VOL. VI.] NOTES. 873 



remaining months of 1912, and up to the present date 

 (April 6th) in 1913. 



He began to sing on February 10th, which is the earhest 

 date upon which I have ever heard a Blackbird sing, and has 

 sung most days since then. 



Towards the end of March, he A\'as often in the company of 

 a hen bird, but as he now seems to be solitary again, I expect 

 she has begun to sit, though so far I have been unable to 

 locate the nest. During the last few weeks his plumage has 

 undergone a further change. About the middle of March he 

 began to show some small black feathers about his head and 

 neck. This has gradually become more marked, until at the 

 present time (April 6th) his whole head and neck is finely 

 speckled with black. 



I think the history of this bird over twelve months, brings 

 to hght several points of ornithological interest. 



In the first place his mate of 1912 made use of the same 

 nest no less than three times, in which to rear her brood, 

 though on the last occasion having paired with a different 

 cock, and I believe there are only a few recorded instances 

 of three broods of young Blackbirds being reared from the 

 same nest. 



In the second place, it is always a matter of some difficulty 

 to ascertain the exact degree to which some of our so-called 

 " resident breeding birds " are migratory or non migratory, 

 and the history of this bird shows the very sedentary dis- 

 position of, at all events, one individual Blackbird — he having 

 been seen in one garden every week of the twelve months, 

 with the exception of August and September. 



The other points of interest are the assumption of the white 

 plumage at the autumn-moult, and the reappearance of black 

 in the plumage of the head and neck this spring. 



B. B. Riviere. 



[Mr. Riviere's notes are interesting and the fact that the 

 same nest was used for the third time is strong, though not 

 conclusive, evidence that it was occupied by the same female. 

 Blackbirds normally do not have a spring moult and it is 

 quite possible that some of the feathers of this bird have 

 merely white tips which in wearing away would show the 

 black underneath. — H.F.W.] 



SNOWY OWL IN IRELAND. 



On April 5th, 1913, I received from Tory Island, Donegal, 

 a fine specimen (male) of the Snowy Owl {Nyctea nyctm). 

 The measurement of the extended wings from tip to tip of the 



