306 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



Downs, only separated from Somersetshire by the river, and nests have 

 been found. I have seen the birds on the Somersetshire side of the river, 

 but have not seen a nest, though I have no doubt they breed there also. — 

 Herbert C. Playne (Clifton College). 



Redstart breeding in Co. Tyrone. — On June 16th I visited Baron's 

 Court Demesne, Co. Tyrone, which abounds in old timber. On enquiring 

 of Mr. James Maclean what birds bred there, he showed me a pair of Red- 

 starts which he said had bred three years in succession since he came to the 

 place. They had their nest in a hole in a birch tree. It contained four 

 young, ready to fly, and some eggs that had not hatched out. Having seen 

 Redstarts in Norfolk last May, I had no difficulty in identifying them. On 

 the 26th and 29th May, 1888, the Rev. G. W. Peacocke saw and heard a 

 male Redstart singing in Rash Wood, also in Co. Tyrone, not very far from 

 Baron's Court. Hitherto the Redstart has been recorded to breed in 

 Ireland only at Powerscourt, Co. Wicklow, since 1885. Elsewhere in 

 Ireland it has only been known as a very rare visitor, and supposed to be 

 much rarer than the Black Redstart, which probably visits our coasts every 

 winter.— R. J. Ussher (Cappagh, Co. Waterford). 



Cuckoo calling on the Wing. — I have on several occasions heard the 

 Cuckoo calling on the wing, but always (I think) when pursuing another 

 Cuckoo, presumably the female. On May 22nd, 1893, at Winchelsea, I 

 watched one Cuckoo chasing another for about an hour, and had a particu- 

 larly good opportunity of listening to the birds ; for, after flying round the 

 neighbouring fields, they frequently settled on the tree under which I was 

 basking. The bubbling note of the female and the call of the male were 

 kept up almost continually both when the birds were on the wing and when 

 settled. I did not hear the female utter the syllables Cuc-koo, though I am 

 by no means certain that she does not sometimes do so. — A. Holte 

 Macpherson (51, Gloucester Terrace, Hyde Park). 



In the last number of the * Zoologist' I note the enquiry (p. 264) 

 whether it is a common occurrence for Cuckoos to call while on the wing. 

 This same question has already been asked me this year, so I have kept an 

 especial look-out, and in May watched a Cuckoo fly for some distance over 

 the Avon, calling all the time. This is the only instance which I have 

 noticed personally, but a friend of mine also observed a Cuckoo calling 

 while on the wing, near the same place, on another day. — Herbert C. 

 Playne (Clifton College). 



I have a note that on May 14th, 1893, I saw a Cuckoo, which was 

 uttering its cry as it flew past me. There was a pair of them flying 

 together, slowly, but one only was calling. I have a distinct recollection 

 of the circumstance, but although this is the only case I have noted I am 

 sure I have heard the Cuckoo calling on the wing on several occasions of 



