June 13th (7.15 a.m.).—One egg. 6.15 p.m. Two eggs, and Swift evidently now sitting.
July 1st (9 p.m.).—One young and one egg in nest.
July 2nd (6.30 a.m.).—Two young in nest.
August 15th (7 p.m.).—One young, if not both, have left the nest, as only one bird occupies the nesting-hole, and possibly that one of the old birds.
August 16th (7 a.m.).—Nest empty.
August 18th.—Last Swift seen on the wing in this village.
September 2nd.—A Swift seen in the adjoining parish, at Lower Hagley; an unusually late occurrence.
From the above notes the time of incubation seems to be at least eighteen days, and during the present year the young did not leave the nest until six weeks, three days. In comparison, I might add that three out of a nest of four young Swallows were able to leave a nest situated in my outbuildings in three weeks, two days, or almost in exactly half the time.—J. Steele-Elliott (Clent, Worcestershire).
American Yellow-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus) at Ringwood.—On Oct. 26th a gentleman told me he had, whilst standing on one of the bridges watching some Pike-fishers, seen a strange bird settle upon and apparently scrutinize a bush at no very great distance from him. His description was that the bird was about the size of a Thrush, but seemed to have more the colour of the Nightingale on its sides, and a very long tail. As the late owner of Avon Castle had, a few years ago, liberated a number of Australian birds of various species, I supposed this might have been one of the very few survivors—if, indeed, any still survive—although I had no reason to suspect any bird answering the description had obtained its freedom. On Oct. 30th a specimen of the above-named Cuckoo was shot about half a mile from the spot, but whether the same bird it is impossible to say. I saw it soon after it was killed, and I may note the following particulars: Except where shot through the neck, the plumage appeared to be perfect, with no sign of abrasion either of wings or tail, as are seen in an "escape," and the body was fat and well conditioned, weighing just over 2½ oz.; it measured 11¾ in. from beak to tail; the third quill-feather, the longest in the wing, being 53⁄8 in. from tip to carpal joint. Under mandible and base and sides of the upper, yellow; rest of the beak black. Eyes dark brown; eyelids bright yellow, reminding one of the Blackbird's. Back and two middle tail-feathers dark mouse-colour, with a tinge of reddish, especially on the tail; four outer feathers on either side blackish, with graduated dirty white markings,
