BIRDS 



preserved is the main cause of the destruction 

 of the heronries. 



115. Little Egret. Ardea garzetta, Linn. 

 This is recognized as a Warwickshire bird 



on the authority of Mr. W. C. Cristie, who 

 in the ninth volume of the Magazine of 

 Natural History (1836), records the occurrence 

 of one which was shot at Sutton Coldfield. 

 Three specimens are indeed mentioned in 

 that communication as having been shot there. 

 To that statement I may now add that all 

 three were taken at different, but not widely 

 separated times to John Spicer of Warwick for 

 preservation, where they were seen by Dr. 

 Lloyd of Warwick, who was then interested in 

 the formation of the museum there, and wished 

 to secure them for the collection. He how- 

 ever failed to do so, and subsequent inquiries 

 made by him in conjunction with the present 

 writer as to their whereabouts were without 

 result. 



1 1 6. Little Bittern. Ardetta minuta (Linn.) 

 An immature bird of this species was shot 



between Warwick and Stratford some years 

 since and brought to the latter town for pre- 

 servation, where it was seen by the writer. 

 There is also a notice in the ninth volume 

 of the Magazine of Natural History (1836) 

 of one which was shot at Sutton Coldfield. 



117. Bittern. Botaurus stellarh (Linn.) 



A rare visitor to the Avon and other rivers, 

 but formerly much more common, especially 

 in severe winters. A considerable number 

 have been noted from time to time at Sutton 

 Coldfield and recorded by Mr. Chase and 

 Mr. Steele Elliott. 



1 1 8. Grey Lag-Goose. Anser cinereus, Meyer. 

 Formerly an occasional visitor, but now 



unknown to the county. 



119. White-fronted Goose. Anser albifrons 



(Scopoli) 

 A straggler only to the county. 



1 2O. Bean-Goose. Anser segetum (Gmelin) 

 Formerly when flights of wild geese periodi- 

 cally passed over from east to west, or the 

 reverse, single birds not infrequently dropped 

 out of the flights and alighted, generally in 

 the middle of some large field, and after a rest 

 renewed their journey. Individuals of this 

 species were most frequently known to have 

 done so. 



121. Pink-footed Goose. Anser brach\rhyn- 



cbus, Baillon. 



Like the last named this species was much 



more common formerly than at the present 

 time. It must be now regarded as of very rare 

 occurrence in the county. 



122. Barnacle - Goose. Bernicla leucopsis 



(Bechstein) 



Of very uncertain appearance, indeed a 

 mere straggler. 



123. Brent Goose. Bernicla brenta (Pallas) 

 Like the last of very uncertain occurrence, 



but has been noted at several localities in the 

 county. 



The Canada Goose has been shot several 

 times in Warwickshire, once on the large 

 pool at Chesterton on the estate of Lord 

 Willoughby de Broke. The Egyptian Goose 

 has also been obtained, but neither has any 

 substantial claim to a place amongst British 

 birds. 



124. Whooper Swan. Cygnus musicus, Bech- 



stein. 



Occasionally small flights of this bird have 

 appeared on the Avon in severe winters, 

 though very rarely. In the winter of 1894-5 

 six or seven frequented that river near Bid- 

 ford for more than a week. 



125. Common Sheld-Duck. Tadorna cornuta 



(S. G. Gmelin) 



Appears only as a straggler, and most of 

 the examples examined have proved to be 

 immature. Mr. Chase however says 'a 

 magnificent male was shot at Hawksbury 

 near Coventry in 1 88 1.' 



[Ruddy Sheld-Duck. Tadorna casarca 

 (Linn.) 



Mr. Chase mentions two occurrences of 

 this bird in the Birmingham district, namely 

 at Neckells and at Yardley Wood, but sug- 

 gests that they were escaped birds.] 



126. Mallard or Wild Duck. Anas boscas, 



Linn. 

 Resident and breeding where protected. 



[Gadwall. Anas strepera, Linn. 



Very rare, and doubtfully a Warwickshire 

 bird. One was met with at Lichfield in 

 December, 1881.] 



127. Shoveler. Spatula clypeata (Linn.) 



An uncertain winter visitor, but single 

 birds sometimes appear on the Avon and 

 the other streams. One was shot at Sutton 

 Coldfield in 1867. 



128. Pintail. Dafila acuta (Linn.) 

 An occasional winter visitor. 



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