OBNITHOLOGICAL NOTES FROM SURREY. 231 



Hobby (F. subbuteo).— Mr. F. Sty an and Mr. J. Mitchell have 

 the following interesting notes on this species, the more valuable 

 because they record the first definite occurrence of the bird nesting 

 in Surrey, although there was not much doubt that such had 

 been the case : — 



1. On June 17th, 1873, one was shot at Weybridge, and pre- 

 served by Mr. F. Yearley. 



2. A pair nested at Normandy Farm, near Wanborough, in 

 1879. The male was shot, and the young in down taken with 

 the nest; the hen escaped. The male and nestlings were pre- 

 served in a group, together with a hen Kestrel, by Bradden, of 

 Guildford. In 1880 another pair nested in the same spot, and 

 safely reared their young ; but in the autumn a mature female, 

 supposed to be the mother bird, was shot there, and cased with 

 the previous lot, replacing the hen Kestrel. The group was 

 eventually purchased by a Mr. Hancock, of Newcastle, to whose 

 residence it was removed (fide Capt. Salvin). 



3. Mr. E. W. Courage stated, in 1880, that it had been known 

 to occur at Thursley in summer. 



A male was shot on Aug. 12th, 1901, in Mr. Herbert Brooks's 

 park at Epsom by his gamekeeper, and preserved by Mr. C. 

 Lisney, of Ashtead. I have seen this specimen (J. A. Bucknill). 



Merlin (F. cesalon). — One was shot in the winter of 1880-1 

 near Guildford, and preserved by Bradden. Mr. R. W. Courage 

 had a specimen in his collection, shot at Thursley, and stated 

 (in 1880) that he had known it occur there on other occasions 

 (F. Styan and J. Mitchell). 



(To be continued.) ' 



