766 Birds. 



Note on the Migration of the Kingfisher. I have for some time suspected, from the 

 number of kingfishers which are annually killed here towards the end of August, and 

 beginning of September, that a migration of these birds takes place about this time. 

 The fact of a kingfisher having lately dashed against a floating light placed about 

 twenty miles at sea, off Winterton (the Lemon), seems to confirm this supposition. 

 It seems probable that they come from the more northern parts of Europe, where the 

 waters are frozen in winter, but I have not hitherto observed any indication of their 

 return in spring. The greater number of those which occur are young birds. — 

 William R. Fisher ; Great Yarmouth, September 28, 1844. 



Anecdote of the Ringdove's Nest having three Eggs. Amongst the anomalies of this 

 summer may be noted two ringdove's nests, which have been taken in this neighbour- 

 hood, one with three young ones in June, the other with three eggs at the end of 

 August. From the proximity of these nests (not being more than a mile apart), one 

 might fancy they belonged to the same birds ; were it not that the eggs being small — 

 long diameter 1 inch 7 lines, short diameter, 1 inch 1 line — lead one to suppose they 

 were the first which the bird had deposited. — William Turner ; Uppingham, Rutland, 

 October 16, 1844. 



Note on the Migration of the Water-rail. — The water-rail appears to be considered 

 by two of your correspondents (Zool. 149 and 669) as a winter visitor to this country. 

 I never remember to have met with it in Norfolk later than November, though it may 

 sometimes occur in the winter months. In summer it is common, and breeds in 

 various parts of the county. With respect to the bird caught on Brighton pier, its 

 exhaustion was, no doubt, caused by its having crossed the channel for the purpose of 

 passing the summer months in this country. — William R. Fisher ; Great Yarmouth, 

 September 28, 1844. 



Note on the Water-rail. It seems there is some question about the breeding of the 

 water-rail, and also about its spending the winter in this country. A person inclined 

 to jest might ask, then, whether the water-rail were only an accidental visitant ; since, 

 according to one party, it does not breed here, and according to the other, does not 

 winter here. It breeds commonly enough in various parts of the kingdom. I have 

 known two nests discovered on the Buckenham (near Brandon) estate alone, in the 

 same season. Nor is its occurrence in the winter very rare. I must add, however, 

 that it does appear to suffer severely from cold. One which a friend of mine kept in 

 a cage for some length of time, was brought to him (about December 27, 1836) by 

 some lads, who had picked it up in the road, lying on the snow, and completely be- 

 numbed with the cold. Its crop also was empty. When my friend received it (which 

 he did shortly after it had been found) it was placed on a footstool before the fire. 

 The warmth very shortly revived it, and the first symptoms of returning animation 

 were shown by its opening its eyes, and turning its head about very quickly as it lay. 

 Almost immediately after it started off the stool, without signifying its intention of 

 doing so by any preliminary standing up or stretching its limbs, &c, and ran swiftly 

 about the room. It was kept for some time in a basket, and fed with raw meat, cut 

 small, and put into water. When I saw it (Jan. 1837) it would feed readily when 

 held in the hand ; and if set at liberty in the room, ran about with inconceivable 

 rapidity, but never attempted to fly. And even when its master proceeded to catch it 

 after one of these airings, it very rarely used its wings, and when it did, it did not 

 fly to the window, as other birds do. It ran so quickly, that it was difficult for the 

 eye to follow its motions. — J C. Atkinson ; Hutton, Benvick-on-Tiveed, Sept.28, 1844. 



