Church Services.

Sonning.-SUNDAY: II o'clock in the morning.

3 o'clock in the afternoon.

6 o'clock in the evening.

DAILY: half-past 8 in the morning.

All Saints.-SUNDAY: II o'clock in the morning.

half-past 3 o'clock in the afternoon.

S. John's, Woodley.-Sunday: 11 o'clock in the morning. half-past 3 o'clock in the afternoon.

HARVEST FESTIVAL.

Sunday, September 28th, was observed throughout the Parish as a Day of Thanksgiving to Almighty God for the blessing of the Harvest. Our three churches were tastefully and richly decorated, and the Services were adapted to the joyful character of the Festival. Collections were made as usual in aid of the Parochial Schools, and amounted in Sonning Church to £19 3s. 10d. In All Saints,' to £8 4s. 8d.; and in S. John's, Woodley, to £2 12s. 5d., making a total of £30 os. Iid.

NOTES ON THE NATURAL HISTORY OF SONNING.

The interesting story of the Lark's nest in the cricket field, at Sonning, which appeared last month in this Magazine, led me to think of giving some account of the Wild Birds, observed at various times, in this Parish, relating wherever possible, any remarkable circumstances respecting them, for the truth of which I can safely give satisfactory assurance.

Birds of Prey, as the largest, and most rare, should first be mentioned. Among British birds, of this class, the Falcon tribe is the most numerous; but few have ever made their appearance here, in our time, excepting the Sparrow Hawk, which is common enough. We see many hovering about, in search of small birds, mice, etc., and hear their peculiar call, especially in the spring of the year. They are bold and determined robbers, moreover, and when they have nestlings to feed, will snatch young chickens from a poultry yard, even close to a dwelling house. They will also attack birds kept in cages. We once had a canary-bird killed in this way, as its cage hung outside the window of our own room, whilst we were moving about within, and saw the hawk dart down upon it. Sparrow Hawks are said to prefer taking possession of the deserted nest of some other bird, to building one for themselves: often that of a Crow is chosen, in which they lay four or five eggs, and when the young birds are hatched, they supply them with abundance of food; a writer on these birds, tells us, that he found in one nest, containing five young Hawks, a Lapwing, two Blackbirds, a Thrush, and two Green Linnets, all fresh killed, and partly plucked. Sparrow Hawks may be tamed, and have been trained to bring down Partridges, and other birds, for their master, but they are less valuable to the Falconer than the larger Hawks. The bird formerly preferred by such sportsmen, was the Peregrine Falcon; and in ancient times, when every person of consequence in this country, and others, kept many of these birds Continued at end.

Continued from Second page.

for the amusement of hawking, with falconers and attendants to teach and 'feed, and exercise them continually, they were held in such estimation, that in the reign of James I, Sir Thomas Monson is said to have given £1,000 for a cast, (that is, a couple) of these Hawks. The Peregrine Falcon breeds chiefly on rocks near the sea coast, and feeds on the sea birds found there. They are not very common in England now, but are known to build on the high cliffs at Freshwater, near the Needle rocks, in the Isle of Wight. They take their name from their extraordinary powers of flight, the bird having been found in very distant parts of the world, and may well therefore be deemed a "Passenger" or wanderer, not a stay-at-home bird. One fine specimen of this Hawk, certainly found his way from the Isle of Wight, or some other part of the coast, to Sonning, about sixteen years ago, when Mr. Palmer's Gamekeeper observed a very large bird devouring a Partridge, on the ground, in a field, on Charfield farm. When scared away, he took flight for the moment, but speedily returned to his prey, doubtless very ravenous after his long journey; so the Keeper baited a trap with the remains of the Partridge, and in about half-an-hour had the satisfaction of catching the strange visitor, which proved to be a large and handsome Peregrine Falcon. He was carefully stuffed, and is still at Holme Park, in good preservation.

Of Owls, I hardly think that more than two kinds have ever been noticed here, at least, of late years. The common White or Barn Owl, whose hooting is familiar to all who live in a wooded country place, and one other, distinguished chiefly by the very different sound it makes, so quiet and subdued compared to that of the White Owl, but whether it belongs to the Brown or Tawny Owl, or any other species, I cannot decide. One summer, many years ago, we had the pleasure of being introduced to a whole family of young Owls, in a very curious place, even the middle of a hay rick! There had been some fear that this rick would take fire when it was built, and to prevent this, a chimney or funnel was contrived in the centre of the hay, which reached about half way to the ground from the top of the rick. At the bottom of this shaft, the old Owls made their nest, and when the hay was cut away as far as this opening, there appeared five little white Owls, in their downy coats, as warm and comfortable as possible; the old birds must all along, have gone down the shaft to them, unobserved by any one. The young birds did not seem alarmed by the visitors they soon had to look at them, but pecked and hissed at them, as if displeased at such intrusion. Unfortunately, the parent birds deserted them, soon after they were found, and though attempts were made to feed and rear them, they all died.

Owls prey upon rats and mice, besides small birds and reptiles, and are so useful in destroying vermin, that no one should be allowed to kill them, or take their eggs, for they are quite the farmer's friends. They are rarely seen by daylight, and their eyes are so formed that they can only find their food in the subdued light of evening, when they are very expert in catching the small animals that come forth at night, and which they speedily convey to the barn, or Church tower, or hollow tree, where they have their nest, or their hiding place, during the day.

Another large bird we sometimes see in this neighbourhood, is the Heron. He is not called by Naturalists, a bird of prey, but he is one, inasmuch as he feeds entirely on creatures, which he seizes alive, and cannot subsist on any other kind of food.

Many can remember the time when there was a colony of Herons in this Parish, on the borders of Borough Marsh, but I doubt whether any have bred there of late years. There are some small settlements, however, in or near Hurst, and I have frequently heard a singular cry, coming from a great height, which I knew must be that of a Heron, and on looking steadily up, could generally discover the bird sailing slowly forward, its long legs stretched out behind like a rudder, and plainly shaping its course for the shallow parts of the river Thames. Sometimes another Heron would follow in the same direction, two or three minutes later, but I never saw more than two on the wing at the same time, Herons belong to the class called wading birds, and formerly, in the best days of falconry, they were considered royal game, and preserved by statute, for the trained Hawks to pursue, and bring down.

In the breeding season, Herons dwell together like Rooks, in larger or smaller companies, building on ancient oaks, or tall fir trees, but at other times they are of more solitary habits, and go fishing alone. The Heron then stands motionless in shallow water, his head drawn back, ready to strike, or seize with his sharp beak, whatever prey may come within reach. On catching an eel he has been seen to quit the water, and beat the eel against the ground, till it was disabled, lest it should escape before he could swallow it. Herons prefer fish, but will also, when hungry, eat reptiles and small animals, of the same kind as those on which the Owl makes his repast. They were formerly in estimation as food for man, and were even served up at Royal tables, but always must have had a fishy taste. They are long lived birds, and repair to the same Heronry, year after year, in the spring; sometimes fighting pitched battles with Rooks for the possession of particular trees.

SONNING:

(To be continued.)

BAPTISMS.

C. P.

Sept. 7th, Charlotte Ann, daughter of Henry and Mary Jane

Foster.

S. JOHN'S, WOODLEY :—

Sept. 7th,—Ernest William, son of William and Mary May.

MARRIAGE.

Sept. 11th,-At the Parish Church, James Reid, of Mary-le-bow, London, to Mary Ann Harding, of Woodley. BURIALS.

SONNING:

Aug. 25th,-James Smith, of Chippenham,

aged 66.

Aug. 27th,-Thomas Armstrong, of Dunsden,

aged 76.

Sept. 3rd, Sarah Bromley, of Sonning Eye,

aged 78.

Sept. 18th, Sarah Leaver, of Woodley,

aged 86.

ALL SAINTS'.

Sept. 3rd,―Thomas Neale, of Dunsden,

aged 16.

Sept. 18th,-Ellen Main, of Kensington, Middlesex, aged 50.