Birds. 5791 



birds of this species. Of these four nests one was in some raspberry bushes trained 

 against a wall ; two others were in the ivy climbing round a tree, at about three feet 

 from the ground ; while the fourth was in some very lofty laurel bushes, upwards of 

 nine feet from the ground. There can be no doubt about these nests not belonging 

 to the chiffobaff, as in two instances I actually caught the old birds, and in the others 

 I had a good opportunity of watching them, and seeing their light-coloured legs, a 

 sure mark of distinction between the two species. — R. B. Smith ; Marlboro College, 

 Wilts, September 4, 1857. 



Nesting of the Wren. — The common wren is, next to the wood pigeon, the latest 

 of our land birds in breeding. On the 10th of last July I found a nest with young 

 birds; on the 12th, another, with five new-laid eggs; and on the 14th, a third, with 

 six fresh eggs. — Id. 



Late singing of the Thrush. — A few evenings ago I paid a visit to some fine sal- 

 low bushes not very far from our residence, for the purpose of catching specimens of 

 the early Noctua?. It was quite dusk, but still a thrush, perched "on some high spray" 

 close to me, sang as clearly and as joyfully as though he were welcoming in the warm 

 rays of the early sun. When I left the sallows the bird was still singing as perse- 

 veringly as ever, though it was nearly 9 o'clock, and the moon and stars were shining 

 brightly in the heavens. Before 1 left Oxford for the Easter vacation, often, in the 

 evenings, sometimes later than 9 o'clock, I heard a thrush singing from one of the fine 

 old trees in Merton meadow. Is it usual for the thrush to sing as late as this? — 

 Murray A. Mathews ; Merton College, Oxford. 



Velocity of Flight of the Water Ouzel. — A short time ago T had a fair opportunity 

 of judging the velocity of flight of the water ouzel. The North Devon Railway runs 

 for some distance almost parallel to the river Taw. One day when 1 was travelling 

 on this line the noise of the train flushed an ouzel from his station, under an over- 

 hanging bush by the water-side. Birds of this species, like kingfishers, when 

 frightened up, almost always fly over the course of the river, following it in all its 

 windings, and rarely, except on occasions of extraordinary alarm, attempt to make 

 swifter progress, and increase the distance between themselves and the enemy by cut- 

 ting corners. On this occasion the ouzel in question did not depart from the general 

 xule, being evidently tolerably, accustomed to the passing trains. For nearly a mile 

 he kept up with the train, which was then going at its full speed of a little over twenty 

 miles the hour. I had some little excitement in speculating as to which in the end 

 would win the race, the bird or the train. However, the train was obliged to slacken 

 speed as it was nearing a station, and at the same time the river made a sudden turn ; 

 so that the ouzel shot a-head, and was lost to view. — Id. 



The Buffbreasled Sandpiper (Tringa rufescens) and Brown Snipe (Scolopax grisea) 

 in Devonshire. — I have received from a friend of mine a female specimen of the buff- 

 breasted sandpiper, which he has just shot. The bird agrees with Yarrell's and Ey- 

 ton's descriptions, except in its being about half an inch longer. Its being a female 

 might perhaps account for its greater length. 1 have also a specimen of the brown 

 snipe of Montagu, taken in this district a short time since. Being taken in the win- 

 ter, it has not the rufous breast. — H. Nicholls ; Kingsbridge, South Devon, September 

 15, 1857. 



Rare Birds in Orkney. — A very fine specimen of the hoopoe (Upupa epops), in full 

 adult plumage, was shot near Kirkwall, in the latter part of May last. On the 26th 

 of last month two knots (Tringa cinerea) were shot near Kirkwall. One of them is a 



