Birds. 9687 



was an egg very far advanced towards maliirity, and others very 

 little formed ; there were also almost unmistakable signs of her 

 having recently laid. I have not the slightest doubt of their 

 having a nest somewhere in the neighbourhood, though I have 

 been unable to discover it. Other examples have been killed at 

 Hawkstone, Dovvnton Castle, Ticklerton, Oakly Park and Mocktree 

 Common. 



Marsh Harrier (Circus aeruginosus). — The late Mr. Pinches, of 

 Ticklerton, had a specimen of this bird, killed on the Longmynd, but 

 I am not aware of anj- recently-obtained examples. 



Hen Harrier (Circus cyaneus). — 1 seldom see this bird now, though 

 I possess specimens killed here some few years ago. 1 bilieve there 

 are sfill a iew scattered over the county, but they are by no means 

 common. 



Ash colon red Harrier (Circus cineraceus). — Mr. Sparling, the fortu- 

 nate possessor of the osprey, recorded above, obtained a fine example 

 of this bird at Petton, a few years ago; this was a female. Since that 

 time 1 have seen another very fine specimen of a male bird in imma- 

 ture plumage, killed near Leominster. There is a stuffed specimen at 

 Oakly Park, which I believe was killed there, but it must have occurred 

 many years ago. 



Lou geared Owl (Strix otus). — By no means uncommon, though 

 probably frequently overlooked. A good many find their way into the 

 hands of the birdstuffers every year. I have two specimens killed here, 

 though I do not think they often occur in this district. 



Shorteared Owl (Strix brachyotus). — More numerous than the last 

 species. Most of our wooded heaths produce this handsome owl in 

 considerable numbers. I have seen them on the Black Hill, above 

 Clun, a large expanse of heather-clad table-land, in the spring of the 

 year, but have never been able to discover their nests. 1 have no 

 doubt they breed there. 



Barn Owl (Strix flammea). — Fast disappearing. That dreadfully 

 destructive practice of making all our handsomer birds into hand- 

 screens will, I fear, before long, reduce the race of the poor barn owl 

 to the narrowest limits. When our fields and gardens are overrun 

 with mice and our crops destroyed, this short-sighted policy will 

 become more evident, and the value of this handsome old occupant of 

 our churches, barns and hollow trees will then be appreciated in 

 vain. 



Tawny Owl (Strix aluco). — Once very common in all our woods, 

 but of late very much reduced in numbers. 1 fear, if this persecution 



