308 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



a hen, as the bird that I invariably put off the nest had — so far as I could 

 make out with my glasses— the bill of not nearly so bright a colour as the 

 other two, and the terminal spots appeared larger. I believe that this state 

 of things, though by no means unknown, is at least of sufficient rarity to 

 deserve a note thereon.— Oxley Geabham (Flaxton, York). 



The Hawfinch in Hampshire.— It is quite possible that the Hawfinch 

 has of late years (as observed p. 272) extended its range and increased in 

 numbers amongst us, if indeed the increase in the number of observers has 

 not something to do with it. My experience points to the fact that it 

 is a bird of somewhat irregular occurrence, in some years being much more 

 frequently seen than in others; not that I have ever known it to be " very 

 common" or " very rare," in the general acceptation of the terms, at any 

 season, usually occurring in the winter in the greatest numbers. Some 

 years ago it bred in several parts of the New Forest, and I took the eggs 

 and saw the young in all stages of growth ; but since then I have been 

 unable to visit the locality, so cannot speak with certainty. Coming near 

 the present date, however, I may state that during the severe weather of 

 last winter small flocks of Hawfinches were seen in various parts of the 

 forest, and numbers were killed. The past summer has been productive 

 of both eggs and young, aud several nests have beeu taken. I have seen 

 a comparatively large number of young birds with the dappled breast and 

 under parts, and the more or less yellow plumage about the throat and 

 neck; in fact, one young bird just able to leave the nest had its whole 

 plumage suffused with this tint. I noticed, too, that the remarkably shaped 

 falcated primaries were developed in comparatively young birds, whilst the 

 black throat was wanting, or only very slightly indicated by a few dots 

 in outline, in birds that were fully grown. That the species has been 

 commoner than usual during the past summer is certain, but whether its 

 frequency will be maintained, the future must decide. I have known 

 several previous years when it was as common, but afterwards almost 

 disappeared. Its presence is geuerally made known to those who grow 

 peas iu their gardens, the bird often doing great havoc amongst them. 

 One of the nests of which I had a description was somewhat similar to that 

 mentioned, in the note at page 232, as resting on a platform of leaves which 

 prevented its being seen from below ; but in this case the nest was situated 

 in a small oak-tree, and the leaves had apparently been plucked from the 

 surrounding branches. — G. B. Cokbin (Ringwood). 



Migrating Birds rest upon the Water.— I have just been reading in 

 Herr Gatke's 'Birds of Heligoland' (English translation, p. 129) his reasons 

 for believing that migrating birds may occasionally rest upon the water. 

 He quotes three instances which have come under his own observation. 

 To these I may add a fourth, which closely resembles at least one of his. 



