56 BRITISH BIRDS. [vol. vii. 



It will be noticed that this bird seldom occupied the same 

 nesting-site twice : a fact that may be due to the Jackdaws, 

 which were most persistent intruders and whose nests 1 some- 

 times omitted to remove from the Owls' nesting -sites. 



Edward Earle. 



[It is characteristic of the Tawny Owl not to use the same 

 site in consecutive years, as long as other nesting -places are 

 available for the purpose. When breeding -pi aces are scarce 

 the same hole may be occupied year after j^ear. — F.C.R.J.] 



TUFTED DUCK BREEDING IN ESSEX. 



On June 11th, 1913, I found the nest of a Tufted Duck {Nyroca 

 fuligula) containing eight eggs at Walthamstow Reservoirs. 

 The nest was situated on the bank of one of the reservoirs 

 in the midst of long, dense grass. Although for some years 

 my friends and I have searched this ground this is the first 

 nest we have found, but we have previously seen t^^o broods 

 of young birds. 



Considerable numbers of both sexes of this duck frequent 

 these reservoirs through the whole year. On June 16th 

 I counted eighty-seven, male and female, on one reservoir 

 alone and, as one would expect, the number is augmented 

 in winter. 



The presence of these ducks throughout the breeding- 

 season is somewhat of a mj^stery, as apparently very few 

 breed, for we have found only one nest and two broods of 

 young birds ; moreover the females may be seen in com2:>any 

 with the males when incubation should be taking place. 

 The question arises, are nearly all these birds sterile V I 

 .should be interested to hear if other colonies of the Tufted 

 Duck are know to be similarl}^ affected, and if so, what the 

 explanation is. William E. Glegg. 



FULMAR PETREL BREEDING IN CO. KERRY. 



The rapid extension southwards of the breeding -range of 

 the Fulmar Petrel {Fulmarus g. glacialis) is exemplified 

 by its occurrence this year on the Great Skellig (seven hundred 

 and ten feet high) off co. Kerry, latitude about 5D' 48'. The 

 Lightkeeper, Mr. McGinley, on May 26th, 1913, reported 

 twelve pairs breeding, and desiring corrobation I wrote for 

 one egg, ^vhich I have received to-day, June 24th. 



Richard M. Barrington. 



[For notes on the first breeding of the Fulmar Petrel in 

 Ireland, see Vol. V., p. 141, and Vol. VI., p. 165.— Eds.] 



