Chirps and 
Chatter. 
(0 
THE BIRD WORLD. 
Chirps and Chester. 
Queer Nesting Places. 
Most people no doubt have seen 
some queer places in which birds have 
built their nests. We have seen them 
ourselves inside old water-cans, empty 
fruit tins, in the head of a cabbage, on 
the axle of a cart and various other funny 
places, which town folk would think 
incredible, but the funniest place we 
have ever heard of for a bird’s nest to 
be built is in a pair of old corduroy 
overalls. This novelty may be seen in 
a slaughter-house at Hinton St. George, 
the Somerset headquarters of Earl Pou- 
lett; needless to say, it is a pair of 
Robins. The overalls were slung over 
a beam, and the birds are still busy 
getting ready for their family, notwith¬ 
standing that the place is in general use 
and also the fact that several local 
photographers have been busy taking 
snapshots. In the same building may 
be seen also another distinct novelty in 
bird nesting. This time it is a pair of 
Wrens, not many yards from the Robins. 
They are building their nest in the 
lining of an old coat. 
The Study of Bird Life. 
The study of bird life has many 
charms. It leads a man straight to the 
sanctuaries of Nature. It gives a new 
motive to the most commonplace walk. 
It never grows monotonous, for the 
objects of interest change with the 
seasons. But perhaps its chief fasci¬ 
nation lies in the fact that the veriest 
tyro may at any moment find himself 
a discoverer. Rare birds which have 
never before been recorded, or which 
have secured a place on the British list 
on the strength, it may be, of a single 
authenticated occurrence, may come 
within his ken, and his name may go 
down to posterity emblazoned on the 
pages of the next edition of Yarrell. 
But, even if he fails in startling science 
by an altogether new addition to the 
fauna of Great Britain, he may rest 
assured that rare birds constantly visit 
his neighbourhood, especially on migra¬ 
tion, and pass away unnoted, for the 
simple lack of an observer sufficiently 
well trained to identify them. 
A Feathered Railway Inspector. 
As the 6.30 p.m. train left Eggesford 
Railway Station one day recently a 
large cock Pheasant alighted on the 
station platform and straightway began 
to take a survey of the offices thereon. 
Strutting calmly up the platform in 
close touch to the porters, the bird first 
entered the parcel office, where for a 
moment or so it “ stood at ease,” in¬ 
specting the strange surroundings, evi¬ 
dently with much curiosity. Its next 
visit was to the booking office. Here, 
with wings drooped low, the bird cast 
a sly, but by no means timid, glance 
at the ticket pigeon-hole. Eventually 
the bird ruffled its bright plumage, and 
hastily left the office. A stately and 
steady walk along the platform next 
brought it to the stop signal. Here, 
for the next few moments, the bird 
“ stood at attention.” Thoroughly 
satisfied with its inspection the Phea¬ 
sant eventually spread out its wings and 
sailed away to the sheltering shades of 
its woodland home. 
A Blackbird’s Offering. 
A correspondent sends us an account 
of an incident which occurred on April 
29th:—•“ The Rector of South Witham, 
near Grantham, while engaged alone in 
his church during the afternoon noticed 
a Blackbird making frantic efforts to 
escape. Presently the Rector’s atten¬ 
tion was attracted by a small object on 
the floor near the lectern, further ex¬ 
amination showing it to be a new-laid 
Blackbird’s egg in perfect condition. 
The egg was at once 1 blown ’ by one of 
the Rector’s boys, and it will be trea¬ 
sured as a curiosity.” 
The “Guse” in the Pulpit. 
An amusing Norfolk story which the 
Rev. P. H. Ditchfield relates in his 
