NOTES AND QUERIES. 265 
area over which he exercises manorial rights: consequently the tenants now 
rigidly prohibit the taking of eggs from the marshes on any plea what- 
soever. I trust that the senseless and indiscriminate plundering of eggs 
that formerly took place will now be entirely put a stop to._-H. W. 
FErLpEn (West House, Wells, Norfolk). 
Pellets disgorged by Flycatchers.—While watching a Spotted Fly- 
catcher, which had built a nest on the outside of one of the corridors 
of this house, I remarked that the bird was looking somewhat uncomfort- 
able. It sat on an iron balustrade, with its feathers ruffled and its neck 
extended. Ina minute or two it rejected from its mouth a pellet about 
the size of a horse-bean, and then hopped away apparently much relieved. 
Upon my picking up the pellet I found it to be composed of a mass of 
beetles’ wings and other entomological curiosities, amongst which the 
wing-case of a brilliant green beetle was very conspicuous. I have not 
observed, in the ordinary descriptions of the Flycatcher, any note of this 
peculiar habit. If it is common there could be no difficulty, as in the 
ease of the Owl, of indicating with some precision the nature of its food, 
and perhaps of clearing the character of this charming and useful little 
bird from the aspersions with which vulgar report has sometimes assailed 
its character,—namely, its destruction of bees and cherries. My object 
in writing this note is to endeavour to draw from the readers of ‘ The 
Zoologist’ further information on this subject—E. W. Harcourt (Nune- 
ham Park, Abingdon). 
[We have long been familiar with the fact that Flycatchers—like 
Hawks and Owls, Shrikes, Rooks, and other birds—reject the indigestible 
portions of their food in the shape of “ pellets,” or, as they are termed by 
falconers, “‘ castings.” Those of the Flycatcher, from their small size, are 
troublesome to find, unless the bird is closely watched, but a careful 
analysis of their contents would doubtless lead to some interesting 
results.— Ep.] 
Blackbird and Thrush laying in same Nest. — On April 20th a 
Thrush’s nest was found by the gardener at Westbrook, Godalming, in 
which were two Thrush’s and three Blackbird’s eggs. The hen Thrush 
was on the nest ; this was built in an Acacia tree, and was about ten feet 
from the ground. I may add that there is no likelihood of its having been 
tampered with.— Henry Benson (Farncombe Rectory, Godalming). 
Variety of Eggs of Grey Wagtail.—I fear your editorial remarks 
about my Grey Wagtail’s eggs (p. 231) will cause your readers to be 
sceptical about them. I omitted to state that I saw the old birds in order 
that my note should not take up too much space. I am well ucquainted 
with this bird, which breeds regularly in several localities about here. I 
discoyered the nest by seeing both old birds fly to it; it was then empty. 
