24 fcEtE ZOOLOGIST. 



confound this species, Sylvia hortensis, with the Blackcap, S. atricapilla, 

 which, though far from common, nests regularly in small numbers in the 

 district. The Tree Pipit, Anthus trivialis, nests regularly in limited 

 numbers. It appears, however, to be on the increase. The district to 

 which these remarks apply is situated a few miles to the north of the city 

 of Perth. It is richly wooded and well watered, and consequently 

 favourable to the investigation of bird life. The Yellow Wagtail, Motacilla 

 raii, and the Woodcock, Scolopax rusticuia, nest every spring in very small 

 numbers ; but even in so small an area both species are unaccountably local 

 in their nesting haunts. The former species is confounded with the Grey 

 Wagtail, Motacilla melanope, by local dealers, a bird which is far from 

 common. Perhaps the greatest treasure which I have found in this district 

 is the nest and eggs of the Grasshopper Warbler, Locustella ncevia. I 

 have never known another instance of the eggs of this bird having been 

 taken in the neighbourhood of Perth. The Nightjar, Caprimulgus 

 europcBus, is said to nest in this district; but though I have searched 

 diligently, and have employed collectors for the purpose, I have never been 

 fortunate enough to find its eggs ; nor have I heard its cry in that part of 

 Perthshire. — J. B. Dobbie (3a, Pitt Street, Edinburgh). 



Ornithological Notes from Mid Wales.— A few occurrences of the 

 past year may be worth recording. On Jan. 26th Wood Larks were 

 migrating, owing to the snow-fall of the previous night. A Bittern, in 

 extremely poor condition, was sent from Pembrokeshire on Feb. 4th ; and 

 on the 18th a Great Crested Grebe was shot at Llanrhystyd. The frost 

 brought Bramblings and Snow Buntings; a few Pintails and Golden-eyes 

 visited the Dovey, but no rarities. Mistle Thrushes were so completely 

 killed off by the frost that I did not see a single one for the next nine 

 months. Very few Stonechats survived. Goldfinches have become scarce, 

 and many birds which appear less likely to be affected — as Herons and 

 Buzzards — show a similar marked decrease in numbers. On March 1st I 

 found a pair of Ravens tenanting a new nest upon the sea-cliff near the 

 usual site, and met with a pair of Choughs within a short distance of the 

 town. The Chiffchaff was heard in the Mawddach estuary about 

 Barmouth on March 23rd, and the Wheatear reached Aberystwyth on the 

 24th. On April 9th I looked into a Raven's nest which contained well- 

 grown young ones. The site is a fine one — on rocks which overhang a 

 deep and dark pool, whose Welsh name may be rendered " the Infernal 

 Pit." On the same day I saw a Kite, and may as well mention here that 

 the attempts of these birds to breed were, as usual, unsuccessful. On 

 May 19th two, if not three, sets of eggs were taken by one party. A 

 dealer has disposed of several clutches at £4 the clutch, and it has now 

 become usual to cut away the branches to take the nest as well. There 

 may be five pairs of these fine birds left, but all chance of young ones being 



