4156 The Zoologist — September, 1874. 



has been lately seen about the grounds. I can corroborate what is said by 

 my lamented friend Dr. Saxby, in bis cleverly written and interesting notes 

 on the ' Birds of Shetland,' that " The nest of the house sparrow is built so 

 substantially as to insure a proper temperature, so that the younglings do 

 not perish of cold," though they do, I believe, from want of food. That the 

 sparrow keeps its nest in constant repair, I am well aware, it being an 

 interminable affair. — H. Hadfield ; Ventnor, Isle of Wight, July 17, 1874. 



Crossbills in Denbighshire.— On the 18th of July I saw two crossbills. 

 I am almost inchned to think that they were young birds, and as there were 

 numerous flocks of them about the county in the winter, I should not be 

 surprised if they had bred here. — W. J. Kerr; Maesmor, Denbighshire. 



Rarens Nesting in North Males. — During the last week in April, when 

 returning one day with a friend from an unsuccessful fishing e.xpedition to 

 a lake on one of the highest hills in North Wales, we observed a raven fly 

 to a rugged and precipitous rock, and by the sounds of evident satisfaction 

 issuing therefrom, at once concluded that a uest of young ones were enjoying 

 their evening meal (probably a choice piece of "Welsh mutton) : we at once 

 proceeded to the foot of the rock, and soon discovered the nest, built, as 

 usual, in the most inaccessible place, and by clinging to the summit were 

 enabled to look into it ; it contained three young ones, apparently nearly 

 ready to fly. My friend returned next day with ropes and procured two of 

 them ; the other fell down the cliff and was killed. The same day I noticed 

 several buzzards, whose soaring flight and wild cry added yet a charm to 

 the surrounding scenery, which for beauty and grandeur may be favourably 

 compared with any in North Wales. — W. J. Kerr. 



lesser Spotted Woodpecker at Instow. — Four of these interesting little 

 birds were seen on the 1st instant in the kitchen-garden of my friend 

 Mr. Richard White, of Instow, and one of them, a bird of the year, was 

 shot by his gardener as it was creeping up the stem of an apple-tree. 

 Mr. White's garden is close to the Instow sand-bills, and some distance 

 from any wood or trees of large growth ; so the occurrence of these birds in 

 such a locality appears to be somewhat remarkable. — Gervase F. Mathew ; 

 H.M.S. 'Implacable,' Devonport, August 8, 1874. 



Song of the Swallow. — On the 30th of July I heard a soft twittering in 

 the chimney : it was early in the morning ; it was like the cry of the swift, 

 but not so shrill ; then it stopped, and then began again, breaking into a 

 sweet, soft, gentle little song, and ending up with the trill of a canary. The 

 voice was the voice of a swallow, but the song was not one I had ever heard 

 before. On the 3)st of July I heard the song again early in the morning, 

 just about dawn ; it was so round, so melodious, that every other bird 

 seemed to be singing harshly and out of tune afterwards. Later in the 

 same day, whilst in the cow-house, I heard the same low voice, but not 

 being at the top of the chimney it sounded louder. On looking up I saw a 



