BIRDS ing species, so the note may refer to it. the Burton and Tutbury districts, and James Whitlock's statement that it is mentioned Harley includes it in his list from the Trent ; by Sir O. Mosley and Mr. E. Brown is but no particulars are given and more definite erroneous.] information is very desirable. 2O I. Curlew. Numenius arquata (Linn). A summer visitor, breeding in scattered parts not only on the moors of the High Peak, as stated by Whitlock, but also along the ridge known as the East Moor. Mr. W. Storrs Fox visited nests near Ramsley Lodge, Baslow, and on Ankirk Moor in 1894. On migration they are frequently observed in the Trent valley, and stragglers have occurred in the winter months. The fusilade on the opening day of the grouse shooting has been known to drive them from their usual haunts to districts twenty miles away, such as the hills near Ashbourne. 202. Whimbrel. Numenius phteopus (Linn.). F. B. Whitlock describes this bird as a regular visitor in small numbers during mi- gration periods, seldom alighting. One bird was however observed on the river margin at Long Eaton on April 15, 1892 (Birds of Derbyshire, p. 217). To the Dove valley it is a rare visitor, but two which had been seen for about a week on a hill near Swinscoe on the Staffordshire side were killed at the end of April, 1899. 203. Black Tern. Hydrochelidon nigra (Linn.). An occasional visitor, sometimes, according to Whitlock, in some numbers, and usually in the spring. Two were killed on June 6, 1889, near Langley (Field, June 8, 1889), and one near Etwall early in September, 1900. 204. Whiskered Tern. Hydrochelidon hybrida (Pallas). One shot near Barrow-on-Trent in the autumn of 1883, and now at Calke Abbey (Birds of Derbyshire, p. 2 1 8). 205. Sandwich Tern. Sterna cantiaca, J. F. Gmelin. According to J. J. Briggs, not an uncom- mon visitor in spring and during stormy weather to the Melbourne district. F. B. Whitlock observed one on May 14, 1888, on the Trent between Barton Ferry and the mouth of the Soar. 207. Common Tern. Sterna fluviatilis, Nau- mann. A common visitor on migration to the Trent valley, and also occurs after stormy weather. Many of this and the following species appeared in the Tutbury district in May, 1842 (Nat. Hist, of Tutbury, p. 57), and individuals have frequently been recorded from Trent side parishes. Stragglers are also occasionally met with on the Dove as high as Hanging Bridge. 208. Arctic Tern. Sterna macrura, Naumann. Like the preceding species, the arctic tern is a frequent visitor to the south of Derby- shire, but has also been occasionally noticed in the Longdendale valley and on the reser- voir at Butterley (Birds of Derbyshire, p. 22O). 209. Little Tern. Sterna minuta, Linn. Much less common than either of the two preceding, but has occurred several times in the south. Whitlock mentions four instances, all from the Trent valley, and adds that a small flock was seen at Barton about 1886. 210. Sooty Tern. Sterna fuliginosa, J. F. Gmelin. The first example of this tropical species obtained in the British Islands was killed by a stone near Tutbury about October, 1852, and was subsequently exhibited by Yarrell at a meeting of the Linnaean Society in February, 1853. 211. Little Gull. Larus minutus, Pallas. One was killed on January 22, 1851, on the Trent (Zool. p. 3118) near Weston Cliff; another immature bird was shot in Locko Park in 1891, and is now in the Derby Museum. F. B. Whitlock observed one on August 10, 1890, near Barton Ferry (Birds of Derbyshire, p. 222). 212. Black-headed Gull. Larus ridibundus, Linn. Visits us more frequently than any other species, large numbers frequenting the Trent valley, especially during the spring migration. Storm-driven birds and stragglers are occa- sionally met with in all parts of the county. 206. Roseate Tern. Sterna dougalli, Mon- 213. Common Gull. Larus canus, Linn. ta u> Also occurs regularly in the Trent valley. Both Sir O. Mosley and Mr. E. Brown About 1823 a flock of over a hundred re- assert that this species has rarely occurred in mained for nearly two days on a pond at 147
