MOE. XI | NOTES. 285 
tion of Mr. F. Sessions. Mitchell in his Birds of Lancashire 
only mentions four reco.ds, the last being as long ago as 1859. 
H. W. Rosinson. 
BITTERNS IN SOMERSET. 
THERE has been an unusual influx of Bitterns (Botaurus 
stellaris) into Somerset during the past winter (1917-18), no 
less than five birds having put in an appearance, four of which 
were ‘unfortunately shot. They all occurred between the 
middle of December, 1917 and the middle of January, 1918. 
One was shot on Kenn Moor, near Yatton, in the latter half 
of December and another on Locking Moor, near Weston- 
super-Mare, on December 26th, both of these localities being 
within a few miles of the Bristol Channel. During the first 
week in January one was shot in the neighbourhood of 
Martock in the east of the county, and during the second 
week another was obtained near North Petherton within a 
few miles of Bridgwater. The only bird which apparently 
escaped was one which was observed by Mr. Gould on two 
occasions during the second week in January, by a stream 
near Porlock in the extreme west of the county. One of 
these cases, the Weston one, was made the subject of a 
prosecution, and it is to be hoped that the publicity given 
to this case will have the effect of ensuring the bird a better 
welcome in future. J. WIGLESWORTH. 
SHELD-DUCK AND SHOVELER IN WARWICKSHIRE. 
On February 4th, 1918, I saw a Sheld-Duck (Tadorna tadorna) 
in Sutton Park. Evidently it was an immature bird, as it 
had not the chestnut band. I believe that this species has 
not been recorded * > Sutton Coldfield. 
The Shoveler (Spavula clypeata) was shot at Sutton Coldfield 
in 1867, as stated by Mr. R. F. Tomes (Vict. Hist. Warwick.). 
I saw a pair in Sutton Park on April 19th, 1912, a pair on 
March 4th, and two males on April Ist, 1918. |; 
B. A. CARTER. 
LARGE NUMBERS OF RED-THROATED DIVERS IN 
NORTH LANCASHIRE. . 
AurnoueH the Red-throated Diver (Colymbus_stellatus) 1s 
always fairly cc n in Morecambe Bay in winter, during 
the past winter ot 1917-18 it has been present there in enor- 
mous numbers, being one of the most numerous, if not the 
commonest diving bird in the bay. H. W. ROBINSON. 
Swattows Nest:nc in TrEES.—The Scottish Naturalist, 
1918, p. 21, contains a note from Mr. C. Kirk, in which it is 
stated on the authority of Captain T. 8. Morrin, R.A.M.C., 
