Nesli7ig of Blackcaps and S?iow Bmitiiig. 
127 
Anthus campestris. TAWNY PIPIT. 
Range. Europe ; Asia ; southward to the Gambia and Somaliland. {Sh.) 
I have never to niy knowledge seen this species in the Gambia. 
Macronyx crocetis. YELLOW-THROATED LONG-CLAW. 
Range. Africa, south from Senegal, etc., avoiding the actual forest. {Sh.) 
In Gambia it is locally common, found generally in pairs in the long 
grass near swamps and rice fields, and is particularly partial to the matted 
tussocky grass which grows on the saltish soil at the edges of mangrove 
swamps. 
It is a beautiful bird, about the size and shape of a vSkylark. marked 
like that bird above, but below having the throat and breast in both sexes a 
brilliant yellow. The name " Longclaw " is given to it owing to the 
extreme length of the claws on the hind toes, a Lark-like feature, which 
must be of service to the bird in facilitating its progress over down-trodden 
or storm-laid grass. It is generally met with in pairs, and occasionally in 
famih' parties of half a dozen ; when disturbed, but then not till they are 
nearly stepped on, they rise like Larks, but never attempt to soar, and drop 
into the grass again at the first opportunity. I once found a nest, merely a 
hollow (a hoof-mark) lined with a little grass, which contained four cream- 
coloured eggs spotted with brown. 
( To be coniinued.) 
IRcsnuQ of Blachcaps anC) Snowbuntino- 
By R. SuGGiTT. 
For the first year of their aviarj' life, some species of 
British birds do not appear to become thoroughly accustomed to 
their surroundings ; if, however, one is fortunate enough to keep 
them in good health through the winter, they will usually make 
some attempt to reproduce their kind the following spring. 
I selected a pair of Blackcaps out of several young ones in 
immature plumage which I caught in August, 1907. They were 
in the outdoor aviary in the spring and summer of 1908, but 
although the male often carried pieces of fine hay about, there 
was no serious nesting that year. I caged them for the winter, 
and turned them out again in April of the present year. 
Towards the end of May I noticed both birds carrying 
nesting material about, and on June 2nd I discovered their half- 
completed nest. It was situated on the thin horizontal branch 
of an apple tree, about three feet from the ground, and was 
