THE AVI-FAUNA OF WIMBLEDON COMMON. 237 
their progeniture. They were composed of different water-mosses 
(Hypnum), covering the surface of the bottom of the ditch, which 
for want of water had almost become dry, and attached between 
several stems of reed, exactly like the nests of most of the Reed 
Warblers, but of a fusiform shape, from one half to one foot high 
and from three to four inches in diameter about their middle. 
These nests, placed at the height of one foot above the level of 
the water, showed no iniet. The animal, when trying to make 
use of this refuge, removed that part of the upper covering of 
the nest, which is less densely interwoven, and is soon entirely 
concealed between the moss. ‘This part of the nest serves at 
the same time as a storehouse for some winter provisions, as 
was proved by some remnants of coleopterous and a few other 
insects. 
The Harvest Mouse, choosing, in dry parts, heaps of grass or 
straw for a winter retreat, or concealing itself among shrubs or 
herbs, it is evident that the building of the peculiar sort of winter 
nests, such as we have described, is owing to a just calculation of 
being safe against the danger of drowning. 
THE AVI-FAUNA OF WIMBLEDON COMMON. 
By Epwarp Hamitton, M.D., F.L.S. 
As a railroad is about to cut through Wimbledon Common 
and part of Putney Heath, it may be as well before this happens 
to place on record some notice of the various birds which have 
been observed to frequent these two open spaces during the space 
of ten years. Although so near the metropolis, these rural 
Commons are the haunt of more species of birds than many people 
would suppose. 
The first establishment of the rifle butts did not materially 
diminish the number of birds; but no doubt since the firing has 
been extended, and now goes on both summer and winter, 
and since the Common has been drained, many of the rarer 
Species have been driven away. Nevertheless, an early walk 
either in summer or winter will still repay the lover of Natural 
History; his eyes will be gladdened with the sight, and his 
ears gratified with the note, of many a bird which he would 
hardly expect to hear within the sound of “ Big Ben.” 
