Page:The Zoologist, 1st series, vol 1 (1843).djvu/381

Rh Note on the Lesser Redpoll. The curious note of a bird mentioned by Mr. Duncan (Zool. 240), must be that of the lesser redpoll linnet (Linota linaria). The following observations respecting it may not be unacceptable to naturalists. In this district, the south of Yorkshire, they mostly migrate, very few remaining during the cold part of winter. In the month of March it arrives in considerable numbers, and is to be found in every plantation and garden, even close to the town. The plumage of the males is very bright; they are incessantly noisy, chasing others of their species with undulatory flight, uttering their trilling notes, which never amount to a song. About the beginning of April the happy pair select a tree, not being particular as to height, for I have found them in lofty forest trees as well as in low evergreen bushes; constructing their neat nest externally of small fibrous roots, lining it with fine grass, downy seeds and feathers. They usually lay five but sometimes six eggs, which are pale bluish green, sparingly dotted with reddish brown at the larger end. The plumage of the young is lighter than in the adult; it is more streaked and spotted, and they are also without the red feathers on the head and breast, these are acquired during the first moult. I have seen large flocks feeding on the birch and sycamore trees in October, every individual of which had a red poll of some tint. Their usual food consists of seeds of various kinds, intermixed with insects. At any time, particularly when feeding (which it does after the manner of the titmouse family), the lesser redpoll is quite unsuspicious of danger, and allows of a close approach. The species seems generally distributed. It is found in the United States of America, where it arrives in the winter from its breeding grounds on the northern frontier. A beautiful figure of this bird is in Audubon's ' Birds of America.' The old and young birds and nest of Linota linaria procured by me, are in the collection of my friend, who is now in search of specimens in the " far west " of America, for description in his grand work on Quadrupeds.—John Heppenstall; Upper thorpe, near Sheffield, August, 1843.

Note on a singular noise made by a Sparrow. In the spring of 1834, my attention was attracted by a singular noise in a cherry-tree under which I was passing, and the height being very trifling, I was able to satisfy myself that the noise proceeded from a cock sparrow, which was very assiduously paying court to a hen bird. I could not, however, ascertain positively how the noise was made, except that it appeared to be with the tail, which was rather spread, and moved rapidly in a lateral direction. The sound might be called a buzzing, more properly than anything else. This took place in a tree close to the house I was residing in, and I was so continually in the habit of passing under the tree without ever molesting the birds, which built in my house, that I had better opportunity of close observation than I ever enjoyed before or since, and I am convinced that the birds must have been house sparrows. However, I never heard the buzzing noise, except in the single instance now mentioned, of which I wrote down a description, not indeed at the moment, but shortly after, while fresh in my recollection. Mr. Bell has confirmed my idea that no record had been preserved of a similar occurrence having previously been noticed; but I trust that the publication of this in 'The Zoologist,' will excite sufficient attention to induce naturalists to watch, in the ensuing spring, for a confirmation or otherwise of my observation.—Arthur Hussey; Rottingdean, Sussex, August, 1843.

Note on the Nesting-place of Swallows. I was talking to a poor man at Aldworth point a short time since, and observed a swallow several times enter an out-house, on remarking which to the man, he informed me that there was a nest attached to one of the rafters, which I had the curiosity to go in and witness. He tells me that swallows