A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE particulars are given, and without stronger evidence the record cannot be considered as satisfactory. 98. Hen-Harrier. Circus cyaneus (Linn.) Formerly common and bred in the county, but now a rare occasional visitor. It is noticed without remark by Dickenson in 1 798. Garner describes it as occasional. In 1852 one was shot at Swythamley, where it has bred. Mr. Sainter includes it in his list of breeding birds. At Burton it has once been re- corded (E. A. Brown). Near Stone it has been seen on the wing (Birds of Staffordshire, p. 90). One was shot on Cannock Chase in 1899, and another in 1900, both in Lord Lichfield'scollectionat Shugborough. This bird is observed on Cannock Chase most years but unfortunately shot or trapped, or would pro- bably remain to breed (Report North Staffs Field Club, 1903). 99. Common Buzzard. Buteo vulgaris, Leach. Now a rare visitor to the north of the county but eighty or ninety years ago it was a common resident in the wooded districts, such as Needwood Forest (Nat. Hist, of Tut- bury, p. 33). One was killed at Horninglow in 1860 (Fauna of Burton, p. 92), and others have been reported from Oakamoor in March 1886, and also in 1893, May Bank in 1879, and Endon in 1894 (Reports North Staff's Field Club}. Mr. Sainter mentions one shot on the Roaches near Leek about 1872 (Sci. Rambles round Macclesfield). 100. Rough-legged Buzzard. Buteo lagopus (J."F. Gmelin) Occasionally visits the moorlands of north Staffordshire on migration and has several times been observed in the south of the county. Garner mentions one shot near Leek and another from Needwood. This latter bird is probably the male in the Rolleston Hall museum which was shot at Rangemoor in 1840. Another was seen at Rolleston for several days in January 1846, but was not shot (Nat. Hist, of Tut bury, p. 34). One shot on Cannock Chase in January 1895 is now in the collection at Shugborough (Report North Staffs Field Club, 1903). 101. Golden Eagle. Aquila chrysaetus (Linn.) Some doubt rests upon the reported occur- rences of this species, as probably the writers were not in every case competent to dis- tinguish between this species and the imma- ture sea eagle. Plot in 1686 writes, ' Witness the eagle in Beaudesert Hall killed in the Park.' Eagles have been observed too in the forest of Needwood. Garner in 1844 Sa 7 s '* nas been seen at Needwood ' in late years ' and that one was shot on Lichfield Cathedral in the reign of Charles I. About 1873 Mr. H. Evans and Lord Waterpark had a good view of one in Brakenhurst Cover perched in a tree about 60 yards away. 102. White-tailed Eagle. Haliaetus albicilla (Linn.) The two eagles mentioned by Dickenson in 1798 as seen on Cannock Chase a few years before, and one of which was shot by Sir Edward Littleton's gamekeeper, have been proved to be of this species (' Notes on Birds ' by W. E. Beckwith in Trans. Shropshire Arch. Soc. 1887). 103. Goshawk. Aitur palumbarius (Linn.) One was shot at Swythamley in 1853. Another, a male bird, was killed at Rolleston in 1877 and is now in the Rolleston mu- seum. 104. Sparrow-Hawk. Accipiter nisus (Linn.) One of the few hawks which still nest regularly in the county and is not uncommon except where exterminated by gamekeepers. Several instances have been recorded within the county where this bird has been killed outright or stunned by flying against plate- glass windows when in pursuit of small birds. 105. Kite. Milvus ictinus (Savigny) Although at one time a common bird the kite has long been a rare visitor to the county. Garner speaks of it as ' occasional,' and says it has been trapped in Needwood Forest. Mr. E. Brown (Fauna of Burton, p. 92) mentions one seen near Branstone in 1855, and Mr. Rising's collection contained a pair of Staffordshire killed birds, while Mr. R. W. Chase has one shot at Ornslow many years ago in his col- lection. The latest occurrence was in 1877 one seen at Swynnerton (Birds of Staffordshire, p. 93). Dovedale is supposed to have been a former breeding place of this bird. 1 06. Honey-Buzzard. Perms apivorus (Linn.) Garner records one shot at Trentham in 1844, and in August 1885 (in error this date is given as October 1884) a second was shot at Swynnerton (Reports North Staffs Field Club y 1885). J. E. Harting states that the nest has been found in Stafford (Buchanan) in his handbook. In the Zoologist, 1888 (p. 394) one is recorded as having been shot at Beau- desert on 27 July 1888, and another at Little Aston near Birmingham on 16 June 1891 (Zool. 1897, p. 271). One shot at The Wergs, near Wolverhampton, 19 June 1903. 150
