16 RAMBLES OF A NATURALIST. 
was when I/detected a knot of people on the staircase 
handling a splendid Kite, which of course I bought. 
At Brussels I met my father, who had been in the town 
a few days.* On reference to his diary, I observe that he 
met witb some species in the market which I did not, viz., 
Kestrel, Jackdaw, Greater-spotted Woodpecker, Ortolan 
Bunting, Corncrake, Water Rail, Teal, and Wild Duck. 
Being at the market again in December, 1870, I saw a 
Starling, some Great and Blue Tits, Linnets, Purple. Sand- 
pipers, Brent Geese,t (plucked all except their wings,) 
and a Velvet Scoter (plucked also, a choice morsel all 
ready for the first fasting devotee who came a market- 
ing): nor have I yet got to the end of my list, for on 
another occasion I saw several magnificent old drake 
Smews, Goosanders, and Shelducks, quite a fine ornitho- 
logical sight ;{ besides which the late Dr. Saxby enumerates 
in his “ Notes on the Birds of Belgium,” (Zoologist, 7537,) 
Scops Owl, Tengmalm’s Owl, Lapland Bunting, Black 
Grouse, and Red-crested Duck; to which I can further add 
Richardson’s Skua:§ but I think I have said enough to 
make anyone’s mouth water who is fond of poking about 
for rare birds in markets. 
© He had just come from Ghent, where he got four Richard’s Pipits 
from among Larks and Wagtails in the poulterers’ shops and eating- 
houses. 
t+ Willoughby describes ‘ta very heedless fowl” found in Yorkshire, 
called a Rat or Road-Goose. “Ifa pack of them come into Tees it is 
seldom one escapes away.” This is the Brent, and the name of Road- 
Goose is persistent to this day at Tees-mouth. 
{ This was after the very hard weather which ushered in 1871. The 
same week I saw several adult male Goosanders in Leadenhall market, 
and about seven magnificent Smews were killed in Norfolk. (Zool. ss., 
2600.) 
§ I have more than once had Richardson’s Skua, from Flamborough 
Head in Yorkshire, in Fy. 
