Birds. 1071 



the stream, adds not a little to the beauties of the scene. This bird 

 often stands on trees near to the water's edge, from whence it observes 

 its finny or amphibious prey. I know of no instance of the heron 

 forming communities or heronries in any part of Belgium. During 

 the whole of last summer, a pair of these birds passed every day, in 

 the morning at day-break and in the evening at sunset, over my habi- 

 tation, uttering loud cries and flying in large circles. I believe they 

 went to feed during the day-time, on a large sheet of water that lies in 

 the direction they took, and returned in the evening to roost in the 

 woods at a considerable distance. I cannot understand how they 

 could leave their young or nest, either for a whole day or night. 



Moorhen, Gallinula chloropus. On ponds and lakes in summer, on 

 streams and rivulets in winter. Very common. The greater number 

 leave us during the first fine days of spring. When several couples 

 or families have taken possession of a sheet of water, each of them 

 seems to keep to a particular corner, and not to intrude on the domain 

 of its neighbours ; day after day the same birds may be made to rise 

 from the very same bed of reeds. This bird is essentially nocturnal 

 and crepuscular, emerging from its hiding place amongst the rushes at 

 dusk ; all its movements in the water have a circular course, and it is 

 pretty to watch the nod it gives with its head and neck at each strike 

 it makes at the water with its feet : it continually beats the surface 

 with its tail while swimming. 



This water-fowl sometimes incubates three times during the course 

 of the year, but in general only twice. The young return to rest in 

 the nest for some time after they can swim, which is as soon as they 

 have left the egg. 



Common Cormorant, Phalacrocorax Carlo. Common on our 

 shores ; sometimes follows up our rivers during the winter, at which 

 time a portion of these birds seem to leave us. I am unable to say 

 whether the cormorant ever nestles here, as my living in the interior 

 of the country has precluded proper observation of the animated be- 

 ings which frequent our shores. 



I beg the readers of these papers to take this, and the few years I 

 have devoted to the study of Ornithology, into consideration, and to 

 excuse the paucity of facts relating to them which I shall have to fur- 

 nish. I hope in time to be enabled to observe their habits with more 

 care, and will then furnish Mr. Newman with the result of my notes, 

 for insertion in that ably conducted and most useful publication, * The 

 Zoologist.' 



