Page:VCH Worcestershire 1.djvu/194

 A HISTORY OF WORCESTERSHIRE wing, which became apparent when relieved against the dark ground. I entertain but little doubt that it was a white-winged lark [Alauda siberica). A supposed sky-lark, having white in each wing, was seen by my brother and a friend in September, 1898, when part- ridge shooting near Littleton, which may have also been a bird of that species, though of course the probability would be in favour of its being only a pied sky-lark. 83. Wood-Lark. Alauda arborea, Linn. In the valley of the Avon, as well as in other parts of the county, the wood-lark is rare, but its peculiar but cheery song may frequently be heard in the valley of the Teme. 84. Swift. Cypselus apus (Linn.). While the swallows and martins have so seriously diminished in numbers, the swift is quite as plentiful as it ever was. It is so emphatically a bird of the air that the common people say it ascends into the higher regions of the atmosphere to roost ! That the inter- course between the sexes takes place high up in the air, as observed by Gilbert White at Selborne, the present writer can from personal observation confirm. Whether the alpine swift, Cypselus melba (Linn.) can be claimed as a Worcestershire bird, or even as a Gloucestershire species, is open to question, but a swift of great size and having a white under part passed over the present writer near the village of Weston-on- Avon, within gun-shot, in the first week in July, 1876, flying in a south-west direction. There can be no doubt that it was either an alpine swift, or the still rarer needle-tailed swift, AcanthyUis caudacuta (Latham). 85. Nightjar. Caprimulgus europaus, Linn. The nightjar, or goatsucker, cannot be called at all abundant in the county ; but is met with in such localities as are congenial to its habits, which may indeed be said of its appear- ance in other counties. Its abundance or the reverse appears to be dependent rather on the nature of the locality than its latitude. Hastings is silent about the goatsucker. It is still fairly plentiful in Wyre Forest. In the Malvern district it is said by both Lees and Edwards to be not uncommon, and the latter gentleman has met with the nest and eggs. It has also bred at Cracomb near Evesham. 86. Wryneck. lynx torquilla, Linn. The wryneck, though not rare, is much less frequently heard or seen than formerly, and from enquiry it appears to be seldom brought to the bird stuffers for preservation. The falling off in numbers may be attributed to the want of proper habitats, as the old orchards of Worcestershire were everything that could be desired, affording at once abundance of insect food as well as suitable building places ; but the more modern orchards afford neither. 87. Green Woodpecker. Gecinus viridis (Linn.). Locally, Iccle (? Hicicwall). This bird is one which, notwithstanding the diminution in the quantity of timber, still remains as common as heretofore, and may be seen and heard in suitable localities at all seasons. 88. Great Spotted Woodpecker. Dendrocopus major (Linn.). Hastings says nothing of this woodpecker by which we can learn anything of its fre- quency, only that it is less common than the green woodpecker. Lees gives it as occurring near Malvern, where it is ' rather uncommon.' It appears to be more common in that part of the county adjoining Herefordshire than else- where, from which locality a considerable number of species are annually brought into Worcester for preservation. 89. Lesser Spotted Woodpecker. Dendroco- pus minor (Linn.). More frequent in the county than the last, this little bird is also more generally distributed, and is partial to orchards, in which in the early spring it makes its presence known by its loud jarring noise, said to be occasioned by the rapid action of the bill on a decayed branch. It has a habit at that season of climbing up to the very top sprig of a tall tree, and from that conspicuous place uttering its note, which somewhat resembles that of the wryneck, but is keener and louder. The nest is in a hole made by the bird in a dead branch high up in an apple, plum, or cherry tree, in an orchard or garden. The statement that the young will issue from the hole and climb about the tree is, so far as the observation of the writer has gone, entirely erroneous. On the contrary they sometimes issue from the hole and fall to the ground, as he can affirm from personal observation. 90. Kingfisher. Alcedo ispida, Linn. A good deal has been said of late about the scarcity of the kingfisher, and the wanton destruction of the bird on account of the beauty of its plumage has been mentioned as the sole cause. That the blue plumage has exercised great influence in the reduction of the number ofthis the most brilliantly-coloured British bird there can be no doubt. Only quite recently 156