356 McLeaJi : Effect of the Storms of igoj on Bird Lfe. 



whether they should risk having- their nests blown out with the 

 wind or take the chance of getting- their eggs sucked or young- 

 ones eaten by Rats, Weasels, etc. 



The Missel Thrush, too, one of our earliest breeders, 

 built in unusually low positions ; one I saw within two feet of 

 the ground, another hanging over a small stream not more than 

 2 feet 6 inches above its surface. In a long plantation of Firs, 

 with here and there a stunted Oak, Ash, or Elm, 1 have found 

 a number of Missel Thrushes' nests every year; running along 

 the west side of this strip of trees there is a wall from 3 to 

 4 feet in height. In 1903 I found all the nests below the level 

 of this wall top and so sheltered from the west winds. In 

 previous years and this year (1904) they ranged from 6 to 10 

 feet above the surface of the ground. 



Another thing I noticed, these early builders in very many 

 cases wisely chose the east side of some shelter, for instance, 

 nearly all which built upon the ground made their nests on the 

 east side of some bank, and numbers which built in the hedges 

 had their nests sheltered by some object such as post or rail, 

 and one pair of Thrushes found a very snug corner behind a 

 pair of old trousers which had been thrown on the hedge. 

 A greater number than usual also took the advantage afforded 

 by old sheds and outbuildings. In one tumble-down old place 

 I found the nests of two Blackbirds, one Thrush, and one Robin 

 within a few yards of e'ach other. 



Many more instances might be mentioned of birds of several 

 kinds making use of different objects as shelters for their nests 

 during the strong west winds of the early part of the Spring 

 of 1903. 



To say the least of it the wind made it very uncomfortable 

 for the early breeders ; but worse was to follow. The wind 

 towards the end of April was certainly more subdued, but the 

 pattering showers of February and March became persistent 

 pour-downs as the year advanced, and the later breeding birds 

 had to nest under far more deplorable conditions. 



The end of April scores of birds had their nests destroyed 

 by the heavy falls of rain. May was even worse ; hundreds of 

 Sand Martins, Wagtails, W^aterhens, Kingfishers, and others 

 breeding near the streams had nests, eg-g's, and young swept 

 awav with the overflowing waters. We must all remember 

 how — 



Tlie d3-kes o'er filled and with a roaring- sound 

 The rising" rivers float the nether ground. 



Naturalist, 



