2224 The Zoologist — July, 1870. 



suggested the scientific specific name. The other nest was a most elaborate piece of 

 workmanship, being decorated all over the outside with bits of rotten wood: it was 

 also very large. I took it as a curiosity, but had much trouble to dislodge it from a 

 fork in a young beech, so firmly were the wool, moss and fibrous roots matted, and 

 woven round the slender branches on which it rested. — George Roberts. 



Green Woodpecker in the Isle of Wight. — A bird of this species was observed last 

 October in an old apple tree not far from the village of Gadshill. My informant saw 

 it alight, and having watched it was enabled to describe it to me. — Henry Hadfield. 



Nest of a Nuthatch. — When 1 lived at Catton, in Norfolk, I was in the habit of 

 placing covered boxes in the trees, which, being securely fixed, afforded convenient 

 nesting places for tits and some other birds. My successor, Mr. S. G. Buxton, has 

 continued this practice, and has sent me the following account, which, with his 

 permission, I forward for insertion in the ' Zoologist' : — " A nuthatch's nest was built 

 in one of the boxes this year. I am sorry to say they deserted after laying three eggs. 

 It was most amusing to see them building, as they were always hanging by their feet 

 to the top of the box, with their heads inside, working at the clay, which filled about 

 the first three inches of the box. Though the weather was very dry at the time, they 

 always kept it moist while they were working. Having finished the clay they began 

 splitting off very thin bits of bark from an old larch, with which they filled the rest of 

 the box to the depth of about three inches. The eggs were laid without any nest 

 beyond the bark, and the nuthatch seemed to cover them up with loose bark. The 

 birds were very tame while building, and did not seem to mind our sitting close by 

 and watching them, but I am afraid they were disturbed whilst I was away for a day 

 or two. I had a redstart's, great tit's, nuthatch's and robin's nest in four consecutive 

 boxes on the trees."—/. H. Gurnet/; June 6, 1870. 



Roller near Lewes. — A fine male specimen of the roller (Coracias garrula) was 

 killed at Isfield, near Lewes, on the 12th of June, and purchased by Mr. R. R. 

 M'Queen, of Chailey, for half-a-crown, and very kindly presented by him to me. The 

 plumage of the bird is most beautiful, and the condition perfect. On dissection the 

 only thing found in its stomach was a small cockchaffer. It is now in the hands of 

 Swaysland, of Brighton, for preservation. — T.J. Monk; Mountfkld House, Lewes, 

 June 20, 1870. 



QuaiVs Eggs near Lewes. — On the 14th of June Mr. J. Saxby, of Northease, near 

 Lewes, sent me seven quail's eggs, which had been mown out that day in a field of 

 sainfoin, at the above place. They proved a very handsome set: five of the eggs are 

 strongly marked with streaks of a rich grouse-colour; the remaining two are much 

 lighter and spotted. — Id. 



Little Bittern at the Land's End.— An adult female of this species was procured at 

 Skewjack, adjoining the Land's End, a few days since. It is in high condition, and 

 will be an interesting feature in the Penzance Museum, along with an adult male 

 procured in the neighbourhood a year or two since. — Edward Hearle Rodd ; Penzance, 

 May 30, 1870. 



Little Bittern in Ireland. — When out walking on the banks of the river Slaney, 

 about fourteen miles from the sea, in the county of Wexford, Ireland, on April 26th, 

 I shot a most beautiful specimen of the little bittern (Ardea minuta), male, adult 

 plumage. It rose slowly, and as if fatigued, from the centre of a small drain, which 

 was completely covered up by reeds and long grass. Its flight resembled that of the 



