42 BRITISH BIRDS. [vol. xiv. 



quite undemonstrative. On no occasion when flushed from 

 her eggs or young did the hen show any anxiety ; on the 

 contrary, she skulked in the oUve bush until driven out. 

 The cock was not seen until after the young had flown, when 

 he was seen assisting his mate. On the day the young left 

 the nest, the hen for the first time uttered her alarm-note 

 several times before diving down beside the young. Un- 

 fortunately the olive bush was in such a position that it 

 was impossible to observe what share the cock took in the 

 duties of incubation. J. H. Stenhouse, 



BLACKBIRD'S PECULIAR NESTING-SITE. 



In 1919 a pair of Blackbirds {Turdiis m. merula) built their 

 nest on the handles of some tools in a tool-box on an allot- 

 ment, near Edinburgh, entering the box by the hole in the 

 end of it made for the handles of the tools. Five eggs were 

 laid, and five young reared. The old bird was very tame, and 

 was not disturbed by people opening the box or constantly 

 passing it. Ian Meikle. 



SWALLOW RINGED IN STIRLINGSHIRE FOUND 

 IN THE TRANSVAAL. 



Some little time ago I heard from several sources that a 

 Swallow {Hirundo r. rustica), bearing a British Birds ring, had 

 been found at Lake Chrissie, Transvaal, but details were 

 lacking. Major J. W. H. Seppings, however, very kindly 

 interested himself in the matter, and has sent me the following 

 letter from Mr. C. H. Esterhuysen, who found the bird. 



P.O. Box 25, 

 Major J. W. H. Seppings, Lake Chrissie. 



Cape Town. May 13th, 1920. 



Dear Sir, 



With regard to your letter dated May 3rd, re " migration of birds," 

 I wish to inform you that the Swallow referred to in yours was found 

 on the farm Knockdhu, District Ermelo, Tvl., on the 28th of Jan., 

 1920. The ringed Swallow was caught alive, the ring taken off, and let 

 off again. 



I enclose the ring. 



Yours faithfully, 



C. H. Esterhuysen. 



This Swallow, bearing ring numbered K.R. 87, was ringed 

 as a young bird by Mr. J. Bartholomew, at Torrance, Stirling- 

 shire, on June 27th, 1919. 



This is the fifth Swallow ringed in Great Britain under 

 the British Birds scheme which has been reported from 

 South Africa. 



Major Seppings has very kindly secured a good deal of 



