8646 The Zoologist — August, 1873. 



been trodden upon by tbe cattle, and abandoned ; but almost close to it 

 auother nest has been placed under the end of the log, which now contains four 

 eggs : all arouud the place is short grass. Last year I found a nest in a fir 

 plantation, placed at the root of a solitary tuft of grass ; the ground for some 

 distance from the nest was quite level and bare. I have seen this season 

 the nest of a missel thrush only two feet from the ground, placed in the fork 

 of a slender thorn, quite bare, and close to the roadside. I went to examine 

 the young just before they were fledged, and was rather surprised to find a 

 young blackbird amongst them ; there were three thrushes. The nest, when 

 I first saw it, contained four missel thrush's eggs, so I think that some one 

 had taken an egg of the thrush and put a blackbird's egg in its place. The 

 birds all left the nest at the same time, though the blackbird was not so 

 fully feathered. I was in hopes it would be left behind, as I was wishful to 

 see whether the thrushes would feed it after their own young had left the 

 nest. I do not know of any birds that are less particular in the choice of a 

 nesting-place than blackbirds and thrushes are. — John Sdater; Castle Eden, 

 Durham, June 10, 1872. 



Redstart nesting on the Ground. — Whilst in pursuit of Argynnis 

 Euphrosyue, a redstart flew out from the bottom of a small bush, and on 

 looking I found a nest, containing six eggs, built on the ground amongst 

 the thick herbage, &c., under the bush ; on withdrawing to a little distance 

 the bird returned to the nest again, so that I am certain of its identity. 

 I have known perhaps of hundreds of redstarts' nests, but never found one 

 on the ground before. — John Kempster ; Clifton, Bristol. 



The IMghtiugale. — I know not whether the one-sided Act for the protection 

 of our wild birds is the cause, but this season the nightingale has been 

 unusually abundant in the neighbourhood of Ringwood, and several nests 

 have been found in close proximity to our little town. Many persons who 

 had never before heard the notes of this lovely songster are now quite 

 familiar with its "jug, jug, jug," and the varied harmony of its almost 

 ceaseless song. During the latter part of April and the greater half of May 

 the notes of tliis bird were to be detected at ahnost any hour of the night or 

 day. Strange to say, the species did not seem to be commoner than usual in 

 the woods, but only in the^gardens close to the abodes of men. Many times 

 did I listen to the song, feeling the entire force of the beautiful lines of 

 Coleridge : — 



" 'Tis the^merrj' nightingale 



That crowds, and hurries, and precipitates 



With fast thick warble his delicious notes. 



As he were fearful that an April night 



Would be too short for him to utter forth 



Hid love chaunt, and disburden his full soul 



Of all its music ! " 

 —G. B. Corbin; Ringwood, Hants. 



