OCCASIONAL NOTES. 301 
Thrushes which still remained in the nest and were crushed flat against 
the sides by its growth—Arraur G. Burier (10, Avington Grove, 
Penge. 
[Instances in which the Song Thrush has been found acting the part of 
foster-parent to the young Cuckoo, we believe, are rare; and we can only 
call to mind two authors who have cited cases, Temminck and Des Murs. 
In the list of foster-parents given by Yarrell the Blackbird is included, but 
no particulars are furnished.—Eb. | 
Norres rrom NotrincHaMsHineE.—During the past winter there has 
been quite a dearth of rare birds about here; in fact, I cannot remember a 
winter in which so few birds out of the common way have come under my 
notice. About the middle of January last an old male Smew, in very fine 
plumage, was shot on the Thornton Reservoir, near Leicester, and given to 
me. On the 27th of the same month, when Partridge “driving” at Park 
Hall near here, a Great Gray Shrike settled on the top of a hedge in front 
of me, but was off in a second. I fired, however, and knocked it over. It 
was in quite a Shrike country—small fields and large hedges of thorn. 
A female Rough-legged Buzzard was shot at Rufford in March; this is the 
fourth killed there within the past twelve months. On March 17th I saw 
the Green Plovers begin for the first time their curious flight which they 
commence just before the breeding season ; they were wheeling about in all 
directions, uttering all the while their wild note. I heard the first Wood 
Pigeons cooing, and also saw them soaring on March 23rd. The first 
Snipe was heard “drumming” on the 8th April. On May 16th I saw 
several Fieldfares still here—J. Wirraxer (Rainworth Lodge, Mans- 
field). 
Srartines Nustine in Sand Marris’ Horrs.—I was greatly sur- 
prised one day in passing a sand-pit to find that Starlings had taken 
possession of all the Sand Martin’s holes. On coming again a month 
later most of the birds had young ones. It was very amusing to see the 
way in which they entered the hole; on getting about 150 yards from the 
entrance they sailed gracefully into it, giving a few hurried flaps with their 
wings on gaining the aperture. This year I have also found them nesting 
in ivy, like Sparrows, which is I believe rather an unusual site. I am of 
opinion that the Starling is quite as gregarious a bird as his friend the 
Rook, and that the scarcity of breeding holes alone causes those immense 
flocks we see in the winter to break up into small companies of two or three 
pairs in the spring. From a few rough calculations I have made, I find 
that a pair of Starlings appear to bring food to their young no less than 
~ 462 times a day.—C. Marruew Prior (Bedford). 
BREEDING Suason or THE Eprpie Cras.—In ‘The Zoologist’ for 
June (page 621), Mr. Cornish appears to take it as an established fact that 
the Edible Crab, Cancer pagurus, spawns about the month of January. 
