‘THE BIRDS OF DEVON.’ LI 
Wren (p. 37). 
It used to be the custom, and, doubtless, it is one still maintained, for 
the village urchins in North Devon to hunt the “Cracky Wren” on one 
day in the winter, whether on St. Stephen’s Day, as in Ireland, or on 
some other special day, we do not remember. 
White Wagtail (p. 38). 
During the early part of September 1892, numbers of White Wagtails 
frequented the hams at Bantham and Thurlestone (KE. A. 8. E., Zool. 1892, 
p- 408). Mr. Elliot shot a female at Thurlestone, May 2nd, 1894, and 
states that he has obtained many specimens in the spring. We frequently 
see examples of this Wagtail in beautiful plumage at Exmouth in March 
and April. (W.8. M. D’U.) 
Grey Wagtail (p. 40). 
The Cuckoo sometimes selects the nest of this species in which to deposit 
her eggs. Such an occurrence was noted by Mr. J. R. Earle at Honiton 
in May 1880 (Zool. 1884, p.195). In 1892 a pair of Grey Wagtails built 
their nest in a hole in the wall of the town reservoir at Kingsbridge, and 
a Cuckoo deposited an egg in it. The young bird which was hatched from 
it eventually fell out of the nest into the water, and was drowned. (H. A. 
S. E., Zool. 1892, p. 332, and an litt.) 
Blue-headed Yellow Wagtail (p. 41). 
Mr. E. A. 8. Elliot shot a specimen at Thurlestone, May 6th, 1894. 
This Wagtail has occurred several times in the extreme west of Somerset, 
and Mr. Cecil Smith believed that it had nested in the neighbourhood of 
Wiveliscombe. There appears to be no record of it in Dorsetshire, but, a 
little further to the east, it is by no means a rare summer visitor to the 
district round Christchurch, in Hants, where Mr. E. Hart is confident that 
it nests. 
Yellow Wagtail (p. 41). 
A pair were noticed apparently breeding in Huish Marshes, on June 8th, 
1893. (E. A. S. E.) 
Great Grey Shrike (p. 48), 
One seen by W. S. M. D’U. at Exmouth, March 25th, 1894. 
