108 



THE ZOOLOGIST. 



eggs approach this set in colour, but I do not know of any other 

 instance of a clutch of unmarked blue eggs being found in 

 England, although I believe a similar set has been once met 

 with in Denmark (1898). 



Great Grey Shrike, Lanins excubitor, L. — On Feb. 1st, 



1907, I had a good view of a Great Grey Shrike, which got up 

 from a hedgerow in front of us while motoring near Bradbourne. 

 Its flight was weak, and it seemed unable to gain upon the car, 

 and finally turned aside to some isolated thorn-bushes in a field, 

 but would not allow itself to be approached again. 



Eed-backed Shrike, L. collurio, L. — Mr. T. Eumney reports 

 a pair as breeding near Eepton in 1908. They have now quite 

 ceased to nest on the hillsides near the entrance to Dovedale. 



Pied Flycatcher, Muscicapa atricapilla, L. — A male, on 

 migration, seen by me between Clifton and Norbury on May 1st, 



1908. The only other bird of this species I have seen in this 

 district was also a cock, at Ashburne, on May 14th, 1887, but it 

 is occasionally noticed on passage both in the Dove and Derwent 

 Valleys. Probably the inconspicuous plumage of the hen causes 

 it to be overlooked. 



House-Martin, Chelidon urbica (L.). — Several House-Martins' 

 nests may be seen annually, built on the beams inside an open 

 shed, and underneath the roofing, instead of on an outside wall, 

 as is usually the case, at the ' Deg and Partridge Hotel,' Thorpe. 

 Unlike the Swallows' nests in similar sites, the entrance of the 

 nest is at the side, and the nest is not open at the top. 



Greenfinch, Chloris chloris (L.). — A nest with the unusually 

 large number of seven eggs was found in a hedgerow at Ashburne 

 on June 9th, 1906. 



Crossbill, Loxia curvirostra (L.). — A flock visited the Ash- 

 burne district in the early spring of 1904, and two were shot at 

 Yeldersley on Feb. 24th and 26th. 



Swift, Apus apas, L. — In 1908 the main body of Swifts left 

 the Ashburne district on Aug. 9th-10th, but on Aug. 25th a 

 party of eight birds was noticed by Mr. J. Henderson at Maple- 

 ton, and at intervals three or four birds were constantly seen in 

 the Dove Valley till Sept. 1st, when only a single bird was 

 noticed, as was also the case on Sept. 4th and 5th. On Sept. 

 14th Mr. J. Henderson saw one at Mapleton in the morning, 



