A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE 



191. Arctic Skua. Stercorarius crepidatus 



(Gmelin) 



A bird of this species was taken near Bir- 

 mingham in October, 1897, as I learn from 

 Mr. T. Ground. 



[Long-tailed or Buffon's Skua. Stercorarius 

 parasiticus (Linn.) 



An immature bird of this species was shot 

 on the Lichfield racecourse in October, 1874, 

 and recorded by Mr. Chase.] 



192. Razorbill. A lea torda, Linn. 

 Specimens of this bird have at various times 



been brought to Warwick and Stratford for 

 preservation, where they have been seen by 

 the present writer. 



193. Guillemot. Uria trolle (Linn.) 

 When it appears it is a waif and stray 



driven inland by heavy gales. The writer 

 has seen one which was shot from the roof 

 of a thatched cottage in the south-eastern 

 side of the county. 



194. Little Auk. Mergulm alle (Linn.) 

 This also has several times been found in 



the county as a storm-driven bird, either in 

 an exhausted state or dead. All examined 

 by the writer have been in winter plumage 

 excepting one, which was taken up dead at 

 Great Alne near Alcester in the spring a good 

 many years ago, which was in full summer 

 dress. 



195. Puffin. Fratercula arct'ica (Linn.) 

 Found only after strong gales from the 



Bristol Channel, and generally in the autumn. 

 All the examples examined have been young 

 birds. 



196. Great Northern Diver. Colymbus 



g/acia/is y Linn. 



A rare visitor to the streams of the county, 

 two only having come to the knowledge of 

 the writer during a period of half a century. 

 One of them was shot in the Avon at Alves- 

 ton near Stratford and is now in the Warwick 

 Museum. Mr. Chase records the occurrence 

 of one at Tipton on 8 January, 1877. 



197. Red-throated Diver. Colymbus septen- 



triona/is, Linn. 



Though uncommon this is not a very rare 

 bird in the valley of the Avon, but nearly all 

 the examples seen have been immature and 

 appeared in the autumn or winter. One only 

 in adult plumage is on record. It was taken 

 up in a state of great exhaustion in Loxley 

 Lane near Stratford-on-Avon in November, 

 1858. 



198. Great Crested Grebe. Podicipes cristatus 



(Linn.) 



An uncommon almost rare bird in the 

 county, occurring occasionally in the winter 

 on the Avon. A pair which had commenced 

 building a nest at Napton in May, 1881, were 

 both ruthlessly shot. It has several times 

 been known to breed at Sutton Coldfield. 



1 99. Red-necked Grebe. Podicipes griseigtna 



(Boddaert) 



There are several records of the appearance 

 of this species on the Avon, in all instances in 

 the winter. 



200. Slavonian Grebe. Podicipes auritus 



(Linn.) 



An autumn and winter visitor to the county, 

 but has on one occasion appeared in summer. 

 A pair in full breeding plumage were shot to- 

 gether on some ornamental water at Wootton 

 Hall near Henley in Arden, and brought to 

 John Spicer of Warwick some years since, 

 when they were examined by the writer. 

 Doubtless if spared they would have bred 

 there. It has also been met with in several 

 other localities in the county. 



201. Eared Grebe. Podicipes nigricollis 



(Brehm) 



Of rare occurrence in the county, though 

 it has been shot on the Avon in a few instances 

 in winter. One in full summer plumage was 

 however shot on the ornamental water at 

 Wootton Hall near Henley in Arden a few 

 years since, which having been taken to John 

 Spicer of Warwick for preservation came under 

 the observation of the present writer. 



202. Little Grebe or Dabchick. Podicipes 



fluviatilis (Tunstall) 



Common though not abundant in winter 

 on all streams and ponds, and but little 

 known in summer ; there is no record of 

 its having bred in the county. A very 

 immature specimen was however shot on 

 the Arrow near Alcester some years ago. 



203. Storm-Petrel. Procellaria pelagica, Linn. 

 A waif and stray of rare occurrence, but 



yet when seen has always been on the wing 

 and not in an exhausted state. One was shot 

 while flying about at Wormleighton on 15 

 August, 1885, and taken to Mr. Peter Spicer of 

 Leamington for preservation. Another was 

 also shot near Alcester in the winter of 

 1882-3 an( i sent to Mr. Hunt of that town 

 to be preserved. According to Mr. Chase it 

 has occurred several times in the Birmingham 

 district. 



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