A HISTORY OF BERKSHIRE 



morable migration of 1866, when upwards 

 of 500 are said to have been slaughtered 

 throughout the country, an old female was 

 killed near Pangbourne on September 19, and 

 two others at Newbury, September 27, 1866 ; 

 one at Oare, October 20, 1869; one at 

 Newbury, November 10, 1890 (Herbert, 

 Newbury District Field Club Report, p. 95), and 

 another was shot at Wargrave Ferry, October 

 24, 1870 (Zool. 1871, p. 2442); but the 

 most recent captures that have come under 

 my notice are two killed near Mortimer, 

 October 24, 1891 (G. A. Topp in lit.}, and 

 two others taken on October 16 in the same 

 year between Tilehurst and Reading (G. W. 

 Bradshaw in lit.). 



174. Woodcock. Scolopax rusticula, Linn. 



The woodcock is a well known autumn 

 migrant, in some years more plentiful than in 

 others, though never abundant. A few 

 remain to breed, and nests have been found 

 in Bagley Wood (Fauna and Flora of Radley 

 and Neighbourhood, p. 13), and one hatched off 

 at Bucklebury in 1885 (Palmer, 'Birds of 

 Newbury and District '). 



175. Great Snipe. Gallinago major (Gmelin). 



The 'solitary snipe,' as this bird is often 

 named, is only an occasional and somewhat 

 rare autumn visitor. Dr. Bowdler Sharpe has 

 recorded one from near Cookham about 1860 

 (Birds of Berks and Bucks, p. 195). During 

 the winter of 1880 we twice flushed one 

 of these birds from the water meadows at 

 Hennerton when shooting with the owner, 

 but although near enough to be sure of the 

 identification the specimen was unfortunately 

 not procured. Mr. Newton informs me that 

 one in his collection was shot near Walling- 

 ford in October, 1893. In October, 1874, 

 another was shot near Hungerford (Birds of 

 Wilts, p. 428). 



176. Common Snipe. Gallinago ccelestis 



(Frenzel). 



Although generally regarded as a winter 

 migrant an increasing number remain to breed 

 with us, and in some favoured spots a fair 

 proportion may be found throughout the year. 

 Several nests have been observed on the care- 

 fully preserved Thatcham Marsh ; eggs have 

 been taken on the Blackwater meadows 

 near Wellington College (Nat. Science Report) ; 

 Dr. Palmer mentions nests near Newbury 

 ('Birds of Newbury and District'); and there is 

 evidence of its having bred near Wokingham 

 ('Ornith. Bercheria '). I have often seen old 

 birds in the meadows near Wargrave in sum- 



mer, but I am not aware that the nest has 

 been found in that locality. 



177. Jack Snipe. Gallinago gallinula (Linn.). 



This species is a regular winter migrant, 

 but always in very limited numbers. They 

 arrive in October as a rule, but occasionally 

 an odd bird may be flushed in September. 

 On first arriving they often take up very 

 unlikely quarters, high dry ground far from 

 water, and it was in such a situation that I 

 shot a male at Park Place on October 2, 

 1894. 



178. Dunlin. Tringa alpina, Linn. 



Clark Kennedy says, ' The dunlin is a pass- 

 ing visitant to the banks of the Thames, 

 where however it is never very common ' 

 (Birds of Berks and Bucks, p. 145) ; he also 

 mentions that the Rev. Geo. Jeans has shot 

 dunlins near Windsor and along the banks of 

 the river. Personally I have never met with 

 this bird in the county, neither can I find any 

 recent records ; but Mr. Newton informs me 

 that he has specimens taken 3^ miles from 

 Wallingford. The dates are wanting. 



179. Knot. Tringa canutus, Linn. 



Two of these birds were shot near Reading 

 in 1795 ('Ornith. Bercheria'); and another, 

 according to Dr. Sharpe, was killed during 

 the winter of 1865 near Cookham (Birds of 

 Berks and Bucks, p. 195). 



1 80. Sanderling. Calidris arenaria (Linn.). 



A male and female shot near Wokingham 

 February, 1795 ('Ornith. Bercheria'). 



181. Ruff. Machetes pugnax (Linn.). 



A ' reeve,' as the female of the ruff is 

 called, was killed near Cookham and recorded 

 by Dr. Bowdler Sharpe in the ' sixties ' (Birds 

 of Berks and Bucks, p. 194). 



182. Common Sandpiper. Totanus hypoleucus 



(Linn.). 



Locally, Summer Snipe. 



This is a passing spring and summer visitor. 

 In late April or early May it may be seen 

 along the banks of the Thames, on the sides 

 of ditches in water meadows or the margins 

 of pools ; and at this season the majority stay 

 but a short time, though a few remain 

 throughout the summer, and there is some 

 evidence, not yet complete, that they may 

 have bred. On the return journey the stay 

 is longer, though all have departed by the end 

 of September. 



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