Birds. 859 



common. Lives in woods, and very seldom seen in churches or 

 ruins. 



European Goatsucker, Caprimulgus E'uropeus. Not uncommon, 

 but rather local. It arrives in March or April, and leaves in Septem- 

 ber. I have often observed this bird fly many times round the same 

 tree in pursuit of insects. I have had the young brought me several 

 times, but have not succeeded in rearing them ; their shape, and 

 immense gaping mouths made them very ugly, but interesting objects 

 of contemplation. 



Common Swift, Cypselus Apus. Very common in all our towns ; 

 generally comes in the beginning of May, or last days of April, and 

 leaves in August. This is, of all our Hirundinidae, the highest flyer. 

 Every one knows the insupportable cries it utters constantly while 

 teaching its newly-fledged young to make the first use of their wings; 

 and its appearance far from town, as being the harbinger of some 

 approaching storm. 



Martin, Hirundo urbica. Arrives in the end of April, and departs 

 towards the end of September. Not uncommon. 



Sand-martin, Hirundo riparia. Local, but not scarce on sandy 

 banks ; arrives towards April 15, and leaves in September. It often 

 congregates with the preceding species before its autumnal migration. 



Chimney Swallow, Hirundo rustica. Very common. Comes be- 

 tween March 28 and April 20 ; leaves in October. This bird destroys 

 a vast number of moths, and often causes much regret to the lepidop- 

 terologist who finds their debris under its nest. 



Spotted Flycatcher, Muscicapa grisola. By no means uncommon. 

 Arrives towards the latter end of April, and leaves in September. 

 This bird is naturally very tame, and sometimes chooses very noisy 

 places for its nest ; I have known a pair build for several years in 

 succession, in the extended hand of a statue, on a lawn just in front 

 of a country house. Another pair have nestled in a vine under my 

 window, from whence I can look down on the nest and its inmates, 

 During the summer months, while in pursuit of insects, it chatters 

 incessantly. 



Red-backed Shrike, Lanius Collurio. Local. Common in wild 

 and uninhabited mountainous situations ; seldom seen elsewhere, 

 except on its migrations in April or October. 



Wood-chat, Lanius rufus. Common ; comes in April, and leaves 

 in October. I have several times reared the young of this species, 

 which were remarkably voracious, and tore their food (raw meat) to 

 pieces, by sticking it between the wires of their cage. 



