172 Broughton Woods. 
this short list shows clearly what a prodigality of floral life these 
ancient commons and woods must once have possessed. 
The vertebrata have been cruelly thinned by time and man, 
and are not what they once were. The Fox, Badger, Otter, and 
Martencat, have been purposely destroyed by the persistent 
efforts of keepers for over a hundred years. ‘Though stray 
wanderers still arrive at long intervals to meet with the same fate. 
The smaller mammals flourish ; and dispite the constant warfare 
against the mustelines, the Polecat, Stoat and Weasel still flock 
to these rich game-covered soils. 
The bird life of these woods and commons is one of their 
greatest attractions still. ‘To.do it justice, more than one paper 
as long as this must be allowed to extend would be required for 
the purpose. ‘There has been a heronry here beyond human 
memory, a gullery of “ Blackheads " at Twigmoor, and a well- 
frequented duck pond at Manton. Broughton Decoy has long 
been nothing but a name, but wild fowl there are still in plenty. 
It would be folly to begin writing a full list of all the rare species 
that have appeared as passing visitors or that have bred here. 
The Wryneck is still found, and the Hoopoe has been recorded. 
Of the Marsh Harrier I have no recent record, but the Hen Harrier 
has bred. Montagu’s Harrier or ‘“‘ Egg Hawk” has now ceased to 
visit us. “The Common Buzzard, Rough Legged Buzzard, Golden 
Eagle, White-tailed Kagle, Goshawk, Kite, and Greenland 
Falcon have all been seen more or less frequently within the 
memory of people I have talked with. ‘The Peregrine in pairs 
has been twice with us during the last fifteen years, though I was 
not luckly enough to see it. It attempted on both occasions to 
nest in the woods, I was told, with the usual result. I saw the 
ducks, pigeons, and lapwings they had feasted on. My son 
Dennis, was luckly enough to view the female bird as she stooped 
magnificently at a large leveret, which, just in time, reached the 
cover of a big hedge. The last Osprey I have heard of was shot 
in 1900. The Sheldduck, Mallard, Godwall, Shoveller, Pintail, 
Teal, Gargancy, Wigeon and Pochard, breed or rest on passage 
in the ponds still. The Fern Owl, Woodcock and Snipe nest 
annually; the Pied Flycatcher and Golden Oriole occasionally ; 
