A HISTORY OF BERKSHIRE 



later a second was shot at the same place 

 (Palmer, ' Birds of Newbury and District '). 

 Two were killed by Mr. P. St. Gerrans on 

 the banks of the Blackwater in the autumn 

 of 1891, and are in his possession (G. T. 

 Phillips in lit.). On November 3, 1897, one 

 was seen by Mr. Woods at Theale (G. W. 

 Bradshaw in lit.). 



45. Red - backed Shrike. Lanius collurio, 



Linn. 



Locally, Butcher-bird, French Sparrow. 

 A late summer migrant, seldom seen before 

 the middle of May in this district but earlier 

 in the south. It is fairly common and breeds 

 in many parts of the county ; from Windsor 

 to Maidenhead it nests freely, and of late 

 years I have found them on Maidenhead 

 Thicket at Crazies Hill, Culham Court and 

 near Reading. Mr. Wallis informs me they 

 breed pretty commonly near Aldermaston 

 Station. In the Wellington College district, 

 and at Radley, near Abingdon, nests have 

 been found. 



46. Woodchat Shrike. Lanius pomeranus, 



Sparrman. 



This species is included in my list because 

 I have seen a specimen in the British Museum 

 labelled ' Reading, Theo. Fisher, Esq.,' but 

 further particulars are wanting. 



47. Waxwing. Ampelis garrulus, Linn. 



This species is a rare winter visitor. One 

 was shot and wounded in January, 1867, at 

 the Hermitage near Newbury ; it was kept 

 alive for three days, when it died of its in- 

 juries (Zool. 1867, p. 561). The year pre- 

 viously a fine specimen was killed on Novem- 

 ber 9 in the same district (W. H. Herbert). 

 The late Dr. Palmer has recorded another in 

 his collection shot at the same place in 1868. 

 In December, 1883, one was observed by 

 Mr. Phillips in a holly bush at 10 yards dis- 

 tance, and on February i, 1895, a second 

 was shot in a thorn bush at Binfield. One 

 is reported from near Wellington College in 

 1883. 



48. Pied Flycatcher. Muscicapa atricapilla, 



Linn. 



A summer visitor, though at rare intervals. 

 Writing in 1868, Clark Kennedy mentions 

 one taken in Berkshire ' about ten years 

 since ' (Birds of Berks and Bucks, p. 169), and 

 a well-authenticated nest was found near 

 Eton in 1860, possibly on the Berks side. 

 Eggs were shown me from a nest taken at 

 Hennerton near Wargrave about 1880. A 

 nest was taken and the female shot at Berry 



Hill, Taplow, in (I think) 1873; and al- 

 though this is over our boundary it is so near 

 that it should be recorded. A pair have been 

 noticed on the borders of Englefield Park 

 each summer for some years, and were pro- 

 bably breeding there, while a nest was found 

 near the bathing-place at Park Place in 1901. 



49. Spotted Flycatcher. Muscicapa grisola, 



Linn. 



Locally, Beam-bird. 



An abundant summer migrant, arriving 

 about the middle of May and departing at 

 the end of September. 



50. Swallow. Hirundo rustics, Linn. 

 Locally, Chimney-swallow. 



A few arrive here about the end of first 

 week in April, although the great migration 

 does not take place until fully a week or ten 

 days later. They return for the most part 

 at the end of September, though some re- 

 main later, and have often been noticed well 

 on into October and even November. At 

 least two broods are produced. The excep- 

 tionally late occurrences are probably those of 

 young birds unable to follow their parents, 

 who often abandon them to shift for them- 

 selves, so strong is the migratory instinct. 



51. House-Martin. Cbelidon urbica (Linn.). 

 Arriving rather later than the preceding 



species, the greater number have left us again 

 by the first week in October, though single 

 birds may remain till November. I have 

 seen one on the 2 5th of that month, and 

 another is recorded at Henley-on-Thames as 

 late as December 18 (Zool. 1881, p. 62). 

 A common idea exists in the local mind that 

 both these birds and swallows occasionally 

 hibernate, and one worthy assured me he had 

 found dozens in a hole in an old bridge an 

 impossibility which needs no comment. The 

 martin in this district is not nearly so numer- 

 ous as it was twenty years ago, owing, I be- 

 lieve, to the house-sparrow usurping the mar- 

 tins' nest and driving the birds away. A 

 story often repeated to the effect that the 

 martin has been known to avenge itself by 

 mudding up the entrance to the nest, thus 

 retaining the sparrow a prisoner, seems un- 

 likely, as we can hardly believe this strong- 

 billed bird would peacefully remain in the 

 nest whilst the operation was being completed. 

 At the same time I once noticed a martin's 

 nest with no aperture, and on opening it found 

 a dead sparrow. Probably the bird had died 

 from natural causes, and being an unpleasant 

 companion the entrance to the nest was closed 

 up. 



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