236 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



on the walls of the Blackbird's nest, had not put nearly so much 

 material as usual into their own nest — merely lining on one side.- — 

 W. G. N. Aplin (Bloxham, Oxon). 



Pied Flycatcher in Warwickshire. — On May 6th last a friend and 

 myself observed a Pied Flycatcher near here. Whether this species 

 has been recorded for Warwickshire or not, I am unable to ascertain 

 definitely, although it has probably been observed, as I understand 

 is the case with neighbouring counties. As it is necessarily of rare 

 occurrence, I thought it worthy of record. — Beenard Staeley (46, 

 Holyhead Eoad, Coventry). 



Pied Flycatcher in Northamptonshire. — A male Pied Flycatcher, 

 which I examined while it was still in the flesh, was shot at Aynho 

 about May 4th. I have only known of one previous occurrence of 

 this species in that part of Northamptonshire, and Lord Lilford only 

 mentions some half-dozen more instances in other parts of the 

 county. — 0. V. Aplin (Bloxham, Oxon). 



The Mobbing of Cuckoos and Hawks. — Aprojjos of the remark 

 made by Mr. Edmund Selous {ante, p. 183) that the Cuckoo is more 

 frequently followed by small birds than the Sparrow-Hawk, I would 

 add that in Ireland, where I have frequently seen the Cuckoo attacked 

 and driven from place to place by small birds, the small birds that I 

 have seen so engaged have almost invariably been of one species, the 

 Meadow-Pipit. In other words, the only species of bird that in 

 Ireland is commonly victimised or duped by the Cuckoo, and has 

 frequently to rear the latter's young, is also the only bird that is 

 much addicted to mobbing it. For this reason I have long been 

 satisfied that the Cuckoo is mobbed in this country simply and 

 solely because it is recognized as a Cuckoo, and that its superiicial 

 resemblance to a Hawk has nothing whatever to do with the matter. 

 Judging from descriptions, it seems to be far more generally mobbed 

 in England ; but then it would also appear that English Cuckoos are 

 far more indiscriminate in their choice of foster-mothers. I must 

 add that I have also frequently seen the Sparrow-Hawk mobbed, but 

 never by Meadow-Pipits ; and the aggressors have, as a rule, the 

 good sense to confine their attacks to occasions when the Hawk is 

 encumbered with booty, and so cannot retaliate. Their observance 

 of this sort of discretion leaves, I venture to think, no room for the 

 theory that they give chase to the Cuckoo at first sight through 

 mistaking it for a Hawk. — C. B. Moffat (36, Hardwick Street, 

 Dublin^. 



