8818 Birds. 



was the eggs did not roll out. That brilliant little denizen of the Thames side, the 

 kingfisher, is by no means rare with us, and may frequently be seen darting along, 

 like a flying jewel, as the sun gleams on its azure blue coat. I have repeatedly taken 

 their nest ; but nest it can hardly be styled, for I never found anything more than a 

 few fish-bones and scales mixed up with the loose mould on the floor of their burrow. 

 Considering the size of the eg^, they lay a large number; I have frequently taken 

 seven, and in one instance I took eight, eggs. It must be a busy time for the old 

 birds to keep so many mouths supplied. It is an easy matter to discover their nesting- 

 place, for if a burrow is tenanted by kingfishers the nestings show very plainly at the 

 entrance-hole, where they drain out. They ol'teutiiues choose very curious situations 

 for nesting ; I knew of a pair last season which bred in a hole in a gravel-pit in 

 the middle of a thick plantation of firs, and quite a mile or more from the water. The 

 first batch of eggs were taken, when they laid a second, and succeeded in rearing and 

 bringing off their young. I once found the eggs of this species in a burrow on the 

 top of a high hill, nearly if not quite a mile from the water. Another pair frequented 

 a small pond in a garden in the town, and doubtless meant to breed, but they were 

 continually disturbed. I have noticed that the second layings of eggs are rarely so 

 large or so many in number as the first. — Charles Slubbs ; Henley-on-Thames, Oxon, 

 September 11, 1863. 



Barn Owls four in a Nest . — A brood of barn owls was discovered in an outhouse 

 on the farm of Treaton, near here. There were four of them, all the same size and 

 age. I think it is very unusual to find so many in a nest. — Robert H. Leven ; 

 Kenaxvay Burns, Windygates, September, 1863. 



Note on the Shorteared Oivl. — The shorteared owl, which is an annual visitant 

 to our fens from October until spring, has allowed me every facility for making 

 an examination of a great number of specimens, alive and dead. A minute scrutiny 

 of their outward appearance has led to my discovering the mark of external sexual dis- 

 tinction, that feature being the very observable rich dark colouring of the female, and 

 thicker streaks of black pervading the entire plumage; while the male is very much 

 lighter, and only faintly marked (upon the breast particularly), and less rich in general 

 colour; the face of the male and the circle of feathers round the eyes are also much 

 lighter. Never having seen this species properly delineated, I have been induced to 

 forward two sketches for Mr. Newman's inspection, and I think no one can point- 

 to an instance of the quill-feathers being depicted as represented in my figures. 

 They are, in every representation I have seen, made to appear with the second quills 

 drawn up or level, which is a sad mistake, as this bird never reposes with them in that 

 position, and, as far as my knowledge goes, at no time perches upon a tree, which it is 

 nearly always represented as doing. Both by day and night the shorteared owl takes 

 its food and roosts upon the ground ; a turnip-field is a very favourite resort. I have 

 inquired of numerous friends and correspondents whether they have seen this owl 

 perching, and I am pleased to say that all have confirmed my experience in this 

 matter. — S. P. Saville ; Dover House, Cambridge. 



Pied Flycatcher near Land's End. — This little flycatcher has very seldom made 

 its appearance in our southern or western counties, and seems to have a very limited 

 range even in the district where it is most common. In common with others of 

 our soft-billed migrants, several of which only visit our groves very sparingly in 

 the Land's End district during the summer season, such as the common redstart, lesser 

 whitethroat, reed warbler, wood wren, &c, the bird now under notice is found some- 



