824 BRITISH BIRDS. 



protection. It would be valuable to know, for instance, how 

 quickly a species, which has become very rare in a particular 

 locality, can recover if unmolested, and if it is likely to increase 

 its breeding range under such conditions. If the watchers 

 were provided with simple schedules this information could 

 easily be gathered. — Eds. 



BIRD MIGRATION. 



The British Ornithologists' Club Migration Committee com- 

 mence observations on the spring migration for the fourth year 

 on 9th March. The Committee are very desirous of enlisting 

 further observers. All enquiries should be addressed to 

 Mr. J. L. Bonhote. at 3, Hanover Square, London. W., who 

 will gladly supply with schedules those who have oppor- 

 tunities of accurately recording the arrival and subsequent 

 movements of our common summer migrants. — Eds. 



BLACK REDSTART NEAR DUBLIN. 



In the " Irish Times " for 13th November, 1907, Mr. F. P. 

 A. MacLean wrote that a female Common Redstart Avas cap- 

 tured in a room at Kilternan, on 3rd November, 1907. On 

 enquiry, through Mr. G. R. Humphreys, to whom we are 

 much indebted, this proved to be an example of the Black 

 Redstart {Ruticilla titys), Mhich has frequently occurred in 

 winter on the east coast of Ireland, south of Dublin, and 

 along the south coast to Kerry, but rarely inland or on the 

 west coast north of Kerry, or anywhere north of Dublin. 

 We hear of the occurrence of another example recently near 

 Kingstown. — Eds. 



LESSER WHITETHROAT IN CUMBERLAND. 



Macpherson's account of the Lesser Whitethroat {Sylvia 

 curruca) in " A Vertebrate Fauna of Lakeland " (p. 96) 

 suggests that it is rare and local in Cumberland, and it may be 

 worth while to record its occurrence in the neighbourhood of 

 Ravenglass. On June 28th, 1906, I heard one in good song 

 near Muncaster Station, on the Eskdale Railway, and a 

 second in a plantation between that place and Ravenglass. 

 On July 13tli one was singing in Ravenglass Station yard 

 during a shower. 



Charles Oldham. 



