OYSTER-CATCHERS' NESTS. 193 



which the tiny down-clad creatures have struggled. 

 The illustration on p. 191 shows a Kestrel's eggs in 

 a Raven's old nest which had been half toppled over 

 by a heavy fall of snow the previous winter. Before 

 laying her eggs, the adapter had scratched the side 

 of the structure out a little so as to create a hollow. 

 We have met with several Oyster -catchers' 



OYSTER-CATCHER'S NEST. 



nests, consisting of hollows scratched in nice dry, 

 soft earth, and lined or, more strictly speaking, 

 paved with empty winkle and other small shells 

 picked up on the beach below, and in one case, in 

 the South of Ireland, with one inlaid entirely with 

 sun-dried rabbits' droppings. 



Last spring my brother, whilst staying with a 

 friend at his country house in Norfolk, was shown 

 a hole in a hollow tree through which a pair of 

 Jackdaws and innumerable Honey Bees were con- 

 stantly travelling to and from their respective nests 



N 



