64 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



One of them constantly sang while perched on the roof of the 

 Schloss. No doubt two broods are raised, as they were in song 

 until Aug. 5th. 



Though surrounded by suburban streets, the Botanic Garden 

 was visited by Jays, and occasionally by the Green Woodpecker ; 

 while I have heard the Tawny Owl within five minutes' walk of 

 the busiest part of the town. Kestrels frequented the Minster, 

 and I noted a pair nesting in the transept tower of Cologne 

 Cathedral. A Sparrowhawk daily " worked" the Botanic Garden 

 and adjoining streets. The Hawfinches, constantly seen till 

 April, left the Garden to breed elsewhere, returning in August to 

 feed on the hornbeam seeds. 



The Tree Pipit arrived on April 14th. On the 19th I heard 

 the Wryneck in the Friesdorf orchards ; two days later Cuckoos 

 were calling and chasing in the more open parts of the forest, and 

 Common Redstarts had settled down to breed in numbers in 

 holes in the pollard beeches. The Wheatear was only represented 

 by an odd bird or two seen on passage ; none stayed to breed. 

 On the 25th a change from a long spell of cold weather at once 

 brought the Swift and Lesser Whitethroat. Leafing made as 

 much progress in one night as in the previous month, and Night- 

 ingales sang in the Botanic Garden and in the grounds of the 

 villas along the Coblenzer Strasse. . Next day I noted the arrival 

 of the Blue-headed Yellow Wagtail and of the Common White- 

 throat. 



May came in with cold drying winds, so that some of the 

 migrants were late ; but the first week of the month brought the 

 Whinchat, Garden Warbler, Spotted Flycatcher, Turtle Dove, 

 and Common Sandpiper. I met with the Sandpiper from time to 

 time during June and July, so that a few pairs probably remained 

 to breed ; in the middle of August the return migration took 

 place, and parties of six or eight were common upon the river. 

 On May 7th the Golden Oriole's flute-like call announced its 

 arrival. Next day, in a hazel-copse on the banks of the Sieg, I 

 was in close proximity to at least half a dozen of these bright- 

 pluinaged new-comers. It was perhaps a migratory party. Oaks 

 in young leaf were scattered through the copse, and from one or 

 another of them, sometimes from several different directions at 

 once, came the loud clear call, often interrupted by the harsh 



