148 BIRD LIFE IN WILD WALES 



nest, however, but in my search for it did discover a 

 Creeper sitting on five eggs, which were on the point 

 of hatching, as was obvious by the dark look of them. 

 This nest was in the usual crevice where the bark 

 had peeled on a rotten stump. I was now close 

 under the larch plantation, so, getting through the 

 wire bordering it, proceeded to search for a Hawk's 

 nest. I disturbed many Ring Doves, and there were 

 old and new nests of this species on all sides, as well as 

 squirrels' " dreys." In the New Forest I also saw one 

 Jay's nest up a fair-sized larch — a somewhat unusual 

 site, though I had seen it before in Hampshire in the 

 good old Winchester days. The bird was on the nest, 

 and did not leave until I shook the tree violently. The 

 usual site for a Jay's nest, I have found, is either a 

 thorn- or hazel-bush ; and if honeysuckle is matted 

 over the tree so much the more the bird fancies it. I 

 remember, too, seeing a nest in Kent built at the top 

 of a tall ash sapling — a mere pole, which nearly bent 

 double with my weight when climbing it. I did not 

 find a Sparrow-hawk's nest here, as I expected, though 

 I just caught a glimpse of a male as he glided out 

 of a fir into greater seclusion. I also noticed and 

 watched for some time a pair of Pied F"lycatchers, 

 but though they must have had an unfinished or 

 even a finished nest close by, they would not reveal 

 their secret. I now followed the hillside to another 

 hanging wood of great extent close to a quarry. 

 This wood is remarkably difficult to get through, 

 having much underwood and being on a very steep 

 incline. Here, by the merest chance (for I simply 

 took a line through the covert), I found a Sparrow- 



