

certainty, the standard error being ±3.50, it seems clear
that the percentage will prove to be nearer the 13 of N. Rona
than the 10 of Handa.

(4) Noss and Halida. The counts tally extremely well
with those previously recorded.

{5) General aspects of the dine in ratio of bridled birds.
The high value for St. Kilda does not fit into the general
dine on the west of Scotland as hitherto recorded. It will
be extremely interesting to obtain counts from other parts
of the Outer Hebrides. Meanwhile it looks as if St. Kilda
had affinities with the Faeroes and Iceland. In this connexion
it is interesting to note that Southern finds that the MTstmann
islands on the south of Iceland have the highest bridling
percentage recorded, higher than that on the north of Iceland
or in any of the more northerly stations (unpublished data).

Prof. R. A. Fisher has drawn my attention to the fact
that the general shape of the dine as recorded by Southern
(1939) could be interpreted as part of the wave of advance
of an advantageous mutation (Fisher, 1937). If this is so,
it may perhaps be that the mutation originated in southern
Iceland. Mr. Southern tells me that unpublished data from
northern Iceland show a much lower percentage than in the
south, which would go to strengthen this suggestion. In any
case, it is clear that the gradient is not a simple S-N. one.

Previous data show that the gradient may show slight
local reversals, e.g., at St. Abb’s Head, Troup Head and Hoy,
presumably due to accidental deviations from the normal
owing to isolation of colonies. If the high figure for Erriboll
is substantiated by further counts, this will provide a further
case of the same sort.

(6) Local Variation within Colonies. On Handa, which
represents the largest single count on one colony yet recorded,
we were struck by what appeared evidence of local variation.
The counts at separate stations, all of over 170 birds, showing
a range of 5.5 in percentage on a mean of 10 per cent. That
this was not due to low numbers is shown, e.g., by stations
I and 2, with counts of 578 and 965 respectively, which
differed by 3.7 in percentage.

Direct observation showed clearly that a considerable
degree of “ assortment ” might take place. I estimate that
at least 20 per cent, of the bridled birds on Handa were
standing together in couples (which does not necessarily
mean mated pairs). This was checked on the 471 birds from
stations counted by myself. These showed 39 bridled

VOL. XXXIII.] BRIDLED GUILLEMOTS.

177

specimens, of which 12, i.e., 30 per cent., were in couples.
Not only this, but one ledge counted by Nicholson on station 2
gave 14 bridled out of 73, or 19.2 per cent., and another counted
by me gave 9 out of 40, or 22.5 per cent., indicating very high
concentration. A count of 233 here by Fisher gave just over
14 per cent, and one of 116 by Blacker just under 14 per cent.

At Noss we were not struck by any marked difference
between stations, and the counts by stations, all involving
200 or more birds, showed a range of only 2.4 in percentage
on a mean of 26.3 per cent.

Prof. R. A. Fisher, F.R.S., and Dr. W. R. Stevens, of the Galton
Laboratory, have kindly advised on the statistical aspects of the
results.*

The test (Fisher, 1938) applied to the figures from Noss gives
chi- with the low value of 0.4013, which means that the variation in
percentage of the 4 stations is well within the error to be expected on
random sampling.

On the figures from Flanda, on the other hand, 12.727. which
for 9 degrees of freedom is to be expected once in between 5 and 10
trials. The standard deviation of the percentage for the total count
at Handa is ±0-5185. showing that the true value is likely to lie between
9 and II.

The standard deviations have also been calculated for stations i
and 6 ; the figures are as follows ; station i, 7.99% ± 1.128 ; station 6,
13.00 ± 2.378. The figure for station 6 is thus well within the range of
sampling error, while that for station i, in spite of the much larger
number counted, is just within the range of sampling error.

It was then suggested that assortment, if present, was more likely
to be detected on small samples. I therefore broke up the data for
stations into the records for single counts within each station, and
submitted these, for analysis. The results turn out to be interesting.

*For the benefit of non-mathematical readers, it may be mentioned
that the x~ ^^st is a method elaborated by statisticians for estimating
the probability whether a set of samples involving a proportion of
two or more classes conforms to the theoretically calculated proportion,
or whether some other factor is upsetting this theoretical proportion.
In this case we want to know whether the deviation of the percentage
found in single sample counts at any one locality from the percentage
calculated on the total for the locality, is no more than what is to be
expected on chance (sampling error), or whether it is so great as only
to be accounted for by a tendency for ringed birds to occur together
in small groups in comparatively high percentages.

The standard deviation (a) can be described most simply in
geometrical terms. If the percentage for a locality is calculated from a
lot of samples, these samples can be arranged in a frequency polygon,
according to the groupings into which their own individual percentages
fall. Such a frequency polygon will be found often to fall along what is
called a normal curve. Sigma is the distance (in the proper units), on
either side of the centre, of the steepest points (or points of inflexion)
of that curve. Statisticians generally hold a deviation which exceeds
twice the standard deviation to be a significant one ; this premiss is
only likely to be wrong once in 22 times.

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BRITISH BIRDS.

[VOL. XXXIII.

At Noss the 8 counts above 50 showed no evidence of heterogeneity,*
confirming the results for whole stations. On the other hand, counts of
50 or less (18 in all) show a degree of heterogeneity (assortment of
bridled birds) such as would arise by chance only once in ten times
if there were in reality no assortment. This may be taken as a strong
indication but by no means a proof that assortment does occur. It is
interesting that the 7 counts of 25 or less, taken alone, showed no
evidence of assortment.

When the data from Handa vv'ere treated in a similar way, the
32 counts of 50 or less showed a degree of heterogeneity that would
arise by chance about once in 5 times — again an indication of
assortment, but less strong than for Noss.

The situation, however, differs from Noss in another way, for the
21 counts of over 50 showed a slight degree of heterogeneity, such as is
to be expected about 3 times in 10. Thus it may be that our original
suspicion will prove to be correct, namely that assortment at Handa
leads to heterogeneity in considerable-sized sections of the colony.

In any case, it is clear that further data must be collected
if this important question is to be definitely settled, and
that the best method of doing this will be to record the
birds counted in samples of 50 or less. Any counts sent
in to Mr. Southern should therefore be tabulated under
3 headings — (i) colony ; (ii) station within the colony ;
(iii) separate counts of 50 or less (but preferably close to 50)
within the station. Counts of billing pairs, noting the number
in which neither, one, or both birds were bridled, will also be
valuable, as showing whether assortative mating occurs ;
such counts should only be undertaken where the bridled
percentage is high, as otherwise an unduly large number will
be required.

It is clear that single counts of 200 birds, which have
hitherto been considered adequate for bridled percentages
of 5 per cent, and over (Southern, 1939) are not really so.
Even much larger single counts may not be satisfactory,
e.g., the deviation of 2 in the bridled percentage of the nearly
600 birds on station i.

I have consulted with Prof. R. A. Fisher as to the best
method of sampling for this purpose. It is clear that a large
number of separate counts will be much preferable to a single
count of the same number of birds at one station. A minimum
of 4 or 5 counts at different stations is desirable, if possible
of 200 birds or more each. On the other hand, 100 at each
station will be useful, and even if only a few birds can be
counted at particular stations, such counts should be made
in preference to counting the same additional number of

*That is, statistically significant differences between the percentages
of one sample and another within the whole colony.

VOL. XXXIII] BRIDLED GUILLEMOTS.

179

birds at other stations. Of course, for calculating percentages
for a given colony, the larger the total numbers the better,
as the standard error will remain appreciable until one or
more thousands have been counted ; but even so the total
should be made up of counts from as many separate stations
as possible. The count at each station, as suggested above,
should be made up of separately recorded counts of 50 or
less, to test for heterogeneity (assortment).

(7) Assortment. Further evidence for assortment was seen
in other areas, couples of two bridled birds being always
commoner than to be expected on pure chance, and some
ledges containing up to double or more the usual percentage.
In some cases this assortment represents assortative mating,
as shown by Blacker’s observation of two bridled birds
billing on Handa. The underlying cause, however, is probably
a tendency of old birds to return to the same ledges to breed,
and of young birds to return to the neighbourhood of where
they were hatched. A local fisherman at Handa informed us
that he had photographed one ledge in three successive years,
and that in each year a bridled bird was in the same position
on the ledge.

It is just possible that in addition the bridle may play a
part in mutual display, which itself may tend to be assorta-
tive ; this does not, however, appear to be likely.

(8) Abnormal Variety. On Handa, a peculiar anomaly was
seen by Fisher on cliff 13. The white of the belly extended
ventrally through a broken collar of black, and then expanded
to cover the chin, throat, malar region, ear-coverts and
side of neck, with the exception of a band of black reaching
backwards and a little downward from the eye and ending
within the white space in a point. This abnormal variety
thus clearly had a winter plumage pattern, though the colour
of its plumage and soft parts had changed to its summer state.
(See figure overleaf.)

(9) Suggestions for future work, (i) Very few records are
available on the N. and NW. of Scotland between Duncansby
Head and Canna, and one of them, that from Handa, does
not seem to fit into a smooth gradient. Thus, observations
from this region will be important, notably from the Cape
Wrath-Erriboll district, and from the Shiants and Barra
Head, O.H., which are half-way from the mainland to St.
Kilda. Counts on Side Stack and Sula Sgeir would also be
valuable, (ii) Apart from the accurate mapping of the existing
gradient, it will be very interesting to ascertain if this is in

180

BRITISH BIRDS.

[VOL. XXXIII.

process of change. Such change may be either secular and
progressive, or cyclical and periodic. Evidence for secular
change in the ratio between dimorphic types is known from
direct evidence in the colour-phases of the Hamster {Cricetus
cricetus) (Timofeeff-Ressovsky, 1939) and from indirect
evidence in the colour-phases of the Tasmanian Opossum

Abnormall}- marked bird seen on Handa.

(Drawn by G. Salter from a sketch on the spot by J. Fisher.)

{Trichosurus vulpecnla) , and the tooth varieties of the vole
{Microtus arvensis) (Pearson, 1938 ; Zimmermann, 1935 ; see
discussion in Huxley, 1939). Similar changes are known to
have occurred in the replacement of normal by melanic foims
of moths in industrial areas, etc. There is some evidence that
the dimorphratio dine involving the percentages of white and
blue colour-phases in the Arctic Fox {Alopex lagopus) varies
periodically with the animal’s cycle of abundance (Elton,
1930). To detect and study such changes, repeated counts
in especially favourable situations are needed. For these,
after consultation with Mr. H. N. Southern and other orni-
thologists, 1 suggest Noss, Handa, Fair Isle, Barra Head,
Bass Rock, the Fames, and any suitable north-western Irish
colonies (unpublished data having shown the bridled percen-
tage here to be between 4 and 10). Counts on regions of low
percentage are not likely to be useful for this purpose. Counts
of at least 1,000 birds, in each case from at least 4 stations
within the colony, should be made. If it is not (lesired to
publish the counts immediately, they should be sent to

VOL. XXXIII] BRIDLED GUILLEMOTS.

181

Mr. H. N. Southern, c/o Edward Grey Institute of Field
Ornithology, 39, Museum Road, Oxford.

A secular change is not likely to be detected in less than
10 years (see Fisher, 1937), but periodic changes should be
detectable in from 5 to 10 years.

On one further problem it would be useful to have additional
information. If any observers, or groups of such, are in a
position to spend some hours watching a ledge, it would be
possible to establish the absolute numbers of the two phases
present on the ledge. When eggs are present, the activity of
any mated pairs will centre round the small territories of
which their egg is the centre, and some hours of careful
watching, combined with a chart of all the territories on the
ledge, could establish the identity of all the relevant
individuals. The greeting ceremony of “ scissoring ” so
often evoked when a bird lands by its mate will be found to
be a great aid in the identification of mated pairs.

The value of such information would increase geometrically
if observations were repeated in successive years.

I wish to record special thanks to Mr. D. Robertson, who
put his yacht at the service of the party, and so made the work
possible.

A.

Locality and Station.

Total

Per cent.

Noss.

counted.

Bridled.

bridled.

I.

Bottom of highest part, from

below

306

80

26.1

2.

Halfway down S. side, from top

214

53

24.8

3-

Above Holm, from top ...

328

87

26.5

4-

On and opposite Holm, from top

301

82

27.2

Total ...

1,149

302

26.3

B. Handa.

I.

E. side Stack and cliffs opposite

578

46

8.0

2.

W. side Stack and cliffs opposite

965

113

II. 7

3-

Cliff 5*

227

17

7-5

4-

Cliff 6

a.'Z'j

27

1 1.9

5-

Cliff 8, East part

293

26

8.9

6.

Cliff 8, West part

200

26

13.0

7-

Cliffs II and 12 ...

174

14

8.0

8.

Cliff 13

236

25

10.6

9-

Cliff 16

191

15

7-9

10.

Cliff 17

248

24

9-7

Total ...

3,339

333

lo.o (9.<

C. Loch Erriboll.

Counted on water from yacht

III

18

16.2

*The numbers refer to stations westwards from the Stack.

182

BRITISH

BIRDS.

[VOL. XXXIII

Locality and Station.

Total

Per cent.

D. St

. Kilda.

counted.

Bridled, bridled.

I.

Dun on ledges from land

398

72

18. 1

2.

Dun and S. of Hirta from sea

52

10

19.2

3-

Soav on sea from yacht

42

7

16.6

4-

N. of Hirta on sea from yacht.

lOQ

17

15.6

5-

Boreray group, on ledges from

yacht

272

38

14.0

Total

... 873

144

16.5

Standard error {sigma)

Per cent.

bridled birds (total)

Noss

26.28

±

1.128

Handa

9-97

±

0.5185

Loch Erriboll

16.22

±

3-50

St. Kilda group

16.5

±

1.256

Summary.

(1) Counts of the proportion of bridled specimens of
Guillemot have {a) confirmed previously recorded percentages
for Noss (26 per cent.) and Handa (10 per cent.) ; (b) corrected
the previous record for St. Kilda (16.5 per cent, instead of
10 per cent.) and (c) recorded a figure for a new locality,
Loch Erriboll — about 16 per cent, {d) It is possible that a
gradient in bridling percentage occurs within the St. Kilda
group, with lower values to the N., but more data are required
to confirm this.

(2) Evidence is given to show that some degree of assort-
ment of bridled birds probably occurs. The assortment seems
to be mainly in small local groups of 50 birds or less.

(3) This makes it desirable to count several (if possible 4 or
more) stations in each locality, with a reasonable number (if
possible, 200) birds at each station. Eor a given number of
birds, several stations are much more likely to give a correct
percentage for the whole colony than one station.

(4) In order to detect the extent to which non-random
assortment of bridled birds occurs, counting at each station
should be done by groups of 50 or less, and the figures for the
separate groups recorded for future statistical analysis.

(5) Counts of bridled Guillemots are required from certain
regions, notably the Outer Hebrides, the Cape Wrath area
and other regions of N. and NW. Scotland, Sule Stack and
Sula Sgeir, and northern Ireland. More e.xtensive counts
from all parts of the St. Kilda group are also needed.

(6) In order to detect whether periodic or secular variation
is occurring in the bridled ratio, large counts should be

VOL. XXXIII.] BRIDLED GUILLEMOTS.

183

repeated at intervals at favourable localities, such as Noss,
Handa, Fair Isle, Barra Head, the Fames and Bass Rock.

(7) Counts which it is not desired to publish separately
should be sent to H. N. Southern, c/o Edward Grey Institute
of Field Ornithology, 39, Museum Road, Oxford, who will
analyse them and incorporate them in a final report.

REFERENCES.

Elton, C. S. (1930). Ecology and Evolution. Oxford (p. 30).

Fisher, R. A. (1937). The Wave of Advance of Advantageous Genes.
Ann. Eugen, 7, 355.

Fisher, R. A. (1938). Statistical Methods for Research Workers. 7th
ed. Edinburgh and London.

Ford, E. B. {1939). Polymorphism and Taxonomy, in The New
Systematics, ed. J. S. Huxley, Oxford.

Harrisson, T. H., and Lack, D. (1937). The Breeding birds of
St. Kilda. Scot. Nat., 1934,

Huxley, J. S. {1938). Clines, an auxiliary taxonomic principle.
Nature, 142, 219.

Huxley, J. S. (1939). Clines, an auxiliary method in taxonomy.
Bijd. Dierk., 27, 491.

Pearson, J. (1938). The Tasmanian Brush Opossum, etc. Pap.
Proc. R. Soc. Tasmania for 1937, 21.

Southern, H. N. (1938). Distribution of the Bridled Form of the
Common Guillemot {Uria aalge). Nature, 142, 951.

Southern, H. N. {1939). The Status and Problem of the Bridled
Guillemot. Proc. Zool. Soc. (A), 109, 31.

Timofeeff-Ressovsky, N. W. (1939). Mutations and Geographical
Variations, in The New Systematics, ed. J. S. Huxley, Oxford.

ZiMMERMANN, K. (i935). Zur Rassenanalyse der mitteleuropaische
Feldmause. Arch. Naturgesch. {N.F.), 4, 258.

(184)

THE BREEDING OF THE OYSTER-CATCHER.

BY

E. J. M. '^UXTON.

During the summer of 19^9 I was fortunate enough to spend
three months on the k id of Skokholm, Pembrokeshire, and
the following account of the breeding of the Oyster-catcher
{Hcematopus 0. occidental is almost entirely drawn from
notes made there durir^ that period. The piping ceremony,
to which Se’ ib [i], [2] called attention, was carefully studied
by Huxle^ and Montague [3J, but their observations were
made br''jre the laying of the eggs. Selous observed piping
so late as July but he did not make a detailed study of this
species, as he did of the Ruff {Philomachus pugnax) and other
species. I have not been able to find any study of the Oyster-
catcher during the period between egg-laying and the fledging
of the young.

For the sake of convenience I have divided the paper
into two parts, the first concerned with the physical factors
and the second with the mental and psychological. I have
further grouped my observations under several heads for the
sake of easy cross-reference.

PART I.

A. Nature of Terrain.

Skokholm is an island lying about 3J miles south of the
south-west coast of Pembrokeshire. The area is about
240 acres. There are no beaches of shingle or sand, but the
coast consists of cliffs of red sandstone of varying height up
to about 120 feet, and of different degrees of steepness. On
top, the island, whose highest point is 165 feet above sea
level, is covered with a turf of grass, sorrel, thrift, etc., with
considerable patches of heather and bracken. There is a
number of rocky outcrops also. At the time of egg-laying
the bracken is, of course, very low, but later and before the
eggs have hatched it attains a height of 2 to 3 feet.

B. Siting of Nests.

Nests were found on the cliffs, in thrift, heather, sorrel,
and (especially) in bracken. Some were within 20 feet of
high-water mark, and others at 100 feet or higher. There
were no nests at all in an area liable to be boggy, although
during May it was, in fact, quite firm and dry. In all, 35 pairs
were located, but I have not notes on all these nests. One
of these nests, No. 2, will be treated separately and no
account is taken of it except where stated.

VOL. XXXIII ] BREEDING OF OYSTER-CATCHER. 185

C. Eggs Laid and Chicks Hatched.

In 6 nests situated on the coast of the island 15 eggs were
laid, of which 13 hatched. In 14 inland nests 36 eggs were
laid, of which 32 hatched, "''hus, the average number of
eggs to the clutch was the same in both classes, about 2^,
but a slightly larger percentage h^.+f'^ed in the inland nests.
In 7 nests in the centre of the isla. d 20 eggs were laid, of
which 18 hatched. These figu. are only for those nests
where hatching was under observat' on . The figures for all
clutches will be found under Section G.

D. Temperature and Weather.

The temperature was recorded for most of the ypriod of
egg-laying. It was cold at first, but about the time of the
completion of the latest clutches a sharp rise began. There
were only two days of strong wind, and rain fell on only four
days.

E. Nest Materials.

As by many related birds, several scrapes are made. Some-
times the nest is an almost bare depression, but usually
some “ lining ” or “ decoration " is added. (I do not wish by
these words to imply that the bird intends to make the nest
more comfortable or attractive.) The lining was always of
the material nearest to hand. On the cliffs small flat chips of
sandstone were used. Elsewhere, according to the site of the
nest, dead bracken stalks, twigs of heather, and rabbit
” pellets ” (one nest was entirely lined with these) were used.
I never saw any piece of fresh vegetation in any nest, although
I saw the brooding bird nibble at bracken within reach.
(See under M.) I think that the lining of the nest was added
to after the eggs had been laid, but I cannot be certain of
this.

Besides this lining certain “ decorative ” objects were
brought to the nest from time to time, and these were
certainly not all present when egg-laying began. At several
nests small bones of rabbit or fish were found, and sometimes
even quite large bones. In one nest I found a ring that had
been put on a juvenile Rock-Pipit [Anthus s. petrosus) on
the island in 1935. These objects are certainly brought from
some distance, and are not, like the lining, within reach of
the sitting bird. Perhaps the two different types of material,
here referred to as “ lining ” and “ decoration,” are brought
to the nest by quite different means. If the lining is the
accidental result of the sitting bird’s nibbling, the decoration
may be brought by the bird after it has been pecking at the

186

BRITISH BIRDS.

[VOL. XXXIII.

ground, as they often do in moments of excitement. (This
habit of pecking was noted by Huxley and Montague [3].)
The birds certainly at times bring food to the nest and then
rather absent-mindedly swallow it. (See under M.)

Without exception nests were near to some slight eminence,
a large tuft of thrift, a stone, rock or wall, which was used
as a look-out post for the bird that was not occupied in
brooding. Sometimes this was within a foot or two, at others
at 15-20 yards distance.

F. Incubation Periods.

The first eggs were laid about May 6th or 7th. The last
clutch to hatch hatched on July 5th.

The following table gives a sample of 4 nests.

Nest

Egg

2nd Egg

yd Egg

1st Chick

Last Chick Remarks

I.

May

loth

Tune

4th

June

5th

One chick
died in

egg-

3-

May

May

May

June

June

1st egg

14 or 15

16

18

13

14

hatched
first; 2nd
infertile.

5-

May

16

May

18

Night of June

13-14

2nd egg
hatched
first.

6.

'

May

17

May

18

June

13

June

14

ist egg
hatched
first.*

In nest 2 an egg was laid on May 14th and taken the same
day by a gull. On May 25th a second egg was laid in the same
place and again taken the same day by a gull. On May 29th
or May 30th another egg was laid in a scrape about 10 yards
away from the first in a site more sheltered by bracken.
Another egg was laid there by 31st May. One cliick hatched
on June 24th and the other egg was addled and removed by
the bird to a distance of about four feet.

The incubation periods for these five nests are therefore

Nest Period

1. 25 days

2. 25 ,,

3- 26 ,,

5- 26i ,,

6. 26

*One egg taken by gull about May 26th.

VOL. XXXIII.] BREEDING OF OYSTER-CATCHER. 187

This is a rather longer period than that given in the Practical
Hancock hut not so long as that recently estimated by
the Rev. F. C. R. Jourdain {antea, p. 113).

G. Fertility.

1 average of 2.52 to each

clutch. There were 13 clutches of 3 and 12 of two. None of 4
was seen. Out of 51 observed at hatching, 45 chicks were
hatched Therefore, 88.24 per cent, of the eggs laid hatched ;
3, possibly 4, of these eggs were infertile ; i was taken by a
gull , I chick died in the egg, in the first clutch to hatch.

it IS unfortunately impossible to make any estimate of the
percentage of chicks that are reared.

H. Enemies.

The chief enemies of the Oyster-catcher on the island are
e Greater Black-backed [Larus marinus), British

Lesser Black-backed {Lams f. graellsn), and Herring-Gull
{Larus a. argentatus), and especially the two last in their
capacity of egg-thieves. There were several nests of Oyster-
catchers quite close to nests of each of these species, and
only one of these had an egg stolen. Ravens {Corvus c. corax)
and Carrion-Crows {Corvus c. cor nix) are also regarded as
enemies The Oyster-catcher is very bold in defence of its
nest and for this reason, no doubt, suffers little. It is besides
an exceptionally swift and agile flyer, and trespassing birds
are attacked and struck until driven away. One young
Raven had a tail-feather knocked out, and gulls were often
struck. I never observed anything resembling “ injury —

Nest 2 may have lost two eggs because, being very near
the house, the Oyster-catchers were often disturbed by some-
one walking about, and a watching gull may have been able
. to seize the opportunity thus given. Apart from this, man’s
: influence is not prejudicial to the birds ; and there is no other
I predatory mammal on the island.

J. Brooding.

Brooding is certainly by both sexes, but the cock seemed
always the more nervous, and he also brooded for much
•shorter periods than the hen. It is obviously impossible to
I determine how far this nervousness was due to the presence
■of an unfamiliar object, viz., the hide, near the nest.

Towards the end of incubation the birds were much less
: nervous, and at one or two nests the birds would return
\within ten seconds of my entering the hide. (It, therefore,
^ seems probable that the greater nervousness of the cock was

188

BRITISH BIRDS.

[VOL. XXXIII.

not merely due to the presence of the hide.) There was very
great individual difference between different pairs, and some
nests could not be watched at all from a hide.

K. Feeding of Chicks.

The chicks were first fed as soon as they were dry. It was
impossible to identify most of the food brought, but apart
from molluscs, leatherjackets seemed to be a favourite food.
To one nest I saw two moths brought, possibly silver y moths
[Phisia gamma). The wings were torn off and the body broken
up and dropped in front of the chicks. Food was never
transferred direct from the beak of the adult to the beak of
the chick.

So far as my observations went, at coastal nests terrestrial
animals (leatherjackets, moths, etc.) were brought chiefly
when the tide was in, and not when marine animals were
obtainable. However, there is no doubt that some Oyster-
catchers do feed on land even when the tide is out ; and some
pairs probably have no access to the sea. (See under L.)

Part II.

L. Territory.

As has been stated above (C) the nests were less sparse
in some areas than in others ; therefore, the size of territory
varied considerably.

Certain territories included a strip of sea-shore. From the
behaviour of the birds (N) it appeared that not only rocks,
etc., visible at high tide, but also those uncovered only for
an hour or two, were regarded as part of the territory. (The
latter would, of course, be far more valuable as feeding-
grounds.) “ Piping parties ” of three, four or five birds were
sometimes seen flying over the sea together, close inshore,
even at high tide.

Other territories had no access to the sea, unless the birds
crossed their neighbours’ territories. I do not know whether
or not they did this, but am strongly of the opinion that they
did not. I certainly did not once observe a bird from such a
territory going to the shore to feed, nor leaving its territory
at all. The foraging bird always remained within call of the
brooding bird so far as I was able to observe, and this would
have been impossible in some territories if the shore had
been visited. There was no inland pair without a water supply
in its own territory.

There were, however, certain " neutral ” areas, notably in
the meadow between the house and the well where there was
too much human activity for any pair to nest. Here several

VOL. XXXIII.] BREEDING OF OYSTER-CATCHER. 189

birds might be seen at times together, showing no sign of
excitement or jealousy. Selous, it may be noted, “ lays
great stress on the frequency with which one may, in the
pairing season, see three birds of a species flying together in
apparent friendliness.” At other times, in the same area,
three or four birds would be seen flying together and piping ;
but I have no record of piping on the ground here. I, therefore,
prefer to regard this as a neutral area into which excited
birds might well stray from their territories during piping.

One rock was used as a resting-place by two pairs without
any signs of mutual interference. It was not a very large
rock, in the edge of the sea, and was, I suppose, the most
convenient look-out and resting-place for the two pairs. One
pair when disturbed would almost always fly to this rock,
which was about eighty yards from its nest.

Later, when some of the young birds were already on the
wing, certain rocks were used by twelve or moie birds ; but
such congregations are the first sign of winter flocking and
the abandonment of territory. These were all old birds, and
I never saw young and old birds together except in family
parties.

After the chicks had left the nest, between 12 and 48 hours
after hatching, it was found that territories changed, and
even changed from day to day according to the movements
of the chicks. Thus, if I approached a certain nest and even
stood where the nest had been, no Oyster-catcher showed
any alarm ; but in other areas, where before I could walk
without disturbing them, my presence now caused much
alarm. I was fortunate in getting some positive evidence on
this. On July 2nd I found a chick, which had been hatched
on June i8th in a coastal nest, in a patch of bracken 300 yards
inland from the nest. When I went to the nest the parents
took no notice of me, but showed the usual alarm when
I was near the chick. On July 7th the birds in another
territory were very noisy though for the previous few days
they had not been near their nest, presumably because the
chicks had wandered off and had later returned near to the
nest.

On the same day I found a ringed chick, 316017, then
about three weeks old, in the territory formerly held by the
owners of nest 2. This was not their chick. For an experiment
I removed this chick to a neighbouring territory (R) where
the birds were very noisy and presumably had chicks of their
own. The parents of 316017 followed me some way, but
turned back at a wall which was used by the owners of (R)

190

BRITISH BIRDS.

[VOL. XXXIII.

as a look-out post. I put a low wire fence round the chick, at
some distance, to prevent its escape. “ I then went back
to the territory of its parents, who made much noise, and
then flew off in chasing flight* into the (R) territory past
the chick and round again, without calling while in (R) and
without protest from the owners of (R), who were on the
wall.” This was the only occasion on which the chick’s
parents invaded (R), the territory to which I had removed it.
Probably they had another chick or chicks in their territory,
and they remained there and were very noisy on two
occasions on which there was a human invasion of their
territory in the next hour. But it is interesting to note that
they made no sound during their excited flight into (R), and
that although they flew close past the owners of (R) there
was no protest from them.

The owners of this territory, R(;^ and R$, started calling
as soon as the chick, which had been crouching, began to
move. They gradually came closer, flying low over the chick
and alighting near, but always outside, the fence. The chick
was mostly silent. My impression was that the two adults
were trying either to drive the chick off or to entice it away,
neither of which was possible owing to the fence. One bird
began piping briefly, which I suppose may suggest that they
were trying to drive the chick away. Pecking at the ground,
a form of ‘‘ sexual ” behaviour referred to by Huxley and
Montague [3], was also noted. But for the most part the
adult birds either flew low over the chick, or ran along near
it in the hunched-up attitude of piping, but with the beak
held out instead of down, and calling kee-kee-kee, etc. Once
the chick tried to climb over the fence and was caught for a
moment. It freed itself and called two or three times, and
R(^ and R$ then became very excited.

After about an hour I let the chick out of its pen, and it
ran off at once, waving its wings in the manner described by
Brooks [4], p. 453. The adults were very noisy, but I was no
doubt as much responsible for this as the chick. I made the
chick squat and returned to the hide. After seven minutes
it raised its head and ran off ‘‘ stopping frequently and
bobbing ” like a Common Sandpiper {Tringa hypoleucos) .
(This performance is sometimes seen in adults, Huxley and
Montague [3], p. 873.) It ran towards the adults R(J and R$,
which were on the wall. One of them flew down on to the
ground and started pecking. Neither adult approached the
chick nor called and they seemed to take no further notice

♦Described by Huxlev and Montague [3J, pp. 886-887.

VOL. XXXIII ] BREEDING OF OYSTER-CATCHER. 191

of it. I therefore returned it to the territory from which
I had taken it. As soon as it was in its own territory, it called
three times, in my hand, and its parents called softly, not
the alarm call, from another wall bounding their territory.
I put the chick down but the parents did not go to it so long
as I was in sight.

M. Behaviour at the Nest.

There is little to record of the brooding birds. At one or
two nests I was able to distinguish the sexes without difficulty,
by the longer bill of the hen bird, which also has a propor-
tionately larger patch of yellow at the distal end. (I do not
know if this is constant.) There was some difference between
the sexes in behaviour, apart from the greater nervousness
of the cock, which I have already mentioned (J). There
was certainly a difference in the calls used, but in writing of
a bird with so very large a vocabulary as the Oyster-catcher
I hesitate to try to transcribe many of the notes. I recorded
in my notes every sound uttered by the birds during many
hours of watching, but I suppose that my transcriptions would
mean as little to others as others’ transcriptions mean to me.
But in particular I noted that the hen used a soft, almost
clucking note, which the cock never uttered. This note was
used only after the chicks had hatched, and apparently it
called them to their mother. Piping was never observed
close to the nest, though the cock piped sometimes from
his look-out if another Oyster-catcher flew near. The presence
of other, harmless birds, Rock-Pipit, Meadow-Pipit [Anthus
pratensis), Wheatear {(Enanthe ce. cenanthe) and Puffin
{Fratercula a. grahcB) was ignored.

When a* foraging bird returned with food neither called,
and the brooding bird must have become aware of its approach
by sight, or at least not by any sound audible to human ears.
Sometimes the bird returning with food would eat the food
itself after approaching the nest, perhaps after waiting
nervously (?) for a short time. Probably this was due to some
distraction. Pecking and nibbling, as already mentioned (E),
(L), are not infrequent signs of excitement or nervousness,
and I suppose on these occasions it happened that the nibbling
action took place when the beak contained food, with the
result that the food was swallowed. I only once saw the
brooding bird eat, and then she picked up a morsel of food
that the chicks had left. The foraging bird also helped to
finish up the “ scraps.” The chicks were always fed outside
the nest, and were called out by the bird that had been

192

BRITISH BIRDS.

[VOL. XXXIII.

foraging. I think that only the cock forages, and that the
hen’s spells off the nest are merely for the purpose of feeding
herself.

One rather comic interchange was observed. The cock had
relieved the hen on the nest, but kept walking off the nest
and back to the look-out rock, where the hen was standing.
A Lesser Black-backed Gull flew over and caused some
e.xcitement ; when it had gone the hen nibbled at the cock’s
tail-feathers. He then returned to the nest, and she walked
out of sight, only to reappear almost at once and peck at the
ground.

Once, before the bird returned to the nest after being put
off by me, I heard a call which I noted down as “ puk-puk-
pikkuk — very soft.” This was not heard again.

Sometimes the brooding bird would nibble at the grass or
bracken within reach. (See under E.) Once the hen nibbled
at a chick that was straying away from the nest.

Coition was only once observed, and then not near to the
nest, and, as noted by Hu.xley and Montague [3], p. 888,
without any preliminary courtship.

N. Piping.

I have little to add to the thorough study by Hu.xley and
Montague [3], and there is no reason to describe again here
what they and Selous [2] have already so well described.

Mr. R. M. Lockley informs me that he first hears the birds
at Skokholm piping in January, chiefly at night, long before
they are spending all their time in their territory. The last
date on which I heard them was July 27th.

I noted that when the piping is given in flight a peculiar
form of flight is used ; the flapping is swift but the forward
progress is slow. As noted above (L) this piping was observed
over the sea and rocks uncovered by the tide. Piping was
heard at almost all hours of the day and night, and in any
weather e.xcept very strong wind.

As for the piping ceremony, as I should prefer to call it,
which is one of the most interesting and complicated patterns
of behaviour in a British species, several considerations occur.
First, I agree with Huxley and Montague [3], p. 890, that
” it may be used in very various situations.” But so may
most patterns of behaviour. In man, weeping is the response
to a very large variety of situations : grief, e.xcessive joy or
mirth, anger, sentimentality, pity, not to mention the taste
of lemons, the smell of onions, or the feel of cold winds. The
use of one pattern of behaviour in various situations is usual.

VOL. XXXIII ] BREEDING OF OYSTER-CATCHER. 193

It seems to me that this “ display ” is not “ directed at
another bird,”* and I am doubtful if any display is so directed.
It is, in my opinion, an expression of an emotional or
physiological state, like tears, in the performing bird. Hence
I prefer the word ” ceremony ” or ‘‘ dance,” but the latter
connotes, perhaps rightly, an aesthetic appreciation or
purpose. Selous [2] noted the curiously absent-minded
appearance of the piping birds, which seem quite absorbed in
their performance. I may perhaps refer to my note on the
display of the Green Sandpiper {Tringa ochropus) [5] in
which I noted that at times the ” displaying ” bird must be
invisible to its companion. I have frequently observed the
same thing in the ceremonies of the Moorhen {Gallinula
ch. chloropus).

Usually, in my observations, the piping ceremony occurred
after the intrusion of a third bird into the territory of a mated
pair. However, where larger parties are concerned, some less
simple explanation than jealousy or a sense of property
should probably be looked for. There is no doubt that both
sexes pipe (Huxley and Montague [3], p. 882), but I think
the cock pipes more frequently, as would be expected.

I have, I hope, raised a few problems which others might
find it worth while to examine, either by a study of this most
interesting and beautiful species, or by observations on other
birds. I had hoped to make this paper more complete by
further observations ; but in the present uncertain circum-
stances I have thought it best to publish it now.

Finally, I have to thank Mr. G. R. Duval, who kindly put
at my disposal his notes on one of the pairs which I watched,
and Mr. R. M. Lockley for his assistance with information,
and for reading through this paper.

REFERENCES.

[1] Selous, E. (1901) : Bird-Watching.

[2] Selous, E. (1927) : Realities of Bird-Life.

[3] Huxley, J. S., and Montague, F. A. (1925) : “ Studies on the
Courtship and Sexual Life of Birds.” V. The Oyster-catcher. Ibis,
October, 1925. With useful bibliography.

[4] Brooks, A. (1939) : “ The dovv'ny young of some Nearctic
Limicolines.” Ibis, July, 1939.

[5] Buxton, E. J. M. (1938) : “ Display of Green Sandpiper.” British
Birds, Vol. XXXII, pp. 119-20.

♦Huxley and Montague [3], p. 890.

iffiOTESit

INTERBREEDING OF A HOODED AND A
CARRION-CROW IN Co. DUBLIN.

In 1939 in the south of Co. Dublin a Hooded Crow {Corvus
c. cornix) and a Carrion-Crow (C. c. corone) nested and
successfully reared their young. I am aware of only two
other Irish records of the inter-breeding of these birds,
namely at Ballywalter Park, Co. Down, c. 1908 {Brit. B.,
Vol. XXIX, p. 127) and at the north side of Dublin Bay in
1935 {t.c., p. 238), and in neither case has there been evidence
that young reached maturity. In both occurrences the Carrion-
Crow was the male.

In the south Dublin instance the Carrion-Crow would appear
to have been the female. When the nest was discovered, on
April 2ist, by Lt.-Col. Charles Scroope, the Carrion-Crow
was sitting. On April 24th Mr. P. E. Dunn and I put her off
the nest and saw that she was soon joined by a Hooded Crow.
Later we watched her returning with the Hoodie in attendance.

On May 6th the young called in the nest when we tapped
the tree, but on all subsequent visits, until they flew on May
28th, they remained quite silent.

It was unfortunate that the young were not examined
before they left the nest. From various observations, however,
which were made afterwards in the vicinity, it was concluded
that there were four young in all and that in colour one was
like a Carrion, two were of hybrid plumage showing more
of the Carrion than of the Hooded Crow and the fourth was
either of hybrid plumage like the other two or, more probably,
like a Hoodie. P. G. Kennedy.

JACKDAW NESTING IN ITS FIRST YEAR.

A Jackdaw {Corvus m. spermologus) ringed as a nestling in
June, 1935, hatched four young in May, 1936, thus attaining
almost its maximum fecundity in its first year, as broods of
five do not appear to be frequent. A case is also recorded of a
Jackdaw rearing one, three, five and four in successive years
so that its maximum fecundity was maintained until what
must have been at least its fourth breeding season.

Though, no doubt, most of the Passeres breed in their first
year, the case of a Jackdaw having done so is mentioned on
account of its near relationship to the Rook {Corvus f.
frugilegus) which is supposed not to breed until its
second year. C. Wontnek-Smith.

VOL. XXXIII.] NOTES. 195

FECUNDITY OF BLUE TIT AND TAWNY OWL
IN RELATION TO AGE.

The following observations might supplement Mr. Charteris’s
note [antea, p. 162) on fecundity in relation to age of birds.

A Blue Tit {Pams c. obscurus) ringed in December, 1930,
brought off a brood in 1938, though its sex and number of
young are unknown as the nest was inaccessible.

A pair of Tawny Owls [Strix a. sylvatica) have nested in
the same tree in a half-wooded seven-acre garden annually
since 1917, or earlier. I have no definite proof that they are
the same birds, but as a pair has been continuously resident,
no dead bird has been found, and there is no danger of shooting
in the neighbourhood, it seems likely. In 1937 the bird was
sitting for at least 4 weeks — its head is visible from the
ground — but was found to be incubating only a tennis ball,
lost in the fork of the tree from a court below. In 1938 two
eggs were laid : one hatched and the young one died when
about a fortnight old ; the other was infertile. In 1939 the
bird sat for about three weeks on an empty nest-hollow.
In previous years the nest was not regularly visited, though
the bird was seen sitting each year and young birds were
frequently seen after fledging. In 1924 four young were
brought off, and two in 1926. This may be a case of infertility
due to old age. J. A. G. Barnes.

COMMON BUZZARD IN SHETLAND.

The Handbook of British Birds (Vol. Ill, p. 53) says of the
Common Buzzard {Buteo b. buteo) : “ Occurrence at any time
in Shetlands doubtful, except Fair Is., where occasional.”
In view of this statement, it may be of interest to know that
I had an .excellent view of a Buzzard being mobbed by a
Herring-Gull near Uyeasound, on the Island of Unst, on
June i6th, 1936. I was with a local Shetland lad at the time,
and only the day previously he had shown me an eyrie, where
he said Buzzards had nested for several years. The remains
of the nest were plainly visible on an inaccessible ledge on a
high sea-cliff ; it was raining heavily at the time and I could
see no sign of life in the nest, but could not look directly into it.
The bird seen at Uyeasormd on June i6th was the only one
I saw during a fortnight’s stay on the island, so that I can
give no proof of breeding in that year. C. J. Pring.

ASSOCIATION OF DRAKE MALLARD WITH
ALARMED CALL DUCK AND BROOD.

On April 9th, 1939, at Poole Park, Dorset, a white ” call ”
duck with a brood was suddenly alarmed by a dog which

196

BRITISH BIRDS.

[VOL. XXXIII.

splashed into the water near the ducklings. The duck quacked
loudly and manoeuvred the brood away. Immediately the
duck quacked, a wild drake Mallard {Anas p. platyrhyncha)
detached itself from a group of drakes and swam to the duck
with the brood. It remained with them and swam close to
the duck, which continued to quack, though the drake
showed no signs of alarm.

Although the Mallard on this pond do not live in a perfectly
wild state, the drake in question was undoubtedly a true
Mallard, and this instance seems to support Mr. B. Lloyd’s
contention {antea, Vol. XXX., p. 336) that occasional
association of the Mallard drake with a duck and brood is a
real one and not merely fortuitous. G. K. McCulloch.

SUMMER PLUMAGE OF FEMALE RED-BREASTED

MERGANSER.

During a visit to the Varanger peninsula. East Finmark,
in June and July, 1939, I made special efforts to investigate
the breeding plumage of the female Red-breasted Merganser
{Mergus serrator). It is stated in The Handbook (Vol. Ill,
p. 372) that in those examined the black area round the eye
was lacking, but that more material is required.

I was able to handle several birds, and besides examined
over twenty individuals at close quarters with powerful
binoculars. In every case the black area round the eyes
was missing.

An adult breeding female (near Storelve, July 2nd, 1939,
soft egg in oviduct) had moulted most of the head and
throat, but not the elongated occipital feathers. The new
plumage was as in winter/spring, but the black patch round
the eyes was replaced by reddish brown feathers, and there
was no indication of any black spotting on the throat. A few
flank feathers, dark ash-brown, narrowly tipped buff-brown,
had been renewed. The rest of the plumage was as winter
but abraded. The bill was deep pink-brown, culmen and
nail black ; lower mandible paler ; legs and feet deep
vermilion, webs dusky ; iris : rich red-brown.

John G. Williams.

STOCK-DOVE FLOCKS IN THE BREEDING

SEASON.

With reference to the recent notes on the above subject
tantea, pp. 140, 165) I can state that both in the conifer and
(he deciduous woods of south-west Surrey flocks of Stock-Doves
[Columha cenas) are quite regular right through the year.

VOL. XXXIII.]

NOTES.

197

During the spring and summer these flocks rarely contain
more than 20 birds but in the autumn and winter many more
can be seen, though by then they are usually joined up with
Wood-Pigeons. L. S. V. Venables.

NUPTIAL SONG OF LITTLE STINT.

Of recent years in Kent I have seen a number of Little Stints
{Calidris minuta) on spring passage.

It may be interesting to record that small parties of these
birds in spring occasionally indulge in bursts of nuptial song.
The basis of this song, a trill which may last for several
minutes, appears to consist of a series of notes^ — dree, de-dree
dee, dirr ” — variously repeated and rolled together, being
uttered something like the buzzing of a bee, but the song
rises and falls in a most tuneful manner sometimes sounding
near, sometimes far away.

The song has always been uttered when the birds were
standing on the mud, often at only a few yards distance
from me. T. C. Gregory.

PURPLE SANDPIPER AND OTHER BIRDS
IN MIDDLESEX.

On November 5th, 1939, we saw a Purple Sandpiper [Calidris
m. maritima) at Staines Reservoir, the second record for
Middlesex, a Black Tern [Chlidonias n. niger), the latest
autumn record for Middlesex, and a Slavonian Grebe [Podiceps
auritus). A. Holte Macpherson.

William E. Glegg.

G. Carmichael Low.

SOOTY TERN IN STIRLINGSHIRE.

A DEAD bird was found about the end of May, 1939, by Mr.
Duncan, the fox hunter for Stirlingshire, on Myatt Hill, three
miles from Denny, and was brought in the flesh to me by
Master James Stirton of Perth, grandson of the finder.

Examination showed it to be about three or four days dead
and suspecting it to be a Sooty Tern, I sent it, when set up, to
Mr. H. F. Wither by, who confirmed my diagnosis and, after
comparison with other specimens, sent me the following note :

" The bird is in full moult, most of the feathers being new, but the
two outer functional primaries are old and the next is a new one
sprouting, the rest being newly grown. The tail-feathers are mostly
new, but the outermost are old. There are a few old and very worn
brown feathers on the upper-parts and wings amongst the new black
feathers.

198

BRITISH BIRDS.

[VOL. XXXIII.

I consider the old outer tail-feathers are of the juvenile plumage and
that the bird was hatched last year and is moulting into its second
winter plumage. The under-parts are white without any of the
brown feathers of the juvenile plumage.

The bird agrees in general with others of the typical form Sterna
fuscata fuscata from the West Indies and Florida.”

This specimen has been deposited in the collection of The
Royal Scottish Museum, Edinburgh. John Ritchie.

Museum, Perth.

INCUBATION PERIOD OE CAPERCAILLIE AND
PRECOCITY OF CHICKS.

During the spring of 1939 I was able to observe in Scotland
the nest of a Capercaillie {Tetrao u. urogalhis) from the start
of incubation to hatching and I thought the following might
be of interest : —

April 30th : Nest found in Scots pine wood containing
six eggs.

May 1st : Same nest contained seven eggs — bird flushed
from nest.

May 28th : Three eggs show first sign of chipping — 3 p.m.

May 29th ; Two chicks have beaks just penetrating through
shells, remaining five eggs chipped — 3 p.m.

May 30th : All seven chicks hatched by 10 a.m.

During the morning of May 30th while watching and
photographing from a hide, two Capercaillie chicks climbed
up the tall heather behind the nest, reaching a height of
appro .ximately two feet above ground. Having attained this
height they fell down — one on the back of the adult hen—
and shortly after two chicks again climbed up the heather.
As I have not seen this referred to in any accounts of the
Capercaillie and as it is a rather extraordinary feat for chicks
only a few hours old I thought it might be of interest.

Eric J. Hosking.

Sky-Lark Nesting in October in L.\ncashire. — Mr.
Eric Hardy informs us that a Sky-Lark [Alanda a. arvensis)
was flushed from a nest with 3 eggs by a farm-worker at
Simonswood on October 17th, 1939, and reported to him.
Mr. Hardy was able to photograph the nest on the 22nd and
show it to others of the Merseyside Naturalists’ Association.
The bird was still sitting in the fourth week of the month.

Black Kites Released in London. — Mr. Percy W. Horn
of the Stepney Museum informed us that he twice saw a
Kite, which appeared to be a Black Kite, flying over Stratford
on October 24th, 1939. We have since learned that several

VOL. XXXIII.]

NOTES.

199

Black Kites {Milvus migrans) have recently been given

Zoological Gardens, Regent’s Parkland
no doubt this was one of them.

A ™ Recorded as Goshawk.—

6th Tn,^ A by a gamekeeper near Pontefract on June
2id to K " G“hawk, which was

lambs" iC P«-baps

H R R proves on examination by Mr

(Pefni^:;trX

us^fha^'f V" P=“B®oySHlRE.-Mr. H. A. Gilbert informs

that a Garganey {Anas querquedula) was caught at
Orielton on October 24th, 1939. ^ciugnr at

REVIEWS.

The Birds of Staffordshire. By T. Smith. Issued as Appendices 1 0

Fu„ clTvTlAf fffoXvT'AA: XTs

i®iSllip5S5i

every county avifauJ^^^ indispensable accompaniment of

clear" indiSion 'S tie 1 Z’’Py4i;°;b‘'if

In^Lr^nrtabsTc'tTy 1e2“rP“t"b'e“t?thod 7”'“^ f P'“

iSSfH|p=a=5i|ii

SHs:sl5li5f5”S^^

iipi|p5Sg^

y rd catchers near Longton in December loiti ” /n s-ri tUc i <- i
given in the " Appendix '' of mv ovvn Water PinU. S?)- The details

equally unsatisfactory as it stands (p 273) A mistal e [^11^

It appear that Mr. A.‘ W. Boyd saK Little Stint am? Mr F R B^^lmv

?p era? 7T" "'"7 * Stint on the same day in o7

(P; 274). The account of Gannets seen flyins over seemQ m-Tif hc. k
mis-identification of Lesser Black-backed Gufls. ^

200

BRITISH BIRDS.

[VOL. XXXIII.

F. Coburn’s records are given without any question. His account
of the status of certain species, such as the Sheld-Duck, Grey Plover,
Great Black-backed Gull and Kittiwake, is so contrary to probability
and to recent evidence that some discussion of their reliability seems
to be called for.

Mr. Smith does not seem to realize that “ a reservoir at Brewood ”
is the same as Bellfields or that if Dippers are common near Weston-
under-Lizard, they will probably be mostly in Shropshire.

The information about the status of the Black Grouse, though
published in 1935, does not seem to extend beyond 1925 ; the present
status of the Red Grouse on Cannock Chase is left quite vague and the
account of the status of both Corncrake and Wryneck is quite out of
date. It is doubtful if many of the former or any of the latter can be
found breeding in Staffordshire to-day ; on the other hand the Wood-
Lark, happily, is rather more firmly established in the extreme south-
west than Mr. Smith seems to recognize. Some of the records for this
area — the Stour valley^ — -probably apply to Worcestershire rather than
Staffordshire. The classification is said to follow the Practical Handbook,
but the waders follow the passerines, the Wood-Sandpiper is out of
place, and there are other surprises.

Words are often used loosely — “ universally ” for ‘‘ widely ” and a
number of vague and nebulous expressions.

It is not pleasant to feel obliged to make so many criticisms which
are, in fact, by no means exhaustive. The sum of it is that Mr. Smith
has not really mastered and sifted his material. What he has done is
to bring together a mass of information, and he has thereby rendered
great assistance to some future author who undertakes a real county
avifauna. H.G.A.

LETTER.

NOTES ON THE SWALLOW.

To the Editors of British Birds.

Sirs, — In his interesting note on Swallows and Martins {antea,
p. 109) Mr. L. C. Lloyd refers to the rarity of a Swallow’s adopting a
site for its nest such as that used by a House-Martin.

On one house I have found several pairs that nested in this way ;
the nests were built at the end of two gables and so close to the eaves
that very little room was left between the eaves and the rim of the
nests and to remove the young for ringing was quite a difficulty.

Mr. Lloyd also mentioned that the Swallow was decidedly non-social.
Only once among some thousands have I known occupied nests side by
side. Two pairs built on a wooden shelf about a foot long, which had
been fixed to a pig-cote wall to provide a nesting-site ; the sitting
birds were within six inches of one another.

I was witness of an extreme example of the failure of a Swallow to
feed its young during heavy rain, to which Mr. and Mrs. Moreau refer
in their article {antea, pp. 146-51). June 3rd, 1936, was a day of
almost continuous rain and bitterly cold. I visited a farm to ring an
early brood of Swallows in a shed and found them almost cold. The
farmer told me that the old birds had not been seen during the day,
but his daughter then wrapped the young ones in flannel and kept
them by the kitchen fire till they revived. The old birds did not return
till 9 p.m., when their young were put back in the nest. Three out of
five actually survived and flew. A. W. Boyd.

Frandley House,

Near Northwich.

7D. G19o9

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Readers will surely agree with the author,
after reading his delightful book, that the
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5i. the set complete. Vols. /, II and III have been published.

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In three volumes published simultaneously and illustrated with

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By E. M. NICHOLSON and LUDWIG KOCH.
Introduction by Julian Huxley.

With two double-sided lo-inch gramophone records featuring the
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With three double-sided lo-inch gramophone records featuring the
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Vol. XXXIII
No. 8.

MONTHIY 1s9<I.YEARLY 204
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Illustrate cl ivith 9 flates in
colour and 12 in black-and-white
by the author

Medium 4/0 . . . 15^-

Postage 9(1.

Readers will surely agree with the author,
after reading his delightful book, that the
P\oo he paid for a pond proved a thoroughly
successful and sound investment. The author
tells of his adaptation of the pond to attract
bird life and chronicles the activities of
the various species that visited the pond at
different seasons of the year.

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With which was Incorporated in January, 1917, “ The Zoologist.”

EDITED BY

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ASSISTED BY

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Norman F. Ticehurst, o.b.e., m.a., f.r.c.s., m.b.o.u.

Contents of Number 8, Vol. XXXIII. , January i, 1940.

PAGE

Report on the 1938 Survey of Black-headed Gull Colonies.

By P. A. D. Hollom ... ... ... ... ... ... 202

The Display and Song of the Turtle-Dove. By M. K. Colquhoun 222

The Continental Redshank as a British Bird. I. Direct Evidence

(H. F. Witherby). II. Migrational Evidence (N. F. Ticehurst) 225

'Notes ; —

Two Cuckoo’s Eggs in Deserted Nests in the Same Bush

(J. H. Symes) ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 228

Common Eiders in Cheshire (W. Wilson) ... ... ... 228

■Short Notes : —

Common Redstart in Isle of Wight in November. Black
Redstart in Co. Kilkenny. Red-necked Phalarope in Kent
in August ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 228

^940

p

A PUBLICATION OF THE BRITISH TRUST FOR
ORNITHOLOGY.

REPORT ON THE 1938 SURVEY OF BLACK-HEADED

GULL COLONIES.

BY

P. A. D. HOLLOM.

The report on the colonies of the Black-headed Gull {Larus
r. ridibiuidus) in the British Isles is based principally on the
response to inquiry schedules sent out in the spring of 1938
on behalf of the British Trust for Ornithology with which
the full data of the inquiry have been deposited. The
information asked for was the locality of all colonies occupied
at any time during the past 25 years, the date of colonization,
and date of desertion if now deserted. Observers were also
invited to estimate the size of the colonies.

About 160 people sent information, as is gratefully
acknowledged in the lists under each country, but particular
mention should be made of the following who undertook to
report on complete counties or large portions of them.

England and Wales ; Rev. F. L. Blathwayt, E. Blezard,
•A.. W. Boyd, R. Chislett, Maj. M. Congreve, H. A. Gilbert,
C. S. Graham, S. B. Hewitt, R. C. Homes, T. C. E. Hughes,
P. A. Humble, Rev. F. C. R. jourdain, T. Kerr, Mrs. M.
Richards, H. W. Robinson, A. Roebuck, Miss E. L. Turner,
Natural History Society of Northumberland, Durham and
Newcastle-on-Tyne.

Scotland: Miss E. \h Ba.xter and Miss L. j. Rintoul,
H. Boase, Dr. J. W. Campbell, P. A. Clancey, F. G. S. Graham,
Miss D. Hamilton, I). I. Molteno, J. Peterson, Midlothian
Ornithological Club.

Several lists, local and national, have been made in the
past of Black-headed Gulleries, the most notable being
R. Gurney’s “ Breeding Stations of the Black-headed Gull in
the British Isles ” published in the Transactions of the Norfolk
and Norwich Nahiralists’ Society, 1918-19, and these and the
county faunas have, of course, been of considerable assistance
in compiling the present lists.

Scope of the Inquiry.

The whole of England and Wales was well covered and very
few colonies can have been missed ; in most cases the schedules
contained information on the strength and age of the colonies.

Reports from Scotland were rather patchy and generally
less detailed than those from England and W’ales. Up-to-date

VOL. XXXIII.] BLACK-HEADED GULL COLONIES. 203
information was received on nearly all occupied colonies in

router of ftrthshirLd

rnm oil '’“J Practically nothing was forthcoming

Orkney “ Dumfries. Kirkcudbright and

h,n of®”'' of reports came from Northern Ireland

in^rr t "r ‘'''= T"* ■‘oooot detailed

that contained in Gurney’s twenty- year-old

Hinnnh^ hough speaking of the country generally G. R
Humphreys in his 1937 List of Irish Birds says it ‘‘ breeds

larr an^rlir^ °"i '"‘'"“d bogs and has colonies

Location of Colonies.

ailv, oolonies were reported as occupied in England

afso in thfC^S in Scotland and 39 in Ireland. There® were
also in the four countries respectively g, 7, 92 and aS sites
which 1 have classed as doubtful, as they had been previou^v
'Occupied but were not definitely reported as either^ occupied
'or eserted in 1938. These occupied and doubtful colonies
oge er give a total of 488 colonies in the British Isles

I undoubted! v p"^ 'T m® Preceding paragraph there are
I undoubtedly a considerable number of Scottish and Irish

colonies not included in the above figures
br^k?Tn‘?o'°"'“ ““Pt P«'^-

Sot Moniirrc^rd"®

■Snsscl Somerset, Cornwall and

K u ^°^\^®^hle that all these counties except Sussex

o^the B^-ilfol Chanel. The remaining two counties

on the Bristol Chanel, Devon and Carmarthen, have only

one colony each. There are single colonies also in Flint and
Suffolk, but all the other coastal counties contain several
-substantial CO onies. None breed in the Isle of Man. Inland

Rp Cambridge, Northampton

Hereford, Derby and the West Riding of Yorkshire. ^ ’

ut relatively few colonies are actually on the coast or
-oastal marsh, and about 60 English and Welsh sites or
.aearly forty per cent, of the total, are 20 miles or more inland.

- point brought out by the map is a certain broad correspon-
dence between the distribution of inland sites and that of
Tioorland. There are, of course, some notable exceptions to
-his, as m Lincoln and Norfolk. On moorland, breeding
Tiay occur at a considerable elevation, the highest in England
oemg on Greensett Moss, Yorks, at about 1925 feet, where

204

BRITISH BIRDS

[vOL. XXXIII.

Black-headed Gull Colonies in England and Wales in 1938.

VOL. XXXIII.] BLACK-HEADED GULL COLONIES. 205

206

BRITISH BIRDS.

[vOL. XXXIII.

there is a flourishing colony of about 250 pairs. Similarly
in Wales there are only 7 coastal colonies ; the remaining
27 are chiefly on moorland or moorland pools and average
over 1,000 feet above sea level.

Most of England’s Black-headed Gulls are concentrated in
the north, Northumberland, Cumberland and Yorkshire,
having a total of 70 colonies, which, thanks principally to
Ravenglass, account for about 75 per cent, of the country’s
breeding stock.

The bird is more evenly spread throughout Scotland, prob-
ably owing to the greater extent of moors and mosses, but
there appear to be no colonies in East Lothian, Clackmannan,
Kincardine or Banff. Here as in the north of England it is
sometimes difficult to decide what is to be considered a
colony, as on some grouse moors the birds are harried and
break up into small scattered groups, while from season to
season colonies may shift according to the varying state of
pools and mosses. An extreme example of this was reported
from Northumberland in 193S : Hallington East Reservoir
normally surrounds a large grassy island where Gulls have
bred for many years. On May 7th there were 200 birds and
six or seven nests on this island. The water retreated, the
island was joined to the mainland, the nests were robbed
and the colony was deserted. Later in the year, however,
the water still further retreated and in Hallington West
Reservoir an island appeared which had never been laid bare
before. From 400 to 500 birds were attracted to it and several
nests were made and young reared.

In Northern Ireland there are a number of colonies, par-
ticularly round Lough Neagh, and the bird breeds on several
marine islands off the coast of Antrim and Co. Down.

Size of Colonies.

The number of pairs in nearly all English and Welsh colonies
was estimated in 1938 and total about 70,000 pairs in England
with an allowance of a few thousand pairs each way, and
about 6,000 pairs in Wales. Northumberland was the most
difficult county to assess as the numbers of birds at several
colonies fluctuated violently during the season, chiefly owing
to disturbance through drought. The data are inadequate
to suggest a total figure for Scotland or Ireland.

By far the greatest colony in the Kingdom is Ravenglass,
Cumberland, with nearly 50,000 pairs. This is over five times
the size of its nearest rival and amounts to two-thirds of the
total population of England. Eleven other colonies of over

VOL. XXXIII. 1 BLACK-HEADED GULL COLONIES. 207

1,000 pairs each were reported, five in England (Cumb,
Lancs, Lines, Norfolk, Dorset), two in Wales (Montgomery),
three in Scotland (Dumbarton, Fife, Perth) and one in
Ireland on Lough Neagh, but several other colonies in
Scotland and Ireland were reported as “ vast ” or “ huge.”

County breeding densities in England and Wales in 1938.

The colonies whose sizes were reported may be divided into
the groups i to 10 pairs, ii to 100 pairs, loi to 1,000 pairs
and so on, this grouping having been adopted to conform
with that used by Mr. J. Fisher in his Report on the Fulmar

Petrel (in

Press).

lOI-

1,001

10,001-

I-IO

II-IOO

1,000

10,000

100,000 pairs

(I)

(2)

(3)

(4)

(5)

England .

.. 19

50

33

4

I

Wales

2

18

8

2

—

Scotland .

.. II

32

20

3

—

Ireland .

•• J

10

9

I

—

Totals

.. 36

no

70

10

I

208

BRITISH BIRDS.

[VOL. XXXIII.

It appears that throughout the British Isles colonies are
most numerous in the ii-ioo pairs group ; next comes the
101-1,000 pairs group ; then the colonies of lo pairs or less,
and finally those over i,ooo pairs. It is interesting that this
should apply to all four countries and suggests that the size
of colonies is substantially the same in each. The fact that
the group i-io pairs only takes third place stresses that the
Black-headed Gull is essentially colonial in its breeding.

On the map the sizes of the 1938 colonies are indicated by
the figures i to 5, according to the size group into which the
colony falls. Thus, the figure i shows that the number of
pairs in a colony does not exceed 10 ; 2 that the number
is between ii and 100 ; 3 a colony of up to 1,000 and
so on.

One of the objects of the inquiry was to collect information
on the recent spread of the species. Just over fifty years ago,
in 1884, Harting summarized the colonies known to him and
came to the opinion that the bird was on the road to extinction
as a breeding species. That seems to have been about the
turning point, and new colonization was proceeding in
earnest by the beginning of this century.

The following table gives the number of English and ^^Tlsh
sites newly occupied during the past forty years. Where the
exact date of colonization is not known it is assumed to have
occurred during the five-year period in which the colony
was first reported as occupied.

Number of sites colonized, or first reported as occupied {England

and Wales only).

Five-year Period.

Five-year Period.

1899-1903 ... 12

1919-1923 ...

24

1904-1908 ... 7

1924-1928 ...

16

1909-1913 ... 27

1929-1933 ...

24

1914-1918 ... 22

1934- 1 93«

43*

The table totals 175 colonies and includes all

those which

have been newly formed during the period, whether they
are now occupied or deserted. During the same period about
70 colonies have been deserted.

It has been suggested that wholesale disturbance of colonies
during the Great War of 1914-18 by the taking of eggs for
food caused the birds to disperse widely and was an important
factor in the spread of the species. But it is evident that

*The high figure for the last five-year period is due largely to the
recording in 1938 for the first time of colonies whose histories are
not known.

1

I

1

VOL. XXXIII ] BLACK-HEADED GULL COLONIES. 209

the spread had started some years before the beginning of
the Great War, and its steady continuation since then makes
it seem dangerous to connect too closely war-time disturbance
and the formation of new colonies.

The maps showing the sites occupied in 1938 and 1913
give a good idea of the increase in the number of colonies
since that date. Unfortunately, in only a very few cases is
the size of colonies in 1913 known, even within such wide
limits as the five size-groups into which the 1938 colonies
are divided, and so sites only have been shown in the earlier
map, but a distinctive sign has been used for those 1913
colonies which were deserted by 1938. These total 27.

Comparing the two maps it appears that the present
distribution was already sketched in broad outline 25 years
ago, and that little completely new ground has been broken
except in the middle of England. What has occurred has
chiefly been consolidation within and expansion in the
neighbourhood of areas already occupied. It is significant
that though some gulleries have been deserted, practically
no districts have been deserted by breeding birds.

The number of recorded occupied colonies in England
and ^^"ales has risen from 90 in 1913 to 158 in 1938, but no
doubt the 1913 figure would have been increased if a special
inquiry had been held in that year as in 1938. It is, however,
not certain tha,t the total number of birds is still increasing,
at any rate in the north. Ravenglass is said to be appreciably
smaller than in 1913, and a definite decrease has been reported
during the last 15 years in the neighbourhood of Alnwick.

Over the border H. S. Gladstone found that Gulls in
Dumfries decreased steadily from about 5,200 pairs in 1910
to about 2,600 pairs in 1921 ; there appears to have been
some recovery in 1938, but unfortunately little information
about the present-day position was forthcoming. On the
other hand Miss Rintoul found the species more numerous
than ever in Roxburgh in 1938.

Colonization dates were given for 61 of the occupied Scottish
colonies, and 39 of these or well over fifty per cent, were 1900
or earlier. This is a much higher proportion of old colonies
than in England and Wales, where only about twenty-five
per cent, of the colonies now occupied were colonized by 1900.
The Scottish figures are too small for definite conclusions
to be drawn, but this indication of greater stability suggests
that the large increase in English colonies during the present
century has not been equalled in Scotland.

Records for one Irish colony go back over 85 years. In

210

BRITISH BIRDS.

[VOL. XXXIII.

Scotland there are eighteenth-century records of colonies at
Loch Leven and in Midlothian ; and in the seventeenth
century colonies existed in Sussex, Essex, Cheshire, Pembroke
and at Aqualate in Staffordshire where 1,200 young were
taken annually for food. Moreover, old records show that
about a hundred or more years ago many more pairs were
breeding in Kent, Essex, Yorkshire and elsewhere than now,
and so it is probable that in former times the Black-headed
Gull was at least as numerous and widespread as it is to-day.

Summary.

1. About ibo observers assisted in the 1938 Survey of
Black-headed Gull colonies, covering the whole of England and
Wales, and a large part of Scotland and Northern Ireland.

2. 634 sites (342 occupied, 146 doubtful and 146 deserted)
in England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland, are listed under
counties. Some details of the history of eacli colony are
given where known.

3. The sites of occupied colonies in England and Wales
in 1913 and 1938 are shown on maps, the size of the 1938
colonies being indicated within broad limits. A third map
shows the density of breeding pairs in the counties of England
and Wales.

4. It is estimated that there were about 75,000 to 80,000
pairs in England and Wales in 1938, the bulk of which were
concentrated in the north.

5. Nearly 40 per cent, of the Englisli and Welsh colonies
were 20 miles or more from the sea. Inland distribution tends
to coincide with moorland, where there are colonies up
to 1,925 feet.

6. Over the whole of the British Isles 48 per cent, of the
colonies fall within the size-range ii-ioo pairs ; 31 per cent,
in tlie group 101-1,000 pairs ; 16 per cent, in the group i-io
pairs ; and 5 per cent, in that of over 1,000 pairs.

7. Old records show that the species was probably
widespread in England and Scotland in the seventeenth and
eighteenth centuries, but that in at least some areas it was
more numerous 100 years ago than it is to-day.

8. A great decrease occurred during the nineteenth
century, but recolonization had begun by the end of tlie
century. In England and Wales between 1899 and 1938
about 175 sites have been recorded as colonized, and about
70 deserted. There are others whose dates are not known.

9. There appears to be a higher proportion of nineteentli-
century colonies in Scotland than in England.

VOL. XXXIII.] BLACK-HEADED GULL COLONIES. 211

ENGLAND.

Colonies. Colonies.

T3

0)

*3

-3

-3

=

-3

0

a

3

O

Xi

"S

t~i

•1)

1/}

a

3

o

s

3

u

0

o

Q

Q

o

Q

Q

Scillies

—

—

I

Warwick ...

. — .

—

I

Devon

I

—

—

Stafford ...

—

—

I

Dorset

3

I

3

Lincoln ...

4

—

4

Hants

4

—

Derby

3

■ —

4

Sussex

—

3

Cheshire ...

3

—

2

Kent

3

—

4

Lancashire

5

2

1 1

Essex

6

—

3

Yorkshire

29

I

15

Oxford

—

—

I

Durham ...

2

I

3

Suffolk ...

I

—

3

Northumberland

22

4

6

Norfolk ...

TO

—

15

Westmorland

6

2

Cambridge

I

—

Cumberland

19

■ — •

10

Northampton

I

—

—

Hereford ...

I

—

—

124

9

92

WALES.

Glamorgan

—

—

T

Merioneth

5

I

I

Brecon

3

—

J

Carnarvon

4

I

3

Radnor . . .

4

—

4

Denbigh ...

3

I

3

Carmarthen

I

—

—

Flint

I

— .

1

Pembroke

—

—

T

Anglesey

2

I

—

Cardigan ...

7

3

■ —

Montgomery

4

—

— ■

34

7

15

SCOTLAND.

Dumfries

2

i8

6

Perth

25

7

3

Kirkcudbright

I

8

Angus

2

2

Wigtown

I

4

—

Aberdeen...

1 1

I

2

Ayr

7

—

■ —

Moray

3

3

—

Renfrew ...

5

1

2

Nairn

I

3

—

Lanark

3

—

I

Inverness

8

2

—

Peebles . . .

I

Argyll

2

4

—

Selkirk

3

—

—

Dumbarton

I

13

—

Roxburgh

4

I

I

Bute

—

T

Berwick ...

4

—

5

Ross

I

4

I

East Lothian

—

I

Sutherland

7

6

—

Midlothian

7

—

2

Caithness...

3

3

—

West Lothian

I

—

I

Outer Hebrides

21

4

—

Fife

I

• —

6

Orkney ...

I

4

—

Kinross ...

I

—

—

Shetland ...

:6

2

I

Stirling ...

3

2

2

145

92

3h

IRELAND.

Kerry

—

3

—

Sligo

• —

3

—

Cork

I

—

•

Leitrim ...

—

I

—

Tipperary

—

I

—

Cavan

—

I

■ — ■

Limerick ...

—

I

- —

Donega 1 ...

■ — •

6

— ■

Clare

— ■

2

—

Fermanagh

5

—

• —

Queen’s (Leix)

I

—

■ —

Tyrone

5

—

I

Galway . . .

3

5

—

Armagh ...

3

—

--

King's (Offaly)

—

2

—

Down

3

—

—

Westoeath

—

3

Antrim ...

12

—

I

Roscommon

—

4

—

Londonderry

1

—

—

Mayo

5

6

I

39

3«

3

212

BRITISH BIRDS.

[vOL. XXXIII.

ENGLAND.

SCILLY ISLES.

Deserted " Colony.” Anestwasfoundin 1923 Vol. XIX,

р. 134). 2 nests found on St. Mary’s in 1841, and believed to have

bred in 1845.

DEVON.

Occupied Colonies.

I. Horsey Island, near Braunton. Colonized in 1915 or earlier.
Average of 6 or 7 nests, never more than a dozen. Numbers have
always been about the same since 1915. In 1938 there were 16 adult
birds and 4 nests.

In wet years 3 or 4 pairs nest on a marshy pool a mile away from
the main colony, but none were there in 1938.

DORSET,

Occupied Colonies.

1. Rempstone Heath Decoy Pond, about 2^ miles NE. of Corfe

Castle. Colonized about 1877. Perhaps 1,000 pairs in 1894, became
much smaller after a big heath fire in 1916. Only c. 30 pairs 1919 ;
70-100 pairs 1933 ; 20 pairs in 1938.

2. West end of Poole Harbour, about 2^ miles NE. of Wareham,
a large colony in 2 main divisions in patches of rice grass. Moved to
this part of the harbour from farther SE. about 1920. In 1938 probably
over 1,000 pairs.

3. East side of Arne Peninsula, Poole Harbour. A scattered and
shifting colony, in 1938 chiefly off SE. of Grip Heath ; 3 miles NNE. of
Corfe Castle. Colonized about 1917, probably after Rempstone Heath
dwindled. Large numbers in 1919, but far fewer in 1938 when there
were a few hundred pairs.

The Poole population is a shifting one and a few odd pairs nest
around the Harbour in spots which cannot be regarded as colonies.

Doubtful Colonies. 4. Abbotsbury Swannery, W. Dorset.
A pair or two have nested on occasions.

Deserted Colonies. 5. Littlesea, Studland. Founded about
1877, deserted from 1888 or earlier to about 1913. A strong colony in
1917, c. Go pairs 1919, and dwindled to nil by 1938. 6. Old Decoy

Pond, Morden Heath, 2^ miles NNW. of Wareham. Colonized about
1908. Numbers very variable, c. 800 pairs in 1921 ; 40 pairs 1929.
7. Near Uddens, 2| miles NE. of Wimborne. Colonized about 193G
by c. 20 pairs, but the spot was burnt out in 1938.

HAMPSHIRE.

Occupied Colonies.

1. East Parley Common. Colonized about 1900, has at times
reached a considerable size.

2. Needs Ore, Beaulieu. Founded 1909. 16 pairs 1910 nesting

just inside the sea bank ; later moved about ^ mile farther inland for
2 years ; then became established at present site on the saltings.

с. 75 pairs in 1938.

3. Keyhaven. c. 30 pairs 1931. 50 or more nests in 1938.

4. East side of Newtown Estuary, Isle of Wight. In existence in
the 'eighties. There were 35-40 pairs in 1918 and 45-50 in 1938.

SUSSEX.

Deserted Colonies. i. The Wicks, near Dungeness (Kent).
A single pair nested in 1932 only. 2. Winchelsea. A considerable
colony in the seventeenth century. 3. Between Eastbourne and
Pevensey. A considerable colony in the seventeenth century.

VOL. XXXIII ] BLACK-HEADED GULL COLONIES. 213
KENT,

Occupied Colonies.

1. Hoppen Pits, Dungeness. Immemorial. In 1847 they were there

in thousands ; 100-150 pairs in 1896 ; 60 pairs 1903 ; 300-400 pairs
1908 ; 250-300 pairs 1937 1 1°° pairs 1938.

2. Dungeness Ternery, about 2 miles SW. of (i) and is an offshoot
from it, probably caused by disturbance through war-time egg-
collecting. The number of birds vary between the two colonies year
by year. In 1919 a number nested on the Holmstone a few miles
farther west, and the birds settled at the present site about 1929
or 1930. c. 200 pairs in 1938.

3. Near Lydd Water Tower. Probably colonized in 1937 when
6 pairs nested. 60 pairs in 1938.

Deserted Colonies. 4. Woolpack Fleet, Romney Marsh. An old
colony deserted a year or two before 1908. 5. Fairfield Brack,

Romney Marsh. Deserted 1901 after being used at intervals for a
great number of years. 6. Cheyne Court Fleet, Romney Marsh.
A few pairs nested in 1919 only. 7. Dungeness, just west of Galloways.
One or two pairs have made several unsuccessful attempts at breeding
in the last few years. 8. Dungeness, east of Denge Marsh Ditch.
c. 7 pairs in 1936 only.

ESSEX.

Occupied Colonies.

1. Hamford Water. There is evidence to show that this site was
already occupied in 1662, and it presumably has been ever since.
In 1927 there were c. 150 pairs on the saltings of Horsey Island and
10-15 pairs on the saltings near Stone Point.

2. Lee Wick. Broad Fleet, on the marsh inside the sea-wall,
colonized prior to 1884 ; not less than 1,000 pairs 1886 to 1888. The
saltings outside the sea wall colonized (3 nests) in 1884, and reached
50 pairs in 1899 in which year the Fleet was abandoned ; c. 60 pairs
back on to Fleet in 1912, but in 1920 there were 100 pairs on the
saltings only, as in 1926 and 1927. Probably rather more in 1938.

3. Rat Island, River Colne. In 1938 several hundred pairs as usual.

4. Geeton Saltings, on west bank of river Colne. First recorded
35 nests in 1909. c. 100 pairs in 1926 and 1927. 15 pairs in 1938.

5. Pennyhole Fleet, Old Hall marshes, Tollesbury. Occupied from
time immemorial, in numbers varying between 100 or more, and
20 pairs. In 1888 40 pairs, and c. 50 in 1899. About 1901 the colony
shifted temporarily on to Wick Salting. 80-100 pairs on the Fleet
in 1927 and c. 30 pairs in 1938.

6. Hyde Marsh, North Fambridge. Has existed for at least 42 years

and probably from time immemorial. 50-70 pairs in 1927, c. 120 pairs
in 1937 169 nests in 1938.

Deserted Colonies. 7. Island in the Blackwater from which
10,000-12,000 eggs were taken annually about 1832. 8. New England
saltings, great numbers in 1833. 9. Foulness. Used to nest abundantly.

OXFORD.

Deserted “ Colony.” i. Otmoor. One nest 1932.

SUFFOLK.

Occupied Colony.

I. Blythburgh Fen, Walberswick. Colonized 1927 when i or 2
pairs bred, 18 pairs 1930. 24 pairs 1931, 12 nests but c. 50 birds 1938.

Deserted Colonies. 2. Thorpe Fen. i pair about 1907.
3. Euston Park, i pair 1912 and 1913. 4. Near Lakenheath.

Bred on flood land 1919.

214

BRITISH BIRDS.

[vOL. XXXIII.

NORFOLK.

Occupied Colonies.

1. Scoulton Mere. Tliis colony was referred to in the seventeenth

century. 15,000 eggs taken in i860. 1,250 pairs nesting in 1918 and

greater number in 1938.

2. Hoveton. Colonized 1854 by 30 pairs, probably from Rollesby
which was deserted 1855. Hundreds in 1864, 20 pairs 1912, 39 pairs
1919 but not more than 6 pairs for several years preceding 1930.

3. Alderfen. Colonized 1905 from Hoveton. c. 100 pairs 1918,
35 in 1923 and 200 pairs 1925.

4. Hickling. 2 pairs 1927, 4 or 5 pairs 1929.

5. Breckles. A new colony in 1922, when 1,000 eggs were taken,
and the same number 1923. Came in considerable numbers 1928
and 1929 but were discouraged from nesting.

6. Salthouse and Cley Marsh. Colonized 1922, 250 pairs in 1924,
50 1925 and a considerable number annually since. Nesting discouraged
on Cley.

7. Blakeney Point. 2 pairs first in 1925 ; a few pairs attempt to
nest annually but are “ discouraged.”

8. Wells. An ancient site, recolonized by i pair 1904. 50 pairs

1917 ; c. 200 pairs in 1924 and c. 100 pairs 1928.

9. Scolt Head. Colonized 1924. 38 nests 1928 ; c. 100 pairs 1938.

10. Cantley, near Norwich. Is the only new colony since 1930.
Deserted Colonies, ii. Horsey, and Horsey Warren. Was the

original station in the Broads area. Immense numbers in Sir Thomas
Browne’s time (about 1650) . Finally deserted about 1870 and Broadland
Gulls are now much reduced in numbers, c. 8 pairs nested about 1937 ;
the eggs were taken. 12. Stanford Warren. 13. Thompson Water.
14. Bagmoor. 15. Hockwold Fen. 16. Feltwell Fen. 17. Wretham
Heath. 18. Rolle.sby. 19. Barton Broad. 20. Sutton Broad.
21. Woodbastwick. 22. Somerton Broad. 23. Brancaster.
24. Langmere. Sporadic ; the last nest recorded in 1917. 25. North-
wold Fen. c. 100 pairs 1921-1924, then drained.

Apart from Horsey and the two last-mentioned colonies, none have
been used in the past 25 3’ears.

CAMBRIDGE.

Occupied Colonies.

I. Burwell Fen. Colonized in 1933 when 6 pairs nested ; 10 pairs
in 1936 : at least 200 pairs in 1937 c. 180 in 1938. The great
increase in 1937 no doubt due to the complete flooding of the area
in the spring of that year. Further increase is discouraged. The local
marshmen report very sparing and sporadic nesting from time to time
in the past, e.g., a nest built on partly submerged plough about 1917.

NORTHAMPTON,

Occupied Colony.

I. Northampton Sewage Farm, Ecton. c. 12 pairs bred for the
first time in 1935. .50-70 pairs 1938.

HEREFORD.

Occupied Colony.

I. Brampton Br\-an. 5 miles W. of Knighton. Colonized about
1933 ; c- 60 pairs 1938.

WARWICK.

Deserted Colony, i. Birmingham Sewage Farm, Curdworth.
Colonized before 1913, deserted in 1936 owing to the destruction of
the birds.

VOL. XXXIII.] BLACK-HEADED GULL COLONIES. 215

STAFFORD.

Shebden Pool, later shifted to Aqualate
rn?on,. ib62, about which time it was a very large

bv young birds being taken for food yearly. Deserted

by 1794. No present-day colonies.

LINCOLN.

Occupied Colonies.

t-hp 'ri 2 miles W. of Scawby. Colonized about 1840, after

Derham'fouf 1 ^ between the Trent and Bottesford, or

A ^ ^ ^ numbers were estimated at 5.000 pairs ; in 1958

roSf.rveJr&avT"*’'’- "» ■" '“'x

2. Scotton Common, 7 miles NE. of Gainsborough, said to have
been colonized from Twigmoor in 1870. r. 1,000 pairs 25 years ag!^
500-1,000 pairs 1938, concentrated round one pond only.

euderv ^rnn=°H ^ ^cotton Common. An ancient

?93r-— below 100 pairs 1915. Three ponds occupied in

oemll^H reduced by drainage in recent years, but the gulls have
persisted, c. 200-300 pairs 1938. °

{h) I mile to W. c. 50 pairs 1938.

(c) Across road to E. c. 20 pairs 1938

c t- Similes SE. of Boston. Colonized about 1934.

c, nests m 1938.

th? Colonies 5. Nathanland. Drained about 1840 when

Warren 2 ^mflet''q^° Twigmoor. 6. Manton

Warren. 2 miles S. of Twigmoor. The birds appear to have joined

the Twigmoor colony about the middle of last century. 7. North
Cotes Fitties about 8 miles SE. of Grimsby. Deserted before 1855

fronf Twigmoor, and probably an offsho^^t
1 fv. 5,000 pairs at the end of the century

100^ /brough mining operations and much decreased by

i. disappeared 1930 or 1931. in the

^st there had been a few nests on Risbury Warren, adjoining Crosby

I DERBY.

Occupied Colonies.

xf' Oommon. on the Burton-on-Trent sewage farm, 5 miles

i ^be first time in 1929

u- ‘1 Owing to the .system of farming it is

difficult to see how \-oung can be reared. °

Curbar and Baslow. Colonized in 1917
or 1910. 20-40 nests in 1919, increasing to 56 nests in 1921 ■ 40-so in
1935 and r. 20 nests m 1937 and 1938. Apparently much persecuted,
bred '^P°^°";^™besSE. of Derby. Colonized in 1931 when a few pairs
bred. 1 5 -2. ^ pairs m 1935, and m 1938 c. 200 pairs of which 20 or more
guSdtd^ willows about 6 feet above the water. This colony is well

Deserted Colonies. 4. Big Moor, 3 miles N. of Leash Fen
'^lomzed apparently only in 1921. 5. Ringinglow, 4 miles N. of

Big Moor on the county boundary near Sheffield. Colonized in 1924
'u but apparently never returned. 6. Devil’s Dyke on

5helf Moss, 4 miles E. of Glossop, at c. 1,700 feet above sea level
Occupied for one year only, about 1935- 7- Beeley Moor (2 miles E

of Beeley) 6-7 pairs in 1927.

216

BRITISH BIRDS.

[VOL. XX.XIII.

CHESHIRE.

Occupied Colonies.

1-2. Delamere Forest. This is of very ancient foundation, its
existence in 1617 being quoted in King's “ Vale Royal.” There are
three modern sites in the forest, one of which is deserted : —

1. Newchurch Common, an old site where considerable fluctuations
occur. At least 15 pairs in 1899, c. 300 1907, deserted in 1917 but a
fair number in 1918. Deserted again in 1922, 100 pairs 1925, while
500 pairs in 1931 is the highest number recorded. Only 2 or 3 pairs
in 1938.

2. Oakmere, 2 miles from (i) above, was colonized in igi8. 50-100
pairs in 1919 and in subsequent j’ears came in numbers var}’ing
between 10 and 300-400 pairs. In 1922 all were at this site, and none
at (i) or (4) below. No nesting in 1925 and 1929 because of reed-cutting
and drought. In 1934 drought caused desertion by all but 2 pairs,
which nested in trees. One pair in a tree in 1937, t)ut numbers on
ground not estimated. 300 pairs in 1938.

In 1938 for the first time there was an offshoot of 30 pairs at Oakmere
'■ Arm,” a pool on the opposite side of the mere to the usual colony.

3. Burton Marsh, Dee Estuary, 7 miles NW. of Chester. Two sites
are used miles apart. Colonized years prior to 1910. One pair
in 1921 ; 6 pairs in 1924 ; 50 pairs in 1937 and 30 pairs in 1938.

Deserted Colonies. 4. Delamere Forest. ” Submerged Forest ”
Crabtree Green, about 2 miles from (i) above. Colonized 1917 ;
50 pairs in 1920 ; none 1922 ; several hundred in 1932. This flash
has been drained once or twice and this has caused desertion.
5. Prestbury Sewage Farm, E. Cheshire. One nest in 1921 and 1922,
4 nests begun in 1925, i in 1928.

LANCASHIRE.

Occupied Colonies.

1. Walney Island. Colonized before 1908. c. 1,500-1,800 pairs
in 1938, there having been a decrease since 1929 when big gulls became
established.

2. Boretree Tarn, Finsthwaite-in-Furness. Colonized between
1930 and 1936. 300 pairs in 1938.

3. Bolton’s Lot, Crosthwaite-in-Furness. A new colony with 12-15
pairs in 1937.

4. Grisedale, Scorton. Not old. 25-30 pairs in 1937.

5. Ainsdale Dunes, Southport. Colonized 1873. Many scattered
nests 1908. c. 6-12 pairs 1913-1920, increasing from 1921 to reach a
maximum of over 200 pairs in 1933. Down almost to nil 1935, ’36 and
’37. 3 pairs 1938.

Doubtful Colony. 6. Longton. A scattered colony of c. 30 pairs
formed in 1937 on south bank of the Ribble. Attempts have been
made here before. Birds present but no nests found June, 1938 ;
may have been washed out by a high tide. 7. Leighton Moss,
Carnforth. Colonized 1919-1920. Eggs destroyed every year recently.

Deserted Colonies. 8. Winmarleigh, Cockerham. An old
colony coming originally from the site now occupied by the town of
Fleetwood, which was deserted about 1830. Moved to Winmarleigh
from Stalmine 1876. Estimated at 10,000 pairs in 1887. In 1903
thousands of pairs spread over about 5 acres. Deserted 1912 or 1913.
9. Pilling Marshes, near Fluke Hall. Colonized about 1912. A small
colony. A few pairs, not more than 3 or 4 have bred intermittently
since igi8. 10. Wyresdale Park, Scorton. Colonized 1902 or earlier

VOL. XXXIII.] BLACK-HEADED GULL COLONIES. 217

reached c. 150 pairs. Eggs destroyed since about 1930. 11. Crook,

just outside Wigan. 21 young reared 1913. None nested since.

12. Hutton Marsh, near Preston. A few pairs in 1916. 13. Formby
Moss. Colonized 1920 ; over 20 pairs 1923 ; 6 pairs in 1935 but none
since. 14. West Derby Sewage Farm, Liverpool, i pair in 1935
and 1936. 15. Walton Sewage Farm. Several pairs 1935. 16. Seath-
waite Tarn. A single pair nesting about 1886 and earlier. 17. Bleasdale
Fell. Deserted perhaps 50 years ago. 18. Hill Tarn above Scorton.
Deserted perhaps 50 years ago.

YORKSHIRE.

Occupied Colonies.

PVest Riding.

1. Fairburn, near Castleford. Colonized about 1910, over 1,000 pairs
1914, c. 150 pairs 1920, c. 180 pairs 1938.

2. Allerton, near Castleford. A new colony of c. 30 pairs in 1938.

3. Bolton Ings, near Darfield. Colonized about 1913. c. 40 pairs

1938.

4. Broomhead Moors, near Sheffield. A site occupied occasionally,
generally in dry years. 30 pairs in 1929 and 1931. c. 250 pairs 1938.

5. Howden Moors, near Penistone. Colonized 1920. 200 pairs 1938
but only c. 20 allowed to breed.

6. Whiteholme Reservoir, Blackstone Edge. Colonized 1901.
40 nests 1919. c. 200 pairs 1938.

7. Fly Flat Reservoir, Cockhill Moor, near Denholme. Colonized
about 1895, c. 40 pairs 1898, 20 pairs 1919 and 1920, 25 pairs 1938.

8. Black Hameldon, Hoarside Moor, near Heptonstall. Colonized

1927 or earlier, ii pairs 1938.

9. Garple Moor, near Hebden Bridge. Colonized 1938 or earlier.
25 nests 1938.

10. Waddington Fell, near Clitheroe. Colonized 1933 or earlier.
30 pairs 1938.

11. Elslack Moor, near Skipton. Colonized 1928 or earlier, 7 pairs
1938.

12. Dovenanter Moor, near Keasden. Colonized 1900 by 2 pairs.
c. 380 pairs 1920. In 1938 85 pairs on one tarn and 65 pairs on another.

13. Rathmell Moor, near Clapham. Colonized 1937, 211 pairs 1938.

14. Oughtershaw in Langstrathdale. Colonized 1897, 30-40 pairs
1920. 6 pairs 1938.

15. Alalham, 4 pairs in 1938.

16. Greensett Moss, Great Whernside, about 1,925 ft. above sea
level. Colonized 1921, c. 250 pairs 1938.

17. Swarth Fell Tarn, 2 miles N. of Sedbergh. Colonized 193S
or earlier, 2 pairs 1938.

18. Baugh Fell, 2 miles E. of Sarthwaite, near Sedbergh. Colonized
1918 or earlier. 4 nests 1938.

19. Grassington Moor. Colonized 1900 or 1901, but after 10 years’
occupation was deserted for a number of years. 20 pairs 1938.

20. Gowthwaite Reservoir, 5 miles NW. of Pately E8ridge. Colonized

1928 or earlier. 4 pairs 1938.

North Riding.

21. Widdale Tarn, 2 miles E. of Dent Station. Colonized 1915 or
earlier. 19 pairs 1938.

22. Dodd Fell Tarn, 6 miles SW. of Hawes. Colonized 1915 or
earlier, ii pairs 1938.

23. Summer Lodge Tarn, 3 miles N. of Askrigg. Colonized 1938
or earlier. 400 pairs 1938.

Q

218 BRITISH BIRDS. [vol.xxxiii.

24. Locker Tarn, near Camperley, Wensleydale. Colonized about
1888 by one pair ; c. 15 pairs 1914 ; 6 pairs 1938.

25. Balockdale Reservoir, near Cotherstone. Colonized 1932 or
earlier. A small, variable colony.

26. Scaling Moors, near Guisborough. Colonized 1937 or earlier.
c. 30 pairs 1937 ^.nd fewer in 1938.

27. May Moss, near Saltersgate. Colonized 1938 by 20 pairs.

28. Foul Syke Moss, Fylingdale Moor, 3 miles from Robin Hood’s

Bay. Colonized about 1893. 6 or 7 pairs 1920, 150 pairs 1936 and

50 pairs 1938.

East Riding.

29. Skipwith Common. An old colony, c. 800 pairs 1916 ; 1,200-
1,300 pairs 1920 ; c. 600 pairs 1938.

Doubtful Colonies. North Riding : 30. Semmerwater, near Counter-
sett. Colonized 1925 or earlier. A few pairs present 1938 but no
proof of breeding.

Deserted Colonies. West Riding: 31. Thorn Waste. Was a
large colony in 1881. Still a few pairs 1921. 32. Saddleworth

Moors, near Greenfield. Colonized 1931 or earlier — a colony of c. 1,000
pairs. Deserted 1938 or earlier. 33. Black Moss Reservoir, Marsden
and Diggle Moors. Colonized 1895 or 189O. c. 150 pairs 1913 to 1919.
Deserted for some years prior to 1938. 34. Keighley Moor Dam.

Colonized 1902 or 1903. 10-20 pairs 1920. Deserted for some years

prior to 1938. 35. Browsholme Tarn in Bowland. Colonized (or

re-colonized) in 1915, 5 pairs 1920. Deserted for some years prior
to 1938. 36. Gagglemire, Newton Fell. Colonized 1915. 3 pairs 1920.
37. Upper Barden Reservoir. Colonized about 1900. c. 150 pairs
1912. 6 pairs 1920. 38. Grassington Moor, Upper Wharfdale.

Colonized 1900. Deserted 1911. 39. East Baugh Fell Tarn, near

Sedbergh. Colonized 1928. Deserted 1930. 40. Reservoir below

Ringstone Edge. c. 10 pairs 1920.

North Riding: 41. Heron Tree Allotment, near Leyburn.

Colonized 1910 or earlier. Deserted in 1916 due to military use.
42. North Dale, near Rosedale. Formerly a thriving colony, but
drained some time prior to 1920. 43. Strensall Common. Formerly
large, deserted after 1884.

East Riding : 44. Bubwith Ings. 2J miles SE. of Skipwith. Colonized
1920 or earlier. 20 pairs in 1920. Deserted some years prior to 1938.
45. Hornsea I\Iere. Bred in great abundance 1S44. Deserted about
1884.

DURHAM.

Occupied Colonies.

1. Sunniside Moss, near Tow Law. Colonized 1918 or earlier and
has increased steadily until in 1938 there were c. 100 pairs.

2. Mines Reservoirs above Howden Burn, Frosterley. Colonized
1936 or earlier, probably from (3) below. Only one occupied nest
in 1938, but previous year’s remains of 25 nests were found.

Doubtful Colony. 3. Old Mines Reservoirs near White Hill,
off Stanhope-Egglestone road. Colonized 1930 or earlier. When
visited in 1938 6 birds were flying round as though resenting intrusion,
but no nests could be found. The colony has been interfered with a
good deal in recent years.

VOL. XXXIII.] BLACK-HEADED GULL COLONIES. 219

Deserted Colonies. 4. On Wear-Derwent watershed between
Wolsingham and Blanchland. Colonized about 1925 by 4 pairs ;
numbers and exact site of the colony varied considerably but there
were probably none in 1938 on account of the drought. 5. Moorland
above Tunstall Burn Reservoir. Colonized by 70 or 80 pairs in i937>
but probably none in 1938 on account of the drought. 6. Priors
Close Bog, near West Rainton, a few miles W. of Sunderland. Used
to be a large-sized colony but has been deserted since about 1934-
The moorland colonies tend to shift from year to year.

NORTHUMBERLAND.

Occupied Colonies.

1. Holy Island Lough. Colonized 1897. No young reared in 1938.

2. Coldmartin Lough (Gull Ponds), Wooler. Colonized 1875.
Hundreds of pairs 1879. 500 birds and some nests May, 1938.

3. Pond near Whooperton Station. Colonized prior to 1925.
200 birds and some nests May, 1938.

4. Pond on Bewick Moor. 300 birds and some nests May, 1938.

5. Kimmer Lough. Colonized before 1918. 100 birds, few nests

May, 1938.

6. Linsheeles Lough (Barrow Burn), Alwinton. Colonized prior

to 1918. 400 birds, many nests June, 1938.

7. Harbottle Lough (Drakestone), Alwinton. Colonized prior to

1912. 24 birds and i or 2 nests June, 1938.

8. Darden Lough and Small Lough. Colonized prior to 1918.
200 birds and a few nests, June, 1938.

9. Redside Pond, W. of Redside Wood, Alnwick. Colonized
before 1923.

10. Moor Pond, near Lemmington, Alnwick. 135 nests in 1918.

11. Black Lough, i mile E. of Edlingham. Colonized before 1912.
150 birds, few nests. May, 1938.

12. Fallowlees, S. of Rothbury. Colonized before 1918, but not in
occupation when Gurney wrote his paper. 600 birds, many nests. May,
1938.

13. Blackaburn Lough, 4 miles S. of Tarset. Colonized before 1918.
Up to 2,000 birds, very many nests. May, 1938.

14. Hallington Reservoir, West Hallington. Colonized 1938.

15. Hallington Reservoir, East Hallington. Colonized before 1912.

c. 1,200 nests in 1918. 200 birds and 6 or 7 nests. May 7th, 1938,

later deserted.

16. Pond 5 miles W. of Simonburn. Colonized 1936 or earlier.

17. Halleypike Lough. 5 miles NE. of Bardon Mill. Colonized
before 1912.

18. Moss 3 miles N. of Greenhead. 600 birds, some nests. May, 1938.

19. Greenlee Lough, 4 miles N. of Bardon Mill. Colonized before

1912. 4 birds, no nests. May, 1938.

20. Broomlee Lough, 4 miles N. of Bardon Mill. Colonized before

1918. 24 birds, no nests. May, 1938.

21. Settlingstones Dam (Cowey Sike), Newbrough. Colonized 1929.
Up to 2,000 birds, very many nests. May loth, 1938. Another observer
reported only 300 birds.

22. Grindon Lough, 3 miles NE. of Bardon Mill. Colonized before

1918. 20 birds, some nests. May, 1938.

The numbers of birds reported at the above colonies do not necessarily
indicate the numbers breeding successfully. Several colonies fluctuated
widely during the season, chiefly on account of drought.

220

BRITISH BIRDS.

[VOL. XXXIII.

Doubtful Colonies. 23. Cateran’s Pool, Harehope Moor. This
and neighbouring pools colonized before 1912. No birds seen I\Iay 14th,
1938 ; but has been occupied in the last few years. 24. Sweethopc
Lough, W. of Kirkwhelpington Station. Colonized before 1912. Not
in occupation when Gurney wrote his paper. No birds seen June 6th,
1938, but has been occupied in the last few years. 25. Whitfield
Lough, 5 miles N. of Alston. About 50 pairs in 1889 ; 12 pairs 1919.
No 1938 information, but it has been occupied recently. 26. Pond
near Blanchland, 9 miles SE. of Hexham. Colonized about 1899,
and mentioned by Gurney as a small colony.

Deserted Colonies. 27. Pallinsburn, Coldstream. Immemorial,
before 1854. Very large 1891. 28. Moor Lake, S. of Cock House,

Alnwick. Colonized 1929. 29. Little Lough (near Moor Lake).

30. Coltcrag Lough, 2 miles NW. of Hallington. Colonized before
1918, but not in occupation when Gurney wrote his paper. 31. Gos-
forth Park Lake, 4 miles N. of Newcastle. Colonized before 1925.

The above five colonies have been occupied during the last few years,
but were reported as unoccupied in 1938.

32. Prestwick Carr was given as a former colony by Gurney.

WESTMORLAND.

Occupied Colonies.

1. Sunbiggin Tarn, near Orton. Occupied prior to 1 891 . 1,000 eggs
taken from the edge of the colony 1934. Estimates of numbers in 1938
v’aried between 400 and 1,500 pairs.

2. Aisgill Moor, Mallerstang. Colonized 1930 or earlier. 50 pairs
in 1938.

3. A tarn in Ravenstonedale. Colonized 1936 or earlier. 10 pairs
in 1938.

4. Tarn House Tarn, near Kirkby Stephen. Colonized 1936.
3 pairs in 1938.

5. Sunnybrow Reservoir, near Crook, 3 miles NW. of Kendal.
35-40 pairs 1938.

6. Lowfold Tarn, i mile S. of Crook Church. 5 pairs 1938.

Deserted Colonies. 7. Clibburn Moss, 6 miles SE. of Penrith.
Mentioned in Vertebrate Fauna of Lakeland (Macpherson & Eerguson,
1892). 8. Bolton Fell, 3 miles SE. of Clibburn. MentionecWn V ertebrate
Fauna of Lakeland (Macpherson & Ferguson, 1892).

CUMBERLAND.

Occupied Colonies.

1. Ravenglass. Colonized before 1884. Breed over an area of
about I square mile on N. of Esk estuary. In 1938 some tens of
thousands breeding pairs, probably less than 50,000. Numbers now
said to be less than in 1909-1913. c. 100 pairs breed on S. side of the
estuary.

2. Bassenthwaite, at the head of the lake. One nest found 1910.
c. 100 pairs 1938.

3. Carlatton Mill. 500 pairs in 1932. 12 nests found 1938.

4. Tarn Wadling, High Heskett. Colonized 1916 or earlier, 500
pairs in wet seasons, as 1924. 15 pairs 1938.

5. Blaze Fell. Colonized 1920 or earlier. 50 pairs 1938.

6. Wan Fell. 1,000 pairs in 1933. 3 pairs 1938 (dried up).

7. Lazonby Fell. Colonized 1920 or earlier. 150 pairs in 193S.

8. Newton Reiny Bog, near Blencow. Colonized 1892 or earlier.
1,500 pairs in 1938.

9. Greystoke Park. 250 pairs in 1884. 50 pairs 1938.

VOL. XXXIII. 1 BLACK-HEADED GULL COLONIES. 221

10. Solway Moss, Solway. Colonized before 1886. 100-150 pairs

in 1938.

11. Rockclifie Marsh, Solway. Colonized 1859. 300-400 pairs 1927.
50 pairs 1938, when there was a strong colony of Lesser Black-backed
Gulls.

12. Burgh Marsh, Solway. Contemporary with Rockcliffe ? Few
scattered pairs 1938.

13. Newton Marsh, Solway. Colonized 1909 by 200 pairs. 60 pairs
in 1938.

14. Skinburness Marsh. Contemporary with Newton Marsh ?
Few scattered pairs.

15. Salta Moss, Allonby, Solway. Colonized 1886 or earlier.
30 pairs 1937.

16. A tarn on White Preston, Bewcastle Fells. Colonized 1898 or
earlier. 40 pairs 1932, 2 pairs 1938.

17. Denton Fell, near Tindale. Colonized 1886 or earlier. 200 pairs
1936.

18. Bolton Fell, North Cumberland. Colonized 1886 or earlier.
200 pairs 1935, 3 pairs 1938.

19. Walton Moss. Colonized 1892 or earlier. Maximum 400,
minimum 50 pairs.

Deserted Colonies. 20. Arnaby Moss, near Green Road Station.
Occupied by a small colony from about 1929 to 1933. 21. Moorthwaite
Tarn, Wigton. Colonized by 4 pairs 1878. 1,000 in 1889. Deserted 1932.
22. Tirling Dub, Castle Carrock. Colonized 1930 or earlier. Deserted
about 1934. 23. Monkhill Lough, Solway. Colonized before 1892.

Deserted about 1930. 24. Bowness Moss, Solway. Colonized before
1886. Deserted 1910. 25. Drumburgh Moss, Solway. Contemporary
with Bowness Moss ? Deserted 1938. 26. Ponds by R. White Lvne,
Bewcastle. Colonized by 20 pairs 1933. Deserted 1936. 27. Mungrisdalc
Moss. Colonized by c. 100 pairs 1909. Only 2 pairs 1910. 28. Wed-
holme, Solway. Colonized 1886 or earlier.

[29. Devoke Water was given bv Gurney as a small colony but the
present keeper who has been there since before the War of 1914-18
has never known the birds to nest.]

Informants : H. G. Alexander, W. B. Alexander, G. J. B. Bevan.
Dr. H. M. S. Blair, Rev. F. L. Blathwayt, E. Blezard, J. Walpole-Bond,
A. W. Boyd, B. T. Brooker, Maj. A. Buxton, R. W. Calvert, Dr. J. W,
Campbell, J.- R. Charnley, R. Chislett, A. Clark, T. W. I. Cleasby,
D. S. Cooke, J. Cordingley, P. S. Day, H. Drake, Maj. A. A. Dorrien
Smith, Dr. F. R. Elliston-Wright, Dr. E. A. R. Ennion, K. Fisher,
H. F. Forrest, U. C. Gardiner, R. M. Garnett, H. A. Gilbert, A. Gilpin,
the late J. M. Goodall, C. S. Graham, R. Graham, E. Hardy, H. J.
Harrison, S. B. Hewitt, F. W. Holder, P. A. D. Hollom, R. C. Homes,
W. H. Hortin, P. A. Humble, G. C. S. Ingram, A. H. Johnson, T. L.
Johnston, Rev. F. C. R. Jourdain, Dr. N. H. Joy, T. Kerr, A. Kimberley,
Dr. G. S. B. Long, J. Lord, F. A. Lowe, S. Marchant, W. Marchant,
D. I. Molteno, R. F. Moore, Nat. Hist. Soc. of Northunibs, Durham
and Newcastle-on-Tyne, A. IM. C. Nicholl, C. A. Norris, C. Oakes,
C. Oldham, Oxford Ornithological Soc., R. K. Perry, J. Preston,
Mrs. J. B. Priestley, T. N. Roberts, H. W. Robinson, A. Roebuck,
W. D. Smith, F. Snowdon, Col. Sotheby, Miss A. V. Stone, IM. F.
Strutt, F. Taylor, W. Thompson, Dr. N. F. Ticehurst, the late Sir T.
Troubridge, Miss E. L. Turner, J. P. Uttley, G. R. Vlies, T. J. Wallace,
Maj. A. I. Waller, C. H. Wells, Mrs. H. White, T. S. Williams.

[To be continued.)

(222)

THE DISPLAY AND SONG OF THE TURTLE-DOVE.

BY

M. K, COLQUHOUN.

The presence of Turtle-Doves {Streptopelia t. turtur) in a
Berkshire wood under constant observation for the last two
seasons makes it possible for me to add to Selous’s account*
of their display, and to draw another comparison between
this species and the Wood-Pigeon {Coluniba p. pahcmbjts).

Of the two types of display — the bowing or bobbing, and
aerial — the former is best known. It appears to be essentially
a prelude, on the male’s part, to coition, but in far the
majority of instances the female is not ready for him, and
after regarding him (as it seems) with some curiosity, flies
off, followed by her mate. Under these circumstances bowing
lasts 5 to 10 seconds. On the one occasion when I had a
clear view of coition (the female having been building ten
minutes earlier) display lasted barely three seconds ; neither
plumage shaking nor bill-wiping followed. All the bowing
which I have witnessed has taken place within three feet of the
female, and on the high branch of a tree, although I have
heard the display note (mentioned later) in dense hazel ;
Selous recorded display on the ground. During bowing the
neck is contracted, the breast slightly “ pouted,” and the bill
pointed directly downwards ; tlie bird therefore does not look
openly at his mate.

Aerial display consists of two components, the vertical or
steep climb, and the glide. In view of published statements*
I hesitate to suggest that this species does not give a wing
clap, but it is certainly rare and seldom audible. In the
vertical climb the bird soars steeply with rapidh^ beating
wings and widely stretched tail, for some thirty yards or less,
after which it glides down, usually in a circular movement,
sometimes landing in the same tree and resuming its song.
To an observer directly underneath the mounting bird, with
the sun low in the sky, the white disc of its belly gleams with
an astonishingly brilliant effect ; witnessed from one side this
is not noticed and the climb appears less steep. The climb
seems to be always made in the presence of the mate ; twice
I have seen a singing bird break into a climb on the approach

*Bird Watching, igoi, pp. 50-1.

*Selous fails to mention it, although describing the Wood-Pigeon’s
clap on the same page ; Coward states in his book that it occurs, but
I can find no reference to it in his unpublished field notes (I am indebted
to Mr. W. B. Alexander on this point), nor do I know his authority
for the statement.

VOL. xxxiii.j SONG OF THE TURTLE-DOVE. 223

of another, whose direct flight caused the first to cut short
the subsequent glide in order that it might follow. Occasionally
the gliding evolved into gull-like sailing over the margin of
the wood.

While the Wood-Pigeon makes from one to three undula-
tions in flight, with a wing clap for each (using this device to
clear a tree when disturbed), the Turtle-Dove rarely makes
nrore than one, and this with the impression of less effort
and fuss than goes to the former’s display. (On being disturbed
its flight is swift and direct.) It is not only a matter of size ;
there is altogether less wing movement. Nobody would
call the normal flight of the dove slow (see antea, Vol. XXV,
p. 90) and Shakespeare’s use of the phrase “ slow winged
turtle ” suggests how prevalent is the gliding habit of this
species as seen through the eyes of an intelligent countryman.
It is tempting to suggest that there is a correlation between
the greater wing mov’ement of the Wood-Pigeon in display
and its white wing-bar, but in fact (for the flashing wing-bar
cannot be seen from directly underneath the bird) this is
more likely to be a “ recognition ” rather than an epigamic
character, the obvious analogy among mammals being the
'white tail or rump of some ungulates. Moreover, the Wood-
Pigeon glides freely, although it is significant that it glides
after it has clapped, and repeats the clapping at intervals.
A woodland bird requires a conspicuous display flight, and
if it be assumed that the Wood-Pigeon is such a bird, while
tthe Turtle-Dove belongs more to the open country, then the
reason for these differences becomes clearer.

The Turtle-Dove may sing in any one of four ways :

(a) rrurrrrr, rrur-rrurrrrr ; etc.

(b) rrurrrrr, rrurrrrr, rrurrrrr ; etc.

(c) As {b) but four notes in a phrase (sometimes a slight
pause after the second note).

{d) The display note, rur-rur-rur . . .

The phrases are easily distinguished with a little practice,
the first note of the “ bar ” being accented — especially in (c)
when the necessity to include four notes instead of three
■causes the last to be hurried. It is interesting to find that
■a bird often ends its song on the first note of a phrase, exactly
as the Wood-Pigeon. It is common to hear a bird switch
ifrom {a) to {b), or {b) to (c), and I have an occasional note of

■ ane singing all three consecutively. Recently it has been noted
That {a), with its short second note, was used when singing
vvas resumed after display, but the number of observations

■ loes not warrant any definite conclusion. It is still more

224

BRITISH BIRDS.

[vOL. XXXIII.

difficult to know which phrase is being used immediately
before display. One individual may be singing one phrase
and another a second close by ; but on three occasions the
display note was taken up by another bird within half a
minute — only once lasting for more than a second or two.
The display note does not (as Selous states) sound continuous —
it is simply a speeding up of the ordinary song, with a complete
absence of phrases. A note is uttered for each bow — it
appears when the head is raised, but because of the distance
it is quite likely to be the reverse.

In addition to the song described there are also subdued
“ echo notes,” only to be heard at close quarters, although if
one has good hearing and listens intently this background of
sound can be heard up to loo yards. The echo note always
follows the louder notes, and is especially loud after the
first note of the phra.se, when it sounds something like the
‘‘ go back ” of a Grouse. In mood it is brooding, like the
purring of a Pheasant in a thicket, but during display it
becomes an e.xcited gasp or grunt, as though the bird was
wheezing for breath ; at such times it is perhaps louder than
the echo note following the first note of a phrase in ordinary
song.

Many writers ha\'e recorded bowing display in conjunction
with the quick throbbing note, and I know of no evidence to
suggest that they are e\'er divorced from each other ; until
this is forthcoming we may assume that display is taking
place whenever this song is heard. The point is of considerable
importance because the song is audible o\'er a wide area and
we are presented with a rare opportunity of gauging the
frequency of courtship in any given population of Turtle-
Doves. For instance, during 1939 the display of two pairs of
Turtle-Doves reached its peak on June 9th, a bright sunny
morning towards the end of a warm period, when the quick
note was heard four times in one hour between about 7 and
(S a.m. ; on other mornings it was never heard more than
twice eind usually only once within the same period, and
not at all during a cool rather wet week from the 15th. At
present it may be said that while display (including aerial)
may take place at any time of the day, it is certainly at its
maximum in the early morning.

THE CONTINENTAL REDSHANK AS A
BRITISH BIRD.

I. Direct Evidence.

As is well known, there are two forms of Redshank to be
found in the British Islands — the British breeding-bird
{Tringa t.britannica) and as a migrant the Iceland breeding-
bird [T. t. robusta).

At the time the British form was separated by Dr. C. B.
Ticehurst there was no definite proof of the occurrence of
the typical or Continental form (T. t. totanus). Since then
Mr. A. L. Goodson has very kindly sent me a male Redshank
shot near Tring, Herts, on April loth, 1934, which in all
respects is clearly an example of the Continental form. It is
in summer plumage and much more strongly marked with
black and brown than any breeding example of our bird, and
is also heavily streaked and spotted on the under-parts.
Dr. C. B. Ticehurst has also kindly examined this specimen
and agrees with me that it is of the Continental form.

The Iceland Redshank cannot be differentiated from the
'Continental by its plumage though in summer it tends to be
rather less marked, but in size it is larger.

I find in re-examining Redshanks in connexion with work
on The Handbook that the following wing-measurements
obtain : Continental Redshank (7 Sweden, 4 Norway) 147-157
imm. ; British Redshank (20 breeding birds) 145-163 mm. ;
Iceland Redshank (about 50 breeding birds) I57-I7imm.

The bird in question from Tring measures only 152 mm. in
the wing so that it is considerably smaller than any Iceland.

There is in the British Museum collection a skin of a male
taken at Pagham, Sussex, in May, 1866, which in plumage
fits the Continental form, but its wing measures 157 mm., so
that, as can be seen from the measurements given above, it
could be either a Continental or an Iceland bird. It is in heavily
marked summer plumage and probably a Continental , but as the
measurements do not confirm this it cannot be taken as certain.

It may be mentioned here that I can find no constant
difference in the plumage of the three races in winter. It has
been said that the Iceland Redshank is darker, but I find
from ringed birds that British-bred birds can be equally dark.
The tarsus and bill of Iceland birds tend to be thicker, but
in many there is no observable difference, and the only
definite character in winter in most cases is the length of
the wing. Birds with wings of over 163 mm. may be accepted
as of the Iceland form. H. F. Witherby.

R

226

BRITISH BIRDS.

[VOL. XXXIII.

II. Migrational Evidence.

Analysis of 58 recoveries of ringed British young shows
that a high proportion (about 40 per cent.) are more or less
sedentary, i.e., they move away from tlieir breeding areas a
comparatively short distance only and are found in winter
in their native or neighbouring counties. The rest are migratory
to a lesser or greater degree. About two-fifths of them winter
on our coasts some distance south of their summer areas,
the other three-fifths winter on the south coast of England,
in Ireland or farther south across the Channel in about equal
proportions. The recorded dates suggest that those that do
migrate do so very early in the autumn. The breeding areas
are abandoned, as the young get old enough, between mid-
June and the end of July and movement begins at once, so
that birds from Cumberland have reached the Cornish coast
by July 24th and N. Trance by August 5th, one from Stirling
was recovered in Co. Down on September 5th and one from
Lancashire in W. France on September 9th, while there is a
record of migrating Redshanks at Seven Stones light-vessel
just north of the Scillies so early as August 20th. It seems
probable therefore that, unless moved on later by weather
conditions, our native birds are well on their way to, if not
actually in, their winter quarters by the beginning of
September. From observational data it is established that
they return to their breeding areas between mid-Februar}-
and mid-March almost everywhere and even those nesting
in the northern isles are back in their territories by early
April.

Though abundant in Orkney comparatively few Redshanks
nest in Shetland. The migration periods at Fair Isle are
stated by Eagle Clarke {Studies of Bird Migration, 11.,
pp. 173-4) and since borne out by later observations, to be,
autumn, July 13th to November 2nd, most abundant and
frequent in August and September [i.e., from what has been
said above, after the Shetland birds have gone south] ; spring,
single birds in February, March and early April [i.e., the
Shetland breeders returning] in some numbers at the end of
April, in May and the first week in June [i.e., long after the
Shetland birds have settled in and started nesting]. In Shet-
land, too, the bird is stated to be actually most numerous
between October and March {F. of Shetland, p. 172). h'rom
geographical considerations evidence of this kind from
elsewhere is naturally less definite and its interpretation more
liable to error, but there are several statements in county
faunas that bear on the subject. In autumn migration througli

VOL. XXXIII ] CONTINENTAL REDSHANK. 227

Northuinberland {B. of Northumberland, etc., p. 588) and
Cheshire {F. oj Cheshire, p. 410) lasts from mid-July to
mid-October or November and at Spurn {B. of Yorks,
P- 635)- large migratory flocks often consisting of hundreds
of birds arrive in September. In Ireland {B. of Ireland, p. 298)
there is a great influx in September and October and an
immense number winter there. According to our ringing
results only about 10 per cent, of birds bred in our northern
counties migrate there, so that this great influx must be
derived in a great part from elsewhere. In spring migratory
flocks constantly pass through Cheshire {l.c.) in early May,
altei the local birds have begun to nest and in his summary
of occurrences of waders on inland waters {B.B., XXXII.
p. 73) Mr. Hollom found that migration of the Redshank
reaches its peak at the end of March or during April and
continues throughout May to mid-June.

r ^flgi6gate a good number of single observations and

lighthouse records from other parts are to the same effect.
Immigration from over-sea in spring on to our south coast
continues at any rate up to mid-April, while scattered
records from many localities on our east and west coasts
show a considerable amount of movement to be taking
place up to the beginning of June. Light records are rather
more numerous m autumn than in spring and they all confirm
the continuity of migration on both the east and west coasts
throughout September, October and the first half of November.

It seems, therefore, that it can be accepted that there is a
« considerable body of migration going on throughout the
! British Isles, both m spring and autumn, that both as regards
ivo i-liTie and period of duration can only be partly accounted
tfor by the movements of our own birds. The question then
mrises whence do these passage migrants come in autumn
?and whither are they bound in spring ? It is now amply
i proved that some, perhaps a considerable number of them,
•.corne from Iceland, but there must be great doubt about
[Icelandic birds being responsible for the total number of these
^migrants. By analogy of other species it would be very
-strange if Icelandic Redshanks should migrate through these
dslands, while Scandinavian and other north European
Redshanks did not. Redshanks have twice been detected on
■migration over the North Sea, but unfortunately too far
ifrom our shores to be of any material assistance.

N. F. Ticehurst.

2£ 1340

PURCHASED '

iTDTESl

TWO CUCKOO’S EGGS IN DESERTED NESTS IN

THE SAME BUSH.

At the end of July, 1939, at Martock, Somerset, I found two
nests about three yards apart in a bramble bush. Each nest
contained an egg of a Cuckoo {Cucuhis c. canorus) of the
same type. Both nests appeared to be those of a Hedge-
Sparrow {Prunella m. occidentalis) and had evidently been
deserted for weeks. There were no other eggs in the nests
and the Cuckoo’s eggs had not been incubated.

Joseph H. Symes.

[There are a few cases on record in which two eggs laid
by the same female have been found in one nest, and the
usual explanation is that they are laid towards the end of
the season by a bird which is unable to find another suitable
fosterer for her last egg. This case may be somewhat similar
and in default of anything better a hen may have laid in a
Hedge-Sparrow’s nest which was already deserted or was
deserted subsequently and later on may have come back
to the site and laid another egg in the adjoining nest. The
fact that the eggs were not found until later makes it impossible
to learn exactly what happened. — F.C.R.J.]

COMMON EIDERS IN CHESHIRE.

On November 19th, 1939, friends and I watched a flock of
about ten Eiders {Somateria m. mollissima) diving off the
north-west point of Hilbre Island. It was a rough day with
plenty of wind and they seemed to be feeding on mussels.
There were two drakes, I should say a second- and a third-
year bird ; the rest were ducks.

This is a rare bird in Cheshire and the first we have seen
here. W. M’ilson.

Common Redstart in Isle of WAght in Nove.mbek. —
Mrs. J. B. Priestley has given us details of a Redstart (Phccni-
ciirus ph. phcenimrus) which she watched at close quarters
with binoculars on November 24th, 1939, near St. Catherine’s
Lighthouse. The bird was evidently a female. This is a later
date than any of which we have previous note.

Black Redstart in Co. Kilkenny. — Major R. i\rcher
Houblon informs us that he noticed a Black Redstart
{Phoenicurus 0. gibraUariensis) in his garden at Thomastown
on November 29th, 1939, and it was still there on December
20th. It appeared to be a young male.

Red-necked Phalarope in Kent in Auc.ust. — Mr.
R. B. Sibson informs us tliat on August 30th, 1939, he
spent some time watching a Red-necked Phalarope (Pliahi-
ropus lobatus) swimming on a fleet in the Isle of Shepiiey.

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fir«&wtniEiMnriJD

The Status and Distribution of Wild
Geese and Wild Duck in Scotland

, , By JOHN BERRY, Ph.D., F.R.S.E.

6 plates. loj. 6d. net.

During the last hundred years there has been a complete revolution in
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increased destruction, but, by disturbance of quiet resting places, have led
to changes in distribution on a vast scale.

In most districts these changes are too much masked by seasonal fluctuations,
and too slow, for the average wildfowler to notice them. But it began to be
realized, especially in North America, that the number of wildfowl was
seriously diminishing.

To obtain accurate information, the International Committee for Bird
Preservation adopted a far-reaching scheme of investigation and inquiry.
This first pubUcation gives the results of the investigations in Scotland.
It is an attempt — the first of its kind — to put on record a distributional
index and a practical estimate of a country’s total stock of wildfowl.

CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS

To be -published in February

BIRD RESERVES

BY

E. C. ARNOLD

Illustrated with 9 plates in colour arid
12 in black-and-white by the author

Medium ^to , . 155. ttet

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Readers will surely agree with the author, after reading his delight-
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various species that visited the pond at different seasons of the year.

H . F , & G. W I T H E RB r LTD.

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With which was Incorporated in January, igiy, " The Zoologist.”

EDITED BY PURCHASED

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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 9, Vol. XXXIII., February i, 1940.

PAGE

Report on the 1938 Survey of Black-headed Gull Colonies.

(Part II.). By P. A. D. Hollom 230

Notes on Birds seen on a Voyage to the West Indies and Back.

By W. R. Philipson ... ... ... ... ... ... 245

The Species of Great Shearwaters in the English Channel. Br^

H. F. Witherby ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 248

Obituary. George Marples... ... ... ... ... ... 250

Notes : —

Continental Blue Tit in Kent (Dr. J. M. Harrison) ... ... 251

Continental Blue Tit in Radnorshire (J. G. Williams) ... 251

On Breeding Habits and Feeding Frequency of Flycatchers

(R. H. Brown) ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 251

Chiffchaffs in Cork in Winter (Lt.-Col. C. F. Scroope) ... 252

Numbers of Black Redstarts on Passage in Man

(K. Williamson) ... ... ... ... ... ... 252

On Incubation and Feeding Fequency of Swallows and Martins

(R. H. Brown) ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 254

Large Number of Whooper Swans in Northumberland and

Lanarkshire (H. Tully and R. Y. Ferguson)... ... ... 254

White Barnacle-Goose in Cumberland (E. Blezard) ... ... 255

Common E-iders in Cheshire (A. W. Boyd) ... ... ... 256

Packing of Broods and ” Injury-feigning” of Velvet-Scoter

(B. W. Tucker) ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 256

Black-necked Grebe Breeding in We.stmorland (Miss M. Garnett) 256

The Record of Green Sandpipers Breeding in Westmorland

in 1917 (Miss M. Garnett) ... ... ... ... ... 257

Specimens of Norfolk Great Bustards lost by Fire

(H. S. Gladstone) ... ... ... ... ... ... 258

Status of Quail in British Islands (The Editors) ... ... 259

Short Notes —

Common Eiders in Dorset. Great Skua and Scandinavian

Lesser Black-backed Gulls in Mouth of Thames ... ... 259

Review :• — •

The Birds of East Lancashire. By C. Oakes and E. Battersby 259
Letter :■ — •

The Black-tailed Godwit in Cumberland (R. H. Brown) ... 260

s

(230)

A PUBLICATION OF THE BRITISH TRUST FOR
ORNITHOLOGY.

REPORT ON THE 1938 SURVEY OF BLACK-HEADED

GULL COLONIES.

BY

P. A. D. HOLLOM.

[Concluded from page 221.)

WALES.

GLAMORGAN.

Deserted Colony, i. Kenfig. First recorded 5 pairs in 1S99.
Rarely more than 3 to 6 pairs 1912 to 1937. 3 P3.irs 1937. None 1938.

BRECONSHIRE.

Occupied Colonies.

1. Pant Llyn, Eppynt. Colonized later than 1914. c. 40 pairs in
1923. None in 1926.

2. Pwll Ddu. i|^ miles from Pant Llyn. c. 200 pairs 1923. 60 pairs
1928. 30 pairs 1933.

3. Llyn Login.

It is not certain that all the above sites, which are within a radius
of i,J- miles, were occupied in 1938.

Deserted Colony. 4. River Trath. One pair nested about 1930.

RADNOR.

Occupied Colonies.

1. Rhiw Pool, 2 miles SW. of Bleddfa. Colonized about 1910.

c. 200 pairs 1912. None 1933. 150-200 pairs 1934, 3' i935i 20-30

pairs 1937 and 1938.

2. A small pool i^ miles WNW. of Bleddfa. A few pairs 1938.
This pool is less than 2 miles N. of the occupied Rhiw Pool and about
the same distance from the recently deserted St. Michaels Pool.

3. Llanwefr Pool, 3 miles SE. of Penybont. Probably colonized
about 1910 (or possibly 10 years earlier), c. 400 pairs 1933, 50° or
more in 1934, 150-200 pairs 1937. In 1938 estimates varied between
about 300 and 1,500 pairs. One observer gave the number of breeding
pairs as probably under 300 but reported that 2,000 birds might be
seen in the evenings.

4. Rhosgoch Common, near Painscastle. Colonized 1908. c. 12 pairs
1938. A regularly occupied colony. Used to be large but much dried
up in 1938.

Deserted Colonies. 5. St. Michaels Pool, near Llangunllo.
Colonized 1918. c. 200 pairs 1925-1930, since when it has gradually
dwindled owing to egg-taking. 6 pairs 1937. None 1938. 6. Pen-y-
clawdd Pool, near Llangunllo. A few pairs have bred here, apparently
as an overflow from St. Michaels Pool. Not now used. 7. Mawn
Pools, NE. of Rhulen. Colonized 1904. Is persecuted and sinks to zero
in drought years. Dried up in 1938. cS. Mawn Pools S. of Rhulen.
Dried up in 1938.

CARMARTHEN.

Occupied Colony.

I. Laugharne. Colonized 1926 by 2 pairs, 4 pairs 1929, 32 in 1933
and 52-60 pairs 1938.

VOL. XXXIII.] BLACK-HEADED GULL COLONIES. 231
PEMBROKE.

No present-day colonies, but Gurney gives a reference to a large
colony on Caldey Island in 1662.

CARDIGAN.

Occupied Colonies.

1. Pond Syfrydrin, 5 miles W. of Plynlimon. Colonization date
uncertain, but not very recent. Formerly Llyn Craig-y-Pistyll, ^ mile
away, was occasionally used as an alternative site, but is now being
converted into a reservoir. A small colony.

2. Llyn Du, 4 miles NE. of Strata Florida. Colonized 1923 or
earlier. 200-300 pairs 1927, deserted 1932 or earlier. Recolonized
1935 or 1936. 150 nests 1938.

3. Fflur Bridge, Tregaron Bog, 2 miles S. of Strata Florida. 20
nests 1938.

4. Between Allt-ddu Farm and the Teifi, Tregaron Bog, ^ mile S.
of Fflur Bridge. 25 nests 1938.

5. Between Coed and the Teifi, Tregaron Bog, 2 miles N. of Tregaron.
125 nests 1938.

Tregaron Bog was colonized in 1923 or earlier.

6. Clwyd-goch Farm, Rhos Cilcennin, c. 100 pairs 1933. ^50 nests
1938.

7. Small sheet of water 2 miles NE. of Llyn Berwyn. 25 nests 1938.
Doubtful Colonies. 8. Llyn Eiddwen, 7 miles NW. of Tregaron.

3 pairs 1923, also occupied 1926. 9. Lundy Bog, near Loventium.

Approximately 50 pairs in recent years, but disturbed by considerable
flooding in 1938. 10. Borth Bog. A few pairs 1926.

MONTGOMERY.

Occupied Colonies.

1. Tregwynt Gull Pool, 3 miles S. of Llanerfyl. Colonized 1911 or
earlier, c. 20 pairs in 1911 ; 1,000 pairs in 1936 and over 1,000 pairs in
1937 and 1938. (A colony reported from Llyn Hir is probably the same
as this.)

2. Llyn Coethyn, 3 miles E. of Carno. c. 20 pairs 1935.

3. Llyn Mawr, 3 miles NW. of Caersws. Colonized 1910 by a few
pairs, c. 30 pairs 1938.

4. Llyn Tarw. Near Llyn Mawr and colonized soon after it. 1,000-
1,500 pairs 1926, c. 2,500 pairs 1927, and more recent estimates vary
between 2,000 and 4,000 pairs.

MERIONETH.

Occupied Colonies.

1. Harlech, on the low land behind the sandhills. Apparently
fairly recently colonized but before 1935. c. 400 pairs 1936 and 1937.
c. 175 pairs 1938.

2. Mochras. 6 miles N. of Barmouth. Colonized about 1903 (?).
9 pairs 1938, reduced by drought. There are two other sites at Mochras
which have been occupied in the past in addition to that used in 1938.

3. Cefndu Moor, near Betrayal Lodge. Colonized 1922 or earlier.
c. 50 pairs tried to nest 1938, but were shot out.

4. Llyn Myn-y-llod, near Llandrillo, or Bala. Colonized 1888
by 2 pairs. Quite 1,000 pairs in 1904.

5. Marsh near coast between Llanaber and Dyfferyn, 3 miles N.
of Barmouth. Colonized 1938 or earlier, c. 30 pairs 1938.

Doubtful Colonies. 6. Llyn Gwernan, near Dolgelly. Small colony.
Deserted Colony. 7. Trawsfynydd Lake. Nested at one time,
but were thoroughly “ discouraged.” None 1938.

232

BRITISH BIRDS.

[VOL. XXXIII.

CARNARVON.

Occupied Colonies.

1. Llyn Goddion-duon (or Glyn Lake), near Capel Curig. Colonized
1923 or earlier. Numbers vary between 30 and 100 pairs averaging
40 pairs.

2. Llyn Bodgynydd, | mile from Glyn Lake. Colonized 1923 or
earlier. Numbers vary between 10 and 80 pairs, averaging 30 pairs.

3. Llyn Tyn-y-j\Iynydd. Colonized 1923 or earlier. Numbers vary
between 50 and 150 pairs, averaging 70 pairs.

A few pairs also nest on small moor pools adjoining the above lakes.

4. Ystumllyn, near Criccieth. Always destroyed by keepers.

Doubtful Colony. 5. Llyn Conway. Was occupied in Pennant’s
time, say 150 years ago, but believed now to exist again after being
deserted for many years.

Deserted Colonies. 6. Small pool i mile NE. of Llyn Conway.
Colonized 1936 or earlier. 6-12 pairs 1936 but none 1937 and 1938.

7. Llyn Llydaw. Occupied in Pennant’s time.

8. Beddgelert. Occupied in 1864.

DENBIGH.

Occupied Colonies.

1. Llyn-y-Foel-frech, near Llansannan. Colonized about 1900.
Over 400 pairs 1917. Flourishing 1922. Several hundred pairs in 1938,
as usual.

2. Llyn Bran. Flourishing 1929. Subsequently much shot by
keepers and now much reduced. 20-30 pairs 1938.

3. Ffriddog, a moor 4 miles SE. of Llanrwst. c. 12 pairs 1917.
In 1938 100-130 pairs on two adjoining pools, and 30 pairs on pool

1 mile away.

Doubtful Colony. 4. Llyn Alwen, near Pentre Voelas. c. 40
pairs in 1930.

Deserted Colonies. 5. Bwlch Du Moor, above Nantglyn.

2 pools. Flourishing 1900, 1912 and 1922. Became extinct about
10 (?) years ago through drainage. 6. Brodidris, 8 miles SE. of
Ruthin. Recorded by Gurney as consisting of 150 pairs. 7. Nant-y-
ffrith, on the Flint border. Recorded by Gurney as an occupied colony.

FLINT.

Occupied Colony.

I. Mostyn Marsh, near Point of Air. First colonized many j^ears
ago, as Gurney gives it as a deserted site. 10-20 pairs 1938 ; all eggs
taken.

Deserted Colony. 2. Llyn Cyffynwy. Destroyed by keepers
prior to 1919.

ANGLESEY.

Occupied Colonies.

1. Llyn Llywenan, Presaddfedd. Colonized 1902 or earlier.
c. 500 pairs 1924 and 1925 ; c. 300 pairs 1934-1936.

2. Newborough Warren. Colonized 1935 by 4 pairs. Same number

1936.

Doubtful Colony. 3. Llyn Dynam, south end. Colonized later
than 1904. c. 50 pairs 1916.

Informants : W. B. Alexander, E. F. Allen, F. C. Best, E. II . T.
Bible, A. H. Bishop, Rev. F. L. Blathwayt, R. P. Bufton, W. A. Cad-
man, R. W. Calvert, Maj. W. id. Congreve, J. S. Elliott, H. E. Forrest,

VOL. XXXIII.] BLACK-HEADED GULL COLONIES. 233

G. H. J. Fusdon, H. A. Gilbert, G. H. Caton Haigh, R. C. Homes,
R. S. Hughes, T. C. E. Hughes, G. C. S. Ingram, W. Miall Jones,

H. Kenrick, R. E. Knowles, R. G. Lort, C. Oldham, B. I’rice, Mrs.
M. Richards, H. M. Salmon, Prof. J. H. Salter, J. F. Thomas, T. S.
Williams, C. H. R. Wynn.

SCOTLAND.

DUMFRIES.

Occupied Colonies.

1. Rockall, Torthorwald. 800 nests 1909-1910, 600 in 1914, 200 in
1921 and c. 3,000 pairs 1938.

2. Loch Urr, Glencairn. 1,300 nests 1909-1910, 1,200 in 1914,

I. 250 in 1921, 944 in 1932. Occupied 1938.

Doubtful Colonies. 3. Lochar Moss. 4. Eastbanke Foreshore,
Caerlaverock. 400 nests 1909-19 10, 4 in 1914, 20 in 1921. 5. Town-
foot Loch, Closeburn. 300-400 nests 1909-1910, 600-800 in 1914,
250-300 in 1921. 6. Racks, Dumfries. 800 nests 1909-1910 and 1914.
7. Craigs Moss, Dumfries. 20 nests 1921. 8. Tanlawhill, Eskdalemuir.
200 nests 1909-1910, 30 in 1914 and 214 in 1921. 9. Stranshalloch

Loch, Glencairn. 25-40 nests 1909-1910, 80-100 in 1914 and 40-50
in 1921. 10. Mollin Farm, Johnstone. Colonized by 100 pairs in 1921.

11. Holehouse, Kirkmichael. Colonized by 120 pairs in 1921.

12. Raeburn Moss, Kirkpatrick Fleming. “ Hundreds ” in 1909-1910,

200 in 1914, 100 in 1921. 13. Stidriggs Back Moss, Kirkpatrick

Juxta. Colonized 1920. 100 nests 1921. 14. Brocklehirst Moss,

Mouswald. 200 nests 1909-1910, 600 in 1914, 50 in 1921. 15. Clonhie,
Penpont. Colonized 1920. 6-20 nests 1921, 3 pairs 1932. 16. Shiel
Loch, Penpont. Colonized 1917. 40-80 nests 1921. 17. Langbridge-
muir, Ruthwell. Deserted 1914. 80 nests 1921. 18. Black Loch,

Sanquhar. 200 nests in 1909-1910 and 1914, 100 in 1921. 19. Aird

Loch, Tynron. 125 nests 1932. 20. Near Penbreek, Kirkconnel.

Occupied 1932.

Deserted Colonies. 21. Langsawburn Loch, Eskdalemuir.
200 nests 1909-1910, 100 in 1914, 45 in 1921. Deserted 1925.
22. Cleughhead, Durisdeer. 160-180 nests 1909-1910, 3 in 1914, after
which it was deserted. 23. Maryhill Loch, Durisdeer. 40-60 nests
1909-1910. Deserted 1911. 24. Black Loch, Kirkmahoe. 500 nests
1909-1910. Deserted by 1914. 25. Dhu Loch, Penpont. 800 nests

1909-1910. Deserted 1914. 26. Polvaird Loch, Sanquhar. Colonized
1917. Deserted 1920.

KIRKCUDBRIGHT,

Occupied Colony.

I. Kilquhanity Loch, near Kirkpatrick Durham. 50 pairs or less
in 1938.

Doubtful Colonies. 2. Loch Kinda, New Abbey. Occupied
in recent years. 3. Milton Loch, near Crocketford. Occupied in
recent years. 4. Lochanhead Loch, near Dumfries. Occupied in
recent years. 5. Loch Minnoch, 6 miles NW. of Dairy. 6. Black
Loch. 7. Glentoo Loch. 8. Jordieland Loch. 9. Loch Moan.

« WIGTOWN.

Occupied Colony.

I. Castle Loch. Colonized before 1913.

Doubtful Colonies. The following have been occupied within
the past 10 years : 2. Loch Eldrig. 3. Barhapple Loch. 4. Loch
Wayoch. 5. Dunskey Pond.

234

BRITISH BIRDS.

[VOL. XXXIII.

AYR.

Occupied Colonies.

Gray and Anderson {Birds of Ayrshire, 1869) state that there were
then many stations but mention only Loch Doon.

E. R. Paton informs me that to-day there are Gulls on every hill,
loch and reservoir throughout the county, but that they are persecuted
too much to form large and permanent colonies. The following may
be mentioned specifically ;

1. Loudoun/Fenwick parish boundary. First nested 1894.

2. Dunton Reservoir. Founded 1900 with the formation of the
reservoir. Increased enormously during the War, 1914-1918.

3. Hareshawmuir estate. At one time 2,000 pairs.

4. Loch Goyn.

5. Dunwan.

6. Loch Maberry.

7. Bogton Loch.

RENFREW.

Occupied Colonies.

1. Harelaw Dam, Neilston.

2. Little Loch, Mearns.

3. Binend Loch, Eaglesham.

4. Slaw Moss, Eaglesham.

3. Myres Hill, Eaglesham.

No information received from W. Renfrew. No counts were made
at the above colonies in the east of the county, but great increase
noted 1938.

Doubtful Colony. 6. Roebank Reservoir. Very large until about
1933. when steps taken to reduce the numbers.

Deserted Colonies. 7. Lochgoin, Eaglesham. Formerly fairly
large, but abandoned owing to incessant egg-taking. Re-colonized
1935 but deserted again 1936. 8. Dunwan Dam, Eaglesham. Deserted
1935 or 1936 owing to deepening of reservoir.

LANARK.

Occupied Colonies.

I. Carnwath. A large colony. 2. Cranley estate, near Carstairs.
Colonized many years ago. c. 200 pairs 1936, 80-100 pairs 1938.

3. Fossil Marsh, near Glasgow. i pair 1935, -t-30 pairs 1937,
50-60 pairs 1938.

Deserted Colonies. 4. West of Craigengar Hill, near West Linton.
Moved here from West Linton (Peebles) about 1919. Deserted 1937
owing to disturbance.

PEEBLES.

Deserted Colony, i. White Moss, West Linton. Colonized 1S78.
c. 1,000 pairs 1902. Desertion commenced 1915 and was completed
by 1919.

SELKIRK.

Occupied Colonies.

1. Haining Loch. Colonized before 1912.

2. Whitmuir Bog. A medium-sized colony.

3. A small loch on hill between St. Boswells and Selkirk.

VOL. XXXIII.] BLACK-HEADED GULL COLONIES. 235

ROXBURGH.

Occupied Colonies.

1. Hoselaw Loch. Colonized before 1893. A. large colony.

2. Yetholm. Colonized before 1893. A large colony.

3. Ancrum Moss. Colonized before 1912. A large colony.

4. Ringside Loch, near Craik.

Miss Rintoul, who visited this area in 1938, found the birds more
numerous than ever and states that there must be thousands nesting
in the Scottish part of Tweed.

Doubtful Colony. 5. Adderstonelee Moss, a few miles south of
Hawick, c. 50 pairs 1901.

Deserted Colonies. 6. Riddell, near Lilliesleaf. A good-sized
colony founded many years ago. Deserted about 1928 owing to tree
planting.

BERWICK.

Occupied Colonies.

1. Dowlaw, near St. Abbs. This colony has shifted from time
to time between Coldingham Loch and Redheugh. 20-40 pairs 1886,
150 pairs 1920, 250-300 pairs 1933. Fairly large 1938.

2. Everett Moss. Colonized before 1895. A large colony.

3. Bemersyde Loch. Immemorial, c. 1,500 pairs 1895. Still a
large colony.

4. Whitrig Bog, adjoining Bemersyde. Colonized by 1906.

Deserted Colonies. 5. Billie Mire. 6. DogdenMoss. 7. Corsbie
Bog. 8. Redpath Bog. 9. Hen Poo, near Duns.

The above five colonies were all deserted before 1895.

EAST LOTHIAN.

Deserted “ Colony.” No colonies are known to exist, but a stray
pair bred in 1927 at the mouth of the River Tyne.

MIDLOTHIAN.

Occupied Colonies.

1. Fala Flow. Colonized before 1885 when it was a fairly large

colony. Deserted for some years from 1897. 200-300 pairs 1915,
very few 1919. 10-15 pairs 1933 ; 6-10 pairs 1938.

2. Auche'ncorth Moss. Is shown as "the Maw Moss” on apian
dated 1796. Not numerous in 1866, 800-1,000 pairs 1885, 13 nests
1894, 250 pairs 1920, 10 nests 1933, 50 pairs 1938.

3. Cobbinshaw Loch. 1,800 eggs taken in 1883. Decrease 1905.
c. 250 pairs 1919, 500-750 pairs 1938.

4. Threipmuir Reservoir (Bavelaw). First seen 1905 or 1906,
250-300 pairs 1919, 6 pairs 1938. Have often nested in stunted firs
as well as on ground here.

5. Harperrig Reservoir. Nests plentiful in 1882 ; 250 pairs 1915 ;
30 pairs 1919, 50-60 pairs 1934, 150-200 pairs 1938.

6. Bawdy Moss, above Crosswood. Colonized 1916 or 1917 ; but
deserted. Subsequently returned and in 1933 750-1,000 pairs. Only
c. 100 pairs 1938.

7. Moss between Cobbinshaw and Crosswood. 150 or more pairs

found in 1933. 12-15 pairs 1938.

Deserted Colonies. 8. Rosebery Reservoir. Colonized 1920 or
earlier ; a great increase 1925 ; 15-20 pairs 1933, none 1938. 9. Mars-
held Loch. 3 nests 1894. 10 in 1925 when none had nested for j'^ears.
One nest 1933.

236

BRITISH BIRDS.

[VOL. XXXIII.

WEST LOTHIAN.

Occupied Colonies.

I. Crane Loch. 12-15 pairs in 1938.

Deserted Colonies. 2. Bathgate Water and Balbardie Loch.
Occupied about 1845.

FIFE.

Occupied Colony.

I. Tentsmuir. Colonized about 1902, marked increase 1913.
3,500-4,000 pairs 1936, 2,000 pairs on Earlshall section 1938.

Deserted Colonies. 2. Tulliallan Loch. Some time prior to 1885
on an island now submerged. 3. Otterston. Sporadic nesting
in first decade of present century. 4. Kilconquhar Loch, i nest 1919.
5. Millar’s Loch, Lomond Hills. 40-50 pairs 1919, probably an
offshoot from Loch Leven. 6. Loch Glow, Cleish Hills. An occasional
offshoot from Loch Leven. 7. Lindores. A few pairs for a year or two.

KINROSS.

Occupied Colony.

1. Loch Leven. Records of occupation in 1772 and 1793. Later
deserted and none breeding there about 1890. Returned probably
about 1905. Large colony 1908, 500-750 pairs 1913, more numerous
than ever 1919 and continues to flourish.

STIRLING.

Occupied Colonies.

(i. Flanders Moss — see Perthshire.)

2. Moor between Fintry and Lennoxtown. Fair-sized colony'
in 1934- 50 pairs 1938.

3. Darnrigg Moss, Slamannan. c. 250 nests 1938.

Doubtful Colonies. 4. Gartmore Moss, near Aberfoyle. Occupied
1936, largely but perhaps not completely deserted 1937 nnd 1938.
5. Donovan Moss, Denny', c. 100 pairs 1928.

Deserted Colonies. 6. Loch Coulter. A small colony deserted
in the i86o’s. 7. Bog above Duchray Castle, near Aberfoyde.

Colonized 1930, deserted 1936.

PERTH.

Occupied Colonies.

1. Flanders Moss. Fast Flanders Moss, including Cardross Moss,
is in Perth ; West Flanders Moss is in Stirling. A colony' used to exist
on the Moss but was deserted about 1840. Breeding on East Flanders
Moss 1879 ; 1,500-2,000 pairs 1896 and increased rather than decreased
up to 1919. Still very numerous 1927 and 1933. Several thousand
pairs 1938, having perhaps decreased over last five y'ears.

On West Flanders Moss c. 100 pairs 1896 and 1897, decreased owing
to persecution, but over 100 pairs again 1920.

2. Loch Letter, near Loch Ruskie. Colonized 1937, increased to
c. 1,000 pairs 1938.

3. Loch Mahaick near Doune. 250 pairs 1886, c. 500 pairs 1920.
Still plentiful 1927.

4. Stormont, near Blairgowrie. Colonized 1912 or earlier. 300 pairs
1931. 150 pairs 1938.

5. Haremyre, near Blairgowrie. Colonized 1918 or earlier. 300 pairs
1931, 100 pairs 1935, 400 pairs 1938.

voL.xxxrii ] BLACK-HEADED GULL COLONIES. 237

6. Huntingtower, W. of Perth city. Colonized 1920 or earlier.
40 pairs 1938.

7. Redmyre, SE. of Lochendores. Colonized before 1912. 150 pairs
1913, 250 pairs 1925, 20 pairs 1938.

8. Small loch E. of Dunsinane Hill, near Perth. Colonized 1920 or
earlier. 80 pairs 1938.

9. Bandirran swamp, Balbeggie. Reported to have been there
always. 800 pairs 1930-1938.

10. Seamaw Loch, Balbeggie. Reported to have been there always.
800 pairs 1930-1937, 500 pairs 1938.

11. Garth estate, S. of Schiehallion. Colonized 1900 or earlier,
8 pairs 1938, but formerly many more. Decrease due to egg collecting
by keepers.

12. Southern slope of Ben Lawers. Colonized 1926 or earlier.
2 pairs every year.

13 to 15. Bolfracks estate, W. of Aberfeldy. Colonized 1914 or
earlier. Three colonies in 1938 containing (i) 100 pairs ; (ii) 200 pairs ;
(iii) 60-80 pairs.

16. Loch na Larich (borders of Foss and Castle Menzies estates).
Colonized 1938 by 30 pairs.

17. New loch on Castle Menzies estate formed in 1936. Colonized
1938 by 2 or 3 pairs.

18. I.och Oil, Moness estate. Colonized 1912 or earlier. 100 pairs
1938.

19. Loch Formal, Moness estate. Colonized 1912 or earlier. 60 pairs
1938.

20. Finnart, Dali estate. Colonized 1905, or earlier, 350 pairs 1923,
100 pairs 1937, 60 pairs 1938.

21. Morenish estate. Colonization date unknown. 12 pairs 1938.

22. Island in west end of Loch Tay. Colonization date unknown.
12 pairs 1938.

23 to 25. Blair Atholl. Three colonies occupied for over 50 years.
In 1938 (i) 200 pairs ; (ii) 400 pairs ; (iii) 500 pairs.

Doubtful Colonies. 26. Hill loch north of east end of Loch
Tummel. Colonized 1921 or earlier ; 150 pairs 1937. 1938 informa-

tion.

The following sites have been occupied from time to time by small
colonies of say 10 pairs, dependant in part perhaps on the amount
of disturbance at the regular colonies.

27. Clunie. 28. Curran, Strathardle. 29. Pilcarmich, Strath-
ardle. 30. Moraig, near Blair Atholl. 31. Eigheach, west of Loch
Rannoch. 32. White Mire of Methven. In occupation about 1906.

Deserted Colonies. 33. Lochandaim, SE. of Kinlochrannoch
Colonized 1921 or earlier. 200 pairs 1928. Driven away 1935 or earlier.
34. Dupplin, SW. of Perth. Colonized 1921 or earlier. Driven away
about 1933. 35. Near Crieff. A “ huge ” colony deserted 1936.

ANGUS.

Occupied Colonies.

1. Lochendores, S. of Coupar Angus. Colonized 1912 or earlier.
250 pairs 1923, 450 pairs 1924, 60 pairs 1937, 250 pairs 1938.

2. Duns Dish, about 3 miles NE. of Brechin.

Doubtful Colonies. The following sites are occupied from time
to time by small colonies of say 10 pairs in part perhaps dependent
on the amount of disturbance at the regular colonies : 3. Rescobie.
4. A hill pond E. of Lochendores.

238

BRITISH BIRDS.

[vOL. XXXIII.

ABERDEEN.

Occupied Colonies.

1. Belfatton Moor, near New Leeds. Colonized many years ago.
Over 50 pairs 1938.

2. Mennie, N. of Aberdeen. A large colony.

3. Black Dog, N. of Aberdeen on coast. Not very large.

4. Newburgh, N. of Aberdeen on coast. Large colony.

5. Dess Bog, Deeside. A large colony.

6. Loch Coull, N. of Aboyne, Deeside. Fairly large colony.

7. Loch of Auchlossan, near Aboyne. Formerly a large colony
but dried up about 1859 and was deserted until the War of 1914-1918
when neglect of ditches caused the loch again to be formed.

8. Loch of Braeroddach, W. of Aboyne. Colonized after the
desertion of Loch of Auchlossan about 1859. Very large for many
years, but now largely left in favour of the following three colonies.

9. Loch Davan, near Dinnet, Deeside. Colonized many years ago.
Over 200 pairs 1938.

10. Near Ordie, near Dinnet. Colonized in recent years. Now
very large.

11. Loch Kinnord, near Dinnet. Colonized in recent years.
c. 500 pairs 1938.

Doubtful Colony. 12. Corby Loch, near Aberdeen. Colonized
before 1900.

Deserted Colonies. 13. Loch of Strathbeg. Very old colony.
Deserted within last two or three years through disturbance and
egg-taking. 14. Uppermill Pond, near Kintore. Colonized 1861
by 2 pairs. Numbered c. 7,000 in 1902. Has been drained in recent
years, and completely deserted.

MORAY.

Occupied Colonies.

1. Loch Spynie. Colonized 1895 or earlier, c. 500 pairs 1938.

2. Loch of Cotts, 4 miles NE. of Elgin, c. 150 pairs 1938.

3. Speyslaw Loch, 5 miles ENE. of Elgin, c. 100 pairs 1938.

Doubtful Colonies. 4. Pictarnie’s Loch, Darnaway Forest,
near Forres. Colonized before 1847. Occupied 1936. 5. Loch

Annoir. Mentioned in Fauna of the Moray Basin (1895).
6. Islands in the Spey, near Orton. Colonized since 1905. Large
number nesting 1936.

NAIRN.

Occupied Colonies.

I. “ Nesting on almost all the little lochs on the moors in 1937 ” —
Misses E. V. Baxter and L. J. Rintoul.

Doubtful Colonies. 2. Loch of Belivat. Colonized 1 847 or earlier.
3. Loch of Boath. Colonized 1895 or earlier. 4. Dulsie Forest.
Colonized 1895 or earlier.

INVERNESS. [See also Outer Hebrides.)

Occupied Colonies.

1. Dalfaber Farm, near Aviemore. Many years ago a big colony ;
c. 50 pairs 1938.

2. Loch a Gharbh-chorie, near Aviemore. c. 200 pairs 1938.

3. Loch Gynack, 2 miles from Kingussie. 200 nests 1938.

4. A roadside loch a few miles S. of Newtonmore. Small colony.

5. Loch beside Carrbridge-Grantown road.

6. Loch near Loch Askie.

VOL. XXXIII ] BLACK-HEADED GULL COLONIES. 239

7. Loch near Geadas, at SW. corner of Loch Duntelchaig. c. 70
pairs 1938.

Speyside colonies have been in existence since before 1895.

8. Loch near Nethybridge. c. 150 pairs 1938.

Doubtful Colonies. 9. Loch Dallas, 2 miles S. of Boat of Garten.
c. 40 pairs 1929. 10. Loch Kinellan.

ARGYLL.

Occupied Colonies.

1. Tangie Loch, Mull of Kintyre. Colonized 1928 or earlier. Still
flourishes.

2. Loch Tromlee. Small colony.

Doubtful Colonies. 3. West Loch Tarbert. Has bred. 4. Loch
nan Torran, Knapdale. Occupied within the last ten years. 5. Loch
Gorm, Islay. 6. Loch na Beinne, Islay. 30-40 pairs in 1936.

DUMBARTON.

Occupied Colonies.

I. Fannyside Loch, 6 miles SW. of Falkirk. Colonized 1898 or
earlier, c. 2,000 nests 1938.

Doubtful Colonies. 2. Inchmoan Island on Loch Lomond.
Great numbers used to breed. 3. Loch Humphrey. Large colony
many years prior to 1875, several hundred in 1890. 15-30 pairs 1918
to 1920. 4. Fyn Loch. Colonized about 1890. 30 pairs 1907 and 1914,
more in 1921. 5. Burncrooks Reservoir. Colonized 1917, considerably
increased by 1921. 6. Strathleven Moor. First reported 1919, large
number 1921. 7. Craigmaddie, near Milgavie. Had increased to

over 400 pairs 1921. 8. Baker Loch. A few pairs 1921. 9. Loch

Lily. Formerly prosperous colony reduced to one pair 1921.

10. CarbethLoch. Stated in 1921 to have bred occasionally 1910-1918.

11. Cochno Loch. Few dozen pairs about 1881 and over 50 pairs

about 1893. One pair 1921. 12. Edinbarnet Loch. Colonized 1890.

In 1916-1917 most of the birds went to Black Linn. 13. Black Linn.
Colonized 1915 or earlier. Numerous 1918, only one pair 1920 and 1921.
14. Gilshaw Loch. Colonized 1915 or earlier. 60-70 pairs 1921.

BUTE.

Deserted Colony, i. The Plan. Colonized about 1922. c. 300
pairs 1932. Last occupied 1935.

ROSS. {See also Outer Hebrides.)

Occupied Colonies.

I. Loch Lui chart.

Doubtful Colonies. 2. Near Alness, between Dingwall and
Bonar Bridge. 50-60 pairs 1927. The next three are taken from
Gurney (1918) ; 3. Gruinard Island. 4. Tain Hill, near Fearn.

5. Strathglass. Several colonies.

Deserted Colonies. Gurney quoting from Harvie Brown and
Macpherson A Fauna of the North-West Highlands and Skye, 1904 :

6. Gairloch. “ Nested 1888 on small islands, but apparently do not
do so now or anywhere in Applecross.”

SUTHERLAND.

Occupied Colonies.

1. Lochan Iain Bhuidhe, between River Fleet and Strath Carnaig.

Colonized before 1934. 75 pairs 1938.

2. Loch nan Ubhlan, close to Lochan Iain Bhuidhe. Colonized
before 1934. c. 10 pairs 1938.

240 BRITISH BIRDS. [vol.xxxiii.

3. Dornoch Firth, 4^ miles ESE. of Bonar Bridge, c. 150 old and
young birds together, 193S.

4. Dornoch Sands and Dornoch rifle range. A few scattered pairs
annually since 1926 or earlier.

5. Skibo, near Dornoch. Colonized 1923 or earlier.

6. Two lochs above Lairg. Nest plentifully.

7. Loch Shin. Nest on some of the islands.

In 1887 sa'd to be common on the east coast, rarer on the west.

Doubtful Colonies. 8. Loch Caladail, Durness, small colony
on islet, 1935. 9. Badcall Islands, off coast. 30 pairs 1927. 10. Loch
Doula. Occupied in last 10 years, ii. Loch Tigh na Creige. Occupied
in last 10 years. 12. Loch Borrolaigh. Recorded by Gurney. 13. Near
Bettyhill. Recorded by Gurney.

CAITHNESS.

Occupied Colonies.

1. Westfield Bog, near Thurso. “ Huge ” in 1931.

2. Brubster, near Thurso. “ Enormous ” in 1931.

3. Dubh Lochs, near Shielton. Scattered groups.

Doubtful Colonies. 4. Loch Calder, near Thurso. Small colony
1927. 5. Loch Olginey, near Thurso. Small colony 1927. 6. Loch
Stemster. Gurney records a large colonic

OUTER HEBRIDES.

Occupied Colonies.

South Uist, Inverness :

1. Loch a’Mhachair, near Grogary Lodge, c. 20 pairs 1938.

2. Loch Druidibeg, near Grogary Lodge, c. 20 pairs 1938.

3. West Loch Bee. c. 20 pairs 1938.

4. Loch Kildman. A few pairs 1938.

5. Loch Ollay. Occupied in 1906. 100 pairs or less 1938.

6. Oban, near Caman P.O. 10-15 pairs 1938.

7. Loch Hallan. A few pairs 1938.

8. Loch Snigisclett. A few pairs 1938.

Benbecula, Inverness :

9. Loch nam Faoileann, near Market Stance. 40-60 pairs 1938.

10. Loch Bail’fhionnlaidh, Nunton. One pair 1938.

North Uist, Inverness :

11. Boreray. 120-200 pairs 1938.

12. Loch Nighe. 2 pairs 1938.

13. Oban nan Steamain. 10-12 pairs 1938.

14. Islet near Cladach Baleshare. 15-20 pairs 1938.

15. Luigay. 5-10 pairs 1938.

16. Bru Hernish. 15-25 pairs 1938.

17. Balranald Bog. 300-500 pairs 1938.

18. Swamp near Langass. 3-4 (?) pairs 1938.

19. Loch Dusary. 4-5 pairs 1938.

20. Oban a’Chlachain. 3-4 pairs 1938.

North Uist was colonized 1888 or earlier.

{Harris. — No colonies seen 1938.)

Lewis, Ross.

21. Swamp near Branahuie. 50 pairs or more 1938.

Doubtful Colonies. 22. Barra ; on small islet. 6-8 pairs 1895.

23. North Uist, Loch near Carinish. 24. Lewis. Loch near Eoropie.
25. South Uist, Coopers Loch. Small colony 1906.

VOL. XXXIII ] BLACK-HEADED GULL COLONIES. 241

ORKNEY.

Occupied Colonies.

I. North Ronaldshay. Colonized 1891 or earlier. 100-200 pairs

1938.

Doubtful Colonies. 2. Damsay. Colonized 1891 or earlier.
3. Eynhallow. Colonized 1891 or earlier. 4. Pomona. Colonized
1891 or earlier. 5. Loch Stennis. A few pairs 1905.

SHETLANDS.

Occupied Colonies.

1. Lang Lochs and Flossy Loch, Lerwick Landward. Probably
hundreds of pairs. Colonized 1928 or earlier.

2. Loch of Kirkabister, Nesting. Colonized 1910-1912. Probably
hundreds of pairs.

3. Loch of Culswick, Sandsting. Colonized 1916 or 1917. Probably
hundreds of pairs 1938.

4. Loch of Brow, Dunrossness. Colonized 1887 or earlier. 20 pairs
1890.

5. Bog near Loch of Strand, Tingwall.

6. Loch of Tingwall, Tingwall.

7. Loch of Girlsta, Tingwall.

8. Loch of Strom, Whiteness.

9. Loch of Benston, Nesting.

10. Swamp at Vadill of Skellister, Nesting.

11. Small island off Lingness, Nesting.

12. Loch of Burga Water, near Vidlin, Lunnasting.

13. Loch of Housa Water, Sandsting.

14. Loch of Sinna Water, Northmavine.

15. Small lochs SE. of Bjorgs of Skelberry.

16. Loch of Flatpunds, near Walls. Colonized 1928 or earlier.

J. Peterson who sent the above list states that it is by no means
complete and that the bird nests all over Shetland where conditions
are suitable — for example, within a radius of five miles of Flatpunds
there are possibly a hundred small freshwater lochs, all affording
nesting sites for odd pairs.

Doubtful Colonies. 17. Houllma Water, Sandsting. Colonized
1895 or earlier. Occupied in last 10 years. 18. Bog between Loch of
.Belmont and Loch of Snarravoe, Unst. c. 40 pairs 1931.

Deserted Colony. 19. Loch of Clickimin, Lerwick Burgh.
Deserted about 1928. Formerly c. 200 pairs. Desertion caused by
invasion of Herring-Gulls.

Informants : W. B. Alexander, Miss E. Archer, J. Bartholomew,
Miss E. V. Baxter, H. Boase, R. W. Calvert, Dr. J. W. Campbell,

F. S. Chapman, R. Chislett, P. A. Clancey, E. Cohen, Sir I. Colquhoun,
D. Fergusson, R. Y. Ferguson, H. S. Gladstone, F. G. S. Graham,
Miss D. Hamilton, S. B. Hewitt, P. A. D. Hollom, A. H. Johnson,
Rev. F. C. R. Jourdain, H. Kenrick, N. B. Kinnear, D. G. Laidlaw,
J. M. D. Mackenzie, J. M. McWilliam, P. Maxwell, Midlothian
Ornithological Club, A. P. Millard, Rev. R. I. Mitchell, J. Moffat,

D. I. Molteno, Capt. G. Wolfe Murray, E. M. Nicholson, C. Oldham.

E. R. Paton, J. Peterson, O. J. Pullen, W. Rennie, Miss L. J. Rintoul,

G. L. Sandeman, P. W. Sandeman, G. D. Sprott, Col. A. R. Trotter,
G. Waterston.

242

BRITISH BIRDS.

[VOL. XXXIII.

IRELAND.

FERMANAGH.

Occupied Colonies.

1-2. Upper Lough Erne. Colonized 1918 or earlier. Two colonies
of 100 or more pairs.

3. Gull Island, Lower Lough Erne. Colonized long before 1925.
Many hundreds in 1938.

4-5. Lower Lough Erne. Small colonies on little islands.

TYRONE.

Occupied Colonies.

1. Scaddy Island, Lough Neagh. Colonized 1930 or earlier. 1,200
pairs 1937, 1,000 pairs 1938.

2. Kinturk Flat, Lough Neagh. Colonized before 1908. c. 500 pairs
1938.

3. Lough na Tarpogue, between Mountfield and Carrickmore.
Colonized before 1908.

4. Snnagh Lough, near Drumquin. Colonized before 1908.

5. Lough Patrick, near Beragh. Colonized before 1908.

Deserted Colony. 6. Washing Bay, Lough Neagh, W. of Maghery.

Consisted of 2,000 pairs or more. Last occupied 1923.

ARMAGH.

Occupied Colonies.

1. Reedy Island, Derry Crow, Lough Neagh. Colonized 1922 or
earlier. 200 pairs 1925, c. 2,500 nests 1934-1937, but c. 1,000 in 1938 ;
decrease attributed to rats.

2. Bird Island, Lough Neagh. A large colony.

3. Coney Island, Lough Neagh. A large colony formed since 1930.

DOWN.

Occupied Colonies.

1. Mow Island, 2-3 miles off coast. Colonized 1930 or earlier.
50-60 pairs.

2. Sheelah Island. A marine island colonized 1936. Very small
colony.

3. Strangford Lough. A marine island.

ANTRIM.

Occupied Colonies.

1. Rams Island, Lough Neagh. Colonized 1851 or earlier. 30 pairs
1922, 100 pairs 1938.

2. Tolans Flat, Lough Neagh, near Aghalee. Colonized 1937
earlier. 300 pairs 1937.

3. Two islets in Lough Neagh, near Toome ; c. 10 pairs on the larger
and 3 or 4 pairs on the smaller.

4. Garrybog, near Ballymoney. Colonized before 1898 ; then
c. 50 pairs, now thousands.

5. Lough Beg. Colonized 1932 or earlier. 4 sites of 50-100 pairs each.

6. Lough Naroon, Long Mountain, near Dunloy. Colonized before
1908.

7. Cozies Bog, near Liscolman. Colonized before 1908.

8. Process Bog between Ballymoney and Ballymena. Colonized
before 1908.

9. Moorland above Carnlough. Colonized before 1908.

10. Ballin Bog. Colonized 1929. 10 pairs 1938.

11. Buckha. Colonized 1935. c. 8 pairs 1938.

12. Rathlin Island. A marine island. Colonized 1932 or earlier,
100 pairs 1938.

VOL. XXXIII.] BLACK-HEADED GULL COLONIES. 243

Deserted Colony. 13. Feather Beds, Kihvaughter. Formerly
large ; deserted 1933.

LONDONDERRY.

Occupied Colony.

I. Lough Patrick, near Draperstown. Colonized before 1908.
c. 100 pairs 1938.

KERRY.

Doubtful Colonies. The following were mentioned by Gurney :

1. Beginish in Blasket Islands. 2. Castleisland district. 3. East
of Tralee.

G. R. Humphrey’s List of Irish Birds, 1937, states ‘‘ nests on some
marine islands off Kerry.”

CORK.

Occupied Colony.

I. Kilcoleman Bog, Buttevant. Colonized 1918. Over 300 pairs
1938.

TIPPERARY.

Doubtful Colony, i. Bog of Kilsheelan. Mentioned by Gurney.

LIMERICK.

Doubtful Colony, i. Lough Gurr. Colonized 1903 or earlier.
Mentioned by Gurney.

CLARE.

Doubtful Colonies, i. Cullam Lake. Mentioned by Gurney.

2. Tullymachen. Colonized about 1914 ; mentioned by Gurney.

LEIX (QUEEN’S COUNTY).

Occupied Colony.

I. Coolnsfeara Bog, near Portarlington. Colonized 1932 or earlier.
Many nests.

GALWAY.

Occupied Colonies.

1. Andserd Lough, Connemara. Enormous colony 1938.

2. Lough Truskar, Connemara. Enormous colony 1938.

3. Lough Corrib. Mentioned by Gurney. Small colony 1938 on
islet at mouth of Oughterard river.

Doubtful Colonies. 4. Lough Mask. Mentioned by Gurney.
5. Lough Derg. Mentioned by Gurney. 6. Tootoge Rock, Lough
Corrib, near Cornamona, c. 332 nests 1934. 7- Booey, Lough Corrib,
near Cong. c. 10 pairs 1934. 8. Maunaknick Islands, Lough Corrib,
near Cornamona. Small colony 1934.

OFFALY (KING’S COUNTY).

Doubtful Colonies. i. Monettia Bog. Shifted here in 1898
from Killeemore Bog. Mentioned by Gurney. 2. Raheenlough.
Mentioned by Gurney.

WESTMEATH.

Doubtful Colonies. Large colonies are mentioned by Gurney :

1. Lake of Ennel. 2. Lake of Owel. 3. Dereveragh.

SMcommon.

Doubtful Colonies, i. Just west of Athlone. Occupied 1934.

2. Lough Key. Mentioned by Gurney. 3. Lough Ree. Mentioned
by Gurney. 4. By railway about 2 miles E. of Ballinasloe station.
c. 40 nests 1934.

244

BRITISH BIRDS.

[VOL. XXXIII.

MAYO.

Occupied Colonies.

1-2. Gortmore and Derreen Islands, Lough Carrowmore, near
Bangor. Colonized 1933 or earlier, c. 40 pairs 1938.

3. Ballin Lough, near Westport, c. 50 pairs 1938.

4. Lough Cullen. Very dense colony on Griffin Island 1932. c. 200
nests 1938.

5. Ternioncarragh Lough. Large colony 1924, small colony 1933,
also occupied 1934.

Doubtful Colonies. 6. Lough Nash. Enormous colony 1928.
7. Urlaur Lough. Large colony 1932. 8. Mannin Lough. Large

colonies on islands 1932. 9. Bartragh Lough, near Killala. Occupied
in 1934. lO- Lough Conn. Mentioned by Gurney, c. 150 pairs 1933.
II. Lough Carra. Mentioned by Gurney.

Deserted Colony. 12. Rathroeen Lough. Deserted some years
prior to 1932.

SLIGO.

Doubtful Colonies. The following were mentioned by Gurney :

1. Lough Gara. Colonized 1903 or earlier. 2. Lough Arrow.
3. Lough Gill.

LEITRIM.

Doubtful Colony, i. Lough Allen. Colonized 1903 or earlier.
Mentioned by Gurney.

CAVAN.

Doubtful Colony, i. Lake near Shercock. Occupied 1851.
Mentioned by Gurney.

DONEGAL.

Doubtful Colonies, i. Lough Keel. 12-15 pairs in 1931-32.

2. Lough Derg. Mentioned by Gurney. 3. Kenny Lough. Mentioned
by Gurney. 4. Garton Lake. Mentioned by Gurney. 5. Portlough.
Mentioned by Gurney. 6. One part of the Donegal coast.

Informants : H. H. Barry, J. A. Benington, W. G. Byron, Capt.
E. G. Case, C. D. Deane, H. F. I. Elliott, T. B. Graham, S. Henry,
G. R. Humphreys, R. Kane, S. Marchant, E. M. Nicholson,
E. O’Mahony, C. Oldham, A. R. M. Palmer, Maj. R. F. Ruttledge,
J. A. S. Stendall, L. J. Turtle, C. A. Webb.

(245)

NOTES ON BIRDS SEEN ON A VOYAGE TO THE
WEST INDIES AND BACK.

By

W. R. PHILIPSON.

When I was appointed by the Trustees of the British Museum
to join the Cambridge University Expedition to Jamaica as
systematic botanist I took the opportunity afforded by the
outward and return voyages to watch for oceanic birds.
We sailed from West India Dock on July 15th, 1939, reaching
Kingston, Jamaica, on July 27th.

The return voyage was slower owing to wartime conditions ;
beginning on September 15th, we reached the Straits of
Dover on October ist. It is interesting to compare these
notes with those made by E. M. and B. D. Nicholson in 1929
over a very similar course and published in this journal
{antea, Vol. XXIV, pp. 266-74). The notes published by
L. S. V. Venables [antea, Vol. XXXIII, pp. 152-4) for
the southern North Atlantic were made in the spring.

I have arranged the notes under three heads, namely,
“ Pelagic species,” ‘‘Offshore species,” and ‘‘Migrating land-
birds.” It is, perhaps, my records of these last, which were
encountered in October, well out from both the American
and European coasts, which are of greatest interest.

Pelagic Species.

North Atlantic Shearwater {Puffinus kuhlii). Frequent on
both voyages between the mouth of the Channel and the Azores,
but more abundant at the end of September than in mid- July. The
most easterly and most westerly records in July were 47°N., 21 °W. and
39°3o'N., 37°W. respectively; the corresponding records for September
were 49‘’N., 6°W., and 42°3o'N., 28°W. On September 28th (noon
position 46°3o'N., i8°W.) they were very abundant, groups of a
dozen or even two dozen being seen, and at least one bird being always
in view.

Great Shearwater (P. gravis). — On both voyages this species
was mixed very sparingly with the preceding. On July 17th two were
seen about 47‘’N., i5°W., on the i8th one at 45°3o'N., 20°W., and on
the 2oth two others about 39°3o'N., 37°W. On September 27th one
was seen at 45°N., 22°3o'W., and on the 29th three together at
48°3o'N., i2°W. The bird’s occurrence in this region in July is
interesting as V. C. Wynne-Edwards (Proc. Boston Soc. Nat. Hist.,
Vol. XL, 1935) does not record them from here until October.

Sooty Shearwater (P. griseus). — Seen only on the return voyage,
one on September 27th at 45°3o'N., 2i°3o'W., and five or six throughout
the 28th (noon position 46°3o'N., i8°W.)

Fulmar (Fulmariis glacialis). — One bird on September 26th at
43°N., 27°W.

Storm-Petrels. — These birds were present between the Azores
and the English Channel on both voyages. I was unable to determine
if the Storm-Petrel {Hydrohates pelagicus) or Wilson’s Petrel {Oceanites

T

246

BRITISH BIRDS.

[VOL. XXXIII.

oceaniciis) or both were represented. On the return voyage fewer
were seen and they showed less tendency to follow astern. The eastern
and western limits observed in July were 45°N., 2i°W., and 39°3o'N.,
37°W. ; and in September the corresponding records were 48°3o'N.,
i2°W., and 43°N., 2y°W.

Le.\ch’s Fork-tailed Petrel [Oceanodroma leucorrhoa). — I was
able to distinguish this petrel by its larger size and erratic flight.
It was only seen on the outward voyage and had a more westerly
range than the preceding. The first was seen on Julv 20th at 3q°3o'N.,
37°\V., and on the following day three were seen about 37°3o'N., 42°W.

Kittiwake {Rissa tridactyla). — One immature bird was seen on
September 28th at 4&°3o'N., i8°W.

Yellow-billed Tropic Bird [Phaeton lepturiis). — In July one was
seen on the 20th near Flores (37°3o'N., 42°\V.) and one the day before
we reached the West Indies (25°3o'N., 65°3o'W.). In September one
was seen on each of the first four days after leaving the West Indies
behind. This bird is more frequent among the islands, that is, in the
offshore zone.

Great Skua [Stercorarius skua). — Seen only on the return voyage
at the end of September. The first were sighted on September 28th.
about 46°3o'N., i8°W., but from there no more were seen until near
the Lizard.

PoMATORHiNE Skua [S . pomarinus) . — Two on September 28th
about 46°3o'N., i8°W.

Arctic Skua [S. parasiticus). — One south of Cape Clear on
September 29th.

It is worth remarking how these notes confirm once more the
scarcity of birds between the Azores and the West Indies. Apart
from Tropic-Birds the only birds seen in the Western Ocean were the
Leach’s Petrels, and on several days no birds at all were seen.

Offshore Species.

European Side : The last species to be seen when outward bound in
July were Lesser Black-backed Gulls (Larus fuscus) and Herring-Gulls
(L. argentatus), which left us at nightfall on the i6th, when we were
heading into half a gale (48°3o'N., 8°W.). During the afternoon and
evening we passed several Gannets (Sula bassana), two Manx Shear-
waters [Puffinus puffinus), and a Puffin [Fratercula arctica). On the
return voyage the first offshore species seen was a Gannet at 48°3o'N.,
12’W., on September 29th ; Gannets were very abundant between the
Bishop and the Lizard. The following species were seen before we
sighted land in the order given ; Lesser Black-backed Gull, Manx
Shearwater, Herring-Gull, and Puffin. West Indies : The following
species were seen near Turk Island and Tortuga : Bridled Tern, Brown
Booby and Frigate Bird. On the Jamaican coast were, in addition,
Brown Pelican, Laughing Gull, and some unidentified species of terns.

Migrating Land-Birds.

(a) South-east of Bermuda : On September 19th we were held up
owing to engine trouble some two hundred miles south-east of Bermuda.

I was verv interested to watch an American Barn Swallow [Hirundo
erythrogasier) flitting around the ship before leaving southwards, and,
a little later, an unidentified finch, which flitted across the deck and
also departed southwards. We were then 1,000 miles from the nearest
mainland (Carolina), and 1,200 miles south of Nova Scotia. These
birds must have come from a point on the coastline somewhere

VOL. XXXIII.] BIRDS ON WEST INDIES VOYAGE. 247

between these places, and had still 600 miles to travel if they made
for Porto Rico, the nearest of the West Indies. The weather was
beautifully fine and both birds in excellent condition. This fortunate
chance points to a migration route of land-birds previously unsuspected,
for it was thought that only such birds as the Golden Plover used
this route to the south. The Barn-Swallow is listed as an occasional
visitor to Bermuda by F. M. Chapman in his Handbook of Birds of
Eastern North America (and edn., 1934, P- 384)-

{b) Between the Azores and Sole Bank ; On September 28th and
29th migrating birds were continually encountered. They were few
in number but diverse in species. The movement lasted from 9 a.m.
on the 28th until noon of the 29th, our positions being respectively
46°N., i9°W., and 48°3o'N., i2°W. On the 28th were seen Common
Heron {Ardea cinerea), Whinchat [Saxicola rubetra), Dunlin (Calidris
alpina), Redstart (Phcenicurus phcenicurus) , and Robin {Erithacus
rubecula) ; and on the 29th Song-Thrush {Turdus ericetorum), Common
Sandpiper [Tringa hypoleucos), Greenfinch {Chloris chloris), and
Blackcap {Sylvia atricapilla) . When the first birds were sighted we
were midway between Cape Clear and the Azores, that is about
500 miles south-west of Ireland, and very nearly as far west of Spain.
These observations suggest a considerable migration direct from
southern Ireland to the West African islands and Senegal.

THE SPECIES OF GREAT SHEARWATERS IN THE
ENGLISH CHANNEL.

BY

H. F. WITHERBY.

The Great Shearwater {Puffinus gravis).

Mr. V. C. Wynne-Edwards {Proc. Boston Soc. Nat. Hist.,
Vol. 40, No. 4) thinks that recorded occurrences of this
species in the English Channel may have referred to the
species Puffinus kuhlii and he mentions especially one from
Cornwall, January, 1872, described by D’Urban and Mathew
as having pure white under-parts, but the describers also
say it had a lightish brown cap and the identification as
P. kuhlii seems extremely uncertain. The bird was evidently
a stuffed one and if the brown belly patch was small, as it
often is, it may not have been noticeable. Mr. Wynne-Edwards
also thinks that J. Gatcombe’s observations concerning birds
(certainly P. gravis) obtained off Devon and Cornwall in
November, 1874 {Zool. 1874, p. 4,262), indicate that previous
examples may have been P. kuhlii, but it is clear that Gat-
combe was comparing them with what he called “ young
birds in their first dark plumage,” that is to say the Sooty
Shearwater {P. griseus) which at that time was thought
to be the young of the Great. E. H. Rodd in a note on the
same page also describes birds with brown blotches on the
belly as in the same plumage in which they usually appear.
Further, Gatcombe {op. cit., 1876, p. 5,127), in describing a
bird taken off Plymouth in July, 1876, states that it had
‘‘ scarcely a shade remaining of the dusky patch so conspicuous
on the birds generally obtained at the beginning of winter.”
It seems clear, therefore, that these old records referred to
P. gravis. Very few specimens of this species from S.W.
England seem now available, but those in the Norwich
Museum from Plymouth, December, 1852, August 20th, 1867,
and Penzance, November, 1874, are P. gravis, as I am informed
by Mr. B. B. Riviere, who has kindly examined them, while
that figured by Yarrell, which was one of great numbers off
Cornwall in November, 1839, also P. gravis. Major A. A.
Dorrien-Smith has a specimen taken off the Scilly Isles on
August 9th, 1899, which is certainly P. gravis, and he obtained
one, which he kindly sent to me, and saw others near the
Bishop Rock Lighthouse on August 24th, 1939. Mr. P. H.
Trahair Hartley informs me that when trawling near the
Eddystone on September 19th, 1934, a number of Great
Shearwaters amounting to about 40 in all passed his boat

VOL. XXXIII.] GREAT SHEARWATERS.

249

at about fifty yards and from his description and particularly
the distinct dark cap which he noted, these birds appear
to have been P. gravis. It was from this date, September
19th (in 1901), until he left the Eddystone on October 19th,
that W. Eagle Clarke records seeing Great Shearwaters
almost daily and often in considerable numbers. He was a
very excellent observer with much experience and I have no
hesitation in accepting these as P. gravis.

There is then plenty of good evidence that P. gravis
appears off the coast of S.W. England in August and September
.as well as later and there are some records of its occurrence
• on other parts of the south coast as, for instance, the two
'found dead in Kent and Sussex in November, 1938.

The North Atlantic and Mediterranean Shearwaters
{Piiffimis kuhlii borealis and P. kuhlii kuhlii).

Except for one specimen of the Mediterranean picked up
■ dead in Sussex in Eebruary, 1906, and one of the North
Atlantic (Sussex, March, 1914), and possibly another Sussex
■specimen in November, 1920, we have to rest on a few sight
observations of this species and therefore cannot define
The subspecies, though the North Atlantic appears the one
more likely to occur. In his paper above mentioned Mr.
’Wynne-Edwards records seeing a number of this species
on September loth, 1933, between the Casquets and Devon,
and although he has informed me {in lilt.) that he has since
had some doubts about the correctness of his identification
in this case, the birds were certainly not P. gravis and were
more likely to have been P. kuhlii than any other species.
The only other recorded instances are of one seen by Mr.
C. M. N. White some way off Newhaven on September 21st,
.1936 {Brit. Birds, XXX, pp. 229), and of some seen near the
'Scilly Isles by Mr. A. Earrant on August 23rd and by Mr.
:R. S. R. Fitter on September 5th and loth, 1938 {op. cit.,
'XXXII, pp. 197 and 371). It must be said, however, that
'Mr. Farrant’s identification is perhaps rather uncertain as
he describes the under tail-coverts and vent as dark ash-brown
whereas they are mostly white in P. kuhlii with very little
brown. His other distinctions, however, point to this species.
Mr. Wynne-Edwards suggested that more British taken
■specimens of P. kuhlii would come to light, but all the Great
'•Shearwaters I have so far been able to trace have been P. gravis
but these have not been many notwithstanding an appeal in
the Museums Journal.

On our present knowledge, therefore, this species must be
deemed very scarce off our coasts.

(250)

OBITUARY.

GEORGE MARPLES.

(1869-1939.)

The unexpected death of George Marples has been a great
shock to his many friends. He was indeed a man of many
parts, and had built up a reputation as an authority on
architecture, a painter, and above all an etcher, before he
became known as a student of bird life, a bird photographer
and a writer and lecturer on ornithological subjects. It is
with the latter part of his career that we are concerned here,
though many of his etchings were of subjects connected with
animal life of some sort, especially birds and fishes. When he
retired from the post of Principal of the Liverpool City
School of Art in 1930, he made his home at Sway, in the
New Forest, and began seriously to study and photograph
birds. Concentrating on the Tern colonies in the British Isles,
with some of which he was already acquainted, he and his
wife planned out a round of visits to all the principal breeding
stations, and also in order to make his work more complete,
added trips to Holland and Denmark. The results of these
studies were worked up into the delightful book on Sea Terns
or Sea Swallows (in collaboration with his wife) which appeared
in 1934. The many beautiful photographs with which this
work is illustrated and the numerous diagrams and sketches
by the author add greatly to its attractiveness, but the real
value of the book lies in the long series of observations made
from hides in the various terneries, the descriptions of display,
family life, care of young and all the numberless details which
make up the breeding cycle of these attractive birds. This
part of the book will live ; the compilations from literature
and history are less satisfactory and detract from rather
than add to its value.

Tlie first note from George Marples on birds appeared
in British Birds as far back as 1929 and from that time onward
he contributed occasional notes and papers on different
subjects, but all showing keen powers of observation and
accurate recording. One on the Wren was actually in our
hands at the time of his death on December 15th, 1939,
and will appear in a future number. He was 70 years of age
and leaves a widow and two sons, as well as a record of much
good work accomplished in many fields. F.C.R.J.

CONTINENTAL BLUE TIT IN KENT.

On November 22nd, 1929, I received a Blue Tit from the
Sevenoaks Weald. This specimen which appeared paler and
greyer on the back than British examples has since been
compared with series from Continental Europe, which it
matches perfectly. Mr. H. F. Witherby kindly examined
the skin and agrees that it is referable to {Pams caendeus
ccBvuleus). The bird is a female, has a wing measurement
of 67 mm. and is the first recorded instance for Kent.

James M. Harrison.

[It is of interest to note that an example of the Continental
Blue Tit was obtained at Fair Isle on October 31st, 1929. —
H.F.W.]

CONTINENTAL BLUE TIT IN RADNORSHIRE.

On October 29th, 1939, whilst on a visit to the upper reaches
of the River Wye, near Erwood, Radnorshire, I noticed a
large movement of Siskins passing through the district,
together with one or two small bands of Blue Tits. Having a
good view of one of the latter it appeared to be so brightly
coloured that I secured it.

It proved to be a freshly moulted adult male, with a wing
measurement of just 69 mm. On comparing it with Welsh
material in the National Museum of Wales collection I found
it to be much more brightly coloured and with longer white
tips to coverts and secondaries than any of the Welsh
specimens.

Mr. H. F. Witherby has very kindly examined the specimen
for me and confirms my suspicion that it is an example of the
Continental race (Pams c. cceruleus). J. G. Williams.

ON BREEDING HABITS AND FEEDING FREQUENCY

OF FLYCATCHERS.

During July, 1924, certain observations were made on a
pair of Spotted Flycatchers {Muscicapa s. striata) which nested
in a beech-tree in a garden in Cumberland. On July 2nd the
nest held one egg. On July 4th there were three eggs and the
hen brooded the eggs for about one hour at noon and again
during the night. On the 5th there were four eggs (the clutch)
and the hen was on the eggs most of the day. On the 6th the
hen was off the eggs for three hours from 7 to 10 p.m. On
July 14th the nest was kept under continuous observation

252

BRITISH BIRDS.

[VOL. XXXIII.

from 10 a.m. to 8.30 p.m. The hen was off the eggs twice each
hour from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., then once each hour. At 8.30 p.m.
the cock took over the incubation. The cock usually fed the
hen at the nest, but sometimes if the hen saw the cock with
food in its beak, she would fly to him and get fed, sometimes
returning direct to the eggs or else staying off for a few minutes.
Whilst the hen was off the eggs the cock would stay on a
branch near the nest until the hen returned. On the approach
of the hen to the nest either it or the cock would call-out
“ tsit.” The most the hen was fed in one hour was four times,
2 to 3 p.m. The average duration of the hen off the eggs was
three minutes. Once she was off for twelve minutes.

On July 20th the four nestlings hatched out, incubation-
period hfteen days (July 5th to July 20th). The nest was
watched from 10.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m., and during these
two hours the nestlings were fed 7 times. They were brooded
four times by the hen during this period, the longest period
hfteen minutes, the shortest two minutes.

On July 2 1st the nest was under observation from 2.45 p.m.
to 5.45 p.m. In these three hours the nestlings were fed
19 times, hve times by the cock, the rest by the hen. The
nestlings’ faeces was swallowed by the feeding bird. After
feeding the nestlings were usually brooded for an average of
nine minutes.

A brood of four young Pied Flycatchers {Muscicapa h.
hypoleuca) was fed 12 times from 3 to 4 p.m. on June 19th,
1932. R. H. Brown.

CHIFFCHAFFS IN CORK IN WINTER.

During three weeks previous to January 12th, 1940, I have
been watching Chiffchaffs {Phylloscopus collyhita). On one
occasion I counted eight, which appear to have taken up
their winter quarters here (Clontymon, Cork). They are daily
to be seen frequenting the sides of a disused railway embank-
ment which is much overgrown in places with briars and
rank grass and is within a mile of the city.

I have never before come on this bird wintering in Ireland,
though it is sometimes reported to do so. C. F. Scroope.

[Ussher notes five winter records from Cork, but so many
birds together is quite exceptional. — Eds.]

NUMBERS OF BLACK REDSTARTS ON PASSAGE

IN MAN.

A CONSIDERABLE passage of the Black Redstart {Phccnicnrus
0. gibraltariensis) was noted in the Isle of Man in November,
1939 ; indeed, birds were seen in such numbers as to suggest

VOL. XXXIII.]

NOTES.

253

that the autumn west-coast movement is much more marked
than has hitherto been thought to be the case.

The first bird, a solitary specimen, was watched by C. F.
Butterworth on November loth at Port St. Mary. On
November I2th, in company with W. and H. A. Quillin and
Lieut. -Commander J. Hughes-Onslow, I observed a small
party of some six to eight birds about the lighthouse station
and the adjacent coastal rocks of Langness Point. These
were all either females or immature, and one found dead
in the lighthouse garden on the 13th was sexed as an immature
female. This bird was very heavily infested with the flea
Ceratophyllus gallince Schrank, kindly determined by H.
Britten.

The birds had not been seen prior to the 12th, and possibly
reached Man the previous night on a wind veering from
south to north. With the exception of one bird which
remained about the station for three weeks, being last noted
by H. A. Quillin on December 5th and 6th, the party had
dispersed by the 13th, but is unlikely to have gone far owing
to the strong southerly winds and squally weather prevailing
after that date. A bird noted by James Corrin at Port
St. Mary between November 14th and i8th, and seen by
C. F. Butterworth, as well as other birds noted by him a
few days later in localities near by, belonged doubtless to the
same movement.

Another bird seen by James Corrin on November 26th in
all likelihood belonged to the heavy passage which was
observed by R. Barton Mitchell, the National Trust Warden
on the Calf of Man, from November 24th to the end of the
month. R. B. Mitchell estimated the number of Black
Redstarts to be seen along the usual routes taken by passerine
migrants going through the Calf as in the region of 200-250
birds when passage was at its height. From the 28th there
was a noticeable decline in numbers, and by the end of the
month all had gone.

W. Quillin again came to my assistance with meteorological
data, and the birds appear to have come in on a NW. wind at
forces 3 and 4 which changed on the morning of the 25th to
S. and SW., and continued at forces 6 and 7 until midnight.
The wind was then W. at forces 6, 7 and 8 until the night of
the 27th, but the birds do not appear to have made use of it in
order to leave the island. However, the change to NW.,
forces 6 and 5, throughout the night of the 27th-28th, coincides
with the diminution in numbers noted by R. B. Mitchell on
the 28th.

254

BRITISH BIRDS.

[VOL. XXXIII.

I should be most grateful if any observers could let me
have notes of occurrences, particularly those lasting for a
period, of Black Redstarts along the west-coast route, as
I am interested in the migratory movements of this species.

Kenneth Williamson.

ON INCUBATION AND FEEDING FREQUENCY OF
SY'ALLOWS AND MARTINS.

A BROOD of four young Swallows {Himndo r. rustica) fifteen
days old, was fed 54 times between 1.50 p.m. to 3.50 p.m.
on July 18th, 1931. The afternoon was fine and sunny. The
cock and hen both helped to feed the young.

A nest of a House-Martin {Delichon u. urbica) was under
continuous observation from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on July iith,
1922, when the eggs were twelve days incubated. The sitting
bird was off the eggs from 10.45 a.m. to 11.15 a.m., whilst at
5 p.m. the non-sitting bird flew close to the nest and warbled,
whereupon the sitting bird flew out of the nest and the non-
sitting bird took its place. This was the only definite change-
over that was seen during the seven hours that the nest was
under observation. Otherwise the non-sitting bird would
fly into the nest — the most three times in one hour — and
after a varying period of several seconds a bird would emerge,
but whether this was the sitting bird could not be determined.
Mr. and Mrs. iMoreau state in their notes on the incubation
of the House-Martin {antea p. 147) that this visiting is
connected with the change-over of the sexes, but as regards
this particular pair the definite change-over that took place
at 5 p.m. suggests that the visits to the nest by the non-
sitting bird may not always be in connexion with the change-
over during incubation. R. H. Brown.

LARGE NUMBER OF WHOOPER SWANS IN
NORTHUMBERLAND AND LANARKSHIRE.

We have a large number of \Miooper Swans {Cygnus cygnus)
at Hallington this winter, and the following particulars may
be of interest ; On November 6th, 1939, Mr. G. W. Temperley
saw 75, of which 23 were young birds in families of 2 to 4,
and on the i8th Mr. Temperley saw 29 come in from the east
in groups, one family containing 5 young. On the 19th
Dr. Nattrass and I counted 131 birds, of which 42 were
young in broods as follows : 3 of 4 young, 6 of 3 young,
3 of 2 young, the remaining 6 young were with one adult,
and I suppose may or may not have been one family. On
December 3rd there were none present, but on the 17th

VOL. XXXIII.]

NOTES.

255

Dr. Nattrass and I saw not less than 143 birds, of which
44 were young, but it was not possible to separate out the
various families.

Apart from the number of birds, it is of local interest to
note that Whoopers appear to be coming increasingly to
Hallington Reservoir. Of more general interest is the size
of the broods arriving in this country ; the average number
of young on November 19th was exactly 3 if one omits the
problematical 6 which may have had some connexion with
Mr. Temperley’s 5 on the i8th. H. Tully.

On a large area of shallow water near Clyde Bridge, Mother-
well, on December loth, I counted 31 Whooper and 8 Bewick’s
Swans. These birds have visited exactly the same spot for
a good number of years. As the Whooper flock is the largest
I have ever seen here, I thought this might be of interest.
Six of the Whoopers and two of the Bewicks were immature.

Robert Y. Ferguson.

WHITE BARNACLE-GOOSE IN CUMBERLAND.

A WHITE Barnacle-Goose [Branta leucopsis) now in the
Carlisle Museum, was obtained at Bowness-on-Solway,
Cumberland, on November gth, 1939, by two local wild-
fowlers, Robert Brown and William Storey. It proved to be
a male bird, and the day after it was shot weighed three
pounds ten ounces.

The plumage is all white except that the upper parts show
very faint silver-grey traces of the dark bands, the rump is
silver-grey, and there is a terminal band similar in shade on
the underside of the tail. The iris was the normal brown ;
the bill black ; the legs and feet, showing a leaden tinge, not
so dark as in the normal bird.

From the stomach contents Miss Winsome Muirhead of the
Museum staff named sheep’s fescue {Festuca ovina), meadow
poa {Poa pratense), white clover {Trifolium repens) and
autumnal hawkbit [Leontodon antumnale). There were other
grasses not identified. L. antumnale, a plant not included
under the description of food in the Handbook, grows
abundantly on parts of the Solway salt-marshes.

This is the fourth white Barnacle-Goose obtained on the
Solway Firth since 1925 and the first on the English side.
It was seen at Bowness more than a week before it was shot,
and a visitor to the Museum said that he had seen what was
presumably the same bird at Glencaple on the Dumfriesshire
shore of the Firth a month earlier. Ernest Blezard.

256

BRITISH BIRDS.

[VOL. XXXIII.

COMMON EIDERS IN CHESHIRE.

On November ist, 1939, I watched six Eiders {Somateria
m. mollissima) fly down to an inlet in the south bank of the
Mersey at Birkenhead. After a week one was, I believe,
shot, but the other five could be seen daily until November
9th, often within a few yards of men working in the shipyard ;
they used to move up and down the river with the tide for
about a mile. I last saw one on November 13th — a drake in
what I took to be second-year plumage. The occurrence of
these birds and of the flock of ten reported by Mr. W. Wilson
at the mouth of the Dee on November 19th {antea, p. 228)
is unprecedented in Cheshire waters ; there are four or five
previous records of single birds in the county, but that is aU.

A. W. Boyd.

PACKING OF BROODS AND “ INJURY-FEIGNING ”
OF VELVET-SCOTER.

On August loth, 1939, I saw off the island of Stora Karlso,
off Gotland in the Baltic, a remarkable pack of approximately
ninety young Velvet-Scoters {Melanitta f. fusca) of assorted
sizes in charge of one or more females. A few of the young
birds were so nearly full-grown that I could not be certain
at the range at which they were observed whether one or more
than one adult females were present. Such packing of broods
is very well known in Sheld-Duck, Eider and Merganser, but
I have not found it recorded for the Velvet-Scoter.

It may also be worth recording that on August 6th a Velvet-
Scoter duck with a brood on the water amongst the wooded
islands of the Stockholm archipelago performed a curious
variant of the so-called “ injury-feigning ” trick, half flying
and half pattering over the surface of the water round our
boat, as happens ordinarily in a diving duck at the moment
of getting clear on taking wing, as though she was unable to
rise farther. I do not think that either this or the more usual
form of “injury-feigning” on land have been described in
the Velvet-Scoter. B. W. Tucker.

BLACK-NECKED GREBE BREEDING IN
WESTMORLAND.

I HAVE not hitherto published the following record as it was
hoped that the birds might return, but as they did not
reappear in subsequent years their breeding in the neighbour-
hood must be taken as only sporadic.

On July i8th, 1935, when visiting a Westmorland moorland
tarn with two friends, I saw a bird which at first I could not

VOL. XXXIII.]

NOTES.

257

identify. It had a young one with it and kept in the margin
of the reeds on the far side of the tarn, swimming slowly along.
One of the party walked round the tarn while the others
watched and had a good view of the bird, first when it started
feeding and diving and then when it took the young one on
its back and swam outside the reeds. Later we had a splendid
view of it feeding among the thin reeds. It proved to be a
Black-necked Grebe {Podiceps n. nigricollis) . There was a
Little Grebe, also with a young one, in another part of the
tarn, and Coots for size comparison. The Black-necked
Grebe was quite different from the Little Grebe in appearance,
contour, size and actions : head and neck very dark, the
light patches on the sides of the head were not very noticeable
though slightly lighter than the rest and sometimes seemed
to glint as they caught the light ; irides red ; the beak slender
and longer in proportion than the Little Grebe’s ; flanks
rich dark chestnut ; underside shining white, and the wings
when it flapped them showed a white bar on the secondaries.
Its movements were darting and graceful. The young bird,
probably less than a week old, looked grey, with the front
of the neck and breast white. Part of the time it rode on the
back of the old bird which never attempted to dive when
carrying the chick, but seemed to catch insects (?) in the
air or off the reeds, or just fished with its head and neck under
water. When it wanted to dive, it tipped the chick off —
I only saw the latter dive once — and its feeding dives were
extremely rapid, the chick being fed after each. We saw no
sign of the other of the pair, but it could easily have remained
hidden in the reeds. M. Garnett.

THE RECORD OF GREEN SANDPIPERS

BREEDING IN WESTMORLAND IN 1917.

Mr. Witherby has asked me to put on record some evidence
which has come into my hands about the recorded breeding
of the Green Sandpiper {Tringa ochropus) in Levens Park,
Westmorland, in 1917. It will be remembered that in the
account published by H. W. Robinson {Brit. Birds, Vol. XI,
p. 103), the essential proof of breeding by the observation
of the nestlings attended by the old birds appeared to rest on
the evidence of a gamekeeper and an hotel-keeper, neither
of whom were known as ornithologists or could be regarded
as competent authorities in a case of this sort. The identity
of the old birds was never in question, but what was not made
clear at the time was that the late Rev. E. U. Savage actually
saw the young birds with their parents on one occasion.

258

BRITISH BIRDS.

[VOL. XXXIII.

A year or two ago, on behalf of a committee of the Carlisle
Natural History Society which was preparing a work on the
birds of Lakeland, I had several conversations with Mr.
Savage about this Green Sandpiper incident, in the course of
which he told me that he was the last survivor of the four or
hve people who had seen the chicks as well as the old birds.
He authorized the committee to say that he himself “ saw
two young in the down,” and described to me how they were
running in the shingle and grass at the edge of the river with
the old birds in excited attendance on them. There were
no Common Sandpipers about, and the whole affair seems to
have been so obvious to those who witnessed it that the
advisability of capturing one of the chicks never struck them
until too late.

With the kind permission of Mrs. Savage I have been able
to examine Mr. Savage’s ornithological papers, but unfor-
tunately he very rarely wrote a detailed description of any
incident except for publication, and the only reference to the
Green Sandpipers consists of brief entries in his diary, which
run as follows : —

“ 29 June. Waterhouse and Morse saw a bird in the Park
sp. inc. This bird was seen at intervals.

6 Aug. H. W. R., F. W. and I saw it. R. said at once
Green Sandpiper.

10. F. W., Bagot, Tarves, Morse and I saw 2 Green
Sandpipers and 2 young. At Green Island in the Park.

13. H. W. R. and I tried to find young GS but failed.
Saw an old one 3 times.

14. W’house saw 2 young Green Sandpipers, yj Garnett

SPECIMENS OE NORFOLK GREAT BUSTARDS

LOST BY FIRE.

It is of melancholy interest to record that what was described
by Henry Stevenson [The Birds of Norfolk ; 1870 : VYl. II,
PP- 33‘5) 3-s “ by far the finest series of Norfolk, or even
British Bustards anywhere to be seen,” was destroyed by a
disastrous fire at Congham House at the end of November,
1939. Hugh S. Gladstone.

[This is most regrettable. The specimens lost appear to
have been a male, two females, a nestling and two eggs.
A case containing a female and two eggs included by
Stevenson as in this collection was moved to Gloucester
(B. B. Riviere, Hist. Birds, Norfolk, 1930). The Norwich
Museum now contains a very fine series of indigenous specimens
consisting of two males and five females. — Eds.]

VOL. XXXIII.]

NOTES.

259

STATUS OF QUAIL IN BRITISH ISLANDS.

The general scarcity of the Quail {Cohirnix c. cotumix) incur
islands and the possibility of its increase in the future seems
to make it advisable to get some more accurate idea of its
present status than is possible from stray notes which appear
from time to time. We should therefore be very glad if readers
would send in details of any occurrences of Quail that they
know of in 1938 and 1939. The date, locality, number of birds
and method of identihcation should be given. Particular
attention should be paid to details giving proof of breeding
or possibility of breeding, and to information as to whether the
bird has been known in the locality before and if so whether
sporadically or regularly and whether there has been any
change in numbers. — Eds.

Common Eiders in Dorset. — Mr. G. B. Gooch, who
recorded an Eider (Somateria mollissima) seen off Poole
Harbour in January, 1939 (antea, Vol. XXXII, p. 308),
informs us that he had a female and immature male under
observation for an hour at the same spot on December
i8th, 1939.

Great Skua and Scandinavian Lesser Black-backed
Gulls in Mouth of Thames. — Mr. R. B. Sibson writes
that when at the Nore Lightship on September 17th, 1939,
he saw a Great Skua {Stercorarhis skua) among Lesser Black-
backed Gulls. Some of the latter were L. f. fuscus and some
L. /. grcellsii and as the birds came quite close to the ship
it was easy to see the difference.

REVIEWS.

The Birds of East Lancashire. By C. Oakes and E. Battersby. (Burnley
Express Printing Co. Ltd., Burnley), pp. 8g. 6s.

Lancashire is fortunate in having naturalists who apply considerable
energy to the study of the fauna of limited areas, and although some
may regret limitations set by books such as this, yet when these
books are considered along with other local avifaunas of the same type
an accurate estimate of the birds of a considerable area can be made.

Thus, in 1935 I. Whittaker’s Birds of a Lancashire Cotton Town
(with supplement of 1938) dealt with the Borough of Heywood in
SE. Lancs. ; now Messrs. Oakes and Battersby have taken a portion
of the county generally known as East Lancashire — 190 square miles
immediately to the north of the Heywood district — and have given a
similar careful account of it. “ East Lancashire ” contains the large
industrial towns of Blackburn, Accrington, Burnley and Nelson, and
other smaller towns, but includes a large amount of moorland and the
valleys of several hill streams which run into the River Ribble.
Woodlands are few ; most of the land is permanent pasture. As one
might expect the most interesting birds in country of this kind are
those of the moorlands and valleys : Twite and Lesser Redpoll, Tree-
and Meadow-Pipits and Grey Wagtail, Goldcrest and Ring-Ousel,

260

BRITISH BIRDS.

[VOL. XXXIII.

Redstart, Dipper, Merlin, Golden Plover and Curlew and Dunlin, all
breed there, and the Snow-Bunting is a regular winter visitor.

Equally interesting would be a list of the birds which rarely or never
occur ; the Jay is rare, the Corn-Bunting and Chiffchaff almost unknown,
there is no record of the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker nor of the Turtle-
Dove, and the Willow -Tit has not yet been found though the Marsh-Tit
breeds in a limited area. Visitors to reservoirs and sewage farms
materially increase the number of species recorded in the district,
but these records are not in themselves of very great moment. More
interesting altogether is an account of the extensive cross-Pennine
migrations of adult Lesser Black-backed Gulls in spring and autumn,
a report of which appeared in British Birds, Vol. XXXI. Particular
attention has been paid to the Lesser Redpoll and its plumages, and the
distribution of the Greater Spotted Woodpecker and Magpie have
been carefully worked out, both of them subjects of British Trust
local inquiries. As in other districts, the numbers of Redshank and
Curlew are shown to have increased very greatly, and the latter has
begun to breed in the lowlands.

The authors have been severely critical of records which have not
been fully authenticated, and have referred to sundry old records
in Mitchell’s Birds of Lancashire as " unconfirmed ” ; there seems to
be little reason for doubting some of these, but if the authors have
erred, it has been on the right side.

There is a simple sketch-map of the district and several photographs
of the countryside. A. W. B.

LETTER.

THE BLACK-TAILED GODWIT IN CUMBERLAND.

To the Editors of British Birds.

Sirs, — Miss A. Morley in her paper on “ The Black-tailed Godwit
in the British Isles, 1890-1937 ” (antea, pp. 98-104) states amongst
other remarks on p. 100 that “ Essex, between the first and second,
Cumberland, to the north of the third, show an unchanged tradition,
regular irregularity. Perhaps both suffer from lack of observers and
detail in recording . . .”

Between August, 1926, and August, 1939, I have never failed to
make at least one visit each month to the open coastline or the Solway
Firth in order to see what bird-life was present, whilst during
the periods of the spring and autumn migrations I have usually averaged
four visits a month, yet throughout these thirteen years I have only
seen the Black-tailed Godwit {Limosa 1. limosa) on two occasions,
namely a party of five birds on October 14th, 1927 {antea, Vol. XXII,
p. 157) and another of five on October 9th, 1932.

I admit that there are all the days of each month when I do not
visit the coastline or estuary and when Black-tailed Godwits can be
present, but surely this criticism also applies to the observations of
other naturalists on this species unless they pay daily visits totheir
coastlines or estuaries. R. H. Brown.

[Besides Mr. Brown’s observations j\Ir. E. Blezard informs us that
the late W. Nichol stated that one or two Black-tailed Godwits were
generally to be observed in autumn near Skinburness and that the
Carlisle Natural History Society have the following records of
occurrences in the Solway in comparatively recent years : Single
birds in August or September in 1923, 1925, 1929, 1933, 1935 193^

and in April or May in 1919, 1920 and 1923. It appears, therefore,
that the bird is still a very scarce visitor to this district. — Eds.]

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Contents 10, Vol. XXXIII. , March i, 1940.

PURCHASED

PAGE

Observations on Captive Robins. By David Lack ... ... 262

Notes ; —

Effect of the Severe Weather on Bird-Life (The Editors) ... 271

Xotes on Food of Tits and Finches (G. C. S. Ingram and

H. M. Salmon) ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 271

Some Feeding-frequency Notes of Passeres (R. H. Brown) ... 273

Blackcaps in Waterford in January (Mrs. K. C. Mackay) ... 273

Ring-Ouzel in Dorset in January (J. L. R. Baiss) ... ... 274

A Note on the Territorial Behaviour of Robins during Cold

W’eather (M. K. Colquhoun) ... ... ... ... 274

Bee-eater in Norfolk (B. B. Riviere) ... ... ... ... 275

Buzzard feeding on sand-lizard in Winter (A. Darlington) ... 276

IMarsh-Harrier in Sussex and Hen-Harrier Eating Water-Rail

(E. C. Arnold) ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 276

Status of Grey Geese in East Kent (T. C. Gregory) ... ... 276

Ferruginous Duck in Glamorgan (G. C. S. Ingram and H. IM.

Salmon) ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 278

Up-ending ” of Eiders (B. W. Tucker) ... ... ... 279

X'orthern Golden Plovers in Sussex (N. F. Ticehurst) ... 279

Numbers of Black-tailed Godwits in Winter in Co. Cork

(Col. C. F. Scroope) ... ... ... ... ... ... 280

Large Numbers of Black-tailed Godwits in Sussex (J. P.

Wilkins) ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 280

Grey Phalarope seen in Derbyshire (H. G. Alexander) ... 280

Puffin Ringed at St. Hilda reported in Newfoundland (Miss

E. P. Leach) ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 281

Short Notes : —

Pink-footed Geese in Dorset and Merionethshire. Smew and
Goosanders in Merionethshire. Iceland Gull in Middlesex.

Great Grey Shrike in Cornwall ... ... ... ... 281

Review : — ■

The Behaviour of the Robin. Parts I and II. By David Lack 282
Letter : — ■

Great Shearwaters in the English Channel (H. G. Alexander) 284

u

1

(202)

OBSERVATIONS ON CAPTIVE ROBINS.

BY

DAVID LACK.

A STUDY of the aggressive and sexual behaviour of the
Robin (E)'ithacus mbecula melopJiilus) in the wild state
(Lack (IQ39B) ) was supplemented in 193S by observations
on captiv'e birds. The reader will more readily understand
this paper if he has read either the earlier paper, or the
review on pp. 282-4 of this issue.

Two aviaries were built, each 30 ft. long, one 20 ft. and
the other 12 ft. wide, both over 6 ft. high. The Robins were
fed throughout on Mr. Allen Silver’s special “ Mosquito ”
mixture and li\'e mealworms, and all remained in excellent
condition until released. In late February, shortly after the
wild Robins of the district had formed into pairs, two known
pairs were placed in aviary i (Mi, Fi and 5l2, F2), and one
known pair (M3, F3) and an unmated male and female
(M5 and Fq) in aviary 2 (the sex of all these birds liad been
certainly determined by previous field observation).

This' seems the first species for whicli detailed observations
on territorial and sexual behaviour can be compared in the
wild and in captivity. For the dominant pair in each aviary
sexual behaviour, nesting, copulation, incubation and feeding
of the young, seemed almost entirely normal, but territorial
and aggressive beliaviour, including posturing, were extremely
modified. The subordinate pair showed at most only sporadic
aggressi\’e and breeding behaviour tliroughout the spring.

Territory, Fighting and Song.

The minimum observed breeding territory in wild Robins
was 2,000 square yards. Aviary i has an area of 67 square
yards, avdary 2 of 40 square yards, but in both a pair of
Robins reared young successfully, although another jiair of
Robins was continually present. For four days near the
beginning, in aviary 2, each male held a territory at one end
of the aviary, but, apart from tliis, only one male Robin held
territory in each aviary at one time, though in each aviary
near the beginning the ownership changed once, in one aviary
twice. The aviary observations, therefore, partially fit the
view that the Robin requires an e.xclusive territory with a
specific lower limit of size. It would be of considerable interest
to know the minimum size of aviary in wliich two pairs of
Robins can each own territory and breed.

The Robin is considered the most pugnacious British
bird, and aviculturists and naturalists seemed convinced that.

VOL. XXXIII.]

CAPTIVE ROBINS.

263

if two pairs were kept in the same aviary, one pair was
certain to kill the other if breeding were to occur ; see, for
instance. Smith (1869). However, one pair did not kill the
other in either aviary, and there seemed no likelihood of
this occurring. Perhaps this was because the aviaries were
sufficiently large to allow the attacked Robin room to escape.
Experiments described in the earlier paper show that
aggressive behaviour diminishes with repetition of the
•stimulus promoting it. In this connection it is suggestive
that in both aviaries the aggressive behaviour of the dominant
pair towards the other residents decreased as time went on,
and that when, after two months, a strange Robin was
■ experimientally introduced into aviary 2, it was attacked much
more vigorously by the owners than they attacked the other
resident Robins.

In both aviaries the correlation between fighting and song
was well shown. Thus, in aviary i, M2 was in good song
only from March ist to iith when Mi was silent. After this,
^Mi became the dominant bird, was aggressive and sang
regularly, and M2 was silent. In aviary 2, M3 was the
aggressive Robin during the first week, i.e., from March 9th
till 15th and only M3 sang. On March i6th M5 was chasing
'■M3 and only M5, not M3, sang, this situation being reversed
for both aggression and song next day. From March 22nd
tto 25th M3 sang at the north end, M5 at the south end, of
the aviary, and M3 chased M5 only in the north end.

But the correlation between song and aggression, as was
also found in the wild Robin (see earlier paper), was not com-
plete. Thus, in aviary i, M2 was not aggressive during his
March singing. In aviary 2 M3 was the dominant male from
March 26th onwards to the end of the spring. However, in
marly May, M5 sang regularly in this aviary. This male had
I no mate, and it was found in the wild that unmated male
!Robins sing more than mated ones.

As noted later, the two song periods of F3, one of the females
rin aviary 2, coincided with her two most aggressive periods.

Relations with Robins Outside the Aviaries.

So soon as the captive Robins were put in aviary i, the
\wild Robins which had included the aviary roof in their
territory came on to the aviary and repeatedly sang and
postured at the captives. Mi sang vigorously back, and
after a few days the wild pair gave up frequenting this area.
This wild pair were later captured (for aviary 2) and, a few
■days later, the wild male who held the adjacent territory
1 began to extend his ground, but, when he reached aviary i.

264

BRITISH BIRDS.

[vOL. XXXIII.

M2 (who was now the dominant male) postured at the wild
bird, which retreated. A similar observation was made
several times later, when Mi had become the dominant bird.
On May 21st a new male Robin took over the outside territory
with loud song. Promptly Mi came into loud song, and for
two days replied vigorously to the wild male, which never
established itself on the ground round the aviary.

On May 24th a new Robin established itself, with loud
song, in the copse adjoining aviary 2. Both M3 and F3 came
into loud song, and the newcomer never claimed as territory
any trees within twelve yards of the aviary.

It is remarkable that in all these “ fights ” for territories,
the owners of the aviaries were successful against the outside
birds in that the latter ceased to sing, in some cases never
attempted to sing, in the region round the aviaries. These
“ victories ” were, of course, achieved without any actual
contact between the birds, thus supporting the views on
psychological fighting in the earlier paper.

The encounters with outside Robins stimulated the captives
not only to greater song but to greater aggressiveness. This
was particularly well shown by M3, F3 and M5 in ax'iary 2
during and after incidents with the newcomer male on May
24th and with two strange juvenile Robins experimentally
introduced on June 24th and 25th. The birds were then
far more aggressive than usual to the other Robins resident
in the aviaries.

Breeding.

The observations show clearly that possession of territory
is psychologically essential for nesting, since in aviary i the
subordinate pair showed no traces of breeding behaviour,
and in aviary 2 only sporadic traces. Since in each aviary
the dominant pair of Robins bred normally, general conditions
were clearly suitable for breeding.

A function sometimes attributed to territory is that it
prevents or restricts the disturbance to the pair by neighbours.
Since one pair bred successfully in each aviary, though another
pair was continuously present, this factor cannot be important,
but a little disturbance was recorded. On May 24th, in
aviary 2, F3 repeatedly interrupted nest building to chase F4
(the aggressive behaviour of F3 had been stimulated by an
outside Robin). More interesting, on both occasions when
M3 was seen to copulate with F3, M5 flew the length of the
aviary, and drove M3 off F3’s back. On the first occasion,
M5 actually mounted and copulated in place of M3, and F3
seemed quite unaware that any change of partner had

VOL. XXXIII.]

CAPTIVE ROBINS.

265

occurred. This excitement on observing another bird copulate
seems not uncommon in birds, being recorded, for instance,
in the Blackcock {Lymrus tetrix) (Lack igSQA) and in the
Green Sandpiper {Tringa ochropus) (Lack 1938). It is interest-
ing to hnd this in the Robin for, owing to the existence of
territories, it must be rare indeed in nature for one male to
see another male copulating.

In aviary 2, but not aviary i, the dominant male, i.e., M3,
nested with both females. It will be remembered that in
aviary 2 (unlike aviary i), the second male and female placed
in the aviary had not been previously paired up in the wild.
Bigamy has been recorded in the wild state (see earlier paper).
In aviary 2 M3 nested first with F4, not with his original mate,
but three days after F4 began to lay, F3 began to build, and
another three days later M3 copulated with her. During the
next week, when both females were incubating, M3 fed each
of them on the nest, F3 more than F4. In both cases the
parents failed to rear the young. F4 showed no further
traces of breeding behaviour ; F3 built again and successfully
reared a brood.

Courtship Feeding.

The courtship of the Robin consists in the male feeding
the female, details being given in the earlier paper, but some
I observations in aviary 2 may be added.

M3 fed both his mates regularly during incubation, and
also during the preceding courtship period, but ceased to
feed F4 after she left her nest. In every case except one the
male proffered the female a single mealworm, whereas when
feeding young the parents took several mealworms at once.
The one exception occurred just after F3’s young had died.
M3 again came to the nest with a number of small insects,
looked in, hopped out again and then fed them to his mate
who had come up.

As in the wild state, M3 ceased to feed the female in court-
ship when there were young to be fed.

In the wild state only the male Robin was seen to feed the
female, but in captivity traces of the behaviour appropriate
‘to the other sex were found in both male and female, and
IF3 accepted mealworms not only from her own mate but
from the other two birds. Details are as follows : —

On several occasions in late May and early June F4 (who
never started a second nest) carried a mealworm away from
the food tray instead of swallowing it there. Usually she
later swallowed it, but on May 27th she took it first to F3,
then to M5 who opened his beak just like a female prior to

266

BRITISH BIRDS.

[VOL. XXXIII.

being fed, then back to F3 who opened her beak and, after a
little hesitation, F4 fed F3. This is specially noteworthy
because at other times on this day both F3 and M5 were
chasing F4. Having fed F3, F4 now opened her beak at F3,
as if expecting to be fed, F3 did the same to F4 and the latter
retired. On June 8th F4 again twice offered a mealworm to
F3 who ignored it. It should be noted that earlier in the
season F4 had been regularly fed by her mate (M3) and then
had behaved like a normal female.

No male was seen to accept a mealworm from another
Robin, the above incident between M5 and F4 coming nearest
to it. But M3 was four times seen to open his beak to his
mate, F3, as if expecting to be fed, twice just after M3 had
fed F3 and twice when they were near together on the food
tray. In addition, six times between June ist and 3rd
M3 opened his beak to M5 as if expecting food, and once he
did it to F4.

M5 showed traces of this courtship-feeding, even though
he never acquired a mate. Repeateclly between the end of
April and early June M5 would carry off a mealworm from
the food tray, hop about with it for a while in his beak, and
eventually swallow it. While F3 was incubating, M5 often
brought a mealworm to the entrance to her box, but always
ended by swallowing it himself. He continued to do this on
May 17th when the young had hatched (and M3 brought
them small insects) and also throughout the next month,
when the box was no longer occupied by a female ! On May
iith F3, who was temporarily off her nest, begged M5 for
food, but he was not carrying any. On May 18th F4, who had
now ceased nesting, begged M5, and he fed her, and on
May 28th, just after being fed by her mate (M3), F3 begged M5
and after a little hesitation he fed her. These were the only
two occasions on which M5 was seen actually to feed another
bird. The behaviour of M5 is a good example of what happens
when an instinctive drive is present but lacks the appropriate
external situation.

Incubation and Feeding the Young.

In aviary 2 F3 laid the first egg in her second nest on May
26th. The second egg was laid on May 28th, the others, up
to five, followed one on each day, when she began to incubate.
The young hatched 13 days after incubation started, and left
the nest ii days after hatching, rather early, Imt they were
disturbed for ringing. On the 8th day after leaving the nest
a juvenile was seen taking some “ Mosquito ” food on its
own from a food tray, but all live mealworms were still fed

VOL. XXXIII.]

CAPTIVE ROBINS.

2G7

to the young by the parents. On July loth the juveniles were
taking some mealworms on their own but were still fed mostly
by the parents. On July 13th the young took as many
mealworms independently as from their parents. On July
14th and 15th the young took most food on their own, but
some from their parents. Not infrequently the parents
would carry a mealworm about and do nothing special with
it, failing to respond even when the young begged them for
food. After July 15th the parents were not seen to feed their
young, which were now 21 days out of the nest and 32 days
old, which is exactly the same age as that at which the
fledglings in aviary i were at the same stage. These observa-
tions well show the gradual waning of the instinctive drive
of the parents to feed the fledglings, even though the young
still begged them for food ; but the young were also begging
less as time went on. It may also be noted that, though the
young occasionally begged for food from both the other Robins,
Fq and M5, the latter did not attempt to feed them.

On June 24th, a few minutes after pair 3’s young left the
nest, a strange wild juvenile Robin, probably 10-14 days out
of the nest, perched on the aviary roof. M3, F3 and M5
showed great excitement and followed it about ; it gave the
food-begging reaction to all three birds, and M3 and F3
attempted to feed it through the wires, temporarily quite
ignoring their own young. On June 25th a juvenile, 20 days
out of the nest from aviary i, was experimentally introduced
into aviary 2 ; this bird did not give the food-begging reaction.
It was violently attacked by M3, F3 and M5, all three striking
repeatedly, and M3 also posturing ; they might have killed it,
so it was -removed. The next day F2 from aviary i was
placed in a cage in aviary 2 ; M3 postured and tried to chase it
mildly and F3 watched from near by. A 21-days-old juvenile
was substituted and both M3 and F3 tried to chase it hard.
The bearing of these experiments on aggressive behaviour,
recognition, etc., are discussed in the earlier paper.

In aviary 2 M3, having sung very little for over a month,
suddenly came into good song for the last week of June
and occasionally up to July 6th, just after the young had
fledged. An increase of song just after the young have fledged
has also been noted in the wild (see earlier paper). M3 was
singing three weeks later than any wild Robins normally
sing in the district, and, when the captive Robins were
released on July 20th, neither M3 nor F3 had started to moult
which is unusually late (for South Devon), hence late breeding
had presumably delayed the onset of moulting.

BRITISH BIRDS.

[vOL. XXXI II.

2()8

Sexual Ambivalence.

Shortly after introduction to aviary 2, F3 came into good
song for five days, and had a further period of good song
on May 24th and 25tli, when stimulated by a male claiming
territory outside the aviary. This bird had also been seen
singing in spring in a wild state, as had one other wild female
Robin. This fact, and the observations on courtship feeding,
show that each se.x has a tendency to assume the role normally
adopted by the other, which raises the whole problem of
se.xual ambivalence.

It has been known for some time that, in captivity, and
rarely in the wild, homosexual pairs of birds of either sex
may be formed in which one member takes the role normally
played by the other, showing that each sex has the poten-
tialities of the behaviour of the other. Sometimes this has
been related to the phenomena described as dominance ;
the dominant individual is said to play the male role, the
subordinate one the female role. However, the facts cannot
all be so simply explained. To give some e.xamples of different
aspects : —

Craig (1909) found that if a female dove {Turhir risoria)
was isolated, she assumed the aggressive and cooing behaviour
of the unmated male. Nice (1939) reports a captive female
Bobwhite Quail (Colinus vir^inianus) isolated in April singing
the male song, and I am told that if a female domestic
Turkey {Meleagris gallopavo) is isolated it begins to strut
like a male. It seems possible that the aggressive behaviour
and song of female Robins in autumn (a phenomenon also
found in the Loggerhead Shrike {Lanins Indovicamis) (Miller
1931) and the American Mocking-bird {Minins polyglottns)
(Michener 1935)) is connected with isolation, since females
normally give up this behaviour when paired up in spring.
However, exceptionally, a female Robin sings in spring, as
noted. Noble and Wurm (i93cS) in the Black-crowned
Night-Heron {Nycticorax n. hoactli) and Shoemaker (1939)
in the Canary {Sevinns canavins) have induced male behaviour
in the female by injections of the male sex hormone ; but it
should be noted that one out of a hundred control female
Canaries also sang. In other species, such as the Phalaropes,
the female normally has the territorial behaviour typical of
males in other species, and in Tnniix it is the female which
feeds the male in courtship (vSeth-Smith 1905).

Heuce the exhibition of male behaviour by a female may
be due to very different factors in different cases : in Phala-
ropes, Tnniix, etc., it is genetic ; in some other species, such

VOL. XXXIII.]

CAPTIVE ROBINS.

269

as the Robin, it seems partly under genetic control with
some other factor normally restricting it to the autumn ;
in other species it can be induced by injections of male
hormone (which may well have the opposite effect in Phala-
ropes), in other species it is induced by isolation, and perhaps
by other environmental factors. Really, of course, there is
no such thing as “ male ” and “ female ” behaviour ; there
are simply certain behaviour patterns which are usually
(but not invariably) associated with one sex or the other.
Only the position of the sexes in copulation seems a usual
sex difference, and even this is confused by the occurrence
of “ reversed mounting ” following genuine copulation in
Moorhen ( (Gallinula chloropus), Great Crested Grebe [Podiceps
cristatus) and some Doves.

As noted in the earlier paper, see also Lack (i93QA), the
occurrence of autumn song and fighting in the Robin is of
great interest in connexion with periodicity phenomena,
since the gonads are normally said to have only one maximum,
in spring. H. N. Southern has drawn my attention to a paper
by Klichler (1935) who shows that in the Robin the thyroid
gland shows two periods of activity, one in spring and another
in autumn, of about equal magnitude. Possibly this is
correlated with the occurrence of autumn song in the Robin.
In the Yellow Bunting {Emberiza citrinella), the thyroid is
actually more active in autumn than in spring ; one wonders
if this could be correlated with the greater amount of song
in autumn than spring, in which the Yellow Bunting is highly
exceptional among birds. Whether the thyroid secretion
itself induces song, or whether both thyroid activity and
song are induced by some other factor, only future experiment
can determine.

Previous Breeding Records in Captivity.

In 1937 two pairs of another territorial species, the Chaffinch
{Fringilla ccelebs), were placed in aviary i. After a time one
of the males began to sing well, and vigorously chased the
other male. This behaviour later ceased and the pair nested and
hatched out their young. The second pair showed no traces
of breeding behaviour throughout the observations. This result
with Chaffinches shows a close parallel with those on Robins.

Dr. Emilius Hopkinson, the authority on British breeding
records, informs me that there are no previous records of
Robins breeding in captivity in Britain, though there are
four German records. I have been unable to refer to the latter,
as Die Gefiederte Welt does not appear to be taken by any
British library. Presumably they refer to isolated pairs.

270

BRITISH BIRDS.

[vOL. XXXIII.

Summary. ■

1. In nature eacli pair of Robins breeds in an exclusive B
territory, and tlie birds are renowned for tlieir pugnacity. ■

2. Two ])airs of Robins were placed in each of two aviaries. ■

In both cases one pair dominated the other, and the former, ■
but not the latter, successfully reared a brood. The second 1
pair was not killed, but was tolerated after a time. (

3. Territorial and aggressi\’e beha^'iour were extremely <
modihed, but the breeding behaviour of the dominant pair *
was nearly normal.

4. In the wild, courtship consists of male feeding female, j

Aviary observations show that each sex shows traces of fr
behaviour characteristic of the other sex. Sexual ambivalence ?
is discussed. ■

5. \"arious observations conhrm and extend the data fl

on song, fighting and breeding habits already published. 1

Acknowledgments. 1

I am greatly indebted to a number of experienced avi- 1

culturists for their advice as to the best methods of keeping I

and breeding British wild birds in captivity, and to Mr. C. I
Winson and various pupils of Dartington Hall School for U
their assistance in designing and constructing the aviaries, ■
which were made in the school workshop. I

References. ■

Craig, W. (1909). The expression of emotion in the Pigeons. 1

I. The blond Ring Dove {Turtur risorins). J. Comp. Neur. Psychol. *
19. 29-80.

Kiichler, W. (1935). Jahreszyklische Veianderungenimhistologischen •

Bail der VogeLschilddriise. Jonrn. f. Orn., 83, 414.

Lack, D. (193S). Display of Green Sandpiper. Brit. Birds, XXXII,

86. ■ .

Lack, D. (1939A). The di.splay of the Blackcock. Brit. Birds, *
XXXII, 295-6, 301-2. 1

Lack, D. (1939B). The behaviour of the Robin. Proc. Zool. Soc. I
A 109, pp. 169-219. I

Michener, IT, and J. R. (1935). Mocking-birds, their territories and J
individualities. Condor, XXXVII, 97-140. f

Miller, A. H. (1931). Systematic revision and natural history of the j
American Shrikes (Lanius). Univ. Calif. Publ. Zool., 38, 2, 148-160. ,

Nice, M. IM. (1939). The Watcher at the Nest. 141. I ^

Noble, G. K., and Wurm, M. (1938). Effect of testosterone propionate | '
on the Black-crowned Night Heron. Anat. Rec., 72 (4), suppl. 60. j

Seth-Smith, D. (1905). The importance of aviculture as an aid to (
the study of ornithology. Ornis, XI\', 663-675 [Proc. IV. Int. Orn. ^
Cong.).

Shoemaker, H. II. (1939). Effect of testosterone jiropionate on '
behaviour of the female Canary. iVor. Soc. Exp. Biol. & Med., 41, >

299-302. (

Smith, C. (1869). Birds of Somersetshire, p. 79.

i

1

EFFECT OF THE SEVERE WEATHER ON BIRD-LIFE.
We have received a number of letters and preliminary reports
on this subject and from these it is already evident that
many species have suffered severely. The full effects cannot be
accurately gauged until the breeding-season when the number
of pairs present in a locality can be compared with that in
previous years.

Vdth a view to making a full report on the subject we shall
be glad if our readers would collect information on the lines
indicated below. Reports including the breeding-season
should be sent in not later than June ist, but should an
observer be unable to make notes during the breeding-season
a report on the first part (i and 2 A.) can be sent in at once.
The notes should be arranged as follows : —

1. Account of weather in the district giving dates and extent
of frost and snow and dates of thaws. Special mention
should be made of ice formation on trees (“glazed frost” or
“ silver thaw ”) and its effect.

2. Effect on bird-life.

A. During the hard weather.

(c) ascertained deaths.

{d) unusual movements to and from the locality.

B. During the coming breeding-season.

{e) definite diminution compared with previous years of
pairs breeding in the locality arranged under species.

(/) definite diminution of fertility : number of eggs laid
of young hatched or number of broods as compared
with previous years.

[g] list of species apparently not diminished.

The Editors.

NOTES ON FOOD OF TITS AND FINCHES.

On November 27th, 1938, while crossing some rough land
near Llanishen, Glamorgan, which was covered with a
perfect forest of dried stems and seed-heads of knapweed,
we noticed besides the usual Goldfinches {Carduelis cardnelis)
nearly always present there at this season, that some ten
or a dozen Blue Tits {Pams ccBrideus) and two Great Tits
{Pams major) were also busy at the seed-heads. They spent
quite a long time at each head, hanging from them like the
Goldfinches but working at them with considerably greater
vigour. This was the first time we had seen Tits so employed.

BRITISH BIRDS.

[VOL. XXXIII.

At tirst we thought they were taking the seeds but thinking
it over later it occurred to us that it was more than probable
they were searching for insects hidden within the seed-heads.
The following week, December 4th, there were five Blue
Tits busy at the knapweed, so we picked a bunch of heads
for examination at home. These were placed in a paper bag
and kept in a warm room for a couple of days, but as nothing
had emerged from them by that time, they were picked to
pieces one by one over a sheet of white paper and the debris
carefully e.xamined under a powerful pocket lens. Fifty heads
were treated in this manner and of these 22 per cent, were
found to be inhabited by very small larvae which were
apparently hibernating amongst the seed-cases, while 18 per
cent, had a hard gall in the centre of the head. When these
galls were cut open some were found to contain one and others
two dirty-white coloured larvae, considerably larger and
fatter than the others, in fact, quite a good prize for a Tit.
All these larvae and some unopened heads were sent to Mr.
W. B. .\lexander at Oxford, and through the good offices of
Professor Hale Carpenter, passed on to Mr. G. C. Varley,
Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, who
specializes in the insects found in the heads of knapweed.
Mr. \'arley reported that “ six species of insect larvae were
found altogether ” and added “ I am very interested to know
that tits feed on knapweed heads. I have sometimes found
damaged Ifower heads and considered that birds might be
responsible but I never saw any birds at work. Possibly they
are only interested in the galls during the winter when other
food is scarce.” The insect responsible for the galls was
identified by him as the fly Eiiribia jaceana. In a second
selection of flower-heads we sent to him unopened, Mr.
\'arley found sixteen cocoons of the moth Parasia metzneriella
and of these nine had been opened and contained no larvae ;
he considered that this was the work of the Tits and it there-
fore appears probable that both the above-mentioned insects
are taken as food by both Blue and Great Tits.

On June 25th, 193Q, we kept a Greenfinch {CJiloris c. chloris)
and a male British Bullfinch {Pyrrhula p. nesa) under close
observation for half an hour. They were busy feeding amongst
the long, uncut herbage on the banks of Lisvane Reservoir.
The Bullfinch was first seen stripping the unripe seeds of a
dock, but soon found something else close at hand which
appeared to be more attractive. This proved to be seed-heads
of yellow goatsbeard (Tragopo^on pratensis). His bill was
quickly covered with the sticky, milky juice of the plant and

VOL. XXXIII.]

NOTES.

273

the hard outer seed-cases. The Greenfinch, just beyond him,
was constantly rising and hovering close over the long herbage
evidently searching for some particular seed-head. We marked
down three that were visited and in each case it was yellow
goatsbeard. These heads had been torn open at the base
exposing the closely packed seeds which were still green
and unripe but contained a considerable amount of soft,
white pulp within their hard outer cases.

Geoffrey C. S. Ingram.

H. Morrey Salmon.

SOME FEEDING-FREQUENCY NOTES OF
PASSERES.

A BROOD of three young Reed-Buntings {Emheriza s.
schcenichis) was fed 14 times (ii times by the hen and 3 by
the cock) between 2.30 and 4 p.m. on June i8th, 1926. The
afternoon was fine and sunny.

A brood of six young Willow- Warblers {Phylloscopus t.
trochihis) was fed 17 times between 6.30 and 7.30 p.m. on
June 6th, 1934.

At a nest of a Mistle-Thrush {Turdus v. viscivorus) with
three eggs, the hen was usually off the eggs for about ten
minutes at 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. Most of the incubation was the
work of the hen, but twice the cock was seen to brood the
eggs. On April 26th, 1929, a brood of four young was fed
6 times in two hours, ii a.m. to r p.m., and 5 times between
2.30 and 4.15 p.m. The afternoon was fine.

A brood of four young Hedge-Sparrows (Prunella m.
occidentalis) was fed 5 times between 7 and 8 a.m. on May
24th, 1933.

A brood of five young Wrens (Troglodytes t. troglodytes)
was fed 13 times between 2 and 3 p.m. on July 25th and
25 times from i to 3 p.m. on August ist. The weather was
fine and sunny on both days.

A brood of four young Dippers (Cinchis c. gularis) six
days old was fed 6 times between i and 2 p.m. on April 22nd,
1938, and 14 times from 3 to 4 p.m. on May 2nd.

R. H. Brown.

BLACKCAPS IN WATERFORD IN JANUARY.

It may be of interest to record that during the spell of bitter
weather in mid-January, 1940, a cock and a brown-capped
hen Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla) came each day for four days
to feed with many other birds in my garden at Dunmore East,
Co. Waterford. The food put out consisted of potatoes.

274

BRITISH BIRDS.

[vOL. XXXIII.

bread, meat scraps, suet, apple pips and peelings, pieces of
milk pudding, holly and guelder-rose berries. The Blackcaps
partook of almost everything, but were particularly partial
to the guelder-rose berries. I am glad to say that they came
through the testing time showing no loss of vigour.

K.athleex C. M.-^ckav.

RING-OUZEL IN DORSET IN JANUARY.

Ox January 4th, 1940, Mr. E. Wall and I saw a cock Ring-
Ouzel {Turdns torqiiatus) at Durdle Door near W'eymouth.
The bird flew along the cliff and settled in a patch of brambles.
On being flushed it sat on the cliff giving us a perfect \'iew for
several moments ; it also uttered its characteristic call.
I would add that it was freezing all day with a bitter east
wind. J. L. R. Baiss.

A NOTE ON THE TERRITORIAL BEHAVIOUR OE
ROBINS DURING COLD M’EATHER.

Lack’s recent paper {Proc. Zool. Soc. Loud., log, ser. A,
169-219) on the behaviour of the Robin {Eritliacus r.
inelophilus) raises several interesting points. One of these,
not studied by Lack (perhaps becaiise of the leniency of the
south Devon climate), is the effect of low temperature on
aggressiveness, although this would seem to have some
bearing on the function of territory. Eor if its primary
function is associated with food supply, as some writers have
maintained, one would expect heightened, or at least not
lessened, aggressiveness during a food scarcity caused by
frost or snow. The following notes on colour-ringed Robins
at a stationary trap on the Berkshire Downs may therefore
be of interest.

The data focus on a male, BB/- (Mi), who bred in the
same territory for two seasons, but relinquished it in the
intervening autumn to his future mate, BY A (Ei). This
is unusual, and Lack found only one such instance among
those he studied ; the female usually leaves her territory
and joins a male in his.

On January 20th, 1939, Mi and Ei — the latter with more
animation — were posturing to each other on the trap, which
was only just within the territorial boundary. Thereafter
they were seen together regularly. But on the 23rd a neigh-
bouring male, RB A (M2), believed but not known to be
mated, spent the morning at the trap unhindered, and on
the 26th he drove off Ei when she reappeared after three
days absence. She came again repeatedly, but was always
dri\-en off. The very cold weather began on the 25th, with

VOL. XXXIII.]

NOTES.

275

9 inches of snow and lo degrees drop in mean temperature.
On the 31st, with still 6 inches of frozen snow, I recorded
9 Robins at the trap (4 newcomers), and on the following
day, 10 (two more newcomers), in two hours — a record.
■On the hrst of these two days Fi was present more often
than M2, but the latter was always the dominant bird ;
in his repeated absences she was dominant over all visiting
Robins, several of which fed at the trap together. She
tolerated Mi within a few yards, but would not let him
approach the food while she was feeding. The following day
aggressi\’eness had so declined that Mi and M2 were content
to feed side by side, Fi being still dominant to the former
. and sub-dominant to the latter. On February 2nd Fi watched
M2 feeding, and hnally drove him off ; she remained dominant,
and his visits dwindled away. On the next day she showed
markedly more toleration of Mi, but would not let him feed
with her until a week had passed. Temperature rose 10 degrees
on the 4th. Not until the 28th was Mi seen driving off other
species : the antipathy shown by him towards Hedge-
Sparrows was remarkable (noticed in two seasons). On one
I < occasion a pair of resident Hedge-Sparrows flew off in alarm
. as a Robin alighted on the trap ; they had, I am convinced,
mistaken Fi for Mi, and soon they returned shyly to feed
undisturbed with her.

It seems clear that the hard weather caused a breakdown
in sexual behaviour, expected by Lack (p. 189) to be
extremely rare for the Robin, which normally pairs before
the coldest weather. But because of the posturing seen on
January 20th (I was absent the first half of the month),
this pair must have been formed only a few days before the
temperature drop. As regards territorial behaviour, it
’would seem that with a loosening of the tie between the
pair there was a decline in aggressiveness. The changes in
ownership were both times slightly in advance of the changes
in weather. M. K. Colquhoun.

BEE-EATER IX NORFOLK.

Ax adult male Bee-Eater {Merops apiaster) which was killed
at Gooderstone and sent in the flesh to Mr. F. Gunn, the
Norwich taxidermist, on June 12th, 1939, has been presented
to the Norwich Museum by Sir Samuel Roberts. There are
■seven previous records of this species for the county. Six
have been obtained, the most recent being a pair killed on
June 3rd, 1854, while the last record is of one seen on May 19th,
1880. B. B. Riviere.

27(3

BRITISH BIRDS.

[vOL. XXXIII.

BUZZARD FEEDING OX SAND-LIZARD IN WINTER.
Ox January 14th, 1940, an adult male Buzzard (Biiteo b.
buteo) was found dead and in a fresh condition on the northern
part of Dartmoor and was sent to me for dissection. Examina-
tion of the crop showed that this part of the alimentary tract
was completely empty except for the remains of a sand-
lizard {Lacerta agilis). Only the feet, tail and dorsal scales of
the reptile could be found but from these identification of the
species proved a simple matter, particularly as the scales
showed the characteristic row of white spots by which the
sand-lizard can readily be distinguished from other British
forms.

The specimen is unusually interesting for two reasons.
In the first place, the sand lizard is a species with an extremely
local distribution. E. Sandars (A Beast Book for the Pocket, 1937)
gives Dorset, Hampshire, Surrey and the Southport district
of Lancashire as the only regions in this country where the
reptile has been taken. He makes no mention of Devonshire
or any of the neighbouring counties. Secondly, the sand-
lizard is regarded by most authorities as an animal which
lies closely hidden throughout the winter season and which
does not leave the state of hibernation until the onset of
warm weather. At the time when the Buzzard was picked up
the ground had been subjected to hard frosts for several days.

It is known that reptiles form a part of the Buzzard’s
normal diet. In central \^’ales I have found the remains of
the common lizard {Lacerta vivifara) in the nest of a Buzzard.

.\rnold Daklixgtox.

MARSH-HARRIER IN SUSSEX AND HEN-HARRIER
EATING WATER-RAIL.

On December ist, 1939, while I was Snipe shooting with
Mr. F. S. Tritton in the Cuckmere Valley, a large raptorial
flew across the marsh. It was obviously a Harrier without
white on the rump and proved on closer inspection to be an
adult-male IMarsh-Harrier {Circus ceruginosus). It had in the
distance the same “ dirty ” appearance as the bird seen by
Mr. Higgins and myself near Wartling some years ago.

On January 24th, 1940, in the same valley I came upon
an adult male Hen-Harrier (C. cyaneus) and managing to get
within ten yards of it found that it was feeding on a Water-
Rail. E. C. .\rnoli).

STATUS OF GREY GEESE IN EAST KENT.

In 1909 Dr. N. F. Ticehurst wrote {Hist, of Birds of Kent,
p. 330) that the known status of the four species of grey

VOL. XXXIII.]

NOTES.

277

geese in Kent was in a most unsatisfactory condition, so
that future occurrences of any of them, whose identification
had been accurately determined, would be well worth record-
ing. As a matter of fact, very few positive identifications
have since been put on record, so that the following notes on
their present status in east Kent may not be out of place.
I would add that my observations are based on twenty-five
years’ experience of wildfowling and bird-watching on the
east Kent coast and marshes.

Grey Lag-Goose {Anser a. anser). — This goose is a rather
irregular winter visitor to east Kent. Although sometimes
fairly large flocks turn up during severe weather abroad the
birds usually make only a very brief halt. Small numbers,
at long intervals, frequent the coast in less severe weather
and flight in to the coastal marshes. On the northward
1 migration an odd gaggle sometimes lingers for an appreciable
time. The Grey Lag is rather partial to visiting inland
'waters and the few specimens I have handled have been
obtained when “ flighting in ” to fresh water.

White-fronted Goose {A. a. albifrons). — Experience
leads me to believe that this goose is the only grey goose to
'.pay regular winter visits to east Kent, for even in mild winters
^small gaggles make desultory appearances. I have shot a
tfair number and had I so wished, could have shot many more.
'During the recent hard weather in January, 1940, I visited a
remote area which for many years has been a favourite haunt
of the White-fronts on their not infrequent visits, and I was
not disappointed, for quite two hundred birds were present
feeding on some grassy patches exposed by an overnight
blizzard ; when deep snow covers the marshlands the birds
“ go elsewhere ” but often return when a thaw sets in. Of
late years there seems little doubt that the number of visitants
has increased and that the birds stay for longer periods.

Bean-Goose [A. f. fabalis). — From time to time I have
moticed what I believe to have been small numbers of Bean-
< Geese feeding on the short-grass marshes with White-fronted
'Geese. Be that as it may, there seems no doubt that the Bean
is now the rarest of the grey geese visiting east Kent. So far
as my knowledge goes, only two have been obtained, one in
the Thanet marshes many years ago and the other in the
Deal marshes on January 12th, 1940 — this bird was one of a
'Skein of three. In the South Eastern Bird Report for 1936
'Mr. B. B. Osmaston states that five Bean-Geese were seen on
rthe Reculver marshes on October 24th, and as these birds

V

BRITISH BIRDS.

278

[VOL. XXXIII.

allowed a close approach, there seems no doubt as to their
identity.

Pink-footed Goose (A. f. hrachyrhynchus). — The Pink-
footed Goose can hardly be described as other than a very
casual winter visitor to east Kent, yet in stress of weather
quite large flocks do sometimes put in an appearance.
Nevertheless, as these flocks invariably rest at sea and pass
on quickly, the Pink-foot must rank as a rare fowl on the
marshlands and a difflcult bird to bring to bag. This is the
only species of grey goose of which I have never obtained a
specimen in east Kent, nor have I knowledge of any being
shot by local gunners. Furthermore, I know of no collections
that contain specimens shot locally. Records, however, can
be misleading, and so far as the Pink-foot is concerned
it may be that they suggest that the bird is a rarer visitor
than it actually is. T. C. Gregory.

FERRUGINOUS DUCK IN GLAMORGAN.

On December 3rd, 1939, we noticed a solitary duck on Lisvane
Reservoir, near Cardiff, which presented to us an unfamiliar
appearance. It was very shy and although Common Pochard
{Aythya ferina), Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligida) and Goldeneye
[Bticephala c. clangtda) were present at the other end of the
reservoir this bird seemed to shun them but kept in company
with a few Coot {Fidica a. atra). The weather was particularly
unfavourable, low black clouds obscuring the light, and
heavy rainstorms accompanied by a violent wind making
observation difficult, especially as the duck was never nearer
than some 200 yards. All we could gather after three quarters
of an hour’s observation through the telescope was a general
impression of rusty-red upper parts with darker wings, and
very light yellow or white eyes. It did not dive once during
the whole time we were watching. Fortunately it was still
present on December loth, when brief gleams of sunlight
enabled us to pick out further details of plumage and so confirm
our suspicions of the previous week that it was an adult male
Ferruginous Duck {Aythya n. nyroca). The further details
were a considerable amount of white on the waterline at
sides denoting white under-parts, a detail which was con-
firmed when it rose on its tail and vigorously flapped its wings.
This action also displayed a white patch on each wing,
hidden while the bird was swimming. We were also able to
see clearly a triangular white patch on each side under the
tail and when it suddenly began to dive there could be no
doubt as to its identity. We timed four consecutive dives.

VOL. XXXIII.]

NOTES.

279

the longest being 27 seconds, the shortest 20 seconds and the
average 24 seconds, the depth being between 10 and ii feet
at that spot. There is only one previous record of this species
in Glamorgan, one shot near Swansea prior to 1848.

Geoffrey C. S. Ingram.

H. Morrey Salmon.

“ UP-ENDING ” OF EIDERS.

In the Handbook of British Birds, Vol. Ill, I stated that the
Common Eider {Somateria m. mollissima) does not “ up-end.”
This was in accordance with my own experience at the time
and appeared to be amply confirmed by the statement of
such a careful observer as the late T. A. Coward and the
fact that such a habit is not mentioned by either MiUais or
Phillips, of whom the latter goes very carefully and
thoroughly into the feeding habits of the various species of
duck. However, as so often happens with birds, there prove
to be exceptions to the general rule. Last August when
spending a summer holiday in the Swedish island of Gotland
in the Baltic I found Eiders common in the boulder-strewn
shallows along the coast close to the little town of Visby.
Here it was no uncommon sight to see Eiders ” up-ending ”
in a manner precisely like that of surface-feeding ducks,
except that, so far as I saw, they only maintained themselves
thus for very brief periods. It may be suggested that the
development of the habit is connected with the fact that the
Baltic is practically tideless. It is probable that good feeding
happens to be found in water which is constantly just too
shallow for diving and just too deep to reach by merely
submerging the head, so that it can only be got at in the way
described. - It would be interesting to know whether any
other readers of British Birds have observed this undoubtedly
exceptional habit elsewhere. It may be added that the
Eiders at Visby in August were all females and full-grown,
or practically full-grown, young birds. B. W. Tucker.

NORTHERN GOLDEN PLOVERS IN SUSSEX.

As, apart from ringed birds, identifications of the Northern
Golden Plover {Charadrius a. altifrons) in this country are
very few, it seems worth while to record them. Certain
fields in Walland Marsh are favourite winter resorts of
Golden Plover and there is annually a large flock there from
September to April. In 1938 they were temporarily banished
by the weather on December 2lst, but returned in February,
1939. On April 8th a portion of them, numbering about
150, flew over into the Midrips and settled, giving me a

280

BRITISH BIRDS.

[VOL. XXXIII.

good view of them at about sixty yards. Nearly all had
acquired practically full summer plumage and it was possible
to be sure that a good many at any rate, by their intensely
black breasts, necks and faces, outlined with broad white
sinuous bands, belonged to the Northern race. Two days
later Mr. P. A. D. Hollom saw them and confirmed my
observations. On May 13th at the same place a flock of thirty
flew over, coming in direct from the sea and continuing into
the marsh. It could be seen that they were all in summer
plumage and probably also of the Northern race, as the
date would lead one to expect, but this could not be verified
with the same certainty as in the case of the standing birds.

N. F. Ticehurst.

NUMBERS OF BLACK-TAILED GODWITS IN WINTER

IN Co. CORK.

I HAVE been observing Black-tailed Godwits {Limosa lintosa)
during the present (1939-40) and last (1938-39) winter in
the estuary of the river Lee and Queenstown harbour, Co.
Cork, and find them to be abundant.

Throughout December and January they are to be seen in
numbers feeding on the mudbanks of all tideways and when
these are covered, collecting in large flocks on adjacent
promontories.

Close to Cork itself in a low-lying area near the river,
known as the Marina Estate, birds are always present in
large numbers feeding in the waterlogged fields. I have on
occasions here counted over 120. This ground is now being
drained and brought into cultivation and will presumably
cease to attract these birds. C. F. Scroope.

[Hitherto the Black-tailed God wit has been chiefly known
as a passage-migrant in Ireland and winter records have been
only occasional. — Eds.]

LARGE NUMBERS OF BLACK-TAILED GODWITS

IN SUSSEX.

In September, 1938, I counted a flock of 150 Black-tailed
Godwits (Limosa limosa) at Thorney Island (antea, \’ol.
XXXII, p. 240). On August 19th, 1939, at about half a mile
from the same spot I counted a flock of 235. This is by far
the largest number I have seen. j. P. M’ilkins.

GREY PHALAROPE SEEN IN DERBYSHIRE.
Early in December, 1939, I received a letter from Mr. F. C.
Banton, of King’s Heath, Birmingham, in which he described
a small wader seen on the banks of the Trent near Repton
on December 2nd. He described it as “ 8 or 9 inches long

VOL. XXXIII.]

NOTES.

281

mostly white, ivory grey back, black eye and stripe, black
legs and bill. In flight the wings seemed rather narrow and
pointed and it seemed to me to be a very fast flier. While
feeding at the edge of the river it seemed very tame and
gave a rather faint double whistle.” In reply to a question
from me, Mr. Banton added that it ” certainly swam although
not for any distance.” I think there can be no doubt that it
was a Grey Phalarope {Phalaropus fulicarius).

H. G. Alexander.

PUFFIN RINGED AT ST. KILDA REPORTED IN

NEWEOUNDLAND.

An unique recovery of a ringed bird has just been reported
to the Bird-ringing Committee, and is worthy of special
mention outside the ordinary Recovery lists. A Puffin
{Fratercula a. grahce) was ringed (RV 4692) at St. Kilda by
Lord Dumfries as a young one on August loth, 1939, and was
shot at lierring Neck, on the northern coast of Newfoundland
on December 20th, 1939. Elsie P. Leach.

Pink-footed Geese in Dorset and Merionethshire. —
Mr. G. K. Yeates informs us that he shot a Pink-footed Goose
{Anser f. brachyrhynchus) on February ist, 1940, near Sher-
borne. A flock of 40-50 had been observed for several days.
There are very few positive records of the species in Dorset-
shire. The bird shot was an immature male and its bill was
all pink except for the nail.

Mr. W. A. Cadman writes that he examined an adult
Pink-footed Goose shot at Dovey Junction on February 2nd,
1940. Three others with this bird may have been of
this species, but of large numbers of geese in the Dovey
Estuary during the hard weather examined with binoculars
at reasonable distances all were White-fronted Geese. There
are only a few scattered records of the Pink-footed for
Merionethshire.

Smew and Goosanders in Merionethshire. — Mr. W. A.
Cadman informs us that an adult female Smew {Mergus
albellus) was shot in the Dovey Estuary on January 4th,
1940. The bird is a scarce visitor to north-west Wales. In
the same locality several Goosanders {M. m. merganser) were
seen in the last half of January, and an adult male shot on the
22nd was brought to Mr. Cadman for identification, as well
as a female from some miles inland in Montgomeryshire.

Iceland Gull in Middlesex. — Mr. C. A. White sends us a
description of a bird which he correctly identified as an

282

BRITISH BIRDS.

[VOL. XXXIII.

Iceland Gull {Larus leucopterus) seen by him at Staines
Reservoir on December 25th, 1939. Subsequently several
other observers saw the bird and Mr. J. Safford informs us
that it was present on January 15th, 1940. The species is
rarely seen inland and we believe this is the first record for
Middlesex.

Great Grey Shrike in Cornwall. — Mr. C. J. Stevens
informs us that on January 5th, 1940, a Great Grey Shrike
{Lanius e. excubitor) was shot at Par and brought to him for
identification. The bird is scarce in the west.

REVIEW.

The Behaviour of the Robin. — Part I. The Life-History, with special
reference to Aggressive Behaviour, Sexual Behaviour, and
Territory. Part II. A Partial Analysis of Aggressive and
Recognitional Behaviour. By David Lack. Proc. Zool. Soc.,
Ser. A, Vol. 109, 1939, pp. 169-219.

A GOOD many ornithologists are already aware of Mr. Lack’s intensive
field studies of the Robin bv means of colour-ringed birds, and we
are glad to welcome the first of the several papers in which the results
of these investigations are presented. It affords an effective commentary
on the ignorance of complacent people who not so very long ago seriously
imagined that British birds were “ worked out,” and it wll rank as a
contribution of first-rate importance to the study of bird behaviour.
Its general interest is such that it seems desirable that this notice
should include something more expressly in the nature of a summary
than is required in a good many reviews. The paper is long and it is
so crammed with significant material that a full summary is impossible
even in a notice of some length, but the salient points can be indicated.
Part I describes the life-history and more especially the aggressive
and sexual behaviour, based on four years’ work in the field. Burkitt’s
conclusion that the display of the Robin is not ” courtship,” but
aggressive is abundantly confirmed. Territories are maintained by
males and defended against trespass from August to the end of the
next breeding-season. Female behaviour is less constant ; some
maintain autumn territories with fighting and song and, in fact,
behave exactly like males; others keep to restricted areas, but apparently
do not defend them or sing. In any case, the females abandon their
territories in late December or January, enter those of males, and
pair up with them. After pairing up, the females do not normally sing.
Each breeding pair occupies a territory of between 2,000 and over
10,000 square yards, the shape being determined by encounters with
neighbours. The behaviour in the territory is of the general type which
the work of Howard and others has made familiar to ornithologists.
The " owner ” normally only sings within its territory and defends it
against trespassers. Both sexes regularly trespass on neighbouring
territories to feed, but put up little or no resistance there when attacked.

The posturing consists mainly of stretching the throat and breast
to display the orange-red colouring, with a rhythmical side to side
swaying of the body and is illustrated by some very successful
photographs by Mr. H. N. Southern. Contrary to a widespread belief,
juveniles are not normally driven away by the parents, but appear
to keep to the parental territories till territorialism wanes in late

VOL. XXXIII.]

REVIEW.

283

summer. Attacks on other species of about the same size which enter
the territory occur at times, but in an erratic and inconstant manner.
Occasionally a Robin “ invades " a territory already occupied, and
such cases constitute an exception to the rule that the Robin does not
fight or sing actively in another’s territory. The fighting on such
occasions is, however, often merely “ formal,” consisting of singing
and chasing, one bird or the other finally establishing its ‘‘ dominance ”
without any real attack. But sometimes serious fights occur.

Behaviour on the female’s first arrival varies considerably. About
half the males postured at the female and extremely loud singing
from the male is usual. In all cases the female at intervals flew right
up to the male, who generally retired. Some females postured at the
males, but the posturing of both sexes is too inconstant and transient
to be regarded as a ” display.” It may be due partly to heightening
of emotional tone which finds an outlet in this way, partly to difficulty
in immediate adjustment to the new situation on the part of a bird
whose reaction to another Robin on his territory has, up to now, been
hostile. Verwey observed much the same thing in the Heron. Pair-
formation has more the character of a social than a sexual phenomenon,
and during the more or less prolonged “ pre-nuptial phase ” which
follows it there is neither display nor coition. But towards the end of
March nest-building begins and is followed within a few days by
coition and feeding of the female by the male. No display precedes
coition ; the female merely assumes an invitatory posture and is
mounted by the male. How the unmated male distinguishes a potential
mate from trespassing Robins is unknown, but it is clear that paired
males recognize their mates as individuals. Parents do not readily
distinguish their fledglings individually.

The above is a bare summary of the typical course of the breeding
cycle, but not the least striking of the results of Mr. Lack’s studies is
the remarkable variability which is demonstrated in almost every
feature of behaviour. Only the broadest outlines of the behaviour
pattern are constant.

This part concludes with a discussion of the significance of territory
in the Robin. Mr. Lack now defines territory as an isolated area
defended by one individual of a species or by a breeding pair against
intruders of the same species and in which the owner of the territory
makes itself conspicuous. This seems a sound and acceptable definition.
It is concluded that ‘‘ while the whole question of survival value is
extremely tentative, the most plausible reasons for the importance of
territory in the Robin are that it assists pairing-up and perhaps in
maintaining the pair, while, since it results in local spacing, it may
possibly assist in rapid feeding of the young. But that territorial
behaviour sets a specific upper limit to breeding density is doubtful
and it seems unlikely that it is important in ensuring an optimum
density as regards food. Since the Robin is one of the most territorial
of all birds, these conclusions may be of fairly wide application.”
With regard to the occupation of territory in autumn Mr. Lack takes
the view that this is probably to be regarded as a partial revival of
spring behaviour without adaptive value.

Part II is an attempt to analyse the factors on which the “ territorial
instinct ” depends. This interesting section is even harder to sum-
marize shortly than the other. The situation proves to be one of
considerable complexity and any simple ” explanation ” proves
inadequate. The Robin shows aggressive behaviour not only towards
intruding Robins, but (to a markedly variable extent) towards a

284

BRITISH BIRDS.

[VOL. XXXIII.

stuffed adult Robin, other species (especially in flight), living and
stuffed juvenile Robins, and even an isolated red breast ! It is evident
that aggressive behaviour is correlated with at least four elements in
the external situation, flying-away movement, Robin shape, red breast,
and song, each of which tends to be associated with a particular motor
behaviour, namely pursuit-flight, striking, posturing, and song
respectively, but the division is not complete. Occasionally, for
instance, a Robin will posture at a specimen lacking the red breast,
strike a red breast, or sing at a silent Robin. Further, the Robin’s
own mate, which possesses all the above four elements in the external
situation eliciting aggressive behaviour, is not normally attacked ;
and again the said elements exert their effect only within a given area,
the territory ; the bird attacks every other Robin but its mate Avithin
that area and (with the e.xception already noted of an “ invading ”
male) none outside it. Again the internal physiological state of the
bird is clearly of prime importance in eliciting aggressive actions, and
this internal state is also evidently complex and certainly varies in
more ways than one. There is a seasonal variability with a spring and
autumn maximum, the female having a shorter spring period and a
much more variable autumn period than the male, and the fluctuations
do not follow those of sexual behaviour or coincide completely with
those of song. In spring aggressiveness increases on pair formation,
but the unmated male in autumn is as aggressive as the mated male
in spring. The internal state varies markedly in intensity in different
birds and may vary somewhat from day to day in the same bird, and
further it cannot be regarded as a unity, for it seems to be different
for striking as compared to posturing and perhaps for the different
types of posturing. " One is left with a confused picture of complex
inter-action between the visual and auditory situation (‘ object
attacked ’), the motor behaviour (‘ manner of attack ’) and the inter-
nal driving factors (‘ predisposition to attack ’), the first and second
of which are partially, but not completely, separable into several
correlated elements, while the third may also show a similar division.”
None of the current theories of instinctive behaviour seems, without
some adjustment, fully to fit the facts, but Mr. Lack clearly recognizes
that they are too incomplete, especially in connexion with the influence
of internal secretions, for a positive interpretation to be attempted.
But interpretations can come with increase of knowledge ; meanwhile
the facts which Mr. Lack has elucidated in this model field investigation
are of first-rate importance amongst current ornithological researches,
in greatly advancing our knowledge of the biology of an extremely
interesting species, and we offer him our congratulations. B.W.T.

LETTER.

GREAT SHEARWATERS IN THE ENGLISH CHANNEL.

To the Editors of British Birds.

Sirs, — In connexion with the discussion of this subject {antea,
pp. 248-50) it is perhaps worth mentioning that in September, 1911,

I watched quantities of Great Shearwaters in the Bay of Biscay on a
voyage to Bordeaux on the 6th, and on the return voyage on the
24th; on the 25th, in the Channel, they were still plentiful until the
boat was fairly near the Devon and Dorset coasts at 5 p.m. Although
I was not then aware that P. kiihlii ever visited these waters, it is
certain that all those seen at close quarters, both in the Bay and the
Channel, were P. gravis, as I saw the markings on the head and nape
quite distinctly and mentioned it in my notes written at the time.

II . G. Alexander.

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Contents of Number ii, Vol. XXXIII., April i, 1940.

PAGE

‘Obituary. The Rev. F. C. R. Jourdain ... ... ... ... 286

'.Observations on Breeding and Song of Wren. By the Late

George Marples ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 294

'.The Index of Heron Population, 1939. By W. B. Alexander ... 304

'A study of Blue Tits by Colour Ringing. By Hugh Kenrick ... 307

'Notes : —

Rooks’ Nests lined with Feathers (A. G. Tayler) ... ... 311

Starlings swallowing Pellets (G. B. Gooch) ... ... ... 311

Male Yellow Wagtail’s share in Incubation (Stuart Smith) ... 312

Little Owl preying on Birds (J. S. Elliott) ... ... ... 312

The Pale-breasted Brent Goose in Sussex (J. Walpole-Bond) ... 313

Flock of Bewick’s Swans in Lancashire (J. Arinitage) ... 314

'Short Notes : —

Starlings with young at Christmas. Blackcap in Hereford in
February. Iceland Redwings in Dublin, Devon and Dorset.
Hoopoe in Flampshire in January. Bean-Geese in Middlesex
and Kent. Pink-footed Geese in Co. Wexford. Dark-
breasted Brent Geese in Middlesex and Surrey. Smew and
Velvet-Scoter in Cambridgeshire. Common Eiders in
Dorsetshire. Red-necked Grebe in Ayrshire. Great North-
ern Diver inland in Sussex. ... ... ... ... 314

'Letter : —

The Bill-snapping of a Little Owl (G. B. Gooch) ... ... 316

8 Apr; ;940

" PURCHASED

(286)

OBITUARY.

THE REV. F. C. R. JOURDAIN.

(1865-1940.)

For just thirty-one years Jourdain has given us most con-
stantly his very valuable help and expert advice in the conduct
of this Magazine, and his sudden passing away makes a
loss which is difficult to realize and impossible to exaggerate :
it is indeed irreparable.

He had been ailing some time and felt the cold weather
very severely, but he was always resentful of any disability
and persisted in struggling on with his work. He insisted on
fulhlling a long-standing engagement to lecture at Oxford
in February and although he was really very ill he braced
himself for the occasion and spoke in his usual fluent and
interesting way. He was unable to do much after this,
but he was of an indomitable nature, and he was downstairs
attempting to work within four days of his death.

Francis Charles Robert Jourdain was born on March 4th,
1865. He was the eldest son of the late Rev. F. Jourdain, vicar
of Ashbourne-cum-Mapleton. He was educated at Magdalen
College, Oxford, where he graduated B.A. in 1887 and M.A.
in 1890, in which year he was ordained. After curacies in
Suffolk he was appointed vicar of Clifton-by-Ashbourne in
1894, and remained there for twenty years until 1914 when he
became rector of Appleton, near Abingdon, Berkshire. In
1925 he retired and lived for a short while in Norfolk, but
in 1927 moved to Southbourne, Bournemouth, where he
was residing at the time of his death, which occurred on
February 27th, 1940, a week before his 75th birthday. He
was buried at Clifton, near Ashbourne.

He married in 1896 Frances Emmeline, daughter of
William Richard Smith of Clifton. His wife inherited the
Clifton property from her brother, the Rev. F. C. Smith, and
at her death in 1933, Jourdain became tenant for life of
this property, which now passes to his daughter Miss
Jourdain. He also leaves a son Major F. W. S. Jourdain.

As an ornithologist Jourdain will be remembered hrst
for his intimate and exact knowledge of all that is known
concerning the breeding biology of the birds of the Palse-
arctic Region and especially those of the western part of
that area. It may be safely said that no one else was in
any way his equal as an authority on this subject. He
was always working hard to get the gaps hlled, and to get
observations on such difficult points as the share of sexes

British Birds, Vol. XXXIII., PI. 6.

F. C. R. JOURDAIN
Corsica, June, 1937.

[Photographed by John Armitage.)

VOL. XXXIII.]

F. C. R. JOURDAIN.

287

and incubation and fledging periods. His paper on the
subject in 1930 in this Magazine was illuminating. That so
much had been done to All the gaps between the time of the
publication of the. Practical Handbook and the -present Handbook
was in fact largely due to the stimulus given to the study
of the subject by his exact statements of the known facts
in the earlier work, and although this was a great satisfaction
to him, he had the intention to urge again the importance of
making more observations when his work on the Handbook
was finished.

He had also worked many years in collecting together
every scrap of knowledge on the nature of the food of birds.
A good many have made researches on this subject from
the economic stand-point, but Jourdain's careful compilations
of records of the specific nature of food of each species are
obviously of the greatest value to ornithologists. He had
too a regard for the economic side, and as far back as 1903
had written a prize essay on the subject which was published
by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, while in
1927 he wrote about the economic status of finches in the
Journal of the Ministry of Agriculture.

He had a fine knowledge of geographical distribution,
and here his numerous journeys in many parts of the western
Palaearctic area stood him in great stead, while in all this
work he made the best use of his very considerable linguistic
abilities and was untiring in his search for facts both in
literature and from correspondents in all parts of the world.

On these three subjects he has set out in his sections of
the Handbook very exact records of the facts, and ornith-
ologists will be glad to know that before his death he had
completed his work on “Breeding” and “ Food ” for volume 4,
and very nearly that for the “ Distribution Abroad.” For
the remaining 50-60 species to be dealt with in volume 5
he has left very careful notes.

Jourdain’s capacity for work, both physical and
intellectual, was remarkable, and he was tireless both in the
field and with his pen. He was constantly engaged in writing
about birds, and often worked far into the night. Many of
these contributions were in the form of notes, letters and
papers in ornithological journals of many kinds both at
home and abroad, and a selection of these is given at the end
of this notice. In longer tasks he was rather lacking in
a determination to complete the work, not indeed because
he was at any time idle, but for the reason that he was led
away on to new tasks, and being always willing to help others

288

BRITISH BIRDS.

[VOL. XXXIII.

this often resulted in so much research and labour that it
kept him from completing his own work. The following
notes will give some idea of his more extensive literary work.

In 1906 he published the first part of a work on The Eggs
of European Birds, which was planned to be completed in
ten parts, but only four were issued and the publishers failing,
Jourdain never finished it. Between igio and 1913 he made
important contributions with others to F. B. Kirkman’s
British Bird Book, and in 1930 was joint author with the same
writer in a single volume under the title British Birds. In 1912
was issued the Hand-List of British Birds in which Jourdain
collaborated with us, and shortly afterwards work was started
on the Practical Handbook, though owing to the war publication
of the first part was delayed until 1919. It may here be
mentioned that during part of that war Jourdain edited this
Magazine during the Editor’s absence abroad. About this
period he collaborated with W. H. Mullens and tlie late
H. K. Swann in their useful Geographical Bibliography of
British Ornithology , published during 1919 and 1920, and had
assisted the authors mentioned in their previous Bibliography
of British Ornithology . Amongst other important works
in which he gave assistance must be mentioned especially
Hartert's Die Vogel der palaarktischen Fauna and to a less
extent A. C. Bent’s later volumes of the Life Histories of
American Birds. In 1930 he translated from the German
Pastor Kleinschmidt’s work The Formenkreis Theory.

Jourdain always attached great importance to gathering
together and publishing local records and in this work he had a
long experience and a critical judgment. He began such
recording for his native county of Derby and published the
first report for 1899 in the Zoologist, where it appeared annually
for a number of years and was then continued in the Journal
of the Derbyshire Natural History Society, and after a lapse
of some years he again took over the task and acted as recorder
up to his death. He also contributed sections on Zoology in
the Victoria History of Derbyshire.

On becoming rector of Appleton near Abingdon, Berkshire,
he soon began to take interest in the birds of the district
and encouraged others to do so. This led to the formation
of the Oxford Ornithological Society of which lie was first
President, and the annual report on the birds of Oxford,
Berkshire and Buckinghamshire, the first of which, covering
the years 1915-22, was edited by Jourdain with B. W. Tucker.
He subsequently contributed the section on birds to the
Natural History of the Oxford District and collaborated with

VOL. XXXIII.]

F. C. R. JOURDAIN.

289

E. Hartert on the Birds of Buckinghamshire. In recent
years he has compiled annual reports on the birds of the
Bournemouth district and of Hampshire. Since 1935 he has
edited in conjunction with others The Oologists Record, a
quarterly journal.

Jourdain organized and led the first Oxford expedition
to Spitsbergen in 1921 and voyaged there again in 1922.
He wrote papers on the birds and spent much time over
several years in writing a book on the subject but unfort-
unately this was never completed and published.

Almost every year he made an ornithological excursion
abroad and had thus studied birds in many parts of Europe
and North Africa. He was a hard traveller, a very good
observer and untiring in the field ; only two years ago he
was able to do a twelve-hour day in the Scottish highlands.
These trips resulted in some valuable papers on the birds
of Corsica, Cyprus, Dobrogea, Algeria, Morocco, Egypt and
South Spain. In the last paper he gathered together all
observations on the birds of South Spain but unfortunately
completed only the part dealing with the Passeres.

One of the main objects of his trips was to collect eggs
and add to his splendid collection, but apart from this Jourdain
had always intense longing to be out among the birds, seeing
them in different countries, observing and noting. He took
note of everything and his diaries are wonderfully detailed
and full of information. He also kept regular notes at home,
and it is hoped that these extremely valuable records will
be kept so that they are available for reference. It should be
mentioned here that his handwriting was a marvel of neat-
ness and that he was able to draw very nicely. He was a
most enthusiastic collector but a discriminating one and
he has often said that in collecting in the field about one
clutch in five hundred found was the maximum he could
expect to take. He also was constantly acquiring eggs to
make his collection more complete. His aim was not only
to have well-authenticated eggs of all the species in the
western Palaearctic region, but that his collection should
contain sufficient variety to illustrate the range of normal
individual, and especially geographical, variation in form,
size and coloration, as well as to show affinities or differences
in specific or larger groups. That he had the true collector’s
delight in an interesting or beautiful specimen or clutch is
undoubted, but that he made the best possible use of his
great collection from a scientific standpoint is acknowledged
by all. It was his constant endeavour to make it illustrate to

290

BRITISH BIRDS.

[VOL. XXXIII.

the best advantage the kind of comparative and other
biological principles already mentioned and he never tired
of demonstrating such points to visiting ornithologists who
were genuinely interested. His collection is thus a very
notable one and it may safely be said that no other in this
country, if, indeed, in Europe, is at the same time so extensive
and so scientihcally valuable.

He joined the British Ornithologists’ Union in 1899, served
on the Committee and was a vice-President (1934), and also
for many years was a member of the British List Committee.
He became a member of the British Ornithologists’ Club in
1905 and was a regular attendant at the meetings, in the pro-
ceedings of which he frequently took part. The impetus which
he gave to the study of birds at Oxford, as already mentioned,
undoubtedly played a great part in preparing the ground
for the developments, which led in later years to the founda- ^
tion of the British Trust for Ornithology and the Edward
Grey Institute of Field Ornithology in the University. Of
the Trust he was an original member and served on the council
as well as being up to the time of his death a member of the
Scientific Advisory Committee. He was also one of the
originators of the British Oological Association of which he
was President from 1932 to 1939 and served as editor of the
Bulletin for several years.

He was an honorary fellow of the American Ornithologists’
Union and an honorary member of the ornithological societies
of France, Holland, Germany and Hungary. He was also a
member of the International Ornithological Committee and
was chairman of section HI at the Berlin (1910) and Copen-
hagen (1926) Congresses, while of the Oxford Congress (1934)*
he was the honorary secretary and edited the Proceedings
of that Congress.

He had quite an exceptional memory which was remarkably
accurate in detail. Though he kept carefully written records
this faculty was of the greatest assistance to him in his work,
while in discussions it was an unfailing advantage. He had a
horror of any statement which he knew to be inaccurate
and always felt it a stern duty to correct such statements so
far as he could. It was very seldom indeed that he was wrong
in his facts, but his criticisms were usually very severe and
made in a satirical style which though often very humorous
was sometimes too caustic to be wise. This made him enemies
and caused some dislike though all could not but admire him
for his great knowledge and accuracy. Nevertheless tliis
irrepressible trait, as he himself well knew, kept him from

VOL. XXXIII.]

F. C. R. JOURDAIN.

291

some of those high honours in the ornithological world for
which his great attainments undoubtedly fitted him.

However characteristic was that withering style of his
public controversies, to those who knew him well and
especially those of a younger generation, this was far out-
weighed by his remarkable sympathy and inexhaustible
kindness and helpfulness. No estimate of his character could
be true without stressing this side of it. His mind was a
store-house of precise knowledge, and he had the gift of
being able to impart it to others with clarity. He was indeed
always ready to give help and advice to any true seeker after
knowledge and his understanding and encouragement of
those at the outset of their career in ornithology formed one
of the great features of his life and work.

To the end Jourdain was intensely interested in every
phase of bird-life and was ever searching for the truth, and
it may truly be said of him that ornithology never had a
truer or more enthusiastic and devoted servant.

A SELECTED LIST OF THE ORNITHOLOGICAL WRITINGS
OF F. C. R. JOURDAIN.

1899.

1900-9.

1903.

1905.

1906-12.

1906.

1907.

1909- 39.

1910- 13.
1910.

1911- 12.
1912.

Photography applied to Science : Natural History.

Photography Annual.

Rough Notes on Derbyshire Ornithology. Zool. 1900,
1902, 1904, 1905, 1906, 1909.

On the Preservation of the Kite. Bull. B.O.C., XIII.,
PP- 43-5-

On the Economic Value of Birds. (Prize essay published as a
pamphlet by the Society for the Protection of Birds.)
On the Discovery of the Nest and Eggs of the Solitary
Sandpiper. Ibis, pp. 158-61.

Birds, in Victoria History of the County of Derby shir e .

The Eggs of European Birds. (Incomplete : Parts I-IV. only
issued out of 10 planned.)

On hybrids between Black Game and Pheasants. Bull.
B.O.C., XVI. , Zool., pp. 321-330, 433-4, Ann. Scot. N.H.,
pp. 238-9 ; also 1912, British Birds, VI., pp. 146-9.

On Colour Variation in the Eggs of Palaearctic birds. Ornis.
Zoological Record for Derbyshire- — Birds. Journ. Derbys.

Arch, and N.H. Soc., 1909-1913, 1931-1938.

The British Bird Book. (Some twenty chapters and colla-
boration in classified notes and bibliography.)

A number of communications on eggs. Bull. B.O.C., XXVII.
The Bird-life of Corsica. Verhandl. V. Internal. Orn.
Kongress, Berlin.

Notes on the Ornithology of Corsica. 7f)fs, 191 1, pp. 189-208,
437-458, 1912, pp. 63-82, 314-332.

A Hand-List of British Birds. (With E. Hartert, N. F.

Ticehurst and H. F. Witherby.)

Notes on the Bird-Life of S.W. Iceland. British Birds,
VI., pp. 234-245.

1913-

292 BRITISH BIRDS. [vol.xxxiii.

1913-

1914.

1915-

1916.

1918.

1918- 24.

1919- 20.
1919-24.

1920.

1921.

1922.

1923.

1924.
1924-6.

1925.

1926.

1927.

1927-9.

1929.

On the Breeding-Season and Clutch of the Steganopodes.

British Birds, VII., pp. 94-100.

Breeding-habits of the Marsh- and Willow-Tits. British
Birds, VII., pp. 141-4.

Corrections to the Catalogue of Birds’ Eggs in the British
Museum. Ibis, pp. 513-527.

Erythrism in the Eggs of British birds. (With C. Borrer).

British Birds, VII., pp. 246-260.

Notes on the Bird-life of Eastern Algeria. Ibis, pp. 132-169.
The breeding range of Leach’s Petrel. Auk, pp. 196-7.

The status of the Black Redstart in England as a breeding
species. Zool., pp. 41 7-421.

The first nesting record of the Great Skua in the Orkneys.

British Birds, XII., pp. 50-2, 170-1.

The effect of the winter of 1916-17 on our resident birds.

(with H. F. Witherby). British Birds, XII., 26-35.

Orn. Report for Oxfordshire. Rep. Ashmolean Nat. Hist.
Soc.

A Geographical Bibliography of British Ornithology. (With
W. H. Mullens and H. K. Swann).

A Practical Handbook of British Birds. Sections on Breeding-
habits and Food and assistance in Distribution, British
and Abroad.

The birds of Buckinghamshire and the Tring Reservoirs.

(With E. Hartert). Nov. Zool., 'Z'j, pp. 171-259.

Les oiseaux de la Foret de Mamara et des environs de
Rabat. Revue Fr. d’Orn., 13, pp. 128-133, 149-153.

The breeding habits of the Barnacle Goose. Auk, 39,
pp. 166-171.

The birds of Spitsbergen and Bear Island. Ibis, pp. 159-179.
On the specific name of the Common Guillemot. British
Birds, XVI., p. 322, Ibis, pp. 436-8.

The hitherto known birds of Marocco. (With E. Hartert.)
Nov. Zool., 30, pp. gi-152.

The light and dark-brea.sted Brent Geese. British Birds, Vol.

XVIII., pp. 49-52, B^in B.O.C., XLIV., pp. 84-6.

Report of the Oxford Orn. Soc. on the Birds of Oxfordshire,
Berkshire and Buckinghamshire. (With B. W. Tucker.)
The Dobrogea. Ool. Rec., 5, pp. 49-56.

A study on Parasitism in the Cuckpos. Proc. Zool. Soc.,
pp. 639-667.

The Natural History of the Oxford District. Section on
Ornithology, pp. 128-160.

Die Eier der Vogel von Mallorca. Beitr. Fortpfl.-biol. Vog.,
PP- 33-7. 79-87-

Wall building birds. British Birds, XX., pp. 223-5.

The supposed nesting of the Velvet-Scoter, Long-tailed
Duck and Scaup in Scotland. British Birds, XXL,
PP- 38-40-

Palaearctic birds’ eggs and egg-collecting. Bull. Brit. Ool.
Assoc., 2, pp. 24-29.

British Finches : their economic status. Journ. Ministr.

Agric., 34, pp. 528-533 ; 35. PP- 651-6 : 36, pp- 52-7-
The breeding birds of Cyprus. J . fur Orn. Festschrift E.
Hartert, pp. 33-40.

VOL. XXXIII.]

F. C. R. JOURDAIN.

293

1930.

1930.

1932.

1933-

1935-
1936.

1936- 7

1937-

1937- 8.

1938- 9

1938.

1939-

Handbook of Cyprus. Birds.

Our present knowledge of the breeding biology of birds.

British Birds, XXIV., pp. 138-144.

British Birds. (With F. B. Kirkman).

The truth about the Kite. Pamphlet.

Notes on Spitsbergen. (With others.) Bull B.O.A.,
pp. 77-91.

E. J. O. Hartert (Obituarial notice. With H. F. Witherby.)

British Birds, XXVII., pp. 225-9.

On the Palaearctic element in the A.O.U. Check List. Auk,
pp. 201-4.

Larus audouini im ostlichen Mittelmeer. Orn. Monatsb.,
41, pp. 122-3.

The Bald Ibis {Comatibis eremita) . Ool. Rec., 14, pp. 2-5.
The Courtship of the Red-backed Shrike and the Woodchat.

British Birds, XXIX., pp. 95-7.

Notes on a collection of eggs and breeding habits of birds
near Lokoja, Nigeria. (With R. Shuel.) Ibis, pp. 623-63.
Progress in Ornithology during the past half-century.
S. East Nat., pp. 43-51.

Critical note on Swinhoe’s account of the breeding of the
Oyster-catcher in N. China. Bull. B.O.C., LVI., pp. 86-8.
On the winter habits of the Green Woodpecker. Proc.
Zool. Soc., pp. 251-6.

Notes on Egyptian birds. (With H. Lynes.) Ibis, pp. 39-47.
The so-called ‘‘ injury feigning ” in birds. Ool. Rec., 1936,
PP- 25-37. 1937. pp. 14-16, 37-8, 71-2.

The birds of Southern Spain. (Passeres.) Ibis, 1936, pp.
725-63. 1937, PP- 110-52.

Eggs of the Ravens of the Palaearctic Region. Bull. B.O.A.,
54. PP- 2-4.

Ornithological Report for the county of Hampshire.

Proc. Hampshire F. Club Arch. Soc.

The Handbook of British Birds. Vols. 1-3 (in progress).
Sections on Breeding, Food and Distribution Abroad
and with B. W. Tucker on Display and Posturing.
Pallid Harrier in Dorset. British Birds, XXXII., pp. 150-1.
Cliff -breeding in the House-Martin. (With H. F. Witherby.)
British Birds, XXXIII., pp. 16-24, 137-8.

H. F. W.

(294)

OBSERVATIONS ON BREEDING AND SONG

OF WREN.

BY

The Late GEORGE MARPLES.

In British Birds {antea, XXXII, p. 397) I gave an account of
recurrent singing by Wrens {Troglodytes t. troglodytes) in my
garden. Below I offer details of singing and other actions
which were associated, not directly with territory, but with
the later stages of nest-building. Whether this singing
emanated from one of the birds previously reported I cannot
say, but think it likely as the nest in question was built in
the area frequented by the nearer of the two singers whose
performances were reported.

Before describing these occurrences reference may be made
to several other instances of song also immediately connected
with nest-construction.

The first of these references is to a nest in process of being
built, from which, each time the structure was approached,
a Wren would emerge and at once burst into loud song. At
another partly constructed nest one of the birds was noticed
to sing just before entering and as soon as it came out. A
third reference is to a nest built by Wrens inside an old
Martin’s nest (Delichon u. urbica) over my bedroom window.
One of these Wrens would begin singing on the spout above
and, without stopping its song, enter the nest and continue
to sing while inside. On its mate entering singing began again
and when the singer emerged its song was repeated on the
spout. None of these singing Wrens was ever seen to carry
material but whether they were males or not is impossible,
positively, to say.

To return to the main story.

When, on July ist, 1939, the nest to which the following
notes refer was discovered in a gorse bush some six yards
from my studio window it was well on towards completion
but was still unlined- and lacked the usual strengthening
twigs round the entrance. The removal of a small branch
brought the nest well into view.

Owing to the likeness between the male and female MTen
and to the suspicion that, at times, both sexes indulge in
song, one cannot with certainty say whether the later stages
of nest construction were a joint affair or not. In the case
under review, as will be seen later, there was little evidence,
if any, that incubation or young-feeding was carried out by
both parents either. But whether the male assisted in the

VOL. XXXIII.] OBSERVATIONS ON WREN.

295

work or not, asStiredly he saw to it that his wife did not neglect
her task. He followed close behind her when she left the
nesting bush for more material and accompanied her when
she returned. Commonly while she was at the nest, he sat
on a near-by shrub singing loudly. When she left the nest
and ran across some open ground, mouse-like, crouching very
low with tail held horizontally, he would fly down from his
singing-perch, alight and chase after her with tail erect. He
would then spread and shiver his wings and with mandibles
wide open give his full song, after which, as she disappeared
under the bushes he returned to his perch and resumed his
song there.

It may be remarked that the way the tail was carried was,
in the early stages of the proceedings, a positive indication
of the sex of each Wren, though, as time passed the distinction
was not maintained.

For sake of description I shall, with justification, I think,
assume that the bird which did all the later work was the
female ; I have called her “ the builder ” and later " the
feeder,” the male being referred to as ” the singer.”

That I might get a clear conception of the Wrens’ behaviour
I kept a close watch at various times most days from the
discovery of the nest until the young were away. From these
observations several facts were established. First, that one
bird (the female ?) visited the nest many times but, except
during the first phase, was seldom seen to carry any building
material. Second, that one bird only (again the female ?)
appeared to incubate and to feed the young. Third, that one
bird (the malej) sang incessantly during the construction
period and-, fourth, that song was almost entirely abandoned
after incubation had started. Fifth, that early in the proceed-
ings, attacks on the builder were made by the singer and,
later, attacks on the singer were made by the feeder. Sixth,
that their actions were curiously spasmodic, and, lastly, that
there seemed to be long periods, sometimes days, of absence
from the nest.

On the first day of watching, July ist, one Wren was seen
to be busily engaged in collecting fairly long pieces of grass
from an area within a yard or two of the nest. This she did
with great assiduity, returning to the nest many times with
this material. Later in the day her energy had almost
evaporated, for building, though still in evidence, occurred
only at long and irregular intervals.

It should be said that all times mentioned are to be under-
stood as ” summer time.”

296

BRITISH BIRDS.

[VOL. XXXIII.

On July 2nd I watched from 6.30 to 8 a.m. during which
period the nest was visited 27 times. The visiting bird stayed
in the nest for short intervals varying from a few seconds to
a minute. Sometimes material was gathered near the nest
and taken in but, usually, which seems curious, it was not
apparent that anything whatever was carried. The intervals
between the visits to the nest averaged 3.15 minutes. The
longest absence was 15^ minutes this being one of those
“ holiday periods ” which seem to happen about once every
hour with most birds when engaged in building their nest or
feeding the young. On three occasions the singer was visible
at the same time as its mate but once only was it seen to go
to the nest — an inspection call, perhaps ? It seemed certain
that the singer and the builder were different birds each
keeping strictly to its own occupation.

During the building the other bird sang repeatedly, 62 songs
being counted between 2 and 3 p.m. during which hour no
visit was made to the nest by either bird. Later in the day
no less than igo songs were sung between the hours of
7 and 8 p.m.

Two or three times during the day slight scuffles took place
in the air between the two birds ; these seemed to indicate that
the visit of inspection had not satisfied the singer that the
builder was giving proper attention to her duties.

Two days after, on July 4th, watch was kept in the early
morning for 80 minutes. During this time the builder seldom
returned to the nest. From this it seemed possible that the
nest was completed. Still the singer continued his part,
singing as he had done hitherto — close at hand or some
distance away and in between as he was constantly going and
coming. He sang 158 times, i.e., at the rate of 1.97 songs
each minute. He did not sing in the usual regular manner
but often combined his singing into groups of 2 to 14 songs
without any break whatever between. At these times he
seemed seized with ecstacy, so passionately did he sing.
The groups of songs were separated by silences of varying
length. From notes I have made of the diurnal beginning
of 74 other Wrens’ songs I find that singing begins early and
continues throughout the day until late, the average time for
giving the first song of the day being 21.55 minutes before
sunrise and for the last song, 13.4 minutes after sunset, this
making a 17-hour singing-day. When the Wren sang at
uniform intervals as it usually did, particularly in the early
stages of these proceedings, each complete song lasted
4 seconds with pauses of 6 seconds between. Occasionally

VOL. XXXIII.] OBSERVATIONS ON WREN.

297

the song was continued when the bird was in the air flying
from one perch to another. I have heard one Wren, but not
this one, repeat its song for over an hour with perfect
regularity, the 4-second song alternating with the 6-second
intermission without any rest whatever.

Between July 4th and July 9th the builder was never
seen to go to the nest though a careful watch was kept,
except that on the latter date one visit was paid, the bird
carrying a feather. Afterwards, late in the afternoon and in
the evening it was seen to return to the nest 4 or 5 times but
never appeared to be carrying material. The male, though
still singing in the vicinity of the nest only did so inter-
mittently ; building had finished, so song was dying away.

The following day, July loth, I started watching at 7.15 a.m.
but it was not until 8.45 that a bird was seen at the nest.
This was the only visit observed that day though a good
look-out was maintained.

On July nth the builder was seen to leave the nest at
8.30 a.m. but circumstances prevented any further observa-
tions being made.

Nothing was seen of either bird on the 12th or on the 13th
though one or two songs were heard ; both building and song
seemed to be in abeyance.

On July 14th, at about 8 a.m., a Wren was noticed within a
yard or so of the nest and at 8.15 it went in. But it was not
seen to come away though a strict watch was kept.

During the next few days no Wren was seen or heard and
after five days had elapsed the nest was examined ; it was
found to _ be completed being lined with feathers and
containing two eggs.

For at least a week after this no bird was seen near the
nest and seldom was a song heard even in the distance.

July 26th, however, brought a recrudescence of activity.
A song came from the neighbourhood of the nest at 10.30 a.m.
At 4 p.m. one of the Wrens was seen feeding on ants about
two yards from the nest when suddenly it stretched itself
up and looked around, evidently some sound had been heard,
for immediately another Wren appeared. Followed a slight
scuffle and one of the birds bolted hotly pursued by the
other. Presently one was seen to go to the nest and the other
returned to its feeding. In a short time this bird went into
the nesting-bush and a second Wren appeared, probably
from the nest. At once the conflict was resumed, one bird being
driven off. Then one again entered the nest, stayed awhile,
came out, returned, remaining inside for 7 minutes. Emerging,

298

BRITISH BIRDS.

[VOL. XXXIII.

it stayed out ii minutes. Meanwhile the other Wren had
resumed its meal on the ants, and, as it had the cocked-up
tail associated with the male, was evidently the singer
though it was not heard to sing.

It now seemed evident that the roles of these Wrens had
been reversed. Earlier in the proceedings it was the singer
which harried the builder, compelling her to work ; now
the builder resented the presence of the singer driving him
from the vicinity of the nest.

At 4.28 the Wren in the nest came out and again chased
the feeding bird away. In 5 minutes it returned to the nest
but stayed 5 minutes only. It re-entered in 2 minutes carrying
an ant’s egg, departed again quickly and so continued.
At 5.40 a furious pursuit was initiated by the bird from
the nest. This driving away of the male by the female was
most interesting for it was on all fours with the action
observed with mammals after young ones have been born.
It was, therefore, not a surprise to find, when an examination
of the nest was made, that the renewed activity and the
chasing away of the male was due to the fact that the eggs
had hatched. It was now seen that incubation must have
taken 14 or more days and that the almost complete cessation
of song coincided with the beginning of incubation.

The same bird continued to go in and out of the nest at
short intervals throughout the evening, regular feeding of the
young having begun. The last visit was made at 8.32 p.m.,
sunset occurring at 8.56.

Observation was continued during 60 minutes on July 27th,
beginning at 7.30 a.m. During this hour only 8 visits were
paid to the nest at intervals varying from 3 to minutes.
No singing was heard this day.

On July 29th watch was kept for one hour in the afternoon
starting at 3.30 and again from 8.30 until the last time the
feeder returned to the nest which was at 8.53. The afternoon
visits numbered 8 in the hour with intervals for seeking food
ranging from i to 12 minutes. In the evening she paid four
visits with food in 23 minutes and after her last return
appeared to stay in the nest for the night. No singing was
heard on this date.

Having on two occasions {supra) noted the final visit to
the nest of the day and wishing to time the earliest visit
I started observation on August ist at 5 a.m., sunri.se taking
place at 5.24. The feeder’s first visit to her young was at
5.19, it having been too dark to see anything before this.
If I am right in supposing she spent the night in the nest.

VOL. XXXIII.] OBSERVATIONS ON WREN.

299

she must have emerged unseen in the darkness and was now
returning with the first food of the day. For some time
she slipped in and out the nest in the indifferent light like a
ghost. My observations continued until 6.20 ; during this
period 16 visits were noted, these being made on an average
of one every 5 minutes. There was very little evidence, if
any, of the male assisting in the task of feeding the young,
the two birds were never seen at the nest together ; visits
paid at very short intervals, at 6.4 and 6.5 and again at 6.9
and 6.10, for example, may have been made by different
birds but I did not think so, for the feeder often obtained
food in the bush quite close to the nest and was thus able
to return speedily. Only one song was heard on August ist,
a partial one given some distance away. The following day,
also, one song only, again incomplete, was heard.

On August 4th I started to photograph the act of feeding
the young and this provided me with a close-up of the
operations. I found there were two young ones only in the
nest, evidently the two eggs seen on July 19th formed the
full clutch. One parent came back freely and, after the
first few minutes, without any obvious nervousness. Again
I have to say that while photographing I never saw the two
Wrens at the nest at the same time, as so commonly happens
when both birds take shares in feeding the chicks. But one
bird did visit the nest twice without conveying food, visits
seemingly made to inspect the nest-surroundings and this
may have been the male. To give the camera a clear view of
the nest several twigs had been tied back and it was this
alteration .of the environment which appeared to interest
this particular bird. At first, when a little alarmed at the
“ hide,” the feeder called ” Tick-tick-tick ” a number of
times, this being a high note of anxiety resembling the one
made by Robins when uneasy. Feelings of alarm wore off
very quickly and this call was not heard thereafter. A
” rattle ” lower in pitch and quicker than the rattle of a
disturbed Robin was given sometimes, especially when the
cat came into view. While making this sound the beak was
opened a little and the lower mandible vibrated. On one
occasion ” rattles ” accompanied by a “ dipping ” action
were given by the feeder when its beak was bulging with
flies.

From this time the feeder seldom entered the nest for,
usually, it departed as soon as the food had been delivered.
Occasionally, however, she would wait, introduce her head
into the nest and remove fseces. Four times in four hours

300

BRITISH BIRDS.

[vOL. XXXIII.

she went into the nest, staying some time ; on these occasions
she generally emerged, bearing a dropping, but she never
brooded the young. It seemed certain that feeding was
done by one bird only.

On August 5th, between 6.20 and 7.20 p.m. food was given
to the chicks 18 times. The feeder stayed at the nest an
average of 8.6 seconds except on two visits when it entered
and stayed 5 minutes and 3 minutes respectively. Never
during this day was the singer heard.

The operation of feeding was watched for hours on the
morning of August 6th. During 90 minutes 42 visits were
made to the nest, these being, on the average, every 2.14
minutes. Usually they lasted 6.8 seconds only, but three
times the parent remained for 28 seconds and once for 27
seconds. While on these longer stays she appeared to be
picking parasites or skin-scales from the nestlings.

There was no evidence of method in the search for food ;
the bird flew in every direction seldom going twice to the
same spot though once having flown to a bush 50 yards away
she returned immediately to the same place after delivery
of the food obtained there. Often enough she would find
what she required close at hand, frequently in the nesting
bush itself. On one occasion a slug was brought and once a
spider ; flying ants as well as ant eggs seemed popular and
so were small flies.

Another count of feeding visits was made in the evening
of August 6th during if hours. Food was taken to the nest
every 2.94 minutes for the feeder returned 35 times. She
remained there when delivering the food on an average of
10.51 seconds and once again long stays of 60, 41, 38 and 31
seconds were noted. These times, as in the morning, were
connected with ridding the bodies of the nestlings of something
small ur with the removal of excrement. Sunset occurred
at 8.38 and the last visit seen was at 8.47T The feeder may
have gone back to brood her young during the night, but if
so, darkness prevented her return being seen, though watch
was kept until well after 9 o’clock.

Next day, August 7th, observation was again begun early
in the morning when it was dark. The sun rose at 5.33 and
with it came a strong wind. Robins and other birds began
feeding at 5.10 and it is probable that the Wren began about
the same time although it was not actually seen until 5.32.
Once more it was evident that one parent only was engaged
in attending to the brood and it became inevitable that this
bird should come to be regarded as a widow. But if so, she

VOL. xxxiii.J OBSERVATIONS ON WREN.

301

was not at all like Shelley’s “ Widow bird ” which “ sate
mourning for her love ” for, with scarcely a moment’s
relaxation, she busied herself with the cares of her young ;
her approximate working day being one of I5| hours. This,
it may be noted, was hours less than the singing day.

Later in the day the nest was found lying on the ground ;
it had been dislodged by the heavy wind. Fortunately the
young were ready to fly and the disaster merely accelerated
their departure.

August iith saw the return of the missing husband — if it
was not some other male — for two partial songs were heard
and a scuffle accompanied by low “ hisses ” was seen to
take place near the nesting bush between the singer and
another Wren. During this day and the one following the
feeder constantly was seen foraging in the region of the nest
and along the terrace. At intervals it would fly off with
food into a hedge 30 to 40 yards away, where evidently the
young ones were waiting to be fed. From time to time
another Wren would appear working its way along the
terrace among the plants. Sooner or later the feeder would
discover this bird and there would be a fight followed by a
chase, after which she would return and resume her food
search. At times, during these frequent combats which,
usually, were conducted silently, the attacker would call a
loud, harsh “ Chaat-chaat-chaat.” The feeder never attacked
any species other than its own. These actions seemed to
provide an interesting and clear example of a female bird
defending the territory.

After two days of being fed from food gathered near the
nesting site- the young ones moved off to more distant places
and the feeder was no longer seen. But partial songs were
noticed on several occasions each day until August i8th
when once again a complete song was heard, thus signalizing
the termination of the breeding season. After that date the
singer announced his presence almost every day in the same
way.

As I had not the good fortune to see this particular pair of
Wrens engaged in courtship, it may complete my picture
if I add notes of fragmentary displays of this act by other
Wrens previously witnessed.

“ Two were in a hedge. Each sang a long, soft song some-
what different from the usual confident, challenging produc-
tion. When one had completed its song except for the last
few notes, the other commenced to sing, and after he had
almost finished, the first bird began again. This alternation

X

302

BRITISH BIRDS.

[VOL. XXXIII.

of song continued for a considerable time. Both birds sang
exactly the same series of notes which had some resemblance
to the normal song. The songs were given when the birds,
about a dozen yards apart, were moving up and down and
along in the hedgerow as though engaged in feeding. They
were so preoccupied as to be quite fearless. One flew into a
tree and sang there, moving about as it had done in the hedge.
The other once or twice mounted to an outstanding twig
at the top of the fence and sang there. The se.x could not be
determined ; they may have been rival males.

“ Two Wrens on the rock garden. One ran, crouching like
a mouse, then drew itself upright like a Guillemot, hopping
quickly in this strange attitude with tail dragging on the
ground. Then it resumed the ‘ crouch,' flew into the air,
singing loudly, dropped back to earth and resumed the
‘ Guillemot pose.’ VVhile this was going on another Wren,
some three yards away, was feeding and moving about in a
normal manner seeming unconscious of the other’s grotesque
performance. During this display long ‘ trills ’ were given
some of them higher in pitch than others though which bird
trilled could not be decided.

“ Two Wrens perched about a yard apart on the topmost
twigs of a hedge, ‘ facing.’ Each raised its beak at an
angle of 45 degrees and each bowed several times to its
vis-a-vis.”

The details given above were the result of concentrated
watchings during the times mentioned but throughout each
day and almost every day an eye was kept on the nest and the
doings of the Wrens, if any, did not escape notice.

[Mr. Marples’s paper raises some interesting points. That
the male can and does build nests rapidly is a matter of
common observation, but these nests are unlined, though
sometimes subsequently lined, apparently by the hen. As
far back as 1837 T. D. Weir watched a hen building a nest
accompanied by her mate, who sang incessantly but gave little
assistance. In this case the nest was built between 7 a.m.
and 7 p.m. on one day ; the following day some additional
work was done by both sexes and in the evening the hen
was carrying in feathers. Tins work was also carried on for
the next six days, both sexes taking part. It is evident that
in some cases the hen may do most of the building and the
cock may take part in lining the nest.

With regard to feeding the young, Weir watclied a nest
from 3 a.m. to g.io p.m. and records both sexes feeding 278

VOL. XXXIII. ] OBSERVATIONS ON WREN.

303

times in the day. The fact that both sexes feed is confirmed by
the observations of Messrs. E. P. Butterfield, R. F. Ruttledge,
R. H. Brown and some continental workers. On the other
hand, J. P. Burkitt found that there was no evidence of the
male taking any share in feeding the young while they
remained in the nest and in Germany 0. Steinfatt has made
similar observations. Now Mr. Marples records another case
of the same kind. It is, I think, clear that there is great
variation individually in this species. Weir’s case of both
sexes building may have been a case of emergency owing
to the destruction of the usual “ cock ” nests ; but that
some hens undertake the whole work of feeding the young
while in the nest and even, as Mr. Marples shows, resent
the presence of the male, while others share in the task with-
out friction, shows that behaviour in this case is not stereor
typed but subject to individual variation.

F. C. R. JOURDAIN.]

(304)

PUBLICATION OF THE BRITISH TRUST FOR
ORNITHOLOGY.

THE INDEX OF HERON POPULATION, 1939.

BY

W. B. ALEXANDER.

The number of heronries in which the nests were counted in
1939, and the figures reported to the Edward Grey Institute,
was again greater than in any previous year. Particulars
were received for one or more heronries in every county in
England and Wales except Monmouth and Flint (and London,
Middlesex, and Rutland, in which none are known to exist).
Figures were also received from ii counties in Scotland and
15 in Ireland, a large proportion of the latter being due to
the assistance of the Rev. P. G. Kennedy. In England and
Wales the number of sites reported on was 139, in Scotland 16,
and in Ireland 33. Of these 188 heronries 166 were counted
also in 1938, when they contained 2,820 nests as against 2,720
in 1939. The totals thus indicate a decrease of 3 per cent, in
the breeding population compared with the previous year.

Mr. E. M. Nicholson, in his report on the 1937 figures
(Vol. XXXI, p. 341), has explained the reasons that have
led us to adopt two indices, one based on 1928 and the other
on 1936. The statistical problems arising in connexion with
the 1928 standard grow more troublesome every year. At
the outset it was decided that the annual sample should
contain heronries of various sizes in proportion to their
relative abundance in the total in the 1928 census. This
meant that only one heronry in the class with over 100 nests
could be included. It happens that the one included has
in the last 6 years varied between 54 and 68 nests. It has
thus tended to keep the index down. On the other hand two
heronries which had respectively 51 and 65 nests in 1928 both
had well over 100 nests in 1939. Ought they now to be
excluded from the sample ? Of two other heronries in the
class with over 100 nests in 1928, on which we have regularly
received reports, but which have hitherto been excluded
from the sample used for calculating the index, one still
contains over 100 nests but the other has this year dropped
to 61. Thus, of 5 heronries in the class with over 100 nests
either in 1928 or 1939, two have fallen out of it since 1928,
one has remained in it hroughout and two have risen into it
since 1928,

It seems to the writer that it is more satisfactory to include
them all in the sample especially now that its size warrants

VOL. XXXIII.] HERON POPULATION, 1939.

305

the inclusion of at least two heronries of this class. Adopting
this procedure we get an index figure of 109 for England
and Wales in 1939, compared with 100 in 1928. This hgure
is based on 2,288 nests, well over 50 per cent, of the total
population in 1928. It is the same as the index for 1938
(Vol. XXXII, p. 139) and indicates that the severe weather
experienced at Christmas, 1938, when many rivers and
streams were frozen and deep snow covered most of the
country, did not affect the Heron population as had been
anticipated. It will be of interest to see whether the more
prolonged cold spell of January and February will reduce
the numbers of Herons breeding in 1940.

New Inetex, Based on 1936.

Year.

Index.

Number of nests
on which index is

England and Wales.

based.

1936

100

1,982

1937

100

1.974

1938

lOI

2,017

1939

98

1,936

Great Britain.

1936

100

2,129

1937

99

2,111

1938

lOI

2,069

1939

98

1.997

British Isles.

1936

100

2,208

1937

99

2,183

1938

lOI

2,226

1939

99

2,149

It will be seen from the above table that the fluctuations

during the past 4 years

have been

very slight. The index

has in no case varied by

more than

2 per cent., an amount

which is not statistically significant. The main reason why
the index based on 1936 has varied so much less than that
based on 1928 is no doubt that the figures for each year are
for almost exactly the same list of heronries counted by the
same observers at approximately the same season. On the
other hand the figures used for comparison with 1928 have
each year included those for a number of heronries from
which regular reports have not been received, but which can
be utilized since we have a complete set of figures for 1928.
Some of the 1928 figures, however, are for dates much earlier
in the season than those adopted in recent counts, these
latter having almost all been made between April 15th and
May loth.

As in previous years the stability of the Heron population

306

BRITISH BIRDS.

[VOL. XXXIII.

as a whole is the result of opposite tendencies in different
parts of the country. In comparison with 1936 the samples
from south-west England, south-east England, and Wales
and the border counties show decreases of more than 10 per
cent., whilst the samples from the Midlands and Ireland show
increases of over 10 per cent.

As a check on the results obtained by the counting of
sample heronries distributed over the country we have again
been able to obtain figures for all the known heronries in
four considerable areas of England, namely, the Thames
drainage area ; Sussex, where the survey was undertaken by
Mr. E. M. Cawkell ; Lancashire and Cheshire, where much
help was received from Mr. A. W. Boyd ; and Yorkshire and
Durham, where the figures for the West Riding were collected
by Mr. H. B. Booth.

In these four areas all or almost all the heronries have been
counted for several years past. By interpolating figures for
a few heronries not counted in certain years it has been
possible to compile the following table. Eigures in brackets
indicate that in those years a number of figures have had to be
interpolated so that the index is only approximate.

Index Eigures for Sample Areas.

No. of

Area

of nests
in 1928

1928

1934

1935

1936

1937

1938

1939

Thames Basin

••• 325

100

99

94

94

105

105

108

Sussex

... 294

100

(85)

95

(106)

103

III

93

Lancs, Cheshire

and part

of

Westmorland
Yorks and

... 329

100

—

(124)

125

127

127

Durham

... 129

100

(85)

(lOl)

106

92

100

100

It will be noted that the Heron population breeding in
Yorkshire and Durham in the last two years has been the
same as in the census year 1928, whilst in Lancashire and
Cheshire it has been approximately 25 per cent, greater than
in 1928 for the last four years.

It can perhaps hardly be expected that so many returns
will be received in the present year, but it is hoped that as
many helpers as possible will make a special effort to count
nests in heronries between April 15th and May loth and send
particulars to the Edward Grey Institute of Eield Ornithology,
39, Museum Road, Oxford. The data accumulated in past
years provide a basis which has hitherto been lacking for
determining the effect of an unusually severe winter on the
Heron population of the British Isles, and such an opportunity
may not occur again for many years.

(307)

A STUDY OF BLUE TITS BY COLOUR RINGING.

BY

HUGH KENRICK.

Owing to the present restrictions on petrol, many ornitho-
logists are now cut off from their regular haunts, and are
forced to confine themselves to watching the better known
birds of their immediate surroundings. It seems to me a
great opportunity for such people to study their birds as
closely as possible. For some years I have been interested
in the Blue Tits {Parus c. obscurus) at my home and have
gained some very mixed results by the use of aluminium and
coloured rings. While these are still barely sufficient to justify
a paper, I am anxious that other people should be encouraged
to experiment on similar lines. By this means we might get
significant variations in results and others may follow a line
which, whether of scientific value or not, is at least amusing
and of absorbing interest.

The area in question is about three miles from the centre
of Birmingham in a residential district, the house itself being
surrounded by some seven acres of garden and nine acres of
fields, beyond which comes a new housing estate. The study was
begun with aluminium rings in 1932 and extended by the use
of coloured rings in 1935. In addition there are a number of
nest-boxes in the area ; this year the total available is 19.
There are not many natural holes or cracks. As I wished to
band the young, if I found one being used I put up a box
on the nearest tree, encouraging the tits to change by blocking
the crack if necessary. At this point I may say I have not
yet proved a general increase in population, but only that
I have more nesting in boxes each year.

For the first years the Blue Tits were caught in a variety
of traps in the winter, and in the summer the hens were
ringed in their nests. This method had the obvious limitation
that few tits will submit to trapping and handling more than
once or twice a season ; and for every one which is caught
repeatedly, ten at least cannot be recovered, even though
they frequent the food-tables. The use of coloured rings
widens the field immensely. These rings can be readily
recognized with the aid of field-glasses when the bird is at a
feeding table, at a nest-box, or even in a tree. (It is difficult
to identify a ringed bird in a quickly moving flock in trees
without very good conditions of light and background.)
The establishment of a regular supply of nuts, hemp and fat
just outside the window of a living-room enables me to

308

BRITISH BIRDS.

[VOL. XXXIII,

identify the visiting tits without discomfort to myself or to
the tits. Throughout the winter unringed tits frequently
appear and have to be trapped and rewarded with an
aluminium ring and a combination of coloured bands. Here
I may mention that I have banded 130 tits in this way.
There are 14 different coloured rings, some plain colours,
some striped ; so that it is extremely important to keep an
accurate chart giving details of colour, which is on top, if two
rings, and whether on left or right leg. I have been very
fortunate so far and only once marked two tits in the same way.

In the course of three seasons’ observations I have collected
a mass of statistics, but I propose to give here only some
general conclusions and a few particular examples.

Population.

Blue Tits are not entirely resident. Our birds fall into four
groups, roughly as follows : —

A. {Three-eighths.) Fully resident. Nest in the boxes in
the summer, and appear at the food table in winter.
Examples :

NL237 Summer, nested 1935, ’36 ’37, '38.

Winter recorded season 1935/36, 36 times.

1936/37, 12 times.

1937/38, 14 times.

KN517 Summer, nested 1937, ’38, ’39.

Winter recorded season 1936/37, 46 times.

1937/38, 58 times.

1938/39, 47 times.

B. {One-eighth.) Summer resident. Only caught at the
boxes. Winter haunt unknown, though perhaps not far off.
Examples :

KN506, nested 1936, ’37, ’38.

KN507, nested 1936, ’37, ’38.

C. {One-quarter .) Winter visitors. Seen at the table
generally from January to March and then disappear till
next year. Possibly these breed in gardens near.

Examples :

Ringed. Number of times seen.

HR743 24.10.37 Jan, 3 ; March, 6.

HR755 28.11.37 Jan., 3 : Feb., 4 ; March, 9.

HR794 26.11.38 Dec., 8 ; Jan., 10 ; Feb., 4.

D. {One-quarter .) Winter passage migrants. Mostly in
February and March ; are caught, ringed and banded, and
never seen again, unless at the same time the next year,
once or twice only.

VOL. XXXIII ] A STUDY OF BLUE TITS.

309

Examples :

LH665, recorded 30.11.35. HR775, recorded 6.2.38.

18.1.36. 12.2.39.
5-2-37-

KN583, recorded 16.2.36.

28.2.37.

With such divisions the most profitable season for watching
is February and March. During the summer any unringed
breeding tits are caught on the eggs or when feeding young,
by using a butterfly net or other apparatus to close the hole
behind the parent. In the late autumn there are only the
parents of the year and a few unringed birds, probably young
hatched outside the ground. In January the visitors at the
tables increase, and a cold week-end in February may keep me
fully occupied observing, recording and trapping new arrivals.

By these coloured rings on one day I recorded 21 Great,
22 Blue and 3 Coal Tits. Another day 17 Great, 18 Blue and
3 Coal. While in the whole season even more tits are noted,
for in 1936/7 I had 46 Blue Tits and the same number in
1937/8, though not all the same birds. These results are
rather surprising, as most people think of the visitors at
food-tables as being just one set of birds, small in numbers.

Some of the Blue Tits, either owing to the frequency of
their visits, their nesting in the boxes, or some peculiarity
of character, have become of special interest to me. The
history of a few of these will sufficiently explain the possibilities
of my methods.

(i) A cock first caught in September, 1936, was seen on
48 different days in the winter, and mated to a hen at No. 4
nest-box -and raised 5 young. He reappeared alone next
September and was seen on 60 different days until in April
he took No. 9 box, mating with another hen who had been
about all the winter. They raised 7 and his wife disappeared.
The cock was back in September and recorded for 48 days.
In the new year he made a habit of flying back to No. 9 box
and chipping the hole wider, and in February paired up with
a third tit who, the year before, had raised a family with a
different cock who was still alive. The new pair were con-
tinually playing round No. 9 and on the 19th they removed
some of last year’s nest. The hen, however, was last seen on
March 26th and apparently died (or was bullied to death) and
on April 21st the cock was showing off No. 9 to an unringed
tit. Matters then became rather involved. They appear to
have left No. 9— perhaps as a woodpecker drummed on it
one day— they tried No. 18 but something interfered, and

310 BRITISH BIRDS. [vol.xxxiii.

they finally settled in No. i box where they raised a family
of 8, and I caught his wife.

(2) A hen Blue Tit was ringed January, 1933. She nested
in 1933, ’36, ’37 and ’38. On the last occasion, when at least
six years old, she mated with a cock who had only been
hatched the year before. They failed to bring off a family.

(3) A hen ringed December 28th, 1934, for two consecutive
years married the same cock, but on his (presumed) decease
last year married a cock hatched only the previous year when
she herself must have been at least five. She deserted her eggs.

(4) Three tits were caught and ringed on the same day in
February, 1937.

A. Cock nested in 1937 and 1938 in the area.

B. Hen nested in 1937 and 1938.

C. Never heard of again until caught June 2nd, 1938, at
King’s Norton, two miles away.

All the families of Blue Tits in the nest-boxes are banded.
I use one set of rings for each brood — say, a blue ring on the
right leg, and when I re-trap one in the autumn I can be
sure of its origin and then substitute a full set.

The survival rate appears to be small. Out of 80 young
I have so far recovered 5 in the area, and one trapped two
miles away. This suggests that individual ringing of young
tits with aluminium rings is a very wasteful procedure. My
observations apply chiefly to young tits. During 1939
particularly I was surprised at the low survival rate in the
nest-boxes. I have not been able to draw any useful con-
clusions about the winter flocks.

Figures collected over

four years

from the

boxes give

results as follows : —

Average

Average

Average

Year. Boxes.

Eggs.

Hatched.

Fledged.

1936 7

7

5-1

4.6

1937 10

7-9

5-0

4-1

1938 9

7.84

5-33

2.44

1939 II

7-9

5-0

3-0

The 1938 fledging figure is low owing to two desertions of
families of seven each, for reasons not clear. The average is
taken over all the boxes, not merely those affected in each class.

The method outlined above need not be confined to one
species. I have myself used coloured rings on Great Tits,
Blackbirds, Robins and Hedge-Sparrows and a friend has
applied the technique to Ringed Plovers ! But I should be
interested to know whether other people have made studies
of this kind with Blue Tits, as I have by now amassed a number
of records which would be all the better for some comparison.

ROOKS’ NESTS LINED WITH FEATHERS.

The new Handbook does not mention feathers as part of the
lining of the nest of the Rook {Corvus f. frngilegus). So that
it may be of interest to record what is an unusual habit,
probably due to local conditions.

At Notgrove, Gloucestershire, on high ground, a rookery
which I have visited several times in the past, contains some
hundreds of nests all of which as far as examined, had the
rough dry grass, which abounds round the rookery, as the
inner lining.

In early April, 1938, with two friends, I visited this rookery.
Being unwell I was unable to climb to any nests myself, but
my friends astonished me by saying that a lot of nests had
feathers as a lining. In late March, 1939, I paid two visits
to this rookery and found 75 per cent, of the nests that
I could reach or see into contained feathers. Some of the eggs
were almost buried, so profusely were the nests lined. The
reason for this was apparently the fact that in the field next
the rookery there were two very large folding units of laying
hens. These were moved every day or so and left a trail of
feathers behind. It would be interesting to know if this
habit has been observed in other rookeries as the folding unit
system is now quite a feature of poultry farming.

A. G. Tayler.

STARLINGS SWALLOWING PELLETS.

It is well known that the small insectivorous birds bring up
the indigestible parts of an insect through the mouth, as do
the birds of prey. A few years ago I watched a Starling
{Sturnus v. vulgaris) throw up a small dark pellet as it perched
close to my window. For perhaps a second it held the pellet
in its beak then it swallowed it and flew away. Now for the
second time I have seen the same thing happen. On each occa-
sion the Starling seemed almost taken aback at the apparently
unexpected appearance of the pellet, and the hasty swallowing
again seemed a sort of apology for a misdemeanour. I have
twice or more seen a Robin {Erithacus r. melophilus) and once a
Song-Thrush {Turdus e. ericetorum) bring up a pellet. The
Thrush sat quietly for a little while and then wriggled its head
and neck in a peculiar manner, at the same time opening its
mouth for a moment, during which a small pellet fell out.

312

BRITISH BIRDS.

[VOL. XXXIII.

It then flew away. In none of these cases was there any sug-
gestion of the bird’s wanting to retain the pellet, let alone
swallow it as the Starlings did. G. B. Gooch.

MALE YELLOW WAGTAIL’S SHARE IN
INCUBATION.

In Vol. I of The Handbook of British Birds, p. 220, it is stated,
for the Yellow Wagtail [M. flava rayi) “ . . . only the hen
observed on the eggs,” though it is added that in confinement
the male was noted as taking part.

I wish to state that from close observation of 5 nests of
this species over a period of 2 years, it can definitely be stated
that the male bird certainly shares in incubation, as well as
in feeding and brooding the young. Possibly the mode of
” changing-over ” has made observation difficult, for the
change-over never takes place at the nest. Instead, the
bird returning to take its share in incubating alights on
some tree or post often quite a distance from the nest and
calls to the sitting bird. The latter slips off the nest and
flies straight away, when the first bird, after seeing that the
coast is clear, drifts by slow stages to the nest. I have never
seen the female fed on the nest by the male, and feel that the
male incubates at regular intervals so that the female can
visit feeding areas. Out of the total period of incubation of
13 days (d:: i day) the female is sitting during the day about
three times longer than the male. The female alone appears
to incubate during the night, for on leaving a hide-tent at
evening, I have never left the male bird on the nest, but
always the female.

J. Armitage {Romance of Nature, p. 1,043) has a photograph
of the male bird brooding ; E. L. Turner {Broadland Birds,
p. 143) shows a cock Yellow M’agtail returning to a nest
apparently containing eggs ; and R. Kearton [Nature Pictures.
p. 179) says : ” Both sexes sliare the work of incubation.”

Stuart Smith.

[Miss Turner in Broadland Birds states of the photograph
mentioned that the cock came to inspect the nest and then
flew away again and the hen returned to brood. — Eds.]

LITTLE OWL PREYING ON BIRDS.

The past severe winter wrought havoc on many species and
none more so than the Thrush family. Whilst staying some
ten days at Kerry, Wales, I was feeding the birds very largely
with quantities of waste apples. Blackbirds came in the largest
numbers, then Fieldfares and Mistle-Thrushes, but only two

VOL. XXXIII.]

NOTES.

313

Song-Thrushes put in an appearance and a solitary Redwing.
Raiding by a Sparrow-Hawk was frequent but the disturbance
caused was of brief duration before the feeding birds were
back again ; their most persistent enemy was a Little Owl
[Athene n. vidalii) that frequented the vicinity every day and
made a shambles of the feeding-ground. Its presence seemed
to be to a considerable extent ignored, even when at times
it was perched on the ground within a few yards of the birds,
but if too close they took the precaution of feeding facing in
its direction. Even when a kill was made many of them
would continue feeding though the Owl and its victim were
but a few feet distant. The Owl when disturbed with its
prey usually flew to the cover of a nearby rhododendron
bush. No doubt kills were made daily and I saw it take
three Blackbirds, a Mistle-Thrush and a Fieldfare. One
evening when the birds had practically ceased coming, the
Owl took up its position on the bird-table and suddenly
becoming aware of a canary in a cage within the recently
lighted-up room, it made a lightning dash for it, but baulked
by the closed window it seemed dazed for a time by the
contact it had made.

During last summer a pair of Starlings nested in a fruit tree
at Bewdley and one evening a Little Owl evidently realizing
its opportunity, followed up the action of the parent bird in
the feeding of their youngsters and when they again came
to the mouth of the nesting hole, for food, one was immediately
secured and carried off. J. S. Elliott.

THE PALE-BREASTED BRENT GOOSE IN SUSSEX.

Unless the authors of The Practical Handbook possess infor-
mation to me unknown, surely it would have been well had
they called attention therein to the scarcity of the Pale-
breasted Brent [Branta hernicla hrota) off the south coast of
England as well as off the east coast (see Vol. Ill, p. 215). Off
Sussex, at any rate — beyond a hint by Millais as to occasional
specimens and five birds considered to have been B. h. hrota
seen by Mr. P. Allen on or about the county boundary at
Jury Gap (possibly a Kentish record) — nothing was known
of this race (at any rate, no more than the above had been
published) when my History of Sussex Birds appeared in
October, 1938. It gave me considerable pleasure, therefore,
when on February i8th, 1940, Mr. C. G. des Forges and I
clearly identified a couple consorting with Dark-breasted
Brents on the reef-rocks under the east end of Seaford Head.
Being partially numbed by the cold still prevailing, the

314

BRITISH BIRDS.

[VOL. XXXIII.

birds allowed us to examine them at easy range through
excellent glasses, whereby it was plainly seen that from the
upper-breast downwards they were, roughly, dirty-white,
whilst the upper-breast itself was somewhat less dark than
that of Branta b. hernicla. In connexion with the above,
I may add that for well over thirty years past I have looked
at a very great many Brents in Sussex.

John Walpole-Bond.

[The distribution of the two forms on the south coast is not
at all clear and for this reason I made no statement about it.
In Dorset and Hampshire, for instance, Mr. Jourdain
considered that the Pale-breasted form was the more num-
erous. As I indicated, under the Dark-breasted form, more
observation is required before the distribution of the two forms
can be clearly defined. — H. F. W.]

FLOCK OF BEWICK’S SWANS IN LANCASHIRE.

During the evening of March 3rd, 1940, residents near
Oldham, Lancs, noticed nearly one hundred large birds
careering about and calling loudly, creating a disturbance
which lasted from about 9 p.m. until midnight. The birds
proved to be Bewick’s Swans (Cygnus b. bewickii), and no
fewer than five of them collided with a building in which
there were lights and were killed.

A sixth Swan struck some telegraph-wires but was only
slightly injured. This bird was seen by Mr. Fred Taylor and
identified as an adult Bewick’s Swan. It was taken in hand
by an official of the R.S.P.C.A., and subsequently accepted at
Belle Vue Zoo, Manchester. Unfortunately, few details
of the five dead birds are available, because they were soon
picked up and put into a boiler fire. John Armitage.

Starlings with Young at Christmas. — Mr. H. E. Forrest
writes that a pair of Starlings (Sturnus v. vulgaris) were
feeding young in a hole in an ash tree at Bayston Hill,
Shrewsbury, at Christmas, 1939. The old birds were seen
taking food to the nest on several days and the young could
be heard but were out of sight.

Blackcap in Hereford in February. — Capt. T. F.
Matthews accurately describes to us a hen Blackcap {Sylvia
atricapilla) which he watched near Hereford on February 13th,
1940.

Iceland Redwings in Dublin, Devon and Dorset. —
Mr. E. O’Mahony has sent us for identification an Iceland

VOL. XXXIII.]

NOTES.

315

Redwing {Ttirdus m. coburni), which was picked up at Dolly-
mount, near Dublin, on January 2ist, 1940. This was a
male with wing 118.5 mm., slightly small for this race, but
with the typical dark colour.

Mr. D. Lack has also sent us an example of this race,
a dark bird, which proved to be a male with wing 124 mm.
This was found dead at Totnes, Devon, on January 30th, 1940.
Mr. Lack informs us that around the same date 20-25 other
Redwings examined were all of the typical race.

Mr. H. Tetley informs us that a Redwing picked up on
February ist at Iwerne Minster, Dorset, and sent to the
Bristol Museum was of the Iceland race and its identification
was confirmed by Mr. N. B. Kinnear. This was a typically
dark bird, a female with wing 119 mm.

Hoopoe in Hampshire in January. — Major M. Portal
informs us that a Hoopoe {Upupa e. epops) which had been
about farm buildings near Swanmore for several days was
picked up dead in a cow-house on January 19th, 1940. The
bird was in a starved state as the ground was frozen deep
at the time. It was sent to the Natural History Museum
and was exhibited by Mr. N. B. Kinnear at a meeting of the
British Ornitholigists’ Club {Bull., B.O.C., LX, p. 57).

Bean-Geese in Middlesex and Kent. — Mr. P. W. E.
Currie informs us that he observed a party of eight Bean-
Geese {Anser f. fabalis) at Staines Reservoir on February
loth and iith, 1940. On the 15th and i6th. Dr. G. Carmichael
Low and Mr. A. H. Macpherson found the party increased to
eleven.

Mr. R. G. Finnis writes that in connexion with Mr. T. C.
Gregory’s notes on this species {antea, p. 277) it is worth
recording that he found a dead Bean-Goose in good condition
on the sands at Cliftonville, Margate, during severe weather on
December 29th, 1938.

Pink-footed Geese in Co. Wexford. — Mr. A. E. Williams
of Dublin has sent us two Pink-footed Geese {Anser f.
brachyrhynchus) which he had received from Mr. J. L. Nunn
for identification. They were shot on the North Slob, Co.
Wexford, on February 13th, 1940. There are only twelve
previous records for this species from Ireland.

Dark-breasted Brent Geese in Middlesex and
Surrey. — Mr. W. R. Philipson writes that he saw two
Dark-breasted Brent Geese {Branta b. bernicla) on the Thames
by Chiswick Ait on February 14th, 1940. On the i6th they
were still there but on the Surrey side.

316

BRITISH BIRDS.

[VOL. XXXIII.

Smew and Velvet-Scoter in Cambridgeshire. — Mrs.
M. D. Brindley informs us that on February 15th, 1940,
during a visit to the “ washes ” near Earith, she saw a
“ red-headed ” Smew {Mergus albellus) and a male Velvet-
Scoter {Melanitta f. fusca) resting together in a small pool
beside the frozen Hundred Foot River. There are few
previous records for either species in Cambridgeshire.

Common Eiders in Dorset. — With reference to the
occurrences of the Common Eider {Somateria mollissima)
in Dorset, recorded on page 259, Mr. G. M. King writes
that he watched two, probably immature birds, at Studland
on December 25th, 1937, and saw them again on the 29th.
Not realizing that they were sufficiently unusual in the
county he had not previously reported them.

Red-necked Grebe in Ayrshire. — As there are few
records of the Red-necked Grebe {Podiceps griseigena) in
Ayrshire it should be recorded that Mr. J. P. Wilkins has
sent us a description of one which he saw at the mouth of
the river Doon near Ayr on January 28th, 1940. The bird
was somewhat oiled on the breast.

Great Northern Diver Inland in Sussex. — Mr. W. R.
Macklin informs us that a Great Northern Diver [Colymbus
i. immer) was shot in the valley of the Adur, near Partridge
Green, on February 21st, 1940. Mr C. A. Humphrey gives
us the additional information that the bird on being dissected
was found to contain two perch.

LETTER.

THE BILL-SNAPPING OF A LITTLE OWL.

To the Editors of British Birds.

Sirs, — As the “ bill-snapping ” of Owls seems still to be cloaked
in a certain amount of mystery [The Handbook of British Birds, Vol. II,
P- 339. footnote), it may be worth recording our experience with a
Little Owl {Athene n. vidalii). The bill would open slowly, then suddenly
the snapping sound would follow, at first without any obvious explana-
tion. Then one day, when the Owl was sitting on my finger, my wife
noticed, just before a typical “ snap,” that as the bird slowly opened
its mouth, it raised its tongue and pressed it firmly against the under-
side of the upper mandible. But as the ” snap ” occurred, it was not
possible to follow the exact movements of the tongue. Nevertheless,
after subsequent observations, we felt that this so-called ” bill-
snapping ” could be more accurately described as ” tongue-clicking.”
Allowing for the softness of the human mouth, one can give an approxi-
mation of the Owl’s noise by pressing the tongue against the roof of
the mouth and then withdrawing it suddenly so as to produce a sharp
" click.” G. B. Gooch.

8 Apr? 1940

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Contents of Number 12, Vol. XXXIII., May, 1940.

PAGE

Report of the Bird-Ringing Committee : Progress for 1939.

By A. Landsborough Thomson, C.B., D.Sc., F.R.S.E. ... 318

Birds of Inner London. By A. Holte Macpherson ... ... 326

On the Birds of the Islands of Oigh-Sgeir and Causamul, North

Uist. By R. B. Freeman ... ... ... ... ... 330

Obituary. Henrik Gronvold ... ... ... ... ... 333

Notes :■ — •

Information required for the “ Breeding ” Section of The

Handbook of British Birds (H. F. Witherby) ... ... 334

Nest-building by Male Cirl Bunting (L. S. V. Venables) ... 334

Food of Nestling Swallows (J. F. Thomas) ... ... ... 335

Hoopoe in Anglesey (D. Macdonald) ... ... ... ... 336

An Aggressive Bittern (T. C. Gregory) ... ... ... ... 336

An Unusual Aggressive Display of the Great Crested Grebe

(P. H. T. Hartley) ... ... ... ... ... ... 337

Iceland. Redshank in Isle of iMan (K. Williamson) ... ... 338

Little Gull in Shropshire (H. G. Alexander) ... ... ... 338

Great Skua ringed in Shetland reported in U.S.A. (Miss E. P.

Leach) ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 338

Short Notes : —

Yellow Buntings Roosting in Evergreens. Blackcaps in

Warwickshire and Worcestershire in February. Early
White Wagtail in Norfolk. Early Wheatear in Sussex. Early
Sand-Martins in Pembrokeshire. Little Bittern in Wiltshire.
Colour of Webs of Shoveler. Scaup-Duck Inland in Norfolk.
Early Stone-Curlew in Suffolk. Black-tailed Godwits in
Suffolk in Winter. Glaucous Gull in Gloucestershire

Letter : —

Male Yellow Wagtail Incubating (J. Walpole-Bond) ...

Y

(318)

A PUBLICATION OF THE BRITISH TRUST FOR

ORNITHOLOGY.

REPORT OF THE BIRD-RINGING COMMITTEE:

PROGRESS FOR 193Q.

A. LANDSBOROUGH THOMSON, c.b., u.sc., f.r.s.e.

Chairman of the Committee.

This is the third annual report to be issued on behalf of the
Bird-Ringing Committee of the British Trust for Ornithology.
It covers 1939, the second complete year of working under
present arrangements.*

The year was a very successful one, in spite of the fact
that the latter part of it fell within the period of war. Future
progress will inevitably be affected to a greater extent, but
it is nevertheless hoped that valuable work will continue to
be done.

Management.

The headquarters of the work remain in the Bird Room
of the British Museum (Natural History) at South Kensington,
by kind permission of the Trustees. All new rings are
inscribed “ BRITISH MUSEUM NAT. HIST. LONDON.”

The Committee is constituted as follows : Ur. 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
is responsible for the whole of the headquarters work, including
all correspondence, records and accounts as well as the
issue of rings. During the earlier part of the year she had the
assistance of Miss Joyce Baggallay, but since the outbreak of
war she has been single-handed and has latterly had to give
practically all her time to the task. Her colleagues on the
Committee are very sensible of the extent to which the
operation of the scheme is dependent on Miss Leach, and
would wish it to be appreciated that its continued success
is in very large measure due to the labour and skill which
she so freely gives.

Finance.

The expenses of the ringing scheme are met independently
of the main funds of the Trust. The subscriptions from

*The previou.s reports in this form were published in British Birds,
1938, Vol. XXXI, p. 345, and 1939, Vol. XXXII, p. 382, in continuation
of the series of Annual Reports by H. F. Witherby, published from 1910
onwards under the general title “ The British Birds Marking Scheme.”

VOL. XXXIII ] REPORT OF BIRD-RINGING.

319

co-operators, at the rate of 6s. per hundred rings issued, are
supplemented by further donations and by a subvention
from British Birds. Part of the special grant from the Trustees
of the late Viscount Leverhulme, reported last year, has
also been expended.

For reasons related to the war, the accounts for 1939 were
not available for inclusion in the Sixth Report of the Trust.
They will be published later.

Progress of Ringing.

Again it is possible to announce a new high record in the
total number of birds ringed during the year. As will be seen
from the table, the hgure is 55,817 ; this total is incomplete,
moreover, owing to the fact that a good many schedules are
in arrear through the absence of ringers on war service.

For the first time the total of trapped birds exceeds the
total of nestlings. The margin is a slight one, and the
proportion is approximately half and half. The usual tables
are appended, but a few points may be particularly men-
tioned.

The leading individual total is that of the Skokholm Bird
Observatory — 6,393 birds, belonging to 54 species. It
includes 3,210 Manx Shearwaters and 851 Gannets, for both
of which species several other ringers had also high figures.
Dr. H. J. Moon and Mr. Cooper, with the second largest
individual total of 5,569, ringed 1,132 Song-Thrushes and
1.334 Lapwings.

At the Orielton Decoy, 1,215 Teal were ringed. Mr. Guy
Charteris trapped 619 Chaffinches. The Earl of Dumfries
ringed 488 Puffins on St. Kilda, and also 27 full-grown Snipe.
Mr. H. W. Robinson’s total included 537 Sandwich Terns.
Members of the London Natural History Society accounted
for 259 Great Skuas, and Mr. Niall Rankin added 42. Mr.
P. I. R. Maclaren contributed an unusual item, 196 Redwings.

Two species appear for the first time — a Grey Plover was
ringed by Dr. N. H. Joy, and 5 Irish Coal-Tits by Messrs.
M. N. and D. H. Rankin. Curiosities included 5 hybrid
Carrion X Hooded Crows ringed by Messrs. W. S. Cowin
and E. E. Ladds. No rare or unusual migrants were marked
during 1939, as trapping on the Isle of May was necessarily
in abeyance.

War-Time Economy in the Use of Rings.

Aluminium has become very difficult to obtain for ordinary
purposes, but the Committee had acquired a considerable
stock of rings against this contingency. In order to make

320

BRITISH BIRDS.

[VOL. XXXIII.

supplies go as far as possible, however, it has been decided
to place certain restrictions on ringing until further notice.
The following species are not to be ringed except in the
course of special investigations or statistical studies : Starling,
House-Sparrow, tits, Robin, Hedge-Sparrow. The following
are not to be ringed as nestlings : Rook, Jackdaw, Chaffinch,
Blackbird, Cormorant, Common Tern, Herring-Gull and
Lesser Black-backed Gull. (The ringing of the following as
nestlings was already excluded ; House-Sparrow, Goldcrest,
tits, Sky-Lark, ^^'illow-Warbler, Whitethroat, Spotted Fly-
catcher, Wren, Sand-Martin and Black-headed Gull — as well
as all Grouse, Partridge and Pheasant, irrespective of age.)
In addition, visitors to Skokholm must not use their own
rings for marking Manx Shearwaters. Some of these species
have been shown to be unremunerative ; others have yielded
so many results that it is not immediately important to seek
further data. All these economies will thus leave a greater
number of rings, of the particular sizes, available for more
profitable use.

It is hoped that ringers will assist the Committee by carefully
following these instructions, the reasons for which will be
readily appreciated. In this regard it may be mentioned that
the ringing of young tits has continued in spite of the ban
placed on these some years ago ; experience shows this to be
valueless, except when coloured rings are also used for the
purposes of some systematic observational study.

Special Developments.

The special effort to ring larger numbers of Kittiwakes,
projected last year, was frustrated by unfavourable weather
conditions at the breeding stations. It is improbable that any
further plans of this kind will be feasible during the war.

The appeal for greater attention to Redshanks, Nightjars,
Coots and Peregrine Falcons has had some result. The
numbers of Coots and Peregrines ringed show a definite
increase ; the figure for Redshanks is higher than in the pre-
vious year but not than the average.

Rings continue to be supplied for the large-scale 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.

Trapping Methods.

Mr. Hollom has now completed a draft of the manual of
trapping methods to which reference was made in the

VOL. XXXIII.] REPORT OF BIRD-RINGING. 321

previous report. This will be considered by the Committee,
but publication will have to be deferred.

Recoveries.

Valuable recovery records have again accrued in good
numbers, and the reports which have continued to come
in since the beginning of the war include many from abroad.
Only a few instances can be mentioned here.

Three birds marked in 1939 have since been reported from
across the Atlantic, and these were the first records of the
kind for the two species concerned. A Puffin ringed on
St. Kilda and recovered in Newfoundland was the subject
of a special note last month {antea, p. 281) ; there has since
been a similar case. Details of the recovery of a Great Skua
in the United States are given elsewhere in this issue (p. 338).
Apart from the transoceanic record, there have been thirteen
other recoveries relating to this species, a few of them from
places some distance inland. A Wigeon ringed in Norfolk in
January, 1938, was reported in the spring of 1939 from the
River Ob, Western Siberia, which is farther east than any
previous recovery locality.

Warblers have yielded few records so far, and interest
attaches to the case of a Whitethroat ringed in July, 1939, as
an adult in Oxfordshire and recovered in September at
Bilbao, in northern Spain. A Pied Wagtail ringed in 1939 as
a nestling in Yorkshire was recovered in February, 1940,
in Morocco, the most southerly record as yet. Another
Pied Wagtail was trapped at Winchester in the winter of 1937
and recovered in Inverness-shire in March, i94‘o.

Two ringed birds rank as war casualties. A Cormorant
was killed during the first air-raid on the Firth of Forth, and
a Lesser Black-backed Gull by a car with the B.E.F.

Publication of Results.

Since the last report, a further list of recoveries and two
special notes have been published for the Committee, as
follows : —

E. P. Leach (1939) : “ Recovery of marked birds.” British Birds,
Vol. XXXIII, pp. 127 and 155.

E. P. Leach (1940) : Note on ” Puffin ringed at St. Kilda reported
in Newfoundland.” British Birds, Vol. XXXIII, p. 281.

E. P. Leach (1940) : Note on " Great Skua ringed in Shetland,
reported in U.S.A. ” British Birds, Vol. XXXIII, p. 338.

In addition, the following papers not issued directly under

BRITISH BIRDS.

322

[VOL. XXXIII.

the auspices of the Committee deal in part with results of the
ringing scheme : —

H. Kenrick {1940) : " A study of Blue Tits by colour ringing.”
British Birds, Vol. XXXIII, p. 307.

N. F. Ticehurst (1940) : " The Continental Redshank as a British
Bird. II — Migrational Evidence.” British Birds, Vol. XXXIII,

p. 226.

H. F. Witherby and E. P. Leach (1939) : ” Movements of ringed
birds from abroad to the British Isles and from the British Isles abroad.
Addenda VI. Omitting records of British-bred birds.” British Birds,
Vol. XXXIII, p. 62.

Number of Birds Ringed.

Trapped.

Nestlings.

T otal.

In

1939

27,983

27.834

55,817

> }

1938

24,162

26,162

50,324

i )

1937

21,900

23,281

45,181

} }

1936

19.235

29,428

48,663

i }

1935

16,066

30,364

46,430

} »

1934

17.835

31.816

49,651

» t

1933

10,466

27.975

38,441

> }

1932

7.643

22,950

30,593

} }

1931

7.041

22,513

29,554

From 1909 to 1930

...

287,401

Grand Total (including arrears)

682,175

VOL. XXXIII.] REPORT OF BIRD -RINGING. 323

Nest-

Nest-

Trapped.

lings.

Total.

Trapped.

lings.

Total.

Skokhol mB . Obs . 4 . 8 1 5

1,578

6,393

H. Trimnell

155

77

232

Moon & Cooper

219

5,350

5,569

Miss Morse

2

218

220

Boothain School 1,693

653

2,346

G. Paulson

152

65

217

P. Morshead 1,860

226

2,086

N. H. Joy

209

—

209

G. Charter! s i

,169

630

1,799

Chapman and

Wildfowl Inq. i

,667

—

1,667

Richter

55

150

205

W. & A. Eggeling 325

1,230

1,555

St. Edmund’s Sch

• 3

172

175

London N.H.S.

861

621

1,482

Kingswood Sch.

68

102

170

A. Darlington ...

425

735

1,160

Miss Garden

2

165

167

A. J. Harthan 1,067

69

1,136

Dauntsey’s Sch.

139

21

160

Leighton Park S.

781

342

1,123

A. H. Bishop ...

87

71

158

H. W. Robinson

80

1,034

1,114

N. Rankin

• —

158

158

Oxford Orn. Soc.

943

156

1,099

Zool. Society ...

138

19

157

“ Wippletree ”...

789

270

1,059

Brooker & Cawkell 24

130

154

E. Cohen

218

803

1,021

J. D. Mills

146

—

146

A. W. Boyd ...

760

245

1,005

Repton School...
Christ’s Hospital

7

135

142

Manx Field Club

54

900

954

G. M. King

888

63

951

N.H.S.

134

6

140

Winchester Coll.

667

241

908

M. Board man ...

24

104

128

Rugby School ...

36

834

870

Canford School...

46

81

127

W. A. Cadman...

350

427

777

R. Carrick

5

120

125

Clayesmore Sch.

603

168

771

W. E. Macve ...

1 1

114

125

Miss Ferrier

19

582

601

MidlothianOrn.C.

6

119

125

Lord Dumfries...

151

432

583

M. Colquhoun ...

91

31

122

Mrs. Hodgkin ...

47

504

551

A. Adams

102

16

118

R. Martinson ...

35

445

480

M. & D. Rankin

47

70

117

J. Barnes

274

204

478

Oakes and

M. Stewart

64

404

468

Battersby

I

no

III

Lord D. Stuart...

18

438

456

A. E. Billett

I

109

1 10

CharterhouseB.C.

349

92

441

H. G. Alexander

109

—

109

J. F. Thomas ...

55

371

426

V. H. Spry

I

105

106

C. F. Tebbutt ...

201

198

399

P. Jeavons

I

lOI

102

P. Hirst

54

329

383

Mrs. Upton

88

14

102

E. G. Holt

372

1 1

383

Mrs. Cornish

67

24

91

Rochester N.H.S.

329

44

373

Miss Henderson

8

81

89

Miss Medcalf ...

183

179

362

J. A. Gibb

85

• —

85

P. Maclaren

253

103

356

P. K. Chance ...

—

82

82

J. Bartholomew

II

328

339

D. J. Robertson

I

78

79

A. Wainwright

282

54

336

H. Tully

17

61

78

Cowin & Ladds

95

240

335

C. R. Mills

—

77

77

M. Wainwright...

179

155

334

G. Brown

3

69

72

.Shrewsbury Sch.

241

71

312

W. M. Congreve

68

—

68

W. Felton

208

100

308

H. Langstaff ...

I

65

66

R. H. Brown ...

5

298

303

E. Wishart

2

63

65

J. Cunningham...

123

175

298

Dover College ...

5

59

64

Sedbergh Sch. ...

13

285

298

J. S. Hewitt

44

17

61

Cheltenham Coll.

153

140

293

C. S. Clarke

6

48

54

T.R. Tallis

—

292

292

R. Evans

I

53

54

D. Garnett

235

56

291

A. Farrant

• — ■

52

52

W. Pollok-Morris

58

224

282

Mrs. Greenlees ...

—

51

51

J. Buxton

236

34

270

Mrs. Gaskell

37

9

46

R. M. Garnett ...

222

21

243

J. Ellis

17

27

44

J. C. Allen

161

81

242

D. Lack

44

44

Cambs.B.Club ...

210

28

238

M. Hardy

2

40

42

P. Hollom

181

54

235

Bedale’s School

—

41

, 41

F. J. Brown

82

150

232

R. Hudson

22

18

40

324

BRITISH BIRDS. [vol. xxxiii.

NUMBERS OF EACH SPECIES RINGED. RECOVERED

1909

-1939 —

—

of those

to

Trapped

Nest-

Total

Grand

ringed

Per-

1938

lings.

Total.

iqoQ-18

centage

Raven

15S

■ — ■

30

30

188

I I

7.0

*Crow, Carrion

1307

5

i50

155

1462

62

4-7

Rook...

4680

51

185

236

4916

220

47

Jackdaw

3592

120

227

347

3939

149

41

*Magpie

912

4

88

92

1004

30

3-2

Jay

456

7

16

23

479

29

6.4

Chough

34

I

8

9

43

—

— -

Starling

55915

5432

1185

661 7

62532

2460

4-4

Greenfinch ...

26112

1674

445

2119

28231

1771

6.8

* Goldfinch

431

8

22

30

461

8

1-9

Redpoll, Lesser

569

10

9

19

588

5

0.9

Linnet

9697

102

265

367

10064

69

0.7

Bullfinch

1490

30

35

65

1555

53

3-6

Chaffinch

29191

2567

528

3095

32286

1285

4-4

Brambling ...

968

29

—

29

997

36

3-7

Sparrow, Tree

2165

35

61

96

2261

46

2.1

Bunting, Yellow

5153

270

103

373

5526

250

4-9

Bunting, Reed

1799

32

I I

43

1842

84

4-7

Lark, Sky

3518

121

13

134

3652

4*

I .2

Pipit, Tree ...

1733

4

36

40

1773

5

0.3

Pipit, Meadow

5041

2 r I

101

312

5353

I 16

2-3

Pipit, Rock ...

565

33

39

72

637

27

4.8

Wagtail, Yellov

' 983

13

46

59

1042

4

0.4

Wagtail, Grey

739

I

93

94

833

I

O.I

Wagtail, Pied

6054

82

398

480

6534

83

1-4

Wagtail, White

77

2

—

2

79

—

—

Flycatcher, S.

3284

58

56

114

3398

TO

0.3

^Flycatcher, Pied 1246

4

132

136

13S2

9

0.7

Chiffchaff

869

T5

13

28

S97

5

0.6

Warbler,Willo\v

9907

376

57

433

10340

51

0.5

Warbler, Wood

990

2

17

19

1009

2

0.2

Warbler, Sedge

1232

27

7

34

1266

7

0.6

Warbler,Garden 1261

4

10

14

1275

5

0.4

Blackcap

890

2

5

7

897

2

0.2

Whitethroat...

4332

361

20

38.

4713

26

0.6

Thrush, Mistle

4378

38

21 I

249

4627

99

2-3

Thrush, Song

63308

596

2780

3376

66684

1222

1-9

Redwing

648

282

— ■

282

930

6

0.9

Ouzel, Ring

506

— ■

17

'7

523

5

1 .0

Blackbird

54578

1374

2566

3940

58518

2404

4-4

Wheatear

1741

86

36

122

1863

39

2.2

Whinchat

1614

6

13

19

1633

12

0.7

Stonechat

811

2

25

27

838

5

0.6

Redstart

2022

3

46

49

2071

14

0.7

Redbreast ...

21264

828

550

1378

22642

1937

9.1

Sparrow, Hedge

13987

595

249

844

14831

1248

8.9

Wren...

3650

60

12

72

3722

2T

0.6

Dipper

1197

9

I 10

119

1316

T 2

1 .0

Swallow

40565

141

2337

2478

43043

398

1 .0

Martin

11134

93

444

537

11671

78

0.7

Martin, Sand

4548

14

8

22

4570

T I

0.2

*Swift

917

24

23

47

964

57

6.2

Kingfisher ...

670

4

28

32

702

29

4-3

Cuckoo

696

3

32

35

731

20

2.9

325

VOL. XXXIII.] REPORT OF BIRD-RINGING.

NUMBERS OF EACH SPECIES RINGED. RECOVERED

1909

-1939

of those

to

Trapped

Nest-

Total.

Grand

ringed

Per-

1938

lings.

Total.

1909-1938 centage.

*Owl, Little ...

555

10

38

48

603

51

9.2

Owl, Long-eared

204

—

14

14

218

7

3-4

Owl, Barn ...

578

4

19

23

601

54

9-3

Owl, Tawny...

902

4

48

52

954

52

5-8

Peregrine Falcon 66

—

15

15

81

7

10.6

*Merlin

214

—

29

29

243

46

21.5

Kestrel

862

4

49

53

915

92

10.7

*Buzzard

305

—

30

30

335

13

4-3

Hawk, Sparrow

489

2

29

31

520

69

14. 1

Heron, Common

2002

5

120

125

2127

239

II. 9

Sheld-Duck ...

461

12

12

473

22

4.8

Mallard

6350

348

159

507

6857

1000

15-7

Teal ...

1176

1333

19

1352

2528

156

13-3

Wigeon

402

13

3

16

418

5(3

139

Duck, Tufted

176

I

—

I

177

36

20.5

Goosander ...

50

2

—

2

52

10

20.0

Cormorant . . .

2090

6

360

366

2456

420

20,1

Shag ...

1680

9

157

166

1846

170

10. 1

Gannet

8668 .

217

1280

1497

10165

304

3-5

Petrel, Storm

402

157

2

159

5(3i

43

10.7

Shearwater,Mx.

14155

5768

28

5796

19951

1038

7-3

Petrel, Fulmar

255

3

78

81

33(3

I

0.4

Wood-Pigeon

2689

12

84

96

2785

99

3-7

Dove, Stock...

594

II

36

47

641

52

8.8

Dove, Turtle

611

15

8

23

(334

70

II-5

Stone-Curlew

235

—

16

16

251

10

4-3

Oyster-catcher

1382

I

i6r

162

1544

52

3-8

Plover, Ringed

1299

58

99

157

145(3

16

1 .2

Plover, Golden

298

—

19

19

317

5

1-7

Lapwing

35412

4

3255

3259

38671

775

2.2

Dunlin

102

9

2

I I

113

I

I.O

Sandpiper, C.

852

I

41

42

894

3

0.4

Redshank ...

2099

2

171

173

2272

75

3(3

Curlew, Common 2798

3

273

276

3074

117

4.2

Snipe, Common

1457

40

103

143

1600

78

5-4

Woodcock ...

5125

I

152

153

5278

389

7.6

Tern, Sandwichi5449

• —

1837

1837

17286

286

1.8

Tern, Roseate

163

■ —

34

34

197

—

—

Tern, Common

18410

I

1247

1248

19658

4(33

2.5

Tern, Arctic...

2293

I

268

269

2562

I I

0-5

Tern, Little ...

706

19

83

102

808

7

I .0

Gull, B. -headed

13750

88

25

113

13863

643

4-7

Gull, Common

1749

29

36

65

1814

56

3-2

Gull, Herring

7737

24

871

895

8632

195

2-5

Gull,L.Bl.-bkd.

10526

19

131

150

10676

402

3-8

Gull,G.Bl.-bkd.

504

2

65

67

571

15

30

Kittiwake

1649

46

138

184

1833

22

I 3

Skua, Great...

130

—

373

373

503

3

2.3

Razorbill

3660

99

437

53(3

4196

87

2.4

*Guillemot

2225

12

143

155

2380

52

2.3

Puffin

4414

345

559

904

5318

76

1-7

Rail, Land ...

438

34

6

40

478

5

1.2

Moor-hen

1598

28

23

51

1649

39

2-4

BIRDS OF INNER LONDON.

BY

A. HOLTE MACPHERSON.

During 1939 there was no addition to the list published in
this Magazine in 1929 (Vol. XXII, pp. 222-244) sub-
sequently extended.*

Additional Notes in 1939.

Mr. R. S. R. Fitter infonus me that on October 29th hfteen
or sixteen Rooks {Corvus f. frugilegus) flew in a northerly
direction over London Bridge. Rooks are now very rare
visitors.

A Hawfinch (Coccothraustes c. coccothraiistes) was seen in
Kensington Gardens by Miss M. S. van Oostveen on May 9th.

Mr. D. Seth-Smith noticed a young Goldfinch {Carduelis
c. britannica) on July 5th on Primrose Hill.

Mrs. H. Rait Kerr informs me that a small party of Lesser
Redpolls {Carduelis f. cabaret) on May 22nd flew across Lord’s
cricket ground.

A cock Bullfinch {Pyrrhula p. nesa) was seen on June
loth in St. James’s Park by Mr. R. A. Richardson, who
also observed Yellow W'agtails {Motacilla f. jlavissima) there
in April, May and September.

A Grey Wagtail {Motacilla c. cinerea) was seen on the
roof of the pavilion of Lord’s by Mrs. Rait Kerr on October 7th;
others were noticed in Hyde Park by Mr. R. A. Richardson
on the 14th, and by Mr. D. Seth-Smith on the 25th, in the
Zoological Gardens.

Mrs. Rait Kerr saw a Tree Creeper {Certhia f. britannica)
on November 9th in her garden in St. John’s Wood.

A party of eight Long-tailed Tits {Mgithalos c. rosaceus)
was noticed in Kensington Gardens on March 13th by
Mr. R. W. Hayman.

There was a Golden-crested Wren {Regulus r. anglorum (?))
near Kensington Palace on September 12 th (Sir Cyril
Hurcomb) ; and one was observed on October 24th in the
Zoological Gardens by Mr. D. Seth-Smitli, who liad never
seen one there before.

Spotted Flycatchers {Muscicapa s. striata) bred in Kensing-
ton Gardens and the grounds of Holland House ; and Mr. K.

*For other reports on this subject see Vol. XXI 1 1, 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 ; Vol. XXXI, pp. 372-375 ; and Vol.
XXXII, pp. 390-393.

VOL. XXXIII.J BIRDS OF INNER LONDON.

327

Piercy found a nest at the same spot as in 1938 in the Inner
Circle, Regent’s Park.

A Wood-Warbler (Phylloscopus sibilatrix) was seen and
heard by Miss M. S. van Oostveen and myself in Kensington
Gardens on May loth, and a Garden-Warbler {Sylvia borin') on
the next day.

A few Fieldfares {Turdus pilaris) were observed in Regent’s
Park in the early days of January. Mrs. Rait Kerr reports
that on October 15th a flock of about 30 passed over Lord’s.

Mr. D. Seth-Smith informs me that a pair of Mistle-Thrushes
{Turdus V. viscivorus) nested twice in the Zoological Gardens.
They used to breed there regularly, but had not done so for
seven or eight years, having been driven away by grey
squirrels.

Most of the Redwings {Turdtis mttsicus) which came into
the town during the cold weather at the end of 1938 left
by the end of January. Some passed through London
during the last week in March, when they were observed in
the Green Park (Miss M. A. F. Lillie) and Regent’s Park
(Mr. K. Piercy).

A Wheatear {Qdnanthe cenanthe) was seen by Mr. K. Piercy
on April loth on Primrose Hill. I noticed one in Kensington
Gardens and two in Regent’s Park on August 24th ; and on
the 28th, Mrs. Rait Kerr saw one on the grandstand at Lord’s.

The occurrence of the Black Redstart {Phcenictirtis 0.
gibraltariensis) in Bloomsbury in May and June has been
recorded in these pages by Mr. J. le C. Sumner and Mr. S. P. W.
Shave (Vol. XXXIII, pp. 81 and 108).

Little was seen of Swifts {Apus a. apus) over the Serpentine
which is generally their favourite haunt ; but Mr. A. Simms
saw them over Ladbroke Square constantly throughout the
summer from the second week in May.

Kingfishers {Alcedo a. ispida) were noticed by Mr. W. J. L.
Sladen on January loth in Hyde Park ; by Mr. D. Seth-Smith
on January 8th, February 22nd and March 3rd by the Regent’s
Canal ; and by Mr. R. A. Richardson on September 4th in
St. James’s Park.

A pair of Great Spotted Woodpeckers {Dryobates m. anglicus)
nested successfully in a fruit tree in the grounds of Holland
House. The nest, being only seven feet from the ground, was
not interfered with by Starlings.

Mr. W. J. L. Sladen saw a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker
{Dryobates m. comminutus) on March loth in Hyde Park. I
heard and saw one there early in May.

A Cuckoo {Cuculus c. canorus) was calling in the grounds

328

BRITISH BIRDS.

[VOL. XXXIII.

of Holland House on May 14th and June 8th. One was
seen by Mr. R. A. Richardson on August 3rd in St. James’s
Park. One visited Mrs Rait Kerr’s garden in St. John’s
Wood on August 25th.

In May and June a pair of Kestrels {Falco t. tinnunculus)
again frequented a small opening high up in the western
tower of the Imperial Institute where they probably had a
nest, but I did not see or hear of any young birds.

Mrs. Rait Kerr reported that on August 28th a Sparrow-
Hawk {Accipiter n. nisus) flew close past her windows in
St. John’s Wood.

A pair of Mallards p. platyrhyncha) for the second

consecutive year nested successfully in the roof garden of
Berkeley Court, a very high block of flats by Baker Street
Station. Nine ducklings were hatched. The gardener told
me that two ducklings, when only partly fledged, tried to
follow their mother on one of her flights to Regent’s Park and
fell from the parapet to the pavement about 100 feet below.
One was picked up, apparently unhurt, and taken to Regent’s
Park lake to wliich the gardener afterwards removed the
remaining seven.

Mr. R. A. Richardson observed a duck Shoveler (Spatula
clypeata) on September 30th on the Serpentine.

A drake Scaup (Aythya m. marila) \dsited the Round
Pond on January 28th and stayed for about a week. I saw
another on the Serpentine on December 7th. It remained
till the iith (Dr. G. C. Low).

\’isits of the Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps c. cristatus)
were not as numerous as usual.

The Little Grebe (Podiceps r. ruficollis) nested in St. James’s
Park for the first time since 1914. This followed the intro-
duction of sticklebacks to the lake. Mr. C. S. Bayne informs
me that three broods of two, four and two respectively, were
hatched and all reared. The first two chicks were seen on
June 27th ; the second brood, the family of another pair, on
August i2th. The first pair nested again, and two more
chicks were hatched and were a day or two old when first
seen on October 12th, a very late brood. A third pair attemp-
ted to nest by the island at the west end of the lake, but did
not complete the nest. The two birds hatched in October
with one adult were still on the lake at the end of the year.

Large assemblies of W’ood-Pigeons (Columba p. palumbus)
were seen in the Parks at the end of the summer. On August
5th, Mrs. Rait Kerr counted a flock of 287 feeding on the
ground near the Regent’s Canal.

VOL. XXXIII.] BIRDS OF INNER LONDON.

329

The Turtle-Dove {Streptopelia t. iurtur) was noticed in
St. James’s Park by Mr. R. A. Richardson on several occasions
in May and June.

On December 29th a flock of about 40 Golden Plover
{Charadrius apricarius) was seen and heard by Mrs. Rait Kerr.
They were flying over Lord’s in a westerly direction.

Mr. R. S. R. Fitter counted 22 Lapwings {Vanellus vanelliis)
flying over Blackfriars on January 8th. Three were seen over
Kensington Gardens by Mrs. E. MacAlister on October 22nd ;
and Mr. D. Seth-Smith saw nine on October 26th and six on
October 27th over Regent’s Park.

Sir Cyril Hurcomb saw a Dunlin {Calidris alpina) by the
Round Pond on May 3rd. Its bill appeared to be very short,
and the bird may have been a schinzii. Mr. R. W. Dayman
and I noticed a Dunlin on December 7th by the Serpentine.

Miss M. S. van Oostveen saw two Common Sandpipers
{Tringa hypoleticos) on April 27th in Kensington Gardens.
These were the only ones I heard of in spring ; but during
the autumn migration they passed through London in unusual
numbers and were seen frequently from the end of July to the
beginning of October.

Early on the morning of August 20th I heard a Redshank
{Tringa totanus) in Kensington Gardens and found it by the
Round Pond.

Mr. R. A. Richardson reports that on August 2nd he saw
a Curlew {Nttmenius a. arquata) over St. James’s Park. Mrs.
Rait Kerr on December 29th saw a flock of these birds passing
over Lord’s.

An adult Lesser Black-backed Gull {Larus fuscus) on the
Serpentine on December 22nd could not be ascribed definitely
to either the British or Scandinavian race.

Mrs. Barker saw a Common Partridge {Perdix p. perdix)
on her lawn at 18 Gilston Road, South Kensington, on April
1 8th. It flew away to the north, and was probably the bird
reported to have been seen on April 21st by Mr. C. H.
Blathwayt {The Times, April 26th, 1939) on a small lawn
at the back of a house in Porchester Terrace, Paddington.

(330)

ON THE BIRDS OF THE ISLANDS OF
OIGH-SGEIR AND CAUSAMUL, NORTH UIST.

BY

R. B. FREEMAN.

A SHORT visit was paid to these two islands on July loth,
1939. Oigh-sgeir, called alternatively Heiskeir or Haskeir,
lies seven and a half miles west of the north-west point of
North Uist, Outer Hebrides (O.S. i" Scotland 22), in lat.
57° 42' N. and long. 7° 41' W. It is a small rocky island of
Lewisian gneiss, half a mile long and less than a quarter of
a mile wide at the widest part. The highest point is 123 ft.
above sea-level. The map given is modihed from the 6-inch

0

o

Island of Oigh-sgeir, North Uist, Hebrides.

Modified from O.S. 6", North Uist, Sheet XXIV. Scale 8" = i mile
— — Barred areas represent Guillemot cliffs. Figures represent

7Q20

numbers of Fulmar nests, in the approximate position of each group.

VOL. XXXIII.] BIRDS OF NORTH UIST.

331

O.S. To any one visiting the island in future, it may be well
to state that the only convenient landing place is that marked
on the map, to the south-east side of the central natural
arch. The only indication of human interference is a small
hollow circular dun, now in ruins, on the north plateau.

Much of the island is bare rock but the two plateaux have
a good plant covering, and there is some plant growth on the
more sheltered east side of the central ridge. Plantago
maniima, with large, spatulate, erect leaves interspersed with
Silene maritima and Armeria maritima cover the plateaux,
and more clumped, stocky forms of these three grow in the
crevices of the rocks. The only other phanerogamic plants
observed were Glaux maritima, Cochlearia officinalis, Cheno-
podium sp., Matricaria Chamomilla and an unidentified grass.

The following birds were recorded. Only in the cases of
the Fulmar and Guillemot was any careful attempt made
to assess numbers, but rough estimates are given for other
species.

Rock-Pipit (Anthus spinoletta meinertzhageni) . — One pair on the
north plateau with nest and four young, in a cavity of the dun remains ;
two pairs on south plateau, one with four hopping jmung.

Shag {Phalacrocorax a. aristotelis) . — Probably fifty to sixty nests
with young and eggs, mostly in very accessible places, and many
on flat ground ; several hundred adults.

Leach's Fork-tailed Petrel {Oceanodroma 1. leucorrhoa) . — A single
bird ■'vas put up from a hole at the base of the dun on the northern
plateau. The hole, which was through an Armeria tuft and under a
stone, was examined but contained nothing, nor, except for the entrances
did it appear to have been worked at all. Similar holes and crevices at
the base of the dun were examined but no more birds were seen.

Fulmar Petrel (Fulmarus g. glacialis). — -Sixty-two nests with eggs
or young were counted ; the map shows their distribution. None
of these was on the cliffs but on gentle slopes or flat ground. One with
a sitting- bird, was in the dense Plantago in the middle of the dun.

Oyster-catcher [Hcematopus o. occidentalis) . — One pair north end
with chick ; one pair south end.

Common Gull (Larus c. canus). — few about ; none nesting.

Herring-Gull {Larus a. argentatus). — A few score particularly at
the south end.

Lesser Black-backed Gull {Larus f. graellsii). — A few nesting
pairs on the north and south plateaux.

Great Black-backed Gull {Larus marinus). — Two birds at the
south end.

Kittiwake {Rissa tridactyla). — About four hundred nests on the
four cliffs.

Razorbill {Alca t. britannica). — A large number on the tops of the
cliffs and also under boulders on the plateau.

Guillemot {Uria a. aalge). — Confined to the cliff edges in the four
areas marked on the map. The total population was not above 2,000,
of which 1,247 were examined to get an estimate of the frequency of
the bridled form. The percentage found was 12.7.

332 BRITISH BIRDS. [vol. xxxiii. j

Puffin {Fratercula a. gratis) were entirely absent although common (i
in the waters around the island.

A mile to the south-west of Oigh-sgeir are five small stacks a
called together Oigh-sgeir Eagach. They are very inaccessible i
and the older men of the west side villages maintain that there I
was once a Gannet colony there. The man who told me this |
would not be more definite than “ a long time ago.” There I
are certainly none there now. I

Causamul is a very small island l^dng one and a half miles I
to the west of the coast of North Uist (O.S. i" Scotland 22), P
lat. 57° 35' N. and long. 7° 37' W. It consists of a circular |j
southern piece rising to 3^ ft. with a modern cairn in the *
middle, and a long rocky spit to the north intersected with |
tide channels and contini ed as a reef for half a mile ; a small !
beach of large shingle is contained within the landward j
curve of this spit.

Only four species of birds were seen breeding. Twenty-eight :
Eider {Somateria m. moUissima) nests, many with deserted |
eggs, were counted in the dense Matricaria growth of the 1

island proper ; a few Eider with young were seen on the t

water. Black Guillemot {Uria g. grylle) were nesting in the <

interstices of the cairn and under its surrounding rocks ;
a flock of about 30 birds was seen on the water. The shingle
beach had a small colony of Arctic Tern {Sterna macrura),
and two nests of the Common Gull were found amongst it.

Two Black-headed Gulls {Lams r. ridibundus) were flying
with the Terns, this being rather an exposed place for this
species compared with their usual distribution in the
Hebrides. The only other birds seen were, two Rock-Pipits,
a single Oyster-catcher and a few non-breeding gulls.

(333)

OBITUARY.

HENRIK GRONVOLD.

(1858-1940.)

The death occurred at Bedford Hospital on March 22nd,
1940, of Henrik Gronvold, in his 82nd year. Born in Denmark
on September 6th, 1858, he studied art in Copenhagen and
afterwards worked as a draughtsman. At one time he was
attached to the Danish Biological Station at Copenhagen
as an artist, under Dr. Carl Petersen.

In the autumn of 1892 he came to England on his way to
America, and hearing there was a vacancy for an articulator
in the British Museum, he applied for and was appointed to
the post. He remained in the employ of the Museum until
February, 1895, in the spring of which year he accompanied
Mr. Ogilvie-Grant on his collecting trip to the Salvage
Islands. On his return he continued to work unofficially in
the Museum at painting birds. At first he did not confine
his work to them but drew fish and reptiles for Dr. G. A.
Boulenger, and skulls of the okapi for Professor Ray
Lancaster. Soon Mr. Gronvold became well-known as an
illustrator of books and papers, and regularly painted plates
for the Ibis. He was responsible for the plates in Shelley’s
Birds of Africa published in 1900 and, since that date has
illustrated partly or entirely numerous works on birds.

Mr. Gronvold’s work is seen at its best in Eliot Howard’s
British Warblers and Territory in Bird Life, especially the
uncoloured plates. As a painter of birds’ eggs he had few
equals, and even that exacting critic, the late Professor
Newton, had nothing but praise for the eight plates of the
Great Auk’s eggs in the Ootheca W olleyana. His drawing,
too, of anatomical preparation was of a very high standard.
Shortly after the war Mr. Gronvold broke his leg and after-
wards was obliged to walk with a stick. A few years ago his
sight began to fail and it was found he was suffering with
cataract, which, with difficulty, he was persuaded to have
removed. The operation was successful and, in spite of his
age, he was able to draw and paint as well as ever.

Mr. Gronvold was married in 1895 and is survived by a
daughter, Mrs. J. J. Ayres.

Mr. Gronvold will be greatly missed by the staff and
workers at the Museum and he will not be easily replaced.

N.B.K.

z

«DTES^

INFORMATION REQUIRED FOR THE “ BREEDING ”
SECTION OF THE HANDBOOK OF BRITISH BIRDS.

Those who have studied the “ Breeding ” sections of volumes
one to three of the Handbook will be aware that much more
observation is needed on many points and although the late
F. C. R. Jourdain had gathered together a number of new
observations since the publication of these volumes much
more is required to be done. There are also many gaps in
the accounts of the species included in volume four and in
examining Mr. Jourdain’s records I find that while in some
cases he had no information, in others he evidently refrained
from making a statement owing to there being a few dissi-
milar observations and not sufficient to give a true idea of the
variability obtaining.

The object of this brief note is to point out now how much
there is to be done on this subject in the hope that our readers
will take every opportunity this season to make observations,
which could be included in the fifth and last volume of the
Handbook.

This volume will be concerned with the terns, gulls, skuas,
auks, rails and game birds and will also contain additions
and corrections to volumes one to four, so that notes on any
of the species on the British list can be included.

The following are the chief points on which more data are
desirable : share of sexes in building, intervals at which
eggs are laid, period at which incubation begins, share of
sexes in incubation, incubation-period, intervals of hatching,
share of sexes in tending young, and fledging-period of young.

Data should be sent to me at Gracious Pond Farm,
Chobham, near Woking, Surrey, and if notes on a number
of species are made it would be a great convenience if those
concerning birds appearing in volume five (as given above)
were written on separate paper from those on other birds.
As the manuscript will shortly be in active preparation all
notes should be sent in as soon as possible. H. F. Witherbv.

NEST-BUILDING BY MALE CIRL BUNTING.

In the Handbook of British Birds, Vol. I, it is stated in the
Cirl Bunting (Eniberiza c. cirlus) section (p. 127) : " Nest —
built by hen only.” I record some notes taken in the spring
of 1937 at Dartington Hall, S. Devon, in which the male did

VOL. XXXIII.]

NOTES.

335

a certain amount of building though it was, admittedly, a
somewhat casual part.

The nest was situated in a Devon bank-and-coppice hedge
and the first sign of building I saw was on April 28th when
the male broke off a long piece of grass at the foot of the
hedge, about 100 yards from where I subsequently found the
nest, and, accompanied by the female, flew with it in the
wrong direction and out of sight.

On April 29th the male was seen to pick up a few pieces of
dead grass and build them into the hedge 25 yards away from
the nest-site.

On April 30th I saw the male carrying grass and the female
carrying moss fly to the nest which I then found. It was
about two days old.

On May ist I watched at the nest from 5.35 to 6.56 a.m.
During this time the female came 16 times with nest-material
and once without. The male came 7 times (usually in company
with the female). On three occasions he succeeded in building
material into the nest, on two occasions he built his grass
into the wrong part of the ivy-covered stump (i.e., 2-3 feet
from the nest), on one visit he dropped his material before
reaching the nest and on one visit he came with an empty
beak.

The male in this territory was also seen helping to build
the second-brood nest but no detailed watch was kept.

L. S. V. Venables.

FOOD OF NESTLING SWALLOWS.

The following list gives the names of insects obtained from
adult Swallows {Hinmdo r. rustica) as they were going to
feed their young ; they were secured in Carmarthenshire
during 1939. Mr. R. L. Coe and one or two other members of
the British Museum staff have very kindly determined the
species where the condition of the insect would allow. Other
lists have appeared during the last six years (c/. Vol. XXXII,
P- 233)-

Family.

Genus.

Species.

No. of

HEM I PT ERA.

Aphidid.®

Hydrophilid.®

?

Helophorus

brevipalpis Bed.

Specimens

(4)

(I)

COLEOPTERA.

Elaterid.®

Athous

hcsmorrhoidalis F.

(I)

HYMENOPTERA.

Tenthredinid^ Nematince

p

(I)

CHALCIDID.E

Pteromalus

p

(I)

CYNIPID.E

Synergus

p

(I)

336

BRITISH BIRDS. [vol. xxxiii.

No. of

Family.

Genus.

Spebies.

Specimens.

DIPT ERA.

8

?

Bibionid.®

Dilophus

febrilis L.

(8)

8

Stratiomyiid.®

Berts

vallata Forst.

(2)

I

I

Leptid.^:

Chrysopilus

aureus Mg.

(I)

I

cristatus Fab.

(I)

I

TaBANIDjE

Hcematopota

pluvialis L.

(3)

I

2

Therevid.®

Thereva

plebeia L.

(I)

I

Empidid.®

Empis

albinervis Mg.

(I)

I

Hilar a

litorea Fin.

(3)

3

chorica Fin.

(B

I

? chorica Fin.

(I)

I

Tachydromia

cursitans F.

(I)

1

candicans Fin.

P

(I)

I

Syrphid.®

Melanostoma

mellinum L.

(1)

(2)

1

I

I

scalare F.

(I)

I

Rhingia

campestris Mg.

(I)

I

Calliphorid.®

Pollenia

vespillo F.

(I)

I

Lucilia

ccBsar L.

(I)

I

ANTHOMYIID.E

Limnophora

p

(B

I

Hydrotcea

irritans Fin.

(4)

3

I

Casnosia

? lineatipes Zett.

(I)

I

Phaonia

basalis Zett.

(I)

I

p

(9)

9

CORDYLURID.®

Scatophaga

stercoraria L.

(I)

I

CHLOROPID.E

Oscinella

frit L.

(I)

I

BORBORID.E

Spharocera

subsultans F.

(I)

r

Opomyzid.^;

Opomyza

germinationis L.

(2)

2

J. F. Thomas.

HOOPOE IN ANGLESEY.

On March i8th, 1940, I watched a Hoopoe {Upupa epops)
among the sand-dunes at Aberffraw. The bird first appeared
flying against a strong headwind and was later observed
with glasses from a distance of ten yards. It spent some time
running about the shore just above high-water mark but did
not appear to feed. The crest was once half erected when
a gust of wind nearly blew the bird off its balance. The
bird has rarely been recorded from North Wales.

A few minutes earlier I had seen a Black Redstart among
the rocks above the shore. Duncan Macdonald.

AN AGGRESSIVE BITTERN.

In the severe weather of January and February, 1940,
Bitterns (Botaums s. stellaris) were not uncommon on the
Kentish marshlands, and in certain areas where the water
remained partially open during severe frost there was a deal
of competition between the birds for the few favourite feeding-
spots, in one area these “spots” consisted of small open
spaces or holes in the ice situate in a large reed-bed.

One of the Bitterns frequenting this particular reed-bed

VOL. XXXIII.]

NOTES.

337

resented being disturbed from its feeding-hole and on several
occasions when so disturbed hovered above my Labrador
dog and swooped down at the animal at the same time uttering
a series of angry “ Kok-kok-kok’s.” This performance was
repeated daily for several days and on each occasion I stood
within a few yards of the bird.

I have read of wounded Bitterns striking out the eye of a
dog but have never heard of an attack of this description.
Although the bird never actually struck the Labrador
I thought it wise on one occasion when the bird seemed
particularly aggressive to call the dog to heel. T. C. Gregory.

AN UNUSUAL AGGRESSIVE DISPLAY OF THE
GREAT CRESTED GREBE.

In his paper on the sexual display of the Great Crested
Grebe [Podiceps c. cristatus) Huxley {Proc. Zool. Soc., 1914,
pp. 491-562) describes an elaborate pose in which the bird
extends and tilts forward its wings, at the same time fanning
out its ruff with head held low. This pose, named by Huxley
the " cat attitude,” is normally part of a greeting display
between paired birds. On April loth, 1938, at Blelham Tarn
in Lancashire, 1 saw a Great Crested Grebe twice use the
‘‘ cat attitude ” as a threatening display against a bird
which was advancing to attack it.

A single Great Crested Grebe had been shaking heads with
one bird of a pair. This flirtation was interrupted by the
second bird of the pair ; the single grebe was harried to and
fro by the mated birds and savagely attacked by one of
them. After being brought to grips the single bird broke
free and ” — pattered some way along the surface. On alighting
it went into the ‘ cat attitude ’ — and in this position rotated
a little from side to side. The paired birds again bore down
upon it, attacking both submarinely and along the surface.”
Soon afterwards the single Grebe was menaced by another,
unpaired bird, whose cruising area bordered that of the pair.
This Grebe swam towards the single bird ‘‘ — in full fighting
attitude, neck laid flat along the surface, beak awash, with
almost all the white of the plumage concealed. The single
Grebe was at first inclined to assume the same position, but
presently went into the ‘ cat attitude ’ instead.” The single
Grebe was then chased right away from the scene of these
encounters.

Variations in behaviour such as these may help to elucidate
the relationship between the sexual and aggressive displays
of the Great Crested Grebe. P. H. T. Hartley.

338

BRITISH BIRDS.

[VOL. XXXIII.

ICELAND REDSHANK IN ISLE OF MAN.

During the severe easterly gale and snowfall in the Isle of
Man at the end of January and early February, 1940, there
was an unusually heavy mortality among Redshanks (Tringa
totanus subsp. ?). At Langness and Derbyhaven, on February
nth, I collected for examination a number of the remains of
this species, and recorded birds with wing-measurements of
168, 166, 165, and 164 mm. (four). According to the data
given by H. F. Witherby {antea, p. 225) all these would be
referable to the Iceland form {Tringa t. rohusta) ; but in the
light of more recent knowledge it appears that only the
specimen with wing 168 mm. may be claimed as a member
of this race. Kenneth Williamson.

[Since I wrote the note referred to, Dr. J. M. Harrison and
Mr. P. A. Clancey have shown me breeding birds from
Scotland measuring 164. 165 and 166 mm. in the wing so
that birds in winter plumage cannot be regarded as definitely
of the Iceland form unless measuring over 166 mm. — H.F.M'.]

LITTLE GULL IN SHROPSHIRE.

Mr. C. G. Tangye found an immature Little Gull (Larus
minutus) which had evidently died very recently, in the
Wyre Forest, a short distance from the Shropshire-Worcester
county boundary. The bird, which I saw on the following
day, had some dirt, apparently oil, on its plumage. Its
stomach was empty ; it seems probable that it had been
trying to preen off the oil which had thus got into its stomach
and upset its digestion. H. G. Alexander.

GREAT SKUA RINGED IN SHETLAND REPORTED

IN U.S.A.

A Great Skua {Stercorarius s. skua) was ringed (401218) at
Hermaness, the most northerly point of Shetland, for the
Oxford Ornithological Society, on July 3rd, 1Q39, as a nestling,
and was found dead near Boston (Mass.) on February 4th,
1940. The record was sent by the Bureau of Biological
Survey, Washington.

The A.O.U. Check List states that this species (called
Northern Skua) winters on the fishing banks off Newfoundland,
Nova Scotia and Massachusetts, casually south to New York.
The bird was sent to the New England Museum of Natural
History and Mr. D. L. Garrison (curator of ornithology)
informs the Bird-Ringing Committee that positive information
about the occurrence of the species in states east of New York
is extremely limited and that consequently the Museum is doubly
interested in securing this ringed example. E. P. Le.a.ch.

VOL. XXXIII.]

NOTES.

339

Yellow Buntings Roosting in Evergreens. — Mr.
G. M. King informs us that on several occasions in January
and February, 1939, he caught for ringing a number of
Yellow Buntings [Ember iza c. citrinella) which were roosting
in some Japanese arbor-vitae [Thuja [Thujopsis) dolahrata)
about 15-20 feet high in a garden in Staffordshire. This
was evidently a regular resort as amongst those caught in
the same trees in March, 1940, was one ringed bird which
had been captured there the year before.

Blackcaps in Warwickshire and Worcestershire in
February. — Mr. H. G. Alexander informs us that on February
loth, 1940, a female Blackcap [Sylvia atricapilla) was found
dead in the snow near a bird-table in the garden of Dr.
Stanley Barnes, at Moseley, Birmingham. It showed no sign
of injury. A male and female were also reported at Broms-
grove on March 9th and it was stated that they had been
observed there for about a fortnight.

Early White Wagtail in Norfolk. — Miss J. M. Ferrier
writes that she had a good view of an adult male White
Wagtail [Motacilla a. alba) at Blakeney on March loth, 1940.
A Pied Wagtail only a few yards away served for comparison

Early Wheatear in Sussex. — Mr. J. Southerden informs
us that he saw a Wheatear [Qinanthe ce. cenanthe) at the Midrips
on February 25th, 1940.

Early Sand-Martins in Pembrokeshire. — Mr. Bertram
Lloyd reports the arrival of four Sand-Martins [Riparia r.
riparia) at Tenby on March 14th, 1940.

Little Bittern in Wiltshire. — Mr. B. W. H. Coulson
writes us that a Little Bittern [IxobrycJms m. minutus) was
seen on a farm on the northern edge of Salisbury Plain on
March iSth, 1940. On the following day the bird, which was
apparently exhausted, was captured and on being released
in the evening made no attempt to fly away. It was found
dead the next morning and was sent to the Natural History
Museum.

Colour of Webs of Shoveler. — Mr. H. Tetley informs
us that of five adult Shoveler [Spatula clypeata) examined
by him on January 9th, 1940, three had the usual orange
webs but one male had slate-coloured webs and one female
had those parts dusky.

Scaup-Duck Inland in Norfolk. — Mr. P. H. T. Hartley
informs us that he identified an adult drake Scaup-Duck

340

BRITISH BIRDS.

[VOL. XXXIII.

{Aythya m. marila) on the River Bure, near Decoy Broad,
on March 4th, 1940. The bird, which allowed a close approach,
was in excellent condition and flew strongly when flushed.

Early Stone-Curlew in Suffolk. — Mr. Cecil A. Joll
writes that he saw a Stone-Curlew [Burhinus ce.cedicnemus)
between Brandon and Barton Mills on March 3rd, 1940.

Black-tailed Godwits in Suffolk in Winter. —
Although the Black-tailed Godwit (Limosa 1. limosa) has in
recent years been frequently observed in winter there are not
many such records for Suffolk. It should therefore be noted
that we are informed by Mr. I. A. Williams that he had
e.xcellent views of a party of six on the Orwell, near Ipswich,
on February nth, 1940.

Glaucous Gull in Gloucestershire. — Mr. H. Tetley
informs us that an immature Glaucous Gull {Lams hyper-
boreus) was seen in the Bristol Docks (Cumberland Basin) on
December 27th and 28th, 1939, and January 2nd, 9th, loth
and nth, 1940. The observers were H. \W Neal, A. A. Adams,
H. H. Davis and Mr. Tetley. On the last occasion it was
closely compared with Herring-Gull (L. a. argentatus) and
British Lesser Black-backed Gull {L. f. graellsii) and was
considerably larger with a stronger deeper bill. The plumage
was cream above freckled with brown ; the tail was mottled
and the primaries were pale cream. This is the third record
for Gloucestershire.

LETTER.

MALE YELLOW WAGTAIL INCUBATING.

To the Editors of British Birds.

Sirs,- — In A Practical Handbook of British Birds (Part III, p. 201)
it is stated of the Yellow Wagtail {Motacilla f. flavissima { = rayi) ) that
incubation is performed “ chiefly at any rate by hen,” so that when
Jourdain (whose deaUi, greatly lamented by all, has created an irrepar-
able loss to ornithology) asked me to assist him in the breeding habitsof
British birds in The Handbook, I naturally assumed that what had been
penned anent the point in the earlier work had been derived from
field knowledge, and I therefore (not having his notes) thought it
needless to mention that I had long been aware from field study that
the male Yellow Wagtail sometimes did help in incubation. What
I actually put in my History of Sussex Birds (Vol. I, p. 238) is : ” Within
my own experience the male incubates but very seldom,” but that
came out after the first volume of The Handbook, so that the statement
in the latter about the observation having (only) been taken from
captive birds could not then be rectified. John Walpole-Bond.

(341)

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, pages
2 and 3 of Volume XXXII and pages 2 and 3 of Volume XXXIII
of British Birds.

acuta, Anas a., see Pintail.
ceriiginosus, Circus, see Harrier,
Marsh-.

affinis, Sitta e., see Nuthatch.
alba, Crocethia, see Sanderling.

, Tyto a., see Owl, Barn-.

albellns, Mergus, see Smew.
albifrons, Anser a., see Goose,
White-fronted.

, Sterna a., see Tern, Little.

albionis, Uria a., see Guillemot,
Southern.

Alexander, H. G., Note on Grey
Phalarope seen in Derbyshire,
280 ; Letter on Great Shear-
waters in the English Channel,
284 ; Note on Little Gull in
Shropshire, 338.

Alexander, W. B., Index of Heron
Population 1939, 304.
alpina, Calidris, see Dunlin.
altifrons, Charadrius a., see Plover,
Northern Golden.
anglicus, Dryobates m., see Wood-
pecker, Great Spotted.
anser, Anser, see Goose, Grey Lag-.
apiaster, Merops, see Bee-eater.
apivorns, Pernis, see Buzzard,
Honey-.

apus, Apus a., see Swift.
aquaticus, Rallus a., see Rail,
Water-.

argentatus, Larus a., see Gull,
Herring-.

aristotelis, Phalacrocorax a., see
Shag.

Armitage, John, Note on flock of
Bewick’s Swans in Lancashire,

314-

Arnold, E. C., Note on Marsh-
Harrier in Sussex and Hen-
Harrier eating Water-Rail, 276.
arquata, Numenius a., see Curlew.

arvensis, Alaiida a., see Lark, Sky-.
Atlantic, Birds seen on an autumn
and a spring crossing, 152.
(Atlantic) Notes on birds seen on a
voyage to the West Indies and
back, 245.

atlanticus, Anser hyperboreus, see>
Goose, Greater Snow-.
atra, Fulica a., see Coot.
atricapilla, Sylvia, see Blackcap.
auritus, Podiceps, see Grebe,
Slavonian.

Avocet, Incubation period of, and
notes on the nestling, 114.
avosetta, Recurvirostra, see Avocet.
Aythya to be used instead of Nyroca,
3-

Baiss, J. L. R., Note on Ring-Ouzel
in Dorset in January, 274.

Barnes, J. A. G., Note on Fecun-
dity of Blue Tit and Tawny
Owl in relation to age, 195.

bassana, Sula, see Gannet.

Bee-eater in Norfolk, 275.

Bentham, Howard, Note on Short-
eared Owls in Surrey, 82.

Best, A. T., Note on Nest-building
by male Mallard, 52.

bewickii, Cygnus b., see Swan,
Bewick’s.

Bible, E. H. T., Note on Status of
Nuthatch in W. Merioneth-
shire, 80.

Bird-Life, Effect of severe weather
on, 271.

Bittern perching in a tree in
Lancashire, 29 ; breeding in
Cambridgeshire, 56; an
aggressive, 336.

■ ■, Little, in Wiltshire, 339.

AA

342

BRITISH BIRDS.

Blackbirds feeding on tadpoles,
25 ; Vocal activity of, at a
Winter Roost, 44 ; Movements
to and from abroad, 66 ;
Recovery of marked, 132.

Blackcap seen between Azores and
Ireland, 247 ; in Waterford in
January, 273 ; in Hereford in
February, 314 ; in Warwick-
shire and Worcestershire in
February, 339.

Blezard, Ernest, Note on White
Barnacle-Goose in Cumberland,
255-

borealis, Puffinus kuhlii, see Shear-
water, North Atlantic.

Boyd, A. W., Notes on Water-Pipit
in Cheshire, 79 ; Great Crested
Grebes’ unusual nesting-site,
84 ; Early nesting of Great
Crested Grebes in Cheshire, 85 ;
Nesting of the Black-necked
Grebe in Cheshire, 163 ; Com-
mon Eiders in Cheshire, 256 ;
Letter on the Swallow, 200.

brachyrhynchus, Anser fabalis, see
Goose, I'ink-footed.

Brambling, Movements to and
from abroad, 65 ; Recovery of
marked, 130.

Bramwell, W. H., Note on Red-
backed Shrike as fosterer of
Cuckoo, 80.

Breeding section of The Handbook
of British Birds, Information
required for the, 334.

britamiica, A lea t., see Razorbill.

, Tringa t., see Redshank.

British List, Additions and Altera-
tions to, 2.

Brown, R. H., Notes on the
Lapwing and Curlew breeding
populations of a Cumberland
farm, 12 ; Notes on Breeding
Habits and feeding-frequency
of Flycatchers, 251 ; Incubation
and feeding-frequency of Swal-
lows and Martins, 254 ;
Feeding-frequency of Passeres,
273 ; Letter on the Black-tailed
Godwit in Cumberland, 260.

Buds of Trees and Shrubs, The
destruction of, by Birds, 90.

Bullfinch, Recovery of marked,
130 ; Late breeding of, 166 ;
Food of, 272.

Bunting, Cirl, Nest-building by
male, 334.

, Reed-, Recovery of marked,

130 ; Feeding-frequency of,
273-

— — , Yellow, Recovery of marked,
130 ; Roosting in evergreens,
339-

Bustards, Great, Specimens of
Norfolk, lost in fire, 258.

buteo, Biiteo b., see Buzzard,
Common.

Buxton, E. J. i\I., Breeding of the
Oyster-catcher, 184 ; Notes on
Lapwings nesting at high
altitude in Norway n8, 168.

Buzzard, Common in Shetland,
195 ; Feeding on Sand-Lizard
in winter, 276.

-, Honey-, in Yorkshire re-
corded as Goshawk, 199.

ccsruleus, Parus c., see Tit, Con-
tinental Blue.

Campbell, Dr. James W., Note on
Green-winged Teal in Outer
Hebrides, 84.

canadensis, Branta c., see Goose,
Canada.

cannabina, Carduelis c., see Linnet.

canorus, Cucuhis c., see Cuckoo.

canus, Larus c., see Gull, Common.

canutus, Calidris c., see Knot.

Capercaillie, Incubation period of
and precocity of chicks, 198.

carbo, Phalacrocorax c., see Cor-
morant.

carduelis, Carduelis, see Goldfinch.

carolinensis. Anas c., see Teal,
Green-winged.

Carruthers, Oliver, Note on
Cormorants roosting in trees in
Dumfriesshire, 27.

Cawkell, E. M., Note on Storks in
Susse.x, 83.

Chaffinch, Mov'ements to and from
abroad, 64 ; Recovery of
marked, 130; Same pair of,
mating three times, 162.

Charteris, Hon. Guy, Note on
Fecundity of Blue Tits in
relation to age. 162.

INDEX.

343

Chave, S. P. W., Note on two Black
Redstarts in London in June,
io8.

Chiffchaff in Cork in winter, 252.
chloris, Chloris ch., see Greenfinch.
chloropus, Gallinula ch., see Moor-
hen.

Chough, Down-plumage of nestling
and soft parts of juvenile, 78.
chrysaetus, Aqiiila ch. see Eagle,
Golden.

ciconia, Ciconia, see Stork.
cinerea, Ardea c., see Heron,
Common.

, Motacilla c., see Wagtail, Grey.

cirlus, Eniberiza c., see Bunting,
Cirl.

citrinella, Emberiza c., see Bunting,
Yellow.

clangiila, Bucephala c., see
Goldeneye.

clypeata, Spatula, see Shoveler.
ccelebs, Fringilla, see Chaffinch.
collurio, Lanius c., see Shrike,
Red-backed.

collybita, Phylloscopus, see Chiff-
chaff.

CoLQUHOUN, M. K., Vocal Activity
of Blackbirds at a Winter
Roost, 44 ; The Display and
Song of the Turtle-Dove, 222.
Note on the territorial beha-
viour of Robins during cold
weather, 274.

Coot, Recovery of marked, 161.
corax, Corvus c., see Raven.
Cormorants roosting in trees in
Dumfriesshire, 26 ; Recovery
of mar keel, 156.

, Southern, Movements from

abroad, 71.

cornix, Corvus c., see Crow, Hooded.
corone, Corvus c., see Crow, Carrion-.
coturnix, Coturnix c., see Quail.
CowiN, W. S., and Ladds, E. F.,
Note on Incubation-period of
Oyster-catcher, 112.

Crake, Spotted, in Sussex in
June, 87.

crecca. Anas c., see Teal.
cristatus, Podiceps c., see Grebe,
Great Crested.

Crossbills breeding in Sussex in
1939, 79-

Crow, Carrion-, Interbreeding with
Hooded Crow in Co. Dublin,
194-

Crow, Hooded, Movements from
abroad, 63 ; Interbreeding with
Carrion-Crow in Co. Dublin,

194-

Cuckoo, Two eggs in deserted nests
in the same bush, 228.

Curlew, Notes on breeding popula-
tions of a Cumberland farm,
12 ; Movements from abroad,
72 ; Incubation period of, 85 ;
Attacking rabbit, 142 ; Re-
covery of marked, 159.

, Stone-, Early in Suffolk, 340

curonicus, Charadrius d., see Plover,
Little Ringed.

curvirostra, Loxia c., see Crossbill.
cyaneus, Circus, see Harrier, Hen-.
cygnus, Cygnus, see Swan,
Whooper.

Darlington, Arnold, Note on
Buzzard feeding on Sand-
Lizard in winter, 276.

Dent, G., Note on a case of bigamy
in Montagu's Harrier, 51.

Derscheid, J. M., Note on Incuba-
tion period of Avocet, 114 ;
Letter on Size of eggs and
incubation period of Icelandic
Mallards, 117.

Dewar, Dr. J. M., Timing the
under-water activities of Div-
ing Birds, 58 ; Letter on
Diurnal song and its relation
to latitude and twilight, 116.

Dipper, Recovery of marked, 133 ;
Feeding-frequency of, 273.

Diver, Great Northern, inland in
Sussex, 316.

Diving Birds, Timing the under-
water activities of, 58.

doniesticus. Passer d., see Sparrow,
House-.

Dorrien-Smith, Major Arthur A.,
Notes on Mistle-Thrush, Kitti-
wake and Quail breeding in
Scilly Islands, no; Greater
Yellowshank seen in Scilly
Islands, 113.

Dove, Stock-, Recovery of marked,
158 ; Flocking in May in
Hertfordshire, 165 ; Flocks in
breeding season, 196.

344

BRITISH BIRDS.

Dove, Turtle-, breeding in Ireland,
140 ; Recovery of marked, 158 ;
Display and song of the, 222.

Duck, Ferruginous, in Glamorgan
278.

, Long-tailed, in Sutherland in

June, 139.

, Ruddy Sheld-, in Lanarkshire,

55-

, Scaup-, ^Movements from

abroad, 71 ; in Bedfordshire,
138 ; Inland in Norfolk, 339.

, Tufted, Movements to and

from abroad, 71 ; Breeding in
Worcestershire, 1 1 5 ; Recovery
of marked, 156.

Dunlin, Movements from abroad,
72 ; Breeding-season of, 88 ;
seen between Azores and
Ireland, 247.

Eagle, Golden, Fledging period of,
III.

Eider, Recovery of marked, 156 ;
in Cheshire, 228, 256 ; in

Dorset, 259, 316 ; ‘‘ Up-ending”
of, 279.

Elliott, J. S., Note on Little Owl
preying on birds, 312.

epops, Upupa e., see Hoopoe.

ericetorum, Turdiis e., see Thrush,
British Song-.

europcBus, Caprimulgiis e., see
Night-jar.

excubitor, Lanins e., see Shrike,
Great Grey.

fabalis, Anser f., see Goose, Bean-.

faeroeensis, Capella g., see Snipe,
Faeroe.

Ferguson, Robert Y., Note on
large number of Whooper
Swans in Lanarkshire, 255.

ferina, Aythya /., see Pochard,
Common.

ferruginea, Casarca, see Duck,
Ruddy Sheld-.

Firecrest at Spurn, Yorks, 29.

Flamingo in Yorkshire and Lin-
colnshire, 1 41.

flammeus, Asia /., see Owl, Short-
eared.

flavissima, Motacilla /., see Wagtail,
Yellow.

Flycatcher, Pied, Recovery of
marked, 131 ; Breeding habits
and feeding-frequency of, 252.

, Red-breasted, at Spurn,

Yorks, 29.

, Spotted, Breeding habits and

feeding-frequency of, 251.

Freeman, R. B., On the Birds of
the islands of Oigh-Sgeir and
Causamul, North Uist, 330.

fyngilegiis, Corvus /., see Rook.

Fryer, J. C. F., The destruction of
buds of Trees and Shrubs, by
birds, 90.

fnlicarius, Phalaropus, see Phala-
rope. Grey.

fuligula, Aythya, see Duck, Tufted.

fnsca, Melanitta /., see Scoter,
Velvet-.

fuscata. Sterna f., see Tern, Sooty.

fuscus, Larus /., see Gull, Scan-
dinavian Lesser Black-backed.

gallinago, Capella g., see Snipe,
Common.

Gannet, Breeding of, on the Scar
Rocks, Wigtownshire, 105, 142;
Recovery of marked, 157.

Garganey, Movements from abroad,
70 ; in Pembrokeshire, 199.

Garnett, Miss M., Obituary of the
late E. U. Savage, 76 ; Notes
on Black-necked Grebe breed-
ing in Westmorland, 256 ;
Record of Green Sandpipers
breeding in Westmorland in
1917. 257.

gibraltariensis, Phcenicurus 0., see
Redstart, Black.

glacialis, Fulmarns g., see Petrel,
Fulmar.

Gladstone, Hugh S., Mrs. C. E. L.
Perrott’s Selection of British
Birds, 122; Note on speci-
mens of Norfolk Great
Bustards lost by fire, 258.

glareola, Tringa, see Sandpiper,
Wood-.

Glegg, William E., see
Macpherson, a. Holte.

INDEX

345

Godwit, Bar-tailed, Movements
from abroad, 72.

, Black-tailed, in Northumber-
land, 30 ; in the British Isles,
1890-1937, 98 ; in Isle of Man,
165 ; in Cumberland, 260 ;
Numbers of, in Co. Cork, 280 ;
Large numbers of, in Sussex,
280 ; in Suffolk in winter, 340.

Goldeneye, On the Courtship
Display of the, 48.

Goldfinch, Notes on food of, 271.

Gooch, G. B., Note on Starlings
swallowing pellets, 31 1 ; Letter
on bill-snapping of a Little
Owl, 316.

Goosander, Recovery of marked,
156 ; in Merionethshire, 281.

Goose, Barnacle-, in Northumber-
land in June, 87 ; White, in
Cumberland, 255.

, Bean-, Status of, in East

Kent, 276 ; in Middlesex and
Kent, 315.

, Canada, Addition to British

List, 3.

Brent, Dark-breasted, in

Middlesex and Surrey, 315.

, , Pale-breasted, in Sussex,

313-

■ , Greater Snow-, Change of

name, 3.

• , Grey Lag-, with pink bill,

163 ; Status of, in East Kent,
277.

, Pink-footed, Change of name,

3 ; Status of, in East Kent,
278 ; in Dorset and Merioneth-
shire, 281 ; in Co. Wexford, 315.

, White-fronted, Status of, in

East Kent, 277.

Gordon, Seton, Notes on Lap-
wings nesting at high altitude,
54 ; fledging period of the
Golden Eagle, in.

grabcB, Fratercula a., see Puffin.

graellsii, Larus /., see Gull, Lesser
Black-backed, British.

gravis, Puffinus, see Shearwater,
Great.

Grebe, Black-necked, Nesting in
Cheshire, 163 ; Breeding in
Westmorland, 256.

, Great Crested, Unusual nest-

site, 84 ; Early nesting in
Cheshire, 85 ; an unusual
aggressive display of, 337.

Grebe, Red-necked, in Somerset,
166 ; in Ayrshire, 316.

, Slavonian, Courtship and

display of, 170.

Greenfinch singing at night, 78 ;
Recovery of marked, 129 ;
seen between Azores and
Ireland, 247 ; Notes on food of,
272.

Greenshank in Somerset, 86.

Gregory, T. C., Notes on Grey
Lag-Goose with pink bill,
163 ; Nuptial Song of Little
Stint, 197 ; Status of Grey
Geese in East Kent, 276 ; an
aggressive Bittern, 336.

griseigena, Podiceps, see Grebe,
Red-necked.

griseus, Puffinus, see Shearwater,
Sooty.

Gronvold, Henrik, Obituary of,
333-

grylle, Uriag., see Guillemot, Black.

Guillemots, Black, Breeding in
Yorkshire, 142 ; Breeding in
holes in harbour walls in
Wigtownshire and Co. Down,
141, 168.

, “ IBridled ”, Notes onPercen-

tage of, 174.

, Southern, Movements from

abroad, 75.

gularis,Cinclus c., see Dipper.

Gull, Black-headed, Movements to
and from abroad, 73 ; Recovery
of marked, 160 ; Colonies,
Report on the 1938 Survey of,
202, 230.

, Common, Movements from

abroad, 74 ; Recovery of
marked, 160.

, Glaucous, in Gloucestershire,

340-

, Great Black-backed, Move-
ments from abroad, 75.

, Herring-, Movements from

abroad, 75.

, Iceland, in Surrey, 28 ; in

Middlesex, 281.

, Lesser Black-backed, British,

Recovery of marked, 160.

, , Scandinavian, in

Mouth of Thames, 259.

, Little, in Shropshire, 338.

Gunn, Donald, the late. On
the courtship-display of the
Goldeneye, 48.

346

BRITISH BIRDS.

Harrier, Hen-, eating Water-Rail,
276.

, Marsh-, in Sussex, 276.

, Montagu’s, A case of bigamy

in, 51.

Harrison, Dr. James M., Notes
on Great Snipe in Lincoln-
shire, 166 ; Continental Blue
Tit in Kent, 251.

Hartley, P. H. T., Note on an
unusual aggressive display of
the Great Crested Grebe, 337.

Hawk, Sparrow-, Movements from
abroad, 67 ; Recovery of
marked, 134.

Hendy, E. W., Notes on same pair
of Chaffinches mating three
times, 162 ; Song-Thrush
nesting in its first year, 162.

Heron, Common, IMovements from
abroad, 67 ; Recovery of
marked, 134 ; seen between
Azores and Ireland, 247 ;
Index of Population 1939, 304.

Heronry, Exodus from a Brecon-
shire, 25.

hiaticula, Charadrius h., see Plover,
Ringed.

hirundo, Sterna h., see Tern,
Common.

Hobby in Pembrokeshire, 11 1

Hollom, P. a. D., Letter on
Trapping Methods, 32 ; Note
on Wood-Sandpipers in Surrey,
166 ; Report on the 1938
Survey of Black-headed Gull
Colonies, 202, 230.

Hoopoe in Hampshire in January,
315 ; in Anglesey, 336.

Hosking, Eric J., Courtship and
display of Slavonian Grebe,
1 70 ; Note on Incubation period
of Capercaillie and precocity of
chicks, 198.

hroia, Branta bernicla, see Goose,
Brent, Pale-breasted.

Hurcomb, Sir Cyril, Note on
Blackbirds feeding on Tad-
poles, 25.

Huxley, Dr. Julian S., f.r.s..
Notes on the Percentage of
Bridled Guillemots, 174.

hyemalis, Clangula, see Duck, Long-
tailed.

hyperboyeus, Larus, see Gull,
Glaucous.

hypoleuca, Muscicapa h., see Fly-
catcher, Pied.

hypoleucos, Tringa, see Sandpiper,
Common.

ignicapillus, Regulus i., see Fire-
crest.

immer, Colymbus i., see Diver,
Great Northern.

Ingram, Geoffrey C. S., and
Salmon, H. IMorrey, Notes
on Food of Tits and Finches,
271 ; Ferruginous Duck in
Glamorgan, 278.

interpres, Arenaria i., see Turnstone.

Jackdaw, Recovery of marked, 127 ;
Nesting in its first year, 194.

Jay, Recovery of marked, 127.

Jenkins, A. Reavley, Note on
Scaup-Ducks in Bedfordshire,
138.

Jones, Richard W., Note on
Fulmar Petrels in Carnarvon-
shire, 164.

JouRDAiN, Rev. F. C. R., Obituary
of the late George Marples, 250.
Obituary of, 286.

, , and WiTHERBY, H. F.,

Cliff-breeding in the House-
Martin, 16, 137.

Kennedy, Rev. P. G., Note on
Interbreeding of a Hooded and
Carrion-Crow in Co. Dublin,
194.

Kenrick, Hugh, A Study of Blue
Tits by colour ringing, 307.

Kerr, .Mrs. H. Rait, Note on
Lffiusual Nesting Sites and
food of Grey Wagtail, 137.

Kestrel, Movements from abroad,
66 ; Taking Willow-Warbler,
115 ; Recovery of marked, 134.

Kinnear, N. B., Obituary of
Henrik Gronvold, 333.

Kites, Black, released in London,
198.

INDEX.

347

Kittiwake in Berkshire, 30 ; Breed-
ing in Scilly Islands, no;
Recovery of marked, 160.
kleinschmidii, Anthus spinoletta,
see Pipit, Faeroe Rock-.

Knot, Movements from abroad, 72 ;
Inland in Somerset, 116; in
Hertfordshire, 167.
kithlii, Pitffinus, see Shearwater,
North Atlantic.

Lack, David, Observations on
captive Robins, 262.

Ladds, E. F., see Cowin, W. S.

Lancum, F. Howard, Note on
Greenfinch singing at night, 78.

lapponica, Limosa 1., see Godwit,
Bar-tailed.

Lapwing, Notes on breeding
populations of a Cumberland
farm, 12 ; Early nests at high
altitudes in Shropshire, 30 ;
nesting at high altitude, 54 ;
Movements from abroad, 72 ;
Fledging period of, 85 ; nest
with six eggs, 86 ; nesting at
high altitude, 87 ; nestling
“ freezing ” upside down, 88 ;
nesting at high altitude in
Norway, 118, 168; Recovery
of marked, 158.

Lark, Sky-, carrying young bird,
79 ; Recovery of marked, 130 ;
nesting- in October in Lanca-
shire, 198.

Leach, Miss E. P., Recovery of
Marked Birds, 127, 155 ; Notes
on Puffin ringed at St. Kilda
reported in Newfoundland,
281 ; Great Skua ringed in
Shetland reported in U.S.A.,

338-

, , see WiTHERBY, H. F.

leucopsis, Branta, see Goose,
Barnacle-.

leucopterus, Chlidonias, see Tern,
White-winged Black.

• — — , Larus, see Gull, Iceland.

leucorodia, Platalea, see Spoonbill.

Lewis, Stanley, Note on Velvet-
Scoters in Somerset, 112.

limosa, Limosa, see Godwit, Black-
tailed.

Linnet, Recovery of marked, 130.

Lloyd, Bertram, Note on Stock-
Doves flocking in May in
Hertfordshire, 165.

Lloyd, L. C., Note on Nesting
association of Swallow and
House-Martin, 109.

lobatus, Phalaropus, see Phalarope,
Red-necked.

London, Birds of Inner, 326.

Low, Dr. G. Carmichael, see
Macpherson, a. Holte.

Macdonald, Duncan, Note on
Hoopoe in Anglesey, 336.

Mackay, Mrs. Kathleen C., Note
on Blackcaps in Waterford in
January, 273.

Macpherson, A. Holte, Birds of
Inner London, 326.

, , Glegg, William E.,

and Low G. Carmichael,
Note on Purple Sandpiper and
other birds in Middlesex, 197.

McCulloch, G. K., Note on associ-
ation of Drake Mallard with
alarmed Call Duck and brood,
195-

McWilliam, Rev. J. M., Breeding
of Gannet on the Scar Rocks,
Wigtownshire, 105.

major, Parus m., see Tit, Contin-
ental Great-.

Mallard, Nest-building by male,
52 : Association of Drake with
the Duck and young brood, 53 ;
Movements from abroad, 67 ;
Unusual behaviour of Duck
and brood, 83 ; Recovery of
marked, 135; Association of
Drake with alarmed call Duck
and brood, 195.

, Icelandic, Size of eggs and

Incubation period of, 117.

marila, Aythya m., see Duck,
Scaup-.

marinus, Larus, see Gull, Great
Black-backed.

Marked Birds, Recovery of, 127,
155-

Marked Birds, see Ringed Birds.

BRITISH BIRDS.

Marples, George, Notes on the
diurnal song of Birds, 4 ;
Observations on breeding and
song of Wren, 294 ; Notes on
stones in gizzard of Nightjar,
81 ; nestling Wood-Pigeon,
with undigested food in crop,
138. Obituary of, 250.
Martin, Rev. Cyril E., Notes on
evidence for male House-
Sparrow selecting nesting-site
108 ; Food and method of
feeding fledged young of Great
Spotted Woodpecker, no.
Martin, House-, Change of name, 2 ;
Cliff-breeding in, 16, 137; Nest-
ing association of, and Swallow,
109; Little Owl taking, in ;
Recovery of marked, 133 ;
at the nest, 146 ; on Incubation
and feeding-frequency of, 254.

, Sand-, Observations on, at

the nest, 95 ; early, in Pem-
brokeshire, 339.

maura, Saxicola torquata, see Stone-
chat, Siberian.

media, Capella, see Snipe, Great.
Melanitta to be used instead of
Oidemia, 3.

melanoleuca, Tringa, see Yellow-
shank, Greater.

Iiielophilus, Erithacus r., see Robin.
merganser, Mergus m., see
Goosander.

Merganser, Red-breasted, Move-
ments from abroad, 71 ;
Summer plumage of female, 1 96.
merula, Turdus m., see Blackbird.
migrans, Milvus, see Kite, Black.
miniita, Calidris, see Stint, Little.
minutus, Ixobrychus m., see Bittern,
Little.

, Larus, see Gull, Little.

mollissima, Somateria m., see Eider.
montanus. Passer m., see Sparrow,
Tree-.

montifringilla, Fringilla, see Bramb-
ling.

Moorhen, nest built of grass, 88 ;

Recovery of marked, 161.
Moreau, R. E., and W. M., Obser-
vations on Sand-Martins at the
nest, 95 ; observations on
Swallows and House-Martins
at the nest, 146.

Morgan, D. A. T., Note on Iceland
Gull in Surrey, 28.

iMoRLEY, Miss A., Rising and Roost-
ing of a pair of resident Star-
lings in Winter and early
Spring, 39 ; Black-tailed
Godwit in the British Isles
1890-1937, 98.

Mountfort, G. R., Note on
Skylark carrying young bird,

. 79-

musiciis, Turdus m., see Redwing.

nebularia, Tringa, see Greenshank.
nesa, Pyrrhula p ., see Bullfinch.
newtoni, Parus ni., see Tit, Great.
niger, Chlidonias rn., see Tern,
Black.

Nightjar, Stones in gizzard of, 81 .
nigricollis, Podiceps n., see Grebe,
Black-necked.

nisoria, Sy/f fa, see Warbler, Barred.
nisus, Accipiter n., see Hawk,
Sparrow-.

Nuthatch, Status of, in W.

Merionethshire, 80, 14 1.
Nyroca to be replaced by Ay thy a, 3.
nyroca, Aythya n., see Duck,
Ferruginous.

obscurus, Parus c., see Tit, Blue.

occidentalis, Hcematopus 0., see
Oyster-catcher.

, Prunella m., see Sparrow,

Hedge-.

ochropus, Tringa, see Sandpiper,
Green.

cedicnemus, Burhinus ce., see Cur-
lew, Stone-.

cenanthe, Qxnanihe, see Wheatear.

cenas, Coluniba, see Dove, Stock-.

Oidemia to be replaced by Melanitta,
3-

Oigh-Sgeir and Causamul, North
Uist, On the birds of the
islands of, 330.

Oldham, Charles, Note on associ-
ation of Drake Mallanl with
Duck and young brood, 33.

INDEX.

349

O’Mahony, Eugene, Note on
Turtle-Dove breeding in Ire-
land, 140.

ostralegus, Hcsmatopus, see Oyster-
catcher.

otus, Asia 0., see Owl, Long-eared.

Ouzel, Ring-, in Dorset in January,
274.

Ow'EN, J. H., Note on Little Owl
taking House-Martin, in.

Owl, Barn-, Recovery of marked,
134-

, Little, taking House-Martin,

III ; Recovery of marked, 133 ;
Preying on birds, 312 ; Bill-
snapping of, 316.

, Long-eared, Movements

from abroad, 66.

, Short-eared, in Surrey, 82.

— - — -, Tawny, Fecundity in relation
to age, 195.

Oyster-catcher, Movements from
abroad, 71 ; Incubation-period
of, 112 ; Recovery of marked,
158 ; Breeding of, 184.

Paget-Tomlinson, E. E., Note on
Lapwing’s nest with six eggs,
86.

palumbus, Columba p., see Pigeon,
Wood-.

palustris, Acrocephaliis, see Warbler,
Marsh-.

parva, Muscicapa p., see Fly-
catcher, Red-breasted.

pelagicus, Hydrobates, see Petrel,
Storm-.

penelope, Anas, see Wigeon.

peregrinus, Falco p., see Falcon,
Peregrine.

Perrott, Mrs. C. L. E., Selection
of British Birds, 122.

Petrel, Fulmar, in Carnarvonshire,
164 ; on Oigh-sgeir, North
Hist, 331.

, Leach’s Fork-tailed, on Oigh-

sgeir, North Uist, 331.

, Storm-, Late breeding of, 166.

Phalarope, Grey, seen in Derby-
shire, 280.

, Red-necked, in Yorkshire,

167 ; in Kent in August, 228.

Philipson, W. R., Notes on Birds
seen on a voyage to the West
Indies and back, 245.

philomelus, Turdus e., see Thrush,
Continental Song-.

phcenicurus, Phcenicurus ph., see
Redstart.

Pigeon, Wood-, Nestling with
undigested food in crop, 138 ;
Recovery of marked, 158.

Pintail breeding in Yorkshire, 55,
115 ; Movements to and from
abroad, 70 ; Recovery of mark-
ed, 155.

Pipit, Faeroe Rock-, Possible occur-
rence in British Isles, 144.

, Meadow-, Movements from

abroad, 65 ; Recovery of
marked, 131.

, Tree-, Recovery of marked,

131-

— ^ — ■, Water-, in Norfolk, 56 ; in
Cheshire, 79.

platyrhyncha, Anas p., see Mallard.

Plover, Grey, in Hertfordshire, 167.

, Kentish, in Norfolk, 56.

— — , Killdeer, in Ireland, 167.

, Little Ringed, in Sussex, 28.

, Northern Golden, Movements

from abroad, 71 ; in Sussex,
279.

, Ringed, Movements from

abroad, 71 ; Incubation period
of, 85.

Pochard, Common, breeding in
Sussex, 112 ; Recovery of
marked, 155.

porzana, Porzana, see Crake,
Spotted.

Pounds, Hubert E., Note on
Hobby in Pembrokeshire, iii.

pratensis, Anthus, see Pipit,
Meadow-.

Pring, Rev. C. J., Note on Common
Buzzard in Shetland, 195.

Puffin ringed at St. Kilda reported
in Newfoundland, 281.

puffinus, Puffinus p., see Shear-
water, Manx.

pugnax, Philomachus, see Ruff.

pygargus Circus, see Harrier,
Montagu’s.

pyrrhocorax, Pyrrhocorax p., see
Chough.

350

BRITISH BIRDS.

Quail breeding in Scilly Islands,
no; Status of, in British
Islands, 259.

querquedula, Anas, see Garganey.

Kail, Water-, Movements from
abroad, 75 ; Eaten by Hen-
Harrier, 276.

Raven, Rev. Ur. Charles E.,
Note on Long-tailed Duck in
Sutherland in June, 139.

Raven, Return of the, as a Nester
in Sussex, 77.

Razorbill, Recovery of marked, 161.
Redshank, Recoverv of marked,
1 59-

, Continental, as a British bird,

225.

, Iceland, in Isle of Man, 338.

Redstart, Spring migration of, over
Europe, 34 ; in Isle of Wight
in November, 228 ; seen
between Azores and Ireland,
247.

, Black, at Spurn, Yorkshire,

29 ; breeding in Cambridge-
shire, 56 ; in London in May
and June, 81 ; Two, in London
in June, 108 ; in Co. Kilkenny,
228 ; Number of, on passage in
Man, 252.

Redwing, Movements to abroad, 66;
Recovery of marked, 132.

, Iceland, in Dublin, Devon

and Dorset, 314
Reviews : —

Birds as Animals, 30.

At the Turn of the Tide : A
Book of Wild Birds, 31.
Fifth Report of the British
Trust for Ornithology, Spring
1939, 32-

Report on Somerset Birds,
1938, 32.

Transactions of the Hertford-
shire Natural Historv Society
and Field Club. Vo'l. XXI.,
Pt. I, 56.

Transactions of the Norfolk
and Norwich Naturalists’
Society, 1938, 56.

Annual Report of the Oundle
School Natural Historv Soci-
ety, 56.

Reviews [continued] : —

Report of the Cambridge Bird
Club, 1938, 56.

Report of Skokholm Bird
Observatory, 1938, 88.
London Bird Report, 1938, 119.
Report of Birmingham Bird
Club, 1938, 1 19.

Lancashire and Cheshire Fauna
Committee: Report on Birds,

1937. II9-

Ornithological Record for
Derbyshire, 1938, 120.
Report of Committee on Bird
Sanctuaries in Royal Parks
(England), 1938, 120.
Ornithology of the Isle of Man,

1938, 120.

Hastings and East Sussex
Naturalist, 1938, 120.
South-Eastern Bird Report,

1938, 143-

Ornithological Report for
Hampshire, 1938, 143.
Eleventh Report of the Devon
Bird-Watching and Preser-
vation Society, 144.

Report of Marlborough College
Natural History Society,
1938, 168.

Annual Report of Gresham’s
School Natural History Soci-
ety. 1938-9, 168.

The Birds of Staffordshire, 199.
The Birds of East Lancashire,

259-

The Behaviour of the Robin,
282.

ridibundus, Larus r., see Gull,
Black-headed.

Ringed Birds, Movements of, from
Abroad to the British Isles and
from the British Isles Abroad,
Addenda \’L, 62.

Ringing, Bird-, Report of the
Committee, for 1939, 318.
riparia, Riparia r., see Martin,
Sand-.

Ritchie, John, Note on Sooty Tern
in Stirlingshire, 197.

Riviere B. B., Note on Bee-eater in
Norfolk, 275.

INDEX.

351

Robin, Recovery of marked, 132 ;
seen between Azores and Ire-
land, 247 ; Observations on
captive, 262 ; Territorial be-
haviour of, during cold weather,
274-

Rook, Movements from Abroad, 63 ;
Recovery of marked, 127 ;
nests lined with feathers, 31 1.

Rooke, K. B., Notes on Little
Ringed Plover in Sussex, 28 ;
Temminck’s Stint in Hertford-
shire, 54.

rosens, Phcenicoptems r., see
Flamingo.

rubetra, Saxicola, see Whinchat.

Ruff in Somerset, 86 ; in Isle of
Man, 165.

rufitergum, Garrulus g., see Jay.

rustica, Hirundo r., see Swallow.

rusticola, Scolopax r., see Woodcock.

Salmon, H. Morrey, see Ingram,
Geoffrey C. S.

Sandeman, R. G., Note on Exodus
from a Breconshire Heronry,

25-

Sanderling in Somerset, 86.

Sandpiper, Common, seen between
Azores and Ireland, 247.

, Green, Record of, breeding in

Westmorland in 1917, 257.

, Wood-, in Somerset, 86 ; in

Surrey, 166.

sandvicensis , Sterna s., see Tern,
Sandwich.

Savage, Ernest Urmson, Obituar}?^
notice of, 76.

schinzii, Calidris a., see Dunlin.

schceniclus, Emberiza s., see Bunt-
ing, Reed-.

schwarzi, Phylloscopus, see Warbler,
Radde’s Bush-.

Scoter, Velvet-, in Somerset, 26,
112 : Packing of broods and
“injury-feigning” of, 256; in
Cambridgeshire, 316.

ScROOPE, C. F., Notes on Chiff-
chaffs in Cork in winter, 252 ;
numbers of Black-tailed God-
wits in winter in Co. Cork, 280.

serrator, Mergus, see Merganser,
Red-breasted.

Shag, Nest of, with nine eggs, 55 ;
nest with seven eggs, 115 ;
Recovery of marked, 156.

Shearwater, Great, in Atlantic, 245 ;
Species of, in the English
Channel, 248, 284.

, Manx, Recovery of marked,

157-

, North Atlantic, in Atlantic,

245-

■ , Sooty, in Irish Sea, 87.

Sheld-Duck, see Duck, Sheld-.

Shoveler, Movements to and from
abroad, 71 ; Recovery of
marked, 155 ; Colour of webs
of, 339-

Shrike, Great Grey, in Cornwall,
282.

, Red-backed, as fosterer of

Cuckoo, 80.

sinensis, Phalacrocorax c., see Cor-
morant, Southern.

Skua, Great, in Mouth of Thames,
259 ; Ringed in Shetland
reported in U.S.A., 338.

skua, Stercorarius , see Skua, Great.

Smew, Unusual number in Somer-
set, 30 ; in Merionethshire, 281 ;
in Cambridgeshire, 316.

Smith, Stuart, Note on male
Yellow' Wagtail’s share in
incubation, 312.

Snipe, Common, Movements from
abroad, 73.

, Fseroe, Movements from

abroad, 73.

, Great, in Lincolnshire, 166.

Song of Birds, Notes on the diurnal,
4-

SouTHERN, H. N., Spring migration
of Redstart over Europe, 34.

Sparrow, Hedge-, Feeding-frequency
of. 273.

, House-, Evidence for male

selecting nesting-site, 108.

, Tree-, Recovery of marked,

130.

spermologus, Corvus m., see Jackdaw'

Spoonbills in Cornwall, 29 ; in Kent,
30 ; in Hampshire, 166.

Spurn, Yorkshire, Birds at, 29.

squatarola, Squaiarola, see Plover,
Grey.

352

BRITISH BIRDS.

Starlings, Rising and lioosting of a
pair of resident, in winter and
early spring, 39 ; iMovements
to and from abroad, 63 ;
Recovery of marked, 127 ;
swallowing pellets, 31 1 ; with
young at Christmas, 314.

stellavis, Botaurus, see Bittern.

Stint, Little, Nuptial song of, 197.

, Temminck’s, in Hertfordshire,

54 ; in Somerset, 86 ; in York-
shire, 1 16.

Stonechat, Siberian, Change of
name, 2.

Storks in Sussex, 83.

striata, Muscicapa s., see Flycatcher,
Spotted.

subbuteo, Falco s., see Hobby.

Sumner, J. Le C., Note on Black
Redstart in London in May
and June, 81.

Swallow, Nesting association of,
and House-Martin, 109 ; Re-
covery of marked, 133 ; at the
nest, 146 ; Notes on the, 200 ;
On Incubation and feeding-
frequency of, 254 ; Food of
nestlings, 335.

Swan, Bewick’s, Influx of, 29 ;
Flock of, in Lancashire, 314.

, Whooper, Large number of,

in Northumberland and
Lanarkshire, 234.

Swift, Recovery of marked, 133.

sylvatica, Strix a., see Owl, Tawny.

Symes, Joseph H., Note on Two
Cuckoo’s eggs in deserted
nests in same bush, 228.

Tayler, a. G., Note on Rooks’
nests lined with feathers, 31 1.

Teal, Movements to and from
abroad, 68 ; Recovery of
marked, 135.

, Green-winged, in Outer

Hebrides, 84.

Tebbutt, C. F., Note on Unusual
behaviour of Duck Mallard
and brood, 83.

temminckii, Calidris, seeTemminck’s
Stint.

Tern, Black, in Wiltshire, 30 ;
Late, in Middlesex, 197.

Tern, Common, Movements from
abroad, 73.

, Gull-billed, in Norfolk, 56.

, Little, Recovery of marked,

160.

, Sandwich, Recovery of

marked, 160.

, Sooty, in Stirlingshire, 197.

■ — ^ — , White-winged Black, in
Sussex, 87.

Tetley, H., Note on Velvet-Scoter
in Somerset, 26 ; Note on
Waders in Somerset, 86.

Thomas, J. F., Notes on Incubation
periods of some Waders and
Fledging period of Lapwing,
85 ; Food of nestling Swallows,
335-

Thomson, Dr. A. Landsborough,
C.B., Report of the Bird-
Ringing Committee : Progress
for 1939 318.

Thrush, British Song-, Movements
from abroad, 65 ; Recovery of
marked, 132 ; Nesting in its
first year, 162 ; Seen between
Azores and Ireland, 247.

, Continental Song-, Move-
ments from abroad, 65.

, Mistle-, breeding in Scilly

Islands, no; Recovery of
marked, 131 ; Feeding-
frequency of, 273.

Ticehurst, Dr. N. F. The Con-
tinental Redshank as a British
bird, 226 : Note on Northern
Golden Plovers in Sussex, 279.

tinnunculus, Falco t., see Kestrel.

Tit, Blue, Recovery of marked,
131 ; Fecundity of, in relation
to age, 162, 195 ; A Study of,
by colour ringing, 307 ; Notes
on food of, 271.

, Continental Blue, in Kent,

251 ; in Radnorshire, 251.

, Continental Great-, Move-
ments from abroad, 65.

, Great, Recovery of marked,

13T ; Notes on food of, 271.

torquatus, Ttirdus, see Ouzel, Ring-.

totanus, Tringa t., see Redshank,
Continental.

Trapping Methods, 32.

tridactyla, Rissa t., see Kittiwake.

trivialis, Anthus t., see Pipit, 'Free-.

trochilus, Phylloscopus, see Warbler,
Willow.

INDEX.

353

troglodytes, Troglodytes t., see Wren.
Tucker, B. W., Notes on Packing
of broods and ‘‘ injury-feign-
ing ” of Velvet-Scoter, 256 ;
” Up-ending ” of Eiders, 279.
Tully, H., Note on Large number
of Whooper Swans in Northum-
berland, 254.

Turnstone in Somerset, 86.
turtur, Streptopelia t., see Dove,
Turtle-.

urbica, Delichon u., see Martin,
House-.

urogallus, Tetrao u., see Capercaillie.

vanellus, Vanellus, see Lapwing.

Venables, L. S. V., Letter on
possible occurrence of Faeroe
Rock-Pipit in British Isles,
1 44 ; Birds seen on an Autumn
and a Spring Atlantic crossing,
152 : Notes on Stock-Dove

flocks in breeding season, 196 ;
Nest-building by male Cirl
Bunting, 334.

vidalii, Athene n., see Owl, Little.

viridis, Picus, see Woodpecker,
Green..

viscivorus, Turdus v., see Thrush,
Mistle-.

vociferus, Charadrius, see Plover,
Killdeer.

vulgaris, Sturnus v., see Starling.

Wagtail, Grey, Unusual nesting
sites and food of, 137.

, Pied, Recovery of marked,

131. 321.

, White, Early, in Norfolk, 339.

, Yellow, Change of name, 2 ;

Male’s share in incubation, 312,
340-

Walpole-Bond, John, Notes on
the return of the Raven as a
nester in Sussex, 77 ; Crossbills
breeding in Sussex in 1939, 79 ;
White-rvinged Black Tern in
Sussex, 87 ; Spotted Crake in
Sussex in June, 87 ; Pale-
breasted Brent Goose in Sussex,
313 ; Letter on male Yellow
Wagtail incubating, 340.

Warbler, Barred, at Spurn,
Yorkshire, 29 ; at the Isle of
May, 55.

Marsh-, Arrival in Isle of

Wight, 1 15.

, Radde’s Bush-, Change of

name, 2.

, Willow-, Recovery of marked,

131 ; Feeding-frequency of,
273-

Weather, Effect of severe, on bird-
life, 271

West Indies, Notes on birds seen
on a voyage to the, and back,

245-

Wheatear, Early, in Sussex, 339.

Whinchat seen between Azores and
Ireland, 247.

Whitethroat, Recovery of marked,
321.

Wigeon, Movements to and from
abroad, 70 ; Recovery of
marked, 155, 321.

Wilkins, J. P., Notes on Common
Pochard breeding in Sussex,
112 ; Large numbers of Black-
tailed Godwits in Sussex, 280.

Williams, John G., Notes on
Summer plumage of female
Red-breasted Merganser, 196 ;
Continental Blue Tit in Rad-
norshire, 251.

Williamson, Kenneth, Notes on
Down-plumage and soft parts
of juvenile Chough, 78 ; Ruff
and Black-tailed Godwit in
the Isle of Man, 165 ; Numbers
of Black Redstarts on passage
in Man, 252 ; Iceland Redshank
in Isle of Man, 338.

Wilson, W., Note on Common
Eiders in Cheshire, 228.

354

BRITISH BIRDS.

WiTHERBY, H. F., Additions and
Alterations to the British List,
2 ; The Continental Redshank
as a British bird, 225 ; The
Species of Great Shearwaters
in the English Channel, 248 ;
Note on Black Guillemots
breeding in Wigtownshire and
Co. Down, 141 ; Obituary of
the late F. C. R. Jourdain,
286 ; Note on Information
required for the Breeding sec-
tion of The Handbook of British
Birds, 334.

, , AND E. P. Leach,

Movements of Ringed Birds
from abroad to the British
Isles and from the British
Isles abroad, 62.

, — — •, see Jourdain,

Rev. F. C. R.

Wontner-Smith, C., Note on
Jackdaw nesting in its first
year, 194.

Woodcock, Movements from
abroad, 73 ; Recovery of
marked, 159.

Woodpecker, Great Spotted, nesting
in Bute and Sutherland, 87,
115 ; Food and method of
feeding fledged young, no.

, Green, in Lanarkshire, 55.

Wren, Feeding-frequency of, 273 ;
Observation on breeding and
song of, 294.

yarrellii, Motacilla a., see Wagtail,
Pied.

Yellowshank, Greater, seen in
Scilly Islands, 113.

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