362 BIRDS or THE EEISTOL DISTKICT. 



The absence, too, of extensive and unfrequented Marsh lands, the 

 natural habitat of the Scolopacidge and Anatidse permits us to 

 number but a few of these interesting families, most of the species 

 of which are uncommon. 



Thirty years since our British birds numbered about 320 species. 

 About 73 have since been discovered, making up to the present 

 time 393 species. Of these the Bristol district includes about 108 

 residents, 37 summer, and 27 winter visitors, including a few rare 

 stragglers, numbering altogether 167 species. 



The Falconidcd form but a very small group. The '' Honey 

 Buzzard " has been twice killed at Leigh ; specimens also of the 

 *' Common Buzzard " have been shot, and the " Kite " once. The 

 " Hobby" and *' Merlin " are the only others of sufficient rarity to 

 need notice ; it is many years, however, since either have been 

 observed. 



The Strigidce are represented by the two ordinary species, the 

 Brown and Barn Owl. The short and long-eared species are both 

 rare. 



!N"one of the Laniadce have been noticed, excepting our ordinary 

 summer visitor, the Eed-backed Shrike. 



Amongst the small group of the Mtiscicapidce only the Pied Fly- 

 catcher need be mentioned as being of great rarity, having occurred 

 once only. 



The ordinary species of the Merulidcd are well-known resident or 

 winter visitors. The Eing Ousel is a scarce summer visitant. 



Amongst the SyhiadcB no species have been observed requiring 

 any special remark. The Reed, Sedge, and Grasshopper "Warblers 

 are all uncommon. ^Nightingales have been these last two or three 

 years much more numerous. The Bearded and Crested Titmice are 

 both absent from the Parid(S» All the others are tolerably common, 

 P. Major and Cceruleus especially so. The one representative of the 

 AmpelidcB, the Waxwing, has occurred at rare intervals. 



The common species of the Motacillidcey Anthtdce, and Alaudidoe 

 are all pretty generally distributed, the *' Rock pipit " being the 

 only really local bird. The i^re visitor. A, alpestris, the Shoie 



