OCCASIONAL NOTES. 341 
having observed each evening that she regularly left the nest at 7.45 p-m. 
for about a quarter of an hour, I added an egg of the Song Thrush ; she 
never noticed the addition, but sat on the three until the same time the 
next evening, when, seeing that she had laid a third egg, I exchanged it for 
a second egg of a Song Thrush ; this was repeated the next day, and had 
it not been for a neighbour's cat I do not doubt but she would have laid 
her last egg the next day, and reared an equal number of Thrushes and 
Blackbirds. Shortly afterwards, I found a Spotted Flycatcher’s nest 
between the fork at the base of the large branches of a plum-tree, con- 
taining two eggs; I exchanged them for those of the Common Linnet, 
and the bird laid a third egg, which I also took, but gave her nothing 
in exchange ; to my surprise, she continued to sit, and when I returned 
from the country, the Linnet's eggs were just ready to hatch out. I also 
exchanged two eggs of the Greenfinch for those of the Robin, and two more 
eggs were laid, the second of which was white and spotted much like that 
of a Greenfinch.— Arruur G. BurLer (10, Avington Grove, Penge). 
Gopwits anD Knots RETAINING THEIR WINTER Piumage In SuMMER.— 
A singular fact connected with the spring migration of the Bartailed Godwit 
is that a large number remain about our bay and estuary late into the 
summer, long after their companions have reached their northern breeding 
grounds, and are engaged in rearing their young. Another fact, well worth 
the notice of naturalists, is that although in first-rate condition very few of 
the birds that remain with us (probably not one in fifty) exhibit the red 
summer plumage, but are always seen in their grey winter dress. During 
the months of March and April last Godwits were scarcer than usual in the 
bay and estuary; flocks of only twenty or thirty birds were most usually 
met with. However, considerable additions were afterwards made to their 
numbers by birds from more southern localities, which as usual made the 
sands of the bay a resting place on their way to their northern breeding 
grounds. A considerable number of these birds remained after their com- 
panions had taken their departure, and lingered on through the months of 
June, July, and into August. On June 12th I observed about twenty birds 
on the sands near this place, and all appeared in the grey plumage, none 
showing any trace of red. On June 19th, being anxious to ascertain 
whether the Godwits still remained, I went down the river in my punt to a 
favourite haunt of theirs, near the Island of Bartragh, where I met with a 
flock of about one hundred and thirty of these birds; and after examining 
them through a glass for some time I was only able to distinguish a solitary 
individual with the red breast of summer; all the rest showing the grey 
backs and white under parts peculiar to the winter plumage. The flock 
afterwards broke up into small detached parties: one, of seven or eight 
birds, accompanied by the redbreasted one, I followed, but was unable to 
