Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 4 (1900).djvu/553

Rh [It is of course impossible to maintain a perfect uniformity in nomenclature in these pages. This is quite apparent even in the writings of the British ornithologists who contribute to 'The Zoologist.' We endeavour as far as possible, without unduly interfering with the views of our contributors, to conform the avian nomenclature with that of Mr. Howard Saunders for Britain, and with that of Mr. H.E. Dresser for the Continental or "Western Palæarctic Region." Surgeon Hurlstone Jones, the writer of the paper to which Mr. Aplin's criticism is applied, is now serving on the China Station, and could not be consulted on the point. The two names were therefore printed as in the MS., the popular name "Sardinian Warbler" being considered as sufficient to prevent any misunderstanding.—]

Nesting of the Common Sparrow (Passer domesticus).—In the September issue of 'The Zoologist' (ante, p. 424), Mr. J. Steele-Elliott remarks:—"Yarrell points out that the Sparrow may occasionally be seen in winter carrying materials to the holes they inhabit; this is evidently only for sleeping accommodation." I hardly think Yarrell's actual remarks convey the idea that nesting material collected in winter is intended only for sleeping accommodation, and, as a matter of fact, it is not. In large factories and workshops where there is a sufficient warmth the Sparrow nests amongst the rafters all the year round. I remember one instance where, in a large engineering works, I found a young naked Sparrow at the end of January which had fallen on to a bench from a nest in the roofing. It is astonishing what apparent stupidity and ingenuity are combined in the construction of some of these nests. In a large warehouse in Glasgow, where bolts and nuts were being packed, I used to notice many Sparrows' nests on the wooden horizontal tie-beams. Sometimes the whole mass of rubbish would tumble off on to the floor, when another nest would be immediately commenced in the same place. In one case, however, I found that the birds had securely anchored their nest by actually winding seven or eight strings right round the beam, which was nine inches deep, and weaving their nesting materials into them. In this particular nest neither hay nor straws were used. It was a large mass consisting entirely of strings drawn from the packing-bags, cotton-waste, and feathers. Roughly speaking, it was about fourteen inches diameter, and eight inches deep, open at the top, where the eggs were laid in a small cup-shaped hollow about three inches diameter.— (Bedford Park, Chiswick, W.).

Rooks in London.—A new colony of Corvus frugilegus in London in the year 1900 deserves to be recorded in 'The Zoologist.' During the early winter months I often observed one or two Rooks about the open space in Hyde Park, where the Great Exhibition stood between the Serpentine