Welsh Journals

June 3, 1896. BYE-GONES. 345 DOUBLE NOTE OF THE CUCKOO. I have been interested in reading the letters of " A.H." and Thos. Ruddy, re the double note of the cuckoo. I have noticed this for the past twenty years, but never in the early part of the season, only after the 20th of May, when one constantly hears the " Cuc-cuckoo." I have never heard the note " Cuck-oo-oo," as described by Mr Ruddy. I am confident myself that the note Cuc-cuckoo is not confined to any special bird or district but is connected in some way with a natural change in the bird; indeed I always take it as a warning that the notes of the cuckoo are drawing to a close. I may say that we have the note of the cuckoo all through the night, but rather subdued, and never double. Frank ton, May 22,1S96. T. T. Wallet. CARADOC AND SEVERN VALLEY FIELD CLUB. The first whole-day excursion of the season took place yesterday week, when a party of about twenty including ladies,from Shrewsbury and other parts of the county, met at the interesting and picturesque old town of Bewdley. A few of the members had gone down by an early train or on the previous night, but the majority travelled by the 11.20 a.m. The valley from which the Club takes a part of its name—always pretty—being now clothed in its richest spring garb of various shades of green, with dense masses of snowy haw¬ thorn relieved by the golden glare of laburnum ana buttercup-covered meadows, presented an un¬ interrupted panorama of exquisite beauty, which was fully appreciated, and added much to the pleasure of the journey. After a short time for luncheon at the George Hotel, the party went in carriages or by train, according to preference, to Wyre Forest Station, where the botanists were set down. The remainder proceeded, under the leadership of the Rev T. Auden, to Kinlet, where much interest was taken in the church, which was a venerable strueture in the Early Norman style, but has been recently restored. The east window contains some ancient heraldic glass, and in the transept windows is some curious old stained glass. After a walk to Kinlet Hall the return was made to Bewdley. In the meantime the botanists, for whom the Misses Gabb kindly acted as leaders, had a bea\-.tif ul walk of abo.it five mites through Wyre Forest, the course taken being along the side of the Howies Brook, which at this part divides Salop from Worcestershire. Expectation was centered not so much upon the finding of new plants as in re-finding and observ¬ ing plants recorded by Leighton fifty-five years ago; and the search was quite as successful as the time of year would admit of. Among the more noteworthy "finds" were the Columbine (Aquilegia vulgaris, L), with its handsome blue or white flowers, much larger than the garden form, and here quite wild; the Wood Geranium (G. sylvati- cum, L), a pretty and not common flower; the Blood Red Geranium (G. sanguineum, L) also grows here, and leaves were found, but it was too early for flowers: the Mountain Melic-grass (Melica nutans, L); the Tuberous Pea (Lathyrus Vol. IV. New Series [being Vol. 13th from the beginning.] macrorhizus,Wim.),and many others,including the Wood Spurge (Euphorbia amygdaloides, L), which was abundant and very beautiful. The weather was too dry for the prospect of finding many mosses, but several species were collected and will be duly recorded. When in Bewdley Mr Daniel Jones pointed to the sign of the Wood Colliers' Arms Inn as being a unique title, indica¬ ting that the word collier did not arise with, nor was it confined to, the getting of coal, but applied also, and perhaps originally, to the occupation of charcoal burning. This fact he (Mr Jones) had re¬ ferred to in a paper read at Birmingham before the Iron and Steel Institute. On the re-union of the company at the George, a substantial tea was served. At the meeting afterwards Mr W. Phil¬ lips, F.L.S., took the chair, when several new members were elected and other formal business transacted. Unfortunately time did not permit of the carrying out of some later items on the pro¬ gramme, which are adjourned to a future occasion. The company returned by the 7.18 train, having spent an enjoyable day in perfect weather. JUNE 3, 18S6. NOTES. EXTINCT ANIMALS IN WALES.—The following is from Rhuddenfab's Handbook to Ruthin (new edition jusb icsued):— Coedorllwyn (now the mansion called Berth in the Vale of Clwyd), one of the largest oak forests in the country, extending from Penrhengoed to the vicinity of Llanrhaiadr, was felled in the year 1831 It is said that three species of wild creatures (now locally extinct) inhabited this forest, and were the pests of the farmers, devouring their lambs, fowls, kc. — Y pry1 llwyd, the badger, a little less in size than the fox, and, if anything, a greater thief; Y Barcutan, the kite, a ravenous bird, larger than the hawk, and a terrible pilferer of young fowls; and a smaller bird of the falcon- family, equally rapacious, called Y Bodlas, a species of buzzard. When the brtninbren (monarch tree) above this house was doomed, some hundreds of spectators congregated from all parts to see the fall, and after " Dick Cerigllwydion " had descended from tying the rope, the concourse burst out with such frantic and deafening cheers that it is said that from that day to this not one of these wild creatures has been seen in this part of the country. LJ. PARLIAMENTARY SURVEY OF OSWES¬ TRY. —Amongst the deeds, &c., at PowisCastle is the following survey of the manor, &c, of Oswes¬ try, entituled " A Survey of the Manor or Lord¬ ship of Oswestry with the rights members and appurtenances thereof in the County of Salop late parcel of the possessions or late belonging to Wm. Lord Craven Baron of Hampstead Mar¬ shall &c made and taken by us whose names are hereunto subscribed in the month of March 1652-3 by virtue of a Commission grounded upon an Act of Parliament intituled ' An Act for 44