THE PRACTICAL NATURALIST. 
3 1 
been shot here this year. It is rather a rare bird in this 
locality, as there are no heaths and commons in Highgate 
where it can nest. The wryneck ( lynx My quill a) may be 
heard in early spring with his wild cry announcing the 
approaching summer. The treecreepers ( Certhia familiaris) 
are very busy running up and down the trunks of the trees, 
uttering at the same time their curious quit , quit , and peering 
into every crevice and cranny after the habit of the Parine 
family. I have seen three varieties of the Picidae, viz., the 
greater spotted, lesser spotted and green woodpeckers. 
The kingfisher ( Alcedo ispida) a few years ago might be seen 
sporting himself around the ponds here, but I am afraid it 
is fast verging on extinction in this neighbourhood. Haw¬ 
finches ( Coccothvaustes vulgaris) are exceptionally common here. 
I actually saw one of these handsome birds caught and killed 
by a cat. How the cat got close enough to spring on the 
bird is a mystery, it being so wary that it is very rarely you 
can get within gunshot of it. Red backed shrikes ( Lanins 
collurio) visit us every year and build in our thickets. Red¬ 
starts ( Ruticilla phanicurus ), whinchats ( Patincola rubetra ), 
wood warblers (P. sibilatrix), willow wrens (P. trochilus ), 
bullfinches ( Pyrrhula vulgaris) and goldfinches ( Carduelis 
elegans) may all be met with in these woods. 
I may add that I have just found a wren’s ( Troglodytes 
vulgaris) nest in an old hat here. The curious part is that it 
was quite open at the top, and I have never heard of one 
being built like it before. It contained three young birds. 
B. R. Harrison. 
Highgate. 
THE PRACTICAL NATURALIST. 
Under this heading zve propose to give a series of papers on collectings preservings 
Cfc., specimens for the cabinet. Contributions are wished for upon several 
subjects—for information address the Editor. 
COLLECTING AND PRESERVING BIRDS’ EGGS 
AND NESTS. 
By H. T. Booth. 
The collecting of birds’ eggs for the purpose of scientific 
research and other information as regards the domestic eco¬ 
nomy of nest-building, egg-laying and incubation, are admitted 
by most scientists to require more care and discrimination 
than the collection and study of specimens in any other branch 
of Natural History. 
The collecting of specimens goes but a short way towards 
