MISCELLANEOUS NOIICES. 233 



with the intention^ however^ of completing them as early as possible^ since 



I have once begun them. 



(To be continued.) 



Macduff, March 22nd., 1S54. 



JKiHcdlnErDES JMim, 



Notes on Eggs. — Yesterday, June 7th, when out bird's nesting with two friends, we found 

 a Yellow-Hauimer's nest in a thorn liedge on the road side, about seven feet from the ground 

 on one side, and five or six feet on the other: the nest was large and but ill-concealed. The 

 other day we found four Yellow-Hammer's eggs at the bottom of a small bush on the bare 

 ground. The other day also a Bullfinch's nest was found, to my surprise, in a thorn hedge 

 by the road side: the hen bird was seen on the nest. Also a Chaffinch's nest, with eggs of a 

 blue ground colour, just resembling those of the Bullfinch, except that they were deficient in 

 breadth; and they had a zone of colouring resembling that of a Greenfinch. — John William 

 EccLES, Medstead, Alton, Hants, June 8th., 1854. 



Attack of a Magpie's nest hy Crows. — I send j'ou an account of a curious battle of birds 

 which I witnessed in Northamptonshire, about the year 1838. At that time I was resident 

 at Middletou Cheney, near Banbury; and in some high elm trees, about a hundred yards from 

 the house, a Magpie had built for several years. The first lot of eggs were usually taken for 

 myself and brothers, but a brood was always hatched. About the year mentioned, 1838, for two 

 successive years, a pair of Carrion Crows attacked the nest when the young were half-fledged ; 

 and after a long and noisy combat between them and the two parent birds, succeeded in 

 carrying off" one nestling. They began the attack about ten o'clock, and it was near twelve 

 ere they had secured their first prize. As soon as they had devoured this, they renewed 

 the engagement, and had eaten the second nestling by about two o'clock. The magpies had 

 defended their castle with great spirit and resolution, but now appeared worn out; and the 

 third victim was being borne away about half-past two, when I shouted at the top of my 

 voice, and the Crow, which was just above me at the height of forty feet, let fall the young 

 bird, but instantly returned and fetched another from the nest, which I also made it drop. 

 One of them lived two days, as the field was pasture on which it fell. Several persons wit- 

 nessed this battle, which lasted from ten until after two o'clock, when the Magpies gave in; 

 and but for my interruption, the Crows would have had it all their own way. The second 

 year the Crows were scared away before they had fleshed their bills, after about an hour's 

 sharp fighting, during which time the Magpies had held their own. Since that time, 1838 or 

 1839, the Magpie has never built in these trees, though there is a nest every year in smaller 

 trees in the same field. I never heard of a similar ease of deliberate attack by Crows ou 

 Magpies, and submit the above for your consideration. — James Croome, 20, Great Ormond Street, 

 Bloomsbury, July 26th., 1854. 



On the 20th. of May last, while rowing on the Serpentine, I started a Sandpiper, a small 

 one, from the Rhododendron bank; only one was visible; and on the 23rd. and 26th. I again 

 put it up near the same spot, followed it to the opposite bank, whence, on my close approach, 

 it returned to the first-named spot: I have not seen it siiice. Which of the Sandpipers was it? 

 and had it a nest there?— Idem. Probably the Totanus hypoleucos. — B. R. M. 



Occurrence of the Nightingale, (Philomela luseinia,) near Barnsley. — The account in last 

 week's "Doncaster Gazette" of the capture of nine Nightingales in Edliugton Wood, near that 

 town, will give pain to every true lover of nature, and few there will be who will not unite 

 in the editorial condemnation of the ".barbarians" who have, at the same time, deprived these 

 sweet warblers of their libert}', and the public of their delicious out-door music. Knowing that 

 those who have the care of that noble wood are desirous to preserve these sweet singers, one 

 is surprised at the successful audacity of these wholesale exterminators; for, considering how 

 soon these birds die in captivity, it is little better than destruction to tear them from their 

 uatural haunts. Would that tliere were as much care in preserving these innocent creatures 



