my 

ROCK-PIPIT IN CAMBRIDGESHIRE. 
My brother’s recent record of Rock Pipits inland in France 
reminded me of an observation of my own which I probably 
ought to have recorded. On October 10th, 1915, I heard 
the note of a Rock Pipit (Anthus spinoletta) on Milton Sewage 
Farm, Cambridge. I sawthe bird fly, and heard the note 
repeated several times, but I could not get a close enough 
view to be certain whether it was A. s. petrosus or ae 
s. spinoletta ; but I doubt if it was quite dark enough or 
large enough for the former. H. G. ALEXANDmr. 
ABSENCE OF FIELDFARES IN WINTER, 1917-1918. 
One of the most remarkable features of the winter of 1917-18 
has been the absence or extreme scarcity of the Fieldfare 
(Turdus pilaris) in the British Isles. Among the districts 
from which its absence has been noted may be mentioned : 
Dorset, none near Wimborne at Christmas, 1917 ie Bartlett, 
Field, February 9th, 1918); Somerset, none (Dr. J. Wigles- 
worth, an litt.) ; Wilts., none near Warmiuster ‘ . Bartlett, 
Lc.) ; S.E. Sussex, none seen (Dr N. F. Ticehurst); Surrey, 
a flock of sixteen seen on Epsom Common, no others (C. G. 
Sitzler, Field, Felruary 16th, 1918); Norfolk, none identified 
with certainty near Norwich (J. H. Gurney, in litt.); West 
Berks., only one flock of eight seen in early November, 1917, 
by G. Tickner: Oxford, none seen in north (O. V. Aplin, 
Field, Feb. 2, 1918) ; none seen in south (F. C. R. Jourdain) ; 
Herts. ., only one pair seen on February 3rd (Lieut. B. E. F., 
Field, Feb. 16, 1918): near Tring Dr. Hartert reports one 
flock seen by C. Oldham in November, 1917, and two birds in 
January, 1918, by F. Young ; Bedford, one big flight seen at 
end of Noy ember, none since (Major G. Haines, Field, February 
9th, 1918); Warwick, none near Birminzham, December 6th 
to January 14th (C. Suffern, Field, l.c.); 8. Northants, none 
seen (O. V. Aplin, Field, Feb. 2, 1918) ; Leicester, none near 
Lutterworth (Major H. Jury, Field, J. c.) . Notts., none near 
Rainworth (J. Whitaker, Field, January 26th, 1918) ; Lincoln, 
extraordinary scarcity noted (J. Allison, Louth, Field, 
Feb. 16, 1918) ; S.W. Lanes., none (D. H.S., Field, February 
9th, 1918); Yorks., none near Beverley (F. Boyes, Field, 
February 2nd, 1918); only two seen, in company with thirty 
Redwings, Pateley Bridge (C. Barlow, Field, Feb. 16, 1918) 
