A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE through Staffordshire by Cannock Chase and the hilly district in the south of the county ' (Birds of Staffordshire, p. 124). Ten were shot on Cannock Chase on 15 May 1875, two at Perry Barr in 1882, and one at Great Barr on 4 September 1887, and lastly one was shot by a keeper on the Weaver Hills in October 1895 (Report North Staffs Field Club, 1901). 1 66. Ringed Plover. Mgialitis hiaticula (Linn.) Has occurred several times on the Trent but is a very rare visitor to other parts of the county. Recorded by Garner from the Churnet and Cheddleton and at Madeley (1889). 167. Golden Plover. Charadrius pluvialis, Linn. Flocks occasionally visit us during the winter and early spring months. Garner records it from Uttoxeter and Stoke meadows (1843). Sir O. Mosley says considerable flocks are found occasionally in the meadows near Tut- bury after winter floods (Nat. Hist, of Tutbury, p. 52). Large numbers were seen at Draycot in 1884 ; one shot at Great Barr 2 January 1885; recorded from Cheadle in 1886 ; flocks at Cauldon, Endon and Draycot in hard weather, 1890-1, and a flock of about forty at Cheadle in March 1892 (Reports North Staffs Field Club}. [Grey Plover. Squatarola helvetica (Linn.) Included in Garner's appendix (1860) without details. In his MS. notes Mr. Hilton is given as his informant.] 1 68. Lapwing. Vanellui vulgaris, Bechstein. A common resident but partially migrant in severe weather. Diminishing in numbers owing to the persistent taking of the eggs for sale, thus depriving the farmer of one of his most useful friends. 169. Turnstone. Strepsilas interpret (Linn.) Mr. E. A. Brown states that this bird has occurred near Burton-on-Trent (Birds of Staffordshire, p. 125). 170. Oyster-Catcher. Heematopus ostralegus, Linn. A rare visitor. Garner and Sir O. Mosley say that it has occurred on the Trent, and the latter writer states that one was shot on the Dove on 10 September 1841 (Nat. Hist, of Tut bury, p. 53). In November 1883, two were seen at Wootton-under- Weaver, one of which was killed by a keeper and is now in his possession. One was picked up exhausted at Seabridge near Newcastle on 15 October 1902 (Report North Staffs Field Club, 1903). 171. Avocet. Recurvirostra avocetta, Linn. Professor Newton (Dictionary of Birds, p. 24) says : ' Plot mentions it so as to lead one to suppose that in his time (1686) it bred in Staffordshire. The actual words are, " Of whole footed waterfowl the Avocetta Italorum or Recurvirostra, is also found here as well as in the Eastern parts of Norfolk and Suffolk, there having been of them killed at the black lakes near Aqualet, eight of them being seen first in the morning and but six at night when they shot.' " It will be seen from the latter part of the passage that the evidence is not very conclusive. One was shot on the Dove near Scropton ' recently ' (Garner). 172. Grey Phalarope. Phalaropus fulicarius (Linn.) A rare visitor. Garner and the authors of the Natural History of Tutbury record it from near Uttoxeter and other localities in the district, and Mr. E. A. Brown says it has occurred near Burton. Others have been killed at Harborne (Oct. 1885), Handsworth (16 Oct. 1891) and Rowley Regis (20 Oct. 1891) (Birds of Staffordshire, p. 126). An adult female was shot on 4 October 1893, at Willenhall (Zoo/. 1894, p. 112). 173. Red-necked Phalarope. Phalaropus hyperboreus (Linn.) One specimen shot at Handsworth on 24 August 1887 (Birds of Staffordshire, p. 126). 174. Woodcock. Scolopax rusticula, Linn. A regular winter visitant, a fair number remaining to breed in the larger woods. In Garner's time it was noted as having bred at Betley, and more recently it has been recorded as breeding from Whitmore, Beaudesert, Needwood Forest, Marchington, Bishops' Wood near Cheadle, Ellastone, Stanton and Ham. Varieties of a light drab colour from Swythamley (1847) and cream colour (1871) are on record (Birds of Staffordshire, p. 127). 175. Great Snipe. Gallinago major (J. F. Gmelin) Garner marks this species as ' occasional,' and Mr. E. Brown (Fauna of Burton, p. 106) says two or three specimens have occurred in the district. 176. Common Snipe. Gallinago coelestis (Fren- zel) Fairly common, nesting regularly in the north of the county. Sometimes met with in turnip fields in autumn. 156
