BIRDS OCCURRING NEAR RICHMOND. 103 



eleven eggs, nine of the usual colour — tawny brown, and the remaining num- 

 ber resembling that above described; curiously enough, the last-named were 

 so much cracked, (although freshly laid,) that the specimen belonging to my 

 friend was the only one which could be preserved. 



The Red Grouse, (Tetrao Scoticus,) is not rare, and numerous nests are 

 annually discovered; the eggs of this .species are for richness and variety of 

 colouring equalled by those of no British Bird, with the exception perhaps 

 of the Broad-billed Sandpiper, (Tringa platyrhyncha .) Whilst on the subject 

 of eggs, it may perhaps be not amiss to warn young oologists (a rapidly increasing 

 race,) against buying specimens from every dealer whose shop they may enter. 

 Generally speaking it is quite impossible to rely on the eggs being authentic, 

 and Mr. St. John was not far from the truth when he said that the dealers had 

 "as many tricks as a horse jockey to dispose of their specimens;" the well- 

 known "Great Auk fraud," must be fresh in the minds of most London 

 oologists. My principal object in mentioning this was to bring forward the name 

 of an individual who to most men of his profession is a bright exception; I 

 mean Mr. J. Gardner, of 29, Great Marlborough Street, whom I consider quite 

 unequalled for the cheap price at which he sells both stuffed birds and eggs, 

 and in whose honesty I have the greatest confidence. 



The Golden Plover, (Charadrius pluviaHs,) is occasionally killed during the 

 autumn and winter months, but never as far as I can ascertain, breeds with us. 



The Lapwing, (Vanellus cristatus,) is very abundant, haunting during the 

 breeding season, ploughed fields and waste land, but after hatching, retiring, 

 with the exception of a very few individuals, to the sea coast. 



The Common Heron, (Ardea cinerea^) is sometimes observed standing in 

 shallow parts of the river, deeply engaged in the pursuit of its finny prey, 

 but specimens are seldom procured, and there is no heronry within many miles 

 of Richmond. 



Although by no means plentiful, the Curlew, (Numenius arquata,) may 

 be generally seen on some of the tracts of moorland within a short distance 

 of the town, and from such a locality I have had the eggs. 



A specimen of the rare Green Sandpiper, (Totanus ochropus,) was recently 

 killed at Killerby, a short distance from the town. Whilst conversing with 

 one of the most eminent ornithologists of the present day, I was assured by 

 him that the eggs of this species had never yet been found; but I find that 

 in a sale of specimens which took place a short time ago in London, several 

 eggs stated to be those of T. ochropus, were disposed of. 



The Common Sandpiper, {Totanus hypoleucos,) is not very abundant, and 

 any stragglers which remain to breed are generally shot by bird-stuffers. 



The Woodcock, {Scolopax riisticola,) the Common Snipe, {Scolopax gaUinago,) 

 and the Jack Snipe, {Scolopax gallinula,) are all scarce, the last named es- 

 pecially, is very rarely seen. 



VOL. IV. p 



