NOTES AND QUERIES. 269 
broke off into the Willow-Wren’s descending scale, but always, before 
this was completed, the bird returned to the Chiffchaff’s note, again 
three or four times repeated. It did this many times, but unfortu- 
nately I was unable to tell definitely whether it was a Chiffchaff or 
Willow- Wren, as it was up in the top of a tall willow tree. Could it 
possibly be due to intercrossing of the two species? The curious 
thing both about this bird and that observed by Col. Meyrick is that 
this combined song, if I may so call it, though slightly different in the 
two cases, was always repeated in exactly the same way. This seems 
to show that it was due not to any mimicking power but to some 
inherent peculiarity, such as might be produced by intercrossing.— 
J. §. Huxuery (Balliol College, Oxford). 
Muscicapa atricapilla in Ireland.—In Mr. E. P. Butterfield’s in- 
teresting notes on the Pied Flycatcher (ante, p. 223) he says :—‘“ It is 
locally common in some parts of Wales, and the same remarks are 
applicable to Yorkshire and Westmorland, but further north it becomes 
more scarce; whilst in Scotland it is a scarce breeding species, and in 
Ireland, where it was first recorded in 1875, it is still more so.” In 
order to correct this misstatement of its breeding in Ireland, I beg to 
refer Mr. Butterfield to the ‘ Birds of Ireland,’ where he will find that 
the bird has never been found breeding in this country ; and since 
I obtained the first recorded specimen in April, 1875, only six 
others have been obtained, and all by my friend Mr. R. M. Barrington 
from lighthouse stations on the coasts of Kerry, Cork, and Wex- 
ford during the autumn migration.— RoBpert WARREN (Moy View, 
Ballina). 
Ortolan Bunting at Plaistow, H.—I have much pleasure in record- 
ing a male Ortolan Bunting (Himberiza hortulana). It is in fine adult 
plumage, and was obtained by Mr. R. M. Presland, George Terrace, 
Beckton Park, on May 6th, 1908. I have had it preserved by Mr. 
EK. Houghton, naturalist, Shrubland Grove, Dalston. I also wish to 
record a male specimen of the Woodchat-Shrike (Lanius pomeranus). 
It was shot at Camber, near Rye, by Mr. Thomas Sorrell, of Hastings, 
Sept. 15th, 1907.—J. A. Cuark (57, Weston Park, Crouch End, N.). 
Cypselus melba at Lynmouth, North Devon.—My brother and I 
recently saw an Alpine Swift, between seven and eight p.m. It was 
flying at a low altitude over our house, flew along the sea-wall, and 
returned back over our heads; so we distinctly saw the grey under 
side. Our attention was drawn to it in the first instance by its size. 
There was a good deal of sea-fog at the time, and apparently it had 
lost its way.—T. H. Briaas (Rock House, Lynmouth). 
