OTES 



UNUSUAL NESTING SITES. 



The following instances of iinusual nesting sites which 

 have come under my notice recently near Felsted, Essex, 

 maj'^ be of interest to record. 



Greenfinch [Chloris ch. chloris). — I have had several 

 instances of nests in stacks of various kinds ; some nests 

 were just inider the thatch and some in the sides or ends 

 fairh" low down. 



YelloW' Bunting [Emheriza c. citrinella). — A nest in the 

 side of a hayrick just under the shelter of the thatch. Three 

 young were reared in it and left the nest on June 16th. 



Reed-Bunting [Emheriza s. schoenidus). — Two nests in 

 stacks. The first just under the thatch in one end of a 

 haystack. Five young reared. The second in the end of a 

 straw rick about five feet from the ground. Four eggs were 

 laid, but they disappeared about the time they ought to have 

 hatched. 



Blue Tit (Parus c. obscurus). — Nest of the usual materials 

 in the fork of a branch of a cedar, some three feet from the 

 main trunk and six feet from the ground. The nest was 

 deserted when quite substantial, probably owing to too 

 frequent inspection. 



Redbreast (Erithacus r. rubecula). — Small nest, mostly 

 lining, built inside the nest of a Song-Thrush after the young 

 had flown. This was in a cedar at the end of one of the 

 branches and about five and a half feet from the ground. 

 Now (June 18th) contains five young. J. H. Owen. 



[A Blue Tit's nest built on the open branch of a tree is 

 recorded in Rowley's Orn. MisceUmiy, I., p. 73. 



Instances of Robins building in old nests of Blackbird, 

 Tlinish, H edge-Sparrow, and Swallow will he found recorded 

 in British Birds, Vol. II., p. 90.— F.C'.R.J.] 



RARE BIRDS IN KENT AND SUSSEX. 



Black Lark {Mclanocorypha yelfomensis). — A male was 

 .seen at the Grove, HoUington, St. Leonards-on-Sea, early in 

 the month of January, 1915, and a female was shot at West field 

 (Sussex) on January 30th, and anolhcr (alsd a female) at the 

 .same place on February 1st. 



