THE FRANCO-GERMAN WAR. 79 



white spotted form generally occurred, the red spotted 

 never (he added), which tallies with a statement of M. Marin, 

 of Lille (formerly of Metz) to my father. 



He told me the names of four species which were not 

 included by Fournel (1. c), but of which he had stuffed 

 specimens. The Spoonbill (imature, killed at Forbach),, 

 Purple Sandpiper,* Grey Phalarope, and Double Snipe 

 (twice). 



January \6th. At the market. Common Buzzard, Hazel 

 Grouse, Reed Bunting, Yellow Hammer, Goldfinches, Green- 

 finches, Linnets, and many Bramblings. I bought the 

 Buzzard for two " sous." It had been killed at Sarbruck, 

 and frozen as stiff as a board. After being thawed in a 

 portable cooking-stove it made a good skin. It was very 

 rufous on the under-parts. I did not think much of this 

 market, but M. Buchillot told me he had obtained there 

 the Meadow Bunting (Evibcrisa cia), and other good birds 

 occasionally. 



20th. Called again on my friend the birdstuffer, and 

 found him in the act of skinning a Whooper Swan,f one of 

 a pair just sent in from Auboue. They were very plentiful 

 about this time in England, vide Zoologist (ss., 2601). 



2 1st. Two dead Barn Owls shown to me; identical 

 with the English white-breasted kind. I have good reason 

 for believing that the fulvous variety figured in Rowley's 

 "Miscellany" occurs. Fournel says they eat bats (1. c, 

 p. 102) ; so does Dr. Altum, 



** I have shot the Purple Sandpiper at Blakeney, in Norfolk, with 

 down adhering to the neck, but there was no reason to suppose it was 

 bred there. 



f Among the numbers of Whoopers which I have seen, for the most 

 part hanging up in markets, I have very seldom seen a cygnet, and 

 never a Bewick's cygnet. My father, however, has bought a Bewick's 

 cygnet in the market at Norwich. 



