CHAPTER OF VARIETIES. 



189 



amusement. It has occurred to me whether local situations may not 

 make more difference with respect to the mode and the materials used 

 by birds in constructing- their nests, than has been generally thought, 

 for it is very common in this neighbourhood to see a large quantity of 

 leaves used in the construction of the redbreast's nest. The robins, 

 however, do not confine themselves to the use of one particular sort ; 

 but seem to depend very much upon the situations, or, perhaps, upon 

 the sort of trees in the neighbourhood. They sometimes use the ivy 

 leaf, the apple, the elm, and the hazel, but more frequently the oak. 

 A specimen that I saw at Dorking a few weeks ago, appeared at first 

 sight to have the outside entirely formed of oak leaves intermixed 

 with moss, but upon a closer examination I saw there were three sorts 

 of leaves, — the hazel, the oak, and the elm : but the oak formed the 

 greater part. — Charles Andrews. 

 Horsham, Surrey. 



[Specimens of such nests sent, free of expense, to the publisher's, would be highly 

 acceptable. — Editor.] 



Simulation of death by a corn crake. — When the inter- 

 esting bird, named from its cry the corn crake (Ortygometra crex), is 

 alarmed, it has the instinct, in common with some other animals, and 

 especially insects, to feign death. A gentleman had one brought him 

 by his dog, it was dead to all appearance. As it lay on the ground 

 he turned it over with his foot; he was convinced it was dead. Stand- 

 ing by, however, some time in silence, he suddenly saw it open one 

 eye. He then took it up, its head fell, its legs hung- down, it appeared 

 again totally dead. He then put it into his pocket, and before very 

 long, he felt it all alive, and struggling to escape ; he took it out, it 

 was lifeless as before. He then laid it on the ground, and retired to 

 some distance; in about five minutes it warily raised its head, looked 

 round, and decamped at full speed. — E. G. Ballard. 



Islington. 



On the bearded tit. — Mr. Blyth, in his zeal to find a place 

 suitable for this beautiful bird, in some known genus, has, I think, 

 made a most unfortunate selection in adopting that of the shrike. It 

 appears to me, that even in similarity of marking, the resemblance is 

 but slight, and that with regard to the bill, which Mr. Blyth considers 

 " as perfectly that of the shrike," there is a perfect dissimilarity ; the 

 one being strong, powerful, and toothed, the other weak, slender, and 



