Transactions. 45 



tails, it is curious to note that the first Wagtail's nest I ever 

 knew was several hundred yards from any water, in a dyke 

 on a public road side. 



The Spotted Flycatcher breeds yearly in a small hole in 

 an Ash tree. It arrives about the 25th of May, and departs 

 in September, It is most interesting to watch it at^the occu- 

 pation its name imparts, choosing generally two stations, and 

 fljang backwards and forwards with a sort of downwards 

 semi-circular sweep, catching its insect prey and then perch- 

 ing again. Its three or four young may be frequently seen 

 sitting in a row and being fed in rotation by the parent 

 birds. The larger kind of midge-flies seem to be its favourite 

 food. 



Robin Redbreast we have literally " all the year round," 

 shy and wild and cunning in the breeding season, but cheer- 

 ing us in autumn and winter with his clear beautiful song, and 

 interesting us by his bold defiant manner. In hard winters 

 we have usually one bird for the front door and another for 

 the kitchen ; both equally familiar, but both insisting most 

 determinedly on exclusive possession of their respective 

 premises. The winter season of 1868-9 has not been favour- 

 able to a display of Bob's pugnacity, there not yet at 

 least having been any scarcity of food. 



The Greater and Blue Tits live constantly with us, and 

 are tolerably familiar, especially since I have hung up a 

 piece of fat or a common tallow candle, of which they are 

 very fond. This enables them, while holding on by their 

 feet and perching, to throw themselves into the most gi-aceful 

 attitudes. I notice that it is in the early morning and at 

 dusk they come to feed on the tallow. The Cole Tit I have 

 never seen except by a single pair at a time, flitting in and 

 out of a hedge very much after the manner of the Common 

 Wren. The Longtailed Tit I have frequently seen in con- 

 siderable flocks — as many as 30 — passing rapidly along from 

 tree to ti'ee. 



The Water Ouzel. This bird, frequently a pair of them, 



