4072 Birds. 



" Within a month from this time I guess you will have commenced your entomo- 

 logical campaign for 1853 : T should like to be with you at dear old Darenth Wood, 

 hut do not anticipate it this year, unless fortune's favours are unexpected and speedy, 

 hut be assured I will leave this country as soon as I can conveniently. One day's col- 

 lecting, or one night's mothing at Darenth, is worth more than a month's collecting 

 here, for comfort and real enjoyment. 



" Thos. J. R. Oxlev." 



Mr. Dalman observed that the larvae of Acherontia Atropos appeared to be rather 

 plentiful this year ; and several other members had seen or obtained some. — J. T. N. 



Note on the unknown Eggs found near Norwich. — The remarks of your correspon- 

 dent on this subject (Zool. 4014), seem to refer to some variety in the eggs of our 

 common kingfisher much resembling those in question. The kingfisher (Alcedo Is- 

 pida) is certainly met with in many parts of the Norwich river ; but even supposing 

 the eggs of that bird to vary occasionally in form, I think the number of those lately 

 found, is a sufficient reason for not assigning them to the kingfisher. As I stated be- 

 fore, they resemble the eggs of the common swift more than any other's in shape, but 

 instead of having a chalky exterior, they are smooth and shining. I am sorry that I 

 can give no further information at present respecting the nest, as I have never been 

 able to meet with the boys who found it ; however, I question very much if they no- 

 ticed it sufficiently to throw any fresh light on the subject. — H. Stevenson ; Norwich, 

 September 17, 1853. 



Note on the late Nidijication of Birds. — There is at the present time the nest of a 

 goldfinch in an orchard here, which contains young only just hatched. Two days ago 

 I saw some thrushes, which had just been taken from the nest, being still unable to 

 fly or to feed themselves; and about a fortnight ago I found some hedge accentors in 

 the same predicament, except that the latter were still enjoying their "mother's love 

 and father's joy," instead of being cooped up in a wretched little prison not six inches 

 square, as the former were, to be crammed from the bands of their merciless gaoler. 

 The above are remarkable proofs that the continued wet this season has induced the 

 feathered tribes to delay their incubation till so late, that their offspring stand a fair 

 chance of being frozen, if not drenched to death. — Alfred Merle Norman ; Pyrton, 

 Oxfordshire, September 17, 1853. 



Occurrence of the Osprey (Falco Haliaetus) at Weybridge. — I have had brought me 

 for stuffing a most beautiful specimen of the osprey. It was shot on Sunday last, at 

 Weybridge. I should feel great pleasure in showing it to any one who may wish to 

 see it. — James Gardner ; 426, Oxford Street, September 15, 1853. 



Note on the Grasshopper Warbler (Salicaria Locustella). — About two years since 

 having a great desire to add to my collection an example of this rare little bird, I paid 

 several visits during the summer to one of our smaller broads, always abounding with 

 the more common reed and sedge warblers, and not unlikely, from the denseness of 

 the herbage, to harbour the rarer species of the same tribe. For a long time I watched 

 in vain, and had nearly given over my search as hopeless, when one still summer 

 afternoon I heard distinctly, in a clump of reeds, that peculiar creaking note, which, 



