£6 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



in the construction of the nest mentioned by Mr. Browne are not 

 commonly used. 



Dipper, Cinclus aquaticus. — I fear extinct in Leicestershire as 

 a breeding species. I know the brook mentioned by Mr. Browne 

 but have never seen the Dipper there. 



Long-tailed Tit, Acredula caudata. — I have always con- 

 sidered this a plentiful bird, more so in the better-wooded parts. 

 I am surprised Mr. Browne did not meet with it for so long. 



Coal Tit, Parus ater ; Marsh Tit, P. palustris. — I agree 

 that formerly the Marsh Tit was common. Several favourite 

 breeding stumps I knew were quite riddled with old nest-holes. 

 The Coal Tit, except in the autumn, is still scarce. I have only 

 once found the nest. In 1881 and 1882 I found the Marsh Tit 

 breeding commonly a few miles over the Leicestershire border, 

 near Rugby. 



Nuthatch, Sitta ccesia. — Rather scarce. I have heard it near 

 Buddon Wood, but have never taken the nest. 



White Wagtail, Motacilla alba. — On April 20th, this year, I 

 had a male under observation for about half an hour. I was on 

 Nottinghamshire ground, but, when a quarrelsome Pied Wagtail 

 drove it away, it flew towards the Leicestershire border. I con- 

 sider it a very uncommon bird in Leicestershire. 



Pied Wagtail, M. Yarrellii. The first egg in a nest found at 

 Cotes Abbey was a Cuckoo's. In a nest in Garendon Park were 

 two Cuckoo's eggs. 



Grey Wagtail, M. melanope. — I have observed this species 

 near the Soar mouth as early as August, and have seen little 

 flocks by the end of September. As this species breeds in 

 Derbyshire, we might reasonably expect it to appear early in 

 Leicestershire. As it is common on the Soar, I do not think it 

 necessary to note each occasion on which I have seen it. A female 

 seen April 2nd was just assuming the black throat. 



Ray's Wagtail, M. rayii. — Nests also on the stumps in osier- 

 beds. More common in the Trent than in the Soar Valley. I 

 met with several this year on April 6th. 



Meadow Pipit, Anthus pratensis. — I cannot consider this a 

 common breeding species. I have only once known the nest to 

 be found in the Lower Soar Valley, the tussocky meadows which 

 it prefers being absent. It breeds in Notts near the Soar mouth, 

 and probably does so in the Leicestershire portion of the Trent 



