1920.] Ornithology of the Island of Texel. 369 



Tawny Pipit. 



Said by Daalder to breed in the dunes at Slufterbollen, 

 though scarce, where, however, on 26 August we failed 

 to see any. " Breeds " (Th.). " Seldom breeds, though 

 common on the mainland dunes ^^ (L.J.). 



Red-backed Shrike. 



A single young bird seen at the end of August. " Not 

 common as breeding species^' (D.). "Breeds" (Th.). 

 " Regularly in single pairs ; also breeds on TerschelHng 

 and Ameland "(L.J.). 



Great Grey Shrike. 

 "Breeds'' (Th.). 



Woodchat-Shrike. 



" Bred in June 1900 on Texel. Baron Snouckaert von 

 Schauberg received two eggs from there'' (L.J.). 



Golden Oriole. 



" Seldom breeds " (D.) . " Breeds " (Th.). " Nested in a 

 wood near the haven, as recorded by R. Fortune" (V.). "A 

 pair regularly nest in the Park at Den Burg ; formerly two 

 pairs" (L.J.). 



Waxwing. 



This bird is well known on the island, and is called the 

 " Post-vogel " as its occurrence is thought to herald 

 disease. Each little spinny on the island is let for snaring 

 birds (Thrushes &c.), and this snaring is done in a peculiar 

 way. A triangle is made of a thin willow branch, and to 

 each side of this are affixed horse-hair snares, so that 

 they overlap in the centre of the triangle ; at the middle of 

 the base of the triangle is affixed a bunch of rowan berries 

 (which are harvested for this purpose). The triangle is then 

 hung up on a prominent bough of a tree. Each spinny 

 may contain about fifty such triangles, which must not 

 be less than three feet from the ground nor set before 

 1 October. Indeed, it would not be of much use to set them 



