E'IRST APPEARANCES OF BIRDS, INSECTS, ETC. l8l 



Blackbird [Turdus ?nenila).— On the young birds leaving 

 a nest on April gth, an egg was laid, and a second brood 

 of five was again reared /// the same ncsL (G. H.), Bere Regis. 



Kingfisher {Alccdo ispida). — An unusual quantity of king- 

 fishers observed. An instance seen of a kingfisher diving out 

 of sight underneath the water and bringing up a small fish. 

 (G. H.), Bere Regis. 



Nightingale {Daidias lusciiiia).—Yo\ivA five nightingales' 

 nests and carefully watched them feeding the young, sometimes 

 with mealworms. There were five eggs in each nest, and 

 24 young birds were reared, one c^^ only failing to hatch. 

 This record is unusual for nightingales, as their nests (as in 

 the case of these five), being generally on the ground, the 

 greater part are destroyed by vermin. (G. H.), Bere Regis. 



Peregrine Falcon {Falco pcicgrinus). — Seen on February 

 I ith in the Childe Okeford district. (D. C.) 



Starling {Sturtms vulgaris). — On April 2nd and June ist I 

 observed a starling with more than half of the middle of the tail 

 pure white ; when flying the back appeared to be also white. On 

 April I oth I saw one with a bluish white back. (S. C.), Sherp.orne. 



Wild Duck {Anas boscas). — November loth found two 

 domesticated wild ducks' nests with 14 and 18 eggs. They 

 continued to lay till the frosty weather stopped them, the first 

 week in December. (^S. C), Sherborne. 



Blue-tailed Bee Eater {Mcrops p/i/Iippinns).— Mrs. Butts, 

 of The Salterns, Parkstone, caught a specimen of this bird in 

 September of this year. From the fact of its being an extra- 

 European species, the chances would seem to be in favour of its 

 having escaped from a cage, though Mrs. Butts says that it had 

 no signs of having ever been in captivity about it, I am not 

 aware of any other British record. 



Miscellaneous bird notes by (S. C), Sherborne: — January 

 20th. Partridges paired. April 21st. Saw a young missel thrush 

 flying with old one in attendance. August 25th. Robins began 

 to sing at break of day. August 28th. Observed three landrails 

 after cutting a cornfield. September 27th. Heard a thrush 

 singing at Kingstone, near Ilminster. October iSth. Thrushes', 



