26 



THE NATURALIST. 



Since writing the above I have 

 glanced over Mr. Couch's paper on 

 the Natter-Jack ; I find that the 

 eggs though in tivo rows were ar- 

 ranged alternately, and consequently 

 it is more than probable that there 

 would be only eight to the linear 

 inch. This would reduce the num- 

 ber to 9,600, or nearly the same as 

 I make for the common toad. — J.H. 



Red Grouse. — I have to record the 

 first appearance of this bird in Essex. 

 A fine specimen having been shot at 

 Little Tey, by Mr. William Patten, 

 and which is now in the possession 

 of Mr. H. Eose, of Coggeshall, for 

 preservation. — C. Denny, Kelvedon. 



Merlin (Falco cssalonj. — A fine 

 specimen of the above bird was 

 recently shot in this neighbourhood, 

 and is also in the possession of Mr. 

 H. Eose, of Coggeshall, for preserva- 

 tion. — C. Denny, Kelvedon. 



Occurrenee of the Tufted Duck, at 

 Halifax. — I have just heard that a 

 pair of the Tufted Ducks {Arias 

 fuligida) were shot in this neighbour- 

 hood, about ten days ago. — J. 

 Gibson, Washer Lane, Halifax, 

 April 28th, 1864. 



Occurrence of the Dunlin and Pied 

 Flycatcher at Meltham. — On the 27th 

 ult., I saw a pair of Dunlins (Tringa 

 variabilis) on the moors above Mel- 

 tham. I was not previously aware 

 that they bred in this locality. On 



the 28th ult. I saw perched on an 

 extended bough of alder, growing on 

 the bank of Meltham Mills reser- 

 voir, a Pied Flycatcher (Muscicapa 

 atricapilla), which is only a very 

 occasional visitant here. — Alfred 

 Beaumont, Greave, near Meltham, 

 May 4th, 18G4. 



The Hock Dove (Columha livia). — 

 This bird I am very happy to say 

 we have, during the last few days, 

 been enabled to add to the list of 

 those breeding in this neighbour- 

 hood, from the fact of having found 

 on the 26th of last month, two nests 

 containing two half-fledged young 

 ones each, in a cluster of rocks about 

 two miles and a half from this town. 

 — J. AsPDiN, Eichmond, Yorkshire. 

 May 5th, 1864. 



Curious place for a Robin's Nest. — 

 On the 23rd of last month I found 

 a robin's nest built in the bottom of 

 the deserted nest of a magpie, which 

 was placed in a thorn bush, about 

 twenty feet from the ground. It 

 contained five eggs, and the hen bird 

 had just commenced sitting. — J. 

 AsPDiN, Eichmond, Yorkshire, May 

 5th, 1864. 



Crymodes templi. — On the 30th ult. 

 I had the good fortune to find at 

 rest, on the bole of a wild cherry, a 

 fine female G. templi. — Geo. Liver- 

 sedge, Bum Eoyd, Huddersfield. 

 Mav 7th, 1864. 



