A HISTORY OF RUTLAND remain to breed in suitable localities, such as Burley and Seaton, where a nest with tour eggs was found at the end of May 1 90 1 . As many as ten have been flushed at one rise on Burgess's Pond at Ridlington. A white speci- men was shot at North LufFenham in 1820, and the melanic variety, known as Sabine's snipe, was seen several times in February 1902 at Caldecott Mill. 166. Jack Snipe. Gallinago ga/Iinula (Linn.). Locally, Judcock. To be found in small numbers wherever the common snipe is found. As many as seven have been killed in one day at Burley Ponds. They arrive in September, and depart in March. 167. Dunlin. Tr'inga alplna, Linn. Reported from Tixover by A. C. Elliot be- .•fore 1883. Seen in flocks near Seaton Viaduct by Mr. J. M. Mitchell during the hard win- ter of 1870-I. Three or four birds stated to be little stints, but which appear to have been dunlin, were shot by the Welland on 15 Oc- tober 1902. They were like snipe, but only about half the size. Some were grey on the back. 168. Little Stint. Tringa minuta, Leisler. One killed at Tixover on 25 December 1870, another at Tinwell on 6 November 1880, and a third about 1887 near Seaton. Several others are mentioned by A. C. Elliot as killed on the Welland. 169. Knot. Tringa canutus, Linn. Mentioned by A. C. Elliot in his list of Rutland Birds. 170. Sanderling. Caltdr'ts arenaria (LAnn.). One instance. A specimen killed at Tix- over was set up by A. E. Elliot before 1883. 171. Sandpiper. Totanus hypo/eucus {Linn.). Locally, Summer Snipe. A regular visitor on passage, and not un- common in certain localities. It has been seen in every month from March till October, and no doubt a few pairs nest regularly. A nest with two eggs was taken in 1872 at Caldecott, and one with four eggs was found on the Eye by the Rev. W. H. Parry on 26 May 1906. It has been seen in the breed- ing season at Burley Ponds, Barrowden, Emp- ingham, Normanton, Edith Weston, and Seaton. A. C. Elliot records one at Ketton on 28 January 1881. 172. Green Sandpiper. lotanus ochropus (Linn.). A regular visitor in autumn and spring, but also sometimes remaining all the winter. Has occurred as early as I August (1900), and as late as 21 April (1900), when one was seen at Empingham. One was shot ' in the summer ' of 1 887 at Oakham, and a specimen was seen at Burley Ponds in May 1905. 173. Wood-Sandpiper. Totanm glareola (J. F. Gmelin). One was killed at Exton Ponds about 1897, and is now in Lord Gainsborough's collec- tion. 174. Redshank. Totanus ca/ldris (Linn.). The latest species to become a breeder in Rutland. There is no record of it before 1890. In 1893 a nest with three eggs was found near Seaton. In 1897 one was killed at Exton. In May 1901 ten pairs were seen at Seaton, and at least three pairs remained to breed. A nest with four eggs was found there on i June and the birds were seen there again the two following years. They have also nested at Tixover and elsewhere along the Welland. In 1904 they were observed at Exton on 24 March, and the following year at Burley, and no doubt nested at both places. On 17 May 1906 a nest with four eggs was found at Seaton. This is a most satisfactorv instance of increase and spread of a delightful species. 175. Greenshank. Totanus canescens (J. F. Gmelin). Fairly common at Burley and Exton, and has occurred at Clipsham. Two or three have been killed at Burley and Exton. 176. Bar-tailed Godwit. Limosa lappomca (Linn.). A pair of birds, frequently seen in the early summer of 1894 by Mr. S. Haslam and my- self on the Eye, belonged, I believe, to this species. 177. Curlew. Numenius arquata (Linn.). One was shot in 1858 at Thorpe by Water ; a second at Seaton before 1883. In 1886 one was seen on 13 February flying over Thorpe, and an injured one was caught at Morcott in 1895. Five were seen flying over Uppingham on 23 May 190 1, and one in the winter of that year near Barrowden. In 1900 one was shot at Empingham, and a pair were seen by two observers on the bed of the Normanton Pond, then dry, at the very unusual date of 5 and 6 June (1905). 74
