Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 2 (1898).djvu/50

24 Brood of Young Starlings in mid-November.—We have had many instances recorded of the unusual mildness of the last autumn. It will perhaps be interesting to state that during a walk on Nov. 14th I saw a family party of Starlings (Sturnus vulgaris), the young in the slate-coloured plumage of the nestling stage, in a meadow at King's Heath.— (Holloway Head, Birmingham).

Common Roller in Sussex.—A second specimen of Coracias garrulus was shot at Catsfield, near Battle, on Oct. 12th. It is a male, and a much brighter bird than the one I recorded in the last volume of 'The Zoologist' (p. 469). The man who secured the hen bird says that he believes that there is still another one in the neighbourhood. Mr. Bristow, taxidermist, of St. Leonards, has had the two birds through his hands for preservation.— (Hastings).

'''Montagu's Harrier breeding in Ireland. Correction.'''—I am sorry to have to correct the statement I made in 'The Zoologist' (1897, p. 467). The specimen of the supposed Circus cinerascens shot in Co. Kerry has again been examined by Dr. Sharpe, and he has after all pronounced it to be only a young cock Hen Harrier.— (St. Margaret's, West Dulwich).

Nesting of the Hobby in Hants.—I have much pleasure in recording the fact of Falco subbuteo having nested last year in Hampshire, although I do not suppose that this is the first instance of its having bred in that particular county. A farmer's lad took three young birds from a Crow's nest near Basingstoke, sometime during the nesting season, and sold them to my friend Mr. Blaine. Only one of the birds was a male. My friend purchased the Hawks with the object of training them for falconry. They arrived at his home in Bath safely enough, but after he had kept them for a short time one of the females escaped. I believe it had the "jesses" on when it got away. The other two birds he kept in a large room with a female Merlin, which is trained to fly at Larks. One sad day the Merlin and the remaining female Hobby set upon and devoured the little male Hobby, which was by far the tamest of the lot. I saw two of these Hobbies soon after my friend received them, and was much struck with the beauty of their plumage and graceful pose.— (Richmond Hill, Bath).

Brent Goose in Warwickshire.—On Nov. 6th, 1897, an adult male example of Bernicla brenta was shot at Earlswood, Warwickshire, and forwarded to me. This is the first record I have of this bird for Warwickshire, although each of the neighbouring counties has recorded it.— (Holloway Head, Birmingham).