Clifton College Scientific Society. 75 



very small size, the largest not exceeding the dimensions of the 

 house-s2)arrow. They are very lively little birds, constantly in 

 motion, hopping from branch to branch in search of insects, which 

 form their principal food. 



About here they are all to be seen in the Leigh woods, espe- 

 cially the great-tit and blue-tit. The cole-tit and marsh-tit are 

 less common. The long-tailed-tit 1 have frequently seen along 

 the banks of the Trym. 



The nests of these little birds are placed in walls or trees. 

 They lay numerous eggs of a white colour, dotted with red or 

 brown. They are generally seen moving about in troops, and 

 sometimes associating with other birds of the same genus ; none 

 of them are gifted with much power of song, and they seldom do 

 more than keep up a continued chirping while searching for 

 insects. 



I will now say a word or two about the larks. There are 

 several species of larks, but only one, I think, occurs in Clifton, — 

 namely, the skylark. The woodlark is met with pretty frequently 

 throughout England, but I have never seen it here. 



The skylark is to be found in all situations from north to 

 south. During the winter months it migrates south, and can 

 then be seen in large flocks in the ploughed and stubble fields. 

 Every one knows the song of the skylark. I will only say that it 

 is to be heard throughout the greater part of the year, commenc- 

 ing about the middle of February. The first time I heard the 

 full song this year was on the 23d of that month, in a field near 

 Penpole Point. I believe it has been heard as early as the middle 

 of January. 



The pipits or titlarks are similar to the larks, both in appear- 

 ance and habit. The most common is the meadow-pipit, which 

 is peculiar to commons, mountains, rocky sea-shores, and other 

 wild wastes. Occasionally they may be seen in streets of towns, 

 driven thither by .stress of weather. They are often found about 

 this neighbourhood in suitable situations. This is one of the 

 many different kinds of birds which feign being wounded, in order 

 to entice away intruders from their young. 



The tree-pipit is a migratory species, and in this respect differs 

 from the meadow-pipit. It appears in England about the 20th 

 of April, and departs again in September. 



The rock-pipit I have never seen in Clifton myself, but as it 

 is a very widely distributed bird, it is no doubt to be found in rocky 

 and barren places about the locality. 



Everybody is acquainted with that graceful little bird the 

 water-wagtail. It occurs almost everywhere, but its favourite 

 haunts, as the name signifies, are the margins of yivers and lakes. 



