THE BIRDS OF DERBYSHIRE. 
The | pried bat Sagi — , with Map and Six Illustrations, p Ke 
London : | Bemrose & Sons Limited | 1 ey a ae es 
8vo., 239 pp., with Map and Six Titeaivations 
The faunal area included within the political boundaries of 
Derbyshire is a comparatively limited one, not exceeding 1,030 
square miles. This may be divided into three parts having very 
distinct features: the southern plains, central hill district, and the 
mountainous north, where bleak treeless uplands, on the borders 
of Yorkshire and Cheshire, rise to an elevation of over 2,000 feet, 
and form the well-known Peak district, intersected, however, with 
well sheltered and lovely dales. From this it may be understood 
that the scenery is widely contrasting, and that this diversity of 
surface naturally favours a great variety of animal life. The county 
also owes much of the richness of its avi-fauna to the river valleys 
of the Derwent and the noble Trent, which in spring and autumn 
are highways of migration leading far inland. This is especially the 
case with the Trent valley, where much the greater number of rare 
and occasional inland stragglers from the coast have from time to 
time been seen or obtained. 
The total number of species of birds occurring or reputed to 
have occurred is 241; 84 being residents, 72 migrants, and the 
large number of 85 are casual visitors. Of those classed by the 
author as regular. migrants, he thinks that the Pied Flycatcher, 
Blue-headed Wagtail, and Stone Curlew must now be considered to 
hold a very doubtful position in the county list. 
The characteristic birds of the High Peak district are the 
Ring Ouzel, Dipper, Grey Wagtail, Twite, Merlin, Common Sand- 
piper, Curlew, Golden Plover, and probably the Dunlin, but the 
Dipper appears to be less common than formerly. The Black 
Redstart has been observed in Derbyshire but once a has 
probably been overlooked, the frequency of its occurrence in 
Nottinghamshire pointing to this conclusion. The Dartford ‘Warbler 
has also been once obtained—a pair on Melbourne Common in the 
winter of 1840 
The Fire-crested Wren, although recorded but twice, is probably 
more frequent than is generally supposed, so also the Pied F lycatcher 
a summer resident or on migration. The Red- backed Shrike is 
on 
instance. ‘The Goldfinch, Stonechat, and Woodlark are declining. 
The information referring to the Cirl Bunting is meagre and 
Naturalist, 
