HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE. [149 



and sometimes stray off, and build their nests in rivers and pits ; 

 and in winter frequent the smaller brooks. They dive to a great 

 depth in search of subaqueous plants. 



3. CRECCA The Teal: Bill and vent feathers black, head bay, 

 with a green and white line on each side, beneath dirty white, a 

 green and a black spot on the wings, coverts of the wings brown, 

 tail pointed ; weight 12 ounces, of the female nine, length 17 

 inches. The male, when it has attained its true colours, is the most 

 beautiful of our aquatic birds. 



4. CYGNUS The Wild Swan : Gere yellow, bill black, plu- 

 mage white, legs and feet brown. On the Trent. 



5. MANSUETUS The Tame Swan: Cere knotty and black, bill 

 red, tipped with black, feet lead colour. Larger than the former ; 

 long-lived. 



6. ANAS PENELOPS The Widgeon: Bill lead-colour, tipped 

 with black, head bright bay, back waved with black and white, 

 breast purplish, belly white, vent black, middle quills green, tip- 

 ped with black, tail two middle feathers black, longer pointed, the 

 rest ash colour; weight 23 ounces, length 20 inches. 



MERGUS MERGANSER The Gooseander; Sowgander: Male; bill, 

 irides, and legs red, head green black, neck, breast, and belly pale 

 yellow, wings and tail black and white ; weight four pounds, 

 length two feet four inches. Dundiver; female; head ferruginous, 

 back and tail ash colour, less than the male. Aqualate-mere. 



PELECANUS CARBO The Cormorant: Bill ash colour, with a 

 yellow naked skin round the base, head and neck black, chin white, 

 a short pendant crest, above bluish green, beneath dusky, a white 

 tuft on the thighs, tail long and rounded, legs black, the middle 

 claw serrated ; weight four pounds, length 32 inches. Frequent 

 in winter about Aqualate-mere. 



2. BASS ANUS The Solan Goose or Gannet : Bill bluish grey, 

 jagged at the sides, a long furrow in the upper mandible, eyes yel- 

 low, surrounded by a blue skin, a black pouch under the chin, neck 

 long, crown buff-colour, wings and legs black, the rest of the plum- 

 age dirty white, tail rounded ; weight 4f pounds, length 37 inches. 

 Aqualate-mere, in winter. 



LARUS CANUS The Common Gull, Mew, or Sea Mall : Bill 

 yellow, back grey, the rest white ; weight 12 ounces, length 17 

 inches. At Batchacre. 



2. TRIDACTYLUS The Tarrock : Bill, tips of the wings, and of 

 .the tail black, head, neck, breast, belly, and tail white, a black 



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