1132 Birds. 



Coot, Fulica atra. This bird, which is rather uncommon, and dif- 

 ficult to observe on account of its timidity and nocturnal habits, is 

 found nestling in our great marshes. At the time of its migrations (in 

 March and April, September and October), it is to be met with on the 

 rivers and ponds of the whole kingdom. In the Vosges mountains, in 

 France, this bird is resident on some of the lakes. 



Little Ringed Plover, Charadrius minor. I am not very certain 

 that this bird builds with us, as I have never yet found its nest ; but 

 its being seen all through the summer, in some damp localities, has 

 induced me to place it in the present group. It is a bird of passage 

 in spring and autumn on several of our rivers, and on the sea-shore. 



Kentish Plover, Charadrius Cantianus. Nestles on our shores and 

 leaves in winter. The majority of these birds are migrants, which 

 only show themselves on our shores on their passage in spring and 

 autumn. 



Peewit, Vanellus cristatus. In spring and autumn vast flocks spread 

 over the country, and may be seen in pastures and ploughed fields. 

 Great numbers nestle in our marshes. The common people here call 

 them Kewity which has much resemblance to the English name. 



Ruff and Reeve, Machetes pugnax. Common in the marshes of 

 Antwerp at the time of its migrations, when great numbers are killed 

 and sent to the Brussells market, where they sell as snipe. This bird 

 very seldom nestles with us, though it does so commonly in Holland. 



Common Sandpiper, Totanus hypoleucos, and Green Sandpiper, T. 

 ochropus. Both come in April and leave in September. The first 

 species is very common in the flat country on the banks of slow ri- 

 vers ; the second occupies its place in the rocky parts near rapid 

 streams and rivers. They both occasionally nestle in Belgium, but 

 the greater number push their migrations further north and south. 



Common Bittern, Botaurus stellaris. Rather common in large 



marshes, reedy lakes and large swampy ponds, in the provinces of 



Antwerp and Limbourg ; seldom met with in the interior. It nestles 



here. I have not been fortunate enough to observe its habits in a wild 



state. Julian Deby. 



Laeken, July 15, 1845. 



(To be continued). 



Dates of Arrival of Birds observed in Laeken, in the first Ornithological Season, 

 {the Spring). The very bad season we had this spring, having nearly precluded all 

 out-of-door observations, I beg the readers of ' The Zoologist ' to excuse the incom- 

 pleteness of the subjoined list. 



