942 Birds. 



from the top. These tufts were free from thorns or brambles, and being much larger 

 than the first, afforded sufficient concealment, without the nest resting on the ground. 

 There was the same absence of all appearance which could lead you to suppose they 

 contained a nest. In both cases I watched the movements of the female, aud they 

 were precisely the same as I have already described ; she never rose on the wing ; and 

 it would seem probable (if not disturbed) she never flies either to or from her nest ; 

 but threads her way through the herbage, and thus effectually prevents everything 

 that could lead to the discovery of her retreat. The whole proceeding most forcibly 

 reminded me of a mouse under similar circumstances. The eggs were six in number. 

 The nests, in the two latter instances, were entirely of dry grass, finer internally, in 

 the first there was a little moss outside, owing, probably, to a trifling difference of 

 situation. — William Turner ; Uppingham, March 10, 1845. 



Where should Atricha clamosa be placed in the system P Will you be good enough 

 to tell me whereabouts in the system occurs the New Australian warbler, named by 

 Mr. Gould Atricha clamosa, and noticed in 'The Zoologist' for 1844 (Zool. 496). 

 Perhaps you will kindly inform me next what genus it should be placed in Mr. Gray's 

 4 List of the Genera of Birds.' — Edward H. M. Sladen ; Wameford, Hants, March 

 12, 1845. 



[I cannot solve this query : perhaps some of my able correspondents will favour 

 me with their assistance. — Edward Newman ] 



Occurrence of the Fire-crested Regulus in Cornwall. I am glad to have it in my 

 power to record in ' The Zoologist' the capture of another very rare British bird. 

 During the hard frost on Thursday, the 6th March, Mr. H. Vingoe, naturalist of this 

 place, remarked within a couple of gun-shots from this town, several chiff-chaffs 

 busying about for insects (a very unusually early period, by the bye, for these birds to 

 appear in large numbers, and especially in weather so uncongenial to their character). 

 Amongst these birds he observed one which, from the sulphur-green of its upper 

 plumage, he was induced to shoot. This proved to be no less than a female fire- 

 crested Regulus (R. ignicapillus). The three bands above, through and under the eye, 

 are sufficiently plain to be remarkable, without being very distinct. The white above 

 the eye, and the yellow-green on the back, and especially on the shoulders, are very 

 well shown. I will notice here a remark quoted by Mr. Yarrell from Sir W. Jardine, 

 as to the colour of the crown of the female of this species being similar to that of the 

 male, which is bright orange colour, differing in this respect from its congener, the 

 common species, which in the female has the crown lemon yellow ; in my specimen, 

 now under notice, the crown of the head is bright lemon yellow, differing in no respect 

 in tone of colour from that in the female golden-crested Regulus, except, perhaps, in 

 intensity. Mr. Jenyns refers to the young of the year of this species having a lemon- 

 coloured crest, but being without the three bands. As my example differs from both of 

 these characters set forth by the high authorities I have mentioned, J think it worth 

 while to refer particularly to my own, in order that those who have had opportunities 

 of seeing the bird more frequently than myself in the skin and flesh, may give their 

 opinion. — E. II. Rodd ; Penzance, March 8, 1845. 



Occurrence of Bewick's Swan near Somersham and Godmanchester. On Monday 

 last there were no less than six specimens of the Cygnus Bewickii, in the market of 

 this town. Three had been killed on Somersham fen, the other three near Godman- 

 chester. Three of them came more immediately under my own observation, having 

 been all preserved in iny rooms here, cither for myself or my friends. Of these the 



