ORNITHOLOGICAL NOTES FROM DERBYSHIRE. 127 



with rhododendrons, were three nests. The first contained 

 two eggs, the second ten (both apparently forsaken), while the 

 third held no fewer than twenty-eight eggs ! On looking closely 

 at them, however, it was evident that they were the produce of 

 three or more ducks. Eight eggs were dark brownish and very 

 distinct, while the others, though more alike, showed at least 

 two types. A duck was on the nest, or rather heap of eggs, 

 when found, but it is needless to say that the bulk of them 

 were quite cold. There are now two pairs of Great Crested 

 Grebes on the ponds at Osmaston ; one pair had three young 

 (almost as big as their parents) with them on June 13th. On 

 the same day I had a good view of a fine drake Pochard, 

 which was strong on the wing, so that it is quite possible that 

 this species may have bred with us.' On July 19th Mr. G. Pullen 

 found an addled egg of the Nightjar on Breadsall Moor, where 

 the birds have been common this year. 



At Rocester station on July 20th I heard the cries of young 

 birds from an iron crane, and a minute's search disclosed a 

 brood of young Great Tits in a noUow part of the crane to 

 which the old birds obtained access through a chain hole. 

 Perhaps this may have been a second brood, though all the 

 evidence has hitherto seemed to point to the Great Tit being 

 single brooded. 



Canon Molineux writes from Staveley to say that an Egyptian 

 Goose was shot this spring on a pool not far away, and that 

 the Stock Dove still breeds in the district. 



Most of our local Swifts had disappeared by the middle of 

 August, but five or six were flying over the lake at Calwich 

 on August 1 6th, and two more were seen by the river Dove 

 on August 1 8th by Mr. Henderson. 



Mr. W. Storrs Fox noticed a Chiff Chaff singing in his garden 

 at Bakewell on September 14th, rather a late date for this 

 species, although in 1902 I heard it as late as October 2nd 

 at Clifton. The record is the more remarkable as the bird 

 is SO' ver}^ uncommon in the Bakewell district. 



Swallows and Martins were present in their usual numbers 



