BIRDS and Bucks, p. 103), and several others are mentioned by the same author. Dr. Lamb mentions one shot near Reading, January 25, 1 794 (' Ornith. Bercheria ') ; another was seen near Radley in September, 1895. A male was killed at Thatcham, February 25, 1871, and others have been seen (Newbury District Field Club, p. 95) ; another was shot at Pangbourne in 1884, and one on Compton Downs, April 6, 1897 (G. A. Topp in lit.}. Two have been shot at Haines Hill within the last few years about 1886 and on November 17, 1900. One killed itself by flying against the rectory windows at Wokingham, and Mr. Phillips, who gives me this information, has its skin. III. Kestrel. Falco tinnunculus, Linn. Resident and fairly common, in spite of the unnecessary persecution to which it is sub- jected. I have often found its eggs laid in holes in hollow trees as well as in chalk cliffs near the river, and once in an old squirrel's nest. H2. Osprey. Pandion halia'e'tus (Linn.). An occasional visitor on migration. One was shot on the Thames at Pangbourne, and one at Donnington in 1 8 1 o (' Ornith. Bercheria ') ; another taken in Windsor Great Park in 1864; one killed at Cookham 1864 (Birds of Berks and Bucks, p. 161). Mr. Newton tells me a neighbour has a specimen killed on the river some three miles from Wallingford ; and Mr. C. Barnett of Hambledon Mills mentions another killed on the river near Aston some years ago. 113. Cormorant. Phalacrocorax carbo (Linn.). A very rare wanderer. Dr. Lamb (' Ornith. Bercheria') mentions one killed at Fulsham near Newbury in November, 1803, and Mr. W. D. Mackenzie tells me of another shot by Mr. H. E. Rhodes at Hennerton on April 14, 1871. 114. Shag. Phalac rocorax graculus (Linn.). Dr. Lamb has recorded a shag killed near Pangbourne in September, 1794. A second example in immature plumage was taken on the Thames at Blackfriars Road, and is pre- served in the Oxford Museum. 115. Gannet. Sula bassana (Linn.). On October 14, 1838, two of these birds were seen near Wytham, and one, a male in immature plumage, was killed and passed into the collection of the Revs. A. and H.Matthews (Zool. 1849, p. 2624). Another was shot at Sandleford by Mr. McGregor in 1875 (Palmer, 'Birds of Newbury and District'). A third was taken in an exhausted state near Newbury in 1865 and passed into the possession of Mr. Herbert, and a very fine specimen was cap- tured near Reading on March 25, 1876, and another near Hungerford, April 14, 1876 (W. H. Herbert, Trans. Newbury Field Club, p. 250). 1 1 6. Common Heron. Ardea cinerea, Linn. Locally, Hern, Moll Hern. Common and resident. Mr. Walter Camp- bell tells me (in lit.) there is now only one heronry on the royal ground at Windsor ; it is at Virginia Water, and consists of about ten nests. Another heronry, consisting of some twenty nests, is to be seen at Wytham Abbey, the seat of the Earl of Abingdon, who in- forms me they are slightly on the increase. There is also one at Coley Park of about ten nests, and another at Buscot of some twenty nests. Just over our boundary at Fawley Court is a recent heronry of thirteen nests on the average. 117. Purple Heron. Ardea purpurea, Linn. An immature female was killed near White Waltham early in September, 1861 (Birds of Berks and Bucks, p. 185). ' Some twenty-five or thirty years ago an adult purple heron, handled whilst in the flesh by Mr. G. Arnatt, was shot on the Isis between Eynsham Bridge and Bablock Hithe. It was preserved, but afterwards was destroyed by moth ' (Birds of Oxon, p. 185). Another was shot at on the Thames in or about 1880, which fell dead on Clapper's eyot on the Oxon side (H. M. Wallis in lit.}. [Great White Heron. Ardea alba, Linn. One was killed on the Isis in September, 1833, of which we certainly have the right to a share, the river being our boundary (Yarrell, p. 179, ed. 4).] 1 1 8. Night-Heron. Nycticorax griseus (Linn.). Has been seen near Maidenhead, and was recorded in the Field by Sir H. Rae Reid ; but as several had been known to have escaped from confinement not far up the river, the bird referred to was probably one of these. 119. Little Bittern. Ardetta minuta (Linn.). Clark Kennedy (Birds of Berks and Bucks, p. 186-7) mentions several little bitterns said to have been taken in the county ; many of these records are unsubstantiated by locality or date, but the following can be traced : Wolley mentioned one shot on Queen's Eyot near Windsor in the summer of 1860. In the summer of 1826 a young specimen was shot on the banks of the Thames near Windsor, and it is believed to have been bred there from the situation being favourable and the 155
