The Zoologist— February, 1866. 81 



of this fine bird; still they are to be found in considerable 

 numbers wherever they are protected; and I believe some heronries 

 exist in the county. The decoy at Oakly Park forms a sanctuary 

 for them, and they often abound there. I have frequently reared 

 these birds from the nest, and most interesting and amusing pets 

 they are; tame to a degree, they seem to place the most utter 

 confidence in man. Unfortunately, from my close proximity to a 

 river, I have never been able to prevent them straying, and sharing 

 the usual fate of all pets. It is astonishing the amount of fish they 

 will consume, if regularly supplied; their digestion seems as rapid as 

 their appetite is insatiable. By constant examining, I have had a 

 male bird that, at four months old, exhibited the long pendant 

 crest and beautiful fibrous hackles usually only found on the adult 

 bird. 



Squacco Heron (Ardea cornuta). — This rare and beautiful little heron 

 was killed some years ago at Bockleton, under the Brown Clee Hill ; 

 it was shot at the pool by Mr. John Patrick, and by him presented 

 to Mr. George Henry Uansey, of Ludlow, in whose possession it 

 remained until his death. It was stufled by Mr. Ambrose Grounds, 

 of that town. I believe it was a male bird, and was in very fine 

 plumage. 



Bittern (Botaurus stellaris).— Few winters pass without a certain 

 number of these birds being sent in for preservation. I possess two 

 singularly fine specimens, one killed at EUesmere, the other obtained 

 in January, 1864, in a garden in the village of Bromfield, where it had 

 been seen for some days previously. It was kindly presented to me 

 by Lady Mary Windsor Clive, and is certainly one of the most richly- 

 marked birds I ever saw. 



Night Heron (Nycticorax Gardeni). — 1 am only aware of one speci- 

 men ever having been killed in Shropshire: it was in immature 

 plumage, and belonged to the late Mr. Stanier, of Wroxeter. 



Glossy Ibis (Ibis falcinellus). — In 1864 two very fine specimens of 

 this rare bird were killed near Shrewsbury ; one of them was preserved 

 by Mr. Franklin, of that town ; the other, which fell to the gun of the 

 Suudorne keeper, was thrown away and never heard of till it was in 

 too high a state of decomposition to be of any use. 



Common Curlew (Numenius arquata).— Occurs at Whixall Moss, 

 where I believe it breeds ; it is also found in considerable numbers on 

 Clun Forest, the Lougmynd, and most of the Radnorshire hills. 

 I spent a pleasant day on Clun Forest the beginning of last May, in 



SECOND SERIES — VOL. I. M 



