ZS IX BRITBnBI KD3 With which was Incorporated in January, 1917, “ The Zoologist.” AN ILLUSTRATED MAGAZINE DEVOTED )H1EFLY TO THE BIRDS ON THE BRITISH LIST EDITED BY H. F. WITHERBY m.b.e. f.z.s. m.b.o.u. h.f.a.o.u. ASSISTED BY NORMAN F. TICEHURST o.b.e. m.a. f.r.c.s. m.b.o.u. AND BERNARD W. TUCKER m.a. f.z.s. m.b.o.u. Volume XXXI V JUNE 1940— MAY 1941 H. F. & G. WITHERBY Ltd. 326 HIGH HOLBORN LONDON LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. Plate i. White-tailed Eagle. The female lands on the nest with empty claws ( Photographed by C. Mallabey) ... ... ... ...facing White-tailed Eagle. The female brings food to the young ( Photographed by C. Mallabey) W'hite-tailed Eagle. General view of nest and site ( Photographed by C. Mallabey) ... White-tailed Eagle. The female tears up food for the young ( Photographed by C. Mallabey) Map of Sula Sgeir showing area occupied by Leach’s Fork-tailed Petrel ( Drawn by R. Atkinson and J. A. Ainslie) Map of Eilean Mor of the Flannan Isles showing positions of colonies of Leach’s Fork- tailed Petrel ( Drawn by R. Atkinson and J. A. Ainslie) Tree-Creeper awake in roosting hole ( Photo- graphed by M. N. and D. H. Rankin) 1 Soal-Tit roosting in a hole ( Photographed by M. N. and D. H. Rankin) Map showing rate of spread of the Wood- Warbler over Europe during the spring ( Drawn by H. N. Southern) ... \dult breeding Sandwich Terns showing various stages of moult of the head ( Photographed by G. Marples and Capt. P. R. Foulkes- Roberts) Bittern at the Nest. Norfolk, April, 1940 [Photographed by G. K. Yeates) i Ice-formation on a rose-bush, Marlborough (Wilts), January 29TH, 1940 [Photographed by Rev. R. H. Lane) PAGE 4 5 7 9 51 52 57 59 77 92 99 119 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. Ice-formation on larch trees, near Aberystwyth (Cardigan), January 30TH, 1940 ( Photo- graphed by W. A. Cadman) Ice-formation on an oak tree, Sheriffs Lench, Evesham, January 28th, 1940 ( Photographed by A. J. Harthan) Scottish Crested Tit about to feed young ( Photo- graphed by Stuart Smith) Scottish Crested Tit. A typical nesting site (. Photographed by Stuart Smith) Scottish Crested Tit to show food taken to young ( Photographed by Stuart Smith) PAGE 120 121 167 168 170 7 JUN 194-0 PURCHASE BRITISH BIRDS ArwasrpeoromsOTE DEWraKMIEnyTOTnE-BIRDS ^CWTltDDKnSnBSI^* MONTHEV 1s94. YEARLY 20-i 526H»ttaOlBOR«2MDOr+ ftF& GW HEFJ5Y UT> 4 ❖ I ❖ 4 4 ❖ 4 ❖ ❖ 4 ❖ 4 ❖ 4 ❖ * The Fourth Volume of THE HANDBOOK OF BRITISH BIRDS will be published in lune. The exact date will be a?mounced later. The Publishers regret that the publication of this volume has been much delayed by various unavoidable circumstances. ❖ 4 ❖ 4 ❖ 4 ❖ 4 ❖ 4 ❖ 4 ❖ 4 ❖ 4 ❖ 4 ❖ 4 ❖ 4 4 ♦> FOR SALE Collection of the late Percy F. Bunyard, Esq., M.B.O.U. BOOKS. “ Natural History of the British Surface Feeding Ducks,” by Millais. No. 567 in the limited edition of 600 copies. “ British Diving Ducks,” by Millais. 2 vols. No. 400 in the limited edition of 500 copies. ” Die Eier der Europaeischen Voegel,” by Baedeker. 2 vols. ” British Birds with their Nests and Eggs,” by Frohawk. 6 vols. ” Illustrations of British Birds and their Eggs.” 7 vols. By H. L. Meyer. EGGS. The unique series of Cuckoo clutches, covering a very wide range of species— remarkable variety — about 300 sets, together with clutches of Cuckoo’s eggs: — all eggs from one bird in each clutch C/5, C/6, C/15, C/16, C/8. As a whole or in selected series. Several very fine sets Peregrine, 4/4 Iceland Falcon and 4/4 Green- shank — splendid varieties, with full data. Write : Executors, 57, Kidderminster Road, Croydon. / JUIN BRITBMCIWB With which was Incorporated in January, 1917, “The Zoologist.' EDITED BY H.F.WITHERBY,M.B.E.,F.Z.S.,M.B.O.U.,H.F.A.O.U. ASSISTED BY Norman F. Ticehurst, o.b.e., m.a., f.r.c.s., m.b.o.u., and Bernard W. Tucker, m.a., f.z.s., m.b.o.u. Contents of Number i, Vol. XXXIV., June i, 1940. , PAGE Mr. B. W. Tucker ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 1 Alterations to the British List. By H. F. Witherby ... ... 2 Notes on the Habits and Distribution of the White-tailed Eagle in N.W. Iceland, 1939. By E. L. Arnold and P. I. R. Maclaren 4 A Note on Song and the Breeding Cycle. By Maurice Colquhoun 12 Obituary : Commander R. R. Graham, D.S.O., R.N. ... ... 15 Notes : — War Restrictions ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 16 Birds at Altrincham Sewage Farm, 1939. (A. W. Boyd) ... 16 Lesser Grey Shrike in Hertfordshire (C. Oldham) ... ... 17 Little Owl preying on Birds (A. W. Boyd) ... ... ... 18 Purple Heron in Sussex (Dr. J. M. Harrison) ... ... 18 “ Up-ending ” in the Common Eider (J. F. Graham)... ... 18 Common Eider breeding in Sligo (W. B. Alexander) ... ... 19 Manx Shearwater breeding in Co. Down (C. Douglas Deane) 19 Colonial breeding of Great Crested Grebe in Estonia and Switzerland (Lt.-Col. R. F. Meiklejohn) ... ... ... 20 Common Crane in Rutland (H. G. Bolam) ... ... ... 20 Moorhen’s Actions under Water (Dr. C. B. Ticehurst, R. C. Faris) ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 20 Short Notes : — - Sparrow-Hawk preying on Kestrel. Spoonbill in Dorsetshire. Four Young Wood-Pigeons in One Nest. Black-headed Gulls incubating for 75 days. Little Gulls in Kent and Surrey 21 Reviews : — - The Status and Distribution of Wild Geese and Wild Duck in Scotland. By John Berry ... ... ... ... ... 22 Bird Reserves. By E. C. Arnold ... ... ... ... 23 Mr. B. W. TUCKER. It is with great pleasure that I have to announce that Mr. B. W. Tucker has agreed to assist in conducting this Magazine. Mr. Tucker is well known personally to many ornithologists and more widely to all who are acquainted with The Handbook of British Birds to which he has made such notable contribu- tions, and we feel sure that our readers will welcome his advent to our staff. H.F.W. A (2) ALTERATIONS TO THE BRITISH LIST. BY H. F. WITHERBY. In Volume IV of The Handbook of British Birds, which is nearly ready for publication, a considerable number of changes in the classification and nomenclature of the waders has been adopted. Reasons for these changes are fully given in the volume itself and it does not seem necessary to repeat them in detail here. The chief cause of our having made these changes has been that after a close study of the important original researches on the structure and osteology of these birds by Dr. P. R. Lowe (Ibis, 1931, pp. 491-534 and 712-771) we have come to the decision that in the main the conclusions reached by Dr. Lowe as a consequence of these researches, must be adopted. The more important of these are the recognition of the cranes and bustards as a sub-order (Grues) of the great order of waders (Charadriiformes), the re-grouping of the typical waders (sub-order Limicolae) and especially the changes made in certain forms which Dr. Lowe shows to have definite scolopacine characters rather than charadriine as we had formerly considered, and the splitting up by virtue of osteological differences of the genus Charadrius, which as constituted in the Practical Handbook and Hartert’s Die Vogel der paldarktischen Fauna is admittedly unsatisfactory. The changes made affect the order in which the birds appear and their grouping under families and genera. The actual changes of names are as follows and the names now adopted will be used in this Magazine in future : Name now adopted. The Dotterel Eudromias morinellus (L.) The Caspian Plover Eupoda asiatica asiatica (Pall.) The Kentish Plover Leucopolius alexandrinus alexandrinus (L.) The Killdeer Plover Oxyechus vociferus vociferus (L.) The Southern Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria apricaria (L.) Name formerly used. Charadrius morinellus L. Charadrius asiaticus asiaticus Pall. C haradrius alexa nd rinus alexandrinus L. Charadrius vociferus L. Charadrius apricarius apricarius L. VOL. XXXIV.] ALTERATIONS TO BRITISH LIST. 3 The Northern Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria altifrons (Brehm) The American Golden Plover Pluvialis dominica dominica (Mull.) The Asiatic Golden Plover Pluvialis dominica fulva (Gm.) Charadrius apricarius altifrons Brehm Charadrius dominions dominions Mull. Charadrius dominions fidvus Gm. (The above are divided into different genera as a consequence of Dr. P. R. Lowe’s researches.) The Semi-palmated Sandpiper Calidris pusilla (L.) Ereunetes pnsillus pnsillus( L.) (We do not consider that the webbing between the toes in this bird provides any good reason for its being separated from the genus Calidris.) The Terek Sandpiper Xenus cinereus (Giild.) Terekia cinerea (G.) (This change is consequent on our opinion that Xenus should not be rejected as we had hitherto done on account of an earlier Xenos.) The Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos (L.) Tringa hypoleucos L. The Spotted Sandpiper Actitis macularia (L.) Tringa macular ia L. (One of our main reasons for placing these in another genus is on account of the totally different pattern of the nestlings compared with other species of Tringa.) The Grey-rumped Sandpiper Heteroscelus incanus brevipes Tringa incana brevipes (Vieill.) (Vieill.) (This bird we consider sufficiently distinct, both in adult and nestling, to be placed in another genus.) (4) NOTES ON THE HABITS AND DISTRIBUTION OF THE WHITE-TAILED EAGLE IN N.W. ICELAND, 1939. BY E. L. ARNOLD and P. I. R. MACLAREN. (Plate i.) The main object of our party of four, which spent two months of 1939 in N.W. Iceland, was to photograph the White-tailed Eagle ( Haliceetus albicilla ) and study the distribution of this bird. Unfortunately we could not reach Iceland before the end of June, and so no accurate observa- tions of incubation and fledging-periods could be made. Thus notes on types of nest, food, and general behaviour of adults and young form the basis of this article. No place-names are mentioned, but a map showing where all birds were seen has been deposited at the Scott Polar Research Institute, Cambridge. An easily accessible nest, referred to as A, was found on July 3rd, soon after our arrival in the north-west. The photographs and most of the detailed observations were taken here, from a sacking hide covered with stones and plants. It was erected on a rock pinnacle about thirty-five feet from the nest, which was a mere cup in another grassy pinnacle. Some of the photographs obtained after three weeks hide-work have been published in The Times, January 20th, 1940, and in Animal and Zoo Magazine, November, 1939, PP- 8-11. The proprietors of The Times have kindly given permission for two of their photographs to be included in this article. Later the two authors separated, and between us we covered the west coast from IsafjarSardjup to Reykjavik. The result of our search was as follows : — Numbers. Occupied nests With two young WTith one young Nests with fresh feathers, but no eggs or young Pairs seen, apparently not breeding Pairs reliably reported, but not seen Immature birds seen No. in each No. of birds category. seen. 9 18 adults 2 4 young 7 7 young 2 4 adults 2 4 adults (7) (14 adults) 2 2 immature Total seen : 26 adults, 2 immature, 11 young. Reported : at least 14 other adults. A few pairs and certainly some immature birds may have been missed in the areas searched, but as far as can be British Birds, Vol. XXXIV., PI. i White-tailed Eagle The female lands on the nest with empty claws. The smaller young one has died. (. Photographed by C. Mallabey. Copyright The Times.) vol. xxxiv ] HABITS OF WHITE -TAILED EAGLE. ascertained, only one doubtful breeding pair and a proportion of the immature birds are to be found in other parts of the island. In 1920 Nielsen (1921) enlisted the help of the parish- governors (Icel. Hreppstjorar) to carry out a thorough survey White-tailed Eagle The female brings food to the young, which at this stage show a marked difference in size. ( Photographed by C. Mallabey.) of surviving birds. He thought then that there were eighteen, and he knew of three pairs breeding. He later (1923) wrote of four other pairs nesting in 1920. Further reports of his (1926, 1927 and 1930) show that from 1925 to 1929 the number of known breeding pairs rose from three to six. Saemundsson (1936) knew of at least eight nests in 1934, all in districts where we found breeding birds in 1939. He also mentions one certain and one doubtful nest in the south. One of these belonged to the doubtful exception mentioned above. Nests. Of the eleven we found, six were on grassy knobs, and five in small caverns, with suitable look-out and dozing perches near by. Nearly all were 800 feet or more above sea-level, situated in the steep wall above the sloping scree, which is the most common cliff formation on the west coast. It was always possible to approach the eyries, but only in two cases were the actual nests easily accessible. Of these, one 6 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XXXIV. was at A, and the other an unusual site on a small cliff- promontory sixty feet above the sea. In the cavern sites especially, some sticks were present, but everywhere the supply was strictly limited. Some grassy sites had none. Seven of the nests were at the heads of valleys, and four along the sides of fjords. We heard on two occasions of former nests on small islands. Usually some distance separated the nests ; the two nearest were in adjoining fjords, about four and a half miles apart in a direct line. In another part we found three nests and a fourth pair within a radius of seven miles. At least six nests were in full sight of inhabited farms, and three were less than a mile distant. Young. It seems that two eggs are generally laid. Three are not unusual, and Kriiper (1853) quotes one instance of four. Of the nine nests we found containing young, in two cases two survived, and in seven only one. Banzhaf (1937) states that of forty-seven nests known to him in Germany over a period of years, thirty-three had two young, thirteen had one, and one had three. The habit of commencing incubation with the first egg (Siewert, 1928) would seem to be general. This would explain how one young has an initial advantage, which frequently leads to its surviving the other. At nest A, on July 3rd, there seemed to be little difference in the size of the young birds. Both were twenty inches in length, and covered with greyish down through which the dark feathers were just beginning to appear. They were at least twenty- four days old. The slightly larger one developed very quickly, while the other remained in much the same state. Violent fights occurred whenever the smaller bird tried to get hold of any food left in the nest. On one occasion the larger attacked for fifteen minutes. When the adult was on the nest tearing up the food (later she left the young to do this), the smaller received very little, owing to its being intimidated by the larger. At night, however, the two lay side by side in the nest-hollow. The female, and sometimes the male, parent, dozed on a nearby rock ; they never attempted to brood the young at night, though, of course, by the time regular observations began the young were more than four weeks old, and also during that period it was not cold. Eventually the smaller chick died. During the day, in the absence of the female, the young lay asleep, or idly preened themselves, or else toyed with scraps of food. In order to excrete they tottered a few steps backwards (at first they just lifted their hind parts without getting up ; later they used to rest on their wings in order to steady themselves) and squirted a jet of liquid over the vol. xxxiv ] HABITS OF WHITE-TAILED EAGLE. 7 edge of the pinnacle. Thus, as they became more proficient they avoided fouling the nest at all. A slight squeaking, especially at night, heralded this activity, which took place fairly regularly. On one night, when a close watch was kept, it occurred at intervals of from thirty to a hundred and View of the hide and nest in the steep valley-side eight hundred feet above the river. The hide is to the left of the figure, and nest is in the bottom left-hand corner. (. Photographed by C. Mallabey. Copvight The Times.) twenty minutes. One nest in a small cavern had a ring of “ white-wash ” round the inside, showing that there is no behaviour-mechanism for excretion to take place towards the opening. The movements of the adults were watched with interest by the chicks, and their approach greeted with continuous shrill squeakings. , The chicks squawked less BRITISH BIRDS. 8 [VOL. XXXIV. insistently when merely hungry, or, as mentioned, when about to excrete. Faber (1822) gives the incubation-period as thirty-five days, and Banzhaf (1937) as thirty-five to forty-five. In 1937 Vesey (1938) found two young just hatched on June 4th, at what appears to be the same site as A, where in 1939 we calculated that the young hatched a few days after this. Hantzsch (1905) says that the eggs are laid the last week in April ; if this were so it would make the period for this nest about thirty-five to forty days. The same author gives fifty days for the fledging-period, and Banzhaf (1937) ten weeks before flying. Two other nests we found in the first week of August, each containing two young about ready to fly. If hatched in the first week in June, the fledging period would have been sixty-five to seventy days. These young ready to fly were very dark all over ; the bill was greyish, except for the base, which was yellow. Immature Birds. It is noteworthy that we saw so few immature Eagles. Since they are not believed to breed until five or six years old (Siewert, 1928), there must be a number of non-breeding birds reared in recent years corresponding to the eleven which flew in 1939. In winter the old birds disperse from their summer haunts, and are to be found in parts of the island where they do not breed. The young are great autumnal wanderers (Coward, 1920), and also, in summer, may tend to visit inland lochs. Vesey (1938) reported two immature birds which he saw several times in such sites. It is worth noting that of all those which Gatke (1900) reported on Heligoland, two only were adults. In Germany the young tend to remain in the vicinity of the nest for at least six weeks after leaving it (Banzhaf, 1937). However, we did see an immature Eagle in a fjord which held a breeding pair. The mortality of these birds may be high. Banzhaf (1937) tells of three immature Eagles being found choked by fish, and of two drowned through grasping fish too heavy for them to lift. Adults. Usually one or both the adults flew out on our approach to a nest. They would swoop to and fro while we were near it, usually not coming closer than fifty feet, and all the time uttering their shrill barking note. In every pair we saw, the female was larger, the difference lying mostly in the breadth of wing. The two at A, which were observed more closely than the others, differed in their colouring. The head and shoulders of the female were greyish-white, with pale streaks passing down into the dark plumage of the upper part of the breast and back. The male was more golden brown, and the vol. xxxiv ] HABITS OF WHITE-TAILED EAGLE. 9 pale colouring on his head and neck did not extend so far down. Though Schuster (1935) describes him as sharing incubation, we never saw the male on the nest. He brought food, however, which was shared with the female on their look-out perch ; White-tailed Eagle The female tears up food for the young. (. Photographed by C. Mallabey.) she then carried it to the nest, and sometimes, especially as the young grew up, just dropped it and flew off again. While the chicks were small, she would tear up the food and give portions of it to whichever young happened to be nearer ; the larger of the two always got more than his fair share. Display-flight was only noticed at one nest, which con- tained a well-grown nestling. The male closely followed the female as she circled round carrying food, and once a mock pass was seen. Four times the female landed on the nest, once with the male hovering close overhead, but each time as she left she was seen to be carrying the same food. Later the male also was observed with food, but since he continuously followed the female, the two frequently rolling over together, he was obviously interested in what she carried. The Eagles were mobbed when flying or perching by a variety of species : Ravens ( Corvus corax islandicus), Arctic Terns (Sterna macrura), Arctic Skyas ( Ster cor arms parasiticus) , 10 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XXXIV. and Glaucous Gulls ( Lams hyperboreus). However, the only birds of which they really took any notice were Iceland Falcons ( Falco r. islandicus ). The vigorous assaults of either one or a pair of these, which we witnessed several times, forced the Eagles to roll right over in the air and present their feet to the stooping falcons. Both species would scream loudly during such encounters. Food. Castings from four nests were obtained. When fresh, they are wet and slimy, about three and a half inches long and one inch in diameter. Beyond the beaks of Puffins (Fratercula arctica) they have been found to contain little identifiable matter. Many hard dried skins of lumpfish ( Cyclopterus lumpus ) were in and around the nests. Softer fish were brought to A, but were often eaten up before the observer could be let out of the hide in order to climb into the nest. As no remains were left, they were not in evidence at other nests. Fish constituted numerically about a third of the items of food brought to A, which was a valley-nest two miles from the fjord-head. The only species identified was a ten-inch sea-trout ( Salmo trutta). Puffins were the commonest birds fed to the young at A. The male brought them to the female already plucked, and generally beheaded. Ptarmigan (Lagopus m. islandorum), Red-breasted Mergansers ( Mergus senator), Eider (Somateria mollissima) and Glaucous Gulls were also found, as well as what have been identified by the British Museum (Natural History) as Razorbill ( Alca tor da) and possibly Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo). Wool and one leg from lambs were found in two nests. We heard often of Eagles which had been seen carrying lambs, but never actually killing them. There are many records of its former destructiveness among lambs in Scotland, but in Iceland this species apparently takes a larger percentage of dead lambs. Only one Eagle was satisfactorily watched in the act of trying to catch food. It perched on rocks uncovered by the tide, and several times flapped out low over the water, dropping its feet near swimming birds : Red-breasted Mergansers, Eiders, and Mallards (Anas platyrhyncha). No capture was observed. Wendland (1937) describes how “ water-fowl ” when hunted by an Eagle flock together on the lake, and thus foil its attempts to separate and tire out a particular bird. Protection. The farmers generally knew of old-established eyries, but were less observant at spotting new sites. Although they do shoot a few, they are on the whole proud of their vol. xxxiv.] HABITS OF WHITE-TAILED EAGLE. 11 Eagles. The species was protected for five years from 1913, md for twenty years from 1919 (Nielsen, 1921). The two :rimes held against them are the lamb-stealing and the 'Scaring of nesting Eiders. For when they fly over Eider colonies, the ducks rush on to the sea without covering their 1 which may consequently be chilled. Hantzsch (1905) -suggested that the decrease of the Eagle was mainly due to ■shooting and to the fact that they ate poison intended for At the discretion of sheriffs (Icel. Sysla-madur) )oison may be put out as a means of destroying Great Black- : lacked Gulls (Lams marinas), and Eagles are very likely to ake such bait. This is now permitted in only one administra- i\ e district (Icel. Sysla). In recent years several young have °een taken from the eyries and sold to dealers in Reykjavik. This habit, if not checked, might cause a serious depletion n the numbers of the Eagles. Acknowledgments are due for the kind assistance and xpert advice given by Mr. Brian Roberts in England, and defan otefansson, Magnus Bjornsson, Tryggvi Joakimsson nd many others in Iceland, without whom we could ave accomplished little. References. Banzhaf, W. (1937) ■ Naturdenkmaler aus Pommerns Vogelwelt Der Seeadier. Dohrniana, Stettin, XVI, pp. 3-41. Coward, 1. A. (1920). The Birds of the British Isles, I, pp. 320-322. Faber, F. (1822). Prodromus der isldndischen Ornithologie, oder eschichte der Vogel Islands, Copenhagen, pp. 1-2. Gatke, H. (1900). Die V ogelwarte Helgoland, p. 188. Hachisuka, Masa U. (1927). A Handbook of the Birds of Iceland P- 42-43- Hantzsch, Bernhard (1905). Beitrag zur Kenntnis der Vogelwelt elands, Berlin, pp. 276-278. Hoffmann, G. (1907). Beobachtungen an Westpriissischen Fischad- :rn. Ber. Ver. Schles. Orn., XXII, pp. 66-71. Kriiper, Th. (1853). Die Adler Pommerns. Naumannia 1833 p. 39-46. Lapenthin, Bernt. (1934). Brutvogel von IsafjarSarsysla (Nord- estislands) . Proc. 8th lyiteyyiat . Oynith. Coyigyess , pp. 3 12-321. Nielsen, P. (1921). Havarnens ( Haliaetus albi’cilla ) Udbredelse Paa land. Dansk Ormthologisk Forenings Tidsskrift, XV, pp. 69-83 • (1923) VI1; pPvI3°; (i926), XX, pp. 149-152 ; (1927), XXI, pp.’ 82-86 \ 930), XXIV, pp. 123-124. Saemundsson, Bjarni (1936). Fuglarnir ( Aves I slandiae) . Reykjavik. Schuster, Ludwig (1935). Am Horst des Seeadlers. Beitrdge zur ovtpflanzungsbiologie der Vogel, XI, pp. 23-27. Horst. (1928). Der Seeadier. Journal fiir Ornithologie, XXVI, pp. 204-214. 0 Slater, Henry H. (1901). Manual of Birds of Iceland, pp. 28-29. Vesey, A. H. (pseud. Lewis, Ernest) (1938). In Search of the Gyr- Icon. An Account of a Trip to North-West Iceland, pp. 90-96, 180-183. Wendland, Victor (1937)- Beobachtungen iiber den Seeadier. ntrage zur Fortpflanzungsbiologie der Vogel, XIII pp 173-182 4-227. , * (12) A NOTE ON SONG AND THE BREEDING CYCLE. BY MAURICE COLQUHOUN. In an interim report on the British Trust for Ornithology’s inquiry into the song-periods of certain species it was suggested that some males never sing. Though some individuals seem to sing rarely or not at all, to confirm this it is necessary to listen in the bird’s territory for an hour before dawn till one to two hours after sunset. Song-periods in the breeding- season should be considered in conjunction with the male’s breeding activities, especially if relative song-periods of species are studied, for not only may the period be prolonged by records obtained entirely from unmated males, or from those who have failed to complete or begin the cycle, but also the song-persistency of unmated or unsuccessful males may vary from species to species. The purpose of this note is to draw attention to these points by giving some data on Song-Thrush ( Turdus e. ericetorum) and Blackbird (T urdus m. merula ) obtained in a Berkshire mixed hazel copse during the course of other work. Actually these species are not the simplest of subjects as, lacking a strict territorial sense (especially the Blackbird) they are difficult to sort out and identify as individuals in a dense copse colony, and further inquiries into their song- persistency would be better undertaken on scattered birds rather than on a compact colony. The territories were visited almost daily (visits averaged five a week) and a record made whether each individual was singing or not. Obviously this should be done at approximately the same hour each day, and the present counts were recorded between 6.30 and 8.30 a.m. ; the period over which a male could have been recorded singing, if it had done so, was about half an hour, although this was not timed (as it might well be). Nests once found were “ fixed ” by discovering a date (such as hatching or fledging) from which the cycle could be calculated, a period of 14 days being allowed for both incubating and fledging periods in each species. Observa- tions were begun on March 1st, 1939. The number of days on which the male was noted singing is tabulated against the activity of the pair. Counts are included up to the end of June, except for T2, who was recorded singing 7 times between the second fledging and the end of the month, and T5 who was recorded singing once. The term “ no nest(s) found ” indicates that considerable trouble was taken in looking for nests ; but it is admittedly negative evidence. The maximum number of times that vol. xxxiv. 1 SONG AND BREEDING CYCLE. 13 00 CQ m q u~i £ m 5 w pq m pq H vO H a P pq m < a H « • u~) “ H £ -*• H H I a I H m H H o o o o punoj }.S9u ojs[ o o o o O M T3 > punoj sjsau ox UA\OU5t JOX o o o o UAVOUrj JOX punoj sjsau ox o o o o o o CO I I Si. O O O O O O o o o o Iz n (N co < — z — > 1 < Sz > | Aioiuiz) }j9q; T3 0) > bx) g ’So c o £ bJD a bo a bo d bo rt C be ’5L ^ ^ pq ^ poojg pU099$ CO CO ON 00 VO VO ”'3" c/) kO d T3 O H Table. — Number of Days Individual Song-Thrushes and Blackbirds recorded Singing during Reproductive Cycle, from March ist to June 30th, 1939. Heavy horizontal line indicates that nest was robbed. 14 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XXXIV. song could have been recorded was 85. The Song-Thrushes averaged about one quarter of this possible figure ; the Blackbirds, of course, began to sing later in the season. Ti is interesting because he had roosted in the same position throughout the previous winter, among a small colony of Blackbirds which had been under steady observation each evening ( antea , Vol. XXXIII, pp. 44-47). He first began to sing in the roost, at dusk, on January 21st, having uttered one or two notes the previous evening. It was not until April 13th that a possible female was suspected, but it was never confirmed that he mated ; this was the only Song- Thrush known to ha.ve wintered in the copse, the first to start singing in the year and thereafter the most persistent, yet reproductively he appears to have been a failure. T3 and T4 were both late nesters, and possibly late in mating. The two broods of T7 overlapped by 3 days. The first Blackbird to begin singing was B7, on March 14th, followed by B2 on April 4th, and B4 on April 28th. Bi, B5 and B8 were never heard singing at all during the recording period ; I have no doubt that they sang at dawn, but I was not there. B7, however, was known to sing each morning early, before the recording period, and very fre- quently in the mid-morning, usually for an hour at a stretch ; in the early afternoon he sang occasionally, and most evenings, finishing before the Song-Thrushes had reached their full chorus. B8 (ringed) was seen feeding the young on the fifteenth day out of the nest ; subsequently the pair may have left the territory. Though the records are insufficient to draw any conclusion, reference must be made to the observation which suggests itself in the field, that males which are biologically most efficient, because of that efficiency are relatively silent. Thus, especially, when a male is holding an isolated territory and has a mate, the epigamic and territorial stimuli for song are so slight that he may rarelv sing during the hours of full daylight. I thank Averil Morley for her help and correction of proofs in my absence abroad. (15) OBITUARY. COMMANDER R. R. GRAHAM, D.S.O., R.N. It was with great regret that we learnt of the death of Commander R. R. Graham, who was killed in action on May 3rd, 1940, when serving in the French destroyer Bison off the Norwegian coast. Robert Rule Graham was the second son of Mr. James Graham, C.B.E. He joined the Navy from Charterhouse in 1918. Following service in the Aircraft-carrier Eagle, he qualified as air-pilot in 1924 and for the next ten years served with units of the Fleet Air Arm in home waters, the Mediter- ranean and China. He was promoted to commander in December, 1934, and continued to command squadrons in the Fleet Air Arm until 1936 when he was appointed to the Naval Air Division. In 1937 he was lent to the Air Ministry for duty in the Department of Research and Development. In February, 1939, he was appointed to the Exeter and was awarded the D.S.O. for his services in action in the battle with the Graf Spee. In 1930 Graham contributed to this journal a highly interesting series of articles on “ Safety Devices in Wings of Birds ” ( antea , Vol. XXIV, pp. 2-21, 34-47, 58-65). Sub- sequently he made further studies of the subject, the results of which were published in aeronautical journals, and his researches led to some development of the safety devices in aeroplanes. Ornithologists will deplore the death of such an authority on the flight of birds and the Navy has lost an exceedingly keen and very able officer, and one whom a fellow officer in the Exeter has described as “ magnificent in action.” WAR RESTRICTIONS. In common with other journals it is necessary to restrict the number of our pages. We shall, however, do our utmost to publish all acceptable matter, and to assist in this we would urge contributors to make their communications as brief as possible subject to the inclusion of all essential material. BIRDS AT ALTRINCHAM SEWAGE FARM, 1939. Once more I must thank Messrs. R. Storey, G. G. Uttley and E. L. Arnold for their notes and, in addition, Mr. E. Cohen. Owing to the war, the farm was not watched so regularly as usual in the last four months of the year, though visits were paid on a fair number of occasions. Mr. Uttley kept careful record of the fluctuations in numbers of some of the commoner species and sent a very full list of occurrences. Ringed Plover ( Charadrius h. hiaticula ). — In small numbers in March and from June to October. Turnstone ( Arenaria i. interpres) . — In May : one on the 7th and two on the 21st. Ruff ( Philomachus pugnax). — Seen in eight months of the year : February, March and April and from August to December. Numbers not so great as in many years ; maximum, eight on September 16th. Between April 15th and 30th several Ruffs in striking plumage ; one on the 16th with a white, black and chestnut ruff. Last seen on December 3rd. Dunlin (Calidris alpina). — Throughout the year. Recorded once in June. A graph shows three peaks : March, last week of July and second half of November. Maximum about eighty. Curlew-Sandpiper ( Calidris testacea). — A red bird on August 17th (J. Buxton). On several days from 9th to 30th September — five on September 17th. Common Sandpiper ( Actitis hypoleucos) . — The usual increase in July. Last seen on October 7th (2). Wood-Sandpiper ( Tringa glareola). — One seen on August 4th (M. Simon). Green Sandpiper ( Tringa ochropus). — Only in July, August and September — 5 on September 9th, the greatest number seen. Redshank (Tringa totanus). — -In every month. A graph shows three peaks : mid-March, mid-September and November. Greatest numbers : November 26th, 100 to 150. Fewest in the breeding-season when only two or three pairs remained, but an increase began in mid-June (15 on nth, 25 on 18th) and was maintained with rising numbers throughout July. Spotted Redshank ( Tringa erythropus) . — Seen in each of the last five months of the year on fifteen different days, but never more than two at a time. Last seen on December 3rd. Greenshank (Tringa nebularia ). — One on August 5th, on September 9th (3), and on three other days in September. VOL. XXXIV.] NOTES. 17 Black-tailed Godwit ( Limosa l. limosa). — One on August 5th and 6th. Common Snipe (Capella g. gallinago). — Increase at end of August. Maximum in mid-September ; on September 16th 200 present, and on the 17th 63 were counted on one tank. Woodcock ( Scolopax rusticola). — Three on August 17th (J. Buxton) ; unusual visitors. Black Tern ( Chlidonias n. niger). — One on June 4th, August 5th and 6th. Of the Gulls, the Lesser Black-backed (Larus fuscus) was present till the end of October (5 on October 29th) and four Greater Black- backed ( Larus marinus ) were seen on October 14th. A. W. Boyd. LESSER GREY SHRIKE IN HERTFORDSHIRE. On March 6th, 1940, Mr. Harold V. Gray saw a Lesser Grey Shrike ( Lanius minor) at a distance of some twenty yards at the top of a whitethorn bush on the golf links on Berk- hamsted Common. He saw it again on the 13th and thereafter virtually every day for the next month — it was last seen on April 13th. Mr. Gray was kind enough to tell me of the Shrike, and under his guidance I saw it on several different days ; on three of these Mr. J. Steele Elliott was with us. We had excellent views of the bird as it perched — a conspicuous figure — on the top of one or other of the small birches or oaks, or the old thick whitethorn bushes, which are dotted about the common, and now and then on the top of a tall beech on its fringe. When the light was favourable, we were able to make out its diagnostic characters. A convenient criterion of its size was supplied by Blackbirds or Linnets in the same tree ; it was larger, but not much larger, than a Red-backed Shrike. The broad black bands on the cheeks met as a frontal band above the base of the bill ; the chin and upper throat were pure white and in strong contrast with the rest of the under- parts which seemed to be creamy-buff (grey in some lights), and only in very favourable circumstances was it apparent that in reality they were pink ; there was no white at all above the black bands on the cheeks. From the purity of the grey on the back we inferred that the bird was an adult male. The Shrike frequently swooped down from its elevated perch to pick up food — we could not always tell what— from the ground, but in many cases, and perhaps in all, it was one of the dung-beetles ( Geotrupes typhosus) which abound on the common. So far as I know the Lesser Grey Shrike has not been noticed in Hertfordshire before. Chas. Oldham. 18 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XXXIV. LITTLE OWL PREYING ON BIRDS. The note (antea, Vol. XXXIII, p. 312) on the prey of the Little Owl ( Athene n. vidalii) can be supplemented by a list of the debris found in a nesting-box used by this bird at Frandley, near Gt. Budworth, Cheshire. The box was emptied on March 26th, 1940, and was found to contain the following— or identifiable parts of them : 3 Redwings (Turdus musicus), 4 Blackbirds (T. merula ) (one ringed as adult 13.9.39), 1 Sky-Lark ( Alanda arvensis), 2 Robins ( Erithacus r. melo- philus ) (one ringed as juv., 12.8.38), 1 or 2 Tree-Sparrows (Passer m. montanus) (one ringed as nestling, 4.6.38), and the complete head and bill of a Common Snipe ( Capella g. gallinago). There were also 3 long-tailed fieldmice and 1 short-tailed vole. In a Little Owl’s nesting-hole a few hundred yards away the remains of a little break-back mouse-trap were found. I have previously found ringed Yellow-Bunting, Song- Thrush, Tree-Sparrow and Hedge-Sparrow (antea, Vol. XXIV, pp. 292-3), and Starling in Little Owls’ nests. In this district at least they seem to have a marked tendency to feed on birds both in winter and summer. A. W. Boyd. PURPLE HERON IN SUSSEX. On April 20th, 1940, Mr. Reginald Cooke found a dead adult Purple Heron (Ardea p. purpurea) at Pett. The bird was already a little stale. It was taken to Mr. George Bristow on April 23rd and its sex determined as a female. The skin was received by me on May 1st. It was still quite soft and every joint in the fresh state with full and free range of movements. The colour of the soft parts also was quite fresh. James M. Harrison. “ UP-ENDING ” IN THE COMMON EIDER. The “ up-ending ” in the Eider (Somateria m. mollissima ) referred to by Mr. B. W. Tucker (antea, Vol. XXXIII, p. 279) is not uncommon on the north Northumberland coast. While feeding in a rock pool with only the head down, an Eider will sometimes throw itself forward into the “ up-ended” position to secure food at a slightly greater depth. Where the depth is uniform over a considerable area, however, “ up-ending ” may be the sole method employed in feeding at a given time. At Seahouses a flock of Eiders comes daily to feed in the inner harbour on refuse from the fishing boats. After the turn of the tide the greater part of the harbour floor is covered, first to a depth when the ducks feed with only the head under, then for a time the birds “ up-end,” VOL. XXXIV.] NOTES. 19 and finally the water is deep enough for diving. During this intermediate period in a group of four or five ducks “ up- ending ” may be seen twenty to thirty times a minute. When the surface is unruffled by the wind, each bird throws itself at once into the “ up-ended ” position which may be retained for five seconds but usually for only two or three. The tail is depressed, the crossed wing-tips being plainly visible. Meanwhile, the feet beat the water in a number of short strokes which help to maintain the bird in the “ up-ended ” position. More rarely the bird will raise itself up on the water — giving the impression that it is squatting on a stone submerged just below the surface — before “ up-ending.” In windy weather the bird searches for food with the head under water at a depth of one or two inches and “ up-ends ” from that position. Mature drakes do not usually feed until the depth in the harbour is deep enough for diving, but I saw two “ up-ending ” on April 12th, 1940. Males in their first winter “ up-end as commonly as the females. With the downy young “ up-ending ” is quite common and in a group of fifty or so I have seen about twenty feeding in this way at a time. In this case, the buoyancy is greater than in the adult and consequently a greater proportion of the body is above the surface — both feet are well clear of the water. The action of the young is much neater and appears to be made with less effort than in the adults. J. F. Graham. COMMON EIDER BREEDING IN SLIGO. I am reliably informed that a pair of Eiders ( Somateria m. mollissima) nested on the coast of County Sligo in 1939. The nest, containing 6 eggs, was unfortunately deserted before they hatched. This is considerably farther south than any locality where the species has previously been recorded as breeding in the British Isles. W. B. Alexander. MANX SHEARWATER BREEDING IN CO. DOWN. On the north-east side of Lighthouse Island at the County Down entrance to Belfast Lough, I found a male Manx Shearwater ( Puffinns p. puffmus) brooding a single egg in a rabbit hole on June 25th, 1939. How many other birds may have been breeding on this island I am unable to say. This is the first breeding record for the county, though I have frequently seen Manx Shearwaters in flight over Belfast Lough. C. Douglas Deane. 20 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XXXIV. COLONIAL BREEDING OF GREAT CRESTED GREBE IN ESTONIA AND SWITZERLAND. Colonial breeding of the Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps c. cristatus) on a remarkable scale has long been known on certain Swedish lakes (cf. antea, Vol. XXVI, p. 176), but otherwise is not common in Europe, so that the following notes may be of interest. At Hapsaal, Estonia, between 1922 and 1926, I visited the small islands in the bay. The water is very shallow in the bay, and two of the larger islands were fringed with thick reeds. These islands were not more than some 500 by 100 yards and the reed patches possibly as much as 200 by 50 yards. In these reeds on one island there were at least 40 pairs of Great Crested Grebes breeding, some nests being within a few yards of each other. In a rather smaller patch on the other island there were some dozen pairs. At the east end of the Lake of Geneva this species is most abundant. From near Villeneuve for some 2 miles along the reed-bed there are many nests, while ii miles along a large colony breed. In 1935 my wife and I found some 30 nests with eggs in a space under 100 by 50 yards, several within a few yards of each other. One cannot give a definite reason, but both Weltz (an old and distinguished Estonian naturalist) and others ascribed it to “ abundant food supply ” and this is my view. R. F. Meiklejohn. COMMON CRANE IN RUTLAND. During the week ending April 27th, 1940, there was a Common Crane ( Grus grus) frequenting Normanton Park, Oakham. I have seen it flying over and walking about several times, often feeding down by the River Gwash which runs through the park. Of course, this bird may possibly be an escape from some private collection, but as it is very wild, I am rather inclined to think it may be a genuine wild specimen. I have been within thirty yards of the bird when it was feeding and am very well acquainted with this Crane. H. G. Bolam. MOORHEN’S ACTIONS UNDER WATER. I recently had an excellent view of a Moorhen (Gallinula ch. chloropiis) swimming under water in a narrow dyke with clear water. As the bank was about 2 ft. above the water I could see almost directly from above and the light was very good. The Moorhen goes under water with remarkably little splash and swims with neck fully extended. Owing to occlusion of air in the feathers the bird’s appearance is grey and the body slim. Progress under water at a rough estimate was about VOL. XXXIV.] NOTES. 21 a yard a second, and propulsion was done by means of the legs but whether by alternation of each leg or by both together, I could not see. Regularly every yard or so the wings, which had been held tightly to the body, were brought forward for a single flap with the metacarpo-radial joints flexed, not extended as in air-flight. About 15-20 yards was the extent of each underwater swim when the bird had to come to the side, where there was a little surface weed and debris, to breathe. It appeared to choose a patch with surface debris merely for cover. It ascended in the water somewhat until its beak and forehead only were exposed to air. It did not, I am sure, cling with its feet to any vegetation ; not only was there nothing it could have clung to but I quite easily lifted the bird out of the water by hand. C. B. Ticehurst. On the River Erne (Co. Cavan) at a spot where alders spread out over the water, I was able to stand on a limb of one of these just above the water and watch the actions of a Moorhen under water. It took six or seven strokes with each leg, and then a little stroke with half-opened wings seemingly to alter the angle of the body and keep it down rather than to propel it. When coming up, the tip of the beak appeared first, ver- tically ; then, very slowly, it exposed the head as far as the eye before lowering it horizontally, still submerged to just below the eye. After a short pause it came up still farther till its beak just cleared the water. Its body was now hanging vertically, just as if it were suspended from the neck ; the wings were closed but held slightly away from the body. I thought I could see the feet moving slowly, but the water was too dark to be positive of this. When I placed my hand behind and close to its body, and then made a movement, the bird rose right out of the water in a curved plunge and in doing 'so struck against my hand. R. C. Faris. Sparrow-Hawk preying on Kestrel. — Mr. J. H. Owen informs us that on February 12th, 1940, near Oswestry, a female Sparrow-Hawk (. Accipter n. nisus) caught a male Kestrel ( Falco t. tinnunculus) , taking it unawares from behind and bringing it to the ground. It soon killed the Kestrel and partly ate it. Mr. Owen is not aware of a similar case. Spoonbill in Dorsetshire. — Mr. D. J. Wood informs us that on April 8th, 1940, he had a good view of a Spoonbill ( Platalea l. leucorodia ) at Arne, Poole Harbour. Four Young Wood-Pigeons in One Nest. — Mr. A. M. Wilson informs us that four young Wood-Pigeons ( Columba p. palumbus), all of the same size and apparently of the 22 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XXXIV. same age, were found in a nest in his garden at Presteigne, Radnorshire, on May 8th, 1940. Unfortunately subsequent observations could not be made as the young were destroyed owing to the damage done by the birds. There are one or two cases on record of 3 young in a nest and several of 3 eggs and some of 4 eggs, but these have generally been regarded as the product of two hens. We are not aware of another case of 4 young. Black-headed Gulls incubating for 75 Days. — Mr. F. B. Kirkman writes that the first egg of a pair of Black- headed Gulls ( Laras r. ridibundus) was in the nest on the morning of April 30th (1939), their second on May 2nd. On May 25th the two eggs were still unhatched. As he feared they might get sucked by other members of the species, he added to them a wooden egg which happened to be a bright sky-blue enamel. After an absence he visited the gullery on June iyth-ipth and found the pair’s own eggs gone, but the birds sitting assiduously on the wooden egg. On July 13th one of the pair was seen by a reliable witness to be still sitting on the wooden egg, which was “ quite hot.” On the 16th the birds were gone, their departure coinciding no doubt with the general exodus from the gullery, which took place between the 13th and 16th. If it is taken that the pair sat from April 30th to July 13th inclusive, we have a total period of 75 days, some 50 days beyond the normal. Little Gulls in Kent and Surrey. — Mr. R. Preston Donaldson informs us that an adult Little Gull {Laras minutus) in summer plumage was picked up dead by Mr. G. Tart on Dungeness beach on April 22nd, 1940. Decayed remains of another adult and a wing of an immature bird were found in the same district by Dr. N. F. Ticehurst in May. In another part of Kent we hear of an adult being picked up on March 28th and an adult and two immature birds observed on April 27th and 29th. Mr. J. C. M. Nichols has sent us part of a wing and leg of a Little Gull, remains found by him at Frensham Pond on May 4th. These appear to have been from an adult. REVIEW. The Status and Distribution of Wild Geese and Wild Duck in Scotland. By John Berry. Roy. 8vo., pp. xiv 190, with frontispiece, three plates and folding map of Scotland. (University Press, Cambridge). 1939. 10s. 6d. The alarming decrease in the number of wildfowl in North America led the International Committee for Bird Preservation to investigate the situation in Europe. With this object the British Section of the Committee appointed a Sub-Committee to concentrate on an inquiry into the present status of wildfowl (wild ducks and geese) in the British Isles. VOL. XXXIV.] REVIEWS. 23 It was remitted to Mr. John Berry to write Volume II (which deals with Scotland) and Volume I (which is to deal with England) has not yet been published though it is understood that the material is in an advanced stage of preparation. I interpolate this note here as the book under review is entitled “ International Wildfowl Inquiry, Volume II ” and it requires some explanation as to why Volume II should have preceded Volume I. Mr. John Berry has undertaken his extremely difficult task in commendable fashion. The extensive literature dealing with wildfowl in Scotland has been carefully consulted and the replies to a question- naire— circulated to local natural history societies, ornithologists, wildfowlers and other reliable observers throughout Scotland — have been utilized with able discretion. The first 16 pages of the book are devoted to a summary of the status of wildfowl in each faunal area : pages 17-53 give a report on species (eight) of geese followed by a general discussion on the status of wild geese in Scotland. Pages 64-157 deal with the species (twenty-one) of ducks ; followed by a discussion on their status in Scotland, and a comprehensive index, pp. 183-190) makes the volume at once ready for easy reference. It is claimed that this publication is an attempt — the first of its kind — to put on record a distributional index and a practical estimate of a country’s total stock of wildfowl and it is to be hoped that similar publications will be undertaken in other countries. The author mentions various factors which may be regarded as inimical to wildfowl : drainage, afforestation, excessive shooting may all be harmful but — and perhaps more than all — the motor-engine has deprived many a sanctuary of its former immunity from disturbance. On the whole, however, it would appear that our Scottish wild geese and wild duck are not in that parlous state which some ornithologists would have us believe. The point cannot be sufficiently stressed that wildfowl — migra- tory by nature — demand much more than local protection. The campaign to arrest the diminution of ducks in general must be internationally organized if it is to prove effective. Recent examples show that Mallard, ringed at the Orielton Decoy, in Pembrokeshire, travel at least as far as Italy and Rumania. Some people think that to review a book it is necessary to find faults in it. Mr. Berry has accomplished a colossal work in compiling what will be, for all time, the standard book of reference on the subject. Nothing is more difficult than to generalize on such a question as distribution and it may well be that at times he has been misled by reports received from his correspondents but — as a whole — the con- spectus can be accepted as reliable since it has been drawn up with the discrimination of a practical ornithologist. Since the protection of wildfowl is of such real importance may I be allowed to end this review by saying that the International Committee for Bird Preservation (British Section) is hampered in its good work by lack of funds and that financial assistance would be much appreciated by the Secretary, Miss Phyllis Barclay-Smith, c/o The Zoological Society of London, Regent’s Park, London, N.W.8. H.S.G. Bird Reserves. By E. C. Arnold. (H. F. & G. Witherby, Ltd.) Illustrated. 4to. 15s. net. In this book the author recounts his experiences in the formation of private Bird Reserves. Briefly they relate to four small areas in Sussex and one in Norfolk. The Sussex ones are some three or four acres, part of a disused brickyard near Eastbourne, including a two-acre pit forming a pond, about 90 acres of pasture with a strip of bog running through it, near the mouth of the Cuckmere valley, about 30 acres of 24 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XXXIV. primeval and more or less derelict woodland near Polegate, and four acres of fenland in Pevensey Marsh. The 27 acres of Salthouse Broad is in rather a different category to the others, as it was practically a ready-made Bird Reserve and part of a much larger similar area already preserved. In more than one of the Sussex ventures Mr. Arnold’s main object was to save the land from building development and for his success in this every lover of the country must be grateful to him. Though several of them may be deemed over small to have any decided effect on the local bird population, however intensively they might be improved, his records show that even so a good deal can be accomplished by suitable treatment. It is well that the author is gifted with a considerable sense of humour, otherwise the continual set-backs and heart-breaking disappointments experienced might well have deterred him from carrying on. These lay chiefly in the difficulties of improving the ground to add to its attractiveness, by the acclimatization of suitable trees and plants. Unsuitable soil, winds, droughts and other atmospheric influences, cattle, sheep and humans all at some time or another have played their part in nullifying his best efforts. One of the difficulties is well illustrated by an experience at Cuckmere. Barring the land to cattle and sheep saves ones favourite plants and trees from destruction, but in the meantime the herbage has grown rank and the ground ceases to attract breeding Lapwings and Redshanks. There are, however, compensations such as inducing the Marsh-Warbler to establish itself, while to be able to list 106 species as having been seen in the small area of derelict brickyard, including Blue-headed Wagtail, Garganey, Slavonian Grebe and one or other of the smaller Rails, is no mean achievement. The observations illustrative of the bird-life of each area, given in diary form, are necessarily in parts somewhat trivial, for otherwise they would not serve their purpose, but the book is not over-burdened with them. For the rest it is eminently readable and can be consulted with profit by any one who is fortunate enough to have the means and opportunity of following in the author’s footsteps. The illustrations, both coloured and black-and-white, are adequate and pleasing, though one must except the photographic one described as of a Marsh-Warbler's nest. The immediate foreground of this is the only part that is in focus, so that as an illustration of what it purports to represent it falls far behind what one is accustomed to expect nowadays. N.F.T. •' '-’UN 1940 PURCHASED A WATERHEN’S WORLDS BY ELIOT HOWARD 2 Plates. ios. 6d. net. In a careful and unusually sympathetic study of bird life the author of The Nature of a Bird’s World describes the behaviour of a pair of waterhens throughout the breeding cycle, in terms of what he believes to be the birds’ own reactions to the shapes, colours, and sounds of the worlds in which they live. CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS BIRD MIGRATION A. Landsborough ‘Thomson . Illustrated. Small Crown 8vo. 5/- net. HOW TO KNOW BRITISH BIRDS Norman H . yoy . Illustrated. Small Crown 8vo. 5/- net. BIRDS OF THE GREEN BELT R. M. Lockley. Illustrated. Small Crown 8vo. 5/- net- EVERY GARDEN A BIRD SANCTUARY E. L. Turner. Illustrated. Small Crown 8vo. 5/- net. II. F. & G. JV IT HER BY LTD. LE GERFAUT REVUE BELGE D’ORNITHOLOGIE (Fon