288 BRITISH BIRDS. [vol. xv. 



Short-eared Owl {Asio fiammeus). 



Nidificalion. — The nest of this Owl is little more than a 

 depression, merely a few bents of Carex or Juncus, and by 

 no means wide, the measurement of six inches by five being 

 just large enough to accommodate its large complement of 

 eggs. On May 28th one of my correspondents who had been 

 watching a pair, found their abode containing orie fledgling 

 which the hen was brooding, while at a little distance were 

 two more. The next day my friend, happening to be near 

 the nest again, was witness to a novel incident, as the male 

 Owl was settling and rising, a hen Pheasant which no doubt 

 had young ones not far off, attacked him, charging full tilt 

 and plucking out some feathers, whereupon the Owl retired 

 discomfited. Mr. Bird has reason to believe that a second 

 pair bred in the same locality. 



Rough-legged Buzzard {Buteo lagopus). 



Only two reported, and no Common Buzzards nor were 

 there any Honey-Buzzards in September to arouse the 

 wrath of our zealous gamekeepers. 



Spoonbill {Platalea I. lettcorodia) . 



The Protection afforded to Spoonbills. — A Spoonbill put in 

 an appearance on Breydon Broad, on June 5th (S.E.4), and 

 was joined by another on the 13th (N.N.W.3), and these 

 proved to be the only ones this year, which was perhaps one 

 effect of the drought. The Watcher employed by the 

 Breydon Wild-Birds Protection Society was on duty from 

 March 31st to August 17th, and no doubt saved the lives of 

 these and other birds from roving gunners who do not respect 

 the law. There had already been, as I learn from Mr. Clifford 

 Borrer, a party of six Spoonbills at the end of May on 

 Salthouse Broad, where they stayed a week or so, and on 

 June 7th, another turned up. Owing to breaches in the 

 sea-wall, this Broad, which was drained, has now almost 

 returned to its original condition, all the marshes being under 

 water, which ought to prove a great attraction to birds. 



Dr. Long learns from one of his correspondents that the 

 Spoonbills at Naardermeer did exceptionally well in 1921, 

 and also that for the first time a pair hatched off on Texel 

 Island. 



Grey Lag-Goose {Anser anser). 



Two seen with a White-fronted Goose on October 23rd 

 on Tompson Lake by Dr. Long. 



