NOTES AND QUERIES. Ill 



these immense flocks drive away the song-birds, but, as far as I can 

 tell, this is not the case here, for Thrushes and Blackbirds seem to be 

 almost on the increase. On several occasions last year I saw an albino 

 and also a black and white one. With regard to albinos, on Jan. 25th, 

 1904, I observed a white Pheasant at Tawstock, and this year one was 

 killed at Tapely Park, Instow. During the early part of this January 

 a white Thrush was shot at Chittlehampton, and a black and white 

 Crow seen at Barnstaple. Starlings must have several broods every 

 year ; there were still unfledged young in a nest as late as Oct. 22nd 

 last year. They are very fond of a bath, and I once saw seventy-five 

 all bathing together in the Taw. 



Raven (Corvus corax). — This species still breeds with us on the 

 coasts, the most favoured localities being Baggy Point, Ilfracombe, 

 and Combemartin. At Baggy Point the nest has grown to a large 

 size, and will increase in size, 1 imagine, until the birds are shot or 

 driven away. They breed during the end of February. 



Kingfisher (Alcedo ispida). — A very common bird on the Taw 

 during the autumn, but they breed here sparingly. A considerable 

 influx of visitors takes place during October, when they can often be 

 seen darting under the Long Bridge, or sitting on a boat moored up 

 near the South Walk. 



Water-Rail (Rallus aquations). — Not an uncommon bird, but 

 leaving us to breed. Notwithstanding their shyness, I know of one 

 pair which regularly return to a reedy ditch by the side of a railway, 

 and I have seen them cross the rails just after a locomotive has 

 whirled past ! I notice they prefer feeding among the reeds on the 

 borders of the pond, rather than on the pond itself. Here of an 

 evening they may be seen darting their slender bills into the mud con- 

 tinually, evidently enjoying a good meal. 



Ringed Plover {Mgialitis hiaticola). — The commonest of the shore 

 birds. It breeds near the Braunton Lighthouse, on the beaches cast 

 up against the sand-dunes. Sometimes I have found the nests 

 surrounded by a ring of broken cockle and other shells. These nests 

 are very pretty indeed, although I have not succeeded in discovering 

 the reason why they are so decorated. The fishermen tell me that 

 they sometimes find addled eggs floating on the water. 



Grey Phalarope (Phalaropus fulicarzus). — On Jan. 15th and 16th 

 this year, during a strong easterly gale, I saw several of this species 

 on the mud-flats near Barnstaple. The Ringed Plovers were politely 

 showing them round ! Thus I found them very difficult to approach, 

 but on one occasion I got within thirty-five feet of them. They kept 

 very close to the water's edge ; therefore it was not easy to spot them, 



