Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 2 (1898).djvu/246

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Breeding Sites of Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler.—Twice within recent years, in columns devoted to matters ornithological, has an animated discussion raged round the question of what are the normal respective nesting sites of the Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus rufus) and Willow Warbler (P. trochilus). Ornithology is essentially a progressive science, hence what is latest "up to date"—assuming, that is to say, the excellence of what is treated of—is of chiefest value. In this connection it is pleasant to find such a past master as Mr. Howard Saunders publishing, in monthly parts now issuing, a second edition of his charming ' Manual.' However, what I wished to say was this: I much hope that those who heretofore took up what seemed to me a wholly untenable position with regard to the two points at issue have noted that the most recent authority in the field, who is admittedly "at the top of the tree," has not only placed it on record that the nest of the Chiffchaff is usually "a little above the ground," and that of the Wallow Warbler generally "on the ground," but that he has thought well to emphasize his views by the employment, as shown, of italics. I trust now we shall hear no more about Chiffchaffs' nests in meadow-banks, away from all sylvan tracts, which of course are the popular haunts of the species in this country in the summer.— (Melton Mowbray).

Meadow Pipits perching on Trees.—In Mr. W. Warde Fowler's interesting note on the Tree Pipit (ante, p. 122), it is said that the Meadow Pipit (Anthus pratensis) "is certainly not at home on trees." This seems to be a fairly general belief among ornithologists, but so far as my experience goes it is not correct. During the winter months I have Meadow Pipits under almost daily observation, and it is an absolutely common occurrence for me to frighten them from a low-lying meadow, when they will take to the branches of the tall trees around. They will freely settle on some of the thinner branches, as well as on the thick ones. I have also repeatedly heard their notes proceeding from among the branches of the trees, where they had settled from choice, without having been disturbed by me. The meadow I refer to is at the bottom of the road in which I reside, and I have to cross it on all my walks. While I was on Achill Island, Co. Mayo, a curious bird, which Mr. Oliver V. Aplin determines to be Anthus pratensis, settled on the top of a low bush, and looked so curious, as it faced me with its dark broadly striped breast and rufous throat (a far clearer rufous tinge in the living bird than is now to be seen in the mounted specimen), that I was constrained to bring it down, thinking I had something unusual. This was on the mountain side, a considerable distance from their usual breeding haunts on the moorland and marshy meadows below. From the worn