FIRST APPEARANCES OF BIRDS, INSECTS, ETC. 149 



than four feet from the ground. About eight 

 feet away was a nest about three feet from the 

 ground containing five unfledged dead nestlings, 

 somewhat decomposed. We determined them 

 to be young collurio, which identification Dr. 

 Penrose confirmed, as also did he the cause of 

 death we surmised, namely, the excessively heavy 

 hail of a fortnight previous, when the hail stones 

 were of great size and the hail very violent. 

 The heads of the nestlings bore marks very 

 like bruises, suggestive of this fate. On 25th 

 June this nest contained one egg of the greenish 

 type. Two eggs were subsequently laid and the 

 nest was destroyed, we believe by Jays, as 

 the eggs were sucked and broken and left in 

 pieces in the nest, which was deserted on the 

 9th July. (W.P.C. and E.H.C.) 



SYLVIIDAE. 



(27) Sylvia communis. The Whitethroat. 

 Arrival. 



Apr. 29 Between Poole and Badbury Rings, via 

 Sturminster and Wimborne, about 50 seen. 

 (W.P.C.) 



Apr. 30 10 to 12 seen at Canford. 



There were many Whitethroats at Badbury 

 Rings, far more than the resident number. 

 (E.H.C.) 

 Nesting. 



May 20 Six pairs seen. Two males in full song, Bere 

 Wood. (W.P.C.) 



May 28 About 20 pairs seen at Badbury Rings and 

 two nests, one with five eggs of the cloudy 

 green type, in a grass nest in a low bramble, 

 and the other with five eggs of the white type 



