the sheep of the legend becomes a deer. Mr. Crawford notes that it is possible exactly to locate the gibbet of the Prior of Bradenstoke, in the Perambulation of Savernake Forest, A.D. 1259 (?) "Inde ad furcas Prioris de Bradenstok ad Wippeshull." This stood at the cross roads, 2200 feet N.E. of Wilcot Church, near Pewsey, at the boundary of the parishes of Wilcot and Pewsey.

Woman married in her shift. As the story of a woman being married in her smock at Chitterne All Saints is again mentioned in Wilts Arch. Mag., xli., 432, it is quite time to authoritatively contradict it, unless evidence is forthcoming that is not at my disposal. The Rev. E. R. Nevill has evidently derived his information from Tyack's Lore and Legend of the English Church (p. 186), as the man's name is there given as John Bridmore (not Bredmore as quoted in the Magazine). The Wilts Arch. Mag., xvi., 330, taking its information from Brand's Popular Antiquities, gives the name as John Prideaux. The whole story seems to be a fable, for there is no record in the parish registers of any such persons being married, either in Chitterne All Saints or Chitterne St. Mary, and there is certainly no such remark in the registers concerning anyone married there. The notoriety of the parish in this respect therefore vanishes.

JOHN T. CANNER, Vicar.

[I wrote to Canon E. R. Nevill, at Dunedin, N. Zealand, asking what his authority for the story was. He answered that in the absence of notes or references he could not at all remember. The story therefore must no doubt be finally buried. ED. H. GODDARD.]

The Bromham Mazer. The Mazer Bowl (cir. 1590) found in a cottage at Bromham about 1850, described and figured in Wilts Arch. Mag., xxv. 205, was sold by its owner, Mr. W. Cunnington, at Sotheby's, in May, 1922, for £125.

The Bradenstoke Virgin. For six months or more in 1920 and 1921 a large picture was exhibited at Devizes Museum, on loan by Mr. J. A. A. Williams, who had recently bought Bradenstoke Abbey. This picture was mentioned in the Gentleman's Magazine, for Nov., 1833, in an account of the "Abbey" (Priory) thus:-"In this room (the large room at Bradenstoke), which seems nearly as it was left at the Dissolution, was preserved through many changes of owners a painting of the Virgin, now added to the collection of my friend, Paul Methuen, Esq., of Corsham Court." This picture, together with a fine mantelpiece, which had also been taken to Corsham Court from Bradenstoke, passed into the possession of Mr. Williams in 1920. Mr. Williams had intended to live at the Priory, but he changed his mind and in 1921 sold the property again, and at the same time disposed of the picture to Mr. Storey, of Malmesbury. The picture appears to have acquired the title of "The Black Virgin," for which there was no visible reason. Probably this name was only attached to it because early pictures of the Virgin to which special veneration has attached have in more than one instance been so called. Bowles, in his History of Bremhill (1828), p. 121, speaking of this picture, says that it is a cartoon on paper, and that it

was on his recommendation that it was removed from Bradenstoke to Corsham Court. The picture, however, is not on paper at all, but a large unframed oil painting on canvas. It consists of a large figure of the Virgin in the centre, with five small scenes at the corners and base, which were somewhat of a puzzle until Dr. G. S. A. Waylen explained them in the Wiltshire Gazette of Dec. 2nd, 1920, as illustrating the legend of the vision of "Our Lady of Guadeloupe." Shortly this ran thus:-In 1531 a Christian Indian named Diego, saw upon a hill near Mexico City a vision of the Blessed Virgin, who signified her desire that a Church should be built there and dedicated under the title of "Our Lady of Guadeloupe." The ecclesiastical authorities demanded more proof of the vision before acting. The Virgin then told Diego to go to the top of the hill and gather a bunch of flowers (there were, naturally, no flowers on the hill), and show them as a proof of the reality of the vision. Diego gathered a bunch of most beautiful flowers, and put them under his cloak, to take to the Bishop, but on opening the cloak found instead of flowers a most beautiful picture of the Madonna. The Church was accordingly built and the picture became famous. As explained by Dr. Waylen the scenes on the Bradenstoke picture represent (1) Diego crossing the hill accompanied by two angels, and the appearance of the Virgin. (2) Diego kneeling and receiving her commands. (3) Gathering the flowers. (4) Taking the flowers to the Bishop. (5) [That at the base in the centre] The Cathedral on the hill.

The picture exhibited at Devizes had, however, no special merits as a painting, and had no appearance of being of Pre-Reformation date at all. The legend of its having belonged to Bradenstoke before the Dissolution must therefore be unfounded.

ED. H. GODDARD.

The Site of the "Golden Barrow" at Upton Lovel. The Rev. F. G. Walker, Rector of Upton Lovel, writes that the barrow, of which nothing remains, was in a field called "Barrow Newtons," a part of the glebe until it was sold in 1920. 'It is exactly ğ-in. east from the "arrow" of B.M. 283.4 on Ordnance Map 58 N.E."

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The Story Maskelyne Collection of Ancient Gems, the property of Mr. W. E. Arnold Foster, grandson of the late Mr. N. Story Maskelyne, F.R.S., by whom the collection was formed between 1860 and 1899, was sold at Sotheby's, on July 4th and 5th, 1921. It contained fine specimens of engraved gems of all periods from early Babylonian to late Roman and Sassanian, and was especially rich in Greek gems of the fourth and fifth centuries, B.C. Many were shown at the Burlington Fine Arts Club in 1903. For many years it had been preserved at Basset Down.

NATURAL HISTORY NOTES.

Marsh Warbler nesting. Mr. G. W. Godman, of Wedhampton Cottage, writes:-"I first found the Marsh Warblers on June 10th, 1922, and watched them for some hours. They were building, and on the 15th the nest contained one egg. I took the nest and five eggs on June 22nd.

This nest was built in the reeds at the side of a ditch with water in it. I looked later to see if they would have a second nest, and found it with three young on 26th July. This nest was built within ten yards of the first, but in meadowsweet. I knew the birds well, having found several nests some years ago near Taunton." My attention was called to this find by the Rev. J. Penrose, who saw the eggs and agrees in their identification. It seems advisable not to specify the exact locality beyond the fact that it is in the parish of Chirton, lest other “collectors" should descend on the spot. ED. H. GODDARD.

Great Crested Grebe. Miss Elsie C. Scott, of the Old Rectory, North Bradley, records that this season (1922) a pair of Great Crested Grebe nested and brought off two young ones on a piece of water in the neighbourhood of Westbury. Three of these birds were shot on Coate Reservoir, near Swindon, early in 1922, but their deaths will not have been in vain if the Swindon Corporation are able to carry out their plan of establishing a small bird sanctuary at the end of the reservoir to encourage water birds to breed there. On another piece of water in N. Wilts a correspondent, Mr. George Simpkins, writing in April, 1921, says that he saw a pair there in 1920, and in 1921 saw as many as nine of these birds on the water at the same time. If only they could be protected from the man with the gun, it is evident that these beautiful birds would soon establish themselves as regular inhabitants of the county. 1 ED. H. GODDARD.

Little Owl. The Rev. Edgar Glanfield, Vicar of Imber, reported in Wiltshire Gazette, Feb. 9th, 1922, the shooting by a keeper of a Little Owl which had long lived in the Vicarage garden. He examined its crop and found that it contained only the wing cases of a small black beetle. Mr. F. W. Frohawk, writing in Country Life of the same week (Feb. 11th, p. 187), quotes Dr. Collinges as having examined the stomachs of 194 of these birds and proved their harmless nature. All three of these writers contend that the bad character given to the Little Owl is entirely undeserved and based on no evidence at all.

"Snowblunts.” The Rev. C. V. Goddard, Rector of Baverstock, writes that the old Clerk there tells him that Chaffinches used to be called "Chilfinches," there, and that "Snowblunts," a small bird with white streaks about it, used to come in the winter. This apparently can only refer to the Snow Bunting (Plectrophanes nivalis) as "Snowflake" is a recognised name for these birds in the north, and "Snowblunt" is Wiltshire for a slight snowstorm. The fact is worth recording as Smith only mentions the occasional occurrence of the bird in Wilts, and all his references are from the southern half of the county.

1 A Local Fund has been opened at Swindon to assist in providing a proper fence for the "Little Reservoir" at Coate, which is to serve the purpose of a "Sanctuary." Up to October 1922, this fund amounted to about £37. Anyone interested in Bird Life in Wilts might do worse than send a small subscription to the Hon. Secretary of the N. Wilts Field and Camera Club, 22, Farringdon Street, Swindon.

White and Pied Birds. I saw, in company with Capt. Medlicott, in the garden at Sandfield, Potterne, this summer (1922) a hen Robin with white feathers in both wings and in the tail, looking quite unlike a robin when in flight. It apparently had a nest close by, as it was being fed by the cock bird.

In the Wiltshire Gazette, Sept. 7th, 1922, Captain Brodrick, of Avebrick Farm, near Pewsey, reports the presence there of a pair of White Swallows which he was carefully protecting.

A male entirely white Woodcock was shot by Mr. Frank Cundell, Nov. 29th, 1921, at Chisbury Wood, Bedwyn, and was illustrated in Country Life, March 18th, 1922.

on

Dr. R. C. Clay, of the Manor House, Fovant, writes :-"On 30th July, 1922, I saw a semi-albinistic variety of the Common Wheatear Wylye Down. I observed the bird through prismatics at a distance of 30 yards for 10 or 15 minutes. Its head, back, tail, and wings were of a uniform cream colour, except for the pure white patch at the base of the tail. The neck, breast, and underparts were pure white. The tail and primary wing feathers were tipped with black on the underside. A pair of old Wheatears and two fully-fledged young ones—all with normal plumage-were close by." ED. H. GODDARD.

Great Grey Shrike. The Rev. W. R. F. Addison, writing from Chaplain's Quarters, Bulford Camp, says;—“ On Dec. 26th, 1921, in the afternoon, I saw a Great Grey Shrike near Sling Camp, two miles east of Bulford village."

Hen Harrier. Dr. R. C. Clay, writing Sept. 22nd, 1922, says :-" I saw a female Hen Harrier at Fifield (Bavant) a week ago."

Bittern. Mr. R. S. Newall writes:-"A Bittern was killed in Codford water meadow on Jan. 4th, 1918, in mistake for a Heron."

Snowy Owl. The Rev. F..G. Walker, Rector of Upton Lovel, writes, April 8th, 1922:—“There have been at least two 'Snowy Owls' in this village this winter. One was here at the end of October, hovering over our garden and paddock and round about. My wife and I and several other people saw it. At the end of March another was seen by my son and others. The retired farmer, a keen witted and keen eyed old man, who was with my wife and myself when we saw it, said that he had seen the bird several times in his life, which has been spent mostly in Little Langford, and recognised it at once. It was seen that afternoon by several of the villagers, who remarked that they had never noticed a bird like it before.

We saw

it about 3.30 p.m. I have been a bird observer all my life in many parts of England and I am quite positive about it." [This is a matter of considerable interest. The Snowy Owl (Surnia nyctea) is a bird of northern regions and only an occasional visitor to Southern Britain. The Rev. A. C. Smith, in his Wiltshire Birds, gives no instance of its occurrence in this county. E. H. G.]

Polecat at Marston Meysey. Mr. Alfred Williams, of South Marston, in his recently published book, Round about the Upper Thames, p. 208, wrote "In a corner of the field, in which a large pile of loose thorn bushes has been stacked, I chanced upon a Polecat with a small bird in its mouth." In view of the fact that only one instance of the occurrence of the Polecat in Wilts has been recorded since 1885, that at Fisherton Delamere in 1921 (W.A.M. xli., 429), I wrote to Mr. Williams and asked him to give me particulars. He answered :-"The Polecat I saw during the late winter of 1913-14 near Marston Meysey, and I was close to it. It is the first I ever saw in nature, and I asked several people about it and gathered that in a wood lying between Marston Meysey and Fairford, there are, or were, (1914 -1915) several Polecats at least." This is interesting, though there is, perhaps, the possibility that it may have been a "Polecat-Ferret" run wild. ED. H. GODDARD.

Plant Notes. Mrs. Herbert Richardson, of Wilton, writing Aug. 18th, 1922, notes the occurrence of Inula helenium on Windmill Common, near Clouds (Knoyle), and of a large patch of Geranium striatum, and a smaller one of Antennaria mergaritacea, together with Saponaria officinalis (Soapwort), double and single, at Chilmark Quarries. No doubt all the three last are escapes from Quarrymen's Cottages, though the Soapwort and the Geranium seem to have established themselves in some quantity.

Mr. C. Thorold, of Bromham Rectory, sent, Aug. 21, 1922, a specimen (the only one found) from the foot of the downs above Netherstreet, which certainly appears to be Cnicus tuberosus. This is a new locality for this rare plant. The Rev. H. G. O. Kendall also tells me that he found a few plants of it in 1919 at the foot of Golden Ball Hill in Pewsey Vale.

The Rev. C. V. Goddard notes Papaver hybridum in the Rectory garden at Baverstock (1922). Senecio erucifolius has been identified at Clyffe Pypard (1922). Mr. R. G. Gwatkin writes:-"I found a specimen of Lepidium latifolium growing here (Potterne) by the side of the road last autumn and flowered it in a pot. How a marsh plant could have got into such a situation I do not know."

ED. H. GODDARD.

Insects of the Highworth District. I should like to add High. worth to the list of localities in North Wilts where the Comma Butterfly has appeared in the last few years. The first specimens seen here to my knowledge were a pair in September, 1919, and I saw two the next September, and three in September, 1921, all on Michaelmas Daisies. They all seemed fond of flying to rotten “windfall ” apples, apparently for moisture. A colony of the Marbled White exists to the north of the town, in the water-meadows of Bydemill Brook. The Green Forester also

Occurs.

In September, 1915, a specimen of the rare variety of the Small Copper (Chrysophanus phlaeas, var. schmidtii) which has the usual markings on a silvery white ground, was taken by my brother between here and South Marston.