466 REPORT OF FIELD MEETINGS, 



it has been observed on the higher ground. The Kestrel is 

 fairly common, and so is the Sparrow Hawk, the female of 

 which is particularly fierce and bloodthirsty. I observed on 

 one occasion a large bird, evidently one of the Buzzards, 

 but I could not get near enough to identify it. Three 

 species of Owls are found here, the Short-eared, the Long- 

 eared, and the Tawny; the last mentioned seems to be the 

 most numerous. In my opinion the owl is a much maligned 

 bird. By comparisons made by some he is supposed to be 

 " old and silly," and usually in " an advanced state of inebria- 

 tion." He is looked upon with more than suspicion by 

 gamekeepers, and is frequently mobbed and illused by his 

 feathered kind. He is, however, a very respectable member 

 of bird society, as the following little anecdote will show. A 

 gardener living on the estate we have been over to-day found 

 an owl which had got into a disused room of his cottage. 

 In a little while the male bird appeared. On discovering his 

 spouse at the window, he, after making some vain endeavours 

 to release her, flew away, returning shortly with a mouse 

 which he placed on the window sill. This occurred at 

 intervals during her captivity. However, the noise which 

 they made over two nights was too much for the gardener, 

 who, whether melted by the domestic affection displayed by 

 the birds or by want of sleep felt by himself I cannot say, 

 allowed the poor prisoner to join her dutiful husband. 

 The sex was easily determined, as the female laid an Qgg 

 during her captivity. 



The Greater Spotted Woodpecker nests every year in 

 some of the woods you have been in to-day. The King- 

 fisher is frequently seen darting up and down the various 

 burns which run into the Derwent. The Corvidae, much 

 I suppose to the disgust of the gamekeepers, are well 

 represented. The Carrion Crow, the Hooded Crow, the Rook, 

 Jackdaw, Magpie, and Jay complete the list. It is a pity the 

 latter is so mischievous in regard to its fondness for eggs, as 

 its plumage is scarcely excelled by any of our British birds. 

 The Bullfinch occurs in most of the woods. Another un- 



