NOTES ON THE BIRDS OF BELGIUM. 157 



search of the reed-beds and lush vegetation of the pools, over 

 which a small species of dragonfly darted and hovered in numbers. 

 I did not find the Great Reed Warbler in any other locality in 

 the Dinant district, but met with it near Mechelen. 



A. phragmitis. — Pretty common along the Meuse, especially 

 above Hastiere. Often to be seen singing on the wing, flying 

 up high into the air also and then descending singing into a low 

 tree or bush. I could not detect the Aquatic Warbler. 



Accentor modularis. — I only saw two ; one near the railway 

 at Agimont, the other singing from the top of a roadside spruce 

 in the Forest of Ardenne. Here, as in Switzerland, it does not 

 seem to be the familiar garden bird it is with us. Later on I 

 met with it, however, in the Botanic Garden at Mechelen. 



Parus major. — This widely distributed species was on the 

 whole the commonest Titmouse ; there were fully fledged young 

 at Houx on the 9th. 



P. ater. — I met with some in the Forest of Ardenne, and a 

 pair in the valley of the Lesse near Walzin. 



P. palastris. — Seen in the same localities, and in about the 

 same numbers as the last named species. 



P. cceruleus. — Frequently seen ; almost as common as the 

 Greater Tit. 



Troglodytes parvulus. — Frequently seen; Forest of Ardenne, 

 Casino gardens, &c. 



Certhia familiaris. — Seen once. 



Motacilla alba, — Common. Young broods were on the wing, 

 and, as I could only see these and old males (at least I could not 

 see a bird which looked like a female), I imagine the females 

 were sitting on second clutches. White Wagtails were especially 

 common by the Meuse below Hastiere ; they often flew about 

 half-way across the river with a dancing flight, about a foot above 

 the surface of the water, to catch flies, and then returned to sit 

 on the road, the low stone posts, or the iron protecting rail. 



M.flava. — There were many Blue-headed Wagtails all down 

 the Meuse from Givet, but they were commonest in the wide 

 meadows above Hastiere. Some hawked flies over the river, 

 returning to perch near the spot they started from ; they usually 

 hawked higher in the air than the White Wagtails. These Wag- 

 tails perched habitually in the willows and the young fruit trees 



