166 BRITISH BIRDS. 



a nest of this species built in ivy near the top of a wall and 

 about seven feet from the ground ; the wall formed the back 

 of a stable yard, and would be 350 to 400 yards from the 

 nearest water. The nest contained seven eggs. 



Herbert Massey. 



A PAIR OF ROBINS BUILDING MANY NESTS. 



The incident described and illustrated by Mr. J. H. Owen 

 {antea, p. 132) is almost paralleled by another which occurred 

 also near Oswestry at the same time. In the workshop of 

 Mr. W. D. Dovaston at West Felton, near Oswestry, is a 

 double row of pigeon-holes for nails, etc., eight in each row. 

 A pair of Robins {Erithacus ruhecula) began to build in these 

 pigeon-holes early in March, and continued at work for over 

 a month. They occupied twelve out of the sixteen pigeon- 

 holes, six in each row, with more or less complete nests, as 

 if uncertain which to use. Finally they selected the second 

 from the right in the lower row, completing and lining the 

 nest, laying eggs, and successfully rearing a brood in it. 



H. E. Forrest. 



HAWFINCHES ADAPTING A NEST OF THE 

 SONG-THRUSH. 



There has just come under my notice an interesting instance 

 of a pair of Hawfinches {Coccothraustes vulgaris) taking 

 possession of a nest of the Song-Thrush {Turdus musicus). 

 On October 4th, 1911, I received the following communica- 

 tion from Mr. Cecil Martin, Lindors, St. Briavels, Gloucester- 

 shire : "I am forwarding you the curious Hawfinch's nest 

 mentioned in my last letter. This nest I took from a pear 

 tree in an orchard here. It contained four eggs (enclosed), 

 and I saw both the birds. The nest appears to be that of a 

 Mistle-Thrush, or perhaps a Song-Thrush. Note, however, 

 the black horsehairs woven into the lining by the Hawfinches. 

 I am also sending you a normal nest." 



I examined the two nests in question, and found the adapted 

 nest was that of a Song-Thrush ; the mud-lining had been 

 quite completed, and the owners had then either deserted 

 it or had been driven away by the Hawfinches, which had 

 then added a further lining to the inside of the Thrushes' 

 nest, consisting of closely woven, fine, dry grass mixed with 

 black horsehair, and exactly similar to the lining of the normal 

 nest. I have not previously heard of a similar instance in 

 the case of Hawfinches. Sydney H. Smith. 



