BRITISmDIKDS 



EDITED BY H. F. WITHERBY, F.Z.S, M.B.O.U. 



ASSISTED BY 



Rev.F. C. E. Jourdain, m.a., m.b.o.u., W. P. Pycraft, a.l.s., 

 m.b.o.u., and Norman F. Ticehurst, m.a., f.r.c.s., m.b.o.u. 



Contents of Number 3, Vol. III. August 2, 1009. 



A remarkable incident in the Life-History of the Water-Rail, 



by Miss E. L. Turner .. Page 65 



Observations on the Migration of Birds in the Mediter- 

 ranean, by Commander H. Lynes, r.n., m.b.o.u. — 

 {continued from page 51) ... ... ... 69 



Notes : — The Longevity of Birds (The Duchess of Bedford). 

 Winter Habits of the Blackcap and Mating for Life 

 (Percy R. Lowe). Large Brood of Reed-Warblers 

 (D. H. Meares). Arrival of Martins at their Breeding 

 Haunts (J. Lewis Bonhote). Paper used as Nesting 

 Material by Lesser Redpoll (Col. H. Meyrick). Cross- 

 bills in Scotland and England (N. F. Ticehurst and 

 E. G. B. Meade- Waldo). Curious Site for a Starling's 

 Nest (F. W. Headley). Ravens as Scavengers 

 (J. E. Harting). Little Owl Breeding in Derbyshire 

 (C. H. Wells). The Peregrine Falcon on the Yorkshire 

 Cliffs (E. W. Wade and W. J. Clarke . Migration 

 Routes of White Storks (A. Landsborough Thomson). 

 Red Grouse. Heather, and Crowberry (Fredk. J. Stubbs). 

 Woodcock Breeding in Surrey (C. Hawkins). Late 

 Nesting of the Woodcock (Heatley Noble). Snipe 

 Perching iEds.). Increase of the Redshank in Clyde 

 (Walter Stewart). Common Terns on Holyhead 

 Skerries (Heatley Noble). Arctic Terns Feeding on 

 Crane and May Flies (Wm. C. Wrighl). Brunnich's 

 Guillemot in Yorkshire (Oxley Grabham). Land Birds 

 Nesting in Holes ... ... ... ... ... 78 



A REMARKABLE INCIDENT IN THE LIFE- 

 HISTORY OF THE WATER-RAIL. 



BY 

 E. L. TURNER. 



I had the Water-Rail (Rallus aquaticus) figured here 

 under observation for a month, as I was particularly 

 anxious to secure photographs of the young when 

 fledged. Perhaps the most astonishing fact with regard 



