Birds. 981 



of the feathers. Legs reddish brown. Hinder claw longer than hal- 

 lux, and considerably curved ; hind toe and claw shorter than tibia. 

 Tail : the upper coverts umber brown or olive, under coverts white. 

 Quills very similar in markings to those of Anthus pratensis, but 

 much longer : two outer quills blackish, their outer web white, with 

 base olive and last quarter tinted with rufous, inner web dark, with tip 

 triangularly pure white, which colour extends a little in a very nar- 

 row margin along the inner edge of the quill ; two following dark, the 

 outer web, with the whole of the extreme outer margin and very small 

 tip white, inner web with a small triangular white tip, the barbs very 

 long ; four next quills dark, outer edge of their outer web very nar- 

 rowly edged with white along the margin ; two inner quills dark um- 

 ber brown, shorter than the preceding, narrower and cuneate, with 

 paler edges. 



Missel thrush, Merula viscivora. Scarce. Solitary birds and cou- 

 ples are seen all through the winter. Its harsh cry has even attracted 

 the notice of the peasantry, who have given it the names of Chakker 

 in Flemish, and Chactresse in Walloon. This shy bird does not nes- 

 tle here. 



Fieldfare, Merula Pilaris. Feeds principally on the juniper in 

 winter, which imparts a disagreeable bitter flavour to its flesh. Large 

 flocks are seen at irregular intervals through the winter months. It 

 generally appears in November and leaves in March or April. 



Common Gold-crest, Regulus cristatus. Comes in October ; seen 

 in small families all through the winter, disappearing at intervals. 

 Very common, and remarkably fearless of man. Feeds on minute in- 

 sects, such as Lachnus Pini, punctatus, fasciatus &c, Coccinella dis- 

 par, Pollenia rudis, and some others which hibernate, as these latter 

 do, under the bark or between the leaves of the firs. This bird has 

 not yet been ascertained to nestle in Belgium, but having been seen 

 all the year round in some localities, would lead to the supposition of 

 its doing so. In the neighbouring department of the Moselle it builds 

 every year. 



Cole titmouse, Parus ater. An irregular winter visitant, from Au- 

 gust until spring. Haunts fir-plantations, and lives in small families. 



Julian Deby. 



Laewen, April 1, 1845. 



(To be continued). 



