A HISTORY OF HEREFORDSHIRE One was killed at Much Marde, and stuffed by Mr. William Elmes (Blake). 80. Rook. Corvus frugilegus, Linn. Locally, Crow. A common resident, and generally distributed throughout the county. It has within the last few years somewhat departed from its seed-eating habits, numerous birds having taken to killing young phea- sants. It is certainly more subject to albinism than the carrion crow. 8 1 . Sky-lark. Alauda orvens'ts, Linn. Locally, Lark, Field Lark, Laverock. A common resident in the county. Mr. Blake had an albino specimen in his collection. 82. Wood-Lark. Alauda arborea,hys. Resident, but local. 83. Swift. Cypseltts apus (JLAnn.). Locally, Deviling, Black Martin, Screech, Screech Martin, Shriek-owl, Screamer, Squeaker, Skeer or Skir Devil, Cran. A common summer migrant arriving in April and leaving in August. Albinism among these birds is very rare, but some years since I noticed a piebald one for two or three years in succession. 84. Nightjar. Caprimulgus europaeus, Linn. Locally, Night Hawk, Goatsucker, Dor Hawk, Fern Owl, Night Crow, Jar Owl, Churn Owl, Wheel Bird, Eve Churr, Night Churr, Puckeridge. A common summer migrant, arriving about the middle of May and leaving in September. This bird is also called the 'goat-sucker,' from the absurd idea that it sucks goats, and ' fern owl,' from its flying and feeding at night on our fern-clad hills ; but it is well known to ornithologists that it feeds exclusively on night insects, such as moths, beetles, cockchafers, &c. An adult dissected by Mr. Blake some few years ago had its crop filled with white and buff ermine moths. It may not be generally known that this bird drinks when on the wing, gliding along the surface of any still pool. 8 5 . Wryneck. lynx torquilla, Linn. Locally, Cuckoo's Mate or Leader, Emmet Hunter, Snake-bird, Long Tongue. A summer migrant, arriving in March and leaving in September. It occurs in the Ross district, and locally throughout the county, but is such a shy bird that were it not for its shrill call it would often be overlooked altogether. A pair once nested in a hole in a dead ash tree in my garden at Talybont. The hen-bird, on coming out of the nesting hole, usually sat on a branch twisting her neck about, and after some time would perch on a bough, very often length- ways, and in such a position was most difficult to see ; the cock, when not in the hole, would fly about near the tree, repeating at short intervals his curious shrill cry of ' Quee, quee,' but the hen seemed to be always silent. 86. Green Woodpecker. Gecinus viridis (Linn.). Locally, Wood Spite, Rainfowl, Rainbird, Hew- hole, Yaffle, Whetile, Woodwall, Witwall, Popinjay, Awl-bird, Eaqual, Pick-a-tree, Yappingale. Common and resident in the county. The month of February, 1895, was a most deadly one for the green woodpecker, when numbers dropped from com- plete starvation on every side, or were shot by the beekeepers and others in the district of Hereford. 87. Great Spotted Woodpecker. Dendrocopui major (Linn.). Locally, Pied Woodpecker, French Pie, Woodpie, Whitwall, Great Black and White Wood- pecker, Woodnacker. Resident and fairly distributed throughout the county. It has been observed on Howie Hill, and often occurs in the neighbourhood of Ross. 88. Lesser Spotted Woodpecker. Dendrocopus minor (Linn.) Locally, Barred Woodpecker, Hickwall, Little Black and White Woodpecker, Crank-bird. Also resident and fairly distributed throughout the county. Mr. Blake considers this bird more common in the county than the preceding species, especially in the Ross district. [Great Black Woodpecker. Picus martins, Linn. Bull has recorded two specimens at Frogmore, Ross, one at Ruckhall Wood, Eaton Bishop, 1874, and one at Belmont in 1879, but it is not admitted by Mr. Howard Saunders to be a British species.] 89. Kingfisher. Akedo ispida, Linn. Resident, and occurring throughout the county. Dr. Williams mentions having found a kingfisher's nest under unusual conditions : the bank selected had been worn away by the river until it had come close to the footpath, and underneath this the nest had been placed ; the eggs, which were hatching out, lay in the bare soil of the hole. This was the only example of the kind he had ever met with, as in his experience the kingfisher always makes a lining of bones before commencing to lay. [Roller. Coracias garrulus, Linn. The only evidence of this beautifully plumaged bird having occurred in the county is from a specimen in the Hereford Museum labelled 'Goodrich, 1857.' I have no doubt but it was obtained in the county, but there are unfortunately no particulars of its capture.] 90. Bee-Eater. Merops apiaster, Linn. Another beautiful bird that occasionally visits us. Miss S. Hutchinson reported that in 1875 a pair frequented the garden at Grantsfield, Kimbolton, for about six weeks ; but unfortunately no further record was kept. Mr. H. A. Forrest, in his Fauna of Shrop- shire, states that a pair of bee-eaters are said by Decie to have been observed near Tenbury throughout one summer; no year is stated, but it was about 1875, and probably this was the same pair as that seen at Grantsfield. 91. Hoopoe. Upupa epops, lAnn. This very conspicuously coloured bird arrives in the spring. It has occurred several times in the county. One was seen at Callow in 1847, one at Baker's in the flesh in 1856, one was shot at BuUinghope in 1879, another at Aylstone Hill, Hereford, and in September, 1892, one was taken close to the city. The last-named was killed in a meadow at Warham, and was preserved for Mr. Powell of that place. 136
