THE BIRDS OF GLOUCESTERSHIRE. 247 



in search of prey, and the latter by its bold, headlong flight. It is a 

 very oourageous bird, and one of my favourites. I have seen it dash 

 into a flock of Larks, and, without halting, seize one of them and 

 top the next wall before they were scarcely aware of the presence 

 of the much-dreaded intruder ; and plunge through a pane of 

 glass in pursuit of a poor little Tit. It is a brave parent, and does 

 not hesitate to attack anyone who tries to rob its nest. Of the 

 Strigidae, or Owl kind, we have only three species, viz. : — The Long- 

 eared Owl, the Barn Owl, and the Tawny Owl. The first-named is 

 easily distinguished by the two tufts of feathers on its head, much like 

 horns, but called ears. It is now very rare. The Barn Owl is, like the 

 Jackdaw, an ecclesiastic, being very fond of churches and old places, and 

 " in whose ivy mantled tower doth to the moon complain," and there 

 securely rears its brood. But the bird that sometimes makes " night 

 hideous," and fills the mind with horrors by its dolesome noise, is the 

 Tawny or Brown Owl, called in Gloucestershire phraseology " Ooter or 

 Screech Owl." Most of us know the story of Billy, the weaver, who was 

 lost in the wood, and how he answered the Owl ; nor shall I ever forget a 

 much-respected relative of mine throwing open his window in the dead 

 of the night and crying out " What's the matter ! What's the matter!" 

 and was only answered by the dismal " hoot " of the Owl, nor was he set 

 at rest until assured that it was only an Owl in a neighbouring tree. It 

 certainly is a most distressing carol to break upon the ear, after you have 

 been vainly endeavouring to get to sleep, but, nevertheless, he is a much- 

 abused bird, and does a lot of good in catching mice. 



The second order, Insessores or Perchers, is the most numerously 

 represented in this county, and we can number eighty -four of them out of a 

 possible 110. The Great Grey Shrike is now a rare bird, and is migratory. 

 It frequents hedgerows and groves, and is a very courageous bird, often 

 attacking birds larger than itself. At Thornbury and Prestbury they are 

 seen during summer, and breed there annually. The Ked Backed or 

 Common Butcher Bird is fairly common, and breeds with us. It is this 

 bird that sticks insects and sometimes even toads on the thorns of the 

 hedgerows near its nest and so betrays it. The Spotted Flycatcher, 

 the little bird that from a convenient post or rail patiently watches for 

 passing insects, is to be seen everywhere. It is remarkably quick in 

 catching its prey, bringing its bill together with quite a snap, and then 

 returning to the same post. 



We are assured that we do not lack Thrushes or Blackbirds by the 

 way our cherries disappear, and by the often-heard sweet song of praise and 

 thanksgiving to the great Giver of All with which these charming 

 songsters make melodious the sweet morning air, and, although when food 

 is scarce they may help themselves to some of our fruit, yet who would 

 like to banish from our land the song of the boisterous Blackbird or the 

 mellow Thrush ? Far rather let us protect them, for in their songs we 

 gladly recognise them as harbingers of returning life after our long, cold 

 winter. " The early bird catches the worm," says the proverb, and at 

 the first break of dawn numbers of Thrushes and Blackbirds hop quietly 

 over our grassy lawns, attentively listening for the upheaving of the worm, 



