MISCELLANEOUS NOTICES. 279 



this unusual death. I have read that platelajers make a practice of driving Partridges over 

 the line, trusting that some may meet their deaths in this way, but, surely, it could not often 

 occur. — Laius, Southwell, August 31st., 1852. 



Tufjnacity of the Robin. — In addition to the many instances that have occurred of the pug- 

 nacious disposition of this bird, I send you another. "When walking with a companion on a 

 summer's evening, two years ago, we saw two Robins, {Erythaca rubecula,) engaged in a fierce 

 conflict on the ground. They allowed us to approach closely, when one flew away to a thick 

 hedge close by, and left the other, a cock bird, wholly unable to escape. "We took it up, and 

 found it had suffered severely — a leg and wing were broken, and it was much disfigured. 

 Thinking it was past recovery, we put it down again, when the other one flew to it again and 

 commenced the attack anew, while we stood close by. Humanity induced us this time to drive 

 the victor out of the vicinity, and take the conquered Eobin on with us. Shortly after we left 

 him to his fate under a hedge, and I trust out of sight of his adversary. — Idem. 



I have in my collection a hen's egg of precisely the same length as that mentioned at page 

 133, vol. ii., but is rather rounder. It was the first egg laid by a young fowl. Does not it 

 always happen that the first-laid hen's egg is smaller than they afterwards are? I always 

 understood so. — Idem. 



N'est of the Cliaffinch, (Fringilla ccolebs.) — We all know that birds will frequently adopt many 

 substances to weave into their nests, differing greatly from their usual building materials; and 

 many curious instances have been noted of this habit. As a general rule, however, each species 

 of bii'ds seems to have some particular substance that it generally makes use of in nidification; 

 hut they frequently adopt different materials, which may strike their fancy by happening to 

 fall in their way: this may be because they find them closer to their nests than the usual 

 material. Eennie furnishes us with an account of a nest of the Wren, (Troglodytes EurojJoeus,) 

 which, instead of being lined, as usual, with feathers, the industrious little woi'kman had neatly 

 lined with dogs' hau-, and what seemed to be scrapings of quill barrels, procured, as was sup- 

 posed, from the sweepings of a neighbouring school-room. In "The Naturalist," vol. ii., page 

 132, there is an account of a Blackbird, ( Ttirdus merula,) using for its nest a very curious 

 article; and I have found the nest of one with. more than a yard of stout cord twined round 

 it. But I wish to uiform your readers of a case I witnessed this year, of a Chafl[inch, (Frhigilla 

 coekbs,) a bird which, I believe, seldom or never covers its nest with anything but lichens from 

 old palings, etc. However, as I was passing up a very pleasant lane near here, on April 

 25th., this year, I happened to tear up a letter which I had in my pocket, and throw it on 

 the ground; on the 27th., I walked the same way, and found a Chaffinch liad built her nest 

 close by where torn fragments of the letter lay, and had commenced cnveriug the outside of 

 the nest with shreds of paper, which I knew by the blue ink, as well as by the writing, 

 were pieces of what I had thrown down close by. I freqiicntly went to see what pi-ogress it 

 made, and on the 29th., had the satisfaction to see both birds busily employed in picking up 

 the bits of paper and working them in the nest: next day it was finished and looked beautiful, 

 just as if covered with flakes of snow. On the 1st of May it had one cs:^ in it, so I thought 

 I would wait till the full number was laid, and then preserve it : but alas ! boys tvill take nests, 

 and some marauder took this one, much to my vexation ; and I have never been able to hear 

 anything more of it. — Idem. 



Curious situation of a Swift's nest.— On the outside of the clerestory of the old Cathedral 

 here, tlici-e are several iron pipes for carrying off" the rain, and in the top cavity of one 

 of these a pair of Swifts {Cypseliis apus,) had built their nest. What I wish to remark, 

 though, is their singular mode of egress— instead of departing as they entered, at the top, they 

 were accustomed to drop donn, and emerge at the bottom of the pipe. I could never see them 

 either entering or coming out while it rained; but I used to see them every evening, and 

 noticed that they invariably entered at the top, and again left their nest by means of dropping 

 down the pipe. They have now left us, but I hope to have the pleasure of again viewing 

 their strange proceedings next summer. The pipe seems about five yards in length. — Idem. 



Sivallows affected by i?«/«— About the 18th. of September, this year, we had very wet 

 weather, and that day happened to be very cold and miserable. House Martins and Swallows 

 \\ti\Q caught by the hand in the Market-place here. Yesterday was very wot, and I then 



