NOTES AND QUERIES. 231 
rufous nuchal patch, and closely resembles the profusely-spotted specimens 
so many of which have been sent to this country from India by Mr. W. E. 
Brooks and the late Mr. Andrew Anderson. I did not see the specimen 
shot at St. Columb when I visited the Truro Museum, and was told that it 
had been destroyed by moth; but Mr. Rodd assured me that it closely 
resembled the specimen in his collection in the large spots and’ profuse 
spotting, as also in the absence of the rufous nuchal patch, so that it may 
be safely inferred that it also was a specimen of Aquila clanga. — H. E. 
Dresser (Topclyffe Grange, Farnborough, Kent). 
Habits of Starlings.—Starlings usually flock here in great numbers in 
the autumn and commencement of the winter. In March it is well known 
that they are engaged in nesting-operations. In this neighbourhood these 
were arrested this year by the cold weather in the early part of April. To 
my astonishment they appeared again in large flocks, wending their way 
from 6.45 to 7.15 in a N.W. direction to their roosting-places, among fir- 
trees near some water on Col. Beme’s property. The latter days of April 
were exceedingly warm, and during these few days the flocks were broken 
up; and one evening I noticed the passage of a great number in the same 
direction, all in pairs. The following evening not a single Starling was 
visible. The beginning of May there was another fall in the temperature, 
and again appeared large flocks of Starlings. I do not think that cold is 
entirely the cause of this phenomenon, for I have seen them in flocks 
during harvest, and I remember one instance in which a flock alighted upon 
the sheaves of a field of wheat; they only stayed there a short time, and 
then flew off to an arable field close at hand, where they busily employed 
themselves searching for insects. It was a grand sight to see a 14-acre field 
covered with them, and then to see them rise and perform those marvellous 
evolutions, which they execute in mass, before going to roost. I havea 
view from my sitting-room, looking a long way eastward into the country, 
from whence the flocks accumulate and pass under my observation. I 
believe the nesting of the Starling has this year been postponed, as at this 
time I generally see several on my lawn every morning.—C. R. Bree (Hill 
House, Long Melford). 
Great Crested Grebe in Rutlandshire.— While watching the Moorhens 
and Coots on the water in Exton Park, near Oakham, on May 4th last, 
I observed amongst them an unusual bird, which on closer examination 
proved to be a male Great Crested Grebe. On further search I made out 
the female bird also, who, from her appearing suddenly in the open water, 
had probably dived off the nest, which I afterwards had the satisfaction of 
seeing at the edge of the reeds bordering the pond. On obtaining a boat 
and visiting the nest, it was found to contain two eggs, apparently recently 
laid, being both of a clear white. These were loosely covered with bits of 
