156] A TOPOGRAPHICAL 



5. MERULA The Blackbird: Plumage black, bill and edges of 

 the eyelids yellow. 



MUSCICAPA GRISOLA The Spotted Fly-catcher: Bill, legs and 

 feet black ; above brownish grey, beneath white, quills edged with 

 yellow, throat and sides tinged with red, mouth yellow, length 5| 

 inches, builds in the corner of walls, or on the end of beams, and 

 lays five eggs. This bird frequents gardens, and devours cherries 

 as well as flies. 



MOTACILLAALBA The White Water Wagtail: Bill, mouth, head, 

 neck, back, tail, and legs black, breast, belly, and sides of the tail 

 white, tail and back claw very long ; weight six drams, length 

 eight inches. 



2. FLAVA The Yellow Water Wagtail : Above olive green, be- 

 neath yellow, a yellow line above the eyes, tail edged with white ; 

 length eight inches. 



3. REGULUS The Golden-crested Wren : Weight 70 grains, 

 length four inches. One of our smallest birds : in a woo4 near 

 Blymhill. 



4. LUSCIANA The Nightingale: Head and back tawny olive, 

 tail tawny red, beneath pale ash colour, lower belly white, 

 irides hazel, eyes large, legs deep ash colour; weight one ounce, 

 length seven inches. They have been heard, though very rarely, 

 in the woods at Weston. " I have (aays Mr. Dickenson) no con- 

 ception why this species is not more common in Staffordshire, for it 

 inhabits much farther north, being found in plenty near Doncaster, 

 Yorkshire." It is found in the south of Staffordshire, near Himley, 

 Swindon, and Enville. 



5. MODULARIS The Hedge Sparrow: Head deep brown and ash 

 colour, back and tail blackish, throat and breast bluish ash colour, 

 belly dirty white, legs reddish; weight less than an ounce. A 

 number of white ones were observed some years near Norton-under- 

 Cannock. 



6. PH/ENICURUS The Redstart : Bill, cheeks, throat, and legs 

 black, forehead white, crown, nec^k, and back blue, grey, breast, 

 rump, and tail red ; weight six drams. 



7. RUBICULA The Robin Redbreast ; Bill and and legs blackish, 

 forehead, chin, throat, and breast yellow red, above green ash 

 colour, belly white ; weight half an ounce. It was formerly held 

 impious to destroy this species, or the common wren, or tjie martin^ 

 or the swallow. 



8. OENANTHE The Wheat Ear ; A black and a white line across 



