32 THE ORNITHOLOGIST. 



Common Heron (Ardea cinerea). — Found in secluded parts 

 of the Rhine. 



Little Bittern (Ardea minuta). — Once when boating on the 

 Rhine, one flew over our boat on to a swampy island, where it 

 almost at once began to call. 



White Stork (Ciconia alba). — Pairs are seen all through 

 summer, although I have never seen more than fifteen birds 

 together, even on migration. 



Mallard (Anas boscas). — On the lakes of the Kur-house it 

 breeds annually, and early in the morning flies in flights to the 

 Rhine, a distance of about three miles. They spend the day 

 in feeding there, and return in the evening. 



Ring-dove (Golumba palumbus). —Very common in the 

 woods, especially among fir. 



Turtle Dove (Turtur communis) — Several times seen and 

 heard in the fields and woods. 



Common Partridge (Perdix cinerea). — Very numerous. In 

 cold weather they run about in private gardens. 



Pheasant (Phaslanus colchicus). — Only found in preserved 

 places. 



THE HAWFINCH (COCCOTHBAUSTES VULGARIS) 



IN MIDDLESEX. 



By The Editor 



This scarce and local species is, I am glad to say, still quite 

 a common bird in a certain wood near Highgate — within six 

 miles of the Cit} r of London. As the wood in question is 

 strictly barred to all comers it seems likely to be a strong- 

 hold for this interesting bird for some time to come. The 

 species also formerly bred in several smaller woods in the 

 vicinity, but I rather fancy it may have ceased to do so during 

 the last four or five years. 



When I last visited the first-mentioned wood, however, on 

 April 27th, 1893, the birds were so common that quite half a 

 dozen of them were to be counted at one time in the trees 

 around where my friend and I stood. Their usual note might 



