Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 1 (1897).djvu/609

Rh bird belonged, surely white under parts, with a conspicuous black band across the breast, cannot be referable to the Red-backed Shrike. I suggested the Shore Lark, though I knew its summer appearance would be opposed to experience, only because I could not identify the plumage I saw with that of any other bird.— (Athenaeum, Plymouth).

Egg-producing Powers of the Common Redshank.—In connection with Mr. H. Alderson's note on the egg-producing powers of the Wryneck, the following may be interesting as illustrating those of the Common Redshank. The first clutch was completed about April 25th; these were taken about May 10th, and on May 16th there were two eggs in a new nest close by; these were destroyed by cattle or rooks, and by May 22nd another full clutch was laid a few yards away. These were taken on May 22nd or 23rd, and by June 1st four more eggs were laid eight or ten yards away; these were again taken, and the bird laid another full clutch, of which two were hatched on July 1st, the other two eggs being broken. Of course in this case it is much more difficult to be sure that all these eighteen eggs were the produce of one pair of birds; but the following are my reasons for thinking so: this is the first time that Redshanks have nested in this spot, at least for the six years I have known it; that never more than one pair of birds were seen there; and that all the nests were close together, but no two nests contained eggs at the same time. From these facts it would seem that gestation in this species lasts about five days.— (Otterwood, Beaulieu, Southampton).

Egg-producing Powers of the Dipper.—A somewhat similar case to that described of the Wryneck (p. 511) came under my own observation with regard to a Dipper. Twenty-eight eggs were taken from the same nest. After the twenty-eighth had been removed I was told of it, and with a little persuasion, and the help of a little current coin of the realm, I procured for the unfortunate bird immunity from further depredations. She laid four more eggs, and brought up three youngsters in peace.— (Chestnut House, Heworth, York).

Egg-producing Powers of Birds.—I was much interested in Mr. H. Alderson's note in last month's 'Zoologist,' about the Wryneck, and I should like to ask him if he is absolutely certain that there were no intervals during the laying of the sixty-two eggs. I have often read that, by robbing a nest repeatedly, a bird may be made to lay an egg daily for about a month, but I have always considered that these reports were due to a want of careful observation in noticing the intervals between the batches of eggs laid. It seems to me impossible that a bird should be able to produce eggs at will, and I have always thought that the number of eggs to be laid was determined before the first was produced. If a female be examined just before