A HISTORY OF LEICESTERSHIRE One was shot in 1902 by Mr. E. S. Pink on Thornton Reservoir, and is in the museum. Mr. O. Mumy-Dixon observed one on Swithland Reservoir 29 Nov. 1903, where it remained until i Feb., 1904. 144. Red-Breasted Merganser. Mergus serrator, Linn. Locally, Sawbill. A rare winter visitant. One shot on the pool at Coleorton Hall about 1860 was recorded by the late Dr. Macaulay (Mid. Nat. 1882, p. 79). It is pre- served in the collection of Sir G. Beaumont. 145. Smew. Mergus albellus, Linn. A rare winter visitant. Harley reported it as of occasional occurrence. The species occurred in the county during the severe weather of February and March, 1845, and was frequently met with in the society of scoters, pochards, and wigeon. He further added that it occurred at Groby Pool and also on the Trent. Mr. H. C. Woodcock of Rearsby showed me a fine male smew, in fully adult plumage, which he shot on the River Eye, in or near Wyfordby, in March, 1 846. At the same time he showed me a female, which the late David North had shot at Syston shortly afterwards. Mr. J. Whitaker of Rainworth Lodge, Mansfield, has an adult male, shot at Thornton Reservoir in 1877 (Zoo/. 1884, p. 52). Mr. A. Dalby of Castle Donington possesses a female specimen of this variety which he shot 6 Jan., 1894. 146. Ring-Dove or Wood-Pigeon. Columba palum- bus, Linn. Locally, Quest, Cushat. Resident, and generally distributed. In the crop of a wood-pigeon presented to the museum by Mr. J. S. Ellis on 3 Jan., 1882, sixty-one acorns were found. Mr. W. J. Horn writes in 1907: 'A pair return every year to breed in a chestnut tree in my garden, the old nest being utilized. The second clutch is laid in an adjoining chestnut tree.' 147. Stock-Dove. Columba oenas, Linn. Locally, Blue Rock (by error). Resident, but not so common as the wood-pigeon. Mr. Babington (Potter, op. cit. App. 68) wrote : ' Mr. Grundy has shot ' rock-doves ' at Bardon many years back, which he thought came from the Vale of Belvoir. This would probably not be C. fivia, but C. oenas, which is still common in Bradgate Park, as I learn from Bloxham.' Mr. H. L. Powys-Keck informed me that it is common at Cotesbach. I have seen it nesting in hollow trees at Knighton, whence two young birds were procured for the museum on 6 Sept., 1882. Mr. G. Frisby writes in 1905 : ' Immense flocks of these birds were all over the Charnwood Forest, after the acorns which were so abundant.' Mr. W. J. Horn writes in 1907 : ' Resident and breeding in the park, Market Har- borough, in tubs placed in trees. I have several times found the nest placed on old thrushes' nests and many times in rabbit burrows, as well as in holes in trees. In March, 1894, when driving from Hinckley to Market Harborough, I saw a flock of not less than three to four hundred stock-doves in one field of clover, and in another part of the same field quite as many ring-doves.' 148. Turtle Dove. Turtur communls, Selby. Locally, Wickin Dove. A summer visitant, sparingly distributed and remaining to breed. Harley remarked upon its comparative rarity in the county, and appeared to think it had not bred. In May, 1881, I saw a pair several times in the Rectory garden at Aylestone, and concluded from their actions that they had a nest in the vicinity. Since then I have seen single birds in various parts of the county, and have more than once heard the peculiar ' purring ' coo so characteristic of the species. Mr. Davenport found a nest in June, 1878, in a spinney near Tilton, and another at Ash- lands in June, 1884. Mr. G. H. Storer, who saw a pair near Arnesby in 1888, was informed that it bred there. Mr. W. J. Horn writes in 1907 : 'Not com- mon immediately around Market Harborough not sufficient arable land but I have seen as many as fifty in one ploughed field.' [Passenger Pigeon. Ectoplstes migratorius (Linn.). A very rare straggler from the Nearctic Region. The late Mr. Widdowson wrote : ' One killed in Scalford village street some years ago. The same year I saw accounts of several killed near Liverpool.' As there seems little doubt that the latter examples had escaped from confinement, it is highly probable that the Leicestershire specimen may have been one of the same company.] 149. Pallas's Sand -Grouse. Syrrhaptes paradoxus (Pallas). A very rare and irregular visitant, but unusually common in this county during 1888. The late Dr. Macaulay thought he saw a covey of these birds, whilst driving between Saddington and Mowsley, on 23 May, 1888, and Mr. G. H. Storer has communicated the following information : Whilst visiting Mr. F. F. How at Swithland, in June, 1888, he heard of cer- tain birds which had been seen in the neighbourhood and which, after careful inquiry, he felt convinced must have been Pallas's sand-grouse. On 3 June Mr. How was walking in a field belonging to Mr. Bates of Swithland when he saw a small covey of birds rise from a field of young barley. From the great length of wing and strength of the birds Mr. How judged them to be some kind of sea-bird allied to the terns, which might have strayed from Cropston, where such birds are not unfrequently seen. The birds flew over into fields belonging to Mr. Pepper. This covey was also seen by a wagoner to Mr. Bates, who said that on 5 June, whilst ploughing, a covey of twelve birds had alighted in the field and come within a few yards of him at his work without evincing the least alarm. They appeared to be searching for grubs or worms. He described them as of a light brown colour, with very long wings, feet feathered to the toes, and a black patch above the legs. On 6 June they appeared on Kinchley Hill Farm, belonging to Mr. Bates, near Buddon Wood, where they were fired at, and one was wounded, but not fatally. The covey flew away, and although a keen look-out was kept for it subse- quently, it never reappeared. The land on which all the observers noticed them lies between the village of Swithland and Buddon Wood, and although Mr. How and Mr. Storer carefully worked the whole district on 8 June their search was unsuccessful. From the 144
