206 BRITISH BIRDS. [vol. vii. 



I think that the possessor of these eggs ought to thank us for 

 taking all this trouble for him, but it is to be hoped that he will 

 now allow the eggs and down to be examined and compared by a 

 specialist in this matter so that the facts we have gathered may 

 have a greater value. James R. Hale, 



[The eggs and down have been seen by one of us, who is satisfied 

 that they are correctly identified as those of the Long-tailed Duck. 

 There is no doubt that a clutch of eggs with down of this species can 

 be identified with certainty. — Eds.J 



LESSER WHITETHROAT BREEDING IN SOUTH DEVON. 

 To the Editors of British Birds. 



Sirs, — In reference to Mr. S. G. Cummings's letter and inquiries 

 in your August issue (p. 92) concerning the Cirl Bunting {Emberiza 

 drills) and the Lesser "VVhitethroat [Sylvia c. curruca), the Cirl 

 Bunting is far from being an uncommon bird in the neighbour- 

 hood of Beer, Devon, the only reason I did not mention it in my 

 letter {p. 63) being that at the time of writing I had been unable 

 to find a nest. Of the Lesser Whitethroat I found a number of 

 nests, all but one in the rough growth near what is locally known 

 as the Roman Quarries at Beer. In one particular spot within a 

 radius of well under one himdred yards there was a large colony 

 (if the word is permissible) of these little birds, and I have often 

 seen eight or ten of them at one time. I never saw a Lesser 

 Whitethroat anywhere else in the neighbourhood except one pair 

 which nested in the bottom of a hedge about a mile away. 



May I tender my apologies to Mr. Cummings for my tardiness 

 in answering his letter, my excuse being that I did not see the issue 

 until this week. Lewis R. W. Loyd. 



Maid A Vale, London, W. 



WHINCHAT BREEDING IN CO. CORK. 



To the Editors of British Birds. 



Sirs, — In Mr. Stenhouse's note (antea, p. 53) on this subject he 

 stated that the young had left the nest by May 15th ; that is to say, 

 the full complement of eggs was laid by the 20th April at the latest. 

 This date, in my experience, is extraordinary, and is I venture to say, 

 imprecedented. S. G. Cummings. 



Upton Heath, Chester, November 4th, 1913. 



