268 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



the 1st of May I found a single specimen of this Wagtail running over the 

 sea-bank in front of our house, in company with a flock of Meadow Pipits, 

 with which the rarer visitor was probably migrating. The Wild Birds Act 

 prevented my shooting it for the Carlisle Museum, but I watched it closely 

 with my glasses for two hours in pouring rain, and had the pleasure of 

 pointing out its white eye-stripe and other distinguishing characters to a 

 young but promising ornithologist. On the 10th of May I found a siugie 

 Ray's Wagtail on the same ground, also with some Meadow Pipits. The 

 common Yellow Wagtail was much wilder than the Blue-headed species. I 

 have seen plenty of Blue-headed Wagtails on the Continent, of course, but 

 I never met with Motacilla flava in Britain before. — H. A. Mjlcpherson 

 (Allonby Vicarage, Maryport, Cumberland). 



Abnormal Occurrence of the Pied Wagtail (Motacilla lugubris) 

 through the Winter in Aberdeenshire.— I was surprised to see one of the 

 above (a male bird) flying in search of food about my houses on the 29th 

 November, 1898. In fact, it appeared to be so strange to me to see one of 

 these beautiful birds pouncing readily into byres among cattle, or into a 

 stable among horses, in search of food, that I could scarcely realize its 

 identity, the plumage being somewhat rough, there being a pretty sharp 

 snowstorm at the time ; but there was no want of vivacity, and the bird 

 contrived to get a good meal before disappearing for the day. It made an 

 appearance again on Dec. 1st, being then engaged searching for suitable 

 sustenance in the mill-dam when the latter was emptied of water by being 

 used for threshing fodder. With a return of fine weather it was not noticed 

 near the houses, but with a recurrence of snow it appeared on the 19th and 

 again on the 25th of December. During January and February it was a 

 very common visitor to the turnip-fields, especially where the turnips were 

 being lifted. There is no doubt that this bird remained here the whole 

 winter. I have seen the bird in this county, but nearer the sea-coast, or 

 at lower levels in mild weather, in January and February, but never so far 

 inland, and withstanding the whole winter. — W. Wilson (Alford, Aber- 

 deen, N.B.). 



The Delinquencies of Starlings.— When first I came to live in Derby- 

 8 hi re — ten years ago — I placed boxes on my house to encourage Starlings 

 (Sturnus vulgaris). After two or three years' experience I came to the con- 

 clusion that these birds were rather too plentiful, and year by year, in May 

 and June, I wish that their numbers were greatly diminished. In the Peak 

 district we often have late frosts and cold easterly winds during spring, and 

 the plants in our gardens are late in flowering. But as soon as a bright 

 blossom appears on our borders the Starlings mark it as suitable building 

 material for their nests ; and later, when young plants are bedded out, 



