and I have no doubt that throughout the south coast of England they may be seen.—

Occurrence of the Gray-headed Wagtail (Motacilla neglecta) near Penzance.—I have seen a male and female of this species in full vernal plumage, which were also captured near Marazion. The plumage of the male bird exhibits the fine bright intense yellow plumage which its congener-the yellow wagtail-possesses at this season of the year; but the female's plumage has a grayish faded cast of colour, without the green olive tinge which the other species shows; the streak over the eye is pure white, and the breast and belly white, tinged with primrose yellow.—Id.

Singular Proof of the Reasoning Faculty in a Canary.-In the year 1839 I had a canary, between the wires of whose cage I was in the habit of placing a piece of lump sugar: one day it dropped out, and when picked up was found to be quite wet on one side this excited my curiosity, so I looked to see if there was anything to wet it where it had fallen, and being convinced there was not I replaced it, but put the dry side inwards, determined to watch the bird's proceedings, when, to my surprise, after a few ineffectual attempts to nip some of the sugar (for it never pecked it) it went to the water-trough several times, filled its bill, dropped the water on the sugar, and then, after it was thus softened, began to eat it: this I have seen it do frequently. Now I think this is more than an extension of the vital actions subservient to the physical life of the individual; here must be thought, thought applied, something like deduction, a means used and the end answered. Now if so many of our philosophers and divines persist in calling this instinct, what is reason? where does matter end and mind begin? Is it not leading many into materialism? Would it not be better to allow that the lower animals have minds suited to their station, enabling them to accomplish the purpose for which the Author of their being intended them ?—Joseph Duff; Bishop's Auckland, May 8, 1848.

Additional Note on the Chaffinch (Fringilla cœlebs).—I have reconsidered the subject of the chaffinch (Zool. 2072), and as I had quoted from memory only, I instantly referred to White's 'Natural History of Selborne,' to the paragraph which is in Mr. Blyth's note to the above, page 36, and am sorry to find a discrepancy between the quotation given by you and that given by Mr. Blyth: the quotation referred to is as follows, that "in Northumberland and Scotland this separating takes place about the month of November, and that from that period to the return of spring few females are to be seen, and these few in distinct societies; this, however, requires a little qualifying, as there are many of both sexes that remain throughout the winter, and do not flock even in the warmer parts of Scotland: in ordinary winters, in the south of England, a very large proportion of them certainly do not congregate, and of those that do the sexes are not invariably apart, but associate together along with yellow buntings, green grossbeaks, and sometimes mountain spinks or bramble finches." The following part of this note I apprehend to be Mr. Blyth's own observation. I am sorry that I have not Mr. Selby's work; but I doubt not the accuracy of your quotation,— "the males remain and are met with in immense flocks." Now this is at variance (I think) with the observations of naturalists generally; but the explanation I offered was not suitable for this quotation, neither was it intended for it, but for flocks of supposed hens that were seen in the south.-Id., April 27, 1848.

Note on the Mealy Redpole (Fringilla canescens), &c.-Your correspondents, in remarking (Zool. 2018, 2064) on the flocks of mealy redpoles which occurred last winter,

have not noticed what seemed to me to be rather a curious circumstance connected with them, namely, the small number of female birds among them. Out of about a dozen examples that I met with, either dead or alive, and at various times during the season, I believe only three were hens. I cannot, however, tell at all what was the proportion between the sexes when in the flocks, as at that season they differ but little from each other. In habits they seem to resemble the lesser redpole, but are in general, I think, wilder. In conclusion I have to remark that both mountain finches and siskins abounded during the past winter. About the second week in January we were visited by large trips of golden plovers: these stayed but a few days, and after that our ordinary few only were seen. The number of wild geese over was very small, and bore no proportion to that of the year before; but the quantities of fieldfares and redwings were much the same.—Alfred Newton; Elveden, May 1, 1848.

Singular Situation of the Nest of a Starling (Sturnus vulgaris).—A starling has this year built its nest in a hole on the fifth story of a large flax mill, in this town (Belfast). The nest contained five eggs when first examined, and they have been since hatched in safety. The parent birds seem to be neither disturbed by the noise of the machinery, nor do they regard the number of people in the locality, for I learn that they chose nearly the same spot for building in last year.-Robert Taylor; Clifton Ville, Belfast, May 16, 1848.

Note on the Building of the Rook (Corvus frugilegus).—It has long been a popular belief that the rook regularly lays the "first stick" of its nest on the 1st day of March, but I find that the bird is not generally so very punctual in this respect as people suppose it to be. For a number of years past I have observed that it is generally a day or two after the first of the month before the rooks begin in this quarter to build, although indeed I believe they have on some rare occasions been observed at work in the latter end of February. Never, however, have I been so much struck with their delay as during the present season. I have this year had ample opportunities of observation, as I regularly pass two rookeries three or four-sometimes five or six-times every day, on my way betwixt my home and the town; and I therefore resolved to avail myself of the advantages thus afforded. Accordingly, when February was drawing to a close, I kept a good look-out after the operations of my black neighbours; but it was the 5th of March before any stir was observable amongst them, and of that date the following note appears in my 'Journal of Observations :'-" Observed the crows in Perthroad, &c., to be very noisy and busy, seemingly preparing to build." But even after that time, day after day was I disappointed in seeing no earnest of their having begun to build, until at last, on the morning of the 13th, I saw several of them stalking about on the grass at White-leys, with twigs in their bills. About a week afterwards several of the nests were visible on the trees, but even at the present time some of them seem scarcely completed. On the 2nd of April current I saw several rooks carrying twigs as I passed. They seem to work most in the mornings. It would be interesting to know whether the rooks have been generally so late in building this season. From the state of advancement in which I saw the nests at Baldovan, and likewise those at Gray, about the middle of the month of March, I am inclined to suspect that they were begun earlier at both of those places than here, but I have no means of obtaining decided information. The intelligent gardener at Gray, Mr. W. Chalmers, told me that the rooks had been later this season, but he had taken no note of dates. I may add that, since beginning to build, our Dundee rooks have become very bold, and alight with impunity in streets where there is considerable traffic, for

the purpose of picking up materials for their nests, as well as such stray seeds of corn as may chance to come in their way.-George Lawson; 212, Perth Road, Dundee, April 8, 1848.

Anecdote of a Rook.—In the beginning of the breeding-season of the present year, a rook unfortunately got entangled in the thick branches of a large tree, adjacent to Castle Warren, the seat of Robert Warren, Esq., county of Cork. The other rooks, seeing its hapless condition, attacked it, and soon put an end to its existence, notwithstanding the vigorous but ineffectual efforts of its mate to defend it. Since that time the dead body is daily visited by a rook, which also roosts by it every night: this rook is supposed to be the mate; if so, it is indeed "fidelity in death."-Robert Taylor; Clifton Ville, Belfast, May 16, 1848.

Anecdote of a Magpie (Corvus pica).—A magpie in the possession of Mr. C. Beesley, of Summertown, near Oxford, having, from the time it was taken, been allowed to go freely about the premises, was lately-on account of its mischievous propensities in the garden-placed in a spacious cage. Although very talkative before, it became totally silent, and, on a greenfinch being introduced into the cage, instantly seized it and tore it limb from limb.-Thomas Prater; Bicester, April 18, 1848.

The Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) singing by Night.-On the 2nd of June, last year, in a wooded district about three miles from Ryde, at 11 o'clock, p. m., I was surprised to hear the cuckoo repeating his well-known note with even more than the usual frequency, and as I continued riding on I found it was continued without intermission. From this period, during the space of an hour, I frequently returned to the open air, and he still continued his note; and persons residing on the spot informed me afterwards that he was still continuing his note when they ceased observing him, at 2 a. m. The moon, four nights past the full, had not risen when I first noticed the fact, but the air was still and warm and the twilight bright, and the light was soon increased by the moon's rising. These circumstances, accompanied as they were by the call of the heron-whose return just then was determined by the rising tide-and the lowing of a calf, made the scene anything but like one of night. During the last week I have been reminded of the fact by hearing the cuckoo, during several evenings, give occasional calls as late as nine or ten o'clock, and one night as late as eleven. The nights, however, on these recent occasions were more decidedly moonlight.-T. Bell Salter; Ryde, May 16, 1848.

Further Note on the Bustard shot in Lincolnshire.—Since the publication of the note (Zool. 2065), a diligent inquiry has been instituted into the right of this bird to be admitted into our list as a voluntary visitor of this kingdom: the result shows that not one of Mr. Fraser's birds has escaped; and, therefore, that that mode of accounting for its occurrence is fallacious: no evidence exists against the supposition that its passage hither was voluntary. I have just received a note from its owner, Mr. Higgins, who states, that on examination by Mr. Gould, the bird turns out to be Otis Macqueenii, a native of Persia and Western India. A doubt exists whether these two closely allied birds are really distinct; but the subject is now under the notice of competent ornithologists, and will be again resumed in these pages.-E. Newman.

Note on the Great Plover (Edicnemus crepitans).—Mr. Rodd mentions (Zool. 2023) the great plover as occurring in the Land's End district of Cornwall only in the winter months. More to the eastward, in the county of Dorset, I have many times endeavoured unsuccessfully to shoot this bird during the summer months; and I never remember seeing it in the winter. It breeds every year, though I was never fortu

nate enough to obtain the eggs, on several of the hills round Charmouth; that on which I made its acquaintance was to the west of Charmouth, behind Langmoor. There it frequented chiefly a large rough field, much covered with stones; it always kept near the middle of this field, and so sure as any one entered the field at any point, so sure did it take wing almost immediately. I never succeeded in seeing it on the ground. Five or six years ago one was shot by a farmer on another hill about a mile from this one. It dropped, and he picked it up and handled it, apparently dead: he then threw it on the ground, and proceeded to reload his gun, but before he had accomplished this, my friend was off, seemingly as well as ever, and he saw him no more.— Beverley R. Morris; York, March 8th, 1848.

Note on the Great Plover (Edicnemus crepitans). This species, until within these few years, used to frequent the high situations and lighter soils of this part of the country, coming in spring to breed, when their loud calls might be heard a long distance on the approach of night, and leaving in the autumn; but now it is a rare bird-scarcely one being seen, or known to stay, in the localities formerly occupied by them; owing, most likely, to the extension of agriculture, and the improvement of the land.-T. Goatley; Chipping Norton, April 10th, 1848.

Migration of the Golden Plover (Charadrius pluvialis).—These birds come in considerable flocks, in November or December, and spend some time during the winter months upon the higher grounds in the neighbourhood, particularly the fields of Chadlington and Dean, between this town and Charlbury, and leave again early in spring.-Id.

Occurrence of the Night Heron (Nycticorax Gardeni) in the county Louth.-On the 1st of May I received a fine male specimen of the night heron, in nearly mature plumage, but without the crest of white feathers: it was shot on the reedy border of a small lake, at Beaulieu, the seat of the Rev. A. J. Montgomery, in the county Louth: in Yarrell's 'British Birds,' it is stated to have been killed twice in Ireland; no particulars are given as to where or when. Robert J. Montgomery; Manor House, Ra

heny, near Dublin, May 18th, 1848.

Occurrence of the Little Bittern (Ardea minuta) at Ewhurst and Ledlescomb, Sussex. I have seen a male and female of Ardea minuta which were shot at the above places. The female about three months ago; the male, at the latter place, I believe, about fifteen months since.-J. B. Ellman; Battel, April 20th, 1848. Occurrence of the White Stork (Ciconia alba) at the Land's End. On Saturday last the servant of James Trembath, Esq., of Mayon, killed an adult specimen of this bird, which has been set up by Mr. Vingoe, of this place, at whose house I examined it this morning. It is a fine, we grown bird, and the plumage appears to be uninjured. I am not aware of the occurrence of this species before in the county, although I have an example in my collection of its rarer congener the black stork, killed in 1831 on the river Tamar. Edward Hearle Rodd; Penzance, May 17th, 1848.

Occurrence of the Spotted Sandpiper (Totanus macularius) in Yorkshire.—On the 2nd of last March I saw a specimen of the spotted sandpiper on the beach at Bridlington Quay. It was excessively tame, and allowed me to approach within about fifteen yards of it. I am not aware of its having been noticed in Yorkshire before.-Edmund Thomas Higgins; Spurrier Gate, York, May 17th, 1848.

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Egg of the Greenshank (Totanus Glottis). — I have examined the drawing of the egg of the greenshank which Mr. Milner was so good as to send you; and have much

pleasure in reporting that it strongly resembles three eggs in the collection of Mr. J. Smith, of this place, which have been long believed by him and me to be the eggs of this bird. These eggs were taken some years since in the Norfolk marshes. The ferruginous spots are less bright in them than in the egg of Mr. Milner as represented in the drawing, and the ground colour is almost precisely similar. Mr. Smith's eggs are, however, somewhat different in form from Mr. Milner's; being much less elongated. I was at first inclined to believe that the very elongated form of Mr. Milner's egg might be the consequence of its removal from the bird before it was perfectly formed; it has, however, been suggested to me that this is the shape of the egg of a very nearly allied species, the black-tailed godwit. It seems hardly probable that the eggs should vary so much in form; but I am not aware of any other species to which Mr. Smith's eggs can be referred.— William R. Fisher; Great Yarmouth, April 14th, 1848.

Nest of the Woodcock (Scolopax rusticola). "A few days ago a woodcock's nest, with four eggs in, was discovered in Waterperry Wood, near Oxford, belonging to J. W. Henly, Esq., M.P., by a gentleman residing at Wheatley; the nest was built in a bank, and composed chiefly of dry moss. The old bird was sitting on the eggs when the nest was found." Two other instances of the woodcock's nesting in Oxfordshire have come to my knowledge; one occurred at Ditchley, and the other on the Ensham Hall estate in both of which cases the young birds were shown to me.-T. Goatley; Chipping Norton, April 10th, 1848.

Woodcock's (Scolopax rusticola) breeding in Norfolk. About the middle of last month (April) a woodcock's nest, with four eggs, was found at Riddlesworth, near Harling, by a man cutting reeds. The old bird being put off, did not return, and the eggs, after having been left a few days on trial, were taken. They are much darker in colour than the one figured in 'Hewitson's Illustrations,' and consequently approach more nearly those of the common snipe. I was told that on blowing them they seemed to have been set upon about a week. I half think that something more was done than merely "flushing" the bird, as this account of the woodcock's forsaking her nest does not at all agree with the common story of this bird's attachment to her eggs.-Alfred Newton; Elveden, May 1st, 1848.

Occurrence of the Little Crake (Crex pusilla) at Seaford.—A specimen of this very rare bird was picked up in an exhausted state at the above place a few days ago.— James B. Ellman; Battel, March 11th, 1848.

Occurrence of the Hooper or Wild Swan (Cygnus ferus) on the Tay. — It may be interesting to the readers of the Zoologist' to know that a flock of wild swans was observed over the river Tay, opposite to Dundee, during the past winter. I did not myself have the pleasure of seeing the flock; but have my information from a source on which every reliance can be placed.-George Lawson; 212, Perthroad, Dundee, April 8th, 1848.

Occurrence of the Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus) at Battel.-A fine specimen of this bird was shot at the Powder Mills last week. It is in the possession of Mr. Laurence. Two other specimens have been shot in this immediate neighbourhood, and are in the possession of Mr. James Watt.-J. B. Ellman; Battel, March 16th, 1848.

Egg of the Ringed Guillemot (Uria lacrymans). — May I be permitted to make a short remark upon a passage in Mr. Milner's amusing account of the birds of the Outer Hebrides (Zool. 2054). In mentioning the capture of an egg of the ringed