BIRDS 153. Black Grouse. Tetrao tetrix, Linn. Still breeds annually in the moorland districts near Cheadle and Leek, on the Weaver Hills, on Cannock Chase, in the Bishops' Wood near Eccleshall and at Chartley. 154. Red Grouse. Lagopus scoticus (Latham) Locally, Garcock or Red Game (Plot), (obs) Resident and plentiful on the moors in the north of the county and also on Cannock Chase. In severe winters they have been seen at Rolleston (1859), Burton-'on-Trent (1860-1) and Cheadle (1885-6). In the Swythamley collection is a slate coloured variety shot in 1862 (Birds of Staffordshire, P . 1 1 8). 155. Pheasant. Phasianus colchicus (Linn.) Abundant where preserved. Owing to crossing and interchange of eggs varieties of plumage are very common, and in some districts it is quite the exception to meet with the normal plumage of the old English bird. 156. Partridge. Perd'ix cinerea, Latham. Not so common as formerly when there was more arable land. In September 1900, five specimens of a dark chestnut or ery- thristic variety were shot at Pyrehill near Stone, which correspond with the Perdix montana of Brisson (Report North Staff's Field Club, 1901). Two others of the same variety were shot near Pyrehill in October 1901. Mr. J. Whitaker has a very pale bird from Staffordshire, formerly in the col- lection of the late Mr. F. Bond. Four others of the rufous variety, but three of them much splashed with creamy white, were shot on Lord Lichfield's Staffordshire estates and are in the Shugborough collection. 157. Red-legged Partridge. Caccabis rufa (Linn.) Garner mentions this species as introduced at Teddesley, etc. It is still rare, but has been recorded from Great Barr (1881), Woore (1894) and Stone (1900), while nests have been found at King's Bromley (1886) and Caverswall (1896) (Reports North Staffs Field Club). In 1901 this bird was reported by sportsmen from several districts in the county and seems to be on the increase. 158. Quail. Coturnix communis, Bonnaterre. An occasional summer migrant. Sir O. Mosley mentions one killed at Rolleston on 15 December, 1856 (Nat. Hist, of Tutbury, p. 52). Near Burton it has occurred several times and nests have been recorded from King's Bromley in 1887 and 1892 and near Stoke sewage works in 1893. Two brace were shot at Gnosall in September 1885, and it has also occurred several times near Eccle- shall (Reports North Staff's Field Club, 1888, p. 21, and 1894, p. 41). [Virginian Colin. Ortyx virginianus (Linn.) An introduced species mentioned in Mr. Sainter's list.] 159. Land-Rail or Corn-Crake. Crex pratemis, Bechstein. A common summer migrant, arriving in April and leaving in September, but a few young birds occasionally stay later. 1 60. Spotted Crake. Porzana maruetta (Leach) Occurs not infrequently in the lower part of the Trent valley but is a rare visitor to other parts of the county (Nat. Hist, of Tut- bury, p. 55). The Garner MS. mentions Burslem and Stone ; others have been recorded from Fauld (1841), Handsworth (3 Nov. 1890) and Morredge (1891). Lea Head near Maer, 1881 (Report North Staffs Field Club, 1894, p. 52). [Little Crake. Porzana parva (Scopoli) In Sainter's addenda (p. 147) but without any details.] 161. Water-Rail. Rallus aquaticus, Linn. Not uncommon, but seldom seen. Said to have nested at Swythamley and certainly does so in the Dove valley. Usually met with by sportsmen in hard winters. 162. Moor-hen. Gallinula chloropus (Linn.) Common on all our rivers, lakes and pools, and semi-domesticated, feeding on lawns at Trentham, Draycot-in-the-Moors Rectory, Milwich Hall and other places. 163. Coot. Fulica atra, Linn. Frequent on large pools and meres but not so common as the moor-hen. 164. Little Bustard. Otis tetrax, Linn. One specimen shot at Birchfield 'many years ago ' is now in the collection at Aston Hall. Another was killed by a keeper about 1899 at Warslow and is now in the Calke Abbey collection. 165. Dotterel. Eudromias morinellus (Linn.) A rare spring and autumn visitor on migra- tion. ' Its line of migration appears to be 155
