2 Herons and TJirusJies. 



abundance of the thrush (French "Grive"), which was 

 served at dinner in most of the hotels, and could be 

 purchased for five centimes (one halfpenny) each. 



The Chairman stated that no doubt the heron seen was 

 of the same species as our common heron. In spring and 

 in autumn there is a general shifting of the different species 

 of birds going on from south to north and from north to 

 south, not only amongst so-called migrants, but amongst 

 species that are often considered to be residents. This 

 movement takes place to a far greater extent than people 

 who have not studied the subject would suspect. The 

 common heron, or, as it is called in France and Belgium, 

 '' Heron huppe," is no exception to this rule, for as the 

 spring advances it proceeds further north to its breeding 

 quarters, and returns in the fall of the year, or when the 

 hard weather comes on, to the south of Europe. Messrs. 

 Degland and Gerbe, in their "Ornithologie Europeenne," 

 say: — "The common Heron Ardea cinerea^ is found 

 throughout the year in the vast marshes of Languedoc, 

 Roussillon, and on the banks of the Rhone near its mouth," 

 but probably the birds that are found in these localities in 

 summer are birds that are not breeding in that particular 

 year. The elevation of the Ardennes is nowhere very great, 

 the valleys are sheltered, and the winter appears to be com- 

 paratively mild. As to the thrushes alluded to, they are 

 most likely to be either the Fieldfare, "Grive litorne" of 

 the French, or the Redwing, " Grive mauvis." Both these 

 species visit the south of Europe in large flocks in the 

 autumn from the north, where they breed in large numbers. 

 The Redwing, Tiirdns iliaciis^ occurs during the winter and 

 severe cold, in flocks, in company with the Fieldfare, 

 Tiirdus pilaris, and they are much sought after for the 

 table. The Redwing is a much smaller bird than the 

 Fieldfare, but its flesh is more delicate in flavour. 



