NOTICES OF NEW BOOKS. 37 



Early Occurrence of Motacilla Raii. — On the 9th of March, at mid- 

 day, a Yellow Wagtail was seen on a hill about three miles south-east of Bath. 

 The bird was perched on a low thorn bush at the side of the road, its 

 brilliant yellow very conspicuous in the sunshine. It was jerking its tail 

 and uttering continuous "chirrups," apparently quite comfortable in the 

 warm spring air. After some two or three minutes it flew straight towards 

 the writer, who was seated twenty yards away ; its two white tail feathers 

 showing very plainly as it passed over a hedge into a rough field witli 

 spongy and seedy spots here and there. It there walked up and down 

 searching for insects. The next day it was seen again in the same held, 

 though not to such advantage. It has been suggested that the gales of the 

 last few days had carried him hither involuntarily, as it is so much earlier than 

 the bird's usual date for re-appearance in England. — W. Gee, Freshford, 

 near Bath. 



[Occurrences of this species in winter, although infrequent, are not un- 

 heard of. I have known it to occur at least twice in the vicinity of London 

 between January and March ("Birds of London," p. 23), one example 

 being seen by myself at Ilford, and the other shot near Putney and obtained 

 by a friend. I cannot find it recorded elsewhere. It is, possibly, passed 

 over for a Grey Wagtail when it does occur owing to the latter losing its 

 black throat in winter ; the Yellow Wagtail, however, looks smaller, with 

 a shorter tail, and is pale olive above instead of slate-grey, while there is no 

 distinct yellow on the upper tail-coverts, although the general tint above 

 and below seems much yellower at a little distance. The flight-notes seem 

 to me distinct enough ; I have syllabled M. rail's as chee, chee, chit-up and 

 that of M. melanope as chip, chip, chip, chiz-ip. — H. Kirke Swann.] 



NOTICES OF NEW BOOKS. 



A Natural History of the Nests and Eggs of British Birds, by the Rev. 

 F. O. Morris, B.A. Fourth edition. Revised and corrected by VV. B. 

 Tegetmeier, F.Z.S. Part 1. (London: John C. Nimmo). Price 2s. 6d. 



The present edition of this well-known work is the fourth, and it appears to 

 me to be at least equal to the previous editions in point of letterpress, both 

 paper and printing being all that could be desired. The plates are also for 

 the most part fairly well executed, but one or two are a trifle over-coloured. 

 While allowing that Mr. Tegetmeier has apparently discharged his somewhat 

 delicate task in an able manner, one can scarcely commend his judgment 

 impartially when one finds that he has retained under the name of " Jer- 

 Falcon " no less than three species of birds, two, at least, of which have long 

 been recognised as totally distinct from one another. We read that " there 



