Page:VCH Buckinghamshire 1.djvu/195

Rh Great Marlow on April 10, 1895. It has also once occurred on the reservoir near Tring in October 1886.

187. Common Tern. Sterna fluvia tilis, Naumann.

The sea swallow, as it is generally called, is a frequent visitor to all larger pieces of water and streams throughout the county.

188. Arctic Tern. Sterna macrura, Naumann.

According to Clark Kennedy this tern has several times been observed and obtained in the county: river Thames, Marsworth and Wilstone reservoirs.

189. Little Tern. Sterna minuta, Linn.

An irregular and somewhat rare summer visitor, appearing mostly in small flocks on the Thames and larger reservoirs of the county during the autumnal migration period or in late summer. The terns are mostly called ' sea swallows.'

190. Black-headed or Brown-headed Gull. Larus ridibundus, Linn.

The commonest of all Laridæ, passing through in small numbers during the migration periods, and also seen sometimes in the late summer as well as in winter on the Thames, on reservoirs and streams.

191. Common Gull. Larus canus, Linn.

Certainly less numerous than Larus ridibundus, being a sea bird which does not breed inland, but is nevertheless often observed on the larger inland waters of the county (Thames, Chesham, Wycombe Rye, Halton reservoirs).

192. Herring-Gull. Larus argentatus, Gmelin.

This bird appears accidentally, mostly in severe weather, on the larger waters of the county.

193. Lesser Black-backed Gull. Larus fuscus, Linn,

An irregular visitor to the Tring reservoirs, therefore doubtless occasionally occurring in Buckinghamshire.

194. Great Black-backed Gull. Larus marinus, Linn.

Probably now and then occurring in Buckinghamshire, as it has been identified on the Tring reservoirs by W. Rothschild and the keeper, when visiting pinioned specimens of the same species.

195. Kittiwake. Rissa tridactyla (Linn.).

On January 11, 1830, a kittiwake was killed near Dinton Hall. According to Clark Kennedy, it occurs sometimes on the Thames and has been shot near Chesham.

196. Pomatorhine Skua. Stercorarius pomatorhinus (Temminck).

The only records we know of are those given in Clark Kennedy's book, viz.: ' I was informed by Mr. Gardner, of Oxford Street, that a skua of this species was sent to them for preservation by a gentleman resident in Buckinghamshire, on whose estate it was procured. The precise date, or further particulars, I was unable to ascertain. A second was taken some years since near Crendon; and Mr. Burgess told me of a third which was shot at Chesham, in November or December, 1859. The last is in the collection of Mr. Lowndes.'

197. Guillemot. Uria troile (Linn.).

According to Kennedy a male was caught in the river at Fenny Stratford on November 13, 1852, and another was seen near Simpson, in Buckinghamshire, on November 14, 1852.

198. Little Auk. Mergulus alle (Linn.).

We have two Buckinghamshire records. A single specimen was taken in 1841 'on one of the large pieces of water near Drayton Beauchamp' (fide Rev. B. Burgess in Kennedy, p. 212). Mr. Thos. Marshall (Standard, December 21, 1901) says that he knows of one obtained in Bulstrode Park, Bucks.

199. Puffin. Fratercula arctica (Linn.).

According to information from Mr. Heneage Cocks a puffin was caught after the great gale in October 1881, near Aylesbury.

200. Great Northern Diver. Colymbus glacialis, Linn.

Occurring occasionally on the larger waters of the county. An adult bird was found by William Saunders of Ford on December 3, 1774 (Dinton Hall MS. and picture). A ' young one ' (?) was obtained alive at Chequers Court near Risborough on May 9, 1850. Mr. W. B. Bolting (Field, xxvi. 426) records having bought one in December 1865, which was shot on the Thames; and a Mr. Lamb shot one at Maidenhead in 1794. It has also occurred two or three times on the Tring reservoirs.

201. Red-throated Diver. Colymbus septentrionalis, Linn.

According to Clark Kennedy, they used to be obtained on the Thames near Eton and Windsor and one was procured near Burnham.