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ORNITHOLOGICAL NOTES FROM THE RHINE. 

 By J. H. Salter. 



Having spent the first nine months of the year 1896 at Bonn, 

 and made numerous notes upon the birds of that neighbourhood, 

 it seemed that some of the facts observed might be worth re- 

 cording. The chief interest lies in the few species which one 

 does not meet with in an ordinary way in England, and it is easy 

 to understand why they are not more numerous when one reflects 

 that the distance from our own shores is not greater than that 

 from London to Edinburgh. The physical features of this part 

 of the Rhineland are too well known to need description. The 

 river itself, though much disturbed by traffic, affords an occasional 

 sight of Wild Duck or Teal, while Herons come to fish in it at 

 dusk. The Gulls, a few of which may be seen at any time, 

 though they are more numerous in severe weather, are probably 

 of the Black-headed species. The river-plain, with its endless 

 patches of root-crops, potatoes, and rye, yields little of interest. 

 It is hemmed in by the vineyard slopes, above which we reach the 

 general level of the country to find an almost limitless stretch of 

 forest-land, principally Scotch fir, beech, oak, and birch on a 

 gravel soil. Of this nature is the Kotten Forst, which stretches 

 for eight or ten miles behind Bonn ; also the wooded hills and 

 dales of the Seven Mountains, and of the neighbourhood of 

 Rolandseck and Remagen. Only in a few spots does the wood 

 become well-grown timber. Roe are everywhere numerous. 

 Foresting is much more of a science than with us ; woodmen and 

 keepers abound, and the larger hawks stand no better chance of 

 survival than in this country. Thus, though the Buzzard was 

 common, I never met with the Goshawk ; there are local speci- 

 mens, however, in the Schloss Museum, with eggs and young. 



The town itself, with its fine avenues of elm and horse-chest- 

 nut, the large walled gardens attached to the older houses, and, 

 above all, the Botanic Garden, offers many attractions to birds. 



