156 



BRITISH BIRDS. 



thau that described aiid figured by Mr. Ticehurst in the 

 September number of British Birds (supra, p. 97). 



This nest was built upon the ground at the foot of a fir tree, 

 in a dry situation and witliin twenty yards of a high road, in the 

 midst of a fir wood containing many trees suitable for herons' 



Nest of Common Heron on the ground in a wood near Scarborough. 

 (Photographed by W. J. Clarke.) 



nests. The nest was composed of small fir branches, lined with 

 finer twigs, and was about twenty inches in height. Four eggs 

 were laid, and three young birds reared. The birds did not 

 return to the nest in the following year, although they were 

 left unmolested, and the nest was not disturbed. 



A heronry formerly existed upon the estate where the nest was 

 built, and a small one still thrives within a few miles. 



W. J. Clarke. 



I HA\E read with much interest Dr. Ticehurst's account of the 

 nesting of the Common Heron in a pool on Dungeness beach 

 (supra, p. 97). Such instances are, of course, frequent enough 

 in such districts as the West of Ireland. In the desolate 

 country between Castle Bay and Maam Cross I have seen four 

 or five nests built tip to the height of a foot or two from the 



