mOTES ON THE BIRDS: WHICH 
INHABIT SCOTTON COMMON. 
By Tur Rev. F. L. BLatuwayt, M.A., M.B.O.U. 
It is my intention in this paper to give some account of the 
birds I have seen on Scotton Common at intervals during the last 
seven years. This essay therefore must not be regarded as an 
exhaustive account of the past and present avifauna of that 
district, but rather as a sketch of the bird life of the Common as 
it exists at the beginning of the 20th Century. 
The writer is well aware that much of the ancient glory has 
departed and that many species have been banished from the 
district. So much however still remains’ that during Spring and 
Summer the Common is certainly one of the most interesting 
_ bird resorts in the whole County. Mr. F. M. Burton, of Gainsboro’, 
has kindly sent me a few notes onthe rarer birds which were met 
with on the Common some 40 years ago, and a few remarks on 
these will not be out of place here. Ruffs and Reeves 
nested there in those days and specimens from the district may be 
seen in our Museum. ‘The late John Cordeaux states in his list of 
the Birds of the Humber district, that the last eggs of this species 
were taken on the Common in 1882. The Norfolk Plover 
or Stone Curlew used to inhabit the sandy hill to the West 
of the Common, but eggs apparently have not been found there 
since 1886. The Dunlin also is said to have nested among 
the heather in former days, but does not appear to do so at the 
present time. 
Until about 1882, the Commons of N. W. Lincolnshire were 
favourite resorts of the Short-eared Owl, several pairs 
remaining to nest among the grass and heather, the birds doubt- 
less finding a plentiful supply of food. At the present day it 
seems that this species is only an Autumn and Winter visitor to 
our County. A pair of Bitterns, which may be seen stuffed in 
‘the County Museum, were shot on the Common about 50 years ago, 
