Page:The New Forest - its history and its scenery.djvu/338

 Ill.) Not uncommon. My friend, Mr. Tanner, has killed both male and female in summer plumage.

. (Hæmatopus ostralegus, Lin.) By no means uncommon.

. (Ardea purpurea, Lin.) One or two specimens have occasionally been shot.

. (Ardea garzetta, Lin.) Mr. Rake informs me that one was said to have been shot some years ago at Hale, on the borders of the Forest. Yarrell mentions another (vol.ii., p. 554) killed, in 1822, on the Stour near Christchurch.

. (Ardea ralloides, Scop.) A solitary specimen, shot a few years ago at Christchurch Harbour, is now in Lord Malmesbury's collection. See Eyton's Rarer British Birds, p. 100, where Dewhurst must probably be a misprint for Christchurch.

. (Ardea minuta, Lin.) Mr. Hart, to whom I am under so many obligations for notices of our stragglers, informs me that a fine male bird was shot, April, 26, 1862, on the borders of the Forest, at Heron Court, by one of Lord Malmesbury's keepers.

. (Nycticorax ardeola, Tem.) Mr. Hart has occasionally received a specimen.

. (Ibis falcinellus, Tem.) Mr. Hart killed a young pair in a meadow near Christchurch Harbour in September, 1859.

. (Numenius phæopus, Lath.) Not so very uncommon during the late autumn and winter mouths along the harbours of the coast.

. (Totanus fuscus, Leisl.) On the authority of Mr. Hart, who has killed it in Christchurch Harbour.

. (Recurvirostra avocetta, Lin.) Mr. Rake informs me of a specimen shot at Exbury, Dec. 1858.

, (Limosa melanura, Leisl.) Mr. Hart received one in the spring of 1860, and a fine specimen was killed by one of the Forest keepers, some twenty years ago, on Ocknell pond. Hawker, who well knew the sea-coast of the New Forest, mentions large flocks of "grey godwits" off Keyhaven, May, 1842. but he does not distinguish between this and the next species.

. (Limosa rufa, Briss.) Mr. Hart had two pair brought to him from the Mudeford Marsh, in the summer of 1861.

. (Machetes pugnax, Cuv.) A specimen is now and then killed.

. (Scolopax major, Gmel.) Generally one or two may be seen in the Forest every winter. Mr. Cooper, the Forest keeper, to whom I have previously referred, tells me that during the last twenty years he has shot some six or seven specimens, and has seen as many more killed.

. (Scolopax Sabini, Vigors.) See Common Snipe (Scolopax gallinago), in the list of residents, p. 309.

. (Tringa subarquata. Tem.)

. (Tringa minuta, Leisl.) Like the preceding, not so very unfrequent along the coast.

. (Tringa maritima, Brün.) Occasionally seen in Christchurch Harbour.

. (Gallinula porzana, Lath.) Has been seen both in winter and summer; and I should not be surprised to hear of its breeding.

. (Gallinula Baillonii, Tem.) A female was shot near Linwood, in the Forest, Nov., 1860.

. (Phalaropus platyrhyncus, Tem.) Mr. Rake informs me that several specimens were killed on the Avon in the severe winter of 1855-6, and again in 1860-1. Mr. Tanner has a pair in his collection, shot in the mouth of Christchurch Harbour in summer plumage. 316