BIRDS county, but inasmuch as the first four are birds which are continually kept in semi-con- finement and the young often make their escape, it is inexpedient to include them as accidental 'visitors.' The Polish swan is now generally regarded as a variety of the mute swan.] 127. Whooper. Cygnus musicus, Bechstein. An occasional winter visitor ; two were shot near Reading in January, 1795 ('Ornith. Bercheria'). The late F. O. Morris says a flock appeared in January, 1855, between Cookham and Maidenhead, two of which were shot (Brit. Birds, v. 1 1 5). Three were shot in the meadows near Shinfield about the year 1860 by a Mr. Smith; one of these, in the possession of Mr. Cresswell of Binfield, was purchased for the Reading Museum, but refused (Captain Savile J. Reid in lit.). 128. Mute Swan. Cygnus olor (Gmelin). Numbers of semi-domesticated swans are to be seen on most reaches of the Thames and on many large sheets of water in the county. The Thames birds belong to his Majesty the King, the Vintners' Company and the Dyers' Company. ' Swan-upping ' takes place in July or early August, when the young birds are caught up, marked on the bill, pinioned and liberated. Each company has its own swanherd ; they meet together at London Bridge and proceed up the river as far as Henley, the ceremony lasting four days. ' Some idea of the abundance of swans on the Thames may be inferred from the fact that in August, 1897, between London Bridge and Henley, the number taken up was 481. Of these 1 68 belonged to the Queen, 181 to the Vintners' Company, and 132 to the Dyers' Company ' (J. E. Harting, Handbook of British Birds, ed. 2, p. 228-9). A few birds are sometimes overlooked, and these are often shot as ' wild swans,' though of course it is possible that truly wild birds may at times visit our river. 129. Common Sheld-Duck. Tadorna cornuta (S. G. Gmelin). Dr. Lamb mentions one shot near New- bury, 1806, and Dr. Bowdler Sharpe states (Birds of Berks and Bucks, p. 205) during the winter of 1867-8 a bird of this species was seen for several days in the neighbourhood of Cookham. 130. Mallard. Anas ioscas, Linn. Common, resident, and, since shooting has been prohibited on the Thames, increasing in numbers. I have often found nests in pollard willows on the banks of the river, and they breed freely in many parts of the county. 131. Shoveler. Spatula clypeata (Linn.). A somewhat rare winter visitor; one was shot out of a party of four near Iffley, Novem- ber 12, 1889 (Fauna and Flora of Radley, p. 12). Mr. Dewe informs me he killed a female on December 10, 1898, near Faring- don. 132. Pintail. Dafila acuta (Linn.). As late as March 30 a drake pintail was shot near Henley (probably on the river) by Mr. G. Jackson (Birds of Oxon, p. 200). 133. Teal. Nettion crecca (Linn.). Fairly numerous in winter. Mr. Norman May has kindly sent me particulars of the nesting of this species in Berks; his brother, Mr. E. May, obtained a nest and four eggs near Thatcham on May 4, 1900. Mr. F. O. Lindley found another nest just hatching on the edge of the water at Great Meadow Pond, Windsor, on May 19, 1896 (Bucknill in /it.) ; and the late Dr. Montague Palmer had eggs from Kintbury Marsh in 1880 (H. M. Wallis in lit.) 134. Garganey. ^uerquedula circia (Linn.). In the severe January, 1795, one specimen was killed at Maidenhead ('Ornith. Ber- cheria'). A pair were shot at Kintbury in 1874 (Palmer, < Birds of Newbury and District '). Mr. Bradshaw informs me a young male was shot at Theale on December 15, 1898, by Mr. Blatch, and is now preserved in the Reading Museum. 135. Wigeon. Mareca penelope (Linn.). The wigeon may be found in small num- bers almost every winter; it has been killed at Windsor, Maidenhead and Cookham, on the Kennet and often on the Thames. A pair remained on the Thames between Wind- sor and Datchet as late as May (Birds of Berks and Bucks, p. 125). 136. Pochard. Fuligula ferina (Linn.). A winter visitor in very limited numbers. I am not aware that it has bred within our limits though its nest is said to have been found in Bucks. 137. Tufted Duck. Fuligula cristata (Leach). A regular winter visitor and seems to be increasing in numbers ; not a year passes but several are seen on the Thames between Henley and Reading and on certain inland waters. 157
