ON THE SMALLER BRITISH BIRDS. 251 



dense, the radical leaves numerous. In the wood they are taller, less shrubby ; 

 radical leaves few ; cauline ones on long footstalks ; the panicle is more lax, and 

 consists of fewer flowers.- -Inula dysenterica. Woodside. — Bellis perennis. 

 Woodside. — Chrysanthemum leucanthemum. In great profusion, Woodside. — 

 C. segetum. Bebbington, and at Formby, in the sandy fields. — Matricaria 

 chamomilla. Woodside. — Achillcea ptarmica, and A. millefolium. Woodside. 

 A. Stewart, Esq. has gathered specimens of A. ptarmica in this neighbourhood 

 with entire leaves ; and they were devoid of the pungent qualities which usually 

 characterise this plant. Centaurea nigra. Woodside, very sportive in the form 

 of the leaves. — Orchis bifolia, 0. morio, 0. mascula, and 0. maculata. In fields, 

 Woodside. — Euphorbia exigua. Woodside. — Sparganium ramosum. Ponds, 

 Woodside. — Carex arenaria. New Brighton. — Carex pseudo-cyperus. In a pond 

 on the road to Bidstone, near Sir John Tobin's lodge. — C. recurva. Woodside. 

 — Sagittaria sagittifolia. Ince Blundell, A. Stewart, Esq. — Tamus communis. 

 Woodside. — Atriplex portulacoides. Wallasea Pool. — Polypodium vulgare. Bid- 

 stone Stone-quarry ; also Aspidium Filix-mas, and A. lobatum. — Scolopendrium 

 vulgare. In lanes near the windmill at Tranmere. — Blechnum boreale. Bidstone 

 Stone-quarry. — Osmunda regalis. Plentiful at Speke, A. Stewart, Esq. — 

 Equisetum arvense and E. limasum. Woodside. 



I remain, Dear Sir, 



Yours most respectfully, 

 Woodside, May 15, 1837- T. B. Hall. 



SOME OBSERVATIONS ON THE SMALLER BRITISH BIRDS. 



In England we generally have some fine warm weather in February, and then 

 the notes of a considerable number of native songsters may be detected by the 

 diligent ornithologist, especially those of the following : — Missel Thrush ( Turdus 

 viscivorus), Fieldfare Thrush (T. pilaris), Garden Thrush ( T. hortensis), 

 Robin Redbreast (Rubecula familiaris), Goldencrowned Kinglet (Regulus 

 auricapillus), Ivy Wren ( Anorthura troglodytes), Garden Tit {Varus hortensis), 

 Blue Tit (P. cceruleus), Coal Tit (P. ater), Marsh Tit (P. palustris), Long- 

 tailed Tit (P. caudatus), Hedge Dunnock (Accentor modularis), Sky Lark 

 C Alauda arvensis), Yellow Bunting (Emberiza citrinella), Chaff Finch (Frin- 

 gilla coelebs), Thistle Goldwing (Carduelis elegans), Spotted Starling (Sturnus 

 varius). — How many persons, in all ranks of life, take walks in the country at 

 the time of year of which we are speaking, and yet how few ever suspect that at 

 least seventeen species of birds are carolling around them ! In the above 



No. 11, Vol.11. 2l 



