866 Birds. 



Of the titmice, we have all the species, except the crested. 



Of the wagtails, the pied and Ray's are common ; the grey only 

 occasionally seen. 



The meadow pipit and skylark are the only species of these genera 

 that I have observed, and these we have in great abundance. 



Of the buntings, the yellow, the common, and black-headed are 

 common ; the snow occasionally seen in severe winters. 



Of the finches, the most abundant are the common and tree spar- 

 row, the chaffinch, greenfinch, linnet, goldfinch and bullfinch ; the 

 rarer, the brambling, and lesser redpole. 



The common starling is in great abundance. 



Of the crows, the rook and magpies are very numerous, and the 

 carrion, the hooded, the jackdaw, and jay, are common. 



The green woodpecker and wryneck are common, and the great 

 spotted woodpecker is occasionally seen; 



The creeper and wren are common ; also the cuckoo and king- 

 fisher. 



We have all the swallow tribe, except the Alpine swift. 



The night-jar is now and then seen. 



A fine specimen of the red grouse was taken alive at Ripton in 

 March, last year. 



The wood-pigeon, pheasant, partridge, and quail, complete the list 

 of land birds. 



W. O. AlKIN. 

 Somersham, November 29, 1844. 



Absence of Mr. Waterton from England. Though I do not often venture upon 

 edifying your readers, by writing in ' The Zoologist,' yet I always anticipate its 

 appearance with pleasure, and scan over its contents each month with satisfaction and 

 advantage. I think it bids fair to become the repository of many interesting facts 

 that would otherwise never have been made public ; and the good-natured discussions 

 that are often carried on between your various correspondents, elicit many curious 

 remarks, and must lead to habits of more correct and cautious observation, especially 

 on the part of younger naturalists. I have been greatly pleased, on many occasions, 

 to see the interest taken in your periodical by my friend Mr. Waterton, than whom, 

 it must be confessed, a more correct observer, or more amusing writer, is scarcely to 

 be found. From habits of long intimacy with him, and enjoying, as I have done, 

 many a delightful sojourn at Walton Hall, I am accustomed to receive his dicta in 

 Natural History, as so many truths, which really need no proving ; and knowing his 

 peculiar tact in observing, and habitual caution ere he forms a decided opinion, I 

 consider his testimony is not, in any case, to be lightly esteemed. I regret to observe, 



