BIRDS. 157 



MOORHEN, or WATER HEN B. Very abundant on 



Gallinula chloropus. our ponds, and, unlike the Water Rail, 



not at all shy, for, if unmolested it 



becomes very tame and will frequent lawns, etc., close to 



houses. About 1876-7 there were some very pretty pied 



"^aterhens in Attingham Park. Rev. J. B. Meredith 



says that they eat eggs, for a large number died from 



eating poisoned eggs placed to destroy Magpies and 



Crows. 



COOT B. Local name, Bald-headed Coot, in allusion to 

 Fulica atra. the white forehead which contrasts 



strongly with the black plumage. The 

 Coot is not quite so abundant as the Water Hen, and 

 while the latter is found on small ponds, the former con- 

 fines itself chiefly to large pools. In hard frosts the Coot 

 resorts to the Severn. A curious light-brown variety was 

 shot at Newport in 1894. 



Crane. Mr. Rocke mentions a specimen of this rare and splendid bird, 



Grus communis. shot at Trippleton on the Teme, by Mr. 



Roberts of that place. It was cooked and eaten ! 



Great Bustard. The occurrence of this fine bird in Shropshire is 

 Otis tarda. somewhat doubtful, but is recorded here on the 



evidence contained in a letter written by the 

 late Rev. R. W. Gleadowe of Frodesley, to Mr. Beckwith, in May, 

 1879. It stated that his father-in-law, Mr. T. L. Gleadowe, saw a 

 pair of Great Bustards on the Longmynd. " He was riding from 

 Church Stretton to Ratlinghope, about July in 1826, and saw two 

 birds, apparently a pair, among the fern and ling about half way 

 between the two places mentioned. They only remained a moment 

 or two and then took to flight. His description is that they were 

 like a turkey hen in shape, of a chestnut colour above and ashy grey 

 beneath, but the neck was more of the same thickness throughout than 

 a turkey's. He used to be very fond of natural history and, to judge 



