Page:VCH Northamptonshire 1.djvu/152

 A HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTONSHIRE called common, though not uncommon any- where. I have always found it most abun- dant in the maritime parts of Britain. It is a late breeder, having but one brood generally, the eggs being laid at the end of May. As it nests in rough grass, but often in the middle of clover or cornfields, the nest, owing to the then state of vegetation, is not as often seen as that of some other birds which are much rarer. Its numbers in Britain are augmented during the winter by immigration from the continent. 66. Yellow Hammer. Emberiza citrinellay Linn. Locally, Writing-Lark. A common resident. Its local name is de- rived from the scribbling marks on its eggs. It breeds during the last fortnight in April, and again later, nesting in thick herbage under a bush or hedge on the ground or a little above it. Crosses the Channel on migration. 67. Cirl Bunting. Emberiza cirlus, Linn. A resident, or irregular resident, in small numbers, but more common, I suspect, than is generally realized, being a good deal like the yellow hammer in appearance and note. Only one specimen appears to have been actually obtained in our county, but I have very strong reason to believe that it has bred at Thorney, which is close to our boundaries. A bird that wants attention throughout our county. 68. Reed-Bunting. Emberiza schaeniclus, Linn. Locally, Reed-Sparrow. Usually called ' black-headed bunting,' which name belongs to a different bird alto- gether. A pretty common resident by water- sides, nesting in April on the ground in thick vegetation, and raising two, sometimes three, broods in the season. 69. Snow-Bunting. Plectrophenax nivalis (Linn.). This bird, though a regular winter visitor to our east coasts, seldom goes far inland except in the northern counties. It only seems to have been obtained in Northampton- shire on two occasions {seeLilford, i. 169-172). It breeds in small numbers in the extreme north of Scotland, and abundantly in Iceland and arctic Europe. 70. Starling. Sturnus vulgaris, Linn. Locally, Starnel. A very abundant resident, and one that deserves every encouragement and protection, as it does an immensity of good without any harm whatever, unless enlarging a hole in a thatched roof, already made by a sparrow, counts for harm. The starling migrates to and from the continent. Whether it is double-brooded or not is a point on which opinions differ ; I have no doubt that it often rears two broods in the season. 71. Rose-coloured Starling. Pastor roseus (Linn.). An irregular and rare visitor to England and western Europe, Asia being its home. It has once been obtained in Northants, by Colonel Cottingham, at Weedon, on Septem- ber loth, 1888. It is usually seen in late summer and autumn, and generally associates with flocks of starlings. 72. Jay. Garrulus glandarius (Linn.). A fairly common resident, but is much persecuted by game preservers, and, I am con- vinced, unjustly. It is seldom seen hunting on the ground, and I have never fairly con- victed it of touching any game-bird's eggs. On the contrary, it is a useful check on the wood -pigeon. It is of course confined to wooded districts, where it breeds in tall bushes in April, and is single-brooded, as, I believe, all the Corvidie are. Numbers visit England in winter from the continent. 73. Magpie. Pica rustica (Scopoli). A resident, becoming rare owing to perse- cution. It is undoubtedly injurious to game eggs, but quite pays for the damage it does in this direction by keeping the numbers of the wood-pigeons and blackbirds down, and by the destruction of snails and slugs as well as mice and insects, which are its general food. The magpie breeds early, often at the end of March, in hedges or low trees, and is single-brooded. 74. Jackdaw. Corvus monedula, Linn. A common resident, consorting usually with rooks, breeding in holes in rocks or buildings, in hollow or ivy-covered trees, in April. Jackdaws cross the sea in autumn in large numbers, returning in spring. I am of opinion that the jackdaw does more harm to game than the jay and the magpie together, especi- ally to the young partridges. Though its normal food consists of worms and insects, and it is to that extent beneficial, the mischief it does is so great that I should be inclined to hand it over to the tender mercies of the gamekeeper. 75. Raven. Corvus corax, Linn. Once a fairly common resident in our county, now, alas, a very rare occasional visitor. Former breeding places are mentioned in Lil/ord {i. 211-216). The famous ' Sankey' 118