Mr. Eyton on the Fauna of Shropshire. 28? 



Strix flammea, Linn. (Barn Owl.) Common. 



Strix (Syrnium, Sav.) stridula, Linn. (Wood Owl.) Common. 



Strix (Syrnium, Sav.) Tengmalmi, Linn. The bird described by- 

 Pennant under the name little owl, does, I believe, belong to this 

 species ; he mentions it as having occurred in Flintshire. 



Lanius Excubitor, Linn. (Great Shrike.) Only once observed 

 near Capel Curig, North Wales, in the month of May. 



Lanius Collurio, Linn. (Red-backed Shrike.) Very common in 

 Wales, particularly near Capel Curig and Barmouth ; at the latter 

 place they feed chiefly on insects belonging to the genus Geotrupes, 

 which particularly abound. At Capel Curig grasshoppers appear to 

 constitute their chief food : some dozens of them may be seen on 

 the side of the hill above the lakes, which is thinly covered with 

 scattered hawthorn bushes, and abounds with their prey. This spe- 

 cies, when taken young, is very easily tamed, and makes a mis- 

 chievous but amusing pet. 



Muscicapa grisola, Ray. (Spotted Fly- catcher.) Common. 



Muscicapa atricapilla, Gmel. (Pied Fly-catcher.) The Rev. John 

 Rocke, of Clungurford, possesses a specimen of this bird killed near 

 Downton. 



Bomby cilia Bohemica, Briss. (Bohemian Chatterer.) Four spe- 

 cimens were killed a few years ago by the last-mentioned gentleman, 

 and are now in his possession, beautifully preserved by Mr. Shaw of 

 Shrewsbury. Other specimens have also occurred in the neighbour- 

 hood of Oswestry. 



Turdus Merula, Linn. (Blackbird.) Common. The white va- 

 riety has also occurred. 



Turdus torquatus, Linn. (Ring-Ousel.) Not uncommon in Wales. 

 I have several times observed them on the Borroyn chain, near Cor- 

 wen, but never in the valleys or on the tops of the hills ; but at a 

 certain elevation, until driven out, they keep themselves closely hid 

 in the fern and heath-bushes. An observation of this kind with re- 

 gard to elevation was made on a species of thrush inhabiting Java 

 (T. varius) by Dr. Horsfield. 



Turdus viscivorus, Linn. (Missel Thrush.) Common. This bird 

 among the lower classes in Shropshire is known by the name of the 

 storm cock, from its being said to utter its peculiar chattering note 

 before rain. 



Turdus pilaris, Linn. (Fieldfare.) Common. Mr. Selby, in his 

 British Ornithology, states that these birds do not arrive until No- 

 vember in this country. I have observed a flight of them in Shrop- 



