256 BRITISH BIRDS. [vol. ix. 



in Aberdeenshire, one in June, 1912, which was taken in 

 Heligoland in the following September, and the other, ringed 

 in October, 1910, Avas reported from Thiiringia, German}^ 

 in June, 1913. We have referred only to a few of the most 

 interesting items in the " Report," and those "who are 

 interested in the subject would do well to consult it. In his 

 introductory remarks Mr. Thomson states that one of the 

 necessary attributes of a sj^ecies to make it a fit subject for 

 ringing should be migratory movements of sufhcient interest 

 to repay close investigation. We do not, hoAvever, consider 

 such a restriction necessary or expedient, as there are so 

 many other points which may be decided by ringing ; further- 

 more, linging may prove that individuals of species supposed 

 to be sedentary are not entirely so. — H.F.W. 



Height at which Birds Fly. — In an interesting letter in 

 the Field (4.12.'15, p. 936), signed " Tinnunculus," it is stated 

 that " while flying on duty betMeen Bethune and La Bassee 

 at a height of 8500 ft. this afternoon (Nov. 26) I was astonished 

 to see a flock of about 500 ducks, or geese, passing over 

 Bethune at least 3000 ft. above the level of our machine. 

 The Avind Avas about 45-50 m.p.h. N.N.E. and the birds Avere 

 travelling due south." 



OiL-OLOoGKD Birds in Lancashire. — IVIr. G. Sanderson 

 informs us that a number of birds (chiefly Common Scoter) 

 came ashore betAveen Blackpool and Lytham in January. 

 Those he examined had their feathers more or less clogged 

 Avith an oily s\ibstance similar to those already reported from 

 th(? East Coast (antea, pp. 152-3). Mr. Sanderson has sent us 

 some saturated feathers taken from the breasts of tAvo of the 

 A^ictims — a Conniion Scoter and a Clreat Northern Diver. 



Fieldfare in Scotland in June. — We have already 

 referred {antea, p. 189) to a note reporting a Fieldfare (Turdu^ 

 pilaris) at Palnure on June 10th, 1915, and the Duchess of 

 Bedford now states {Scot. A'a^..l915, p. 356) that the bird 

 A\as examined and prOAcd to be a female Avith A\ell-deA'eloped 

 eggs, '' one Avith the shell forming and due to be laid in about 

 four days." 



The St. Kilda Wren. — ]\Ir. W. Eagle-Clarke contributes 

 an interesting article to the Scottish Natnralisl (1915, pp. 291-6) 

 on the plumages, status and habits of Troijlodytvs t. hirte^isis. 

 He gives detailed descriptions of the adult in fresh Avinter 

 plumage, the juA^enile, and the first-Avinter plumage. Mr. 

 Clarke states that the bird is to be found in all ]iarts of Hirta 

 and that it also occurs on the islands of Soay, Boreray, Dun 

 and Stack-an-Aiinin, being equally at home in the cultivated 

 atea, the hillsides, and the face of the great cliffs. 



