Birds. 2967 



Correction of a date. — The glossy ibis mentioned in the ' Zoologist' (Zool. 2953), 

 was shot on the 26th of May last (not the 21st) ; and Mr. Gurney records the Norfolk 

 specimen as shot on the 27th of May. — /. B. Ellman ; Lewes, November 6, 1 850. 



Enquiry respecting a Birds Nest. — I have in my possession a very peculiar nest, 

 which was found by a friend of mine, Richard Irwin, Esq. of Rathmile, Co. Roscom- 

 mon, a diligent and accurate observer, not many days since. The nest was placed in 

 the fork of an alder-bush, overhanging the River Tame, at Perry Barr, Staffordshire. 

 It was placed at a height of about ten feet from the ground, close to the main stem, 

 which was not more than an inch and a quarter in diameter. The nest is loosely 

 constructed of very old-looking pieces of hay and dead weeds, with here and there a 

 very small piece of moss. The lining is of dandelion-down and seed, with one small 

 piece of wool, one feather and a few white hairs. It is rather thick at the bottom of 

 nest, but thin and scattered at the sides. The extreme average diameter of the nest 

 is two inches and a half. The cup is one inch four lines in diameter at the top, and 

 one inch and a quarter in depth. The exterior depth is two inches aud a half. There 

 were four eggs, each of which was six-tenths of an inch in length, by four and a half 

 tenths in breadth. Before they were blown they had a slight bluish tint, with scarcely 

 perceptible lines radiating from the small end. Since being blown, they are of an uni- 

 form ivory white. The eggs were perfectly fresh, so that four may not be the maxi- 

 mum number : it is the smallest nest I have ever seen, with the exception of that of 

 the humming-bird. Can you, or any of your correspondents give me any information 

 as to the species to which it belongs ? — Francis Kerril Amhurst ; St. Mary's, Oseott, 

 June 6, 1850. 



Curious act of apparent Seasoning in Birds of the Parrot Tribe. — On recently 

 visiting the Zoological Gardens in Regent's Park, I observed a little incident which 

 I thought worthy of record. A very large white cockatoo and a much smaller green 

 parrot inhabited the same cage ; on offering them nuts, the parrot took the nut, but 

 instead of endeavouring to crack it, immediately earned it to the cockatoo, and trans- 

 ferred it from his own bill to the more powerful mandibles of his neighbour, who forth- 

 with cracked it and then divided the kernel, swallowing half himself, and honestly 

 returning the remainder to the parrot. I saw these two birds repeat this manoeuvre 

 at least a dozen times consecutively. — J. H. Gurney ; Easton, Norfolk, November 7, 

 1850. 



Occurrence of the Osprey (Falco haliaeetos) at Toddington, Bedfordshire. — A fine 

 specimen of the osprey was shot last month by the Rev. Lindsay Cooper, at Todding- 

 ton, Beds, and sent for preservation to (I believe) Mr. Leadbeater. As no instance is 

 recorded of the bird having been procured before in Bedfordshire, I conclude the in- 

 formation will be acceptable. — C. Hervey Smith ; Aspley House, near Woburn, Beds, 

 November 2, 1850. 



Note on the Dartford Warbler (Sylvia undata). — I perceive by the November 

 number of the ' Zoologist ' (Zool. 2953), that you wish me to give you information 

 respecting the song of this bird. I am sorry I cannot gratify your wish as I have 

 never heard the bird " sing." The bird I shot on the 12th ult., only gave two sharp 

 notes before I shot it. This morning I took an early ramble on the downs for the 

 express purpose of endeavouring to obtain the bird ; and after some time 1 heard a 

 double note (strange to me) repeated four or five times. The sound may be accu- 

 rately produced by the words " tscha " " tscha," beginning by making a catch at the 



