BRlTBHfilW)S 



EDITED BY H. R WITHERBY, F.Z.S, M.B.O.U. 

 ASSISTED BY W. P. PYCRAFT, A.L.S., M.B.O.U. 



Contents of Number 5, Vol. II. October 1, 1908. 



Green Woodpecker versus Starling, by Emma L. Turner, 



F.L.s. (Plate IV.) Page 141 



On the More Important Additions to our Knowledge of 

 British Birds since 1899, by H. F. Witherby and N. F. 

 Ticehurst. Part XIV. — {continued from page 129) .. 146 



Some Early British Ornithologists and their Works, by 

 W. H. Mullens, m.a., ll.m., m.b.o.u. III. — Christopher 

 Merrett (1614 — 1695) — {continued from page 118) .. 151 



Notes:— Old English Nesting Bottles (E. G. B. Meade- 

 Waldo). Black Redstarts in Merioneth (H. E. Forrest). 

 Black-headed Wagtail in Kent (J. B. Nichols). Great 

 Grey Shrike in Scotland (H. W. Robinson). Two- 

 barred Crossbill in Sussex (J. B. Nichols). Tufted 

 Ducks Nesting in the Outer Hebrides (J. A. Harvie- 

 Brown). Distribution of the Common Scoter in 

 Scotland (H. W. Robinson). Pallas's Sand-Grouse in 

 Cheshire (T. A. Coward). Supposed Black Grouse and 

 Ptarmigan from Irish Caves (R. J. Ussher). The Oyster- 

 catcher's Method of Feeding on the Edible Mussel. 

 Killdeer Plover in Kent (N. F, Ticehurst), Solitary 

 Sandpiper in Kent (N. F. Ticehurst). Late Nests of 

 the Great Crested and Little Grebes (A. G. Leigh), etc. 164 



Review :— How to Attract and Protect Wild Birds . . . . 172 



GREEN WOODPECKER versus STARLING. 



BY 



EMMA L. TURNER, f.l.s. 

 (Plate IV.) 



While wandering about soon after dawn on the morning 

 of May 8th, I came across one of the most amusing 

 incidents connected with bird hfe which I have ever 

 watched. 



A pair of Green Woodpeckers, after having for some 

 years enjoyed undisputed possession of a nesting hole in 

 an oak tree, were engaged in a "tooth-and-nail" encounter 

 with a pair of Starlings which were maliciously en- 

 deavouring to obtain possession of their neighbour's 



