160 BKITISH BIRDS. [vol.xv. 



the song of individual Chaffinches, Blackbirds, Song-Thrushes, 

 and some other species at Enniskillen. In every case he 

 found that song diminished after a mate appeared, and that 

 the birds that continued in full song during the breeding- 

 season appeared to be mateless. After the first broods were 

 liedged, however, revival of song was noted, but not for long. 

 It appears from his observations that in north Ireland most 

 birds stop singing entirely three or four weeks earlier than 

 in south-east England. 



He also gives interesting particulars of the times of day 

 when each species sings most ; these evidently change as 

 the season advances. His notes on fighting, too, and on 

 " territory " generally, are a useful commentary on 

 Mr. Howard's theories, and he notices changes in feeding- 

 habits during the season. It appears that two of his Black- 

 birds, which, one gathers, were mated all through the winter, 

 never sang at all ! His conclusions are first, that \'igorous 

 song, even the residual song of autumn, indicates the will 

 to mate, and that the restriction of breeding to spring-time 

 is solely due to the lack of response on the part of the females ; 

 secondly, that vigorous song is to all intents and purposes 

 restricted to the breeding territory, whatever the season 

 may be. H. G. A. 



Spread of Little Owl to Sussex Coast. — With 

 reference to a note on this subject {antea, p. 119) Mr. H. 

 Bentham writes that he saw a Little Owl between Shoreham 

 and Bramber on July 25th, 191 9, and the following year 

 a pair was nesting about a mile south of Henfield, while on 

 December 26th, 1920, he heard a Little Owl on the South 

 Downs close to Steyning. Capt. H. F. Stoneham also 

 informs us that he has a young bird, obtained at Shoreham 

 in 1919, which must have been bred in the vicinity. 



Inland Occurrences of Waders.— -Mr. H. G. Alexander 

 has suggested to us that an enquiry into the occurrences of 

 Waders at reservoirs this autumn would be worth while in 

 view of the drought, as this has caused most of the reservoirs 

 to be very low, and consequently a considerable amount of 

 mud has been exposed, thus affording an attraction to Waders. 

 We shall, therefore, be glad if any of our readers who have 

 been in the habit of watching birds at reservoirs and also 

 at sewage farms would give us details of the occurrences of 

 Waders at these places this year with a comparison, if possible, 

 of previous years. Our knowledge of the migration of Waders 

 across country is still very scanty, and these obser\^ations 

 might throw some light on the subject. — Eds. 



