THE BIRDS OF THE DISTRICT OF STAINES. 
By Grawam W. Kerr. 
Ir is two years ago since I wrote in ‘The Zoologist’ under 
the above heading, and although during this time I have 
removed from Staines to Datchet, the distance is only a matter 
of eight miles, and has made no difference to the ground I work 
over; so that I shall continue to use the same title for these 
further notes. 
During the two years fifteen new birds have been added to the 
local list, bringing the total to one hundred and twenty-six. 
The reservoirs at Staines attract an ever-increasing number 
of birds, and from an ornithological point of view are well worth 
a visit at any time of ‘the year, while during severe weather in 
winter the number of fowl on the waters is quite remarkable ; 
but it is difficult to make accurate observations of them on so 
large a piece of water. 
The breeding of the Pochard in Berkshire and of the Marsh- 
Warbler in Surrey are the two chief items I have to record. 
Rine-Ovuzew (Turdus torquatus).—A fine bird seen in a meadow 
near Stanwell, April Ist, 1907. 
CuirroHarr (Phylloscopus rufus).—Is locally distributed ; most 
plentiful in Windsor Park, but nowhere as common as the Willow- 
Wren. 
Woop-Wren (P. sibilatrix).—After my last notes in ‘ The 
Zoologist,, Mr. A. Holte Macpherson kindly wrote to tell me 
that he had found this bird very common on the east side of 
Windsor Park. 
Marsu-WarBLER (Acrocephalus palustris).—This is a bird I 
had long hoped to meet in the district, and I was therefore 
extremely pleased when on June 14th, 1907, I found a nest with 
four eggs in an osier-plantation in the parish of Thorpe, Surrey. 
This is the first known instance of the bird breeding in the 
Zool. 4th ser vol. XII., April, 1908. M 
