The Zoologist — February, I860. 83 



Ruff (Machetes pugnax). — The only specimen I know of is in the 

 possession of Mr. Franklin, of Shrewsbury. It is an immature male 

 in winter plumage. 



Woodcock (Scolopax rusticola). — Appeared very early this season ; 

 I knew of several killed in the first week of October. ' These birds 

 vary greatly in their numbers, which I think are visibly on the 

 decrease. There are several recent instances of their having bred in 

 this county. 



Great Snipe (Scolopax major). — A fine snecimen was killed at 

 Eaton by the late Mr. Pinches, of Ticklerton, and there are many 

 other instances of its capture on record. 



Common Snipe (Scolopax gallinago). — I fear drainage and a better 

 state of cultivation has driven this bird from most of its former 

 haunts; except by the river-side, its appearance is now very rare. 

 It still continues to breed on Clun Forest and many of the Radnorshire 

 hills. I saw several on the forest this summer, and had the grati- 

 fication of hearing that peculiar "bleating" which only occurs during 

 the period of nesting. I have a snipe in my collection, taken from a 

 lot in a fishmonger's shop in Shrewsbury, which has puzzled me and 

 many others who have seen it. The bird is fully one-third larger than 

 the usual common snipe ; the bufFmarkings on the back and scapulars 

 are very broad and richly coloured, and the beak is very much longer 

 than others with which I have compared it. Can we have two sorts 

 of snipe in this country, or are there occasionally " giants in the 

 land ? " 



Jack Snipe (Scolopax gallinula). — At no time very common, but 

 now rarely met with. 



Curlew Sandpiper (Tringa subarquata). — One specimen in the 

 collection of Mr. Eyton, killed on the old race-course near Shrews- 

 bury. 



Knot (Tringa Canntus). — Not unfrequently met with, and usually in 

 the summer plumage. 



Little Slint (Tringa minuta). — I give the occurrence of this bird on 

 the authority of a very respectable farmer, who informs me that he 

 saw a flock of them last winter on the River Teme, numbering some 

 twenty or more birds ; he killed six or seven of them at one shot, and, 

 imagining that they were common, and that I had the bird, they were 

 eaten. I am rather cautious of advancing this fact, not having seen 

 any of the birds, but I know of nothing else to which I can refer 

 them. I do not think they were dunlins, as they were represented to 



