OCCASIONAL NOTES. 299 
colour they will grow up. I am told that one of the eggs was abnormally 
Jong,—in fact, more than twice as long as any of the others. I have often 
seen abnormal varieties in size and shape of eggs, but never before connected 
this with variation in the colour of birds.—J. H. Guryny, Jun. (Northrepps, 
Norwich). 
Hepcesparrows Nest BUILT IN CaBBAGE.— Towards the end of 
April a nest of the Hedgesparrow was found by a friend in a very curious 
position. It was built in a large head of cabbage growing ina kitchen 
garden near Coolock, in the County Dublin. Since then five eggs have 
been laid, but, when they were partly hatched, the nest was deserted by the 
parent birds. It is composed of dry pea-stalks, moss, and part of a dry 
cabbage-leaf, and is lined with hair—Atrrep E. Ssaw (Rathmines 
School Field Club, Dublin). 
Tawny Pipir ar Brieston.—On looking over some of my small birds 
recently, I found a specimen of the Tawny Pipit, Anthus campestris, the 
capture of which I do not think has been recorded. It was taken near 
Brighton on the 12th October, 1875, and is a young bird, as evidenced by 
the light edgings to the feathers.—F. Bonp (Fairfield Avenue, Staines). 
Tue Brackcap 1n Country Wicktow.—On the 28th April the Blackcap 
arrived in this neighbourhood, and a day or two subsequently about a dozen 
might be counted in our woods. My friend, Mr. A. G. More, having some 
time since directed my attention to the rarity of this bird in Ireland, I 
brought a specimen to the Royal Dublin Society. About the middle of 
May they apparently vanished, but a few soon reappeared, and one is 
certain to detect or hear one or two when walking through a straggling 
or leafy wood close at hand. ‘That the Blackcap breeds with us I have little 
doubt, for my sister saw the old birds feeding the young a day or two ago, 
and pointed the former out to me afterwards. In my opinion it is a regular 
summer visitant here, arriving at the end of April or beginning of May, 
for I have both heard and seen it frequently during previous years about 
that time as well as later on, though by reason of my ignorance as to the 
position it occupies in the avi-fauna of Ireland, annual records of its 
occurrence have not been entered. ‘Thompson mentions it from the Vale of 
Avoca in this county.—R. M. Barrineron (Fassaroe, Bray, County 
Wicklow. 
Jack SyipE IN SurFoLK 1x May.—On the 4th of May my brother and 
I put up a Jack Snipe on the Leiston reed-land. This is the latest stay 
in spring I have known this bird to make. In the year 1873 I flushed 
one on the 16th of April.—G. T. Ropu (Blaxhall, Suffolk). 
Want or Reriecrion 1y tH Housz Sparrow.—A little more than 
a month since a pair of Sparrows selected the frame of a sun-blind at the 
back of my house as a nesting-place ; the front part which is attached to 
the blind projected a little at one end (being slightly warped); this left an 
