160 BRITISH BIKUS. [vol. xiv. 



inside a partially constructed nest, built on a horizontal 

 branch some twelve to fifteen feet from the ground. These 

 two birds were watched back to the tree several times, one 

 going to the nest, and the other remaining in the tree near it, 

 where it occupied itself by preening. 



At this stage a third bird was noticed, a male, very con- 

 spicuous in comparison with the other two, both of which were 

 certainly females. The three birds now indulged in a lot 

 of chasing, twisting about among the tree tops in a compact 

 little bunch, going at times some distance away, at others, 

 dodging among the branches of the alder, near the nest. 



Only the females actually visited the nest, and then only 

 one at a time. It was impossible to ascertain if both, or one 

 only, was engaged in the building operations, as they were 

 indistinguishable from each other. Both would depart to 

 hunt for nesting material, but on their return, one would go 

 to the nest, and the other would sit and preen in the tree, 

 occasionally seemingly trying to drive the male off. At such 

 times the latter would assume all kinds of strange and 

 awkward postures. While the females were away, he would 

 remain in the tree near the nest, crouched down with tail 

 outspread. On one occasion he displayed to the female 

 which was sitting in the tree preening, while the other was 

 at the nest. Raising his wings high above his back, he slowly 

 hopped from one branch to another, and then back again, 

 spreading his tail wide, and uttering a low hissing note. The 

 wings were kept raised all the while, and sometimes slowly 

 fluttered. 



On the 19th the nest was found to contain three eggs. 

 Our next visit was on the 21st, when we found that the nest 

 had been robbed. Although a careful watch was kept, and 

 many visits paid to the place, the birds were not seen again, 

 and apparently no further attempt at breeding was made 

 in that locality. 



It is interesting to note that this site was within fifty yards 

 of the one used in 1910 (Vol. XIII., p. 136). 



Geoffrey C. S. Ingram. 

 H. MoRREY Salmon. 



LATE NESTING OF BULLFINCH. 



On September 3rd, 1920, at Burnham Beeches, Bucks, I 

 found three nests of Bullfinches {Pyrrhida p. pilcata). The 

 first contained three half-fledged young and one addled egg ; 

 the second, four eggs on which the hen was sitting ; and the 

 third, five strong young. 



