404 BANFFSHIRE FAUNA. APPENDIX. 



of his. One, now in the Banff Museum, was taken six years 

 ago, about fourteen miles from the town. 



CERTHIA FAMILIARIS [Creeper]. 



Wherever there are suitable woods, these birds are sure to be 

 found. We sometimes read and hear as extraordinary occur- 

 rences, that nests have been found in the hearts of trees that 

 have been sawn up. Now, to those acquainted with the facts, 

 these occurrences are easily accounted for. I know a tree 

 myself which contains two nests, both with eggs. About seven- 

 teen years ago there was in the side of this tree a small aperture, 

 about six feet from the ground, which led downwards to a cavity 

 in the centre of the trunk. The opening was so narrow out- 

 wardly that it only admitted two of my fingers, but widened as 

 it proceeded to the bottom, a distance of about eighteen inches. 

 In this hole, at the time referred to, a pair of creepers built 

 their nest and laid eggs, after which they disappeared. Next 

 season a pair of blue titmice acted in a similar manner ; and 

 they also disappeared, doubtless in consequence of being tor- 

 mented by boys, and of the narrowness of the entrance. The 

 growth of the tree caused the hole to get less and less every 

 year, and it has been for several years so completely closed that 

 the point of the finest needle cannot be inserted. The tree, 

 a sturdy beech, has the two nests and eggs in its very core. It 

 is thus evident how easily these "extraordinary occurrences " 

 may be accounted for. 



TROGLODYTES EUROP^EUS [ Wren], 



The dear little wren, the lion of small birds, with his short, jerking 

 little tail, I have known and admired from childhood. Who 

 that has trod the woods in spring or summer has not heard a 

 very loud, though by no means inharmonious song, proceeding 

 from some bush or bank, and not admired it ? and who is there, 

 if he did not know the bird, that would not be surprised beyond 

 measure at so small a creature being able to make such a loud 

 noise ? Of all the deserted nests I have ever met with, those of 

 the wren would, I am sure, count twenty per cent over any 

 other species. I am unable to account for this, but perhaps it 

 arises from their building several before they get one to please 

 them. I once found one of their nests in an old tin kettle, 

 whfch had become fixed amongst the branches of a holly. The 

 wren, like other birds, does not sing so well in confinement. 

 When in their native haunts, there is a pathos in their voice 

 and a music in their melody, which makes the heart thrill with 

 pleasure. 



UPUPA EPOPS [Hoopoe]. 



Three or four of these pretty birds have occurred here : one was 

 taken at Duff House, in 1832, by a Mr. Mackay, in such a state 

 of exhaustion as to allow itself to be captured by hand ; another 

 was seen by myself, a few years back, in the same place ; and 

 two others are said to have been since obtained in other parts of 

 the county. 



