26 RAMBLES OF A NATURALIST. 
February 3rd. Bought a cock Sandgrouse (P/erocles 
arenarius, Pall.) at the poulterer's, killed at Aumale, and 
went to the “Exposition,” which is in one of the arches 
below the “Place du Government.” M. Loche’s birds are 
nicely set up and arranged, but the space devoted to them 
is not very large. The rest of his collection of skins is now 
dispersed. I saw his eggs at No. 9, Rue Marine, which are 
very good indeed. There were several drawers of duplicates. 
February 6th. Observed a curious pale-coloured variety 
of the Robin in the market, and also a slightly pied Black- 
bird. A short time ago I read of a single taxidermist 
having twenty-nine pied Blackbirds to stuff in about a 
twelvemonth in Ireland. Surely they are as common there 
as pied Ring Ouzels are in Alsace and Lorraine. I have 
never had more than one or two since I began to collect 
birds. 
February 7th, Sunday. Attended service in one of the 
arches beneath the “ Boulevards.” The large congregation 
showed how much need there was for the English Protestant 
Church, a site for which had been found not far from the 
Eastern gate, and which was already near completion. I 
began the new week at Blida, so famed for its delicious 
oranges, which are exported to Paris where one may see 
“Blida oranges” advertised in the shop windows. Among 
its scented groves I daily sauntered, and found the same 
choristers which we have at home. The familiar garden 
Thrush was quite common, and so were Redbreasts. Willow 
Wrens and tuneful Blackcaps seemed to abound every- 
where. Starlings, Titlarks, and Linnets were in some num- 
bers, and the sprightly Blackbird was not uncommon. But 
most beautiful of all were the Buff-backed Herons ; perched 
on the backs of cattle, they stand like alabaster images, and 
no herdsman but gladly makes them welcome. Here I 
shot the rare Dipper, or Pale-backed Water Ouzel, des- 
cribed by Dr. Tristram as Cinclus minor (Ibis, 1870, p. 496,) 
