Tur ZooLocist—June, 1876. 4957 
Siskin breeding in Wicklow.—I had the satisfaction of recording in the 
‘ Zoologist’ (S. S. 8914) the fact that the siskin undoubtedly breeds in 
Wicklow, and I now have the pleasure of informing you of a second instance. 
This time the nest is placed at the top of a deodar cedar, about eighteen 
feet from the ground, and at present contains, as well as I cau estimate by 
the sense of touch, three or four young ones. The tree is so weak near the 
top that I was unable to look into the nest. The nest is all moss outside, 
and in shape and size is very similar to that of the goldcrest. The note of 
the siskin is so unmistakable and distinct from that of most of our 
songsters, that when the owners of the nest above described were pairing 
and building their cry could be heard across the whole pleasure-grounds, 
though several other birds were calling at the same time. Confiding, tame, 
and easy of approach, the siskin, with its twittering, frisky song, lively 
manners, and sprightly attitudes, is a great favourite of mine, and I regret 
that the confidence it reposes in man is sometimes abused.—Richard M. 
Barrington ; Fassaroe, Bray, Co. Wicklow, May 21, 1876. 
Jackdaws stealing Guillemots’ Eggs.—I have been told by an old climber 
at Flamborough that the jackdaws are in the habit of stealing the eggs of 
the “scout,” or guillemot, and flying with them to the top of the cliffs, to 
devour them there; in fact, the appearance of the broken shells on the 
grass above the cliffs is an unfailing sign that the egging season has 
commenced. Apropos of guillemots, Mr. Bailey killed a silvereye or bridled 
guillemot off Flamborough on the 24th of March, which I have added to 
my collection. —Julian G. Tuck; April 7, 1876. 
Martin returning Annually to the same Nest.— As the swallows are 
now arriving to gladden us with their merry chirp and graceful motions, 
perhaps the following may interest some of your readers :—In the year 1850 
Mr. Gilbert, a farmer, living at Rainham, Kent, wished to test the worth of 
a common saying, that if you mutilate the nest of a martin it never returns 
to it. He broke down a portion of a nest built near his window, and to 
which he thought he had observed the same bird come four or five previous 
summers. To convince himself whether he was right or not, he caught the 
bird and put a silver ring round one of its legs. Much to his gratification, 
he saw this same bird return to the nest nine following summers: it is 
therefore reasonable to conclude that this bird found its way to the 
same spot at least fourteen different seasons, notwithstanding the partial 
destruction of its nest. The bird was remarkably tame.—H. Coz; 5, Park 
Road, West Dulwich, May 9, 1876. 
Wood Pigeon building in a Buzzard’s Nest.—Last year a pair of 
buzzards built their nest in an old stunted and weather-beaten elder-bush 
growing on a wall close to the cliffs near Kingswear Castle, and notwith- 
standing the exposed situation and facility with which the nest could be 
SECOND SERIES—VOL, XI. 2G 
