SHARPE : A BERKSHIRE RAMBLE. 



91 



Retracing my steps Loraeward I found a Stonechat, this time sitting on 

 the top of the hedge ; my shot carried away the bough on which it sat, but I 

 did not get my bird, as a large holly-bush and a deep ditch intervened, so I 

 could not even see if I shot it ; I was much vexed, as I have tried many times 

 for these birds, to give to a friend in the north. Descending once more into 

 Cockmarsh, I found a fine Yellow Wagtail; I shot at him and he fell, but when 

 I went to pick him up he struggled into the air and flew away. Eeturning I saw 

 another pair of these graceful birds, which I killed, and they are now in my 

 collection ; a minute after I noticed five Pied Wagtails mobbing a crow, 

 which however, did not seem to care the least for his persecutors. Reach- 

 ing the other side of the common I sat down on a stile to watch some 

 riflemen, who were coming for practice ; at the first shot, several birds flew up 

 round me, and thinking to fire off my gun I shot at one which proved to 

 be a splended male Redbacked Shrike L. colluris, Linn, the first I ever saw 

 alive ; they used to be common about Cookham ; seeing a bird which I 

 took for the female, I loaded, but could not find her j I then crossed a stile 

 and soon afterwards shot a Whinechat, S. riibertra, Lath, and found the 

 nest of the Sedge Warbler, >S'. Phragmitis, Bechst. ; on my way I picked 

 up the Swallow and Martin, and reached home about 8. 30. 



186, Strandy London. 



A WEEK ON THE COTSWOLDS. 



By H. Ullyett. 



Aiter being so long in a chalky district a few days amongst the 

 Cotswolds, was a very refreshing change. The liassic marlstone rocks crop 

 out in the level country near the village of Stinchcombe, and are famous 

 treasure stores for '^the geologist ; the fossils are most abundant, especially 

 several species of Ammonites, JBelemnites, BhyncJionella, Terebratula, Flio- 

 ladomya, Sfc. The quarries are known locally as "bro^vn stone" quarries and 

 have occasionally produced the remains of very fine Saurians. Some 

 months ago a complete skeleton of one of these creatures was laid open to 

 view by one of the labourers ; but as he neglected to inform the owner until 

 it was too late, it was destroyed by the boys pulling it to pieces. The owner 

 said it was seven or eight feet in length. Gigantic specimens of Peden 



