Ornithological Notes. 35 
female (which correspond physiologically with the testes) 
which is sufficient to produce sterility, will often cause the 
female, as in this case, to assume some of the characteristics 
of the male. 
Cirl Bunting (E. cirlus L.)—I have here a nest and eggs 
of this species, which I found in a plantation at Woodcote, 
near Croydon, on July 15th last. The nest was about two 
feet from the ground, and was placed between the trunk of a 
small tree and the boughs of some ivy which was climbing 
up it. Ihave also a single egg which I took from a nest ina 
thorn bush in Gatton Park, on July 2oth, 1873. There was 
another egg in this nest, which, unfortunately, was broken. 
All these eggs, notwithstanding the late date at which they 
were found, were fresh laid. The Cirl Bunting is not by any 
means a common bird. Like its near connection, the common 
Yellow Bunting, it is resident, but its breeding area is restricted 
and peculiar. It is said never to have bred in Kent, in any ot 
the eastern counties, or in Wales. It is most abundant in the 
counties, other than Kent, which extend along our south coast; 
and it has also been known to breed in most of the counties 
which lie to the north of these, up to, and including Warwick- 
shire. Surrey, for some reason or other, seems to be rather a 
favourite county with this species. 
Stock Dove (Columba enas).—There can, I think, be no 
doubt, that this species has of late years increased in numbers 
in our county. Like the closely-allied species, the common 
Ring Dove, or Wood Pigeon (C. palumbus), the Stock Dove 
not unfrequently selects for its breeding place a tree which is 
quite close to human habitations, whereas, at any other season 
of the year both species are very shy, and difficult to approach. 
A pair of Stock Doves have bred regularly for many years in the 
yew tree which stands close to the front door at Pendell Court, 
near Bletchingley, and last year I was greatly interested in 
watching a pair of these birds, which nested so close to our 
town as the grounds attached to Park Hill House. They first 
appeared in the middle of March, 1877, and took possession of 
a hollow and decayed bough of an elm tree not thirty yards 
from the house. They remained about the place for some 
days, and no doubt would have bred there, but they were 
eventually driven away by a pair of Jackdaws, which took 
possession of the hole, and reared a brood in it. In the middle 
of February, 1878, both the Doves and the Jackdaws reap- 
peared, but I shot one of the Jackdaws, and the Doves were 
then left in possession of the hole. They reared two broods 
in it: On May rgth I found one of the old birds sitting on 
