VOL. X.] NOTES. 141 



Liniicoline birds, however, such as the Greenshank. Redshank, 

 and Lapwing, where eight eggs are not very infrequently 

 found in a nest, it is sometimes clearly the result of two 

 females. But I have seen twelve eggs in a Moorhen's nest, 

 while a laying from two hens would produce about sixteen 

 eggs. Mr. Bunyard tells me he has seen six eggs of the 

 Black-headed Gull in one clutch, " obviously the product 

 of one female," and that Mr J. M. Goodall possesses a genuine 

 "■ eight " of Woodcock. Many Oologists could probably 

 supply other instances Clifford Borrer. 



UNUSUAL SITE FOR KINGFISHER'S NEST. 



There are two reservoirs at Ynis-y-fro near Newport, Mon. 

 — an upper and a lower one. These are separated by a dam, 

 which is pierced by a tunnel, in which are laid two pipes to 

 convey Avater from one reservoir to the other. The tunnel 

 is about four and a half feet high by three and a half feet 

 wide, and the pipes rest on masonry supports which are 

 raised at intervals a few inches off the floor. The pipes 

 are placed close to one side and are not embedded in the 

 masonry. The entrance of the tunnel was closed with 

 boards in which were two or three holes three or four inches 

 in diameter. A pair of Kingfishers (Ahedo i. ispida) last 

 siunmer nested in the tunnel, laying their eggs on one of the 

 masonry supports close to the pipe, which of course pro- 

 jected outwards and upwards over them, the pipes being 

 about fourten inches in diameter. Four eggs were laid ancl 

 three young successfully reared. 



R. C. Banks. 



CUCKOOS' EGGS AND NESTLINGS IN 1916. 



This year Cuckoos were as plentiful in the Felsted district as 

 usual, and with the assistance of various members of the 

 Scientific Society twenty-four nests containing eggs or young 

 were fomid. The species victimized were Hedge-Sparrow 

 (15), Pied Wagtail (5), Robin (2), Sedge-Warbler (1), Reed- 

 Warbler (1). One egg was infertile ; this is only the fourth 

 infertile Cuckoo's egg met with out of all I have seen. A 

 mouse entered one nest and destroyed the Hedge-Spariow's 

 eggs first. Previous to this I have always foiuid the largest 

 egg taken first in such cases. Of the fourteen young that I 

 kept under observation, ten survived the nestling stage — a 

 verv good percentage compared with former years (cf., Vols. 

 VI.", pp. 330-3; VIL, pp. 233-4: VIII., p. 118; IX., 

 pp. 96-7). 



