A HISTORY OF HEREFORDSHIRE Burfa Wood, near Knill, through which the county border runs, four nests ; the park at Canon Frome Court, from five to eight nests, and one other nest about 200 yards away ; Letton, two nests ; and on the island in Berrington Park Pool, seven nests. I have known a heron to be found with its crop filled with field-mice, a somewhat curious diet for this bird. In 1894 a very interesting specimen was sent in by Mr. Matthews of Ross, and is now in his possession, which had a black breast with little or no white feathering (Ashdown). Evidently a specimen ap- proaching melanism. 114. Squacco Heron. Ardea ralkides, ?ico^oXi. Locally, Buff-coloured Egret. A very rare visitor. A flock of five was recorded at Old Weir on the 'Wyt in 1873, out of which one was shot; on 3 May, 1867, another was shot by Captain Hotchkis on the Wye near Hay, on the borders of Herefordshire, and was in the collection of the late Mr. Baskerville of Clyro Court, Hay, who kindly favoured me with these particulars. It was stuffed by the late Mr. Shaw of Shrewsbury, who stated that it was the best specimen that ever passed through his hands. 115. Night Heron. Nycticorax griseus (Linn.). Locally, Spotted Heron, Night Raven. There is a specimen of this very rare spring and autumn visitor in the Hereford Museum, labelled ' Backney Marsh,' of which I have no further infor- mation, but it is certainly most probable that it was killed there. Mr. Blake says there is no reason for doubting the authenticity of this bird, as Mr. Moss, who preserved it, was a careful observer. Ashdown wrote that in the early part of 1891 he purchased a night heron, set up in a case, at a sale in Hereford ; the bird, which was sent from Leominster, had been preserved by a local man, and a local paper, dating back some fifteen years, was discovered under the mounting ; he strongly suspected this specimen to be a bird taken in the county. Mr. Blake of Ross, who kept one of these birds alive, said that it usually shed its white crest-feathers in November and grew new ones by February. During the three years he kept it he tried in vain to find these crest-feathers when shed, and he is strongly of opinion that the bird swallowed them. He finally parted with the bird, and sent it to the well-known ornithologist Mr. J. H. Gurney of Norwich, who said it was one of the most interesting birds he ever kept. 116. Little Bittern. Ardetta minuta (hmn.). According to the late Rev. F. O. Morris's British Birds, a specimen of this very rare bittern was shot at Shobdon Court in 1838, and the late Mr. Walcot of Worcester had a male specimen which had been shot in Herefordshire ; but there is one in the Cardiff Museum stated to have been killed at Llangorse Lake, which is about ten miles from the borders of the county. As it is only an occasional summer visitor, it may often escape observation from its shy and skulking habits. 117. Common Bittern. Botaurus stellaris (JAnn.). Locally, Miredrum, Butterbump, Bogbumper, Bittour, Bumpycoss, Bull of the bog, Bog- blutter, Bogjumper. Formerly a not uncommon resident here, but now very rare, if not extinct, and at the best only occurs from time to time as an occasional visitor. The Here- ford Museum specimen was shot at Eastnor Castle in 1854, and was one of a pair which might have bred if unmolested; Other specimens have been shot at Backney Marsh in the same year, Staunton on "Wye in 1 86 1, Staunton Common in 186 1, Fawley in 1879, Sellack in 1880, Dulas in 1887, and one was seen at the Moor Hay in 1885. A good naturalist also showed me the spot, on the side of the Midland Railway not far from the borders of the county, where in a little wet space by the side of the line he saw a bittern standing in the rushes. Mr. Blake was informed by Mr. R. Pashley of Kerme Lodge that he heard the booming of a bittern in the locality, and he made a special journey and spent an hour in the twilight in the hope of hearing the note, but his efforts were not rewarded. 118. Glossy Ibis. Plegadis falcinellus (J2nn.). Locally, Black Curlew. Only of accidental occurrence. About the third week in December, 1902, one was observed wading in a small pool at Winforton, and was shot as it rose ; it is stated that a second bird was observed in the neighbourhood, but of this there is no proof. The nearest points to this in which specimens have been obtained are Carmarthenshire in 1858 and Shropshire in 1854, where two occurred near Sundorne. 119. Grey Lag-Goose. Jnser cinereus, Meyer. This, the common wild goose of Great Britain, may sometimes be seen passing over at a great height in very hard weather. It is singular that there should not be a specimen in the Hereford' Museum. Ash- down mentions that in January, 1890, several wild geese were taken in the county, but were eaten and never identified. I think, however, it may be fairly assumed that some were grey-lags. In 1906, Mr. Blake of Ross, reported that a flock of wild geese passed over the town in the first week in January, one of which was shot, but it was sent away before he could see it. T 20. White-fronted Goose. Anser albifrons (Scopoli). An occasional winter visitor to the county in severe winters. Two were shot near Ballingham in 1880, and one at Weir Cliff on the Wye in 1885. In 1884, Mr. Southall writes, ' Small flocks of geese still favour us with a visit, chiefly Brent and White-fronted species.' In January, 1890, a male was shot by Mr. Bellamy at Hampton Bishop. 121. Bean Goose. Anser segetum (J. F. Gmelin). A rare autumn visitor, returning in the spring. The Hereford Museum specimen was shot at Mordi- ford in 1882. Both this and the preceding species have occurred several times in the adjoining county of Brecon. 122. Pink -footed Goose. Anser brachyrhynchus, Baillon. Like the last-named, a rare visitor, coming and going at the same time. One was killed at Moccas in the winter of 1879-80, and the specimen in the Hereford Museum was shot at Lugg Mills, near Here- ford, in the same winter. 123. Bernacle Goose. Bemicla kucopsis {Bechstein). A rare visitant. Only one is recorded, and that is a female shot at St. Weonard's, but the date is not given. 140
