THE ZooLocist—OcrTosBer, 1876. 5119 
the back as distinct as those of a bunting. These characteristics are plainly 
visible at a moderately near view of the living bird, except of course when 
on the wing, the flight being rapid. In breeding plumage, judging by 
Gould’s plete, the ground colour of the upper surface comes nearer to that 
of the sedge warbler than it does in autumn; but the aquatic warbler seems 
to be grayer on the back and yellower on the ramp—colours which I should 
think would not blend so well to the eye as the olive and tawny of the 
sedge warbler; but in autumn plumage the merest “ yokel” ought to see 
the difference. The aquatic warbler becomes of a yellow russet (wn jaune 
roux, Schlegel) on the upper surface, the colour of the back approximating 
to that of the rump. Dr. Bree very properly notices this state of plumage ; 
but why the silence, and the very misleading silence, on this point, of our 
other English authorities? Seen, as I saw it, flitting up and down a reedy 
ditch on the Thames marshes, this yellowish red bird is a most striking 
object, suggesting by its colour the bearded tit and the rufous warbler 
(4idon galactodes) more than anything else. In its habits, as noticed by 
Dr. Bree, it is very mouse-like, creeping in and out among the bottoms of 
the reeds, as I never saw any sedge warbler do. JT must ask you and your 
readers to pardon this prolixity; but I have written thus much in the 
belief that Ornithology is much impeded by misleading representations as 
to the difficulty of distinguishing (for non-scientific observers) species which 
superficially are very disnare Clifton ; Cobham Hall, September 4, 1876. 
Blackcap in Ireland.—Some of your readers may be interested in 
hearing that a young blackcap was shot, on the 30th of June, by a young 
friend of mine, at Rathgar, near Dublin. Two were in company at the 
time, and they must have been reared in the neighbourhood. I have not 
heard that the blackcap has been observed anywhere else in Ireland during 
-the present year. My friend had been on the look out for the species for 
a considerable time.—Charles W. Benson. 
{In Ireland, although a local species, the blackcap is a regular summer 
migrant in the county of Dublin, and has been observed in Antrim, 
Wicklow, Waterford, Cork, Tipperary and Galway —Eb.] 
Whitethroat’s Nest at an unusual Elevation—The other day Mr. Sways- 
land, naturalist, of Brighton, had the goodness to take me to his garden, on 
the outskirts of the town, to see a common whitethroat’s nest in an elder 
bush, at the unusual elevation of sixteen feet. Mr. Swaysland informs me 
that on some days his garden is quite an interesting ornithological sight. 
Hundreds of tree sparrows may be observed (in flocks), passing over on 
passage, and huge flights of wagtails; and at other times great squads of 
redwings from the north, passing on, with strength unabated, to southern 
climes. He has constructed a small pond, and a very clever net by which 
to entrap thirsty birds who come there to drink. Only the other day he 
caught a pretty pied flycatcher, which he showed me just mounted; and 
