8112 THE ZooLoGist—JuUNE, 1872. 
Hoopoe in Devonshire.—Returning home through the fields last evening, 
T was attracted by the strange flight and cry of a bird which rose out of a 
hedge near the path. The bird had apparently a very large head, out of all 
proportion to its body, and flew with an unusual dipping flight, uttering a 
shrill cry of three or four notes at each dip. I was not near enough to see 
the colour of the plumage clearly, but it seemed to be varied and rich. 
Immediately after I lost sight of it, a second bird of the same kind started 
out of the furzy bank within two or three yards of me, and passed close by 
me, so that I was able to see it distinctly. It was a hoopoe, and gorgeous 
and beautiful he looked as he sped along in the light of the setting sun, 
erecting his golden crest. It was the crest, of course, which had made the 
head of the flying bird seem so disproportionately large. Our visitors are 
evidently a pair, and it will be interesting to observe their habits if they build 
here. I was fortunate in obtaining a near view.—F’. C. Hingeston-Randolph ; 
Ringmore Rectory, Ivybridge, April 11, 1872.—* Western Morning Neus.’ 
Hoopoe in Hampshire—An adult female hoopoe, which I shortly after- 
wards saw at the birdstuffer’s in Christchurch, was killed on the 13th of 
April, at Branksea Isle, Poole Harbour.—A. von Hiigel; Bournemouth, 
Hants, April 19, 1872. 
Starling’s Nest built on a Wood Pigeon’s.—On the 11th instant [ found 
a starling’s nest with five eggs placed in an old wood pigeon’s nest, which 
was in a spruce fir. The starling’s nest was open at the top, and made 
almost entirely of straw. Have you ever known such a situation for a 
starling’s nest? — B. N. Rake; Oliver's Mount School, Scarborough, 
May 21, 1872. 
The Landrail.— My brother heard the landrail near Harrow on Sunday, 
the 28th of April, 1872.—H. R. Leach. 
Singular Mark on the Head of a Tame Swan.—I have sent you a sketch, 
made by my friend Mr. H. R. Robertson, of some markings observed on the 
head of a male (mute) swan 
in December, 1870. These 
markings stand out like the 
horns of the eared grebe: 
they were about two inches in 
length, symmetrical on both 
sides of the head, forming the 
letter Y, and bright red in 
colour. At first I took very 
little notice of them, thinking 
that they were produced by 
some injury, but from their 
persistence I was induced to catch the bird and examine it more closely, 
when I found, to my surprise, that these horns were due to feathers of a 
