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WOODRUFFE-PEACOCK : NATURALISTS AT GAINSBOROUGH. 255 
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the birds have not built here many years. The Black-necked or 
Eared Grebe (?)—Lodiceps nigricollis of modern writers, P. auritus 
>» L., I believe. Mr. Fieldsend, who saw it, writes:—‘The Grebe 
I saw on the gull pond on Scotton Common was a young one 
with a dark stripe running down the side of its neck. It was 
swimming by itself. Without careful measurements and handling, it 
would be impossible to say for certain what it was. It may have 
been the young of the Great Crested Grebe (P. cristatus L.), but 
I did not take it for it’ 2. auritus L., according to Mr. J. Cordeaux’s 
Birds of the Humber District, ‘like its congeners, once bred in our 
fens. It now only occurs as a very rare and occasional visitant.’ 
Little Grebe, Teal, Wild Duck, Snipe and Redshank all breed or 
have bred here. The Shoveller and the Sheldrake may be seen with 
their young each year. Herons visit the various ponds from the 
Appleby Heronry. The Ring Dove is found in plenty in the woods. 
The Stock Dove on these commons always breeds in rabbit-holes on 
a declivity. Elsewhere it frequents the open tops of pollard willows, 
thick ivy on the walls of buildings, more rarely trees, rabbit-holes in 
gravel pits or beck banks. ‘The Turtle Dove, which was a very rare 
bird indeed twenty-five years ago, is common enough now, and 
breeds with us every season. The list contained also the Jay, Black- 
headed Bunting, and Redstart. 
The Common Brown Lizard is plentiful on the dry sand hills and 
rough ground. The Grass Snake is common too, the Viper rarer, 
Hffm. was very abundant on Scotton Common, as it is also on 
others in North Lincolnshire. Lycopodium clavatum L. and 
Aug. 1897. 
