THOMAS HOPKIRK OF DALBETH. 255* 



A pair of swallows began a nest in an outhouse, 

 the door of which Tvas open during the day and 

 usually closed early in the evening. Finding that 

 they were occasionally shut out, they became accus- 

 tomed to return at an early hour, " and were generally 

 in bed, like good sober birds, before their neighbours, 

 who had access to their nests at all times, had 

 finished taking their suppers." Hoj^kirk attached a^ 

 bit of red riband to the leg of each young bird^ 

 and they were observed flying about during that 

 summer. Next spring one of the marked birds 

 made its appearance, and remained for some days 

 about its birthplace. Swallows again built in the 

 same situation, but T\diether the original pair 

 Hopkirk could not say. 



A wren began her curious nest on the crossbar of 

 a garden-door in the corner next the hinges, and 

 attached both to door and projecting wall. The 

 gate was usually closed, but had to be opened 

 occasionally in spring, and thus it happened that 

 soon after the wren set to work the gate was 

 opened and the nest crushed. A fresh start was 

 made, but this time some inches from the corner 

 and towards the middle of the crossbar. Still the^ 

 nest was not clear of the projecting wall, and with 

 the next opening of the door came destruction. 

 With renewed courage and greater wisdom the 

 wren tried its " level best " for the third time, 

 advancing upon the bar, so that when the door wa& 

 opened the nest swung free of the wall; and there 

 she brought out her young in safety. 



In the nest of a pipit-lark, the "moss-cheeper" of 

 our Lowlands, were observed four eggs, one of theni 

 being a cuckoo's. All the eggs i)roduced young 

 birds, and the very next day the three small ones- 

 were found lying dead on the outside of the nest, 

 while the young cuckoo occupied the whole nest, 

 and was even at this early age larger than its- 

 foster-mother. The dead birds were replaced in the 

 nest, but were again found ejected. Though fre- 



