2%± THE ZOOLOGIST. 



Saunders, in his ' Manual of British Birds/ also gives it as fifteen days. 

 Now I should think that the period of incubation could hardly vary so 

 much as four days in any one species. This being so, either this Lark 

 must have played me a trick, or else Messrs. Yarrell and Saunders 

 have erred in their statement. Perhaps some reader of ■ The Zoologist ' 

 can enlighten me as regards the variation in the period of incubation in the 

 Sky Lark.— A. M. Laws (Thetford). 



Shore Lark in Lincolnshire. — A fine specimen of the Shore Lark was 

 shot at a marsh village, North Somercotes, on the 11th of February last. 

 It was preserved by Mr. Kew, of Louth, and is now in my possession. 

 Has it been before recorded from Lincolnshire ? Mr. Cordeaux does not 

 mention one in his ■ Birds of the Humber District ' (1872). — Heney F. 

 Allison (Beckingham, Newark). 



[Yes ; Mr. Cordeaux mentions several instances of its occurrence in 

 Lincolnshire in winter and spring in the work referred to (p. 45), and 

 believes that it occurs more frequently on the east coast than is generally 

 suspected. — Ed.] 



Red-necked Grebe in Surrey.— A Red-necked Grebe, Podiceps rubri- 

 collis, was picked up dead in this neighbourhood in April last. It was a 

 male in good plumage, and appeared to have been badly shot in both wings. 

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



Increase of Jack Snipe in North Lincolnshire. — The Jack Snipe 

 was fairly plentiful in this parish during last winter, 1889-90, — more so, I 

 am inclined to think, than its larger relative the Common Snipe. In this 

 district it is now considered by old gunners to be a rare bird, and one that 

 is gradually getting scarcer every year. Compared with what it was twenty 

 or thirty years ago, no doubt this is true, but after four or five seasons' 

 shooting I am led to the conclusion that it is not so scarce as supposed 

 (its habit of lying close no doubt often stands it in good stead), but, on the 

 contrary, is gradually increasing. I have frequently flushed two and three 

 couple of " Jacks " from one small reed-bed in this parish, — a favourite 

 haunt of Snipe. There are certain localities — such as a patch of reeds or 

 a particular tuft of rushes — that always hold a " long bill " or two, no 

 matter, shoot them as you will. Whether this apparent increase of the 

 11 Jack " is owing to the decrease of the Common Snipe I am unable to say. 

 Has any other reader noticed a similar increase in the Humber district ? — 

 J. VV. Harrison (Goshill, Lincolnshire). 



Thick-knee in Hertfordshire. — Our local birdstuffer, Mr. Reeves, 

 showed me a Thick-knee which had been picked up dead in Hertfordshire 

 in April, and forwarded to him in the flesh. Tt appears to have come to 

 its death by flying against some telegraph-wires.— E. P. Larkbn (Gatton 

 Tower, Reigate). 





