2596 The Zoologist— May, 1871. 



name from the word "scalp," through the well-knowu partiality 

 shown by these ducks for the neighbourhood of the mussel-scalps 

 and other shell-beds along the coast.* When on this subject, 

 I may add that I shall be obliged to any of my readers who can 

 suggest the probable derivation of the word " godwit." Montagu 

 gives " Godwin," or " Godwyn," as one of the provincial synonyms 

 of this species. Can the name have any connection with that of 

 the famous Saxon Earl ? We have a precedent for this in the 

 knot, which Camden says derive their name from King Canute 

 (Knut, Knot), probably because they were a favourite dish of that 

 monarch. 



Wood Pigeon. — March 14. Wood pigeons have paired and 

 are building. I found some newly-constructed nests in a larch 

 plantation to-day, but without eggs. 



Golden Plover. — March 21. Last observed. 



Jack Snipe. — March 22. I flushed four couple this afternoon 

 from a small morass about forty yards square, in the low lands near 

 the beck, and have no doubt that by carefully looking the ground 

 over others might have been found, as they laid till almost stepped 

 upon. It was a very hot afternoon, and as they rose and flitted 

 over the marsh the lovely n)etallic tints of the upper plumage 

 glittered brilliantly in the blaze of sunshine. 



Merlin. — March 22. Noticed one of these little falcons, the first 

 I have seen this winter, beating across some wild boggy land near 

 the stream. 



Kingfinher. — March 22. Not observed during the winter, but 

 have become tolerably plentiful since the commencement of this 

 month both on our streams and marsh-drains. 



Lesser Blackbacked Gull. — Marsh 25. Several pairs observed 

 about the foreshore this morning. 



Wheatear. — March 28. First seen — a pair, male and female. 

 I have only once previously recorded them in March in North 

 Lincolnshire — namely, in 1867, on the 30th. 



John Cordeaux. 



Great Cotes, Ulceby, Lincolnshire, 

 April 3, 1871. 



* Willughby, I find, says they take their name from fueding on " scaup," or 

 broken shell-fish. 



