NOTES AND QUERIES. 181 



in. The year before (1887) I found a nest in the fork of a tall oak, and 

 climbed up to it, as I wanted the eggs. It was ready for laying, but empty. 

 I did not see the birds, but evidently they saw me, for two days afterwards 

 they had moved the nest bodily to the next tree, where the hen was sitting 

 on it. I was so touched by their intelligence that I left them in peace. On 

 July 24th, 189*2, I saw a curious Mistle-Thrush. It was pale dove-colour 

 (a very pale grey) all over, and shone like silver in the sun. It was with 

 about thirty others, and they stayed about the house for several days. I 

 often got within forty yards of it, and watched it through a powerful glass. 

 Its eyes seemed to be red. I have often seen Mistle-Thrushes, and heard 

 them sing, in Fitzwilliam Square, Dublin, a somewhat curious habitat for 

 such a wild bird. — G. H. Pentland (Black Hall, Drogheda). 



Male Blackbird storing Seeds at Nest.— On March 21st I found, in 

 a hedgerow, the nest of a Blackbird {Turdns merula), containing three eggs. 

 On March 25th I again visited the nest, when I found the female 

 incubating, and the side of the nest piled with a quantity of seeds, some of 

 which I enclose for identification. On the 28th of the month I watched 

 the nest from behind an apple tree, and saw the male bird come and go 

 repeatedly, each time depositing these seeds, which are about the size of the 

 half of a very small pea. His intentions were exceedingly charitable, and I 

 should very much like to know if it is a common occurrence for the male 

 bird of this species to feed the female during incubation, as I have never 

 before observed him in this act. — Stanley Lewis (Wells, Somerset). 



[The seeds are those of the common ivy (Hedera Helix). — Ed.] 



Blackbird's mimicking Notes. — I can corroborate Mr. Davenport's 

 instance of the Blackbird (Turdus merula) imitating the Curlew. I find in 

 my notes that on April 14th, 1892, I heard a Blackbird imitating a 

 Curlews whistle so perfectly that it at first completely deceived me. — G. 

 H. Pentland (Black Hall, Drogheda). 



Green Woodpecker in Ireland (Correction).— In Swann's « Handbook 

 of British Birds,' 1896, it is stated that this species (Gecinus viridis) had 

 only twice been obtained in Ireland previously to October, 1889, " when an 

 extensive immigration occurred." Again, Aflalo's ' Sketch of the Natural 

 History of the British Islands,' 1898, speaks of a " recent immigration 

 into Ireland, where, previous to the appearance of the last edition of 

 Mr. Saunders's admirable 'Manual,' but two examples had been recorded." 

 The above immigration never occurred, and neither edition of Mr. 

 Saunders's ' Manual ' is responsible for such a statement, as regards the 

 Green Woodpecker. There were, however, ten Great Spotted Woodpeckers 

 shot in Ireland in October, 1889, to January, 1890, inclusive: six in Ulster, 



