164 H. LEWIS — NOTES ON^ BIRDS 



The Spotted Flycatcher {Mmcicapa grisola). — Last summer my 

 attention was directed by Mrs. Cliai'les Dickinson to a nest built by 

 a spotted flycatcher on the side of a clover rick. The eggs were 

 hatched and the young reared, although from the inclination of the 

 nest I was surprised that the bird did not displace the eggs when 

 leaving the nest, or that the young did not tumble out. 



The Pied Fltcatcher {Iluscicapa atricapilla). — In a communica- 

 tion I received from Mr. A. C. G. Cameron, of Bedford, he enclosed 

 an inventory of Hertfordshire quadrupeds, birds, and insects, pre- 

 served by a Mrs. Young, of Bennington. In the list I find mention 

 of a pied flycatcher. Although uncommon in Hertfordshire, this 

 bird is a regular summer migrant, arriving in England in April and 

 leaving us in September. Mr. J. E. Harting informs us that he 

 has known several instances of the bird nesting as near London as 

 at Hampstead, Highgate, and Harrow. I feel persuaded I once 

 observed a bird of this species near St. Albans, but as I was not 

 quite sure and did not obtain a second view, I never recorded the 

 fact. 



The Swallow {Ilirundo rusticd). — The following incident relating 

 to the nesting habits of this beautiful bird of the air, the swallow, 

 is well worth recording in our ' Transactions.' Through the kind- 

 ness of Mr. Seymour, a taxidermist of Hertford, I was shown an 

 old straw hat on which a pair of swallows had built their nests. 

 The hat was hung on a nail in an old hut which stood in a field on the 

 estate of Mr. E. S. Hanbury. It is probable that the birds, build- 

 ing a little on one side of the hat, caused it to become top-heavy, 

 or tilt on one side, for they fastened the hat to the hut by means of 

 a dab of mud (like mortar), evidently, I think, to steady it or keep 

 it in its place, thus showing considerable intelligence on the part of 

 these little mason builders. They then built another nest on the 

 hat which, when found, contained four eggs. 



The Bullfinch [Pyrrhula europcea). — Mr. Arthur Dickinson, of 

 New Farm, St. Albans, states that bullfinches have been unusually 

 abundant in this locality during this autumn and winter, a state- 

 ment I can fully corroborate. This winter I observed bullfinches 

 pecking and possibly feeding on the poisonous berries of Solanum 

 dulcamara. They are fond of ripe privet berries. In confinement 

 the female of this species will often sing or pipe as well as the 

 male bird. 



The Yellow-Hammee {JEmleriza citrinella), like the robin and 

 song thrush, and many other birds, I believe to be a "partial 

 migrant" in this locality. Probably some of our members may 

 have noticed that they appear to be much more numerous in this 

 neighbourhood in summer than in winter. 



The Nightjar [Caprimulgus europmis). — On the 13th of July 

 Mr. Charles Dickinson informed me that he had a pair of nightjars 

 nesting in his wood. Some weeks afterwards I visited the spot 

 only to find that the young had flown. The bird makes no nest 

 whatever, but sits on two beautifully-marked eggs on the bare 

 ground. It rests lengthwise on a branch (or fore and aft as a 



