BIRDS. 145 



however, a certain number of these Geese constantly 

 resort to Hawkstone, Combermere and Ellesmere, and 

 there are generally seven or eight nests on the mere at 

 the place last named. 



Bernacle Goose. Very rare, but has occurred in the 



B. lettcopsis. County many years ago. It is this 



Oct. Mar. bird that was fabled to be bred from 



the Bernacles or * Barnacles ' found 



attached to ships timbers. 



Brent Goose. Although this bird visits the eastern counties 



B. brenta. in large numbers, it is rare in Shrop- 

 Oct. Mar. shire. One was shot near Shrewsbury 



in 1861, another on Combermere (over 

 the edge of the County), November 5th, 1895, an d one 

 near Kinnerley, in October, 1898. 



Wild Swan, or Whooper. Now very rare, but in 1837 



Cygnus musicus. Mr. H. Shaw received no less than 



Oct. Mar. twenty-five for preservation. A young 



male was shot near Linley, January 



1 6th, 1891. Mr. Brownlow Tower writes that several 



Whoopers were seen on Ellesmere Mere and the pool at 



Halston, in the winter of 1892-3 ; two were shot, of 



which one is now at Halston. The cry of this swan is a 



loud " whoop " uttered on the wing hence its second 



name. The tame Swan is silent. 



Bewick's Swan. Like the last now very rare. Mr. Rocke 



C. Bewicki. had one, killed on the Severn about 



1862. 



TAME, or MUTE SWAN B. Common on many orna- 

 C. olor. mental waters in a domesticated con- 



dition, and numerous on the meres 



