NOTES AND QUERIES. 427 



Proximity of Magpie's and Wood Pigeon's Nests. — On June 18th 

 I noticed a rather unusual coincidence in Fyfield Wood, Oxon. There 

 was a Magpie's nest situated in a slender birch tree, containing four young 

 ones nearly ready to fly, and close by was a sapling oak, in the upper part 

 of which was placed a Wood Pigeon's nest containing two hard-sat eggs, off 

 which the old bird flew. The two nests could not have been three yards 

 apart at the most. — R. U. Calvert (Ascott-sub-Wychwood, Oxford). 



Hedgesparrow appropriating a Thrush's Nest.— A short while ago a 

 little girl showed me a Hedgesparrow's nest with eggs which she found this 

 season in rather an unusual situation. The locality was Monkton Combe, 

 about five miles from Bath. Both nests were about the usual size, and 

 completely finished. I have come across a Wren's nest in a similar 

 situation, but was surprised to find a Hedgesparrow having utilised another 

 bird's nest in the above manner. In * The Zoologist,' 1895, p. 275, there 

 is a note concerning a pair of Greenfinches having appropriated a Thrush's 

 nest, and rearing a brood successfully. — C. B. Horsbrugh (4, Richmond 

 Hill, Bath). 



White Eggs of Hedgesparrow. — Early in the season a boy, much 

 interested in birds and their eggs, brought me an egg taken from a nest 

 built in a hedge of thorn and holly. The egg was perfectly white and 

 shining, reminding one forcibly of eggs of the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, 

 and not of that chalky whiteness we find in eggs such as the Swift's. The 

 boy told me the nest contained three other eggs, and a few days after he 

 informed me another had been laid, exactly similar, and that the bird— a 

 Hedgesparrow — was sitting upon them. Strange to say, the bird was un- 

 molested, and hatched three of the eggs, the other being addled; and when 

 the young were flown the boy brought me the nest as a proof of his 

 observation and veracity. — G. B. Corbin (Ringwood, Hants). 



Lesser Grey Shrike (Lanius minor) in Kent. — I am pleased to be able 

 to record another occurrence of this very rare visitor to this country, which 

 I observed on May 15th last on the range of hills in mid- Kent, while in 

 company with my friend Mr. John Wood. As we passed under an ash-tree 

 I heard a strange note overhead, and, looking up, I saw a bird fly out with 

 a rather jerky flight, and uttering short notes, resembling, as well as I can 

 remember, the sounds " chur-tic, chur-tic, tic." These notes were new to 

 me, and from the appearance of the bird, as seen against the background of 

 brilliant blue sky, I was quite at a loss to make out the species ; but it soon 

 dipped down, and its striking colours became visible against the hill under 

 which we were standing. The bird then alighted on the ground for a few 

 seconds, when I brought my friend's field-glasses to bear on it, which at once 

 revealed the pattern and richness of its plumage. I then instantly knew 



