80 BRITISH BIRDS. [vol viii. 



in Stanley's History of Birch (p. 299). Mr. A. Bankes 

 (Zool. 1899, p. 82) also describes liow a INToorhen, disturbed 

 from a nest with nine eggs, partly covered them with pieces 

 of seaweed and a fresli green leaf or tMO. It is evident, 

 ho\\ever, that this is not the usual habit of this species, 

 tliough occasional instances do undoubtedly occur, for every 

 field worker must have seen scores of nests which \Aere 

 not so covered, and the statements by Seebohm and Dixon 

 are examples of the fallacy of founding a general rule upon 

 particular exceptions. F. C. R. .Joukdai?:. 



MOORHEN HATCHING TWO BROODS IN ONE NEST. 



On April 25th, 1914, I fovmd a nest of a Moorhen [Gallinula 

 ch. chloropiis) containing nine eggs. The nest was built in 

 the top of a thorn bush some ten feet high and had as a 

 foundation an old Blackbird's or Song-Thrush's nest. The 

 entire clutch was safely hatched and the young swimming 

 about on May 1st. On June 4th, while fishing, I was 

 surprised to see a Moorhen come off the same nest, which 

 on examination proved again to contain nine eggs. The 

 whole of these, too, were successfully hatched by June 12th. 



Lewis R. W. Loyd. 

 [Stevenson, Birds of Norfolk (II., p. 415), says that as 

 many as three broods are sometimes reared in a season 

 from one nest. — F.C.R.J.] 



Blackcap Singing in Winter in Oxfordshire. — Mr. 

 O. V. Aplin records [Zool. 1914, p. 237) a male Sylvia a. 

 atricapiUa in his garden at Bloxham on February 28tli, 1914. 

 " It sang a little but only got out one good high note." On 

 March 13th it sang well. 



Fulmar Petrels at Butt of Lewis. — Mr. R. Clyne notes 

 {Scot. Nat., 1914, p. 165) that for the first time some examples 

 of Fulmarus g. glacialis were seen at Butt of Lewis on 

 April 24th, 1914, and a few remain " evidently intending 

 to breed." The cliffs here are only about 100 feet high. 

 Last year Fulmars Mere reported as breeding on the east 

 side of Lewis (c/. B.B., Vol. VIL, p. 203). 



