I04 THE BIRDS OF BERKS AND BUCKS. 



The Rev. F. O. Morris, in his work on British 

 Birds, states that he shot a beautiful female Merlin, 

 many years ago, while walking along the side of a 

 brook in Berkshire. Its plumage was very similar 

 to the stones on which it fell — a novel interpretation 

 of one of its local names, Stone Falcon. 



Family — Strigid^. 



Short-eared Owl {pins brachyotos). This bird, 

 although not numerous in either of the two counties, 

 is still far from uncommon in winter. I have seen 

 them in the woods near Ditton Park ; they are pro- 

 cured occasionally in Windsor Forest, and many other 

 localities. It is locally named the Woodcock Owl. 

 Mr. Ferryman, of Datchet, informed me that many 

 were brought to him in i860 and 1 861, but few since. 

 Specimens have been killed at Chesham, and in the 

 neighbourhood of Drayton Beauchamp. This bird 

 arrives towards the end of October, and may then 

 often be seen in stubbles. It visits England about 

 the same time as the Woodcock, whence its name; 



Mr. R. B. Sharpe states that it is rare in the 

 neighbourhood of Cookham, but Mr. Darby killed 

 a specimen of this Owl, some years since, near 

 Cockmarsh, which was stuffed by Mr. J. Ford, of 

 Cookham. 



