The Zoologist — July, 1871. 2659 



Birds of the Malvern District, Resident, Migratory or Occasional 

 Visitors. By Edwin Lees, F.L.S., F.G.S. 



(Concluded from S. S. 2G37.) 



The following FringillidaB may be put down as resident and of 

 ordinary occurrence :— Brown linnet, mountain linnet, lesser red- 

 poll and goldfinch. The mountain linnet is perhaps but an 

 occasional visitant ; but in the records of the Worcester Natural 

 History Society is a notice of five specimens of the lesser redpoll 

 received at one time from Mr. W. W. Lewis, of Malvern Wells. 



Green Woodpecker. — Resident and general. 



Greater Spotted Woodpecker.— Udiihex uncommon. Noticed at 

 Math on. 



Lesser Spotted Woodpecker.— P\e\U\in\ about Madresfield, as 

 stated by Mr. Edwards, and sometimes seen on trees in gardens. 



Wryneck.— Genex&Wy called the "cuckoo's mate," as preceding 

 the arrival of the cuckoo, and its hawk-like cry of "peer — peer- 

 peer," denotes it to the ornithologist. 



Creeper.— Res\(\eni, though not much observed from its habit of 

 keeping close to the branches, on which it runs rather than climbs, 

 flitting off immediately if observed. 



Nuthatch.— B^esideni, but shy and not often seen. The tapping 

 noise in the woods, generally supposed to be made by the wood- 

 pecker, is often caused by this bird battering at a nut. 



Cuckoo. — This summer migrant abounds all over the hills in 

 spring and early summer, when its well-known note resounds far 

 and near, commencing even before the dav?n has tinged the eastern 

 sky. 



Kingjisher.— This beautiful bird is only to be found in the 

 neighbourhood of streams, but though often killed for the sake of 

 its beautiful plumage it maintains its position. 



Swallow, Martin and Sand Martin.— It is sufficient to name 

 these "summer haunting" birds. 



Swi/t.—Bmhh in the Priory church-tower, and a few may be 

 seen among the rocks of the hills. 



Nightjar or Goatsucker.— A summer visitant, and not unconnnon 

 to the notice of night wanderers, for its habits are nocturnal. 

 Mr. Edwards states that its rumbling " burr," resembling the noise 

 of a spinning-wheel, may be heard every evening through June and 



