610 NOTES FROM THE 



be seen flying rapidly over the house-tops, seeking a sheltered 

 place for their night's rest. 



Many of the migratory birds have also been caught sight 

 of very early. The Wood-Pigeon (Columba palumbus) was 

 frequently seen in the auen of the Danube below Vienna 

 during the last days of January, the Black Kite (Milvus ater) 

 often in the beginning of February, the Starling everywhere 

 since the 17th of this month, and the White Wagtail (Mota- 

 cilla alba) has already been here four days. 



The Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) was first noted on 

 February 15th, and on the 16th I remarked a flock circling 

 round their usual nesting-places on the Danube, while during 

 the last few days many of them have been met with. Geese, 

 too, appear to have been observed on the Neusiedler Lake at 

 the beginning of February, and since the middle of the month 

 they have also appeared on the Danube, but hitherto not in 

 large flocks. 



Paired Partridges were already seen at the end of January, 

 and couples of Mallards at the beginning of February. 



This year I took pretty accurate notes of the appearance of 

 the Sea-Eagles in our neighbourhood, the district that came 

 under my observation extending from the Lobau to above the 

 Fischamend auen. A pair of these birds came as early as the 

 end of September, but did not stay long at a time, often 

 going away for a week and then returning for a few days. 



One of them, a tolerably large bird, easily recognizable 

 from its having lost some of its wing-feathers, was observed 

 throughout the autumn, and then, after a long absence, 

 reappeared at the end of February, when it was encountered 

 several times. On the 16th I myself saw it sitting on 

 the lowest branch of a tree, and it seemed to be very ill, for 

 it kept its wings open to assist it in maintaining its position 

 on its weak legs, and when frightened off it only took a short 

 flight close to the ground, never, however, allowing me to 



