WASTE GROUND AND SUBURBAN BIRD-LIFE. 121 



The sedge-warbler (Acrocephalus schtznobanus) appears in the 

 same locality as the two species last referred to, and might remain 

 to breed, but its vociferousness betrays it and it shortly disappears 

 to less-frequented quarters. Though open to the charge of 

 monotony, the song of this warbler contains a cadence of great 

 beauty, which is, however, but too seldom uttered. 



The greater whitethroat (Sylvia rttfa) I have only seen in the 

 district on hedges at the southern boundary near Hangingshaw. 



Generally distributed in all sylvan localities round Glasgow, the 

 willow-wren (Phylloscoptts trochilus) is conspicuous in the Queen's 

 Park early in May, where it shares the honours of the vocal choir 

 with the blackbird. 



TroglodytiDjE. — The wren {Troglodytes parvultis) is always to 

 be found in the winter months skulking under the banks and 

 hedges at the Mall's Mire Burn. 



ParidjE. — The great titmouse (Partis major) is well known in 

 the Queen's Park. 



The blue titmouse (Parus carttleus) is familiar in the locality 

 last-mentioned, and may be seen occasionally throughout our 

 limits wherever hedges occur. His presence is announced by his 

 cheerful birr-r-r-r, uttered while performing the most wonderful 

 acrobatic evolutions on the slenderest of supports. I have seen 

 him in winter in a suburban locality alighting at the bottom of the 

 gable wall of a three-storey tenement and gradually working his 

 way up to the top, diligently searching the interstices for such 

 insectivorous tit-bits as offered. 



The coal-titmouse (Pants ater) I have several times seen on 

 the western boundary of the Queen's Park near the mound. 



Motacillidte. — -One of the most characteristic birds on waste 

 ground is the pied wagtail (Motacilla lugubris). He even ranks 

 as a city bird, being frequently seen from the bridges over the 

 Clyde, especially in winter. Though common everywhere, it is a 

 rare pleasure to hear the song of the cock, which is of a bright and 

 cheerful character. Familiar with this species as far back as I 

 remember, I have only on one occasion heard his song, uttered 

 in the pauses of short flights after insects on a bright day, the last 

 of January, 1892. I was surprised to read in Yarrell's British 

 Birds (last edition) that " the pied wagtail but seldom perches on 

 a tree or bush." This is entirely contrary to my knowledge of the 



