VOL. IX.] NOTES. 71 



thiit it has been deserted, I have taken the three eggs. It 

 is a great pity I did not see the parent bird, but after much 

 consideration and reference, I conckide that it is the nest 

 of a Tree-Sparrow {Passer m. montanus). 



Cecil W. Somerville. 



[The eggs are typical specimens of Tree- Sparrow's eggs. — 

 F.C.R.J.] 



INFERTILE EGGS IN NESTS OF WHITETHROAT. 



I HAVE recently examined in the neighbourhood of Gerrard's 

 Cross, Buckmghamshire, a dozen nests of the Whitethroat 

 {Sylvia c. communis). Seven of these nests contained each 

 two young birds apparently from about three to five days 

 old, and three eggs Avithout any sign of incubation, and the 

 remaining five nests each contained two clear eggs and 

 three young. Upon careful examination none of the eggs 

 appeared to be in any way damaged, and the nests were all 

 situated in a neighbourhood unfrequented by the public. 

 It would be interesting to know Avhether any other readers 

 of British Birds have had similar experience of the breeding 

 of this species this season in other parts of the country. 



Walter C. Hetherestgton. 



LARGE NUMBER OF YOUNG IN BROODS OF 

 SWALLOWS IN 1915. 



On Jvme 30th, 1915, I found a nest of Swallows {Chelidon 

 r. riistica) near Lancaster, containing a brood of eight, which 

 I venture to think is most exceptional. The present summer 

 is a splendid one for Swallows, the size of the broods being 

 altogether exceptional. During the last six days of June 

 I visited twenty -five nests around Lancaster ; of these the 

 one mentioned above contained eight young, while four had 

 broods of six, and twelve of five. 



That is, seventeen nests out of twenty-five, or sixty-eight 

 per cent., contained broods of five or more, the average 

 brood being 4.92. Comparing this with the best average 

 during the last seven years, 1911 shows forty-five per cent, 

 of broods of five or more, the average brood being 4.4 (see 

 British Birds, Vol. VII., p. 172). H. W. Robinson. 



TAWNY OWL NESTING ON THE GROUND. 



On June 13th, 1915, I was shown three young Tawny Owls 

 {Strix a. aluco) at the root of a large birch tree in a wood 

 near Cheadle, Staffordshire. The eggs were laid on the bare 

 ground, without the slightest apology for a nest, and without 



