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BIRDS OF LEICESTERSHIRE AND RUTLAND. 
OYSTER-CATCHER. Hcematopus ostralegus, Linnaeus. 
“ Olive,” “ Sea-pie.” 
A rare and accidental straggler from the coast, chiefly in spring and autumn. 
— Harley recorded the occurrence of one at Loughborough in the year 1840. On 
26th Sept., 1887, IMr. J. E. Hodding was fortunate enough to shoot a fine, and 
nearly adult, specimen of this bird in a water-meadow next to the Gras-Works on 
the Aylestone Road, and generously presented it to the Museum. 
In Rutland. — As in Leicestershire. — Mr. Finch informed me that a male 
bird was killed by his keeper (Masters) at Burley Ponds, in January, 1878, and I 
have since seen this in the possession of Mr. Tryon. IMr. Horn reports that one in 
the possession of IMr. William Northen, of Thorpe-by-Water, was shot in the 
Welland Valley. 
Family SCOLOPACID^. 
AVOCET. Recurvirostra avocetta, Linnaeus. 
“ Cobbler’s Awl.” 
Now a rare straggler to Britain, and the only authority we have, for its 
admission into the local list, is that of Mr. Wolley, of Beeston, who saw a 
specimen of this rare visitant while fishing near the confluence of the Soar with the 
Trent in June, 1856 (see ‘Zoologist,’ 1856, p. 5280). It passed over his head, 
“ giving a distinct view of its upturned bill.” 
GREY PHALAROPE. Phalaropns fulicarius (Linmeus). 
Of irregular occurrence in autumn. — Harley stated that, during the autumn 
of 1841 and the following winter, many birds were captured throughout the 
county. The species occurred again in the autumn of 1846, and also in December, 
1853, when a fine specimen was shot by Mr. Bloxam, at Twycross. Moreover, 
towards the close of 1854 it appeared at Foxton, where one was shot on the canal 
which passes through that village. Mr. Macaulay records (‘ JMid. Nat.,’ 1882, p. 10) 
that one, killed (by the late Rev. H. Matthews) at Foxton, in the winter of 1860-1, 
is now in the possession of the Rev. A. Matthews. I am not certain if this is the 
specimen recorded by Harley. The late Mr. Widdowson told me that he had 
received two or three specimens killed near Melton Mowbray. In 1887 I saw, in 
the possession of Mr. J. S. Bevins, of Ingarsby Old Hall, an example shot by his 
father at Wellsborough, fifteen or twenty years previously; and Mr. Richard 
Naylor, Thrussington, has kindly presented one to the Museum, which he 
tells me he found dead, in May, 1864, on some plough land near Cossington 
Fox-covert, on the Old Fosse Road. 
