l6 RAMBLES OF A NATURALIST, 



was when I detected a knot of people on the staircase 

 handling a splendid Kite, which of course I bought. 



At Brussels I met my father, who had been in the town 

 a few days.* On reference to his diary, I observe that he 

 met with some species in the market which I did not, viz., 

 Kestrel, Jackdaw, Greater-spotted Woodpecker, Ortolan 

 Bunting, Corncrake, Water Rail, Teal, and Wild Duck. 



Being at the market again in December, 1870, I saw a 

 Starling, some Great and Blue Tits, Linnets, Purple Sand- 

 pipers, Brent Geese,f {plucked all except their wings,) 

 and a Velvet Scoter (plucked also, a choice morsel all 

 ready for the first fasting devotee who came a market- 

 ing) : nor have I yet got to the end of my list, for on 

 another occasion I saw several magnificent old drake 

 Smews, Goosanders, and Shelducks, quite a fine ornitho- 

 logical sight ;J besides which the late Dr. Saxby enumerates 

 in his "Notes on the Birds of Belgium," (Zoologist, 7537>) 

 Scops Owl, Tengmalm's Owl, Lapland Bunting, Black 

 Grouse, and Red-crested Duck ; to which I can further add 

 Richardson's Skua :§ but I think I have said enough to 

 make anyone's mouth water who is fond of poking about 

 for rare birds in markets. 



** He had just come from Ghent, where he got four Richard's Pipits 

 from among Larks and Wagtails in the poulterers' shops and eating- 

 houses. 



f Willoughby describes " a very heedless fowl " found in Yorkshire, 

 called a Rat or Road-Goose.. " If a pack of them come into Tees it is 

 seldom one escapes away." This is the Brent, and the name of Road- 

 Goose, is persistent to this day at Tees-mouth. 



J This was after the very hard weather which ushered in 1871. The 

 same week I saw several adult male Goosanders in Leadenhall market, 

 and about seven magnificent Smews were killed in Norfolk. (Zool. ss., 

 2600.) 



§ I have more than once had Richardson's Skua, from Flamborough 

 Head in Yorkshire, in July. 



