ZS IZ I ■M S «. % i I If I •f 'i r j } t « I .(■N 1 1 .4? ■«»K. BRlTlSnDIRDS With which was Incorporatkd in January, 1917, “ The Zoologist.” AN ILLUSTRATED MAGAZINE DEVOTED CHIEFLY TO THE BIRDS ON THE BRITISH LIST EDITED BY BERNARD W. TUCKER, m.a., f.z.s., m.b.o.u. ASSISTED BY- NORMAN F. TICEHURST, O.B.E., M.A., F.R.C.S., M.B.O.U., A. W. BOYD, M.C., M.A., F.R.C.S., M.B.O.U., AND J. D. WOOD, B.A., M.B.O.U. Volume XLIII 1950 H. F. & G. WITHERBY Ltd. 5, WARWICK COURT, W.C.l. • T t • ^ f »•> V u. .* ■•„*.. ,'?i 1^ r I - V * I'-Tr '►jv*' :>V* -:-ij .-rjt.-'**"* ' ' .*» •" ■’.V'*'' • *' ’’’ ^»r^o^J:T r:- ijss^ ' • ' ■ T.- VI f^. :*8’"”VFra ^mr v*^ "i r j •• I ^ • 'i ■ . . - , Tti .r* i V.*. ' r^.. ■|P r ‘' •- :a«» * i . »# . w rC -r ■«:- ♦ 1 4 < '-Ii ^ • - i» • •' «L ^ •• .-r-^ • pi * i ‘‘t -V - -• j 3^.' ■ » » - f V » 1' V ’1 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. PAGE Plate. 1 Upper- -Thingvallavatn, S.W. Iceland, from the top of THE ALMANNAGJA : BREEDING HAUNT OF THE GrKAT NORTHERN l^ivER (Colymbus immer) . Lower- Thingvallavatn : nest- ing ISLET OF Great Northern Diver {Colymbus immer). * {Photographed by G. K. Yeates) . . . . . . . . facing i() Plate 2 (jREAT Northern Diver /wiweT). .\J ale on nest : NOTE HEAVIER HEAD AND STOUTER BILL THAN FEMALE. {Photographed by Dr. K. J. Carlson) Ptate 3 Great Northern Diver {Colymbus immer), female on NEST : NOTE SMALLER HEAD AND SLIGHTER BILL THAN MALE. ( Photographed by G. K. ’ideates) . . Plate 4 Great Northern Diver {Colymbus immer), " alarm ” POSITION ON NEST. {Photographed by G. K. Yeates) . . Plate 5 Great Northern Diver {Colymbus immer) turning eggs : BACK VIEW. {Photographed by G. K. Yeates) . . Plate o Great Northern Diver {Colymbus immer) turning eggs. {Photographed by Bjorn Bjornsson) Plate 7 Great Northern Diver {Colymbus immer) on nest. {Photographed by Bjorn Bjornsson) Plate tS Gre.vf Northern Diver {Colymbus immer) on water near NEST. {Photographed by Bjorn Bjornsson) Plate y Great Northern Diver {Colymbus immer). Upper — nest AND EGGS {Photographed by G. K. Yeates). Lower — on WATER near nest. {Photographed by Bjorn Bjornsson) facing 1 7 Plate 10 Scenes at an artificial drinking pool. Fig. i. Great Tit, Marsh-'I'it and Blue Tits. {Photographed by Eric llosking) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . facing 48 Fig. 2. Great Spotted Woodpecker. {Photographed by Eric Hosking) Plate II Figs. 3 and 4. Hawfinches drinking. {Photographed by Eric Hosking) Plate 12 Scenes at an artificial drinking pool. Figs. 5 and t>. Hawfinch and young. ( Photographed by Eric Hosking) . . Plate 13 Scenes at an artificial drinking pool. Fig. 7. Adult Hawfinch threatening JUVENILE Mistle-Thrush. Fig. 8. Juvenile Hawfinch bathing. {Photographed by Eric Hosking) Plate 14 Scenes at an artificial drinking pool. Figs. 9 and 10. .\ggressive behaviour between Hawfinch and juvenile Mistle-Thrush. {Photographed by Eric Hosking) . . Plate If) SCENFLS AT AN ARTIFICIAL DRINKING pool. F'ig. II. JUVENILE Hawfinch and juvenile Blackbird bathing. Fig. 12. Immature male Redstart. {Photographed by Eric Hosking) Plate 16 Scenes at an artificial drinking pool. Mgs. 13 and 14. Juvenile Mistle-Thrushes. {Photographed by Flric Hosking) Plate 17 Eider Duck nesting on beach, Walney Island, June, 1949. {Photographed by K. A. H. Coombes) . . . . facing 40 Plate 18 Purple Sandpiper {Calidris maritima). Upper — Typical BREEDING GROUND IN THE MOUNTAINS OF NORTHERN SWEDEN I Plateau of Luottolako (1,300 metres), with the palkat GLACIER IN THE BACKGROUND, J ULY i6TH, I943. Lower — Parent on watch on rock ,\ftf;r hatching oi YOUNG. {Photographed by 0\oi Swaxihovg) ..facing no LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. Plate 19 Purple Sandpiper (Calidris maritinia) male brooding : Lake Vuorekjaure (1,000 metres), Northern Sweden, July 4TH, 1942. (Photographed by Olof Swanhcrg) . . Plate 20 Purple Sandpiper (Calidris maritima), female brooding : Lake Vuorekjaure (1,000 metres). Northern Sweden, July 3RD, 1942. (PAotogra^/!£’(^ Olof Swanberg) .. Plate 21 Purple Sandpiper (Calidris maritima), nest on Luottolako, Northern Sweden (see Plate 18), July 9TH, 1943. (Photo- graphed by Olof Swanberg) Plats 22 Purple Sandpiper (Calidris maritima), young, Luottolako, Northern Sweden, Jul\ i6th, 1943. (Photographed by Olof Swanberg) Plate 23 Purple Sandpiper (Calidris maritima) feeding in Lake Vuorekjaure, Northern Sweden, June 25TH, 1942. (Photographed by Olof Swanberg). Plate 24 Purple Sandpiper (Calidris maritima), Hrotafjokdur, North Iceland, June, 1948. (Photographed by G. K. Yeates) Plate 25 Purple Sandpiper (Calidris maritima), Newhaven, Sussex, November 20th, 1948. (Photographed by C. G. des Forges) facing Plate 26 Experiments with dummy Cuckoos. Fig. 1. Body of SECTIONAL Cuckoo. Fig. 2. Sectional Cuckoo with tail AND WINGS ATTACHED. (Photographed by Eric Hosking) facing Plate 27 Experiments with dummy Cuckoos. J-ig. 3. Sectional Cuckoo with head, tail and wings. Fig. 4. Willow- Warbler (Phylloscopus trochilus) attacking head of Cuckoo attached to wooden body. (Photographed by Eric Hosking) Plate 28 Experiments with dummy Cuckoos. Fig. 3. Willow- Warblfr attacking head of dummy Cuckoo. (Photo- graphed by Eric Hosking) . . Plate 29 Experiments with dummy Cuckoos. Fig. o. Willow- Warblers attacking head of dummy Cuckoo. (Photo- graphed by Eric Hosking) . . Plate 30 Experiments with dummy Cuckoos. Fig. 7. Carved Cuckoo with eyes and metal tail and wings. Fig. 8. Willow-Warbler demonstrating with wing-flicking .and with chittering note on stick from which the Cuckoo head has been removed. (Photographed by Eric Ho.sking) . . Plate 31 PiNT.AiL (Anas acuta) : newly hatched nestlings, Norfolk, May 14TH, 1949. (See page 139.) {Photographed by James G. Warner) Plate yz Upper- -Fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis) sunbathing, (treat Saltee Island, (io. Wexford. (See page i6o.) (Photo- graphed by A. G. Mason). Lower — King used by T^oyai. Dutch Hawking Club for marking Herons. (See letter, page 165.) (Photographed by M. J. Tekke) Plate 33 Bonaparte’s Gull (Larus Philadelphia) in winter plumage. (Photographed by Allan D. Cruikshank) . . . . . . facing Plate 34 Desert Wheatear (CEnanthe deserti), ringed Vorkshirk. January fjTH, 1950. (Photographed by G. R. Edwards) faring PAGE II7 15-i 15.1 l,S^ LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. Plate J5 Desert Wheateak {LEnanlhe deserti). Upper — Detau. of RIGHT WING. Lower — Detail of left wing showing WHITE inner margins OF PRIMARIES. [Photographed by G. R. Edwards) . . Plate 36 Desert Wheatear [iEnanthc deserti). Upper — Head. Lower — Detail of tail and rump. [Photographed by G. R. Edwards) . . Plate 37 Blue Tit about to feed young Blackbirds. [Photo- graphed by Douglas F. Lawson) . . Plate 38 Blue Tit feeding young Blackbirds. [Photographed by Douglas F. Lawson) Plate 39 House-Martins collecting mud : note also the para- sitic (Hippoboscid) fly on the bird nearest the camera. [Photographed by Eric Hosking) . . Plate ^o House-Martins collecting mud : note also the para- sitic (Hippoboscid) fly on the right-hand bird. [Photo- graphed by Eric Hosking) . . Plate 41 Hou.se-Martin collecting mud [Photographed by Eric Hosking) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . facing Plate 42 Black-winged Stilt [Himuntopus himantopus) approaching nest, Camargue, May, 1947. [Photographed by W. E. Higham) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . facing Plate 43 Black-winged Stilt [Himantopus himantopus) approaching nest, C.\margue, May, 1947. [Photographed by W. E. Higham) Plate 44 Black-winged Stilt [Himantopus hinumtopus) approaching nest, Camargue, May, 1947. [Photographed by G. K. Yeates) Plate 45 Black-winged Stilt [Himantopus himantopus), Camargue, May, 1937 : male incubating, female on guard. [Photo- graphed by G. K. Yeates) . . Plate 46 Black-winged Stilt [Himantopus himantopus), Camargue, May, 1937 • female relieving, male on nf;st. [Photo- graphed by G. K. Yeates) . . Plate 47 Bartram’s Sandpiper or Upland Plover [Bartramia longicauda), Belleville, Michigan, June 17TH, 1923. [Photographed by Dr. Frank M. Wilson) . . t^late 48 Bartram’s Sandpiper or Upland 1‘lover [Bartramia longicauda) on nest. [Photographed by Allan D. Cruikshank) Plate 49 Trapped Jay " collapsed." [Photographed bv G. K. Meuntfort.) [See page 252) Same bird " recovered." [Photographed by G. K. Mountford.) [See page 252) . . . . . . . . facing Plate 50 Temminck’s Stint [Calidris temminckii) nesting ground at Lake Vourekjaure (1,000 metres). Northern Sweden, July 14TH, 1944. Three nests are marked by small FLAT stones LEANED AGAINST EACH OTHER IN THE RIGHT- HALF OF THE FOREGROUND. [Photographed by Olof Swanberg) facing Plate 51 Temminck’s Stint [Calidris lemminckii) settling on nest : near Lake Tjalmejaure (750-800 metres). Northern Sweden, June 28th, 1931. [Photographed by OXoiSviSinh&rg) Plate 52 Temminck’s Stint [Calidris temminckii) incubating : near Lake Tjalmejaure (750-800 metres). Northern Sweden, June 28th, 1931. ( Photographed by Olof Swanberg) ... P.A.GE 248 249 328 UST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. l‘lale 53 Temminck’s Stint (Calidris tcinmmctdi) incubating : neak Lake Tjai.mejauke (750-800 metres). Northern Sweden, Junk j.Sth, k)3j . {I^hologyaphed by Olof Swauberg) . . 1‘latc 54 Temminck’s Stint {Calidris temminckii) near Lake Tjai.me- jaure (750-800 metres), Northern Sweden, June 28th, 1931- {Photographed, by Olof Swanberg) Plate 55 Te;mminck’s Stint {Calidris teniminckii) nest and eggs, Northern Sweden. {Photographed by Olof Swanberg) Plate Temminck’s Stint {Calidris iemmincku). I'pper — newly HATCHED young. {Photographed by Olof Swanberg.) Lower -habitat at SE.V-UiVKL, IN LESS DESOLATE SURROUNDINGS THAN Plate 50. Vad.sc) district, Varanger Fjord. Northern Norway. {Photographed by H \V. Tucker) Plate 57 Semipalmatkd Sandpiper {Calidris pttsilla). {Photographed by Allan D. Cruikshank) . . Plate 58 Little Stint {Calidris minuta) AIidrips, Sussex, Septe.mber, 1949. {Photographed by Q. Ct. Aesleoiges) Plate 59 Little Stint {Calidris minula), Amsterdam, September i ith, 1935. {Photographed by J. E. Sluiters) . . Plate (>o American B.ald E.agle in Yorkshire. Male from Heedale, near Scarborough, Yorks, January', 1865, photographed alongside a White-Tailed Eagle (right- hand bird) kor comp.arison {see page 339). {Photographed by J. K. l-icister) . . Plate ()i Nest of Willow- Warbler in wall, Beccles, Suffolk. {See page 337.) {Photographed by James O. Warner) . . Remarkable accumulation of nest materials by Star- lings AT Driffield, Yorks. {See page 335.) {Photographed by L. E. Bouldin) . . . . facing Plate 62 Calandra Lark {AJ elanncorypha calandra) at nest, I.a Chau, S. France, June, 1950. (Photographed by H. A. Patrick) facing Plate 03 Calandra Lark {AJelanocorypha calandra), La Crau, S. France, June, 1950. {Photographed by G. K. Yeates) Plate 64 Calandra Lark {Melanocorypha calandra). La Crau, S. France, June, 1950. {Photographed by C>. K. Yeates) Plate 05 Short-toed Lark {Calandrella brachydactyla) at nest with Y'OUNG. La Crau, S. France, Junk, 1950. {Photographed by G. K. Yeates) . . Plate 00 Short-toed Lark {Calandrella brachydactyla) .vt nest with YOUNG. La Crau, S. France, June, 1950. {Photographed by M. A. Patrick) . . Plate 07 Short-toed 1,ark {Calandrella brachydactyla) at nest with YOUNG. La Crau, S. France, June, 1950. {Photographed by Cj. K. Yeates) . . Plate 08 Short-toed Lark {Calandrella brachydactyla) at nest with YOUNG. 1-A Crau, S. France, June, 1950. {Photographed by John Armitage) Plate O9 Black-eared Wheatear {CEnanthe hispanica) nesting-site ON La Crau, S. France, June, 1950. {Photographed by G. K. Yeates) Plate 70 JiLACK-EARKD VVheatear (CEnanthe hispanica) male with FOOD FOR Y’OUNG. La CRAU, S. FRANCE, ) UNK, 1950. (PhotO' graphed by G. K. Yeates) . . PAGE 3-29 394 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. f'AtiK I'latr 7! Black-karki) Wheatear [CEnanthc. hispanica) male with l■001) FOR YOUNG. La CRATT, S. PR.SNCE, | UNK, H).50. (Phofo- graphed by G. K. 'NVates) . . Plate jj. Bi.ack-e.vred Wheatear {CEnanthc hispanica) .mate with FOOD FOR YOUNG. La Crait, S. Fr.vnce, Jt^ne, id.-jo. {Photo- graphed hy K. V'eates) . . Plate j \ Bi.ack-earkd Wheatear {(Enunthe hispanica) .male with FOOD FOR YOUNG. La CrAU, S. FraNCK, JuNE, IO50. {Photo- yyaphed by C. K. Voates) . . . . . . facing 36“, tdate 74 Iceland (iuLi. {Laras glaaroides). First winter bird. Shetland, February Hth, ro.So. {Photographed by G. T. Kay) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . facing .|io Plate 75 Iceland Gull (Lancs glaucoides). Upper — I''irst winter BIRD. Shetland. {Photographed by J. D. Katlar.) I.ower Second winter bird. Shetland, 1''ebruary i'sth, 1050. (Photographed hy J. Peter.son) Plate 76 Iceland Gull {Laras glaucoides). Captive bird in fourth WINTER. Shetland, .\pril 23RD, 1050. {Photographed bv G. T. Kay) '.. .. .. fatale 77 IcEL.AND Gull {Laras glaucoides). (.'aptive birds in second (right) and fourth winters. Shktla.nd, .\pRiL 23RD, 1050. {Photographed by G. T. Kay) Plate jH Iceland (Iull {Laras gla acoides) . First winter bird. Shetland, T'emruary ioth, iq=;o. {I^hotographed bv G. W. Till loch) ; t^tate jL) IcEJ.AND (kJLL {Laras glaucoides). 1'irsi' winter bird. Shetland. February, 1050. {Photographed l>v J. Pcter.son) l*fate 80 IcEi.AND (JuLL {Laras glaucoides). Iurst winter bird. Shetl.and, F'ebruary, 1950. {Photographed bv I- Pderson) Plate 81 IcELA.ND Gull {Lancs glaucoides). First winter bird with Herring-Gull {Laras argentalus) to show comparative SIZES. Shetland, February 8th, 1050. {From a cine photo bv G. T. Kay) . . . . . . facing .| 1 j 1 BRITISH BIRDS AN ILLUSTRATED MAGAZINE DEVOTED CHIEFLY TO THE BIRDS ON THE BRITISH LIST Monthlj 15. 9J. Yearly los. JANUARY, 19^0 VoL. XLIII. No. i Published by H. F. G. Witherby Ltd. BRITISH BIRDS EDITED BY BERNARD W. TUCKER, M.A., F.Z.S., M.B.O.U. ASSISTED BY Norman F. Ticehurst, o.b.e., m.a., f.r.c.s., m.b.o.u. A. W. Boyd, m.c., m.a., f.z.s., m.b.o.u. AND J. D. Wood, b.a., m.b.o.u. Contents of Number i, Vol. XLIII, January, 1950. The Pseudo-sleeping attitude of the Oyster-catcher. By Kenneth Williamson... Field notes on the nesting habits of the Great Northern Diver. By G. K. Yeates Studies of some species rarely photographed. XXIV. The Great Northern Diver. Photographed by G. K. Yeates, K. V. Carlson and Bj6rn Bjornsson Dancing Display of the Wheatear — I. By George Edwards, Eric Hosking and Stuart Smith; II. By J. F. Monk Bird skeletons found in a hollow tree. By Ursula M. Grigg Notes on the breeding of the Pied Flycatcher. By Bruce Campbell... Notes ; — Rook using old nest of Magpie (J. H. Owen) ... Jackdaw preying on adult Chaffinch (Raymond F. Bawtree) Wood-Lark nesting in Yorkshire (J. Lord) Sky-Lark’s nest with doorstep of chalk nodules (W. M. Congreve) Great Grey Shrike in Cardiganshire (W. M. Condry and H. E. Wright, Nesting materials of Wood-Warbler (H. Ormesher) ... Flycatching of Fieldfare (Maurice Larkin) Behaviour of Song-Thrush at nest (John Field) Wheatear in Sussex in winter (Jeffrey H. Boswall and D. H. Brown) Hedge-Sparrow nesting in bullrushes (D. F. Beckett) Dusting of Owls (Sir Philip Manson-Bahr) Large brood of Mute Swans (R. V. A. Marshall) ... Diving of Shovelers (Mark Dean) Red-crested Pochard in Cheshire (C. A. Milner) Ferruginous Duck and Red-crested Pochard in Nottinghamshire (S. Allison) Sun-bathing of Tufted Duck (M. J. Rogers) ... Early breeding of Great Crested Grebe (C. E. Douglas ; T. Banks) Aggressive behaviour of Great Crested Grebe (A. J. Bruce) Greater Yellowshank in Ireland — a. correction (Rev. P. G. Kennedy) Food of Iceland Redshank (P. A. Rayfield) Little Ringed Plover in Essex (R. V. A. Marshall) Kentish Plover in Devon (J. Mansel Reese) ... Kentish Plover in Gloucestershire (A. C. Leach) Repeated bigamy of Oyster-catcher (J. A. G. Barnes) Feeding behaviour of Little Gull (D. D. Harber) Unusual flight display of Black-headed Gull (E. Cohen) Glaucous Gull in Staffordshire (A. W. Wolton, M. J. Rogers, J. R. Rawsthorne) Short Notes : — Roosting of Coal-Tit. Late Nightjar in Derbyshire. Low nests of Turtle-Dove. Black Tern in Pemorokeshire. Late Sandwich Tern in Lancashire ... Reviews : — Bird Recognition, Vol. I. By James Fisher ... Marsh and Shore. By Hilda M. Quick Letters ; — Winter feeding hours of birds (Rev. John Lees) Rubber in castings of Rooks and Jackdaws (J. H. Owen) Variant Yellow Wagtails (H. G. Alexander) ... Song-Periods (H. G. Alexander)... Page 5 8 9 II 13 16 16 16 17 17 17 18 18 18 18 19 19 19 20 20 21 21 21 22 22 22 23 23 23 25 26 26 27 28 29 30 31 31 32 BRITISH BIRDS Number i, Vol. XLIII, January, 1950. THE PSEUDO-SLEEPING ATTITUDE OF THE OYSTER-CATCHER. BY Kenneth Williamson (Fair Isle Bird Observatory) It is well-known from the work of Makkink (1942) and Edwards et al. (1948) that in certain situations the Oyster-catcher (HcBmatopus ostralegus) adopts a “ pseudo-sleeping ” attitude. The bird stands on one or both legs, with the bill plunged into the scapulars, closely simulating the normal resting pose of wading-birds, but the eyes remain wide open and the bird is obviously very much on the alert. Makkink studied the attitude in its aposematic context, whilst Edwards et al. photographed it as a reaction to the bird’s own reflection in a mirror mounted close to the nest. That the pseudo- sleeping figure occurs commonly in the Oyster-catcher’s complex series of distraction-behaviour patterns (for a description of which see Williamson, 1943) does not appear to have received attention, and it is the purpose of the present contribution to deal with pseudo- sleeping as a reaction to human disturbance. Whilst I was searching for the week-old chicks of a pair of Oyster- catchers on Fair Isle on June 8th, 1949, both parents flew round above me with the “ whirr-flight ” and excited cries. After looking among the scattered rocks on the cliff-top, in the vicinity of the deserted nest, I sat down below and out of sight of this position and remained quiet for a quarter of an hour. Both birds settled down, one beyond the cliff-top at my back, and the other in a prominent position on the slope 20 yds. in front of me. This bird, the presumed male of the pair, adopted the pseudo-sleeping attitude (see photo- graphs in Edwards et al.). At first the bird stood stiffly on both legs with the bill pushed into the left scapular feathers, the basal quarter of its length showing, and the red-rimmed eye wide open. There were intermittent withdrawals of the head, but after glancing about the bird resumed the posture. After a few minutes the bird raised the right leg and stood on one only, in a more natural resting posture, but the eye remained open and the bird was obviously fully alert. Now and then the disengaged foot was shaken nervously. Then the bird " slept ” with its head turned to the right side, still standing on the left foot. Occasionally it withdrew its bill and glanced around, but at this stage the disengaged leg was not lowered except on one or two occasions when sudden puffs of wind threatened to overbalance the bird. Each time the pseudo-sleeping attitude recurred it was adopted by a sudden turn of the head and emphatic jabbing of the bill into the feathers. BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XLIII This pseudo-sleeping was conducted, with frequent breaks of a few seconds’ duration, for at least a quarter of an hour, 1 then rose and began to climb to the cliff-brow. The bird flew up at once, calling excitedly, and as I came over the top I saw the female running off 20 yds. away, and after a short search found the two week-old chicks near by. On a later occasion, when sitting on the moor in open view of a pair which was known to have week-old young, I observed pseudo- sleeping in one of the adults, whilst the second walked about and frequently resorted to a false-brooding posture. On a third occasion, July 12th, a pair and two fledged juveniles were together on a rock a few yards offshore. On my approaching the shore one of the adults set up an anxious “ kleep, kleep ” call, but desisted immediately I sat down to watch. It adopted the pseudo-sleeping attitude. Each time I rose and moved about it " woke up ” and began crying “ kleep, kleep ” in anxiety, but it took up the pseudo-sleeping attitude again whenever I sat down. The most interesting observation, in which a juvenile bird was actively concerned, was made on a grassy slope above the cliffs on July 29th. My wife and I were sitting about 40 yds. away from a pair of Oyster-catchers and their fledged youngster, and for a long time the two adults watched us closely, mostly in the pseudo-sleeping ^ attitude. One parent supported itself on both legs, the other on one leg only. The former often called “ pik ” with the bill deep among the mantle feathers, sometimes just before withdrawing the bill for a few seconds. Later I got a closer approach to these birds, and lay still, observing them. One adult went higher up the hillside and practised the pseudo-sleeping attitude there, but the other parent and the juvenile remained on the point about 20 yds. away. The adult began pseudo- sleeping, on both legs, and soon the young bird followed suit. As this youngster still had filaments of down waving in the breeze it cannot have been on the wing more than a few days. Its eye was wide open, the brown iris clearly visible in the glasses, and the bill ' was completely buried in the feathers. On three occasions a visiting adult, the same bird each time, alighted a few yards from the young one. The parents “ woke up” j at once and advanced towards it in Makkink’s ” diplomatist attitude, and as it ran before them they began piping at it After | a few seconds of this treatment, the stranger flew off. I saw that j each time it arrived the young bird crouched flat, although the short , grass offered it no concealment. This habit of crouching in the manner of an unfledged chick is not unusual among juvenile birds \ when the territory is invaded by a visiting adult and the parents endeavour to pipe the newcomer away The young bird remained in this crouching position during and after the third visit, and when the parent went back to its pseudo- j sleeping the juvenile followed suit, remaining flat on the ground. » VOL XLiii.j PSEUDO-SLEEPING OF OYSTER-CATCHER 3 Later it raised itself somewhat, so that although it was still squatting on the tarsi these were now clearly visible and not hidden by the belly feathers as before (see figure). Later still the juvenile stood upright, and practised pseudo-sleeping with one leg drawn up. On a number of occasions I have noticed that when a flock of Oyster-catchers is resting on the shore, and most birds are standing in the normal resting attitude with one leg drawn up and the eyes closed, those birds nearest to the observer (and therefore most anxious about his movements) are pseudo-sleeping only. These individuals are the first to show anxiety and give alarm if a closer approach is attempted. I have seen similar behaviour in resting Dunlins {Calidris alpina) and it is doubtless characteristic of other waders. Makkink (1942), who was one of the first to study this attitude and who gave it this name, concluded from a number of observations that it is adopted when two opposing emotional tensions are in equilibrium — as, for instance, when the impulse to attack (in an encounter with another bird) is not strong enough to overcome the impulse to withdraw, and vice versa. Each emotion mutually inhibits the formal expression of the other, and the bird takes refuge in this negative attitude. He rejects Kortlandt’s (1940) theory that Pseudo-sleeping attitude of female and juvenile Ovster-catchees, Fair Isle, July 29TH, 1949. pseudo-sleeping is a displacement or substitute activity on the ground that its inactive nature would not suffice as an outlet for the store of emotional energy demanding expression ; but, as Edwards et al. point out, it is perhaps possible for emotional tension to be dissipated merely by the forced assumption of a resting attitude on the part of the bird. In the several examples given above, the pseudo-sleeping attitude occurred in much the same kind of psychological state as is des- cribed by Makkink, although in these cases its status is clearly that of a distraction , not an aposematic display. It is clear, however, if we accept Tinbergen’s definition (see Armstrong, 1948, p. 114), that the activity — at least in so far as its present connexion is con- cerned— falls into the displacement group. If, as seems possible, 4 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XLIII. it has its origin and primitive use in flocking behaviour, then it must also enter aposematic behaviour as a displacement activity. It appears to be characteristic of a low emotional state when two conflicting drives are aroused and are more or less in equilibrium. In each case, by remaining quietly at a short distance, I was able to reduce the emotional tension of the adults below the threshold demanding expression in “ whirr-flight ” and the associated alarm cries. My continued presence caused anxiety, or suspicion, however, and seems to have created a state of low emotional value in which the impulse to carry on normal routine (feeding, preening, etc.) was inhibited, and nicely balanced, by the declining impulse to remon- strate against my presence. As soon as I became active, and so constituted a potential threat to the young, the latter impulse mounted suddenly and gained control of the bird's behaviour. Thus, in the event of disturbance by a potential predator, pseudo- sleeping may occur when the emotional level has not yet been raised above (or, conversely, has been lowered beneath) the effective threshold for the normal expression of alarm for the safety of the brood. It remains to ask whether or not the pseudo-sleeping figure has any biological value in the distraction behaviour of the Oyster- catcher. There is no direct evidence for this, but it is conceivable that an attitude simulating an unguarded state would cause the attentions of a predator to be concentrated on the adult, with benefit for the survival of the young. It is tempting to infer biological valency from the stereotyped nature of the pattern and the regularity with which it is practised, though this is no proof of its success. The fact that the figure is sometimes indulged in by the juvenile bird — even only a few days after it has learned to fly — is evidence of its deeply inherited nature and ancient origin. REFERENCES Armstrong, E. A. (1948). Bird Display and Behaviour . London. Edwards, G., Hosking, E., and Smith, S. (1948). ‘‘Aggressive display of the Oyster-catcher,” Brit. Birds 41 : 236-243, pis. 31-40. Kortlandt, a. (1940) in Ned. Tijdschr. v. Psychologic, 7. Makkink, G. F. (1942). ‘‘ Contribution to the knowledge of the behaviour of the Oyster-catcher,” Ardea 31 : 23-74. Williamson, K. (1943). “The behaviour-patterns of the western Oyster- catcher in defence of nests and young,” Ibis 83 : 486-490. (5) FIELD NOTES ON THE NESTING HABITS OF THE GREAT NORTHERN DIVER. BY G. K. Yeates. (Plates I — 9). The following notes on the Great Northern Diver {Colymbus immer) were made chiefly at a nest on the great lake of Thingvallavatn in South-west Iceland during June, 1949. They are supplemented by field notes made during the previous June in the hill-lake country east of Stathur on the Hrutafjord (North Iceland). In 1948 I was accompanied by Captain T. B. W. Jeans, and in 1949 by Dr. K. J. Carlson. The present status of the Great Northern Diver in Iceland is most satisfactory, for wherever there are many hill-lakes, it may be confidently expected in numbers, comparable at least with those of the Black-throated Diver (C. arcticus) in the Western and North- western Highlands of Scotland. Of this healthy state we had plenty of evidence at Stathur in 1948, when in the evening, during the “ night ” and at dawn the high-pitched, almost idiotic-sounding, flight-calls of birds coming and going from their fishing in the fjord were constantly in our ears, and made us realize that in the great inland sea of lakes which stretched away to the east a very consider- able number of pairs must have been nesting. In point of fact, in the area immediately behind our camp which we worked intensively we knew of three nesting pairs, but that area was but a tiny portion of the whole suitable terrain. In the south-west the bird is not, and never has been, so common, but it appears to occur wherever it can find a large enough lake of reasonable privacy. It is indeed good to be able to state that at least two pairs still nest on Thing- vallavatn, as Jourdain (i) recorded over 30 years ago. And Thing- vallavatn can by no stretch of the imagination be regarded as remote. It is indeed after early June the popular boating, fishing and camping resort of Reykjavik. Dr. Finnur Gudmundsson also informs me that of recent years this species, and with it the Whooper Swan {Cygnus cygnus), has steadily colonized lakes ever further into the interior of Iceland and ever further from the sea. Of other parts of the country there is no reliable information since before the war, but there is little cause to doubt that the healthy position described by Vesey (2) for the north-west and Morrison (3) for the north-east is to-day being maintained. There is indeed little reason for it to be otherwise, for apart from the occasional loss of eggs to a Great Black-backed Gull {Larus marinns) and doubtless at times to other predators, and the even more unusual fate of an odd adult being caught in a fishing-net, of both of which I have had experience, the “ Himbrimi ” is a bird beloved by the Icelandic farmer, and none would lay destructive hands on him. Add the remoteness of many of its nesting lakes and Selous’s (4) lugubrious, but rather previous. t) BRITISH BIRDS. [vol. xliii. lamentations at the coming extinction of the species in Iceland hardly make sense. In its choice of breeding haunt the Loon approximates closely to the Black-throated Diver. It avoids small lakes, and appears to nest only on waters of considerable acreage, unlike its extremely abundant neighbour, the Red-throated Diver (C. stellatus), which seems happier on a small bog pool. It also, like the Black-throat, prefers the security of an island, but apparently it will not hesitate to nest on the mainland shore of a lake, though we never saw on either visit such a site. 1 could hnd no evidence that in Iceland the bird ever constructs the bulky, and often floating, reed nest so commonly reported from the New World (Bent (5) ; Dunlop (6)). The breeding-season varies with the earliness or tardiness of spring. In the open year of 1948 Jeans and I saw swimming chicks, perhaps 72 hours old, on June i8th. These eggs must therefore have been laid at least by mid-May. In the very late season of 1949, when the lakes of North Iceland were still ice-bound in mid- June, Carlson and I found a hardy pair on Thingvallavatn which had a clutch of two eggs on June 2nd. From the fresh state of the grasses in the nesting-scrape, and above all the fact that no brown “ earth- patches ” had been worn by the eggs, we judged that the incubation had only just begun, a few days at most before that date. Male and female are closely linked throughout the nesting cycle, though the female certainly bears the brunt of the incubation. The male, however, is rarely far away, and when the nest is approached by any possible danger, he appears, often “ from nowhere,” cruising up to the home waters in support of his mate. She, leaving the nest, immediately joins him, and the two birds ride close off-shore together, and are, as Dunlop (6) also describes, extraordinarily fearless. When the danger passes, both birds return to the vicinity of the nest, one departing ‘‘ out to sea ” as soon as the nest is again occupied by its partner. With chicks the link is even closer, and Jeans and I saw one chick on the back of each parent. We were too late to see anything of courtship, but three ” dis- plays ” were observed. Neck-outstretching and wing-arching, typical diver postures, were frequent and appear to serve as a normal greeting. So too were bill-dipping and the rolling-preen, in which, with one leg paddling and the white underparts revealed, the bird rotates around one spot. More unusual, but apparently the same as that noted by Dunlop (6) and Forbush (quoted in Witherby (7)), was the occasional display of the male in which a curious upright position was assumed. Rearing up until he appeared to be sitting on his tail, he thrashed the surface with his paddles, but with closed wings, and rushed over the lake, making the water fly and creating a considerable commotion. In this attitude, erect and upright, white belly to the front, the bird bore a remarkable resem- blance to a penguin. This imposing display was apparently incited, though not by any means at every visit, by our appearance on the VOL. XLiii.J NESTING OF GREAT NORTHERN DIVER. 7 nesting islet. Once, however, it appeared to be evoked by the presence of a third Loon near the nest. We interpreted it as a threat display. A third ceremony was a prolonged flight, with an introductory dance-game and a wild chorus. On occasions, when the birds were disturbed, they did not return directly to the nest when the coast was again clear, but, drifting out into the lake, made the welkin ring with a quite indescribable chorus of fiendish and blood-curdling yel- ling, a noise which puts into the shade even the unearthly shrieks and howls of the Black- and Red-throated Divers. While this satanic overture was being played, the birds would swim low in mock pursuit of one another, but towards the end they would draw into position for the “ take-off ” — dead level like horses on the tape. The “ singing ” ceased, they taxied in silence and, as they became air- borne, they once again shouted at the top of their voices, but now much of the devilry is out of the song, and it is a long-protracted wafling which can be heard at a very great distance. This they continue to make as long as they are in the air together. This may be for quite a time, for they frequently did a round-trip over the huge nesting lake which could hardly have been less than ten miles. All the while they fly dead level. Nearing the home waters, they cease to call, and arching their wings, swing in neck and neck, to cut in alighting a great furrow of water, like great Sunderland flying boats — a most thrilling performance to observe. These cacophonous duets of the Great Northern Diver defy description in words. I agree with Bent (5), that he is a wise man who does not try to set such music to syllables. It is perhaps a measure of the difficulty of doing so that although I spent three weeks in the almost constant company of these birds during 1948 and 1949, and became very familiar with their wide vocabulary, I even so find it very difficult to be sure to which of the notes I recognized are to be referred the various calls which are carefully distinguished and separated by W. L. Underwood (in Bent (5)). Perhaps the most characteristic note of the Loon, however, is easily and accurately set in syllables — a loud, far-carrying, high-pitched hoo - hoo - hoo. This is, in my experience, essentially a flight-call, and it is this call to which the birds give incessant tongue when moving between nesting lake and feeding lake or fjord. The kwuck - kwiick call of The Handbook is one which I cannot recognize and which does not seem to appear in any shape in my notes or memory. I have, however, heard the hoo - hoo note from a sitting bird which used it in staccato bursts of excitement at the sight of her mate and two other Loons assembled on the water within 200 yards of her nest. The occasion, indeed, was altogether too much for her, for she joined the party at speed, still hoo - hoo - hoo - ing, in greeting or anger, whereat there was much splashing of water, and much dash- ing over water in that extraordinary " game ” of diver-chase-diver. 8 BRITISH BIRDS. VOL. XLIII. necks outstretched, bodies half-submerged, while a chorus from all the devils in hell rings to the hills. In that wild setting of snow-clad mountains I know of no bird-scene in my experience more romantic or more inspiring, nor do I ever wish to see — or hear- — a grander, REFERENCES. (1) JouRDAiN, F. C. R. (1913). “ Notes on the Birds of South-W'est Iceland.” British Birds, \'ol. vi, pp. 233-45. (2) Vesey, a. H. (pseud. Lewis, Ernest) (1938). In Search of the Gyr- Falcon, p. 232. (3) Morrison, A. (1938). ” Notes on the Birds of North-East Iceland.” Ibis, 1938, pp. 129-36. (4) Selous, E. (1913). “A Diary of Ornithological Observations made in Iceland during June and July, 1912.” Zoologist, 1913, pp. 409-422. (5) Bent, A. C. (1919). ” Life Histories of North American Diving Birds.” Bidl. No. 107, U.S. Nat. Mus., pp. 47-60. (6) Dunlop, E. B. (1915). ” Notes on the Great Northern Diver.” British Birds, Vol. ix, pp. 142- 147. (7) WiTHERBY, H. F., et al. (1940). The Handbook of British Birds, Vol. iv, pp. 121-116. STUDIES OF SOME SPECIES RARELY PHOTOGRAPHED. XXIV. THE GREAT NORTHERN DIVER. Photographed ly G. K. Yeates, K. V. Carlson and Bjorn Bjornsson. (Plates I — 9). The 1 hotographs illustrating Mr. Yeates’s paper are being treated, by permission, as also constituting part of our series of “ Studies of Species rarely photographed ”, together with several others, also taken in Iceland, by Mr. Bjorn Bjornsson, of Reykjavik, previously received by us. J (9) DANCING DISPLAY OF THE WHEATEAR 1. J3v Gkokgk Edwakds, Eku' Hoski.nc; and Sti akt Smith. i^We have received, curiously enough, at approximately the same time two independent accounts of the remarkable leaping or dancing display of the Wheatear, of which, so far as we are aware, only two descriptions previously existed in ornithological literature. It has seemed best to publish the two new accounts as two sections of a single paper. — Eds.]. 1'he common display of the Wheatear {(Enanthe cenanthe), used in both threat and nuptial display, is one in which the bird leans forward in a crouched posture, with partly spread wings and fanned and elevated tail. There is, in addition, a commonly-used song- flight which is frequently a prelude to the above posturing. Of less common occurrence, but of very considerable interest, is a remarkable display dance which, as far as we can discover, has only twice been recorded in the literature, namely by Bertram Lloyd Trans. Herts. Nat. Hist. Soc. xix, pp. 135-9, Selous, Bird Watching (1901), p. 69. The dance is associated, in its usual form, with a trench or depression in the ground, the male Wheatear jumping very rapidly, in an arc, from one edge of the trench to the other. The displaying bird gives the impression of a whirling mass of rapidly moving feathers, which switches rhythmically backwards and forwards across the trench. During recent springs, we have witnessed this display and variants of it, M'hich leads us to believe that leaping rhythmically into the air is a fundamental part of the display pattern of the Wheatear, in both nuptial and aggressive displays. In the first week of June, 1948, Edwards was watching Wheatears on a sandy heath in Suffolk. The ground was furrowed with the wheels of tractors, which had scored a number of parallel grooves in the sandy soil. A male Wheatear appeared in the field of view of his binoculars, at 50 yds. distance, and perched on the crest of one of the tractor furrows. It then started to display by leaping at high speed to the crest of the next furrow and back again, a distance of approximately 2 feet at each leap. The leap was repeated six or eight times with a side- ways motion, the bird’s body being parallel to the line of the furrow. The surrounding ground was covered with a growth of young bracken fronds about 6 inches in height and it was not possible to detect the presence of a female bird, though it is almost certain that she was in the vicinity. In April, 1949, Edwards was in a glen in north Inverness-shire, where Wheatears were exceptionally numerous. During a heavy shower of snow, a hen Wheatear appeared in the gamekeeper’s kitchen garden and was approached by three male birds, which first dis- played at one another in the usual way with fanned and raised tails. Later one of these cocks approached the hen and displayed by sud- denly leaping about a foot into the air four times in rapid succession, whirling his wings and alightmg each time on the same spot. 10 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XLIII. Smith witnessed a display in 1938 in the Scottish Highlands in which two male Wheatears, after the normal tail-fanning, approached to within a foot of one another and then both leaped vertically into the air twice, whilst facing one another. One then flew a few yards to an oval depression in the moorland turf and did the “ trench display,” whirling from one rim of the depression to the other with legs dangling and probably moving. The speed with which this dance is carried out makes it difficult to see the intimate details, but the legs appear to be kicking and the feathers puffed out, with the wings rapidly whirled. Finally whilst working with a stuffed cock Wheatear placed near to a nest containing young, Hosking recorded the following behaviour. The cock and hen Wheatears returned together with food for the young and alighted near the nest. The hen called “ chack, chack,” and the cock then displayed to her by hopping towards her with wings raised and tail spread and then leaped over her and back again several times in rapid succession. These observations, combined with those of Lloyd and Selous, make it fairly certain that this form of display may be more common than appears from the very meagre references in the literature. The significance of the trench or depression in the dance is of con- siderable interest and further observations are needed. II. By J, F. Monk. On May 3rd, 1948, on downland near Streatley, Berkshire, I observed a display dance of the Wheatear {(Enanthe cenanthe). I was halfway down a gentle slope when my attention was attracted to a shallow hollow outside a rabbit-hole 15 yards further up the slope. A hen Wheatear was on the rim of the hollow whilst another bird, which turned out to be a male, was hurling itself backwards and forwards with great rapidity through the air in a 2 foot arc of a circle to and from a point near the female. The wings and tail were spread and fluttering rapidly, the whole effect being a blurred arc of white and grey feathers. The whole performance appeared to be one of complete abandonment. A second male appeared after about 10 seconds and the three birds almost immediately flew off. I could not see whether the displaying bird touched the ground or not. It was a warm sunny day and there was much singing amongst the 3 or 4 pairs present on the down. I watched another male, whilst singing, fly with a peculiar fluttering flight from one ground perch to another. There it ceased singing and crouched half forwards with its tail widely spread out on the ground in the regular display posture. I did not observe a female to be near. BIRD SKELETONS FOUND IN A HOLLOW TREE. BY Ursula M. Grigg. In January, 1948, a number of bird skeletons were found by Mr. Robert Aldridge in a hollow in the trunk of a wych elm felled near Fleet, Hants. As the writer was unable to examine the tree with the bones in situ Mr. Aldridge very kindly arranged for the material to be sent. The hollow, a rough sketch of which was provided, was about eighteen inches in diameter and twelve feet deep. The only entrance was a circular hole of unspecified diameter, sloping downwards and situated three feet from the roof of the cavity and thirty feet from the ground. The hollow contained approximately three feet of rotten wood overlaid by two and a half feet of mould with bones. The latter w'as stratified, having two layers of mould and bones separated from one another by a thin stratum consisting of mould only. The upper layer of mould and bones was reported as being shallower than the lower, and contained a higher proportion of bones. The top layer was at first thought to constitute the whole collection, and part of it had already been sent to Reading Museum and elsewhere. The rest of the material reached the writer in three lots ; first the skulls from the top layer, then some of the other bones. Finally, when the trunk was sawn up the lower deposit was found and sent in a sack, together with all that remained of the top layer. This explains why in the figures quoted later the number of sterna and pelvic girdles recorded from the top layer is less than the number of skulls, while the totals for the whole of the material received show good agreement. The total amount of material discovered was estimated by Mr. Aldridge at about two bushels. All the remains were clean, not much broken or decomposed, and contained very few pieces of feather. There was a fragment of eggshell, pale blue with grey blotches, but not identifiable. One skeleton, undisturbed and practically complete, was embedded in a lump of wood mould. There were also many insect remains, especi- ally beetle wings and blowfly puparia. One owl pellet, which crumbled when picked out, yielded mammal bones and the elytra of a beetle. The crania, most of which had the upper mandible still attached, and the sterna and pelvic girdles were picked out for counting and identification. The limb bones and vertebra; were not counted. The identifications were made by comparison with labelled specimens in the collection of the British Museum (Natural History). Four species were represented. Jackdaw {Corvus monedula). Starling {Sturnus vulgaris), Green Woodpecker {Picus viridis) and Stock- Dove {Columba cenas). There were no nestlings. The total numbers were as follows : - 12 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XLIll. Crania Sterna Pelvic J ackdaw ■ 74 89 90 Starling 9 5 Green Woodpecker ... 4 6 5 Stock-Dove ... 20 25 23 Fragments . 6 6 7 The numbers in the top layer were Jackdaw ■ 50 15 17 Starling 2 3 I Stock-Dove ... . 6 2 4 Girdles No reference to similar graveyards has been found in the limited literature available, nor have any of the local woodmen had any comparable experience. Several possible explanations of this collection of bones have been put forward. It was suggested that owls were responsible for the remains, but a consideration of the evidence shows that this is unlikely. The number of species found in the tree was small, and limited to birds resident in the district. The Handbook records all of them as nesting in tree holes, and all except Stock-Doves as roostmg there at least sometimes outside the breeding-season : there seems to be no reason why Stock-Doves should not roost in such situations occasionally. It is therefore not necessary to introduce the theory of a predator to account for the presence of the bodies in the hollow. The large bones were not broken up as they would be if the birds were devoured, and the small bones which one would expect to find in pellets were lying freely mixed with the other remains. The abundance of blowfly puparia indicates that there was carrion available, and with the undisturbed skeleton suggests that the birds decayed in situ. It seems reasonable to assume that if the material had been examined before being transported in a sack more undisturbed bones would have been found. The evidence supports the theory that the birds died in the hollow. The possibility that the entrance was such that a bird could enter but not leave by it was considered, but this seemed unlikely to operate for four species. Presumably if the birds were weakened by exposure or lack of food negotiation of the hole might be difficult. The times at which an appreciable mortality could be expected are during the breeding-season and during winter roosting. If the deaths occurred during the nesting season, remains of nestlings and nest material should have been present, and this was not the case. The most acceptable theory is theiefore that the remains are those of birds which roosted in the hollow and died there during severe weather. If the theory of death in hard weather is accepted, the strati- fication of the layers becomes interesting, for it seems possible that the shallow top layer, which contained a large proportion of the skulls, was formed during the unusually severe winter of 1946-7. The lower layer would then represent the accumulation of bodies at a lower rate of mortality over several previous winters. In this VOL XLiii.i BIRD SKELETONS IN HOLLOW TREE. 13 connexion the relatively higher proportion of Jackdaw skulls in the top la5^er is worthy of notice, suggesting either that they suffered more severely than the other species, or, more probably, that they monopolized the roost. The writer would like, in conclusion, to thank Mr. Aldridge and Mr. Will Ford for making the information and material available for consideration. BREEDING OF THE PIED FLYCATCHER BY Bruce Campbell. Brown (i) and Taylor (7) have described the origins and history up to IQ44 of the occupation by Pied Flycatchers {Muscicapa hypoleuca) of nestboxes put up by the Forestry Commission in an area of mature oakwood in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire. This occupancy has continued on an increased scale (3) and some new facts about the breeding of this species are given here as a result of observations made in 1947, 1948 and 1949. Nest Site. Boxes at all heights from 7 to 14 feet have been freely used, but old woodpecker holes in the middle of the “ boxed ” area were used in each year. In another part of the Forest a natural hole about 45 feet above the ground was seen to be occupied in 1948. Nest. In all except one of over 200 box nests examined oak leaves have formed the main foundation : the one exception was made of moss and dry grass. Leaves were found by 0. R. Owen (6) in " hundreds of nests ” in Central Wales, but are not mentioned as a material either by Naumann (5) or The Handbook (8). As with tits’ nests in the boxes, the foundation may vary from a depth of several inches to a bare sufficiency to hold the cup, made of honey- suckle (Loiiicera) bark, fine roots and bents ; hair, wool and feathers mentioned by other writers are never more than casual ingredients, though the last two are available and are used by tits. Pine-bark is occasionally used mixed with the leaves, as is moss. Late nests are usually very small and one in 1949 consisted only of a cup inserted in that of a previous tit’s nest. The cup is almost always placed against the side of the box opposite the entrance. 14 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XLIII. Eggs. Data on clutch-size can be summarized as follows : c/3 4 5 678 9 10 Total Mean First clutches 1948 — — 2 10 15 19 9 I 56 7-5 First clutches 1949 ... — — — 5 32 27 3 — 67 7-4 Repeat clutches 1949 ... — — 6 2 2 — — — 10 5.6 Second clutches 1948 ... - — I 5 — — — — 6 4.8 Second clutches 1949 ... 2 3 I • — — — — — 6 3-8 Total 2 4 14 17 49 46 12 I 145 6.96 These should be compared with The Handbook's “ 4 or 5 - 7, occasionally 8, while 9 and 10 have been recorded ” and Lack’s (4) “ usual clutch ” of 6k based on European data. The repeat clutches resulted from the robbery of 12 nests, ii of them during incubation, on May 21st, 1949, and could be distinguished as no other pairs were in a position to have genuine second clutches (see below). Eggs incubated but unhatched have been found as follows : 1947, 13 in 33 broods ; 1948, 23 in 47 broods ; 1949, 34 in 58 broods. The majority of these were infertile. Arrival and Breeding Season. In 1948 males and at least one female were present on April i6th ; in 1949 two males were seen on April 8th (only two earlier dates in Handbook) when one inspected a box ; more were seen on the 9th ; but they were not singing and were very elusive. By the third week of April in both years many birds were singing, and building was in progress. In 1948 a nest of 7 young on Maj^ 17th suggested that the first egg was laid on April 29th, assuming a minimum incubation period of 12 days ; in 1949 a nest with 3 eggs was found on April 27th. Most first broods were ready to fly by the end of the first v'eek of June in both years (c/. Handbook breeding season ; (" seldom before mid-May, often not till last week.”). Several new nests at the end of May, 1948, were at first considered to be repeat buildings. But on June 21st a female brooding a clutch of five was found to have been ringed in May on a clutch of eight, since flown, in another box. This proof of genuine double brooding {Handbook : '' single-brooded ”) and evidence for a smaller second clutch allowed the presumption that five similar nests were also in this category. All were built in boxes from which tit broods had flown, and the last of their young were about a week old on July 8th. A similar small number of second clutches was found in 1949. ” Cock’s Nests." In all three years incomplete nests have been found in a few boxes, and were at first thought to be deserted during building. In 1949, however, two of these nests were seen to be controlled by a male with a female incubating in a neighbouring VOL. XLiii ] BREEDING OF THE PIED FLYCATCHER. 15 box, and Colonel W. M. Logan-Home has since told me that an unmated male in Berwickshire in 1949 occupied a box for nearly a fortnight, after which a large nest was found inside. It therefore seems relatively certain that a small proportion of males do build extra nests, and it may be added that as soon as the cock’s nests were removed from the two Dean boxes, new pairs of flycatchers occupied them. I am indebted to W. B. Alexander and H. J. Har- greaves for these two observations. Distribution. In 1948 and 1949 Pied Flycatchers were seen and heard during the breeding season in several parts of the Forest of Dean where there have never been boxes. In a “ control ” area, about half a mile from the “ boxed ” area, at least 9 pairs were located on 56 acres in mid-May, 1948, when males were also heard by N. A. Wylie and myself singing in woods close to the Wye, actually in Mon- mouthshire and about 17 miles south-east of the small colony which I recorded previously as the only known station in that county (2). REFERENCES. (1) Brown, J. M. B. (1943). “ Pied Flycatchers Breeding in Gloucester- shire.” Brit. Birds, Vol. xxxvi, p. 179. (2) Campbell, Bruce (1946). " Notes on Some Monmouthshire and East Glamorgan Birds.” Brit. Birds, Vol. xxxix, pp. 322-5. (3) C.\MPBELL, Bruce (1949). ” Pied Flycatchers and Nest Boxes.” Bird Notes, Vol. xxiii, pp. 224-230. (4) Lack, D. (1948). ” The Significance of Clutch-Size ” (Part III). Ihis, Vol. 90, pp. 23-43. (3) N.\umann, and others (1903). N aturgeschichte der V'ogel Mitteleuropas, iv, p. 167. (6) Owen, O. R. (1943). ' Some Breeding Habits of the Pied Flycatcher.” Brit. Birds, Vol. xxxvi, p. 245. (7) Taylor, W. L. (1944). ” Ornithology and Forest Pests.” Forestry -. i-i I. (8) WiTHERBY, H. F., and others (1938). The Handbook of British Birds. Vol. 1, pp. 303-9. (16) NOTES. ROOK USING OLD NEST OF MAGPIE. 1 1' is well-known that a great many species of birds make use of old nests of the Magpie [Pica pica). I have several times seen examples of Carrion Crows {Corvus corone) doing so. In 1949, for the first time, 1 have had an example of Rooks (C. frugilegus) doing it. Tb.e Magpies built the nest in 1948 in the orchard at Morton Hall, near Oswestry. It was in a very old apple tree, the nearest tree to the house and bareh' ten yards from it. 1 measured the height of the nest to be approximately 24 feet. I first saw the Rooks busy on the nest on March 9th. On April 6th I managed to get a mirror over the nest, which held five eggs. The site seems exceptionally odd to me as the orchard is protected from north and west winds by a small wood. I counted 67 Rooks’ nests in the wood and these are at least 50 feet high. Also there is no shortage of sites there as 1 counted more than 100 nests in it in 1946. J. H. Owen. JACKDAW PREYING ON ADULT CHAFFINCH. On May 27th, 1949, two cock Chaffinches {Fringilla ccelehs) came fiuttering in combat down the creeper-covered wall of my house, striking my study window as they descended. They then flew about twent}'-five yards away, alighting on the lawn, where they con- tinued to fight vigorously for some seconds. 'I'here was then a pause, while the two birds crouched on the ground, facing each other about a yard apart, and apparently temporarily exhausted. At this moment a Jackdaw [Corvus monedula) came flying slowly across the lawn, at a height of less than five feet, and dropped suddenly on to one of the Chaffinches, with which it flew away, its victim held firmly in its bill. The grey nape of the Jackdaw, and the white wing bar of the finch were clearly visible as the attacker flew towards some trees. Jackdaws were at the time nesting in several of my chimneys, and it seems likely that this bird had been watching the fight from the roof. 1 have neither read of, nor previously seen, a Jackdaw taking an adult bird from the ground in this way. The incident took place at Studley, near Oxford. R.\ymond F. H.awtree. WOOD-LARK NESTING IN YORKSHIRE. In 1945 the breeding of the Wood-Lark [Lullula arborea) in York- shire was recorded by E. M. Rutter [antea, vol. xxxix, pp. 85-86) although no nest was located. During 1948 a pair of birds was observed in the same area of the North Riding of Yorkshire and although breeding was not proved the birds were seen at various dates between March 7th and October 8th. In 1949 the birds were again present and on April 15th a nest was found, in the same locality, on heathland recently planted with young conifers. The nest contained four young birds almost ready to leave the nest. British Biids, Vol. xliii, PI. 1 Upper. — Thingvai.lav.^tn, S.W. Iceland, from the top of the Almannagja : Breeding haunt of the (treat Northern Divicr (Colvnibus inmier) . Lower. — Thingvallan'atn : Nesting islet of Gricat Northern Diver [Colvnibus irnmcr) . [Photo^vaphed by G. K. Vea.tes). liritish Birds, Vol. xliii, PI. 2. Great Northern Diver (Colymbus immer). Male on nest : note heavier head and stouter bill than female. {Photographed by Dr. K. J. Carlson). British Birds, \'ol. xliii, PI. 3. I {Photographed by G. K. Yeates). Hritisli lairds, \’ol. xliii, PI. 4 CrRE.\T Northern Diver [Colynibus inimer). ‘ .\l.\rm ' position on nest. [Photographed by G. K. W-ates). 1 British Birds, \^ol. xliii, PJ. 5 (j < PQ in O O W O S H c/n C Di w X H X c H < X X C British lairds. \'ol. xliii, PI. (>. RE.\T Northern Diner {Colynibus iniwcr). Turning eggs. {Photogyaphed by Bjorn Bjornsson). British Birds, Vol. xliii, PI. 7. 1 if) w O o O w o c/5 O u :0 -C> Z w X H CJS o H .tf- W O I Eritisli F^ircls, \'oI. xliii, PI. 8. British lairds, Vol. xlii, Bl. !). C.REAT Northern Diver [Colvnibus im.nier). Upper. — Nest .and eggs. {Photographed by G. K. Yeates). Lower. — On water near nest. {Photographed by Bjorn Bjoriisson). VOL. XLIIl]. NOTES. 17 On April 17th whilst visiting another area some 12 miles distant in the East Riding I observed another pair of birds. On May ist a nest was found containing five eggs, a number described in The Handbook as being uncommon. The nest was situated amongst short dead bracken and was again in heathland with pine plantations. Another pair of birds was seen throughout the spring of 1949 by B. Burstall in a further East Riding locality about 20 miles away from the area referred to in the last paragraph. The birds were seen by G. H. Ainsworth and R. M. Garnett on April 29th. The above records appear to be the first instances of Wood-Larks’ nests being found in Yorkshire for many years. J. Lord. SKY-LARK’S NEST WITH “DOORSTEP” OF CHALK NODULES. On April 28th, 1949, in company with Dr. H. M. S. Blair, I was walking across some waste Hampshire downland on the Wiltshire border, when the latter found a well-concealed nest of the Sky-Lark [Alauda arvensis), containing two newly-hatched young, in tussocky grass amid a miniature forest of dead stalks of Meadow-Sage {Salvia pratensis). Opposite one third of the nest perimeter was a definite and conspicuous “ doorstep ” of small, white, rounded chalk nodules amounting to at least 30-40 in number. No other chalk was visible on the ground-surface near by. Both of us are aware that a “ doorstep ” is normal in the case of the Shore-Lark {Eremophila alpestris) and many desert larks abroad, but we know of no record for the Sky-Lark. W. M. Congreve. GREAT GREY SHRIKE IN CARDIGANSHIRE. As the Great Grey Shrike {Lanius excubitor) is so rarely seen in West Wales it may be of interest to report that we had one under observation near Devil’s Bridge, north Cardiganshire, for three- quarters of an hour on March 23rd, 1949. It sang several times from various high perches on hedges and isolated trees, the song being a series of scrapes and squeaks not unlike a Jay’s {Garmlus glandarius) but also including some loud, clear thrush-like notes, “ Too-ee, too-ee, too-ee, too-ee.” Once it chased off a Yellowhammer {Emberiza citrinella) in a half-hearted fashion. We saw it first at sunset and as dusk fell it went, apparently to roost, into an adjacent hedge. We are informed by Mr. G. C. S. Ingram that this is the first properly authenticated record for Cardiganshire. In 1927 the late Dr. J. H. Salter wrote : “Hutchings, the taxidermist at Aberystwyth, has preserved about half-a-dozen specimens during the last 50 years, but has no data for any of them.” W. M. CONDRY AND H. E. WrIGHT. NESTING MATERIALS OF WOOD-WARBLER. I FIND that frequently, though not invariably, there is a considerable quantity of moss in the foundation of the nest of the Wood-Warbler 18 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XLIII. {Phylloscopiis sihilatrix), but in The Handbook there appears no reference to moss as a nesting material. H. Ormesher. FLYCATCHING OF FIELDFARE. On October 21st, 1944, in Sutton Park, Warwickshire, I observed several members of a large flock of Fieldfares {Turdus pilaris) catching flying insects in the method used by flycatchers. Each bird would fly vertically into the air, snap at an insect, and then return immediately to the tree in which it had been perching. Although this behaviour is common among Starlings {Sturnus vulgaris), I have on no other occasion ever seen it among thrushes and can find no published reference to it. Maurice Larkin. BEHAVIOUR OF SONG-THRUSH AT NEST. On May 21st, 1949, a nest oi the Siong-Thrnsh. [Turdus ericetor urn) was visited which contained young, 8-days old. On approach one of the parent birds flew off the nest, which was 9 ft. up in an ivy- covered fork. On landing on a branch 15 ft. up and 5-10 yds. away it adopted a curious attitude, with body feathers puffed out, tail fanned and depressed and head lowered toward me. It then began to sway its whole body slowly from side to side. All the time the high pitched ‘ chick ’ alarm note had been uttered, but after each phrase of approximately five calls, one or two clicks were heard which seemed to be made by the mandibles. The display and calls were continued whilst I ringed the young. Another visit was made on May 23rd, when the same display was seen and same notes heard. A higher perch was used, which necessi- tated further lowering of the head and body in order to face me. On May 25th no display was seen. John Field. WHEATEAR IN SUSSEX IN WINTER On December 26th, 1948, we saw a Wheatear [CEnanthe oenanthe) near the shore at Cuckmere Haven, Sussex. We obtained good views of the bird and were able to see the brown upper-parts, blackish wings, bufftsh under-parts and white rump and tail-base. This appears to be the first December record for the county. Jeffery H. Boswall and David H. Brown. [Winter occurences after November are extremely unusual and none was admitted in The Handbook, but two December records for Cornwall and Devon respectively are quoted in the county Reports for 1945 (c/. antea, Vol. xxxix, p. 381).] HEDGE-SPARROW NESTING IN BULRUSHES. At the end of May, 1949, I was looking for nests of Reed-Warblers [Acrocephalus scirpaceus) in an overgrown marsh near Wakefield, Yorks., when I came across the nest of a Hedge-Sparrow [Prunella modularis) in the heart of a clump of bulrushes [Typha latif dia). The nest was built about two feet above the surface of the water which completely surrounded the clump. In other respects the nest VOL. XLIII.] NOTES. 19 was a normal one, and I was able to identify the bird before it left the nest, which contained two typical Hedge-Sparrow’s eggs, D. F. Beckett. DUSTING OF OWLS. For several years past a circular excavation (some 6 ins. in diameter) has appeared during the summer months on my tennis court in Kent. This is of the en tout cas type surfaced with fine gravel, and it was noted that the depression always appeared in exactly the same spot the day after its predecessor had been obliterated by rolling. As it obviously represented a dust bath made by some bird, at first Red-legged Partridges were suspected, but on no occasion were any of these birds observed in the vicinity. In July, 1948, both Tawny and Little owls were heard calling every night in the vicinity of the court. After a careful search the next morning owl's feathers were discovered in the gravel bed and these have been identified as those of the Little Owl [Athene noctua). On several occasions since I have endeavoured to identify the dusting birds by torch light, but in this I have never been successful. Philip Manson-Bahr. LARGE BROOD OF MUTE SWANS. Whilst boating on the Cam at Grantchester on June 29th, 1949, I saw a pair of Mute Swans [Cygnus olor), accompanied by 12 cygnets, aged about 6-8 weeks. The cygnets appeared all identical in size, and no other swans were in the vicinity, so I feel certain that all these birds were of one clutch. R. V. A. Marshal!. [Cases of 8 to 12 eggs are actually on record and A. W. B. saw a pair of Mute Swans with 10 cygnets at Oulton Pool, Cheshire, on June 6th, 1949. — Eds. ] DIVING OF SHOVELERS. I HAVE twice watched Shovelers [Spatula clypeata) diving in a mere near Kmitsford, Cheshire. On December 23rd, 1948, a drake dived repeatedly in shallow water and remained submerged for approxi- mately 5 seconds. I saw nothing in its bill when it surfaced. On March 25th, 1949, ^ saw two submerge. One was a duck which dived and on one occasion brought up some weed. Later it was chased by a drake, both birds flying a few feet above the water, and the duck dived from the air as if to escape the drake’s attentions. This drake in turn was chased in the same way by another drake and he too dived from the air. These last two instances are similar to those recorded by J. S. Carter in The Handbook. Mr. A. W. Boyd tells me that on April 19th, 1949 he watched a drake Shoveler on the same water dive and stay below for an appreciable time ; it was swimming alone at the time. Mark Dean. [The diving of single birds recorded above is interesting and accord- ing to our experience unusual. On the other hand diving associated with chases and ‘ em.otional ’ behaviour by parties or couples of 2U BRITISH BIRDS. [VOI.. XLIII. birds is, we believe, of regular occurrence in this and other surface- feeding ducks, although it is not recorded in The Handb'-ok for species other than the Mallard. Attention may be drawn to a note on the subject by Mr. T. Lebret (Vol. xli, p. 247), who expresses the opinion that the birds are not really chasing, but are performing, under the influence of excitement, reactions originally concerned with escape from birds-of-prey, but here dissociated from their original and primary association. When the behaviour occurs as a kind of communal performance no doubt there is a great deal to be said for this interpretation, but it seems that diving may also occur as part of a functional escape reaction in unmistakable chases between couples as above. — B.W.T.]. RED-CRESTED POCHARD IN CHESHIRE. On P'ebruary ist, 1949, in company with Messrs. M. Dean, J. Cassera, and B. Saul, I saw an adult drake Red-crested Pochard {Netta rufina) on Rostherne Mere, Cheshire, and was able to watch it on several occasions until February 28th. All the important field- characters were noted, including the conspicuous white wing-bars noticed when the bird flew. It was seen on various dates in Febru- ary by Messrs. A. W. Boyd, A. R. Sumerfield, R. H. Dunt and other observers, who confirmed my identification. Enquiries were made through Miss P. Barclay-Smith, but although almost all known breeders of wild-fowl were questioned, none was aware of any escape, and the Duke of Bedford has stated that there are now none at Woburn, so that it appears probable that the bird was genuinely wild. I have been interested to learn from Mr. A. A. Jacker, who gives me permission to quote him, that he saw a drake Red-crested Pochard at the same place on December 31st, 1948. C. A. Milner. FERRUGINOUS DUCK AND RED-CRESTED POCHARD IN NOTTINGHAMSHIRE. On F'ebruary 6tb, 1949, in company with Mr. A. Leavesly, at Sutton- in-Ashfield Reservoir, near Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, which was then frozen over except for a small patch of water about 30 X 40 yards wide, I observed a drake and two ducks which were unfamiliar to me and proved to be Ferruginous Ducks {Aythya nyroca). The general colouring of the drake was brown with a dirty- white eye, blackish bill and legs, white under tail-coverts, and white breast. A small white patch was visible on the closed wing. The bird was continually diving for periods of 40-50 seconds. The female followed the male closely at all times. She was a trifle smaller than the male, with much the same brown colouring, but the breast and under tail-coverts not so pure white, appearing more greyish, and with the eye brown. On February 15th, 1949, at Netherfield Gravel Pond, Nottingham- shire, I saw a drake Red-crested Pochard {Netta nijina). It was first seen resting on the bank, where it was watched for some VOL. XLlIl.l NOTES. 21 minutes before it was disturbed and flew out onto the water. The chestnut head, slightly lighter on the top and presenting a character- istic somewhat puffed appearance, pink bill, dark brown back, black neck, breast and upper tail-coverts, and white panel on the breast, with broken lines of brown, were all very well seen, as also was the white on the wing when it flew. The legs appeared a dirty orange. It did not associate with the Common Pochard {A. ferina) on the pond. Sidney Allison. SUN-BATHING OF TUFTED DUCK. On December 23rd, 1948, I observed a Tufted Duck {Ayihya fuligula) sun-bathing at Bellfields Reservoir, Staffordshire. The dam of this reservoir is very steep and happened to be acting both as a sun-trap and a shield from a cold easterly wind. Some one hundred and fifty duck of seven different species, including one Gadwall {Anas strepera), Pochards {Aythya ferina) and Goosanders {Mergus merganser) had come out of the water to take advantage of the unusual warmth, but only one bird, a Tufted Duck, was seen in extreme posturing. It crawled out of the water and flopped on its breast with its wings half-spread. The neck was held up, but it rested its bill on the rise of the dam before it. It remained in this position for some fifteen minutes until disturbed, during which period it ruffled up its feathers several times. M. J. Rogers. EARLY BREEDING OF GREAT CRESTED GREBE. A PAIR of Great Crested Grebes {Podiceps cristatus) at Burghfield gravel pits, Berkshire, began nest-building in the first week in March, 1949. Eggs were present at the latest by March 19th, and the young had hatched by April 14th. C. E. Douglas. While at Wisley, Surrey, on April 15th, 1949, I was watching seven Great Crested Grebes {Podiceps crisiattis) and was surprised to note that one bird was accompanied by young. One young bird was swimming and at least one other was riding on the adult’s back. T. Banks. [The Handbook states that “ exceptionally, full sets have been found in March,” so the above two records would appear to be unusual. — Eds.] AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOUR OF GREAT CRESTED GREBE. On April loth, 1949, at Tring reservoirs, Herts., I watched two Great Crested Grebes {Podiceps cristatus) fighting on open water. The birds were between one hundred and one hundred and fifty yards away, and I was watching them through a x 40 telescope. They fought very viciously, stabbing and biting with their bills, facing one anothf-r breast-to-breast with much splashing. This fighting continued for some minutes with only short rests. After one such bout the visibly weaker bird had its head seized and held down under water. Almost immediately the other bird let go. The weaker bird, however, remained floating belly up, vdth one foot in the air, 22 BRITISH BIRDS. VOL. XI.llI. wings partially opened and its head and neck below the water, giving the appearance of a dead or unconscious bird. It remained in this position for about one minute while the other bird swam slowly round it, giving it occasional stabs with its bill but getting no response ; next, it suddenly dived from this position without any warning. It re-appeared some way off and immediately went into the usual head-shaking display with its mate. From its subsequent appearance and behaviour it did not appear to have been injured. A. J. Bruce. GREATER YELLOWSHANK IN IRELAND : A Correction. In British Birds, Vol. xli, p. 221, the date of the second Irish specimen of the Greater Yellowshank {Tringa melanoleuca) was wrongly given as “ the beginning of March, 1947,” whereas it should have been January 29th, 1947. On January 30th of that year I was informed by Mr. A. W. Stelfox, of the National Museum, Dublin, that the bird had been picked up in a poulterer’s store on the pre- vious day and had been brought to the Museum. On Januarj^ 31st Major R. F. Ruttledge examined the bird in the flesh before it was sent to the taxidermist. P. G. Kennedy. FOOD OF ICELAND REDSHANK. As already recorded {Scot Nat., vol. 60, pp. 135 and 228), on January 31st, 1948, at Aultbea, Wester Ross, I trapped a Redshank which proved on examination to belong to the Iceland race {Tringa totanus robusta). A pellet which it produced before being released was sent to Prof. Wynne-Edwards at Aberdeen, who reported that it contained : — small gastropod shells viz. Littorina littorea (7), L. littoralis (i), Monodonta lineata {Trochus crassus) (i) ; remains of amphipods, perhaps Orchestia gammardla ; one small fish otolith ; quantities of sand and shell fragments and a few small pieces of vegetable matter. P. A. Rayfield. LITTLE RINGED PLOVER IN ESSEX. Whilst bird watching at Abberton Reservoir, Essex, on April 20th, 1949, I saw out of the corner of my eye a small bird of about the same size as a wagtail alight on a spit of mud about 30 yards away. I turned my x 6 field glasses on it and saw that it was a plover of the ‘ Ringed ’ type. Its markings appeared identical with those of the Ringed Plover {Charadrius hiaticula), but its legs were of a pale brown colour, with a tint of yellow at the tarsal joint. I was at once struck by its very small size, but could see no light coloured ring round the eye. When flushed, the bird flew straight away, gaining a height of 80-100 ft. in a long steady climb, quite unlike the ordinary flight of a Ringed Plover. As it flew, it uttered an almost monosyllabic call-note, shriller than a Ringed Plover, and 1 could see no white feathers on the wing. VOL. XLIII.I NOTES. 23 I therefore have no doubt that the bird was, in fact, a Little Ringed Plover [Charadrius dubius), which has not previously been recorded at Abberton. While living at Port Sudan, 1 used often to see birds on the beach which I feel quite sure were the same species, and the different flight when flushed was always quite characteristic. R. V. A. Marshall. KENTISH PLOVER IN DEVON. On October 2nd, 1949, at about 1.30 p.m. (B.S.T.), I saw what I believe to have been a Kentish Plover [Leucopolius alexandrinus) feeding with three Ringed Plovers {Charadrius hiaticula) on the mud at the mouth of the R. Otter, S. Devon. The birds kept close together and the opportunities for comparison were therefore good. I was facing north, the light was satisfactory and I was standing within twenty yards of them and slightly above them. With field-glasses one bird was seen to be somewhat smaller than the others and its mantle and back appeared to be browner. Its legs were dark and I felt satisfied after prolonged observation that this appearance was not due to mud. The bill was completely black. No pectoral band was present and there was only a very small brown patch on either side of the white breast. No distinctive head mark- ings were noted. In comparison the three Ringed Plovers had bright orange legs and black pectoral bands (complete). The four birds were disturbed by a young Herring-Gull {Larus argentatus) which alighted near them, and as they flew off I saw that all possessed a white wing-bar. J. Mansel Reese. KENTISH PLOVER IN GLOUCESTERSHIRE. On May 6th, 1947, a Kentish Plover {Leucopolnis alexandrinus) was seen by Mr. W. R. Taylor and myself at Severn Beach, Gloucester- shire. It had been discovered by Mr. H. H. Davis the previous day [antea Vol. xl, p. 254). On May loth, 1949, Mr. Taylor and I saw another at exactly the same spot. The 1947 bird had the cinnamon and black markings of a male. This bird had no black at all, except the eye and beak, and the legs were greyish. The plum- age, except the white parts, seen with telescope and glasses in a good light and very close range, was a light ash, almost sandy, colour, including the patches on the sides of the breast. It was noticeably smaller than the Ringed Plover {Ch. hiaticula) that were with it, and seemed more active and less shy. Other points noted were the very small patch of white at the base of the upper mandible, and a white or whitish streak over the eye. We concluded that it was a female. A. C. Leach. REPEATED BIGAMY OF OYSTER-CATCHER. Although the exceptionally large clutches of eggs which are occasion- ally reported for several species of waders are usually attributed to two females, I am not aware of any published observations on such cases, so the following notes on the repeated bigamy of an Oyster- catcher {Hcematopus ostralegus), may be of interest. 24 BRITISH BIRDS. VOI.. Xl.ill. In June, 1947, Mr. V, Beltield told me of an Oyster-catcher’s nest on an isolated grass bank in the Kent Estuary, Westmorland, which was regularly attended by three adults. After one or more earlier clutches had been robbed, six eggs were laid about the end of June. The ground colour in three of these was olive-brown, in the other three greyish- white. On several occasions in July I saw one bird incubating, with two others resting near by on a sand-bank, and if the nest were approached the sitting bird would run off and join the other two. Three eggs were chipped on July 22nd, but a high tide covered the nest and none was hatched. In 1948, I hrst noticed three Oyster-catchers in close association near the same bank on March 26th. They were regularly on the bank during April and had made several scrapes by the end of the month. Unfortunately they suffered a good deal of disturbance during May and June and eggs were robbed from two or more nests before incubation had begun. However I was able to watch the behaviour of the three birds together on several occasions at a range of about 30 yards. At that distance in a good light the individuals could be distinguished with glasses or telescope as follows : “ A, ” the male, had glossy black and pure white plumage, bill redder than the females’ and legs a brighter pink. “ B ” was duller in plumage, with bill a rather pale orange and legs less pink than “ A’s. ” She had the individual peculiarity of a whitish spot on the crown. ‘‘ C ” was intermediate between “ A ” and “ B ” both in plumage and in the colouring of legs and bill. I could not make any distinc- tion between the three in the length of bill or extent of the pale ti]> [cf. Buxton and Keighley, antea, Vol. xli, p. 91). The following extracts from notes taken on the spot show the amicable relationship between the three birds and also illustrate a few points of breeding behaviour. May 24th, 14.00 hrs. : “ iV ” and “ B ” picking up and dropping pebbles among larger stones on top of bank, “ C ” standing on mound about hfteen yards away. Both “ A ” and “ B ” shuffled round in two or more scrapes and both drove off Starlings {Sturmis vulgaris) feeding among the stones. At 14.25 “ B ” flew down to water and began feeding ; “ A ” stayed and drove off a Starling and House- Sparrow {Passer domestims). At 14.30 “ A ” flew off, approached “ C ” with signs of excitement, mounted, and coition took place. Meanwhile “ B ” fed near water’s edge about ten yards away, picked out five or six sand-worms and small shell-fish and washed each one before swallowing it. {cf. Adams, antea, Vol. xl, p. 376). “ A ” fed for a short time, also washing one sand-worm. At 14.50 " A ” flew over to “ B,” mounted and copulated without preliminaries, while “ C ” preened close by. May 31st, 18.45 hrs. : “ B ” picking about on bank, “ A ” and “ C ” on sand near by. “ C ” faced “ A ,” stood rigid with body tilted forward about 30° from horizontal and legs straight. “ A ” ran up from about live yards away, piping softly and crouching NOTES. 26 VOL. XLIII.J slightly with lowered head, and coition followed at once. June 13th, 1 1. 15 hrs. : “ A ” and “ B ” resting near grass bank, “ C ” about twenty yards away. “ B ” walked up to “ A,” piping softly, stood facing him and tilted body forwards. “ A ” rose and coition followed. 11.25, “A” ran up to “B,” piping softly and crouching slightly. “ B ” responded by tilting body and “ A ” mounted. “ A ” then joined “C ” and rested with her for twenty- five minutes. He then flew back to “ B ” and coition took place with the same preliminaries as at 11.25. July 6th : V. Belfield pointed out an Oyster-catcher sitting, as though incubating, on a mud-bank about fifty yards from the previous nests, with two others a few yards away. A few hours later they were still there, and when approached all walked off together. I found an unlined scrape with four eggs, two with olive-brown ground colour and two with grey-white. Three days later the nest was covered by a high tide. July 22nd, 15.40 hrs. : Three resting together near the last nest. “ A ” rose, walked past “ B ” (?) to “ C ” (?) and mounted while she was still squatting, probably without successful coition. Three minutes later all three stood and piped together, apparently as a reaction to the approach of a pair from a neighbouring territory. This was the only occasion on which I saw the piping ceremony. Three Oyster-catchers were seen together near the nest-site until August 9th, but could not be definitely identified as the same indi- viduals. The similarity of egg types in the same territory in 1947 and 1948 makes it probable that the same three birds were mated each year. An interested and observant signalman who overlooks the bank from his box assures me that three Oyster-catchers have nested there for some years, and he believes 1948 is the fifth successive season. On July 23rd, 1946, I ringed two young Oyster-catchers in down on the sands near the grass bank and noted at the time that, as I picked up one of- them, “ one adult ‘ feigned injury ’ fifty yards away, running with spread and trailing wings {cf. Cawkell, antea, vol. xli, p. 125, and S. V. Benson, p. 222), while two others flew overhead piping. One young had a very dark, almost black, head, while the other was uniformly pale.” It now seems clear that this was the same trio, and it is unfortunate that no young have been hatched since to show if this variation of nestling coloration is a constant difference attributable to the two females. The history of the three raises interesting possibilities as to the longevity of Oyster-catchers and regular mating for life. J. A. G. Barnes. FEEDING BEHAVIOUR OF LITTLE GULL. On December loth, 1948, I watched for about half an hour an immature Little Gull (Lams minutus) which was feeding at a sewage outlet at Langney Point, Sussex. On almost every occasion when it came down to pick up food it pattered along for a short distance with out-stretched wings as though walking on the water. On no BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XLIII. 2() occasion did I see it actually alight on the water. Black-headed Gulls [Lams ridibundus) were also present and occasionally some of these would behave in the same manner. There was a strong wind at the time and the sea was rough and it would seem possible that under such conditions pattering facilitates feeding from the surface of the water. There is no mention in The Handbook of such behaviour, but 1 see that Mr. T. Bispham [antea, vol. xxxix, p. 6i) has recorded a Little Gull seen by him as pattering in a similar manner. Similar behaviour was again observ^ed at the same place on the part of an adult Little Gull during a south-westerly gale on October 23rd, 1949, This bird was watched by me for over an hour and it was observed that, whereas it nearly always pattered when feeding, the Black-headed Gulls which were present did so, as on the earlier occasion, only occasionally. D. D. Harber. UNUSUAL FLIGHT-DISPLAY OF BLACK-HEADED GULL. On March 28th, 1949, while walking along the sea-wall at Penning- ton, Hampshire, my wife and I had a close view of an action by a f Black-headed Gull [Lams ridibundus) that was new to us and | is not mentioned in Kirkman’s Bird Behaviour or in The Handbook A pair took off from the top of the sea-wall and one of them, pre- sumably the male, keeping close to the other, made two short stalled flights exactly in the manner of the courtship flight of the Wood-Pigeon [Columba palumbus) except that neither the rise nor the glide lasted so long ; at the same time it uttered what I took to be the “ kwi-hi-hi ” note ; the note was like the one that other Black-headed Gulls were making at the time, but it was pitched higher and delivered with greater urgency. There are large breeding colonies on the cord-grass in the vicinity. Edwin Cohen. GLAUCOUS GULL IN STAFFORDSHIRE. On February 20th, 1949, we observed a Glaucous Gull [Lams hyperboreus) at Bellfields Reservoir, South Staffordshire. , The bird first drew our attention by its large size and generally ^ white appearance and lack of black on both wings and tail. It , flew around for some time, coming quite close on occasions, then alighted on the water, where, after a while, it was joined by an immature Herring-Gull [Lams argentatus). The following details were noted through X40 telescope and 9 X 35 binoculars in good light ; — About half as big again as Herring-Gull and sitting consider- ably higher in the water than the latter. The ratio of the size of the head and bill to the body was the same as that of the Herring-Gull, thus ruling out Iceland Gull. The bill, as far as could be seen, was pale yellow all over. There was no black, either on the end of the tail or on the wing tips, which extended slightly beyond the end of the tail. The plumage was almost pure white, the wings and head being slightly suffused with pale buff. In flight the heavy build was especially noticeable. i VOL. XLIll.J NOTES. 27 The bird appears to have been in its last winter before reaching full adult plumage and is the first occurence of the species in Staffordshire. A. W. WoLTON, M. J. Rogers and J. R. Rawsthorne. Roosting of Coal-Tit. — In a study of the roosting habits of the Irish Coal-Tit [Pams ater hibernicus) [antea, Vol. xxxix, pp. 326-336), Major R. F. Ruttledge only recorded one roosting-site in an old nest. This prompted Mr. D. J. May to record a case of the British race [P. a. britannious) , roosting in an old thrush’s nest (Vol. xli, p. 346). Miss Enid McEwen now informs us of another case. On September 28th, 1940, at Friar’s Crag, Keswick, in the late afternoon she saw a Coal-Tit fly into an old nest about 10 ft. from the ground on the horizontal branch of a tree and remain there. She waited some time and then flushed the bird from the nest and after waiting again saw it return. A few days later she again flushed a Coal-Tit from the nest, which looked like that of a Mistle-Thrush [Turdus viscivorus). The habit is probably one that has been not much noticed rather than rare. Late Nightjar in Derbyshire. — We have received from Mr. Hugo Meynell through Mr. W. K. Marshall, a foot and some feathers of a Nightjar [Caprimulgus europceus), which was accidentally shot at Meynell Langley, Derbyshire, on October 20th, 1949. Low Nests of Turtle-Dove. — Mr. Kenneth Allsop informs us that a Turtle-Dove [Streptopelia Uirtur) nested in June, 1949, in a fallen- in rose pergola in a garden at Studham, Bedfordshire. The nest, which was deep in a spray of pink roses, was just over three feet from the ground. Subsequently, he found the eggs near by in the grass, sucked, possibly by Rooks [Corvus frugilegus) from an adjacent colony. A similar record has been supplied by Mr. E. L. Roberts who, on June 13th, 1949, flushed a Turtle-Dove from a nest of two eggs situated only three feet from the ground in a clump of young blackthorn beside a bridle-track in Rutland. Black Tern in Pembrokeshire. — Mr. John H. Crook sends us details of a Black Tern [Chlidonias mgez), which he saw near Giltar Point, Tenby, on September 3rd, 1949. 131ack Terns are infrequent in Wales and the last Pembrokeshire record was in September, 1904. Late Sandwich Terns in Lancashire. — Mr. T. Edmondson informs us that on October 30th, 1949, he watched two first winter Sandwich Terns [Sterna sandvicensis) at Leigh Flash, South Lanca- shire. They flew to and fro along the south shore on a bright, calm day. One bird in particular fished within a few yards of him and was almost struck by an angler near by when casting. (28) REVIEWS. [The Editor regrets that owing to an unfortunate period of ill-health a number of reviews and notices of local reports have been considerably delayed. It is hoped to get up to date with these in the numbers immediately following]. Bird Recognition. Vol. I. Sea-birds and Waders. By James Fisher (Pelican Books, 1947). 2S. 6d. In spite of the existence of various more or less inexpensive field identi- fication books there was still room for a good cheap and comprehensive pocket- book devoted to this subject. Mr. Fisher would not we think, claim to be an authority on the finer niceties of field identification, but his Hair for clever compilation has resulted in the production of a book which represents a big advance on any other of its type and compresses into a comparatively small compass a really remarkable amount of information. It is in fact good enough to merit a critical and fairly full appraisal of its contents. The present volume, which is to be followed by two others, covers all the sea-birds and waders except for about fifty very rare species, which are listed at the end. Under each species there are paragraphs on recognition, breeding, distribution and movements, all based mainly on The Handbook, the writer’s debt to which is freely acknowledged (and without which it must be admitted such a book could not have been produced), and a useful feature is a paragraph indicating some of the more important papers or other publications on each species. The recognition paragraphs include a brief indication of the habits and behaviour of the birds, as well as identification data in the narrower sense. They are carefully done and we have found no actual errors, though in the case of a good many of the less common species the writer’s lack of personal experience is revealed in a failure to differentiate between the essential field characters and those which are subsidiary or even comparatively unimportant — in other words in an insufficiently selective use of the more detailed field data in The Handbook. Indeed a similar weakness may be noticed in the treatment of some of the commoner species as well. For example in the case of the Green Sandpiper — to take one almost at random — the inexperienced observer would probably not realize that the only thing that really matters to him for identification purposes is that it is a bird much like a Common Sand- piper which looks black with a white rump and tail when it flies. [It may be observed that this criticism applies with even more force to the treatment of this particular species in the Key (see below), in which, even more than in the systematic section, the really diagnostic characters should surely be brought out.] The systematic section is preceded by identification keys, to the devising of which considerable trouble and thought have evidently been given, though the inevitable limitations of any key are rightly stressed. Within these limitations and subject to the criticism made above of the treatment of a few individual species, these keys have the merit of actually working quite well so far as we have tested them. The sections on breeding (of those species which nest or have nested recently in the British Isles), distribution and movements summarize briefly a much larger amount of information than is available in any other comparable book. In the first of these a courageous attempt has even been made to summarize in two or three lines the main characters of the display, though it must be admitted that so brief a treatment of such complex activities can have little practical value, especially as most of the behaviour referred to is rarely seen even by experts. A novel and ingenious device is that of the seasonal charts by means of which it has been possible to convey a large amount of data on such matters as breeding and migration dates in a small space. The objection to this kind of graphic treatment is that it suggests in a good many cases a greater precision of knowledge than in fact exists, but provided this limitation is recognized the method no doubt justifies itself in a popular book as a quick and reasonably VOL. XLIII.j REVIEWS. 29 accurate guide to a good deal of information which could hardly have been otherwise included. Mr. W. B. Alexander has generously permitted the use of his valuable dis- tributional maps of the British Isles, in which both the breeding distribution and that of records outside the breeding-season are shown on a vice-county basis. These maps are most useful and represent a great deal of research into the literature. The inadequacy of published records in certain regions leads to some doubtless ‘‘ fictitious ” gaps at times, such as the curious one in Bast .\nglia which recurs in so many maps, including that of even such common species as the Herring-Gull, but it is difficult to see how this could have been avoided. The only mistake we have detected is the marking of Steep Holm in the Bristol Channel as a breeding place of the Cormorant, the report of breeding in this locality a good many years ago having been shown to be erroneous. The book is illustrated by two sets of drawings by ‘ Fish-Hawk,’ the main series showing the birds at rest and a supplementary one at the end figuring the waders, terns and gulls in flight. The former, considered as a whole, are quite pleasing at first sight and a number of them are in fact quite sound represen- tations of the birds, but more critical inspection reveals in too many cases considerable carelessness in drawing in the matter of such important details as the proportions of bills, legs and wings. As examples the absurdly slender bills of the Oyster-catcher and Woodcock, the disproportionately long and stout legs and too short wing of the Lesser Black-backed Gull, the too heavy bills of the Herring and Iceland Gulls„ the grey mantle of the Common Gull shown as much lighter than that of the Herring Gull, and the too short legs of the Stilt may be mentioned, but there are many others. The flight pictures are much superior to anything in any other popular book and indeed are more uniformly satisfactory than the others, apart from one major blunder of showing the Spotted Redshank without a white rump. Smaller points which might never- theless be corrected with advantage in a future edition are the failure to show the heavier bill in the Grey Plover as compared with the Golden or the much paler appearance of the Roseate Tern on the wing as compared with other species. To summarize, we have here, in spite of some defects which a wider field experience would have eliminated, but few of which are of a major order, a book which with its companion volumes, when these are published, will provide at a cost within the reach of almost every purse a much more comprehensive field-book than any previously available at a comparable price, and one which should do much to stimulate the more accurate study of birds amongst the general public. Marsh and' Shore. By Hilda M. Quick. (Jonathan Cape, 1948). Price 15s. This charming, unpretentious account of bird-watching on part of the Cornish coast contains descriptions of nearly all the common birds of marsh, sea and shore, with the exception of the terns, which, curiously enough, are not mentioned at all. In certain other respects the book falls short of being a comprehensive guide for the beginner ; for instance Miss Quick evidently does not trust her ear and consequently does not give sufficient weight to call notes as an aid to identification. Nevertheless the beginner will find much help here — not least in the author’s admission that identification is often difficult and that a second view may turn an exciting " rarity ” into something quite ordinary. Miss Quick obviously looks at her birds more than once and does so with an artist’s eye for those peculiarities of shape, outline and stance which give a species its " jizz.” Not only does she give useful descriptions of these finer points of appearance, but in very many instances she has por- trayed them very happily in her wood engravings. These illustrations are not all of equal merit, the waders, for instance, being much more successful than the ducks, and the birds standing or running being usually more effective than those in flight, but in general it is astonishing that so much movement and vitality can be expressed in so stubborn a medium. For very many readers these pictures will be an even greater attraction than the text. We hope to 30 BRITISH BIRDS. [vOL. XLIII. see many more of them. The book does not pretend to add much to orni- thological knowledge, but the picture on p. 133 of a godwit swimming is, surely, a unique illustration of a habit not mentioned in The Handbook. J.D.W. LETTERS. WINTER FEEDING HOURS OF BIRDS. To the Editors of British Birds. Sirs,- — I have delayed answering the letter on the above subject from Mr. P. H. T. Hartley [British Birds, xli, pp. 254-235) because the data then available only served to justify his remark that " more investigation is needed.” I examined the two sets of winter frequencies statistically, and assuming the validity of both methods, could only conclude that (statistically) he and I were working on ” different populations.” During the winter of 1948-49, counts were made during October, December and March, of all the Blackbirds in a special area observable from my windows, which were seen to be feeding in the ten-minute interval round each hour of the solar day. When the results were averaged for each hour of day over the month, I had an average whicli should bear a direct proportion to the feeding frequency for each hour. The results for October, 1948, are comparable with the trap frequencies for October-November (1946-48) and are as follows : — Time 6h. yh. 8h. 9I1. loh. iih. i2h. 13b. i4h. i5h. i6h. i7h. October, 1948 .Average number of feeding birds ... 0.8 1.5 1.6 5.2 3.3 2.7 1.4 3.1 2.3 2.2 1.3 0.6 Percentage of food taken each hour ...5 6 6201310 612 9 9 5 2 October-November From trapping fre- quencies, percent- age of food taken each hour ...o 5 723 9 9 714 5 0 5 o Hours are counted from local solar noon, not G.M.T. Statistically, these figures revealed themselves to be of the ” .same popula- tion,” and when the figures of feeding birds in December and February shewed a similar correspondence with the trapping frequencies for December-} anuary, and February-March, it became certain that the traps were catching a fairly regular proportion of feeding birds, and that the two methods gave similar results. This failed, however, to explain the enormous variation between Mr. Hartley’s counts and my own, and I came to the conclusion that not only statistically, but literally, our populations must be different. I have done considerable research into the status of my winter population of Blackbirds. Ringing returns from North Scotland and from Norway indicated that population to be complex. It has now been possible to separate the local population from the incoming winter group, partly by the ringing of nestlings and local juveniles, and partly by the fact that incoming birds on arrival from the North weigh 10 grams or more less than the locally-born Blackbirds. Though the birds known to be of local origin form only about a quarter of the whole population, I have now found it possible to find the feed- ing times of these locals as distinct from the rest of the population. The results are set out here additively for the whole winter ; — VOL. XLIlI.j LETTERS. 31 Feeding Frequency percentages (October-March 1946-49) {trap method). Solar time yh. 8I1. 9I1. loh. iili izh. 13b. 14b. 15b. i6b. 17b. Local birds I 2 14 24 7 9 2 2 17 9 2 2 All the rest I 9 15 15 9 13 17 9 9 3 I P.H.T.H., by count, birds at Oxford 7 17 26 8 7 5 6 7 4 3 3 Tbe evidence is fairly conclusive that my local population is tbe same as bis, with similar feeding times, except tbat mine bave a ratber more pronounced afternoon maximum ; and tbat my winter incomers belong to a race or races whose times differ very materially from those of the local Blackbirds. I may add that I have now discounted the results from the notorious March^ 1947, for obvious reasons. John Lees, RUBBER IN CASTINGS OF ROOKS AND JACKDAWS. To the Editors of British Birds. Sirs, — On page 52 of vol. xbi, you have some notes on this point. It was rather curious that, shortly after I had read it, I should find a letter from the late Miss H. Hibbert-Ware, with reference to work which she was doing on the pellets of the Corvidae. She also mentioned rubber in pellets and asked if there was a Rook roost near me : if so would 1 look to see if I could find bits of rubber. I went to the Ralston roost, which some years previously the head- keeper, Mr. Groom, and I had reckoned at approximately 25,000 birds. Here 1 found a large quantity of rubber in the pellet remains on March ist, 1940, several teats, rings, bits of piping, pieces of sheet rubber, etc. Most of these were probably acquired on the large refuse dumps at Oswestry, Salop, barely four miles away. J. H. Owen. VARIANT YELLOW WAGTAILS. To the Editors of British Birds. Sirs, — The March (1949) number of British Birds, containing Mr. W. Rams- den’s note on a variant Yellow Wagtail breeding in Cheshire {antea Vol. xlii, pp. 86-7), which he describes as having almost black lores and no eye-stripe, reached me late in April in Delhi. This interested me particularly, as I had, during the earlier part of April, observed a number of Yellow Wagtails [Motacilla flava subsp.) in India, and had been struck, not for the first time, by the remarkable amount of individual variation in the colour of the head. The two subspecies of Yellow Wagtail which occur in abundance in India in winter are 'M. f. beema and M. f. thunbergi. The former breeds in West Siberia, and birds closely approximating to it in appearance, have, I believe, been recorded as nesting in Britain. Mr. Ramsden’s bird approximates very closely to a typical M. f. thunbergi, which is, of course, the breeding bird of the Baltic countries and north-east Europe. It would make nonsense of what we normally regard as geographical races to suppose that individuals of either of these subspecies had wandered to England to nest. But the curious ten- dency of the species to produce variants seems to need close study. My recent observations in India are as follows. On April 8th, I watched scores of Yellow Wagtails bj^ a tank in the northern part of Hyderabad State, South India. All appeared to be M. f. thunbergi. Judging from the uniform brilliance of their underparts, I should have said that they were all in full summer plumage. But no two of the males had exactly the same head-colour. In most the lores were nearly black, but in some onlj'^ dull grey. Some showed no eye-stripe at all ; some had a faintly discernible e^^e-stripe. The majority had streaks of dark grey on the sides of the neck or even on the throat. A fortnight later, by the river Jumna, at Delhi, 700 miles further north, I saw some of both sub-species. Out of half a dozen M. f. thunbergi seen at close quarters, none had very dark lores. In fact, the head was almost uniform dark grey. Some showed dark markings on the neck, The male M. f. beema 32 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XL! II. were in dazzlingly brilliant plumage, the underparts as brilliant a yellow as any M. f. flavissima I have ever seen. The typical head colour is a soft blue-grey, with a clear white eye-stripe, and whitish chin and patch under the eye. Some years ago when I was crossing the INlediterranean in April, numbers of Yellow Wagtails ran about the decks ; and I recorded at the time that it seemed to me that at least " six of the possible five ” subspecies were present at one time or another. The Editor of the Ibis was so upset at this mild attempt at humour that he laboriously changed it to “ five out of the possible six.” But I think the whole position needs careful investigation. Is it true, for instance, that M. f. flava and A/. /. thunbergi, most of them true to type, breed side by side, or at any rate overlap, in Finland and adjacent countries? If political conditions permit, could not the British Trust for Ornithology send one or two good field observers to make exact field-notes of the plumages of Yellow Wagtails, right from Wales to East Siberia, during two or three breeding-seasons, recording the exact colour of the head-plumage of some thousands of individuals? Such an investigation might throw very interesting light on the problem of the evolution of species. H. G. Alexandek. [I have myself been working intermittently for some time on the races of Yellow Wagtail, which unquestionably present biological, genetical and evolutionary problems of the greatest interest, largely centering round the tendency to which Mr. Alexander refers for particular races to produce variants more or less identical with the typical form of another race of, in some instances, a quite remote geographical region. I am bound to say that my good friend Mr. Alexander’s suggestion for field investigation in Asia seems almost unbe- lievably optimistic in view of the present state of the world, quite apart from the prohibitive cost and difficulty of an even approximately adequate investi- gation over so vast and inaccessible an area, even if conditions were normal, but I most heartily agjree as to the need for it. — B.W.T.]. SONG PERIODS. To the Editors of British Birds. Sirs, — A note sent by Mr. R. H. Baillie to British Birds pointing out that in the Song-Chart in the Handbook, there is no record of Wood-War biers (Phyllo- scopus sibilatrix) singing in April raises a general point which was not covered by my letter under the above heading in Vol. xli, pp. 284-5. The explana- tion of the omission is simple. When the chart was prepared, the purpose was to indicate the periods during which it was reasonable to expect to hear song, whether full song, irregular song, or occasional song. It was never intended to be exhaustive. Accordingly, in the case of the summer migrants, I gave their song-periods as from the average date of arrival, not from the earliest possible date. I think perhaps this was a mistake. Just as, in the case of winter resi- dents, I have given unbroken lines for various species, although in fact it is only in mild winters that their song is persistent throughout January and February, so in the case of summer-migrants it might have been better to assume optimum conditions which in their case would mean the earliest possible arrival date. For some reason I seem to have done this in the case of the Cuckoo, which is shown in full cry from the very beginning of April, but in all other species the song-period is only given as from the average arrival date, which in the case of the Wood-Warbler is, I think, about the end of April. A few species, such as Wheatear and Swallow, do not seem to be in full song at the time of arrival. But, with those exceptions, the lines given in the Song- Chart for the song of summer migrants might appropriately be pushed forward a week or two for every species. I have myself heard a dozen of the species at least a week earlier than the chart line indicates. Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps, which occasionally winter in the south of England, can presumably sometimes be heard much earlier than the dates indicated in the Chart. H. G. Alexander. NOTICE TO CONTRIBUTORS British Birds accepts papers and notes dealing with original observations on the birds of the British Isles and Western Europe or, where appropriate, on birds of this area as observed in other parts of their range. Review articles on subjects of current ornithological interest will also be considered. Contributors are asked to observe the following points, attention to which saves the waste of much editorial time on trivial alterations. MSS. if not typed should be clearly written. Authors of papers, especially those containing systematic lists, lists of references, tables, etc., should consult previous papers on similar lines in British Birds as a guide to general presentation and set-out, including use of particular type, stops, and other conventions, such as date following the month (January 1st, etc., not 1st January), names of books and journals in italics, not inverted commas, and so on. Capital initial letters are to be used for proper names of definite species : thus “ Great Tit,” but ” flocks of tits.” [In systematic lists the whole name should be in capitals]. The scientific name (underlined in M.S. to indicate italics) follows the English name in brackets without any intervening stop. Scientific nomenclature follows The Handbook of British Birds or H. F. Witherby’s Check-List of British Birds based on this, with the qualification that subspecific names should not be used in connexion with field observations except in cases where subspecies are definitely separable in the field, e.g. Yellow and Blue-headed Wagtails, or where their use is necessary in discussion. When the subspecific name (in cases where this is used) repeats the specific name the initial letter only should be used for the latter ; otherwise the whole name should be given in full : thus “ Parus m. major,” but ” Parus major newtoni.” Notes should be drawn up in as nearly as possible the exact form in which they will be printed with signature in BLOCK CAPITALS, and the writer’s address clearly written on the same sheet. If more than one note is submitted each should be on a separate sheet with signature and address repeated. Though suitable headings and scientific names can be added by the Editor, if necessary, they should be inserted by authors as far as possible. Communications should always be as concise as possible, though reasonable detail can be given where this is important. Notes or records of subsidiary importance may be abbreviated or otherwise modified by the Editor for inclusion in the section of ” Short Notes.” Maps or graphs must be neatly and boldly drawn in Indian ink on good quality white paper or Bristol board, with due allowance for reduction when necessary. Authors without experience of making drawings or diagrams for publication are strongly advised to get the help of a skilled draughtsman. Lettering and figures should be inserted lightly in pencil only. Photographs are accepted primarily as illustrations of papers or notes, but good prints of species rarely or not previously photographed or illustrating important points of habits, behaviour or field characters will also be considered on their own merits. 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Zoolo- gist’s sunny country Bungalow. Pegity Cot, St. Davids, Pembs. EXPERT TYPIST undertakes manuscripts. Ornithological work a speciality. Authors’ recommendations. Please note new address: Mrs. G. M. Prynne, Minton, Pole Barn Lane, Frinton-on-Sea, Essex. BINOCULARS. A wide range of first-class prismatic binoculars, both new and reconditioned, now available We invite you to write for our latest lists and details of approval terms. The Hatton Optical Co., Ltd., Lansdowne, Bournemouth. TELESCOPES. A useful selection of telescopes now available: send for lists and approval terms. The Hatton Optical Co., Ltd., Lansdowne, Bournemouth. PLATE CAMERAS. A few rather good German plate cameras, sizes 2} in. x in. and 9x 12 cm. with and without double extension ; send for list. The Hatton Optical Co., Ltd., Lansdowne, Bournemouth. Printed in Gt. Britain bv The Riverside Press, Ltd., Twickenham, Middx. Published by H. F. & G. VVITHERHY, LTD., 5 Warwick Court, W.C.I. BRITISH BIRDS AN ILLUSTRATED MAGAZINE DEVOTED CHIEFLY TO THE BIRDS ON THE BRITISH LIST ;• I * i j \ ( ,1 i’ •1 1 I i i I fi I BRITISH BIRDS EDI I 1- D BY BERNARD W. TUCKER, M.A., F.Z.S., M.B.O.U. ASSISTED BY NokMAN F. llCEHUKST, O.B.E., M.A., F.R.C.S., M.B.O.U. A. W Boyd, m.c., m.a., f.z.s., m.b.o.u. AND J D. Wood, b.a., m.b.o.u. Contents of Number 2, Vol. XLIII, February, 1950. Page Marsh-Tit territories over six years. By H. N. Southern and Averil Morley 33 Fair Isle Bird Observatory. Notes on selected species. Autumn, 1949. Compiled by Kenneth Williamson ... ... ... ... ... 48 Scenes at an artificial drinking pool. Photographed by Eric Hosking... 53 Notes : Noteworthy Kentish birds in the Powell Cotton Museum, Quex Park, near Birchington (James Harrison) ... ... ... ... ... 54 Intruder responses in birds outside their breeding areas (John Ash) 54 Raven carrying food in foot (J. H. Owen) ... ... ... ... 55 Carrion Crow decorating nest (M. R. Licff and N. P. Jordan) ... 56 Greenfinches and Linnets attacking hops (John Tooby) ... ... 56 Courtship feeding of Chaflinch (J. H. Owen) ... ... ... ... 56 Call-note of Yellow Bunting (A. H. Betts) ... ... ... ... 56 Two pairs of Blue Tits nesting in one box (Miss G. A. Tuchet-Jesson) 57 Aquatic Warblers in Norfolk, Pembrokeshire and Sussex (G. W. H. Moule ; J oan Keighley ; D. D. Harber) ... ... ... ... 57 Dancing display of Wheatear (B. C. Turner) ... ... ... ... 59 Black Redstart in Argyllshire (John Hirst) ... ... ... ... 59 Bewick’s Swans in Surrey (B. A. Marsh) ... ... ... ... 59 First breeding of the Eider on the north-west coast of England (R. A. H. Coombes) 60 Lapwing uttering '' sub-song ” from ground and display action of male (R. A. Richardson) ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 6i Great Black-backed Gulls roosting inland (D. V. Butt, R. G. Pettitt and A. E. Vine) 61 Short Note : — Sky-Lark feeding on leaves of Shirley Poppy 61 Reviews : — Yorkshire Naturalists' Union. Committee for Ornithology Reports for 1947 and 1948 ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 62 Ornithological Reports for Northumberland and Durham for 1947 and 194^ *•* "** **' *'* *** *" BRITISH BIRDS Number 2, Vol. XLIII, February, 1950. MARSH-TIT TERRITORIES OVER SIX YEARS. BY H. N. Southern (Dept, of Zoological Field Studies, Oxford University) and Averil Morley. I. Introduction. This study of territories in a small population of Marsh-Tits [Pams palustris) was made in a part of Bagley Wood, near Oxford, between May, 1937 and August, 1942, with occasional subsequent observations extending to 1947. The work was started by the hrst writer, who — caught and colour-ringed the Marsh-Tits at the nest-holes by means of hair-nets, and was continued by him alone until the end of 1938. For the next 12 months, observation and ringing were carried on jointly, then from the beginning of 1940 the remainder of the work was done by the second writer, who developed an alternative marking method by baiting and trapping in the winter. The present paper presents an analysis of population changes and movements over an area usually occupied by four pairs of Marsh-Tits. It does not deal at all with behaviour, which will be treated separa- tely by the second writer. The data have considerable gaps. During the time when marking was done at the nest it was impossible to identify any replacing bird positively until the next breeding-season, and subsequent winter marking showed that deaths could occur and be made good in quick succession in the non-breeding season. Secondly, the total area was rather large for one person to work thoroughly, so that attention was usually concentrated on one or two territories, particularly when behaviour was being studied. Again marking at the nest was difficult when the sites were high up and hard to find. Generally speaking the Marsh-Tit is not an ideal species to study. Its quick movements and frequent habit of feeding and travelling some 25-30 ft. above the ground make the identification of colour rings tedious, especially as some colours do not show up well under heavy foliage. 2. The Study Area. The area (shown in outline in the territory maps, figure 3) is mainly mature oak wood with an undergrowth of bluebells, bracken and brambles. It lies about 3 miles to the south of Oxford upon Kimmeridge clay with patches of Plateau Gravel, and measures about 50 acres. On the north-west and east it is bounded by roads ; on the west by open, scrubby ground with occasional houses ; and to the south by a continuation of the woodland. The conformation of the ground is dictated by a stream which runs parallel to the north- western boundary about 150 yards from it and then turns south- ward. From this stream the ground slopes up gently to the south 34 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XLIII. and slightly more abruptly to the north-west. Along the small valley thus formed an abundance of bushy elder spreads up the lower slopes, giving plenty of nest-sites for all species of titmice, while towards the eastern end the ground near the stream becomes swampy and such trees as willow and alder appear. In the northern corner of the area there is an extensive and dense thicket of hawthorn and blackthorn, and dotted about the rest of the ground are more isolated clumps of both these shrubs. One small area of sycamores and a few spruces are the only other things that interrupt the homogeneity of the oaks. 3. Techniques. Marking Marsh-Tits at the nest was done by fastening over the hole with drawing pins a tine hair-net (but not one made of real hair, which is too brittle) so as to leave a pouch projecting away from the hole. A short wait was usually sufficient to secure the hen. For the cock, however, it was best to wait until young were being fed, then to place a hide by the nest, so that as soon as the bird had entered the observer could hurry out and fix the net. At high level nests a net was rigged up on a wire frame, and this dropped over the hole when released by a string. For winter trapping, certain places were baited regularly and then a small trap with a drop-door was used (for details, see Morley, 1942). 4. Survival ok Individual Birds in their Territories. In all, 34 birds were colour-ringed on the area, which was usually divided into four territories. The survival of these birds from month to month is shown in figure 1 ; every month in which a certain identification was made is marked with a black dot, while circles indicate months during which the birds survived but were not identified. It must be made quite clear that the term survival, as used here, means strictly the time that birds remained in recorded territories. It is more than probable that disappearance from the records meant death, and, therefore, the term “ expectation of survival ” used below is equivalent to “ expectation of life,” but this must Fig. I Survival of marked Mar.sh-Tits to neare.st month. The black spots indicate a definite identification during the month concerned. The circles indicate survival, but no identification. Brackets indicate dubious identifications, and the alternative survival figures are shown, also in brackets, in the right-hand column and in the totals at the foot of the table. Square brackets indicate birds which were not known to claim territory, .so that their disappearance may only have meant they had wan- dered away. They have been omitted from the survival calculations. Nos. 24 & 32 present a difficultju No. 24 was identified after the general work had ceased, in February, 1944, and April, 1945, but had gone in May, 1946- No. 32 was similarly identified in February, 1944, April, 1943, and May, 1946, but had gone by May, 1947. These birds are presumed to have survived half way between the last two dates on which the territories were visited. VOL. XLIII.] MARSH-TIT TERRITORIES 35 Survival in 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 months Mean survival In months of (fcf I9 2 (I9-8) of 99 13-3 (15-5) Mean I5'5 (I62) Fig. I. 36 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XLIII. not be presumed without better evidence than we liave. In the com- parison of our results with those of previous authors made below the expectation of survival of the Marsh-Tit is much the same as the expectation of life of related species. Some of the marked birds only survived a very short time after they were ringed, and these were, of course, mainly ones marked in the winter by the baiting and trapping method. Morley (1942) has shown that during the winter there is a floating population of birds unattached to territories and accompanying the travelling flocks of small birds, which are so noticeable a feature of woodlands in winter. Such birds cannot well be taken into account, when considering their time of survival, since, not having territories, their disappearance merely means that they have wandered away. These birds, therefore, are included in square brackets in the survival column of figure i, and are omitted from the calculations of the mean expectation of survival. Birds such as numbers 17, 25 and 34, that have been included in the calculations, though surviving only a short time, were judged from their behaviour definitely to have adopted a mate and a territory. If we accept the two long-lived birds (23 and 32), which still remained in their territories in April, 1945, and May, 1946, respec- tively, as dying about halfway between the last two visits, the expectation of survival from the time of marking is 15.5 months, or, if we accept three dubious identifications, 16.2 months. If we remember that this expectation of survival applies only to birds which have already passed the month or so immediately after fledging, when the mortality rate is especially high, the figure of 15.5 months is of the same order as those already published for a number of small passerines. Of these the Great Tit {Pams major) is the most nearly related, and Plattner (1947) gives its expectation of life as 18 months. Relevant figures for the Redstart {Phoenicunis phcenictmis) (Ruiter, 1941) and for the Robin {Erithams rubecula) (Lack, 1943) are both about 13 months. Some figures are given by Odum (1942) for an even closer relative, the Black-capped Chickadee [Parus atricapillus) , but these are calculated from two years’ data only. The expectation of life is given as 2 years. A sexual difference is revealed in figure i, since males may expect to survive a further 19.2 months compared with the females’ 13.3. This raises the general question as to the amount of movement that goes on among the territories, because, if females tend to move territories between seasons, some of them may be lost from obser- vation by disappearing into unrecorded territories. This would mean that the expectation of survival given for the females is lower than the expectation of life. Figure 2 shows the amount of exchange that went on during the years of observation. Seven changes in all took place (by numbers 6, 8, 13, 21, 24 (twice) and 32) and of these only numbers 8 and 32 were cocks. Furthermore the movements of these birds were Territ- VOL. XLIII.] MARSH-TIT TERRITORIES 37 *b CH- ’bof *00)- ’boi- >s O (N m Fig. 2. Survival of marked Marsh-Tits and changes of territory. Each number denotes a marked individual. In the instances of numbers i and 54, where the lines end with a vertical bar, this indicates that death was proved. 38 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XLIII. Summer 1937 Summer 1939 Fig. V Plans of Marsh-Tit Territories. interesting. The territory maps in figure 3 show that in the case of No. 8 the change took place in the summer of 1939 and the winter of 1939-40 owing to his having expanded his original territory down the stream during May and then abandoned the western part of it, giving a chance to a new bird to move in behind him during the autumn. The movements of No. 32 in 1944-5 were similar and in this instance the hen was known to have accompanied her mate, which meant completing a double change on her part by going back to her original territory. In both these cases, where a male bird was concerned, the change was gradual and could easily be traced. In the hens the process was somewhat different and rather more abrupt, so that some might have dropped out of the observations by going to an unwatched territory. With the exception of No. 6, who moved from the subsidiary territory 3a, which then disappeared VOL. XLiii ] MARSH-TIT TERRITORIES. 39 The following hatchings indicate the different territories : Where the boundary of the territory was not precisely known this is shown with an interrupted margin. Black dots mark nest sites. The scale at the foot of each figure is ^ mile. -Tit Territories [continued). from the records for some years, the hens were seen around the borderline for a few months and then changed over territories completely. In some cases this was temporary : hen No. 29 left her mate for 5 weeks in the winter to consort with a neighbour and then returned to her mate at the end of March. These considerations show that some hen Marsh-Tits may have vanished without dying, and therefore their expectation of survival may not be so close to the expectation of life as in the case of the cocks. 5. The Territories. The inheritance of ownerships reduced to its simplest form is shown in hgure 2, while the shape and size of the territories and the way in which they htted together are shown in figure 3. A word must be said about the reliability of the boundaries. The number of identifications made in each territory per month 40 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XLIII. throughout the six years is given in the appendix. Apart from the gaps (indicated by dashes) during which a change of ownership occurred and the newcomer was not yet ringed, considerable vari- ation in activity of the observers is shown in certain seasons and in certain territories. During the times when the monthly rate of identifications was small the boundaries given are less reliable. As far as possible this is indicated in figure 3 by outlining the territories with interrupted lines. In some cases (e.g. 1938) it is obvious that only a small part of the territories has been included owing to the lack of sufficiently well spread identifications. When the number of records rose to 10 and over per six months there was little doubt as to the main directions of the boundaries. Figure 4 gives a rough indication of the kind of data on which the maps are based, and it can be seen that on the whole the individual records are scattered over the outlined areas fairly satisfactorily. There were also other methods of fixing the boundaries which are not amenable to graphic illustration. Challenging and aggressive behaviour was observed more regularly along the boundaries than elsewhere, and it was frequently possible to identify two pairs within a few minutes at such localities. F'urthermore, certain lines of demarcation (e.g. between territories i & 2, and 2 & 3) were relatively constant throughout the period of study, even though there were no special topographical features to mark them, and special attention was paid to such places. The second writer tested several of these boundaries by noting behaviour at bait placed on the territory edge. A change in the position of the bait, even for a distance so small as 20 yards, was sufficient to convert an aggressive and noisy territory owner to a silent trespasser, the former trespasser becoming in its turn the self-assertive owner. The number of territories on the area was constant even through the winter. A fiftli territory, which was a subsidiary one squeezed in between 3 and 4 (hence referred to in the figures as 3a) only appeared for two short periods. In 1937, however, it was certainly used for breeding, though the nest was washed out by a thunder- storm. The size of the territories varied considerably. The blank areas on the maps in figure 3 were really devoid of Marsh-Tits with the possible exception of the triangle in the north-east corner, which was not observed very thoroughly, but generally composed part of a territory extending beyond the road. The part south of the stream near the western boundary, however, was genuinely empty and may have been unattractive because of the lack of scrub. If we allow 5 acres for the part belonging to birds on the far side of the boundary road, this leaves about 45 acres over which the four territories were distributed. Approximate dimensions to the nearest half acre are given in Table i. VOL. XLiii.] MARSH- TIT TERRITORIES. 41 T.\ble I. Approximate acreages of summer and winter territories throughout six years. Territory Total I 2 3 3a 4 1937 (Mch.-Aug.) not p r e c i s e 1 y known 1937-8 (Sept.-Feb.) 3.0 6.0 ? ? 2.5 1938 2.0 2.5 ? — ? 1938-9 2.5 ? 4-5 — 16.0 1939 7-5 5-5 5-0 12.0 30.0 less 6 overlap 24.0 1939-40 4-0 7-5 9.0 13.5 34-0 less 1.5 32.5 1940 00 b 00 Cn 7.0 12.0 35.5 less I.O 34.5 1940-1 6.0 8.0 lO.O I.O 8.0 33.0 less I.O 32.0 1941 6.5 8.5 6.0 I.O lo.o 32.0 1941-2 6.0 II.O 6.0 — • ? 1942 Mean 6.0 9.5 4-5 ? Summer (Mch.-Aug.) 6.0(5) 6.9(5) 7.0(4) 8.0(4) 5.6(4) I.O(l) 11.3(3) Winter (Sept.-Feb.) 4.3(5) 8.1(4) 4.6(4) 8.8(3) 7-4(4) I.O(l) 10.0(4) 12.5(3) Mean figures are given for the whole period (upper line) and for the period 1938-9 to 1942 (lower line). In the first two years obser- vations were less concentrated (see appendix), so the estimates are probably on the small side. The figures in brackets show the number of observations from which each mean was calculated. The figure given for territory 2 in 1939 represents the size of the territory at the beginning of the breeding season, estimated from observations of the probable owners before the hen was ringed. During May the size decreased. From these data it is clear that, when estimates for all territories were available, some 50 to 75 per cent, of the ground was occupied. The variation in size of the individual territories is interesting. In the first place there is no evident correlation with population density ; in fact during the year when five pairs were present the total area occupied was less than in some other years when only the main four territories were present. Topography may have had some influence. Territory 4 was usually the largest, and there was less cover here than in the others. The most marked feature, however, influencing the size of territory is the individuality of the owner. By comparing table i with fig. 2 it can be seen that a well established male tended to enlarge his territory. Bird No. 8, for instance, when he appeared in the breeding season of 1938, was content with a small area of 2 acres ; during the winter this was increased slightly, and in 1939 he almost 42 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XLIII. swallowed up the neighbouring territory No. 2, and in spite of sub- sequently abandoning the original No. i territory, continued to hold an area of 7-9 acres to the end of observations. Similarly territory No. 4 was fairly small in 1938 (although its exact margins were not known), but increased in 1939 when the same cock was in possession. Finally the subsidiary territory, which never became properly established, was the smallest one recorded. Fig. 4. Plan of Marsh-Tit Territories. The small dots indicate sight records of either sex throughout the period. The large dots show nest sites. The scale = J mile. Figure 3 also shows the variability in shape of the territories. Such changes generally occur along parts of the margins which are not strictly defined and defended. Thus territory No. i, apart from 1939, varies from year to year by bulging out southwards and south-eastwards. Territory No. 2 is fairly well pinned in, but wavers a little back and forth up the south bank of the stream. Territory No. 3 sometimes expanded north-eastwards, especially in the winter (e.g. 1939-40 and 1940-1), or was displaced in this direction (e.g. 1938-9). This may be bound up with the situation in the north-east corner, where the owners with their headquarters across the road probably varied in the vigour of their claims. Finally, territory No. 4 may almost be called protean, since, although being centred mainly in the area between the main stream and its tributary, it could assume a shape such as that for winter 1938-9, reaching the northern boundary road, or as that in 1940-1, reaching the eastern boundary road. The figures for territory size may be compared with those of Odum (1941) for Parus atricapillus (range 8.4-17.1 ; mean 13.2 acres). 6. Movements within Territories. No attempt was made to follow the movements of any individual pair over a whole day, but the identification records, which were all spotted on rough maps, may be analysed to show the parts of VOL. XLIII.] MARSH-TIT TERRITORIES. 43 their territories in which birds were most frequently found. For compiling table 2, which gives these results, the positions of the identifications were classified in the following way. The central point of each territory was taken as the point of intersection of the longest and the shortest diameters. The shortest diameter was then divided into six equal parts, and lines were drawn from these divisions parallel to the outer margin of the territory. The territory was thus divided into a central area, an intermediate ring and an outer ring or margin. The last was further subdivided into margin which touched another territory (defended margin) and that which did not (neutral margin). Table 2. Distribution of Marsh-Tits within their territories. Position in territory between centre centre and neutral margin defended margin outside territory Summer — males 50 margin 56 31 71 4 females . . ,. 36 34 15 46 5 Winter — males •• 43 50 38 69 II females 26 51 15 48 3 155 191 99 234 23 N.B. — The figures denote the total number of observations during the 6 years study. The gross totals in table 2 show a considerable concentration of birds on the defended boundaries of their territories (more than would be accounted for by the observer’s bias towards searching in such places), but not so much interest in the neutral margins. On the other hand trespass for any notable distance into another territory is -fairly rare. These figures can also be analysed to show whether there is any difference in the distribution according to sexes or seasons. For comparing summer and winter the totals are as follows. between centre neutral defended outside total centre and margin margin territory obser- margin vations Summer . .. 86 90 46 II7 9 348 Winter .. 69 lOI 53 II7 14 354 The total numbers of observations for summer and winter are sufficiently close to make direct comparison possible. There is a slight tendency for birds to be seen in the middle of their territories more frequently in summer, as might be expected, and also slightly less tendency to trespass outside, but on the whole the distributions for summer and winter do not vary greatly. Certain classes of record have had to be excluded from these records for obvious reasons : these include records during ringing operations, during observation on breeding behaviour and roosting, and during winter trapping. 44 BRITISH BIRDS [vol. xliii. The analysis by sexes, with the figures converted into percentages owing to the discrepant totals, is shown below. between . centre centre neutral defended outside total and margin margin territory obser- margin vations Males •• 93 106 69 140 15 423 (22) (25) (16) (34) (3) (100) Females . 62 85 30 94 8 279 (22) (30) (II) (34) (3) (100) Examination of the percentage figures (in brackets below the observations) shows how very little difference there was between the sexes in their distribution in the territories. Although, as stated above, no systematic observation was carried out on the actual movements of birds over any considerable period, notes were taken on many occasions of a single movement through the territory by a single bird extending over minutes, and on some of these occasions a bird would shift quite quickly from one side of the territory to the other. In many instances casual feeding would interrupt the journey, but the impression was of a patrolling movement more than a search for food. 7. Non-territorial Population. The relations of the summer non-breeding and winter drifting populations to the territory owners will be dealt with in a separate publication by the second writer. It is difficult to determine how far the winter populations consisted of young birds reared on or near the area and how far of drifting birds from other areas. Only during one season were the nestlings colour-ringed, since the small number of returns (only one bird ringed as a nestling was subse- quently identified among the population) made the process wasteful of colour combinations. This was unfortunate and any future investigation should pay especial attention to tracing the survival of nestlings. The speed with which deaths among the breeding population were replaced (e.g. the male of territory No. i in 1938) suggests that there was definitely a non-breeding population present throughout the spring. 8. Breeding Density of the Population. The area covered was too small to give any satisfactory figures on variation in breeding density from year to year. It is probably significant, however, that four was the regular number of pairs and that in the two years when a fifth pair was present it was squeezed into a small territory along the valley of the stream. At first sight it may appear from this that the territorial habit was limiting the number of pairs that could breed here, but if over a very large area the population could increase by one pair in every four in certain years the total increase would be of considerable magnitude. What VOL. XLiii.] MARSH-TIT TERRITORIES. 45 are really needed are census figures over a large tract of country containing areas of different degrees of attraction to Marsh-Tits, since it is always possible that the effect of the territorial habit in years of high density is merely to extend the total area of occupation of the species. Outlying birds in less suitable habitats will doubtless survive less well than those in the centres of occupation, so to this extent survival depends on density in spite of the territorial habit. Some data suggesting an effect of this kind have recently been pub- lished for the Robin [Erithaciis rubecula) by Lack (1948), 9. Acknowledgments. The writers wish to make grateful acknowledgment to St. John Baptist College, Oxford, the owners of Bagley Wood, for permission to carry out the work there. 10. Summary. 1. A population of between four and hve pairs of Marsh-Tits was studied over a period of six years by means of colour ringing. 2. The mean expectation of survival from all territory owners ringed was 15.5 months. This expectation of survival was higher for cocks than for hens. 3. The size of the territories varied from i acre up to 16 acres, with an average of about 6 acres. Well established males usually claimed larger territories than new arrivals. 4. Changing of territories was recorded twice in the cocks and five times in the hens. 5. The distribution of identihcations within the territories shows that birds tended to spend more time along those parts of the margin which adjoined other territories than in any other part of their territories. REFERENCES. Lack, D. (1943). The Life of the Robin. London. Lack, D. (1938). Notes on the ecology of the Robin. Ibis, 90 : 252-79. Morley, a. (1942). Effects of baiting on the Marsh-Tit. British Birds, 35 : 261-6. Odum, E. P. (1941). Annual cycle of the Black-capped Chickadee. Auk, 58 ; 314-33. Odum , E. P. (1942). A comparison of two Chickadee seasons. Bird- banding, 13 : 154-9. Plattner, J. (1946). Ergebnisse der Meise- und Kleiberberingung in der Schweiz (1929-1941). Orn. Beob., 43 : 156-88. Ruiter, C. J. S. (1941). Waarnemingen omtrent de levenswijze van de Gekraagde Roodstaart, Phcenicurus ph. phoenicurus (L.). Ardea, 30 : 175-24. 46 BRITISH BIRDS [VOL. XLIII, APPENDIX. Number of identifications per month of the current owners of each terri- tory. Territory i 2 3 3 a 4 1937 M F M F M F M F M F May I I I I - I I - I June 0 0 0 0 - 0 — 0 — 0 July 0 0 0 0 — 0 — 0 - 0 August 0 0 0 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 September T 0 I 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 October I 0 I I — 3 — 0 - 2 November 4 2 3 2 — — 0 - 0 December z 3 2 2 - - - I - I 1938 January 2 3 3 - _ - - 0 - - February I 1 I - - - - 0 - - March I I 1 _ — — — 0 - - April I I I I - - - - - - May I 2 - 0 I I - - 1 I June 0 0 — 0 0 0 - — 0 0 July 0 0 - 0 0 0 - - 0 0 August I 0 - I 0 0 - - I 2 September 2 I - 2 0 0 - - 2 X October 3 I — I 0 - — 3 2 November 0 — — _ 0 0 — — 0 0 December 0 - - - I I - - 0 0 1939 January 5 - - - 2 3 - - 4 I February 6 - - - 0 3 - - 6 0 March 6 - - - - 4 - _ 9 0 April 4 - - - - 3 - - 6 I May 5 - - I - - - - 7 - June 0 — — — — — — — 0 - July 0 - - - - - — - 0 — August I - - - - - - 0 _ September 0 - 3 - - I - - 0 - October 0 - 3 — - 4 - — 2 — November 2 — 2 — 2 1 — — I _ December 2 - I - I I - - 0 - 1940 January 3 - 3 I - - - I - February 2 I - 2 I - - - I March 7 - 3 I 4 4 - — 3 2 April 5 - 6 6 6 5 - - 3 4 May 2 I I 1 I I - - 0 0 June I — I I 2 — — — I I July I - 2 I 3 2 - - 0 - August I - T I I I - - 0 - September 0 - 2 I I 0 - - 0 - October 2 — 2 I 2 2 - - 0 - November 3 I 2 I 3 2 - — 0 - December 4 4 2 3 7 6 - - 0 - A VOL. XLiii.] MARSH-TIT TERRITORIES. 47 APPENDIX — continued. Territory 2 3 la 4 1941 M F M F M F M F M F January 5 3 5 4 3 6 I - o - February 5 - 9 9 9 6 4 - 3 3 March lO 5 13 12 8 3 3 - 3 3 Apiil 3 3 9 9 3 3 - - 3 3 May 4 I 2 3 6 4 - - - o June 2 I 4 3 — I - - - o July - - o I - o - - - o August - - 2 2 - 2 - - - o September - - 4 4 - I - - - o October - - 3 3 - o - - - o November - - 8 7 - 6 - - - o December 2 I 4 5 - o - - - o 1942 J anuary 2 3 4 4 - 2 - - - o February 5 I 9 8 - 2 - - - o March 3 3 7 7 - 2 - - - o April 4 4 6 3 - 3 - - - T May o — 2 2 - I - - - T June o - I I — o - - - T July o - I I - o - - - - August o - 2 2 — o - - - N.B. — Nest site identifications have been omitted, where watching at any nest. was 1 done A dash indicates that no marked bird was present to be identified. (48) FAIR ISLE BIRD OBSERVATORY. NOTES ON SELECTED SPECIES, AUTUMN, 1949. Compiled by Kenneth Williamson (Director). The following notes have been selected from the Fair Isle Bird Observatory “ Notes on Species ” record-book as much for their importance in amplifying the information contained in The Handbook oj British Birds as for their general interest to ornithologists. The report should be regarded as supplementary to a similar one covering the Spring migration of 1949 which has been submitted to The Scottish Tiaturatist, and which contains observations on a Greenish Warbler {Phylloscopus trochiloides viridanus), Nightingale {Luscinia megarhyncha) , Black-browed Albatross {Diomedea melanophrys) , and Kentish Plover {Leucopolhts alexandrinus), among other species Lapland Bunting [Calcar ius Lapponicus). A male stayed on Ward Hill from September 2nd-5th and was trapped on the latter date. The bill was a deep vinous colour, not yellow as stated in The Hand- book (i, 148). The tip was dark horn, this colour covering a greater area on the upper than the lower mandible. There was a little yellowish along the cutting edges only. The legs and toes were blackish-brown, iris dark brown. About 40 birds arrived with as many Snow-Buntings [Plectro- phenax nivalis) on September loth, and Lapland Buntings remained at this strength until the 22nd, there being few only after this until the 29th, with odd birds up to October 12th. All birds watched at close quarters during this period conhrmed the above observation on the colour of the bill, and it seems likely there must be a seasonal change. Red-breasted Flycatcher [Muscicapa parva). Two hrst-winter birds trapped on September 21st had the legs black, soles olive-brown, and bill dark brown with flesh-pink at the base of the lower mandible. The gape was yellow. A bird recorded on September 13th had a characteristic habit of cocking the tail above the back, after the manner of a Wren ['1 roglodytes troglodytes). [This is a typical habit of the species and is mentioned inj The Handbook. — Eds.] . Chiffchaff [Phylloscopus collybita subsp.). A single Chiflchaff thought to be Ph. c. tristis was observed on October 6th and 7th. On the 8th four similar birds were reported, and on the 12th a further small influx took place, eight birds being examined at close quarters on that day, and five on the next. One bird remained on the island until the 17th. There was a moderate N.E. wind all day on October 5th, E.S.E. winds from then to the iith, blowing at gale force on the afternoon and night of the 10th, and moderating the following day. Visibility was reasonably good until the nth, when it was poor on account of continuous rain. British Birds, Vol. xliii, PI- 10 SCICNE.S AT AN ARTIFICIAL DRINKING TOOL. Fig. I. Great Tit, Marsh-Tit and Blue Tits. h'lG. 2. Great Spotted Woodpecker. {Photogru plied by Eric Hosking). Eric Hosking). Ijiitish Hirtls, \'ol. xliii, 1*1. II. ScENF.S AT AN ARTII' iri M. DRINKINC. ROOI.. Fir.s. 3 AND 4. HAWi'iNcm s drinkinc.. { PhnlouyapliPfl hv !-'ric 1 loskini;) . British Birds, Vol. xliii, PI. 12. Scenes at an artificiai. drinking pood. Figs. 5 and 6. Hawfinch and young. {Photographed by Eric Hosking). Ijiitish Hii'ds, \'ul. xliii, PI. ];>• SCENIiS AT .\N ARITFICIAL DRINKING POOL. Fig. 7. Adult Hav/fincii threati^ning juvenii.f Mistle-Tiikush. l<’iG. 8. Juvenile Hawfinch bathing. {Photographed by Erie Ilosking). \X-' liritish Hirds, \'ol. xlii, PI. 14. Scenes at an artificial drinking pool. Figs. 9 and 10. A.ggressive behaviour b.etween Hawfinch and Juvenile Mistle-Thrush. [Photographed hv Kric Hosking) British Birds, Vol. xliii, PI. 15. Scenes at an artiitciai. drinking pool. Pig. II. Juvenile Haweincii and juvenile Blackiurd bathing. Fig. 12. Im.mature male Redstart. {! 'holographed by h'ric Hoskiiig) British Birds, \'ol. xliii, PI. 16. Scenes at an artificial drinking rooi.. Figs. 13 and 14. Ju\'enile Mistle-Tiirusiies. (Phologiaphed hv Eric Hosking). British Birds, Vol. xliii, Pi. 17. {Photographed by K. A. II Coonihcs). VOL. XLIII.J FAIR ISLE BIRD OBSERVATORY. 49 The upper-parts of these birds were brown, lacking the olive tinge of the typical race, and in some the under-parts were greyish- white quite dehnitely without any yellow except on the under wing- coverts at the angle of the wing, thus agreeing closely with the description of Ph. c. tristis. Of those watched on the 12th, six were of this kind, but two on this day (and three on the 9th and 13th) had slight and rather streaky yellow markings on the breast, thus approximating to Ph. c. abietinus. All had a dull huffish wash on the sides of the breast and flanks, aptly described by W.H.B. as ‘‘ mackintosh-colour,” and the legs were black. There was a whitish orbital ring. As all these Chiffchaffs were present on the island at the same time, it is perhaps a reasonable inference that they may have originated in the same area of northern Europe or Asia, possibly an area of intergradation between these two races. Their occurrence provides a striking example of how, on migration, one can get a small group of birds, apparently from the same source, exhibiting such a mixture of characters in the field. Whilst certain general affinities can be recognized it would obviously be unwise to refer to such birds, either severally or individually, by an established name. These Chiffchaffs were usually quite easy to observe : they kept to the turnip and cabbage patches, but did not skulk in the cover as is so often the case with migrant warblers, and especially with the more olive-backed and yellower Chiffchaffs of earlier in the autumn. Sometimes they would rise and fly away with rather high, wayward flight to a neighbouring patch of crops; but a more usual (and in fact quite characteristic) habit was to remain in their chosen field flitting restlessly from place to place, perching between whiles in open view on the tops of the plants. Excellent close views were thus easy to obtain. Sometimes they took insects from the leaves, or snapped at passing flies. Yellow-browed Warbler {Phylloscopus inornatus). An early bird was seen by H. J. Pease on August 28th ; subsequently, from one to three were present from September i9th-28th, and another was recorded between October 12th and i6th. The only call-note, noted by several observers, was a high-pitched ‘‘ weest.” In addition to the yellowish-white wing-bars, which appear to vary individually in size (especially the upper bar), the wide sweep of the superciliary stripe is an excellent field-mark. The birds are fond of leaping up after passing flies, the action being accompanied by an audible snapping of the bill. Pallas’s Grashopper-Warbler {Locustella certhiola). A bird identified as a first-winter bird of this species, which has only one previous record in Britain, was present in a turnip and cabbage patch on October flth-pth. It was studied at close quarters on both days by the following observers : Dr. W. H. Bierman, R. F. Rutt- ledge, C. I. Murdoch, L, P. Samuels, G. Waterston, T. Yeoman, P. Robertson and K. Williamson. The weather observations 50 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XLIII. appropriate to this period are given under Chiffchaff. The bird was an inveterate skulker, rarely showing itself for more than a few seconds at a time, and then nearly always on the wing. Its habit, when close-pressed, was to fly a little way and then dive into cover. If not harrassed, it would move forward through the crop ahead of the observers, and appeared to progress by long hops, though this point is not certain as views were so fleeting. When the end of the crop was reached the bird would sometimes delay for a few moments, resting quietly under cover of the leaves, as though unwilling to venture into the open. It would then rise and swerve round to pass to the rear of the observers, soon diving into the turnips again. The technique adopted was for the party to advance slowly through the crop, line abreast, and for those on the flanks to try to work round to the edge of the cover when the end of the rows was reached. The best views of the bird both on the ground and on the wing as it turned to fly to the rear, were had at such times. The bird had a habit when it flew of sometimes lifting the tail upwards at an angle to the back. Once or twice it forsook the cover and came down in pasture which surrounded the crop ; and on the morning of the qth (after it had escaped through the mesh of a herring-net set to catch it) several watchers were able to study it in the field, in much better light than was available among the crops. The immediate impression given by the bird when on the wing in good light was of a dull, warm olive-brown bird superficially resem- bling a Sedge-Warbler {Acrocephalus schoenobcemis). The brief views obtained as the bird skulked quickly across the rows suggested a Grasshopper- Warbler {Locustella ncevia). Very early in the proceed- ings, however, it was realized that the rump and upper tail-coverts were altogether too reddish for the latter bird, and one or two obser- vers claimed to see whitish tips to some of the tail-feathers. The importance of the find was therefore appreciated quite early, and every attempt was made to procure a detailed plumage description. C.I.M. and K.W. took down notes in the field (often supplied by other observers) and these were discussed at intervals, and carefully checked during subsequent watching. The final form of the des- cription given here was drawn up by C.I.M. and K.W. from these notes in the company of the others at the evening conference on the 9th. The general colour of the upper-parts was a dark olive-brown with long blackish striations on the crown and blackish streaks on the mantle. The nape appeared to be unstreaked or nearly so, and (perhaps because of this) paler than the head and back, a dull yellowish-brown. The rump was dull rufous-brown and a striking feature in a good light. The whole of the under-surface appeared to be dull yellowish except for the under tail-coverts, which were tawny-buff. There was an indistinct pale eyestripe and slight spotting on the upper breast and flanks. The bill appeared long and black ; VOL. XLiii.] FAIR ISLE BIRD OBSERVATORY. 51 the legs and toes were pinkish in dull light, pale flesh in sunlight. The flight-feathers were dark brown, also the rather long, rounded tail : this contrasted markedly with the rump and mantle and darkened perceptibly towards the tip. When the bird was on the wing, and especially when it turned to pass to the rear of the party, some of the tail-feathers appeared to be tipped with greyish- white. W.H.B., who had incomparably the best view of this character on the afternoon of the 8th, when the bird flew up low a few feet from him, reported “ lighter rim to tail-feathers, except the middle ones.” In view of the fact that this light rim to the tail is the italicized field-character in The Handbook (ii, 34-5) — though its importance is apparently assumed from examination of skins — some comment on its value seems necessary. It is in fact a very poor field mark if the present experience is any criterion, and it was only on rare occasions that it was seen at all. K.W., for instance, remarked on it the first time he saw the bird rise on the afternoon of the 8th, but was never absolutely certain of it afterwards until the final excellent view in the open field on the morning of the 9th. R.F.R. and others did not see the pale tips with certainty on the 8th, but had satisfactory views of them on the 9th. Summarizing, the bird’s general resemblance to a Grasshopper- Warbler in plumage and behaviour was marked, but the bird differed strikingly in the rufous-brown rump and upper tail-coverts ; more heavily striated effect of crown and mantle ; dark rounded tail becoming blackish posteriorly and contrasting with the back when in flight ; and tawny-buff of under tail-coverts. The almost uniform dull yellowish underparts indicate that the bird was a young one of the year. Subsequently, G.W., T.Y. and K.W. examined skins of this species kindly lent by N. B. Kinnear of the British Museum (Natural History) : the characters observed and recorded in the field agreed well with those to be seen in the skins, even to the inconspicuousness of the greyish-white tips of the tail-feathers, which in some examples at any rate do not appear to be replaced at the first autumn moult. Reed-Warbler {Acrocephalus scirpaceus). One trapped on Sept- ember 1st had the legs flesh-colour, and the metatarsal joint and toes tinged greenish, with the soles yellow. The iris was greyish- brown. Two other Reed-Warblers were observed between September 24th-27th. Siberian Lesser Whitethroat {Sylvia curruca blythi). Two trapped on September 13th had the legs bluish-horn, the bill dark horn over most of the upper mandible, lower mandible bluish-horn darker at the tip. One trapped on September 24th remained until 29th, feeding mainly on the shore. Northern Great Spotted Woodpecker {Dendrocopas m. major). The first birds of the autumn " invasion ” arrived on Fair Isle on September 12th ; further birds came in on 21st (in each case 62 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XLIII. following a day and night of N.E. wind), and another influx took place on October 6th, when ten were recorded on the isle. These dates coincide with the main arrival dates on the Isle of May. Two birds were found in a dying condition on September i6th and 24th, and the skins were preserved : both were in body-moult, as was also the case with others observed in the field. All those seen were juveniles, and by the end of October moult had progressed so far in some cases that a very close view, in a good light, was required to make out the few remaining crimson tipped feathers of the crown. At least three were still on Fair Isle at the beginning of December. There was a single bird throughout late December, last recorded by P. Robertson on January 4th, 1950. The early arrivals searched for food along the wooden fencing- posts and telegraph poles, and on corn-stooks standing in the fields. A number were seen on the cliffs, probing the rock crevices and digging in the soft earth. D. Stout watched one bird working over the roof and eaves of a cottage in mid-October and thought it was probably taking pupaj of the Large White butterfly {Pieris brassicce), which were common there. The birds’ call-note was a strong, high “ chwip C. W. Holt recorded a " chattering cry ” of one bird which was threatened by a Fulmar {Fultnarus glacialis) when feeding on the cliffs. It was interesting to see how quickly the lack of a suitable habitat on Fair Isle compelled the woodpeckers to adopt granivorous habits. In late September birds were often at the corn-stooks in the fields, and from the beginning of October spent most of their time in the stackyards feeding on the ricks. They were very confiding and permitted close approach. C. W. Holt recorded of one bird watched at a stook on September 23rd : “It was seen to remove an oat -seed from the cluster and place it on what was subsequently found to be the fairly solid knot formed by the usual tying of several straws around the stook. The seed was then ‘ hammered ’ in the usual way and the husks seen to drop, whereupon the kernel was promptly swallowed with a slight throw-back of the head. This procedure was repeated several times : the bird would move a few feet to secure a seed, but always brought it back to the same anvil for ‘ hammering.’ The routine was identical with that used by Great Spotted Woodpeckers in my garden with almond nuts, where the nut is fetched from distant places and placed in a crevice in the bark which acts as a vice.’’ R. F. Ruttledge and others watched the same behaviour on September 28th and subsequently. (53) SCENES AT AN ARTIFICIAL DRINKING POOL. Photographed by Eric Hosking. (Plates 10 — 16). The scenes illustrated in plates 10-16 were taken at an artificial drinking pool in Suffolk during the summer of 1949, mostly in June. Mr. Hosking writes that “ possibly owing to the drought Hawfinches {Coccothraustes coccothraustes) came to drink at intervals of about half an hour throughout most of the day and would take large draughts of water into their mouths and then hold their heads high to swallow it. Both these actions are shown in the photographs (Plate ii). The Hawfinches were very antagonistic towards each- other and to any other species that came to drink, but after an exhibition of aggression would sometimes drink in company. No adult Hawfinch was ever seen to bathe, though juveniles certainly did (Plate 13). Juveniles accompanied adults to the drinking pool and were occasionally fed there (Plate 12).” The variety of birds visiting the pool was surprising, and the high proportion of juvenile birds is noteworthy — it will be seen that the Mistle-Thrushes {Turdus viscivorus) (Plate 16) are all juveniles. Attention may be drawn to the photographs illustrating aggressive postures of Hawfinches and Mistle-Thrushes (Plates 13 and 14) and to the interesting one of a young male Redstart {Phceni- curus phcenicurus) just beginning to show the black on the head (Plate 15). (54) NOTES. NOTEWORTHY KENTISH BIRDS IN THE POWELL- COTTON MUSEUM, QUEX PARK, NR. BIRCHINGTON. During a visit to Thanet in the autumn of 1947, I was enabled, through the kindness of Mrs. Powell-Cotton, to examine the small collection of locally-taken bird-skins in the above museum. These were made readily available to me by the present Curator, Mr. R. R. Barton, to whom I tender my best thanks. This collection, which was formed by the late Curator, Mr. G. F. Pinfold, quite as a subsidiary activity, is not without interest, as the birds are practically all from the immediate district of Quex Park. The skins are mostly well prepared and neatly and accurately labelled, and there are a few specimens in the collection which are worthy of special mention. The Great Spotted Woodpecker may be regarded as a rather rare bird in Thanet, and it is therefore of interest to note that of the three specimens in the collection, a male (13. v. 1935) and a female (30. hi. 1935), belong to the British race Dendrocopos major anglicus, while there is another male, which belongs to the Northern, or typical, form, D. m. major. This specimen, which was taken in the park in December, 1929, is a male and shows the typically massive bill, as well as the white under-sides and altogether whiter cheeks, sides of neck and scapular patches of that race. It has just completed its moult from juvenile to first winter dress, a few of the minute scarlet red feathers being retained on the crown. The wing measures 138 mm. This is the second record for Kent of Dendrocopos major major, the first record being that of a female, January 29th, 1944, from near Deal [antea, Vol. xxxvii, p. 236). An adult female Barn-Owl in the collection was caught in the gun-tower by the late Major Powell-Cotton on December 8th, 1937. This bird is an undoubted example of Tyto alba guttata. It has been compared with good series of Continental-taken females, many of which it surpasses in intensity of markings. Among the examples of the Cormorant, there is an immature female, taken on October 25th, 1935, at Birchington, which is referable to the southern form {Phalacrocorax carbo sinensis). James Harrison. INTRUDER RESPONSES IN BIRDS OUTSIDE THEIR BREEDING AREAS. On several occasions I have noticed response by birds to an intruder outside their breeding area similar to that produced in the vicinity of their nests. This type of behaviour does not neces- sarily take place during the breeding-season, but does so in a locality that would appear to be a suitable breeding habitat for the parti- cular species. The explanation for this response is not clear, although there is a possibility that in some instances it may be induced from birds that have failed to produce their broods, or possibly from VOL, XLIII.] NOTES. 55 birds that have had a successful season, but in which a sufficient reduction of the gonads, with which disappearance of breeding behaviour is associated, has not taken place. A notable example occurred on August 23rd, 1948, when a Roseate Tern {Sterna dougallii) was watched mobbing a Carrion Crow {Corvus corone) on a stretch of sandy beach at Beadnell, Northumberland. The usual habit of diving low over the head of the crow was noticed accompanied by its aggressive call, characteristic of the reaction induced in this species by the presence of an intruder on its breeding ground. Its attention was transferred to me when I entered the area in which the crow had been. (It later flew off to join another and they both took part in an elaborate flight display). It may be added that outside a quite limited area this tern failed to respond to an intruder, either avian or human. A further particularly marked form of this behaviour was noticed with a pair of Redshanks [Tringa totanus), also at Beadnell. These birds frequented a corner of a held of roots on July 30th, 1941, and for several days after, and on being approached they never failed to produce the particular anxiety calls and territorial aggressive responses of this species. It is certain that these birds did not breed in this locality ; the nearest Redshanks to do so were several miles away, and there was no likelihood of young birds having reached this area. This form of behaviour is so prevalent with Black-headed Gulls {Lams ridibundus) that to quote actual incidents is unnecessary. From April to September, single birds of this species will commonly, and small parties more rarely, “ attack ” an intruder in a similar manner to that associated with their breeding area. In all these cases it would appear that the birds set up a local and temporary territory, and that beyond the boundaries of this they are hot concerned. John Ash. RAVEN CARRYING FOOD IN FOOT. In my experience it is a very rare event to see a crow, of any species, carrying an object in the foot. On April nth, 1949, I was watching a pair of Ravens {Corvus corax), in the inner quarries on Llanymynech Hill. The hen was hunting food in crevices in the rocks and suddenly appeared carrying the body of a Jackdaw (C. monedula) in the right foot at leg’s length, just as a Sparrow- Hawk {Accipiter nisus) does. She carried the carcase about thirty yards and alighted on a steep, partially grassed, slope in the rocks. Owing to a very high wind she was in considerable difficulty all the time during flight and afterwards. She plucked feathers from the Jackdaw and tried to get some flesh, but soon gave it up and went away. A few minutes later the wind blew the body down and I went to examine it. It had been dead for some time and was partly dried up, but still had considerable weight. This is by no means the first time I have seen Ravens eating Jackdaws, of which hundreds nest in the quarries. J. H, Owen. 66 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XLIII. CARRION CROW DECORATING NEST. In March, 1948, we found the nest of a Carrion Crow {Corvus corone) in a large tree near St. Albans, Herts. Interwoven round the rim of the nest were fresh sprigs of oak leaves. The following week we again inspected the nest and discovered that the oak leaves had been replaced by fresh ones. No eggs were laid in the nest, but the oak leaves were kept fresh till late August. The nest was on a thin branch about 60 feet from the ground, and we have no reason to suppose that the decoration was not the work of the birds themselves. M. R. Lieff and N. P. Jordan. GREENFINCHES AND LINNETS ATTACKING HOPS. On September 13th, 1948, at Bransford, Worcestershire, I was walking through a hop-yard, when I disturbed a flock of about 100 birds of which some were Linnets {Carduelis cannabina) and the remainder Greenfinches {Chloris chloris). The birds were not shy and soon returned, enabling me to watch them at close range. Linnets, as well as Greenfinches, were seen to be pulling the hop cones to pieces. The ground beneath was littered with bracts etc., of the broken cones over several acres, indicating considerable damage. On previous occasions when I have found mixed flocks of finches in hop-yards during September I have found only Green- finches attacking hops ; the other species. Linnet and Chaffinch {Fringilla coelebs) have been feeding on weed-seeds. At this time of year, however, flocks consisting wholly of Greenfinches are far commoner than mixed flocks. There appears to be no reference in The Handbook to this habit in either species, nor have I found any reference to Linnets attacking hops ; of the Greenfinch, Ritchie {Birds and Beasts as Farm Pests, p.224) quotes from an article published in 1906 to the effect that it “ is terribly destructive in pulling hop-flowers to pieces to get at the seeds and comes in large flocks and litters the ground with the flower bracts of the hop.” This observation agrees with my experi- ence in the Bransford district. John Tooby. COURTSHIP FEEDING OF CHAFFINCH. On June 8th, 1949, I was watching a hen Chaffinch {Fringilla coelebs), perched on one end of a field gate when a cock bird alighted, carrying food, on the other end. He proceeded, by a sort of hopping run, along the top of the gate towards the hen. She crouched and shuffled her wings, begging for the food, which he gave her and she swallowed it. After a short pause the cock flew right away and the hen followed him. One does not often have the luck to see a male Chaffinch feed his mate. The late date of this particular incident is also rather striking. J. H. Owen. CALL NOTE OF YELLOW BUNTING. In the call-note of the Yellow Bunting {Emberiza citrinella) (the “ twit ” of The Handbook), delivered chiefly in leisurely fashion VOL. XLIll.] NOTES. 57 from near the highest point of a hedgerow tree, I have always detected a difference in pitch of the alternate notes. Sounding like “ chip ” or “ tchick ” to my ears, every other note drops by such a minor degree as to fall somewhere between “ tchick ” and “ tcheck.” I have seen no reference to this in any literature. A. H. Betts. TWO PAIRS OF BLUE TITS NESTING IN ONE BOX. In May, 1949, two pairs of Blue Tits {Parus ccenileus) reared broods in one box at Much Marcle, Ledbury, Herefordshire. The box, which was on a third floor window sill, was i8| inches long, 7 inches broad, and 6| inches high, and had one hole in the centre at the top. The whole of the bottom of the box was carpeted with moss to a depth of about 2 inches hollowed into a nest at each end. When I inspected the nests, usually late at night, there were two birds in each nest. On May 6th there were nine eggs in one nest and six in the other ; I believe that they hatched between May 21st and 23rd. On June 7th the first birds flew and on the following day they were coming out so fast that it was difficult to count them. I counted as many as seventeen, but there were certainly several more. By lo.o a.m. the box was empty. G. A. Tuchet-Jesson. AQUATIC WARBLERS IN NORFOLK PEMBROKESHIRE AND SUSSEX. On the morning of September loth, 1949, I saw an Aquatic Warbler {Acrocephahis paludicola) by the West Bank, Cley, Norfolk. The bird was present most of the rest of the day, and was seen by a number of other observers including Miss E. C. Crackles and Messrs. A. R. M. Blake, A. H. Daukes, A. E. English, D. D. Harber, R. Higgins, M. J. Rogers, and L. Salmon. Of these. Major Daukes is familiar with the bird on the continent. The bird spent most of its time skulking in low marsh vegetation but w'hen driven out of this it usually flew to a grass grown tangle of barbed wire, where it was first seen ; here it could usually be observed under favourable conditions. The general colouration of the bird was much more yellowish than that of the Sedge-Warbler [Acrocephahis schcenobcenus) , and this could be seen even in flight. The yellowish buff band down the centre of the crown was very broad and well marked, and the broad eye-stripe was yellowish buff and not, as in the Sedge Warbler, creamy white. The dark markings on the mantle were broader and more noticeable than in the Sedge- Warbler. The legs were noticeably pale flesh coloured. The following day the bird was not found. G. W. H. Moule. On September 6th, 1949, an Aquatic Warbler [Acrocephahis paht- dicola) was caught on Skokholm Island, Pembrokeshire. It was first seen by D. R. Gibling and J. O. Smith on September 5th, among the vegetation at the edge of the pond, and it remained in BRITISH BIRDS. 58 [vOL. XLIII. the same area until the following day when it was caught and its identity conhrmed. The bird was usually skulking among the vegetation, but from time to time it perched on top of the plants or flew to a low wall near the pond. Each time it appeared it called a soft " tucc tucc.” A conspicuous, broad, yellowish-buff stripe down the centre of the crown, yellow eye-stripe, brown-black sides of crown, yellowish- buff under-parts and throat, and flesh-coloured legs, were the most striking characters in the field. The bill appeared light; ear-coverts brownish with rufous tinge ; mantle and back yellowish buff with prominent brown-black streaks ; rump rufous buff with black- brown markings continuing from back ; tail brown and fan-shaped ; primaries brown ; and secondaries and wing-coverts brown with light buff edges making noticeable brown and light streaks when the wings were folded. In flight the bird appeared brown and yellow, and when disturbed it flew fast and low over the ground for 20-50 yards before alighting. It did not call in flight. This appears to be the first record for Wales. Joan Keighley. On October rst, 1949, I saw an Aquatic Warbler {Acrocephalns pahidicola) in a marshy area of tlie Crumbles, .Sussex. The bird was seen by Mr. D. H. Brown a little later that same day and it was seen again by both of us on the following day, when it was also seen by Messrs. L. P. Alder, C. M. James and C. W. G. Paulson. I also saw it on October 5th, 6th and 7th. It was not found on Octo- ber 8th and subsequently. The bird was usually put up from low marsh vegetation. If per- sistently followed it would usually perch in a bush or on the outskirts of a reed-bed, when excellent views at close range could often be obtained. The general colouration was distinctly more yellowish than that of a Sedge-Warbler [Acyocephalus schcenobcenus) , though it was rather less so than that of an Acjuatic Warbler which I had seen in Norfolk three weeks previously. There was a broad, very well defined, yellowish-buff stripe through the centre of the crown. This stripe was (piite as obvious and as well-marked as the eye- stripe. The eye-stripe also was yellowish-buff, not pale cream as in a Sedge-Warbler. The upper-parts were much more heavily marked than those of a Sedge-Warbler, with broad and very notice- able dark streaks. The rump was also streaked, as could be seen in flight at close range. These rump markings were also well seen on one occasion when the bird opened its wings while perched with its back to the observer. The under-parts were yellowish-bulf except the belly which was whiter. There were a number of not very well- defined darkish streaks at the sides of the breast and some much fainter ones on the flanks. The legs were pale pink. Despite the rather late date, a few Sedge- Warblers were also present in the locality during the first two days when the bird was VOL. XLIII.] NOTES. 59 seen. After a little practice it was found quite easy to distinguish the Aquatic Warbler from these in flight, even at some distance, since the former appeared distinctly paler and its upper-parts more uniform. D. D. Harber. DANCING DISPLAY OF WHEATEAR. On April 15th, 1949, when proceeding over Westleton Heath, near Dunwich, Suffolk, I observed a pair of Wheatears {(Efianthc cenanthe) displaying in an unusual manner. Unfortunately not having my binoculars immediately to hand and owing to the uneven nature of the ground I was unable to note full details clearly. It appeared that the male, looking like an animated mechanical toy, “ flew ” back and forth two or three times with great rapidity, thereby describing an arc over the female, which was on the ground. The chord of this arc was 4-6 ft. as near as I could judge. The female then flew off chased by the male. Owing to the short duration of the display and the previously mentioned uneven nature of the ground partially concealing the birds from view when not in flight it was impossible for me to see if there was any posturing. This be- haviour would appear to be similar to that recorded by the late Bertram Lloyd {Trans. Herts. Nat. Hist. Soc., 19 : 135-9) mentioned in The Handbook. B. C. Turner. [Two accounts of this hitherto rarely observed behaviour have lately been published in British Birds {antea, pp. 9 and 10). The present note was received after these had gone to press but before their publication. — Eds.] . BLACK REDSTART IN ARGYLLSHIRE. On August 25th, 1948, near Oban, Argyllshire, I saw two Black Redstarts [Phcenicums ochrurus). I had good views of the red tail and black under-parts and had no doubt of their identity. I am familiar with the species in England, but thought that its occurrence so far north was worth reporting. John Hirst. [Mr. R. S. R. Fitter points out that the date of the above observation is very early for an immigrant, there being no evidence of immigration before mid-September. It is therefore more likely that the birds seen by Mr. Hirst were British-bred, possibly from somewhere in Scotland or the north of England. — Eds.] . BEWICK’S SWANS IN SURREY. At 8.30 a.m., on December 8th, 1948, I found a party of four swans at Penn Ponds, Richmond Park, Surrey. On the following morning Mr. R. W. Hayman accompanied me and we were able to identify them as Bewick’s Swans {Cygnus bewickii) — one immature and three adults. They were smaller than the Mute Swans {Cygnus olor) which were present on the same pond, and in the adult birds the yellow patch on the bill did not extend beyond the nostril. The immature bird was remarkably tame throughout its stay. The party remained until December 28th, when all were seen to leave at about 2.15 p.m. B. A. Marsh. 60 BRITISH BIRDS. [vOL. XLIIl. I [The above occurrence is reported in The London Bird Report (1948), p. 18, where a photograph of the birds in Richmond Park is reproduced, along with a photograph of a similar party, almost certainly the same individuals, taken at Hedgecourt Lake, near East Grinstead, Surrey, where they were first seen on January ist, 1949, and remained till the third week of March, 1949. — Eds.] EIRST BREEDING OF THE EIDER ON THE NORTH-WEST COAST OF ENGLAND. Judging from the very scanty records and from the experience of myself and others on the coasts of Lancashire and Cumberland the Eider [Somateria moUissima) has always been a rarity at any season. At the head of Morecambe Bay on November 3rd, 1948, a duck Eider floated up on the last of the flood and spent the period of top tide on the water oft the mouth of the Keer, and flew down the bay on the ebb. On the following day it came up with the tide again and spent an hour on the water at Botton-le-Sands, coming as near as 60 yds. We looked for it on every tide, but it was not seen again. However, on June 6th, 1949, the lightkeeper on Walney Island at the mouth of the bay, telephoned to me that there was a strange duck nesting near the lighthouse. 1 went over to investigate and found an Eider sitting on a nest with eggs. The nest was on a bare shingle spit and was very conspicuous in spite of the fact that the colour of the sitting bird harmonized well with the tangle of dry weed in which the nest was hollowed. Many terns and Lesser Black- backed Gulls were nesting close by. The eggs hatched in the first week of July and the duck, accompanied by three ducklings, was seen for several days swimming in the shallows near the southern tip of the island. When shown a picture of a drake Eider the light- keepers stated that they had seen such a bird some distance off shore in the vicinity of the shingle spit. 1 took several photographs of the nest and of the bird on the nest, and one of these is shown in plate 17. Unfortuately the young did not survive, the lighthouse keeper reporting that the Black-backed Gulls killed all three during the following weeks. The southern limit of the Eider’s breeding range in the British Isles has been in Donegal since 1912 and in Wigtownshire since 1920, both lying in the same latitude. Walney Island in Lancashire is a hundred miles south-east of the Wigtownshire colony and a hundred and twenty miles south-west of the breeding stations on the coast of Northumberland. If nesting on Walney is continued in subsequent years it will represent a southward extension of the British breeding range of the Eider of slightly less than one degree of latitude. The area where the Eider has nested on Walney belongs to the Duke of Buccleuch and is maintained as a bird-sanctuary to which the public are not admitted. R. A. H. Coombes. [We hear from Mr. Coombes and also Mr. Arthur V. Millard, by whom the occurrence was also reported to us, that the successful hatching of the Eider’s eggs was largely due to the protective efforts I VOL. XLIII.] NOTES. 61 of the Walney lightkeepers, Mr. Fred Swarbrick and Miss Ella Swarbrick, to whom much credit is due. — -Eds.J. LAPWING UTTERING “ SUB-SONG ” FROM GROUND, AND DISPLAY ACTION OF MALE. At sunset on March 2nd, 1949, while walking across the high plough- lands south of Burford, Oxon, I came upon a small flock of about 25 Lapwings ( V anellus vanellus), with one Golden Plover [Pluvialis apricaria) among them. While watching them I heard an apparently distant Lapwing uttering the tumbling-flight “ song,” and scanned the adjacent flelds in an attempt to locate it. Soon three or four more started to “ sing ” and I was surprised to And that they were birds of the flock standing in the furrows not forty yards away. This calling, although toned down to “ sub-song ” strength, could easily be traced to any bird by the accompanying movement of the head and was the full spring song ” in miniature.” In addition to this a bird would occasionally fly up and alight beside or behind another, which in turn took flight and moved a short way away. The failing light prevented my ascertaining the sex of most of these birds which were in any case nearly all in winter plumage. One very definite male, already showing black on his throat, was seen to walk among the others with a curious, quick, short-stepping gait, jerking his head up and down in time with the footsteps. None of this behaviour appears to be recorded in The Handbook. R. A. Richardson. GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULLS ROOSTING INLAND. As The Handbook (Vol. v, p. 103) implies that it is unusual for Great Black-backed Gulls {Lams marinus) to roost in large numbers at inland localities, the following records from Thompson Water, near Thetford, -Norfolk, may be of interest. On January 6th, 1949, over 1,000 Herring-Gulls {Lams argentatus) came in to roost at this lake which is about 25 miles from the sea ; with them were about 450 Great Black-backed Gulls. The majority of these gulls arrived at the roost in a steady stream from the south. About 70 per cent, of the Herring-Gulls and 30 per cent, of the Great Black-backed Gulls were adults. Neither species was seen in comparable numbers on subsequent occasions. On January 12th there were 47 Great Black- backed Gulls and on January 29th seventeen. D. V. Butt, R. G. Pettitt and A. E. Vine. [This large-scale roosting of Great Black-backs inland is, so far as we are aware, a quite new phenomenon in this country in recent years. — Eds.]. Sky-lark feeding on leaves of Shirley Poppy. — We are informed by Mr. G. R. Mountfort that on Messers. Sutton’s trial grounds at Slough, Bucks, Sky-Larks {Alauda arvensis) have not infrequently been found feeding on the young leaves of seedling Shirley Poppies {Papaver rhoeas). The birds resort to this food, which is not recorded in The Handbook, only in severe weather. (62) REVIEWS. Yorkshire Naturalists' Union. Committee for Ornithology Reports for 1947 and 1948. Edited by Ralph Chislett. (Reprinted from The Naturalist, 1948, pp. 51-74, and 1949, 51-75.) These reports as usual contain much valuable material. Up to four Gannets were present at Bempton Cliffs in 1947, but apparently did not breed. In 1948 two pairs reared young and there are said to have been three nests. In 1947 a new colony of Reed-Warblers was located at Hessle, and a nest of Montagu’s Harriers was found in the North Riding (young reared), while the breeding of a second pair was suspected. A pair of Hobbies successfully reared jmung in S.W. Yorkshire in 1948. Duck’s eggs taken by a boy at Fairburn in 1947 were believed to be those of Garganey, and in 1948 the species was more in evidence than usual in the spring, though no case of breeding is reported. There are a fair number of Corn-Crake records in both years and in some cases breeding was proved. Two nests of Quail are reported in 1947 and two in 1948, apart from a number of records of birds heard calling, mostly in the former year. The breeding of a pair of Little Ringed Plovers in 1948 has been fully recorded in British Birds. There are a number of interesting records from Spurn, namely in 1947 an Ortolan (May 9th, and probably also one, April nth). Red-breasted Fly- catchers (male. May loth, and three young trapped and ringed. Sept. 26th), a Chilfchaft evidently of the Scandinavian or Siberian form (Oct. 28th), and an Icterine Warbler (young bird ringed. Sept. 4th) ; and in 1948 a Red-breasted Flycatcher (Oct. 8th and 9th), Yellow-browed Warbler (one ringed, Oct. 7th, the first recorded for many years). Barred Warbler (one ringed, Aug. 14th, and one, Aug. 15th), and a Lesser Whitethroat of the Siberian race (Oct. 29th — 2nd primary between 6th and 7th in length). Sixteen Blue Tits ringed there on Oct. ist, out of about thirty present, were considered to be of the Con- tinental race, and there was a particularly large influx of Goldcrests at the end of October. There are a number of interesting records of more or less rare species else- where. Of these might be mentioned, in 1947 : three Golden Orioles in May, Marsh-Harrier (a male at Wassand in June, and an immature bird trapped ami released in November), a Ferruginous Duck (Ringstone Edge Reservoir, Jan. ist), a Grey Phalarope (Eccup, Oct. ist), a Red-necked Phalarope (Teesmouth, Oct. 12th, but here evidence of identification should surely have been given), Temminck’s Stint (one at Swillington Ing on Oct. 19th, and probably also one on May 12th), Kentish Plover (one Swillington lug. May nth, and one, Hornsea Mere, Sept. 15th), Dotterel (six, Ilton Moor, May nth ; two, Middlesmoor, April 22nd), Avocet (one, Teesmouth, Sept. 9th), and at least one record of an Iceland Gull which appears satisfactory. A record of a Crested Lark at Spurn on April nth is perhaps rightly square-bracketed, though probably correct. For 1948 the following may be noted : Bearded Tit (two cocks and a hen in reeds at Ingleby Barwick on Dec. 6th and 7th, an interesting record), a flock of no less than ten Alpine Swifts at Teesmouth on July 25th, a Marsh-Harrier at Hornsea Mere throughout June and July, in addition to several other records, an immature White-tailed Eagle present in N.E. Yorkshire for about a month from Jan. 20th, two almost certain Great Skuas off Spurn in October, three Grey Phalaropes at Bridlington on Nov. 7th, and a Caspian Tern at Bridlington, for which, presumably by an oversight, no date is given. A Bonaparte’s Gull and a Spotted Crake on Malham Moor in June have already been recorded in British Birds. The presence of Shore-Larks at Kilnsea and Spurn in some numbers in October and November is of interest in view of the very few authenticated records on the Yorkshire coast in recent years. Records of Black Redstarts are becoming increasingly frequent in the passage seasons, and there are several reports of Nightingales beyond the normal range of the species, which reaches to the southern borders of the county. In early November a number VOL. XLIII.] REVIEWS. 63 of Little Auks were seen close inshore — on Nov. 7th " small parties of up to 30 birds were flying north all morning near Filey Brig ” and some were driven inland. Under Waxwing in 1947 a few records for the 1946-7 invasion are addi- tional to those published in the British Birds report and we note that the latest record was at Hull on March 15th. For 1948 there are five records of single birds in January and February and a few were present at Middlesbrough at the end of the year. A Demoiselle Crane was seen near Kilnsea on Sept. 12th, 1948, and was stated to have frequented the Humber shore for more than a week previously. One of these birds was shot and another seen in Orkney in May, 1863, but it has not been admitted to the British List, as the species is one often kept in captivity and the Orkney birds were thought to be possibly escapes. This crane, which breeds no farther ofl than S.E. Europe, seems just as likely to occur wild as a good many other species on the British List, and in the present instance enquiries by advertisement and radio failed to elicit any information of one ha\nng been lost. Amongst miscellaneous records in these two reports may be mentioned ; in 1947, particulars of large Magpie roosts (200-300 near Nunthorpe), Blackbird rearing three broods in same nest, a Cuckoo giving both the ‘ cuckoo ’ call and bubbling, a tendency of Great Black-backed Gulls to become commoner inland in winter, and an apparently aberrant Herring-Gull at Swillington Ing in October, with j’ellow legs, but mantle slightly paler than normal, with pale I yellow bill without a red spot and with no white tips to the black on the primaries ; and in 1948 a singular case of a Little Owl disabled by a nesting Stock-Dove, which broke the owl’s leg with a blow from the wing. “ Exactly the same thing happened in 1947 in all respects except that then the two pigeons followed iqi the attack and killed the owl.” Oniithological Reports for Northumberland and Durham for 1947 and 1948. Compiled b^' George W. Temperlc}'. (Reprinted from The Naturalist, July- September, 1948, and J uly-September, 1949.) The most interesting breeding record for 1947 is that of a pair of Montagu’s Harriers, which, as already recorded in British Birds, bred in Co. Durham for the first time since 1835 and reared three young. It is gratifying to learn that they bred successfully again in 1948. Crossbills were seen building in Dipton Wood, Northumberland, in 1947, but successful breeding was not proved. Birds were also seen here and at Dukesfield, not far away, in 1948, but no definite evidence of breeding was obtained. Siskins were also present and heard singing in the two localities just mentioned in the spring of 1948, but no nest was found. One pair of Pochard bred in 1947 in the locality where two pairs bred in 1946. No nests of Goosander were reported in 1947, though a brood of young was seen at Lees, Coldstream. In 1948 successful breeding was again recorded in Coquetdale. This species is stated to have been more numerous and widely distributed in the winters of 1947-8 and 1948-9 than in any previous years. In 1947 Black-necked Grebes bred successfully (at least two young reared) for the second year in Co. Durham, but in 1948 a single bird remained through the summer without a mate. We note with regret that the locality is now to be ” reclaimed.” The breeding of a pair of Lesser Black-backed Gulls at Edmundbyers Common in 1948 was the first authenticated record for Co. Durham. Corn-Crakes appear to have been less in evidence in 1947 than in 1946 and " evidence of breeding was scanty.” In 1948 ” rather more . . . than in previous years ” are stated to have been reported. In 1947 more Quail were recorded in Northumberland than for many years past, but 1948 produced only one record. In the Fames in 1947 a few Roseate Terns were present and probably bred on the Brownsman ; in 1948 there were 13 pairs and some nests were located. In the latter year a pair also bred on the Inner Fame. Sandwich Terns showed some increase on the Brownsman (at least 250 pairs) in 1947, 64 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XLIII. but only some 40 to 50 pairs nested on the Longstone. In 1948 about 150 pairs were estimated on the Brownsman and about 250 on the Longstone. Arctic Terns are now more numerous on the Fames than ever, but the Inner Fame colony of Common Terns, deserted during the war, has not been re- established. At least one pair of the latter bred in 1948 on the Longstone. With reference to the Waxwing visitation of 1946-7 a report of a single bird at Cleadon, Durham, on March 3rd carries the record a little later than any of the notes published in British Birds. A Hock of eight or ten quite early in the autumn and a couple in December provide the only records for the latter part of 1947, and there are only a few odd records for 1948. Of rarities the chief records in 1947 are : a Rose-coloured Starling (im- mature bird on Beal shore, Northumberland, Aug. 25th), a Red-breasted Flycatcher (a bird of the year at Whitburn Bents, Oct. 24th ; first record for Durham), a Kite at Holy Island on IMay 15th, a Black Kite shot at West Kyloe, Northumberland, on IVlay 14th, as already recorded in British Birds. and a Spotted Crake (Gosforth Park, Oct. 20th), the first recorded in Northumberland for manj^ years. A male Golden Oriole was picked up dead on Holy Island in May, and a Hoopoe remained for a fortnight on the Fames in the spring, another being seen at Whitley Bay, Northumberland, in September. In 1948 may be mentioned : a Scandinavian Chiffchaff (South Shields, Aug. nth), a Honey-Buzzard (Bilton, June 7th), a Spoonbill flying north at Beadnell, May i6th, a Snow-Goose, thought to be the Lesser, at Fenham- le-Moor, Northumberland, on Oct. 5th, three records of single Grej^ Phalaropes in October and November, and an Iceland Gull well identified at Whiteleas Pond, near South Shields, on Mar. 15th. A Lesser Spotted Woodpecker seen at Darlington in March and November is also noteworthy, since there are few authenticated records of this species in Co. Durham. Records of Blue- winged Teal and Ferruginous Duck have already appeared in British Birds. The Scandinavian Chiffchaff was identified by Dr. H. M. S. Blair, whose wide experience of Scandinavian birds is well known and who heard the characteristic shrill call-note, “ like the cheeping of a domestic chicken in distress,” which characterises this race in part of its range. Black Redstarts are becoming regular winter visitors on the coast and the Little Owl has further extended its range. Stonechats remain very scarce and there are no breeding records for either year. Whooper Swans were numerous in both 1946-7 and 1947-8. Records of a pair of Common Scoters on a flooded brickfield near Durham on June 27th, 1948, and of two Velvet Scoters off Warkworth on June 13th, 1948, are unusual. A flock of 100 Whimbrel, near Wylam, Northumberland, over 1 5 miles from the sea, on Sept. 2ist, 1948, is unusual inland in England. In 1948 numbers of Snow- Buntings in the latter part of the year were exceptionally large and flocks of a hundred or more Grey Plover on Fenham Flats may be mentioned as notably large for that species. On October 25 th, 1947, a striking northward movement of Gannets, involving over 600 birds, was observed off the Durham coast, and the northward movement of Little Auks on Nov. 7th, 1948, reported on the Yorkshire coast (see above), seems to have been even more pronounced off Co. Durham, where 3,500 were counted in an eight-hour census. A noteworthy northward movement of Pomatorhine Skuas (49 in a 9-hour count) is also reported on this coast on October 28th. A noteworthy behaviour record is that of one of a breeding pair of Carrion Crows dropping an object, evidently food, to its mate which the latter caught in mid-air in its bill. BIRD MIGRATION by THE HANDBOOK A. LANDSBOROUGH- THOMSON OF Illustrated 8s. 6d. BRITISH BIRDS HOW TO KNOW WITHERBY, JOURDAIN, BRITISH BIRDS TICEHURST and TUCKER by NORMAN H. JOY Illustrated with maps, text figures, and over Illustrated 6s. Od. a hundred full-colour reproductions from well-known bird artists. 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Makch, 1950 Page On the Courtshi]) and social Displays of three Species of Auk. By P. J. Conder The l)ehaviour of Corn-Crakes. By .A. G. Mason The Inde.x of lieron population. 1949. By \V. B. Alexander ... 65 70 78 Notes ; Kooks breaking walnuts on hard cow-dung (H. C. Ovendeu) Northern Bullfinches in Worcestershire (G. W. Rayner) Scarlet Grosbeak in Pembrokeshire (P. J. Conder) Notes on the breeding habits of the Corn-Bunting in Hanip.shire (H. K. Woods) ... Male Reed-Bunting carrying nesting material (D. P. Gcoghegan) ... House-Sparro\s' lining nest with green leaves (D. Warden) ... Unrecorded variety of Tree-Pipit’s eggs (A. D. Martyn) Great Grey Shrike in Caernarvonshire (Reginald Harrison) ... Red-breasted Flycatcher in Suffolk (W’. Murray Ramsden) ... Whitethroat wintering in Middlesex (J. A. Bailej') Swallows following transported nest (E. H. Ware) Calls of Tawny Owl (Henry Boase) Mortality of Ospreys near the Borders (G. W. Temperley) ... Little Egrets in Cornwall and Pembrokeshire (A. V. Cornish. H. J. Craske and T. J. Willcocks ; T. A. W. Davis) Bewick’s Swans in Anglesey (Miss C. W. Wakeford, J. Moyse and P. Whalley) ... (ireenland White-fronted Geese in Cumberland (Ernest Blezard) ... Voice of Sheld-Dnck (M. F. M. Meiklejohn) Note of Little Grebe (C. Suffern) Great Northern Diver summering in Warwickshire (A. W. Wolton, J. R. Raw'sthorne, M. J. Rogers) Alarm note of Whimbrel (James M. Harrison and Jeffery G. Harrison) Little Ringed Plover in Pembrokeshire (John H. Barrett) Whiskered Tern in Lancashire (.Alfred Hazelwood) ... White-winged Black Tern in Essex (C. G. Kerry, A. Marshall, G. A. Pyman) Inland breeding and subterranean nesting of Herring-Gull in Cornwall (C. j. Stevens) 81 81 82 82 83 83 84 84 85 86 86 87 89 89 90 90 91 92 92 93 94 94 Short Notes : — Pied Wagtail feeding on bread crumbs. Early Chiffehaffs in Notts and Lancs. Late Hou.se-Martin in N. Devon. Long-eared Owl in Middlesex. Sparrow-Hawk killing Red Grouse. Early Garganey in North Kent. Early arrival of Wigeon in Sussex and Kent. Red-necked Grebe in Warwickshire. Kentish Plover wintering in Devon. Late Northern Golden Plover in Somerset. Early Inttle Tern in Somerset ... ... ... ••• ••• ••• 95 BRITISH BIRDS Number 3, Vol. XLIII, March, 1950. ON THE COURTSHIP AND SOCIAL DISPLAYS OF THREE SPECIES OF AUK BY P. J. CONDER During the summer of 1947 I had opportunities of watching the breeding displays of the Razorbill {Alca tor da), the Guillemot {Uria aalge), and the Puffin {Fratercula arctica) on Skokholm, Pembroke- shire. The displays of the three species occurred chiefly on the water, but also on the cliffs. Coition. This was only commonly seen in the Puffin. It was the only true form of sexual behaviour, the others being used in social as well as sexual circumstances. Coition occurred mostly on the sea, but it was also attempted on land, usually at the entrance of the burrow. No attempts were seen at interference by neighbouring birds, and the action provoked far less interest among other birds in the flock than billing. It did, however, seem to have an infectious quality and other presumed pairs copulated at the same time as, or just after, the originating pair. Billing. In the Puffin billing was by far the commonest display and in the early breeding season was used mostly in sexual circum- stances. Very occasionally a third bird was seen to try to join a pair billing on the sea. On land during billing the body was sometimes held very rigidly with the tail cocked up and the wings drooped. One of the two birds sometimes crouched more than the other. Billing was infectious and other pairs began billing near the origi- nating pair. Other birds often looked as if they wanted to join in. During July the display was definitely social and up to six birds were seen billing in a group. Other birds watched closely. One was seen to run three yards to join in. When one bird solicited billing and the second remained inactive, the first billed at the second’s breast feathers but did not nibble them. A form of bow, when the Puffin adopted a posture similar to the billing posture, is believed to be the billing posture without a partner. Birds on the sea in this bowing posture did not seek a partner but swam round within the flock. It was seen on land in July at 21.00 hours G.M.T., when a bird came in from the sea with fish and met its presumed mate at the burrow entrance, and bowed so that the fish almost touched the ground. In the Razorbill, billing was also a very common display on sea and on land. My impression was that it occurred only between pairs. It was possible to see birds that had billed and become parted in the flock rejoin to bill again. One bird normally adopted a crouching posture such as that used by a Passerine in courtship feeding. The 66 BRITISH BIRDS. [vOL. XLIII. bird in the upright position was slightly in front of the crouching bird and turned its head back. Birds about to bill seemed drawn together like a magnet and steel : they swam faster the nearer they came. The beginning was very sudden, and they looked as if they were pecking each other. After one pair had started it others in the same flock often took it up. In the Guillemot billing was the only action other than coition which was used in sexual circumstances. It was not observed so frequently as in the other two species. It occurred usually between presumed pairs when one was incubating. The beak touched more at the tip than the centre. The crouching posture was not so marked as in the Razorbill. Fondling of breast feathers sometimes followed billing, and sometimes only one bird would do it. It seemed that this action was related to billing because of the similarity of posture and because one turned into the other. Head flicking. This action in which a Puffin on land or sea suddenly and continuously jerked up its head was seen quite commonly throughout the period that the birds were on the breeding grounds. Its significance seemed to change throughout the breeding season, being apparently mostly connected with the female during the period when coition was common, and later, when the eggs had hatched, it became a social display. By the male it was used when defending the female from intruders, when soliciting coition, and after billing. It was also used by a presumed intruder after being driven off by a presumed male. Later in the season, particularly in July, it had a social quality. In the evening, when most of the Puffins were standing around the burrows, groups of them could be seen jerking their heads as if they all had hiccoughs. Groups of ten or more birds spread over the colony would be head flicking at the same time. This display was most intense just before the birds flew out to sea or went into their burrows for the night. It seemed to be connected with the excitement experienced by many species at the approach of night. Perry (1940) suggests that only the males cock their heads. I cannot say definitely that the females did not do it, but it seems very likely that they did. No similar display was observed in the Razorbill, but it is thought that the bowing of the Guillemot is basically the same as head flicking. Bowing. This was by far the commonest action of the Guillemot, and it was apparently caused by any excitement, whether of fear, sex, or aggression. After a bird had been threatened it began bowing ; after a close inspection of the ledge by a Herring-Gull [Lams argen- tatus) all the Guillemots bowed. An adult, wanting to get to its chick, but kept away by the aggressiveness of other adults, also bowed. It was particularly common when the ledges were crowded. A form of this display occurred on the water. It was after the VOL. XLiii.] COURTSHIP AND DISPLAY OF AUKS. 67 " swimming together ” display. After some shallow dives by a small flock of Guillemots, they swam around keeping about two or three body lengths apart and repeatedly poked their heads beneath the water. It was at first thought that the birds were bathing, but then it was noticed that the heads were being drawn out rather jerkily, and I considered the action to be similar to the bowing display so common on the ledges. Another form of bowing showed a resemblance to the preening of the juvenile by a brooding adult, except that the wings were not drooped. The bird stood with its legs apart and bowed its head so that the beak almost touched the webs of its feet. It was directed by an adult towards its presumed mate, which was brooding a chick. I thought that the bird wanted to take over brooding. The" swimming together ” display. This was performed by all three species, often in mixed flocks. As flocks on the water became denser before the display it could be seen that the individuals were becoming alert, as they turned their heads quickly from side to side. Then they all swam rapidly round and round within the flock as if trying to avoid each other. Suddenly most of the flock made shallow dives and when they reappeared most of the flock were in the ecstatic posture. It is apparently a more formalized form of this display that has been described by Darling (1938). Ecstatic posture. In all three species the most excited form of this display was with the head and neck well stretched up, beak pointed upwards and open, and perhaps calling the guttural note, but the birds were usually too far away to be certain. The Guillemot held its beak higher than the other two species. The display seemed to show increased alertness and excitement particularly when the flock became denser. Line abreast formation. This was only seen in the Razorbill and the Guillemot. In the Razorbill the formation was rather straggling but in the Guillemot it had an almost military precision. The birds would swim in line abreast across the water. Sometimes presumed pairs could be seen in the line with a short gap between them and the next pair. It had been noticed before that individuals of a pair were inclined to swim side by side, and it is thought that this may bear some relation to the origin of the display. The " butterfly ” flight of the Razorbill. In describing the general habits of the Razorbill The Handbook says, " in leaving the cliff glides in long sweep, frequently with peculiar slow wing-action quite different from that of ordinary flight.” This flight with the " peculiar slow wing-action ” has not been described as a display, which it undoubtedly is, falling into the " butterfly flight ” class. At Skokholm I saw it used by one, two or three birds when leaving the cliffs, usually the nesting ledge, and returning after a short 68 BRITISH BIRDS. VOL. XI.IIT. circling flight, usually to the same ledge. The flight lasted about thirty seconds, and the birds often changed from the butterfly flight to the normal flight, using the butterfly flight for ca. 3-5 seconds and the normal flight for slightly longer. By single birds this display was used when one was frightened off its ledge by the sudden appearance of a human being, or on leaving its mate or juvenile, and after a billing display. When the bird returned to the ledge billing often continued. It was often used by presumed pairs which took flight after billing : keeping two or three body lengths apart, they circled over the sea, alternating between the butterfly and the normal flight, then returned to the ledge and continued billing. However, it sometimes seemed that two birds that were not a pair flew out. The circumstances differed slightly in that the birds were not so close together, that one bird used the butterfly flight less than the other, and that often they came from different ledges. It seemed in this case that one bird was displaying from the causes mentioned above and that the second was an intruder attracted and reacted upon by the infectious nature of the display. When three birds were seen together it seemed that the display of a pair had attracted a third. It was noticeable that two birds were often 2-3 feet apart and the third 10-15 f^^t away ; the centre bird was often seen to be “ edging ” its presumed mate from the presumed intruder. The “ moth "flight of the Ptiffin. The “ moth ” flight of the Puffin is another display which is apparently unrecorded. It was often noticed in early summer when the birds landed in large numbers for the first time during the day, and also when the bulk of the birds went to sea for the night. From one to seven birds were seen using it ; single birds or pairs were more usual. Pairs usually flew within two or three feet of each other. When the group of seven were seen displaying not every bird used the flight at the same time, and, as in the “ butter- fly ” flight of the Razorbill, the " moth ” flight alternated with the normal flight. Another characteristic of the display was that the birds usually gained and retained height. Normally a Puffin loses height very rapidly when leaving the cliff, and generally tends to fly low over the sea. The flight was usually used for about fifteen seconds, although a bird was seen flying in this way until it was lost to sight after about thirty seconds. The display did not seem to have any se.xual significance. Curiosity. In all three species it was evident that individuals on land and on sea were very curious about displays between pairs, and yet at the same time there was a feeling of intrusion which kept them from interfering. The Puffin seemed to show more VOL. XLiii.J COURTSHIP AND DISPLAY OF AUKS. G9 curiosity than the other two, and it should be remembered that it is also the most social of the three. Curiosity is perhaps an important factor in the displays, as it draws birds together for displaying purposes. Curiosity was not restricted to the breeding displays. When Pufhns were standing idly in the colony and they saw a bird land and rush to its burrow, they immediately ran to the entrance and looked down. Feeling of intrusion. It was noticeable in many of these flocks on the water that some individuals near displaying pairs seemed to show a feeling of intrusion. A small circle, larger than the usual “ mated-female distance ” (Conder, 1949) would gradually be formed round the displaying pair. There was no indication of any form of threat display, and the birds seemed to withdraw of their own accord. It was as if the sight of displaying birds repelled them. This did not always happen, as Puffins often watched the displays with considerable curiosity. Lack (1946) has stressed that the retreat of the intruder is quite as important a part of behaviour as an attack by the owner. If the bird did not have this psychological feeling of intrusion, fights between rival birds would depend upon the physical strength of the individual and in that case results would perhaps not always be in favour of the owner. Relationship between social and sexual displays. It seemed that in the auk species the social displays were almost as important as the sexual displays. All these species nest in colonies on cliffs and it is obviously impossible for them to have breeding territories of the same size as a Passerine’s because of lack of space. At the same time it can be seen that the sexual displays are far less specialized or ornate than those of some Passerines and it seems that because there is so little room for displaying a deux, the social display has evolved to play the part of some of the missing paired displays, and has become an important part of the mechanism necessary for keeping birds keyed up to the required state of excitement. I would like to thank Dr. Lack for his criticisms of this paper. REFERENCES. Conder, P. J. (1949). " Individual distance.” Ibis, vol. 91, pp. 649-655. Darling, F. F. (1938)- Bird Flocks and the Breeding Cycle. Cambridge. Lack, D. (1946). The Life of the Robin, and Ffl. London. Perry, R. (1940). Lundy Isle of Puffins. London. WiTHERBY, H. F., et al. (1938). The Handbook of British Birds. London. (70) THE BEHAVIOUR OF CORN-CRAKES BY A. G. Mason During the past few years the writer, with the help of friends, has carried out a series of experiments with Corn-Crakes (Crex crex) The experiments consist in calling up Corn-Crakes to a stuffed dummy by imitating the “ crake-crake ” song with a pair of bones. The bones are about seven inches long and one has notches filed in one edge. When the plain bone is rubbed hard across the notches a very good imitation is obtained. The birds’ reactions to the dummy were watched from a hide of sacking a few feet away. Detailed accounts of the results obtained in 1939 (i) and 1940 (2) have already been published. It is proposed, in the present paper, to re-examine the results obtained in 1940, as the results of experi- ments in subsequent years have shown that some of the conclusions previously drawn are incorrect ; and that some interesting points were obscured by the method adopted in summarizing the results. The reactions of the birds were of five types, (a) The bird came up and attacked the dummy, {b) The bird came up and displayed and/or attempted coition with the dummy, (c) The bird came up and completely ignored the dummy, {d) The bird only partially approached, [e) The bird failed to approach at all. When previously summarizing the results they were shown in table form under three headings [a) approached and reacted to dummy ; {b) slight approach, or approach and no reaction ; and (c) no approach. This was an error. Courtship and aggressive displays should not have been grouped together ; nor should com- plete approach have been grouped with partial approaches. In each case the reactions were of a distinctly different type. The results, showing the reactions under five headings, are summarized in Table I. The tendencies present are more easily visualized in the form of a graph. Two such graphs are given in Fig. I. One shows the percentage of birds which made a complete approach, i.e. came right up to our call, irrespective of their reactions to seeing the dummy, if any. The other shows the percentage of birds which made a courtship display to the dummy or attempted coition without a preliminary display. The horizontal figures refer to seven-day periods commencing on May ist and ending on July 9th. Mathematically speaking it is not justifiable to speak of per- centages when dealing with such small numbers. The graphs have no real accuracy and only serve to give a visual image of the general tendency of changes in the birds’ behaviour with the progression of the season. Both these graphs show the same features : a quick rise to a high percentage of response to the experiments in the second fortnight of May ; followed by a slower falling off until no response was obtained in July. [VOL. XLiii. BEHAVIOUR OF CORN-CRAKES. 71 These results are perfectly consistent with the view that birds are almost complete automatons whose reactions to any given set of circumstances, particularly those connected with sexual activities, can be accurately forecasted, provided the external conditions remain the same ; and are almost entirely governed by the activity of their endocrine glands, particularly by the state of their gonads. This was my own view and I suggested in an earlier paper (2) that the birds which did not approach my “ call ” in May had not yet settled in territory and that most of those which did not approach, or only made a slight approach, in June were refugees whose original meadows had been cut. TOTAL NUMBERS INVOLVED 69558 10 2643 TERRITORIAL REACTION SEXUAL REACTION Fig. I. Graphs illustrating percent.age of birds making sexual and TERRITORIAL RESPONSES TO THE DUMMY IN 7-DAY PERIODS, FROM May 1ST TO July 9TIL Work in subsequent years has made me question the validity of these assumptions. During the succeeding few years my experiments were not nearly so successful as in 1940. Due to a variety of reasons, principally the banning of private cars, it was not possible either to cover so much ground or to carry out experiments as consistently throughout the months of May and June. The results, however, were surprising. Less than half of the birds tested in the second half of May and early June reacted to the imitation “ crake ” call ; and of these even fewer came right up and made a display to the dummy. I was at a loss, for a time, to explain the discrepancy between these results and the results obtained in 1940. It was then realized BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XLIll. 72 that, through the necessity of using a bicycle instead of a car, the procedure had been unconsciously modified and that this was the cause of the different results. In 1940 the countryside was searched from a car. Sometimes a Corn-Crake was heard as we drove along. At other times a bird was located by making a test “ crake ” at a likely meadow and getting a response. In later years the search- ing of the countryside like this, with hide, poles, net, etc. , on a bicycle was out of the question, with the result that I worked on birds that had been previously located in definite meadows. It was the uncon- scious selection of “ active ” or “ responsive ” birds in 1940 that gave so high a percentage of reaction to the experiments. Most of the birds located in the years subsequent to 1940 were found by listening to their “ crakes ” in the late evening or at night. The experiments were made in the late morning and the afternoon. It is obvious that confining to the daytime experiments on a predominantly crepuscular or nocturnal bird like the Corn-Crake is liable to affect the results. That this is actually the case was, how- ever, obscured by the fact that many birds react fully ; and it was not realized, at the time, that the 1940 birds were “ selected ” and were not a true sample of the Corn-Crake population as a whole. Making the experiments in the daytime had, however, the advantage that the birds had not recently been subjected to similar stimuli in nature. In the light of these considerations some of the conclusions based on the 1940 results are clearly untenable. Thus I concluded, when no response was obtained from a previously occupied meadow, that it was no longer occupied (2). That this is not necessarily so is borne out by the behaviour of a bird at Oldcourt, Tallaght, Co. Dublin, on May 27th and 28th, 1944. On the 27th it was heard craking at intervals, responded to our " call ” and made repeated courtship displays which were photographed. On the 28th I returned, hoping to get a photograph of an aggressive display made to a mirror, but the bird made no response over a period of several hours. A Corn-Crake was actually seen wading in a ditch beside the meadow on the 28th, but, although a crake “ call ” was made 50 yards away, no response was obtained. The bird seen may have been a female ; but even so its presence is good evidence that the meadow was still occupied. In the same way the assumption that a meadow containing a bird late in the season was unoccupied earlier on, when no response had been obtained, is clearly unsound. Apart from these comparatively minor points the question arises as to whether there is any basis in fact for the condition of affairs suggested by the two graphs ? Whether in fact any conclusions at all can be drawn from the results obtained ? The answers to these questions obviously depend on the cause of the non-response of birds which do not even answer the crake “ call.” If they fail to respond because they have become completely inactive for the season, then the results cannot be relied upon to VOL. xLiii.] BEHAVIOUR OF CORN-CRAKES. 73 give the trend of beiiaviour of the majority of birds. On the other hand if the lack of response is due to some temporary factor such as the time of day, then the general picture is fairly true even though the percentage of responses obtained is greatly exaggerated, owing to the experiments being confined to “ active ” birds. That the latter explanation is correct is clear from the fact that most of the non-responding birds, tested since 1940, were known to crake vigorously in the late evening and at night. This view is also supported by the behaviour of some birds such as the bird photographed on May 27th, 1944, wliich failed to answer at all on the next day ; and by the behaviour of Nos. 9A, I2A and 13A in 1940 (2, p. 322) when none answered at 3.15 p.m. on May 19th, 1940, but all were craking at 5.45 p.m. on the same day. It would be interesting to know exactly what causes the complete inhibition of normal territorial behaviour on the part of completely non-responsive birds. The birds may be either asleep or feeding. It is more probable, however, that the lack of response is due to a daily cycle ; and that the birds are normally only activated, as it were, between dusk and dawn and recharge their emotional “ batteries ” during the day. A similar lack of response was observed with Ringed Plover [Charadriits hiaticula) which normally gave a complete “ injury- feigning ” display when the nest was approached. On Saturday and Sunday afternoons, after many people had passed the nests, no sign of a display was observed. The emotional “ battery ” seemed to have run down after continual displays earlier in the day. The lack of response in Corn-Crakes is probably due to a similar cause ; for when there was more than one pair in a meadow, or when two or more pairs were in adjacent meadows, they always proved more difficult and were more frequently non-responsive when tested. Such birds would, most probably, be more excited territorially during the active hours from dusk to dawn than isolated pairs. One of the most puzzling features of behaviour observed was that of birds which answered our “ call,” but only partially approa- ched. When discussing the 1940 results (2) I suggested that this was due, at least in some cases, to the birds concerned being refugees whose original meadows had been cut and which were consequently outside their territory. As I have shown above, the assumption on which I based my belief that some of the meadows concerned had been unoccupied earlier in the season is faulty. It is much more probable that this behaviour is due to their emotional potential being too low to develop fully the normal territorial reaction to approach and eject the intruder. Tinbergen (3) found a similar variation in the degree of response to stimuli by sticklebacks {Gasterosteus acideatus). He points out that in general most such responses are not subject to the all-or-none jaw, but they may appear in almost any degree of intensity, and 74 BRITISH BIRDS. VOL. XLIII. that the response to any situation must be considered as due to the simultaneous summation of different external stimuli with what he calls “ internal motivation.” . The graph for complete approach is based upon this explanation. Each experiment really consists of two experiments. The first is the reaction to the sound of the crake ‘‘ call the second the reaction to the sight of the dummy. Birds which only made a partial approach are lumped with birds which made no approach at all on the grounds that both reacted, or failed to react, in the same way : they did not approach to eject the intruder. The proportion of birds which made a complete approach is clearly a measure of the strength of the territorial urge. The propor- tion of birds which made a courtship display is a measure of what may be a different quantity altogether : the sexual urge. That the two are connected seems at first sight obvious ; but the divergence of the graphs shows that they are not necessarily so closely connected as one would expect if the activation of both types of behaviour were due to a single internal change, such as the growth and regres- sion of the gonads. From the nature of the experiments one would expect the results to be similar ; for only birds which reacted positively to the first experiment, and approached completely, were subjected to the second, the sight of the dummy. When the small numbers involved in each seven-day period are considered, it is remarkable how definitely the graph showing the sexual reaction to the dummj^ (courtship display) falls below that showing the territorial reaction both before and after the peak period in the second half of May. It must be remembered that while the numbers involved are too small to give quantitative accuracy to the results, yet the ignoring of the dummy was so definite a behaviour that there can be no doubt that the graph does qualitatively reflect the actual position before and after the peak period. It may not do so during the peak period ; for the conditions of the experiments prevent a greater response to the sexual urge than to the territorial urge being recorded even should that be the true state of affairs. When a bird approached my call it behaved territorially. When it saw the dummy and made a courtship display it ceased to react territorially : its behaviour was of an altogether different pattern. The change over was brought about by the sight of the motionless dummy, which forms a stimulus to sexual behaviour (display and coition), coinciding with the cessation of my craking, which is a stimulus to territorial behaviour. On several occasions, when birds approached from the wrong side of the net, started to display and tried to get through the net, I craked a few times to attract them towards me and clear of the net, which was usually set sideways to the hide. The birds always turned their attention to my calls, and ignored the dummy, while I craked. When the territorial stimulus of my crake ceased they again turned to the dummy and VOL. XLiii.] BEHAVIOUR OF CORN-CRAKES. 7.5 behaved sexually. It is probable that this change is brought about by the bird looking in the direction of my call with the result that, for the moment, the visual stimulus of the dummy was removed. On two occasions a bird attempted coition and stood on the dummy’s. back, paddling with its feet. After a few seconds it stopped and, still standing on the dummy, looked up and craked. Here again the territorial behaviour reasserted itself when the visual stimulus of the dummy was removed. It is not necessary to suppose that the territorial urge in such cases is stronger than the sexual urge. On the contrary, from a consideration of the behaviour of some birds early in May, it appears that when a courtship display is made the sexual urge is stronger than the territorial urge. Three birds in the early part of the season made a direct attack or an aggressive display at the dummy. It would seem that the potentiality of sexual behaviour was either absent or very weak in these birds, for the visual stimulus of the dummy evoked territorial behaviour instead of sexual behaviour. Lack (4) found a similar variation in the response of Robins {Erithacus ruhectda) to a dummy. In this case the usual response was an attack, but two birds out of 35 attempted coition. In dis- cussing these cases he says “fighting and coition are two separate trains of behaviour, the first elicited at almost all times of the year by a strange Robin in the territory, the second only during a few days in the spring by a motionless Robin, which is normally the male’s own mate.’’ The difference in behaviour here, too, is clearly due to the internal state of the bird. The case of the birds which ignored the dummy altogether is different. Such cases occurred before the peak period in late May as well as after it. If we assume that the potentiality for sexual behaviour is absent in these birds it is difficult to understand why they failed to react territorially to the dummy as did the birds which attacked it ; for in making a complete approach to my call they were behaving territorially. The only alternative would seem to be that the potentiality for sexual behaviour was present, but that it was not strong enough to reverse the birds’ behaviour in a territorial situation though it had sufficient strength to modify the territorial behaviour which the situation evoked. This behaviour has also been seen several times during experiments made since 1940. The appearance of some of the birds which ignore the dummy supports this suggestion. They wander around aimlessly, frequently stopping and looking at the dummy ; their whole appearance is one of indecision. Such a clash of emotional tendencies can be explained in two different ways. The general emotional potential of the birds concerned may be low. It is possible that such a low emotional state might prevent either emotion developing fully with the result that the dominant urge, appropriate to the time of the season, could not 7H BRITISH BIRDS. ,V()L. XUJl. develop sufliciently to assert its dominance over the other and evoke the appropriate behaviour pattern. I do not think, however, that this explanation is correct, for some, at least, of the birds which did not react to the dummy were very vigorous in their reaction to the sound of the crake “ call.” Some were slow in approaching, but this is not unusual and many birds which made a complete display approached very slowly. The second explanation is to suppose that the two behaviour patterns have different physiological origins so that it would be possible for one, the sexual pattern, to develop later and decline earlier. If, as it appears from the results obtained, the sexual urge is stronger than the territorial urge, when at its full development in any particular bird, then there would be periods both before and’ after the peak when the two urges would be at about the same strength. At these times they could mutually inhibit each other and prevent the development of either behaviour pattern in a situ- ation such as that presented in the experiments. Tinbergen (3) refers to a similar struggle between desires when a Herring-Gull {Lams argentatus) was offered a normally shaped red egg. The shape of the egg is a stimulus for the sitting response, while the colour is a stimulus for the pecking response. 'I'he result was that ” the bird repeatedly made incipient movements of sitting down but again and again it was offended by the red colour and vigorously pecked at the (wooden) egg.” In the case of the Corn- Crakes it is the internal state which provides the opposing desires when the external stimulus, the dummy, excites both equally. I am not sure whether such a state would be possible if both urges had the same physiological origin, but were released at different thresholds of development. On the face of it such a possibility does not seem so probable, for during the peak period of the sexual urge the territorial urge is still active. The territorial urge is not superseded by a later development in the cycle of behaviour, but merely becomes relatively weaker so that it is suppressed in situations which might evoke either behaviour. The possibility that the sexual and the territorial urges have different physiological origins raises an interesting point. If such is the case then territorial behaviour is not essentially sexual in origin and does not belong to the purely sexual cycle of the breeding- season, though it is usually associated with that cycle. There is nothing intrinsically impossible about such a situation and, indeed, it is in harmony with many commonly observed anomalies of territorial behaviour. If territory is essentially a social behaviour, the opposite as it were to gregarious hocking, rather than sexual, such an anomaly as winter territory, especially when held by females, is more easily explained. Bullough and Garrick (6) have suggested that the autumnal singing of female Starlings {Sturnus vulgaris) is due to the production of male sex hormone, but Lack (5) has pointed out that the hen VOL. XLiH. ] BEHAVIOUR OF CORN-CRAKES. 77 Robin is as fierce in the defence of territory in March as she is in autumn tliough normally she sings only in autumn and not at all in spring. A corollary to such a state of affairs is that all species need not necessarily show territorial behaviour as is usually assumed. I'he difference in nesting habits between, say, a Corn-Crake and a Guille- mot [Uriel aalge) may be fundamental and not one of degree. Wolfson (7, 8) has shown that such a fundamental difference exists between migratory and non-migratory birds and that migration and breeding are separate, independent entities in the life cycle of a bird. The difference is physiological and is controlled either by a difference in the endocrine balance or in the reaction of the whole organism to the hormones secreted by the endocrine system, i'he readiness to migrate is apparently governed by changes due to the activity of the anterior pituitary. Territorial behaviour may be similarly independent of breeding, but in the absence of cytological investigation into the physiological basis the question must remain speculative only. In conclusion I would like to acknowledge my indebtedness to Dr. I). Lack, whose criticism and suggestions were most helpful and whose broadcast on his experiments with Robins suggested the experiments with Corn-Crakes. Table I. Reaction to Dummy Period Date Aggressive Sexual No Partial No Reaction Reaction Reaction Apin oaoh Approach Total I Ma)' ist to 7th I I - - 4 6 2 May 8th to 14th 2 1 2 I 2 9 3 May 15th to 2i.st - 4 - I - 5 4 May 22nd to 28th - 4- - I 5 5 May 29th to June 4th - 4 1 I •S 6 June jth to nth — 5 I 1 3 10 7 June 12th to 1 8th - 1 - - 1 2 8 June 19th to 25th - 3 - 2 1 6 9 June 26th to July 2nd - I I 2 - 4 10 July 3rd to 9th - - - - 5 3 The above table differs from that published in 1941 (2). In the former table three errors crept in in the printing ; one was made in tabulating field notes. In several cases birds were tested more than once in a period. If the reactions in such cases were the same the result was entered once only in the above table. If the bird failed to approach in the first test and did so in the second, both results were entered. One bird in period 9 reacted sexually to the first test and only partially approached in the second. The second result is not included as it may be affected by learning. REFKRHNCKS. 1. Mason, A. G. (1940). " On Some Experiments with Corn-Crakes.” Irish Naturalists’ Journal, Vol. vii, pp. 226-237. 2. Mason, A. G. (1941). “ Further Experiments with Corn-Crakes.” Irish Naturalists’ Journal, Vol. vii, pp. 321-333. 3. Tinbergen, N. {1948). “ Social Releasers and the Experimental Method Required for their Study.” Wilson Bulletin, Vol. 60. 78 BRITISH BIRDS. [vol. xliii. 4. Lack, D. (1943). The Life of the Robin, chap. xii. Witherby, London. 5. Lack, D. ibid, chap, xiii 6. Bullough, W. S. and Garrick, R. (1940). “ Male Behaviour of the female Starling [Sturnus v. vulgaris) in autumn.” Nature, Vol. 145, p. 629. 7. WoLFsoN, A. (1940). ” A Preliminary Report on Some Experiments on Bird Migration.” Condor, Vol. 42, pp. 93-99. 8. WoLFSON, N. (1945). ” The Role of the Pituitary, Fat Deposition, and Body Weight in Bird Migration.” Condor, Vol. 47, pp. 95-127. THE INDEX OF HERON POPULATION, 1949, BY W. B. Alexander. The number of heronries on which reports for 1949 were received at the Edward Grey Institute was 162, or 16 more than in the previous year. Of these 117 were in England, 9 in Wales, 17 in Scotland and 19 in Ireland. We are indebted to 79 informants of whom several have collected information from friends and correspondents. The Rev. P. G. Kennedy has again supplied figures for 15 heronries in 7 counties of Eire, A. G. Parsons for 9 in Cornwall and R. Chislett for 8 in Yorkshire. Col. G. H. R. Pye-Smith has investigated 10 sites in Suffolk, now or formerly occupied. Particulars of all known heronries in Sussex have been received from G. des Forges, in Warwickshire and Worcestershiie from C. A. Norris, in Bedfordshire from K. Piercy, in Huntingdonshire from C. F. Tebbutt, in Cheshire and South Lancashire from A. W. Boyd and in the Isle of Man from W. S. Cowin. The writer has obtained reports on all known heronries in the Thames Valley with the help of members of the London Natural History Society and Oxford Ornithological Society. We have again received information about a number of heronries not previously recorded. D. J. Netherclift reports one in Anglesey with II nests, which has existed for over 60 years ; Rev. P. G. Kennedy one in Co. Wicklow with 4 nests, which has existed for at least 47 years ; D. R. Anderson one in Argyllshire with 6 nests, at least 20 years old ; J. M. Leith one in Lanarkshire with 12 nests, at least 7 years old ; and R. Whitlock one in Hampshire with about 12 nests, obviously not new. Heronries believed, or known to be newly established have been reported from Devon (8 nests, G. A. Wren), Buckinghamshire (10 nests, B. Huddart), Essex (7 nests, h'. J. Ardley), Lanarkshire (2 nests, J. M. Leith) and Sutherland (2 nests. Dr. I. D. Pennie). Four others, about whose history VOL. XLiii.J INDEX OF HERON POPULATION 79 nothing is known, have been reported from Northumberland (7 nests, G. VV. Tempeiiey), Roxburghshire (5 nests, U. R. Anderson), Dumfriesshire (7 nests, A. B. Duncan) and Sutherland (5 nests. Dr. I. D. Pennie). As explained in previous reports of this series it is considered that the most reliable method of obtaining an index hgure for the year is to compare the number of nests in those heronries counted in 1949 with the average number in the same heronries in years when the Heron population was normal (1928, 1936, 1937, 1938 and 1939). We have normal figures for iii of the heronries counted in 1949 and the total of nests in these in normal years was 2,389. In 1949 the same heronries contained 1,841 nests or 77 per cent. As thepei'- centage in 1948 on this basis was 57 this gives an increase in the breeding population of 35 per cent. Another method of estimating the change is by comparison of the numbers in 129 heronries which were counted both in 1948 and 1949. The following table gives separately the figures for each district where several sample heronries (containing in all at least 100 nests in 1949) were counted in both years. It shows that con- siderable increases occurred in all parts of the British Isles : — No. of No. of nests Percentage heronries 1948 1949 change South-west England 13 115 141 4- 23 South-east England II 327 374 + 14 Thames Drainage Area 16 256 315 + 23 Ea.st England ... 15 154 204 + 32 Midlands 15 191 240 4- 26 North-west England ... 12 139 216 + 55 North-east England II 78 113 + 45 Ireland 17 1 16 148 + 28 England and Wales British Isles lOI 129 1.315 1.495 1,688 1.903 + 28 + 27 The figures for areas where all known heronries have been counted, shown in the following table, also indicate substantial increases on the figures for the previous year in every case, and in several areas the total number of nests counted was higher than in the normal year 1928. It should be borne in mind that subsequent information has shown that in most areas some heronries were not discovered in 1928 and it is very probable that the heronries known in 1948 and 1949 are not all that exist. Area No. of ne.sts (and of heronries) 1949 1948 1928 Sussex... 197(9) i47*(9) 294**(6) Lower Thames i59*(6) 142**(7) I2I*(6) Upper Thames i65*(i 1) 128(11) 158(9) Huntingdonshire and Bedfordshire 53*(7) 42**(6) 44*(6) Warwickshire 70(5) 40(5) 56*1.3) Cheshire and South Lancashire 185(6) 116(7) 170(6) Yorkshire (excluding Ribblesdale) 88(7) 57(7) 1 10*1 10) Total for sample areas in England 914(51) -(- 3 nests 667(52) -|- 5 nests 947(46) -)-6 nests * isolated nest included in total but not counted as a heronry. 80 BRITISH BIRDS. [VUJ,. XLlIi. 'Die winter 1948-9 was again a mild one. Mr. J. H. Willis kindly informs us that the coldest month was January, 1949, with a mean temperature at Norwich of 39.70 F., only half a degree lower than the coldest month in the previous winter (February, 1948). It will be recalled that after the very severe winter 1946-7 the index of Heron population was found to have fallen from 94 to 54 and that after the succeeding mild winter, 1947-8, practically no recovery was found to have occurred, the index being 57. When discussing this result in the report for 1948 we suggested that as Herons prob- ably do not breed till their second summer, two mild winters would be required after a disaster to allow of any considerable increase in the breeding stock. The increase of the index after a second mild winter from 57 to 77 affords satisfactory support to this hypothesis. In conclusion we must again thank the numerous correspondents without whose help this report could not have been prepared, and ask as many readers as possible to count occupied nests in heronries in the spring of 1950 (preferably between April 15th and Ma}^ loth) and to send the results as soon as possible to the writer at the Edward Grey Institute, 91, Banbury Road, Oxford. (HI) NOTES. ROOKS BREAKING WALNUTS ON HARD COW-DUNG. Flocks of lift)/ or sixty Rooks {Corvus frugilegiis) , with attendant Jackdaws {Corvus monedula) , daity frequented a very large pasture at Bramley, Surrey, during September and early October, 1948. This pasture is bordered on one side by some half-dozen or more walnut trees. On the evening of October 5 th, there were scores of walnuts to be found under each tree, but on the succeeding evening, only two remained. I was at a loss to account for the removal of the nuts, until a walk on October loth revealed the reason. As my party crossed this pasture, 1 noticed broken walnut shells on a hard sun-baked cow-dung patch. Each succeeding patch seen had broken shells and fragments on and around it. I organized my thirty boys, and each boy, moving in line abreast, stopped at ten patches. Only three patches, out of a total of three hundred, were entirely devoid of any fragments. No patch, as far as I could judge, had the remnants of more than two walnuts. Some shells were in halves, the black outer husks in pieces around, not more than two or three inches away. Other shells were more or less whole, with the complete inside skilfully pecked out from a large hole at one end. These whole shells were wedged tightly in the broken surface of the cow-dung, into which they had obviously been pressed with force. Most of the patches showed indentations where the Rooks had hammered the nuts. No shells or fragments were found on the grass of the pasture. The area covered in our investigation was approximately less than a quarter of the pasture. H. C. Ovenden, NORTHERN BULLFINCHES IN WORCESTERSHIRE On January 19th, 1949, whilst walking through a pine-wood near Lickey, Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, I heard a Bullfinch calling in such a way that I was immediately prompted to investigate. I noted the call at the time as being “ distinctly louder, fuller and probably coarser ” than the usual Bullfinch note. It was not necessary for me to look far, because with the naked eye I could see a distinctly large and brightly coloured Bullfinch which 1 had no hesitation in identifying as a Northern Bullfinch {Pyrrhula p. pyrrhula). The bird was perched only five yards away on the low, dead branch of a pine-tree. It looked fat, ungainly, and the size of a Com-Bunting {Emberiza calandra) ; I was particularly impressed by the extraordinarily bright colouration (the light was by no means excellent) and especially the rosy-pink underparts and vivid white rump and under tail-coverts. As I stepped nearer it was joined by two other males and one female of equal brightness and size. They were rather wild and flew up immediately well over the tree-tops, calling loudly. 82 BRITISH BIRDS. VOL. XLIII. Although at the time I was sure that they were all of the Northern race, 1 was worried about the note, for 1 thought I remembered reading in The Handbook of British Birds that it was identical with that of the British race. On consulting that work I found that this was, in fact, not the case, and that I had recorded the principal differences correctly. G. W. Ravnek. SCARLET GROSBEAK IN PEMBROKESHIRE. On June 26th, 1949, a Scarlet Grosbeak {Carpodacus erythrinus) was trapped and ringed on Skokholm Island, Pembrokeshire. It was thought to be a first winter male, as the wing measured 85 milli- metres, which is longer than any recorded in The Handbook for females. This is the second record for Wales, and the first record for Pembrokeshire. P. J. Conder. NOTES ON THE BREEDING HABITS OF THE CORN-BUNTING IN HAMPSHIRE For 22 years to my knowledge a certain area of Portsdown Hill, Hants, has been the local breeding ground of the Corn-Bunting {Emberiza calandra). The following notes summarize my observa- tions in this area during 1945, 1946 and 1947 when I made a close study of over 50 nests. Most nests were situated on the southern slopes and about mid- way up Portsdown Hill. Some nests were only twenty yards apart and in many cases territories appear to have been small, since as many as si.x cocks could be heard in song together. Nest sites were of two types, either close to the ground and well hidden in young furze or above ground in small hawthorns, varying in height from one foot to three feet. One nest 1 noted particularly was woven into a single branch of a young hawthorn at a height of two feet and could be seen from a path thirty yards away. There was a marked similarity in nest construction: all were made of the grass which covers the hill and only a few were lined with horsehair. No moss was found in any of these nests whereas nests which I once found in Huntingdonshire contained 50% of moss. Nest building seemed a lengthy business : seldom was one finished in under 14 days — several took 18 days to finish — and the interval between the completion of the nest and laying of the first egg was usually 5 days. Some birds would forsake an incomplete clutch when flushed once only, but as soon as incubation commenced they were close sitters. The young are also guarded well, especially when in family groups ; the parents of one brood almost touched me in flight when I flushed them from some long grass. No infertile egg was found during the three years’ observations. I have often seen the adult bird walking {vide antea, vol. xxxiN;, p. 348) but have never once seen the young bird do so ; they seem to prefer to hop in a sideways manner, similar to the House-Sparrow {Passer domesticus), but not in such a business-like way as that bird. VOL. XLIII.J NOl’ES. S3 During the years when I had the Corn-Buntings under observa- tion I found that all left the breeding area at the end of August. A few returned in J anuary of the following year, the numbers gradually increasing during subsequent weeks. H. E. Woods. [Reference to previous papers on the Corn-Bunting by J. Walpole-Bond [antea, vol. xxv, pp. 292-300) and Lt.-Col. and Mrs. B. H. Ryves {antea, vol. xxviii, pp. 2-26) will show that Mr. Woods’s observations differ, in some respects quite markedly, from previous observations in Sussex and Cornwall. Neither Ryves nor Walpole-Bond recorded nests in hawthorns. Ryves {loc. cit., p. 8) found that in Cornwall “ a nest is sometimes com- pleted in one day but more usually in two ” and that “ laying follows quickly . . . sometimes on the day following completion but more usually after one day’s interval — rarely longer than this.” Furthermore, Col. Ryves informs us {in litt.) that he has never known a hen Corn-Bunting desert after being flushed at any time of the egg period. Mr. Woods’s birds which deserted incomplete clutches seem, therefore, to have been behaving rather abnormially, though their subsequent behaviour agrees substantially with that recorded by Ryves and Walpole-Bond. Ryves also records {loc. cit., p. 15) ” that addled eggs occur in a fair number of nests.” Neither Ryves nor Walpole-Bond recorded the return to breeding areas so early as January ; late February or March is the normal time recorded in Cornwall and Sussex. — ^Eds.J. MALE REED-BUNTING CARRYING NESTING MATERIAL. The Handbook says the nest of the Reed-Bunting {Emberiza schceniclus) is built by the female only. However when some friends and I were studying the nesting habits of the Reed-Bunting at Pond Leigh, near Cuckfleld, Sussex, in the year 1949 we noticed the male helping with the nest construction. On May 14th, 1949, we were searching the reeds there for a new nest when a male Reed-Bunting arrived above our heads. When it saw us it became very agitated and settled on a branch of a tree near by. We observed with binoculars that it had a good quantity of dead grass in its bill. After watching it fly into the reeds and then out again, this time without the grass, we located the half built nest. This shows that sometimes the male Reed- Bunting does help with the nest construction. D. P. Geoghegan. [As there are cases recorded of male birds carrying nest material without actually assisting in building, the above observation perhaps falls short of rigid proof of such assistance, though it provides strong circumstantial evidence. — Eus.] HOUSE-SPARROW LINING NEST WITH GREEN LEAVES In The Handbook of British Birds (vol. i, p. 158) I find no reference to a habit of the House-Sparrow {Passer domesticus) of adding fresh green leaves to its nest. H4 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XLlIl. In 1948, 1 made almost daily observations at the nest of a House- Sj)anow, from the time the birds began to build untd the young departed. Building was begun on March 19th and continued until April 17th. An old nest of this species, situated under the eaves of the house, was used as the foundation for the new nest, and towards the end of the building period, a thick lining of feathers was added. On April i6th a complete inner lining to the cup was added, consisting of freshly plucked, heart-shaped, downy leaves. On April 17th, these leaves were torn up and some of the pieces were remo\'ed. The first egg of a clutch of four was laid by 12 o'clock the next day, April i8th. It rested on the torn up fragments of the leaves. The chicks hatched on May 2nd, when the lining consisted only of brown feathers ; there was no sign of leaves anywhere near the nest. 1). W.vkden. L’NKECOKDEI) \’AK1ETY OE TKEE-PIPITS’ EGGS. On May 5th, 1949, members of The Lydney Grammar School Eield Club were “ drawing ” a clearing on the outskirts of Bream, Eorest of Dean, when one member and the master-in- charge flushed a Tree-Pipit {AntJius irivialis), which rose from old, dry bracken immediately before their feet. Both observers were within one yard of a nest, revealed by the sudden departure of the bird. The nest contained live eggs of a colour not — it would appear- hitherto recorded, as no mention seems to be made of this type in The Handbook. 'I'he eggs were of a uniform deep chocolate colour. Fhey were examined very closely by eleven members of the school — mostly seniors who have had some years training in Biology. It was clearly seen that the colouring was perfectly even, showed not the slightest \ariation in intensity, nor did any trace of “ sub- merged ” blotchiness exist. Whilst aware of the extreme variability of the eggs of this species, we feel that the occurrence of this particular variety should be placed on record. A. 1). M.'lKTVn GREAT GREY SHRIKE IN CAERNARVONSHIRE. On June 17th, 1949, I saw a Great Grey Shrike {Lanins excubitor) at the top of the Nant Ffrancon Pass, close to the Ogwen I'alls. At a distance of about 300 yards, in clear sunlight, I saw the bird, about the size of a thrush, alight on one of the rocks overlooking the falls. It immediately disappeared, but on searching the spot with 6 X 30 binoculars I saw the bird on another rock, posed in an upright position, searching the ravine below. The black and white pattern of wings and tail was very conspicuous, rhe bird then (lew oil and disappeared. I searched the spot again three hours later, but found no sign of it. The habitat seemed very suitable, being composed of mainly open conifer plantation, with, below, scattered trees and open country. I enclose a rough sketch done immediately after- wards. Regin.\ld H.vukison. VOL. XLIII.I NOTES. 85 [The sketch submitted confirmed the identification. Summer occurrences of the species are infrequent in any part of the British Isles and it is very uncommon in the western parts of Wales at any time. — Eds..] RED-BREASTED ELYCATCHER IN SUEEOLK. DuRiNGtheperiod July 23rd to 25th, 1949, 1 had a male Red-breasted Flycatcher {Mnscicapa parva) under observation in Suffolk. The bird behaved as a “ flycatcher,” but its demeanour — short flights and skulking in shadow — with its general carriage, recalled the Dusky Flycatcher [Alseonax adustus) known to me in S. Africa. The general colouring was ” robin ” brown and pale buff, with whitish abdomen. The red marking was limited to throat and breast, with a slight but constant medial indentation at the lower end. In flight, some palish white showed among the primaries. The outer tail- feathers on each side were white, darkening towards their ends. This was clearly shown when it spread its tail in sunshine, fan-wise, as though in display. At times 1 heard a song, rather like that of a Wren {Troglodytes troglodytes), but I failed to see the bird singing. Spotted Flycatchers {M. striata) were also about, including birds of the year, but this bird seemed to hold aloof from them. They did not, however, “persecute” it, and it visited a bird-bath when they were present, though usually seen there alone. W. Murray Marsden. WHITETHROAT WINTERING IN M1DDLE.SEX. On January 17th, 1948, near the gravel-pits at Poyle, Middlesex, I found a male Whitethroat {Sylvia communis) in a hawthorn hedge, apparently feeding on small insects. The bird was shy, but with difficulty I managed to approach near enough to note the grey head, pure white chin and rufous-brown back. In flight the white outer tail-feathers were seen. This 'species has apparently not been previously recorded in January in this country. J. A. Bailey. I It may be noted that there is a record of a Whitethroat found dead in Essex on or about December 22nd, 1886 (Glegg, Birds of Essex, p. 80). — Eds.] SWALLOWS FOLLOWING TRANSPORTED NEST. In the spring of 1949, a Swallow {Hirundo rustica) built its nest in a portable milking “ bail ” in the parish of Woodbury, Devon. After a time it became necessary to move this into another field. This was done carefully, and the birds followed and continued to sit in the new site, after a move of two fields, or about 250 yds. When the young were about a week old another move became necessary, this time to a field over a mile away. The bail was towed off by tractor, a distance of approximately miles by road, early in the afternoon. There was no sign of the parents at milking time later (usually the parents fed throughout that operation) nor at 5.0 p.m. when the S6 BRITISH BIRDS. fvoL. xuii. milkman left, but at 9.0 p.m. when the farmer visited the site both birds were back. That brood was safely reared, and a second clutch laid. Again the moves were made, in reverse, the first when the eggs were quite fresh. Again the birds returned to the nest after each move. This time, after the big move, they were back within hrs. Both broods flew safely. E. H. Wake. CALLS OF TAWNY OWL. The Tawny Owl {Strix aluco) has a relatively wide range of calls. I have noted the following. It is unfortunate that the circumstances of the use of the more unusual calls could not be determined owing to the darkness. Single notes — yik, yeek, t’yeek, yuk ; wik, waak, wuk ; kook ; kee, k’way ; g’way (drawling). Double notes — kee- wik (the usual hunting call), kee-ow, kee- way kee-wy ; kay-eh, kay-way (soft) ; wy-ik, wik-wik, kik-kik ; eek-eh ee-eh ; kee-00 (curlew like), ker-ooo, oor-yeh ; shrill koo-kee, kos- wee ; wy-wy. Triple {or more) notes — kee-ow-eh, in phrases kee-wik kee-wik kee-ow-ah, and ik-ik — kee-ow-eh ; kee-wik — kee-ow — kee-a-ow ; kik — ky-ow — kow ; wik-wik-ka-ow (cat-like and wailing) ; ok-ok- ky-oh ; ayow-ay-ay-ooo. Longer phrases — kee-oo — woh-aoh-woh ; wik-wik-a-wik — weero-wee-wee-weero. Hooting notes — simple oh — oh — (long drawn out notes of a second or more) ; hoo-hoo-hoo-hoooo ; ow-oh-oh-oh ; wook-weh, wook- weh-weh-oh ; wook-ook-ooo ; ooo-ook-yow and similar forms. Once a curious, snoring oo-rrr-ay. The true hooting is less variable — -ook — o — ook-ook-ooo-ah ow-ah — ook-ook-ow-ah-000 ; kee-ooh — uh — 000-000-000-0 ; kee-hoo — uh — hoo-ooo-oh-000-000-00 ; tremulous, little used 000-000-000-00-00-00 (00 with a “ bubble ” in it), and a short bubbling oo-ook-eh. On several occasions, hooting has been heard as if answering, in two pitches ; once the higher pitch seemed a little harsh. Once, a Tawny Owl mobbed by Jays called “ kee-wik ” and was answered by a short hoot. At Invergowrie in southeast Perth, there is a virtual stoppage of the true long hooting phrase from mid-September to mid-October, otherwise it is heard throughout the year. Some years there appears to be more marked activity of Tawny Owls in November and again in March. Henry Boase. MORTALITY OF OSPREYS NEAR THE BORDERS On May 19th, 1949 an adult female Osprey {Pandion halicstus) was picked up in a dying condition on the banks of the river Coquet, near Guyzance, Northumberland. On the same day an adult male Osprey was picked up in a distressed condition on the shores of Coldingham Lough, Berwickshire. VOL. XI.III.] NOTES S7 Both birds were sent to the Hancock Museum, Newcastle-upon- Tyne. I he hrst died before despatch, but tlie second reached the Museum alive and lingered in a sickly condition until May 26th. During the period when the latter bird was under observation it appeared very weak and allowed itself to be handled without pro- test. It made some attempts to eat portions of a trout which was ottered to it. After death the weights of the two birds were ; — female 2-lbs. 12 ozs., male i-lb. 15 ozs. Neither bird bore any trace of damage by shot or otherwise. Poisoning or disease being suspected, the organs of both birds were later sent to the Veterinary Laboratory of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries for examination. The following are extracts from the report received : — “ The female specimen was really in too decomposed a condition to admit of an accurate examination and, as we expected, a large number of non-specific -looking bacteria were isolated from the liver. The second specimen was much fresher, and death would appear to have occurred from pneumonia, the right lung being almost solid. The kidneys were enlarged and pale, and the liver was covered with a number of small white dots. Micro- organisms were isolated from the gut . . . but these did not con- form to any known pathogen ; they belong to the group, I think, known as the Paracolon. Consequently the bacteriological examination has failed to incriminate a specific disease-producing bacterium. It may be, however, that the Paracolon bacteria are capable of producing disease in birds.” The fact that the two birds, picked up within some 45 miles of one another, were in the same physical condition points to some common cause of death, and it is unfortunate that a more definite report is not obtainable. George W. Temperley. LITTLE EGRETS IN CORNWALL AND PEMBROKESHIRE. On May 26th, 1949, while looking for waders on the Camel Estuary A. V. C. and H. J. C. put up a large white bird of the heron type which flew some distance out on to the borders of the estuary. The wing-beat was considerably faster than that of a Heron {Ardea cinerea). On this occasion it was possible to decide it was smaller than a Heron, was pure white in plumage, and had plumes on its head. The bill was long, sharp, and dark coloured, and not as thick as that of a Heron. It also appeared to be slightly decurved at the tip. The legs were long and dark, and in flight were stretched out straight behind the bird. The feet were yellow. It associated with Sheld- Duck almost entirely, so comparison of size was difficult. The following day it was watched again for one and a half hours, and was seen preening and resting. There was a high wind at the time, and all its feathers, including its crests and plumes on the neck, blew about in all directions. As it was decidedly wild we were unable to get nearer than about 100 yards, 88 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XLIIl. i^eing on holiday, and having no books of reference to refer to, the observers contacted T. J. W. at his home at Wadebridge. He located the bird on the evening of May 28th, in a place where it was possible to study it from very close range with a telescope. He noted the presence of plumes on each side of the back and recorded the bill and legs as dark lead colour, the feet yellow, as already described, and the eyes light, thus clearly establishing its identit}' as a Little Egret [Egretta garzetta). Although the bird had everj^ appearance of being a wild one, A.V.C. felt that the possibility of its being an escape should be investigated. He therefore wrote to the zoos at Paignton, Bristol, London, Whipsnade and Manchester. None of these zoos have lost any Little Egrets during recent years, and Mr. lies, the Super- intendent of the Manchester Zoo, stated that, to the best of his knowledge, the bird is not represented in any of the northern zoos. A. V. Cornish, H. J. Craske and T, J. Willcocks. A Little Egret {Egretta garzetta) frequented the estuary at the head of the Dale Roads, Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire, from May 8th, to 12th, 1949. f saw it on four occasions, and it was seen by Messrs. John H. Barrett and John Say who confirm the identification. 1 first saw it on the evening of May 8th, standing in a tidal stream. It rose when 1 was more than 100 yards away and was soon lost from view behind a hill. The light was poor, and I could not make out the colour of the bill or legs with any certainty on this occasion, but as I know the species well in India, I felt sure of its identity from its form and action in flight. When I looked up the white herons in The Handbook, it might, from the field descriptions, have equally well been a Buff-backed Heron {Ardeola ibis), a species very familiar to me in India ; but I knew the bird I had seen was not this, and on reflection decided that the character that ruled it out was the length of the legs. The measurements given in The Hand- book confirm that the diffei'ence in the length of the tarsus of these two species is great, and this is, in my opinion, a useful field character. On May loth, 1 had a good view of the Little Egret with a x 20 telescope at about 30 yards. It was standing on a seaweed- covered stone at the edge of the stream, preening. It was in full summer plumage, with long crest and scapular plumes : the bill was lead grey, tipped black or blackish, the legs black and feet bright yellow. (J.H.B. also noted that the bill was grey and considered the legs greyish black rather than black.) It was with gulls at a place where they regularly rest and bathe, and rose with them on my approach, but settled again on a salt marsh on the far side of the stream and continued preening. The next morning it was in the same place on the marsh. On May 12th at about 7.30 p.m. G.M.T., I saw it for the last time, flying fairly high heading north-west. It appeared to be on a long distance flight, and as it was not seen again this probably was the case. VOL. XLIII.] NOTES 89 There is a previous record of a Little Egret on this estuary {antea, vol. xxxii, p. 84) in May, 1938. In The Handbook it states that this bird may have been an escape, but the reason for this is not given. Mr. H. Lloyd-Phillipps, who made the observa- tion, informs me that there was nothing in the behaviour of the bird to suggest that it might not be a genuine wild one. T. A. W. Davis. BEWICK’S SWANS IN ANGLESEY. The Bewick’s Swan {Cygmts hewickii) is not a frequent visitor to Malldreath, Anglesey, but we were able to observe 16 to 24 birds, between January 29th and February 19th, 1949. Identification with 7 X 50 glasses was easy, as the birds allowed approach within about 20 yards. A few juveniles were among the adults. In flight a musical “ pop ” note was most frequent. We also heard a barking call and a low squawk like that of a Black-headed Gull {Lams ridibundus) but softer. J.M. obtained the dipping time. The heads were kept under water lo-ii secs, at a time. The interval between successive dips, whilst undisturbed, was 3-4 secs. After a disturbance, such as traffic passing on a road near by, feeding ceased for several minutes. These results are interesting because they compare with Dewar’s figures {antea, vol. xxxv, pp. 224-6), where he compares the time of dipping in the Mute Swan {Cygnus olor) with the time expected for diving birds in the same depth of water. We were unable to determine whether the birds had another feeding place in the island as suggested by their varying numbers at Malldreath. C. W. Wakeford, J. Moyse and P. Whalley. GREENLAND WHITE-FRONTED GEESE IN CUMBERLAND. A White-fronted Goose referable to the Greenland race {Anser albifrons flavirostris) recently distinguished by C. T. Dalgety and Peter Scott {Bull. Brit. Orn. Club, Ixviii (1948), pp. 109-121), was shot in the Eden estuary, Cumberland Solway, on November 23rd, 1947, by Mr. Everest Laval and presented in the flesh by him to the Carlisle Museum. It had aroused the shooter’s interest by its generally dark appearance and, more particularly, by the rich orange-yellow coloration of the bill as well as of the legs and feet. Mr. Laval said that the bill never had any trace of pink in it and even next day, when the bird was brought to me, the bill, except for slight discoloration, was still rich orange. A narrow black line, about one mm. wide, ran the length of the white nail, slightly off centre. The white tip to the tail and the light edges to the mantle feathers are narrower than in the typical race. The barrings on the belly are very heavy and run together into solid black patches. The bird, which was alone at the time it was shot, is an adult female with wing 400, culmen 48, tarsus 71, height of upper mandible 23 and greatest length of bill 56 mm. 5)0 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XLIll. A White-fronted Goose, along with two Pink-footed Geese {Anser arvensis hrachyrhynchus) , was shot out of a mixed gaggle of five at the same place on October 4th, 1947, by Mr. Thomas Davidson, but I had not the opportunity of examining this bird. On December i6th, 1949, however, Mr. Davidson met with ten White-fronted Geese in the locality and shot two of them, which I saw on the following day. Both of them were adults and typical of the Greenland race. Their long, yellow bills, while generally paler than in the first bird, had deep colour in patches on the culmen and around the nostrils. Their bellies were heavily barred, in one of them, again, the markings inclining towards solid patches. Ernest Blezard. AnSKK ALBU'UONS FLAVIROSTRIS, FEMALE ADULT, SHOT BY EVEREST LaVAL, Solway Firth, November 23RD, 1947 : Drawing of Belly Markings. VOICE OF SHELD-DUCK. One common note of the Sheld-duck {Tadorna tadorna) appears to have passed unrecorded. When a pair of this species is disturbed and takes to wing, one bird — ? the female — commonly utters the usual “ ak-ak-ak . . . while the other utters a feeble whistle, almost passerine in its quality. That this whistle is not made by the wings, is shown by observations made at Blakeney Point, Norfolk, on April 20th, 1949 : when I disturbed a pair of Sheldrake, at close quarters, I was able to hear, not only the vocal whistle, but also the lower-pitched whistling of the wings. 1 also heard the vocal whistle uttered by one of a pair while they were still on the ground and before they took to flight. M. F. M. Meiklejohn. [ The note recorded above appears to difier in character and function from the " clear whistle " recorded from males anxious for their brood or as a display note, vide Handbook, Vol. v, p. 27b. — Eds.]. NOTE OF LITTLE GREBE. On November 13th, 1948, I heard a whistled double note which was new to me and proved to come from a Little Grebe {Podiceps rujicollis) swimming up from the sea (which was at lowest ebb) in the river Meon, which runs out from Titchfield Haven through a sea-gate. This grebe called several times and was not diving for food but swimming determinedly up the river towards me and not displaying VOL. XLIH.J NOTES. 91 any sign of alarm. I thought it was one of three, which had been swimming and diving in Titchheld Haven, and had got through the sea-gate and was now looking for its companions and calling to them, hoping for a reply. The Handbook says the Little Grebe’s alarm note is a soft, somewhat whistling, “ whit, whit,” which exactly describes what I heard ; but I have never heard an alarmed Little Grebe give such a note. In my experience, when a Little Grebe is surprised it flies along the top of the water with much splashing and then dives without uttering a cry. C. Suffern. [The alarm note referred to in The Handbook is not used by birds which are merely startled, but by agitated breeding birds. But it or a note very closely similar also seems to be used as a call and perhaps the term alarm note would be better not used or at least needs qualifying. T. A. Coward {Birds of the British Isles, vol. 2, p. 318), undoubtedly referring to the same note, writes that ” the call (italics mine) is short, a soft, subdued note, not unlike the whistle of the Teal.”— B.W.T-] GREAT NORTHERN DIVER SUMMERING IN WARWICKSHIRE. During 1948 an immature Great Northern Diver [Colymbus immer) was observed throughout the summer on Shustoke Reservoir, Warwickshire. The bird was first seen on February 7th, when it was in first summer plumage, the under tail-coverts being white, having already been moulted before its arrival. On September 25th the bird was in the middle of its autumn moult, the primaries and secondaries being partially missing, and the upper-parts noticeably darker. However, on November nth it had almost entirley moulted, having a far more black and white appearance, but a few of the original brown feathers still remained in the back and wings, especially in the secondaries. The following characteristics were observed : — very large and thickset ; markedly flat-headed with angular forehead ; very large, thick, dagger-shaped bill ; tame, but cautious. The bird was in no way oiled or otherwise disabled, so its long stay could not be attributed to such. We ourselves did not see it fly, but we are told it did so at times, for very short distances. We also saw it flap its wings in a typical diver fashion, and it dived without apparent difficulty. We noticed, during the year, several actions unmentioned in The Handbook. First, on February 7th the bird suddenly emerged from a dive about five yards away, and, on seeing us, flattened its neck along the water and swam quickly away. It was this latter action which struck us as extraordinary. Also, on several occasions, the bird was seen swimming about for a few minutes with its tail fanned. It was held almost vertical, displaying the white under tail- coverts. There seemed no reason for this action. During the year a total of fifty-two dive times were taken. The 92 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XLIII. maximum was 127 seconds and the minimum 4 seconds. The average was 58 seconds, the majority being between 40 and 50 seconds. The dive of 127 seconds was under normal conditions, that is the bird was in no way frightened as far as could be ascertained. It was interesting to hear from fishermen that the bird habitually used its wings when swimming under water. Shustoke Reservoir is concrete-lined and covers about 90 acres. It is stocked with fish annually and gives some of the best fishing in the Midlands. Of the descriptions below, the first summer plumage one was taken on February 7th and the adult winter one on November 7th. 1ST Summer Adult Winter (Upper-parts). Crown and nape dark sooty brown ; remainder sooty brown, slightly lighter than crown and nape ; back with lateral rows of buff spots which, at close quarters, could be seen to be buff tips to feathers. (Sides of head). Crown colouring down as far as eye ; remainder of face white. (Under-parts). Entirely white; under wing-coverts white ; sides of base of neck light brown. (Soft Parts). Bill silvery. Legs, black on outside, grey inside. Noticeable white orbital ring. (Upper-parts). Crown sooty black ; nape and back of neck dark grey ; back and mantle dark brown with grey edges to feathers ; primaries very dark grey-black. (Sides of head). Crown colouring as far as eye, remainder white. (Under-parts). Chin, throat, neck, breast, belly, under wing-coverts and under tail-coverts white ; flanks white with dark grey markings on some feathers ; sides of base of neck brown. (Soft Parts). Eye, dark red with noticeable white orbital ring. Feet, grey-black with white webs ; bill. whitish with suggestion of grey. End of upper mandible, yellowish. Upper part of upper mandible, dark I grey-black. A. W. WoLTON, J. R. Rawsthorne and M. J. Rogers. ALARM NOTE OF THE WHIMBREL. On May 9th, 1949, we came upon a single Whimbrel {Numenius phccopus) feeding in a deep creek in East Kent. V/e were within a yard of this bird before it rose witli great alarm. Much to our surprise it uttered a note absolutely indistinguishable from that of a Curlew (AC arquata) under stress of similar circumstances. The rendering of this alarm cry of the Whimbrel would appear best expressed as “ a very hoarse gutteral kahiyah, kahiyah,” following Mr. H. G. Alexander’s rendering for the Curlew, quoted in The Handbook. James M. Harrison and Jeffery (i. Harrison. [The note described is presumably unusual and probablj^ used by birds when startled very suddenly, since 1 have never heard a note which could be so described from any of many individuals studied on the breeding-ground. — B.W.T.] LITTLE RINGED PLOVER IN PEMBROKESHIRE. At Dale on May i6th, 1949, a Little Ringed Plover {Charadrins dubius) was associating with a flock of about 140 Dunlin {Calidris VOL. XLIII.] NOTES. 93 alpina) and 10-12 Ringed Plover [Charadrius hiaticula) on the Salicornia zone of the Gann saltmarsh. It was watched for 20 minutes through x 8 glasses at 40 to 100 yards range. The light was poor and fine rain was falling. The Ringed Plover tended to bunch together among the Dunlin and often were left behind when the Dunlin suddenly swirled away. The Little Ringed Plover moved with the Dunlin and never joined with the Ringed Plover group. It appeared to be almost the same length as a Dunlin but slimmer. The absence of the wing bar was clearly noted several times. But the most conspicuous feature was the call, which I know very well having lived recently for two years in a breeding area. The call used was rather higher pitched than a Ringed Plover’s, shorter, more sharply defined and yet not entirely monosyllabic, and without the Ringed Plover’s liquid sadness. It called on the ground and, more frequently, in the air. It suddenly rose alone and flew away northwards up the river valley. This appears to be the first record for Wales. John H. Barrett. WHISKERED TERN IN LANCASHIRE On a reservoir at Belmont, near Bolton, Lancashire, on July 24th, 1949, I saw, in company with A. J. Murray, what we have no hesitation in recording as a Whiskered Tern [Chlidonias hybrida). When first seen it was over two hundred yards away but the white side of the head and under tail-coverts stood out in contrast to the rest of the body. We subsequently approached to within forty yards of the bird, which was in typical summer plumage except that the frontal region had some white. The white throat gradually deepened to a dark grey on the belly and was without the patchy appearance of the moulting Black Tern (C. niger). We are both familiar with the Black Tern in the field, and in the skin in all its phases of plumage, and though the tail was clearly seen to be only -slightly forked the action of the bird’s flight reminded us more of that of a true Sterna, though the bird did not hover before diving, rather falling swiftly to the water to pick something from the surface. It fed all the time into wind, turning after about a hundred yards and flying rapidly down-wind to its starting point. Each beat was covered about half-a-dozen times before the bird moved on up the reservoir to a fresh one. In this way it covered the length of the water, about half-a-mile, in about forty minutes and then turned to work it back again. The bird fed in this way, flying from three to ten feet above the water, during the whole time we had it under observation, which was just under two hours, and only towards the end of that period did it settle momentarily on the water, three times in quick succession, as though to gather some- thing slightly deeper. The bird was generally silent but twice uttered a cry which could be referred to the " schreea ” quoted by The Handbook from Naumann. On our return we examined a series of Black Tern in all plumages but our bird was not one of these. It agreed well with the Whiskered 94 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XLIII. Tern figured by Gould except for the white frontal patch and a less forked tail. In size it appeared to us to be mid-way between the marsh and Common Terns though this is of little weight since neither were available for comparison. It was not possible in the evening light to distinguish the exact shade of the soft parts. The bird was gone on the following morning and was not to be found on reservoirs near by. Alfred Hazelwood. WHITE-WINGED BLACK TERN IN ESSEX On July 24th, 1949, whilst the undersigned were watching nesting terns at Abberton Reservoir, near Colchester, Essex, G.A.P. spotted a species of marsh tern in flight which was instantly identified as a White- winged Black Tern {Chlidonias leucopterus) in full breeding plumage. Excellent views were obtained through binoculars (the most powerful being 10 x 50) over a period of minutes at distances varying between 30 and 50 yards. The possibility of confusion with the Black Tern {Chlidonias niger), with which species both G.A.P. and A.M. are familiar, was quite precluded by virtue of the pure white tail and upper tail-coverts and the white on the wing, which latter appeared to cover a greater area than that described in The Handbook, about two-thirds of the length of the fore-wing from the shoulder outwards being either white or near white and shading through pale grey into slate grey on the primaries and secondaries. Otherwise, except for the fact that the colour of the bill and legs could not be determined, the description given in The Handbook tallied exactly. The bird was quite silent during the period in which it was under observation. The bird’s presence may, it is thought, have been due to the inter- mittently strong southerly winds, varying between south-east and south-west, which prevailed during a spell of stormy weather a week to ten days earlier. What was presumably the same bird was observed by G.A.P. on July 29th and, in company with A.M., on July 31st, 1949, when moulting was seen to be well advanced, large areas of previously black plumage being flecked with white and the forehead and fore-crown wholly white. The black underwing was seen to ad- vantage from a distance of about 50 yards. It appears that this species had only once previously been recorded in Essex, namely, in 1912, when a party of four was seen. C. G. Kerry, A. Marshall and G. A. Pyman INLAND BREEDING AND SUBTERRANEAN NESTING OF HERRING-GULL IN CORNWALL. With reference to my note on inland breeding of the Herring-Gull {Larus argentatiis) in Cornwall in 1947 {antea, vol. xli, p. 277), it will be of interest to record similar breeding by a pair in 1948. Mr. Sidney Sheer found a nest on May 9th, and three eggs had been laid by the 17th. It was situated in the second of the two disused clay-pits mentioned in the first note, I visited the site on VOL. XLIII.] NOTES. 95 May 28th, and saw three typical Herring-Gull eggs (olive brown in ground colour, and spotted and blotched blackish-brown), in a very substantial nest composed entirely of grass to which a little moss had been added. The nest was placed about 18 inches in from the entrance of a hole in the china-stone cliffs and only a few feet above the pool, the hole being roughly circular in shape and about 15 inches in diameter and extending for about 2 feet in depth. The cliffs faced eastwards and thus were in the shade for most of the daytime. Two young were ultimately reared and safely left the nest. Such subterranean nesting appears to be unusual in this species. Col. B. H. Ryves (in Hit.) informed me that he knew of one other instance in which the nest of a pair of Herring-Gulls was placed about 18 to 20 inches in from the entrance of a round hole about 18 inches high, of unknown depth, and situated on a perpendicular cliff nearly 300 feet high on the North Cornish coast. Mr. Sheer informed me that he had also found one other old nest in addition to the one found in 1947, around the cliffs of the same pit, and one probable nest in a pressure hose-hole in an island in the pit, for he found grass about arm’s length in the hole on bare clay. It would appear, therefore, that, in addition to the pair which bred this year, two other pairs had at some time prior to 1948 nested in this pit. Around the cliffs of the pool I found a piece of cuttle fish, and Mr. Sheer told me that he had found a piece of crab-shell there, which suggests that the gulls carry food from the coast, a distance of about four miles. One interesting pellet I found contained a piece of gravel about an inch long and was covered with straw. C. J. Stevens. Pied Wagtail feeding on bread-crumbs. — With reference to a previous note (antea, Vol. xlii, p. 30) on this subject, Mr. C. G. Cartwright informs us that during the winter, 1948-9, from Nov- ember, 15th, 1948, onwards, a Pied Wagtail (Motacilla alba yarrellii) fed regularly on bread-crumbs and kitchen scraps at Woodbine House Hospital, Pembroke. The bird tolerated all other visitors to the food except a Meadow-Pipit (Anthus pratensis). Early Chiffchaffs in Notts, and Lancs. — Mr. D. F. Cullen reports that on February 14th, 1949, in the Dukeries, N. Notts, he saw a Chiff chaff (Phylloscopus collyhita) and heard a few snatches of song. Mr. S. Jackson Brown reports another early Chiff chaff at Roose, near Barrow-in-Furness, Lancs, on February 22nd, 1949. Both dates are exceptionally early for the areas in question. Late House-Martin in N. Devon. — Mr. D. H. Trapnell reports a House-Martin (Delichon urbica) seen by him at Combe Martin, N. Devon, on December i8th, 1948. 17 1B50 06 BRITISH BIRDS. [vol. xliii. Long-eared Owl in Middlesex. — Mr. C. A. White has reported a Long-eared Owl [Asio otus) which he had under observation for about an hour on November i6th, 1947, at Heathrow, Middlesex. The species has not been recorded in Middlesex since 1871. Sparrow-Hawk killing Red Grouse. — Mr. J. Bartholomew writes that at the beginning of February, 1949, his keeper at Torrance, Stirlingshire, flushed a Sparrow-Hawk {Accipiter nisus) from a freshly killed Red Grouse (Lagopus scoticus) and caught a hen Sparrow-Hawk at the remains next day. Only one instance of Red Grouse as food of the Sparrow-Hawk is quoted in The Handbook. Early Garganey in North Kent. — Mr. E. H. Gillham informs us that he and three other observers saw a drake Garganey (Anas querquedula) near the Isle of Grain, Kent, on February 27th, 1949. We understand that this is the first February record for the species in the North Kent marshes. Early arrival of Wigeon in Sussex and Kent. — Mr. Jeffery H. Boswall has reported a flock of 17 Wigeon (Anas penelope) near Newhaven, Sussex, on August 15th, 1948. He informs us that Mr. D. D. Harber saw four at Walland Marsh, Kent, on August iith and that Messers D. D. Harber and D. H. Brown saw a single bird at the Midrips, Sussex, on August 14th, 1948. Red-necked Grebe in Warwickshire. — Messers. J. R. Raws- thorne, A. W. Wolton and M. J. Rogers have reported a Red-necked Grebe (Podiceps griseigena) which was present at Shustoke Reservoir, Warwickshire, from January ist to 22nd, 1949. There appears to be only one other fully substantiated record of this species for the county. Kentish Plover wintering in Devon. — Mr. R. G. Adams has already (antea, vol. xli, p. 249) recorded a Kentish Plover (Leucopolius alexandrinus) wintering on the Exe estuary. A female appeared again on October 17th, 1948, in the same part of the estuary as was favoured by the bird — possibly the same individual — seen in the previous winter. It was seen on many occasions up till March 20th, 1949. Late Northern Golden Plover in Somerset. — Mr. A. V. Cornish has reported a Northern Golden Plover (Pluvialis apricaria altifrons) at Porlock Marsh, Somerset, on May nth, 1949. The Handbook gives three later dates, but only one of these is from England. Early Little Tern in Somerset. — Mr. E. G. Richards informs us that he saw two Little Terns (Sterna albifrons) near Dunster, Somerset, on April nth, 1949. Eive earlier dates are given in The Handbook, but they are all from the east coast of- Britain. FAIR ISLE BIRD OBSERVATORY SEASON 19^0 The 1 iOSTEL will be open from April ftli until the end of October, 19^0, with com- fortable accommodation for ten visitors per week. TERMS ; Five. Guineas per week inclusive. (Reduced rates for organised partie.s from Schools and Universities). 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The author discusses the various species and relates many of his own experiences in watching them, besides giviug helpful information on the technique of wader photography. There are also concise, detailed notes on distribution, nesting sites, etc., for each species, together with maps and five composite drawings of waders in flight. W X 7A inches. 21s. net. Order from anyjbookshop. Published by G. BELL AND SONS, LTD. York House . Portugal Street . London, W.C.2 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) BINDING ** BRITISH BIRDS” The publishers are now able to undertake the binding of Volume 42 or of any earlier volumes of “ British Birds.” The unbound parts, together with your full name and address and remittance for7/3d. per voL, should be sent to : — H. F. & G. Witherby, Ltd. 5, Warwick Court, London, W.C.I. FAIRY WRENS OF AUSTRALIA By NEVILLE W. CAYLEY Australia's greatsst authority on native birds. Here is the ideal book of special reference for ornithologist, birdlover and the in- numerable everyday readers of the author’s masterpiece, “What Bird is That.’’ TheFairy Wren, usually known as the Blue Bird, was one of the first birds noticed by the earliest arrivals in Australia. Illustrated. 15/-. ANGUS & ROBERTSON LTD. 48 Bloomsbury Street, London, W.C.i. SMALL ADVERTISEMENTS 7/6 for 3 lines (minimum) ; 2/6 for each extra line or part thereof. For the use of a Box Number there is an extra charge of I /- ; Advertisements for a particular issue should reach this office by the 21st of the preceding month. All communications to be addressed to: — H. F. & G. Witherby Ltd., 5, Warwick Court, London, W.C.I. SKOKHOLM BIRD OBSERVATORY. All facilities are provided for bird watchers and other naturalists to study and/or assist with the work at the observ- atory. Enquiries to Warden, Dale Fort Field Centre, Haverfordwest, Pembs. BINOCULARS. A wide range of first-class prismatic binoculars, both new and reconditioned, now available. VVe invite you to write for our latest lists and details of approval terms. The Hatton Optical Co. Ltd., Lansdowne, Bournemouth. TELESCOPES. A useful selection of telescopes now available; send for lists and approval terms. The Hatton Optical Co., Ltd., Lansdowne, Bournemouth. PLATE CAMERAS. A few rather good German plate cameras, sizes in.x 3^ in. and 9x 12 cm. with and without double extension; send for list. The Hatton Optical Co., Ltd., Lansdowne, Bournemouth. THE BIRDS OF PEMBROKESHIRE. Edited by R. M. Lockley, G.C. S.Ingram and H. Morrey Salmon, with introduction and photographs, cloth bound 7s. 6d., post free: County Library, Haverfordwest, PEM. VALUABLE Birds Eggs skilfully repaired; also other delicate Collector’s speci- mens, such as Porcelain Figures, China Objects of Art, etc. Infinite pains taken for perfect results. Enquiries invited, A. Pearman, 43 The Ridge, Purley, Surrey. SECRETARY, male, bird-lover, resident Kent, excellent knowledge French, Spanish, Italian, German, own typewriter, offers services to ornithologist. First- class references. Box No. 389, "British Birds," 5, Warwick Court, W.C.I, WANTED. Vol. I — 3, Bannerman’s Birds of Tropical West Africa, or any odd volumes. R. E. Sharland, c'o United Africa Co., Lagos, Nigeria. Printed tn Gt. Britain bv The Riversiok Press, Ltd., Twickenham, Middx. Published by H. F. A G. WITHERBY, LTD., fi Warwick Court, W.C.I. \ ^ BRITISH BIRDS AN ILLUSTRATED MAGAZINE DEVOTED CHIEFLY TO THE BIRDS ON THE BRITISH LIST Monthly i s. <)d. Yearly 2 os. APRIL, I 9?o VoL. XLIII. No. 4 Published by H. F. 8l G. Wiiherby Ltd. BRITISH BIRDS EDITED BY BERNARD W. TUCKER, M.A., F.Z.S., M.B.O.U. ASSISTED BY Norman F. Ticehurst, o.b.e., m.a., f.r.c.s., m.b.o.u. A. W. Boyd, m.c., m.a., f.z.s., m.b.o.u. AND J. D. Wood, b.a., m.b.o.u. Contents of Number 4, Vol. XLIII, April, 1950. Page Observations on Passage Migration in the Trent Valley and Inland Migration. By R. J. H. Raines ... ... ... ... ... 96 Studies of some species rarely photographed. XXV. The Purple Sandpiper. Photographed by Olof Swanberg, G. K. Yeates and C. G. des Forges ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 112 Notes : — Courtship feeding of Jackdaw (S. Cramp ; R. K. Cornwallis) 113 Jackdaws in pairs and courtship feeding in October (K. B. Rooke) 114 Bathing behaviour of Greenfinch and Linnet (George Edwards) ... 115 Alternative call of Chaffinch (Bertram M. A. Chappell) ... ... 115 Yellowhammer using old nests of other birds (Bertram M. A. Chappell) 116 Snow-Bunting in June in Cardiganshire (W. M. Condry) ... ... 116 Shore-Larks in Kent (R. da Cunha, E. H. Gillham and R. C. Homes) 116 Sun-bathing of Tree-Creeper (E. J. M. Buxton ; Angela Pritchard) 117 Nest of Blue Tit on a bough (Marguerite R. Jellicoe) ... ... 117 Crested Tit in Devon (Terence R. F. and L. V. A. Nonweiler) ... 1 18 White-headed Long- tailed Tit in Sussex (W. J. Bradbury) ... ... 118 Woodchat Shrike in Pembrokeshire (P. J. Conder and Joan Keighley) 1 iq Domed nest of Grasshopper-Warbler (H. J. Hoffman) ... ... 119 Aquatic Warbler in Kent (G. E. Manser and D. F. Owen) ... ... 119 Redwings singing in Britain in May (George Edwards ; J. L. Crosby) 119 Blackbird using same nest tv^o years in succession (Roger Whitten- bury) ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 120 Colour of skin of nestling Redstarts (J. M. D. Mackenzie) ... ... 120 Red-rumped Swallow in Hertfordshire (R. W. Gaskell) ... ... 121 Sand-Martins alighting on water (I. F. Stewart) ... ... ... 121 Some notes on the Alpine Swift (Stuart Smith) ... ... ... 122 Little Owl attacking Jackdaw (Bertram M. A. Chappell) ... ... 123 Song of Long-eared Owl (N. Harwood) ... ... ... ... 123 Rough-legged Buzzard in Warwickshire (E. A. Simms) ... ... 123 Osprey in Gloucestershire (J. B. Watson) ... ... ... ... 124 Feeding habits of Osprey observed in Devon (Mervyn G. Palmer) ... 124 Herons flying at high altitudes (C. F. Tebbutt) ... ... ... 124 Herons sun-bathing (A. W. Boyd) ... ... ... ... ... 125 Note of Great White Heron (L. P. Alder) ... ... ... ... 125 Aggressive behaviour of a Mute Swan (John C. S. Ellis) ... ... 125 Shoveler breeding in Ayrshire (F. D. E. W'^alls) ... ... ... 126 Shoveler breeding in Cardiganshire (W. M. Condry) ... ... ... 126 Great Crested Grebe breeding in Cardiganshire (W. Miall Jones, D. Sansbury and W. M. Condry)... ... ... ... ... ... 126 Display by young Great Crested Grebes (D. G. Andrews) ... ... 126 *' Up-ending ” by Great Crested Grebe and Moorhen (K. E. L. Simmons) ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 127 Turtle-Dove Display (K. B. Rooke ; K. P. Kewood) ... ... 127 Large numbers of Black-tailed Godwits in Dorset (K. B. Rooke) ... 128 Display of Ruff in Cheshire (A. W. Boyd) ... ... ... ... 129 Probable Solitary Sandpiper in Sussex (John Reynolds) ... ... 129 Continued on page Hi of cover. BRITI Number 4, Vol OBSERVATIONS ON PASSAGE MIGRATION IN THE TRENT VALLEY AND INLAND MIGRATION BY R. J. H. Raines, M.B.O.U. During the autumn passage months of July, August, September and October in the years 1940-1947, continuous observations of the movements of migrants were made along the Trent Valley in Nottinghamshire and on the extensive Nottingham sewage farms. These observations revealed that a substantial passage movement of a wide variety of species regularly takes place in the region. The facility with which movements are observed in this district is attributed to the narrowness of the valley and the situation of the sewage farms in its course as a potential feeding and resting ground. The detailed study of these movements was undertaken on the following lines : — (1) The direction and numbers of passing birds were noted at points of observational advantage. (2) A daily census of migrant species was taken. (3) Observations were made in about 40 miles of the valley from the region of Gainsborough, in Lincolnshire, to the Nottinghamshire- Derbyshire border, in order to investigate the extent and direction of any movements. (4) Reports were regularly exchanged with observers at Spurn Head and the Humber mouth and with observers in the counties surrounding the river along its whole course. (5) Frequent visits to the Lincolnshire coast were undertaken, in order to compare the coastal migration with the migration in the Trent Valley. The Course of the River Trent. From its source, in the peaks of Staffordshire, the River Trent runs roughly in a south-east direction to the vicinity of Lichfield, in the south-east of the county. At this point it receives a tributary, the River Anker, and bends sharply to proceed in a north-east direction, through South Derbyshire and South Nottinghamshire to Newark. From Newark the river runs from south to north, along the border of Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire, and terminates in the Humber estuary. The River Anker and a tributary, the River Tame, follow a south to north course from the uplands of Warwickshire, between Birming- ham and Coventry. Another large tributary on the southern side of the Trent is the River Soar, which runs from south to north through Leicestershire and joins the Trent at the Nottinghamshire- Derby shire border. The Loughborough sewage farm is situated 98 BRITISH BIRDS. [vol. xliii. on the Soar, seven miles from its confluence with the Trent, and lies just outside the Trent valley. The Trent is enclosed by a valley as far as Newark, whence it runs out into the Lincolnshire fens. In South Nottinghamshire this valley varies in width from three to six miles, its wooded slopes attain a height of 250-300 ft. and enclose typical water meadow, the 1,400 acre sewage farm, a chain of gravel pits and some natural marsh. Migrants and Movements in the Trent Valley A total of 126 species of migrant birds has been recorded from the district during the years under observation. Of this number 93 species have occurred regularly, many in extremely large numbers, and the remainder have been recorded as rare vagrants or are of irregular occurence. The study of the movements of these birds is complicated by the several types taking place; it is quite certain that both emigration of British summer residents and passage migration of foreign birds take place on a large scale, but there are in addition local movements of British birds which are more or less confined to the British Isles, and other movements which cannot be adequately explained. Two phases of the emigration of summer residents are witnessed in the valley, the exodus of local and district birds and the through movement of birds presumably of more northern origin. Local birds, predominantly birds of the year, gather on the sewage farms prior to a general exodus. It is fortunate that this exodus takes place in the early part of the passage season, principally in July and August, since later movements of the same species can then be seen to be birds of more distant origin. The principal examples of species in this category are : — Yellow Wagtail {Motacilla /lava flavisstma) , Whinchat (Saxicola rubetra), hirundines. Swift {Apus apus), Black- headed Gull {Larus ridibundus) . In addition to the species men- tioned above. Starlings {Sturnus vulgaris) begin to gather on the sewage farms in late June and build up in numbers to reach a figure of many thousands in early July. An exodus of these birds from the district takes place in the latter half of J uly and early August and this might be assumed to be due to emigration if it were not that ringing records indicate that most British Starlings do not emigrate. The disappearance of the large flocks coincides with a passage of birds through the valley (c/. p. 99) and, again, these might be supposed to be Continental immigrants, a conclusion which might appear to gain support from the occurence with them of small numbers of Rose-coloured Starlings {Pastor roseus) in 1945 and 1946. However, as there is in fact no evidence of immigration from the Continent until September-October, the transient flocks in late summer must also be assumed to be of British origin. Movement of summer residents through the valley is often difficult or impossible to distinguish from passage migration of the same species from abroad, so that only forms which are more or less con VOL. XLiii.J MIGRATION IN THE TRENT VALLEY. 99 fined to the British Isles, e.g., Pied Wagtail [Motacilla alha yarrellii) , and the species noted to be moving before the observed period of immigration from the Continent can be definitely assumed to be prospective emigrants. However, it is probable, if not certain, that movements observed taking place in an easterly direction are of emigrant birds, since a regular movement toward the east coast would seem unlikely in the case of passage migrants ; all species which have been observed travelling in this direction have been those common in the British Isles, and all movements of undoubted passage migrants have been observed to take place in a westerly direction. Movements of emigrants take place predominantly in a south- west direction, but both south-westerly and easterly movements of hirundines. Swifts and gulls occur regularly and often simultaneously. For the reasons mentioned above it is assumed that these easterly movements are of British birds rather than passage birds from abroad. The precise direction of such movements is most commonly S.S.E., but movements due east are also observed with some regularity. In August, 1947, a N.N.E. movement of hirundines and gulls was observed which continued for three weeks although weather con- ditions were variable. This movement, an apparent reversal of the normal, may have been an instance of the so-called ‘ Ruclczug ’ or reversed migration described by Continental observers, for example that of White Wagtails {Motacilla a. alba) and Chaffinches {Fringilla codebs) observed by Haartman, Bergman and Koskimies (1946) in Finland. After further study these observers were able to suggest that some migrants, while still not distant from their starting point, suffered a loss of the migration impulse and consequently returned, and further, that the outward movement occurred early in the morning so that it was not readily observed. The migration of Continental passage birds probably always takes place in a south-westerly direction, since all passage movements observed have taken place in this direction with the possible excep- tion of the westerly movements of Sky-Larks {Alauda arvensis) and Carrion Crows {Corvus corone), where it is uncertain whether the movement is one of local character, emigration or passage migration. Tabulation of all the species of migrants and detailed description of their movements is beyond the scope of the present paper; brief notes only of the more numerous and interesting species are given: — Carrion Crow (Corvus corone). A marked east to west movement, which may be an immigration of continental birds, is frequently noted in September and October. Starling (Sturnus vulgaris). As previously noted (p. 98) large numbers gather on the farms prior to an exodus in late July and early August and a strong movement through the valley, apparently of British birds, is noted in late July and August. Smaller numbers which move through the valley in late September and October might be considered continental birds. Finches. An influx of Greenfinches (Chloris chloris), Goldfinches (Carduelis carduehs) and Linnets {Carduelis cannabina) occurs in mid-September and 100 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XLIII. early October, and movements of these species have been noted in both south- westerly and westerly directions. These movements are presumably local since immigration of Greenfinches from the Continent is not recorded until the second week of October, though the movement of Goldfinches and Linnets does correspond with immigration on the East Coast. A large influx of Chaffinches (Fringtlla coelebs) occurs in late September corresponding with immigration on the East Coast. Reed-Bunting [Emberiza schceniclus) . Strong movement is shown by th<‘ rapidly fluctuating numbers which appear in late September. The origin of the movement is doubtful since at this period both passage migration and southerly movement of British birds might be expected. Sky-Lark {Alauda arvensis). Very large numbers pass through the valley in late September and throughout October. This movement is readily witnessed; parties of birds, if alighting, remain for a short time only, whilst the majority of birds pass straight over, either singly or in small parties rarely consisting of more than 20-30 birds. The movement takes place predominantly in a south-west direction, but in October a westerly movement is constantly observed in addition. These movements probably consist of both emigration and passage migration although it is impossible to separate the two. Some movements have been shown to coincide very closely with movement on the East Coast. Meadow-Pipit [Arithus pratensis). Small numbers are frequently noted in late .\ugust, but very large movements occur in September and October. There are usually two, often three, marked waves during this period, but in October movement tends to become continuous. The small numbers of birds occurring in August can be considered to be a southward movement of British birds, since immigration from abroad does not occur until early September, and this may suggest that later movements are also of British birds although they may well be greatly augmented by passage birds. Water-Pipits {Anthus s. spinoletta) occasionally occur among parties which alight in October. As in the case of the Sky-Lark some movements are closely related with movement on the East Coast and in particular at Spurn Head. Yellow Wagtail (Motacilla fiava flavissima). Numbers often reaching several thousands gather in the sewage farms prior to their exodus in late J uly and early August, and very large numbers pass through the valley between the third week of August and late September. Actual overhead movement of this species is not commonly witnessed on a large scale and the extent of the migration is determined by the numbers of birds on the farms. Movement of this species is readily arrested by strong south-westerly winds. Pied Wagtail {Motacilla alba yarrellii). Movements of this form occur in September and October. White Wagtail {Motacilla a. alba). The extreme difficulty of differentiating this subspecies from the Pied Wagtail in autumn prevents any accurate determination of the movement, but when sufficient time has been available to attempt the identification it has been discovered so commonly that much of the movement considered to be of Pied Wagtails may in reality be of this race. Warblers. Willow-Warblers {Phylloscopus trochilus), Chifichaffs [Phyllo- scopus collybita) and Wood-Warblers {Phylloscopus sibilatrix) occur in small numbers throughout September. Sedge-Warblers {Acrocephalus schasnobanus) and Whitethroats {Sylvia commuyiis) pass through the sewage farms in some numbers from mid-August to mid-September. It is impossible to say what proportion, if any, of these birds are passage migrants. Wheatear {CEnanthe ce. oenanthe). Small numbers are observed during August and September. Occasional Greenland Wheatears {Q£nanthe oe. leucorrhoa) are noted at the end of September and early October. Common Redstart {Phcenicurus phcenicurus). Small numbers are noted in the hedgerows in late August and September. Black Redstarts {Phcenicurus ochrurus) have twice been observed in early September coincident with the influx of the former species. VOL. xmi.] MIGRATION IN THE TRENT VALLEY. lOI Whinchat {Saxicola rubetra). Large, transient concentrations occurring in J uly and early August are assumed to be of local birds since their appearance is coincident with their disappearance from the surrounding breeding haunts. A second influx occurs in late August and continue? until the second or third week of September. At least two peak periods occur, one at the end of August and a second in early September, during which time numbers may be very large, as on September 4th, 1946, when over 200 were counted over an area of approximately two acres. The later movements correspond very closely with those at Spurn Head, Yorks. Robin (Erithacus rubecula). Influxes are frequently observed in September. Swallow {Hirundo rustica). It is impossible to separate passage movements from emigration although both may occur. Typically the direction of flight is south-west but there is a strong south-east movement, presumably of emigrants, in September. Movement taking place in a south-west direction in late August and September often corresponds with that at Spurn Head. House-Martin (Delichon urhica). Large scale movements taking place in September reach a maximum at the end of that month. The direction of movement is constantly south-west. Sand-Martin {Riparia ripana). Large south-west movements occur occasionally in late August, though more regularly in the first three weeks of September. Easterly movements have also been noted. Swift (Apus apus). Large numbers collecting over the sewage farms in late June and July leave the district in the second and third weeks of July. Large numbers move south-west through the valley during August and smaller numbers continue in early September. Two peak periods, one in early August and the other in mid- August, are generally noted. Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus). Movement of relatively large numbers takes place between the second week of August and the second week of September, corresponding with that at Spurn Head. It is not infrequent, at this period, to see a Cuckoo sitting on each post of a line of fencing, bordering a sewage area, whilst others drop on to insects from the hedgerows in the manner of shrikes. Although the great majority are birds of the year, adults are frequentl}" noted. Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) . A relatively strong movement is observed in late August and September parties of from three to seven are frequently seen moving in a south-west direction. These birds are noticeably large and dark in comparison with the local residents. Heron (Ardea cinerea). A transient influx is noted in late August and September. The origin of these birds is uncertain, but it might be supposed that it is a' southerly passage of British birds. Garganey (Anas querquedula) . Variable numbers up to 30 and 40 in late -\ugust and September are greater than can be accounted for by the breeding stock so that some movement is indicated. Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula) . Transient birds in September may represent a southward movement of British birds or may be Continental immigrants. Common Scoter (Melanitta nigra). This species has been recorded a number of times in September and October in the absence of severe weather conditions and has even been seen on the shallow sewage pools. It is possible that an overland movement from the east to west coasts may occur since they are recorded frequently in many Midland localities. Black-tailed Godwit (Limosa limosa). A rather erratic visitor to the farms in late July, August and September. Noted only in small numbers, easterly winds seem to favour their appearance. Curlew (Numenius arquata). Early movements are noted in late July and early August. Large movements occur in the latter half of August and through- out September, with maximum numbers in early September. Movement of this species is often observed readily, for although large numbers alight on the farms, the majority, flying low, continue down the valley, succeeding flocks, rarely consisting of more than 30-50 birds, passing over the sewage farms, at varying intervals, along the same line of flight. 102 BRITISH BIRDS. [voi.. xr.iii. VVhimrrel {Numenius phcBoptis). Small numbers are frequent among passing flocks of Curlew ; otherwise this species is seen irregularly from late J uly to October. Larger movements in which Curlew are in the minority have been noted occasionally, e.g., about 200 were noted passing south-west, low over the sewage farms, on August 8th, 1944 ; three large flights were heard passing over Nottingham in the late evening on September 26th, 1946. The very frequent association of the two species may support a conclusion that many of the Curlew are passage migrants. Common Snipe (Capella gallinago). Small numbers arrive on the sewage farms in the last week of July, but in August very large, rapidly fluctuating numbers are noted and figures of 500 and 800 are commonly estimated. These birds are flushed in wisps often consisting of 30 to 50 birds; they fly around in close order before dropping again, but sometimes move straight off up the valley. Similar large numbers are observed in September, but during this month movement reaches its height and large numbers may be seen passing south-west, particularl}' in the evenings, when small parties and single birds are observed moving up the valley on a broad front. Turnstone {Arenaria interpres). Small numbers of adult birds are regularly noted on the sewage farms in late July and birds of the year frequently occur in small numbers during late August and early September. In some years, particularly when east winds are predominant, much larger numbers occur. Knot {Calidris canutus). Small numbers occur regularly between July and October, but in some years the numbers are much larger. Dunlin {Calidris alpina). Fluctuating numbers occur during July, August and September; those in July are predominantly adult birds, while in late August and September juveniles are more common. Birds which have been observed leaving the sewage farms as well as those seen flying over were taking a south-west course. In some j'^ears when Curlew-Sandpipers have been excep- tionally numerous, the invasion of this species has coincided with a marked diminution of the numbers of Dunlin when this species might have been expected to be numerous. It may be that the sewage farms can only support a certain number of small waders for feeding purposes at any one time. It has been noted that flocks of Dunlin on the sewage farms are of remarkably limited size, usually consisting of between 30 and 60 birds, and very rarely larger, although several such flocks may be on different parts of the farms at the same time ; thus a flock of Dunlin seen on a particular pool, on succeeding days, has frequently been assumed at first sight to be the same because the number of birds was approximately the same, but on closer scrutiny they have some- times been recognized as different birds. Curlew-Sandpiper [Calidris testacea). Very small numbers of adult birds are noted in late July and August and small numbers of juveniles occur in late August and September. Periodically large numbers occur, e.g., in 1943 numbers reached a figure of 66 ; in 1946 numbers rose to 144. Little Stint [Calidris minuta). Passage movements are usually coincident and in proportion with the passage of Curlew-Sandpiper, though the numbers of birds are smaller. Temminck’s Stint [Calidris temminckii) . Small numbers occur very regularly between the third week of July and the second week of August, usually in parties of two or three, but flocks of seven, nine and fifteen have been recorded. Ruff [Philo-, nachus pugnax). Relatively large numbers are noted on the sewage farms from July to October with maximum numbers in August and September. An influx of birds which remain to winter occurs in October. Common Sandpiper [Actitis hypoleucos). This species is noted in fluctuating numbers from early July to mid-September; up to 100 are frequently counted in a day during August. Large numbers of birds frequently alight on the farms just before dusk, but do not remain until the following morning. Wood-Sandpiper [Tringa glareola). Small numbers frequently occur in association with the onset of easterly winds from late July to mid-September. Green Sandpiper [Tringa ochropus). Occurs in fairly large numbers between early July and the end of September although the peak period is in VOL. XLiii.J MIGRATION IN THE TRENT VALLEY. 103 late July and early August. Birds have been seen to leave the sewage farms in a south-west direction. Spotted Redshank {Tringa erythropus). Small numbers occur between mid-August and early October and odd birds and small parties have frequently been seen passing south-west along the valley during this period. Greenshank (Tringa nebularia). Movement of adults occurs in late July' and early August, and of young birds from late August to the third week of September. Birds have been observed passing south-west. Ringed Plover (Charadrius hiaticula). Movement occurs during August and early September. Birds have been observed to come in to the farms from the north-east and leave to the south-west. Lapwing {Vanellus vanellus). Small numbers moving south-west in August and early September probably represent a southward movement of British birds or emigration. A very large influx and strong overhead movement normally occurs in mid-September and continues throughout October. Sub- sequent movements are irregular and cannot be separated from weather movements. Black Tern (Chlidonias niger). Small numbers regularly pass through the valley between early August and the third week of September. In some years exceptionally large numbers occur and birds can be seen constantly coming into and leaving the farms. On two occasions White-winged Black Terns {Chlidonias leucopterus) have been noted coincident with large movements of Black Terns. Sandwich Tern {Sterna sandvicensis) . Regularly seen over the sewage farms in very small numbers, but on September i8th, 1944, a total of 54 was counted passing up the Trent in the space of an hour. Common and Arctic Terns {Sterna hirundo and Sterna macrura). Both species have been observed passing along the Trent Valley, butthe identification is not usually made. A strong movement of terns occurs during August and early' September. Little Gull {Larus minutus). Odd birds and small numbers are regularly seen during August and September. Black-headed Gull {Larus ridibundus) . Large numbers pass south-west along the valley from mid-August to the third week of October, maximum numbers being noted in September. The origin of the movement is uncertain. British Lesser Black-backed Gull {Larus fuscus grcellsU). Strong movements of this species are noted between early July and late October, and small numbers are noted at the extremes of this period. The largest numbers both of resting birds and birds moving straight through the valley are observed in August and September. In July and August a large proportion of birds are seen passing south-east or even due east, but this movement declines and is replaced by a strong south-west movement in late August, September and October. Small numbers, up to 20 recorded, of the Scandinavian race {Larus f. fuscus) occur regularly in September and October. Migration Routes The movements of migrants in the Trent Valley have been shown to take place in three general directions, viz. : — the majority of passage migrants and many emigrants travel in a south-west direction along the valley : a large number of birds, presumably emigrants move in an easterly direction ; a few species, i.e., Carrion Crows, Sky-Larks and finches, move from east to west. No attempt has been made to trace the latter two movements. It is thought that the easterly movement is an emigration to the East Coast and the westerly movement of birds which winter in Wales and Ireland. The south-west movement is very constant and appears to follow a definite route. An attempt has therefore been made to trace it. 104 BRITISH BIRDS. [vOL. XLIII. Information concerning passage movements on the South York- shire coast and Spurn Head has been received from G. H. Ainsworth. Migrants striking the Yorkshire coast at Flamborough Head pass inland on a south-west course and reach the north bank of the Humber opposite the vicinity of the Trent mouth. Migrants reaching the Yorkshire coast south of Flamborough Head travel along the coast in a south-east direction, then along the Spurn peninsula in a south-south-west direction to cross the mouth of the Humber and reach the North Lincolnshire coast. Some migrants striking the Spurn peninsula cut across it and move south-west over the Humber to reach the North Lincolnshire coast. These notes suggest that migrants may reach the Trent Valley by two routes, one arising at Flamborough Head, crossing the East Riding to the Trent mouth and thence up the Trent, and another] arising on the North Lincolnshire coast and passing through North Lincolnshire to reach the Trent in the south-east of Nottinghamshire, i.e., a direct south-west route. In support of a movement up the Trent from the Humber, observations made by R. Chislett from September 9th to September 12th, 1945, showed that some migration up the Trent could be seen at the Trent mouth, although during the period of his observation at least, it was very slight. Observations along the Trent between Gainsborough and Newark showed that movement could be observed on a fairly large scale all along the river. It is not to be expected that movement should be observed on the scale of that in the narrow part of the Trent valley enclosing the sewage farms. Comparison of migration notes from Spurn Head and the Trent Valley shows a very remarkable similarity in respect of the move- ments of some species as shown in the following table : — Table i.— Comparison of Passage Notes from Spurn Head and the Trent Valley, Autumn, 1946. Species Passage at Spurn Head Passage in the Trent Valley Carrion Crow (Corvus corona) Very small numbers seen from September i4th-24th. Large numbers present in late September. Marked east-west passage in the latter half of September. Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) Numerous from June 6th until August 14th. Very numerous in June. July and August. Chaffinch {Fringilla coelebs) Small numbers present from August ist to September 27th. Numerous subse- quently. A large influx was noted in late September. Yellow Bunting (Emberiza citrinella) Small numbers present from early September. Small numbers appeared in the Valley from early September. VOL. XLiii.] MIGRATION IN THE TRENT VALLEY. 105 Table i. — Continued. Species Passage at Spurn Head Passage in the Trent Valley Sky-Lark {Alauda arvensis) An influx was noted from August 19th, became num- erous from September 9th- 1 9th. Large numbers noted from September 2ist-October 4th. Small numbers noted from September 6th - nth. Numerous September nth- 2 4th. Very large movement noted in late September and early October. Tree-Pipit {A nthus trivialis) Seen on August 31st and September 2nd. Odd birds noted in early September. Meadow-Pipit {A nthus pratensis) Small numbers passing Aug. 3ist-Sept. jth. Numerous from Sept. 6th-8th, very- small numbers from Sept. 9th-iith. Very numerous Sept. 13 th- 19th. Subse- quently numerous. Small numbers noted Aug. 3 ist-September 9th then smaller numbers until Sept. 13th when a very large movement com- menced lasting until October. Again very numerous from October 8 th- 1 4th. Yellow Wagtail (Motacilla flava flavissima) Small numbers seen from Aug. i8th to Sept. 9th. Passage movements on a large scale in August and September, not related to Spurn notes. Pied Wagtail {Motacilla alba yarrellii) Small numbers noted bet- ween September 12th and September 27th. Sub- sequently very small numbers. Numerous in September and October. Pied Flycatcher (Muscicapa hypoleuca) Odd birds noted between August 31st and Sept. 30th. Seen on August 28 th, Sept. 4th, Sept. nth. Wood-Warbler (Phyiloscopus sihilatrix) Odd birds noted from Aug. 3ist-September 8th. Recorded on August 27th, Sept. 4th, Sept. 9th. Sedge -Warbler [A crocephalus schaenobtenus) Very small numbers noted between August 12th and September 7th. Very small numbers moving from mid-August to mid-September. Whitethroat {Sylvia communis) Small numbers noted bet- ween August 12th and September 15 th. Small numbers noted bet- ween mid-August and mid-September. Wheatear {(Enanthe as. asnanthe) Numerous from Aug. 12th- 14th. Small numbers from August 31st to Oct. jth. Noted August nth, 29th and 31st, September 4th, 8 th and 14th. Greenland Wheatear {CEnanthe ce. leucorrhoa) Seen on September 20th. Seen on September 23 th and October 6th. 106 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XU II. Table i. — Continued. Species Passage at Spurn Head Pas.sage in the Trent Valley VVhinchat (Saxicola rubetra) Numerous from Aug. 31st to September 2nd. Small numbers from Sept. 3rd to 9th and small numbers from Sept. 14th to 26th. l.arge numbers Aug. 31st to September 4th. Num- erous Sept. 5th to Sej)t. 14th (no subsequent information). Kobin (Erithacus rubecula) Odd birds noted from Sept. 15th. Influxes noted on Sejit. 12th and 2jth. Swallow {Hirundo rustica) Numerous on Aug. 7, ist and again Sept. loth. Small numbers passing Sept. 1 5th and 16th. Small flocks occasionally noted subse- quently. Numerous from Aug. 28th to Sept. ist. Numerous subsequently. Mouse-Martin (Delichon urbica) Small parties noted from Sept. 19th to 25th. A large movement occurred on Sept. 26th and 27th. Small numbers passing in August. Very large numbers Aug. 31st to Sept. 6th. Large numbers at the end of September. Sand-Martin {Riparia riparia) Slight movement noted bet- ween Sept. 15th and 23rd. Large movements in J uly and August. Large movement Sept. i6th to 25th. Swift (Apus apus) Continuous strong passage June 28th and again Aug. iith to 13th. Spasmodic subsequentlj-. Very large movements in late July, Aug. ist and 2nd, and Aug. iith to 14th. Small numbers subsequently. Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) Numerous on Aug. i ith and 1 2th. Small numbers Aug. 16th to 20th. Ver)' numerous Aug. nth to 14th. Numerous Aug. 15 th to 26th. Small numbers until Sept. 9th. Kestrel [Falco tinnunculus) Birds noted from Aug. 31st. Maximum 12 seen on September 23th. Birds moving through at the end of August. Maximum numbers Aug. 31st. Numerous in Sept. Sandwich Tern [Sterna sandvicensis) Small numbers from Aug. 3 ist to Sept. 1 6th. Noted Aug. 31st and September 2nd. Common or Arctic Tern [Sterna hirundo or macrura) Passage from Aug. i6th to September ist. Maximum numbers Aug. 3 ist. Second movement from Sept. 14th to 2 ist. Small numbers moving throughout August with a large movement on August 29th. Small numbers passing in Sept. • Little Tern [Sterna albifrons) Movement noted from Aug. 12th to September 6th. Three seen August 14th. VOL. XLiii. 1 MIGRATION IN THE TRENT VALLEY. 107 Table i. — Continued. Species Passage at Spurn Head Passage in the Trent Valley Black-headed Gull {Larus yidibundus) Numerous from Sept. 9th to 12th. Large movements in Aug. Large movement Sept. 3rd to 1 6th. British Lesser Black-backed Gull {Larus fuscus grcellsii) Small numbers noted Aug. 8tli to 2ist, and Sept. 2nd and 3rd. Numerous in July and August. Large movement Aug. 25th to 28th. Large movement Sept. 2nd to 4th. Numerous subse- quently. In the above table the great similarity of movements in the two regions is shown. At certain periods the passage of Sky-Lark, Meadow-Pipit, Whinchat, Swallow, Swift and Cuckoo corre- sponds exactly and is obviously part of the same movement, whereas movements of other species compare closely but less exactly, while movements of Yellow Wagtail and some movements of hirundines, and gulls in the Trent Valley are not represented at all at Spurn Head. Movements occurring in the Trent Valley but not at Spurn might be assumed to be emigrations. It may be argued that com- parison of notes from any two migration stations or areas would show similarity since migrants may be assumed to be on the move all over the country at approximately the same time ; however it is doubtful whether they would show such exact correlation as those quoted above, and in fact, as an isolated instance, notes of migration made at Gibraltar Point, at the entrance to the Wash, on September 15th, 1946, showed that the migration of Carrion Crow, Sky-Lark, Meadow-Pipit, Whinchat, Sand-Martin and Kestrel, which was coincident on that day at Spurn Head and the Trent Valley, was not represented at Gibraltar Point, although other species, namely Wheatear, Robin and terns, were coincident at Gibraltar Point and Spurn yet not represented in the Trent Valley. In view of the observed facts that some migrants pass over the Spurn Peninsula on a south-west flight and that this flight if con- tinued in the same direction would reach the Trent Valley ; that migration in the Trent Valley occurs principally in a south-west direction and this line if traced back would pass through the Humber Mouth ; that there is indeed a very close coincidence of some movements at Spurn and the Trent Valley, it may be inferred that much of the Trent Valley migration arises in the vicinity of the Humber Mouth. On three occasions in 1947, August 19th, August 25th and August 28th, while the author was travelling between Lincoln and Wragby, a south-west movement of Yellow Wagtails, Swallows, Sand- Martins, Black-headed and Lesser Black-backed Gulls was noted. This movement was on a small scale, but was widespread and con- spicuous over the flat country, and if continued would have reached 108 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XLIII. the Trent Valley, where it was known that a movement of the same species was in progress. These observations again lend support to the theory of a south-west route across North Lincolnshire reaching the Trent Valley. The south-west movement of migrants through the Trent Valley in Nottinghamshir e, if continued in this direction, would be expected to proceed through South Derbyshire and in point of fact Whitlock (1893) did observe a south-west passage in this region and was the first to postulate a south-west passage through the Trent Valley, a movement which is still noted by present-day observers. Con- tinuing their southward flight, migrants must leave the Trent Valley in the vicinity of Lichfield, where the Trent flows from the north, and pass into Warwickshire or South Staffordshire, probably eventually reaching the River Severn. Many observers have postulated a migration route connecting the Trent and Severn river valleys, and their observations have lent considerable support to this view. The Bittell reservoirs to the south-west of Birmingham have for some time been known to attract large numbers of migrants H. G. Alexander in a paper read to the Birmingham Natural History Society, 1929, stated : “ The frequency with which migrants visit the Bittell reservoirs, suggests that some fairly well marked migration route passes near them. This is rather surprising since the reser- voirs are on high ground about equidistant from the Severn and Avon valleys, but they are close to the Trent-Severn Canal,” and again, ” I have seen gulls, pipits, swallows, etc., following along the Lickey Ridge both north and south, but I have not actually seen any passage east or west along the watershed ridge.” He draws the conclusion from these observations that birds are attracted to the reservoirs from various minor routes. It wiU be seen, however, that these observations are consistent with a passage on the pro- longation of the Trent Valley route to the Severn. Jourdain and Witherby (1910), discussing more particularly the South Staffordshire reservoirs, concluded, ” that there is a far larger and more regular stream of migration between the Trent and Severn than was previously supposed.” Subsequently A. W. Boyd (1923) reached the same conclusion from observation on the Staffordshire reservoirs. He emphasized that, ” though Cheshire waters are much nearer the estuaries and the sea, the number of duck seen on them never approached that of the Staffordshire birds.” Clearly then these Staffordshire localities form an important connecting link between the Trent and Severn and their winter visitors reach them by routes which do not touch Cheshire. In subsequent notes contributed to British Birds over a number of years he has reinforced this view. It is true that a large part of the data in these notes refers to duck and other waterfowl and pre- dominantly to wintering birds, but these only strengthen the evidence here presented by showing that the same route across England is VOL. XLIII.] MIGRATION IN THE TRENT VALLEY. 109 followed by other birds besides the waders and passerine or related species which are chiefly discussed here. It should, however, be noted that Mr. Boyd’s notes also include a number of records of passage waders, which together with more recent records from the same localities published in the reports of the Birmingham Bird Club present the same general picture as those from the Bittell reservoirs already mentioned. It is not, however, to be assumed that the migration in these regions consists solely of birds which have traversed the Trent Valley, but rather that the birds coming down the Trent Valley do indeed cross to the Severn Valley. Many of these migrants may reach the Bristol Channel via the Severn Valley, but the fact that some of the Trent Valley migrants are very rare or of erratic occurrence in the south-west would point to the South Coast as the principal destination of certain species, i.e., Temminck’s Stint, Curlew-Sandpiper and Wood-Sandpiper. There is a possibility that some migrants break off from the Trent Valley and move up the River Soar into Leicestershire since in 1947 a large variety of wading birds was recorded from the Loughborough sewage farm, but unfortunately there was no evidence of the direction in which these migrants were travelling. Informa- tion received from Leicestershire observers, however, has shown no evidence of any marked passage movement in the upper reaches of the Soar Valley and the sewage farm in question is only just outside the confines of the Trent Valley. Some Factors affecting Inland Migration Height of Migration. It has sometimes been asserted that the movement of many species takes place beyond the normal field of vision. This does not imply that migration takes place at a great altitude since the unaided visual field is quite small and consequently it is unlikely that small migrants will be observed when flying at heights above 500 ft. unless directly 'over the observer. During the greater part of the day many species of migrants are indeed only observed with the aid of field-glasses directed skywards. Migration over the area under discussion does, however, take place at a lower altitude at the extremes of the day and under unfavourable weather conditions. Passage becomes much more apparent in the evening before dusk and large numbers of Passeres, ducks and waders alight on the sewage farms at nightfall. Again, in the early morning movements are more readily observed, though there is a period of an hour or more, immediately after dawn, when little or no movement is to be seen. Many species, e.g., pipits, larks, wagtails. Curlew, Snipe, Lapwing, terns and gulls regularly fly over the sewage farms at a low altitude and are conspicuous or easily observed, whilst other species are very rarely observed during actual movement although movement is evident by the large fluctuations in numbers occurring in the valley. That some species do fly at a considerable height was shown by 110 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XLIII. careful observation of Black Terns arriving at and leaving the sewage pools. Black Terns rnay appear over a pool with surprising sud- denness and if watched carefully can be seen to rise quickly and circle rapidly out of sight until they cannot be seen even with the aid of field-glasses. Wind. Passage movements are diversely influenced by the strength and direction of the wind. Weather conditions, in particular the velocity and direction of the wind, are in all probability the predis- posing factors leading to the appearance of large numbers of migrants on a particular day or during a period which is then sometimes assumed to be the peak of passage. Observations of the effect of opposing south-west winds showed that a large hold-up of migrants, particularly of the smaller species, regularly occurs during south-west gales ; that partial or minor hold-ups and low flying migration are seen with strong opposing winds ; that passage tends to progress rapidly and fewer migrants alight when winds are of moderate or low strength. From these observations it is concluded that south- west winds of moderate strength are favourable for migration, but that strong winds tend to retard movement. Similar observations of the effect of following north-east winds on movements showed that strong north-easterly winds have a variable effect on the movement ; either large hold-ups and low flying passage are induced or slight movements are observed only at high altitudes ; with moderate or slight north-east winds numbers of migrants seen are very much smaller than would be expected with opposing winds ; several species of birds only occur with easterly winds and other species occur in larger numbers with these winds. The impression gained from these observations was that a following wind is less favourable to the majority of migrants, though necessary for the local occurrence of some species and that the tendency is to fly above such a wind whenever possible. The occurrence of Black-tailed Godwits, Turnstones, Wood- Sandpipers and possibly other species is related to the onset of easterly winds. The passage of Wood-Sandpipers has been observed specifically in this connexion. Passage of this species occurs between late July and mid-September. Small numbers of Wood-Sandpipers regularly occur on the sewage farms within a few days of the onset of easterl}^ winds, the largest numbers occurring with north-east to east winds. If the wind changes from easterly to westerly during such a movement, the numbers of Wood-Sandpipers slowly decrease. In a year of per- sistent westerl}^ winds there are either no records of the species or single birds are noted at rare intervals. A further effect of the wind on passage migration has been observed. A sudden and complete change of wind direction from one quarter to another causes a marked diminution in the passage movement for a period extending for a few days or a week. This diminution VOL. XLiii.] MIGRATION IN THE TRENT VALLEY. Ill of movement is followed by a renewed movement which often con- sists, in part, of different species. W eather. Apart from the effect of the winds, it was noted that low cloud, heavy mists, fog and heav}^ rain tend to retard movement or pro- duce variations in the height of passage. Low cloud and rain force migrants to fly lower and mist and fog either force birds to alight or cause them to fly higher. Violent thunder storms have variable effects on migration. A large hold-up frequently occurs during a period corresponding to the duration of the storm. On two occasions large numbers of migrant Starlings, Lapwings and gulls were observed to circle and reverse direction coincident with a storm, and on a further occasion a small party of Curlews broke formation during a violent clap of thunder, and scattered in all directions, individual birds flying in widening circles until out of sight. The latter birds gave the impression that they had lost their sense of direction. Summary It is shown that large movements of migratory birds regularly take place through the Trent Valley near Nottingham, during the autumn passage season. These movements are of four kinds, viz : — an exodus of local summer residents, an emigration of summer residents of more distant origin, a passage migration of foreign birds and a local movement of some British resident species. The great majority of these movements occur on a south-westerly flight, but a large number of birds, most proba.bly emigrants, move in an easterly direction, and several species migrate from east to west. It has been inferred that many migrants reach the Trent Valley by at least two main routes. One stream of migration arises on the Yorkshire coast in the region of Flamborough Head, crosses the East Riding to the Humber and then passes up the River Trent to reach the Trent Valley near Newark. Some proportion of migrants reaching Spurn Head cross the Humber Mouth and probably turn inland on the North Lincolnshire coast, then pass over North Lincolnshire towards Lincoln and Newark, thus reaching the Trent Valley by a direct south-west course. The two streams of migrants meet at the mouth of the Trent Valley, pass along the Trent through South Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire, leave the Trent and move through the region of Birmingham and South Staffordshire most probably to the Severn Valley. It may be surmised that the passage continues to the South Coast or the Bristol Channel. The most important of the factors affecting inland migration is the direction and velocity of the wind. Opposing winds unless strong appear to be favourable to the progress of migration, whereas following winds are less favourable to the majority of migrants though apparently necessary for the local occurrence of some specie^ such as the Wood-Sandpiper. 112 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XLIII. In conclusion I should like to thank the following observers for their valuable information, advice and co-operation : — G. Alexander, C. H. Ainsworth, Ralph Chislett, A. E. Jolley, C. A. Norris, J. Staton, and members of the Trent Valley Bird Watchers Club. I am also greatly indebted to Mr. B. W. Tucker and Mr. W. B. Alexander for their keen criticism and valuable suggestions during the writing of this paper. REFERENCES. Alexander^ H. G. (1929). Proc. Birmingham Nat. Hist. Soc., Vol. xv, pt. viii, pp. 197-212. Boyd, A. W. (1923). " Notes from Staffordshire.” British Birds, Vol. xvii, pp. 139-142. Haartman, L., Bergman, G., and Koskimies, J. (1946). ” Beobachtungen fiber umschlagende Zugrichtung der Bachstelze, motacilla a. alba L., um Herbet.” Orn. Fennica, 23, pp. 30-62. JouRDAiN, F. C. R. and Witherby, H. F. (1910). ” Recent records from Staffordshire, Warwickshire and Worcestershire.” British Birds, Vol. iv, pp. 104-112. Lack, D. (1930). " Migration on the Cambridge Sewage Farm,” Sri/. Vol. xxiv, pp. 145-154. Riviere, B. B. (1930). A History of the Birds of Norfolk. W'hitlock, F. B. (1893). The Birds of Derbyshire. Whittaker, J. (1909). Notes on the Birds of Nottinghamshire. Witherby, H. F. et al. (1938-41). The Handbook of British Birds. The annual reports of ornithological societies in the following counties and districts : Derbyshire ; Burton-on-Trent ; Leicestershire ; Rugby School ; Warwickshire, Worcestershire and South Staffordshire ; Yorkshire. STUDIES OF SOME SPECIES RARELY PHOTOGRAPHED. XXV. THE PURPLE SANDPIPER. Photographed by OhOF Swanberg, G. K. Yeates and C. G. UES Forges. (Plates 18 — 25). The Purple Sandpiper [Calidris maritima), a regular winter visitor to rocky coasts of the British Isles, breeds in the high North of Europe, Asia and America, including Greenland, as well as in Iceland and the Faeroes. In the south of its range in Europe it is found breeding only on the higher fells and mountains, but in the more northerly regions it nests from sea-level. In the Swedish high mountains, where Mr. Swanberg’s ])hotographs were taken, it has only been recognized as a regular breeding bird in compara- tively recent years (see Swanberg, Fauna och Flora, 1945, pp. 108-169, with English summary). Here it frequents barren, stony plateaux in the neighbourhood of small lakes (Plate 18). The actual localities where the photographs were taken were the vicinity VOL. XLiii.] SPECIES RARELY PHOTOGRAPHED. 113 of Lake Vuorekjaure (66° lo'), at about i,ooo metres above sea-level, and the plateau of Luottolako, about 1,300 metres high, in the National Park of Sarek (67° 10-13'). As a winter visitor in Britain the Purple Sandpiper is often surprisingly tame and this is also true of some birds on the breeding ground, where, however, behaviour varies considerably in this respect. Many individuals will permit approach within a yard or two when sitting, and when flushed they usually run off the nest with a characteristic distraction display in which the bird runs off in a crouching posture with back arched, wings drooped and fluttering, looking extraordinarily like a rat, the drooped and rapidly moving wings producing an effect oddly like the hind legs, of a retreating small mammal when seen from behind (c/. Duffey, Creasey and Williamson, Ibis, 1950, pp. 27-33.) Both sexes incubate, but the bird which is not sitting generally remains far from the nest and has very little contact with the sitting bird. “ After the hatching of the eggs,” writes Mr. Swanberg, ‘‘ the behaviour of the birds is quite changed. After the young ones are taken away from the nest, the watching old bird reveals its presence by a laughing ‘ kry-hi-hi-hi-hi ’ and other sounds even at a distance of 30 — 40 metres and shows itself openly and without ‘ injury-feigning.’ At this time it often likes to sit watching on stones as in the photograph ” (Plate 18). There is some variation in plumage and Mr. Yeates’s photograph shows a notably dark and uniformly coloured bird contrasting quite markedly with the other examples figured. Mr. des Forges’s successful photograph of a Purple Sandpiper in England in winter was taken at Newhaven, Sussex, on November 20th, 1948. NOTES. [The Editors regret that for reasons outside their control there has been some disorganization in the proper sequence of publication of Notes in relation to the dates when they were received. This may affect one or more further numbers to a small extent, but it is hoped will not recur.] COURTSHIP FEEDING OF JACKDAW. With reference to the note on this subject {antea, vol. xHi, p. 327), I saw a Jackdaw {Corvus monedula) twice insert food into the bill of its mate on April 20th, 1947, at Llandudno. The recipient crouched, with fluttering wings, and called each time after receiving the food ; the first time a triple call, ” chik-yak-chik,” the second a single " yak.” S. Cramp. With reference to Mr. A. A. Wright’s note {antea, vol. xlii, p. 327), on courtship feeding of Jackdaw {Corvus monedula), it may be of interest to record that I observed similar behaviour on April 25th, 114 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XLIII. 1946, near Market Rasen, Lines. 1 quote from my note written at the time : “ To-day I saw what I take to have been courtship feeding by a pair of Jackdaws. It was neither preceded nor followed by any form of display and was over very quickly, one bird simply walking up to the other, feeding it and then botli continuing to forage among the grass, as they had been doing previously. There was no show of excitement or apparent soliciting by the fed bird, though her (?) posture at the actual moment of feeding (breast al- most touching the ground ; head held back, pointing vertically upwards with beak wide open ; wings drooped) was reminiscent of the young bird ; but it seemed to be in response to and not in solicitation of the offer of food.” I was more fortunate than Mr. Wright in that, being in a telephone kiosk at the time, I was able to watch the birds for some time both before and after the incident (which was not repeated) without their being aware of my presence. It \vould appear possible that because of its brevity and the absence of any associated display, the form of behaviour may be overlooked and may in fact be more common than the absence of records indicates. R. K. Cornwallis. [We have received a number of similar reports, of which the following is a summary Date Feb. loth, 1949 13th, 1947 6th, 1948 14th, 1949 Feb. Mar. Apr. Observer J. C. Felton. W. G. Teagle. D. & M. Summers-Smith May 8th, 1946 Locality Tonbridge, Kent Kensington Gardens Aldermaston, Berks (3 pairs) Sunninghill, Berks John Ash. Kenilworth, Warwicks G. Beven. Most observers stress the relative lack of accompanying display, though in most cases the female was seen to adopt a begging atti- tude with wings and tail fluttering. The feeding observed by Mr. and Mrs. Summers-Smith took place in silence, but Mr. Felton records that beforehand ‘‘ both birds started calling simultaneously ” and that the female placed her beak inside the male’s. In most cases feeding was seen to take place several times in fairly quick succession. A record of courtship feeding in autumn is published separately— Eds.] JACKDAWS IN PAIRS AND COURTSHIP FEEDING IN OCTOBER. About 15.30 on October 31st, 1949 — a cold day, but fine— I noticed eleven Jackdaws (Corvus monedula) feeding in a grass- field near Cranborne, Dorset. There were four pairs, each some yards from the next, and three birds spaced out singly. The two in each pair were only a few inches to a foot or two apart. There was a certain amount of coming and going between the part of the field under observation and adjacent fields, during the few minutes 1 was able to watch them, making it impossible to follow all that occurred. One pair flew off together, followed at a short distance VOL XLIII.J NOTES. 116 by a single bird. When I first saw them, the presumed female (B) of a pair AB was begging food from A, crouching with wings partly opened and fluttering, just like a fledgling begging food from its parent. This behaviour met with no apparent response until its third and rather more persistent repetition, when A thrust his bill downwards between the open mandibles of B’s upturned bill. Whether food was actually offered or transferred, I could not see. The pair then resumed feeding close together as if nothing had happened. Soon afterwards, a bird X was seen flying and then hopping aggressively towards a pair CD, having apparently come from some fifteen yards away near where another (Y) remained feeding. D took no part in the short encounter between C and X which followed, with mutual hopping and posturing but no actual blows. X was repulsed and hopped in apparent anger, with feathers erect, a yard or two away to where another Jackdaw (Z) was standing motionless. X seemed about to attack Z, but at the last moment hopped right over her (?) and began to feed a few inches from her. Z remained like a statue for several seconds longer before also resuming feeding. XZ then behaved as a pair and gradually separated from CD, leaving Y still alone. I then had to discontinue observations. My inter- pretation of X's behaviour was that Z was his mate, that he had wandered some way from her, perhaps attracted by Y, when he noticed that CD were feeding close to Z, whereupon he attacked C, was repulsed, and almost vented his anger on Z, whose immobility may have prevented such inappropriate action. This is earlier than the instances of autumn sexual behaviour in the Jackdaw summarized by A. Morley [Ibis, 1943, p. 139) and of autumn pairing recorded by R. A. Hinde [antea, vol. xl, p. 246). K. B. Rooke. BATHING BEHAVIOUR OF GREENFINCH AND LINNET. During the 1948 breeding season, Eric Hosking and I erected a hide tent by a streamside, at a spot where many species of birds came to bathe. Whilst I was making observations there on June 23rd, a House-Sparrow {Passer domesticus) began to bathe, and for a while had the stream to itself. Eventually a Greenfinch [Chloris Moris) came along and deliberately alighted on the head of the House- Sparrow, ducking the latter bird completely under water. The Greenfinch hovered a second to allow the Sparrow to fly away and then dropped into the little pool and in its turn began to bathe. Hardly was this incident over when a Linnet {Carduelis cannabina) flew down, perched on the head of the Greenfinch for a couple of seconds, then alighted alongside and joined in the bathing. George Edwards. ALTERNATIVE CALL OF CHAFFINCH. The notes on this subject by P. P. L. Stevenson {antea, vol. xl, p. 248 and xlii, p. 55), and I. J. Ferguson-Lees {antea, vol. xli. 116 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XLIII. P- 273), prompt me to record similar calls heard in 1948 in my garden at Cowley, Oxford, several times in April, more often in May, but only once in the first week of June. Four pairs of Chaffinches {Fringilla ccelebs) nested in the vicinity and the birds fed regularly in the garden. The male often uttered this call from a tree some twelve feet from my bedroom window. This call was heard only in the early morning between sunrise and 7.15, and I would describe it as “ tsweep-sweee-ee-ee,” and a long drawn-out “ sssweeee ” very much like the call of the Greenfinch {Chlorts chloris). The “ pink-pink ” call was heard both before and after, but this may have been a confusion of two birds, since more than one was observed when this usual call was uttered. On one occasion the call was more vigorous ; going to the window 1 saw another male fly into the tree and the “ pink " call was uttered immediately by both birds. Greenfinches are common in this locality, but there was no confusion between the calls of the Chaffinch and Greenfinch as particular attention was given to prevent this by watching the bird at a short distance, noting whether other birds were near. Bertram M. A. Chappell. YELLOWHAMMER USING OLD NESTS OF OTHER BIRDS. Robert H. D. Stidolph’s note {antea, vol. xli, p. 273) on this subject calls to mind three instances concerning the nesting of the Yellowhammer {Emberiza citrinella) on the Abingdon aerodrome in 1942 and 1944. During 1944 one pair built a nest in one of the previous year situated in a bramble-covered bank close to a path, and in 1942 an old mossy Hedge-Sparrow’s {Prunella modularis) nest in a small sloe bush was selected as a foundation. Also in 1944 two pairs occupied the same nest and attempts at dual incubation on two distinct clutches of eggs, c/4 and c/5, were observed. It will be noted that both ground and bush sites were affected Bertram M. A. Chappell. SNOW-BUNTING IN JUNE IN CARDIGANSHIRE. An adult male Snow-Bunting {Plectrophenax nivalis) was observetl on June 5th, 1949, in the sand-dunes at Ynyslas, N. Cardiganshire. The bird was in full summer plumage. It kept to the same spot — a turf-grown hollow in the dunes — for the whole day and was very tame. It was there also on June 6th, but not afterwards. This according to The Handbook would be a late date for a migrant even in the north of Scotland and must be quite exceptional for so southerly a latitude as mid- Wales. W. M. Condkv. SHORE-LARKS IN KENT. Records of Shore-Larks {Eremophila alpestris) wintering in south- east England are sufficiently infrequent for the following instance to be of interest. On November 6th, 1948, R. da C. saw three near Shellness on the Isle of Sheppey. After being watched for about ten minutes they took flight and were joined in the air by a fourth V Purple Sandpiper (Calidris maritima). Upper. — Typical breeding ground in the mountains of Northern Sweden : Plateau of Luottolako (1,300 metres), with the Palkat GLACIER IN THE BACKGROUND, J ULY 16tH, 1943. Lower. — Parent on watch on rock after hatching of young. {Photographed by Olof Swaiiberg.) British Birds. V0I. xliii, PI. 19. -t Zi D X. a 7) i O K a o a > u: -1 0 X a 0 0 CQ W J < (I’hoionyaplicd by Olof Swanhcrg.) British Birds, Vol. xliii, PI. 20. • «s» H a: o 2 b£ u o H a in r*. Q Z < o z o o c< ffl w < British Birds, \'ol, xliii, PI. 21. Purple Sandpiper (Calidris niaritima). Nest on Luottolako, Northern Swedicn (see platp: IS), July !Itii, (I’hotoj^raphed by Olof Svvanborg.) British Birds, Vol- xliii, PI. 22 Purple Sandpiper {Calidvis maritima). Young, Luottolako, Northern Sweden, July {Photographed by Olof Swanberg.) British Birds, V'’ol. xliii, PI. 23. Purple Sandpiper (Cahdris maritima). Feeding in Lake Vuorekjaure, Northern Sweden, June 2;jth, 1942. {Photographed by Ctlof Swanbc-rfj.) British Birds, Vol. xliii, PI. 25. Purple Sandpiper {Calidris maritinm). Newiiaven, Sussex, Nov. 20th 10-tiS. {Photop;raphcc} by C. C'.. dfs I-orf^es.) VOL. XLIII.] NOTES. 117 bird. A single bird was seen by R. C. H. and Mr. J. S. Wightman at Swalecliffe on the 14th. At Leysdown, two miles west of Shell- ness, three were again observed by R. da C. on January ist and 2nd, 1949. E.H.G. and Mr. L. C. Batchelor watched three near the same place on February 26th and they were seen again at Shellness by R.C.H. on March 6th. R. D.-\ CuNHA, E. H. Gillham and R. C. Homks. SUN-BATHING OF TREE-CREEPER. In the accounts of sun-bathing by birds recently published (antea, vol. xxxix, pp. 152, 245, 276 ; xl, 172-4 ; xli, 304-5), no mention is made of this habit in the Tree-Creeper {Certhia familiaris). It may therefore be of interest to record that this species has been seen sun-bathing, in Gloucestershire, on several occasions during the hot weather of 1949. On one, typical, occasion the bird was reclining on its side on a stone wall, with its wing raised from the body, thus exposing the flank and underside of the wing to the sun. The body feathers were fluffed out. Whether the birds were juvenile or adult is not known. E. J. M. Buxton. On June 12th, 1949, at the New Grounds, Glos., I observed an adult Tree-Creeper [Certhia familiaris) fly to the cross-bar of a straw decoy screen, where it remained, with extended wings and tail- feathers, for approximately 3 minutes without moving. The sun was extremely hot, and after the bird had flown the cross-bar was found to be of intense heat. Angela Pritchard. NEST OF BLUE TIT ON A BOUGH. On May 14th, 1949, in the Forestry Reserve near Brockenhurst, Hampshire, I found a nest about 6 feet up in the fork of a small spindly pine tree growing out of a bank in a rather thick wood. A few pieces of holly very slightly concealed the nest, which was cup- shaped and loosely made of moss and grass only. The very deep cup was unlined and contained 8 typical eggs of the Blue Tit [Parus caruleus). I watched the bird with field-glasses both leaving and arriving at the nest. It was much more wary than is usual with sitting Blue Tits, slipping quietly off the nest while I was still some yards away, but it stayed around uttering the usual “ chur-rr-r”. The nest appeared completely new and there were no signs of any addition or alteration to a previous structure. The site was near a camp in youngish planted woodland, where there were very few suitable holes in trees; four other nests found in the immediate vicinity were in heaps of bricks or holes in build- ings. The natural woodland near by had abundant natural nesting sites but also a thick population of tits, and I suggest that pressure of population had forced the bird to select this unusual site. Marguerite R. Jellicoe. [For another record of nesting in a similar site, vide antea, vol. xxxvii, p. 55. — Eds.] 118 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XLIII. CRESTED TIT IN DEVON. While watching a mixed flock of buntings and finches in some gorse bushes on the cliff edge between Dawlish and the Exe estuary, on December 28th, 1947, we were surprised by the appearance of what we believed was a Crested Tit [Pams cristatus), which flew from a bush and perched on an outstanding branch about a yard from us. We used glasses only part of the time ; it remained side-on to us for about 10-15 seconds, practically motionless, with the sun shining on its back (from our left), before flying inland and out of sight. The flight was like that of other tits, undulating, with rapid wing-beats. No other tits were seen in the immediate locality. The bill had the characteristic tit-shape and was dark grey — as also were the legs. The head had a greyish crest which extended beyond the nape, not curved but ragged at the rear-edge, which was marked with black. The face was white with a black line below the crest from the bill to the nape through the eye, another forming an inverted “ V ” from the nape round the cheeks, and a thin black collar joining into a black mark beneath the chin, as in the Blue Tit [P. ccerulens). Behind the collar the upper-parts were light brown shading into a dirty-white breast and belly. No wing or tail markings were noticed— -both were brown. The rump was coloured light buff. The bird made no call. The size and general shape resembled that of the Blue Tit. Terence R. F. Nonweiler and L. V. A. Nonweiler. WHITE-HEADED LONG-TAILED TIT IN SUSSEX. From November 19th to 23rd, 1949, a Long-tailed Tit [Mgithalos caudatus) with a white head paid visits to my garden at Peasmarsh, E. Sussex. It was seen several times each day (except on the 23rd) either on the rose and other bushes or at a bone suspended six feet outside one of the windows. Observations were made at very close quarters, both by naked eye and with binoculars. Its whole head and throat, except for a small dark spot on the crown of the head, were pure white, without any markings on the sides, giving it a very striking appearance. The white throat shaded into a greyish white breast and the abdomen and flanks appeared to be tawny. The wings and tail were dark brown, with grey edges to the primaries and secondaries, the back dark brown shading into brownish grey rump. The tail feathers showed no white margins. W. J. Bradbury. [As pointed out with reference to another recent record of a Long-tailed Tit with a white head [antea, vol. x’d, p. 308) it is difficult to exclude the possibility that such birds seen in Britain may be white-headed examples of the Central European M. c. europcBUS rather than the true Northern race, M. c. caudatus [cf. also antea, vol. xlii, p. 164). In the present case the .small dark mark on the crown and the fact that the secondaries did not show prominent white seem to point to the first-mentioned possibility. — Eds.] VOL. XLIII.J NOTES. 119 WOODCHAT SHRIKES IN PEMBROKESHIRE. A WoODCHAT Shrike [Lanius senator) was caught on August 1 8th, 1949, on Skokholm Island, Pembrokeshire. The bird was apparently moulting from juvenile to first winter plumage. On August 31st, 1949, a second juvenile was caught. These are the third and fourth records for the county. P. J. Condek and Joan Keighley. DOMED NEST OF GRASSHOPPER- WARBLER. On June ist, 1949, in Surrey, I found a nest of the Grasshopper- Warbler {Locustella ncBvia), containing 5 highly incubated eggs, of a type which I have never seen or heard of before. Instead of the usual open cup, the nest was domed in character and I had great difficulty in finding it, as it was not, of course, what I was looking for. Built, as it was, at the very base of the thick dank grass, it had every appearance of being a small cluster of dead grasses, the entrance and eggs being quite invisible without further investigation. I thought that perhaps it had been a normal nest which had fallen over on to its side, but close examination did not support this possi- bility. It was quite firm in position and the bottom of it (where it rested in the damp roots of the grass) was wet and bedraggled, whereas the top and back were quite dry and firmly built. H. J. Hoffman. AQUATIC WARBLER IN KENT. On April 19th, 1949, whilst working through the sallows half a mile inland from Dungeness Lighthouse, we observed an Aquatic Warbler ( A crocephalus paliidicola) . We were first attracted by its song which differed markedly from that of the many Sedge- War biers {Acro- cephalus schcenobcemis) present, but only after prolonged searching did we obtain satisfactory views on which the following observations were written, being a joint combination of our field notes : — In general a Sedge- Warbler, but a somewhat brighter bird with the back rpore streaked. This gave the bird a more tawny colour- ation, especially towards the rump. Crown stripe pale buff, with superciliaries white — brighter than in the Sedge-Warbler. Sides of upper breast lightly streaked with brownish-grey. As already mentioned the song differed considerably from the Sedge- Warbler’s, being more hurried and sweeter with intermingled Linnet-like trilling, delivered in short bursts, and included very few harsh notes. Notes resembling the “ tsee-tsee ” of the Yellow Wagtail and the “ chuck-chuck ” of the Blackbird, were also heard interwoven into the main song pattern, which was heard contin- uously over a period of about half-an-hour. At a later date D.F.O. was able to consult skins at the British Museum and thus confirm our field identification. G. E. Manser and D. F. Owen. REDWINGS SINGING IN BRITAIN IN MAY. On May 22nd, 1948, my attention was attracted to an unusual song issuing at short intervals from a dense wood of oak and birch 120 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XLIII, trees in East Suffolk. At first this sounded rather like an abnormal Redstart song and I drew the attention of Eric Hosking and Stuart Smith to this. Some time later, when the song was resumed, I tracked the bird down and discovered that it was a Redwing ( Turdus musicus). The song was heard frequently during the remainder of this day and throughout the 23rd, when the bird was seen by my companions. On the 24th the bird was silent and was not heard again. The song was very simple and commenced with the highest note, descending in four tones to a rather unmusical flourish. It was repeated often a dozen times within ten minutes, then the bird would be silent for as long as half an hour. George Edwards. At 20.45 on May 29th, r.949, a Redwing [Turdus musicus) was singing in a tree near the river at Durham. The song was a series of about six rather loud churring notes of approximately equal pitch, of not unpleasant Mistle-Thrush quality, and falling away slightly. This w^as sometimes prolonged into a thinner repeated “ tee-’r tee-’r ... ”, this occasionally becoming a rather feeble warble. The bird flew into a tall tree ; 1 was able to get to the same level, and had an excellent view, the red sides and very light stripes above the eyes and at the sides of the neck being perfectly clear through x 6 binoculars. At the same time, a cock Blackbird [T. merula) was uttering its alarm note very loudly and insistently, and it was soon obvious that it was objecting to the Redwing, near which it flew. When the Redwing started to sing again the Blackbird twice flew at it. It did not strike the Redwing, but settled on the branch at the point at which the latter had been. The Redwing was rather excited, flicking both wings and tail and churring quietly, but did not seem to realize that it was being attacked ; it made no attempt at counter-attack, nor at any defence beyond evasion. After its second evasion it sang no more, and the Blackbird quickly stopped calling, although the Redwing was only a few yards away. J. L. Crosby. BLACKBIRD USING SAME NEST TWO YEARS IN SUCCESSION. In 1947, a pair of Blackbirds [Turdus merula) built a nest in my garden at Sale, Cheshire. From this nest they reared two broods. In April, 1948, I happened to look at this now somewhat dilapi- dated nest and was very surprised to find two young Blackbirds present. These two were eventually reared and left the nest, which was not used again. On inspecting the nest I found that it had been re-lined ; otherwise the nest was unaltered from 1947. Roger Whittenbury. COLOUR OF SKIN OF NESTLING REDSTARTS. During 1949 I had three broods of Redstarts [Phcenicurus phceni- curus) in nest boxes, and saw them all when only a few days old. They were coloured a fairly bright yellow as opposed to tits, which are pink or whitish and the diflerence was so pronounced that it was VOL. XLIII.] NOTES. 121 seen at once. Apparently it remains as long as any skin is uncovered by feathers, and, combined with the difference in nest materials — grass and leaves instead of moss — becomes almost diagnostic in a nest box. J. M. D. Mackenzie. RED-RUMPED SWALLOW IN HERTFORDSHIRE. On June nth, 1949, at about 18.00, while 1 was working in the garden with my wife on a farm near Aldbury, Hertfordshire, a bird flew past us to land on a paled fence two or three yards away. It seemed to be in poor condition and only able to fly short distances, and this, with the ruffled state of its feathers, at first led me to believe it was a young bird. I attempted to move closer to the fence, but the bird was nervous and at once fluttered almost at ground level across the corner of the adjoining held and alighted on a rough stone wall twenty yards away. The bird was now out of sight in a hollow in the wall and I walked round and up to the wall until I came to the marked position. I was standing close to the wall and peered into the cavity. The bird was resting and did not move for perhaps 45 seconds. The wings were partly opened, displaying the very pronounced rufous rump above the swallow-like tail. The head was on one side as the bird watched me and this also resembled that of a Swallow {Hirundo rustica), especially the beak. Moreover there was a patch of red on the back of the head and over the eyes, and the chin lacked the colouring of an ordinary Swallow. The rest of the back was much like an ordinary Swallow, but any lustre or sheen it may have had seemed to have been lost, probabl}^ because of the bird’s poor condition. When it finally flew off through some bushes I saw that the under-parts were of the same light colour as the chin, not white but flecked with brown. It was obviously very exhausted. All the above particulars were carefully noted and when I looked up Coward’s Birds of the British Isles the short note on the Red-rumped Swallow [Hirundo daurica) seemed to fit the observations I had made exactly. R. W. Gaskell. [In spite of the bird’s extreme rarity in Britain, Mr. Gaskell’s careful account leaves no doubt of its identity. — Eds.]. SAND-MARTINS ALIGHTING ON WATER. The note [antea, vol. xlii, p. 187) by M. Day on a Common Buzzard [Buteo buteo) landing on the sea reminds me of an incident I witnessed some ten years ago. Unfortunately I have no written account, and can trust my memory with nothing but the bare fact. While rounding a bend in the River Cart, in the parish of Cathcart, Glasgow, where the bank is protected by concrete, I looked over the edge and saw a party of Sand-Martins [Riparia riparia) at the mouth of a drain in the wall. The birds took alarm and fluttered out over the river, which is broad and moderately deep at this part, and all settled on the water. They seemed scarcely to break the surface and, after remaining motionless for perhaps five seconds in a flying 122 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XLIII. attitude, they all took wing again and disappeared. None of the birds had any noticeable difficulty in rising from the water. I. F. Stewart. SOME NOTES ON THE ALPINE SWIFT. Whilst in Zurich at the end of May, 1949, I had a good opportunity of studying the Alpine Swift [Ap-us melba) at close quarters. These birds breed in considerable numbers in the high buildings in the centre of the city, nesting in holes beneath the eaves. One such building, separated from the hotel in which I was staying by a narrow side-street, had eaves which were level with my bedroom window, and through this window the following observations were made. The characteristic note is a loud musical bubbling trill, reminiscent of a hen Cuckoo {Cuculus canorus) but much more highly pitched, sustained and irregular in tempo. At times it reaches a wild crescendo, especially during sexual display, or when several birds, having indulged in a communal trilling, suddenly dash from their nesting ledges and climb quickly into the upper air. This note may be heard at all hours and was extensively used after dark and through- out the night by birds presumably roosting in their nesting holes. Such courtship display as I witnessed took the form of one bird, presumably the hen, crouching on a ledge beside the nesting hole with partially spread wings, whilst the male crouched beside her and stroked her back and wings with one of his wings. During this display, the trilling note was used by both birds, and once, after a high emotional pitch had been reached, the hen bird left the ledge and flew towards me with half-opened and trembling wings. The cock followed in a flash and both birds passed within 6 feet of my face with the cock on the hen’s back performing what looked like a successful copulation. During actual coition, the hen’s wings were extended and still, whilst the cock’s were raised and moving. Both birds were slowly losing height as they passed. This aerial coition is unlike that described by Koenig (as quoted in The Handbook of British Birds, vol. ii, p. 243), in which the male was said to be in an inverted position, clinging to the throat and belly of the female, and indeed this latter position I saw adopted only in aggresive reaction. The Alpine Swift is extremely pugnacious, and on one occasion a domestic pigeon entered the nesting hole of the pair whose copulation is described above. Both swifts were in the hole and there was an immediate babel of trills from within. The pigeon reappeared immediately, closely pursued and brilliantly out-flown by the swifts. One swift alighted on the pigeon’s back and attacked its nape, whilst the other came up underneath and clung to the pigeon’s belly whilst tearing at its throat feathers with its beak. All three birds fell towards street level, but just before crashing, the swifts detached themselves and soared back to the nest-hole, leaving the pigeon in the gutter. In flight, the Alpine Swift appears surprisingly larger than the VOL. XLIII.] NOTES. 123 Swift [Apus apus), with the body very much more thickly-set, especially towards the tail. Stuart Smith. LITTLE OWL ATTACKING JACKDAW. At Chiselhampton, Oxon, on October 4th, 1948, an altercation in some large ehns attracted my attention and I saw a Jackdaw {Corv'us monedula) being attacked by a Little Owl {Athene noctua). The Jackdaw was driven through the branches and on to the ground in a held, where the Little Owl again attacked its head and neck. When the Little Owl flew back into the trees it called twice in the usual manner, then “ mewed.” The Jackdaw appeared to be severely injured and flew in a faltering manner into the wood near by. Occurring in the early evening the attack may have occurred when the Jackdaw was going to roost. Bertram M. A. Chappell. SONG OF LONG-EARED OWL. About midnight on September 27th, 1946, in the Ashgate district of Chesterfield, I heard an owl’s song repeated many times during an hour’s listening. It consisted of five hoots ; the first, fourth and last being loud, of rich quality and of high but descending pitch. The second and third were very short and the first and last longer than the fourth. The whole phrase could be written down as ” 00000-00-00-000-00000.” These notes were also heard at 5.00 on October 7th, 1946. There is no reference in The Hand- book to a song of this nature, but the female Long-eared Owl {Asia oUis) is stated to have a hoot which slurs downwards. On January 26th, 1949, at 21.00, the unmistakable call ‘‘ooack” of this species was sounded rapidly several times within twenty yards of me. After a pause of less than a minute, and from the same spot, the full song was repeated twice. It had been heard on several other evenings earlier in the month but could not then be definitely asso- ciated with any other call. The period of a complete phrase is about four seconds. N. Harwood. ROUGH-LEGGED BUZZARD IN WARWICKSHIRE. On March 5th, 1949, at 15.25, Mr. J. C. Gamble of Preston-on- Stour informed me that a large brown and white bird was endeavour- ing to fly from a ditch by the side of his farm-drive to the top of a small hedge. I went out immediately and found it perched on a fence. I saw it first with the naked eye and recognized it as a Rough-legged Buzzard {Buteo lagopus). Through x8 binoculars at a range of 25 yards I noted the following characteristics. Upper-parts (mantle and scapulars) were brownish black, but crown and nape were white, with some dark brown streaks. Its crown and nape had also a rather ragged, untidy appearance. The back and rump were brown. The tail-coverts and tail were white with a few slight streaks, but a distinct band of black showed at the very end of the tail. Chin, throat and breast were very noticeably 124 BRITISH BIRDS [VOL. XLIII. white, with dark blotches of brown on the breast. The lower breast was brownish and the lower belly and underside of tail white. The wings were dark brown with some paler markings, and the right one appeared damaged as it hung rather loosely with many of the primaries ragged and shortened in length. The bill was black with a yellow cere. I'he toes were yellow, but the legs were 'clothed in brownish-white feathers. The bird was of a well-built appearance and its length appeared to be about 2 feet. After a closer approach 1 returned home with the intention of capturing it as it seemed rather weak but on my return it had disap- peared and was not seen again. The last record for Warwickshire was of a bird that appeared near Alcester in 1897. E. A. Simms. OSPREY IN GLOUCESTERSHIRE. On June 13th, 14th and 15th, 1948, an Osprey [Pandion halicBtus) visited a lake near Minchinhampton in the Gloucestershire Cots- wolds. On the first day mentioned above another observer and I, concealed in a wood, saw the bird plunge and take a fair-sized fish about 50 yds. from us. This it carried in its feet the length of the lake and returning disappeared over the trees. Next day we ob- tained perfect views of the bird through a x 20 telescope when it was perched facing us on a dead tree. The last Osprey to visit this neighbourhood in October, 1942, was shot by a poultry farmer who said he was afraid it would take his chickens. J. B. Watson. FEEDING HABITS OF OSPREY OBSERVED IN DEVON. On May 8th, 1949, an Osprey [Pandion halicBtus) was seen by Mr. A. S. Cutcliffe and myself as well as by twenty-five other observers at Braunton Burrows, North Devon. The bird advanced head-on towards us and hovered about 50 feet above the water 150 yards from us. The wing movement diftered from that of the Kestrel [Falco timmnculus), seeming to move forward and backward (in-and-out ?) rather than up and down. After hovering for about 15 to 20 seconds the bird plunged and rose an instant later with a Bass [M orone lahrax) in the claws of both legs held at a right angle to its body-length, thus seeming to exhibit its catch to us before Hying off to a masonry pillar near by to devour it. Mr. Cutcliffe went to the pillar next day and obtained the backbone and some scales of the fish, which were identified by the Marine Biological Station. Plymouth. The bird is well known to us both. The method employed by this bird in carrying the fish differs from that given in The Handbook and the Bass does not seem to have been definitely recorded as food for this species. Mervyn G. Palmer. HERONS FLYING AT HIGH ALTITUDES. I'he Handbook refers to the soaring flights of the Heron [Ardea cinerea) in autumn, but gives no details of the heights reached. On August 29th, 1948, my friend Mr. Spencer Thomas, of Honeydon, Beds, flying at a height of 2,000 ft. near Burton-on-Trent, saw a VOL. XLIII.] NOTES. 126 Heron above him at a height that he estimated at 2,500 ft. He had several times encountered Herons near Bedford at heights of well over 1,000 ft. C. F. Tebbutt. HERONS SUN-BATHING. Herons {Ardea cinerea) often rest by day on beds formed by pump- ing lime-waste into Witton Flashes, Northwich, Cheshire. On July 12th, 1949, one of the hottest days of the summer, with the temperature well in the eighties, one of them took up what was to me an unusual attitude. It stood erect, facing the sun, with its neck extended vertically at full length, so that it looked astonish- ingly tall and attenuated, and its wings were spread out wide at right angles to its body. In this attitude it remained for minutes together. Because of the vertical extension of its neck the rest of the bird seemed to be out of proportion, with its outspread wings low down near the ground ; this incongruous appearance made it difficult to reahze at first glance what the strange object was. On August 13th four out of a group of seven, and again on August 22nd, one out of eleven, acted in the same way, but one or two of these did not stand quite so rigidly, nor hold their wings so squarely. Although Herons up to a score and more continued to rest there daily for weeks, they all maintained their normal posture. A. W. Boyd. NOTE OF GREAT WHITE HERON. With reference to the note by Mr. J. P. Paige, dealing with the above subject {antea, vol. xli, p. 350), I should like to record a similar experience. Whilst in south-west Ceylon I frequently observed two or three pairs of the eastern race of the Great White Heron {Egretta alba modesta) . On one occasion only, during a period of 14 months, did I hear any note from this species. This was on the morning of April 22nd, 1945, when each bird of a pair, separate from a party of some six to eight birds feeding in the paddy fields, uttered several gutteral croaks for two short periods and separated by a few minutes. No display was observed. It should be noted that this occurred well after the breeding- season which is given as December to February by H. Whistler in The Avifaund Survey of Ceylon [Spolia Zeylanica, vol. 23, p. 293). L. P. Alder. AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOUR OF A MUTE SWAN. On April 17th, 1948, a male Mute Swan {Cygnus olor), on a lake in the W. Riding of Yorks., was seen to deliver several vicious pecks at an inanimate white object floating some 50 yards from the nest on which its mate was sitting. The object was found to be another swan — sex unknown — which lay upon its back with its head apparently jammed between some alder roots beneath the water. The body was no doubt that of a second cob which was present on the lake on the loth. 126 BRITISH BIRDS [vOL. XLIIl. Enquiries have failed to elicit how it had met its end, but from its appearance it had not been shot, and the attacks delivered by the cob tended to confirm this as on two occasions it seized first one wing and then another and extended them in an effort to drag the dead bird about, during wliicii process each wing was seen to be in good condition and the feathers unbroken. An attack was also (lelivered in wliich beakfuls of featliers were torn from the dead bird’s lower breast and abdomen. John C. S. Ellis. SHOVELER BREEDING IN AYRSHIRE. According to The Handbook the Shoveler {Spatula clypeata) has not been recorded as having nested in Ayrshire. On May 21st, 1949, I saw a Shoveler drake on a small loch on the outskirts of Kfimarnock. The duck was seen on the 24th b}^ Mr. J. Taylor of London, and on the 27th he found the nest, containing 6 eggs, in a clump of growing grass on dry ground about 20 yards from water. 1 saw the nest on the 28th, when it contained 7 eggs, and had an excellent view of tlie duck as she left the nest and joined the drake. The down in th.e nest was brown with light centres. Unfortunately, the nest had been destroyed and the birds gone by the 31st. F. D. E. Walls. SHOVELER BREEDING IN CARDIGANSHIRE. On June 29th, 1949, ^ duck Shoveler [Spatula clypeata) was seen on a marshy pool in mid-Cardiganshire with a brood of newly-hatched ducklings. As she was very anxious she allowed a close approach and there was no doubt of the identification. This is the first breeding record for the county. W. M. Condrv. GREAT CRESTED GREBE BREEDING IN CARDIGANSHIRIC . In 1949, Great Crested Grebes [Podiceps cristaius) have bred tor tlu' first time on record in Cardiganshire. Four young, almost full- grown, were seen on July 8th. On July 9th, besides these, the adults had a second brood of newly- hatched young on an adjacent pool. The pools are former lead- mine reservoirs at about 800 feet above sea-level. W. Miall Jones, D. Sansbury and W. M. Con dry. DISPLAY BY YOUNG GREAT CRESTED GREBES. The following observations were made in 1948 on a family of Great Crested Grebes [Podiceps cristatus) at a gravel-pit near Cambridge. The first of the three young birds was probably hatched out on July loth or iith, certainly not earlier. On August 6th display was first noticed — the two eldest birds head-shaking and false-preening together for at least two minutes. On August 9th the two eldest were again head-shaking, in the middle of which the eldest gave two performances, each lasting about five seconds, of the “ penguin- dance,” supporting itself on the breast of the second bird. Mean- while the youngest bird was crouching before one of the adults VOL. XLIII.] NOIES. 127 (almost certainly the female) in the “ cat-attitude,” and it foUo'wed this up with a most extraordinary performance. With head sub- merged, it appeared to be trying to peck at the adult’s feet, and to avoid this the adult had to spin round. This went on for fully a minute — the adult gyrating like a top and the young bird chasing round her after her feet. The Handbook states that head-shaking is performed " excep- tionally by young with their heads still striped.” In this case none of the birds was over 30 days old and they went through almost every foi'm of adult display, though their performances, as might be expected, were rather amateurish and never very prolonged. D. G. Andrew. “UP-ENDING” OF GREAT CRESTED GREBE AND MOORHEN. On November 4th, 1948, I observed a Moorhen [Gallinula chloropus) “ up-end ” while feeding in the shallow water of Cranemoor Lake in Englefield Park, Berkshire. The action resembled that of a surface- feeding duck, but in the hnal position the bird was only at an angle of about 75 degrees and held there but a few seconds. From March 29th until April 19th, 1949, I kept several pairs of Great Crested Grebes {Podiceps cristahis) under observation at the Burghfield Road gravel-pits, near Reading, and noted “ up-ending ” twice, in both instances from the same pair ; on March 29th from the female, and on April 14th from the male. That of the female was an incomplete action performed during a pause in nest building, when it swam very slowly in a flooded Salix clump with head, neck and shoulders below water and body slightly up-tilted. The male “ up-ended ” near the nest very suddenly and with a noticeable jump that raised much spray. In the final position only part of the rump and tail remained above water. The bird emerged with weed which was added to the nest. The position of a grebe’s legs would apparently determine the form of the “ up-ending.” K. E. L. Simmons. TURTLE-DOVE DISPLAY. With reference to recent notes [antea, vol. xxxix, pp. 29 and 284, vol. xlii, p. 154) on wing-clapping in the display of the Turtle- Dove {Streptopelia turtur), a further example may be of interest. On June 24th, 1948, in the Crane valley, Dorset, I heard several loud wing-claps accompanying the first part of the display-flight of a male Turtle-Dove, of which I could actually see only the second (gliding) phase, owing to obstruction by the foliage of a small wood. After several repetitions at short intervals, one such flight was succeeded b}^ what appeared to be a slow and formal aerial pursuit of the female, ending with the pair settling on a branch above me. The male immediately began the throbbing display-song, bowing with pouted breast, lasting only a few seconds until he mounted the female in an attempt at coition, probably unsuccessful, whereupon she flew away. K. B. Rooke. 128 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XLIII. With reference to the note by Dr. J. F. Monk on this subject {antea, vol. xlii, p. 154), 1 saw a similar performance by a Turtle- Dove [Streptopdia turtur) at [7.35 on June 12th, 1949. The bird was heard calling in a tree and seen to fly upwards from it with rapid wing beats, a clapping noise being heard with each beat. It then glided downwards for a short distance and rose again with wing clapping. The second downward glide took it out of sight among trees. As in Dr. Monk’s case no other bird of this species was seen. The occurrence struck me as unusual and I had not seen Dr. Monk’s note at the time. K. P. Keywood. LARGE NUMBERS OF BLACK-TAILED GODWITS IN DORSET. The largest flock of Black-tailed Godwits {Liniosa limosa) yet recorded in Dorset frequented the south-central part of Poole Harbour during March and April, 1949. The previous highest total of “ quite 400 ” was seen in the same place on March 13th, 1942 {Proc. Dorset Nat. Hist, and Archceol. Soc., Vol. 64, p. 124 — amended in litt. by the Rev. F. L. Blathwayt). This part of the harbour has not hitherto been regularly watched, and a large flock at this season may have been overlooked during the intervening years. AU occurrences of the Black-tailed Godwit in Poole Harbour, from October to May, 1948-49, so far reported to the East Dorset Field Ornithology Group, refer to this area, with the exception of a single bird seen near the harbour-mouth on December 25th by Mr. J. C. Follett. It is remarkable that no others were recorded in other apparently suitable parts of the harbour under observation in this period, even in the western area where they occurred in some numbers from July to September in 1948, as in most recent years. On October 31st, 1948, a local resident told A.J.B. that numbers were still present near Fitzworth Point. Nothing further was heard of them, though they may have escaped notice, until S.E.W.P. saw about 100 between Arne and Middlebere on January 23rd, 1949; they were not then identified beyond doubt, but subsequent events established that they were Black-tails, and it seems probable that others were hidden from view. On February 6th, about 350 were clearly identified there ; on February 20th, about 100 ; March 6th, 550-600 counted (S.E.W.P.). A.J.B. saw this large flock, too far off to count, and confirmed identification on March 26th. On March 27th, several counts at close range gave totals of about 600 (S.E.W.P., K.B.R.) ; on April i6th, during a gradual flight of the whole flock, in small parties, past the observer on Fitzworth Point as the tide ebbed, each individual was identified, and a count, later twice repeated as they fed on the mudflats, gave totals of 632-660, the latter probably the more accurate (K.B.R.) . By April 24th, the flock had dwindled to about 200 (S.EW’.P.) ; about 160 were seen at high-water on April 26th (Miss T. F. Almack and A.J.B.), but none on subsequent visits in May. VOL. XLIII.] NOTES. 129 It is tempting to speculate whether this may have been the same large flock recorded at Thorney, Sussex, in the autumn of 1948 [antea, vol. xlii, p. 188). A. J. Bull, S. E. W. Paul, K. B. Rooke. DISPLAY OF RUFF IN CHESHIRE. Although Ruffs {Philomachus pugnax) are found in Cheshire in almost any month of the year, they rarely assume full breeding plumage. In 1949 they could be seen in Witton Flashes, Northwich, Cheshire, from March to October. On May 8th one with heavily marked back and wings, barred breast, and chestnut upper breast and throat, arrived and remained until June 30th. On May i8th another with complete purple-black ruff, and strongly marked back with broad white edges to the feathers, came and on the next day associated on a mud-bank with the other, to which it displayed time after time. It expanded its “ ear-tufts ” to form a double crescent about its head, spread its ruff out wide and ran round the other with little steps. After each bout it turned away (usually turning its back on the other bird) and stood perfectly still with its biU at right angles to and almost touching the ground ; the bird round which it displayed sometimes ran a little way and at other times stood still during a performance. From time to time they flew about together and the display was resumed when they settled — once in shallow water. This display was given again on the 21st for the last time. On the 22nd a third bird with a dark brown ruff arrived and the three remained together until the 29th, when the two birds in full plumage disappeared, and left the original bird alone. A. W. Boyd. PROBABLE SOLITARY SANDPIPER IN SUSSEX. On July 25th, 1949 at a gravel pit near Chichester, much frequented by Common Sandpipers [Actitis hypoleucos) and to a lesser extent by Green Sandpipers {Tringa ochropus) I flushed an unfamiliar sand- piper from a small area of mud at the base of a bank of gravel. As it flew away, almost from under my feet, I was able to get a very good view of the markings of the upper-parts. The appearance was that of a bird with the wings, back, rump and centre of the tail black. The outer tail-feathers were light. Apart from the absence of white on the rump and tail, the bird closely resembled a Green Sandpiper, being quite as dark in flight as this bird, although it was not quite so large and was approximately the same size as a Common Sandpiper. When I flushed the bird I was walking with my back to the sun, which was shining brightly. Unfortunately I was not able to find the bird again that day or the next. I did not, therefore, obtain any views of the bird on the ground or of the under surface of the wing, but the characters seen seem to indicate only a Solitary Sandpiper {Tringa solitaria). There are three previous records of this wader in Sussex. John Reynolds. 130 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XLIir. [We know Mr. Reynolds as a careful observer and feel confident that his identihcation is correct. We think, however, that as a matter of princi})le a bird of such rarity seen onlv in flight should not be recorded as a certainty.- Eds.] GREATER YELLOWSHANK IN ESSEX. On July 28th, 1949, A.M. saw at Abberton Reservoir, near Colchester, Essex, a bird which at first sight appeared to be a stockily built Greenshank {Tringa nebidaria). On further examination, however, it was found that the bird was browner than a Greenshank, lacked the conspicuous white rump of that species and, furthermore, possessed legs of a pale, lemon yellow colour. A number of bold blotches and streaks on the sides of the breast were extremely conspicuous, as were also a few black feathers on the upper- parts which, incidentally, were strongly chequered, conspicuously so when the feathers were ruffled. The bill was quite straight and com- paratively stout. After watching the bird for some time both on that day and again on July 29th, A.M. reached the definite con- clusion that it could be none other than a Greater Yellowshank ( T ringa tnelanoleuca) . On July 31st, G.A.P. accompanied A.M. to the reservoir, where the bird was found to be still present and, after a detailed examination at a range of about 40 yards through 10 x 50 binoculars, unhesitat- ingly concurred in A.M.’s identification. As regards the other details as to plumage, etc., it will suffice to say that these and, for that matter, also those given above, agreed more or less exactly with the description of the Greater Yellowshank observed by Mr. B. W. Tucker and others at the Northampton Sewage Farm on August 22nd, 1948 {antea, Vol. xlii, pp. 155-8) and the theory is advanced that these two sets of observations may refer to one and the same bird. Northampton is about 80 miles from Abberton in a straight line and, although there is nearly a year’s difference between the two occurrences, the bird, being so farout.side its -normal range, might surely quite conceivably have stayed in the country during the intervening period and, indeed, might well do so indefinitely. Not a single factor in the weather conditions obtaining for some weeks prior to the occurrence under review could, it is felt, satisfactorily account for the bird’s presence. Unfortunately, the bird was quite silent throughout the hours during which it was under observation. It frequently waded in the shallows, snatching food from the mud and dipping its bill into the water, but never probed. It was quite wild and the two observers found it impossible to approach closer than the distance described above. At one time it was in close proximity to a pair of Redshank {Tringa totanus), which it considerably exceeded in size, being possibly one-third larger. Black-headed Gulls {Lams ridibundus) and Lapwing ( Va^iellus vanelhis) were frequently seen to “ mob ” it. No trace of the bird could be found during the course of visits paid to the reservoir by A.M. on August 4th and G.A.F. on August VOL. XLIII.] NOTES. 131 7th, but it may be mentioned that on the latter occasion a Green- shank v’as present, thus affording an opportunity for a mental comparison to be made between the presumed Greater Yellowshank and the species which it most closely resembles. The differences were found to be most distinct, especially worthy of note being the slimmer build, far greyer upper-parts and the much larger area of white on the tail and rump of the Greenshank, the latter, unlike the case of the Greater Yellowshank, extending up between the wings. I'his constitutes the ninth occurrence of this species in the British Isles and the first for the east coast of England. A. Marshall and G. A. Pyman. REDSHANK AND LAPWING NESTING ON SHINGLE BEACH. A NOTE and editorial comment {antea, vol. xxxvii, p. 357) prompt me to record two further examples of the Lapwing {Vanellus vanellus) nesting on coastal beaches, a habit which may be less uncommon than is suggested by the paucity of records, and to add a note on a similar choice of nest-site by a Redshank ( T ringa totanus) . The Handbook does not mention shingle beach as a breeding site of either species. On April 19th, 1935, a Lapwing’s nest with three eggs was found on the summit (shingle) of the Chesil Beach, a little to the west of the Abbotsbury Swannery, Dorset. On May 29th, 1946, a Lapwing was found incubating three eggs on plain shingle of the inner slope of a spit which separates the Solent from a tidal lagoon, on the mainland coast of Hampshire. Only six yards away, a Redshank was incubating two eggs in an exposed site, very inadequately concealed by the few blades of a solitary tuft of Juncus, on shingle, near its junction with muddy sand at the edge of the lagoon. Both nests were within forty yards of the sea, and not many yards away a Ringed Plover {Charadrius hiaticula) and an Oyster-catcher {H amaiopus ostralegus) were sitting on eggs in sites almost identical with those of the Lapwing and Redshank. Many suitable nesting areas exist, and are used, in the coastal meadows and marshes behind the lagoon, and it is probable that relative immunity from disturbance by cattle or man influenced the Redshank and Lapwing in their choice of the shingle spit. Two other pairs of Lapwing were apparently also breeding on the spit, but their nests were not found. K. B. Rooke. LITTLE RINGED PLOVERS IN SKYE AND CHESHIRE. On June 3rd, 1949, my wife and I observed three Little Ringed Plovers [Charadrius dubius) on the shore of Loch Brittle, Skye. The birds allowed us to approach within ten yards and as we had a pair of Ross “ Stepruva ” binoculars we were able to examine them closely. They remained in practically the same position for about five minutes and we were able to check the characters on the spot from a copy of James Fisher’s Bird RecogtiUion, which we had with us. 132 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XLIII. The birds were quite definitely adults and were certainly not juvenile Ringed Plovers [Ch. hiaticula), with which we are quite familiar. The pectoral band was broad, black and clear-cut, and aU three birds showed clearly the white head band above the black mark on the fore-head. The legs were flesh-coloured, not yellow or orange, and when they flew there was no trace whatever of any white bar on the wings. On this last point we are quite positive. When the birds flew they rose to a considerable height, circled, and made off in a northerly direction. It may be added that during the following week we saw many Ringed Plovers on the shores of Loch Sligachan and there were no juveniles amongst these, nor did we even see any nestlings. We naturally examined all Ringed Plovers very closely, but no further sign of any Little Ringed Plovers was seen. We are aware that there is no other recent record of the species in Scotland, but in view of its recent establishment as a regular breed- ing bird in England occurrences may be expected in areas where it has not previously been met with. E. R. Harris. On April i8th, 1949, 1 observed a Little Ringed Plover {Charadrius dubius) on the Altrincham sewage farm, Cheshire. 1 first noticed that it was not an ordinary Ringed Plover when I flushed it. It showed no wing-bar. Eventually I got within 15 yards of the bird with the sun behind me. I was using a 25-35 telescope. The bird showed a thin but very noticeable yellow ring round each eye. The legs, which were very dirty, were a pale colour, and the bill was black. Compared with an ordinary Ringed Plover which accompanied it, it looked much smaller. The head pattern was as shown in The Handbook. The flight note was a high pitched “ chripp,” and I twice heard a soft “ chee.” I noticed that the bird seemed to prefer dry grass- covered soil to the soft mud near by. R. H. Prestwick. BLACK-WINGED STILTS IN SUFFOLK AND DEVON. At approximately 15.30 (B.S.T.) on April 22nd, 1949, four Black- winged Stilts {Himantopus himantoP'Us) were seen by W. E. Rowe and D. Baker on a small marsh immediately to the north of South- wold, Suffolk. Later that day five were seen. Five birds were subsequently seen on April 23rd, 24th and 25th, two only on the 26th and one on the 27th, 28th and 29th. Many besides myself saw five together, and though the evidence for the presence of a sixth appeared good, it is noteworthy that no one saw six at once, that no exactly-timed counts in different areas of the marsh were made, and that the one bird recorded on April 27th, 28th and 29th flew off and returned several times, leading one to suppose that two pairs had moved on and left an unmated bird. It appeared that there were three males and two females, but I see, on consulting The Handbook, that one supposed male may have VOL. XLIII.J NOTES. 133 been a first year female, as the head and nape were distinctly greyish- brown, not black. One female was distinctly smaller than the remainder, as was noted by several observers. The birds were remarkably tame, ignoring almost entirely a continual procession of heads above the dyke wall, the buzz of conversation, and even a movie camera, all at a distance of 30 yds., and sometimes even less. They could at times be seen without glasses from the road. Apart from occasional resting, sometimes on one leg, with bill tucked behind in usual wader fashion, they fed busily in the pools of the brackish marsh. Normally food seemed to be taken from the surface, but several times I saw a bird immerse bill, head, and neck. The slow, graceful walk was at times quickened to a run for a few steps. In deep water the tibio-tarsal joint was so sharply bent that the tibia lay flat along the belly and under tail-coverts. They would wade to the belly feathers, but usually preferred shallower water. I saw one pair copulate on April 23rd. All five birds had immediately before been on the wing, and after they alighted only a minute or so elapsed before I saw a female standing in shallow water with body, neck, head and bill in one straight line, the bill tip either on or very close to the surface, the whole forming an angle of about 45° to the water. If there had been a previous courtship display, it must have been very short. The remainder of the action was very similar to that of mating Avocets [Recurvirostra avosetta), the male preening on one side of the female, walking round to the other side, turning always in towards the female, and repeating the performance the other side. On mounting, the male raised his wings, and on completion both birds moved forward and went on feeding. Throughout their stay the birds were silent except when they flew, but they rarely flew even a few yards without making the sharp repeated single note, written in The Handbook as ‘ kik, ’ which I should myself have written' keek.’ Gliding in to land was regular. In flight the green gloss on the sharply pointed wings was clearly visible, and the 6 or 7 inches of thin leg stretched out beyond the tail formed an unmistakable picture. The birds appeared so settled that hopes were entertained of their nesting, and the Press representatives obligingly agreed not to mention the locality ; but none of the birds has been seen since in this neighbourhood. G. B. G. Benson. On May 6th, 1949 in the early morning, 1 watched four Black- winged Stilts {Himaniopus himantopus) on a shingle bed, uncovered at low tide, in the middle of the River Exe below Countess Wear. The birds were watched later in the morning by Dr. G. S. Steele- Perkin at the same place until the rising tide disturbed them and they flew down river. In the evening Mr. R. G. Adams and Mr. H. Pearson, on their way to look for the birds, found them on the River Clyst near Topsham, 134 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XLin. feeding on tlie mudbanks, and examined them in detail at close quarters. They were later seen by .Mrs. F. R. Smith and Miss M. Smith and were last seen resting in the late evening on the mudbank beside the River Exe near Topsham. The birds were in different stages of plumage, two with brown backs and wings and two with black backs and wings with a greenish gloss, and all had white tails and under-parts. One with lighter brown wings also had a very light coloured iiead with dusky streaks on the head and nape and dusky areas on the upper breast. The other brown-winged bird had a dark crown and nape, light forehead and dusky areas on the upper breast. The black-winged birds also had dark crowns and napes with pale foreheads and varying amounts of dusky areas on the upper breasts. The enormously long legs of the darker birds were vermilion and of the browner birds pinkish red, the shade varying with the light. The notes were a sharp " kit-kit ” and “ kyark ” and occa- sionally a low fluty chattering. Their behaviour suggested that they were two pairs. F. R. Smith. [We learn that an invasion of Black-winged Stilts occurred in Holland in 1949 and that breeding took place in a number of localities. The birds seen in England were doubtless stragglers of the same movement. — Eds.J. BONAPARTE’S GULL IN SUSSEX. On November 14th, 1948, whilst we were on Newhaven breakwater, Sussex, a gull in adult plumage attracted attention by being some- what smaller and greyer in general appearance than a single adult Black-headed Gull {Lams ridibundus) which was resting near by on the sea. When viewed through field-glasses (X12 and X15) at a range of 15-20 yards it was seen that the bird in question had an all-black bill. On the assumption that we were viewing an unusual visitor, we made detailed notes on the spot. The bird was of an approximately similar shade of grey on the back and mantle as the Black-headed Gull, but was greyer on the wing-coverts. The back and sides of the neck were the same colour as the mantle and the whole of the head, except for a white fore- head, and a black patch behind and partly below the eye, was streaked grey in appearance. The eye was dark, and no lighter colouring was noticed on the eyelid, while the terminal parts of the primaries were black, the outer two at least lacked the white tips of the remainder, which showed as three very small mirrors on the folded and crossed tipped wings. These were perhaps longer in proportion to the size of the bird than in the Black-headed Gull. The remainder of the plumage was white. The bird flew round several times, but returned to the same position on the sea. In flight the upper surface of the wing showed con- spicuous white leading and black trailing edges, the remainder being grey. The white area was more extensive than the black. The VOL. LXIII.] NOTES. 135 under surface appeared grey with a thin black rear edge, and lacked the dark area as seen in the Black-headed Gull. The tail was of the same colour and shape as in the last named bird. We were unable to obtain a good view of the legs, and while L.P.A. noted their colour as flesh, C.M.J. differed by recording pale yellow. These opinions were derived to some extent by view- ing the legs through the water, when the bird was on the sea. The gull could be picked out in flight without difficulty from a number of Black-headed Gulls, probably because it seemed more buoyant, but we cannot say it was tern-like. On the sea feeding by picking was observed in the same way as that of the accompanying Black- headed Gull, and in addition the bird was seen to immerse the whole head several times, as though taking something below the surface. The bird did not apparently call. On checking the notes with The Handbook we concluded that the bird was a Bonaparte’s Gull {Larus Philadelphia) in winter plumage. L. P. Alder and C. M. James. FIRST-YEAR HERRING-GULL SOLICITING FOOD IN MAY. On May 14th, 1949, at Lerwick, Shetland, we noticed a first-year Herring-Gull [Larus argentatus) soliciting food from an adult in typical juvenile fashion, pecking at and stroking-down the latter’s bill. Eventually the adult regurgitated two compact lumps of food (fish?) which the immature picked up and ate. We could not determine whether the younger bird was confining its attention to one ‘ parent ’ or soliciting indiscriminately, nor did we see any comparable behaviour during the subsequent week. The late Bertram Lloyd has recorded [antea, vol. xxxviii, pp. 39-40) independent immature Herring-Gulls soliciting food in mid-March, but in that instance they were begging for morsels which the gld birds had just picked up : there was no regurgitation. Food-solicitation by an immature Black-headed Gull [Larus ridibundus) in autumn and winter has been reported by J. A. G. Barnes [loc. cit., p. 299). K. G. Spencer and Arthur Welch. Cloaca-pecking by House-Sparrow. — Mr. B. C. Turner informs us that on February 14th, 1949, at Walling, Kent, he saw two male House-Sparrows [Passer domesticus) from a displaying party peck at the rump and cloaca of a female. This would appear to be the fifth record of such behaviour, previous cases being quoted in The Handbook, vol. i, p. 157, and British Birds, vol. xxxviii, p. 296 ; xl, p. 212 ; xli, p. 344. L.A.TE Yellow Wagtails. — In connexion with the note [antea, vol. xlii, p. 192) on this subject, Mr. M. A. Arnold has drawn our attention to a record of a Yellow Wagtail [Motacilla flava flavissima) seen by Major E. A. de Hamel near Tamworth, Staffs, on October 28th, 1935 [vide Report of the Birmingham Bird Club (1935), p. 36). Song-Trush feeding on Woodlice. — Mr. D. A. E. Cross informs us that on March 25th, 1949, in Osterley Park, Middlesex, he 136 PURCHASED VOL. XLIII. watched a Song-Thrush ( Turdus ericetorum) breaking the bark from a fallen elm-tree and snapping up the woodlice underneath it. This habit does not appear to have been recorded before. Robin taking food off water. — Mr. R. G. Adams has sent us an account of a Robin {Erithacus rubecula) taking drowned insects from the surface of the water in a garden tank. Somewhat similar beha- viour has been recorded by D. Lack [Life of the Robin, ist Edn., p. 124). Early Swifts in Norfolk and Sussex. — Mr. R. A. Richardson reports a Swift {Apus apus) seen flying east at Cley, Norfolk, on April 3rd, 1949. Messers M. E. Gore and D. Ronson also report a Swift on April 13th, 1949, at Pagham Harbour, Sussex. Sun-b.\thing of Wood-Pigeon. — Mr. T. H. Owen informs us that in February, 1949, he observed a Wood-Pigeon {Columba palumbus) sun-bathing with its wings spread out on the ground, which neither lie nor we have observed before. The bird was one of a party of nine. Long sojourn of Whimbrel inland. — With reference to the note [antea, vol. xlii, p. 30) on Whimbrels inland. Miss Angela Pritchard records a flock of twelve Whimbrels {Niimenius phcBopus) which remained amongst grazing cattle close to a farm at Little Torrington, North Devon, for some three weeks. She first observed them on May ist, 1946, but they had been present several days earlier ; numbers remained constant till May 19th, when there re- mained only one bird which had left by the following day. So long a halt on the spring passage is, we believe, quite unusual. Little Stint in Hertfordshire in spring. — Mr. A. Reaveley Jenkins has sent full details of a Little Stint (Calidris minuta) which he saw at Wilstone Reservoir, Tring, Herts, on May 14th, 1949. There appear to be few spring records for the county. ' ‘ Wreck ” of Little Auks.— Records to hand or published in news- papers and elsewhere show that a coniriderable inland “ wreck ” of Little Auks {Alle alle) took place during the gales of February, 1950. We shall be glad to receive records from readers with a view to the publication of a report. Editors of county reports could assist by kindly collating reports from their areas. LETTER birds of HAMPSHIRE AND THE ISLE OF WIGHT To the Editors of British Birds. Sirs. — We are collecting material for a new book on the birds of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, and should be very grateful if any of your readers would send us unpuhlished notes of occurrences and distribution of species in the county referring to years since 1905, when the last book on the subject was written by the Rev. J. E. Kelsall and P. W. Munn. Notes of changes in numbers and distribution since that date would be of particular interest. .Acknowledgement of sources will of course be made. Notes may be sent either to P. E. Brown, Kiln Cottage, Baughurst, Basing- stoke, Hants., or to E. Cohen, Hazelhurst, Sway, Hants. Edwin Cohen, P. E. Brown. Page Greater Yellowshank in Essex (A. Marshall and G. A. Pyman) ... 130 Redshank and Lapwing nesting on shijigle beach (K. B. Rooke) ... 131 Little Ringed Plovers in Skye and Cheshire (E. R. Harris ; R. H. Prestwich) ... ... ... ... ... ... 131 Black-winged Stilts in Suffolk and Devon (G. B. G. Benson ; F. R. Smith) ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 132 Bonaparte’s Gull in Sussex (L. P. Alder and Miss C. M. James) ... 134 First-yeai Heriing-Gull soliciting food in May (K. G. Spencer and Arthur Welsh) ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 134 Short Notes : — Cloaca-pecking by House-Sparrow. Late Yellow Wagtails. Song- Thrush feeding on woodlice. Robin taking food oS water. Early Swifts in Norfolk and Sussex. Sun-bathing of Wood-Pigeon. Long sojourn of Whimbrel inland. Little Stint in Hertfordshire in spring. " Wreck ” of Little Auks ... ... ... ... 135 Letter : — Birds of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight (Edwin Cohen and P. E. Brown) ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 136 “ a book that provides all the answers, quickly and completely . . . C. A. Gibson-Hill’s BIRDS OF THE COAST . . . admirable for its authority, its planning and compactness, and its generous measure of illustrations.^^ EDINBURGH EVENING DISPATCH in portable size for field reference a complete series of distribution maps a table of breeding data sketches depicting salient features of various species over thirty excellent camera studies Crown 8vo 10s. 6d. “ The same author’s British Sea Birds is widely known. Birds of the Coast is of the same high standard.” — ibid H. F. & G. WITHERBY LTD. 5, Warwick Court, London, W.C.l IN PRAISE OF BIRDS ===- ■ CANON C. E. RAVEN ‘ ‘ A very interesting account of a keen bird-lover’s journeys and observations. It is written in an easy style which is a pleasure to read.” — The Field. ; Dr. Raven in this selection gives the best of his ] studies of bird-life previously published. ” — John o' London's Weekly. Illustrated ISj'. net. I ATTFTSJ & UNWIN 1 i SMALL ADVERTISEMENTS I 7/6 for 3 lines (m/n;mum) ; 2 6 for each extra line or part thereof. For the use of a Box Number there is an extra charge of I /- ; Advertisements for a particular issue should reach this office by the 21st of the preceding month. All communications to be addressed to : — H. F. & G. Witherby Ltd., 5, Warwick Court, London, W.C. I. BINOCULARS. A wide range of first-class prismatic binoculars, both new and reconditioned, now available. We invite you to write for our latest lists and details of approval terms. The Hatton Optical Co. Ltd., Lansdowne, Bournemouth. TELESCOPES. A useful selection of telescopes now available; send for lists and approval terms. The Hatton Optical Co., Ltd., Lansdowne, Bournemouth. ) PLATE CAMERAS. A few rather good German plate cameras, sizes 2^ in.x j 3i in. and 9x 12 cm. with and without double extension; send for list. The Hatton Optical Co., Ltd., Lansdowne, Bournemouth. > THE BIRDS OF PEMBROKESHIRE. Edited by R. M. Lockley, G. C. S. Ingram and H. Morrey Salmon, with introduction and photographs, cloth bound 7s. 6d., post free: County Library, Haverfordwest, PEM. VALUABLE Birds Eggs skilfully repaired; also other delicate Collector’s speci- mens, such as Porcelain Figures, China Objects of Art, etc. Infinite pains taken for perfect results. Enquiries invited, A. Pearman, 43 The Ridge, Purley, Surrey. WANTED. — “British Birds", Parts 7 and 8, Volume 36 (1942) : The Librarian, The University, Bristol, 8. I Printed in Gt. Britain by The Riverside Press, Ltd., Twickenham, Middx. Published by H. F. & G. WITHERBY, LTD., 5 Warwick Court, W.C.l. BRITISH BIRDS AN ILLUSTRATED MAGAZINE DEVOTED CHIEFLY TO THE BIRDS ON THE BRITISH LIST BRITISH BIRDS EDITED BY BERNARD W. TUCKER, M.A., F.Z.S., M.B.O.U. ASSISTED BY Norman F. Ticehurst, o.b.e., m.a., f.r.c.s,, m.b.o.u. A. \V. Boyd, m.c., m.a., f.z.s., m.b.o.u. AND J. D. Wood, b.a., m.b.o.u. CoNTJiNTS OJ- Xu.MBlik 5, VuL. XLIU, .Mav, 1950 JU\(jE The Corn-Crake in Slietland. By L. S. and U. M. \'enables ... 137 !• urther note.s on the breeding of the Starling in \\’est Wales. Conijhled from the Journals of Bertram Lloyd ... ... ... ... ... 142 Heactions of some Passerine birds to a stuffed Cuckoo. 11. detailed .stud\- of the \Villow-Waii)ler. By George lulwards, Lric l losking and Stuart Smith ... ... ... ... ... ... 145 Studies of some species rarely jdiotographed. XX\1. Bonai)arlc’s Gull. Photographed by .Man D. Cruickshaiik ... ... ... 1^0 Xotes : Song of Jackdaw (C. K. Bird) ... ... ... ... ... ... i^i Pair of Golden Orioles in Cornwall in summer (.\. 11. Macpherson) i^i Waxwings in Britain in the winter of 1948-9 (The Editors)... ... ii;i Eirecre.sts in England, 1948-9 (The Editors) ... ... ... ... 153 Duration of song of Cluffchalf (P. E. Brown, M. G. Davies and hi. iM)tum) ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 133 Leg colour of Willow-Warbler (Henry Boase) ... ... ... 154 Whitethroat attacking weasel (Alan Iv. iMale) ... ... ... 153 Curious display of Song-Thrush (A. V. Cornish) ... ... ... 133 King-Ouzel breeding in Pembrokeshire (Brian C. Turner) ... ... 13b I'ood-washing by Blackbird (K. Watkin) ... ... ... ... 130 “ Smoke-bathing ” by House-Martins (Angela Pritchard) ... ... 156 Bee-eater in Radnorshire (Davina Stewart-Peter) ... ... ... 13b Tawny Owls found drowned (Alan E. Male) ... ... ... ... 137 Abnormal feeding habit of Kestrel in winter (D. 1'. Owen) ... 157 Buzzard settling on the sea (R. G. E. Stanes) ... ... ... 138 Breeding of Montagu’s Harriers in North \\'ales (E. K. Allin) ... 15S Pintail breeding in North Kent (E. H. Gillham) ... ... ... 139 Pintail breeding in Norfolk (Robin M. Harrison) ... ... ... 139 Cormorant drjdng wings on water (C. M. V’eysej' ; K. (J. Sjiencer) 139 Sun-bathing of Eulmar Petrel (A. G. Mason) L.. ••• ••• ••• i f>o Diversionary display of Curlew (K. G. Spencer) ... ... ... 160 Sun-bathing by Common Snipe (A. G. Mason) ... ... ... lOo Ked-necked Phalarope in Cheshire (A. W. Boyd) ... ... ... ibo Distraction display of Little Ringed Plover and call of nestling (C. C. Hutchinson, J. H. Sergeant and P. N. Crookenden) ... ibi Note of Lapwing (Robert E. Ruttledge) ... ... „. ... ibi Di.sjday Flight of I^apwing in autumn (Lt.-Col. H. C. B. Rogers) ... ibi White-winged Black Tern in Somerset (M. J. Wotton) ... ... lOi Bill colour of Roseate Tern (C. P'erry ; Bernard King) ... ... ibz Common Gull " paddling ” on grass (A. Denby \\ ilkinson) ... ... ib2 Skua-like tactics of Ccmimon Gull (Derek Goodwin) ... ... i()3 I'p-ending ” of Herring-Gull (K. E. L. Simmons) ... ... ... 163 Herring-Gull " paddling ” on grass (R. Ct. .\dams) ... ... ... 103 Great Black-backed Gull with 3'ellow legs (T. .V. \\'. Da\is)... ... 104 Continued on page Hi oJ cover. BRITISfi BIRDS Number 5, Vol. XLIII, May, 1950. THE CORN-CRAKE ON SHETLAND BY L. S. V. AND U. M. VE-NABLES Status and Distribution. In the results of the 1938-9 Corn-Crake {Crexcrex) enquiry (Norris, 1945 and 1947) it is stated ; “ In Shetland there has been a decrease over a number of years ” and : “In Shetland it is less numerous than in Orkney, especially in the northern isles, and is absent from some areas.” On the map in the first communication (p. 143 ; and re- produced in The Handbook, vol. v, p. 177) Shetland is included in those areas where the species is : “ Numerous. Little or no change of status beyond local fluctuations.” During our visits to various places in the islands we are repeatedly told either that there is a marked downward trend in Corn-Crake numbers or that the bird has almost or quite forsaken that particular district during living memory. Unst. Mr. Stephen Saxby of Baltasound said (1949) that Corn- Crakes fluctuate a good deal but with a gradual downgrade. Mr. Ian Sandison, speaking of the district round Houlland, said that it has been decreasing over recent years : he had heard none at all in 1948 or 1949. Yell. Mr. Charles Inkster of Mid-Yell wrote (Sept., 1949) : “ In my young days Corn-Crakes were here every summer, but for a number of years not one was seen or heard until last year when, as you know, two nests were destroyed during hay cutting at Setter, Mid-Yell. Again this year they were heard in Setter, but no nests found, the reaper being used there this season. So you see they are certainly almost altogether lost as a nesting species in Yell.” Fetlar. Yeates (1948) : “ Not heard on Fetlar in 1946, where the ground is especially suitable.” Foula. Miss Robina Isbister of Leraback told us (1948) that the Corn-Crake had been a fairly plentiful breeder on Foula up to 1946, but decreasing towards the end. None heard at all in 1947. One bird arrived in early July, 1948, during our visit, but it is not known whether it got a mate and nested. Fair Isle. Mr. George Stout of Field said (1948) that the Fair Isle population, always a variable one, has been going downwards on the whole during recent years. Mainland. Mr. Thomas Sinclair of Maywick told us (1948) that the Corn-Crake had been common there 20 years ago. Then it started to decrease and now there are none. This he attributed to the reduction of arable land in the township owing to its depopulation and consequent scarcity of young men. This might also be applicable to Foula. Mr. Charles Mitchell of Sound said that 1947 was the first year he remembered when no Corn-Crakes were heard there. 13.S BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XLIII. None has been heard there since. Mr. John Jamieson, the Agricul- tural County Organiser for Shetland, wrote (1949) : “ Almost unknown now in the district of Northmavine.” Mr. Theo. Kay of Lerwick says that within his memory there has been an obvious decrease over the whole of Mainland except, perhaps, in Dunrossness. To look further afield, Mr. George Arthur of Kirkwall tells us (1949) that Corn-Crake numbers appear to be going down on Orkney, while Williamson (1948, p. 326) records the species in Faeroe as : “ Scarce summer visitor to southern isles, apparently decreasing.” At the present day the distribution of Shetland Corn-Crakes is extremely local. Dunrossness, the large parish on the south end of Mainland, is in our experience the only place on the isles where the Corn-Crake is in any way still numerous. Even here the species has gone down quite obviously in the memory of the inhabitants. If Tudor (1883) is correct in his impression, the decrease must be very marked. He writes (p. 487) : ‘‘ This district in early summer simply swarms with Corn-Crakes, and walking to and from Sumburgh, on a fine evening, you hear the ‘ craik, craik ’ on every side of you.” This is ver}^ far from the case now. We have been struck by the fact that the parts of Shetland where the Corn-Crake may still be found are all areas where cultivation is intensive, where rotation grasses are a regular feature of the crop cycle and where stock is controlled in winter and not allowed to graze all over the arable land. Dunrossness, Baltasound and the Tingwall Valley are cases in point, but, on the other hand, there are such places as Sound from which the Corn-Crake has recently gone in spite of a similar agri- cultural system. Habitat. During 1948 and 1949 we gathered information on the nests of Corn-Crakes found when cutting the crops. Data concerning 47 nests were obtained ; 37 as the result of personal enquiry among Dunrossness crofters and 10 from correspondents in other parts of Shetland. The habitats of these nests are given in the right-hand column of Table i. The left-hand column gives the habitats from which we ourselves heard birds craking. We would often hear a bird calling day after day in the same place and under these circum- stances the habitat was recorded once only. Of the 50 recorded calling habitats, 39 were in Dunrossness. Indeed, the calling and nesting habitat figures were mainly obtained from the same area and in most cases they probably concern identical birds. In comparing the columns of Table i it will be seen that, though there is a reasonably close correspondence between the two in the case of rye-grass and other rotation grasses, this is not so in the other crops considered. Although 14 birds were heard calling in meadow grass only 5 nests were reported. This may be due to the fact that meadow grass (frequently merely the natural vegetation of marshy areas and locally referred to as ” bog hay ”) is rarely cut before the first week of August by which time the first-brood young would be VOL. XLIIL] THE CORN-CRAKE ON SHETLAND. 13!) active enough to move away and the inconspicuous nests could easily be overlooked. Our calling records suggest that meadow -grass is a more important Corn-Crake habitat than the nesting records indicate, though rotation grasses are undoubtedly the most popular nesting site. 68% of the calling records and 85% of the nests recorded were in rotation grasses. This, taken in conjunction with the fact that Corn-Crakes are chiefly found in those parts where -such planted grass is common, suggests that the present distribution of Corn-Crakes on Shetland is largely influenced by the distribution of rotation grasses. Table 1. — Habitats of Shetland Corn-Crakes. Crop Calling Habitats Number of Records Nesting Habitats Number of Records Rye-grass 32 37 Other Rotation grasses 2 3 Meadow grass 14 5 Oats o — Bere — 2 Total 50 47* * This column includes some nests for which exact data were not available and these are not included in Table 2. Corn-Crakes begin to arrive in early May (Maj^ gth, 1948 : May .4th, 1949), at which time meadow grass is scarce — grazed low by sheep and held back by salt-laden winter gales. The rigs intended for • here, oats, potatoes, cabbages and roots are utterly bare. Patches of 'rye-grass provide by far the best cover available and it is not to be 'wondered at that they act as magnets to the incoming birds which need both immediate shelter for themselves and a luxurious growth lin which to establish their nests. At this time the only alternative to rotation grasses is provided by occasional areas of coarse meadow • grass which for some reason (usually because they are too swampy in winter) have been left ungrazed. These are normally of the type classified by Norris (1947) as : “ Marshy and swampy grassland,” and in a wet season they do not dry out sufficiently for early occu- pation by Corn-Crakes. Although in some cases these areas adjoin the arable rigs they are extensive enough to offer alternative nesting territory. O’Dell (1939, p. 81) records that : ” Sown grasses occupy 3,508 acres in the islands as contrasted with 441 acres in 1870.” This acreage is certainly larger now (1949). In Dunrossness it was not until about 1880 that rye-grass was introduced (local inform- ation) but it must have been many years before it was grown there in its present abundance — approximately one-fifth of the total arable land. Rye-grass is an unfortunate choice of habitat for the Corn-Crake 140 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XLIII. since it is the earliest crop to be cut and is mown during July, exposing eggs and many broods of only a few days old. Norris (1947) suggests that ; “ . . . in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland approximately 75% of the mowing is done after the young birds are two and a half weeks old.” Owing to the birds’ fondness for rye- grass this would seem, unfortunately, not to be so in Shetland. The introduction of rotation grasses into the crofting routine may influ- ence not only the distribution but also the future of the Corn-Crake population on Shetland. Breeding and Harvesting Dates. Table 2 summarizes our data on the breeding dates of Shetland Corn-Crakes by dividing the records into 3 categories : eggs, chicks under one week old and chicks over one week old. This last division is only approximate. It is also limited in scope since really large chicks seem too active and cunning to be seen. These records were all obtained when the crops were cut, so the earlier records are all in rye-grass or other rotation grasses. These are the Hrst to be mown, beginning at the latter end of June, whereas meadow grass is not started until the end of July or early August. Referring to the I able it will be seen that the June records are for eggs only, several Table 2. — Breeding Dates of Shetland Corn-Crakes. (Each -f represents one clutch or lirood). Chicks Chicks C rop Date /•' uo<: under over a week a week old old U\-e-g!:iss 23 June + (o«) — — 29 + (^/9) — — 4 jiil.v -1- R/9) 4- + — 9 — + + + — 1 2 ,, • 4- — 13 .. — — + 14 — + + + + + 4- 15 4 (c/io) — Other Rotation f^rasses 15 -t- R\-c-ji;rass 16 ,, — + + — 17 — 4- — 19 4 (c/5) 20 ,, 4- (c/3) — — 21 — 4^ 22 4- (c/io) 24 4- (c/2) -f (c/i) — 28 „ 4 (c/?) — 29 4 (c/8) . Meadow p;rass 30 .. — 4- R}e-grass 2 Aug. 4- (c/7) Other Rotation grassses 3 4- (c/8) .. ,, 4 4- (c:'8) Meadow grass TO 4- > > • • • 0 ■ — 4- — ,, 17 4- (c/7) Here ... 30 ,, 4- (c/6) — ,, 3> 4- (c/?) ' — VOL. XLiii.] THE CORN-CRAKE ON SHETLAND. 141 broods of chicks under one week old were found in early July and live families of chicks over a week old in mid-July. These were the only large chicks noted and were probably a fortnight old at most. It appears from these records that the normal hatching date occurs in early July. If we set this normal hatching date about July ist, then incubation (14-18 days [Handbook&dXs)) would have commenced about June 13th to 17th. Yet eggs are still to be found 78 days later. In the absence of specihc evidence that the species is double brooded on Shetland it is reasonable to suppose that these late clutches are second attempts due to disturbance. When the grass is cut by hand the mowers keep a sharp watch for eggs or chicks. If the eggs are seen in time the usual practice is to leave an uncut patch round the nest. On a few occasions the incubating bird will return and succeed in hatching the eggs but more frequently she deserts, or gulls, crows and Ravens notice the eggs and take them. Most of the clutches of eggs given in Table 2 failed to hatch. If chicks are found they are caught and carried to some adjacent cover where (in most cases, at any rate) the adults hnd them. When hay is mown by hand the adults and large young are merely driven out of the crop and not driven to and butchered in the isolated central patch as happens with the decreasing-circle method of mechanical mowing. When the grass is cut by tractor the men still keep a bright lookout in the old tradition but frequently some of the chicks are killed before the brood is noticed. An attempt may be made to leave a patch of uncut grass round a nest of eggs but such nests are rarely seen before it is too late to save them. Mechan- ical mowing (either by small 6 horse-power tractors or larger tractors working for hire) is becoming more common every year, particularly in progressive agricultural districts where the rotation grasses are extensively cultivated. To sum up. The decrease in Shetland’s Corn-Crake population may to sorhe extent be a reflection of the earlier decrease throughout Britain, but the above observations indicate that the seeds of decline already exist in Shetland itself : (1) The drift of the Corn-Crake population to the rye-grass areas. (2) The early rye-grass harvest. This exposes many clutches of eggs which even if seen in time and left undisturbed are rarely successful. (3) The increasing use of mechanical mowing. REFERENCES. Norris, C. A. (1945). Summary of a Report 011 tJie Distribution and Status of the Corn-Crake [Crex crex). British Birds, xxxviii, pp. 142-8, 162-8. Norris, C. A. (1947). Report on the Dhstribution and Status of the Corn- Crake. British Birds, xl, pp. 226-44. O’Dell, Andrew C. (1939). The Historical Geography of the Shetland Islands. (Lerwick). Tudor, John R. (1883). The Orkneys and Shetland ; Their Past and Present State. (London). Williamson, Kenneth (1948). The Atlantic Islands. (London). Veates, G. K. (ioa8L Bird Haunts in Northern Britain. (London). (142) FURTHER NOTES ON THE BREEDING STATUS OF THE STARLING IN WEST WALES. Compiled from the Journals of Bertram Lloyd. (Through an unfortunate oversight, J. L. Davies was unaware of the existence of the above-named Journals when preparing his interesting paper on the breeding-status of the Starling [Sturnus vulgaris) in West Wales (Vol. xlii, pp. 369 et seq.) These Journals cover a period of nearly 20 years (1921-40) and they include an ex- haustive survey of the whole of Pembrokeshire and parts of Cardiganshire and Carmarthenshire. It will be seen that some eight definite breeding-localities, and one probable one are added to those listed by J. L. Davies. — S. Lloyd). Littlehaven. — July, 1925. Starlings scanty ; a pair or two nesting in the village. St. David’s. — July 13th, 1925. At Penycwm a flock of 20 young birds ; and a flock of 50 coming to roost in the cathedral ruins at 8 p.m. So the species is beginning to thrive here as a breeder as well as a winter migrant. It is far commoner here than along the South Cardigan coast. On June 21st, 1927, a big flock (well over 100) flying above Dowrog mere, and on June 22nd a dozen in flock near Solva. September 4th, 1930 — The species is still not very common in this rich corn and pasture district. A flock of about 50 is to be seen daily near the city. Angle. — May. 1926, plenty nesting hereabouts. And again in May, 1928, the .species was found not to be rare ; several pairs nesting in Angle. Newport. — June 13th, 1926. Flock of 20 seen near the Parrog. Evidently a few pairs nesting here. In July, 1927, they were found to be increasing, a party of 10 (adults and young) seen on the marsh. Tenby. — According to Dr. Howells “ some breed in summer, great swarms in winter.” May 29th, 1927, very uncommon here; a few in the town. April 17th, 1930, fairly common breeders here now. A flock of 30 at the town rubbish-tip. I saw several pairs building in the broken roof of the old harbour-house on the quay, and several about on chimney pots. In June, 1931, the town summer flock came over the marsh in the evenings, consisting of not more than 30 birds — a sign that the species is not yet an abundant breeder hereabouts. Goodwick. — In 1926 according to R. Dougall, a local observer. Starlings are very rare here in the breeding season. Last spring he could find only two nests, one in the church tower, and one on the roof of a house in the town. On June 24th, 1927, six or more seen near Goodwick, where a few pairs only nest. Manorbier. — June 2nd, 1926 Relatively common in these parts. We saw one flock of 40 here, old and young ; and others were about. \Caldey. — In a list of birds noted here on June 3rd, 1927, Starlings are mentioned ns ‘‘ common ; a score seen together.” (This being VOL. XLiii.] BREEDING OF STARLING IN W. WALES. 143 in the height of summer, might possibly be taken as proof of breed- ing? (S.L.)). Starlings were heard singing on Caldey on April 24th, 1930] . Mynnachlog-ddu. — A party of six were seen here on June 15th, 1927, and a note added : “ probably increasing their range steadily, though still scanty in the hill country in summer.” Cardigan Town. — On June 12th, 1926, a flock of 20 feeding near Cardigan Station. Relatively scarce in breeding season. A few pairs also seen in the town on May i8th, 1930. On August 6th, 1938, a flock of 20 in the town, very much at home, were evidently locally bred (or breeders). An increasing species here no doubt. A flock of 30 or so were seen on roofs in the High Street on August 13th of the same year. Linney Head. — May 22nd, 1929. This species is a very scarce breeder hereabouts still. A pair nesting in a crevice near the cliff- top, among Razorbills, Puffins and Jackdaws. How amazingly adaptable this species is in its nesting ! Ejecting Pied Woodpeckers and using their holes (e.g. in Hearn Castle woods) ; ejecting Swifts ; using house-roofs, towers etc. A note under date July 26th, 1931, (only two years later !) states ‘‘ Several biggish flocks on the cliffs from Linney Head to Bosherston. Many breed aboiit here.” So evidently there had been an increase of the species as a breeder in this area (S.L.). St. Dogmael’s. — June 4th, 1929. Several of this locally scarce breeder here. And again on May i8th, 1930, a few pairs were about at St. Dogmael’s and Poppit. Certainly spreading steadily in North Pern, as well as in the south of the county. (144) REACTIONS OF SOME PASSERINE BIRDS TO A STUFFED CUCKOO. II. A DETAILED STUDY OF THE WILLOW-WARBLER. BY George Edwards, Eric Hosking and Stuart Smith In a previous paper [British Birds, Vol. xlii, pp. 13-19) we described the reactions of various small passerine birds to a stuffed Cuckoo [Cuculus canonis) placed in their nesting territories. 'I'hese experiments, which were exploratory in nature, raised a number of interesting problems, and it became evident that if we were to obtain answers to certain of them, it would be necessary to give close study to a single species during the whole of the breeding period. We chose for this study the Willow- Warbler [Phylloscopus trochilus) because it is a common bird whose nest is not very difficult to find, and one which reacts strongly to a stuffed Cuckoo. It can be shown mathematically that if one assumes a probability of at least 0.05 (one in twenty) to be desirable, then at least 10 experiments on one species must be carried out to obtain significant results from which sound deductions can be made. Altogether we found, and did experiments at, 14 nests of the Willow-Warbler, whilst in addition, experiments were tried in 6 territories of cock birds of this species, from the day of their arrival in mid-April until the beginning of nest construction. The results relating to the period of territory formation, therefore, are not so significant as those obtained at the nests. During this intensive study we attempted, among other things, to answer the following questions [a) What effect has the stage reached in the breeding cycle on the reactions of the birds ? [b) Has any particular part of the Cuckoo a specially high signifi- cance in evoking attack ? [c) Is the Cuckoo “ recognized ” as such by the Willow- Warblers, and can they differentiate one dummy from another? These questions, and the experimental data obtained during their elucidation, are dealt with below. [a] Effect of stage reached in breeding cycle. It is convenient to divide the breeding cycle into four periods, namely, (i) from the arrival of the cock birds to the start of nest construction ; (ii) the period including nest-construction, clutch - completion, and incubation ; (iii) the period during which the brood is in the nest ; and (iv) the post-fledging period. (i) The first cock Willow-Warblers arrived in their territories in the North Cheshire area in mid-April, and experiments were started on the day of their arrival. There were two cocks singing vigorously on the 13th, three on the 14th, and five on the i8th. The sixth did not VOL. XLiii.] REACTIONS TO A STUFFED CUCKOO. 145 arrive until April 24th. The method of experimentation at this stage was to use stuffed Cuckoos specially prepared for us in which a stout wire protruded through the belly. This wire was thrust down the hollow inside of a 10 foot bamboo cane, and the Cuckoo could then be lifted nearly 20 feet into the tree in which a bird might be singing. Animation could be give to the Cuckoo by slightly rotating the cane in either direction. The birds reacted at once to this, even though an observer held the cane in his hand, but once a bird’s attention had been drawn by such methods to the Cuckoo, the cane was normally thrust into the ground and reactions observed from a distance. In general, during this period, the following may be taken to summarize average reaction to the dummy, though there were individual variations between different cocks. The results are based on 42 hours of watching and experimenting in the six territories. Immediately on arrival and for a period afterwards (which is variable and which probably corresponds to that before the hens arrive) the cock Willow- War biers respond to the Cuckoo by posturing at it with “ flicking ” wings and very loud and sustained song. Occasonally the chittering “ chee-chee ” note, which is such a feature of later display, is used against the dummy, but not at all frequently. On no single occasion was an actual attack made on the dummy, the chief features being a close approach and vigorous and sustained singing. As soon as a hen bird arrived and one of the cocks had paired with her, reaction of that cock to the Cuckoo diminished quickly. In two instances, paired cock Willow- War biers ceased altogether to react to the Cuckoo, although they continued to sing in their territories and attack other Willow-Warblers which ven- tured in. Reaction to the Cuckoo during territory formation, seems strongest in the region of the song-post, but thereafter it is strongest in the area of the nest. It seems probable that during this stage when the cock birds are forming their territories, the Cuckoo has no very great “ valence ” for the Willow- Warbler, and that reaction to it may take place more because of the high general level of aggressive potential within the birds, than from specific reaction to the dummy as a Cuckoo. Cock birds which were merely passing through on migration did not react to the Cuckoo at all, although they sang whilst resting in areas as yet untenanted by other Willow-Warblers. Thus in one case, the behaviour of a cock bird which was singing in one area puzzled us at first because, whenever the Cuckoo was presented to it, the bird flew away to a distance. Next day, however, this bird had disappeared and was evidently a passing migrant. (ii) Experiments were conducted at three nests during the build- ing stage, at four nests during laying and incubation of the eggs, and at seven nests with young in various stages of development. In only one case were the three stages of building, laying and incu- bation, and rearing of the young, investigated consecutively at U() BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XLIII. one and the same nest, since at two of the three nests found in the building stage, the experiments resulted in the birds abandoning the nest before it was completed. This desertion of nests at the building stage, if experiments are attempted, was also noted by Lack to occur with three Robins {Erithacus nibecula), {Life of the Robin, Witherby, London, 1943). It should be noted, however, that in the case of the nest at which experiments were carried out through all three stages, the reaction at any one stage duplicated exactly that obtained at other nests at which only one, or sometimes two stages were investigated. The general picture, allowing for small individual variations from pair to pair, is fairly constantly as follows. During the nest- building period the Willow- Warbler reacts to the Cuckoo with chittering and wing-flicking, but not with an attack. At one nest, completed externally but not lined, a stuffed Cuckoo placed in a bush a yard above the nest evoked loud chittering and wing-shaking from the pair. This brought in other Willow- Warblers until there were six birds of this species in the small bush, all demonstrating against the Cuckoo. There was no attack, however, although occa- sionally two of the cocks would sing a snatch of song and then attack one another. While the six birds were in the bush, a live Cuckoo came to a tree 20 yards away and called. Two of the Willow- Warblers then left the bush and flew to the tree, where they chittered and demon- strated against the live Cuckoo. Later, this nest was deserted, as was one other at which experiments were done during the building stage. As soon as egg-laying starts, reaction to the Cuckoo becomes more violent. At a nest with four fresh eggs of an incomplete clutch, the hen bird returned soon after a dummy Cuckoo had been placed just above the nest. She demonstrated by chittering and flicking her wings, but did not attack. When the cock arrived three minutes later, he attacked at once and the hen joined in, and the combined attack was violent enough to knock over the dummy. After incubation has started, violent attack by both birds of the pair is general, and accompanied by the usual chittering and wing- flicking. (hi) With young in the nest, reaction to the Cuckoo is immediate, violent, and sustained, and does not seem to vary with the degree of development of the young. (iv) In the post-fledging period, experimental work is difficult and uncertain, especially after the young have scattered, but at two nests at which we were able to experiment on the day the young were leaving, or had just left, the nest, the adult birds persisted in attacking the Cuckoo so long as the young remained near to the site of the nest. On the following day, however, when the young were more scattered, the adults no longer attacked the Cuckoo, even though it was placed in its previous position immediately over the VOL. XLiii.] REACTIONS TO A STUFFED CUCKOO. U7 nest. The young were by this time scattered over a radius of about 20 yards from the nest-site, and the adult birds merely chittered at the Cuckoo and flicked their wings. This marked diminution in aggressive behaviour after the young are well clear of the nest duplicates what we observed at a Nightin- gale’s [Luscinia megarhyncha) nest, where violent attack on a dummy ceased quickly a few minutes after the young had scattered into the undergrowth around the nest. Although violent attacks on the Cuckoo occur in the area imme- diately surrounding the nest during the incubation and fledging periods, the cock Willow-Warblers will react to the Cuckoo by chitter- ing and wing-flicking at any point within their territories. Indeed, it is possible to obtain a fairly clear idea of the extent of any territory by studying the reaction of the cock birds to a Cuckoo. Thus our friend, Edward Bradbury, experimented with a Willow- Warbler which had a territory in a field adjoining his garden. When he appeared in the field with the stuffed Cuckoo in his hand, the cock Willow- Warbler would fly towards him calling with the chittering note. It would then follow him down one hedge-side and half way along another hedge until a small oak tree was reached. Beyond this point the bird refused to go, and reaction ceased as he passed into the next bird’s territory. This experiment was exactly repeated on five separate occasions. Conversely, one of us (S.S.) was able to find the whereabouts of two Willow- Warblers’ nests by moving a Cuckoo about in the territories and noting the violence of the reaction from the birds. On many occasions we have placed stuffed Cuckoos at random in woods, coppices and gardens and invariably they attract a variety of birds, amongst which Willow- Warblers are always prominent with their chittering note and wing-flicking. Only when they have a nest very near to the position of the Cuckoo does any attack take place. {b) Has any particular part of the Cuckoo a special significance ? Almost without exception, the area of attack on the Cuckoo dummies (and for that matter on any dummy which evokes attack) is the head and especially the eyes, crown and nape. We therefore investigated experimentally the question of the valence of different parts of the Cuckoo’s body. We made first of all a wooden form, roughly shaped like a bird’s body and having holes and slits cut into it so that a tail, wings, and head and breast could be independently attached to it. Fig. i shows the wooden body, and Figs. 2 and 3 show first the tail and wings attached, and then in addition, the head. At four separate nests, containing young in all stages of growth, we tried the following sequence : wooden body alone ; body plus tail ; body plus tail plus wings ; body, tail, wings and head. General reaction was as follows. With the wooden body alone, the birds took very little notice, although they obviously saw 148 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XLIII. it and usually flitted around uneasily for a short while before feeding the young. Reaction to the body with tail, and then with tail plus wings added, was more obvious than to the body alone. In one case the hen called once or twice with the fear note (“ hewie ”) ; in two other cases, where the pair arrived with food together there was a little chittering and wing-flicking but no attack. As soon as the head was added, however, in all cases violent and immediate attacks were made on it. We also tried, at one nest with small young, the wooden body with head alone added, and got an immediate attack (Fig. 4). We next tried the effect of the head alone, with no body attached, at three other nests with young at which experiments had not pre- viously been tried. At each one, the head and a few breast feathers were wired on to a stick and placed near to the nest. Very violent attacks occured in each case. Figs. 5 and 6 show the Willow- Warblers attacking this wired-up head. In one case we fixed pieces of tape over the eyes of the head and found reaction was diminished so that no actual attack occurred, but we put this fact forward with reserve as only one experiment was carried out in this way to test the significance of the eyes. It is interesting to note that a carved wooden Cuckoo-shaped bird with metal tail and wings, and correctly coloured glass eyes (Fig. 7) failed completely to evoke an attack by Willow- War biers with young. Later the same birds readily attacked the feathered head of a Cuckoo attached to a stick. It seems evident from these experiments that the part of the Cuckoo having the highest significance or “ valence ” for the Willow- Warblers is the head, and Hartley {An Experimental Analy- sis of Interspecific Recognition, 1949, in press) has summarized other examples which confirm that the head or face of a bird are of prime importance in the processes of recognition. (c) “ Recognition ” of the Cuckoo. Previous experiments {vide antea, Vol. xlii, p. 19) had indicated that several species of passerine birds could differentiate a stuffed Cuckoo from a stuffed Jay {Garrulus glandarius) or hen Sparrow-Hawk {Accipiter nisus), but we were anxious to go more fully into this question witli our Willow- War biers. We therefore arranged a series of tests with the following dum- mies : (a) the composite Cuckoo described above ; (b) a whole Cuckoo ; (c) a hen Sparrow-Hawk ; (d) a cock Sparrow-Hawk standing over prey ; (e) a Red-footed Falcon {Falco vespertinus). The order of presentation of these dummies was varied, both from trial to trial, and from nest to nest. We had previously noticed that change from one type of reaction to another, when tlie birds were presented successively with two different dummies, was rarely immediate. The birds appeared to go through a stage of indecision in which one type of reaction slowly faded and its place was taken gradually by the other. As an example, we frequently got both the “ chittering ” and “ hewie ” notes VOL. XLiii.] REACTIONS TO A STUFFED CUCKOO. 149 immediately after removing a Cuckoo and substituting a Sparrow- Hawk, and only after several minutes did the birds go over com- pletely from an aggressive to a fear reaction. It was as though the visual “ imprinting ” of the image of the first dummy was overlaid by that of the second, and that as the latter increased in strength the former slowly died away. We therefore decided on a very quick change round of the dummies. As soon as the birds had given one typical reaction (e.g., the chittering call followed by one attack) we changed to the next dummy. This gave us remarkably clear-cut, and almost immediate, changes in reaction, and also by changing our dummies round rapidly we could make a large number of observations in a comparatively short time. Typical of our results at five different nests may be cited the following, which represent work at one nest which contained young just ready to leave. We placed a stout stick in the ground and fixed the dummies to it in various orders. In all, five trials were carried out, each starting in turn with a different dummy, and follow- ing with the others in the order given below. The reactions observed were recorded and were as follows. Dummy Wooden Cuckoo with tail and wings. Wooden Cuckoo with tail and wings, plus head Whole Cuckoo. Hen Sparrow-Hawk. Red-footed Falcon. Cock Sparrow-Hawk with raised wings, standing on prey. Reaction Fear reaction ; “ hewie ” note. Aggressive reaction, “ chittering ” note and attack. Violent aggressive reaction. “ Chitter- ing ” note and attack on dummy whilst held in hand. Fear reaction ; “ hewie ” note. Aggressive reaction : “ chittering ” and attack. Very strong fear reaction ; “ hewie ” note and spasmodic fluttering of wings. These reactions were clear-cut, and repeatable for the five orders of presentation of the dummies that we tried. Experiments at this nest lasted about 4 hours. The reaction to the Red-footed Falcon is of great interest, since although the hooked beak of the raptor was there, the general colouration and shape of head of this stuffed bird approximated to those of the Cuckoo. It is fairly certain from these experiments that Willow- War biers have a visual concept of “ cuckoo ” associated with a head which is blue-grey in colour, and that they have a specific reaction to this concept which is aggressive in character, and typified by a specific, chittering “ chee-chee ” note, accompanied by wing-flicking and by actual physical attack on the head. Although, in most of the trials, we were able to change the dum- mies very quickly, there were one or two instances where we did not 150 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XLIII. do this (|uickly enough to get the change of reaction quite clear-cut. Thus, in going from whole Cuckoo to hen Sparrow-Hawk we once or twice got the chittering note just after the change over, when this had taken us longer to accomplish than some others. To demonstrate the extremely high retention of the visual image, we left a Cuckoo head in place at one nest for 9 minutes during which both birds made violent attacks on it. We then removed it but left in position the perch on which it had been fixed. The Willow- Warblers continued to fly to the perch and to “ chitter ” and flick their wings for 30 minutes after the removal of the dummy (Fig. 8). 'I'his persistence of visual image after removal of the object causing it, is a common feature of bird behaviour, and explains such appar- ently abnormal behaviour as the return of a bird to the spot in mid- air where a sawn-ofl branch, containing its nest, had previously been sited. Finally we wish to acknowledge the help we have received from various ornithologists during the course of this work. Mr. Peter Hartley, of the Edward Grey Institute at Oxford, helped us to crystallize our ideas on the psychological aspects of the work at a critical stage and made several valuable suggestions for experimental work. He also carved for us the complete wooden Cuckoo. Mr. A. Hazlewood, of the Bolton Museum, was instrumental in getting for us a number of Cuckoo skins from a taxidermist’s old stock, and went to considerable trouble to stuff these specially with peat and to insert stout wires for our convenience. Mr. R. Wagstaffe, Keeper of the Yorkshire Museum, also supplied us with stuffed specimens under the British Trust for Ornithology Study-Material Service. STUDIES OF SOME SPECIES RARELY PHOTOGRAPHED. XXVI. BONAPARTE’S GULL. (Plate 33). Photographed by All.an U. Cruickshank. In view of the Sussex record of tins very rare American vagrant [Lams Philadelphia) published in our last number [antea, p. 134), Mr. Cruickshank’s excellent photograph has a topical interest. It shows a bird in winter plumage, when, as will be seen, the species closely resembles a Black-headed Gull [Lams ridihundus) except for the smaller size and black bill. In the summer plumage the dark slate-coloured hood is distinctive. (151) NOTES. SONG OF JACKDAW. Since the “ song ” of the Jackdaw {Corviis monedula) is described in The Handbook as “ a low rippling affair,” the following will be of interest. On April 5th, 1949, at 15.20 B.S.T., near Farncombe, Surrey, 1 heard what appeared to be the song of a Jackdaw. This song took the form of a series of fairly harsh notes, which can be rendered thus : ‘‘ chack-chack c\\ah chah cha,” with a pause of about half a second between the last ” chack ” and the hrst ” chah,” the last note following straight on after the last “ chaA ” and not lasting more than a quarter of a second. Each series of notes lasted about five seconds, the whole performance lasting about four minutes. After this the bird flew off with a very slow flight, the wings being depressed to only about half the normal extent in each beat. The song was delivered from the branch of a tree about thirty feet from the ground. C. R. Bird. PAIR OF GOLDEN ORIOLES IN CORNWALL IN SUMMER. On July 29th, 1949, at 14.30, on a plateau near the cliffs at Mullion Cove, Cornwall, Mrs. L. Dare, Mrs. Y. Macpherson, J. Dare and I saw a pair of Golden Orioles {Oriolus oriolus). We were at first attracted by the harsh parrot-like call, ‘‘ ky-aak”, and immediately afterwards the male flew from some adjoining bushes directly across our path in a north-easterly direction. The bird was closely followed, and on reaching some trees sur- rounding a neighbouring garden again flew across the path, this time accompanied by a bird of similar size, but of duller colouration — presumed to be the female. Both birds then made off towards the chffs in a S.W. direction. The yellow head and shoulders and black wings and tail of the male were very striking, and in flight the yellow edges of the tail showed Very distinctly. The female was only seen against the sun, appearing similar in marking to the male, but distinctly duller and greener. During flight the male gave the same call, previously described, several times. The birds were well seen through x 10 glasses. A. H. Macpherson. [Statements appearing in the press during July, 1949, suggested that Golden Orioles were present in unusual numbers at that time, but we have not received sufficient records to indicate that there was a genuine invasion. We have, however, been informed by Mr. L. W. Hayward that two Golden Orioles were present for about a fortnight up to July 14th, 1949, in a garden at Cheltenham, Glos. Mr. Hayward did not himself see the birds, but is satisfied that they were correctly identified and that both were males. — Eds ]. WAXWINGS IN BRITAIN IN THE WINTER OF 1948-9. A NUMBER of readers have sent reports of Waxwings {Bombicylla garrulus) observed during the winter of 1948-9. These reports 162 BRITISH BIRDS [VOL. XLIII. cover quite a wide area, but the total number of birds observed was very small by comparison with that observed in the invasion of 1946-7, too small in fact to constitute an invasion in the proper sense of the term ; nevertheless, it is clear that there were a number of Waxwings about. From the records published below the following points emerge and seem to be worthy of mention. First, rather more than 200 birds were reported ; secondly, just over half the birds were seen in the southern and eastern counties ; thirdly, more birds were recorded in February, 1949, than in any other month and a considerable proportion stayed on till March ; fourthly, very few birds were seen before the end of 1948 and nearly all of them were in the north. It is perhaps unwise to generalize from such small figures, but it will be noticed that the distribution of records is very different from that recorded in 1946-7 {vide antea, Vol. xli, pp. 2-9, 34-40), when the invasion was heaviest in the north and in November and December. It is tempting to suppose that the bulk of the birds reported in 1949 were part of the return wave of an invasion which, on its outward journey, missed the British Isles altogether. Several observers sent notes on food. As in 1946-7 haws were a favourite food item, being reported from Winchester, Tonbridge, Royston, Cambridge and Lowestoft. Cotoneaster berries were taken at Lowestoft, as well as at Shinfield, Berks, and Beccles, Suffolk, where the species were identified as C. Simonsii and C. frigida respectively. Other food items reported are Japanese Bird- Cherry and holly berries at Lowestoft, a cultivated Rowan {Pyrus aucuparia) at Scarborough and Juniper (Juniperus communis) at Cran Loch, Nairn. Flycatcher-like flights are reported from Cambridge, Scarborough and Cran Loch, Nairn. Several observers report birds seen drinking. An account of a display observed at Sandwich, Kent, has already been published {antea, vol. xlii, p. 387). " Billing ” was observed at Cambridge. Trilling notes were heard from several birds and at Winchester “ spasmodic song ” was recorded. The observers whose names appear in the summary below are thanked for their contributions to this short report. Birds were reported as follows ; . Dorset. — Near Crichel, north of Wimborne, " a small flock ” shortly before Feb. 24th {per K. B. Rooke). Hampshire. — St. Cross, Winchester, 2, Feb. 13th, 15th and i6th, 5, Feb. 17th and 2oth (G. G. Pierce, B. Goater, E. Lucas, M. T. Myres and Winchester College N.H. Soc.). Berkshire. — Shinfield, near Reading, one, March loth (M. E. Castle). Buckinghamshire.- — High Wycombe, one seen by M. J. Porter, Jan. 21st (H. A. Bilby). Surrey.— Whyteleafe Hill, “ a large flock,” Jan. 21st ; ” a smaller flock,” Jan. 28th, Feb. 8th (Mrs. E. E. Camber). Kent. — Near Canterbury, one, Jan 20th, 2, Feb. I4th-i6th (W. Stephen- Jones et al.)\ Sandwich, 4 or 5, Feb. 20th (V. C. W. Lewis); Tonbridge 3, early Feb. to Feb. i6th, 4 on various dates, Feb. i6th to Mar. 7th (J. C. Felton); Sevenoaks, one. Mar. 27th (B. M. Stratton). British Birds, Vol. xliii, PI. 2(i. Experiments with dummy Cuckoos. Fig. I. Body of sectional Cuckoo. Fig. 2. Sectional Cuckoo with tail and wings att.ached. {Photographed by Eric Hosking). British Birds, V0I. xliii, Pi. 27. Exi’hkimknts with dummy Cuckoos. Ki^. 3. Skction.m, Cuckoo with hi:.m>, t.mi. .\nd wincis. I'i^. 4. Willow-Wakblhk {I’hvlloscopiis h'orhili(s) .vnACKiNc hicm) ok ClICKOO ATTACHIH) TO WOODICN HODV. [Photoiiraphetl hy l■■Klc IIoskinc,). Britisli Birds, Vol. xliii, PI. 28. Experiments with dummy Cuckoos. Willow-Warbler attacking head of dummy Cuckoo. [Photographed by Eric Hosking). Experimknts with dummy Cuckoos. ]''ig. 6. WlLLOW-W.^RBLHRS ATTACKING IIKAI) OF I)^.’MM^■ Cl’CKOO. ( / ’hotop’dphed by li r i c H osk i n g) . British Birds, Vol. xliii, PI. 80 Experiments with dummy Cuckoos. Fig. 7. C.\RVED Cuckoo with eyes and metal tail and wings. Fig. 8. Willow-Warbler demonstrating with wing-flicking and WITH CHITTERING NOTE ON STICK FRO.M WHICH THE CuCKOO HEAD HAS BEEN REMOX'ED. [Photographed by luiic Hosking). British Birds, Vol. xliii, PI. 31. NF.WLV H.^TCHED NESTLINGS, NORFOLK, , 1949. (See l•.■\GE 159). British Birds, Vol. xliii, PI. 32. Upper : Fulmar [Fulmanif; glacialis) sux-bathing, Great Saltee Island, Co. Wexford. (See page i6o). {Photographed hy G Mason), Lower : Ring used by Royal Dutch Hawking Club for marking Herons. (See Letter, page 165). {Photographed by M. J. Tekke) British Birds, Vol. xliii, PI. 33 Bon.^parte’s Gull (Larus Philadelphia) in winter plumage. {Photographed by Allan D. Cruikshank). VOL. XLIII.] NOTES. 153 Hertfordshire. — Royston, one, Mar. 9th, 2 on most days to Mar. 17th ; " about a dozen ” reported at same place on Mar. 7th or 8th (C. Jobling and H. A. Course). Northamptonshire.— Near Northampton, 6, Jan. 9th, one, Jan. i6th, 3, Jan. 23rd, 30th and Feb. 6th, one, Feb. 13th and 20th (R. E. Burton). Cambridgeshire. — Cambridge, 2, Mar. 12th and 13th (P. F. Yeo, M. Plaxton) ; Newmarket Heath, one. Mar. 13th; Caxton, 2, Feb. 25th (C. F. Tebbutt). Suffolk. — Oulton Broad, Lowestoft, up to 30, mid-Feb. to April loth (J. G. Warner); between Leiston and Saxmundham, one, Feb. i6th (A. W. P. Robertson); Beccles, one. Mar. i8th-2oth (G. B. G. Benson); Bury St. Ed- munds, 7, Mar. 31st and April ist (B. O. Wilding D. V. Butt). Norfolk. — Salthouse, 3, Dec. 28th, 1948 (R. G. Pettitt, M. E. Giles). Yorkshire. — Middlesborough, about 30 during December, 1948 {per G. W. Temperley); Spurn Point, one, Jan. loth (K. Fenton); Pannett Park, Whitby, 6, Feb. 7th, 8, Feb. 8th, at Irast 12, Feb. iith (C. E. A. Burnham); Scar- borough, up to 24, Mar. nth (A. J. Wallis, D. Wheatley, B. Wood). Durham. — Darlington, one. Mar. 12th, 2, Mar. 13th {per G. W. Temperley). Northumberland. — Hexham, one picked up dead, Nov. 20th, 1948 ; near East Bolton, Alnwick, 2, Dec., 1948-Jan., 1949 {per G. W. Temperley); Beal, 13 and 17 in separate flocks, Feb. 6th (D. R. Shannon). Nairn. — Cran Loch, 4, Feb. 20th (R. Hewson, Dr. R. Richter). We shall be glad to receive reports of Waxwings in the winter, 1949-50. The Editors. FIRECRESTS IN ENGLAND, 1948-9. As already reported {antea, vol. xlii, pp. 244-5) a Firecrest {Regulus ignicapillus) was trapped at Skokholm, Pembrokeshire, on April 17th, 1949. A published request {loc. cit.) for further records has brought in the following ; Devonshire. — Newton Ferrers, one clearly identified on Jan. 6th. No more observed in spite of careful watch until Mar. 6th, when two seen (O. D. Hunt); Lundy, one. Mar. nth, 12th and 15th {per Hugh Boyd). Wiltshire. — Shearwater, S.W. Wilts., two identified with Goldcrests {R. regulus), Nov. 21st, 1948 (E. M. Cawkell and J. Southern). Huntingdonshire. — Glatton, one caught by cat, identified and released, Feb., 1949 {per C. F. Tebbutt). Kent. — Dungeness Point, one with migrant Willow-Warblers {Phylloscopus trochilus), April 16th and 17th, 1949 (M. Romer). Sussex. — Hove, one, Nov. nth, 1948; Eastbourne, one, Dec. 22nd, 1948 {Sussex Bird Report (1948), pp. 8-9); Mile Oak, Southwick, two, Jan. 2nd, 1949 (W. R. P. Bourne); near East Dean, one. Mar. 24th, 1949 ; near mouth of Cuckmere, two, April 6th, 1949 (D. D. Harber). Suffolk. — Thorpeness, one watched at close range in a thorn bush, April 4th, 1949 (W. S. Medlicott). Worcestershire. — Bartley, one, Nov. 6th, 1948 (A. R. Blake); Stanford-on- Teme, one, Nov. 27th, 1948 ; Ipsley, one, Jan. 22nd, 1949 (G. C. Lambourne). The Editors. DURATION OF SONG OF CHIFFCHAFF. This note arises as a by-product of work undertaken by us on the song of the Chiffchaff [Phylloscopus collybita) in relation to various stages of the breeding-cycle. In 1948 and 1949 we timed 19,144 song-phrases of eight birds in four different localities in Hertford- shire, Middlesex, Berkshire and Hampshire. Observations extended 154 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XLIII. from March 26th to September 17th and were reasonably equably spread over all daylight hours. The Handbook states that the song is “ continued without break up to 15 seconds or longer,” which is so vague that it may be misleading. We found that almost exactly half of the song-phrases were between and 5| seconds in duration, whilst only 2.4 per cent, exceeded 15^ seconds. About one song in a thousand exceeded half-a-minute, the longest timed phrase being 48 seconds. In the accompanying graph we have plotted the frequency-curve for 18,755 song-phrases which were 15^ seconds or less in duration. It should be noted that the figure for 2 seconds is the aggregate of songs between and seconds in duration, and likewise with succeeding numbers. But this arrangement means that the first frequency -group covers songs from 0 to seconds, which is an interval 50 per cent, greater than any of the others. We have therefore multiplied this first group of figures by two-thirds, and we have plotted the result at the f-second mark on the horizontal scale in order to avoid graphical error. The actual figures upon which the graph is based may be shown in tabular form. Duration of song in seconds CiRAPH TO ILLUSTRATE DURATION OF SONG-PHRASES OF ChIFFCHAFF, BASED ON 18,755 TIMED SONGS. (SONG PHRASES OVER 1 5 J SECONDS ARE NOT INCLUDED.) P. E. Brown, M. G. Davies and E. Mytum. LEG COLOUR OF WILLOW-WARBLER. With reference to the recent note on this matter {antea, vol. xhi, p. 245), I have seen on various occasions during the August drift in southeast Perth, Willow- Warblers (Phylloscopus trochilus) with legs of a greyish-purple hue, quite different from the normal straw to brown colour. Some variation in the colour of the bill has also occurred, from pale orange brown to dull brown. Henry Boase. VOL. XLIII.] NOTES. 155 WHITETHROAT ATTACKING WEASEL. On June i8th, 1949, I was searching for the nest of a Wliitethroat [Sylvia communis) on Carrington Moss, Cheshire, when I heard the harsh “ charr, charr ” note. In order not to leave any unneces- sary tracks I withdrew 7 or 8 yards to see if either of the birds would go down to the nest. After 10 minutes or so the hen went down and disappeared in the undergrowth. Almost immediately I heard the “ charr, charr ” and " tacc, tacc ” notes accompanied by a scuffling sound in the undergrowth. The disturbance in the grass grew nearer with the cock Whitethroat fluttering excitedly above it. Just as I was about to move forward to investigate, a Weasel [Putonus vulgaris), with the hen Wliitethroat in its mouth, came out into the open 6 feet c>r so from where I was standing. No sooner had the Weasel emerged from the grass than the cock flew at it buffeting and striking it with its beak. The cock made 7 such attacks in all and each time the Weasel stopped but did not drop its prey. After the seventh attack the cock dropped right in front of the Weasel and fluttered along the ground with its wings outspread. The Weasel ran with difficulty, zigzagging along the road with the cock fluttering ahead. After proceeding in this manner for 25 to 30 yards the Weasel again took to cover and 1 saw no more of the incident. I found the half-lined nest later, and judging by the wet excreta which were in it I should say that the bird had been caught on the nest. Out of curiosity I visited the nest again on the following day and was amazed to find that the excreta had been removed and that the nest was completely lined. It seems strange to me that the cock, or the hen if it escaped, should return to a nest from which one of them had previously been taken. It would be interesting to know whether there are any other similar incidents on record of a lone attack by a small bird on a M’easel. Alan E. Male. CURIOUS DISPLAY OF SONG-THRUSH. On August i6th, 1949, at 7.30 (B.S.T.) I noticed a Song- Thrush [Turdus ericetorum) on the ground below my bedroom window. It was being chased by a second Thrush, and both appeared to be birds of the year. They remained about 2 feet apart, with alternate short rushes and pauses. This happened several times, and then the leading bird ran up to a scarlet geranium, jumped up, and pecked off a petal. Still holding the petal in its bill it turned to face the following bird, and commenced to dance up and down flapping its wings, leaping up 5 or 6 inches each time, and dodging from side to side. When, after a moment or two, the other bird ran in, it dropped the petal, circled the plant, picked off a second petal, and repeated the performance. After this both birds appeared to lose interest. The leading bird dropped the second petal, and flew to the bird-bath, where it had a drink. 156 BRITISH BIRDS. [vOL. XLIII. Presumably this was a form of autumn display, but it was not possible to tell which was the male or female bird. The Handbook makes no mention of anything like this, even in the spring display. A. V. Cornish. RING-OUZEL BREEDING IN PEMBROKESHIRE. On July 8th, 1948, 1 located a pair of Ring-Ouzels {Turdus torquatus) on the Prescelli Mountains, Pembrokeshire. Later, in company with J. H. Barrett, I observed the male feeding a fully-fledged juvenile. This would appear to be the first record of breeding in Pembrokeshire. Brian C. Turner. FOOD-WASHING BY BLACKBIRD. On April i6th, 1949, while seated in the garden a yard from the bird bath, I saw a hen Blackbird (Turdus merula), which is very tame, come with its bill filled with leather-jackets, and wash them in the bath before flying off to her nest ; she did not drink. R. W.'MKIN. “ SMOKE-BATHING ” BY HOUSE-MARTINS. The following form of “ smoke-bathing ” by about 50 House-Martins [Delichon urbica) was observed in Stroud, Glos., on August 22nd, 1949. The birds were gyrating and planing through a column of smoke being emitted by an industrial chimney stack some 150 feet in height. They remained for some time circling the stack and constantly re-entered the fumes. There was no indication that they were feeding on the wing, and their peculiar flight endorses this view. Angela Pritchard. BEE-EATER IN RADNORSHIRE. On August 3rd, 1949, at about 16.00, B.S.T., I was climbing down the north face of Moel Fryn, near Rhayader, Radnorshire, when a brilliantly-coloured bird rose from the heather in front of me. It seemed to be about the size of a Jackdaw (Corvus monedula), though the body was smaller, the wings relatively larger and the tail a good deal longer. I was able to note the following points : wings, curved like those of a Swallow (Hirundo rustica), brilliant sapphire-blue ; back, reddish-chestnut ; tail, green ; bib, bright yellow, edged with brown or black On the following day, at about the same time, my mother and I went to the same spot where I got another view of the bird from above. This time I saw that the two central tail-feathers were long and pointed. My mother, who was below the bird when it flew, saw it against the sky and so could not see much of the bird’s colour; she was, however, able to confirm my impression of its size and shape and of the colour and shape of the wings. A further search for the bird proved unsuccessful, but there seems little doubt that it was a Bee-eater (M crops apiaster). This appears to be the first record of the species in Radnorshire. Davina Stewart-Peter. VOL. XLIII.] NOTES. 157 TAWNY OWLS FOUND DROWNED. I HAVE been advised by Miss Leach of the Bird Ringing Committee that a Tawny Owl [Strix ahico) nestling ringed by me when about a month old at Sale, Cheshire, on May 17th, 1949, had been found drowned in a rubber dinghy at Sale on July 31st, 1949. Since then I have come across another instance of a fully-grown Tawny Owl which was found drowned in a water tank at Flixton, Lancashire, on September 8th, 1949. I cannot understand in the first instance how a bird as large as a Tawny Owl could drown in a rubber dinghy when the depth of water, I should imagine, could not have been much more than 10 inches. Also, why another Tawny Owl should choose a water tank to drink from when there was plenty of easily accessible water available near by. Could it be that in both instances the bird was hovering above and struck at its own reflection in the water in mistake for a mouse or a rat ? It would be interesting to hear whether any readers have come across similar instances or can throw any light on the subject. Alan E. Male. [The curious proneness of Barn-Owls {Tyto alba) to drown them- selves in tanks of water has been remarked on a number of occasions and so far as we know has never been really satisfactorily accounted for. Such accidents appear to be much less frequent with Tawny Owls. — Eds.] ABNORMAL FEEDING HABIT OF KESTREL IN WINTER. During February and March, 1947, I had under daily observation a male Kestrel {Falco Unnunculus) on Blackheath, S.E. London. Certain posts were used regularly as perches and it was my prac- tice to collect pellets from beneath them early every morning. In doing so I frequently found freshly killed Short-tailed Field-Voles {Microtus agrestis) and Long-tailed Field-Mice {Apodemus sylvaticus) which had apparently been left without any attempt at eating them. On several occasions the mammals had been decapitated ; I then normally expected to find the pellet contents for the next morning to consist largely of skull remains. The weather was exceptionally cold during this period and for days on end the Heath was frost- bound. Presumably the voles and mice had to show themselves in the open more than usual in order to obtain sufficient food, and consequently the Kestrel killed more than he required. D. F. Owen. [Similar behaviour has recently been recorded by Henry E. Andrews {Bird Notes, vol. xxiii, p. 151) at Mayesbrook gravel pits, Essex, where a Kestrel has been seen to store decapitated prey in grass tussocks. Frogs and voles were found treated in this way. Seventeen decapitated voles were found in 1948, so that weather conditions do not seem to be responsible for the habit, — Eds.] BRITISH BIRDS. [vOL. XLIII. ir>8 BUZZARD SETTLING ON THE SEA. With reference to the account by M. Day of a Buzzard {Buteo biiteo) drowning after settling on the sea oft tlie island of Eigg {antea, vol. xlii, p. 187) I had a somewhat similar experience in 1948 in Skye. On August ist on Harlosh Island, Loch Braccadaile, Isle of Skye, I put up a Buzzard off the cliff edge. It flew down to the sea and after having flown up and down for some distance close to the surface settled on the water. After some moments it flapped its wings, but did not appear to be in any difficulty. It was then un- fortunately lost to ^'iew and was not seen to take off. Other members of the party saw the bird and confirmed that it was a Buzzard, but on setting out in a boat to search the area no trace of the bird or of its dead body could be found, so that there seems some reason to suppose that it may have got off again success- fully. The day was very still with no wind and there were numerous rocks close beneath the surface, so that possibly the bird mistook one of these for land. R. G. F. Stanes. BREEDING OF MONTAGU’S HARRIERS IN NORTH WALES. The Montagu’s Harrier {Circiis pygargus) was found breeding in North Wales in 1^45, the first recorded instance for many years [vide antea, vol. xxxix, pp. 241-243). The writer has no positive information about 1946 and 1947, but was informed, by the finder, of a nest of 5 young harriers in 1948 in the same area. In 1949, there were 3 nests with eggs, but only one reached the hatching stage. 'I'he first egg was found on May 24th : this nest contained 4 eggs on May 31st, but was empty on June 9th ; by the tracks, humans were clearly responsible. The second nest had i egg on May 31st and 3 addled eggs still being incubated on July 9th ; the egg con- tents showed no trace of embryo. The third nest had 2 eggs on June 1st, and 3 young harriers and i addled egg on July 9th ; the two large nestlings were ringed on that day and the smallest one on July i6th. This bird was found decapitated on July 22nd, but the other two were seen about the nest at the end of the month and evidently reached the " free flying ” stage, as one was shot on September 27th at St. Jean Pied de Port, Basses Pyrenees. No observer saw more than two cocks and three hens, at any one time, so it is possible that one of the cocks was a bigamist as suggested by Hosking in More Birds of the Day (p. 92). It may be of interest to record that in August, 1949, an immature female, ringed as a nestling on Dartmoor, Devon, in 1948 was found close to the North Wales breeding ground. The bird had a damaged wing, but was treated and recovered. The third nest was about 500 yards south of the first, and the second about 200 yards further on to the south. The only point not already covered by the previous account in British Birds {loc. cit.) is connected with the building of the nest. After completion of the clutches, the nests were slightly built but round and regular, about 10 inches in diameter ; prior to that, VOL. XLIII.] NOTES. 150 however, the structure in each case was oblong and very flimsy with a plant stem, bent V-shape, lying lengthways on the nest, the arms of the V being about lo inches long. This was also the case in two other nests found on May 30th and June ist which contained no eggs then or later. Cine Kodak films of nests, eggs and young at two stages of growth were successfully taken. E. K. Allin. PINTAIL BREEDING IN NORTH KENT. In 1947 a pair of Pintail [Anas acuta) bred in the North Kent marshes [antea, vol. xli, pp. 312-3), and it may be of interest to record that in 1948 and 1949 a pair was again present throughout the breeding season. In 1948, howevei, breeding was not proved, but in July loth of the following year Mr. L. C. Batchelor and I had e.xcellent views of three young Pintail along a narrow channel of water running through a dried up reed-bed. Approaching from different ends of the channel we closed in on the birds, which though nervous seemed reluctant to fly. When each of us was about twenty odd feet from them, they rose “ heavily ” just clearing the top of the reeds and flew low to the river a short distance away. With all probability this was their first flight. The pattern of the plumage was like the duck, but the markings of the head and neck were darker and greyer. E. H. Gillham. PINTAIL BREEDING IN NORFOLK. In 1949 a pair of Pintail {Anas acuta) nested on the Norfolk side of the Breydon Marshes. By the unusual movements of a female Pintail seen on May 4th, I thought that she must have a nest close by, but unfortunately the nest was not discovered until May 14th, when it contained two duck- lings only just hatched off, which must have been the remainder of the clutch. The two ducklings were still in the nest when I visited it again later the same day, and the female Pintail gave a most spirited display of “injury-feigning.” I went to the nest site again the following morning, but both youngsters had left the nest, and in spite of careful search of all adjoining dykes we saw nothing more of them. I should say that rats accounted for the remainder of the Pintail eggs as they were particularly numerous about the Breydon marshes this year. They certainly took scores of eggs of Lapwing and Redshank. Robin M, Harrison. CORMORANT DRYING WINGS ON WATER. The note {antea, vol. xlii, p. 250) on a Cormorant {Phalacro- corax carbo) seen resting on the surface of the water with its wings held in the typical drying position prompts me to write of a similar occurrence which I witnessed when at the mouth of the Cuckmere, Sussex, on April i6th, 1949. In this instance the bird was about 100 to 150 yards off the shore and it maintained the drying position for 160 BRITISH BIRDS [VOL. XLIII. between live and ten minutes before taking flight. The sea was, of course, fairly calm at the time, but not “ glassy,” there being a light south-west wind. C. M. Veysey. In view of the note on this subject it seems worth while to record that I watched a Cormorant ‘‘ drying out ” on the calm surface of Derwentwater on July i6th, 1946. K. G. Spencer. [Sir Cyril Hurcomb has also informed us that he has seen this behaviour more than once and the probability is that it is not really very uncommon, though we have not observed it ourselves or traced any published record. — Eds.] SUN-BATHING OF FULMAR PETREL. On July 5th, 1949, a Fulmar Petrel {Fulmarus glacialis) was seen sun-bathing on the Great Saltee Island, Co. Wexford. It lay on its side with its upper wing stretched fully backwards and its head stretched out with its beak pointing forwards. It was some distance away across an inlet, and details could not be seen. When approached closely to take the accompanying photograph it quickly took alarm and flew away. It had already altered its position when the photograph was taken. A. G. Mason. DIVERSIONARY DISPLAY OF CURLEW. As I was handling an almost fully fledged young Curlew [Numenius arquata) on a road near Slaidburn, Yorks., on June 27th, 1949, one parent (? sex) alighted about 5 yards off and ran away slowly beating both wings. Then it stood facing me, calling distractedly and very obviously drooping one wing before flying up again. The Handbook cites only two instances of diversionary display by Curlew. K. G. Spencer. SUN-BATHING BY COMMON SNIPE. On June 25th, 1949, a Common Snipe {Capella gallinago) was watched sun-bathing and preening while perched on top of a telegraph pole near Belmullet in Co. Mayo. When sun-bathing the whole body was leant over to one side with the wing on the sunny side dropped and the tail spread and twisted to expose the top surface to the sun. The telegraph pole was apparently a favourite perch, as a Snipe, presumably the same bird, was seen perched on it when I was passing some hours later in the day. Rollin [antea, vol. xli, pp. 304-305) mentions that tame waders were never seen to go into sun-bathing postures. A. G. Mason. RED-NECKED PHALAROPE IN CHESHIRE. A Red-necked Phalarope {Phalaropus lobatus) visited Witton Flashes, Northwich, Cheshire, on September 3rd and 4th, 1949. I saw it first on the morning of the 3rd ; it was seen later by Mr. and Mrs. E. F. Whiteley and on the 4th by Dr. E. L. Arnold, Messrs. C. A. Milner, A. R. Sumerfield, W. Ramden and others. Its slender, long, black bill was noted by all observers. Its back VOL. XLIIl.J NOTES. IGI was very dark with some brown feathers and a pale streak ; flanks buff and on breast a faint buff tinge. This phalarope is seldom seen in Cheshire. A. W. Boyd. DISTRACTION DISPLAY OF LITTLE RINGED PLOVER AND CALL OE NESTLING . At about 15.00, on June 19th, 1949, at a Berkshire gravel pit, a Little Ringed Plover {Charadrius duhhis) known to have about four chicks, four to hve days old, in the vicinity, was seen to rise rapidly off the ground and circle within 20 feet of the observers. It then flew down to the water surface where it pattered along the water for about 20 feet, very like a Moorhen {Gallinula chloropus) taking off. The bird, which was probably a female, was 25-30 ft. from the observers during this performance. At 15.20 that same afternoon a nestling of the same species was found 20 ft. from where the observers had been sitting, and about 40 ft. from its nest. The nestling was crouching among some fairly large pebbles a;nd when carefully picked up uttered a high but not piercing trill three times in the space of three minutes. C. C. Hutchinson, J. H. Sergeant and P. N. Crookenden. NOTE OE LAPWING. I HAVE heard what I believe to be a note similar to the “ low whining chorus ” described by Mr. E. M. Cawkell {antea, vol. xlii, p. 158’) so frequently that I have ceased to take note of occurrences. I have rendered the note as a thin complaining “ peee-ee-ee ” uttered in chorus from Lapwings ( Vanellus vandhis) assembled at their roosts, chiefly in August and September. The chorus may also be heard from birds at rest during the daytime and is particularly insistent when a flock alights and even more so when new arrivals join those already at rest and jostling for standing-room ensues. Robert F. Ruttledge. DISPLAY FLIGHT OF LAPWING IN AUTUMN. On September 24th, 1949, I was watching a flock of Lapwings ( Vanellus vanellus) on the mud-flats at the north-west end of Strangford Lough, Co. Down. As I approached to about 80 yards the flock, with the exception of one bird, flew off and settled again about 50 yards further away. The remaining bird was apparently bathing in a shallow pool. Presently it rose in the display flight as described in The Handbook of British Birds and flew off to join the remainder of the flock. The almost vertical rise and tumble was repeated at the end of its flight before landing. During its flight the wing throb was clearly audible over a maximum distance of 100 to 150 yards. H. C. B. Rogers. WHITE- WINGED BLACK TERN IN SOMERSET. During the late afternoon of September 9th, 1949, a White-winged Black Tern {Chlidonias leucopterus) was seen to arrive at No. 2 reservoir, Barrow Gurney, Somerset. The bird was an adult, BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XLllI. 1()2 moulting to winter plumage, and was under observation for a considerable period at ranges down to less than 30 yards. It was later seen by Mr. H. H. Davis and was watched on the following day by several other observers. At all times, the bird was readily distinguished from the two Black Terns [Chlidonias niger) with which it frequently associated by its strikingly pied appearance. The following description is taken from field notes and sketches : — Head white, with a small dark mark behind the eye, and black flecks on the crown and nape ; mantle and back dull black mottled slate-grey, sharply contrasted with the white rump and the white, square-ended tail. Wing-coverts off-white, shading through pale grey to black-brown at the tips of the primaries; secondaries pale grey, but considerably darker on the inner feathers. Under wing- coverts jet black, slightly speckled white, remainder of under- wing pale grey ; breast and belly jet black, heavily blotched white, under tail-coverts white. Bill rather short, and apparently black. This is the first recorded occurence of a White-winged Black Tern in Somerset. M. J. Wotton. BILL COLOUR OF ROSEATE TERN. In connexion with the note by Commdr. G. Hughes Onslow [antea, vol. xlii, p. 159), the following information may be of interest. In the great ternery on LTle Dumet (Brittany, France), on June 1 2th, 1948, I carefully watched twelve Roseate Terns {Sterna dongallii) out of the hundreds which breed there, then examined two which were shot on their eggs, one of which I kept in skin. All had wholly black bills without red. C. Ferry. Commdr. G. Hughes Onslow’s note on Roseate Terns [Sterna dougallii) retaining their wholly black bills after the end of May can be substantiated by observations at the Abbotsbury Ternerv, Dorset, from June 5th to 9th, 1949. Single birds were seen on at least five occasions when it was noted that the bill was entirely black. It was not known, however, whether more than one Roseate 'I'ern was present, but it seems unlikely that the same bird was observed on every occasion. Bernard King. COMMON GULL “PADDLING” ON GRASS. Wri'H reference to the note [antea, vol. xlii, pp. 222-3) oi"* gulls “ paddling ” on grass, it may be of interest to record that on April 8th, 1944, whilst cycling from Bentham to Ingleton, Yorkshire, my attention was attracted by tlie curious actions of some gulls. A flock of Common Gulls [Larus canus) had settled in a meadow. Most of them were resting, but a few seemed to be performing a dance, bodies swaying from side to side in an even rhythm, heads bent forward with bills pointing to tlie ground. Owing to the length of the grass the feet could not be seen, but it was obvious from their actions the birds were “ paddling ” the ground- my note made at \'OL. XLIIl.l NOTES. 108 the time refers to the birds as “ treading for worms.” After a few minutes the nearest dancer suddenly stopped to snatch a worm and in a short time two more of the paddling gulls were successful. A. Denby Wilkinson. SKUA-LIKE TACTICS OF COMMON GULL. On December 21st, 1948, a Common Gull {Lams canus) at the Round Pond, Kensington Gardens, which had secured a piece of bread too large to swallow, was being hotly pursued by several others of the same species. One of the latter, after failing at least three times in its efforts to seize the bread in the fugitive's bill in the usual manner, deliberately seized its leg near the body, holding on as they fell until they struck the water ; it then let go and grabbed at the bread, succeeding in wrenching off and swallowing a piece of it. Whilst the seizing of the other bird’s leg may well have been merely one of those acts of wanton aggression with which both birds and men commonly relieve their anger when thwarted, it seems equally possible that it was, as it seemed, a deliberate act, implying at least an appreciation of the situation and one that was certainly most effective in gaining the desired end. Derek Goodwin. “UP-ENDING” OF HERRING-GULL. “ Up-ending ” has not been recorded from the Herring-Gull {Lams argentatus) so far as I am aware, though noted in the Black- headed Gull (L. ridibundus). At Lostwithiel in Cornwall on April 30th, 1949, I observed a Herring-Gull feeding in shallow water of the Raver Fowey. When out of its depth it “ up-ended ” continually in exactly the manner of a surface-feeding duck, and once dived from just above the water and half submerged. When again in shallow water the gull interrupted its feeding by rapidly marking time on the mud after the manner of the Lapwing ( Vanellus vanellus). K. E. L. Simmons. -HERRING-GULL “ PADDLING ” ON GRASS. With reference to the note {antea, vol. xlii, p. 222) it may be worth recording that I have many times seen Herring-Gulls {Lams agentatus) “ paddling ” on grassland, though the habit seems to be conhned to a small number of individuals which visit their favoured field, or group of fields, perhaps year after year outside the breeding season. On October 29th, 1944, 1 was able to mark the exact spot where one of these birds was treading and found that it had been treading soft, but not fresh, cow-dung in which I discovered several maggots about half an inch long. On March i8th, 1946, two birds were seen tread- ing within three or four feet of each other in short grass, one being seen to pick up an earthworm and swallow it. Both these birds were occasionally seen to pat the ground with only one foot. These observations were made at Lympstone, Devon. Incident- ally all the birds I have seen indulging in this habit have been adults. R. G. Adams. BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XLIll. l()4 [This behaviour has also been reported to us by Mr. J. Lord, who observed it on November 3rd, 1939, near Whitby, Yorkshire; and by Mr. D. R. Edgcombe who noted it, at Doddiswell, S. Devon, on a number of occasions between November ist, 1948, and March 6th, 1949. In the latter case two birds were sometimes involved and it was noted that other gulls were not allowed to approach the spot where “ paddling ” was taking place ; on February 2nd, 1949, two birds were seen " paddling ” on ground white with frost. — Eds.] GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL WITH YELLOW LEGS. In the Dale estuary, Pembrokeshire, 1 saw a Great Black-backed Gull {Lams marimis) with yellow legs on April 19th, 1949. It was near an adult Herring-Gull {Lams argentatus) for comparison, and was much too big to have been a dark Lesser Black-backed Gull {Lams fusciis) . I examined both birds at about 60 yards through a X 20 telescope, and my first impression that the Great Black-back’s legs were yellow was conftrmed ; they were somewhat paler and less bright than those of a normal Lesser Black-back at that season, but were dehnitely yellow without any tinge of pink or flesh. T. A. W. Davis. Late Sedge-Warblek in Warwickshire. — Messrs M. J. Rogers and J. R. Rawsthorne inform us that on October 9th, 1948, they observed a Sedge- Warbler {Acrocephalus schcenobcsnus) in a reed bed at Minworth Sewage Farm, \\’arwickshire. The dark-brown streaked back and noticeable eye-stripe were clearl}^ observed, and several snatches of song were heard. The date is well within the range of late dates mentioned in The Handbook. Stonechat catching Lizard. — Mr. A. V. Cornish reports that on May 15th, 1949, at Minehead, Somerset, he saw a Stonechat {Saxtcola torquata) catch a small Common Lizard {Lacerla vivipara), about 2| inches long, which it then hammered on the ground before disappearing out of view behind a gorse bush. The Hand- book quotes only one authority for lizards as food of the Stonechat. Soaring of Sparrow-Hawk. — Mr. William Baggaley reports a case of a Sparrow-Hawk {Accipiter nisus) soaring at Pinner, Middle- sex, on July 24th, 1949. The Handbook has no July record of this habit. Kite in North Wales. — We have received from Mr. K. F. Scarff details of a Kite {Milvus milvns) which he watched for about 30 minutes at a locality in Caernarvonshire on July 3rd, 1948. Wood-Sandpiper in Cornwall. — Lt. Col. B. H. Ryves has written to point out that the note {antea, vol. xlii, p. 396) on a Wood- Sandpiper {Tringa glarcola) at the Tamar Lake, N. Cornwall, may give a false impression of the status of the species in the county. In the coastal parts of the county north-east of Newquay — ^the area NOTES. 165 VOL. XLIII.'I usually referred to as " North Cornwall ” — Wood-Sandpipers have been recorded not infrequently on the estuary of the Camel {vide Reports of the Cornwall Bird-watching and Preservation Society, 1931- ’35. ’3^. ’42, ’44, ’45, ’4b, and Ryves’s Bird Life in Cornwall, p. 232). The record published in Brit. Birds {loc. cit.) is, however, the first for the Rude area. Status of Redshank in S. Devon. — In the report on the Red- shank Enquiry [antea, vol. xxxvi, p. 23) it is stated that, apart from an isolated record from Slapton Ley, 1894, the Redshank [Tringa totanus) “ is still not known to breed in S. Devon.” Mr. R. G. Adams has written to point out that on June 13th, 1937, he found a pair with at least one young chick in a meadow by the Exe estuary. Since that date the species has established itself in S. Devon, though numbers are still small. Spotted Redshank in Pembrokeshire. — Mr. T. A. W. Davis sends us details of two Spotted Redshanks {Tringa erythropus) seen by him on the stream and saltings at the head of Dale Roads, Pem- brokeshire, on September 7th, 1947. There are only two previous published records for the county, the last also from Dale {antea, vol. xxxviii, p. 139). Spotted Redshank in Sussex in winter. — Dr. J. D. Mills sends us details of a Spotted Redshank {Tringa erythropus) seen by him on the Cuckmere, Sussex, on January i6th, 1949. LETTERS . FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF BIRD RINGING. To the Editors 0/ British Birds. Sirs, — May I draw your attention to the fact that the 50th anniversary of bird ringing fell due in 1949. Just fifty years ago the Danish ornithologist H. Chr. C. Mortensen, began ringing birds, using metal rings with a serial number and his address engraved on them. .So the new, excellent ornitho- logical method was born. It is true, however, that long before Mortensen, many experiments were made in bird marking and some of them were successful. I take this opportunity to send you a photograph of the oldest bird ring existing now, as far as I am informed, in the collections. It is a ring of the Royal Dutch Hawking Club and it was used in the second half of the nine- teenth century in the Loo Royal Park in Holland. A specimen of the so-called " heronband ’’ can be found in a private collection in Holland. If a heron had not been killed by a falcon it was then liberated, but before liberating a metal band was put around the leg of the bird. For the enclosed photograph I am most indebted to my friend, the well known Dutch ornithologist Mr. M. J. Tekke, of The Hague. The bird ringing method found many ardent collaborators in the whole world but especially in the U.K. and Ireland, where many people undertook bird ringing using their private rings. Some of these experiments are des- cribed in the ornithological literature, some are but mentioned and precise BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XLIII. 16() information about them is lacking. As I am working now' on a historical review of the bird ringing method T should be most obliged to you or to the readers of British Birds for any information concerning the bird marking experiments done in the British Isles except the ringing schemes of Aberdeen University (Dr. A. L. Thomson) and the " British Birds Marking Scheme ” (Witherby), which are fully described in the ornithological literature. W. RyDZEWSKI, M.A., M.B.O.U 277, Holmesdale Road, London, S.E. 25. THE BIRDS OF SURREY To the Editors of British Birds Sirs,— 1 have in preparation a work upon the birds of Surrey, and shall greatly appreciate the assistance of any ornithologists w'ho may be kind enough to favour me with information relating to the subject. The records need not necessarily only refer to occasional visitors to the county — I shall particularly welcome notes bearing upon the present breeding status of the more local birds, and any interesting facts relating to the com- moner species. Clutch sizes, details of exceptional nesting-sites, notes upon migration, information about roosts (w'ith the direction of the relative flight-lines, if possible) are also required. Records of the approximate number of nests in any of the larger rookeries, if counts have been made in recent years, will be useful. I should like to receive particulars of any museum, school or private collec- tions w’hich may contain local specimens. Howard Bentiiam. liothen, Epsom Lane South, Tadwnrth, Surrey. THE GAIT OF BUNTINGS. To the Editors 0/ British Birds. Sirs, — As in the last few years, many members of the genus Emberiza have been observed walking and running {vide antea, Vol. xxxix, p. 53 ; xl, p. 256 ; xli, pp. 96, 286), the following observations on the Rock-Bunting {Emberiza cia) and the Ortolan {Emberiza horhdana) may be of interest. The two species were watched on their breeding-ground in the Sw'iss Alps during parts of May and June, 1949, the former at its nest. 1 spent many hours watching the young of the Rock-Bunting being fed, and as this is, at times, a ground-nesting bird, the opportunity afforded me to stud}’ the gait was greater than with a bush-nesting species. Both the male and the female took part in the feeding of the young (it is here worth mentioning that the male took an equal share in this task) and never flew direct to the nest, always approaching it along the ground from a distance varying from ten to twenty-five yards. Both sexes were seen to run quickly through rough grass, but a slower walk was also several times observed. On smooth surfaces, i.e., sloping boulders, it was usual for them to hop up, and run down the other side, but here again I did see the male once walk slowly up the side of a stone. Hopping w’as observed in both sexes frequently ; walking was, however, so common that it is impossible for me to say what the usual gait was. On one occasion 1 watched the female walk and run a distance of ca. 1 5 yards without a single hop. In the case of the Ortolan, I saw only one on the ground. It was usual for the males to perch motionless on a roof of a barn or hut, singing with great persistence their monotonous little song. I was fortunate enough, how’cver, to see one fly down to the ground to pick up some food, and in so doing, hop and w'alk over rough grass. The walk w'as a slow, measured one, and with each step he jerked his head like a Moorhen {Gallinnla chloropus). G. W. Rayner. VOL. XLIII.] LETTERS. 167 VARIANT YELLOW WAGTAILS To the Editors of British Birds Sirs, — I agree with INFr. Tucker (antea, p. ^2) that the proposal made by Mr. H. G. Alexander to have a survey of breeding Yellow Wagtails in Asia would be " unbelievably optimistic ” — quite apart from the possibility of certain of the observers being " collected ” themselves by anti-Fascists. In April and May, 1932, I made a close study of the f lava group of wagtails in the delta of Lower Burma, and obtained a series which is now in the British Museum. My object was to collect as many as possible full-plumaged males out of the hundreds which pass up the Irrawaddy. As recorded in "The Birds of the Sittang-Irrawaddy Plain” (Stanford and C. B. Ticehurst, Journ. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., XXXVII, 4, 1935) considerable variation was noted in the field, but the majority, after ver}^ careful observation with powerful glasses (x 1 2) at short range in the excellent light of Burma were noted as having dark- greyish head and nape, lores, cheeks and ear-coverts almost black, throat and breast bright yellow. A few birds with paler heads had a faint streak behind the eye. A male in very fresh plumage had the tip of the chin pure white and a pure white patch behind the gape. There was ” no doubt that none of the full-plumaged males in the field appeared to show any trace of a supercilium which is supposed {vide Fauna of British India) to be characteristic of flava.” All these birds were tentatively identified by Dr. C. B. Ticehurst (who made a special study of this group for years) as M . flava simillima, though he stated they " resembled ” the race thunbergi. He noted of my specimens ” the supercilium is absent in some and slightly indicated in others. This may be pure individual variation.” I noticed the absence of the supercilium in winter in Prome with birds which were to all appearances ” extremely dark, if not black on the head” ("Birds of Prome District”, f.B.N.H.S., XXXIV 4, 1931, Stanford and C. B. Ticehurst). In Myitkyina, I collected in a restricted area five separate subspecies of Moiacilia alba [alboides, personata, leucopsis, haicalensis and ocularis). {Ibis, 1938, p. 623). Any field-naturalist, who is content to rely on sight observations of wagtails, seems in for a thankless time in Asia as the birds are in incessant movement and in the case of the flava group do not stand out from their background of short grass, sand, etc. I must confess to distrusting subspecific sight records of Yellow Wagtails, unless these are confirmed by subsequent collection. J. K. St.\nford. THE BREEDING RECORDS OF THE BLACK-THROATED DIVER IN IRELAND To the Editors of British Birds Sirs, — In The Handbook of British Birds, Vol. IV, p. 121, it is stated that in N.W. Ireland an adult Black- throated Diver {Colymbus arcticus) with a half- grown young bird was seen in August, 1933, that birds were seen in subsequent seasons and that breeding probably continues. From this statement it would appear that the breeding of this diver in N.W. Ireland was taken as an established fact, but is this correct ? I am very much inclined to doubt the validity of the breeding records, since search through correspondence, questioning and cross-questioning and visits to the locality have left me in grave doubt and with a feeling that some misunder- standing occurred. Let me give the evidence and state the facts that I have carefully sifted. First of all proof of breeding can hardly rest upon the report of an adult bird seen with a young bird " half its own size ”, which is how the late Eliot Howard described the young. Yet this is the nearest evidence of breeding that can be traced. There is no doubt that Eliot Howard, who was on a fishing holiday in N.W. Ireland, saw an adult diver which he believed to be a Black-throated, accom- panied by a young bird as described in August, 1933. It is no discredit to 16S [V(H.. XLIII. that fine ornithologist to asseir that' under the circumstances it is quite appar- ent that he did not at the time .calizc the unusualness and importance of the observation and it is equally clear from a conversation that took place later that he had not given the matter particular attention, so that, while fishing, he may only have given the bi’^ds a somewhat cursory inspection. Red- throated Divers [Colymbiis stellains) breed in the vicinity and habitually appear with their young on the lake in question. it is perhaps significant that although Howard in 1935 still mentioned only one adult and young as seen, it transpires that in 1939 he wrote a letter to Mr. B. W. Tucker in which he mentioned two young birds, and adults seen in tw'o seasons. This curious discrepancy' seems to confirm the conclusion that he cannot have paid very close attention to the matter at the time, so that after a lapse of a few years his recollection of the whole affair had become hazy. It was upon the 1933 information that Witherby based the first part of the statement in The Handbool, and this w'as the only information that ever came to the knowledge of Mr. G. R. Humphreys. The issue becomes further complicated when .some private correspondence of the late C. B. Moffat is taken into account. Here there is a clear statement made in 1940 that there was no proof of the breeding of the Black-throated Diver since Eliot Howard .saw the young bird (in 1933). Note the j'oung bird, for, in all the correspondence with Moffat no reference to more than this young bird is made, in fact there is a statement that none other had been seen. Moffat, hov'ever, informed Mr. Humphreys that he believed that breeding did con- tinue and it is upon this that the second part of the statement in The Handbook is based. Yet on an investigation of this statement it is again clear that some error or misunderstanding undoubtedly occurred. There is absolutely nothing w’hich points to the continued breeding of this species or that it was ever found in the locality for certain. Mr. Humphreys is definite in his assurance that no Irish-taken eggs of this species are know n to him, nor does he know of any ]ierson who has taken them or even seen the eggs of this diver in situ in Ireland. Moreover, Mr. C. \' Stoney, who knew the district in question so well, states that the presence of this diver was never known to him. No Irish-taken egg is knowm to exist in spite of the statements in Moffat’s correspondence that they were taken annually ! One can only conclude that his information w'as faulty and that it refeired in fact to the Red-throated Diver, which at that time was much persecuted. From the tangle of contradictory statements that I have examined and from the more concrete evidence received, it seems to me quite clear that some misunderstanding took place and that the validity of the breeding-record of this diver in Ireland must be discounted. Robert F. Ruttlkdge 1 1 have discussed all the evidence on this subject fully with Major Ruttledge and entirely agree with his conclusion that the record cannot now be accepted. — B.W.T.] ■ NOTICE TO CONTRIBUTORS. Contributors are reminded that notes and papers for publication and other routine editorial communications should be addressed to the Assistant Editor, British Birds, 74, Shinheld Road, Reading. It is now particularly important that this procedure should be followed as Mr. B. W. Tucker is in hospital undergoing long-delayed treatment. We are sure that readers will join in wishing him a speedy and complete recovery. J.D.W. Page Short Notes : — Late Sedge-Warbler in Warwickshire. Stonechat catching lizard. Soaring of Sparrow-Hawk. Kite in North Wales. Wood- Sandpiper in Cornwall. Status of Redshank in S. Devon. Spotted Redshank in Pembrokeshire. Spotted Redshank in Sussex in winter ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 164 Letters : — Fiftieth anniversary of Bird-ringing (W. Rydzewski) ... ... 165 The Birds of Surrey (Howard Bentham) ... ... ... ... 166 The Gait of Buntings (G. W. Rayner) ... ... ... ... 166 Variant Yellow Wagtails (Lt.-Col. J. K. Stanford) ... ... ... 167 The breeding records of the Black-throated Diver in Ireland (Robert F. Ruttledge) ... ... ... ... ... ... 167 SMALL ADVERTISEMENTS 7/6 for 3 lines (minimum) ; 2/6 for each extra line or part thereof. For the use of a Box Number there is an extra charge of I /- ; Advertisements for a particular issue should reach this office by the 21st of the preceding month. All communications to be addressed to: — H. F. & G. Witherby Ltd., 5, Warwick Court, London, W.C. I. BINOCULARS. A wide range of first-class prismatic binoculars, both new and reconditioned, now available. We invite you to write for our latest lists and details of approval terms. The Hatton Optical Co. Ltd., Lansdowne, Bournemouth. TELESCOPES. A useful selection of telescopes now available; send for lists and approval terms. The Hatton Optical Co., Ltd., Lansdowne, Bournemouth. PLATE CAMERAS. A few rather good German plate cameras, sizes 2J in. x in. and 9x 12 cm. with and without double extension; send for list. The Hatton Optical Co., Ltd., Lansdowne, Bournemouth. WANTED. — “ British Birds ” vols. for 1947 & 1948. Bound and in good condition. Quote price to URRY, RAVC, Melton Mowbray. ESTUARY, River and Coastal Cruising Holiday between Helford River and Salcombe. 2, 3, 4 Berth, fully equipped Sea-going Motor Cruisers for hire, 16-30 gns. p.w. Also, 1950 model Caravans for towing or on site. LEYS of LERRYN, Cornwall. Phone: Lostwithiel 232. WINTER TREES & TONES by the late Bertram Lloyd, Cr. 8vo, 38 pp. including Foreword by Samuel J. Looker, 4 plates, bound art paper cover. 2s. 9d. post free. The Riverside Press Ltd., Cambridge Road, Twickenham. SUSSEX BIRD REPORT 1949 is now available from G. dos Forges, The Vale, Harefield, Ovingdean, Brighton,- price 5/- post free. NESTBOXES and Traps: Nestboxes made to specification; portable traps made to designs in British Trust for Ornithology Field Guide: Dennis Jordon, Wayside, New Road, Woodstock, Oxon. WANTED. — “ British Birds,” vols. 27 to 33 inclusive, bound or unbound. Reply stating price to Franklin, 17 Richmond Avenue, Monkstown, Dublin. SKOMER ISLAND. 1^ miles off the Pembrokeshire Coast. One of the finest sea bird sanctuaries in Europe, together with the smaller Islands of Midland and Gateholme. These interesting Islands rising sheer out of St. George’s Channel are widely known for their unique wealth of bird life, which include the famous Puffin Colonies. The Stone Built Residence stands 240 feet up, facing South with panoramic views. Hall, 3 reception rooms, 5 principal bedrooms, bathroom, Annexe of 7 bedrooms. Private Electricity and Water Supplies. Farmery and Bungalow. Extending in all to 763 acres. FREEHOLD. For Sale by Auction by Messrs. KNIGHT, FRANK & RUTLEY, at an early date (unless previously sold privately). Solicitor: — W. V. Bowden Esq., 79, Bishopsgate, London E.C.2. Auctioneers: — Messrs. Knight, Frank & Rutley, 20, Hanover Square, London, W. I. I'rinted in Gt. Urilain by Tiik Kivkrsidk J’kkss, Ltd., T\vicki;nh.\,m, .Midu.x. Published by U. I'. &_('<. LTD., o M arwick Corin, M'.C'.I. BRITISH BIRDS AN ILLUSTRATED MAGAZINE DEVOTED CHIEFLY TO THE BIRDS ON THE BRITISH LIST BRITISH BIRDS EDITED BY BERNARD W. TUCKER, M.A., F.Z.S., M.B.O.U. ASSISTED BY Norman I*'. Ticehukst, o.b.e., m.a., f.k.c.s., m.b.o.u. A. \V. Boyd, m.c., m.a,, f.z.s., m.b.o.u. AND J. D. Wood, b.a., m.b.o.u. CoxTii.vTs oi' Ni'muhk 6, \’oL. XLllI, Jl’ni;, 1950. Page Kfport of the liird-Kinging Committee : Progress for 1949. By .V. Landsborough Thomson, C.li., D.Sc. ... ... ... ... ibg Report of the Black Redstart liujuiry for 1949. By R. S. R. h'itter 175 inland Passage of J.flaek 'J ems in tlie .Spring of 1949. B\’ R. Hinde and J. I). Wood ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 177 1 )esert-Wheatear wintering in tlie West Riding of \'orkshire. By George R. Edwards ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 179 Rotes : — Competition for nest-sites among hole-breeding speeies (J. M. I ). .Mackenzie) ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 1S4 Unusual nesting material of Carrion Crow (Hubert 1C Pounds) ... 185 “ Displacement copulation ” by -Magpies (K. G. Spencer) ... ... 185 Call of Yellow Bunting (C. R. Bird) ... ... ... ... ... 185 Blue Tit feeding nestling Blackbirds (Douglas 1'. Lawson) ... ... 180 Blue Tit robbing nest material (W. T. C. Rankin) ... ... ... 186 Blue Tit’s display flights and behaviour during nest-building period (G. H. Mountfort) ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 180 Probable Siberian Chiffehaif in Somerset (.M. J. Wotton) ... ... 187 On the reicial status of Scottish breeding Willow- Warblers (P. Clancey) ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 188 Rote of Great Spotted Woodpecker (C. R. Bird) ... ... ... 189 1 loney-Buzzards on Berks-Hants border (G. Brow n) ... ... 1S9 Sheld-Duck nesting amongst ground vegetation on .saltings (E. Jl. Gillham) ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... iQ" Unusual Mallard’s nest on saltings (E. H. (Mllham) ... ... ... 190 Green-winged Teal in Yorkshire (K. Brown) ... ... ... ... tgo Transatlantic flight of ringed Pintail (Miss 1C P. Le;ich) ... ... 191 Red-necked Phalarope on Kent-Susse.\ border (W. S. R’evin) ... 191 Distraction disjday of Oy.ster-catcher (Scott R’ekson) ... ... 192 Crane in .Suffolk ((C B. G. Benson ; B. W. Tucker) ... ... ... 192 Blaek-headed Gulls nesting in trees in West Suffolk (D. \'. Butt and P. R. Knipe) ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 19.3 Communal display of Guillemot (!•'. G. Stanford) ... ... ... 193 Common Partridges perching in tree (.M. R. Lietf and R. P. Jordan) 194 Short Note : — Long fledging-period of Tree-Creei>er ... ... ... ... ... 194 Reviews : — Lcs oiseauxclans lu S'uiiui’. By Paul Barruel ... ... ... 194 Mcrcside Chronicle. B\- C. IC 'funnicliffe ... ... ... ... 195 The Lincolnshire Naturalists’ I'nion Transactions, \'ol. .Nil, No. i (Nov,, 1948), No. 2 (Dec.. 1949) ... ••• ••• >93 Ornithological Record for Derbyshire, 1947 and 1948 ... ... ... igO Royal Naval Bird-Watching Society, Jnnual Refort, Decnnlier, 1947 197 Continued on page Hi of cover. Number 6, Vol. June, 1950. REPORT OF THE BIRD-RINGING COMMITTEE.* PROGRESS FOR 1949. A. Landsborough Thomson, c.b., d.sc. Chairman of the Committee. This is the thirteenth reportf issued on behalf of the Bird-Ringing Committee of the British Trust for Ornithology, continuing the earlier sequence published under the title of “ The British Birds Marking Scheme.” Management. The headquarters remain in the British Museum (Natural History) by permission of the Trustees, rings being inscribed ‘‘ British Museum Nat. Hist. London.” The deepest gratitude is due to Miss E. P. Leach, Honorary Secretary of the Committee, who continues to undertake all the work of management ; this has increased in volume with the revival of ringing activity since the war, and constitutes an exacting task which she performs with the greatest skill and devotion. Mr. W. T. C. Rankin has again kindly assisted by analysing hgures for this report. Progress of Ringing. The ringing of a total of 57,461 birds in 1949 is a new record, the previous best having been 55,817 in 1939. The number is again fairly equally divided between nestlings and trapped birds. It will be seen from Table 11 that the largest single contributions to the list come from the Bird Observatories. The largest number of different species ringed was 78, by Messrs. Ash and Ridley. Species ringed for. the hrst time were Black-headed Bunting, Rustic Bunting, Black-eared Wheatear, Greenish Warbler, Purple Sandpiper and Bar-tailed Godwit. Starlings were successfully ringed at roosts in Trafalgar Square by members of the London Natural History Society. Table III gives less detail than in previous years, because it has not yet been possible to deal with a large number of recovery records of trapped birds and accurate percentages can therefore not be given. The list is expanded, however, by a paragraph giving figures for species which are not usually included. Recoveries. Individual recoveries of special interest include the first from abroad in the case of the Lesser Redpoll, two ringed as nestlings in the north of England having been reported in Belgium. A Reed- Warbler and a Roseate Tern, both recovered in September in Douro *A publication of the British Trust for Ornithology. fThe previous report was published in Brit. Birds, Vol. xlii, pp. 175-180. 170 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XLIII. Province, Portugal, were also the first of their species to be reported from abroad. A Linnet ringed as a nestling in Leicestershire and recovered in October at Cuenca, Spain, and a Meadow-Pipit ringed as a nestling in Fife and recovered in December at Mazagan, western Morocco, represent the most southerly records for ringed birds of these species so far. Another Meadow-Pipit, ringed on Skokholm, was recovered at Coimbra, Portugal, also in December ; the date in both cases suggests that the limit of migration had been reached. A record of a Starling, ringed in Sussex in early November and recovered at Bordeaux three weeks later, is the first of its kind and suggests a bird of different native origin from most of our winter visitors of this species. A Curlew recovered at Finistere was only the third to be reported from abroad. There were many records of Razorbills from the Bay of Biscay and Portugal as compared with two from Scandinavia. Two Fulmar Petrels ringed on St. Kilda were recovered off Newfoundland, one in winter and one in summer. Fast travelling was shown by a Wheatear ringed on Skokholm in August and recovered in Landes, France, two days later. Longevity was shown by a Teal ringed in Northern Ireland and shot near Lisbon in its eleventh year. Publication of Results. The following publication of results has been made since the last report : — E. P. Leach (1949). " Recovery of marked birds.” Brit. Birds, ^'ol. xlii, pp. 264-276. Mention must also be made of the following valuable guide prepared for the Committee : — P. A. D. Plollom (1950). ‘‘Trapping lUethods for Bird Ringers.” British Trust for Ornithology Field Guide No. i. Table I. Number of Birds Ringed. In 1949 ... „ 1948 .. 1947 „ 1946 .. 1945 M 1944 1943 .. 1942 .. 1941 „ 1940 .. 1939 From 1909 to 1938 Trapped. Nestlings . Total. 27,496 29,965 57,461 18,413 20,911 39,324 14.574 14.007 28,581 8,909 8,412 17,321 1.875 5.419 7,294 1.183 5.313 6,496 660 3.920 4,.58o 1,301 3.266 4.567 3.109 3.990 7,099 14.974 6,208 21,182 27.983 27,834 55,817 626,238 Grand Total (including arrears) 877,488. VOL. XLIII.] BIRD-RINGING COMMITTEE REPORT 171 Table II. Individual Totals for 1949. Nest- Nest- Trapped Total Trapped lings Total SkokJiolm Bird L. G. Weller ... 313 83 398 Obs. ... 2886 2062 4948 Blundells Sch. ... 255 132 387 Spurn Bird Obs. 2093 31 2 1 26 D. G. Cotgrave... 133 222 333 Isle of May Bird Charterhouse Obs 1767 253 2020 B.C 106 243 331 Gibraltar Pt. Obs. 1519 40 1559 R. S. Broke 224 124 348 A. Darlington ... 815 694 1509 W. Howe 8 336 344 Fair Isle Bird A. H. Johnson ... 7 323 330 Obs 1303 200 1505 I. D. Pennie 39 280 319 Edward Grej^ C. P. Raweliffe... 1 10 201 311 Inst. ... 285 1214 1499 Lord D. Stuart... 233 73 306 C. B. Wainwright 559 803 1 362 R. Carrick III 185 296 -\sh & Eidley ... 732 585 1317 R. Richardson 138 132 290 London N.H.S.... 374 549 923 F. J. Brown II3 W5 288 W. Rankin & D. S. Dane 280 — 280 Birkenhead Sch. 746 155 901 A. V. Millard ... 100 169 269 G. R. Mountfort 364 527 891 Nelson & Lundy Bird Obs. 21 I 644 855 Stevenson 96 143 241 Northd. & Dur- J. D. Mills I3I 82 233 ham N.H.S. 24 812 836 F. M. Gurteen ... 182 49 231 Midlothian O.C. 5 804 809 A. F. Airey I 222 223 Wildfowl Inq. Ac k worth Sch 125 97 222 Committee ... 763 — 763 K. G. Spencer ... 40 173 213 John Lees 391 368 759 S. J. Brown 124 90 214 F. D. Walls 155 603 758 N. Redfern ... 39 160 199 J. J. Boon 27 725 752 Abbotsholme Sch. 91 106 197 W. J. Eggeling... 69 640 709 E. G. Holt 163 33 196 Cowin, Crellin, J. Hardman 141 31 102 Moss & Pool... 41 628 669 Uppingham Sch. 27 164 191 Oundle Sch. 175 437 612 Brvanston Sch. 16 170 186 A. E. Male 430 178 608 Peter Scott 168 17 183 Dublin F.C. I 584 585 M. Barras-Smith 162 w 181 R. H. Poulding... 25 554 579 J. Southern 10 170 180 R. M. Band 365 2 I I 57^^ Rossall Sch. 18 139 177 Shrewsbury Sch. 224 347 571 A. & M. White... 58 I 16 174 B. Campbell 47 504 551 R. Chislett 159 14 173 J. Bartholomew 40 510 550 F. R. Allison ... 139 33 172 E. Cohen 113 435 548 P. V. Robinson... I 12 38 170 L. A. Cowcill ... 275 272 547 L. S. Venables ... — 167 167 R. F. Dickens ... 327 208 535 F. G. Grey 51 114 165 A. Cross 133 371 504 D. Leaver 139 139 P. E. Davis 99 398 497 Thearle & Hobbs 97 38 133 R. H. Brown ... 5 463 468 D. R. Mirams ... 119 32 131 Leighton Pk. Sch. 324 132 456 B. J. Huddart ... 12 137 149 Oxford Orn. Soc. 372 66 438 N. C. Moore 33 93 148 Winchester Coll. 300 137 437 I. Balfour-Paul... 36 91 147 Bedford Sch. ... 53 383 436 A. Wallis 24 122 146 J. C. Coulson ... 200 232 432 I. Appleyard ... 3 140 143 J. W. Wainwright 366 64 430 G. F. Raeburn ... 3 136 141 Sherborne Sch. 5 424 429 B. Astin 2 138 140 C. A. Norris 389 36 425 A. W. Boyd ... I 16 22 138 G. Edwards & Bootham Sch. ... 117 19 136 Halifax Zool. H. M. Rogers ... 31 103 136 Group 398 6 404 C. G. Cartwright 103 23 I 30 J. Field 162 238 400 P. W. Hinde ... 23 104 129 172 BRITISH BIRDS [VOL. XLIIl. Table II — continued. Nest- Trapped lings Total G. C. Lambourne 54 70 124 Sedbergh Sch. ... 38 85 123 Mrs. Upton 96 22 118 P. Gladstone ... 98 13 1 1 1 Cambridge B.C. 4 103 107 P. A. Rayfield ... 39 67 106 L. E. Bouldin ... R. 0., J., & A. 104 104 Blyth 2 96 98 R. Elmes 8 89 97 Arnold Smith ... 4 92 96 R. W. Arthur ... 15 80 95 J. Barnes 9 86 95 J. Cullen 72 19 91 Repton Sch. — 90 90 Ncst- Trapped lings Total Miss Jellicoe 4 84 88 E. H. Webb ... 44 44 88 St. Edmunds Sch. 8 80 88 H. Schoheld 84 3 87 A. G. Parsons ... 41 45 86 J. Flughes 29 51 80 Mrs. Knowles ... I 79 80 K. B. Rooke ... I 77 78 D. R. Anderson 44 33 77 C. N. Clayden ... 76 76 G. A. Bowden ... — 75 75 J. Warham 31 44 75 Many other Ringers ringed smaller numbers. Table III. Numbers of each Species Ringed. Raven Crow, Carrion ... Rook Jackdaw Magpie ... Jay Chough ... Starling (Ireenfinch Goldfinch Redpoll, Lesser Linnet Bullfinch Chaffinch Brambling Sparrow, Tree- Bunting, Yellow Bunting, Reed- Lark, Sky- Pipit, Tree- Pipit, Meadow- Pipit, Rock- Wagtail, Yellow Wagtail, Grey ... ’ Wagtail, Pied ... Shrike, Red-backed Flycatcher, Spotted Flycatcher, Pied Chiffchaff Warbler, Willow- Warbler, Wood- Warbler, Sedge- Warbler, Garden- Blackcap Whitethroat Thrush, Mistlc- 1949 Trapped Nestlings — 38 3 78 96 51 92 1 86 16 1 20 17 61 — 15 3,198 541 1,041 755 22 75 4 38 263 454 25 48 1,600 860 200 — 22 72 59 245 153 121 20 149 22 80 240 230 149 35 34 87 4 66 I 20 268 3 28 54 447 210 489 1 2 1 105 1,221 590 13 75 143 108 70 42 58 34 490 233 34 1 36 T otal Grand T otal 38 365 81 2,294 147 5.493 278 4.917 136 1,780 78 809 15 79 3.739 81,526 1,796 34.743 97 790 42 694 717 I 2, TOO 73 1,987 2,460 39.682 200 1.279 94 2,801 304 6,984 274 2,583 1 69 4,020 102 2.235 470 6,838 1 84 1,072 I 2 I 1,499 70 1,163 388 7.994 31 1.073 501 4.Rh 699 3,1 20 226 1.497 1,811 14,899 88 1.334 251 1,920 I I 2 1.577 92 1,256 723 7.077 170 5,686 VOL. XLiii.] BIRD-RINGING COMMITTEE REPORT. Table Ill — continued. 1949 Trapped Nestlings Total Thrush,- Song- ... 545 1,183 1,728 Redwing 86 — 86 Ouzel, Ring- 6 20 26 Blackbird 2,063 2,170 4.233 Wheatear 1 80 lOI 281 Whinchat 64 77 141 Stonechat 5 42 47 Redstart 168 213 381 Robin 1. 517 710 2,227 Sparrow, Hedge- 799 472 1,271 Wren 221 92 313 Dipper ... 7 93 100 Swallow ... 96 L338 2,334 Martin, House- ... 81 451 532 Martin, Sand- ... 25 58 83 Swift 58 105 163 Kingfisher 2 2 Cuckoo 37 45 82 Owl, Little 12 54 66 Owl, Long-eared 3 :8 21 Owl, Barn- 5 46 51 Owl, Tawny 17 88 105 Falcon, Peregrine I 4 5 Merlin 8 5 13 Kestrel 7 59 66 Buzzard ... I 30 31 Hawk, Sparrow- 31 43 74 Heron, Common 10 33 43 Duck, Sheld- 9 5 14 Mallard ... 2 3 20 233 Teal 351 — 351 Wigeon ... 209 — 209 Duck, Tufted 7 — 7 Goosander — Cormorant 5 54 59 Shag ..? I 2 138 150 Gannet 4 372 376 Petrel, Storm- ... 139 6 145 Shearwater, Manx 2,619 1,053 3,672 Petrel, Fulmar ... 22 152 174 Pigeon, Wood- ... 8 263 271 Dove, Stock- I I 78 89 Dove, Turtle- 8 15 23 Curlew, Common 8 148 156 Woodcock 7 16 23 Snipe, Common 12 36 48 Dunlin ... 21 3 24 Sandpiper, Common 29 64 93 Redshank 5 126 131 Plover, Ringed ... 18 135 153 Plover, Golden ... I 10 I I Lapwing 49 1,442 1,491 Oyster-catcher ... 9 209 218 Curlew, Stone- ... 4 4 Tern, Sandwich — 798 798 Tern, Roseate ... ... ... ■ 328 328 Tern, Common 3 713 716 173 Grand total 74.645 1.093 711 70,693 2,760 2,042 1,141 3,198 28,382 17,687 4.325 2.193 52.507 14.087 5.392 1.552 786 1,009 959 311 857 1.482 1 20 336 1,286 545 967 2.482 510 7.541 6, 240 693 312 52 2.932 2,576 12,623 1.094 37,025 884 4,579 1,051 784 3.744 5,465 1,944 165 1,205 2,768 1,938 399 45,525 2,684 277 20,332 1,150 21,217 174 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XLIII. Table II I — continued. - 1949 Grand Trapped Xest lings Total Total Tern, Arctic I 730 731 4,186 Tern, Little — 107 107 1.090 Gull, Black-headed 85 1,719 1,804 1 6,601 Gull, Common ... 18 168 186 2,898 Gull, Herring- ... 102 1,396 1,498 1 1,891 Gull, Lesser Black-backed 136 638 794 12,803 Gull, Great Black-backed 6 71 77 903 Kittiwake 14 215 227 2,728 Skua, Great 54 54 828 Razorbill 91 447 538 6,622 Guillemot 14 218 232 3,232 Puffin 142 284 426 6,775 Crake, Corn- 4 5 9 603 Moorhen 90 4 94 2,157 Numbers Ringed in 1949 of Species not shown in the Table. (The figures in brackets show the Grand Total.) Hooded Crow 4 (140), Hawfinch 5 (107), Siskin 6 (15), Twite 113 (276), Scarlet Grosbeak i (2), Corn Bunting 3 (125), Black-headed Bunting i, Cirl Bunting 2 (105), Rustic Bunting i, Lapland Bunting i (2), House-Sparrow 1.428 (6,509), Wood-Lark 27 (136), White tVagtail 27 (114), Tree Creeper 56 (649), Nuthatch 133 (803), Great Tit 2,639 (u.921). Blue Tit 4,767 {18,376), Coal-Tit 219 (1,236), Marsh-Tit 162 (467), Willow-Tit 29 (48), Long-tailed Tit 33 (174), Great Grey Shrike 2 (6), Vt’oodchat Shrike 2 (3), Red-breasted Flycatcher 13 (20), Goldcrest 191 (687), Firecrest i (2), Greenish W’arbler 2, Yellow-browed Warbler 7 (12), Grasshopper-Warbler 6 (137), Reed-Warbler 86 (1,275), Icterine Y'arbler 10 (i i). Barred W'arbler 2 (12), Lesser Whitethroat 45 (680), Hartford Warbler i (9), h'ieldfare 19 (170), Black-eared Wheatear i. Black Redstart 16 (130), Nightingale 29 (2,570), Pluethroat 4 (14), Nightjar 17 (288), Green WModp' cker 7 (189), Great Spotted Woodjiecker 18 (202), Wryneck 3 (363), Short-eared Owl 14 (146), Hobby 2 (43), Golden Eagle i (14), IMontagu’s Harrier 8 (in), Hen-Harrier 40 (93), IVIute Swan i (17), Gadwall i (42), Garganey i (8), Pintail 16 (153). Shoveler 51 (73), Pochard 4 (60), liider 2 (880), Leach’s Fork-tailed Petrel 3 (95), Little Grebe 2 (27), Bar-tailed Godwit I, Jack Snipe 1 (3), Turnstone i (16), Knot 3 (4), Purple Sandpiper i, Sanderling i (4), Green Sandpiper i (3), Greenshank 3 (15), Little Ringed Plover II (30), Arctic Skua 14 (loo). Black Guillemot 2 (169), Sjiotted Crake i (3), Water-Rail 14 (31), Coot 3 (255). (175) REPORT OF THE BLACK REDSTART INQUIRY FOR 1949. BY R. S. R. Fitteh. The increase in the breeding strength of the Black Redstart {Phcenimrus ochmrus) in England that occurred in 1948 was maintained in 1949, when twenty-eight or twenty-nine pai s are known to have bred and some nine to twelve other singing males were present in the breeding-season. The tendency for Black Redstarts, obviously wanderers from British breeding sites, to appear in various parts of the British Isles in July, August and early September, well before the normal arrival date of immigrants from the Continent, was also continued. Birds were seen on the Fame Islands on July 23rd (O. Hook), at Spurn Head on July 24th, at Bushey Heath, Herts, at the end of July (T. B. Andrews) and at Lowestoft, Suffolk, from August i8th onwards (E. W. C. Jenner). A summary of the breeding-season records in 1949 follows. V.C. 3 South Devon. Plymouth, one singing on a tall building in the centre of the city, June 13th — i6th (M. L. Ware). Torquay one pair bred (the late C. B. Redway, Mrs. Redway). V.C. 14 East Sussev. Hastings and St. Leonards, two pairs nested and two to four other singing males present (H. G. Attlee, J. Bishop, B. T. Brooker, R. Cooke, Miss H. Stevens, N. E. and R. N. Ticehurst, A. A. Wright). Pett Level, two pairs present, of which one was seen with a brood, while the hen of the other was killed by a cat after the eggs were laid (R. Cooke, A. Denby Wilkinson). Pett village, one pair bred (R. Cooke, A. Denby Wilkinson). Fairlight, an adult male singing in Ecclesbourne Glen, April 14th (E. M. Firth). Eastbourne, a hen at Langriey Point, June 29th (D. D. Harber). V.C. 15 East Kent. Folkestone, Harbour, one singing on June 5th (D. C. Pegram) and a pair feeding two young between July i6th and 23rd (G. B. Warboys). Dover, live pairs nested (G. E. Took). Ramsgate, one pair bred ; Margate, three pairs bred (E. G. Appleton, V. C. W. Lewis, J. A. Woodward) ; a male seen to fly out of a lamp standard near the bandstand at Margate on July loth was apparently different from any of these (W. G. and L. C. Jarvis). Faversham, one pair nested (J. Gurr). V.C. 21 Middlesex. City of London, ten or eleven pairs nested (London Natural History Society, per P. W. E. Currie and N. J. P. Wadley). West Brompton, a singing male during June and two female or juvenile birds in the cemetery on June 7th (Miss M. Curtis). Harrow, a female at Northwick Park on May 15th (D. A. J. Bunce). 176 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL, XLIII. V.C. 23 Oxfordshire. Oxford, one singing on Jesus and New Colleges for several days about May 21st (G. C. Varley). V.C. 25 East Suffolk. Brantham, the 1948 pair did not return to breed (E. A. R. Ennion). V.C. 26 West Suffolk. Lakenheath, a pair nested in the vicinity (L. R. Flack). V.C. 29 Cambridgeshire. Cambridge, one singing in Trinity Great Court and two seen in the Fellows’ Garden, May 25th (R. L. Baxter). V.C. 38 Warwickshire. Birmingham, a male in immature plumage, June ibth-iyth (A. R. Blake). V.C. 39 Staffordshire. Bescot Junction, near Walsall, a male in immature plumage on the edge of a railway siding on May 29th (C. A. Norris). V.C. 43 Radnorshire. Rhayader, one singing on roof of Elan Valley Hotel, May 26th (C. B. Ashby, G. Beven). V.C. 59 South Lancashire. Liverpool, one singing on blitzed sites, June 14th to July nth (G. D. Ireland, W. T. Rankin). V.C. 61 S.E. Yorkshire. Hull, a cock singing from blitzed buildings from June 21st to Ju’y 9th (E. B. Burstall) ; two flew from a high crevice on July loth (G. H. Ainsworth) ; two cocks singing in the same area on Septem- ber 24th (E. M. Nicholson). As in previous years, this investigation was aided by the British Trust for Ornithology. The organizer wishes to thank all observers who co-operated in the Inquiry in 1949, and hopes that they will continue to send information of all Black Redstarts seen in the British Isles during the breeding-season, 1950, to him at Greyhounds, Burford, Oxford. (177) INLAND PASSAGE OF BLACK TERNS IN THE SPRING OF 1949. BY R. A. Hinde and J. D. Wood. The following report on the inland passage of Black Terns {Chlidonias niger) in the spring of 1949 is based partly on records obtained as the result of an appeal in British Birds (antea, Vol. xlii, p. 256), and partly on records from the British Trust for Ornithology Wader and Tern Migration Enquiry, the full results of which are to be published separately. The records fall into four distinct sections : — ■ (i) There were three exceptionally early birds — one on April ist at Eye Brook, Leicestershire, one on April 3rd and 4th at Northwich, Cheshire, and one at Rockland Broad, Norfolk, on April 3rd. (ii) Two were seen between April i6th and i8th. (iii) The main passage took place between May nth and i8th. Two birds were seen in the west of the country on May nth, one of them in Wales, where the species occurs infrequently : one is reported from Yorkshire on the same date. On the 12th, four parties were seen, the largest being a flock of 70 — 75 at Cheddar : the others were from more easterly districts. Large numbers were seen on May 13th — 15th, especially in the east midlands. The greatest number of parties (16, con- taining 159 birds) was recorded on May 14th, but as this was a Saturday no great importance can be attached to this. Of the five birds recorded on May i6th — i8th, none was from farther south than Cambridge. (iv) Eleven parties were recorded on May 21st — 22nd. Again the greatest number of records fell on a Saturday, so the peak of the wave cannot be fixed with certainty. (Some stations were watched daily, but no birds were recorded on the 19th and 20th.) The largest party was that of 70 — 75 birds at Cheddar on May 12th. Several observers watched quite large numbers gather over suitable feeding areas : these birds arrived in a number of independent parties over a period of several hours. When seen to arrive, the birds usually came down from a considerable height. There are three records of the direction of flight of the birds. Some of those at Tring on May 13th arrived from the south-west : some of those at Rockland, Norfolk, on May 14th, arrived from the south-south- west : the party of eight seen at sea off Essex on May 14th were flying due east. Both the “ kik kik ” and the “ klee-aa ” calls were heard by some observers. 178 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XLIII. The weather conditions immediately preceding and during the period of the main passage can be summarized as follows. From April 29th to May 4th an area of high pressure west of the Bay of Biscay produced fairly persistent north-easterly winds in the English Channel and Bay of Biscay area. On May 4th — 5th a centre of low pressure coming down from Iceland produced a change in the situation, winds becoming variable but predominantly westerly. On May 7th, pressure west of the Bay of Biscay again became high, and winds over the Channel and Bay of Biscay became light to moderate north-easterly, and remained so for the next few days. From the loth to the 1 2th the winds were predominantly north-easterly in the Channel and easterly in the Bay of Biscay. North-easterly winds continued until May 14th, when the situation broke up. From the i6th — i8th winds were mostly westerly or south-westerly. A shallow area of high pressure developed in the Bay of Biscay on the 19th, so that on May 20th winds were light north to north-easterly over the Channel. On May 21st and 22nd winds were very light over the whole area. Apart from a peak of 68° F. on April 28th, the 18.00 temperature at Lisbon remained under 64° until May 6th, when it was 68° F. On the following evenings the temperature was 70°, 73°, 77°, 64° and 68° F. The temperatures then fell off. Similarly, at Corunna the temperatures were under 55° F. until May 7th (59° F.). On the next six evenings it was 61° F. or over. The main passage of Black Terns was thus immediately preceded by a period of north-easterly winds, which continued until the peak of the passage. It was also preceded by warmer temperatures in Portugal, Spain and southern France. A period of north- easterly winds a fortnight before the passage was not accompanied by any rise in temperature and did not produce a passage of Black Terns. The interval between the main passage and that on the 2ist and 22nd was a period of generally westerly winds. The significance of these facts can only be judged when information covering more years is available, but it has already been shown {antea, Vol. xlii, pp. 113— 117) that the large passages in 1946 and 1948 took place in similar wind conditions, and that the passage in 1948 occurred a day or two after exceptionally warm weather in France and Spain. The records are summarized below. We are very much indebted to all who sent in records. Somerset. — Cheddar Res., 70-75 on May 12th (M. J. Wotton) ; Durleigh Res., 3 on May 14th (E. G. Richards). Sussex. — Piddinghoe, one on May 13th and 2 on i6th ; Pagham, 3 on May 22nd ; Rye Harbour, onecn May 22nd {Sussex Bird Report, 1949, p. 25), one on May 28th, (per Dr. N. F. Ticchurst). Essex. — North Farmbridge marshes, 2 on May 14th (M. J. Ardley). Walthamstow, 16 on Maj' 14th, 3 on May 15th (K. E. Hoy, E. T. Nicholson). Surrey. — Erensham, 5 on May 12th and 13th, 2 on 14th, 4 on 15th (per Miss P. Bond) ; Guildford, one on May 12th and 13th, 2 on 14th (G. A. Hebditch). Herts. — Tring, up to 32 on May 13th (J. N. Hobbs), 16 on May 14th (W. H. Dady), 15 or 16 on May 15th (A. Reavley Jenkins, W. H. Dady), one on June 19th (W. H. Dady) ; Aldenham Res., 3 on May 15th (E. R. G. Kidd). Middlesex.^ — Staines Res., one on April 17th (W. N. Mitchell), one on April 1 8th (P. F. Yeo), 14-15 on May 14th (C. M. Veysey), 12 (W. N. Mitchell) or 15 f (C. M. Veysey) on May 15th. Berkshire. — Burghfield, 14 on May 13th (C. E. Douglas). VOL. XLIII. ] PASSAGE OF BLACK TERNS IN 1949. 179 Norfolk. — Rockland Broad, one on April 3rd (M. E. Giles), 17 on May 14th, one on 15th, 2 on 21st ; Barton Broad, 4 on May 13th (R. G. Pettitt). Norfolk/Suffolk. — Breydon, one on May 13th, 2 on 22nd (M. J. Seago). Cambridgf.. — Cambridge sewage farm, 7 on May 12th, 4 on 13th, 16 on 14th, one on i6th, 1 5 on 21st, 2 on 22nd (Cambridge Bird Club) ; Peterborough sewage farm, one on April i6th (J. W. Parker and J. Coulson), i8-j- on May 13th, 27 on 14th, 2 on 15th, 4 on 22nd (J. W. Parker). Northants. — Oundle, 2 on May 14th and 17th (B. W. H. Coulson) ; Northampton sewage farm, 6 on May 14th, 2 on May 22nd (R. E. Burton) ; Sywcll Res., 6 on May 14th (L. S. Taylor). Hunts. — Little Paxton, 2 on May 15th (C. F. Tebbutt). Warwickshire. — Earlswood, one on May 22nd (G. C. Lambourne). Staffordshire. — Cannock Res., one on May 13th; Alvecote Pools, 2 on May 22nd (G. C. Lambourne, H. Lapworth, M. A. Arnold). Leics. and Rutland. — Eye Brook, 2 on April ist, 33 on May 13th (E. L. Roberts), up to 22 on May 14th (G. W. Humphreys) ; Stanford Res., up to 20 on May 13th (R. W. M. Lee). Derbyshire. — Yeldersley Pond, one on May' 17th (Kathleen M. Hollick). Nottinghamshire. — Welbeck Great Lake, 2 on May 14th (N. Harwood) ; Kingston-on-Soar, one on May 19th (S. Allison) ; Attenborough Gravel Pit, one on May 22nd ; Thurgarton Gravel Pit, 3 on May 22nd (P. W. P. Browne). Cheshire. — Northwich, one on April 3rd and 4th (A. R. Summcrfield and A. W. Boyd). Lancashire. — Wigan, one on May i ith, one on i8th (G. Brown, S. V. Wild) ; Pennington, one on May' 13th (R. M. Jackson) ; Burnley, one on May' 22nd (K. G. Spencer). Yorkshire. — Fairburn, W. Riding, one on May' i ith (M. F. M. Meiklejohn). Radnorshire. — Llanwefr Pool, one on May iith (R. H. Baillie). At Sea. — Four miles east of Dovercourt, about 8 on May 14th (P. Tate). The meteorological data were taken from the daily weather reports of the Meteorological Office, Air Ministry'. It is clear from reports already received that there was another large invasion of Black Terns in mid-May, 1950. Readers who are taking part in the B.T.O. Wader and Tern Migration Enquiry should send their records, along with those for other species, to Mr. R. A. Hinde at 91, Banbury Road, Oxford. Al) other records of Black Terns should be sent to the Assistant Editor at 74, Shinfield Road, Reading.' DESERT-WHEATEAR WINTERING IN THE WEST RIDING OF YORKSHIRE. BY George R. Edwards. (Plates 34—36-) The week commencing November 7th, 1949, was a period of high winds and rain which developed into a full gale by the morning of November 12th. On this date a reservoir keeper in the Halifax area reported that on November 9th he had picked up the half-eaten remains of a Little Auk {AUe alle) and had also seen “ a wheatear.” The latter bird, he said, had been about the reservoir embankment 180 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XLIII. for several days and showed no inclination to continue its migration. I visited the reservoir on the following day expecting to see perhaps a late Greenland Wheatear {(Enanthe ce. leucorrhoa) , but failed to see the bird, although within an hour of my departure the keeper saw it again. No further reports were, received, and it was not until December i8th, when A. M. and F. C. A., both junior members of the Halifax Zoological Group (now the Ornithological section of Halifax Scientific Society), visited the reservoirs that they learned from the keeper that the wheatear was still present. They soon located it on the reservoir embankment feeding on insects, but unfortunately it was standing with its back towards them and took flight while they were still some distance aw'ay. Ho\vever, they noticed through their field-glasses that the rear plumage pattern consisted of a buff-white rump and an almost completely black tail, instead of the normal pure white rump and black tail with half white outer tail- fsathers of the Common Wheatear {(Enanthe mianthe). While these two boys were having lunch in the keeper’s house, and unknown to them, R. C. (also of the junior H.Z.G.) arrived and located the bird himself. He was fortunate enough to see the bird at close range and at once noticed its black face and throat and also the tail pattern and light markings on the closed wing. He then met the others, and together they took very full notes and made numerous sketches throughout the remainder of the daylight hours. That same evening they consulted The Handbook and came to the conclu- sion that the bird was a Desert-Wheatear, then brought the sketches and notes for me to see. These were sufficiently accurate for me to say conclusively that the bird was indeed one of the forms of Desert-Wheatear, so the following day (December iqth) A. M. and I visited the reservoir and had excellent views of the bird from a few feet distance — and often up to the focusing limit of the x () binoculars. Beyond confirming the record it was not possible to do more than make observations on this occasion, although in view of the fact that all three forms have been recorded on less than eight occasions in this country, this in itself was an event. A few days later Mr. R. S. R. Fitter was able to add his confirmation to the record on December 24th. The bird was seen between Christmas and New Year by several members of the Yorkshire Natural sts’ Union, and also by P. A. D. Hollom, but while the bird was definitely established as a Desert-Wheatear, it was obviously impossible to determine the subspecies without first procuring the bird. Two methods of doing this were open to choice — shooting or trajrping ; but, as we. are against the former practice on the grounds that it would have deprived our visitors and all other ornithologists of the uni(]ue opportunity of seeing a Desert-Wheatear alive in this coun- try, we trapped it. The bird was carefully examined, photographed, plumage details sketched and notes taken. It was then ringed (No. 1' J270) and VOL. XLiii.] DESERT- WHEATEAR IN YORKSHIRE. ISl released. This took place on January 9th, 1950, and the bird was seen, and its ring noted, on January 15th, and on several later dates by the keeper and his wife. It was last seen on January 22nd by myself when the reservoir was partly frozen over. — The area chosen as winter-quarters by this presumably lost migrant consists of bleak grass and heather moorland at an altitude of between 1,000 and 1,500 feet above sea level and is some sixty miles from the coast. The ground is given over to grouse, and a few sheep roam the hillsides, but its main function is as gathering grounds for a group of reservoirs. Because of this there are a number of derelict farms in the area, and sections of blackened stone walls in various states of disrepair surround these remains. Other parts of the ground are bare and stony, and there are considerable outcrops of rock on the steeper slopes, but much of the land consists of peat bog, especially in the area immediately around the reservoir edges. The only inhabited house is that belonging to the reservoir keeper, and this lies about a hundred yards from the nearest point of the reservoir itself. The wheatear rarely moved far from the area covered by the reservoir embankment, the final 100 yards of the catch-water leading into the reservoir, the keeper’s garden, and a ruined farm building which was in process of demolition by a gang of workmen. Field Characters and Habits. — This bird was an adult male in winter plumage and therefore possessed little of the warm sandy colour apparent in the breeding plumage. The form and carriage were typically that of the Common Wheatear, although several observers remarked on its small size. The tail was constantly in motion and a good deal of bobbing and posturing took place during intervals between the capture of passing insects. The blacks of head, wings and tail were less intense, and overall the bird displayed practically nothing of the brilliant contrasting tones of a “Thorburn” specimen. Coupled to this must be the inevitable coating of West Riding grime which most birds in the industrial area acquire in a very short space of time, and of which the Desert-Wheatear appeared to have more than its fair share. F'rom these remarks it will be obvious that to the few people, other than ornithologists, who happened to see this bird, it appeared singularly unattractive. Two panels of dull white — roughly oblong in shape — were the most conspicuous feature of the closed wing. In flight these light patches, together with the white on the inner webs of the primaries, superficially resembled the markings on the wing of a Chaffinch. The wing was, therefore, considerably different in appearance from the plain wing pattern of the Common Wheater. The rump (even in breeding plumage) is not pure white, but in our grimy example the contrast between rump and tail was even less marked. The bird spent most of its time along the embankment, darting from the wall-top to take insects on the path, at the water’s edge, against the vertical face of the wall, or in mid-air after the manner of 182 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XLIII, a flycatcher. Tlie wall top was a favourite feeding area unless high winds forced it to take shelter, and it obtained a surprising number of insects in this situation. The whole moorland area boasts only one tree, but the bird was never seen to perch on this, although it is said to do so in its native habitat. It was interesting to discover that when the workmen ceased work for a period (e.g. the dinner hour) they stopped the petrol engine operating their stone-crushing machine and as soon as the noise had died away, the wheatear would leave the embankment, fly up to the ruined farm and enjoy a spell of insect hunting there until the machine was re-started. During one of these visits it was seen to extract a worm from the earth, but on all other occasions it appeared to concentrate on winged prey. Frequent visits were paid to the keeper’s garden, which enabled us to observe its movements even during meal times, and although the soil was recently turned over and quite soft, it preferred to secure its food from the concrete pathway leading up to the house door. Towards the end of January the weather became much colder and the reservoir surface was frozen over for some distance from the embankment. Through the field-glass it was possible to see small insects on, or flying over, the ice in fair numbers. The wheatear flew out to capture these on numerous occasions, and perched without hesitation on the ice. However, this unique experience must have finally convinced it that the “ sands of the desert ” do grow cold, for this was the last occasion on which the bird was seen ! No sound was heard from the bird in the field prior to being trapped, but during the few minutes of its captivity it repeatedly opened its bill uttering a rather nondescript sound as though it had lost its voice and was making a brave attempt to call. The result was a soft coughing or sighing sound. On the day the bird was last seen (January 22nd) the same repeated opening and closing of the bill was observed on several occasions, but only on two of these was it possible to hear the attempted “ call.” Description. — (Taken from live bird in the hand.) Crown of head and nape, greyish-buff ; back, orange-buff (but difficult to determine accurately owing to grimy state of plumage) ; rump, grey or buff-white ; the basal half of the tail-feathers, hidden by the tail-coverts, was found to be pure white. Sides of face, cheeks and throat, sooty-black with a good deal of white speckling (the winter plumage) which rendered these areas much less contrasty than in the summer plumage ; upper breast, tinged orange-buff, showing darker than the rest of the breast and under-parts, which were dirty buff to greyish-white ; the dull white eye-stripe was more conspicuous behind the eye than between the eye and the base of the bill, although there v'as a slight suggestion that this area and the lower part of the forehead were lighter than the greyish-brown crown. Iris, black ; legs and bill, black ; primaries, black on the outer webs (not intense black at this time of the year), and smoky- brown with darker tips on inner webs. The first four primaries VOL. XLIII.] DESERT-WHEATEAR IN YORKSHIRE. 183 showed little or no white on the basal half of the inner webs (see Plate 35), but the amount of white increased towards the innermost primaries ; secondaries, smoky-brown, well-edged and tipped with buff ; the four innermost of the greater-coverts, edged broadly with white, the last of these showing considerably more white than black, while the three remaining inner coverts were broadly edged with white, but had jet-black centres ; the remaining (outermost) of the greater coverts were brownish-black edged buff ; median and lesser coverts were orange-buff shading to white. The latter formed a conspicuous light patch near the carpal joint. Three of these lesser coverts were also jet-black and edged with white ; the basal third of the tail-feathers was white and the remaining two-thirds, sooty- black. A selection of skins comprising the three forms of Desert-Wheatear on the British List and also the Tibetan form, was examined and compared with notes and photographs of our bird. The Tibetan form {(Enanthe deserti oreophila) and the Eastern Desert-Wheatear [CEnanthe deserti atrogularis)* both showed considerably more white in all the primaries and can, I think, safely be ruled out, but no definite conclusion could be arrived at with regard to the typical form (CEnanthe deserti deserti) and the Western Desert-Wheatear [Enanthe deserti homochroa). Separation between these two forms rests upon the colour of the upper-parts, which in deserti is ‘ ‘ greyer and less rufous-sandy ” than in homochroa. Our bird being grimy and in winter plumage, was impossible to assign to either. We have, nevertheless, the greater satisfaction of knowing that this particular bird can be identified, should it ever be recovered, and although such a possibility is always remote, we believe in its having that chance. Grateful acknowledgment is due to J. Crossley, reservoir keeper who first reported the bird ; to A. Mitchell, P. C. Andrews, and R. Crossley, the junior members who correctly identified the species ; to R. F. Dickens and P. E. Davis of the Y.N.U., without whose assistance the bird would not have been trapped and who were also responsible for the detailed plumage notes ; and to R. Patterson, Director of the Halifax Corporation Museums for obtaining a series of skins from the British Museum. * The “ List Committee ” of the British Ornithologists’ Union has decided that when adequate material is compared CE. d. atrogularis is not separable from CE. d. deserti, so that the former becomes a synonym of the latter. — Eds. (184) NOTES. COMPETITION TOR NEST-SITES AMONG HOLE-BREEDING SPECIES. On May 7th, 1949, I found in one of my nest-boxes near Perth 3 tit’s eggs, one of them broken, in a feather-lined nest which was very untidy and lacked the usual neat lip. From the size of the eggs and the feathers it was provisionally put down as a Blue Tit’s {Funis canileus). On May 21st, 1 found 10 eggs and from the size put them down as a Great Tit’s [Purus mujor), assuming that I had made a mistake before. On June 5th 1 found 9 young nestlings and an addled egg, and a pair of Great Tits was definitely in possession of the nest. On June 15th 1 colour-ringed 9 nestlings about 16 days old, of which 7 were Great Tits and 2 Blue Tits. They were fully fledged and there was no chance of a mistake in identification. The Blue Tits were perfectly fit and healthy, in fact, if anything, rather better fledged than the Great Tits. It seems clear that the Blue Tit took the box first, built her nest and laid three eggs. Then a Great Tit turned her out and in the battle one egg was cracked and the nest considerably ruffled. The Great Tit then laid her eggs after tidying up the nest, adding very little, if anything, to the lining ; the broken egg disappeared, leaving the invader brooding her own 8 eggs and 2 of the Blue Tit, which duly hatched out. The Great Tit evidently took over the nest as a going concern and must have started laying almost at once, without building a new nest. Both in the Perth district and in the Forest of Dean I have come across cases of nest-boxes already tenanted by one species being usurped by another. In such cases the usurper usually builds an entirely new nest on top of the original one, burying the eggs laid by the first owner. 1 once found a Great Tit’s nest with a foundation of dried leaves and grass ; after the young had flown it was seen that the foundations really belonged to the nest of a Redstart [Phcenicurus phoenicurus) and that the Redstart was lying dried up between the two nests. The head looked battered, but it was impossible to be sure that the bird had been killed by the Great Tit. Campbell [Bird Notes, \’ol. xxiii, p. 227) has recorded a case of a dead Pied h'lycatcher [Muscicapa hypoleuca) being found under a Great Tit’s nest. The same author confirms my impression that Pied Flycatchers not infrequently usurp nesting sites tenanted by other species or build afresh on top of nests from which a brood has already flown. Cases of the latter kind are not rare in my experience. I have one record of a nesting-box in which a Great Tit hatched out a brood, then a Blue Tit did so, and finally another Great Tit built a third nest on top of the other two and laid 3 eggs in it before deserting. In the Forest of Dean this behaviour was doubtless due to the shortage of suitable nesting sites, but in the Perth area there were British Birds, Vol. xliii, PI. ;i4 DI'Sert ^^■I1R.\TEAR {Glnauthc deserti), ringed Yorkshire, January 9TI1, 1950. [Photonraphed by G. K. I'hlward.s) Hritisli Birds, \'ol. xliii, PI. .'Bi. Dics1';rt Wiikatkak {Oimnithc dcMi-li) Ul’I’KU — Dhtaii. of kicht winc.. Lo\vi;k — Dictail of u:ft wing showing whitf INNKK MARGINS OF I’R I M AR I FS. { P/ioInf^i-ap/icil hv Ct . R. I•'.(lwa^ls) British Birds, Vol. xliii, PL .‘hi. Desert Wheatear {CEnanthe deserti) Upper. — Head. Lower. — Dex.-ul of tail and rump. [Photographed by G. R. Ethvards) British Birds, \'ol. xliii, I’l. 37. Blue 'I'rr about to iT:r;i) ^•ou^■r. Bi,.\CKBiRns. hy l)ou}^]us !■ I.awson). British Birds, Vol. xliii, PI. 3S J 1 Blue Tit feedix'g young Bl.AlCkbikds. [] 'hotoj^ra l^hcd by JJouglas !■'. Lawson). I^ritish FBirds, \’ol. xliii. Housii-M AKTiNS coM.i:cTiN(; Mil]) : None ai.so iiii-: I’AieAsrric ( 1 1 1 I’I'ouoscid) i-ln' ox l ine liiKi) ni:aki;st tiii'. c \mi-;ka. { ! *hotnrj(i lihrd hy I'.rir British Birds, Vol. xliii, PI. 40. j r I 1 i- House-Martins collecting muu ; Note also the parasitic (Hippobosciu) p^ly on THE RIGHT HAND BIRD. [Photoi^raphed by Eric Hosking). British Birds, \’ol. xliii, PI. 4i HoUSI'-MaKTIN ('(ri.LICCTIXC. MCI). { / ’li()loi:rii p/ll// /jv I'.rir llnskinj.^). VOL. XLIII.] NOTES. 185 I several empty nesting-boxes in the plot where the incident recorded • above took place. J. M. D. Mackenzie. [A recent paper by F. Ammann {Om. Beob., 46 (6), pp. 187-190) records several instances in which broods of the Great Tit included : one or more individuals of the Blue Tit, as well as a few cases of mixed broods of other hole-nesting species. Though the Blue Tits are successfully reared by their foster parents it is not known | whether they normally survive after leaving the nest, though |i Ammann records one recovered in good condition in September, 1949. Whether this bird had been fed by the Great Tits after leaving the nest or had joined up with a family of Blue Tits is not known. — Eds.] UNUSUAL NESTING MATERIAL OF CARRION CROW I On May 29th, 1949, in Breconshire, Wales, I examined a nest of the - Carrion Crow {Corvus corone) built on a hillside rock-ledge. It was barely feet above the base of the rock and although of fresh ' construction had, for some unknown reason, been abandoned. ! From a distance I had noticed its peculiarly greyish-white appear- ance, the cause of which a closer inspection soon revealed. Worked ; in amongst the outside framework of sticks and stems were many bleached sheep’s pelvic-bones which, I discovered, had doubtless been collected from the remains of numerous skeletons lying below a rocky outcrop nearly a quarter of a mile distant — grim relics of the bitter 1946-47 winter. Hubert E. Pounds. “ DISPLACEMENT COPULATION ” BY MAGPIES. I On September 4th, 1948, on the outskirts of Whalley, Lancs, I 1 watched a prolonged " battle ” between a Kestrel [Falco i tinnunculus) and a party of Magpies [Pica pica) which chivvied it from tree to tree over a considerable distance, the Kestrel on one occasion retaliating against a Magpie which made an unsupported ; attack. -Such behaviour in itself is unusual in my experience. A ■ few minutes later I disturbed two Magpies in a field of oat stubble near by, putting them on the alert but not seriously alarming them. Excited perhaps by my sudden appearance or by the Kestrel ] incident, in the earlier stages of which they may have participated, | they suddenly copulated or attempted to do so. Thej^ stayed for a ' few minutes before flying off together. Armstrong [Bird Display and Behaviour, pp. 107 — 8) records cases of incongruous sexual i activity elicited by excitement, but such incidents in autumn seem to be unusual. K. G. Spencer. : CALL OE YELLOW BUNTING. j With reference to the note by D. C. Hulme [antea, Vol. xlii, p. 121) ; on the Yellow Bunting [Emberiza citrinella) call rendered by him as I " twick . . . chee,” it may be interesting to note that the call I mentioned is extremely common around Guildford, Surrey. I have ■ especially noticed it on Pewley Down, Guildford, where I have frequently watched this species. C. R. Bird. 180 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XLIII. BLUE TIT FEEDING NESTLING BLACKBIRDS. On May 14th, 1949, I visited a garden at Wallington, Surrey, in which a pair of Blackbirds {Turdus merula) was nesting in close proximity to a box occupied by a pair of Blue Tits [Pams cceruleus). One of the Blue Tits’ clutch of four had hatched on May 6th, but the chick had died ; the female continued to sit for thirty days on the remaining infertile eggs. On the occasion of my visit the Blackbird’s nest contained three young, nearly fully fledged. The male Blue Tit was watched feeding these young Blackbirds on a number of occasions and its behaviour suggested that it had been doing so for some time (see plates 37 and 38). Its visits out- numbered those of the male Blackbird by four to one ; it brought small green caterpillars to the nest and fed only one nestling at each visit. Its behaviour was resented by the male, but not by the female Blackbird. The Blue Tit continued to feed its mate at approximately half hourly intervals and was once seen to take over incubation. Douglas F. Lawson. BLUE TIT ROBBING NEST MATERIAL. On April i6th, 1949, at Fenns Bank, Flintshire, I watched a pair of Willow-Tits {Parus atricapillus) building in a hole about 3J feet from the ground in an old elder. They were then carrying in small fragments of bark from neighbouring elders. On April 20th I set up a hide close to the nest and saw a Blue Tit [Parus cceruleus) alight at the hole. A second Blue Tit arrived and both entered the nest. They remained inside for a while and then one departed, soon to be followed by the other carrying a large beakful of rabbit fur which the Willow-Tit had presumably used as nest lining. As it emerged there was a sudden flurry of wings when a Willow-Tit, which must have approached silently, rushed furiously upon the departing Blue Tit, pecking it on its back, with legs and claws stretched out as though to land. A day or two earlier I observed both Willow-Tits leave off building to chase away a Blue Tit which approached the nest closely. W. T. C. Rankin. BLUE TIT’S DISPLAY FLIGHTS AND BEHAVIOUR DURING NEST-BUILDING PERIOD. Between 1934 and 1937 I was able to keep a number of Blue Tits [Parus cceruleus) under close observation during the nesting season. The following notes, largely in the form of extracts from my diary for April 2nd, 1935, describe the behaviour of a pair during the period of nest-building. “ At 10.45 female began building. Carried in moss 4 times in 4| minutes, then joined male. Carried in moss again 4 times between 11.15 and 11.20 ; 4 times between 11.30 and 11.34 I 5 times between 11.47 H-5o. Spasms then lengthened and became 1 ess energetic ; last visit of day at 15.50, after interval of 35 minutes. Total of about 55 visits in the day, following normal emotional rhythm of waxing and waning intensity. Male accompanied female VOL. XLIII.] NOTES. 187 from third visit onward, sometimes right to the box, but usually to within a yard of it. Occasionally female lost interest, pulling moss from the lawn and dropping it to go off and feed. Male at once drove or led her back to the box with big display of excitement. Throughout the day male showed more evidence of excitement than female ; several times followed female into box and stayed inside for about 15 seconds, afterwards dashing away in rapid zigzag flight. Female followed in slower, normal, direct flight. After one such incident male alighted on branch and crept along it like Tree- Cre'eper [Certhia faniiliaris), but with dropped wings and fanned tail, quite unlike strutting display when tail is usually raised. Then joined female on lawn, descending in slow-motion ‘ butterfly ’ flight, appearing almost to float down. Broke off to chase succes- sively a Song-Thrush {Turdus ericetorum) , a Great Tit [Pams major) and a Nuthatch [Sitta europaa) from the nesting territory. Returned to female and chased her at top speed around garden, displaying with raised crest and shivering wings whenever she alighted. At one moment both birds mounted vertically to a height of 150 feet, almost side by side. On female’s 24th visit to nestbox, male ‘ floated ’ down, by alternate ‘ butterfly ’ flight and stiff-winged gliding, at 45° for a distance of about 40 feet. Alighted on nest-box perch with insect in beak and made curious buzzing noise, whereupon female appeared at entrance hole and was given the insect.” This is the only occasion on which 1 have observed courtship feeding before incubation had begun. But I have twice seen out-of-season ” moth ” flight, in which the wings are beaten very rapidly in a diminished arc, a fairly common display in this species during the breeding-season. Both instances were after releasing a bird trapped for ringing — presumably an indication of excess nervous tension. I have seen Blue Tits indulge in occasional bouts of flight display during the breeding-season when no female has been in sight and again also before the breaking up of the winter flocks. I have one note of a stiff-winged, swallow-like swoop, rising and falling, some six feet in length, during courtship. G. R. Mountfort. PROBABLE SIBERIAN CHIEFCHAFF IN SOMERSET. On September 24th, 1949, considerable numbers of the smaller leaf-warblers were seen on Steep Holm, an island in the Bristol Channel belonging to the county of Somerset. The great majority of these were apparently Chiffchaffs of the typical form [Phylloscopus c. collybita), but one bird differed very markedly from the others, and it is considered that it was probably of the Siberian race [Ph. c. tristis) . The bird was seen in and around scrub privet bushes, where attention was first drawn to it by the strikingly brown upper-parts. The crown, nape, mantle, back, rump and tail were a rather cold medium brown, as were the wings, although a faint trace of olive could sometimes be detected on the primaries. The eyestripe was 188 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XLIII, tinged with pale butt', and the under-parts were washed with a similar colour ; it should be stressed, however, that although the breast was not in the least yellowish, the buff colour tended towards yellow rather than brown. There was a very conspicuous pure white orbital ring, which was certainly as striking a feature as the brown upper-parts, while the legs were a deep black. No call-notes were heard on any occasion. The general impression, therefore, was of a very brown Chiffchaff completely lacking any olive, green or yellowish shades. Numerous typical birds were present near by, and detailed comparisons could be made ; all possessed pronounced olive upper-parts and yellowish breasts, and none had a noticeable orbital ring. Owing to the fact that the under-parts were not exactly as des- cribed under the Siberian form in The Handbook, and as birds apparently intermediate between Ph. c. abietinus and Ph. c. tristis have been seen in Fair Isle recently {antea, pp. 48-49), it seems inadvisable to give the bird definite subspecific status. It did, however, closely resemble the eastern form, and appeared even browner than several skins examined later (being very distinct from specimens of the Scandinavian race), but as the possibility that it originated in an area of intergradation between the two subspecies cannot be entirely excluded, it seems preferable that the bird should be recorded as a probable Siberian Chiffchaff. M. J. Wotton. ON THE RACIAL STATUS OF SCOTTISH BREEDING WILLOW-WARBLERS. A CURSORY glance at any comprehensive series of British-taken Willow- Warblers {Phylloscopus trochilus) in fresh spring plumage reveals some numbers of the northern race Phylloscopus trochilus acredula (Linnaeus), 1758 : Sweden. I have for long considered that it was not just a simple problem of passage-migration, and my doubts have been fully substantiated by an examination of a long series of Scottish breeding birds. 1 now hnd that in about 90 per cent, of cases Scottish breeding Willow-Warblers differ from those from England in having the underparts noticeably whiter, less suffused with lemon-yellow, and in having rather greyer brown upper-parts, whiter supercilia, and paler lemon-yellow axillaries and under wing-coverts. On compari- son with material of P. t. acredtda from many parts of its range they were found to agree in all essential colour characters, and represent a noteworthy extension of the recorded range of this race. In carrying out my comparison I have used specimens of P. t. trochilus from Suffolk and Essex in my own collection and part of the large British Museum (Nat. Hist.) series from south-eastern England. Of P. t. acredula I have used material from Norway, N. Sweden, Finland, N. Russia and Siberia (Yenisei), as well as birds taken on migration in south-eastern England. As the typical race from England is stated to be on the average VOL, XLIII.] NOTES. 189 somewhat smaller than F. t, acredula I consider it advisable to give size details of the various series examined ; P. t. trochilus. Wing— P. t. acredula. Wing — European Topotypical. Males 71,70, 69, b8 (2), 65.5. Females 65.5, 64, 63 {4). Siberia (Yenisei). Males 71, 70, 69, 68.5, 68. Females 66 (2), 65, 64.5. Norway, N. Sweden, Finland, Russia. Males 71, 70 (4), 69.5, 69 (7), 68.5 (2), 67.5, 67 Females 65.5, 65 {2), 63.5, 62.5. S.W. and C. and W. Scotland. Males 71, 70.5, 70 (3), 69.5, 69 (3), 67.5 (2), 67 (4). 66.5, 65.5. Females 65.5, 64, 63 (4). Note. — Ticehurst [A Systematic Review of the Genus Phylloscopus , 1938) gives rather similar measurements, viz. P. t. trochilus Males 64-71.5 (most 67-70), Females 61-65 (most 62-64 mm.) and for P. t. acredula Males 67.5-73.5, Females 62.5, 63.5-68 mm. As will be seen from the above measurements the reputed difference in size is of no taxonomic importance. Many breeding birds from N.W. England are similar to Scottish examples. I have examined no material from Ireland. As the N.W. English population is inconstant in character it now seems necessary to restrict further the type-locality of P. t. trochilus as designated by Hartert, Vbg. pal. Fauna, i, 1909, p. 507, namely England. Motacilla Trochilus Linnseus, Syst. Nat., ed. 10, 1758, p. 188 — ex Fauna Suecica, Aldrovandi, Willughby, has its type- locality here restricted to England south of the Thames on the Willughby reference as used by Hartert. P. A. Clancey. NOTE OF GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER. On January 6th, 1949, at St. Martha’s Hill, near Guildford, Surrey, I heard a Great Spotted Woodpecker {Dryobates major) give an unusual call. The bird flew into a group of tall conifers, but soon rose from them calling. The call used was an abrupt ‘‘ tchickit- tchickit ” sounding much like the flight note of the Pied Wagtail {Motacilla alba yarrellii). The bird was obviously alarmed, as it quickly rose and flew off. This call is not noted in The Handbook. C. R. Bird. HONEY-BUZZARDS ON BERKS-HANTS BORDER. In August, 1949, a pair of buzzards was seen by Mr. Robert Abbott, a very keen observer of birds, early in the morning in a clearing in a wood near Ashmansworth, Hants. They were both on the ground, digging out a wasps’ nest. They immediately flew off when disturbed, and the observer described them as somewhat smaller 190 BRITISH BIRDS [VOL. XLIII. than the Common Buzzard [Buteo huteo), with more pointed wings, and lighter underneath than that species. The observer is well acquainted with the Common Buzzard as there are usually one or two in the neighbourhood in early autumn. The fact that these two birds were digging out a wasps’ nest, as well as the other features observed, points to their having been Honey-Buzzards {Pernis apivorns). G. Brown. SHELD-DUCK NESTING AMONGST GROUND VEGETATION ON SALTINGS. On July 3rd, 1949, while Messrs. B. A. Richards, N. A. Beal and I were searching for nests of the Black-headed Gull [Lams ridibundus), I found two nests of Sheld-Duck [Tadorna tadorna) on some saltings in North Kent. The first nest was on an islet amongst scanty mixed salt-marsh vegetation at the base of a derelict portion of a sea-wall. There was no nesting material and the six eggs reposed conspicuously on a large quantity of down. The second nest, which was more concealed than the first, contained eight eggs. It was amongst Cord-grass {Spartina) and consisted of a cup made of that grass, lined with down, and placed on the mud. The nest had been saturated by a recent high tide and was deserted. E. H. Gillham. UNUSUAL MALLARD’S NEST ON SALTINGS. On the saltings in North Kent, Mallard [Anas platyrhyncha) regularly nest amongst Cord-grass [Spartina), the nests being usually bulky structures raised well clear of the mud by supporting stems of this vegetation. On July 3rd, 1949, ^ found a rather unusual nest even for this type of habitat. It resembled a miniature nest of the Mute Swan [Cygnus olor) and consisted of a platform of Cord-grass, ten inches thick, built up from the mud with a broad base and a narrow top. The diameter at the top was only sufficient to hold the four eggs which it contained. There was no down although incubation appeared to be well advanced. E. H. Gillham. GREEN-WINGED TEAL IN YORKSHIRE. On January 15th, 1950, about 100 Teal [Anas c. crecca) were at Swillington Ing, Yorks. Whilst counting the number of drakes I picked up at fairly close range, and in good light, a drake Green- winged Teal [Anas crecca carolinensis) . In outline and general plumage it resembled Common Teal, but lacked the whitish horizontal line on the flanks and had a similar but vertical line on side of breast, a little in front of wing. The buff under tail-coverts (visible on Common Teal) were only apparent on the Green-winged Teal when it turned on one side to preen. The buff line intersecting the shades of head colour though visible on some Common Teal could not be made out on the scarcer bird. A x 20 telescope was used. K. Brown. VOL. XLIII.] NOTES. 191 TRANS-ATLANTIC FLIGHT OF RINGED PINTAIL. On September 15th, 1948, a Pintail {Anas acuta) was shot on the River Dart, South Devon, near Stoke Gabriel, by Mr. M. P. Adams. It was wearing a ring of the American Fish and Wildlife Service — 48/620729 — and the ring was eventually obtained and the authenti- city of the record established. I was informed by the Ringing Organisation in U.S.A. that the Pintail had been ringed less than a month earlier, on August 19th, at Tinker Harbour, Hamilton Inlet, Labrador, as a bird of the year. No other case is known of a ringed Pintail crossing to the British Isles from North America. E. P. Leach. [This -constitutes the first recorded occurrence in the British Isles of the North American race of the Pintail {Anas acuta tzitzihoa). It is true that both A. a. tzitzihoa and the typical race, A. a. acuta now hgure on the A.O.U. Check-list, the latter having been added in 1945 (Supplement 20, Auk, vol. 62, p. 438) as “ casual at Point Barrow, Alaska.” It is also true that Pintails have been seen migrating across Behring Strait, and individuals breeding in N.W. Alaska are sometimes indistinguishable from acuta, though on the average resembling or approaching tzitzihoa {Condor, vol. xxxii, p. 265). There is, however, no doubt as to the racial status of Pintails breeding elsewhere in North America and we are therefore safe in assuming that a bird from Labrador could only be tzitzihoa. — Eds.J RED-NECKED PHALAROPE ON THE KENT-SUSSEX BORDER. At 16.30 on September 13th, 1949, in a 20 m.p.h. N.N.W. wind a phalarope, watched by my wife, circled over the Midrips and landed on one of the ponds. At 9.00 on September 14th, Capt. W. G. Fluke saw the bird on the pond and made a hurried sketch. This bore many of the diagnostic features of a Red-necked Phalarope {Phalaropus lobatus). I watched the visitor uninterruptedly from 10.00 to 13.00 on September 14th. It swam and ” spun ” in the middle of the pond, looked at a distance like a tiny black-backed gull, fed exclusively for these three hours on flies, picked every insect off the water within range of its beak, snatched flies in the air if within the same distance, and turned a complete circle to get every fly within its range. It did not ” spin ” to stir up food ; it pivoted to get at the food on the water and in the air. It up-ended once in the three hours — the only time it picked anything out of the water. I waded out afterwards and skimmed off a sample of the food from the surface of the water. The sample contained the adults, larvae and pupae of the Dipteran genus Ephydra. During one exceptional period of 15 minutes the bird ate the fantastic total of 900 of these. The field-characters were ; long, slender neck ; long, thin, tapering beak, black from tip to base. Forehead, front of crown. 192 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XLIII. broad stripe over eye, lores, chin, sides of neck and breast, white ; under-parts generally white. Blackish patch before and below eye, extending backwards over and behind ear-coverts ; similar patch from top of crown down the middle of the nape. Other upper-parts darkish with two short, almost convergent whitish-brown streaks and one longer, lateral whitish-brown narrow stripe on the outside of each short streak. Primaries almost black ; flanks, and upper side of breast forward from closed wing, greyish- white. Size, smaller than a Dunlin. During the afternoon it fed frequently with the Dunlins {Calidris alpind) on the edge of the pond. It looked fragile beside the Dunlins, but it jabbed viciously at them if they came too near and they did not stay to argue. The bird was seen and identified at 15.00 by Mr. Reginald Cooke. On September 15th, Mr. H. A. R. Cawkell saw it, and Dr. Norman F. Ticehurst examined it at a distance of five yards and confirmed our identification. None of the named observers saw the bird after the evening of September 15th. Mr. Guy Akers saw it on the morning of September i6th. It was not seen again. W. S. Nevin. DISTRACTION DISPLAY OF OYSTER-CATCHER. On June 2nd, 1949, I visited a gravel bank near Ballantrae, Ayrshire, to find and ring three young Oyster-catchers {Hcematopus osiralegus). At my approach the parent birds began circling round me, piping loudly. After a few minutes one of them landed about forty feet away, the other still flying overhead. On my approaching still nearer to the spot where I expected to find the young, the adult which had alighted rose, gained height and flew straight at me, veering off about ten feet from my head. This happened several times before it alighted about thirty feet away and began to scuffle along the gravel, one wing flapping stiffly in the typical “ injury-feigning ” manner. This lasted only a few seconds, after which the bird flew and joined its mate. I next visited the bank on June 8th and watched the birds back to their young. Immediately I showed myself one of them rose and flew at me. At the same time the other began " injury-feigning,” heeling over on its side and then scuffling along, tail depressed and both wings flapping stiffly, as in the distraction display of the Ringed Plover {Charadrius hiaticula). This time the performance lasted for quite a while. As I was ringing the young the same bird flew closer, landed and crept into a depression in the gravel, nestling down until nearly out of sight. On my moving towards it the “injury-feigning ” began immediately. A similar occurrence took place while a friend and 1 were examin- ing the newly hatched young of another Oyster-catcher about two hundred yards further along the same gravel bank. Scott Nelson. CRANE IN SUFFOLK. On September 8th, 1949, I saw a Common Crane {Grus grus) on the tidal flats near Blythburgh. I saw it first at 4 p.m. B.S.T. and left VOL. XLIII.] NOTES. 193 it still feeding at 7 p.m. The next morning it was disturbed by a gun-shot and was seen by Miss Coney, of Brampton, to rise to a considerable height and fly south. The bird was seen by several others. It showed a large patch of white on the cheeks rather than a line ; we could not distinguish any red on the head with x 10 glasses at about 200 yards in good light ; the bushy secondaries were most obvious. It fed entirely from the surface, mixed freely with Herons, Curlew, etc., and was entirely silent. G. B. G. Benson. The Crane reported by Mr. Benson evidently did not leave the district when it was seen flying away on September 9th, as was assumed at the time. It probably merely dropped into the extensive reed-beds of the Westwood Marshes, not much more than a mile away, where it^ — or at any rate a Crane which it can hardly be doubted was the same — was seen on September 14th by some of Dr. E. A. R. Ennion’s students from Flatford Mill Field Centre who were camping close to Blythburgh Lodge. The camping site affords an excellent look-out over the marshes and thereafter the bird was seen repeatedly by the Flatford Mill observers — in fact, as Dr. Ennion kindly informs me, on every day from September 14th to 24th inclusive, except for a gap on September i8th and 19th. It was also very well seen by the writer on September 20th, 22nd, 23rd and 24th, as well as by Mr. J. Rigby and others. The bird seemed to spend most of its time at or near one of the open lagoons in the Westwood reed-beds, but made excursions at times to the tidal flats of the Blyth, where it was seen originally. It was seen coming into or leaving the Westwood Marshes on the wing on various occasions and there was nothing in its behaviour to suggest that it was not a genuinely wild bird. B. W. Tucker. BLACK-HEADED GULLS NESTING IN TREES IN WEST SUFFOLK. On May 24th, 1948, we noted the presence of Black-headed Gulls • {Lams ridihundus) at the settling ponds of the Bury St. Edmunds Beet Sugar Factory, West Suffolk. Seven nests were seen, five of which were situated in a group of old limed trees in a flooded settling pond, most of them being only a few feet above the water ; the remaining two nests were in two dead trees in the Merrymakers’ Pits, a marshy area, each nest being at a height of about eight feet. There were fourteen adult birds on the wing. We revisited the site on July 19th, when two nestlings were seen swimming and a total of twenty adults was recorded. On July 21st four nestlings were on the pits with 20 adults and two juveniles, one of the latter being hardly capable of flight. Only five adults were present on August i8th, with eight juveniles, some five of which were only just able to fly. D. V. Butt and P. R. Knife. COMMUNAL DISPLAY OF GUILLEMOT. The Handbook records only one type of communal display for the Common Guillemot {Uria aalge) ; however, on June i8th, 1949, at 194 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XLIII. Seacombe Cliff, Dorset, I observed a display similar to those of the Razorbill {Alca tor da) and Black Guillemot [Uria grylle) as recorded by F. Fraser Darling. Several groups of from 6 — 20 Guillemots were swimming in line, bill to tail, about 50 yards from the cliffs. Suddenly the leading bird would spin round, followed by the second, and so on, until the whole line was swimming in the opposite direc- tion. The last bird to spin would then respin and so recommence the process. This display was repeated several times before the various groups dispersed. F. G. Stanford. [The behaviour recorded appears to be distinct from anything described in Mr. P. J. Bonder’s recent paper on Auk display \antea, pp. 66 — 69). — Eds.] COMMON PARTRIDGES PERCHING IN TREE. On July 30th, 1949, we were walking through fields near Watford, Herts., when we observed two Common Partridges {Perdix perdix) perching in a tree in the same manner as a Passerine, the male facing us and the (presumed) female facing the other way. In view of its apparent rarity we felt that this incident should be put on record. M. R. Lieff and N. P. Jord.vn. Long fledging-period of Tree-Creeper. — With reference to the note {antea, vol. xlii, p. 244) giving a fledging-period of 19 — 20 days for Tree-Creeper (Certhia faniiliaris), Lt.-Col. B. H. Ryves has drawn our attention to four of his records published in the Annual Report of the Cornwall Bird Watching and Preservation Society as follows; — 1942 (p. 43), nestling-period 17 days; 1944 (p. 16), 20 days ; 1946 (p. 12), 17 days ; 1948 (p. 12), 18 days. It would appear that the fledging-period of i4-r5 days given in The Handbook needs modification. REVIEWS. Les Oiseanx dans la Nature ; Description et identification pratique sur le terrain des especes de France, Suisse et Belgique. By Paul Harruel (Payot, Paris). 660 francs. This is a field guide designed primarily for beginners. Unlike the many similar works provided for British ornithologists during the past few years it cannot strictly be described as a pocket-book — unless French pockets are much larger than ours — but it is certainly not an unwieldy volume. In 212 pages M. Barruel gives some sound advice to beginners and follows this with descrip- tions of 538 species, arranged in the order of Peters’s Check-List of Birds of the World. Needless to say, this involves great brevity of treatment. The book is concerned solely with field identification, so that food, nesting, and many aspects of migration and behaviour generally are omitted altogether. The salient features of plumage and voice are given, together with any other aids to identification, the important points being printed in italics. This is followed by a very brief account of status in the area concerned, France, Belgium and Switzerland. Nearly all the species are illustrated in half-tone plates o: text figures by the author somewhat after the fashion of Peterson’s well- known field guides to American birds. On the whole these illustrations are remarkably good and the liberal inclusion of figures of the birds in flight is an excellent feature. The book is not without its shortcomings and its occasional misprints, but this is not surprising in what is, to some extent, a pioneer work, and it must be VOL. LXIII.] REVIEWS. 195 said at once that, within his self-imposed limits, M. Barruel has done an excel- lent job. It is indeed gratifying that a good field guide is now available for French observers, and we may hope that its publication will increase their numbers. The book can also be recommended to the British ornithologist visiting France. It is true that The Handbook contains detailed descriptions of most of the species briefly described by M. Barruel, but The Handbook is not intended as a travelling companion and in any case there are species of relatively common occurrence in France which do not find a place in any ordinary" English text book. It is on his accounts of these non-British species that the value of M. Barruel’s book for the British observer must be assessed. Admittedly, after reading the accounts of Certhia brachydactyla and C. familia- ris some doubt might remain as to the identity of any Tree-Creeper observed, but the descriptions and illustrations of such species as Tetrastes bonasia, Dryobates medius, Picus canus, Riparia rupestris, and Cisticola juncidis' — to mention a few — give a good indication of the points to look for in the field. There are not very many field guides which meet this particular need. J.D.W. Mereside Chronicle. By C. F. Tunnicliffe, A.R.A. (Country Life : London 1948, pp. 200). Price £z 2s. od. The great value of this account of regular visits to several meres and reservoirs in east Cheshire and Delamere forest, to observe and sketch birds, lies in the beauty of the author’s drawings and his skill in portraying a bird in flight or display ; few artists have equalled his ability to show the living bird, nor can any photograph give quite the same vivid impression of what an observer sees. As is only right in a book about Cheshire meres the Great Crested Grebe receives special attention in every stage, but also duck of various species, several waders and in particular the Canada Goose, a great feature of some of these waters — all these and many more are treated with equal success. Details of display form the most interesting part of the text, but on the whole the day-by-day chronicle rather lacks in variety. The author has drawn capital large-scale maps, varying from 1 1 to 20 inches to the mile, of a number of the meres and pools visited, most noteworthy of which are Redesmere, Radnor mere, Oulton mere and Bosley Reservoir ; these do not perhaps possess quite the diversity of bird-life that may be found on some of the mid- Cheshire meres, but enough to indicate how privileged are those who have access to them. The chronicle of a fortnight’s visit to N.W. Scotland is also included. The lack of an index makes reference to many interesting details in the text a matter of some difficulty. A.W.B. LOCAL REPORTS. The Lincolnshire Naturalists’ Union Transactions, Vol. XII, No. i (Nov., 1948), No. 2 (Dec., 1949). These two volumes contain reports on the birds of Lincolnshire, evidently for 1947 and 1948 respectively, though this is not explicitly stated. The reports differ from those published for other counties in that the bulk of the material seems to have been contributed by only two or three observers. We feel that in so large a county there must be many more observers able to contribute notes which would help to make the report more comprehensive and perhaps to correct false impressions. Thus, the note on Nuthatch in the 1947 report suggests that Lincolnshire is on the edge of this bird’s normal range, a suggestion which is contrary to the information given in The Handbook. Perhaps members of the L.N.U. could be asked to compile systematic informa- tion on this point ? The Wood-Lark is another species which might receive similar treatment ; information is given for both years, but it appears more or less to repeat that given in 1946, in spite of comments in a previous review [antea, vol. xli, pp. 317-318). An increase in the number of contributors might help to prevent such statements as that the " true song ” of the Tree- Creeper is " infrequent ” and that April i6th is " a remarkably early date ” for Lesser Whitethroat, neither of which is correct ; it might also, it is true, BRITISH BIRDS. 19G [VOL. XLIII. necessitate some pruning of rather trivial notes, but the advantages would be considerable. Nevertheless, these reports contain many interesting items. In 1947 a Rose-coloured Starling at Holton-le-Clay on August 28th ; a Marsh-Harrier at Saltfleet on May 21st ; a Honey-Buzzard unfortunately shot — it is not stated who examined the corpse — near Limber shortly after June 30th, and sev'eral records of Quail, including two breeding records, are all of more than local interest. There are scattered reports under various species on the effects of the cold spell, the most interesting being that of a Water-Rail which “ lost all trace of timidity and came to a house door for scraps. It even ate a thrush that had died of starvation, and was found dead itself on February loth.” Not one of the numerous records of Wa.xwing appears in the British Birds report on the migration, which is unfortunate as the numbers recorded are sufficient to raise the status of Lincolnshire on Mr Gibb's map {antea, vol. xli, p. 4) from the fourth to the second class, putting' it into the same category as the East Riding. Records of Mealy Redpoll on February 23rd, 1947, and of “ several flocks ” of Twites on December 31st, 1948, appear without comment, though some evidence of identification should be given in both cases. In the 1948 report, too, migrant Goldcrests are referred “ with little doubt " to the Continental race — now in danger of suppression — but the use of trinomials in this case seems to be a piece of shrewd guesswork. Items of interest in the 1948 report include a flock of 20-25 Barnacle Geese near Tetney Haven on April I ith ; a breeding record for Garganey ; four Little Gulls during September ; a probable Long-tailed Skua on August 17th (the bird was shot, but the evidence for identification does not seem absolutely conclusive) ; and the movement of Little Auks, recorded off the coasts of Co. Durham and Yorkshire (vide antea, pp. 63 and 64), which was also observed off the Lincolnshire coast, though unfortunatelj- neither the precise date nor the direction of the passage is recorded. We also note a record of a Green Sandpiper giving the “ trilling display flight ” on September 14th, 1948 ; a late Blackcap on December 24th, 1946, and a Swallow on December loth, 1948. The Transactions dated Nov'ember, 1948, also include a paper by D. G. Tucker entitled “ A preliminar}^ quantitative study of the 1 irds near Bicker, Parts of Holland.” This gives the results of 22 counts made along two different routes at different periods of the year, from which the author concludes that ” the relative abundance of the various species appears to vary with small changes in what is reallj'^ a fairly uniform habitat, but ordinary weather variations have no definite effect on the bird numbers.” Dr. Tucker’s counts span the cold spell, but oddly enough no reference is made to the effect, either positive or negative, of such unusual weather conditions. J.D.W. Ornithological Record for Derbyshire, 1947 & 1948. Compiled by W. K. Marshall for the Derbyshire Archa ological and Natural History Society. These reports are very brief, and we regret to note that financial considerations have made the Record for 1948 even shorter than that for 1947, so that it consists of little more than names and dates. Some space might be saved by the elimination of rather trivial records and by the abandonment at least of trinomials if not of scientific names altogether and, in the latter case, following the now widespread practice of referring to species by their numbers in the Check-list of British Birds. Bj' itself this would not achieve much, but it is essential that more space should be obtained for the proper substantiation of some of the interesting records published. Thus, in the 1947 Record a Montagu’s Harrier is reported and claimed — erroneously — as an addition to the County List ; another is reported on November 6th, 1948, a rather late date, but in neither case is the evidence for identification given. The same is true of records of a Shag at .\shopton in April, 1947, of Northern Golden Plover in both years and of the remarkable record of nine Arctic Skuas at Ashover on March 25th, as well as other records of the same species in 1948. There are also some unusual dates which are VOL. XLIII.] REVIEWS. 197 published, no doubt of necessity, without comment : we note a House-Martin on March 21st, 1947, a Swift on April 5 th in the same year, and Spotted Redshank on February 22nd, Grey Plover on February 15th and Little Tern on April 9th, 1948. Eleven species, in addition to the Montagu’s Harrier, are claimed in these two reports as new to the Count}' List, but all of them are in fact recorded either by Whitlock or by Jourdain or elsewhere. The 1947 report includes a few records of Waxwing not published in the British Birds report of the invasion of that year, records of Brent Goose and of the three rarer grebes, of a Gadwall on June ist and of Quail breeding ; in 1948 there are further breeding records for Quail as well as a number of records of passing waders. Special attention is given in the 1947 report to the effects of the cold spell of that year, and we are glad to note that many of the species reported as badly affected were on the way to recovery in 1948. Among other items of interest we note a record of a Sparrow-Hawk killing a Common Tern (1947), Redstarts feeding on red currants and an attempt by Herons to nest on an electric power station, both in 1948. J.D.W. Royal Naval Bird Watching Society, Annual Report, December, 1947. The first report of this recently formed society contains a number of introductory articles designed to help members to get to know one another and to suggest methods of study. We are glad to learn that a feature entitled " News from Home,” and containing scraps of ornithological information from many parts of Great Britain, is not to be continued. The main function of this society is, after all, the observation of birds at sea, and such observations cover two more or less distinct fields : the distribution, movements and status of sea birds, and migratory movements of land birds. These two subjects should provide plenty of material for a report of this kind, and in fact the observations recorded in this number cover both in about equal proportions. An article by Vice-Admiral Sir William Tennant lists the sea birds seen on a trip around the coast of South America, including the Falkland Islands. Surgeon Lieut. T. Waddell, in an article on birds seen off the Atlantic coast of North Africa, is mainly concerned with migrants encountered during the last week of April at a distance of up to 70 miles from the coast. Short notes under the heading “ Records from Sea ” are arranged under species alphabetically. These include a number of interesting observations : several Gannets, both adult and immature, are reported from the eastern Mediterranean in February and one, believed to be a third-year bird, between Greece and Crete on July 22nd ; " several ” Great Shearwaters were seen in the North Atlantic (Lat. 13° 29' N.) on February 7th ; and two Great Skuas were seen in the western Mediterranean in March — all records being for 1947. Among the interesting movements of land birds we note the following record for Robin : ‘‘ 10 miles off Perranporth, Cornwall, 50° 20' N., 05° 15' W. 25th Sept. Thirty-four passed ship in varying numbers from single bird to flocks of seven flying south-west.” Swifts are reported moving south from Spurn Head as early as July 2nd and moving S.E. in the Irish Sea as late as September 1 8th. A record of three separate flocks of Fieldfares, ” 10 to 18 strong,” moving north eleven miles off St. Albans Head, Dorset, on February ist, 1947, is of interest, especially as two were seen by a different observer in the same area nearly hours later, indicating that the movement may have been on a wide scale. Starlings are also recorded moving N.E. on the same date. Doubtless these were hard-weather movements due to the cold spell, but the direction taken is unexpected. We feel that in future numbers notes on sea birds might be kept apart from those on migrating land birds, and we hope that a scientific rather than an alphabetical order will be adopted. We also hope that future reports will be freer from misprints, particularly the recurring and annoying word ” specie.” It is also not clear why the Yellow-legged Gull should be given the rank of a species, whereas Larus melanocephalus is, apparently, referred to as a " form.” J.D.W. 198 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XLIII. Bird Report oj the Royal Naval College, Dartmouth, Field Club, Summer, 1948. The bulk of this report is devoted to a list of birds observed in the Dartmouth area. Over 140 species are mentioned ; in some cases a brief general statement of the bird’s status is given, while for less common species records are given for the period September, 1946, to March, 1948. The list should prove useful to future members of the Club. Among the interesting records we note that a flock of Brent Geese, seen on January i8th, 1948, was found to contain 47 pale-breasted and 1 1 dark-breasted birds ; there are records of Long-tailed Duck, the three rarer grebes, a wintering Greenshank and Pomatorhine Skua, as well as a breeding record of Red Grouse from Dartmoor in 1947. A record of a Spotted Redshank “ swimming around quite buoyantly for about three minutes ” is of interest as the only comparable record appears to be in Brit. Birds, vol. xxxix, p. 319, and is also from the Exe estuary. We have no doubt that the habit is more regular than the number of records suggests. The same report contains a short account of a visit to Puffin Island, Anglesey, in June, 1945. J.D.W’ Bryanston School Natural History Society Reports for 1947 and 1948. These two reports contain records of a number of interesting observations, most of them carefully documented and mainly from E. Dorset and the Poole Harbour area. Breeding records are given in both years for Buzzard, a species which is extending its range in the area ; Peregrines bred on the coast in 1947 and probably in 1948 ; in 1948 Pochard bred. Fulmars were seen prospecting cliffs in 1947, but no signs of breeding were found and the matter does not appear to have been followed up in 1948. A hopeful account of the status of Dartford Warbler is given in the 1947 Report, but unfortunately the species was not found in 1948. Stonechats, on the other hand, were more numerous in 1948 than in 1947. Several Quail are reported and there is some evidence of breeding in 1947. Of the non-breeding records the most interesting are those of Marsh-Harriers in both years, a Kentish Plover at Christchurch, Hants, on October loth, 1948, (already reported in Brit. Birds), up to three Spoonbills at Poole Harbour in July, 1948, and Black-tailed Godwits in June and July at Swineham. Among unusual dates are those of House-Martin on March 21st, 1947, Green Sandpiper on December 23rd, 1946, and June 23rd, 1947, and Kittiwake off the coast on June 15th, 1947. In reports compiled with such care as these it is disappointing to find in an article on the Beaulieu estuary a casual reference to " sixteen or .so phalaropes, thought to be red-necked ” seen in 1946. Further details about this surprising record should certainly have been given. J.D.W. Report of the Uppingham School Field Club, 1947-8. This report which covers the period June, 1947, to June, 1948, contains evidence of considerable activity in many branches of Natural History. Under Ornithology, separate lists are given of species observed and those proved to have bred, but no details are given of numbers or frequency. Attention is drawn to the scarcity of the Stonechat (only one record) and evidence of the breeding of Hawfinch and Redstart is given. A society of this kind can do much useful work in determining the status of such species, and we are glad to note that this is one of its aims. Considerable space is devoted to observations at the Eye Brook Reserv'oir and we trust that these records are also contributed to the Report published by the Leice.stershire and Rutland Ornithological Society. In addition to reports of ducks, grebes and waders at this well-known locality, there are records of Cirl Buntings (number not stated) on February 19th, 1948, and of 15 Great Black-backed Gulls on March 14th. A report of an immature Whooper Swan on June 6th seems valueless as it stands, and it is not stated how a Spotted Redshank seen on October 5th, 1947, was identified as a female. VOL. XLIII.] REVIEWS. 199 The Annual Report oj the Oundle School Natural History Society, 1946, 1947 and 1948. Two of these three reports are dated 1947, but they do in fact refer to three separate years and we are glad to note that these are now calendar years and not the period April to March as heretofore. As a result of this welcome change a few records from the " 1945 ” Report referring to the early months of 1946 are repeated in the first of the numbers under review. The same number contains a complete, annotated list of the birds of an area within ten miles of Oundle and this should provide an excellent basis for future observations. 1 5 1 species are recorded, and two more. Quail and Whimbrel, are added in the 1947 and 1948 Reports respectively. Perhaps the chief interest in this list attaches to the records of geese and ducks at Titchmarsh in the Nene valley, where 1,000 White-fronted Geese were recorded in 1924 and “ probably well over 10,000 ” Wigeon in 1939. We note that both Hawfinch and Lesser Whitethroat are reported as “ rather rare ” and wonder whether sufficient attention is paid to the call-notes and song of these two species. There are records of Great Grey Shrike for both 1946 and 1947 and of a pair of Oyster-catchers on passage in 1946 ; a Black-throated Diver seen in March, 1946, may have been the same bird as one observed in Bedfordshire on February 24th that year. In 1948, Terns, either Common or Arctic, were observed at Oundle gravel pit on two dates in June. An interesting behaviour record is that of a pair of Swallows successfully rearing a brood in a moveable hen-house, despite the fact that it was moved a distance of three fields during the incubation period ; a similar case has recently been reported from Devon (anteu, p. 85). These three reports show that much useful work is being done at Oundle. Members of the Society are taking part in a number of the current enquiries and intensive work has begun on the study of Oundle gravel pits, which should yield interesting results in time. J.D.W. The Peregrine. A publication of the Manx Field Club. Vol. I., No. 5, June, 1948, Editor W. S. Cowin, and No. 6, June, 1949, Editors W. S. Cowin and Evelyn M. Draper. The 1948 issue of The Peregrine shows that the increased interest in Manx ornithology, so evident in recent years, has been maintained. An adult male Little Bittern was picked up alive at Port St. Mary, in the south of the island, on April 26th, 1947 — an addition to the Manx list, for previous records are unsubstantiated. On the following day a pair of Pied Flycatchers reached the Ayres — the third record for the island. Two species bred for the first time in 1947 : the Shoveler (2 nests in the Ayres) and the Black-headed Gull. It is interesting to note that of six young Shovelers ringed on July 29th, no fewer than three were recovered in Ireland, in counties Wicklow, Down and Clare, between September 13th and November 19th of the same year. An article on the birds of Maughold Head includes a note on Cormorants ringed there and recovered in several places including Brittany and Galicia and it is interesting to read that the colony of cliff-nesting House-Martins voLxxxiii, p. 22) still survives there. Lapwing habitats are fully discussed by Mr. K. Williamson, who shows that the great majority of Lapwings nest in habitats of two distinct kinds in the northern part of the island : dry heathland and fenland curragh. A northward movement of Chaffinches in 1 946 at the end of October, a very late Wheatear seen near Ramsey for several days up to December 17th, 1947, and an Arctic Skua at midsummer 1947, are also records worthy of special note. The 1949 number contains several notes of interest. A male Cirl Bunting, the first of this species to be recorded from the island, was seen in a flock of Yellowhammers and Chaffinches on May 12th, 1946, by Mr. H. M. Rogers. The large number of infertile eggs in the nests of the Chough is commented on. A brood of seven Swallows was ringed. The Long-tailed Duck, first recorded in 1928, is now shown to occur in most winters. A Snipe ringed in Iceland on June 17th, 1947, was shot on February 13th, 1948. When 20> r.V XLIII. BRITISH BIRDS. • ^ V examined by Mr. K. Wagstaffe, of the York it was found to agree with the common form and could not be referreats^ri^e«&!rie, the form or subspecies which is supposed to nest in Iceland — a'‘recovery of special interest when Mr. B. W. Tucker’s recent discussion on subspecies is taken into consideration. [The "List Committee’’ of the British Ornithologists’ Union has recently (Oct., 1949) reached the conclusion that “ faeroecusis " is a colour phase of the Common Snipe more dominant in the Faeroes and Iceland and not a distinct geographical race. — B.W.T.]. Mr. Kenneth Williamson suggests that a bird observatory might with advantage be established on the Calf of Man, a National Trust property. His experience as director of the Fair Isle Observatory has confirmed his belief that it would be a valuable addition to those already set up on the west coast at Skokholm and Lundy. A.W.B. LETTER. ON THE PROBABLE DUTCH ORIGIN OF THE BEARDED TITS SEEN IN NORFOLK AND SUSSEX To the Editors of British Birds Sirs, — By a coincidence of circumstances I only to-day read in British Birds, vol. xlii, pp. 289-292, the very suggestive hypothesis about the probable Dutch origin of the Bearded Tits {Panurus biarniicus) seen in Norfolk and Sussex in the autumn of 1948. Formerty the biggest breeding-territories of the Bearded Tit in Holland were found near my dwelling-place Kampen, along the eastern coast of the former Zuiderzee (nowadays Ijsselmeer) at the several mouths of river IJssel (cf. my publications on the breeding-biology of Panurus in Ardea, 17, 1928 and 18, 1929 : Beitr'dge zur Fortpfl. biol. der Vogel, 7, 1931 and in Orgaan Club van Nederl. V ogelkundigen , 5, 1932). After the very severe winters in the first years of the last war the popu- lation decreased considerably, but in the next years increased again. At the beginning of the breeding-season 1945, just before the liberation of Holland, however, the water-level of the Ijsselmeer was artificially kept so high by the Germans that it was nearly impossible for the Bea.rded Tits to build their nests in their old territories. So the birds moved away and settled in the vast reed-beds along the inside of the dam of the newly reclaimed part of the Ijsselmeer, called Noordoost polder (North-eastern polder, 48,000 hectares). In these new breeding-localities the Bearded Tit in the years 1946-1948 was very common and in the autumns hundreds of these tits were seen migrating above the reeds and along the dams, mostly in an eastern direction (to the old land). (cf.Limosa, 19, p. 121 ; 20, p. 233 ; 21, p. 121). As the cultivation of the newly reclaimed land went on the breeding possibilities for the Bearded Tits diminished and so in the autumn of 1948 the tits again made their appear- ance on all the former breeding-localities mentioned above, where they bred in 1949 again in fairly big numbers. But while in former days they extended their winter-movements normally only to the immediate surroundings of their breeding-places and very seldom went in a S.W. direction along the coast as far as Elburg at a distance of 1 3 or at most 20 kilometres, in the autumn of 1948 they went further on and starting from the beginning of October were also seen by Dr. L. Tinbergen at many places along the south-eastern coast of the Ijsselmeer, till November 6th. In addition Mr. R. Tolmaneven watched the tits in a surprising abun- dance of some tens chielly during the months December, 1948, and January and February, 1949, at three localities, along the south-western coast of the Ijsselmeer up to a distance of about 20 km. from the outskirts of Amsterdam. Notwithstanding his many trips in these localities in the same period of the two former years he never saw the birds there before. In view of all these facts in my opinion the hypothesis of Mr. Alexander, of the late Mr. Vincent and of the Editor of British Birds, Mr. Tucker, gains much more sujiport. Kampen, The Netherlands, 3o-xii-49. IfR. C. G. B. tkn Kate Pa Gil Bird Rcpofl uj Oie Royal Kauai College, Dartmouth, Field Club, Su miner, 1948 ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 198 Jiryanston School Katnral Hietory Society Reports lor 1947 and 1948 198 Report of the Uppingham School Field Club, 1947-48... ... ... 198 The Annual Report of the Oiindle School Natural History Society, 1946, 1947 and 1948 ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 199 The Peregrine, Vol. I, No. 5 (June, 1948) and No. 6 (June, 1949) ... 199 Letter : — On the probable Dntcli origin of the Bearded Tits seen in Norfolk and Snsse.\ (Dr. C. G. B. Ten Kate) ... ... ... ... ioo NOTICE TO CONTRIBUTORS British Birds accepts papers and notes dealing with original observations on the birds of the British Isles and Western Europe or, where appropriate, on birds of this area as observed in other parts of their range. Review articles on subjects of current ornithological interest will also be considered. Contributors are asked to observe the following points, attention to which saves the waste of much editorial time on trivial alterations. MSS. if not typed should be clearly written. Authors of papers, especially those containing systematic lists, lists of references, tables, etc., should consult previous papers on similar lines in British Birds as a guide to general presentation and set-out, including use of particular type, stops, and other conventions, such as date following the month (January 1st, etc., not 1st January), names of books and journals in italics, not inverted commas, and so on. Capital initial letters are to be used for proper names of definite species : thus “ Great Tit,” but ” flocks of tits.” [In systematic lists the whole name should be in capitals]. The scientific name (underlined in M.S. to indicate italics) follows the English name in brackets without any intervening stop. Scientific nomenclature follows The Handbook of British Birds or H. F. Witherby’s Check-List of British Birds based on this, with the qualification that subspecific names should not be used in connexion with field observations except in cases where subspecies are definitely separable in the field, e.g. Yellow and Blue-headed Wagtails, or where their use is necessary in discussion. When the subspecific name (in cases where this is used) repeats the specific name the initial letter only should be used for the latter ; otherwise the whole name should be given in full : thus ” Parus m. major," but ” Parus major newtoni." Notes should be drawn up in as nearly as possible the exact form in which they will be printed with signature in BLOCK CAPITALS, and the writer’s address clearly written on the same sheet. If more than one note is submitted each should be on a separate sheet with signature and address repeated. Though suitable headings and scientific names can be added by the Editor, if necessary, they should be inserted by authors as far as possible. 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The Hatton Optical Co., Ltd., Lansdowne, Bournemouth. WANTED. — Beebe’s "Monograph of the Pheasants", 4 vols. H. F. & G. Witherby. Ltd., 5, Warwick Court, London, W.C. I. WANTED. — ‘‘ British Birds ”, Jan. and April-Dee, 1947, or bound 1947. Gordon N, Slyfield, 47, North Parade, Horsham. J'rivkd ill 0/. Brilahi by Till. Kivhksidj-: J’kkss, Lin., Twickknuam, Minn.v. PubUshed by H. L. & G. WITHELBY, l.TlL, Wakwick C ot kt, W .( . 1. BRITISH MIRDS r AN ILLUSTRATED MAGAZINE DEVOTED CHIEFLY TO THE BIRDS ON THE BRITISH LIST BRITISH BIRDS « EDITED BY BERNARD W. TUCKER, M.A., F.Z.S., M.B.O.U. ASSISTED BY Norman F. Ticehurst, o.b.e., m.a., f.r.c.s., m.b.o.u. A. W, Boyd, m.c., m.a., f.z.s., m.b.o.u. AND J. D. Wood, b.a., m.b.o.u. Contents of Number 7, You. XLIII, July, 1950. Page The nesting of a pair of Spotted Flycatchers. By D. & M. Summers- Smith ... ... ... ... .., ... ... ... ... 201 The autumn migration of 1949 ; Reports from Bird Observatories ... 205 Notes on birds seen in winter between the English Channel and the West Indies. By T. A. W. Davis ... ... ... ... ... 218 Notes : — Kooks “ hawking ” insects ” (M. A. .\rnold ; A. H. Betts) ... 221 Chaffinch mimicking Hedge-Sparrow’s song (Derek C. Hulme) ... 222 Soaring flight of Reed-Bunting (P. T. Munson) ... ... ... 222 Blackcap breeding in Orkney (G. T. Arthur and P. E. Brown) ... 222 Blackcap and Waxwing in Co. Antrim (C. Blake Whelan) ... ... 223 Distraction display of Stonechat (M. Chaplin) ... ... ... 223 Hoopoes in Britain in 1948 (The Editors) ... ... ... ... 224 Hoopoes breeding in Kent (W. S. Nevin) ... ... ... ... 224 Dark-breasted Barn-Owl in Devon (O. D. Hunt) ... ... ... 225 Display and coition of Common Buzzard (J. A. Nelder) ... ... 226 Post-coitional display of Canada Goose (A. E. Vine) ... ... 227 Unusual flight behaviour of Gannet (A. J. Wallis) ... ... ... 227 Migration of juvenile Gannets (A. J. Wallis) ... ... ... 227 Wood-Pigeon nesting in hollow in tree (Derek Goodwin) ... ... 228 Under-water movements of Moorhen (M. Flanighan ; G. Crowe) ... 228 Short Notes ; — Yellowhammers nesting in stacks. Courtship-feeding of Nuthatch. Blackbird carrying nestii\g material in autumn. Osprey in Aber- deenshire. Garganey in Co. Dublin in May. Common Scoters in Wilts. Status of Fulmar Petrel in North Wales. Food-washing by Common Sandpiper. Flocking of Common Sandpiper. ... ... 228 Letters : — Migratory movements of Gannets (G. T. Kay) ... ... ... 230 The Young Gannet (Dugald Macintyre) ... ... ... ... 232 BRITISH BIRDS Number 7, Vol. XLTTT/'July, 1950. THE NESTING OF A PAIR OF SPOTTED FLYCATCHERS. BY D. AND M. Summers-Smith In the summer of 1949 a pair of Spotted Flycatchers {Mtiscicapa striata) nested in a low gutter in a garden in Flighclere, north Hamp- shire. The nest was clearly visible from the windows of the house about ten yards away, and thus continued observation could be made of the nest without affecting the behaviour of the birds. Similar observations have been carried out by Ryves (1943) and Riviere (1949). In the case of the former the young birds disap- peared two days after hatching and thus little information could be given about brooding, feeding of the young and other fledging activities. It is proposed in this paper to treat the post-hatching period rather more fully ; where possible results of observations are compared with those of Riviere. The pair was first seen in the garden on June i6th, when frequent visits were paid to the site which was subsequently used for nesting ; building had probably begun by the evening, but there was little sign of the beginnings of the nest until June i8th, when the tempo of building was increased, and by the evening a lining of cobwebs was being added. It is thought that the cock did not take any part in the nest-building or collecting of nest material, but quite frequently he came to the nest with the hen and remained there while she was engaged in construction. A comparison here with the nest observed by Ryves is of some interest. In the present case no sign of the birds was seen until the day that building commenced, and this was completed in two days. Ryves’s birds were present for four- teen days before building began and the nest took twelve days to complete. This difference may be due to the earlier date of Ryves’s nest, which was completed by June loth. The only occasion on which the cock was heard to sing during the whole breeding operation was during one of his visits to the nest while the hen was building. Both courtship-feeding and coition were observed from time to time during the building period and while the eggs were being laid. In courtship-feeding the hen supplicated for food by depressing the tail and raising the upper tail-coverts, the wings were lowered and vibrated ; the cock did not land but transferred food by hovering in front of the hen. Prior to coition the hen shivered wings and raised tail ; coition was observed while the clutch was being laid, but not once proper incubation had begun. Eggs were laid in the afternoon between 16.00 and 18.00* at the *A11 times given are B.S.T. 202 BRITISH BIRDS [VOL. XLIII. rate of one per day. The first egg was laid on June 21st and the clutch of four eggs was completed on June 24th, though incubation proper did not begin till the 25th. During the incubation period the hen left the nest to feed as well as being fed by the cock both on and off the nest. No change-over was seen during this time, which suggests that incubation is carried out almost exclusively by the hen ; this agrees with the observations of both Ryves (1944) and Rivitre (1949). At 13.00 on July 7th the eggs had not hatched, but at 21.00 on this date three chicks were seen in the nest, giving an incubation period of thirteen days. During the fledging period half-hourly counts were made from three to five times per day. In these a record was made of the times the young were fed, the longest period the young were left alone, the time occupied in brooding and the times nest sanitation was carried out. These data are analysed in the following diagrams. Diagram I shows the average brooding per hour plotted against the number of days after hatching. As might be expected this decreased rapidly from 43 minutes per hour on the second day (day i being the day of hatching, July 7th) till on the seventh day it ceased altogether. In the case of Riviere’s nest extensive brooding was still noted on the eighth day though it had ceased by the eleventh day. For the other observations sufficient data were not obtained for a statistical treat- ment, though the nest was watched for forty-four half-hour periods, and in general the trends can only be indicated though these are in accord with expectation. Diagram 2 shows the average number of feeds per hour plotted against the days after hatching. The full line shows how the number of feeds increased from about 18 per hour on day i, to 35 per hour on day 13 (the periodicity of the dotted VOL. XLIII.] NESTING OF SPOTTED FLYCATCHERS. 203 Diagram 2. Number of feeds per hour as a function of age of young. • Summers-Smith. X Kiviere. line through all the points is probably without significance). Also included in this diagram are data from Riviere’s paper ; these show a lower feeding rate but a similar increase with age of chicks. The longest period per half hour that the young were left alone during any count suggested the same sort of increase with the age of the young, but this was very variable ; throughout the whole period the average time increased from five to seven and a half minutes per half hour, though on day 5, the young were left for twenty-one minutes in one period and on four other occasions (days 4, 5, 9 and 12) breaks of over ten minutes occurred. Sufficient data are not available to illustrate the variation in rate of feeding with time of day. However the maximum rate (52 feeds per hour) was noted about 5.0, shortly after dawn, and feeding was continued until after it was quite dark. Assuming an hourly average of about 30 feeds this represents between 5,000 and 6,000 visits to the nest with food during fledging. Feeding was carried out by both birds, though it is impossible to say which of the sexes took most part ; it is thought, however, that brooding was carried out exclusively by the hen. At the early stages when brooding was still occurring the cock frequently fed the hen on the nest and she in turn fed the young. Once when the cock landed near by, the hen, brooding on the nest, shivered wings in courtship-feeding fashion and on receiving food transferred this to the young ; on other occasions, however, when the cock approached v/ith food the hen flew off and the cock fed the young ; alternatively the hen sometimes only moved to the edge of the nest and con- tinued to brood as soon as the young had been fed. During the early stages two or even three of the young were fed at the same time ; 204 BRITISH BIRDS. [vol. xliii. towards the end of their time in the nest, however, only one bird was fed on each visit. Nest sanitation was carried out by both adults right up to the time the young flew from the nest. At first the adults pecked at the young to make them defecate and the fseces were eaten ; latterly they were taken from the nest and almost invariably deposited on a trellis a few yards away and this eventually became quite white. At all times the adults were particularly aggressive to other birds which approached the nest. House-Sparrows [Passer ciomesticus) Robins [Erithacus rubecula) and even on occasion a Song-Thrush [Turdus ericetorum) were attacked with much bill-snapping and the “ tzucc ” alarm note. The young remained blind and naked except for black down until the 5th day. The feathers then began to develop and by the loth day the young had begun to stand on the edge of the nest and flap their wings. At 22.00 on the 12th day only three were at the nest and these were standing in the gutter beside it ; however, on the following morning at 6.30 all four birds were in the gutter, by 18.00 on this day one had flown and the other three left the nest within the next half hour. They remained in the garden for about a day and were not seen again. Fledging thus took eleven to twelve days. From tlie 8th day until the young left the nest the adults were seen several times chasing each other. It is not possible to say whether this was an attempt by the cock to make the hen go onto the nest and brood or was a form of display. During the whole period the weather was warm — frequently very warm — and dry except for some thundery rain on July i6th and 17th. The weather can thus have had little influence as a variable on the various nesting operations. Summary The complete nesting C3'cle of a pair of Spotted Flycatchers was observed. The incubation period of thirteen days and the fledging period of eleven to twelve days lie within the limits given in The Hayidbook of British Birds. The average rate of feeding increased with the age of the young, and was greatest after dawn when an adult arrived at the nest with food almost once per minute. The exceptionally fine weather with ample food close at hand possibly accounts for the high rate of feed- ing and short fledging period. The warm weather may also have had some influence on the amount of brooding, which decreased very rapidly from the day the young hatched till it ceased altogether on the seventh day. Nest sanitation was carried out up till the time the young flew. REFERJ5NCES Riviere, B. B. (1949). Some Observations on the Nesting Habits of the Spotted Flycatcher. Wild Bird Protection in Norfolk, 1949, pp. 21-26. Ryves, B. H. (1943). Some Notes on the Breeding of a pair of Spotted Flycatchers. Brit. Birds, Vol. xxxvii, pp. 82-84. Ryves, B. H. (1944), in Witherby ct al. The Handbook of British Birds, Vol. V. Supplementary Additions and Corrections. THE AUTUMN MIGRATION OF 1949 : REPORTS FROM BIRD OBSERVATORIES. [A report has already been published [antea, pp. 48-52) on some of the more unusual migrants seen at Fair Isle during the, autumn of 1949. The number of birds trapped and the variety of species recorded at other Observatories during the same period leave no doubt that it was a good season, though, as Messrs. Chislett and Ainsworth point out below in their article on Spurn, it may be prema- ture to describe it as “ remarkable,” since the present chain of Observatories is of comparatively recent origin. We felt, neverthe- less, that the interesting items were sufficiently numerous to war- rant the publication of short reports and we wish to record our gratitude to those in charge of the Observatories for their generous response to our request for information. These reports are of necessity selective, being conhned in the main to the rarer birds, but details of other migrants will be found in the reports published separately by each Observatory, reference to which will be found at the beginning of each article. — Eds.] THE ISLE OF MAY. BY H. F. D. Elder (The following information has been abstracted from the fuller report, covering work at the Isle of May throughout 1949, which is to appear in The Scottish Naturalist later in the year.) 1949 was the most successful year at the Isle of May since the Observatory started in 1934. Lacking a resident warden the station is entirely dependent on the services of voluntary observers, and although it is never easy to arrange for a succession of competent observers to aid the less experienced, the Observatory was, in 1949, somewhat 'more fortunate in this respect. The station was open in the autumn without a break from August 20th to November 5th. The more interesting species recorded include the following : — Scarlet Grosbeak [Carpodacus erythrinus). One on September 22nd, identified in the hand. Black-headed Bunting {Emberiza melanocephala) .One on Septem- ber 22nd, identified in the hand. It was an adult female answering in plumage to every detail in The Handbook, except the wing length, which at 94 mm. is a little longer than the maximum given for females, but shorter than the maximum for males. Only the top of the upper mandible was lead-blue, the lower part being the same as the lower mandible. Distinguished from female Red-headed Bunting (£. bruniceps) by the 5th primary being very slightly emarginated indeed — -scarcely at all ; by the presence of chestnut on the upper-parts, noticeable on back and rump ; and by the length of the wing. The following field notes were contributed by M. F. M. Meiklejohn: 206 BRITISH BIRDS. [vOL. XLIIl. “ Only rather poor views were obtained, e.g., the yellow on the under- parts was not observed in the field. Appeared a large bunting (larger than Rock-Pipit {Anthns spinnletta)) with bill much longer and more pointed than in native British buntings. General appear- ance pale, with which dark eye was in striking contrast ; upper- parts darker and streaked ; no white on tail. The bird suggested a large, pale female House-Sparrow {Passer domesticus) , a resemblance which I noticed the first time I saw a female of this species in Pales- tine. Uttered a shrill, faint squeak in the hand and a sparrow-like chirp on being released. Twice seen consorting with Meadow- Pipits {A. pratensis) and Rock-Pipits; one of the latter, however, chivvied it. Although when captured it was in cover, it seemed to prefer open places. When disturbed flew up on to rocks and walls, as it does in the Persian mountains above-tree level. It perched both erect and flattened horizontally. The flight was undulating.” The species has been recorded on four previous occasions in Scotland. Rustic Bunting {Emberiza rustica). A female, September 29th to October 13th. In inconspicuous plumage, lacking black and white head markings, its identity was not recognized until it was trapped on October 3rd. In the hand Dr. K. B. Rooke, H. F. I. Elliott and others noted, inter alia, the following characters clearly distinguish- ing it from Little Bunting {E. pusilla) and Reed-Bunting {E. schoeniclus) , with which it might be confused : wing 73 mm. ; bright pink legs ; chestnut lesser wing-coverts, hind neck, rump and upper tail-coverts ; absence of chestnut on side of head ; whitish under-parts with chestnut markings and some dark streaks, forming an indistinct breast-band which extended a little way downwards on the centre of the breast and on either side towards the flank streaks of similar colours. It was usually seen feeding on the ground, and beside a Rock-Pipit it looked distinctly small and rather short- tailed, giving the impression of being the size of a Linnet {Carduelis cannabina) or a trifle smaller. The flight-call was rendered ” tzip,” the alarm-note on the ground as ” tick ” or ” twick ” uttered singly. Blue Tit [Parjis cceruleus). One from October 30th to November 2nd. The only previous records for the Isle of May are of a single bird in 1884 and another in 1908. Great Grey Shrike {Lanius excubitor). One on October 9th and loth. Red-breasted Flycatcher {Muscicapa parva). Between one and three daily from September 13th to 23rd, two on October 6th and one on the 7th. At least 12 individuals passed through, eight ringed and at least four unringed. Yellow-browed Warbler [Phylloscopns inornatus). Three on September 21st and 22nd, one on October 6th and 7th and one on October 24th. At least six individuals passed through, five ringed and one unringed. VOL. XLiii.] AUTUMN, 1949, MIGRATION REPORTS 207 Aquatic Warbler {Acrocephalus paludicola). One on September 26th ; found dead and skin preserved. Readily identified and agreed well with the description in The Handbook, except for the bill. The upper part of the upper mandible was very dark — almost black ; the lower part and the lower mandible were yellowish flesh. The inside of the mouth was yellowish-orange. The species has been recorded on two previous occasions in Scotland. ICTERiNE Warbler {Hippolais icterina). Four on September 5th, 6 on 6th, one from 7th to loth, 2 on 12th and one on 13th. At least nine individuals passed through, nine having been ringed. All were identified by G. W. Rayner. Barred Warbler [Sylvia nisoria). One on October 6th. Siberian Lesser Whitethroat [Sylvia curruca blythi). An example of this race was present from October 6th to loth and was identified in the hand by Dr. K. B. Rooke. Western Black-eared Wheatear [Ginanthe h. hispanica). One was present from September 30th to October 8th. Dr. K. B. Rooke identified the species and the race in the field and this was later con- firmed by careful detailed examination in the hand. It was of the black-throated phase, the feathers of the chin and upper throat being brown-black, broadly tipped with pale creamy buff, largely obscuring the black which appeared as faint streaks and mottling. The extent of the black feathering was, if anything, less than in The Handbook illustration. The lores and ear-coverts were blackish and there was no black in the forehead feathers. The intense black of the tail, the prominence of the blackish ear-coverts and wing feathers, the warmth of the upper-parts and upper breast, the pale tips to the chin and throat feathers and the abrasion of the rectrices and second primary showed that it was a first winter male. Its wing measured 94 mm., and its tarsus 24 mm. The iris was dark brown. In the field in a dull light the bird looked strikingly pale, with sandy buff upper-parts and pale creamy buff under-parts, contrasting with blackish lores and ear-coverts and black on wing. In a bright light there was a noticeable warm orange tinge on upper breast, sides of neck and upper-parts. Though broadly margined and tipped buff, blackish markings showed clearly on the secondaries, wing- coverts and scapulars, in contrast with the uniform mantle. The trace of black on chin and throat, visible only in good conditions, was typical of the Western race in extent. On the ground, viewed from above, the white on the slightly expanded tail projected well beyond the closed wing-tips, which it does not appear to do in the Common Wheatear [(E. oenanthe). Usually only fleeting glimpses of the tail pattern were obtained in flight, but sufficient to see that the extent of black on 2nd to 4th from the outer feathers was much less than in the Common Wheatear, an important field character, though K.B.R. noticed that there was rather more black on these 208 BRITISH BIRDS. [vol. xliii. feathers than in some breeding adults he had seen in Algeria and Tunisia. It was a very active bird, lly-catching in the air and on the ground. Often hovering, its movements were very quick with a fast flight. When suspicious, as often, it was adept at “ vanishing,” to reappear hours later in one of a few favourite haunts — usually rocky or grassy hollows or gullies and less on exposed slopes and rocks than the Common Wheatear. The call was softer and less harsh than that of the Common Wheatear, and was noted by K.B.R. as ” djag ” or ” dzag,” and by H.F.l.E. as ” prat,” rather than ” chack.” Two previous occurrences of this species in Scotland have been recorded. Bluethroat {Liiscinia svecica). One on September 14th and 23rd. Gre.\t Spotted Woodpecker {Dendrocopus major). One from Sep- tember 12th to igth, at least seven on 22nd, one on 23rd, two from 24th to 26th, one from 27th to 30th, two on October 6th, three on 7th and 8th, two on gth. No adult birds were recorded, all of those seen clearly being juveniles. The five trapped were all of the Northern race [D. m. major), identification being based on measure- ments aided by the illustration of the bill in The Handbook. Some individuals stayed on the island for several days and the first was re-trapped a week later. Two are known to have died on the island — possibly of starvation. The island has no suitable habitat for woodpeckers, and these birds were to be seen in flight over the sea below the cliffs, clambering on rocks, chipping at rusty iron posts or clinging to the tower of the lighthouse. THE SPURN BIRD OBSERVATORY IN 1949. BY G. H. Ainsworth and Ralph Chislett First it should be stated that the name ” Spurn ” in the above connexion connotes not the ” Point ” or ” Head,” nor the light- house ; but tlie geographical peninsula south of Kilnsea. The word ” remarkable ” has been applied to the autumnal migration of 1949 in lEitain ; but in what way it was remarkable has not been said. Presumably the word implies comparison with events in other years; which in its turn implies that observations were equally continuous and thorough, or the results would be misleading. Work at Spurn has been carried on for four complete years, during the first of which observation was not nearly so continuous and intensive as in 1948 and 1949. In the beginning we said that the results of five comparable years should be available for study and comparison before it could be known what was usual and what was not. Possibly, with the passage of another year, the adumbrated preliminary conditions may be considered to have been fulfilled. Yet another reason why publicity at Spurn has not been encouraged lies in the proximity of the peninsula to a bus route, and its easy VOL. XLIII.] AUTUMN, 1949, MIGRATION REPORTS. 209 access to motorists from Hull ; a kind of factor which the island observatories presumably have little need to consider. The Spurn Committee does not at this stage propose to publish details or conclusions concerning the broad picture of migration as witnessed and recorded there, for reasons already stated. But readers of British Birds will probably find the following brief state- ment of our 1949 e.\periences with the scarcer passerine passage migrants to be not without interest, although we do not feel that it is yet advisable to attempt to describe such passage as either normal or unusual. Blue Tit {Pams ccendeiis). Small numbers were recorded from September onward, with circa 20 on October 2nd as the maximum. Two that were handled on September 26th were suspected, from coloration and breadth of white tips to greater coverts, to belong to the Continental race {P. c. ccerideus). Of a party ringed at the Point on July 17th, one was recaptured on August 21st and another on December 31st {Y.N.U. Committee for Ornithology Report, 1949, p. 9.) Red-breasted Flycatcher {Mttscicapa parva) . A bird that showed pale orange on the throat was caught and ringed on September 13th, with wind direction north-east ; and seen again on the 14th by R. Slater, R. Crossley, and II. Schoheld. This species has been recorded several times in earlier years, and how far it is to be con- sidered a normal passage migrant, and to what degree, will be learned in the future. Greenish Warbler {Phylloscopus trochiloides viridanus). A specimen was captured on August 21st and ringed by G. H. Ains- worth, with wind direction south-east. This form of Phylloscopus has not been recognized at Spurn before ; but one of the three other known British occurrences was taken just across the Humber at North Coles, Lincolnshire, on September 5th, 1896. Yellow-browed Warbler {Phylloscopus inornatus). Two birds were seen on October 6th. One of them, having been trapped by E. Holmes and Mrs. A. L. Chislett, who named it correctly, was ringed and inspected by R. Chislett and others, both in the hand and in bushes ; so that Messrs. Parrinder, Ferguson-Lees, Gurteen and Beven had no difficulty in recognizing a second double-barred Phylloscopus as it flitted in a bush at close quarters before them a mile further north on the same day. The wind direction was east- south-east. This species also occurred in 1948, and has been recorded very occasionally about Spurn for more than 40 years. That intensive watching will eventually prove the species to be of yearly occurrence is quite possible. Barred Warbler {Sylvia nisoria). August 23rd, with wind direc- tion east, was the date of the capture of a bird by Miss F. E. Crackles. This species has been recorded in several other years. 210 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL, XLIII. Siberian Lesser Whitethroat {Sylvia curruca blythi). A Lesser Whitethroat of this race on October 9th, with wind direction south-south-east, was identified by reference to the length of the second primary, as was also one on October 29th, 1948. It is suspected that a few birds of this race may pass in most years. Nightingale {Luscinia megarhyncha). A bird was caught and ringed on September nth, with wind direction north-east, by R. F. Dickens. Odd birds of the species have occurred at Spurn in other recent years. Wryneck {Jynx torquilla). Single birds were recorded on each day from August 27th to 30th, two being caught and ringed. The wind direction was south-south-east. The species has occurred in other years, always at the end of August or very early in September, and was recorded for Spurn as long ago as August 31st, 1886, by W. Eagle Clarke. Great Spotted Woodpecker {Dendrocopus major). From Septem- ber 14th to October 31st, Great Spotted Woodpeckers were seen along the peninsula, usually on posts, on a number of occasions. Three were noted on September 25th, with wind direction east-south-east. Odd birds were also seen at other places on the Yorkshire coast, in the same period, with one at Filey on November 19th. None was caught and handled ; but it is considered probable that the birds were of the Northern race {D. m. major). It will be noticed that when the foregoing species were seen at Spurn the wind had always some east in it, varying from north- east to south-south-east. The observatory ringed 2,126 birds in its year to October 31st, 1949, more than 2,000 of which were trapped adults. The large increase over the figure for any previous }^ear was mainly due to the use of a second Heligoland-type trap. But other factors contributed, such as the cumulative results of the experience gained in previous years, and a larger number of active ringers well spread over the migration seasons with more continuous and intensive watching. Whether this greater numerical success was augmented by excep- tional movement of birds in the autumn of 1949 cannot be gauged without the results of further comparable years than are as yet available. It should perhaps be mentioned that among the more numerous passerine passage migrants at Spurn, Blackbirds {Tvrdus merula) appeared in greater numbers in 1949 than in 1948 ; but that Robins [Erithacus ruhecula) and Goldcrests {Regulus regains) seen were fewer. Those who have studied the Annual Reports of the Committee for Ornithology of the Yorkshire Naturalists’ Union for previous years will be already acquainted with some of the features of migration at Spurn, and elsewhere in Yorkshire. They will realize that much less detailed information can be given in the space available for us in British Birds. The Yorkshire Report for 1949 has been published VOL. LXiii.J AUTUMN, 1949, MIGRATION REPORTS. 211 with the April, 1950, issue of The Naturalist ; and reprints are obtain- able, priced 2/-, from either of the writers (G. H. Ainsworth, 144, Gillshill Road, Hull ; R. Chislett, Brookside, Masham, near Ripon) ; the lirst-named of whom should be written to concerning prospective accommodation at the Observatory. GIBRALTAR POINT. BY A. E. Smith and C. L. Ottaway The Observatory at Gibraltar Point, Lincolnshire, was opened on April nth, 1949. A full report on the first year’s work has now been published and is obtainable from Lenten Ottaway, 84, West Street, Alford, Lines., price 2/6. Enquiries about accommodation at the Observatory should also be addressed to Mr. Ottaway. The published report lists 137 species seen during the year, but in this summary attention will be concentrated on the more interesting and unusual migrants observed. August was a fine, warm month, the prevailing winds being south- westerly until the 22nd, north-easterly from then till the 28th and southerly from then till the end of the month. A period of south- easterly wind from September 3rd to 5th, lasting till the bth over Scandinavia, was followed on the 7th by a rush of Willow- Warblers {Phylloscopus trochihis) and Whitethroats {Sylvia communis). South-westerly winds from the bth to 9th were accompanied by a heavy passage of Swallows [Hinindo rnstica) and Meadow-Pipits {Anthus pratensis), and it was noticed subsequently that movements of these two species seemed most marked in such conditions, h'rom September loth to 15th winds were mainly N.E. or S.E., and in this period a number of small passerines were seen. Similar conditions prevailed from .September 17th to the end of the month. For the first five -days of October the wind was mainly westerly, but on the bth it moved to E. or S.E. and continued in that quarter till the nth. On October 12th, when a large passage of Blue Tits was recorded, the wind was S.W. and continued so till October 28th. Among the interesting records are : — Tree-Sparrow {Passer montanus). Passage movement on Sep- tember 7th and loth, occasionally during October and irregularly up to November loth. Numbers usually less than 30, but peaks of c. 50 on October 3rd and ibth and c. 100 on October 31st. Great Tit {Parns major). Well-marked passage movement of 12 to 30 birds noted on October 2nd, 3rd, 12th, 13th, 15th, ibth, 22nd, 23rd, 27th and 30th, and on November bth and loth. Occasionally seen on passage in separate parties of up to twelve, but more often in company with Blue Tits. Blue Tit {Parus ccenileus). First evidence of autumn migration on September i8th, but no well-marked movement until October ist. From then until October ibth there were 20 to 100 on ten days and 212 BRITISH BIRDS [VOL. XLIII. peaks of c. 200 on the 3rd, c. 120 on the 6th, c. 200 on the 7th and at least 500 on the 12th. Passage continued occasionally in much reduced numbers to mid-November. One bird ringed on October 15th was recovered at New Leake, ten miles W.S.W., on November 24th ; another ringed on October 27th was re-trapped at the Observatory on December 27th. The migration of this species on October 12th was remarkable. Parties of 15 to 30, with a few Great and Coal-Tits, were constantly moving through the bushes or passing overhead to the south-west from early morning until 15.00, after which the movement slackened, ending at about 17.30. 184 Blue Tits were ringed during the day. Coal-Tit {Parns ater). Four on October 9th, ten on the 12th, one on i6th and 22nd, all with parties of Great and Blue Tits. Long-tailed Tit {Mgithalos caudatus). Twelve — two parties of six — on November 6th ; five on November loth. Great Grey Shrike {Lanhts excuhitor). An adult female from October 6th to loth. Red-breasted Flycatcher {Muscicapa parva). A juvenile trapped on September 12th ; a ringed bird, perhaps the same, on 17th ; a second juvenile trapped on i8th ; one bird seen subsequently till September 21st. Yellow-browed Warbler {Phylloscopns inornatus). One, in company with Goldcrests {Regulus reguliis), on October 7th. Siberian Lesser Whitethroat {Sylvia curruca blythi). One trapped on October 2nd. Blackbird {Ttirdus merula). Influx of birds on September 23rd, but passage movement not evident till October 7th. Four fairly well-defined phases of passage occurred, viz., October 7th-i7th, with peaks on loth (c. 200) and iith (c. 150) ; October 23rd-30th, with peaks on 27th (c. 100), 28th (c. 500), 29th (c. 250) ; Novem- ber 8th, when at least 300 birds were present ; and November I3th-i5th, with peak (c. 60) on the 15th. [At Spurn there was a “ minor immigration ” on October 6th and a “ major ” one from October 24th to November 2nd, with not less than 200 present on October 29th. At h'air Isle there were move- ments from the second half of September, birds being very common after October 9th. — Eds.] Bluethroat [Lnscinia svecica). One trapped and ringed on Sep- tember 14th. Great Spotted Woodpecker {Dendrocopns major). Two phases of passage to south-west, one during August with single birds on the 4th, loth, 13th and 28th ; another during last week of October, with one on the 28th and three on 30th. Kestrel {Falco tinnnnculus) . Well-marked passage to south-west on first four days of October, with 12 on the 2nd and 15 on 3rd. Six on October 30th. VOL XLiii.J AUTUMN, 1949, MIGRATION REPORTS. 213 [On a number of days in August and September southward move- ment was noticeable at Spurn ; on September 26th several birds were seen to leave the Point for Lincolnshire (Y.N.U. Committee for Ornithology Report, 1949, p. 18). — Eds.] SKOKHOLM BIRD OBSERVATORY, PEMBROKESHIRE. BY P. J. CONDER AND JOAN KeIGHLEY The following summary of weather conditions at Skokholm during the autumn of 1949 is taken from the Skokholm Bird Observatory Report for 1949 (obtainable from Col. H. Allen, D.S.O., M.B.E.,The Red House, Heywood Lane, Tenby, price 2/6) : “ In July the wind direction was again variable, north being the commonest. The most frequent strengths were from i to 3. Three calms were recorded and a force 6 wind twice. Showers on four days. August was rather more windy than the two pre- ceding months ; the prevailing directions were the south-east and westerly quarters. The commonest strength was force i. Five calms and a gale reaching force 9 in gusts were also recorded. Rain or showers occurred on seven days. During September and the first week of October the wind was chiefly in easterly and northerly quarters. It was frequently recorded up to force 4, and on three occasions up to force 7. Eight calms occurred and there was rain or showers on ii days.” The autumn migration produced some unusual birds, but most of these have already been reported in British Birds, so that a brief mention only will be necessary in this report. Numbers of migrants were not so high in 1949 as in 1948 : Willow-Warblers {Phylloscopus trochilus), for example reached a maximum of 50 to 100 on August 22nd to 24th, 1949, whereas in 1948, c. 3,000 were recorded on two occasions. On the other hand, a greater variety of species was recorded in 1949, the most interesting of which are listed below : — Scarlet Grosbeak {Carpodacus erythrinus). A first winter male, caught on June 26th, presumably ranks as an autumn immigrant [antea, p. 82). Blue Tit [Pants cceruleus). One seen almost daily, October ist to 8th. This is the second record for the island. An increase in this species was noted at Dale at about the same time (J. H. Barrett, personal communication) . WooDCHAT Shrike [Lanins senator). Juveniles on August i8th and 31st [antea, p. 119). Red-breasted Flycatcher [Muscicapa parva). One on Septem- ber 26th on the rocks at the bottom of the cliffs. It was watched for an hour at distances of 10 to 40 yards through 7 X 50 binoculars. At longer ranges the characteristic features were the leaf-warbler colouration of the body, the Robin-like shape, the long tail and 214 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XLlIl. elongated hind-part of the body, particularly when the tail was held erect, and lastly the white on the basal two thirds of the outer tail- feathers. This was particularly easily seen when the bird was twisting and turning in llight. Another characteristic was that the tail was held almost vertically when the bird was perched {cf. antea, p. 48), and that it was continually tlickcd upwards, usually in double jerks. In contrast to the tail the wings, which were usually dropped beneath the tail, seemed very small. h'rom closer ranges a small greyish-yellow stripe could be seen running from the bill to the eye, which was surrounded by a pale circle. A patch of yellow, partly hidden by the wings, could be seen on the flanks. On the greyish-yellow breast there seemed to be regular rows of pale grey patches running downwards. The yellow of the breast shaded into white on the belly. I'he bird was continually on the move, catching insects in the air in swift, flurrying flights, frequently returning after a flight with a radius of about 5 feet to the same perch, where it sat with the tail flicking almost vertically. It occasionally flew up the cliffs, but then after two or three minutes dived down, with wings closed, to the rocks on which it was most frequently seen. This is apparently the second record of this species for Wales, the first having been seen near Cardiff in August 8th, 1943 {antea, vol. xxxviii, pp. 134-135). Aqu.vric Warbler {AcrocepJialus paludicola) . One on September 5th and 6th {antea, pp. 57-58). Robin {Erithaens mbeciila). From August 14th birds returned to the island and began holding territories on the cliffs and inland, until in the last half of Sejitember c. 25 were present. This is an unusual number of autumn immigrants. SCARCE BIRDS ON LUNDY, 1949. BY Hugh IF^yd. During 1949 watchers at the Lundy Jhrd Observatory added a number of species to the list of birds recorded on the island. Some of the birds have rarely been reported from south-west ICngland and it is thought that a brief account of these may be of interest. For the sake of completeness a few records of birds seen in the spring are included. Full details of the observations on which identification was based are to be found in the records of the Lundy Field Society, while details of species not listed below are given in the Third Annual Report of the Lundy Field Society, obtainable from Professor L. A. Harvey, University College, Exeter, price 2/6. Only those points seeming of most importance are given here. All the birds listed were seen by the writer : in those instances where other watchers also saw them the names of these observers are given. VOL. xLiii.] AUTUMN, 1949, MIGRATION REPORTS. 216 Chough [Pynhocorax pyrrhocorax). One seen October i8th, 20th, 2ist and 24th. This is the hrst record in this century. Ortolan Bunting {Emberiza hortiilana). Single females May nth and August 29th. In each the yellow eye-ring, reddish bill and legs, and olive tinted head were clearly seen. Lapl.vnd Bunting [Cakarius lapponicus). One September 2nd (E. H. Ware) and a party of six from 3rd to 15th (seven being seen on 7th). There being previous records in early September in 1942 and 1948 it seems possible that the species is fairly regular as an early autumn visitor. WooDCHAT Shrike [Lanius senator). A male June i6th (S. F. Ball). Yellow-browed Warbler {Phylloscopus inornatus) One seen October 6th and 7th, recognized by its small size, pale yellow superciliary stripe and double wing-bar. Its note, heard only three times in long periods of watching, was a high, melodious and remark- ably loud “ tsweep.” Aquatic Warbler [Acrocephaliis paludicola). Two September 15th (Miss S. C. Needham, S. F. Ball, P. N. Crookenden), identified by the generally bold markings of the plumage and the broad, clear buff, longitudinal stripe on the crown. IcTERiNE Warbler {Hippolais icterina). One trapped and ringed August 28th. One seen October i6th, 17th, 23rd and 26th. The bird examined in the hand fitted closely The Handbook description of an adult male, except that the tips of the primaries were coloured like the outer webs and not whitish. It was caught by E. H. Ware and studied by several observers. The October bird was rather pale, neither the green of the upper parts nor the yellow of the under- parts being as bright as in the earlier example, but was in other respects (such as the colour of the legs and the inside of the mouth) typical. Barred Warbler {Sylvia nisoria). One October loth, probably immature, characterized by its large size, predominantly pale grey colouring and long, almost square-ended tail. The breast was apparently unbarred and greyish-white with a pronounced bluish bloom when seen from below. Bluethroat [Luscinia svecica). One seen September 14th and another October 20th and 22nd. The first was an adult showing a rather faint patch of blue on the upper breast with a chestnut fringe below it. The rufous patches on each side of the base of the tail were conspicuous in flight. The later bird was immature, its throat and upper breast yellowish buff, heavily spotted with dark brown in a band sharply demarcated below. Roller {Coracias garntlus). One, probably female, seen August 25th by five observers. 216 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XLIII. Great Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopus major). One, October 2nd, 4th and 5th. It had a remarkably stout bill, and in view of the invasion of individuals of the Northern form {D. m. major) noted in Scotland and on the east coast there would seem little doubt that it was of this form. Wryneck {Jynx torqnilla). Single birds seen May nth, Sep- tember 3rd and September 22nd and 23rd (S. F. Ball) provide the hrst records for the island. The Table lists species recorded at two or more of the Observatories. A few reports from elsewhere have been included, but these are of necessity much less detailed than those supplied by the Observa- tories where a continuous record is kept throughout the season. (The Cley Bird Observatory on the Norfolk coast was established too late in the season to provide comparable data.) It will, however, be noted that records of some species in Norfolk correspond very closely with those from other areas. This is notably the case with Red- breasted Flycatchers. Mr. I). D. Harber informs us that he and a number of other observers saw one at Blakeney Point on Septem- ber I2th,- on which date one was recorded at Gibraltar Point. .Another on September 21st has parallels both at Gibraltar Point and at Fail fslc. A record of a Great Spotted Woodpecker at Scolt Head on November 7th, “ the first recorded on the island,” suggests that the movement recorded elsewhere reached the Norfolk coast. The movement of tits recorded in considerable strength at Gibraltar Point may be connected with a similar movement on the south coast at Dungeness, where M. L. R. Romer observed Great, Blue and Coal-Tits between September 20th and October 6th [antea, V’ol. X ii, pp. 386-7). We learn from Mr. A. Denby Wilkinson that the lighthouse-keepers at Dungeness informed him that the peak of this movement was on October 3rd. Records in the Sussex Bird Report (1949, p. ii) show that Blue Tits turned up at a number of points along the .Sussex coast between September 17th and October 30th. Mr. Wilkinson also reports a considerable movement of Robins, believed to belong to the Continental race {Erithacus r. ruhecula) at Dungeness on September 24th and October ist, but this movement does not seem to be paralleled elsewhere, except perhaps on the Sussex coast. Reference to the Table shows that for some species there is a wide discrepancy between the dates recorded at different Observatories. Icterine Warblers, and to a slightly lesser extent Barred and Aquatic Warblers, seem to have been erratic or casual in their appearances. Other species, however, show remarkable uniformity in date over a wide area. Perhaps the most remarkable case is that of the Lapland Bunting, which is recorded simultaneously from Fair Isle and Lundy at opposite ends of the chain of Observatories. TABLE TO SHOW DATES OF OCCURRENCES OF SPECIES RECORDED AT TWO OR MORE OBSERVATORIES VOL. XLiii.] AUTUMN, 1949, MIGRATION REPORTS. 217 D U, 1) s I.? :9 O 3 & LD n! N ^ - n CO D :3 tij C/) 99 O r- N M (i d o :zi NO N N N >. NO ! NO 4^ 2 r ^ O 1 >- N XJ Aug. Oct. Oct. d 3 d Sep. d 3 Oct. Sep. Sep, Oct, H-l 6 f ^ O O a CT) Oct -f-* a Oh a a.+i U Qj ^ (p gj O O C/2 C/2 C/2 C/2 O u 0) a c/5 CN N ' N I t V-\ I I OO I o Cn . a a a a^ ^ <3; OJ D CA) CA! Cfi c/2 o o a. Cl< (U (U CA) C/) Ctf cl 3 S cd 'O ^ 8 < 0) (D rC a -M u o N bh d 1 1 I 1 1 a 0) < c/2 O c/5 u rO 1 o o •J d XJ o d o 3 o u> d c f— 1 « CN\^ N hh ^ M N U 0) N VO a a a a a at1 cx ua>a)(D(Da;^ o o o D a T3 O O CJ O *rs» ^ c\ Tj- Cn. - a o . ■^O Q:) u-oo \0 d CN ■ r«» M ^ - -:S O i: > O ^ o o l-S I •■^ ■§ to On • H rN ON (218) NOTES ON BIRDS SEEN IN WINTER BETWEEN THE ENGLISH CHANNEL AND THE WEST INDIES. BY T. A. W. Davis. The observations here recorded were made chiefly during a winter crossing of the Atlantic from Barbados via Madeira to Plymouth on the s.s. Crijnssen in February, 1939. In the period 1925 — 39 I crossed the Atlantic ten times, seven voyages being between the Channel and West Indies passing the Azores, and three between the Channel and Dutch Guiana or Barbados calling at Madeira. All were on ships not exceeding 7,500 tons, and the fastest had a speed of about 15 knots. Relevant notes from these other voyages have been included in this paper. Transects of the Azores route were made by the Nicholsons (1931), and Philipson (1940) has contributed notes on it, but little seems to have been written on the eastern half of the Madeira route ; the western part is well covered by Jespersen (1930). All the many crossings of Wynne-Edwards (1935) and Rankin and Duffey (1948) followed more northern routes than mine, but their papers contain the fullest and most up-to-date accounts of the distribution and habits of birds in the North Atlantic. Gannet [Sula bassana). On February 22nd, 1939, two adult Gannets Hying north overtook and passed the ship in the Bay of Biscay (45° N., 8° W.) a little before noon, 'riiis was about 80 miles from the nearest land, the north-west corner of Spain. On 23rd, a tine day with a strong N.W. wind, Ushant was passed and the Channel entered at 0 a.m. From 10 a.m. onwards Gannets were seen, and by the early afternoon they had become frequent with up to four in sight at a time. They were flying low with long glides, mostly between 15 and 50 feet above the water, an occasional bird being higher. Near the Eddystone Lighthouse they became abundant, some being constantly in sight flying singly and in strings of three to six very fast and low, often almost skimming the waves. A few were soaring at a great height. None were seen fishing all day. On other voyages I have seen Gannets only in ones and twos, never in a concentration such as this. On this day all that could be recognized were adult with only one exception. Shearwaters and Petrels. On only one of six winter crossings were shearwaters seen, and then only two individuals ; a large one, too big for a Manx Shear- water {Piiffinus puffinus), about 100 miles west of the Lizard on January 17th, 1930 ; and a probable Manx Shearwater (a species I know well) north-east of the Azores a few days earlier. Neither was seen satisfactorily for identification. The large one was, perhaps, a Great Shearwater {Puffinus gravis), the species most likely to be seen off the English Channel at that time of year : VOL. XLIII.) BIRDS SEEN IN WINTER. 219 according to The Handbook it is seen in British waters “occasionally Dec. and Jan.’’ The only storm-petrel seen in winter was a Leach’s Fork-tailed Petrel {Oceanodroma leucorrhoa) which came on board at night on January i8th, 1934 (noon position next day 16.57° 55.04° W.). No Fulmars {Ftdmarus glacialis) were seen on any of my West Indies voyages. In the second week of October, 1925, my only autumn crossing, large shearwaters and .^torm-petrels were both numerous all the way from the Channel approaches to the Azores, but unfortunately none were dehnitely identihed. Shear- waters and storm-petrels were both more numerous than the Nicholsons (1931) found them in this area in October, 1928. Black-headed Gull [Lams ridibundus). There were twenty or so Black-headed Gulls in Funchal harbour, Madeira, on February 19th, 1939, only one of them being adult ; it was in winter plumage. Herring-Gull [Lams argentatus). Herring-Gulls were present in large numbers at Funchal, Madeira, on February 19th, 1939. They were all dark-mantled and yellow- legged, and 1 noted that the colour of the mantle was intermediate between that of Lams a. argentatus and Lams fuscus graellsii. The ship sailed at i p.m., and many followed till dusk, but there were none next morning. All were undoubtedly atlantis. We were well into the English Channel on February 23rd before Herring-Gulls were seen again. It has been my experience that they are usually abundant in the Channel, and I have seen a few beyond on several occasions within 100 miles of the entrance. Lesser Black-backed Gull [Lams fuscus). In the Bay of Biscay (noon position 45° N., 8° W.) on February 22nd, 1939, Lesser Blacked-backed Gulls were numerous all day, up to a dozen being in sight at a time. In the evening when we were fully 150 miles from the nearest land one or two were still with the ship. No immature birds were noted. It seems probable that their presence in considerable numbers over so great an area was due to their being on migration. The weather was rough, the wind being S.W. to W. The next morning in the Channel two were seen early with some Kittiwakes [Rissa tridactyla), and they became numerous later, associated with a few Herring-Gulls. After land was sighted at 11.30 a.m., the Lesser Blackbacks soon disappeared and Herring- Gulls increased. In crossing the Channel from Ushant to Plymouth there were three very definite zones, the outer dominated by Kittiwakes, the middle by Lesser Blackbacks, and the inner by Herring-Gulls. These observations support Wynne-Edwards’s (1935) statement that the Lesser Blackback frequents the offshore zone more than any other species of Lams occurring in the North Atlantic. On other voyages I have not found this to be the case, my experience 220 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XLIII. being that Herring-Gulls and Great Black-backed Gulls {Lams marinus) are both consistently seen well away from land, in summer as well as in winter. It may be, therefore, that it is mainly when migrating that Lesser Blackbacks frequent the offshore zone. Kittiwake {Kissa tridactyla). A solitary adult Kittiwake was seen on February 17th, 1939, in 30° N., 26° W., about 500 miles west of Madeira. The next day one was with the ship all day, and in the evening was joined by another. On the 20th (noon position 36° N., 15° W.) an adult and a “ tarrock '' were in sight most of the morning, but seemed to have been left behind before noon. One adult was seen early in the afternoon, and from the late afternoon till dusk there were six, adults and immature birds, following the ship. At 9 a.m. next morning more than a dozen were noted, and six or more remained with us all day. I noted that the adults were in winter plumage. On the 22nd in the Bay of Biscay none were seen till the afternoon, when at first there were two ; in the evening there were more than a dozen. In the Channel on the 23rd there were about 20 for the first half of the morning, and some continued to follow us in the zone where Lesser Black-backed Gulls were the most abundant species, and for half an hour or so after land was in sight. One was still with the ship to within a few miles of Plymouth, long after all the Lesser Black-backs had been left behind. In January, 1930, I travelled from the West Indies to the Channel by much the same route as E. M. Nicholson (Nicholson and Nicholson, 1931) did about three weeks before. He noted the first Kittiwake at 35° 39' N., 37° 06' W. On January 8th three appeared in 25° N., 52° W., and from then onwards Kittiwakes followed the ship in gradually increasing numbers, and had become very numerous before we reached the Azores : a few were still with us in the Channel on the i8th. On a westward voyage in January, 1933, none followed beyond where Nicholson noted his first in his transect of December, 1929. The only record I can find of a Kittiwake farther to the south and west than the three I saw on January 8th, 1930, is of an immature bird seen by Alexander (1927) off the east coast of Jamaica in March, 1926. Jespersen (1930) has, however, shown that they range in small numbers to the Tropic of Cancer, his most southerly record being 23° N., 42° W., and mine only extends his group of records in the Sargasso sea a little on the south-west side. Great Skua {Stercorarius skua). Two Great Skuas were seen at 9 a.m. on February 20th, 1939, (noon position 36° N., 15° W.), and a little later there were four following the ship : they were present until midday. They flew with steady wing-beats and occasional glides, mostly between about 30 and 80 feet above the water, but also just skimming the surface. They kept up with the ship easily, and had time to settle fairly frequently on the water. They did not take any notice of two Kittiwakes which were also following the ship most of the morning. VOL. XLIII.] BIRDS SEEN IN WINTER. 221 The next day (noon position 41° N., 12° W.) off the coast of Portugal one was seen at 9 a.m. and one early in the afternoon ; they were probably different birds. On the 22nd, in the Bay of Biscay, one was seen at midday and in the early afternoon, and in the evening there were probably three, though only one was in sight at a time. In the three days at least 8 and probably 10 different individuals were seen, which seems to indicate a rather less sparse population in this area than in most of their wide range in the North Atlantic. I have not seen them elsewhere, but I saw Great Skuas again off the coast of Portugal in February, 1945, when I was travelling on a ship in convoy. Owing to war-time restrictions the precise locality is not known. REFERENCES. Alexander, W. B. (1927). Kittiwake Gull in the Caribbean Sea. Auk, Vol. xliv, pp. 41-42. Jespersen, P. (1930). Ornithological observations in the North Atlantic Ocean. Oceanogr. Prep. Danish “ Dana ” Exp., 1920-22, Vol. vii, pp. 1-36. Nicholson, E. M. and B. D. (1931). An ornithological transect of the North Atlantic. Brit. Birds, Vol. xxiv, pp. 266-274. Philipson, W. R. (1940). Notes on birds seen on voyage to West Indies and back. Brit. Birds, Vol. xxxiii, pp. 245-247. Rankin, M. N. and Duffey, E. A. G. (1948). A study of the bird life of the North Atlantic. Brit. Birds, Supplementary Number, Vol. xli, pp. 1-42. Wynne-Edwards, V. C. (1935). On the habits and distribution of birds on the North Atlantic. Proc. Bost. Soc. Nat. Hist., Vol. xl, pp. 233-340. NOTES. ROOKS “ HAWKING ” INSECTS. As some attention has been paid {antea, Vol. xl, p. 115 ; xli, p. 272) to Jackdaws {Corvus monedula) “ hawking ” insects, the follow- ing note of similar behaviour in a Rook {Corvus frugilegus) may be of interest. At Wilnecote, north Warwickshire, during the after- noon of April 14th, 1949, a Rook detached itself from a flock of 32 feeding in a field and began flying over adjoining allotment ground. It had its bill wide open and began to perform clumsy aerobatics, closing its bill at intervals. It was apparently “ hawking ” the insects that were swarming ten to thirty feet up, continuing feeding on them for upwards of ten minutes. M. A. Arnold. At Lullingstone Castle, Kent, in the late afternoon of September i8th, 1949, a number of Rooks {Corvus frugilegus) were seen to make short flights from the tops of oaks. One party of seven continued to soar upwards, making frequent short, rapid climbs, and reached a considerable height. Several Starlings {Shirnus vulgaris) were in company, while numerous hirundines at greater heights indicated that insects were plentiful. A. H. Betts, 222 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XLIII. CHAFFINCH MIMICKING HEDGE-SPARROW’S SONG. On March 29th, 1947, near Derby, I stopped to listen to a male Chaffinch {Fringilla coelebs) uttering guttural notes in series of about a second’s duration (? the “low gurgling rattle’’ of The Handbook), apparently through closed bill. After a few minutes of " gurgling ’’ at irregular intervals the bird interspersed very subdued and incom- plete songs. When a distant Chaffinch began to sing my bird ceased “ gurgling ’’ and answered with loud, complete songs and was not disturbed by a passing motor car. As soon as the car had passed my bird astounded me by singing a Hedge-Sparrow {Prunella modularis) song. It resumed the “ gurgling ’’ for another two minutes and followed with a remarkable series of at least 25 mimicked Hedge-Sparrow songs. Apart from being slightly louder, the mimicked songs were perfect even to their duration and scratchy tone. I saw and heard this bird singing several series of mimicked and normal songs — the two distinct types were never mixed — at the same spot on April loth and 29th, Ma}^ 31st and June 3rd, 1947 ; on eleven occasions between April loth and June 5th, 1948 ; and on eleven occasions in April and May, 1949. On May 22nd, 1949, Mr. C. Eric Brown accompanied me and together we had a good view of the Chaffinch singing many series of both types of song. Derek C. Hlu.me. SOARING FLIGHT OF REED-BUNTING. On June nth, 1949, I observed a male Reed-Bunting [Emberiza schcenlclus) perched on a small tree on Wimbledon Common, Surrey. It was uttering the usual call-note, a loud “ sweeep.’’ Then suddenly jumping into the air it mounted rapidly in the manner of a Tree- Pipit {Anthiis trivialis), uttering its call note all the while. Then, after hovering about twenty feet above its perch, it descended still calling, to its former position. Approximately two minutes later it repeated this performance, but this time, as the bird mounted up, the speed of the delivery was gradually increased until tlie “ song ’’ was not unlike a Meadow-Pipit’s {Anthns pratensis). While the male was singing the female was feeding in the grass below. 1 can find no record of the song-flight of the Reed-Bunting. P. T. Munson. BLACKCAP BREEDING IN ORKNEY. On June 29th, 1949, on Shapinsay, Orkney, a male Blackcap {Sylvia atricapilla) was heard singing fairly persistently. On investigation a female was also observed carrying a large beakful of food. Lack of time prevented further search, but the quantity of song from the male, together with the large amount of food carried by the female, suggests that the young were well advanced and might already have left the nest. G. T. Arthur and P. E. Brown. [The Handbook states that the Blackcap has probably bred in VOL. XLIII.] NOTES. 223 Orkney. Records published recently in The Scottish Naturalist (Vol. 6o, pp. 218-219 ; 61, p. 180), suggest that the species is extend- ing its range on the western mainland of Scotland. Further records would be of interest. — Eds.] BLACKCAP AND WAXWINGS IN COUNTY ANTRIM. On January 31st, 1950, my wife, Phyllis Blake Whelan, observed a Blackcap {Sylvia atricapilla) coming to our garden bird table at Greenisland, Co. Antrim, in association with tits. Since that date we have had the bird, a fine male, under frequent observation and up to the time of writing (February 3rd) it showed no sign of leaving. Timid at first, the Blackcap rapidly began to stand up to the constant bickerings between its companions at the table. In doing so, it assumed the familiar aggressive posture with wings slightly spread and a scolding note difficult to describe. Although believed to be a rai'e but regular breeding species in County Down we have not before observed the Blackcap in County Antrim, and you may wish to add the present unusually satisfactory observation to the fifty winter records for Ireland. On February 3rd, 1950, in a neighbour’s garden, I had under close observation for about an hour a party of six Waxwings {Bombycilla garrulus) feeding on cotoneaster berries. The group was remarkably tame and a tendency to pair was noticeable. In one instance, a bird, presumably a male, flew from the telephone wire to a companion perched in an overhanging tree and saluted her with a low bow which brought the bird almost into horizontal alignment, with outstretched beak and fanned tail. C. Blake Whelan. [We have received several records of summer migrants spending the winter 1949/50 in various parts of the British Isles. Readers who have not yet submitted records are invited to do so. Numerous reports of Waxwings have been received and we would be glad to receive any others without delay. — Eds.] DISTRACTION DISPLAY OF STONECHAT. On July 26th, 1949, near Abbotsbury, Dorset, I noticed a female Stonechat {Saxicola torquata) perching on a wire fence in the course of repeated visits to a large clod of soil, as if she were feeding young. The cock then appeared further along the wire only ten yards from me. He was singing in a desultory manner, then suddenly flew down to the ground and lay on his side as if injured, with one wing extended upward quite stiff. After a few seconds the whole body slumped as though in complete collapse. He remained in this attitude, about 8 yards away from me, for what seemed quite a long time, then suddenly flew back to the wire fence, where he kept opening his beak as if distressed by the heat. After a while he started singing again. This occurred amongst an entanglement of barbed wire and other wartime debris, and I could not ascertain whether tfie hen had young 224 BRITISH BIRDS [VOL. XLIII. or not, but she continued her flights to the back of the clod, perching on the fence en route. I might add that it was an extremely hot day. M. Chaplin. HOOPOES IN BRITAIN IN 1948. 'I'he following records of Hoopoes {Upupa epops) in 1948 are additional to those already published in British Birds (Vol. xlii, p. 89) SciLLY IsLRS. — One on St. Agnes from Marcli 25th ; two or possiblj' three, March 29th to April 5th (E. J. M. Buxton, W. B. Alexander). Devon. — One at Horrabridge, May 9th (G. M. Spooner, per P. G. Corbin) ; one near Exeter, August 5th and several days subsequently (Dr. D. Cook) ; one at Exmouth, August 15th (Miss G. Sharp) ; one, Sidmouth, August 22nd (T. J. Richards). Mr. W. L. Colyer who has supplied these records suggests that the last three may refer to the same bird. Somerset. — One at Brean Down, May i8th, two May 19th (the late H. Cox, Report on Somerset Birds, 1948, p. 10). Dorset. — One at Swanage, .April 6tli (G. B. Gooch) ; one shot at Warmwell, near Dorchester, in April ; one on Smedmore Hill, Purbeck, August 6th (A. Avenell), all records supplied by K. B. Rooke. Sussex — A pair on the downs, north of Brighton, for three days in the first half of May (per J. H. Boswall) ; one at Crowlink Valley, Seven Sisters, .April 22nd (C. St. C. and J. St. C. Simmons). Kent. — One near Canterbury for two days in second week of May (W. Sefton Jones). .A breeding record, the first satisfactory one for the county, is pub- lished separately. Oxfordshire. — One at Caversham for several days about March 20th (per Reading Ornithological Club) ; one at Ewelme, July 28th to August 2nd (per Ox. Orn. Soc.). Wiltshire. — One at Larkhill, .April 4th (l\frs. I-. Bayley) ; one shot in mistake for a Jay, Tetfont Magna, May 1 3th (per H. de S. Shortt) ; one at Hackpen Hill August 12th (Major G. N. Cole), all records supplied by Ruth G. Barnes. Inverness-shire. — One at Locheilside, May 31st to June 7th (Eileen R. Ballance, Scot. Nat., vol. 60, pp. 219-220) ; possibly one at Portree, Isle of Skye, September 23rd and 24th (Scot. Nat., loc., cit.) Tttf Fnimpt; HOOPOES BREEDING IN KENT. At about 19.30 on April 28th, 1948, Mr. J. Dawson, a noted local fowler, saw a pair of Hoopoes {Upupa epops) in a large, heavily- timbered, walled garden at a locality in Kent. He saw them again at the same place on the following morning and he reported the matter to me that evening. A few days later Mrs. Elkington reported that there had been a “ strange looking pigeon ” on her lawn during the morning, and on May 22nd, 1948, the Rev. E. W. Hitchings telephoned me that a Hoopoe was perched on a telegraph post close to his house. It had gone when I arrived, but Mr. Hitchings described the bird accurately and produced a coloured plate of a Hoopoe by Thorburn to support his identification. Mrs. Hitchings had also seen the bird. She gave an accurate colour description and an even more useful descrip- tion of how it erected and depressed its crest when alighting and at rest. Both these gardens were close to the walled garden. There was no access to the walled garden save by way of a gate lodge, and the keeper told me he could admit no one without his employer’s permission. I applied for leave to visit the garden. The owner replied that she knew the birds were in the garden and VOL. XLIII.J NOTES. 225 that she would allow no one to disturb them or to enter the garden. She could not be induced to change her mind. On June 2gth, Mr. H. C. Collis told me that the Hoopoes could be seen in or over his garden early every morning. Both he and Mrs. Collis were familiar with museum specimens of the bird and they had seen or heard them continuously during May and June. I asked Mr. Collis to keep a constant watch for young ones and on July gth, 1948, he telephoned that there were four young Hoopoes in his garden. Numbers of other people saw the Hoopoes, but the above hve persons are selected because they are trained observers and keen naturalists. The birds returned in April, 1949, and were seen and heard repeatedly by the above two families. Unfortunately the large house and garden had changed hands, the greater part of the timber was being felled, and though the birds laid again their tree was felled before incubation was completed. This appears to be the first satisfactory breeding record for the county. W. S. Nevin. DARK-BREASTED BARN-OWL IN DEVON. At about 21.30 G.M.T. on September 25th, 1949, while driving home from Plymouth and about two miles from Newton Eerrers, I saw an owl standing in the road in the centre of the traffic lane on my right. As seen in the car headlights it appeared dark in colour and at long range both my son and I took it for a d awny Owl {Strix aluco), but on nearer view the shape and facial discs of a Barn-Owl [Tyto alba) were unmistakable. It was facing our approach and the under-parts were clearly visible. They showed no white at all, being tawny in colour. Only part of the back and wings could be seen and these were darker and greyer than the under-parts so far as could then be distinguished. The bird scarcely moved as we passed, which led me to think it might be injured, and my interest being now thoroughly aroused by its dark coloration, I stopped and turned the car and drove back some 200 to 300 yards to find the owl still there and right in my path, in the same pose as when first seen save that it had turned its head to look over its back at this new approach. I stopped the car with the headlights full on the bird at very close range — not more than a dozen paces. Its back and wings were now in full view and were mottled tawny and grey, very much more grey than any Barn-Owl I have previously seen. The facial discs were tawny, not white, though noticeably paler towards the outer rims. It still made no attempt to fly, so I got out to investigate, but as I opened the door it rose and flew off leisurely, well lit by the headlights and showing no white plumage at all in flight. I have seen a great many British Barn-Owls and have reared and kept them, as well as Tawny Owls, in confinement, so I can claim familiarity with the species. I have never seen any which 226 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XLIII. approached in darkness of coloration the bird described above, which resembled quite well, being if anything darker than, the Dark-breasted, continental form described and figured in The Handbook disTy to alba guttata. O. D. Hunt. DISPLAY AND COITION OF COMMON BUZZARD. The following notes on the behaviour of the Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo) have been compiled chiefly from observations in the Teign Valley near Chagford, Devon, during 1948 and 1949. The most usual display appears to consist of a dive with wings half-closed, or, more rarely, quite closed like a Peregrine [Falco peregrinus), followed by a climb with wings extended, the whole movement being repeated several times. I noted an interesting variant of this, involving six birds, on March i8th, 1948. Several birds were sitting on a hillside or balanced precariously on the extreme tops of small birches. One or two, which had been flying about above, dived suddenly on them with legs outstretched and wings half-closed. The bird “ attacked ” flew up at the last moment and the " attacker ” then took its place. When the landing had to be made on the top of a small birch, the result was a great deal of wing flapping to retain balance. Usually no buzzard would use such a perch. This behaviour lasted fifteen-twenty minutes and attracted three more birds, ending with the nine birds circling together over the valley. Another type of display involves two birds. One dives on the other which then turns on its back and the two birds fall a hundred feet or more together, turning over and over as they do so. I have suspected on one occasion that tlie feet were interlocked, at least at the beginning of the fall, but I have no definite proof of this. Less spectacularly, the dive may be met by a slow roll on the part of the second bird. I witnessed coition between a pair of Common Buzzards twice during March, 1949 (the same pair on each occasion). The female was seen sitting on a branch of an oak about 30 feet up with her wings extended in a manner reminiscent of a Cormorant [Phalacrocorax carbo). Periodically the wings were flapped and the tail raised and lowered. After several minutes the male arrived and flew straight on to the female’s back, and remained there for about 15 seconds, afterwards flying straight off. The female followed a few seconds later and the birds then circled round facing one another for several minutes. The tree was about 150 yards from the nest subsequently used. J. A. Nelder. [The “ display ” by several birds together described by Mr. Nelder would appear to be a form of aerial plaj^ stated in The Hand- book (Vol. iii, p. 52), to be frequent in autumn and spring. There is one previous record of a pair “ gripping claws and falling together like Raven ” {Handbook, Vol. v, p. 274). Coition is stated to take place usually at the nest. — Eds.] VOL. XLIII.] NOTES. 227 POST-COITIONAL DISPLAY OF CANADA GOOSE. On March 29th, 1949, at Mickle Mere, Brecklancl, I observed a particularly well-developed form of post-coitional display by a male Canada Goose [Branta canadensis). Coition followed after both birds had faced each other and dipped heads at a fast rate. When the male dismounted he assumed a very stiff posture. The tail and rear part of the body were pointed upwards and raised as far as possible out of the water, while the head and neck were stretched upwards, the beak pointing almost vertically upwards. The strained position was retained for about 8 secs. After this both birds flapped their wings and bathed freely. A. E. Vine. UNUSUAL FLIGHT BEHAVIOUR OF GANNET. On April i8th, 1949, hve Gannets {Snla bassana) were watched flying in and out of the cliffs at Bempton, Yorkshire. It was noticed that on taking off the birds used the normal display adopted by birds departing from the nesting colony, finally opening their wings and dropping off the ledges. The drop was maintained for some way, presumably to obtain the necessary lift to support their weight in the air. As the feet were withdrawn when the birds became airborne, they were, in the majority of cases, rested on top of the tail, and held in that position until the birds made some major turn in the direction of their flight. This habit has not been observed on subsequent visits to the cliffs, although it has been looked for, nor can any mention of it be found in any literature available for reference. A. J. Wallis. [We have submitted this note to Mr. James Fisher, who states that he has never seen similar behaviour nor, to the best of his knowledge, is there any previous record. This unusual posture is difflcult to explain. — Eds.] ' MIGRATION OF JUVENILE GANNETS. In connexion with the article by G. T. Kay on the young Gannet (Sula bassana) {antea, Vol. xlii, p. 260), the following note may be of interest. During the months of August and September, 1949, frequent visits were made to Filey Brigg, E. Yorkshire, and on each occasion one or more Gannets were seen flying south. The majority of the birds were juveniles, some in the dark plumage of the first season, some showing varying degrees of white, and a few adults. There was no indication that any of the birds were travelling as family parties, as nearly all the birds seen were flying alone. The largest number seen flying in close connexion with one another was three. The birds were also seen more frequently during September than during August, all observations being made from the land and so limited to the range of eyesight at sea level, helped by x 7 binoculars. A. J. Wallis. [The attention of readers is drawn to a letter on this subject from Mr. G. T. Kay, which appears in this issue. — Eds.] 228 BRITISH BIRDS. rVOL. XLIII. WOOD-PIGEON NESTING IN HOLLOW IN TREE. With reference to the note {antca, \'ol. xlii, p. 2iq) on a Wood- Pigeon {Columba pahimbus) nesting in a hollow tree, I once found a nest of this bird in a hollow in a scrub-oak. The hollow was formed where a bough left the trunk and although it was technically a “ hole in a tree ” it was roomy and neither deep nor dark. I had climbed the tree expecting to find the nest of a Stock-Dove {Columba (Enas) and was surprised when a Wood-Pigeon flew out, and still more so when I found two young ones about 12 days old in the hollow. This occurred many years ago and I kept no records of the exact date. Since then I have found many \\'ood-Pigeons’ nests but never one in a hollow, although both this bird and the Stock-Dove will often nest on the masses of debris that collect among the vast ” witches’ brooms ” found on some old lime trees. Derek Goodwin. UNDER-WATER MOVEMENTS OE MOORHEN. THE Handbook (Supplementary Additions, p. 23) quotes a single authority for the statement that the Moorhen {Gallinula chloropus) occasionally swims under water without the aid of its wings, so it may be of interest to record that my brother and I saw two birds perform this feat on April gth, 1949. The two birds, probably a pair, were seen swimming downstream near the mouth of Dunbar Burn. Both swam with the wings pressed close to the body ; they could only be observed while they covered a short distance of fifteen yards or so, but they definitely did not flick their wings during that time. It was noted that the legs, stretched out behind the body, struek alternately and from the side to the body-line in a propellor-like manner, without any bend of the tarso-tibial joint. The left leg moved clockwise, the right anti-clockwise, the downward part of the stroke being the propelling agent, so that propulsion came from above and behind, thus ensuring continued submergence and even progress. M. Flanighan. At Altrincham Sewage Farm on April 29th, 1949, I was walking along a concrete-lined drain, when I noticed a Moorhen {Gallinnla chloropus) taking cover under a totally inadetiuate tuft of grass. As I moved the grass the bird dived and swam frantically along the drain, which was straight and about 18 inches wide, allowing no room for deviation. The bird came up for air between 20 and 30 seconds later, in which time it had travelled 32 yards. G. Crowe. Yellowhammers nesting in stacks. — Mr. E. L. Roberts informs us that on May i8th, 1949. he discovered two unusual nests of the Yellowhammer {Einberiza citrinella) in Rutland. One was in a bean stack at a height of 7 feet, the other in a straw stack at a height of 7 feet 6 inches from the ground. Such sites are unusual, but other cases have been recorded {antea, vol. xxxix, p. 359). VOL. XLIII.] NOTES. 229 Courtship-Feeding of Nuthatch. — Further evidence of courtship- feeding by Nuthatch (Sitta europcea) has been supplied by Mr. E. J. M. Buxton, who reports that on several occasions in 1948 and 1949 he watched a (presumed) female soliciting food and being fed by a (presumed) male on crumbs from a bird-table in Gloucestershire. Records of this habit in Britain have been published in Brit. Birds, Vol. xxxvii, pp. 59 — 60. Blackbird carrying nesting-material in autumn. — Mr. D. Warden informs us that on September nth, 1949, at Hall Green, Warwickshire, he watched a female Blackbird {Turdus merula), which was apparently in full moult, pick up several leaves from a pile of rubbish and fly off with them into an apple tree. After a short while the bird dropped the leaves and flew off. A previous instance of behaviour of this kind has been recorded in Brit. Birds, vol. xlii, p. 59. Osprey in Aberdeenshire. — We have received from Mr. E. L. Roberts details of an Osprey [Pandion halicetus) which he saw following the course of the Dee near Balmoral, Aberdeenshire, on September 7th, 1949. Garganey in Co. Dublin in May. — Mrs. H. M. Rait Kerr informs us that with the Rev. P. G. Kennedy and Mr. A. W. Stelfox she visited a lake in Phoenix Park, Dublin, on May 9th, 1949. All three observers had excellent views of a pair of Garganeys {Anas querquedula) , of which a full description has been supplied. This is the first record of the species in May in Ireland, where it occurs infrequently on passage in March and April and more rarely still in autumn. Common Scoters in Wilts. — We have received from Mr. R. S. R. Eitter a detailed report by Mr. E. H. Maundrell of a pair of Common Scoters {Melanitta nigra) which he saw on the River Cole, N. Wilts., on March 31st, 1949. On April loth, 1949, Mr. S. G. Madge saw a drake Common Scoter at Coate Water ; full details have been received. The species is rare in Wiltshire. Status of Fulmar Petrel in North Wales. — With reference to the note {antea, vol. xlii, p. 153) on Fulmars [Fulmarus glacialis) breeding at Penmon, Anglesey, in 1948, Mr. Eric Duffey informs us that, in what was evidently the same locality, he counted 4 adult Eulmars and 3 young in down on August 3rd, 1947. Two of the adults were seen feeding one of the chicks. The same observer saw between 30 and 33 Fulmars at Penmon on April 17th, 1949, but he saw none at South Stack, Holyhead, when he visited that locality on August 2nd, 1947. We are also informed by Mr. H. C. Holme that a Fulmar was seen prospecting the cliffs at Forth Caered, near Abersoch, Caernarvonshire, on July loth, 1949. Food-washing by Common Sandpiper. — A further record of food- washing by Common Sandpiper {Actitis hypoleucos) has been 230 BRITISH BIRDS. [vOL. XLIII. supplied by Mr. K. E. L. Simmons, who saw a bird wash an object which it had probed from the mud in the Camel estuary, Cornwall, on May ist, 1949. A previous record has been published [antea, vol. xxxix, p, 378). Flocking of Common Sandpiper. — In addition to the record of flocking by Common Sandpiper {Actitis hypoleucos) already published [antea, vol. xlii, p. 92), we have received from Mr. V. C. VV. Lewis records of a flock of 45 seen by him on July 25th, 1948, near the estuary of the Stour, E. Kent, and of a flock of 40 in the same area on August 12th, 1948. Smaller flocks of 21, 20 and 19 respec- tively were seen on July 14th, 15th and 22nd, 1948. In flight all these parties behaved as fairly compact flocks, flying together higher than single birds normally do, in a more direct way and with regular, rather than flickering wing-beats. Records of a party of 20 which flew as a compact flock at Tring Reservoirs, Herts., on May 2ist, 1948, and of a party of 20 feeding, but not flying, together at Cambridge sewage farm on July 22nd, 1949, have been sent by Mr. R. S. R. Fitter. We have ourselves (B.W.T.) observed parties of the order of size recorded by Mr. Lewis behaving as he describes since The Handbook was written and think that the infrequency of such behaviour is overstressed in the account there given. LETTERS .MIGRATORY MOVEMENTS OF GANNETS To the Editors of British Birds Sirs. — Since the publication of an article of mine on the young Gannet {Sula bassana) {antea, Vol. xlii, pp. 260-263), ^ number of readers have been good enough to send me copies of notes on Gannet activities. From these notes and others it seems clear that there is a migratory movement of Gannets, during the months of August and September, down the east coast of England and along the south coast until it is lost at Lands End. It appears that groups and streams of these birds (at times 300 an hour) pa.ss quite clo.se to points and headlands, within 50 to 100 yards in places, offering a valuable field for observation to the ornithologist. It is of interest to couple these observations with the earlier ones of J. A. Harvie-Brown, who noticed {Annals of Scot. Nat. Hist. (1902), pp. 203-4) that the considerable summer movements of Gannets eastward and westward through the Pentland h'irth ceased in July, and there- after there was a one-way movement only, from west to east, when the birds pass through in “ continuous battalions.” Here we have a large inffiix of Gannets, of which our knowledge is meagre, into and down through the North Sea. We do not know from which colonies they come (although almost certainly the north-west of Scotland and jio.ssibly the I'aeroe colonies), nor do we know which age-groups are concerned in them. Nor are we able yet to interpret many of the activities observed en route. _ From the notes already VOL. XLIIL] LETTERS. 231 sent to me, however, I am confident that an extension of observations round our coasts and down the coasts of Ireland, during August and September, would add much to our knowledge of this bird — certainly so if the observer were able to distinguish the ages of individuals. And, with binoculars, this should be possible within a range of 200 yards. Allow me to state something of what we already know about the young bird, and put forward a few queries, leaving the reader to decide whether or not the subject is worthy of further attention. The young Gannet, after being fed for about two months by its parents, starves at the nest for a week or more, then, leaving its parents, who remain by the nest for some weeks later, it takes to the sea and swims a considerable distance before getting on the wing and feed- ing for itself. Young Gannets, unable to fly, have been seen 7, 12 and 17 miles from the land swimming towards the open sea. A bird was caught at Fair Isle, 45 miles south of the nearest colony, was found to be in perfect condition, although quite unable to fly, was released and was last seen swimming towards the southern horizon. How far does the young Gannet swim before getting on the wing ? How early in August is it to_ be seen on the wing ? Most important of all — how does the young Gannet learn to feed ? A white bird of unknown age and a half-a-dozen juveniles were seen feeding together : the white bird dived first, and was immediately followed by the others. Groups of mixed ages have been seen to fly south along the east coast of England, and many of the white birds were followed '* as with a shadow ” by juveniles. Here it may be remembered that breeding-birds remain by their nesting quarters until mid-October, while the immature birds and non-breeders which frequent nesting colonies during the season, move south in August and early September. As it is therefore improbable that these juveniles were shadowing their parents what is the interpretation of this behaviour ? One might surmise that, having fallen in with a white bird feeding, the young one has imitated the dive and thus learned where and how to catch fish. One might go further, and suggest that the distinctive whiteness of plumage of the adult and sub-adult Gannet is the stimulus or " releaser ” which sets flying and feeding behaviour in motion in the young bird. It is conceivable that the development of white plumage in the Gannet is an adaptation which, combined with the characteristic dive, advertises the whereabouts of good feeding- grounds, and it may well prove to be a powerful factor in the survival of young birds in the manner indicated. The observations, and the conjecture, point to an interesting and important problem in the evolutionary history not only of the North Atlantic Gannet, but of the gannets and boobies in general. It would be of value to know if the above isolated observations represent the normal procedure during the early stages of the migration of the young Gannet. Do juveniles ever feed by themsevles, singly or collectively, in home waters ? (They must do so eventually, as the ringing returns show that they go much farther south than the white birds.) Do fully adult birds take any part in these movements, and, if so, are they ever seen to feed young birds on the water ? Other questions come to mind, but I have already taken up much of your space. If the foregoing induces more of your readers to become observers somewhere round our coasts, a useful purpose will have been served and I have no doubt that results of some value will follow. As an aid to age deter- mination I append a brief description of the salient features in the plumages of immature birds, as seen at short range during these two months. It would give me much pleasure to tabulate any notes sent to me by readers and publish them, with your permission, in this journal. Short description of the plumages of immature Gannets as seen in the months A ugiist and September The Juvenile. Generally speaking, the juvenile, at a distinace, appears as an all-dark bird. Upper parts, head and neck brownish-black speckled with white spots. Some birds look darker than others, due to the varying degree of the speckling. Under-parts dull whitish, much speckled with brown. Man}^ birds (perhaps 232 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XLIII. up to 30%) have a distinct white “ V ” on the rump, caused by the outer row of upper tail-coverts having a considerable area of white on each feather. The juvenile is unlikely to be seen on the wing until the second week of August. The One-year-old (First Summer). At a distance this bird may be described as a dark bird with more or less white about the head and a white belly. Upper-parts much darker than in the juvenile, owing to reduction in size of the white spots ; appears black in some individuals. Head and neck may be dark with a sprinkling of white feathers, or white with a sprinkling of dark feathers, or almost completel}' white with a tinge of buff. Under-parts much whiter than in the juvenile. The white “ V' ” may still be seen on the birds so marked as juveniles. The Two-year-old (Second Summer). From a distance this is a \’ery pied bird. Upper-parts black with many white patches over back and wings. Head and neck almost as adult, with a few black feathers. Under-parts white. The Three-year-old (Third Summer). Generally speaking this is a white bird, more or less pied over back and wings, but much less so than in the preceding year. The Four-year-old (Fourth Summer). This bird maj' be described as an adult with an occasional black feather in scapulars, secondaries and tail. It is ])robably the non-breeder to be found in numbers at nesting-colonies. Caution. — Juveniles and One-Year-Olds are very similar when seen from behind, and a bird should not be classed as a juvenile until the observer is sure that it has no white patches about the head. 51, St. Olaf St., G. T. Kay. Lerwick, Shetland. THE YOUNG GANNET To the Editors of British Birds Sirs. — I have been advised to write to you about Mr. Kay’s article on the young Gannet {antea vol. xlii, pp. 260-263) because he mentioned my name in it. It is quite true that I have seen old Gannets (Snla bassana) feeding young at sea by regurgitation, as I have recorded in my book Wild Life of the High- lands (1936) and in an article on the Gannet published in the Glasgoiv Herald in 1925 or 1926. My statements have been challenged not only by Mr. Kay, but also by Messrs. R. M. I.ockley, Seton Gordon and Richard Perry, though the last named has since collected independent evidence in support of my observations. Both Mr. I’errj' and I have received reports of old Gannets “ fighting ” with flightless young birds at sea, reports which must, in m3' opinion, refer to feeding. .^n article of mine " Not in the Books ” which appeared in The Field on Januar}' ist, 1949, roused some controversy on this subject, but also produced evidence that 3'oung Gannets in the grey plumage may be seen H\’ing with the old ones and following them closely in their plunges (see Field, 1949, Jan., Feb.), .^s the one-time possessor of first class eyesight and frequentl}' at sea, anchored for cod-fishing or sailing to and from fishing grounds, I can safely say that young Gannets do not follow up the plunges of old ones for nothing. The old bird disables the fish and leaves it for the young. , Dugald Macintyre. 4/ » NOTICE TO CONTRIBUTORS British Birds accepts papers and notes dealing with original observations on the birds of the British Isles and Western Europe or, where appropriate, on birds of this area as observed in other parts of their range. Review articles on subjects of current ornithological interest will also be considered. Contributors are asked to observe the following points, attention to which saves the waste of much editorial time on trivial alterations. MSS. if not typed should be clearly written. Authors of papers, especially those containing systematic lists, lists of references, tables, etc., should consult previous papers on similar lines in British Birds as a guide to general presentation and set-out, including use of particular type, stops, and other conventions, such as date following the month (January 1st, etc., not 1st January), names of books and journals in italics, not inverted commas, and so on. Capital initial letters are to be used for proper names of definite species : thus “ Great Tit,” but ” flocks of tits.” [In systematic lists the whole name should be in capitals]. The scientific name (underlined in M.S. to indicate italics) follows the English name in brackets without any intervening stop. Scientific nomenclature follows The Handbook of British Birds or H. F. Witherby’s Check-List of British Birds based on this, with the qualification that subspecific names should not be used in connexion with field observations except in cases where subspecies are definitely separable in the field, e.g. Yellow and Blue-headed Wagtails, or where their use is necessary in discussion. When the subspecific name (in cases where this is used) repeats the specific name the initial letter only should be used for the latter ; otherwise the whole name should be given in full : thus “ Parus m. major,” but ” Parus major newtoni.” Notes should be drawn up in as nearly as possible the exact form in which they will be printed with signature in BLOCK CAPITALS, and the writer’s address clearly written on the same sheet. If more than one note is submitted each should be on a separate sheet with signature and address repeated. Though suitable headings and scientific names can be added by the Editor, if necessary, they should be inserted by authors as far as possible. 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BELL & SONS, LTD. ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( (I FAIR ISLE BIRD OBSERVATORY SEASON 19^0 Tlie HOSTEL w ill be open troni April jth until the mil of October, 19JO with com- ^ lortable accommodation tor ten visitors per week. TERMS : Five Guineas Per week inclusive. (Reduced rate.s for organised parties from ■Schools and Universities). HELD- WORK, in which visitors take part, iiu ludes trapping, ringing and laboratory cxamitiaiion of migrant birds ; also studies of ne.sting Gieat and Arctic Skuas. ANNUAL REPORT for 1949 now obtain- able, price 2/ed., from G. Waterston, 35, George Street, Edinburgh 2. Please book early through the Director : — Fair Isle Bird Observatory , By Lerwick, Scotland Telegrams : “Migrant, Tairisle” Telephone : Tair Isle 8 Prospectus sent on application Privied inCl. Britain by Thk Riverside I’ricss, Ltd., Twickenham, Midd.x. Published by H. T. & G. W ITHERBY, LTD., 0 Warwick Court, W .C.l. BRITISH BIRDS AN ILLUSTRATED MAGAZINE DEVOTED CHIEFLY TO THE BIRDS ON THE BRITISH LIST Monthly is, 9c/. Yearly 2os. AUGUST, 19^0 VoL. XLIII. No. 8 Published bj H. F. Sl G. Witherby Ltd. BRITISH BIRDS EDITED BY BERNARD W. TUCKER, M.A., F.Z.S., M.B.O.U. ASSISTED BY Norman F. Ticehurst, o.b.e., m.a., f.r.c.s., m.b.o.u. A. W. Boyd, m.c., m.a., f.z.s., m.b.o.u. AND J. D. Wood, b.a., m.b.o.u. Contents of Number 8, Vol. XLIII, August, 1950. Page The annual immigration of the Wood-Pigeon and Stock-Dove on the coast of East Sussex. By A. Denby Wilkinson ... ... ... 233 The leg colouration of the Willow-Warbler and Chiffchaff. By P. J. Conder and Joan Keighley ... ... ... ... ... ... 238 Autumn bird-migration across the South Midlands of England. By Eric Simms ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 241 Studies of some species rarely photographed. XXVI. The Black- winged Stilt. Photographed by W. E. Higham and G. K. Yeates ; Bartram’s Sandpiper or Upland Plover. Photographed by Frank N. Wilson and Allan D. Cruikshank ... ... ... ... ... 251 Notes : — Trapped birds " feigning death ” (G. R. Mountfort ; Edwin Cohen ; K. E. L. Simmons ; John T. Hobbs ; L. A. Cowcil) ... ... 252 Swallows and House-Martins perching in trees with foliage (The Editors) ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 254 Display of House-Martin (John T. Hobbs) ... ... ... ... 256 Leg-colour and unusual call of Green Sandpiper (Bernard King) ... 257 Effect of exposure on incubation period and viability of Oyster- catcher’s eggs ( J ohn Reynolds) ... ... ... ... ... 257 Notes on behaviour of Black Terns (C. E. Douglas ; M. J. Wotton) 258 Iceland Gull in East Suffolk (D. V. Butt and R. G. Pettitt) ... 259 Great Skua in Hampshire in August (K. B. Rooke) ... ... ... 259 Short Notes : — Large clutch of Yellowhammer. Large Brood of Mute Swans. Temminck's Stints in Cambridgeshire. ... ... ... ... 259 Reviews ; — Natural History of Ireland : a sketch of its Fauna and Flora. By Robert Lloyd Praeger .. . ... ... ... ... ... ... 260 Birds of Britain. By J. D. Macdonald ... ... ... ... 261 Vertebrates of Hertfordshire : Birds. By H. H. S. Hayward ... 261 Bird Recognition — a correction ... ... ... ... ... 262 Report on Birds observed in Hertfordshire, 1947 ... ... ... 262 Journal of the Bedfordshire Natural History Society and Field Club, 1946 ; The Bedfordshire Naturalist, 1946 and 1948... ... ... 262 Letters: — Bewick’s Swans (J. A. Anderson) ... ... ... ... ... 2O4 ' Song of Serin (M. F. M. Meiklejohn) ... ... ... ... ... 2O4 BRITISH BIRDS Number 8, VoL. XLlII, August, 1950. THE ANNUAL IMMIGRATION OF THE WOOD-PIGEON AND STOCK-DOVE ON THE COAST OF EAST SUSSEX. BY A. Denby Wilkinson Locality The notes and observations which follow were made in a coastal district of E. Sussex. The village of Pett Level is at the centre of the area observed, which consists of the semi-circle of land within a mile radius. This includes the western part of the marsh also known as Pett Level, with Cliff End, the sandstone sea cliff immediately west of the village, dividing it from Eairlight Cove, and the fields and woods up to one mile inland from this short stretch of coastline. The completion of the circle is made by taking in the western part of Rye Bay. Local information Amongst the various items of local bird lore collected by the writer on moving into the district in the autumn of 1945 was the story that immigrant pigeons arrive here annually, usually during the early part of November. Being on the south coast the term “ immigrant ” is used here when referring to birds coming in directly from the sea, the line of flight being such that they appear to the observer to have come across the Channel from Erance : the direction and frequently the manner of flight being quite different from that of the many species passing across the district in spring and autumn flying parallel to the coast, which are then said to be “ on migration”. In a district where there are large seasonal movements of birds, this annual autumn immigration of pigeons was not regarded as novel or local ; it was so well known that my informants were in the habit of watching for the pigeons every autumn, and though in some years only small numbers arrived, there were always some for the shooting. Some told of the pigeons having been shot annually as far back as could be remembered, certainly for three generations. Those who lived inland watched the woods for an increase of the birds there, but the stories of these men, whilst interesting, were not proof of immigration. The best evidence came from the men who watched by the coast in October and November for the arrival of the first flight, when, if a good year, it was possible to lie in wait, pick out the incoming birds well out over the sea and shoot them if they flew low enough or settled to a decoy, using for this purpose such an ideal vantage point as Cliff End, a place which featured frequently in the reports. (The writer is particularly fortunate for since 1947 Cliff End, now National Trust property, has been leased to the ad- joining farm, where he lives). 234 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XLIII. The story is not confirmed by the information given in The Hand- book on the Wood-Pigeon {Columba palnmbiis) and is additional to that given for the Stock-Dove {Columba oenas). Dr. N. F. Ticehurst informs me that when his notes on migration were compiled for The Handbook no information was forthcoming of any annual immigration of either species of pigeon south of the Thames. In referring to these birds locally one has to be aware of the names used for them. The Wood-Pigeon is always the Wood-Pigeon, never the Ring-Dove, whereas the Stock-Dove is either “ Blue Rock " or “ French Pigeon.” The latter name is the more distinctive. Whatever the original home of the birds, they arrive here from the direction of France. Status Within the district, the Wood-Pigeon is resident, nesting in the woods and some of the overgrown hedges, but owing to heavy shooting every winter the species as a resident is not over plentiful and seems to be only just maintaining its own. There are no records of the Stock-Dove nesting within our area in recent years. Some nest just outside, but the bird is not often seen in the district in the breeding-season. Observations and Reports 1945. On November loth, two pigeons were handed to me for examination : one was a Wood-Pigeon, the other a Stock-Dove. The week previous to this a few immigrant pigeons had been seen coming in from the Channel to Cliff End. Following this up, two men set a decoy at 7.0, but only obtained these two birds on the morning of the loth, and another Wood-Pigeon on the following morning. This was the only pigeon migration recorded that year. It had been very light, but was exactly in keeping with the stories collected. 1946. From the end of October, through early November, a fairly constant morning watcli was kept for any movement of pigeons, but it was not until November i6th that the writer, from a high point in Pett, saw nine Wood-Pigeons flying at about 150 ft., nearing the coast off the east edge of Cliff End. The birds were heading in a north-westerly direction when first seen, but as they flew over the beach they turned almost due west up the Marsham Valley, between Eairlight and Pett, whence their climbing flight took them out of sight over the hill known as Batchelor’s Bump, two miles north-east of Hastings. These nine birds were the only ones seen during November and it was assumed that the major immigration of the season had missed this district, no increase having been observed in the local pigeon population. However, on December 7th, a small flock of 30 or 40 Stock-Doves was reported seen crossing the coast at the Haddocks, the west side of Cliff End. Following this came reports of an increase of pigeons in the woods here. Next day, December 8th, a bird shot in a wood three-quarters of a mile inland was identified as a Stock-Dove. Two days later 1 received the VOL. XLiii.] IMMIGRATION OF WOOD-PIGEON. 235 diseased head and feet of another pigeon. In most years some birds are shot which have wart-like growths on their feet and faces, whilst others are poor and unfit for food. The subject of disease is mentioned later. These specimens were sent to the Edward Grey Institute, where they were passed on to M. K. Colquhoun, who reported later that in the present state of our knowledge it was impossible to make a definite diagnosis. 1947. On October 30th word came from R. Cooke of the first immigrant flight of the autumn. Two flocks estimated to total 500 pigeons were seen at 8.0 coming in from the sea at Pett Level, flying high and heading north. Next day Stock-Doves were watched in Pett feeding with domestic pigeons on newly sown winter corn. As the first flock flew inland without alighting, all the birds seen feeding on the second day may have been part of another flight. It is possible for them to have moved into the district overland without the movement being observed, though once pigeons are known to have arrived the watchers are on the look-out for them. At 7.15 on November 4th, watching from Fairlight, the writer picked out another large flight coming in over Rye Bay. They were about 500 ft. high and comprised a compact flock estimated at 300 birds, with a straggling smaller flock following close behind. It was a bright morning with a light south-westerly breeze and the pigeons were flying northwards, slightly across the wind. They flew inland over Pett Level and were watched till out of sight. Later in the month there was a considerable increase in the number of pigeons in the district. From the reports of the wildfowlers all were Wood- Pigeons. During the afternoon of the 23rd, one man shot 22 and on the following day six more, all in the same wood. One of the six was in a poor condition and had lesions on feet, face and breast. Its body was sent to Dr. Tom Hare, who diagnosed the disease as pigeon pox of recent origin. As late as November 26th, Wood-Pigeons were watched flying west. During that morning, three small flocks, totalling 55 birds, passed across the district about half a mile inland. This is the only record of what appears to be coastal movement. In December there were further reports of Stock-Doves immigrat- ing here. On the i6th a flock of about 30 were seen to fly in from the sea and across Pett Level marsh. And on the 28th I found 10 Stock-Doves at the edge of the cliff at Cliff End, some on the ground, others on fence posts. None was feeding, most were resting, with one or two preening. When put up they flew inland without settling again whilst in sight. Reports were received well into January of Stock-Doves being plentiful throughout the district. This year, too, saw immigration on a wider front with several reports of pigeons seen arriving outside this area. These include a flock of about 150 Stock-Doves seen in Walland Marsh on December i8th (D. D. Harber). On October 26th several watchers saw Wood-Pigeons arriving west of this district : 15-20 Wood-Pigeons 236 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XLIII. picked up fully 600 yards from the shore were flying in about 30 feet above the sea and seen to settle on the beach defences at the mouth of the River Cuckmere (James D. Hobson and Jeflery H. Boswall). Four separate flights seen by B. G. Volk whilst walking along the Seven Sisters, were all, when first seen, approaching the cliffs from the sea. Three flocks flew over the cliffs between the fourth and fifth Sisters ; the other flock flew up the Cuckmere Valley. On the first of the Seven Sisters, David H. Brown found 80 Wood-Pigeons resting, probably recent arrivals, which flew east when disturbed. 1948. During the autumn six authentic reports were received of immigrant flocks arriving. The first was seen on October loth, when about 50 pigeons flew in from the Channel over Cliff End heading north without settling. On the 23rd a smaller flock, this time of about 30 birds, was seen to cross the coast and fly north across Pett Level. The third flock of 20, seen on the 29th at 9.15 coming in at the same place and flying in the same direction, was the only occasion this year on which both species under review were identified (R. Cooke). On November 5th, at 8.30, a larger flight of at least 200 pigeons flew in low over Fairlight Cove, west of Cliff End, and when about three-quarters of a mile inland swerved and settled in a wood. Another much smaller flock arriving on Novem- ber loth over Cliff End appeared about to settle in another wood but was disturbed and flew on out of sight. The last report is the only on ' from outside our area this autumn and is of two fairly large flocks, one close behind the other, seen at mid-morning on November iith crossing the coast just east of Fairlight Glen. These flew inland, fairly high, with no attempt to settle. Though one of this year’s immigrant flocks settled on arrival, it is probable that the birds moved inland shortly afterwards, for the wildfowlers report that up to the end of the year there was no increase in the pigeons here. 1949. At Cliff End on October 30th, at 11.25, twenty Stock-Doves, flying diagonally from the south, crossed the coast east of the clifts and on over Pett Level. Eleven more passed five minutes later. At Fairlight on November ist, at 9.20, a line of Wood- Pigeons, three to five birds deep and at least 5 niile long, first seen over Cliff End, flew north without alighting while in sight. Two days later at the same place two flocks of Wood-Pigeons, each about 30 strong, were seen flying high to the north-east at 7.00. At Pett Level on November 28th, R. Cooke saw flock after flock coming in from the sea and flying north. Movement was observed from early morning to 14.00 and 1,000 birds were counted. Both Wood-Pigeons and Stock-Doves were seen in this big movement. [Vide Hastings & East Sussex Naturalist, Vol. vii. No. 5, p. 193.) Disease This is a specialized subject for the veterinary ornithologist, but having mentioned diseased birds being shot, it must be noted that from enquiries made locally, it is well known that in most years a VOL. XLIII.] IMMIGRATION OF WOOD-PIGEONS. 237 small number of diseased pigeons is found amongst the immigrants. These are “ poor ” birds and birds with lesions, in appearance wart- like growths, nearly always on the face — round the eyes and gape— infrequently found on the feet and other parts of the body. By the layman these are usually regarded as the symptoms of pigeon pox, but this disease can only be correctly diagnosed after bacterio- logical examination by a qualihed worker with knowledge of avian diseases, as the same lesions may be present in other diseases. Only if proof was obtained after the examination, annually, of unfit specimens would it be correct to state that some of the migrants were suffering from pigeon pox every year on arrival. Summary The oft-repeated local story telling of the regular autumn arrival of flocks of immigrant pigeons has been investigated over four suc- cessive years by the writer. In all four years both species, Wood-Pigeon and Stock-Dove, have been seen or shot specimens have been handled. Many reports have been received, but only those are given which seemed to me to have a bearing on the story. The actual numbers of both species recorded as immigrating varies considerably, being very light in 1945 and 1946, light in 1948, with a very narrow front of entry, but much heavier and more wide- spread in 1947 and 1949, though even then generally lighter, according to the reports, than in pre-war years. The following points are made tentatively. Both high- and low- flying flocks are seen. It would seem that high-flying flocks con- tinue inland without settling, whilst low-flying flocks usually settle in the district. Most of the arrivals are during the morning, some soon after daybreak. Though birds have been observed in all years during the early part of November as foretold, the season can be extended into October and December, October loth, 1948, being the earliest and December i8th, 1947, the latest dates recorded so far. There would seem to be little overland movement of pigeons into this district during the months of October to February. Beyond the one observation of the writer’s of November 26th, 1947, no reports have been received of any such movement. Further, any reported increase of pigeons in the woods here during the winter has been preceded by reports of immigration, and the pigeon population during that season can be said, on the whole, to reflect the amount of immigration. Acknowledgements. Acknowledgement and thanks are due to Dr. N. F. Ticehurst for advice on migration and encouragement to keep records, to Dr. Tom Hare for post-mortem work, and for correcting the wrong, but widely held, belief that “ pigeon pox ” and “ pigeon diphtheria ” are synonymous, and to the many who have given information 238 BRITISH BIRDS. [vol. xliii. regarding the arrival and movements of pigeons every autumn during the years under review. REFERENCES. Blount, \V. P. (1947). "Disease in Pigeons.’’ Diseases of Poultry, pp. 227-232. H.\re, Tom (1937 et seq.). " Papers on diseases of pigeons.’’ Veterinary Record, Vol. 49, pp. 680 et seq. Ticehurst, C. B. (1908/9). " tt’ood-Pigeon diseases.’’ Brit. Birds, Vol. i, pp. 243-5, 288, 323 ; Vol. ii, pp. 69-77. Ticehurst, N. F. in Withers y et al. (1941). The Handbook of British Birds, \’ol. iv, pp. 132-3, 136. THE LEG COLOURATION OF THE WILLOW -WARBLER AND CHIFFCHAFF. BY P. J. CONDER AND JOAN KeIGHLEY. The note by D. J. May and H. G. Brownlow [autca, vol. xlii, p. 2:45) raises the question of the reliability of the difference of leg colour of the Willow-Warbler [Phylloscopiis trochilus) and Chiffehaff {Ph. collybita) as a diagnostic held character. In 1947, in the course of normal trapping and ringing work at Skokholm Bird Observatory, we found that some of the birds that appeared to be Chiffehaffs in the held by leg colouration turned out to be Willow-Warblers on examination of the wing formula. Consequently we began comparing the leg colours of the two species against the colour chart in The Handbook of the Birds of Eastern North America by F. M. Chapman (Second Revised Edition, 1937). All colour names used in this paper are taken from that chart. We abandoned its use in 1948 owing to the faults it possesses, but began using it again in 1949 as there seemed no immediate chance of obtaining a reliable colour chart, and we felt that so 'far as this problem was concerned any- thing was better tlian nothing. Before discussing the table we should like to emphasize its limitations. First, as we have said earlier, the colour chart was not satisfactory : it contained an insufficient number of colours, and they are not the same shade in different editions of the same book. Secondly, there is the difficulty of comparing the leg of a bird against a printed colour chart. Anotlier source of error arises when the texture of the horny covering of the leg is apparently thicker, or in some way reflects the liglit, so tliat the leg appears '' ashy ” or " dark slate ” rather than any shade of brown. It seems in this case that the horny covering j)revents the “ natural ” colour from showing. It is conceivable that in the field where the light is more diffused the legs might appear a shade of brown rather VOL. XLiii.] COLOURATION OF WILLOW-WARBLER 239 than slate. Thirdly, one asks at what point in the scale of colours does “ light ” become “ dark.” The answer must be based on field observation, as the diagnostic character in question is a field charac- ter. Probably greyish brown is the darkest of the colours that would appear ” light.” 1947 A Willow-Warbler 1 Average Chiff- chaff Spring 1947 & 9 combined April May 1947 1947 : July 1947 ( April May 1949 : J uly Aug. & Sept. Orange . 3 0.5 Brownish Ashy I I I 3 2 Ashy 5 I Cinnamon Brown 23 25 20 17 I 2 Rufous 5 8 2 5 3 Brownish Grey 2 5 i 9 3 3 Olive Brown I 0. I Rufous Brown 15 43 29 35 ^ 3 21 21 8 Chestnut 3 0.3 5 Greyish Brown 42 2 ; 65 33 18 : 38 41 34 19 Umber TO 10 5 18 3 3 *7 19 Fuscous ... 5 I 3 5 3 i 1 2 20 7 47 Ochraceous Buff 2 5 2 I Dark Slate ^ 10 : 31 I I 7-5 Grey 2 0.3 Total No. of birds examined 52 40 i 73 87 72 i 32 70 36 Table showing percentage of Willow-Warblers and Chiffchaffs WITH DIFFERENT LEG COLOURATION. The table has been arranged arbitrarily with the “ lightest colours ” on top ranging to the “ darkest ” (fuscous) below. The remaining three colours did not fit easily into the scheme and were placed at the bottom (ochraceous buff, dark slate, and grey). From a com- parison of the combined averages of the Willow-Warbler and Chiff- chaff it can be seen that the lightest colours, ranging from orange to olive brown, have only been recorded from the Willow-Warbler, but with five colours — rufous-brown, chestnut, greyish-brown, umber, and fuscous — -overlap occurs. A total of 426 Willow- Warblers and 36 Chiffchaffs were examined. 21% of the Willow- Warblers and 8% of the Chiffchaffs had rufous brown legs, 0.5% Willow-Warblers and 5% Chiffchaffs had chestnut legs, 34% Willow- Warblers and 19% Chiffchaffs had greyish brown legs, 7% Willow- 240 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XLIII. Warblers and 19% Chilfchaffs had umber legs, and 7% Willow- Warblers and 47% Chiffchaffs had fuscous legs. A total of 69% of the Willow-Warblers had leg colours the same as those of the Chiffchaffs, and all the recorded Chiffchaffs had leg colours that over- lapped with those of the Willow- Warblers. In their note May and Brownlow suggested that the dark-legged Willow-Warblers occasionally reported in this country are birds that have not yet reached full breeding condition. From an exami- nation of the table it can be seen that the percentage of dark-legged birds generally tends to be higher in autumn than in spring. There would also seem to be a slight tendency for birds caught in April to be darker-legged than those caught in May. It does seem possible therefore that the first winter birds have dark legs which gradually lighten in spring as they come into breeding condition. It is worth noting at this point that the leg colour of the Meadow- Pipit {Anthus pratensis), the Rock-Pipit {Anthus spinoletta), and the Wheatear {(Enanthe cenanthe) darkens with age. In conclusion we would like to say that whatever may be the limitations of the colour chart and the drawbacks of the system we have used for comparing leg colour with a colour chart, there would seem to be considerable overlap between the Willow-Warbler and the Chiffchaff, which probably invalidates leg colouration alone as a diagnostic field character. We feel, however, that mechanical methods, a colorimeter for instance, might give less startling results. Also a greater number of Chiffchaffs should be examined. We are very grateful to J. H. Barrett for his comments. [It seems appropriate to publish the following note as an adjunct to the observations of Mr. Conder and Miss Keighley. — -Eds.] With reference to the note by D. J. May and H. G. Brownlow {antea, vol. xlii, p. 245) on the dark colouration of the legs of Willow- Warblers {Phylloscopus trochilus) trapped in Egypt it may be of in- terest that on August 7th, 1949, there were several warblers in my garden at Alnmouth, Northumberland, which I felt sure were Willow- Warblers although all that I could see clearly had dark legs. I wrote in my diary at the time that “ possibly Willow- Warblers have dark legs at this time of the year.” It certainly seems possible that the pale leg colour may be a characteristic of the breeding- season as suggested by May and Brownlow and no doubt the point will receive attention in the future particularly by those working traps in this country. H. Tully. (241) AUTUMN BIRD-MIGRATION ACROSS THE SOUTH MIDLANDS OF ENGLAND. BY Eric Simms, M.A., M.B.O.U. The information in this paper is intended to demonstrate the existence of an overland migration route across the South Midlands of England, during the autumn months. Observations made in the autumn of 1948 within a few miles of the Cotswold Hills led to the discovery of such a route running in a south-westerly direction across Preston-on-Stour, near Stratford-on-Avon. Eurther and more intensive study in 1949 led to the addition of several new species to the route and to the collection of sufficient data to enable certain conclusions to be reached. David and Elizabeth Lack (1949) were obtaining evidence during the same period in 1948 of passerine migration along the Berkshire Downs and Chiltern Hills, and this paper, it is hoped, will be complementary to their work. Since daily observations were possible in 1948 and 1949 the data contained here are not for a few isolated days only. Directions of October Migrants (revised from Lack) The initial discovery of this well-dehned track was made in September, 1948, when I was domiciled on a farm between Preston- on-Stour, in south Warwickshire, and the Cotswolds. A series of migrating parties of birds appeared whose general direction of 242 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XLIII. flight seemed to be to tlie south-west. This movement throughout September was conflned to Sky-Larks [Alaitda arvensis), Meadow- Pipits {Anthus pratensh), wagtails and mixed flocks of finches and Yellowhammers {Emberiza citrinella). Their daily numbers were so impressive that it was decided to take observations on the flight lines with a Verner's Pattern Compass. From September 25th, 1948, daily compass readings were made with the aim of following, as accurately as possible, a mean course of flight for each party of St*’ »C»T OCT OCT OCT 0 to 10 ic io IJ Total number of birds (all species) flying over Preston Pastures, 1948. birds. The peak of migration was reached in the middle of October by which time other species had joined the route, and the many compass readings taken all lay between 226° and 245° with the greatest passage 5° either side of 235°. Such a course if extended south-west three miles from the point of observation, follows very closely the 400 foot contour of the Cotswolds, which runs from Meon Hill towards the Bristol Channel. This fact prompted visits to the Cotswolds themselves and these showed that movement on a considerable scale could be traced for a number of miles along the hills. Observations from Meon Hill confirmed records from the farm. The passage fell off rapidly towards the end of October, after which Redwings (Turdtis musicus), geese, snipe and gulls were seen flying south-west over the farm. 1949 proved to be quite as interesting a year, although on the whole the migration that took place was less spectacular and numbers were lower. The autumn movement began with a south-west passage of Swifts {Apus apus) on August 2nd. The main peak was VOL. XLiii.] AUTUMN BIRD MIGRATION. 243 on October 12th and there was also a minor peak on September 17th. In all, 19 separate species were seen flying on the route (compared with II in 1948) but the commonest species in both years were Sky-Larks, Meadow-Pipits, and Chaffinches {Fringilla ccelebs). There was also some evidence of hirundine movement on a small scale. A secondary route to the west was noted from September 22nd which was used solely by Sky-Larks and Chaffinches. N Indicator to show directions taken by migrating birds, autumn, 1949, Preston P.astures, Preston-on-Stour. Time of Day. Most migration was seen during the second hour 244 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XLIII.. after dawn, although movement was sometimes observed earlier. Under good conditions it continued for some time, and Meadow- Pipits often migrated right through the day. No early morning movement was recorded more than four hours after dawn. The resumption of evening flight noticed by Bannerman (1944) was seen on September 27th, October 6th, 7th and loth, 1949. Birds that moved in the evening included Chatflnches, Yellowhammers, Sky- Larks, Meadow-Pipits, Grey Wagtails {Motacilla cinerea), Song- Thrushes (Turdiis ericetorum), Blackbirds (7'. menda) and a few Swallows {Hinindo rustica). On October loth, 1949, movement began at 17.52 after the rain associated with a very strong south- west wind had stopped. " •** Weather. Migration was noticed especially on clear, fine days but it still took place in some rain and in gusty weather. No movement was observed in thick mist or heavy prolonged rain. Temperature appeared to have little or no effect, as migration occurred in cold and warm conditions. Wind. Movement was recorded with south-east and south-south- east breezes, strong north-east and west winds and with a south-west wind of variable strength. A very strong south-west wind with driving rain inhibited migration until the rain had ceased, and it was not until evening that movement was resumed. Height. Most birds seen on the route were from 50 to 300 feet above the ground. From the top of Meon Hill, at 637 feet a.s.l., birds passed on a level with or below the eye-level of the observer. Most of the migration was easy to see and only on two days in 1949 were birds above the farm heard calling without being seen and this was with a moderate north-east wind. Ueelder (1949) has pointed out that migration with a north-east wind may be optimal and not visible. It was also apparent tliat birds with a moderate tail-wind flew higher than under any other conditions. A strong head wind brought the flyers down quite close to the ground. A party of watchers visited Meon Hill on September 17th, 1949, and some stationed themselves on the north-western side of the hill, others on the summit and more on the low saddle that connects Meon to the Cotswolds. Little was seen of passing migrants on the north and western sides of the hill, but parties of Meadow- Pipits, wagtails, finches and 400 Starlings {Stiirnus vidgaris) were seen to pass over the saddle to the south of Meon Hill. Direction. Observations from Preston-on-Stour showed that the migration resolved itself into two phases. Tlie bulk of the migrants was seen flying south-west, but from September 22nd until October 14th, 1949, some of the Sky-Larks and Chaffinches moved due west. Of all Sky-Larks recorded flying over the farm in 1949, 50% flew west, 40% flew south-west and 10% flew east. 26.6% of the Chaf- finches flew west, 69.5% south-west and 3.9% south. These two routes may be significant of a difference in the countries of origin VOL. XLiii.] AUTUMN BIRD MIGRATION. 245 and the two separate streams may be crossing at this point, one from Central and the other from Northern Europe. The indicator illustrates how heavily concentrated the migrants were that flew in a south-westerly direction. On September 27th and October 8th, 1949, migrants, especially Sky-Larks, were seen steadily flying north-east and this appeared to be characteristic of the “ Riickzug ” observed in Europe. Such activity in a reciprocal direction was noted only on these two occasions in 1949 and on one date in 1948. To distinguish true migrants from purely local birds was a comparatively easy exercise since the purposeful flight of the former was in marked contrast to the behaviour of non-migrants. Points of observation. Most information was collected from Preston Pastures Farm, Preston-on-Stour, and since this is a little way from the Cotswolds themselves there appears to be no initial deflection of the migrants by a Cotswold barrier. The farm is actually in line with the 400 foot contour of the hills but removed three miles from the bastion of Meon Hill which begins the range. The Dutch ornithologists Tinbergen and Deelder claimed that certain physical features which they termed " lines of accumulation ” might produce a passage of birds in a concentrated line. The author was aware of the danger that a regular and thorough watch on a certain part or parts of the country might conceivably lead to the belief that a regular fly-line existed. Thus he felt it necessary to discover whether migration on a broad front was taking place in case his comparative isolation was giving the impression of a narrow aerial channel. Consequently during the time that it was estab- lished that migration was proceeding across the farm a number of right-angled transects were made across the apparent route. No evidence of any movement parallel to the route was obtained, despite almost daily travels to Stratford-on-Avon through the months of September and October, 1948 and 1949. C. A. Norris, who lived for a number of years in Stratford and frequentl}^ traversed the Avon valley, did not And any trace of movement between Stratford and Barford. These transects revealed that the route to the south-west at its maximum was half a mile wide and not on a single occasion was it possible to increase this width. Since observation had established a route over Preston and along the Cotswolds it was felt that such a track might be traceable back in a north-easterly direction. The author has records from Rugby which show a clear south-west passage along a narrow strip and also from Windmill Hill, Chesterton, which bears 053° ii| miles from Preston-on-Stour, where similar concentrations to those at Meon have been seen in September. Further corroborative evidence was obtained in 1949 by members of the West Midland Bird Club who stayed in the early part of September at the Isle of Ma}^ Spurn Point and Blakeney. There was a close and possibly significant relation between the arrival of Meadow-Pipits at these places and 246 BRITISH BIRDS. [vOL. XLIII. at Preston. A definite southward movement was traced down the East Coast, and Meadow-Pipits were seen at Preston one day after their reported arrival at Blakeney. Tliis suggests, together with the complete absence for another week of records of this bird in other parts of Warwickshire, that the birds were being received into the funnel of the Wash and then setting out to cross England to the Severn. It also suggests that the concentrated passage at Preston may have been produced by the Wash and the Rivers Welland and Nene. Had birds been coming together through visual recognition of Meon Hill alone there would have been a focusing of a broad front at the hill itself, but no other flight lines were identified. The possibility of a route across England from the Wash to the Severn is dependent on further research and a vast amount has still to be done. Direction of autumn migrants between the Wash and the Severn. Spring Movements. In 1949 there was a slight reciprocal move- ment in spring and some birds were seen to fly in a general north- easterly direction (o30°-o65°) from Meon across the farm. There was nothing to compare with the autumnal passage, but the route seems to be occasionally used in spring. The spring migrants were Meadow-Pipits, Fieldfares {Turdus pilaris), Herring-Gulls {Larus argentatus) and Lesser Black-backed Gulls {Larus fusciis). In VOL. XLiii.] AUTUMN BIRD MIGRATION. 247 March a Stonechat {Saxicola torquata) and a Rough-legged Buzzard {Buteo lagopus) appeared and two Great Black-backed Gulls {Lams marinus) flew over on a course of 032° on May 3rd. On April 12th a Peregrine Falcon {Falco peregrinus) passed over on a course of 065°. Species and size of party. Birds usually travelled in separate flocks, but sometimes migrated together. Pied Wagtails {Motacilla alba yarrellii) and Grey Wagtails were usually in parties of 5 or less ; Blackbirds, Song-Thrushes and Mistle-Thrushes {Turdus viscivorus) in parties of 7 or less ; Meadow-Pipits usually travelled singly, but on one occasion a party of 9 was seen ; Sky-Larks were in small parties of less than 10, although sometimes flocks of 10-20 were recorded and the largest party had 50 birds in it ; Chaffinches were regularly seen in flocks of from 10 to 30, but parties of less than 10 and over 50 were also recorded. Sky-Larks, Meadow-Pipits and Chaffinches were the commonest species. On most days Sky-Larks outnumbered the pipits, but the latter’s peak was greater than the former’s. In actual numbers Chaffinches had a commanding lead over all other species. Peak Passage for four SPECIES IN Autumn . 1949 Sept, nth 9.00-9.30 Yellow Wagtail 51 Sept. i8th 7.30-18.30 Meadow-Pipit 73 Oct. 9th 8.00-9.00 Sky-Lark 65 Oct. 12th 7-30-8.45 Chaffinch 207 Starling {Sturnus vulgaris). There was no sign of migration across the farm, but a party of 400 was seen passing over the saddle near Meon Hill on September 17th, 1949. Greenfinch {Chloris chloris). A regular migrant in small numbers in both years. Parties were from 6 to 12 birds. Goldfinch {Carduelis carduelis). Spasmodically seen in 1948 on passage. . Linnet {Carduelis cannabina). Passage recorded in October, 1948. In 1949 it began on August 22nd and lasted into October. The two largest parties in 1949 were seen on August 26th (14) and on October 2nd (10). Chaffinch {Fringilla ccelebs). This was the commonest species of both years. However, on October 3rd, 1949, it was outnumbered by the Meadow-Pipit and on October 9th and 14th by the Sky-Lark. In 1949 slight movement was noted on September 15th but the real passage began on September 27th. A minor peak occurred on October 7th and the main peak was on October 12th. Yellowhammer {Emberiza citrinella). In 1949 passage began on September nth and lasted until October nth. Sky-Lark {Alauda arvensis). Passage in 1949 began on September 12th and continued until October 24th, compared with September 5th and October i8th in 1948. The main peak in 1949 was reached on October 9th with 65 birds, considerably less than the peak of 248 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XLIII. 400 on October 6th, 1948. The movement of Sky-Larks was particularly well observed from Meon Hill and from the scarp of the Cotswolds. Meadow-Pipit [Anthus pratensis). Migration in 1948 began on September 15th, a day earlier than in 1949. The peak in both years was reached soon after movement had started, on September i8th. Birds passed through until the end of October. This was the only species that could be seen travelling in a thin stream throughout the day. On September i8th, 1949, passage began at 7.30 and persisted until 18.30. With very few e.xceptions the birds flew singly and almost at regular intervals. This was also recorded at Rugby in 1947 in a south-west stream. Yellow W.\gtail (Motacilla flava flavissima). Two birds first appeared in 1949 on August 21st and spasmodic passage went on until September 12th. The ma.ximum of 50 plus flew over between 9.00 and 9.30 on September nth. There was more apparent movement during the autumn of 1949 than in the preceding year. Grey W.\gtail {Motacilla cincrea). This was not recorded in 1948, but movement in 1949 lasted from September 27th to October loth with the maximum on October 8th. Numbers in parties were small, the largest consisting of 5. Pied W.a,gt.4il [Motacilla alba yarrellii). Slight movements of this bird occurred in September and October of both years. 9 was the largest flock seen and usual parties were from 2 to 5. Chiffch.vff [Phylloscopus collybita). Two large scale invasions of the farm were noted on August 19th and September loth, 1949. On September 17th, 1949, a considerable concentration was discovered at Meon Hill together with many other passerine birds, including Chaffinches, Tree-Sparrows [Passer montanus) , Greenfinches, Yellow- hammers and the next species. The hedges were packed with these birds, many of which may have flown in over night to feed and rest before resuming their journey. Willow-Warbler [Phylloscopus trochilns). Two invasions of the farm were made by this species on August 26th and September loth, 1949. Large numbers appeared at Meon on September 17th as well. Mistle-Thrush [Turdus viscivorus). This is a regular migrant in autumn along the route and movement has been traced also at Rugby. Flocks are quite small (2 to 5), but one of 19 has been recorded. Song-Thrush [Turdus ericctorum). 3 flying south on October nth, 1949- Redwing [Tttrdus musicus). Weak passage began on October i6th, 1948, and on October 12th, 1949, and continued throughout the month. On October 31st, 1948, between 10.00 and 11.30 about 380 passed over the farm flying south-west. British Birds, Vol. xliii, PI. 42, Black-wingkd Stilt (Himaniopits himaiitnpus) Approaching nest, Camargue, AIa'i’, 1947. [Photographed by W. Ih Higham). British Birds, Vol. xliii, PI. 43. i.ACK-\viNT.i';[) Stilt {/ f i inantopu s In ni'i iitopn .<) A 1‘1’KOACII INC NIiST. ( ' A M A KC U K, I947. hy W. I'.. I I igli.i tn) . Britisli ]3irds, Vol. xliii, PI. 44. S' c/3 C3 . O g ^ o ca < < o H H If: J W H Z C/) Q a z w z s < > 2 i ph Qj < < CQ O I Britibli Birds, \'ol. xliii, PI. 45. Bi,.\ck-\vinged Stilt (H imantopu s himantopux). C.\M.\K<;ui';, 193-7 : mm |.; incuh,\ i inc, kkmalk c; (l‘hoto^'i-iipJiii/ /jy K. British Birds, Vol. xliii, PI. 46. B1.ACK-WINGKD Stilt {Himaniopus himantopus). C.*\MARGUE, May, 1937 : female relieving, male on nest, {Photographed by G. K. Yeate.s). PI. H.m^tram’s Sandpiper or I'i’land Plover (liartrawia loii,qic(iuda). Belleville, Michigan, June 17TII, 1923. [Photos^raphed by Dr. B'rank M. W'iLson). British Birds, Vol. xliii, PI. 48. O H (/i K C O' c < jz H Ci [Photographed by Allan D. Cruickshank). British Birds, Vol. xliii, PI. 49. »4u »» •' I U.M’l-liD J.\Y ‘ C(JI,L.M’.Si;u ” S.\Mli HIKl) “ KKCO\'10I^ED.” {Photognipkcd by C,. K. MouiiUurt). {Phutugniphcd by V,. R. MuunUuit). ,VOL. XLIII. AUTUMN BIRD MIGRATION 249 Blackbird {Tuniiis niemla). This bird was seen on three occasions, all in 1949. 7 flew south-west over Preston Pastures at 18.41 on September 27th ; 3 passed over on October 6th ; on October 12th I went over at 8.00 and 2 at 8.02 at 200 feet. Swallow [Hirundo rustica). Not seen in 1948. In 1949 passage started on September 12th and lasted till October iith. The resident pair left on September i6th and the largest movement took place on September 17th. Migrating Swallows were seen on 8 days during the autumn. House-Martin [Dclichon iirbica). 100 flew S.S.W. on September 5th and 20 flew over the farm on September i8th, 1949. Hirundines are of course more likely to follow the river-lines, which are away from Preston Pastures. Swift {Apus apiis). 50 or so passed on a course of 230° on August 2nd, 1949. A single bird flew over the farm to the north-west on September 25th, 1949. Merlin [Falco columbarius) . i on September 27th, 1948. Teal {Anas crecca). 10 went over the farm flying W.S.W. at 6.35 on October ist, 1949. Black-headed Gull {Lams ridibundus). These flew south-west over the farm in July, 1948, and in October, 1948 and 1949. The smallest party was 5 and the largest 30. Herring-Gull {Lams argentatus). Birds flew north-east in March, 1949, on two days. Autumn passage was confined to 4 flying west on August 12th, 1949. Lesser Black-backed Gull {Lams fuscus). The first bird flew over the farm on August 8th and passage continued until September 4th, 1949. All birds recorded were single ones. Summary. A narrow stream of birds migrating by day passes south-west across the open country to the south of Stratford-upon-Avon and continues along the scarp of the Cotsvmld Hills in the same direction. As established by observations at Preston-on-Stour, Meon Hill and the Cotswold Hills the three commonest species are Chaffinch, Meadow-Pipit and Sky-Lark. A number of other species use this fly-line. However, the Black-headed Gulls seen may have been engaged on diurnal feeding expeditions and not real migration. This route can be traced back to Rugby and may be a portion of an overland migration route by day from the Wash to the Severn. There is a close relation between the dates of arrival of Meadow- Pipits along the East Coast and of arrival at Preston-on-Stour. Absorbing possibilities are raised and there is opportunity for much research before the length, breadth and consistency of such move- ment can finally be determined. 250 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XLIII. REFERENCES. Bannerman, D. a. (1944). " Chaffinch migration on the south-west coast.” Brit. Birds, vol. xx.xvii, p. 177. Coward, T. A. (1929). The Birds of the British Isles, vol. 3. pp. 33-5. Deelder, C. L. (1949). ” De Herfsstrek van dc Scandinaafse \dnk.” Ardea, vol. 37, pp. 2-4, 33-9, 70-3. Lack, D. and E. (1949). ” Passerine Migration through England.” Brit. Birds, vol. xlii, pp. 320-325. Simms, E. A. (1949). “An Overland Migration Route.” i^th Ann. Rep. West Midland Bird Club, pp. lo-ii. APPENDIX. Number of days in September and October on which migration OCCURRED FOR THREE SPECIES September October Chaffinch ... ... ... 2 15 Meadow-Pipit ... ... ... 12 7 Sky-Lark ... ... ... 8 ii Passage between 7.30 and 8.45 on October i2th, 1949. Wind W.S.W., CLEAR AND FRESH. PoiNT OF OBSERVATION PrESTON PASTURES. (G.M.T.) Number Species Direction of 7.30 22 Chaffinches SW 7.36 30 Chaffinches W 7.41 2 Meadow-Pipits SW 7-43 2 Redwings SW 7-44 18 Chaffinches w 7-45 7 Chaffinches SW 7.46 7 Chaffinches w 7-47 2 Chaffinches w 7.48 20 Chaffinches SW 8 Meadow-Pipits SW 7-49 4 Chaffinches SW 7-30 4 Chaffinches W 13 Chaffinches SW I Meadow-Pipit SW 7-31 3 Sky-Larks SW 4 Chaffinches SW 7-35 3 Chaffinches SW I Sky-Lark s 22 Chaffinches SW 7-34 10 Chaffinches SW 7-33 20 Chaffinches SW 7.36 I Chaffinch SW 2 Sk}"-Larks SW 7.38 3 Chaffinches SW 7-39 2 Sky-Larks SW 8.00 I Blackbird SW 3 Sky-Larks SW 8.02 8 Chaffinches SW 2 Blackbirds SW 8.05 4 Chaffinches SW 8.06 4 Chaffinches SW 8.08 9 Chaffinches 8. 10 3 Sk}'-I.arks SW 8.14 3 Chaffinches S\N’ 8.45 3 Chaffinches w (261) STUDIES OF SOME SPECIES RARELY PHOTOGRAPHED . XXVI. THE BLACK-WINGED STILT. Photographed by W. E. Higham and G. K. Yeates. BARTRAM’S SANDPIPER OR UPLAND PLOVER. Photographed by Frank N. Wilson and Allan D. Cruikshank. (Plates 42 — 48). Messrs. Yeates and Higham’s photographs of Black-winged Stilts {Himantopus himantopus) breeding in the Camargue (Rhone delta) have a topical interest in view of the appearance of parties of Stilts in Suffolk and Devon in 1949 {antea, p. 132), these birds being clearly stragglers from a northward invasion which took place on the Continent and led to the successful breeding of a number of pairs in Holland. The Stilt is a southern species (so far as the Continent of Europe is concerned) which has performed northward incursions of this kind on several occasions in recent years, probably as a result of drought conditions in the Mediterranean breeding areas. It may be recalled that following the previous incursion in 1945, two pairs bred successfully on the Nottingham Sewage Farm, but they did not, unfortunately, return, and the sporadic cases of breeding in the Netherlands (cf. antea, vol. xxxix, p. 125) have not hitherto led to any permanent northward extension of range. The beautiful black and white plumage and extraordinarily long pink legs render this wader quite unmistakable in the field. The usual breeding habitat is in marshes, in the vicinity of shallow pools or lagoons, especially such as support a vegetation of floating Ranun- ctilus and similar plants, but never closely overgrown with reeds or other tall plants. The birds photographed by Mr. Yeates in 1937 were, hawever, nesting on dry mud with a scattered vegetation of Glasswort {Salicornia) and Sea-Lavender [Statice], although, in spite of the season being a dry one, more typical sites were available close at hand. Bartram’s Sandpiper or the Upland Plover, as it is called in America {Bartramia longicauda), breeds on open prairie or grass- lands in northern North America and has occurred on some thirteen or more occasions in the British Isles, the last in 1933. As a passage bird in the U.S.A. its numbers have been sadly reduced by indiscriminate shooting in past years, but we understand that as a result of protection it is now showing a tendency to increase again. Dr. Wilson’s photograph, showing the beautiful and characteristic barring of the underwing, was published in A. C. Bent’s Life Histories of North American Shore Birds, part 2 {Bulletin 146 of the U.S. National Museum) and is here reproduced by kind permission of the author and the Smithsonian Institution of Washington. We are also much indebted to Mr. Cruikshank for his beautiful photo- graph of the breeding bird. (252) NOTES. TRAPPED BIRDS “ FEIGNING DEATH.” I GAVE a description {antea, vol. x.wiii, p. 368) of a trapped Hedge- Sparrow [Prunella modularis) which apparently had a spell of temporary unconsciousness caused by intense fear or excitement. I am now able to report two further instances : In September, 1949, I trapped a Jay [Garrulus glandarius) . As I was examining the bird, it struggled and pecked in the usual vigorous manner of Jays. Suddenly it went absolutely limp, the eyes closing and the head falling right back in a completely lifeless fashion. A few seconds later it ” revived ” and proceeded to squawk and struggle as before. I was wondering if inadvertently I had been holding it too tightly — when, once again, it ” passed out.” I then handed the bird to a companion and took a photograph of it in the ” lifeless ” condition. It then revived and collapsed four more times. Each spell of unconsciousness lasted for about fifteen seconds. When the bird was finally released, it flew away strongly with no apparent sign of further distress. Although no actual check was made, we gained the impression of an accelerated and exaggerated heart-beat during the spells of unconsciousness. The photographs taken of this bird are published on Plate 49. Recently, when removing a Blue Tit [Pams cceruleus) from a trap, for ringing, 1 felt it go suddenly limp in my hand. Its eyes were half closed and when I opened my hand the bird gave no sign of life, allowing me to roll it from side to side and onto its back. Holding the bird the right way up, I stroked its back and head, without reaction. Thirty seconds later, as I was carrying it indoors for examination, it suddenly opened its eyes and flew strongly away. The behaviour was distinctly different from the momentary, open- eyed immobility which can be induced by placing a trapped bird on its back in the open hand. This bird ‘‘ collapsed ” immediately I touched it. I should perhaps mention that, having trapped more than 2,000 birds during the last few years, I am well accustomed to handling them. G. R. Mountfort. I CAN describe behaviour on the part of an adult Robin [Erithacus rubectda) similar to that described [antea, vol. xlii, p. 216) by A. E. Male for a Blackbird [Turdus menda). In July, 1928, at Dornoch, Sutherland, I caught a Blackbird, a House-Sparrow [Passer domesticus) and a Robin with one pull of a pull-trap. After dealing with the two former I tried to shoo the Robin into the gathering cage at the back of the trap, but it stood stock-still near the front of the trap, where I could just reach it to prod it with my finger through the wire, but still it did not move. Finally I lifted the whole dropped front of the trap so that it could easily have escaped (and usually Robins escape more quickly than most birds), but it remained still and let me grab it in my hand ; in my hand it squeaked while being ringed, whereas a Robin is usually VOL. XLIII. NOTES. 253 perfectly silent in those circumstances ; after ringing, when I opened my hand, it stayed while I scratched its head for some considerable time and it hnally flew undecidedly only a few yards first on to the framework and then on to the sill of a ground-floor window. It was not injured in any way by being trapped. There is a possibility that it was a bird that used to come into the house at meal-times to be fed before I arrived on the scene with a trap. Edwin Cohen. In connexion with Mr. Male’s account of a Blackbird “ feigning death,” it may be of interest to place on record similar behaviour on the part of a Chaffinch {Fringilla coelebs) which I observed at Englefield, Berkshire. The bird was caught in a large trap for crows and was flying backwards and forwards with some Jackdaws [Corvus monedtila) on my approach. Suddenly it dropped to the ground, lay on its back, and with some twitches, which took it momentarily off the ground, ” died.” It soon ” came to life ” again and continued moving about. K. E. L. Simmons. While trapping birds on December 20th, 1949, I witnessed a rather remarkable example of disablement reaction of the Great- Tit [Pams major). A Great-Tit had just been trapped and as I approached the trap, the bird was flying about as normally occurs. But when I reached the trap and was about to open the lid it suddenly became still on the floor of the trap and sank back on to its tarsi, as if its legs had suddenly become weakened ; its eyes closed and its head slowly tilted back till almost vertical, with its mouth half open, and the bird was rapidly quivering, especially the mandibles. It then became rigid, resting on its belly and tail. I suspected that it was dying as a result of the sudden excitement, so I took it from the trap and placed it on a path, where it retained this position for a few minutes. Then it appeared to recover and flew up to the brick wall of a house, to which it clung. It remained clinging to this wall for another three minutes, still apparently in the hypnotic state. It then returned to normal and flew to a tree, where it joined a small party of tits and hopped about, feeding with them, apparently none the worse for its recent experience. From this observation I am sure that although the bird may have commenced ‘‘ injury-feigning ” it passed into a hypnotic state and was uncon- scious. Later I experienced a rather similar incident with a Blue-Tit {Parus ccpruleus), but at a later stage. After ringing a Blue-Tit on December 22nd, 1949, it would not fly from my hand so I placed it on a window-sill, but its legs would not hold it and it sank back with eyes shut and bill open in a similar manner to the Great-Tit although in this case it was free to fly away before it collapsed. It soon recovered and flew away, behaving normally. A friend of mine experienced an almost identical incident with another Blue- Tit, I also have a note of a female Chaffinch [Fringilla coelebs), 254 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XLIII. collapsing in a similar manner when trapped in 1947. I have since been told by R. F. Thearle of a Great-Tit he was holding, being watched by a cat ; when it noticed the cat watching, the bird immediately passed into a hypnotic state. John T. Hobbs. I HAVE found that trapped birds occasionally “ feign death.” The reaction varies in intensity from the bird merely remaining on the open hand after ringing for half a minute or so to a few cases of the bird lying down with closed eyes and every sign of uncon- sciousness. This has occurred, in my experience, most frequently with Song-Thrushes {Turdus ericetorum) and, more rarely, Robins {Erithacus rubecula). L. A. Cowcill. [The tendency mentioned by Mr. Cowcill for small birds to remain immobile on the open hand for an appreciable time after ringing will be familiar to many ringers and is not, of course, under discussion here, though it may well be correct to regard it as merely a less intensified form of the more extreme trance-like states referred to as ” feigning death.” — Eds.] SWALLOWS AND HOUSE-MARTINS PERCHING ON TREES WITH FOLIAGE. Since the publication {antea, vol. xlii, pp. 246-247) of notes on House- Martins [Delichon urhica) perching on trees with foliage we have received a great many records of such behaviour by Swallows {Hirundo nistica) and House-Martins. Only one observer, Mr. N. M. Hepworth, has reported House-Martins regularly settling in trees with foliage, and in his case the number of birds observed was very small. He writes : — ‘‘ In 1946 and 1947 at least two House-Martins frequently perched on a branch of a fully-foliaged sycamore tree in my back garden at Mytholmroyd, Y orks. There they twittered and preened themselves and occasionally hawked around for insects. Subsequently young birds were seen on the same branch being fed by the adults ; the same branch was also used as a base for training the young birds in flying.” Another record, noteworthy as the only one for early spring has been supplied by A. W. B. : “ On April 22nd, 1933 over 100 Swallows, with a few House-Martins, perched on two oaks at the edge of Marbury Mere, near Northwich, Cheshire, and sang most vehemently. As I recorded in my notes at the time, ‘ the oaks were so leafy that it was difficult to see the birds A smaller number perched in the trees on the following day. These were birds that feed over the mere for some days when they first arrive.” As will be seen from the table below, all other records refer to larger numbers and in all cases to the late summer only. The spate of records for 1949 is no doubt due in part to the fact that attention was drawn to the subject in the August number of British Birds for that year. It has, however, been suggested that this behaviour is in some way connected with hot, dry weather and this again might account for the large number of records during the excep- VOL. XLIII.] NOTES 255 tionally hot and dry period of 1949. There is nothing in the records to show that one time of day is more favoured than another : the time of the observation has not been recorded in every case, but recorded times range from 6.00 to 19.30. The Editors. Whether No. of birds seen to Observer’s Date Locality involved be taking Tree initials insects 1946 Aug. 27 Whitewell, Many House- Yorks. Martins No ? K.G.S. 1947 Aug. 25 Near 50-f House- St. Albans, Martins Herts. Yes Ash S.A. Sept. 7 Y ork Many Swallows ,, Martins ? Poplar J.L. 1948 Late Aug. Saltford, 40 Martins Somerset No Ash B.K. 1949 July 27 Earlswood, c. 50 Swallows and Warwicks. Martins in mixed flock Yes Oak J.S. & M.J.T. July 28 Nannerch, 15-20 Martins Denbigh- shire No ? W.T.C.R. Aug. 29 Tallaght, c. 100 Swallows Co. Dublin and Martins in mixed flock No Hawthorn, Willow F.W.F. End Aug. Reeth, c. 250 Swallows N. Yorks. and Martins in mixed flock, mainly Martins Yes Apple, Plum G.R.L. Sept. 4 Halvergate, c. 20 Martins E. Norfolk Yes Oak P.W.P.B. 1 1 ,, I Swallow, 6 Martins Yes Horse- Chestnut # 1 Sept. 5 Beccles, 100-200 Martins E. Suffolk Yes Ash f 1 Sept. 10 Highclere, c. 100 Martins N. Hants. Yes Larch D. & M. S-S. •' ,, A few Martins ? Birch, Fir, Holly t » Sept. 1 1 Hampton Small flock of Hill, Martins Middlesex Yes Lombardy Poplar P.F.Y. t f Pontardulais, 70-80 Martins Carmarthen- shire ? Hawthorn, Oak, Birch E.C.R. 1 1 Didsbury, A flock of Martins Manchester ? Ash and others J.A.H. Sept. 24 Hampton c. 30 Martins Hill, Middlesex ? Lombardy Poplar P.F.Y. 256 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XLIII. Date Locality No. of birds involved Whether seen to be taking insects Tree Observer’s initials Sept. 30 Halvergate, Norfolk Several Swallows ; at least one Martin Yes Oak P.W.P.B. Oct. 5 Earlswood, Warwicks. Small flock of Martins No Oak M.J.T. Observers’ names : — Stanley Austin, P. W. P. Browne, F. W. Fox, J. A. Hardman, Bernard King, J. Lord, G. R. Lunn, W. T. C. Rankin, E. C. Rees, J. Sears, K. G. Spencer, D. & M. Summers-Smith, M. J. Thomas, P. F. Yeo. DISPLAY OF HOUSE-MARTIN. As The Handbook contains no account of the behaviour and display of this species I think the following observations are worthy of note. I have, for the last six years, had the daily opportunity of studying the behaviour of the House-Martin {Delichon tirbica) and have frequently observed the usual display, i.e. in the nest, accompanied by much chirruping, as described by D. J. May {antea, vol. xli, Fig. i. Female House-Martin inviting coition. Fig. 2. Female House-Martin just prior to coition (on arrival of MALE.) [Drawn by J. T. Hobbs.) VOL. XLIII.] NOTES. 257 pp. 310 — ii). On June 2nd, 1949, while watching House-Martins collecting mud from the edge of a puddle I witnessed a rather interesting form of display. After some chasing flights about 20 birds settled at the water’s edge and commenced mud-collecting. Another House-Martin then settled at the edge of the puddle on dry soil, at least a foot from the water, and made no attempt at collecting mud. It crouched, and with feathers slightly raised and quivering, uttered a lively “ tchirrup,” which was frequently repeated in a similar way as when display occurs in the nest. This appeared to be the display of “inviting coition’’ (see Figure i). A second bird, most surely the male, settled with it. The first bird then turned its tail on to its back (see Figure 2) and the second bird mounted immediately and copulation then took place. This display was watched from 15 feet in very good light. John T. Hobbs. [So far as we are aware, display and coition on the ground have not previously been recorded in House-Martin, though a somewhat similar performance has been recorded {antea, vol. xxxix, p. 282) in in the case of Sand-Martins {Kiparia riparia). — Eds.] LEG COLOUR AND UNUSUAL CALL OF GREEN SANDPIPER. At Cheddar Reservoir, Somerset, on August 14th, 1949, a Green Sandpiper {Tringa ochropus) was seen on the reservoir parapet in company with two Common Sandpipers {Actitis hypoleucos). Watched from a car at approximately 15 yards and through X30 telescope the legs were seen to be lead colour, not olive green as stated in The Handbook. I satisfied myself that this was not due to mud. Details taken whilst the bird was under observation revealed that it had assumed most of its winter plumage. Further, when the bird was suspicious and still on the ground it uttered a thin and high pitched triple note, quite unlike its musical flight call. This calling from the ground was repeated several times. Possibly this is the common note on the breeding-ground, described in The Handbook as a “ persistent ‘ tit-tit-tit,’ uttered from ground or perch.’’ Bernard King. EFFECT OF EXPOSURE ON INCUBATION PERIOD AND VIABILITY OF OYSTER-CATCHER’S EGGS. The following observations may be of some interest, as they show that the eggs of the Oyster-catcher {Hcematopus ostralegus) can undergo quite considerable exposure with little or no danger to the developing chicks. On June 25th, 1949, in West Sussex, Mr. B. Metcalfe found a nest of this species containing two eggs on a small islet of shingle left uncovered by most high tides. The bird was observed to be sitting on June 26th. The nest contained three eggs on June 27th. In spite of being on a very low part of the islet, the nest remained clear of the high tides at the end of June and beginning of July. 258 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XLIII. During the period July iith-i4th, however, the nest was under water for about three-quarters of an hour on at least four occasions. On July 13th — a rather cool day — the bird was off the eggs for at least ten hours. The eggs when inspected that evening were found scattered along the tide line. Much to my surprise I observed the bird sitting on July 14th, and subsequent investigation showed that the three eggs had been collected together again. One of these ‘ rattled ’ when slightly shaken. The nest was visited again on July 24th, when it contained one well chipped egg, but a schoolboy observer said that it had contained a chick, a chipping egg and an addled egg on July 23rd. (1 was not able to hnd the unhatched egg in order to ascertain whether any development had taken place) . These dates give an incubation period of 27-28 days which differs but little from the normal period (24-27 days) as given in The Handbook. Unfortunately both chicks were washed away by high tides on July 26th and 27th. John Reynolds. NOTES ON BEHAVIOUR OF BLACK TERNS. For about 15 minutes on September 28th, 1949, I watched an adult Black Tern {Chlidonias niger) at Burghfield gravel pits, near Reading, and during that time it was taking fish by plunging into the water from heights of up to about 15 feet. So violent were some of the dives that the bird was almost completely submerged, only the wing-tips remaining visible. The Handbook states that this method of feeding is seldom seen inland. C. E. Dougl.a,s. [On July 1st, 1908, a Black Tern at Marbury Mere, near North- wich, Cheshire, continually dipped to the water, touching the surface in flight ; on .two or more occasions it dived and was com- pletely submerged. — A.W.B.]. Of two immature Black Terns (Chlidonias niger) seen at the New Grounds, Gloucestershire, on September 5th, 1946, one was repeat- edly observed feeding over mudflats, a type of behaviour not recorded in The Handbook. Worm-like objects were taken from the mud during flight by dipping to the surface (e.xposed some con- siderable time before), in a manner precisely similar to that employed when feeding over water. On May 12th, 1949, a flock of 70-75 Black Terns was seen over Cheddar Reservoir, Somerset. Between periods of casual feeding the birds gathered themselves into a compact bunch and circled the reservoir with rapid and purposeful flight. On several occasions, however, they ascended in a spiral to a considerable height and then dived steeply towards the water, suddenly flattening out several feet above the surface, where they resumed feeding. Mr. B. King observed similar incidents when watching a flock of 41 birds at the same place on May 17th, 1948, and it would appear that this behaviour may be less uncommon than the single instance (pioted in The Handbook would suggest. Both flocks called very frequently. VOL. XLIII.] NOTES. 259 and this may be a characteristic of the larger migratory parties, as individuals and small groups are, in my experience, almost invariably silent. M. J. Wotton. ICELAND GULL IN EAST SUEEOLK. In view of the comparative scarcity of recent records of the Iceland Gull [Lams glaucoides) it may be of interest to record that one was observed in Lowestoft Harbour on January 8th, 1948. For part of the time it was with a flock of Herring-Gulls [Lams aygentatus) , but left them after a while and alighted on the water very close to the quayside, offering good views at a distance of only a few feet. Compared with immature Herring-Gulls near by the bird was smaller and much paler with bufiish, wavy barring and mottlings, and lacking the broad subterminal tail band. Identification was based on the shape of the head, bill and neck [antea, vol. xl, p. 373) which were remarkably delicate in comparison with those of the Herring- Gulls. In addition the bill was a uniform black, but tended to be yellow at the base. It is interesting to note that the wings protruded about three-quarters of an inch beyond the tail and the primary tips appeared to be frayed and worn. The legs were flesh-coloured. D. V. Butt and R. G. Pettitt. GREAT SKUA IN HAMPSHIRE IN AUGUST. On August 24th, 1948, the Rev. G. W. H. Moule and I saw an adult Great Skua [Stercorarius skua) on Stanpit Marsh, Christchurch Harbour, Hampshire. It allowed approach to within about 20 yards before flying a short way to settle on the water, subsequently returning to the marsh. Apart from reluctance to fly, it showed no other sign of disability. Pale streaks, on otherwise dark brown body-plumage, showed well on upper parts, neck and throat. The Great Skua is classed in The Birds of Hampshire (1905) as a rare occasional visitor to the county, and the date is rather early for the Channel area [antea, vol. xlii, pp. 159-160). It is of interest that one was picked up dead on the beach a short distance away on February 12th, 1948 [Proc. Bournemouth Nat. Sci. Soc., vol. xxxviii, p. 37). K. B. Rooke. [Two further records of early southerly movement may be men- tioned here, although they come from other parts of the country. Mr. II . C. Holme has reported what was almost certainly a Great Skua, possibly a sick bird, off Llanbedrog, Caernarvonshire, on July 14th, 1949. There is also a report in The Scottish Naturalist (vol. 60, p. 221) of two Great Skuas seen by Col. W. M. Logan-Home in the Firth of Forth on July 15th, 1948. — Eds.]. Large clutch of Yellowhammer. — Mr. D. P. Geoghegan has reported that a nest of the Yellowhammer [Emberiza citrinella) was found at Burgess Hill, Sussex, on June 9th, 1948, containing seven eggs. The Handbook has no record of c/7 and regards c/6 as “ very rare”. 260 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XLIII. Large brood of Mute Swans. — With reference to the note [anlca, p. 19) on a Mute Swan {Cygnus olor) with 12 cygnets, Mr. R. S. R. hitter has drawn our attention to a photograph published in 1 he Countryman (vol. xxxvii, No. 2, p. 209) showing a Mute Swan with ten cygnets. The picture by Mr. A. E. Hobbs was taken on the River Thames, near Henley, in 1946. Temminck’s Stints in Cambridgeshire. — Mr. J. W. Parker informs us that he saw a Temminck’s Stint [Calidris temminckii) at Peter- borough sewage farm, Cambs., on May 20th, 1948. An autumn record for the same county has been supplied by Mr. M. J. Wotton, who saw a single bird at Cambridge sewage farm on August 24th, 1949. Full details have been supplied in both cases. REVIEWS. hiatural History of Ireland : A Sketch of its Fauna and Flora. By Robert Lloyd Praeger. (Collins, 1950). 25s. net. In this welcome volume the veteran Irish botanist and biologist R. L. Praeger provides an admirable general survey of the Fauna and Flora of Ireland and discusses their history. Both the animal and plant life of Ireland, though distinctly impoverished as compared with that of Great Britain, present features of much interest to the student of geographical distribution. Particularly noteworthy is the representation in both, but especially amongst the plants, of a South-west and South European element, found chiefly in the south-west and south of the island and unrepresented in Great Britain — • the Strawberry Tree [Arbutus Unedo), three species of heath and the Kerry Slug [Geonialacus maculosus), found on the Continent in the Pyrenees and Portugal, may be cited as examples — as well as, less surprisingly, an American element found mainly, though not exclusively, in the west. These and other features related to the characteristic climate and in some ways peculiar topo- graphy of Ireland combine to give a special zoological and botanical interest to this westernmost outlier of the continent of Europe. A brief introduction is followed by a section devoted to the general discussion of the T’anna and Flora, its composition, distribution and history, and this by a systematic survey dealing briefly with the plants and animals group by group. It is natural that in an ornithological journal we should be concerned especi- ally with the section on birds. No man can be a specialist on more than a few groups and it is no disparagement of the distinguished author’s work to say that the handling of the birds seems to us a little disappointing ; we feel that more might have been made of the group from a faunal point of view. The fact that most of the absentees from the bird fauna as compared with Great Britain are species of southern distribution in the larger island, that the crow of Ireland is the Hoodie, that the local race of the Dipper is common to Ireland and the isles and part of the mainland of West Scotland, and that of the Red Grouse to Ireland and the Outer Hebrides, all lend strong backing to the thesis, supported by evidence from other groups, that the only post-glacial connexion of Ireland with Great Britain was one uniting Donegal with Scotland. Again, the omission of reference to such characteristic and faun- istically interesting species as the Crossbill and Siskin is surprising. Both owe their establishment as breeders in Ireland to the comparatively recent re-introduction of the Scots Pine, which became extinct in Neolithic times. But why the Siskin, in particular, should have achieved such a wide, though local, distribution in Ireland and not in England is not readily apparent. VOL. XLIII.] REVIEWS. 261 If it were not for its special association with conifers it might well have been supposed to have come in with other northern birds by the post-glacial con- nexion with Scotland just mentioned (the fact that it was not known to breed in Ireland before the middle of the last century does not prove that it was not previously overlooked), but in fact its greater success in Ireland than in England must presumably be attributed to factors still operating. There are some minor points which might be criticized. The absence of the Carrion Crow is not really surprising considering that its place is taken by the Hooded Crow, which many regard as merely a racial form of the same species, and it seems unlikely that the Northern Great Spotted Woodpeckers which sometimes visit Ireland in winter would ever give rise to a resident race. But any such criticisms are of trivial importance in relation to the solid achievement of this excellent and scholarly addition to British faunistic literature, which can be most cordially commended to all naturalists resident in or visiting Ireland, and indeed to every student of plant and animal distri- bution. Birds of Britain. By J. D. Macdonald (Bell, 1949), 8s. 6d. In the course of his duties at the British Museum, Mr. Macdonald is fre- quently asked to identify birds from the inadequate descriptions sent in by amateurs. This book is an attempt to supply information from which the amateur can solve his own problems. The result is an attractive beginners’ guide which should stimulate an interest in bird-watching. It is cheap, has a number of illustrations both in colour and in black and white, and provides simple keys for the identification of species, arranged in various more or less clearly defined groups. It must be admitted, however, that the book has its imperfections. The coloured illustrations of the warblers are not up to the standard of the others and those of the two whitethroats are definitely misleading. Many of the waders have been drawn with beaks too short. Mr. Macdonald has restricted himself to 200 species ; this is a severe limitation and it seems odd that he should include Aquatic Warbler in preference to, say. Green Sandpiper, which is omitted, while the exclusion of such other comparatively common visitors as the Black Tern and Grey Plover seems equally difficult to justify. It seems to us unwise to include in a book for beginners a section headed “ variations ” in which reference is made to subspecies, most of them indistinguishable in the field. Scarcely any reference is made to call-notes as an aid to identification ; in fact there is not much instruction in the tech- nique of bird identification and the whole business is made to seem too simple — once you get into the right chapter. The accounts of distribution are some- times too vague, though doubtless fuller information on this and other points would add to the cost of the book ; but it may be the author’s intention that his readers should graduate fairly soon to a more comprehensive work. We note one or two slips. The Turnstone’s legs are not normally ‘‘ light yellow,” nor has the Oyster-catcher a long " yellow ” beak. J.D.W. Vertebrates of Hertfordshire. Birds. By H. H. S. Hayward. (Reprinted from Trans. Herts. Nat. Hist. Soc., vol. xxii. Part 5, November, 1947). This carefully compiled list of Hertfordshire birds covers all records to February, 1946. 236 species or subspecies are included, and records of 14 more of doubtful validity have been placed in square brackets. The list would certainly not be so long or so varied if the county did not happen to include the Tring reservoirs, from which come most of the records of waterfowl, waders, terns and gulls. The majority of these records are comparatively recent and one might suppose that this merely reflected an increase in the number of observers. There is, however, evidence that many species, such as Wigeon, and several other ducks, Ruff, Greenshank and other waders, have become much more frequent in their appearances during the last twenty years. There is also plenty of evidence that the reservoirs were well known for’ birds in the nineteenth century, and it is rather intriguing, in view of recent reports in these pages, to read of flocks of Black Terns numbering sixty on May i ith, 262 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XLIII. 1896, and seventy to eighty on May 9th, 1897. Some of tiie species for wliich Tring is famous receive quite full treatment, notably the Black-necked Grebe ; the recent inland extension of gulls is also recorded in some detail. The commoner residents are treated much more briefly unless there is evidence of a change of status. Amongst such changes we note that Hooded Crow, Red- backed Shrike, Grasshopper-Warbler, Redstart, Wryneck and Hobby are among the species recorded as decreasing in numbers ; on the other hand, most of the other Corvidae, Goldfinch, Siskin, Lesser Redpoll and Kestrel, as well as some others, are on the increase. Hertfordshire ornithologists are fortunate in having this list as a basis for further work. Their attention might be drawn to the fact that the list quotes only three definite breeding records of Willow-Tit for the county, while breed- ing records for Goldcrest are unexpectedly scarce. J.D.W. Bird Recognition. By James Fisher. — Correction. The Editor regrets a slip in the review of this book {antea, pp. 28-29), which was unfortunately not detected in proof. The species incorrectly marked in the distribution maps as breeding on Steep Holm is the Kittiwake and not the Cormorant, as stated in the review. Cormorants have bred on Steep Holm since the early 1930’s. LOCAL REPORTS. Report on Birds observed in Hertfordshire in 1947. By H. H. S. Hayward. (Reprinted from Trans. Herts. Nat. Hist. Soc., vol. xxiii, part 2, June 1949). Some attention is given in this short report to the effects of the cold spell at the beginning of 1947. In addition to reports of decreases, particularly among small birds, there is a note of a heavy concentration of a great \'ariety of species at Watford sewage farm on February 9th. Reference is also made to the mortality among Coots and figures are given for one gravel pit where the decline in numbers follows the same general trend as that reported in these pages from Somerset. The outstanding record for the year, a Spoonbill at Tring on May 9th, has already been reported in British Birds. We note also records of Great Grey Shrike at Berkhamsted in November, of a small flock of Stone-Curlews near Kelshall on November 15th, and of various passing waders at Tring in the autumn, including a party of eight Bar-tailed Godwits on October 5th. A record of a Dartford Warbler is properly square-bracketed in view of the poor conditions under which the bird was seen. It is a pity that no evidence of identification — or even names of observers — is given for the immature Black- throated Diver at Tring at the end of March. There are one or two interesting records of unusual behaviour, such as those of a mixed party of House-Martins and Swifts attacking bees, of a Mute Swan swallowing a dead Roach (cf. Brit. Birds, vol. xli, p. 121) and of both Great Crested Grebe and Dabchick feeding by “ immersing the head and rushing quickly through the water, mostly among the patches of weeds.” Only two Stonechats were reported in 1947 and the Report draws attention to the scarcity of this species. On the other hand, only one record of the Tree-Sparrow is published and the reader with little or no experience of the county may surmise that this species, too, is becoming scarce. Reference to Mr. Hayward’s list of the birds of Hertfordshire, reviewed elsewhere, reveals that the Tree-Sparrow is in fact increasing in the county, though still locally distributed. Would it not be better in such cases to select each year a few species of local or patchy distribution and give a full report on their status as observed over several years, rather than publish short, and possibly misleading, notes on all of them annually? J.D.W. Journal of the Bedfordshire Natural History Society and Field Club, 1946. The Bedfordshire Naturalist, 1947 and 1948. We regret that our welcome to this new publication is so belated, the more so as it fills one of the conspicuous gaps in the ranks of County Reports. VOL. XLIII.] REVIEWS. 263 The Club responsible for these three reports was founded in October, 1946, under the Presidency of Mr. Oliver G. Pike, taking its name from a predecessor which existed for a period in the latter part of the 19th century. Its interests are wide and its Journal for 1946 consists largely of papers summarizing existing knowledge of the various branches of the natural history of Bedford- shire. The paper on birds is by the Recorder, Mr. H. A. S. Key, who gives a map of the county on which migration routes are marked, though it is not clear how much basis these have in modern field observation. Perhaps members of the Club who have opportunities of watching at Bedford sewage farm, Dunstable Downs and elsewhere will be able to add detail to the map. The paper concludes with a list of all species recorded in the county, divided, somewhat arbitrarily into five categories according to status. (Tn parentheses one may ask whether it is really the case that the Crossbill is a " resident ”.) The Bird Report for 1946 is brief, but contains several interesting items. Long-eared Owls bred in 1945 and possibly in 1946 ; a Black-throated Diver was identified at Southill on February 24th ; 8 Black Terns at Felmersham on May loth and nth are additional to those reported to British Birds [antea, vol. xl, pp. 24, 93) ; a Spotted Crake was picked up dead on August 13th at Hockliffe. A record of a pair of Garganey at Kempston Hardwick on Decem- ber 9th is unusual, and some evidence for identification should be given. The Journal for 1947, under the title “ The Bedfordshire Naturalist,” includes an interesting paper by Mr. Key on the effects of the cold spell, in which reference is made to mortalities and to hard-weather movements. Coots seem to have suffered severely in Bedfordshire, as was also the case in Hertford- shire and Somerset, but the Little Owl is said not to have suffered " anywhere near so badly as the other members of the family,” whereas in the Ornithologi- cal Record for Derbyshire for the same year one observer reports that she ” saw or heard of more dead Little Owls than any other bird.” It is unfortunate that Mr. Key’s observations do not seem to have been contributed to the British Birds' report on the cold spell, and we note also among the classified notes records of Waxwing and of Common and Arctic Terns, which do not appear in the papers in British Birds on the immigrations of these species. Another short paper by Keith Piercy draws attention to the periodical censuses of Rooks, Herons and Great Crested Grebes, and gives figures for the county. The classified notes contain several records of more than local interest. Two Great Grey Shrikes were seen in the early part of the year ; two Hoopoes are reported, one in .\pril and another at the end of July ; a Wryneck was observed on June 29th and subsequently, the first recorded in the county for many years ; a record of 3 Kites seen on April 23rd is perhaps wisely square- bracketed, though the description given seems to indicate that the birds were in fact Kites, and it may be noted that this species has been reported from Essex at that time of year in both 1948 and 1949 {antea, vol. xlii, pp. 60 and 391) ; there is some evidence that Shoveler may have bred in the county for the first time for many years ; a Black-necked Grebe, satisfactorily identi- fied on the Ouse near Bedford sewage farm on March 9th is an addition to the County List ; another Black-throated Diver is reported, evidently not the same individual as was reported in Hertfordshire about the same time ; there are several records of passing waders, including a Bar-tailed Godwit, most of them from Bedford sewage farm ; a Common Tern is reported on June 15th and there are, as elsewhere in 1947, several records of Quail, including one of a nest found, but unfortunately destroyed, on August 5th. Once again, migrants were on the whole rather early in 1947. All these records have been compiled with care, but we view with scepticism the claim that some Continen- tal Chaffinches were ” carefully identified ” at Bedford sewage farm. In the 1948 number the formation of an Ornithological Section is reported and its members have contributed a number of interesting records to the annual report. Among these we note yet another Great Grey Shrike at Hardwick on December i6th, a House-Martin at Bedford on December 8th, a Ferruginous Duck at Kempston Hardwick on December 4th and 5 th, Gannet and Manx Shearwater picked up early in September, and several records of passing waders, 2G4 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XLIII. including an Oyster-catcher. Once more there is evidence that Shov'elers bred ; Garganey certainly attempted to do so for the first time on record in the county, but the nest was unfortunately destroyed. Breeding records of Wood- Lark in previous years are also mentioned. It is recorded that there is ‘‘ strong evidence " that a pair of Blue-headed Wagtails bred at Bedford sewage farm, where a male was seen on April i8th and others, including young, at intervals till September 15th. The birds were evidently observed with care, but in view of the known occurrence of variant Yellow Wagtails we feel that fuller details should have been published in this case. Evidence for identification might also have been given for a Twite recorded on January 26th and a Montagu’s Harrier on August 1 8th. A short article by D. W. Snow draws attention to the scarcity of Bedfordshire records of the Willow-Tit. A useful feature of this publication is the list of articles and notes in other periodicMs referring to Bedfordshire Natural History. J.U.W LETTERS (: V , BEWICK’S SWANS To the Editors of British Birds. Sirs, — During the last few years Bewick’s Swans, whilsh^w’iire forineflj-' fairly common in a few suitable localities, appear to have becom(rV«ry scarce. The Scottish Ornithologists’ Club have asked me to conduct an enquiry into the present status of the species as compared with former years and, if possible, discover the cause of the change. If any of your readers could give me any information which would be of value to this enquiry, I should be grateful if they would write to me at the address below. Special cards hav'e been printed and 1 shall be glad to send them to anyone who makes application. Woodside, Beith, Ayrshire. J. A. Anderson. SONG OF SERIN. To the Editors of British Birds. Sirs, — Mr. E. M. Cawkell {antea, vol. xlii, p. 85) gives records of the Serin (Serinus canariiis) in the Lebanon singing “ on the ground, from a rock, from a wall, from a wire fence and from the top of a small tree,” thus indicating for this species a wider variety of song-posts than those mentioned in The Handbook. It should be made clear that two species of Serin are found in the Lebanon, rather similar to one another in plumage : — the Common Serin, which is a winter visitor to the coastal area, and Tristram’s Serin {Serinus syriacus Bonaparte), which is resident in the mountains, descending to lower levels in winter. From the evidence given, which includes no evidence of identification, it seems probable that Mr. Cawkell’s notes apply to Tristram’s Serin. He mentions a bird " singing from a rock projecting above the snow at 4,000 feet ” : this is a most improbable altitude at which to find the Common Serin. Tris- tram’s Serin, of course, habitually sings from rocks, since its habitat contains little else in the nature of a song-post. The Common Serin does indeed sing in its winter-quarters, in Egypt, according to Moreau {Handbook, p. 82), beginning in December. I did not hear its song in the coastal belt of Palestine until March, when, however, the song was always delivered from a tree. I do not share the view that Tristram’s Serin is a race of Serinus canarius, nor, it appears, do the editors of The Handbook, since they do not include it among " Characters and Allied Forms.” M. F. M. Meiklejohn. [We have little doubt that Mr. Meiklejohn’s suggestion correctly accounts for the apparent difference in song behaviour between Serins on the continent and in Palestine which Mr. Cawkell’s observations appeared to indicate, although we overlooked this probability at the time the letter was jniblished. We have shown Mr. Meiklejohn’s letter to Mr. Cawkell, who agrees that there must be an element of doubt in his identifications. — Eds.]. NOTICE TO CONTRIBUTORS British Birds accepts papers and notes dealing with original observations on the birds of the British Isles and Western Europe or, where appropriate, on birds of this area as observed in other parts of their range. Review articles on subjects of current ornithological interest will also be considered. Contributors are asked to observe the following points, attention to which saves the waste of much editorial time on trivial alterations. MSS. if not typed should be clearly written. Authors of papers, especially those containing systematic lists, lists of references, tables, etc., should consult previous papers on similar lines in British Birds as a guide to general presentation and set-out, including use of particular type, stops, and other conventions, such as date following the month (January 1st, etc., not 1st January), names of books and journals in italics, not inverted commas, and so on. Capital initial letters are to be used for proper names of definite species : thus “ Great Tit,” but ” flocks of tits.” [In systematic lists the whole name should be in capitals]. The scientific name (underlined in M.S. to indicate italics) follows the English name in brackets without any intervening stop. Scientific nomenclature follows The Handbook of British Birds or H. F. 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Contents of Number q, Vol. XLIII, September, 1950. PAGE Sky-Lark migration in South-East Ireland. By Ivan M. Goodbody ... 265 Autumn migration along the Bristol Channel. By E. G. Holt ... 271 Further notes on Passerine migration through England. Compiled by J. D. Wood ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 274 The Little Ringed Plover in Great Britain in 1949. By E. R. Parrinder 279 British recoveries of birds ringed abroad. Communicated by Miss E. P. Leach ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 284 Notes ; — Swimming of small birds (R. A. O. Hickling) ... ... ... ... 292 Nesting-site used six times in one season (Edwin Cohen) ... ... 292 Jackdaw attacking Starling (R. M. van Oss) ... ... ... ... 292 Young Magpie moulting complete tail (Derek Goodwin) ... ... 293 Early breeding of Chough (David G. Sansbury) ... ... ... 293 Roosting behaviour of Linnet and Chaffinch (J. B. Nelson ; Lt. Col. B. H. Ryves) ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 293 Serin in Pembrokeshire (R. M. Lockley) ... ... ... ... 294 Water-Pipit in Surrey (Derek Goodwin) ... ... ... ... 294 Unrecorded notes of Blue Tit (John Ash) ... ... ... ... 295 Plumage variation in Coal-Tit (M. G. Allderidge) ... ... ... 295 Migrant Goldcrest attacking large dragonfly (R. A. Richardson) ... 295 Multiple nests of Song-Thrush (G. F. Mees) ... ... ... ... 295 Blackbird " attacking ” human intruder (B. J. Huddart) ... ... 29b Weights of nestling Blackbirds (E. M. Cawkell) ... ... ... 297 Unusual behaviour of Blackbird (R. G. Frankum) ... ... ... 298 Dancing display of Wheatear (R. G. Pettitt and D. V. Butt ; J. F. Thomas ; P. J. Conder) ... ... ... ... ... ... 298 Robins rearing young Great Tits (John Ash) ... ... ... 300 “ Dew-bathing ” by Swallows (J. Staton) ... ... ... ... 300 Swallow moulting remiges in Britain (B. A. Richards and Derek Goodwin) ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 300 Roller in Sussex (L. P. Alder) ... ... ... ... ... ... 301 Probable digging by Tawny Owl for coleoptera (J. F. Burton) ... 301 Call of Little Egret (G. F. Mees) ... ... ... ... ... 302 Night-Heron in Dorset (K. B. Rooke) ... ... ... ... 302 Greeting ceremony of Mute Swan (N. G. B. Jones and R. A. F. Gillmor) ... ... ... ... ... ... 303 Bathing behaviour of Mute Swan (J. H. Murphy) ... ... ... 303 Green-winged Teal in Somerset (Bernard King) ... ... ... 303 Joint “ injury-feigning ” by Shoveler and Mallard (R. A. O. Hickling) ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 304 Sex ratio of the Common Scoter off part of the coast of S. E. England (E. M. Cawkell) ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 3°4 Non-breeding Fulmars (Fred G. Grey) ... ... ... ... 305 Display and early nesting of Great Crested Grebe (John Ash ; C. L. Collenette) ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 3°5 Stock-Dove nesting in hawthorn bush (N. M. Hepworth) ... ... 306 BRITISH BIRDS Number g, Vol. XLIII, September, 1950. SKY-LARK MIGRATION IN S.E. IRELAND. BY Ivan M. Goodbody T HE present paper describes a diurnal migration of Sky-Larks {Alauda arvensis) observed during brief visits to the coast of Co. Wexford in the autumns of 1946-49 inclusive. Although Sky-Larks formed the main body of the movement other species were also noticed in smaller numbers, particularly Meadow-Pipit {Anthus pratensis), Swallow (Hinindo rustica) and Linnet {Carduelis cannabina). In view of the large numbers of Chaffinches {Fringilla coelebs) observed in S.W. England and Wales by other observers {cf. especi- ally Bannerman, 1944, 1945, and Lockley, 1949), it is significant that this species was only seen in small numbers as an immigrant from the east. The observations outlined below suggest that there is a broad front migration over the whole of S.E. Ireland, which although initially deflected to the east or west on reaching the south coast, eventually continues its southward passage over the sea. The direction of the wind appears to be a critical factor in determining in which direction the birds are deflected on reaching the coast. The origin and destination of the movement are obscure, but it seems possible that the birds enter Ireland by night and pass southward unnoticed, through the country. Map of S.E. Wexford and Waterford to show points where Sky-Larks WERE observed ON MIGRATION. Inset, Map of Ireland showing OBSERVATION AREA SHADED. 26(i BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XLIIl. Area of observation The sketch-map (Fig. i) shows the main area of observation in the adjoining counties of Wexford and Waterford, extending from Blackwater Head in the North to Carnsore Point in the S.E. and along the south coast to Kilfarassy in the west. The surrounding country is very flat, the highest ground being Forth Mt. (776 ft.) south-west of Wexford town. To the north lies the main Leinster mountain chain and to the west the Comeragh Mountains in West Waterford ; a glance at a map shows that there are no mountains in the immediate vicinity of the observations which are likely to affect the movement. To the east the nearest land is St. David’s Head (Pembrokeshire), 50 miles away ; to the south the next land is 600 miles away in N.W. Spain, although a slight easterly deviation would bring birds to the Scilly Isles or Cornwall, a distance of 150 miles. Behaviour of Birds Almost all the movements described took place between 7.30 and 12.00 G.M.T. When possible observations were commenced between 6.30 and 7.00, but birds were seldom seen moving before 7.30. A small secondary peak was sometimes observable in the late afternoon. On the coast the flight line never seemed to be much more than 200 yds. wide. The birds usually kept about 50 ft. above the ground or less and travelled in parties of from 2 to 50 birds, occasionally singly. Several attempts were made to locate birds flying high, but none was seen. The parties of birds could be easily picked up when they were some way away, as they called continuously during flight. When they got out over the sea the birds usually dropped to within a few feet of the surface. OBSERVATIONS. 1946. The first indication that a movement existed was obtained on October 19th, when an easterly stream was observed crossing the mouth of Bannow Bay ; over 600 birds were estimated to have passed in the hour 10.30 to 11.30. On the same day and the following one Sky-Larks were passing east at Kilmore Quay in similar numbers. The wind at the time was S.E. fresh, and had been so for several days previous to the observation. 1947. During the whole of the period October 9th to 14th, Sky-Larks were passing west at Kilmore Quay during a period of west and S.W. winds. At Carnsore on October i zth there [was a distinct movement coming south down the east coast of the county, which on reaching the headland, divided into two streams, one heading almost due^ south straight out to sea ; the other stream turned westwards to follow the coastline. During a N.E. wind on October 13th, while some birds coasted west at Kilmore Quay, others were flying due south to sea and tending to fly higher than usual. 1948. Observations were continued from October 19th to 23rd. during which the wind was N.W. to west. A check was made at Kilmore Quay every morning — except October 21st — to ascertain the direction of movement there ; in every case it was west along the coast. October 19th. Rosslare Harbour, birds mainly travelling in a N.W. direction ; south of Greenore Point they were travelling in a northerly direction, but at the point turned N.W. to follow the coast to Rosslare Harbour (see map). At St. Helen’s a few birds were seen coming in from the sea. VOL. XLiii.] SKY-LARK MIGRATION IN S.E. IRELAND. 267 October 20th. At Carna movement was to the south along the coast, while at Ballytrent House there was a large assemblage of Sky-Larks and Meadow- Pipits in the fields, and movement did not seem to be oriented in any particular direction, but a few parties arrived in from the sea ; others broke off from the main party and headed off to the west or south, and a few went north towards Greenore. October 21st. Sky- Larks began moving at Hook Head at 9.00, travelling in a S.W. direction along the east side of the headland and heading in a S.W. direction out over the sea. This movement was traced back to the mouth of Bannow Bay, where it was moving west. October 22nd. Movement was slowed down by a strong west wind, but Meadow-Pipits were moving west in large numbers at Kilmore Quay. At Rosslare a few parties of larks were seen coming in off the sea while others were going south. October 23rd. Strong movement of larks and pipits to the west at Kilmore Quay. At Rosslare and Curracloe birds were moving south, and a few parties came in from the sea. At Kilmore Quay birds were found to be heading S.W. and out to sea along the line of Crossfarnoge Point about one quarter mile to the west of the village. This may be a regular feature of the migration overlooked on previous occasions. Also at Kilmore Quay birds were coming from inland and then joining the main westerly stream. 1949. October loth. S.E. wind. At Kilmore Quay larks were moving east along the coast or S.E. out over the water. Inland, birds tended to move towards the south coast. At Carnsore Point large parties of birds had collected in the fields and from these smaller parties v/ould break off and fly in an easterly or south-easterly direction over the sea. At Ballytrent ten parties went north and one south in the space of twenty minutes. At Rosslare only a few migratory parties were seen, all of which were going either north or north-west. October iith. Light S.E. wind. Movement at Kilmore Quay was con- fused ; the main trend seemed to be again to the S.E., but a few parties were noted going west to Crossfarnoge Point and then heading out to sea. October 12th. S.W. wind. At Kilmore Quay movement was west past the harbour, birds again heading out to sea at Crossfarnoge. At Carnsore movement was the same as on October 12th, 1947. At noon a few birds were passing south at St. Helen’s. October 13th. S.W. wind. At Brownstown Head, Co. Waterford, a small movement from the east along the coast was observed between 8.30 and 9.30; the birds headed out to sea when they reached the headland. Inland a southward movement was observed along the headland. At mid-day large numbers of larks were seen between Tramore and Kilfarassy travelling southwards across the road ; these birds must have been coming from inland. When they reached the coast they turned westwards along it and did not go straight out to sea. October 15 th & i6th. These two days were devoted to a small scale co-operative watch on the Wexford coast by a team of six observers. The main purpose of the watch was to ascertain definitely that the stream of birds was continuous along the coast, and to confirm that there was a passage of birds from inland towards the coast. Observations were continued from 8.00 to 1 1. 00 and each observer logged the number and direction of flight of each party of birds which passed. The wind was moderate S. to S.S.W. The results of this watch are given in Table i, further discussion being left until later. l^ote. — On all days when it was necessary to travel from one observation place to another, observations were made of any movement taking place inland. Movement was not very obvious in these places, but any that was seen was usually in an approximately southward direction towards the coast. Other observations in Ireland. — The watch on October 15th & i6th, 1949, also included observers in a number of other coastal distncts. Wet stormy 268 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL, XLIII. weather in S.W'. and west Ireland unfortunately annulled the value of obser- vations in these areas, where eight observers took part, all having negative results. In Down and Antrim negative results were also reported in spite of calm fine weather. Of especial interest is a negative report from Tuskar Lighthouse six miles off the Wexford coast ; if immigration had been taking place one would have expected observations from this station. Discussion Eagle Clarke (1912) in a general discussion of Sky-Lark migrations suggested that birds from Central Europe reach England on a broad front covering the Essex and Kent coasts ; some of these birds are supposed to follow the Channel coast and, striking west- wards, eventually turn northwards to reach Ireland on the Wexford coast. While such a movement may give rise to the northward stream seen at L. Carra by Ruttledge (1938) it will be apparent that it bears no relation to our movement described above. The bulk of our records indicate a concentrated migratory stream following the coastline from Rosslare round to Kilfarassy, the direction of movement being dependent on the direction of the wind, and the main problem is to discover where these birds came from. Examination of the records from the Waterford coast (October 13th, 1949) makes it clear that even if the westerly stream observed there was a continuation of that seen at Kilmore Quay, it was at least being augmented by, if not formed from, birds coming from inland ; birds reaching the coast at this point were observed to be deflected to the west. It is apparent that the movement at Kilmore Quay and other parts of the Wexford coast had a very similar character to that observed on the Waterford coast ; the observations on October 15th and i6th, 1949, confirm this. On the 15th there was a definite build-up in the number of migratory birds between Rosslare and Carnsore Point (Table I), and since no birds were seen to come in from the sea it is reasonably certain that the addi- tional birds came from inland. The observations on the i6th, especially at Tacumshin, lend further support to this view. It seems, therefore, that the movement observed is a broad-front migration with a “ standard direction ” (Deelder’s (1949) term) south to south-east and extending over a wide area of S.E. Ireland. On reaching the coast the latter acts as a “ line of accumulation ” (Deelder, loc. cit.), turning the birds either east or west along it according to prevailing wind conditions, the birds always heading into the wind. The birds usually follow the coastline until they reach a headland which again turns them approximately on to their standard direc- tion, and they then finally leave the country to continue their southward migration. Thus birds have been seen going out to sea at Carnsore Point, Crossfarnoge Point, Hook Head and Brownstown Head, but seldom at the intervening points. This is also shown in Table I, where the drop in numbers between Kilmore Quay and Cull (October i6th) is believed to be due to birds leaving the land at Crossfarnoge Point (see map ; also notes for October 23rd, 1948, and VOL. XLiii.] SKY-LARK MIGRATION IN S.E. IRELAND. 260 October 12 th, 1949)* Date Observation Point No . birds Main direction oj flight 15.10.49 seen Blackwater Head None Rosslare Strand 6 South. Rosslare Harbour & 107 96 tended to South. Greenore Point Ballytrent House lOI 98 tended to South. Carnsore Point 329 198 South to sea. Kilmore Quay 61 1 3 1 West along coast. West and S.W. 16. 10.49 Carnsore Point 371 361 South to sea. (8.30 — 10.00 only) S.W. corner of Lady’s 274 10 West along coast. Birds came down West shore of Is. lake S.W. corner of 820 lake then turned West — a few went South. None came from East. Most came from inland along shore Tacumshin Bastardstown 882 of estuary. 609 seen to turn West along coast. 789 continued West along coast. Kilmore Quay 328 Most came from East. 225 to West ; 264 S. or S.W. Cull 278 39 others. 228 to West. 50 others. Table i.— -Numbers of Sky-Larks SEEN MIGRATING ON WeXFORD COAST, October 15TH & i6th, 1949, AND MAIN DIRECTION OF FLIGHT. OB- SERVATIONS ON BOTH DAYS EXTENDED FROM 8.00-1 I. OO G.M.T. IN ALL LOCALITIES EXCEPT WHERE STATED. While the above discussion refers only to the movement in S.E. Ireland the origin and destination of the movement remain obscure. Ussher and Warren (1900) believed that no emigration of Irish birds occured, but they give no evidence in support of this statement. If this is true then the movement under discussion must be passage migration, in which case one must look for their point of entry into the country. Although our observers in Down and Antrim saw no larks in their areas, Thompson (1849) referring to this species states : “ . . . these birds generally migrate hither from Scotland in small or moderate flocks, and have been repeatedly seen crossing the channel . . . between Portpatrick and Donaghadee.” At Dun Laoghaire on the Dublin coast Sky-Larks are regularly seen in October coming in from the east over the sea ; if these latter birds turned south they could join up with the Wexford movement and leave the country again at such places as Carnsore and Hook Head. However I believe that the birds seen coming in to land at Dun Laoghaire and also in Wexford at Ballytrent and Rosslare are part of an immigration of winter visitors quite separate from the southward movement described, but evidence on this point is wanting. It * It is probable that the sharp drop in numbers between Bastardstown and Kilmore Quay is not altogether real and is due partly to an observational error. We have seen that the coastal stream is very narrow, and the author’s instructions to his observer at Kilmore did not make it clear where the main stream was likely to pass, so that it is probable, although not certain, that the observer here overlooked a number of birds. 270 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XLlIl. should also be remembered that birds coming in from the east over the sea during a west wind may hav'e been blown out to sea and be merely regaining their correct position. In this connexion it is noteworthy that Patten (1913) observed no larks passing Tuskar in day-time, but his visit terminated at the end of September. As the evidence for a diurnal immigration of passage migrants into the country is very meagre, it seems most likely that the passage birds seen in Wexford enter the country at night ; this suggestion is supported by the lighthouse records (Barrington, 1900). Passage of larks at this time of year is very heavy, parti- cularly at Maiden’s (Antrim) and Tuskar (Wexford). It seems possible that there may be two peaks of migration during the 24-houi' day, one between 22.00 and 2.00, the other between 8.00 and 12.00, the birds resting and feeding in the intervals. We know that no large scale movement passes south at Dublin in October, and it seems, therefore, that future observations should be concentrated on the west side of the Leinster mountain chain, which may act as a concentration point although it runs north and south. In this connexion it is interesting that Ellison (1888) observed an October movement of Sky-Larks in the valley at Shillelagh, Co. Wicklow, which is in the south centre of this mass and carries the upper reaches of the River .Slaney, which flows out at Wexford town. In considering the final destination of the birds it may be noted that the next land due south of Hook Head lies approximately at Corunna in N.W. Spain, a distance of 600 miles. It may be suggested that the birds bear east to reach some such point as the coast of Brittany (300 mile.s) or possibly the Scilly Isles or Cornwall. Summary An October diurnal migration of Sky-Larks in Co. Wexford is described. The movement is probably passage migration of birds entering the country at night from the north, and reaching Wexford on a broad front. On striking the south coast this southerly movement is temporarily arrested and deflected either to east or west according to prevailing wind conditions, birds usually heading into the wind. The migration is very possibly complicated by a .separate immigration of winter visitors from the east. Acknowledgments A very large number of people have assisted in one way or another during the course of this work, and grateful acknowledgment of this help is given. Especial thanks are due to Major R. E. Ruttledge both for assistance in the field and for very valuable advice and criticism at all stages ; also to Dr. David Lack for assistance during the writing of this paper. Grateful thanks are also due to the following persons who assisted in the field observations in Wexford : E. W. Fox, I. Franklin, J. N. R. Grainger, G. R. Humphreys, A. G. Mason and M. E. Rowan. VOL. XLiii.] SKY-LARK MIGRATION IN S.E. IRELAND. 271 REFERENCES. Barrington, R. M. (1900). Migration of Birds at Irish Light Stations. Analysis of Reports 1881-97, PP- 102-110. Bannerman, D. a. (1944). Chaffinch migration on the S.W. coast. British Birds, vol. xxxvii, p. 177. Bannerman, D. A. (1945). Further notes on Chaffinch migration in N. Devon. British Birds, vol. xxxviii, p. 302. Clarke, W. Eagle (1912). Studies in Bird Migration, vol. i, pp. 221-237. Deelder, C. L. (1949). On the autumn migration of the Scandinavian Chaffinch. (Leiden). Ellison, A. (1888). The autumnal migration of birds in Ireland. Zoologist, 1888, p. 16. Lockley, R. M. et al. (1949). The Birds of Pembrokeshire. Patten, C. J. (1913). Diurnal migration at Tuskar. Zoologist, 1913, p- 182. Ruttledge, R. F. (1938). Bird migration by the overland route between Killala Bay and Galway Bay. British Birds, vol. xxxii, p. 130. Thompson, W. (1849). The Natural History of Ireland, vol. i, p. 23. UssHER, R. J. and Warren, R. (1900). The Birds of Ireland, p. 99. AUTUMN MIGRATION ALONG THE BRISTOL CHANNEL. BY E. G. Holt. This paper describes the result of three years observations of diurnal autumn migration along the east side of the Bristol Channel. D. and E. Lack (1949) have described a somewhat similar movement in Berkshire and Oxfordshire, and R. J. H. Raines (1950) in the Trent valley. The Handbook of British Birds (Witherby et al., 1938) mentions that the Meadow-Pipit {Anthus pratensis) migrates in autumn down the west coast, but no mention is made of the other species noted in this paper. The majority of these observations were made at Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset ; rough notes were taken in 1947 and 1948, more detailed ones in 1949. The Somerset coast from Weston-super-Mare to Pawlett runs roughly north to south, then westwards to Minehead, excluding the estuary of the River Parrett. Migrants have been regularly observed to follow this stretch of coast on a fairly broad front, some 500 yards inland of mean high watermark, and a more scattered movement occurs further inland. The same route is followed by winter weather movements, but no spring migration has been observed. Species. — In order of frequency the following species have been noted : Chaffinch {Fringilla ccelebs), Starling {Sturnus vulgaris), Sky-Lark {Alauda arvensis), Meadow-Pipit, Greenfinch (Chloris chloris). Lapwing {Vanellus vanellus). Linnet [Carduelis cannabina). 272 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XLIII. Reed-Bunting {Emberiza schceniclus) ; the following were seen twice : Jackdaw [Corvus monedula). Yellow' Bunting {Emberiza citrinella) ; the following once : Goldfinch {Carduelis carduelis), Wood-Pigeon {Coluniba palumbus), Redpoll [Carduelis flammea), SwaWow [H irundo rustica), Sand-Martin [Riparia riparia), Fieldfare (Turdus pilaris), Redwing [Turdus musicus), Blue Tit [Parns cceruleus). Direction. — This has always been southwards. Time of Day. — Migration has been consistently observed from an hour after sunrise until an hour and a half before sunset. Weather and Wind. — The majority of observations were made in fine weather with a light southerly wind. Large movements were seen in heavy rain on October 23rd and 25th, 1949, and on the latter date half a gale of wind was blowing from the south-west. Height.- — On calm days the majority of migrants travelled between 50 and 150 feet ; a strong head wind reduced the height to just above ground level. With a light northerly wind and slight haze, the height was 250 feet and over ; sometimes the birds were invisible and only their call-notes were heard. Call-notes. — With the exception of Starlings, Jackdaws, Lapwings, Wood-Pigeons, Swallows and Sand-Martins all species called frequently. Dates. — The earliest date of migration noted was October 7th, 1949. The latest November 7th in both 1947 and 1948 ; these late dates may be linked with winter weather movement. The last three weeks in October showed the most activity. Numbers and Size of flocks. — As a single observer on a 500 yards front, I found it impossible to make accurate counts on days of full migration. Rough counts were taken for five minute periods and the average converted to an hourly basis. Finches tended to intermingle, also Sky-Larks and Meadow-Pipits. Other species travelled alone. Generally speaking the finer the weather the larger were the flocks ; rough winds reduced flocks to a few birds. Finches and Sky-Larks were in flocks of 10-80, Starlings 20-500, Lapwings 10-200, Jackdaws 100-700, and Wood-Pigeons 200. The hourly rate of each species varied from a few to 7,000. Peak days for Chaffinches in 1947 were October 12th, 13th, i8th, 19th, November 7th ; in 1949 October 14th, 24th, 25th, 30tli ; on these dates hourly rates were between 4,000 and 6,000. Starling peak days were November 7th, 1948, and October 30th, 1949, with hourly rates 6,000-7,000. Sky-Larks’ normal hourly rate was 700-1,000, with a peak of 3,500 on November 7th, 1948. Meadow-Pipits were observed at about one tenth the rate of Sky- Larks. Lapwings were seen four times on October i8th and 19th, November 6th, 1947, November 7th, 1948, with hourly rates 10-40. Small flocks of Linnets, Reed-Buntings, Greenfinches, Yellow Buntings and Redpolls mixed with Chaffinch flocks. VOL. XLiii.] MIGRATION ALONG BRISTOL CHANNEL 273 A flock of over 200 Wood-Pigeons flying due south at about 400 ft. was seen on October 28th, 1949. About 400 Redwings and 100 Fieldfares were seen in half-an-hour on October 30th, 1949. Large flocks, 100-700, of Jackdaws were seen flying due south at about 500 ft. on October 30th and 31st, 1949. The numbers seen were far in excess of the local population. 6 Swallows were recorded on October 12th, 1947, and 2 Sand-Martins on October 30th, 1949. About 250 Goldfinches were seen in half-an-hour on October 25th, 1949. 4 Blue Tits were seen on October 25th, 1949 ; in half-an-hour they made 3 attempts to fly into a strong wind, rising to about 300 ft. and then returning to their take off place. They had dis- appeared 2 hours later. Origin. — There would appear to be several possible sources of this movement, (i) A continuation of the south-west movement seen by Lack, which might be expected to turn south if it reaches the Bristol Channel. (2) A continuation of the south-west move- ment noted by Raines along the Trent valley. (3) A continuation of the southerly movement reported [antea, vol. xlii, p. 225) in the Forest of Dean which may cross the river Severn. (4) A direct route south from the Cheshire coast to the east bank of the Severn. (5) A combination of the above. Points of Concentration. — 500 yards inland of mean high watermark, easily observed from the south end of the Esplanade at Burnham-on-Sea and the junction of the Huntspill River with the River Parrett. Destination. — Due to the lack of time and petrol I have been unable to observe north of Weston-super-Mare or south of Pawlett, where migrants have been still heading south towards Bridgwater, showing no tendency to cross the River Parrett westwards towards Minehead. The alternatives would appear to be (i) a turn west following -the north coast of Somerset, Devon and Cornwall, {2) a continuation south to the south coast, (3) a dispersal. Summary. In autumn a vast flow of diurnal migration occurs southward in Somerset ; its origin and destination must be filled in by those interested. Any information that I am able to supply will be most gladly given. REFERENCES. Lack, D. and E. (1949). Passerine Migration through England. British Birds, vol. xlii, pp. 320-325. Raines, R. J. H. (1950). Observations on passage migration in the Trent valley and inland migration. British Birds, vol. xliii, pp. 97-112. (274) FURTHER NOTES ON PASSERINE MIGRATION THROUGH ENGLAND. Compiled by J. D. Wood. The publication [antea, vol. xlii, pp. 320-326) of the Lacks’ paper on passerine migration through England has elicited a number of comments from readers of British Birds, which are summarized briefly in this paper. Observations in the Midlands have already been described by Simms {antea, pp. 241-250 ), and two papers published in this number record migratory movements in S.E. Ireland (Goodbody) and Somerset (Holt). It is hoped that these four papers will stimulate further observation during the coming migration season. It should be made clear at the outset that the term “ barrier,” used in the original paper of such natural features as the Zuyder Zee, the Chilterns and the Berkshire Downs, should not be taken in too literal or absolute a sense. It was not intended to suggest that the Berkshire Downs present an insuperable barrier to migrating birds, but rather that the steep escarpment deflects the migrants from their course and thus produces a concentrated and narrow stream which can be observed at suitable localities and in the right conditions. In this connexion it may be worth mentioning that Mr. C. A. Norris has drawn attention to ” numerous reports of birds, mostly Meadow-Pipits {Anthus pratensis)” moving south along the edge of the Malvern Hills. These hills form a very marked north-south ” barrier,” but they are certainly not an insuperable one, for in the winter of 1933-34 Starlings {SUirnus vulgaris) were observed twice daily crossing the hills from east to west, or vice versa — usually at the lowest convenient point- — en route to and from their roost. Further observation on these hills would be of interest, and it would not be surprising if it brought to light a migratory, as distinct from a daily, movement of Starlings following the same line as that already noted for Meadow-Pipits. The notes and comments received come from a number of different areas. In a short summary of what are in fact isolated observations it is difficult to avoid giving the impression of a much closer connex- ion between them than is actually proved to exist. Movements at two points on the same range of hills may ultimately prove to be unconnected, and at this stage the connexion between movements at widely separated points can only be tentatively suggested. For convenience, however, the records must be grouped together, at the risk of making more definite suggestions than our knowledge really warrants. Movements on the East Coast Dr. Stuart Smith has drawn our attention to his paper (1934) on early autumnal migration on the east coast, in which he records observations made on the south-east side of the Wash between August 5th and i8th, 1934. Here much of the movement observed VOL. XLiii.] NOTES ON PASSERINE MIGRATION 275 was southerly, following the coast-line from Hunstanton to the mouth of the Great Ouse. The species observed were principally waders, with which we are not primarily concerned, but he also records numbers of hirundines and Swifts [Apus apus). The former were seen to follow the coast in a southerly direction if the wind came from that quarter, but to fly in the reverse direction when the wind was N.E. Swifts were not so noticeably affected by the wind, their direction remaining southerly even in a N.E. wind. He records that on August 17th “ the evening sky was at times black with passing Swifts ; among a large flock on this day were seen three Alpine Swifts [Apus melba)”. He suggests that the movements which he observed may have involved birds coming either from the Lincolnshire coast across the mouth of the Wash, or from further east along the Norfolk coast, which they follow until it takes them into the Wash at Hunstanton. On the latter route Riviere (1914) made some interesting observations at Hun- stanton in November, 1912 and October, 1913. “ Three big autumnal rushes ” were recorded, the species involved being almost entirely passerines, including many of those recorded by the Lacks on the Chilterns and Berkshire Downs. Riviere suggests that these migrants “ proceed inland, probably along the course of the Ouse or Nene Stuart Smith {in litt.) draws particular attention to the Ouse “ as a ‘ conduit ’ leading south-west and later continued by the line of the chalk escarpments he thus suggests that the origin of the Chilterns-Berkshire Downs route is in the Wash. The Chilterns and Berkshire Downs. Dunstable Downs. Attention has already been drawn {antea, vol. xlii, p. 325 ; vol. xliii, p. 263) to the possibilities of Dunstable Downs as an observation point on the Chilterns to the north-east of the localities already investigated. Dr. Stuart Smith informs us that some years ago he visited this spot regularly in October and found that all the passage movement was in a south-westerly direction along the scarp. Birds particularly noted were hirundines, Starling, Chaffinch {Fringilla ccelebs), once a lot of Bramblings {F. montifringilla) , Sky-Larks {Alauda arvensis), Fieldfares {Turdus pilaris) and Redwings {T. musicus). He has also, incidentally, pointed out that the fame of this area as a haunt of Sky-Larks goes back considerably earlier than Pennant’s time. Beacon Hill. Dr. Lack has made the following comment on an observation already recorded {antea, vol. xlii, p. 322): “On October 22nd, 1948, at Beacon Hill on the Chilterns, we observed migrating flocks of Chaffinches moving in two directions, in the one case S.W. along the escarpment, and in the other case nearly due west over the Oxford plain. We thought at the time that * Lt.-Col. J. K. Stanford informs us that the Rev. J. E. Kelsall " made a lot of observations about migration from the Wash south-westwards across England along the larger river valleys.” Simms in his recent paper has produced some evidence of a link between the Wash and the Cptswold route which he describes, 276 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XLIII. this might be a result of the strong S.W. wind, but in view of the parallel observations in Warwickshire {antea, p. 264) it now seems more likely that two different migration streams were involved. On the Berkshire Downs, where most of our observations were made, the two streams would not be separate, as the S.W. stream would be deflected west.” Goring Gap. It was not known last year whether the birds following the line of the Chilterns turned west or south on arriving at the Goring Gap. The following note by D. and E. Lack is therefore of interest : — ” We paid one visit in October, 1949, to the Goring Gap, and found that the birds were crossing the Gap from the north- east and then turning more to the west. There was no trace of movement up the Gap from the south-east. More visits should be paid to this area, but it does not look as if the Goring Gap is much used by passerines on autumn migration.” Berkshire Downs. J. A. Gibb paid two visits to the Berkshire Downs in October, 1949, and saw much less migration than in the previous autumn. This agrees with the observations in M'arwickshire {antea, p. 242). Destination. G. C. S. Ingram and H. Morrey Salmon have challenged the suggestion previously made that the Chilterns-Berkshire Downs route is connected with movements on the N. Devon coast. 'I'hev have themselves observed a movement of hirundines , Starlings and Sky-Larks between the end of August and the beginning of Novem- ber ” passing along the breast of a range of low hills three miles north of the centre of Cardiff. The passage of Sky-Larks, directed from between north and east to between south and west, is especially noticeable in October and early November, the birds passing in ones and twos and small parties of up to 30 following each other at short intervals.” They suggest that this line may be connected with the Chiltern route. In a letter published in the present issue, Mr. E. W. Hendy produces some further evidence in support of the Lacks’ suggestion. Coastal Movements in Wales and Devon.* Headley (1920) and Ticehurst (1919) record movements at Bardsey Island, Caernarvonshire. The former observed numbers of small passerines. Starlings, Chaffinches, Linnets (Carduelis canna- bina) and Sky-Larks moving south. Ticehurst records that he and Col. Stanford saw wagtails moving on this course, but Swallows (Hirundo rustica) and pipits were usually seen to turn east over the island and make for a point on the south coast of the Lleyn *In my notebook I have the following : 1918. Oct. 30. Great Orme’s Head, Llandudno. “There was a ver}’ definite movement of Chaffinclies which passed in bunches of from 4 or 5 to 20 or 30 from east and north to west. I must have seen many hundreds in a few hours.” T. A. Coward, in “Birds of the British Isles," comments on this (Ser. Ill, ]>. 99, 1950 Ed.) and adds : “ evidently arriving by a tliagonal rout(“ from the Lancashire shore.” .\.W.B, VOL. XLiii.] NOTES ON PASSERINE MIGRATION. 277 peninsula. Messrs. Ingram and Salmon have informed us that Prof. J. H. Salter frequently recorded southerly movements on the coast of Cardiganshire near Aberystwyth. These were particularly strong in October and early November — and later as hard- weather move- ments— and the principal species involved were Chaffinch and Sky-Lark. In Pembrokeshire “ immense flocks of Chaffinches arrive in October coming down over Cardigan Bay from the north- west . . . Ringed individuals trapped in Pembrokeshire in winter have been recovered subsequently in Belgium.” [Birds of Pembrokeshire, p. 42.) . Mr. R. M. Lockley has also drawn our attention to this point and to the record published by him [antea, vol. xxvii, pp. 200-201) of ” a very heavy diurnal migration of birds coming in from the W. and W.N.W., all along the Pembrokeshire coast from Linney Head to St. David’s Head ” between October 20th and 31st, 1933. Species involved included Rook [Corvus frugilegus), Jackdaw (C. monedula), Starling, many finches, including Greenfinch [Chloris chloris), Linnet and, on October 21st, two Serins [Serinus canarius). Another Serin has recently been observed in apparently similar circumstances (p. 294). Mr. Lockley goes on to mention that this movement ‘‘ takes place (regularly) throughout October and involves Blue and Great Tits [Parus cceruleus and major), but these curiously enough appear to be moving west, whereas the finches are flying from N.W. to S.E. This migration always includes Bramblings, but they do not sta}’ in numbers in Pembrokeshire, whereas the Greenfinches, Linnets, Goldfinches [Carduelis carduelis) and Chaffinches do.” Mr. G. C. S. Ingram suggests that this movement continues across the Bristol Channel to the coast of N. Devon, and in this connexion it is interesting to have the following record from Mr. A. S. Cutcliffe of observations at Lundy : ” In 1946 some 700 to 900 Chaffinches were noted coming in to the island from the north on October 19th. I remember seeing many parties of the birds leaving the south end of Lundy just after day-break each morning and flying out towards Hartland and/or the N. Devon coast.” The same observer reports the following from the N. Devon coast ; ” October 22nd and 25th, 1944. Dozens of passerine birds, including Chaffinches, flying to the eastward over Hillsborough Hill, Ilfra- combe.” ‘‘ October 26th, 1944. From 8.30 to 9.30 parties of 20, 60, 80 to 120 finches of various species, Yellowhammers [Emberiza citrinella), .Song-Thrushes [Turdus ericetonim) and Blackbirds [T. merula) (but principally Chaffinches), flying both east and west along the coast, and still passing at 9.30. Several thousands of birds were involved. At 17.00 several groups of finches, one of 40, flying west.” ” October 30th and 31st. Many finches and Starlings flying both east and west, but chiefly to the eastward.” “In 1949 I have recorded many large parties of small birds, chiefl}^ Chaffinches and Yellowhammers, with a few Great Tits, flying west along the coastal fields of N. Devon and N. Cornwall, 278 BRITISH BIRDS. [vOL. XUII. particularly on that part of the coast to the west of Hartland Point. On October 13th, during a car run from Ilfracombe to Boscastle many parties were observed, but on the return run, which took us inland several miles, very few birds were seen. On October 27th a particularly large number of small passerines, chiefly Chaffinches, but a small number of Linnets, Yellowhammers and Great Tits also, was seen flying east over the fields near Ilfracombe.” Other Areas. Cotswolds. Messrs. B. King and N. W. Moore have sent notes on observations made at Frocester, Glos., on October 30th, 1949. There is evidence of some movement of Chaffinches south-westwards along the steep escarpment, but no movement was observed at lower points or on the flat country between the Cotswolds and the Severn. D. Lack reports that he visited Birdlip in early August, 1949, and found many hirundines migrating south along the top of this high ridge. Both these localities are, of course, to the south of the area covered by Simms. Sevenoaks. Mr. B. M. Stratton informs us that for the past ten years or more he has noticed a migratory movement over Ightham, near Sevenoaks, Kent. Birds pass on ‘‘ a course between S.S.W and W.S.W., which takes them over the top of the Lower Greensand which runs roughly due east and west and rises to over 500 feet between Ivy Hatch and Sevenoaks.” Species involved include Meadow-Pipit, from mid-September for about a month, and in October Sky-Larks, which follow a westerly route. Pied Wagtails {Motacilla alba yarrellii) on a southerly route and Chaffinches on a ” middle course.” Some Bramblings often accompany the Chaffinches. Wood-Pigeons [Columha palumbus) follow the same line. It is not clear whether this line has any connexion with the Thames route described by W. E. Glegg (1928) or with passage movements of Meadow-Pipits and Sky-Larks observed higher up the Thames at Reading. Channel Islands. Mr. R. M. Lockley writes : ” Where I am living now, at the N.E. point of Jersey, a heavy migration is daily seen in October, flying south over the north coast, including Brambling, Redwing and Fieldfare especially, as well as all the other species recorded on the Chiltern-Berkshire Downs route {antea, vol. xlii, p. 324). Great and Blue Tits appear in numbers on all the islands of the Channel group, even the treeless outliers, from July onwards to November, and must be immigrants from the Continent.” REFERENCES. Glegg, W. E. (1928). The Thames as a bird-migration route. London Naturalist, 1928, pp. 3-15. Headley, F. W. (1920). iMigration notes from Bardsey Island, October, 1919. British Birds, vol. xiii, pp. 284-291. Riviere, B. B. (1914). Birds migrating northwards in October. British Birds, vol. viii, pp. 109-171. Stuart Smith (1934). Early autumnal migration on the east coast. Naturalist, Dec., 1934, pp- 267-271. Ticehurst, N. F. (1919). The Birds of Bardsey Island (Pt. 2). British Birds, vol. xiii, p. 69. (279) THE LITTLE RINGED PLOVER IN GREAT BRITAIN IN 1949. BY E. R. Parrinder The Little Ringed Plover [Charadrius dubius) has now firmly established itself as a summer resident in England. In 1949 at least twenty-seven pairs spent the summer at fifteen localities in eight counties ; eighteen pairs are known to have bred and at least fifty-one chicks were hatched. There was a further extension of breeding range and birds nested for the first time in Sussex and Buckinghamshire and in new localities in Kent and Berkshire. As well as the occurrences in the counties where nesting took place odd birds were seen in Devon (one near Exe Estuary, April 3-12, antea, vol. xlii, p. 252) ; Surrey (two by Pen Ponds, Richmond Park, July i6th, H. P. Medhurst) ; Norfolk (one at Cley, Sept, ist and one at Blakeney, Sept. 6th, Report of Norfolk Naturalists’ Trust for 1949, p. 30) ; Northamptonshire (one at Daventry Reservoirs, Sept, nth, M. J. Ardley) ; Nottinghamshire (one a few miles east of Nottingham, May 22nd ; one near Nottingham, June 7th, per J. Staton) ; Pembrokeshire (one at Dale, May i6th, antea, p. 92) ; Cheshire (one at Altrincham Sewage Earm, April i8th, antea, p. 132) ; and Skye (three on the shore of Loch Brittle on June 3rd, antea, p. 131). Most of the nesting sites were at gravel pits, as in previous years, but nests were also found in a chalk pit and by a brackish lagoon close to the sea. I am grateful to James Eerguson-Lees, Eric Gillham and Ralph Chislett for allowing me to incorporate material collated by them for Sussex, Kent (locality “ B ”) and Yorkshire respectively; to the observers named in the text ; and to the following members of the London Natural History Society : — J. A. Bailey, L. Baker, N. A. G. H. Beal, T. Bispham, R. da Cunha, K. V. Elphinstone, D. Goodwin, R. S. M. Green, P. J. Hayman, R. W. Hayman, C. Hughes, A. E. Jolley, Lady E. S. Jones, G. E. Manser, A. R. Mead-Briggs, H. P. Medhurst, W. N. Mitchell, H. Moore, E. T. Nicholson, D. E. Owen, E. G. Pedler, B. A. Richards, H. Rudd, W. G. Teagle, A. G. G. Thompson, E. Warmington, C. A. White, W. H. D. Wince, P. E. Yeo. Sussex As already briefly recorded by J. Walpole-Bond {antea, vol. xlii, p. 252) two pairs of Little Ringed Plovers nested in 1949 at the site where a pair had been seen in 1948. Three flying young belonging to the first pair (see loc. cit.) were watched on June 26th (I. J. Eerguson-Lees) and three well-grown chicks of the second pair on July 3rd (L. P. Alder). Neither the adults nor young of the first pair could be found on July 17th, but the young of the other pair 2«0 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XLIII. were flying (l.J.F.-L.). On Julj^ 20th, in the area of the first pair, J. Reynolds watched two adults in charge of a chick in down, not more than one or two days old. It is possible that this chick was from a second brood of one or other of the known pairs, but the unsuspected presence of a third pair cannot be entirely excluded. An odd bird had been seen in the early part of the summer, but only on one occasion (May 14th) and in the area of the second pair. No birds were seen on July 23rd or 25th, one only on July 26th and then none until August 21st, when an immature was seen. The last occurrence was a single adult on August 25th. Pett Level : Two on April 24th and one on May 15th (R. Cooke, per N. F. Ticehurst). Hove ; One seen on May 5th, appeared to come in from over the sea (J. Walpole-Bond). Rye Harbour : A Little Ringed Plover was seen here on August I2th-i3th (E. M. Cawkell et al.) and two on August 20th (P. J. Hayman). Kent Locality “ A ” (Bred 1947) : A Little Ringed Plover was seen here on May 5th and 8th, but not subsequently (R. C. Homes, F. J. Holroyde). Locality “ B ” : Two pairs of Little Ringed Plovers bred at a pit in North Kent, a new locality. Two birds were seen in the pit on April 28th, and on May 14th it was established that two pairs were present. In the latter half of May a third pair is thought to have frequented the pit for at least fourteen days. A nest was found and robbed, not by an ornithologist, on May i8th. The nest of another pair was found on May 22nd. A third nest located on June ist was probably a replacement nest of the first pair, but just possibly belonged to the elusive third pair. A maximum of six young hatched out (one egg was stolen by a collector just before hatching) but it is not known for certain how many of these reached the free- flying stage. On June 26th only two pairs, both with small young, were in the pit and these remained until the middle of July. No Little Ringed Plovers were seen in the pit on August 7th, but J. F. Burton saw five by a pool near by. Essex Locality “ A ” : Six pairs of Little Ringed Plovers frequented this site, as in 1948. The first arrival was a single bird on March 27th. By April 3rd at least five Little Ringed Plovers had come in and two pairs had taken up territory. On April i6th the presence of six pairs was confirmed and several birds were displaying ; coition was first seen on April 24th. A nest with four eggs was found (only a few yards from the site of one of the previous years’ nests) on May 8th ; this nest had just hatched on May 29th when the four young were found huddled in the scrape. The nest of another pair, also with four eggs, was found on May 22nd ; the eggs were still being incubated on May 29th, but their subsequent history is not VOL. XLiii.] LITTLE RINGED PLOVER IN 1949 281 known. Two of the other pairs were seen with chicks — one with four on June 5th and the other brooding three small young on June 19th. The remaining two pairs probably bred, but proof was not obtained. All Little Ringed Plovers had left the locality by July 30th. Locality “ B ” : Little Ringed Plovers were first observed at this site in 1948. In 1949, five birds were seen together on May 22nd and it was thought that six almost certainly and probably eight or ten were present. Five well-developed young, not yet flying, were found on May 26th ; two were together, but the rest were in different parts of the pit and from the number and behaviour of the adults present it was considered that the young belonged to four distinct broods (J. A. Nelder). Soon after this date the main pit was flooded and only one bird was seen on the next visit, June 6th, and two on July 9th. Other localities : Two Little Ringed Plovers were feeding on the waterline of the King George Reservoir on April nth, and one was seen at the Walthamstow reservoirs on May 19th. One at a Lea Valley gravel pit on May 12th, and two at a pool in another part of Essex on July 2nd and one at the same place the next day. One was seen at the Abberton Reservoirs on April 20th (R. V. A. Marshall, antea, pp. 22-3), and two on September 24th (M. J. Ardley). Hertfordshire Locality “ A ” (Tring Reservoirs) : The high water level in 1949 made the reservoirs unsuitable for breeding. On passage one was seen on April i8th (B. Sage), two on April 24th (R. H. Ryall) and two on September 4th (H. H. S. Hayward). Locality “ B ” : None seen in 1949. Locality “ C ” : Two seen at a gravel pit on April 23rd may well have been those seen at Tring the following day (A. C. Frost). Locality “ D ” : Three at a gravel pit on July 9th were seen daily at this or at an adjacent pit until July 14th (E. H. Warmington et al.). Middlesex Locality “ A ” (Bred 1945 and 1946) : none seen in 1949. Locality “ B ” (Bred 1947 and 1948) : none seen in 1949. Locality " C ” : It can now be disclosed that this site, the main stronghold of Little Ringed Plovers in Middlesex in 1946 and 1947, was the gravelly bed of the King George VI Reservoir at Staines, then under construction. The reservoir was completed and filled in the autumn of 1947. Locality “ D ” (Bred 1948) : Two, possibly three. Little Ringed Plovers were seen in April and June, but there was no evidence of breeding. Locality “ E ” (Bred 1947 and 1948) : Two Little Ringed Plovers were seen at this site on April loth. A nest with four eggs was found 2H2 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XLIII. on April 29th and four newly hatched young were seen on May 21st ; all four were ringed on June ist. One of the young was seen with an adult on June 6th and on June 13th one of two birds seen in flight may have been a juvenile. No more was seen of the young birds and on June 30th another nest was found with four eggs. The eggs were still being incubated on July 3rd and loth, but unfortun- ately no visits were made to the site after the latter date. From the scanty evidence it is impossible to say whether the second laying was a replacement or a genuine second brood, or even the nest of a second pair — four adults were seen at the locality on one occasion and three on two others. Locality “ F ” (Bred 1948) ; Little Ringed Plovers were first seen at this site on April i8th. On April 29th a nest with one egg was found and the clutch had increased to four by May 8th. On May 22nd the clutch had disappeared, but there were two eggs in another nest (of the same pair) five to ten yards away. On May 29th there were four eggs in the second nest, but two were broken. On June 5th the broken eggs had disappeared and the other two were cold and deserted. A third nest, with three eggs, was found close by on June 9th and was still being incubated on June 23rd. It is not known if the three eggs hatched successfully, but throughout July the adults behaved as if young were present. Locality “ G ” (Present 1948) ; A pair bred at this site despite the disturbance caused by the harrowing of part of the nesting area and by lorries bringing material to a tip. The nest was not found, but three young, about one week old, were seen on July loth and two were caught and ringed. Locality “ H ” (Bred 1948) ; Gravel pit filled in July, 1948. Locality “ J ” (Bred 1948) : Two birds were seen on April loth and one on May ist, but not subsequently. Locality “ K ” : At this gravel pit, a new site, a Little Ringed Plover was seen on April 17th and 29th and on May 2nd, 5th and 13th. Other Localities : A Little Ringed Plover was seen by the R. Colne on March 27th and one-two at the same place in April and early May. At the Staines reservoirs one to three were seen between .\pril nth and May 8th, two on July nth and i6th and one to four between August 20th and September 3rd. One was seen at Perry Oaks sewage farm on May 28th and two on May 29th ; one to three seen throughout July and until August i6th were working between the sewage farm and the neighbouring London Airport and may possibly have bred by a gravelly stream on the airfield ; the latest date was September 14th, when one was seen at the sewage farm. Berkshire Locality “ A ” : At the site where nesting took place in 1947, two first seen on May loth stayed for several days and then left. On June 2ist four were seen ; on July loth one adult with two juveniles, on July 19th three adults and four juveniles and four to six bii'is VOL. XLiii.J LITTLE RINGED PLOVER IN 1949. 283 stayed until July 24th. Thereafter none was seen until August 30th, when two juveniles arrived ; the last occurrence was a single bird on September 14th (J. Field, A. C. Fraser, C. M. Veysey et al.). Locality “ B ” : A Little Ringed Plover was seen at a new locality, a large gravel pit, on April 29th. Two birds were present on May 4th and a nest with four eggs was found on May 21st. The eggs were still intact on June 12th (when a third adult, which stayed until June 17th, was seen) but the nest was empty on the evening of June 15th. A chick was seen on June 17th and two on June 29th. On July 14th both adults were watched with three young, capable of flight. Two Little Ringed Plovers, both believed to be adults, were seen on July 20th, but none after this date (C. E. Douglas, F. C. Gribble, Miss A. Hervey, F. Hamblin). Buckinghamshire Two, possibly three, adults were seen and a nest with three eggs was found at a gravel pit on June 9th. The nest was empty on June 25th and only one adult was seen ; none was seen on two subsequent visits (J. Field). Suffolk Locality “ A ” (Minsmere Level) : One pair nested, as in 1948. A complete clutch of three eggs was found on April 28th the chicks came to grief soon after hatching, but on June 4th, it was found that a repeat clutch of four eggs had been laid in exactly the same scrape. These eggs hatched June 23rd/24th and four well-grown young were observed with the adults on July nth. The latest record was three birds on August ist (P. E. Brown, Report of R.S.P.B., 1949, P- 27). Locality “ B ” : Eour birds were seen at this site on April 15th and display flights watched. Only two were seen on April 30th, but the site was not visited subsequently and it is not known if breeding took place (R. G. Pettitt). Locality. “ C ” : At this site, near to the coast, two birds were seen on April loth and later a clutch of four eggs was found. All the eggs hatched, but it is not known whether the young reached the free-flying stage (S. C. Porter). Locality " D At an inland site, near Bury St. Edmunds, a single Little Ringed Plover was seen between June 4th and i8th. It flew away in a southerly direction on June i8th and was not seen subsequently (A. E. Vine). Yorkshire The following is compiled by Ralph Chislett from detailed notes of F. R. Allison, K. Brown, K. Dawson, D. Leaver and M. F. M. Meiklejohn. Two birds were first seen on April 29th in the same area where the species bred in 1948 ; and on a number of occasions during May behaviour suggested breeding. On May 22nd D.L. found a nest with four eggs ; this was located independently by K.B. on May 28th. Subsequent watching revealed three birds in flight near to the site on May 30th and June ist. 284 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XLIII. On June 6th K.B. found two newly-hatched chicks in the nest and one egg. The nest was found empty on June 8th by D.L., F.R.A. and K.D. ; and the pair of birds, although present, were undemon- strative. No young were seen again that could have resulted from this laying. Between the dates June 8th and 29th D.L. noted Little Ringed Plovers about two other possible sites within less than a mile of the original nest. At one place (site of the 1948 nest) up to five scrapes were found ; a Pied Wagtail was chased away ; display flights and much chasing play was noted, four adults taking part on the 22nd which did not “ pair off ”, but seemed to be equal in status. At the third place two Ringed Plovers {Charadrius hiaticula) joined three Little Ringed Plovers in the chasing play on June 29th. On June 29th one of three birds that called loudly over adjacent water flew to the ground near to the former (1949) nesting site. On August 2nd K.B. saw an adult Little Ringed Plover there run swiftly, followed by a chick in down ; and on August 3rd he caught a chick in down. Whether this chick had resulted from a second laying, as is probable, or from the breeding of a second pair, as is possible, remains in doubt. Meanwhile, evidence of extension of the species in Yorkshire had been secured by M.F.M.M., who on May 4th had seen a pair of Little Ringed Plovers about another area of ground some miles away ; which birds on June i8th and 19th called and behaved as if they had young ; but young were not seen. M.F.M.M. further noted a bird without wing-bar on May i6th, from a railway carriage window, by water a number of miles distant from any of the above areas. One pair certainly, another pair almost certainly, and a third pair possibly — perhaps even a fourth — bred in Yorkshire in 1949. BRITISH RECOVERIES OF BIRDS RINGED ABROAD. COMMUNICATED BY E. P. LEACH. The recoveries of Starling {Sturnus vulgaris), Black-headed Gull {Larus ridibundus), Common Gull {Larus canus), and Teal [Anas crecca) from Dutch decoys, are too numerous to be included. To the list of Ringing Stations already published*, one not previously concerned has to be added : — Abbreviation Inscription on ring Organisation Director used Rome Federcaccia C.O.N.I. Federazione Italiana Dr. Mario Rotondi della Caccia, Rome * Vol. XXV, pp. Ill and 112, with additions in vols. xxvi, p. 352; xxviii p. 106 ; xxix, p. 132 ; xxxiii, p. 63 ; xxxviii, p. 222. VOL. XLIII.] BRITISH RECOVERIES OF BIRDS. 285 HOODED CROW {Corvus cornix) RINGED AS YOUNG Ringed Recovered G. D16790 Giivle, Sweden 27.6.46 Honicastle (Lines.) ROOK (Corvus Jrtigilegus) RINGED AS YOUNG Ringed Recovered H. 588548 Segeborg, Schleswig- 18.5.41 Eramlingham Holstein (Suffolk) LINNET (Carduelis cannabina) RINGED AS FULL-GROWN. BREEDING-PLACE UNCERTAIN Ringed Recovered P. HA1834 St. Laurent (Gironde) 5.11.46 Hay ling Island France (Hants.) WILLOW- WARBLER (Phylloscopus trochilus) RINGED AS YOUNG Ringed Recovered G. A95477 Sundsvall, Eastern 29.6.49 Spurn Head Sweden [62°23'N., (Yorks.) 17°2i'E.] SONG-THRUSH (Turdus ericctoruni) RINGED AS YOUNG Ringed Recovered L. D63208 Hoeven, N. Brabant, 10.7.46 Braunton Holland (Devon) RINGED AS FULL-GROWN Ringed Recovered I.. D63092 Aerdenhout. N. Holland 16.6.46 Woodbridge (Suffolk) BLACKBIRD (Turdus merula) RINGED AS YOUNG Ringed Recovered H. 6099017 Melle, Hanover, 29.7.39 Felixstowe German}^ (Suffolk) G. B30249 Skovde, Vastergotland, 21.7.45 Avoca (Wicklow) Sweden RINGED AS MIGRANTS - Ringed Recovered H 71 16059 Heligoland 1.3.42 Charleville (Cork) H. 6149093 E. Frisian Is. 20. 10.48 Ballygarvan (Cork) WHEATEAR (CEnanthe esnanthe) RINGED AS YOUNG Ringed Recovered C. 872203 South-west Greenland 6.7.48 Letchworth [ca. 62° N.] (Herts.) PEREGRINE FALCON (Falco peregrinus) RINGED AS YOUNG Ringed Recovered St. TA6614 Hallefors, Vastmanland, 20.6.46 Escrick (Yorks.) i Sweden G. D39413 Str&valla, Halland, 1 6.6.46 South Molton Sweden (Devon) KESTREL (Falco tinnunculus) RINGED AS FULL-GROWN Ringed Recovered Slav. 61316 Jaeren, Norway 30.9.46 Dunton (Bedford) 12.1.47 7.10.41 27.2.48 3.10.49 28.2.47 10.2.47 3.3.48 23-3-47 — .1.48 6. 1 2.49 23.5.49 1.11.47 30.1.47 19.12.46 286 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XLIII. HERON (Ardea ctnerea) RINGED AS YOUNG Ringed Recovered 0. 010866 Egersund, S. Norway 10.6.44 Bressay, Shetland winter, 1944-45 or 1945-46 o. 011983 Ditto 6.6.39 Papa Westray, Orkney 13-340 0. 022527 Ditto 7.6.45 Stronsay, Orkney 20.3.49 0. 61 5 1 Ditto 1 2.6.41 Scalpsie Bay, Bute winter, 1941-42 0. 026482 Ditto 3.6.47 Tyninghame (E. Lothian) i.i 1.47 0. 026488 Ditto 3.6.47 Cleveland (Yorks.) — -9-47 0. 026437 Ditto 1.6.47 Donegal 30.12.47 0. 026461 Ditto 3.6.47 Glenties (Donegal) winter, 1947-48 WHOOPER SWAN (Cvgt7us cygnus) RINGED AS YOUNG Ringed Recovered Rk. 1.49 South Iceland 24.7.44 Grogary, S. Uist — .1.48 WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE {Ansev albifi-ons) RINGED AS YOUNG IN WESTERN GREENLAND Ringed Recovered C. I Bird 1946 Moray Firth, Scotland 1947-48 c. 1 Bird 1946 Co. Meath, Ireland 1947-48 c. I Bird 1946 Co. Roscommon 1948-49 c. 1 1 Birds 1947 Co. Wexford 1947-48 and 1948-49 c. 4 Birds 1947 Co. Clare and Galway 1947-48 and 1948-49 c. 2 Birds 1947 Co. Leitrim and Longford 1947-48 c. I Bird 1947 Co. Tipperary 1948-49 c. I Bird 1947 Caithness 1948-49 c. 12 Birds 1948 Co. Wexford 1948-49 c. I Bird 1948 Co. Galwa}' 1948-49 c. 1 Bird 1948 Co. Longford 1948-49 c. I Bird 1948 . Offaly 1948-49 c. I Bird 1948 Co. Mayo 1948-49 RINGED AS FULL-GROWN IN WESTERN ' GREENLAND Ringed Recovered c. I Bird 1946 Co. Westmeatli date unknown c. 4 Birds 1947 Co. Wexford 1947-48 and 1948-49 c. I Bird 1947 Co. Galway 1947-48 c. I Bird 1947 Co. Donegal 1947-48 c. I Bird 1948 Co. Wexford 1948-49 MALLARD (Anas platyrhyncha) RINGED AS 1 YOUNG Ringed Recovered /y.c. 9773 West Finland 22.7.48 N. Wootton (tving-clip) [63° 2' N., 23“ 28'E.] (Norfolk) 16.1.49 St. T8180 Sandhem, Vastergotland 4.8.46 S. Killingholme Sweden (Lines.) 10.11.48 VOL. xmi.j BRITISH RECOVERIES OF BIRDS. 287 TEAL {Anas crecca) RINGED AS YOUNG Ringed Recovered M. 1115 90E Lake Ilmen, W. Russia 8.7.48 Oxford 27.9.48 M. 1 1 1 307E Ditto 20.7.47 Maddenstown (Kildare) — •11-47 Rh. 4A927 North Iceland 23.7.48 Burgh-by-Sands (Cumb.) 2.10.48 Rk. 4A926 Ditto 25.7.48 Galway 20.11.48 Rk. 4A879 Ditto ^1-lAl Macroom (Cork) 8.2.48 Sv.J.F. 14880 Storlien, Jamtland, 29.7.48 Borough Fen (tving-clip) Sweden (Northants.) 24.1.49 GARGANEY (Anas querqnedtila) RINGED FROM DECOY Ringed Recovered L. 209566 Piaam, Friesland 16.847 Buxton (Norfolk) 25.11.47 L. 209847 Ditto 1.8.47 Ballymena (Antrim) 19. 11.47 WIGEON (Anas penelope) RINGED AS YOUNG Ringed Recovered M. 4384D2 Lake Ilmen, W. Russia 20.7.47 1. of Sheppey (Kent) 5.10.47 Rk. 4.2822 Myvatn, N. Iceland 29.7.47 Wressle (E. Yorks.) 14.2.48 Rk. 4A840 Ditto 28.6.47 Othery (Somerset) 8.1.49 Rk. 4J373 West Iceland 27.7.48 Solway, Scotland24.i 1.49 Sv.J .h. 992 Arvidsjaur, Swedish 22.7.47 Alnmouth {iving-clip) Lapland (Northumb.) 28.10.47 PINTAIL (A nas acuta) RINGED AS FULL-GROWN Ringed Recovered M. D134387 Astrakhan Reserve, 2.8.48 Tullamore Russia (Offaly) 2.1.49 U.S. .A. Hamilton Inlet, 1 9.8.48 Stoke Gabriel 48-620729 Labrador (Devon) 15.9.48 TUFTED DUCK (Aythya fuligula) KINGED AS YOUNG IN ICELAND Rk. A000243 St. J ames’ Park, London 1948 Rk. B000145 25.7.49 Keyhaven (Hants.) 29. 10.49 Rk. 4.2987 18.7.47 Portmadoc, N. Wales 25.12.47 Rk. 4.2834 9-lAl L. Neagh (Antrim) 23.12.47 Rk. 4.2996 18.7.47 Ditto 10.1.48 Rk. 4.2936 ^A-lAl L. Ree (Westmeath) 27.1.48 Rk. A000266 24.7.47 Wexford 21. 10.47 Rk. A000230 24-lAl Belleek 7.1.48 (Fermanagh) Rk. A000179 20.7.47 Newtown Butler (Fermanagh) 6. 1 .48 Rk. A000262 24.7.47 L. Arrow (Sligo) 1 8. 1 2.47 Rk. 4.2916 L. Gara (Sligo) 20. 1 1 .48 Rk. 4.2869 II. 7.47 L. Feeagh (Mayo) 26. 1 2.47 Rk. 4.2877 II. 7. 47 Corrofin (Clare) 5.2.49 28S BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XLIIl. RINGED AS FULL-GROWN IN ICELAND Ringed Recovered Rk. 4.2069 2}. 6. 47 Ennis (Clare) 3.11.47 SCAUP-DUCK (Aythya marila) RINGED AS YOUNG IN ICELAND Rk. A000509 Ringed 14.7.48 Recovered Isle of Harris — .11.48 Rk. 31725 10.7.47 Anstruther Rk. A000460 6.8.47 (Fife) 14. 11.47 Ashby-de-la- Rk. 3-1727 10.7.47 Zouche (Leics.) 22.12.48 Birches Rk. A 00046 2 6.8.47 (Armagh) ■ — .1.49 L. Neagh Rk. A 0006 5 7 23.7.49 (Armagh) 1.2.49 Newcastle Rk. A 00000 8 1 1.7.47 (Down) 7- 1 50 L. Fern Rk. Aoooooi 11-7-47 (Donegal) — .10.47 South Ireland — -12.47 Rk 3.1768 RINGED AS FULL- Ringed GROWN IN ICELAND Recovered 24.6.47 Beauly Firth, Rk. 3.2184 1 8.6.47 Scotland 15.11.47 Wexford 21.12.47 Rk. A000403 1.8.47 Ditto — .12.48 Rk. 3.2416 26.6.44 Shannon Estuary (Limerick) 28.2.48 CiOLUENEYE (Bucephala clangula) RINGED AS FULL-GROWN Ringed Recovered Sv.J.F. 1944 Arvidsjaur, Swedish 30.5.46 R. Inny (wing-clip) Lapland (Westmeath) — -i-47 COMMON SCOTER (Melanitta nigra) RINGED AS FULL-GROWN IN ICELAND Ringed Recovered Rk. 3.2768 1.7.46 Freshfield (Lancs.) 25.9.49 RED-BREASTED MERGANSER (Mergus serrator) RINGED AS FULL-GROWN IN ICELAND Ringed Recovered. Rk. 3.2413 20.6.41 Yell, Shetland 24.1.48 OYSTER-CATCHER (Hcetnatopus ostralegus) RINGED AS YOUNG Ringed Recovered Rk. 4.2293 North-West Iceland 5-7-47 Tiumpan Head, Isle of Lewis 17.2.48 Rk. 4.261 South Iceland 8-7-37 Sollas, N. Uist 14.1.48 C. 492401 Faeroes 28.6.47 Skelmorlie (Ayr) 11.10.47 C. 492201 Ditto 18.6.47 Ravensdale (Louth) 9.11.47 GOLDEN PLOVER {Pluvialis apricaria) RINGED AS YOUNG Brit. Mus. Ringed Recovered 233442 Faeroes 28.6.45 Tulsk (Roscommon) — .1.48 Rk. 5.874 North-West Iceland 5.7.36 Askeaton (Limerick) 14.2.43 Rk. 5-3715 Ditto 27.6.47 Cork 18.1.48 VOL. XLiii ] BRITISH RECOVERIES OF BIRDS. 289 RINGED AS FULL-GROWN Ringed Recovered Rk. 5-i44i North-West Iceland 3-5-44 Nurney (Kildare) — .12.46 LAPWING (Vanellus vanelluc) RINGED AS YOUNG Ringed Recovered Ra. 1 16675 Riga, Latvia (date unknown) Avonmouth (Glos.) 7.12.47 La. E6246 Mariampole, Lithuania 9.6.43 Bovey Tracey (Devon) 19. 1.46 G. C 47 946 Orebro, Sweden 1 8.6.45 Louth (Lines.) 14.12.47 G C48920 Goteborg, Sweden 19.5.46 Mitchelstown (Cork) 5.1.47 G. C 3 8 1 2 1 Halland, Sweden 27-5-45 Clonmel (Tipperary) 22.2.47 G. C. 52662 Scania, Sweden 7.7.48 J ohnstown Gland, Sweden (Kilkenny) —.1.49 G. C 50411 10.6.46 Burton-on-Trent (Staffs.) 22.8.47 G. C47241 Ditto 17.6.44 Dublin ■ — .12.48 St. X8139 Blekinge, Sweden 26.5.47 Idsnagry (Limerick) 28. 1.48 Stav. 62850 Jaeren, Norway 14.6.46 Leigh (Lancs.) 11.1.48 Slav. 78919 Ditto 30.5.48 Tanderagee (Armagh) 3.1.49 Star. 62413 Ditto 3-5-45 Co. Meath 24.12.47 Slav. 61107 Ditto 1 9.6.41 Edenderry (Offaly) 28. 1 1.47 Stav. 61052 Ditto 24.5.41 Kinsale (Cork) 20.1.43 Stav. 61028 Ditto 22.5.41 Castle Gregory (Kerry) 3.2.49 C Z 1 6497 Jylland, Denmark 20.6.42 Bude (Cornwall) —.1.47 C. Z45234 Copenhagen 5.6.47 Athlone (Westmeath) —.10.47 RINGED AS FULL-GROWN Ringed Recovered Rome 36975 Ostia, Italy 5.12.40 Spalding (Lines.) —.9.43 L. 193656 Zuid Holland 12. II. 46 Pitsea (Essex) 30. I 1.48 L. 193699 Ditto 12.1 1.46 Lifton (Devon) 20.2.47 L. 195180 Ditto 17.3.46 Dunchideock (Devon) 20.2.47 TURNSTONE (Arenaria interpres) RINGED AS MIGRANTS Ringed Recovered Stav. 76985 Jaeren, S. Norway 31.8.47 Blakeney (Norfolk) 16.9.47 Stav. 88964 Ditto 4.9.48 Harwich (Essex) 23.9.48 Stav. 88097 Ditto I 5.8.48 Dee Estuary (Ches.) 27. 10.48 RUFF (Philomachus pugnax) RINGED AS YOUNG Ringed Recovered Sv.J.l '• 3299 Soppero, Swedish 00 Redcar (Yorks.) 23. 10.48 (wing-clip) Lapland KNOT (Calidris canutus) RINGED AS MIGRANTS Ringed Recovered Stav. 88847 Jaeren, S. Norway 18.8,48 Abei lady (E. Lothian) Spring ’49 290 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XLIII. Ringed Recovered Slav. 7835s Ditto 18.8.48 Kings Lynn (Norfolk) 23.12.48 Slav. 773«5 Ditto 19.8.48 Wells (Norfolk) 11.10.48 Rk. 6.3805 South-West Iceland 30.5.44 Lytham (Lancs) 26.3.49 DUNLIN {Calidris alpina) RINGED AS MIGRANTS Ringed Recovered Slav. 96790 Ja-ren, S. Norway 3.10.47 Monifieth (Angus) 18.10.47 Slav. 89407 1 )itto 1 2.9.48 Patrington Haven (Yorks.) 12 2.49 Stay. 95481 Ditto 1.9.47 Sutton Bridge (Lines.) 10.11.47 Stay. 4871 Ditto 12.9.46 Kings Lynn (Norfolk) 23.12.48 Slur. 96933 Ditto 1 2.8.48 R. Stour Oland, Sweden (Suffolk) 7-2-49 St. ZO9758 3.9.48 Middlesbrough (Yorks.) — -I-49 St. ZOA683 Ditto 7.9.48 F'rieston (Lines.) 7.10.48 St. ZO9401 Ditto 1.9.48 Holbeaeh (Linos.) 5.12.48 St. ZOA433 Ditto 8.9.48 Harwioh (Essex) 28.11.48 St. ZO9640 14itto 4.9.48 Hayling Island (Hants.) 1 3. 1.49 CUKLEW-SANDPIPER [Calidris testacea) RINGED AS MIGRANT Ringed Recovered Stay. 8091 Janen, S. Norway 17.9.49 Mersey Estuary (Ches.) 20.10.49 LITTLE STINT (Calidris minuta) RINGED AS MIGRANT Ringed RecoiH’red Stay. 98578 Ja-ren, S. Norway 31.8.49 tireat Grimsby (Linos.) 18.9.49 REDSHANK (I'ringa totanus) RINGED AS YOUNG Ringed Recovered Rl<. 5-3344 Myvatn, Iceland 23.6.47 The Wash (Lines.) Winter 1947-48 HAR-TAILED CiODWlT {Liniosa lapponica) RINGED AS MIGRANT Ringed Recovered Stay. 77526 Ja-ren, S. Norwaj' 19.8.48 Bo’ness (West Lothian) 19.9.48 Star. 77739 Ditto 10.9.48 Alnmouth (Northumb.) 19.9.48 CURLEW {Numcniua arquaia) RINGED AS YOUNG Ringed Recovered 7/i. <^31534 Central Finland I 2.6. 38 Ramsej', I. of Man 1 8.1.39 Hs. C21476 Helsingfors, Finland 31.5.36 Strangford Lough (Down) 14.10.37 St. TA8131 Lule&, N. Sweden 17.6.47 South Ronaldshay, Orkney 24.12.47 St. TO103 Oland, Sweden 18.6.48 The Wash — .12.48 G. D17414 Ditto 16.6.46 Carnoustie (Angus) 7.12.46 G. D 3 06 2 2 Ditto 1 6.6.48 Cleethorpes (Lines.) 12.8.48 VOL. XLiii.J BRITISH RECOVERIES OF BIRDS. 291 Rmged Recovered ir. D17417 Ditto 17.6.46 Belcarra (Mayo) 6.2.47 G. D17419 Ditto 20.6.46 Ditto —.2.47 G. D681 Scania, Sweden 27.5.45 Burrow (Wexford) 22.2.47 SNIPE [Capella gallinago) RINGED AS YOUNG IN ICELAND Ringed Recovered Rk. 6.4943 7.16.47 Calf Sound, I. of Man 18.2.48 Rk. 6-3453 30.7.44 Foxford (Mayo) 5.12.47 Rk. 5.2645 3.8.48 Quin (Clare) 17.2.49 Rk. 5-3765 1 8.7.48 Charleville (Cork) 14. 1 1.48 kin(;ed as full-grown in Iceland Rk. 5.3815 Sv. ].]■'. 2028 (wing-clip) St. L. C. U.S.A. 48-327338 • Ringed Recovered 14.9,48 Downpatrick (Down) — .11.48 WOODCOCK (Scolopax rusticola) RINGED AS YOUNG Ringed Recovered Linkoping, Ostergotland 19.5.47 Dover (Kent) 29.11.47 Sweden X7887 Kristianstad, 11.5.46 Callander S. Sweden (Perths.) 9.12.48 SANDWICH TERN [Sterna sandvicensis) RINGED AS YOUNG Ringed Recovered 201872 ISlakkum, Friesland, 7-7-46 Teesmouth Holland (Yorks.) 7.8.48 ARCTIC TERN [Sterna macrura) RINGED AS YOUNG Ringed Recovered 763019 Disko Bay, 7-8-49 Westbury-on- W. Greenland Severn (Glos.) 20.10.49 Bay of Fundy, 18.7.48 Kylesku Ferry New Brunswick (Suth.) — .9.48 HERRING-GULL [Larus argentatus) RINGED AS YOUNG Ringed Recovered M. D 1 1 5 367 Murmansk Area, Russia 1947 Findhorn (Moray) 24.4.48 Stay. 31346 Lofoten Is., N. Norway 30.8.47 Hessle (E. Yorks) 27.12.47 C. M 1 1 8 5 4 S.E. Jylland, Denmark II. 7.43 Kings Lynn (Norfolk) —.12.48 L. 155741 Texel, Holland 29.7.34 Skegness (Lines.) 1935 ' or 1936 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL [Larus fuscus) RINGED AS YOUNG Ringed Recovered C. 492885 Faeroes 1.8.48 Fortwilliam (Inverness.) 5.10.48 GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL [R arus marinus) RINGED AS YOUNG Ringed Recovered. Slav. 32736 Jaeren, S. Norway II. 7. 48 Bacton (Norfolk) 22.9.48 MOORHEN [Gallinula chloropus) RINGED AS FULL -GROWN Ringed Recovered L. 35410 Huizum, Friesland, 17.10.48 Birchington Holland (Kent) 8.4.49 (292) NOTES. SWIMMING OF SMALL BIRDS. With regard to the swimming of small passerines {anteu, vol. .xl, pp. 179, vol. xlii, p. 183, vol. xliii, p. 121), the following incidents may be of interest. At the Eye Brook Reservoir, Leicestershire, a colony of Tree-Sparrows [Passer montanus) uses the angles formed by the beams of a boat-house as nest sites. On June 6th, 1949, on my examining these nests, three young birds left one of the nests and fluttered down to the water below, about 3 or 4 yards from the shore. Using their wings, they thereupon successfully swam to the bank, whence they were rescued and returned to the nest. In the summer of 1944 (unfortunately I have not the exact date), a House-Sparrow [Passer domesticus) which had somehow fallen into the canal below a wall (within the city of Leicester), turned and “ swam ” by using its wings nearly thirty yards to the sloping bank on the other side of the canal. The bird made good progress for half the distance, but then rests became longer and more frequent. W'hilst resting the bird sat quite buoyantly on the surface, with wings half open. It eventually completed its journey, to the relief of the crowd which had collected on the bridge above. R. A. O. Hickling. NESTING-SITE USED SIX TIMES IN ONE SEASON. In my garden at Sway, Hants, is an ash with a large hole 16 feet up. This is a favourite nesting-site with Tawny Owls [Strix aluco) and Stock-Doves [Columba anas). The former used it in 1946 and 1947 and the latter in 1948. In 1949 I found a Tawny Owl on three eggs on February 28th, an exceptionally early date. When 1 revisited it on March 22nd the owl had deserted and Stock-Dove material had been laid over the owl’s eggs. Altogether five broods of Stock-Doves (two young in each) were reared in this hole that season, of which four broods certainly and the other probably flew safely. Young of broods i and 3 overlapped in the nest with the incubation of clutches 2 and 4, in the latter case by at least nine days. The young of brood 5 flew on October 5th and 6th. Edwin Cohen. JACKDAW ATTACKING STARLING. At 8.30 on May i6th, 1949, J. R. Webb saw a Jackdaw [Corvus monedula) standing on a Starling [Sturnus vulgaris) in the middle of a lawn at Radley College, Berkshire. Several other Starlings were flying round and settling on the ground near by. The J ackdaw then carried the Starling, which was still alive, a short distance away and began to tear out its feathers. It then left the Starling, now dead, and other Starlings came and examined it. After a few moments the Jackdaw returned, drove away the Starlings and some other Jackdaws and ate a large part of the Starling. It then flew into its nest-hole, leaving the remains ; an hour later these, too, had disappeared. VOL. XLIII.] NOTES. 293 The Handbook records young birds being taken by Jackdaws, but in this case the victim was an adult. R. M. Van Oss. YOUNG MAGPIE MOULTING COMPLETE TAIL. As The Handbook states that the Magpie {Pica pica) “ sometimes moults some of its tail-feathers ” in the post -ju venal moult, the following may be worth recording. In July, 1949, I was given a young tame Magpie which I learned from enquiry must have been hatched not later than the first week in May. On August 6th I first noticed that the bird was moulting, it having then cast its greater wing-coverts. By August 14th it was in fairly heavy body moult, and between the i8th and 24th it cast all but four of its tail-feathers, the two outermost on each side then remaining. As the new feathers came in these four old ones were also cast, and by September 29th the bird was in completely new plumage with the new tail about three-quarters grown. Derek Goodwin. EARLY BREEDING OE CHOUGH. On April 14th, 1949, I discovered the nest of a Chough {Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax) with six eggs and assumed that they had just been laid. When I revisited the nest on April 22nd I was very surprised to see that they had already hatched. The Handbook gives the incubation period as 17-18 days which means that in this case the eggs were laid at the latest on April 5th. In 1950 I visited the nest for the first time on April 6th, when there were five eggs, which proved to be the full clutch ; in this case the first egg must have been laid on April 2nd at the latest. The Handbook gives the breeding season of the Chough as late April (exceptionally April loth), which makes these records very early ones. David G. Sansbury. ROOSTING BEHAVIOUR OF LINNET AND CHAFFINCH. In connexion with the note {antea, vol. xlii, p. 289) on roosting behaviour of Chaffinches {Fringilla codebs), the following obser- vations may be of interest. On September 15th, 1949, on the Esholt Estate, Bradford, Yorks., I noted a flock of about 15 Linnets {Carduelis cannabina) flighting round and round in an apparently aimless manner not long before dusk. On January nth, 1950, at the same locality, I noted a flock of about 100 Linnets behaving in the same manner before dropping down to roost in thick rhododen- drons at dusk. On October 22nd, 1949, on St. Ives Estate, Bingley, Yorks., about half-an-hour before dark, I noticed a small flock of Chaffinches behaving in a similar manner before dropping to roost in rhododen- drons. I have noticed this behaviour in Chaffinches on two other occasions, each time either a quarter or half an hour before dark. It appeared to be done merely for exercise and was accompanied by twittering. In the case of the 100 Linnets individuals separated from the main body and dropped to roost, while others settled in a tall tree before roosting ; the main body fell directly, like tumbling leaves, to roost. J. B. Nelson, 294 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XLIII. With reference to the interesting note on the behaviour of Chaffinches prior to roosting, I might say that I have observed the winter roosting of these birds in my garden for many years, but have never seen the circling flight described by Mr. Ash [antea, vol. xlii, p. 289). Chaffinches, up to 40 or 50 in number, stream in towards sunset in ones or twos and alight directly in my tall conifers. If the weather be fair and calm the birds make their way into the foliage of the pines and there roost. If, however, there be a strong wind or sharp frost they gradually fly down and scatter among low evergreen bushes and hedges. Is it possible that the behaviour of the Chaffinches at Gosforth Park was in some way connected with the reflections or ripples on the water as they passed over the lake ? B. H. Ryves. SERIN IN PEMBROKESHIRE. On October 8th, 1949, while watching migration near Jack Sound, Pembrokeshire, I saw a small greenish-yellow finch fly down with other finches and Meadow-Pipits {Anthus pratensis) and alight near the beach at Martinshaven. I recognized it as a Serin {Serinus canari'us) and obtained good views of it feeding upon seeds of Rumex acetosa in company with Linnets {Carduelis cannabina) and Chaf- finches [Fringilla ccelebs). There was a considerable migration of small birds moving eastwards, which it joined a few minutes later. The characters I recognized were greenish-yellow breast and rump, small dull bill, wings and tail paler than in Siskin [Carduelis spinus) and with little yellow, barring on wings very faint. From the yellowish forehead it was probably a male. It was near this spot that I saw the first Serin recorded in Wales on October 20th, 1933 [antea, vol. xxvii, p. 200); a second has been recorded from Skomer on April 2nd, 1946, by E. J. M. Buxton [antea, vol. xl, p. 48). I am familiar with the Serin in Portugal and Madeira. R. M. Lockley. WATER-PIPIT IN SURREY. On December nth, 1949, I saw what I am certain was a Water- Pipit [Anthus s. spinoletta) at a sewage farm near Woking. There were a great many small passerines, particularly Meadow-Pipits [A. pratensis). Pied Wagtails [Motacilla alba yarrellii) and Grey Wagtails [M. cinerea), and this bird, which was foraging on a sewage bed together with birds of the two former species, attracted attention at a distance by being obviously paler and greyer in colour than the Meadow-Pipits, but too brown to be a wagtail. On closer inspection the points noticed were the light greyish-brown upper-parts with no tinge of olive and not any noticeable striations, whitish under- parts, lightly streaked on the chest, and very conspicuous whitish superciliary streak ; in flight the white outer tail-feathers were conspicuous ; the legs appeared dark, though as the bird was feeding on blackish sludge, semi-liquid in parts, little importance attaches to this point. Unfortunately as soon as it saw that our attention was hxed on it the bird took alarm and thereafter would not allow VOL. XLIII.] NOTES. 205 a close approach, in surprising contrast to the scores of Meadow- Pipits present. It appeared somewhat larger and more slender than the Meadow-Pipits and was quite different in colour, being much paler with no olive or yellowish tinge. It appeared above a greyish rather than a warm brown (as in The Handbook description), but was certainly none of the three British breeding pipits, nor Tawny or Richard’s Pipit [A. campestris and A. richardi), with all of which I am familiar. Subsequent examination of the skins of all light- coloured pipits left me with no doubt that this was a Water-Pipit. Derek Goodwin. [It may be recalled that the upper-parts are distinctly greyish in summer and Mr. Goodwin’s description rather suggests an early beginning of the assumption of breeding plumage, although the normal date of the moult is given in The Handbook as March- April. — Eds.]. UNRECORDED NOTES OF BLUE TIT. A note from a Blue Tit [Pams cceruleus) in a trap on February nth, 1949, so exactly resembled the ‘‘ spink ” note of a Chaffinch {Fringilla coelebs) that for a moment I was led to believe that the trap also contained a bird of this species. It was repeated several times. On March 4th, 1949, a trapped Blue-Tit which I was handling made a “ bill-snapping ” noise similar to that made by a Tawny Owl {Stnx aliico), though not nearly so loud. John Ash. PLUMAGE VARIATION IN COAL-TIT. At Burton Agnes, Yorkshire, on September i6th, 1949, I saw a Coal- Tit {Parus ater) which showed a peculiar colour variation. Seen in good light from about ten yards the flanks appeared very dark. The dark colouring continued well down to the lower breast. The white patch on the nape was distinct. A similar bird was recently seen at Guildford, Surrey {antea, vol. xlii, p. 215). M. G. Allderidge. MIGRANT GOLDCREST ATTACKING LARGE DRAGONFLY. On September 21st, 1949, a considerable immigration of Goldcrests {Regulus regulus) took place on the north Norfolk coast with a light to moderate N.E. wind. None of the birds appeared to be at all fatigued, but they were so hungry that one at Cley Bird Observatory was seen to engage a large dragonfly in the air, being actually towed along by the insect before releasing it undamaged. R. A. Richardson. MULTIPLE NESTS OF SONG-THRUSH. In connexion with a note {antea, vol. xli, p. 348) on multiple nest- building of the Song-Thrush {Turdus ericetorum) the Editors suggest that this occurs only in " artificial situations where there is a series of identical or very closely similar sites adjacent to one another, which the birds fail to distinguish.” Therefore it seems worth mentioning an observation in my garden at Santpoort, Holland, in the spring of 1944, in which this was not the case, 296 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XLIII. There were three sites : Site A, about 4 metres high, against the ivy-covered trunk of an oak ; site B, about 7 metres high and about 4 metres away from site A, in ivy on a half-horizontal bough of the same tree ; site C, about 3 metres high and 17 metres away from both sites A and B. My observations are : March 21st : Song-Thrush bringing straws to site C. March 22nd : Song-Thrush building on site C. March 25th : At my arrival the bird flew down from site B, collected nesting-material and brought this to site A, came down again and went another two times with nesting-material to site A. Having come down again it collected some dead leaves, brought those to site B ; from site B it flew straight to site C without any- thing in bill, where it spent some time ; then it came down another time, collected leaves and flew to site A. After this it stopped building for the moment. Both nests A and B were already rather large, whereas site C contained a few straws only, probably brought in the days before. It must be remarked that the bird had not the slightest difficulty in detecting the sites ; every time it flew straight up to site A as well as B. Ultimately nest A was used, and young were reared ; but for the second brood a nest was built on site C, showing that the bird had not lost its interest in this place. Admittedly simultaneous building of two, or possibly three, nests cannot be compared with occasions in which six or more nests are involved, but I thought this observation of importance as it clearly shows that not only similarity of the sites, but other factors too (possibly a very strong building-urge) should be taken into con- sideration. G. F. Mees. BLACKBIRD “ ATTACKING ” HUMAN INTRUDER. On June 12th, 1949, at Taplow, Bucks., I had just finished ringing a brood of five nestling Blackbirds {Turdtis merula), which were approximately eleven days old : they had settled down nicely and I was just about to depart when the hen parent appeared. When she saw me she “ attacked ” me in the following manner : — She dived at me and narrowly missed my head with her claws, which were set forward and open. Her tail was set upright and slightly fanned, her beak was open and the feathers on the back of her neck were raised. As she dived at me she uttered a call that was like a very harsh version of the alarm note. The instant she uttered this call all the nestlings jumped out of the nest, and whilst I was trying to replace them she repeatedly “ attacked " me. Eventually she flew out of view into a privet hedge near by and uttered a call which can only be described as similar to that of a crying dog. As The nestlings refused to settle down again I left them on the lower branches of the small hawthorn bush in which the nest was situated. VOL. XLIII.] NOTES. 297 The Handbook and other works consulted give no mention of this behaviour, nor do the calls appear to have been recorded before. B. J. Huddart. WEIGHTS OF NESTLING BLACKBIRDS. In early May, 1949, a Blackbird’s {Turdus merula) nest with 5 eggs was found in the garden of the County School, Swanage. It was decided that when the young hatched they should be weighed each day. Unfortunately, two eggs were taken, but the rest of the clutch were fertile. The first egg hatched on May 14th, the second on May 15th and the third on May i6th. The young were marked with coloured wools, red, blue and green respectively ; later they were ringed. Weighing commenced on May i6th and was continued daily at 13.00 until May 27th, when two of the young left the nest when approached. They were only retrieved and weighed with difficulty and it was therefore decided to abandon any further attempts at weighing. In the latter stages, the young, in order to keep them quiet, were weighed in a thick paper bag. The weight of this bag, 5.5 gm., has, of course, been deducted. The weights for May 22nd are bracketed, as on that day the young were weighed at 9.15 instead of the usual time. Where faecal sacs were dropped by the birds on the pan of the balance their weight has been included with that of the bird. The balance was very close to the nest and on one occasion only were sacs dropped before weighing, though sometimes they were voided afterwards. Fright, screaming, was shown by Red on May 25th, but not on the following two days. The other young at no time screamed, but they ceased, before May 27th, to open their mouths when handled. The exact dates on which this habit was dropped were not noted. Apparent absence of fear may have been due to regular handling. The figures below could not have been obtained without the enthusiasm of several girls and boys at the school. I was present at all weighings. Date Red Weight in grammes Blue Green 16.5.49 10.5 6.3 5-2 (egg) 17.5.49 17-5 9.0 5.0 18.5.49 2J-7 17.0 8.0 19.5.49 32.5 25-5 1 2.0 20.5.49 41.0 32.9 17.4 21.5.49 5 2.0 42.7 26.7 22.5.49 (56.0) (48.8) (33-o) 23-5-49 63.5 58.3 42. T 24.5.49 66.5 60.5 49.9 25-J-49 68.0 65.2 54-5 26.5.49 71-5 68.0 39-3 27-5-49 70.5 69.9 63.5 E. M. Cawkell. 298 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XLIII. UNUSUAL BEHAVIOUR OF BLACKBIRD. On September i8lh, 1949, at 8.30 in my garden at Thame, Oxon., two Blackbirds {Turihis mcnila) were flying about a tree and down to the ground where grass seed had just been planted and cotton stretched across. One Blackbird collided with the cotton twice and each time fluttered oft about four feet. It then tugged at a broken piece of cotton attached to one of the stick supports and continued tugging vigorously, taking a fresh grip after every two or three tugs. Two or three times it gave harder pulls by flapping its wings as well as pushing backwards with its feet. It twice made about three pecks to collect the cotton into a heap to get a better grip and stood for a moment with a beakful of cotton. Upon examination, the bunch of cotton as it lay on the ground was about the size of a pocket watch and contained seven feet of cotton. I did not see the end of the performance, but the display strongly suggested annoyance. R. G. Frankum. DANCING DISPLAY OF WHEATEAR. The recent notes on this subject {antea, pp. 9-10, 57) have prompted us to record two similar displays observed in West Suffolk in spring. On April i6th, 1948, we were watching a pair of Wheatears [OEnanthe cenanihe) on a heath near Elvedon. Both birds were close to a pit used as a rubbish dump, on the edge of which were small piles of scrap-iron. Suddenly the male flew to one of these piles and began to fly about a foot over it alternately to one side and the other, rapidly jerking itself back as if it were caught on a piece of cotton tied to the scrap-iron and was trying to free itself. When it had moved sideways about ten times it left and repeated the action over the ground near by. The procedure was exactly the same, but the display lasted for a much shorter time. On April 20th, 1949, on Thetford Heath, two males and a female were seen in close chase low over the ground. They alighted beside a rabbit-burrow, the female flying straight in while the males remained on top on opposite sides of the burrow. Immediately they began to perform the dancing display. Each bird alternately sprang up, half jumping and half flying to the opposite side of the burrow, usually passing over the other’s head at a height of about one foot. When on the ground they flicked their wings agitatedly. When each had crossed to the other side about six times they became nervous of our presence, flew away together and alighted, hopping about and calling nervously. Although we walked to within a yard of the burrow the female did not come out. R. G. Pettitt .\nd D. Butt. Between 1921 and 1927 I ringed a considerable number of Wheat- ears on the South Downs near Seaford, Sussex, and while watching the birds 1 saw the dancing display on three or four occasions ; I gave it the name of “ Wheatear’s cart-wheel.” If one puts one’s fore-arm vertical on the arm of a chair, fingers fully extended, and then rapidly moves the hand right and left, with the elbow fixed. VOL. XLIII.] NOTES. 299 one gets a good idea of the bird’s motion. I was under the impres- sion, though I could not be absolutely certain, that the bird’s head was pointing downwards, i.e. in the position of the wrist, while the tail would correspond to the middle finger, the thumb and other 3 hngers representing the wings. On one of the three or four occasions that I observed the display the female had gone first to the rabbit-burrow and was joined by the male who did the “ cart- wheel.” The burrow was too big for a nesting site and the entrance was much widened, so that the arc of flight was as much as three feet. J. F. Thomas. [We have submitted these notes to Mr. P. J. Conder who is engaged in a detailed study of the Wheatear. He has kindly made the following comments. — Eds.]. As Edwards, Hosking, and Smith {antea, p. 9) suggest, and as other more recent notes have made apparent, the dancing display of the Wheatear is really quite common. I have very little to add to the previously published descriptions, except that almost every one of my own records states that ‘‘ subsong,” or ” warbling ”, as I now prefer to call it, accompanied the display. The notes of this song are very quiet, have no set refrain, and are uttered vdth the same rapidity or ” abandonment ” as the movements in the dance. One visitor to Skokholm, J. C. S. Robinson, named the dance the ” Sabre Dance ” after the music of that name by Khachaturian, which gives a good impression of the tempo of the Wheatear dance. A trench or depression is by no means essential, although it is possibly chosen in some variations of the dance, perhaps when a male is dancing over his mate, but in other cases where the male is dancing over an intruding female, it sometimes occurs on perfectly flat ground. In one case. May ist, 1950, a male, whose mate was incubating at the time, chased an intruding female, believed of the Greenland race {(E. oe. leucorrhoa), until she flew against the wire of the Heligoland trap. She crouched on the grass, which was heavily grazed and perfectly flat, while the male danced over her. It is interesting that on the only two occasions on which coition has definitely been recorded on Skokholm, it occurred in depressions in the ground. On other occasions coition has been suspected, but as it occurred in a depression or at the entrance to a burrow it was impossible to be certain. It is possible, therefore, that there is a link between the dance with the mate in a depression or trench, and coition in a depression. I hope to give this further observation. The effect of this dance by a male upon his mate is interesting, and I shall be dealing with this in detail later, but generally speaking it can be said that often the dance would seem to stimulate the female in that activity which is typical of the phase of the breeding cycle through which the birds are passing. If the birds are searching for nest-sites, then quite often the female will begin visiting nest holes more frequently after the dance, and similarly if she is building, then the display will cause her to build more rapidly for a short while. P. J. Conder. 300 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XLIII. ROBINS REARING YOUNG GREAT TITS. On May i6th, 1949, a Robin’s [Erithacns rubecula) nest was found in a tree stump close to the ground, near Sunninghill, Berkshire, containing four eggs of this species and five eggs of a Great Tit {Pants major), all of which were being incubated by a Robin. On May 20th, there were five newly hatched young Great Tits, which were fed by the pair of Robins until May 31st, on which date the nest was unfortunately found to have been pulled out and the young removed : the four Robin’s eggs were found to be still intact but addled. John Ash. [This, incident bears a marked superficial resemblance to some of those described {antea, p. 184) by Mr. J. M. D. Mackenzie, but it is difficult to believe that it can have arisen in similar circumstances. — Eds.]. “DEW-BATHING” BY SWALLOWS. Interesting behaviour by Swallows rustica) was recently described to me by Mr. A. Newmarch, a competent observer, of Gunthorpe, Notts. At 7.0 on a day early in September, 1949, after a very heavy dew, which gave the short grass of his garden lawns a silvery frosted look, Mr. Newmarch observed 13 to 18 Swallows either perched on tele- phone wires passing over a lawn or skimming over the dew-soaked grass beneath. There were three pairs of adults and their fledged broods in the group. Quite abruptly, one of the low-flying birds landed on the short, wet grass, immediately followed by others, all at once beginning to “ bathe ” in vigorous fashion, scattering dew around as they assumed postures much like those of a domestic hen when “ dust- bathing ” — first on one side and then on the other with quick shuffling movements of the body and wings and loose-held plumage. During the following fifteen minutes there was constant movement between the wires and the grass, with often six or eight Swallows bathing at a given time in this manner. No bird sta^i'ed more than a minute or two, but at least twelve of them bathed thus, some of them more than once in the period. Two only remained on he wires without bathing. Before resuming flight the birds preened for some time on the wires. I have previously, in May, 1940, under similar conditions, seen this “ dew-bathing ” by the Willow-Warbler {Phylloscopus trochi us), and Whitethroat {Sylvia communis), but not in so aerial a species as the Swallow. J. Staton. SWALLOW MOULTING REMIGES IN BRITAIN. As The Handbook mentions that out of a large number of Swallows {Hirundo rustica) examined none taken in Europe were moulting the remiges, the following seems worth recording. On September 19th, 1949, we caught an adult Swallow roosting in an old army blockhouse at St. Mary’s Bay, Kent. On examining it prior to VOL. XLIII.] NOTES. 30] ringing and release we found that it was in moult. Tlie gth (inner- most) primaries were new and about three parts grown ; the other primaries were all old. The secondaries appeared to be new, but as these seldom show wear to the same extent we could not feel certain on this point. As this was the only Swallow found in an after-dark search of all buildings in the vicinity we judged it to be the parent of a nest with three young about twelve days old, which was in a blockhouse about loo yards from where it was caught. B. A. Richards and Derek Goodwin. ROLLER IN SUSSEX. While I was on the ridge of the South Downs at Clayton, north of Brighton, Sussex, on the evening of August 15th, 1949, a Roller {Coracias garrulus) passed overhead some twenty feet above me, heading almost due south. There was a slight south-westerly wind at that time and had been for three days, though prior to the 12th the winds had been somewhat stronger. I had noted the bird approaching some way off and had immediately recognized the buoyant wing action which I had observed many times in C. beng- halensi^ in India. Although it may have risen gradually to clear the downs, it would appear that migration was taking place at about 700 feet, as the bird maintained a level approach after hrst being picked up. It is possible that feeding in flight took place as I noted that the bill was open, and on one occasion the bird pitched sideways as if to take an insect. As the weather was distinctly warm at the time the open bill may have merely indicated panting. I concluded that the bird was immature, as the throat and under- parts were pale brown with a greenish tinge and appeared streaked. The dark-tipped wings were greenish blue underneath, but as the bird passed almost directly overhead I failed to obtain a clear view of the upper-parts. L. P. Alder. -PROBABLE DIGGING BY TAWNY OWL EOR COLEOPTERA. During February, 1949, D. F. Owen and I found a number of pellets of a Tawny Owl [Strix aluco) under its usual roost in a Spanish Chestnut in Greenwich Park, S.E. London. The majority of them contained numerous remains of the rather large beetle Ceratophyus typhceus (Scarabaeidae) and a considerable amount of earth and roots, which was very similar to the soil in the vicinity. The deep and narrow tunnels which these beetles construct in the ground are a familiar sight in this park during spring. Many of those near the owl’s perch had been excavated and their occupants removed, and thus we strongly suspect that it digs for them with its feet, swallowing earth and loose roots in the process of eating the exposed beetle. This would seem apparent from the amount of such soil contained in the pellets, which, apart from the Coleoptera remains, contained nothing else. It appears surprising that if the beetles were picked up from the surface of the ground so much earth and roots should have been consumed as well, 302 BRITISH BIRDS [VOL. XLIII. In addition, at Darenth Wood, Kent, on July i6th, 1949, several feathers of a Tawny Owl were discovered by a small excavation in the ground. Possibly this constitutes further evidence of the digging for Coleoptera by this species. However, all the evidence is only circumstantial and we have yet to see one in the act of doing this. As such behaviour by the Tawny Owl has apparently passed unnoticed, I take this opportunity to place these observations on record in the hope that this may result in the bringing to light of further information on this interesting habit. J. F. Burton. CALL OF LITTLE EGRET. As The Handbook does not give an adequate description of the call-note of the Little Egret {Egretta garzetia) away from the breeding- places, it seems worth mentioning the following observations. On August 31st, 1949, near Batavia, Java, I observed a number of Little Egrets {Egretta garzetta nigripes), collecting food in a muddy hsh-pond. When agitated, for instance when chasing away other birds that had approached too near, they would utter a harsh “ kgaaar,” very similar to the noises of Great White Heron (£. alba) and Lesser Egret {E. intermedia) already recorded by me {antea, vol. xlii, p. 249), but distinctly somewhat less deep-rolling. The observed birds probably belonged to a small breeding-colony which was situated less than a mile away. G. F. Mees. NIGHT-HERON IN DORSET. At about 8.15 on November 8th, 1949, an adult Night-Heron [Nycticorax nycticorax) was seen in a meadow beside the River Frome at Wareham, Dorset, by Mr. Edward Clark and Mr. Emery. The former has kindly sent me a full description of the bird, which he watched for some time through binoculars at fifty yards range. Standing motionless in the grass, its neck short and thick, and bill pointed upwards at an angle of 45 degrees, it looked not unlike a Bittern {Botaurns stellaris) in shape and size. Its colouring was distinctive : — crown, mantle and scapulars black, with a bronze or green sheen in the sunlight ; the long nape plumes just off white ; under-parts “ a very light putty colour,” almost white in the centre of the breast. The grey of the closed wings was an inconspicuous band between the contrasting colours of back and under-parts. When a Common Heron {Ardea cinerea) flew towards it, as if to attack, the Night-Heron turned to face it and, when the oncoming bird was within twenty yards, “ crouched very low with its head and neck on the ground ”, allowing the attacker to pass just overhead before itself flying off to a reed-bed near by. As it flew directly away from the observer, no details of plumage were visible, but the wings looked short and rounded, the beat rather faster and the flight more direct than usual with the Common Heron. There is a previous record of an adult shot in Poole Harbour in the second week of November, 1891. K. B, Rooke, VOL. XLIII.J NOTES. 303 GREETING CEREMONY OF MUTE SWAN. On May 15th, 1949, on the R. Holybrook in Reading, we observed what we suppose to be a greeting ceremony of the Mute Swan {Cygnus olor). The male bird flew low along the water, his wing tips beating the water ; he then pitched facing the female and approached her with his secondaries raised as in the aggressive posture. The two birds then took up a position facing each other, the male still keeping his secondaries up. They then began moving their heads to the left and right, left, right, with their right eyes facing, then left eye to left eye and so on for about thirty seconds. Then they both swam ashore and began grazing and preening. A somewhat similar display is described by Heinroth {Verk. d. V. hit. Orn-Kong, pp. 592-602). N. G. B. Jones and R. A. F. Gillmor. BATHING BEHAVIOUR OF MUTE SWAN. I was watching a pair of Mute Swans [Cygnus olor) with two cygnets at a gravel pit in Hertfordshire on July 17th, 1949. The adult birds were washing elaborately and one of them appeared to somer- sault in the water. Inspection through 8 x 30 binoculars at 200 yards range revealed the following details. The bird, which I subsequently identified as the male, first lowered his head ; he then lunged forward and turned “ head over heels ” until completely upside down, both feet being then in the air. He recovered his normal position by rolling sideways ; a complete somersault was not seen to occur. He repeated this performance frequently over a period of 15 minutes, and it was accompanied by flogging the water with his wings and preening. The female and cygnets paid no attention to these acrobatics. The former was washing in a more orthodox fashion. A little later both adults swam to a little island and began to preen intensively. J. H. Murphy. [A similar incident has already been reported [antea, vol. xli, p. 25), and another report [antea, vol. xl, p. 186) refers to “ rolling ” by j u veniles. — Eds. ] . GREEN-WINGED TEAL IN SOMERSET. At Blagdon Reservoir, Somerset, on December i8th, 1949, Messrs. F. Hamlett, D. H. Taylor and the writer were fortunate enough to get extremely good views of a bird which could have been no other than a drake Green- winged Teal [Anas crecca carolinensis). It was in company with Common Teal [Anas c. crecca), and though some distance out on the water when first seen it could be recognized by the white vertical breast-band, immediately in front of the wing. Later, with its companions, the bird flew to the reservoir bank, where, feeding on marshy ground at fifty yards range, it was under observation with x 30 telescope for nearly half an hour. Apart from the vertical breast-band, the following characteristics, as compared with the accompanying males oi A. c. crecca were noted — the absence of a white horizontal band above the wing and the ill- defined, and scarcely perceptible, cream line, separating the chestnut 304 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XLIII. crown from the green eye-band. The ground colour of the lower breast was noticeably warmer and richer than is usual in Common Teal. Clear views of the legs showed that the bird was not ringed. Mr. Peter Scott, in writing to inform me that all Green-winged Teal in captivity in this country have been imported since December, 1948, and that all have been permanently pinioned, expresses the view that this was undoubtedly a genuinely wild visitor and goes on to remark that “it is strange . . . that these birds are not more frequently recorded. In view of prevailing winds one would expect them to come more regularly than European Teal go to America, and Europ>ean Teal are seen on the east coast of the United States in small numbers every season.” Bernard King. [Another record of a Green-winged Teal for the winter 1949-50 has already been published {antea, p. 190) — Eds.]. JOINT “ INJURY-FEIGNING ” BY SHOVELER AND MALLARD. On June 5th, 1949, at the Eye Brook Reservoir, Leicestershire, a female Mallard {Anas piatyrhyncha) , on being flushed from her brood of well-grown young, settled on the water about thirty yards from the shore and began “ injury-feigning ” display. Immediately a male Shoveler {Spatula clypeata), which had been flying round overhead, settled on the water at the side of the Mallard and also began “ injury-feigning ” — beating the water with his wings as though attempting to take flight. After about a minute of this display the Shoveler flew off. Earlier in the day “ injury-feigning ” had been observed from both male and female Shovelers of another pair. The Handbook says that such display is “ occasionally recorded.” R. A. O. Hickling. SEX RATIO OF COMMON SCOTER OFF PART OF THE COAST OF S.E. ENGLAND. In The Handbook (vol. v., p. 278) it is stated, on my authority, that on the S.E. coast of England there was not an excess of female and immature Common Scoters {Melanitta nigra) as found elsewhere in English waters ; but that numbers of these and adult males were usually equal. At times, though, a large excess of drakes had been observed (c. 4 : i once in April and c. 3 ; i in January). I have now been watching this bird closely in the Dungeness- Hastings area for eleven years, with war-time interruptions, and can expand on that statement. I would add, however, that although some 250 days have been spent partly in watching scoters it is only rarely that conditions allow a satisfactory count or estimate to be made. Spray on the lens of the telescope and bumpy seas prevent “ sexing,” even if the total numbers present can be computed, and often, especially in the summer, the birds are a long way out. My results are as follows : — 1938 Dec. 29 & 31 Small flocks at sea and drakes in equal numbers to the immatures and females. NOTES. 305 The flocks at sea were composed mainly of males. Two large flocks of several hundreds each examined and drakes predominated by 3:1. But in some smaller flocks the numbers were equal. The “ oiled ” birds examined were equal in numbers. This is not a reliable guide, and is mentioned for that reason. For example, on October 26th, 1946, when drakes were in a big majority at sea, the "oiled” birds examined by Dr. J. S. Carter and myself were nearly all females and immatures. Of 31 birds in a flock all but five were drakes. In a flock of 18 the sexes were equal in numbers. In a flock of four there was one drake. Of a flock of 60 most were drakes. The birds in a flock of 200 were in pairs. In a flock of 400 most were females. In flocks totalling 1,000 birds the average excess of males was 6 ; i, but in some flocks there was an excess of 10 : i. Males predominated in the proportion of 7:1. A small flock was mostly male. (Incidentally a flock of 100 on the Thames at Cliffe five days before was composed entirely of immatures and females) . Rough seas prevented an accurate computation of sexes but there was not the least doubt that males were in excess. Flocks totalling 500 showed males in the majority. In the small flocks at sea males were in excess in some cases by 20 ; i and in others by 25 : i. E. M. Cawkell. NON-BREEDING EULMARS In his “ Notes on Eulmars and other birds in the Southern North Sea in the month of May ” [antea, vol. xlii, pp. 257-259), Dr. Jespersen cites Richter’s opinion that only one-third to two-fifths of the Eul- mars {Fulmarus glacialis) actually present at a Scottish breeding colony appear to be engaged in reproduction. Observations made at Marsden, Co. Durham, may be of interest as supporting this opinion. On July 9th, 1949, a careful count of birds present about the cliffs resulted in a total of one hundred and ninety-two. Throughout the breeding-season I kept a record of the nestlings, which numbered forty-two, and, while not claiming that I recorded every young Fulmar present, I feel that not more than two or three could possibly have escaped my notice. Fred G. Grey. DISPLAY AND EARLY NESTING OF GREAT CRESTED GREBES I WAS watching Great Crested Grebes {Podiceps cristatus) at Virginia Water, Surrey, on January 29th, 1949, at which time much active display was taking place, when to my surprise one of a pair of birds in apparently almost complete summer plumage climbed on to a nest. When the second bird (the presumed male) approached her she extended her head and neck, with expanded tippets, along the water, and, as the male approached, gradually raised her neck into a VOL. XLIII.] 1939 Jan. I Jan. 3 Jan. 22 July I July 27 July 29 1946 June I June 1 1 July 21 Oct. 26 Oct. 27 Nov. 14 Nov. 22 & 23 Dec. 27 1947 Feb. 23 306 BRITISH BIRDS. [vOL. XLIII. vertical position. They both commenced the head-swaying action (as described in The Handbook under part i of Display) breast to breast. After the presumed male swam off, the second bird left the nest and commenced to collect material, which she added to the structure of the nest. John Ash. The Handbook states that the Great Crested Grebe {Podiceps cristatus) nests “ occasionally in April. Exceptionally, full sets have been found in March.” The two notes which follow exhibit somewhat earlier dates. The late Mr. Rudge Harding, in his official report for 1926 as Bird Observer for Richmond Park, which was not published, says, ‘‘ a nest was made [on the Pen Ponds] very early in the year. A bird was sitting on March 6th, and young were hatched on March 29th.” In The Field, cxli, p. 641, Mr. John R. Durham reported under date of April i6th, 1923, on the Pen Ponds, a bird carrying on its back ‘‘ an apparently newly hatched young one.” In a series of MS. notes sent to me, Mrs. G. M. T. Connacher states, obviously of the same birds, on April 26th, 1923, “ a pair with one quite large young. About ten old birds on the Ponds.” C. L. Collenette [Two cases of early breeding in 1949 have already been published, antea, p. 21, c.f. also antea, vol. xxxii, p. 85 — Eds.]. STOCK-DOVE NESTING IN HAWTHORN BUSH. On May 17th, 1949, in a secluded and unfrequented scrub near Thirsk, Yorks., I flushed a Stock-Dove {Columba oenas) from a nest containing two eggs in a hawthorn bush. The nest of twigs was only five feet from the ground and easily accessible and the eggs were readily distinguishable from those of the Wood-Pigeon {Colum ba palumbus) by their smaller size and creamy-white colouring. In addition, the disturbed bird flew on to an exposed branch of a tree near by and was clearly distinguishable from a Wood-Pigeon by its smaller size, darker colouring and complete absence of white on wings and neck. N. M. Hepworth. [The Handbook (vol. iv, p. 135) states that the Stock-Dove nests ” exceptionally, low on branches of trees or even in hedge.” — Eds.]. AUTUMN DISPLAY OF DUNLIN. Mr. Frank Brady’s description [antea, vol. xlii, p. 300) of autumnal display by Ringed Plover [Charadrius hiaticula) reminds me that on August i8th, 1949, I watched a cock Dunlin [Calidris aipina) chase a hen on the ground with his neck outstretched, his head low and his tail fanned out and well depressed, but not displayed to the hen. The hen ran a few yards away and squatted as if brooding eggs. The cock desisted and began feeding, whereupon the hen got up and ran close to him. The actions already described were then repeated several times. There was nothing resembling coition. The Handbook makes no mention of such behaviour. C. SUFFERN. VOL. XLIII.J NOTES. 3U7 REDSHANK ALIGHTING ON ONE LEG At Lelant estuary, Cornwall, on September gth, 1949, two Red- shanks {Tringa totanus) were seen flying at a considerable height. They suddenly descended, each bird using one leg to alight gently on the Soft estuary grass. In order to retain their balance just before the foot touched the ground, the birds employed a rapid and backward motion of the fully extended wings. It would appear curious that both Redshank should use this apparently unusual method of alighting. With bills tucked into the scapulars and the disengaged legs held well up into the body they remained quite still for about one minute. Then, in company with other Redshank, they commenced their usual feeding habits. Bernard King. INVASION OF BLACK-WINGED STILTS IN HOLLAND IN 1949. After an absence of three years a number of Black-winged Stilts {Himantopus himantopus) were reported breeding in Holland again, in 1949. The first four birds were seen in the island of Voorne, in the S.Wk of the Netherlands, on April 17th. That same day two pairs were observed in Groot Eiland near the Belgian frontier. From then onwards a good many birds were seen throughout the country. The largest number at one time were observed by Dr. E. van Koersveld in the N.E. polder, part of the former Zuider Zee. Here twenty-one birds were present on May 19th. After that date the numbers gradually diminished and after some weeks the birds had disappeared there altogether. Apparent nesting was first noted by Mr. T. Lebret at a place in the province of Zeeland on May 19th ; two agitated Stilts were observed and in the same locality young were seen later in the season. On June 12th one chick was found in another place in the South West. In all, twelve pairs nested in the Netherlands in 1949. Nine pairs were successful in rearing their young. Mr. G. Middelman saw the last five birds on August 20th. In 1935 more birds took part in the invasion and more nests were found, but in the years 1939, 1944 and 1945 only a few pairs nested. Probably no new clutch is laid after a failure. A full account of this invasion will be given in Ardea, in which also the apparent causes of this and former excursions to the North will be discussed. G. A. Brouwer and D. A. Vleugel. [The attention of readers is drawn to the notes already published on the occurrence of Stilts in England in 1949 (antea, pp. 132-134) and the Editorial comment thereon.- — Eds.]. BIGAMY OF OYSTER-CATCHER. The publication {antea, pp. 23-25) of Mr. J. A. G. Barnes’ record of bigamy in Oyster-catchers {Haematopus ostralegus) gives added interest to the following incident. In 1948 a pair of Oyster-catchers nested on a small area of shingle on the Sussex coast. In March, 308 BRITISH BIRDS [VOL. XLIII. 1949, a pair returned to the vicinity, where they were first seen by me on the 20th. At first they were on the sea shore, but presently flew inland to a small island in a pool adjoining the 1948 nesting site ; there was not then, or afterwards, another pair within two miles of them in either direction along the coast. At some time between March 20th and April 3rd they were joined by a third bird, and all three were standing together on the island on the latter date, on the 15th and again on May ist. A week later I failed to find any of them, though I did not examine the 1948 nest area. On May 15th two birds were on the island, and from cover I found the third apparently sitting on a nest within a few yards of the 1948 site. Directly I showed myself she ran off, as sitting birds generally do, and flew to the island. On reaching the spot I was astonished to find that she had been sitting on seven eggs. The shingle was of fairly large size and the oblong nest-hollow, without any lining, may have been formed by the birds or may have been a natural one. Six eggs were lying in a circle round one in the centre : all were of the same shape, colour and type of marking, but it was just possible to make out that four were slightly more heavily marked than the other three. There can, I think, be little doubt that they were the product of two hens. On May 22nd the eggs were intact and a bird sitting ; on the 29th and on June 5th a bird was also seen sitting, but was not disturbed. On the latter occasion the other two birds were on watch, one about 20 yards from the sitting bird, the other on a ridge 250 yards away. The latter, necessarily disturbed by my approach, flew across and joined the other sentinel, and a few minutes later, when 1 verified that one was on the nest, the other two were standing a few yards apart close to the sitting bird. The next day Mr. J. C. Wickens visited the nest ; he informs me that one egg had by then disappeared and that three others were lying in a hollow a foot away from the nest, stone cold and dented by contact with the shingle, as though the birds had themselves turned them out. These, too, disappeared a few days later. The other three were still being incubated. When I visited the place on June 12th all three birds were standing on the island, the nest was empty and no egg-shells could be found. As soon as I reached it all three birds flew up and settled about 100 yards from me and on my approaching them they rose at once and flew right away without any demonstration, so that it was clear that no young had been hatched. This “ disappearance ” of the eggs, when they were within a few days or hours of hatching, was a great disappointment, as it would have been most interesting to see how many young were hatched and what part the several “ parents ” took in their care. The three birds remained more or less together on the island or in its neighbourhood for a further five weeks. On July 17th one was incubating a single egg on another area of shingle and a second VOL. XLIII.] NOTES. 309 was apparently sitting on a nest about 40 yards from the original one, but I failed to find it. A week later the egg and all three birds had gone and were not seen again. N. F. Ticehurst. [On June 8th, 1924, Pinchen, the watcher at Blakeney Point, Norfolk, showed me an Oyster-catcher’s nest from which 4 young had been hatched, leaving one egg still in the nest. Three birds were in attendance on the young ; all three were noisy and one made a perpetual row, while the other two went near to the young and squatted down. It seemed to be obviously a case of one cock bird with two hens. — A.W.B.]. EARLY JUVENILE KITTIWAKES IN SUSSEX. On July 24th, 1949, I saw a juvenile Kittiwake {Rissa tridactyla) at Langney Point, Sussex. This bird flew in from the east and, after resting a few minutes upon the water, near in, made off westwards. I also saw single juveniles of this species, flying near in from east to west, in the same locality on August 17th and 24th, 1949. All these birds showed the full juvenile plumage markings and so could not possibly have been first summer birds, with which I am very familiar, since in these, of course, such markings have largely disappeared by late summer. The Handbook states that birds in first autumns usually reach the Channel by the second week of September and I know of no previous records of juvenile Kittiwakes for Sussex prior to this month. The July record seems especially remarkable since, according to the breeding dates given in The Handbook, this bird could not have left the nest more than a few days. D. D. Harder. MOORHEN ATTEMPTING TO DROWN PIGEON. On April 20th, 1949, a Moorhen {Gallinula chloropus) was seen to be savagely attacking a homing pigeon in the centre of a small pond in my farmyard at Ewhurst, Surrey. In addition to pecking the bird viciously it seemed deliberately to be holding it under the water by using its feet. As the pigeon appeared to be in desperate trouble the Moorhen was driven off and it was rescued ; the shock, however, was too great, as it died the next day. No one saw the beginning of the encounter, but pigeons occasionally bathe in the pond by standing in shallow water, and it is conceivable that this bird settled too far out and was unable to rise again. The depth at the spot where the encounter occurred was 12 inches. L. G. Weller. Waxwings in Britain, 1948-49. — Owing to an unfortunate oversight the report [antea, pp. 151-153) on the immigration of Waxwings {Bombycilla garrulus) in the winter of 1948-49 did not include a record supplied by Mr. E. M. Conder of three birds seen near Santon Downham, on the Norfolk-Suffolk border, on December i6th, 1948. The date is earlier than any others recorded in East Anglia. An additional Norfolk record of 12 birds at Morston on February 13th, 1949, has been sent by Dr. R. G. Ticehurst, Atten- BRITISH BIRDS. 310 [VOL. XLIII, tion is also drawn to a misprint (p. 151) where “ Bombicylla ” should read “ Bomhycilla.” Pied Flycatcher feeding on elderberries. — Mr. D. D. Harber informs us that at Seaford, Sussex, on August 26th, 1949, he watched a Pied Flycatcher {Muscicapa hypoleuca) eating elder- berries. According to The Handbook (vol. i, p. 307), the species is *' said to take berries in autumn." Hoopoes in England in 1950. — Information so far received suggests that Hoopoes {Upupa epops) may have visitied England this year in numbers comparable with those of 1948. We would be glad to receive records from readers. If it should turn out that the records received do not, after all, justify a special report the information will be handed on to the Editors of the appropriate Local Reports. Wryneck feeding on elderberries. — Mr. D. D. Harber informs us that on September ist, 1949, he saw a Wryneck (Jynx torquilla) in the valley of the Cuckmere, Sussex, eating elderberries, a habit, according to The Handbook (vol. ii, p. 293), recorded by Naumann, ‘‘ but rarely.” Little Gull in Cambridgeshire. — Mr. J. W. Parker has sent us details of a Little Gull [Lams mimitns) seen at Peterborough sewage farm, Cambs., on May 21st, 1948. REVIEWS. LOCAL REPORTS. Report of the Natural History Section of the Wiltshire Archceological cS- Natural History Society, 1947 and 1948. Some of the interesting records in these two carefully compiled reports have already appeared in British Birds : a Roller reported (antea, vol. xli, p. 1 1 9) from Hampshire in 1947 spent part of its time in Wiltshire ; records of Firecrest and Hoopoes in 1948 have also appeared in our pages, but there are some records of Waxwings in 1947 and one of Black Tern in 1948, which were not published in the Brit. Birds reports on these two species. There are in addition a number of occurrences of more than local interest. In both years there are reports of " large, sulphur-coloured ” warblers, which may have been Icterine Warblers ; other species which appear in both reports are Great Grey Shrike, Whooper Swan and Montagu’s Harrier. No conclusive evidence of breeding is given for the last species, but there is evidence in the 1948 report of an increase in breeding Buzzards. Dippers also appear to be breeding in more than one locality and there are many records of Quail (including some breeding), particularly in 1947 which was a good year for this species in many parts of the country. On the other hand the small population of Dartford Warblers was wiped out in the frost of 1947 and none was seen till December 27th, 1948. Records of birds rare in the county include Black-necked Grebe, Slavonian Grebe (an injured bird spent the whole summer on the Rennet), Red-throated Diver and Spotted Redshank in 1947, Golden Oriole in 1948. One or two such records, e.g., those of Continental Song-Thrush and Red-breasted Merganser, may be attributed to the cold weather of 1947, and another cold weather record of a different kind i.s that of some Goldfinches " found hanging in a VOL. XLIII.] REVIEWS. 311 kind of stupor from the heads of dead thistles near Pitton. They looked like hibernating butterflies and could be touched without disturbing them.” In Wiltshire as elsewhere the cold weather did not retard the migrants ; on the contrary, several of the dates given — notably Garden-Warbler on April 4th — are unexpectedly early. Mention must also be made of an account of the courtship display of Lesser Spotted Woodpecker in the 1948 report and of records of Spotted Flycatcher feeding young on a Clouded Yellow butterfly and of Chiffchaff taking an earthworm, both in 1947. J.D.W. Somersetshire Archceological and Natural History Society. Ornithological Section. Report on Somerset Birds, 1947 and 1948. These two reports contain a number of items which have already appeared in British Birds, notably records of Tawny Pipit, American Pectoral Sand- piper and Long-tailed Skua, in 1947, while the records of Common and Arctic Terns in 1947 and Hoopoes in 1948 have been summarized in our pages. There are two additional records of Waxwings in 1947 and two of Black Terns for 1948, but these do not affect the general picture as described in the reports on these species. Both reports contain evidence of the spread of the Buzzard as a breeding species in the county, and both record the presence of Garganey in the breeding season, evidence of breeding in 1948 being ” almost conclusive.” Records of the breeding of Marsh-Warbler in west Somerset in both years show an extension of range for this species. In 1948 a pair of Wrynecks was seen and heard throughout the summer at one locality. Most of the other unusual records concern winter visitors or passing migrants. The cold weather of 1947 produced records of a Bittern (eventually caught and ringed), of Great Northern Diver and of the three rarer grebes in unusual numbers — all five British species were observed at Blagdon on February i6th. It must, how- ever, be noted that the 1948 report includes records of all these species save Bittern and there is one of a Red-necked Grebe which spent over four months in the county and had assumed full breeding plumage by the time it was last seen at Blagdon on April 25th. A surprising cold-weather record is that of a wintering Blackcap seen at Minehead on four dates in February and March, 1947. As elsewhere the summer migrants were not notably retarded by the. cold weather and the Somerset report contains yet another record of House- Martin for March 21st. The 1948 report, incidentally, mentions a Swift on April 3 th. An American Wigeon, which has already been mentioned in our pages, earns a place in the 1947 report by remaining till January 26th at Cheddar. The 1948 report mentions a probable Rough-legged Buzzard in November, several specimens of Leach's Fork-tailed Petrel in December and a late Common or Arctic Tern crossing the Mendips on November 19th. In both reports we find mention of interesting records for previous years : in the 1947 report there are records of Ferruginous Ducks in 1943 and 1946 ; in the 1948 report a Golden Oriole for 1943 and Blue-headed Wagtails in 1946 and 1947. J.D.W. LETTERS PASSERINE MIGRATION. To the Editors of British Birds. Sirs, — In their paper on this subject in British Birds, vol. xlii, p. 323, David and Elizabeth Lack write that Dr. D. A. Bannerman in his note on Chaffinch Migration in British Birds, vol. xxxvii, p. 177, supposed that the birds he saw in N.W. Devon came from Wales, but this was solely because I had not reported a similar migratory movement at Porlock. What Dr. Bannerman's note stated was that I had never noticed a Chaffinch migration along the 312 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XLIII. Somerset coast, though there was occasionally a noticeable increase of Chaffinches in the neighbourhood (of Porlock) in October. Further experience has shown that such an increase is usual ; for instance, this October and early November I have noticed large flocks comprising Chaffinches, Linnets, pipits. Yellow- hammers, Cirl Buntings and Greenfinches, as well as Redwings, in Porlock Vale, along which, as I have shown in my book Wild Exmoor through the Year (1946 edition, pp. 61-4) there is a definite migration route both in spring and autumn. The Vale is also used by some Starlings in their journeys to and from the roost in Porlock Marsh ; it is bounded on each side by hUls from 700 to 1,000 feet high. I have often thought it possible that the flocks noticed there in autumn might have arrived by some such route as that suggested by the Lacks’ paper. E. W. Hendy. AN ENQUIRY INTO THE AUTUMN MIGRATION OF PASSERINES. To the Editors of British Birds. Sirs, — Articles recently published in your pages have drawn attention to the subject of visible passerine migration through England. May I remind your readers that an enquiry into this subject is being organized this year ? The suggested enquiry is sponsored primarily by B.E.N.A., which will bear costs, the Devon Bird Watching and Preservation Society (for whom Mr. A. S. Cutcliffe, M.B.O.U., of Ilfracombe, will receive in the first instance reports from that Society’s area), Mr. G. C. S. Ingram, M.B.O.U., Cardiff, and Mr. H. G. Hurrell, M.A., J.P., M.B.O.U., Wrangaton, Devon. Mr. Hurrell has given not only data of previous migration studies in the west but also most helpful advice. The species on which observers are asked to concentrate is the Chaffinch, while notes on other species which migrate by day in Autumn will be welcomed, as will also records of any other relevant observations made in years previous to 1950. The details asked for are : Date, time of day, species, numbers, direction and height of flight, conditions of wind and weather ; further, if possible, temperature, ground barometric pressure, especially in cases of sudden local changes and, in any case, general remarks. Apart from individual watching through the whole period, ‘‘ combined watches,” invaluable aids, are asked for on the following Sundays ; — Oct. 8th, Oct. 22nd, Oct. 29th and Nov. 5th, 1950. Reports of observations should be sent not later than December 31st to G. A. Hebditch, M.B.O.U. (Hon. Sec. of B.E.N..\.), 92, Rydes Hill Road, Guildford, Surrey, who will undertake the collection and final circulation of a Summary of the information obtained. It is hoped that individual ornithologists and appropriate Sections of regional and local bodies will combine to make these observations a success. G. A. Hf.bditch. THE BREEDING STATUS OF THE STARLING IN WEST WALES To the Editors of British Birds. Sirs, — I hope I may be allowed to comment briefly on the Further Notes on the breeding of the Starling in West Wales compiled from the Journals of Bertram Lloyd and published antea, p. 142. The list of breeding localities given in my paper on this subject {antea, vol. xlii, pp. 369-375) covered the year 1948 only and I made no attempt to discover unpublished records of previous breeding. Bertram Lloyd’s localities cannot then be added to my list, but rather do they lend valuable support to my suggestion that the species has decreased considerably during a period covering at least the last ten years. With one exception, the records from the Journals cover the period 1925-31, and it would appear that breeding Starlings were increasing during this period. If this is so, then the species must have reached a peak in numbers at some time in the 1930’s, for there has certainly been a marked decrease since about 1940. I would also suggest that it is rather dangerous to infer exact breeding localities from flocks of adults and juveniles seen in June, July and August, which may by that time have travelled an unknown distance from the nesting sites. J- L. Davies. Page Autumn display of Dunlin (C. Suffern)... ... .., ... ... 306 Redshank alighting on one leg (Bernard King) ... ... ... 307 Invasion of Black-winged Stilts in Holland in 1949 (G. A. Brouwer and D. A. Vleugel) ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 307 Bigamy of Oyster-catcher (N. F. Ticehurst) ... ... ... ... 307 Early juvenile Kittiwakes in Sussex (D. D. Harder) ... ... ... 309 Moorhen attempting to drown pigeon (L. G. Weller) ... ... 309 Short Notes ; — Waxwings in Britain, 1948-49. Pied Flycatcher feeding on elderberries. Hoopoes in England in 1950. Wrymeck feeding on elderberries. Little Gull in Cambridgeshire. ... ... ... 309 Reviews : — Report of the Natural History Section of the Wiltshire Archaeological and Natural History Society, 1947 and 1948... ... ... ... 310 Somerset Archaeological and Natural History Society. Ornithological Section. Report on Somerset Birds, 1947 and 1948 ... ... 31 1 Letters : — Passerine Migration (E. W. Hendy) ... ... ... ... ... 311 An enquiry into the autumn migration of passerines (G. A. Hebditch) 312 The Breeding status of the Starling in West Wales (j. L. Davies) ... 312 NOTICE TO CONTRIBUTORS British Birds accepts papers and notes dealing with original observations on the birds of the British Isles and Western Europe or, where appropriate, on birds of this area as observed in other parts of their range. Review articles on subjects of current ornithological interest will also be considered. Contributors are asked to observe the following points, attention to which saves the waste of much editorial time on trivial alterations. MSS. if not typed should be clearly written. Authors of papers, especially those containing systematic lists, lists of references, tables, etc., should consult previous papers on similar lines in British Birds as a guide to general presentation and set-out, including use of particular type, stops, and other conventions, such as date following the month (January 1st, etc., not 1st January), names of books and journals in italics, not inverted commas, and so on. Capital initial letters are to be used for proper names of definite species : thus “ Great Tit,” but “ flocks of tits.” [In systematic lists the whole name should be in capitals]. The scientific name (underlined in M.S. to indicate italics) follows the English name in brackets without any. intervening stop. Scientific nomenclature follows The Handbook of British Birds or H. F. 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Any additional separates required must be ordered when returning the proofs and be paid for by the author DERATIONED AT LAST I TOILET SOAP with delightful Bird Sketches (which do not wash off) by Roland Green, F.Z.S. Box of 2 Tablets, 2s. 7d. post free. 3 Boxes for 7s. 6d. For Winter Season order now, your BIRD RINGING TRAPS and CLAP-NETS Potter No. I, 37s. 6d. "Greenrigg” revised, 52s. 6d. Ringing Register, 12s. 9d. Trap and Ring Catalogue, 3d. XMAS GIFTS for Bird-lovers: Send 3d. for New illustrated ‘NATURE-GIFTS’ Catalogue with Swiss and Children’s Sections. (Ready November). DEPT. II, GREENRIGG WORKS, WOODFORD GREEN, ESSEX SMALL ADVERTISEMENTS 7/6 for 3 lines (m/n/mum) ; 2/6 for each extra line or part thereof. For the use of a Box Number there is an extra charge of I /- ; Advertisements for a particular issue should reach this office by the 21st of t/ie preceding month. All communications to be addressed to: — H. F. & G. Witherby Ltd., 5, Warwick Court, London, W.C.I. BRITISH BIRDS, Vols. 1-35 complete, with Index ; bound by Publisher and in excellent condition : £30 or best offer : Box 390, “ British Birds,” 5 Warwick Court, London, W.C.I. Printed in Gt. Britain by The Riverside Press, Ltd., Twickenham, Middx. Published by H. P. & G. \M3 HERBY, LTD., 6 Warwick Court. W.C.I. BRITISH BIRDS AN ILLUSTRATED MAGAZINE DEVOTED CHIEFLY TO THE BIRDS ON THE BRITISH LIST Monthlj 15. 9J. Yearly los. OCTOBER, 19^0 VoL. XLIII. No. 10 Published by H. F. G. Witherby Ltd. BRITISH BIRDS EDITED BY BERNARD W. TUCKER, M.A., F.Z.S., M.B.O.U. ASSISTED BY Norman F. Ticehurst, o.b.e., m.a., f.r.c.s., m.b.o.u. A. W. Boyd, m.c., m.a., f.z.s., m.b.o.u. AND J. D. Wood, b.a., m.b.o.u. Contents of Number io, Vol. XLIII, October, 1950. PAGE Recovery of Marked Birds. Communicated by Miss E. P. Leach ... 313 Studies of some species rarely photographed. XXVII. Temminck’s Stint. Photographed by Olof Swanberg. The Semipalmated Sandpiper. Photographed by Allan D. Cruickshank. The Little Stint. Photographed by C. G. des Forges and J. E. Sluiters ... ... ... 32 S Methods of estimating breeding-cliff populations of Guillemots and Razorbills. By J. A. Gibson ... ... ... ... ... ... 329 Notes : — Intruder responses by birds outside their breeding areas (Rev. E. A. Armstrong) 332 Birds becoming “ caught ’’ in flocks of other species (C. F. Tebbutt) 332 Hooded Crow dropping and catching object in bill (John Denny) ... 333 Carrion Crow decorating nest (Hubert E. Pounds) ... ... ... 333 Soft parts of young Jays (Derek Goodwin) ... ... ... ... 333 Unusual accumulation of nesting material by Starling (L. E. Bouldin) 335 Tree-Creeper catching insects in flight (John Denny) ... ... 335 Concealment of food by Coal-Tit and Marsh-Tit (Dorothy A. C. Long ; W. D. Campbell ; M. G. Robinson ; W. E. and E. L. Almond) ... 335 Willow-Warbler nesting in wall (James G. Warner) ... ... ... 337 Behaviour of Song-Thrush at nest (W. I. Evans ; E. Cohen) ... 337 Dusting of owls (Rowland B. Codd) ... ... ... ... ... 338 Tawny Owls found drowned (Lt. Col. B. H. Ryves ; J. Cameron Coulson ; Major W. M. Congreve) 338 American Bald Eagle in Yorkshire (P. A. Clancey) ... ... ... 339 Ferruginous Ducks in England, 1949-1950 (S. K. Armitstead and others ; E. G. Richards ; R. A. O. Hickling ; E. E. Green) ... 339 White under tail coverts in the Tufted Duck (G. W. Raynor) ... 341 Eider in Anglesey in June (A. A. K. Whitehousc) ... ... ... 341 Autumn display of Cormorant (B. Metcalfe) ... ... ... ... 341 Letters : — Blue Tits killed in mousetraps (Leonard Carr) ... ... ... 342 Water birds and leeches (K. H. Mann) ... ... ... ... 342 Clutch-size of Reed-Warbler (W. A. Butterfield) ... ... ... 343 The Young Gannet (Richard Perry) ... ... ... 343 Status of Fulmar in North Wales (James Fisher) ... ... ... 344 Black-winged Stilts in Middlesex (R. C. H ■'mes) ... ... ... 344 BRITISH BIRDS Number io, Vol. XLIII, October, 1950. RECOVERY OF MARKED BIRDS. COMMUNICATED BY E. P. LEACH. Hon. Sec., Bird-Ringing Committee, British Trust for Ornithology. No. 406230 315897 334287 306481 340900 Ringed. Recovered. Raven {Corvus corax). Skokholm Bird Obs., 8.4.47, Caernarvon, 8.3.50. young. [105 m. N.] Hooded Crow {Corvus cornix). Carnlough (Antrim), 1.6.40, Where ringed, — 7-49- young, by M. N. Rankin. Rook {Corvus frugilegus). Bloxham (Oxon.), 24.4.48, Blunsdon (Wilts.), 14.12.49 young, by A. Darlington. [34 m. S.W.] Ravenglass (Cumb.), 31.7.38, Where ringed, 27.6.49. ad., by S. Marchant. Jackdaw {Corvus tnonedula). Canterbury (Kent), 23.6.49, ad., St. Albans (Herts.), 3.8.49. by St. Edmund's Sch. [70 m. N.W.]. Starling {Sturnus vulgaris). SP.077 T.1710 T.8479 24483 T.2829 RH.258 T.8531 24665 V.8918 SK.302 V.8862 V.9428 12288 SR.866 RINGED AS YOUNG. Fair Isle Bird Obs., 8.6.49. Noness, Shetland, 23.10.49. Rogart (Suth.), 26.5.49, by Bushmills (Antrim), 3.12.49. R. Carrick. St. Osyth (Essex), 17.3.49, Boston (Lines.), 13. 11.49 by R. W. Arthur. [95 m. N.N.W.]. RINGED AS FULL-GROWN. Anstruther (Fife), 1 1.9.49, by W. J. Eggeling. Edinburgh, 3.3.48, by Midlothian O.C. Ballantrae (Ayr), 23.2.30, by Nelson and Stevenson. Carlisle (Cumb.), 1 1.2.49, t>y A. V. Millard. Ormskirk (Lancs.), 9.2.30, by F. Jones. York, 22.2.48, by Bootham School. Ditto 4.2.46 Ditto 30.1.48 Leeds (Yorks.), 12.2.48, by F. R. Allison. Bebington (Ches.), 23.1.49, by W. Rankin and Birkenhead Sch. Ditto 17.2.49 Chipping (Lancs.), 23.3.30 [170 m. S.]. Lysaker, Oslo, Norway, 13.7.49. Kirkliston (W. Lothian), 28.3.50 [86 m. N.E.]. Leer (Ostfriesland), Germany, 18.11.49. Esldv (Scania), Sweden, , 9-3-50- Asaka (Vastergotland), Sweden, 3.3-49. Meldorf (Schles. -Holstein), 7.3.50. Tjamsweer (Groningen), Holland, 21.3.50. Hattula, Finland, 7.449, [61° 4'N. ; 24° 24'E.]. Rotherham (Yorks.), 8.12.49 [68 m. E.]. Barnstone (Notts.), 24.12.49 [90 m. E.S.E.]. 314 BRITISH BIRDS [VOL. XLIII. No. 21870 WT. 192 WT.89 X.3012 T.5721 V.8079 X.1319 V.5714 SS.424 E.3713 T.4430 SN.963 D. 7720 E. 6396 B.8691 C.5883 B. 365 2 C. 7765 BV.230 X.663 3 Private M ark E.4701 Ringed. Recovered. Ditto 28.2.30 Shipston (Warwicks.), 27.11.48, by C. A. Norris. Ditto 30.10.48 Oxford, 17.2.47, by Oxford O.S. Seaford (Sussex), 4.11.49, by J. D. Mills. Iwerne Minster (Dorset), 21.2.48, by Clayesmore Sch. Ditto 9-3-47 Hotyhead, Anglesey, 1.2.49, t>y C. P. Rawcliffe. Skokholm Bird Obs., 28.3.49 Greenfinch [Chloris Viborg (Jylland), Denmark, 10.3.30. Wilster (Schles.-Holstein), 3.6.49. Denekamp (Overijssel), Holland, 9.3.30. Cuxhaven, Germany, 14.10.49 Bordeaux, France, 28.11.49. Bremerhaven, Germany, 19.3.30. Den Helder, N. Holland, 17.4.49. Douglas, I. of Man, 14.1.30. Ammanford (Carms.), 21.1.30 [33 m. E.]. chloris) . RINGED AS YOUNG. Sherborne (Dorset), 12.3.49, Charlton Marshall (Dorset), by Sherborne Sch. 28.11.49 [^9 S.E.]. RINGED AS FULL-GROWN. Slimbridge (Glos.), 1948, by Long Ashton (Somerset), P. Scott. 26.12.49 [25 S.]. Ewhurst (Surrey), 6.10.48, by Evreux (Eure), France, 3.1.30. L. G. Weller. Twite [Carduelis flavirostris) . Fair Isle Bird Obs., 2.10.49, ad. Westray, Orkney, 31.1.30. Lesser Redpoll {Carduelis flammea cabaret). RINGED AS YOUNG. South Shields (Durham), 7.7.49, Maransart (Brabant), Belgium, by F. Grey. 23.10.49. Esholt (W. Yorks.), 23.6.48, Farciennes (Hainaut), Bel- by R. F. Dickens. gium, 10. 1.30. Linnet {Carduelis cannabina). RINGED AS YOUNG. Loughborough (Leics.), 20.3.49, Cuenca, Spain, 17.10.49. by H. Clements. Whipsnade (Beds.), 13.8.48, by Vitoria (Alava), Spain, 19. 2. 30. Zool. Soc. RINGED AS FULL-GROWN. Long Ashton (Somerset), 27.2.49, Wadebridge (Cornwall), by G. Clothier. 19.6.49 [110 m. S.W.]. Meadow-Pipit {Anthus pratensis). RINGED AS YOUNG. Tentsmuir (Fife), 21.3.49, by Mazagan, W. Morocco, W. J. Eggeling. 31.12.49. Skokholm Bird Obs., 30.6.47 Coimbra, Portugal, 3.12.49. Ditto 18.3.48 Mouth of R. Tagus, Portugal, Autumn, 1949. RINGED AS FULL-GROWN. Scarborough (Yorks.), 9.6.49, Alter do Chao, Portugal, by A. Wallis. 30.10.49 [39° 14'N. ; 7° 38' W.]. Bordeaux, France, 19.12.48. C.8487 Spurn Bird Obs., 31.8.48 VOL. XLiii.] RECOVERY OF MARKED BIRDS. 315 No. BP.423 BC.247 C.2004 BW.6ii 10744 BM.224 F.3361 E.6991 BE. 705 BA. 353 BV.848 S.3765- E.1137 BB.088 A. 9957 BX.660 D.6473 Ringed. Recovered. Pied Wagtail {Motacilla alba yarrellii). Little Salkeld (Cumb.), 1.6.49, Wigton (Cumb.), 29.12.49 young, by W. Howe. [20 m. W.N.W.]. Halifax (Yorks.), 22.8.48, full- Hawarden (Flints.), 20.9.49 grown, by G. R. Edwards. [61 m. S.W.]. Great Tit {Pams major). RINGED AS YOUNG. Wjdham (Berks.), — 5-4^* by Cholsey (Berks.), 20.10.49 Edward Grey Inst. [i6ni. S.E.]. Ditto — 5.49 Watchfield (Berks.), 2.11.49 [1.8 m. S.W.]. RINGED AS FULL-GROWN Reading (Berks.), 26.2.49, by Horsham (Sussex), 27.8.49, Leighton Park Sch. [40 m. S.E.]. Blue Tit {Pams ccBmleus). RINGED AS YOUNG. Farnham (Surrey), 22.5.49, by Enford (Wilts.), 3.12.49, Charterhouse B.C. [42 m. W.N.W.]. RINGED AS FULL-GROWN. South Shields (Durham), 29.8.49, Felton (Northumb.), 30.10.49 by J. C. Coulson. (24 m. N.N.W.]. Heswall (Ches.), 16.8.49, by Sarn (Caernarvon), 14. 11.49 D. G. Cotgrave. 71 m. S.W.]. Norwich, 21.12.48, b}'^ R. A. Brightlingsea (Essex), Richardson. 13.10.49, [37 m. S.]. Gatwick (Surrey), 19.3.49, by Worthing (Sussex), 6.2.30 K. A. Ede. [26 m. S. S.W.]. Coai-Tit {Parus ater). Wellington (Salop), 19.3.50, ad., Penn (Staffs.), 26.3.30 by E. Watkiss. [17 m. S.E.]. Spotted Flycatcher {Musdcapa striata). Kingswood (Surrey), 18.6.47, Proen^a-a-Nova, Portugal, young, by R. O. Blvth. — io-49> [39° 7°56'W.]. Pied Flycatcher {Muscicapa hypoleuca). Forest of Dean (Glos.), 2.6.49, Coimbra, Portugal, 10.10.49. young, by B. Campbell. Willow-Warbler {Phylloscopus trochilus). RINGED AS FULL-GROWN. Isle of May Bird Obs., 15.5.49 Alijo, Portugal, 27.9.49 [41° 15' N. ; 7° 30' W.]. Skokholm Bird Obs., 9.8.48 Setubal, Portugal, 21.9.49. Reed-Warbler {Acrocephalus scirpaceus). RINGED AS YOUNG. Slough (Bucks.), 3-7-49, by Lavos (Douro), Portugal, G. R. Mountfort. — •9-49- Winchester (Hants), 13.6.49, Sherborne St. John (Hants), by Winchester Coll. 8.8.49 [20 m. N.]. 316 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XLIII. No. Ringed. Recovered. Sedge-Warbler {Acrocephalus schcenobanus). RINGED AS YOUNG. BV.564 Anstruther (Fife), 21.6.49, ^7 Newport (Monmouth), 7.8.49 \V. J. Eggeling. [330 m.S.]. BA. 957 Driffield (Yorks.), 11.6.49, ^7 Sidcup (Kent), — .8.49, L. E. Bouldin. [185 m. S.]. Whitethroat {Sylvia communis). RINGED AS YOUNG. B. 2398 Kilmarnock (Aj^r), 29.6.47, by Auchinleck (Ayr), 30.7.49 F. Walls. [12 m. S.S.E.]. C. 9266 Shoeburyness (Essex), 20.6.48, Ferreira do Zezere, Portugal, by J. Boswell. — •9-49 [39°44'N. ; 8°i7'Wj. RINGED AS FULL-GROWN. C.8450 Spurn Bird Obs., 18.8.48 Robin Hood’s Bay (E. Yorks.) —.7.49 [64 m. N.]. Song-Thrush {Turdus ericetorum). RINGED AS YOUNG. 10,054 Castle Douglas (Kirkcudbr.), Workington (Cumb.), 14. 1.50 30.4.49, by F. Walls. [27 m. S.E.]. 18,907 Oundle (Northants), 27.5.49, Notre Dame du Guildo by Oundle Sch. (C6tes-du-Nord), France, 8.1.50. RINGED AS FULL-GROWN. T.3293 Avoch (Ross), 20.10.48, by Nairn, 28.7.49 [12 m. E.]. J. Lees. YX.812 Isle of May Bird Obs., 10.10.49 Fort-sur-Gironde, France, 25.12.49. XL. 450 Ditto , 30.10.48 Dos Hermanns (Seville), Spain, 5.1.50. T.4902 Ackworth (Yorks.), 6.2.49, ^^7 Pilsley (Derby), I-3-50, N. V. Mendham. [35 m. S.]. 14,577 Gibraltar Point Bird Obs., Castro (Santander), Spain, 12.10.49, SM.736 Seaford (Sussex), 6.3.47, by Sellinge (Kent), 9.8.49, J. D. Mills. [46 m. N.E,]. Blackbird {Turdus merula). RINGED AS YOUNG. T.3767 Saffron Walden (Essex), 27.4.49, St. Albans (Herts.), 26.5.49 by A. Darlington. [32 m. S.W.]. RINGED AS FULL-GROWN. SP.276 Fair Isle Bird Obs., 16.10.49 Morar (Inverness), 18.1.50 [240 m. S.W.]. 208372 Ditto 1 1. 10.48 Throckley (Northumb.), 1.2.50 [330 m. S.]. XL. 501 Isle of May Bird Obs., 24.3.49 Nordfjord, Norway, 18.6.49, \ca. 62°N.]. XL. 503 Ditto 24.3.49 Holm (Vestfold), Norway, 18.7.49. 19,749 South Shields (Durham), Leswalt (Wigtown), 9.11.49 27.8.49, by J. C. Coulson. [145 m. W.]. X.9232 Spurn Bird Obs., 17.3.49 Norden (Ostfriesland), Germany, 6.7.49. Wheatear {(Enanthe oenanthe). Private Mark S^okholm Bird Obs., 16.8.49, Capbreton (Landes), France, full-grown. 18.8.49. VOL. XLIII.] RECOVERY OF MARKED BIRDS. 317 No. BA. 474 BB. 368 F. 1 5 10 AN. 4583 337319 AN. 8721 326713 340737 339363 339137 338259 319037 323892 AD. 4447 334171 506308 506603 306602 302002 Ringed. Recovered. Robin [Erithacus rubecula). RINGED AS YOUNG. Towcester (Northants.), 8.3.49, Banbury (Oxon.), 17.9.49 by N. C. Moore. [17 rn. S.W.]. RINGED AS FULL-GROWN. Isle of May Bird Obs., 28.8.49 Fraserburgh (Aberdeen), 28.3.50 [105 m. N.]. South Shields (Durham), 28.8.49, Darlin^on (Durham), by F. Grey. 26.10.49 [33 m. S.j. Little Owl [Athene noctua). RINGED AS YOUNG. Towcester (Northants), 12.6.49, Long Ashton (Somerset), by N. C. Moore. — .12.49 [®5 S.W.]. Sunninghill (Berks.), 4.6.49, by Lee-on-Solent (Hants.), Ash and Ridley. 27.12.49 [50 m. S.S.W.]. Long-eared Owl [Asia otus). Tentsmuir (Fife) 23.3.49 young Ladybank (Fife), 20.7.49 by W. J. Eggeling. [16 m. S.W.]. Merlin [Falco columbarius) . Hebden Bridge (Yorks.), 25.6.44, Rochefort (Charente Inf.) young, by E. Watson. France, 30.3.50. Kestrel [Falco tinnunculus) . RINGED AS YOUNG. Burnley (Lancs.), 24.6.49, by D. Leaver. Troutsdale (E. Yorks.), 2.6.49, by A. Wallis. Peel, I. of Man, 22.6.49 Sy Cowin, Crellin, Moss and Pool. Clapham (Beds.), 6.6.49, Bedford Sch. Sway (Hants.), 1.6.49, t>y E. Cohen. Derwent (Derby), 21.8.49 [34 m. S.S.E.]. Swinderby (Lines.), 2.1.30 [78 m. S.]. St. Jean de Luz (B.-P.), France, 25.9.49. Guilsborough (Northants.), 23.1.50 [26 m. N.W.]. Swanmore (Hants.), — .1.50 [23 m. N.E.]. Montagu’s Harrier [Circus pygargus). RINGED AS YOUNG. North Wales, 9.7.49, by E. K. St. Jean Pied-de-Port (B.-P.), Allin. France, 27.9.49. New Forest (Hants.), 7.8.49, Champagn6 - les - Marais by R. E. Williams. (Vendee), France, 22.9.49. Dartmoor (Devon), 9.7.48, by North Wales, 18.8.49. H. G. Hurrell. Heron [Ardea cinerea). RINGED AS YOUNG. Tongue (Suth.) 23.4.49, by I. Pennie. Wytham (Berks.), 1 1.5.49, by P. Gladstone. Ditto 1 1.5.49 Taplow (Bucks.), 18.3.49, by B. Huddart. Rosbeg (Donegal), 25.10.49. Frodsham (Ches.), — [125 m. N.W.]. Buckingham, 27.10.49 [i 8 m. N.E.]. N. Warnborough (Hants.), 14.8.49, [23 m. S.S.W.]. 318 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL, XLIII. No. Ringed. Recovered. 305532 High Halstow (Kent), 1.6.48, by D. Goodwin. 504844 Ditto 24.5.47 505530 Ditto 1.6.48 500742 Ditto 26.5.47 by London N.H.S. Sheld-duck [Tadorna AN. 7002 Budle Bay (Northumb.), 12.7.49, young, by Ash and Ridley. Tillingham (Essex), 28.12.49 [20 m. N.]. Exeter (Devon), 3.12.49 [i8om. W.S.W.J. Vetheuil (Seine-et-Oise) France, 5.11.49. Ashton Keynes (V\'ilts.) — .1.50, L106 in. W.]. tadorna). Southport (Lancs.), 7.11.49 [140 m. S.S.W.]. 402877 403768 403706 403858 403725 403822 403819 926278 926535 927644 926531 926524 926048 926491 926062 328223 312281 RW.8777 311318 Mallard {Anas platyrhyncha). RINGED AS FULL-GROWN. Ludham (Norfolk), 10.8.37, by M. R. Boardman. Slimbridge (Glos.), 13.9.49, by Severn Wildfowl Trust. Ditto 30.7.49 Ditto 3.10.49 Ditto 6.8.49 Ditto 17.9.49 Ditto 13.9.49 Strangnas (E. Sweden), Spring, 1940. Borough Fen Decoy (Northants.), 22.11.49 [no m. N.E.]. Newcastle Emlyn (Carms.), 4.1 .50 [90 m. W.N.W.]. Robeston Wathen (Pembs.), 5.1 1-49, [100 ni. W.]. St. Marychurch (Glam.), 17.12.49 [50 m. W.S.W.J. Ballingly Marsh (Wexford), 26.12.49. Paimboeuf (Loire Inf.), France —.1.50. RINGS ISSUED TO WILDFOWL INQUIRY COMMITTEE. Fleet Bay (Kirkcudbr.), 21.8.49 Kelso (Roxburgh), 24.10.49 [90 m. N.E.]. 5.2.49. Tamworth (Staffs.), 5.1 1.49 [70 m. N.N.E.J. 24.9.49 Baginton (Warwicks.), 21. 1 1.49, [63 in. N.E.]. 26.1.49 Millington (Norfolk), 3.1 1.49 [150 m. N.E.]. 24.12.48 W’ylye (Wilts.), 2.1.50, [45 m. S.S.E.]. 3.3.48 Barnstaple (Devon), 28.1.50 [85 m. S.W.]. 8.11.48 Criccieth (Caernarvons.), 27.1 2.49, [i 10 m. N.W.]. 8.7.48 Hamburg, Germany, 16.8.49^ Slimbridge (Glos.), Ditto Ditto Ditto Ditto Ditto Ditto Teal {A nas crecca). RINGED AS YOUNG. Smeale, I. of Man, 29.7.47, by Terschelling, W. Frisian Is., Cowin, Crellin and Ladds. — .9.48. Rathlin I. (Antrim), 3-7'39- Lisbon, Portugal, 6.2.50. by M. N. Rankin. RINGED AS FULL-GROWN. Leswalt (Wigtown), 19.2.49, by Toomebridge (Antrim), J. Law. 5.12.49. Ditto 28.2.49 Ballymacully (.\rmagh), 25.1.50. VOL. XLiii.] RECOVERY OF MARKED BIRDS. 310 No. Ringed. Recovered. RINGS ISSUED TO WILDFOWL INQUIRY COMMITTEE. 907984 Borough 28.11.49 Fen (Northants.), Castlebellingham (Louth), — .2.50. 908018 Ditto 1. 12. 49 New Ross (Wexford), 11.1.50. 907393 Ditto 19. 10.49 Ballycroy (Mayo), 17. 1.50. 907056 Ditto 13.2.49 Athenry (Galway), 31.8.49. 907409 Ditto 24. 10.49 Ennis (Clare), 18.12.49. 907483 Ditto 14.11.49 Foynes (Limerick), 27.12.49. 906966 Ditto 3.2.49 Svir River, Leningrad, Russia, 25.4.49. 907187 Ditto 28.2.49 Vologda Govt., Central Russia —.5.49. 907266 Ditto 4.3.49 Kostroma, Russia [57°45'N. ; 40° 58'E.]. 907059 Ditto 13.2.49 Tilsit, E. Prussia, 25.4.49. 907134 Ditto 14.2.49 Limfjord (Jylland), Denmark, 23.10.49. 907II5 Ditto 14.2.49 Ditto, 25.10.49. 906986 Ditto 3.2.49 Nissum Fjord (Jylland), Denmark, 16.10.49. 906963 Ditto 3.2.49 Herning (Jylland), Denmark 7.8.49. 907160 Ditto 25.2.49 Dordrecht, S. Holland, 7.9.49. 907151 Ditto 23.2.49 Mouth of Somme, France, 906984 Ditto 3.2.49 1 . 1 . 5 0. QuiUeboeuf (Eure), France, 1 2. 1 2.49. 907105 Ditto 14.2.49 Cabourg (Calvados), France, 12.12.49. 907555 Ditto 24.11.49 Chantenay - St. - Imbert (Nievre), France, — .1.50. 907035 Ditto 3.2.49 St. Vivien - de - Medoc (Gironde), France, 22.12.49. 907477 Ditto 14.11.49 St. Ciers (Gironde), 1.3.50. 907581 Essex, 3. II. 49 Ballynabola (Wexford), 906530 Slimbridge (Glos.), I3-9-49 . 1.50. Castleplunkett (Roscommon), 5. 11.49. 906529 Ditto 13.9.49 Thurles (Tipperary), 4.12.49. 904161 Ditto 17.9.47 Sztum, Danzig, 15.8.49 [5 3°5 5'N.; 19° 3'E.]. 903960 Pembroke, 5.12.46 Lough Neagh (Antrim), 13.8.49. 904884 Ditto 7.11.47 Tullamore (Offaly), 22.1.50. 904444 Ditto 25. 12.46 Riazan, Central Russia, 7.8.48 904910 Ditto 9.11.47 Kemijarvi, Finland, 21.8.49 [66°5 8'N. ; 27° 26'E.]. 903702 Ditto 4.11.46 Sippola, Finland, 27.8.49 [60° 44'N. ; 27°E.]. 904890 Ditto 7.11.47 Frische Haff, Danzig, 10. 10.48. 903517 Ditto 21.1.46 Pagensand I., R. Elbe, Germany, 27.8.49. 904446 Ditto 25.12.46 Manager Fjd. (Jylland), Denmark, 1.8.49. 904789 Ditto 26. 10.47 Odense (Fyen), Denmark, 18.9.49. 904829 Ditto I. II. 47 Falster, Denmark, 19.8.49. 320 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XLIII. No. 905 160 Ditto Ringed. 21.2.49 Recovered. Tisso Lake (Sjaelland), Den- 902650 Ditto 17.10.45 mark, 3.10.49. Slotermeer (Friesland), Hol- 901915 Ditto 22.12.38 land, 8.8.49. Huizen, N. Holland, 31.8.44. 907016 Wigeon [Anas penelope). RINGED AS FULL-GROWN. RINGS ISSUED TO WILDFOWL INQUIRY COMMITTEE. Borough Fen (Northants.), Newtownards (Down), 5. 1 2.49 907308 24.1.49. Ditto 6.3.49 Pinega, N. Russia, 22.5.49 907369 Ditto 21.3.49 [64° 40'N. ; 43“ 30'E.]. Penza Govt., Central Russia, 907213 Ditto 2.3.49 10. 10.49. Joure (Friesland), Holland, 907197 Ditto 28.2.49 3.12.49. La Trinity (Morbihan), France 906505 Slimbridge (Glos.), 10.2.49 23.1.50. R. Blackwater (Waterford), 0 0 CN Ditto 8.1 1.48 22.2.50. Chelyabinsk, E. Russia, 906499 Ditto 8.1.49 spring, 1949 [55° 8'N. ; 61° 35'E.]. Sverdlovsk, E. Russia, 18.5.49 906508 Ditto II. 2. 49 [56° 50'N. ; 60° 39'E.]. Balakhna, Central Russia, •r. 4516 Pembroke 28.12.46 30.4.49 [56°35'N.; 43°3o'E.]. Pechora Delta, N. Russia, 3.6.49 [67°3o'N.; 52°3o'E.]. Pintail [Anas acuta). RINGED AS FULL-GROWN. RINGS ISSUED TO WILDFOWL INQUIRY COMMITTEE. 906517 Slimbridge (Glos.), 1 1.7.49 Durrow (Leix), 10.10.49. 925397 Abbotsbury (Dorset), 2-2.47 Kargopol, N. Russia, spring, 1949. [65°3o'N. ; 43°3o'E.]. 905283 Ditto 25.2.47 Kautokeino, N. Norway, 24.5.49 [69° N. ; 23°io'E.]. Shoveler [Spatula clypeata). RINGED AS FULL-GROWN. RINGS ISSUED TO WILDFOWL INQUIRY COMMITTEE. 906420 Slimbridge (Glos.), 19.9.48 L. Sheelin (Cavan), 21.10.49. 9065 26 Ditto 30.8.49 Lady’s Island (Wexford), 5. II. 49. 906707 Ditto 18.10.49 Shannon Airport (Clare), 24.1.50. 907494 Borough Fen (Northants), St. Barth616my (Landes), 17. II. 49 France, 25.1.50. Or. 4451 Pembroke, 17.12.45 Borger (Drente), Holland, 2.10.47. Cormorant [Phalacrocorax carbo). RINGED AS YOUNG. 127251 Mochrum (Wigtown) 4.8.47, Rhu (Dumbarton), 12.1.50, by Lord D. Stuart. [82 m. N.]. 127831 Ditto 17.7.47 IMorecambe (Lancs.), 17.1.50 [90 m. S.E.]. VOL. XLiii.] RECOVERY OF MARKED BIRDS. 321 No. 127965 T 29130 I29I35 I29I34 I2914O 125923 1 26665 126661 129116 129118 I 28981 1275 10 128590 126467 501090 501519' 5OI5I3 5OI54I 5OI5II 501530 501465 505385 500981 500922 500954 506514 Ringed. Recovered. Maughold Head, T. of Man, 31.7.47, by Cowin, Crellin and Ladds. CilanHead (Caernarvon), 1 1.7.49, by D. G. Cotgrave. Ditto 1 1.7.49 Ditto 1 1.7.49 Ditto 1 1.7.49 Tenby (Pembs.), 18.7.47, by Skokholm Bird Obs. Lundy Bird Obs., 2.7.49 Ditto 2.7.49 Creetown (Kirkcudbr.), 1948. Nantgaredig (Carms.), 17. 12.49 [65 m. S.S.E.]. St. Vaast-la-Hougue(Manche), France, 2.10.49. Daoulas (Finist6re), France, 30.9.49. Larmor-Plage (Morbihan), France, 4.9.49. Bere Ferrers (Devon), 10.9.49, [90 ni. S.]. Fxmouth (Devon), 26.10.49. Lannion (C6tes-du-Nord), France, 5. 11.49. Shag {Phalacrocorax aristotelis) . RINGED AS YOUNG. Ballantrae (Ayr), 18.6.49, ^7 Nelson and Stevenson. Ditto 18.6.49 Fame Is. (Northumb.), 30.6.49, by Northumb. and Durham N.H.S. Maughold Head, I. of Man, 27.7.47, by Cowin, Crellin and Ladds. Ditto 6.6.49 Lambay I. (Dublin), 13.6.39, by Skokholm Bird Obs. Isle of Gigha (Argyll), 6.10.49 [50 m. N.W.]. Ardrossan (Ayr), 5.3.50, [40 m. N.]. Aberdeen, 19.2.50 [iiom. N.]. Burrow Head (Wigtown), —.11.49. Trearddur Bay, Anglesey, 16.1.50. Newcastle (Down), 24.3.50. Gannet [Sula bassana). RINGED AS YOUNG. Side Stack, O. Hebrides, 18.7.49, by I Pennie. [59°N. ; 4° 30'W.]. Bass Rock, 1 1.7.49, b}^ Mid- lothian O.C. Ditto 1 1.7.49 Ditto I 1.7.49 Ditto I 1.7.49 Ditto II. 7. 49 Ditto 11.7.49 Ditto 10.7.48 Ditto by J. Appleyard. 7.8.49 Ditto 7.8.49 Ditto -J 00 0 Ditto by Ash and Ridley. 24.7.48 .\viles (.'\sturias), Spain, —.9.49 La>so L, Denmark, 18.1.50. Calais, France, 30.10.49. St. Valery (Somme), France, 30. 10.49. Bale de I’Orne (Calvados), France, 31.10.49. Croix de Vie (Vendee), France, —.10.49. Fuenterrabia (Guipuzcoa), Spain, 4.10.49. Rio de Oro, Spanish W. Africa, 29.9.49. Castlebar (Mayo), 14.10.49. At sea, off Brest (Finistere), France, 13.10.49. Sines (Fstremadura), Portugal, 6.11.49. Le Touquet (Pas-de-Calais), France, 5.10.49. 322 BRITISH BIRDS. rvOL. XLIII. No. 500449 126810 505343 U7141 504357 503967 503379 I 123869 504445 503703 503978 Jersey F.23 503390 503636 502252 126184 AV.7792 317825 AT.4243 AT. 400 1 3 Birds 8383 8965 6 Birds AT.8537 2 Birds 5 Birds Ringed. Recovered. Ditto 6.8.46 La Baule (Loire Inf.), France* by M. Stewart. 20.2.50. Ailsa Craig, 18.8.47, by A. Manager Fjd. (Jylland), Darlington. Denmark, 14.10.49. Big Scar (Wigtown), 20.6.49, Bajmna (Galicia), Spain, by J. Crosthwaite. —.11.49. Grassholm, 1.8.37, b\^ Skokholm Faeroe Is., autumn, 1939. Bird Obs. Ditto 12.8.47 HvallerL, Oslo Fjord, 6.11.49. Ditto 3-7-47 Bredstedt, Schleswig-Holstein. Ditto II. 7. 45 12.6.49. Nieuport, West Flanders, Ditto II. 7. 45 15.2.50. At sea, 47° 50'N. ; 6WV., Ditto 16.7.38 —.5.49. St. Jean de Luz (B.-P.), Ditto 10.7.48 France, 9.2.42. Hendaye (B.-P.), France, Ditto 11.7.46 3.10.49. Fuenterrabia (Guipuzcoa), Ditto 3-7-47 Spain, 20.2.50. San Sebastian (Guipuzcoa), Alderne}^ Channel Is., 24.7.49, Spain, 3.10.49. Javea (Alicante), Spain, by Soc. Jersia se. 27.11.49. RINGED AS FULL-GROWN. Grassholm, 1 1.7.45, by Skokholm Off Start Point (Devon), Bird Obs. 4.2.50. Ditto 11.7.46 Off Edd}''stone Light (Devon), Ditto 15.8.39 19.2.50. Penzance (Cornwall), 18.3.50. Ditto 2.5.46 Calais, France, 20.12.49. Manx Shearwater {Puffimis puffinus). RINGED AS YOUNG. Skokholm Bird Obs., 8.9.49 Biarritz (B.-P.), France, 24.3.50. RINGED AS FULL-GROWN. Skokholm Bird Obs., 30.4.46 lies de Glenans (Finistere), France, 19.7.49. Ditto 2.7.46 Etel (Morbihan), France, 20.8.49. Ditto 25 .6.46 Luarca (Asturias), Spain, 1.9.49. Ditto summer, 1947 Finist6re, France, summer, 1949. Ditto 20.7.47 Noirmoutier (Vendee), France 20. 8.49. Ditto 15.8.47 Les Sables d’Olonne (Vendee), France, 23.3.50. Ditto summer, 1947 Depts. of Gironde, Landes and Basses Pyrenees, —.3.50. Ditto 22.7.47 San Sebastian (Guipuzcoa), Spain, 25.3.50. Ditto summer, 1947 Luarca (.\sturias), Spain, —.9.49. Ditto summer, 1948 Morbihan, France, Aug. and Sept., 1949. VOL. XLiii.] RECOVERY OF MARKED BIRDS. 323 No. 01456 01535 3 Birds AV. 2730 3 Birds AV.4869 AV.6906 3 Birds 2 Birds 331411 336483 344333 340636 340622 238304 339378 20923 244707 249373 250122 240222 248482 243214 245030 Ringed. Ditto 28.7.48 Ditto 1.8.48 Ditto summer, 1948 Ditto 20.5 .48 Ditto summer, 1949 Ditto 13.6.49 Ditto 3.8.49 Ditto summer, 1949 Ditto summer, 1949 Recovered. LeCroisic (Loire Inf.), 25.8.49. Les Sables d’Olonne (Vendde), 27.3.50. Depts. of Landes and Basses Pyrenees, — ■■3.50. Biarritz (B.-P.), 26.4.49. Finistere, summer, 1949. He de Noirmoutier (Vendee), 22.8.49. Les Sables d’Olonne (Vendee), 30.3.30. Biarritz (B.-P.), — .3-50. Laredo (Santander), Spain, Autumn, 1949. Fulmar Petrel {Fulmanis glacialis). RINGED AS YOUNG. St. Kilda, 17.7.48, by T. Fisher Newfoundland waters, 9.11.48 [47° 8'N. ; 47^ 40'W ]. Ditto 17.7.48 20.6.46 [48° 30'N. ; 30° 5 'W.]- Wood-Pigeon {Columba palumhus). RINGED AS YOUNG. Glenorchard (Stirling), 8.8.49, Muirhead of Lift (Angus), by J. Bartholomew. 2.1.50 [60 m. N.E.]. Ditto 18.7.49 Forfar, 3.1.50 [75 m. N.E.]. Ditto 11.3.4,9 Kinellar (Aberdeen), 4.2.30 [120 m. N.E.]. Turtle-Dove {Streptopelia turUir). Sherborne (Dorset), 1.6.47, Benavente, Portugal, young, by Sherborne Sch. [38° 58'N. ; 8° 47'W.]. Oyster-catcher [Hcematoptis ostralegus). Salkeld (Cumb.), 22.6.49, young, I’Aiguillon (Vendee), France, by A. Wallis. 10.8.49. Ringed Plover {Charadrhis hiaticula). Fame Is. (Northumb.), 21.7.49, Warkworth (Northumb.), young, by Ash and Ridley. 19.8.49 [20 m. S.]. Aultbea (Ross.), P. A. Rayfield. Glenorchard (Stirling), 2.6.49, by J. Bartholomew. Southwaite (Cumb.), 14.5.49, by R. H. Brown. Kendal (Westmor.), 19.6.47, by R. M. Band. Sabden (Lancs.), 12.5.49, by J. J. Boon. Whalley (Lancs.), 15.7.48, by J. J. Boon. Todmorden (Yorks.), 8.6.48, by A. Welch. Bridge (Inverness.), 12.4.50 [70 m. S.S.E.]. Banagher (Offaly), — .2.30. Dumfries, 22.10.49 [34 m. N.W.]. Donabate (Dublin), 27.12.49. Hollingworth (Ches.), 14.3.30 [30 m. S.S.E.]. Oldham (Lancs.), 19.3.50, [21 m. S.E.]. Kells (Meath), 11.12.49. Lapwing ( Vanellus vanellus) . RINGED AS YOUNG. 18.5.48, by Spean 324 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XLIII. No. 242I2I 242128 237084 333460 RW.3225 329262 300934 246014 2305 10 241 50 1 245548 25 1640 SS.206 SS.059 22719 19437 19287 E.9519 307826 342851 Ringed. Otley (Yorks.), 21.5.49, by R. F. Dickens. Ilkley (Yorks.), 9.6.49, by R. F. Dickens. Barnt Green (Worcs.), 21.5.49, by D. R. Mirams. Recovered. Ballindine (Mayo), 8.1.50. Widnes (Lancs.), 11. 1.50, [53 m. S.W.]. St. Gilles-sur-Vie (Vendee), France, 8.3.50. Curlew [Nnmenius arquaia). RINGED AS YOUNG. Culgaith (Cumb.), 15.6.48, by Ravenglass (Cumb.), 17.9.49 W. Howe. [40 m. S.W.]. Padiham (Lancs.), 3.6.48, by Llandwrog (Caerns.), 6.9.49 J. J. Boon. ■ [95 m. S.W.]. Otmoor (Oxford), 12.6.49, by Pont-Croix (Finistere), France 0.0. S. 12.10.49. Woodcock [Scolopax ntsticola). Fair Isle Bird Obs., 1.4.49, Tarbert, I. of Harris, 21. 1.50. Sandwich Tern {Sterna sandvicensis). RINGED AS YOUNG. Forth Area, Scotland, 19.7.49, by Midlothian O.C. Fame Is. (Northumb.), 1 1.7.49, by Ash and Ridley. Ditto 30.6.47 by the late T. R. Goddard. Walney I. (Lancs.), 7.6.49, by A. V. Millard. Ditto 19.6.49 Dakar, Senegal, 12.2.50. Makkum (Friesland), Holland, —.8.49. Awunaga, Gold Coast, 7.3.50. Oporto, Portugal, 22.10.49. Ada, Gold Coast, 21. 11.49. Roseate Tern {Sterna dongallu). RINGED AS YOUNG. Forth Area, 19.7.49, by Mid- lothian O.C. Ditto 19.7.49 Fame Is. (Northumb.), 21.7.49, by Northumb. and Durham N.H.S. Carlingford Lough (Down), 16.9.49. Povoa de \^arzim (Douro), Portugal, 29.9.49. Teesmouth (Yorks.), 7.8.49 [72 m. S.j. Arctic Tern {Sterna maernra). RINGED AS YOUNG. Fame Is. (Northumb.), 11.7.49, Aberdeen, 31.7.49 [i 10 m. N.]. by Northumb. and Durham N.H.S. Ditto 1 1.7.49 Portobello (Midlothian), 24.7.49 [60 m. N.]. Little Tern {Sterna albifrons). Tentsmuir (Fife), 16.7.49, young, Teesmouth (Durham), 20.8.49 by W. J. Eggeling. [135 m.S.]. Black-headed Gull {Larns ridiUmdus). RINGED AS YOUNG. Grogary, S. Uist, 17.6.49, by Shader, Is. of Lewis, — .8.49 M. Henderson. [80 m. N.N.E.]. Tentsmuir (Fife), 22.6.49, by Inskip (Lancs.), 10.3.50 W. J. Eggeling. [180 m. S.]. VOL. XLiii.] RECOVERY OF MARKED BIRDS. 325 No. 341941 341910 341922 34T 1 16 336968 341228 341178 340006 340197 34028 1 340273 331920 332042 332020 332014 33x900 323239 343762 229374 329174 343626 323 801 333191 RX.6837 AC. 6866 Ringed. Ravenglass (Cumb.), 13.7.49 by A. F. Airey. Ditto Recovered. Whithorn (Wigtown), 18. 11.49 [47 m. N.W.]. 12.7.49 Bolton (Lancs.), 18.1.30 [67 in. S.E.]. Ditto 13.7.49 Corofin (Clare), 6.12.49. Colchester (Essex), 11.7.49, t>y Cliffe-at-Hoo (Kent), — .1.30 C. B. Wainwright. [32 m. S.S.W.]. Ditto 17.6.49 Barn Elms Resr. (Surrey), 12.3.30 [30 m. S.W.J. Ditto 20.7.49 Ullswater (Cumb.), 11.9.49 [243 m. N.W.]. Ditto 11.7.49 Plancoet (C6tes-du-Nord), France, 26.1.30. Milford (Donegal), 4.6.49, by Lough Neagh (Armagh), Dublin F.C. 4.2.30 [67 m. S.E.]. Ditto 4-6-49 Maryborough (Leix), 18.9.49, [140 m. S.]. Co. Cavan, near Finea, 12.6.49, Kirkbean (Dumfries), 31.7.49. by Dublin F.C. Ditto 12.6.49 Portpatrick (Wigtown), 26.7.49. Lough Carra (Mayo), 21.6.48, Donabate (Dublin), — .1.30, by Dublin F.C. [123 m. E.]. Ditto 11.6.49 Castletown (Meath), 4.8.49, [100 m. E.]. Ditto 9.6.49 Portumna (Galway), 7-9.49 [33 m. S.E.]. Ditto 9.6.49 Limerick, 3-8.49 [73 m. S.S.E.]. Ditto 21.6.48 Castleisland (Kerry), 13.9.49, [100 m. S.]. RINGED AS FULL-GROWN. Westminster, 13.2.43, by Woodrising (Norfolk), — .7.49 London N.H.S. [90 m. N.E.]. Ditto 18.3.39 Where ringed, 13.1.30 : Barn Elms (Surrey), 11.3.30. Littleton (Middlesex), 30.1.49, Holbeach Marsh (Lines.), byP. Hollom. — .9.49 [100 m. N.]. Common Gull {Lams canus). RINGED AS YOUNG. Noss, Shetland, 21.6.48, by South Ronaldshay, Orkney, R. A. Richardson. — .8.49, [120 m. S.S.W.]. Loch Ashie (Inverness), 1 1.7.49, Buckie (Banff.), 8.11.49, by C. Knowles. [30 m. E.]. Gunn’s I. (Down), 1.7.48 by Verwig (Cardigan), 12.3.30. V. FI. Spry Lough Carra (Mayo), 11.6.49, Ballybunion (Kerry), 17. 10.49 by R. F. Ruttledge. [90 m. S.]. RINGED AS FULL-GROWN. Littleton (Middlesex), 30.1.49, Putlos, Schles. - Holstein, by P. Hollom. 11.3.49, [34°i9'N.; io°34'E.] Strood (Kent), 16.2.47, by P. A. Horslunde (Laaland), Rayfield'. Denmark, 16.6.49. Herring-Gull {Lams argentatus). RINGED AS YOUNG. Rosemarkie (Ross), 14.7.49, by Crieff (Perth), 23.8.49, J. Lees. [90m. S.]. AD. 3 803 326 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XLIII. No. AD. 5694 AN. 1014 AN. 9987 AD. 5034 AD. 5043 AD. 5845 CA. 1661 AB.2322 AN. 2248 AN. 2624 AN. 6967 AN. 8255 AD. 6284 AD. 6232 AD. 5 1 80 AN. 4236 AD. 6229 AD. 6274 407252 336204 406732 Ringed. Ditto — -7-49 Calf of Man, 20.6.49, 6y H. M. Rogers. Steep Holm, Bristol Channel, 28.6.49, 6y R- Poulding. Skokholm Bird Obs., 16.6.49 Ditto 16.6.49 Recovered. North Berwick (E. Lothian), 15.3.50, [120 m. S.S.E.]. Courtown (Wexford), 14. 11.49 Berry’ Head (Devon), 22.9.49 [70 m. S.]. Abercwmboi (Glam.), 10.10.49 [80m. E.] Wexford, 1.1.50. RINGED AS FULL-GROWN. Avoch (Ross.), 10.7.49, by J. Isle of May, Firth of Forth, Lees 1 1.3.50, [i 10 m. S.E.]. Littleton (Middlesex), 30.1.49, Grainthorpe (Lines.), 11.2.50 byP. Hollom. [140 m.N.]. Lesser Black-backed Gull {Larus fuscus). RINGED AS YOUNG. Walney’ I. (Lancs.), 16.6.35, by the late H. W. Robinson Ditto 25.6.47, by R. M. Band. Pennine FeUs (Lancs.), 20.7.48, by R. M. Band. Ditto 19.7.49, by I. Barnes. Ditto 19.7.49, by G. Bowden. Skokholm Bird Obs., 19.7.49 Ditto 13.7.49 Ditto 8.7.49 Ditto 6.7.48 Ditto 13.7.49 Ditto 22.7.49 Cleveleys (Lancs.), 30.5.49, [i5m.S.]. Talais (Gironde), France, 16.4.50. Huelva, Spain, 1.11.48. Paimboeuf (Loire Inf.), France, —.11.49. Puerto de la Luz, Grand Canary, 4.11.49. Bay of Biscay, 25.1.50, [45°4o'N. ; 2°W.]. Bassin d’Arcachon (Gironde), France, 18.12.49. St. Jean de Luz (B.-P.), 8. 1 1.49. Viera, Portugal, — .1149, [41° 39'N. ; 8° lo'W.]. Fehdala, Western Morocco, 13.11.49. Agadir, Western Morocco, 3.2.50. Great Black-backed Gull [Larus marinus). North Rona, 17.7.49, young, Kilinallin, I. of Islay, — -4-50 bv I. Pennie. [59° 7'N. ; 5° 49'W.j. Kittiwake [Rissa tridactyla). Lundy, 12.7.48, young, by R. Bale de Douarnenez (Finis- Poulding. t^re), France, 17. 11.49. Great Skua [Stercorarius skua). Hermaness, Shetland, 2.7.48, Cap Ferret (Gironde), France, young, by F. M. Gurteen. 21.7.49. Arctic Skua [Stercorarius parasiticus). Fair Isle Bird Obs., 16.7.49, La Panne, West Flanders, young. — .11.49. 337519 VOL. XLiii.] RECOVERY OF MARKED BIRDS. 327 No. 339144 Peel, I . Ringed. Recovered. Razorbill [Aka tor da). RINGED AS YOUNG. of Man, 19.6.49, by Baie de Douarnenez(Finistere) AV.5388 Cowin, Crellin, Moss and Pool. Skokholm Bird Obs., 3. 7-49 France, 18.10.49. Mull of Kintyre (Argyll), AV.5212 Ditto 5-7-49 23.9.49 [250 m. N.]. West Kirby (Ches.), 3.3.30 0277 Ditto 5.7.48 [130 m. N.N.E.]. Selsey (Sussex), 27.10.49, AV.5441 Ditto 5-7-49 [200 m. E.S.E.]. Plymouth (Devon), 4.1.50 AV.5924 Ditto 15.7.49 [100 m. S.S.E.]. Perranporth (Cornwall), AT.8218 Ditto I7-7-47 1.9.49 [92 m. S.]. Koge Bay (Sjaelland), AT. 4424 Ditto 7.7.46 Denmark, 18.12.49. Callantsoog, N. Holland, AV.5 196 Ditto 3-7-49 1 3.2.50. St. Valery (Somme), France, AT. 4204 Ditto 1.7.46 15.10.49. Audierne (Finist^re), France, AV.5361 Ditto 5-7-49 4.6.30. Plouharnel (Morbihan), AT. 3902 Ditto 21.7.46 France, — .10.49. Biarritz (B.-P.j, France, 3 Birds Ditto —.7.49 10. 1 1.49. Cantabrian Coast, N. Spain, AT.7'187 Ditto II. 7. 47 —.10.49. Vivero (Galicia), Spain, 2 Birds Ditto —.7.49 7.12.49 Galicia, Spain, Winter 1949. AV.5 376 Ditto 5'7'49 Oporto, Portugal, 24.10.49. AV.5237 Ditto 3-7-49 Leirosa (Douro), 3. 11.49. AV. 3613 Ditto 27.6.48 San Antonio (Algarve), AV.3372 Ditto 5-7-49 8.1 1.49. C. St. Vincent (Algarve), AD. 668 1 Lundy Bird Obs., 12.7.49 13. II. 49. Polzeath (Cornwall), 28.8.49, AD. 661 3 Ditto II. 7.49 [43 m. S.]. Saeby (Jylland), Denmark, AN. 6627 Ditto 7-7-49 3.1.50. Plougasnou (Finist^re), AD. 6685 Ditto 13.7.49 France, 12.10.49. Vigo (Galicia), Spain, 2.12.49. AN.6503 Ditto 30.6.49 T6iies, Algeria, 8.11.49. AT. 25 17 Skomer RINGED AS FULL-GROWN. (Pem.), 28.5.46 by Etel (Morbihan), France, AV.3608 Skokholm. Bird Obs. Skokholm Bird Obs., 2.7.46 16. 2.50. Brighton (Sussex), — ■i-49, AV.3677 Ditto 27.6.48 [230 m. S.E.]. Newhaven (Sussex), 20.2.30, 0390 Ditto 14.7.48 [233 m. S.E.]. Gijon (Asturias), Spain, —.12.49. Guillemot {Uria aalge). RINGED AS YOUNG. AT.5331 Skomer (Pem.), 18.7.46, by Widemouth Bay (Cornwall), Skokholm Bird Obs. 28.12.49, [?5 S.S.E.]. 328 BRITISH BIRDS. [vol. xliii. No. Ringed. Recovered. AT.5554 Ditto 25.7.46 Barfleur (Manche), fTance, 25.9.49. AN. 173 1 Lundy Bird Obs., 13.7.48 Sidmouth (Devon), 25.7.49, [70 m. S.E.]. AD. 6647 Ditto 11.7.49 Rosslare (Wexford), 28.9.49. AN. 6556 Ditto 2.7.49 Agnes (Cornwall), 30.7.49, [65 ni. S.]. AN. 665 1 Ditto RINGED AS 8.7.49 Guenole (Finistere), France, — .3.50. FULL-GROWN. AT. 7 107 Skokholm Bird Obs., 25.6.47 Plymouth (Devon), 25.3.50, [io5 ni. S.S.E.]. Water- Rail {Rallus aqitaticus). 905312 Abbotsbury (Dorset), 15.12.49, Kalundborg (Sjaelland), ad., by Wildfowl Inq. Ctee. Denmark, 23.3.50. Moorhen {Gallinula chloropus). RINGED AS FULL-GROWN. AN. 4946 Burnley (Lancs.), 10.9.49, by Longframlington (Northumb.) K. G. Spencer. 10. 1.50 [105 m. N.]. AN. 6722 Layer Breton (Essex), 20.10.49, Beaumont (Essex), 28.3.50, byC. B. Wainwright. [15 m. E.N.E.]. STUDIES OF SOME SPECIES RARELY PHOTOGRAPHED. XXVH. TEMMINCK’S STINT. Photographed by Olof Swanberg. THE SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER. Photographed by Allan D. Cruickshank. THE LIT'FLE STINT. Photographed by C. G. des Forges and J. E. Sluiters. (Plates 50-59). In the present instalment of this series we illustrate the two European stints and one of the American species on the British List. Temminck’s Stint (Calidris temminckii) has a wide breeding distribution throughout arctic Europe and Asia. Although it breeds as near the British Isles as the west coast of northern Norway, and thus a good deal nearer than the Little Stint (C. minuta) , which. does not nest regularly west of northern Russia, it is considerably rarer than that species as a passage bird in this country. In recent years, however, more systematic observation on sewage farms and other suitable localities and better facilities for held identihcation have shown it to be distinctly less rare than it was formerly supposed. Whereas the Little Stint is primarily a shore- bird, though of frequent occurrence inland, the present species is dehnitely more attracted by inland localities and on the coast British Birds, Vol. xliii, PI. 50. British Birds, Vol. xliii, PI. 51. Tkmminck’s Stint {Calidris temniinckii) . Skttling on nkst ; near I^ake Tj.^lmej.aure (750-800 metres), Northern Sweden, June 28T11, 1931- {Fhotogvaphcd by Olof Swanberg). British Birds, Vol. xliii, PI. 52. Temminck’s Stint [Calidris temminckii). Incubating ; near Lake Tjalmejaure (750-800 metres). Northern Sweden, June z8th, 1931. [Photographed by Olof Swanberg) British Birds, Vol. xliii, PI. 53 Temminck’s Stint [Calidris iemminchii) . N1';AR LaKI'; 'rjALMliJAURE (750-800 MICTRES), NORTHERN SWKUICN, JUNIC 28TU, 193I. [Photographed by Olof Swanberg). British liirds, \'ol. xliii, PI. .I."). Thmmi.vck’s Stixt (Calidi'is tniiiiihiclni). NkST ,^NI) EGGS, NoKTIIICKN Swi'lDh'.N [Photogyaphvd by Olof Swanbcri;) British Birds, Vol. xliii, PI. 56. Temminck’s Stint {Calidris temminckii). Upper. — Newly h.\tched young. {Photographed by Olof Swanberg). Lower.- -Habit.\t .\t se.\-leyel, in less desolate surroundings than Plate 50. Vadso district, Varanger Fjord, Northern Norway. (Photographed by 1^. \V. Tucker.) British Birds, Vol. xliii, PI. 5 Semipalmated Sandpiper {Calidris pusiUa). [Photographed bv Allan 1). Cruickshank). 13ritish Birds, Vol. xliii, PI. 58 »«/ i ■' % I > i'- < ; V I . I • ' >11 ifi I ; :< I » !l Little Stint (Calidris yninuia). Midrtts, Sussex, September, 1949. [Phologvaphed by C. Ci. des I'orges). British Birds, Vol. xliii, PI. o!t. Little Stint [Calidris miiiuta). .\msterdam, September iitii, 1935. {Photoi’i'a pill’d hv J. P,. Shiiters). British Birds, Vol. xliii, PI. 60, American Bald E.^gle in Yorkshire. Male from Beedale, near Scarborough, Yorks, January, 1865, PHOTOGRAPHED ALONGSIDE A WhITE-TAILED EaGLE (rIGHT-HAND BIRD) FOR comparison (Seep. 339). {Photographed by ]. R. Lidster). British Birds, Vol. xliii, PI. fij ITi hJ < H < h W t, O 2 H < CJ '/j hJ p u u w J cc < Cti < hJ H T. y. r~- PTN f<^ O V X p p tZ V- c > P X ^ r.*' VOL. xliil] species RARELY PHOTOGRAPHED. 329 prefers creeks and gutters to the open shore. A pair have nested on at least two occasions (1934 and 1936) in Scotland, but in both instances unfortunately failed to hatch young. In the southern parts of its normal breeding range, as in the mountains of northern Sweden, where Mr. Swanberg’s photographs were taken, it is only at high altitudes that Temminck’s Stint hnds suitable conditions for breeding. Plate 50 shows such an area on the borders of Lake Vuorekjaure at 1,000 metres (3,250 ft.) and the photographs of the birds were taken near Lake Tjalmejaure, south of Mount Svaipa (66° 16' N.) at 750-800 metres (about 2,500 ft.). Farther north in Lapland it breeds from sea-level, often in marshy patches close to farmsteads and cultivation, in very much less remote and more sophisticated surroundings (Plate 56). Our illustrations of the Little Stint show birds photographed in Sussex and Holland respectively. We are not aware that this species has ever been photographed on the breeding ground. Comparison of plate 58 with, especially, plate 54 of Temminck’s Stint brings out effectively the main field differences in plumage. Temminck’s Stint is a notably greyer bird, with a greyish instead of more or less white breast, and showmg in summer and autumn a noticeably patchy pattern of dark feathers on the upper-parts contrasting with the much more regular pattern of the Little Stint. The different tail patterns, as pointed out in The Handbook, are a character of somewhat uncertain value in the held. Unfortunately no photograph is available of the very distinct and more uniform juvenile plumage of Temminck’s Stint. The Semipalmated Sandpiper (C. pusilla) is closely allied to and, as may be seen from the photograph, closely similar in appearance to the Little Stint, from which it is doubtful if it could be pos- itively differentiated in the held, though the plumage tends to be greyer and less rufous. It breeds in arctic America and has been recorded. once only in this country (Romney Marsh, September 17th, 1907) and once (1930) in France. B.W.T. METHODS OF DETERMINING BREEDING-CLIFF POPULATIONS OF GUILLEMOTS AND RAZORBILLS. BY J. A. Gibson A CENSUS of cliff-nesting seabirds is usually carried out by making a careful count of every occupied nest, thus giving the number of breeding pairs. This is the most accurate method and can be carried out comparatively easily in the case of species that make a dehnite nest, e.g., the Gannet {Sula bassana) and the Kittiwake {Rissa tridactyla). Difficulties arise, however, with breeding-cliff 330 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XLIII. colonies of Guillemots (Uria aalge) or Razorbills {A lea torda), often running into many hundreds, where the birds are all crowded together on ledges. This problem has been referred to by Alexander, Southern et al. (1945). During the last hve years 1 have spent a considerable period of time on the rock of Ailsa Craig, Firth of Clyde, taking censuses of the bird population, and have endeavoured to discover some method whereby the number of pairs of Guillemots or Razorbills on a given breeding-cliff could be accurately or closely determined. I do not claim to have discovered a new method ; 1 merely wish to draw attention to the methods I have tested, discarded or retained, in the hope that other observers working on the same problem will give their criticisms and further suggestions. (i) Perry in Lundy, Isle of Puffins (1940) gives census figures, all reckoned in pairs, for all the seabirds including the Guillemots and Razorbills. No information as to how these were arrived at is given in the text, but in correspondence with Alexander, Southern et al. (1945) he stated that “ since a number of colonies were watched daily or several times a week he ‘ got to know the average attendance and proportion of eggs to birds pretty well ’ and that the counts from the other colonies were subjected to the ‘ slight adjustment ' for absent birds which this experience seemed to warrant.” In an attempt to discover any average attendance whereby counts could be adjusted I took regular counts at several colonies throughout the season. One example will suffice : e.g. Guillemot colony A. Number of birds counted Time 1st daj'’ 2nd day 3rd day 8 a.m. 151 160 149 10 a.m. 1 86 171 157 12 noon 142 177 148 2 p.m. 156 135 170 4 p.m. 137 149 133 6 p.m. 148 168 140 8 p.m. 1 16 133 ti8 10 p.m. 109 1 1 1 108 It can be seen that, apart from a fairly constant fall in numbers at dusk, there is no apparent average attendance or relationship between the attendances at various times of the day. (2) The ‘‘ alighting method ” was first described by Vevers and Fisher (1936) in estimating the numbers of Gannets on Ailsa Craig, but in a later paper (1943) they stated they had overestimated its accuracy. At first sight this method seemed justifiable, but I discarded it in view of the criticism expressed by the originators, although without knowledge of their reasons for rejecting it. (3) A control group of 30 pairs (as represented by eggs and ‘‘ paired ” birds) was selected on a breeding-cliff, and then the numbers of birds on this group and on the whole cliff were counted. These counts were repeated at different times of the day and on subsequent days : VOL. XLiii.J GUILLEMOTS AND RAZORBILLS. 331 e.g. Guillemot colony B. No. of pairs Number of birds counted ist day 2nd day 10 a.m. 12 noon 4 p.m. 10 a.m. 12 noon Control 30 41 49 38 50 39 Whole cliff ? 166 201 149 196 155 The ratios show a very close correlation, the numbers of pairs on the whole colony being estimated at 121, 123, 118, 118 and 119 respectively. This, then, though subject to error in small numbers, suggests a method of estimating large colonies. It is important that the counts be made simultaneously, since the activity of the cliff probably varies from hour to hour, and that the control area be a part of the colony to be estimated since the activity of adjoining cliffs may be totally different. The main source of error lies in the accurate counting of the control area. (4) Brooding Guillemots lie along their egg, or assume an upright position standing over it, with their backs almost invariably towards the sea. (Brooding Razorbills also assume a characteristic position.) This fact is not mentioned in The Handbook, but has long been known to me and is recorded by Gibson-Hill (1947). Moreover, Mr. James Girvan, tenant of Ailsa Craig with 50 years experience of watching birds on the island, informs me that he “ can always tell when the birds have eggs because their backs all turn towards the sea.” It seems that here we have a method whereby brooding birds — those lying or standing with their backs towards the sea^ — can be picked out. In order to test this method I carried out differential counts of Guillemot colonies. e.g. Guillemot colony C. Total No. of birds counted Brooding birds 297 163 229 165 301 159 280 160 199 162 Although the total number of birds varies greatly the number of brooding birds remains remarkably constant. Counts were repeated many times and always with a similar result. I therefore suggest that during the breeding season this is a useful and valuable method of assessing Guillemot and Razorbill colonies. REFERENCES Alexander, W. B., Southern, H. N., Tucker, B. W., and Watson, J. S. (1943). “ Observations on the breeding birds of Lundy in 1942.” Brit. Birds, Vol. xxxviii, pp. 182-191. Fisher, J., and Vevers, H. G. (1943). " The breeding distribution, history and population of the North Atlantic Gannet.” J. Anim. Ecol. Vol. xii, pp. 173-213. Gibson-Hill, C. A. (1947,) British Sea Birds. London. Perry, R. (1940). Lundy, Isle of Puffins. London. Vevers, H. G., and Fisher, J. (1936). “ A census of Gannets on Ailsa Craig, with a new method of estimating breeding-cliff populations.” I . Anim. Ecol., Vol. v, pp. 246-251. WiTHERBY, H. F. et al (1941). The Handbook of British Birds. Vol. v, pp. 141-159- (332) NOTES. INTRUDER RESPONSES BY BIRDS OUTSIDE THEIR BREEDING AREAS. With reference to the note {antea, p. 54) on this topic, in June, 1949, an Arctic Tern {Sterna macrura) made repeated stoops at my companion. Dr. H. K. Whitehouse, while he was standing by the bank of the river in Hvalfjordur a few yards from our camp in Iceland. I have no doubt that this behaviour should be regarded as incomplete mobbing, for it was essentially similar to that of breeding Arctic Terns which had mobbed my companion and myself on a previous visit to Iceland, striking us on the head with ♦ their bills. The nearest breeding pairs of Arctic Terns were ^ more than a mile distant and egg-laying had only begun. There J was no question of the bird defending a temporary or vestigial . territory. It was not seen again. On their breeding grounds in J Iceland Arctic Terns mob sheep, and probably other quadrupeds, ' as well as human beings with considerable vigour. Probably the behaviour of the bird described was due to the approximation of 1 my friend’s appearance near the water’s edge to the general environ- J mental situation which releases the mobbing behaviour of Arctic Terns in breeding condition. Many instances could be quoted of incomplete situations releasing behaviour when the threshold of its performance is low (cf. Armstrong, Bird Display and Behaviotir^ p. 120). Edward A. Armstrong. BIRDS BECOMING “CAUGHT” IN FLOCKS OF OTHER SPECIES. I am unaware that observers have recorded the predicament that single birds, or small numbers of one species, occasional!}^ appear to be in when flushed in company with a flock of another species. In the examples described below it appeared that the single bird, or small number, was quite unable to break away from the larger flock and were forced against their usual flight habits to follow those of the other species. It would also appear that they were forced to share the group consciousness of the other species, and become receptive of whatever influence directs the flight of birds in company. The first instance occurred in late August, 1949, and was des- cribed to me by two reliable observers. About 100 or more Mallard {Anas platyrhyncha) were flushed from a gravel pit sanctuary, and at the same time a single Wood-Pigeon {Columba palumbus) rose from some willows growing in the pit. The duck were reluctant to leave the pit and circled it many times at a low altitude. The Wood-Pigeon rising in the midst of the duck was apparently unable to get out of the flock, and followed the duck in all their evolutions round the pit several times, almost settling on the water when the duck did likewise. Only when the duck actually alighted was it free to fly away. VOL. XLIII.] NOTES 333 The other instance was seen by myself on September i8th, 1949, on the salt marshes separating Horsey Island, Essex, from the mainland. A flock of 20 or 30 Dunlin {Calidris alpina) rose from a creek together with three Teal [Anas crecca). The Teal appeared unable to leave the Dunlin and followed all their manoeuvres, wheeling, rising and diving as part of the flock. After some minutes all settled together in another creek. C. F. Tebbutt. HOODED CROW DROPPING AND CATCHING OBJECT IN BILL. On the morning of December 27th, 1948, the weather being cold and frosty, I was cycling slowly along a road in West Stow, Suffolk, when I observed a pair of Hooded Crows [Corvus cornix) on a piece of rough grassland beside the road. The birds were about 30 yards from me. At my approach both birds flew up in a leisurely manner and I noticed that one carried a small object in its bill — probably a stone — roughly the size of a marble. Both crows were flying slowly at a height of about 50 feet, parallel to the road and in the same direction as I was cycling, when the bird dropped the stone, and, letting it fall for about two feet, neatly caught it in its bill. This was repeated about six times. The last time, however, the Hooded Crow allowed the stone to fall too far and twisting down and round in flight endeavoured to catch it again, but it was unsuccessful, and the bird then settled on the ground. No notes were heard throughout the whole performance. John Denny. CARRION CROW DECORATING NEST. With reference to the note [antea, p. 56), it may be of interest to record that on April 23rd, 1949, I examined a nest of the Carrion Crow [Corvus corone) in a low Scots pine standing with several others in a tract of marshy ground on a west Surrey heath. The external framework appeared completed, but the lining was lacking. Interwoven with the sticks around the rim in a somewhat lavish but untidy manner were several fresh birch sprays with the green leaves attached. I am unable to say if this nest subsequently contained eggs. Hubert E. Pounds. SOFT PARTS OF YOUNG JAYS. The following notes on soft part coloration of young Jays [Garrulus glandarius) may serve to amplify the description given in The Hand- book. Nest I contained four young, two of which were hatched from four eggs (two eggs being addled) on May 14th and two on May 15th, which were the offspring of captive birds and were transferred to the wild nest as chipping eggs. Nest 2 contained three young which were hatched on May 9th. Nest I. At 6 and 7 days — Three of the young of a dark reddish flesh strongly tinged with olive yellow, especially about head and wherever the skin was wrinkled, bills pale mauve-grey, inclining to reddish 334 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XLIII. at gape ; flanges and edges of bill (cutting edge) whitish. One young with very little yellow tinge and flanges tinged pinkish. 9 and lo days — Skin dark yellow-olive, inclining to greyish, ruddy yellow tint on bare parts of lower back, flanks and belly. Inside mouth cherry red ; papillae whitish ; legs pale, fleshy yellow. 11 and 12 days — Bills mauve-grey (darker than at 7 days) except very small area tinged greenish at middle of ridge of culmen, then a small dusky, blackish area and then greenish again at tip of ridge, paler towards cutting edges, flanges whitish, inside mouths cherry red. 16 and 17 days — Inside of mouths still bright cherry red, but two showing yellowish tinge. Nest 2. 12 days — Bills fawnish grey, inside mouths cherry red, inclining to mauve-pink at tip (inside) of upper mandible. Legs a light fleshy olive yellow. 15 days — Bills slate with mauve tinge. Inside mouths somewhat paler. 17 days — Bills as at 15 days. Inside mouths dull, fleshy yellow, cherry red on centre of roof of mouth and tongue only, inside of lower mandible mauve-pink. Irides dull greyish blue (no inner ring). Young in many other nests were essentially similar in colour, only varying somewhat in shade. In one nest of 4 young I noted that at II days their mouths were much paler and yellower than usual (though they appeared quite healthy and fledged successfully) and the same was noted of a nest of 5 young at 12 days. I suspect this colour is largely influenced by the type of food. It will be seen that in the two broods described above one lot lost the bright red mouths sooner than the others. A young captive-bred bird at 49 days had the mouth pink but mottled with black at sides and roof of mouth (about quarter of total area black), the tongue .still all pink. At 56 days the same bird had much more black inside moutli, the back of mouth more black than pinkish and the base of the tongue blackish and a patch of black on tip (inner) of lower mandible and centre (inner) of upper mandible. Another of same age — but a slightly sub-normal specimen — was similar, but had less black and a black spot on centre of tongue. Papillae (not very conspicuous) were whitish. Bills (outside) as adult. At nearly 7 months both these birds had the inside of the mouth greyish black (extreme back of mouth, or rather upper part of gullet, being pinkish) tinged obscurely here and there with pinkish and with a small inconspicuous whitish flesh area near tip of tongue, and papillae vdiitish. Their irides were bluish-grey with an ill- defined reddish central ring and a narrow dark brown inner ring, the latter not distinguishable from the black pupil except on close inspection. VOL. XLIII,] NOTES. 335 A three year old (captive) female, examined on June 6th, 1949, when it was still feeding young, had the inside of mouth greyish black with a purple tinge (I think the papillae were whitish, but unfortunately did not note this down at the time). Its irides were a pale bluish-grey mixed with a little reddish colour with a very narrow brownish outer ring and an even narrower inner one. Derek Goodwin. UNUSUAL ACCUMULATION OF NEST MATERIAL BY STARLING. On May 5th, 1950, Sgt. Young of Married Quarters, R.A.F. Driffield, Yorkshire, informed me that Starlings {Sturnus vulgaris) had been carrying nesting material through a slit ventilator into the loft of his house “ since some time in March." Investigation was made, and the writer was called on May 7th to inspect a huge structure of straw built up from the floor to within two or three inches of the bottom of the ventilator. This structure was a rough truncated cone in shape and stood forty inches high with a semi- circular base of nine feet. The top was roughly square and measured fifteen inches by fifteen inches. The cone had been built centrally beneath the ventilator, but the nest cup containing four eggs was to one side, presumably to avoid direct draught on to the eggs or incubating adult, or direct entry to the contents of the nest. The ventilator itself was approximately twenty five feet from the ground outside. This nest was photographed on May 15th (see Plate 61), when it was found that the top foot or so had slipped off to one side, throwing the eggs to the floor ; five eggs were recovered. L. E. Bouldin. [An account of a similar nest was recently published [antea, vol. xlii, p. 119) — Eds.]. TREE-CREEPER CATCHING INSECTS IN FLIGHT. On June 22nd, 1949, I was watching a Tree-Creeper (Certhia fanii- liaris) which was feeding on the trunk of an old apple tree and twice observed it to fly out after, and catch in flight, an insect which I believe flew off the tree-trunk on which the bird was working. The Tree-Creeper caught the insects quite neatly after a chase of about 5 feet, and the action of the bird was very much like that of a Spotted Flycatcher {Muscicapa striata). The Handbook does not mention this method of feeding in the Tree-Creeper. John Denny. CONCEALMENT OF FOOD BY COAL-TIT AND MARSH-TIT. With reference to the note [antea, vol. xlii, p. 360) on the conceal- ment of food by birds, the following observations may be of interest. At Denton, near Canterbury, on November 12th, 1946, a Coal-Tit [Parus ater) with a beech-nut in its bill was seen poking about under the moss on the roof of my house. Still carrying the beech-nut it 336 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XLIII. disappeared into a hole near the top of the roof, the site of an old nest of a pair of Starlings [Sturnus vulgaris) and reappeared without the nut. On November i8th, on the same roof, a Coal-Tit was seen to hide a beech-nut under the moss, poking it well in and patting the moss down. It was, however, disturbed by a Great Tit [Pariis major) which, after chasing the Coal-Tit away, returned, searched for and found the nut and then flew away with it. On November 23rd a Coal-Tit appeared on the roof with what seemed to be a sycamore seed, but, on the arrival of a Great Tit, it flew off still carrying the seed. On October i8th, 20th and 22nd, 1948, a Coal-Tit was again seen hiding beech-nuts under moss on the roof, and on the last date it took particular care to pat down the moss, pulling up adjacent moss and packing it on top. On October 24th a pair of Great Tits was seen searching under the moss on the roof, while a Coal-Tit hovered about, gradually edging its way to the spot where I had seen it hiding the beech-nut two days previously ; suddenly it extracted the nut and flew away with it. About five minutes later, the Great Tits having gone, the Coal-Tit returned, carrying the nut, which it carefully concealed under moss five tiles below the original hiding place, again piling up more moss on top. It flew away and returned a couple of minutes later with another nut, which it hid under moss on the next tile lower down. I was most interested to observe how the Great Tits stole the hidden nuts and how the Coal-Tit appeared to remember where it had hidden them. The absence of records for 1947 and 1949 may be due to the fact that there was hardly any beechmast in the district in those years. Dorothy A. C. Long. During November, 1935, at Chilson, Oxfordshire, I observed a Marsh-Tit {Partts pahistris) carrying a small crab-apple by the stem. The apple was then placed in a small recess formed by the basal buttresses of a large hawthorn. The fruit w'as tucked in with some deliberation, not merely dropped, and 1 watched two more apples brought in and stowed away in the same manner. The crabs were of a small, long-stalked variety, no bigger than cherries, and investigation showed that a pile of about a dozen had already been stored. W. D. C.\mpbeli.. I SHOULD like to record the behaviour of a Marsh-Tit {Parus palustris) which was fed on breadcrumbs in the South Park at Darlington, Co. Durham, in the winter of 1923-24. This bird, which, no doubt, was often offered more crumbs than it needed, was a habitual hider of food. It did not conceal it in any particular place, but hastily lodged it in any convenient crevice, usually in the bark of a tree, and came back for more. I never saw it take food from any of its places of storage. M. G. Robinson. On January 30th, 1950, near Wuppertal in western Germany, two Marsh-Tits {Pams palustris) were observed to hide and subsequently VOL. XLIII.] NOTES. 337 to recover food, in the following manner. They were taking small pieces of fat from a feeding table in the garden and flying with them into a thick clipped yew about ten yards away. The time spent by each bird in the yew did not seem sufficiently long to allow of the food being eaten. I went out and examined the yew and found several pieces of fat, scattered throughout the bush, from about three to five feet up, each resting on a bed of stiff leaves. The birds soon resumed their activity after I returned indoors. A Great Tit {Pams major), which was feeding at the same time, behaved in a normal manner, that is to say it flew away with each piece of food and ate it on a convenient perch before coming back for more. When the table was completely cleared both Marsh-Tits flew into the top of the yew and were quite clearly looking down through the twigs and leaves as if searching for the fat. I watched them find two or three pieces, each of which was taken in turn to a perch in an adjacent tree to be eaten. I then had to leave, but E.L.A. continued to watch and saw several more pieces of food recovered. In fact it appeared that the Marsh-Tits searched through the yew until all the food was gone. In all, the Marsh-Tits got some twenty pieces of fat between them, while the Great Tit got not more than a quarter of that amount. The weather at the time' was severe, with snow on the ground. W. E. AND E. L. Almond. WILLOW-WARBLER NESTING IN WALL. On June 21st, 1949, Mr. E. W. C. Jenner and I found the nest of a Willow-Warbler {Phylloscopus trochilus) in a cavity in the wall of a dismantled building at Beccles, Suffolk. The section of the wall in which the nest was found was sheltered by a fig-tree, but apart from this, as the photograph (Plate Ci) shows, was quite bare. The nest was 5 feet 3^ inches from the ground and, when found, contained five young, which left on June 24th. Both adults were very alarmed when the nest was approached, one of them fluttering about on the ground in front of us ; on one occasion one of them came on to my hand which was extended towards the nest. James G. Warner. [I remember very distinctly, as a boy, observing a pair of Willow- Warblers which nested in a hole in a roadside wall in the village of Chewton Mendip, Somerset. This odd and insecure situation — the nest was soon found and pulled out by passing schoolchildren — was selected in spite of ample nesting ground of the normal type being available in a large shrubbery adjacent. — B.W.T.]. BEHAVIOUR OF SONG-THRUSH AT NEST. With reference to the note {antea, p. 18) on the behaviour of a Song-Thrush {Turdus ericetorum) at the nest, the following may be worth recording. In April, 1949, a pair of Song-Thrushes built their nest in a conifer a few feet from the door of my motor-house. 338 BRITISH BIRDS. [vOL. XLIII. They were frequently disturbed, but persisted in their nesting. The young were hatched by April 20th. On April 22nd, and on the following two or three days, the parent bird when driven from the nest perched in a tree some five yards away and snapped its bill distinctly two or three times ; on one occasion I saw the movement of the mandibles. The sound was about as loud as that made by the Spotted Flycatcher {Muscicapa striata) when hunting insects. W. I. Evans. On May 7th, 1950, at Sway, Hants, 1 was examining a Song- Thrush’s nest with five eggs — clutch completed six or more days previously — when one of the parents, possibly the female, alighted on a branch above my head and crouched, facing me in a threatening posture, snapping its mandibles at me ; it did not utter the “ chick ” alarm-note. The nest was in a bramble bush at my feet. The bird in question is a particularly close sitter. It is perhaps worth pointing out that in this instance the bird had eggs, not young as in the case previously recorded. E. Cohen. [We have had similar reports from other observers. These and records previously published [antea, vol. xxxviii, pp. 36, 116) make it clear that bill-snapping is a regular feature of threat-display in this species. — Eds.]. DUSTING OF OWLS. In view of the note [antea, p. 19) on the dusting of owls, it may be worth recording that in the summer of 1949 I observed a Little Owl [Athene noctua) bathing in the dry dust of the lane outside a farm at Kingsdown, Deal, Kent. Rowland B. Codd. TAWNY OWLS FOUND DROWNED. With reference to the note [antea, p. 157) on Tawny Owls [Strix aluco) found drowned, I experienced a similar incident in my own garden. On June 30th, 1941, I found a well-grown young Tawny Owl lying drowned with outspread wings on the surface of the water in my open garden tank. This occurrence was recorded in the Eleventh Report (1941) of the Cornwall Bird Watching and Preservation Society, p. 28. B. H. Ryves. I AM able to record four cases of Tawny Owls being found drowned in the same area in South Shields, Co. Durham. In 1948 three Tawny Owls were found drowned, two in the same tank, three feet square and three, feet deep, within a few days in early summer (probably June), while at about the same time one was found drowned in a similar tank about 50 yards away. I did not see these birds myself, but the person who found them is familiar with the species. In June, 1949, I myself found a Tawny Owl drowned in the tank that had claimed two the previous year. This was during a drought and there was little water for birds in the area. The tank was full to within six inches of the top. J. Camekon Coulson. My garden at Farley, Wilts., contains a number of rain-water tanks. Two Tawny Owls have been found drowned in two of these tanks VOL. XLIII.] NOTES. 339 since 1945. Needless to say, precautions are now taken to prevent further accidents of this sort by having wooden boards floating on the water surfaces of all tanks. The neighbourhood of my property is a particularly dry one, and naturally tanks containing exposed water would be attractive to thirsty birds. Of small birds only one Bullfinch {Pyrrhula pyrrhida) has been found drowned in one of my tanks. W. M. Congreve. AMERICAN BALD EAGLE IN YORKSHIRE A MOUNTED Sea-Eagle in the collection of the Scarborough Natural History Museum and formerly the property of the Scarborough Philosophical Society, and at one time in the collection of a Mr. E. P. Brett, of Sawdon, Yorkshire, has since its capture at Long Pain, Beedale Wood, near Scarborough, on January 17th, 1865, been erroneously identified as an example of Haliceetus albicilla, the Palaearctic Sea-Eagle. While working over the collections of the Scarborough Natural History Museum recently, I was struck by the characters of the bird and after certain investigations identified it as a sub-adult specimen of the American Bald Eagle [H. leucocephalus) , which species has not previously been recorded from these islands. The specimen, a fine male, was sent by Lady Downe to D. Graham, taxidermist of York, for preservation, and it was exhibited shortly after its capture to a meeting of the Yorkshire Naturalists’ Club. Full details of this interesting record are to be found under H. albicilla in Nelson, Birds of Yorkshire, (1907) vol. i, pp. 336-337, and I can find no grounds for questioning the validity of the record. The specimen has a wing-measurement of just under 26 inches, which places it within the race Haliceetus leucocephalus washing- toniensis, which ranges from Alaska and N. Mackenzie to N. Ungava south to British Columbia and the N.E. United States. It is replaced by the nominate form in the southern half of the United States and N. Mexico. P. A. Clancey. FERRUGINOUS DUCKS IN ENGLAND, 1949-1950. Devonshire. On December 4th, 1949, we saw four juvenile or female Ferruginous Ducks {Ay thy a nyroca) on Slapton Ley, S. Devon. They kept apart from the other clucks, staying close to the reeds and diving frequently. As they dived the white belly was very noticeable and the white under tail-coverts were seen. The white wing-bar was seen when one of the birds sat up and flapped its wings, and it was noticed that the bar extended on to the primaries. The bill appeared slaty in colour, and we had the impression of a white line for a short way from the base of the bill towards the tip, along the cutting edge. The flanks were brown, the back a much darker brown. The birds did not have the white eye, characteristic of the adult male. They seemed loth to fly, but kept diving and swimming out into the Ley on our approach. S. K. Armitstead, M. C. Clarkson and M. C. Powys-Maurice. 340 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XLIII. Somerset. In view of the fact that of the many Ferruginous Ducks reported from various parts of the country some are genuine wild birds, it may be worth recording that on January 2nd and 4th, 1950, I saw birds of this species at Durleigh Reservoir, Somerset. On January 2nd I had a long range view (about 250 yards) of a male and with the aid of a x 25 telescope could see the white eye and white under tail-coverts. Otherwise, at this distance, it did not appear to differ from female Tufted Ducks {Ay thy a fuligula) near by. I returned to the reservoir on January 4th and on this occasion had a good view, in bright sunlight, of a female. It had a dark eye, rich chestnut head and darker back and flanks. The under tail- coverts were pure white. Occasionally it raised itself out of the water and flapped its wings, thus revealing a white wing-bar and white belly. E. G. Richards. Leicestershire and Rutland. During the winter of 1949-50 Ferruginous Ducks were seen in Leicestershire in unusual numbers as follows : — Barrow-on-Soar, on the river, December 3rd, 1949, one (G. H. Hunt); Barrow-on-Soar gravel pit, December 4th, five (P. Gamble) ; Swithland Reservoir, December 7th, two, and December 22nd, one (G. H. Hunt) ; Crop- ston Reservoir, December 8th, two (G. H. Hunt) and December 24th, one (G. A. Todd) ; Eye Brook Reservoir, December 28th, two (E. L. Roberts) ; Stanford Reservoir, March 8th and 12th, 1950, one (R. W. M. Lee and M. K. Howarth). R. A. O. Hickling. [Eye Brook Reservoir is on the border between Leicestershire and Rutland, Stanford Reservoir on the border between Leics. and Northants.— Eds. ] . Berkshire and Surrey. A Ferruginous Duck was first seen in Windsor Park on December 29th, 1949, and stayed till March 5th, 1950, frequenting either Virginia Water, mainly the Berkshire end, or Great Meadow Pond in Berks. On March 4th, 1950, it was seen at about ten yards range and all the following features were noted : — head, neck, upper breast and flanks, bright chestnut ; mantle and tail, dark brown ; eye, chin, belly, under tail-coverts and a bar on the secondaries and inner primaries, white ; bill and, apparently, legs, black, though the legs were not clearly seen. When the bird was swimming low in the water the only white visible was the eye ; in flight, on the other hand, the white on the wing formed a very conspicuous bar in contrast to the dark colour of the rest of the wing. Compared with the Tufted Duck which accompanied it, the bird seemed smaller and quicker in flight ; it was also tamer and fed nearer to the bank, often under trees overhanging the water. It was never heard to call. During its long stay it was seen by a number of other observers who confirmed the identification. E. E. Green. [Attention has been drawn {aniea, vol. xlii, pp. 61 and 330) to the fact that there are now very few, if any. Ferruginous Ducks in VOL. XLIII.] NOTES. 341 captivity in this country. If, as is likely, the birds reported above were genuinely wild, it would seem that the species is visiting Britain more frequently. Readers are invited to report any seen during the coming winter. Any diving duck showing conspicuous white under tail-coverts should be carefully examined, though it will be seen from Mr. Rayner’s note published below that it would be unwise to identify Ferruginous Ducks on that character alone. — Eds.]. WHITE UNDER TAIL-COVERTS IN THE TUFTED DUCK. As The Handbook of British Birds states that the “ conspicuous white under tail-coverts are really best character on water at any distance ” of the Ferruginous Duck {Ay thy a nyroca), it would seem advisable to point out that both sexes of the Tufted Duck {Aythya fuligula) may at times show conspicuously white under tail-coverts in the field. I have never examined in the hand any Tufted Duck showing this character, and it is possible, therefore, that although the white under tail-coverts appear just as white in the field as those of the Ferruginous Duck, they may be to some extent barred or blotched with brown. I am certain that other people must have noticed white under tail-coverts in the Tufted Duck, but although birds showing this characteristic are not rare (I find one or two present in almost every flock of over sixty individuals) the variation is not recorded in an\f literature I have searched. G. W. Rayner. [The fact that the under tail-coverts of female and immature Tufted Ducks are sometimes white enough to appear quite notice- able in the field has not escaped us. But, without having had the opportunity of checking the point since receipt of Mr. Rayner’s letter, we should doubt whether the white is ever as prominent or as sharply defined against brown flanks as in the adult Ferruginous Duck. The point is word'll attention and in any case our corres- pondent’s caution is not untimely. — Eds.]. EIDER IN ANGLESEY IN JUNE. In view of the evidence [antea, p. 6o) of the southward spread of the Eider (Somateria mollissima), it is perhaps worth recording that a drake Eider was seen by my wife and myself to swim eastwards past the end of Llanddwyn Island, off the southern coast of Anglesey, on June 19th, 1949. The bird was in partial eclipse plumage. A. A. K. Whitehouse. AUTUMN DISPLAY OF CORMORANT. The following performance which I saw at Pagham Harbour, Sussex, on November 19th, 1949, may be worth recording. The tide being high, the harbour was an unbroken stretch of water with the exception of a small tubular iron structure which protruded above the surface some 200 yards from me. This provided a perch for three adult Cormorants [Phalacrocorax carho) which were occupied in display. Two birds were standing side by side, the third a few 342 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XLIII. feet away and facing them. The latter took up a posture with tail cocked up at an acute angle, wings partly open and drooped, and head held fairly erect and waved vigorously backwards and forwards from well back over the body. I could discern little response from the other two birds, other than head turning and slight movement of the wings. This ritual lasted about 30 seconds and, with intervals of a few minutes, was repeated three times. There was a good deal of vocal utterance — deep, guttural croaks — though I was uncertain which birds were responsible for this. On referring to The Handbook I came to the conclusion that this was normal nuptial display, but the date is an unusual one. The weather on this occasion was warm, sunny and quite windless. B. Metcalfe. AUTUMN PASSAGE MOVEMENTS : INFORMATION REQUIRED. The number of reports of grey Phalaropes {Phalaropus Julicarius) already received indicates that there has been an unusually large passage this autumn. Further records will be welcome as contributions to a comprehensive report and should be sent without delay. At the same time we would welcome reports on Curlew- Sandpiper (Calidris testacea) and Little Stint (C. minuta), both of which are stated to have been numerous on passage, particularly in inland localities. It is possible that Wood-Sandpipers ( T ringa glareola) have also been sufficiently numerous to justify a special report, but it remains to be seen whether the records bear this out. A widespread “invasion” of terns occurred at the time of the gale on September 17th, and this is another matter on which reports would be welcome. Several reports of rarer visitors, such as various American wadeis and Sabine’s Gulls (Xema sabini), have already come in ; if there are others these should be sent as soon as possible. All records should be sent to the Assistant Editor at 74, Shinfield Road, Reading. LETTERS. BLUE TITS KILLED IN MOUSETRAPS To the Editors of British Birds Sirs. — I am engaged in investigating the ringing records of Blue Tits. Amongst the known causes of death it is astonishing to find that the mouse- trap is a principal one. It may be necessary to place rat and mouse traps in gardens, but I suggest that they should be placed under a tunnel of stones or bricks. Tunnel traps are more effective for vermin and they protect such valuable garden birds as the Blue Tit. Leonard Carr. [Mr. Carr’s recommendation that mousetraps should be covered would also save the life of many Robins, which are sometimes even caught in traps set indoors. — A.W.B.] WATER BIRDS AND LEECHES To the Editors of British Birds Sirs. — May I, through your columns, appeal for information concerning the Duck Leech, Protoclepsis tessellata ? On a Berkshire farm, in the summer of 1949, nearly forty ducklings died. Three carcases were submitted to a veterinary surgeon for post-mortem exam- ination, and in each case the leech P. tessellata was found in the nasal cavity in considerable numbers. No other cause of death was established. There are several records of similar occurrences in various parts of Europe, but it would appear that this is the first occasion on which the death of duck- lings in Britain has been associated with the presence of P. tessellata. VOL. XLIII.] LETTERS. 343 The leech lives and breeds in ponds and streams, and is known to be wide- spread in this country. From time to time, however, it enters the nostril of a water bird, and takes a meal of blood. It is highly desirable that more information should be obtained con- cerning the activities and avian hosts of tliis leech. It has been found in the nostrils of wild ducks, geese, and several other birds including a Curlew. I would be most grateful if anyone who has any knowledge of birds harbouring leeches of any kind would send me details. K. H. Mann. Department of Zoology, The University, Reading. CLUTCH-SIZE OF REED-WARBLER To the Editors of British Birds Sirs. — Mr. Fr. Haverschmidt’s note on the Reed-Warbler {Acrocephalus scirpacens) and Mr. P. E. Brown’s comments {antea, vol. xlii, p. 293) indicate a difference in the interpretation of words rather than in clutch sizes for this bird. If a contingency table is drawn up separating Cjfs from C/2, C/3 and C/4, and North Cotes birds from Continental, a chi — squared value of 0.0606 is olDtained. This indicates a probability of 0.8 or almost as complete similarity between North Cotes and Continental clutch sizes as the data permit. W. A. Butterfield. THE YOUNG GANNET To the Editors of British Birds. Sirs. — In a letter in your issue of July, 1950 {antea, p. 232), Mr. Dugald MacIntyre states that I have " received reports of old Gannets {Sulabassana) ‘ fighting ’ with flightless young birds at sea.” This statement is not quite correct, and refers presumably to my accounts in Shetland Sanctuary (1948) of a very few occasions on which I observed a fledgling, recently down from the Noss cliffs, to be ‘ attacked ’ by one or more adults. Whatever may have been the precise significance of these attacks, they certainly had nothing to do with feeding. But, while I cannot associate myself with a number of state- ments made by Mr. Macintyre in his book Highland Naturalist, I can bring forward some evidence in support of his contention that young Gannets are fed by adults after they fledge; for Mr. E. A. S. Oldham informs me that, during a number of wartime crossing of the Minches, he observed adults feeding young by regurgitation on the sea on several occasions in either August or September. As he had the advantage of making these observations from a motorboat (through powerful binoculars) at a distance of a few hundred yards, and actu- ally witnessed the young birds place their bills within the adults’, this must be regarded as conclusive evidence that such ^osf-fledging feeding does take place. He notes that the young Gannets pestered the adults — so far as he can recollect one young to one adult — after they surfaced from fishing dives. Now, Mr. G. T. Kay’s letters in British Birds and my own account in Shetland Sanctuary make it clear that it is doubtful whether Messrs. MacIntyre’s and Oldham’s observations can refer to parents feeding their own young, in view of the fact that one or both parents are in constant attendance at the nest for several weeks after the young one has fledged. It is possible, I suppose, that at gannetries in other parts of the British Isles, the adults leave the cliffs before the young Gannets fledge. Mr. Macintyre implies this in Highland Naturalist, while in Letters from Skokholm, Mr. R. M. Lockley states that ” When it (the young Gannet) is about two months old the adults feed it more and more irregularly and at last abandon it altogether.” On the other hand Mr. Seton Gordon noted (as I did in Shetland) that the parents remained on the nests at the moment that the young one was actually taking off on its fledging flights from a Bass Rock nest {Wanderings of a Naturalist, 1921). If therefore it is, in fact, the universal practice of young Gannets to desert their parents, as in Shetland, then I suggest that Messrs. MacIntyre’s and Oldham’s observations do not refer to parents feeding their young, but to any adult Gannets in the vicinity responding to the begging of the juveniles. Very possibly the former are non-breeding birds, many of which appear to be of fully adult plumage at any distance. The curious fact that this feeding of 344 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XLIII. young Gannets at sea has never been observed in Shetland waters may be attributed to the probability that the juveniles do not begin importuning for food until they are on the wing, by which time they have passed out of Shet- land waters ; whereas on the West Coast a “ canalisation ” of Gannets from various stations converges through the Minches. Richard Perry. STATUS OF FULMAR IN NORTH WALES To the Editors of British Birds Sirs. — The notes {antea, p. 292) from Messrs. Duffey and Holme on the Fulmar (Fulniarus glacialis) in North Wales prompt me to summarize the situation to date, from information collected during the Fulmar Investigation. Caernarvonshire : Fulmars have been seen near the St. Tudwal’s Islands, which provide suitable nesting-places, as long ago as 1943 (I. B. Smith), but there is no indication that they are seriously prospecting here. At the promontory of Trwyn Cilan, D. E. Collins saw about 20 pairs on and around the cliff on April 25th, 1949 ; this is the same station as Forth Caered where Mr. Holme saw his bird prospecting on July loth of the same year. At Bardsey Island, Miss Brenda Chamberlain has noticed during 1948 and 1949 a pair in occupation of a site on, and others about the cliffs of the eastern part of the island. At St. Mary’s Well {antea, vol. xlii, p. 154), Fulmars were seen prospecting first in 1945 ; they continued to prospect in 1948 (R. H. Ryall), and 1949 (Forth Felin, Miss S. Vachell). As previously recorded {antea, vol. xxxix, pp. 28-29; P- ’^54)- the only Caernarvonshire stations where breeding is proved continue to be at the Great Orme and Little Orme, where a small number of eggs are now laid annually. Anglesey : Mr. Duffey’s record at Penmon shows breeding (in 1947) one year earlier than was previously recorded {antea, vol. xlii, p. 153). Fulmar, started to prospect the promontory of Point Lynas in 1949 ; two pairs were occupying sites here and up to 20 birds were flying about on April 20th (D. Jenkins). At Forth Wen Bay, further west on the north coast, three Fulmars were occupying sites on July 12th, 1949, and one was feeding a nestling in grey down (S. G. Brown). In spite of Mr. Duffey’s negative record at South Stack, Holyhead, for August 2nd, 1947, prospecting birds were seen in that year and in 1948 and 1949 (C. P. Raweliffe), though a report of breeding in 1949 (E. Hardy, Western Mail for August i8th, 1949) should be discounted in the absence of positive record or egg or jmung. There were thus in 1949 two proved breeding-places in Caernarvonshire and two in Anglesey. James Fisher. BLACK-WINGED STILTS IN MIDDLESEX To the Editors of British Birds Sirs. — In the course of preparation for a projected History of the Birds of the London Area, 1900-50, by the I.ondon Natural History Society it has come to my notice that Mr. J. C. M. Nichols in Shooting Ways and Shooting Days (London, 1945) wrote on page 137 that " in 1918 I walked up a pair of Black- winged Stilts {Himantopus h. himantopns) on the muddy foreshore of Kings- bury reservoir ...” In answer to my enquiries Mr. Nichols has informed me that in September, 1918, he flushed the two birds at about twenty yards. The great length of leg was very noticeable, especially in flight, and he adds that their colour was a dull white except for the back and wings, which were practically black. Mr. Nichols enclosed some rough sketches of the birds, and as he knew Avocets well at the time, there seems to be no doubt of the identi- fication of these birds. The reservoir at the time was empty except for the deep water channel, and was a big mud-flat with a large number of wading birds. This appears to be the first record of this species for Middlesex. R. C. Homes. i PUBLISHER'S NOTE Owing to the recent printing trade dispute, which at the time going to press has just been settled, serious delays in the production of the magazine have become inevitable. The publishers would like to express their apologies for these delays, but they can assure readers that there will be a complete issue of twelve numbers for the year 1950. SMALL ADVERTISEMENTS 7/6 for 3 lines (minimum) ; 2/6 for each extra line or part thereof. For the use of a Box Number there is an extra charge of 1 1- ; Advertisements for a particular issue should reach this office by the 21st of the preceding month. 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PAGE Influences causing fluctuation of warbler population in cultivated lands and oak woods in the Severn Valley. By M. Philips Price, M.P. 345 A study of the British Willow-Tit. By John Foster and Christina Godfrey ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 351 The Northern Golden Plover in South Staffordshire. By Dr. J. H. Sheldon ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 362 Studies of some species rarely photographed. XXVIII. The Calandra Lark. Photographed by G. K. Yeates and H. A. Patrick. The Short-toed Lark. Photographed by G. K. Yeates, H. A. Patrick and John Armitage. The Black-eared Wheatear. Photo- graphed by G. K. Yeates and H. A. Patrick ... ... ... ... 364 Birds of Inner London, 1949. Compiled by W. G. Teagle ... ... 365 Notes : — Carrion Crows attacking Wood-Pigeon (D. P. Geoghegan and M. H. Fileman)... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 368 Carrion Crows nesting on buildings (Dr. C. Suffern) ... ... ... 368 Unusual call of Carrion Crow (A. L. W. Mayo) ... ... ... 368 The conduct of Starlings in a trap (C. L. Collenette) ... ... 368 Transatlantic voyage of Starlings (Peter Scott) ... ... ... 369 Female Linnet singing (H. F. Greenfield and W. G. Teagle) ... 369 Corn-Bunting roost in Moray (R. Hewson) ... ... ... ... 370 “Fly-catching” flight of Reed-Bunting (M. Tucker and J. P. G. Rowcliffe) ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 370 Reactions of cock House-Sparrow to the death of hen (Miss E. M. Thouless) ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 370 Sky-Larks’ nests with “ doorsteps ” (H. E. Woods) ... ... ... 371 Behaviour, display and feeding-habits of White Wagtail in mnter quarters (Derek Goodwin ; C. A. White) ... ... ... ... 372 “ Bittern-posture ” of Nuthatch (W. D. Campbell) ... ... ... 373 Sand-Martins roosting on shore (E. M. Cawkell) ... ... ... 374 Goshawk in Sussex (L. P. Alder and C. M. James) ... ... ... 374 Herons sun-bathing and sitting on ground (H. Tully ; Dr. K. B. Rooke) ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 374 Feeding behaviour of Common Heron (R. G. Pettitt) ... ... 376 Aerial chase by Herons in autumn (C. M. Veysey) ... ... ... 377 Notes on the wing-drying of Shags (M. W. Pickering and H. M. Pickering) ... 378 Turtle-Dove display (D. V. Butt) ... ... ... ... ... 379 Nest lining of wading birds (Lt.-Col. J. K. Stanford)... ... ... 379 Unrecorded note of Curlew (D. G. Andrew) ... ... ... ... 380 Threat-display of Common Snipe (John C. S. Ellis) ... ... ... 380 Food-washing by Knot in captivity (W. T. C. Rankin) ,.. ... 380 Roseate Terns in Devon (R. G. Adams) ... ... ... ... 381 Herring-Gulls eating charcoal (R. T. Harberd) ... ... ... 381 Bathing behaviour of Herring-Gull (R. T. Harberd and K. J. Witts) 381 Skua-like tactics of Great Black-backed Gull (R. G. Adams)... ... 382 BRITISH BIRDS Number ii, Vol. XLIII, November, 1950. INFLUENCES CAUSING FLUCTUATION OF WARBLER POPULATION IN CULTIVATED LANDS AND OAK WOODS IN THE SEVERN VALLEY. BY M. Philips Price In November, 1935 {antea, vol. xxix, pp. 158-166), I published Notes on Population Problems and Territorial Habits of Chiff chaffs and Willow-Warblers.” This was the result of observations over the years 1927 to 1935 in one area of farm land and another of oak woodland in the Severn Vale five miles west of Gloucester. I came to four conclusions at the time from these observations, of which I will summarize two because I think they merit further consideration in the light of fresh evidence. (1) There is a definite connexion between the territories of Chiffchaffs {Phylloscopus collybita) and Willow-Warblers {Ph. trochilus) on the one hand and associations of vegetation on the other. (2) The growth of vegetation brings about changes in the ground flora over a number of years and shows some sign of affecting the number of these species in a given area. Other fluctuations of population occur for which there is no apparent cause. It is on these two points that I propose to comment further because since 1935 till this year I have continued my records on the same areas of ground noting the total population of the species concerned, the numbers of unmated cocks, the numbers of nesting sites, and the numbers of broods reared. In addition to the Chiffchafl and Willow-Warbler populations I now have records of those of the Nightingale {Luscinia megarhyncha) , Blackcap {Sylvia atricapilla), Garden- Warbler (5. borin) and Wood-Warbler {Phylloscopus sibilatrix). In my original article I set down, as a result of my observation on the ecology of these two areas seven vegetation associations : {a) Half-shaded oak woods, thin coppice with hazel, open grass patches and scattered bramble or grass rides. (b) Full shade under mature oak, underwood died out, occasional sloe, hazel, hawthorn and bramble. (c) Untrimmed bushes of hawthorn, sloe, dog-rose and bramble, growing low on ground out of unlaid hedge or alongside a lane or edge of wood. (d) Young plantations of trees from one to ten years old or young oak and hazel coppice in which no canopy yet formed, strong ground flora consisting of woodland grasses, bramble and dog-rose and low bushes of sloe, birch, willow and hawthorn. (e) Derelict ground unplanted and uncultivated, approximating PURCHA8 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XLIII. 34() to primeval association, scattered trees of birch, willow, oak and ash, large hawthorn bushes, elder, dog-rose and privet, in open spaces, woodland grasses in thick tufts. (/) Thick uncut grass, either in bends of streams or by side of untrimmed or unlaid hedge or in shallow ditch or along grassy bank. (g) Cultivated gardens. As far as the woodland area with which we are dealing is concerned, there has been no change in the method of management of the oak woods. Nearly every year an area has been either thinned or felled and an average over the years of one and three-quarter acres has been either planted with hardwood/conifer mixtures or wired to’ encourage natural regeneration of oak, ash and sycamore. Therefore the same types of association are present in roughly the same proportion now as was the case between 1927 and 1935, though as a result of rather heavy war-time fellings there is rather less (a) and more {d) than there was. There has been one important change however, on which 1 will enlarge later, and that is, the very great increase in bramble, particularly in associations [a) and {b). There have been some definite changes in the warbler population in the last fifteen years which may be observed by studying the tables at the end of this paper. They may be summarized as follows : (1) There has been a steady and even dramatic increase in the Nightingale population. I take the figures for this species over a period of twenty-three years (Table V). (2) There has been a smaller but quite definite increase in the Chiffchaff population between 1936 and 1950 in the woodland area (Table IV), and a considerable increase when the figures are compared with those between 1927 and 1935 as published in British Birds {antea, vol. xxix, p. 161). On the other hand there has been a decrease of this species on the cultivated farm land (Table \'l). (3) There has been a remarkable decline in the Willow- Warbler population, especially between 1936 and 1950, in both farming and woodland areas (Tables III and VII). (4) There has been a complete eclipse of the Wood-Warbler population, none being seen or heard since 1934 (Table I). There has been no change in the Blackcap and Garden-Warbler population, but some irregular fluctuations from year to year (Table II). On considering some of the possible causes of these changes in population one fact stands out — there has been since about 1930 a very great increase in the growth of bramble, covering the floor of the oak woods. All through the 1920’s the woods of the {a) and {b) type had an almost bare forest floor, carpeted with oak leaves. This was ideal nesting ground for Wood-Warblers, though not so good for Chiffchaff, Willow-Warbler, Nightingale, Blackcap or VOL. xliil] fluctuations OF WARBLERS. 347 Garden-Warbler. The growth of bramble, however, which by the end of the 1930’s had become in places almost a jungle, provided suitable nesting and feeding grounds for all those species other than the Wood- Warbler. What then can have caused this increase of bramble ? Here 1 think that the size of the rabbit population may tell us something. I give, in Table VIII, the figures for the number of rabbits snared, netted or shot in these woods during these years. They show with fluctuations, due to temporary and exceptional climatic conditions, that the rabbit population has steadily declined. It is well known to foresters that rabbits eat the young shoots of bramble. On the other hand bramble affords cover for surface rabbits which rarely go to earth. This prevents the rabbit population from being entirely exterminated. Nevertheless, the systematic campaigns that have been carried out against the rabbits over the last fifteen years seem to have had considerable effect and this in turn has caused bramble to spread. One is entitled to assume that this has caused the elimination of the Wood-Warbler. But whether it has had any effect on the other species of warblers is much more difficult to estimate, because other factors seem to come into play. Thus, when one comes to consider the decrease in the Willow- Warbler population as shown in Tables III and VII, both in the farm and woodland areas, one can find no satisfactory explanation. The increase of bramble in vegetation associations (a) and (b) does not affect (d) and (e) and yet ground of this latter type, which for- merly carried two or three nests a season, now carries at most one unmated cock and often not that. The coming of the Grey Squirrel in the early 1930’s might be thought to have something to do with it, but one would have thought that that would have affected other ground-nesting species like Chiff chaff and Nightingale as well, and in fact, that has not happened, but the reverse. One is forced to the conclusion that the Willow-Warbler population — at least in that part of the Severn Vale — is declining for reasons which cannot at present be explained. Similarly, it does not seem as if the remarkable increase in the Nightingale population can be explained only by the spread of bramble, affording better nesting sites. In the 1920’s and early 1930’s, there was plenty of suitable vegetation for nesting for the Nightingale population which at present exists, and yet in those years it was not there. It seems that the Nightingale population has increased for other reasons. On the other hand, it is possible that the increase of bramble in the woodland area has had something to do with the increase over the years in the Chiffchaff population. But it is doubtful if that is the whole explanation, though there is not at present any evidence to show just what other factors were at work. On the other hand the decline of the Chiffchaff population in the farm land can almost certainly be put down to changes in the vegetation association, due to better cultivation of the land following on greater prospeidty in 348 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XLIIl. farming. Thus hedges are now better kept, leaving no bramble or dog-rose bushes growing out into the helds, meadow lands are now swept by tractors at haymaking time, and a much heavier head of livestock is kept than formerly. Hence tufts of uncut and ungrazed grass have disappeared. The general conclusion which I draw from a study of these tables is that there is a fluctuation going on in the warbler population in these two areas ; that it is due to a number of factors, some of which cannot be explained, but that at least one of them is due to changes in the vegetation associations and this is partly affected by the animal population, particularly rabbits, and last but not least, the activities of man in agriculture and forestry. Table I WOOD-WARBLER (Woodland area) 1927 Total Population 4 Unmated Cocks 0 Nesting Sites 2 Broods Reared 2 1928 4 2 2 0 1929 4 0 2 2 1930 2 1 I I 1931 I 0 I 0 1932 0 I 0 0 1933 0 0 0 0 1934 I I 0 0 1928 Table II BLACKCAP AND GARDEN- WARBLER (Woodland Area) Total Unmated Nesting Population Cocks Sites Broods Reared I 1929 — — 2 2 1930 — — 0 0 1931 — — I I 1932 — — 0 0 1933 — ■ — I I 1934 — — ■ 3 I 1933 — — 0 0 1936 — — 0 0 1937 — — 2 I 1938 — — 0 0 1939 — — 0 0 1940 — — 0 0 1941 — — 3 2 1942 — — I 0 1943 — 4 3 1944 — — 5 4 1945 — — 0 0 1946 — — 0 0 1947 — — 3 2 1948 — — 2 1 1949 — — 1 0 1950 — — 3 2 III.] 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1943 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 '933 '934 '933 1936 '937 '938 '939 1940 FLUCTUATIONS OF WARBLERS 349 Table III WILLOW-WARBLER Total (Woodland Area) Unmated Nesting Population Cocks Sites '4 'I 6 9 3 3 13 3 4 1 8 2 8 10 4 12 3 3 10 0 3 9 1 4 4 2 I 6 4 I 8 2 3 6 2 2 3 3 0 3 3 I 7 3 I Total Table IV CHIFFCHAFF (Woodland Area) Unmated Nesting Population Cocks Sites I I 3 4 10 4 3 I I 3 4 12 2 3 8 2 3 10 2 4 1 2 0 6 9 I 4 17 I 8 6 4 I 8 2 3 6 2 2 I 6 1 2 2 3 16 0 8 Total Table V NIGHTINGALE (Woodland Area) Unmated Nesting Population Cocks Sites 3 3 I 7 3 2 6 2 2 6 2 2 4 2 I 3 I 2 4 0 2 7 I 3 10 2 4 17 I 8 1 1 5 4 '3 I 6 '7 3 7 13 I 7 Broods Reared 3 2 2 6 4 2 2 3 0 1 2 I 0 o o Broods Reared 3 1 2 4 3 3 4 2 3 1 2 I 4 3 8 Broods Reared 1 2 2 2 1 2 2 3 3 8 3 6 6 7 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 BRITISH BIRDS. [vol. xliii. Table V.- — continued. NIGHTINGALE (\\"oodland Area) Total Unmated Nesting Broods Population Cocks Sites Reared 15 1 7 7 14 2 6 5 16 2 7 7 16 2 7 7 18 2 8 6 17 3 7 6 18 4 7 5 16 2 7 7 24 6 9 9 23 5 Table VI CHIFFCHAFF (Agricultural Area) 9 9 Total Unmated Nesting Broods Population Cocks Sites Reared 7 3 2 2 8 6 1 1 4 2 1 1 2 2 0 0 4 0 2 1 6 0 3 3 6 0 3 0 6 0 3 2 4 2 1 0 1 1 T 5 2 8 0 4 1 5 I 2 2 5 I 2 2 5 I 2 1 4 0 2 2 Table VII WILLOW-W A RBLE R (Agricultural Area) Total Unmated Nesting Broods Population Cocks Sites Beared 6 2 1 1 9 3 3 2 7 5 1 I 5 3 I I 5 I 2 I 6 0 3 2 5 T 2 2 4 0 2 I 3 I T I d 4 I I 0 1 0 2 2 0 0 1 I 0 0 3 I 1 0 2 2 0 0 VOL. xliil] fluctuations OF WARBLERS. 351 RABBITS Tablk VIII RECORD OF KILLED ON TIBBERTON COURT AND GROVE ESTATES Rabbits Killed Remarks 1927-28 1,388 1928-29 C773 1929-50 1.692 1930-51 1,875 1931-52 830 Wet season 1952-53 270 1933-34 678 1934-33 948 1933-36 988 1936-37 963 1937-38 833 1938-59 2,329 Verj'^ dry season 1939-40 1,131 1940-41 1,198 1941-42 322 1942-43 432 1943-44 681 1944-43 1,215 War-time difficulties in getting trapping labour 1943-46 U177 1946-47 249 Very cold winter 1947-48 361 1948-49 443 1949-30 308 A STUDY OF THE BRITISH WILLOW-TIT. BY John ]''ostek and ('hristina Godfrey This paper describes some aspects of the Britisli Willow-Tit {Pams atyicapillus kleinschmidti) studied by both authors from January to July, 1948, and by the second author with the help of J. A. Gibb from October, 1948, to February, 1950. The only previously published work on the British Willow-Tit has been concerned with isolated pairs or nests. Detailed studies have been made of other races, and our observations on the breeding biology of the British race agree in general with those of Odum (1941) for the American Black-capped Chickadee (P. a. atricapillus) and of Jouard (1933) for the Alpine races P. a. montanus and P. a. jonardi. Study area Observations were made in Marley Wood, part of the University estate at Wytham (Berkshire), about three miles west of Oxford. Marley is a wood of about fifty-five acres, lying on a slope facing north-east. The vegetation is very mixed ; oak standards are 352 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XLIII. scattered throughout, as well as some birch, ash, beech and wych elm. The secondary cover is chiefly coppiced hazel, elder and hawthorn ; bramble and bracken are thick in the more open parts. There are three small areas of marsh, two of which contain clumps of low willows. The wood is almost surrounded by open parkland, ' but is connected to other woods by four belts of trees. In 1949 Marley Wood had a population of about thirty pairs of Great Tits j {Pants major), forty pairs of Blue Tits {P. cceruleus), eight pairs of Marsh-Tits {P. palusiris), two or three pairs of Coal- {P. ater) and Long-tailed Tits {jEgithahis caudatus) and two pairs of Willow-Tits. Methods In both years the adult Willow-Tits were caught at the nest, in a hair-net placed over the hole (see Southern and Morley, 1950). Adults and nestlings were all ringed with colour and B.T.O. rings. In order to inspect the nests regularly, a small door was cut in the side of each nest-cavity, and held in place with wire. Winter movements and behaviour In the first .season, from January to July, 1948, a single pair of Willow-Tits, and occasionally a third bird, were in the wood ; members of the pair were never seen apart. The following autumn in October, 1948, there were five or six birds present, but numbers decreased to two in December and January (1949), rising again to four by March ; two pairs bred in 1949. Movement of Willow-Tits out of woods into other types of habitat is also suggested by analysis of records in the Annual Reports of the Oxford Ornithological Society. In the winter of 1948-1949 the birds were seen alone and in pairs, but the only bird remaining from the previous season was the adult male, ringed Red/White/Blue (RWB). He was seen in courtship display in February, but from then until April was as often seen alone, as with a mate. None of the young ringed in 1949 was seen later than July of that year, and of the four adults RWB was again the only one remaining for the winter, October, 1949, to February, 1950, though at least two unringed birds were also in the wood. None was seen j)aired later than October. During the three winters the Willow-Tits were found almost as often away from tlie mixed tit-flocks as with tliem : they sometimes ignored a flock wliich moved through the area in which they them- selves were feeding. They ranged widely throughout the wood and, after feeding for half-an-hour or so in one place, often flew straight across apparently suitable feeding ground to a distant part of the wood — for no obvious reason. In winter the commonest and most distinctive call is the nasal tchay, by which they were usually first identified. The thin eez-eez-eez contact and feeding note was not found to be as distinctive as The Handbook suggests, and was easy to miss unless the bird was close. The alann note, a sharp low zut, was heard only eight times ; it was used once when a Sparrow-Hawk [Accipiter nisus) appeared near the nest. * VOL. XLiii.] THE BRITISH WILLOW-TIT. 353 Feeding records obtained during the whole period are summarized here : — Number of occasions seen feeding in ground cover secondary cover primary cover October — Februar}' JS 14 12 March — July rb 49 ir There were seventeen records of Willow-Tits feeding in bracken and bramble, eighteen in elder, fourteen each in hawthorn and hazel, and twelve in birch ; in oak, where there were fifteen records, the birds searched mostly in the cracks of the bark and in moss and lichen on the main boughs. Single feeding records included spindle berries in January, moths in oak in February, small larvae from sallow catkins in March, blight on blackthorn in May, and aphids on birch three times in June (see below under Nestling Period for food brought to the nest). Territoky Map I shows all records of RWB and his mate from January to June, 1948, 'and Map 2 shows the breeding territories of RWB and of the second pair in 1949. As only a small part of the boundary was common to the two pairs and defended, the size of RWB’s territory in 1949 \vas indefinite, but it was roughly coextensive with his range in the three winters, including that of 1948-1949 when there was no second pair in the vacant part of the wood. A tliird bird was heard singing against RWB on three oecasions in March, 1948, after each of which there was some chasing. The song, a clear and penetrating piu-piu-pm, was not heard at any other time in the spring of 1948. In 1949, however, song was heard from January 20th onwards ; at first in short irregular Map I. Sight records of R.W.B. Map ii. Willow-tit territories, AND MATE, JaN.-MaRCH, I948. JaN.-MaRCH, I949. bursts, but becoming more frequent and sustained, and probably reaching a climax at the end of March (unfortunately no observations were made in the first half of April). In 1949 two pairs were definitely established in tire wood from mid-March onwards : RWB and his mate in the nortlicrn part, and an unringed pair in a 354 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XLIII. smaller territory in the southern part. No aggressive display or chasing was seen, but the two males often sang at one another, particularly across a wide ride which divided their territories ; the males would also fly about the wood singing loudly, when they were nowhere lu'ar the l(‘rritorial boundar}'. All song was at tirst attributefl to the males, lor whenever a pair was togethei' only one bird sang ; bul this assumption ma}' not ha\’<' been jnstitied, as females also sang later in the season. Courtship display was seen only in February, 1949. it cojisistcd of singing, bowing and chasing by the male, and of wing shivering by both birds. Coition was not seen in either season. Nest-site Ail three nests in the wood were in decaying elder boughs, of which there were plenty ; but analysis of other records (see Appen- di.x. Section A) shows a preference elsewhere for birch and willow, neither of which provided many suitable sites in Marley Wood. Four separate excavations were found in March, 1949, live and seven weeks before the first egg was laid in each of the two nests. These early holes, 2-3 inches in diameter, were bored straight into elder boughs for about 2 inches, but were not continued downwards. In 1948 the pair excavated a hole in a rotten birch to a depth of 1 1 inches ; they then abandoned it and excavated again in an elder, where they bred. Five days after they had left the first hole, it was taken over by a pair of Blue Tits. On April nth, 1949, the unringed pair was excavating a hole in an elder, which they may have deserted the next (lay when a wood- man was working near by. However, they were “ tchaying ” and singing near the sit<‘ on ,\j>ril 19th and 20th when a pair of black-capped tits (assume(l to hi' the same birds) were rarrying nest material to it. On .April 24th a hole was cut to look at the. nest ; this was bulky with a moss foundation, and held three eggs. Marsh-Tils were calling at the site, and it was later confirmed that the nest was theirs, ft is unlikely that the Willow-Tits left this hole willingly, since it meant that they nested considerably later than most of the tits in the wood, but unfortunately it is not known whether they were forcibly evicted by the Marsh-Tits. Chislett (1945) states that Willow-Tit holes are often used by Great and Blue Tits, and occasionally by Redstarts {Phcenicums phocmeums), but he does not say whether the Willow-Tits were ever evicted. Excavation was watched on March 21st, 1948, when the hole was already ii inches deep. 'I'he behaviour of the birds and their method of exca vation agreed with that described by Witherby (1934). The shape of the three completed nest-holes is shown in the diagram (sec also .Appendix, Sections If and C). Holes of the I.es.ser Spotted Woodpecker {Diyobatcs minor) are similar, but the ground beneath them is often more thickly strewn with chips, which the Willow-Tit generally carries away. VOL. XLiii.] STUDY OF BRITISH WILLOW-TIT. 355 1^48 Depth OF Hole. 1 12^' 1 Height OF Entrance , ,, Above Ground: ^ ^ 1949 : 1st. Nest I 1 I I I949-* 2nd Nest 6'8" Vertical sections of Willow-Tit nests. Breeding season Summary of the two breeding seasons. 1948 1949 Hole (never used) first found March 21st Pair I Pair II April nth Nest-hole first found March 28th April 23rd May 5th First egg laid April loth April 24th May 7th Last egg laid xApril 17 th April 29th May 12 th Start of incubation April i8th or 30th May ist May nth First young hatched May 2nd May 14th May 25th Last young hatched May 2nd May 14th May 26th Young left nest May i8th May 30th June 12th Clutch size 8 5 6 Number hatched 8 4 6 Number left nest 8 4 5 Incubation period, days 14 ± I 13 ± I 14 ± I Nestling period, days (16 ± I) (16 ± I) 18 ± I The late winter and spring of 1948 were exceptionally mild, and the laying dates of other species of tits in the wood were about a fortnight earlier than in 1949 (Gibb, 1950). The laying dates of the single nest in 1948 and of the first nest in 1949 coincided with those of the other tit species ; but the second nest in 1949 was about a fortnight late. 356 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XLIII. Nest-building The nests of the Willow-Tit in Marley Wood were loosely con- structed, chiefly of rabbit fur, with a foundation of coarser vegetable material on a floor of wood chips. On five successive mornings in 1949, at about 8.00,* one pair was watched collecting cottonwool, which had been left on a bramble about 100 yards from the nest ; the male always remained in the bushes while the female came out into the open to take the wool. This material, together with a few feathers and moss fragments, was added at intervals until the end of the laying period, covering the eggs deeply. Apart from these visits, the pairs were seldom near their nests and remained very silent during the building and laying periods. (See Appendix, Section D, for analysis of materials used in other nests.) * All times given in G.M.T. Laying Eggs were laid daily in two of the three clutches, but in the first nest of 1949 there was a gap of at least one day in the laying sequence of the c/5. The first four eggs of the clutch in 1948 were weighed on the date of laying, and averaged 1.14 grams each. In 1949 each clutch was weighed as a whole on the first day of incubation : the average weight was 1.1(5) grams for the c/5, and 1.3 grams for the c/6. From records of 37 clutches in British Birds and the diaries of the late Mr. A. Whitaker (Whitaker unpubl.), and including the three Marley nests, the average clutch-size is 8.3 eggs, with a minimum of 5 and a maximum of 13 eggs. Incubation In 1948 the c/8 was completed on April 17th, when the eggs were still covered, ami incubation began on April i8th ; all the young were hatched on May 2nd, giving an incubation period of 14 days, d: I day. Similarly at the first nest in 1949 incubation did not begin until the day after clutch completion. The young all hatched on May 14th, giving an incubation period of 13 days, d; i day. At the second nest in 1949, however, incubation began before the clutch was complete. At 15.00 on May loth the four eggs were still covered ; at about 14.00 on the next day five eggs were uncovered and just warm. The hen was incubating the full c/6 at 14.00 on May 12th. The incubation period was taken as the number of days from the laying of the last egg until the hatching of the last egg : 14 days, i day. Incubation was by the female alone ; she sat closely and, unlike the Marsh-Tit, rarely hissed when looked at. The female was fed by the male either inside the hole or at the entrance, when he clung to the outside and her head appeared at the opening. During the first four days of incubation, feeding at or in the hole was seen thirty-four times in 8| hours observation ; but in the last ten days of incubation it was seen onlj'^ four times in 8 hours observation. The female usually left the nest only when called oft by the male VOL. XLiii.] STUDY OF BRITISH WILLOW-TIT. 367 or after being fed by him at the hole ; but sometimes after about half-an-hour on the nest she would leave of her own accord. She generally alternated periods of 20-30 minutes on, with 5-10 minutes off the nest. Outside the hole, away from the nest, she often solicited food from the male, using the same begging call, eee-da-da, as that used by the young after they had left the nest. As the male fed her, she crouched on a bough shivering her wings and calling zi-zi-zi-zi rapidly. Nestling period In 1948 the female brooded the young until about the hfth day, gradually decreasing the time spent on the nest. Initially the male did most of the feeding of the young, but later on they shared equally. Fseces were first seen removed on the fourth day ; the defeecation rate from then onwards was about once every two hours per nestling (assuming that none was swallowed by the adults within the hole). The parents were seen to bring caterpillars 231 times (chiefly Cheimatohia hrumata and some Hibernia defoliaria, both of which were very abundant in the wood), and other, unidentified foods only twice during the whole nestling period. Sometimes more than one caterpillar was brought at a time. The average feeding rate, based on nearly 18 hours observation through- out the nestling period, was once eveiy minutes ; there were insufficient data to interpret the large daily and hourly fluctuations. In 1948 and 1949 the peak of the caterpillar season — about May 15th in 1948 and May 25th in 1949 — coincided with the time when there were most broods of all tit species in the nest (Gibb, loc. cit.). At the late, second, nest in 1949 the young hatched on May 25th- 26th, when the caterpillars were at their peak abundance, but their numbers declined rapidly throughout the nestling period. The identified food brought to each nest in 1949 showed very different proportions of caterpillar to other food. - 1949 Cheimatohia Hibernia Other food First nest 28 2 2 Second nest 31 6 27 Three faeces collected on June 5th from nestlings in the second nest contained a large amount of chitinous material, possibly from beetles or flies but definitely not from caterpillars, and two spider palps. The average feeding rate, based on 9 hours observation, was higher than in 1948 — once every 3 minutes instead of every 4-| minutes. This rate was maintained by the female alone from the 8th day onwards, as the male had deserted after being ringed on June ist. The defsecation rate of once every ij hours per nestling was also faster than in 1948. One of the young from this late brood in 1949 died from an unknown cause on the 5th day ; the other five young developed normally. They were weighed daily from the day of hatching until the 13th day ; they reached the same average weight at this age as did the young of the first nest, which were weighed from the loth 368 BRITISH BIRDS. [vol. xliii. to the 15th days. Their growth is similar to that of the Blue Tit (Gibb, loc. cit.). CO UJ T < h- □r o UJ UJ yo < oc UJ > :{ Calax’dra J.ark [Mclauocorvfyha calaudya). I, A Ckau, S. I-'raxci;, Junk, 1950. (I'hotoi^raj^hcd hy (i. K. British Birds, Yol. xliii, PI. dt. Cal.\.ndra Lark [Melanocovypha calandra) ox nest. La Crau, S. France, June, 1950 [Photographed bv G. K. Veates). British Birds, Vol. xliii, PI. 65. Short-toed L.\rk {Calaiidrella brachydactyla) at nicst with vounc. La Ckau, S. Prance, June, 1950. {Photographed by I\. \’catos). Rritisli Birds, \’ol. xliii, PI. Short-toed Lark {Calandyella hrachydactyla) at nest with ^■ouNG. La Crau, S. France, June, 1950. {Photographed bv H. A. Patrick). Britisli Birds, \'ol. xliii, PI. <37. Short-toed L.\rk (CalaiulrcUa brachvdactyla) .xt nest with \'oun'g. La Crau. S. I-'r.xnce, June, 1950. (Photoeraphed }>v K, Voatcsl. 15ritisli Birds, \^ol. xliii, PI. 08. British Birds, Vol. xliii, PI. 69, 13lack-earkd \\ heateak (Q£nanihe hispanica). Nesting-site on I.a Ckau, S. France, June, 1950. {Photographed by G. K. Ycates). Crau, S. France, June, 1950. [Photographed by G. K. Yeates). British Birds, Vol. xliii, PI. 71. Bl.^ck-eared Whe.atk.ar (CEnanthc hisptnrica). M.^le with food for young. La Crau, S. Franck, June, 1950. [Photographed hv Ci. K. Yeates). British Birds, \'ol. xliii, FI. 72. Bl.\ck-e.\red VVhe.\te.a.r [Uinantnc hispantca). M.\le with food i'or young. L.\ Cr.\u, S. h'R.\NCE, June, 1950. [Pholof^raphcd bv ('». K. Veatcs). British Birds, Vol. xl ii. PI. 7H. Bi..-\ck-k.\red Whk.atkar {(Eiiaiithr li/spaii irti) . M.alk with food 1'-ok ^■ouN(;. j,.‘\ C.RAU, S. I''RANCK jUMi, 1950. ( I pill’ll bv M. A. Batrick). i (366) BIRDS OF INNER LONDON, 1949. COMPILED FOR THE LONDON NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY BY W. G. TEAGLE. “ A List of the Birds of Inner London ” was published in 1929 by A. Holte Macpherson {vide antea, vol. xxii, pp. 222-244) and notes on changes in status and of unusual occurrences have appeared annually in British Birds since then. The volume of records received during 1949 was larger and more comprehensive than that obtained in previous years, partly as a result of visits made to those parts of Inner London from which hitherto few notes have been submitted. The following records have been selected as being perhaps some of the more interesting. Of the 88 species recorded, the Great Grey Shrike was a new bird for Inner London. Further details of this and of the passage of Long-tailed Tits are contained in the Society’s London Bird Report. Thanks are due to the Records Committee of the Ornithological Section, to Miss P. M. S. Jones for help with entering, to the follow- ing observers, and to the 64 others who submitted records : — T. L. Bartlett, Lieut-Col. C. L. Boyle, D. Carr, S. Cramp, Miss M. Curtis, J. Farrand, F. C. Gerrard, D. Goodwin, R. W. Hayman, S. D. Herington, H. C. Holme, Lord Hurcomb, Miss M. R. Jellicoe, Mrs. H. M. Rait-Kerr, Dr. G. Carmichael Low, Mrs. E. MacAlister, Miss E. McEwen, O. L. Miller, E. H. Mitcham, W. L. Moore, F. A. Nattrass, E. M. Nicholson, D. F. Owen, E. R. Parrinder, J. N. A. Rignall, R. H. M. Ryall, N. J. Wadley, Prof. E. H. Warmington, Mrs. E. M. Watt. Rook (Corvus frugilegvis). — Kensington Gardens, four flying over, cawing, and others seen on March 31st (E. MacA.). Jackdaw {Corvus monedula).- — Kensington Gardens, a few pairs bred and at least three young were seen (D.G., E. MacA.). M.vgpie (Pica pica). — Battersea Park, one on September i6th and November 25th (J.N.A.R.). Brompton Cemetery, one present from at least June loth until the end of the year (M.C.). Kensington Gardens, two on April 4th (E. McE., O.L.M.). All these birds, which had the appearance of being wild, were reported prior to the arrival of an " escape ” in the Green Park area. Jay {Garrulus glandarius). — This species is now by no means confined to the parks. Kensington Gardens, single young birds seen June to September (E. McE., et al). A pair attempted to nest in a plane in Cromwell Road, outside the Natural History Museum (D.G., R.W.H.). Hawfinch {Coccothraiistes coccothraustes). — St. John’s Wood, a male seen on June 8th, and heard on June 24th (H.M.R.K.). Goldfinch {Carduelis carduelis). — Battersea Park, one pair nested successfully (E.M.N.). Noted in the breeding season in Regent’s Park (E.H.W.) and St. John’s Wood (H.C.H., H.M.R.K.). 366 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XLIII. Victoria Park, 15-25, including 3-4 “ greypates ” soliciting for food on September 3rd (M.R.J.)- Winter records for Cripplegate bombed sites, Kensington and Kensington Gardens. Siskin {Carduelis spimis).— Addison Road, W.14, an adult male in a large neglected garden on October 30th (C.L.B.). Lesser Redpoll {Carduelis flammea cabaret). — Kensington Gardens, one on November 8th (E. McE.). Linnet {Carduelis cannabina). — Cripplegate bombed area, one to two noted between Eebruary 26th and April 8th (E.LI.M., E.H.W., et al.). Green Park, one on November 22nd (W.G.T.). Bullfinch {Pyrrhula pyrrhula). — Kensington Gardens, one heard on June 28th (E. MacA.). Chaffinch {Fringilla coelebs). — -Migratory flocks of passerines, most of which were identified as Chaffinches, were again seen flying west and north-west over Central London in the autumn; e.g., 426 over Green Park and St. James’s Park on October 12th between 7.20 and 7.45, G.M.T. (W.G.T.) : 85 over Trafalgar Square between 7.30 and 9.30, G.M.T., on November 4th, and 158 between 7.43 and 9.00 G.M.T. , on November iith (E.R.P.). Brambling {Fringilla montifringilla). — Victoria Park, two on October 28th (M.R.J. ). House-Sparrow {Passer domesticus). — Kensington Gardens, 807 counted on January 23rd and 836 on March 13th (S.C., W.G.T. ). Pied Wagtail {Motacilla alba yarrellii). — Battersea Park, a young brood being fed during July (J.N.A.R.). Cripplegate bombed area, at least two pairs nested (S.D.H., N.J.W., et at.). Tree-Creeper {Certhia familiaris). — Kensington Gardens, one pair nested successfully (E. McE., O.L.M.), and possibly a second pair nested (R.W.H.). Blue Tit {Partis ccerulcus). — An unusually large autumn influx of tits was noted, mainl}^ between Sej^tember 23rd and October 28th. Five species were recorded, but Blue Tits predominated, and were seen throughout the built-up area, often perching on buildings, scaffolding, etc. (many observers) {cf. antea, pp. 211-212, 216). Marsh-Tit {Pams palustris). — Kensington Gardens, one seen with other tits on October 4th, and one on October 28th (E. McE.). Marsh/Willow Tit {Pams pahtstrisjatricapillus). — St. James’s Park, a bird, seen by numerous observers from October 19th onwards, was not conclusively identified as it remained more or less silent, and showed contradictory field characteristics. It frequently fed in litter-baskets. Long-tailed Tit {Aegithalos caudatus). — On October 3rd a party of 14 was seen near St. Paul’s, and 10 of them were followed north- westwards as far as Torrington Square, a distance of over 1^ miles (E.H.W.). Hyde Park, eight on November 22nd (J.F.). Great Grey Shrike {Lanius excubitor). — Camden Town, one was seen in the yard of Edward Gerrard and Sons, taxidermists, on May 23rd by F.C.G., who was able to compare the bird with the VOL. XLiii.] BIRDS OF INNER LONDON, 1949. 367 plate in The Handbook whilst it was still present. Pied Flycatcher {Muscicapa hypoleuca). — Battersea Park, one on August loth and one on September i8th (E.M.N.). Green Park, one on September 24th (W.G.T.). Wood-Warbler (Phylloscoptis sibilatrix). — Regent’s Park, one on April 23rd (FI.M.R.K., E.M.W.). Victoria Embankment Gardens, one singing on May 7th (F.A.N.). Whinchat {Saxicola mbetra).- — City bombed areas, one on May 14th and 15th (S.D.H., N.J.W.). Stonechat [Saxicola torqiiata). — Kensington Gardens, one imma- ture bird on September 14th (E. McE.). Black Redstart [Phcenicunis ochrurus). — City bombed areas, eleven pairs, raised nineteen broods, one pair being triple-brooded. Song heard on February 26th. No records for Westminster, but a pair occupied a territory in Brompton Cemetery. Several records of wintering birds (N.J.W., et al.). Great Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopus major). — Appears to be increasing. One in grounds of Buckingham Palace on July 7th (E.M.N.), and from October ist onwards frequently seen in Green Park and St. James’s Park (T.L.B., et al.). Nested in Kensington Gardens (D.F.O.), and probably in Battersea Park (J.N.A.R., W.G.T.). Cripplegate bombed area, one found dead in July (N. J.W.). Little Owl [Athene nochia). — Chelsea, one calling near Upper Cheyne Row on August i8th (E.M.N.). Cripplegate bombed area, one on October 7th, 12th and 17th (N.J.W., E.H.W., et al.). Peregrine Falcon [Falco peregrinus). — Westminster, one watched chasing a Kestrel [Falco tinmmculus) near the Central Hall on October iith (H.). Grey Geese [Anser sp.). — St. James’s Park, a broken chevron of C.30 grey geese flying over at c.150 feet on December 23rd (T.L.B.). Shoveler [Spatula clypeata). — Kensington Gardens, two drakes and two ducks on the Round Pond on May 3rd (G.C.L., E. McE., et al.). Turtle-Dove [Strepiopelia turtur). — Kensington, St. Alban’s Grove, W.8, one on June 6th, August 24th and September 2nd (E. MacA.). Woodcock [Scolopax rusticola). — Brompton, one found dead in Redcliffe Gardens on March 2nd (D.F.O.). Common Snipe [Capella galUnago). — St. James’s Park, one seen to alight on Duck Island on November 21st (D.C.). Glaucous Gull [Lams hyperboreus).- — St. James’s Park, an adult seen by T.L.B. and D.C. on November 21st and 22nd, on a rock near a Herring-Gull [Lams argen talus). Glaucous/Iceland Gull [Lams hyperboreus Iglaucoides). — On April 12th R.H.M.R. saw an immature bird being chased by Lesser Black-backed Gulls [Lams fuscus) near Waterloo Bridge. Puffin [Fratercula arctica). — Surrey Commercial Docks, an oiled bird found alive on November 7th (W.L.M.). (368) NOTES. CARRION CROWS ATTACKING WOOD-PIGEON. On January 4th, 1950, we were standing in the road beside Bolney Grange Ltd., Hurstpierpoint, Sussex, watching about 30-40 Wood- Pigeons {Col’umba palumbus) feeding under a tree, when we heard the harsh calls of Carrion Crows {Corvus corone). We looked up, and flying across the road in a distressed manner was a Wood- Pigeon, being harassed by two Carrion Crows, one of which had a pigeon’s feather in its bill. On the other side of the road was a ploughed field, and the crows by flying one directly above and one directly behind, were contriving to force the Wood-Pigeon to the ground. Eventually it was so low that twice it hit furrows with its breast before coming down to the ground. As soon as it went to the ground a third crow joined in and the three attacked the pigeon with their beaks and claws. We eventually managed to scramble to the scene of the battle and the crows retired to an oak tree when we were nearly on top of them. However, the pigeon was in such a poor state we had to kill it. D. P. Geoghegan and M. H. Fileman. [A similar incident has been recorded from Wiltshire {antea, vol. xl, p. 14. — Eds.J. CARRION CROWS NESTING ON BUILDINGS. No mention is made in The Handbook of the Carrion Crow [Corvus corone) nesting on buildings. On April 12th, 1948, I watched a Carrion Crow fly from Waterloo direct to the crown on top of the spire over the House of Commons, go inside it, and stay there for about a quarter of an hour without coming out. I then went away. On April i8th, 1948, I saw a Carrion Crow come out of the crown of the same spire. In November or December, 1949, Mr. Sidney Larkin, the famous steeplejack, found a large nest on top of that same spire. He described it in The Sunday Times of December 25th, 1949. London’s Birds (pp. 29-30,) Mr. R. S. R. Fitter says that Carrion Crows nested in the Victoria Tower, House of Lords, in 1934. C. Suffern UNUSUAL CALL OF CARRION CROW. Throughout the spring and summer of 1949 a Carrion Crow (Corvus corone) in the area round my house at Colyford, Devon, frequently uttered what is to me an unusual call, consisting of anything up to fourteen or fifteen short and rapidly recurring croaks, sounding rather like a distant machine gun or woodpecker’s drumming (but in a much deeper bass tone). It is made gutturaUy. A. L. W. Mayo. THE CONDUCT OF STARLINGS IN A TRAP. During the past two winters, 77 Starlings [Sturnus vulgaris) were caught in a non-automatic trap for ringing, at Richmond, Surrey. A marked difference was noted in the conduct of birds caught separately as compared with those in the company of others. VOL. XLIII.] NOTES 369 Some birds were caught in batches, four together (once), three together (twice) and two together (sixteen times). Without exception, these birds uttered no sound when driven in company into the gathering cage or during the operation of ringing. A single Starling was caught in company with House-Sparrows {Passer domesticus) on three occasions, and these three were also silent. Thirty-two Starlings were caught singly, of which eight were silent. The remaining twenty-four, which included adults and juveniles, when taken from the gathering cage, and a few even before being handled, gave the alarm note described as a harsh rasping scream, sometimes continuing for a considerable period. This conduct seems to imply a fear of being alone in a bird which is gregarious in winter, and a call for help from the remainder of the flock. C. L. COLLENETTE. TRANSATLANTIC VOYAGE OF STARLINGS. The following account has been sent to me by Captain P. St. J. R. Mountford, of the M/V “ Pellicula ” : “ On our last passage from home some Starlings {Sturnus vulgaris) came on board the ship in Falmouth and remained until we arrived at Maracaibo, Venezuela. We sailed from Falmouth at 17.00 on October 29th, 1949, passing through the Azores and close to Martinique and Curacao, but the birds only left us when we were right inside the lagoon at Maracaibo. The first day out we counted seven birds. I regret to say that the Chinese members of the crew caught two and ate them, but the others took up quarters aft, near the galleys, by day, and every evening at sunset they would fly up to the mainmast crosstrees and stay there till dawn. They became quite friendly, but towards the end looked a little bedraggled, though still full of life. So far as I can find out they ate cockroaches of which there are quite a* number on the ropes aft. According to some reports they seemed to like potatoes and I know that they were eating fish as the Chinese stewards hang up fish until it is very high and I could see their beak marks on some of it. Nobody saw them leave the ship, but all five were seen on the day we arrived at the entrance to the lagoon ; they were gone by the time we got alongside on November 12th.” Peter Scott. FEMALE LINNET SINGING. On June 26th, 1949, whilst walking along the Icknield Way, near Swyncombe Downs, Oxfordshire, we heard a song from the hedge- row, which, though not altogether unfamiliar, could not for a few moments be identified. The singer was easily located and proved to be a Linnet {Carduelis cannabina), obviously a female and not a juvenile male. As we were only a few yards from the bird we were able to note plumage details, and others in our company agreed on the sex of the bird. 370 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XLIII. Song in the female of this species does not appear to have been recorded, and it may be of interest to note that, although not as fully-developed as that of the male bird, our songster’s performance contained several pleasant and typically Linnet-like phrases. Unfortunately she flew off before it became clear whether she could sustain the song for as long as the male usually does. H. F. Greenfield and W. G. Te.agle. CORN-BUNTING ROOST IN MORAY. On December 24th, 1948, at about 15.15 I saw between twenty and thirty Corn-Buntings (Eniberiza calandra) perched on an overhead power line in swampy rush-covered ground alongside the Elgin-Lossiemouth road. In the ne.xt twenty minutes the number increased to about a hundred and fifty, small parties of five or six coming in from all directions and from a distance of a mile or more. When it was almost dark I returned to the area and found a large number of Corn-Buntings roosting in tussocks of rushes, near the power line and in an apparently limited area. At dusk on December 26th there were a dozen or so birds on the cable but the roosting area was not examined. On January ist, 1949, between 15.30 and 16.00 there were no Corn-Buntings in the area. R. Hewson. [Mr. Hewson’s observations agree closely with those recorded {antea, vol. xlii, p. 328) by Mr. Gillham in Kent. — Eds.]. “FLY-CATCHING” FLIGHT OF REED-BUNTING. On March 7th, 1950, we observed a Reed-Bunting {Emberiza schoenichis) hawking insects near Frenchay, Gloucestershire. It was one of a flock and had perched on the top of a hawthorn. It flew up about three feet from its perch, half-hovered for a few seconds, rather like a singing Whitethroat {Sylvia communis), and then dropped back. Soon after, the flock flew away ; so there was no chance of seeing if the action was repeated. This behaviour is apparently not recorded in The Handbook. M. Tucker and J. P. G. Rowcliffe. [This record may be compared with that already published {antea, p. 222) of a “ soaring flight ” by Reed-Bunting. — Eds.]. REACTIONS OF COCK HOUSE-SPARROW TO THE DEATH OF HEN. On June 12th, 1949, at Caine, Wiltshire, at 12.45, on hearing very loud chirping of sparrows outside my bedroom window, I looked out and saw a cock House-Sparrow {Passer domesticus) displaying to a hen crouched in a nearly horizontal position with drooped wings. He tried several times to mate with her, getting no response, and in a few minutes she was lianging nearly vertically, witli her head in the fork of a twig, and obviously quite dead. She was in a leafless part of a very old lilac tree, and only a few feet from, and level with, my window, so that I could see very clearly all that happened. VOL. XLIII,] NOTES. 371 The cock continued hopping round her, quivering his wings and pecking gently at her head and all along her back. He continued this all day, and I do not think left the bush all day except for a few minutes in the evening. At 17.50 there were five hens in the bush and he displayed to them and to the corpse, chirping loudly, and repeatedly wiping his beak on the branch about one foot away from the corpse. He drove off the hens, but one remained, and later two returned. June 13th, 5.00. The cock was already at his distressful chirping and beak-wiping, which he kept up all day. At 16.00 he displayed all round the body and only a few inches away. At 19.00 he was displaying to another hen in the bush. June 14th, 4.45. The same performance began again, generally only two or three inches from the corpse. He displayed in the morning to another hen, who fluttered her wings at him. He flew to her and they touched beaks ; then he drove her off the bush. Later a hen made a chirring noise at him. He flew to her, touched beaks, and flew off, followed by her, but he was back beside the corpse in a few minutes. On June 15th, i6th and 17th he spent most of his time from early morning by the corpse, chirping, but less distressfully, and preening himself. Each day he flew off for longer periods, once, on June 15th, in answer to chirring from the next tree. On June i8th the cock was sitting beside the corpse, but preening thoroughly and only occasionally chirping contentedly. I did not see the cock again, but on June 22nd a hen sparrow was tugging feathers from the corpse for some minutes, and on June 23rd the corpse had disappeared, probably into the undergrowth below. E. M. Thouless. SKY-LARKS’ NESTS WITH “DOORSTEPS.” On reading the note {antea, p. 17) on a Sky-Lark’s {Alauda arvensis) nest with “ doorstep ” of chalk nodules I was reminded of a nest which I found last year on Portsdown Hill, Hants, which had small pieces of chalk at the grass entrance. In 1950 I paid particular attention to an area on Portsdown Hill which is a favourite breeding ground of the Sky-Lark. Of seven nests found six had these “ doorsteps ” consisting in most cases of hard chalky stones and flints, varying in size from a pea to a trouser button. Most stones were flat in shape and varied in number, one nest had two, two had five, and one had almost a “ path ” from the nest perimeter to about 2| inches away. All the stones were loose and could not have got there accidentally; there are patches of ground devoid of vegetation and covered with large and small stones and pieces of chalk quite a distance from the nests examined. I have not overlooked the possibility of the stones having been scraped out from the ground by the bird prior to nest-building. H. E. Woods. 372 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XLIII. BEHAVIOUR, DISPLAY AND FEEDING-HABITS OF WHITE WAGTAIL IN WINTER-QUARTERS. I NOTE that The Handbook states of the White Wagtail {Motacilla a. alba) : “In winter quarters singly or in small parties or in flocks My own observations of this bird may be of interest although perhaps not applicable to the subspecies over the greater part of its range, as they were confined to Lower Egypt, the coastal districts of Eastern Libya, and Malta, where, however, the bird is abundant in winter, in the first two places extremely so. I found that the birds usually associated in pairs, or at least a male and female together. Even in the wet fields of the Nile Valley with their dense wagtail population the tendency to split up into pairs was very noticeable. The only time when single birds were observed with any frequency was in autumn, (possibly birds still on passage ?), and in late March and April after most of the males had left (Egypt). Close observation of a “ pair ” near Cairo in the winter of 1944-45, revealed that they shared a common territory — perhaps “ foraging- area ” would be a safer term since they frequently flew off for short periods and the boundaries, if any, were very ill-defined. They went away each evening and may have gone to separate roosts, as the female usually arrived about twenty minutes before the male in the morning. I never saw any definite display by the male, but the female at his approach would frequently — and invariably as he alighted on his arrival in the mornings — assume a rigid posture with head and tail held at an angle of about 45 degrees, sometimes following up by adopting the cringing, wing-quivering posture similar to that of a hen Canary or Greenfinch (Chloris chloris) soliciting her mate. Sometimes the male would terminate this performance by darting at her with snapping bill in the manner they both used when driving off sparrows. Flight was normally initiated by the male, who would take wing and call, the female usually rising at once with an answering cry, but sometimes not doing so until he was some little distance away and on two occasions refusing to follow in spite of his repeated calling. The male disappeared about the middle of March and the female was last seen on April i8th. This pair seemed to feed chiefly on breadcrumbs that were put out for them. House-flies were pursued, often without success. The workers of a large black ant were ignored, but the winged males and queens were greedily devoured. With the exception of the morning arrival of birds to the feeding territory, and the rare refusal of the female to follow the male when he took flight, all the above details of behaviour were noted on very many occasions with other White Wagtails in all of the countries mentioned, Derek (jOODVVin, VOL. XLIII.] NOTES. 373 The following display by a female White Wagtail has not — -so far as I can find — been recorded, and was more elaborate than that mentioned in The Handbook for captive birds (W. E.Teschemaker) and in Romania (F. C. R. Jourdain). February ist, 1946, Almaza, Egypt. Pair feeding near each other on lawn, female suddenly taking iip crouched position with head slightly raised, wings drooped and cjuivering ; this theii developed into an elaborate display with tail fully expanded and erected vertically ; the under tail-coverts and tail then resembled a conspicuous white fan when viewed from behind. The male near by took no notice of this fascinating display, which lasted approximately one minute ; the female then continued to feed in company with the male, and no more display was given before the}^ flew away together. Boase’s description in The Handbook of the striking display of a male Pied Wagtail {Motacilla alba yarrellii) is almost identical, but the following display of female Pied Wagtail mentioned in The Handbook (“ Once observed to creep or shuffle round male with wings and tail moderately expanded and head lowered ”) falls far short of the elaborate display I witnessed. Notes on Pied Wagtail {Motacilla alba yarrellii) feeding on bread (antea, vol. xlii, p. 30 ; xliii, p. 94) have reminded me of some observations I made on the White Wagtail {Motacilla a. alba) in the desert area of Almaza, Egypt. The following details should not be taken to suggest that wagtails never take bread, but to bring to notice the habit of some birds I had under regular observation in the desert, and which could easily have been mistaken for bread- eating. The White Wagtail arrives in this area during the first week of October and is fairlj^ common until the end of March, but a few odd birds can be seen until the third week of April. On a number of occasions during March, 1946, I observed Wliite Wagtails pecking at pieces of pastry and bread left on the sand. 1 first of all took it for granted that they were eating the bread and pa.stry, but after watching them more closely through binoculars 1 noticed frequently that after the pecking they watched the bread intently and then picked at it and obtained some morsel which was eaten. This prompted me to inspect the bread and pastry, and I found this food contained numerous small red ants which had concealed themselves in it. My further observations showed that fresh bread placed on the desert held no interest for these birds, but the old bread, etc., containing the ants, did. It is possible that the bread- taking habit in the Pied Wagtail developed in similar circum- stances. C. A. White. [It will be noted that Mr. White’s observations on feeding habits differ from those recorded by Mr. Goodwin, who informs us {in litt.) that there is no doubt that the birds he watched were eating bread- crumbs.— -Eds.] . “BITTERN-POSTURE” OF NUTHATCH. From many observations of the Nuthatch {Sitta europcea) mainly 374 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XLIII. in Wychwood Forest, Oxon, 1928-42, and at Mortimer, Berks., 1942- 48, 1 have noted that the loud monosyllabic spring call of this species (“ pee-pee-pee ”) is usually delivered when the bird is in a rigid, bittern-like posture, i.e., with the lower mandible, throat and ventral surface on a vertical plane. In this position the white throat is very conspicuous. A position at the junction of a branch to the main trunk seems to be favoured for this call^ — so much so that at times it almost appears as if the bird were using the trunk as a support to its back. W. D. Campbell. SAND-MARTINS ROOSTING ON SHORE. Before the war I sometimes, during August, saw Sand-Martins {Riparia riparia) landing on the shore on the Camber side of Rye Harbour, but 1 was always on my way home and the birds were on the wrong side of the river, and so I never investigated. On August 6th, 1949, near dusk, E. H. Gillham and I saw some 250 birds settling down on a sand and shingle spit near the Rother and found that they were roosting in half-tunnels or grooves which they worked with their bodies in the sand, or were among hollows in the stones on the ridge. Although not on the sea side of the spit some of the birds would have to move when the tide came in. The following day E.H.G. found birds roosting there, and two days later 1 watched a migrating flock settling down there for a short, agitated rest before going on westwards. E. M. Cawkell. GOSHAWK IN SUSSEX. On September 24th, 1949, we observed a Goshawk [Accipiter gentilis) in the Lower Ouse Vnlley at Piddinghoe, Sussex. .A number of distant views through glasses showed a large round- winged hawk with the typical hunting flight of a Sparrow-Hawk {Accipiter nisiis). Subsequently the Inrd [>erched on n lliorn l)ush some 30 yards away, and we then saw that it approximated in size of bod\' to female Peregrine Falcon {Falco peregHmis) (a bird with which we are both familiar) but was of greater length than this bird, owing to its long tail. Also noted were the dark brown back, light under- parts and breast, the latter having dark bars, and the long yellow legs. When flight was resumed, it consisted of a few flaps of the wings, followed by a glide at a height not exceeding 15 feet from the ground. On being mobbed by a number of Jackdaws and Starlings, the hawk rose to a considerable height and then left the area by means of a long glide. A number of visits to the area after September failed to produce the bird again. L. P. Alder and C. M. James. HERONS SUN-BATHING AND SITTING ON GROUND. With reference to the note {antea, p. 123) on sun-bathing by Herons {Ardea cinerea), there were, at about ir.oo on July 7th, 1946, six Herons by the river near Alnmouth, Northumberland, and of these. VOL. XLIII.] NOTES. 375 three were sun-bathing in exactly the same attitude as that described by A. W. Boyd. When I lirst saw them they were facing the sun and occasionally did a little preening ; later they turned with their backs to the sun maintaining the sun-bathing attitude. On this subject the following quotation from page xii of Audubon’s intro- ductory address to his Ornithological Biography which is the letter- press to his Birds of America may be if interest. He says “ The Heron when warming itself in the sun will sometimes drop its wings 'everal inches as if they were dislocated.” This was published in 1831 and is possibly one of the earliest records of sun-bathing. The Heron to which he referred was no doubt the Great Blue Heron {Ardea herodias), a very sunilar bird to ours. Another occurrence which I think must be very unusual happened at the same place at about 18.00 on August 5th, 1949, when, of live Herons which were present and resting close together, three, which were birds of the year, were sitting on the ground. It may be irrelevant, but it was a hot evening with a temperature of over 70 degrees in the shade. H. Tully. In hot sunshine at 12.30, on May nth, 1950, I noticed an adult Heron [Ardea cinerea) sunning itself on a dead branch at the edge of Crichel Lake, Dorset, facing directly towards me and the sun, at about eye-level. It was standing very upright, with neck almost fully extended, bill nearly horizontal, both wings symmetrical and partly extended at shoulders and elbows, but flexed at the carpal joints, looking at first sight not unlike a Cormorant [Phalacrocorax carbo) “ hanging out to dry.” Closer inspection, with binoculars and telescope, showed clearly that the wing-tips were overlapping well in front of the bird’s legs, covering most of the legs, but leaving the feet visible, and that the under-suria.ces of the wings were facing upwards and forwards in a plane apparently about 45 degrees or less from the horizontal, almost at right angles to the sun’s rays, and from 90 to 120 degrees from the expected plane in the normal standing position. The under wing-coverts and body plumage did not appear ruffled, as they commonly are in sun-bathing Passerines. This contortionist posture was maintained for several minutes, without visible movement apart from occasional turning of the head, when it could be seen that the bill was often opened as if the bird were panting. It then suddenly turned sideways and gave a perfectly clear view of the inclination of its wings, for a second or two before folding them back into the normal position. Before flying oft, some minutes later, it leisurely preened its flank and under-wing feathers, followed by a thorough scratching of its neck and throat, first with one foot and then the other. From the dull yellowish colour of its bill, and its pale fleshy brown legs, I should judge it to have been at or near the end of its breeding cycle. K. B. RookE. jWe have received similar accounts of Herons sun-bathing from Messrs. Bernard King and N. G. B. Jones and R. A. F. Gillmor. Mr. King who watched a bird at Cheddar Reservoir, Somerset, on 376 BRITISH BIRDS [VOL. XLIII. October 9th, 1949, states that it stretched out its wings after the manner of a Cormorant. Messrs. Jones and Gillmor watched a bird at a lake near Reading, on June 3rd, 1950. wliirh “ with its head and neck stretched up and its wings unfolded and drooping had the appearance to the naked eye of a large grey bottle.” Mr. C. F. Tunnicliffe has published a picture of Herons sitting down in his Mereside Chronicle, p. 113. — Eds.]. FEEDING BEHA\ lOUR OF COMMON HERON. On frequent occasions in the late springs of 1948 and 1949 niethod of feeding by Common Herons {Ardea cinerea) not recorded in The Handbook was observed at Rockland Broad in Norfolk. Rockland Broad is a shallow lake of some thirty or forty acres which in spring becomes rather choked with water-lilies and other weeds, more so than any of the other large Broads. At none of the other Broads have I seen Herons behaving in this way. The most typical routine is this : the bird ]>asses across the Broad from one side to the other, usually against the wind, from six to ten feet above the surface, its neck held forwards, slightly upwards, moving so slowly as to be almost hovering at times. Sometimes it stalls and drops down for a second as if to strike before rising again. When it reaches the other side of the Broad or where the reeds are too congested it flies swiftly back to the other side and begins again. When it finally decides to strike it stalls, drops on to the water, usually feet first so that most of the rear of the body submerges, but most often it keeps the wings outstretched at about 60° from the surface, and at tlie moment of landing jabs its beak under the surface and usually grabs a fish. It then rises and takes the fish, which may be from al.)Out four to nine inches long, to the shore to devour, or else, as on May 28th, J949, swallows it in the air, though with difficulty. On othei' occasions birds were .seen to alight on the water without this ])remeditated ilighl, and .sometimes seize a ti.sh. Usually the bill entered the water up to abr pitchou note which the other would answer, and they would then reunite. Roosting behaviour at dusk, when the male often accompanied the female to her hole, as in the Blue Tit (P. cceruleus) (Colquhoun, 1942), also showed their attachment. Roth joined together in defence of the territory. As soon as a flock bird became the mate of another bird, its behaviour entirely altered ; it immediately lost its .submissiveness ; was dominant over its former flock companions ; and uttered i\\Q pitchou note which 1 foimd diagno.stic of the territory-owner. It also immediately defended the territory, and, in the pre-breeding season, at once visited pos.sible nest-sites with all the z.eal of a long-mated bird. It will be seen that 44 per cent, of pair-formations took place in F'ebruary and March. I do not know at what age a juvenile becomes capable of pair-formation. A female which formed a pair in December, 1941, was recovered dead in February, 1942, when upon dissection her oviduct was found to be uniformly thread-like, suggesting that she was a bird of the year. There was some evidence that males were slightly dominant over their mates. Both male and female ti'rritory-owners habitually “ drove ” landless Marsh-Tits and neighbouring territory-owning VOL. XLIII.l PAIRS IN I HE MARSH- TIT. 389 lAi-ii.i-; 1. Times of pair-formation. •Vlonth No. recorded I line Juh 'Vugust I Septeml)tT o t fctober 4 Novembei' 1 1 )ecember i January 2 Febrnary 6 -March 5 Vpril 2 Ma"v o Total 25 Marsh-Tits, and all Coal-Tits (P. ater), at bait put down for trapping, but accepted each other’s presence. Occasionally, however, the male drove his mate, and such an attack seemed to indicate an extra strain in the situation, such as when the owning pair were involved in multiple conflicts with neighbours and flock birds attracted by the abundance of bait put down in the territory. Once a male drove his new mate at the trap when all the bait was finished. They had fed peaceably together till then, but now it seemed that he vented his frustration on her, a piece of behaviour perhaps not completely confined to avian life. She eventually retaliated. One established male was so antagonistic to his unringed mate at the trap that it proved difficult to ring her, but this behaviour was unu.siial and their relations soon smoothed out to an equable balance. During March and April, when the female particularly is chipping bark at the entrances of nest-sites and undertaking all nest-building, .she is sometimes dominant in the immediate vicinity of the nest-hole and may even drive the male away from it. Yet at this stage of the breeding cycle the male is “ pouncing ” on the female, an act thought to be linked with superior dominance. The Marsh-Tit thus resembles the Song-Sparrow {Melospiza melodia) (Nice, 1937) in which the male “ pounces ” on the female during the “ betrothal ” period, but in other contexts the female dominates. It is especially noticeable in the first four months of the year that the movements of the female about the territory frequently dictate those of the male, even though he may be singing in the tree-tops and she is unobtrusively moving about in the undergrowth below. Odum (1941) states that “ pouncing ” does not take place between mates in the Black-capped Chickadee. On one occasion, November 30th, 1942, a female was seen to attack her mate first. This was the female mentioned above as having been ringed in March, 1940, and she became widowed some time after September 5th, 1942. On October loth she was found in the same territory with an unringed mate. The attack took place when she wished to go down to bait placed on the ground. 390 BRITISH BIRDS. 'vOL. XLIll. The male, being a newcomer, was not familiar with baiting, and though not molesting her in any way happened to be between her and the nuts. She silently attacked him as he was foraging in the oak canopy. He rebuffed her twice, calling pitchou and pitsu, and after the second rebuff she withdrew and made no further attempt to reach the bait. It was possible to calculate the number of days 12 bereft males remained unpaired while in a territory, from the date the former mate was last seen to the date on which the new mate was seen. Only those males are recorded here whose territories were visited two or three times a week during their widowhood. The sample is too small to yield any certain information, but it does appear from Table 2 that males bereft in January or February obtain a mate in 3 to 6 weeks, a surprisingly long interval ; and that males bereft in the non-breeding season may have to wait much longer for a replacement. Information was also collected for 6 females but this number was not considered significant enough to give the results in the Table. Table 2. Number of days 12 bereft male Marsh-Tits remained unpaired. IMonth of No. of days Average No. bereavement unpaired of days Non-breeding June 22 season August 54 83 October 51 160 November 119 Pre- and breeding January 20 seasons 37 40 65 81 February 35 May 69 44 In Table 3 the number of partnerships made by individual males and females is shown. It will be seen that females out- numbered males and that all but one female had only one or two successive mates. This means that females disappeared more rapidly from the territories than males, but it was not discovered whether through a greater mortality or a greater propensity to wander and be thus lost to the study area. Southern and Morley (1950) show that the " expectation of survival ” of territory-owning males and females is 19. i months and 13.4 months respectively. There was only one case where a male and female separated (this occurred at the end of the breeding season) and left the territory, but were both known to have survived. The female paired with a bereft neighbour, the male moved beyond the study area and returned in the first week of March in the following year (1941) with a new mate. A temporary desertion took place between a female and her mate which had a damaged wing and was thus an imperfect VOL. XLlll.J PAIRS IN THE MARSH-TIT. 391 companion for her, being unable to accompany her on flights to examine holes, etc. She left him at the end of February, 1941, to consort with a bachelor neighbour, and returned at the end of March. In a third case it is probable that dissolution did not mean death. The territory was extremely deficient in suitable nest-sites, and the male paired late in March, 1940, with a female which was only seen a few times in his territory before nesting in a decayed poplar stump about 100 yards outside the male’s normal boundary. When the young fledged neither they nor the female appeared in the male’s territory, where he lived again as a bachelor. One territory-owning male abandoned his area to join a territory- occupying widow. In this instance, the male’s territory was a strip of approximately i acre which at the beginning of January, 1941, he began to carve out between two much larger and established territories. He paired with a ringed, landless female from the same flock as himself, but when I returned at the end of February after a month’s absence I found him united with a neigh- bouring female whose mate had disappeared, and confining himself entirely to the boundaries of her approximately lo-acre territory. It would have been interesting to know whether the original female had also been abandoned in favour of the widow and her property. Table 3. Number of partnerships made by individual Marsh-Tits. No. of successive mates Total Total partnerships 1 % 2 % 3 % 4 % 5 % Males 437 3 27 218 i 9 i 9 ii 23 Females 10 59 6 35 i 6 — — 17 23 The approximate duration of the partnership was known in 18 cases, and is given in Table 4. As in Table 3, percentage figures have been given to facilitate comparisons, but it is realized that the small numbers involved make such percentages mathematically valueless. Table 4. Approximate duration of partnerships. Partnerships lasting up to — 4 7-9 At least At least Total months months 14 months 30 months Number 12 4 i i 18 Percent. 67 22 5.3 3.5 In another case not included in the 18 listed in Table 4 a pair remained together for at least 15 months, the female being the survivor of the 30-month partnership, but this information was only obtained during short annual visits to the study area after the work was closed, and the proper duration of the partnership was thus not known. A remarkable case of mate-replacement in April, 1938, was recorded by H. N. Southern. He had been absent from the study 392 BRITISH BIRDS [VOL. XLIII. area Iroin the end ol Marcii to the end oi April, and (ni his return found the female of a pair feeding young, aided by and paired with a strange unringed male. Meanwhile, the former, ringed, mate was found dead on the adjoining road, and from the condition of the corpse appeared to have been dead for but a few days. vSo it would seem that a fresh male had appeared to help the widowed female rear his predecessor’s brood. .Such replacement did not occur in June, 1941, when a breeding male disappeared, presumably by death, when his brood was 9 days old. The female deserted them and they perished in the nest hole. She did not, however, desert the territory, and was found with a new mate there in August. May’s study of the Willow-Warbler (Phylloscopus truchilus) (1949) shows that for that species pair-formation of individuals in the territory has a stimulatory value for the group of surrounding unmated territory-owners. The male Willow- Warbler (unlike the Marsh-'l'it) has one reaction for all of his species crossing his boundaries, that of aggressive pursuit, during the period before pair- formation. Thus he chases the intruding female desirous to pair, often more hercel}' than intruding males, and the resultant dis- turbance tends “ to excite surrounding unmated males and there is an increase in song, chasing, wing- flapping and lighting between the males thus affected.” May also points out that ” the effect of a group of territories in increasing song may play a valuable part in pair-formation.” This behaviour is in alignment with Darling’s theory (1938) of social .stimulation to breeding efficiency, in which he expressly foreshadowed the value of the songs of warblers and other small passerines for others of the same species. It does not appear that pair-formation in the Marsh-Tit has the same social stimulatory value as in the Willow-Warbler. Pair-formation takes place at all times of year, and thus as many territories are held by pairs before the start of the breeding-season there is not the same urgency to achieve pair-formation as in a migrant species which must begin afresh each year, in a limited time. 1 am much indebted to Mr. H. N. Southern for reading through this paper and for his valuable suggestions and criticism. SUMM.\KY. A study of the Marsh-Tit showed that replacements of lost mates took place throughout the year. Pair-formation was closely linked with the occupancy or claiming of territory. Members of pairs kept in close contact and males appear to have had a slight dominance over their mates, except near the nest-hoh' in the breeding-season. Six males bereft of mates in the months June to November averaged 81 days before replacing them (maximum 160, minimum 22 days) ; and si.x males bereft in the months January to May averaged 44 days to replacement (maximum bc), minimum 20 days). Males Iiad a greater number of successive mates than females. Of 18 partnerships, 12 (two-thirds) lasted 4 months or less, .f lasted 7-0 months. on<' lasted at least 14 months and one at VOL. XLIII.I PAIRvS IN THE MARSH-TIT. least JO months. .\ case (h a male pairing with a widow in April and helping to rear his predecessor’s brood was recorded by H. N. Southern. KEFKKEiNCES. Coi.yuHoux, Al. K. (1942). Note.s ou the social behaviour ol Blue 'J its. Hrit. Birds, vol. xxxv, pp. 234-240. Darling, F. (1938). Bird Flocks and the Breeding Cycle. Cambridge. Lack, D., (1943). The Fife of the Robin. London. .May, D. J. (1949). Studies on a cornmunitj' of Willow- Warblers. Ibis, vol. 91, pp. 24-54. AIorley, -V., (1942J. litfects of baiting on the Alarsh-'l'it. Brit. Birds, \a)l. xxxv, pp. 261-266. AIorris, F. O. (1870J. History of British Birds. 2nd edn. London. Nice, Al. Al. (1937). Stiulies in the life historj’' of the Song-Sparrow 1. Trans. Linn. Soc. Xeio )'ork, 4, pp. 1-247. Odum, FL P. (1941). .Annual cycle of tlie Black-capped Chickadee — 1. Auk, 58, pp. 314-333. Southern, H. N. and Morley, (1950). Alar.sh-Tit territories over si.x years. Brit. Birds, vol. xliii, pp. 33-45. Steinkatt, O. (1938). Das Briitleben der Suinpfmeise uiid einige Vergleiche init dem Brutleben der anderen einheiniischen Aleisen. Beitr. z. Fortpfl. d. Vogel, 14, pp. 84-89, 137-144. NESTLING MORTALITY AMONGST TITS ON TENTSMUIR, 1949 AND 1950. BY j. M. D. Mackenzie. For experiments in the value of tits as controls for insect pest.s in woods I have jnit up some 500 nest boxes in 20 sites round Perth. Some of these sites are as much as 40 mdes to the north of Perth, others in Tentsmuir about 20 miles to the east. In the course of my visits to these boxes in 1948 I .suspected that nestling mortality was rather higher at Tentsmuir than elsewhere, but did not collect sufficient figures to prove anything. In 1949 1 determined to investigate the point more closely by collecting all data from 3 boxed sites at Tentsmuir for comparison with figures from “ normal ” sites elsewhere. S'i'UDY Areas : 1. Tentsmuir. Tentsmuir is an area of windblown sand, very low and flat, on the coast between Dundee and St. .Andrew’s, Fife. There are dunes on the seaward side and fields to landward. The soil is pure sand and still blows with an east wind when roads are often blocked. About 6,000 acres have been planted with Scots Pine {Fmus sylvestris). M Kinshaldy farm, on the same soil, and surrounded by tlie pines, is a small area of hardwoods consisting 394 BRITISH BIRDS. [vOL. XLIll. of an irregular group of beech, poplar, alder, etc., all stunted and badly grown. In the whole area I have 3 boxed sites about a mile apart and containing 68 boxes in all. Figures for 2 conifer sites are lumped together (lA); ligures for the hardwood site at Kinshaldy are given separately (iB). 2. “ Normal ” Sites. For comparison with the figures from Tentsmuir 1 have taken ten conifer sites (2A), all of which are on normal soil for the species. Three other sites (2B) in hardwoods and mixed woods are on soil which is rather better still, two being in policy woods round big houses. Mortality Kates. Table 1 shows the actual figures for nests, eggs and fledging success of Great, Blue and Coal-Tits {Pams major, cceruletis and ater) in the 4 areas. As birds sometimes do and sometimes do not remove addled eggs and nestlings wFich die in the first four or five days, the hatching figure is only approximate as boxes were examined at intervals of about ten days. TABLE I Area Nests C Eggs n H Hatched Flown Nests 60 Eggs c w Hatched H H Flown Nests Eggs g r Hatched H H Flown Nests Eggs ^ Hatched r Flown lA Tentsmuir Conifers 4 27 25 14 4 29 26 14 4 37 34 22 12 93 85 50 iB Kinshaldy 4 29 22 6 I xo 10 4 — — — — 5 39 32 10 2 A “ Normal ” Conifers 32 222 207 176 (203I 18 161 153 145 II 98 95 86 (95) 61 481 455 407 (443) 2B “ Normal ” Hardwoods 15 106 102 lOI 15 136 125 125 3 26 24 23 33 268 251 249 Figures of hatching and fledging success for three species of tits IN 1949. Table 11 gives the same figures reduced to percentages. It is to be noted that figures given in Table I for " normal ” conifers (2A) include the loss — almost certainly to a predator — of four broods of Great Tits and one of Coal-Tits. These losses all took place from nests placed much lower down than usual ; they can thus be TABLE II Area Great Tit Percentage Average birds Clutch flown of eggs Blue Tit Percentage Average birds Clutch flown of eggs Coal-Tit Percentage Average birds Clutch flown of eggs Total Percentage birds flown of eggs lA Tentsmuir Conifers 6.75 52 7.25 48 9-25 60 54 iB Kinshaldy... 7-25 21 10 40 — — 26 2A “ Normal ” Conifers 6.9 80(92) 9 90 8.9 88(97) 85(93) 2B Normal ” Hardwoods 7-1 95 9.1 92 8.7 88 93 Fledging success of three species of tits in 1949 shown as percentage OF eggs laid. VOL. xLiii.] NESTLING MORTALITY AMONGST TITS. 395 regarded as abnormal. Two figures for fledging success are given in these cases, the first including these losses and the second giving the figure which would have been reached if these losses had not occurred. It will be noted at once that the figures for the two Tentsmuir areas (lA and iB) differ markedly from those for “ normal ” areas (2A and 2B). The difference is sufficiently striking to warrant more detailed investigation. Discussion. It must be stressed first of all that the high mortality rate in Tentsmuir areas was not due to the loss of whole broods simul- taneously, a type of mortality of which I have had some experience in other years and in other localities. For instance in 1948 there was a spell of very cold and wet weather with snow about May 26th to June 4th. This resulted in many broods dying entirely, but the birds were nearly always about twelve days old, that is at the stage when the demands for food are greatest. The whole brood almost always died at the same time, while younger birds survived. This was thought to be due to the weather killing off so many larvse that big supplies of food were not obtainable although the smaller quantities required by birds up to ten days old were available. I have no exact figures for deaths in that year, but noted generally that deaths were more numerous in Tentsmuir than elsewhere. This one would expect if the habitat was marginal, with onl};’ just enough food under good conditions ; deaths in hardwoods and mixed woods were fewer than in conifers everywhere which confirms this idea. In all years, there have been occasional nests where several nestlings died and also where the whole brood died, the latter being thought to be due to an adult being killed. In Northumberland, especially in one conifer site. Pied Flycatcher {Muscicapa hypoleuca) mortality was very high in 1947 and 1948, but again it was the whole brood which died at once, usually at about twelve days old. It was thought that tits, whose broods had flown first, had reduced food supplies below the level at which maximum quantities were available, though there was no proof of this. The type of mortality encountered at Tentsmuir in 1949 was in marked contrast with this ; dead nestlings were found in the nest aged say five, eight, and ten days, with feathers at different stages of development, while some had disappeared indicating that they had died very young. Again some were found dead, apparently fully fledged, after the rest had flown. It is often noted that not all birds in a nest seem to be at the same stage, perhaps because an egg is hatched late, but differences were too great for this. I have several times found single nestlings alive in the nest after the rest had flown. Twice these had a leg twisted up in the nest material (wool), and they flew perfectly on being released ; the others flew as soon as the box was opened. I have also found single 396 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XLIIl. nestlings fully fledged dead in the box, and think that these birds may be either physically or psychologically unable to fly from the hole. But in 1949, I found a Great Tit’s nest containing a dried up, dead fledgling which had stuck to the leg of one of the other birds, from which 1 freed it ; later there was a bird in this nest with one leg stiff and deformed toes, which flew in spite of this apparently considerable handicap. I have considered the possibility that some weakness in the adults might account for this high mortality. This, however, would probably affect the clutch size as well as the fledging success, but only in the Blue Tit is there any considerable difference between Tentsmuir (7.8) and the “ normal ” areas (9 and 9.1); Coal- Tits actually average slightly more in Tentsmuir than elsewhere. Addled eggs were slightly more numerous in Tentsmuir (0.9 per nest) than elsewhere (0.4 per nest), but the difference does not seem sufficiently great to explain the subsequent history of the broods. It is also clear that this mortality is not typical of conifers as I had suspected in 1948. In 1949 the highest mortality actually occurred among hardwoods at Kinshaldy. It is suggested that the deaths in Tentsmuir are due either to the poverty of the soil and so of the vegetation growing on it, which may be short of some essential, possibly a trace element, which would also be short in larvte feeding on the vegetation ; or to some food item in the fauna of such an area being always so scarce that a small deticiency is enough to produce a shortage. But the weather in 1949 was so good that there seems no obvious reason for any shortage at all, unless it were inherent. It is perhaps significant that mortality is highest where nest density is also greatest. This may mean that some food item was short all over Tentsmuir, the effect of the shortage being most pronounced where the demand is greatest. Whether the Tentsmuir areas are over-populated is difficult to say since it is difficult to calculate the effective acreage on a boxed area. Comparative figures from another area of conifers — Scots Pine of similar age and size to the oldest Tentsmuir plot suggest a density of one pair to between one and two acres in conifers, both at Tentsmuir and elsewhere. In the mixed woods the density is as high as four pairs per acre. 1 reckon that in both cases these densities are close to saturation point, a fact which may prove disastrous under certain conditions in a marginal area such as Tentsmuir. Observations in 1950. Owing to unavoidable delay in publication, it is possible to give some 1950 results. In the Kinshaldy hardwood patch, much the same conditions appear to have prevailed, although the survival rate was better. The first two nests to hatch all flew. The third produced 3 dead nestlings, and certainly 2. probably 6, flew. In the fourth nest all the nestlings died. In the fifth and last, which was probably the fourth bird re-nesting, 3 flew and 2 were dead in the VOL. XLiii.J NESTLING MORTALITY AMONGST TITS. 397 nest. The first nest was a Blue Tit, the rest all Great Tits, and the clutches were 9 (i addled), 7, 9, 7, and 5 ; approximate dates of hatching May 20th, 24th, 26th, June 7th and July loth. Survival rate was 65% as against a normal of 90% or more. Two new factors operated to prevent the figures for nearly all controls being comparable, i. Predators, probably Red Squirrels (Scuirus vulgaris), found the boxes. In the Tentsmuir pines, out of 20 nests, 5 were deserted owing to human interference, a normal proportion here. Of the remaining 15 nests every one was destroyed, in 6 cases as nestlings, sometimes nearly fledged, in the remainder as eggs. At least one adult was killed on the nest. A clean tuft of fur, identified at the British Museum as probably Red Squirrel, was found in a very dirty nest, and scratches were seen on the boxes. From the dates, probably 6 of these were birds re-nesting after losing their first broods. The species were 8 Great, 5 Blue and 7 Coal-Tits. Figures from these nests are of no value for starvation data. In another big plot in conifers near Perth, out of 28 nests, of which II were second nests, 7 were robbed. Of the remainder, 12 were destroyed by predators, all as eggs. Redstarts {Phoenicurus phoenicurus) , from the dates the same pair, had a c/6 robbed, c/6 destroyed by predators, and lastly c/2, on which the hen was sitting, was also destroyed by predators. One adult tit was killed on the nest. In another plot, 2 (perhaps 3) nests and i adult were also destroyed in the same way. This form of predation was not found anyv'here else. From the condition of the mutilated adults and nestlings, it appears as if the damage was, sometimes at least, done by an animal inside the box. In some cases the nests were 5 inches from the outside. A squirrels’ skull would only just pass through the ij in. hole, but at this time, half grown squirrels were seen, and these could probably get inside. [It seems more probable that the damage was due to weasels which can enter holes too small for House- Sparrows {Passer domesticus) — A.W.B.]. 2. Sharp frosts at night between April 24th and 28th, with temperatures down to 20°F., are thought to have killed off most of the defoliator larvae on which nestling tits are fed. Defoliation as estimated from holes in the leaves was much less than in the last few years, say 10% against 50%, and very few birds were seen on the roads picking up fallen larvae ; Black-headed Gulls {Larus ridibimdtts), Rooks [Corvus friigilegus) and Jackdaws (C. monedula) were not seen at all. This resulted in a shortage of food for nestlings in all, or in all but the earliest hatched, nests, wherever there was any crowding. In the area with 28 nests noted above, there were considerable losses amongst nestlings of both Great and Blue Tits, and in a mixed policy wood with 10 nests in 3 acres on good soil, losses were also very much greater than they have ever oeen before. (See Table III). BRITISH BIRDS. [voi.. XLlIl. 3StK In a strip of hardwood sciub on the shores of I.odi fay, a Pied Flycatcher had an addled egg and 2 dead nestlings from a clutch of 6 eggs, a Great Tit an addled egg and 5 dead from ii, and a Blue Tit 4 dead out of 11. These nests were in a stretch of 150 yards of loch shore ; the loch surface halved the area of the territories round the nests and made them too small in a year of scarcity. Last year a Great 'fit, a Blue Tit, and a Tree-Creeper {Certhia faniiliaris) all reared broods in 2 sites within 70 yards, the Tree-Creeper and the Great Tit being on the same tree, within two feet of each other and feeding their broods at the same time. These nestling deaths were of the same type as those in Kinshaldy in 1949 and 1950 : in 1950 there was a quantitative food shortage tine to late frosts in some areas at least, but without lu-n’iug definite data, it is thought that there were no .such frosts in 1949, and the deaths in Kinshaldy (and Tentsmuir) seem to have been due to a qualitative shortage caused by some other factor, perhaps that the habitat is not suited to food larvse except under optimum conditions. possible alternative is that the rearing of quite considerable numbers of tits for three years, 1946 to 1948, in a habitat not of the best has caused a definite scarcity of those species most favourer! as nestling food. That is, at first the tits controlled the larva-, b\it now the lar\’a‘ control the tits. TABLE 111. -\RE.\ Grkat Tit Blue Tit xN. E. H J-. N. !•:. H. F. t.'onifcrs 7 51 45 (>9% 2 1 8 14 1 1 Mixed Policy 4 25 24 I 2 50% 6 49 ? 8 28 Percentaf'f is birds flown of birds hatched. H.jitching .\.vn in iuroiNO sec.cn.ss, 1950. (399) THE ICELAND GULL IN WINTER. BY G. T. Kay. For some obscure reason the Glaucous Gull {Lams hyperboreus) became comparatively numerous in Shetland waters during the winters of the late war. Since then its numbers have dropped back to the normal few. Whatever was the reason for this fluctuation, the status of the Iceland Gull (Lams glaucoides) was not affected by it. 'I'his gull has ever been a scarce winter visitor to Shetland and occasional winters pass, such as those of 1944/45 and 1945/46, without a bird being seen. During the winter of 1949/50, however, the Iceland Gull was seen singly and in small parties at different places round the Shetland coast. In Lerwick harbour four different birds were seen between January and March ; at Scalloway, where three or four could be seen every day for many weeks, as many as six were present at one time, two adults and four immatures. FisheiTnan on the west-side and east-side fishing grounds reported up to “ half-a-dozen ” around their boats at a time, and this by men who are acquainted with the Glaucous Gull and are competent to distinguish between the two species. The presence of those gulls over a period of more than three months offered unusual opportunities for observation. Many photographs and a cine film were secured which have proved to be of value in classifying immature birds. The writer has been further privileged in his association with Iceland Gulls by having two of them in a large aviary, one caught as a first-winter bird in December, 1948, and the other caught in its fourtli winter in February, 1950. The following remarks are the result of detailed observations on the plumages and plumage changes of these captive and other birds. The plumages of immature Iceland Gulls vary to a remarkable degree. - To those of us who had only known the first-winter bird as a dusky-headed, drab coloured gull (and it is remarkable that all Mr. Rattar’s early photographs of the bird at this age were of the dusky type), it comes as a surprise to discover that, at this early age, the bird can also be almost pure white. Dr. Dwight’s remarks on the first-winter bird may here be quoted (The Gulls (Laridae) of the' World p. 252): “There is an unusual amount of variation. Some birds have the wings and tail, and even body, practically white with only a few specklings or cloudings. This is partly due to moult, partly to bleaching, and mostly to individual variation.’’ Thus it may be seen that the bird in its first vanter may be pale as in plate 74, or dusky, as in the upper figure in plate 75, or almost pure white. While each individual is probably paler in its second winter than in its first, it has to be realized that some first-winter birds are much paler than some second-winter ones. On May 2nd, 1950, at Scalloway, the writer got to within a few yards (,)f a bird which was creamy-white all over except for a few 400 BRITISH BIRDS. |VUJ.. XLIIJ. blotches of pale fawn on its breast. It had no vestige of pattern on back, wings or tail, yet was almost certainly a first-winter bird as it liad three features which, in the writer’s opinion, are constant in birds of this age. All of the birds (8) classified by the writer as in their first winter had the following features in common : i. Eye, black in most lights, but actually very dark brown. 2. Bill, distal portion dark-liorn (on the average this portion is rather less than half the area of the bill), basal portion a colour which may best be described as “ mid-horn.” 3. Attenuated tips to the primaries ; a feature not repeated in subsequent moults. Another feature found to be constant in all birds that had the normal pattern over wings and tail, was that the pattern was distinct. All of these features may be seen on plate 74. The birds classified by the writer as in their second winter (4), had the following features in common : 1. Eye, in marked contrast to the beady eye of the first winter, a pale iris will now be noted, seen to be greenish-grey in captive bird. 2. Bill, dark portion decreased slightly in size and beyond it the extreme tip is pale-horn or ivory, basal portion pale-horn or ivory (the bill at this stage resembles that of the Glaucous Gull in its first winter). 3. Primary tips rounded. 4. Mottle pattern over wings and tail very clouded and indistinct. These features may all be seen in the lower figure in plate 75. No trace of adult-grey was seen on the mantle of any of these birds ; this was first noted on the captive bird in the beginning of May following the second winter. riiis brings us to the third winter plumage, the one which has raised a controversy. Dr. Dwight {loc. cit., p. 253) states that the Iceland Gull is adult in its fourth winter, whereas The Handbook points out that ” from a careful re-examination it is clear that there are four differing winter plumages before the bird becomes perfectly adult.” Mr. H. Tetley, in a very useful paper on “ Plumage Changes observed in an Iceland Gull in Somersetshire ” {antea, vol. xxviii, pp. 199-202) would seem to favour Dr. Dwight. The following evidence fa\'ours The Handbook. Let us for a moment consider plate 76. This captive bird, seen at a distance of 50 yards, would readily pass as an adult, yet it has many traces of immaturity which can be noted only at close quarters. Its bill is pale-grey with dark horn spot, not yellow as in the adult with red at the angle; many of its secondaries are pale fawn ; its tail has many fawn markings and there are traces of fawn all through the white of its plumage. Undoubtedly a further year must pass before this bird becomes adult. It agrees almost exactly with the fourth-winter bird of The Handbook. The same bird is seen in plate 77 in company with a younger bird. This young bird is a typical second- winter specimen without a trace of adult-gi'ey on mantle. If Dr. Dwight is correct then these two birds demonstrate second and third winter plumages. In the writer’s opinion the gap between these two birds is too wide to be bridged in one year and is very completely filled by the third-winter bird described in 'I'hc Handbook and also by a VOL. xliil] ICELAND GULL IN WINTER. 401 bird, known to have been in its third winter, and described by Mr. Tetley. Admittedly Mr. Tetley describes a paler bird than does The Handbook, but it was known to have been a pale bird in its hrst winter and the other was obviously a dusky one. These two birds may be described as very creamy looking birds with adult-grey mantle and scapulars, but showing many traces of immaturity over all of the wings, in the case of The Handbook bird, and all that is described of the wings, in the case of Mr. Tetley’s bird. On April 26th, 1950, the writer saw a bird exactly as Mr. Tetley describes except that it had rather less freckling over the wings. This bird was seen at a distance of 50 yards with a X40 telescope and the writer had no hesitation in classing it as midway between his two captive birds. Except that its bill was pale-grey, this bird is shown very well as the third-winter bird in plate 135 of The Handbook. Pale-grey can now be definitely stated as the bill colour of third-winter birds. In a foot-note to Mr. Tetley’s paper, the late Mr. Witherby said, " Unfortunately, when working out the plumages of the Iceland Gull, for The Practical Handbook, I found the material available inadequate to be certain, and the late Dr. Dwight had the same difficulty.” It is worth noting, however, that it was after making the above statement that the late Mr. Witherby made a ” careful re-examination ” of the subject and decided that there were four differing winter plumages. The iris becomes pale lemon-yellow in the third winter and remains so throughout the fourth winter. Only two adults were seen by the writer during the winter and all that may be said about them is that, at the end of March, when the traces of winter have gone, they are beautiful creatures in their pale grey and spotless white plumage and yellow bill. Unfortunately they were only seen on the wing and on the water and the colour of feet and legs was not observed. The feet and legs of the younger birds may be given as dusky-pink with a purple tinge, rather brighter in the fourth year. To sum up, it appears that, as regards first and second- winter birds, soft parts are a better index for age than plumage. The dark, beady eye, the comparatively dark bill along with the pointed primaries are distinctive in the first winter ; and the pale iris, the paler bill with the whitish tip, the rounded primaries and clouded wing pattern are equally distinctive in the second winter. The third- winter bird at a distance appears to be all cream, but on a closer approach is seen to have an adult-grey mantle and scapulars and to have many traces of fawn freckling over wings and tail, whilst its bill is pale-grey. The fourth-winter bird (a phase which the writer considers to have been established) can only be distin- guished from an adult at close quarters ; faint fawn traces are found throughout much of its plumage and its bill is pale-grey with tip turning yellow. In conclusion a few general remarks may be made. All of the birds seen by the writer during the past winter were perceptibly 402 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XLIll. smaller than Herring-Gulls {Lams argentatus). When seen swiiiiming with those gulls, the much slimmer build of the Iceland Gull was very noticeable. Occasionally developing a dominance over immature Herring-Gulls, in general the Iceland Gull takes a back seat when in company with the larger birds. Adult birds were found to be more difficult to approach than the younger ones ; attempts were made to feed them M'ith a view to getting their photographs, but without success. The term “ ash-grey ” used in The Handbook to describe the colour of the back of the adult bird fails to indicate the blue tinge which is there. The colour is simply a paler version of the blue-grey of the Herring-Gull. While the younger of the two captives is a silent bird, the fourth-year one daily utters a monotonous call that is shriller than the equivalent in the Herring- Gull. [There have been several reports of both Iceland and Glaucous Gulls in various parts of the country during the spring and early summer of 1950. These are published in the notes in this number. — Eds.]. NOTES. “ANTING” OF CARRION CROW On June 15th, 1949, at Strawberry Hill, Middlese.x, 1 observed a Carrion Crow {Corvus corone), at a distance of twenty yards, behaving in a peculiar manner. It was squatting on the grass with its feathers widespread. At half-minute intervals it proceeded care- fully to place something among its primaries and secondaries. This went on for half an hour, when the bird was disturbed. On examining the place where the bird had been I found an ants’ nest. As it was a hot, clear day the ants were doubtless active. There is no mention of “ anting ” by this species in The Handbook, thougli a record of “ anting ” by a juvenile lias been published {antea, vol. xl, p. 1 14). T. P. Wells. “INJURY-FEIGNING” OF BLUE TIT Once in December, 1949, and again in January, 1950, I noted “ injury-feigning ” from trapped Blue Tits {Pams ccemleus), near Sunninghill, Berkshire. On each occasion as I approached a small trap containing a bird of this species it commenced to move about the bottom of the trap in small circles in a crouched position with fully opened wings extended forward. At the same time the tail was fanned and depressed and the wings continually fluttered. The general posture was rather reminiscent of that adopted in the bat-like display flight. It was ascertained that these were two different birds and had not been previously trapped. John Ash. VOL. XLIII.] NOTES. 403 BLUE TITS’ REACTIONS TO WASPS As there appear to be few well authenticated records of the reactions of birds to wasps the following incidents may be of value. During the first fortnight of September, 1949, wasps were often attracted to a bone hung in a tree in my garden at Birkenhead for the benefit of tits. On several occasions Blue Tits (Parus cceruleus) approached when one or two wasps were present on the bone, but in spite of attemps to alight on it they never actually did so, though their interest in the source of food was obvious. When wasps were absent the birds never hesitated to alight on the bone and feed vigorously. It was noticed that as soon as a wasp approached the bone whilst a tit was actually feeding, the bird immediately departed. A similar observation was given to me at this time by one of my boys, D. G. Williams, a senior member of Birkenhead School N.H.S.F.C. On September 17th, 1949, he observed a Blue Tit pecking at a piece of sticky cake on his bird-table when wasps were also attracted. The bird moved off at once, but made an attempt to approach again. The wasps remained at the food and, whilst under observation, the tit never once continued to feed. W. T. C. Rankin. “ FLYCATCHING ” BY MISTLE-THRUSH The note {antea, p. 18) on “ flycatching ” by a Fieldfare {Turdus pilaris) reminds me that I saw two Mistle-Thrushes {Turdus viscivorus) “ flycatching ” in Bushy Park, Middlesex, on June 26th, 1948. I recall that they were making short, flycatcher-like flights from high up in a tall oak-tree, and I believe that I saw heavy- bodied insects flying near the foliage of the part of the tree where they perched. ’ P. F. Yeo. BLACKBIRDS USING OLD NESTS AND THE SAME NEST-SITE IN SUCCESSIVE SEASONS. With reference to the note {antea, p. 120) on Blackbirds {Turdus merula) using the same nest two years in succession, the following may be of interest. At Radley College, Berks, in 1948, a Black- bird’s nest, which had just had a brood reared in it, was collected and then left on a shelf about four feet from the ground in an old summer house. In May, 1949, it was noticed that a pair of Black- birds had added a few wisps of grass around the base of the nest and had partially relined it. Four eggs were then laid, and, in spite of frequent interruptions, two young were successfully reared. R. M. Van Oss. I HAVE been informed by Mr. C. W. Cogger of Hayes, Middlesex, that in March, 1950, a Blackbird began to build in a bush in his garden, near a nest used in 1949. When the new nest was half completed on March 28th, 1950, the birds cleared out the old one, repaired it somewhat and began laying in it. They reared a brood, and shortly after the young had flown a pair— it is unfortunately riot known whether it was the same pair — repaired the nest and began laying in it again, P. E. L. Simmonds. 404 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XLIII. In 1947 a pair of Blackbirds built their nest between a drain pipe and a wall on a house in Banbury Road, Oxford. The same nest was used for three consecutive broods in 1947. The nest was then removed. In 1948 the birds built in exactly the same spot for their first and third broods, but their second brood was successfully raised elsewhere. In 1949 they again raised a first brood there, but then bred elsewhere. The male of the pair was the same in all three years as he was recognizable by some white feathers, but I cannot be sure whether the female was the same. I have no information about the years 1946 or 1950. For a Blackbird to use the same site six times must be very unusual, but in a built-up area potential nest-sites are scarce. Such an event would presumably be much rarer in a wood. David Lack. With reference to Mr. Whittenbury's note {antea, p. 120), a similar, but even more extensive, case of a Blackbird using the same nest two years in succession was recorded by me in British Birds {antea, vol. xxii, p. 87). B. H. Ryves. NOTES ON THE MEDITERRANEAN SHEARWATER. In August, 1949, 1 sailed by S.S. Cairo from Alexandria to Marseilles via the Piraeus and Genoa, leaving Alexandria on the 6th and arriving at Marseilles on the 13th. Mediterranean Shearwaters {Puffinus k. kuhlii) were seen in varying numbers, but fairly plenti- fully, from about midday on August 8th until the evening of August nth, i.e. on the course Milos — Piraeus — Cape Matapan — S. Corsica. On my return trip, leaving Marseilles on October 29th and reaching Alexandria on November 5th, I saw no Mediterranean Shearwaters at all, though the same course^ was followed and I kept an even sharper look out for them than before. Seen from above in brilliant afternoon sunlight the back of the Mediterranean Shearwater appears a rich, rusty brown, slightly mottled, with the tail and tail-coverts evidently more mottled. The head and neck look slightly darker. Seen with a midday sun the colour looks a trifle darker and less rich. In light breezes the flight is of remarkable regularity, four wing beats occupying 2-3 seconds followed by a glide of 6-7 seconds, and this is repeated incessantly. The glide shaves the water so closely that from the deck of the ship it looked as if it would be difficult to slip a soup-plate between the breast of the bird and the water. This regularity of flight was most striking. Off Cape Matapan westwards, on August loth, at least 80% of the flying time I observed was exactly as described above ; three wing-beats were uncommon, five more so, and during the hour or two when the birds were not infrequent near Cape Matapan, I only once recorded 6 wing-beats. This was the absolutely regular pattern of flight of all the birds observed in light winds, and there was no question of long glides. On August 8th in the ^Egean Sea with a fairly strong wind (force 5-6) I could not follow the flight so exactly, but there, too, the pattern was similar, four or five wing-beats and a ghde, repeated incessantly. VOL. XLIII.] NOTES. 406 There was no question of half-mile glides as recorded in The Handbook of the Great Shearwater {Puffinus gravis), to the flight of which that of the Mediterranean Shearwater is compared. Edward Gathorne-Hardy. YELLOWSHANKS IN CAMBRIDGESHIRE AND EAST LOTHIAN. On the evening of May i6th, 1950, at 19.30 I watched an unusual wader on Peterborough sewage farm which is just in Cambridge- shire. I have seen Wood-Sandpiper {Tringa glareola) and heard it call. This bird was not a Wood-Sandpiper ; it was larger and the call different. I believe it was a Yellowshank {Tringa flavipes), and my friends of the Cambridge Bird Club, who are sharing the watch on this farm with me this year, are prepared to agree. My attention was first attracted to the bird by its calling, which was frequent, almost continuous, and belonging to a bird closely related to the Redshank {Tringa totanus). It was usually trisyllabic. I wrote it down as “ tew tew tew”. Sometimes there were four notes, and when finally flushed it called repeatedly. — i.e. it was polysyllabic. Several times after the three “ tew ” notes it yodelled — “ trooli trooli trooli trooli,” etc. The “ tew ” notes were less musical and liquid than those of the Redsliank and they and the yodelling were definitely less loud. The ” tew ” notes reminded me of the call of the Greenshank {Tringa nehularia) as they might sound when uttered by a smaller bird with a less powerful voice, and I thought they were higher in pitch. I had the sun almost directly behind me and picked the bird up in my binoculars ( X 8) and subsequently observed it through my telescope (X40) at a distance of about 50 yards. It was standing on exposed mud in a rather hunched attitude, and when calling seemed to hold its head a little lower than the shoulders. It had long yellow or clay- coloured legs, longer, compared with the size of the bird, than those of a Redshank. It seemed shorter in the body than a Redshank and rather smaller in size. Its underparts were white except for a dark ashy region on the sides of the breast which seemed to grow less towards the front of the breast. The chin was white and the bill blackish and slender, apparently straight and seemingly rather shorter than that of a Redshank. The head was smallish and rounded, with a high forehead. There was a dark streak through the eye, contrasting with the white chin and white superciliary stripe. The white over the eye extended to the upper mandible. The forehead, crown, nape and mantle were ashy brown and the wings and back freely spotted with small elongated whitish markings. In flight the wings showed no bar. They appeared uniform, and the back was ash brown, narrowing on the rump to a centre band of the same colour, contrasting with the white of the flanks. The tail appeared white and the feet protruded well beyond it. The flight resembled that of a Redshank though the bird was smaller. It first flew about 100 yards where I could not see it, and soon 406 BRITISH BIRDS [VOL. XLIII. resumed its calling from the new position. I flushed it again and it flew right away calling " tew, tew, tew ” repeatedly. It gained height and was joined high in the sky by lo smaller waders, probably Dunlin {Calidris aipina) and the whole party performed aerial evolutions, with the stranger usually on the outside, and frequently separating itself from the rest. I last saw it fly in the opposite direction from the others and they all quite suddenly disappeared. J. W. Parker. At about 17.30 on May 13th, 1950, in the course of a walk down the Gullane side of Aberlady Bay, a wader, somewhat like a small Greenshank {Tringa nehularia), was flushed and kept under obser- vation for about ten minutes. A detailed examination through a X37 telescope, at distances ranging from 35 to 70 yards, showed that the bird was a little smaller than a Redshank {Tringa totanus), which was feeding not far away, and considerably bigger than a Ringed Plover {Charadrius hiaticula), determining the length at about 9-10 inches. The back, coloured a dark greenish-grey and strongly chequered with black and lighter markings, contrasted strongly with the belly and under tail-coverts, which, like the flanks, were pure white. The neck and breast were greyish and streaked with darker flecks. The head had a dark crown and a dark stripe through the eye, with a lighter coloured stripe over the eye, and whitish cheeks and chin. The bill was straight and shorter than a Redshank’s, the dark colour intensifying to the tip. The legs were yellow. In flight, a white rump showed — this contrasted with the dark wings and less dark tail, forming an impression, reminiscent of the Green Sandpiper {Tringa ochropus). There was no trace of a wing bar on the upper side of the wing, but on the under side there was a darkish . bar around the position of the secondary coverts. The bird’s long legs gave it a rapid and graceful gait, the body being held very erect. Its flight was slower and more buoyant than that of the Redshank ; whilst in flight, the long legs and tapering wings gave a false impression of the actual size of the bird. No call-notes were heard at all. On consulting The Handbook, my companions, J. G. B. Gibson and H. G. Frew, and I concluded that the bird was a Yellowshank {Tringa flavipes). As there were no dark markings on the flanks, and the tail was not distinctly barred, the bird must have been a juvenile. From April 21st to April 24th, there were strong North-westerly gales so perhaps the bird was windblown at this time. D. I. M. Wallace. [Mr. Wallace has sent a sketch of the bird, which confirms the identification.-r-EDS.]. LITTLE RINGED PLOVERS IN SUFFOLK IN 1949. Since the publication {antea, pp. 279-284) of the report on the Little Ringed V\ovtr '{Charadrnis dtibins) in Great Britain in 1949, VOL. XLIII.] NOTES 407 I have received further information regarding the Suffolk occurrences from P. W. P-. Browne, P. D. Kirby and S. C. Porter from which it is apparent that the events described under Localities ‘ B ’ and ‘ C ’ all refer to one site only, Locality ‘ B The nest referred to was found on June 6th (P.D.K.) and a record of two juveniles seen on August 24th (P.W.P.B.) suggests that some of the young reached the free-flying stage, though it is possible that these were visitors from another locality. Two pairs had nested at Locality ‘ B ’ in 1948 {antea, wo\. xli, pp. 382-383) and in 1949 four birds were seen on April 15th and May 17th, and three on April 17th and June 6th and nth. E. R. Parrinder. LITTLE GULL IN LINCOLNSHIRE IN EARLY JULY. Before sunrise, on July 2nd, 1949, at 2.56 (G.M.T.), R. J. Gibling and I were standing on the sea-wall by Tetney Sluice, near North Cotes, Lincolnshire, looking out over the salt-marshes, when from the north-east a gull flew straight towards us which I realized by reason of its peculiar jerky flight and small size was not a Black- headed Gull {Lams ridihundus). It was in fact a Liftle Gull {Lams minutus) in summer plumage, the black head being clearly visible, which, coupled with the dark under-wings and absence of black on the primaries, left no doubt in our minds as to its identity. Despite the early hour and a slight mist, the light was fairly good as there was little cloud. The gull continued inland in a south- west direction at a height of about thirty to forty feet until lost to sight. In view of the apparent paucity of records of this species in the British Isles during June and early July, I think this record may be of interest. , J. F. Burton. FEEDING BEHAVIOUR OF LITTLE GULL. An adult Little Gull {Lams minutus), which I saw at the Midrips, Sussex, on October 24th, 1949, pattered when feeding in a manner similar to that recorded {antea, p. 25) by D. D. Harber. At the time I noted that it “ trod water as it fluttered — rather like a Storm-Petrel {Hydrohates pelagicus).”- John S. C. Robinson. LITTLE GULLS IN ■ GLOUCESTERSHIRE, HEREFORDSHIRE, BUCKINGHAMSHIRE AND WILTSHIRE. On November 17th, 1949, during a severe gale, a bird appeared at the Hewletts reservoirs, Cheltenham, Glos., and Was picked up dead on the 19th. It proved to be an immature Little Gull {Larus minutus), and the following distinctive markings were noted : black diagonal bar across wings ; head speckled, with a black spot behind the ear-coverts ; under-side of wings pure white ; tail white with black terminal bar ; bill black ; legs dark flesh-colour ; length lof inches. We understand that there is only one other definite record of this species in Gloucestershire. L. W. AND G. A. Hayward, M. J. Morgan ' ' ‘ AND W. H. Dunkin. 408 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XLIII. On January 28th, 1950, at 15.15, we had the good fortune to see a Little Gull on the River Wye bordering the Hereford sewage farm. The bird settled for a few moments next to a Black-headed Gull {Larus ridibundus), where our attention was drawn to it by its markedly smaller size. The flight was airy and tern-like. The most noticeable feature of the plumage was the triangular black marking on the upper surface of the wings ; also noticeable was the black band on the tail. The head was white, flecked with brown, while the mantle was pearl-grey. The colour of bill and legs was not noted. Observations were made with x 6 binoculars at ranges as close as thirty yards. The weather was cold, with a westerly wind of force 2. As far as we can ascertain this is the first record for the county. M. C. W. Nicholls, R. P. Bower and A. J. Tucker. On February 4th, 1950, I found a dead immature Little Gull at Slough sewage farm, Bucks. The cause of death was not apparent as there were no external injuries, but on skinning the bird was found to be in an emaciated condition. The skin is in the possession of the Middle Thames Natural History Society. I am informed that this is the first record for the county. K. S. Taylor. On February 20th, 1950, a Little Gull was found dead by the Rennet and Avon canal at Savernake Station, near Marlborough, Wilts. The specimen, which had evidently been dead for some days, was forwarded to Mr. B. W. Tucker who confirmed the identification. The records of the Marlborough College Natural History Society contain only two previous records for the area. J. H. Halliday. [In connexion with the above records it may be of interest to report that a Little Gull was seen at Staines Reservoir, Middlesex, on January 21st, 1950. Identification was confirmed by Mr. D. Goodwin on January 22nd, and we are informed that the bird remained until January 29th. A first winter bird was observed at Port Meadow, Oxford, from November 19th to 29th, 1949. — Eds.]. THE COLOUR OF THE SOFT PARTS OF THE BLACK-HEADED GULL. While watching Black-headed Gulls {Larus ridibundus) which were breeding at a gullery near Alnwick in May, 1947, I noticed that the legs were a very dark purplish colour and that the bills also were very dark. This is evidently a seasonal change from the normal red colour. H. Tully. For many years I have had exceptional opportunities of observing Black-headed Gulls at Limerick, and am able to confirm the previous record {antea, vol. xl, p. 59) of a seasonal change in the colour of the soft parts, corresponding to the seasonal change in plumage. In winter plumage the colour of bill, legs and feet approaches vermillion, though it is not so intense, the distal portion of the bill being darker and brownish. A change takes place during the early months of the 57ear until, just before the breeding season, the colour becomes VOL. XLIII.] NOTES. 409 purplish chocolate with an underglow of dull blood red, this last being most intense on the distal portion of the bill. The purphsh tinge is discernible only at close range and is most noticeable on the legs and feet ; at any distance the red underglow tends to disappear, with the result that in poor conditions the soft parts appear practically black. Birds returning to Limerick after the breeding season still retain this dark colouring which changes to Vermillion as winter plumage is assumed. N. H. Wilson. ICELAND AND GLAUCOUS GULLS IN BRITAIN IN 1950 It would appear from the records published below that the abun- dance of Iceland GuUs [Lams glaucoides) in the winter of 1949-50, to which Mr. Kay has referred {antea, p. 399), was not conhned to Shetland, though most of the birds recorded were evidently on late spring passage. Both Iceland and Glaucous Gulls {Larus hyperboreus) were recorded in more than one county, and we have included some records of the latter species remaining into June and even later. — Eds. DEVON On April 22nd, 1950, a gull was seen by Mr. R. M. Curber at Wembury, near Plymouth, which he considered to be an immature Iceland Gull. He reported this to me in the hope that I might see the bird and confirm the record, in view of which a sharp lookout was kept on all gulls seen in the neighbourhood. On May 7th, in company with my son (David Hunt) and Mr. Douglas Gilbert, I was able to scan very closely from a boat a congregation of some 150 gulls resting on Plymouth Breakwater. These were mostly Herring-Gulls [Larus argentahis) and Great Black-backed GuUs [L. marinus) with a few Lesser Black-backed Gulls [L. fuscus) and with them were two gulls with all white primaries. All these gulls were very tame and allowed a very close approach, so that we were able to pass and repass them in the boat at a range of less than 50 yards and view them with binoculars in a good light with the sun behind us. The time was 8.00 (B.S.T.). The first of these white-winged gulls to be noted we took to be an Iceland Gull. It was about the size of the Herring-Gulls around it. Head, neck and throat were white, back and breast faintly mottled brownish. The wings, well displayed during preening and in short flights of a few yards, showed delicate grey mottling, the primaries being white and their tips projecting some to 2 inches beyond the tail, which was faintly barred beneath. The bill was dark grey except towards the base where it was much paler but showed no yellow. Legs and feet were dirty pink and the iris appeared dark. The second bird, an undoubted Glaucous Gull, was about fifty yards distant from the first and was a much larger, heavier bird, fully equal in size to some Great Black-backed Gulls in its immediate vicinity. Its plumage was very similar to that of the smaller bird already described but the wings were paler and more uniform with 410 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XLIII. the effect of mottling less marked. The tail showed faint barring beneath, as in the other, and the white primaries projected beyond it to about the same extent. The noticeably longer and heavier bill was flesh pink with a sharply marked-off dark tip. Legs and feet were dirty pink and the iris pale, appearing yellowish. The above descriptions, written down on the spot, seem to fit those given in The Handbook of Iceland and Glaucous Gulls, respectively, in their third or fourth year. The article on the two species by G. T. Kay {antea, vol. xl, pp. 369-373) has been consulted and the possibility considered of the smaller bird being a very small Glaucous Gull. Neither bird was seen in sustained flight, so that the important flight characteristics could not be observed, and it should be emphasized that none of us had seen living gulls of either species before. However, when to the big difference in size of the birds themselves is added the marked disparity not only in size but in colour of the bill, and also in eye colour, and bearing in mind that, from their plumage, the birds were obviously of similar age, there seems to me little doubt that one was a Glaucous Gull and the other an Iceland Gull. O. D. Hunt. SUSSEX On March 25th, 1950, at Newhaven, we encountered a number of gulls engaged in a movement along the coast in an easterly direction. In a group of Herring-Gulls passing close inshore an adult Iceland Gull was identified by the lack of black in the wings, which were long and slender with pointed tips, and by the fact that the bird appeared somewhat smaller than the adult Herring- GuUs it accompanied. The flight was unhke that of the Herring- Gulls in that the wing beats seemed more rapid. L. P. Alder and C. M. James. On April i6th, 1950, an immature Glaucous Gull was seen on Seaford Head, at a distance of less than twenty yards. On the ground and in the air this bird had the heavy appearance of the typical Glaucous. In flight the wings looked short, and when the bird was at rest it was noted that the wing tips did not project beyond the tail at all. Somewhat to our surprise the primaries were lighter in colour than the rest of the plumage and had apparently been moulted and replaced, whereas the remainder of the feathering had not. The dark marking on the tip of the bill was mainly confined to the upper mandible. C. M. James and A. H. W. Stokes. On May 8th, 1950, at Rye Harbour, we found an Iceland Gull at rest on the beach with a number of immature Great Black-backed and Herring-Gulls. In size the Iceland corresponded to the last named birds. It was also noted that the wings, the tips of which were not crossed, projected to a considerable extent beyond the tail, and that the whole of the plumage was white, with the exception of a small amount of grey on the mantle. The bill was not so massive as the bills of the Great Black-backed Gulls. British Birds, Vol. xliii, PL 74. d c\ H oo >< « m w h o' z < hJ H W K CO Q « S K M H Z H tfi a {Photographed by G. T. Kay). British Birds, Vol. xliii, I’l. 7.">. Iceland cull (Lanis g/aucoides). IIPEER ImRST winter BIRD. SHETLAND. [rhotographed by J. 1). Kattar). J.o\viu< — Second winter bird. Shetland, I'lCBRUAin' 15111, 194H ( I ‘holographed by J. I’etekson). Hritish Birds, Vol. xliii, PI. 7(i Iceland Gull [Lanis glaucoidcs). Captive bird in fourth winter. Shetland, April 23RD, 1950 [Photographed by G. T. Kay). British Birds, Vol. xliii, PI. 77 Iceland Gull (Larus glaucoides). Captive birds in second (right) and fourth winters. Shetland, April 23RD, 1950. {Pliolograplicd by G. T. Kav). British Birds, Vol. xliii, PI. 78 6 CN H cs >< to < * o « pq w dn to .. S Q ; in South Stafford- shire, 362. Plover, Ppland, see Sandpiper, Bart- ram’s. Pochard, Ketl-crested , in Cheshin-. 20 ; in Xottinghamshire, 20. porzana, Porzana, see Crake, Spotted. Pounds, Hubert E., Notes on Cn- usual nesting material of Carrion Crow, 185 : Carrion Crow de- corating nest, 333. Povvys-Maukice, M. ('., see Akmit- STEAD, S. K. I'restwtch, K. H., Note on Little Kingetl Plover in Cheshire, 132. Price, M. Phieirs, influences causing ttuctuation of Warbler popu- lation in cultivated lands and oak woods in the Se\ern N'alley, 345- Pritchard, .Vngel.v, Notes on Sun- bathing of Tree-Creeper, 117; "Smoke-bathing” by House- Martins, 150. fhiftin, (knirtshij) and .social disjilav of, 05. pugnax, Philo»iachu&, see KuH. pusillu, CiiUdris, see Sandpijier, Semi- ])almated. pygiiygus, Ciiriis, .see Harrier, Mon- tagu’s. Py.man, G. .\., see Kerry, C. Ci. . , see Marshall, .\. pyryhocurux, I’yyyhocorux, see Chough. pvry/iulu, Pvrrinilii p., see Bullfinch, Northern. (/uei'cfucdulii, ,hi((s, sec Garganey. Kaines, R. J. H., Observations on passage migration in the 'Trent Valley and inland migration, 97. Rankin, W. 'T. C., Notes on Blue 'fit robbing nest material, 18O ; I'ood-washing by Knot in caj)- tivity, 380 : Blue Tits’ reactions to wasps, 403. Raven carrying food in foot, 55. R.\wsthorne, J. K., sec Wolton, A. W. R \YFIELD, P. Note on Pood of Tceland Redshmik, 22. lVOI.. XUIL Rayner, G. \V.. Note on Northern Jiullfinches in Worcestershire, 81 ; Letter on the gait of Buntings, lOO; Note on \\'hitc under tail-coverts in the Tufted Duck, 341. Razorbill, Courtship and social display of, (>5 ; Breeding-cliff popu- lations of, 320- Redshank nesting on shingle beach. 1 31 ; Status of, in S. Devon. 1(15 ; alighting on one leg, 307. , Iceland, Pood of, 22. — — , Spotted, in Pembrokeshire, 105, 414 ; in Sussex in winter, 1O5. Redstart, Colour of skin of nestling, 120. , Black, in Argyllshire, 59 ; Kejiort of inquiry for 1949. 173- Redwing singing in Britain in May. i U). Reese, J. Mansel, Note on Kentish Plover in Devon, 23. Reviews Eisher : Bird Recognition. \'ol. 1, Sea-birds and Waders, 28, 2O2. (juick ; Marsh and Sliore, 20. Yorkshire Naturalists’ Union Committee for Ornithologv Reports for 1947 and 1948, (>2. Ornithological Reports for Northumberlaiul and Durham for 1947 ‘iml '94^< '>3- Jfarniel ; Les Oiseaux dans la Nature ; Description ct iden- tification pratique sur Ic terrain des espfeces de I'ra.nce, Suisse et Belgi<|ue, 194. Timnicliffe : Mereside Chronicle, 195- Lincolnshire NaturalisLs' Union Transactions, \'ol. Nil, No. i (Nov., 1948), No. 2 (Dec., 1949) 193- ( Irnithological Record lor Derby- shire, 1947 and 1948, i9<>- Royal Naval Bird Watching Society, .-\nnual Report, December 1947, 197. Bird Report of the Royal Naval College, Dartmouth. T'ield Club, Summer 1948, 198. Bryanston School Nat. Hist. Soc. Reports for 1947 and 1948, 198. Report of the Uppingham School Field Club, 1 0.(7 8, i5. Rvves, B. H.. Notes on Roostuig behaviour of Chaffinch, 294 ; Tawny Owls found drowned, 338 ; Blackbird using same nest in succe.ssive seasons, 404. Saud|.)ijicr, Bartram's, photographed by Frank X. Wilson and .\li.an D. Cruickshank, 251. , Common, Food-washing by, 229 ; Flocking of, 230 ; singing on pas.sage, 414. .Green, Leg colour and imu.sual call Ilf, 257. 430 BRITISH BIRDS. [vOL. XLIII. , Purple, photographed by SWANBERG, OlOF, YEATES, G. K. and Forges, C. G. des, ii2. ‘ Semipalmated, jihotographed by Cruickshank, Allan D., 328. , Solitary, Probable, in Sussex, 129. , Wood-, in Cornwall, 164, sandvicensis, Sterna, see Tern, Sand- wich. Sansbury, D., see Jones, W. Miall. Sansbury, David G., Note on Early breeding of Chough, 293. schceniclus, Emberiza, see Bunting, Reed-. schcenobcenus, Acrocephalus, see War- bler, Sedge-. scirpaceus, Acrocephalus, see Warbler, Reed-. Scoter, Common, in Wilts., 229 ; Sex ratio of, off part of coast of S.E. England, 304. Scott, Peter, Note on Trans- Atlantic voyage of Starlings, 369. Sears, J., Note on Unusual leg colour of Moorhen, 383. senator, Lanius, see Shrike, Wood- chat. Sergeant, J. H., see Hutchinson, C. C. Serin, Song of, 264 ; in Pembroke- shire, 294. Shags, Notes on tlie wing-drying of, 378- Shearwater, Mediterranean, Notes on, 404. Sheldon, j. H., The Northern Golden Plover in South Stafford- shire, 362. Shoveler, Diving of, 19 ; breeding in Ayrshire, 126 ; breeding in Cardiganshire, 126 ; Joint " injury-feigning ” by, and Mallard, 304. Shrike, Great Grey, in Cardiganshire, 17 ; in Caernarvonshire, 84. , Woodchat, in Pembrokeshire, 119. sibilatrix, Phylloscopus, see Warbler, Wood-. Simmons, K. E. L., Notes on " Up- ending ” of Great Crested Grebe and Moorhen, 127; “ Up-ending ” of Herring-Gull, 163 : Trapped birds "feigning death," 253. SiMMONDS, P. E. L., Note on Black- bird using old nest in two successive seasons, 403. Simms, Eric A., Note on Rough- legged Buzzard in Warwickshire, 123 ; Autumn Bird -migration across the South Midlands of England, 241. Skeletons, Bird, found in a hollow tree, 1 1 . Skokholm Bird Observatory, Pem- brokeshire, Report on Autumn migration in 1949, 213. Skua, Great, in Hampshire in August, 259- skua, Stercorarius, see Skua, Great. Sluiters, j. E., see des Forges, C. G. Smith, A. E. and Ottaway, C. L., Report on Autumn migration in 1949 at Gibraltar Point, 211. Smith, F. R., Note on Black-winged Stilt in Devon, 133. Smith, Stuart, Notes on the Alpine Swift, 122. , , see Edwards, George. Snipe, Common, Sun-bathing by, 160 ; Threat-display of, 380 ; swimming, 413. solitaria, Tringa, see Sandpiper, Solitary. Song Periods, 32. Southern, H. N. and Morley, Averil, Marsh-Tit Territories over six years, 33. Sparrow, Hedge-, nesting in Bul- rushes, 18. , House-, lining nest with green leaves, 83 ; Cloaca-pecking t>y. 135 ; Reactions of cock to the death of hen, 370. Spencer, K. G. Notes on Cormorant " drying out ” on water, 160 ; Diversionary display of Curlew, 160 ; " Displacement copula- tion ” by Magpies, 185' , , and Welch, Arthur, Note on First-year Herring- Gull soliciting food in May, 135. spinoletta, Anthus s., see Pipit, Water-. Spurn Bird Observatory, Autumn migration of 1949 at, 208. Stanes, R. G. F., Note on Buzzard settling on the sea, 158. Stanford, F. G., Note on Communal display of Guillemot, 193. Stanford, J. K., Letter on Variant Yellow Wagtails, 167 ; Note on Nest lining of wading birds, 379. VOL. XLIII.] INDEX. 431 Staxling, Breeding status of, in West Wales. 142, 312 ; Jackdaw attacking, 292 ; Unusual accu- mulation of nest material by. 335 ; Conduct of, in a trap, 368 ; Trans-Atlantic voyage of, 369. Staton, J., Note on “ Dew-bathing ” by Swallows, 300. Stevens, C. J., Note on Inland breeding and subterranean nest- ing of Herring-Gull in Cornwall, 94. Stewart, I. F., Note on Sand- Martins alighting on water, 12 1. Stewart-Peter, Davina, Note on Bee-eater in Radnorshire, 156. Stilt, Black-winged, in Suffolk, 132 ; in Devon, 133 ; photographed by W. E. High AM and G. K. Yeates, 251 ; Invasion of, in Holland in 1949, 307 ; in Middlesex, 344. Stint, Little, in Hertfordshire in Spring, 136 ; photographed by DES Forges, C. G., and Sluiters, J E„ 328. , Temminck's, in Cambridge- shire, 260 ; photographed by Olof Swanberg, 328. Stokes, A. H. W., see James, C. M. Stonechat catching Lizard, 164 ; Distraction display of, 223. striata, Muscicapa, see Flycatcher, Spotted. Studies of some species rarely photo- graphed : XXIV. The Great Northern Diver, 8 ; XXV. The Purple Sandpiper, 112 ; XXVI. Bonaparte’s Gull, 150 ; The Black-winged Stilt, 251 ; Bar- tram’s Sandpiper or Upland Plover, 251 ; XXVII. Tem- minck’s Stint ; The Semipalmated Sandpiper ; The Little Stint, 328, 414 ; XXVIII. The Calan- dra Lark ; The Short-toed Lark ; The Black-eared Wheatear, 364. SuFFERN, C., Notes on Note of Little Grebe, 90 ; Autumn display of Dunlin, 307 ; Carrion Crows nesting on buildings, 368. Summers-Smith, D. and M., Nesting of a pair of Spotted Flycatchers, 201. Swallows following transported nest, 85 ; perching on trees with foliage, 254; " Dew-bathing ” by, 300 ; moulting remiges in Britain, 300. Swallow, Red-rumped, in Hertford- shire, 121. Swan, Bewick’s, m Surrey, 59 ; in Anglesey, 89, 415; Letter on present status of, 264. , Mute, Large brood of, 19, 260 ; Aggressive behaviour of, 125 ; Greeting Ceremony of, 303 ; Bathing behaviour of, 303. Swanberg, Olof, Temminck’s Stint photographed by, 328. — — , Yeates, G. K. and Forges, C. G. DES, Purple Sandpiper photographed by, 112. Swifts, Early, in Norfolk and Sussex, 136. Swift, Alpine, Some notes on the, 122. Swimming of small birds, 292. tadorna, Tadorna, see Duck, Sheld-. Taylor, K. S., Note on Little Gull in Buckinghamshire, 408. Teagle, W. G., Birds of Inner London, 1949, 365. , , see Greenfield, H. F. Teal, Green-winged, in Yorkshire, 190 ; in Somerset, 303. Tebbutt, C. F., Notes on Herons flying at high altitudes, 124 ; Birds becoming " caught ” in flocks of other species, 332. temminckii, Calidris, see Stint, Tem- minck’s. Temperley, George W., Note on Mortality of Ospreys near the Borders, 86. Ten Kate, Dr. C. G. B., Letter on the probable Dutch origin of the Bearded Tits seen in Norfolk and Sussex, 200. Tern, Black, in Pembrokeshire, 27 ; Inland passage of, in the Spring of 1949, 177 : Notes on be- haviour of, 258. , Little, Early, in Somerset, 96. , Roseate, Bill colour of, 162 ; in Devon, 381. , Sandwich, Late, in Lancashire, 27. , Whiskered, in Lancashire, 93. , White-winged Black, in Essex, 94 ; in Somerset, 161. Thomas, J. F., Note on Dancing Display of Wheatear, 298. Thomson, A. Landsborough, Report of the Bird-Ringing Committee. Progress for 1949, 169. 432 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XLIII. I Houi.Jiss, 1'^ ^1., Note on Koactions of Cock House-Sparrow to the death of hen, 370. Thrush, Mistle-, “ Flycatc'lnnfi; " by, 4<>3- , Song-, Heliasdoiir of, at nest, 18; feeding on wood-lic<', 135: Multiple nests of, 205 ; beha- viour of, at nest, 337. Ticehurst, 2s. 1'., Note on Rigainv of Oyster-catcher, 307. Hnnnvculus, Falco, see Kestrel. , Bearded, On the probable Dutch origin of the, sct'n in Nf)rfolk and Sussex, 200. , Rliie, Two pairs of, nesting in one box, 57 ; .Nh'stof, on abough, 117; feeding nestling Black- birds, 1 8ft ; robbing nest mat- ('rial, 180 ; Display flights and behaviour during nest-building period, 186; I'nrecorded notes of, 2()5 ; killed in mousetraps, 342 : “ Injury feigning ” of, 402; Reactions to wasps, 403. -, Coal-, Roosting of. 27 ; I’lumage variation in. 295 ; Concealment of food by. 335. -, Crested, in Devf)n, 118. , (treat, Robins rearing v'oung, 300. , .Marsh-, Territories o\er si.x years, 33 ; Concealment of food by, 33(1 ; 'The formation and persistence of [^airs in, 387. , Dong-tailed, White-headed, in Susse.x, I r8. .Willow-, .V Study of the British 3.5 I ■ Tits, Nestling mortality amongst, on Tentsmuir, 1940 and 1950, 303. Toonv, John, Note on Greenfinches and Linnets attacking hops. 50. tordu. Alca, see Razorbill. torquafa, Saxicnhi, see Stonechat. tnrquatus. Turdus, see Ouzel, Ring-. toyquila, Jvnx, see Wrjmeck. (olarnts, Tringa, see Redsliank, Trapped birds “ feigning death, " 252. tridactyla, Rissa, sec Kittiwake. trisfis, Phvllnscopux collyhita. see Chiffehafl, Siberian. hivialis, Anthus, see Pipit, Tree-. trnchilus, Phvlhscopux. see Warbler, Willow-. Tuchet-Jesson, (t. Note on Two pairs of Blue Tits nesting in one box, .57. Tucker, A. |.. se<' Nichoels. M C W Tucker, B. \\., Note, on Crane in Suffolk, 193 ; Obituary, notice of, 3*^5 ■ 'I'tTCKER, M., and Rowcliffe, J. P. G., Note on “ Fly-catching " flight of Reed-Bunting, 370. Tuei.y, ,H., Notes on Herons .sun- bathing and sitting f)n ground, 374 ; Colour of soft parts of Black-headed Gull, 408 ; Glau- cous Gtdls in Northumberland. 412. TtiRNER, B. C., Notes on Dancing Display of Wheatear, 59 ; Ring- Ouzel breeding in Pembroke- shire, i5(j. /itr/ur S/rcpfnpelia, see Dove-, 'Turtle-. urbicn, Delichon, .see Martin. House-. Oss, R. M., Notes on Jackdaw attacking Starling, 292 ; Black- bird using same nest in two successive sea.sons, 403. vanellus, Vanellus, see Lapwing. Ven.\bles, I>. S. V. and C. .M., 'i'he Corn-Crake on Shetland, 137. N'eysey, C. M., Notes on Cormorant drying wings on water, 159 ; ,\erial chase by Herons in autumn, 377. \'iNE, A. E . Note on Post-coitional di.splay of Canada Goose. 227. , , see Butt, D. visciiwrus, Turdus, see Thrush, .Mistle. Yleuoel, D. a., .see Brouwer, G. vulgaris, Sturnns, see Starling. Wading birds. Nest lining of, 379. Wagtail. White, Behaviour, Display and Feeding-habits of, in winter- (juarters, 372 : l^isplay by fe- male, 373. , I’ied, feeding on bread-crumbs, ')5- , Yellow, Yariant, 31, 1(17 ; Late, 135 ; " Injury-feigning ” of, : Spring roosts of, 413. W.xKEFORD, C. W., Movse, J. and Wh.xli.ey, P., Note on Bewick’s Swans in .\ngle.sey, 89. NV.\i.i..\ce, D. 1. M., Note on \’ellow- shank in East Lothian, 406 ; Glaucous G-ull in Midlothian, D3 VOL. XUIJ.j INDEX. ^33 a. J., Notes on Unusual flight beliaviour of (Tannet, 227; -Migration of juvenile Gannets, 227. Wai.i.s, F. 1). K., .Mote on Shovelcr hreeding in .Ayrshire, 126. Warbler population, influences caus- ing fluctuation of, in cultivated lands and oak woods in the Severn Valley, 345. , .Acpiatic, in Norfolk, I’em- broke.shire and Sussex, 57 ; in Kent, 1 19. — , tirasshopper-. Domed nest of, tip. , Reed-, Clutch-size of, 343. , Sedge-, Latf^, in Warwickshire I (>4. , Willow, On the racial status of Scottish breeding, 18S ; f-eg colouration of, 238 ; nesting in wall, 337. . W'ood-, Nestin.g materials of, 17- Warden, I)., Note on House- Sparrow lining nest with green leaves, 83. Ware, K. H., Note on Swallows following transported nest, 85. Warner, James (7., Note on W'illow- W'arbler nesting in wall, 337. Water birds and Leeches, 342. Waterston, George, see Andrew, 1). G. Watkin, K., Food- washing by Black- bird. 156. W.ATSON, J. B., Note on Osprey in (rioucestershire, 124. Waxwing" in Britain in the winter of T 948-9, 15 1, 309 ; in Co. .Antrim, 223. Welch, .Arthur, see Spencer, K. G. Weller, L. G., Note on Moorhen attempting to drown fdgeon. 309- Wells, T. F., Note on " anting ’’ of Carrion Crow, 402. Whalley, P , sec Wakeford, C. W. Wheatear, Dancing display of the, 9, 59, 298 : in Sussex in winter. Black-eared, photo- graphed by A'eates, (7. K.. and Patrick H. A., 364. , - — , Desert-, wintering in the West Riding of A'orkshire, 179. Whelan, C. Blake, Note on Black- cap and Wax wings in Co. -Antrim, 223. Whimbn*l, .Alarm note of the, 92 : I^ong sojourn of, inland, 136. \\ HITE, C. -A., Note on Display of female White Wagtail, 373. Whitehouse, a. a. K., Note on F.ider in Anglesey in June, 341. W’liitethroat wintering in Middlesex, 85 ; attacking Weasel, 155. Whittenbuky, Roger, Note on Blackbird using same nest two years in succession, 120. Wigeon, Farly arrival of, in Sussex and Kent, 00. Milkinson, a. Denhv, Note on Common (7ull “ paildling " on grass, i()2 ; Annua! Immigration of the W'ood-Pigeon and Stock- Dove on the Coast of Fast Susse.\, 233. WiLLCocKS, T. J., sec Cornish, A \'. \Villiamson, Kenneth, The Pseudo- sleeping attitude of the (Oyster- catcher, r ; Fair Isle Bird Observatory, Notes on Selected Species, .Autumn, 1940, 48. AVAlson, N. H., Note on colour of soft parts of Black- headed Gull. 408 Winter feeding hours of birds, 30. Witts, K. J., see Harberd, K. T. Wolton, A. W.. Rogers, M. j.. and Rawsthorne, j. R , Notes on (71aucous (7ull in Staffordshire, 26 ; Great Northern Diver summering in Warwickshire, qt. Wood, J D. (compiled by), Further notes on Passerine migration through England, 274. , , see Hinde, R. .A. Woodpecker. Great Spotted. Note of. i8q. Woods, H. 1C, Notes on the breeding habits of the Corn-Bunting in Hampshire, 82 ; Sky-Larks’ nests with " doorsteps," 371. WoTTON, M. J., Notes on White- winged Black Tern in Somerset, 161 : Probable Siberian Chiff- chaff in Somerset, 187 ; Beha- viour of Black Terns, 258. Wright, H. E., see Condry, W. M, AVrvneck feeding on elderberries. 310. yarrellii, Motacilla alba, see Wagtail. Pied. 434 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XLIII. Yeates, G. K., Field notes on the nesting habits of the Great Northern Diver, 5 ; Black- winged Stilt photographed by, 251 ; Calandra Lark, Short-toed Lark and Black-eared Wheatear photographed by 364. , , see Higham, W. E. , -, see SwANBERG, Olof. , , Carlson, K. V. and Bjornsson, Bjorn, Great North- ern Diver photographed by,_,8.^f Yellowhammer, see Bunting, Yellow. Yellowshank, in Cambridgeshire and East Lothian, 405. , Greater, in Ireland, a correction 22 ; in Essex, 130. Yeo, P F., Note on “ Hycatching “ by Mistle-Thrush, 403. Yeoman, T., see Andrew, D. G. ERRATA. Vol. xlii. p. 411. Vol. xliii. p. 20. PI. 31- p. 217. (Index) The second entry under “ Osprey ” should read “ in Hampshire, 400 (Red-crested Pochard) For " February ist, 1949 ” read “ February ist, 1948 For ‘‘ A. A. Jacker ” read " A. A. Jucker The photograph is by James G. Warner. (Table) The Great Grey Shrike entered under Spurn should be under Gibraltar Point. p. 261. The review of Robert Lloyd Praeger’s Natural History of Ireland should be signed B.W.T. p. 358. The figures along the base of the graph should read '' 2, 4, 6, ■ • • ” m f '•* vp". » - ( m I % •• • A *• 4 » . ■■ i ^ V* { » I NOTICE TO CONTRIBUTORS British Birds accepts papers and notes dealing with original observations on the birds of the British Isles and Western Europe or, where appropriate, on birds of this area as observed in other parts of their range. Review articles on subjects of current ornithological interest will also be considered. 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