26 Brogden : Birds of Spalding and S. Lines. Fenland. 



sent two to London market in February 1895 m 

 plumage, for which he received is. 6d. the pair. 



Mergus serrator L. Red-breasted Merganser. An annual 

 winter visitor, and frequently shot on freshwater ponds and 

 in Cowbit Wash. Seldom obtained in full plumage. 



Mergus albellus L. Smew. I have seen several females and 

 immature specimens during- the last four years. The one 

 in my collection I rescued from a friend, who was taking- it 

 home to be cooked for a Wigeon. 



Columba palumbus L. Wood Pigeon. Common throughout 

 the district ; breeds. 



Columba oenas L. Stock Dove. Generally distributed through- 

 out the district, although not so common as the former; 

 breeds. 



Columba livia Gmelin. Rock Dove. I shot a specimen in 

 Spalding in the winter of 1887, but I have not heard of any 

 others. 



Turtur communis Selby. Turtle Dove. To be found in 

 greatly increased numbers every year; breeds. 



Syrrhaptes paradoxus (Pallas). Sand Grouse. Not seen since 

 the immigration of 1888, when several were shot and other- 

 wise killed. In that year, when Partridge shooting with 

 a friend, we put up a flock of 40 to 50 several times, and 

 only refrained from shooting in the hope they would stay 

 and breed. On one occasion they passed so close that we 

 could see the dark band across the breast was much darker 

 and broader in some than others. When first seen in the 

 district they looked exactly like Golden Plover. Several 

 were shot in Holbeach Marsh, and one was killed by 

 a telegraph wire on the Bourn and Lynn Railway. 



Phasianus colchicus L. Pheasant. A regular straggler from 

 the high country preserves, but of late years has taken to 

 regular breeding in the fens. In October 1887 I shot 

 a white cock with red cheeks in Spalding parish. 



Perdix cinerea Latham. Partridge. Distributed throughout 

 the district, but more plentiful in some portions than others. 



Caccabis rufa (L.). Red-legged Partridge. Too numerous 

 for sportsmen in the district, where the shooting is almost 

 solely over dogs. It is particularly partial to old straw 

 stacks and pollard stumps for nesting. Many farmers now 

 purposely destroy their eggs. 



Naturalist, 



