A HISTORY OF CORNWALL abundant at Scilly ; a nest with four eggs found at Callington in 1853 ; a solitary bird seen at Stratton early in August, 1890, and another about the same time of the year near Penzance in 1 900, probably both birds of the year ; one seen at Clowance 24 June, 1905. An unusual flight occurred at Scilly at the end of January, 1 88 1, and nearly fifty couples were killed: 228. Great Snipe. Gallinago major (J. F. Gmelin). A casual autumn visitor to the drier snipe moors of the county, of which between thirty and forty examples have been found and recorded. Two speci- mens have been obtained at Scilly, one by David Smith on Great Ganilly in January, 1877, and the other almost at the same time, but the record has been lost. 229. Common Snipe. Galfinago coekstu (Frenzel). Resident ; breeding locally in favourable situations throughout the county, but not so common as formerly ; far more abundant as a winter visitor ; usually very common in the winter at Scilly, but docs not breed there. The very dark form known as Sabine's snipe has been frequently obtained. 230. Jack-Snipe. Gal&nago gallinula (Linn.). A winter visitor, generally distributed through the wet moorlands of the county, including Scilly ; as a rule not half so abundant as full snipe. 231. Pectoral Sandpiper. Tringa maculata, Vieillot. An accidental straggler, of which eight examples have been obtained at Scilly, and one, in the early forties, at Falmouth. 232. Bonaparte's Sandpiper. Tringa Juscicollis, Vieillot. An accidental straggler from North America, of which two were shot near Hayle in 1 846, one at Scilly 11 October, 1854, another 10 October, 1870, at St. Mary's, and one at the Lizard a few days later. 233. Dunlin. Tringa alpina, Linn. Locally, Sand Lark. Sea-lark, Purre (in winter plumage). Resident ; breeding in small numbers in the large marshes around Brown Willy, and on the moors and turf-pits south of Jamaica Inn, and irregularly else- where. Large flocks of immigrant birds frequent the beaches and estuaries of the county the whole year round, but especially in winter. Common at Scilly during the winter in flocks with other small shore birds. Has been noticed there in May, but does not breed. 234. Little Stint. Tringa minuta, Leisler. An occasional visitor on spring and autumn migra- tion to marshes and pools by the sea in the west of the county. Swanpool, Falmouth, is the favourite resting place, but it has occurred several times at Hayle and at Marazion Marsh ; most recent record 12 October, 1903, between Hayle and St. Erth. Two examples were obtained at Scilly 19 September, 1857. They were identified first as Temminck's stint. 235. American Stint. Tringa minutilla, Vieillot. An accidental straggler shot on Marazion Marsh in October, 1853, and near Penzance in September, 1890. 236. Temminck's Stint. Tringa Temmincki, Leisler. A casual visitor in autumn at Marazion Marsh and St. Mary's, Scilly ; one specimen near Devoran, October, 1 899 ; recorded altogether over a dozen times. 237. Curlew Sandpiper. Tringa subarjuata (Gulden- stadt). A not infrequent casual visitor on autumn migra- tion to our flat beaches from the mouth of the Fowey river round to Newquay and at Scilly ; rarely seen at the Lizard. 238. Purple Sandpiper. Tringa striata, Lmn. A fairly regular winter visitor to the south coast and Scilly, often seen outside Falmouth harbour and at Mount's Bay ; occasionally obtained at Looe, and frequently seen at Hayle. It generally leaves Scilly by the beginning of April, but a flock visited Annett in May, 1877. 239. Knot. Tringa canutus, Linn. A passing visitor to our southern beaches, common in autumn, but usually scarce in spring. The first flocks arrive by the middle of August, sometimes earlier, and often linger for several weeks ; well known at Scilly. 240. Sanderling. Calidris arenaria (Linn.). A passing visitor, sometimes in large flocks in spring and autumn, often remaining in small parties throughout the winter. In the west a few may be occasionally seen on the beaches during the summer ; a common winter visitor at Scilly. 241. Ruff. Machetes fugnax (Linn.). A casual visitor during autumn migration occurring at intervals, and, as a rule, singly from Falmouth to Scilly ; one killed on the Davidstowe Moors about 1891 ; no specimen with the 'ruff' ever obtained in the county. Three specimens obtained at Scilly, one by Jenkinson in the autumn of 1864, one 2 September, 1878, on the Pool, at Tresco, and another by Jenkinson in March, 1885. 242. Buff-breasted Sandpiper. Tryngites rufescens (Vieillot). An accidental straggler, obtained thrice in the county, once on the flat sands between Marazion and Penzance in September, 1846 ; once near Chun Castle, Morvah, in September, 1860 ; and once by Pechell at Bryher, Scilly, 16 September, 1870. 243. Bartram's Sandpiper. Bartramia kngicauda (Bechstein). An accidental straggler, obtained near Mullion, November, 1865 ; at St. Keverne, in October, 1883, and in the Lizard district in October, 1903. 244. Common Sandpiper. Tetanus hypoleucus (Linn.). Locally, Summer Snipe. Resident, but commoner as a passing visitor in spring and autumn ; breeds in sandheaps by abandoned stream works on the moors, and by the side of streams and freshwater pools throughout the county ; leaves its breeding stations in July and August, and slowly makes its way to the coast. An irregular passing visitor to Scilly in early autumn. 344
