4034 The Zoologist — June, 1874. 



master's son all about it ; this promising youth immediately proceeded to 

 the nest, and took away the young birds, which he probably destroyed. — 

 A. O. Butler ; Slttinghourne, Kent, May 13, 1874. 



Nesting of the Blue Tit.— In the ' Zoologist' for last year (S. S. 3527), 

 I recorded an instance of a kingfisher nesting in a hole in an old gravel-pit 

 at a distance from water. This year, though the gravel-pit is now in use, 

 that very liole is tenanted by a pair of blue tits [Parus cwnileus), and only 

 yesterday I caught the old bird in the hole, and felt either nine or ten eggs 

 in the nest, which was about eighteen inches from the entrance. Though 

 many instances are recorded of the blue tit building in peculiar places, 

 I never before heard of a site like the above being chosen. — C. Bygmve 

 Wharton ; Bushey, Herts, May 2, 1874. 



Early Nesting of the Sky lark. — On the 28th of April last I caught a 

 fully-fledged young sky lark in some marshes near here. I fancy this is 

 unusually early, as this bird is a comparatively late breeder. — G. T. Hope; 

 Leisto7i, Suffolk. 



Lesser Redpoll and Siskin. — I am quite unacquainted with the summer 

 habits of the lesser redpoll, but in the winter numbers visit these parts, 

 and together with the siskins — which latter are always the rarer of the two 

 species — frequent the alders by the river, feeding upon the seeds, and in 

 their attitudes and grotesque attributes much resemble the blue tit. They 

 generally arrive in the cold days of October, and I have watched them 

 climbing about and hanging upon the willows close to the water's edge ; but 

 the alders appear to be much more frequently occupied, and the birds often 

 descend to the ground to pick up the seeds that have fallen. When 

 disturbed the whole flock takes wing, with an interesting twitter, and after 

 flying around for some little time will often settle upon the same tree again. 

 I have many times noticed this, and even when shot at it is not an uu- 

 frequent occurrence for them to do the like. The little things seem very 

 fearless of man, and a very near approach is easily attained whilst they are 

 engaged in feeding. The pretty red breast and crown of the head is more 

 the e.\.ception than the rule with the birds I have seen, although I have 

 observed this decoration in a few, and especially after their first arrival. 

 They generally leave us in March; but one season, when the spring was 

 backwai'd, I saw them and the siskins up to the middle of April, when the 

 latter were in beautiful plumage and appeared to be paired, but I never 

 could find a nest of either species, though I have been told that the redpoll 

 did breed in this neighbourhood once, and that an egg was taken. I may 

 also mention that both species frequent the heaps of hops at a brewery after 

 they are thrown into the yard by the river, and in this respect again much 

 resemble the blue tit, with which they are often associated. The foregoing 

 remarks, be it remembered, are but observations I have made on the birds 

 in winter. — G. B, Coibin; llinyiiood, Hants. 



