380 Mr. R. F. Tomes on White's T/imsh. 



obtained, a few years since, a specimen of the Rose-coloured 

 Pastor ; and Starlings and Thrushes abound. Of insect-feeders 

 there is an equally good supply ; and I have had more than one 

 opportunity of inspecting the nesting of the lesser Spotted 

 Woodpecker. 



In a small grass inclosure immediately adjoining the village, 

 and thickly surrounded by elms, a friend of mine observed a 

 bird rise from a dry leafy ditch, which at the first glance was 

 mistaken for a Woodcock, but soon recognized as one of the 

 Thrush kind. This happened on the 6th of January ; and on 

 hearing the account, I stimulated further search, but without 

 effect until the 23rd of that month, when the bird was again 

 flushed from the same inclosure, and, as before, from the bottom 

 of a dry ditch amongst dead leaves. Again on the 26th it rose 

 from the same ditch, and within a few yards of the same spot. 

 On each occasion it was busied in turning over the dead leaves, 

 from beneath which it appears to have taken its food. Although 

 Blackbirds, Thrushes, and Missel-thrushes were abundant and 

 seen at the same time feeding on the ivy and hawthorn berries, 

 the present bird was always observed to resort only to the trees 

 or hedges when disturbed, and then merely as a place of rest, 

 remaining for some time perched in an upright position in one 

 spot, without noticing the berries or the species feeding on them. 

 Its flight when roused from its feeding was very undulating, 

 like that of the Green Woodpecker, and low, often settling on 

 the ground, and only making choice of a tree when it happened 

 to pass under one, into which it rose almost vertically. As far 

 as its habits could be ascertained from these short opportunities 

 of observation, it would appear to be almost entirely a ground 

 feeder. Mr. Blyth says of the allied Indian species, Oreocincia 

 dauma, that it is generally met with amongst bamboos, in which 

 situation the ground would very likely be the attraction, rather 

 than the canes. 



I have been thus particular in the description of the locality 

 in which the bird appeared, on account of the interval which 

 occurred between its first and second appearance; for it must be 

 supposed that it was a suitable one, or it would nut have again 

 returned to it after an absence of more than a fortnight. 



