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NOTES AND QUERIES. 



MAMM ALI A. 



A Strange Nesting Association of the Squirrel and the Sparrow- 

 Hawk. — Whilst rambling with a friend in June last through the 

 wooded valleys of Gyffylliog, in Denbighshire, we found a Sparrow- 

 Hawk's nest in a large alder tree at the foot of Foel Uchaf. On 

 climbing to the nest, which contained four young and one egg just 

 upon hatching, I flushed a Squirrel from its drey, which was situated 

 immediately under the Hawk's nest. The Sparrow-Hawks had 

 evidently used the Squirrel's drey as a foundation for their nest, and 

 the two nests were practically what might be termed a two-storey 

 domicile. It was evident from the foulness of the Squirrel's portion 

 that the latter had probably been in occupation during the whole of 

 the time of the incubation period of the Hawk, which was sitting 

 within but a few inches above. — J. Steele Elliott. 



AVES. 



Increase of Little Grebes (Podiceps fluviatilis) Nesting in 

 Bedfordshire. — Thirty years ago the Little Grebe continued to nest 

 not uncommonly on all the larger lakes, and on many of the smaller 

 pools, ballast-holes, and other water-pits about this county, as also, 

 several pairs at least, along the Eiver Ivel. About 1890 and for 

 several years thence I made frequent visits to all the previous known 

 nesting haunts, and all other likely waters, but with perhaps the one 

 exception of Battlesden Lake they had already, or within a few years, 

 ceased to breed anywhere in the county. It was not until 1909 that 

 I first noticed them again in the nesting season, at Southill, one of 

 their former favourite breeding haunts, and one over which I had 

 kept very careful observation. Four pairs were seen on April 10th, 

 and were calling freely, and no doubt eventually nested, but I was 

 unable to follow up further observations that year. The year 

 following I found several nests with eggs at this lake. From that 

 date they seem to have been on the increase generally throughout 

 the county, and now practically nest once again in all their former 



