HARD WICKE'S SCIENCE-G OSSIP. 



249 



The song thrush (Turdus viusicus, L.), haunts 

 certain grass fields at Powick in great numbers, 

 feeding greedily where sewage is carried to the 

 surface of the land ; missel thrush, redwing and field- 

 fare, in due season. 



Turdus torquatus, L., the ring ouzel, has been seen 

 in a hazel copse near the same village. It is a shy 

 bird, but on several occasions, towards evening, we 

 have caught a glimpse of a pair noiselessly flitting 

 into the thickets. The white ring was distinctly 

 noted in marked contrast to the dark head and body. 

 At North Malvern the same species has bred ; there- 

 fore, I am tolerably certain of the identity of this 

 bird. 



The common dipper {Cmclus aquatkus, Bechst.), 

 frequents the Teme. Last winter, abroad, I saw the 

 dipper, or water ousel, actually run along the bed of 

 a mountain stream, under water. 



The whin-chat (Pratincola rubeira, L.), was very 

 plentiful in the new-mown hay, to be identified at 

 once by the cry " Utick, utick," which, after the 

 breeding season, is contracted into " Tick, tick." 



The stone-chat {Pratincola rubicola, L.), is not 

 uncommon on the Malvern Hills. 



Ruticilla phcenicurus, L., the redstart, was also seen 

 to advantage in the hayfields. The male bird is bril- 

 liant, with white and black head and black throat ; 

 the hen more like a robin, with the red tail and 

 speckled fawn breast. 



Erithacus rubecula, L., the redbreast, of course 

 abounds. 



The nightingale (Daulias luscinia^ L.), was heard 

 by Powick Brook early in June. It is there, 

 however, some time before giving forth song. 



The white-throat {Sylvia rufa, Bodd.), is here very 

 plentiful, but has not this year nested so freely as 

 usual. Other species of warblers I cannot speak to 

 with certainty, but probably several others are near 

 at hand. 



The chiff-chaff {Phylloscopus collybita, Vieill.), was 

 at Powick, May l6th. I got quite close to a pair 

 creeping about in a thick hedge ; they exhibited no 

 signs of fear. 



The willow wren {Phylloscopus sibilatrix, Bechst.), 

 was by the side of Powick Brook. 



The reed warbler {Acrocephalus slrepcrus, Vieill,), 

 has built several years among the reeds of the 

 Worcester Canal. 



The grasshopper warbler {Locustella narjia, Bodd.), 

 I heard several times among the uncut grass by the 

 Teme side. 



The common wren and hedge-sparrow are in most 

 hedges. : , 



The long-tailed tit (^Acredula rosea, Blyth) : I saw a 

 fine nest taken from a yew tree. 



Blue tit {Parus ccrrukus, L.) : about a dozen came 

 one day in June to the pear trees in the garden — the 

 only time I have noticed them this year. 

 • -SittaciTsia, Wolf nuthatch : was active on the moss- 



grown trunks of elm trees at Norton, near Worcester, 

 in the month of July. 



The creeper {Certhia familiaris, L.), was at 

 Powick, I saw the one bird only, common, 



Motacilla lugubris, Temm., the pied wagtail, built 

 at the gas-works, Powick Asylum. I was pleased to 

 note the bird closely to compare with the rarer 

 M. alba, L., which I knew well in Switzerland. The 

 latter has a blue or slate-coloured back, the black of 

 the head ends suddenly on the neck, and the white 

 patches at the side of the head are very striking. 

 The two species seen together show marked distinc- 

 tions. 



M. Rail, Bp,, the yellow wagtail, was feeding 

 freely in the hayfields. Thf» back is olive brown, the 

 breast yellow. Here, again, I was glad to compare 

 the species with M. melanope. Pall,, the grey wagtail, 

 which I knew well in Switzerland. It has, perhaps, 

 as much bright sulphur yellow as Ray's species, but 

 the back is bluish-grey, and the tail much longer. 

 It is a more elegantly shaped bird. 



Anthus frivialis, L., tree pipit : saw one bird in 

 June, in an apple tree. Its breast was spotted like a 

 lark. 



The red-backed shrike {Lanius collurio, L.) : male 

 and female seen at different times in July and 

 August. First I had ever seen. Male bird, unfortun- 

 ately, was shot. 



Spotted fly-catcher {Muscicapa grisola, L.) : seen 

 25th April. Great numbers in August, at Powick, 

 hovering over sewage fields in search of insects. 



Cotik riparia, L., sand martin. By the Teme a 

 colony was destroyed two years ago in the great 

 floods. They have returned to same holes in sand 

 bank. 



Greenfinches very common in hay-fields. 



Haw-finch {Coccothraustes vulgaris. Pall.) : not 

 rare, but rarely seen. One pair this year at bird- 

 stuffer's shop. One seen July last. ' 



Linota canimbina, L., brown linnet : common, but I 

 have not been able to see it in full summer plumage. ■ 



Linota linaria, L., mealy redpolc;: found nest in 

 June, eggs white, red spots at thick end {vide 

 Bewick's description). Alas ! nest was destroyed. 



Ember iza miliaria, L,, common bunting : only 

 species I have seen this year. 



Skylark, very common, {Alauda arvensis, L.) : 

 other species I am not sure about. 



Starlings : one day in August, a dozen birds busily 

 catching insects in the air, as the swallov/s commonly 

 do, .' 



The common jay is seen in the quiet and wooded 

 parts of the Teme Valley, but keepers wage ceaseless' 

 warfare against them. 



Jackdaws build at Powick Asylum chapel. 



The night-jar {Caprimulgus Europceus, L.), is 

 frequently to be heard at night ' 



Gecinus viridis, L., the green woodpecker, is- 

 common in the Teme Valley. 



