160 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



Alcedo ispida. — One crossed the Meuse with a silvery fish 

 crosswise in its bill. 



Cuculus canorus. — Common. On one occasion three in close 

 company crossed a road leading through a wood. 



Syrnium aluco. — The remains of one lay by the roadside in 

 a wood. 



Athene noctua. — On two occasions I heard what I believe was 

 the note of this bird, in woods. 



Buteo vulgaris. — In the Forest of Ardenne I watched one 

 soar up out of sight ; saw another mobbed by Crows, and heard 

 the wailing cry on two occasions. 



Columba palumbus. — Strangely scarce ; two only seen flying 

 along wooded heights across the river. 



C. cenas. — One in the distance flying along a wooded slope at 

 Houyet. 



C. livia. — I saw a bird exactly resembling a wild Kock Dove 

 about some river cliffs far from any (visible) house. 



Turtur communis. — Several in woods. 



Phasianus colchicus. — Heard several times in the Bois du 

 Seminaire and the Forest of Ardenne. 



Perdix cinerea. — I saw birds twice, once on the high ground 

 at the back of Dinant, and again near Sommiere. 



Cotumix communis. — I heard a Quail calling from a field gay 

 and sweet with sainfoin and yellow trefoil on the high-lying 

 arable land above Bouvigne. 



Mgialitis hiaticula ?. — I saw a bird flying in the distance over 

 the pools at Givet, which appeared to be a Hinged Plover. 



From the 10th to the 14th of June I was at Mechelen, in 

 the flat rich Flemish country. I made a list of the birds I saw, 

 and it may be worth giving shortly. Those species marked with 

 an asterisk were not met with about Dinant. The sandy land 

 around Mechelen is very highly cultivated, and corn-fields, varied 

 by many acres devotei to the cultivation of asparagus and other 

 vegetables for the great marchi of Mechelen, stretch away as far 

 as the eye can see. But the country is well wooded with lines of 

 poplars and plantations. There are grass marshes along the 

 tidal, embanked Dyle and elsewhere, and willow and alder along 

 the drains. But the country is densely populated, and a few 



