m BRITISH BIRDS. 



and then dropping down again. This was practised for a 

 week and even ten days before the birds were able to balance 

 themselves well enough to fly any distance. 



H.F.W. 



■5f -Jf -X- 



The Nightingale in Derbyshire. — Mr. W. H. Walton 

 writes that since he recorded the occurrence of several 

 nightingales in 1901 at Mickleover and Ockbrook, near Derby, 

 they have not been seen or heard until this year. On May 

 8th one was noticed at Chellaston, about four miles south of 

 Derby, and was, up to May 13th, attracting large numbers 

 of hsteners {Field, 1908, p. 831). Nightingales, the Rev. F. C. R. 

 Jourdain tells us, breed sporadically in south Derbyshire, north 

 of the Trent, almost every year, but the above is a good deal 

 further north than usual. Any records of the distribution of 

 this bird towards the borders of its range are interesting. 



Supposed Woodchat in Cornwall. — Mr. G. H. Coles 

 records {Field, 1908, p. 831) that he watched within forty 

 feet with strong binoculars a Woodchat Shrike {L. pomeranus) 

 on the downs near Sennen (Land's End) on May 13th last. 

 The only description he gives of the bird is : "It was a male 

 bird in brilliant plumage, and the chestnut colour of the 

 back of the head and neck was particularly bright." It is 

 very possible that the bird was a Woodchat, but it is really 

 impossible to accept such records as authentic unless better 

 descriptions are given. The Woodchat has so many dis- 

 tinguishing characteristics in the field that there is really no 

 excuse in this case. — H.F.W. 



Habits of the Cuckoo. — Mr. F. Banister writes in the 

 "Field" (6, vi., 1908, p. 932) to the effect that he watched a 

 Cuckoo visit a Hedge-Sparrow's nest, containing three eggs, in 

 a hedge. The Cuckoo went to the nest and emerged in about 

 a minute with one of the Hedge-Sparrow's eggs in its bill. 

 This it proceeded to break up and, apparently, eat. On going 

 to the nest, Mr. Banister found one Cuckoo's egg and two 

 Hedge-Sparrow's. The author thinks that the Cuckoo laid 

 the egg in the nest, but this does not seem to be proved in 

 this case. The Cuckoo was at the nest for a very short time, 

 and the egg might have been carried inside the mouth 

 without attracting the attention of the observer. Observa- 

 tions on the actual depositing of eggs by Cuckoos, being few, 

 are always welcome (c/. B.B., Vol. I., p. 283).— H.F.W. 



