24 BRITISH BIRDS. 



to the west and north-west, where the species has seldom 

 or never been previously recorded. It will be interesting if 

 observers in places along the western and northern boundaries 

 of the Nightingale's ordinary territory will keep a look out 

 to see if this year it exceeds the limit in other districts, as it 

 has done in Shropshire. H. E. Forrest. 



GREY WAGTAIL BREEDING IN SURREY. 



On May 14th, 1911, while walking along the banks of the 

 River Wey near Elstead, I was surprised to see a Grey 

 Wagtail [Motacilla melanope) chasing a Pied Wagtail 

 {M. lugubris), and as the former flew down stream towards a 

 water-wheel house it was joined by its mate, which had some- 

 thing in its beak. Thinking they were nesting, I waited some 

 time in the hope of seeing them again. I then made my way 

 towards where I saw them fly. After watching one of them 

 for a few minutes, I commenced a dihgent search, and succeeded 

 in finding the nest, on which I could distinctly see the bird 

 with my glasses. As I approached the nest the bird came off, 

 and was very demonstrative. I had some difficulty in reaching 

 the nest, which was situated in the thatch of the water-wheel 

 house, overhanging the w^ater. It contained 3^oung birds just 

 hatched out. 



Referring to records in The Birds of Surrey (J. A. Bucknill), 

 p. 137, I find there are only two well authenticated records 

 of the species having bred in the county. I cannot agree with 

 the author that the eggs are quite unmistakable ; indeed, in 

 some cases, it would be quite impossible to separate them from 

 the eggs of the Yellow Wagtail {M. raii), though if a series of 

 the two species be placed side by side, it will be easily seen that 

 there is a general tendency towards a paler colouring and a 

 large size in the eggs of the Grey Wagtail. P. F. Bunyard. 



THE TWO-BARRED CROSSBILL IN SCOTLAND. 



In looking over some back numbers of British Birds, my 

 attention was drawn to the note by Mr. William Evans in 

 Vol. III., p. 306, and although it can hardly pass as a good 

 " record," perhaps the following note from one of my old 

 journals may be of interest to some of your readers, and may 

 possibly lead to the tracing of the further history of the 

 specimen by someone resident in the north : — 



When in Inverness on August 15th, 1882, I saw in the 

 shop of Mr. Henderson, taxidermist and gun-maker, a very 

 good specimen of Loxia bifasciata, along with eight or ten 

 Common Crossbills, aU of which, I was informed, had been 



