5364 Birds. 



not only of resorting to and occupying its old nest, but of repairing and relining it for 

 the winter, when the leafless trees no longer afford it a secure or snug place of roosting : 

 I say somewhat peculiar, because I am aware that it is recorded of the wren, that it 

 retires at night and in severe weather to its old nest. I find it inserted in my note-book, 

 " Ventnor, October 13, 1854. Saw a house sparrow carrying feathers into its nest under 

 the eaves.'' Again, " Tunbridge, November 1, 1856. Observed this morning a house 

 sparrow carrying feathers into the ivy on the ruined castle in this town. In the after- 

 noon saw another sparrow, with its bill crammed full of dry grass, fly on to the cottage 

 and disappear among the creepers." — Id. 



Migration of the Swallow Tribe. — In remarking on the migration of swallows 

 (Zool. 4995), I quoted White of Selborne, as well as Cuvier, showing what their 

 opinions were regarding the torpidity of swallows. Having just reperused Montagu's 

 Introduction to his t Ornithological Dictionary,' I there observe that he even seems to 

 have been impressed with the same notions, although his remarks are somewhat more 

 guarded : — " That an accidental summer bird of passage may be by disease prevented 

 from returning to its natural winter quarters we can admit ; because there are a variety 

 of instances of the swallow and martin having been seen flying in the months of 

 November and December, roused probably from a state of torpidity by an unusual 

 warmth of the air." — p. xxvii. Having for many years been a pretty close observer of 

 the swallow tribe, and having more than once had ocular proof of their presence 

 during the winter months, long after the main body had taken its departure, the 

 question naturally arises or suggests itself, what becomes of these stragglers? I do 

 not presume to unravel this knotty point, or clear up the mystery ; but, at the same 

 time, I beg to suggest to all who may take an interest in the subject, whether it is not 

 highly probable that none stay with us but the late broods, which are compelled to 

 remain behind, subsisting for awhile as best they may, but soon to be driven by the 

 increasing severity of the weather to seek shelter for a time, under the eaves of houses 

 or in holes and chimneys ; and doubtless the stronger among them instinctively 

 endeavour to work their way to the southward, but leaving the more feeble to perish, 

 as I never, that I am aware of, observed one later in the season than the month of 

 December. — Id. ; November 19, 1 856. 



Migration of the Sivallow Tribe. — " October 23, 1856. Last swallow observed by 

 me in this neighbourhood: it was flying about the church steeple, where I had 

 previously noticed a few for some days." — Id. ; December 2, 1856. 



Nidifcation of the Hedge Sparroiv. — Montagu seems to be of opinion that the 

 hedge sparrow rears but one brood in the year: — "We have never been able to 

 discover with certainty, either in the redbreast or hedgesparrow, who are the earliest 

 breeders, the production of a second brood after the first has been brought to maturity. 

 Their attention to their young continues long after they leave the nest." — p. xiii. But, on 

 referring to my note-book, I find it recorded, "Ventnor, Isle of Wight, May 23, 1852. 

 It is but a few days since the young hedgesparrows quitted their nest, but I observed 

 the old birds very busy to-day collecting materials for a new one, which they are 

 building in the same hedge, only a few yards distant from the old one." — Id.; 

 November 19, 1856. 



Occurrence of the Avocet (Recurvirostra avocetta) near Newark. — In the first week 

 of last October, while fishing in the river Trent, near Newark, I saw three specimens 

 of this beautiful bird on the wing : they were travelling up the course of the river, and 

 as the nature of the ground partly concealed me from their view, I had a good 



