190 FIRST APPEARANCES OF BIRDS, INSECTS, ETC. 



ANATIDAE. 



(65) Branta bernicla. The Brent Goose. 



Locally -killed birds in poulterers' shops at 

 Wey mouth, Nov. 21-23 ; eleven on Lodmoor, 

 Weymouth, Nov. 22 ; and five on Lodmoor, 

 Weymouth, Nov. 29. (F.L.B.) 



(66) Tadorna tadorna. The Sheld-Duck. 



Apr. 15 This bird had started investigating the rabbit 

 burrows in the vicinity of Poole for suitable 

 nesting places. House hunting with them is a 

 very exhaustive process, and the sand on the 

 " tip " at the entrance of most rabbit holes 

 show the footmarks of this species. Moreover, 

 the emergence of a Burrow Duck from a hole 

 does not always indicate a nest by any means. 



Apr. 21 Five pairs seen investigating a rabbit warren 

 at 5 a.m. by a reliable observer. 



Apr. 30 At Canford Bottom watched a pair flying high 

 over the woods and found it was male escorting 

 female to nest to lay. Female pitched down 

 into heather and male stood out to sea again. 

 We went across and found footprints of female 

 outside and into a sandy rabbit burrow, and 

 subsequently found down in the vicinity. 



May 7 W.P.C. observed another female to a nest in 

 Canford Bottom. 



E.H.C. saw a female go out from laying at 

 4.30 p.m. 



May 14 W.P.C. saw a female go out at 12 noon from 

 laying. (W.P.C. and E.H.C.) 



(67) Anas boschas. The Mallard. 



Feb. 27 On Hatch Pond in Poole, about 15 Anas 

 boschas seen ; on March 5 eleven seen ; on March 

 6 seven seen. Doubtless the numbers on Hatch 

 Pond are swollen with immigrants in wintei 



