NOTES AND QUERIES.
AVES.
Early Appearance of Chiffchaff.—On Dec. 31st I saw and watched for some time, with a field-glass in my garden here, a specimen of the Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus rufus); it appeared quite lively, and was busily engaged searching for insects among some evergreen shrubs. I consider this a very late appearance for this well-known Warbler.—W.J. Williams (Garville Road, Rathgar).
Nesting Habits of Great Tit.—Referring to Mr. Aplin's note on the Great Tit (Parus major) (ante, p. 19), he may not be aware that this bird is in the habit of covering its eggs till it has laid the full clutch, or nearly so. For some years past Great Tits have nested in our boxes here, frequently six or eight pairs in a season, and often the removal of the lid has revealed an apparently unfinished nest, which has contained three or four eggs covered with fur or wool. Perhaps I may add that we have had as tenants of our nest-boxes here the Redstart, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Cole Tit, Marsh Tit, Nuthatch, House-Sparrow, Starling, and Wryneck; and a neighbour who lives in an adjoining village has repeatedly had Tree-Sparrows nesting in his boxes.—Julian G. Tuck (Tostock Rectory, Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk).
Great Grey Shrike in Suffolk.—A very perfect example of the race (or species) of Great Grey Shrike (Lanius excubitor), with one spot on the wing, was shot at Risby, near Bury St. Edmunds, about Nov. 20th. By the delicate pale grey of the back, and the very slight indications of markings on the breast, it appears to be a fully adult bird.—Julian G. Tuck (Tostock Rectory, Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk).
Red-billed Chough.—At the last meeting of the Hampstead Scientific Society, I was enabled to exhibit a very fine mounted specimen of the Red billed Chough (Pyrrhocorax graculus), which was shot from among a flock of Rooks near Hendon during last summer (1899). The bird was brought in the flesh to Mr. J.E. Whiting, of Heath Street, for preservation.—Basil W. Martin (6, Holly Place, Hampstead).
Hoopoe in Anglesea.—Whilst engaged in investigating the occurrence of rare birds in Cheshire, I recently came across a specimen of the Hoopoe
