6 WHITLOCK: BIRD-NOTES FROM THE MID-TRENT VALLEY IN 1893. 
were seen at Ruddington in July, one of which was shot. On 
13th August I saw another pair in Long Eaton Parish. A few 
Ringed Plovers (4 gialitis hiaticu/a) passed in spring, but at 
the end of August a party of eight took up their abode on 
a shingle bed on the Trent and remained several weeks. They 
were all immature and wonderfully tame. When watching them 
one morning I observed a couple of young Dunlins with them, 
and also a Common Snipe (Gadlinago celestis) quietly feeding 
by the water’s edge. A pair of the latter birds bred with us. 
Laridz. Gulls. The usual migratory species were observed 
passing north, and the ‘Nottingham Guardian,’ May 13th, ioe 
the following note amongst the piscatorial items :—‘ Lar; 
- numbers of the Common Sea Gull have occupied the es 
at Hazleford.’ These may have been Larus ridibundus or 
perhaps Terns. Black Terns (Sterna nigra) were observed as 
usual in May. The Herring Gull (Larus argentatus) was 
unusually plentiful in September, chiefly adults. A Little Gull 
(Z. minutus) was shot on the Trent as recorded in the 
‘ Naturalist,’ p. 356. 
Manx Shearwater. Puffinus anglorum. An example caught 
alive at Toton Sidings, Sept. r1th. Winds light at the time. 
Ducks. Anatidz. During the early part of the year, the 
following species were observed on the Trent and tributaries: 
Mallard (Anus boschas), Teal (A. crecca), Pochard (A. rufina), 
Wigeon (A. penelope), Scaup (Fuligula marila), Tufted Duck 
(¥. cristata), and Golden Eye (Clanguda glaucion) ; a fine adult 
male of the latter was shot on the Derwent, near Borrowash. 
Mallards, at the time of writing, are plentiful in certain districts, 
and we have a few Wigeon, Teal, and Golden Eye about, but up 
to the present it has not been a good winter for ducks. In the 
early months of the year an individual, which I strongly suspect 
was a Gadwall (Azas strepera) haunted a marsh near Beeston; 
its flight was distinct from that of the Mallards, and it 
never rose until after the latter had left the marsh, and always 
from amongst the reeds. 
In the spring a fine pair of Shovellers were observed on 
a pond near Ramsdale, and also some Tufted Ducks. On the 
same farm a flock of some species of Wild Goose were observed 
in April last. A pair of Garganey visited one of the ponds at 
Rainworth, as recorded by Mr. Whitaker (‘ Zoologist.’) 
Great Crested Grebe. Podiceps cristatus. Three pairs 
bred on a private water near Nottingham in 1892, and seven 
birds remained until the lake was frozen up. 
Naturalist, 
