320 THE ZOOLOGIST. 
C. pluvialis.-Sometimes in flocks in the winter about the 
marshes near Reading, feeding on Testacee. 
C. calidris.— Occasionally seen in the meadows near Newbury. 
C. ceedicnemus.—On the Wantage and Isley Downs frequently 
caught by the shepherd’s dog, and kept in gardens. Its note is 
truly melodious, as its English name implies. _ 
Recurvirostra avocetta.—Six of these beautiful birds were killed 
at one shot while swimming on a pond at Sunning, April, 1794. 
The stomach of the one which came under my inspection was 
muscular, and contained a few small stones and some short hairs ; 
the heart was particularly large. 
Hematopus ostralegus.— One shot at Burghfield in Jan. 1794. 
Fulica atra.—Very common on the Kennet above Newbury. 
Breeds in the Earl of Craven’s preserves. 
F. chloropus.—Very common. The nest is most slovenly com- 
posed of a few dried oak-leaves and rushes, and contains generally 
eight eggs of a dull white colour, irregularly dashed with ferru- 
ginous spots. 
Rallus crea.—Common in the summer and autumn. A female 
brought alive to me in July, 1793, laid an egg in my hand, which 
was about the size of that of the Quail, ofa pale olive colour, 
marked with very large mulberry-coloured spots, like tortoise- 
shell. 
R. aquaticus.—Common in our rivers, but very shy. In the 
stomach of a female, which was very muscular, I found only the 
remains of some T'estacea. 
R. porzana.—A female of this rare bird was shot at Kintbury, 
near Newbury, March, 1810. 
Otis tarda.—Sometimes seen on Lamborn Downs (particularly 
March, 1802) before they were enclosed. 
Phasianus colchicus.—A numerous preserve about Newbury. 
P. torquatus (Gmel. Syst., il., 742).—A most beautiful specimen 
shot at Burghfield, Oct. 1792. In his stomach I found eleven 
undigested acorns and some wheat. 
Tetrao rufus.—One shot on Bude Common, Oct. 1794, and 
one in Newbury Manor, Sept. 1810, probably escaped from some 
aviary, as they are not known to breed here.* 
* The séarcity of the Red-legged Partridge at this date in Berkshire is noteworthy, 
inasmuch as it had been introduced in Suffolk about 1770. See Stevenson’s ‘ Birds 
of Norfolk,’ vol. ii—Ep. 
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