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 BIRDS 147. Ring-Dove or Wood-Pigeon. Columba palumbus, Linn. Very common and resident, though their numbers are largely augmented in the winter. In a 'beech-mast' year these flocks often assume vast proportions, and many thousands may be seen together. They breed from early spring to autumn, as I have found nests in March and November. 148. Stock-Dove. Columba anas, Linn. Common, and appears to be increasing in numbers. In the severe winter of 1879-80 they were exceptionally numerous; twenty- one were killed at a single shot on a pheasant- feed at Park Place. [Rock-Dove. Columba livia, Gmelin. A rock-dove is recorded in the Wellington College list, 1870-2, without comment, but inasmuch as the stock-dove is locally called ' rock-dove ' confusion is probable.] 149. Turtle-Dove. Turtur communis, Selby. A regular summer migrant, breeding in numbers especially in the underwoods ; they arrive early in May and return late in Sep- tember. 150. Pallas's Sand-Grouse. Syrrhaptes para- doxus (Pallas). During the great invasion of sand-grouse in 1888 a few were recorded within our county limits and probably many others were seen. Mr. Aplin tells me (in lit.) one was taken at Chilton near Hungerford, two near Newbury, two at Peasemore and one on Compton Downs; this last hit the telegraph wires when flying with a flock of about thirty early in January. Three were seen on the railway bank between Twyford and Reading on October 15, 1889 (Field, October 19, 1889). Mr. Cornish tells me that about January I, 1889, one was killed at Wantage Road station with a stone, and that a flock were seen by his father on Windmill Hill near Wantage in the autumn of 1888. About the same time Mr. Newton saw some on his farm at Wallingford. 151. Black Grouse. Tetrao tetrix, Linn. It seems doubtful if blackgame were ever indigenous to Berkshire ; but they were introduced into the county, several having been turned down in the royal preserves at Windsor, whence they spread, and many were killed in various parts of the county, especially in 1867. That they bred freely in the summer of 1867 is stated in the Field, October 5 of that year. As recently as the spring of 1884 Mr. Phillips tells me he saw a cock and hen within a few yards of one another at Easthampstead, and on May 31, 1894, he received three eggs which were part of a clutch of six taken on Yateley Common by Mr. Kelsey of Chandler's farm, Yateley, within a quarter of a mile of our boundary. His men were cutting heather for litter and mowed right over the nest. The eggs were slightly incubated. 152. Pheasant. Pbasianus cokhicus (Linn.). The pheasant is common throughout the county, but it is doubtful if a pure P. colchhus could be found in a wild state in this or any other county in England. The Chinese ring-necked bird, P. torquatus, was intro- duced at the end of the eighteenth century, and now the white ring can be traced in a more or less developed condition in almost all the birds killed in our preserves. 153. Partridge. Perdix cinerea, Latham. Common in all preserved districts. 154. Red-legged Partridge. Caccabis rufa (Linn.). Locally, French Partridge. Acclimatized in England about the end of the eighteenth century, it is now fairly dis- tributed throughout the county. It would be more plentiful were it not for the erro- neous idea that it is hostile to the grey partridge, which has led keepers to destroy both the birds and their nests. It is curious to note Dr. Lamb's remarks on this species written in or about 1814. He mentions two instances of this bird having been killed, and adds, ' probably escaped from some aviary, as they are not known to breed here ' (' Ornith. Bercheria '). 155. Quail. Coturnix communis, Bonnaterre. A spring migrant, though not nearly so plentiful as formerly ; even as long ago as 1814 Dr. Lamb wrote, 'About thirty years ago very plentiful, now rare.' In the Zoologist (July, 1868, p. 1294) Mr. Stubbs recorded the finding of a nest and eleven eggs at Remenham on June 8 of that year. This is the only instance that has come under my notice of its breeding in this part of the county ; but Mr. Cornish tells me he has known nests near Childrey and Letcombe, and in 1886 about twelve birds were shot there. 156. Corn-Crake or Land-Rail. Crex pra- tensis, Bechstein. A regular summer migrant, arriving in 159