120 BIRDS OF MIDDLESEX. 



Redbacked Shrike. 

 Spotted Flycatcher. 



* Hedge Sparrow. 



* Robin Redbreast. 



* Redstart. 



* Nightingale. 

 Blackcap. 



* Garden Warbler. 



* Sedge Warbler. 



* Reed Warbler. 



Willow Wren. 

 '1^ Pied Wagtail. 

 ^' Yellow Wagtail. 



Grey Wagtail. 

 -'' Tree Pipit. 

 ^- Meadow Pipit. 



* Sky Lark. 



* Yellowharamer. 



* Greenfinch. 

 Wren. 



I have but two more species to add to this list, 

 namely, the Blackheaded Bunting and Wheatear. 

 In June, 1860, a friend of mine found a nest of the 

 latter bird containing three eggs of the Wheatear 

 and one of the Cuckoo. The nest w^as placed under 

 a clod, and in such a position as strongly to favour 

 the opinion of some naturalists that the Cuckoo 

 first lays her eggs and then deposits them with her 

 bill in the nest. 



Occasionally an adult Cuckoo is obtained in the 

 reddish-browai plumage peculiar to the young bird, 

 but this happens very rarelj^ I know of two in- 

 stances in w^hich old birds have been shot in this 

 state of plumage, one having been previously ob- 

 served for three summers, and the other for five 

 or six : they w^ere both females, and I believe an 

 adult male of this colour has never been obtained. 



The adult brown Cuckoo is thought by some to 

 be a distinct species, and has been figured and 

 described under the name of Cuculus hepaticus ; 



