PRELIMINARY CLASSIFIED NOTES 



been taken at Trevoae Head Lighthouse (Cornwall) aa late aa 16th October (1906). 

 The directions of these immigrations and emigrations have not yet been ascer- 

 tained, chiefly owing to the paucity of records obtainable for so comparatively un- 

 common a species (Cf. Saunders, IU. Man. 11. B., 2nd ed., 1899, p. 159 ; Ussher and 

 Warren, B. of Ireland, 1900, p. 47 ; Witherby and Tioehurat, British Birds, L p. 

 148; Nelson, B. of York*., 1907, pp. 149-152; Ticehurst, B. of Kent, 1909, pp. 126- 

 130; Seventh Brit. Assoc. Migration Report, p. 43; Fifth B. O. C. Migration Report, 

 pp. 117, 249, 250, etc.). On Heligoland the spring passage may continue from the 

 l.i-t \\.t-k of April till tin- lir.st \\<t-k of .July. Yomi^ bird-, ht-^in to pu.-vs in tin- 

 first week of August, and the autumn movement continues till late in September 

 (cf. Gatke, Vogelwarte Helgoland, Eng. trans., 1895, pp. 222-223). On its British 

 migrations this species is met with singly, in pairs, or very small parties (cf. Tice- 

 hurst, foe. ciL). [A. L. T.]. 



4. Nest and Eggs. Generally found in a hole of some kind in well- 

 wooded country, and not far from running water. Any natural hole in a tree may 

 be utilised, or a hollow in a rotten stump, sometimes only a foot or so above 

 the ground, while on other occasions it is as much as 20 to 30 feet from it. 

 Old woodpeckers 1 holes are often used, as well as crevices in stonework of 

 buildings. A breeding-place is often occupied year after year. The materials 

 used are dead leaves, with bents, moss, and bits of honeysuckle bark, lined 

 with grasses and roots, and occasionally hair, feathers, or wool. Whether 

 the cock assists in building appears not to be recorded. The eggs are usually 

 6 or 7, sometimes 8 or 9, very pale blue in colour, thin shelled and transparent 

 looking. Varieties in which fine red spots are found have occasionally been found. 

 (Plate D.) Average size of 100 eggs, -68 x -52 in. [17*36 x 13-4 mm.]. The eggs may 

 be found by mid-May, but generally towards the end of the month or early in June. 

 Incubation Lists about a fortnight, and is usually carried on by the hen bird 

 who sits extremely closely. Only one brood is reared in the season. [r. c. R, J.] 



5. Food. Insects and their larvae. In autumn wild berries (Bailly). The 

 young are fed by both parents entirely on insects and their larvae. [B. L. T.] 



6. Song Period. From ita arrival in April till about the middle of June. 

 [B. L. T.] 



The following species are described in the supplementary chapter on "Rare 



Birds" :- 



Red-breasted Flycatcher, Muscicapa parva Bechstein. 

 Brown Flycatcher, Muscicapa latirostris Raffles, [r. c. B. J.] 



