42 Transactions. 



drop several before getting one to his mind. The result of 

 this is that at times the green beneath two large and rather 

 old ash trees in my garden is strewn with sticks. I notice 

 that the most of my branches are carried to the chimneys of 

 the building where we are at present sitting. 



The Starling breeds freely in boxes fixed pretty high 

 upon my trees. He is a very active fellow, but as, unless 

 when building his nest or bringing up his young, he is little 

 seen, I do not look upon him as a great attraction. He is 

 very suspicious and watchful, ever on the alert, and thus not 

 easily seen near in his natural manner. I have thought 

 these birds appeared in their best when I have watched 

 perhaps 6 or 8 of them, from my bedroom window, running 

 about the green feeding in the early morning, the sun 

 shining upon their changing colours and bringing out all 

 their beauties. 



The Blackbird, Song Thrush, and Missel Thrush breed 

 reo-ularly with us. The habits of these birds are well known, 

 but I may just mention what I believe is somewhat rare, 

 that I know of one instance where a Blackbird having been 

 " harried," the old nest was re-lined, eggs again laid, and a 

 brood hatched. Last year a poor " Blackie," having built 

 among some pea sticks, was harried by a cat ; the pair then 

 tried some black currant bushes, grown Espalier fashion, but 

 cruel fate still followed them, for " when the wind blew, the 

 cradle it rocked," and down came the small " clay biggin " 

 with the callow young inside of it. Not to be beat, however, 

 another attempt was made, and on this occasion, I am glad to 

 say, it was successful, for they chose the fork of a tree some 

 fifteen feet from the ground — rather an unusual locality — and 

 there brought up their brood in safety. I have noticed in 

 some seasons a much larger number of blackbirds than usual, 

 and on one occasion I counted no fewer than 24 running 

 about the green in front. The Song Thrush is not numerous, 

 but we have always at least one cock bird to sing delightfully 

 from the topmost branches of the highest tree ; and it may 



