13 



time, and been particularly struck with the remarkable varia- 

 tions in their plumage, a well-known peculiarity, I believe. 



On March 30th, 1901, walking with H. F. Witherby through 

 the grounds, we noticed a Starling sitting tight in a Mistle's 

 nest. My friend climbed up to investigate, but the nest was 

 empty, and I had no opportunity of examining it again. 



2. — Song Thrush (Turdus Musicus). 



A resident that breeds regularly all over the grounds. It is 

 always pleasant to hear the beautiful notes of this bird, but they 

 appear to me only to sing in earnest from the end of February to 

 the middle of July. Down at " The Cedars' " pond I noticed a 

 nest with four eggs in, on the 12th March, 1893. This means 

 first egg on the 9th. 



On March 6th, 1903, I found fluttering along in "The 

 Cedars' " orchard a young Thrush just out of its nest. This 

 meant the first egg about February 5th, which is, of course, 

 abnormally early. 



On June 16th, 1903, Joan (Mrs. Bowles) and I noticed a 

 Thrush with a pure white head feeding on the soaked bread 

 always laid down on "The Cedars' " lawn. On July 1st, 1903, 

 I saw a Thrush take a stag-beetle. The beetle was sort of 

 hawking round our ivy geraniums at " West Lodge,'' an enor- 

 mous fellow, when out dashed a Thrush, swept him on to the 

 lawn tennis ground, hammered him, and flew off with the corpse. 



3. — Redwing (Turdus IUacus). 



A winter visitor at " The Cedars," arriving about the middle 

 of November, and leaving in February. 



4. — Fieldfare (Turdus Pilaris). 



A winter visitor at " The Cedars," that comes and goes 

 with the Redwing. Easily distinguished from all the other 

 Thrushes by the dark patch on back, particularly noticeable as 

 they fly away. 



5. — Blackbird (Turdus Mcrula). 



One of the finest songsters in the world. To my mind the 

 nearest approach to its rich tone is the magnificent warble of 



