A HISTORY OF HEREFORDSHIRE 184. Common Curlew. Numenius arjuata (Linn.). Locally, Whaup. Occurs in the county principally in the breeding season. It nests on the Black Mountains and in the neighbourhood of Kington, also at Whitchurch, Shob- don, Aymestrey, and Wapley Camp (Radnorshire). It has been killed at Michaelchurch, Kimbolton, Madley, and in other parts of the county and is greatly on the increase during the breeding season. 185. Whimbrel. Numenius phoeopus (Linn.). Locally, Whimbrel Curlew, Curlew Jack, Curlew Knot, Half Curlew, Jack Curlew, Stone Curlew, Gang Whaup, May Bird. A very rare visitor. One was shot at Holme Lacey in 1880, and the specimen in the Hereford Museum was shot on the Lugg in 1 88 1. 186. Black Tern. Hydrochelidon nigra {Lmn.). Locally, Blue Dar, Car Swallow. A very rare spring visitor. A specimen was shot on the Mynde Pool in 1859, •'"'^ ^ female was killed on the large pool close to Lord Powis's resi- dence near Craven Arms in 1894, not far from the borders of the county. On 22 May, 190 1, one made its appearance at Whitbourne Court. It was seen flying over the moat, occasionally settling upon the stump of a tree jutting out over the water from an island. It stayed all day until late in the evening, when it flew away in an easterly direction. 187. Sandwich Tern. Sterna cantiaca, G. F. Gmelin. A specimen of this tern was picked up at Ross in 1886, probably an exhausted bird blown in by a storm. 188. Common Tern. S/ema Jluviatilif, Nauminn. Locally, Sea Swallow, Tarney or Pictarney, Tarrock, Pirr, GuUteazer, &c. An occasional visitor; has been observed in 1889 in the county (Home) ; one was shot near Hereford in November, 1893, and another at Preston on Wye in 1896. Ashdown says that every winter two or three specimens, generally immature, reached him from various parts of the county. A pair were killed on the Wye near Ross a few years ago, and were shot within a few days of each other, and are now in the possession of Mr. Blake. 189. Arctic Tern. Sterna macrura, Nnuminn. One of these wanderers from the sea was picked up dead on I June, 1903, at Stansbach in the parish of Staunton-on-Arrow. It was in perfect plumage, and had been seen two or three days previously flying about the neighbourhood. This is the only record of the occurrence of the bird in the county. 190. Little Tern. Sterna minuta, Linn. Locally, Lesser Tern, Lesser Sea Swallow. A rare visitor. One was shot at Marden in 1869 and another was killed by telegraph wires near Here- ford in 1876. 191. Sooty Tern. Sterna fiiRginosa, J. F. Gmelin. The only record of the occurrence of this rare visitor in the county is one killed at Marston near Pembridge in 1885. 146 192. Black-headed Gull. Larus ridibundus, Linn. Locally, Brown-headed Gull, Red-legged Gull, Red-legged Laughing Gull, Pewit Gull, Black- cap, Sea Crow, Hooded Mew. Occasionally visits the county from the sea-shore, where it is abundant. It has been killed in the county in 1876 and 1889. On 19 July, 1894, a flock followed the plough track at Eaton Bishop near Hereford, when one was killed for identification. Its head was black, or rather brown, being in its summer plumage. Ashdown also adds, it is occasionally for- warded during the winter season for preservation. 193. Common Gull. Larus Conus, Linn. Locally, Winter Mew, Sea Mew, Sea Mall, Maw Sea Gull, Sea Cob, Cob. Occurs often in the county, but it is less common than either the last-named or the kittiwake. Ashdown says that five or six of this species have been killed in the county during 1890-2, and two were sent him from Ross in January, 1892. 1 94. Lesser Black-backed Gull. Larus fuscut, Linn. Locally, Yellow-legged Gull. Occurs occasionally in the county. One was shot on the Lugg at Sutton in 1879 ; a pair visited the Wye between Rotherwas and Holme Lacey during the years 1886-8, and one was shot at Dinedor in 1892. Mr. de Winton says that in visiting the highest point of the Black Mountains on 17 June, 1897, he saw two adults and two last year's young on the ground. At this season the old birds should have been at their breeding-ground and the younger birds at the sea, and he did not know quite how to account for the presence of this species at that time of the year. 195. Great Black-backed Gull. Larus Marinus, Linn. Rarely visits Herefordshire, but has been seen there on several occasions. Mr. de Winton, in the late summer of 1 893, saw two very large gulls, presumably this species, at Graftonbury. They were flying in large circles and falling away with the wind. 1 96. Kittiwake. Rissa tridactyla (Linn.). Locally, Tarrock, Annet. By far the most numerous of the gulls seen in Herefordshire. Ashdown says he has purchased local specimens in almost every stage of plumage. It occurred at Eardisley in 1 866, at Vennwood in Decem- ber, 1887, and several were picked up dead in the county in 1879. 197. Pomatorhine Skua. Stercorarius pomatorhims (Temminck). The Hereford Museum specimen was trapped at Foxley on 8 August, 1882. At the end of October, 1902, one in immature plumage was picked up in an exhausted state at Marston, and was in the possession of the late Mr. Lloyd of Kington. 198. Arctic or Richardson's Skua. Stercorarius crepi- datus (J. F. Gmelin). Locally, Arctic Gull, Black-toed Gull. Has only been recorded three times in the county, one being shot at Staunton Park in Septem-
