184 THE ZOOLOGIST. 
we may take it that we possess the strongest possible indirect testimony 
that they did not do so, for such rare birds would certainly have had the 
peans of their weight sung in the Holkham Game-book.” By way of 
compromise, I should be quite willing to alter the disputed passage in my 
letter (p. 149) in this fashion—* thus beating, I may be allowed to assume, 
Chantrey’s feat, so far as weight was concerned."—EK. W. Harcourt 
(Nuneham Park, Abingdon). 
Number of Eggs laid by a Magpie.—When in Cornwall this spring 
I found a Magpie’s nest, with ten eggs in it, in an orchard (April 10th). 
The nest was in an apple-tree about ten feet from the ground, and not fifty 
yards from the house: the eggs were much incubated. This nest has 
been used by the same birds for certainly three, if not four years. Do not 
Magpies, as a rule, make a new nest every year ?—WILLIAM JESSE, JUN. 
(Selwyn College, Cambridge). 
Food of the Common Wren.—On March 28th I saw, at the brink of 
a nearly dry pond, a little brown Wren busily engaged with some large 
dark object. Holding this in its beak, it kept dashing it with great vigour 
against surrounding sticks and bushes, after the manner of a Kingfisher 
with a fish, varying this treatment with an occasional savage peck. On my 
approach the Wren dropped, or rather jerked away, its prize, which proved 
to be the case of a caddis-worm, composed of dark, sodden oak-leaves. The 
occupant was missing, and was, I fancy (judging by the bird’s actions), 
successfully extracted by means of the last frantic effort—G. T. Ropz 
(Blaxhall, Suffolk). 
Sand Grouse in Lincolnshire.—I am sorry to say that three Sand 
Grouse were shot at a marsh village, Saltfleetby, near Louth, during the 
week ending Feb. 23rd. According to a local paper, they were shot from a 
flock of about 100 birds. I may add that I wrote a letter to the local 
paper, giving a copy of the Sand Grouse Protection Act, the existence of 
which, apparently, is unknown to the general public—Henry F. ALLISON 
(Beckingham, Lincolnshire). 
Sand Grouse in Ayrshire.—If not already recorded, it may be of 
interest to readers of ‘The Zoologist’ to know that two Sand Grouse 
were picked up dead in April, 1888, near Dalrymple Station, Ayrshire, 
apparently killed by telegraph-wires. Another was shot by a gamekeeper 
at Cloncaird, Maybole, Ayrshire, on Dec. 12th, which has been preserved. 
—James Sarcent (Nith Lodge, New Cumnock, N. B.). 
Rose-coloured Pastor in Kent.—I think I may with certainty record 
the occurrence of a Rose-coloured Pastor here in January last. It was 
seen in company with some Fieldfares, and from the description given to 
me, the observer being very near the bird, I have not a doubt as to its 
