506 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



BREEDING OF THE TUFTED DUCK (FULIGULA 

 CRISTATA) IN SHROPSHIRE. 



By H. E. Forrest. 



The late Mr. W. E. Beckwith says of this species : — " The 

 Tufted Duck is rather common on pools in Shropshire in 

 winter, being often found with Pochards, and, though the 

 females or young birds are always much more plentiful than 

 the handsome adult males, I frequently see the latter on the 

 Ellesmere meres. About the year 1855 a pair of Tufted Ducks 

 bred near Shifnal, and several pairs now breed regularly in that 

 neighbourhood. I have also seen one with young ones in June 

 on a pool near Shrewsbury ; and, in the summer of 1885, I saw 

 a pair of Tufted Ducks, but without young, on Whitemere, near 

 Ellesmere. Except in hard frost, this Duck is not often seen on 

 the Severn."— The ' Field,' Dec. 19th, 1885. 



Mr. W. H. Slaney writes that " the bird is common on the 

 large meres of Stafford and Shropshire [in winter] , and that he 

 has known of one nest in the latter county." — A. G. More, u On 

 the distribution of birds in Great Britain during nesting season," 

 ' Ibis,' 1865. The nest mentioned is the one at Shifnal alluded 

 to above. Col. Kenyon Slaney informs me that he thinks the 

 nest was at Hatton, Shifnal. There have been one or two nests 

 there during the last few years ; the birds probably belong to the 

 larger colony at Weston, to be next described. 



Col. the Hon. F. 0. Bridgeman informs me that at Weston 

 Park, the Earl of Bradford's estate on the borders of Stafford 

 and Shropshire, the Tufted Duck has bred regularly ever since 

 1880. Its numbers have steadily increased, till now there are 

 about twenty pairs nesting on five or six pools. The birds here 

 have lost the migratory habit, and become residents, although, 

 like other Anatidce, the Tufted Duck is normally a winter 

 migrant ; even here the colony in winter is increased by visitors. 



On January 4th, this year, when visiting Ellesmere mere, ii 

 company with Mr. Brownlow Tower, I saw about two hundred 



