NOTES AND QUERIES. 113 



big flock in a clover-field on high ground. It is unlikely that these 

 were very early returning migrants (for they commonly return in 

 February and March), and it is noted in my journal for that day 

 that Linnets had been numerous all the winter. — 0. V. Aplin (Blox- 

 ham, Oxon). 



Hen- Harrier (Circus cyaneus). — An immature female of this species 

 was presented by Mr. Hugh Aldersey to the Chester Museum, by 

 whom it was shot on the Aldersey Hall Estate, near Broxton, Cheshire ; 

 date doubtful. As this bird is now only a rare visitor to the county 

 of Cheshire, I thought it advisable to send this record for publica- 

 tion. The donor told me that there is no mistake as to its being a 

 Cheshire specimen, and shot on his estate, but unfortunately he had 

 forgotten the date. — Alfred Newstead (Chester). 



Domestic Habits of the Sparrow-Hawk. — While reading Mr. 

 Selous's interesting notes on Sparrows-Hawks, I was much surprised 

 to see his suggestion {ante, p. 53) that a bird whose eggs had been taken 

 about mid-May would have had time to deposit a second laying, and 

 hatch them out by June 23rd. A little consideration would have 

 shown that the boy's statement was almost certainly correct, and I 

 can only suppose that Mr. Selous is unaware of the fact that the 

 period of incubation in this species is very prolonged. Additional 

 observations on this subject are much needed, but I believe that in- 

 cubation always lasts more than four weeks, and in some cases 

 apparently exceeds five weeks iii duration. The time, too (mid- 

 May), would be about the average date for a full clutch, while, if the 

 eggs in question had been a second laying, they would probably not 

 have been hatched out before the first week in August, or late in July 

 at the earliest. In England, where four or five old nests may often 

 be seen within a short distance of one another, it is well known that 

 they are used as larders, and it is interesting to find that when old 

 nests were not available, that of some other bird (in this case a Jay's) 

 may be used for this purpose. — F. C. E. Jourdain (Clifton Vicarage, 

 Ashburne, Derbyshire). 



The Honey-Buzzard (Pernis apivorus). — The Honey-Buzzard has 

 long been known to breed in England, but, except in Hampshire, the 

 eggs or nestlings in the nest have been discovered only in a very few 

 instances. I have only been able to find records of eggs or nestlings 

 being found in Northumberland, Northamptonshire (nest of four 

 eggs), Oxfordshire, and Herefordshire ; but I have not yet looked up 

 the Burnham Beeches record of breeding annually for more exact 

 ^ool. 4th ser. vol. XV.. March, 1911, K 



