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Mr. W. H. Workman,



that further attempts to remove the spots became hopeless, and I

remain in doubt whether they were proper to the egg or not: they

had a very natural appearance. This fragment was of a darker

shade than I had previously supposed the eggs to have been,

quite as dark as those of the Hedge Accentor.


Both of the birds were in full colour—for the female also

has a sufficiently apparent breeding plumage, although this does

not seem to be referred to in books.


For some days the male mourned disconsolately at the site

of the nest—and then suggested another, but the female declined

with thanks. The latter, I regret to say, does not look well and

does not improve. It was weak of me to have allowed her to

continue sitting.


December 12.—The male single-handed has since built a

non-globular nest, with an aperture fully three inches in diame¬

ter, but like all “ cock’s nests ” constructed by Weavers, it has

been picked to pieces. Now, however, both birds are busy over

another nest.—R. P.



WITH THE BREEDING BIRDS ON LOUGH NEAGH.


By W. H. Workman, M.B.O.U.


Most of us bird lovers, as the Spring comes round, begin

to feel a sort of longing for the country, its hedge-rows, fields

and marshes. I think this sort of thing attacks those who live

in towns more than our more fortunate fellow-workers who have

the country always around them ; I know it is this kind of

complaint that comes to me every Spring, and I begin to make

arrangements with friends, see to camera, look up maps and find

out where one can get good photos and a chance of adding to

one’s collection of eggs and lantern slides ; by the production of

the latter a great deal of pleasure can be given to our less

fortunate friends by shewing them on the screen ; and such

pretty pictures they make too, when enlarged by the lantern.

They are greatly appreciated by Field Club meetings, and a few

bird photos thrown in amongst the many botany and geology

papers give a little life to the proceedings.



