CURIOUS EXPERIENCES IN BIRDS' NESTING. 373 



somewhere in the neighbourhood. The next day I accidentally 

 came upon a Sandpiper's nest containing four eggs, the nest 

 being placed at the foot of a willow fully 100 yards from the 

 river. This discovery put me on the right track, and I found six 

 more nests in various positions, all a long way from the river. 

 Two were under bushes, two in grass fields, and in each instance 

 on the highest part of the respective meadows. One was situated 

 by a rack close to the keeper's house, some forty yards from the 

 river. It was at least thirty feet above it, on the side of a very 

 steep ascent. Another nest occupied a most curious position : the 

 Sandpiper had built on the head of a pollard willow, and the nest 

 was only discovered by an angler striking the tree and flushing 

 the bird. From May, 1886, the date of these floods, until 1889 the 

 Sandpipers continued to nest at some distance from the river. In 

 my opinion this proves conclusively that the birds remembered 

 former calamities, and made use of their dearly-bought experience 

 by choosing positions inaccessible to the highest flood, In 1889, 

 however, I found the birds had resumed their usual nesting sites 

 close to the river. 



I once saw a Wood Pigeon's nest placed in the branch of a 

 tree resting on the ground, the nest being only raised a few inches 

 from the ground, with the grass rising above it. 



Moorhens often select odd nesting-places. Some years ago 

 I found a nest in a hawthorn-bush near a pool, the nest being 

 placed some ten feet from the ground. In August, 1889, I saw 

 another nest placed in the middle of a large pool. The water 

 was exceptionally low, being only some nine inches in depth. 

 The bird had laid a foundation of sticks at the bottom, and built 

 up the nest so that it stood at least a foot above the water's level. 

 It was a very substantial structure and quite different from the 

 usual nests built by these birds. 



Towards the end of April, 1888, I had a curious experience 

 with regard to a Carrion Crow's nest. Whilst strolling along the 

 river Arrow I noticed a nest of this bird placed high up in a large 

 poplar. The nest evidently contained well-fledged young birds, 

 judging by the noise they made. These the parents were busily 

 employed in feeding. Whilst passing the nest shortly afterwards 

 I noticed that a Kestrel and the two parent Crows, evidently 

 quarrelling, flew out of it. A fortnight later when repassing the 

 nest I saw a Kestrel fly from the tree, and then I noticed that 



