3146 Birds. 



tion I found the cloaca contained another egg of nearly the same size, but without the 

 calcareous envelope. I think in all probability this bird was searching for a nest, per- 

 haps that of the meadow pipit (Anthus pratensis), for the depositing of its egg. — /. O. 

 Harper, Curator to the Museum of Anatomy, Hospital, Norwich. 



Waxwings killed in Northumberland. — I have to-day seen a fine flesh specimen of 

 the waxwing (Bombycilla garrula), which was shot near the village of VVideopen a day 

 or two ago. Two others were killed at the same time, but the shooter not being aware 

 of their value did not preserve them. — Thos. J. Bold ; 42, Bigg Market, Newcastle- 

 on-Tyne, April 16, 1851. 



Occurrence of the Waxwing near Bishop Auckland. — I beg to inform you of the 

 arrival again of the Bohemian waxwing in our neighbourhood this year, though in 

 very limited numbers as compared with last year, and at a much later period. I re- 

 ceived a specimen on the 18th instant, which had been shot the day before at New 

 Hunwick near Bishop Auckland ; other four having also been obtained near that 

 place. Since then Mr. H. Gornall has received three to preserve: he himself shot 

 one on the 22nd, and saw other three, which fortunately escaped. — Joseph Duff ; 

 Hunter Hill, near Bishop Auckland, April 26, 1851. 



Late appearance of the Waxwing. — A pair of waxwings, male and female, were (I 

 am informed) killed at Cringleford, near Norwich, on the 20th of April. So late an 

 appearance of these birds would seem to denote that they would probably have nested 

 there, had they not been destroyed, especially as they were both killed by the same 

 shot. — J. H. Gurney ; Easton, May 3, 1851. 



Nesting of the Wren (Troglodytes vulgaris). — I have observed one or two instances 

 of variation from the usual locality of the nest of this interesting little bird, which are 

 perhaps worth recording. As every one knows from his schoolboy days, little " Kitty'' 

 chooses for its nest a bank covered with moss or ivy, an old stump covered with the 

 same convenient plant, or, better than all, the thatched roof of an out-house. Two 

 years ago, however, I was shown the nest of this bird in the hole of a wall. The en- 

 trance was perhaps half a foot in diameter, but it narrowed inwardly, and here the nest 

 was formed, having the usual ingeniously contrived opening, into which I could just 

 manage to get a finger. The brood was hatched safely. The same year I was much 

 amused in watching one of my sprightly little friends carrying a mouihful of moss, 

 nearly as large as itself, into the newly finished nest of the house-martin. I did not 

 observe the real owner of the nest disputing possession with the intruder, but as after 

 each load of moss it flew on to a neighbouring gate, and gave out its usual gay shrill 

 note of triumph, I presumed that the swallow had surrendered at discretion. I regret 

 that I was prevented re-visiting the place to ascertain whether this was the fact or not. 

 This year I found that my little friend, or one of them, rather, for I boast of many, 

 had built its nest in the branch of a yew-tree, not in the fork of two branches, but 

 amongst the foliage of a large branch stretching out far from the main stem, and at , 

 least eight feet from the ground. I at first doubted the fact of the ownership of the 

 nest being that of the wren, and watched it carefully. There was an egg laid every 

 day up to the fifth ; the sixth day being wet, I did not visit the nest ; on the seventh 

 day I found only a single egg, what had become of the others I do not know. I care- 

 fully looked for foot-marks, but found none except my own, and I have perfect confi- 

 dence that no one about my premises would touch a nest. In addition to this, I hold 

 it impossible for any human to get the eggs out of a wren's nest, without destroying 

 the nest <>r breaking the eggs, and so I suppose a rascally starling was the depredator. 



