A HISTORY OF DURHAM 



1 8 1. Lapwing or Peewit. Vanellui vulgaris, 



Bechstein. 

 Locally Peesweep. 



Common in the east, though in sadly 

 diminishing numbers. In the wilder parts of 

 the county very abundant. 



182. Turnstone. Strepsilas interpret (Linn.). 

 A regular visitor to the coast. 



183. Oyster-catcher. Hamatopus ostralegus, 



Linn. 



Not uncommon on the coast. Breeds here 

 occasionally. 



184. Avocet. Recurvirostra avocetta, Linn. 



Saunders' edition of Yarrell mentions its 

 having been taken two or three times at 

 Teesmouth. I have not been able to find 

 the authority. It has been taken at Hartley, 

 but that is in Northumberland. 



185. Grey Phalarope. Phalaroptu Julicarius 



(Linn.). 



An irregular visitor on the coast. Two 

 taken in 1824 at Haverton Hill are mentioned 

 by Hogg. 



1 86. Woodcock. Scclopax rusticula, Linn. 



Has for over ten years bred in the county 

 and does so still, but the number shot have 

 considerably diminished of late years. Two 

 years ago there was a nest close to Durham 

 city. 



187. Great Snipe. Gallinago major (J. F. 



Gmelin). 



Rarely an autumn passes without one or 

 more specimens being recorded. Selby men- 

 tions their appearance in 1826. I possess a 

 specimen, adult, shot in that autumn by Lord 

 Barrington's keeper at Sedgefield. 



1 88. Common Snipe. Gallinago ccelestis 



(Frenzel). 



Still breeds in a few favoured and undrained 

 localities. By far the larger number are 

 migrants. 



189. Jack Snipe. Gallinago galllnula (Linn.). 



A regular autumn and winter visitor, but 

 in small numbers. 



190. Pectoral Sandpiper. Tringa maculata, 



Vieillot. 



Accidental. Has been recorded three 

 times, from Hartlepool, Teesmouth, and 

 Bishop Auckland. 



191. Dunlin. Tringa alfiina, Linn 



In large numbers on the coast in winter. 

 Formerly bred on the moors in the west, and 

 possibly does so still in small numbers. 



192. Little Stint. Tringa minuta, Leisler. 



A rare visitor on its autumnal migration, 

 generally in September. 



193. Temminck's Stint. Tringa temminci, 



Leisler. 



A very rare autumnal visitor. Has been 

 taken in the estuary of the Tees. 



194. Curlew-Sandpiper. Tringa subarnuata 



(Gttldenstadt). 



In small numbers on the sea shore and 

 estuaries in winter, often in company with 

 dunlins. 



195. Purple Sandpiper. Tringa striata, 



Linn. 



Occurs occasionally on the sea shore in 

 autumn and winter. 



196. Knot. Tringa canutas, Linn. 



A fairly common autumnal migrant. A 

 few remain on the coast through the winter. 



197. Sanderling. Calidrii armaria (Linn.). 



Common on the coast in autumn and 

 winter, especially in October. It has been 

 shot several times in June in full summer 

 plumage at Seaton and Teesmouth. 



198. Ruff and Reeve. Machetes pugnax 



(Linn.). 



Now a rare and uncertain visitor. Bred in 

 Northumberland up to 1853, and said on 

 reliable authority to have formerly nested on 

 Bolden Flats. Was taken in Cowpen Marsh 

 on 3 September, 1881. 



199. Common Sandpiper. Totanus hypoleucus 



(Linn.). 



A regular spring and autumn migrant, 

 breeding in suitable localities. 



ZOO. Wood Sandpiper. Totanus glareola 

 (J. F. Gmelin). 



A rare and uncertain autumn migrant. 



201. Green Sandpiper. Totanus ochropus 

 (Linn.). 



A rare and irregular visitor, generally inland. 

 Has been recorded from Hilton Castle, Octo- 

 ber, 1830; Streatlam Park, 1838; Elton, 

 1 88 ? Castle Eden Dene, 1860 ; Bishop 

 Auckland, 1849; Mainsforth, 1903. 



188 



