THE COLLECTION OF BRITISH BIRDS AT
CLUNGUNFORD HOUSE.

[By JAMES B. PILLEY.]

The

THE joint meeting of the Caradoc and Woolhope Clubs, at Craven Arms, wil long be remembered by the ornithologists who were present, from the opportunity then afforded of seeing the magnificent collection of British birds at Clungunford House, near Leintwardine. The late Mr. Rocke devoted between 40 and 50 years of his active life to obtaining specimens of all the species found in these islands, and spared no expense or trouble in the pursuit of his object. It is impossible to say, without seeing all the well-known collections in private mansions, that this is the finest and most complete, but certainly it appears improbable that there can be finer specimens, or that they could be set up in more life-like attitudes than those here represented. The birds were in as perfect a condition as they could well be if not in a living state, and it was marvellous that they retained such freshness of plumage, without a single instance of staleness about any specimen such as is sometimes detected in the inspection of museum collections. A large room is devoted to this collection, which is arranged in cases against the walls. Two large glass cases are placed in the centre, containing some of the smaller species, such as Thrushes, Finches, Warblers, &c. The arrangement is according to Yarrell's list, with the exception of one case containing the Great Auk and others, which is placed at the top of the room opposite to the Eagles. We therefore commence our inspection by looking at the latter, and noble looking birds they are. case contains five mature specimens and two young ones in the down, the latter with the old birds. A White-tailed or Sea Eagle was obtained in the north of Scotland. A very large specimen of the same species had been kept in confinement for a great number of years, and was supposed at the time of its death to have been nearly 100 years old. With these were a pair of Golden Eagles, much lighter in plumage than the usual type. Keeping to our left we next come to the Ospreys and some of the other large birds of prey; one of the specimens with a struggling fish in its talons was very realistic. Adjoining this case were the Falcons, Buzzards, and Harriers, the latter a connecting link between the Hawks and Owls. These specimens attracted great attention, and deservedly so. They were in perfect condition and artistically set up, and comprised examples of Iceland Falcons, Peregrines, Hobbies, Honey Buzzards, Marsh, Hen, and Montagu's Harriers, and many others. The adjoining case contains fine varieties of the Kite, Common and Rough-legged Buzzards; a wretched Wild Duck in the talons of its captor, struggling to escape, looks most life-like. The next group elicited remarks of well-deserved admiration. This was the case containing the Owls. In the centre were a pair of those noble looking birds the Eagle Owls, flanked by examples of the Snowy Owl, while around in most natural positions were grouped Long-eared, Short-eared, Hawk, Barn, Tawny, Tengmalm's, down

to the diminutive Scops, little larger than a Blackbird. This formed a most interesting study for the naturalist. To follow the natural order of arrangement, we next take the two cases in the centre of the room, containing the Shrikes, Flycatchers, Thrushes, Warblers, specimens of the rare Firecrest, Blue-throat, Tits, numerous examples of the Bearded Tits (now fast decreasing in numbers), the various Wagtails, Pipits, Larks, and Finches, fine specimens of the Common and Parrot Cross-bills, and numerous other species, all, not only the residents, but the occasional visitors, full of interest.

We now resume our progress round the room to look at the families of Crows and Woodpeckers. The showy Rollers and Bee-eaters look somewhat out of place among their more sombre companions, reminding the observer of the gaudy denizens of the tropics. All the Crow family were represented, also the Woodpeckers, including the Great Black, which Mrs. Rocke thought should have a place in the British list. A portion of the trunk of a tree with its branches afforded ample means of showing the mode of nesting, and the habits of this family, to perfection. That peculiar looking bird, the Hoopoe, was represented by three specimens, one of which was obtained near to the house. The various species of Dove, Partridge, Quail, and Pheasant, next attract our attention, a fine male Pheasant holding the post of honour in the centre. On either side are observed the Common, and Red-legged Partridge, and Quails, while a miniature tree affords a resting-place for the Doves and Nightjars. The more solitary game birds occupy the next case-the Capercaillie, Black and Brown Grouse, and Ptarmigan-and are admirably arranged. That noble species, the Great Bustard (male and female, with young) make a fine group. Included with them are the lesser Bustard, and several Plovers-the Norfolk, Golden, Green, and others. The adjoining case contains the same family of birds in greater variety of plumage, showing in the case of the Ptarmigan the great difference between its appearance in winter and summer. A grand pair of Great Bustards, with young, next attract attention, and a feeling of regret is felt that such noble birds should be now extinct in these islands. Other species of the family are noticed-the Little and Macqueen's. The arrangement of the next case is very artistic, and contains many species of Plovers, several examples of the Avocet, Black-winged Stilt, Golden and Ringed Plovers. The case of Bitterns and Herons is very effective. Specimens of the Common and American Bittern, the Night, Great White Heron, Egret, and others, form a fine group. The various species of Curlew, Godwits, Snipe, Sandpipers, in various stages of plumage, make a beautiful case and attract great attention from the visitors. There is another group of this family, containing fine specimens of Ruffs and Reeves in breeding plumage, and many others of this interesting family known to naturalists under the designation of Waders. Various species of Geese next come under notice, the Bernacle, Brent, Bean, White-fronted, Grey Lag, and others. The adjoining case contains a Mute, and Bewick's Swan, and various Ducks. With the latter is an example of the rare and very beautiful species called Steller's Eider Duck. The plumage is difficult to describe, but it is a lovely combination of metallic green, satin white, and rich dark blue. The next case comprises many

species of this order, we notice Golden Eyes, Scaup, Tufted, Long-tailed, the richly marked Harlequin, and other beautiful species. Yet another case of this numerous family, containing fine examples of Sheld, Eider, Scoters, Goosanders, and other showy species. The Great Northern Diver is in the centre of a beautiful group of the Divers, which comprise the Grebes, Black and Red-throated. This case attracted great notice, so life-like were the specimens, nearly all in breeding plumage, and set up with consummate skill. "How much like it is to the Razorbill next to it," is the remark of a member, as we look upon that extinct bird which at one time was wantonly destroyed by sailors, who little thought the time would come when a specimen would sell for nearly its weight in gold. This is the Great Auk (Alca impennis). Mr. Rocke bought this specimen in Holland. According to Professor Newton, the total number of skins of this species known to be in existence is about 77. This great rarity is surrounded by Gannets, Cormorants, Puffins, Guillemots, and similar species. It is needless to say this case is left with great reluctance. We now complete our inspection of the birds by just glancing at the Gulls, Terns, and Petrels, and regret is expressed on all sides that the length of the programme did not allow time to inspect the treasures which were left with only a passing glance. This beautiful and elegant family always wins admiration whether looking at them set up by the taxidermist, or when they relieve the dull monotony of the sea by their elegant flight and graceful motions.

Last to be seen were the fine collection of eggs. A few minutes only could be allotted to them. Of course the great object of interest was a specimen of the egg of the Great Auk, which was bought at the sale of the late Mr. John Gould's collection. It is richly marked, contrasting much with the engraving in "Morris's Eggs of British Birds." There are about seventy known at the present time, the greater number in the British Isles. A gentleman in Scarborough has 20 in his possession. This, with a remarkable series of the eggs of the Common Guillemot, containing the most extraordinary varieties, deep green, white, wood brown, with more or less darker markings, completed the inspection.

Such is the record of this magnificent private collection of British Birds as faithfully as can be now given from memory and the absence of notes, due to the limited time at disposal during a far too brief and hurried visit.

Leaving Leintwardine Church the majority of the party walked to the Church Hill Quarry, distant about half a mile, where many forms of Star fish, Ceratiocaris, Pteraspis, etc., have been discovered in the Lower Ludlow Formation. Here the Rev. J. D. La Touche gave the following notes:

The Asteroidea, or Star fishes, of which a great variety were found at Church Hill some years ago, though occurring very locally in the Paleozoic strata have a very wide range in point of time. The earliest known specimen in Great Britain is that of Palasterina Ramseyensis obtained in the Tremadoc, or Upper Cambrian beds of Ramsey Island, off the S. W. coast of Wales, near St. David's. The genus Protaster has been observed in the Ordovician or Lower Silurian strata, and in the Upper Silurian at Kendal four species have been noted. At

Church Hill here, a specimen of Protaster Miltoni, nearly a foot wide from tip to tip of the rays, has been discovered. The persistency of these organisms from the remote period at which these rocks were deposited, down to the present day is remarkable; for though there are certain structural differences, which make it probable that the ancient starfishes belong to genera and even families distinct from any living forms, their general appearance is wonderfully like those with which we are familar on our shores, some of them closely resembling the modern Pteraster and Palasterina. Mr. Salter remarks that the chief characteristics which distinguish the palæozoic from the modern forms are the shallowness of the ambulacra or furrows running along the underside of the arms, and the square plate-like form of the ambulacral scales; though in some specimens even these differences are not persistent, and he writes with considerable reserve in relation to the points of difference between them and the modern type. To the hardness of the calcareous covering with which these creatures, like their present descendants, were protected, we, of course, owe the excellent state of preservation in which, for the most part, they are found. The great slabs crowded with beautiful specimens of Palæocoma Marstoni displayed in the cases of the Ludlow Museum must excite the admiration of all who examine them. No less than ten species are spoken of by Murchison as having been found on this spot, and I believe many more might be added since Salter wrote on the subject in 1857. Mr. Alfred Marston, e.g., possesses, amongst others, a quite unique specimen, in which the five original rays are, at a short distance from the centre, each subdivided into five subsidiary rays, so that the total number would be 25. This possibly may be a monstrosity, but the great variety of these beautiful forms at this early period almost suggests the thought that in the dim remote past, nature was more variable and plastic than now. The Asteroidea are low in the scale of the animal kingdom. They are classified above the Cœlenterata, which include the corals, and below the Annulosa, including the worms and trilobites. They are here associated with many other forms of great interest, with a Pterygotus of great size, Ceratiocaris of several species, a Limalus, of which but one specimen, I believe, has been found by Mr. Marston, with Encrinites, Bryozoa, and the ordinary Graptolites of the Lower Ludlow Rock, though one rare species of these last may be collected in the lane that leads to Trippleton. But one of the most interesting discoveries at this spot has been that of the fragment of a Pteraspis, the earliest known fossil fish, a fact which caused Sir R. Murchison, in the last edition of his "Siluria," to modify his former contention that the fishes of the bone bed, which occurs at the top of the Upper Ludlow formation, were the oldest Icthyolites. He says, indeed, that the concession is a slight one, since the position of the Pteraspis is still scarcely beneath the centre of the Ludlow Formation as a whole. Murchison belonged to that school of geologists who believed in the distinct creation without descent from previous ancestors, of successive types of animal life on the globe, and he clings rather pertinaciously to his dictum that the first fishes only made their appearance at the close of the Silurian epoch. The champions of that hypothesis are in the somewhat embarrassing predicament of having from time to time to make concessions like that to which I have just