80 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



taken it had become comparatively tame and accustomed to confinement.— 

 J. Steele-Elliott (Clent, Worcestershire). 



Great Grey Shrike at Scarborough. — On Dec. 30th a Great Grey 

 Shrike (Lanius excubitor) was killed on the shore a little to the north of 

 Scarborough. The bird had apparently just arrived, and was making its 

 way towards the cliff when first noticed. — W.J. Clarke (44, Huntriss Row, 

 Scarborough). 



Strange Nest of a South African Bush Shrike. — I found a nest of 

 the Pied Bush Shrike (Bradyomis silens) near the Fountains, Pretoria, 

 Transvaal, on Nov. 6th, 1898. The nest was about eight feet from the 

 ground, in the fork of the stem of a small thorn tree. It was built purely 

 of twine. I examined it carefully, but could not find any other material 

 used in its construction. The inside was lined with small white feathers. 

 It contained three eggs of a pale green colour, splashed with red at the 

 larger ends. — Alex. Ross (Johannesburg, Transvaal). 



[Fountain Grove is a short distance from Pretoria, and is a favourite 

 resort. There is a hostelry there, many picnics held, and many corks 

 drawn. Hence the twine. — Ed.] 



Scoters in Hants and Isle of Wight. — Mr. Percival- Westell's note on 

 these birds (CEdemia nigra), appearing in your last December number 

 (p. 505), rather puzzles me. Knowing the localities mentioned well for a 

 number of years, I have found the provincial name of "Isle of Wight 

 Parsons " applied to Cormorants, and though frequently having met with 

 Scoters, their flight has been of such a character that a description of them 

 as " lazily winging their way " would require some qualification. Since 

 1866 I could number the instances of having met with them on my fingers, 

 but out of the breeding season they are met with frequently by the shore 

 boatmen, who usually describe them to me as " some of them 'ere Scouter 

 Ducks." In November last year I had one close to me diving amongst the 

 rocks between Bonchurch and Shanklin, and a party of five flew by me 

 out by the wreck of the ' Eurydice ' in March, 1878. However plentiful 

 Scoters may be, they are not generally known as " Isle of Wight Parsons," 

 nor do they breed there. — H. Marmaduke Langdale (The Vicarage, 

 Compton, Petersfield). 



Scoters in South Hants ?.— When I wrote that the Scoter (CEdemia 

 nigra) was called the " Isle of Wight Parson " (Zool. 1898, p. 505), I was 

 fully aware that the common Cormorant was subject to the same appella- 

 tion, and I should have stated this in the first instance. In spite of 

 Mr. A. G. Headley's assertions, I still adhere to the fact that I saw the 

 common Black Scoter every day during my fourteen days' vacation in the 



