THE BIRDS OF CUMBERLAND. 33 



varying distances from the ground, from one foot to 

 fourteen feet. 



We constantly scrutinised the progress of one 

 particular nest, but seldom saw the birds near it 

 during the day, the building being chiefly carried 

 on in the early morning. On May 26th the first 

 egg was laid; on the 28th three eggs were taken 

 from one nest, but four more were laid by the 2nd 

 of June, and the female began to sit. Another 

 female began to sit on a complement of six eggs on 

 June 6th, and a third commenced to incubate a 

 clutch of seven eggs. 



A good many pairs of Pied Flycatchers breed 

 at Edenhall, but the best locality for studying the 

 habits of the species is unquestionably Lowther, 

 where the woods fairly echo with the lively song of 

 the Pied Flycatcher during the month of May. In 

 this locality the Pied Flycatchers chiefly aff'ect the 

 immediate vicinity of the river ; ever and anon a 

 male bird darts out of the woods as though about 

 to cross the stream, but checking his course in mid- 

 career poises himself for a moment's rest upon the 

 summit of some grey rock in the river bed. During 

 our protracted study of the Pied Flycatcher, we 

 have never happened to find a nest of this species 

 in any cavity, other than in a natural tree ; but, as 

 it occasionally nests in gardens, it is probable that 

 holes in walls are sometimes selected. Sometimes 

 the tree-hole selected is situated in the roots, only a 

 few inches raised above the ground ; but at other 

 times the elevation chosen is very considerable. 

 Mr. T. C. Heysham found a pair of Pied Fly- 



