218 THE ZOOLOGIST. 
passed through the hands of Samuel Moss, a birdstuffer at Youghal, to 
whom one of them was given. The other, mounted by Moss, remained in 
a glass case at Camphire for many years, until moths destroyed it. After 
seeing it there, in 1858, I described it in my notes, and on seeing after- 
wards, in 1859, the plate of the Summer Duck in ‘Game Birds and 
Wild Fowl,’ by B. R. Morris, I fully identified it as the species of duck 
then at Camphire. I may remark that I know of no place, either in 
this or the adjoining counties, where foreign ducks are kept in confinement. 
This adds to the many instances in which American birds have occurred in 
Ireland.—Ricuarp J. Ussoer (Cappagh, Cappoquin, Co. Waterford). 
[The claim of this species to be included in our List of British Birds, 
even as a rare and accidental visitant, has not been recognised by 
ornithologists, the reported instances of its occurrence here having been 
generally founded, it is believed, on the recapture of escaped and semi- 
domesticated birds.—Eb. | 
STARLINGS REARING TWO Broops in A Season.—I observe that, in 
‘The Zoologist’ for last month, a correspondent, writing of the Starling, 
remarks en passant that their great increase must be apparent to all, 
“ notwithstanding their rearing but one brood in a year.” Some years ago 
there was a discussion carried on in these and other pages, as to whether or 
not the Starling bred more than once in a season. I do not know the 
conclusion arrived at, but, after reading it, I took the trouble to watch one 
or two nests, and the conclusion I arrived at was that though the generality 
only had one brood, yet in some instances, even when the first brood was 
successfully raised, the cares of a second were entered into. Amongst 
others was a nest built in the roof of a house, which was watched with 
interest by the inhabitants, who saw one batch leave it, and soon after 
found that it was again occupied. Another nest I found contained, at the 
end of May, 1877, young birds just ready to leave ; and it was in the same 
state at the same time the previous year. These flew all well, and about a 
fortnight after 1 found in the same nest three slightly-sat-upon eggs. 
This, I think, shows what I say, but, of course, there is the bare 
possibility that they may not have been the same birds.—R. M. Curisty 
(19, Buckingham Road, Brighton). 
(This confirms the observations of a correspondent of ‘ The Field,’ who, 
by means of a marked Starling, established the fact that this species does, 
at least occasionally, rear two broods in one season. See ‘ Zoologist,’ 1876, 
p- 5164.—Ep.] 
Succsstions on Ee@c-srowine.—I have long practised the following 
method of extracting the contents of eggs partially incubated, and of 
closing up the orifice again with the piece of shell taken from it. I first 
ascertain, as nearly as possible, the size of the embryo by trying the 
