98 BRITISH BIRDS. [vol. viii. 



WRENS LAYING IN YEAR-OLD NESTS. 



Between April 20th-25th, 1911, I found a nest of a Wren 

 {Troglodytes t. troglodytes) amongst the roots of an overturned 

 tree on the banks of a river in Huntingdonshire. It was lined, 

 but contained no eggs, and I had no further opportunity of 

 visiting it that year. On May 8th, 1912, curiosity led me 

 again to the spot. The nest remained and contained six 

 eggs. In May, 1912; I found a Wren's nest, also amongst the 

 roots of a tree, on the top of a bank in east Devon. This nest 

 was not laid in and was still unlined when last visited in 

 1913. Passing the spot on May 9th, 1914, I found the nest 

 still there and containing six eggs. 



This year I have carefully marked several Wrens' nests 

 which have been built but not laid in, and look forward to 

 seeing whether they will be used for eggs in 1915. If it is 

 not accepted as a fact that year-old nests are frequently 

 used by Wrens, might I suggest that others keep observation 

 on some for a twelve month. Lewis R. W. Loyd. 



[It is a known fact that Wrens will sometimes renovate 

 old nests and use them for breeding purposes, though it is 

 much more usual to find new nests built. At present there 

 are not enough data to show whether in such cases any 

 preference is shown for lined (and used) or unlined nests. — 

 F.C.R.J.] 



CUCKOO IN HOUSE-SPARROW'S NEST. 



In July, 1914, some painters at work on the premises of 

 Mr. Salter, chemist. Castle Street, Shrewsbiuy, found a young 

 Cuckoo {Cucnlus c. canorus) in the nest of a House-Sparrow, 

 under the eaves. They had noticed the Sparrows constantly 

 carrying food to the nest, even when the painters were at 

 work on ladders within a yard or two, but they did not 

 know there was a Cuckoo in it till one of them put his hand 

 into the nest and brought the big nestling out. He took it 

 down to show Mr. Salter and other people, afterwards 

 returning it to the nest, where the fosterers resumed feeding 

 as if there had been no interruption. Mr. Salter's house is 

 in the very centre of the town, so that the selection of this 

 nest by the Cuckoo is the more remarkable. H. E. Forrest. 



SPARROW-HAWKS' METHOD OF FEEDING YOUNG 



The following account of the behaviour of a pair of Sparrow- 

 Hawks {Accipiter n. nisus) may possibly interest some of 

 your readers. 



