ON THE NESTS OF BIRDS. 



It is stated by a correspondent, at page 68, in alluding to the Blackcapt Fau- 

 vet (Ficedula atricapilla), that " touching the nest, or even looking at it, before 

 the eggs are laid, almost invariably causes the birds to desert." I have, however, 

 known several instances to the contrary. Last summer, seeing a bird of this spe- 

 cies with a piece of wool between its mandibles, I traced it to the nest, which was 

 situated in a wild, retired hedge, overgrown with brambles, and other shrubs of 

 the Rose family (Rosacea). From this time I daily visited the nest, in which 

 the eggs were deposited, one by one, notwithstanding my repeated visits ; and I 

 never found the birds absent. The male was on the eggs almost as frequently as 

 his helpmate, and would allow me to come within two or three yards ; but on a 

 nearer approach would fly off to a neighbouring elm, with evident signs of impa- 

 tience. 



The same correspondent, at page 75, says — " The nest of the Coot is built in 

 a bed of rushes or irises, in an" open spot, several feet from the land, and is never 

 situated, like that of the Gallinule, in a thick tuft of herbage, with a view to con- 

 cealment, but may easily be discovered at a considerable distance." With this 

 statement I cannot agree. I am well acquainted with the localities of the nests 

 both of the Coot and of the Gallinule, and have found them generally in similar 

 places. I have often found the nest of the Gallinule six or seven feet from the 

 ground, in a bush, and that of the Coot in a similar situation ; overhanging the 

 water, but not so high up, and frequently closely concealed in the rushes and flags. 

 Neither can I concur in the remark that " the young quit the nest immediately 

 they are hatched." That this is often the case I do not doubt, as Selby, in his 

 British Ornithology, states it from his own observation ; but I have known them 

 remain in the nest several days. 



The most curious instance of eccentric nest building which has fallen under 

 my observation, was that of an Ivy Wren's ( Anorthura troglodytes) within the 

 nest of a Chimney Swallow ( Hirundo garrula, Blyth). The Wren's nest was, 

 in all respects, as perfect as usual, with the sole difference of being encrusted by 

 the procreant cradle of the Swallow. I shall be very glad if the readers of The 

 Naturalist can bring forward any parallel instances. It is well known that several 

 species of Falcon build in the nests of different species of Crows, and I have also 

 heard of the Garden Tit (Parus hortensis) building in the prickly castle of the 

 Common Pye (Pica varia) : this latter circumstance is, I believe, very rare. 



C. T. Wood. 

 Campsall Hall, near Doncaster. 





