128 Nestijig of Blackcaps and S?iow Bjinthig. 
supported by one or two twigs whicli were woven into the sides. 
The nest was fairly well screened with ivy and was strongly 
built, but of very light material. Both male and female worked 
on its construction, and it was amusing to see the roundabout 
way in which they conveyed the material to the nest, always 
taking cover, as though anxious to avoid the observation of 
possible enemies. While building they were constantly calling 
to each other with a low, twittering note. 
On June 6th, the nest contained three eggs ; in the after- 
noon I saw the male incubating. Incubation was equally shared 
throughout the day by both sexes ; they relieved each other 
frequently, but never appeared to leave the nest unoccupied for a 
moment. I was not able to ascertain which of them incubated at 
night, as I did not care to risk disturbing them at dusk, and the 
nest was rather difficult to see at a little distance ; on one 
occasion I saw the male on the nest at 7.30 p.m. 
Little notice was taken of other birds perched near the 
nest, with the exception of Whitethroats which were savagely 
driven away. 
It was not until June 19th, when I saw the female come off 
to drive away a Whitethroat, that I had another peep into the 
nest and I found that young were hatched, probably that morn- 
ing, as I could see two unhatched eggs as well as the young ones. 
This gives thirteen days as the incubation period. The next day 
all the eggs were hatched, but the chicks appeared to be very 
weak. On the 21st three were left, on the 22nd one, and the 
morning after the nest was empty. 
I suppose the food (gentles and small mealworms), was un- 
suitable for the nestlings, which died one by one and were thrown 
out of the nest by the parents. The failure was certainly 
through no fault of the old birds, for they worked incessantly to 
provide for their brood. 
They have built another nest at the top of a thick hedge 
and have now (June 29th) probably laid again. 
* * * 
A hen Snow Bunting in my aviary, unable to find a suitable 
place in which to make her nest, laid three eggs in a Pied Wagtail's 
