NOTES AND QUERIES. 73 



example as yet having been obtained. The Irish avi-fauna offers some 

 strange anomalies. I have found the Carrion Crow fairly common about 

 Holyhead, yet in the sister island it is of extremely rare occurrence, and 

 the records are few and far between. — John Cordeaux (Great Cotes, 

 Ulceby). 



[As to the supposed occurrence of the Tree Pipit in Ireland, see a note 

 from the Rev. C. YV. Benson (Zool. 1878, p. 348), and his observations in 

 1 Our Irish Song Birds' (p. 109). But see also Mr. A. G. More's remarks 

 in his 'List of Irish Birds' (p. 11). We are glad to learn that a new 

 edition of this • List' is in preparation.— Ed.] 



Tree Pipit in North Wales. — Referring to Mr. Caton Haigh's note 

 (p. 17), testifying to the abundance of the Tree Pipit in parts of North 

 Wales, notwithstanding the statements in some of our best books on birds, 

 I may state that it is also very common in Breconshire. It is, with two 

 or three exceptions, the most abundant of our summer migrants. Its 

 favourite haunts here are hedgerow-trees and the borders of woods ; it also 

 makes use of the telegraph-posts and wires along the railways. In such 

 situations its cheerful song may be heard, and its graceful flight seen every 

 few hundred yards, from about the 18th of April to the middle of July. 

 I have specimens of eggs of this bird representing eight different varieties, 

 selected from different nests I have found here. — E. A. Swainson (Wood- 

 lands, Brecon). 



Snipe and Quail Netting in Italy.— Sport in Lower Italy is, with each 

 year, getting less and less important, so far as the Snipe family and Quails 

 are concerned. This falling off is stated to be due to the large amount of 

 netting that is carried on along the coasts, the birds being captured fresh 

 from their long migratory flight. Around the swamps nets eight or ten feet 

 high are erected, and there is a great outcry in consequence of the practice, 

 which is actually carried on after the legal shooting season is ended. 



Introduction of the Californian Quail in South Australia. — The 

 Californian Quail (Lophortyx Calif or nianus) may some day become the 

 sporting bird of South Australia. There are a good many now at large in 

 the colony, and a number are being acclimatised on an estate near Oakbank. 

 At one time the Common Quail was very numerous, but, owing to the 

 reckless way in which they were shot down at all seasons, the bird has 

 become quite scarce. The only Quail-shooting worthy of the name now to 

 be had in the colony is on the islands about Port Lincoln and one or two 

 other places. 



The Attitude of Grebes on Land.— On looking through last year's 

 volume of ' The Zoologist,' I was reminded of my unfulfilled intention to 

 send you some remarks anent the Rev. H. A. Macpherson's note on this 



ZOOLOGIST.— FEB. 1890. G 



