188 BRITISH BIRDS. 



and 24tli. In 1902 thev were seen frequently, and in 1903, 

 when I saw one on December 16th within a few feet of where I 

 was standing 1 came to the conclusion that here at least the 

 species was non-migratory. In the following year, 1904, 1 have 

 the strongest belief that they nested at Lynmouth, for we saw 

 a pair of them on March Idth on the top of the sea wall of our 

 esplanade, and again in the same place on April 8th ; and 

 frequently from that date to May 19th, when only one, the male, 

 was seen. Afterwards both birds were seen carrying food in 

 their beaks up the clitr, and on July 30th the pair were there 

 with their young ones. The wall of the esplanade is about 

 three feet high, and about the same breadth, flat on the top, 

 then comes a footpath and a road, at the back of which is 

 a nearly perpendicular clift" about 300 feet high, which is a great 

 place for birds as it is very little disturbed. Other dates on 

 which we saw them in that year were October 9th, November 

 25th and 27th, and December 28th, and had we looked 1 expect 

 we could have seen them every day in the year. In 1905 the 

 dates were January 22nd, Febriiary frequently, March 23rd, 

 and June 4th (a young cock). In 1906 1 did not see this bird 

 till November 20th, and this year (1907) for the first time on 

 September 12th, and again on the 13th. Both last year and 

 this, however, there have been very late cold springs. 

 The following is a description of the birds : — 



Adult c? . — Size of AE. raii ; crown and nape, bluish-grey, 

 darker in some examples ; lores and ear-coverts paler, 

 but in no case with a distinctly pale line over the eye ; 

 back, greenish-yellow ; wing-coverts, greenish- brown 

 edged with a paler colour ; chin and upper breast, white ; 

 underparts, deep yellow ; tail-feathers, blackish brown, 

 sometimes almost black, except the two outer pairs, which 

 are white with a faint tinge of yellow, and with black 

 edges to the inner webs ; beak and feet, dark greyish 

 brown, not black as described in most books. 

 Adult ? . — Duller, Avith less pronounced colours. 

 Young. — Back greyer, Avith much less yellow on the under- 

 ])arts ; less marked difference in the colour of the tail- 

 feathers, and paler beak and claws. 



T. H. Briggs. 



LESSER GREY SHRIKE IN KENT. 



An immature example of Lanius minor, only partially through 

 the autumn moult, was shot at Brookland, October 7th, 1907. 

 For former records cf. antea, p. 147. N. F. Ticehurst. 



HAWFINCH BREEDING IN NORTHUMBERLAND. 

 Anent the iuteresting notes on this bird in the October 



