A HISTORY OF BERKSHIRE cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) is very fond of deposit- ing her eggs in nests of this species, and I have known fourteen of these nests in one small eyot at Hennerton in this county, each con- taining a cuckoo's egg, besides those of the rightful owner. Whether the preference shown by the cuckoo for the nests of this species has anything to do with the falling off in numbers, as suggested by Mr. Gale (Aplin's Birds of Oxfordshire, p. 60), I am not prepared to say ; but certain it is that the reed-warbler is not nearly so numerous in the district with which I am best acquainted as it was only a few years ago. 24. Sedge-Warbler. Acrocephalus phragmitis (Bechstein). Locally, Sedge Bird. Very numerous, especially along the banks of the Thames, but also near ponds and re- servoirs, and even occasionally far from water. It arrives about the third week in April and leaves again in September. I have found white eggs and also one nest containing six of a salmon-colour. Clark Kennedy (Birds of Berks and Bucks, p. 79) mentions finding a nest with the unusual number of nine eggs. 25. Grasshopper- Warbler. Locustella nttvia (Boddaert). This interesting warbler is probably more numerous than at first sight might appear. Very local in its distribution, it has been re- corded from many parts of Berkshire Wel- lington, Wantage, Drayton, Cookham, and is numerous on Bucklebury Common. Mr. Wallis found it breeding at Thatcham, and Mr. Selous on an island near Shiplake. As early as May 6 I have seen a nest containing fresh eggs. 26. Hedge - Sparrow. Accentor modularis (Linn.). Locally, Dunock, Hedge-poker. This bird, which has, of course, nothing to do with the house-sparrow, is very abundant and resident. 27. Dipper. Cinclus aquaticus, Bechstein. A somewhat rare visitor to the Thames and its tributaries. The earliest record I have is one mentioned by Dr. Lamb from Newbury, where it was taken in the Mill, October, 1803 (' Ornith. Bercheria'), while several others have since been taken or seen within our limits. But by far the most inte- resting occurrence is that mentioned to me by Mr. H. M. Wallis, who states on indis- putable authority that a pair nested and successfully reared their young in a hole in the masonry of the weir at Mapledurham during the summer of 1899. It has recently been reported from Holybrook and the Read- ing irrigation farm. 28. Bearded Tit. Panurus biarmicus (Linn.). Probably owing to the altered condition of the surrounding land through drainage and cultivation this bird, also known as the bearded reedling and the reed-pheasant, is no longer found in the Thames valley, and I have no recent notice of its occurrence. In 1814 Dr. Lamb wrote that it was frequent about the banks of the Kennet between Read- ing and Newbury, undoubtedly breeding about the latter place (' Ornith. Bercheria '). In Yarrell (i. 520, ed. 4) it is mentioned as formerly found up the river as far as Oxford. 29. British Long-tailed Tit. Acredula rosea (Blyth). Locally, Bottle-tit, Bumbarrel. Common and resident. The beautiful nest, which is commenced at the bottom and worked upwards till it is finally domed over, takes nearly three weeks to complete, and as I have seen slightly incubated eggs (ten in number) on April 10, the bird must begin its nest very early in the year. Flocks of twenty or more may be found roosting to- gether in winter. 30. Great Tit. Parus major, Linn. Locally, Ox-eye. The most numerous of our tits, and resident throughout the county. 31. British Coal-Tit. Parus britannicus, Sharpe and Dresser. Locally, Black-cap. Common and resident, though not in such numbers as the great or blue tits. 32. Marsh Tit. Parus palustris, Linn. Resident, but much more local in distri- bution, and at this end of the county it might almost be called rare as a breeding bird. It certainly lays a smaller number of eggs than either of its congeners ; the writer has never found more than six, even when incubation was advanced. 33. Blue Tit. Parus ceeruleus, Linn. Locally, Tom-tit, Blue-cap, Blue Bonnet. Numerous and resident ; in numbers next to the great tit. 34. Nuthatch. Sitta casia, Wolf. Locally, Nut-jobber. Somewhat local, but wherever park-lands are found with old trees it is quite common, 144
