198 A BIRD CALENDAR 



states that some of these birds breed as early 

 as Christmas Day. Mr. P. G. S. O'Connor 

 records the finding of a nest even earlier than 

 that. The nest in question was in a weir of a 

 canal. The weir was pierced by five round 

 holes, each about nine inches in diameter. 

 Through four of these the water was rushing, 

 but the fifth was blocked by debris, and on 

 this a pair of pigeons had placed their nest. 



