OCCASIONAL NOTES. 65 
StTaRLiInG AND Stock Dove LayiNeG IN THE SAME Nust.—In May and 
June, 1878, I found near York the nest of a Stock Dove, Columba e@nas, in 
the decayed branch of an elm, quite hollow, and about four feet deep and 
fifteen feet from the ground. When found, there were two eggs of the 
Stock Dove and four of the Starling laid on the same level. A little straw 
(most probably introduced into the hole by the Starling) was the only 
resemblance to a nest. The fact of these birds laying together may be 
accounted for by the Starling being the pioneer, and the Stock Dove having 
taken forcible possession of the tenement. All the eggs were taken, and in 
the following month of the same year (1878) a similar occurrence took place, 
three eggs of the Starling and two of the Stock Dove being found in the 
same place. The Stock Dove's eggs were hatched. In the following year 
(1879) the Stock Dove again laid in the same place, but this time alone, 
the Starling (if alive) having doubtless despaired of ever rearing its eggs. 
The hen Stock Dove was captured on the eggs and killed. The cock 
bird, however, got another mate, and the pair successfully hatched and 
reared the young, which, I need hardly say, were left to them. There 
was no recurrence of the kind in 1880.—W. Hewerr (26, Clarence Street, 
York). ; 
[The Stock Dove not unfrequently nests in the hollows of trees, especially 
pollards, and we have several times found the nest in a ruin amongst ivy; 
but the fact of a pair of these birds occupying a hole in partnership with a 
pair of Starlings is curious. In ‘The Zoologist,’ 1875, p. 4539, is a note 
of a Stock Dove laying in a Magpie’s nest; and a similar instance is 
recorded Zool. 1876, p. 4875, in the case of a Wood Pigeon.— Ep. ]} 
BRAMBLING IN THE IstEu or WicHtT.—Towards the end of November 
a handsome male of this species was captured here in a clap-net, with 
Sparrows, and brought to me for identification, the Brambling being a rare 
bird here—Henry Hapriewp (High Cliff, Ventnor). 
BREEDING RANGE OF THE Snow Bunrinc. —I observe that Mr. 
Cordeaux, in his interesting article on the Snow Bunting in your January 
number, says that the breeding quarters of this species extend from near 
the Pole as far south as latitude 56° 40’ North, in the British Isles. 
Hence I infer that hitherto this has been considered its recognised limit. 
On one of the highest and wildest passes of the Maritime Alps, between 
44° and 45° N. latitude (I do not specify the locality, in order to protect the 
subject of this notice), there stands a small cabin for the refreshment and 
shelter of wayfarers. In the month of June, 1872 (June 4th), I was 
botanizing on the neighbouring summits, aud, having come to this small 
refuge to get something to eat, I saw as I approached the place a Snow 
Bunting running over the rocks in front of me. Its extreme tameness 
surprised me, for it allowed me to get within a few feet, and seemed quite 
K 
