338 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



He informs me that every evening, not only thousands but 

 actually millions assemble, and have done for some time. Soon 

 after the young left their nest this season, I saw the largest 

 flock it has ever been my privilege to witness. Probably no 

 British bird has multiplied so rapidly within recent years as 

 this species, and wherever I have visited within a radius of ten 

 or twenty miles of this village (Wilsden) it is found to be chiefly 

 single-brooded. This is easily ascertainable where it breeds in 

 colonies. The Siberian form predominates here, and it would 

 be interesting to ascertain where this species is said to be double- 

 brooded, and whether it is the old English form. For some 

 reason there has been this year a relatively larger proportion of 

 late broods. One reason may be: they began to breed somewhat 

 earlier owing to the fine spell of weather in March. This might 

 have induced a few to attempt a second brood, but I should 

 think most of the late broods had their first nests destroyed. 



On or about August 12th two boys told me they had found a 

 Snipe's nest the previous day in a situation the least likely for 

 this species of any in the district. On account of the late date 

 and unlikely place for the nest of this bird, I thought the boys 

 must be mistaken. However, my informants were quite right. 

 I found it to be the nest of a Snipe with one egg in an advanced 

 stage of incubation. The old bird flushed off when only within 

 a few feet from its nest. Probably it had had its first, and 

 possibly its second, nest destroyed. 



Of late years hereabouts a shrub (Daphne) has been much 

 cultivated by gardeners, and its berries have a great attraction for 

 Greenfinches. They eat the seeds only, rejecting the pulpy 

 mass, and these birds, which are so shy at other times, will 

 come into our main streets and feed upon these berries within a 

 few feet of passengers. I have never seen any other species 

 of birds feeding upon these berries. This partiality of birds for 

 certain berries and other fruits is an interesting question. The 

 Bullfinch is a very rare breeding species in this neighbourhood, 

 but when the elderberries are ripe I can always count upon 

 seeing it. Ring-Ouzels are very fond of bilberries, and also 

 very partial to the berries of the mountain-ash, and come from 

 the moors in some numbers when these berries are ripe. Star- 

 lings and Mistle-Thrushes are both fond of rowan-berries. 



