264 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



to the body, which lay distended and motionless. The Kestrel was unaware 

 of the keeper's presence until after an interval of some minutes, which gave 

 him tlie opportunity of leisurely witnessing the scene. So precipitate was 

 this bird's flight when it eyed the keeper that it did not give itself time to 

 snatch up either the body or the tail-end of the Slow-worm, but went away 

 empty-clawed. Such precaution was needless, as all winged "vermin" 

 (Sparrowhawks excepted) enjoy full immunity here. They are all allowed 

 to live and multiply. I sent for the remains on the day following, and on 

 examination I found the upper parts of the liead and neck had four deep 

 wounds, each of which was sufficient to cause death. The broken extremity 

 showed no marks of violence. It is possible the occurrence may have 

 taken place through the natural contraction of the muscles and body, as 

 occasionally happens, and from which habit it obtains the specific name 

 of frag ills. The tail end, which the keeper was unable to find, had been 

 taken away possibly by the Kestrel, which had a nest in the neighbouring 

 covert. The length of the Slow-worm was thirteen inches. — J. C. Mansel- 

 Pleydell (Whatcombe, Blandford). 



Nesting of the Marsh Warbler in Gloucestershire. — After the 

 repeated occurrence of the Marsh Warbler [Acrocephaliis 2^ahistrls) at 

 Taunton and at Bath, it is not surprising that it should turn up a little 

 further north ; and I have the pleasure of recording its nesting near 

 Cirencester, in this county. The bird itself has not been noticed, but a 

 nest was found about the middle of June, 1880. The finder was a son of 

 Mr. Henry Plummer, farmer, of Liddington, near Cirencester, who cut out 

 the nest, which contained five eggs. Working alone and without books on 

 the subject, he had no idea of the prize he had found, until my attention 

 was drawn to it recently. Two of the five eggs were sent me for com- 

 parison, and are of the common type of Marsh Warblers ; indeed, but for 

 the difference before blowing, I could hardly have picked them out again if 

 once mixed with my stock of continental specimens. I have since 

 visited the spot where they were taken, seen the other three eggs, and 

 obtained the nest, which Mr. Plummer kindly gave me. It is about four 

 inches in diameter externally, and barely three inches deep ; the cup two 

 inches in diameter, by one inch and three-eighths deep. It is composed 

 almost entirely of fine roots and grass, with a few hairs in the lining, and 

 one or two bits of wool and dead leaves outside. It was situated about 

 three feet from the ground, and partly suspended from the lower shoots of 

 a small elder bush and the undergrowth around it. This elder bush is one 

 of several stunted bushes scattered through a long narrow withey bed on 

 the bank of the Thames and Severn Canal. When I visited the spot a 

 week ago, my companion found in close proximity a Reed Warbler's nest 

 just completed, and a Reed Bunting's, containing four fresh eggs. The 

 immediate neighbourhood I should consider highly suited to the species. 



