BIRDS 155. Coot. Fulica atra, Linn. Resident, and, in summer, common at Burley and Exton. Also found in a few other localities, such as Normanton and Rid- lington, but not well distributed over Rutland. One was shot on the Welland on 23 Decem- ber 1 90 1. 156. Stone-Curlew. Oedicnemus scolopax (S. G. Gmelin). The last species lost to the breeding fauna of the county. As late as the middle of last century this bird was not uncommon in cer- tain localities, such as the high ground above Ketton and Aunby Heath. It continued to breed as late as 1880 on Ryhall Heath. The Rev. Robert Hurt, writing in 1880, said he had known of six or eight pairs breeding on the Heath during the previous fifteen or twenty years. The late Mr. R. Tryon re- membered seeing the bird on Barrowden Heath before it was inclosed. None have been recorded in Rutland for over twenty years. This bird, in spite of Bird Protection Acts, suffers shameful persecution at the hands of ornithologists, and it is within my know- ledge that a party of such scientific nest- robbers took in one locality in the eastern counties twenty nests (all there were) of this rare and interesting species. 157. Dotterel. Eudromlas morinellus {LAnn.). One instance. On 20 May 1905 Mr. W. J. Horn was fortunate enough to come across a ' trip ' of seven dotterel at Morcott. Three days later they had found their way to Rid- lington five or six miles westward, where they were seen by Mr. N. W. Wortley and myself on 24 May and again on 27 May, Soon after this they disappeared. 158. Ringed Plover. Aegiatilis hiaticula (Linn.). An immature specimen was shot in August, about 1889, at Burley, as it was dusting it- self in the road. It belongs to the smaller race of ringed plovers. Another was seen in the spring of 1906 at Burley. Two little plovers were killed near Seaton about 1883 which seem to belong to this species. They were about the size of snipe, with black back, white front, and white ring round the neck, and were called at the time by the bird-stuffer ' Russian plover.' 159. Golden Plover. Charadrius p/uvia/iSy Linn. Locally, Whistling Plover. A regular winter visitor, plentiful in the Welland valley and elsewhere. One appeared at Seaton in 1881 as early as 11 August, and Mr. W. J. Horn saw twenty-five, nearly all in breeding plumage, on Ryhall Heath on 12 April 1900. As many as 80 were seen at Exton in February 1900. 160. Grey Plover. Squatarola helvetica (Linn.). Two were shot near Barrowden in 1895 and were placed in the collection of the late Mr. Simson, of Spratton, Lincolnshire. 161. Lapwing. Vanellus vulgaris^ Bechstein. Resident and still plentiful. In severe weather, however, they migrate. They are very punctual in returning to their breeding haunts about 10 March. Flocks of a thousand have been reported from the Welland valley and Oakham. This species suffers in various ways. Its eggs are not protected until a late date in the year ; they are specially liable to being raided by rooks, jackdaws, and crows ; and as the eggs are often laid in ploughed fields before these are harrowed and rolled, numbers are destroyed. Finally, the bird itself falls a prey to the gunner. With all these disad- vantages it is not surprising if the lapwing is less abundant than it was, and than we could wish it to be. 162. Oyster-Catcher or Sea-Pie. Haematopus ostralegus, Linn. Three instances. A male bird was shot at Burley Ponds in January 1878 ; a second was killed at Thorpe by Water ; a third was obtained at Burley Ponds about 1886, and is probably the one now in the collection at Burley House. 163. Woodcock. Scolopax rusticola, Linn. Returns in October, and is sparingly distri- buted through the county. Of the two varie- ties the smaller, darker, and quicker kind are more numerous than the other. It breeds occasionally. 164. Great Snipe. Gallinago major (J, F. Gmelin). Locally, Double Snipe. Five instances of its occurrence are re- corded : at Belton in 1850; at Egleton in September 1877 ; at Oakham in October 1885 ; on Ashwell Canal; at Wing in 1895. 165. Common Snipe. Gallinago caelestis (Frenzel). Locally, Full Snipe. Abundant in winter, especially in the Wel- land valley. They arrive in August, and the majority depart in April ; but a certain number 73 »°
