sng Fir WITH watca WAS INCORPORATED IN JANUARY, 1917, ‘ THE ZOOLOGIsST,’ AN ILLUSTRATED MAGAZINE CHIEFLY ‘lO THE BIRDS ON ‘THE BRITISH LIS1 DEVOTED Jae AK g 4 -. EDITED meee or F. WITHERBY M.B.E. F.Z.S. M.B.O.U. BY ASSISTED BY Rev. F. C, R. JOURDAIN M.A. M.B.O.U. H-F.A.O.U AND IG a Cv o N NORMAN F. TICEHURST o.BE. MA. F.R.CS. MB.OU in = Volume XVIII. 1924 — MAY 1925. JUNE H. F. & G. WITHERBY 326 HIGH HOLBORN LONDON LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. TURTLE-DovE: Male brooding young (6 days old). (Photographed by H. Morrey Salmon) TuRTLE-DovE: Female brooding with her feathers puffed out. (Photographed by G. C.S. Ingram) . TurtLE-DovE: Male feeding young (6 days old). (Photographed by H. Morrey Salmon) a - TurTLE-DoveE: Nestling (12 days old). (Photographed by G. C. S. Ingram) TurTLE-DovE: Juvenile plumage grown with some down adhering (20 days old). (Photographed by H. Morrey Salmon) _ ne is Hysrip Crows IN FORFARSHIRE : Young. (Photo- graphed by T. Leslie Smith) us RED-CRESTED PocuarD: Nest and_ eggs. (Photo- graphed by William E. Glegg) RED-CRESTED POCHARD: Approaching egg removed from nest. (Photographed by William E. Glegg) RED-CRESTED POCHARD: Duck on considerably opened nest. (Photographed by William E. Glegg) CHAFFINCH : Unusual situation of nest. (Photographed by Charles G. Connell) he ; y FLAMINGO: Our First haat ‘Egg. '(Photo- graphed by W. E. Glegg) ; sed FLaminco: A batch of the laying of 200 eggs. '(Photo- graphed by W. E. Glegg) : z FLAMINGO: There was one well-made nest. (Photo- graphed by W. E.G legg) FLAMINGO: General view of nesting -ground of the lamingo in the Camargue. (Photographed by W. E. Glegg) .. _ GANNETS AT GRASSHOLM IN 1924 : No. 1. The south end of the Colony. bids. by H. Morrey Salmon) GANNETS AT GRASSHOLM IN 1924 : No. 2. In the centre of the Colony—some of the birds in flight. (Photo- graphed by H. Morrey Salmon) we a GANNETS AT GRASSHOLM IN 1924: No. 3. In the middle of the Colony looking north. (Photographed by H. Morrey Salmon) GANNETS AT GRASSHOLM IN 1924 : No. 4. General view from the north end of the Colony. oe by H. Morrey Salmon) GANNETS AT GRASSHOLM IN 1924: No. 5. A few birds which could not be included on the extreme right of No. 4. (Photographed by H. Morrey Salmon) ., (oe) 9 LV. LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS, GULL-BILLED TERN: Four nests with clutches of five were found. (Photographed by W. E. Glegg) GULL-BILLED TERN: Newly hatched young. (Photo- graphed by W. E. Glegg) GULL-BILLED TERN: In the full blaze of the sun. (Photographed by W. E. Glegg) ’ % ae GULL-BILLED TERN: Confidently settled on eggs. (Photographed by W. E. Glegg) GULL-BILLED TERN: The embodiment of vigorous activity. (Photographed by W. E. Glegg) , SHORT-EARED OwL: On nest. (Photographed by E. A. Armstrong and G. W. Phillips) SHORT-EARED OwL: Young in the nest June r4th. (Photographed by E. A. Armstrong and G. W. Phillips) Ke > ae - r SHORT-EARED OWL: On tree-stump. (Photographed by E. A. Armstrong and G, W, Phillips) ~ GOLDEN EAGLE: Brooding Eaglet in rain. (Photo- graphed by 5. and A. Gordon) ie GOLDEN EaGLE: Just arrived at the Eyrie. "(Photo- graphed by 5. and A. Gordon) Portrait of the late H. N. Pashley ; ss is BEWICK’S SWANS IN GLAMORGANSHIRE. aa by H. Morrey Salmon) - BLACK-NECKED GREBE IN GLAMORGANSHIRE. ‘(Photo- graphed by H. Morrey Salmon) Sky-Lark: “With ali her feathers ruffled—and panting.” (Photographed by Albert H. Willford) SYK-LARK: “She stood over the nest and spread out her wings.”’ (Photographed by Albert H. Willford) PAGE BRITISH “BIRDS » ANTEUSTRATED: MAGAZINE DEVOTED CHIEFLY: TOTHEBIRDS Ss ON THEBRTISH UST” Vol. XVIII. MONTHLY. 1594 YEARLY-20s, ‘S26HIGH HOLBORNICNDON- TF eG WiTHERDY NOW READY. THE BIOLOGY OF BIRDS Professor J. ARTHUR THOMSON. A new and comprehensive volume by this well- known natural history writer, whose work on various aspects of bird life has attracted such widespread attention. Fully Illustrated. 16/- net. ““A genuine attempt at a real Biology. May be strongly recommended to the man who, with a fondness for getting his intellectual teeth into a subject, wishes to see in what directions biology is tending. As for the ornithologist, whether he be the simplest bird- lover that ever put crumbs out for robins, or the field naturalist and collector, or the museum worker or laboratory scientist—to all of these the reading of the book should be made compulsory.”— Julian Huxley in Ghe Spectator. SIDGWICK & JACKSON LTD., 3 Adam St., London, W.C.2 The Oologists’ Record. A QUARTERLY MAGAZINE DEVOTED TO THE ADVANCE MENT OF OOLOGY IN ALL PARTS OF THE WORLD, Vol. IV. Now Current. ist Volume 1921, Vols. 1., I]. and IH. can still be had, Subscription 5s. per annum, post free to all parts of the World. Is contributed to by the World’s Leading Oologists and Is the only Magazine devoted exclusively to Oology. Published by Harrison & Sons, Ltd., 45, St. Martin’s Lane, London, W.C.2 Editor: Kenneth L, Skinner, Brooklands Estate Office, Weybridge, Surrey THE FAUNA OF BRITISH INDIA, INCLUDING CEYLON and BURMA. Published under the authority of the Secretary of State for India in Council. Medium 8vo., with 8 coloured plates and text illustrations. BIRDS, VOL, 2. (Second edition.) £1 10s. Od. London; TAYLOR & FRANCIS, Red Lion Court, Fleet Street, E.C.4 _ BRITSHBIRDS W ITH WHICH WAS INCORPORATED IN JANUARY, 1917, ‘‘ THE ZOOLOGIST.” EDITED BY H. F. WITHERBY, M.B.E., F.Z.S..M.B.0.U. ASSISTED BY REV Per Ge-k. JOURDAIN, M.A., M.B.O.U., H.F.A.0.U., AND /SORMAN F.Pipenursr, O.B.E., M.A., F.R.C.S., M.B.O.U. pa Fone = 3 a : RV, 4 _ CONTENTS of NuMBER 1, Vor. XVIIL., JUNE 2, 1924. Up, iy ba ee PAGE The Turtle-Dove in Glamorganshire, some Breeding Notes. By Geoffrey C. S. Ingram, M.B.o.U. and H. Morrey Salmon, m.c. 2 Migrants at the Reading Sewage Farm. By Norman H. Joy, 4 > > 2 : - M.R.C.S., M.B.O.U. aad ry A Practical Method of Recording Bird-Calls. By Wm. Rowan 4 Notes :— Notes from Holy Island, Northumberland, 1923 (W. G. Watson) ... i on ae aoe aad ak Bre 19 The Roosting Habits of the Tree-Creeper (W. H. Thorpe) ... 20 Hovering of the Dipper (Lord Scone) a 22 Little Owl in Lancashire (H. W. Robinson)... 22 Little Owl in Cumberland ‘L. E. Hope) 23 White Stork in Essex (William E. Glegg) 23 Bewick’s Swans in Cheshire (A. W. Boyd) : 24 Water-fowl on a Lancashire Moss (H. W. Robinson) “at 25 IXentish Plover and other Migrants at a Cheshire Sewage Farm, Autumn, 1923 (T. A. Coward) owe a 26 The Ruff—An Early Record ‘Hugh S. Gladstone) ... bey 28 Little Gull in Essex (Walter B. Nichols) ees rie 20 Great Black-backed Gulls in London (Col. H. A. F. Magrath) 20 short Notes :— Nestling Down of Carrion-Crow—Correction. Pied Flvy- catcher in Berkshire. Cuckoos Returning to the same Summer Quarters for Six and Five Years. Lesser Black- backed Gull Breeding in Yorkshire ... ats ae aie 20 Letters :— The Normal Clutch of Eggs (E. P. Butterfield) S8 ag Protection of the Lapwing (‘Hugh S. Gladstone) ... i. 21 Breeding-habits of the Red-legged Partridge (E. G. B. Meade- ; Waldo) ... f- “ee en ihe i ee Bas 32 NOTE ON NOMENCLATURE.—In this volume of Britis} Birps the systematic list printed at the end of 4 Practical Handbook of British Birds and republished in A Chechk-List of British Birds will be taken as the standard for nomenclatut e.—Ep. A ( 2) THE TURTLE-DOVE IN GLAMORGANSHIRE. SOME BREEDING NOTES. BY GEOFFREY C. S. INGRAM, m.B.o.u., anD H. MORREY SALMON, mM.c. For a number of years the Turtle-Dove (Strepiopelia turtur turtur) has been steadily increasing in numbers in Glamorgan- shire. As far back as 1899 the species is referred to in The Birds of Glamorgan as “‘ Not very common,”’ but this statement s qualified by another which states that it “ Is now more numerous than formerly.” Although this increase is apparent all over the county, our observations as set out here, are confined to one particular locality, a wood situated on the outskirts of the City of Cardiff, which has recently been included within the City boundaries. This wood was given over to the axe in ro11 and felling was carried on until the middle of 1913, when it had been completely cleared with the exception of a few solitary oaks left standing here and there. Formerly it was the stronghold of Sparrow-Hawks (Acctpiter n. misus) and Jays (Garrulus g. rufitergum), and immediately the first strip was cleared, Nightjars (Caprimulgus e. euvopeus) took possession, also Grasshopper-Warblers (Locustella n. nevia), Tree-Pipits (Anthus trivialis), White- throats (Sylvia c. communis), Garden-Warblers (S. borin), Willow-Warblers (Phylloscopus ¢. trochilus), and later a couple of pairs of Nightingales (Luscinia m. megarhyncha). To-day the place is an almost impenetrable wilderness of small birches and oaks some 15 to 30 feet high, overgrown with brambles, and crossed by tracks that are rapidly becoming obliterated. It has now passed into the builders’ hands, and already rows of houses are eating into its heart, but in spite of this, some twelve pairs of Turtle-Doves nested there last season (1923). It was in 1914 that the first pair was seen in the wood and from that date on, their numbers have steadily increased. The birds rarely arrive before the second week of May, and nesting begins shortly afterwards. Two broods appear to be reared by at least some of the pairs, as fresh eggs have been found both early in June, and in the middle of July, also young birds have been seen on the wing upon the same dates as nests have been discovered in the process of building. VOL. XVII. | THE TURTLE-DOVE. 3 The finding of nests has never been an easy task, especially during the last three years when the under growth had erown to such an extent that it was with the utmost difficulty that a path could be forced through it. It is a fairly simp le matter to mark down a likely spot owing to the fondness of TURTLE-DOVE : MALE BROODING YOUNG (6 DAYS OLD). (Photographed by H. Morrey Salmon.) the birds for sitting on some nearby prominent branch, or attention is drawn to unseen birds by the sound of their cooing. On several occasions, in the early mornings, creeping up quietly, we have found the female seated on a halt com- pleted nest cooing softly, while her mate answered from a branch a few vards awav. 4 BRITISH BIRDS. [VoL. XVIII. When incubating or brooding, Turtle-Doves sit closely, and a danger we leaned to fear, was, that forcing our way right up to an unsuspected nest, the sitting bird was suddenly alarmed, and dashed off with a rush, kicking the eggs oft their frail cradle, and so putting an end to all hopes of further observation. On June 20th, 1923, we discovered a nest in course of construction upon a low bough of an oak tree that reached across a bramble bush at a height of some three to four icet from the ground. The site was close to one of the overgrown tracks, from which it was pose to get a glimpse of it, and offered splendid opportunites for observation. Fearing to disturb the birds unduly, nothing was done until June 30th, when taking advantage of their absence from the nest, which now contained two eggs, a light screen of birch branches was rapidly constructed some twelve feet away. Behind this screen it was possible to creep up and watch without alarming the sitting bird. The eggs hatched on July oth, and on the 14th a hide was put up behind the screen, trom which photography was attempted the next day. Unfortunately, owing to the darkness of the situation, exposures of less than half a second were impossible, and so many interesting events had to be left unrecorded except in our note-books. The following observations were made from this hide :— July 15th (young six days old). Entered the hide at 8.10 a.m. without disturbing the female Dove which was brooding the young. On hearing the slight noise made she crouched low, but soon recovered confidence and busied herself preening the young at short intervals. At 9.55 the male commenced cooing from a tree a dozen yards away, the female answering immediately, when he flew in to the branch on which the nest rested, about four feet from it. The female immediately walked along the branch to him, touched his bill with hers and flew off, while he walked on to the nest. The voung were very eager and reared them- selves against his breast. He took their bills into his, one on each side, and then, crouching low, began to pump up food. Every few seconds he would pause and raise himself slightly, the young then hanging down from each side of his bill in a very odd looking manner. Once more lowering himself, pumping started afresh, and so it went on, pause and {eed every few seconds for some ten minutes. After being fed the young quieted down and he brooded and preened tien until 19.45, when they became insistent and he fed them (‘weisuy *S ‘9 4) Aq paydvasojoy) ‘INO GaxAANd SUMHLVAA UAH HLIM DNIGOOUA AIVNAA : TAOC-ATINAL 6 BRITISH BIRDS. | VOL. XVIII. again for six minutes and then resumed brooding. At 11 o'clock he left and both adults were absent for three hours. During this time the youngsters occupied themselves with preening and sleeping. They are covered with yellowish down through which the feather quills can be seen. At 2.10 p.m. the female returned and the feeding performance was gone through for between five and six minutes, after which she brooded them with all her feathers puffed out. July 18th (young nine days old). Entered the hide at 5.30 p.m. The adults were absent but the youngsters are quite safe. Their feathers are showing, and the red-brown colour of the wing is noticeable. They sleep a lot but are constantly changing their positions, and often preen and scratch their heads with their feet. At 7 p.m. an exciting incident took place, when an aduit Jay alighted on the branch about a foot from the nest, and eyed the youngsters (which were sitting with their backs to it) greedily. Hopping cautiously nearer, it stepped upon the edge of the nest, and the watcher in the hide was just about to shout aloud to stop the murder of the innocents, when they, feeling the weight of the Jay upon the nest and evidently mistaking it for one of their parents, reared themselves up suddenly, and so scared it that it flew off. Later on young Jays were heard in the trees near at hand, and the adult must have remained somewhere close, for when the observer’s companion turned up at 7.30 p.m. it flew away from behind the hide with a harsh scream. At 8 p.m. the adult Doves were sitting on top of an old yew tree close to the nest. Feeding evidently only takes place at intervals of three to four hours. July 21st (young twelve days old). Entered the hide at 2.50 p.m., both parents being absent. The young are greatly grown and well feathered. Filaments of pale yellow down are still present on their heads and breasts. The black and white of the tail and the white underparts are conspicuous. Their eyes are chocolate-brown with blue- grey pupils, and their beaks and legs light flesh-colour. They lie still for intervals of about half an hour, and then break into a period of activity, when they wander around the nest, preen themselves (paying particular attention to the sprouting tail-feathers), stretch and flap their wings vigorously. They also indulge in a game of nibbling at each others’ beaks, and then settle down side by side, both facing in the same direction. They are very active when they start (‘uowyes Aor0y “FT 49 payd vssojoyd ) ‘(d IO SAVA QO) DNONOA ONIGAAA WIVN >: HAOG-ATLUOL 5 BRITISH BIRDS. [VoL. XVII. moving about, and the nest, which is in a filthy condition, seems much too small for them and has a bad tilt. Up to 5 p.m. there was no sound or sight of either of the parents, but at that hour one of them began cooing in the wood to the left, and then moved to the yew tree. At 5.30 it flew down to the nest and was greeted by the youngsters with flapping of wings and weak squeaks. The feeding process was a much more strenuous affair than last time it TURTLE-DOVE : NESTLING (I2 DAYS OLD). (Photographed by G. C. S. Ingram.) . was witnessed. It lasted some four to five minutes and was accompanied by a hurricane of wildly flapping wings. July 22nd (young thirteen days old). In hide from 8.30 a.m. to 12.45 p.m. The young spent most of their time sie -eping with intervals of preening and walking around the nest. Neither of the parents appeared although they were in the vicinity from about noon, sitting in the old yew tree, but as they made no attempt to approach the nest it is probable TURTLE-DOVE : JUVENILE PLUMAGE GROWN WITH ADHERING (20 DAYS OLD). (Photographed by H. Morrey Salmon.) SOME DOWN 10 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XVIII. they were waiting for the food in their crops to become in a suitable condition to feed the young. July 24th (young fifteen days old). Visited the nest at 7 a.m. and found the youngsters perched on the branch about a foot away from it. July 25th (young sixteen days old). 6.30 p.m. The youngsters have moved into the small oak tree growing over the nest. July 29th (young twenty days old). g am. The young Doves were stillin the tree over the nest. By careful stalking we managed to get a photograph of one of them, and then hid up and watched the old vew tree in the hope of getting a picture of the adults on their favourite perch. The parents visited the young in the oak tree at 10.30 and again at II.30 a.m. One of the. youngsters broke cover soon after and flying strongly alighted among the lower branches of the yew tree. Almost directly afterwards a juvenile Sparrow-Hawk flew past and hovered over the yew tree mewing fretfully, as though it had caught sight of the young Dove and was medi- tating an attack, but it sheered off without making an attempt. This was the last we saw of the young Doves. We visited the wood on August 5th but could find no trace of them, although they must have been close at hand as we heard the adults several times. Flocking evidently takes place soon after this date, and on August 9th a small flock was seen on the stubble, and much larger companies on August 18th and 25th, and September rst. Bv the middle of September most of the birds have departed for their winter quarters, but stragglers have been seen up to the 22nd of the month. ( 11 ) MIGRANTS AT ‘THE READING SEWAGE FARM. BY NORMAN H. JOY, M.R.c.s., M.B.O.U. DUuRING 1923 I did my best to keep records of the migrants passing through the farm. I was away for several weeks, including from the middle of August to the middle of Septem- ber, but I fortunately got some friends, who know the particular birds well, to do it for me. Messrs. H. P. O. Cleave and A. S. Corbet have on several occasions visited the farm, and Mr. J. L. Hawkins did so about every third day from the middle of August, so that the farm was visited thirty-two times from July 26th to October 15th. The first day in the spring I visited the farm was on March 29th, when I saw two Green Sandpipers (Tringa ochropus) and one Wheatear (Genanthe enanthe). I wasable to go about twice a week until the end of May, except between April roth and May 4th. As might be expected there were not so many migrants passing through as in the autumn, but Dunlins (Calidris alpina) and Ringed Plovers (Charadrius hiaticula) were doing so until May 18th. There is Jittle doubt that many migrating Passeres call in on their way north and south, but one seldom had time to look long for them, and it was always difficult to judge whether the Hirundinidz seen on a certain day were local visitors or genuine migrants. There was also more of the farm to explore each day than last year, as there was much more water about. I have thought it best to give some extracts from the diaries kept during the autumn in the form of a calendar, as it shows best how some of the birds were passing through. Of course we could not guarantee that we saw all the birds at the farm on a particular day, but I do not think many were missed. oO + oO 4 N re} ~~ 8 mo ++ N ° a tal wy - e a a) 4 “ eo 2 i a Me > » mo 6 de we owe ee See et eS Sg Ss Bee sesetpts FS & Ss fs => <= <= < as = £ £ awe oaouwmmnd Oo O BeVORtL eed ee OG OT { meenod Plover —- 2 -—— m 5 189 23924 88 85 3—=— Ruff = ee ee a "ka Se Gee See ee Dunlin — 10 Le x 7 I 9 5 32 3 6 6 6 9 —— 30 5 Curlew- RL PIper ... a eee 297=—- 7=— 5— mattie Stint ..— 2 —-— 3 2 —]— —— 2 — I— — ft Common Sandpiper... 3 t © 6 G6 «4-2 22 —-— 3%°-—-—- —— Green Sandpiper ... 5 1 8 7 3G § S$ Zo 8 ‘6 a ey ae 4 2 Greenshank ...— — 2 2 = hee OU ee el No others of these birds were seen after October 11th, except Green Sandpipers. 12 BRITISH BIRDS. [VoL. XVIII. The following are some notes on the birds seen :— WHEATEAR ‘(CEnanthe ce. enanthe).—Besides the one on March 2oth, one was seen on April 16th, one on October 4th, and two on October roth. GREY WacraiL (Motacilla c. cinerea).—Besides the ones noted above a pair were seen on April 4th. SAND-MaRTIN (Riparia r. riparia).—There were about 100 flying about the farm on April roth, none anywhere else in the neighbourhood. GARGANEY (Anas querquedula).—Two males on April 16th ; a pair on April rgth. SHOVELER (Spatula clypeata).—Three or four pairs nested. Coot (Fulica atra).—Ten to fourteen were seen from April r9th to May 22nd, and a pair and two young on July 20th. A man, who has done work on the farm for years, told me that Coots turn up every spring, but do not nest. RINGED PLOVER (Charadrius hiaticula).—One on May 5th ; two on May oth; none on May 13th or r4th; three on May 16th; one on May 18th. RuFF (Philomachus pugnax).—The ones in September evidently did not come in all together, as there were only three on the 17th and five on the 26th. DUNLIN (Calidris alpina).—One was seen on April roth ; five on May oth; eight on May 14th; five on May 18th; one on May 31st. CURLEW-SANDPIPER (C. testacea).—Dr. G. C. Low and I saw one, with seven Dunlins, on May 13th. There was a slight tinge of red all over the breast, the Dunlins all having their black breasts. Several in the autumn had quite red breasts. LITTLE STINT (C. minuta).—The two seen on August Ist were in full summer plumage. None were seen between September 20th and October 2nd, nor between October 4th and 11th. COMMON SANDPIPER (Tvinga hypoleucos).—One to three were seen from May 13th to 26th. GREEN SANDPIPER (T. ochropus).—Two on March 29th and three on May 15th were the only ones seen in the spring. Two were seen on July 11th. I had some hopes of persuading a pair to nest, by putting Blackbirds’ and Thrushs’ nests in branches of trees among the herbage. Three have been on the farm the whole winter. REDSHANK (T. totanus).—Apparently only one pair nested on the farm, as only three were seen about all May, but about twenty were there on June roth, evidently the young birds VOL. Xxvill.] MIGRANTS AT SEWAGE FARM. 13 getting together before going to the coast. A few remained about until September 11th, and an odd one occasionally appeared until December 4th. GREENSHANK (7. nebularia).—None seen in the spring. BLACK-TAILED GopDWIT (Limosa limosa).—One remained from August 7th to September 14th. It was very tame. BAR-TAILED GopwiIt (L. lapponica).—On September 18th we saw two Godwits with the Ruffs, but they were too far off to see their tails. We determined to watch them when they flew, but when they did so we were watching a Hobby (Falco subbuteo) flying after Swallows. However, they flew by near enough for us to see, and Mr. Hawkins watched them for a long time at about forty yards on the 20th and 25th. COMMON CURLEW (Numenius arquata).—One on May 13th ; six on May 7th; one on August 21st. Ten were constantly. about most of January, 1924. LITTLE GULL (Larus minutus).—One was continually there from October 4th to 13th. It was an immature bird in its second year, as it had lost the black on its tail, and had not much brown on its back and shoulders. It was almost con- stantly on the wing, often flying with Black-headed Gulls, picking up its food from the surface of the water when flying. The only other record for Berks is at Sandford, October, 1890. HERRING-GULL (L. argentatus).—An immature specimen on May 22nd. The Black-tailed Godwit is a new record for Berks. The Bar-tailed Godwit is only recorded ‘“‘ near Reading, 1802,’’ so this is the first definite record, making eight definite new records for Berks at the sewage farm since May, 1922 (see Vol. XVI., pp. 53, 203). ae) A PRACTICAL METHOD OF RECORDING BIRD-CALLS. BY WM. ROWAN. THE following notes are appearing in print for two reasons. In the first place, the many systems of recording the calls and songs of birds that have been published from time to time, have not proved of practical value. They have attempted too many things at once and as a result have become unprac- tical. It is my first object to demonstrate that there exists a method, sufficiently simple to be understood by all, and at the same time conveying far more information than the plain phonetic renderings now in common use. My second reason for publishing is to comply with the requests of various friends who have tried the method and adopted it permanently. The system has the advantage of simplicity, plasticity and adaptability, and that it does not lay claim to scientific accuracy. The last may not sound like a recommendation, but as a matter of fact it is. Anything that could pretend to be really accurate would inevitably be too cumbersome to be practical. The most nearly accurate method extant is that of musical notation, but this method has many flaws that are well known. It is moreover understood by such a small number of bird-students that it is unusable for general purposes. There are many good examples available, the twenty-seven versions of the songs of the Meadow-Lark by C. N. Allen in the Nuttall Bulletin, Vol. V1. (1886), pp. 145-150, being amongst the best that I have personally seen. It is true that anybody can sit down at the piano and play them but the writers of such records are few. Their use is therefore greatly restricted. Modifications of the strict musical record are also plentiful. A good example is described under the title of “ The study of bird notes’’ by Dr. Hans Stadler and Cornel Schmitt in British Birds, Vol. VIII. (1914—-1915}, pp: 2-8. The authors of this article claim for their system, as I do for mine, simpli- city, but a glance at their examples and a perusal of their text, convinces one in very short time that the use of this too is confined entirely to musicians. It is therefore ruled out for the layman. A more striking system which eliminates musical score altogether is that advocated in the Condor, Vol. XXV. (1923), vou. xvit.| RECORDING BIRD-CALLS. 15 pp. 202-208, by Richard Hunt under the title ‘‘ The Phonetics of Bird Sound.” It is unfortunately impossible to summarize briefly this interesting article, but that the method described can never be of practical value is evidenced by the following statement: ‘A Dictionary of Bird Sounds can be built up by co-operative action and the words should eventually be classified not only in accordance with their references to the four classes of phonetic bird sound, but also with reference to the factors of pitch, intensity, speed, form, expression andtimbre. For example, ‘ shrill ’ refers to pitch ; ‘loud’ to intensity; ‘rapid’ to speed; ‘staccato’ to form ; ‘querulous’ to expression; and ‘rich’ to timbre. AS a working basis of possible value to others in their bird utterance work, I submit the following alphabetically arranged, incomplete (the italics are mine) list of BrrD SouND DEsIGNa- tions.” Here follows a list, which presumably is only a beginning, of 500 “ bird sound designations.”” When the average ornithologist is doing his best to master German, French and other languages in order to enlarge his field of literature, his life will surely prove too short to contemplate the use of this means of recording bird-calls. But this author’s system is based on an old and very sound principle. When the small boy comes home and says he has heard a bird singing ‘“‘cuckoo”’ he is unconsciously doing the logical thing and applying phonetics to his description. The pros and cons of phonetic renderings have been discussed fully a great number of times and while there are objections, they are not as numerous or as weighty as those against musical and other notations. Any modern book that attempts to give bird-notes makes use of the principles of phonetics. But so far as I am aware no other author has gone so far in their application as Mr. Hunt, and he, so it seems to me, has gone beyond the limits of practicability. It appears to me that an accurate rendering of bird-calls, with the means at present at our disposal, is entirely impossible. A bird’s song cannot be stated in terms of the piano, or violin, or any other man-made instrument, even when one’s knowledge of music is sufficient to think and write in those terms. The human singing voice is no better. The speaking voice in many respects is preferable to these. It has the added advantage that it can be writt€n down in terms intelligible to everyone. If one compares descriptions in German, French and English books of some well-known and common bird-song, one realises more easily how near perfection a phonetic rendering really comes, for in the three 16 BRITISH. BIRDS. [VoL. XVII. languages the descriptions are so alike as to be recognizable without difficulty. German, however, it must be conceded, has a useful accession in its modified and lengthened vowels. The simplest way to discuss the advantages of the par- ticular method I use is first of all to describe it. I employ four symbols to denote accentation. They are these, (A) Y for a very brief note; (B) ~ for a longer one, but both without particular accent ; (C) — for a short note well accented; (D) — for a longer one, also accented. If the notes are uttered in continuity, I indicate it by joining the accent symbols with a thin bowed line. Under the symbols is a phonetic rendering of the call. Thus the call of the Cuckoo becomes —_—_— — ‘*cuck-oo,’’ because both notes are accented, but the last slightly more than the first. But this does not terminate the description. -As it stands it gives a more perfect idea of the call than the usual description, but not an adequate one. The phonetic rendering itself, since “‘o0o’’ is lower on the scale of vowel sounds when arranged in descending order than the vowel sound of “‘ cuck,” indicates a dropping in pitch between the two syllables, but no more. But it so happens that the inter- val between the syllables of the Cuckoo’s call may vary from a minor third to a fifth. No hint of that is conveyed in the ordinary description or in mine as given above. A musician would employ his knowledge of musical notation and put on to paper a fairly accurate representation of the various possibilities, but only fairly accurate, for birds do not recognize the intervals of human musical script. They may produce three notes in the space of our two, etc., so that even the trained musician may not be able to indicate the interval correctly. But as already pointed out, musician-orni- thologists are comparatively so rare, that their methods are in any case not of general value. The system I am here advocating, while less accurate than that of the musician, has at least the advantage that every one can not only read it but write it as well. I merely drop the accent symbol of the second syllable below the level of the first, varying the length of the drop to suit each case. The call of the Cuckoo would thus appear either as :— ee ogee | ‘6 click=-00, CUucK=00 Or ‘“even “ cuck-oo * VoL. XviI.] . RECORDING BIRD-CALLS. 17 Anyone glancing at such a description would gather many more facts than could be conveyed by any other equally simple means. Accentation and relative pitch are suggested | as well as the usual phonetic values. Actual pitch is appre- ciated by so few that to think out some way of showing it would merely add a useless encumbrance. The fact that the notes of a Warbler may be four or five octaves higher than those of an Owl, never enters the heads of most orni- thologists. They know the kind of note an Owl produces, and when the phonetic rendering of an Owl’s hoot is put betore them, the idea of true pitch never bothers them. It can quite well be omitted. Timbre cannot be demonstrated by any means yet invented, and for much the same reasons it also can be ignored. The most essential facts for practical field use are thus included. I use this method only for calls and short songs. It could conceivably be used for lengthy ones, but it would become unwieldy. In view of the fact that the majority of field- workers remember songs rather by general impression than by feat of memory, to use it for these would be superfluous. The call of the Cuckoo late in the season is modified to “cuck-cuck-oo.’’ As written here there is no suggestion that there are two common alternatives, but if they are described thus— a cee Ne a, OO, eee ‘© cuck-cuck-o0 ” and ‘t cuck-cuck-oo,” this feature immediately becomes evident. The significance of the difference both here and in the case above may prove, upon investigation, to be of considerable importance, when such a graphic description as this would be of particular value. In the tremendous volume of Cuckoo literature that has accumulated in the last few years, cock birds have been but little considered, and it is well within the bounds of possibility that some development may direct attention to the habits of the males. Selected individuals might in that case figure prominently, just as certain females have loomed large in recent discussions. If the difference of interval in the common call proves, as I suspect is the case, to be individual, it would be a useful means of identifying particular birds. I have heard three different intervals in a single morning in circumstances that made it more than likely that they were produced by three separate individuals. A graphic indication of the kind suggested here, expressing nothing more than relative values, would be far more useful B 18 BRITISH BIRDS. [ VOL. XVIII. for field-work than a more accurate musical version that only a small percentage of observers could hope to employ. Its scientific value may be nil, but its practical value is very great. Some years ago, when new to Canadian birds, I was collecting for a few weeks in forest country so dense that many birds were heard but not seen. The majority were finally collected after much arduous effort, and over a hundred certainly identified species recorded. But there was one bird with a call entirely unknown to me and of such peculiar timbre that even its group could not be determined by its call. I sent a graphic description of the type above to a well-known Canadian ornithologist. I gave no hint of the actual pitch or timbre but merely accentation and relative pitch for the various notes, accompanied by the usual phonetic description. J got my identification by return. Three years later, a thousand miles further west, I again heard the call. This time I managed to collect the singer. The identification was perfectly correct. I mention this incident, not only because it demonstrates that all the essentials for practical purposes are included, but also to illustrate the fact that it is intelligible to those who see it for the first time. I know no one who has tried this system once who has not continued to use it. A knowledge of bird-calls is invalu- able in the field, a fact so well known to all ornithologists that it does not require elucidation. But when one has heard an unknown call only once it is all too easily forgotten again shortly after. Reference to such a graphic description, however, recalls the notes so vividly, that a song once heard and put down can be recollected quite clearly years after. In one’s own jottings one can vary the accentation symbols in length, weight, curvature, etc., to indicate all kinds of delicate shadings ; one can make small additions in a second that can convey a great deal of information. Two particu- larly useful additions that appear frequently in my own notes are, << to indicate a swell, e.g., over the trill of the Wood-Warbler (Piviloscopus sibilatrix) and f to indicate that the note is slurred up, as in this call of the Curlew (Numenius arquata) : {x ma 4 ‘** cur-ee.”’ Moreover, if necessary, one’s own notes, if based on the simple general principles here outlined, even if embellished with personal modifications, could be interpreted by others. NOTES FROM HOLY ISLAND, NORTHUMBERLAND, 1923. MeALY Reppotr (Carduelis 1. linaria).—Several occurred from November 2nd onwards. A male shot on November 5th is referable to the form known as Carduelis 1. holboelli. GREY-HEADED WacGTAIL (Motacilla flava thunbergi)—An adult female on May 2nd. YELLow Wacrtalt (M. f. rayi).—Several between April 13th and May oth. Waite WactaiL (M. a. alba).—One or two on April 23rd, a male on the 24th, a female on the 27th, a female on the 30th, a male on May 2nd, two on the 4th, three on the 8th and one on the gth. - CONTINENTAL GOLDEN-CRESTED WREN (Regulus r. regulus). —A female on April 16th. As this bird occurred along with Continental Robins (Erithacus r. rubecula), 1 presume it to belong to the above race. It is the only occasion on which I have observed it during the spring migration. FIRE-CRESTED WREN (R. 1. ignicapillus)—A male was obtained on November 9th; a second example was secured and another seen the following day. GREAT GREY SHRIKE (Lantus e. excubitor).—A single bird on November roth. RED-BACKED SHRIKE (L. c. collurio).—An immature female on September roth. WAXWING (Bombycilla garrulus).—A single bird at Fenwick on the mainland opposite on December 2nd. SCANDINAVIAN CHIFFCHAFF (Phylloscopus collybita abietinus) —Three on April 22nd, two on the 24th and one on the 25th. SIBERIAN CHIFFCHAFF (Ph. c. tristis)—I shot a single example on November roth. It was too badly damaged to be sexed. NORTHERN WILLOW-WARBLER (Ph. trochilus eversmanni). —Many passed through between the last week in April and the third week in May. The first identified example occurred on April 25th and the last on May a2rst. YELLOW-BROWED WARBLER (Ph. humei premium).—Cne on October roth. BLAcK REDsSTART (Pheenicurus ochrurus gibraltariensis).— An immature example was killed on November roth and another was seen on the 26th. 20 BRITISH BIRDS. [ VOL. XVIII. CONTINENTAL Rosin (Erithacus r. rubecula).—As there are few spring records for this subspecies it is, perhaps, worth while recording that one occurred on April 16th, several between the 22nd and 25th, while a few remained until the 27th, MANX SHEARWATER (Puffinus p. puffinus).—One on May rst and 5th, after which date several were seen. FULMAR PETREL (Fulmarus g. glacialis)—Several in May and throughout the summer. BLACK-THROATED DIVER (Colymbus a. arcticus).—An example in almost complete summer plumage was brought to me on Christmas Day. TuRTLE-DOVE (Streptopelia turtur).—One on May 16th. WooD-SANDPIPER (Tringa glareola)—A female was shot on August 30th. GREEN SANDPIPER (T. ochropus).—A single bird was seen on August 20th, and a male—probably the same bird—was shot on August 25th. LitTLE TERN (Sterna a. albifrons)—Two pairs, at least, remained throughout the summer. LITTLE GULL (Larus minutus)—An immature female on April 14th and 15th, and another—also immature—occurred at the Longstone on August 15th. GLaucous GULL (L. hyperboreus)—Several appeared on December 22nd. Biack GUILLEMOT (U/ia g. grylle)—One on March 24th, one on September 17th and two on October 23rd. I desire to express my thanks to Dr. W. Eagle Clarke for the time and trouble that he has taken in separating and identifying for me the various geographical forms. W. G. WaTSON. THE ROOSTING HABITS OF THE TREE-CREEPER, I was much interested in an article by Mr. Nevin H. Foster which appeared in the J7vish Naturalist for January, 1923, describing the habit ot the Tree-Creeper (Certhia familiaris) of excavating small hollows in the bark of the Giant Welling- tonia (Sequoia gigantea) in which to pass the night. The following notes agree in the main with those made by Mr. Foster and with those of the Rev. E. U. Savage (British Birds, Vol. XVI., p. 284), but in view of the interest of the habit I think they may be worth recording. Last autumn Mr. E. A. Armstrong showed me a specimen of S. gigantea, growing in the grounds of St. John’s College, Cambridge, in which there were some ten or eleven holes VOL. XVIII.] NOTES. 21 apparently scratched out of the bark, being on an average 24-3 ins. long and 2 ins. deep. The holes were all lower than the lowest branches of the tree and were distributed on all sides of the trunk between about 3 and 8 ft. above the ground. I have visited the tree frequently at dusk and have dis- turbed a solitary bird on two or three occasions. I watched the bird closely in one hole rather larger than the rest and saw that it rested with its head right in the hole and com- pletely hidden from sight, only the tail and part of the back and wings being visible. It seems extraordinary that the bird should take the trouble to excavate holes in which to roost when there are so many apparently suitable ready-made holes at hand; for not far from the sequoia mentioned there are a great many old elms offering, one would imagine, innumerable crannies suitable for roosting. Nevertheless there must be many districts where the bird is unable to find sequoias in which to roost, and I know of no other tree grown frequently in Great Britain in which the bark is soft enough to allow of excavation. In this connection Mr. F. H. Day’s note (¢.c., Vol. XVI., p. 301) is very interesting. It is surprising, however, that the habit of roosting in rotten stumps, if a general one, has not been noticed before ; a stump would have to be in the last stages of decay to be as easy of excavation as the bark of sequoia. Mr. Foster, in the article above mentioned, draws attention to the fact that in his experience the other species of sequoia (S. sempervirens) grown in this country is not used by the Tree-Creeper for roosting purposes, and he attributes this to the fact that in S. sempervirens the branches usually come much lower down. This is corroborated by my own experi- ence with regard to several trees of both species growing in the Botanic Gardens, Cambridge. In all these trees the lower branches are but a little way above the ground and I have only been able to find two holes. The bark of S. semper- virens is, however, considerably harder and thinner than that of S. gigantea and for this reason one would expect it to be much less suited to the requirements of the bird. Last January I examined thirteen sequoias, belonging to both species, growing in Beauport Park, Battle, Sussex ; some of them magnificent specimens. I, however, only found two trees with definite ‘‘ Creeper-Holes,” and only one hole (a semi-natural hollow in a specimen of S. sempervirens)showed signs of recent occupation. Some other hollows appeared to have been but recently excavated although they were not fouled by droppings. ; 22 BRITISH BIRDS. [VoL. XVII. The habit having now been recorded from parts as widely separated as Sussex, Cambridgeshire and Cumberland, as well as Ireland, it is evident that it must be fairly general and doubtless records will soon be forthcoming from other districts. One wonders if there is a similar habit in existence among the N. American species of Certhia. I have consulted several works dealing with birds of N. America and California, but have seen no mention of the habit, although a closely allied race, C. familiaris occidentalis Ridgw., is found, I understand, throughout the home of S. gigantea. 1, however, came across an interesting account of the roosting of the Tree-Creeper in a book entitled ‘‘ Life Histories of Birds of Eastern Penn- sylvania,” by T. V. Gentry, which is, I think, worth quoting. The author writes as follows: ‘‘ On the outskirts of Philadelphia stands a certain hollow birch tree which has afforded lodging for half a dozen individuals of this species for several successive winters. On the return of night the birds will precipitate themselves into the cavity and there remain closely huddled en masse till day break.”’ W. H. THORPE. HOVERING OF THE DIPPER. In January, 1924, while I was sitting on the bank of the Tay, waiting for Ducks, a Dipper rose from a patch of shingle, perhaps a hundred yards lower down, and flew upstream. As it approached it gradually rose higher in the air, until it was some 15 feet above the water. When about 30 yards from me, it suddenly stopped dead in the air, and began to hover, remaining, like a Kestrel, in exactly the same place for upwards of a quarter of a minute. Then it plunged straight into the water, at this point about a foot to a foot and a half deep, emerging after a couple of seconds; I was unable to see 1f it had secured anything. I waited for a quarter of an hour, then, as the Dipper showed no sign of repeating the performance, but merely fussed about the edge of the river after the usual fashion of the bird, I approached it to within five yards. It seemed to be a very ordinary specimen of Cinclus c. gularis. Perhaps some readers of British Birds have observed this habit, if indeed it be a habit, and not an individual eccentricity, but I think it must be quite rare enough to be worth recording. SCONE. LITTLE OWLeIN CANCASHIKE. Mr. H. P. Horney, one of the leading ornithologists in the north of England, informs me that on April Ist, 1924, he saw VoL. XVIII.] NOTES. 23 in his grounds at St. Michaels-on-Wyre, near Garstang, north Lancashire, a specimen of the Little Owl (Athene noctua). It was sitting on a low branch only four yards from him, close enough for him to examine the “ short feet feathering,” he says, ‘‘ compared with Tengmalm’s.”’ Mr. Hornby also informs me that two Owls were seen and one shot last year between Inskip and Kirkham, which were probably Little Owls, as the man who shot the specimen said that it was no larger than his fist. Although this species now breeds in Cheshire, I can only find ‘two authentic records for Lancashire, both recorded in British Birds, viz., Banks, near Southport, February, 1920, and Formby, near Southport, April 1921. To these must be added one shot at Bretherton on January 2st, 1922, and sent to Mr. R. J. Howard, who identified it as a female Little Owl. Mitchell’s Birds of Lancashire only mentions one, seen near Ormskirk about 1863, which is rather a doubtful record. H. W. ROBINSON. LITTLE OWL IN CUMBERLAND. A LittLe Owl (Athene n. vidalit) was caught in a rabbit trap at the mouth of a burrow on February 9th, 1924, at Irthington, about five miles east of Carlisle. It is the first local example I have seen, although I have had reports of “ little Owls ”’ being seen by others. No recent record of this species for Cumberland appears in the Practical Handbook, L. EK. HOPE. WHITE STORK IN ESSEX. THE Daily Mail of March 12th, 1924, contained a letter from Miss C. Olive de Horne Vaizey of Braintree, Essex, stating that a Stork had been seen near her home, On account of the importance of such a record I have corresponded with Miss Vaizey who kindly informs me that the bird was first seen, early in March, 1924, by her father who has some knowledge of birds and is certain of the species. The bird frequented a cattle pond some three or four hundred yards from the garden of Maysent House and as the bird could be seen from this position no attempt was made to approach closer, so as to avoid scaring the bird. There were no cattle in the field and the public do not have access toit. The bird spent hours under the south side of a hedge near the road, pluming itself and sometimes standing in the water. Miss Vaizey gives me the following description. ‘‘ The beak appeared to be a reddish-yellow, the head and underparts 24 BRITISH BIRDS. [VoL. XVIII. white. The back slightly darker if anything and we could not see a black wing, nor were we near enough to identify properly the colour of the legs.’’ In a second letter, in reply to my questions, Miss Vaizey writes: ‘‘ With regard to the black wing, we did not notice this at first, but afterwards observed a dark patch which was probably the wing.” ‘“‘ The neck was carried outstretched.” On the information given me I feel justified in concluding that the bird seen was a White Stork (Ciconia ciconia). In The Birds of Essex three occurrences of this species in the county are referred to, one mentioned by Yarrell as having been killed in 1852 but no locality given, and two reported to have been captured near Tillingham in January, 1879. The Tillingham record appears to be based entirely on the statement of the Chelmsford Chronicle. In the Victoria County History Mr. Christy quotes only the latter record. Since the publication of the county ornithology I can trace only one occurrence of the White Stork in Essex, according to A Geographical Bibliography of British Ormithology, one being recorded in 1892. WILLIAM E. GLEGG. BEWICK’S SWANS IN CHESHIRE. A herd of ten Bewick’s Swans (Cygnus b. bewickit) appeared on Marbury Mere, near Northwich, Cheshire, on April 2nd, 1924, and I had an excellent view of them then, and again with Mr. G. A. Carver on April 3rd. They showed astonishing tameness and fed in very shallow water at the edge of the mere, continually “ standing on their heads’ as they did so. When we reached the water’s edge they did not take to flight, but swam out a little way and on one occasion made a sort of gentle yelping noise. Nine of them were pure white birds, and of the nine four had the complete black band on the culmen of the bill, while in one or two cases this band started at the base but extended only a short way downwards, and in the others was absent. The colour of the orange-yellow on their bills was the same on each bird, but several (and one in particular) had a yellow suffusion on the cheeks. The tenth was a young bird—dusky on the head and neck and pale lemon-yellow on the bill. Mr. T. A. Coward visited the mere on April 5th to see the Swans, but the nine white birds had gone, leaving behind the young one, which Mr. Coward picked up dead at the edge of the mere—evidently a very few minutes after its death. He VOL. XVIII. | NOTES. 25 has very kindly sent me the following description of its plumage :— Head and neck ashy-grey, darkest on crown ; indication of grey on feathers of mantle and tips of tail; above the eyes and to lesser degree on cheeks—wash of dirty yellow; remainder of plumage white with here and there a slight greyish tinge. Bill.—Black on culmen with a few small fleshy mottles ; patch from eye to some way posterior to nostrils very pale straw-yellow— fading in less than 24 hours to greyish-white with very slight indication of yellow ; a small patch posterior to nostrils lake-red ; the fleshy mottling irregular and extending to the mandible anterior to the nostrils; rest of bill and nail black to horn. Legs and feet.—Leaden-grey, paler on webs. Ivis.—Very dark hazel. Weight.—10? lb. Length.—43 inches. The bird is to be preserved in the Manchester Museum. A. W. Boyp. WATER-FOWL ON A LANCASHIRE MOSS. PERHAPS it may be of interest to give some brief particulars of the extraordinary collection of water-fowl to be seen on a flooded moss at the head of Morecambe Bay in north Lancashire. This was once arable land intersected by wide dykes, but, owing to the pumping being abandoned during the war, is now a vast marsh. On New Year’s Day, 1923, we estimated that there were over eleven thousand head of water-birds visible, including twenty-one species, as follows: Mute Swan (Cygnus olor), Grey Lag-Goose (Anser anser), White-fronted Goose (A. albi- frons), Sheld-Duck (Tadorna tadorna), Wigeon (Anas penelope), Mallard (A. platvrhyncha), Teal (A. crecca), Pintail (A. acuta), Shoveler (Spatula clypeata), Tufted Duck (Nvvoca fuligula), Pochard (N. ferina), Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula), Coot (Fulica atra), Moor-hen (Gallinula chloropus), Little Grebe (Podiceps ruficollis), Heron (Ardea cinerea), Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus), Curlew (Numenius arquata), Redshank (Tringa totanus), Common Gull (Larus canus) and Herring-Gull (L. argentatus). During that winter and spring I saw fifteen additional species there, making a grand total of thirty-six water-birds. The others were Bean-Goose (Anser fabalis), Pink-footed Goose (A. brachyrhynchus), Water-Rail (Rallus aquaticus), Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus), Bittern (Botaurus stellaris), Common Snipe (Capella gallinago), Golden Plover (Charadrius apricarius), Ringed Plover (Ch. hiaticula), 26 BRITISH BIRDS. [VoL. XVIII. Common Sandpiper (Tvinga hypoleucos), Dunlin (Calidris alpina), Black-headed Gull (Larus ridibundus), Lesser Black- backed Gull (L. fuscus affinis), Great Black-backed Gull (L. marinus), Common Tern (Sterna hirundo) and Kingfisher (Alcedo a. ispida). The reeds are so high in many parts that many other species may be present and easily overlooked. A large breeding colony of Black-headed Gulls has become established there. H. W. ROBINSON. KENTISH PLOVER AND OTHER MIGRANTS AT A CHESHIRE SEWAGE FARM, AUTUMN, 1923. THE settling tanks on the small urban district sewage farm, where the following observations were made, are flooded in rotation. In the autumn of 1923 four of the tanks were in a convenient position, for their southern boundary was a thick hedge which provided cover, with the light falling on the birds on the tanks. Lapwings (Vanellus vanellus), Redshanks (Tvinga totanus), and Black-headed Gulls (Larus ridibundus) were the most abundant and frequent visitors, the numbers varying considerably with the arrival and departure of passage parties. Redshanks were in the largest numbers during the first week of September, when most of the birds were immature. At the beginning of October one or two birds only were on the tanks, but at the end of October from twenty to thirty remained for a few days. A few pairs of Redshanks nest in the neighbourhood, and birds visit the tanks for food in summer and winter. Dunlins (Calidris alpina) and Ringed Plovers (Charadrius hiaticula) were constant visitors; they were in the largest numbers—though never in large parties—at the end of August and in the first week of September. The last Dunlins that I noticed, a party of six, arrived on or about October 28th, and passed on almost immediately. The latest Ringed Plovers were two, one immature, on November 2nd. The majority of the Ringed Plovers were immature, with incom- plete breast bands and fleshy legs. On September 6th and 7th a single Kentish Plover (Ch. alexandrinus) was on the tanks. Its small size first attracted my attention, and after a careful examination through the glass I felt satisfied that its legs were really black and not stained with sludge. Next morning I was more fortunate, for I crept behind the hedge and managed to get within five yards of where it was feeding alongside VOL. XVIII. | NOTES. 27 an immature Ringed Plover. There was then no difficulty of identification; the sandy-brown breast patches of the Kentish were quite different fromthe incomplete band of the Ringed Plover ; the legs and bill were black, and the call note was softer. This is the second or third occasion on which the bird is known to have visited Cheshire. The first were the pair I saw at Marbury Mere near Northwich in April, 1g08. On March 23rd, 1909, Dr. J. W. W. Stephens saw a bird resembling a Ringed Plover, but with black legs, at Hoylake, but only for a few seconds, and he did not feel sure enough to record it. A later record for Marbury, on the authority of a gamekeeper, cannot I fear be accepted as proved. The Kentish Plover is very rare on the western shores of Britain. In 1912 Major Fox-Pitt told me that he shot a bird in Anglesey in the autumn of rgr1, and that it was satisfactorily identified. To my surprise I did not see a single Common Sandpiper (T. hypoleucos) on the tanks, even when passage parties were frequent on the neighbouring meres and streams, but Green Sandpipers (T. ochropus) visited the farm between the 22nd of August and the 13th of October. How many individuals occurred I cannot say, as one or two may have made lengthy visits, and I never saw more than one bird at a time. The Wood-Sandpiper (7. glareola) was present on two occasions—a mature bird on October 4th, and a bird in first plumage on October 27th. Mr. Charles Oldham and Mr. Travers Hadfield were with me on this later date. I saw a single Curlew-Sandpiper (C. testacea) on September 6th, and four, accompanied by a Little Stint (C. minuta), on September 22nd. A Greenshank (7. nebularia) was reported to me on one or two dates, but I only saw one myself, on September 7th. A Ruff and two Reeves (Philomachus pugnax) were feeding with the Redshanks on September 6th and 7th, and on October 4th two Ruffs and a Reeve were on the sludge. Golden Plover (Ch. apricarius) are regular autumn to spring visitors to fields within a few miles of the farm, but I only noticed single birds on the tanks on two occasions. On December 15th the only wader visible was a mature Grey Plover (Squatarola squatarola), a winter visitor rather than a passage migrant. Snipe are resident and regular winter visitors; passage birds were most numerous in October. I did not see a single Jack-Snipe (Lvmnocryptes minimus). 28 BRITISH BIRDS. [VoL. XVIII. An immature Sheld-Duck (Tadorna tadorna) was on the tanks at the end of September. Large numbers of passerine birds visit the farm, and Wagtails and Pipits feed on the mud; Yellow Wagtails (Motacilla fava ray) were numerous until the third week in September and passage Pied Wagtails (MM. alba varrellit) remained a little later. Greys (MM. cinerea) were frequent visitors. Throughout September one or two small parties of White Wagtails (WZ. a. alba) frequented the pastures on the farm rather than the tanks; I saw the last, six birds, on October 13th. T. A. COWARD. THE RUFF—AN EARLY RECORD. WirtTH reference to Mr. W. H. Mullens’s article, “‘ The Ruff— an Early Record ”’ (Vol. XIII., pp. 13-20, and notes thereon, Vol. XIV., pp. 68 and 259), which deals with a black letter pamphlet of 1586, the following information may be of interest. Mr. R. T. Gunther in his “ Early British Botanists and their Gardens,”’ 1922, p. 265, quotes an extract from the diary of Richard Shanne for Shann] which refers to the occurrence of the Ruff near Crowley, in Lincolnshire, in 1588. Mr. Gunther hazards the opinion that “‘Shanne’s is probably the first English description’ of the species, but the black letter pamphlet, published anonymously and mentioned above, also deals with the taking of Ruffs “ at Crowley in the Countie of Lyncolne in 1586,” that is, two years earlier. I quote the following from Mr. Gunther’s book where he states that this “ extract from Shanne’s diary was made by Antony Wood when he consulted it in October, 1674, by permission of the then owner ”’ :— “ Anno 1588, there was taken at Crowley in Lincolnshire in the winter time 5 strange fowles of divers colours, having about their necks as it were great monstrous ruffs, and had underneath those ruffs certaine quills to beare up the same, in such a manner as our gallant dames have now of wier to beare up their ruffs (which they call supporters). About their heads they had feathers so curiously set togeather and frisled, altogeather like unto our nice gentlewomen who do curle and frisle their haire about their heads. Three of these strang fowles was brought into Sir Henrie Leese, and they would walk up and doune the hall as if they were great states, and sometimes they would stand still and lay their heads together as if they were in secret counsell. It made | VOL. XVIII. | NO'LES. 29 the beholders to wonder therat. They cast them corne to eat, but they refused to tast of any meat and so at length died. Mr. Richard Shann, of Wodrow in Medley, Yorks., drew a picture of one of them which he placed in his herball. Two men that had set lime twigs to catch birds withall did find them taken therein. The like never seen or heard of before.”’ If Shanne’s story of 1588 be compared with that of 1586 given in the anonymous pamphlet it is clear that the two stories are the same, and the only discrepancy that deserves the higher criticism is the date. I have consulted Shann’s original manuscript in the British Museum* where the date is clearly 1588 and naturally this has been copied both by Anthony Wood} and Mr. Gunther? though it may be remarked here that neither of these writers quote Shanne’s manuscript word for word. Three questions present themselves :—(a) Did Shann witness in 1588 what someone else had seen in 1586? (b) Did Shann enter in his diary for 1588 an event which occurred two years earlier ? or (c) Did Shann himself write the anonymous pamphlet? I think the first question must be answered in the negative since the stories of 1586 and 1588 are so remarkably alike. Much as I should like to be able to discover sufficient evidence to enable me to answer the third question in the affirmative I fear that the reply to the second question supplies the solution of the problem: that is that Shann must wrongly have attributed the date 1588 to an event which occurred in 1586 if indeed he was not acquainted with the pamphlet published anonymously in that year. In conclusion I may add that I am not aware that any printed works by Richard Shanne (or Shann) are in existence ; but a certain amount of information about him will be found in Mr. Gunther’s book (above referred to) where it is stated (p. 264) that he was born on roth August, 1561, that he lived near Methley in Yorkshire and that he died in 1627. HuGH S. GLADSTONE. *Brit. Mus. Add MSS. 38599, fol. 66. } Bodleian Library, Oxford, Wood MS. D. 18, fol. 108, and The Life and Times of Anthony Wood, Vol. II., 1892, p. 302 (printed for the Oxford Historical Society). Bp T. Gunther, Early British Botanists and theiy Gardens, 1922, p. 265. 30 BRITISH BIRDS. [VoL. XVIII. LYELL. GULL IN ssi x. I saw near Bradfield, Essex, on April 17th, 1924, what I take it was a Little Gull (Larus minutus) in almost complete nuptial plumage. The bird’s flight was slow and Tern-lke, almost butterfly- like. The head was black with white flecks. The beak very dark except at the angle of the mouth, which was red. The feet bright sealing-wax red. The wings black underneath, primaries white above. Tail pure white. The bird was alone and there were no other Gulls about with which to compare it, but it was very small and I do not think I am mistaken in my identification. WALTER B. NICHOLS. GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULLS IN LONDON. THE somewhat unusual occurrence of a party of seven adult Great Black-backed Gulls (Lavus marinus) on the river at Westminster on the morning of April 14th, 1924, may be worth recording. I first saw them a little before high-water when they were the only Gulls in view on that stretch of the river. They remained soaring, wheeling, and dipping for floating morsels of food, between Lambeth and Vauxhall bridges, till an hour or more after the turn of the tide, then disappeared. A southerly gale had been blowing during the night. H. A. F. MAGRATH. NESTLING DowN OF CARRION-CROW—CORRECTION.—Mr. R. H. Brown writes that his statement (on p. 222 of Vol. XVII.) that the nestling Carrion-Crow is “covered slightly with black down” should read “covered slightly with greyish- white down.” PIED FLYCATCHER IN BERKSHIRE.—Miss J. Van de Weyer informs us that she and her sister identified a male Pied Fly- catcher (Muscicapa hypoleuca) in Hungerford Park on May rst, 1924. As the bird was not to be seen on the following day it was doubtless on passage. The bird is seldom seen in Berkshire, the last record being on May 22nd, 1917, near Northmoor Lock (see Report of Oxford Ormith. Soc., 1915-1922, p. 19). Cuckoos RETURNING TO THE SAME SUMMER QUARTERS FOR Six AND FivE YEARS.—Major B. Van de Weyer. writes us that a Cuckoo (Cuculus c. canorus), which from its peculiar “broken ’”’ note he considers to be undoubtedly the same VOL. XVIII.] NOTES. bl individual as previously recorded (Vol. XVI., p. 107), has returned for the sixth consecutive year to Hungerford Park, Berks, and was heard on April 19th, 1924 (cf. also Vol. XVL., Pp. 190, and Vol. XVII., p. 23). Mr. T. L. 5. Dooly also writes that the Cuckoo with the unmistakeable note which he recorded (Vol. XVL., p. 190) has again returned to Formby, Lancs., this year (1924), making at least the fifth year. LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL BREEDING IN YORKSHIRE.— Mr. F. Snowdon records (Nat., 1923, p. 403) that Mr. R. 5S, Frank and he have in recent years repeatedly seen adults of Larus f. affinis at the cliffs near Kettleness in the breeding season, but until 1923, when they saw a bird sitting on a nest and later found two young, they had been unable to prove breeding. Other adult birds have been seen which were probably breeding but the nests were not located. LETTERS, THE “ NORMAL” CLUTCH OF EGGS, To the Editors of BritisH Brrps. Sirs,—Professor Wm. Rowan’s statement (Vol. XVII., p. 291) that “of scores of nests of the Meadow-Pipit (Anthus pratensis) found on Skipton Moors, I never saw one containing more than four eggs,’’ is contrary to my experience in this district, which is at no great distance from Skipton Moors, which I also know quite well. The percentage of clutches of five eggs in the nests of the Meadowe Pipit found in this district during the last eight years is thirty-seven. T have found nests containing six eggs, but only very rarely. FE, P. BUTTERFIELD. Bank House, WILSDEN, April 8th, 1924. PROTECTION OF THE LAPWING, To the Editors of BritisH Brrps, Sirs,—It is generally agreed that the Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus) is one of the best friends of the farmer, but there appears to be a divided opinion as to whether the taking of ‘‘ Plovers’ eggs ”’ up till 15th April is detrimental, or beneficial, to the welfare of the species. Those who hold the latter belief urge that the chicks hatched from eggs laid‘ before 15th April come into being at a time when insect life is scarce and when climatic conditions may prove to be adverse to them, and they argue that so far from decreasing the numbers of the Lapwing the taking of their eggs up to the date named is actually of benefit to the stock. I know it has often been stated that prior to 15th April the eggs are an easy prey for Crows and other vermin (through absence of protective vegetation) and that agricultural operations, such as harrowing and rolling, destroy numbers of the early-laid eggs; such statements, however, do not supply an answer to the question. 32 BRITISH BIRDS. [VoL. XVII. It seems very desirable that a definite decision should be arrived at by the consensus of opinion of those best qualified to judge. As I believe your magazine has the widest circulation of any purely ornithological publication I am sending this letter in the hope that readers of the magazine will favour me with their individual opinions. The queries that I put before them (solely as regards the protection of the Lapwing in Great Britain) are simply :-— (1) Do you consider that if the taking of Lapwings’ eggs were altogether prohibited the species would benefit ? or (2) Do you consider that the taking of Lapwings’ eggs up to April 15th is detrimental, neutral or beneficial to the species ? A signed post card addressed to me answering the questions in a word or two will be sufficient for me to gauge the consensus of expert opinion which I so much desire and which I hope eventually to publish. An investigation such as this must have some finality and I therefore propose to close this enquiry on 1st August, 1924, before which date I shall welcome replies as above indicated. Hucu S. GLADSTONE. CAPENOCH, THORNHILL, DUMFRIES-SHIRE. BREEDING-HABITS OF RED-LEGGED PARTRIDGE. To the Editors of BritisH Birps. Sirs,—In his note on this subject (Vol. XVII., p. 315), Mr. M. Portal asks for comments on his observations on this species, and the following are what we have noted. Many years ago we saw that only the hen used to attend to the young, and that after the hen began to sit the cock appeared to take no further notice of her. We also noticed at the same time small coveys of Red-legged Partridges which we then took to be either unpaired birds, or birds which had lost their nests. Later on in the season, however, we used to see the cock again with the covey. When living and travelling in Morocco the Barbary Partridge (Alectoris barbara), which abounded in many parts, and in the Great Atlas, in extraordinary numbers (never being killed by the natives), we used to shoot individuals of these coveys all through the summer for the pot, and all were males. Females with their broods were common, but quite separate. It is, of course, possible that the males may act occasionally as described by Mr. Portal, but a cock Pheasant will occasionally incubate ! and will often help rear a brood. I have carefully overlooked these small parties of Red-legs here in summer, and so far as one can see with field-glasses, all are males. No doubt many others have made the same observations. STONEWALL PARK, KENT. E, G. B. MEADE-WALDO. STEVENS’S AUCTION ROOMS, LTD. ESTD. 1760, 38, King Street, Covent Garden, London, W.C.2. Periodical Sales are held at the above Rooms, of NATURAL HISTORY SPECIMENS, including BIRDS and BIRDS’ EGGS, CABINETS, etc. Also BOOKS relating to Natural History. Catalogues of sales posted on application. WHELDON & WESLEY, LTD. have in stock nearly all the books and journals required by ornithologists. The collection of old and rare works is one of the largest in the country. New books and journals supplied to order. 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WHISH, bs . LYMPSHAM, SOMERSET. H. FF. & G. WITHERBY’S NEW SPRING BOOKS Nek Ay Vy wy A Practical Handbook of British Birds Edited by H. F. WitHersy, M.B.E., M.B.O.U., F.Z.S. Demy } 8vo. 1,500 pages letterpress, 30 coloured and monochrome plates, about 350 text figures. In 2 vols. (bound as 3), £4 10s, net § ‘‘The information is so trustworthy that the book will remain the § standard reference book on British birds for very many years to come.’’—Manchester Guardian. The Birds of Portugal 7 By Wiru1aM C. Tart, F.Z.S., M.B.O.U. Demy 8vo., with photo- graphs and a map in colours, 18/- net The Bird as a Diver A contribution to the Natural History of Diving Birds. By JoxHn M. Dewar, M.D. Demy 8vo., 10/6 net §£ The Literature of the Charadriiformes | From 1894 to 1924. By G.C. Low, M.A., M.D., M.R.C.P., F.Z.S., } M.B.0.U. Demy 8vo., 12/6 net § A Check-List of British Birds Compiled from “A Practical Handbook of British Birds,” by H. F. WitHersy, M.B.E., F.Z.S., M.B.0O.U. 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As for the ornithologist, whether he be the simplest bird- lover that ever put crumbs out for robins, or the field naturalist and collector, or the museum worker or laboratory scientist—to all of these the reading of the book should be made compulsory.” — Julian Huxley in Ghe Spectator. SIDGWICK & JACKSON LTD., 3 Adam St., London, W.C.2 LE GERFAUT REVUE BELGE D’ORNITHOLOGIE, Fondée en 1911, Le seule publication scientifique belge traitant des oiseaux, spécialement des oiseaux de la Belgique. Abonnement 10 francs par an. Direction : Square Prince Charles 21, Bruxelles-Laeken (Belgique). FOR SALE. ARCTIC BIRDS’ SKINS, MAMMALS, SKULLS AND EGGS. Collected on Greenland’s East Coast, between 74 and 77 N. Lat. by Zoological expedition, 1921-22. Full particulars on application. G. DINESEN, Danebrogsgade 8, Copenhagen, B. DENMARK BRITDABINDS WITH WHICH WAS INCORPORATED IN JANUARY, 1917, ‘‘ THE ZOOLOGIST. EDITED BY H. F. WITHERBY, M.B.E., F.Z.S., M.B.0.U. ASSISTED BY Rev. F.°C..R. JOURDAIN, M.A., M.B.O.U., H.F.A.0.U., AND NORMAN F. TICEHURST, O.B.E., M.A., F.R.C.S., M.B.O.U. CONTENTS oF NUMBER 2, VOL. XVIII., ae L, 2O2A4, —_—— PAGE -The Migrations of the Herring-Gull and Lesser Black-backed Gull: Results of the Marking Method. By A. Landsborotgh Thomson, 0.B.E., D.SC. ... -S eS — ee vik 34 Courting Display of the Fulmar. By Henry Boase ... = 4 AUGUST 1. 1924. MONTHLY-1s9a YEARLY-20. 326HIGHHOLBORNICNDON. TiFeG-WITHERBY. THE PROTECTION OF BIRDS. AN INDICTMENT. By LEWIS “R. W.. LOYD,..F.Z.S.,. ete Crown 8vo. Ss. Gd. net. “ He evidently knows what he is writing about ; and what he has to say about birds is deserving of careful attention.’’—Field. “ His wide field experiences enable him to submit much interesting evidence in support of his contentions, which clearly enough, are those of a scientist and collector, and demand attention in any revision of existing Acts ’’’—Yorkshire Observer. LONGMANS, GREEN & CO., °° P2ONBONS EGa, SOW" NOW READY. THE BIOLOGY OF BIRDS Professor J. ARTHUR THOMSON. A new and comprehensive volume by this well- known natural history writer, whose work on various aspects of bird life has attracted such widespread attention. Fully Illustrated. 16/= net. ““A genuine attempt at a real Biology. May be strongly recommended to the man who, with a fondness for getting his intellectual teeth into a subject, wishes to see in what directions biology is tending. As for the ornithologist, whether he be the simplest bird- lover that ever put crumbs out for robins, or the field naturalist and collector, or the museum worker or laboratory scientist\—to all of these the reading of the book should be made compulsory.” — Julian Huxley in Whe Spectator. SIDGWICK & JACKSON LTD., 3 Adam St., London, W.C.2 FOR SALE. ARCTIC BIRDS’ SKINS, MAMMALS, SKULLS AND EGGS. Collected on Greenland’s East Coast, between 74 and 77 N. Lat, by Zoological expedition, 1921-22. Full particulars on application. G. DINESEN, Danebrogsgade 8, Copenhagen, B. DENMARK BRITSABIRDS « ”? WITH WHICH WAS INCORPORATED IN JANUARY, 1917, ‘“‘ THE ZOOLOGIST. EDITED ByYSHi is MI THERBY, M.B.E.,F.Z.S8.,M.B.0.U. ASSISTED BY Rev F. GR. JOURDAIN, M.A., M.B.O.U., H.F.A.O.U., AND NorMAN F. TICEHURST, O.B.E., M.A., F.R.C.S., M.B.O.U. CONTENTS OF NUMBER 3, VOL. XVIII., AuGUST I, 1924. aes PAGE The Distribution of Black Grouse in Great Britain. By Hugh S. , Gladstone Ase ia =e F Sas ine ie 66 Courting Display of the Goldeneye on Salt Water. By H. Boase 69 Notes :— Brooding Prior to Laying (R. H. Brown) ... ee “oe 72 Interval between the Broods of Double and Treble Brooded Birds (A. Astley) ee das ee mas 72 3irds on the Islands of Scilly (H, M. Wallis) 73 Large Clutch of Linnet’s Eggs (W. Wood) nec Oe os 7 Chaffinch Laying on the Ground (L. E. Taylor) ... nae 74 Large Clutch of Yellow Bunting’s Eggs (A. Mayall) ids 74 Wood-Larks Breeding in Shropshire and Worcestershire Cj}. ss Leliott) axi bits ie nia 75 Grey Wagtail Nesting in a Tree (R. H. Brown) , 75 Pied Flycatcher in Worcestershire and Shropshire (J. S. EMOct) ... es a re we ie ia ASSISTED BY MK oH MUSE Ey, F. C. R. JOURDAIN, M.A., M.B.O.U., FF .A.QwU AND NorMAN F. TICEHURST, O.B.E., M.A,, FRCS. A.B.0.U. U ConTENTS OF NuMBER 4, VoL. XVIII, SEPTEMBER” i> 192%. PAGE Note on the Nesting of the Red-crested Pochard in the Camargue. By William E, Glegg ae go Study of the Robin by means of Marked Birds (Second Paper). Brae. Burkitt . soe aoe 97 dituary :—William Robert ‘Ogilvie Grant (H. F. W.). PLO" DtCo = — Interval between Broods of Double-brooded Birds (T. G. Powell) ... ia sae OE 106 Notes on the Birds of Scilly (A. W. Boyd) 5c AEC 106 Abnormal Egg of Carrion-Crow (Joseph H. Symes) : 108 Unusual Situation of Chaffinch’s Nest (Charles G. Connell) 109 Searcity of Yellow Wagtail (N. Tracy) nite nee jae LO Variation in Breeding Season of Wheatear (J. F. Thomas) IIo Redbreast Nesting in Woodpecker’s Hole (N. Tracy) Por 110 Woodpeckers and Fir-Cones (N. Tracy) = Dor Stock-Doves Breeding in Co. Mayo (Robert F. Ruttledge) .. III Late Nesting of Common Snipe in Kent (Rev. James R. Hale) III Large Clutches of Common Terns’ Eggs in Scilly (H. W. Robinson) Deez, Lesser Black-backed Gull Nesting in Colony where “Hatched (H. W. Robinson) ibaa Quail in Cambridgeshire (Mrs. Maud D. Brindley) .. sag} iort Notes :— Rare Birds on Fair Isle. Albino Carrion-Crow in Westmor- land. Roosting Habits of Rooks. Wood-Larkin Fifeshire. White Wagtail and Pied Flycatcher in Norfolk. Siberian Lesser Whitethroat on Fair Isle. Black Redstart in Mid- lothian. Alpine Swiftin Devonshire. Alpine Swifts seenin Wigtownshire. Great Spotted Cuckoo reported from Co. Kerry. Little Owlin Cumberland. Little Owlin Berwick- shire. Rough-legged Buzzard in Co. Wicklow. Spoonbill in Yorkshire. Spoonbill in Co. Kerry. Glossy Ibis in Cork. Snow-Goose in Outer Hebrides. Pratincole reported as seen in Morayshire. The Spread and Distribution of the Wood- cock as a Breeding Bird in Scotland. Great Snipe in Shetland. Glaucous Gulls in the Islands of Scilly— Correction dats ais ase = sie def aa E13 tters :— -haffinch Nesting on the Ground (E. P. Butterfield) ... se 7 Aberrant Song of Chiffchaff (R. H. Brown) ... sey | LZ 5ong-Thrush and other Birds Imitating Waders. "(Major Stanley Pershouse, R. H. Brown and Hilda Terras) 4 II7 Che Normal Clutch of Sandwich Tern’s Eggs (Rev. James R. Hale) é - isis a 118 lviews :— systema Avium Ethiopicarum. A Systematic List of the Birds of the Ethiopian Region. By W.L. Sclater, M.A., M.B.0.U. 118 “he Biology oe Birds. ‘By: Professor J. Arthur Thomson, M.A., | LL.D. . es Bas cot ‘ II9 |G ( 90 ) A- NOTE. ON. THE NESTING OF THE RED- CRESTED POCHARD IN THE CAMARGUE. 1SNG WILLIAM E. GLEGG. To Dr. W. Eagle Clarke must be accorded the credit for first recording the nesting of the Red-crested Pochard (Netta rufina) in the Delta of the Rhone. In his first paper in the /bis April 1895, Dr. Clarke states that five or six pairs frequented the Etang de Consécaniére and that others were observed in several localities in the southern portion of this district as far east as the mouth of the grand Rhéne. In the second contribution, Jbis, October 1898, Dr. Clarke expresses surprise at the number of this species seen. with other ducks on the Etang de Consécaniére on September 23rd. Apparently the numbers of Red-crested Pochards seen were much greater than in the nesting season of 1894. In his paper in the Field of September, 1908, Mr. Collingwood Ingram confirms Dr. Clarke’s discovery, as he states that he found the nest of this Pochard in the same locality. To what extent the Red-crested Pochard winters in the Camargue does not seem to be known. Mr. L. Griscom who made a brief stay at Stes Maries in the winter 1918-19 does not record this bird, but considering the vast numbers of ducks he describes as being present—he refers to 100,006 Wigeon and a similar number of Mallards,. to say nothing o other species—the Red-crested Pochard may have bee overlooked. For some years it had been my intention to visit thi famous bird district, and this year, 1924, I was able to mak the journey, being accompanied for part of the time Dy Mr. H. Sagar. As the Flamingo was our chief object, on thi day after our arrival at Stes Maries, May 18th, we made fo the Etang du Valcarés, and it was on this extensive étang that we first made acquaintance with the Red-crested Pocha on May 22nd, when four were seen. From May 25th fd several days onwards one of my hides was in position fo other species on one of the islands of this étang and repeatedh I flushed a Red-crested Pochard duck from the thick vegetatio with which some of these islands are more or less covered. Occasionally I searched for the nest, which obviously wa close at hand, but as I was otherwise engaged, my searc was perfunctory and not rewarded with success. On May 20t having completed my other photographic work, I was able te pay attention to the Pochard. I approached the island with ‘duvVHOOd GaLsSauo-daw AO ISHN 92 BRITISH BIRDS. [von. XVII. as little noise as possible, keeping a sharp lookout for the duck. I reached the vegetation, which marks the high-water line of the island, before she left the nest, which was then easily discovered. It was completely hidden in the centre of a thick bush about two feet high, with an entrance leading into an open lane in the bushes ; probably this had not been made by the duck. The nest, formed of thick bents inter- woven with down, was placed on the ground and contained eight eggs. The colour of these eggs may be described as creamy-white. On June 6th on the same island I found another nest of this species, containing one egg. Jourdain, in Millais’ British Diving Ducks, says of the Red-crested Pochard: ‘‘ When fresh, the eggs are a clear green stones colour with a gloss.’’ The single egg found answered to thi description. Apparently the colour of the eggs changes as incubation advances. Dr. Clarke describes a nest con taining seventeen eggs of two different types, one sct being white and the other of normal colour. When I resolved to attempt to get photographs of this duck, I looked upon it in the nature ot a forlorn hope. First] I considered ducks as difficult subjects, secondly the positio of the nest, not only completely concealed, but also surrounded by thick vegetation, limited severely the chances of success This meant that the duck could be photographed only in the narrow lane in the vegetation previously referred to. My hide was placed so as to look along this lane to the entrance of the nest. When I approached the nest on May 31st to make a start with the camera I found the duck off the nest and the down pulled partially over the eggs. Sweeping the étang with my glass I saw a male closely accompanied by two females, one of which was probably the owner of the nest under observation. I took up my position in the hide, but never saw the duck. My next visit to the nest was on June 3rd. On my approach the duck left the nest and settled on the water close to the island. I was in the tent less than half-an-hour when she made her appearance in the lane, faced the hide, disappeared into the bushes, then again came into the lane, went straight to the nest and settled down. After shifting several times she took up a position with her back to me and her head turned to the side so that I could see the bill and the brown head. When she seemed well settled I made a slight noise, which had the desired effect of making her appear in the lane in the full blaze of the sunlight. She hesitated, looking round as though the brilliance ot the light after the shade of the nest had momentarily confused he (Om xvur.| THE RED-CRESTED POCHARD. 93 yut the noise of my camera shutter sent her off. She soon ‘eturned to her maternal duties, although I did not see her ; ipparently she had made another entrance to her nest, to ivoid coming within view of the hide. This still further oe AS 4 s Santee 3 _% ae w APPROACHING EGG REMOVED FROM NEST, »duced the chances of success with the camera. About IO p.m., nimety minutes having elapsed, I startled her iddenly when she was dozing, and, as I had hoped, was uken off her guard and momentarily showed herself in the ne. On my return next day I examined the nest and 94. BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL, XVII, found, as I had suspected, that a new entrance hole had been formed at the back. The duck came as quickly to the nest as on the previous day but by the new entrance. She settled down firmly and, in spite of the loudest noises I could make, declined to move. As the situation appeared hopeless I left the hide at 1.30 p.m. On this occasion the duck put her head out of the nest and gave me a good opportunity of examining her bill, which I describe as slate-black with the tip red. This seems worth recording, as no such description may have been given of the bird in a wild state. On referring to books I find that Saunders says “dull red’; A Practica} Handbook, “‘ reddish-brown ”. Dr. Hartert “ braunlichrot, a der Spitze rétlicher ” ; and Dresser “ blackish with a red tip.” The last is the best description of the colour of the bill of the living bird. I left the Pochard alone until June 6th and in the meantime had given some thought as to what could be done to induce the bird to show itself. It occurred to me that if an egg was removed from the nest and placed in the open lane she might try to replace it. On arriving at the nest I immediately put the idea into execution. The Pochard was soon back to the nest. I could see her approaching through the vegetation as her head bobbed up repeatedly, and when this happened a Black-headed Gull (L. r1dibundus), which had its nest near, and Gull-billed Terns stooped at her fiercely. The ruse although not completely successful, was not altogether ineffective. As soon as she reached the nest she noticed the egg outside and came forward to it, but the noise of an ex posure sent her back to her eggs from which she would not be moved. Later, I went out and opened up the nest con siderably, but this marked alteration had no effect on her devotion to her nest. When the Pochard returned to her nest she invariably rearranged the down and it was noticeable that, like other species, she was affected by the heat as het bill was very often open. As the duck had become sd indifferent to my hide and my presence I decided to put a finish to my work on June 7th by opening the nest fully and getting good photographs, which I have no doubt could have been accomplished. When in sight of the island with another half-mile of water, from eighteen inches to two feet deep, to wade, I noticed something moving on the island. Putting my glass up I saw that my hide had gone and two horsemen were present, one of whom had my hide, etc., on the back of his saddle. They paid no attention to my shouts and moved off through the étang. This brought my photograph “ISHN GHUNYdO ATAVUAGISNOD NO MOna ENE & ihe OSS + 96 BRITISH BIRDS. [voL. Xvm, to an end, for on the following day on going to where I had placed my second tent I found that it also had been taken, On my last day, June 12th, in the Camargue I paid a final visit to the nest and found the number of eggs reduced to seven and another was about to hatch out. If my experiences with this individual are any guide to the habits of the species, the Red-crested Pochard must be described as a very close sitter. At no time did I see a male anywhere near the nest. This duck never uttered any note in my hearing, but once when I flushed several from another island a female uttered a grunting sound which was distinctly dissyllabic. With regard to the breeding status of the Red-crested Pochard in the Camargue no report seems to have been made since Mr. Ingram’s visit. J am not in a position to speak of all the ground covered by Dr. Clarke. I spent nearly a month in the Camargue with my headquarters at Stes Maries and it may be said that only the district within walking distance of this village was worked. Considering Dr. Clarke’s statements it would seem that this duck has probably increased somewhat, although not greatly, in the thirty years that have elapsed. Within the limits of our district the Red- crested Pochard was the duck. The only other identifie was the Mallard and it was not common. Strangely enough, although I waded almost its entire length, I saw no ducks of any kind on Consécaniére, but there were plenty of Great- crested Grebes and Coots. I paid special attention to this étang in the hope of finding the Pintail. The Red-crested Pochard was nearly always seen on the Etang du Valcarés, but we found it in greatest numbers on the open water in th Marais du Couvin. Millais describes the habitat of this species known to him as “ Pieces of stagnant water of larg circumference whether the water be salt or fresh, with a grea deal of sedge or reeds on the banks, green islands,” etc. H adds “ The usual habitat in North Africa is somewhat different Here they live in the centre of great shallow lagoons 0 brackish water, whose sides are often encrusted with saline deposits.”” In the Camargue both of these types of habita are found. The first is represented by Consécaniére and th étangs to the west of it and the second by the great salin expanse of Valcarés. ( 97 ) A STUDY OF THE ROBIN BY MEANS OF MARKED BIRDS (SECOND PAPER). BY i. 2 SURI HE present paper is a sequel to that appearing in Vol. XVII., p. 294-303, and brings my study up to the beginning of une, 1924. On January 6th when my previous study ended had in my area of observation the following marked birds : M., 9 M., 15 F., 18 (M.), 19 (M.), 20 (M.), 21, 22, 23, 25, 6 (M.), 27 (F.), (28), 29, 30, and two unmarked birds which 1ortly afterwards I ringed as 31 and 32 (M.). (I put in rackets the sex discovered later.) These were each in efinite occupation of a site with the following exceptions : lo. 20 had recently been only noticed at long intervals nd in ground which meanwhile seemed to be fully occupied y others. No. 28 had been first noticed on November 4th, 923, was ringed on November 18th, but was not noticed vain till February 9th, 1924, and was not seen thereafter. 0. 27 was first noticed on November 5th, 1923, but was not oticed between November 16th and January 6th, 1924. INDICATIONS OF SPRING MOVEMENTS. Second Half of January.—Five birds left, viz., 15 F., 23, 5ymeo, 30. One resident, 22, extended its territory and 1ortly afterwards left it altogether to occupy a neighbouring acated territory. One pair was formed, viz., 20 M., 27 F. First Half of February—One female, 34, arrived which xmed with one of the resident males, 2, my second pair. hree resident males, 9, 18, 21, were noticed to make tem- wrary excursions into strange territory, as further described slow. Four birds were noticed temporarily, one of which as 28 referred to above. (These were presumably passing 1; and of course there were probably many more than I yticed.) One resident male, 19, disappeared for five days id reappeared with a marked female, 11, which had not en seen since early in June, 1923. These latter formed y third pair. Second Half of February.—One male and one female, 35, me to stay ; the latter, with 32, forming my fourth pair. iree birds on passage were noticed. One recently mated ir, II, 19, extended their territory. First Half of March—Two birds on passage were noticed. vo females, 36, 37, came to stay and formed with 9 and 26 spectively my fifth and sixth pair. 98 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL, XVIII, Second Half of March.—One male, 38, arrived to reside in an exposed territory unoccupied since the middle of November, A pair, male and 39, arrived to a still more exposed territory on the summit of a hill which was previously considered to be unoccupied. These latter formed my seventh pair. On April 2nd a marked female, 14, arrived, which had no been seen since the end of June, 1923. She formed wit one of my residents, 18, my eighth pair. Her arrival imme diately caused my latest departure, namely, the ejection of 31 from its territory by this last pair, though their first territory was a most ample one. The two territories thence became one. On April 6th an unmated male made an excursion far into strange territory. Finally at some date, in the second half of April I think, a female, 40, arrived and formed with 38 my ninth pair. Two of my winter residents were thus left unmated, 21, 22 it is quite safe to assume from their habits that they were males. I should add that with the one exception, 31, all the departures appeared to be voluntary and not caused by any local circumstances. My previous suggestion (supra, p. 297) that there is ¢ distinct movement about the end of January and beginning of February is corroborated this spring, inasmuch as practi cally all the birds which were going to leave me departed im the second half of January. The arrivals kept coming throughout February, March, and part of April. SEX OF RESIDENTS AND MIGRANTS. Of my nine winter residents which did not leave, all wer males except one, 27, and it will be noted from above tha she had only recently and erratically appeared. Of the tet immigrants to nest here, two were males taking exposed a unoccupied ground, all the rest were females. Two of thes had left after breeding here in the previous spring ; tha is to say; of the three such females which left for the yee two returned. Thus of seven resident and two immigran males none had for mate a resident female except the indé cisive case of No. 27 F. (Ofcourse “resident ”’ is only strict} in reference to my piece of ground, but probably applie much wider.) Of the birds noted by me on passage most ¢ them were presumably females, as practically all of thet -were in temporary and peaceable companionship with m resident males. Excitement was frequently evident amon neighbouring males when one of these females passed along on xvi,| SLUDY-OF THE. ROBIN. Sie) Of the six or seven birds which left me only one, 15, was of known sex and it was a female. The one which was -vidently ejected by force, 31, was presumably a male. RESIDENT YOUNG OF THE PREVIOUS YEAR. I am not able to record any special attribute applying to he young birds which secured sites from last mid-summer mwards, except that of those five (18, 19, 20, 21, 23) which [ was almost certain belonged to this class none left me in ‘he autumn of their first year. One left me this spring, 23 ; four remained, three of which, and probably the four, were males. One, 20, got a mate first in the season; one, IQ, sot an early mate; one, 18, was nearly the last to mate ; one, 21, got no mate. FEMALE SONG. The marked female, 15, which I had once or twice noticed singing in October 1923 (supra, p. 299), did not draw my ittention by further song before it left in January. Of the ther four or five birds which left me (voluntarily) this spring { had known all but one to sing frequently, and three of them were quite normal winter singers ; one of the three had deen a particularly good singer. But I have no proof yet of vhat sex these birds were. Bird 27 (see above) which turned yut to be a female was not heard to sing before mating with 20 (or after). Therefore the hope expressed in my previous urticle, that I should have much more data about female song, has not been fulfilled. None of the females which ‘ame to reside here this spring were noticed to sing after rival except in the case of 14. She was first seen on April :nd in the territory of 18 M. and caused excitement not only o him but to an adjoining bird, 31. She at once appeared gressive to 31, even more so than her ultimate mate (18) lid. She acted towards 31 as a male would to another nale, following and squaring up to him, and sang at such noments a couple of bars with wide open beak. The next ay 31 had disappeared, and 14 was again noticed to sing a ‘ar or two that day, but never thereafter. For the female 0 sing in matehood would seem an absurd contradiction o the concealment she practices (see below). SONG IN GENERAL. About the fourth week in January the males in singing egin to perch higher, even to the tops of trees (just as is the oring habit of many species, even hitherto shy ones like ae Blackbird). As long as they remain mateless they nearly lways sing well up and exposed; but mated ones will not 100 BRITISH “BIRDS, - . [VoL, XVIII. necessarily do so, and more usually do not. From early March the mated birds give distinctly less song than the mateless. The latter’s song keeps full-bodied and _far- reaching. One of my males after his mate was killed was at once noticeable by much more and louder song. (I have written elsewhere about this applying to other species.) In the first stage of matehood the male does not sing much, but follows the female about. In the next stage he sings more, but does not move after her. He, like the males of other species, thus gives the impression of being anxious to keep the female to her position. Like other species also the Robin seems to start a spring evening dusk song, which this year began about the middle of February. But to draw up any hard and fast rules about Robins’ song during the main song- ‘period seems particularly hopeless ; the why or the when of it. I may remark that my male which was the latest to get a mate had always been a first-rate singer and its territory was most ample and apparently most attractive. It seems undeniable that ceteris paribus the Robin (more so than other birds) sings under what human beings would call cheery conditions. But why a Robin should consider as cheery a hard, frosty, sunny morning with no prospect of thaw for hours, or a crisp, quiet evening with the ground all deep in snow and setting to hard frost—I do not know. My tamer Robins, used to being fed, undoubtedly start song on sight of me, but one would say that the cheery condition there is the prospect of food. When, however, we turn to the generally accepted theory that song is a concomitant of territory, this short study of mine indicates that territories are in force to a greater or less extent in every month of the year ; therefore we should expect some song in every month of the year, which there is. More- over, the period in which it is least heard is at a time either of moult or when much of the ground may, according to my last summer’s observations, be under interregnum and awaiting redistribution. The approach of the complete stoppage of song in the first days of June was first evinced this year by one of my mateles birds giving up singing about the 21st of May. It was not that he had left. His failure to sing even when I produced food was remarkable for him. TERRITORY, ETC. My ambit this season, in which I had the nine pairs, too in a little more ground than the area of my previous article. ou. xvu.] STUDY OF THE ROBIN. 101 ne first-rate territory in it, a line of hedge and bank, was ot occupied at all this breeding season. It will be seen from 1e table below that 9 has had three mates. In 1923, after is having a brood with 14F., it was found that the latter had 1ated with a new male, 17, for her second brood, and that nis pair had taken a slice off the territory of 9. His territory as remained the same since then. I have referred to several xcursions by males into strange territory in the mating eason. Those which I noticed were from 120 to 200 yards utside their own boundary. They may have gone further nd of course there were probably many more of them. The two marked females, 11 and 14, which returned became yated in territories, part of which in each case was a part of heir previous years’ territory. One of these, No. 11, whose evious two nests on the flat ground had been unsuccessful, ow built in the ivy, 23 feet up a tree, a few yards from her ast nest. The attitude at the mating period of one bird quaring up to another and waving the head from side to ide, I had in the past assumed to be courting. But my xperience would now show that this is always animosity ; ot necessarily of male to male only. CONCEALMENT OF FEMALE. This occurs during a long pre-brood period. I have referred o it, Vol. XVII., p. 296. It may not be practised for some ime after mating but is especially the case after February ; if he bird arrives later than February, the concealment begins t once. Though the bird may be very tame previous to his practice, she becomes as shy as the rest. While the male its aloft the female ferrets along somewhere low down or emains motionless in hiding. If she is seen at all she always iaanages to keep something between her and the observer. f one did not know to the contrary, by early observation t the times of arrival, a later observer would certainly have hought that most of my males were mateless. No. 27 was mated about mid-January, but it took me a 1onth to get satisfactory identification of her marking, and ven after that I thought she must have departed. Out of on nests I only found three by seeing building operations. me pair close to my house, and mated on February 3rd, were iven very much attention, yet throughout four tedious 1onths I never discovered a nest, even though the male ‘equently fed her, and there were usual indications that ie was sitting. I do not think they could have ever been iccessful in a brood or else they would surely have disclosed 102 BRITISH BIRDS. [VvoL. Xvmq, the secret. This concealment of the female also makes the catching of them by bait practically impossible at that period. CATCHING AND NUMBER MARKED. I found that it was necessary to train many birds to get used to oatmeal grains long before I could catch them. Such birds at first had no idea that it was food, even hopping over it without touching it ; once they learned it, however, it continued an evidently seductive food, right into summer. The total number now marked is forty. One female, 36, was killed when commencing to sit, by a cat, of which there were several always near. LonG PERIOD FROM MATING TO LAYING. I had always considered Chaffinches remarkable in the length of this period, which in their case may be up to nearly seven weeks. But one of my Robin pairs was fourteen and a half weeks, while four others varied from eight to nine and a half weeks. From mating to the commencement of building operations there was in four cases a period of from seven to nine weeks. I had not data abou: all. I never expected this long interim, and thus many weeks of observa- tion were in vain. Late arrivals may have eggs earlier than some of the others. In the specially long instance above, there was for some unknown reason a delay of over three weeks after the nest appeared to be ready, before laying commenced. My earliest pair abandoned their first nest and five eggs for no apparent reason, unless the cold. Anyhow, it is an instance of this happening without change of either parent. In the appended table any male mentioned as extant has, unless otherwise stated, been keeping to the same site from the time it was first seen or marked up to the writing of this article, viz., end of May, 1924. First noticed Date Mate | Mate Disappearances, Reappearances, No, |Sex'in occupa-| Marked | 1923 | 1924 and other Notes tion | -= —/10/22 — — Disappeared soon. 1, 8, 9 were marked consecutively in the same site. 8} — — 17/12/22 — —_— Died soon. g | M — 14/1/23 I4 36 Extant. 36 was killed. The other and female arrived in June 1924 after the an- period of this article. other 2|M — —/10/22 Io 34 Extant. Sa) || —_ ae os = — t Not seen after end of 1922. 6) — — —/11/22 = _ Not seen after January 1923. 7\|— — 10/12/22 = — Not seen after end of 1922. ro || & = 21/1/23 Zz — Not seen since May 1923. 70L. XVIII. | First noticed 0, |Sex in occupa- tion ae || 18 —_— 12 | — -- 13 ? — b4 | — 15 | F — 16|M — it7 | M —_— x18 | M — 19 |M 2/7/23 20|M 8/8/23 ar |}?M 8/8/23 22 |?M oe | aml 17/6/23 i 24a) 5/10/23 125 | —) 8/10/23 26 |M i 27 ee) 5/22/23 28 = a 29 | —) 1/11/23 30 — — 13m |? M! 30/12/23 | 2, | M| 28/10/23 | 33 | BF, 20/2/24 j 34) Bi 3/2/24 35 | Fy) x6/2/24 36 | F] 8/3/24 37 |e 4/3/24 38 | M}. x9/3/24 39 | F) 19/3/24 40 | F| -/4/24 SLUDY OF THE KOBIN. 103 Date Marked 4/2/23 8/2/23 4/3/23 4/5/23 8/5/23 9/6/23 25/6/23 30/7/23 9/9/23 12/9/23 16/9/23 22/9/23 23/9/23 13/10/23 22/10/23 26/10/23 16/11/23 18/11/23 22/11/23 6/1/24 24/1/24 3/2/24. | 2/5/24 1/3/24. 3/3/24 Mate 1923 Mate 1924 +9 Disappearances, Reappearances, and other Notes Not seen between June 1923 and Feb- ruary 1924. Extant. For song see Vol. XVII., p. 298, and for 1924 site see this article. Not seen since marking. Probably a bird on passage. Not seen since May 1923. No further data. Probably the female parent to a brood in 1923. Not seen between June 1923 and 2/4/24. Extant. For song and for 1924 site see this article. Not seen between July and October 1923, nor since January 1924. Not seen between June 1923 and January 1924. Extant (?). He may have been near-by all the time. No further data. Not seen since June 1923. Extant. Born 1923. Extant. Born 1923. Extant. Born 1923. Territory doubt- ful till January 1924. Extant. Born 1923. Extant. .Changed. territory in January 1924 to neighbouring vacated one. Born 1923. Not seen since January 1924. Not seen since October 1923 Not seen since January 1924. Extant. Not noticed between marking and 6/1/24. Extant. Not’ noticed between marking and g/2/24 and not seen since. Not seen since January 1924. Not seen since January 1924. Not seen since April 1924. Ejected in April 1924 by 18 and r4. Extant. No further data. Extant. Extant, Killed on 8/5/24. Extant. Extant,. Extant, Extant. Cute 5 OBITUARY. WILLIAM ROBERT OGILVIE GRANT. Mr. W. R. OGILVIE GRANT, who died on July 26th, 1924, was well known as an active ornithologist and head of the Bird Room at the British Museum up to 1916, when he was suddenly struck down by paralysis and had since lived in retirement near Reading. To his intimate friends his loss will be keenly felt, for he was of an affectionate and generous nature, and though he has been missing from the ornithological world for so long, there are many in the large circle who knew him who have kept a warm corner in their hearts for him. He made enemies, too, for he was imbued with an ardent and combative spirit, and this trait frequently led him into arguments which were not always unaffected by personal feeling. Ogilvie Grant was born on March 25th, 1863, the second son of the Hon. G. H. E. Ogilvie Grant, his mother being a daughter of Sir Wiliam Gordon-Cumming. He was educated at Fettes, and in June, 1882, became an assistant in the Zoological Department of the British Museum, at first under Dr. Gunther in the fish section and in 1885 under Dr. Bowdler Sharpe in the bird room. In 1893 he became a first class Assistant and in 1913 was appointed Assistant Keeper of the Zoological Department. Ogilvie Grant wrote Volume XXII. (Game Birds) of the Catalogue of the Birds in the British Museum and parts of Volumes XVII. and XXVI. of the same great work, and Volume V. of the Catalogue of Eggs, while he was also author of the Guide to the Bird Gallery and of the Game Birds (2 vols.) in Allen’s Naturalists’ Library, and was responsible for the natural history of the birdsin The Gun at Home and Abroad and for the bird section in H. O. Forbes’s Fauna of Sokotra and Abd-el-Kurt. He contributed a great number of systematic papers to the bis and communications to the Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club, of which he was editor for a number of years. He also contributed papers and notes to the Proceedings and Transactions of the Zoological Society, the Field, British Birds and other journals. Undoubtedly his best work was done in the game birds. Among the many new birds he described must be mentioned the Irish Coal-Tit (Parus ater hibermicus). Asa collector Ogilvie Grant excelled, and he made journeys for this purpose to Sokotra (with H. O. Forbes), Madeira, the VOL. XVIII.] OBITUARY, 105 Canary Islands and the Azores, while he was largely respon- sible for the work of organizing and financing other expeditions, such as those to Ruwenzori and Dutch New Guinea, which made valuable additions to the British Museum collection. He also procured, or himself collected, the material for a number of the nesting groups of British birds in the Museum, As “curator ”’ of the great systematic collection he was not so successful, as he unfortunately did not realize the significance and great importance of the sub-species, and thus following Bowdler Sharpe (who was also reactionary in this respect, though his age excused him) the arrangement of our great national collection fell sadly behind the times. That this had a serious effect on British ornithologists is undoubted, and although great endeavours have been made, and much has been done since the war to arrange the collection in a form suitable for modern work, the task is so great that it is as yet by no means completed, and ornithologists are in consequence even now handicapped by the long neglect to progress with the times. During his later years at the Museum Ogilvie Grant was beginning to realize the importance of sub-specific dis- tinction, and it is fair to assume that had he continued there he would have seen how urgently necessary was a rearrange- ment of the collection. _ Ogilvie Grant served on the Council of the British Ornitho- logists’ Union, Zoological Society and Avicultural Society, as well as the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, and was active in promoting bird protection and nature reserves. He married, in 1890, a daughter of Vice-Admiral Mark Pechell, who survives him with one son and three daughters. HUF WwW, INTERVAL BETWEEN BROODS OF DOUBLE- BROODED BIRDS. Wir reference to Mr. Astley’s letter on the above (antea, p. 72), I see from my note book that on May 26th, 1923, I found in a wood near Ipswich the nest of a Redstart (Phenicurus ph. phenicurus) in which the eggs were just hatching. On June 11th I visited the nest again and found the young ones had gone, the nest had been “ tidied up,” and contained one fresh egg. T. G. Power [This is a very interesting case as it furnishes indisputable proof that the Redstart is, sometimes at any rate, double- brooded.—F.R.C. J.] NOTES ON THE BIRDS OE SCILVY. TuHE following details of two short visits to the Isles of Scilly (September 21st to 30th, 1920, and June 21st to July 4th, 1924) may be of interest in view of Mr. H. M. Wallis’s notes in British Birds (Vol. XVII., p. 55 ; XVIII., p. 73), where a comparison was made with Clark and Rodd’s article in the Zoologist of 1906. Greenfinch (Chloris c. chloris)—Many in the Tresco gardens on June 30th, 1924; doubtless family parties. Linnet (Carduelis c. cannabina).—In great abundance; a nest found on St. Mary’s on June 21st, 1924, contained four eggs on July 3rd. Chaffinch (Fringilla c. celebs) —Several on _ Tresco, June 30th, 1924 ; one singing. Corn-Bunting (Emberiza c. calandra).—Fairly common in almost all parts of St. Mary’s in 1924. Skylark (Alauda a. arvenst 1 1920 ; in 1924 quite abundant on St. Mary’s and also singing on Bryher. Grey Wagtail (Motacilla c. cinerea)—One or two in September, 1920, on St. Mary’s. Pied Wagtail (Molacilla alha vyarrellit)—Recorded by Clark and Rodd as “ common all the year round,” but I saw only one or two on St. Mary’s in September, 1920, and none at all on any island in 1924, White Wagtail (Motacilla a. alba).—In 1920 a tair number in September on St. Mary’s. A few days earlier—on September 20th, in the same year—J saw fully fiftv on Marazion Marsh, near Penzance, on the mainland. VOL. XVII. ] SCNOTES, : 107 Great Tit (Parus major newtont).—Seen twice in September; 1920 ; in 1924 not uncommon on St. Mary’s and Tresco, and aiso seen on Bryher. Ly, Goldcrest (Regulus regulus).—On Tresco and St. Marun's in September, 1920, and in some numbers on June 30th, 1924; in the Abbey Gardens, Tresco, where they had evidently bred. Chiffchaff (Phvlloscopus c. collybita).—Two or three singing among the large trees on Tresco on July 2nd, 1924, where we watched two for some time ; not recorded previously during the summer months. > Sedge-Warbler (Acvocephalus schenobenus).—In 1924 quite common on St. Marv’s in two suitable areas, where we saw many pairs; a nest found on June 27th was just ready for eggs and contained four on July 2nd. A number on Tresco in marshy ground on July 2nd. Whinchat (Saxicola rv. rubetra)—One on St. Mary’s on September 22nd, 1920. Recorded by Clark and Rodd in autumn as a casual only. Swallow (Hirundc r. rustica).—Nesting in 1024 on St. Mary’s, Tresco and Tean ; I saw five nests with eggs and young. ; Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis ispida).—Seen half-a-dozen times in September; 1920, flying along the coast of St. Mary’s and in the harbour ; one was flying between St. Mary’s and Tresco on September 25th. Clark and Rodd record it as a casual autumn and winter visitor. Great Northern Diver (Colymbus immer).—Mr. H. W. Robinson tells me that on May 30th, 1924, he saw four between. St. Mary’s and Tresco and that one was still in winter plumage or immature—the first of the many he has seen in Scilly in May to be in this plumage. | £038 Grey Plover (Squatarola s. squatarola)—Two or three on St. Martin’s, September 28th, 1920. Turnstone (Avenaria 1. interpres)—Abundant -during both visits ; in flocks of twenty at the end of June. : Ruff (Philomachus pugnax).—In 1920 two on September 24th and one on September 29th by a freshwater pool on Bryher. Three previous records only, given by Clark and Rodd—the latest in 1885. : Pid Sanderling (Crocethia alba).—On St. Mary’s and St. Martin’s in 1920—not more than fifteen together. “ty Common Sandpiper (Tringa hypoleucos).=-Mr. Hs.W. Robinson and I. saw one by the Abbey Pool, Trésco, on June 30th, 1924; not previously recorded in ‘summer. Redshank (Tvinga t. totanus)—Several on Samson and [resco among the Turnstcnes on June 23rd, 1924. Clark 108 BRITISH: BIRDS. [VoL. XVIII. and Rodd record it in autumn and winter only, and in September, 1920, I found it fairly common. Greenshank (Tvinga nebularia).-—Single birds several times ~ and once two together seen on St. Mary’s and St. Martin’s in September, 1920. Whimbrel (Numenius p. pheeopus\.—Several on Bryher on the last day of June, 1924. Common Tern (Sterna h. Mirundo).—Breeding on at least four islands in 1924, though one old haunt was deserted. | Mr. Robinson and I ringed 191 youngsters on one island and there were many eggs still unhatched. Arctic Tern (Sterna macrura)—Mr. Robinson saw a single bird on June 26th, 1924, and possibly one pair was nesting among the Common Terns, but I never identified the bird satisfactorily at the nest, nor heard its call. Roseate Tern (Sterna d. dougallu).—On June 26th, 1924, we found a pair in a colony of Common Terns and four days later watched them through a telescope and saw the bird sitting on its nest ; one egg was chipped and one youngster hatched, which was easily distinguished from the young Common Terns on the same island. Mr Robinson saw this nest with me. Black-headed Gull (Larus r. ridibundus),—As this bird has not been known to nest in Scilly since 1845, it is perhaps worth noting that we saw it twice in June by the freshwater pool on Bryher, and on July 4th, 1924, in St. Mary’s Harbour. It was not common in September, 1920. Quail (Coturnix c. coturnix)—On September 30th, 1920, at noon, one came on board the S.S. “ Peninnis”’ half way between Scilly and the mainland, and I released it next day at Penzance. As W. BOD: ABNORMAL EGG OF CARRION-CROW, I TooK a nest of Carrion-Crow (Corvus c. corone) at Coat, Martock, Somerset, on May 14th, 1924, with three eggs. Of these two were normal, but the third was the largest I have ever handled, measuring 5431.8 mm. As compared with the average Raven’s egg, it is considerably longer, though, of course, not so bulky. JOsEPH H. SyMEs. [Extremely elongated eggs of the Carrion-Crow are occasionally met with, and I have examined specimens measuring 49.4X 32.1 and 49X32.5 mm., but the above recorded egg is longer than any of which I have notes.— F.C. R. JouRDAIN.] VOL. XVII.] NOTES. | 109 UNUSUAL SITUATION OF CHAFFINCH’S NEST. Wiru reference to Mr. R. H. Brown’s note (antea, p. 72) on the brooding of a Chaffinch (Fringilla c. celebs) the following observations are taken from my notes for 1923. ‘They are from a district of Midlothian about I,000 feet above sea level where the resident smaller birds are late in nesting. On June 2nd, the first really warm day of the season, every Chaffinch seemed to be occupied with building and work was proceeding at a great pace. One nest found was in the top of a partly rotten and hollowed out fence post alongside a rather straggling hedge of hawthorn. By the 17th of the month this nest was, complete with a lining of feathers, and in the morning the hen bird was sitting although no eggs were laid when I visited the nest later on in the day. A week later the nest was still quite in order and still no eggs had been laid, although the birds were still frequenting the hedge. By June 30th the nest was ruffled up and ‘110 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL, XVIII, apparently deserted, but there was another nest in the hedge a few yards away which may have been the work of the same pair. As the nest in the fence post was in a fairly unusual position I enclose a photograph. I can remember seeing one in a somewhat similar position when at school, and in that case the post was not hollowed out, but the nest was partially supported by branches of the hedge growing against the fence. CHARLES G. CONNELL. SCARCIPY-OF YELLOW WAGTATE. WITH reference to the notes (antea, p. 55) on the scarcity of the Yellow Wagtail (Motacilla /. rayi), 1 had been particularly struck by their scarcity in N.W. Norfolk before I read the notes. There is a small heath about a quarter of a mile from — my bungalow where every year three or four pairs have nested. On April 17th, 1924, I saw one Yellow Wagtail at this spot, but never saw it again and am quite sure that they did not breed there this year. I saw one other Yellow Wagtail on some grass marshes about the end of May which I think must have had a nest near by. Beyond these two I did not see any others, although I went to several places where usually they are quite common. N. TRACY. VARIATION IN BREEDING SEASON OF THE WHEATEAR. WitH reference to my note on the breeding season of the Wheatear (inanthe we. enanthe), Vol. XVII., p. 143, I now give the figures for Sea‘ord, Sussex, during the last three years :— Average date Mean: No. of of full Earliest. ' Latest. Nests. Clutch. T9223 -1r 2. (Mey seth. 2t, May ath. -< 8 -May rots L928"... 13°... Apml 26th~..4 Apoikzach .. ua seam Toz4 4). 12 45 Mey qth). SApml27tie = May 1a It will be seen that 1924 was six days later on the average than 1923. J. F. THomas. REDBREAST NESTING IN WOODPECKER’S HOLE. On July igth, 1924, I found the nest of a Redbreast (Evithacus rv. melophilus) containing young in an old Wood- pecker’s hole twelve feet up a poplar tree at South Wooton, ‘Norfolk. The young birds left the nest on July 25th. The site seems rather an unusual one, but I think it may be accounted for by the fact that I have had many disasters VOL. XVII. | NOTES. 111 with my ground-building birds this year through the agency of rats. N. TRACY. WOODPECKERS AND FIR-CONES. Wits reference to my former note on this subject, Vol. XVIL., p. 276, the Greater Spotted Woodpeckers (Dryobates m. anglicus) left off working on the fir-cones in N.W. Norfolk on April1 3th, after which I did not hear them until August 9th, when I once more heard the old familiar sound. I had not time just then to investigate, but the next day I went round to some of their favourite feeding places and picked up about a dozen freshly worked green cones. I am rather surprised at the birds tackling the cones at this time of the year, as there cannot be any insect shortage yet; but they evidently acquired a taste for the seeds during the winter and are now varying their insect diet with a vegetarian one. After the Wood- peckers left off working on the cones in the spring, I found them tackling oak galls. These they wedged in circular cavities which they had cut in the bark of some dead fir stumps, and then split them in two to extract the grubs. In one instance they used a cleft where they had been working fir-cones. A few days ago I found on the top of one of the fir stumps some crab-apples which had been split open for the seeds, evidently by the Woodpeckers. N. TRAGY. STOCK-DOVES BREEDING IN CO. MAYO. I HAVE already drawn attention (Vol. XVII., p. 312) to the fact of the Stock-Dove (Columba @nas) having extended its range to co. Mayo, and mentioned the possibility of its having ‘nested in 1923. I have now proof of its nesting, having found a bird incubating on May 27th, 1924. The nest was on the top of an ivy-covered wall. There were almost certainly three other pairs nesting in the vicinity of the house, but owing to the number of suitable nesting-sites and the thick foliage of the trees, I was only able to discover definitely the whereabouts of one of these. ROBERT F. RUTTLEDGE. LATE NESTING OF THE COMMON SNIPE IN KENT. ON July 7th I was shown two nests of the Common Snipe (Capella g. gallinago) situated in a water meadow of rank grass about a quarter of a mile from the river Medway in the parish of Nettlestead, Kent. Each nest contained four eggs. That. the Snipe is increasing as a regular nesting species in Kent is well known, but I have never seen ¢wo nests close to each other in July. Mr. Meade-Waldo tells me that Snipe 112 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL, XVIII. have two broods in the year and sometimes three nests ; this would bring the third brood well into July. My own experience is that all ‘‘ Waders” that I have observed in the British Isles will go on laying eggs and try to bring up their young, if the nests are destroyed, almost indefinitely. Would any have three broods, and some two, under normal circumstances ? JAMES R. HALE. [Eggs of the Snipe have been recorded on several occasions in August, but in my opinion such cases are not due to second or third broods, but merely to repeated destruction of previous layings.—F.R.C.J.] LARGE CLUTCHES OF COMMON TERNS’ EGGS IN SCILLY. THANKS to careful protection from two-legged as well as four- legged robbers of their eggs, the Common Tern (Sterna hirundo) has again, this year (1924), become fairly well established as a breeding species in the Isles of Scilly. Clutches of four eggs among Terns are so unusual that it may be of interest to state that on one island there were three such clutches, one of these being still unhatched on June 30th. On another island I was astonished to find a clutch of five eggs, the fifth egg being upright with-the thin end downwards. In each clutch the eggs were all of one type and evidently belonged to one bird in each case, rather than to two hens laying in one nest. The clutches this year were all large; for instance on one rock ten out of the eleven nests contained clutches of*three, and the eleventh a clutch of two. H. W. RosBInson. [Nests containing four eggs are not very unusual in large colonies of Common Terns and at the Farnes I have seen four sets of four eggs each in a patch not more than five yards square, while only a few yards off were two more clutches of four. In some of the Norfolk colonies clutches of four occur annually, sometimes in considerable numbers.—F.C.R.].] LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL NESTING IN COLONY WHERE HATCHED, As dead Lesser Black-backed Gulls (Larus fuscus affinis) are very rare in the breeding colonies, one or possibly two per season being the number found in the large colonies with which I have been associated during the past fifteen years, there are no records of ringed birds of this species returning to nest in the colony in which they themselves were hatched. On July 29th, 1924, I visited the large colony in Westmorland | | VOL. XVI] NOTES. 113 and found one adult dead. It was sitting in a natural attitude as if alive, with neck straight and head held high, and, although cold, the eye showed that the bird had died that day, and recently, for it was not fly-blown. On picking it up I was delighted to find B.B. ring No. 34202 upon its leg, showing that I marked it there, and in that end of the colony, as a chick on July 14th, 1916. This is, I believe, the first and only record of a British Lesser Black-backed Gull being found dead in its parent gullery. H. W. RosBInson. QUAIL IN CAMBRIDGESHIRE. DurInG the last eight years I have only three times noticed the Quail (Coturnix c. coturnix) near Cambridge. In 1916 I heard and saw a bird in a lucerne field beside the Fleam Dyke ; and in 1918 or 191g I heard the call-note in a clover field on the Gog Magogs. Each ensuing summer I searched this bit of country without success ; but on August gth of this year I heard a Quail calling in a weed-grown fallow field on the chalk ridge not far from Newmarket. This field was only about 14 acres in extent and surrounded by miles of cornfields in which, so far as I was able to search them, no other examples were to be heard. This predilection for leguminous or weed crops on the chalk may perhaps account for the scarcity and irregularity of the Quails’ occurrence round Cambridge, where the higher ground is mostly cornland. Maup D. BRINDLEY. RARE BrrRDs ON Farr ISLE.—Surgeon Rear-Admiral J. H. Stenhouse, who paid a visit to Fair Isle from September 6th to October 4th, 1923, records (Scot. Nat., 1923, p. 173) having observed two adult Norwegian Bluethroats (Luscinia s. gaetket), at least seven Blue-headed Wagtails (Motacilla f. flava), five Yellow-browed Warblers (Phylloscopus h. premium) and a Grasshopper-Warbler (Locustella n nevia). In the same journal (1924, p. 4) it is recorded that an adult male Coues’s Redpoll (Carduelis h. exilipes) was obtained on the island on October 22nd, 1923. ALBINO CARRION-CROW IN WESTMORLAND.—Mr. L. E. Hope informs us that on May 3rd, 1924, an albino Carrion- Crow (Corvus c. corone) was caught in a rabbit trap near Appleby and was sent to the Carliske Museum. Mr. Hope states that in general coloration the bird is a rich cream, the plumage much worn and moulting had commenced, two half-grown primaries being in each wing. The legs were pale grey, the beak grey, darker at the tip, iris pale blue. 114 BRITISH BIRDS. [VoL. XVIII. Roostinc Hapits OF Rooxs.—Attention may be drawn to two interesting papers on this subject in The Scottish Naturalist, the one referring to Bute by the Rev. J. M. McWilliam (1924, pp. 5-7) and the other to Lanarkshire by Mr. W. Stewart (1924, pp. 69-74). Woop-Lark IN FIFESHIRE.—The Misses L. J. Rintoul and E. V. Baxter record (Scot. Nat., 1924, p. 75) that they identi- fied a Wood-Lark (Lullula arborea) at Balcomie on April 7th, 1924. The bird has not previously been recorded from the mainland of Scotland. WHITE WAGTAIL AND PIED FLYCATCHER IN NORFOLK.— Mr. N. Tracy informs us that on April 18th, 1924, he identified a Motacilla alba alba on a heath near South Wooton, and on May 11th in a wood near the same place he had a male Muscicapa h. hypoleuca under observation for three-quarters of an hour. Both appear to have been passing migrants as neither were seen again. SIBERIAN LESSER WHITETHROAT ON FaIR IsLE.—Besides the two occurrences of Sylvia curruca affinis, included in the “additions ’’ in the Practical Handbook, a third example is now recorded by Dr. Clarke and Admiral Stenhouse (Scot. Nat., 1924, p. 4) as having been obtained on Fair Isle by Mr. J. Wilson on October 16th, 1923. BLACK REDSTART IN MIDLOTHIAN.—Two Black Redstarts (Phenicurus o. gibraltariensis) were seen by Colonel D. A. Wauchope in the Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh, on May -Ist, 1924 (Scot. Nat., 1924, p.-76). One, a male, he watched for several minutes at a distance of a few feet. The bird has seldom been recorded from the mainland of Scotland. ALPINE SWIFT IN DEVONSHIRE.—Mr. C. R. H. Edwards states (Field, 8.v.1924, p. 636) that he shot an Alpine Swift (Apus melba) on April 14th, 1924, at Start Point. ALPINE SWIFTS SEEN IN WIGTOWNSHIRE.—The Duchess of Bedford records (Scot. Nat., 1924, p. 84) that a “‘ small party ” of Alpine Swifts (Apus melba) appeared about the middle of September, 1923, at Corsewall Lighthouse, Stranraer. The birds stayed for several days and were many times seen about the buildings by the lightkeeper and his wife who, we are informed by the Duchess, are well known to her as reliable observers and know Common Swifts perfectly. GREAT SPOTTED CUCKOO REPORTED FROM Co. KERRY.— Prof. L. P. W. Renouf of the University College, Cork, records (Irish Nat., 1924, p. 30) that he has received from Mr. Charles VOL. XVIII. | NOTES. 115 O’Driscoll the “remains” of a Great Spotted Cuckoo (Clamator glandarius) which was found dead during February, rg18, near Caherciveen. The bird was said to have been accompanied by another for about a week. At the same time a Hoopoe (Upupa epops) was in a neighbouring field for a week, after which it was shot, while seven other Hoopoes were in the neighbourhood. The Editors append some further particulars from which it would appear that Mr. O'Driscoll had the Hoopoe mounted and that Messrs. Williams of Dublin state that this bird was received by them on April roth, 1918. It would therefore seem that the date of the appearance of the Cuckoo was about the end of March, a much more likely date than February. It was not realized that the Cuckoo was a rare bird and it was not sent to be preserved, but the ‘‘remains ’’ have been examined by the editors of the J7ish Naturalist who state that they are undoubtedly those of a Great Spotted Cuckoo. The bird has twice previously been recorded from Ireland, once from Kerry and once from Connemara. LITTLE OWL IN CUMBERLAND.—Mr. H. C. Gandy reports (Field, 5.vi.19g24, p. 793) that a Little Owl (Athene noctua) was caught near Cumwhinton in a rabbit trap in February, 1924. The specimen has been preserved by Mr. L. E. Hope of the Carlisle Museum. LITTLE OWL IN BERWICKSHIRE.—Mr. J. P. F. Bell records (Scot. Nat., 1924, p. 76) that a Little Owl (Athene noctua) was caught in a trap in a rabbit-burrow on Lamberton Moor on April 4th, 1924. The bird has been presented to the Royal Scottish Museum. In recent years single birds have been recorded from Fife (1910), Roxburgh (1921) and Northumber- land (1919). JROUGH-LEGGED BUZZARD IN Co. WickKLow.—A Rough- legged Buzzard (Buteo lagopus), an uncommon visitor to Ireland, was caught in a trap at Ballinrush, near Lough Dan, in the second week of December (1923) and has been sent to the Dublin Zoological Gardens (Irish Nat., 1924, p. 31). SPOONBILL IN YORKSHIRE.—Mr. F. Snowdon records (Nat., 1924, p. 253) that an immature example of Platalea 1. Icu- corodia, in an emaciated condition, was found dead on the beach at Saltwich, near Whitby, on July 3rd, 1924. SPOONBILL IN Co. KERRy.—Prof. L. P. W. Renouf records (Irish Nat., 1924, p. 30) that a Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia) was shot on September 29th (? 1923) on the Valencia Estuary. 116 BRITISH BIRDS. [VoL. XVIII. GLossy Isis IN Cork.—Mr, J. W. Brasier-Creagh reports (Feld, 13.11.1924, p. 346) that a Glossy Ibis. (Plegadis falcinellus) was shot on February 20th, 1924, near Churchtown, co. Cork, and sent to Messrs. Williams of Dublin for preservation. SNOW-GOOSE IN OUTER HEBRIDES.—Dr. W. Eagle Clarke records (Scot. Nat., 1924, p. 9) the occurrence of an example of Anser hyperboreus hyperboreus, which was obtained on Barra on October 9th, 1917, by Mr. W. L. MacGillivray and is now in the Royal Scottish Museum. As Dr. Clarke quite rightly points out the specimen obtained in the Solway in 1884 (not 1854 as printed in the Practical Handbook, Vol. II., p. 249) was not preserved and not examined by an orinthologist and may have been a Greater Snow-Goose (A. h. nivalis). The Barra specimen is therefore the first authenticated specimen for Scotland of the smaller form, ' PRATINCOLE RECORDED AS SEEN IN MORAYSHIRE.—Majot A. Stables states (Scot. Nat., 1924, p. 8) that on August 17th, 1923, he watched for about an hour at Loch Spynie a bird which he identified as a Pratincole. Beyond the statement that he “‘ suddenly saw what seemed to be a giant swallow of sorts, which when it got within range I saw was a Pratincole,” the record does not give any evidence for the correctness of the identification, nor does he state if he was familiar with the species. He adds, however, that as the bird never flew “directly overhead ”’ he could not see the under wing-coverts ; but it is not necessary for the bird to fly directly overhead to enable one to see the under-wing. THE SPREAD AND DISTRIBUTION OF THE WOODCOCK AS A BREEDING BIRD IN SCOTLAND.—Under this title the Misses FE. V. Baxter and L. J. Rintoul contribute a valuable paper to the Scottish Naturalist (1923, pp. 177-183 ; 1924, pp. 13-40 and 47-51). This consists of a General Introduction, a Chronological List of Records and a List of Works referred to, while the detailed facts which form the bulk of the paper are given under counties and faunal areas. The paper itself should be consulted, but it may be remarked that the authors consider that the increase and spread of the Woodcock (Scolopax rusticola) as a breeding species in Scotland has been due to the provision of more suitable nesting sites, by the much greater extent of plantations since the beginning of the nineteenth century, and to the protection of the bird in the spring. ‘VOL, XVIII. ] NOTES. dg GREAT SNIPE IN SHETLAND.—Mr. A. J. Nicolson records that a Great Snipe (Capella media) was shot in Fetlar on September 20th, 1923, and has been sent to the Royal Scottish Museum. GLAuCcouS GULLS IN THE ISLANDS OF SCILLY.—CORRECTION. —Mr. H. M. Wallis writes that the date upon which he saw the three Glaucous Gulls on Tresco Pool was May 28th, 1924, and not June Ist, as stated antea, p. 73. LETTERS. CHAFFINCH NESTING ON THE GROUND. To the Editors of BritisH BirDs. Srrs,—Referring to Mrs. Taylor’s note (antea, p. 74), I once found the nest of a Chaffinch (Fringilla c. celebs) built on the ground at the foot of a hazel bush at Wilsden. There was no lack of more suitable nesting places in the immediate neighbourhood of this nest. 2, Pe ButtEREIpED, ABERRANT SONG OF CHIFFCHAFF. To the Editors of BRiTIsH Brrpbs. Strs,—On June 15th, 1924, near Cumdivock, Cumberland, I listened to a Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus c. collybita) singing, and after uttering its own song the bird ended with a portion of the Willow-Warbler’s song. This performance was repeated several times, and then the Chiffchaff devoted itself exclusively to its own song. This is an interesting confirmation of the aberrant song of this species as already noticed by Messrs. C, W. Colthrup and B. Lloyd (Vol. XVI., pp. 134, 161, 227). R. H. Brown. SONG-THRUSH AND OTHER BIRDS IMITATING WADERS. To the Editors of BritisH Brrps. Srrs,—Referring to the letters under the above heading (antea, p. 88), I have, on several occasions this year, heard a Song-Thrush in my garden incorporating the call of the Curlew into its song. The imitation was remarkable for its accuracy, but the notes were much weaker than those of the Curlew, and it was this which led me to investigate and to discover that it was a Song-Thrush which was producing them. Sometimes I heard just the call of the Curlew repeated once or twice only, at others the call of the Curlew preceded and concluded by the ordinary notes of the Thrush without any break. LOXBEARE, TIVERTON, DEVON. STANLEY PERSHOUSE. To the Editors of BritisH Brrps. Srrs,—On several occasions I have heard a Song-Thrush using the call-note of the Redshank in its song, and first find this mentioned in my notes for March, 1918. I have no note of the Song-Thrush imitating the Curlew, but have heard Starlings using the rippling note of the latter. e 118 BRITISH BIRDS. [VoL. XVI. Ican also corroborate Mrs. Audrey Gordon’s statement that Skylarks will include the alarm-note of the Dunlin in their songs. R. H. Brown. To the Editors of BririsH BirDs. S1rs,—With reference to Mr. C. I. Evans’s note (antea, p. 62), it may be of interest to record that in June of this year (1924), at Mickle Trafford, near Chester, there was a Song-Thrush in the garden which was continually imitating the Redshank which were breeding not far away and could be heard from the garden. The imitation was so good that, at first, I thought the notes were made by the Redshank. HiLpa TERRAS. THE NORMAL CLUTCH OF SANDWICH TERN’S EGGS. To the Editoys of BRITISH BirDs. Sirs,—I agree with Mr. Borrer that a genuine clutch of three eggs of the Sandwich Tern (Sterna s. sandvicensis) is an extreme rarity ; I have never seen one. Many people know the Drigg Colony better than I do, but during three visits there I have never seen a clutch of three eggs. But in a colony in the Orkneys that I know extremely well one egg is as common as two eggs. I should like to correct a statement in A Hand-List of British Birds, on page 193, where in a note I am quoted as saying that this bird breeds on Sanday and not North Ronaldshay ; the facts are that it varies from island to island, - and this, as far as I can judge, depends on whether it is badly “ harried ”’ or not. Generally speaking, every egg of every bird is systematically taken by children and the contents broken into skim milk and given . to calves. On several occasions I have met children with a bucket full of eggs, amongst them being Sandwich Terns, Red-necked Phalaropes and various Gulls and Ducks. James R. Hate. August 8th, 1924. In Mr. O. A. J. Lee’s work on British Birds in theiy Nesting Haunts there is a beautiful photograph of a clutch of three eggs of the Sandwich Tern taken on the Farnes on May roth, 1893 (Vol. I., p. 72). This author states that there were over 200 nests that year on an islet joined to the inner Wide-opens at low water and that the eggs were usually three in number and one nest was seen with four eggs in it. In 1918, on the other hand, I did not see a single set of three out of some hundreds examined, although they undoubtedly occur there. F. C. R. JourRDAIN, REVIEWS. Systema Avium Ethiopicarum. A Systematic List of the Birds of the Ethiopian Region. By William Lutley Sclater, M.A., M.B.O.U. (Prepared in conjunction with special committees of the British and American Ornithologists’ Unions.) Part I. Published by the British Ornithologists’ Union and sold by Wheldon & Wesley Ltd. Tuts work is the forerunner of an important series of lists of the birds of each zoogeographical region which it has been agreed shall be under- taken jointly by the British and American Ornithologists’ Unions. The former is to be responsible for the birds of the Old World and the latter for those of the New World. This volume forms part 1. of the list of birds of the Ethiopian region and covers all the orders except : VOL. Xvt.] \ “REVIEWS. © 119 the Passeres. Although the compilation of the list is the work of Mr. W. L. Sclater, the MS. and proofs have been approved by the special committees appointed for the purpose by each Union and the work thus has wide authority. It is hoped that the lists prepared under these committees will form a sure basis for a stabilized nomenclature. Systematic writers should certainly use the names adopted in these lists so far as purely nomenclatural questions are concerned, though what species should be grouped under what genera and what sub- species should be accepted, and taxonomic questions of a like nature, must of course be open for discussion for many years to come. Mr. Sclater defines the Ethiopian region as embracing that portion of Africa and the Arabian Peninsula lying south of the tropic of Cancer, and he includes a number of islands. Original references are given for both generic, specific and subspecific names, the method of fixing the type of the genus is explained and the type locality of the species or subspecies is stated. An English name is also given for each bird and its distribution is defined. In considering the list from the standpoint of British birds it is interesting to note how many there are common to both lists; but of all those in the present volume there are very few which breed both in the British Islands and alsoin the Ethiopian region. The Common Heron and the Kentish Plover are perhaps the only certain ones; the Osprey might also be included did it still breed in the British Isles ; the Shoveler and the Tufted Duck are said to breed in Abyssinia, but Mr. Sclater evidently does not regard this as proved; the Land-Rail “perhaps sometimes breeding ”’ is another doubtful case; the Little Tern which breeds on the west coast is thought probably to belong to a distinct race, as is the common Bee-Eater which has been recorded as occasionally nesting in South Africa. The Biology of Birds. By J. Arthur Thomson, M.A., LL.D., Professor of Natural History in the University of Aberdeen. Pp. xi.-436, with text illustrations and nine half-tone plates, (Sidgwick & Jackson.) 16s. net. PROFESSOR THOMSON has produced many delightful works, and to these the present work—thorough, informative and entertaining—is a notable addition. The book, the general production of which leaves nothing to be desired, deals with birds from the viewpoint of the general biologist. The why and the wherefore of migration, sexual display, structure, egg coloration, etc.; the evolution and pedigree of birds; the origin and mechanism of flight ; birds and adaptation ; birds as a sector in the web of life—these are the sort of lines along which our author leads us. He is for the moment a lecturer on biology whose illustrations are drawn entirely from the realms Of ornithology. The treatment is not new, but the rate of scientific progress is such that an up-to-date work of the kind was needed. The interest of the book is enhanced by the fact that the author eschews dogmatism. He considers every question from all aspects and gives every party a fair hearing. This manner of handling the subject is productive of surprises. The chapter on migration is, for instance, with the exception of the short introductory one, the briefest in the volume. Yet there are very few birds, perhaps none at all, that do not show the migratory impulse at some time or another. It is one of the most universal of avian characteristics. It has beén noticed and commented on from the days of Aristotle. But so little is it understood that a comprehensive presentaticn of its various 120 BRITISH BIRDS. (von. xvi, aspects is achieved in fifteen pages. Biologically speaking, migration remains a mystery. It seems to me that there exists a reason for such an unfortunate state of affairs and it is emphasized in another, and very useful, section of the book, the bibliography. In the nine pages of ‘“‘ books and papers referred to in the text ’’ one looks almost in vain for the familiar names of well-known ornithologists. True, there are some, but the vast majority are those of eminent zoologists, physiologists, anatomists, and even paleontologists. I{ seems almost incredible that an excellent bird book could be produced with such scanty reference to bird men, but it serves to accentuate the chasm that exists between ornitholo- gists and biologists. Biology implies the study of the ios of the bird, and no amount of specialized knowledge on the third coecum or vitelline capsules can altogether atone for its absence. As one turns over the pages of this work, the eye is caught by one statement after another which betrays a lack of acquaintance with the living bird, Matthew Arnold’s ‘‘ beautiful suggestion of the social stimulus ”’ causing a captive Stork to utter “‘a long complaining cry’’ at the sight of its relatives on migration (p. 170) has no doubt a substratum of truth in it, but the stimulus would not be manifested by a physical impossibility. If Hitzheimer really found the male Goshawks considerably larger than the females as stated on p. 209, we can only state that his experience differs from that of all other ornithologists. Norfolk naturalists will be surprised to learn that the Bittern is no longer a breeding bird in Britain (p. 157). Is it local patriotism which leads Professor Thomson to speak of the Red Grouse as having been introduced elsewhere “‘as on upland heaths in the north of England, on many Welsh moors and on many Irish hills,’ although it is indigenous in all three countries ? (p. 154.) On the same page we find the surprising assertion that the Kittiwake remains at the sea cliffs throughout the year! We think few field ornithologists would class the Cormorants among birds ‘‘ which only enter the water occasionally.’”’ (p. 148.) To class the Alpine Swift as a ‘“‘ mountain bird ” in the sense that the Ptarmigan and Snow Finch are mountain dwellers is also quite misleading, and we should be interested to learn details of the “‘ noble Falcon ’”’ whose eyry is typically on a cliff, but which may nest occasionally in a marsh (p. 295). Fantail Warblers do not sew leaves together to make their nests, still less do they knot the thread with which they sew (p. 295). Fortunately there is a tendency, very strongly marked at the present time, for the trained scientist to take more interest in the great problems of the field and for the bird student to become more enquiring into the scientific reason of things. When amalgamation of interests has taken place we can surely expect an increased knowledge on such an absorbing topic as migration. The Biology of Birds should be read—and it will inevitably be enjoyed—by every ornithologist, for it will reveal those problems and points of view that attract the attention of the trained laboratory scientist. To the latter, to whom we can commend the volume no less heartily, it will demonstrate the wealth of research material that birds have to offer, material that has been casually turned over from time to time, but has never been submitted to scientific analysis. ‘Co-operation and mutual understanding are more needed to-day in the study of bird-life than in probably any other branch of science. Professor Thomson’s book cannot fail to go a long way towards stimulating such co-operatio eT MO 7 PCD 4 J SED =9 SEP. 974 (Pam 3 ; ¢ pe ao ’ \4 Lege x) STEVENS’S AUCTION ROOMS, LTD. ESTD. 1760. 38, King Street, Covent Garden, London, W.C.2. 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Price List free, 10, STALMINE ROAD, WALTON, LIVERPOOL. BOOKS WANTED. Sharpe’s Monograph of the Paradiseide and Ptilonorynchide. 2 Vols. Coloured Plates. 1891-1898. Also the following— Hawkers Diary by Payne-Gallway, 1893, Donovan's Nat, Hist. of Birds, 1794-1819. Shaw's General Zoology, Aves 10 Vols. Headley’s Flight of Birds. Harleian Society Vols. II. and III., Lincolnshire Pedigrees, Visitations of Oxford, Vol. V., Middlesex Pedigrees, Vol. LXV. Address—A, c/o British Birds Office. BRITSIBIRDS « WITH WHICH W 1 WAS-INCORPRORATED IN JANUARY, 1917, ‘‘ THE ZOOLOGIST. i atk “ASSISTED BY F ae BY HE, WITHERBY, } M.B.E., F.Z.S., M.B.0.U. AND Norman EF. “TICEHURST, ©°B-E.,, McA, FR.C.S., M.B.O.U. | ; Rev, Fi ¢. 'R. JourpAm, M.A., M.B.O.U., H.F.A.0.U., Field-Notes on the Meebia as Observed in Cumberland. By | R. H. Brown a Acie A6E ae abe | Some Further Notes on the Courtship Behaviour of the Great Crested Grebe. By J. S. Huxley, m.a. Si0 On the Scientific Names of the Light- and Dark-Breasted Brent Geese. By Einar Lonnberg : : Notes :— “ BrRITIsH Birps ’’ Marking Scheme The Interval between Broods of Double- and Tréble- BEOeR Birds (Alistair C. Fraser) ; The Time-Period for Nest and necks Replacement {Major V W. M. Congreve) ; Scarcity of Yellow Wagtail (A. ae Corbet) Spoonbill in Suffolk (R. C. Davison) bo Spotted Redshanks in Cheshire (T. A. Coward) & Avocet in South Devon (Miss F. Collins and Col. R. M. oe Late Nesting of Woodcock (A. H. R. Wilson and ck S. Gladstone) fe Black Guillemot in Pemiiculkvehine (Miss ORS ales M. hatanay Short Notes :— The Roosting-Habits of the Tree- idl Sandwich Tern Breeding in Shetland ats 308 ais Letters :— Thrush Imitating Note of Green Woodpecker (H. E. Forrest) Song-Thrush Imitating Waders and other Birds (A. soueen Shore) The Normal Clutch of pee Tern’ S ee (a. W. Ride) I ) CONTENTS OF NUMBER 5, VOL. XVIII., OCTOBER 1, 1924. PAGE 139 129 139 140 140 141 141 142 143 143 144 144 (122 FIELD-NOTES ON THE MAGPIE, AS OBSERVED IN CUMBERLAND. BY Ry Hy BROWN. CourTsHIp.—On a few occasions I have seen the courtship of the Carrion-Crow (Corvus c. corone) and the Rook (C. f. frugilegus) and with both species the displays were similar. The sexes were recognized by their behaviour. The male approached the female and, with outspread wings and tail, bowed to her, at times almost touching the ground or tree branch (according to where the courtship was being conducted) with his bill, whilst at intervals a ‘‘ Caw, caw’ was uttered. I have never seen the Magpie (Pica p. pica) displaying in this way, but during the early part of 1924 the following displays were noted which evidently have some connexion with courtship. The first display was seen on February 16th, a warm, sunny day, but lost some of its value through my inability to recognize the sexes, though perhaps the birds which indulged in flights were males. There were seven Magpies in the top branches of a tree, chattering a good deal and pursuing one another about the branches. Now and again a bird would give expression to some musical- sounding notes like “‘ Chook, chook,” and as well as one could judge these notes were uttered by either sex. Also, fairly frequently, but always separately, three Magpies (males ?) would fly from the tree, perform a short flight, and then return to the same branch whence they started. Only these three birds indulged in flights, each one usually flying the same distance each time, and whilst one was performing a flight the others kept chattering, pursuing each other, and uttering their ‘‘ Chook, chook.”’ The flights were generally carried out in silence and in the case of one bird the flight was twice as long as that of the others, wavering for some time before it turned and went back. Once two Magpies were seen fighting, using their feet, but the fight lasted only for a minute. After half an hour of this display the birds flew away, one by itself, the rest in pairs. On March 11th, another sunny day, five Magpies flew into a holly bush in a neighbouring field. They began to pursue each other about the branches, chattering the while, and sometimes uttering their ‘‘ Chook, chook’ notes. Two birds indulged in flights, and the five performed as already described. After about twenty minutes of this the birds VOL. Xvil.] FIELD-NOTES ON THE MAGPIE, 123 separated, one going by itself, the others in pairs. Five minutes later they returned, performed as described for ten minutes, and then departed as before. On the evening of March 12th my attention was attracted by the chattering and “‘ chook ” notes of Magpies in a haw- thorn bush, and going towards the bush I found six in it, all engaged in a general mélée, but my approach frightened the birds away. ; The last display was noted on the evening of March 2oth, when four Magpies were seen in a fir tree, performing as described above. However, in the early morning of April 17th I noticed four others pursuing one another about the branches of a tree, but as none of them either indulged in flights or uttered the “‘ch00k”’ notes, it is probable they were paired. Nest Bur_tp1nc.—The Magpie shows a decided preference for the same nesting locality year after year, so that some- times the same tree is used for several years in succession, and occasionally one finds a nest built upon the remains of those of one or two previous years. Some pairs begin nest building in March, from the second week onwards, but usually April has arrived before the majority commence their nests. With the early nests there is often a considerable interval—as long as three weeks—between the completion of the nest and the laying of the first egg. The first nests built are usually very solid—and conspicuous—structures, built in about three weeks, the nest proper taking about two weeks, the lining another week. Both sexes assist in the work of building the nest, which is constructed of sticks and earth, moulded into a cup shape and overlaid with earth, then covered with a dome of sticks, an opening being left in the dome for entrance and exit. The dome-opening is often situated on the least accessible side of the tree, whilst occasionally there are two openings. The cup is then usually lined with fibrous roots, the thicker roots next the earth, the finer roots for the eggs to lie on. I have not as yet been able to ascertain whether the lining of the nest is the work of one sex or both. On visiting nests early in a morning I have found moist earth adhering to the roots, suggesting that the Magpie collects live roots for the nest lining. Individual Magpies have their own peculiarities, and hence all nests are not lined with fibrous roots. Some birds use binder-twine only, others a mixture of horsehair and roots, or hair, roots, and twine, whilst I have twice found a nest 124 - BRITISH BIRDS... [VOL. XVI. lined entirely with horsehair and have also noted paper in the lining. One nest built in a sycamore tree was lined entirely with oak leaves. However, these are just individual eccentricities, the usual lining being fibrous roots. The dome is generally built of thorny sticks, but one may find domes built entirely of non-thorny sticks or else of a mixture of thorny and non-thorny material and, if possible, the birds entwine the branches of the nest-tree into the dome. I have found nests in hawthorns covered with domes of non-thorny sticks and nests in fir trees whose domes were made of thorny sticks and vice versa. Most nests are built either in hawthorn bushes or else in Scotch pines or larches, and it is noticeable that the nest is built, if possible, on two or three branches. When situated in a hawthorn or fir tree it is usually in the topmost branches, but occasionally a pair will nest in a hawthorn hedge, and on these occasions it may be found in the middle of the bush, indeed, not more than four feet from the ground. Also, if allowed, the birds are fond of nesting in a hedge beside a poultry-run or a clump of trees surrounding a farm- house. Besides the Scotch fir and larch other trees utilized are the oak, ash, sycamore, and alder. If the first laying of eggs is taken or destroyed, another. nest is built and a second clutch laid, but if this clutch is destroyed the birds do not lay again that season. The second nest is usually not so well built as the first, and is often found within fifty yards of the first. A second laying may be looked for about a month after the first has been taken. LAYING AND INCUBATION.—The clutch varies from three to eight eggs, but the latter I have only found once and, curiously, all the eggs were infertile. Nests with three and four eggs are genuine first clutches as I have found by visiting the nests daily during the laying-period. One egg is laid each day, the female covering the eggs at night. In 1924 ten nests were visited daily during the laying-period to discover when incubation commenced, and it was found that with a clutch of three or four eggs incubation did not commence until the full clutch was laid, but with a larger clutch incubation usually commenced after the fourth or fifth egg. I have never watched a nest to see whether both sexes assist in incubation, but from the behaviour of the bird when put off the eggs I judge that the female alone incubates. Thus on putting a Magpie off.a clutch of eggs it flies away quietly, but if its mate is near, which often is VOL. xvul.] FIELD-NOTES ON THE MAGPIE. 125 the case, the latter starts chattering, and the noisier bird I take to be the male. Also if one visits the nest before incubation has started and both birds are near it, one will invariably chatter as long as anyone remains in the vicinity, but the other bird is often silent. If an egg does not hatch it is left in the nest. Full clutches are not usually found here until the third or fourth week in April, but as the birds will lay again if robbed, fresh eggs may be found until the first or second week of June. The average incubation-period is seventeen to eighteen days, and the fledgling-period twenty-four to twenty-seven days. First ee Incuba- pee Left Fledg- Nest. | Clutch. Hatched tion : the ing 4 a Egg. Ege. Period, oe Nest. |Period. Days Days I yi April 17 | April 23 | May ro m7 5 June 5 26 2 3 April 7} April 9 | April 27 18 I May 21 24 3 7 May 7| May 13 | May 30 17 4 June 23 24 4 6 May 22] May 27 | June 14 18 5 July x1 27 5 6 May 26] May 31 | June 18 18 5 July x2 24 In the above cases, all the eggs proved fertile. THe Younc.—The nestlings have flesh-coloured skins, free of any down, their mouths coloured inside deep flesh- colour, the external flanges pinkish-flesh. The skins rapidly assume a yellow tinge and when the nestlings begin to fledge, a greyish tinge. The coloration of the mouth inside changes first to pink, then to a deeper pink, and finally to purple, but the young may have left the nest before this final phase of mouth coloration is assumed. The nestlings are blind until seven or eight days old. When fledged the young have the iris pale grey. When they leave the nest their tails are not more than five inches long and they skulk about the undergrowth, fed by their parents, and doing little flying until their tails are full grown. I have never known all the young to be reared, and usually one nestling, sometimes two or three, disappear. The figures in the above table are typical of the number of young reared in proportion to those hatched. Five young reared out of six hatched is a good average and one has known only two to be reared out of five hatched and four out of seven. Food probably plays an important part in the matter as most Magpies appear to collect all their food within a half-mile radius of the nesting-site, and with a large family to support, no doubt the supply is not always equal to the 126 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XVII, demand, and the last-born nestlings die of starvation or are killed by their stronger brethren. JI am convinced they do not fall out of the nest, for occasionally a fledged youngster is found dead at the base of a nest-tree, but never, in my experience, an unfledged one. Besides, the shape of the nest is against a nestling falling out. FEEDING OF THE YouNG.—AII the data with regard to the brooding and feeding of the young was obtained from two nests watched during 1924. The young are brooded during the day until they are ten or eleven days old. Both sexes assisted in feeding, often arriving at the nest together. Magpies usually adopt a circuitous route in visiting the nest and on reaching the nest-tree are greeted by the chirping of their family, which is kept up until the adults have left. Occasionally also an adult was heard to utter a crooning-like noise whilst feeding the young. No feces were ever seen to be carried away, but the insides of the nests are always kept clean, so presumably the feces are swallowed by the adults or else dropped outside the nest, as the branches below are sometimes very much splashed. No food could be detected in the adults’ beaks when they arrived at the nest. Nest 1. Four young, seven days old. Fed five times in three hours. (2-5 p.m.) Nest 1.—Four young, twelve days old. Fed three times in two hours. (7-9 p.m.) Nest 2.—Five young, nine days old. Fed four times in two hours. (9.30-II.30 a.m.) Nest 2.—Five young, seventeen days old. Fed twelve times in two hours. (1.15-3.15 p.m.) As the nestlings become fledged they are apt to be noisy, and the nest may be found by hearing the young calling out for food. Also on being handled they are usually very noisy. Their chattering will often bring the adults into the nest-tree. After leaving the nest the young remain with their parents some time and then appear to be driven away, as during July and August one sees fighting occurring amongst undoubted family parties. FLOCKING AND Roostinc Hapits.—During the winter months the Magpie is partly gregarious and in places where they are not molested parties of fifteen to twenty can be seen during the daytime. In these same localities, however, odd pairs are to be seen, so possibly the small flocks may consist of unmated birds. With the approach of night all VoL. xvi.] FIELD-NOTES ON THE MAGPIE. 127 the Magpies in a neighbourhood flock together and roost in some favourite locality, often a fir wood or tall hedgerow. I note that dusk has usually fallen before the birds, with much chattering, go to roost, and indeed, with the exception of the Carrion-Crow, the Magpie must be the last bird to go to roost. This roosting habit lasts into the month of April, when they commence building, and during that work some pairs roost in their nest-trees at night, but when the female has begun to lay the male evidently roosts elsewhere. If two or three pairs in the same neighbourhood are robbed of their first clutches the birds will flock again for a few days, until they begin their second nests. FEEDING Hapsits.—In the early autumn months the Magpie may be seen perched on the back of a sheep, searching its fleece for insects. Outside the autumn months I have only one record of a Magpie on a sheep’s back, in early March. Throughout the winter the birds are often noticed overturning the droppings of beasts in order to get any concealed insects. With the advent of spring and cultural operations on the land attention is paid to the newly-sown cornfields, but the birds appear to visit these fields more when the corn is two or three inches high. It is during the spring and early summer that the Magpie commits most damage, as it takes any eggs it can find. When a nest is found, generally both Magpies will visit it, and usually one bird keeps guard whilst the other robs the nest. In my experience the egg or eggs (as occasionally two eggs are carried at once) are taken away in the beak, laid on the ground, broken, and eaten. I have never seen a Magpie take a young bird, but have no doubt it will occasionally do so, especially if it has young to feed. Thus one day I noticed a pair of Starlings driving a Magpie away from their nest, which was situated in the roof of a deserted house and contained partly fledged young. The following day the young had disappeared. Another time a pair of Willow-Warblers were observed attempting to drive a Magpie away from their nest of young, flying at it and striking it with their wings. In both these cases the Magpies had nests of young. On a third occasion I had concealed myself near a Kingfisher’s nest. Hardly was I hidden before a Magpie flew down to a branch beside the tunnel and craned its neck up the tunnel as if wondering whether it could reach the young, but eventually it flew away. However, the Magpie is liable to have its eggs taken by other birds, the principal thief being the Carrion-Crow, and 128 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XVIII. they will always attack any Crows that venture too near their nests. These are not the only occasions when Magpies will attack Crows, as I have known a pair dispute with a pair of Carrion-Crows the possession of a clump of fir trees, evidently desired by both species for breeding purposes. Except in the case of the Carrion-Crow it is rarely that the Magpie will show fight, usually contenting itself with chattering loudly at any enemies. One morning my brother and I visited a Magpie’s nest in a Scotch pine and as we approached the nest heard the chattering of Magpies. Just as the nest-tree was reached we saw a squirrel make its way out of the nest closely pursued by the two birds, chattering loudly but not attacking it. On climbing up to the nest I found one egg broken and a number of Magpie’s feathers sticking to the inside of the nest-dome, suggesting that the squirrel had surprised the Magpie whilst brooding the eggs. When feeding, Magpies usually keep by themselves, and if in a large flock, one or two birds are often posted as outlook in some hedge or tree. Occasionally one or two may be seen feeding with a flock of Rooks, but generally the latter drive them away. Although the Magpie is a conspicuous bird its habitual caution, and the close resemblance between the sexes, render the task of observation by no means an easy one. ( 129 ) SOME FURTHER NOTES ON THE COURTSHIP | BEHAVIOUR OF THE GREAT CRESTED GREBE.* BY J. S. HUXLEY, ™.a. Havin previously watched in some detail the Great Crested Grebe’s (Podiceps c. cristatus) post-mating courtship (Huxley, ’14)+, I was anxious to discover more about the earliest stages of its annual history, about which, as I had previously ascer- tained, hardly anything was to be found in the literature. — A number of pairs of Grebes nest on the lake at Blenheim, about eight miles from Oxford, and it was there that the following observations were made. I wish here to acknow- ledge my indebtedness to various members of the Oxford Ornithological Society who took up my suggestion of watching, and notably Messrs. Banks, de Beer and Tucker. SEASON 1922-1923. The Great Crested Grebe appears to differ in different localities in its winter behaviour. Blenheim is one of the places which it deserts altogether in winter. No Grebes were seen from the first visit paid on November 8th, 1922, to the end of January, 1923. At the end of the first week of February two birds were noted, then three a day or so later, two again on February 17th, four on February 23rd. (Itis, of course, possible on a large sheet of water, really making two considerable lakes joined by a strait, to miss one or two birds ; but experience showed that with a little trouble the error is always small.) By February 28th there were eight birds. By March 3rd there were fourteen or fifteen birds, and finally on April rst there were twenty-four or twenty-five birds. Thus migration is spread over a long period. Up to and including February 17th, no sexual activity of any sort was noted. No courtship proper (mutual head- shaking ceremony) occurred before February 28th; but on February 17th the two birds, when within sight of each other, frequently went into the typical attitude of hostility, which is also similar to that of search for a mate (neck right down and forward, ruff in curtain form brushing the water, and special cry), although at some distance from each other throughout. On February 28th two pairs indulged in the * Contributions from the Oxford Ornithological Society, No. 1. { Huxley, J. S., Proc. Zool. Soc., 1914. 130 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XVIII. head-shaking courtship. The other four definitely appeared to be unpaired, three of them repeatedly going into the hostility attitude. On March 3rd again only two pairs indulged in courtship, one repeatedly at intervals for over one and a half hours. Besides this, there were obviously three, and possibly four, other pairs, leaving four to five, or two tothree, unpaired birds. At least two of these unpaired birds were repeatedly going into the “ hostile’’ attitude. When near a pair the attitude was exaggerated, and was answered by the male of the pair going into a similar attitude (cf. Huxley, ’14). One of the pairs which had been head-shaking later added weed to an already half-built nest or pairing-platform. The — early date of this is of interest. Details are appended below. On April rst I did not have time to go carefully into the question of how many birds were paired. Most birds, how- ever, seemed to be so, and were to be seen close together on ~ open water. In spite of its being a fine day, considerably less courtship was seen than on March 3rd. The solitary birds which were seen on and after February 17th in the hostile attitude all appeared to be males, judging by the size of their crests. This, however, is not a certain criterion unless both birds of a pair can be seen together, so I will content myself by saying that most of them were probably males. It thus appears probable that only males were present on February 17th, and that the proportion of females to the whole number gradually increased as time went on. This would imply that the males which are unmated probably arrive on the breeding grounds before the unmated females. It gives no information as to the behaviour of pairs which were mated in previous seasons. The behaviour of the building pair on March 3rd was of considerable interest. Both were busily engaged in picking small pieces of weed from the surface and depositing them on the nest, which had now reached about an inch above the surface. After a time, the female laid her neck flat on the nest, her body being still in the water. Unfortunately, I could not make out what the male was doing, as he was hidden by branches. After this both birds dived several times, coming up with large bunches of weed which they laid on the nest. Then the hen got out on to the nest and assumed a remarkable attitude, the body slightly inclined forward, the neck, with a slight curve in it, sloped downward at an angle of about 30°. There was a curious rigid look about VoL. xvi.] THE GREAT CRESTED GREBE. 131 the bird, which was accentuated by the fact of her remaining motionless in this position for several seconds. She then sank down on to the nest, into what would have been the ‘normal female coition-attitude, except that the neck was raised a trifle from the horizontal. She remained thus for a good half-minute. The male approached the nest, but soon departed again. The female then raised herself into the same rigid standing position for some seconds, and a second time sank down from this into the coition-attitude. Again the male took no particular notice. The female then got off the nest and both went off on to open water. Several points in connection with this incident are of interest : (1) Probably the structure was a pairing-platform and not a true nest. In any case, eggs are not normally due to be laid by the Grebe until late April, so that either the pairing-platform is built some time before it is used, in which case its building could properly be looked upon as a mutual “courtship ”’ ceremony, like the head-shaking which also starts as soon as the birds are on the breeding-grounds and in pairs, or else, unlike the Buntings and presumably most Passerine birds, the female Grebe desires and permits coition before ovulation is possible. _ (2) The rigid pose on the nest is similar to the pose noted by Selous on the nest later in the season as a preparatory to coition. Other points. Whenever a solitary bird in the search (hostility) pose passed near a mated pair, it was the male of the pair which went into the hostility attitude. This con- firms my belief that the solitary birds were males (see Eitxley, ’r4). 1923-1924. October 14th, 1923.—A short bout of head-shaking. This is very late in the season. October 25th, 1923.—Six Grebes present. November 4th, two. November roth, one. November 24th.—Three Grebes, although much of lake frozen. December 1st, no Grebes. January 20th, 1924——-No Grebes. January 26th, one. February 7th, two Grebes; clearly not a pair. Once they followed each other. Search attitude and call at intervals. February 15th, three Grebes. February 17th.—Three Grebes, all far apart. One went about for some time in the search or hostility attitude. March 2nd.—Five Grebes. Two of these clearly a pair. Two short bouts of shaking, followed by diving for weed and 182 BRITISH BIRDS. [ VOL. XVIII, 5)3} a short “ penguin-dance”’ (Huxley, ’14), which itself passed immediately into a short bout of shaking. This is the earliest record I have of this type of ceremony. March 6th.—Nine Grebes. One pair (A) had a short bout of shaking. Then visited a reed-bed ; the female entered, but the male stayed near the outside. A second pair (B). Four bouts of head-shaking seen, two very long. During the end of the last the male continued the typical shaking, while the female looked in one direction all the time. (This is the first record I have of one bird ceasing to shake while the other continues.) A third pair (c). A single male bird was seen croaking repeatedly (search call). A female separated from a group of three some distance away. The two approached each other, both with outstretched necks. Suddenly the female assumed a splendid “ cat-attitude ’ (Huxley ’14) with wings out- spread and ruff erected. The male dived ; rose upright from the water close in front of his mate; held himself in this position for a few seconds, then settled down, and both birds indulged in a bout of shaking. During the bout the male put his head right back until the beak was pointing straight up; then shook, and then straightened hisneck. This action was repeated through- out. The female performed thus during the latter part of the bout, normally during the early part. Later, the male approached the female of a fourth pair (D), but she swam off and was not pursued. He then turned and swam back in the search attitude towards his own mate. She took no notice. Later they had a second bout, partly of normal head-shaking, partly with beak thrown up as above described. The (D) pair remained close together, but never indulged in any courtship actions. © The unpaired ninth bird was one with hardly visible ruff and crest—apparently still in winter plumage. It was not seen to go into the search attitude or manifest any other sexual activity. March r1th.—A number of boats on the lake. Much calling and excitement by Grebes when a boat came into their territory. One was seen swimming along outstretched flat along the water, in an almost typical coition-attitude, with head occasionally turned from side to side. This I have never seen so early, or in a solitary bird. I should also like to put on record a ceremony I saw at Blenheim in the late spring of 1922, since it was different in detail from anything which I have previously noted in the species. j : 1 SS ea ee a RS. ee VoL. xvur.] THE GREAT CRESTED GREBE, 133 A pair were close together on the open water. The male went into the search or hostile attitude, and, in this pose, with ruff sweeping the water, swung back and forwards over a small arc of a circle. The female, meanwhile, assumed the typical head-shaking attitude with partially-erected ruff and vertically-stretched neck, and remained close behind her mate. After perhaps half a minute, the ceremony ended, but was repeated twice more at short intervals. Finally it was performed again, but with the réles of the sexes reversed, the female in the search attitude, the male in the shaking attitude. The male, however, now seemed much _ less interested, and played his part rather half-heartedly. I had previously noted (Huxley ’14) the great individual variation in courtship-actions between pair and pair. The above is an extreme case of this variability, the search attitude never having been previously observed by me as forming part of any courtship ceremony. It is further of interest as providing another example of a ceremony, the “mutuality ’’ of which is only apparent when it is found that either bird plays either of the two roles in the ceremony on different occasions. We may sum up the chief points of interest as follows :— (x) At Blenheim Crested Grebes are absent in winter. Most depart by the end of October, a few stay till the end of November. They return from the end of January or beginning of February until April. (2) Some birds are seen in pairs immediately after arrival, and presumably are previously mated birds. Others are solitary for some time after arrival. The solitary males probably arrive on the whole before the solitary females. (3) Courtship ceremonies of various types may start very soon after arrival. The earliest head-shaking was seen on February 28th. (4) The building of a nest or, more probably, a pairing-plat- form, was noted on March 3rd, over a month before egg- laying normally starts. (5) Several new variations of the previously recorded court- ship ceremonies are recorded, as well as one new type of courtship ceremony. * * * * Mr. Edmund Selous has been kind enough to let me see the unpublished MS. of a long paper on the behaviour of the Great Crested Grebe at Tring reservoirs in early 1915. In all essentials, we agree. The first arrivals were about February 15th, and birds kept on arriving until the first week 134 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XvIn, in March or later. Many of the birds on first arrival were already paired. Courtship, including diving for weed, followed by the “‘ Penguin dance,” and also the “‘ ceremony of discovery,’’ occurred quite or almost from the start. The “search attitude’ by single birds seems to have been less prominent than with my birds. There were numerous cases of odd birds being attacked from under water by one of a mated pair. No mating up ceremonies of any sort were noted. The first sign of nest or platform building was noted on March 6th ; another was also noted on March 7th. Thus these observations and my own put the early annual history of the Grebe into quite a new light. There is no courtship until after pairing-up. The previously mated birds arrive paired. The unmated birds try and secure mates, either by “ butting in ’”’ to already mated pairs, or by attracting other unmated birds, apparently by the “search ”’ call and attitude. I wish to express my best thanks to Mr. Selous for allowing me to refer here to his most interesting and painstaking observations. | ( 135 /ON THE SCIENTIFIC NAMES OF THE LIGHT- ; AND DARK-BREASTED BRENT GEESE. BY EINAR LONNBERG. It has long been known that two different forms of Brent Goose (Branta bernicla) occur during the winter on the coasts of Europe, viz., a dark-breasted and a light-breasted. Con- cerning the systematic value of these forms opinions have been much divided. Some ornithologists considered them to represent geographical races, while by others they were re- garded as mere colour-phases without any systematic value whatever. The present writer shared trom the beginning the former of these opinions, but when it was asserted that both forms occurred together, even at their breeding-places, the latter view, although strange, appeared to be the correct one. This was the state of affairs, until quite recently the Rev. F. C. R. Jourdain in this Journal (antea, pp. 49-52) again took up the question and most ably discussed it. In this paper he shows that probably the two colour-phases of Brent Goose have different breeding-ranges, and that the dark- breasted one has a more eastern origin, while the light- breasted, at least, chiefly belongs to the Atlantic part of the Arctic. If treated as geographical races, the question arises as to which of them is entitled to the name bernicla Lin. The Rev. F. C. R. Jourdain at the same time commended to the present writer “‘the important duty of ascertaining upon what material Linneus based his name.” This I am quite willing to attempt, and I[ do not think it is a difficult task. The name “ Anas Bernicla”’ was given by Linnzus in Systema Naturae, ed. X., 1758. The diagnosis proves only that it was applied to a Brent Goose, but he adds: “ Habitat in Europa boreali; migrat supra Sveciam.” Fauna Svecica (of 1746) is also quoted in the first reference ; and there it is stated that the bird in question: ‘‘ Habitat in Scania.” It must however in this case be understood that it occurs in Southern Sweden only during migration. In the second edition of Fauna Svecica, 1761, the information about “‘ Anas Bernicla”’ is somewhat fuller, as it is stated: “. . . . Calmariensibus Prutgds. Habitat in Scania, Calmariae, marina, migratoria.” That is, it is called Prutgas by the inhabitants of the city of Kalmar and migrates along the coast of the district of Kalmar. At the present time at the place mentioned there is still a very important migration route of 136 BRITISH BIRDS. [ VOL. XvItt, Brent Geese, and these must be of the same kind as those migrating there at the time of Linneus. The Brent Geese which migrate on our Baltic coast belong to the dark-bellied form. In the R. Nat. Hist. Museum there are seventeen dark-bellied specimens from Sweden to one light-bellied. The older Swedish faunistic authors always describe the Brent as dark-bellied. Thus A. J. Retzius says in his new edition of Fauna Svecica, of 1800: “ Venter et Latera fusca marginibus pennarum pallidioribus,’’ and Sven Nilsson, in the various editions of his faunistic works, terms the under-parts of the Brent “ brown-grey ”’ (with paler margins). It may be concluded from this that it really is the dark-breasted Brent which has the right of primogeniture to the name bernicla. There is, however, a still better proof for such a statement, viz., from Linneus’s own hand. He has given a complete description of Anas Bernicla in Fauna Svecica of 1761, which appears to be a product of his own direct ex- perience. It reads: “. . . Corpus totum nigro-fuscum. Nigra sunt Rostrum, collum, caput, pectus. Collare angus- tum, album. Remiges & Rectrices supra atrae, subtus fuscae. Alba sunt Abdomen pone pedes, tectrices inferiores caudae & latera uropygii.”” The author says thus plainly, that the general colour of the bird is dark brownish and adds the “black”? and “white” exceptions from this rule, which leaves the breast dark brown. It is also very probable that the Brent Geese, which pass on their migration along our Baltic coast, are of north-eastern origin. The faunistic authors of Finland, such as M. von Wright and Palmén, also use the same word “ brown-grey ” for the description of the colour of the lower side of the Brent as their Swedish colleagues. The occurrence of light-breasted Brent Geese now and then in Sweden still requires explanation, and I think this can be done by pointing out that sometimes, although seldom, even such a typical Spitsbergen bird as Amser brachyrhynchus passes through our country, so in an analogous way may a light-breasted Brent of similar origin sometimes take the same unwonted route. It cannot, however, be denied that the Brent Geese of Spitsbergen exhibit a certain amount of variation in the colour of the lower breast. Some of them are decidedly whitish, but others are darker, with a more or less brownish or ashy tint on the breast. A direct comparison proves, however, at once that they are far less dark than the average vou. xvut.] NAMES OF BRENT GEESE. 137 eastern birds which migrate along the Baltic coast of Sweden. At least this is the case with such specimens as I have seen, and we have one of that kind in this Museum from Northern Spitsbergen. I think, however, that it is these somewhat brownish, but anyway rather light birds, which have given rise to the saying that there are all kinds of intergradations between the dark- and the light-breasted Brent Geese. As stated above, until 1761 everything written by Linnzus about ‘‘ Anas Bernicla”’ applies to the presumably Eastern and in any case dark-breasted Brent Goose migrating “ supra Sveciam.”’ In Systema Naturae, ed. XII., 1766, the above quoted name _ acquired a wider bearing and became more collective, as Linnzus added there “ nidficat in Groenlandia.’’ Probably he _ had received information from his Danish scholars about the nesting of Brent Geese in Greenland, and in consequence of this made the addition quoted. This is, however, of no importance as regards the fixing of the name bernicla on the dark Eastern Brent migrating over Sweden, which first received it. If there is no doubt concerning the name of the dark- breasted Brent Goose, the question of the name of the light- breasted is by no means so simple as Mr. Jourdain appears to think, when he says: “ For the pale-breasted bird Brehm’s name of collaris seems applicable.”” The name collaris belongs without doubt to this bird, but there is an older name which appears to have priority, although it has been wrongly inter- preted several times. This is the name “ Anas Hrota”’ given by O. F. Miller, 1776, Zool. Dan. Prodr., p. 14. Recently Laubmann has attempted to apply this name to Branta leucopsis as was also done previously, although with hesitation and a query by Salvadori (Cat. Birds B.M., XXVII., p. 117) and Hartert (V6gel, pal. F. I1., p. 1296)* ; but this interpreta- tion of the name “ Hrota”’ I do not hesitate to describe as entirely wrong. Miiller writes: “A[nas] Hrota grisea capite collogue mgns. . . . Isl.[andis} Hrota . . ,’ i.e., a bird with black head and neck, which is called by th Icelanders “‘ Hrota.”’ It is true that the head and neck of the Brent is not pure black, but the old authors always called it black. The head of B. leucopsis on the other hand is so largely white, that in such a summary description as the one quoted it would have been more likely to have been described as “capite albo, collo nigro,’’ In any case the white of the , d * In the latter place by misprint ‘ krota.”’ 138 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XVIII. head of /eucopsis could not have been disregarded. Further, we learn that the bird to which Miller applied the name “ Hrota’’ was known to the people in Iceland under that same name, and this is still the case with the Brent at the present time. Hantzsch quotes for this bird the Icelandic names “‘ Hrotgds’”’ and “ Hrota,”’ and he says that the latter probably is derived from the verb “ hrj6ta,’”’ which means “ to snore.”’ It is certainly an onomatopoetic word referring to the note of the Brent, like the German name Rottgans, the Danish Knortegaas, the Swedish Prutgas and so on. I think it is impossible to deny that Miiller’s name “ Hrota ”’ refers to a Brent Goose. It remains then to be seen whether there is any possibility of ascertaining to which race this name was affixed, and even this appears to be feasible. A. Hyrota of Miiller bears the number 115. The bird No. 114 is : “ A. Bernicla fusca capite collo pectoreque nigris, collari albo.”’ This is evidently the same thing as Linneus’s Brent Goose, while the following species ‘“ A. Hyota’’ was considered by the author as some- what different, for it is marked with an asterisk, which according to the explanation in the preface means those species which “ in scriptis perillustris Equitis a Linné frustra quaeruntur.”” The difference, which is apparent in the diagnosis, is that the Linnean bird is said to be “ fusca,” while the new one (“‘ Hrota ’’) is termed “ gvisea’”’ ; the former name appears to suit the eastern dark-breasted race quite well, and the latter the light-breasted. If to this is added the geographical assertion that “ Hrota’”’ is the Brent found on Iceland, I think it must be admitted that this latter name is available for the light-breasted Atlantic Brent Goose and collaris Brehm becomes only a synonym. | | “ BRITISH BIRDS” MARKING SCHEME. “RINGERS ” are requested to send in to the Editor, not later than November rst, their schedules, together with a list showing the number of each species ringed. THE INTERVAL BETWEEN BROODS OF DOUBLE- AND TREBLE-BROODED BIRDS. Wir reference to the recent notes on the intervals between broods of double- and treble-brooded birds (antea, pp. 72, 106), the following observations, taken in 1921, on the nesting of a pair of Robins (Evithacus r. melophilus) may be of interest. The first nest was in an ivy-covered stump, the second in some ivy on the house wall across a lawn, about twenty yards from the first, and the third was near the first in the ivy on the stump. Nest First No. of Young left nest. complete. egg. eggs. I. May 3 May 10 4 June 10 mE, June 9 June 10 5 June 29 (destroyed by cat) LET. — july 3 4 August 4 The third nest was not observed until July 4th, when it contained two eggs. ALISTAIR C. FRASER. THE TIME-PERIOD FOR NEST AND EGG REPLACEMENT. ALL field-ornithologists interested in oology know that all birds, practically without exception, replace a set of robbed or otherwise destroyed eggs in an extremely short space of time, if not discouraged by the near approach of autumn. I think it is reasonable to say that eleven days is the average “recovery” time for all our small birds early in the season. There is, however, a theory (or is there any proof ?) that if eggs are much incubated when taken the time-period is appreciably greater than if they had been fresh when destroyed. I gave some examples as regards Bonelli’s Warbler (Phylloscopus bonelli) in B.B. Vol. XV., p. 156, which showed that whether eggs are fresh or much incubated the “recovery ”’ period is sometimes identical. The following notes on the subject may be of interest :— On April 13th, 1924, I took two Woodcock (Scolopax rusticola) nests each of four eggs. One lot (set ‘“‘A’”’) was much 140 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XviIl1, incubated and the other (set ‘“‘B’’) was fresh. On April 27th set ““A”’ bird was sitting on four fresh eggs, eight yards from the first site—time-period in this case was therefore at most fourteen days. On April 20th set “B” bird had laid its first egg ten yards from its first site. The clutch was presumably complete on April 23rd, but the nest was not re-examined until the 27th, when it contained four slightly incubated eggs. The time-period in this case was ten days only, and shows that, whether eggs are much incubated or fresh, the ‘“‘ recovery ”’ period in the case of these Woodcocks did not differ very materially. As regards large birds, I have not many notes as it is not my practice to take or encourage others to take second or subsequent sets of eggs from any robbed pair. I have, however, notes on a Raven (Corvus c. corax) that had six eggs, six days incubated, on March 21st. They were taken and an alternative site, in very bad condition, was repaired and contained five much incubated eggs on April 16th (say ten days’ incubated at least). This makes a time-period of sixteen days only. Can anyone throw light on the time-period for rebuilding only, in the case of elaborate nest-builders, e.g., Long-tailed Titmouse (4githalus caudatus) ? W. M. CONGREVE. SCARCITY OF YELLOW WAGTAIL. DuRInG the last three or four years I have frequently visited the water meadows in the Kennet valley near Reading (Berkshire), and in one locality I should think at least four or five pairs of Yellow Wagtails (Motacilla flava vayi) have been nesting each summer. In 1924, however, although my visits to this particular locality have been more frequent than usual, I have not seen a single Yellow Wagtail. A. STEVEN CORBET. SPOONBILL. IN SUFFOLK. On April 20th, 1924, a Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia), flying from the northward, arrived on the marshes near Dunwich, Suffolk, and stayed for three days. At 200 yards the plumage appeared to be pure white and the legs dark in colour. The beak was black for the greater part of its length and the broad tip of a lighter colour could be seen through glasses. The bird frequently waded, swinging its beak in a wide arc from side to side through the shallow water. A full plume adorned the back of the head and fell forward like a beard when the head was lowered. Flying, the wings were at full stretch. The Herons feeding in the neighbourhood were markedly disturbed by the dazzling stranger. R. C, DAVISON. a VOL. XVII.] NOTES. 141 SPOTTED REDSHANKS IN CHESHIRE. On August 26th, 1924, on a sewage farm near Altrincham, Cheshire, I noticed a couple of red-legged Waders close to the edge of one of the settling tanks. Through the glass I saw that they were darker than Common Redshanks (Tvinga totanus), that their bills were longer, and that there was a dark line through the eye, thrown up by a white superciliary streak. When they rose and showed the white back but dark tail-coverts, and the absence of the conspicuous white secondaries, I saw that they were Spotted Redshanks (T. erythropus) and the double note, tchwee, tchwee, repeated frequently as they flew round, was confirmatory evidence. The avifauna of the farm varies almost daily, and on the 26th no Common Redshanks were visible or audible. Captain A. W. Boyd, when he heard from me, visited the farm on the morning of the 27th, and saw both birds well, when they were feeding alongside and flying with seven Common Redshanks, but on the 28th I could find only one, and it was consorting with three of the commoner species. In flight together the contrast in wing pattern, size, length of bill and leg, and note, was most distinct. Also I saw the bird standing on the mud about ten or fifteen yards from where I was sheltered by a bank, and noted the spots and pose. The bird normally stands less erect than the Common Redshanks, more like the Greenshank, with the body at right angles to the legs. On the 30th Mr. Travers Hadfield accompanied me, and we found the same bird still there, but this time consorting with nine Common Redshanks. It was quicker on the wing, constantly forging ahead of its companions, and even at a distance it was easy to pick it out by its greater size and longer bill and legs. T. A. COWARD. AVOCET IN SOUTH DEVON. On August 18th, 1924, I saw an Avocet (Recurvirostra avosetta) on Dawlish Warren. When first seen it was resting on a mud bank amongst various Gulls. Its black head and neck first attracted me (as I scanned the bank with my glasses) and the characteristic black bands on the back and wings. The sun shone on the bird and as it rose its long blue-grey legs and partially webbed feet were quite distinct. I could not get a glimpse of its beak, as it flew away from me. On August 26th, when I visited the place again, the mud flats were well exposed. I saw the Avocet running rapidly over the ooze, feeding as it ran. It constantly dipped its 142 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XVIII. head down, gliding its long slender upturned beak along the ooze as it ran. Its long blue-grey legs and partially webbed feet were again very conspicuous. It occasionally raised its pointed black-tipped wings overhead as it ran, but it seemed very loath to fly. On getting within twenty-five feet of the bird, it took to the water and swam rapidly along, dipping its beak from side to side along the surface of the water as it swam. It afterwards left the water and again came on the mud, but it could not be persuaded to take to flight. I first saw the bird about 11.30 a.m., and when I left about 3.30 p.m. it was still feeding happily. PF. CoLLing: On August 21st, while watching for autumn passage migrants at Dawlish Warren, on the Exe Estuary, I had the good fortune to identify an Avocet. When first observed the bird was standing quite alone at the edge of the receding tideway, and its upturned black beak, long blue legs, and characteristic white and black plumage were easily recognizable through glasses. I watched it on and off for about two hours, and at one time was able to approach to within about 100 yards while feeding. It appeared to feed more in the shallow tideway than on the mud—but in both cases its side-to-side action of the bill was very notice- able. I was also struck by the very high knee-action of its longs leg while wading, and the rapidity with which it covered the ground. As some schoolboys with guns were pot-hunting in the vicinity I thought it best to try and drive the bird away to safer quarters. As I approached it, however, I was not a little surprised to find that, instead of taking wing, it began wading deeper and deeper until it was swimming away buoyantly at a considerable distance from the shore. My last view of the bird was feeding among some Gulls further down the estuary. Let us hope that it may escape destruction. R. M. ByNeE. LATE NESTING OF WOODCOCK, I FLUSHED a Woodcock (Scolopax rusticola) near Methven, Perthshire, on August 30th, 1924, from a brood of four freshly hatched chicks. An examination of the nest showed that the egg-shells were still wet, and apparently not an hour broken. A, Hi. Ro Wirson: On August 18th, 1924, I ringed two young Woodcocks at | Capenoch, Dumfriesshire. They were unable to fly, the wing-feathers being still in the quill, and the old bird squealed VOL. XVIII. ] NOTES. 143 like a rabbit as she flew off them with her legs hanging down. HuGuH S. GLADSTONE. (I have notes of several Woodcock’s nests with eggs at the end of July and one on August 5th.—F.C.R.J.| BLACK GUILLEMOT IN PEMBROKESHIRE. In his Birds of Pembrokeshire and tts Islands, published in 1894, the Rev. Murray Mathew writes : “ Since the commence- ment of the present century the county has lost the Black Guillemot from its list of resident birds.’ Later on in the same work he says: ‘‘ A century ago there were a few Black Guillemots resident on the Pembrokeshire coast. None now breed south of the Isle of Man, and the bird has deserted Anglesea and the neighbourhood of Llandudno in North Wales, where it was reported to occur by Pennant. There is no specimen of a Pembrokeshire Black Guillemot now existing that we know of in any collection of the birds of the county ; nor is the bird, in virtue of a chance straggler floated to our shores, at the present day included in any list of the birds of the county.” In view of this fact it may be of interest to place on record that on June 18th, 1924, I saw one Black Guillemot (U/a g. grylle) at St. Davids, Pembrokeshire ; the bird was unmistake- able as it flew from behind a headland, straight towards me, " passing within a few yards, so that the black underparts, white _ wing patches, and red feet were seen clearly. Later on it reappeared and settled on the water for some time ; on leaving the water it perched on a rock at no great distance, so that I was able to observe it with ease. CLEMENCE M. ACLAND. THE RoostTING-HABITS OF THE TREE-CREEPER.—With reference to the habit of Certhia familiaris roosting in holes in the soft bark of Wellingtonias, described in Vol. XVI. p. 284, XVIII, p. 20, Mr. Alistair C. Fraser informs us that _ he has seen these roosting-holes both in the neighbourhood _ of Birkenhead, Cheshire, and in North Wales. SANDWICH TERN BREEDING IN SHETLAND.—Mr. H. _ Jamieson states (Scot. Nat., 1924, p. 52) that an egg obtained in 1923 from an outlying island near the Outer Skerries Light - house has been identified as undoubtedly that of a Sandwich _ Tern (Sterna s. sandvicensis). Only one pair nested on this island. Mr. Jamieson adds that he has observed the birds _ for five years and that the fishermen say that a pair here and _ there have nested for a “ good while back.”’ The bird has _ not previously been recorded as breeding in the Shetlands, _ though it has in the Orkneys. THRUSH IMITATING NOTE OF GREEN WOODPECKER, To the Editors of BritisH BiRDs. Sirs,—With reference to the correspondence (antea, pp. 88, 117) as to the Song-Thrush imitating the notes of Waders, the following may be of interest. About twenty years ago I was staying at Grosmont in Monmouthshire. The place is situated on the side of a wooded valley which literally swarms with Green Woodpeckers (Picus viridis virescens), so much so that I do not exaggerate when I say that there was scarcely a minute of the day in which the loud laughing note of this bird could not be heard. I saw, too, several at once on the ground at an anthill devouring the insects. On one occasion I was waiting for my friend to come out for a ramble when I noticed the Woodpecker note constantly repeated, but coming all the time from one particular spot—an apple tree in the orchard. This struck me as strange, so I went to investigate, when I discovered, to my surprise, that these ““ Woodpecker notes ’’ proceeded from a Song-Thrush (Turdus ph. clarket) which kept repeating them over and over again! I concluded that this Thrush had been reared in the neighbourhood, and, from hearing the Woodpeckers’ laughing cry so incessantly all around, whilst it was a nestling, it had acquired that song instead of its parents’ notes. H. E. Forrest. SONG-THRUSH IMITATING WADERS AND OTHER BIRDS, To the Editors of BrivisH BirpDs. Sirs,—With reference to the notes on the Song-Thrush imitating the notes of the Redshank (antea, pp. 88, 117), two or three years ago, in St. James’s Park, I heard a Song-Thrush frequently repeating the cry “‘ whee, whee, whew ’”’ of the Wigeon. A. CAMERON SHORE. THE NORMAL CLUTCH OF SANDWICH TERN’S EGGS. To the Editors of British BrrpDs. Sirs,—With reference to the Rev. J. R. Hale’s letter (antea, p. 118), it may be of interest to state that during the last season there were two clutches of three eggs of the Sandwich Tern (Sterna s. sandvicensis) in the Ravenglass or Drigg Colony in Cumberland. Up to May 5th only one pair had been seen and that early in April, and the breeding site was colonized by a late migration towards the end of May, the 24th I think. H. W. Rosinson. ZXi\8H MU 5 Tm, Q. rn he! \t q a 5 n STEVENS’S AUCTION ROOMS, LTD. ESTD, 1760. 38, King Street, Covent Garden, London, W.C.2. Periodical Sales are held at the above Rooms, of NATURAL HISTORY SPECIMENS, including BIRDS and BIRDS’ EGGS, CABINETS, etc. Also BOOKS relating to Natural History, Catalogues of sales posted on application. WHELDON & WESLEY, LTD. have in stock nearly all the books and journals required by ornithologists. The collection of old and rare works is one of the largest inthe country. New books and journals supplied to order. Books not in stock sought for. 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WHISH, LYMPSHAM, SOMERSET. Par? I reapy Noy. 15 EDITION LIMITED TO 412 COPIES To be completed in 12 parts, 4to., each with 4 Coloured Plates, in addition to Photogravures, price 26s. net each part FULL PROSPECTUS ON APPLICATION MONOGRAPH OF THE BIRDS. OF fire (Order Accipitres) Illustrated by 36 highly finished Coloured Plates of Birds reproduced from drawings made expressly for this work by H. Gronvold, twelve Coloured Plates containing numerous figures of Eggs, and several Photogravure Plates. BY H. KIRKE SWANN, F.Z.S., M.B.O.U. Corresponding Fellow of the Amer. Orn. Union LONDON WHELDON & WESLEY, Lo. 2, 3 & 4 Arthur Street, New Oxford Street, W.C.2 NOVEMBER 1. LtL.ol /L0CHWN - DAWISH BIRDS ANIEUSTRATED: MAGAZINE DEVOTED -CHIETLY: TOTHEBIRDS “Ss ON THEBRTISH UST Vol. XVIII. 1924. MONTHLY. 1s9a. YEARLY:-20. 326HIGHHOLBORNICNDON. TiFeéG-WITHERBY: A new book for Bird-lovers. SANCTUARIES FOR BIRDS, and How to Make Them. By H. J. MassincHam, Author of “ Untrodden Ways,” etc. With 8 plates and other illustrations. Small Crown 8vo. 5s. net. The idea of Sanctuaries for Birds is spreading rapidly both in this country and in America, and in this volume the author—a well-known writer on nature—explains how sanctuaries may be made and maintained even in the smallest of gardens or country properties, G. BELL & SONS LTD., 6, PORTUGAL ST., LONDON, W.C.2. Cc. H. GOWLAND, NATURALIST AND TAXIDERMIST Begs to inform his various Clients that after the Ist November, 1924, his address will be 118, DEVONFIELD ROAD, ORRELL PARK, LIVERPOOL, N. SPECIALITY:—OOLOGY. Own private collectors, in all rincipal countries. Large selection of British and Foreign Birds’ Eggs aly ways in stock—clutches or Genuine and reliable data. Price List free, singles, JUST PUBLISHED. BRITISH SPORTING BIRDS. Edited by F. B. KIRKMAN and HORACE G. HUTCHINSON. A finely illustrated guide to the chief game birds of Britain. About 500 pages, 31 Plates in Colour and 12 Plates in Black-and-White. One vol. Cloth 30/- net. Prospectus free on application. FROM ALL BOOKSELLERS. 35, Paternoster Row, EC Ors, ©: JACK, Ltd., & Parkside Works, TO OOLOGISTS. : Importer of Exotic W. F. H. ROSENBER G, Zoological Specimens. 57, HAVERSTOCK HILL, LONDON, N.W.3, ENGLAND, (And at 25, CROMWELL PLACE, S.W.7.) Begs to announce the publication of a new Price List of Birds’ Eggs, including about 700 species from various parts of the world, This List will be mailed free on application, as will the following :—Bird Skins (5,500 species); Lepidoptera, with supplement (8,000 species); Apparatus and Natural History Requisites New Price List of Mammals, Reptiles, Fishes, etc., are in course cf preparation, All Museums and Private Collectors should write for these Lists. ALL SPECIMENS SENT ON APPROVAL. Kindly state which Lists are required and give name of this Periodical. LONDON, E.C.4, EDINBURGH. DRITDABIRDS ; , “e 7 | WITH WHICH was INCORPORATED IN JANUARY, 1917, ‘‘ THE ZOOLOGIST. : EDITED BY Ho WIPHERBY, M.B.E., F.Z.8., M.B.0.U. Ka ASSISTED BY Rev F.\C, R: Jourbary; M.A., M.B.O.U., H.F.A.O.U., AND P2 Norman B, rig 4O.B.E., M.A., F.R.C.S., M.B.O.U. MAL s— EE : i, CONTENTS OF NUMBER 6; VoL. XVIII., NovEMBER I, 1924. len! a PAGE On the Nesting of the Flamingo in the Camargue. By W. E. Glegg one eats ane a ne BoC sac 506 146 Some Points in the Breeding Behaviour of the Common Heron. iby |. o. Eluxley, M.A. ... was ote sss as Bae 155 Field-Notes from West Cornwall. By G. H. Harvey ... Scc 164 Notes :— The Time Period for Nest and Egg Replacement (R. H. Brown) 170 The Influence of Weather upon the Number of Eggs in a Clutch (E. C. A. Baker and Professor Hubert M. Turnbull) 170 _ Late Nesting of the Goldfinch (C. W. Colthrup) aoe 59 171 | Spoonbill, Black Tern and Ravens in Hampshire (Sir Thomas H. C. Troubridge, Bart.) ae alas +a Dee ASE 172 Protection of the Lapwing (Hugh Gladstone) Jor oe 172 Grey Plovers, Little Gulls and other Birds near Reading (Eieubs ©: Cleave) 360 5 : 173 Ruff in Orkney (Dr. George C. hot ai Sa: 506 174 Accuracy of Flight of Cock Capercailzie (T. Leslie Smith) oa 174 Short Notes :— Sandwich Terns Breeding in Suffolk. Iceland Gull in Summer in Argyllshire. “Great Bustard in Orkney. The Hoy Collection of Birds : om ss asi Sue 174 Review :— Lakeland Ornithology, 1892-1913. By Bric B: eee Appendix by L. E. ae Tvans. Carlisle Nat. Hist. Soc Vol UE ozs : ; bare 175 wetter :— Song-Thrush and other Birds imitating Waders and other Birds (C. W. Colthrup) ae ae nile sh wh 17 Ez ( 146 ) ON THE NESTING OF 'THE FLAMINGO IN THE CAMARGUE. BY W. E, GLEGG. THE Flamingoes (Phemicopterus yr. antiqguorum) of the Camargue, so far as British ormthological literature is con- cerned, would appear to be surrounded by, at least, a little mystery, which deepens when one thinks of how accessible this strange district is, say, from London. The results of Dr. Eagle Clarke’s visits in 1894 and 1896, and that of Mr. C, Ingram in 1908, rather add to than reduce the problem. In his remarks (/bis, 1895, pp. 198-201) on the Flamingo popula- tion of the district, Dr. Clarke expresses the opinion that in 1894 the numbers did not exceed 600 “‘at the very most.” It is also stated: “‘ On 31st of May, when we last saw them, the Flamingoes had not commenced to nidificate, and it is extremely doubtful whether any attempt would be made to nest in the Camargue in the dry season of 1894.”’ On visiting the Camargue in September, 1896, Dr. Clarke (t.c., 1898, pp. 479-81) modified his estimate of the Flamingo population, placing it at from 1,000 to 1,500 individuals. On September 2oth, on the east shore of the Etang Valcarés, nearly 100 nests of the season were found, which, it was considered, had been robbed “to their last egg.”’ During this September visit at least 1,000 birds were examined, “ but not a single young or immature bird was to be detected in their ranks.” Mr. C. Ingram, in his paper “‘ Bird Life in the Rhone Delta” (Field, 1908), describing his experiences with the Flamingo, states: “In company with three keepers, I devoted a whole day in exploring the western half of Valcarés lagoon in a boat, but, unfortunately, we failed to find a nesting colony of Flamingoes, although the men took me to a spot where they declared a number had bred during the previous summer.” It will be seen that neither of these observers found either eggs or young of the Flamingo. In this respect we were more fortunate during our visit in May and June, 1924, but our partial success seems to increase the questions to be answered. As the Flamingo was the most attractive of the various birds which we hoped to see in the “Tle de la Camargue,”’ we immediately devoted attention to the Etang du Valcarés. A glance at the official French map will show that the large area of water, which is often described under this name, really consists of a series of lagoons bearing different you. xvut.] NESTING OF THE FLAMINGO. 147 names. During the course of our visit we waded wide stretches of these étangs, but nowhere did we find a greater depth of water than {wo feet at the outside, mostly it was shallower than this. A naturalist living in Salon, with whom I had corresponded, informed me that the spring had been OUR FIRST FLAMINGO’S EGG. (Photographed by W. E. Glegg.) very wet. While in the district we could see a marked diminution in the size of the étang and also in its depth. Attention must be drawn to the influence of the wind on the water of the étang. With a change of wind, especially if it remained in one direction for any length of time, large stretches f mud would become covered or uncovered. We could not 148 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XVI. avoid noticing the brine-shrimp (Artemia salina) described by Dr. Clarke. It was noticeable that the little shrimp, which, no doubt, constitutes the food of the Flamingo, suffered heavily by these movements of the water. When a stretch of mud became exposed, countless numbers were left stranded, and could be seen especially in the depressions made by the feet of cattle. While considering the conditions, the constantly prevailing mirage must not be overlooked, The buildings of the village, although it was a considerable distance from the étang, when viewed from the islands, appeared to rise from the water. This condition of the atmosphere materially reduced visibility, and observation with glasses was peculiarly difficult; my telescope, even at its lowest power, 30 x, was of no assistance as regards the Flamingoes, merely increasing the distortion. On our initial effort to find the Flamingoes we did not carry ~waders, confining our attention to the shores of the étang, Plenty of birds were seen, but nothing to indicate that they were nesting. On the following day, May 2oth, we carried waders, and proceeded to explore the islands. At first our experiences were most discouraging, island after island was visited without result. Apart from an occasional Tawny Pipit, Crested or Sky-Lark, the dearth of bird-life was very striking. We had started from the western shore and worked eastwards, and when time compelled us to return to Stes Maries we decided to do so by the southern shore, visiting some of the islands in this direction on our way. Fortune made ample amends, for before we had finished our day’ wading we had witnessed as magnificent a spectacle as coul gladden the eye of a bird-observer. We had not made much progress through the first stretch of water before matters became a little enlivened. A number of Gull-billed Terns, of which species we had seen occasional birds earlier in th day, made their appearance, and, by their actions, I was confident that they must be nesting at no great distance, bu as I hope to have something to say on this species in a separat note, for the present it can be dismissed. On reaching th first island we found it tenanted by many nesting birds, an threading my way among the many nests I was surprised to see a large white egg lying among the low vegetation, jus above high-water mark and about a foot from a Tern’s nest. IT had found our first Flamingo’s egg. Continuing our searc yards, and there was not the slightest sign of nest-making (85919 “a “Mm 49 paydnsSojoyq) ‘“SDDH 00% AO DNIAVI AHL AO HOLVaA ay: 150 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XVIII. No Flamingoes were seen near the island. Leaving the eggs as we had found them we continued on our way to the next — island to the south, and signs were not wanting that we had struck a district with a good bird population, but there was nothing to suggest the wonderful experience which was soon to be ours. As we approached the island we could just see the heads and necks of Flamingoes on the more southerly side, and as the distance lessened we could see that they were present in great numbers. On leaving the water we progressed cautiously ; the wind was blowing towards us, carrying with it a babel of trumpeting-gaggling and also a very powerful stench, which was the first indication that we had found a nesting ground of the Camargue Flamingoes. We had before us a mighty concourse of birds, packed closely together. They stretched from the vegetation across the mud well out into the water. We edged off obliquely across the island so as not to get too near the herd, but most of the birds in the water rose simultaneously in the air, presenting to our view the brilliance of their plumage and enhancing an already indescribable scene. The birds on the mud remained fast ; most of them were standing, and the large white, chalk-like eggs could be seen under them, scattered carelessly about like so many pebbles. A few of the birds were sitting. At this moment we were close enough to have obtained valuable photographs, but we had no cameras with us. To estimate the numbers of such a phalanx of birds methodically was impossible, but we felt that in placing the number round about 2,000 we were not exaggerating. On the following day we set out, full of hope, laden with our photographic apparatus, and found the mass of Flamingces as on the previous day, but they acted differently, as they all left the island without allowing us to approach so closely. We then proceeded to examine the ground, and a count showed that there were over 200 eggs. Inone or twocases there were signs of attempts at nest-building, but the majority of the eggs were laid with- out preparation. There was one well-made nest about a foot high. We had evidently found an old breeding ground as there were the remains of many old nests, which were mostly placed within a yard of each other. These eggs were completely deserted by the Flamingoes. I felt considerably troubled, as we might have been the cause, however innocent. On May 23rd, the Flamingoes were congregated on the island where we had found the single egg, and, studying them through my glasses, it appeared that they must be laying, so, although 1 had intended to get photographs there, (88015 “a “MA 49 paydossojoyd) “LSHAN AGCVW-TIAM ANO SVM AAAHL 152 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XVIII, I did not go near the island so that the Flamingoes might have every chance. The following morning there was not a Flamingo to be seen near the island, so, in the afternoon, I waded across to investigate. I discovered that quite 100 eggs had been laid close to the eight previously found. In many cases nests had been started. These eggs were left undisturbed, but the birds did not return. Later, with a change of wind, practically all these eggs were covered by the water. On May 31st, the birds had gathered on an island still further to the north and appeared to be laying again, but in this case I was unable to obtain the necessary confirma- tion. It is difficult to understand the significance of these three, probably four, layings. Professor Newton, in his Dictionary of Birds, makes the following vague statement in the article on this species: ‘‘ When time or place is wanting, the hens seem to drop their eggs at random.”’ It is difficult to believe that it is part of the habits of the Flamingo to lay its eggs and leave them to their fate simply to get rid of them.. In the case of two of the layings, which I have described, I have every reason to believe that the birds were not disturbed by human agency; it would be difficult to imagine a more unfrequented spot than this wild étang. If we consider the other laying of 200 eggs, from which we disturbed the birds, as a serious nesting operation, then our experiences would shed fresh light on the nesting habits of the species. This would mean that at times, at least, the Flamingo laid its eggs first and afterwards formed the mound; whereas it appears to be accepted that the mound is first formed and the eggs laid in its cup later. It might also mean that on occasion incubation was conducted without any nest. All the eggs that we found, over 300, gradually disappeared until none were left. I never discovered by what agency the eggs were taken; the only scavengers that I saw near the islands were some immature Gulls, Black-headed and Herring, and it is not improbable that they were responsible. These experiences, brief but interesting, were all that we gained of the nesting habits of the Flamingo, but we could always see the birds when we visited the étang. Our experi- ences confirm those of other observers as to the difficulty of approaching these birds; on several occasions, camera in hand, I endeavoured to stalk them. For a time they would go on feeding, then when the distance became noticeably less they would move off with stately stride and finally break into flight. The presence of the Flamingo could also (38019 ‘a “MA 49 paydvasoj0y{) ‘ANOUVNVO AHL NI ODNINVIA HHL AO AGNNOUD ONILSAN AO MAIA IVYUNAD re 3 fe ote ee F . r ey, “ . susan i beast a Ute tala ib ee De ARN ion tibia eater, 154. BRITISH BIRDS. [voL. XVIII, be ascertained by an examination of the mud, as the imprint made by their feet is of a very characteristic anchor-like shape, In some parts of the étang wide stretches of mud were covered by a net-work of these imprints. The flight of the Flamingo is not always fully described; it is true that the neck and legs are carried outstretched, but not in a straight line with the body, as is stated. When on the wing the form of the bird may be likened to a plateau, the neck and legs forming gentle slopes to the body, which serves as the summit. The two extremities, the feet at one end and the head at the other, appeared to be level, and a straight line drawn between these two points would not touch the body. That the birds vary in size was apparent. When feeding they would advance steadily with measured step, the head being under water. While watching the Flamingo behaving in this manner I did not see the head raised. Has the bird the power of swallowing food without altering the position of the neck ? Do the Flamingoes winter in the Camargue? Mr. Ingram states: “To a certain extent Flamingoes are un- doubtedly sedentary in the Camargue, but local inquiries elicited information that the numbers were by no means constant, and varied considerably according to the climatic conditions, thereby indicating a shght migratory movement.” Mr. L. Griscom in his paper, ‘‘ Winter Avifauna of the Camargue ”’ (Ibis, 1921,), states that he did not see any Flamingoes, but that a flock, estimated at 500-700, had been seen three days before his arrival, 29th December. Dresser states: ‘“‘ The Flamingo is a summer resident in Europe,” and Dr. Hartert’s statement: “In Europa Zugvdégel, die in Afrika tiberwintern,” leaves no room for ambiguity. While stating that the greatest number of Flamingoes which we had in view at any one time was about 2,000, it cannot be assumed that this was the total population, for it is quite possible that there were many more in parts of the huge lagoon beyond our view. However, even if there were no more than this number, it would appear that the Camargue Flamingoes must be maintaining their strength, and it is exceedingly difficult to understand how this can be done unless a number of young are reared annually. If there is a certain amount of obscurity with regard to the Flamingo in this district, it is probably due to the fact that the ground bas not been properly worked. ( 155 ) SOME POINTS IN THE BREEDING BEHAVIOUR OF THE COMMON HERON.* BY J. S. HUXLEY, ma, Tue following is an account of some ‘“‘ co-operative watching ” of Herons (Ardea c. cinerea) undertaken by members of the Oxford Ornithological Society in the spring of 1923, at @ small heronry about six miles from Oxford. Permission to watch was kindly granted by the owner, Mr. Percy Fielding. Some additional notes made in 1924 are also appended. The heronry stands in a small spinney, the only piece of wood for over a mile in any direction, on the border of a large flat area of grass-land liable to flooding in heavy rain. Several visits were made in January and February ; on none of these were any Herons seen in or near the spinney until February 25th, when three birds were scared up from the heronry. A small bird-watching tent was erected on February 28th, when seven or eight birds were near the nests. A plan of the nests, old or new, was made, and each nest numbered on this. On March 4th a few birds flew up from the spinney as two watchers approached ; one bird was seen flying over with a large stick in its mouth. No bird, however, returned to the nests during the two hours spent in the tent. The most interesting fact observed on this date was that a group of seven birds was standing in a field, about fifty _ yards from the edge of the spinney, and therefore about one hundred yards from the nests, before we arrived. Most of the birds had their heads down on their shoulders, and remained motionless for the five or six minutes we watched them. No signs of ceremonial activity were seen. The _ whole group flew off in spite of our efforts to enter the wood | unobserved. Further, while one observer was in the tent, the other noted a group of some half-a-dozen birds in a field several hundred yards to the other side of the wood. March 8th, 1923.—No birds noted in the fields. Two, or three, nests occupied. March toth, 1923.—Five, or six, nests occupied. March 13th, 1923.—Seven nests occupied. March 15th, 18th and 22nd, 1923.—Seven, or eight, nests occupied. * Contributions from the Oxford Ornithological Society, No, 2. 156 BRITISH BIRDS. [ VOL. XVIIt, It appears that only eight of the twenty-four nests seen (a number of which, however, were only remains of nests) were occupied this season. I will not attempt to go into great detail, but will merely summarize the points which seem of greatest interest. At the beginning of occupation, either one or both birds of a pair may be on the nest ; but it appears that often, at the outset, the birds simply sit in the branches above the nest. One or two dates may be useful. Nest 3.—March 4th, no birds. 8th, one; (?) two. roth, the pair; greeting ceremony. 11th, the pair; building. 15th, the pair; no building; greeting ceremony; copula- tion. 18th and 23rd, only one seen, sitting. Nest 7.—March 4th and 8th, none seen. 10th, one on nest. 11th, the pair; building; ceremonies. 18th, only one seen, sitting. Nest 11.—March 4th, none. 8th, the pair ; food- or stick- presentation. roth, one bird. 11th, the pair; copulation. 15th and 18th, only one, sitting. It is, of course, dangerous to draw many conclusions from observations taken for sometimes only two or three hours in the day. But it is, I think, clear that there is probably a preliminary period in which the pair simply takes possession of the nest (staking out territory). During this period the birds often sit in the branches near the nest, not on the nest, Next a period of nest-building or rather nest-repairing, followed by oviposition. During these two last periods copulation may occur ; it was not observed during the first. Incubation follows; the time from first occupation to beginning of incubation was probably less than fourteen days in nest 3, less than nine in pair 7, less than eleven (or fourteen) in pair 11. In pair 3, at least two days of occupation were seen on which building did not occur or at least was not noted, and at least one day in pair 7._ These times, however, represent first approximations only. COURTSHIP CEREMONIES. The commonest ceremony may be called the mutual greeting ceremony. A very similar ceremony is found in the Louisiana Heron which I have watched in U.S.A. (see Huxley ’23, Proc. Linn. Soc. (Zool.) 1923). This occurs primarily when one bird of a pair rejoins the other at or near the nest. Typically, both birds adopt the same attitude, with certain minor modifications. The arriving bird stands erect, and raises the neck to its fullest extent. The neck-feathers at VOL. XVIII. | THE COMMON HERON. 157 the same time are bristled up (though not so very prominently as in the Louisiana Heron) ; the head is often pointed slightly up as well, while the crest is elevated (the elevation of the crest is never as marked as in the Snowy Egret or Louisiana Heron, but the crest-feathers in the British species are longer). At the same time the wings are flapped and a raucous, excited- sounding call is repeatedly given. The bird on the nest meanwhile does the same, or is content to call and raise the neck and crest without standing up. In the small U.S.A. Herons mentioned, a similar ceremony was practically universal immediately a bird on the nest was rejoined by its mate after an absence. Here, however, the ceremony sometimes did not occur at all, and sometimes was delayed till a few minutes after arrival. I do not know whether temperature has anything to do with this restriction of the action. From its probably original function as greeting, this mutual ceremony has become modified for other occasions: 1. For nest-velief proper, when the incoming bird soon takes the place of the one upon the nest. 2. In connection with the presentation of sticks by one bird which has been searching, to the other which builds them into the nest. 3. As expres- sion of sudden emotion in a pair which have been together on the nest for some time. 1. Nest-relief, e.g., nest 3, March 15th.—One bird sitting. The other arrives 12.45 p.m. ; settles on the edge of the nest. The sitting bird rises. Both stand up to full height, stretch- ing their necks up and rather towards each other, beaks pointing up and nearly touching. No wing-flapping occurred, but both gave a hoarse repeated note. They appeared not to be directly facing each other, but only about three- | quarters. This ceased after perhaps a minute. They stood quiet for a little, and then one flew off, the other settled down on to the nest. Presumably a change of sitter had been effected, although the observer could not be sure of the birds’ identity. The departure took place nine minutes after the arrival. ~ It is interesting to note that in the Louisiana Heron, after nest-relief, the relieved bird fetches one or usually several sticks and presents them to the nest-bird, with a modified repetition of the ceremony ; but here nothing of the sort was observed. In the above case, the relieving bird (assuming that relief had occurred) appears to have been the male. For at 1.50 p-m. the relieved bird returned ; there was croaking by both 158 BRITISH BIRDS. [ VOL, XVIII, simultaneously, but no ceremony; the new arrival settled down ; after one to two minutes the other got up, circled once round, settled above the nest, and shortly after copulated, He then sat quiet for three to four minutes, and finally flew off. An almost identical series of events, except that only the male croaked, and that he did not fly round before copulating, occurred in pair 7 (see p. 160). The presence of a greeting ceremony when the male relieved, its absence when the female relieved, is of interest, since Chapman (1998, Camps and Cruises of an Ornithologist, New York, 1908) believes that this is true of the Brown Pelican. I do not think it is true of the Louisiana Heron, however. Another nest-relief without ceremony of any sort was noted in nest 4 on March 11th, but the sexes could not be determined. The short time spent by the male on the nest is also note- worthy. He remained there but sixty-five minutes, whereas the female had been on for at least two hours. This also appears to apply to many species. 2. Stick-presentation.—Energetic building was only seen in pairs 3 and 7. In both cases, one bird (presumably the cock) did all the fetching, the other (presumably the hen) all the placing of the twigs. Both presumed males always presented their sticks with a little ceremony, in general similar to the greeting ceremony, which, however, was rather different in the two individuals. Marked individual dif- ferences in courtship ceremonies are to be seen in other birds (e.g., Crested Grebe, Huxley, 14; Proc. Zool. Soc., 1914). In both cases, the stick-bringers robbed adjacent (unoccu- pied) nests, some ten to fifteen yards from their own. After pulling out a stick—often after a good deal of indecision and sometimes effort—they flew back with it in the beak. No. 7 always approached his nest from a particular quarter, although this meant going beyond it and then turning. Some time before alighting, both “ males ’’ began to give excited cries, and to stretch the neck and raise the crest. Their mates also did the same, though to a less extent, apparently starting in response to the stick-bringers’ calls. The “male”’ lit in the branches some way above the nest, and stooped his neck to pass over the stick. In No. 7 this ended the performance ; but in No. 3, the stick-bringer, immediately after giving the stick to his mate, reached his neck and head vertically downwards to the full extent, and waggled the head rapidly from side to side, at the same time clappering the bill to make a strange sound (a similar clappering is also made by fairly large young Ardea cinerea when still in the nest). Both VOL. XVII. THE COMMON HERON. 159 “males ’”’ would then sit still for a little, and then go off to fetch another stick. No. 3 fetched six sticks in thirty-one minutes, and then flew off. He clappered his beak every time but one after presenting it. No. 7 fetched eleven sticks in forty-three minutes, and was then scared away. It started to rob nest I1a while No. 3 was robbing nest 5. Soon after 3 departed, however, it changed and made for nest 5, which was nearer to its own nest. 3. Expression of emotion—Nest 3, March 11th. Shortly after the observer’s arrival, which scared the birds, first one and then the other return to the vicinity of nest 3 (8.18 a.m.). They sit in the tree, above and to either side of the nest. 8.37, suddenly, apropos de bottes, there is an outburst ; both flap, one rather more violently, with necks and crests raised, and repeated note. Shortly after, the bird which had flapped more violently goes through the same process but by itself ; then quiet. 8.54, another mutual “ outburst.’’ The less “violent ’’ bird settles down on to the nest, the other continues the ceremony alone for a little. Nothing further of interest till 9.15, when the “male” (unfortunately identification - with the more or the less violent wing-flapper was not possible) went off and fetched the first of the series of sticks, as mentioned above. Tt is worthy of note that the fetching of sticks by 7 (¢) had a different prelude. One bird arrived near the nest about 8.45, and soon settled down on the nest, but standing, not sitting. The other bird of the pair arrived 9.31, and there was a good greeting ceremony; 9.36, both were standing side by side on the nest, and at 9.39 the ‘“‘male’’ went off to fetch the first stick. Other ceremonies. In the Louisiana Heron, in addition to the “‘ mutual’ greeting ceremony and its modifications, there exists a rarer “ unilateral ’’ ceremony in which only one bird, probably but not certainly always the male, performs. This is also true for the British species, although the details are different. This ceremony was only seen on one occasion, nest 4, March 22nd (i.e., late in the series of nesting events ; nest 4 had been first seen occupied, by the pair, on March roth ; a nest-relief, without ceremony, had occurred on March 11th). One or possibly both birds had been on the nest, but had later left it. 5.12 p.m., one arrived, followed by the other two minutes later. The second arrival sat in the branches by the nest for a little, then climbed through the branches to the neighbouring nest 5, which was now very small after 160 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XVIII, the robberies of sticks from it (see above). There it stood, facing its mate, uttering deep groans. Then it rose to its full height, and shot its head and neck vertically full stretch upwards, still uttering booming groans. Suddenly it leaned forward and lay flat down on nest 5, stretching its neck horizontally towards its mate, at the same time giving a sudden clicking note. The neck was shot out with a curious rippling motion. At this, its mate in nest 4 shuffled a little and gave a few croaks. The whole performance—upward stretching followed by lying down and forward pointing of neck with clicking note—was repeated several times, the mate on 4 croaking at each climax (when the other gave the click note). There was a short pause, and then, after two strange gulping notes, the performance was repeated at 5.30 ; three minutes later, the performing bird began to sway gently and rhythmically from side to side while standing. It then suddenly stretched itself, not flat on the nest, but about at an angle of 45°, again giving the click note. In the absence of other observations, the precise signi- ficance of this very remarkable performance is difficult to be sure of. We must, to start with, know much more of the limits of time between which it occurs. | Copulation. This was once seen, as mentioned above, immediately after the relief of a male by a female. A very similar occurrence was noted with pair 7 at 4.45 p.m. on March 11th. One bird (g) had been standing by the nest for at least an hour, rather restless. Another (Q) arrived, and went right on to the nest, the other giving one croak on its mate’s arrival, and shortly afterwards copulating with it. After preening a little, the male flew off. In another pair (nest 19, March 11th), one had come back and settled close to the nest about 8.30. The second arrived 8.58, and there was a good duet of croaks—presumably a typical greeting ceremony, although I could not see the birds clearly to note crest, pose, etc. They stood quietly till 9.30, when, hearing one croak, I looked up and found copulation in progress. After this, the male shortly moved back to where he had been before, in the branches a little above the other. He went off for three minutes soon after, but then came back and stayed for nearly an hour until scared off. Thus copulation definitely need not follow immediately on any ‘“‘courtship’”’ ceremony. On one occasion it followed greeting after half an hour ; twice it followed immediately on relief of a male by a female ; on the fourth occasion when it was seen, previous events were not noted ; the male soon after flew off. vou. xvut.]} THE COMMON HERON. 161 Other points. Nest 11, March 8th. One bird settled ; soon gave a resonant call, upon which the mate arrived with a thick dark object in its bill (apparently not a stick), which it gave to its mate, after a short ‘‘ duet” of croaks. The nest-bird on this shot its neck horizontally in and out two or three times, and then gave a low croak ; it could not be seen how it disposed of the object. The other after a little flew off (i.e., no nest-relief). This again was only seen once. Possibly feeding of nest- bird by its mate? This, however, has not been seen in other Herons, so far as I am aware. Hostility. When a bird comes too near an occupied nest, the owner thrusts out its neck and beak with a special cry. Fighting. On one occasion (nest 4, March 11th), after one bird (‘A’) had settled on the nest, two others (“ B” and ‘> shortly after lit near by. “B” first drove “C” out of the tree, then turned its attention to “‘ A’ and drove it off the nest and right away, then settling on the nest itself. Nothing further until it was scared off an hour later. Here we appear to have definite fighting for territory-plus-nest. Two birds had been seen on or by the nest the previous day. Miscellaneous. On April 20th, when several birds had young, their behaviour was much bolder, several even refusing to leave the nest-trees while I was in full sight close by; whereas on March 4th, none returned at all during two hours, even after the observer had entered the tent. (On ‘March tioth they returned after a moderate time; on March rrth, and later, several returned within a few minutes of the observer entering the hide.) Enemies. On both March 15th and 18th, a Magpie was seen carefully examining nest 16. On March 18th two ‘Heron’s eggs, apparently eaten by a Magpie or at any rate by some egg-stealing bird, were found on the ground not far away. _ Behaviour after young hatched. April 24th, 1923 (windy, jovercast). Nest 18 (an unused nest) had disappeared, pre- sumably robbed of all its sticks. The young birds were keeping up a constant squawking and bill-clappering. 6.55 p.m., a bird alights on nest 3. In under five seconds its mate flew off. It was difficult to see clearly through the leaves, but I believe there was a short greeting (nest-relief) ceremony. In any case it must have been very poor compared to such ceremonies during incubation. NOTES FROM 1924. | Not only the Otmoor, but also the Wytham heronry was visited. | M 162 BRITISH BIRDS. [VoL. XVII, (A) WyTHAM. February roth.—A party of four Herons were seen standing silently in a river meadow about two miles from the Wytham heronry. They were put up three times by the watcher ; each time they simply flew off a few hundred yards and settled again. This recalls the gathering seen near Otmoor on March 4th, 1923. February 22nd.—Wytham heronry. Thirteen birds on the nests. One tree was climbed, and the nest found to have fresh sticks. When the heronry was approached, all the birds flew off and lit in a river meadow about half a mile away. They remained quite quiet for fifty- five minutes, when two birds flew up, circled over the heronry, found us still there, and returned. The reaction of the birds to the strong, cold E.N.E. wind was interesting. They all alit head to wind. In the course of fifty minutes all had faced the other way, first one, then another turning round. When facing the wind, the body was sloping at an angle of about 45°; when facing down wind, the birds held themselves very erect. There was no exception to this. March 2nd.—No birds seen at the Wytham heronry ; one pair noted in the field where the birds lit on February 22nd. March 1r2th.—Six nests apparently occupied. Seven birds at the heronry. (B) Ormoor. February 1st.—No sign of occupation. February 23rd.—Droppings and feathers under five nests. One nest with two, another with one dead young one seen. March r1th.—As on February 23rd. March 13th.—Six birds came into the wood about 5 p.m. Much noise in trees. No birds there previously. March r5th.—One bird apparently sitting. four Herons in the field, one on guard, two resting, and one about one hundred yards off by itself. From later observations on the young, it appeared that the Wytham birds had started breeding on the average about a week earlier than those on Otmoor. Apparently (see note for February 23rd above) some of the Otmoor birds started breeding too early; the young died, and the next attempt was delayed. CONCLUSION. I think that the above account shows that even a moderate amount of watching can accomplish something during the VOL. XVIII. | THE COMMON HERON. 163 little-observed period of a bird’s sexual life that takes place before the eggs are laid. It is proposed to continue the work as occasion offers. The mutual ceremonies of greeting, etc., were to be expected after acquaintance with other Herons; but the unisexual ceremonies are interesting and appear to be more complex than in the Louisiana Heron. All these fall under the head of post-mating ceremonies (see Huxley, ’23, for discussion). No actual pre-mating ceremonies were seen, but the gathering of the birds in small companies in the neighbourhood of the heronry before most of them had occupied nests is of considerable interest. Mrs. H. Brindley (née Miss M. Haviland) informs me that in Ireland towards the end of December she once saw a similar gathering of this same species. The birds were in an irregular circle ; and one of them suddenly moved into the centre and executed a few half-hearted steps. Unfortunately they were soon after scared up. This gathering was several miles from any heronry. Miss Haviland was also informed by an old earth-stopper in Ireland, whose first-hand knowledge of natural history was considerable, that he had himself several times seen similar gatherings, and had witnessed regular dancing by the participants. Such “ dances ” would be very likely to escape observation, considering the season at which they are held, their occurrence in open country and the wariness of the species. All the more reason, therefore, for ornithologists to keep a sharp look-out for them, particularly as,'if they really exist, they are obviously _ pre-mating ceremonies, of which next to nothing is known even in the commonest species (see, for instance, the remarkable account by Martin in the Field for March 15th, 1923, of the great pre-mating gatherings of the Common _ Partridge). In any event, these few notes illustrate what I believe to be two general rules—(r) that in species of birds in which both male and female resemble each other in colouring and share the duties of incubation and care of young, most of the post-mating “courtship”? ceremonies will be mutual. (2) That where such birds breed in colonies or do not conceal their nests, a greeting and nest-relief ceremony will occur and will take place at the nest. ; I should like to conclude by thanking my fellow-members of the Oxford Ornithological Society—Messrs. Banks, Colman Elton, Madden, Montague, Stoney and Tucker—for their help in making these observations. ( 164 ) FIELD-NOTES FROM WEST CORNWALL. BY G, , PAKVES, JAY (Garrulus glandarius rufitergum).—Although fairly common in the east of the county, and even so far west as Truro, the Jay has occurred on very few occasions in the Penzance district. This is the more remarkable because there are many wooded valleys draining into Mount’s Bay which seem well suited to its requirements. However, in the winter of 1923-24 there was quite an invasion on a small scale. The birds arrived about the end of October and the beginning of November, and between November and April I saw them in practically every woodland of any size in the neighbourhood. They were usually seen singly or in pairs, but I several times saw five or six together at Trewidden near Penzance, and once, on March 15th, 1924, a party of nine there. Although most of the birds disappeared in April, a few stayed into May, but none appear to have remained to breed. The last I saw were two at Tremenheere on April 30th, one at Trewidden on May 5th, and one at Trevaylor on the 23rd. BLUE-HEADED WacTAIL (Motacilla f. flava.)—A pair of these birds have, for the second year in succession, nested at the Marazion Marsh, near Penzance. I saw a male there on April 19th, 1924, another on April 29th, and a pair on May 15th. As in last year, I could find no nest for some time, but at length did so, on June 16th, when it contained six young about a week old. It was in a part of the Marsh that is under water in winter, but in summer is dotted with tussocks about a foot high, covered with bog-willow and rushes, and it was in the side of one of these clumps that Ifoundthe nest. Feeding was carried on in much the same manner as last year, except that this year it was undertaken equally by both birds. Generally the feeces were dropped, and I saw none actually eaten. Once, however, I saw the female drop them on rising from the nest, pick them up again, and fly off with them, and on another occasion, when the female was in full flight, she dropped them, caught them dexterously in mid-air, and flew off out of sight with them. In each case it seems probable that she ate them. The young left the nest on June 23rd, but showed signs of a desire to do so earlier, for on the 20th, one young bird was sitting on the edge of the nest, while on the 22nd, one had crept a few inches away into the vegetation on the side of the tussock. The first time I saw any of the vou. xvi.] NOTES FROM WEST CORNWALL. 165 young again was on July 5th, when I saw a single bird still being fed by its parents. I never saw more than two young birds after they had left the nest, so I am afraid some mis- fortune overtook the others. I last saw the birds on August 11th. When carefully examined the nest was found to contain, besides the usual materials, sixty-four feathers, none under an inch in length, and a few scraps of rabbit’s fur. So thoroughly were the feathers matted down and interwoven with the rest of the lining, that at a casual glance one would have said there were no feathers at all, and I only discovered their presence when I had pulled the discarded nest to pieces. Grey WacrtaiL (M. c. cimerea)—A nest with five eggs, found by myself at Castle Horneck, near Penzance, on April 12th, 1918, and another, found at the same place with fully- fledged young, on May 16th, 1919, appear to be the only records of breeding west of the Truro district. BuvE Tit (Parus ceruleus obscurus)—On May 27th, 1922, I found a Blue Tit, sitting on three eggs, in an unlined Wren’s nest. The Wren’s nest was built about four feet from the ground in the branches of a young cypress tree, and was very open. The bottom of the nest was divided into two com- partments by a twig crossing it from side to side. The Blue Tit’s eggs were laid in the back compartment, to which a little horsehair forming the sole lining had been added. BLACKBIRD (Turdus m. merula).—On April 2oth, 1922, I found a Blackbird’s nest with four eggs, built in a disused Magpie’s nest at Kenegie, near Penzance. The Magpie’s nest was built against the bole of a cypress, and was about twenty feet above the ground. It had a few sticks of the dome remaining. The Blackbird had built a complete nest which was entirely below the rim of the Magpie’s, and occupied a hollow, presumably formed by the bird, among the litter of cypress leaves and pine needles with which the Magpie’s nest was half filled. I watched a male Blackbird displaying in the Public Gardens, Penzance, on April 26th, 1924. The bird was on a path with a shrubbery on one side and a lawn on the other. He was running here and there on the path, but always kept within an area of a few yards. The feathers on the crown of the head were puffed up, the upper tail-coverts were raised straight above the back, and the tail was depressed. As he _ ran about erratically he poured out a constant stream of shrill piping notes from his wide-open bill. After I had watched for a few moments, a female Blackbird suddenly 166 ' BRITISH BIRDS. [VoL. xvi, ran out at him from the shrubbery, put him to flight and pursued him into another shrubbery close by. Rosin (Evithacus rubecula melophilus)—On May 5th, 1924, I found a Robin’s nest with three eggs which were completely buried in the lining. The eggs were uncovered on May 8th, the day after the fifth and last egg had been laid. I can find no previous record of this habit in the case of the Robin. Swirt (Apus a. apus).—There was a pied variety at the Marazion Marsh, near Penzance, on May 14th, 1924, and I saw it again on May 15th and r6th. It had most of the upper tail-coverts and practically all the under tail-coverts white, and there were a few irregularly scattered white feathers on the lower breast and belly and on the mantle and back. The white upper tail-coverts were the only conspicuous part, the under tail-coverts hardly showing at all, unless the bird was directly overhead. The bird probably remained in the district as I saw a similarly marked bird at the same place on June 20th and 22nd. MERLIN (Falco columbarius e@salon).—On December 22nd, 1a23, I saw an adult male on a moor at Boswarva, near Penzance. At the same place on January 11th, 1924, I saw an adult male with what I presume was an adult female, as it appeared slightly larger than the male. On the latter occasion I was fortunate enough to witness quite a battle between the female and a pair of Carrion-Crows. The Merlin was more than a match for both her antagonists. She would stoop fiercely at them making them scatter beneath her, shoot up at them from below with the momentum of her stoop, and then easily evade their clumsy attempts at retaliation. I never saw her actually strike either of the Crows, but several times one of them was forced to alight to escape a particularly vicious stoop. In the end she forced both Crows to the ground, and then flew off, accompanied by the male who had been perched on a stake near by the whole time, apparently quite content with the réle of spectator. GARGANEY (Anas querquedula).—As long ago as 1869 Rodd recognized the Garganey as an occasional spring passage migrant in West Cornwall. I saw a pair on the Marazion Marsh, near Penzance, on March 31st, 1924, and another pair on April 5th, 1924. ; VELVET-SCOTER (Oidemia f. fusca).—I saw an adult male, . in full plumage, at the back of Penzance railway station on March 26th, 1924. It was some distance from the shore, but I could see the white wing-bar and the white mark by the eye. The bird remained about the same place all that day, VoL. xvi.] NOTES FROM WEST CORNWALL. 167 but was gone by the 27th. This appears to be the sixth record for Cornwall, and the five previous records are also from the west. Cormorant (Phalacrocorax c. carbo).—There are only two colonies of this bird in the district, as far as I am aware, so that it is far outnumbered by the almost ubiquitous Shag. About ten pairs nest near Gwithian on the north coast in the Camborne district, and there is a larger colony of about fifty pairs on the Gull Rock at Mullion, on the eastern shore of Mount’s Bay. At the former colony J saw a nest with two eggs as late as July 12th, 1924. Sua (P. a. arvistotelis) —On June 7th, 1924, at the Land’s End, I founda Shag brooding half-fledged young in a Raven’s nest which I had seen occupied by the rightful owner on March rst, 1924. A similar occurrence is recorded in British Birds, V., p. 27, also for Cornwall. As in that case, the Shag appeared to have made no addition to the Raven’s nest. On July 5th, 1924, at Porthleven, near Helston, I saw a brood of six young Shags, nearly fully-fledged, on one ledge. As they were all of the same size, and as there was only one nest on the small ledge, they were obviously all one brood. Rurr (Philomachus pugnax)—A male in winter plumage frequented some marshy fields near Hayle, in company with a Green Sandpiper, from October 17th to 24th, 1923. SPOTTED SANDPIPER (Tvinga macularia)—On June 14th, 1924, while walking across Loe Bar (the large bank of shingle which separates Loe Pool, near Helston, from the sea), I saw what I supposed was a Common Sandpiper running along the shore of the lake. When I glanced at it from behind, through field-glasses, I saw it had small black spots on the white around its legs. This arousing my attention I got ahead of the bird, and, crouching down at the edge of the water, waited for it to come round a sand-spit. When it did so I saw that the throat and breast were profusely spotted, especially the latter. The big spots on the breast were in marked contrast to the much smaller ones lower down the body. The other differences between the Spotted and Common Sandpipers are of little use in the field, unless birds of both species are present for comparison, but I did notice that the base of the bill in this bird was a bright flesh-colour, different from the bill of any Common Sandpiper I have ever seen. The bird flew in the peculiar and characteristic manner of the Common Sandpiper, but uttered no note on rising. I have no hesitation in recording so rare a bird, as its being in _ summer plumage rendered identification certain. 168 BRITISH BIRDS. [VoOL. Xvi, BLACK-TAILED Gopwit (Limosa l. limosa).—There were two, both in summer plumage, at the Hayle estuary from May 6th to gth, 1924. LITTLE GULL (Larus minutus).—There was an immature bird in its first winter plumage at the Marazion Marsh on January 1gth, 1924. It was associating with a flock of about one hundred and fifty Black-headed Gulls. LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL (L. fuscus affinis) —Rather less common as a_ breeding species than the Great Black- backed Gull, this bird only nests, as far as I know, in three localities in the district. There are five or six nesting among Herring Gulls at Gunwalloe, near Helston, and a few pairs nest near Gwithian and at Portreath, both near Camborne, I have found no colony between Penzance and St. Ives, and on June 14th, 1924, I found no nests on Mullion Island and saw but a single bird there. Clark (Victoria History of Corn- wall, I., p. 346) gives Mullion Island as one of the chief breeding stations for this species. GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL (L. marinus).—This fine Gull is commoner as a breeding species in West Cornwall than is generally stated. Between Penzance and St. Ives I found twenty-six pairs nesting in the summer of 1924, and of these | no less than twenty-two were in the Land’s End district. On the Enys Dodman, a flat-topped, soil-covered islet at the Land’s End, there is a colony of sixteen pairs. The Black-backs have appropriated the whole of the top of this islet, but a few pairs of Herring-Gulls nest on its rocky sides. Of the remaining ten pairs, eight were on isolated, or semi- isolated, stacks, and two were on the mainland. Of the stack nests, only one pair held entire possession of its retreat. The others were all in company with Herring-Gulls, in one case with Shags, Razorbills and Guillemots also, and in another with Kittiwakes in addition. Usually, but not always, the Black-back’s nest was at the top of the stack. The two main- land nests were on ledges among large colonies of Herring- Gulls. Outside the Penzance-St. Ives cliffs, a few pairs nest on the eastern shore of Mount’s Bay, around Mullion, and there are one or two pairs nesting near Gwithian and at Portreath, both in the Camborne district. On May 5th, 1923, I found a peculiar Great Black-backed Gull’s egg in a nest with two normal eggs at Gurnard’s Head, near St. Ives. It was a light sea-green in ground-colour with numerous faint purple shell-marks. It had one big brown blotch and a few small brown spots near the larger end. The egg lost its sea-green tint soon after blowing, and is now quite vou. xvimt.] NOTES FROM WEST CORNWALL. 169 normal in ground colour, while the purple shell-marks have disappeared. Kittrwake (Rissa t. tridactyla) —On August roth, 1923, I discovered a colony of Kittiwakes on a headland known as Carn Lés Boel, near the Land’s End. There were then about eighty adult birds there, and a few young were still in the nests. On March ist, 1924, a few birds were on the ledges, but I did not see the colony in full strength until June 7th, 1924. On that date I estimated there were about one hundred and fifty pairs breeding. The cliffs vary from one hundred to two hundred feet in height, and a huge detached slab of rock forms an island about one hundred and fifty feet high. The nests were on the face of the cliffs and the island, and in two large caves. i LRar ees > PAGE > - The Grassholm Gannets in 1924—A Great Increase. By Clemence M. Acland and H. Morrey Salmon ae Siete 178 | Recovery of Marked Birds Be en a 568 ee OO Notes :— Wood-Lark Breeding in East Surrey (C. W. Colthrup) ... 192 Black Redstart Inland in Kent (W. Wood) ae : 193. How late do Swifts stay out at Night (Dr. Norman H. ce 193, Buzzards over the Isle of Wight (C. W. Colthrup) ABE 194 Spoonbillsin Kent (Mrs. V. R. M. Gowlland) 305 es 194 Goldeneyes in Cheshire throughout Summer (A. W. Boyd) 194 Flocking of Wood-Pigeons in Early Summer (R. H. Brown) 195 Reeve in co. Down (W. H. Workman) Soe ae Scr 195 Avocets in Kent (Mrs. H. M. Rait Kerr) ... aes as 195 Spotted Crake in co. Louth (W. H. Workman) _... ie 196 Short Note :— Late Nesting of Sand-Martins ... oa De oe 556 196 Obituary—The Rev. Maurice C. H. Bird (Dr. B. B. Riviere) 196 Letters :— On the Scientific Names of the Light- and Dark-breasted Brent Geese (Dr. Ernst Hartert) ... sis ee 5s 197 On the Nesting of the ae in the Camargue (Collingwood Ingram and Rev. F. C. R Jourdain) mac aes. ee 198 Reviews :— Broadland Birds. By E. L. Turner ... Ane ee ae 199 British Waders. By E. C. Arnold Rae se a ae 109g The Fauna of British India. Birds. Vol. II. By I. (C. Stuart Baker ... Hee hare ‘a a Beis 200 N ( 178 ) THE GRASSHOLM GANNETS IN 1924—A GREAT INCREASE. BY CLEMENCE M. ACLAND anp H. MORREY SALMON, SINCE the late Mr. J. J. Neale relinquished the lease of Grags- holm about ten years ago very little appears to have been recorded concerning the colony of Gannets (Sula bassana) inhabiting the island. The late Mr. J. H. Gurney, in his book on The Gannet (1912), summarizes the previous records published in the Tvans- actions of the Cardiff Naturalists’ Society* and elsewhere, and estimates that in 1903 at the time of his attempted visit (for he was unable to effect a landing owing to weather and could only sail round the island) there were about 400 birds, while Mr. Morley H. Neale informs us that up to 1914 there were not more than 300 pairs at any time. Since Mr. Gurney wrote, as far as we can ascertain, no records have been published except an account of a visit by Captain Vivian Hewitt, in the Oologists’ Record of December, 1923. Captain Hewitt estimated that there were at the time of his visit, May 30th, 1922, 800 to 1,000 pairs breeding and the total number of Gannets about 3,000, but we were not aware of this record at the time of our visit. Having these facts in mind we did not anticipate the sight which presented itself to our view on June 2Ist, 1924, as we reached the highest point and looked down on the dazzlingly white array of Gannets congregated on the north-west side of the island. We had decided, before starting out, to try to get a record of the numbers as accurately as possible by means of photo- graphs, so apart from any other exposures, a series was taken purely from the census point of view, and from this series we have selected five prints which, for convenient reference in this note, we have numbered 1 to 5. Previously, the gannetry has usually been stated to consist of two or four separate small colonies, though Mr. Gurney, in the Tvansactions of the Norfolk and Norwich Naturalisis’ Society in 1903, says: “ There is one place occupied by the largest company of Gannets which may well number a hundred or more, and further on are five smaller companies numbering * Vol. XXII, part m.; Vol. KXVI., part 1.; Vol. XXXII. and Vol. XX XVIII. (uowyes Aar0y, “Ty Aq paydvss0j0yq) ‘AUO[OD 9Y} JO pus yQnos PUL “I ‘ON ‘#261 NI WIOHSSYUD LY SLENNYD ; ie ef net : ¥ cen ay ; = a “pe : oes PA ee 5 é ’ r ‘ 4 : Sree : Ay 33 ‘ a ? ~~ 7 : Oi SK x . u - : ~ Ry oog No Da 7 z Ne . a . ’ : oa : . ; (‘uowyes Aorropy “H 9 paydvasoj0y7) “JYSIY UT Spitq ay} Jo oUIOS—AuOTOO 94} jO o13u99 04} UL “2 ‘ON ‘hcOr NI WIOHSSVUD LY SLANNVD (‘uowyes Aoisopw “EE ¢q paydvasojoyq) ‘Yytou suryooy, Auojoo oy} Fo eJppru oy, uy “€ ‘ON “bz6I NI WIOHSSVYD LY SLAaNNVD —— lc el ee ee » (‘uowyes Aoropw “HH. 49 paydvssojoyd) ‘Auojoo oy} JO puso YOU OY} WOT, MOIA [eIOUIS) error e ‘ “P ‘ON “bc61 pi NI WIOHSSVAD LV SLAONNVS VoL. xvil.] GRASSHOLM GANNETS. 183 say forty Gannets apiece on an average, as well as three or four yet smaller parties of eight or ten,” but now these seem to be quite incorporated into one large unbroken colony which stretches along the north-west side of the island from just opposite the detached rock called West Tump to within about a hundred yards of the extreme northerly point of the island, or approximately opposite the letters “‘ H.W.M.O.T.” which appear on the 6 in. scale Ordnance Survey map—sheet Pembrokeshire, XXXI. A.SW. and XXXI. C.SE., second edn. 1909. GANNETS AT GRASSHOLM IN 1924. No. 5. A few birds which could not be included on the extreme right of No. 4. (Photographed by H. Morrey Salmon.) A photograph (No. 1) was taken from the south, some distance from the edge of the breeding ground, showing comparatively a small section only, and two photographs were taken from a point well inside the colony, one (No. 2) showing about a third of the birds in flight and the other (No. 3) showing the centre section, if it may be so called, of the colony. The large rock in No. 3 is that which was occupied by one of the two original small colonies, and it is interesting to 184 BRITISH BIRDS. [VoOL. XVII. compare this photograph with the one of the same rock, taken in 1893, illustrating the paper on Grassholm in the Trans. of the Cardiff Nat. Soc., Vol. XXVI. The next (No. 4) was taken from almost the extreme north end of the colony, and a fifth (No. 5) taking in a few birds which could not be included in No. 4. Of course, nothing less than an aerial view could possibly include every bird ; many nesting on the sides of gullies, etc., cannot be seen in any general photograph taken from within the colony itself, and the reverse sides of the rocks in No. 3 do not appear in these photographs. The method of assessing the numbers was to count all the adult birds on the ground in photographs 1, 3 and 4—for convenience these were marked off into inch squares on 8 in. by 6 in. prints—and taking a mean of three separate counts the figure arrived at was 1,930, to which must be added go birds appearing in No. 5. To this total we consider it reasonable to add 20 per cent. to account for the birds out of sight referred to in the previous paragraph. This gives an estimated total of 2,420 birds actually at the nests, but as in a proportion of cases both birds of a pair were at the nest it may be assumed without exaggeration that. there were 2,000 pairs breeding. Calculating, however, on a minimum basis we get a total of over 1,800 pairs if only 50 per cent. be added to the 2,420 on the breeding area to allow for birds away fishing, and those in flight over the colony. The latter were approximately 900, as we found that the plate took in about a third of them, and the three photographs I, 2 and 3 show an average of 300 birds in flight each. Mr. Gurney, on his visit in 1903, remarks that he did not see above 60, if as many, on the wing in the neighbourhood of Grassholm. Incidentally, it may be mentioned that Puffins, once so extremely numerous, have apparently now almost deserted Grassholm. Even at this late date a number of Gannets were bringing materials to the nest, and on more than one occasion a bird in immature plumage, probably about the fourth year, was seen carrying a long streamer of seaweed in its beak. The nests were the usual collection of seaweeds, tufts of grass and thrift, feathers, etc., and were built, as can be seen in the photographs, in all situations from the grass-covered earth slopes down to the ledges of the cliffs. The majority of them contained young in various stages, though there were a few eggs, mostly well incubated, which VOL. XvIII.]}] GRASSHOLM GANNETS. 185 had a peculiarly pungent peppery-fishy odour. The gulls took some, though apparently fresh ones only, judging by the few empty shells we saw. It was unfortunate that the weather was responsible for giving us so short a time ashore, but we could not stay longer and risk being marooned for an indefinite time; as it was, from the time of our first embarkation at 1.30 a.m., from which, after a couple of hours, the weather forced us to put back and make a second start at 10.30 a.m., to finally reaching the mainland on our return at 10.30 p.m., we spent eleven and a half hours in the boat. ( 186 ) RECOVERY OF MARKED BIRDS. STARLING (Stuynus v. vulgaris).—g6,251, ringed at Rosehill, Cheadle, Staffs, as a nestling, by Mr. J. R. B. Masefield, on May 26th, 1920. Reported where ringed, on December 29th, 1922, and March 21st, 1924, by the ringer. 50,396, ringed at Eton, Bucks, by Mr. A. Mayall, on November t1th, 1921. Reported where ringed, on January 11th, 1924, by the ringer, and bird released. 55,831, ringed as 50,396, on October 26th, 1922. Reported where ringed, in April 1924, by Miss E. Boyd. 56,397, ringed as 50,396, on November 14th, 1922. Reported at — Addlestone, Surrey, on September 18th, 1924, by Mr. G. Bentley. 56,425, ringed as 50,396, on November 17th, 1922. Reported at Hampton Court, Surrey, on April 30th, 1924, by Mr. H. Slade. 50,481, ringed as 50,396, on January Ist, 1923. Reported where ringed, on April 29th, 1924, by Mr. W. A. Bennett. Z.1,439 and Z.2,691 ringed as 50,396, on August 26th and 30th, 1923. Reported where ringed, on January 20th and 3rd, 1924, by the ringer, and birds released. Z.1,360, ringed at Earley, Berks, as a nestling, by Mr. A. Mayall, on May 26th, 1924. Reported at Croxley Green, Herts (25 miles from where ringed), on July 22nd, 1924, by Mr. W. Simmonds. 59,228, ringed at Seaford, Sussex, as a young bird, by Mr. J. F. Thomas, on May 30th, 1923. Reported where ringed, on March 24th, 1924, by Mr. H. J. Baskett. 54,070, ringed at Ashby Magna, Leicestershire, as a young bird, by Lieut. H. B. Cott, on May 31st, 1922. Reported where ringed, on April 21st, 1924, by Mr. W. H. Shepard. 51,901, ringed at Bradfield, near Reading, Berks, by Dr. N. H. Joy, on November 27th, 1922, Reported near where ringed in May, 1924, by Mr. P. F. Bailey. 54,976, 54,977, ringed at Frandley, near Great Budworth, Cheshire, by Capt. A. W. Boyd, on January 26th and 30th, 1923. Reported where ringed, on November 29th and 27th, 1923, by the ringer. 57,675, ringed as 54,976, a nestling, on July roth, 1923. Reported where ringed, on March 26th, 1924, by the ringer. GREENFINCH (Chloris c. chlovis).—A.7,465, ringed at Wood End, Pyrford, Surrey, as a nestling, by Mrs. L. E. Taylor, on May 26th, 1923. Reported at West Byfleet, Surrey, in June 1924, by the ringer. LINNET (Carduelis c. cannabina).—A.9,607, ringed at Burnham, Bucks, as a nestling, by Mr. A. Mayall, on July 15th, 1923. Re- ported at Capbreton-sur-Mer (Landes), France, on November 2oth, 1923, by Mons. C. Lafitte. CHAFFINCH (Fringilla c. celebs).—2,084, ringed at Rosehill, Cheadle, Staffs, as an adult, by Mr. J. R. B. Masefield, on August 12th, 1921. Reported where ringed, on March 5th, 1924, by the ringer. Re-ringed with B.2,109. A.5,846, A.5,855, ringed at Bridge-of-Earn, Perthshire, as adults, by Mr. A. H. R. Wilson, on Ju.y 4th, 1923, Reported where ringed, on March 12th, 1924, by the ringer. Rings replaced and birds released. B.2,613, ringed at Pyrford, Surrey. as an adult female, by Mrs. L. E. Taylor, on October 26th, 1923. Reported where ringed, on February 12th, 1924, by the ringer. A.2,009, ringed near Great Budworth, Cheshire, as an adult, by Capt. A. W. Boyd, on February 12th, 1923. Reported where ringed, on November 26th, 1923, by the ringer. VoL. xvit.] RECOVERY OF MARKED BIRDS. 187 A.2,018, ringed as A.2,009, on February 16th, 1923. Reported where ringed five times during March, and twice during Dec- ember, 1923, by the ringer. A.2,043, ringed as A.2,009, on March 8th, 1923. Reported where ringed on December 4th, 1923, and January 28th, 1924, by the ringer. ; YELLOW Buntine (Emberiza c. citrinella).— A.2,008, ringed near Great Budworth, Cheshire, as an adult, on February 8th, 1923, by Capt. A. W. Boyd. Reported where ringed, on February 9th, 1924, by the ringer. A.2,019, ringed as A.2,008, on February 16th, 1923. Reported where ringed on January 27th, 1924, by the ringer. A.9,297, ringed as A.2,008, on January 31st, 1924. Reported at Runcorn Water Works, Cheshire, late July 1924, by Mr. H. Norman. Woop-WarBLER (Phylloscopus s. sibilatyix)—B.7,254, ringed at Burnham, Bucks, as a nestling, by Mr. A. Mayall, on June 12th, 1924. Reported near Potenza, Southern Italy, on September 23rd, 1924, by Count E. Arrigoni Degli Oddi. Published in // Cacciatore Italiano, XXXVIII., No. 40, p. 654. Prep Waertait (Motacilla a. yarvellii).—B.1,828, ringed at Eton, Bucks, as an adult, by Mr. A. Mayall, on August 28th, 1923. Reported where ringed, on April 17th, 1924, by the ringer. Sonc-TurusH (Turdus ph. clavkei).—57,659, ringed at Great Budworth, Cheshire, as a nestling, by Capt. A. W. Boyd, on June 22nd, 1923. Reported near where ringed, on April 6th, 1924, by Mrs. Houghton, per the ringer. 52,133, ringed at Kessingland, Lowestoft, Suffolk, as a young bird, by Miss F. K. Staunton, on May 2nd, 1923. Reported at Oulton Broad, near Lowestoft, on December 8th, 1923, by Mr. J. T. Hawkes. BLACKBIRD (Turdus m. merula).—9g6,906, ringed at Streatham, London, S.W., as a nestling, by Mr. F. J. Mitchell, on May 5th, 1921, Reported where ringed, on June 25th, 1924, by Mrs. C. Norman. T.866, ringed at Torrance, Stirlingshire, as a nestling, by Mr. J. Bartholomew, on May 4th, 1914. Reported where ringed, in May i924, by the ringer. Shrivelled body of bird found. A.5,519, ringed as T.866, on May 17th, 1923. Reported where ringed, on April r4th, 1924, by the ringer. 58,841, ringed as T.866, on June Ist, 1923. Reported at Miln- gavie, Stirlingshire, on August 25th, 1924, by Mr. H. D. Jackson. 59,344, ringed at Helensborough, Dumbartonshire, as a nestling, by Mr. T. Kerr, on May 17th, 1923. Reported where ringed, on February 26th, 1924, by Miss M. MacBrayne. 56,255, ringed at Formby, Lancs, asa nestling, by Mr. T. L.S. Dooly, on May 21st, 1923. Reported where ringed, in July 1924, by Mr. T. Kiely. 52,375, ringed at Rusland, Ulverston, Lancs, as a nestling, by Mr. C. F. Archibald, on May 11th, 1924. Reported at Troutbeck, Windermere (about 84 miles from where ringed), in August 1924, by Mr. A. Sisson, WHEATEAR (Cenanthe w@. enanthe).—A.2,900, ringed at Seaford, Sussex, as a nestling, by Mr. J. F. Thomas, on May 17th, 1923. Reported I} miles from where ringed, on May 11th, 1924, by the ringer, A female caught sitting on eggs. REDBREAST (Evithacus rv. melophilus)—GY.17, ringed at Limpsfield, Surrey, as an adult, by Mrs. A. Patteson, on September 29th, 1919. Reported where ringed, in February 1924, by the ringer. HeEpDGE-SpARROW (Prunella m. occidentalis) —NV.51, ringed at Frandley, BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XVIII, P.W.34, ringed at Streatham, London, S.W., as an adult, by Mr. F. J. Mitchell, on October 2nd, 1921. Reported where ringed, on October 22nd, 1921, June 24th, 1922, September 4th (Re-ringed A.8,203) and October 18th, 1923. Again released. 4,952, ringed at Woodside, Pyrford, Surrey, as an adult, by Mrs, L. E. Taylor, on October Ist, 1921. Reported where ringed, on April roth, 1924, by the ringer. Re-ringed with B.2,596. 4,967, ringed as 4,952, on April 8th, 1922. Reported where ringed, on April 16th, 1924, by the ringer. A.3,582, ringed as 4,952, on February 26th, 1923. Reported where ringed, on September 19th, 1923, and May 28th, 1924, by the ringer. 8,121, ringed at Patterdale, Ullswater, Westmorland, as a young bird, by Dr. H. J. Moon, in May 1922. Reported where ringed, on April 28th, 1924, by Mr. J. Sweeten per the ringer. A.3,839, ringed at Bridge-of-Earn, Perthshire, as an adult, by Mr. A. H. R. Wilson, on April 8th, 1923. Reported where ringed, on February 8th and 17th, 1924, by the ringer. Again released. A.3,832, ringed as A.3,839, on July 5th, 1923. Reported where ringed, on October 12th, 15th and 19th, 1923, and February roth, 1924, by the ringer. Again released. A.1,803, ringed at Rosehill, Cheadle, Staffs, as an adult, by Mr. J. R. B. Masefield, on November 27th, 1922. Reported where ringed, on November 25th, 1923, and March 3rd, 1924. Again released. B.2,078, ringed at Eton, Bucks, as an adult, by Mr. A. Mayall, on September 14th, 1923. Reported where ringed on February toth, 1924, by the ringer. A.1,999, near Great Budworth, Cheshire, as an adult, by Capt. A. W. Boyd, on January 26th, 1923. Reported where ringed in February and July, 1923, and January and February, 1924, by the ringer. A.2,006, ringed as A.1,999, on February 3rd, 1923. Reported where ringed, six times during February, March and November, 1923, and twice in January, 1924, by the ringer. A.2,023, ringed as A.1,999, on February 24th, 1923. Reported where ringed several times between October, 1923, and January, 1924, by the ringer. A.g,211, ringed as A.1.999, on August 5th, 1923. Reported where ringed seven times during September, October and November, 1923, and five times during January and February, 1924. 5,452, ringed at Langharne, Carmarthenshire, as a bird of the year, by Mr. J. F. Thomas, on August 9th, 1922. Reported where ringed, on August 13th, 1923, and January gth, 1924, by the ringer. A.8,402, ringed at Salcombe Regis, near Sidmouth, Devon, as an adult, by Mr. P. E. A. Morshead, on August 25th, 1923. Reported where ringed, on December 28th, 1923, by the ringer. Rin replaced and bi1d released. near Great Budworth, Cheshire, as a nestling, by Capt. A. W. Boyd, on May 29th, 1921. Reported near where ringed, on May gth, 1924, by the ringer. A.2,001, ringed as N.V.51, on January 26th, 1923. Reported where ringed, on September 28th, 1923, by the ringer. A.4,549, ringed as NV.51, an adult, on July 28th, 1923. Reported where ringed eight times during July and August, and on October 21st and November 6th, 1923, by the ringer. VoL. xvut.} RECOVERY OF MARKED BIRDS. 189 A.5,849, ringed at Bridge-of-Earn, Perthshire, as an adult, by Mr. A. H. R. Wilson, on August 5th, 1923. Reported where ringed, on November 22nd and December 1I1ith, 1923, and February 20th, 1924. Again released. A.8,204, ringed at Streatham, London, S.W., as an adult, by Mr. F. J. Mitchell, on September 4th, 1923. Reported where ringed, on January 27th, 1924, by the ringer. Again released. B.2,611t, ringed at Pyrford Heath, near Woking, Surrey, as an adult, by Mrs. L. E. Taylor, on October Ist, 1923. Reported where ringed severa! times during October, November and December, 1923, and on March 30th, 1924, by the ringer. SwaLtow (Hivundo yr. rustica).—A.5,398, ringed at Kessingland, Lowestoft, Suffolk, as a young bird, by Miss F. K. Staunton, on June 26th, 1923. Reported at Commune d’Eyrans, near Blaye (Gironde), France, on September 12th, 1923, by Mons. A. Chabiron. 9,417, ringed at Dorney, Bucks, as a nestling, by Mr. A. Mayall on June 25th, 1923. Reported near where ringed, late June 1924, by Mr. H. R. Cripps. B.1,206, ringed at Torrance, Stirlingshire, as a young bird, by Mr. J. Bartholomew, on July 24th, 1923. Reported near where ringed, on July 3rd, 1924, by Mr. J. Simpson. A.6,107, ringed at Laugharne, Carmarthenshire, as a nestling, by Mr. J. F. Thomas, on August 17th, 1923, Reported at Carmarthen, early July 1924, by Mr. Wm. Narbett. Martin (Delichon wu. urbica).—B.4,517, ringed at Glen Esk, Forfarshire, as a young bird, by Mr. H.G. Watson, on July 6th, 1924. Reported at East Mill, Bleachfield (about 15 miles distant), early September, 1924, by the ringer. Published in Dundee Advertiser, September goth, 1924. Swirt (Apus a. apus).—53,940, ringed at Warlingham, Surrey, a nesting bird, by the Lon. Nat. Hist. Soc., on July 23rd, 1922. Returned to nest in same roof in 1923, reported by Mr. A. Beadell. Ring replaced. PEREGRINE FaLcon (Falco p. peregyinus).—102,603, ringed in West- morland, as a young bird, by Dr. H. J. Moon, on May 2oth, 1923. Reported about 5 miles from eyrie where ringed, on May 5th, 1924, by the ringer. Bird found dead below nest which contained broken egg. Probably it was owner of nest, but may have been loser in fight with real owner. MERLIN (falco c. @salon).—26,349, ringed at Merthyr Mawr, S. Wales, as a nestling, by Miss C. M. Acland, on June r9th, 1921. Reported near Bridgend, Glamorgan, S. Wales, in March 1924, by Mr. Wm. David. SPARROW-HAwK (Accipiter n. nisus).—73,570, ringed at Bradfield, near Reading, Berks, as a nestling, by Dr. N. H. Joy, on June 23rd, ea Reported near where ringed early May 1924, by Mr. A. J. OX. 21,358, ringed at Graigallian, Dumbartonshire, as a young bird, by Mr. D. Macdonald, on June 23rd, 1923. Reported at Duntreath Estate, Blanefield, Stirlingshire, early July 1924, by Mr. R. N. Morrison. MALLARD (Anas p. platyrhyncha).—Eight ringed at Oakmere, Cheshire, by Capt. A. W. Boyd, on July 16th, and three on the 23rd, 1923 (hand-reared birds), were shot at the same place in December 1923. 37,395, ringed at Leswalt, Stranraer, Wigtownshire, as an adult, by Mr. M. Portal, on February 21st, 1922. Reported where ringed, on February 27th, 1924, by the ringer. 20,509, ringed as 37,395, on March 5th, 1924. Reported at 190 BRITISH BIRDS. [VoL. XVIn, Culhorn Loch, about 5 miles from where ringed, on August 16th, 1924, by Mr. Wm. Watt, per The Field. SHAG (Phalacrocorax a. aristotelis)—102,848, ringed on Handa Island, Sutherland, as an adult, by Capt. A. W. Boyd, on June 29th, 1923. Reported where ringed, in May 1924, by Mr. J. Hunter. 102,871, ringed on Soyca Island, Lochinver, Sutherland, as a nestling, by Capt. A. W. Boyd, on July 6th, 1923. Reported at mouth of Loch Torridon, Ross-shire, early May 1924, by Mr, J. Macdonald. 50,545, ringed at Scilly Isles, Cornwall, as a young bird, by Mr, é Robinson, on June 25th, 1924. Reported near St. Sampson’s, Guernsey, on September 18th, 1924, by Mr. W. J. Galpin. Woop-PIGEON (Columba p. palumbus).—68,801, ringed at Cholsey, Berks, as a young bird, by Mr. J..F. Madden, on June gth, 1923. Reported near Wallingford, Berks, on June 5th, 1924, by Miss N. Hl. ‘Greg. Lapwine (Vanellus vanellus).—47,135, ringed at Louth, Lincs, as an adult, by Mr. J. S. Allison, on February 11th, 1915. Reported at Dipple Farm, Woolsery West, Bucks Cross, N. Devon, in February 1924, by Mr. G. Andrew. 58,890, ringed at Torrance, Stirlingshire, as a young bird, by Mr. J. Bartholomew, on June gth, 1923. Reported near where ringed on March r8th, 1924, by the ringer. 58,891, ringed as 58,890. Reported at Barefield, co. Clare, Ireland, on February 25th, 1924, by Mr. P. Galvin. 58,836, ringed as 58,890, on June 23rd, 1923. Ring reported at Strathblane, Stirlingshire, on May 4th, 1924, by Mr. J. Griffiths. Ring found in a fresh “‘casting’’ in a Kestrel’s nest; Kestrel seen. No remains of Lapwing found. CurLEw (Numenius a. arquata).—20,829, ringed at Torrance, Stirling- shire, as a young bird, by Mr. J. Bartholomew, on July 2nd, 1923. Reported at Dundalk, co. Louth, Ireland, on February 26th, 1924, by Mr. J. Ohagan. SNIPE (Capella g. gallinago).—B.2,158, B.2,159, ringed on the Isle of Arran, Scotland, as young birds, by Mr. J. R. B. Masefield, on June roth, 1924. Reported where ringed on August 23rd and 16th, 1924, by Mr. S. D. Whitehead, per The Field, and Mr. I. Kerr. Y.1,018, ringed at N. Hareshaw, Ayrshire, as a young bird, by Mr. E. Richmond Paton, in July 1924. Reported one mile from nesting place, on September 20th, 1924, by the ringer. SANDWICH TERN (Steyvna s. sandvicensis).—56,187, ringed on Walney Island, N. Lancs, as a young bird, by Mr. H. W. Robinson, on June 18th, 1923. Reported at Mossamedes, Angola, Portuguese West Africa, on May 18th, 1924, by Mr. R. V. Middleton. Common TERN (Sterna h. hivundo).—2,502, ringed at Ainsdale, Lancs, as a nestling, by Mr. F. W. Holder, on June 14th, 1921. Reported on the Dee Marshes, Cheshire, on August 2nd, 1924, by Mr. 5S. Field. CoMMON GULL (Larus c. canus).—74,825, ringed at Ardnamurchan, Argyllshire, as a young bird, by Mr. T. Kerr, on July rst, 1924. Reported near Tralee, co. Kerry, Ireland, on August 28th, 1924, by Mr. E. J. Reidy. LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL (Larus f. affinis).—39,096, ringed at Foulshaw, Westmorland, as a young bird, by Mr. H. W. Robinson, on July 30th, 1920. Reported at Marennes (Charente Inférieure), France, on August 13th, 1923, by Dr. Hagge, per Dr. H. Weigold. Published in St. Hubert Club Illustré. VoL. xvil.}] RECOVERY OF MARKED BIRDS. 191 21,063, ringed as 39,096, on July 24th, 1922. Reported on Leckie Estate, Gargunnoch, Stirlingshire, on May 24th, 1924, by Mr. J. Burgess. 21,094, ringed as 39,096, on July 24th, 1922,. Reported near Seaton Carew, West Hartlepool, on September Ist, 1924, by Mr. R. H. Lofthouse. 21,220, ringed as 39,096, on July 18th, 1923. Reported near Ile aux Moines (Morbihan), France, on July 30th, 1924, by Mons. J. Gascon. seo. Guittemot (Uria a. albionis).—21,378, ringed at Ailsa Craig, Ayrshire, as a young bird, by Mr. D. Macdonald, on July 8th, 1923. Reported at mouth of Loch Striven, Firth of Clyde, on March r8th, teen, by Mr. A. jetixey. MARKED ABROAD AND RECOVERED IN GREAT BRITAIN. Lapwinc (Vanellus vanellus).—H. Pedersen, Fr-Sund, Danmark, 40,041, ringed as a young bird on a small island in the Firth of Roskilde, Sjaeland, Denmark, on May 23rd, 1923. Reported at Pyrehill, near Stone, Staffordshire, on November 15th, 1923, by Mr. J. R. B. Masefield. BLACK-HEADED GULL (Larus r. vridibundus)—Museum, Leiden, 34,490, ringed as a nestling, at Leersum, Prov. Utrecht, Holland, on June toth, 1923. Reported in Thames Estuary, in February, 1924, by Mr. S. Westfield. P. Skovgaard, Viborg, V.1419, ringed at Klagbanken, Ringkjobing, Jutland, Denmark, on June goth, 1923. Reported at Cliffe-at- Hoo, Rochester, on April 14th, 1924, by Mr. G. J. Scholey. P. Skovgaard, Viborg, 459, ringed at Aggersborggaard, north of Logstor, Jutland, Denmark, on June 26th, 1918. Reported at Allerton Bywater, Yorks, on March 4th, 1920, by Mr. E. Atkinson. (See Danske Fugle, 1923, p. 157.) P. Skovgaard, Viborg, 315, ringed as 459. Reported at Eastwear Bay, Folkestone, Kent, on August 6th, 1920, by Mr. A. M. Browne- Anderson. (See Danske Fugle, 1923, Pp. 157.) . P. Skovgaard, Viborg, 532, ringed as 459. Reported in the Wash, Lincs, on February 14th, 1922, by Mr. H. A. Atkinson. (See Danske Fugle, 1923, p. 158.) P. Skovgaard, Viborg, 523, ringed at Mellempoldene, Randers Fjord, Jutland, Denmark, on July 17th, t919. Reported on bank of the Humber, Hull, Yorks, on November 16th, t919, by Mr. O. Parkinson. (See Danske Fugle, 1923, p. 159.) P. Skovgaard, Viborg, 873, ringed at Madstedborg i Ove So, on June 25th, 1920. Reported at Greatham Creek, Durham, on November 11th, 1920, by Mr. T. Thomsen. (See Danske Fugle, 1923; Pp. 169:) P. Skovgaard, Viborg, 810, ringed as 873. Reported at Brightling- sea, Essex, on December 20th, 1921, by Mr. A. R. Pawle. (See Danske Fugle, 1923, p. 163.) P. Skovgaard, Viborg, N. 23, ringed at Tipperne, on June 29th, 1920. Reported at Rye, Sussex, in April 1921, by Mr. E. P. S. Jones. (See Danske Fugle, 1923, p. 163.) P. Skovgaard, Viborg, 1,267, ringed at Oxneholm, Roskilde Fjord, Sjaeland, Denmark, on June 30th, rg2r. Reported at Gower, Glamorgan, S. Wales, on November 18th, 1921, by, Vice D Ess: Morris. (See Danske Fugle, 1923, p. 166.) CoMMON GULL (Larus c. canus).—P. Skovgaard, Viborg, X.2,574, ringed on Saltholm, S.E. of Copenhagen, Denmark, in 1923. Reported at Kelsale, Norfolk, on February 7th, 1924, by Mr. J. O. Sells. Released still bearing ring. WOOD-LARK BREEDING IN EAST SURREY. ON June gth, 1923, on a heath in East Surrey, which I am certain is not the same as that referred to by Mr. Bunyard (Vol. XVII., p. 198), my attention was attracted by a bird which I made out to be a Wood-Lark (Lullula a. arborea). I jotted down some of the notes, which sounded like “‘ eedle- a) eedle-eep,”’ varied by ‘‘ midear—midear’”’ repeated very sweetly several times. It kept soaring over one spot, and sang twice with an interval of ten minutes. Later, I searched the spot and put up the pair of birds, but failed to find a nest. The bird was still singing on June 30th, On March 15th, 1924, I again visited the heath. The weather for fourteen days had been very cold with a N.E. wind with cloudless skies for some days. When I reached the heath the sun was partly obscured by mist, but when the sun at last came out, a Wood-Lark rose from some fir trees, circled high in the air singing, and as it returned to the fir trees flew up to what looked like another pair of Wood-Larks that flew over the trees with a drooping flight. A systematic search failed to reveal a nest. On April 5th, 1924, I again visited the heath with more success. The sky was cloudless with a very cold E. wind. After a lengthy search of the heath I walked over to some birches and heard a Wood-Lark singing in a subdued tone some distance off in a fir tree. On approaching the spot I was ~ trailing a stick by my side, when I felt a flutter of wings between the stick and my leg, as the bird flew a short distance and settled in the heather. Jooking down I discovered a nest with three typical Wood-Lark eggs. The bird sat so tight that I am quite sure, had it not been for the stick, it would have allowed me to pass without moving, as the stick was behind me. Two days afterwards there were still only three eggs. I visited the heath on a number of occasions afterwards when the male only sang for short intervals, and on June 7th I disturbed both parents with four fully-fledged young, feeding in the heather. One parent flew with the young a short distance, while the other remained quite close to me, apparently feeding quite unconcernedly, and I had a good view of it. The male was singing well on the 13th, 14th and 15th June, generally from seven to ten minutes at a time, but on the VOL. XVIII. ] NOTES. 193 latter date I found the male already singing in bright sunshine, and it continued for another thirty-nine minutes, when it descended to the ground. It was up again after a five minutes’ interval and continued singing when I left it. It appeared to me rather agitated, due, I think, to people sitting about on the heath, probably near the female sitting on a third nest. C. W. COLTHRUP. BLACK REDSTART INLAND IN KENT. On October 20th, 1924, a Black Redstart (Phemcurus ochrurus gibraltariensis) frequented my garden in Maidstone ; it was first seen about 2 p.m., and I watched it until nearly dusk. It spent most of the time on the roof of the house, from which it made short flights after passing insects, but occasionally came down to the ground. I kept a good look out tor it on the following days, but did not see it again until the 23rd, when it was again back on the house for some time. Since then I have not seen it. W. Woop. HOW LATE DO SWIFTS STAY OUT AT NIGHT? In 1924 I have had some experience with Swifts (A pus a. apus) slightly similar to that which Mr. Hamilton had in 1923 (Vol. XVII., p. x10). I ringed fifty Swifts, all but seven in nests in the thatch of cottages near Tisbury, Wilts. On July 30th, 1924, I thoroughly searched the thatch at one side ot a cottage and ringed two young and one adult. The next evening at I0 p.m., a dark night, I examined all the nests again, taking an hour over it. I ringed nine young Swifts and found again the two with rings on, but did not find a single adult. I was fortunately able to see clearly that they were all young, as I had the strong electric lamp of a car close by. I did not see an adult leave a nest, nor was one reported to me by several bystanders. Three or four of the young birds flew out directly I put them back in the nests. Not hiking this I took four of them home and put them in a cup- board for the night, and let them go in the morning, three miles away. It is quite evident that the adults were still out, as I feel _ sure that they would have been in their nests with their young, _ and not over the top of a ceiling, where they might have got to in two places. Of course I felt in as far as I could in these places. _ While on the subject of Swifts, is it known where they _ roost in South Africa and Madagascar (Prac. Handb., I1., p. 7)? It also makes one wonder where they roost on migration, 0) 194 BRITISH BIRDS. [ VOL. XVIII. because, of course, they have to have very special places for roosting. Do they roost with Alpine Swiits (A. m. melba) in North Africa? Do they fly night and day for several days ? A physical impossibility one would think, but is it? Their wonderful flight is done with very slight strokes of the wings, and after all in nature examples of nearly perpetual muscular motion do occur. Leaving out the heart beat, etc., does not this occur in a fish in a swift running stream ? It has to keep its fins constantly on the move and nearly its whole body working its tail, even when hiding behind a rock, as here it has to contend with the back current. NorMAN H. Joy. BUZZARDS OVER THE ISLE OF WIGHT. ON September roth, 1924, I watched three Common Buzzards (Buteo buteo) soaring in circles at a great height over Sandown, Isle of Wight. They came in from the sea, and were evidently migrating, travelling east to west. C. W. CoLTHRUP. SPOONBILLS IN KENT. On August 17th, 1924, my husband and I were hiding behind the sea-wall on the east point of the Isle of Sheppey, waiting for ducks to flight over, when three Spoonbills (Platalea leucorodia) got up off the mud on the margin of the Swale and flew over our heads, They were about sixty yards up. They settled again on the mud and we had a long look at them through glasses. The long, thin, outstretched neck in flight, the characteristically shaped bill and the long feathers about the head were well seen, and though I had never seen Spoonbills before I have no doubt as to their identity. V. R. M. GOWLLAND. GOLDENEYES IN ‘CHESHIRE THROUGHOUT SUMMER. Except for crippled birds, Goldeneyes (Bucephala c. clangula) have not, so tar as I am aware, been known to summer in Cheshire before this year (1924). On Marbury Mere, near Northwich,—a favourite water for this species—they rarely stay later than the last few wecks of April (though single birds linger till May) and they usually reappear in October. This year, however, on May 3rd, there were still nine birds on the mere, which by May 2oth were reduced to five; of these five two were adult drakes with brown heads and white facial spots—a state of plumage shown by a drake on April 26th, and in 1923 as early as March 17th. VOL. XVIII. | NOTES. 195 From the end of May till the end of October from two to four were almost always to be seen and Mr. J. Moore, who frequently visits the mere, tells me that he does not remember to have seen less than two Goldeneyes on any occasion throughout the summer. One was, in all probability, a cripple that was present through the previous summer and possibly it may have attracted the others to stay with it. By October rath an adult drake had acquired practically full plumage, which was quite complete by October 26th. By November 2nd fresh arrivals had come and a party of five included two adult drakes. The four Goldeneyes were joined by an adult drake Common Scoter (Oidemia n. migra) on July 30th. A. W. Boyn. FLOCKING OF WOOD-PIGEONS IN EARLY SUMMER. For the past two seasons flocks of Wood-Pigeons (Columba p. palumbus) have been noticed during May and early June in the parish of Dalston, Cumberland. Thus, on May 2oth, 1923, I counted a flock of eighty-two birds feeding in a field sown with rape, and in 1924 a flock varying from one hundred and fifty to one hundred birds was seen frequently between May 8thand June 7th. Are these flocks composed of unmated birds or of winter visitors which have delayed their migration ? R. H. Brown. REEVE IN CO. DOWN. Mr. J. A.S. Stendall had a Reeve (Philomachus pugnax) sent to him for identification a short time ago. It was obtained on a marsh, one mile inland from Groomsport, co. Down, on October 11th, 1924. Mr. Stendall remarks that this bird is a rare visitor, chiefly in autumn, but has been recorded in every county in Ireland. W. H. WORKMAN. AVOCETS IN KENT, On August 17th, 1924, I visited Littlestone-on-Sea, an adjunct of New Romney. There was a stiff S.W. gale blowing and constant squalls of rain, but it was not cold, and the weather cleared about I.30 p.m. About 4 p.m. the tide being then “ out,” I observed three birds approaching from the east, flying at a fair height, abreast, and fast, across and over the sands, not very far offshore. The flight at once attracted my attention, and I _ turned my glass on them and recognised them to be what _ I had suspected, three Avocets (Recurvirostra avosetta). 196 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XVIII. They continued their course towards Dungeness Head. I had seen these birds on the coast of the Mediterranean, and was familiar with the flight and general appearance on the wing. H. M. Rair KErr. SPOTTED CBAKE IN CQ; LOUIE. Ir would probably interest some of your readers to know that a Spotted Crake (Porzana porzana) was shot by Mr. Swan, Jun., of Redbarns House, Dundalk, when duck shooting in September, 1924, in a deep soft bog near Dundalk. The bird was in exceptionally fat condition and weighed 4} ozs. It is a rare and interesting visitor to this part of the country. W. H. WorKMAN., LATE NESTING OF SAND-MartTins.—Mr. B. Clarke informs us that while passing through a village near Tiverton, Devon, on September 14th, 1924, he saw a pair of Sand-Martins (Ripania r. riparia) enter a hole in a wall by the roadside. They were evidently feeding young, as the latter could be heard calling. OBITUARY. THE BEV... MAURICE C.-H, BIRD, Wit the death, on October 18th, 1924, in his sixty-eighth year, of the Rev. Maurice Bird, for forty years rector of Brunstead, Norfolk, there passes a great field-naturalist, and a type which is becoming each year more rare as “ the old order changeth.”’ A man of exceptional intellectual gifts and culture, the Rev. Maurice Bird was yet content to spend his whole life in a small parish in the Broad-lands of Norfolk. And the reason was not far to seek, for to him the life of this remote Norfolk village, and its surroundings of Broads and marshland, was one of absorbing interest, and he used his fine powers of observation and insight to acquire a knowledge of Nature, and of every aspect of country life, which is seldom attained by one man. In Maurice Bird there was much of Gilbert White, and much also of his clerical predecessor, the Rev. Richard Lubbock, author of the Fauna of Norfolk. A fine shot and a skilful fisherman, his knowledge of country life covered an extra- ordinarily large field. Not only was he an excellent field- ornithologist, but he had an almost equal knowledge of insects, botany, agriculture, meteorology, and such subjects as folk-lore and dialect. VOL. XVIII. | OBITUARY. 197 Few men, I believe, could have written the comprehensive survey which he contributed to the Tvansactions of the Norfolk and Norwich Naturalists’ Society upon the drought of 1921, and its effects upon agriculture and the animals, birds, insects, and plant-life of Norfolk. Though he made but few contributions to purely ornitho- logical literature, he was for many years responsible for most of the observations upon the birds of the Broads district which are to be found in the late J. H. Gurney’s “* Annual Ornitho- logical Reports for Norfolk ; and, in making these notes, his intimate acquaintance with the gunners, marsh men and keepers of the district, and the esteem in which he was held by them, gave him opportunities for observation and for obtaining information which few have had. Amongst his contributions to ornithology may be mentioned the section on “ Birds” in W. A. Dutt’s Norfolk Broads, a series of articles on ‘‘ The Bird Life of the Norfolk Broads ”’ for ‘““The Field Club,” “‘ Bird Life on the Broads in Summer,”’ and ‘‘ Winter on the Norfolk Broads ”’ for the P’teld Natura- lists’ Quarterly, and a considerable number of notes contributed to The Zoologist. It is his diary, however, to which the writer was allowed access, which reveals the extent of his knowledge of the birds of East Norfolk, and it is very much to be hoped that this may one day be published. Written up almost daily over a period of some fifty years, it presents a continuous record of Norfolk country life which is probably unique. He was elected a member of the British Ornithologists’ Union in 1892, and of the Norfolk and Norwich Naturalists’ Society in 1882, of which latter Society he was President in 1908-9. His striking appearance and singularly attractive person- ality will long be remembered in Norfolk, where his loss is deeply felt by all who knew him. B.Bak. LETTERS. ON THE SCIENTIFIC NAMES OF THE LIGHT- AND DARK- BREASTED BRENT GEESE. To the Editors of Bririsu Birps. Sirs,—With reference to Professor Lonnberg’s article under the above heading in the October issue of British Birds (antea pp. 135-8), while agreeing with the author that the name bernicla is applicable to the dark-breasted form of the Brent Goose, I am still awaiting absolutely convincing proof that the light-breasted and the dark-breasted forms are geographical subspecies. Moreover, we have known for some years what the name Ayota means. It is true that on p 1296 of my book on 198 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XVIII. Palearctic birds I placed the name hyota of Miiller (misprinted krota) as a doubtful synonym of Branta leucopsis; but afterwards, having seen Miiller’s book, I correctly stated on p. 2221, and again in the Nachtrag, p. 73, that the name Anas hrota Miiller, 1776, was undoubtedly a name referring to a Brent Goose, in spite of Dr. Laubmann’s state- ment that it could only refer to Branta leucopsis. But, while agreeing as to which species it belonged, I doubt the correctness of using this name for the light-breasted form. It is described as being on the “Leib grau und auf der Brust am hellsten.’”’ By ‘‘ Leib” probably “body ’”’ was meant, but can one say that it is “‘ lightest’ on the breast ? Even if ‘‘ Brust’? (=breast) should have been used for abdomen, “‘lightest’’ is hardly a fitting description for a perfectly white portion of the plumage. ERNST HARTERT. TRING, October 1924. ON THE NESTING OF THE FLAMINGO IN THE CAMARGUE, To the Editors of BririsH BirRDs. Srtrs,—I was greatly interested in Mr. Glegg’s account of the Camargue Flamingoes (antea, pp. 146-154), and was glad to learn that they are maintaining their numbers. His description of their pro- miscuous egg-laying gives colour to my supposition that these birds are nowadays seldom, if ever, allowed to rear their young in this district. Their manner of laying in this haphazard way on the open ground seems to indicate that the birds have been so systematically and persistently disturbed that they no longer attempt serious nidifica- tion. In any case, the records of local birds in immature plumage are so few that it is impossible to suppose that the numbers of the Camargue Flamingoes have been maintained by home-bred individuals. These wide expanses of shallow lagoons, teeming with aquatic life which forms their favourite food, are no doubt ideal summer quarters for these birds, and in all probability the visiting flocks are annually augmented when they return from their winter sojourn in Africa. There can, however, be no question that the Flamingoes occasionally succeed, or have succeeded, in rearing their young in the Rhone Delta. For instance, in 1908, I examined animmature bird that had been killed near Toulon in February of that year, and there is another example in the same plumage in the Nimes Museum. Moreover, M. de Chapel, who had a shooting at Méjane in the Delta, informed me that he had several times seen young birds and had witnessed their capture by dogs. Formerly Flamingoes used to nest also in the Fourneaux étang, situated on the right bank of the Little Rhone and close up to Aigues Mortes, but they appear to have now deserted the neighbourhood of this medizval town. About twenty years ago a M. Pranishnikoff took photos of a very large assembly of nests, numbering about seven hundred (cf. de Chapel, Bull. Soc. d’Acclim., 1904, p. 207). COLLINGWOOD INGRAM. BENENDEN, 2nd November, 1924. The following extract from a note, supplied to me by M. J. de Chavigny, may have some interest in this connection: “‘ Deux ceufs de Flamant rose, Etang de Valcarés recueillis le 14 Mai, 1912, par M. Clément, Boucher a Nimes, mort pendant la guerre. Le méme jour (horresco referens!) il avait dévalisé de la sorte 43 nids de Flamants, dont un avec une ponte de 3 ceufs, fait rare et tout a fait anormal.” F. C. R. JourDAIN. owns Ce i ges Oat ED Broadland Birds. By E. L. Turner. (Country Life Ltd.) Illustrated with Photographs. 15s. net. Tuat Miss Turner has made a special study of the birds of the Norfolk Broads is well known to the readers of this magazine, who have had opportunities from time to time of enjoying her articles, and this book is the eventual outcome of the twenty or more years she has “ lived in the reed-beds.’”’ It is evident from every page of the book that she has made the best use of those long years of observation. The intro- duction gives us an insight to the kind of life she has led—a life that few women could stand for days, still less for years—but Miss Turner, by virtue of her extreme keenness and strong sense of humour, triumphed over minor difficulties. There follow chapters on some thirty species of birds. Each is a study of the birds’ life-history unravelled by this patient watcher hour after hour and day after day regardless of discomforts. And for these studies, simply but clearly told and unencumbered with theories or unlikely interpretations, every bird- student must be sincerely grateful. We specially commend the chapters on the Bittern, Water-Rail and Grasshopper-Warbler, all most difficult birds to observe, while that on the Bearded Tit may perhaps be picked out, though all are good. The book is illustrated with sixty-nine photographs, all of which are excellent, some perfect, and most not mere portraits but useful records of some phase or incident in the bird’s life. The photographs are well reproduced and printed, but we do not like the format of the book, and its long, closely-spaced lines of rather small type of a cut which is most irritating to the eyes, make reading difficult instead of a pleasure. We heartily congratulate Miss Turner on having not only the power to see what is hidden to many others, but also the gift to tell so truly and withal so pleasingly what she has seen. We are grateful for this valuable record of her years of observation of the birds around the home she made amongst the marshes and reed-beds of Norfolk. British Waders. Illustrated in Water-Colouy with Descriptive Notes. By E.C. Arnold. (Cambridge Univ. Press.) £3 ros.net. Demy Quarto. 51 Coloured Plates. To attempt to illustrate in colour all the British Waders, even in a single stage of plumage, is a piece of work which few ‘‘ amateur ’”’ artists would be bold enough to undertake. Mr. Arnold, however, has carried through this ambitious task, and, while there is much in the result which is open to criticism, there is also much to commend. It is true that Mr. Arnold lacks the power of making a really attractive picture, but many of his sketches are quite pleasing and give a good idea of the bird, though of others the reverse might be said. But it would be unfair to be too critical of such a work, which is, we imagine, the outcome of an ornithologist’s great interest in these birds rather than of a desire to put himself in an assured position as an artist. We may, however, remark that there are two serious omissions in the plates ; one being that no comparative scale is given, and this was very necessary since no attempt has been made in the drawings to maintain 200 BRITISH BIRDS. [ VOL. XVIII, the correct relative sizes of the birds, and a measurement of total length (given in the text) is a very inadequate guide; secondly, the sex and date of the specimen drawn and whether it was adult or immature are omitted, though some of these details can be gathered from the text. The text of the bookis slight but readable, and contains observations of considerable interest especially in connection with the identification of certain species in the field, as well as several notable records which, as Mr. Arnold frankly owns, will not be generally accepted, because each lacks some essential evidence which would afford conclusive proof. Mr. Arnold has been very well treated by his publishers, the book being beautifully produced in all respects. The Fauna of British India, including Ceylon and Buyma. (Published under the authority of the Secretary of State for India in Council.) Birds. Vol. II. (Second Edition.) By E. C. Stuart Baker, O.B.E., F.Z.S., etc. (London, Taylor & Francis). Tuts second volume of Mr. Stuart Baker’s valuable work is in the same form as the first, except that we are now given the original reference, type and type-locality for each genus, which will be useful to syste- matists, and keys to the subspecies have been added. This volume is chiefly concerned with the Dippers, Chats, Thrushes, Flycatchers, Shrikes and Warblers and contains a good many species to be found on the British list. Amongst the Chats we notice the statement that Saxicola torquata indica differs from S. ¢. vubicola in having the black axillaries and under wing-coverts tipped with white, whereas the distinction lies rather in the axillaries of S. ¢. vubicola having wider white fringes than is the case in S. f. indica. Mr. Baker follows Oates (we gather with some doubts) in splitting the Thrushes into a good many genera, founded upon the sexes being alike or not alike and the under-wing uniform or parti-coloured—characters which appear to us to be of no greatimportance. Mathews and Iredale have pointed out (Austyval Av. Record, V., pp. 76-77) that the Blackbird was designated as the type of Turdus by Selby in 1835, and Mr. Baker states that this generic name would have to be adopted for the Black- bird even if Mevula were not preoccupied. This leads the author into the necessity of using the generic name Ayccu‘hornis for Thrushes such as the Mistle-Thrush, Redwing and Fieldfare, which he splits from the Blackbirds. Turdus atvogulavis he considers as a distinct species and not a form of T. ruficollis, while he also divides specifically Tiuvdus (Oveocincla) dauma and aureus. There are many other points of interest to British ornithologists in Mr. Baker’s work, more especially perhaps in the careful notes under the heading of “ nidification ’”’ in each species. To those who work in India, it need hardly be said, that the work is indispensable. As in the first volume, so in this, there are the useful text figures which appeared in the first edition, as well as some coloured plates from the author’s own drawings, but it must be said that the latter are not up to the standard of modern work and in fact remind one of drawings which appeared a hundred years ago in such works as Latham’s Synopsis. Qy = io) Lay DY i, 4 Ny -STEVENS’S AUCTION ROOMS, LTD. ESTD. 1760. 38, King Street, Covent Garden, London, W.C.2. Periodical Sales are held at the above Rooms, of NATURAL HISTORY SPECIMENS, including BIRDS and BIRDS’ EGGS, CABINETS, etc. Also BOOKS relating to Natural History, Catalogues of sales posted on application, WHELDON & WESLEY, LTD. have in stock nearly all the books and journals required by ornithologists. The collection of old and rare works is one of the largest in the country. New books and journals supplied to order. Books not in stock sought for. Just issued: Catalogue No. 9 (new series), Ornithology, 2d. post free. 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A Discourse on the Foxhound in Field, Covert and Kennel ; with J Hunting Yarns, Character Sketches from Life, and some Notes § on Breeding and Kennel Treatment. By “ Yor-Over”’ (for 40 years Huntsman and Whipper-in to many well-known Packs), | Introduction by Viscount Valentia. Demy 8vo. With sketches, 10/6 net In the High Himalayas Sport and Travel in the Rhotang and Baralacha, with sorme Notes ff on the Natural History of that area. By HuGH WHISTLER, F.Z.S., Indian (Imperial) Police. Demy 8vo., numerous photo- | graphs, 15/- net A Romance of the Rostrum Being the Business Life of Henry Stevens, and the History of | Thirty-Eight King Street, with some account of Famous Sales | held there. Compiled by E. G. ALLINGHAM, with a Preface by — The Right Hon. Lorp Rotuscuitp, F.R.S. Demy 8vo., with photographs, 20/— net The High Grass Trail Trekking and Shooting for Sustenance in Dense Bush across British Central Africa. By FRANK SAVILE, Author of ‘“ The Road,” ‘The Desert Venture,” etc. Demy 8vo. Illustrated from photographs, 15/— net Fresh Tracks in the Belgian Congo By HERMANN NORDEN, Author of “White and Black in East Africa,” ‘‘ From Golden Gate to Golden Sun,” etc. Demy 8vo., with maps and numerous photographs, 18 /— net Beneath African Glaciers The Humours, Tragedies and Demands of an East African Govern- ment Station as experienced by an Official’s Wife; with some | personal views on Native Life and Customs. By ANNE DuNDAS. Demy 8vo., with fifty photographs by the Author, 12/6 net The History of the English Novel The Age of Romance, From the Beginnings to the Renaissance. — By Ernest A. Baxer, D.Lit., M.A., Author of ‘‘ The Public Library,” etc. Demy 8vo., 16/— net Forgotten Lyrics of the Eighteenth Century By OswaLp Dovucuty, M.A., B.Lit., Author of ‘‘ The English Lyric in the Age of Reason,” etc. Demy 8vo., 10/6 net | . ote Su Ni 22 ad id = "2 x CON . BRITISH BIRDS ANIEUST RATED: MAGAZINE DEVOTED CHIETLY:- TOTHEBIRDS “ss ONTHEBRITISH UST JANUARY 1. 1925. MONTHILY-1s9a YEARLY-20:s, ‘S26HIGH HOLBORNICNDON: TiFéG-WITHERBY- e b The Oologists’ Record. A QUARTERLY MAGAZINE DEVOTED TO THE ADVANCE MENT OF OOLOGY IN ALL PARTS OF THE WORLD, Vol. V. Now Current. Ist Volume 1921, Vols. I., II., III. and IV, can still be had. Subscription 5s. per annum, post free to all parts of the World. Is contributed to by the World's Leading Oologists and Is the only Magazine devoted exclusively to Oology. Published by Harrison & Sons, Ltd., 45, St. Martin's Lane, London, W.C.2 Editor: Kenneth L. Skinner, Brocklands Estate Office, Weybridge, Surrey WANTED. BIRDS in ALBINO or VARIETY PLUMAGE. Good Prices for really unusual specimens. C. J. CARROLL, Rocklow, Fethard, Co. Tipperary. WANTED. DIARY of Lt.-Col, PETER HAWKER DONAVAN’S NATURAL HISTORY OF BIRDS. SHAW’S GENERAL ZOOLOGY (Aves portion). Address B., Office of “ British Birds.’’ Cc. H. GOWLAND, NATURALIST AND TAXIDERMIST Begs to inform his various Clients that after the Ist November, 1924, his address will be 118, DEVONFIELD ROAD, ORRELL PARK, LIVERPOOL, N. SPECIALITY:—OOLOGY. Cwn private collectors in all principal ccuntries. Large selection of British and Foreign Birds’ Egg: always in stock—clutches or singles. Genuine and reliable data. Price List free, TO OOLOGISTS. . W. F. H. R O S E N B E RG, Importer of Exotic Zoological Specimens. 57, HAVERSTOCK HILL, LONDON, N.W.3, ENGLAND, (And at 25, CROMWELL PLACE, S.W.7.) Begs to anaounce the publication of a new Price List of Birds’ Eggs, including about 700 species frem various parts of the world. This List will be mailed free on application, as will the following :—Bird Skins (5,500 species) ; Lepidoptera, with supplement (8,000 species); Apparatus and Natural History Requisites. New Price List of Mamma!s, Rept.les, Fishes, etc., are in course of preparation. Ail Museums and Private Collectors should write for these Lists. ALL SPECIMENS SENT ON APPROVAL. Kindly state which Lists are required and give name of this Periodical. Sr ae = = BRITDIBIRDS « »”? W1TH WHICH WAS INCORPORATED IN JANUARY, 1917, ‘‘ THE ZOOLOGIST. SUMED BY_H. F. WITHERBY, M.B.E., F.Z.S., M.B.0.U. 4 | ASSISTED BY Ey. EF. C. R. JOURDAIN, M.A., M.B.0.U., H.F.A.0.U., AND NorMAN F. TICEHURST, O.B.E., M.A., F.R.C.S., M.B.O.U. cnwe e . dl ContTENTS OF NuMBER 8, VoL. XVIII., JANUARY I, 1925. PAGE On the Nesting of the Gull-billed Tern in the Camargue. By William E. Glegg Boe She Bee Soc 56t "3c 202 On the Display and Nesting of the Great Crested Grebe in Scotland. By Henry Boase ... soc 306 Soe ‘ae BO: Notes :— The Time Period for Nest and Egg Replacement (N. Tracy)... 217 An Avian Death-Trap (Rev. James R. Hale) ae ame 217 Unusual Situation of Chaffinch’s Nest (W. Gyngell) at 218 Increase of Wood-Lark in Gloucestershire and Surrey (Hon. GeiCharternts)) ..- HG? sce a Sere wa Aer 218 Large Clutch of Eggs of Song-Thrush (Lord Scone) ia | 29 Late Swift in South Wales (Miss Clemence M. Acland) ... 219 Great Spotted Woodpecker’s Method of Excavating Nest- hole (N. Tracy) we ee Bee a nae iss 219 Golden Eagle in Berkshire (Rev. F. C. R. Jcurdain) TiFéG-WITHERDY. The Oologists’ Record. A QUARTERLY MAGAZINE DEVOTED TO THE ADVANCE. MENT OF OOLOGY IN ALL PARTS OF THE WORLD Vol. V. Now Current. 1st Volume 1921, Vols. I, IL. IL and IV, can still be had, Subscription 5s. per annum, post free to all parts of the World. Is contributed to by the World’s Leading Oologists and Is the only Magazine devoted exclusively to Oology. Published by Harrison & Sons, Ltd., 45, St. Martin's Lane, London, W.C.2} — Editor: Kenneth L, Skinner, Brooklands Estate Office, Weybridge, Surrey WANTED. BIRDS in ALBINO or VARIETY PLUMAGE. Good Prices for really unusual specimens. C. J. CARROLL, Rocklow, Fethard, Co. Tipperary. LE GERFAUT REVUE BELGE D’ORNITHOLOGIE, Fondée en 1911, Le seule publication scientifique belge traitant des oiseaux, spécialement des oiseaux de la Belgique. Abonnement 10 francs par an. Direction : Square Prince Charles 21, Bruxelles-Laeken (Belgique). WANTED. DIARY of Lt.-Col, PETER HAWKER HANGERS TO ALL SPORTSMEN. DONOVAN’S NATURAL HISTORY OF BIRDS. SHAW’S GENERAL ZOOLOGY (Aves portion). Address B., Office of ‘ British Birds.’’ FOR SALE AT ANY REASONABLE OFFER. IBIS, Eleven Complete Volumes Unbound = 1908-1918. 1919 Part 1. Jubilee Supplements | and 2, B.O.U. List of Birds, 1883 and 1915. ADDRESS—Z., OFFICE OF “BRITISH BIRDS,” DNDN y RDS “e WHICH WAS INCORPORATED IN JANUARY, 1917, ‘‘ THE Zoo_oGIsT.”’ ASSISTED BY F. C. R. JoURDAIN, M.A., M.B.O.U., H.F.A.0.U., AND fc F. TICEHURST, O.B.E., M.A., F.R.C.S., M.B.O.U. m e : : : —— = Wa THE SMALLEST BOOK ON ORNITHOLOGY. BY HUGH S. GLADSTONE. In June, 1924, I bought for 3s. 6d., from a second-hand book- seller, a book entitled: Natural History| of] 48 Birds,/with| elegant engravings,| from drawings| By Alfred Mills.| London : printed for Darton, Harvey, & Darton,/ Gracechurch-Street.| 1810. Forty-eight species of birds are described, namely :— Eagle Bullfinch Wild Pigeon Peewit Falcon Goldfinch Turtle-Dove Parrot Vulture Sky-Lark Dodo Kingfisher Horned Owl Wagtail Domestic Cock Spoonbill Screech Owl Robin Pheasant Heron Magpie Wren Peacock Curlew Nutcracker Tit-mouse or Guinea-fowl Snipe Jay Tom-Tit Grous |s?c| Coot Blackbird Chimney Partridge Great Crested Cuckoo Swallow Quail Grebe Woodpecker | MartinWindow- Corn-Crake Avocet Hoppoe {sic} Swallow Ostrich Swan Humming Bird Night-Jar Bustard Pelican Two pages of text are allotted to each species, making ninety-six pages in all, and a plate of each bird (with the exception of the Eagle) is given, making a total of forty- seven plates. The book when I bought it was in such a dilapidated condi- tion that it had to go at once to the book-binder, and as returned to me (admittedly, and to my great regret, cut down) it now measures 2.25 by 2 inches. Professor Alfred Newton in a footnote to his introduction to A Dictionary of Birds : 1893-6: p. 24, draws attention to “a Histoire Naturelle en Miniature de de [sic] 48 O1seaux (96 pp. Paris: 1816),” and he states: “‘ The only copy I have seen appears to be in the original calf binding, and measures 2.0 by 2.15 inches. I am indebted for the loan of it to Mr. Robert Service.”’ In 1875 this book was bought for 6d. at a London bookstall by Mr. Joseph B. Service, Maxwelltown, and was given by him to his brother Robert who, shortly before his death in IgII, wished to present it to me. In those days my orni- thological library seemed hardly worthy of such an interesting contribution and I suggested that it should be given to Mr. J. A. Harvie-Brown. My suggestion was duly complied vou. xvur.] BOOK ON ORNITHOLOGY. 259 with and at the death of Mr. Harvie-Brown the book passed, with the rest of his library, to the Royal Scottish Museum, Edinburgh, where I recently had the pleasure of again handling it. The title-page is as follows: Histoire/ Naturelle/ en minia- ture| de] De 48 Oiseaux] avec des descriptions.| Paris/ Guyot et de Pelafol] vue des Grands-Augustins, n. 21] MEDCCCXVI. On comparing the French and English books it came as a surprise to find that the French publication was simply a copy of the English book which had been published six years previously. The same forty-eight species of birds are described, each being allotted two pages of text, and the descriptions are very similar, and in some cases mere transla- tions from the English.. As regards the forty-seven plates (for there is not one of the Eagle) it is quite obvious that these have all been copied from the English book, but all are reversed. I have already stated that my copy of the English book is cut down, but from its present appearance I am of the opinion that it can never have been larger than the French publication. In any case it was published six years prior to the French work, which, as has been shown, is simply a copy ; I therefore think that the booklet of 1810 may justly claim to be the smallest book on ornithology. ( 260 ) THE “BRITISH BIRDS” MARKING SCHEME.* PROGRESS FOR 1924. BY HH. EF WITBERBY, THE number of birds ringed in 1924 reached a surprising total, far exceeding that of any year since the scheme was started. For this pleasing result we are indebted to many ringers who have greatly increased their previous totals as well as to a number of new ringers who have made most excellent beginnings. The following are the totals :— NUMBER OF BIRDS RINGED. In 1924 He Pee vey 303/0) Tl QOG RFR 2,071 iin: OL: =~ ys 7107 eeLOTO, as 7,910 EOI vote 6,926 ORO MT LS wiv. 10,416 yO seis 5,937 yp EQUZ) Vex 11,483 $3) SEQHO} © vas 3,578 Free ((0) ic ane 14,843 FAEOZOE cee 5,276 je DOES ae 13,024 peelo2t os 8,997 yy porg ° Se 7,707 Sw MOg2. ie 9,289 In 1923 te an EZ, O00 Grand Total te ea 145,779 Dr. Moon heads the list this year with well over two thousand, while Mr. Mayall is a good second with just under the two thousand. Dr. Moon’s total is made up of forty-five species, chiefly Passeres, the largest numbers ringed being Song-Thrush (508), Blackbird (350), Chaffinch (169), Wren (160), Robin (144), and Willow-Warbler (139). Mr. Mayall’s list includes forty species, also mainly Passeres, the largest numbers being Song-Thrush (403), Blackbird (255), Martin (217), Swallow (167), Chaffinch (144), Robin (105), while Wood-Warbler (46) and Marsh-Warbler (14) may be specially mentioned. Capt. Boyd, with over sixteen hundred—a great * Hor previous’ ‘Reports; see Vol: TW) pp. 179-182, for 1900% Vol. IV., pp. 204-207, for 1910; Vol. V., pp. 158-162, for torr; Vol Vil pps 277-183, tor Torz se Vole) Ville wpp: 190-105, 10n 1onae Vol. VIII., pp. 161-168, for 1914; Vol. [X., pp. 222-220, for 1915; Vol 2Xx<) pp: @50-250, for tomo; Vol, 3) pp. 272-276; for Toe Vol. XIII., pp. 96-100, for 1918; Vol. XIII., pp. 237-240, for 1919; Vol. XIV., pp. 203-207, for 1920; Vol. XV., pp. 2325238, for 1921; Voll XW, pps 277-281, for 1922) Vol; Villy pp. 231-235, for 192s. VOL. Xvill.] ‘ BRITISH BIRDS’ MARKING SCHEME. 261 increase on last year—comes third, and his list contains fifty-five species, which is the largest number of any ringer. Thirty are Passeres and twenty-five of other orders, the largest number being Lesser Black-backed Gull (278), Common Tern (241), Mallard (192), Swallow (116) and Song-Thrush (102). Mr. Macdonald’s total of over eleven hundred is also a great increase over last year’s, and is chiefly made up of Guillemot (551) and Gannet (425), while Kestrel (12) and Golden Eagle (1) may be mentioned. Mr. and Mrs. Taylor have again ringed over a thousand, comprising thirty-five species, twenty-eight of which are Passeres, and the largest num- bers being Blackbird (274), Linnet (184), Song-Thrush (170). Dr. Joy has once more ringed a large number, and his list contains forty-seven species, the chief item being Martin (261), while Swift (50) should be noted. Lord Scone has been by far the most successful new ringer, his total of over seven hundred consisting chiefly of Passeres, Song-Thrush (316) being the largest number, and Wood-Pigeon (22) may be mentioned as a bird which does not generally receive enough attention. Amongst other new ringers who have done remarkably well are Mr. Richmond Paton (230), Mr. W. Duncan (204) and Miss Mayne (102). Regarding the species ringed, I am glad to see large increases in such birds as Mallard, Teal, Gannet, Wood- Pigeon, Curlew and Guillemot, while the record number of Lapwing ringed is interesting in view of its recorded scarcity in some parts. The large number of Swallows and Martins ringed is also noteworthy. The number of 1924 birds recovered so far appears to be below the average, and it seems possible that this may be due to an unusually heavy mortality of very young due to the wet season, though it must be clearly understood that this is a supposition, in support of which I have no really definite evidence. If the recoveries have been few, many of them have been interesting. Amongst those already pub- lished (vide antea, pp. 186-191) I may draw attention to the Wood-Warbler ringed as a nestling in Berkshire by Mr. Mayall and recovered in September in southern Italy. We have had very few records of birds ringed in England as nestlings recovered so far to the east on migration, and this is also the first ringed Wood-Warbler recovered outside this country. Another interesting record (not vet published) is that of a Chiffchaff, ringed by Mr. Mayallasa nestling in Buckingham- shire in 1923, which was reported from Evora, Portugal, in October, 1924. Some interesting recoveries of Teal ringed 262 BRITISH BIRDS. [vVoL. XVII. by Sir Richard Graham on the Solway have also been reported. These birds were hand-reared in 1922, and their wings were cut. The wing-feathers were pulled in March, 1923, and the birds ringed and released. In a few weeks the wing-feathers would grow and the birds would be able to fly. Three were reported in 1924, one near Manchester in September, one in Denmark in October, and the other in northern Sweden in September. The two last mentioned seem likely to be cases of what Dr. Landsborough Thomson has styled “ abmigra- tion’”’ (see Vol. XVI. pp. 275-6), and are very interesting when taken in conjunction with the other records mentioned in the article referred to. The most remarkable record received in 1924 is, however, of a Kittiwake which was ringed as a nestling by Mr. A. C. Greg at the Farne Islands in 1923, and was reported from Newfoundland in August, 1924. This is the first bird ringed in the British Islands which has been recorded as having crossed the Atlantic. Full details of these and other recoveries will be published later. In this year’s report it will be seen that I have added some species under the heading “‘ some percentages of recoveries.” It is plain why we get as a rule a larger percentage of large birds than small, and of birds which are killed for food or because they are destructive or supposed to be so, but it is puzzling to find so much difference in certain species such as, for instance, Guillemot and Puffin. NUMBER OF BIRDS “ RINGED.” Dr. H. J. Moon (2193), Messrs. A. Mayall (1990), A. W. Boyd (1643), D. Macdonald (1106), Mr. W. P. G. and Mrs. L. E. Taylor (1085), Dr. N. H. Joy (811), The Lord Scone (764), Messrs. J. Bartholomew (632), A. H. R. Wilson (624), R. H. Brown (575), H. W. Robinson (529), Mr. and Mrs. R. O. Blyth (478), Mr. H. G. Watson (449), Misses F. K. Staunton and C. Wingfield (342), Messrs. T. Kerr (314), R. M. Garnett (303), G. W. Thompson (275), P. E. A. Morshead (253), A. S: Corbet (238), J. F. Thomas (236), E. Richmond Paton (230), The Lon. Nat. Hist. Soc. (218), Messrs. J. R. B. Masefield (205), W. Duncan (204), P. K. Chance (165), Col. P. C. Macfarlane (138), Mr. C. F. Archibald (130), Dr: J. N: D. and Mir; ©. 1. Smith (r22), Mrs. iE. Hodskin (ira, Sir Richard Graham, Bt. (116), Mr. H. S. Gladstone (tro), Miss I. Mayne (102), Mrs. L. Marshall (ror), Major W. M. Congreve (97), The Rev. E. Peake (78), Misses E. L. Turner (71), J. M. Ferrier (70), Messrs: T. Greaves and F. Dipple (70), Bristol Naturalists’ Society (68), Mrs. Leyborne Popham and Miss L. W. Streatfield (65), Messrs. W. G. Bramley (61), B. J. Ringrose (58), F. H. Lancum (54), F. J. Mitchell (47), J. F. Madden (45), Major M. Portal (45), Messrs. W. Davidson (39), T. L. S. Dooly (38), R. W. Corbett (36), Miss B. A. Carter (34), Messrs. J. Ss: Blhott (33); Hi: Sagar (32); Miss ©. MO Aciandy(32)) Miro Poaag Burtt (24), Dr. H. G. Langdale Smith (23), Miss V. E. Buxton (22), and others who have ringed under 20 each. you. xvitt.] ‘ BRITISH BIRDS’ MARKING SCHEME. 265 NUMBERS OF EACH SPECIES “ RINGED.” '09-'T7 Crow, Carrion 22 Rook ame on 207 Jackdaw 163 Jay 30 Starling . 6648 Greenfinch 2326 Goldfinch .. se) Twite ae 42 Redpoll, Lesser 132 Hinnet, .. 1082 Bullfinch .. pas 54! Chaffinch .. 432377 Sparrow, House .. 464 Sparrow, Tree 184 Bunting, Yellow .. 374 Bunting, Reed .. 286 Wark, Sky .. 1577 wipit, Tree 194 Pipit, Meadow 1168 Wagtail, Yellow .. 92 Wagtail, Grey 105 Wagetail, Pied 684 Creeper, Tree 12 int, Great .. 749 Mat, Blue .. 658 Tit, Coal 88 Tit, Marsh ay ee Tit, Long-tailed 41 Wren, G.-crested .. 40 Shrike, R.-backed 117 iivcatcher, 5. .. 630 Flycatcher, Pied .. 6 Chiffchaff . . 2) Od Warbler, Willow _ 1610 Warbler, Wood aii Warbler, Reed 160 Warbler, Sedge .. 170 Warbler, Garden .. I11 Blackcap .. 105 Whitethroat 332 Wihitethroat, L. .. 117 Fieldfare .. 85 Thrush, Mistle me 574 Thrush, Song 8454 Redwing 42 Ouzel, Ring 80 Blackbird .. - 4761 Wheatear .. Sa LaF Whinchat .. se HAS Stonechat .. 136 Redstart 196 Nightingale 41 2 1G) iG) ~ “20 No record kept 23 3 8 S) A i Cm 5) 219 5 169 260 206 187 No record kept a 3 a 3 173, 46 122 21 20 AO 262 220 367 —- — 2 A 7 Zo (oy, Xoy vile D4 = 20 39 PSO 5 | Ail 5 Lae Bt 85 E222 9 i) 5 8 It — I 20 46 No record kept 16 a) 120 5 — 6 — —— 15) — I I TG) Ptr 22 Ioo 65 114 No record kept 6 —- 19 154 108 206 ro 3 34 54) 3S 1 BE 72, 32.- 30 Lt 4 55 9 — 2I AO! 85 = 280 Il 13, 28 jam 2h 33 789 475 621 3 LBP aes 446 386 469 UG Gh 7 a5 Lo SUS er2 5 5 19 "2 16 17 22) '23 18 94 18 264 BRITISH 'oo-'n7 «18. “19) “20 Redbreast ..2464 204 162 299 Sparrow, Hedge ..1677 98 110 185 Wren TS OOR SA: II 76 Dipper 128 01 5 8 Swallow 6064 714 512 307 Martin 1560 137 87 87 Martin, Sand 685) 20) 32 52 Swilt ate .- 6 No record kept Nightjar 45 2 2 6 Wryneck .. 166 29 — 17 Cuckoo .. oO OIA 7 i] Owl, Long-eared.. — 30 — 2 Owl, Barn.. 7 75 I 5 Owl, Tawny SS ld LS 8 Merlin 16 No record kept Kestrel 2 45 7 3 4 Buzzard .. a ezieNosrecordekept Hawk, Sparrow .. 60 2 — 5 Heron, Common .. IIo I — — Sheld-Duck 49 — I 21 Mallard 640 4 — I Teal 96 — 33 420 Wigeon 76 I 2 28 Duck, Tufted 65 —- —- — Cormorant 470 21 72 — Shag 156 — 10 — Gannet -. 198 — — — Shearwater,Manx 69 — — 3 Wood-Pigeon 164 20 ya) Dove, Stock 45 I 5 6 Dove, Turtle or 8 7 5 Oystercatcher QL 3 6 4 Plover, Ringed 12 Seed) TO, Plover, Golden 43 6 —- — Lapwing 3750 154 123 125 Sandpiper, C. Os ae 5 OMS Redshank .. “270. ZS 3. S13 Curlew, Common.. 193 17 Anata Snipe, Common 192 19 3 6 Woodcock. . 345 3 — 17 Tern, Sandwich 678 — 53. 31 Tern, Common ..3093 761 — 144 Tern, Arctic -- 85 — 20 25 Tern, Little 174 rt — 9 Gull, B.-headed 11946 4 mm — Gull, Common - 514 —- — — Gull, Herring .5t1r — I — Gull) L. Biki-bkd= 32537 84°77 47a Gull, G. Blk. -bkd.. 78 — — — IXittiwake 285) “50 Io Razorbill .. 60 4 — 5 Guillemot .. 23 No record kept Pu ffin gor 2 2— Moor-Hen .. 5 AGP a 720 Leni +b | Laan] aowuwn VOL. XviI.] ‘ BRITISH BIRDS’ MARKING SCHEME. 265 SOME PERCENTAGES OF RECOVERIES. Number : Number Bin itass Heveouear pEsriee: ryoges. Recovered Recoveries. Rook ... AoC sc ade mae 368 14 3.8 Starling eee 58 re re 8,788 479 5.4 Greenfinch ... Aas ac aor 4,097 35 0.8 Linnet hts ase Ae ob 2,047 21 0.7 Chaffinch Ur at she es 5,000 62 1.2 Yellow Bunting ee 158 ae 851 27 3-1 Reed-Bunting Bats oe sae 551 2 0.3 Sky-Lark re ax noe oa 2,007 7 0.8 Meadow-Pipit Bre soe oe 1,554 21 1.3 airee-Pipit ... ine sae sae 378 2 0.5 Pied Wagtail ... see ae ae 1,139 2 Dio Spotted Flycatcher ... Ha0 ike 1,264 3 0.2 Willow- Warbler on 306 ree 3,038 23 0.7 Whitethroat ... sie ACD ies 1,076 5 0.4 Mistle-Thrush yee oe swe 1,012 21 2.0 Song-Thrush ... Bhs mle we SD4,TS5 167 Ifa Blackbird S00 seis 306 Boe 9,234 223 2.4 Wheatear a sae wale ane 516 4 0.7 Whinchat Ste ats he mate 562 5 0.8 Redstart Pas Roe fa) nee 549 2 0.3 Redbreast ... Bae ae rer 4,995 173 3.4 Wren... sat ake “BP ee 1,553 2 O.1 Swallow thie sta ae als 8,689 70 0.8 Martin eis sat aie ree 2,550 15 0.5 Sand-Martin ... wae ear se 1,012 4 0.3 Swift ... ee a ies ai 142 5 3.5 Cuckoo mie ee wee a 182 6 B72 Tawny Owl ... Pee ze ave 168 in tt 6.5 Kestrel ane as Re hes 94 8 8.5 Sparrow-Hawk wat nos awe 99 uy) ital Heron ... dts wes ees aa 131 19 14.5 Mallard eu one 500 fea 924 105 wg) fieal ... ane aed ae a 150 20 13.3 poae ... ser ac stale Ras 212 25 ies Cormorant ... Sas bee eas 563 99 17.5 Gannet mae aati REC i 343 I5 4.3 Wood- Pigeon .. S0c n66 eee 332 17 5.1 Ringed Plover | 3EL seis cL 267 4 1.4 Lapwing 5c ee ee noe 5,081 136 2.6 Common Sandpiper .. i ie 292 (o) 0.0 Redshank nee a 59 ode 394 21 5-3 Curlew... 200 a0 aie 580 389 15 3.8 Snipe ... ae eile see oe 265 25 9-4 Woodcock ae es sets aes 432 49 Eies Sandwich Tern aoe sine see 1,022 II 1.0 Common Tern Sic atc se 457/50 95 2 Black-headed Gull ... efets OOS 526 4.3 Common Gull ae ae, op 576 16 2a Herring Gull . ate dee 547 17 Beal Lesser Black-backed Gull dob ve 3,941 158 4.0 Guillemot soe ets eas wee 384 8 2.0 Puffin ... is aare Pee eae 958 I 0.1 U TIME-PERIOD FOR NEST AND EGG REPLACEMENT. WitH reference to Mr. Symes’ note (antea, p. 244), two clutches of eggs of the Carrion-Crow (C. c. corone) taken in central Somerset, of an unusual blue type, were laid as follows :— Four eggs taken April 19th, 1924; five eggs May 5th, 1924. Interval sixteen days. C. J. PRING EARLY NESTING OF HOUSE-SPARROW IN SUFFOLK: Four newly-hatched chicks of the House-Sparrow (Passer. d. domesticus) fell from a nest in the thatched roof of a house in Walberswick, Suffolk, on February 4th,1925. The occupants of the house had been watching the birds building for some time. I believe nests and young ot this species have been reported in most months of the year. Is there a record for January ? CHARLES E. ALFORD. [In the Birds of Yorkshire, I., p. 177, it is stated that eggs were found on 27th January, 1874, and young were recorded on 21st February, 1846, near Huddersfield.—F.C.R. J.] LESSER WHITETHROAT IN WALES. DURING a visit to the Lleyn promontory of Carnarvonshire in the first week of June, 1924, Dr. F. B. Smith, of Harrogate, observed a bird in some scrub near the edge of a cliff carrying food, presumably to its young. At first he took it for a Common Whitethroat (Sylvia c. communis) which was fre- quently to be seen. It was silent and difficult to approach on account of the nature of the ground, and hard to see even with binoculars. He saw it on two days at the same spot in brambles at the top of a cliff, and felt certain it had a nest just over the brow. It was smaller than the Common White- throat, the white front was more pronounced, and the head and back more grey. All these details seem to indicate that it was a Lesser Whitethroat (Sylvia c. curruca), though up to the present this species had not been recorded in Lleyn. There is, however, an accumulating body of evidence to show that the Lesser Whitethroat is steadily increasing and ex- tending its range westwards in Wales. Along the north coast it is now a regular summer visitor in fair numbers, while Professor Salter tells me that in the Aberystwyth district also, where it was formerly only of casual occurrence, it has become a regular visitor during the last few years. On June 8th three were singing. H. E. Forrest. VOL. XVIII. | NOTES. 267 BLACK REDSTARTS IN N. WALES. Tur Rev. E. Lorimer Thomas tells me he saw a male Black Redstart (Phenicurus ochrurus gibraltariensis) on a stony hill near Abergele on May 15th, 1924; anda female near Criccieth on October 23rd, 1924. With regard to the latter he writes :—‘‘ 1 watched it for half-an-hour, and noted uniform dark brown back, under- neath uniform lighter brown. The bird flew, rarely, down to a palisade in the garden of the house, and once thence on to the gravel path. Mostly, however, it caught flies on the root, returning to four favourite spots thereon. The click of the beak when a fly was caught was distinctly audible. Its ways were just those of a Spotted Flycatcher. The next day it left the roof after we had watched it a few minutes, and went to a wall near, whence it frequently dropped to a erass field. It stayed on the grass a good deal longer than a Stonechat or Robin would have done. The Black Redstart was silent the whole time.”’ H. E. FORREST. MORE LITTLE OWLS IN NORTH LANCASHIRE. In my last note on the Little Owl (Athene noctwa vidalit) in Lancashire I was able to add three more records to the only two authentic ones previously recorded. I now have the doubtful pleasure of recording three fresh records comprising four specimens. Mr. H. P. Hornby informs me that he has recently (January) examined two freshly shot specimens, the one killed at Winmarleigh and the other at Wharles, and that the fellow to the latter is now confined in a bird cage, having been temporarly knocked out by a stone from a catapult. The other specimen is in the collection of Dr. Fred Hogarth of Morecambe and was shot in the autumn of 1922 at Wenning- ton. In priority this bird becomes No. 4. H. W. Rosrnson. HEN-HARRIER IN SHROPSHIRE. In July, 1924, a Hen-Harrier (Circus cyaneus) in immature plumage was seen in south Shropshire not far from the place where a brood was reared in 1923 (Brit. Birds, XVIL., 309). H. E. Forrest. COMMON SCOTER INLAND IN SOMERSET. On April 20th, 1924, I watched an adult drake Common Scoter (O1demia n. nigra) on one of the Barrow Gurney reser- voirs, north Somerset. In view of some recent notes on oil- clogged Common Scoters inland (Brit. Birds, Vol. XVII., 268 BRITISH BIRDS. [ VOL. XVII, pp. 281 and 316) it is perhaps worth mentioning that as far as could be seen this bird was in excellent plumage and condition, and it had all the appearance of being a genuine inland loiterer on migration, unhampered by oil or any other disability. B. W. TUCKER. SMEW NEAR LONDON. I HAVE previously recorded in British Birds the occurrence of the Smew (Mergus albellus) in the London district (on each occasion single brown-headed birds), viz. :—Walthamstow Reservoirs, March 18th, 1922 (Vol. XVI., p. 26), and February 16th, 1924 (Vol. XVII., p. 310), Staines Reservoir, Decem- ber 16th, 1923 (Vol. XVII., p. 209). On March Ist, 1924, lI saw two adult males and ten brown-headed birds on Walthamstow Reservoirs, and one brown-headed bird was seen at the same place on March 8th. The latter was the last record for that winter. For the present winter the first record I have is one brown-headed bird at Staines Reservoir on December 26th, 1924. One adult male and three brown- headed birds were seen at Walthamstow Reservoirs. on January 3rd and 25th, 1925. These records, taken in conjunction with those of Mr. A. Holte Macpherson (antea, pp. 243-4), suggest the probability of the formation of a regular annual movement by this species to the London district. WILLIAM E. GLEGG. BLACK-NECKED GREBE IN SOMERSET. On September 19th, 20th, 29th, and October 4th, 1924, I had a bird under observation on the middle reservoir at Barrow Gurney, which I am satisfied was a Black-necked Grebe (Podiceps nigricollis) and not a Slavonian. I watched it on September rgth with field-glasses and on the subsequent occasions with a telescope. Except on the 20th, when the bird was quite close inshore but this advantage was neutralized by wind and driving rain, it was never within a hundred yards of me. The bill appeared slender and gave a strong im- pression—falling just short of absolute certainty—of being slightly uptilted. It may be doubted whether at this range a more definite conclusion than this could be expected. It could be clearly seen, however, that the black extended well below the eye and over the ear-coverts, the distribution of black and white on the head being precisely as shown in the figure in the Practical Handbook, and different from that of the Slavonian, and also agreeing closely with skins which I have subsequently examined at the British Museum. When the bird was facing away from me with the neck erect it VOL. XVIII.] NOTES. 269 showed a broad black band down the back, not constricted at the nape, as it usually is in the Slavonian, by the close, approximation of the white of the two sides of the head. These characters are sufficient, I think, to warrant recording the bird definitely as a Black-neck. Only two other occur- rences in the county are on record. B. W. TUCKER. COMMON SANDPIPER AND WHITE WAGTAIL IN JANUARY IN LANCASHIRE. On January rgth, 1925, I was taken to see a Common Sand- piper (Tvinga hypoleucos) close to Lancaster. It was extremely lively and most evidently no crippled bird. I saw one at Lytham on March 21st, 1909, and it has been notified as late as November, but I think this is the only record between December and February for Lancashire. Whilst examining it through a telescope to see what it was feeding on, I was surprised to see another summer bird trip across the lens in the form of a White Wagtail (Motacilla a. alba). Mr. Charles Hodgson, who took me to confirm his identification of the Common Sandpiper, and who also saw the White Wagtail, states that the former has been there all this winter and that one day before Christmas there were two of them. H. W. Roprnson. (Mr. J. F. Peters recorded a Common Sandpiper from Lake Windermere on December 30th, 1923, to January Ist, 1924 (Vol. XVII, p. 248).—EDps.] WHIMBREL ABOUT TO LAY IN JANUARY. AttHouGH Whimbrel (Numenius phe@opus) in winter are uncommon, their occurrence is hardly worth notifying. One shot at the mouth of the Lune below Lancaster on January gth, 1925, which I handled in the flesh, seems, however, to deserve some remark, for it was a female containing eggs so well developed that an egg expert gave five days as the period for the deposition of the largest egg. As the Whimbrel does not normally commence laying before the third week in May, it seems rather extraordinary for a bird to be carrying such well-developed eggs so early. H. W. RoBInson. EARLY BREEDING OF MOOR-HEN IN KENT. Ow February 14th, 1925, the Park Superintendent at Dartford called my attention to a pair of Moor-Hens (Gallinula chloropus) which were feeding at the edge of the park lake, accompanied by two young birds. The Superintendent states that he and his men first noticed the young about five weeks ago, when they were very tiny and apparently only a few days old. This 270 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XVII. means that these birds were hatched about the first week in January, an extraordinarily early date for this species, I would add that the river Darenth runs through this lake, which is quite open, and that the birds are not protected in any way. F. Howarp LANcum., [For other notes on early breeding of this species see Vol. VI., p. 375, Vol. XIL., pp. 21, 48 and 143.—Eps.] LATE NESTING OF HouSE-MARTIN IN WORCESTERSHIRE.— Mr. H. G. Alexander informs us that a pair of House-Martins (Delichon u. urbica) were still feeding young in the nest at Rednal, North Worcestershire, 700 feet above sea-level, on October 18th, 1924; one young bird had just flown, but two more were still in the nest. Ten days later all had gone. OBITUARY. THE- LATE. A. N. PASHUEN: THE well known old East-coast naturalist and bird-stuffer, Harry N. Pashley, passed away in Cley village on the evening of January 30th, 1925. He was a remarkable man in many ways, and his knowledge of, and interest in, Natural History, especially Ornithology, made him well known to a wide circle beside those lovers of East Anglia who, of course, knew him best. He was a real old-time naturalist, self-educated and fairly well read, and possessing a freshness and vigour of mind, and a delightful simplicity of character, that endeared him to all who had the pleasure of knowing him. Pashley was born at Holt in Norfolk on October 6th, 1843. He married in the year 1867 and subsequently lived in Norwich for some years, finally settling down at Cley in or about 1886. In 1890 he won from 150 competitors the late Lord Lilford’s prize for the best mounted specimen, the then Editor of the Field acting as judge. Pashley was in close touch with Norfolk bird-lovers, and during the last forty years most of the rare birds obtained in north Norfolk passed through his hands. He mounted many of the birds in the celebrated Connop Collection, and several unique rarities, such as the Pallas’s Warbler, were brought to him in the flesh. Thomas Southwell, Professor Newton, Howard Saunders, Colonel Feilden, John Henry Gurney, and other distinguished ornithologists used to visit Pashley regularly, and were regarded not only as visitors but as friends. He could tell many a good story of bygone days, of hard winters, rare birds, and quaint characters, for his memory was VOL. XVIII. ] OBITUARY. 271 retentive to the end of his long life, and he almost knew by heart some of his well-loved books, such as Bates’s Tvavels on the Amazon. I am glad to hear that it is proposed to publish Pashley’s notes, which, extending over many years, afford a valuable contribution to the ornithology of the county. The writer of these lines also believes that many readers of British Birds will value the characteristic portrait here reproduced, of one whom he will always regard as one of the most original and interesting men he ever met. CLIFFORD D. BORRER, STARLINGS IMITATING WILLOW-WARBLER. To the Editors of BRiTIisH Birps. Strs,—With reference to Mr. G. W. Thompson’s letter on this subject (antea, p. 224), I suggest that the Starling was not imitating the Willow Warbler but the Green Woodpecker. On the 1st of February, 1925, at Haywards Heath, I heard what I thought was a Green Woodpecker calling in an undertone, as I have frequently heard this species do at the nest, but the only bird I could see was a Starling singing on 4 cottage roof. As I looked he repeated the call in another key, and after an interval of gurgling, spluttering, squeaking and clicking, he flew a few yards to a branch and there repeated the call twice. I have since heard another Starling uttering a similar series of notes. I do not suggest that it is impossible for the Starling to imitate the Willow-Warbler in December, because everyone knows that he fre quently imitates the Blackbird, though he may not have heard the song for six months. But I think that a Starling’s mimicry of the Green Woodpecker’s call, which it may hear every day, might easil be mistaken for an attempt to imitate the Willow-Warbler. CHARLES S. BAYNE, CONCERNING THE INCUBATION OF GREENSHANK AND DESCRIPTION OF THE NESTLING CHOUGH. To the Editors of BririsH Brrops. Sirs,—A propos a remark in your review of Messrs. Gilbert’s and Brook’s Secrets of Bird Life (Brit B., XVIII., p. 247) anent the incuba: tion of the Greenshank (Tvinga nebulavia), may I observe that both sexes are apt to sit? I made this very clear in “‘ Concerning thé Greenshank ”’ (Brit. B., XVI., p. 208)—thus: “ and I know for a fact that at any rate with some pairs . . ., incubation is shared by both sexes. I have watched the two exchange duties.” As to the nestling Chough (Pyvrhocorax pyrrhocorax), it is stated (A Prac. Handbook, I., p. 32) that it has not been examined. But five years before the first part of that work was published I described it in Field Studies of Some Rarey British Birds (pp. 86-7). Joun WALPOLE-BOoND [In the case of the Greenshank Mr. S. P. Gordon has photographed the change of sexes at the nest, showing the male pushing the female off the eggs. The words “ not examined ”’ in the Practical Handbook mean not examined by the authors. In the book referred to, Mr. Walpole Bond gives a full description of the colouring of the mouth and other soft parts of the nestling Chough, while nestling down was absent, and this certainly might have been quoted in the Handbook.—Eps. | STEVENS’S AUCTION ROOMS, LTD. ESTD. 1760. 38, King Street, Covent Garden, London, W.C.2. Periodical Sales are held at the above Rooms, of NATURAL HISTORY SPECIMENS, including BIRDS and BIRDS’ EGGS, CABINETS, etc. Also BOOKS relating to Natural History. Catalogues of sales posted on application. WHELDON & WESLEY, LTD. have in stock nearly all the books and journais required by ornithologists. The collection of old and rare works is one of the largest in the country. New books and journals supplied to order. Books not in stock sought for. Just issued: Catalogue No. 9 (new series), Ornithology, 2d. post free. Bookbinding in all its branches undertaken. 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LONGMANS, GREEN & CO., 39, Paternoster Row, London, E.C.4. WANTED. BIRDS in ALBINO or VARIETY PLUMAGE. Good Prices for really unusual specimens. C. J. CARROLL, Rocklow, Fethard, Co. Tipperary. LE GERFAUT REVUE BELGE D'ORNITHOLOGIE, Fondée en 1911, Le seule publication scientifique belge traitant des oiseaux, spécialement des oiseaux de la Belgique. Abonnement 10 francs par an. Direction : Square Prince Charles 21, Bruxelles-Laeken (Belgique). WANTED. DIARY of Lt.-Col, PETER HAWKER HANGERS TO ALL SPORTSMEN. DONOVAN’S NATURAL HISTORY OF BIRDS. SHAW’S GENERAL ZOOLOGY (Aves portion). Address B., Office of “ British Birds.”’ DIO DINDD was INCORPORATED IN JANUARY, 1917, ‘‘ THE ZOOLOGIST.’ ASSISTED BY JOURDAIN, M.A., M.B.O.U., H.F.A.O.U., AND N F. TICEBURST, 0:B-5., MAA., FRCS., M.B.0.V. ae = © = CoNTENTS OF NUMBER II, VoL. XVIII., APRIL I, 1925. “Tt ——— PAGE 2) Freld-Notes from Glamorganshire (II). By ieee CS: Ingram, M.B.0.U., and H. 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WITHERBY, M.B.E., F.Z.S., M.B.0.U. i ASSISTED BY - Rev. F. C. R. JourDAIN, M.A., M.B.O.U., H.F.A.0.U3,\ AND j =NORMAN F. TICEHURST, 0.B.E., M.A., F.R.C.S., MB.O.Uys . i CONTENTS OF NUMBER 12, VoL. XVIII., MAy 1, 1925. PAGE Effect of Weather on the Song Impulse. By Charles E. Alford, M.B.O.U. Sere Bae AOE ree Ane Mate n0¢ ont 306 Courting Display of the Red-breasted Merganser on Salt Water. By H. R. Colman and Henry Boase ... ae ‘isis anc 313 Notes :— Lesser Spotted Woodpecker and Wryneck Nesting in the same Tree (Raymond Carlyon-Britton) ... 5ac Fa SEG Bewick’s Swans in Derbyshire (William Shipton) ... os | RL Smew in Warwickshire (Miss B. A. Carter) ... 306 ALG, Wood-Pigeon Gorged with Potatoes (Lord Scone) ... 550 ue Oyster-Catcher Breeding in West Sussex (Raymond Carlyon- Britton) ee B50 nee ies ie aac ee ons Short Notes :— Early Nesting of Starlings in Westmorland. Early Nesting of House-Sparrow in Lancashire. Rough-legged Buzzard in Norfolk. Glossy Ibis in Cork. Glaucous Gull in North Devon ... a0 Sec Scio 5a S08 see “2 318 Letters :— The Smallest Book on Ornithology (Hugh S. Gladstone) ... 319 The Winter Status of the Whimbrel (William E. Glegg) ... 320 Z ( 306 ) EFFECT OF WEATHER ON THE SONG IMPULSE, BY CHARLES E. ALFORD, m.B.0.v. TuaT the vocal-energy of song-birds, quite apart from the influence of sex, ebbs and flows with the ever-changing moods of our fickle climate, is a matter of common knowledge. There are days, even in the height of the mating season, when scarcely a note can be heard ; and there are days of incessant song. The tuneful periods we ascribe—rather loosely, I think —to favourable weather conditions, the silent to the reverse, But what do we mean by “favourable ’’? What exactly are the conditions of weather that promote or retard the impulse to sing? With the thermometer at freezing-point the Song- Thrush (T. p. clarket) will sing for as long a period as thirty- six minutes after sunset ; yet on other occasions, with the mercury thirty degrees higher, and weather conditions apparently ideal, not a single note will be heard. Some three years ago, during the evenings of spring and early summer, I commenced to keep a daily record of the weather, noting at the same time the precise moment when the Song-Thrush finally ceased to sing. I have kept these notes fairly regularly, and from the mass of figures resulting therefrom it is possible, I think, not only to “‘ measure ”’ the amount of vocal-energy recorded from day to day, but also to learn something of the various types of weather that controlled it; During the last halt-hour or so of daylight, whatever song- energy there may be is at its height, and the number of minutes after sundown that a bird “keeps it going ’’—this period varies greatly with different types of weather—is, in my opinion, a fairly good measure of the amount of vocal- energy stored within. This, in conjunction with a daily weather-chart, should give a “pointer’’ to the various meteorological conditions that control this energy. That, at any rate, is the principle I worked on. Let me hasten to add that it is not ideal; but, regarded merely as an experiment, the resulting figures should at least not be without interest. It may be argued that it is not so much the weather that is the controlling factor, but the stimulus of sex, since the song of a bird is, to a great extent, the outward expression of this emotion. But sexual activity is itself greatly influenced by the weather, and it follows, therefore, that the song, when it happens to be of sexual origin, must be equally subject to its vagaries. VoL. Xvit.] WEATHER AND SONG IMPULSE. 307 My method was as follows :—Having noted the precise number of minutes after sunset when the last Thrush finally ceased to sing, I registered the amount, together with the prevailing weather conditions, on a chart which marked the hour of sunset as Zero, and the normal average cessation of song during spring and early summer (in minutes after sunset) by a thick black line similar to that on a clinical temperature chart. It being impossible to deal with individuals ot different species singing at the same time, I concentrated on the Song-Thrush, as being not only the most typical, but also one of the loudest of our common song-birds, and therefore the easiest subject for accurate observations. The fact that I confined my attention to the bird that sang the latest, and ignored those that left off earlier will not, I think, impair the accuracy of such experimental observations as these. At this late hour of the day each individual is singing more or less against its rival, and after the first per- former drops out of the chorus it is, as a rule, only a matter of two or three minutes before the remainder follow suit. In the flat, unwooded acres of East Anglia, where my observa- tions were conducted, every Thrush within 500 yards is clearly audible, and I have found the above to be almost invariably therule. Exceptionally, of course, an individual will continue to sing long after its fellows have retired ; but this article is not concerned with exceptions. My observations were conducted chiefly between February rst and June roth, for three years in succession, in the neigh- bourhood of Southwold, on the east coast. Unless otherwise stated, all weather conditions quoted in the tables are normal of their kind, such extremes as gales, thaws, thunderstorms, and temperatures below freezing-point being purposely omitted, as likely to upset the averages. The measurements are in minutes and seconds after sunset, the temperatures Fahrenheit, and the times Greenwich throughout. TEMPERATURE. Though temperature, from 32° upwards, is not an entirely negligible quantity, it has, by itself, less direct influence for good or bad than any other factor. According as the pre- vailing weather be favourable or otherwise, so does song- energy respond, to a certain extent, to the rise or fall of the thermometer ; but the influence of temperature is, in any case, so imperceptible, that one or two degrees, more or less, appear to make no appreciable impression. 308 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XVII, TABLE A. 32°—36° 2 es oe 17’, 15" 37 4L - a * 23', 45 42°—46° Ss ie -» 30%, 43” 47 ior aa ey) a 330 20" 9 357 It is only in what i may eal i eee of several degrees, with the gradual progress of the seasons, from winter to summer (Table A), and vice versa, that the influence of temper- ature slowly but surely begins to make itself felt, and even then it is entirely regulated by the type of weather prevailing at the moment. If the other conditions are normal, a rising thermometer will almost certainly show an increase in song- power; but if they are abnormal, song-energy will remain at a low ebb no matter to what height the thermometer may rise. A low temperature with normal conditions will give far better results. This is well illustrated in the following figures :— March roth, 1924—32°, cool E. breeze ; clear, after sunny day .. ae oe re Bs .. oof May 25th, 1924—52°, light S.W. breeze ; very over- cast ; torrents of rain after day of rain squalls 14’ Though the temperature on May 25th was twenty degrees higher than that on March roth, the combined effects of rain and cloud were sufficient to reduce song-energy by no less than 19 points. April 28th, 1923—50°, weather N.W., calm, partly cloudy : 51’ June 4th, 1924—50°, eusty 18) wind, overcast, raining Tey Here we see the effects of good and bad weather, with the thermometer at the same mark on both days. The only condition where temperature would appear to exert some direct influence is in a wind of gale force. If the reader will turn to the Gale Chart (Table B), he will see that whilst the four lowest temperatures show 0, the four higher readings show a considerable improvement, though the other conditions (with the exception of the 44° reading) are equally bad all through. This may or may not be significant, and to settle the point beyond doubt, we need, of course, a great many more than eight observations. Readings below 32° give very poor results, not, I think, because they are below freezing-point, but mainly owing to the extreme conditions which in this country so often accom- pany a low temperature. When other factors—especially the inutes VOL. Xvi.] WEATHER AND SONG IMPULSE. 309 direction of the wind—are exceptionally favourable, then we find once again that the effects of temperature, even below 32°, are insignificant. The only one of my readings below freezing-point that is not songless shows the other conditions to be almost perfect :— February 17th, 1924—31°, slight S.W. breeze ; bright and clear .. a ie sp bike aa Compare this with that of May 25th (above), and it will be seen how much attention our songsters pay to temperature, when other conditions are favourable. The only contradic- tion to this, out of the sixteen songless evenings in my notes, GALE CHART. Table B. R Ge $s" Se a4 ” SIRES ca Bo eS N20 88) ga a 15 Q] o> 52 <2 ; oes or erty 10 eo | od a> & — - a 5 *{S ee ’ ar ae as O is the previous one, February 16th, with the thermometer at 31°, weather bright and clear, with a light E. breeze. I cannot explain this. For these sixteen songless evenings the temperature averaged 34.25°. WIND. The various types of wind (all strengths except gales), and their influence, under normal conditions, are shown fairly clearly on the accompanying chart (Table C). Assuming 33’ to be the average song-value for normal weather during spring and early summer—it is actually 33’ 9’—it will be seen that whilst three winds, the N.W., S.W., and S., are slightly tavourable, the remainder show an absolute collapse, cul- minating in the N. wind, which pushes vocal-energy very nearly down to Zero. It would appear, therefore, that wind 310 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XVIII, is not on the whole a favourable factor, and that as it gains in strength song-energy steadily declines. This is well illustrated in the following table of wind-force (ali winds) :— Calm mA ee 34, 30 Light Me Zz 205.57. Strong e Fa 25', 32" Gales 2 3 10,545" Minutes Sunset On the sixteen songless evenings referred to under “ Tem- perature,” the winds were as follows :—six from the N. (two of gale force); from the N.E., three; E., two; N.W., two (one nearly calm, but 2 ins. snow on ground) ; and W., S.W., and S.E., one each. Though even gales show a slightly better average than the N. wind—10’, 45” as against 10’, 40”—this is accounted for by the fact that many winds of gale force blow from quite a mild quarter, and in this particular case, as explained above, the influence of temperature may help to level things up. Even so, the author of the first bird-book who omits to tell his a VoL. xvu.] WEA'THER AND SONG IMPULSE. 311 readers how the Mistle-Thrush (T. v. viscivorus) revels in a gale, should receive at least a gold medal. Most of our common song-birds will at times sing in a gale, and it is my experience that one may hear the Song-Thrush and Robin sing under these conditions far more often than the Mistle- Thrush. In any case those individuals we hear are exceptions ; it does not alter the fact that birds do not, as a rule, like a gale, and that it is the most unfavourable of all conditions. ATMOSPHERE. A clear or hazy sky, as will be seen in the following table, is the most favourable single factor of all :— Clear or hazy se 22 37,20" Calm - ie e847 30" Rain Ne ss ee enor Cloud me ~ no BO AS Clear or hazy and calm i Aes SOF s Ms » wind .. 35’, 12” (all winds) Calm a alla se Os, 4Or = i CLOUGd "4 n 80,.02" Rain » wind in 24, 30" Cloud és 5 237, 40” No matter how unfavourable the other conditions (ex- cluding extremes) may be, a clear sky invariably gives a reading above normal ; even in the one gale in which we find a clear sky, it is only three points short of the average. The next most favourable factor is a calm atmosphere, and _ this, in conjunction with a clear sky, gives the highest average reading of all— 42’, 30”. Cloud and rain, in conjunction with calm conditions, show a figure only slightly below normal; when accompanied by wind, however, they are both great depressants. I have only two records of thunderstorms. During a storm on May 2nd, 1924, with the thermometer at 47°, there was not a single Song-Thrush to be heard, though the Robin and Nightingale (L. m. megarhyncha) were singing as usual. On May 18th, however, with a temperature of 51°, the Thrush was singing continuously during an exceptionally heavy storm, and through the most vivid lighting flashes, but finally ceased sixteen minutes after sunset. SUMMARY. Temperature has less direct influence on vocal-energy than any other factor. Its effects can be interpreted only in a general sense, and from a seasonal point of view. As the 312 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XVIII, thermometer slowly rises with the advancing year, so will the singing impulse show a corresponding rise, whilst the other conditions remain seasonable ; but let the weather play tricks, and down will go song-power, though the mercury may be at eighty. In other words, the influence of temperature is only secondary to such factors as the force and direction of the wind, and the state of the atmosphere. My highest individual reading is 51’, and this has been reached on only three occasions :— May 26th, 1922—Clear, calm, temp. 65°. April 28th, 1923-—-Calm, light clouds, temp. 50°. May 5th, 1924—N.W. breeze, some driving clouds, temp. 44°. Whilst the temperature covers the wide range of 21°, the weather was, in all three cases, mainly calm, with a clear to only slightly cloudy sky. A high temperature is more favourable with cloudy condi- tions than with clear, with winds than with calm. Cloud and rain, with calm conditions, have but little influence one way or another. During a quiet, steady drizzle, most species will sing much as usual ; but add to this a moder- ate or strong wind, and they are mostly silent. A rising or falling barometer has little or no effect on vocal energy. Other conditions being normal, birds will sing as usual either immediately before or after a storm. The most favourable influence of all is a clear sky with a still atmosphere, irrespective of temperature. The most unfavourable influence is a gale, but only when accompanied by a low temperature. As explained elsewhere, the influence of temperature is more marked in winds of gale force than in any other condition. In conclusion, it is hardly necessary to add that the obser- vations recorded in this article are purely experimental, and that if the problem we have been discussing should ever be finally solved, it will not be by the methods employed above. But that is not to say my figures are of no scientific value. Covering, as they do, a period of three years, under all sorts and conditions of weather, they may well be of use to those who investigate the subject more fully, and—let me add— more scientifically. ¢ 3185 COURTING DISPLAY OF THE RED-BREASTED MERGANSER ON SALT WATER. BY H. R. COLMAN anp HENRY BOASE. Durinc the first months of the year, in January and Iebruary occasionally, in March and April freely, the Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator) makes its courting display on the Tay Estuary. When the sun shines pale through light haze, and the flood tide lingers at the turn, the Merganser finds time, even in the early days of January, to pay court to the females in the party. At that time of year there is almost invariably a considerable preponderance of males, generally at least two- thirds so far as the binocular can show, in contrast with the later days of April and Mav, when females (and doubtless immature males scarcely separable in the field) are usually in the majority. The form of the display has varied comparatively little. On March 16th, 1919, a group of birds were in very active display. - Five females were present in a total of eighteen birds and these found the attentions of the males so pressing that they endeavoured to escape by diving. The reappear- ance of the female was the signal for one or more males to “ skate’ towards her. The “ skating ”’ on the surface when in haste seems to be carried out in two forms: one with neck retracted and crests ‘bristling, the bill rather upward inclined ; the other with head and neck outstretched in line almost touching the surface, an attitude perhaps more of menace to the other males, however. In both cases the wings are slightly raised, giving a more rounded appearance to the back. In the particular instance, the first attitude was used in approaching the female, the birds driving themselves along on the surface with strong thrusts of the feet, leaving a heavy wake. On nearing the female the males drop suddenly to the normal floating attitude, jerk the head and neck upwards in line at a steep angle with the head feathers depressed, followed almost instantly by a simultaneous upthrow of the rear portion of the body, spreading of the closed wings out- wards, the resumption of the normal attitude of the head, the raising of the head feathers, and, in some cases at least, the wide opening of the bill—the whole performance occupying pethaps a couple of seconds from the first stretching of the neck to the resumption of the normal swimming attitude. The display may be made once only, or may be repeated a 314 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. xvum, second time in quick succession. The opening of the bill seems a variable feature of the performance ; the mandibles may be opened until almost at right angles, showing the interior of the mouth, or this feature may be varied in al] stages. Once or twice the females gave a display—a mere raising of head and neck in line. A display watched on April 14th, 1924, differed in some details. Only certain females were approached by the males and only certain males made display, the others taking little — notice. The males showing any excitement were generally swimming with the neck retracted with bill upward inclined and the crests bristling. These awaited their opportunity it seemed, so that the display, which followed the lines already described, should be made as the bird came over the crest of the swell and the female below in the trough. On this occasion no bird was seen to open the bill to its limit ; for the most part the males contented themselves with an opening of an inch or so, while others omitted this part of the ritual. Once or twice another phase was introduced at the start, where the male stretched the neck upwards, with bill pressed close to it, before extending the head in line with the neck. Still another variation in form of display was seen on January 11th, 1925. In this instance the group of birds consisted of two males and four females or immature birds, and of these only one male and one female took any real part in the display. The ardent male swam in pursuit of the female with neck retracted and head feathers bristling, the other male following, and endeavoured by rapid swimming and sometimes “ skating ’’ on the surface to attain a favour- able position in advance of the female as she breasted the tide. At the suitable moment the male jerked head and neck upwards in line at a steep angle with head feathers depressed, paused so for an instant, retracted neck sharply with head still held in line, at same time swinging forward on the base of the neck as the rear portion of the body swung upwards and the wings were raised from the sides. It appeared that the instant when the swing-up was at its maximum, the head and neck re- bounded as it were to a position of moderate extension of neck, and the head was returned to a normal position and the neck was again retracted to the ordinary swimming attitude as the bird resumed its normal trim. Whether the bill was opened as in previous instances could not be determined owing to the long range and broken background of the swell. The female sometimes made reply in the manner already noticed and appeared to swing round in order to face the VoL. Xvil.] RED-BREASTED MERGANSER. — 315 male as she did so, as he lost position in the tide race while displaying. The second male did not court the female, but his attention, such as it was, was sufficient to cause the other male to lose no time in pursuit when he got left behind. Display seen on other occasions showed some additional variation of form. Some of these appeared to arise from a dullness or want of enthusiasm on the part of the males ; for instance, the head and neck were stretched upwards in line without the following upward swing of the rear of the body ; no doubt the differences in the opening of the bill arise similarly. In some cases it appeared that the extended neck was swung backwards to meet the swing of the body, though in no case did this reach the development seen in the case of Golden-eye. The form of approach was changed at times from that already described to an attitude of stiff attention with neck extended erect and the head held normally with the crests bristling. The behaviour of the females showed little of note, but the display, where observed, was not necessarily on the part of birds addressed most assiduously by the males. One female, resting apart at some little distance, displayed frequently without drawing the attention of any male. In field obser- vation the matter is complicated by the uncertainty of distinguishing sex with accuracy ; in one instance an individ- ual showing slight but conclusive indication in its plumage of being a male displayed freely with all the verve of its adult companions. Had the distance been greater, however, it would have been a matter of difficulty to determine the sex of the performer. It is perhaps worth while noting the ultimate dispersal of a group which had been in active display. The party con- sisted in the first instance of four males and three females, to which came another two males. After a period of display, during which one female was the centre of attraction, one female seemed passive, and the third kept apart and at times displayed without attracting attention, one male and the attractive female swam away together in a definite manner, one male had retired alone, three males contined to swim in company with the passive female, while the remaining male and the lonely female paddled about apart, seemingly at a loss what to do. Two additional matters of behaviour, not so obviously - connected with display yet associated with it, have been noticed. The one is in the finish of the rush made at or after the female described as “skating,’”’ which may precede 316 BRITISH BIRDS. (vou. xvirr, display or follows it. In the latter case the rush ended in the — bird rising on the water and beating its wings, certainly ¢ circumstances a fitting action for the male, having dca attention to itself by its wild rush, to exhibit. the striking wing pattern. The other incident is more obscure in meaning, The males, having made display, turned the head over the back as when resting, tilted over the body to one side, and waved the exposed foot for some minutes. The attitude assumed is more commonly associated with preening, but in the present instance no action of the kind was visible. Perhaps it was playfulness, just as Mallard, Teal and Shoveler seem to find delight in somewhat like circumstances in plunging here and there in the water, jumping into the air for a single wing beat and diving, all from sheer good spirits, These displays have been watched in most cases quite close inshore, just outside the break of the swell in fact, and generally out of the main current, or, as mentioned already, during slack water. LESSER SPOTTED WOODPECKER AND WRYNECK NESTING IN THE SAME TREE. Towarpbs the middle of May, 1924, I watched a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (Dryobates minor comminutus) excavating a nesting-hole in an old apple-tree at Fishbourne,near Chichester. The hole faced north and was about five feet from the ground ; three feet lower down in the same tree and facing eastwards a Wryneck (Jynx t. torquilla) was also busily engaged in en- larging anaturalcavity. The latter bird carried the excavated chips over a low hedge and dropped them a few yards away. Most of the work was carried out between Io a.m. and noon by both birds, neither of whom seemed to take the least notice of the other. The Woodpecker commenced laying on May 27th, the clutch of five eggs being completed on the 31st. On June 2nd the eggs were taken. The Wryneck deposited her first egg on June rst, and the sixth and last on the 6th. The first young hatched on June 21st—period fourteen (or fifteen ?) days. Three eggs proved to be infertile. RAYMOND CARLYON-BRITTON. BEWICK’S SWANS IN DERBYSHIRE. ON March 4th, 1925, I saw four Bewick’s Swans (Cygnus 0. bewickit) on Coombs Reservoir, a large sheet of water some four miles N.N.W. of Buxton. Two were immature as shown by the light smoky-grey of the necks and, to a lesser extent, the bodies, On the 5th there were seventeen, among which the two young birds could be distinguished, all the rest being adults. While I was there they all got up and rising to a great height flew rapidly away west, though in two parties, - one of thirteen and the other of the four birds I had seen the day before. At the time I saw the birds there was a northerly gale blowing ; for a week or more previously the weather had been easterly, going round to the west on the night of the 3rd-4th, backing to the north later in the day. WILLIAM SHIPTON. SMEW IN WARWICKSHIRE. On January 20th, 1925, I saw an adult male Smew (Mergus albellus) on one of the Sutton Park pools. It flew away about mid-day, but I saw one again at the same place on February 13th, 14th and 15th, and a friend told me that he saw one on February 20th. B. A. CARTER. 318 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XVIII. WOOD-PIGEON GORGED WITH POTATOES. On February 7th, 1925, I shot a Wood-Pigeon (Columba p. palumbus) near Methven, Perthshire, whose crop contained twenty potatoes, of which half a dozen were the size of walnuts, and could be forced into the Pigeon’s mouth only with considerable difficulty. The crop was completely distended. None of the potatoes showed any sign of decay, although three other Pigeons shot the same day had been feeding on quite rotten potatoes. SCONE. [A somewhat similar case was reported in Brit. Birds, Vol. XII., p. 268.—EDs.] OYSTER-CATCHER BREEDING IN WEST SUSSEX. On June 28th, 1923, I found a nest otf an Oyster-Catcher (Hematopus o. ostralegus) on a shingle bank in the south- western corner of Sussex. On the previous day I had noted the birds in the locality and now watched the hen, escorted by the cock most of the way, to the nest. This contained the normal three eggs, which were chipping. RAYMOND CARLYON-BRITTON. EARLY NESTING OF STARLINGS IN WESTMORLAND.— Mr. A. Astley writes that a pair of Sturnus v. vulgaris were teeding young in a nest at Rydal, on March 8th, 1925, and on the same day a nestling was found dead in another place a mile or two away. EARLY NESTING OF HOUSE-SPARROW IN LANCASHIRE.—- With reference to Mr. Alford’s note (antea, p. 266), Mr. G.N. Carter writes that a nest of Passer d. domesticus containing three eggs was taken from the ivy on a house at Worsley, on December 19th, 1924. The bird flew off the nest and the eggs were warm. ROUGH-LEGGED BUZZARD IN NORFOLK.—Mr. R. G. Willan informs us that an adult Buteo lagopus frequented an estate near Holt from February 21st to 23rd, 1925, and was often seen being mobbed by Hooded Crows and other birds. G Lossy Isis IN CorK.—With reference to the note under this head on page 116 of this volume, Mr. G. R. Humphreys informs us that the bird referred to is the same as that reported by him on page 280 of Vol. XVII., and the date he gave is the correct one. VOL. XVII. ] NOTES. 319 GLaucous GULL IN NortH DEvon.—Brigadier-General H. R. Kelham writes that on January 30th, 1925, during a heavy northerly gale, he saw a Glaucous Gull (Larus hyperboreus) on the foreshore by the estuary of the Taw and Torridge. The bird appeared as large as some Great Black-backed Gulls near it and was entirely white of a soft dull shade. The bird was eating a dead Guillemot. The Glaucous Gull is an uncommon visitor to south-west England. LETTERS. THE SMALLEST BOOK ON ORNITHOLOGY. To the Editors of BRITISH BIRDs. Srrs,—Since I wrote about the above (Vol. XVIII., pp. 258-9), Mr. D. J. Balfour Kirke (Greenmount, Burntisland) has very kindly sent for my inspection what is another and later edition of the book I have already described as published in 1810. The sixth line of the title-page of Mr. Kirke’s book is printed in different type to that used in the r81o edition and after the words Gracechuych-street there is added And J. Harris, St. Paul's Church- Yard, and also the date 7876 (which it will be noticed is that of the French publication to which I have already drawn attention). A plate of the Eagle faces the title-page and the first eight pages of letterpress are differently spaced. Thereafter the two editions are similar, but on the last page (p. 96) of the 1810 edition appear the words :—London : Printed by Darton, Harvey & Co./ Gracechurch Street, whereas in the 1816 edition these words are altered to:—Printed by Darton, Harvey & Co.! Gracechurch Street, London. The plates in the 1816 edition show signs of wear, and the chief charm of Mr. Kirke’s book is that it is in the original pink cardboard covers and that it is uncut : measuring 2.45 by 2.25 inches. The front cover is entituled as on the title-page except that no place of publication, printer’s name or date is given, but the words Price ts. 6d. oy 2s. in leathey are added ; the whole title being encased in an ornamental frame. The back cover advertises six other publications by Messrs. Darton, Harvey and Darton, 55, Gracechurch-Street, none of which, however, deal with ornithology, though, it may be noted that a Natural History of 48 Quadrupeds is included. I have been informed that Mr. F. H. Barclay (The Warren, Cromer) has a copy of this edition bound “in the original green calf,” but I have not had the opportunity of collating it. It is certainly a strange coincidence that the plate of the Eagle, which is given in the 1816 edition, should be omitted from the edition of 1810 and the French publication of 1816; I have handled a copy of each of these and it is possible that both these copies are incomplete in this respect. It may be of interest to add that Alfred Mills, who was the draughts- man responsible for the plates in these books, was for about forty years a skilful designer of illustrations for small books for juvenile instruction. He died at Walworth, aged fifty-seven, in 1833 and left a wife and six children. HuGu S. GLADSTONE. 320 BRI'LISH BIRDS. [VOL. XVIII. THE WINTER STATUS OF THE WHIMBREL, To the Editors of British Birps. Sirs.—In his note on the Whimbrel (antea, p. 269), Mr. H. W. Robinson makes the following statement: ‘‘ Although Whimbrel in winter are uncommon, their occurrence is hardly worth notifying.’ As this connotes a winter status for this species very different to that gained from my own work in the field, and I may remark that for over five years I have been devoting special attention to the coast of Essex and have yet to record my first winter Whimbrel, I have referred to all the works on my bookshelf which have bearing on the subject. The following books treat the Whimbrel as a spring and autumn passage migrant, and the authors do not appear to have had any knowledge of winter records in their counties: Mansel-Pleydell’s Birds of Dorsetshive, Pidsley’s Birds of Devonshive, Babington’s Birds of Suffolk, Christy’s Birds of Essex, Smith’s Birds of Somersetshire, Mathew’s Birds of Pembrokeshire, etc., Gladstone’s Birds of Dumfries- shive, Bolam’s Birds of Northumberland and Eastern Borders, Mac- pherson and Duckworth’s Birds of Cumberland, The Birds of Glamorgan, Harting’s Rodd’s Birds of Cornwail, Borrer’s Birds of Sussex and Steven- son’s Birds of Norfolk. Nelson (Birds of Yorkshire, p.647)states: ““Iam not aware of any instance of the Whimbrel remaining on the Yorkshire coast during the winter.’’ Coward and Oldham (Birds of Cheshire) were unable to quote more than one winter occurrence of the Whimbrel. Coward (Birds of the British Isles, etc., p. 177) says: ‘I have only once met with the Whimbrel in winter.’’ A Pyvactical Handbook, p. 667, states “‘ exceptionally winter.’’ Reference to such authorities as Macgillivray and Saunders confirms the foregoing evidence. From the works available to me I now quote those which might be considered possibly to support Mr. Robinson’s view. The status given by Hancock (Birds of Northumberland, p. to1): ““ An autumn or winter visitant, arriving in August and September and departing in spring,’ is self dismissed. Saunders (Mitchell's Birds of Lancashive, p- 237) states: ““ and occasionally a few birds may remain the winter ; but at both seasons the species is rare and it is during the vernal migration only that it becomes common.’’ Balston, Shepherd and Bartlett (Notes on the Birds of Kent, p. 417) state: ‘“‘ Mr. W. H. Power, writing in 1865, says—' A few, however, generally remain during the winter,’’’ and it may be this statement that Dr. Ticehurst hasin view when he says (A History of the Birds of Kent, p. 487) : “ though a few are said to remain the winter.’’ Kelsall and Munn (Birds of Hampshire, p. 322) state; ““ Wise remarks that they have been met with in winter.” Seebohm (British Birds, Vol. 3, p. 100) says ‘‘a few remain on the low-lying coasts all the winter,’ and Bowdler Sharpe (British Birds, Vol. 3, p. 323) states “a certain number remain during the winter especially on the west coast of Ireland.”’ It will be seen that the only statements which might possibly give colour to Mr. Robinson’s view are of a general character and not supported by evidence. ‘The foregoing references suggest that before we can conclude that the winter Whimbrel “ is hardly worth notifying ”’ we must have the necessary evidence. WILiiAM EF. GLEGG. [Winter occurrences of late vears have only been recorded for Scotland; vide Vol. V.,p. 3703. VIl., 1p. 350; 1%, pp. 76, 1605 2ae p. 172.—EDs. | (3821) INDEX. Nore.—The nomenclature followed in this volume is in accordance with the ‘Systematic List’’ printed at the end of Volume II. of 4 Practical Handbook of British Birds and reprinted in A Check-List of British Birds. abietinus, Phylloscopus collybita, see Chiffchaff, Scandinavian. ACLAND, Miss CLEMENCE, Notes on Black Guillemot in Pembroke- shire, 143; Late Swiftin South | Wales, 219. AcLAND, Miss CLEMENCE, and SALMon, H. Morrery, The Grassholm Gannets in 1924— A great increase, 178. acuta, Anas a., see Pintail. evuginosus, Ciycus @., see Harrier, Marsh-. esalon, Falco c., see Merlin. afinis, Larus f., see Gull, Lesser Black-backed. ——, Sylvia curruca, see White- throat, Siberian Lesser. alba, Crocethia, see Sanderling. , Motacilla a., see Wagtail, White. albellus, Mergus, see Smew. albifrons, Anser, see Goose, White- | fronted. , Sterna a., see Tern, Little. albionis, Uria a., see Guillemot. ALEXANDER, H. G., Notes on late nesting of House-Martin in | Worcestershire, 270; Marsh- | Warbler in London, 282. | alexandrinus, Charadrius, see Plover, Kentish. ALFORD, CHARLES E., Effect of | weather on the Song Impulse, 306; Note on early nesting of House-Sparrow in Suffolk, 266. alpina, Calidris, see Dunlin. anglicus, Dryobates m., see Wood- pecker, Greater Spotted. 2A antiquorum, Phanicopterus, Flamingo. apus, Apus a., see Swift. arborea, Lullulaa., see Lark, Wood-. aycticus, Colymbus a., see Diver, Black-throated. argentatus,Lavus, see Gull, Herring-. see aristotelis, Phalacrocovax a., see Shag. ARMSTRONG, Rev. E. A., and Puitiies, Major G. W., Notes on the nesting of the Short- eared Owl in Yorkshire, 226. avquata, Numenius a., see Curlew. avvensis, Alauda a., see Lark, Sky-. AstLey, A., Notes on interval be- tween the broods of double- and treble-brooded __ birds, ft Early nesting of Starlings in Westmorland, 318. atva, Fulica, see Coot. atvicapilla, Sylvia a., see Blackcap. auvitus, Podiceps, see Grebe, Sla- vonian. Avian Death-trap, An, 217. Avocet, in South Devon, 141, 142; in Kent, 195; in Norfolk, 290. avosetta, Recurvirostva, see Avocet. BADDELEY, THOs., Note on Golden- eyes in Lancashire in summer, 220. BAKERS J. Co AL and.) LoRNB UE. H. M., Note on theinfluence of weather upon the number of eggs in a clutch, 170. Banks, R. C., Note on the distribu- tion of Black Grouse in Great Britain, 223. 322 bassana, Sula, see Gannet. BAYNE, CHARLES S., Letter on Starlings imitating Willow- Warbler, 272. BEDFORD, THE DucHEss OF, Note on Sheld-Duck in Bedfordshire, 301. Beeston, T. J., Letter on Great Tit imitating other birds, 248. BENTHAM, Howarp, Notes Black Tern in Surrey, Smew in Surrey, 221. bernicla, Branta, see Goose, Brent. bewichtui, Cygnus b., see Swan, Bewick’s. Birp, Rev. Maurice C. H., Obit- uarial notice of, 196. Bird-Calls, A Practical method of recording, 14, 88. Bittern, Status in Norfolk, 288. , Little, in Norfolk, 288. Blackbird, Length of life of, 56; Nesting in Magpie’s Nest, 165 ; Recovery of marked, 187; Abnormal egg-measurements, 300. Blackeap, on Lundy, 78; Incuba- tion period of, 274. BLATHWAYT, Rev. F. L., Note on breeding of the Great Black- on 221 backed Gull in Dorset, 61. BLATHWAYT, REV. EF. LL. and TUCKER, B. W., Note on Ferruginous and Long-tailed Ducks in Somerset, 301. Bluethroat in Norfolk in Spring, 285. ——, Norwegian, on Fair Isle, 113. BoasE, Henry, Courting display of the Fulmar, 45; of the Goldeneye on salt water, 69 ; On the Display and Nesting of the Great Crested Grebe in Scotland, 210. Boast, HENnry, see Colman, H. R. BorRER, CiirFrorD D., Obituarial notice of H. N. Pashley, 270; Note on early arrival of Spoon- bills, 58; Letter on the normal clutch of Sandwich Tern’s eggs, 87. Boyrp, A. W., Notes from Staftord- shire, 241; Notes on Bewick’s Swans in Cheshire, 24 ; Water- Fowl and Reed-Warbler on a Lancashire moss, 58; Ruffs in Lancashire and Cheshire, 60; BRITISH BIRDS. { the Birds of Scilly, 10» Goldeneyes in Chesh> throughout Summer, 194. BRInDtEy, Mrs. M. D., Notes length of life of a Blackbi 56; Quail in Cambridgeshi iy 113. britannica, Carduelis c., see Gol) finch. britannicus, Lyrurus t., see Grou Black. “ British Birds ’’ Marking Schem Notice to “ Ringers,” 13} Progress for 1924, 260. Brooding previous to laying, 72. Brown, R. H., Field-notes on tt Magpie, as observed in Cumbe land, 122; Time-period ffi nest and egg replacement, 17% Notes on brooding prior laying, 72; Grey Wagtiés nesting in a tree, 75; Lary brood of Dunlins, 83; Flockiiy of Wood-Pigeons in early sun mer, 195; Letters on aberrai song of Chiffchaff, 117; Soma Thrush and Starling imitatisy call of Redshank, 117. Bunting, Corn-, in the Isles Scilly, 106. ——., Lapland, at Isle of May, 302 ——.,, Little, at Isle of May, 304. ——., Ortolan, at Isle of May, 302 —, Yellow, Large clutch eggs, 74; Recovery of markee Birds, 97, 250. Bustard, Great, in Orkney, 175. BUTTERFIELD, E. P., Letters on tl Chaffinch nesting on the grouns al Buzzard, Rough-legged, in Wicklow, 115 ; in Norfolk, 3119 ByneE, R. M., Note on Avocet - South Devon, 142. calandva, Emberiza c., see Buntino Corn-. cannabina, Carduelis c., see Linnee canorus, Cuculus, see Cuckoo. cantillans, Sylvia c., see Warblee} Subalpine. canus, Larus c., see Gull, Commors} canutus, Calidris c., see Knot. INDEX. Capercaillie, Accuracy of flight of, Ae cavbo, Phalacrocovax c., see Cor- morant. CARLYON-BRITTON, RAYMOND, Notes on Lesser Spotted Wood- pecker and Wryneck nesting in the same tree, 317; Oyster Catcher breeding West Sussex, 318. CarTER, Miss B. A., Note on Smew in Warwickshire, 317. , G.N., Early nesting of House- Sparrows in Lancashire, 318. Chaffinch, in the Isles of Scilly, 73, 106; Nesting on the ground, 74, 117; Unusual situation of nest of, 109, 218; Recovery of marked, 186; Abnormal egg- measurements, 300. CHARTERIS, Hon. G., Note on in- crease of the Wood-Lark in Gloucestershire and Surrey, 218. Chiffchaff, in the Isles of Scilly, 107; Aberrant song of, 117; Re- covery of marked, 261; in winter in Pembrokeshire, 300. ——, Scandinavian, on Holy Island, Northumberland, 19. ——, Siberian, on Holy Island, Northumberland, 19. chlorvis, Chloris c., see Greenfinch. chloropus, Gallinula, see Moor-hen. Chough, Description of the nestling, B72 chrysetus, Aquila, see Eagle, Golden. ciconia, Ciconia, see Stork, White. cinerea, Ardea c., see Heron, Com- in mon. ——, Motacilla c., see Wagtail, Grey. citrvinella, Emberiza c., see Bunting, Yellow. clangula, Bucephala c., see Golden- eye. clarket, Turdus ph., see Thrush, Song- Crreave, H. P. O., Note on Grey Plovers, Little Gulls, and other birds near Reading, 173. clypeata, Spatula, see Shoveler. celebs, Fringilla c., see Chaffinch. CoLitins, F., Note on Avocet in South Devon, 141. collurio, Lanius c.. see Shrike, Red- backed. | CONNELL, 323 collybita, Phylloscopus c., see Chiff- chaff. Corman, H. R., and BoasE, HENRY, Courting display of the Red- breasted Merganser on salt water, 313. CoLtHRupP, C. W., Notes on late nesting of the Goldfinch, 191 ; Wood-Lark breeding in East Surrey, 192; Buzzards over the Isle of Wight, 194; Letter on Song-Thrush and _ other birds imitating Waders and other birds, 176. comminutus, Dryobates m., see Woodpecker, Lesser Spotted. CoNGREVE, Major W. M., Note on the time-period for nest and egg replacement, 139. CHARLES G., Note on unusual situation of Chaffinch’s nest, 109. Coot at Reading Sewage Farm, 12. | CorBET, Dr. A. STEVEN, Notes on late nesiing of House-Martin in Cambridgeshire, 244; Scar- city of Yellow Wagtail, 140. Cormorant, Breeding colonies of, in West Cornwail, 167. cornix, Corvus c., sec Crow, Hooded. , ——, XC. corone, see Crow, Hooded. corone, Corvus c., see Crow, Carrion-. ; , xX C. cornix, see Crow, Carrion-. coturnix, Coturnix c., see Quail. Cowarp, T. A., Notes on a Kentish Plover and other migrants at a Cheshire Sewage Farm, Autumn, 1923, 26; Black Redstart nesting in South England, 76; Spotted Red- shanks in Cheshire, 141. Crake, Spotted, in co. Louth, 196. Crane, Demoiselle, in Norfolk, 83, 292. cvecca, Anas, see Teal. Creeper, Tree-, Roosting habits, 20, 143. crex, Crex, see Rail, Land-. cristatus, Podiceps c., see Great Crested. Crossbill, Breeding in Norfolk, 285. Crow, Carrion-, Correction ve nestling down, 30; Abnormal egg of, 108, 300; Albino, in Westmorland, 113; Time- Grebe, 324 period for nest and egg replace- ment, 244, 266. —. -—. Hooded Crow in Forfarshire, 53. —, Hooded-, in London district, 302. Sy , X Carrion-Crow in For- farshire, 53. Cuckoo, Returning to the same Summer quarters for six and five years, 30; Early laying of, in Essex, 56; in Devon- shire, 57; Early laying of, 78 ; Early breeding of, in Kirkcud- brightshire, 79; in Dorset- shrie, 79; Size of a young, 79. ——, Great Spotted, in co. Kerry, 114. : Curlew, Common, at KReading Sewage Farm, 13; Recovery of marked, tgo; Probable * breeding in Glamorgan, 278. curyuca, Sylvia c., see Whitethroat. CurTLER, M. S., Note on Wryneck in Devon, 50. curvivostva, Loxtia c., see Crossbill. cvaneus, Cirvcus c., see Harrier, Hen-. Davison, R. C., Note on Spoonbill in Suffolk, 140. Dewar, Dr. J. M., breeding-habits of legged Partridge, 62. Dipper, Hovering of the, 22. Diver, Black-throated, on Holy Island, Northumberland, 20. , Great Northern, in the Isles of Scilly, 73, 107. domesticus, Passer d., see Sparrow, House-. Letter on the Red- Doory,, DHos, Ibs Sh, etter ‘on the velocity of flight in birds, 62. Dotterel, Record of, in Ireland, 302. dougalli, Sterna d., see Tern, Roseate. Dove, Stock-, breeding in co. Mayo, rae Th ——, Turtle-, Breeding notes in Glamorganshire, 2; on Holy Island, Northumberland, 20; on the Scilly Isles, 73. Duck, Eider, in the Isles of Scilly, 8 58. ——, Long-tailed, in Glamorgan, 276; in Somerset, 301. BRITISH BIRDS. ——, Motacnila f., Duck, Ferruginous, in Norfolk, 28, in Somerset, 301. ——, Sheld-, at a Cheshire Sewagg Farm, 28; in Bedfordshiry 301. ——., Tufted, Early nest of, in Juny 82. Dunlin, at Reading Sewage Farry 12; Nesting season of, 822 Large brood of, 83. Eagle, Golden, in Berkshire, 21¢ Some notes taken at the eyrr (Ot 2b, 23\7/- Erxiott, J. S., Notes on Pied Bhi catcher in Worcestershire any Shropshire, 75; Wood-Larl breeding in Shropshire ann Worcestershire, 75 ; Hobby i) Shropshire and Worcestershire Si Letter on variety « Lapwing, 304. epops, Upupa, see Hoopoe. erythvopus, Tringa, see Redshanh! ing Redshank, 62. eversmann, Phylloscopus t., see Warbler, Northern Willow-. excubitoy, Lanius e., see Shriked Great Grey. exilipes, Cavduelis h., see Redpobi Coues’s. falcinellus, Plegadis, see Ibis, Glossy) Falcon, Peregrine, Recovery ¢ marked, 189. familiaris, Certhia, see Creepe Tree-. ferina, Nyroca f., see Pochard. Flamingo, Nesting in the Camargue 146, 198. flammeus, Asio f., see Owl, Shortt} eared. flava, Evemophila a., see Larkif Shore-. see Wagtal) Blue-headed. Flight, Velocity of, in birds, 62. Flycatcher, Pied, in Berkshire, 300 in Worcestershire and Shrof; shire, 75; in Norfolk, 114; 11% Glamorgan, 274; Nesting aa Horley, Oxon, 86; Nesting iif Selkirkshire, 304. ——, Red-breasted, at Isle of May 304. INDEX. Forrest, H. E., Notes on Spoon- bill in Anglesey, 243; on Lesser Whitethroat in Wales, 266; Black Redstarts in N. Wales, 267; Hen-Harrier in Shropshire, 267; Letter on Thrush imitating note of Green Woodpecker, 144. FRASER, ALISTAIR C., Notes on the interval between broods of double- and _ treble-brooded birds, 139; the _ roosting- | habits of the Tree-Creeper, 143. frugilegus, Corvus, see Rook. fuligula, Nyroca, see Duck, Tufted. fusca, Oidemia ff., see Scoter, Velvet, 166. fuscus, Larus, see Gull, Lesser Black-backed. Gadwall, in N. Wales in June, 81 ; in Staffordshire, 241; Re- ported from Tentsmuir, Fife, 304. getkei, Luscinia s., see Bluethroat, Norwegian. gallinago, Capella g., see Snipe, Common. Gannet on the Scilly Islands, 73. Garganey at the Reading Sewage Farm, 12; in West Cornwall, 166; in Staffordshire, 241 ; Status in Norfolk, 289. GARNETT, R. M., Notes on Gadwall and Pochard in N. Wales in ume; Si; White-fronted Geese inland in Cheshire, 300. garrulus, Bombycilla, see Waxwing. gibraltariensis, Phenicurus o., see Redstart, Black. glacialis, Fulmarus g., see Petrel, Fulmar. _ Goose, GLADSTONE, H. S., The distribu- | tion of the Black Grouse in Great Britain, 66; The smal- lest book on Ornitholgy, 258, 319; Note on the Ruff—an early record, 28 ; On the intro- duction of the Ring-necked Pheasant to Great Britain, 84 ; On protection of the Lapwing, 172; letter onl protection: of the Lapwing, 31. glandarius, Clamator, see Cuckoo, Great Spotted. 325 glareola, Tyvinga, see Sandpiper, Wood-. glaucoides, Lavus, see Gull, Iceland. GLEGG, Wittiam E., Note on White Stork in Essex, 23; A Note on the nesting of the Red-crested Pochard in the Camargue, 90; On the nesting of the Flamingo in the Ca- margue, 146; On the nesting of the Gull-billed Tern in the Camargue, 202; On Hen-= Harrier in Essex, 242; On Smew near London, 268; Let- ter on the winter status of the Whimbrel, 320. Godwit, Bar-tailed, at Reading Sewage Farm, 13. ——, Black-tailed, at Jeading Sewage Farm, 13; in West Cornwall, 168 ; in Norfolk, 289. Goldeneye, Courting display of, 69 ; in Cheshire throughout sum- mer, 194; in Lancashire in summer, 220. Goldfinch, Late nesting of, 171. Goosander, in Staffordshire, 241. Brent, Light- and Dark- breasted forms of, 49; Scientific names of the Light- and Dark- breasted forms, 135. ——, Snow-, in Outer Hebrides, 116. , White-fronted, in Stafford- shire, 241; Inland in Cheshire, 301. GorDoN, Mrs. AupREy, Letter on Song-Thrush and other birds imitating Waders, 88. GORDON, SETON and AUDREY, Some notes taken at the eyrie of a Golden Eagle, 237. GOWLLAND, Mrs. V. R. M., Note on Spoonbills in Kent, 194. Grebe, Black-necked, in Stafford- shire, 242; in Somerset, 268 ; in Glamorgan, 277. , Great Crested, Food of, 59; Increase of, nesting in Kent, 59; Display and nesting of, in Scotland, 210; Notes on the courtship, 129. ——, Slavonian, Increase of, as a nesting species in Scotland, 304. Greenfinch, in the Isles of Scilly, 106; Recovery of marked, 186. 326 Greenshank, at a Cheshire Sewage Farm, 27; in the Isles of Scilly, 108; Both sexes in- cubating, 272. griseus, Puffinus, see Shearwater, Sooty. GROUND, T., Notes on some birds of North Pembrokeshire, 1894-1914, 231. Grouse, Black, Distribution of, in Great Britain, 66, 221, 223, 224. grylle, Uvia g., see Guillemot. Black. Guillemot, Recovery of marked, 1gl. —., Black, on Holy Island, Northumberland, 20; in Pembrokeshire, 143; in Nor- folk, 292. gularis, Cinclus c., see Dipper. Gull, Black-headed, in the Isles of Scilly, 108; Marked abroad and recovered in Great Britain, TOT Zone ——, Common, Recovery of marked, 190; Marked abroad and recovered in Great Bri- tain, IQI, 291. —, Glaucous, on Holy Island, Northumberland, 20; in the Islessot ‘Scilly. 61773); smche Isles of Scilly—a correction, U7) ne NOmolka 20 20m North Devon, 319. —, Great Black-backed, in Lon- don, 30; Breeding in Dorset, 61; Breeding status in West Cornwall, 168. ——, Herring-, at Reading Sewage Farm 13; Migrations of,— results of the marking method, 34- , Iceland, in summer in Argyll- shire, 174. , Lesser Black-backed, breeding in Yorkshire, 31; Migrations of,—results of the marking method, 34; Nesting in colony where hatched, 112 ; Breeding- status in West Coinwall, 168 ; Recovery ot marked, 1go. ——, Little, at Reading Sewage Farm, 13; on Holy Island, Northumberland, BOE in Essex, 30; in West Cornwall, 168; near Reading, 174; in Norfolk, 291. BRITISH | ——, Marsh-, in Norfolk, 287. BIRDS. GYNGELL, W., Note on unusui situation of Chaffinch’s nes< 218. Hae, Rev. JAmMeEs R., Notes oo status of Grey Wagtail i) Kent, 55; Increase of Gree: Crested Grebes_ nesting 11 Kent, 59; Late nesting of th! Common Snipe in Kent, I11i} An Avian Death-trap, 2177 Letter on the normal clutc: of Sandwich Tern’s eggs 118. halietus, Pandion h., see Osprey. Harrier, Hen-, in Shropshire, 267> in Norfolk, 287; in Essex, 2444 301. ——, Montagu’s, Breeding in Non} folk, 287. HARTERT, Dr. E., Letter on thhg scientific names of the Light} and Dark-breasted Brens Geese, 197. Harvey, G. H., Field-notes frony West Cornwall, 164; Notitd) on prolonged sitting 0» Sparrow-Hawk, 220; Soma abnormal egg-measurementss 300. Hawk, Sparrow-, Recovery 09 marked, 189; Prolonged sitt ting of, 220. Heron, Common, on the Scilly Isless 73, Breeding behaviour of! 155. hiaticula, Charadrius, see Plover? Ringed. hivundo, Steyna h., see Tern, Com-4 mon. Hobby in Shropshire, 81; in Wor-- cestershire, 81. Hoopoe in co. Kerry, Norfolk, 286. Hopr, L. E., Note on Little Owl ina Cumberland, 23. hortulana, Emberiza, see Bunting,. Ortolan. Hoy Collection of Birds, presented?} to Southend-on-Sea Museum, 175. hrota, Bvranta, is the correctt} name for the Light-breasted! Brent Goose. 138. Humpureys, G. R., Note on Glossy» Ibis in co. Cork, 318. 115; ima INDEX. Hux ey, Pror. J. S., Some further notes on the courtship be- haviour of the Great Crested Grebe, 129; Some points in the breeding behaviour of the Common Heron, 155. hyemalis, Clangula, see Duck, Long- tailed. hyperboveus, Ansey h., see Goose, Snow-. , Larus, see Gull, Glaucous. hypoleuca, Muscicapa, see Fly- catcher, Pied. hypoleucos, Tringa, see Sandpiper, Common. Ibis, Glossy, in co. Cork, 116, 318. ignicapillus, Regulus 1., see Wren, Fire-crested. immer, Colymbus, see Diver, Great Northern. INGRAM, COLLINGWooD, Letters on 327 KeLyam, Bric.-GEn. H. R., Note on Glaucous Gull in North Devon, 319. Kerr, Mrs. H. M. Rair, Note on Avocets in Kent, 195. Kingfisher, in the Isles of Scilly, 107. Kite, net of, in Ireland, 302. Kittiwake, Breeding-colony in West Cornwall, 169; Recovery of marked, 262. Knot, in summer plumage in October, 221. lagopus, Buteo, see Buzzard, Rough- legged. , Lancum, F. Howarp, Notes on the nesting of the Flamingo in | the Camargue, 198; Albinistic Redbreast in Kent, 248. INGRAM, GEOFFREY C. S., Note on distribution of Black Grouse in Great Britain, 224. INGRAM, GEOFFREY C. S., and H. MorrEY SALMON, Breeding notes on Turtle-Dove in Glamorganshire, 2; Field- notes from Glamorganshire, (ils), 274. interpres, Avenaria, see Turnstone. Irish Naturalist, The, Close of publication of, 302. ispida, Alcedo atthis, see Kingfisher. Jay, in West Cornwall, 164. JOURDAIN, Light- and Brent Geese, 49; Notes on Mealy Redpolls in Berkshire, 54; Onearly laying of Cuckoo, 78 ; Golden Eagle in Berkshire, 219; The maximum clutch of the Gull-billed Tern, 244; Letter on the normal clutch of Sandwich Tern’s eggs, 118. Joy, Dr. Norman H., Migrants at the Reading Sewage Farm, II ; Notes on the size of a young Cuckoo, 79; How late do Swifts stay out at night ?, 193. Rvs ob. COR line} Dark-breasted | early laying of Cuckoo in Essex, 56; Early breeding of Moor-hen in Kent, 269. lapponica, Limosa, see Godwit, Bar- tailed. . lapponicus, Calcarius, see Bunting, Lapland. Lapwing, Protection of, 31 ; Recovery of marked Lapwing in its twelfth year, 60; Re- covery of marked, 190; Marked abroad and recovered in Great Britain, 191 ; Variety of, 304. | Lark, Shore-, in Norfolk in May, 285. —,, Sky-, on the Scilly Isles, 73, 106 ; Imitating alarm-note of Dunlin, 118; Effect of hot sun on young, 293. Wood-, Breeding in Shrop- shire and Worcestershire, 75 ; in Fifeshire, 114 ; Influence of weather upon number of eggs laid by, 170; Breeding in East Surrey, 192; Increase in Gloucestershire and Surrey, 218. leucovodia Platalea, 1., see Spoon- bill. Lewis, STANLEY, Note on Sand- Martins and Blackcaps on Lundy, 78. limosa, Limosa l., see Godwit, Black- tailed. linaria, Carduelis 1., see Redpoll, Mealy. Linnet, Large clutch of eggs, 74; in the Isles of Scilly, 106; Re- covery of marked, 186. 328 BRITISH lobatus, Phalavopus, see Phalarope. | LONNBERG, Dr. Einar, On the scientific names of the Light- and Dark-breasted Brent Geese, 135. Low, Dr. GEorGE C., Note on Ruff in Orkney, 174. MacpuHerson, A. Hortre, Note on Smew in London, 243. macrura, Steyna, see Tern, Arctic. macularia, Tyinga, see Sandpiper, Spotted. Magpie, Field-notes, as observed in Cumberland, 112, 122; Nest and egg replacement, time period for, 170; in Norfolk, 285; Abnormal egg measure- ments, 300. MacratuH, Cor. H. A. F., Note on Great Black-backed Gulls in London, 30; Thrush imitating notes of Waders, 88. major, Parus, see Tit, Great. Mallard, Recovery of marked, 184. marinus, Larus, see Gull, Great Black-backed. Marked Birds, Recovery of, 186; Marked abroad and recovered in Great Britain, rg1. MaArsHALL, Mrs. LENORE F., Note on Song-Thrush’s nest used successively by Song-Thrush and Blackbird for three years, 55. Martin, Recovery of marked, 189 ; Late nesting in Cambridge- Letter on Song- | shire, 244; in Worcestershire, | 270. ——, Sand-, at the Reading Sewage Kar, 12; on iundy, 76); Late nesting of, 196. MASEFIELD, JOHN R. B., and SmitH, T., Note on the Distri- bution of Black Grouse in Great Britain, 221. Maya tt, A., Note on large clutch of Yellow Bunting’s eggs, 74. MEADE-WALDO, E. G. B., Letter on breeding-habits of Red-legged Partridge, 32. media, Capella, see Snipe, Great. megarhyncha, Luscinia m., see Nightingale. melba, Apus, see Swift, Alpine. BIRDS. melophilus, Evithacus r., see Red-- breast. mervgansey, Mergus, see Goosander. Merganser, Red-breasted, Display of, on salt water, 313. Merlin, Battle with Carrion-Crows, 166; Recovery of marked, 189; Breeding in Glamorgan, 275. merula, Tuvdus m., see Blackbird. Migrants at the Reading Sewage Farm, II. miluus, Milvus, see Kite. minuta, Calidris, see Stint, Little. minutus, Ixobrychus m., see Bittern, Little. , Larus, see Gull, Little. mollissima, Somateria, see Duck, Eider. ; Moor-hen, Early breeding of, in. Kent, 269. morinellus, Chavadrius, see Dotterel. nevia, Locustella n., see Warbler, Grasshopper. nebulavria, Tvinga, see Greenshank. Nest and egg replacement, Time- penod for), 170), 216; 2428 266. newtont, Parus major, see Tit, Great. NicHoits, WALTER B., Notes on Little Gull in Essex, 30; Two hen Pied Wagtails sharing same nest, 54. niger, Chlidonias, see Tern, Black. Nightingale, breeding in N.W. Somerset, 77; Time-period for nest and egg replacement, 217. nigva, Ciconia, see Stork, Black. , Otdemia n., see Scoter, Common. nigvicollis, Podiceps n., see Grebe, Black-necked. nilotica, Gelochelidon, see Tern, Gull-billed. nisus, Accipiteyr n., see Hawk, Sparrow-. noctua, Athene, see Owl, Little. nyvoca, Nyvoca n., see Duck, Ferru- ginous, 289. Obituary—William Robert Ogilvie- Grant, 104; The Rev. Maurice Ge Ee (Bird) 196s Ek Ne Pashley, 270. obscurus, Parus c., see Tit, Blue. - INDEX. 329 ochropus, Tyinga, see Sandpiper, | Petrel, Fulmar, on Holy Island, Green. Northumberland, 20; Court- occidentalis, Prunella m., see ing display of, 45; im Co. Sparrow, Hedge-. | Clare, 303- _ ananthe, Enanthe @., see Wheatear. | ph@opus, Numenius p., see Whim- anas, Columba, see Dove, Stock-. | brel. Ogilvie-Grant, W. R., Obituarial | Phalarope, Red-necked, Breeding notice of, 104. OLpuHam. C., Note on food of Great Crested Grebe, 59. Osprey, in Norfolk, 287 ; Seen “‘ in summer ’’ in the Cairngorms, 304. ostvalegus, Hematopus, see Oyster- Catcher. Owl, Little, in Lancashire, 22, 80, 267 ; in Cumberland, 23, 115; in Berwickshire, 115; in Fife, 115; in Roxburgh, 115; in Northumberland, 115, 303; in North Yorkshire, 303. ——, Short-eared, Nesting in York- shire, 226; Breeding in Nor- folk, 286. , Tawny, Hatching Fowl’s | eggs, 80. Owen, J. H., Notes on Chiffchaffsin winter in Pembrokeshire, 300 ; Hen-Harrier in Essex, 301. Oyster-Catcher breeding in West Sussex, 318. PatMER, C., Note on early breeding of Cuckoo in Dorsetshire, 79. paludicola, Acrocephalus, see Warbler, Aquatic. palumbus, Columba p., see Pigeon, Wood-. Partridge, Red-legged, Breeding- habits of, 32, 62. _ parva, Muscicapa p., see Flycatcher, Red-breasted. Pasutey, H. N., Obituarial notice | of, 270. Paton, E. scarcity of 551s Dunlin, 82; Early nest of Tufted Duck in Ayrshire, 82. Pembrokeshire, North, some birds of, 231. pevegrinus, Falco p., see Falcon, Peregrine. RicHMOND, Notes on Yellow Wagtail, Nesting-season of the | Notes on PERSHOUSE, STANLEY, Note onearly | breeding of Cuckoo in Kirkcud- brightshire, 79; Letter on Song-Thrush and other birds imitating Wadeis, 88, 117. in co. Donegal, 303. Puitiies, Major G. W., and ARM- STRONG, Rev. E. A., Notes on the nesting of the Short-eared Owl in Yorkshire, 226. phenicurus, Phaenicurus p., see Redstart. pica, Pica p., see Magpie. Pigeon, Wood-, JRecovery of marked, 190; Flocking of, in early summer, 195; Gorged with potatoes, 318. Pintail, in Staffordshire, 241; in Glamorgan, 276. Pipit, Tree-, Time-period for nest and egg replacement, 217. platyrhyncha, Anas p., see Mallard. Plover, Grey, at a Cheshire Sewage Farm, 27; in the Isles of Scilly, 107; near Reading, 173. ——, Kentish, at a Cheshire Sewage Farm, 26. ——, Ringed, at Reading Sewage Barmy, 12s Pochard in N. Wales in June, 81. , Red-crested, nesting in the Camargue, go. Poock, SvypDNEY G., Letter on a practical method of recording bird calls, 88. porzana, Porzana, see Spotted. PoweELt, T. G., Note on interval between broods of double- brooded birds, 106. premium, Phylloscopus humet, see Warbler, Yellow-browed. pyratincola, Glaveola, see Pratincole. Pratincole in Morayshire, 116. PRING, C. J., Note on time-period for nest and egg replacement, 260. Puffins, Destruction of, by Greater Black-backed Gulls, 74. pufinus, Puffinus p., see Shearwater, Crake, Manx. pugnax, Philomachus, see Reeve ; also Ruff. pusilla, Emberiza, see Bunting, Little. 330 pygargus, Ciycus, see Harrier, Mon- tagu’s, 287. pyrvhocorax, Pyrvhocorax, see Chough. Quail, in the Isles of Scilly, 108; in Cambridgeshire, 113; Prob- able breeding in Norfolk, 292. querquedula, Anas, see Garganey. Rail, Land-, Status in Norfolk, 292. Raven, Time-period for nest and egg replacement, 140; in Hampshire, 172. vayt, Motacilla f., see Wagtail, Yellow. Redbreast, Study of, by means of marked birds, 97; Nesting in Woodpecker’s hole, 110; In- terval between double and treble broods, 139; Recovery of marked, 187 ; Covering eggs, 166; Albinistic, in Kent, 248 ; a study of by means of marked birds, 250; Abnormal egg measurements, 300. ——, Continental, on Holy Island, Northumberland, 20. Redpoll, Coues’s, on Fair Isle, 113. , Mealy, on Holy Island, Northumberland, 19; in Berkshire, 54. Redshank, at Reading Sewage Farm, 12; in the Isles of Scilly, 107. ——, Spotted, in Norfolk, 289; in Cheshire, 141; at Loch Elrig, Wigtownshire. 304. Redstart, Interval in broods of, 106; Breeding in Norfolk, 286. —, Black, on Holy Island, Northumberland, 19; Nesting in South England, 76; in Mid- lothian, 114; Inland in Kent, 193; in North Wales, 267. Reeve, in co. Down, 195 . vegulus, Regulus v., see Wren, Con- tinental Golden-crested. Reviews :— A Natural History IDWS Wok, INL, G2 The Literature of the Chara- driuformes from 1894-1924, of the 64. The Birds of the Isle of Man, 64. | The Bird as a Diver, 84. Ducks of Tring Reservoirs, 85. BRITISH BIRDS. Report of the Oxford Ornitho- logical Society on the Birds of Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire, 85. The Birds of Portugal, 86. Systema Avium Ethiopicarum, 118. The Biology of Birds, 119. Lakeland Ornithology, 175. British Waders, 199. The Fauna of British India, including Ceylon and Burma, 2nd ed., Vol. II., 200. The Borders and Beyond, 245. The Natural History of Sel- borne, 2406. British Sporting Birds, 246. Secrets of Bird Life, 247. Report on Scottish Ornitho- logy in 1923, including Migration, 303. yidibundus, Larus y., see Gull, Black-headed. : viparia, Riparia yr., see Martin, Sand-. RIvIERE, Dr. B. B., Obituarial notice of the Rev. Maurice C. H. Bird, 196; Ornithologi- cal Notes from Norfolk, 279; Note on the Demoiselle Crane in Norfolk, 83. Robin, see Redbreast. Ropinson, H. W., Notes on Water- Fowl on a Lancashire Moss, 25; Eider Duck in the Isles of Scilly, 58; on Glaucous Gulls in the Isles of Scilly, 61 ; Large clutches of Common Aberin (eyefeds) bay SSrenilllhyig, tee Lesser Black-backed Gull nesting in colony where hatched, 112; Little Owl in Wancashire, 20205) Kaot) aim summer plumage in October, 221; more Little Owls in North Lancashire, 267 ; Whim- brel about to lay in January, 269; Common Sandpiper and White Wagtail in January in Lancashire, 269; Letter on the normal clutch of Sand- wich Tern’s eggs, 144. Rook, Roosting habits, 114. Rowan, Pror. W., A_ practical method of recording Bird- calls, 14; On the effect of extreme cold on birds, 296. INDEX. 331 vubecula, Evithacus r., see Red- | sciypaceus, Acrocephalus s., see breast, Continental. Warbler, Reed-. vubetva, Saxicola y., see Whinchat. | ScoNE, THE Lorp, Notes on vufa, Alectoris, see Partridge, Red- legged. Ruff, at Reading Sewage Farm, 12 ; at a Cheshire Sewage Farm, are in Lancashire and Cheshire, 60; in the Isles of Scilly, 107; in West Cornwall, 167; in Orkney, 174; in Norfolk, 289. vufina, Netta, see Pochard, Red- crested. vufitergum, Gayvrulus g., see Jay. vustica, Hivundo ry., see Swallow. yusticola, Scolopax, see Woodcock. RUTTLEDGE, RoBERT F., Note on | tit CO. | Stock-Doves breeding Mayo, 111. SALMON, H. Morrey, see Ingram, (CAG Se SaLtmon, H. Morrey, and ACLAND, CLEMENCE M., The Grassholm Gannets in 1924—a _ great increase, 178. Sanderling, in the Isles of Scilly, NOW. Sandpiper, Common, at Reading Sewage Farm, 12; in the Isles of Scilly, 107; 174; in January in Lanca- shire, 269; in Kent, in winter, 303. ——, Curlew-, at Reading Sewage Farm, 12; at a Cheshire Sewage Farm, 27; near Reading, 174. ——, Green, at Reading Sewage Farm, 12; on Holy Island, Northumberland, 20; near Reading, 174. ——, Spotted, seen in West Corn- wall, 167. —, Wood-, on Holy Island, Northumberland, 20; at a Cheshire Sewage Farm, 27. sandvicensis, Sterna, s., see Tern, Sandwich. SAVAGE, Ikpy. 2. U4 Note: om unusual position for Willow Warbler’s nest, 75. schinzii, Calidvis a., see Dunlin, 83. schenobenus, Acrocephalus, Warbler, Sedge-. see near Reading, | | Shearwater, | ——, Manx, on servator, Hovering of the Dipper, 22; Large clutch of eggs of Song- Thrush, 219; Late nesting of Swallow in Perthshire, 244; Wood-Pigeon gorged with pota- toes, 318. Scoter, Common, inland in Somer- set, 267. ——, Velvet-, in West Cornwall, 166. | Setman, M. M., Note on Nightin- gale breeding in N.W. Somer- SGI ie Mergus, Red-breasted. Shag, nesting in a Raven’s nest, 167 ; Recovery of marked, 190. Destruction of, by Greater Black-backed Gulls on the Scilly Isles, 74. Holy Northumberland, 20. ——, Sooty, Record of, in Ireland, 302. SHIPTON, WILLIAM, Note on Be- wick’s Swans in Derbyshire, see Merganser, Island, Bug fe Se A. CAMERON, Letter on Song-Thrush imitating Waders and other birds, 144. Shoveler at Reading Sewage Farm, nes Shrike, Great Grey, on Holy Island, Northumberland, ro. | ——, Red-backed, on Holy Island, Northumberland, 19. sibilatrix, Phylloscopus s., see War- bler, Wood-. Skua, Great, in Norfolk, 292; cord of, in Ireland, 302. skua, Sterycovavius, see Skua, Great. Re- , Smew, in Surrey, 221; in Stafford- shire, 241; in London, 243, 268; in Glamorgan, 276; in Warwickshire. 317. SmitH, T., and MasEFIELD, JOHN R. B., Note on the distribution of Black Grouse in Great Brtaim, 227, SMITH, T. Lestie, Notes on Hybrid Crows in Forfarshire, 53; Tawny Owl hatching Fowl’s eggs, 80; Accuracy of flight of Cock Capercaillie, 174. 332 BRITISH Snipe, Common, Late nesting in | Kent, rir; Recovery of | marked, Igo. , Great, in Shetland, 117. Song Impulse, Effect of weather on the, 306. Sparrow, Hedge-, Marked, 188. ——, House-, Early nesting of in Suffolk, 266; in Lancashire, 318. Spoonbill, Early arrival of, 58; in Yorkshire, 115; in co. Kerry, Recovery of Lis Inox, “mao an Hampshire, 172; in Kent, 194; in Anglesey, 243; in Norfolk, 287. squatarola, Squatarola, see Plover, Grey. Starling, Imitating call of Redshank, 117; Notes of Willow-Warbler, 272; Notes of Willow-War- blers, Little Owl and Kestrel, 224; Recovery of marked, 186; Early nesting in West- morland, 318. stellavis, Botaurus s., see Bittern. Stint, Little, at Reading Sewage Barm, 312; at “a Cheshire Sewage Farm, 27. Stork, Black, in Norfolk, 287. , White, in Essex, 23. strepera, Anas, see Gadwall. subbuteo, Falco, see Hobby. svecica, Luscinia, see Bluethroat. Swallow, in the Isles of Scilly, 107 ; Recovery of marked, 189; Late nesting in Perthshire, 244. Swan, Bewick’s, in Cheshire, 24; in Glamorgan, 275; 1n Derby- shire, 317. Swift, Pied variety of, 166; covery of marked, 189 ; late do they stay out at night ?, 193; Late stay of, 219. ——, Alpine, in Devonshire, 114 ; in Wigtownshire, IT4. sylvatica, Strix a., see Owl, Tawny, 80. SyMeEs, JOSEPH H., Time-period for nest and egg replacement, 244 ; Note on abnormal egg of Carrion-Crow, 108. Re- tadoyna, Tadorna, see Duck, Sheld-. tarda, Otis, see Bustard, Great. How BIRDS. Taytor, L. E., Note on Chaffinch laying on the ground, 74. Teal, Recovery of marked, 261. Tern, Arctic, in the Isles of Scilly, 108. | == Bipckoin: Hampshire, 172; in _ THOMPSON, Surrey, 221; in Norfolk, 290. ——, Common, on the Scilly Isles, 73, 108; Large clutches of eggs of, 112; Recovery of marked, 190. Gull-billed, nesting in the , Camargue, 202; The maxi- mum clutch, 204. =—— Tittle, on Holy “Island Northumberland, 20. ——, Roseate, in the Isles of Scilly, 108; Breeding in Norfolk, AAS}. , Sandwich, The normal clutch of eggs of, 87, 118, 144 ; Breeding in Shetland, 143; Breeding in Suffolk, 174; Re- covery of marked, 190; Num- bers nesting in Norfolk, 290. TeERRAS, Miss Hitpa, Letter on Song-Thrush imitating call of Redshank, 118. testacea, Calidvis, see Sandpiper, Curlew. Tuomas, J. F., Note on variation in breeding-season of the Wheatear, IIo. G. W., Letter on Starlings imitating Willow- Warbler, Littl Owl and Kestrel, 224. Tuomson, A. LANDSBOROUGH, The migrations of the Herring-Gull and Lesser Black-backed Gulls —results of the marking method, 34; Note on marked Lapwing recovered in_ its twelfth year, 60. THORPE, W. H., Note on the roosting habits of the Tree- Creeper, 20. Thrush, Mistle-, nest and egg replacement, Time-period for, 180. , Song-, Nest of, used succes- sively by Song-Thrush and Blackbird for three years, 55 ; Imitating calls of Redshank, 62; of Waders, 88, I17, 144; of Green Woodpecker, 144; ot Nuthatch and _ Crossbill, INDEX. 333 224; Recovery of marked, |. viscLvorUus, Turdus v., see Thrush, 187; Large clutch of eggs of, Mistle-. 219; Abnormal egg-measure- | vulgaris, Stuynus, see Starling. ments, 300. thunbergi, Motacilla flava, see Wise: tail, Grey-headed. TIcEHURST, Dr. No Es Note on scarcity of Yellow Wagtail, 55. Tit, Blue, Nesting in Wren’s nest, 165. ——. Great, in the Isles of Scilly, 107; Imitating calls of other birds, 248. torquilla, Jynx t., see Wryneck. totanus, Tringa t., see Redshank. TOWNSEND, G., in Lancashire, 80. TRACY, N.,; nesting in Woodpecker’s hole, 110; Scarcity of Yellow Wag- tail, IL 11(0) § Woodpeckers and _ fir-cones, 111; On the time period for nest and egg replacement, 217 ; Great Spotted Woodpeckers’ method of excavating nest- hole, 219; Letter on Song- Thrushes imitating other birds, 224. tridactyla, Rissa, see Kittiwake. tyistis, Phylloscopus c., see Chiff- chaff, Siberian. trivialis, Anthus t., see Pipit, Tree-. tvochilus, Phylloscopus t., see Warbler, Willow-. TROUBRIDGE, SIR THomAS H. C., Note on Spoonbill, Black Tern and Ravens in Hampshire, 172. Tucker, B. W., Note on Common Scoter inland in Somerset, 267; on Black-necked Grebe in Somerset, 268. Tucker, B. W., see Blathwayt, Revs ie. TURNBULL, H. M., see Ba G. Turnstone on the Scilly Isles, 73, 107. turtur, Streptopelia, see Dove, Turtle-. Baker, urvbica, Delichon, see Martin, House-. Note on Little Owl Notes on KRedbreast | Greater-spotted | wvogallus, Tetvao u., see Caper- | cailzie. vanellus, Vanellus, see Lapwing. vidalii, Athene n., see Owl, Little. virgo, Anthropoides, see Crane, Demoiselle. Wagtail, Blue-headed, on Fair Isle, 113; Nesting in West Corn- wall, 164. ——, Grey, at the Reading Sewage Farm, 12; Status in Kent, 55; Nesting in a tree, 75; in the Isles of Scilly, 106; Breeding in Norfolk, 285. ——, Grey-headed, on Holy Island, Northumberland, 19. ——, Pied, Two hens sharing same nest, 54; in the Isles of Scilly, 106; Recovery of marked, 187. ——, White, on Holy Island, Northumberland, 19; at a Cheshire Sewage Farm, 28 ; in the Isles of Scilly, 166; in Norfolk, 114; in January in Lancashire, 269. —, Yellow, on Holy Island, Northumberland, 19 ; Scarcity of, 55, I10, 140. Wattis, H. M., Note on Birds. on the Islands of Scilly, 73. WALPOLE-BonpD, JOHN, Letter con- cerning the incubation of Greenshank and description of the nestling Chough, 272. Warbler, Aquatic, in Norfolk, 286. , Grasshopper-, on Fair Isle, Tse ——, Marsh-, in London, 242. ——., Reed-, on a Lancashire moss, 58. 2 ——, Sedge-, in the Isles of Scilly, 107. ——, Subalpine, at Isle of May, 302. ——, Willow-, Unusual position for MeESt, 75. -, Northern, on Holy Island, Northumberland, 109 ; in Norfolk, 286. , Wood-, Breeding in Norfolk, 286 ; Recovery of marked, 187. ——, Yellow-browed, on Holy Island, Northumberland, 19; on Fair Isle, 113. Watson, W. G., Notes from Holy Island, Northumberland, 19. Waxwing on Holy Island, Northum- betland, 19; in Norfolk, 2 334. Weather, Influence of, upon number of eggs in a clutch, 170. and Song Impulse, 300. Wheatear, at the Reading Sewage Farm, 12 Variation in breeding-season, 110; °#Re- covery of marked, 187. Whimbrel, in the Isles of Scilly, 108; in Staffordshire, 242; about to lay in January, 269 ; Winter status of, 320. Whinchat, in the Isles of Scilly, 107. WuitE, W. WaLMESLEy, Note on early breeding of Cuckoo in Devonshire, 57. Whitethroat, Lesser, in Wales, 266. —, Siberian, Lesser, on Fair Isle, Tae WiLtan, R. G., Note on Rough- legged Buzzard in Norfolk, 318. WILLFORD, ALBERT H., The effect of hot sun on young birds, 293. Witson, A. H. R., Note on late nesting of Woodcock, 142. WITHERBY, H. F., Obituarial notice of W. R. Ogilvie-Grant, 104; The “ British Birds” Marking Scheme,—Progress for 1924, 260. en yi CU ©) Go WwW ™~ &| $= = 6 iar € =~, BRITISH BIRDS. Woop, W., Notes on large clutch of Linnet’s eggs, 74; on Black Redstart inland in Kent, 193. Woodcock, Spread and distribution as a breeding bird in Scotland, 116; Nest and egg replace- ment, time-period for, 139; Late nesting, in Perthshire, 142; in Dumfriesshire, 142. Woodpecker, Greater Spotted, and fir-cones, 111; Method of excavating nest-hole, 219. , Lesser Spotted, and Wryneck nesting in the same tree, 316. WorkKMAN, W. H., Notes on Reeve in co. Down, 195; Spotted Crake in co. Louth, 196. Wren, Fire-crested, on Holy Island, Northumberland, 19. ——., Golden-crested. on the Scilly Isles, 73, 107. 5 , Continental, on Holy Island, Northumberland, 1g. Wryneck, in Devon, 56. and Lesser Spotted Wood- pecker nesting in the same RAS, 33 11()- yarrellui, Motacilla a., see Wagtail, Pied. “STEVENS’S AUCTION ROOMS, LTD. ESTD. 1760. 38, King Street, Covent Garden, London, W.C.2. Periodical Sales are held at the above Rooms, of NATURAL HISTORY SPECIMENS, including -BIRDS and BIRDS EGGS, CABINETS, etc. Also BOOKS relating to Natural History. Catalogues of sales posted on application. WHELDON & WESLEY, LTD. have in stock nearly all the books and journals required by ornithologists. The collection of old and rare works is one of the largest inthe country. New books and journals supplied to order. Books not in stock sought for. Just issued: Zoological Catalogue, Part I, Vertebrata; Part II, Faunas. Bookbinding in all its branches undertaken. 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A, TG eet ¥ * 5 . . 4 4 , 4 a Od atqt iret unt