•n 



38. — Jackdaw (Corvus Monedula). 



An undesirably increasing resident here, and, I expect, 

 elsewhere. 



We have an albino in one of the " West Lodge " aviaries. 



39. — Red-backed Shrike (Lanius Collurio). 



On 3rd August, 1903, I saw a splendidly-marked male on 

 the back net of our " West Lodge " tennis grounds. It caught 

 several large insects (probably bees) off the flower beds while I 

 was watching it, always flying back to the net. Having swallowed 

 them, it plumed itself with great deliberation. On my approach- 

 ing it flew away with a wary fly, showing a white patch on tail- 

 coverts. 



40. — Carrion Crow (Corvus Cor one). 

 An occasional visitor at "The Cedars." 



On 11th December, 1902, my youngest daughter, laid up 

 with measles, sent down to me to say she heard a strange note 

 outside her window, which, however, reminded her of another 

 note she knew. It turned out to be a Carrion Crow, which 

 reminded her of a tame Royston she once had. Up to March, 

 1903, we frequently heard its shouting call, much deeper and 

 louder than the Rook's, though in several different keys. 



On 15th March, 1903, I saw a pair feeding with the Rooks 

 off the usual bread breakfast placed on " The Cedars' " lawn, 

 and frequently after. They are slimmer and more active than 

 the Rooks, whom they drive here, there, and everywhere. One 

 of the pair shouted the usual cry on March 30th, when on "The 

 Cedars' " lawn, five or six times in quick succession, bowing to 

 each call. I hope they mean to nest here. 



41. — Rook (Corvus Frugilegus). 



The rookery at " The Cedars " is a very ancient affair, and 

 although the inhabitants take our vegetables and fruit and dig 

 up our tennis lawns, I trust they will long be able to keep their 

 little colony together. Every year they go through the same 

 routine. About February 1st they begin to repair the old nests, 

 which through the winter months have been used for roosting 

 places for Tits and other small birds. The old Rooks show 



