NOTES ORIGINAL AND SELECTED. 39 



from our pages. On that day, i86 Fallow and 6 Roe were 

 seen, and it was estimated that in addition about 50 fallow and 

 30 roe deer belonging to the Conservators were hiding in 

 coverts of estates adjoining the forest. This is an encouraging 

 record, showing the vitality of the herds. 



BIRDS. 



Tawny Owl Breeding in Colchester. — This evening, 

 June 17th, igo2, I went with a friend to look at the owls in 

 St. Mary's Churchyard and the Rectory Garden, in the centre 

 of this town, within 150 yards of the High Street. We had the 

 pleasure of seeing at one time in an acacia tree, five Tawny 

 Owls {Syvninm aluco) and hearing three others, young ones, on 

 other trees, calling for food. One of the five had previously 

 been sitting on a chimney-pot of a house near by, hooting and 

 squeaking. Persons passing through the Churchyard did not 

 seem to alarm them. — Henry Laver, F.L.S. 



[In a letter dated August nth, Dr. Laver adds: — "The 

 owls are still about here, and are just as noisy as ever."] 



Hoopoe at Donyland.— On Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, 

 August 8th to loth, 1902, Col. Holroyd saw a Hoopoe in his 

 grounds at Donyland Lodge. It was not at all sh}^ and came 

 very near to the windows of the house. It has now left, and 

 one can only hope that wherever it may go it will receive the 

 same hospitality. It was, I understand, very amusing to see 

 the curiosity shown by the other birds in the grounds at this 

 stranger ; they were evidently surprised at such an uncanny 

 visitor. — Henry Laver, F.L.S. 



Black-headed Gulls on the Thames Embankment, 

 and their Habits. — The gulls on the Thames above bridge 

 have been very numerous this winter and excellent opportunity 

 of watching them can be found on the Embankment. In spite of 

 the open weather, there have usually been a couple ot hundred 

 or so in the reach between Blackfriars and Waterloo Bridges. 

 The favourite manner of feeding them is by throwing pieces of 

 bread into the air for the birds to catch, and if the food is thrown 

 up to a fairly uniform height the birds never miss it. When I 

 have been watching them the wind has been fairly up or down 



