A HISTORY OF DERBYSHIRE 



[Canada Goose. Bernicla canadensis (Linn.). 139. Mute Swan. Cygntts olor (J. F. Gmelin). 



Although ignored by most writers, or treated 

 as a domestic bird, the Canada goose appears 

 to have a good claim to be treated as an 

 introduced species, for it has certainly estab- 

 lished itself as a breeding species in many 

 parts of the county. Some of the flocks are 

 of considerable size (such as that at Chats- 

 worth) and as the birds are at perfect liberty 

 and fly strongly to considerable distances it is 

 hardly necessary to state that they run the 

 same risks as wild birds. Many breeding 

 colonies exist on islands in rivers or orna- 

 mental waters especially in the valleys of the 

 Dove, Derwent and Trent. According to 

 Sir O. Mosley the date of introduction was 

 about 1820-30.] 



[Egyptian Goose. Chenalopex eegyptiaca 

 (Linn.). 



Recorded from the Trent about March 1 2, 

 1885 (Naturalist, vol. v.), also near Burton 

 several times and at Twyford (E. Brown, 

 Fauna of Burton, p. 228). These in all prob- 

 ability were escaped specimens.] 



137. Whooper. Cygnus musicus, Bechstein. 

 Locally, Elk, Wild Swan (E. Brown), Whist- 

 ling Swan (Mosley). 



From the evidence of all the earlier writers 

 on Derbyshire ornithology it is obvious that 

 the whooper was formerly a much more 

 frequent visitor than at the present time. I 

 am not aware of any recent occurrence of 

 this species, 1 but J. J. Briggs describes flocks of 

 five or six to even thirty birds passing over in 

 the winter, and disturbed a party of twelve 

 from the Trent on one occasion which rose 

 from the water with a loud, sonorous trumpet- 

 like clang (Zoo/, p. 2822). Pilkington, Sir O. 

 Mosley and Mr. E. Brown also speak of the 

 whooper as a not uncommon winter visitor to 

 the Trent valley. 



138. Bewick's Swan. Cygnus beuiicki, Yar- 



rell. 



A flock of eleven visited the Trent in 

 February, 1845, two of which were shot but 

 only one secured (J. J. Briggs, Zoo!, p. 2823). 

 Another was killed at Newton Solney on 

 January 18, 1864, and is now in the Rol- 

 leston Hall Museum. Early in January, 

 1895, a flock of six visited the north Derby- 

 shire moors, and two were shot by a keeper 

 near Ramsley Lodge (W. Storrs Fox). 



1 Mr. W. Storrs Fox informs me that a whooper 

 was shot by a keeper named Goodison on Rivelin 

 Dams about 1887. 



Many of these birds exist in a semi-domes- 

 ticated state on ponds and ornamental waters 

 (like the Canada geese referred to above). 

 Some of these birds not having been pinioned 

 may occasionally be met with flying at a 

 moderate height up or down the valleys of 

 our three chief rivers. Large numbers were 

 formerly found on the Trent, but their num- 

 bers were reduced on account of the damage 

 done by them to the mowing grass (E. Brown, 

 Nat. Hist, of Tutbury, p. 108). 



140. Common Sheld-Duck. Tadorna cornuta 



(S. G. Gmelin). 



An occasional visitor, generally to the 

 Trent valley. In most cases no details are 

 given, but Mr. Worthington records two killed 

 at Newton Solney in 1865, and another was 

 shot near Burton in December, 1890. On 

 April 25, 1889, one was killed at Stanton-by- 

 Dale (W. Fox). Several other specimens 

 are known to have been obtained. 



141. Mallard or Wild Duck. Anas boscas, 



Linn. 



A common resident breeding in consider- 

 able numbers, especially on the banks of the 

 Dove. A few breed on the moors in the 

 north. This is certainly a species which has 

 benefited by recent legislation and appears to 

 be on the increase. 



142. Shoveler. Spatula clypeata (Linn.). 

 Not common, but a few are shot, generally 



in the winter, but sometimes in the early 

 spring. Possibly a pair or so may have nested 

 in the Trent valley or on the Nottingham 

 border. Most of the records of this species 

 are from the Trent valley ; but in August, 

 1895,3 drake was shot at Hassop (W. S. Fox), 

 and it has been observed on the lakes at Sutton 

 Scarsdale. 



143. Pintail. Dafila acuta (Linn.). 



An irregular winter visitor, usually to the 

 Trent valley ; but F. B. Whitlock also gives 

 instances of its occurrence at Sutton Scarsdale, 

 Borrowash, Kedleston and on the Dove. 



144. Teal. Nettion crecca (Linn.). 



A fairly common winter visitor, and a few 

 scattered pairs may be observed on our rivers 

 and ponds till late in the spring. Some of 

 these probably breed in the county, but the 

 only place where I know for certain that they 

 nest is on the grouse moors at the head of the 

 Derwent valley. 



[Summer Duck. Aix sponsa (Linn.). 

 One killed on the Trent near Drakelow 



140 



