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In the Coatham marshes, on the south side of the river, there 

 existed down to the years 1870-72 a Wild Duck decoy, in which 

 used to be taken the Mallard (Anas boschas), Sheldrake ( Tadoma 

 vulpanser , Widgeon ( Mareca penelopej, Pintail ( Dafila acuta), 

 Shoveller ( Spatula clypeataj, and Pochard (Fuligula ferina), and 

 occasionally the Scaup Duck (Fuligula marila). On the 17th of 

 March, 1850, a Ferruginous Duck (Nyrocafenuginea), was taken. 

 Very little indication of this decoy now remains, the establishment 

 of the ironworks in the neighbourhood would soon scare the birds 

 away. That most beautiful of our native ducks, the Sheldrake 

 (Tadoma vulpanser), used to breed in some numbers on the 

 sandhills at both sides of the estuary, and does yet in limited 

 numbers. I have frequently seen old birds in the breeding 

 season; and the birds shot early in the autumn are chiefly young. 

 In 1880 a pair nested in a metal pipe that goes under a slag-bank 

 at Tod Point. In 1883 a pair nested in a slag-bank at the north 

 side of the river. The young birds were caught by some navvies 

 who were working there, and, I am afraid, destroyed. I have 

 heard of several other nests being found within these last few 

 years, but I am afraid in most cases the eggs have been taken. 

 There is an accession of numbers in winter, when flocks of from 

 three or four to a dozen or more are not unfrequently met with. 

 The Mallard (Anas bosclias) is sometimes met with in large 

 numbers in the autumn and winter months, flocks of one hundred 

 or more being not unfrequently seen. A few years ago a number 

 were washed ashore dead at Tod Point after a severe gale. The 

 other ducks most commonly met with are the Widgeon (Mareca 

 penelope) and Teal (Querquedula crecca). The Mallard and Teal 

 breed here in the marshes, and it is possible that the Garganey 

 "Teal (Querquedula circia) may occasionally. I have known an 

 old and a young bird to be shot together in August. Others of the 

 duck tribe frequently met with are the Goldeneye (Clangula 

 glaucion), Shoveller (Spatula dypeata), Pintail (Dafila acuta), 

 Pochard (Fuligula ferina) , Scaup Duck ( F. marila), Tufted Duck 

 (F. cristata), and occasionally the Long-tailed Duck (Harelda 

 glacialis) and the Common Scoter (CEdemia nigra), in considerable 

 numbers at times in the autumn and winter months. The Eider 

 Duck (Somateria mollissima) has been met with a few times in the 

 Tees. The Goosander (Mergus merganser) has frequently been 

 met with; one was shot in the winter of 1883. The Dabchick 

 or Little Grebe (Tachylaptes fluviatilis) is a winter resident. The 

 Sclavonian or Dusky Grebe (Podiceps auritus) and the Eared 

 Grebe ( P. nigricollis) have also been met with. 



