BIRDS 1. Mistle-Thrush. TurJus viscivorus, Linn. Locally, Missel-thrush, Mistletoe-thrush, Missel- bird, Storm-cocic, Screech-thrush, Holm- thrush, Holm-screech. A common resident in the county. In the breed- ing season this bird is very pugnacious, fearlessly attacking any other bird. 2. Song Thrush. Turdus musicus, Linn. Locally, Common Thrush, Throstle, Mavis. Also a common resident. A curiously bufF-coloured male vifas caught at Kingsland in 1893. 3. Redwing. Turdus iliacus, Linn. A winter migrant occurring regularly in the county from September to March, a few staying as late as the beginning of April. This bird has a very musical song. I once heard several singing on a thorn tree late in March. 4.. Fieldfare. Turdus pilaris, Linn. Locally, Blueback, Bluerump, Bluetail, Felfit, Feltyfare, Jackbird, Velde bird, Beldibird. A winter migrant usually appearing about the middle of October and leaving in April. In hard weather large flocks of these birds, as well as redwings, abound. 5. Blackbird. Turdus merula, Linn. Locally, Merle, Ouzel, Black-ouzel, Amzel. A common resident. It is very liable to albinism, and every year one hears of white, and partially white, birds. A great many leave in October. 6. Ring Ouzel. Turdus torquatus, Linn. Locally, Ring-thrush, Moor Blackbird, Mountain Blackbird, Tor-ouzel, Rock-ouzel, Ring- blackbird. A summer migrant, coming in April and leaving in September, and is fairly plentiful on all the hills.' 7. Wheatear. Saxicola oenanthe (Linn.). Locally, Fallow Chat, White-rump, White-tail, Fallow-Smick, Fallow-Finch, Chacker, Chackbird, Clodhopper. A summer migrant, arriving in March and leaving in October. It occurs in numbers on the Black Mountains (de Winton), and on the Malvern Hills in and adjoining the county. 8. Winchat. Prathcola rubetra (Linn.). Locally, Grass-Chat, Furze-Chat, Utick, Haytick. A summer migrant, arriving in April and leaving early in October. Generally distributed throughout the county. 9. Stonechat. Pratincola rubicola (Linn.). Locally, Stonechatter, Stoneclink, Stonesmick, Stonechack, Stonesmith, Moortitling, Chick- stone, Blackcap. A resident in the county during the whole year, but scarce. Quite rare in the Ross district. One was shot at Backney Common some years ago. " The statement in the Fiild that in some of the dingles of the Black Mountain it resides all the year round is probably a mistake. I have never observed it in the winter. 10. Redstart. Ruticilla phoenicurus (Linn.). Locally, Firetail, Fireflirt, Brantail, Firebrandtail, Redtail, Kitty-brantail. A summer migrant and common throughout the county. As a rule it arrives about the middle of April and leaves again in September, but the time of arrival varies a good deal. Dr. Williams of Kingsland, in a paper on ' Curious Experiences in Bird Nesting,' mentions that he has found the eggs of the great tit in the nest of the redstart. 11. Black Redstart. Ruticilla tiiys (Sco-poVi). Locally, Tithys Redstart, Black Redtail. A rare winter migrant, but more common than formerly. Dr. John Wood, a member of the Wool- hope Club, reported that in January, 1895, one entered Canon Frome Court ; it was either a young male or a female. The bird was captured and placed in a cage for identification, but was found dead the following morning. One was killed at Kinsham in 1878. A freshly killed specimen was also brought to a bird-stufFer in Hereford in the winter of 1879. No doubt this species sometimes occurs in the county and escapes observation. 12. Redbreast. Erithacus rubecula (Linn.). Locally, Robin, Robin Redbreast, Ruddock, Robinet, Bob-Robin. A common resident. This bird occasionally lays light blue eggs. 13. Nightingale. Daulias hscinia (Linn.). A summer migrant, arriving in April ; the old birds leaving in September and the young in August. (Saunders.) It occurs generally in the county, and has been reported from Dinmore, Fownhope, where it is fairly common, and at Dinedor, Ewyas Harold, Sellack, Ashperton, How Caple, Wormbridge, Haugh- wood, Kentchurch, Kimbolton, Ledbury, and on the Dowards, Knightwick. In the Field of 26 May, 1906, it was remarked by the Rev. O. Philpott of Little Marcle, Ledbury, that there was a great increase in the number of nightingales in the spring of that year in the east of the county. 14. Whitethroat. Sylvia cinerea (Bechstein). Locally, Haybird, Nettle Creeper, Haychat, Titty Whitethroat. A common summer migrant, arriving in April and leaving in September. 15. Lesser Whitethroat. Sylvia curruca (Linn.). A summer migrant, arriving about the same time as the last-named or a little later, and leaving in the latter end of September. Bull says this bird is ' generally ' distributed, but I should say ' occasionally' only. It has been observed at Aylstone Hill, Here- ford. (Hutchinson.) 16. Blackcap. Sylvia atricapilla (Linn.). A summer migrant, arriving about the middle of April and departing in September, although occa- sionally a few are believed to remain during the winter. It is generally distributed throughout the county. 1 7. Garden Warbler. Sylvia hortens'n (Bechstein). Locally, Pettychaps, Greater Pettychaps. A summer migrant, arriving about the end of April or beginning of May, and leaving about the 131
