Items from the Field.

Otago Witness, Issue 2008, 18 August 1892, Page 44

Items from the Field.

Pheasant's Nkst 20ft up a Tkee. — On M.iy 20 a pheasant's nest with 11 eggs was found here fully 20ft from the ground in a Bpruce fir. Thinking there would be a poor chance for the young when hatched, I went for the purpose of bringing away the eggs to put under a hen, The old bird was

sitting on and was determined to protect her nest, pecking at my hand, and flapping her wing 3at me. I thought it seemed a pity to rob such a good mother, so I left her with five eggs to try her luck ; the other eggs I put under a hen, and they hatched out 11 days after. Knowing that the others up the tree would be hatched also, I went to relieve the captives, and on nearing the place there was a young bird calling at the bottom of the tree and the old one calling in reply from above. I brought them to the ground, the old bird keeping quite near all the time, pecking and darting at me every now and therj. The young I put together, and, on leaving, tbe mother chased mo out of the wood, and then flew back to her young. How the young bird was saved from being killed by the fall was, no doubt, owing to the thick branches. Perhaps you will say if such a case is very uncommon. — Thomas Scott (Gamekeeper, Matfen Hall New-castle-on-Tyne). [We have known several cases of pheasants nesting in trees, as >yell as on stacks and ivy- covered walls, atid the hen birds apparently experienced no difficulty in getting the young down in safety. — Ed.]

Rooks Abandoning Rookery.— l have little doubt the reason why the rooks abandoned the rookery of your correspondent was that a pair of carrion crows carao upon the scone and sucked the eggs. This is a common occurence, I believe, iv small rookeries isolated from dwellings. Only tho other day I found two rookeries cntiiely deserted ; in one of them there was a carrion crow, which vociferated for a lorg time because I remained near the once busy rookery, but now solitary home of this greatest of all egg plunderers. I have known of many such case?. May not the reason why rooks build their nests near the habitations of men be for protection against carrion crows? In tbe instance of abandonement ju^t cited, I notice the rooks bavc betaken themselves to a wood some distance away, and hnve chosen that portion only of the wood in close proximity to a farmhouse. Ido net believe rooks would ever build their nests away from dwellings, if suitable trees were to be found there, except where there are uo can ion crows, or where they arc well looked after. — F. Botes (Beverley.)

Kingfisher Perching on Fishing Rod. — My son was fishing on a small brook in this parish towards evening, on June 7, just above where a small bridge went over the stream. A kingfisher came flying through the arch, and settled on the end of his fishing rod. He stood quite still, and the bird remained there for a second or two, looking at him. I know that similar occurences have been mentioned in your paper several times before ; but I think they are always interesting, and worth recording, so I send you notice of this at once. — G. C. Green (Modbury Vicarage, S. Devon). bPARRows Killing Young Goldfinches. — Until recently I had a nest of young goldfinches in an ilex tree in my garden ; but in the afternoon I heard a great commotion in the tree, and on looking up I saw a pair of sparrows (cock and hen) iutor,t on murdering the innocents. They j-ulled one bird out of the nest aad threw it down, and I believe they killed the others in the nest, as I saw the hen. sparrow pecking viciously at them. The parent goldfinches evinced great distrcs?, but did not attempt to drive the marauders away. I did this, however, but I arrived on the scene too late to be of avail. This morning neither sparrows nor gc-ld finches are there, so 1 do not doubt that the murder was effectually carried out.— T. M. Ward (Co).) (Copdock, Ipswich). Blackbibd Adopting Young He.geSpaurows. — A man walking iv tbe kitchen garden here, a few days since, had occasion to move some pea sticks from the place where several bundles have been deposited ; in doing so, he dislodged a blackbird's nest, with several eggs in it. This I 'subsequently picked up from the ground and replaced on the pea sticks, together with one egg which had not been broken, thinking that possibly the hen bird might take to it again. This she has not done ; but she has driven away a hedge-sparrow which had built amongst the same sticks, and hatched her eggs, and she (the blackbird) is now looking after the young bird 8. On Wednesday the man and I both saw her sitting on the nest to keep them warm. It is, of course, much too small for her, and she has to hang one leg outside. If any of your readers have met with a simil.ir instance, perhaps they will kindly mention it. — C. Beuney Brown (Downlands, near Lymington).