26 



Chiff-chaff leads many to confuse them. There is, 

 however, a very marked difference in their song, in 

 the position and construction of their nests, and 

 also in the marking of their eggs. 



I have seen it stated that a Cuckoo's egg has 

 been found in the nest of this species. It is, of 

 course, well known that the Cuckoo occasionally 

 carries its egg in its mouth, and is in that manner 

 enabled to insert itin nests that would be unapproach- 

 able to a bird of such size. I, however, am unable 

 to understand how the young Cuckoo, when 

 arrived at the proper age, would ever be enabled to 

 make its exit from its nursery ; the aperture in the 

 nest being constructed of size sufficient only to 

 allow of the entry or departure of its rightful 

 owner. 



I have noticed these birds very busy in gardens 

 in July and August, pecking about under the leaves 

 of the currant bushes, and discovered that they 

 were making a wholesale clearance of the little 

 green bugs that infest the plants at that season. 



The specimens in the case, together with the 

 nest, were obtained in Glenlyon, in Perthshire, in 

 June, 1867. 



See " Rough Notes," Vol. II., Plate 5. 



WHIMBREL. 

 Case 39. 



A few pairs of these birds still breed in the 

 wilder parts of the north of Scotland, and on some 

 of the adjacent islands ; several of the localities, 

 however, that they formerly resorted to are entirely 

 deserted. 



During spring and autumn considerable flocks 

 may be met with all round our coasts. 



The specimens in the case were shot at Rye, 

 in Sussex, in May, 1862. 



