154 THE OKNITHOLOGIST. 



water, they sometimes went away for a day or two, sometimes 

 altogether, and sometimes only one or two, but they always 

 returned until their final departure on August 1st. In 1894, 

 three were present for six weeks ; coming in the latter end of 

 February, it was hoped they would stay to breed, and we still 

 hope they will do so. 



The Wild Ducks are a very numerous class here indeed. 

 The Pochard, under the name of "Norwegian Duck," from 

 time to time occurs ; this year there was but one. Widgeon 

 also are few, there were twenty in 1894 and in 1895, only two. 

 It is said that during the Russian War, in 1854, wild geese 

 were so plentiful here that they were sold for 6d. each ! 

 Wild Duck {Anas boscas) come in in huge flocks in the winter; 

 this year twenty-eight stayed to nest. They go away again 

 after nesting, indeed, the Mallards depart directly the young 

 are hatched and return again in October in small quantities. 

 Teal are generally present, but although the most numerous 

 of the Ducks in the winter, only a few stay to nest ; which 

 they do in the little ditches which drain the surrounding 

 meadows. The Tufted Duck was present this winter to the 

 number of eight. One had its wing broken, and so is still 

 present, but although it was hoped it would nest, it did not do 

 so, the rest departing soon after. The Long-tailed Duck is 

 always regular, but generally only one or two appear. 



The Plovers are generally fairly numerous. The Golden 

 Plover (Charadrius pluvialis) is usually not seen till November, 

 but this year it occurred in July. The Ringed Plover is 

 usually resident throughout the year, as also is the Dotterel, 

 which comes in in small flocks on the mud-banks during low- 

 tide. The Lapwing is very common, and nests both here 

 and right up the valley to Whitley, about seven miles away. 

 The Turnstone appears in the spring, but is most numerous 

 in the winter. Snipe were first seen this year on July 6th. 



A Black-tailed Godwit (Limosa limosa) was shot here on 

 August 1st ; this is a very rare bird indeed here, indeed it 

 is questionable whether this was not the first bird ever shot 

 here. The Common Snipe and Jack-Snipe are regular visitors, 

 the former breeding here. The Great Snipe {Gallinago major) 

 was last shot here, in 1868, on Titchfield Common. 



