THE BIRDS OF THE BRISTOL DISTRICT. 
85 
city, yet it contains country of much variety ; for it includes 
mud-banks on the Severn coast ; flat land intersected by 
wide water ditches and large hedges ; broken country of hill 
and dale, well- wooded and watered ; and, finally, high ground 
of the Mendips and Cotswolds. It is no doubt due to the 
varied features of the country that as many as 197 species of 
birds have been found within so small an area. 
We believe that we have only included species of which 
the occurrence is well authenticated ; but it is quite likely 
that, owing to the small number of members in the section, 
we may have omitted some species which have undoubtedly 
occurred. Where special records seemed necessary we have 
appended the initials of the member on whose authority they 
are quoted. The following are the members whose initials 
will be found so appended : — Mr. H. J. Charbonnier, Dr. J. A. 
Norton, Mr. H. C. Playne, Mr. D. T. Price. 
The nomenclature is that adopted by Mr. Howard Saunders 
in his Manual of British BirdSj 2nd edition. 
Mistle-Thrush. — Tm'dus viscivorus. Resident, common. 
Song-Thrush. — T. musicus. Resident, very common. 
Redwing. — T. iliacus. Winter visitor. Occurs regularly 
in abundance. 
Fieldfare. — T. pilaris. Winter visitor. Occurs regularly, 
and sometimes stays with us until the end of May. 
Blackbird. — T. merula. Resident. Very common. 
Ring-Ouzel, — T. torquatus. Occasionally seen on passage 
in the spring. Nested at Almondsbury, 1899, and the 
young birds were drowned in the nest (J. A. N.). 
Wheatear. — Saxicola cenanthe. Summer resident. Nests 
in a few localities such as Dundry and Brean Down. 
Used to nest on Durdham Down, but is now only seen 
there on migration at the end of March. Sometimes 
