Birds. 7541 



Robin Redbreast {S. rnbecnla). Common, but neither so familiar 

 nor so abundant as in England. 



Bluethroated Warbler {S. suecica). In private collections I have 

 not only seen the bird itself, but also its nest and eggs, labelled as 

 having been taken in Belgium. I never had the good fortune to meet 

 with it in its wild state, although it is said to be a regular summer 

 visitor. 



Redstart [S. phoenicurus). Common. Summer. 

 Black Redstart {S. tithys). Occasional. In 1853 an English gen- 

 tleman, then residing in Brussels, kindly presented me with the nest 

 and eggs of this rare bird, taken by himself, in the summer of the pre- 

 vious year, near Etterbeck. The nest, which was not discovered 

 until the bird was seen to fly out of it, was situated near the top of a 

 large heap of old paving-stones by the road-side ; it is ralher loosely 

 constructed of dead grass-stalks, moss and a few dead leaves, and 

 lined with fine grass and horsehair. The eggs, four in number, are 

 white and slightly glossed. 



Whinchat {S. rubetra). Abundant in low meadows during summer. 

 I remember seeing fresh eggs and well-fledged young within the same 

 week. 



Wheatear {S. cenanihe). Summer. Less numerous than the 

 whinchat. 



Grasshopper Warbler {S. locustella). In the collection of M. C. 

 Dubois, of Brussels, I observed several specimens, and also a nest of 

 young birds, all of which had been taken in South Brabant. 

 Sedge Warbler {S. Phragmitis). Summer. 



Great Sedge Warbler {S. turdoides). By no means uncommon in 

 summer, frequenting most seed-beds, canals and sides of rivers, where 

 coarse herbage or low willows aff"ord it suflScient cover. Referring to 

 my note-books for 1853, I find the following entry : — " May 22nd. 

 Walked along the banks of the canal in the direction of Vilvorde. 

 While stooping to pick up an insect my attention was suddenly 

 attracted by the loud notes of some unknown bird close beside me, 

 and immediately afterwards I caught a glimpse of the bird which was 

 uttering them, and which I rightly conjectured to be a ' reed thrush.' 

 It would not take wing, but continued dodging and hiding among the 

 reeds in a most amusing manner, at frequent intervals making known 

 its whereabouts by its harsh, scolding notes, not a little like those of 

 the whitethroat, only of course much louder. Suspecting that the 

 nest must be somewhere near, 1 continued to turn aside the reeds with 

 a fishing-rod, until uiy trouble was rewarded by the sight of a nest, 



