Page:VCH Cornwall 1.djvu/392

 A HISTORY OF CORNWALL been seen at irregular intervals throughout the whole county near the sea coast. Recorded for Scilly about half-a-dozen times in autumn and winter. An adult male, with well-developed occipital crest, was obtained there 7 June, 1850. 159. Grey Lag-Goose. Anser cinereus, Meyer. A casual winter visitor to the west, single specimens of which were obtained at Marazion in March, 1862, at HayleinNovember,i875,atFalmouth in MarchjlSgo, between Marazion and Penzance in the nineties, at Glendurgan, Falmouth, in December, 1 90 1 ; thrice ob- tained at Scilly, namely, November, 1863, October, 1870, and two in October, 1885. 1 60. White-fronted Goose. Anser albifrons (Scopoli). An occasional winter visitor in the west, and at long intervals at Looe ; sometimes fairly common in severe weather. Two gaggles visited Tresco in October, 1854, three out of the second gaggle being shot by Pechell. Other records from Tresco are October, 1879, October, 1880, and during the winter 1890-1. 161. Bean Goose. Anser segetum (J. F. Gmelin). A winter visitor, generally in evidence in severe weather, and often occurring in very large flocks both by the coast and inland. In the blizzard year (1890-1) great flocks were reported all over the county. Before a frost large flights are frequently seen at a great height in the air going westwards. None have been seen at the Lizard for some years. Has not been recorded from Scilly since the winter of 1890-1. 162. Bernacle Goose. Bernicla kucopsis (Bechstein). A not uncommon casual winter visitor, little parties appearing in hard weather between Fowey and Land's End, and occasionally inland and at Scilly. 163. Brent Goose. Bernicla brenta (Pallas). A winter visitor, not at all uncommon in the west, especially about Mount's Bay, where it often occurs in large flocks. During severe frost it keeps for the most part from half a mile to a mile out at sea. A bird in breeding plumage was shot by J. J. Hill, near Marazion, in May, 1897. The only recorded specimen for Scilly was obtained by Rodd, I October, 1860. [Two specimens of the Canadian Goose, Bernicla canadensis, have been shot at Falmouth, one in 1860, and the other in 1 87 1, and one at Scilly. An example of the Egyptian Goose, Chenalopex Aegyptiaca, was shot at Loe Pool in 1 849, and another at Scilly in the fifties; while a spur-winged goose, Plectropterus gambensis, was obtained at St. Germans in 1821. All three species were most likely escapes from captivity.] 164. Whooper Swan. Cygnus musicus, Bechstein. A casual winter visitor in small flocks after long- continued frosts ; frequently reported from Scilly and the west, and once from Bude ; several flocks observed from Truro westwards in 1890-1, and nine birds seen near Hayle early in February, 1895. The last appearance at Scilly was in January, 1895. 165. Bewick's Swan. Cygnus Bewikii, Yarrell. A casual visitor in severe winters ; not recorded on the mainland since the winter of 1890-1. A flock of twelve appeared on the ponds at Tresco, Scilly, Christmas 1890, of which four were shot, and another flock of ten occurred in the winter of 1895-6. 1 66. Mute Swan. Cygnus olor (J. F. Gmelin). One shot at Caspar Pool, Crowdy Marsh, in 1864, and several at Scilly in the winter of 1870-1. 167. Sheld Duck. Tadorna cornuta (S. G. Gmelin). Locally, Burrow Duck. Resident ; breeding regularly and in increasing numbers at the mouth of the Camel ; a frequent casual in hard weather in the middle and west of the county, including the Lizard ; has occurred once at Saltash. Eight seen by Rodd on Tresco Pool in 1864, and one shot there in 1876. 1 68. Ruddy Sheldrake. Tadorna casarca (Linn.). One shot on Helford river in 1892, the year of the great invasion. 169. Wild Duck or Mallard. Anas boscas, Linn. Resident ; breeding in small numbers in suitable localities throughout the county from Scilly to the Tamar ; usually abundant as a winter visitor, and in hard winters immense numbers may be seen in the west. In 1903 nests were found on Samson, at Por- thellick, St. Mary's, and on St. Helen's, Scilly. 170. Gadwall. Anas strepera (Linn.). A casual winter visitor of which at least six examples have been procured in the county: one at Treng- wainton Ponds, one at Gyllyngvase, one at St. Austell in 1864, one at King Harry Passage during the severe frost of 1881, one at Scilly I January, 1900, and one near Bodmin in January, 1905. 171. Shoveler. Spatula dyptata (Linn.). A winter visitor, of late years at times the common- est duck on the Land's End pools, but as a rule sparsely scattered through the rest of the county ; frequently shot at Scilly. 172. Pintail. Dafila acuta (Linn.). Locally, Sea pheasant. An irregular but frequent winter visitor from Helford river westwards ; seen in the middle and east of the county only in very severe weather. In the winter of 1853 a farmer fired both barrels of a heavy duck-gun into a large flock on the Helford river, and killed thirty-seven pintail and one wigeon. Occurs only occasionally at Scilly and for the most part in severe weather. 173. Teal. Nettion crecca (Linn.). Resident; breeding in small numbers on the Bodmin Moors, the Goss Moors, and on rare occasions further west ; tolerably plentiful in autumn and winter in suitable localities ; seen at Scilly every autumn and winter and at times very common. [The North American Summer-Duck, Aix sponsa, was shot near Paul in 1896, and is in the possession of Haytor, the innkeeper at Gulval.] 174. Garganey. Querquedula circia (Linn.). Locally, Summer Teal. An irregular bird of passage in spring, not in- frequent in the Penzance, Lizard, and Falmouth districts ; rarely obtained elsewhere in the county ; has occurred three times at Scilly, namely 29 March, 1 88 1, March, 1883, and Christmas, 1900. 340