A NORFOLK RECTOR Y 
129 
much excitement and friction among the garden birds. The 
boxes of the migrants had been hung rather too early and the 
great and the blue titmice were often in and out of the pied 
flycatcher’s box before he settled down. Then there were 
double cock birds around of each species that had nested in 
boxes the previous year. This naturally produced trouble, while 
the great titmice were in particular very tiresome and prying and 
had a turn at everyone’s box as well as their own. Even after 
the redstarts had begun to build, and had chased these prying 
neighbours off, they would lurk round and in the owner’s absence 
mischievously creep within the box and stay in awhile. How- 
ever, eventually each one got his rights and his own nest-box. 
The pied flycatcher settling on the 30th, had to wait till May 7, 
singing at last loud and long, before a hen came to him. He 
sang not only loud but well, with intervening notes in the 
typical drop, making a pretty descending ripple of sound. 
When he had secured the hen he became too eager and im- 
patient to sing much, and he fed her in the most engaging 
manner, on the top of the box, or fluttering, while she was 
perched on a dahlia-stick. She was already building on the 
9th, though not fast enough for him, who showed the liveliest 
impatience. 
He would come last thing in the evening and sing some very 
superior and sweet strains, m the manner of a serenade, close 
to the box. On the 21st one faint blue-green egg lay in the 
hollow of the nest, this time formed in the centre of the space 
and lined with the minutest of bents. On the 24th there were 
four in it, and ultimately two more were laid. It was June 24, 
in the late afternoon, when the young birds flew, and they were 
led off as usual to a more secluded spot. 
While they were still fed in the nest the parents were photo- 
graphed by a friend. And this year a neighbour putting up 
similar boxes had two broods of pied flycatchers successfully 
hatched in them. 
Mary L. Armitt. 
A NORFOLK RECTORY. 
IND, you must come and stay with us as soon as we 
are a bit settled,” said one who is very dear to me, 
as he was leading his bride to the carriage an hour 
or two after the knot was tied. S. and I are united 
by many ties. Like me, he is a cricketer, and a more powerful 
bat than I in my palmiest days, now long since passed, a dark 
blue veteran though I chance to be. He was captain of his 
college boat, and added to this is his innate fondness for country 
objects and pursuits, a sportsman to the very core ; we think 
and act together. We are brother clerics too. 
From his Rectory the ground slopes gently down for about 
200 yards to one of the best trout streams m the eastern counties. 
