22 Coward, Faunal Survey of Rostherne Mere. 



that the ducks were sitting or tending young than that 

 these drakes were unattached. 



The immigrants begin to arrive in July or August, 

 and by November there are often large numbers on the 

 mere ; early in December there is generally an increase, 

 but, as with the Pochard, the largest numbers are to be 

 seen on Rostherne when the birds are driven by frost 

 from the shallower waters. The best feeding ground 

 for all diving ducks is at the southern end of the mere, 

 but a few may usually be seen diving near the bank 

 alongside the Gale Bog and Harper's Bank wood. 



The Scaup is an 



Nyroca inariia marila {\Anm.e\xs,). infrequent visitor 



to Rostherne, as to 

 other Cheshire fresh waters. We have only met with it 

 on three occasions. On October loth, 1908, Mr. Boyd 

 saw a duck with the typical broad white mask. Towards 

 the end of July, 191 2, a drake spent a few days on the 

 water, and at the end of November, in the same year, a 

 female or immature bird was on the water. 



The Goldeneye 

 Nyroca clangula claugula (Linnaeus), is not so frequent 



a visitor to Ros- 

 therne as it is to some other Cheshire waters — Oakmere 

 for instance — but it has occurred on passage in March, 

 April, August, and October, and as a winter visitor in the 

 months of November, December, Januarj^ and February 

 in various years. The birds, which are usually brown- 

 headed and immature, seldom number more than two or 

 three together, and solitary individuals are more frequently 

 met with. Occasionally, however, an adult drake, accom- 

 panied by a few brown-headed birds, pa)'s a passing visit, 

 and in December, 191 3, there were two fine drakes on the 

 water at the same time. The Goldeneye is the least 



