Ornithological Notes. 
NOTICED in No. 8 of the Magazine Dr. Bowstead’s 
account of the nest of a Tomtit in a common watering-pot. 
I remember, about eight years ago, seeing the nest and young of 
the Tree-creeper (Certhia familiaris) under an old frying pan by 
the side of the water in Wycombe Abbey Park, and the young 
were, I have every reason to believe, safely reared. Last year 
I saw a Robin’s nest in a hole in the wall of a dwelling- 
house made for ventilation, where, when a little trap door was 
opened, the nest and young might be seen from the interior of 
the house. I also saw last year, the nests of the Robin, Tomtit, 
and Golden-crested Wren within a few yards of each other, and 
of a dwelling house, the last nest being built ina deodar. I know 
too of a small house where, in a hole in the wall, the beautiful 
Redstart, or Fire-tail, has built successively for several years. 
Many of your readers are aware that the Abbey at Wycombe is 
the favourite haunt of the White Owls, but I am sorry to say 
they are not unmolested, even there ; and hence they are not very 
common. ‘The destruction of hawks and owls, especially the 
latter, is a great mistake, as their chief food is mice and small 
birds. Indeed, the White Owl does positively no harm, but very 
much good. Were it not for the stupid persecution of birds, 
specially by gamekeepers, and the destruction of their nests and 
eggs, they would not be so shy as they are. It is wonderful they 
don’t avoid man altogether. But in truth, they like to build 
their nests in and about our dwellings, and I hope everyone will 
ere long raise his voice in favour of protecting them, and that bird- 
nesting will be regarded, even by boys, as a stupid and senseless 
amusement. We are told that Charles Waterton forbade the 
killing of a single bird or animal in his domain, and that he could 
point out an oak tree where there were, at the same time, the 
nests of the Barn Owl (with six young), a brood of Jackdaws, and 
a Redstart’s nest, and that all entered at one hole. Again, there 
is an instance at Walton Hall, where a Heron’s nest, a Crow’s, a 
