NATURAL HISTORY. 
67 
The wagtails, M^^«c^7/a alha^ and M.boarula, ornament 
the shores of our rivers and ponds, especially the less 
common M. boarula, which appears to breed with us : 
the reed bunting, Emberiza schoeniclus, too, sporting 
among the aquatic grasses, with its black head, has a 
pretty effect. The various titmice, Parus major, P. 
ater, P,palustris, P. coeruleus, and P, caudatus, are all 
denizens of our groves and woods ; and in retired 
shady spots, the nuthatch, Sitfa europcea, is observed. 
The creeper, Certhia familiaris, is well known as a 
" tree runner," and the green woodpecker, Picus viri- 
dis, makes the woods resound with his harsh laugh. 
The spotted woodpecker, P. major, commonly called 
the French eikle, is less diffused, and the Picus minor, 
though not very rare, is oftener heard than seen. 
The lark tribe need not here be adverted to, nor 
are the species of it yet sufficiently discriminated.^ 
The Fringilla cannabina, and the mountain and rose 
linnets, F, montium and F. linaria, occur in various 
parts of the county. The starling, Sturnus vulgaris, 
breeds in our trees, and occasionally appears in 
immense flocks. The screaming jay. Gar ruins glan- 
darius, the magpie. Pica caudal a, the crow, Corvus 
corone, the rook, C. frugilegus, and the jackdaw, 
C monedula, are well known. The raven, C. cor ax, 
has become rare with us. The beautiful kingfisher, 
Alcedo ispida, though not often seen from his native 
haunts, darts frequently along the Stour and the 
Teme, and their tributary rills. 
» The Anthm Richardi is reported to have been killed in the low meadows at 
Fladbury. 
