4 ORNITHOLOOY OF LIKCOIi>rSHIRK. 



aim." Their last grand resort too, though not within the district of which I am 

 now writing, Whittlesey Meer, from which they were accustomed to wander 

 over the neighbouring country, (is it in Lincolnshire? In spite of Sir Walter 

 Scott's assertion "that Roger Wild-drake lived near Squattlesey Meer, in the 

 moist county of Lincoln," (Vide "Woodstock,") we will not claim more 

 moisture than we are entitled to,) has just given way to the spirit of 

 improvement. 



I must once again quote that quaint old author Camden, to shew what Lin- 

 colnshire once was in respect of Wildfowl: — "Yet the most gainfull trade they 

 have, is by taking fish, and catching wildfoule; and that is so gi'eate, that in the 

 month of August they will spread a net and at once draw three- thousand 

 Mallards and W^ild-ducks, and such like together. In regard of this their 

 takeing fish and foule, they paid yearly, in times past, to the Abbat, as now 

 they do to the king, X300 in our own money." Page 531. This quotation 

 applies to the district of Crowland. I now extract one relating to the country 

 in the neighbourhood and on the banks of the Humber: — "^AU this tract 

 over, at certaine seasons, good God, what store of foules, (to say nothing of 

 fishes,) is heere to be found. I meane not those vulgar birds, which, in other 

 places are highly esteemed, and beare a great price, as Teales, Quailes, 

 Woodcockes, Phesants, Partridges, etc., etc.; but such as we have no Latine 

 names for, the very delicate dainties indeed of service meates for the demigods, 

 and greatly sort for by these that love the toothe so well; I mean Puitts, 

 Godwits, Knotts, that is to say Canutus or Knouts birds, (for out of Den- 

 mark they are thought to fly thither,) Dotterels, so named of their dotish 

 foolishnesse, which being a kinde of bird, as it were, of an apish kinde, ready 

 to imitate what they see done, are caught by candle-light, according to the 

 foulers gestures. If he put forth an arme, they also stretch out a wing; sets 

 he forward his legge, or holdeth up his head, they likewise doe theirs. In 

 briefe, whatever the fouler doth, the same also doth this foolish bird, until he 

 be hidden within the net. But these things I leave to their observation, who 

 either take pleasure earnestly to hunt after Nature's workes, or being borne 

 to pamper the belly, delight to send their estates downe their throat."* 



But, productive no doubt of much increase of health and comfort to the 

 inhabitants of the aguish districts, the draining-mill, the spade, and plough, 

 which have been the cause of driving away some species, have also encouraged 

 the naturalization of othei's, thus adding greatly to the nomenclature of the 

 county. Among others, we may observe that the Nightingale is fast drawing 

 on to this remote corner; and I am assured that it has been constantly 

 heard for several years in some woodlands not far distant from Market- 

 Rasen. The sea-coast and that of the River Humber is, and must always 

 remain a favourite locality for the ornithologist; for, as I have already stated, 



* "Britain, or a chonographical description of the most flourishing kingdom of England, 

 written in Latin." By Wm. Camdex, translated by Philemon Holland, M. D. London, 

 1637. Page 543. 



