NOTES AND QUERIES. 269 



define the position of P.gmculus in the fauna of Dorset at the present day. 

 Harold Russell (16, Beaufort Gardens, S,W.). 



Hoopoe at Reigate. — On the evening of June 22nd I happened to be 

 wandering in Reigate Park, in Surrey. Entering the park by the gate 

 opening into Bell Street, I had taken the path through the woods to the 

 right near the meadows, and had not gone more than a couple of hundred 

 yards when a bird flew across into the park from the low fields to the right. 

 It settled on the ground about thirty yards off, and I had a good look at it 

 before it flew on. It was a Hoopoe [JJpupa epops). The occurrence at 

 Reigate of so rare a visitor should, I think, be recorded. — C. T. Bingham 

 (31, Earl's Court Square, South Kensington). 



[This is a most interesting observation. The bird was recorded from 

 the same spot in the ' New Flora of Reigate,' 1856 {cf. ante, p. 347). — Ed.] 



Spoonbills at Great Yarmouth. — Scarcely a day has passed since early 

 April to this day of writing (June 21st) but on what one or more Spoonbills 

 {Platalea leucorodia) have been in sight on Breydon. First one was seen 

 on April 10th, twelve on April 27th, and five more next day — seventeen in 

 all ! Seven observed on May 7th ; I saw two on May 16ih quite near my 

 houseboat, and I sailed up to a couple on May 17th. Two asleep near my 

 houseboat on June 2nd, in company with Saddleback Gull, on most amicable 

 terms. Saw four again on June 7th, which were very tame, and with some 

 two hundred Gulls on a flat quite near the bridge now being built across 

 Breydon. On June 15th observed five being followed and disturbed by a 

 Heron, and on June 2 1st four were still about. — A. Patterson (Ibis House, 

 Great Yarmouth). 



Wigeon breeding in Ireland. — Believing that the Wigeon {Mareca 

 peuelope) bred within a few hours' riding of my home, I decided, on May Ist, 

 accompanied by my friend Mr. S. Savage, to make a raid on its breeding- 

 place. We started at five o'clock in the morning on a lovely day. After 

 a long ride and a longer tramp, we at last came on the object of our 

 search — a nest with eleven eggs. The nest was in a dry meadow among 

 rushes, about two hundred yards from a small lake. I also found another 

 nest with three eggs, this time in a wet swamp. Later on Mr. Savage 

 found another nest with nine eggs in a clump of rushes in a very dry 

 meadow. We went home that night with very light hearts, having had, I 

 believe, a very good day's experience. To make sure, I sent some of both 

 down and eggs to Mr. Ussher, and also to Mr. Patterson, which they kindly 

 identified as genuine Wigeon without any doubt. I think this is the first 

 record of the Wigeon breeding in Ireland. — John Cottney (Hillsborough, 

 Co. Down, Ireland). 



