1024 Birds. 



having been lately noticed in this neighbourhood, was the first instance of its ocair- 

 rence in the county of Cornwall, (Zool. 942). The following letter, which you are at 

 liberty to publish, will afford further information respecting the occurrence of this in- 

 teresting species in this county. The birds were found in the garden of Michael 

 Williams, Esq., of Trewince, near Truro. I have seen the two specimens, which are 

 male and female. — Edwd. Hearle Rodd ; Penzance, April 16, 1845. 



Occurrence of the Fire-crested Reyulus in Cornwall. I have seen Mr. George Wil- 

 liams, son of Michael Williams, Esq., of Trewince, in Gwennap, to whom the fire- 

 crested Reguli belong, who has consented to the use of his name in any manner that 

 may be thought necessary. He has given me the following particulars. On Satur- 

 day, the 1st of March last, there being a little snow on the ground, the gardener, on 

 going into the garden at Trewince, found in the path, near a wall which had ivy grow- 

 ing on the top of it, the two little birds quite dead. The wing of one was covering the 

 body of the other, and he thought at first there was only one bird, so closely were they 

 lying together. Mr. Williams says they shall be exhibited at the next Polytechnic 

 exhibition. If it is not too much trouble, as you are in the habit of sending notices 

 to * The Zoologist,' will you be kind enough to give the report in the usual way. — 

 Nichs. Tresidder ; Falmouth, April 12, 1845. 



Early Nest of the Blackcap. On March 11, 1845, a nest of the blackcap warbler 

 (Curruca atricapilla) was found here. The nest appeared to have been blown down 

 from its original situation, as it was but slightly attached to a twig, and contained one 

 egg, which was cracked, but quite fresh. The only unusual thing in the formation of 

 the nest, was that it was constructed with more moss than usual. There has been 

 some discussion whether the blackcap is a migrant ; perhaps this may afford addi- 

 tional evidence. — Edward Newton ; Elveden Hall, April 25, 1 845. 



Anecdote of a Robin. A gentleman, who is a neighbour of mine, was in the habit, 

 during the last winter, of putting some crumbs out of his window every morning at 

 breakfast-time, for the birds ; and a robin in particular was very regular in his atten- 

 dance to partake of them. My friend, on one or two occasions, not having risen so 

 early as usual, and consequently exceeded his usual time for breakfast, was surprized 

 to hear a gentle tapping on his window (which was immediately above that of his sit- 

 ting-room), and which he found proceeded from his feathered pet, who had come to 

 remind him that he was waiting for his breakfast. Even this is, I think, an indica- 

 tion of something more than instinct ; for I believe, and have elsewhere attempted to 

 show, that if these creatures were actuated by no higher principle, we should never 

 find them doing anything beyond what was requisite for the gratification of mere sen- 

 sual appetite and desire. — T. W. Barlow ; Holmes Chapel, Cheshire, Apnl 30, 1845. 



Song of the Brambling. Writers on British Ornithology are silent relative to the 

 song of the bramble-finch. It was a year since this last 31st day of March, that I had 

 the pleasure of hearing its vocal powers. The first notes are a pleasing low garrulous 

 sort of warble, which are succeeded by a hoarse and protracted one, not unlike the last 

 note of our common green linnet, only a little deeper in tone. Bechstein, who seems 

 to have had good opportunities of seeing this bird in the beech-forests of Germany, 

 gives, in his ' Cage Birds,' a very exact account of its song. When I first heard it, I 

 took it to be the green linnet, but was soon undeceived on seeing the bird. Flocks of 

 from ten to twenty or thirty poured forth their songs every day until the 10th of April, 

 when they took their final leave of us. How very changeable these birds are in their 

 plumage on their arrival, and what uniformity prevails amongst the respective sexes 

 previous to their departure! — V. Oswald Walmeslcy ; Westwood, May 2, 1845. 



