Birds. 9729 



MelopsiUacm undulaius at large in Briiain.— While on the cricket ground at the 

 Oval, dininjr the interesting match between Surrey and Nottingham, a grass parrokeet 

 {Melo,maacus undulaius) flew directly over the play, and settled on one of the well- 

 known willows which fringe parts of the gro.md. It reminded me of several instances 

 that have come within my knowledge of this beautiful little bird being able to provide 

 for Itself in this, to it, aniipodeal island: three specimens frequented the garden at 

 Lincoln's ]nn during an entire winter and summer of 1863-4, but disappeared during 

 thewinieroflS64-5. A pair survived the winter of ] 864-5 in the little shrubbery known 

 as the " Tower Ditcli," but since the leaves have clothed the trees the little creatures have 

 become invisible. That a goodly number should have escaped, seeing what multitudes 

 have been imported during the List few years, does not seem extraordinary; but that 

 they should have survived so many months, without the protecting care of a Watertun, 

 IS rather extraordinary. I am not aware whetiier it is generally known that these 

 buds have a great penchant for oats, so that where horses are kept the grass parrokeet 

 may be led at a very small cost.— Edward Newman. 



Sedge Warbler or Rred Wren at Twivkenham.-Oxi June 26th and 27th the sedge 

 warbler {Sylvia Phragmitis)— or possibly the reed wren {S. arundinacea)~wns heard 

 and seen by me near Twickenham, in pleasure-grounds, about a quarter of a mile from 

 the Thames, and with no other water nearer. The birds sang in lilac and other bushes 

 all day long and late into the nij;ht, each remaining pretty much in the same spot all 

 the time. There are no reeds or sedge, or anything but ordinary garden shrubs, in the 

 grounds, which are situated many feet above the level of the river, on a dry gravelly 

 soil. Having never before heard these Warblers, except close to water, I am anxious 

 to know if the instance which I mention is an uncommon one.— Clermont ; 6, Gros- 

 venor Crescent, S. W., July 1, 1865. 



Greenfinch's Eggs in a Cbiffinch's Nest.— I send you a notice of what I believe to 

 be a very unusual circumstance. I found a chaffinch's nest yesterday containing six 

 egKS-fonr chaffinch's and two greenflnch's {Fringilla chloris). I should be very 

 much obliged if any of jour readers could throw light on this fact.— P. H. Jennings; 

 Lilley Rectory, Luton, May 13, 1865. 



Note on the .S<fa//oK;.— Macgillivray is certainly correct iu contradicting the 

 received notion respecting the swallow's mode of feeding. We are taught from our 

 youth upwards that, rushing headlong through ihe air with distended jaws, they eugulph 

 all unhappy insects in their course. A few days after their arrival here 1 had a capital 

 opportunity of judj-ing for myself, A slight shower induced me to turn aside to the 

 shelter of a lar^e tree : the same cause brought down a group often swallows. Care- 

 less of my vicinity, the beautiful ariels passed and repassed before me over a space of 

 a few square yards, at times approaching within a fathom of me; so clo>e, indeed, that 

 I could distinguish the details of their plumage. Not one flew with open mandibles 

 or outstretched neck ; on the contrary, the whole mien was so composed that they 

 seemed to be merely taking " a constitutional." But every now and then a sweep to 

 the right, a jerk to the left, a leap upward or a plunge downward, indicated the close 

 pursuit of prey, and a rapid gape of the jaws its inevitable capture. I was intent upon 

 their movements until they had hunted their way beyond range of observation so long 

 and so closely that the inaccuracy of the common statement is an opinion which "fire 

 will not burn out of me.'— Charles W. D.vis ; Queen's Park, Manchester, June 19. 

 1865. 



VOL. XXIII. 2 Y 



