30 Transactions of the [Sess. 



their constant chirping betokening a sense of supreme happiness 

 and want of care to which human beings are entire strangers. 



So far as a short paper is concerned, the more important features 

 of the species have been mentioned ; and as time would not permit 

 of further description, I shall only beg leave to say in conclusion, 

 that among the many examples of the feathered race to be found 

 in Great Britain, few are more curious or interesting than the 

 Crossbill ; and I feel certain that, should opportunity occur, any 

 one who spent an hour or two in watching their quaint habits or 

 in listening to their peculiar song, would not consider the time 

 devoted to such a purpose as vi'asted. 



VII.— NOTE ON THE WALL-CREEPER (TICHODROMA PHCENI- 

 COPTERA) AND A FEW OTHER BIRDS OBSERVED ON 

 A VISIT TO SWITZERLAND. 



By Mr A. B. HERBERT. 



(Bead Jan. 26, 1882.) 



If tourists are asked on their return from Switzerland whether 

 they noticed any rare birds there, the usual reply is that they 

 scarcely saw a Ibird in the country. I do not know how it may 

 be in the spring and early part of summer, but in the autumn, 

 when the country is most frequently visited by British tourists, 

 there is undoiibtedly a paucity of bird life. I had the pleasure 

 of spending about a month in that charming and interesting coun- 

 try in August and September last, and in crossing France by rail, 

 the only rare birds noticed en route were Buzzards [Buteo vulgaris), 

 and these, though now extremely rare in Britain, are by no means 

 uncommon in France. You see them soaring about on buoyant 

 wings, or stationed on posts and other prominent jalaces near the 

 railway. They feed on small mammalia and reptiles ; and not 

 being themselves fit for human food, seem to be left unmolested. 

 By a Frenchman, however, with gun in hand, birds of almost all 

 kinds, great or small, flying or sitting, are slaughtered indiscrimi- 

 nately, and eaten. One of my friends called on a Frenchman 

 who had a small quadrangular courtyard, in which were a few 

 evergreens, and on two opposite sides of the enclosed space were 

 nets so arranged that, by pxiUing strings, the whole court could 

 be made a bird-trap. My friend was shown the catch of the day, 



