316 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



from the river Rotlier, at a height of from twelve to fifteen feet 

 from the ground. "When found it contained three eggs, of which one 

 was taken at the time. The birds were watched and identified, and it 

 was intended, when the full clutch of eggs had been laid, to take 

 them, substituting small eggs of the Linnet for the Redpoll to hatch 

 out, and then subsequently, when the birds had flown, to remove the 

 nest for preservation. But on visiting it a week later (for the purpose 

 of substituting Linnets' eggs as mentioned), the remaining two eggs 

 were gone, as was also the lining of the nest, which consisted of 

 vegetable down. There was no evidence of broken eggs anywhere on 

 or around the tree, no signs of other visitants, and a Thrush's nest in 

 the adjacent tree, low down and hard to overlook, was untouched, 

 increasing the improbability of boys having found the Redpoll's nest, 

 as their wont is to pull out every nest they can find, and to wantonly 

 destroy or carry off every egg they can lay their ruthless hands upon. 

 The theory of a passing Jay or Jackdaw or Magpie having carried off 

 the eggs is hard to reconcile with the fact that the lining of the nest 

 was gone. Mayhap the old birds may have removed it to line a new 

 nest subsequently to the eggs being taken from the old one. It is 

 believed this is the first recorded instance of the Lesser Redpoll's nest 

 having been found in Sussex. Kent, Surrey, Hants are counties 

 mentioned, but Sussex is not, as far as the books consulted may be 

 taken as covering the ground. To revert to the wanton destruction of 

 nests and eggs and young of birds by the ordinary boy nester, I may 

 mention that recently Mr. Arthur Byatt, noticing a hole in a tree 

 mudded up, remarked, "No Nuthatch has done that; some boy has 

 closed it to prevent the birds sitting." He climbed up, removed the 

 mud, was unable to enlarge the hole itself, but, finding the wood thin 

 below it, made a counter opening some nine inches beneath, and 

 dragged out from beneath a lot of rubbish, evidently pushed in through 

 the original opening, six dead young ones of the Green Woodpecker. — 

 C. Eastwick-Field (Hurst House, Midhurst, Sussex). 



Common Roller in Sussex. — A Roller (Coracias garrulus) was 

 shot on June 2nd at Ninfield, near Sidley, Bexhill, Sussex. The 

 bird was taken to Mr. G. Bristow, of Silchester Road, St. Leonards- 

 on-Sea, for preservation. — Thomas Parkin (Fairseat, High Wickham, 

 Hastings). 



[Two other specimens of this bird, obtained in Sussex, have recently 

 been recorded in these pages. One procured on Sept. 24th, 1897 

 (Zool. 1897, p. 469), and the other on Oct. 12th, 1898 (Zool. 1898, 

 p. 24.— Ed.] 



