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BIRDS OF LEICESTERSHIRE AND RUTLAND. 
Mr. Davenport found a nest containing six eggs, at Ashlands, in June, 1883, 
and informs me that a pair of these birds nested, for three years in succession, 
by the road-side at Skeffington. 
In Rutland. — Resident and common. — Mr. Horn found a nest containing 
three eggs “hard sat,” on the 2nd May, 1886. 
TREE-PIPIT. Anthus trivialis (Linnaeus). 
A summer migrant, generally distributed, and breeding. — Mr. Eabington 
(Appendix ‘Potter,’ p. 67), wrote: — “Not very rare at Thringstone, and probably 
found elsewhere near the Forest.” 
According to Harley the nests of this species vary considerably in structure 
and material, some which he had seen being rather bulky, “ composed of dry 
grass, lined with hair and fine soft hay,” whilst others were “ externally made 
of dry bents of grass mixed with moss, and lined with hair.” “ The eggs,” he 
remarked, “ are generally five in number, of a greyish-white colour marked with 
spots of reddish-brown or purple.” Mr. Davenport records finding a nest con- 
taining five eggs, at Ashlands, May, 1883. 
The Museum Donation-book records : — “ Yellow variety shot near Leicester, 
1857.” This may have been another species ? 
In Rutland. — A summer migrant, generally distributed, and breeding. — 
Mr. Horn writes me: — “On the 29th May, 1886, we found, on the roadside 
at Ridlington, near LTppingham, a nest of this species, placed on the ground 
amongst some rough grass and rushes, containing five eggs, incubation having 
just commenced. This clutch we took. On 5th June we found, a few yards 
from the original nest, a fresh one containing one egg ; this was taken. On 
the 9th the same nest contained four eggs, which were also taken, and on 
the 10th another egg was laid but was not taken. On the 12th the second nest 
was forsaken, but contained one egg. On the 21st a fresh nest had been built, 
and contained six eggs.” 
Family OEIOLID^. 
GOLDEN ORIOLE. Oriolus galbula, Linmeus. 
Of very doubtful occurrence, for the only note I have of it is by the 
late IMr. Widdowson, who wrote that one was seen about the Railway Gardens 
some years ago. It is possible, however, that this may have been a brightly- 
plumaged Green Woodpecker, for I remember how I was once deceived by 
one of those birds in Hampshire, and had I not run quickly to the top of a 
woodland ride just in time to catch a glimpse of its yellow back and undulating 
flight, I should have believed I had seen a Golden Oriole, and this at a time 
when I had just returned from lands where a sight of the “ Golden Bird 
was an every-day delight to me. 
