136 BRITISH BIRDS. 



and myself, and seem to show that the instance recorded by- 

 Mr. Robinson is quite abnormal in this country, and due to 

 some exceptional cause. It is interesting, however, to note 

 that Naumann, who must have had plenty of opportunities 

 for observation on this point, states that the young leave the 

 nest in about two Aveeks. F. C. R. Jourdain. 



In the Field for September 23rd, 1911 (p. 709), Mr. H. 

 Gandy states that his loader, J. Lowis, of Greengil Farm, 

 Barnard Castle, noticed no fewer than eight old House - 

 Martins {Chelidon urhica) engaged in feeding the four young 

 which still remained in a nest over the porch of his farm on 

 Sej)tember 2nd. There seems to be no doubt in this case as 

 to the number of birds engaged in the work, as the old birds 

 sometimes were seen sitting in a row with food, and as soon 

 as one had fed the young another took its place. As the 

 House-Martin seldom rears more than four young, or five at 

 the outside, they can hardly have been the young of a 

 previous brood. About a fortnight ago, Mr. J. Henderson 

 mentioned to me that several House-Martins were feeding 

 the .young in a nest on his outbuildings at Clifton, Derbyshire, 

 so that possibly this habit is not unusual in the case of late 

 broods, and may conduce to their more rapid development. 

 I have myself on two occasions seen three Swallows in 

 attendance on one nest. 



ROLLER IN DEVONSHIRE. 



I WENT down to Dartmoor on August 3rd, 1911, and stayed 

 not far from Chagford in a house close to the moor, 1,200 

 feet above sea level. For four days after I arrived there a 

 Roller {Coracias garrulus) frequented some rough fields 

 adjoining the moor. It was not at all wild, and if a little 

 caution were exercised it could be approached within fifteen 

 or twenty yards. It was, I think, a j'oung bird, as there was 

 very little blue on the head or breast. It evidently moved 

 on elsewhere about August 7th, as I never saw it after that 

 date, and could not hear that any such bird had been shot. 



Arthur Bankes. 



YOUNG CUCKOO IN THE NEST OF A BULLFINCH. 

 On July 8th, 1911, a keeper offered to show me a young 

 Cuckoo [Cuculus canorus). To my great surprise it was in 

 the nest of a Bullfinch {Pyrrhula europcea). He had found 

 it the previous day by hearing it " bawling." The bird 

 was very nearly ready to leave the nest, but was very thin 



