OCCASIONAL NOTES. 259 
which had been blowing for two days previously. I brought it back with 
me to London, and presented it to the Zoological Society, in whose Gardens 
it may now be seen in good health and plumage. A few days since, while 
watching it diving in pursuit of fish, which it caught easily, I remarked 
that it did not use the wings under water like a Guillemot, but kept them 
pressed close to the sides, propelling itself by means of the feet alone.— 
J. E. Harrine. 
SIsKIN NESTING IN BeprorpsHIRE.— It may interest some of your 
readers to know that two nests of the Siskin were found on my premises 
last May (1879), and that several young ones were reared. This is the first 
instance, so far as I am aware, of this pretty little finch nesting in our 
midland county—Hernry Burney (Wayendon Rectory, near Woburn). 
[Further particulars of the situation selected, materials of nest, 
number of eggs, and so forth, would have been interesting. Perhaps our 
correspondent will supply them.—Ip.} 
4aRE Birps 1x OxrorpsHirE.—T am sorry to have to record the 
following interesting and (in this district) rare birds as having been lately 
shot in this county:—Common Tern, on the canal near Sumerton, on 
April 26th; Ring Ouzel, at Epwell, same day; Whimbrel, at Bloxham, on 
April 29th; two male Golden Orioles, in a wood near Great Tew, about the 
beginning of May; and an immature specimen of the Black-headed Gull, 
picked up dead about the same time. About the middle of March last 
a Peregrine Falcon struck at a decoy Wood Pigeon in a field near Marston 
St. Lawrence, Northants, and was shot. I had the pleasure of examining 
it, and found it to be a female in good condition. I am afraid the Wild 
Birds Preservation Acts have very little effect just here. On April 23rd 
I saw a large Gull fly over, but was unable to determine the species. 
Fieldfares are staying late this year; I saw about a dozen on May Sth.— 
 Ottver V. Aputn (Bodicote, near Banbury). 
Unusuat Numper or Eaes 1n a Turusn’s Nesr.—On May 2ud 
I found, near Ipswich, a Thrush’s nest with the unusually large number 
of eight eggs. At first I was of opinion that some one had added eggs 
from another nest; but I learned on enquiry that such was not the case, 
the only persons having access to the plantation not being aware of the 
existence of the nest. On a subsequent visit the bird was sitting on the 
eggs. I believe this fact to be worth recording, as probably the only instance 
on record of a Thrush laying as many as eight eggs.—H. Mittrr, Jun. 
(Ipswich). 
Hoppy nestinc 1x Essex.—I have ascertained beyond doubt that a 
pair of Hobbies bred last year near Belhus Park, in Essex, having seen 
