The Zoologist— March, 1866. 121 



constant winter visitant, and although inferior in numbers to the 

 meadow pipit, is yet tolerably common. 



Tree Sparrow.~^&x\y in the morning on the 28lh of September 

 my brother and I for the first time noticed this bird near Rainham. 

 We were returning from the marshes, when we heard the note of 

 the bird as it flew over in the mist, and recognized it at once. 

 Although we tried hard it was some days before any were obtained; 

 indeed for a day or two we lost sight of them, and 1 began to be afraid 

 they had departed altogether, 1 have usually found them associated 

 in flocks with the common house sparrow, and although there is little 

 diflSculty in distinguishing the note of the tree sparrow from that of the 

 more common species, it is not so easy to tell one bird from another 

 as they fly by in a flock, consequently the chances are considerably 

 in favour of one's killing a house sparrow, as I found more than once 

 to ray cost. 



Twite. — This regular winter visitant to the marshes made its appear- 

 ance this year on the 2nd of October. These sober-coloured, but lively 

 little birds feed principally on the seeds of marsh plants growing on 

 the " saltings," which are covered during spring tides. They generally 

 fly in small flocks of ten or a dozen, and are very restless, especially 

 in windy weather, when they constantly change their feeding-grounds. 

 Occasionally they may be found associating with linnets, from whose 

 note their own is scarcely to be distinguished, except by a practised 



ear. 



Starling.— k large flock of these birds, as before stated, continually 

 waged war with some kestrels for possession of the roof of a shed on 

 the marshes, and very often succeeded in driving off" their adversaries. 

 On the 11th of November, 1864, near the same place, I saw, in com- 

 pany with a flock of starlings, a perfectly white one. Several times 

 during the course of the day did I try to get within range, but was 

 always unsuccessful. I never saw it again. 



Hooded Crow.— This crow is exceedingly common during the winter 

 months, arriving about the second week in October, and leaving again 

 early in the spring, although my brother once saw one as late as the 

 18th of April. These birds roost at night in the woods, and at first 

 streak of dawn wend their way to the marshes, where they generally re- 

 main till dusk. In foggy weather they take to the orchards, and are then 

 somewhat less difficult of approach. A " sprat field" is, however, their 

 delight; here they gorge theu)selves with the manure until they smell 

 most abominably ; indeed they are not at all particular in their food, 



SECOND SERIES — VOL. I. ^ 



