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NOTES AND QUEEIES. 



AVES. 



Blackbird Laying Twice in same Nest. — I would like to draw your 

 readers' attention to a rather out-of-the-way performance of a Black- 

 bird (Turdus merula) in a friend's garden. She laid some time back 

 the usual four eggs, sat well, and brought out the young birds ; they 

 were all fledged, and had left the nest. A few days later my friend 

 looked into the old nest again, and found four fresh eggs, presumably 

 laid by the same hen ; she is now sitting. Is this not a rather unusual 

 occurrence ? — W. H. Workman (Windsor, Belfast). 



Accident to Young Crow (Corvus corone). — On May 10th, in the 



vicinity of Ashtead (Surrey), I found a Carrion-Crow's nest, upon 

 which the old bird sat close. When she was disturbed a young bird 

 fell with a heavy thud at my feet. As this youngster was but a few 

 hours old, it is evident, I think, that in some unaccountable way the 

 parent bird's feet must have become entangled with the young bird. 

 This seems a somewhat unusual occurrence to happen to a bird at such 

 an early age, and taking into consideration the fact that the nest is so 

 substantially built. — P. W. Harvey (66, Broughton Boad, Thornton 

 Heath). 



Hoopoe at Lundy Island. — About May 15th I watched a Hoopoe 

 (Ujnipa ejiops) for a considerable time on Lundy Island. It was finding 

 plenty to eat in the thick grass, but, although I had strong glasses, and 

 the bird allowed me to approach to within twenty yards of it, I was 

 unable to see the nature of its food. — Norman H. Joy (Bradfield, near 

 Beading). 



Song of Cuculus canorus at Night. — Between eleven and twelve on 

 the night of May 10th, when it was pitch dark, a Cuckoo was singing 

 loudly in my garden. The bird was evidently on the wing, although it 

 remained close to the house. So far as my own recollection goes, I do not 

 remember ever previously having heard a Cuckoo singing in the dark. 

 Can any of your readers inform me whether this is an unusual occur- 

 rence ? — R. H. Ramsbotham (Elmhurst, Garstang). 



