The Zoologist — July, 1871. 2661 



Bittern. — Has become a rare bird, though killed at various times 

 in the Malvern country, and I have a note of one shot on the pool 

 before Hopton Court, by Mr. Joseph Featherstonhaugh. There 

 was another in company with the one too ruthlessly killed, as the 

 Rev. W. Thorn informs me. 



Curleiv, — Occasionally met with on the rivers Teme and Severn. 



Widmbrel. — Also a visitor to streams and rivers. 



Greenshank. — I have a note of this as " shot on the Teme in 

 1826." 



Wood Sandpiper. — Killed at Longdon Marsh. 



Common Sandpiper. — A summer visitant, breeding on the banks 

 of the Teme every year, but sparingly dispersed. 



Bartuiled Godtvit. — A rare winter visitant. 



Woodcock. — This long-billed bird is sufficiently scarce in coverts 

 to be thought an acquisition when flushed, yet there is evidence 

 that it breeds in the woods of West Worcestershire. The ' Wor- 

 cester Herald' records that Mr. Walker, of Knightwick, saw two 

 old woodcocks and three young ones in the Hay Wood, Martley, 

 and captured one of the young ones, in the summer of 1857. A 

 female and young bird were also killed at Acton Beauchamp in 

 May, 1854, and preserved accordingly. I have also a note that in 

 July, 1857, "a hen bird that had recently completed the process 

 of incubation was found in an exhausted state on the lawn at 

 Lulsley Court. A nest of young cocks has been found in the same 

 locality." This was in July, 1867. 



Great Snipe, Common Snipe and Jack Snipe. — All appear when 

 sought in our damp copses and watery places. 



Gray Phalarope. — Of rare occurrence, but one is recorded as 

 killed on Longdon Marsh in 1854. 



Landrail. — A spring visitant, the meadows in the Severn Valley 

 resounding with its evening cry in May. 



" The fairj'-like and seldom-seen landrail, 



Utters ' craLk, craik,' like voices under ground, 

 Eight glad to meet the evening dewy veil, 

 And see the light fade into gloom around." 



This cry is kept up all through the night in the month of May, but 

 the cunning bird can seldom be induced to rise. 



Spotted Crake. — Occasionally met with in watery spots. One in 

 the Worcester Museum was killed at Powick. 



Moorhen. — In all our pools and ponds. 



SECOND SERIES — TOL. VI. 2 K 



