NOTES AND QUERIES. 469 



and captured by a pair of Sparrows. They found the cosy struc- 

 ture a very suitable foundation for their own untidy dome of straw 

 and hay. 



Swallow. — The continental style of nest I have often observed, 

 especially under bridges in the marshes near Braunton Burrows. 



Great Spotted Woodpecker. — A pair of these beautiful birds 

 were shot by a farmer in an orchard at Bisbops Tawton this summer. 

 It is a thousand pities that these rare birds should have been de- 

 stroyed. 



Stock-Dove. — I have found many nests of this bird in the sand- 

 stone cliffs at Santon. Babbit-holes are usually selected, and the 

 eggs are laid on a very scanty nest of straw and bents built about a 

 foot in. I believe that they have been observed nesting in Babbit- 

 holes in the sand-dunes near the Braunton Lighthouse. The Bock- 

 Dove I have not yet detected. The Turtle-Dove is very uncommon, 

 and I have seldom met with it. It breeds at Fremington, and this 

 year I saw a young bird with the baby down still on it in the woods 

 in the neighbourhood of Wrafton. 



Quail. — Sometimes shot near Braunton, but this year a fine speci- 

 men was brought down at Bratton Fleming. 



Grey Phalarope. — This graceful bird is of frequent occurrence on 

 the mud-flats of the Taw, but in some years it is much rarer than in 

 others. This winter they have been very numerous. 



Bedshank. — Uncommon. Last January there was a small flock on 

 the low rocks beneath Baggy Point, and this autumn I saw a single 

 bird on the Taw, near Heanton Court. 



Greenshank. — Not met with nearly so often as is the foregoing. A 

 solitary bird was seen this autumn on the mud-flats of the river oppo- 

 site Fremington. It was exceptionally wary, and when once disturbed 

 flew off, and was not again seen. 



Curlew- Sandpiper. — In 1904 I distinguished a bird of this species 

 on our river during the latter part of September. This September 

 there were several in a large flock of Dunlin on the sands near Anchor 

 Wood Bank. 



Little Tern. — Five of these elegant little birds visited us on May 

 5th, 1904. They were resting at the water's edge near the Hospital 

 Ship at the mouth of the river. I had them under my glasses for 

 nearly ten minutes. 



Sclavonian Grebe. — I have noticed one or two of these birds on 

 the river for the past two winters, and I am inclined to think that they 

 are regular winter visitors. 



