9022 Birds. 
Redwings singing in England.—As the subject does not seem to be entirely closed, 
perhaps I may be allowed to add my quota to the observations already published in 
the ‘ Zoologist,’ regarding the singing of the redwing. Many years ago, being much 
engaged in procuring birds for the late Mr. T. C. Heysham, whose collection was sold 
in London some time since, while looking for migratory birds at the latest possible period 
prior to their leaving this country in spring, especially tbe siskin, brambling and field- 
fare, I had many opportunities of meeting with large flocks of redwings, in company 
with the latter bird; and if the weather happened to be fine and sunny, these flocks, if 
- alighted on the surrounding trees, seldom failed to join in what appeared to me a 
chorus of joy at the near approach of summer and an early return to their breeding 
haunts. Amongst such a large assemblage it would have been difficult to pick out the 
distinct song of a single individual, aud trace it from beginning to end, and IJ never 
had an opportunity of hearing a single bird detached from all the rest; but, from what 
I could judge by listening to the whole flock, I should say Mr. Wharton’s description 
of the song of the redwing is pretty correct, with the exception that I do not remember 
hearing that perpetual repetition of the same note which is so conspicuous in the song 
of the thrush. I could never distinctly ascertain how far the fieldfare participated in 
the general joy, except by hearing, at short intervals, the louder and somewhat harsh 
“ chak, chak” they utter when flying. —James Cooper ; Museum, Warrington, March 12, 
1864. 
Blackbird’s Nest on the Ground.—The circumstance mentioned by Mr. Wharton 
(Zool. 8947) is by no means uncommon: near the ground or on the ground, at the 
bottom of an old hedge, on the edge of a hedge-bank, are all likely places fur a black- 
bird to build, and also near the edge of a brook; but the curious variety of sites 
selected by the blackbird for its nest has puzzled me frequently. In my own shrub- 
beries I have several times found, in the same bushy ever-green, a thrush’s nest, 
and, within three or four feet, the nest of a blackbird, and when this was the case the 
thrush’s nest has been invariably lower down and nearer the ground than that of its 
congener, the blackbird. Up to this date, although they have been numerous, I have 
not heard a blackbird sing this year: the thrushes, except on a dozen severe frosty 
days, have been in full song for three months.—H. W, Newman ; Hillside, Chelten- 
ham, March 3, 1864. 
The Black Redstart in Cornwall.—You are aware that this species holds a more 
northern limit in its autumnal migration than most of the other warblers. Some are 
always to be observed during the winter months in the western counties: those that 
I have met with, iv the proportion of ten out of twelve, are smoke-gray ; in fact, I have 
considered that the black plumage is the summer livery, but I had one forwarded to 
me a few weeks since, killed on Marazion Green, in full black plumage. It may be a 
question whether many birds which undergo a change of plumage of this nature, when 
in a certain stage of life, do not, when very old, retain their more fully marked charac- 
teristics of plumage.—Hdward Hearle Rodd; Penzance, January 20, 1864. 
Chiffchaff wintering in Cornwall.—My garden has been honoured by an unusual 
visitor this winter: on New Year's Day I was surprised to see a chiffchaff actively 
flitting from bush to bush, and I continued to see it almost daily up to last Monday, 
when a severe frost set in, and I was much afraid it had perished, either from want of 
food or cold, but I was gratified by seeing it again yesterday in full activity. 
I watched it through a good binocular for nearly an hour, during which time it was 
frequently buffeted by other birds (house sparrows, chaffinch, dunnocks, gray wagtail, 
