NATURE NOTES 
1 26 
is not restricted in any way by the weatAer. It has been noticed 
that he does not cry out in the evening. The nest is placed in a 
hole in a tree cut out for the purpose. The eggs are of a trans- 
parent whiteness, about the size of those of the blackbird. 
A collared pratincole, a very rare visitor to the British Isles, 
was noticed in the winter of 1890, in front of No. 40, Harborne 
Road, then in the occupation of the late Mr. D. W. Crompton. 
It was seen by several people, members of his family, who were 
looking out of the window, and at once identified it from a speci- 
men in his collection. The number of times that this bird has 
vigited the British Isles is so small that it can almost be counted 
on the fingers. 
A pair of carrion crows has for many years bred in the trees 
at the reservoir or in the fields near, and another pair breeds in 
Edgbaston Park. In one clutch taken from these none of the 
eggs were of the normal colour, which resembles that of the 
rook’s egg, but were blue, like starlings’, or spotted like thrushes’. 
Another bird which is scarce in this locality is the woodcock. 
One was observed in the winter of 1899-1900, in the bed of the 
stream at the foot of Richmond Hill. A pair of these birds 
have, it is believed, bred at Edgbaston Park. At any rate they 
have been seen there all the year round. 
Of the wagtails all the British species have bred here except 
the grey-headed, which has very rarely bred in England at all. 
It has, however, been observed here. 
Five kinds of tits are constant residents in Birmingham, the 
great, blue, coal, marsh and long-tailed varieties. The first 
four inhabit many gardens in Edgbaston, the last breed at 
Edgbaston Park and the fields round Harborne Reservoir. 
The long-eared owl was an inhabitant of Edgbaston Park a few 
years ago, and has once been seen at the Botanical Gardens. 
This bird, though not rare in many districts, is certainly seldom 
found in the limits of a city like Birmingham. It has a curious 
habit when excited or alarmed of jerking its ears up and down, 
and added to the fact that the ears or horns are very noticeable, 
this habit makes the bird easy to identify. Unlike the tawny 
and white owls, which also frequent the park, its habits are 
diurnal, and it has no objection to coming out into the open. 
More interesting perhaps are the great crested grebes which 
have for years been settled at Edgbaston Pool. Their handsome 
plumage and stately appearance, their boldness in approaching 
and the suddenness with which they disappear under water 
attract attention to them. It is a pretty sight to see the old 
bird followed by her brood sail across the pool and suddenly 
disappear without leaving a sign. These birds are able to swim 
with just their heads above the water, and it is curious to see 
them gradually submerge themselves, till finally where there 
was a grebe swimming there is nothing to be seen. 
The nest is a heap of sedges and weeds about the size of a 
band-box anchored to a reed or bunch of sedges. The eggs. 
