•474 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



June 13th (7.15 a.m.). — One egg. 6.15 p.m. Two eggs, and Swift 

 evidently now sitting. 



July 1st (9 p.m.). — One young and one egg in nest. 



July 2nd (6.30 a.m.). — Two young in nest. 



August 15th (7 p.m.). — One young, if not both, have left the nest, 

 as only one bird occupies the nesting-hole, and possibly that one of the 

 old birds. 



August 16th (7 a.m.). — Nest empty. 



August 18th. — Last Swift seen on the wing in this village. 



September 2nd. — A Swift seen in the adjoining parish, at Lower 

 Hagley ; an unusually late occurrence. 



From the above notes the time of incubation seems to be at least 

 eighteen days, and during the present year the young did not leave the 

 nest until six weeks, three days. In comparison, I might add that 

 three out of a nest of four young Swallows were able to leave a nest 

 situated in my outbuildings in three weeks, two days, or almost in 

 exactly half the time. — J. Steele-Elliott (Clent, Worcestershire). 



American Yellow-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus) at Ring- 

 wood. — On Oct. 26th a gentleman told me he had, whilst standing on 

 one of the bridges watching some Pike-fishers, seen a strange bird 

 settle upon and apparently scrutuiize a bush at no very great distance 

 from him. His description was that the bird was about the size of a 

 Thrush, but seemed to have more the colovir of the Nightingale on its 

 sides, and a very long tail. As the late owner of Avon Castle had, a 

 few years ago, liberated a number of Australian birds of various species, 

 I supposed this might have been one of the very few survivors — if, 

 indeed, any still survive — although I had no reason to suspect any bird 

 answering the description had obtamed its freedom. On Oct, 30th a 

 specimen of the above-named Cuckoo was sliot about half a mile from 

 the spot, but whether the same bird it is impossible to say. I saw it 

 soon after it was killed, and I may note the following particulars : 

 Except where shot through the neck, the plumage appeared to be per- 

 fect, with no sign of abrasion either of wings or tail, as are seen in an 

 " escape," and the body was fat and well conditioned, weighing just 

 over 2^ oz. ; it measured llf in. from beak to tail ; the third quill- 

 feather, the longest in the wing, being 5| in. from tip to carpal joint. 

 Uiider mandible and base and sides of the upper, yellow ; rest of the 

 beak black. Eyes dark brown ; eyelids bright yellow, reminding one 

 of the Blackbird's. Back and two middle tail-feathers dark mouse- 

 colour, with a tinge of reddish, especially on the tail ; four outer 

 feathers on either side blackish, with graduated dirty white markings, 



