Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 4 (1900).djvu/468

434 of a Whinchat—at least, I should think, a dozen times—and then flew away; but at last, on going up to the nest, I found it had deposited an egg. The nest was in such a position, access being by a long narrow winding passage, that it could not have been deposited in the nest in the usual way, but must have been conveyed by the beak; and, as far as I can remember, one egg of the Whinchat was missing. I think that there can be little doubt but that it occasionally robs birds' eggs; but the question arises—"Is it a common habit to rob eggs except from nests where it intends to deposit its egg?" Our evidence on this point is decidedly in the negative. Nests of various species abound on Blackhills, where the Cuckoo is also abundant, and very seldom an egg is missing from any nest; and it is certain, if eggs constituted an important item in its bill of fare, such a propensity could not so long have escaped notice. One thing is certain, viz. that it very seldom selects a nest in which to deposit its egg where the eggs are in an advanced stage of incubation; and this suggests another question, viz. "How does the Cuckoo ascertain when the eggs are fresh; or, rather, when such condition obtains as to induce her to deposit her egg?"

Asio otus. Long-eared Owl.—A nest was found with young in May (1899) in a fir-tree, but as a breeding species it is not at all common; perhaps, however, more so than formerly.

Falco æsalon. Merlin.—A friend brought one here last winter, which was presumed to have flown against the telegraph-wires, and in a few days became as tame as one which had been brought up from the nest. It could eat enormous quantities of food for its size.

Eudromias morinellus. Dotterel.—Mr. Ellison, of Steeton, having informed me that this species had bred recently on the moors above Keighley, a young bird having been sent to Mr. Mosley, of Huddersfield, for identification, I wrote to Mr. Mosley, requesting him to furnish me with any particulars in his possession. He replied stating that the young bird in question was certainly a Dotterel, but that there was no ground for coming to the conclusion that it must of necessity have been bred in the vicinity where it was caught, as in his opinion, judging from its size, it could have flown from some distance. Mr. Walker, of Appletrewick, in Upper Wharfedale, informs me that it has bred near there for two or three years, which is rather an unlikely habitat.— (Wilsden, Yorkshire).

Opah at the Shetlands.—An Opah, or Sun-fish (Lampris luna), was caught at West Voe, Dunrossness, on the mainland, on July 20th.— (Halligarth, Unst, Shetland).