BIRDS The Worcestershire birds are a subject of difficulty for two reasons, (i) The very irregular shape of the county boundary makes it hard to say what birds should or should not be included ; for instance, a bird killed in an isolated parish surrounded by another county some distance from its regular border, yet still a part of Worcestershire, and also the case of birds killed on or near the boundary, when it is either a river or a parish like Broadway jutting out into another county ; and (2) the varied conditions of the different parts of the county which make it almost impossible for any one observer to compile from his own knowledge an accurate list of all the birds. In the north-west of the county the remains of Wyre Forest give a list that is quite different from the southern dis- trict, while the woodlands of the midland part have a bird population distinct from that of the hills and open spaces on the western boundary. The Severn and its tributaries make quite unexpected additions to the list. While the increase of the population and towns in the north cause the disappearance of much of the bird life that used to be found there, the change in the cultivation, the improved farming, the increase of market gardening, have made considerable change in the different species met with in the south of the county. Another difficulty is the old records. How far can they be relied upon ? Their account of very uncommon and unexpected specimens must be regarded with some distrust, e.g. the crane {Grus communis), especially as the heron [Ardea cinerea) is often locally called the crane ; but it is not safe to assert that the records, although suspicious in various cases, are necessarily incorrect, as some very unexpected visitors, e.g. the two-barred crossbill [Loxia bifasciata), have doubtless occurred. The south of the county has been better observed than the other districts, probably the Avon valley is the only part that has been really thoroughly and satisfactorily worked, the result of which is the account of the birds given in this History. Observers in other parts have not made prolonged or systematic observations, although some very valuable notes, such as those of Mr. Howard on the mid- Worcestershire birds, have been published.' The resident species of birds in the county is not a large list, and is possibly a decreasing one. Out of the 207 species of birds mentioned below as Worcestershire, the residents number but 60, and probably this Ust will be annually further reduced. The visitors may be divided into regular and casual, the regular containing some 45 out of the 147 are also decreas- 1 Zoologist, 1899, p. 259. 139
