BIRDS AT KISSTNGEN. 415 



mouth of one who was present. It was on this shore, too, that 

 the brave Hoodless, during his lifetime, saved so many lives by 

 swimming out his grey cart-mare to stranded vessels — a noble 

 creature, which would face almost any sea when called on to do 

 so, being possessed with the same high courage and metal as her 

 own fearless rider. 



By the end of May all the migratory birds which for a few 

 weeks in the spring made pleasant our eastern shores, had passed 

 to their breeding quarters in distant northern lands, and such 

 as were left were representatives of species which nest in the 

 district, like the Ringed Plover and the Redshank. Occasionally 

 a few old barren birds of various species, or such as from wounds 

 or other causes were incapable of migration, might be seen on the 

 coast during the summer ; and others, often in considerable flocks, 

 as immature Knots, Dunlin, and Turnstones, having only partially 

 acquired the nuptial plumage of adults, which, so far as we know, 

 do not leave the district or go northward after their fellows. 



BIRDS AT KISSINGEN. k 

 By the Rev. Charles W. Benson, M.A., LL.D. 



The town of Kissingen is the most frequented "Bad" in 

 Bavaria. It is picturesquely situated in the valley of the Fran- 

 conian Saale, a tributary of the Main, and is sheltered from 

 harsh winds by the Rhon Mountains and by the Thuringian 

 Mountains behind them. Its latitude is 50° 12' 7", its longitude 

 27° 54' 27" E., German measurement, and it lies 628*8 ft. above 

 the level of the North Sea. 



On 4th July I arrived at Kissingen, or, as it is called there, 

 " Bad Kissingen," in order to take up the duties of the English 

 Chaplaincy for the month, and devoted most of the spare time at 

 my disposal to observing and making a list of all the birds. 

 After we had refreshed ourselves on arrival at the- Hotel Victoria, 

 we sallied out to take a look at the place, and found that the 

 Kur- Garten was exactly opposite to our hotel, across the road, 

 that the springs and baths, and Concert Hall were there, and 

 that the trees were tenanted by countless birds, whilst all along 

 the banks of the Saale, which flowed close by, Wagtails, Fly- 

 catchers, Swallows, Martins, and other species were as busy as 



