ORNITHOLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS IN SURREY. 99 



May, whilst I was following it about as usual, it flew a few yards 

 ahead on to the bank of the upper pond, where it joined a group 

 of other birds, apparently Warblers, for they all looked exactly 

 alike as they rose, and flew away. I never saw it again. I was 

 a little in doubt about recording this bird for your report, but 

 Mr. Warde Fowler's remarks at the conclusion of his article on 

 the Marsh-Warbler in ' The Zoologist ' (1906, pp. 401-9) con- 

 firms my belief that the bird I saw was one— the slightly darker 

 head and entire absence of any rufous tinge on the body are 

 almost positive proof." Mr. Warde Fowler states that this 

 species is the latest of our summer visitors to reach its breeding- 

 haunts, and he says that May 30th is the earliest he has seen 

 them. It is therefore with some hesitation that I insert the 

 above record and letter. 



26th. — Snipe near Bramley (H. Eussell). Nuthatches, 

 Creepers, and Marsh-Tits together, and twenty- six Herons at 

 Eichmond (E. K. P.). The superintendent of the Park informs 

 me that there are now between twenty and thirty nests in the 

 Sidmouth Wood, and a solitary pair generally build in the 

 Isabella Plantation. 



29th.— Wind W. Blackcap heard at Oxted (C. H. B.). 



30th. — Magpie's nest at Crowhurst (C. H. B.). Five years 

 ago I knew of two nests at Oxshott, and since then they have 

 bred at Wisley, Virginia Water, and one or two other places ; but 

 it is now one of our rarest breeding birds. 



May. 



1st. — Spotted Crake at Brook : was also seen subsequently. 

 Pochard sitting in Lea Park, where Common Sandpipers were 

 reported several times about this date (G. D.). The Pochard 

 note is most interesting, as these are genuine wild birds, and I 

 believe this to be the first time it has laid eggs in the county ; 

 unfortunately these were not hatched, and, whilst the female left 

 the Park in late summer, the male stayed on, being last seen 

 there on Sept. 8th. 



2nd. — Wind S. Whitethroat at Thursley; Kestrel sitting in 

 Lea Park (G. D.). 



3rd. — Wind S. Grasshopper-Warbler heard at Wisley (G. D.). 



4th.— Wind S.W. Turtle-Dove at Woldingham (C. H. B.). 



