300 THE ZOOLOGIST. 
interesting to know whether the three birds took their share in incubation, 
or whether the original owner of the nest was left in charge of the whole 
twenty-six eggs. I have frequently found the Waterhen’s nest in trees. 
Last year I found one contaiuing eggs in a holly tree about twelve feet 
above the ground. I found another in a tree near the same place, which 
must have been upwards of forty feet above the ground. I have examined 
scores of Waterhens’ eggs, and find that they do not differ much in their 
general appearance; but I once found a nest containing eggs which were 
beautifully streaked after the manner of a Bunting’s egg —Watrer Raine 
( Leeds). 
Biack-WINGED STIL? NEAR EastBourne.—On May 6th, in the marshes 
between Eastbourne and Polegate, my attention was attracted to my fox- 
terrier, who was pursuing a large bird along a ditch, where the bird had 
evidently been feeding. It ran with long strides for a few yards, and then 
rose into the air and flew close past me, and at the height of about four feet 
only from the ground. I saw at once, by its great length of leg, black and 
white plumage, and flight, that it was a Stilt—certainly a scarce species 
nowadays in this country. The bird appeared very tired, as it only flew 
some two hundred yards, alighting in a deep ditch, amongst long rushes, 
whence I did not again dislodge it— ALgexanpDreR OCxLark Kunnepy, late 
Coldstream Guards (Eastbourne). 
‘“ WARIANGLE” AND “ NYNMURDER,” NAMES FOR THE ButcHEeR Brrp.— 
With reference to the remarks which have appeared upon this subject 
(Zool. 1879, pp. 404, note, and 488), it may be observed that an explanation 
of both these names is given by Willughby, in his ‘ Ornithology’ (p. 87). 
Under the head of “The Greater Butcher-bird or Mattagess,” he writes :— 
“This bird in the North of England is called Wierangle, a name, it seems, 
common to us with the Germans, who (as Gesner witnesseth) about Stras- 
burgh, Franckfort, aud elsewhere, call it Werkengel or Warkangel, per- 
chance (saith he) as it were Wurchangel, which literally rendered signifies 
‘a suffocating angel.’ In other parts of Germany it is called Neghen-doer, 
that is ‘ Nine-killer’ [Hnneoctonos], because it kills nine birds before it 
ceases, or every day nine. Our falconers call it the Mattagess, a name 
borrowed from the Savoyards, which is by Aldrovandus interpreted ‘a mur- 
dering pie.’”’ As regards the last-mentioned, compare the names cited by 
Rolland, ‘aune Populaire de la France’ (Oiseaux), pp.131, 182, 150, 151.— 
J. E. Harrine. 
PEREGRINE Fatcons on Satispury CarHEDRAL Spire.—During the 
first week of May I saw several times a pair of these fine birds flying round 
the cathedral spire and perching upon its pinnacles. Their cries were 
coustant and unmistakable, and attracted my attention the first time that — 
