Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 6 (1902).djvu/237

Rh egg on April 10th. This Condor was brought from the Andes of Chili as a nestling sixteen years ago, and has grown up to be a remarkably fine and healthy mature bird. The egg is chalky white, and normal in every way.— (The Museum, Newcastle).

A former Warwickshire Heronry.—A few pairs of Herons were nesting in Trickley Coppice (a large plantation about a mile and a half distant from Middleton) in 1852—so I learn from the keeper that came into that neighbourhood at that date—and they continued nesting there until about 1875, when evidently one of the pairs first left that cover in favour of a much smaller plantation, some thirty acres in extent, close to Middleton Hall. Here they received the interest and protection of Col. Hanbury Barclay, who resided there at that time, and to whom I am indebted for the following information from notes made at the time:—

"1875. Heron's egg picked up broken at the bottom of an oak-tree in the Kitchen Garden Wood. Some time previously I had noticed a pair of Herons about, and thought perhaps they intended nesting. They started building in a fir-tree, but abandoned that in favour of an oak. On 7th May the bird was sitting. 1876. May 5th, took two eggs from a nest. 1878. Four nests on 14th March; two birds were sitting. The nest from which two eggs were taken two years previously had been greatly increased in size, and again contained eggs. 1879. Six nests hatched out about 22nd April. 1880—the year I left Middleton—there were about twelve pairs in the heronry. I consider the success I had in forming this heronry was partly owing to keeping the plantation perfectly quiet for a fox-covert."

The keeper mentioned that thirteen nests were the greatest number he counted at any one time. After this date, with another tenant at Middleton Hall, their presence was evidently not so welcome, and their numbers began rapidly to decrease; added the fact, as I understand, one of their nesting-trees was blown over. They ceased to nest there some few years afterwards, and two or three remaining pairs again returned to Trickley Coppice, where, I understand, they reared young; but eventually they were molested, and eggs robbed. My personal experience is that in March, 1892, there were four old nests still remaining—one, perhaps, that of two years previously, the others probably of a still earlier construction.— (Clent, Worcestershire).

Wild Duck: Female in Male Plumage.—On the 15th or 16th of January last a very interesting specimen of the Wild Duck (Anas