MISCELLANEOUS NOTICES. 205 



preserved for my collection. A specimen of the Red-necked Grebe was obtained here in the 

 winter of 1850, which is also in my collection. These Grebes are somewhat frequently met 

 with here in the winter. — Idem. 



Dotterel, (Charadrius Morinellus.) — A pair of these birds, male and female, were shot by 

 Mr. John Henry Frankling, on the moor at Seaton Carew, on the 16th. of May, 1853. — W. 

 Martin, Stockton, May 30th., 1853. 



RobMs Nest, (Erythaca rubecula.) — I found a Robin's nest this year on the ground at 

 the bottom of a deep cutting amongst dead leaves, etc., sheltered under the broad leaves of 

 a Digitalis plant. The nest contained five eggs, which were deserted after a heavy shower of 

 rain, the nest having been flooded with water. — Stephen Clogg, Looe, May 2nd., 1853. 



Woodcocks' Nests, (Scolopax rusticola.) — That very singular occurrence, the discovery of two 

 Woodcocks' nests, was made by Mr. Elijah Smith, the head gamekeeper to the Earl Carnarvon ; 

 the first was found on the 6th. instant, and the other on the 9th. instant, in the grounds at 

 Highclere, each bird sitting on four eggs. The Woodcock is a native of the countries bordering 

 the Baltic, which it leaves in autumn, on its route to this country, and generally returns in 

 March and April. The nest is formed on the ground, usually near the stump of a tree; the 

 eggs rusty gray, blotched and marked with dusky spots. — (Copied from the Wiltshire Independent,) 

 by R. W. Cradock, Hackney, April 23rd., 1853. 



Nest of the Nightingale, (Sylvia luscinia.) — On the 21st. of May last, walking at the Birmingham 

 reservoir with a friend, we found a Nightingale's nest with eggs; as I am not aware of its ever 

 having been known to build about this neighbourhood before, I beg to inform you of it : I have 

 one of the eggs now in my possession. — H. Buckley, Calthorpe-Street, Birmingham, August 

 8th., 1853. 



Nesting of the Nuthatch, (Sitta Europooa.) — In a small but deep hollow of a shattered tree, 

 about twenty feet from the ground, a pair of these birds selected their retreat, and had intended 

 rearing a brood had not my robbery prevented them. I had a very fine opportunity of observing 

 their peculiar mode of nesting. At the bottom of the hole about thirty small pieces of bark, 

 (from the beech tree,) were carelessly laid, and, without any other aid to promote heat and 

 assist the bird in the period of incubation, this was the sole -means, apparently, to be 

 employed. An e^^ was deposited on them, a layer of bai-k over it, and so the work proceeded 

 regularly, till the seventh egg was deposited, and then over all the bird began carefully to sit, 

 and heat the pile of bark, I observed no variation in the daily appearance of the nest, to 

 warrant any supposition that the eggs in regularity were removed from top to bottom, nor can 

 I well fancy such a process without damage to the eggs in such a nest, formed so indiifereritly 

 and without any soft materials. Now I have no doubt, from the depth of this hole, that the 

 birds had with their "hammer-bills" bored to a depth (exceeding the natural) of nearly nine 

 inches; and at the base of the tree many — very many — chips of wood were readily discernible. 

 I have for several mornings scarcely missed observing, from four o' clock till long after five, a 

 pair seated on a poplar tree, and as I read in my room, or ramble round our field, I hear their 

 hammering, as though to them it were a merriment and a joy. They are called "Creepers" 

 here; and very active birds they are in scouring trees for insects, and digging for vermin. I 

 have met with instances of the nests of these birds in the side of a trunk of a tree, and where 

 the bark and wood have, on removal, left white traces that might betray their locality, I have 

 seen a thin coating of dirt brushed over to imitate the natural appearance of .the bark, and delude 

 the eye. The under plumage of these birds beneath the wings is, in many specimens, very 

 rich— of a deep claret-colour. I have never met with eggs entirely white, but, on the contrary, 

 all have an abundance of red spots on a clear white ground, and not small ones neither, but 

 certainly not to be called blotches. — G. B. Twinn, Bawburgh Hill, near Norwich, August 

 11th., 1853. 



A White Magpie, (Pica caudata.) — In No. 15, of "The Naturalist," (May, 1852,) appears 

 a description of a White Magpie, to which was added a promise by mc, that if ever I had an 



