BIRDS. 131 



Hoopoe. This strikingly handsome bird, easily known by 



Upupa epops. its long crest, has occurred about a 



dozen times in the County, the most 



recent records being one at Market Drayton, September, 



1889, and two near Ludlow, in March and April, 1895. 



One of these was pursued and killed by a Hawk. A 



third was shot in November the same year at Claverley, 



Bridgnorth a late date. 



Cuckoo B. Very abundant, though much better known 

 Citculus canorus. by its cry than by sight. Its curious 



Apl. in. Aug. in. habits have given rise to an immense 

 amount of controversial literature. The 

 female has a curious " bubbling" note, very different from 

 her mate's call. A fresh egg of the Cuckoo was taken 

 near Shrewsbury, on i6th April, 1898, a week before the 

 bird had been heard. Mr. J. W. Salter says, that at 

 Lee Hall, near Hanwood, for three years in succession, 

 there have been three Wagtail's nests close to the house ; 

 each year there has been a Cuckoo's egg in each nest. 

 Mr. H. H. Hughes, of Shrewsbury, took a photograph of 

 one of the nests in 1898, with the young cuckoo com- 

 pletely filling it up. It would seem that the foster-parents 

 do not discover the fraud practised upon them by the 

 Cuckoo, even when it is repeated again and again. 



BARN, or WHITE OWL B. The most plentiful of the 

 Strix flammea. Owls in Shropshire, and, now that 



farmers and others recognise its use- 

 fulness in destroying mice, and do not shoot it, it is 

 gradually increasing in numbers. Essentially a bird of the 

 night, it sometimes accidentally stays abroad during the 

 day, when it is so bewildered by the light that it is easily 



