1890-91-] Natural History Notes. 423 



which next claim oi;r attention, in a hole in one of which we 

 find the nest of the redstart with its beautiful eggs, in colour 

 resembling the hedge-sparrow's, but smaller and finer in every- 

 way ; and as this is a rare find, our collection is enhanced by 

 the addition of a specimen. While engaged examining the 

 redstart's nest, we observe a bird like a blackbird coming out 

 of the fork of a large ash-tree a short distance ahead, and on 

 examination we find a nest with three light-coloured blue eggs, 

 but the entrance to the nest is so narrow that to examine its 

 contents will necessitate another visit, when, provided with a 

 spoon tied to the end of a stick, we may become the proud 

 possessor of our first starling's egg. Though these birds are 

 now so common everywhere, we well remember the time when 

 — in some districts, at all events — the fiudino- of a starling's 

 nest was something to be proud of. 



The recent gale has blown down one of the large trees at 

 the side of the plantation which we have just reached, and a 

 search among the hanging roots discloses a small hole which 

 proves to be the entrance to the dome-shaped nest of the com- 

 mon wren. We have room only to insert a finger, and at first 

 it appears there are no eggs in the nest ; but this afterwards 

 proves to be a mistake, for what we took for the feather 

 lining of the nest turns out to have been the owner herself, 

 who quickly makes her exit the moment the finger is with- 

 drawn. We then find that in the nest there are seven or 

 eight tiny eggs of a whitish colour, plentifully speckled all 

 over with small red spots. Almost within reach from where 

 we stand, snugly ensconced near the end, and beneath the 

 spreading branch of a spruce fir-tree, we find one of the most 

 beautiful nests possible — namely, that of the golden-crested 

 wren — containing several of the smallest of all British birds' 

 eggs. One has a difficulty in even handling these tiny 

 curiosities ; and when it comes to be a question of preparing 

 a specimen for our collection, the very greatest care is re- 

 quired. Every bush and tree here seems to be vocal, each 

 songster appearing to claim a preference for its own lay, 

 while the smell of the fir-trees makes the mere fact of living 

 a real pleasure. We now come to a road leading down to 

 large farm-offices, and as there is a fine beech-hedge on either 

 side thereof, a search there well repays our trouble. Every 



