4834 Tur ZooLtocist—Marcn, 1876. 
as might be expected, they were not hatched. This adds another to the list 
of curious places chosen by robins to nest in—J. H. Gurney, jun. 
Unusual Situation of a Redstart’s Nest.—In the ‘ Zoologist’ for 1869 
(S. S. 1801) is an account, by Mr. J. Ranson, of a redstart building its nest 
on the branch of a trained pear tree. Last May, whilst in pursuit of 
Melita Euphrosyne, I started a redstart from the bottom of a small haw- 
thorn; and on searching I found the nest carefully hid in the midst of a 
large tuft of grass, and containing five eggs. To be sure that I was not 
mistaken in the bird, I retired a short distance and waited till it returned 
to its nest; the bird on its re-appearance confirmed my first impression. 
This is a curious departure from the redstart’s usual custom of building in 
a hole.-—John Kempster; 4, Prince’s Place, Clifton, February 8, 1876. 
Migratory Flock of Wagtails.— During the severe weather of the 15th 
and 16th of January we had a large migratory arrival of wagtails here. On 
the 16th there were several hundreds along the banks of the river, prin- 
cipally of the white and pied species (if they are distinct) and a few gray 
wagtails amongst them. The wind was N.E. at the time and bitterly cold ; 
on the change of wind to the S.W., a few days later, the greater number 
departed. On the 29th I saw a grayheaded wagtail—the only one this 
winter.—Id. 
Grayheaded Wagtail— There are some remarks in the ‘ Zoologist’ for 
February (S. S. 4793', on my ‘ Catalogue of the Birds of Northumberland 
and Durham,’ by Mr. J. H. Gurney, jun., on which I wish to say a few 
words. Mr. Gurney doubts my assertion as regards the breeding of the 
grayheaded wagtail in our district. The so-called Budytes flava and B. Rayi 
are both well known to me; and, at page 60 of the ‘ Catalogue,’ I give a 
detailed account of the whereabouts and the capture of the birds in question. 
I went myself to the spots where the nests were, and saw the old birds, as 
well as the young, before they were shot; and in the ‘ Catalogue’ I state how 
the young of B. flava differs from that of B. Rayi. I think this ought to 
have sufficed, and saved my friend the trouble of making those remarks. 
He goes on, however, to say, “But I should like to know who could 
distinguish the female (of the grayheaded) from the female of the yellow 
wagtail, still less the young.” If Mr. Gurney will call upon me in New- 
castle, I will undertake to prove to him in five minutes how to distinguish 
between the two females (when they are well developed), and I think after 
he has examined the large series of these interesting wagtails which I have, 
he will perhaps see there is reason for saying “he does not know what 
constitutes a species.” I have read the criticisms made by the late Mr. 
Doubleday, and those by others in the ‘ Field’ newspaper (which Mr, Gurney 
alludes to), but I see nothing in any of them to alter in the least the opinions 
I have stated in the ‘Catalogue.’ Should at any time, however, facts be 
brought forward sufficient to make me change those opinions, I should be 
ay 
