BIRDS

SEEN IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD OF SHREWSBURY.

“And now is Mirthe therein, to here
The birdes how they singen clere,
The manis and the nightingale,
And other jollie birdes smale.”

Chaucer’s Romaunt of the Rose.

THE NAMES AND ARRANGEMENT ARE THOSE OF BEWICK.

Falco Buteo, Buzzard, Haughmond Hill; Grinshill; Wrekin.
— Milvus, Kite, Bomere Pool.
— cyaneus, Hen Harrier, meadows about Berwick.
— Pygargus, Ringtail, Westfelton Moors.
— Tinnunculus, Kestrel, Shrewsbury; Wrekin.
— Nisus, Sparrow-hawk, near Castle Foregate; Old Heath.
Strix Otus, Long-eared Owl, Westfelton, but rarely.
— flammea, Yellow Owl, meadows;—Shrewsbury.
— stridula, Tawny Owl, very common.
Lanius Excubitor, Ash-coloured Shrike, Babin’s Wood, near Whittington.
— Collurio, Red-backed Shrike, Wolf’s Head; Shottaton; Lowe Bank.
Corvus Corax, Raven, Wrekin; Aston.
— Corone, Crow, every where.
— Cornix, Hooded Crow, Weston Lullingfield.
— frugilegus, Rook, common;—Whittington Castle.
— Monedula, Jack-daw, common;—Nesscliffe.
— Pica, Magpie, common.
— glandarius, Jay, Almond Park; Berwick.
Ampelis Garrulus, Chatterer, nr. Oswestry, occasionally.
Sturnus vulgaris, Starling, common; Westfelton.
Turdus viscivorus, Missel Thrush, Shrewsbury Castle.
— musicus, Throstle, common.
— pilaris, Fieldfare, common.
— iliacus, Redwing, common.
— Merula, Blackbird, common.
— torquatus, Ring Ouzel, Breidden Mountains.
Cuculus canorus, Cuckoo, common:—Fairyland, Westfelton.
Yunx Torquilla, Wryneck, Shrewsbury Quarry and Meole Brace. (on the authority of Robert Griffith Temple, Esq. Barrister at Law.)
Picus viridis, Green Woodpecker, common.
— major and medius, Pied Woodpecker, Shrewsbury Quarry, occasionally.
— minor, Barred Woodpecker, Shrewsbury Quarry and Westfelton.
Sitta europæa, Nuthatch, Shrewsbury Quarry.
Upupa Epops, Hoopoe, Rednall, a pair, only once seen.
Certhia familiaris, Creeper, Shrewsbury Quarry.
Loxia curvirostra, Cross-bill, on larch trees, occasional visitors.
— Coccothraustes, Grosbeak, farm-yards; at Nesscliffe, in company with sparrows.
— Enucleator, Pine Grosbeak, Nesscliffe Hill.
— Chloris, Green Grosbeak common in gardens.
— Pyrrhula, Bullfinch, common in gardens.
Emberiza Miliaria Bunting, hedges and lanes, common.
— Citrinella, Yellow Bunting common in high-roads.
— Schœniclus, Black-headed Bunting, Raven Meadow; Dorsett’s Barn, Shrewsbury.
Fringilla domestica, Sparrow, every where.
— cælebs, Chaffinch, common in gardens.
— Carduelis, Goldfinch, common in fields.
— Spinus, Siskin, Westfelton, in flights, but rarely.
— cannabina, Greater Red-pole. near mountains;—Pimhill.
Fringilla linaria, Lesser Redpole, on gravel walks.
— linota, Linnet, not uncommon.
Muscicapa Atricapilla, Pied Flycatcher Westfelton; one pair, annually.
— Grisola, Spotted Flycatcher very common; about houses.
Alauda arvensis, Lark, very common in fields.
— pratensis, Titlark, common in fields.
— arborea, Woodlark, common; Westfelton.
Motacilla alba, Pied Wagtail pools and brooks.
— Boarula, Grey Wagtail, farm-yards.
— flava, Yellow Wagtail rather common; ploughed fields.
— Luscinia, Nightingale, Sutton Spa; and Westfelton once.
— Rubecula, Redbreast, every where.
— Phœnicurus, Redstart, common; orchards and farm-steads.
Sylvia hortensis, Garden Warbler Ruckler, common in high leafy-sycamores.
Motacilla passerina, Passerine Warbler, gardens.
— modularis, Hedge Warbler, every where; near houses.
— Salicaria, Reed Warbler, New Inn, near Dorsett’s Barn.
— Atricapilla, Black-cap common;—low bushes and gardens.
— Sylvia, White-throat, common;—woods.
— Trochilus, Yellow Wren, Almond Park.
Willow Wren, (Bewick, vol. i. p. 257, 6th ed.) common.
Motacilla, Chiff Caff, (Bewick, vol. i. p. 258, 6th ed.) common, and generally the first arrival.
Trochilus minor, Least Willow Wren, Marsh Hall.
Motacilla Regulus, Golden-crested Wren, not uncommon;—firs and yews.
— Troglodytes, Wren, common;—out-buildings.
— Oenanthe, Wheatear, Haughmond Hill and Dovaston.
— Rubetra, Whinchat, common on gorse bushes.
— Rubicola, Stonechat, Sharpstones Hill.
Parus major, Greater Titmouse, very common.
— cæruleus, Blue Titmouse, very common.
— ater, Coal Titmouse, not uncommon.
— caudatus, Long-tailed Titmouse, hedges and bushes.
— palustris, Marsh Titmouse near Shrewsbury.
Hirundo rustica, Swallow, common;—chimneys.
— urbica. Martin, common;—churches.
— riparia, Sand Martin, common;—Shelton rough
— Apus, Swift, common;—eaves.
Caprimulgus europæus, Night-jar, Nesscliffe;—Haughmond Hill.
Columba Palumbus, Ring Dove, Almond Park; Berwick; Shelton.
— Turtur, Turtle Dove, nr. Preston Boats; Westfelton.
Phasianus Colchicus, Pheasant, woods, parks;—Aston.
Tetrao Perdix, Partridge, stubble fields.
— Coturnix, Quail, Shotton and Sandford.
Charadius Pluvialis, Golden Plover, very rare; once at Westfelton.
Ardea major, Heron, Isle: Sandford Pool.
— stellaris, Bittern, Sandford Pool; and on Vyrnwy River.
Scolopax Arquata, Curlew, Source of the Morda, above Oswestry, in summer.
— Rusticola Woodcock, woods;—Treflach.
— Gallinago, Snipe, wet bogs and springs.
— Gallmula, Judcock, bogs and wet meadows.
Tringa Vanellus, Lapwing, Ensdon; Twyford Vownog.
— Hypoleucos, Common Sandpiper, occasionally on the margins of large pools.
Hæmatopus Ostrolegus, Oyster-catcher, near Oswestry, occasionally in the winter.
Sturnus Cinclus, Water Ouzel, Meole brook and Morda.
Alcedo Ispida, Kingfisher, Meole brook; Ellesmere Canal.
Rallus aquaticus, Water Rail, very uncommon.
Gallinula Crex, Land-rail, in long growing hay & corn.
— chloropus, Common Gallinule, pools, common.
Fulica atra, Coot, large pools: Sandford.
Podiceps minor, Little Grebe, weedy pools, not uncommon.
Larus canus, Common Gull, occasionally in flight.
Procellaria pelagica, Stormy Petrel, Prees—found dead.
Anas Anser ferus, Grey Lag Goose, large waters: Baggymore.
— Boschas, Mallard, pools; Woodhouse.
— Penelope, Wigeon, pools: Halston.
— Crecca, Teal, river Severn.
Pelecanus Carbo, Cormorant, Isle; Montford Bridge.

For the foregoing list, we are indebted to the kindness of the late John F. M. Dovaston, Esq. A.M. of Westfelton, near Shrewsbury, the Friend and Biographer of Bewick; a gentleman who, with enthusiastic ardour, devoted many years of unceasing attention and observation, to an accurate investigation of the varieties and habits of the feathered tribes.

A FEW OF THE
RARER SPECIES OF PLANTS
GROWING IN A WILD STATE IN THE IMMEDIATE VICINITY OF SHREWSBURY.

The Arrangement adopted is that of the Natural System, and the
Nomenclature from Babington’s Manual of British Botany.

“what skill, what force divine,
Deep felt, in these appear!”

Thomson.

Ranunculus Lingua, Bomere and Hancott pools.
— auricomus, Haughmond Hill; Shelton Wood.
— arvensis, corn-fields.
— parviflorus, near Red-barn: Pulley; Sharpstones Hill.
Berberis vulgaris, Sharpstones Hill.
Papaver Argemone, fields, near Bank farm.
Corydalis claviculata, Pimhill.
Fumaria micrantha, near Harwood’s Boat-house.
Nasturtium palustre, banks of Severn.
— sylvestre, banks of Severn.
Turritis glabra, Berwick Knolls.
Cardamine amara, banks of Severn between Preston Boats and Uffington.
Diplotaxis tenuifolia, Shrewsbury Abbey ruins.
Cochlearia Danica, Dominican Friary, Shrewsbury.
Thlaspi arvense, corn-fields near Shrewsbury.
Teesdalia nudicaulis, Haughmond and Sharpstones hill.
Viola palustris, Bomere and Almond Park pools.
— sylvatica, Weir Coppice.
Drosera longifolia, Bomere pool.
Elatine hexandra, Bomere pool.
Dianthus plumarius, Haughmond Abbey.
— deltoides, Sharpstones Hill and Downton.
Saponaria officinialis and var: flore pleno, Haughmond Abbey.
Mœnchia erecta, Haughmond Hill.
Alsine rubra, Pimhill; Haughmond Hill.
Hypericum elodes, Bomere and Oxon pools.
— humifusum, near Sundorne.
— maculatum, Haughmond hill and Meole Brace.
— pulchrum, Sharpstones hill.
Geranium Pyrenaicum, road-side near Bicton Grove.
— columbinum, Pulley.
— lucidum near the Lea; Wrentnall.
Rhamnus Frangula, Bomere pool.
Ulex nanus, Kingsland; Sharpstones hill; Haughmond hill.
Genista Anglica, Bomere pool.
Vicia sylvatica, Shelton rough.
Lathyrus sylvestris, near Pimley; Shelton rough.
Orobus tuberosus, Sharpstones hill.
Geum rivale, old course of Severn, under Cross hill.
Comarum palustre, Bomere, Berrington, and Hancott pools.
Rubus suberectus, Almond Park.
— fissus, Almond Park.
— plicatus, Shawbury Heath.
— affinis, Shawbury Heath.
— nitidus, generally about Shrewsbury.
— tenuis, about Shrewsbury.
— corylifolius and var. London-road; Coleham; Flash.
— cordifolius and var. Almond Park.
— discolor, generally about Shrewsbury.
— — δ. argenteus, Berwick.
— leucostachys β. vestitus, Crowmeole; Almond Park.
— — y. argenteus, Copthorn.
— sylyaticus, Almond Park.
— carpinifolius, Almond Park.
— macrophyllus, Almond Park.
Rubus macrophyllus, Haughmond hill.
β. Schlechtendalii,
— Babingtonii, Almond Park.
— rudis, hedges & woods about Shrewsbury.
— β. Leightonii, Haughmond hill; Cross hill; Berwick-road.
— fusco-ater, hedges generally
— — γ. echinatus. Almond Park.
— hirtus, Almond Park.
— glandulosus, γ. rosaceus, Almond Park.
— Schleicheri, Flash; Haughmond hill; Red hill.
— nemorosus, Haughmond hill; Weir Coppice.
— cæsius α. aquaticus, Flash.
— — δ. ferox, hedges near Greenfields.
Rosa villosa, near Shrewsbury.
Cratægus Oxyacantha, α. hedges near Shrewsbury.
Pyrus Malus, α. & β. hedges near Shrewsbury.
Peplis Portula, Bomere pool.
Myriophyllum alterniflorum, Berrington pool.
Montia fontana, Bomere pool.
Cotyledon Umbilicus, Haughmond hill.
Sedum Telephium, Haughmond hill.
— Forsterianium, Haughmond hill.
— reflexum, Shrewsbury Abbey walls.
Saxifraga granulata, near Harwood’s Boat-house.
Chrysosplenium alternifolium, Shelton wood.
Smyrnium Olusatrum, Shrewsbury Castle mound.
Sambucus Ebulus, Exford Green,
Valerianella dentata, fields near Bomere pool.
Inula Conyza, Nobold.
Artemisia Absinthium, Bomere pool.
Cichorium Intybus, Welbatch.
Hieracium boreale, Bickley Coppice.
Lobelia Dortmanna, Bomere and Berrington pools.
Campanula patula, banks of Severn, near Bickley Coppice; Berrington.
Vaccinium Oxycoccus, Bomere pool.
Hyoscyamus niger, Haughmond Abbey.
Lathræa squamaria, Council-house garden.
Linaria Cymbalaria, Council-house walls;—naturalized.
— Elatine, near Sharpstones hill.
Orobanche major, Sharpstones hill.
Limosella aquatica, Shelton rough.
Veronica scutellata, Bomere pool.
— montana, Almond Park; Shelton wood.
— polita, cultivated ground, Shrewsbury.
Galeopsis versicolor, Calcott.
Ballota ruderalis, Bomere pool.
Lamium amplexicaule, Lyth hill.
Calamintha officinalis, Red hill.
Scutellaria minor, Haughmond hill; Oxon pool.
Utricularia minor, Bomere pool.
Hottonia palustris, Bomere pool; near Albright Hussey.
Lysimachia vulgaris, Almond park pool.
Anagallis cærulea, near Shotton.
— tenella, Haughmond hill; Abbot’s Betton pool.
Littorella lacustris, Bomere pool.
Plantago Coronopus, Lyth hill.
Chenopodium Bonus Henricus, Uffington, &c.
Rumex maritimus, Hancott pool.
— pratensis, Hancott pool.
— Hydrolapathum, New Park.
Polygonum Bistorta, Sutton; Meole Brace.
Euphorbia exigua, fields near Bomere pool.
— Lathyris, cultivated ground, Shrewsbury.
— amygdaloides, Almond Park: Lyth hill.
Butomus umbellatus, river Severn, and canal.
Alisma ranunculoides, Berrington pool.
— natans, Hancott pool.
Sagittaria sagittifolia, Canal between Shrewsbury and Uffington.
Scheuchzeria palustris, Bomere pool.
Zannichellia palustris, Bomere.
Habenaria viridis, Bomere woods.
— chlorantha, Bomere woods.
Epipactis latifolia, Bomere woods.
Convallaria majalis, Pimhill.
Colchicum autumnale, fields near Dorsett’s barn; Sutton.
Typha angustifolia, Berrington pool.
Potamogeton oblongus, Bomere pool.
— rufescens, pit near Sharpstones hill.
— heterophyllus, Berrington pool.
Sparganium natans, Bomere pool.
— simplex, Berrington pool.
Rhynchospora alba, Bomere pool.
Eriophorum vaginatum, Bomere and Hancott pools.
Carex curta, Bomere pool.
— ovalis, Bomere pool.
Carex muricata var: β. (Smith.) Sharpstones hill.
— divulsa, Cloud Coppice, Berrington.
— teretiuscula, Bomere pool.
— pseudo-cyperus, Bomere and Hancott pools; Canal.
— limosa, Bomere pool.
— vesicaria, Bomere pool.
— ampullacea. Bomere pool.
— filiformis, Bomere and Berrington pools.
Phalaris arundinacea, banks of Severn.
Brachypodium sylvaticum, woods and hedge banks.