MANX ORNITHOLOGICAL NOTES: 1912-13. 



BY 



P. G. RALFE. 



The following notes continue the Manx record from the 

 end of the period covered by the article in British .Birds, 

 Vol. v., pp. 300-4, to the end of the year 1913. 



There is still, probably, a lack of information about 

 some of our smaller species, but the Yellow Wagtail may 

 definitely be added to the list. 



Rook {Corvus f. frugilegus). — Mr. F. S. Graves noted 

 young Rooks still in nests at Tholt-e-Will, Sulbv Glen, on 

 June 7th, 1913. 



Chough {Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax) . — In 1913 the site in a 

 western cave, first noted in 1877 and used in various succeed- 

 ing years, was again occupied by a nest. The site in an old 

 mine- working {B.B., V., p. 301) was resorted to both in 



1912 and 1913, a brood being reared on each occasion. In 



1913 I was shown a new site on the same coast, high up in a 

 long, deep fissure, opening obliquely from the sea and filled 

 with luxuriant ferns. 



Yellow Wagtail [Motacilla f. rayi). — It could hardly be 

 doubted that this species occurred at least on migration, 

 but I long had a difficulty in establishing a record. As far 

 back as 1906 I saw an egg, taken from a nest in a damp and 

 low-lying situation at Baldwin, which appeared to belong 

 to this bird. Several credible observers on the north of the 

 island insisted on having seen both bird and nest. In 

 the last days of August, 1913, I met with a party of a dozen 

 or more at Scarlett ; some of these were richly-coloured 

 adult males. 



Grey Wagtail {Motacilla b. hoarula). — Mr. F. S. Graves 

 now notes the Grey Wagtail on the Neb, on the stream at 

 Ingebreck, and indeed on all likely waters of the island, at 

 breeding-time. At Spooyt Vane young were just leaving 

 the nest on May 26th, 1913. 



White Wagtail {Motacilla a. alba). — Migrating parties 

 continue to be seen on the south coast in spring and early 

 summer, and again much more numerously in late summer 

 and early autumn. At the latter season many of the birds 

 naturally are immature, and in many cases I have not been 

 able to discriminate between the species, but think that 

 M, a. alba at least largely preponderates. The birds are 



