mon. It is a late breeder, nesting from May till July. The Rev. H. Harpur Crewe found a nest in a juniper bush on June 4, 1864, near Dray ton Beauchamp (Field, Dec. 3, 1 864, p. 384). The Rev. Hubert D. Astley found it not uncommon in the neighbourhood of Chequers Court on Coombe Hill, amongst gorse and brambles, and along the hills above Wendover. He found a nest in the shrubbery of the gardens at Chequers Court in a bush of ' mock orange ' (Syringa), about three feet from the ground. The female was seen on the nest; the eggs were typical. The male was often seen on wire rails close by. The young flew unmolested (June 1898). Hartert saw eggs taken near Halton. In winter the cirl bunting is less stationary and of course more easily noticed. We have seen it in winter near Ivinghoe, and received specimens from Aston Clinton. It has been caught at Pitstone.
68. Reed-Bunting. Emberiza schoeniclus, Linn.
Locally, Reed-Sparrow or Blackheaded Bunting.
Resident and generally distributed, though of course somewhat local, as it affects only reed beds and bushy stretches along marshy ditches, streams, rivers and ponds. It breeds at Stowe Park, on the rivers Thames, Colne, Chess and Ouse, on the Weston Turville reservoirs and other suitable places. It shifts its haunts more or less in winter, when it is sometimes seen in flocks.
69. Snow - Bunting. Plectrophenax nivalis (Linn.).
A cold weather visitant to the county. Not noticed every year, but sometimes in great numbers, and then as a rule in cold weather with deep snow. We have seen large flocks in 1895. The earliest date we know of is November 4, 1901, when a male was shot by Mr. H. Jenney at Drayton Lodge, Bucks, between Aylesbury and Tring. These birds are often seen near Aston Clinton. Their old manuscript mentions the occurrence in the great snow of January 8, 1776.
70. Starling. Sturnus vulgaris, Linn.
Very numerous and resident.
[Rose-coloured Starling. Pastor roseus (Linn.).
In Gould's Birds of Europe (vol. iii.) it is stated that a specimen was shot by John Newman, at Iver Court, near Langley, in Buckinghamshire.]
71 . Jay. Garrulus glandarius (Linn.).
Very numerous residents, though frequently killed on shooting days in the woods and anxiously kept down by the keepers.
72. Magpie. Pica rustica (Scopoli).
(Linnæus named this bird Corvus pica; we would therefore call it Pica pica [Linn.].) Resident throughout the year and generally distributed over the county, but far from common and rather local, being ruthlessly destroyed by most of the gamekeepers. It is regularly seen along the railway from Cheddington to Castlethorpe, and we have seen it more or less often near Mentmore, Bletchley, Yardley Chase, Buckingham and Aylesbury.
73. Jackdaw. Corvus monedula, Linn.
By no means rare throughout the' year. Nesting in holes of trees, old towers and other buildings, sometimes also in a rooks' nest. Of the many nesting-places we may cite Stowe Park, Eton, Dinton Hall. Much persecuted by the keepers.
74. Raven. Corvus corax, Linn.
Probably once upon a time a regularly breeding bird, but now only very rarely met with. In the old manuscript we find figures and notes of specimens shot on March 25, 1828, and December 16, 1829. Even then it was apparently not considered a very numerous species. Mr. Grossman writes: 'On August 14, 1887, I had the great pleasure of seeing one of these birds at Farnham near Slough. The bird was shy and difficult to approach, but there was no mistaking its hoarse note.'
75. Carrion-Crow. Corvus corone, Linn.
A regular resident throughout the county, though ruthlessly destroyed by the keepers, and therefore very scarce where pheasants are bred in great numbers. Perhaps most frequent in the grass country of north-eastern Buckinghamshire and north and west of Aylesbury. Colonel Goodall says it is common near Dinton. It is however rather on the decrease than on the increase. Mr. Grossman writes: 'In May 1892 I found a nest of this species near Chicheley containing three eggs, two of which were firmly embedded in a dead mole.'
76. Grey or Hooded Crow. Corvus comix, Linn.
A winter visitor, generally scarce, but more common in the plains near Cheddington, Mentmore, Leighton Buzzard and Fenny Stratford. Sometimes seen in great numbers.
77. Rook. Corvus frugilegus, Linn.
Very numerous. There is hardly a suitable park without a rookery in the county.
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