30 THE ORNITHOLOGIST. 



Crested Lark (Alauda cristata). — Believed to have been 

 seen on several occasions in winter. 



Skylark (A lauda arvensis) . — To be seen everywhere ; in 

 winter numbers feed in the streets, visiting even the market- 

 place in the middle of the town and running under horses' 

 feet. A characteristic I have never noted elsewhere is that it 

 frequently perches on house-roofs, often remaining so perched 

 for hours ; as it does this at all times of the year, it cannot be 

 that it is resting during migration. 



Starling (Stumus vulgaris). — Only seen on three occasions, 

 and these were all solitary individuals ; considering the times 

 of occurrence (two in autumn and one in spring), I put them 

 down as merely wandering migrants. 



Jay (Garrulus glandarius). — Very common and noisy; in 

 winter it leaves the woods and visits gardens, retiring again as 

 soon as the weather becomes milder. 



Magpie (Pica rustica). — Often seen near the Rhine. 



Jackdaw (Corvus monedula). — Breeds in the towers of the 

 Roman Catholic Church and in the roof of the Rath House. 



Carrion Crow (Corvus corone). — A common resident. I 

 cannot do better than give extracts from my notebook as to a 

 migration of this species which I observed last autumn : — 

 October 28th. — A large migration of Crows. Weather dull, 

 moist and somewhat foggy. Among the birds travelling within 

 sight were both Hooded and Carrion Crows. I first noticed 

 the migration about noon ; it continued with varying strength 

 until evening, the birds going in a S.E. direction. These 

 are the first Hooded Crows seen this autumn. October l&th. 

 — "Weather the same, but somewhat colder ; small parties of 

 Crows passed by all day. October 30th. — No Crows ! October 

 31st. — Windy. Flight edging to S.W. Crows passing until 

 about four o'clock ; more went by to-day than ever, especially 

 about noon. They flew low, often having to rise to clear 

 the houses. November 1st. — Much colder, bright and clear. 

 Crows passed all day in small numbers. November 5th. — Small 

 parties of Crows pass daily. November 13th.- — The migration 

 of Crows has almost entirely ceased. The usual flocks seen 

 here during autumn and winter seem to have been in no way 

 affected by this large migration passing over them. 



