222 Birds. 





to feed on the seeds of the larch. They are generally seen in spring. — Archibald 

 Jerdon ; Boujedward^ Roxburghshire^ May 12, 1843. 



Note on the Siskin. In March, 1841, a small party of siskins {Carduelis spinus) 

 frequented this neighbourhood for a few days. They fed on the seeds of the alder, on 

 small larvae concealed in the flower-buds of the elm, which they extracted with great 

 dexterity, and on a small species of insect which abounded upon the branches of the 

 larch, especially around the base of the leaf buds. I am no entomologist, and am 

 therefore unable to name the insects. The siskin seems to be a lively little bird, and 

 in this respect resembles its not very distant relation, the greenfinch. Its habits are 

 also very analogous to those of another allied species, the lesser red-poll {Linaria mi- 

 nor). This is the only instance in which I ever saw the siskin ; but it is most probable 

 that it breeds somewhere either in England or Scotland, as it has been seen in the lat- 

 ter country in the months of May, August and September. One authenticated in- 

 stance of its having bred in Kincardineshire, is recorded in the third volume of Mac- 

 gillivray's ' British Birds,' which excellent work I would strongly recommend to the 

 readers of ' The Zoologist.' — Id. 



Note on a nest of the Ring-dove. In my morning rambles last spring I discovered 

 the nest of a ring-dove placed in a young Scotch fir, about three feet from the ground, 

 containing, to my surprise, three eggs, one of the three was much less than the other 

 two ; I mention this on account of the rare occurrence of this bird having more than 

 two eggs. — Vivia7i Walmesley ; Westwood House, Wigan, Lancashire, May, 1843. 



Note on the occurrence of the Reed-warbler in Lancashire. It is with pleasure that 

 I am able to make known, through your interesting magazine, the appearance of the 

 reed-warbler (Salicaria arundinacea of Selby) in this neighbourhood. I am not aware 

 of its occurrence farther north than Derbyshire. It is a sweet songster, and its imi- 

 tative powers are truly wonderful. I shall give it every protection in my power, hop- 

 ing my trouble may be amply repaid by its reappearance next spring. I am sure the 

 like treatment to other rare species of birds in this country would be a means of their 

 becoming regular periodical visitors, or permanent settlers. — Id. 



Note on the arrival of the Summer Birds of Passage at Epping, in 1843. 

 Goat-sucker, Capr. europceus, ... May 7 Blackcap, Curruca atricapilla, ...April 17 



Swift, Cypselus Apus, May 7 Nightingale, Luscinia Philomela, April 1 7 



House-martin, Chelidonurbica,... May 1 Redstart, Ruticilla Phoenicura,...MsiT. 25 



Sand-martin, Cotyle riparia, April 8 Whinchat, Saxicola rubetra, April 17 



Swallow, Hirundo rustica, April 4 Wheatear, Vitiflora CEnanthe, ...Mar. 21 



Sedge-warbler, Cal. Phragmitis, April 18 Tree pipit, Anthus arboreus, April 8 



Wood-wren, Phyllopn. sibilatrix, April 16 Yellow wagtail, Budytes Rayi, ...April 16 



Willow-wren, P. 7Voc/«/ms, Mar. 28 Spotted flycatcher, i^wto/w^mo/a. May 2 



Lesser pettychaps, P. rw/a, Mar. 18 Red-backed shrike, £"«. Co//wno, May 2 



Lesser whitethroat, aS?//. CwTMca, April 22 Wxyneck, Yunx Torquilla, April 3 



Whitethroat, S. cinerea, April 16 Cuckoo, Cuculus Canorus, April 16 



Greater pettychaps. Cur. hortens. April 23 Turtle dove, Turtur auritus, April 23 



The house-martins were remarkably late in their appearance here this spring, and 

 are much less numerous than usual. The willow-wrens arrived earlier than I had 

 ever before known them : I saw many on the 29th of March. The redstarts arrived 

 early, and in great numbers. The whinchat, although in former years one of our most 

 abundant visitors, for the last two or three seasons has been very scarce. I have not 



