Birds. 1497 



Note on the early breeding of the Bearded Tit. — A nest of the bearded tit contain- 

 ing five eggs was brought to me last April. It had been taken on the 15th of that 

 month, at Hoveton, near Horning in Norfolk, and the eggs would have been hatched 

 in three or four days from that time. Allowing eight days for the completion of the 

 nest, five for laying the eggs, and thirteen for incubation, the nest must have been 

 commenced about the 23rd of March, the usual time being about the end of April. 

 This unusual circumstance was, no doubt, produced by the mildness of the early 

 spring. — John Smith ; Great Yarmouth, July, 1846. 



Frequent occurrence of the White Wagtail in Kent. — My attention having been drawn 

 since the publication of Mr. Yarrell's ' Supplement ' to the white wagtail (Motacilla 

 alba). I find they are very common in this part of Kent, as I seldom pass a day with- 

 out seeing several pairs, though I have not yet been able to get their eggs, — F. 

 Plomley ; Lydd, Romney Marsh, Kent. 



Occurrence of the Crested Lark (Alauda cristata), near Penzance. — Two examples of 

 this bird have come to my notice during the present month ; thus forming another ad- 

 dition to our Cornish Fauna. They were shot by Mr. Vingoe, of this place, who de- 

 tected them on a stone wall on the road-side, between Marazion and this place. His 

 attention was directed to these birds by the melodious quality of their notes, resembling 

 more in character the flute-like tones of the woodlark than the buoyant song of the 

 skylark. The crest in both specimens is very well developed, and the form of the beak, 

 and the comparative shortness of the hind-claw, as compared with our larks, are re- 

 markable characters. Both specimens now under notice are male birds. — Edward 

 Hearle Rodd ; Penzance, September 19th, 1846. 



Occurrence of the Red-billed Whidah Bird in Kent. — On the 2nd of July a bird 

 was brought to me, killed in this neighbourhood, which I immediately recognized as 

 the red-billed whidah bird (Emberiza vidua, Linn.) On examination, it proved to be 

 a male, with its crop full of the seeds of the meadow soft grass (Holcus lanatus), and in 

 perfect plumage, the tail feathers being eleven inches in length ; at first I thought it 

 might have escaped from confinement, but its feathers were so perfect that T am satis- 

 fied it came borne by the strong westerly winds then prevailing, from the north-west 

 coast of Africa, and I believe it to be the only specimen killed in England or in 

 Europe.— F. Plomley ; Lydd, Romney Marsh, Kent. 



Nesting of the Lesser Redpoll in Norfolk.— Three nests of the lesser redpoll have 

 been taken in this neighbourhood and two near Thetford during the past season. The 

 two latter were on some small beech trees. — C. B. Hunter ; Doivnham, Norfolk, 

 August 23rd, 1846. 



On Redpolls staying at Thetford throughout the summer. — I have felt sure, 

 since last year, from the fact of several redpolls staying in this part of the 

 country throughout the summer, that they must have bred or been reared here- 

 abouts ; but I was not, until this month, made perfectly certain of it. A 

 nest, containing six eggs, was taken at B irham on May the 14th. The 

 nest and three of the eggs were brought to me at the beginning of this month, and 

 the former, which is now before me, T will proceed to describe. It is about 1 i inch in 

 diameter and depth (inside) ; the walls are about f inch in thickness, and are composed 

 of an out-work of twigs, wool, and the stronger stalks of grasses, the nest is lined with 

 fine grass, pulled wool, and a few feathers and horse-hairs. It was built against the 

 trunk of a larch tree at about six or seven feet from the ground. The eggs almost ex- 

 actly resemble the one figured by Mr. Hewitson, being however of a paler blue. It 

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