27 APRIL 1934, Page 16

Winter Nests Old nests are greatly appreciated by a good

many creatures for very different purposes. I once found a bat preparing to hibernate in one. In clearing out old blackbirds' and thrushes' nests the other day—in order that favourable nesting sites might not be reduced—I found one full above the brim with the relics of a bees' nest, probably a bumble's and possibly belong- ing to Bombus Hartorum. Another was half full of ivy seeds, doubtless collected by mice. Animals hibernate in old nests and sometimes crawl there to die. At any rate, in one very old blackbird's nest in Surrey was found the skeleton of a stoat. It is surprising that more birds do not follow the wren and themselves use the nests in winter time.