6 4



The Reed-Warbler in September to Central Africa returning between

April and May.


The times of departure and return of the Marsh-Warbler are probably

the same as with the preceding, but it wanders through Africa even as far

south as Natal.


Of the Blackcap I have already spoken.


The Garden Warbler, in September, starts for Western Africa, and the

Sahara, returning in May.


The Whitethroat between September and October for North West

Africa, returning between April and May.


The Lesser Whitethroat from September to November, to the Southern

parts of North Africa, returning with its larger relative.


The Wood-Wren in September, to North Africa, returning in April.


The Willow-Wren in September, to Spain, Sicily and Africa, returning

between March and April.


The Chiff-Chaff between September and November, to Southern Europe,

North and North East Africa, returning between March and April; a few

stragglers, however, occasionally remain in the South of England through¬

out the winter.


The Red-backed Shrike migrates in September to South Africa, return¬

ing in May.


The Blue-Headed Wagtail visits the same country, but returns a month

earlier.


The Yellow Wagtail leaves for Africa from September to October,

returning in March.


The Tree Pipit leaves in .September or October, winters in Palestine or

Africa, and returns from April to May.


The Wryneck is not very attractive as a cage-bird; but he departs,

probably for the South of Abyssinia, in September, returning in March or

April.


Most of the Swallow-tribe have been kept in cages and, if once cured of

their greediness, are delightful pets; indeed, I can speak very highly^ of the

House-Martin as a cage-bird. Although none of these birds ought to be

permanently confined within narrow limits, I think they have a claim to

consideration in this paper; but I deny- the right of the Cuckoo and Swift,

which are both utterly- uninteresing and unsuitable for pets.


The Chimney r -Swallow usually leaves in October and returns in April,

the Sand-Martin between August and September, returning in April, the

House-Martin in October, also returning in April, but later than the

Swallow : all three winter in Africa.


Among rare cage-birds which have visited Great Britain on migration,

some are met with more or less regularly every year, whereas the majority

have only appeared as accidental stragglers; the following list enumerates

most of them: — White’s Ground Thrush, the Siberian Ground-Thrush,

Black-throated Ouzel, Arctic Blue-throat, Rock-Thrush, Desert Wheatear,

Black Redstart,* Black-throated Chat, Red-breasted Flycatcher, Aquatic

Warbler, Great Reed-Warbler. Icterine Warbler, Barred Warbler, Orphean

Warbler, Rufous Warbler, Yellow-browed Willow-Wren, Alpine Accentor,

Wall Creeper, Rose-coloured Pastor, Golden Oriole, White-winged Crossbill,

Pine Grosbeak, Scarlet Rose-Finch, Canary, Serin-Finch, Lapland Bunting.

Black-headed Bunting, Richard’s Pipit, Tawny Pipit, Alpine Pipit, Crested

Lark and Short-toed Lark.



* Occasionally this species is said to breed here ; indeed I have the remains of its nest with

one egg, taken in Hertfordshire; this nest originally contained three eggs, bat only one


was given to me.



