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R. LOFTHOUSE : THE RIVER TEES. 



In the Coatham Marshes, on the south side of the river, there 

 existed down to the years 1870-72 a Wild Duck decoy, in which used 

 to be taken the Mallard {Anas boschas), Sheldrake ( Tadorna vulpanser), 

 Widgeon {Mareca penelope)^ Pintail {Dafila aaita), Shoveller [Spatula 

 clypeata), and Pochard (Fuligula ferina), and occasionally the 

 Scaup Duck {Fuligula marila). On the 1 7th of March, 1850, a Ferru- 

 ginous Duck {Nyroca ferruginea) was taken. Very little indication 

 of this decoy now remains, the estabhshment of the ironworks in the 

 neighbourhood would soon scare the birds away. That most beautiful 

 of our native ducks, the Sheldrake {Tadorjia vidpanse?-), used to breed 

 in some numbers on the sandhills at both sides of the estuary, and 

 does yet in limited numbers. I have frequently seen old birds in the 

 breeding season; and the birds shot early in the autumn are chiefly 

 young. In 1880 a pair nested in a metal pipe that goes under a slag- 

 bank at Tod Point. In 1883 a pair nested in a slag-bank at the north 

 side of the river. The young birds were caught by some navvies who 

 were working there, and, I am afraid, destroyed. I have heard of several 

 other nests being found v/ithin these last few years, but I am afraid 

 in most cases the eggs have been taken. There is an accession of 

 numbers in winter, when flocks of from three or four to a dozen or 

 more are not unfrequently met with. The Mallard {Anas boschas) is 

 sometimes met with in large numbers in the autumn and winter 

 months, flocks of one hundred or more being not unfrequently seen. 

 A few years ago a number were washed ashore dead at Tod Point 

 after a severe gale. The other ducks most commonly met with are 

 the Widgeon {Mareca penelope) and Teal {Querquedula creccd). The 

 Mallard and Teal breed here in the marshes, and it is possible that the 

 Garganey Teal {Querquedula drcia) may occasionally. I have known 

 an old and a young bird be shot together early in August. Others 

 of the duck tribe frequently met with are the Goldeneye {Clangula 

 glaucio?i), Shoveller {Spatula clypeata), Pintail {Dafila acuta), Pochard 

 {Fuligula ferina), Scaup Duck {F. 7narild), Tufted Duck {F. cris- 

 tata), and occasionally the Long-tailed Duck {Harelda glacialis) 

 and the Common Scoter {CEdonia nigra), in considerable numbers 

 at times in the autumn and winter months. The Eider Duck 

 {Somateria mollissima) has been met with a few times in the Tees. 

 The Goosander {Mergus 7nerganser) has frequently been met with ; 

 one was shot in the winter of 1883. The Dabchick or Little Grebe 

 {Tachybaptes fluviatilis) is a winter resident. The Sclavonian or 

 Dusky Grebe {Podiceps auritus) and the Eared Grebe {P. nigricollis) 

 have also been met with. 



It appears that two centuries ago the sands and marshes by the 

 Tees estuary were remarkable for the numbers of birds which nested 



Naturalist, 



