Page:VCH Derbyshire 1.djvu/193

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BIRDS ' a few years ago ' (E. Brown, Nat. Hist, of Tutbury, p. 228). Others have been killed near Ogston Hall, October 30, 1878, and on the Derwent in 1853 (Birds of Derbyshire, p. 176).] 145. Garganey. jguerquedula circia (Linn.). Recorded frum Sinfin Moor by Pilkington, and Sir O. Mosley and Mr. Brown from the Trent valley ; but no details are given and no recent records are to hand, although Mr. J. R. Towle shot specimens many years ago on the Derwent. It is also said to have visited the lakes at Button Scarsdale. 146. Wigeon. Mareca penelope (Linn.). A fairly numerous winter visitor to the Trent and other pieces of open water, especi- ally in severe weather. Reservoirs in the north are often visited by this species which remains with us till the spring. 147. Pochard. Fuligula ferina (Linn.). Not uncommon in the Trent valley and on the lower Derwent in winter. A few visit Osmaston ponds in the south-west, but in the north it is hardly ever seen except at Sutton Scarsdale lakes. 148. Tufted Duck. Fuligula cristata (Leach). A common winter visitor to south Derby- shire which has established itself as a regularly breeding species during the last twenty years (see Zool. 1899, p. 476 ; 1900, p. 429). The south-western part of the county appears to be most favoured for breeding purposes, but a few years' protection would probably result in a considerable increase in its range as at- tempts are frequently made to nest in new localities. The number of eggs laid is large, varying from eight to fifteen, and I have found as many as eighteen in one nest, but have no doubt that in this case more than one duck was laying. They breed late, and full clutches may be found in the last days of May and the first fortnight of June. 149. Scaup-Duck. Fuligula marila (Linn.). Only an occasional winter visitor, generally occurring in hard winters. Most of the notices of its appearance are from the neigh- bourhood of the Trent valley, but a pair were killed near Bakewell in April, 1891 (Birds of Derbyshire, p. 174). 1 50. Goldeneye. Clangula glaucion (Linn.). Locally, Morillon (Glover). A tolerably regular winter visitor to the rivers and ponds of south Derbyshire. Be- sides the instances mentioned by Whitlock, (pp. 174-5) which are all from the south, a single individual was shot near Baslow by a keeper (W. S. Fox). 151. Long-tailed Duck. Harelda glacialis (Linn.). A rare winter visitor to the Trent valley, and formerly to Sinfin Moor and the lower Derwent. The only instance in which any details of capture are known is that recorded by Mr. E. Brown as ' killed near Twyford ' (prior to 1863). 152. King-Eider. Somateria spectabilis (Linn.). A duck of this species was shot on the Derwent near Draycott by the late Mr. J. H. Towle in November, 1887 (Zool. 1879, P- 'SO- 153. Common Scoter. (Edetnia nigra (Linn.). Not uncommon in winter in the Trent valley, where several were shot in the great frost of 1890-1. Whitlock also records specimens from the Derby Canal (1891), the Derwent at Wilne and Sutton Scarsdale. Be- sides these a drake, killed near Bclper in April, 1 900, is now in the Rolleston Hall Museum, and another in the possession of Mr. Storrs Fox was shot at Hassop in January, 1895. 154. Velvet-Scoter. (Edemia fusca (Linn.). One shot on the Trent at Wellington by the Rev. J. Smith some time previous to 1860, and another killed on the Derwent at Dray- cott in 1853 by the late Mr. J. H. Towle (Birds of Derbyshire, p. 177). 155. Goosander. Mergus merganser, Linn. Locally, Chellaser Dun Diver (F. Gisborne). Quite the commonest of the three ' saw- bills ' in Derbyshire, where many have been seen or shot, especially in the Trent valley. F. B. Whitlock gives a list of occurrences dating from 1774 and 1776 when individuals were observed by the Rev. F. Gisborne at Staveley. In addition to these a duck was killed at Burton in January, 1854 (Nat. Hist, of Tutbury, p. 57) ; in December, 1878, one was shot at Borrowash (Journ. Derb. Arch, and Nat. Hist. Sac. i. 128), and a third was killed in the winter of 1887 by Mr. W. Crowder in Darley meadows (W. N. Statham). 156. Red-breasted Merganser. Mergus ser- rator, Linn. Curiously infrequent as compared with the preceding species. A few have been killed on the Trent, one (a duck) in 1890 (F. B. Whitlock), and they have also been shot at Sutton Scarsdale. One was shot by a keeper at Baslow on the Derwent prior to 1893 (W. S. Fox). 141