248



Lieut. R. Hamilton Scott,



point of view. Sparrows (House and Tree), Starlings and Crested

Larks are quite common, Yellow and Corn Buntings are fairly

plentiful, but the commoner British Finches are conspicuous by

their absence. It is months now since I have seen a Robin or Hedge

Accentor, and one rarely sees a Song Thrush or Blackbird. Some

way back, where the country is more wooded, parties of Magpies

are frequent, though not so numerous as at “ Wipers,” where they

“ swarmed” in the autumn of 1915. A solitary Green Woodpecker,

and perhaps a pair of Jays, may be met with. Kestrels seem to

flourish in the trench area, and Little Owls are not uncommon.

Partridges, too, frequent No Man’s Land. A pair of Swallows built

a nest on the wood supporting the roof over my horse standings,

and successfully reared a brood of four. Their nest was not more

than 2 ft. above the heads of the horses, but the birds ignored both

men and horses, feeding the youngsters all the while “ stables ” were

going on.


Here is a note I made at the time of a bird of whose identity I

was not certain : “ May 16th.—The song and call-note of a strange


bird heard in the rushes in the swampy ground at Y - .” No bird,


however, was seen, though there seemed a number in different parts

of the marsh.


“ May 24th. —Saw one for the first time. A fine bird of a rich

snuff-brown, with lighter breast. Colour not unlike Nightingale,

but appeared a somewhat larger bird. Has persistent and varied

notes. Seems to spend most of its time in the lowest part of the


reeds. May 29th.—Again visited the marsh at V- . There seemed


to be a large number of the Warblers mentioned in previous note.

To-day I was able to observe them more closely. The colour in the

sunshine is a rich snuff-brown, i. e. the back, wings, and tail, the

breast is pale fawn, nearly white at the throat. The birds seen

were perched on the tall dead flower-stems of last year’s blooms of

the reeds, and, whilst uttering their short song or calling, they raised

the feathers on the head forming a slight crest. The feathers on the

throat were also raised.”


There were a great variety of notes proceeding from the

marsh, and doubtless there were other species there as well. I once

saw a very similar coloured bird, but somewhat smaller, which I



