The New Forest: Its History and Its SceneryWise, John R. (John Richard)
History
The New Forest: Its History and Its Scenery
Wise, John R. (John Richard)
New Forest (England : Forest)
Kite. (_Falco milvus_, Lin.) Very scarce. Mr. Farren, however, in April,
1861, was lucky enough to see a solitary bird; and another, as L. H.
Cumberbatch, Esq., informs me, was trapped at New Park, about six years
ago, in the winter.
Rough-legged Buzzard. (_Falco lagopus_, Brün.) Mr. Rake informs me that
a specimen was trapped near Fordingbridge, in the summer of 1857. It is,
however, more generally noticed later in the year.
Little Owl. (_Strix passerina_, Lath.) When Mr. Farren first mentioned
this bird as breeding in the Forest, I was somewhat incredulous.
Subsequent inquiries, however, have left no doubt on my mind that the
bird is sometimes seen, though mistaken for a hawk. Mr. Farren, as far
back as 1859, found two eggs in a hole of an oak, which seem to have
been those of this bird; and in 1862 I received information of a hawk
laying white eggs in a hollow tree, but which were unfortunately broken.
I hope, however, some day to be able to give more satisfactory
information on the subject.
Ash-coloured Harrier. (_Falco cineraceus_, Mont.) Mr. Hart has, during
the last twenty years, received three or four specimens to stuff—one in
the winter of 1861. Mr. Farren saw a male bird, April, 1861.
Great Grey Shrike. (_Lanius excubitor_, Lin.) A straggler is now and
then killed by the Forest keepers.
Woodchat Shrike. (_Lanius rufus_, Briss.) As some pairs are sometimes to
be seen in the summer, I should not be surprised to hear of its
breeding, more especially as Mr. Bond has obtained its eggs in the Isle
of Wight.
Pied Flycatcher. (_Muscicapa atricapilla_, Lin.) A specimen was shot by
the late Mr. Toomer, Forest keeper, June, 1857; but I cannot learn
whether male or female.
White’s Thrush. (_Turdus Whitei_, Eyton.) Two specimens have been
obtained; one in the actual Forest shot by a Forest keeper, and which
passed into Mr. Bigge’s collection; and the other, not far from its
borders at Heron Court, by Lord Malmesbury, and which is figured in
Yarrell, vol. i., p. 202. For the best account of this bird see Mr.
Tomes’ description in the _Ibis_, vol. i., number iv., p. 379, of a
specimen killed in Warwickshire.
Golden Oriole. (_Oriolus galbula_, Lin.) A specimen was killed in the
Forest by one of the keepers, some fifteen years ago.
Black Redstart. (_Sylvia tithys_, Scop.) I am almost inclined to put
this, as Mr. Knox has done in his excellent _Ornithological Rambles_
(page 193), and Mr. More in his list of the birds of the Isle of Wight,
among the winter visitors, so many examples having occurred.
Great Sedge Warbler. (_Sylvia turdoides_, Meyer.) Mr. Farren, in June,
1858, found between Brockenhurst and Lyndhurst, a nest, containing five
eggs, which were supposed to be those of this bird, and were exhibited
at a meeting of the Linnæan Society. They are now, I believe, in the
collection of Mr. Seeley.
Firecrested Regulus. (_Regulus ignicapillus_, Nawm.) Sometimes seen in
the winter, but rare.
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