1 88 1-82.] Edvibiirgh Naturalists' Field Club. 31 



put aside for cooking, and among many Sparrows, Greenfinclies, 

 and ChaflSnches, he observed two Wrens, a Titmouse, and a Kobin. 

 This is the kind of slaughter not uncommon in France, and we 

 cannot therefore wonder that the country is as a whole so uninter- 

 esting to ornithologists. When, however, we reflect that our Hur- 

 lingham is still an aristocratic and fashionable resort, and that a 

 dish of Dunstable Larks forms a dainty enire at our epicurean civic 

 and other feasts, we must not be too severe in condemnation of the 

 cruel practices of our Gallic neighbours. 



A rather curious incident occurred on my railway journey across 

 France. A Hawk, about the size of our Sparrow-hawk, but with 

 plumage much the colour of a Woodcock, kept up parallel with the 

 train, and about fifty yai"ds distant, for many miles. When we 

 passed through plantations or in cuttings, we temporarily lost sight 

 of him, but on emerging, there he was still continuing his flight 

 near the train ; and I have a strong impression that he had found 

 by experience that the train disturbed small birds, which, in their 

 flight, became to him an easy prey. I am convinced that this 

 long-continued flight near the train was not accidental and with- 

 out an object. The only other bird at all rare seen by us in 

 France was a beautiful male Golden Oriole, and these birds, we 

 know, are occasional visitants to Britain, and would breed here if 

 left unmolested. They are sometimes seen near Paris. 



The birds noticed by us in Switzerland which are rare in Eng- 

 land were the Black Kedstart [Phoenicara Tit/iys), the Nutcracker 

 [Nucifraga caryotactes), and the Snow-Bunting [Emherlza nivalis). 

 The Black Redstart in habits much resembles his congener, our 

 common Redstart. The Snow-Bunting we saw in large flocks near 

 the top of Pizz Langard, in the Engadine, at about 9000 feet ele- 

 vation. The Nutcracker is a large bird, with a flight much like 

 our Jay, and is common in many of the Pine woods, but close 

 observation of it is difficult amongst the dense Fir trees. In the 

 Upper Engadine, at an elevation of 6000 feet, this bird is frequently 

 met with among the Cembra Pines near the glaciers of the district, 

 and it is known at once, as it flies from tree to tree, by the con- 

 spicuous white tip to its tail. The plumage is brown, spotted 

 with white. It is a migratory si^ecies, feeding on worms, insects, 

 fruits, nuts, and seeds of Pines, and raps the trees to alarm the 

 insects, after the manner of our Woodpeckers. We were unfortu- 

 nate in not meeting with the alpine Accentor, a bird by no means 

 uncommon in Switzerland, and much like our Hedge - Sparrow, 

 except that its plumage is lighter and prettier ; and instead of 

 building in hedges, it forms its nest and lays its bright blue eggs 

 in holes and fissures of the rocks. 



The bird, however, which most riveted our attention, and which 

 is quite unknown here, was the beautiful Wall-Creeper [Tichodroma 



