Birds. 9779 



obtained in a garden in Shrewsbury. I believe Mr. Eyton has also met 

 with the bird at Eyton. 



Great Tit (Parus major), Blue Tit (P. caeruleus), Cole Tit (P. ater), 

 Marsh Tit (P. palustris).— I have few remarks to make on these four 

 species of the titmouse. It is sufficient to say that they are all equally 

 common, and I have frequently seen each variety feeding at the same 

 time, on the boughs of a larch-tree near the house. 



Longtailed Tit (Parus caudalus).— Quite as numerous as any of the 

 preceding species ; but as they are more erratic in their movements 

 and habits, they are perhaps not met with quite so often. They appear 

 to keep together more than the rest of their tribe, and move about in 

 much larger flocks. When we consider that each pair of birds rears 

 from seven to ten, or even more than that number of grotesque httle 

 ones, this is not much to be wondered at. 



Bohemian Waxwing (Bombycilla garrula).— I have seen several 

 specimens of this beautiful bird, killed in Shropshire, though their 

 occurrence there is most uncertain. I think the last I saw, in the flesh, 

 was obtained in a garden in or near the town of Shrewsbury. I 

 remember my father, the late Rev. John Rocke, shooting four, out of 

 a flock of seven or eight, within half a mile of this house : this occurred 

 in February, 1829. One pair of these birds is at the present time in 

 my collection, and in an excellent state of preservation ; the others 

 belong to Mr. Henry Shaw, naturalist, of Shrewsbury, who has 

 retained them as the last birds ever stuflfed by his father, 



. Pied Wagtail (Motacilla Yarrellii;.— One of our commonest and 

 most familiar birds. I still hope some day to be able to add the con- 

 tinental white wagtail to our list of visitants, although it has hitherto 

 been unknown, or perhaps overlooked, in this district. 



Gray Wagtail (Motacilla boarula).— This fine wagtail is far from 

 uncommon, being found on most of our streams and rivulets. Though 

 not often seen in the full summer plumage, I believe they breed here, 

 their numbers being considerably increased towards autumn. 



Ray's Wagtail (Motacilla Rayi). — Tolerably plentiful, though 

 more locally distributed than either of the preceding species. 



Tree Pipit (Anthus arboreus). — Exceedingly common. Few 

 birds exhibit greater variety in the coloiu- and markings of their 

 eggs. 



Meadow Pipit (Anthus pratensis). — In October lasfl saw a 

 bird fly up in a turnip-field, amongst five or six pipits or titlarks, 

 which at first I took to be a canary. I shot it, and it turned out to be 

 a very curious lusus variety of the pipit, the whole plumage being of a 



