A HISTORY OF NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 



There are two duck-traps in the county, one at Park Hall and the 

 other in Annesley Park. They are made by cutting a narrow canal 

 through an island and covering it over with wire netting ; at each end is 

 a door which can be raised or lowered at pleasure. The trap is baited 

 with corn. The ducks swim in to feed, and when a sufficient number 

 have entered the doors at the ends are lowered by means of a wire 

 pulled by the fowler, who is concealed in a hut from which he can get 

 a clear view of the trap without being seen by the wildfowl on the 

 water. The captives are left until night, when the other ducks have left 

 the pond, and are then caught, the doors raised, corn spread, and the trap 

 is again ready for next day. This mode of capture is more effective 

 than shooting, for if wildfowl are shot at often they leave the lake, but 

 when taken in a trap the rest are not disturbed and attract others. 



At Park Hall, where the lake is in front of the house, hundreds of 

 wildfowl may be seen dotted all over the water, and sitting or feeding on 

 the banks by scores ; parties of ducks are continually coming and going, 

 and ten or a dozen herons may be seen at one time, some often standing 

 on the top of the trap, the sides of which are hidden by willows and 

 other shrubs. Cattle and other animals are kept away by an iron 

 fence, and no gun is fired anywhere near. There is no more delight- 

 ful occupation for a naturalist than to sit in the library window with 

 a good pair of glasses watching the wildfowl six or seven or even 

 more species some asleep, others feeding or chasing one another over 

 the glassy surface of the lake, and parties of pochards and tufted ducks 

 busy diving. When lit up by a bright winter sun the scene is one to be 

 remembered. The ducks begin to arrive in numbers about the end of 

 September and remain until the spring, when they depart to their nesting 

 quarters. As many as 400 have been taken in a winter on this piece of 

 water, and I have many times seen a thousand or more wildfowl on and 

 about the lake at one time. 



In compiling the following list all doubtful occurrences have been 

 most carefully excluded, and only those enumerated which have a real 

 claim to be considered Nottinghamshire birds. 



1. Missel Thrush. Turdus viscivorus, Linn, birds of this species singing in the plantations 



This fine thrush is distributed over the round the house at one time ' the volume of 



county in fair numbers, and is very abundant sound was wonderful, 



at Rainworth. In August, when they flock 3. Redwing. Turdus iliacus, Linn. 

 together, as many as 1 15 have been seen to A fajr number of thisspecies visits us every 



fly into a small plantation in the deer park to autumn and wj but k is most numerous 



roost. It is usually met with in pairs in m thg of the c where grass fidds 



spring, and I have found its nest in a small and b; hed occur . thfe bird suffers much 



fir within 2 feet 6 inches of the ground. in severe winters> 



2. Song Thrush. Turdus musicus, Linn. 4. Fieldfare. Turdus pi/arts, Linn. 



Very common and distributed over the Much commoner than the last named bird, 



county in spring and summer ; many leave some years occurring in very large flocks, 



in autumn ; it frequents small plantations. The earliest date at which I have ever seen 



In March 1901 Mr. Aplin, when staying at this bird was on 12 September 1874, and 



Rainworth, was certain he heard over 100 the latest the third week in May 1900. 



158 



