234 



CARTER : MARFIELD POND. 



already mentioned, and in August 1881 an immature bird was shot 

 a few miles further up the river, by S. T. Scrope, Esq., of Danby-on- 

 Yore. 



January 13th, 1883. Eight Wild Swans circled round the pond 

 and the overflow, but seeing someone there they went away without 

 alighting. 



February 5th, 1883. A female Red-breasted Merganser, which 

 had been staying on the river near the bog at least a fortnight, was 

 shot by my father. 



August 4th, 1883. A brood of Wild Ducks hatched out in the 

 bog. This is a late date. 



August 27th, 1883. A Scoter was seen. 



August 30th, 1883. A Kittiwake fed about the bog all day. It 

 was either remarkably tame or stupid. 



February 2nd, 1883. After a heavy gale from the north-east a 

 pair of Oyster Catchers alighted on the edge of the bog near the 

 river and fed there for some days. 



October 10th, 1884. A flock of 18 Tufted Duck seen. 



The above are only birds which I have myself noted. Many 

 more would visit the pond or bog and escape notice. Of course the 

 common ducks, Widgeon, Mallard, Teal, and Golden- eye, were 

 frequently seen, and occasionally Scaup ; their frequent occurrences 

 do not need particulars. Among other visitors I may mention that a 

 pair of Nightjars on three occasions stayed at the pond on their 

 arrival in spring, and before going to the moors fed a few evenings 

 about the pond. They fleAv close above the water, beating from end 

 to end of the surface in search of insects with quite a slow, flapping 

 flight. The occurrence of a Chough in such an inland locality is 

 worth recording. In the winter of 1876 one of these birds was seen 

 by Mr. Wra. Todd, our local taxidermist, feeding in the Marfield in 

 company with some Rooks. There being a deep cover of snow at 

 the time, its red legs and beak showed very plainly against the white 

 surface. 



P.S. (May 15th, 1886). — Since the above was written (October 

 1885) the pond has again filled to its old size, owing to the feeding 

 springs being so large with the melting of the late heavy snows that 

 the drain pipes cannot take all the water. This, however, will be 

 only temporary ; as soon as drier weather comes the springs will get 

 lower. Anyway the pond is doomed, as the lord of the manor has 

 stated his intention of putting in larger pipes if the present ones 

 prove of insufficient size. 



Naturalist, 



