A HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTONSHIRE 



51, 52). Does not breed in this country, but 

 I have found the nest in Norway and Russian 

 Lapland. 



172. Common Snipe. Gallinago caelestis 



(Frenzel). 

 A regular autumn and spring visitor, not it 

 seems in as great numbers as formerly, owing 

 to many of its old breeding grounds being 

 reduced to cultivation. It breeds occasionally 

 by the Nene, in quiet spots, laying early in 

 April. 



1 73. Jack Snipe. Gallinago gallinula (Linn.). 



A not uncommon winter visitor, frequent- 

 ing similar ground to the last bird, appearing 

 in October. Has never been ascertained to 

 breed in Britain. 



174. Dunlin. Tringa alpina, Linn. 



An occasional visitor in autumn and spring. 

 Very common on the coasts, breeding on fells 

 in north and south-west Britain. 



175. Little Stint. Tringa minuta, Leisler. 



Lord Lilford had several occurrences re- 

 ported to him, but apparently he never saw a 

 county specimen, nor have 1. 



176. Curlew-Sandpiper. Tringa subarquata 



(Guldenstadt). 



A very rare wanderer to Northants in au- 

 tumn. The late Mr. George Hunt shot one 

 at Pilton, September 9th, 1887, and one 

 was more recently shot at Naseby reservoir 

 {Northants Nat. Hist. Soc. Journ., 1899). 

 Both were immature. 



177. Knot. Tringa canutus, hinn. 



A very abundant autumn and spring 

 migrant on our coasts, which has thrice 

 wandered to our county and been recognized. 



178. RufF (? Reeve). Machetes pugnax 



(Linn.). 

 Formerly abundant and breeding in the 

 fens, including Whittlesea Mere ; now a 

 scarce occasional visitor. Only four recent 

 occurrences are mentioned by Lord Lilford 

 (ii. 78, 79), to which I am able to add a 

 young male obtained by me at Ditchford, near 

 Irchester, on September 22nd, 1890. 



179. Common Sandpiper. Totanus hypoleucus 



(Linn.). 

 This bird, also called the 'summer snipe,' 

 is a migrant, passing through the county in 

 small numbers in April, and returning in early 

 autumn. Has been frequently reported as 

 breeding at Ravensthorpe reservoir, near 

 Northampton ; it is much to be regretted that 



the nest (which is not a difficult one to find) 

 has not been looked up in the interests of the 

 Northampton Museum. 



180. Wood - Sandpiper. Totanus glareola 



(Gmelin). 

 Much rarer than the last, but occurring 

 under the same circumstances. Several re- 

 corded occurrences {Lilford^ ii. 90). 



181. Green Sandpiper. Totanus ochropus 



(Linn.). 

 A regular visitor in small numbers on 

 migration in early autumn and spring, fre- 

 quenting brooks as well as main rivers. Easily 

 recognized by the conspicuous white patch 

 over the tail and the loud double scream on 

 rising. 



182. Common Redshank. Totanus calidris 



(Linn.). 

 An autumn and spring migrant, not very 

 uncommon. A few pairs breed here and 

 there in rough water-meadows. See Lilford 

 in loc. and Nat. Hist. Soc. Journ.y vol. x. 16. 



183. Spotted or Dusky Redshank. Totanus 



fuscus (Linn.). 

 A rare autumn and spring visitor, some- 

 what difficult to distinguish in winter dress 

 from the foregoing at anything but a very 

 short distance. Has been once shot in 

 Northants, at Canon's Ashby, August 28th, 

 i! 



184. Greenshank. Totanus canescem (fjTa^Xxn). 

 A rare visitor in autumn and spring, which 



has been a good many times recorded as being 

 seen in the county, but on one occasion only 

 obtained (as far as I can gather) — at Whilton, 

 in December, 1885. 



185. Bar-tailed Godwit. Limosa lapponica 



(Linn.). 

 A scarce occasional visitor from autumn to 

 spring ; the one I saw at Mr. Field's in 

 Kettering in December, 1885, shot near 

 there, remains the only record hitherto. But 

 the Waders, which resemble one another so 

 closely, and have so many changes of plumage, 

 want a great deal more attention from North- 

 amptonshire observers than they have ever yet 

 had, except near Lilford. 



186. Curlew. N umenius arquata i^xnn!). 

 Also a passing migrant, seldom touching 



ground in Northants. I have several times 

 heard them passing over at night, my atten- 

 tion being attracted to them by their call. 

 Two or three have been obtained in the 

 county, which would probably be tired birds 



126 



