182 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



nest ; by that time the Keed-Warbler has become the first 

 favourite. 



Grasshopper- Warbler (Locustella ncevia). — There are a good 

 many along the river, but they are more often heard than seen. 

 The note, to my ear, very closely resembles the winding in of a 

 fisherman's reel, and is often hard to locate precisely. 



Hedge- Sparrow {Accentor modularis). — Eesident. 



Dipper (Cinclus aquaticus). — Yarrell observes : — " The nearest 

 spot (to London) in which I heard of a Dipper being seen was a 

 watermill-tail at Wryrardisbury, on the Colne, about two or 

 three hundred yards above the place at which it falls into the 

 Thames, just below Bell Weir." I know the spot well. The 

 water is really private, and runs rapidly over large boulders. It 

 is, indeed, a likely place, but I have never been fortunate enough 

 to be able to record a second example. 



Long-tailed Tit (Acredula cauclata) . — Has considerably in- 

 creased, but is by no means numerous. 



Great Tit (Parus major). — In winter this bird comes close to 

 houses, and at feeding-time other members of the family must 

 wait until he is satisfied ; but with the return of spring he 

 retires to the woods, and is seen very little of until the following 

 autumn. 



Coal-Tit (P. ater). — Not a very great many. 



Marsh-Tit (P. palustris).— Uncommon, but one or two broods 

 are hatched each year. Fond of fruit, the red berries of the 

 mountain- ash, and sunflower seeds. 



Blue Tit (P. ccerideus). — Numerous. In the autumn these 

 birds split open the dry heads of the garden poppy, and in an 

 amazingly short time clear out all the seeds, the opium appa- 

 rently having not the slightest effect on them. They are also 

 very partial to sunflower seeds. 



Nuthatch (Sitta ccesia). — Quite common in the woods. 



Wren (Troglodytes parvulus).— Very plentiful. 



Pied Wagtail (Motacilla lugubris). — A resident, though the 

 number is increased during summer. Three broods are reared. 



White Wagtail (M. alba). — Only an occasional migrant. 



Grey Wagtail (M. melanope). — A regular autumn migrant. 

 In some years old birds with their young families arrive towards 

 the end of September, and remain by the river for some days. 



