182 MISCELLANEOUS NOTICES. 



birds are migratory or not, or is this the result of the veiy severe westerly gales we have 

 experienced during the last winter. — From the North Wales Chronicle, fi. W. Cradock, Hackney, 

 March 15th., 1853. 



JToney Buzzard, (Pernis apivorus.) — I have lately seen a fine adult specimen preserved, which 

 was taken in a pigeon-trap at York-street, Westminster, about three years ago. — M. C. Cooke, 

 Lambeth, April 8th., 1853, 



Ring Ouzel, (Turdus torquatus.) — A nest containing five eggs was taken by Mr. Downing, at 

 Addiscombe, in Kent, as he informs me, last year. He saw the bird fly off the nest: I have 

 one of the eggs in my possession. — Idem. 



Common Guillemot, (Una troille.) — On the 28th. of March last, I received a specimen of this 

 bird in the flesh, which had been shot at Smallburgh in Norfolk, a day or two before, at a 

 distance of about six miles from the sea. — Idem. 



Red-breasted Merganser, (Mergus serrator.) — I have one in my collection which was shot by 

 Eobert Whaites, Esq., at Ingham, in Norfolk, a few years since. Also a Little Auk, {Mergulm 

 alle,) shot by the same gentleman, in the same locality, and about the same time. — Idem. 



Nesting of the Sparrow, (Passer domesticus.) — In "The Naturalist" for February 1853, one 

 of its correspondents, J. D. repeats his assurance that the P domesticus builds in trees, 

 page 36, vol. 3, a circumstance which had been questioned. I wish to confirm his assertion. 

 He says "it is not at all a rare circumstance for this bird to build in trees near houses," nor 

 is it, for I remember a time when Shenfield Common, in Essex, was covered with several old 

 trees, fast decaying, aspen and ash: a very few of the latter remain by the side of a pathway, 

 leading from the adjacent town to this Common. I have known and seen very many nests of 

 the P. domesticus taken from the boughs and hollows of those trees. I have taken their 

 nests also from fir boughs and elms, in my present neighbourhood, Bawburgh Hill, and one 

 from a pear tree. Shirley Hibberd in an article on the Sparrow says "when he builds in a tree, 

 which is very seldom, though Professor Ronnie says to the contrary, he usually constructs a 

 domed nest, that is a large globular frame-work of straw and feathers, with a hole in the side 

 for ingress and egress, so that a good shelter is afforded by the circular roof and walls." This 

 may be a very correct description, but such as have fallen under my own personal observation 

 have been externally large, ill-shaped, circular bodied of small roots and dry grass or hay; in- 

 ternally, nicely rounded with feathers in a vast quantity, wool, stray bits of cotton, and even 

 pieces of rag and cloth. The entrance has been that of most nests at the top, and a regular open 

 surface (no circular roof) fringed by the outer feathers of the lining, that in some instances may 

 have arched or curved over, but scarcely formed a roof. — G. E. Twinn, Bawburgh Hill, near 

 Norwich, March 26th., 1853. 



The Brambling, (Fringilla Montifringilla,) has been a constant visitor here, in large flocks, 

 from January 31st. — Idem. 



TJie Hobby, (Falco subbuteo.) — Fond of a warm region, this bird is found by Naturalists in 

 many parts of Europe and Asia, and Mr. Meyer conjectures even in Africa. The early part 

 of April is the usual period of its arrival in this country, but our season from November to 

 the early part of February having been unusually mild and congenial, I apprehend it was a 

 very premature visitant to our country. I am led to give these few notes on the bird, from 

 its having been in our neighbourhood on March 7th., 1853. During the whole day the Hobby 

 is an indefatigable hunter, particularly when his haunt is a close wood of thick growth, skirted 

 by a fine open heath. I remember to have seen one of these searchers chase a lark, on a 

 spot called the Moors, near Bentley Mill, Kelvedon Common, Essex, and after long parrying 

 from both birds, at one time soaring high, at another rapidly falling, the poor hard-pressed 

 bird, with a lightening dart rushed aloft however, and escaped its pursuer. Meyer says "The 

 Hobby chooses for its prey Larks, Swallows, and Martins, which he pursues in the air, following 

 them easily in all their rapid evolutions, and strikes with such unerring aim, that he seldom 

 fails to secure his selected prey; even the Swift cannot escape him." On March 7th., an 



