se, ee 
Transactions. 115 
a third nest ; so they returned to the fi.st, where they reared 
their brood in safety. The Missel Thrush, almost the earliest 
songster, is common. On one occasion I saw a pair of these 
birds attack a hen that was passing near their nest. It was 
only this season that the Song Thrush appeared in anything like 
the numbers in which it was found previously to the severe 
winter of 1879-1880. The Blackbird is plentiful, too plentiful, 
we think, during the fruit season. The Ring Ouzel is found on 
all the hills building its nest, which is very like the blackbird’s, 
amongst the heather, in the ivy which clings to some of the rocks, 
or in juniper bushes. The Hedge Sparrow, whose nest, owing 
probably to the beautiful colour of the eggs, is robbed so often 
by boys, is common. That bird, which is a general favourite, in 
spite of its pugnacity, the Robin, is very common. No other 
bird becomes so familiar with our dwellings. Some time ago one 
began to come into our house, by and bye getting to spend the 
whole day indoors, entering in the morning before there was 
much light, and remaining until quite dusk, never, however, 
overnight. During the cheese-making season its headquarters 
were in the dairy, when it fed on the curd. When the supply 
failed there, it betook itself to the kitchen, clearing up the 
crumbs from the table and floor after meals, or baking opera- 
tions. Its favourite perch was the edge of a pan which hung 
from the ceiling, where it sat and sang for hours daily. Any 
noise in the house, particularly the scrubbing of the floor, never 
failed to set robin a-singing. On washing day it was sure to be 
found in the midst of the hubbub, walking about amongst the 
tubs and people quite at home, and singing all the time—some- 
times in a low, sweet strain scarcely audible, at other times quite 
loudly. It never seemed at ease when one of the male sex 
approached. Suddenly it disappeared, to our sorrow, probably 
having fallen a prey to a cat, the end to which more pet birds 
than that robin have come. The Redstart, Whinchat, and 
Wheatear are all common. There is rather a remarkable 
Redstart’s egg on the table, having a few spots at the 
larger end. The nest of the Wheatear is very difficult to find, 
partly on account of the prevalence of stone dykes, which form 
their favourite nesting site. Occasionally they take to a rabbit 
hole. Both the Whitethroat and Garden Warbler are numerous, 
particularly the former. A pair of Blackcap Warblers nested in 
1883 and 1884 in one of our wooded glens, but last year they 
