470 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



lying about the fields dead. So far as my observations went, strong 

 south-westerly winds prevailed all the last week of September. — Edward 

 Williams (2, Dame Street, Dublin). 



White-tailed Eagle at Scarborough. — On Nov. 7th a nice specimen of 

 the White-tailed Eagle was shot near Scarborough by Mr. William Wright. 

 Its captor states that, while lying in wait for wildfowl at Scalby Ness, he 

 perceived a large bird, which he took to be a Heron, slowly flying across the 

 water, followed and harassed in its flight by a number of Hooded Crows. 

 On reaching the shore it immediately alighted on the cliff, where Mr. Wright 

 was fortunate enough to get within twenty-five yards, bringing it down with 

 a charge of No. 4 shot. The bird, being only wounded, made a powerful 

 resistance, and its captor had no little difficulty in securing it. On exami- 

 nation it proved to be an immature bird in good condition, measuring 

 34£ in. from beak to tail, and over 7 ft. in expanse of wing. Mr. Wright 

 did not appear quite clear as to whether there were two of the birds or not ; 

 but the matter was settled beyond question later in the day by the appear- 

 ance of another Eagle, presumably of the same species. It was again seen 

 on the 8th, and on the 9th, being on the north shore early in the morning, 

 I was fortunate enough to see it. It was slowly flying in a southerly 

 direction, about 250 yards out to sea, and finally disappeared over the 

 cliffs. Judging from the size, which appeared somewhat smaller than the one 

 secured, it was probably the male bird. The one shot is now being preserved 

 for the local museum. — Wm. J. Clarke (44, Huntriss Row, Scarborough). 



Capture of a Spotted Eagle near Colchester. — I have just seen (Nov. 

 9th) a live specimen of the Spotted Eagle, Aquila navia, a rare straggler to 

 the British Islands, which was captured on Oct. 29th, 1891, at Elmstead, 

 near Colchester. It appears that on the day mentioned a farm labourer 

 saw a strange bird, evidently in an exhausted condition, alight in the field 

 in which he was working. On going after it, it rose again, and flew about 

 a hundred yards. He soon came up to it, and, after some little difficulty, 

 from its pugnacity, captured it alive and uninjured, and in a few days sold 

 it to a gipsy, who in turn disposed of it to Mr. Pettitt, our local taxidermist. 

 Its plumage appears to indicate good health, and its appetite certainly 

 favours that idea, and, if any injury led to its capture, ail marks of it have 

 quite disappeared. From its size and markings it corresponds with 

 Mr. Howard Saunders's description of the small northern race. Mr. Pettitt, 

 who is taking great care of the bird, is willing to dispose of it if a purchaser 

 can be found. — Henry Laver (Colchester). 



Unusual Nesting of the Chiffchaff. — On the 10th August last, in the 

 woods of Ballyraine, Arklow, I found a Chiffchaff's nest, from which the 

 young had some time flown. It was built in the side of a bramble thicket, 

 at the edge of a path, and thickly shaded above by trees. It was raised 



