NOTES AND QUERIES. 467 



therefore these birds have to fly against the wind to reach the land 

 they are making for, and at the time of the year they return the 

 north-west trades will probably be blowing, and they again would 

 have the wind against them. Various birds do their migrating 

 in different ways ; for instance, Nutmeg Pigeons (Myristocibora 

 spilorrhoa) fly fast and just above the tops of the waves, whilst Bee- 

 Eaters (Merops ornatus), fly higher, with their undulating motion. 

 As far as I can judge few fly very high, most of the waders averaging 

 from 10 to 30 ft. above the sea-level ; still the main fact is that 

 these birds have to fly against the wind. Then, again, the Spine- 

 tailed (Ghcetura caudacuta) and Pacific (Micropus pacificus) Swifts, 

 when arriving in Victoria from Tasmania, appear almost invariably on 

 a day when a northerly wind is blowing ; I have noticed this fact on 

 many occasions, and so they have to fly against the wind. With 

 regard to other migrants from Tasmania, I cannot state definitely 

 how the wind might be on their crossing Bass Straits. I do not 

 think for a moment that these migratory birds fly against the wind 

 from choice, but have to take whatever the wind may be during the 

 time of the year they migrate. With regard to Spine-tailed and 

 Pacific Swifts the matter seems different, there being no trade winds 

 in Bass Straits, and the wind varying from day to day, and one 

 would think that these birds could just as easily cross the Straits in 

 a southerly or west wind as in a northerly ; but, anyhow, we shall 

 have to learn more on the subject before we can give definite state- 

 ments. — D. le Souef (Director, Zoological Gardens, Melbourne). 



Birds Rearing Broods in Old Nests. — Eeferring to Mr. Morris's 

 communication on this subject (ante, p. 430), it is not often that the 

 Thrush (Turdus musicus) rears a second brood Jn the same nest, 

 but such a case occurred here recently; the nest being built in a 

 garden, and two broods brought off in the old nest. It is not an 

 uncommon occurrence for the Wren to rear a succession of broods in 

 the same nest when built on an outhouse or shed if thatched with 

 straw or heather. Cock nests are sometimes utilised for late broods, 

 but more frequently used as dormitories for fledged young. — E. P. 

 Butterfield (Wilsden, Yorkshire). 



Starlings on Sheep's Back. — Eeferring to Mr. Stubbs's communica- 

 tion (' Zoologist,' 1912, p. 281), it is a very rare occurrence to see a 

 Starling in this district perched on the back of a Sheep or any other 

 animal; in fact, I cannot be quite certain whether I have ever 

 witnessed such a sight in the immediate neighbourhood of Wilsden. 



