Birds. 



6671 



Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (P. minor). Far more rare, I should 

 suppose, than the last. One sent me, fourteen years since, from 

 Mayen, where it was shot, and another seen on the Lodge hills, are 

 all that I am aware of ; but very probably others have occurred. 



Wryneck (Yunx torquilla). The late Professor Macgillivray, of 

 Marischal College, Aberdeen, informed me that one was taken at or 

 near Portsay, by an old pupil of his. 



Creeper (Certhia familiaris). Wherever there are suitable woods 

 these birds are sure to be found. We sometimes read and hear as 

 extraordinary occurrences that nests have been found in the hearts of 

 trees that have been sawn up. Now, to those acquainted with the 

 facts these occurrences are easily accounted for. I know a tree 

 myself which contains two nests, both with eggs. About seventeen 

 years ago there was in the side of this tree a small aperture, about 

 six feet from the ground, which led downwards to a cavity in the 

 centre of the trunk. The opening was so narrow outwardly that it 

 only admitted two of my fingers, but widened as it proceeded to the 

 bottom, a distance of about eighteen inches. In this hole, at the 

 time referred to, a pair of creepers built their nest and laid eggs, after 

 which they disappeared. Next season a pair of blue titmice acted 

 in a similar manner ; and they also disappeared, doubtless in conse- 

 quence of being tormented by boys, and of the narrowness of the 

 entrance. I believe no more attempts were made to breed there after 

 this, for the growth of the tree caused the hole to get less and less 

 every year, and it is now, and has been for several years, so com- 

 pletely closed that the point of the finest needle could not be 

 inserted. The tree, a sturdy beech, has the two nests and eggs in its 

 very core. It is thus evident how easily these " extraordinary occur- 

 rences " may be accounted for. 



Wren {Troglodytes europce its). The dear little wren, the lion of 

 small birds, with his short, jerking little tail, I have known and 

 admired from childhood. Who that has trod the woods in spring 

 or summer has not heard a very loud, though by no means inharmo- 

 nious song, proceeding from some bush or bank, and not admired the 

 same ? — and who is there, if he did not know the bird, that would not 

 be surprised beyond measure at such a small creature being able to 

 make such a loud noise ? Of all the deserted nests I have ever met 

 with, those of the wren would, I am sure, count twenty per cent, over 

 any other species. I am unable to account for this, but perhaps it 

 arises from their building several before they get one to please them. 

 I once found one of their nests in an old tin kettle, which had become 



