Page:VCH Staffordshire 1.djvu/176

 A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE with supplement, Mosley, D.C.L., The bibliography of Staffordshire birds, or list of books containing references thereto, commences with the year 1676 and is as follows : 1676. Ornithologia (London), Francis Willoughby. 1678. English translation of same (London), John Ray. 1686. Natural History of Staffordshire (Oxford), Dr. Robert Plot, LL.D. 1798. History and Antiquities of Staffordshire (London), Stebbing Shaw, containing sketch of Zoology of Staffordshire by John H. Dickenson. 1836. British Song Birds (London), Neville Wood. 1836. The Ornithologist's Text Book (London), Neville Wood. 1 844. Natural History of the County of Stafford, Robert Garner, i860. 1863. The Natural History of Tutbury (London), Sir Oswald including the Fauna of Burton-on-Trent, Edwin Brown. 1865 to 1903. Papers and Notes in Reports of the North Staffordshire Field Club, by Dr. McAldowie, Ernest W. H. Blagg, M.B.O.U., John R. B. Masefield, M.A., W. Wells Bladen and others. 1878. Scientific Rambles around Macclesfield, J. D. Sainter. 1879. 'Birds and their Habits,' pt. I, Midland Naturalist (London and Birmingham), H. G. Xomlinson. 1880. ' Birds and their habits,' pt. 2, Burton-on-Trent Natural History Society Report. 1 88 1. 'Our Summer Migrants,' Midland Naturalist. 1892. Birds of Derbyshire (London and Derby), F. B. Whitlock. 1893. Birds of Staffordshire (Stoke-on-Trent), A. M. McAldowie, M.D., F.R.S.Ed. To the Rev. F. C. R. Jourdain our thanks are especially due for his invaluable assistance and for many notes and additions to the following list of Staffordshire birds. 1. Mistle-Thrush. Turdus viscivorus, Linn. Locally, Shrite, Stormcock (Garner), Thrice- cock. A common resident, nesting in woods, copses and orchards, and migrating south in severe weather. 2. Sons-Thrush. Turdus musicus. Linn. O / Locally, Throstle. Common and partly migratory in winter. Pied varieties have occurred at Xhickbroom in 1842 and Swythamley in 1859 (Birds of Staffordshire, p. 36). 3. Redwing. Turdus iliacus, Linn. A winter visitor in flocks to our meadows, arriving in October and roosting in sheltered woods or thick shrubberies, where they are frequently followed and preyed upon by the sparrow-hawk. 4. Fieldfare. Turdus pilaris, Linn. A winter visitor in flocks, feeding upon holly berries, hips and haws, and occasionally remaining till May. A somewhat shyer bird than the redwing. Mr. E. Brown (' Fauna of Burton-on-Trent,' p. 94 in Sir O. Mosley's Nat. Hist, of Tutbury) asserts that a nest was obtained by Mr. Allen at Longcroft a few years ago. 5. Blackbird. Turdus merula, Linn. Very common. Many migrate south in severe weather. Albino, pied and cream or buff varieties are not uncommon. 6. Ring-Ouzel. Turdus torquatus, Linn. A regular summer visitant to the high moorland districts in the north of the county, where it nests regularly, assembling in flocks prior to migration in autumn. The berries of the mountain ash (Pyrus aucuparia) are a favourite food of this bird. 7. Wheatear. Saxicola cenanthe (Linn.) A summer visitor to our heaths and moor- lands,even frequenting disused colliery mounds, but has diminished in numbers of late years. 8. Whinchat. Pratincola rubetra (Linn.) Locally, Utic. A common summer visitant to heaths and meadows. 9. Stonechat. Pratincola rubicola (Linn.) Formerly a common resident, but now only occasionally seen and its nest rarely found. I o. Redstart. Ruticilla phaenicurus (Linn.) Locally, Firetail. A summer migrant, generally distributed, 142