4162 Birth. 



nil melius turdo," says Horace in his ' Epistles,' and the Romans, I 

 believe, agree with him to this day. 



The Passera solitaria of the Italians [Monticola cyanea), identified 

 by Mr. Waterton with the " sparrow that sitteth alone upon the 

 housetop " of the Scriptures, is frequently to be seen in the Coliseum, 

 where, sitting on the ruins, it displays its ruticilline affinities by the 

 constant motion of its tail. I have not observed it exposed for sale 

 in the market. 



Pratincola rubicola. 



Dandalus rubecula. A greater number of robins are sold in 

 the market than of any other bird. 



*Cisticola schcenicola, {Bp.) Gould, B. E. ii. pi. 113. 



*Cettia sericea, {Bp.) Gould, B. E. ii. pi. 115. 



Obtained each once. 



*Calamodyta melanopogon, Gould, B. E. ii. pi. 111. I am not 

 aware that the presence of this bird in Europe in winter has been be- 

 fore noticed. 1 obtained but one specimen in the market. Professor 

 Savi states that he is not aware that it has been noticed elsewhere 

 than in Tuscany. 



Calamoherpe arundinacea, (L.) i. e. Sylvia turdoides, auct., which 

 ought to bear this name. 



* Sylvia melanocephala (Ghn.) 9 Gould, B. E. ii. pi. 123. Frequent. 



Sylvia atricapilla. Males and females both very common. In 

 summer I am told they mostly disappear. 



Regulus auricapillus. 



Motacilla alba. 



Anthus arboreus. Very common. 



Corydalla Richardi. One specimen of this rare pipit was purchased 

 in the market during my stay in Rome, and presented to the Museum 

 of the Collegio di Sapienza. 



Anthus spinoletta, (L.) ? I regret to say I did not bring home an 

 Italian specimen of this bird, which I believe to be different from the 

 English " shore pipit," A. obscurus of Gray's Catalogue, Gould, 

 pi. 138. 



Accentor modularis. 



Troglodytes europaeus. I preserved one specimen of a wren which 

 1 thought looked a little different from what I was in the habit 

 of seeing in England. The shade of colour on the head and upper 

 parts is certainly not quite the same as in English specimens, but I 

 believe my Roman example to be not very mature. 



