THE ZooLocist—NoveMBER, 1875. 4673 
previously lain perdu. Thinking that the remaining egg might not 
be hatched, it was taken on the 2nd of July, and contained a chick 
well advanced. Probably the warmth of the downy nestling would 
have kept the egg at the natural temperature during the absence of 
the parent bird. 
f I was unable to revisit the nest until the 3rd of July: on seeing 
me the nestling stood on the defensive, open-mouthed and with 
upraised wings; one could hardly imagine so young a bird having 
so formidable an appearance. The nest, which measures one foot 
in diameter, is composed of stalks of fern and heath, lined with 
grass, and is placed on the ground, surrounded by high gorse, 
except at one point, where the bushes being detached and inter- 
mixed with fern, the nestling can be seen; anda striking sight it 
is, the white down contrasting strongly with the green gorse and 
purple heather. The bill is black; cere, tarsus and toes of a 
uniform pale greenish yellow; eyes of a dark hazel-brown. It is 
sturdy-looking and well fed, four birds having been found in the 
nest, the greater part of two eaten, the third headless, the fourth a 
nestling stonechat or whinchat—all well nigh stripped of feathers 
before being brought to the nest. 
July 6th. The young bird again looked at. It is much 
grown, but little changed in plumage, though the shafts of the 
primary quills are much grown; the bare patch at the lore is 
darker, and yellow at gape more apparent. One small bird, de- 
nuded of feathers and headless, was found in the nest: it appears 
that the lark, titlark, yellowhammer and stonechat are some of the 
species preyed on. 
On the 10th the nestling was found to be much grown and 
surprisingly changed in plumage, there being now large patches 
of reddish brown on the shoulders and small ones on the head, 
back and wings. The quills, which are now two inches in length, 
are black, tipped with rufous, and there are a few reddish brown 
feathers cropping out on the neck and breast. Got a distant view 
of one of the old birds. 
13th. Fearing the young bird might escape, it was tethered. 
It grows fast, and the wings look out of all proportion. The 
plumage is becoming dark, the brown patches now extending 
from shoulder to shoulder; the dark spots on the back are 
united, and those on the under parts are spreading; the tail- 
coverts are ofa light yellowish white, with dark shafts. In this 
