Birds. 8035 



Appearance of the Swallow in 1862. — The first swallow seen in this neighbourhood 

 was observed on Sunday, the 20th of April. The earliest observation on record is the 

 6th of April, and the average date, upon twenty years observation, is the I7th of April. 

 The two swallows mentioned at Zool. 7937 were inspecting their nest upon the rafter 

 in the stable on the 24th of April. — J. Ransom. 



Singular Instance of Nidijication of the Woodpigeon. — During a visit to Rotterdam, 

 the following somewhat remarkable occurrence has been brought under my notice. 

 It is well known that this town is intersected by canals, by which means vessels are 

 enabled to lay alongside of the quays in the heart of the city and directly in front of 

 the dwelling-houses on the opposite side of the street, the edge of these canals being 

 generally lined with elm trees. Thither the wild pigeons resort in spring, and, heedless 

 of the noise and stir of the traffic and loading and landing of goods on the pavement 

 beneath, construct their nests in the top branches of the trees. Year after year many 

 of them are plundered by juvenile fieprfdators, but the pigeons still continue faithful 

 to their adopted spots. This is in itself somewhat singular, considering the usually 

 shy nature of the birds, but a more striking incident has occurred these last two years. 

 The trees in one of the principal streets (the " Wynhaven," for the information of those 

 knowing the town) were lopped earlv in spring last year, and the pair of wild pigeons 

 accustomed to resort to the trees in front of a certain house there, finding their 

 wonted shelter gone, after apparently some search, established their nest in the 

 mast of a vessel (the "Admiral Wyndham," a Guernsey trader), lying alongside the 

 quay, and two eggs were laid. Unfortunately the vessel, having completed her loading, 

 put to sea, and the birds remained in Rotterdam while their nest and eggs were wafted 

 away. This year, though the shelter of the trees would now seem to be sufficient, they 

 again selected the mainmast crosstrees of a bark (the " Schuringa"), occupying the 

 same berth, and had completed their domestic arrangements as before, when a boy 

 belonging to a lighter conveying goods to the vessel espied the prize, and possessed him- 

 self of it. The young ornithologist met with deserved punishment, but the result 

 could hardly have been otherwise than unfortunate for the venturesome pair, as the 

 vessel put to sea a few days ago, whither, judging from the former case, the birds would 

 hardly have followed their establishment. — A. Dobrie ; Rotterdam, May 10, 1862. 



Occurrence of the Squacco Heron near Redruth. — I saw a specimen of this small 

 heron, without the dorsal or occipital plumes, just now, which I believe was obtained 

 from the neighbourhood of Redruth. Nearly all the specimens of this small heron 

 have come to hand in the spring of the year, and, like its congener, the bittern, at 

 uncertain periods and at long intervals, generally, however, appearing in several 

 instances when at all. — Edward Hearle Rodd ; Penzance, May 1, 1862. 



Note on Sabine's Snipe. — Mr. Bond, in his note on Sabine's snipe (Zool. 8000), 

 makes the following statement: — "Mr. Gatcombe says (Zool. 7939) 'All sports- 

 men who have killed this bird remark that it rises without noise.'" Now that is a 

 mistake, as I have never written a word concerning Sabine's snipe in the ' Zoologist;' 

 and if Mr. Bond will again refer to that publicatiou he will find that the snipe alluded 

 to by me was a large brown variety, similar to the one described by Mr. Rodd some 

 years since, and very diflferent in appearance from the so-called Sabine's snipe. — John 

 Gatcombe ; Wyndham Place, Plymouth, May 13, 1861. 



The Common Bittern in Norfolk. — Though the bittern has ceased altogether to 

 breed in this county, its former haunts being everywhere narrowed by drainaj;e and 

 cultivation, and in many districts its deep booming notes having given place to the 



