CROWS 219 



enters being always on the side away from the tree- 

 trunk. Thus, tliough the cHmber may reach the 

 base of the nest, he finds liimself confronted with 

 stout outworks of spiny thorns which are difficuh 

 to tear away, and the hole through which easy 

 access might be gained is ever far from the 

 lacerated hand. 



That the Tawny Owl often takes possession of the 

 deserted nest of the ^lagpie is well known. But it 

 would further appear that conflicts sometimes arise 

 between the two birds as to which shall become 

 the owner. ]\[r. ^letcalfe tells me that he once found 

 a Magpie's nest containing three eggs, and also 

 two eggs of the Tawny Owl. It would appear that 

 the Owl had taken illicit possession and had sub- 

 sequently been ejected with violence, signs of the 

 struggle remaining in the shape of the Owl's 

 feathers which decorated the surrounding branches 

 and the thorny spikes of the nest. 



One bird there is that for me always adds a 

 deeper interest to sylvan scenery — the Jay. 



Turning from the dusty highroad, a little gateless 

 lane winds through the wood. It is so rarely used 

 that even the wheel-tracks of the timber wagons are 

 now overgrown with grass. On the low banks 

 primroses spring amidst the young fronds of the 

 ferns, and growing about the green-moulded boles 

 of the taller trees the alders and hazel bushes form 

 quite a thick hedge. On the banks the Robin and 

 Willow Wren nest, season by season, and a Green 

 Woodpecker may sometimes be seen drooping across 

 the way to alight upon one of the lower trunks. As 



