BIRDS. 125 



Lapland Bunting. Very rare, has only occurred in Britain 

 Culcarius Lapponicus. some forty times, generally on the 

 autumn migration. The collection at 

 Hawkstone contains two specimens killed near Shrews- 

 bury. 



Snow Bunting. A very rare Winter visitor, partial to 



Plectvophancs nivaUs. hilly country ; has been killed on the 



Oct. Feb. Longmynd ; at Habberley, Oct. i st. 1 888, 



Wroxeter, Nov. yth, 1889; and seen about Ellesmereand 



Cressage. Specimens obtained here rarely show much 



white in the plumage. 



STARLING B. Exceedingly numerous everywhere. In 

 Sturnus vulgaris. autumn the Starlings assemble every 



evening, in enormous flocks, to roost in 

 the reeds by the pools at Alkmond (Shrewsbury), Croes- 

 mere (Ellesmere), and Tibberton (Newport). This 

 " gathering of the clans " is a most impressive spectacle, 

 and to the student of bird life is well worth a journey 

 to witness. Starlings are fond of following sheep and 

 cattle in the fields, to pick up the insects disturbed by 

 their feet, and will frequently alight on their backs to 

 pick out parasitic insects ; they sometimes also catch 

 insects on the wing. 



Rose-coloured Starling. This beautifully coloured bird has 

 Pastor roseus. been obtained twice in the County 



In Meole, 1841, and at Brockton, 

 near Bishop's Castle, 1857, both in autumn and is re- 

 ported to have been seen more recently. 



Chough. One of these birds was killed near Gobowen in 

 Pyrrhocorax graculus. 1862. It is easily distinguished by its 

 red legs and curved beak. 



