BIRDS hood of Crasswall, two black cocks being shot on Cusop Hill on 10 September, 1900. It has also been shot at Stoke Edith, Hampton Court, and Shobdon. On 22 November, 1894, the Rev. G. H. Davenport fonvarded to Ashdown a grey hen taken at Foxley. If the grey hens were spared for a few years this beautiful game bird would undoubtedly increase. 14.8. Red Grouse. Lagppus scoticus (Latham). Locally, Red Game, Moor Game, Muir Fowl, Moor Bird. Occurs sparingly on the Black Mountains and other high ground. It has been killed at Peterchurch and also observed at Wapley Camp on the Radnor- shire border. Mr. W. de Winton mentions having seen a barren pair of red grouse on the Black Moun- tains in 1897. 149. Pheasant. Phas'tanus cokhkus and P. iorquatus, Linn. The late Mr. Home of Hereford, who was an excellent authority on pheasants, procured some fine specimens of P. cokhkus from the banks of the Pliasis, now called Rion. I have seen a magnificent dark- coloured cock at his house at Hereford, and as he sold eggs and birds he has no doubt been the means of re- introducing this splendid bird to the county. The principal pheasant, however, in Herefordshire is the Chinese ring-neck, P. torquatus, which has been the common pheasant of this country for the past seventy or eighty years. A fine example of a hybrid between P. cokhkus and Reeve's pheasant was shot in the grounds of Mr. Smith of Garnstone, Weobley, on 25 January, 1894. Dr. Williams of Kingsland mentions that in 1886 a keeper pointed out to him what he thought was a jay's nest, but on examination it was found to contain five warm pheasant's eggs. A great many crosses in various stages, of cokhkus, and torquatus, occur in the county. 150. Common Partridge. Perdix cinerea, Litham. Locally, Grey Partridge. A common resident, and I hope long will remain so. Specimens with white instead of chocolate- coloured horseshoes on the breast seem to be on the increase during the past few years. 151. Red-legged Partridge. Caccabis rufa (Linn). Locally, French Partridge, Guernsey Partridge. The late Dr. Bull wrote : ' This is an introduced species, and is now a resident,' but I doubt the correctness of his statement. This species I believe has of late years been gradually spreading westward, and is now to be found in parts of Wiltshire, notably near Swindon, where years ago such a bird was unknown. In this manner it is probable that it has gradually spread across Gloucestershire into Hereford- shire. In 1884 Mr. Southall said that this bird was on the increase in Gloucestershire, and that its occur- rence in this county of late had then been more frequent. A few have been shot in the county, generally near the Gloucestershire border (Hutchin- son). A brace were shot at Munderfield, Bromyard, in October, 1897, and the Hereford Museum specimens came from Eaton Bishop and Fawley. 152- Quail. Cotumix communis, Bonmterre. A summer migrant, very occasionally staying with us all the year. A few are shot in the county most years. In September, 1892, two examples were killed at Tram Inn. Major Money Kyrle informs me that he once shot a brace of quails on Marcle Hill in Sep- tember, and a live quail was caught in Commercial Road, Hereford, on the night of 14 October, 1892. Mr. Pilley says they were very numerous in the spring of 1893, and Ashdown records that several specimens were sent to him during October and November of that year. On the Pengethley estate in the vicinity of Ross there is a field called ' The Quail Field ' in the ancient terrier of the property. 153. Landrail or Corn-crake. Crex fratetisis, Bech- stein. Locally, Meadow Crake, Daker Hen. A summer migrant, and common from April to October. For some reason or other it has not been so plentiful the last few years, and in 1906 and 1907 it was decidedly scarce. 154. Spotted Crake. Porzana maruetta (Leach). This summer migrant occurs in this country from April to October, a few remaining until December. It frequents bogs where it breeds, but is decidedly rare in Herefordshire. It is mostly to be met with in the Lugg district ; two were shot on the Wye near Hereford in October, 1875. On 15 November, 1905, one was killed at Trerible Farm, Llangarren, by Mr. Harry Rudge, and is now in the possession of Mr. William Blake of Ross, who adds that no record has been noted of the occurrence of this species in the county for about thirty years. 155. Water-Rail. Ral/us aquaticus, L'mn. Locally, Billcock, Skiddy-cock, Runner, Brook- runner, Velvet runner. A fairly common resident, but from its shy and skulking habits not often seen, and therefore un- recorded. One was observed by the Rev. Charles Harrington, vicar of Aymestrey, which was flushed by a shooting party on the Yatton estate on i Decem- ber, 1 904. No doubt many others have occurred in the county of which no note has been made. It has occasionally the habit of feigning death when caught. Mr. Blake has in his collection three specimens obtained near Ross, one being picked up on a lawn in the town. 156. Moor-Hen. GalRnula chloropus (Linn). Locally, Water Hen, Gallinule, Moat-hen, Marsh-hen. Resident and abundant in the county. Dr. Williams of Kingsland remarks that this bird often selects odd nesting places. Some years ago he found a nest in a hawthorn bush near a pool, the nest being placed some I oft. from the ground. In August, 1889, he saw another nest placed in the middle of a large pool ; the water was exceptionally low, being only some 9 in. in depth, and the bird had laid a foundation of sticks at the bottom, and built up the nest so that it stood at least a foot above the water's level. It was a very substantial structure, and quite different from the usual nests built by these birds. 157. Coot. Fu/ka atra, L'mn. Locally, Bald Coot. A resident, and generally distributed throughout the county. It occurs on the ponds at the Mynde, 143
