314 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



satisfy himself as to its occurrence in Leicestershire. The bird is now 

 there in about its usual numbers. In South Notts we have a few pairs 

 breeding regularly every year. The small woods about Gedling, Burton 

 Joyce, and Bulcote all being tenanted. Clifton Grove generally contains a 

 pair, and it may also be met with in the parishes of Barton and Thrumpton, 

 and in the woods on the Kingston estate. In the neighbouring county of 

 Derbyshire I met with a few pairs near Hayfield, in the High Peak, and 

 also at Ashover in the Amber Vale. I have little doubt that further 

 research would find it breeding in the woods at Miller's Dale, and also in 

 suitable localities along the course of the Derwent as far south as Derby. 

 A recent writer in ' Science Gossip ' alludes to its abundance near the 

 the village of Birley, in North Derbyshire. In the low-lying parts of the 

 county it is probably only seen on migration, a large tract of country in the 

 Trent Valley being very unsuitable to its habits. In Warwickshire I have 

 identified the Wood Warbler in Frankton Wood, near to the village of 

 Stretton-on-Dunsmore. Ryton Wood, in the same locality, also looks a very 

 promising place for its occurrence. I have received eggs from Shropshire. 

 In passing, I may refer to another species which Mr. Browne treats in his 

 original manner — viz. the White Wagtail. During the present spring 

 I have identified eight specimens of this bird within a very short distance 

 of the Leicestershire border, and I have been careful to acquire evidence 

 which places the matter beyond dispute. I should be glad to hear if this 

 species has lately been observed in Exton Park. It is to be hoped that 

 ere long some higher authority will prepare a more complete account of the 

 Birds of Leicestershire than the existing work by Mr. Browne. — F. B. 

 Whitlock (Beeston, Notts). 



Interbreeding of the Pied and White Wagtails. — At the present 

 time there may be seen in this village a Wagtail's nest with young, of 

 which the parents are a cock Pied Wagtail and a hen White Wagtail. 

 The nest is built about six feet from the ground in a pyracanthus trained 

 against the wall af a house not far from my own ; six eggs were laid and 

 nearly, if not quite, all hatched. The hen bird is very tame, and has given 

 me such good opportunities of seeing her on the nest, and also through a 

 glass when on the ground and on the roof of a building, that I am certain 

 of her identity ; she has a black head strongly contrasted with her grey 

 back. Dr. Giinther informs me that a similar case of interbreeding, 

 mentioned on his authority in Mr. Saunders' * Illustrated Manual,' occurred I 

 in 1889 at Woolpit, which joins our village. Most of the readers off 

 ' The Zoologist ' have seen the family group of Wagtails in the National 

 Collection which were obtained in Norfolk, in which the cock is a White 

 and the hen a Pied Wagtail. Now comes the question, would the hybrids 

 be fertile, either paired with one another or with a typical example of either 

 the Pied or White Wagtail? Again, would the mature hybrids develope 



