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BIRDS OF LEICESTERSHIRE AND RUTLAND. 
and waters, as for example, Groby and Barratt, usually during severe weather ; 
and further added : — “ Shot on Groby Pool by Chaplin.” Col. Palmer, of 
Withcote Hall, informs me that he possesses a mounted specimen, shot on 
the pool there in the winter of 1850. IMr. Macaulay records (‘ Mid. Nat.’, 
1882, p. 79) that the “Rev. A. Matthews, some years since, got two at one 
shot, at Gumley.” The late Mr. Widdowson’s diary records one killed at 
Syston, 29th Sept., 1868. Mr. W. Whitaker, of Wistow Grange, wrote me 
that he killed one on Thornton Reservoir, in August, 1878. Mr. W. A. Vice 
shewed me a line female specimen, shot on the mill-stream, Blaby, about 
1879. 
In Rutland. — A rare winter visitant. — C. Masters states that several have 
been killed at Burley Ponds, the three last — young birds — in August, 1887. 
One of these, which I have seen, is in the possession of Mr. G. H. Finch, 
and is a handsome young male in patched plumage. 
TUFTED DUCK. Fuligula cristata (Leach). 
“ Crested Pochard,” “ Tufted Pochard,” “ Tufted Scaup.” 
Not uncommon in winter, but does not appear to remain to breed. — 
Mr. Babington (Supplement ‘ Potter ’) stated that it had been shot at 
Groby, by Lord Stamford’s keeper. Harley recorded that it had been killed 
frequently on_ the River Soar, as well as upon several large pools in the 
county, and that, in the winter of 1840, it appeared in small flocks. On 
Groby Pool Chaplin shot many examples, and Harley was assured that 
it was found, no less abundantly, in other localities. Again, in March, 1845, 
several were seen on the Soar and other streams. The thermometer on the 
11th and 12th of that month fell to ten degrees Fahrenheit, and in some 
localities to three degrees below zero — a degree of cold not experienced, he 
remarked, since 1838. At Groby Pool the wild fowl tarried late, but on the 
break up of the frost, on the 14th of the month, they disappeared entirely. 
Sir George Beaumont wrote to Mr. Macaulay that one was killed at Coleorton 
Hall in 1865. Mr. Macaulay shot one at Saddington Reservoir on 2nd Dec., 
1880, and records (‘Mid. Nat.’, 1883, p. 85) that one was killed by Lord Boyle 
at the Reservoir, on 11th Jan., 1882. Mr. Ingram writes : — “Specimen shot 
on the Belvoir Lake in winter,” and one (a male) was sent by him to the 
Museum, shot by the keeper, 19th June, 1884. The late Mr. Widdowson 
wrote : — “ Plentiful some years ago. Several shot at Little Dalby.” I saw a 
mounted specimen (male), in 1888, in the possession of Mr. H. C. Woodcock, 
who informed me that it was shot on the Wreake, at Syston, many years 
ago, by his keeper. A female in the flesh was kindly presented to the Museum 
by Mr. John Burgess, who shot it at Saddington Reservoir, on 31st Oct., 1887. 
Its weight was 1 lb. 5 oz. ; total length 15^ inches, colour of irides dark 
yellowish-brown ; legs and toes light lead-colour inclining to silvery-grey. 
