FIRST APPEARANCES OF BIRDS, INSECTS, ETC. 149 



the nest at the back. I did not get settled again till 3 

 o'clock. 



3.4 The cock came with 3 or 4 diptera and I felt sure a 

 Nemophora swammerdamella. The hen was on the nest 

 brooding, she came off to enable the cock to feed the young, 

 and when he had done so she went back. I could see her 

 tail as she turned about in the nest. The young then were 

 mere little pats of black down. 



3.17 The female left the nest, she seemed very fidgdtty 

 all the time she was there. 3.25 One bird back with a whole 

 beakful of small insects, but I could not see what they 

 were. 



3.25 Bird back with larvae and insects. 3.35 Bird back with 

 larvae. 3.38 One bird back. It stayed and looked at the 

 tent, and I was able to see that it certainly had woodlice in 

 its bill. I felt sure it was the female, as she afterwards went 

 to the nest and brooded. 



3.45 Cock came, hen left, and cock came to the entrance, 

 evidently eating excreta. This was the first time that I 

 saw any evidence of any method of cleaning the nest. He then 

 left through the shed. 



3.55 Bird came in, and just as I was writing my note the 

 second arrived, but as they have taken to go out sideways 

 between the poles of the hut I had to go out to close that 

 exit. 



4.10 One of the birds came in, but left again almost 

 immediately ; it had a mouthful of small insects, including 

 two moths. 



4.20 Both birds came, but I could not see what food was 

 brought. 



4.22 Cock with larvae. The hen came off the nest and 

 fluttered about outside. The cock and the hen sported 

 together a minute or two. The hen's tail was visible all the 

 time she was on the nest, and she fidgetted a great deal. 



4.30 The hen came out, but before I could write my note 

 the cock came in and fed the young. 5.5 Another bird came 

 in. after which I left. 



