1903 Rutland Birds 43 



Wood-Wren, which is only found round Exton ; and the 

 Woodlark. The last-named, considered by some, among 

 them the late Lord Lilford, as the queen of our songsters, 

 is extremely rare and local. There seems to be nothing to 

 account for its scarcity, which is to be deplored but cannot 

 be remedied. It does not seem to undergo any particular 

 persecution, nor is its nest, though one of the very earliest 

 in the year, particularly liable to destruction. 



Against the above cases of stationary or decreasing species 

 can be set many that have certainly become far more 

 numerous of late years. 



The Turtle -Dove, for instance, has much extended its 

 range. It scarcely appeared in this part of England till 

 the middle of last century, and the first nest on record was 

 not found till 1859. 



The Missel-Thrush a hundred years ago was compara- 

 tively rare in this as in many parts of England. T. Barker, 

 Esq., of Lyndon, in his phenological observations from 

 x 735 to 1800 does not mention it at all. 



The most recent addition to our migratory breeding 

 birds has been the Redshank, which has lately selected a 

 nesting site in the county. 



A very handsome species that has quite lately become a 

 common nesting species in this as in other parts of England 

 is the Great Crested Grebe. It has no doubt taken ad- 

 vantage of the protection afforded it by the owners of the 

 larger pieces of water. Most landowners seem ready enough 

 to extend their segis over any bird that is not credited with 

 designs on their precious partridges and pheasants. But I 

 believe one of the causes of the increase of the Great Crested 

 Grebe, as of the Ducks, to be the multiplication of large 

 reservoirs. These also attract such birds as the Greenshank, 

 the Dunlin, the Sanderling, and others, which we may ex- 

 pect to see somewhat oftener now than heretofore. 



Another bird that has increased very considerably is the 

 Hawfinch. Before 1850 it was very rare, and a nest was 

 not found till after i860. Now a nest may be looked for 

 in any orchard in the county. It is not, however, a very 

 desirable acquisition, as it is destructive in orchards and 

 gardens, and, moreover, is very wary and skulking in its 



