277 



NO TES— ORNITHOL OGY. 

 Reed Warbler Nesting near Bipon.— I have this year taken eggs 



from a nest of the Reed Warbler {Acrocephalus sireperits) near this village. This 

 is worthy of note, as it is, I believe, the furthest locality northwards in which the 

 nest has as yet been found. — R. A. Summerfield, North Stainley Vicarage, Ripon. 



[We believe our correspondent is right in his surmise that this is the most 

 northerly locality for this species as a summer resident, though it formerly nested 

 on the mere at Scarborough, which is about 6 miles further north in latitude. — Eds.] 



The Hawfinch Nesting at Boston Spa. — A pair of Hawfinches 



{Coccothraustes vulgaris) have nested and bred this season in Padman's Nursery, 

 Boston Spa. The young birds, along with their parents and the nest, were removed 

 into an aviary. The young ones died, probably on account of the old birds not 

 being able to find their proper food in their new quarters, where the latter still are 

 very lively, but looking not at all domesticated, and very anxious to get out of their 

 prison-house. — John Emmet, Boston Spa, August, 1886. 



Departure of Hooded Crows from England.— On March 29th 



Hooded Crows (Corvus comix) and Rooks (C. frugilegus) were passing along the 

 Norfolk coast, and going in a southerly direction. No doubt they were a part of 

 the same band which the day before were seen at Flamborough by Mr. Bailey, 

 'steering direct south from the headland' {Naturalist, p. .150). I believe their 

 point of departure is between Yarmouth and Lowestoft, because that is the easter- 

 most part of Great Britain ; and because on one occasion a number were seen from 

 the Corton Floating Lightship (which lies between those towns) flying over the sea, 

 having come from the land (Rep. on Migration, 1882, p. 40). Their object must be 

 to get the shortest sea passage, for their destination is north. — J. II. Gurney, Jun., 

 Northrepps, Norwich, July 23rd, 1 886. 



Qliail Nesting in Lincolnshire.— On the 6th July last a nest con- 

 taining 12 eggs was discovered by Charles Walter Chapman, on his father's farm 

 at Maltby-le-Marsh, near Alford. The eggs were addled, having been covered 

 with clover in the course of mowing for five days before being found. The parent 

 birds had been noticed some time previously about the field. The Quail {Coturnix 

 comnmnis) is an occasional visitor in this district, but this is the first case of its 

 nesting brought to my notice. — Jas. Eardley Mason, Alford, 4th August, 1886. 



Little Grebe in Wensleydale. — Through some oversight the Dabchick 

 {Podiceps fluviatilis) was omitted from the list of Wensleydale birds in the June 

 number of the Naturalist. It breeds in the dale at Semerwater and Locker Tarn. 

 E. Chapman, Carperby, Bedale, July 6th, 1886. 



Bird-notes from Thorpe, near Halifax.— The Tree Sparrow 



{Passer montanus) has nested here this year. I have never been certain as to this, 

 but a young bird just fledged was shot here the other day among some common 

 Sparrows. It is a true Tree Sparrow and I have had it skinned. There have been 

 a few Wood Pigeons [Columba pahtmbus) here this summer; no doubt they have 

 nested in some of the large woods. — F. G. S. Rawscn, Thorpe, Halifax, August 

 2nd, 1886. 



Bird-notes from Whitby. — 1886. January 12th: Redshank {Totamts 

 ca/idris), shot in Whitby Harbour. March 5th : Several Black -headed Gulls 

 {Larus ridibundtis) seen outside the piers at Whitby. March 7th : Water Rail 

 {Rallus aquaticus) taken alive near Whitby. May 17th: Pied Flycatcher 

 {Mtiscicapa atricapilla) shot in a garden near Whitby ; the tenant states that it 

 had killed a number of his tees, that was the reason it was destroyed ; he also said 

 that the Spotted Flycatcher is much more destructive among the Honey Bees than 

 the Pied ones, especially when they have young. This is corroborated by another 

 person, who has several hives of bees. I never before heard of either kind of Fly- 

 catcher destroying bees. It is fourteen years since I saw the Pied Flycatcher here, 

 the last being 15th May, 1872, but this year two nests were found in Mr. Main's 

 garden at Ruswarp, near here. May 28th : A fine specimen of the Turtle Dove 

 {Turtur communis) was shot near Whitby. — Thomas Stephenson, Whitby, 

 August nth, 1886. 



Sept. 1886. 



