130 
SELBORNIANA. 
Strange Instance of Nest-t)Uilding. — Mrs. Brightwen, Vice-President 
of the Selborne Society, sends us the following interesting notes on birds’ 
nests : — “ In a shed at Oxhey Grange Farm the implements had been stowed 
away at the end of the haymaking season last year, amongst them a broken 
wooden rake, which was thrown behind an elevator, teeth upwards. Between 
these teeth four thrushes’ nests have been built side by side, and in each nest 
were eggs — all of which have been unfortunately taken and the nests damaged, 
it is supposed by a labourer, much to the annoyance of the occupier of the 
Grange Farm, Mr. Bone. On the same farm while one of the men was clearing 
away some rubbish, a robin’s nest with eggs in was found in an old kettle ; the 
man took the kettle and showed it to several people, but was persuaded to re- 
place it where it was found, and the mother has taken to it again, and is now 
nestling the young ones.” 
Pheasants as Fowl- Rearers. — Mr. H. D. Skrine, President of the Bath 
Branch, writes to us from Claverton Manor : — “ It may interest some of your readers 
to know that a hen pheasant in my woods has reared two chickens this season, 
whose parent must have laid her eggs in the pheasant’s nest. That there should 
be only two birds hatched out is explained by the fact that the hen pheasant’s 
eggs take several days longer than hen’s eggs to hatch, and as a pheasant is not 
so good a sitter as a hen, it would seem that finding two live chicks under her she 
did not wait for the others to arrive in due course, and must have left them to 
spoil. In all probability these chickens will become as wild as the pheasants, and 
eventually a cross breed may be established in my woods. Have any of your 
readers had a similar experience ? 
The Cheddar Pink. — Selbornians will be pleased to learn that, notwith- 
standing the tendency to destroy this interesting native plant, preservative in- 
stincts are also at work. About two years ago, whilst walking from Maesbury to 
Wells, in this county, I observed on the top of a high wall, a plant which looked 
very like the Cheddar pink. I managed to secure a small piece of the plant by 
the aid of my walking stick ; I then discovered that my first impression was 
correct, and that Dianthus ccesius was not only growing, but looked quite at 
home on this old garden wall. A person who lives on the opposite side of the 
road had noticed my doings. He accosted me, and asked whether I knew the 
name of the plant I had been taking so much trouble about. Upon my answer- 
ing that 1 believed it to be the Cheddar pink, he replied, “ So it is, I brought 
the seed from Cheddar myself, and sowed it on that wall.” Some few years ago 
this rare plant was to be found on the walls of Prior Park, near Bath. I have 
sought for it in vain of late. A few' days ago one of the courteous professors of 
Prior Park College showed me some flowers of a pink, and asked me whether I 
recognised them. I was afterwards informed that they had been sent from Scot- 
land by a former pupil of the college, and that the seed which produced them 
had been gathered from plants which once grew' on the park walls. The Northern 
habitat seemed to have suited the plant, for the flowers looked healthy and strong, 
whilst the colour of the petals was of a deeper hue than I had hitherto seen. 
About a w r eek ago, whilst attending a garden party, given by one of the founders 
of the Bath Branch of the Selborne Society, I was delighted to find, on the 
inner side of one of the garden w'alls, a large clump of Dianthus cesius. Several 
of our members w'ere admiring the plant, and a question arose about its dimen- 
sions. I applied my foot rule, and found them to be close upon five feet by four 
feet. This clump is evidently the product of many years’ growth. I feel sure 
that our host of Monday last would allow any Selbornian who wishes to assist in 
preserving this interesting species, to have some of the seed. Such a delightful 
garden of “old fashioned” flowers I have not seen for a long time, Thaliclrum 
ilaz'um, L. and Aristolochia Clcinatitis, L., amongst other plants, find a place in 
this charming old garden. 
Bath, July 21 st, 1890. \V. G. Wheatcroi-t. 
“ Insects as Ornaments in Gardens.” — It is to be hoped that all 
members of the Selborne Society who are entomologists, even in the most super- 
