Birds. 6535 



Curious Fact in the Nidification of Sparrows.— For some time past I have observed 

 that two branches of a lime tree, which stands about twenty yards from my bed-room 

 window, were half denuded of their bark. It struck me as something curious, for the 

 branches were not dead, so I paid a little more attention to them, and at last was re- 

 warded by discovering the bark-strippers in the very act ; they proved to be sparrows 

 foraging for materials for their nests, fairly engaged tearing with their strong beaks 

 the bark from the branches. I saw one flying with a piece up to the houses. I ought 

 to mention that the bark seems to be partly diseased, and seems to be readily stripped 

 from the branch. — Robert H. J. Gilbert ; 17, Upper Pkillimore Place, Kensington, 

 March, 1859. 



Nidification of Birds ; the Common Martin. — By those who maintain that man is 

 governed by reason, and animals by a different principle, which they denominate 

 instinct, it is argued, as a characteristic proof of the nature and influence of the latter, 

 that its actions are invariable, because incapable of improvement by experience. How 

 far such is the case will appear from the following incident. Under the eaves of a 

 house, not so high as to be beyond the reach of any urchin who could procure a rod 

 or fling a stone, a martin had built its nest, which had more than once been destroyed. 

 There is no doubt that under ordinary circumstances these birds would have gone on 

 building their habitation in the same place and manner, if left to themselves and their 

 own resources, although even in such case some important variation in the structure 

 has been known to have occurred. But in the present instance the inhabitants of the 

 cottage were not satisfied to see the labour of their favourites perpetually rendered 

 void, and they set their wits to work, in what manner to secure them from harm. The 

 method adopted was, — to place a small round basket under the eaves, at the place 

 where the nest had been, as a protection from injury below; but it was attended with 

 the inconvenience that the handle prevented it from being pressed into contact with 

 the stone, while the breadth of the basket was so great as to cause the dripping from 

 the eaves to fall within the cavity. It was to obviate this last annoyance that a flat 

 piece of board was laid as a cover on the basket, with the precaution of leaving an 

 opening, not in front, but at the side, for the birds to enter, if they should choose to 

 adopt this new contrivance for their advantage; and they did justice to the kind 

 intentions of their friends by adopting it, and that too in a way of their own contri- 

 vance. They began by placing a rim of their usual mortar round the basket, at the 

 border where the covering board rested on it ; but in thus rendering it safe and close 

 on every side they observed the caution of leaving a small hole at the side, by which to 

 enter. In this convenient piece of wickerwork, then, they found a cradle in which they 

 were able successfully to rear their brood. But this was not all ; another pair of birds 

 had seen the good fortune of their fellows, and they resolved to be sharers in the 

 advantage they were enjoying. The space above the board, and within the arched 

 handle of the basket, was only inferior to the basket itself as a situation for a nest, and 

 there accordingly they proceeded to place it : it was formed of clay, in the usual 

 manner; and here, immediately above their neighbours, they successfully hatched 

 their young. We shall see whether they will adopt the same expedients in another 

 year. The laying hold of a novel, but obvious conveniency to secure an important 

 object, is not the least of the operations of the reasoning powers.— Jonathan Couch ; 

 Polperro, March 13, 1859. 



Three British Spotted Woodpeckers. — I have always thought that old Bewick was right 

 in saying there were three distinct British pied woodpeckers ; and the note, in the 



