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NOTES on BIRDS. 

 Swifts in Yaddlethorpe Gravel-pits, and other Bird-notes.— 



These birds {Cypselus apus) frequented the Yaddlethorpe gravel-pits, 5th 

 June 1887 ; I had never noticed them do so before. One pair had a nest 

 in a disused Sand-Martin's hole. They formerly built in the church tower 

 and in the roofs of cottages at Ashby only. I have had eggs from Ash by 

 from under the tiles of the house of the postmaster, Mr. James Kendal. 



Kingfishers (Alcedo ispida) are abundant this year, and Hawfinches (Cocco- 

 thraustes vulgaris) are getting- quite common at Bottesford. — Max Peacock, 

 Ivy House, Bottesford, 4th May 1900. 



Winter Nidification of Robin.— On the 14th hist. I had brought to 

 me a Robin [Erithacus rubecida) 's nest with six eggs therein. It was taken 

 at Hale Barn, near Altrincham, and was first observed by my friend on the 

 5th inst., and he saw the bird fly off, and it had then six eggs in. On that 

 day a very severe frost set in, which lasted till the 9th inst., and, on further 

 examination, the nest was found deserted. The eggs were frozen, and, 

 although fresh, very difficult to blow. The nest was in a stable-wall behind 

 a loosened brick. Is there any recorded instance of a Robin's nest with six 

 eggs so early in the year as the 5th January, so far north ? — F. H. Taylor, 

 Birch Fold Cottage, Old Hall Lane, Fallowfield, Manchester, 19th Jan. J901. 



Meaning of the Word Lapwing. — In Mr. Peacock's interesting paper 

 on English bird-names in the February number of 'The Naturalist,' p. 46, 

 there is a misconception as to the meaning of the name Lapwing applied to 

 Vanellus vanellus. This word is the modern form of the Anglo-Saxon 

 ' hleapewince,' in which there is no reference either to sound or to wing. 

 'Hleape,' from the Anglo-Saxon 'hleapan,' to run, refers to the flight or 

 running of the bird; and 'wince' means a 'turner' or 'one who turns'; 

 so that the whole name signifies ' he that turns about in running.' The 

 modern word ' wing ' was not known to the Saxons, our forefathers using 

 the name ' fvSere ' for wing, a word allied to ' feSer,' the modern ' feather.' — 

 J. A. Martindale, Staveley, Kendal, 2nd February 1901. 



Shag in Cheshire. — On 5th February a specimen of the Shag (Phala- 

 crocorax graculus) was found by our bailiff in the garden and brought in 

 alive, in a starved condition, but in no way wounded. It was afterwards 

 sent to Mr. Cutmore of the Derby Museum, Liverpool, who identified it as 

 a female in mature plumage. It must have been driven inland by recent 

 g.iK s, though there had been no wind to speak of for some days previous to 

 its capture. 



In your issue of September 1900 Mr. W. H. Dobie, in a review of 'The 

 Birds of Cheshire,' by Coward and Oldham, appeals for the publication of 

 further observations for that county, and I send this note by his request, as 

 he tells me it is the first record of the Shag he has been able to obtain. 

 C. R. T. Congreve, Burton Hall, Neston, Cheshire, 15th February 1901. 



White Sparrows and Greenfinch in Holderness. Several localities 

 in Holderness are noted for the occasional appearance of White Sparrows 

 {Passer domesticus). A specimen frequented Newton Garth, between Hedon 

 and Paull, during - the summer of 1900, being first observed in June. 1 saw 

 it at the end of August. Its beak and legs were light horn-coloured, and 

 the nape seemed somewhat ashy, though this may have been due to the dust 

 in which the bird was vigorously endeavouring to hide its beauty. The other 

 Sparrows displayed no signs of jealousy of their more fortunate (?) comrade. 



A similar specimen, but with several brown feathers, occurred in the 

 same locality in 1899. It was caught and caged in the autumn, but soon 

 died. I have not yet learnt the fate of its successor. 



Mr. Warley, of Hull, informs me that a cream-coloured Greenfinch 

 {Ligurinus chloris) was seen at Skirlaugh (1900). As it was a young bird it 

 was not shot 'on sight,' but allowed to live till alter its first moult, in the 

 hope that its plumage would become whiter. The change, however, was 

 in the other direction ; it became more cream coloured, though this did not 

 save it from destruction. — T. Petch, Hedon, Hull. j:st January [901. 



igot M.-wvh 1. 



