14 Coward, Faunal Survey of Rostherne Mere. 



doubt it destroys numerous fry or young fish, but the 

 bird also feeds upon small crustaceans such as Gannnarus 

 and Asellus, both of which occur in the shallower water 

 near the banks. 



Two of the raptorial 

 Circus aeruginosus (Linnaeus), birds have special re- 

 lation to the mere, but 

 both are rare visitors only. The Marsh Harrier has 

 occurred once, at any rate, within recent years. On May 

 4th and 5th, 191 3, Mr A. W. Boyd saw a female or 

 immature male in an osier-bed and reed-bed at opposite 

 ends of the mere, on the later date putting it up three 

 times, once when within ten yards.^ A search on the 

 following day in all the reeds and willows failed, and no 

 doubt the bird had then passed on. 



An Osprey, after having 

 Pandion halia'etus (Linnaeus), been seen fishing on the 



mere for several days, 

 was shot at the end of April, 1865. It was devouring a 

 two-pound Bream when it was killed. At a meeting of the 

 Manchester Literary and Philosophical Society, on May 

 15th, 1865, it was exhibited by the late H. Harrison.' 

 The bird passed into the collection of Mr. F. Nicholson, 

 and subsequently to the Warrington Museum, where it is 

 still preserved. There is no other record of the Osprey 

 at Rostherne, but in the winter of 1893-94 two were seen 

 on several occasions fishing in the neighbouring mere in 

 Tatton Park.' 



The Common Heron is a 

 Ardea ciiierea Linnaeus. regular Rostherne bird ; it 



is seldom possible to walk 

 round the mere without disturbing one or even several 



2 British Birds. VII., 18. 



3 Zoologist, 1866. XXIV., 30. 



* Coward, "Vertebrate Fauna of Cheshire," I., 297. 



