18 



through " The Cedars." The trains, some sixty a day, must 

 have continually passed within a yard of it. 



I think these birds build more nests than they ever intend 

 to use. I have so many that come to nothing. The saying is, 

 " If you put your finger in a Wren's nest that has no eggs in, 

 the birds will surely desert," so perhaps this may partly account 

 for their superabundance. At the same time no bird sits tighter 

 if it has laid a few eggs and means business. 



22. — Tree Creeper (Certhia Familiaris). 



At " The Cedars " there are really three species of birds 

 which creep up trees, viz., Nuthatch, Lesser-spotted Wood- 

 pecker, and Tree Creeper, and yet they all go about their work 

 differently. I have watched this bird often, and it always seem 

 to me to work most carefully up a tree and then drop like a leaf 

 to the bottom and commence again on another side. The same 

 with a branch : it works up it, and then flies across to the root 

 of another, and always choosing a living branch. Perhaps its 

 long tail, which seems to cling to the bark, might be out of 

 place and even top-heavy for a downward journey. 



The bird is a resident here, and on 24th April, 1898, 1 found 

 a beautiful little nest, inside the bark of a fir tree, down by 

 "The Cedars' " pond, which I believe hatched off all right. 



23. — Pied Wagtail (Motacilla Lugubris). 



A summer visitor that regularly arrives on the lawn at 

 "The Cedars" about April 22nd, probably from the South of 

 England. In May they are generally accompanied by one or 

 two young ones. I think this is the smallest British bird that 

 walks and runs. 



This year (1903) I saw a solitary specimen feeding on the 

 lawn, February 21st ; this was much earlier than usual. It was 

 there every day until March 11th, when a mate appeared, and 

 the pair continued to haunt " The Cedars' " lawn. Very black 

 and white, as they always are in spring. 



On 6th April, 1903, a pair appeared at " West Lodge " as 

 well, and I saw another pair down at the pond, which is unusual. 



