BIRDS numbers, whilst in some years it is not to be seen at all. In 1866 there was a considerable visitation, and in 1887-8 they were in great flocks all over the country, some of them staying until quite late in 1888. 66. Corn Bunting. Emberiza mi/iaria, Linn. Locally, Common Bunting, Bunting, Ebb, Bunt- ing Lark. A rare resident ; has nested in the Lugg meadows, Hereford, and at Mortimer's Cross. 67. Yellow Hammer. Ember'tTM citrinella, Linn. Locally, Yellow Yowley, Goldspink, Yellow Yeld- ring, Yellow Yoldring or YeOrling, Yeld- rock. Yellow Yite, Yoit, Yellow ammer. Common, and resident throughout the county. 68. Cirl Bunting. Emberiza cirlus, Linn. Locally, French Yellow Hammer, Black-throated Yellow Hammer. Resident, occurring in various localities in the county, notably at Callow Pitch, Birch, Kings Caple, The Chase Ross, Kingsland, Kimbolton, and at Bullingham, where the Hereford Museum specimen was shot. No doubt this species has always bred here, but being mistaken for the yellow bunting, which it somewhat resembles at a distance, has passed un- noticed. 69. Reed Bunting. Emberiza schoeniculus, Linn. Locally, Reed Sparrow, Black-headed Bunting, Water Sparrow, Mountain Sparrow, Black- bonnet. Resident, and generally distributed. Quite a com- mon Wyeside bird, and a denizen of our brooks (Blake). 70. Snow Bunting. Plectrophenax nivalis (Linn.). Locally, Tawny Bunting, Mountain Bunting, Snowflake, or Fleck. A rare winter visitant. A specimen was seen in the flesh at Baker's in 1854 ; one is recorded as having been shot at Pool Cottage, Hereford, in 1856, and is now in the Hereford Museum, and another was killed in February of same year on the Malvern Hills. It also occurred in Hereford in 1 881, and one has been shot at Moccas. Dr. Williams says it has been seen occasionally in the neighbourhood of Kingsland. 71. Starling. Sturnus vulgaris, lAnn. Locally, Common Starling, Stare, Sheep Stare, Solitary Thrush, Brown Starling. A common resident. Dr. Williams says that he has found starlings' eggs with those of the stockdove, and also robins' and jackdaws' eggs with those of the starling. A specimen was killed by Mr. Walter Dew, at Netherton, of a light fawn colour. 72. Rose-coloured Starling, or Pastor. Pastor roseus (Linn.). Locally, Rose-coloured Ouzel. There is only one record of this rare and beautiful visitor in Herefordshire, and that is the specimen in the Hereford Museum labelled Garway, 1858, and undoubtedly obtained there. 73- Nutcracker. Nucifraga caryocatactes (Linn.). A specimen of this very rare visitor was killed on 19 November, igoo, at Credenhill ; another was with it, but escaped. The bird was brought to Mr. S. King, of Hereford, as a rare kind of woodpecker, and he also thought such was the case. It ultimately found a place in the Cardiff Museum (J. B. Pilley). 74. Jay. Garrulus glandarius (Linn.). Locally, Jay Pie, Jay Piet. As may be expected, this wood-loving bird is a common resident in the county. Dr. Williams records that some years ago he found a jay's nest near Kingsland in a very curious situation. In a small standard oak there was an old squirrel's drey, and a foot above this was the nest of a ringdove. The jay's nest was placed between the two, being built upon the squirrel's drey, so that the ringdove's nest formed its roof. 75. Magpie. Pica rustica (Scopoli). Locally, Pyet, Pianet, Madge, Mag. A common resident. 76. Jackdaw. Corvus monedula, Linn. Locally, Daw, Kae, Jack. Common everywhere in the county. 77. Raven. Corvus corax, Linn. Locally, Corbie, Corbie Crow, Great Corbie Crow. A rare resident, only to be found in a few of the wildest districts of the county. A pair nested in the old Scots firs at Kentchurch till about the year 1880, when the keepers shot them. This species formerly nested at Symond's Yat, on the borders of the county. Two were observed overhead at Kentchurch in August, 1889, which possibly had been bred there, and so were homing. 78. Carrion Crow. Corvus corone, Linn. Locally, Crow, Corbie Crow, Flesh Crow, Gor Crow, Midden Crow, Black Crow, Black- neb, Hoodie. A common resident. Mr. de Winton, adverting to the scarcity of grouse on the highest part of the Black Mountains in the county, says that he only saw one barren pair, and adds that the absence of any brood was not surprising, considering the presence of great numbers of carrion crows and four lesser black- backed gulls. Dr. Williams of Kingsland mentions that in 1890, whilst walking near the River Lugg, he heard a carrion crow making a great outcry in an adjoining field. On approaching the spot he found the bird making frantic darts at some object near its nest, which was placed in an elm at least 60 ft. from the ground, and which contained young. Presently he saw a large stoat, pursued by the old bird, run down the trunk. The crow came out victorious in the encounter. 79. Hooded Crow. Corvus cornix, Linn. Locally, Royston Crow, Dun Crow, Norway Crow, Kentish Crow, Grey Crow, Grey- backed Crow, Scarecrow, Hoodie. A rare winter visitant arriving in October. One is recorded from Llanwarne, and one was shot at Perrystone in i860, and another at Letton in 1879. The specimen in the Hereford Museum was killed at Kentchurch in 1889. It has also been observed occasionally at Aymestrey, and one was trapped at Upper Dinmore in 1 891. Mr. Pilley says that several have been killed in the county since 1899. '35
