78 
NATURE NOTES 
of first appearances as I have done for years, and recorded them in Nature 
Notes. How are the young people to understand the notes, &c. , of each bird, to 
be exact in recording arrivals, without teachers ? That is a question I have 
often thought about. For instance, is there anyone at Selhorne to take up and 
record arrivals, &c., as Gilbert White did? 
J. Hiam. 
Curious Homes for the Birds. — Last spring I accommodated three 
pairs of robins with ordinary empty tomato tins to build in, which I placed in 
various positions on the premises, and all were occupied, and about eighteen 
young ones were reared. That was the first round of nests, and robins usually 
have three broods, unless the cuckoos take to lay in, or rather to place their eggs 
in. I had a redstart’s nest in a tea-kettle, a blue-tit’s in a coffee-pot, a great- 
til’s in a teapot, a fly-catcher’s on a tomato tin (not in) and host of others in 
various devices of accommodation. 
Jhe IVren’s Nest, James Hiam. 
A si wood Bank. 
Woodcocks. — It is affirmed that those breeding in the British Isles in 
February and March all leave and migrate south in the summer or towards the end 
of it, and return here very early in the spring. They thus, if this is true, go free as 
far as any of this flight being shot in these Isles. It is further affirmed that the 
first birds that are shot here in August are the first arrivals of the flight that come 
here across the German Ocean from Scandinavia and that light on our east coast, 
and then spread themselves over England, Scotland, &c. These all disappear and 
migrate back again to the northern regions in the spring to breed there. Thus, if 
this view is correct, we have one flight — the one that breeds in the British Isles, 
arriving here when the other is leaving and taking its departure shortly before the 
first arrivals of the other flight arrive on our east coasts. 
Opposed to this view is the fact that in parts of Scotland the birds, always 
found single at other times, are found and shot in August four and five together ; 
and their nests are to be found on the ground, if one looks for them. From this 
it might be concluded almost to a certainty that the first birds of the season are 
not the first arrivals of a new flight, but those that have nested here and their off- 
spring. Which view is correct, and what are the authorities on the point that all 
the birds that breed in these Isles go clear away in summer or towards the end 
of it ? 
X. 
Hoopoe in South Devon. — On returning from some visits in my parish on 
Monday last, March 5, 1 was informed by two of my daughters that they had been 
delighted that same afternoon by the sight of a beautiful hoopoe (Upupaepops) which 
was walking about on a path between our vicarage and the church, and was very tame, 
so that they had the opportunity of watching it for a long time. On further inquiries 
I found that it had been in our garden earlier in the morning. The next day one 
of my daughters and a friend saw it again, near the same place, and yesterday 
morning she came to me in my study and told me that it was walking about in the 
same place again, and I ran out under her direction and saw it walking about most 
daintily, showing off its beautiful crest in the most fascinating manner. I was 
able to get very near to it, and could see every feather and its beautiful long beak 
as it pecked upon the ground, and sometimes flew a short distance, very low, 
showing most conspicuously the black and white markings on the wings and tail. 
The charming combination of colour, grace of movement and shape, made me at 
once set it down as the most attractive and lovely British bird that I have ever 
seen. I would only mention having seen it to members of our Society, as I should 
be afraid to publish it to any who might be barbarous enough to molest it. If 
these birds were always protected, we might hope that in time we should succeed 
in inducing them to stay and breed on our .shores. I saw it again later in the 
afternoon yesterday. 
Modbury V’icarage, South Devon, G. C. Green. 
March 8, 1 900. 
