860 Birds. 



Golden Oriole, Oriolus Galbula. Common in woods and gardens. 

 Comes in April, and leaves in September. Its principal food is the 

 cherry ; great quantities of which it destroys, in common with other 

 fruits and insects. I have often observed the nest of the oriole, which 

 has invariably been placed between the forked boughs of a tree, or 

 suspended under one or more branches, by a sort of coarsely-woven 

 rope. It is generally built entirely of the wool which sheep leave 

 sticking among hedges and brambles ; or in some localities, where 

 this article is scarce, of fine fibres of different plants, thickly inter- 

 woven, and is then internally lined with moss and soft feathers. This 

 bird has a peculiar low warble in the spring months, which it utters 

 between its well-known cry. It is remarkably fond of its young pro- 

 geny, and will dash nearly into the face of any person who attempts 

 to approach its nest, crying fiercely all the while. It will follow the 

 plunderer from tree to tree, for a considerable distance, every now and 

 then making a sweep at him. 



Reed-bunting, Emberiza Schceniclus. Not common. Nestles 

 among the reed-beds of our rivers and marshes. Comes in April, or 

 still earlier, and leaves in autumn. It wags its tail in the same way 

 as the wagtails. 



Ortolan Bunting, Emberiza hortulana. I have a couple of these 

 birds in confinement. They grow very fat towards winter, and hop 

 and chirp all night, to the great discomfort of the other sleepy tenants 

 of the aviary. It arrives in March, and leaves in September. 



Common Bunting, Emberiza Miliaria. Some few remain all 

 through the winter, but the greater number come in April, and leave 

 in autumn. Selby says this bird is gregarious in winter in England, 

 but in this country it certainly is not. 



Crested Lark, Alauda cristata. Scarce. Passes through Belgium 

 in October. Some few nestle on our sandy shores. 



Tree Pipit, Anthus arboreus, Bech. Comes in April, leaves in 

 September. I shot one last December, which was in the company of 

 some wagtails, near a pond. Nestles on the ground in woods. 



Anthus camjiestris, Bech. {An. rufescens, Temm.) Small flocks are 

 seen in April, and beginning of September. M. De Selys, to whom 

 I am indebted for many of these notes, informs us that this bird nestles 

 on our extensive heaths. 



Yellow Wagtail, Motacilla Jlava. Large flocks appear in April 

 and September. 



Continental White Wagtail, Motacilla alba, L. Arrives in the 

 beginning of March, leaves in autumn. It is our first spring visitant. 



