A HISTORY OF NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 



bird is very difficult to find ; it is lined with 

 grass, not hair, as most of the natural history 

 books tell us. There are generally about thirty 

 pairs nesting in Harlow Wood, which is about 

 800 acres in extent. 



23. Reed Warbler. dcrocephalus streperus 



(Vieillot) 



Not uncommon in reed beds on the side of 

 the Trent, where it breeds. It was once 

 heard on the side of the lake at Rainworth. 



24. Sedge Warbler. Acrocepbalus phragmitis 



(Bechstein) 



Fairly common in suitable localities; as it 

 sings when quite dark at night it is often mis- 

 taken for a nightingale by the villagers in 

 these parts. 



25. Grasshopper Warbler. Locustella neevla 



(Boddaert) 



A spring visitant and very local ; but 

 although it is found in certain places one 

 year, it may not occur again there for some 

 time. It is generally found near water, but 

 has been seen over a mile away nesting in 

 clover fields. I have a pretty variety with 

 partly white flights shot near Mansfield in 

 1892. This bird has not nested at Rain- 

 worth since 1887, when there were three 

 pairs. 



26. Hedge Sparrow. Accentor modularis 



(Linn.) 



Distributed all over the county, but not in 

 such great numbers as formerly. 



27. Dipper. Cine/us aquaticus, Bechstein. 

 Two or three have been shot or seen on 



the stream at Perlthorpe, Thoresby. Mr. 

 Edward Walter shot one and saw another on 

 the stream near Papplewick in 1 88 1, and I 

 saw one by the waterfall at Lamb Close in 

 1898. Both were specimens of the chestnut 

 breasted dipper. 



28. Black-bellied Dipper. Cine/us melano- 



gaster, Brehm. 



The only specimen obtained in Notting- 

 hamshire was shot near Southwell about 1873. 



29. Bearded Tit or Reedling. Panurus biar- 



micus (Linn.) 



The late Mr. Percy of Beeston shot a bird 

 of this species in a willow-bed near Toton 

 in Notts, and had it in his collection ; it was 

 alone at the time. As far as I know this is 

 the only county specimen. 



30. Long-Tailed Tit. Acredula caudata 



(Linn.) 

 Fairly common, and is more in evidence 



in winter, when it is seen in small and large 

 parties. This bird is fond of nesting near the 

 same place year after year. 



31. Great Tit. Parus major, Linn. 



Well distributed all over the county ; a 

 bird of many notes. It is rather too fond of 

 bees. 



32. Coal Tit. Parus ater, Linn. 

 Common, but not so numerous as the last 



species and more retiring. 



33. Marsh Tit. Parus palustris, Linn. 

 The rarest of the five commoner tits in 



Notts. 



34. Blue Tit. Parus cceruleus, Linn. 

 Common all over the county ; in winter it 



is seen in woods in companies, associated with 

 two or three of the other species of tit. 



35. Nuthatch. Sitta casia, Wolf. 



Very local and nowhere common ; nests in 

 Thoresby Park and at Wollaton ; it has also 

 been seen at Rufford and in the south of the 

 county. 



36. Wren. Troglodytes parvu/us, Koch. 



A very common resident, found in woods, 

 gardens and hedgerows all over the county ; 

 it is one of the few birds that sing here in 

 winter. 



Certhia fami/iaris, Linn, 

 in woods, but is nowhere 



comes nearer houses in 

 has been known to nest 

 a greenhouse attached to 

 a summer-house, and on 

 a flower-box close to my 

 most interesting little bird 



37. Tree Creeper. 

 This bird is seen 



common. It often 

 breeding time, and 

 under the lead in 

 this house, also in 

 another occasion in 

 front door. It is a 

 and very quiet. 



38. Pied Wagtail. Motacilla lugubris, Tem- 



minck. 



This pretty bird is found in greater num- 

 bers in spring and summer. It sometimes 

 stays through the winter and may then often 

 be seen where sheep are feeding. I once saw 

 a nest with eggs in a turnip field close under 

 the side of a large turnip. 



39. White Wagtail. Motacilla alba, Linn. 

 Occurs from time to time, but it is rare. 



Two or three have been seen near Ollerton 

 and also at Rainworth, but it is probably often 

 overlooked. 



40. Grey Wagtail. Motacilla melanope, Pallas. 

 Far from common ; it is seen in autumn 



and early spring. On 2O October 1897 I 



1 60 



