NOTES AND QUERIES. 67 



and near Clifton and Bridgwater in 1894. During the last four years 

 I have occasionally seen Lesser Kedpolls at the end of April in the 

 woods on Worlebury Camp, Weston-super-Mare, some of the birds 

 displaying the rosy breeding plumage on their breasts. I cannot be 

 sure that the birds have ever nested in these woods, though I think it 

 very probable that they may occasionally have done so. This species 

 also nests in the interesting country near Ashcott and Shapwick, 

 known as the turf or peat moors. In this district the birds find just 

 what is suited to their requirements, as the beds of alder and sallow 

 afford them both food in the winter and nesting accommodation in the 

 summer. Little flocks are seen in this district during the winter 

 months, feeding on the seeds of the alder, and I am told by competent 

 authorities that a good many nests have been discovered in the sum- 

 mer. A working man of the district, with whom I was conversing on 

 the subject, seemed to know the species well, and described to me the 

 little nests which he had often found, beautifully lined with vegetable 

 down. On June 12th of last year I visited the turf-moors, and saw 

 several Eedpolls flying about among the alder plantations near Ashcott 

 Station, and uttering their harsh and wheezing notes. Several pairs 

 appeared to be breeding, but I could only discover one nest, which was 

 placed near the top of a sallow-bush, and contained a single egg. It 

 is, I think, fair to conclude from these notes that the Lesser Eedpoll 

 is at the present time a fairly regular resident in Somerset, and possibly 

 far more so than is generally supposed. The above records prove that 

 the species has bred in the northern parts of the county, and also on 

 the central levels, and near the south-western boundary. It would be 

 interesting if other observers could still increase our knowledge of the 

 breeding range of the bird in the county. As the records of its breed- 

 ing in the county do not appear to extend back more than about four- 

 teen years, it seems probable that it has only lately established itself 

 as a nesting species, though how far this supposition is due to increased 

 observation it is impossible to say. — F. L. Blathwayt (Lincoln). 



Green Woodpecker boring in Winter. — In ' The Zoologist ' for 

 1897 (p. 573), I recorded an instance of the Green Woodpecker [Gecinus 

 viridis) boring in November. A similar instance has just occurred 

 here, a beech tree having been recently bored by the same species, 

 possibly the same bird. The enclosed fresh chips, which I picked up 

 under the tree to-day (Jan. 14th) show plainly that the Woodpecker is 

 at work on an ordinary nesting-hole. — Julian G. Tuck (Tostock Eec- 

 tory, Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk). 



[Fresh chips duly received. — Ed.] 



