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BIRDS OF LEICESTERSHIRE AND RUTLAND. 
possession. One in the possession of Mr. T. Morris, of Wycombe, near Melton 
]\lowbray, was shot by bis brother early one morning as it sat on one of bis 
farm-bnildings at Scalford lA)dge, in 1851. I believe this to be the one 
alluded to by Harley. Another specimen of this bird was shot at West Leigh, 
Narborougb Eoad, on 6th March, 1873, and was presented to the Museum, 
where it still remains, by IMr. Archibald Turner. 
Family PLATALEID.^. 
GLOSSY IBIS. Plegadis falcinellus (Linnaeus). 
“ Black Curlew.” 
This rare bird is now but an accidental visitor to Britain, but was formerly 
common enough to be mentioned in the old doggerel distich — 
“A Curlew, be she white or be she black, 
She carries twelvepence on her back.” 
The “ Bickley Collection ” in the Museum contains a fine specimen of this bird, 
for which the late Mr. Widdowson told me £3 3s. was paid by Mr. Bickley 
to the fortunate sportsman who brought it to him. Mr. IMacaulay stated 
(‘IMid. Nat.,’ 1882, p. 77), in reference to this specimen: — “I have been recently 
informed by the donor’s brother that it was killed on the border of the county 
and within it.” This, however, is an error, and Leicestershire cannot claim this 
rara avis, for on the back of the case it is thus labelled : — “ This rare and 
valuable specimen was shot near the Derby Kailway Station in February, 1842. 
H. B.” Also, “Killed near Derby, February, 1842.” 
Order ANSERES. 
Family A N A T I D ^ . 
EGYPTIAN GOOSE. Chenalopex cegyptiacus (Linnaeus). 
This species is so often kept in a state of semi-domestication on private 
waters, and so often contrives to effect its escape, that it is very doubtful if any of 
the specimens which are from time to time shot in a state of freedom are really 
wild birds. Harley stated that one was shot close to Leicester, 4th March, 1843. 
It bore no sign of captivity, and had three companions, which went away in a 
southerly direction. This is probably the specimen in the Museum, recorded 
in the Donation-book as “ shot on the River Soar, 1843,” by Mr. H. S. Hamel. 
Another entry records that a specimen shot at Oakham, 13th Nov., 1858, was 
presented by Mr. F. Palmer. 
In Rutland. — One was shot on Burley Ponds by Masters in 1882, and is 
now in the possession of Mr. G. H. Pfinch. 
