303 



(d). — Reed Bunting — Meadow Bunting. 



Ortolan Bunting— Ciil Bunting. 



Yellow Bunting — Corn Bunting. 

 (5). — DlssimiIvAR eggs in closely allied species : 



Missel Thrush, vSong Thrush, and Blackbird. 



Black Redstart (white) and Common Redstart (blue). 



Pied Flycatcher (white and blue) and Spotted Flycatcher 



(brown). 

 (6). — vSiMiivARlTY IN Ai^i, EGGS of One species : 



Waterlien. 

 (7). — DissiMir^ARiTY IN AT^i, EGGS ofoucspecies : 



Tree Pipit, Tree Sparrow, Fan-tailed Warblers and 



Guillemot. 



Milt) Birt) anO other Hviau Botes. 



By the Hon. Mrs. SOMERSET Ward. 



The house and grounds where we now live had been 

 uninhabited for many years and consequently had become a 

 happy home and retreat for Hawks and Magpies, so that it 

 was not very surprising to find how almost all the small birds 

 had disappeared. The few that remained kept away from the 

 house and hid themselves among the shrubs and bushes as if 

 afraid of being seen. The want of life and the silence were 

 very marked, now a happier state of things exists and life and 

 sounds are returning. 



We brought with us some l''an-tailed Pigeons which had 

 their home in the stable 3'ard, but the Hawks that built in 

 the iv)-, covering parts of the dwelling house and the stables, 

 soon made havoc among them ; alighting on the wall above 

 the dove-cote and carrying off their prey in full daylight and 

 in sight of men moving about and working at no great 

 distance. One Hawk, attracted probably by the sight of birds 

 in a cage, actually perched on the hand rail of some steps 

 leading up from a grass plot to a sitting-room. 1 watched it 

 for some minutes before it flew away. vSince that time, three 

 years ago, their numbers have been considerably reduced and 

 only one pair of Kestrels is allowed to remain unmolested on 



