A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 24. Hedge - Sparrow. Accentor modularis (Linn.) A common resident throughout the county. It has a cheerful song, and is one of our most useful and harmless birds. 25. Dipper. Cine/us aquaticus, Bechstein. A fairly common resident on most of the streams in the north of the county, nesting regularly under bridges and against rocks. A few nests are placed under banks and in hollows of tree stumps. It is also found occasionally in other parts of the county as far south as Stone, where it breeds, and Madeley, and it has been recorded in winter from Handsworth (12 Jan. 1882). 26. Reedling or Bearded Tit. Panurus biar- micus (Linn.) The only record of this species is that of Garner, who says, ' Rare, but has occurred at Aqualate Mere and on the Dove : Mr. Emery ' (p. 280). Mr. Francis Boughey of Aqualate, writing on 9 December 1888, says : ' I have still got two eggs that were taken out of a nest here in my possession ; they were taken out of a gorse bush about half a mile from the house ; the remainder of the nest of eggs were left to hatch which I believe they did and the old birds were seen often. I understand also that one specimen of the bearded tit was shot afterwards here.' 27. Long-tailed Tit. Acredula caudata, Linn. Locally, Bottle Tit. Generally resident throughout the county, occurring in small flocks or family parties during the winter. 28. Great Tit. Parus major, Linn. Locally, Sawyer, Ox-eye, Blackcap. Resident and common. 29. Coal-Tit. Parus ater, Linn. Resident and generally distributed, but not so common as the great or blue tit. 30. Marsh-Tit. Parus palustris, Linn. Resident, but local and scarcer than the preceding species. 31. Blue Tit. Parus caeruleus, Linn. Locally, Tomtit. Resident and common. 32. Nuthatch. Sitta carsia, Wolf. Local and scarce. A few pairs however breed with us, and nests have been recorded at Eccleshall in 1884, and at Sandon and Barlaston in 1897 (Report North Staff's Field Club, 1898). Sir O. Mosley (Nat. Hist, of Tutbury, p. 48) relates how on 16 August, 1846, at least a hundred of these birds visited the gardens at Rolleston, many remaining till the following November. Mr. Meynell reported it at Farley near Cheadle in 1889 (Report North Staffs Field Club, 1890, p. 22). 33. Wren. Troglodytes parvulus, K. L. Koch. Resident and common. In winter a number of these little birds frequently roost together in holes or old nests apparently for warmth (cf. Nat. Hist, of Tutbury, p. 48, and Report North Staffs Field Club, 1896, p. 49). 34. Tree-Creeper. Certhia familiaris, Linn. Resident, breeding not uncommonly in the wooded districts, but rarer in the north of the county. 35. Pied Wagtail. Motacilla lugubris, Tem- minck. A partial migrant, many moving south in severe weather, although they may be seen during every month in the year. A common foster parent of the cuckoo and one of our most useful birds, being exclusively an insect feeder. 36. White Wagtail. Motacilla alba, Linn. Mr. E. Brown (Fauna of Burton, p. 98) describes this bird as mostly occurring in autumn in the Burton district, and Messrs. E. A. Brown and H. G. Tomlinson have also noticed it on the Trent, but there is no definite record of its appearance in any other part of the county. Possibly it has been overlooked on account of its general resem- blance to the last species. 37. Grey Wagtail. Motacilla melanope, Pallas. A resident or partial migrant, breeding annually by the Dove and other streams in the northern parts of the county, but scarce on the Trent, where however it is well known as a winter visitor. Normally the grey wag- tail does not breed in the counties south-east of Staffordshire, although it has been known to do so exceptionally. 38. Blue-headed Yellow Wagtail. Motacilla flava, Linn. The evidence with regard to the occurrence of this species is not very satisfactory. Garner states that it occurs at Betley and it is also mentioned in Mr. Sainter's list. 39. Yellow Wagtail. Motacilla rait (Bona- parte) A common summer migrant, arriving about the beginning of April, but Mr. H. G. 144
