A HISTORY OF CORNWALL 



been seen at irregular intervals throughout the whole 

 county near the sea coast. Recorded for Scilly about 

 half-a-dozen times in autumn and winter. An adult 

 male, with well-developed occipital crest, was obtained 

 there 7 June, 1850. 



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



A casual winter visitor to the west, single specimens 

 of which were obtained at Marazion in March, 1862, at 

 HayleinNovember,i875,atFalmouth in MarchjlSgo, 

 between Marazion and Penzance in the nineties, at 

 Glendurgan, Falmouth, in December, 1 90 1 ; thrice ob- 

 tained at Scilly, namely, November, 1863, October, 

 1870, and two in October, 1885. 



1 60. White-fronted Goose. Anser albifrons (Scopoli). 



An occasional winter visitor in the west, and at 

 long intervals at Looe ; sometimes fairly common 

 in severe weather. Two gaggles visited Tresco in 

 October, 1854, three out of the second gaggle being 

 shot by Pechell. Other records from Tresco are 

 October, 1879, October, 1880, and during the 

 winter 1890-1. 



161. Bean Goose. Anser segetum (J. F. Gmelin). 



A winter visitor, generally in evidence in severe 

 weather, and often occurring in very large flocks both 

 by the coast and inland. In the blizzard year 

 (1890-1) great flocks were reported all over the 

 county. Before a frost large flights are frequently 

 seen at a great height in the air going westwards. 

 None have been seen at the Lizard for some years. 

 Has not been recorded from Scilly since the winter 

 of 1890-1. 



162. Bernacle Goose. Bernicla kucopsis (Bechstein). 



A not uncommon casual winter visitor, little 

 parties appearing in hard weather between Fowey and 

 Land's End, and occasionally inland and at Scilly. 



163. Brent Goose. Bernicla brenta (Pallas). 



A winter visitor, not at all uncommon in the west, 

 especially about Mount's Bay, where it often occurs 

 in large flocks. During severe frost it keeps for 

 the most part from half a mile to a mile out at sea. 

 A bird in breeding plumage was shot by J. J. Hill, 

 near Marazion, in May, 1897. The only recorded 

 specimen for Scilly was obtained by Rodd, I October, 

 1860. 



[Two specimens of the Canadian Goose, Bernicla 

 canadensis, have been shot at Falmouth, one in 1860, 

 and the other in 1 87 1, and one at Scilly. An example 

 of the Egyptian Goose, Chenalopex Aegyptiaca, was 

 shot at Loe Pool in 1 849, and another at Scilly in 

 the fifties; while a spur-winged goose, Plectropterus 

 gambensis, was obtained at St. Germans in 1821. 

 All three species were most likely escapes from 

 captivity.] 



164. Whooper Swan. Cygnus musicus, Bechstein. 



A casual winter visitor in small flocks after long- 

 continued frosts ; frequently reported from Scilly and 

 the west, and once from Bude ; several flocks 

 observed from Truro westwards in 1890-1, and 

 nine birds seen near Hayle early in February, 1895. 

 The last appearance at Scilly was in January, 1895. 



165. Bewick's Swan. Cygnus Bewikii, Yarrell. 



A casual visitor in severe winters ; not recorded 

 on the mainland since the winter of 1890-1. A 

 flock of twelve appeared on the ponds at Tresco, Scilly, 



Christmas 1890, of which four were shot, and 

 another flock of ten occurred in the winter of 

 1895-6. 



1 66. Mute Swan. Cygnus olor (J. F. Gmelin). 

 One shot at Caspar Pool, Crowdy Marsh, in 1864, 



and several at Scilly in the winter of 1870-1. 



167. Sheld Duck. Tadorna cornuta (S. G. Gmelin). 

 Locally, Burrow Duck. 



Resident ; breeding regularly and in increasing 

 numbers at the mouth of the Camel ; a frequent casual 

 in hard weather in the middle and west of the 

 county, including the Lizard ; has occurred once at 

 Saltash. Eight seen by Rodd on Tresco Pool in 

 1864, and one shot there in 1876. 



1 68. Ruddy Sheldrake. Tadorna casarca (Linn.). 

 One shot on Helford river in 1892, the year of 



the great invasion. 



169. Wild Duck or Mallard. Anas boscas, Linn. 

 Resident ; breeding in small numbers in suitable 



localities throughout the county from Scilly to the 

 Tamar ; usually abundant as a winter visitor, and in 

 hard winters immense numbers may be seen in the 

 west. In 1903 nests were found on Samson, at Por- 

 thellick, St. Mary's, and on St. Helen's, Scilly. 



170. Gadwall. Anas strepera (Linn.). 



A casual winter visitor of which at least six examples 

 have been procured in the county: one at Treng- 

 wainton Ponds, one at Gyllyngvase, one at St. 

 Austell in 1864, one at King Harry Passage during 

 the severe frost of 1881, one at Scilly I January, 

 1900, and one near Bodmin in January, 1905. 



171. Shoveler. Spatula dyptata (Linn.). 



A winter visitor, of late years at times the common- 

 est duck on the Land's End pools, but as a rule 

 sparsely scattered through the rest of the county ; 

 frequently shot at Scilly. 



172. Pintail. Dafila acuta (Linn.). 



Locally, Sea pheasant. 



An irregular but frequent winter visitor from 

 Helford river westwards ; seen in the middle and east 

 of the county only in very severe weather. In the 

 winter of 1853 a farmer fired both barrels of a heavy 

 duck-gun into a large flock on the Helford river, 

 and killed thirty-seven pintail and one wigeon. Occurs 

 only occasionally at Scilly and for the most part in 

 severe weather. 



173. Teal. Nettion crecca (Linn.). 



Resident; breeding in small numbers on the Bodmin 

 Moors, the Goss Moors, and on rare occasions further 

 west ; tolerably plentiful in autumn and winter in 

 suitable localities ; seen at Scilly every autumn and 

 winter and at times very common. 



[The North American Summer-Duck, Aix sponsa, 

 was shot near Paul in 1896, and is in the possession 

 of Haytor, the innkeeper at Gulval.] 



174. Garganey. Querquedula circia (Linn.). 

 Locally, Summer Teal. 



An irregular bird of passage in spring, not in- 

 frequent in the Penzance, Lizard, and Falmouth 

 districts ; rarely obtained elsewhere in the county ; 

 has occurred three times at Scilly, namely 29 March, 

 1 88 1, March, 1883, and Christmas, 1900. 



340 



