Birds. 1023 



Nesting of the Starting. I am informed by a friend of mine, who is an acute ob- 

 server of birds and their habits, that an instance came within his knowledge some time 

 ago, of the starling depositing its eggs in the same nest with a magpie. How the 

 process of incubation was carried on, he had not an opportunity of observing. — /. W. 

 Barlow. 



Nesting of the Thrush, (Turdus musicus). I was surprized the other day to find 

 the nest of this bird on the ground : it is, I think, rather an unusual occurrence. — Id. 



Blackbird's Nest on the ground. While walking, this morning, my attention was 

 drawn to what struck me as being a very curious circumstance, namely, a blackbird's 

 nest built in, or rather scooped out of, the ground. The soil thereabouts is a deep 

 sand, and in this the old bird had formed a hollow, exactly resembling a nest in shape, 

 and had lined it with lichens, or fine twigs, or some similar substance. The nest con- 

 tained four eggs, on which the hen was evidently sitting hard, as she allowed herself 

 to be approached quite close before she would move, and returned again almost im- 

 mediately after I had moved away. The nest is at the foot of a large chesnut-tree, 

 but the two are as unconnected as if they were twenty miles apart. The ground, too, 

 is comparatively open and unsheltered ; that is, though there are other trees, there are 

 no bushes in the neighbourhood. What could have induced this bird to have so far 

 deviated from the habits of its tribe, as to prefer the naked ground to a thick bush ? 

 Not to mention the wide difference that must exist between collecting twigs and build- 

 ing a nest in a tree, and the scooping out a hollow in sand : for it is evidently not an 

 accidental hole in the ground, but a spot deliberately fixed on and worked out. I may 

 add that the bird does not appear to have been lately hurt or wounded, as she flies as 

 strong as possible. — W. W. Spicer ; Esher Place, May 5, 1845. 



Occurrence of the great grey-backed Shrike near Hull. Within the last two years 

 three specimens of the grey-backed shrike have been obtained, all within seven miles 

 of this town ; the last one was shot about a month ago. This bird is considered very 

 rare with us, and the red-backed shrike still more so, only one specimen having occur- 

 red here to the best of my knowledge. — Geo. Norman ; Hull, April 16, 1845. 



Occurrence of Anthus aquaticus at Fleetwood. Being at Fleetwood in October, 

 1843, I observed three birds of an elegant shape, about the size of the wagtail, and of 

 much the same form, but differing from that genus in the tone and colouring of the 

 feathers. I was particularly struck with the quantity of pure white on the flanks and 

 wings, as the birds stood with their sides towards me. When I got home, and exa- 

 mined Yarrell's Birds, I could not find any that corresponded, either in the figure or 

 description, with these birds. Richard's pipit was the most like, in size and form. 

 Mr. Yarrell hints that Anthus aquaticus would probably be found upon some of our 

 coast. I had given up all thoughts of finding what the birds were, but, on opening 

 'The Zoologist,' which I did not receive until the 10th of this month, my attention 

 was drawn to M. Julian Deby's excellent description of Anthus aquaticus, (Zool. 980) 

 which exactly agrees with the three birds I saw at Fleetwood. Now I beg to state 

 that I have not the slightest hesitation in saying that the birds which I saw were An- 

 thus aquaticus, and nothing else. My object in wishing for the insertion of this in 

 'The Zoologist,' is, that it may be the means of causing others to keep a sharp look 

 out. — Thos. Webster; 96, Ormond St., Chorlton-upon-Medlock, Manchester, June 11, 

 1845. 



Occurrence of the Fire-crested Regulus in Cornwall. I find that I was not quite 

 correct in stating that the example of Regulus ignicapillus which I reported to you as 



