Birds* 



8445 



I wrote at once to Mr. Copeland, whose attention to Natural History, and whose 

 especial interest in observing the ornithological rarities in our county, I felt sure would 

 ensure an accurate account of the capture of this little wanderer, and I received from 

 him in reply the following interesting remarks on the habits of the bird. 



" Carwythenack,Constantine, February 9, 1863. — Your favour has duly reached me. 

 The little flycatcher alluded to we observed some days before it was shot. Its habits 

 were interesting, takiug a great deal the character of our summer visitor. We first 

 observed it on a dead holly tree ; this tree and the ground around the house were its 

 favourite resort. It was particularly active, skimming the grass to within about a foot, 

 then, perching itself, darted occasionally with a toss, resting either on a shrub or the 

 wire fencing. There is another in the neighbourhood, for which a vigilant watch will 

 be kept. I saw it a few days back in a plantation which is four hundred yards from 

 my house. Should I be fortunate to capture it you shall have due notice. 1 believe 

 that with due attention many interesting visitors may be found. — G. A. Copeland." 



I am unable to offer you any particulars of this valuable fact, except second-hand, 

 but no doubt, upon the two authorities I have quoted, you will feel a pleasure in giving 

 the visit of this new British bird a place in the ' Zoologist.' — Edward Hearle Rodd ; 

 Penzance. 



Black Redstart (Sylvia tithys) in the County Dublin. — The black redstart has 

 appeared here this year. On the 4th of January I saw one specimen, a female ; on 

 the 11th I saw two more, both also females. — H. Blake-Knox, Bartragh, Dalkey, Co. 

 Dublin, February 8, 1863. 



Early Nesting of the Hedgesparrow (Sylvia modularis). — A patient of mine (on 

 whose word I can thoroughly rely) informed me a few days ago that he had found the 

 nest of a hedgesparrow in his garden on the 1st of this month, containing four eggs, 

 upon which the old bird was sitting. The nest was built of the usual materials, in a 

 privet hedge, protected on one side by the wall of an out-building. My informant 

 broke one of the eggs accidentally, and found it to be quite fresh. Several persous 

 called to see the nest, the existence of which in this locality is certainly a most unusual 

 circumstance. I was unfortunately prevented calling myself until to-day, when I found 

 that some one had taken the nest, but had nevertheless left behind a sufficient portion 

 to assure me that the materials were undoubtedly freshly gathered, and that the state- 

 ment I had received was perfectly correct. — W. W. Boulton ; Beverley, January 10, 1863. 



[The notices of early nests are too numerous to mention, including hedgesparrows, 

 robins, thrushes, blackbirds, titmice, sparrows and greenfinches. — E. Newman]. 



Parental Affection of the Willow Wren. — A pair of these little birds built last spring 

 in my gartlen, in a bed of money-wort, under a branch of rhododendron, by which the 

 nest was partially concealed. When first discovered by my gardener I think it con- 

 tained three eggs, and, fearing lest the birds should be drowned by the torrents of rain 

 which fell at the time, he placed over it an inclined roof of oilcloth, about a foot square. 

 The bird continued to lay more eggs, until one day my youngest child saw the nest in 

 the rude clutches of a favourite Scotch terrier. Having rescued it and taken it into 

 the house in its dilapitated state, it was reconstructed as well as female hands could do 

 it, and the eggs and nest both replaced. The birds at once returned, and though 

 visited several times a day bj various members of my family, succeeded in hatching 

 four young birds, which, however, had the misibrtune finally to fall a prey to the same 

 dog. Mr. Yarrell mentions a somewhat similar case with respect to the same bird. — 

 Thomas Fry ; Liverpool, December, 1862. 



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