14 



the Australian Magpie {Cr actions Tibicen), which bird, however, 

 to be properly appreciated, must be heard in its native bush, as 

 it picks up so many false notes in captivity. 



Every year at " West Lodge " we have several Blackbirds 

 with more or less white about them. On December 22nd, 1902, 

 a Blackbird appeared on our lawn, and stayed for months, with 

 the right quill feather white, two round patches on back the 

 size of half-a-crown, speckled with white over head and neck, 

 and white under the wings, which I seldom see as it rarely flies. 

 I notice these pied birds are avoided by others of the same 

 species, are tame, found in close proximity to dwelling houses, 

 and are of the male sex. Both males and females keep to them- 

 selves in winter, and are very pugnacious one to the other. 



The earliest nest I have seen here was March 19th, 1903. 

 It had one egg in. 1893 was an extraordinary year. Summer 

 began the beginning of March and lasted until October. 



6. — Ring Ouzel (Turdus Torquatus). 



On 9th October, 1902, my youngest daughter found one of 

 these birds in the Camelia house at " The Cedars," half-choked 

 by a berry that had stuck in its mouth. It lived happily in one 

 of our avaries for several days, feeding voraciously on worms, 

 but, unfortunately, succumbed eventually to a mysterious fit. 

 This bird was no doubt attracted down to " The Cedars' " 

 grounds during its migration. It was a fine male bird, 11 \ 

 inches total length, 5J wing. 



7. — Redbreast (Erithactis Rubecula). 



I cannot imagine these grounds without several Robins 

 taking the greatest interest in one's proceedings. I well remem- 

 ber an old Nurse who often sat with her charges on one 

 particular bench in the woods. A little light food was always 

 produced, and for years a Robin took its regular place on the 

 bench alongside the party. 



I have known innumerable Robins' nests in " The Cedars' " 

 grounds, in cowsheds, in the ivy on the house, in the ivy on the 

 ground, and with eggs differing in the same clutch to an 

 extraordinary extent. 



8. — Nightingale (Daulias Lusinia). 



A summer visitor, but I myself have not heard a Nightin- 

 gale at the Cedars since 1877. They were then fairly numerous, 



