Birds. 645 



belonging to that domain. It was a female, and in exceedingly fat 

 condition and fine plumage. 



Common buzzard, F. buteo. Glover mentions one as having been 

 killed at Melbourne in 1827, and another at Aston a few years before. 

 Several individuals have been taken in the traps of the Donnington- 

 park keepers. 



Hen harrier, F. cyaneus. Shot near Eastmoor and Derby, and has 

 been taken at Donnington-park. It is considered one of the most de- 

 structive of winged vermin, and will take a partridge or young phea- 

 sant. It is also called the " blue hawk." 



Eagle owl, Strix bubo. In the Derby Museum are three specimens 

 of this noble bird, in beautiful condition of plumage. They are not 

 labelled, but were probably shot in the neighbourhood. 



Snowy owl, Strix nyctea. Glover says a female of this species 

 was found near Stavely, sitting upon two white eggs, rather larger 

 than those of the ringdove ; but when is not stated. 



Little owl, S. passerina. A live specimen of the Little Owl was ex- 

 hibited at Mr. Cook's museum, Derby, May 17, 1843. It was about 

 the size of a blackbird, quaint and amusing in its manners, and gro- 

 tesque in appearance. It was taken in or near the town, I think in a 

 chimney, and afterwards sold for 30s. This is the only bird ever 

 captured in Derbyshire for a great number of years. 



Great grey shrike, Lanius excubitor. One shot near Derby some 

 years ago, but it is very rare. 



Red-backed shrike, L. collurio. This bird is said to be not unfre- 

 quent about Duffield, where it arrives about the latter end of May. 

 It is met with occasionally in some other parts of Derbyshire, but 

 must be considered uncommon. They arrive in the neighbourhood 

 of Melbourne about the third week in April, and depart about the third 

 or fourth week in August. A pair (one of which is in my possession) 

 was shot on the 27th of April, 1839, immediately on their arrival ; 

 and three more individuals had been killed on the 20th. When first 

 discovered, they were busily engaged in pulling up some peas in a 

 garden, which were just springing from the earth. They had de- 

 spoiled several rows, but appeared to be searching for beetles and 

 large insects, as not one of the peas was eaten. The crop was entire- 

 ly spoiled ; and the owner of the garden, mortified to find his hopes 

 thus blighted, through vexation shot the whole party. The year pre- 

 viously, a pair had built their nest in a low gooseberry-bush, in the 

 same garden. It was composed of coarse, thick, dried grasses, with 

 a little intermixture of moss ; and contained four eggs, of a reddish 



