138 FAUNA OF SHROPSHIRE. 



and rarely kills partridges, or other birds. The writer 

 is strongly of opinion that the Kestrel, and its eggs, 

 ought to be protected by law. 



Osprey. The only one of our birds of prey that feeds 

 Pandion haliaetus. almost exclusively on fish, which it 



captures in its claws, plunging upon 

 them from a great height. In Shropshire, it has been 

 obtained at Chetwynd in 1833, Clun 1841, Petton 

 1858, Colemere 1863, Caynton 1865, Shifnal, October 

 1881, Willey, April, 1888, and on the Isle Pool, October 

 30th, 1889. Its appearance is very striking on account 

 of the large amount of white in the plumage. The 

 beautiful photograph, of which the frontispiece of this 

 book is a reproduction, was taken by Mr. John Franklin. 

 The birds, which are in his possesion, were preserved and 

 mounted by his father, Mr. W. Franklin. 



CORMORANT. The two species of Cormorant and the 

 Phalacrocorax carlo. Gannet are essentially sea birds that 

 wander now and then as far inland as 

 Shropshire nearly always young birds. The Cormorant 

 has been obtained at Clungunford, Atcham, and other 

 places. One was shot near Shrewsbury in September, 1 897. 

 Strange to say, a colony of fourteen Cormorants used to 

 live on a small island called " the Bylet," in the Severn, 

 at Fitz, near Montford Bridge. They were usually to 

 be seen perched on the top of some tall ash trees, from 

 whence, now one and then another, might be seen to 

 dash downwards into the water. They were there from 

 1820 to 1839, but the number dwindled, one by one, till 

 there were only seven, when some Rooks came and took 

 possession of the trees ; the Cormorants then left and 



