IO2 FAUNA OF SHROPSHIRE. 



certain of the Warblers and Finches are beneficial to garden 

 crops or not, and at the time of his death, Mr. Beckwith 

 was engaged in investigating the matter. Another point of 

 constant interest, is the observation of the arrival and de- 

 parture of our summer and winter visitors, and an attempt 

 has been made in the following pages to show these dates 

 by a plan which is at once simple and easy for reference. 

 It may perhaps be objected that the Birds are here treated 

 too-sh'ontly,'but that defect may be remedied in the supple- 

 tfiefitary* volume, which the author hopes to publish at a 

 later date-, whieh will contain not only Mr. Beckwith's notes, 

 but a large amount of matter regarding our commoner Birds, 

 from the pen of the author and other local naturalists. 

 The account given here of the Birds of Shropshire is only 

 a record of all the species found in the County. It is not 

 intended to supersede, but to supplement any standard book, 

 such as Mr. Howard Saunders' Manual ef British Birds. The 

 classification and nomenclature adopted are the same as in 

 that work. The English names of all species that reside in 

 Britain throughout the year, are printed in capitals. All 

 others are in smaller type, but the dates beneath the names 

 show readily which are summer, and which are winter 

 visitors, whilst those without dates may be treated as casual 

 visitors. The paragraphs printed in small type refer to 

 species that have occurred near to, but not within, the 

 County, or else to Birds recorded on doubtful evidence. In 

 a few instances the author has ventured to make statements 

 at variance with those of previous observers regarding the 

 relative scarcity of certain species. These cases are of great 

 interest as showing the changes which even a few short 

 years may produce in our Fauna. As an example we may 

 cite the great increase in the numbers of Hawfinches and 



