BIRDS 



127. Glossy Ibis. Plegadisfalcinellus(Linn.). 

 The only occurrence of this occasional 



straggler to our coasts, was one shot at Billing- 

 ham, near Stockton on 25 November, 1900. 



128. Grey Lag-Goose. Anser cinereus, Meyer. 

 Generally occurs in the marshes near Tees- 

 mouth in winter, but in very small numbers. 

 The scarcest of all our familiar wild geese, 

 though for thirteen years that I lived close to 

 the marshes seldom a season passed without 

 one specimen at least being brought to me. 



in twelve years by the gunners on Cowpen 

 Marsh. None of them showed any signs of 

 having been in captivity.] 



135. Whooper Swan. Cygmu musicus, Bech- 

 stein. 



Frequently taken, especially in hard winters, 

 on the coast. 



1 29. White-fronted Goose. 



(Scopoli). 



A not uncommon winter visitor on the 

 coast, especially in hard weather. Seldom in 

 any large number. 



130. Bean-Goose. Amer segetum (J. F. 



Gmelin). 



The most abundant of all our geese in 

 winter, arriving early in November. They 

 often come far inland to feed, but always 

 roost by the sea shore. 



136. Bewick's Swan. Cygmu bewicki. Yarrell. 

 By no means so rare as is frequently sup- 

 posed. It visits us irregularly in hard winters, 

 sometimes in flocks. Three were taken to- 

 Anser albifrons gether at Blaydon in February 1887. 



131. Pink-footed Goose. Anser brachyrhynchus 



Baillon. 



Frequent in winter on our coast and in the 

 estuary of the Tees. 



132. Red-breasted Goose. Bernicla ruficollit 



(Pallas). 



The first two specimens of this bird known 

 to have occurred were taken at the beginning 

 of the year 1776. One shot near London, 

 which came into the possession of Mr. Tun- 

 stall, is now with the rest of the WycliflFe 

 Museum in Newcastle Museum, and is figured 

 by Bewick ; the other was taken alive on the 

 Tees, and lived for nine years with ducks on 

 a pond near Mr. TunstalPs residence. One 

 is stated to have been shot in 1845 m Cowpen 

 Marsh, which has produced so many rarities, 

 by Mr. J. Hikely, and two are said to have 

 been seen the same year on the Tees. 



133. Bernacle Goose. Bernicla leucopsis 



(Bechstein). 



A winter visitor. Not so common as the 

 brent. 



134. Brent Goose. Bernicla brenta (Pallas). 



A common autumn and winter visitor to 

 the coast. 



[Egyptian Goose. Cbenalopex tegyptiacus 

 (Linn.). 



Shot several times on the coast, never inland. 

 Three were brought to me at different times 



137. Mute Swan. Cygmu olor (J. F. Gmelin). 



Not unfrequently shot in winter. These 

 may very possibly be wild birds from their 

 northern homes in Sweden and Denmark. 



138. Common Sheldrake. Tadorna carnuto 



(S. G. Gmelin). 



Formerly a well-known breeding species on 

 the sandhills and rabbit warrens by the coast, 

 especially about Seaton and Teesmouth. Sixty 

 years ago there were several pair in the rabbit 

 warren of Middleton, now in the heart of 

 West Hartlepool. The bird is now only an 

 occasional straggler, though in Northumber- 

 land it still breeds. 



139. Ruddy Sheldrake. Tadorna casarca 



(Linn.). 



The only recorded occurrence is the appear- 

 ance of a small flock in the interior of the 

 county, one of which was shot and brought 

 to Mr. Cullingford for preservation on 23 Sep- 

 tember, 1892. 



140. Mallard or Wild Duck. Anas boscbas, 



Linn. 



Still found in all suitable localities. In 

 many, a breeding species. 



141. Shoveller. Spatula clypeata (Linn.). 



A rather scarce spring and autumn migrant, 

 sometimes breeding. A pair nested at Sal- 

 holme in 1 88 1. (Zoologist, 1882, p. 90.) 



142. Pintail. Dafila aceta (Linn.). 



A rather scarce winter visitor. Said to have 

 formerly bred in the county. 



143. Teal. Querquedula cricca (Linn.). 



A resident. Still breeds in small numbers 

 in Upper Weardale and Teesdale. 



144. Garganey. Querquedula cireia (Linn.). 

 A rare visitor. One was shot in Cowpen 



Marsh on 3 September, 1882. 



185 



