HINTS FOR THE MONTH. 
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RURAL NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS. 
Royston , Cambs , April 17 : House sparrows beginning to lay. Skylarks laying. 
Hawthorn coming into blossom. 20th : Partridges commencing to lay. This 
is two days earlier than 1893. 2 7th : Turtle dove (Turtur communis) and white- 
throat (Sylvia cinerea) arrived. 29th : Bees swarming. I have never known 
or heard of bees swarming here in April before. May 3rd : Mock sun this 
afternoon. Some cold weather maybe expected. Landrails (Crex pratehsis ), 
first heard. 6th: The swifts (Cypselus apus) , first seen. All the spring birds 
have now arrived except the red-backed shrike (Lanius collurio) . 9th : Some 
eggs of the landrail are reported to have been found in this locality. 13th: The 
first orange tip [Anthocharis Cardamines) seen to-day. 15th : Young sparrows 
leaving the nest.— Rambler. 
Oological Notes from Stravithie , Fifeshire. —The season for nest building is 
now far advanced among our inlandspecies of birds ; although it is rather early 
to find the eggs of the Anatidce Laridce , etc. The following is a list of most of 
the nests observed in this district—all of which contained eggs. April 4th, 
found nests of black bird, long eared owl, wood pigeon, and dippex. 14th, 
magpie. 12th, tawny owl chaffinch, pied wagtail (in a tree stump), reed 
warbler, and curlew (6 eggs). 22nd, wild duck, yellow-hammer, song thrush, 
moorhen, sheld duck (one egg was found on Tentsmoor but no nest), wren, 
green finch, and carrion crew. Noticed a large flock of field fares feeding on 
grass parks (April 23rd), probably congregating previous to migrating to their 
northern breeding grounds, found an egg on the ground which one of these 
birds must have dropped. 26th, moorhen, dipper, house spairow, starling, 
camion ci*ow, hedge accentor, and pheasant. I have golden, silver, and common 
pheasants in captivity, and they commenced laying about April 1st. 27th, 
found nests of mistle thrush, jackdaw, and lapwing. The last named bird is 
not nearly so numerous in this district as it used to be, the nest was somewhat 
unusual ; as it was composed of grass and weeds loosely put together. On the 
same date, found also nest of the dabchick, among reeds in the Eden ; the bird 
had covered the eggs over, apparently to give it the appearance of an old one. 
May 2nd, coot, carrion crows (3), starling and dipper. When the dipper’s nest 
was approached, the old birds flew away some distance, but soon returned, and 
perched near their nest on a tree. I have frequently seen moorhens sitting on 
a tree, but never before observed dippers do so. The nest of the dipper is very 
often met with on the banks of theKenly : one was found in a very uncommon 
position, viz. on a ledge under a waterfall, so placed, that the dippers had to 
fly through the falling water, every time they went to and came from the 
nest— Wm. Berwick, m.p.n.s., Stravithie, May 10th, 1894. 
HINTS FOR THE MONTH. 
ORNITHOLOGY. 
Most birds have by this time made their nests (some for the second time), 
and are rearing their young, but the spotted fly catcher, sand martin, red 
backed shiike and the terns usually nest in June. 
COLEOPTERA. 
The coleopterist should be on the look out for the various Umbellifei ous 
plants, so common in weedy lanes, woods, etc. ; many beetles may be lound on 
the blossoms, including several species of Longicornia. The sweep-net will be 
indispensable this month ; the best time for sweeping is the evening, from an 
hour or two before sunset until dusk, many beetles are only found at this time, 
such as the Anisotomidoe , Colons , etc., small and inconspicious insects but many 
of which are of considerable rarity. This will be found the best month for the 
“ carrion” beetles and if the collector will take the trouble to hang up a few 
dead birds or small animals, in a wood and leave them for a few days ; he will 
