A HISTORY OF RUTLAND 80. Nightjar. Caprlmulgui europaeus, Linn. Locally, Fcrn-Owl. Appears to have increased to some extent during the last fifty years, but it is rather local. A summer migrant, arriving somewhat late, it breeds sparingly over the district, being most common at Burley and Ketton. 81. Wryneck, lynx torquillu, Linn. Locally, Snake Bird, Cuckoo's Mate. I believe this bird comes a good deal before the cuckoo, but is not heard. It was heard 15 March 1902, and seen 24 February 1903 at L'ppingham, and heard then 6 March. It is sparingly distributed over the county. Nests have been recorded from Seaton, Rid- lington, Bisbrooke, Braunston, Oakham, and AUexton. 82. Green Woodpecker. Gecinus viridis (Linn.). Locally, Yaffle. Resident and wonderfully common, and has evidently increased in the last fifty years. Old ash trees and numerous ant-hills afi'ord it most suitable board and lodging. If this species is subject to melanism, then the late Mr. Cooper of Ayston, must have seen a melanic variety, for about 1880 he saw a black wood-pecker in Wardley Wood. He was quite familiar with Dendrocopus major^ and had shot it in this very wood, so there is no question of confusion with that species. Of course no one who values a reputation for sanity among ornithological experts would dare to breathe a possibility that this might have been Picin tnartlus. 83. Great Spotted Woodpecker. Dendrocopus major (Linn.). Resident, but somewhat sparingly dis- tributed. Commonest at Burley and Exton, where the nest can always be found. Nests have also been reported from Ketton, Ward- ley, and Caldecott. It has once been seen in Uppingham. 84. Lesser Spotted Woodpecker. Dendrocopus minor (Linn.) Resident and fairly common in certain localities, e.g. Exton, Burley, and Normanton. But it is scarce near Uppingham, where I have only seen one specimen. No doubt it is more plentiful than it appears to be, owing to its shy and elusive habits. 85. Kingfisher. Alcedo ispida, Linn. Resident, but not much in evidence between November and February. It is found sparingly on all the Rutland rivers and streams, and also at Clipsham, Braunston, Burley, and Exton. Two or three nests may be found yearly on the Eye. 86. Bee-Eater. Merops ap'taster, Linn. One instance. On 24 March 1876 the late Mr. A. C. Elliot, of Stamford, wrote to the late Lord Lilford saying that a pair of bee-eaters built a nest on the bank of a pond close to Kelthorpe, a hamlet of Ketton, in the summer of 1868. The nest was com- posed of bones, wing (of beetles ?), &c. One of the old birds was shot and stuffed by Elliot for Mr. Andrews of Ketton. ' The young being able to fly got away with the mother bird.' This is conclusive for the bird if not for its nest, and I can see no impossibility in the latter, though it is the only record for England, 87. Hoopoe. Upupa epops, Linn. Five hoopoes have been observed in Rut- land, four of these being shot. One at Tick- tncote in 1838, the second at Burlej' in 1880, the third at Cottesmore 29 May 1888, the fourth at Ketton 30 August in the same year. The fifth and last was seen in the vicarage garden at Braunston and allowed to go in peace. 88. Cuckoo. Cuculus canorus, Linn. Abundant everywhere. The average date of arrival (60 observations) between 1736 and 1800 was 21 April ; during the last few years it has been 13 April. Only thrice has a March cuckoo been reported — 15 March 1776, 22 March 1894, 28 March 1901. On one occasion twelve cuckoos were seen in one field. Nests of the following birds have been appropriated by the cuckoo for its own purposes, as observed in this county: — Hedge- sparrow (8 times), pied wagtail (6 times), sedge-warbler (4 times), robin and yellow hammer (3 times each), flycatcher, green- finch, and meadow pipit (2 each), and linnet willow- warbler (or ?chiffcliaft), common whitethroat, reed-warbler, tree pipit, and thrush, once each. It will be seen that resident birds have the preference. The song of the cuckoo remains true sometimes till July, and nestlings have been found as late as 27 July (1898) and 30 July 1 901 in a linnet's nest. 89. White or Barn-owl. Strix JIcimmea,L,' n. Local/f, White Owl, Yellow Owl, Screech Owl. Still common, as it has always been. A nest at Ayston contained on 10 May 1899 five eggs and three young birds. As many as 66
