A HISTORY OF BERKSHIRE 80. Raven. Corvus ctrax, Linn. Once resident in the county, it is now only known as a rare straggler. It is said to have bred in Windsor Park about 1848 (Birds of Berks and Bucks, p. 39). 81. Carrion Crow. Corvus corone, Linn. Locally, Cor Crow. Very local. An odd pair may sometimes be heard or seen in this part of the county, but they are distinctly rare, and I have only known one nest. Once common near Wind- sor, stricter game preservation has brought about their destruction, but in the west and north-west of the county they are plenti- ful, breeding near Faringdon, and in the south near Wellington, while they appear to be most numerous near Challow, as Mr. Cor- nish tells me that a dozen nests could be found in an afternoon's walk from the station. 82. Hooded Crow. Corvus comix, Linn. A winter visitor, but as far as I can ascer- tain never in any numbers. It has been killed at Park Place, and has been seen on Maidenhead Thicket, as well as at Windsor. Curiously enough, it does not seem to visit the north-west corner of the county, and is not recorded in the Radley list. Near New- bury a few are killed most winters, and Mr. Valpy says (' Birds of Newbury and District '), ' I have seen many on the hills near Compton called by the natives the " Chilton Dun Crow." ' 83. Rook. Corvus frugilegus, Linn. Common and resident. Possibly owing to a succession of dry summers this bird, which has been so long protected, has taken to egg eating, and it is high time their num- bers were reduced. Rook shooting is very little practised, and the birds have increased to a large extent. 84. Sky-Lark. Alauda arvensis, Linn. Abundant and resident, breeding in num- bers, especially on the cultivated lands, throughout the county. I have seen white eggs belonging to this species taken at Hener- ton near Wargrave by Mr. Rhodes. In winter, at the commencement of a frost, they may be seen moving in large flocks, and so regular is their line of flight that I have known a man shoot dozens while standing still in his small garden a few poles in extent. 85. Wood-Lark. Alauda arborea, Linn. Resident in small numbers and extremely local. I have never met with it in this part of the county, but it has been recorded from near Wellington College, and Mr. Cornish tells me a pair nested in his garden at Lockinge in 1899. Dr. Palmer ('Birds of Newbury and District') says it is 'rather rare,' but breeds most years at Deadmore Bottom and Highclere, just over our boundary. Writing in 1850, Messrs. Matthews stated it was then sparingly distributed over certain parts of the Chiltern Hills. 86. Swift. Cypselus apus (Linn.). Locally, Devil Screamer. Regular summer migrant, arriving about the second week in May and leaving again in August, though a few remain later. Mr. Mackenzie has recorded one from the Bucks side of the river on December 22, 1860 ! [Alpine Swift. Cypselus melba (Linn.). A bird of this species mentioned in Birds of Berks and Bucks, p. 1 8 1, as killed near Reading is a mistake (see ZooL 1889, p. 415).] 87. Nightjar. Caprimulgus europeeus, Linn. Locally, Night-Hawk, Fern-Owl, Goatsucker. Regular summer migrant, but in greatly reduced numbers in this part of the county. This is due in a great measure to the ignor- ance of certain gamekeepers, who not only destroy this harmless bird in mistake for a hawk, but also, as one informed me, ' because they fly over the coops at night and disturb the birds.' I once found a set of three eggs. The nightjar arrives the second week in May and usually leaves in September. I saw one shot at Rose Hill by Mr. L. Micklem in October ; it is numerous near Wellington and also at Pusey and Wallingford. In Bagley Wood near Radley it is also common. 88. Wryneck. lynx torquilla, Linn. Locally, Cuckoo's Mate, Snake Bird. Fairly common spring migrant. Its pe- culiar note may be heard the second week in April, and by October they have left us. About here this bird is certainly not com- mon, as I have only known five nests in more than thirty years, one of which was placed in a box fastened against a fir tree for the accommodation of tits. From Radley I learn it is a regular visitor, but not in any numbers. Near Maidenhead and Windsor it is more numerous. 89. Green Woodpecker. Gecinus viridis (Linn.). Locally, Yaffle, Hickle. Our commonest woodpecker ; resident, and almost numerous, in the old beech-wood districts, where it breeds regularly. Whether 150
