36 Singular 'Nidification in Birds. 



which overhangs the water ; and, in these cases, it has been 

 suggested that the young ducks, as soon as they are hatched, 

 are probably dropped, one by one, into the water by the 

 parent. In the neighbourhood of Balsal Temple, Warwick- 

 shire, a pair of wild ducks hatched their young in an old 

 crow's nest, situated on the top of a lofty oak tree at some 

 distance from any water. The old birds must, in this instance, 

 I conclude, have conveyed away their young from the nest 

 to the water, by carrying them in their bills. 



From the above examples of singular nidification among 

 the feathered tribes, there can be little doubt but that they 

 who are curious in such matters might readily be gratified by 

 having many an odd and extraordinary bird's nest about their 

 premises, if only they would be at the pains of contriving suit- 

 able accommodations for the purpose. (See Chit-chat, Vol. V. 

 p. 502. [and Vol. VI. p. 6.]) Let an old betwell, or a basket, 

 or the like, be hung up in some retired nook ; an inverted 

 flower-pot or two be placed in some snug corner, &c. &c, and 

 the chances are that one or other of them would not remain 

 untenanted. Indeed, the successful employment of sparrow- 

 pots (which is precisely a case in point) is a proof that birds 

 are not backward in availing themselves of artificial conve- 

 niences prepared for them. A friend of mine, in Staffordshire, 

 has some half-score, or more, of such pots, suspended on 

 pegs, in suitable places, about his house and buildings. The 

 sparrows take freely to the pots, and produce several broods 

 in the course of the summer : and thus not only are several 

 dozens of these predaceous birds destroyed in a season, but 

 a good sparrow-dumpling, also, is from time to time supplied 

 for the table. 



To these instances of heteroclite nidification may be added 

 a very interesting one of the robin, described in p. 68, 69. of 

 the present Number ; and to them also, perhaps, may be 

 added that of a pair of robins building their nest in an unoccu- 

 pied birdcage in an outhouse, as mentioned Vol. V. p. 597. 

 Mr. Waterton's communication, in the present Number, p. 38, 

 39., shows that diverse species of birds may, by a little in- 

 viting accommodation, be induced to build their nests and 

 rear their young in one locality. We may add, from a letter 

 from Mr. Waterton, dated Oct. 21. 1831, that, in that year, 

 besides the species mentioned in p. 39., wrens and wagtails 

 formed part of the populous republic. From the same letter 

 we transcribe two instances of singular nidification well worthy 

 of record in connection with those already enumerated by 

 Mr. Bree; they are these t — " .... It was on this old ruined 



