148 ORNITHOLOGICAL NOTES KROM DERBYSHIRE. 



Godber, and on the same day Lapwings' nests were found with 

 full clutches. By about the 27th Wheatears had returned to 

 their summer quarters on Thorpe Cloud. 



Some of our more hardy resident birds must have nested 

 exceptionally early this year. Thus a Brown Owl's nest con- 

 tained three young in down at the end of February, nearly a 

 month before the time when eggs are generally laid, and a 

 Dipper's nest on the Henmore brook had young almost fledged 

 on April 12th. 



During part of the months of April and May I was abroad, 

 and in consequence my notes for this period are rather scanty. 

 The Chiffchaff once more failed to put in an appearance in 

 the upper Dove valley, to which it was until the last year or two a 

 regular spring visitor. The most interesting feature of the season, 

 however, was the re-appearance of the Merlin on the moors near 

 Bakewell, as recorded by Mr. W. Storrs Fox in the Zoologist, 

 1905, p. 267. These beautiful little moorland hawks have been 

 so persecuted by keepers that it is marvellous that any are still 

 to be met with in the county. Two nests were found : the 

 first was about 8| miles N.N.E. of Bakewell, and contained 

 the rather unusual number of five eggs, on May 29th. Both old 

 birds were trapped. On June 28th another nest was found 

 about six miles N.E. of Bakewell, and some three miles from 

 the first. Curiously enough this nest contained five well- 

 grown young birds in the usual smoke grey down. The female 

 was trapped and the male shot. 



A nest of the Great Spotted Woodpecker, about 35 ft. high 

 in a dead tree not far from Dovedale, contained six fresh eggs 

 on June 6th. Higher up were two old nesting holes, which had 

 evidently been used in former years. Another pair must have 

 bred in Manners Wood, near Bakewell, from whence a young 

 bird was brought alive to Mr. Storrs Fox on June 25th. 



The summer and autumn were exceptionally dry, and the 

 rainfall for the year very much below the average. In many 

 parts of England Swifts and various species of Hirundinidae 

 were observed much later than usual. A single Swift was busily 



