238 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



where I found one nest on May 31st containing seven eggs. As far as I 

 know, there are not many instances on record of its breeding in this county. 

 — F. L. Blathwayt (Saltaire, Weston-super-Mare). 



Lateness in Appearance of the Summer Migrants.— The following 

 experience is unique in ray recollection, and may be worth recording. 

 Having failed up to April 4th to discover a single summer migrant of any 

 species, I determined to spend the morning of the 10th in an elaborate 

 search. It was fine and, on the whole, warm, and the country was 

 extremely beautiful. I rambled about for three hours among woods and 

 meadows, and along the banks of our stream, searching every spot which I 

 have ever known to be frequented by Chiffchaffs on their first arrival, but 

 without success. By this time we may usually expect to see three or four 

 other species, though the dates of arrival in this upland district are seldom 

 very early ; but neither Blackcap, Redstart, or Tree Pipit were to be seen. 

 I saw a small flock of Meadow Pipits, a species which leaves us for the 

 summer. Starlings are still in large packs, though many, of course, are 

 breeding ; Lapwings are only just beginning their nests. The hedges are 

 as black as in the winter, and I do not see the flies about them which 

 accompany the opening of the leaf. Under such circumstances one can 

 hardly expect the summer birds; but it would be interesting to know 

 where they are, and what doing. — W. Warde Fowler (Kingham, Chip- 

 ping Norton). 



Observations on Birds during the exceptional severe Spring in 

 Aberdeen. — Towards the end of March there was an unusual tameness of 

 those birds frequenting the neighbourhood of farm-buildings, which in- 

 dicated a continuauce of severe weather at a later date of the year than is 

 usual. While the general variety made their appearance at the late date, 

 and were very tame, one bird which appears during snowstorms earlier in 

 the year, the Snow Bunting (Plectrophenax nivalis), was not observed, 

 except by a few stragglers. While the weather has been severe and the 

 snow prolonged, there have not been many birds destroyed by starvation. 

 Lapwings have evidently not been much disturbed, although there has 

 been repetitious of severe frosts since they arrived. Partridges have been 

 put to considerable straits, if we may judge by their tameness. Their 

 haunts have been more closely covered with snow than is at all usual, and 

 we find a wintery stillness following bird-life well into the spring of the 

 year, when we are accustomed to hear melodies from many throats. Is 

 this a sequel to the singing of the Sky-Lark in October of 1899, and does 

 the cold snow-clad ground delay the melodies of this great songster? 

 Pairing, which always accompanies an early spring, has also been retarded 

 by the struggle for existence, packing having replaced the usual pairing 



