NATURAL HISTORY NOTES 179 
Nature, but I have decided to allow far fewer than before, as they are doubtless 
most destructive to hr trees, to fruit, and to the eggs and young of birds. 
Hexford House, near Guildford, M. C. I’ERREAU, 
August 12, 1899. Colonel. 
Canaries. — Miss Morgan had a Belgian hen who invariably laid six eggs, 
though she never hatched more than five, and one of her progeny, hatched early 
in 1895, seven eggs the following spring, and hatched them all. 
St. Aubyn’s, Hove. 
The Cuckoo’s Note. — I have been interested in reading the remarks of 
J. G. Bradford in Nature Notes for August, on the above. 
Several weeks ago, while walking along a country road, I was surprised to 
hear a most unusual sound, like a mild trumpet call. It came from a large bird 
flying across the road, about a hundred yards off. At the time 1 thought it must 
be either hawk or cuckoo, but the flight was so rapid it was difficult to realise, 
and the bird quickly out of sight over a rising ground. A very small bird was 
flying close behind it. The notes were like too-too-too — the first and second 
loud and distinct, the third soft and low. I have little doubt it was a cuckoo, 
and the notes similar to those referred to by J. G. B. I never heard the like 
before, and had no idea that the cuckoo had any other note than the well-known 
one. 
Helensburgh, August 9, 1899. E. Angus. 
Nesting Twice in the same Nest. —We have had an instance of nesting 
in the same nest. A pair of flycatchers-come every year and build in the same 
rose-tree on a wall. Generally the gardener when pruning in the autumn removes 
the nest, but last autumn he left it. The birds came as usual at the end of .May 
or beginning of June and took possession of the old nest and reared a brood of 
four. They flew on June 29. The hen then laid two more eggs in the same 
nest, and the little birds are now big enough to look over the edge of the nest. 
August 2, 1899. B. S. 
Bird Singing at Night. — Can any of your readers tell me what birds 
beside nightingales sing at night ? I know there are others, but do not know 
their names. Between ten and eleven p.m. on the nights of July 10 and ii, I 
heard a bird singing in the orchard at the back of my house. The orchard is 
beyond the garden, on a hill, and I was in my bedroom, so the sound was a 
little above me. The bird sat apparently in the same tree each night. It had a 
short but sweet song. I have never heard a bird, excepting nightingales, sing at 
night before. 
Hatfield, Herts. LucY Rowlatt. 
The Bramble Finch. — In the August number of Nature Notes a pair 
of these birds is reported to have built and reared a brood at Maisemore, near 
Gloucester. If your correspondent means the brambling (Fringilla monlifrin- 
gilla), would he kindly furnish further details, for as far as I know this would be 
the first instance of the species nesting in this country, and demands confirmation. 
As all ornithologists know, the brambling is a winter migrant to the British 
Isles, leaving in the spring. It breeds throughout the northern portions of the 
Palaearctic region, amongst pines or birches, laying six eggs. 
Sale, Manchester. Graham Renshaw. 
SELBORNE SOCIETY NOTICES. 
Donations towards Reduction of the Deficit. — The Council 
acknowledges with thanks the receipt of the following donations : — Dr. Lionel 
Beale, 20s. ; H. Horncastle, Esq., 5s. The following have increased their 
subscriptions; — ^J. Slater, Esq., to 20s. ; Mrs. Morton Sumner to los. ; and Mrs. 
Arthur Hill, £,2 2s. (to the Ealing Branch). 
Council Meetings. — The next meetings of the Council will be on 
September 5 and 19. 
Field Club Rambles : — 
September 9. — Titsey Hill. Leave London Bridge, 2.55; Victoria, 2.30; 
East Croydon, 3.19, for Woldingham, where meet at 3.40. Cheap return 
