CHAPTER OF CRITICISM. ' 423 



first arrival in spring, may be more generally met with in the Sheep-folds, but 

 from the limited number that visit this district I cannot determine ; for in such 

 situations it is no uncommon occurrence to see M. Yarrellii, the nest of which I 

 have more than once found on a heathy common, far away from any water. 

 Both species delight to be in the vicinity of cattle, more particularly when they 

 are grazing in the lands adjoining the river. The only difference I have been 

 able to detect, is that M. Yarrellii resorts to the homesteads, and on that account 

 may be looked upon in the light of a domestic bird. This is certainly not the 

 case with M. flam, which does not approach very near the habitations of man. 



Perhaps it may be as well to mention that there is little or no low ground 

 adjoining the river at this place ; the heath and warren often approach close to 

 the margin of the stream, which flows very rapidly, and is navigable ; for several 

 miles below this town, where the low ground is contiguous, the river does not 

 exceed a stone's-throw across it ; still it so happens, that where it is of the 

 greatest breadth is the situation selected by M. flava for its common residence. 



I have lately ascertained from a friend, that this species is to be seen through 

 the summer very abundantly alongside the edges of the drains intersecting the 

 fens of Norfolk, Huntingdonshire, &c. This I can myself in part confirm, and I 

 saw it very plentifully in similar situations as I passed through those fens in the 

 spring of 1836. 



Structure of the Kingfisher's Nest. 

 I find Mr. Alington, at p. 274, describes the structure of the Kingfisher's 

 nest, " excepting the mixture of fish bones, as not very unlike that of a Thrush." 

 I have had many opportunities of examining the place of nidification of this 

 bird, and in no one instance could I find the least appearance of a nest ; with 

 the exception of excavating the hole, I should most certainly say that it con- 

 structs no nest whatever. A pair of birds will occupy the same situation for 

 more than one season : and from the accumulation of fish bones, and the castings 

 of young birds, mixed with sand, an artificial nest will be formed of a very frail 

 structure, which I suspect was the case in the instance described, as it stated 

 that it crumbled to pieces on being touched. I scarcely need observe that the 

 Thrush's nest is of a very compact structure. 



Does the Hooded Crow breed in Lincolnshire ? 

 At p. 322 Mr. Alington remarks, in his " ornithological notes": — " The 

 Hooded Crow (Corvus comix) sitting on the 10th." May I ask if that bird 

 breeds in the neighbourhood of Swinhope House, as it is the first instance I have 

 seen of its breeding on this side the Tweed. 



My observation relative to the egg of the Ortolan Bunting (p. 323) was to 



3k2 



