BIRDS OF THE RIFFELALP, SWITZERLAND. 475 
rocks overlooking the Gérner Glacier. They are continually on 
the move, uttering as they fly about a sort of subdued cackle, 
and making elegant evolutions in the air. At times they retreat 
into the ragged rocks, in the holes of which they no doubt build 
their nests. Another smaller company of this Chough inhabits 
the steep cliff between the Riffelaly inn and the Riffelhaus. 
There was a pair of Ravens on the Gornergrat during one of 
my visits, which seemed to be on the best of terms with the 
Choughs, and headed them in their evolutions as they flew about. 
A third delightful little bird of the Riffelalp is the Alpine 
Accentor (Accentor alpinus), which is hardly known as a “ British 
bird,” but may be easily recognized by those who trouble to look 
for it among the highest ranges in Switzerland. Although it is 
unquestionably allied to our so-called ‘ Hedge-sparrow,” its 
habits are quite different, and are more like those of the Pipits 
or Stonechats. I have always seen it in pairs or small flocks, or 
sometimes singly, picking about on the ground amongst large 
stones, or perching on rocks and running over their surfaces. On 
one occasion I found a family party of six or seven within two 
hundred yards of the Riffelalp hotel. They are usually rather 
shy, and it 1s difficult to get one’s glasses well fixed on them, so 
lively are their movements; but when you get a good side light 
on them the spotted throat and rufous tinge on the flanks render 
them easily distinguishable. 
The. Snow-finch (Montifringilla nivalis) is also a cherie istic 
bird of the high Alps from 8000 to 10,000 ft. I have seen small 
flocks of them on the Furka Pass and elsewhere. On the 
Riffelalp this year I only identified a single bird with certainty ; 
this was on the outskirts of the pine wood near the hotel. But 
another flock of finches which I saw in the same neighbourhood 
near Findelen Glacier was, I believe, of this species. 
In the open parts of the highest pastures on the Riffelalp the 
Water Pipit (Anthus spinoletta) is by no means rare. They are 
always seen on the ground, taking a short flight when disturbed, 
and then settling again in the herbage. Their habits appeared 
to me to be much the same as those of our Meadow Pipit 
(A. pratensis). 
The Black Redstart (Ruticilla tithys), common all over 
Switzerland, is also to be found on the Riffelalp, but does not 
