76 Birds. 



tlie middle of ihe day last summer. — Robert John Bell; Mickleover 

 House, near Derby y January 19, 1843. 



Birds. 



Note on ihe early incubation of Birds. The extraordinary mild- 

 ness of the present season has brought forth many of the spring flow- 

 ers ; even the birds have anticipated their usual period of incubation. 

 A nest of the hedge-accentor, with eggs, was taken at Eashing last 

 week, and a pair of carrion crows have recently built a nest at Win- 

 tersale Park, the seat of Geo. Barrett, Esq. — J. D. Salmon ; Godal- 

 niiny, January 9, 1843. 



Note on the early Nests of the Sparrow, On the 20th of Decem- 

 oer last was found at Darley-abbey, Derby, the nest of the sparrow 

 (Passer domesticus) with four eggs ; and on the 22nd of February, 



1842, I also observed one building its nest in the spout of the school- 

 room at the same place. — Robert John Bell ; Mickleover-house, near 

 Derby, January 19, 1843. 



Note on the occurrence of the Black-cap in January. 1 have much 

 pleasure in forwarding for ^The Zoologist' the following interesting 

 and singular fact in Ornithology. On Friday, the 20th of January, 



1843, I had brought to me by a gentleman a fine male specimen of 

 that sweet and melodious bird of song, the black-cap warbler [Cur- 

 ruca atricapilla, Bech.), which had been caught on the 18th instant 

 in a common bird-trap baited with apple, in the township of St. John 

 in Bedwardine, near the city of Worcester. The usual time for this 

 bird's appearance is towards the latter end of April or beginning of 

 May, as the seasons are late or early ; when, on the summit of some 

 tree in our gardens, it will frequently greet us with its clear and well- 

 defined notes. — G. Reece ; Museum, Foregate St., Worcester, Janu- 

 ary 20, 1843. 



[No migration of this species could have taken place, and we presume it must 

 have been a bird hatched too late to leave us with his kindred. — Ed^ 



Note on the late departure of Swallows, Sj-c. in 1842. Owing to the 

 mildness of the season the swallows have remained late. I shot a spe- 

 cimen of Hirundo rustica on the 9th of November ; it was a young 

 bird, and without the long tail-feathers. This was the last swallow 1 

 saw, but the house-martin continued with us in tolerable plenty until 

 the end of November ; and I saw two on the 5th and one on the 9th 

 of December. — Robert C. R.Jordan; Teignmouth, January 17, 1843. 



Note on ihe late departure of Swallou's in 1812. The swallows 



