BIRDS 



126. Whooper. Cygnus musicus, Bechstein. 



A not very uncommon visitor, but irregular, 

 only appearing in cold weather, when the 

 floods are out. There were a number in the 

 Nene valley in February, 1893, and I several 

 times saw a dozen or more. Captain Vipan 

 shot two about then, and Lord Lilford records 

 a number of other occurrences. 



127. Bewick's Swan. Cygnus bewlcii, YarreW. 



An occasional visitor, under similar condi- 

 tions to the last species. Mr. George Hunt 

 shot several near Lilford in 1879, and Captain 

 Vipan saw a flock of eleven Bewick's swans 

 when he shot the two whoopers mentioned 

 above. 



128. Mute Swan. Cygnus olor (Gmelin). 

 Acclimatized on our waters. 



129. Common Sheld-Duck. Tadorna cornuta 



(S. G. Gmelin). 



A marine species, which has a good many 

 times wandered to our county, where several 

 have been shot. 



130. Mallard or Wild Duck. Anas boscas, 



Linn. 



A common winter visitor, in nothing like 

 the numbers, however, in which it used to 

 appear. The multiplication of guns, and the 

 consequent scarcity of quiet corners, has much 

 to do with this, which affects all wildfowl. 

 To a certain extent this bird is a resident 

 also, breeding on waters with us where quiet 

 is obtainable. 



131. Gadwall. Anas strepera, hinn, 



A rare winter visitor in small numbers ; 

 has been recognized and obtained several times 

 at the decoy and ponds at Lilford. 



132. Shoveler. Spatula clypeata (Linn.). 



A moderately common visitor at all times 

 of year, but chiefly in the spring, and always 

 in small parties. A wild drake once bred 

 with a pinioned duck at Lilford. 



133. Pintail. Dafila acuta (Linn.). 



An occasional visitor in the winter, never 

 in any numbers. A dozen or more records 

 are extant. 



134. Teal. Nettion crecca (Linn.). 



A scarce resident, breeding occasionally ; 

 many used to breed in the fens and ' washes,' 

 till cultivation ruined them as fowl-resorts. 

 Pretty plentiful in winter, arriving about the 

 beginning of September. 



135. Garganey. Querquedula cin'ia (Linn.). 



A rare spring visitor in small numbers, 

 which has been four times shot in the county 

 [Lilford, ii. 182-183). 



136. Wigeon. Mareca penelope (Linn.). 



A regular autumn visitor to our waters, 

 arriving as early as September 8th, but gener- 

 ally at the end of that month, and remaining 

 till April. 



137. Pochard. Fuligula ferina (Linn.). 



An uncommon winter visitor in Northants, 

 though it breeds in Norfolk and elsewhere in 

 Britain. 



138. Tufted Duck. Fuligula cristata {htzzh). 



A not uncommon winter visitor. It breeds 

 in Norfolk and abundantly in Notts, but Lord 

 Lilford does not record it as having done so 

 in Northants, except in captivity, but I have 

 reason to believe that it does. On April 

 25th, 1898, 1 saw a male swimming about on 

 Blatherwycke Lake, and from his conduct he 

 led me to believe that there was a female 

 sitting on eggs on an adjacent island. Only 

 male wild ducks were then visible from the 

 same reason. This is only circumstantial 

 evidence, but I believe it may be depended on. 



139. Scaup. Fuligula marila (Linn.). 



A sea-duck, and one hardly fit to eat. An 

 occasional winter visitor to the Nene valley, 

 and half a dozen have been obtained at dif- 

 ferent times. 



140. Goldeneye. Clangula glaucion (hinn.). 



A not uncommon autumn and winter 

 visitor to our inland waters, in small numbers, 

 nearly always immature birds ; old males 

 seldom occur ; worthless for the table. 



141. Common Scoter. CEdemia nigra (Linn.). 



A purely marine species, which has thrice 

 been recorded from our county in the early 

 autumn {Lilford, ii. 198). 



142. Velvet Scoter. CEdemia fusca (Linn.). 

 Once seen near Lilford {Lilford, ii. 200). 



143. Goosander. Afergus merganser, hinn. 



A not uncommon winter visitor to our 

 waters, where a good many have been shot at 

 different times. 



144. Red-breasted Merganser. Mergus ser- 



rator, Linn. 

 A common bird on our coasts, but it seems 

 to visit our county much less frequently than 

 the last ; several examples, however, have 

 been obtained in the winter. 



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