52 
NATURE NOTES 
the hedges are leafless and the little hoards exposed, naturalists are sure to have 
noticed them, and I should like to know whether it is the birds or field mice, &c., 
that take their winter meals in this way. 
January 30, 1903. R. M. Skipworth. 
Feeding and Nesting-boxes. — My sheltered feeding boxes have been 
much frequented through the late frosts, but one is freely visited by mice too, as 
it stands on a small table under a yew tree. Last year I saw a large brown rat 
go into it in broad daylight, a proceeding I promptly discouraged with the aid of 
my brother and his gun. 
Last season my nesting-boxes were freely used by the great and blue tits, and 
two old kettles were utilised by robins within a few days of my placing them in 
trees for the purpose : also a large water can and a “ corned-beef” tin, and the 
tenants became quite accustomed to my daily visits to their “ rusty retreats.” 
R. M. Skipworth. 
Co-operative Housekeeping. — On April 19, 1902, I found a blackbird’s 
nest containing four thrush’s eggs and saw the thrush leave the nest ; two days 
later I found two blackbird’s eggs in it as well and saw a blackbird leave the nest. 
I then took one of the thrush’s eggs away and the blackbird did the duties of 
hatching and feeding until three well-grown young thrushes and one blackbird left 
the nest : the second blackbird hatched later and died. 
Drowby Mount , R. M. SKIPWORTH. 
Searby , Lincoln. 
Abnormal Appearances of the Pied Wagtail {Motacilla Yarrelli ). — 
In 1898 9 I had repeated appearances of one of the above here. It apparently 
remained in the adjoining wood and came out of it to the turnip fields on various 
occasions ; but it seemed more remarkable when moving about the farmyard, In 
fact, it was when pursuing into the stable and cattle houses afier food that it made 
the strongest impressions upon me. It had been pretty well tried and ventured 
to the farm steading in a very bedraggled state, the feathers being all wet and 
causing some inconvenience in flight. 
Its place of usual abode during this unusual sojourn being a wood consisting 
of a variety of growing trees, there would have been a variation of food available, 
as there are always some representation of insects, larvae, worms, or small 
mollusca, which are all classed as its food, to be had in a situation of that kind. 
The bird was a male and floated in the air most beautifully when flying to the 
turnip field, where it employed itself in searching for food in parts where the 
operation of lifting the turnips was in progress. 
This season, again, on November 18, 1902, another made its appearance near 
a field where potatoes were in course of being lifted. I have no doubt the object 
would have been the search of food on the potato ground. I have not seen it 
since, but it may still be in this locality. It was also a male. 
I have seen a stray bird at lower levels than this in other winters, and it seems 
to me to be of interest to know more about these abnormal appearances of this 
interesting bird. It is always males which I have seen. 
Hillocks of Terpersie, W. WILSON. 
By Alford, Aberdeenshire. 
Sparrows. — There was a time when I defended the ubiquitous sparrow as 
being an amusing bird and only moderately harmful, but my feeling has changed 
into one of hostility, and reluctantly I have begun to wage war on the prolific 
tribe. The casus belli is as follows: My gardener takes me into the orchard and 
shows me the buds of the apple and pear trees all pecked away, with many lying 
on the ground. He tells me the currant bushes are just as bad, that I shall have 
no fruit this year, and that for this I have chiefly, if not exclusively, to thank the 
sparrows. I put out sopped bread on the lawn for the thrushes, robins and 
other birds of song, but at once the sparrows swoop down in their dozens and 
devour it all. Before long their slovenly nests will once more appear on the 
stack-pipes all round my house — in spite of perforated zinc guards — destined to 
choke the pipes in heavy rain. Worst of all, when our welcome friends, the 
