ee HRITISH BIRDS. [vol. x. 



{Zool. 1875, p. 4533). The Rev. F. L. Blathwayt {Vict. Hist. 

 of Somerset, I., p. 149) says : ''A few pairs probably nest in 

 the Exmoor district. A nest with five eggs was found near 

 the Bristol city boundary and within the county of Somerset 

 in 1899 (Dr. J. A. Norton, Bristol)." It has been recorded 

 as breeding regularlv in Devon verv close to the Soinerset 

 boimdary (B.B., Y.', 134).— Eds.] 



ROBINS BUILDING NESTS IN SPRUCES. 



In connexion with Mr. J. H. Owen's note on this subject 

 (supra, p. 42) I may note that on March 28th, 1904, in the 

 churchyard at Watton, Herts, I watched a Robin (Erithaciis 

 r. melophilHs) to its nest in the top of a small thick cypress 

 tree. The nest was in the middle of the top of the tree, and 

 about five feet from the ground, and the tree, being slender, 

 would have swayed considerably in a high wind. The nest 

 was about half finished, but it was unfortunately destroyed 

 before being completed. A Greenfinch built its nest in the 

 same spot three weeks later (see Zoologist 1904, p. 190). 



On May 13th, 1905, in a wood not far from the same locality, 

 I fomid a remarkable assemblage of nests, all in the centres 

 of small thick spruces, which averaged about five feet in 

 height. The}" were a Song Thrush's, a Hedge-Sparrow's, a 

 Common Wren's, a Chaffinch's and a Robin's, all within a 

 radius of about twelve yards. The Robin's was in a very 

 small spruce of close and stunted growth. It was a shallow 

 nest of moss, lined Avith fine roots, with a few dead leaves 

 around the margin, and contained three fresh eggs. In 

 Switzerland I have observed that the Continental Redbreast 

 {E. r. ruhecula) is common in spruce woods, as for instance 

 about Kandersteg, but is never seen near human habitations 

 and roadsides. Allan Ellison. 



SPOONBILL IN NORFOLK. 



On July 6th, 1916, I saw a Spoonbill (Platalea I. Jevcorodia) on 

 the marshes between Cley and Salthouse, Norfolk. I had 

 been examining a flock of gulls when my attention \\'as drawn 

 to a J3U'd, standing apart, bj^ the longer and dark legs and 

 the striking whiteness of its plumage. The bird, alarmed 

 by someone coming along the road, took to flight and gave 

 me a good view of the long spatulate bill, which left no room 

 for doubt as to the species. After mounting to a considerable 

 height the S]ioonbill We^\ off in a westerly direction. 



W. E. Gleoo. 



