OCCASIONAL NOTES. 219 
buoyancy of the egg in water, and by viewing the light through it. A 
circle of suitable size is drawn on the egg, and a series of punctures are 
then made with a sharp needle round this circular line, close together, but 
not close enough to break into one another. With the point of a fine 
needle the included disc of shell is then slightly raised all round, and by 
gradually working in the point of the needle the connecting membrane is 
disengaged. The piece is lifted off with the needle carefully (as it is apt 
to crack across), and laid aside. The embryo may now be drawn out, 
head foremost, by a pin with a crooked point, which is inserted under its 
beak. When the shell has been cleansed, drained and dried, a circular 
piece of tissue-paper is cut, a little larger than the orifice, nicked all round 
like the covering of a jam-pot, and wetted on both sides with gum. It is 
then placed on the outer side of the little disc of shell taken from the egg, 
which is restored to its place in the egg-shell with the paper adhering 
to it, and the overlapping edges of the paper are smoothed down over tke 
incision with the gum-brush. The tissue-paper being nearly transparent 
when gummed on both sides shows but little, and the symmetry of the egg 
is unimpaired.—R. J. Ussuer (Cappagh, Cappoquin, Co. Waterford). 
Buvsz Tir NestiIneé In THE Grounp.—That both Cole and Marsh Tits 
very frequently build in holes in the ground must be the experience of 
most field-naturalists, but for the Blue Tit to do so I believe to be of far 
less frequent occurrence, and I therefore mention the fact that last summer 
I found the nest (containing ten eggs) of this bird in a hole about a foot 
deep, half-way down a high bank at the side of the road close here. The 
only other instance that has come under my notice of this species 
building in the ground was recorded by me in ‘The Zoologist’ for 1874, 
p. 4034; and that produced a note from Mr. G. W. P. Moor (Zool. 1874, 
p- 4076) stating that he had found a nest of the Great Tit ina similar 
situation. It would, therefore, appear that all four species occasionally 
select such sites—C. Bygrave WHARTON (Hounsdown, Hants). 
BuLirincw EATING Priver-BerRiEs.—In reply to Mr. Briggs’s query 
(p. 181), I may remark that I have frequently seen the Bullfinch feeding 
on privet-berries. Hither the Bullfinch must be a rare bird or the privet 
a scarce shrub in the West of England, or Mr. Briggs could hardly have 
failed to satisfy himself of the fact. I can confirm Mr. Withering’s state- 
ment as to the partiality of the Bullfinch for these berries; and I know of 
no prettier sight—except, perhaps, a flock of Cedar Birds feeding on the 
berries of the mountain ash —than a small flock, or family party, when so 
engaged. Formerly it was a common—not to say numerous—species in the 
Undercliff, resorting to the gardens and plantations, of which it was the 
chief ornament. Several other birds feed on privet-berries, as the Blackcap 
does on elder-berries —Henry Haprierp (Ventnor, Isle of Wight). 
