356 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



found in the reeds some few days ago was completed when I visited 

 it this evening, and contained one egg. It was very conspicuous, as 

 it hung in the reeds where they were rather thin, so I did my best to 

 cover it up with some of the reeds that had been broken down near 

 it. 8th : Another egg laid. 11th : Nest empty. I did not visit it 

 again till the 25th, when I found three eggs laid and quite warm. 

 26th and 28th : Eggs safe on both these dates. July 1st : Nest badly 

 tilted on one side, but the eggs are still safe ; it is impossible to right 

 the nest. 9th : One well- developed young bird the sole occupant 

 of the nest. 12th : Assuming its adult feathers. 15th : Youngster 

 flown. — Hebbeet E. J. Biggs. 



House-Martins' Nests usurped by Common Sparrow. — I used to pass 

 a public-house near here (Wilsden) frequently last year, which had many 

 House-Martins' nests built on its south side. First one and then 

 another was usurped by the Common Sparrow until near the end of 

 summer every nest of the Martin was appropriated for nesting purposes 

 by the Sparrows, and this is by no means a solitary instance in this 

 district. The Sparrows are driving the Martins away from the haunts 

 of men to their more natural habitat. — E. P.Butteefield (Wilsden). 



Swallow Building in Chimney. — Whilst visiting a friend recently I 

 came across the autobiography of Thomas Cooper, author of the 

 'Purgatory of Suicides,' in which he speaks in an early chapter of 

 visiting an uncle who resided at Market Easen, and with what 

 delight he used to watch the Swallows come to their nest, which was 

 built in a wide chimney, whilst he sat in one of his uncle's rooms. 

 It would be interesting to know whether this habit used to be general 

 or merely local, for I cannot find any authority for the statement 

 from the oldest men I have ever questioned in this district with 

 reference to this matter (and their experience would carry them to 

 about the first decade of the 19th century, about the period to 

 which Cooper refers in the above work) that the Swallow ever 

 chooses for a nesting site a chimney. It nearly always builds its 

 nest on a rafter or beam in a barn or outhouse in this neighbour- 

 hood, and rarely builds its nest on the Continental plan, without 

 some support for the base of nest, like the House-Martin.* — 

 E. P. Butteefield (Wilsden). 



* Both the former building of the Swallow in chimneys and the frequent 

 usurpation of Martins' nests by Sparrows are familiar habits, but it is not 

 surprising if they are not noticed and recorded everywhere ; we saw this year 

 Martins safely rearing young in an isolated nest at Brockley, S.E. London, in 

 spite of the presence of Sparrows. A good deal no doubt depends upon the 

 accessibility of other nesting sites. Sparrows, too, we have noticed in observing 

 albinistic specimens, are very local in their attachments, and no doubt different 

 local " strains " vary in aggressiveness. See also Mr. CoGks's note. — Ed. 



