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In Livonia, according to Mayer, it is rare, only being occasionally observed in the autumn. 

 Mr. J. C. H. Fischer states that it probably passes through Denmark every year, but is seldom 

 noticed. Gatke has procured it on Heligoland. In Prussia it is stated by Herr Carl Vangerow 

 to be common ; and breeds in Anhalt, according to Herr von Homeyer ; while Dr. Eey sends us 

 word that since 1865 it has bred near Halle a. S. ; indeed it would appear to have become more 

 numerous in Germany since Naumann's time ; while Borggreve considers it to be generally 

 distributed throughout the country in summer, but nowhere common. Herr von Pelzeln 

 informs us that it was procured by Natterer in Hungary ; and our friend Dr. Taczanowski writes 

 as follows : — " It comes to Poland to breed, and leaves us as soon as the nesting-season is over, 

 arriving about the 20th of April, and leaving before the end of August. Its distribution is 

 peculiar, and is difficult to account for, as in certain localities it is entirely wanting. It is very 

 common near Warsaw, almost as numerous, indeed, as the Yellow Bunting. On the left bank 

 of the Vistula it is found everywhere in smaller or larger numbers ; but on the right bank of this 

 river there are two large tracts of country where it never occurs — that is to say, in most of the 

 province of Lublin, so renowned for its fertility. It is again found near Pultaway, on the banks 

 of the Vistula, about six geographical miles to the north of Lublin ; but further on it is never 

 seen, though the country is exactly similar to that inhabited by it elsewhere. According to 

 Professor Kessler it is found further eastward in the provinces of Volhynia, Podolia, and Kiew. 

 The second district is the province of Augustow, where it is still found about a league to the 

 north of the town of Lomzia ; and this is its northern frontier in our country. It will be curious 

 to note if it ever establishes itself later on in these two districts ; for some people will have it 

 that the Ortolan was not formerly known in places where it is now so common." 



" In Holland," writes Mr. H. M. Labouchere, " the Ortolan is a very rare bird, and in some 

 places is called ' Vreemdeling,' which means a stranger or foreigner. Some years, however, large 

 flocks pass through the country on their way south;" and De Selys-Longchamps says that it 

 arrives in Belgium to breed at the end of March, leaving in September : some pass Lorraine in 

 the autumn, according to Godron. Mr. J. H. Gurney writes to us : — " I was told in Belgium 

 that the Ortolan is there very local in its habits, frequenting one corner or end of a wood or a 

 particular part, and not the remainder, so that the bird-catchers always know where to go to look 

 for them." In the south and north of France, say Degland and Gerbe, the present bird is very 

 common from April to the end of August ; and in Savoy, according to Bailly, it is only found 

 during the four or five finest months of the year. It frequents the plains and the adjacent 

 hillocks, being rarely met with on the mountains, not even in the cultivated portions. They 

 arrive every year about the 15th or 20th of April, in small flocks of from four to six individuals, 

 or sometimes in pairs, but the greater number arrive about the end of the month. They breed in 

 Savoy, and leave about the end of August or early in September." Lord Lilford writes to us : — 

 " The Ortolan is very abundant in Northern and Central Spain, particularly in the neighbourhood 

 of San Ildefonso, Old Castile, frequenting stony hill-sides amongst low bushes." Mr. Howard 

 Saunders has procured it near Seville; but near Gibraltar it has not as yet occurred to our 

 indefatigable correspondent Major Irby, who, however, has given us two beautiful specimens 

 preserved by Signor Olcesse, of Tangiers, and shot near that place, where also Mr. C. F. Tyrwhitt 

 Drake found it in summer. 



