the numerous persons who frequent the woods in the summer season, as from its confiding habits and the beautiful contrast of the colours of its plumage it cannot fail to attract the attention even of a casual observer.—E.P.P. Butterfield (Wilsden).
Hobby Nesting in Hampshire.—I visited Wolmer Forest on the 12th of June this year, and found that the day before one of the watchers had shot a Hobby off its nest, which was placed at a considerable height from the ground, in a Scotch fir. The nest contained three eggs. The bird shot proved to be the male, and its stomach contained the remains of a small bird, apparently a Meadow Pipit, Anthus pratensis, and some wingcases of beetles. I was sorry to find that this bird had been shot, and hope in future, should another pair take up their residence in the forest, that they will be left unmolested.—H.W. Feilden (Aldershot).
The Lesser Kestrel near Dover.—Mr. E.P. Robinson has lately presented to the Dover Museum a specimen of the Lesser Kestrel, Falco cenchris, which was caught alive and kept for a short time in confinement by a labourer on his farm in the neighbourhood of Dover. The bird, which proved to be an adult male, had one leg injured, which may have prevented it from taking its natural prey and led to its capture. In appearance it differs a great deal from the Common Kestrel. In the first place it has no markings on the back, the colour being one rich reddish brown. The breast is light red, with a few markings, the more distinct ones being on the thigh-coverts; the head and tail light ash-grey, the latter with a broad black band at the extremity, and each feather edged with white except the two centre ones, which are black to the tips. The claws are white.—Charles Gordon (The Museum, Dover, May 22nd).
Variety of the Common Guillemot.—In the North Sea, off the Humber, on the 11th, I observed a pair of Guillemots swimming in company. One was in the ordinary plumage; the other, however, had all those parts normally black-brown, of a light yellowish brown, or rather the colour known to painters as honey-yellow. It was a most peculiar and interesting-looking variety.—John Cordeaux (Great Cotes, Ulceby).
Hoopoe in Yorkshire.—A fine male specimen of the Hoopoe, Upupa epops, has recently been shot at Tockwith, near York, and has been sent to Mr. Ripley, of Feasgate, York, for preservation. From the fact of its being obtained here in June, one might assume that if unmolested it would have bred in the neighbourhood.—J.S. Wesley (Wetherby, Yorkshire).
[We have no doubt whatever that Hoopoes, like other summer migrants, would nest in this country every year, if people could only be persuaded to abstain from shooting them on their arrival.—Ed.]
Singular Variety of the Hedgesparrow.—On the 5th June, near Reigate, I saw a light buff-coloured Hedgesparrow sitting on a nest of young ones. A sharp look-out will be kept to ascertain, if possible, what
