Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 5 (1901).djvu/454

426 more observations are made the bird will be found to occur there annually.— (Guy's Hospital, S.E.).

Siskins in Sussex.—This autumn seems to have been more marked by the appearance of small Finches, &c., than for many years past in this locality. On Sept. 14th I saw a Siskin (Chrysomitris spinus) on some brickfields near the West St. Leonards Railway Station. On the 16th I saw three large flocks of the same species, and from that time onward they seemed to increase in numbers, it being hardly possible to go out without seeing at least one large flock. It would be interesting to know if they have been observed in any number in other of our southern counties this year. The Redpoll (Linota rufescens) also arrived in some numbers, and unusually early. I saw the first on Sept. 19th, the usual time of their arrival here (St. Leonards) being the second week in October.— (10, Charles Road, St. Leonards).

Breeding Habits of the Swift.—It may interest your correspondent, the Rev. Allan Ellison, to know that the number of eggs laid by the Swift was the subject of several letters in the 'Field' and 'Zoologist' as far back as 1867 (cf. Zool. 1867, pp. 915 and 990). Two correspondents, Messrs. Parnell and Marcus Richardson, related instances in which they had found three eggs. On the other hand, Mr. Sterland had never found more than two; and the editor quotes his 'Dictionary of British Birds' and 'Birdsnesting' to the effect that "the eggs of the Swift are two in number." The numerous instances in which three eggs have been found without any reasonable probability that they were the produce of two hens seem, however, to prove that the normal number of eggs varies from two to three, and I believe that occasionally four eggs are laid. If it were a common occurrence for two hens to lay together, surely clutches of four would be numerous instead of being exceedingly rare.— (Clifton Vicarage, Ashburne, Derbyshire).

Hobby Breeding in Shropshire.—It is pleasant to record that the pair of Hobbies (Falco subbuteo) mentioned in this Journal twice before (Zool. 1900, pp. 143 and 382) returned again to breed in the same nest for the third time this year. Mr. J. Palmer, Mr. J. Steele Elliott, and I visited the nest on June 27th, when there were, as usual, three eggs in it. A young Hobby with traces of down on the neck was shot near Bridgnorth about Sept. 10th, probably one of the same brood.— (Shrewsbury).

Red-footed Falcon in Essex.—On Oct. 17th, Mr. Cole, of Norwich, received for preservation, for the Rev. J.R. Owen, an immature male