274 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



Curious Nesting-sites of Chaffinch and Blue Tit. — On May 15th 

 last I found a nest and eggs of the Chaffinch in Turvey Park, built 

 on the side of a wheat-straw stack in the rick-yard. The nest had 

 been woven around a number of the straws, which kept it securely 

 in position. The site was purely a matter of choice as there are 

 plenty of trees and bushes in the vicinity. At Southill Park, also in 

 Bedfordshire, on June 2nd, noticing a Blue Tit leave a Wren's nest 

 that had been built in the fork of an elderberry bush alongside the 

 ride of a plantation, I found the former species in occupation and 

 sitting on a small clutch of eggs. Evidently it had deserted some 

 previous nesting-site, as no materials appeared to have been added 

 to the nest whatever, not even for a lining. — J. Steele Elliott 

 (Dowles Manor, Salop). 



Starling and Mouse. — On June 19th, while walking along a foot- 

 path dividing a ploughed field from a wood, I noticed, a short distance 

 ahead, a Starling acting in a strange manner. It had possession of 

 some living object of comparatively large size, with which it seemed 

 at a loss to know how to deal. The bird kept taking this up in its 

 beak, putting it down again, and pecking savagely at it, and was 

 apparently in a very excited state. It seemed very loth to leave its 

 prize as I approached, and tried to carry it off, but, finding it too big 

 and heavy, was obliged reluctantly to fly away without it. The 

 object referred to proved to be a young Mouse (Mm sylvaticus), at 

 least a fortnight and more probably three weeks old, it being already 

 covered with short fur. In spite of this rough treatment, the little 

 animal appeared to be very little if at all hurt. This is the only 

 instance I have met with of a Starling attacking a mammal. — G. T. 

 Rope. 



Food of the Little Owl (Athene noctua). — To show the diversified 

 prey of this species of Owl, I give a list of the contents taken from a 

 nest in a pollard willow tree at Turvey, Bedfordshire, on June 28th 

 last ; the nest contained but one young one : — Six adult and two 

 half-grown Common Field Voles (Microtus agrcstis), four of which 

 were more or less eaten, the head portion of these having been 

 devoured first ; one adult and three young Common Shrews (Sorex 

 ar emeus), one partly eaten ; five Frogs, which included the hind legs 

 only of three adults with two smaller Frogs ; remains of a fully-grown 

 Blackbird and one immature Thrush, probably taken from a nest ; 

 with a number of elytra of beetles. In a hollow of the next willow 

 tree was the headless body of a fully-grown Thrush. — W. J. Elliott 

 (Dowles Manor, Bewdley). 



