X INTRODUCTION. 



"Barnacles," "Sea-pyes" [Oyster-catchers]; 



" The Osprey oft here seen, though seldom here he breeds ;" 

 Cormorants, &c. 



Mr. Gough, the eminent antiquarian, in his 

 edition of Camden's ' Britannia/ published 

 towards the close of the eighteenth century, 

 writes * : 



"The birds which inhabit the different fens 

 are very numerous. Besides the common Wild 

 Duck, Wild Geese and Garganies, Pochards, 

 Shovellers, and Teal breed here. Pewit Gulls 

 and Black Tern abound ; and a few of the Great 

 Terns, or Tickets, are seen among them; the 

 Great Crested Grebe, called Gaunts, are found 

 in the east fen ; the Lesser Crested, the Black 

 and Dusky and the Little Grebe, Coots, Water- 

 hens, Spotted Water-hens, Water-rails, Ruffs, 

 Redshanks, Lapwings or Wipes, Red-breasted 

 Godwits, and Whimbrels are inhabitants of these 

 fens. The Godwits breed near Washenbrough, 

 the Whimbrels only appear for about a fort- 

 night in May, near Spalding, and then quit the 

 country. Opposite Fossdyke Wash, during 

 summer, are vast numbers of " Avosettas," 



* Vol. ii. p. 381. [Gough's edition.] 



