BIRDS OF THE DISTRICT OF STAINES. 231 



considered this remarkable, as there are but few recorded instances 

 of the bird breeding in Middlesex. This year 1 again found the 

 nest in the fork of a tall osier, some fifteen feet from the ground, 

 on the Berkshire bank of the river above Boveny Lock. It would 

 seem from this that the bird is increasing its breeding range 

 along this part of the Thames, as it has undoubtedly done of 

 recent years over most of the south-eastern counties. The great 

 increase of the Linnet in our district also probably has bearings 

 on the Lesser Bedpoll's appearance. 



Bullfinch (Pyrrhula europcea). — Quite plentiful, though, as a 

 rule, one only obtains just a glimpse of the bird as it flies from 

 some high hedgerow. 



Corn-Bunting (Emberiza miliaria). — Curiously local. In a 

 few fields near the reservoir there are a good many, the birds 

 being resident, but in no other part of our whole district does it 

 occur. It certainly breeds at this spot, but I have never been 

 able to discover the nest. It is of more sluggish habits than 

 any bird I know, and will remain for hours on the telegraph-wire, 

 or some other perch, uttering its monotonous notes. 



Yellow Bunting (E. citrinella). — Common. 



Ciel-Bunting (E. cirlus). — Only of rare occurrence. 



Beed-Bunting (E. schceniclus) . — Besident in good numbers, 

 but subject to large migratory movements in spring and autumn. 

 This year enormous numbers arrived in the spring, and for fully 

 a month the movement went on, and then gradually waned 

 away, leaving our resident birds undisturbed. During winter 

 they roost in flocks, and it is interesting to see them coming in 

 by twos and threes, and dropping into some reed-bed for the 

 night. The Beed-Bunting more than any other bird will attempt 

 to lure an intruder from the nest by trailing the wing as though 

 it were broken, and fluttering just out of reach. This trick is 

 invariably resorted to, and it is curious that it should be so 

 strongly developed in all birds of this species. 



Starling (Sturnus vulgaris). — Common. When the young of 

 the first broods leave the nest they go into the fields, and make 

 a most unpleasant noise with their screechings. The Starling 

 merely gobbles its food, and is a terribly greedy bird. I have 

 seen it in company with Thrushes, stripping off the ripe berries 

 of the mountain-ash. One evening in the autumn of 1904 I was 



