Birds. 5513 



The bullfinch (Loxia pyrrhula) was obtained by Dr. W. Carte : the 

 specimen, being a very fine one, is among his others in the Museum 

 of the Royal Dublin Society. 



Corvida. 



Having glanced over the hopping birds, we now come to those 

 which move on the ground in a different manner, namely, by alter- 

 nate steps with either leg, like man, and perhaps this is as clear a dis- 

 tinction as could be drawn. It may be seen that these birds pass on 

 to the creepers, which, in like manner, approach what may be called 

 the runners, Gallinaceous, or poultry birds, and I think the difference 

 will be clearly understood when we look at the stately walk of the 

 crow or starling, compared with the crouching run of the partridge ; 

 however, in mentioning the partridge as an example, let it not be 

 understood that it always crouches when running, for you will see 

 that a wounded bird, when making off from the dogs or yourself, 

 carries its head as high as possible, and steps out at an amazing 

 pace ; but I mean that, in a natural and undisturbed state, it moves 

 about by a sort of run in a crouching position; but enough of 

 generalization. 



The common starling (Slurnus vulgaris) breeds in the neighbour- 

 hood of Sebastopol, where there are many very convenient situations, 

 such as the high cliffs and ruins at the gorge of Inkermann : I find no 

 note of having observed them during the winter, but they were about 

 the first week in April and in the second week gave signs of nesting, 

 at which they were in full work at the end of May ; and in returning 

 from a ride to the Alma, I observed one carrying food into a hole in a 

 bank, on the last day of the month. I have always considered that 

 starlings are most interesting birds to observe, and those who have 

 never read Stanley's beautiful description of their habits will do well 

 to do so. 



We now notice a bird by no means common in England, the rose- 

 coloured pastor {Pastor roseus) : it is a summer visitor to the Crimea; 

 the first flock which I heard of in 1856 was about the middle of May, 

 and I observed a large congregation before the end of the month, and 

 by the end they were in flocks about the Inkermann cliffs, apparently 

 going to build : of their stay towards autumn I have no notes, but a 

 specimen was shot by me out of a small flock on the last day of June. 

 A good many specimens of this attractive-plumaged bird came to 

 England from the country. 



XV. z 



