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BIRDS OF MARLBOROUGH, 


BEING 


A CONTRIBUTION 


TO THE 


ORNITHOLOGY OF THE DISTRICT, 


BY 


EVERARD F, IM THURN. 


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MAR be 4 WG 


WITH AN APPENDIX. 


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MARLBOROUGH : IBRARIES 
PERKINS, “TIMES” OFFICE; AND LUCY, BOOKSELLER. 


LONDON: 
SIMPKIN, MARSHALL, & CO., STATIONERS’ HALL COURT 


MIDCCCLXX. 


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PREFACE. 


Ir is only now, when I feel at last forced to render an 
account of the work which I have undertaken and have now 
completed, that I feel fully its many deficiencies. I have 
however one consolation ; I feel that J have done my best 
to render a tribute of gratitude to the school, where I passed 
so many pleasant hours, and to the Natural History 
Society of that school, to which, and to which alone, I 
owe the formation of tastes, which now provea continual 
and endless source of pleasure and occupation to me. 

In the hope that it may prove useful to them, I have 
undertaken this ‘‘ labour of love.’ 

For the information of those, either in schools or in 
private life, who may feel an interest in such societies, a 
slight sketch of the one in point may not be out of place 
here. In April, 1864, two or three members of the school, 


who had a taste for Natural History, banded themselves 


vi 


together, electing the Rev. T. A. Preston as their president, 
and agreeing to meet on certain nights for consultation. 
Difficulties at first cropped up thickly, but scientific energy, 
aided by the firm support of the Rev. G. G. Braptry, in 
time overcame these. The society grew, and ayear anda 
half after its formation published its first report. The 
career of the still small but thriving society brightened. 
more and more. About the middle of 1866 the College 
provided aroom as amuseum. From that time to this no 
cloud of any importance has appeared on the society’s 
horizon. It now publishes its reports half-yearly, numbers 
more than half a hundred members, and its collections 
have out-grown its museum. Such is the society to which 
I owe so much, and to which I have now so poorly 
attempted to repay a few of its benefits. 

The present work is not quite the first on the subject of 
the Ornithology of Marlborough. 


? 


Some years ago a * Flora”’ of the district was published 
by the Rev. T. A. Presron, at the end of which a slight 
sketch of the birds was added by R. Bosworru Smirx, 
Esq. All the birds mentioned in his list appear in the 
present one, while a considerablenumber have been added. 
As the title of my work only embraces the birds of 
Marlborough, and not those of the whole county of Wilts, 


it was necessary to fix some definite limits to the district. 


vl 


After some deliberation I have decided on a radius of eight 
miles round the town of Marlborough ; for three reasons, 
firstly, because this is about the furthest distance, which 
the generality of pedestrians would accomplish in an 
ordinary walk, and it therefore includes all the birds which 
Marlburians are likely to meet with; secondly, because that 
distance embraces the whole of the very interesting district 
of Savernake Forest; and lastly, because the same limits 
will be used in the next edition of the Flora of Marl- 
borough already alluded to. 

As to the arrangement, I have adopted the very 
excellent, though somewhat novel division into which the | 
‘‘Birds of Berks and Bucks,’ by A. Crarke Kennepy, 
Hsq., is divided. 

In some cases I have experienced a slight difficulty in 
separating the regular from the occasional visitors, as no 
distinct line can be drawn between them. 

The other difficulties which I have met with have been 
but slight, owing to the kindness and liberality of my 
friends, and even of many whose acquaintance I have not 
the pleasure of claiming. 

To the Rev. A. C. Smiru, of Yatesbury, A. CrarKE 
Kennepy, Hse, the Rev. T. A. Preston, many of the 
resident gentlemen, the farmers, and especiaily the game- 


keepers, I now offer my sincere thanks. 


vill 


The works from which I have quoted are but few in 
number, viz., the Reports of the Marlborough College 
Natural History Society, the Ornithology of Wilts, published 
in the Wilts Archaeological Magazine, by the Rev. A. C. 
SmirH, and the short list in the ‘Flora of Marlborough” 
already alluded to. I can, in conclusion, only hope that the 
list of dates in the appendix will prove of use, though 


they are fewer in number than I could have wished. 


EVERARD F. IM THURN. 


Nov. 26th, 1869. 


BIRDS OF MARLBOROUGH. 


PART I.—RESIDENTS. 


eee 


Falco Tinnunculus. 


Kestrel. 
LOCAL NAMES. EGG OBSERVED. 
Wind Hover. April 21st, 1865. 
Stannel Hawk. April 16th, 1866. 


May 3rd, 1867. 

May 8th, 1868. 

May 11th, 1869. 
1870. 


Although the Kestrel is in most places the commonest of 
the hawks, in this neighbourhood it only takes the second 
place in the ranks, the Sparrowhawk being first. It is 
however tolerably common, though it is one of those birds 
doomed to be exterminated before long through the relent- 
less persecution of gamekeepers. 

Much has been said and written lately about the cruelty 
of shooting and destroying parent birds during the breeding 
season, but no one seems to think anything about the 


cruelty of this kind towards Kestrels, for not long 
, B 


10 


since a writer in a well-known and much-read paper boasted 
that he had shot several hen Kestrels, into whose very 
nests he could see. 

These birds have to breed in deserted nests of magpies, 
crows, and other birds in our neighbourhood, as there are no 
ruins or cliffs such as they delight in. I fancy, however, 
that they do not always wait till their predecessors have 
quitted any nest, which they may fancy, as the following 
anecdote will show :— 

In a certain oak tree near the village of Chisledon was a 
nest of the common Carrion Crow, from which a companion 
of mine had already taken a couple of eggs, leaving the 
rest. As we were walking under it one day we heard a 
noise overhead, and on looking up beheld a fierce conflict 
between the Crows and a pair of Kestrels. The fight must 
have lasted nearly half-an-hour since we first noticed it, 
when the Kestrels proved victorious and drove away the 
poor owners of the nest. On visiting the nest some weeks 
afterwards, we found four hard-set Hawks’ eggs, while 
those of the Crows had totally disappeared. 

Two pure white varieties of the egg of this bird have 
been taken from two distinct nests. 


Accipiter Nisus. 
Sparrow Hawk. 
EGG OBSERVED. 

April 26th, 1865. 
April 12th, 1866. 
May 9th, 1868. 
April 29th, 1869. 
1870. 


11 


The boldest of all our Hawks and, as mentioned in the 
previous notice, in this neighbourhood the commonest. 
This is also one of those unfortunate birds doomed to be 
overcome by the war of extermination carried on against 
them. I have seen as many as twenty-six, nailed up in a 
‘“‘ camekeeper’s museum,” all killed during one month. 

At least one pair of these birds may be found in every 
copse in the neighbourhood. 

Amongst all the pet birds kept at the College this is 
perhaps the commonest. In many cases they become very 
tame indeed, more so than the Kestrel. 


Otus vulgaris. 
Long-Eared Owl. 


LOCAL NAMES. EGG OBSERVED. YOUNG BIRD. 
Long-horned Owl. June 5th, 1865. April 18th, 1866. 
Horned Oul. March 20th, 1869. 

1870. 


This, our first Marlborough Owl, is not a very uncommon 
bird, though from its habit of keeping in the dark recesses 
of thick fir copses it is not often noticed. Rockley is an 
old habitat for it, and at one time I believed the only one. 
I have, however, since learnt that it is to be found in 
several other localities. I have had several specimens from 
the various fir copses on the downs, and I now believe it to 
be pretty generally distributed throughout the district. 


The young birds and the eggs are often taken, but I am 
sorry to say that, with the exception of the two instances 
noted above, no record has been kept. Itis on the whole 
a very early breeder. 

When captured it defends itself fiercely. I have seen 
several throw themselves on their backs, striking out with 
their claws and feet, and keeping up a hissing noise all the 
time. One even settled on the hand ofits captor, and could 
not be made to loosen its hold until it was killed by a blow 
on the head. 

This is also a favourite cage bird, and will become very 
tame indeed. 

It is noticeable in these tame specimens that they 
generally sit throughout the day with one eye closed, while 
the other is open. 


Strix Flammea, 
White Owl. 


LOCAL MAMES. EGG OBSERVED. YOUNG BIRDS. 
Barn Oul. April 26th, 1866. April 22nd, 1868. 
Screech Owl. May 8th, 1869. 

Church Owl. 1870. 


Hissing Owl. 


As it is throughout England, this is a very common 
species here, breeding in all the barns, Church towers, and 
hollow trees, though from some inexplicable reason I can 
only lay my hands on very few dates of their eggs or young 
birds. 


15 


These birds generally return year after year to their old 
breeding holes, rarely seeking a new one unless obliged by 
circumstances to do so. 

They are very savage when attacked or captured, and 
woe to the careless hand thrust into their nests. 

I have a very marked variety of this species shot in 
November, 1867, at Ramsbury, in which there is a very 
white shade prevailing in the feathers of the wings, back, 
and tail. 

This species also is occasionally kept in confinement, but 
it never becomes tame, and is always ready to attack even 


its owner. 
Syrnium Stridula. 
Tawny Ovl. 
LOCAL NAME. EGG OBSERVED. YOUNG BIRDS. 
Brown Owl. April 12th, 1865. April 29th, 1868. 
March 3rd, 1867. May 10th, 1869. 
1870. 


This is the last of our resident owls and still one of the 
commonest, though war to the knife exists between it and 
the keepers. 

Besides danger from the gun, this poor bird also has 
another enemy. Certain men living chiefly in Savernake 
Forest, where the bird is commonest, have become wonder- 
fully skilled in noosing them as they come out of the 


hollow trees in which they live. 


14: 


In a tree to the right of the grand avenue in Savernake 
Forest there existed in the spring of 1868, a happy family, 
consisting of a pair of these owls, and a pair of squirrels, 
both of which parties had young families in the same hollow, 
while lower down in the same tree was a tree-creeper’s 
nest. In this case a mutual bond of peace seemed to have 
been struck. 

This bird is an early breeder with us, but the above noted 
date, ¢.e., the 3rd of March, is most unusually early, as there 
were four eggs in the nest at the time, and even supposing 
that they were laid at intervals of only one day between 
each, which with the owls is most unlikely, the first ege 
must have been laid on the last day of February. 


Turdus Viscivorus. 
Missel Thrush. 


LOCAL NAMES. EGG OBSERVED. 
Storm Cock. April 8th, 1865. 
Shrike Cock. March 28th, 1866. 


April 6th, 1867. 
March 16th, 1868. 
March 14th, 1869. 
1870. 
A very abundant species, and at the same time a very 
useful one, from the number of insects which it destroys. 
This species generally builds in the thick fir copses, or 
in the branches of solitary trees. A large number of nests 


15 


may be found annually at Rockley. As will be seen by the 
above notes, they are very early breeders. Young birds of 
two or three days old have been observed on the 2nd and 
on the 10th of April. 

I imagine this bird to be a very favourite prey of the 
Sparrowhawk, from haying observed several from which I 
had driven away the hawk. They were as completely 
plucked as if done by the most experienced poulterer. 

The Wiltshire rustics have a superstitfon that the loud 
wild note of this bird uttered during a storm is a sure fore- 
warning of coming misfortune. 


Turdus Musicus. 
Song Thrush. 


LOCAL NAME, EGG OBSERVED. 
Throstle. April 3rd, 1865. 
March 25th, 1866. 
April 1st, 1867. 
March 16th, 1868. 
March 26th, 1869. 
1870. 


This is an exceedingly common and well-known favourite, 
and deservedly so, for its very musical note is perhaps 
unsurpassed by that of any other bird, excepting the 
nightingale. It also has the merit of being the earliest of 
our songsters, for it may be heard even in the cold bright 

days of January. 


16 


The nest and eggs are also a study in themselves, and 
always bring back to one’s mind pleasant ideas of spring in 
the country. 

It is much to be deplored that country lads do all in 
their power to lessen the number of these beautiful birds, 
by always wantonly taking and destroying their nests. 
Were it for no other reason, this should be prevented if 
possible, on account of the breach of confidence which it 
involves, as scarcely any other bird has become so domes- 
ticated and fearless of man, always building near our 
dwellings. 


Turdus Merula. 
Blackbird. 


EGG OBSERVED. 
April 10th, 1865. 
March 28th, 1866. 
April 4th, 1867. 
April 18th, 1868. 
April 6th, 1869. 

1870. 


Like the last a very well-known and favourite bird, and 
to my thinking a very handsome one. There are several 
birds which are liable to variation in the colour of their 
plumage, part or in some cases the whole of which varies 


17 


from its natural colour to white, cream colour, or brown. 
Perhaps this is more frequent in the Blackbird than in any 
other. I have several authenticated instances of the occur- 
rence of these variations in this neighbourhood. In 
February, 1866, one was shown me in the flesh, which 
had some of the feathers at the back of the head, several 
of those in the right wing and in the tail pure white. 
Another found dead about the same time had the right 
cheek white, and in April of the same year one was sent me 
from Rockley, having a good many white feathers on the 
back and in the tail. 

All the instances which I have as yet mentioned have 
been male birds, and I should say of a good age. From 
which I believe this variation to be more common in the 
male than in the female sex, though I am unable to suggest 
acause. I have, however, a female specimen from Overton, 
which has a good many white feathers dispersed over the 
whole of its body. : 

Of course I cannot venture to give any theory of my own 
concerning the reason of this curious variation, but am 
content to believe in part the generally accepted theory that 
it is caused by physical weakness in one or both of the 
parent birds, as when one of the old birds has any white 
about it, the variation is generally, I believe, perpetuated 
in their offspring. But I am inclined also to believe that it 
is occasionally the effect of a bruise or of some other wound. 
This is well known to be the case with the hair of animals, 
and it might well be the same with the plumage of birds. 

The egg of this species is also liable to variation from its 
normal marking and shape. I have in my collection two, 
one from a nest containing three similar eggs, found near 


18 


Swindon Reservoir in 1866, and the second from tke same 
neighbourhood. In these cases the eggs are quite blue 
without any marking and perfectly round, very similar in 
fact to those of the Rock Thrush, only rounder. In the 
second case I watched the parent birds myself, and there- 
fore know them to have been the common blackbird. In 
the first case I had the egg and the description from a 
friend on whose knowledge of birds I can implicitly rely 
and who believes the birds to have been our present species, 
though he only caught a glimpse of them. 


Accentor Modularis. 
Hedge Accentor. 


LOCAL NAME. EGG OBSERVED. 
Hedge Sparrow. April 12th, 1865. 
April 4th, 1866. 
April 7th, 1867. 
April 16th, 1869. 
1870. 


This sober little bird is even commoner than it appears 
to be, as its shy mouselike movements help to screen it 
from all but the observant eye of the naturalist. It is to 
be found however in every hedgerow, where also may be 
seen an abundance of its exquisite nests and eggs during the 
breeding season which commences early. 

It is to be regretted that we have no adequate English 
name for this species, the name of Hedge Accentor being 
too pedantic, whilst tiat of Hedge Sparrow causes error by 
leading people to confuse it with the true Sparrows. 


19 


Erythaca Rubecula. 
Redbreast. 


LOCAL NAME. EGG OBSERVED. 
Robin. April 11th, 1865 (hard set). 
April 2nd, 1866. 
April 11th, 1867. 
March 29th, 1868 (5 eggs). 
April 10th, 1869. 
1870. 


Again a well known and an abundant species; a good 
songster also, but terribly pugnacious. 

It seems peculiarly adapted for withstanding hard win- 
ters, for when thrushes, blackbirds, &c., are dying of cold 
and hunger, the robin seeks shelter in houses or out build- 
ings, and seems perfectly happy. 

At the mill, at Mildenhall, an unsuccessful attempt was 
made to make a wild robin rear a young canary, which was 
substituted for one of its own offspring. The cock bird, 
however, killed it at once with a blow on the head, and 
turned it out of the nest. 


20 


Regulus Cristatus. 
Golden-Crested Regulus. 


LOCAL NAMES. EGG OBSERVED. 
Gold Crest. May 13th, 1865. 
Golden-Crested Wren. April 30th, 1866. 
April 28th, 1867. 
May 12th, 1869. 
1870. 


A marvel of beauty is this exquisite little bird, and 
happily still very common, and likely to remain so from its 
quiet manners. 

It abounds in all our fir copses, and may occasionally be 
seen in Savernake Forest. In hard winters I have noticed 
it within a few yards of the town of Marlborough. 

This little bird, in common with the wren, has a curious 
habit of building several nests before it finds one to suit it. 
Mr. Bosworth Smith, in his list of the birds of Marlborough, 
mentions a case of this. 

Four nests of this bird were built by one pair of birds 
in the clump of fir trees at the Hight Walks in Savernake 
Forest. Of these only the last was inhabited. The Fire- 
crested Regulus is, as far as I know, not a Marlborough 
bird, but it is so similar to the first species that, except 
when closely observed, it is quite possible for it to have 
escaped observation. 


® 


21 


Parus Major. 


Greater Tit. 
LOCAL NAMES. EGG OBSERVED. 
Oxeye April 27th, 1865. 
Tomtit April 26th, 1866. 


April 30th, 1867. 
April 16th, 1868. 
April 26th, 1869. 

1870. 


A very common bird is the great Tit, and I am afraid we 
must admit rather a mischievous one. I believe it however 
not to be as bad as it has been represented. 

Almost every hole in the trees in Savernake Forest will 
be found to be occupied by a pair of these birds, unless it 
has been previously taken possession of by some of our 
other hole-building birds. 

I believe that this bird has been successfully reared in a 
cage. I have made the attempt more than once, but never 
with any success. 

These birds are caught in great numbers in horse-hair 
nooses set for them on account of the mischief they do to 
the young buds of fruit trees, &e. 


22 


Parus ceruleus. 
Blue Tit. 


LOCAL NAME. EGG OBSERVED. 
Blue Tomtit April 24th, 1865. 
April 22nd, 1866. 
April 26th, 1867. 
April 13th, 1868. 
April 24th, 1869. 
1870. 


A charmingly pretty, but I am afraid also a very de- 
structive bird. Throughout the year it may be seen in 
abundance, but it is most noticeable in the spring, perhaps, 
as it climbs among the slender branches of fruit and other 
trees. I have noticed it to be especially fond of the young 
leaf and flower buds of the common Elm. 

An abundance of its nests may be found in hollow trees 


in the forest and elsewhere. 


Parus ater. 
Cole Tit. 


EGG OBSERVED. 
May 13th, 1866. 


May 10th, 1867. 

May 30th, 1868. 

May ist, 1869. 
1870. 

Not so plentiful as either of the two foregoing species, 
and yet it is tolerably abundant, especially in Savernake 
Forest. For some reason I have, however, rarely noticed it 
myself, and have therefore been surprised to obtain so many 
well authenticated instances of its occurrence. 


23 


Parus palustris. 
Marsh Tit. 


EGG OBSERVED. 
(No records). 


Let me here take another opportunity of protesting 
against the unmeaningness of many of our English names. 
Why should this bird be called the Marsh Tit ? It certainly 
is not more frequent in damp places than in any others. 

Mr. Bosworth Smith dismisses this species with the fol- 
lowing short notice—*‘ Its nest has been taken in a pollard. 
willow at Manton.”’ 

To this I am not able to add much information. I have 
known the nest taken twice in the neighbourhood of 
Chisledon. 


On the whole I suppose it to be a scarce species with us. 


Parus caudatus. 
Long-tailed Tit. 


LOCAL NAMES. EGG OBSERVED. 
Long-tailed Titmouse. April 24th, 1865. 
Bottle Tom. April 22nd, 1866. 
Bottle Tit. May 7th, 1867. 
Long-tailed Pie. April 19th, 1868. 
April 20th, 1869. 
1870. 


We have now come to the last of the Tits. The Long- 
tailed Tit, so quiet in its manners, so small, with its furry 


24. 


looking feathers, is at first sight almost as much like a 
mouse as a bird, from which circumstance, doubtless, it ’ 
acquired the name of Titmouse, which has since been ap- 
plied indiscriminately to all the family. 

It is very abundant in Savernake Forest, though with the 
rest of its family it is only observed in great numbers dur- 
ing the winter, as the thick foliage of the trees conceals it 
at other seasons. 

It breeds regularly with us in large numbers, in the 
thorns, &c., in the forest, where very many of its beautiful 
mests may be seen. I have one in my collection, built in 
the head of an ordinary standard rose. 


Motacilla Yarrellii. 
Pied Wagtail. 


LOCAL NAMES. EGG OBSERVED. 
Dishwasher. April 27th, 1865. 
Water wagtail. April 24th, 1866 (hard set). 
May 14th, 1867. 
May 10th, 1868. 
April 24th, 1869. 
1870. 


The Pied Wagtail is common enough with us all over 
the district, wherever there is any water to be found. Its 
nest and egg are also abundant. 


bo 
Qt 


In accordance with my plan of extracting the most in- 
teresting notes from the “ Flora” list of Marlborough birds, 
the following is copied :—The situation of a nest of this 
bird (the Pied Wagtail) found in 1857 is so peculiar as to 
make it worth recording. It was placed in a fir tree at the 
Hight Walks (in Savernake Forest), some fifteen feet from 
the ground. There is no running water within three miles, 
and no water at all, with the exception of some small 
ponds which are almost dry in summer. The nest contained 
four fresh eggs, and the old birds were seen repeatedly in 
the vicinity.” 


Anthus pratensis. 
Meadow Pipit. 


LOCAL NAMES. EGG OB3ERVED. 
Tit Lark. May 13th, 1865 (six eggs). 
Cheeper. May 29th, 1866. 


May 25th, 1867. 

May 11th, 1868. 

May 9th, 1869. 
1870. 

Situated as Marlborough is in the centre of the Wiltshire 
Down country, this bird is of course abundant throughout 
the year, breeding very regularly in May. 

C 


Alauda arvensis. 
Skylark. 


EGG OBSERVED. 
April 20th, 1865. 
April 20th, 1866. 
April 16th, 1867. 
April 10th, 1868. 
April 19th, 1869. 

1870. 


Which of us does not know, and does not entertain 
affectionate feelings towards the Skylark ? Every inhabitant 
of Marlborough, at any rate, must know this charming 
songster. It is impossible to walk on our downs without 
seeing it, as it flits from hillock to hillock, or hearing its 
song, while it soars high up in the clouds. 

The tufts of long grass on the downs afford it shelter for 
its nest. 

This bird is also very regular in the time of its breeding 


Emberiza miliaria. 


Bunting. 
LOCAL NAMES. EGG OBSERVED. 
Corn Bunting. June 20th, 1865. 
Bunting Lark. May 12th, 1866. 


1870. 


This bird though actually a resident with us, is much 
more plentiful in the winter than at any other time, num- 


27 


bers of them wintering with us, and leaving us just before 
the breeding season, which is generally rather late with this 
species. 

Its nests are, however, often found, and no doubt might 
be so much oftener, were it not that it is generally built 
among growing corn, which proves a great safeguard to it. 


Emberiza scheniclus. 
Black-headed Bunting. 


LOCAL NAMES. EGG OBSERVED. 
Reed Bunting May 5th, 1865. 
Reed Sparrow. April 30th, 1866. 


June 13th, 1867. 
May 9th, 1869. 
1870. 


The withy beds along the Kennet afford shelter to some 
ofthese birds throughout the year, though they are certainly 
much diminished in numbers during the winter, increasing 
again as soon as the spring comes round. Their nests may 
always be found during the breeding season, on the ground 
among the oziers. They are especially abundant at 
Poulton. 


28 


Emberiza citrinella. 
Yellow Bunting. 


LOCAL NAMES. EGG OBSERVED. 
Yellow Hammer. April 17th, 1865. 
Yellow Ammer. April 30th, 1866. 


May 4th, 1867. 

April 15th, 1868. 

April 24th, 1869. 
1870. 


Very convenient is the English name of this bird for 
those unfortunate persons who are in the habit of misusinga 
certain asperate, as from long use ‘“‘Hammer” and ‘‘Ammer”’ 
have become equally correct, though if, as is most probable, 


it is derived from the German ‘“ Ammer,” 


meaning ‘a 
finch,” the latter pronunciation is the right one. The 
yellow hammer is as abundant here as it is in most localities 
throughout England, living in small flocks in the winter, 
and separating into pairs as soon as the breeding season 
approaches. 

These birds are often very late breeders ; several instances 
of their nests with fresh eggs being found quite in the 
Autumn have occurred. One, mentioned by Mr. Bosworth 
Smith, as follows: ‘‘ A nest of this bird was found as late 
as August 16th, 1858, in a small bush on the open ground, 
inside the deer fence, on the path from the Forest to the 
College.’ Another was taken on the 23rd of September, 
1865, containing young birds. There is also another in- 
stance mentioned in the report of the Marlborough College 
Natural History Society, on September the 23rd, 1866. 


29 


Whether this is a mistake for the last-mentioned instance, 
I have no means of discovering. 
From the same authority I copy the following record— 
“ Emberiza Cirlus—Cirl Bunting (egg) June 4th (1865).” 

I cannot find it mentioned anywhere else, nor have I 
ever observed it myself, or even received any information 
about it. Therefore I do not feel justified in inserting it as 
a Marlborough species. 


Fringilla celebs. 
Chafjinch. 

LOCAL NAME. EGG OBSERVED. 
Pie Finch. April 15th, 1865. 
April 20th, 1866. 
April 25th, 1867. 
April 26th, 1868. 
April 24th, 1869. 
1870. 


This very common, and at the same time handsome, bird 
is to be seen everywhere throughout the year; the females 
are, however, scarce during the winter months. 

Varieties of the egg of this bird, of a bright blue colour 
like those of the thrush, have occurred several times. One 
nest found by myself near Chisledon contained four eggs, 
three of which were of this blue shade and of the ordinary 
shape and size, while the fourth was also blue, but in shape 
more like two ordinary eggs joined together at the 


30 


smallerend. The shell of this extraordinary egg was re- 
markably thin and fragile in texture, so much so that it 
broke at the first puncture in the attempt to blow it. It 
contained but one yolk, which must have been situated 
quite at one end. I have since much regretted not having 
taken the dimensions of this egg. 


Passer domesticus. 
House Sparrow. 
EGG OBSERVED. 
April 17th, 1865. 
April 19th, 1866 (young birds). 
May 8th, 1867. 
April 30th, 1868. 
April 24th, 1869. 
1870. 


There are but few parts of England, or in fact of the 
world, which cannot at any rate show their Sparrows, 
however poor they may be in other ornithological riches. 
Marlborough is by no means without its share of them. 
They abound in fact round every barn, building, and large 
hedgerow, and are likely tocontinue common while Sparrow 
clubs, poisoned wheat, and other branches of this short- 
sighted policy do not make their appearance amongst us. 

They build with us just as often in trees as in buildings, 
from which circumstance the general inhabitants of 
Marlborough say the true tree Sparrow (P. montanus) is to 
be found in the neighbourhood. 


31 


Partly or entirely Albino varieties of this bird are said to 
have occurred several times‘near Marlborough. I have 
however only seen two instances myself. One was picked 
up dead during the severe snow of March, 1867. The 
greater part of the feathers on the back, head, and wings are 
pure white, while the rest of the plumage is of the ordinary 
colour. The second was white all over, and was shot at 
Ogbourne. It was stuffed by a gamekeeper who dabbled 
slightly in the Taxidermist’s art. It was in his possession 
when I saw it. . 


Coccothraustes chloris. 


Greenfinch. 
LOCAL NAMES. EGG OBSERVED. 
Green Liniet. May 35rd, 1865. 
May 26th, 1866. 
April 30th, 1867. 


May 8th, 1868. 
April 19th, 1869. 
1870. 


Flocks of these birds may be seen during the winter 
mingled with Chaffinches, Sparrows, &c. They disperse in 
the spring, breeding abundantly in the neighbourhood. 

I have not included under the head of ‘‘ Local 
names,’ the word Grosbeak, though I am inclined to think 
that this is the bird meant by the Wiltshire labourers, &c., 
from whom I have often heard of Grosbeaks being found 


near Marlborough. 


32 


Carduelis elegans. 
Goldfinch. 

EGG OBSERVED. 
May 13th, 1865. 
April 26th, 1866. 
May 3rd, 1867. 
May 21st, 1868. 
May 10th, 1869. 

1870. 

I suppose this bird must be classed as a resident with us, 
though it is by no means common. It is most capricious 
in its appearance, numbers of them appear suddenly, 
staying a short time and then disappearing. It will be 
seen, however, from the notes at the head of this that a few 
remain with us to breed yearly. 

Their nests are, [am sorry to say, but very seldom left 
undisturbed, as the young are always taken for cage birds. 


Linota cannabina. 


Lannet. 

LOCAL NAMES. EGG OBSERVED. 
Common Linnet. April 25th, 1865. 
Red Liniet. April 14th, 1866. 
Grey Linnet. April 25th, 1867. 
Brown Linnet. May 8th, 1868. 
Greater Redpole. April 25th, 1869. 


1870. 


33 


This is a common bird, and a bird of many names, 
which create a certain confusion concerning it. These 
birds breed in large numbers on our downs, whence 
the young are often taken and successfully reared as cage 


birds. 


Pyrrhula vulgaris. 


Bullfinch. 
LOCAL NAME. EGG OBSERVED. 
Hoop. May 7th, 1865. 


April 28th, 1866. 
May 138th, 1869. 
1870. 

This remarkably handsome bird is unfortunately shy and 
prefers a warm sheltered country; we have therefore very 
few of them in this neighbourhood. Those that there are 
are always to be found in the copses and thick hedge-rows. 

I have found that with us they pair very much earlier 
than they are generally said to do, having often noticed 
them in pairs in February and March. Two pairs in my 
collection were both shot in February. 


o4 


Sturnus vulgaris. 
Starling. 

EGG OBSERVED. 
April 24th, 1865. 
April 17th, 1866. 
April 24th, 1867. 
April 18th, 1868. 
April 19th, 1869. 

1870. 


This is certainly one of our characteristic birds, breeding 
by thousands in the hollow trees of Savernake Forest. 

After the breeding season these birds assemble in flocks, 
which frequent the fields, withy-beds, &c. 

White varieties of the egg of this species are by no means 
uncommon. 


Corvus corone. 
- Carrion Crow. 
EGG OBSERVED. 
May 12th, 1865. 
May 12th, 1866. 
April 5th, 1867. 
1870. 
‘A pair of these birds may be found during the breeding 
season in almost every spruce-fir plantation round Marl- 


35 


borough; Long Copse and Four-Mile Copse are favourite 
resorts. The nest is also frequently found in the highest 
trees in the beech avenues of the Forest,” says Mr. Bosworth 
Smith. 

I have never seen more than two of these birds at a time, 
and never found two nests close together, so that it 
appears to be a most unsociable bird, unlike its near 
relation, the Rook. 


Corvus frugilegus. 
Rook. 

EGG OBSERVED. 
March 19th, 1866. 
March 29th, 1867. 
March 17th, 1868. 
March 12th, 1869. 

1870. 

This bird is almost as domesticated and almost as much 
private property as ones barn-door fowls, simply because 
certain people on whose land they have chanced to 
establish their colonies, choose to consider Rook-shooting 
sport ! 

They are very early breeders, perhaps the first of all. 
Much has been written lately on the question of whether 
rooks renew their old nests yearly or build fresh ones. The 
rookery in the ‘‘ Wilderness’ of the College was just under 


36 


my window, from which I had, therefore, unusual oppor- 
tunities of observing them. For my own part I am 
convinced that they use the last year’s nest as a basis for 
the new one. 

I have at various times observed a rook with several white 
feathers in its wing, belonging to the rookery near the 
village of Kennet, not far from Silbury. 


Corvus monedula. 
Jackdaw. 

EGG OBSERVED. 
April 11th, 1865. 
April 15th, 1866. 
April 20th, 1867. 
April 13th, 1868. 
April 22nd, 1869. 

1870. 

The Jackdaw is another of our common forest birds, to 
which the hollow trees in the grand old beech avenues 
afford such abundant shelter. 

The egg of this species is very liable to variation from 
the ordinary colour to pure white, cream colour, or drab. I 
have two white ones in my collection, taken in April, 1868, 
at Ramsbury. 

There is one curious habit of this bird almost peculiar to 
this neighbourhood. They build in the branches of the 
thick fir trees in Rockly copse, where they use the same 
nest year after year, adding to it annually till some of 
them have obtained an immense size. 


37 


Pica caudata. 
Magpie. 

EGG OBSERVED. 
April 8th, 1865. 
April 2nd, 1866. 
April 13th, 1867. 
April 18th, 1868. 
April 22nd, 1869. 

1870. 


The Magpie may be seen in abundance in all the tall 
hedgerows and copses near Marlborough, and occasionally 
even in the Forest, while its cambrous domed nests may be 
seen for a long distance in the winter. 

The deserted nests are generally occupied by a kestrel or 
sparrow hawk. 

The old myth of the existence of two species—i.e., the 
‘‘Bush Magpie” and the ‘‘ Tree Magpie,” is still firmly 
believed in here. 

I may perhaps be excused if I take this opportunity of 
recording a very curious variety of this bird, now in my 
collection, even though it was not obtained in Wiltshire. 
The bird alluded to is of a beautiful brownish cream colour 
all over, including the beak. This bird was shot in 
November, 1868, near the town of Oxford. 


38 


Garrulus glandarius. 
Jay. 

EGG OBSERVED. 
April 26th, 1865. 
April 18th, 1866. 
April 20th, 1867. 
April 20th, 1869: 

1870. 


What a pity that this handsome bird comes under the 
fated class of ‘‘ Vermin”! If it were not so our eyes 
would be gladdened by the sight of its brilliant, yet ex- 
quisitely blended colours, in every wood and tree. As it is 
they are abundant, more so perhaps at Marlborough than 
in most districts, as the large extent of Forest and wood 
land affords them abundant shelter even from the ruthless 
hand of the gamekeeper. 

During the winter of 1867 I wished to procure a nice 
pair of jays’ skins for my collection, and for that reason I 
applied to the gamekeepers. Bitterly did I repent of this 
step however! Within a few days I had received no less 
than thirty seven recently-killed specimens from one keeper 
alone, all shot in the West Woods. 

The nest is abundant in the West Woods, in the beech 
trees of the Forest, at Rabley, and in most of the thick high 
hedgerows. 


39 


Picus viridis. 
Green Woodpecker. 


LOCAL NAMES. EGG OBSERVED. 
Popinjay. May 27th, 1866. 
Rainbird. May 18th, 1868. 

May 10th, 1869. 
1870. 


This handsome and striking bird is, perhaps, commoner in 
Savernake Forest than in any other part of England, owing 
to the number of its beech avenues for which it has a 
decided preference. Yet, on account of its shy habits, it is 
oftener heard tapping against the trees or uttering its wild 
laugh. If the tree from which these sounds are heard be 
approached with care, so as not to frighten the bird, it is 
most interesting to watch its peculiar method of feeding. 
The wood is perforated by the beak which is very strong 
and of a horny substance, wedge-shaped at the tip. The 
tongue, which is of an extraordinary length, is then inserted 
with marvellous rapidity—so quickly, indeed, that the eye 
can scarcely follow it, and the insects, &c., are seized and 
very soon disposed of. 

Its eggs are placed in a cavity in a tree, excavated on 
purpose for them, by its same useful members, /.e., the tongue 
and beak. The entrance hole is always as true a circleas if 
it had been made by a pair of compasses. This hole is 
generally found at a considerable height above the ground, 
though this is not always the case, as in an instance men- 
tioned by Mr. Bosworth Smith, which, as it also gives an 
interesting account of the attachment of this bird to its 
nest, I will give in his own words. Of the Green Wood- 
pecker he says “‘ Its nest or rather its eggs are occasionally 


40 


placed within a few yards of the ground. This was the 
case with one that laid its eggs in a beech tree in the Grand 
Avenue in 1858. The attachment of this bird to its nest 
was so extraordinary as to be worth recording. The nest 
was first discovered and cut open on the fifth of May, and 
the old bird was caught in the hole and handled for some 
minutes, but there were no eggs; a fortnight afterwards 
the hole was found to have been deepened by nearly a foot, 
and on its being again enlarged with a hatchet, the bird 
was again caught, but still there were no eggs. The bird, 
however, still retained her affection for the tree, eggs were 
discovered on the 20th, and the appearance of the hole 
after the Midsummer holidays gave satisfactory proof that 
a young family of woodpeckers had been reared therein. 
Since then the hole has been occupied successively by a 
Nuthatch, a Starling, a great Tit, and a Blue Tit.” 

As to the last sentence in this extract, I have observed 
that old woodpecker’s holes form the foundation at least of 
the greater proportion of the very numerous breeding holes 
of the various tree-building birds of our grand old Forest. 

Some acquaintances of mine once took some young wood- 
peckers of this species and tried to bring them up by hand. 
These birds, five in number, were allowed the range of a 
large outbuilding, in which there was a great deal of old 
wood work, up which they used to climb, uttering all the 
time that unearthly startling shriek peculiar tothem. They 
were kept alive and well for about a month, after which 
they ‘‘ went the way of all pets.”’ 

I am sorry to say there are certain men in the Forest 
who have become greatly skilled in noosing these birds, thus 
wantonly destroying an immense number. This is to be 


4] 


the more regretted as they are so perfectly harmless and in 
fact useful, for they cut the rotten parts out of the growing 
timber, thus saving the rest. It seems to me that it would 
be worth while for the head keeper of the Forest to do his 
best to put a stop to this practice. 


Certhia familiaris. 


Creeper. 
LOCAL NAMES. EGG OBSERVED. 
Tree Climber. April 28th, 1865. 
Tree Creeper. April 26th, 1866. 


May 20th, 1867. 

May 4th, 1868. 

May Ist, 1869. 
1870. 


A very pretty quiet little bird, and very much the colour 
of the bark of trees, and therefore not much noticed, though 
it is a common enough species. It may be seen any day 
by a careful observer, climbing up a tree in search of its 
food, like a miniature woodpecker, which bird it resembles 
in more than one particular. It is often stated that the 
Creeper is of so timid a nature, that a blow with a stout 
stick on the foot of the tree on which one of them happens 
to be climbing, is sufficient to paralyze it with fear. But 
though I have often tried the experiment, I never found it 
to have that result. 


42 


The nest is built amongst the thick stems of ivy growing 
up trees or behind a loose piece of bark, and is composed of 
chips of rotten wood and hay lined with a few feathers 
very roughly put together. 


Troglodytes vulgaris. 
Wren. 
LOCAL NAMES. EGG OBSERVED. 
Common Wren. May 38rd, 1865. 
Jenny Wren. April 28th, 1866. 


May 2nd, 1867. 
May Ist, 1868. 
May 4th, 1869. 

1870. 


The scientific name of this little bird is so alarming, that 
it seems almost as if ornithologists had determined to give 
it a long name, to make amends to it for its very small size. 
Though they may not recognise it under such a long name, 
most people know and entertain a feeling of affection to- 
wards ‘* Jenny’ Wren, beside which it has so many other 
little nicknames, so to speak, as to prove it at once to be a 
general favorite. The nest of the wren is placed some- 
times against a moss-grown tree, against a bank or the wall 
of a building, in ivy, amongst dead bracken, and in many 
other like situations. But wherever it may be, the materials 
of which it is composed are sure to correspond with the 


45 


substance which forms the background. For example—I 
have taken their nests from the moss-grown sides of trees, 
in which case the nest was of moss; from a mass of ivy 
and dead leaves, in which it was composed of dead leaves ; 
and from dead bracken. This last nest is one of .the 
prettiest I ever saw ; it is composed entirely of the pre- 
ceding year’s fronds of bracken, and is lined with hundreds 
of feathers. 


These birds have a curious habit of building 


g, during the 


hard winter as a shelter for themselves, nests similar to 
those which they build for their young, only without the 
lining. These nests are always built in the most sheltered 
parts. A deep well-sheltered lane leading from the Pewsey 
road into the town of Marlborough, is a favourite place for 
them. I have seen no less than five in it at one time. 


Sitta europea. 
Nuthatch. 

EGG OBSERVED. 
April 28th, 1865. 
May 14th, 1866. 
May 11th, 1869. 

1870. 

This bird is not rare in the Forest, and yet it is not very 
common. The nests are found every year, in hollow trees 
and other similar places and a walk in the Forest will 
always show one or two, but they are by no means as 
common as those of many of our other birds. 


Alcedo ispida. 
Kingfisher. 
EGG OBSERVED. 
May 24th, 1867. 

1870, 


Though the colours of the plumage of this bird are as 
bright and vivid, perhaps even more so, than those of any 
other tolerably common English bird, I am inclined to 
dispute the general theory which awards the palm for 
beauty to this bird. Its form is by no means elegant, and 
I think that such birds as the Lapwing, the Jay, and the 
Bullfinch, which unite beauty of colour to that of form, 
have at any rate an equal claim to the post of honour. 

It is by no means such an uncommon bird with us as it is 
supposed to be, an abundance may be seen on the banks of 
the more unfrequented parts of the river, and I believe 
their nests also to be common, though often difficult to find 
and to get at when found. 

They do not always build close to the water. One 
instance is mentionedin the ‘‘Flora”’ list of birds in which the 
nest was built in one of the clay pits at the top of the 
Forest Hill, near the Salisbury road, which is at least a 
mile from any running water. Another was found in 1867 
at the top of the White Horse Hill. On account of the 
nature of its food and nest, which is built of the indigestible 
portion of its prey, the nesting hole of the kingfisher has a 
most overpowering and disagreeable smell. 


45 


Columba palumbus. 
Ring Dove. 

LOCAL NAME. EGG OBSERVED. 
Woodpigeon. March 10th, 1865. 

April 18th, 1866, (hard set). 

April 9th, 1867. 

April 12th, 1869. 

1870. 


This is at all events a common species, and may be 
seen in great abundance in all the copses and in the Forest. 

Their nests abound in the fir trees in Rockley Copse. In 
the winter these birds collect in large flocks, at which time 
they are shot in large numbers and fetch about sixpence 
each in the market. 

The amount of green food in the crops of these winter- 
killed birds is something marvellous, so much so indeed, that 
it seems as if it were almost impossible for the crop to hold 


it all. 


Columba enas. 

Stock Dove. 

EGG OBSERVED. 
April 11th, 1865. 
April 10th, 1866. 
April 16th, 1867. 
March 21st, 1868. 
April 20th, 1869. 

1870. 


4.6 


The Stock Dove is not quite so numerous as the last 
mentioned species, but yet not far from it. 

They breed in the holes of trees, chiefly in the Forest. 
In the winter they congregate with the Ring Dove. 


Phasianus colehicus. 
Pheasant, 


EGG OBSERVED. 
May 23rd, 1865. 
April 29th, 1866. 
May 16th, 1867. 
May Sth, 1868. 

1870. 


This splendid Asiatic bird has become so thoroughly 
naturalized and proved so perfectly hardy in England that 
it must be included in every catalogue of British birds. 

It is so often bred in confinement and then turned out, 
that we have a great many different varieties and hybrids, 
several of which may be found in and round Savernake 
Forest. Through the kindness of Mr. Gauntlett, the head 
keeper, fine specimens of some of these have been placed 
in the College museum. One of them is the “ Ringed,” or 
“Barbary,” which differs only from the common in haying 
a ring of white feathers round its neck. 


47 


There is also a fine pair of “ Pied” pheasants, a hybrid 
between the common and the white species, which latter is 
itself an inhabitant of the forest. 

On the third of March, 1866, I found a pheasant’s nest 
containing three eggs, inrather a curious position: it was 
placed on the top of a large pollard willow, overhanging the 
water. 


Perdix cinerea. 
Partridge. 

EGG OBSERVED. 
May 23rd, 1865. 
April 2nd, 1866. 
May 2nd, 1868. 

1870. 


Such a well-known bird that it is almost difficult to find 
anything to say about it, which has not been said already 
hundreds of times. 

As their habits fit them especially for arable land, they 
_ are of course abundant here. 

A white variety of the partridge is said to have been shot 
at Devizes in the autumn of 1868. 


48 


Vanellus cristatus. 


Peewit. 
LOCAL NAMES. EGG OBSERVED. 
Lapwing April 20th, 1865 (hard set). 
Common Plover April 27th, 1866 (young birds). 
April 13th, 1867. 


March 28th, 1868. 
April 14th, 1869. 
1870. 


This handsome species is abundant on all our open 
downs, where they breed. 

Though a few of them remain with us all the year round, 
the greater part leave us during the winter, returning 
about the end of February or the beginning of March. 
Those few, which remain, leave the downs for the water- 
meadows. 

This bird is avery early breeder with us ; it is but seldom 
a fresh egg can be found after the beginning of April. The 
egg itself is very pointed at one end, exhibiting one of the 
most singular instances of instinct, for the bird always 
arranges its four eggs with the small ends inwards, point- 
ing towards a common centre, thus taking up but very 
little room and preventing the eggs from rolling out of the 
very slight hollow in which they are laid. 

The apparent audacity of the Peewit, in defence of its 
young is something marvellous, it appears to hurl itself at 
you and make severe attacks one after the other. 


49 


Ardea cinerea. 
Heron. 
LOCAL NAME. 
Teri. 
This is still a common and tolerably plentiful species, 
though it is certainly very much rarer now than it has been. 
In this neighbourhood they may be seen almost any day 
flying over. 
- The only Heronry near Marlborough is the one at 
Bowood, the seat of the Marquis of Lansdowne. 


Gallinula chloropus. 


Moorhei. 
LOCAL NAMES. EGG OBSERVED. 
Marsh Hen. April 15th, 1865. 
Water Hen. April 11th, 1866. 


April 9th, 1867. 
April 4th, 1868. 
April 9th, 1869. 

1870. 


To almost everyone the Moorhen is a familiar bird; 
indeed, living as it does on the banks of all rivers, lakes, 
and ponds, it must be observed by all except the inhabitants 
of the centre of large towns. In our part of Wiltshire, 
which, though it can boast of no large sheets of water, still 
abounds in small water courses, such as the Moorhen 
delights in, it may be seen feeding in flocks of a score or 
so in the winter and in pairs at other times. 


Fulica atra. 
Bald Coot. 


EGG OBSERVED. 
May 31st, 1865. 
May 4th, 1866. 

1870. 


Though this is not at all a rare bird in many parts of 
England, it certainly is far from common in this neighbour- 
hood, owing most probably to the absence of large sheets 
of water such as the Coot generally frequents. There are 
perhaps only two such spots in the district, viz., Swindon 
reservoir and the artificial water in Ramsbury Chase. At 
the first of these places the Coot is certainly a resident in 
some numbers, and it is chiefly on account of that, that I 
have included it in the present section of my little work. 
At Ramsbury two or three nests are most probably built 
every season, but there are but few birds. 

Now and then, generally in the winter, specimens are 
observed in the water meadows close by Marlborough, 
especially those at Mildenhall. The two specimens now in 
the College Museum were both shot in this last mentioned 
locality one in 1866, and the other in February 1868. 


51 


Podiceps minor. 
Little Grebe. 


LOCAL NAMES. EGG OBSERVED. 
Dabchick April 29th, 1865. 
Didapper April 26th, 1866. 
Dipper April 23rd, 1867. 
Sea Woodcock (!) April 11th, 1868. 
April 7th, 1869. 
1870. 


This only tolerably common repesentative of the Grebe 
family remains with us all the year round, and breeds in 
most of the osier beds. It is, however, often regarded as 
rather a rare bird, I suppose on account of its diving so 
quickly at the least alarm, that it is difficult to obtain a 
good sight of it. 

The last in the rather long list of country names is rather 
a peculiar one. Connected with it is the following anecdote, 
which I have from a gamekeeper, a native of Aldbourne, 
and a firm believer in the fact that “ sea woodcock” is the 
‘scientific name of this bird. A little grebe appeared in a 
farm yard pond at Aldbourne. No one knew what this, as 
they supposed, “ rara avis” was; a bedridden old man, who 
was supposed to be possessed of a good deal of ornithological 
knowledge, was accordingly wheeled out in his arm chair 
to give his opinion. A good deal of hesitation ensued, and 
the ‘‘ man of science’’ at last pronounced it a ‘‘sea wood- 
cock,” and by this name it has since been known. 

This bird, at first sight, would seem to be incapable of 
walking on dry land. I have, however, during very severe 
weather, seen them leave the water in search of food. 


53 


PART II—SUMMER VISITORS. 


————— 


Lanius collurio. 
Red-backed Shrike. 
LOCAL NAME. FIRST SEEN. EGG OBSERVED. 
Butcher bird. April 10th, 1865. May 22nd, 1865. 
May 6th, 1866. 
May 29th, 1867. 
May 27th, 1869. 
1870. 
This is not a very abundant species with us, though 
several pairs may be seen annually. They seem to havea 
particular affection for the same spot: one pair at least, and 
often more, may be seen every year in a small clump of fir 
trees to the left of the Swindon road, just before it passes 
through Ogbourne St. Andrew. Their nests have also 
been found in the Forest. 
This is the only representative of the Shrikes which ever 
visits us. 


Muscicapa griseola. 
Spotted Flycatcher. 

FIRST SEEN. EGG OBSERVED. 

May 19th, 1865. May 23rd, 1865. 
June 2nd, 1867 (young birds). 
May 30th, 1868 (young birds). 

May 27th, 1869. 

1870. 


54: 


This is not a very common species here. I fancy it is 
fonder of walls and trained fruit trees than of our open 
country. 

It is very much to be regretted that the College Natural 
History Society have not taken more abundant notices of 
the first arrival of migrants. I have, perhaps, but little 
right to say this, as I feel that when I held the post of 
head of the ornithological section, I did not sufficiently im- 
press the importance of this on the members of my section. 
IT hope, however, that my successors will pardon me this 
remark, and do their best to rectify my error. 


Turdus torquatus. 
Ring Ouzel. 


FIRST SEEN. EGG OBSERVED. 

April 10th, 1865. April 30th, 1866. 

April 17th, 1868. May 4th, 1868. 
1870. 


A few specimens of this bird visit us every summer, 
just sufficient to warrant my including it among our regular 
visitors. It is possible that their eggs have been observed 
much oftener during the last four years than would appear 
from the above list; but as the egg is so similar to that of 
the common Blackbird (7. Merula) only those instances 
have been recorded where the bird itself has been observed 
to fly off the nest. 


55 


The nest taken in 1868 was built on the ground at the 
bottom of a hollow pollard willow by the side of the Kennet, 


not far from Ogbourne St. Andrew. 
I have also observed it several times in the Mildenhall 


water-meadows. 


Phenicura ruticilla. 


Redstart. 
LOCAL NAME. FIRST SEEN. EGG OBSERVED. 
Redtail. April 28th, 1865. May 3rd, 1866. 
April Ist, 1867. April 29th, 1867.. 


April 13th, 1868. May 4th, 1868. 
April 29th, 1869. 

1870. 

This very handsome bird arrives at Marlborough in large 

numbers about the beginning or middle of April, and im- 
mediately commences the work of nidification. 

It frequents large hedgerows, copses, and occasionally 

even the open downs if there are any thorn or other bushes 


near. 


Saxicola rubicola. 
Stonechat. 
LOCAL NAME. FIRST SEEN. EGG OBSERVED. 
Horse Matcher. April 7th, 1868. April 28th, 1866. 
May 14th, 1868. 
April 25th, 1869. 
1870. 


56 


The Stonechat is certainly only a summer visitor with 
us, though it is said to be a resident in many parts of the 
country. 

Our Marlborough downs, thickly sprinkled with Grey- 
Wethers and with stunted thorn bushes, offer great 
attractions to this and the two following species. There 
are, therefore, an abundance of them, though from some 
unknown cause the records concerning them are but few. 

From whence the derivation of the name Horse Matcher 
is obtained I am unable to say ; I have never heard it out 
of Wiltshire. 


Saxicola rubetra. 
Whinchat. 
LOCAL NAME. EGG OBSERVED. 

Furze Chat. May 22nd, 1865. 
May 16th, 1866. 

June 13th, 1867. 

April 24th, 1869. 

1870. 

On the downs towards Overton lies a deep valley of great 
geological and archeological interest, for it is full of Grey- 
Wethers, and it also possesses the cromlech locally called 
the “ Devil’s Den.” Among the boulders are thorns, 
brambles, &c. Here the three species, the Stonechat, 
Whinchat, and Wheatear may be seen in abundance. 


57 


Saxicola cnanthe. 


Wheatear. 

FIRST SEEN. EGG OBSERVED. 
March 27th, 1867. May 14th, 1866. 
March 28th, 1868. May 19th, 1869. 
April 8th, 1869. 1870. 


This being the commonest of our three species of 
Saxicola, I cannot account for the scarcity of dates of 
arrival and oviposition. 


Salicaria locustella. 
Grasshopper Warbler. 
EGG OBSERVED. 
May 28rd, 1865. 
May 30th, 1866 (hard set). 
May 28th, 1867. 


1870. 


‘Rare, but not nearly so rare as it seems, owing to the 
shy habits of the bird and the care it takes to conceal its 
nest. Its eggs have been taken on Clench Common and 
on the Aldbourne downs, where its single monotonous note 
may be heard almost incessantly during spring and 
summer.” —LHztract from the Flora of Marlborough. 

I have never come across this bird myself in this neigh- 
bourhood, and have therefore given the above extract, from 
which, and from the following, taken from the reports of 

E 


58 


the College Natural History Society, I conclude that it is 
abundant in some years. 

Grasshopper Warbler, (egg) May 23rd, W. Blaker. 
Three more nests taken. 1865. 

Grasshopper Warbler, (egg), May 30th, hard set, EH. H. 
Carr, R. B. Hamilton. Several other nests after this. 
1866. 

Grasshopper Warbler, heard March 26th, F. J. H. 
Jenkinson, egg May 28th, 1867. 


Salicaria phragmitis. 
Sedge Warbler. 
EGG OBSERVED. 
May 12th, 1865. 
April 30th, 1866. 
May 12th, 1867. 
April 25th 1868. 
May 23rd, 1869. 
1870. 

After some consideration I have determined on inserting 
this in the present section, as though Mr. Bosworth Smith 
records its ‘“‘having been seen in both December and 
February at Marlborough,” the generality of ornithological 
authors have declared it to be a migrant, and these must 
therefore have been exceptional instances. 

This bird has a wonderful power of mocking the notes 
of other birds. Some years ago a request came from some 
people living in the town of Marlborough, through which 


59 


the river Kennet runs, for some of the ornithologists of 
the College Society to come and give their opinion of a 
‘mocking bird’’ which visited them every year, copying 
closely the notes of various birds. Accordingly the Rev. 
T. A. Preston and some others went and discovered it to 
be a common Sedge Warbler. 


Salicaria arundinacea. 
Reed Warbler. 


LOCAL NAMES. EGG OBSERVED. 
Reed Sparrow. June 7th, 1867. 
Water Sparrow. May 15th, 1868. 

May 27th, 1869. 
1870. 


The Reed warbler is by no means as common a bird with 
us as the last mentioned species, though it is very generally 
distributed throughout the whole district. It is perhaps 
more abundant near Poulton than anywhere else. 


Curruca atricapilla. 
Blackcap. 
LOCAL NAME. FIRST OBSERVED. EGG OBSERVED. 
Small nightingale. April 22nd, 1868. May 5th, 1866. 
May 8th, 1868. 
May 8th, 1869. 
1870. 


60 


This is neither a rare, nor yet a very common, species 
with us. It inhabits and breeds in nearly all the copses, 
and one pair or more may always be seen on the ‘‘ Mount” 
behind the College buildings. 

The note of the Blackcap is exceedingly sweet, and occa- 
sionally not unlike that of the Nightingale, for which it is 
certainly often mistaken. 


Curruca hortensis. 
Garden Warbler. 


EGG OBSERVED. 
May 25th, 1865. 
May 26th, 1866. 
May 15th, 1869. 

1870. 


This bird, very similar to the last in general appearance, 
is far from being as common as the Blackcap. Scarcely a 
year passes, however, without its being observed or its 
nest being found. 

It seems to be more frequent in Savernake Forest than 
in any other part of the district. 

Three years ago a pair built their nest and reared their 
young in a box-tree in the garden attached to the College. 


61 


Curruca cinerea. 
White-throat. 
LOCAL NAME. FIRST SEEN. EGG OBSERVED. 

Nettle-creeper. May 5th, 1868. May 2nd, 1865. 
May 11th, 1866. 

May 15th, 1867. 

May 19th, 1868. 

May 16th, 1869. 

1870. 


This is the commonest of all our Warblers, and may be 
found almost everywhere, except on the open downs, and 
even there its nest has been found among the low bushes 
and hedges. 

I have taken a nest of this bird supported half way up 
the stems of three nettles, in which position I believe it is 
not uncommon. 


Curruca sylviella. 
Lesser White-throat. 


EGG OBSERVED. 
May 13th, 1865. 
May 15th, 1866 
May 24th, 1867. 
May 14th, 1869. 

1870. 


I know nothing of this as a Marlborough bird, and can 
only quote the following passage from the ‘‘ Flora’ :— 


for) 
Lo 


‘Lesser White-throat.—Rare. Its eggs have been taken, 
however, in the outskirts of the Forest, and in some 
brambles near Martinsell.” 

The above-mentioned dates of oviposition are given on the 
authority of the Natural History Society’s report. 


Sylvia sylvicola. 
Wood Warbler. 
FIRST SEEN. EGG OBSERVED. 
May 6th, 1868. May 26th, 1865. 
May 14th, 1866. 
May 18th, 1868. 
May 21st, 1869. 
1870. 
The Wood Warbler is not so common as either of the 
two following species, but is nevertheless not very rare. 
It resides chiefly in the Forest, but has been heard and 
seen in the West Woods. 


Sylvia trochilus. 
Willow Warbler. 

LOCAL NAME. FIRST SEEN. EGG OBSERVED. 
Yellow Wren. April 15th, 1867. May 14th, 1865. 
Willow Wren. April 21st, 1868. May 15th, 1866. 
April 11th, 1869. May 10th, 1867. 
May 4th, 1868. 
May 12th, 1869. 
1870. 


63 


This bird is very frequent in the willows and other trees 
near any water. 

Tie following is an extract from the often quoted 
** Flora ” :—‘* Willow warbler. Its nest is said by Yarrell 
to be always placed on the ground; this does not seem, 
however, to be generally the case. It is commonly found 
in a low bush, and in one instance a nest was taken in some 
laurel bushes twelve feet from the ground.” 

With this I do not agree; my own observations convince 
me that the usual position of the nest is on the ground, 
and that those built in trees are exceptions to the rule. It 
is to be regretted that no further particulars are given of 
the nest built in the laurel bushes, as that seems to mea 
most remarkable situation; when they are in trees I have 
generally found them in pollards or on stumps, and never 
in bushes. 

As varieties of common birds are always interesting, I 
take the liberty of recording here a pure white variety of 
the Willow Wren, now in my collection. It is a young bird 
of the year, but the person from whom I had it had lost all 
records of its locality. 


Sylvia rufa. 
Chiffchaff. 
LOCAL NAME. FIRST SEEN. EGG OBSERVED. 
Lesser Pettychaps. April 20th, 1866. May 18th, 1867. 


March 29th, 1868. May 10th, 1869. 
1870. 


64: 


This bird is at first sight not unlike the last in general 
appearance, and is quite as common. It also has a pre- 
ference for willows and such plants as grow near water, but 
is much more frequently observed at a distance from water 
than is the Willow Warbler. 

Its nest is placed on the ground among moss, bracken, 
and other suitable plants. I know of no instance of the 
nest of this bird being built at any distance from the 
ground. 


Motacilla rayi. 
Ray’s Wagtail. 


LOCAL NAME. 
Yellow Wagtail. 


A few pairs of these birds visit us every summer, but I 
cannot believe it to be, as has been asserted, a common 
bird. 

Mr. Smith mentions a pair which for several summers 
visited the first field on the way to Savernake Forest from 
the College. 

There is not a single record of this bird breeding with 


us, and but one of its first arrival. 
Seen April 24th, 1869. 


G5 


Anthus arboreus, 
Tree Pipit. 

EGG OBSERVED. 
May 23rd, 1865. 
May 16th, 1866. 
April 25th, 1867. 
May 22nd, 1869. 


1870. 


This is a tolerably abundant species with us. It is 
principally remarkable for the variability in the colouring 
of its eggs, of which four very distinct varieties taken in 
this district are recorded. 

1. A uniform brown colour. 

2. <A greyish ground, mottled all over with purple 
spots. 

3. A whitish ground and large red blotches, exactly 
similar to some handsome varieties of the spotted Fly- 
catcher. 

4, A pure white ground without any markings. 


Yunx torquilla. 
Wryneck 
LOCAL NAMES. 
Cuckoo's mate. 
Snake bird. 
This is by no means a common bird in this district, but 
a few undoubtedly come to us yearly. It ‘has been seen 


66 


at Oare, and its eggs have been taken in the Forest.”’ It 
is in the latter locality that I have generally seen it myself. 
A specimen in my collection was shot amongst a flock of 
sparrows, which, from its unsocial nature, seems to be 
rather a peculiar companionship. 

As its nest has never been observed, it is doubtful 
whether it breeds here. 


Cuculus canorus. 
Cuckoo. 


FIRST HEARD. FIRST SEEN. EGG OBSERVED. 
April 8th, 1865. April 12th, 1865. May 15th, 1866. 
April 11th, 1866. April 8th, 1868. May 19th, 1867. 
April 18th, 1867. April 14th, 1869. May 8th, 1868. 

May 13th, 1869. 

1870. 
Of all the many marvels which present themselves to the 
ornithological student, the life history of the Cuckoo is 
the most marvellous. Accordingly more has been written 
about this bird than about any other, without having 
cleared much of the mystery connected with it. In 
Wiltshire the cuckoo is abundant, as indeed it is in most 
parts of England, though it is a bird whose shy habits 
cause it to be little known by sight. There is a very pre- 
valent Wiltshire superstition that the Cuckoo is really a 

resident, only that it changes to a hawk in the winter. 

Tam sorry to say no records have been kept of the different 
nests in which Cuckoo’s eggs (or young birds) have been 
found. The only ones I know from personal experience are, 


67 


the Sedge Warbler, Black-headed Bunting, Meadow Pipit,. 
and Hedge Sparrow. 

The last mentioned instance was a young bird, which 
was taken and afterwards givento me. Unfortunately I 
was then going abroad, and though it lived I had for some: 
time no opportunity of observing its habits. When I 
returned, it had already become reconciled to captivity. 
Its appetite was insatiable, for it was supplied all day long 
with grubs, finely cut-up meat, and hard-boiled egg, and 
yet it never seemed satisfied. It wasalso rather savage and 
would attack with its beak whatever was thrust into its 
cage. 

This bird lived for some four months in this way, and 


then died, in spite of the greatest care taken of it. 


Hirundo rustica. 


Swallow. 


LOCAL NAMES. FIRST SEEN. EGG OBSERVED. 
Chimney Swallow. March 28th, 1865. April 2nd, 1865. 
Common Swallow. April 1st, 1866. June 10th, 1866. 

March 25th, 1867. May 15th, 1867. 
April 3rd, 1868. May 29th, 1869. 
April 8th, 1869. 

1870. 1870. 


I feel convinced that the above dates of the first obser- 
vance of the Swallow, are those of its first arrival at 
Marlborough ; those of the first egg, however, are so very 


68 


different, that I cannot help thinking them not quite so 
useful. 

The immense flocks of these birds which arrive at Marl- 
borough separate into pairs and take up their residence in 
buildings and similar places. For a month before their 
departure they generally roost in the withy beds near the 
Kennet. 

This habit of retiring to the neighbourhood of water just 
before their departure, must have given rise to the tradition 
that they buried themselves under water during the 
winter. 

A pure white variety of the Swallow was shot at Rams- 
bury in the summer of 1868, and was stuffed by a 
game-keeper, named Rushen, in whose hands I saw it. 

The following are the dates of the last observance of the 
Swallow :— 

Left Marlborough, September 27th; occasional birds 
seen October Ist, 21st, 26th, and 28th; November 9th, and 
December 3rd, 1865. 

Seen October 31st, 1866. Seen November 16th, 1867. 

Young Swallows (in nest), first week in September. 

Seen Oct. 18th, Nov. 1st, 4th, 1869. 


Hirundo urbica. 
Martin. 

LOCAL NAME. FIRST SEEN. EGG OBSERVED. 
House Martin. May 5th, 1866. June llth, 1866. 
April 21st, 1868. 

April 11th, 1869. 
1870. 


69 


The Martin is a very common species with us, though 
from the scarcity of available dates, it would seem the 
contrary to the reader. What this deficiency is owing to I 
am unable to say. 

Before the Martins leave us in the autumn, they collect 
in flocks on the roofs of the houses: at this time occurs a 
great mortality amongst them,—they may be picked up 
dead on the ground, under the walls of all the buildings 
which they frequent. I have, however, been quite unable to 
discover the cause. 

Dates of last observance of the Martin : 

November 3rd, 1865. 
November 12th, 1866. 


Hirundo riparia. 


Sand Martin. 

FIRST SEEN. EGG OBSERVED. 
April 30th, 1866. May 23rd, 1865. 
April 13th, 1867. May 15th, 1866. 
April 8th, 1868. June 15th, 1869. 


April 8th, 1869. 
1870. 

In the soft green sandstone, on which stands Savernake 
Station, is the only colony of these birds, which I know of 
for certain, in this neighbourhood. Here they are very 
abundant ; part of the colony is situated right in the Station 
so that all trains pass within a few yards of it, and yet 
the birds have not deserted the place. 


70 


They are occasionally seen nearer Marlborough, but not 


often. 

On Martinsell, I have, during some years, noticed an 
abundance, so many in fact that I am inclined to think that 
they must breed somewhere near, but have been unable to 


find the place. 


Cypselus apus. 


Swift. 
LOCAL NAMES. FIRST SEEN. EGG OBSERVED: 
Screech April 27th, 1865. June 9th, 1865. 


Screech Devil April 25th, 1866. May 9th, 1866. 
Screech Martin April 18th, 1867. June 15th, 1869, 
Screamer April 22nd, 1868. 
April 24th, 1869. y 
1870. 

The Swift visits us towards the end of April in tolerable 
abundance, always making itself heard by its loud harsh 
scream, which has procured for it so many names. 

The common name of this bird indicates the “‘ swiftness” 
of its flight, which would seem to make the following 
anecdote almost incredible. The hens in a certain poultry 
yard not far from Oxford always shewed a great dislike to 
the Swifts, which are particularly abundant there. In one 
instance, in June 1869, an old game hen with a fine 
brood of chickens suddenly made a dart at a Swift which 
was flying low and near the ground. The hen had to pass 
across a considerable distance before reaching the Swift. 


71 


By some means, however, it seized upon the poor bird and 
attacked it, stamping upon it with its feet and attempting 
to tear out its eyes. The Swift was rescued by a spectator, 
too late, however, to save its life, as it died in the course of 
an hour, and now enriches my collection. 


Columba turtur. 
Turtle Dove. 
FIRST SEEN. EGG OBSERVED. 
May 30th, 1868. May 9th, 1866. 
May 13th, 1867. 
May 29th, 1869. 
1870. 

This elegant bird visits us in small numbers yearly, 
chiefly frequenting the Forest. A specimen in my collection 
was shot in a fir copse on the Overton downs, where the 
keepers say they are not uncommon. 


Crex Pratensis. 


Landrail. 
LOCAL NAME. FIRST SEEN. EGG OBSERVED. 
Corncrake. April 26th, 1866. April 25th, 1865. 
April 18th, 1867. June 13th, 1866. 
April 22nd, 1868. (hard set). 
April 24th, 1869. June 13th, 1867. 


May 20th, 1868. 
1870. 1870. 


72 


This clever ventriloquist is in reality common, though it 
keeps itself so well concealed that it is but seldom seen 
though often heard. 

Its eggs are observed nearly every year, though never 
in any great numbers as it chiefly breeds amongst growing 
corn. 


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PART III.—WINTER VISITORS. 


—E————EE 


Turdus pilaris. 


Fieldfare. 

FIRST SEEN. LAST SEEN. 
November 10th, 1865. March 27th, 1866. 
October 31st, 1866. 

September 29th, 1867. April 18th, 1868. 


This handsome thrush is one of our few winter visitors. 
It flies about in flocks during the time it is with us, during 
which season it is esteemed a great delicacy for the table, 
and is sold for about three-pence apiece. As will be seen 
from above it stayed with us very late indeed in the spring 
of 1868. 


Turdus iliacus. 
Redwing. 
FIRST SEEN. 
November 28th, 1865. 
October 81st, 1866. 
This bird also visits us during the winter in considerable 


numbers. 


=~] 
Or 


Fringilla montifringilla. 
Mountain Finch. 
LOCAL NAME. SEEN. 
Brambling. March Ist, 1867. 


Not one winter passes without a visit from one or more 
flocks of these beautiful birds. About January and 
February we generally have a spell of severe weather, and 
it is during this that they visit us. In fact the severer the 
weather the greater their numbers. In the early spring or 
late winter of 1867 large numbers appeared. 


Scolopax Gallinula. 

Common Snipe. als 

A few of these birds visit us yearly, but very few, and 
in rapidly decreasing numbers. 

They are occasionally to be seen in all our water 


meadows, but are most plentiful at Swindon reservoir. 
Zs # 


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a ? v a . , ¢¥ 


Anas Boschas. 
Wild Duck. 

Small flocks of these birds are occasionally to be found 
both at Ramsbury and at Swindon reservoir, but never in 
any large numbers. One or two instances of their remain- 
ing to breed with us have been reported. 

Mr. Smith says of one—‘‘ A nest of this bird was found 
in 1857 in the low brushwood in Poulton Copse, at least 
half-a-mile from any water.” 

This closes the extremely short list of our winter visitors. 


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77 


PART IV.—SPRING AND AUTUMN VISITORS. 


“See ee 


Otus brachyotus. 
Short-eared Owl. 


A few of these Owls visit us every autumn, when they 
generally frequent the turnip-fields ; they are, however 
by no means common. 

I have one in my collection which was shot on the 
Overton downs in spring, but this is the only recorded 
instance of its visiting us at that season. 


Coturnix vulgaris. 
Quail. 


‘There is no rule without an exception,” isa good old 
adage anda true one. I therefore feel justified in not 
including this as a summer visitor, though its nest has been 
taken as late as the 21st of June (1868). This nest (the 
only recorded instance of their breeding with us) was built 
in a hay-field, and the poor bird sat so steadily on its nest 
that the scythe of one ofthe mowers actually cut the nest 
in half under her, also taking off her legs. 

Asarule, however, they only visit us in the spring and 
autumn, while on their migrations, and even then they are 
by no means abundant. 


78 


In February, 1868, a very remarkable variety of the 
Quail was picked up dead and handed over to me by a 
keeper at Overton. It had evidently been dead some 
hours and had been lying in the pouring rain, so that 
it was hard to say what bird it was at first sight. After a 
good washing it displayed such curious markings on the 
throat, that my interest was aroused. At my request it was 
sent by the Rey. T. A. Preston to Professor Newton, whose 
answer was as follows.—‘‘ So far as I can judge, your bird 
is a common Quail, but I do not remember to have seen 
before one with so much black on its chin and throat. 
However, it is certain that Quails vary a good deal in the 
colouration of these parts, though I am at aloss to give a 
rational explanation of the manner in which they vary. It 
is possible that old males may assume a different plumage 
at this time of year. I have before had no experience of the 
fact, and nothing is said about it in any of the authors I 
have consulted. Ithinkit would be wellif you would shew 
your specimen to Mr. Gould, and hear what he has to say 
on the subject. Ido not recollect to have examined a 
male Quail killed in the spring before. I have a specimen 
in which the black markings of your bird are replaced by 
a deep chesnut, and that I had supposed to be the colour 
of this part in the breeding plumage; but my bird was 
killed many years ago (fifty I should think) and no record 
of the time of year it was obtained has been kept. If 
you show your specimen to Mr. Gould, I hope you will 
kindly let me know what he says, as I ama good deal 
interested in your specimen.” The bird was then shown to 
Mr. Gould. who replied : ‘I have compared the Quail with 
the various specimens in my collection, and find it similar 


79 


almost to a feather, inclusive of the black throat, with 
Italian skins. Quails often have the markings of the throat 
brown where they are black in your specimen, but to what 
the difference is attributable has not yet been clearly as- 
certained. Itis probably due to age or season.” 

I need only add that the length of this specimen was 8} 
inches from the tip of the bill to the tip of the tail, and the 
weight only two ounces, as it was in very poor condition. 

This specimen is now in the College Museum. 


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81 


PART V.—RARE AND OCCASIONAL VISITORS. 


ns 


Halisetos Albicilla. 
White-tailed Eagle. 


Though Eagles are essentially birds of mountainous 
districts, it is rather remarkable that there is only one 
instance on record of their appearance in this neighbour- 
hood, as from one cause or another hardly a year passes 
without one or more Eagles, either of the golden or of the 
white-tailed species, being recorded from the south of 
England. 

Only one, however, has appeared here of late years. This 
Specimen was observed high up in the air over Savernake 
Forest by a keeper, who immediately shot at it, and 
succeeded in bringing it down, when it proved to be a fine 
specimen of the white-tailed Eagle. 

It was presented by its fortunate captor to the Marquis 
of Ailesbury, in whose possession it now is. This was in the 
year 1859. 

A single specimen of the Golden Eagle has been shot at 
Littleton, which is however just beyond the. limits of our 
district. 


Falco Peregrinus. 
Peregrine. 
Contrary to what [had at first intended, I have decided 
to place this in the present section, for though in the Orni- 


82 


thology of Wilts, published in the Wiltshire Magazine, it is 
said to be not uncommon on the downs of this ceunty, from 
the fact of my never but once meeting with a specimen 
killed in this neighbourhood, I conclude that it is at any 
rate very rare near Marlborough. 

This solitary specimen was shot on the Overton downs, 
I believe towards the end of January, 1867, but I am not 
quite certain of the date, as I omitted to make a note of it 


at the time. Of the year I am certain. 


Falco subbuteo. 
Hobby. 
This bird is occasionally to be seen at Aldbourne, and, 
also on the Overton downs, though it is at all times a great 


rarity with us. 


Falco csalon. 
Merlin. 
I only know of one instance of this beautiful little Hawk 
appearing here. It was shot on the hill called Liddington 
Castle, but I am sorry to say it figured in a ‘* gamekeeper’s 


museum.”’ 


83 


[Milvus vulgaris. 
Kite. 

A pair of these birds are said to have built some years 
ago on the further side of Martinsell, but I am not certain 
of the correctness of this “on dit.’ A friend has also 
assured me that he saw one flying over Liddington 
Castle.] 


Buteo lagopus. 
Rough-legged Buzzard. 


During the winter of 1866 the rabbit warren on the 
Overton downs was devastated by a large hawk, for which 
traps were for a long time set invain. It seemed to bear a 
charmed life ; at last, however, it was found caught by the 
leg in a trap. It proved to bea splendid male of the 


present species. 


Philomela luscinia. 
Nightingale. 


Pity the country which can only claim this exquisite 
songster as a ‘‘raraavis’’! Such it is with us. 

An instance of its breeding with us has now been 
unknown for many years, and they are but very rarely 
heard. They are perhaps more abundant at Chisledon than 
elsewhere throughout the district. 


84 


Motacilla boarula. 
Grey Wagtail. 
Has occasionally, but very rarely, been seen during the 
‘winter months, especially near the Kennet, but only one 
authentic instance of their breeding with us is recorded. A 


nest containing young birds was found on June 16th, 
1867. 


Coccothraustes vulgaris. 
Hawfinch. 
This bird is perhaps commoner with us than it is in most 
places, though of late years it has appeared less frequent 


_<¢é than it used to do. 
enc At one time it used to breed plentifully in the Forest, as 


may be seen from the following notices : 

Hawfinch, May 3rd, H. F. Boyd, and E. H. Carr. Two 
more nests were taken afterwards, May 15th. EH. Edgell 
and H. A. King. 

In August, 1867, two immature birds were killed in the 
garden of the Rey. J. F. Bright, at Preshute, thus showing 
that they still breed here. 


Linota linaria. 
Lesser Redpole. 
These birds are occasionally observed during the winter 
months, flying about the fields by the Swindon road. This 
is, however, only in severe winters. 


85 


Loxia curvirostra. 
Orossbill. 


A flock of these birds was seen on the 12th of October, 
1866, among the firs on Martinsell. Mr. Parker, bird-— 
stuffer of this town, has also assured me of their occurrence 
in this neighbourhood. 


Corvus corax. 


Raven. 


The days have long gone by when this bird could be 
accounted a common species. I have never met with a 
Marlborough specimen, but the following account from the 
** Flora” list is authentic :—‘“ A pair of these birds built 
for many years in succession in a magnificent clump of fir 
trees in the Forest, around which they might be heard 
croaking incessantly from the end of December, when 
nidification commences, to the end of March, when the 
young are usually able to leave the nest. The place has 
been deserted by them now for three years, owing to some 
inscrutable reason, as the year preceding their desertion 
they certainly reared three of their young in safety. The 
tree was scaled in 1857, and three out of six eggs were 
taken; of these three, two were perfectly fresh, while in 
the third there was a live bird. Thus it would appear that 
the Raven does what the Barn Owl has been observed to 
do frequently—viz., lay its eggs at considerable intervals, 
leaving those last layed to be hatched by the warmth of the 
young birds. Some eggs taken from the same nest several 


86 


years before were successfully hatched in a Rook’s nest in 
the Wilderness. A pair of these birds may still not un- 
frequently be seen flying over the cricket ground.” (This 


was written in 1863.) 


a 


Corvus cornix. 
Hooded Crow. 
LOCAL NAMES. 
Beckhampton Grey Crow. 
Royston Crow. 
Grey Crow. 
A few of these birds visit us now and then, when they 
are chiefly observed in the West Woods, or on the Downs. 


Picus major. 
Great Spotted Woodpecker. 


This bird is not very uncommon in the Forest, though I 
know of no authentic instance of its breeding with us. 
Still a very young bird has been taken in the Forest, which 
leads me to suppose that its nest has been overlooked. This 
bird was fed and reared by hand. It, however, only lived 


about two months. 
A pair were shot in 1867 on an apple tree in Mildenhall. 


87 


[ Picus minor. 
Lesser Spotted Woodpecker. 

This is included in Mr. Smith’s list of birds in the 
following words :—‘‘ This bird has been observed several 
times in the Forest, but its eggs have not yet been taken.” 
As the Greater Spotted Woodpecker, the commoner species, 
is not mentioned, I am inclined to think a mistake has 
occurred.”’ | 


Caprimulgus europeus. w..--->> 
Goatsucker. 
LOCAL NAMES. 
Nightjar. 
Fern Out. 
This remarkable bird is not common with us, though 
specimens have been procured from all parts. 


Its nest has been taken once only in Rabley Copse on the 
3lst of May, 1865. 


Perdix rufa. 
Red-legged Partridge. 


One single specimen of this bird was shot in the West 
Woods in November, 1865. 


88 


Otis tarda. 
Great Bustard. 


Though this noble bird is now unfortunately extinct as a 
resident, not only in Wiltshire, but throughout England, 
it may still be reckoned an occasional straggler, occuring 
more frequently in Wiltshire than in any other county, 
Norfolk excepted, on account of our extensive downs, 
where there is every reason to believe that it has been by no 
means rare, though at the same time probably never very 
common. Inthe Wiltshire Archeological Magazine appeared 
a most interesting paperon the Great Bustard, from which 
I give the following particulars. It appears to have been 
tolerably plentiful in Wiltshire till towards the end of the 
eighteenth century, from which time instances of its 
occurrence become rarer and rarer. In 1771 Dr. Brookes 
informs us that it still bred on Salisbury plain at that time, 
while in 1801 a nest containing two eges was found on 
Market Lavington down. These instances, however, 
besides having occurred some time ago, did not occur 
within our present limits. There is one instance, however, 
which occurred as lately as January 1856 in Savernake 
Forest. Though I have myself conversed with the keeper 
who shot at this bird, as I could not gain any fresh infor- 
mation on the subject, I think it best to give the anecdote 
as nearly as possible in the words of the paper alluded to 
above. ‘“ Very early in January (1856) one of Lord Ailes- 
bury’s keepers, named King, seeing a large bird, which he 
could not recognise, but supposed to be an Eagle, flying 
over a part of Marlborough Forest called Henswood, fired 
a cartridge at it, though, from the distance, he had little 


89 


expectation of reaching it; he was not therefore disappointed 
to see the bird continue its flight apparently unharmed, and 
went away thinking no more of the matter. Subsequently, 
and apparently only a day or two after, a little boy of not 
more than seven years old, saw a large bird with a broken 
leg, and succeeded in capturing it.” This latter part took 
place on the borders of Berkshire, but the writer of the 
paper continues, “ ever since I gained intelligence of the 
keeper’s shot, with a cartridge, (the leg was broken as if by 
ball) I have come to the conclusion that that shot took 
effect ; and that the bird he fired at, and the one caught subse- 
quently by the little boy, were one and the same, and there- 
fore Henswood (the scene of the keeper’s shot) being in Wilt- 
shire I lay claim to the bird as a ‘bona fide’’ Wiltshire 
specimen, though I own it was so misguided as to cross the 
county to die in the county of Berkshire.” 

One was also shot in Savernake Forest, in 1849, and one 
at Chisledon in 1851. 


(Edicnemus crepitans. 
Great Plover. 
LOCAL NAMES. EGG OBSERVED. 
Norfoll: Plover. May 19th, 1868. 
Stone Curlew. 

A few of these birds visit us nearly every year, and 
most probably breed with us. The eggs mentioned above 
were taken on the Overton downs, from where I have more 
than once had the young birds. They also used to breed 


G 


90 


regularly, on the Whitefield Farm, on the left of the 
Swindon road. They have also been reported from 
Aldbourne. 


Charadrius pluvialis. 
Golden Plover. 


During severe winter weather, flocks of these birds 
occasionally pass over us, though they very seldom alight 
inour district; so seldom, indeed, that I only know two 
instances of their being shot. Since writing the above an 
additional notice of a specimen shot in December, 1869, at 
Savernake, has been sent to me. 


Charadrius morinellus. 
Dotterel. 

Tradition says that these birds were at one time not un- 
common on our Downs, but these days have long ago 
passed away. 

One in the possession of Mr. Willis, of Whitefield farm, 
was shot by himself out of a flock of fifteen in the spring of 
1867 on his own farm, where Iam told some are seen nearly 
every year. 


Botaurus stellaris. 
Bittern. 
Here we have another case of a very noble bird exter- 
minated by the spread of civilization. Mr. Parker, bird- 


ut 


stuffer, of Marlborough, nas given me information of two 
specimens of these birds killed many years ago ; he cannot 
recollect the exact date. One of the specimens is still in 
existence, for J have seen it myself in a house at Mildenhall. 
The following anecdote is told of the capture of a Bittern 
at Preshute many years ago. The Preshute water meadows 
were at that time overgrown with oziers, &c. A spaniel, 
which was following its master through these, disappeared, 
and when called, came out of the rushes with a wound as 
of a dagger in its side. Immediately after, search was 
made, and a fine specimen of this bird was secured, which 
had evidently inflicted the wound with its beak in an 
attempt to defend itself against the attacks of the dog. 


Numenius arquata. 
Curlew. 
‘“‘ The eggs of this bird have been taken on Aldbourne 
downs.”’ 
Such is the extract from the “ Flora” List. I know 
nothing about the bird as a Marlborough species. 


of Atwe2e 7 OX ; gow 


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az / o a ee te f @-4-t. i, z 
Len a Pie # fv-w11t Jerre + [ 4 . ee, : 


Totanus ochropus. 
: Green Sandpiper. 


' 
This is not a very uncommon visitor to this neighbour- 
hood, indeed scarcely a year passes but a few specimens are 


either observed or shot. It arrives here about the beginning 


, 


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of September, frequenting the pools in the Forest or on the 
downs. On being disturbed they fly away uttering their 
peculiarly shrill whistle. In the autumn of 1867 a flock of 
seven of these birds was observed for several weeks on the 
Rockley downs, one of which was shot and sent to me on 
the 3rd of September. On seeing this bird, which I then 
imagined to be the first killed in this neighbourhood, I 
hastened out to Rockley, where I saw the flock on the pond 
in the village itself. 

I afterwards met with a pair of these birds on one of the 
small ponds in the Forest. Since that time I have had 
notices of their occurrence, and specimens have been shown 
me procured in the years 1868-7 inclusive. 


Tetanus hypoleucos. 
f, Connon Sandpiper. 
““ Some of these birds visit us every summer, frequenting 
' the pools and the river. Some have even been seen in the 


- College bathing place. I know of no instance of their 


breeding with us. 


Scolopax rusticola. 
Woodcock. 
A good many of these birds visit us during the winter, 
’ chiefly frequenting the West Woods. They are also occa- 
; sionally seen in the Forest. 


Scolopax gallinula. 
Jack Snipe. 

It is in very small numbers that these birds visit us. 
They are chiefly to be found at the Swindon Reservoir. I 
have one, however, in my collection which was shot on the 
Kennet, close to Marlborough. 


/ 


7 az i ae cae 
4 


Phalaropus lobatus. 
Grey Phalarope. 

During the autumn of 1866 a number of these birds 
appeared throughout England. One only, however, visited 
us. This specimen was shot at the end of September, at 
East Kennet, and fwas described in the local paper as a 
Stormy Petrel! Since writing the above another specimen 
has been shot by S. W. Featherstone, on the 4th of Sep- 
tember, 1869, at Marlborough. This last mentioned 
specimen is in the hands of Mr. Parker, bird-stuffer, of 
Marlborough, and is, I believe, destined for the College 
Museum. 

When the specimen was first procured it was believed to 
be the Red-necked species.. This, however, proved an error, 
and I know of no instance of the occurrence of the last- 
named species in this neighbourhood. 


Rallus aquaticus. 
Water Rail. 
Now and then some of these birds may be seen stealthily 
gliding in and out amongst the reeds and other water 


O4: 


plants, during the winter months. They never remain to 
breed with us. 


Anas crecca. 
Teal. 

This also is an occasional, but rare, visitor. Its nest has 
never been found as far as I know, but from its having 
several times been seen in May and even June, I fancy 
that they sometimes breed on the Kennet. 


Anas penelope. 
Wigeon. 
Round Silbury Hill several of these birds have been seen, 


but, at the same time, they are not common. 


Fuligula clangula. 
Golden-cye. 
One of these birds was shot in the water-meadows at 
Mildenhall in 1866 (?) and is now in the possession of R. 
K. Price, Esq:, of the Priory, Marlborough. 


Podiceps rubricollis. 
Red-necked Cirebe. 
During the floods at Manton some years ago, one of these 
birds was seen swimming close to the road in a kind of 


Se el ee 


95 


bewildered state. It was captured in an open umbrella 
used as a fishing net. 


Another was taken in a regular fishing net, in September, 


1868. 


Colymbus septentrionalis. 
Red-throated Diver. 

An immature specimen of this bird was picked up in an 
exhausted state by Mr. Willis, of Whitefield Farm, 
Ogbourne St. George, in January, 1866. 

Another is said to have been obtained at the same place 
ten years before. 


Mergulus melanoleucos. 
Tittle Auk. 


It is with great pleasure that I record an occurrence of 
this bird on the Kennet, just opposite the ‘‘ Ailesbury Arms ” 
on the Bath road, in 1864. The bird is now in the 
possession of Mrs. Gundry, of Netly Grange, Southampton, 

It is very remarkable that a bird with such small wings 
should have come so far inland, but it is certainly true. 
This instance I have already recorded in the Field. 


96 


Sterna hirundo, 
Common Tern. 

These are not uncommonly observed on the Canal, a few 
appearing every year. I have several Marlborough speci- 
mens in my collection, and there is at least one in the 
College museum. | 


Sterna arctica. 
Arctic Tern. 
This species also occasionally appears, but not so often 
as the former. I have one specimen killed, in 1867, withina 
hundred yards of the College grounds. 


Sterna fissipes. 
Black Tern. 
{ have an immature male of this species obtained at 
Ogbourne St. George by a keeper of the name of Rushen. 


Uria alle. 
Puffin. 

Since the completion of my M.S8.S., I have received the 
following notice of the occurrence of this bird. A Puffin 
was caught by hand by George Scott (Postman), on the 
banks of the River Kennet, near the village of the same 


oF 


name, on the 25th of October, 1869. He was walking along, 
and seeing this strange bird, got some help and caught it. 
It is presumed that it came with the rough weather in the 
middle of September, but there was no particular wind at 
the time it was taken. It was in a very poor condition and 
had probably been “‘ living on nothing ”’ for some time. 
This specimen has been secured for the College 
Museum. A second specimen was afterwards picked up, 


dead. 


Larus canus, 
Common Gull. 


Though we are at some little distance from the sea it is 
by no means uncommon to see large flocks of Gulls flying 
overhead during high winds. I have given some little 
attention to these flocks, and, as mentioned elsewhere, find 
the Common Gull, true to its name here at least, to be far 
the most frequent species. 

Towards the end of February, 1868, I was shewn five 
specimens of this bird, shot at intervals of two or three 
hours, and from the same flock apparently, in a line from 
west to east as far as Marlborough, and then turning 
southward. The following is the list of places at which 
these specimens were shot :—East Kennet, Clatford, 
Manton, Marlborough, and Tottenham House. 

Again on the 19th of April, in the same year, a large 
flock passed over us in very much the same direction. 


98 


Larus fuscus. 
Lesser black-backed Gull. 
This is the rarest of the three species of Gull which some- 
times visit us. Specimens have, however, been obtained at 
various times. Onein my collection was shot in March, 


1868, at Rockley. 


Larus argentatus. 
Herring Gull.. 

In Mr. Smith’s list of Marlborough Birds, it is stated 
that this Gull often visits us. I cannot help thinking that 
there must be some mistake here, from the fact that among 
all the Gulls, which I have seen shot near Marlborough, 
I have only met with one specimen of this species, which 
was shot at Tottenham. As he, however, makes no 
mention of any other species, I suppose the birds flying 
overhead were referred to this species without sufficient 


examination. 


Thalassidroma pelagica. 
Storm Petrel. 
The Rev. T. A. Preston has informed me of the fact that 
a specimen of this bird was seen by the Rev. T. W. 
Dowding inthe garden of St. Peter’s Rectory, Marl- 
borough. 


99 


ADDENDA. 


Alauda arborea. 
Wood Lark. 
FIRST SEEN. EGG OBSERVED. 
May 29th, 1867. May 5th, 1865, (hard set). 
May 21st, 1869. 

This bird is mentioned in the “Flora”’ list, and I have 
many verbal notices of its occurrence, though I must 
confess that I have not met with it myself. 


Lanius excubitor. 
Grey Shrike. 

Since going to press a specimen of this bird shot at 
Poulton, on the 20th of November, 1869, by a keeper of 
the name of Rushen, has been submitted to me, and I am 
glad to be able to add this to my list. 


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NAMES OF GENERA AND SPECIES. 


Accentor modularis 
Accipiter nisus 
Alauda arborea 
arvensis 
Alcedo ispida 

Anas boschas 
crecca ... 
penelope 
Anthus arboreus... 
—— pratensis 
Ardea cinerea 


Botaurus stellaris 
Buteo lagopus 


Caprimulgus europeeus 
Carduelis elegans 
Certhia familiaris 


Charadrius morinellus... 


pluvialis 


Coeccothraustes diloeis: 


-— vulgaris 
Columba cenas 
palumbus 
turtur 


Colymbus septentrionalis 


Corvus corax 
cornix . 


PaGE 


18 
10 
99 
26 
aoe 
75 
94: 
94, 
65 
25 
49 


90 
83 


Corvus corone 
frugilegus ... 
monedula 
Coturnix vulgaris 
Crex pratensis 
Cuculus canorus ... 
Curruca atricapilla 
—— cinerea 
hortensis 
—— sylviella 
Cypselus apus 


Emberiza cirlus ... 
citrinella 
—— miuliaria 
schceniclus ... 
Erythaca rubecula 


Falco zesalon 
peregrinus ... 
subbuteo 
tinnunculus... 
Fringilla ccelebs ... 
montifringilla 
Fulica atra ... : 
Fuligula clangula 


Gallinula chloropus 


Garrulus glandarius 


Haliaetos albicilla 
Hirundo riparia ... 
rustica... 
—— urbica... 


Lanius collurio 
—— excubitor 
Larus argentatus 
—— canus 
—— fuscus 
Linota cannabina 
—— linaria 
Loxia curvirostra 


Mergulus melanoleucos 
Milvus vulgaris ... 
Motacilla boarula 

—— rayi 

—— yarrellii 
Muscicapa griseola 


Numenius arquata 


CEdicnemus crepitans... 
Ofettarda , 2... fre i. 


Otus brachyotus .. 
———= vulgaris 


Parus ater ... 
ceeruleus 
—— caudatus 
—— major 

—— palustris 
Passer domesticus 
Perdix cinerea 

—-—. rufa... 
Phalaropus lobatus 
Phasianus colchicus 


Philomela luscinia 
Pheenicura ruticilla 
Pica caudata 

Picus major 

—— minor 

—— Yiridis 
Podiceps minor ... 
—— rubricollis ... 
Pyrrhula vulgaris 
Rallus aquaticus 
Regulus cristatus 


Salicaria arundinacea... 


—— locustella 

—— phragmitis 
Saxicola cenanthe 
rubetra 

—— rubicola 

Scolopax gallinago 
——gallinula ... 
—— rusticola 

Sitta europea 

Sterna arctica 

fissipes 

hirundo 

Strix flammea ee 
Sturnus vulgaris... ... 
Sylvia rufa .. 

sylvicola 


Syrnium stridula 


Totanus hypoleucos ... 
—— ochropus 
Thalassidroma pelagica. 


Troglodytes vulgaris ... 


Turdus*iiacus: - 22.) ie 
merula ae 

—— musicus att 
—— pilaris ..... .0. se 


trochibaLes eae 


Turdus torquatus 
VISCIVOTUS ... 


Uria alle 


111 


| Vanellus cristatus 


| Yunx torquilla 


ENGLISH AND LOCAL NAMES. 


Accentor, Hedge 
Ammer, Yellow 
Arctic Tern 
Auk, Little 


Bald Coot 

Barn Oul = 
Beckhampton isd ‘Orow 
Bittern , ; 
Black Tern ... 
Black-backed Gull, ee 
Blackbird 

Blackcap _... , 
Black-headed Bunting 
Blue Tomtit d 
—— Tit 

Bottle Tit 

Tom 

Brambling 

Brown Linnet 

Owl 

Bullfinch 

Bunting at 
, Black- headed 
, Cirl 


PaGE 
18 
28 
96 
95 


50 
12 
86 
90 
96 


98 


16 


Bunting, Corn 
— Lark 
—— , Reed ... 
, Lellow 
Bustard, Great 
Butcher Bea 


Buzzard, Rough- lege o ad 


Carrion Crow 
Chat, Furze 
——, Stone 

, Whin 
Cheeper 
Chaffiinch 
Chiff-chaff a 
Chimney Swallow 
Church Owl 

Cirl Bunting 
Climber, Tree 
Cock, Shrike 

, Storm 
Cole Tit 
Common Gull 
Linnet 
*—__ Plover 


PaGE 


48 
65 


112 
PaGE PaGE 
Common Sandpiper’... 992 |’ Finch,;-Green "2.7 ie 
—— Snipe Pe rs NY ; Mountam Us, ih. 8 
ee ase. ee OT , Pie se ee: 
Pera CGE Sy eds. ee Flycatcher, Spotted Ah Soe 
Wen eset Soe Furze Chat MORE 
Coot, Bald he Ree Ow 
Corn Bunting... ... 26 Garden Warbler “es, | Ae 
Oorncralee ae vice fa ee Goatsucker 36 Galen 
Crecperysi Gee. | px. Seat, Ven FOLG-CFESL ans 20 
——, Nettle aoe peepee Golden-crested Reeulus 20 
sees WAT.) et. Volek 5 Me Wren a See 
Crest, Gold ... ... ... 20 | Golden-eye a 94: 
Cross ri Veattay, oe 85 Golden Plover * 8 42.7990 
Crow, Beckhanvpton Grea oy S63) Goldimeh) 225 32 
i, Carrion ... 34 | Grasshopper Warbler... 57 
7G) CY ns ot ive 864” Great: Bastard: 42. eee 
—., OFipoded ni eee 88 - Plover - 89 
; Royston... «« 86 | —— Spotted Woodpecker 86 
Cuckoo EA tad ee ta 3 Greater Iedpole ano oe 
Cuckoo's’ Mates ’;.. 452 “68 Ait Pram as: 
Curlew rite Glaibemnseseter 2S), | Grebe, Little ing Neh eae 
Curlew, Stone) 45. aa 89 ; Red-necked ©»... 7794 
Green-finch 0 ee 
Dabchick 51 | —— Lnnnet is. ee 
Devil, Screech .... «.. %@0 | —— = Sandpiper aes ton 
Pidapper .. ve a Ol | -s==" Woodpecker” 7 ivaee 
Dipper ita Stone Grey Crow Ls! (86 
Dishwasher ee . Beckhapmton oe 
Diver, Red-thr oated dos tt aoe Fines Pe 
Dotterel vs uae uae GO | -—— Phalarope Per) 
Dove, Ring ..  .. 45 | —— Shrike LIS) 
, Stock a i Wagtail  <3.0) eee 
+—, Turtle SM eh Gaull, Common. 2° .4.9/ 907 


Duck, Wild bo. BS jelerahipy. 24. 98 


——, alieaeer Black- Macken 98 


Eagle, White-tailed ... 81 


Hammer, Yellow aes 
FernvOwl «2.0 8. A 987 ewe: La Agee Mt ere 
Pieldfare®)\ 2.00 car i=. (4), awk Sparrow Pale, 0) 


Finch, Gold PA ea 0 , Stal. cic ee 


<otg eee 


1138 


Hedge Accentor ... 18 | Linnet, Green 
Sparrow pa , Grey 
Hen, Marsh ~ ... ... 49 | ——, Red 
—- Water .. wi 49 | Little Auk 
Hern oe ite = Grebe 
Heron . 1. « 49 | Long-eared Owl 
Herring Gall. wate 1. 98 Long-horned Owl 
Hissing Owl we... L2 | Long-tailed Pre 
Hobby awe wee 8. 82 | —— Tit 
Hooded Crow ... ... 86 | —— Titinouse 
Hoop ae eo ee | 
Horned Owl did ened s/, Magee 
Horse Matcher a eee) Marsh Hen 
House Martin... ... 68 | —— Tit 
—— Sparrow... ... 30 | Martin 
Hover, Wind .. 9 | ——, House 
——, Sand 
Jackdaw boas 1G.Seu ——, Screech 
Jack Snipe ... «s 93 | Matcher, Horse 
Jay ioe pet ase o-oo | Beddow Pipit 
Jenny Wren ee Merlin 
| Missel Thrush 
Kestrel Ge ee >| *Moorhen eit 
Kingfisher ws... 44 | Mountain Finch 
Kite OM eee 
Nightingale 
Land-rail we wee «6 | CO, Smal 
Lapwing a. os 48 | Nightjar 
Lark, Bunting... ... 26 | Nuthatch 
——, Sky ws ee 26 | Nettle-creeper 
—, Tit ...".... 25 | Norfolle Plover 
——, Wood ioehhcae 2) Sato 
Lesser Pett ychaps .. 63 | ‘Ouzel, Ring 
Redpole __... 84. | Owl, Barn 
—— Spotted Woodpecker 87  ——, Brown 
-=— White-throat ... 61 | ——, Church 
Black-backed Gull ... 98 | ——, Fern 
Linnet He Pipa ae | — , Hissing 
——, Brown eos cy O82 | ——, Horned 


——, Common ... ... 32 | ——, Long-eared 


Owl, Long-horned 
, Screech 
——, Short-eared 
——, Tawny 
——, White 


Ox-~eye 


Partridge 


—— Red- legged ‘i 


Peewit 

Peregrine 

Petrel, Storm 
Pettychaps, Lesser 
Phalarope, iia 
Pheasant a 
Pie Finch AiR 
Long- tailed 
Pied Wagtail 
Pigeon, Wood 
Pipit Meadow 
——, Tree 

Plover, Conumon 
——, Golden 
——, Great 

3 Norfolk 
Popinjay 

Puffin 


Quail 


Rail, Land 
——, Water 
Rain Bird 
Raven 


Ray’s Wagtail alas 


Red Linnet i 
Red-backed Shise 
Redbreast 


Red-legged Partridge | 


ie denecied Grebe 


114 


PAGE 
Red-throated Diver 95 
ftedpole, Greater 32 
, Lesser 84. 
Redstart +3959 
Redtail 55 
Redwing 74, 
Reed Bunting 27 
Sparrow 27,59 
Warbler je cae 
Regulus, Golden- peeled 20 
Ring (eee A5 
—— Ouzel 54 
Robin 15 | 
Rook 30 
Rough-legged Buzard 83 
Royston Crow . 86 
Sand Martin Ae Ae 
Sandpiper, Common 92 
——, Green on 
Screamer 70 
Screech 70 
Devil 70 
—— Martin ii 
—— (Owl 12 
Sea Woodcock ay | 
Sedge Warbler 58 
Short-eared Owl 77 
Shrike Cock 14 
——, Grey ; 99 
——, Red- heeled O38 
Sky Tank 26 
Small Nightingale 59 
Snake-bird ae 65 
Snipe, Common 75 
——, Jack 93 
Song Thrush 15 
Sparrow Hawk 10 
, Hedge 18 
——, House 30 


PAGE 
Sparrow, Tieed. se. 27, og 
——, Water Sats 59 
Spotted Flycatcher ... 53 


Woodpecker, Great 86 
4 luesser - ... 87 


Stannel Hawk ee 
Starling ke ee 
Stock Dove eee ras Ae 
Stone-chat Oe eee | 
Curlew Bere 
Storm Cock oe ties ok” 
Storm Petrel Pi ees 
Swallow ee eres | 7 
——, Chimney Seo ae 
——, Common eet ERS 
Swift SE oes he 
Tawny Owl Jae RS 
Teal ee ee. Wer snc cee 
Tern, Arctic re. 
——, Black Sg et ee 
——, Common ree Oe 
Thrush, Missel it ee 
, Song Spel As es ae 
Throstle ib Mite Sum 
Tit, Blue Ee Pry 
, Bottle Sica ae 
——, Cole EE Ok Someta 
—, Greater ... ... 21 
——, Lark Perce we 25 
—— , Long-tailed — i= oe 
pare ee. BS 
Titmouse, Long-tailed 25 
Tom, Bottle Seer ee > 
Tomtit ee SadP ee 
—-, Blue Ce Pe ee 
Tree Creeper = ea Gh 
—— Climber ae wee: |! 
—— Pipit Seo Ay ots Mi 05 
Turtle Dove hi oan Bi | 


115 


— eee — eee ON “es ODT 


Wagtail, Grey 
, Pied cae 
——., Ray’s 
——, Yellow ee 
» Water Haye 
Warbler, Garden 

, Grasshopper 
——, Reed ee 
——., Sedge 
—., Willow 
, Wood Bae 
Water Hen ae 
Rail : 
—— Sparrow 
Wagtail 
Wheatear 
Whinchat 
White Owl 
White-tailed Hagle 
White-throat 
——, Lesser 
Wigeon 
Wild Duck 
Willow Warbler 
Wren 
Wind Hover 
Wood Lark 
Pigeon 
Warbler 
Woodcock 
, Sea 
Woodpecker, Gt. Spotted 
, Green 


, Lesser Spotted 


Wee 
, Common 
— Galion Crested 
, Jenny 

——, Willow 

——,, Yellow 


116 


PAGE 
Wryneck sede h VO Yellow Hammer 
—— Wagtail 
Yellow Ammer ... 28 | —— Wren 


‘Bunting Nee 28 


PAGE 


64 
62 


PAGE. 


117 


ERRATA. 


Song Thrush, egg observed March 13th, 1868, (not March 16th). 
Blackbird, egg observed March 22nd, 1868, (not April 18th). 
young birds, April 6th, 1869. 
Meadow Pipit, egg observed April 29th, 1866, (not May 29th). 
Skylark, egg observed April 30th, 1868, (not April 10th). 
Greenfinch, egg observed April 26th, 1866, (not May 26th) 
Goldfinch, egg observed, May 29th, 1866, (not April 26th). 
Linnet, egg observed April 26th, 1865, (not April 25th). 
Jackdaw, egg observed April 21st, 1869, (not April 22nd). 
For Columba zenas read Columba cenas, 
Peewit, egg observed April 12th, 1869, (not April 14th). 
Moorhen, egg observed April 13th, 1865, (not April 15th). 
Last line but one, for it read they. 
Little Grebe, egg observed April 26th, 1866, (hard set). 
Ring Ouzel, first seen April 16th, 1865, (not April 10th). 
Redstart, egg observed April 28th, 1865, (not first seen). 
Line 7, for are read is. 
Whinchat, egg observed May 27th, 1865, (not May 22nd). 
young birds, May 16th, 1866. 
seen April 24th, 1869, (not egg observed). 
Wheatear, egg observed May 9th, 1869, (not May 19th). 
Garden Warbler, egg observed May 26th, 1865, (not May 25th). 
Swallow, egg observed May 5th, 1868, (not 1867). 
Line 22, add Nov. 11th. 
Sand Martin, egg observed May 27th, 1869, (not June 15th). 
Turtle Dove, add ‘‘ egg observed May 30th, 1865.” 
May 17th, 1867, (not May 13th). 
Land rail, egg observed May 26th, 1865, (not April 25th). 
Redwing, first seen, October 22nd, 1866, (not October 31st). 
Line 11, for Gallinula read gallinago. 
Line 2, for Halizetos, read Haliaétos. 


MARLBOROUGH : 
CHARLES PERKINS, PRINTER, 


TIMES OFFICE. 


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THE BIRDS OF MARLBOROUGH,* 

“* The Birds of Marlborough: being a Contribution to the Ornithology of the District. 
By Everard Im Thurn. London: Simpkin, Marshall, and Co. 

‘HE good example which was set by Harrow, and imitated more 
ambitiously by Eton, has now been followed by Marlborough, and it is 
extremely gratifying to notice the beneficial result which is accruing 
from the establishment of natural-history clubs at our public schools. 
When we consider the obvious advantages which attend the echeme, we 
cannot but anticipate its more general adoption. 

A society once formed by the enrolment of those in the school who 
may be willing to join, and an able president and secretary elected, the 
modus operandi is simple enough. Certain days are fixed for “ field 
days,” and certain evenings for ‘meetings.’ On a field day the pre- 
sident directs the excursionists according to the particular “ology ”’ or 
branch of science which each may have selected ; assisting discrimination 
between what is useful and useless, naming the plant, bird, or insect 
pointed out to him, or suggesting the preservation of particular speci- 
mens for examination and determination at home; in fine, teaching by 
the wayside instead of in the study. Each member of the society 
then makes a list of such species as he may have met with during the 
excursion, adding what notes may occur to him with reference to the 
rarity or otherwise of any particular species, its local distribution, diver- 
sity of habit, or peculiarity of growth or colour. These lists are then 
handed to the secretary, who arranges them methodically, and reads 
them in the shape of a report at the ensuing evening meeting. The 
president then invites a discussion, and directs attention to such 
works as bear upon the subject discussed, suggesting a reference to them 
in leisure time, or, if not in the school library, proposing their purchase. 
From the materials thus furnished to the secretary, a quarterly report 
may be printed for circulation in the school, the selection of matter 
being referred to the president, or, better still if practicable, to a com- 
mittee of publication. 

In this way much interesting information may be preserved in the 
annals of a school, and a foundation possibly laid for the publication 
at some future time of a valuable fauna or flora. 

Pata nod deal will depend upon tha svstem adant-a in nnhlishing 


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