80 SALICARIA. 



to make their appearance at spring and fall, in 

 their way, perhaps, to the north or south ; and 

 was much pleased to see three birds about the 

 usual spot. We shot a cock and a hen; they 

 were plump and in high condition. The hen had 

 but very small rudiments of eggs within her, 

 which proves they are late breeders ; whereas 

 those species of the thrush kind that remain with 

 us the whole year have fledged young before that 

 time. In their crops was nothing very distin- 

 guishable, but somewhat that seemed like blades 

 of vegetables nearly digested. In autumn they 

 feed on haws and yew-berries, and in the spring 

 on ivy-berries. I dressed one of these birds, and 

 found it juicy and well-flavoured. It is remark- 

 able that they make but a few days' stay in their 

 spring visit, but rest near a fortnight at Michael- 

 mas. These birds, from the observations of three 

 springs, and two autumns, are most punctual in 

 their return ; and exhibit a new migration unnoticed 

 by the writers, who supposed they never were to 

 be seen in any of the southern counties. 



One of my neighbours lately brought me a new 

 salicaria, which, at first, I suspected might have 

 proved your willow-lark 1 , but on a nicer exami- 

 nation, it answered much better to the description 

 of that species which you shot at Revesby, in 

 Lincolnshire. My bird I describe thus : " It is 

 a size less than the grasshopper lark ; the head, 

 back, and covert of the wings, of a dusky brown, 

 without those dark spots of the grasshopper lark ; 

 over each eye is a milk-white stroke ; the chin 

 and throat are white, and the under parts of a 

 yellowish white ; the rump is tawny, and the 

 feathers of the tail sharp pointed ; the bill is dusky 



J For this salicaria, see Letter XXV, p. 89. 



