Birds. 1069 



Gold-crest Regulusauricapillus, Third week in February on to the third 



week in July. 



Chaffinch Fringilla ccelebs ... Fourth week in January on to the second 



week in July. 

 Green grosbeak ... Fringilla chloris ... Second week in March on to the first week 



in August. 

 Common linnet ... Fringilla cannabina, All the year round except at moulting-time. 

 Mountain-linnet... Fringilla montium... Winter months and early spring, during 



its stay. 



Goldfinch Fringilla carduelis, Second week in April on to September. 



Common bunting, Emberiza miliaria. Second week in January on to the second 



week in August. 

 Yellow bunting ... Emberiza citrinella, Second week in February on to the third 



week in August. 



Reed-bunting Emberiza Schoeniclus Second week in April. 



Chimney-swallow, Hirundo rustica ... Fourth week in April until his departure. 

 Common Wren ... Troglodytes europceus In February or even March on to the third 



week in November. 

 Common cuckoo ... Cuculus canorus ... First week in May on to the first week in 



July. 



Ring-dove Columba Palumbus, First week in February on to the first week 



in October. 



Grey wagtail Motacilla Boarula. I have placed this Motacilla apart from his 



cousin, the better to call attention to his song, of which I can find no mention 

 in several authors of repute whom I have consulted. The bird is no great song- 

 ster, being neither musically disposed nor gifted with any notable powers of song, 

 but I possess at least two notices of having heard it, once in our garden, and at 

 another time by Whittingham water ; in both instances it was emitted by the 

 bird when flying, his wings having a fluttering motion, and his song partaking 

 also of the character of that of the meadow-pipit. 

 There are other birds of song which I ought to have mentioned, but am unable to do 

 so with precision ; such as the creeper, the house-martin and the tits. But I must not 

 omit the part enacted by the little cole tit, who, late in March, and all through April, 

 makes each plantation ring with his notes of glee, as he explores the buds of the larch. 

 It is evident, then, that most of our songsters cease their notes in July ; of those which 

 resume their notes for a brief season, or are heard occasionally throughout the year, I 

 must enumerate the following : — 



Missel-thrush Hedge-chanter Chaffinch 



Song-thrush Whitethroat Common bunting 



Blackbird Wood-wren Yellow bunting 



Skylark Willow-wren 



Of these I never fail to hear the voices of the missel-thrush, skylark, hedge-chanter, 

 chaffinch and yellow bunting during every autumn : here the chaffinch and skylark 

 are preeminently autumnal songsters. Birds that sing as they fly are more numerous 

 than an indifferent observer would suppose. 



Dipper, frequently Blackbird, occasionally 



Missel-thrush, frequently Skylark, his usual method 



Song-thrush, occasionally Meadow-pipit, his usual method 



