Page:VCH Buckinghamshire 1.djvu/183

Rh 78. Sky-Lark. Alauda arvensis, Linn.

Very numerous on fields and pastures. Pale and pied varieties are not rare. An entirely ' buff-yellow ' variety was shot on December 26, 1863, at Weston Turville (R. Tyrer, Zoologist, 1864, p. 8957).

79. Wood-Lark. Alauda arborea, Linn.

A rather rare and local bird in Buckinghamshire, being partial to dry, chiefly sandy, districts with open woods and plantations. It occurs therefore sparingly along the Chiltern Hills, and was observed near Chequers Court by the Rev. H. D. Astley.

80. Swift. Cypselus apus (Linn.).

(The correct name, if priority of generic as well as of specific names is recognized, is Apus apus. Cypselus is the third oldest generic term.)

Sometimes called the ' devil.' Very frequent, arriving within the first days of May, more rarely during the last days of April. E. Hartert had some correspondence with several prominent members of the British Ornithologists' Union, showing that, though the usual number of eggs is certainly two, three eggs are not unfrequently found in one nest.

81. Nightjar. Caprimulgus europæus, Linn.

This summer visitor is by no means rare in suitable localities, viz. dry open woods, chiefly of conifers, dry ground covered with heather, gorse or ferns. Mr. A. Heneage Cocks says it is plentiful in all the woods in the Humbledon district. It is not rare about Burnham Beeches, and very common on the hills above Halton. There it can be heard and seen on every summer's night. The Rev. Hubert D. Astley calls it numerous near Chequers Court, Coombe Hill and above Wendover. W. Rothschild saw it near Buckingham, E. Hartert near Princes Risborough. It is said to be abundant near Slough and Eton, and Mr. Clark Kennedy described it as common in the woods near Beaconsfield.

82. Wryneck. lynx torquilla, Linn.

Locally, Cuckoo's mate, Nile bird (at Great Marlow), Pea bird.

The first name evidently refers to the time of arrival, which may be much the same as that of the cuckoo; the third must, we think, refer to its cry, and the second name does perhaps the same. The wryneck is, it seems, somewhat decreasing in number. It is seen or heard in most districts, but nowhere is it common. Mr. Grossman informs us that it used formerly to be plentiful round Farnham and Burnham. In 1878 it was heard as early as April 5 at Stoke Pogis Vicarage near Slough. A pure white wryneck, a young one of the year, was killed on October 27, 1878, at Wendover Hall.

83. Green Woodpecker. Gecinus viridis (Linn.).

Though nowhere numerous, it occurs wherever there are old trees in which it can nest. Altogether it is probably the most plentiful woodpecker in the county. Its very loud note makes it easily heard.

84. Great Spotted Woodpecker. Dendracopus major (Linn.).

(The more exact name of the British great spotted woodpecker is D. major anglicus [Novit. Zool. 1900, p. 528]. It differs very strikingly from the typical Swedish form in its smaller size, especially shorter wing and slenderer bill, as well as less pure white underside.)

Only found in woods and well-wooded parks, and therefore not universally distributed. It breeds near Aylesbury, Aston Clinton and Halton, at Howe Park and near Castlethorpe. Mr. Grossman found it in many places in south Bucks, more especially where the beech is plentiful. It is often seen at Burnham Beeches (Birds of Berks and Bucks, p. 44), and has been observed at Chesham, Eton, Taplow and Ashridge Park.

85. Lesser Spotted Woodpecker. Dendrocopus minor (Linn.).

A resident bird throughout the year, and perhaps commoner than most people think, being small and less noticeable than the other woodpeckers. It often makes its nests in fruit trees in orchards at variable height. Mr. Grossman knows of nests in the neighbourhood of Farnham and Newton Blossomville near Olney. We have had a specimen from Wingrave, and it has been obtained or observed at Stoke Park, Eton, Dorney near Brill, Latimer, Langley near Stokes, Datchet, Aston Clinton, Buckingham, Ashridge Park, Marsworth, Cheddington, Mentmore, Aylesbury and Castlethorpe.

[Great Black Woodpecker. Picus martins, Linn.

Clark Kennedy (Birds of Berks and Bucks, p. 178) says: 'In March 1867, while walking under some elms in Ditton Park, I saw a great black woodpecker busily engaged on one of the tallest trees within a short distance of me. I was sufficiently near to identify the bird with certainty, and had an opportunity of