OCCASIONAL NOTES. 143 
plentifully lined with feathers, but no eggs were laid.- The other Swallow's 
nest was in a somewhat similar situation, except that it was in an outhouse 
with a loft overhead, and cousequently when the Wren had built up with 
moss all the front and sides of the Swallow’s nest, the top of its own nest 
was flat—the one before meutioued being in the form of a sharp peak. 
This nest had no eggs, and no farther lining than the few feathers left in 
by the Swallow. It seems strange that the Wreus should have chosen 
the above situations when there were hay-ricks and beech-hedges in the 
immediate vicinity—C. Bygrave Wuarron (Houusdown, Hants). 
Rooxs 1n tax Tempe Garprns.—Since the remarks on the origin of 
the Temple Rookery were published (Zool. 1878, pp. 196, 448), I have come 
across a passage in Aubrey’s ‘ Natural History of Wiltshire’ (p. 64), which, 
although very brief, distinctly indicates that the Rookery in question is of 
much older date than is to be inferred from the work previously quoted. 
Aubrey’s words are:—“ "Tis certain that the rookes of the Inner ‘lemple 
did not build their nests in the garden to breed in the spring before the 
plague, 1665; but in the spring following they did.” What, then, becomes 
of the pretty story of their having been introduced by Sir William Northey 
in the reign of Queen Anne ?—J. E. Harrie. 
Stock DovEs BREEDING In Macprxs’ Nests.—It is not, I believe, 
generally known that, in addition to the many curious sites fixed on by - 
the Stock Dove for nesting, it will occasionally resort to a deserted nest of 
the Magpie. I am able to enumerate at least four distinct instances of 
this, two of which have come under my own observation. The first I have 
already recorded in ‘ The Zoologist’ (1876, p. 4875), but “ Wood Pigeon” 
was by some mistake printed for ‘Stock Dove,” and the second occurred 
last August, when I shot the Stock Dove as it flew out of the nest, so there 
can be no doubt as to the species. For the other two instances I am 
indebted to an oologist in Warwickshire, who discovered their nests when 
in search of eggs for his collection—C. Marruew Prior (The Avenue, 
Bedford). 
Great Skua at Bricuton.—In the middle of February last I saw a 
Great Skua flying over the sea near the Chain Pier at Brighton. It 
looked very black on the wing and flew heavily, as if fatigued. A few days 
afterwards one was shot near Brighton, and taken to Swaysland for 
preservation. This bird was unusually dark in colour, and, as this species 
has not been very ofte: obtained on the Sussex coast, was probably the 
one that I saw.—W. Borrer (Cowfold, Sussex). 
Roveu-Leccep Buzzarps rs Wiirsuire.—A Rough-legged Buzzard 
was killed at Ferne, near Salisbury, on January Ist; and a fortnight 
previously one at Avon Castle, about four miles from here.—Epwarp 
Haxr (Christchurch, Hants), 
