18 BRITISH BIR'DS. [vol. vtii. 



Midland Railway Co. — Northern Counties Committee, 



Limavady Station, 16.5.1914. 



Dear Sir, — This is a true story. The set of carriages under one 

 of which the nest has been built, makes tliree trips daUy, Sundays 

 excepted, here to Limavady Junction at 8.10 a.m. and right back 

 to here ; here to Limavady Junction at 10.20 a.m. and right back to 

 here ; here to Derry at 11.35 a.m. and return from Derry at 4.40 p.m. 



The nest was only discovered on May 5th. When the man at Derry 

 who examines all carriages was carrying out his duties the bird flew 

 off, but resumed on the nest before the return of the train in the evening. 



On the 6th inst. she again left the nest on arrival in Derry to procure 

 food, etc., but unfortunately she missed the train that evening. The 

 train formerly left Derry at 4.50 p.m., and I presume the change 

 had something to do with her missing the train. However, she was 

 here again the following morning. It got into the Press, and so many 

 people were examining the nest and actually putting their hands into 

 it to prove the question of eggs, that she left it for ever. ... To 

 prevent trespassers on the line I had to remove the nest to the 

 office here, and of course the eggs are now lost. 



Xow this carriage travelled regularly (Sundays excepted) about 

 fifty miles daily, while the nest was being built and until she forsook 

 it, about the 9th inst. 



I have many enquiries from different parts of the country, as it 

 is really a rare occurrence. 



I am, youi's respectfully, 



Welliam Conly, Station-master. 



I am sure very fe^, if any, of your readers had any idea 

 that a bird would sit on a jolting train, and it is only a pity 

 she was not allowed to hatch out her eggs. W. H. Workman. 



[There are some discrepancies between the account in the 

 Belfast Newsletter and that furnished by Mr. Conly, but 

 we presume the latter may be taken as correct. Instances 

 of nests built on trucks and carriages in sidings are not 

 uncommon, but it is certainly extraordinary to find a bird 

 continuing to sit for so long under such conditions. — ^Eds.] 



LITTLE OWL IN SHROPSHIRE. 



There is no longer any doubt that the Little Owl [Athene n. 

 noctua) has definitely extended its range into Shropshire. 

 There have been several previous occurrences in recent 

 years, while in April, 1914, one was trapx^ed near Shrewsbury, 

 and another a month later near Craven Arms. 



H. E. Forrest. 



GOLDENEYE BREEDING IN NESTING-BOXES IN 

 GERMANY. 



For many years past it has been kno\^Ti that the Goldeneye 

 {Nyroca c. clangula) breeds freely in nesting-boxes put up 



