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BIRDS OF LEICESTERSHIRE AND RUTLAND. 
BAR-TAILED GOD WIT. Limosa lapponica (Linn*us). 
Finding this bird recorded by Mr. Babington as having been shot near 
Swarkestone (Supplement ‘ Potter ’), I, thinking that place was in the county, 
included the note in my list, published in the ‘Zoologist,’ 1886, p. 331. As 
Swarkestone is, however, in Derbyshire, it is the latter county which must lay 
claim to the record. 
BLACK-TAILED GODWIT. Limosa cegocephala (Linnaeus). 
A rare spring and autumn visitant. — On the authority of Mr. (the Rev. 
Arthur?) Evans, of Market Bosworth, Harley recorded a specimen shot in the 
vicinity of Market Bosworth, and a second at Osbaston. He said further that it 
was erroneously described by Mr. Evans, in one of our oldest local papers, as the 
“ Red-breasted Snipe,” or “ Brown Snipe ” of Jenyns and Yarrell, and I record the 
fact lest this note of the “ Red-breasted Snipe ” should crop up at some future 
time, and cause it to be added to the Leicestershire fauna. There is a specimen in 
the Aluseum, in summer plumage, marked “ Leicestershire, 1869,” but I am by no 
means sure that it is a local example, owing to a pleasing peculiarity prevailing, 
before my advent at the Museum, of labelling any bird from any locality 
“ Leicestershire,” providing the species had been recorded, even in the most jiassing 
manner, as having occurred in the county. I have had the good fortune, however, 
to see an undoubted Leicestershire specimen, in nearly adult summer dress, which 
was shot by Mr. Thos. Beck, of Newtown Linford,'at the Reservoir, Bradgate Park, 
in August, 1887, and which he has since kindly presented to the Museum. 
WHIMBREL. Numenius plioiopus (Linnaeus). 
A straggler from the coast, of accidental occurrence in the Midlands. — “ One 
shot near Chamwood Heath ” (Appendix ‘ Potter,’ p. 69). Harley wrote “ The 
Whimbrel occurs occasionally in sparing numbers, as, for instance, in the meadows 
about Loughborough, at Bosworth, and elsewhere in the county. Killed near 
Leicester, April 23rd, 1856.” 
CURLEW. Numenius arquata (Linnaeus). 
An accidental straggler from the coast. — Mr. Babington (Appendix ‘ Potter,’ 
p. 69), said : — “ Shot at Ben’s Cliff ; now at Rothley Temple.” Harley wrote : — 
“ Before the Forest of Charnwood was enclosed, this wader was very plentifully 
diffused over its uneven surface.” The Museum Donation-book records the gift, 
on 2nd Oct., 1865, by Mr. H. B. Chamberlain, of a Curlew shot at Desford. On 
16th Aug., 1887, Mr. Macaulay saw one at Saddington Reservoir, which was 
unfortunately missed at short range by his young son. A fine young male, however, 
was shot out of a ditch near to a small spinney at Arnesby, on 1st Nov., 1887, 
by Mr. A. Langton, and presented to the Museum, being the only authentic 
local specimen we possess, the 1865 one having disappeared. 
