97



Notes of a Bird-Keeper in Liguria.



centuries ago. Yet a bird’s song, one might think, would be

easy and apt to change compared with the type of the bird.

What an earnest that gives of the aeons that went to the

development of the species.


My last Bluethroat escaped after eight months of mutual

good understanding. His buzzing song, which has caused the

unknowing to look about for a bee in difficulties, was the least

of his merits. Other Warblers board with me: Whitethroat,

Sedge Warbler and Willow Wren (an all the year singer) and all

are engaging and intelligent. But the Blackcap, perhaps the

finest songster of them all, lacks the grace and port of the others.

Two Hedge Accentors, most inobtrusive of all Passerines, I also

boast; one hailing from the Zoological Gardens, where he was

continually being caught in a duck trap, and liberated, until one

day I carried him off in a paper bag.


A poor flier in the open, there is no quicker or more active

dodger than A. modularis, and if anyone doubts it, let him try

and take a caged one in his hand. Its retiring ways are in

contrast to the Robin’s pompous self-importance and its neatness

and cheery song render it a pleasant room fellow. In an aviary

it keeps out of sight. For a slenderbill it is singularly fond of

oats and seeds. The Chats are too Warbler-like to have escaped

my attention ; the Stonecliat does not draw me, but the Wheatear

is very stylish, and still more so are the S. European Black-eared

variety and the Desert Chat. How many persons are familiar

with the song of the Common Wheatear, or even of the Spotted

Flycatcher (A/usciccpa grisola ) which nests against our very

houses ?


Olives are much liked of all the Thrushes. A Ring Ouzel

and Song Thrush from England took to them at sight, and Rock

Thrushes seem to reserve a special squeak for the hammering of

them. We have been told a good deal lately about the latter,

Monlicola saxatilis —by the way, why “ pied” ? it is no more pied

than a Water Ouzel or a Wheatear, not so much so as a Martin—

and it needs close observation to appreciate its pronounced varia¬

tions of colour and markings, according to season and age. The

hens vary less and some sing fairly well. I have only two Rock

Thrushes now : one, an old confidential friend, who accompanied



