Birds. 9725 



little knobs, but effectually preveuting its slipping, the other end being 

 built in and round the rim of the nest ; but I am reversing the order 

 in which it is done. Some of the finer threads spreading out, and 

 branching off, have a web-like appearance where united to the branch. 

 The nest externally is composed of fine moss and wool, with a few 

 pieces or fragments of lichen, some cedar and other small leaves and 

 stems, a feather or two, and a few minute blades of grass ; the whole 

 matted together with wool and cobwebs. The nest is prettv thickly 

 lined with feathers, chiefly of one kind ; they are, I believe, the neck 

 or breast feathers of a fowl ; some are two inches in length : they are 

 laid round longitudinally, the shafts buried in the walls of the nest 

 the inner parts of the feathers towards the centre, rounding it off. 

 I do not find " the moss cut small," as described by Macgillivray, 

 though minute bits of moss and lichen are to be seen stuck here and 

 there, but the pieces of moss forming the walls of the nest are of con- 

 siderable size and placed in layers, the inner one, next the lining of 

 feathers, having a considerable intermixture of the finest grass. The 

 twigs having been removed, the weight of the nest in its present dry 

 state is half an ounce and one scruple. 



Martin. — July 23. This species observed to have young of some 

 days old. 27th. Watched the martins feeding their young, now- 

 well nigh full grown; the heads of two could be distinctly seen as 

 they watchfully sat at the opening, though occasionally beguiling 

 themselves by pecking at the sides of the nest in a fidgety, restless 

 way. Though fed in succession it was at irregular intervals. The 

 wall, both below and on each side of the nest, has been thickly 

 plastered with pellets of mud; my attention was first drawn to it by 

 observing that the old birds frequently alighted on it or clung to it 

 before settling on the side of the nest to feed their young : it extends 

 right and left for some five or six inches, forming regular ledges. 



Niyhlingale and Blackbird. — A nightingale, kept by a resident in 

 this neighbourhood, lived for ten years. The same individual has 

 caught, during the month, a young blackbird with a white tail tipped 

 with black. No bird that I know of is more subject to these variations 

 of colour, though the transition from black to white is common to 

 many species, but whether permanently so I doubt; nor do I think it 

 is transmitted to the progeny even of the first generation, or the pied 

 varieties would be more common. I shall watch the moulting of this 

 bird with some interest. 



Willow Wren.—i\x\y 25. This species has reappeared, after an 

 absence of some months ; but they seem to be mostly birds of the 



