214 THE ZOOLOGIST. 
AVES. 
Breeding Sites of Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler.—Twice within 
recent years, in columns devoted to matters ornithological, has an animated 
discussion raged round the question of what are the normal respective 
nesting sites of the Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus rufus) and Willow Warbler 
(P. trochilus). Ornithology is essentially a progressive science, hence what 
is latest ‘up to date ’"—assuiming, that is to say, the excellence of what is 
treated of—is of chiefest value. In this connection it is pleasant to find 
such a past master as Mr. Howard Saunders publishing, in monthly parts 
now issuing, a second edition of his charming ‘ Manual.’ However, what 
I wished to say was this: I much hope that those who heretofore took up 
what seemed to me a wholly untenable position with regard to the two points 
at issue have noted that the most recent authority in the field, who is 
admittedly ‘‘at the top of the tree,” has not only placed it on record that 
the nest of the Chiffchaff is usually “a little above the ground,” and that of 
the Willow Warbler generally ‘‘on the ground,” but that he has thought 
well to emphasize his views by the employment, as shown, of italics. I 
trust now we shall hear no more about Chiffchaffs’ nests in meadow-banks, 
away from all sylvan tracts, which of course are the popular haunts of 
the species in this country in the summer.—H. S. Davenport (Melton 
Mowbray). 
Meadow Pipits perching on Trees.—In Mr. W. Warde Fowler’s 
interesting note on the Tree Pipit (ante, p. 122), it is said that the Meadow 
Pipit (Anthus pratensis) “ is certainly not at home on trees.” This seems 
to be a fairly general belief among ornithologists, but so far as my experience 
goes it is not correct. During the winter months I have Meadow Pipits 
under almost daily observation, and it is an absolutely common occurrence 
for me to frighten them from a low-lying meadow, when they will take to 
the branches of the tall trees around. They will freely settle on some of 
the thinner branches, as well as on the thick ones. I have also repeatedly 
heard their notes proceeding from among the branches of the trees, where — 
they had settled from choice, without having been disturbed by me. The — 
meadow I refer to is at the bottom of the road in which I reside, and I have 
to cross it on all my walks. While I was on Achill Island, Co. Mayo, a 
curious bird, which Mr. Oliver V. Aplin determines to be Anthus pratensis, 
settled on the top of a low bush, and looked so curious, as it faced me with 
its dark broadly striped breast and rufous throat (a far clearer rufous tinge 
in the living bird than is now to be seen in the mounted specimen), that I 
was constrained to bring it down, thinking I had something unusual. This 
was on the mountain side, a considerable distance from their usual breeding 
haunts on the moorland and marshy meadows below. From the worn 
