ZOOLOGICAL NOTES 181 



SISKIN. The same correspondent writes: "I also got the 

 Siskin's nest the only one I ever knew to breed hereabout. It was 

 in a Scots fir about 20 feet up on a branch. I caught the old ones, 

 and they brought all the young up in the house." He proceeds to 

 give a bad account of the loss in eggs of Pheasants and Grouse 

 caused by the cold spring of this year frost and snow. " Forty- 

 five eggs of Grouse were picked up in one day all spoiled. Such 

 as were sitting were not so bad."- -J. A. HARVIE-BROWN, Dunipace. 



Occurrence of Wild Canary in the Forth Area. A wild 

 Canary (Serinus canarius) was captured by Mr. Robert Johnstone 

 in company with Linnets at Springkerse, near Stirling, at the end 

 of November 1907. Bird still in his possession, alive and healthy 

 (May 29th, 1908), at No. n Randolph Road, Stirling. No 

 appearance of previous confinement, and bird remains still rather 

 wild or untamable. Seen alive and identified by me. J. A. 

 HARVIE-BROWN, Dunipace. 



White Wagtail in Orkney. On March iyth I saw a specimen 

 of the White Wagtail (Motarilla alba) on the telegraph wires near 

 Stromness, Orkney, close to where the Sandwick road joins the 

 main road from Kirkwall to Stromness. Mr. Eagle Clarke men- 

 tions the species as occurring abundantly on both passages in 

 Shetland, but I think this is the first time it has been recorded for 

 Orkney. H. W. ROBINSON, Lancaster. 



Breeding of the Tree-pipit in the Glenshee district. I am 



sending you a note to record the breeding of the Tree-pipit with 

 me here some 800 to 900 feet above sea-level in the Glenshee 

 district. The nest contained six yellowish - brown eggs, very 

 strongly marked at the thick end. From the bird's behaviour I 

 fancy the young will be hatched very shortly. As this is the first 

 nest I have found here, though I have seen the birds during each 

 of the last three years, I am unable to say if the colour and marking 

 is the usual type hereabouts or not. The Greater Whitethroat is 

 also breeding with me. I am recording the Tree-pipit simply 

 because Mr. A. H. Evans, who is with me, thinks that a record of 

 its breeding at this altitude may be of interest. J. M'L. MARSHALL, 

 Blairgowrie. 



An Invasion of Cuckoos. Usually, and as far back as 

 I can remember, this was not a great resort of Cuckoos. I could 

 always find Cuckoos in the season, and knew where to look for 

 them on the open moor or fields. This year, however, they are 

 everywhere, and most uproarious ; and, from whatever cause, most 

 discontented and restless and anxious-minded. All I can think 

 is "no wonder!"; but perhaps some one can "put his finger on 

 the spot " and account for such an invasion, and so late in the 



