BIRDS. 103 



Crossbills : both of these birds used to be looked upon as rari- 

 ties , whereas now the former has become so numerous in some 

 localities, that it does serious damage in gardens; and the 

 latter has visited us in flocks every winter lately, and a few 

 have remained throughout the year. The Nightingale too, 

 is slowly increasing, both in numbers and in the area of its 

 range. On the other hand most of the Birds of Prey are 

 getting extremely rare on account of the incessant war waged 

 against them by man, and human agency is also responsible 

 for the marked diminution in the number of Goldfinches. 

 The words ' Provincial name ' are here used to denote that 

 the name is often applied in Shropshire to the species in 

 question : they do not necessarily imply that its use is con- 

 fined to this district. 



The names of Resident species are printed in Capitals. Visitors and 



Casual wanderers in ordinary type. The average dates of arrival and 



departure are given below the name ; the Roman Numerals indicate 



the quarter of the month. B. means that the bird has 



bred in Shropshire. 



MISTLE THRUSH B. Provincial name, Storm Cock ; so 



Turdus viscivorus. called because it often sings loudly 



in stormy weather, perched on the top 



of a high tree. It is plentiful all the year round, but 



in Winter assembles in small flocks when it is sometimes 



mistaken for the Fieldfare. It is easily distinguished, 



however, from the other Thrushes by the rounded spots 



on the breast. It nests very early in the year, usually 



in open situations on the larger boughs of trees. 



THRUSH B. Provincial name, Throstle. Plentiful every- 



T. musicus. where and a general favourite on 



account of its beautiful song. It feeds 



largely on snails which it carries to some favourite stone 



