the laurels, but, so far as could be gathered from appearances, in only two of the nests—placed on very thin boughs—had the birds been fortunate enough to rear their young; that nuisance—the irrepressible boy—had been at work, and, though the rookery is close to the house, and strictly protected by the owner, the nests, except in the two cases above mentioned, had been robbed. One of the nests was placed very low down—certainly not more than about ten or twelve feet from the ground—and in this a Moor-hen (Gallinula chloropus) had evidently brought up her brood; a dead young one was on the edge of the nest, and several pieces of broken egg-shells were in the nest itself. There is a small pool of water close by, where for some years a Moor-hen has been accustomed to place her nest. Some little time ago the weeds and scrub round the pool were cleared away, and there is no doubt that in consequence of her usual nesting place being disturbed the bird availed herself of the empty, low-placed Rooks' nest, in which to lay her eggs.—Thomas Parkin (High Wickham, Hastings).
Grey Plover in Birmingham.—On the 3rd October, 1899, several specimens of Squatarola helvetica were observed within the boundaries of the city, and one procured and brought to me. This will be read with great interest in connection with Mr. J.H. Gurney's notes (Zool. 1900, p. 112) on the migratory rush of these birds to the east coast, which lasted for ten days, and covered the date of the Birmingham specimens. This is another valuable corroboration of my oft-repeated assertion that Birmingham lies in the direct line of migration of birds passing from east, to west, or south.—F. Coburn (Holloway Head, Birmingham).
