Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 4 (1900).djvu/258

230 were two holes, and she always came out of the left-hand one; so we crawled up the hill-side, amidst the mud and stones—Metcalfe with the camera, and myself with a long hazel stick to tap the tree with—but she must have been on the look-out, for just as we got into position, and I was about to tap the tree, out she came from the right-hand hole, and so disappointed us. I found a Wild Duck's nest (Mallard) containing nineteen eggs. On the 25th of the month I saw the first Swallow, and heard the first Corncrake. The Cuckoo I did not hear till the 28th, on which date I found a Sky-Lark's nest with three eggs. Metcalfe got a lovely photo of a cock Lapwing, with crest erected, walking up to the nest.

On April 2nd, at 10.30 (Easter Sunday), a Noctule, or Great Bat, was hawking about in the sunshine over my garden.

On May 1st a fine male Dotterel flew against the telegraph-wires at Kilnsea.

3rd.—Found two Woodcocks' nests, four eggs in each just hatching. Several pairs breed in this wood, and sit so close that if one wants to move them they have to be poked off the nest with a stick. They harmonize so beautifully with the surrounding dead leaves and grass that they are most difficult to detect. One was a much more golden-coloured bird than the other.

6th.—Moore and I found several Redshanks' nests, and eight Snipes'. Working with sixty feet of pneumatic tubing, Moore got a beautiful photograph of a Snipe on her nest. We found several Wild Ducks' nests, a Teal's, and a Shoveler's; there were four pairs of the latter birds in this locality, thanks to the protection now afforded them. The nests are most carefully concealed in thick tussocks, and have a regular run in, a foot or more in length, under the grass, from the place where the birds alight. When lying down in cover we had two drakes, looking lovely in the sunshine, fly within twenty yards of us. Several of the Redshank's eggs had been destroyed by Carrion Crows. Heard the Grasshopper Warbler, and saw several Adders.

9th.— Dug out a nest of four young Moles, about half-grown.

16th.— Green Woodpecker's nest containing two eggs; Coal Tit's, containing twelve eggs, well covered up; all the Tits