Birds. 3577 



" crocking" had inspired him. So tremulous and confounded had the poor bird be- 

 come, that fears were entertained for his life ; however, at the end of two days, he be- 

 gan to be more tranquil, and gradually forgot his late fright, and became once more 

 the same jovial merry fellow he had been before. But soon the season for moulting 

 came on, and now, instead of the black coat for which he was so famous, he assumed 

 a piebald dress of black and white, to the great amazement of all who saw him. I 

 have known more than one instance where the hair of a human being has been turned 

 white in a single night from sudden and extreme terror ; but this is the first instance 

 that ever came to my notice of such an effect being produced on any irrational crea- 

 ture : however, I can vouch for the truth of the above statement, as my friend, who 

 told me the story, knew all the circumstances well, and had constantly seen the bird in 

 question, both before and after his fright. — Alfred Charles Smith; Old Park, Devizes, 

 August 12, 1852. 



Note on a double Nest of the Greenfinch. — During the spring of this year, in a 

 thick bushy plant of an ornamental heath, growing in a garden a few miles distant 

 from the city of Norwich, were found two nests of the common greenfinch, which not 

 only were completely interwoven at the adjoining sides, but were built on one com- 

 mon platform, a foundation of fibrous roots and moss. Both nests were complete, 

 except that one of them was deficient in interior lining. When found, I understand 

 there was one egg in each nest, but it was not ascertained whether the nests belonged 

 to two pairs of birds, or only to one pair. — J. H. Gurney ; Easton, Norfolk, August 7, 

 1852. 



Anecdote of Flycatchers (Muscicapa grisola). — " Singular Bird's Nest. Our atten- 

 tion was some time since drawn to the singular situation chosen by a pair of post birds 

 to build their nest in Cuckfield Place garden. Mr. Coomber, the farm bailiff, having 

 been using a hoe in the garden, hung it on a nail against the wall, beneath a small 

 shelf, and on going to it again found a pair of birds very busy building their nest upon 

 it. He let it remain, and in a short time they had finished their task, nicely fitting 

 the moss to the hoe and the face of the wall. The hen bird laid four eggs, upon which 

 she sat, and in due time, notwithstanding she was constantly visited during the time 

 of incubation, hatched as many young ones, which the old birds constantly attended 

 to, and brought up, until they forsook the nest, regardless of interruption. Mr. Serji- 

 son and family took much interest in the progress of the young brood, and they were 

 visited by many persons : Mr. Coomber taking the nest off the hoe when he wished to 

 use it, and placing it on the shelf or the ground while he was hoeing, but the birds 

 did not seem alarmed, still feeding their young and attending to their parental duties, 

 as if nothing had happened ; and as soon as he replaced it in its original position, they 

 would express their gratification by flying round and chirruping forth their song of joy, 

 thus bringing up their progeny until they were fully fledged and able to provide for 

 themselves."- — From the ' Sussex Express' Newspaper of July 31, 1852. 



Curious Variety of the Sedge Warbler, (Salicaria Phragmitis). — About a fortnight 

 ago I was shown a very curious variety of the sedge warbler, killed in Sussex. It was 

 a bird of this year, but full grown, and of a uniform light canary-yellow all over, ex- 

 cept that on the top of the head there were a few spots or small streaks of pale olive.— 

 W. F. W. Bird ; 5, Kings Road, Bedford Row, August 4, 1852. 



White Willow Wren. — This morning I saw in the kitchen-garden here, a white 

 willow-wren (Sylvia Trochilus). I watched it closely for some time, so as to be 

 certain of its specific identity, and then proceeded into the house to fetch my gun, to 

 X. 2 M 



