The Zoologist/4th series, vol 4 (1900)/Issue 707/Notes and Queries
NOTES AND QUERIES.
AVES.
Curious Partnership of Hedge-Sparrow and Blackbird in a Nest.—On April 13th this year a half-finished nest was found in a rhododendron in my grounds, the character and materials of which gave one the idea of it being a Hedge-Sparrow's (Accentor modularis), though from its size, and from the presence of large twigs and grasses, it seemed very doubtful that it could be the work of one. The nest steadily grew in size, and partook more and more of the character of a Blackbird's (Turdus merula), until in due course it was finished, and on April 19th it was found to possess its first egg—a Hedge-Sparrow's. On the 20th, when looked at next, the nest contained two Hedge-Sparrow's eggs and one Blackbird's. On the 21st the numbers had increased by one more egg of each kind, and on the 22nd the score stood at four Hedge-Sparrow's and three Blackbird's. The following day the Blackbird had brought the score up level, and begun to sit, but the weight of the hen Blackbird proved too much for the Hedge-Sparrow's eggs, and when the nest was looked at again on the 24th one of the four Hedge-Sparrow's eggs was crushed to pieces, and another badly cracked. The nest was then taken so as to preserve the production of such an ill-assorted couple of nest-builders.—W. Fitzherbert-Brockholes (Claughton-on-Brock, Garstang, Lancashire).
Pied Flycatcher in Somersetshire.—On the morning of April 27th I saw a male Pied Flycatcher (Muscicapa atricapilla) in my father's garden, Weston-super-Mare. The bird was very tame, and was probably resting on its way to its breeding haunts in Wales. This species appears to be rare in Somerset, and I only know of two records of its former occurrence in the county, namely, one killed near Taunton some years prior to 1869, as recorded in Mr. Cecil Smith's 'The Birds of Somerstshire'; and a record, noticed near Wells in the spring of 1870 (vide 'The Birds of Devon,' by D'Urban and Matthew, p. 53). It has doubtless been noticed more than once since 1870, but its visits to the county are evidently irregular, and probably accidental. On April 25th, 1897, I saw a male bird of this species near Gidleigh, North Devon, in which county the bird appears to be nearly as rare as it is in Somersetshire. Last summer I came across several pairs of Pied Flycatchers in a certain locality in Herefordshire, where I found one nest on May 31st containing seven eggs. As far as I know, there are not many instances on record of its breeding in this county.—F.L. Blathwayt (Saltaire, Weston-super-Mare).
Lateness in Appearance of the Summer Migrants.—The following experience is unique in my recollection, and may be worth recording. Having failed up to April 4th to discover a single summer migrant of any species, I determined to spend the morning of the 10th in an elaborate search. It was fine and, on the whole, warm, and the country was extremely beautiful. I rambled about for three hours among woods and meadows, and along the banks of our stream, searching every spot which I have ever known to be frequented by Chiffchaffs on their first arrival, but without success. By this time we may usually expect to see three or four other species, though the dates of arrival in this upland district are seldom very early; but neither Blackcap, Redstart, or Tree Pipit were to be seen. I saw a small flock of Meadow Pipits, a species which leaves us for the summer. Starlings are still in large packs, though many, of course, are breeding; Lapwings are only just beginning their nests. The hedges are as black as in the winter, and I do not see the flies about them which accompany the opening of the leaf. Under such circumstances one can hardly expect the summer birds; but it would be interesting to know where they are, and what doing.—W. Warde Fowler (Kingham, Chipping Norton).
Observations on Birds during the exceptional severe Spring in Aberdeen.—Towards the end of March there was an unusual tameness of those birds frequenting the neighbourhood of farm-buildings, which indicated a continuance of severe weather at a later date of the year than is usual. While the general variety made their appearance at the late date, and were very tame, one bird which appears during snowstorms earlier in the year, the Snow Bunting (Plectrophenax nivalis), was not observed, except by a few stragglers. While the weather has been severe and the snow prolonged, there have not been many birds destroyed by starvation. Lapwings have evidently not been much disturbed, although there has been repetitions of severe frosts since they arrived. Partridges have been put to considerable straits, if we may judge by their tameness. Their haunts have been more closely covered with snow than is at all usual, and we find a wintery stillness following bird-life well into the spring of the year, when we are accustomed to hear melodies from many throats. Is this a sequel to the singing of the Sky-Lark in October of 1899, and does the cold snow-clad ground delay the melodies of this great songster? Pairing, which always accompanies an early spring, has also been retarded by the struggle for existence, packing having replaced the usual pairing season of this year; so that there will be no danger to reproduction through too early nesting, which sometimes is a risk when cold weather sets in later in the year. A Robin, which may be reasonably supposed to have made my stable its shelter up to this its tenth winter, was crushed by a horse a week or two ago; it was acquainted with all the customs of the place. One at least appeared in the autumn that the stable was first in use, returning every following year, until its peculiar habits drew attention to it.—W. Wilson (Alford, N.B.).
Notes from Norfolk.—Fritton Decoy. Mr. Patterson (ante, p. 160) gives the catch of fowl in Sir Savile Crossley's decoy at Fritton for the season 1887-8. As that season was described by the decoy man as a bad one, "not many fowl on the decoy, plenty of Wigeon after the 1st March," which, as usual, were too late to add to the return, perhaps readers may like to know what was done in the past season, which in the months of December, January, and part of February was a very favourable one. I therefore send the following return:—
| Duck. | Teal. | Wigeon. | Pintail. | |
| 1899. | ||||
| October | 67 | — | — | — |
| November | 56 | 4 | 1 | — |
| December | 1529 | 13 | 2 | — |
| 1900. | ||||
| January | 561 | — | — | — |
| February | 472 | 4 | 10 | 2 |
| March | — | — | — | — |
| Total, 2721 | 2685 | 21 | 13 | 2 |
The average take for the past thirty-eight seasons has been 989. It has often been said that perfect seclusion is an absolute requisite for the successful working of a decoy. In this instance, although the pipes and the adjacent water are kept perfectly quiet, a high road runs at a very short distance from the decoy, and the Ducks may be seen on the water from passing vehicles. Little inconvenience is experienced from this, as the fowl soon become accustomed to such sights, and it is only sudden or strange sights or sounds which cause alarm. Very few Teal are taken here now, and only an occasional Wigeon, as the decoy is not worked after the end of February, which is too early for the spring migration of these birds. The only other fowl are a few Pintails, and now and then a Shoveler, Goosander, or Coot.—Thomas Southwell (Norwich).
Nesting Notes.—Mr. Aplin is quite correct in noting (ante, p. 143) my omission of the Robin from the list of birds which have used nesting-boxes here, but we find old kettles, water-cans, &c, possess the same attractions for this species that boxes have for the Tits and Nuthatches. Several of our nesting-boxes have had the entrance-holes enlarged by Starlings, which seem to be able to peck away the wood from an old weather-beaten box without difficulty. This year, for the first time, we have had an old cask occupied by a pair of Tawny Owls, which had on March 27th four eggs laid on the remains of a Starling's nest.—Julian G. Tuck (Tostock Rectory, Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk).
AVICULTURAL NOTES.
Cormorant in Captivity.—The historic Cormorant of Montagu has made interesting reading for generations. The following notes on one, "Joey," now in my possession, may not record anything so striking as the tameness and intelligence displayed by that naturalist's bird, but my example has been nevertheless interesting. He was brought to me from sea by a smacksman on March 22nd. After incarceration in an old hamper for some days, the bird exhibited his delight on being turned into a netted enclosure by mounting the rockwork, and immediately putting his plumage into shape by shaking his wings, and by the use of his mandibles. In two days he learnt to recognize his fish-basket, and had already, after a day's fasting, become adroit at catching the fish and fish-heads thrown to him. On March 28th, after receiving five Whitings, the last leaving its tail out of the corner of his mouth, he in a hour's time made room for two more. On April 18th, for his breakfast, he devoured three good-sized Whitings, one Viviparous Blenny, one Herring, one Flounder. Not yet satisfied, he accepted an 18 in. Conger-Eel. This vanished, save for three or four inches of the tail-end, which greatly annoyed him by refusing to be drawn or shaken down; at length, by flapping his wings and stretching his body to the utmost, it was lost sight of. Five minutes afterwards he seized a Flounder, and made room for it. The bird has not attempted to drink or even look at water, although, after feeding and a short nap, he anoints his plumage by a free manipulation of the oil-glands. After swallowing fish, drops of water drip from his mandibles. It is seldom that undigested bones are cast up, these few being usually those of large Plaice-heads that have been chopped in order to reduce them to a convenient size for swallowing. The bird has become tame, and salutes me with curious trumpeting notes, accompanying them with a profound salaam; and, although he allows me to stroke his back with a stick or brush, is ever on the alert to seize a finger if possible.—A. Patterson (Ibis House, Great Yarmouth).
PISCES.
Notes from Great Yarmouth.—Fishes rare or curious have been sparsely met with in local waters during the past six months. The only records of exceptional interest, beyond the great takes of Herrings of last fishing season, were a white Sole (Solea vulgaris), on Sept. 19th, 1899; one or two Anchovies (Engraulis encrasicholus) in October, from the drift-nets; a Porbeagle (Lamna cornubica), our locally commonest Shark; and a Sturgeon of the variety Accipenser latirostris, which measured 4 ft, on or about Nov. 23rd. A 10 in. Lemon Sole (Solea lascaris) was brought me on Jan. 13th of the present year, and on the 16th an albino Sole, measuring 11½ in. Only a very narrow ring of the normal colouring encircled the eyes, and the slightest tinge of pink was observable on the fins. It was forwarded to the Cambridge Zoological Museum. A Plaice (Pleuronectes platessa), which was all white with the exception of the head and ventral fins, came to hand early in March. The first example of the Planer's Lamprey (Petromyzon branchialis) that I have been fortunate in identifying as locally occurring, I discovered on a heap of seaweed washed up at the harbour's mouth on April 10th. It measured 4½ in. in length, and was big in spawn; the ova, indeed, oozed from it. In the Norfolk and Norwich Naturalists' 'Transactions,' it is recorded as occurring at Keswick, where it is described as being "numerous in ditches containing small springs, to which this species appears to be attracted." The colour was dull green, relieved underneath by yellowish tints. On April 20th a faded example, long kept in ice, of the Ballan Wrasse (Labrus maculatus) was brought me from a trawler; it had undoubtedly been taken in a trawl-net "nor'ard of the Dogger," and is scarcely entitled to a place in the local list; the species has, however, been identified already at Yarmouth.—A. Patterson (Ibis House, Great Yarmouth).