VOL. vjii.] NOTES. 271 



are glad to learn from the latest report {Naturalist, 1915, 

 p. 82) that it is now deemed a failure, and presumably the 

 birds have disappeared. 



Chiffchaffs and Land-Rails in Winter in the British 

 Isles. — An example of Phylloscopus coUyhita was seen in 

 December, 1914 (no date mentioned) by Mr. H. B. Rathborne 

 [Irish Nat., 1915, p. 15) on the shores of Lough Erne, co. 

 Fermanagh. Another was heard on several occasions during 

 the last week of January at Wadhurst, Sussex (C. Castellain, 

 Field, 6. II. '15, p. 222). 



A Land-Rail {Crex crex) was reported as seen in north 

 Kildare on December 26th, 1914 (^.c, 2.I.'15, p. 41) and 

 another at Glasbury Church on January 22nd, 1915 [t.c, 

 30.L'15, p. 210). 



Siberian Chiffchaff in Shetland. — Mr. C. Kirk states 

 [Scot. Nat., 1915, p. 22) that Mr. T. Kay of Lerwick sent him 

 on October 28th, 1914, two Chiffchaffs, one of which was a 

 Phylloscopus c. tristis. 



Aquatic Warbler at Fair Isle. — Mr. W. E. Clarke 

 records {Scot. Nat., 1915, p. 5) that a male Acrocephalus 

 ■aquaticus was shot at Fair Isle, Shetlands, on October 23rd, 

 1914. This is the first occurrence of the bird in Scotland. 



IcTERiNE Warbler in Co. Wexford. — Prof. C. J. Patten 

 records {Irish Nat., 1915, p. 42) that a specimen of Hypolais 

 icterina was picked up on the Tuskar Rock by the Light- 

 keeper, Mr. Glanville, on September 2nd, 1914. This is only 

 the second recorded occurrence of the species in Ireland. 



Breeding-habits of Merlin. — Mr. F. H. Edmondson 

 ■contributes to the Naturalist (1915, p. 61) some interesting 

 notes on the habits of the Merlin {Falco r. regulus), in the 

 •course of which he states : " The birds were on the moor 

 by the end of March ; were pairing by April 21st ; there 

 were four eggs on May 22nd ; the eggs were chipped on 

 June 17th ; young flew 200 yards on July 22nd ; there were 

 two large eggs and two small ; two females were hatched, 

 one male, and there was one small addled egg. Therefore 

 the large eggs would seem to contain females, and the small 

 ones males. Both the male and female sit on the eggs ; 

 both kill, though the male mostly ; the female only once. 

 The female only was at the nest after the eggs were hatched ; 

 the male hovered over once or twice but never alighted. 

 Among the birds eaten were : Tit-lark, many Sky-larks, 



