150 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



in 1895. " Mr. A. G. More ('Ibis,' 1865, p. 13) mentions nesting at 

 Burnham Beeches, Berks (Charlesworth's ' Mag. of Nat. Hist.' i. 

 p. 539), and Shropshire, on the authority of Mr. H. Shaw. He also 

 adds that Mr. Heysham was informed that it bred in the woods at 

 Lowther, Cumberland, but there seems to be no satisfactory evidence 

 in this case." — F. C. E. Jouedain (Clifton Vicarage, Ashburne, 

 Derbyshire). 



Decrease of Corn-Crake, Wryneck, and Nuthatch. — The Corn- 

 Crake has undoubtedly decreased in this district. Twenty years ago 

 their harsh note was one of the characteristic sounds of the Thames 

 Valley, now it is seldom heard. The decrease may be attributed to 

 several different causes, first and foremost the fact that our meadows 

 are now wetter than of old ; either they have sunk (which is un- 

 likely), or the head of water is kept at a higher level. Whatever the 

 cause, it is a fact that, whereas the Corn-Crake was formerly a 

 common breeder, it is now almost extinct, and that the Snipe, which 

 seldom, if ever, nested with us, now breeds regularly. The Wryneck 

 was never common in these parts, but about six years ago the num- 

 bers seemed to increase, and we had two or three nests in our boxes. 

 During the last three seasons we have seen a few individuals on first 

 arrival, though none remained to breed. Nuthatches, on the other 

 hand, have very materially increased. When I was a boy they were 

 uncommon, now distinctly numerous. Last season we had five 

 nests in our boxes, and I knew of as many more in trees. This local 

 increase is all the more remarkable, having regard to Mr. Aplin's 

 note, as he resides certainly not more than forty miles from this 

 property, " as the crow flies." — Heatley Noble (Temple Combe, 

 Berks). 



That all three of the birds named have much decreased in 

 numbers in this part of Hants is a well recognized fact — the Corn- 

 Crake in the meadows or the corn-fields, and the Wryneck in copse, 

 orchard, or garden, both better known by their voice than their 

 appearance ; and how welcome those spring notes of " crake, crake" 

 and "weet, weet" to a lover of nature, speaking of sunshine and 

 hope ! Last summer a single Corn-Crake was heard in this locality, 

 where years ago it was comparatively common. A friend (now 

 deceased), formerly living in Ireland (Westmeath), informed me of 

 its gradual decrease from year to year ; at one time it was so common 

 near the house as to disturb the night's sleep, but it became so 

 scarce that its voice was seldom heard. How often of old the Wry- 

 neck was heard by those to whom the bird was invisible in its 



