46 Peacock: The Birds of Xor/h-lVesf FJiidsey. 



attraction for them. For years they ruined two larg-e cherry 

 trees below the Manor garden. It is said their visits are 

 prompted by a grub in the buds ; but when shot in the act of 

 ruining the flowering buds, the Vicar could discover nothing 

 like a grub in their crops — only the future flowers and leave's. 



Crossbill. Loxia curuirostra Linn. Is not as uncommon 

 in our fir plantations as is generally thought. But, personally, 

 I have only seen them once. They were on the edge of Mr. J. 

 Cliff's plantation N.W. of Holme Hall, December 1888. 



Corn-Bunting. Emberiza miliaria Linn. Is found most 

 \ears at Bottesford. It cannot be called common anywhei'e in the 

 district. Found nest June 1888. (See ' Naturalist ' 1903, p. 262). 



Yellow Bunting. Embcrisa citrinella Linn. Is very com- 

 mon. No two nests of eggs are marked alike. I had one clulch 

 quite white. At Howsham the Vicar found three nests within 

 50 feet on a ditch side. 



CiRL BiTNTiNG. Emberisa cirlus Linn. Very rarely seen 

 on our commons and sandy warrens. I have never heard of 

 a nest. ' I identified one some years ago' (Burton). 



Reed-Bunting. Emberisa schccnicliis Linn. Is frequently 

 seen by our becks and drains, especially in the lowlands. It 

 decreases steadily as we improve away its nesting places. I 

 saw a partially white one, 4th August 1892. 



Snow Bunting. Plectrophenax nivalis Linn. May be called 

 very rare inland. I, however, shot seven in the winter 1894. 



Starling. Sturnns vulgaris Linn. Is very common. 

 Large flights pass over Bottesford in the winter evenings on 

 their way to roost in the reed beds on the warpings or woods. 

 The noise of their many wings can be heard before they come 

 into view and after they have passed out of sight. These 

 ' flocks ' or ' warblings ' are a perfect nuisance when they select 

 a game cover for their winter or spring concert roosting-place. 

 Their droppings make the place foetid and iminhabitable for 

 other birds. The way to be rid of them is to light smoky fires 

 to the windward of the covers or woods for a few evenings. 

 The drifting smoke soon makes them shift their quarters. Mr. 

 Young says: 'Very common in the Market Rasen district, 

 it interferes very seriously with both the Green and Great 

 .Spotted Woodpecker, neither of which seems able to retain a 

 hole for their own use till the season is well advanced and the 

 wants of the Starling are provided for.' The same is just as 

 true of the Cadne)-cum-Howsham fox covers, where both 

 these species of Woodpeckers breed. 



Naturalist, 



