1802 The Zoologist— August, 18G9. 



Blue Tit's Nesl inside a Thrush's Nest. — Examined on llie 23id Maj* a blue lii's 

 nest, containinfT nine eggs, built inside a thrush's nest in the top of a small fir: the 

 nest was cup-shaped, and the remainder of the thrush's nesl was filled up with rub- 

 bish, a cavity probably having been left, in which the blue tit had built : she flew oflF 

 the nesl the instant I touched the tree. I am unaware if the thrush's nesl was one of 

 this year. — John P. Thomasson ; Moorfield, Bolton, 



Marlins and Swallows. — It may be interesling to your readers to liuow that on the 

 morning of Thursday, the 27th ult., I found dead, under my southern windows, seven 

 house-martins, and another on the following day in an oul-bouse. On Monday, the 

 24ih, it was close and thundery, and there was abundance of insect life, especially 

 about ihe Trent, where the martins and swallows were very actively employed. 

 Tuesday was cooler and also thundery, and heavy storms passed over Rugely and 

 Stafford, Wednesday the wind blew cold and strong from the north, and such martins 

 as were on the wing had much ado to find food or to hold ihcir way on the lee side of 

 two large elms in my garden. Many of the poor birds, too, hovered round myself in 

 remarkable proximity, and it would have been easy to knock them over with the band. 

 On looking up at the steep roof of my vicarage at mid-day, I observed that it was 

 speckled with scores and scores of martins clustered thickly together. On the follow- 

 ing morning eight of the birds lay dead on the gravel-walk, and those that remained 

 on the roof above were huddled still more closely together close to the stack of 

 chimneys. The next day (Friday) few were to be seen anywhere here ; more are about 

 DOW, but still few in comparison with the numbers to be seen in the earlier part of last 

 month. Swallows and swifis are still abundant. — W. H, Walsh ; Abrewas Vicarage, 

 South Staffordshire, May 5, 1869. 



Cuckoo in the City. — On the morning of June llth, when walking down Camo- 

 mile Street, Bishopsgate Street, about half-pasl seven o'clock, a bird flew round and 

 settled for a few minutes on the top of a warehouse, which gave me a good opportunity 

 to determine the bird to be a cuckoo. Judging from the size it was a female, but the 

 colour of the plumage was browner than is usual at this time of year. — A. H. Since ; 

 June 16, 1869. 



Dotterel near Weston. — We have had a small flock of the dotterel (C. morinellus) 

 in this neighbourhood. One was shot in the Steep Holm in the Bristol Channel about 

 the first of this month, and others were seen on the coast near this town.— Rev. 

 M. A. Mathew ; Weston-super Mare, May 15, 18(59. 



Llacklailed Godwit at Hickling. — 1 have in the flesh a l)lacktailed gndwit, which 

 was shot at Hirkling, in Norfolk, on the 1st of May, and for which I am indebted to 

 Mr. Gunn. — J. H. Gurney, jun. ; Bank, Darlington, May 3, 1869. 



Night Herons in Cornwall. — A few days since a male and female night heron were 

 shot near Hayle, on our north coast: they are both well-plumaged birds, with three 

 occipital plumes ; the female is a little duller in plumage than the male, but in other 

 respects very similar in plumage. The ovary contained eggs, some about the size of 

 a small bean. The male bird was observed on a piece of marshy ground, stalking 

 about with a flock of geese; the female was observed on a tree, and apparently resting 

 on her brtasl, as Jier legs were observed hanging down. — Edward Hearle Rodd ; 

 Penzance, May 12, 1869. 



Night Heron in Devonshire. — My brother (Lieut. W. C. Mathew, 81st Eefjiinent) 

 was taking a walk the day before yesterday on the banks of the Taw, and when about 



