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some of which were of considerable size. With almost every kind of bird that came near their 
residence, even although some‘were three or four times larger than themselves, they fought 
most courageously, and did not desist from tormenting them until they drove them away. When 
engaged in contest, they uttered a harsh kind of chirp: It is asserted by Mr. Selby “ that a small 
hole is left on two opposite sides of the nest, not only for ingress and egress, but also to prevent 
the bird, during incubation, from being incommoded by its long tail, which then projects through 
one of the orifices.” If this be the form in which it is built in England, it is not so in this 
neighbourhood; for in all the nests which I have discovered, there was only one very small hole. 
When the female is sitting upon eggs, the male usually resides with her during the night. In 
this situation I have caught them after sunset, about the beginning of May. How they keep 
their tails from being injured is truly astonishing. 
‘“¢Qn Wednesday afternoon, the Ist of May, they finished their snug and comfortable 
dwelling, after having been for twelve days constantly and arduously engaged in its construction. 
All the sides and bottom of the interior were thickly lined with a great variety of feathers. Of 
all our British nests, this is the most elegantly and artfully constructed. On Thursday morning, 
the 2nd, the female laid her first egg. There are ten eggs in it to-day.’ 
The eggs of this species are, excepting those of the Golden-crested Wren, the smallest of 
any to be found in this country. We have before us a series from Dresser’s collection, which in 
size average {6 by 44 inch, and are white, spotted (chiefly at the larger end) with minute red dots. 
From eight to ten appears to be the usual complement. : 
It has been said that of later years this bird is becoming rarer; and our friend Mr. J. H. 
Gurney, jun., writes to us on this question as follows :—‘* Whether this species is really decreasing, 
as lately hinted in the ‘ Zoologist’ (p. 2608), or not, I can answer for its being very scarce at 
Northrepps. In a year’s time I have not seen a dozen, where I am assured they were formerly 
rather common; yet the increase of fir-planting has not been less here than elsewhere.” In‘ Land 
and Water’ for May 1872 there are a number of letters on the moot point of the nest’s having 
two holes ; and the old opinion seems to be reestablished, that there really do exist two, but one 
of them is so small as to be easily overlooked. The theory of Selby that its purpose was for the 
accommodation of its long tail, which projected through, will not hold water for a minute ; for, 
say Messrs. Sheppard and Whitear, “ we have more than once this spring observed an old bird 
of this species sitting in its nest with its head partly out of the hole in the side of the nest, and 
its tail turned over its head, and projecting about an inch and a half.” 
The description and figures of the adult birds are taken from a pair shot by Captain snelley 
at Avington, in Hampshire, on the 25rd and 24th of November, 1865, and given us by that 
gentleman. 
In the preparation of the above article we have examined the following specimens :— 
E Mus. H. E. Dresser. 
a,b,c, d, 2. Avington, Hampshire, November 23rd and 24th, 1865 (G. E. Shelley). d, 9. Near London 
(C. Davy). ¢, 2. Near London, April 20th, 1870 (C. Davy). f. Aboyne, Aberdeenshire, September 23rd, 
1871 (R. B. Sharpe). 
