Thrushes which still remained in the nest and were crushed flat against the sides by its growth.—Arthur G. Butler (10, Avington Grove, Penge.
[Instances in which the Song Thrush has been found acting the part of foster-parent to the young Cuckoo, we believe, are rare; and we can only call to mind two authors who have cited cases, Temminck and Des Murs. In the list of foster-parents given by Yarrell the Blackbird is included, but no particulars are furnished.—Ed.]
Notes from Nottinghamshire.—During the past winter there has been quite a dearth of rare birds about here; in fact, I cannot remember a winter in which so few birds out of the common way have come under my notice. About the middle of January last an old male Smew, in very fine plumage, was shot on the Thornton Reservoir, near Leicester, and given to me. On the 27th of the same month, when Partridge "driving" at Park Hall near here, a Great Gray Shrike settled on the top of a hedge in front of me, but was off in a second. I fired, however, and knocked it over. It was in quite a Shrike country—small fields and large hedges of thorn. A female Rough-legged Buzzard was shot at Rufford in March; this is the fourth killed there within the past twelve months. On March 17th I saw the Green Plovers begin for the first time their curious flight which they commence just before the breeding season; they were wheeling about in all directions, uttering all the while their wild note. I heard the first Wood Pigeons cooing, and also saw them soaring on March 23rd. The first Snipe was heard "drumming" on the 8th April. On May 16th I saw several Fieldfares still here.—J. Whitaker (Rainworth Lodge, Mansfield).
Starlings Nesting in Sand Martins' Holes.—I was greatly surprised one day in passing a sand-pit to find that Starlings had taken possession of all the Sand Martin's holes. On coming again a month later most of the birds had young ones. It was very amusing to see the way in which they entered the hole; on getting about 150 yards from the entrance they sailed gracefully into it, giving a few hurried flaps with their wings on gaining the aperture. This year I have also found them nesting in ivy, like Sparrows, which is I believe rather an unusual site. I am of opinion that the Starling is quite as gregarious a bird as his friend the Rook, and that the scarcity of breeding holes alone causes those immense flocks we see in the winter to break up into small companies of two or three pairs in the spring. From a few rough calculations I have made, I find that a pair of Starlings appear to bring food to their young no less than 462 times a day.—C. Matthew Prior (Bedford).
Breeding Season of the Edible Crab.— In 'The Zoologist' for June (page 621), Mr. Cornish appears to take it as an established fact that the Edible Crab, Cancer pagurus, spawns about the month of January.
