TO RUSSIA AND BACK. ig 15 
pair of Black Redstarts. They seem vata te bricks and 
mortar. So is the Crested Lark, which at Hanover will 
perch freely on buildings. Near the Waterloo, Column I 
had about twenty of the two species in view at orice. 
Having done the Museum, which contained a Great Auk, 
I took the train to Brussels. In Brussels’ markev I have 
always found good birds, and on this occasion I made the 
following list of species during the few days I spent there :— 
Curlews, Hazel Grouse, Serin Finch, Spotted Redshanks,* 
(easily picked out by their long bills,) Scaup,t Gadwall, 
Pintail, Shoveller, Grey Shrikes, Hawfinch, Jays, (some of 
them plucked!) Dunlins, Spotted Crakes, Coots, Water- 
Hens, Dabchick, Jack Snipes (in plenty), Woodcocks (a fair 
number), Pheasants (a few), Grey and Red-legged Partridges 
(about equally common), Quail, Red Grouse, (these at a 
poulterer’s,) Wood Pigeons, Wild Geese, (I forget what 
species; but on another occasion I saw a small but un- 
doubted Bean Goose,) Short-eared Owls, Lapwings, Golden 
Plovers, Green Woodpecker, Magpies,t Merlin. The con- 
sumption of Thrushes is nearly as great as at Berlin, and 
many birds which we should not much esteem are sold for 
food, eg. Thrushes, Redwings, Blackbirds, Ring Ouzels, 
and an occasional Fieldfare or Missel Thrush, which find 
patronizers. Nor are there wanting people who have the 
heart to dine off Bramblings, Larks, and Tree Sparrows ; 
and I even sawa Robin and a Cole Titmouse offered among 
the more legitimate g7zbier: but my greatest stroke of luck 
* T have often seen Spotted Redshanks in Leadenhall market. They 
have been got there in all states of plumage, but the commonest is the 
adult winter, and the rarest the adult summer. 
+ In the Exeter Museum there is a curious female Scaup Duck with 
a white collar, also a white chin, which was shot on the Exe. 
£ On the 23rd of December, 1869, I saw an astonishing number of 
Magpies in the market at Paris, but nothing else except a great many 
Squirrels. 
