The Zoologist — Novembek, 18C6. 483 



been breeding. Of course this is doubtful, but there is no doubt that 



if it were, it will never breed again, as its head was sent to the ' Field' 



ofBce. A careful exananation of the ovaries would have proved this 



question, and what a pity the bird did not pass into hands to be 



examined. I could have told accurately if the bird had bred or not; 



but now we must content ourselves to know that a widgeon has been 



killed in the County Dublin, in summer. 



Harry BlakeKnox. 



Diilkey, Co. Dublin, August 29ili, 1866. 



A Short Account of a Visit to the Fame Islands during the Nesting 

 Season of 1S65. By William Brown. 



In the beginning of the month of June I paid a visit to these 

 Islands. Mr. H., the lessee of the Islands, who is an enthusiastic 

 naturalist, having kindly invited me to spend a few days with him, to 

 enable me to observe the birds with greater convenience to myself, 

 than coming from North Sunderland in a boat every morning. 



I now subjoin my notes on the nesting habits of each bird, taking 

 them in their natural order : — 



Rock Pipit. — Found several nests of these birds, but the eggs all 

 incubated. The nests were placed at the top of the rocks, among 

 weeds; one was built in the crevice of a stone wall. 



Sky Lark. — Several pairs breeding. 



Oyster catcher. — Found several nests, all of which were lined with 

 shells, &c. Mr. J. Edmund Harting (Zool. 9411) mentions that, in 

 Walney Island, he only found one nest lined with shells, the rest being 

 mere hollows in the sand: the situation of the nests on the Fame 

 Islands was rather difl'erent, the sand being a rough gravel. From 

 this the following conclusion may be drawn, — that, where the nest or 

 rather hollow, is placed among sand the lining of shells is dispensed 

 with, but when among gravel or shingle the lining is necessary to 

 make the inside of the nest of the requisite smoothness for receiving 

 the eggs. This is only conjecture, and therefore open to doubt. 



Ringed Plover. — Kather scarce. Only two nests, both with 

 incubated eggs. 



Sandwich Terw.— Numerous, breeding principally on a stony 

 mound. The nests being placed close together, great care is 

 necessary to avoid treading upon the eggs. The nest is a mere hollow, 

 and hardly that. 



