362 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



on the outskirts of Bolton in September, 1891, having been killed in a 

 similar way ; and I have lately seen a mounted example, in good plumage, 

 which was shot on the Ince marshes, near Wigan, on the 1st August last. 

 Besides these, instances have at various times come under notice of its 

 occurrence at Horwich and Chorley. From the peculiar circumstances 

 attending the death of these birds, we may safely conclude that they were 

 migratory visitors ! Certainly I do not think it has nested in this part of 

 the country during the last twenty years. — C. E. Stott (Bolton-le-Moors). 



Pied Wagtail with Three Broods.— In a garden near here a pair 

 of Pied Wagtails brought up, this year, three broods in the same nest. — 

 E. P. Larken (Gatton Tower, Reigate). 



Sky Lark singing at Night.— I send you an account of what I believe 

 to be a curious and unusual phenomenon, and should be much interested to 

 know if any of your readers have observed a similar occurrence. I happened 

 to be out on a bicycle on the night of the 11th May last, when, it will be 

 remembered, there was a partial eclipse of the moon. It was about a 

 quarter to one, the eclipse being just over, when I caught the sound of a 

 bird singing in the distance. I rode quietly on, when presently the air 

 above me was filled with the rapturous singing of the Sky Lark. There 

 seemed to be scores of them. How long they maintained the chorus I do 

 not know. I rode slowly on, and gradually lost the sound in the distance. 

 Some may think I am confusing the song of the Sky Lark with that of its 

 ally, the Wood Lark ; but I am quite familiar with the song of both of these 

 birds, and am convinced that the singing I heard was that of the Sky Lark. 

 Is it possible that these birds may have mistaken the cloudless re-appearance 

 of the moon for the sunrise? — M. A. Laws (The Lodge, Little Clacton). 



[The Sky Lark is not the only bird that warbles at night. We have 

 heard it often on a June night, as also the Sedge W r arbler, Reed Warbler, 

 Grasshopper Warbler, Nightingale, and Cuckoo as late as 11 p.m., when 

 the unmistakable notes of the Corn Crake were likewise incessant. — Ed.] 



Speed of Homing Pigeons. — As showing what Pigeons can do under 

 difficulties, it may be mentioned that at the pigeon-racing which took place 

 on June 19th last betweeu Piacenza and Home, the first flight of birds 

 was despatched from the former place at 6.16 a.m. in thick, misty weather, 

 and that it rained heavily in Home all day. Nevertheless, the first Pigeon 

 reached Rome at 5 hours 6 min. 11 sec. p.m., and the second reached the 

 capital only an hour later. Supposing the bird to have been one of those 

 sent up in the first flight, it must have covered the whole distance of 415 

 kilometres ('^00 milesj from point to point in 10 hours 50 min. 11 sec. 

 From experiments lately made to ascertain the dependence that could be 

 placed on the pigeon-service between Ceuta and Malaga, it appears that the 

 Spanish authorities could look with tolerable equanimity on any interruption 



