BIRDS 1 80. Lapwing. Vanellus vulgarh, Bechstein. Locally, Peewit. A very common resident, breeding not only in the low lying meadows but also on the uplands right up to the edge of the heather. After the breeding season large flocks are usually met with on the lower ground, espa- cially in the valleys of the Dove and Trent. In wet weather the eggs often show traces of mud from the birds' feet, and on May 8, 1900, I came across a clutch of eggs which were completely caked with mud so that the shell was completely hidden. A young lap- wing sent to Hutchinson for preservation on August 7, 1 900, was a pale buff colour all over with the exception of a few white feathers. Later in the same year another cream-coloured bird was caught on the sew- age farm, but unfortunately was not pre- served, and others were seen about the same time. [Turnstone. Strepsilas interpret (Linn.). One of these birds was shot by Mr. E. A. Brown on the Trent between Burton and Nottingham, but unfortunately I have not been able to ascertain the date or place.] 1 8 1. Oyster-catcher. Htematopus ostralegus, Linn. An occasional visitor generally to the south of the county. Whitlock mentions eight in- stances of its occurrence near Derby, at Melbourne (two), on the Dove near Tut- bury, at Newton Solney, and on the sewage farm at Egginton where Mr. R. C. Cotton saw three. 182. Avocet. Recurvirostra avocetta, Linn. There is no recent record of this species, but during the first half of the nineteenth century stragglers appear to have occasionally visited the Trent and Dove valleys. One was shot in 1800 at Barton Ferry on the Nottingham border (Birds of Nottingham, p. 41), another on the Dove near Scopton pro- bably about 1840 (Nat. Hist, of Tutbury, pp. 54, 1 06). Mr. Wolley saw one near the junction of the Trent and Soar in June, 1856 (Zool. 1856, p. 5280) ; and in 1859 one was seen at Thrumpton on the same day that another was killed lower down the Trent (Birds of Nottingham, p. 41). 1 83. Grey Phalarope. Phalaropus fulicarms (Linn.). Locally, Grey scollop-toed Sandpiper (Pilking- ton). Whitlock records six killed in different parts of the county, including one shot by the Rev. F. Gisborne on September 26, 1770, at Staveley, and others more recently at Long Eaton, Draycott (October, 1891), Swarkestone (October 17, 1891), and near Heeley. 184. Woodcock. Scolopax rusticula, Linn. Although a pair or two probably breed with us annually, and there is evidence that they have nested at Hayfield, Ashford-in-the Water, Derby and Melbourne, the number of breeding birds is curiously small and shows no signs of increasing. In the neighbouring counties of Nottingham and Stafford however woodcock have bred in many places. As an autumn and winter visitor to the county there is little doubt that the woodcock is far less common than in former times. 185. Great Snipe. Gallinago major (J. F. Gmelin). The earlier records of this species are somewhat vague and unsatisfactory, but there is reason to believe that it has occurred several times, and Mr. J. Whitaker has two Derbyshire birds in his collection. One was killed at Bolsover on October 12, 1892 (Naturalist, 1892, p. 326), and several in January, 1902. 1 8 6. Common Snipe. Gallinago ccelestis (Frenzel). Breeds locally in many parts of Derbyshire, especially in the upper part of the Dove valley, and in suitable spots in the High Peak. To the lowlands of the south it is a common winter visitor, but few remain to breed. Glover mentions a white variety shot near Weston Cliff about 1820, and Whitlock one from Matlock in 1880 in which the whole plumage was suffused with buff. 187. Jack Snipe. Gallinago gallinula, Linn. Not an uncommon winter visitor to north as well as south Derbyshire. 1 88. Dunlin. Tringa alpina, Linn. There is reason to believe that a few pairs of dunlins breed on the north Derbyshire moors. In 1893 Mr. E. T. Doncaster ob- served two pairs near Redmires, and later on saw a party of twelve fully fledged. Mr. Storrs Fox saw one in full breeding plumage on June 13, 1893, on Stanage Edge, and the Rev. A. E. Sorby noticed others in the breed- ing season on the Sheffield moors. In 1901 one of these birds was shot during the sum- mer near Redmires and its nest with four eggs taken. As spring migrants they regularly visit the Trent valley. One shot by F. B.
