288 ORNITHOLOGY OF ST. ANDREWS. 



Scotland, and I have now much pleasure in recording other two instances. 

 A t>air of these birds built their nest here in the summer of 1835, in the cleft of 

 a Beech-tree, about twenty feet from the ground. It was, however, unfortunately 

 destroyed after four eggs had been laid. The nest was very like that of the 

 Garden Ouzel. The other instance is that of a pair which built last summer in a 

 garden in the West of Fife. This nest was built in an Apple-tree, four or five 

 feet from the ground. The female displayed a great degree of boldness when on 

 her nest. She actually allowed herself to be lifted from her nest (which was 

 frequently done), the eggs and nest to be examined, and again replaced, looking 

 all the while as if nothing had happened. 



Garden or Common Thrush, Turdus horlensis. — Very abundant. They destroy 

 great quantities of almost all kinds of fruit. Strawberries, Gooseberries, Currants, 

 Cherries, Apples and Pears, the berries of the Holly, Alder, and Mountain-ash 

 being greedily devoured by them. They do not spare the berries of the Mountain- 

 ash around the house here so long as they do with you* (British Song Birds, 

 page 18), for no sooner are they fully ripe than this bird and the Garden Ouzel 

 commence eating them, and in a short time devour the whole. The favourite 

 site of the Thrush's nest here is in evergreen shrubs, young trees, and hedges ; but 

 last year I found a nest containing five eggs in a hole on a grassy bank at the 

 side of a small stream ; this must, however, be considered a very uncommon 

 locality for the nest, especially as it was close to a plantation of young trees 

 abounding in the ordinary situations that are selected. 



Spring Oatear, Budytes verna. — Common. My observations on this bird agree 

 with those of your correspondent Mr. Salmon (Vol. II., page 103), as I have 

 found it at all times frequenting the Kinnes-burn. Some of them remain with 

 us during the winter. I observed a single individual flying about the streets of 

 St. Andrews on the 21st of January this year — one of the most stormy days we 

 had during the winter. 



Sky Lark, Alauda arvensis. — Very abundant except during the winter months, 

 when great numbers of them leave us for the south. Owing to the great quantity 

 of snow on the ground during the months of January and February this year, the 

 Sky Lark was very late in beginning to sing. The first one I heard singing was 

 on the 4th of March, but on the 5th of the same month (which I may say was 

 the first spring day we had this season — a gentle wind blowing from the west, 

 with bright sunshine) the air resounded the whole day with their song. On the 

 same day the Redbreast, Chaffinch, Yellow and Corn Buntings, and the Hedge 

 Dunnock, were busily engaged with their respective songs. Last year I heard the 

 Lark singing as early as the first of February. I have frequently heard them 



* Our remark chiefly holds good in districts where the Mounta : .n-ash is very abundant.— Ed. 



