BIRDS i8i. Wigeon. Mareca penelope {h n.) The wigeon arrives in numbers about the end of September, and the main flocks con- tinue to add to their numbers throughout the winter. By the end of March most of them have departed to the breeding grounds. The wigeon in a wild state st.iyed and bred on one of the Hammer Ponds at Coolhurst during 1853—4 (Borrer). Of late years pinioned birds have bred at Leonardslee and South Lodge near Horsham. 182. Red-crested Pochard. Netta rufina (Pallas). A rare winter visitor. There are two specimens, an adult and an immature male, in the late Mr. Borrer's collection, evidently recently killed and stuffed from the flesh. They are probably Sussex specimens killed since Mr. Borrer wrote The Birds of Sussex, for there is no reference to the species in the pages of that work. 183. Common Pochard. Fuligula ferina (Linn.) The commonest of the diving ducks that visit us. The nest of the pochard has once been taken within the county, namely by Borrer at the Lower Mill pond at Bolney. 184. Ferruginous or White-Eyed Duck. Fuligula nyroca (Giildenstadt). A rare straggler. It has occurred twice in Sussex (Borrer). 185. Tufted Duck. FuHgu/a crlstata {Leach). A fairly common winter visitor. It has bred several times within the county and will doubtless increase in numbers as a resident. 186. Scaup-Duck. Fu/igu/<i mari/a (hinn.) This sea-frequenting species visits the coasts in some numbers every winter, its affec- tion for certain spots being due to the presence of mussel banks. It is plentiful about East- bourne in certain seasons. 187. Goldeneye. Clangula glaucion (Linn.) Small parties and single goldeneyes visit Sussex every winter. Most of these are im- mature, adult males being rare. 188. Long-tailed Duck. Harelda glacial'n (Linn.) A scarce winter visitor. Nearly all the long-tailed ducks that visit the British Islands south of the Firth of Tay are immatures. There seems to be a sharp line of limitation fixed by the birds themselves at this estuary I have named, and where I have seen hundreds of adults nearly every winter. Seven miles south in St. Andrews Bay hardly an adult is to be seen, whilst in the Forth only imma- tures are noticed, and so on right down the east and west coast of England. 189. Eider Duck. Somaterla moUhsima (Linn.) A regular winter visitor in small numbers. 190. Common Scoter. CEdemia nigra {Linn.) A regular winter visitor in large numbers to the Channel. I have noticed that single birds can be observed in almost every month in the year. This is somewhat curious, as these birds are as often adult as otherwise. I have noticed the same disposition to remain through the summer in the case of the velvet- scoter. 191. Velvet-Scoter. (Edemia fusca (Linn.) A somewhat scarce and local species ap- pearing in small flocks in winter. A regular visitor to Rye and St. Leonards, where in some seasons it is almost as often seen as the common scoter. 192. Goosander. Mergus merganser, Linn. A scarce winter visitor generally found on inland lakes. M( rga Mt rgus 193. Red-breasted rator, Linn. More common than the last species and preferring tidal waters. 194. Smew. Mergus albellus, Linn. A regular visitor, being common in severe winters. Adult males are scarce, females and young males being the most numerous. 195. Hooded Merganser. Mergus eucullatus (Linn.) Mr. J. E. Harting informs me that there was a bird of this species in the collection of Sir A. Biddulph, which was said to have been killed at Burton Park. 196. Wood-Pigeon. Columba palumbus,L n. Immense flights of wood-pigeons visit us succeeding a heavy acorn or beech mast year. These great flocks, which as it were settle down on a particular district and 'eat it out,' are always composed of migratory birds which arrive in November. As a resident the species is also abundant. 197. Stock-Dove. Columba cenas, Linn. Though less numerous than the wood- pigeon the stock-dove is nevertheless abundant as a resident, and evidently their number is fast increasing. 289 37
