NOTES AND QUERIES. 265 



on one side being the almost disused Thames and Severn Canal, and, a few 

 hundred yards off, the Thames, here a mere brook, having its source at 

 Seven Springs, near Cheltenham, some fifteen miles to the north. The 

 space between canal and brook is almost entirely occupied by meadows, 

 with irrigation-ditches running over their surface. It may save trouble 

 and disappointment if I state here that the above eggs are not for disposal. 

 Mr. Plummer naturally desires to keep the three he has; the other two 

 were given by him to Mr. Alfred Archibald, of Cirencester, tlu'ough whose 

 kind offices I was made aware of this interesting addition to our county 

 avifauna. — H. W. Marsden (37, Midland Road, Gloucester). 



Unusual Nesting-site for the Tree Sparrow. — On May 24th, whilst 

 examining some exposed mole-burrows (many of which had been deepened 

 or adopted by Sand Martins), in a brick-earth cutting at Kemsley, near 

 Sheppy, I observed proofs that one of the larger holes had been taken pos- 

 session of by some birds; in fact, at my approach a Tree Sparrow flew out 

 almost in ray face : on digging away the surface of the earth I exposed a 

 nest lined with white feathers, and containing six perfectly typical eggs. 

 It is well known that Tree Sparrows in this country usually select pollard 

 willows as nesting sites, the nest being frequently placed in a hole between 

 the young branches of the partly-decayed trunk ; I have also found the nest 

 in a hole in a large dead branch which had been cut off near to the trunk. 

 — A. G. BuTLEK (Natural History Museum). 



Hawfinch nesting in Surrey. — On May 30th a nest of the Hawfinch 

 {Coccothraustes vulgaris) containing eggs was found in the Leith Hill district 

 of Surrey; the exact locality perhaps it is unnecessary to mention. The 

 nest was built in the fork of an apple tree, about ten feet from the ground. 

 Another nest of this bird was found here last year, but I am afraid it was 

 robbed. ^Dayid J. Kick (Coldharbour, near Dorking). 



The "Grouse Disease." — Having lately had the opportunity of 

 examining several dead grouse which were said to have died of the " grouse 

 disease," I have been led to certain reflections which may possibly be of 

 interest to your readers. I may divide the grouse fully examined into 

 three groups : — (a). Two specimens examined on the 30th of last Septem- 

 ber, which were found dead on a moor in Yorkshire. These specimens 

 were fairly nourished, exhibited no sign of disease, and had apparently no 

 other parasite than the common tapeworm ; the organs of these worms gave 

 no indication of the cause of death, (b). One of several specimens sent 

 from Ayrshire was particularly examined ; in fair plumage, without marked 

 signs of starvation, and with a well-tilled crop, this bird showed an inflam- 

 mation of the walls of the intestine of so marked a character, that — as 

 I wrote to the Editor of ' Laud and Water,' from whom I received the 

 specimen — tiie cause of its death should be the study of a professed 



