2526 Birds. 



Spotted flycatcher about May 30 Common swift about June 2 



Cuckoo „ „ 30 Nightjar , „ 10 



The dates are those on which the birds respectively laid their first eggs, and, to- 

 gether with those in the former list, were recorded by my brother. — Id. 



Discoloured Eggs of the Kestrel (Falco Tinnunculus). — In the ' Zoologist' (Zool. 

 2301) it is stated that " the colouring matter, as in the case of sparrow-hawk's and 

 other eggs, easily comes off," — alluding to the green woodpecker. This year I re- 

 ceived some eggs of the kestrel, which were rather dirty ; so, after blowing them, I 

 washed them in cold water, and much to my surprise the whole colour came off, 

 leaving the eggs of a dirty yellow, speckled with drab. Not long after this I received 

 five eggs from another kestrel's nest, which were exactly like those I had previously, 

 after they were washed : unfortunately they were set hard, and I was only enabled to 

 blow one, which I have preserved. — /. B. Ellman ; Rye, July 18, 1849. 



Note on the Water Ouzel (Cinclus aquaticus). — I could hardly have thought that 

 the description of this amusing bird had been penned from the life, by my friend Mr. 

 Briggs (Zool. 2479), only I know so well his singular perseverance in discovering the 

 habits of birds, and the carefulness of his observations on his favourite branch of field 

 natural history : however, I should have concluded that the bird he describes was 

 a really " clumsy and inelegant," waddling, short-winged aquatic bird, and not the 

 agile, smartly made denizen of our mountain streams. I had many opportunities of 

 watching the interesting little fellow when touring up the river Dove last July : for 

 fifteen miles up that picturesque and rocky stream, his snow-white breast detects him 

 perched upon the jutting stones of every little waterfall, and, jerking his tail and 

 wings as he skips about the stone, he seems all life and activity : his watchful eye 

 being ever directed to your approach, when he deems you too near for his safety 

 off he flits to some distant stone, with a quick, straight-forward flight. I was cer- 

 tainly much pleased with his pretty form and liveliness, and can never consider him 

 to be a " swimming bird, which, when alarmed, occasionally makes use of his wings." 

 — John Olans ; Leicester, July 13, 1849. 



Singular Variety of the Redbreast. — A very singular redbreast was brought me 

 yesterday : the head and neck is a silvery white, while the bill is a dead white (more 

 like plaster of Paris than a horny substance) ; the breast red ; the belly and legs 

 white. — Joseph Duff; Bishops Auckland, July 19, 1849. 



Occurrence of the Fire-crested Regulus (Regulus ignicapillus) and Crossbill (Loxia 

 curvirostra) at Bembridge. — I shot, at the beginning of the present month, a young 

 bird of the fire-crested Regulus, and within the last few days we have been visited by 

 the crossbill in considerable numbers: they were first noticed on the 17th, and on 

 the following day I procured several specimens. I am told that it is now ten years 

 since the latter bird was seen in this locality. — A. G. More; July, 1849. 



The Crossbill (Loxia curvirostra) nesting in Durham. — For some time I have 

 thought the crossbill to be a native resident in the county of Durham : my reason 

 was, — they have at intervals been seen in large flocks, though always in autumn or 

 winter ; yet having in the western part of the county many thousand acres of fir plan- 

 tations suitable for food, I thought it not unlikely some might stay with us the year 

 round: but although I have many times inquired, and also visited the locality myself 

 to ascertain the fact, I could not obtain any satisfactory evidence until Sunday, the 

 15th instant, when, taking a drive in that neighbourhood, I had the good fortune to 

 see a flock of birds cross my path, which appeared to be crossbills ; so, leaving the 



