WILD BIRDS PROTECTION ACTS. 183 



and its nest is so difficult to find that it stands in little need 

 of protection. The spotted flycatcher is fairly common in the 

 County and does not need protection. The pied flycatcher is 

 far less numerous than the preceding species, and during the 

 breeding season is a very local species, nesting annually in 

 the English counties on the Welsh border. The white wag- 

 tail is a very rare bird and has hardly been known to visit 

 Shropshire, it may possibly have been included in mistake for 

 the water or pied wagtail. The grey wagtail is somewhat 

 locally distributed. The yellow wagtail is not uncommon at 

 certain seasons of the year throughout the country. The nut- 

 hatch is common in certain parts. The swallow, sand-martin 

 and swift are very common and hardly need protection. The 

 house-martin has decreased in certain parts of the County 

 within the last ten years, and if protection is of use, certainly 

 requires it. 



Of the birds whose eggs are protected the crossbill has 

 occasionally been known to breed in the southern and eastern 

 counties but its chief breeding haunts are in the north. The 

 owls are the most useful of all English birds and the protection 

 of their eggs is only a matter of justice. The nightjar has 

 become more plentiful of late years. The curlew breeds 

 regularly in the wilder parts of the County. The kingfisher 

 was at one time in danger of becoming extinct but is now less 

 uncommon. The goldfinch is one of the birds that becomes 

 scarcer every year, partly owing to the fact that cultivation 

 has everywhere improved and partly owing to the fact that 

 they are an especial prey of the birdcatcher. The wood- 

 peckers are by no means common, and the protection afforded 

 to their eggs is most desirable. The great crested grebe is 

 not uncommon, but it is to be hoped that the protection given 

 to its eggs by the County Council will lead to the increase 



