so THE NATURALIST. 



down to the damp rushy fields outside the wood, where they seemed to search 

 for hybernating Orthoptera, which the warm sun had brought out in goodly 

 numbers from their winter quarters, and one bird I distinctly saw fly off 

 in great triumph with what could have been no other than an unfortunate 

 specimen of Gryllotalpa vulgaris, — which insect by the bye appeared to be 

 tolerably plentiful, as I discovered several under loose bark and tangled 

 grass, at the foot of a large alder tree growing at the side of a dyke close 

 by ; — others flitted to the ground in the wood itself, where they hunted 

 diligently for insect food at the roots of the trees and underwood, and 

 others preferring to remain in the thick tops of the trees, busily employed 

 themselves investigating the old cones and the nests of the young larvae of 

 C. pityocampa, which abound in immense profusion, and I believe formed 

 their chief food, but of this I will not be positive. On our approach they 

 became excessively wary and commenced flying away in a great hurry, 

 although not to any considerable distance at a time, all taking the same 

 direction along the edge of the wood, and at once ceased their chattering 

 noise, with the exception of one or two individuals that appeared to be the 

 leaders of the flock, and occasionally uttered notes of alarm, much 

 resembling that of the Common Whitethroat {Sylvia cinerea, Lin.), only of 

 course on a much louder scale. I tried in vain to obtain a shot at them, 

 but one of my companions was more fortunate and succeeded in bringing 

 one down ; it fell, however, among some high rushes skirting the wood, 

 and for a long time defied all our efforts to discover it, and we were just 

 on the point of giving up the search in despair, when I suddenly stumbled 

 right on it, as it lay nearly buried in some soft moss by the side of a small 

 slimy pool, overhung with thick and tangled sedge. It was a magnificent 

 specimen and beautifully shot, not a spot of blood soiled it, nor was a 

 feather ruflled. I was enra]Dtured with my prize which I carefully placed 

 in the palm of one hand while with the other I smoothed its lovely 

 feathers, — though I must own not without some feeling of regret for the 

 death of such a charming creature, — and pointed out its various attractions 

 to my friends, who however, I am sorry to say, did not seem to appreciate 

 my delight as they ought to have done, but on the contrary were some- 

 what impatient at being kept so long from following up their legitimate 

 game. I was too much taken up with my little Magpie to pay much 

 attention to what was said, and determined as soon as I had packed it 

 safely in my bag, to follow the flock and try and procure another, 

 particularly as I heard them commence their chattering at no great 



