424 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
May  11),  li!04. 
British  Birds. 
{Continued  from  page  30d.) 
Herbivorous. 
The  Kingdove  or  C'eshat  (Co]nHil)a  palinnhns)  is  very 
common  in  England,  and  during  lireeding  time  frequents  gar¬ 
dens  when  nesting  near,  picking  off  tlie  leaves  and  destroying 
t]ie  centres  of  trees  of  recently-planted  Cauliflower  and  other 
lirassica  plants.  During  severe  weather  in  winter  it  sometimes 
commits  serious  damage  on  greens,  and  in  fields  practically 
stumps  Turnip  to])S,  iVrc.  ^^’hen  cereals  begin  to  harden  in  the 
ear  it  falls  to  feeding  upon  grain,  and  takes  a  goodly  share  of 
seed  corn.  Against  these  evils  must  he  ])laced  the  eating  of 
many  weed  .seeds,  such  as  "Wild  iMustard  (Charlock),  and  other 
troublesome  weeds. 
The  Stock-dove  (Columha  cenas)  is  far  le.ss  common  than 
foimerly,  still  in  certain  districts  enormous  flocks  visit  Turnip 
fields,  also  market  gardening  districts,  and  do  much  harm  to 
Hrassicas.  It  is  also  vei'y  fond  of  heechmast.  In  harvest  time 
it  helps  to  reap  grain,  and  afterwards  glean  stubbles.  All  the 
farmers’  and  gardeners’  benefit  is  had  from  its  feeding  upon 
weed  seeds.  Both  the  itingdove  and  Stockdove  are  resident 
species. 
Mignatopy. 
The  Turtle-dove  (Turtur  vulgaris  or  auritus)  arrives  in 
this  country  during  May,  and  departs  at  the  latter  part  of 
September.  It  does  not  visit  the  northerly  parts  of  England, 
hut  is  not  uncommon  in  the  midland  counties,  often  nesting, in 
pleasure  ground  trees.  It  lives  upon  .seeds,  and  the  tops  of 
young  Turnii^s  or  Swedes  in  fields  are  to  its  liking,  hut  it  is 
seldom  so  numerous  as  to  do  material  harm. 
Carnivorous  (Raptores). 
Inju  rious  to  game  and  poultry,  hut  otherwise  beneficial  to 
farmers,  and  wholly  .so  to  gardeners. 
The  Hen  Harrier  (Circus  aeruginosus  or  cyaneus)  lives  prin¬ 
cipally  about  forests  and  heaths.  It  feeds  upon  game  (grouse  of 
the  mooi’S,  partridges  of  liill  and  dale,  pheasants  of  the  rearing 
ground,  leverets  and  rabbits,  the  greatest  enemies  of  cultivated 
crops  in  woods,  farms,  and  gardens),  birds,  especially  wild 
pigeons,  reptiles,  and  tne  larger  insects. 
The  Sparrow  Hawk  (Accipiter  Nisus)  is  common  throughout 
Europe,  and  when  taken  young  is  easily  tamed.  I  have  had 
such  very  questionable  aid  for  the  ostensible  purpose  of  frighten¬ 
ing  birds  from  fruits  in  the  gardens  under  my  charge  half  a 
century  ago  and  .since,  but  found  the  presence  of  the  Sparroiv 
Hawk  an  attraction  rather  than  otherwise  to  small  birds,  thej' 
“laughing”  at  him.  At  liberty  it  is  very  adroit  at  capturing 
and  killing  small  birds,  such  as  larks,  sparrows,  and  finches, 
and  takes  young  partridges,  ijheasants,  and  rabbits ;  also  re¬ 
cently  hatched  poultry.  On  the  other  hand,  it  destroys  young 
rats,  mice,  and  voles,  and  is  extremely  beneficial  through  its 
aptitude  in  killing  wood  pigeons.  It  also  devours  grasshoppers, 
cockchafers,  beetles,  Ac.  An  invaluable  friend  of  gardenei’S, 
and  of  great  benefit  to  farmers,  for  though  it  will  raid  the 
])miltry  yard,  especially  in  breeding  time,  it  is  of  great  .service 
in  keeping  down  rats,  mice,  voles,  and  other  vermin. 
The  Short-eared  Owl  (Otus  hrachyotus)  is  a  familiar 
British  form,  though  migratory,  and  occurs  in  many  countries, 
even  in  India.  It  .sometimes  He.sts  in  this  country,  but  usually 
goes  abroad  for  breeding  purposes,  hence  a  normal  winter 
migrant,  arriving  and  departing  with  the  woodcock,  hence  the 
name  “  Woodcock  Owl.”  It  haunts  heath  and  moorland, 
mar.shes,.  fin  zy  downs,  meadows.  Turnip  fields,  and  open  places, 
principally  in  grazing  districts,  especially  in  the  north  of 
England  and  Scotland,  though  found  more  or  less  through  the 
whole  length  and  breadth  of  the  British  Islands.  It  flies  in 
the  daytime,  though  mainly  at  dawn  and  dusk  when  its  “  food  ” 
is  on  the  prowl,  and  hunts  for  mice,  voles,  and  other  vermin, 
including  beetles.  Young  game,  rats,  and  rabbits  do  not  e.scape 
its  onslaughts  where  it  breeds,  hut  this  is  not  common  in 
England,  and  when  it  does,  it  is  chiefly  iji  districts  where  there 
is  a  full  supply  of  its  favourite  food — mice,  imles,  and  rats. 
Extremely  valuable  to  fa?'mers  and  indirectly  to  gardeners,  its 
meat  enemy  being  gamekeepers,  for  anything  the  shape  of  a 
hawk  or  owl  falls  to  their  overzeal. 
The  Long-eared  Owl  (Otus  vulgaris  or  asiaticus)  is  another 
Engli.sh  species,  which  appears  to  re.side  permanently  in  Britain, 
is  probably  the  most  ferocious  of  the  common  Biitish  owls,  and 
feeds  upon  young  game  and  rabbits,  rats,  mice,  voles,  and  small 
birds. 
The  Tawny  or  Brown  Owl  (Surnium  Aluco  or  Ulula  .stridula) 
is  an  inhabitant  of  British  woods,  and  feeds  there  and  on  the 
outskii  ts,  ranging  over  a  wide  area,  upon  rats,  mice,  voles,  and 
other  vermin,  and  in  breeding  time  may  occasionally  make 
onslaujrlit  on  young  game  and  rabbits,  yet  is  very  beneficial  to 
farmers.  Other  owls,  also  hawks,  are  omitted,  because  too 
uncommon,  thanks  to  keepers,  who  kill  .stoats  and  weasels, 
everything,  real  or  suiiposed,  de.structive  to  game. 
The  IMagrie  (Pica  caudata)  is  too  uncommon  to  call  for  more 
than  mention  in  respect  of  its  food  con.si.sting  of  both  animal  and 
vegetable  matter.'  although  feeding  less  upon  carrion  than  the 
crows.  The  feeble  young  and  eggs  of  other  Ihrds  are  attacked 
and  devoured  by  magpies,  which  also  destroy  many  ground 
pests. 
The  Carrion  Crow  (Corvus  corone)  seldom  feeds  on  carrion, 
because  such  meals  are  too  scanty  for  its  requirements,  there¬ 
fore  it  preys  upon  small  quadi'uiieds,  such  as  young  hares  and 
rabbits,  young  birds,  and  various  kinds  of  reptiles,  especially 
frogs  and  lizards,  and  it  also  is  a  frequenter  of  poultry  and 
pheasant-rearing  grounds  or  runs,  attacking  the  young  birds 
and  cariying  them  off,  also  of  the  nests  of  young  birds  and 
poultry,  driving  its  bill  through  the  eggs  (?)  and  carrying  them 
off.  It  feeds,  however,  upon  mollu.sca  (.slugs  and  .snails),  and 
various  ground  pests.  Sometimes  it  proceeds  to  the  .sea,  there 
to  feed  upon  moilusca,  crabs,  shrimps,  Ac. 
The  Hooded  Crow  (Corvus  cornix)  feeds  principally  upon 
carrion  and  garbage  of  all  kinds,  and  in  spring  on  eggs  and 
young  birds.  On  the  seashore  they  feed  upon  animal  matter 
left  by  the  tide,  and  upon  mu.ssels,  cockles,  and  limpets.  In  the 
northern  parts  of  the  country  the  Hooded,  Boy.ston,  or  Grey- 
backed  Crow,  de.stroys  the  eggs  and  young  of  grouse,  and  in 
some  parts  of  the  Highlands  and  northern  i.sles  robs  the  ground 
of  .seed  corn  and  .seed  Potatoes.  Albeit,  tliej’  live  largely  on 
slugs  and  other  ground  pe.sts. — G.  Abbey. 
(To  be  concluded.) 
Xanthocepas  sorbifolia. 
A  note  in  the  Journal  for  April  14th  sufficiently  disciibed 
this  decoiative  .shrub.  Me,ssrs.  James  Veitch  and  Sons,  Ltd.,  of 
Chelsea,  luought  it  prominently  before  the  vi.sitors  to  the  Royal 
Horticultural  Society’s  exhibition  on  April  (5,  staging  a  well- 
flowered  group  of  plants  in  pots.  The  white  flowers,  with 
chocolate  centre,  are  borne  in  racemes  just  as  are  .shown  in 
our  illu.stration,  and  much  resemble  those  of  Erancoa 
ramosa.  The  pinnate  foliage  expands  after  the  blossoms  have 
faded.  The  shrub  grows  well  in  a  bed  in  the  open  grounds  at 
Ivew,  the  soil  being  sandy.  It  seems  to  prefer  a  light  or  medium 
loam.  For  gentle  forcing  it  is  likely  to  find  favour,  and  may 
be  treated  as  a  pot  subject  similarly  to  Staphyleas..  Forsythias, 
and  Lilacs.  The  shrub  flowers  on  the  young,  well-ripened  wood. 
Xanthoceras  sorbifolia. 
