10.-The irruption of tourists, and especially the ravages of fern and orchid collectors.

11.-The wilful and wanton destruction of life for mere amusement or mischief. Perhaps as regards its general aspect, there is not very much alteration which would strike a visitor to Ross, after a lapse of 30 years. If he stood on the Prospect, or on Wilton Bridge, Wilton Castle would present much the same appearance as of old. The old oak in the centre of the Oak meadow, in 1849 a flourishing tree, measuring 29 feet at 3 feet from the ground, is now a ruin, having been burnt in the winter of 1849-50, and in its present state the lines addressed to the Yardley oak might seem appropriate :

"Time made thee what thou wast, king of the woods;
And Time hath made thee what thou art—a cave
For owls to roost on. Once thy spreading boughs
O'erhung the champaign; and the num'rous flocks
That grazed it stood beneath that ample cope
Uncrowded, yet safe shelter'd from the storm.
No flock frequents thee now. Thou hast outliv'd
Thy popularity, and art become

(Unless verse rescue thee awhile) a thing
Forgotten, as the foliage of thy youth.'

COWPER.

The magnificent old poplars by the side of the rope-walk and old Wilton Road are still in good preservation. The largest measures 14 ft. 10 in. in circumference at five feet from the ground, and possibly few, if any, finer specimens of these trees exist in England.

Many of the elms in adjoining meadows have been blown down, eleven in the night of February 21, 1861; but the growth of younger trees has since then, to some extent, replaced them.

A perceptible alteration in the course of the river Wye, still rapidly going on, has probably brought the stream some 17 yards nearer Ross than it was in 1851. Considerable attention was paid to this subject by Mr. Richardson, engineer, in 1857. It appears, from an old survey made by John Green, in 1756, that the old oak was 52 yards further from the bank of the river in 1857 than it was in 1756-so that it is supposed that in the reign of Henry VIII. the tree was a sapling on the bank of the river, and still further back, that it flowed past the whole length of the castle walls, having originally formed one of the defences of the fortress.

On looking the other way, our visitor would miss the row of 13 fine Lombardy poplars in the Old Maids' Walk, adjoining the rectory garden. The vitality of these trees was so sapped by the three cold winters, 1879-81, that after two of their number had been blown down, it was thought safer to remove the rest, and with them a conspicuous object and landmark for miles around. The elms in the churchyard would appear much dilapidated, for although they have probably increased some 18 inches in girth, or at the rate of rather more than half-an-inch per year, many of the boughs have been broken off in severe gales, and others have been lopped as a matter of precaution. They are still, however, many of them, very handsome trees. None of them appear to have been struck with lightning. The spire of the church was so injured by the great thunder-storm of July 6th, 1852,

that 60 feet had to be taken down and rebuilt, and the conductor then fixed to it has probably since protected both the church and surrounding objects.

The town of Ross has extended in the direction of the railway station, and on the Walford Road the suburbs of Ashfield and Tudorville have both sprung up within the last 30 years. The Hereford, Ross, and Gloucester Railway, and the Ross and Monmouth Railways, have been made in the same period, and instead of six four-horse mails, and about a score of other coaches, passing through the town daily, we have now the constant clatter of railway trains.

The bog at Coughton Marsh, and also at Ailmarsh, have both been drained, but no common or waste land has been enclosed, and otherwise there has been no important change in the character of the neighbourhood, except the thinning of the population in many of the rural parishes. There has been but little change in the preservation of game, except at Little Doward, which is much more strictly looked after than formerly.

There has been a great increase of tourists, and ferns and other plants are now sold freely at our railway stations. We will now notice some botanical changes. A few plants have become quite extinct, as far as is known. The pretty lilac butterwort (Pinguicula vulgaris), from the drainage of Coughton Marsh; Erodium maritimum, from the taking down of an old wall at Brampton Abbots; Sparganium minimum and Scirpus lacustris, from the filling up of a pool; Equisetum hyemale also from drainage; Cynoglossum montanum, or the wood Hound's Tongue, probably from overgrowth of underwood; Erodium moschatum has also, I understand, disappeared from its locality of Hoarwithy; Campanula rapunculus, which was formerly found in the neighbourhood, has not turned up in recent years; and the following, which may be considered as stray or doubtfully native plants, are not now to be found: Smyrnium olusatrum (Alexanders), Ornithogalum nutans and umbellatum (Star of Bethlehem), Muscari racemosum, Lolium temulentum (Drunken Darnel).

On the other hand, there have been large additions to the flora to compensate for these losses. Amongst the plants which are become much more scarce of late may be mentioned-Hutchinsia petrea, which appears to be rapidly disappearing; Helleborus fœtidus, formerly very plentiful on Great Doward, is now very seldom met with on the banks of the river, where it was, one time, not uncommon. Another plant, which at one time was found in some luxuriance, but now scarcely met with except in the Forest of Dean, is the Henbane (Hyoscyamus niger). Cystopteris fragilis appears to be exterminated by fern-hunters; and the Bee and Fly Orchis, as well as the Cephalanthera grandiflora and ensifolia, are probably nearly lost, from continued uprooting. The Atropa belladonna, on the contrary, has considerably increased, and sprang up in great luxuriance on the making of embankments on the Ross and Monmouth railway.

The alteration of a fence appears to have extinguished a good locality for Doronicum pardalianches, probably only a garden escape. On the cutting of the undergrowth in our woods, which usually takes place once in twenty years, there is generally for a year a great abundance of foxglove, hemlock, and some other plants which had remained dormant, Cardamine impatiens, a somewhat rare plant,

among the number.

On the whole, perhaps, we have not so much change in our flora here as in many other places, and yet we cannot but regret that some of our varieties should be exterminated by ruthless hands.

My knowledge of entomology is too limited to say much about insects. I have noticed, however, that the Cockchafer has been much less numerous of late years than I remember it to have been, and for several years past, and, if I am not mistaken, there has been a comparative scarcity of butterflies; and even this year the abundance of sunshine and fine weather has not caused them to be plentiful. Perhaps the most remarkable thing to record is the large number of Clouded Yellows which appeared in 1878. In some of our roads they seemed almost to swarm.

The supply of fish in the river Wye is reported to be, both in kind and quantity, much the same as it used to be, with the exception of the small fish, the Gudgeon, which is now seldom or never caught.*

Through the kindness of Mr. E. Purchas, and Mr. W. Blake, some very interesting notes on our wild birds will be attached to this paper, but since they make no allusion to the Raven, I may express my regret that he is so rapidly disappearing. At Symonds Yat he was regularly to be seen thirty years since, and at one time built on the Chimney Rock, in an apparently inaccessible position. Mr. David Lucas, and one or two more then employed in the construction of the Gloucester railway, determined to get the nest, and by flying a kite and then passing a rope over the summit, succeeded in scaling the fortress and obtaining their prize, but what good they did, except in destroying an interesting locality for a rare bird, I am at a loss to know.

BIRD NOTES.

Concerning the larger birds of prey, the gamekeeper war has resulted in all becoming rare during the present century, and some few being rendered almost, if not quite, extinct in the county.

The noble Peregrine has been well-nigh outlawed, and is of very rare occurrence. The ignoble Common Buzzard is now no longer common. Still, it is of regular occurrence in suitable parts of the county, and breeds when unmolested. A pair nested on Doward Hill woods a few years ago. In 1883, a fine specimen was trapped on the Leys Estate, and its partner was seen in the neighbourhood. It has been noticed almost annually at Bishopswood, more rarely still in Penyard. One was obtained near Peterchurch a few weeks ago.

The regal Kite, though formerly plentiful, is only seen at intervals.

The Honey Buzzard, though perhaps never plentiful, is regarded as occurring more frequently of late throughout England. A few years back, one was trapped on the Goodrich Court Estate, and, more recently still, another in the Queen's Wood, Marcle. Its spouse was also seen in the neighbourhood.

* On the authority of Mr. George Horne, of Hereford, the Gudgeon have again (1889) much increased both near Hereford, and also higher up the river.-ED.

The Rough-legged Buzzard is "wanting" in recent lists of county birds.*
As to the smaller hawks, they are annually thinned out, the Kestrel and
Sparrowhawk alone being regarded as common.

The handsome Hobby, and whatever "hold" it formerly had with us, has become almost as rare as its prototype, the Peregrine. Still it bred near Hereford a few years ago.

That miniature falcon, the Merlin, must now also pass into the list as a rara Nevertheless, a pair were trapped last year (1883) on the Bishopswood Estate, even to the regret of the gamekeeper himself!

avis.

The Harriers, forming a connecting link between the nocturnal and diurnal birds of prey, were probably never plentiful in Herefordshire, owing to the absence of flat, open, marshy, or gorse-covered land. Recently they have not been observed. The Marsh Harrier is a desideratum. There have been two Hen Harriers killed within the last twenty years, and possibly others not recorded.

Of Owls, I do not think any of the now rare species ever occupied a very prominent place. The brown or Wood Owl, and the white or Barn Owl, are nearly as numerous as formerly. The latter perhaps rather less so, thanks to the mistaken zeal of some farmers. The long and short eared owls are still less plentiful.

The second order, viz., Insessores (or perchers) contains by far the most numerous species. Through the untiring efforts of the Rev. F. O. Morris, our songsters, and others useful in many ways, have Government protection. Hence they are on the increase, and for their comfort and convenience perhaps no county is more eligible than our own.

The males
During the

The Nightingale is not more common than of old. To hear him to perfection, you should seek the depths of our woods in the early days of May. arrive about the 20th April; the females a week or ten days later. pairing, nest-building, and egg-laying period, the male sings lustily on fine nights, and in a desultory manner during afternoons. If a second male be in the neighbourhood, a rivalry is created and one bird will try to out-sing the other. Directly the young are hatched, all song, worthy of being so called, ceases until the youngsters are fully fledged, when, before leaving our country, a few rudimentary lessons in music are given by the parents. The reason why they sing so much less here than in Monmouthshire, Surrey, or Kent, may possibly be due to the absence of the excitement caused by the rivalry of others singing round them. The birds are much more shy here, too, than they are when they are more abundant. Many species formerly judged uncommon are now thought to be less so. Possibly the increased number of observers may in a measure account for this.

Among such, is the interesting Dipper (met with more especially on the Garron); the awkward-looking Hawfinch, which regularly breeds with us; the Grasshopper-warbler, with its cricket note. The handsome Cirl Bunting also has come more under observation of late, and often passes for its congener, the Yellow Bunting.

* It has since occurred.

1

As to climbers (who suffer less from gun danger than other families), we have the Greater and Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers in most of our woods, and even that rarity, the Great Black Woodpecker, has been, with a good degree of certainty, observed on three occasions. Then Picus Viridis, though scarce in the north, is abundant here. The skilful Nuthatch is common, and the note of the shy Wryneck often heard; while the tiny Creeper, with its mouse-like movements, may be found upon the tree-trunks of almost any orchard or copse.

Order 3.-Rasores or scratchers come next, headed by the Dove family. There is reason to believe that their numbers will multiply with the advance of cultivation, grain and cereals forming their staple food. The Ring-dove is very abundant; the Stock-dove common; while the gentle Turtle-dove is far from rare. I do not think the Rock-dove can be made out to be more than an occasional visitant.

The Pheasant and Partridge hold their own well, even when beyond the precincts of strictly preserved lands. The Red-legged Partridge is on the increase in Gloucestershire, and instances have been more frequent of late of its presence in this county. It would seem the Lapwing is even more abundant than formerly. Flocks of several hundreds are to be met with in the early autumn within a mile of Ross. They may generally be observed on the left of the Gloucester road, hovering over the Rudhall valley, and also in other districts. The increase is remarkable, because the only pieces of common land, Ailmarsh and Coughton Marsh, have been drained and cultivated. Truly useful birds they are, the Lapwings, and very good for the table also.

With Grallatores (or waders) we are not over-stocked.

The great majority of

this fourth order are shore birds. Those we possess are less plentiful than formerly, owing to the multiplication of sportsmen, the drainage of land, and the general encroachment of civilization. These forces are destined to advance at the expense of the extinction of some species.

The Common Heron is still among us, thanks to preservation in some quarters. The Sandpiper, or Summer Snipe, is perhaps more plentiful than formerly. Concerning this species there is a curious circumstance to note. Visiting us in April (its arrival being somewhat ruled by the height of the river), it remains throughout May-then disappears. The bird may be looked for in vain until about the middle of July, when they turn up again with reinforcements. It is clear they retired to

breed, but where to is the question. Is it to the coast northwards, or to some secluded parts of the Wye? The latter supposition is extremely doubtful; the former not satisfactory.* The returning ones remain with us in small flocks until late in the autumn.

In winter we get the Dunlin, seeming to occur more frequently than formerly, though by no means common.

* More recent observation and information proves their spring visit is merely a passing one, en route for secluded breeding-places in the upper reaches of the Wye, and possibly its tributary rivulets. Mr. George Horne, of Hereford, informs us that the Summer Snipe most certainly is abundant up the Wye, that he has taken an egg from a nest at Glasbury, and that he saw several of these birds there so recently as May, 1889.-ED.