Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 4 (1900).djvu/464

430 This is the only nest out of some seventy which I have seen which was quite clear of the ground, though I remember one built among ivy at the bottom of a wall which did not rest on but was just above a path. On the other hand, it is not uncommon to see Chiffchaffs' nests from three to seven feet from the ground, and I have seen one ten feet high in the trellis on the side of a house. A male Jackdaw paired with a female Magpie at Bentley, and actually built a nest, but soon afterwards deserted it, perhaps on account of being disturbed. They were repeatedly seen together, and the Jackdaw has been observed to feed the Magpie. The Jackdaw is an escaped bird, and had been noticed associating with Magpies during the previous winter. The nest, which was built by the Magpie, was of the usual type, but had no roof, and when deserted had no clay lining. During the winter of 1899–1900 many Bitterns were shot in different parts of the country. Through Mr. G. Pullen, I heard of one which was shot at Morley in November, 1899; and Mr. Hutchinson has recorded two others in the 'Field' as having been "lately" (Jan. 30th) shot at Egginton and Smalley. In November, 1899, a watcher named Hudson picked up a dead bird in the grounds of Wootton Lodge, Staffordshire, which, from his description, appeared to be a Fork-tailed Petrel. It was apparently starved to death. Mr. J. Masefield, of Cheadle, has kindly traced this specimen, which luckily was preserved, and has ascertained that the supposition was correct. It is now in the possession of Mr. Mears, of Longton.

1900.—The very severe weather in February proved destructive to the birds. Many dead Chaffinches, Blackbirds, and Starlings were to be found by the roadsides as the snow melted. It was a curious sight to see the Tree-Creeper diligently searching the churchyard-wall in the very middle of the village, and so engrossed in its task that it allowed one to stand within a yard or two of it. An enormous flock of Wood-Pigeons, consisting of many hundreds of birds, frequented the Ramsor Woods till late in March. A curious incident which took place on March 18th seems to show that there is more affection between birds than is commonly supposed. A cock Blackbird was found lying dead outside a window at 10.15 a.m. Probably it was killed by flying against the window, as blood was oozing from its bill, its feathers were unruffled, and wings outspread. The hen stood by the dead body, and actually allowed itself to be touched with a stick by my brother-in-law, only uttering a mournful note. He then picked it up, but replaced it on the ground by its mate. Twenty minutes later he found it still by the dead bird, but, on gently touching it with his foot, it flew easily away, and skulked among the bushes. Two hours later the dead bird had disappeared (possibly picked up by a Dog). Many species of birds seem to have suffered from the severe weather of February. The Long-tailed Tits, which were so common the previous year, were almost extermi-