372 BRITISH BIRDS. [vol. vi. 



This is probably the first authentic record of the Crossbill 

 nesting in Shropshire, and, if not subjected to depredations 

 by squirrels or jays, the ]iair should rear successfully. 



On April 18th, 1898, and following days we watched a brood 

 of young birds at the same place, which had in all probability 

 been bred there. The nest recorded for Llanyblodwel in 

 September, 1880 {Fauna of Shropshire — H. E. Forrest) is 

 also claimed for Montgomery {Fauna of N. Wales — H. E. 

 Forrest), and seems to rest on slender evidence. There was 

 one other undoubted pair in the same coppice this year, 

 which had apparently not commenced tp build — and several 

 other single birds were seen. 



Incidently the above nest is less than 100 yards from the 

 site of the only authentic nest of Siskin for Shropshire — also 

 found by Mr. D. H. Meares with one egg on April 22nd, 1906, 

 and subsequently destroyed, presumably by a squirrel. 



C. S. Meares. 



CIRL BUNTING BREEDING IN ESSEX. 

 On March 29th, 1913, I saw a Cirl Bunting {Emberiza cirlus) 

 near Felsted, and this may prove of interest as the bird is 

 very rare in Essex. In June, 1910, I found a pair nesting 

 in the same district. I did not send a note at the time as I 

 did not then know that the nesting of this bird in Essex had 

 not been previously recorded. J. H. Owen. 



NOTES ON A PIED BLACKBIRD. 

 Last year, 1912, a pair of Blackbirds {Turdus m. merula) were 

 feeding young at a nest in my garden at Norwich about the 

 middle of April, and again at the same nest at the end 

 of May. 



At the end of June and during the first few daj^s of July, 

 young birds were again being fed at this nest, but on this 

 occasion I was surprised to see that the cock in attendance 

 was a bird heavily pied with white upon the head and neck, 

 and with a few white feathers in the mantle, and wings — 

 the original cock having been a normal coloured bird. 



I did not notice this pied bird during August, and I was 

 away during September and the first part of October, but 

 he reappeared in my garden on October 30th, to my great 

 joy, in all the splendour of his new plumage, having moulted 

 out pure \\'hite all over except his under-parts, which were 

 still black, a few flecks of black upon the mantle, and a black 

 feather or t\\o in wings and tail. 



Since that day he has been seen in mj^ garden, I might 

 almost say every day, but certainty ever}^ week during the 



