188 BRITISH BIRDS. 



the following from my notes for the year 1904 may be of 

 interest. 



In the latter half of April, whilst on the voyage home from 

 India per P. & 0. s.s. " Egypt," and when in Lat. 34° 10", 

 Long. 23°, i.e., about seventy miles south-west of Gozo, off 

 Crete, a number of small Passeres came on board. Among 

 these were several Swallows (Hirundo rustica), and three or 

 four Woodchat Shrikes (Lanius awiculatus). One of the 

 latter alighted in front of me, on a davit-chain on the boat- 

 deck, in close proximity to an exhausted Swallow resting on 

 the same perch. After eyeing the Swallow for a moment or 

 two, the Shrike sidled up to it, and suddenly pouncing on it 

 the two fluttered together to the deck. Here the Shrike 

 quickly despatched its victim by hammering in its skull, and 

 then proceeded to break it up and voraciously devour it. The 

 other Shrikes now appeared on the scene, evidently intent on 

 a share of the repast, but were driven off by the one in 

 possession. 



Although, besides the Swallows, a few other tired little 

 migrants sat perched about the decks and in the rigging, such 

 as Willow-Warblers (Phylloscopus trochilus) and Wagtails 

 (Motacilla flava), I saw none of the other Shrikes follow the 

 example of the first and kill. They did not appear to have 

 the pluck and determination to take what was waiting for 

 them. Possibly exhaustion had told on them, and the 

 requisite vigour was not forthcoming. 



The wind, which was at the time S.E. or a following one, 

 was favourable to the stay of the migrants on board, but by 

 sunset it had backed to a stiff " Nor.-Wester " and all of them 

 were blown off astern. We were then some two hundred 

 miles from the nearest land, and I think it likely that the 

 only one of our visitors that succeeded in reaching European 

 shores was the Shrike, that seized the opportunity to fortify 

 the "inner bird," as described. H. A. F. Magrath. 



NOTES ON THE BREEDING OF THE SISKIN IN 



NORTH WICKLOW. 

 Since 1904 the Siskin (Carduelis spinus) has been a favourite 

 of mine ; its joyousness during the breeding season, tameness, 

 quaint ways, and local distribution, make it a most fascinating 

 study. I have examined a large number of nests in North 

 Wicklow, Ireland, and have seen very few in April, the first 

 clutch usually being laid in May, and the second in June or July. 

 I append a list of nests inspected by me in July, 1908, and 

 from April 1st to June 6th, 1909. Only two of these nests 

 could have contained eggs in April, and the first nest I found 



