142 NATURAL HISTORY 



song, not only in Britain, but perhaps the world through, 

 come under the Linnsean Or do of Passer es. 



The above-mentioned birds, as they stand numerically, 

 belong to the following Linnasan genera : 



1,7,10,27. Alauda: 8,28. Hirundo: 



2,11,21. Turdus: 13,16,19. Fringilla: 



6, 30. Emberiza : 14, 29. Loxia. 



Birds that sing as they fly are but few : 



RAII NOMINA. 



Skylark, Alauda vulgaris : Rising, suspended, and falling, 



f In its descent ; also sitting on 



Titlark, Alauda pratorum : \ trees, and walking on the 



1 ground. 



,, r 1T , A -, j 7 ( Suspended ; in hot summer 



Woodlark, Alauda arborea : 1 V ,. ,, . , A , 



( nights all night long. 



Blackbird, Merula : Sometimes from bush to bush 



( Uses when singing on the 



Whitethroat, Ficedulce affinis : ' wing odd jerks and gesti- 



[ culations. 



c< n ( Hirundo domes- ( , 



swallow, > } In soft sunny weather. 



Wren, Passer troglodytes: Sometimes from bush to bush 



Birds that breed most early in these parts : * 



~ ( Hatches in February and 



Raven, Corns: { ^.^ 



Song- thrush, Turdus: In March. 



Blackbird, Merula : In March. 



Rook, Cornixfrugilega: Builds the beginning of March. 



Woodlark, Alauda arborea : Hatches in April. 



( Palumbus torqua- ) _ , . . . . .. 

 Ring dove, < > Lays the beginning of April. 



All birds that continue in full song till after Midsummer 

 appear to me to breed more than once. 



Most kinds of birds seem to me to be wild and shy some- 

 what in proportion to their bulk ; I mean in this island, 

 where they are much pursued and annoyed ; but in Ascen- 



1 To this list might have been added the robin, since it not unfrc- 

 quently nests in January during mild winters. ED. 



