344 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



pair on a neighbouring summit, but could see little of them owing to 

 the thick mist which prevailed. Both birds were much excited ; they 

 shammed lameness, sometimes springing a few feet into the air, and flut- 

 tering down again, as well as going through a performance similar to that 

 above described. They doubtless had young, and must have led them away 

 shortly afterwards, for on two subsequent occasions I could find no trace of 

 either old or young. I looked over much suitable ground iu other directions, 

 including spots which were formerly favourite haunts, but could see nothing 

 more of this most interesting species. — J. H. Salter (University College, 

 Aberystwith). 



Dotterel in Derbyshire— On May 27th last four Dotterel (Eudromias 

 morlnellus) were shot by a gamekeeper on the high bleak pasture-laud about 

 three miles due west of Bakevvell, Derbyshire. The wings were saved for 

 fly-dressing, and the bodies were eaten ! — W. Storrs Fox (St. Anselms, 

 Bakevvell). 



[The destruction of these birds on the eve of visiting their breeding 

 haunts is most reprehensible, and the offender should have been certaiuly 

 prosecuted under the Wild Birds Protection Act, 1880, for they were killed 

 during the close-time between March 1st and August 1st. — Ed.] 



Late Nesting of the Goldfinch. — I found a Goldfinch (Carduelis 

 elegans) sitting upon five fresh eggs in a nest in an apple-tree in my garden 

 on August 24th. Surely this is unusually late iu the season for these birds 

 to be breeding? — E. A. Butler (Brettenham Park, Bildeston, Suffolk). 



[No doubt a second brood. — Ed.] 



Greater Spotted Woodpecker nesting in Scotland.— In the July 

 number of the ■ Annals of Scottish Natural History,' Dr. Stuart asks for 

 information about the Greater Spotted Woodpecker nesting in Scotland. 

 Though, of course, a comparatively rare bird iu the uorth of England, 

 this Woodpecker has uested for many years in the border counties, and 

 occasionally over the border. In 1888 a pair of Greater Spotted Wood- 

 peckers nested at Cauonbie, N.B., but they and their eggs were taken by 

 a gamekeeper. As birds do not observe political boundaries, it is probable 

 that the species often strays into Southern Scotland to breed. I had two 

 fine nestlings of Dendrocopus major brought to me this year on July 10th, 

 taken from a nest distant about fifteen miles south of the Scottish border. 

 One of them soon died, owing, I fancy, to its having been savagely 

 attacked by one of my Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers. The other flourishes, 

 and will make a great pet, but the species is not so lively as the Lesser 

 Spotted one. The latter are extremely animated, and chip away at the bark 

 nearly all day long.— H. A. Macpherson (Carlisle). 



Hooded Crow breeding in Warwickshire. — It may be of interest to 

 state that about the year 1887 I found Corvus comix breeding at Sutton 



