NOTES AND QUERIES. 269 



I think, that this tame Rook is polygamous or rather bigamous I suppose 

 that the "high living" which he has always enjoyed, and the ease with 

 which he can procure food enough to satisfy two mates and himself, has 

 caused him to undertake a task which would probably prove too much for 

 the strength and food-providing powers of birds subject to natural conditions, 

 and which is therefore seldom or never undertaken by them. — C. R. Gawen 

 (Chetwynd I'ark, Newport, Shropshire). 



Young Dippers taking to the Water.— On April 11th I found a 

 nest of the Dipper, Ciitdus aquaticus, under a bridge near Chard. Some 

 time afterwai'ds, on my brother visiting the spot, one of the young ones 

 deliberately dived from tlie nest, which was in the crown of the arch, and 

 swam to the other end, a distance of several yards, and then landed and sat 

 on the bank as if nothing had happened. As there seems to be some 

 doubt whether Dippers readily take to the water or not this observation 

 may perhaps be of interest to your readers. — A. H. Buckland (4, East 

 Street, Taunton). 



Swallow in Somersetshire in December. — In 1885 I saw a Swallow 

 on the down at Clifton, close to the river, in December. It was before the 

 7th — and I think on the 3rd — of that month. It was a clear day, and 

 though there had been a sharp white frost the night before, there were a 

 good many gnats about. — E. R. Clutterbuck (Monks, Corsham, Wilts). 



Cream-coloured Courser in Cardiganshire. — A specimen of the 

 Cream-coloured Courser, Cursorius isabeUinus, was shot by me on the 2nd 

 October last, at Ymyslas, near Borth, Cardiganshire, on the estuary of the 

 Dovey. As the skin has been seen and identified by Mr. Nelson, of Bishop 

 Auckland, and Mr. Nicholson, of Manchester, there can be no doubt about 

 the species. — A. Hooton (Kersal Towers, Higher Broughton, Manchester). 



Food of the Spotted Flycatcher. — In Latham's ' General History of 

 Birds' (vol. ii. p. 32o) I find the following remarks on the Spotted Fly- 

 catcher : — " This species frequents orchards where cherries grow, of which 

 they are said to be very great destroyers. Hence in Kent are known by 

 the name of cherry-suckers." Can any of your readers confirm this state- 

 ment? I have always considered the Flycatcher to be, as its name implies, 

 an insectivorous bird. — William E. Beckwith (Eaton Constantino, Iron- 

 bridge, Salop). 



Norfolk Plover nesting in Nottinghamshire. — Within a few fields 

 of this house, I am delighted to say, a pair of Norfolk Plovers, (Edicnemus 

 crepitans, are nesting this year, and the owner of the farm they are on is 

 taking every care that they may not be disturbed. I am glad to say a pair 

 reared their young there last year. — J. Whitaker (Raiuworth Lodge, near 

 Mansfield). 



