2140 The Zoologist — May, 1870. 



Bird's Nest in Solid Wood. — A curious discovery has recently been made at Chisle- 

 hiirst, in Kent: — "A large elm tree in llie thuicb-yard was cut down, and a bird's 

 nest will) seven eggs was found completely einhedded, and having at least nine inches 

 of solid wood grown over it, without any trace of an outlet. The eggs are as perfect as 

 when first laid, and are supposed to be those of the great titmouse {Parus major).— 

 J. E. Anderson; Henlude, Taunton, April 22, 1870. 



Shore Lark near Netvhaven.— On Tuesday, March 1st, a fine specimen of the shore 

 lark was taken at night in a lark-net, on the Hoddern Farm, near Newhaven.— 

 T. J. Monk: Mountfeld House, Lewes. 



Shore Lark at Southwold and Redlhroated Diver in London.— Mr. Cooper, of 

 Radnor Street, St. Luke's, showed me to-day four shore larks, which had been shot at 

 Southwold, near Aldborough, Siifi'olk, at the beginning of March. He had also set 

 up a redlhroated diver, which had settled during the severe weather in February on 

 the reservoir of the New River Company, Clerkeuwell. The bird lived on the water 

 for some days. Ou examination after death the lull was found to have been injured 

 by shot, and turned up to such a degree as to completely prevent the bird feeding, 

 thus causing death by starvation. — A. H. Smee ; April 18, 1870. 



Snow Bunliag on the Severn Bank. — I yesterday shot two -specimens of the snow 

 bunting on the bank of the river Severn, between Avonsmoulh and the New Passage. 

 They were associating with a flock of larks, and were very wild and difficult of approach. 

 Both specimens proved on ditsiction to be females, and aie in good plumage. — 

 Marcus S. C. Richards, 



Tree Sparrows near 0.vford. — Since I last wrote you, the little tree sparrows 

 {Passer monlanus) have arrived in quantities, and they are daily frequenting our 

 withy pollards, in which they appear to make their homes. I am much interested in 

 their movements, and am watching them closely. Are they supposed to be migratory? 

 I see they are mentioned in the 'Dictionary' as being local, confining themselves 

 to L'Uicashire, Yorkshire and Lincolnshire : they are now vrry plentiful here. — Edward 

 Swectapple i Eynsham Paper Works, near Oxford, April 9, 1870. 



[I have never regarded Passer montanus as migratory: it is resident throughout 

 the year at Leominster. — E. A'.] 



Immigration of Rooks and Starlings. — During the past week the wind has been 

 frequently shifting from east to west, and on Thursday, the wind being N.W., 

 immense numbers of rooks and starlings were almost constantly arriving from over the 

 sea under similar circumstances as occurs in October. I have never seen such flights 

 at this season of the year before, and think it so exceptional as to deserve to be noted. 

 —N. Fenwich Hele ; Aldebiogh, March 20, \870 —' Field.' 



Note on the Migration of Swallows. — My father, who is at present travelling in 

 Italy, writes to me that a few swallows made their appearance at Naples on the 28th 

 of March, but none were seen at Florence before the 3Ist of Jlarch : by the lOih of 

 April, however, swallows were abundant. In this country (Carshalton, Surre\) the 

 first swallows were seen on Sunday, April JOtli, one day later than last year. On that 

 day only four were seen, and up to this present time (April 19th) they are very few in 

 number, and as yet neither the sand uor common house mariin has appeared. A 

 correspondent writes in the 'Field' of April 9ih that swallows were seen on the 

 Garonne on the 29th of March. My object in recording these isolated dates of the 

 first appearance of the swallow is the hope that I may induce ornithologists in this 



