214 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



beautifully stuffed specimen that had been shot in the adjoining 

 county of Cardigan. It is very rare in this part of the county. 



Greenshank, Totanus glottis. — Also very rare. I have seen 

 it once, and only once, and that was on the banks of the River 

 Usk, about two miles above Brecon, running along a little sandy 

 beach. I was fishing at the time, and watched it for some minutes 

 before it was aware of my presence, when it quickly flew away. 

 Mr. David Thomas, of Brecon, has a stuffed specimen in his 

 collection that was killed near this town. 



Common Redshank, Totanus calidris. — Very uncommon with 

 us, and, in fact, is considered quite a rarity ; occasionally, however, 

 one is killed. In the autumn of 1880 one was shot, by a gentleman 

 living in Brecon, on the Eppynt Hills ; it was a young bird of the 

 year, and it is therefore quite possible that it was bred somewhere 

 near the spot where it was killed. The Welsh name is " coesgoch" 

 (red-leg). 



Common Sandpiper, Tringoides hypoleucus. — As its name 

 denotes, is most common with us, especially on the banks of the 

 Usk and Wye, where it breeds ; it is also to be found on most of 

 our smaller streams. It is very tame during the breeding season, 

 and its beautiful flight and twittering wailing cry form a pleasing 

 accompaniment as with rod in hand you follow the windings of 

 our beautiful rivers. 



Knot, Tringa camitus. — The only instance I can quote of its 

 occurrence here is a specimen killed near Hay, most probably an 

 exhausted migi-ant. 



Woodcock, Scolopax rusticola. — Our county has long been 

 celebrated for its Woodcock-shooting, but alas ! it is but too true 

 that the Woodcock gets scarcer and scarcer each succeeding year. 

 I think the two last hard winters have considerably lessened their 

 numbers. The season 1881-82 was the worst for Woodcocks 

 I ever remember. In beating a large cover for Woodcocks in 

 February last I only flushed a single bird, where in years past 

 I have often found a dozen, it being a favourite place for them 

 early in the year. I have never with certainty known of its 

 nesting with us, but Mr. David Thomas, of this town, has a very 

 small Woodcock of an entire light fawn-colour, without any bars 

 whatever, that was killed in this county some years since, and 

 which has all the appearance of a young bird about three parts 

 grown, and therefore must have been hatched here. 



