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 A HISTORY OF LANCASHIRE some of the meres. Considerable numbers are annually taken in the decoy at Hale, now the only remaining one in Lancashire. 159. Pochard. Fuligula ferina (Linn.). A winter visitor, more numerous in some seasons than in others. 160. Ferruginous Duck. Fuligula nyroca (Gtll- denstadt). Locally, White-eye. None of the records of the occurrence of this duck in Lancashire are sufficiently authenticated. The same applies to that reported from near Runcorn on the Cheshire side of the Mersey. (Mitchell, Birds of Lancashire, ed. 2, p. 175.) 161. Tufted Duck. Fuligula cristata (Leach). A winter visitor, never very common, but apparently increasing in numbers. Although some pairs usually remain over the summer there are only a few records of this species breeding within the county. 162. Scaup Duck. Fuligula marila (Linn.). Locally, Bluebill, Cockle Duck. An annual winter visitor to our ofF-shore sandbanks and estuaries, where it is caught in vast numbers in the douker nets set by the Morecambe Bay fowlers. This very maritime species has been taken on our inland lakes (Win- dermere) and reservoirs (near Hyde Park Road Station, Manchester). 163. Goldeneye. Clangula glaucion (Linn). Locally, Mussel Cracker. An annual winter visitant. 164. Long-tailed Duck. Harelda glacialis (Linn.). This species has been recorded only three or four times from Lancashire, and always in winter. A female specimen was shot in the River Keer, in 1 90 1. 165. Eider Duck. Somateria mollissima (Linn.). A very rare winter visitant. 166. Common Scoter. (Edemia nigra (Linn.). Locally, Black Douker. The Common Scoter arrives in great flocks on migration in our larger estuaries and Morecambe Bay. It derives its local appellation from being the duck taken in largest numbers by the douker netters. 167. Velvet Scoter. (Edemia Jtisca (Linn.). An infrequent winter visitor to ofiF-shore sand- banks and to the larger estuaries ; occasionally it frequents the lakes and inland open waters. 168. Surf Scoter. (Edemia perspicillata (Linn.). A specimen shot by Mr. R. H. Thompson off the shore at Lytham, 9 December, 1882 {Zoologist, 1884, p. 29), is the only recorded occurrence of this species in the county. 169. Goosander. Mergus merganser, Linn. Ltcallf, Sparling-fisher (Leigh), Dun-diver (the female), Sparlin' Fowl (Willoughby), Gravel Duck. An occasional winter visitor in small flocks. 170. Red-breasted Merganser. Mergus serrator, Linn. A winter visitor in considerable numbers to the larger estuaries and Morecambe Bay, visiting also Lake Windermere. 171. Smew. Mergus albellus, Linn. A rare winter visitant during specially severe weather. 172. Ring-Dove or Wood-Pigeon. Columba palumbus, Linn. Locally, Cushat, Queeze. A widely distributed resident. 173. Stock-Dove. Columba osnas, Linn. A resident, common along the coast on the sand-dunes, among which it nests. Its numbers are increasing. It is met with occasionally inland. 174. Rock-Dove. Columba livia, ]. F.Gmdin, To the absence in Lancashire of rocks suitable for the nidification of this bird is due the rarity of its occurrence within the county. Mr. W. Farrer of Carnforth mentions that several breed yearly on Jackscar, between Carnforth and Silverdale. 175. Turtle-Dove. Turtur communis, Selby. A rare straggler in summer. 176. Pallas's Sand-Grouse. Syrrhaptes paradoxus, (Pallas). To two at least of those extraordinary irregular (and at present inexplicable) migratory move- ments, originating on the Asiatic steppes in special force in 1863-4 and 1888-9, during which hordes of this species travelled across Europe and reached its western shores, we are indebted for the inclusion of a considerable number of this beautiful species in the avifauna of Lancashire. During both these irruptions large flocks reached the British Isles, of which a portion appeared in the Island of Walney on 22 May, 1863, the day after their being observed in Northumberland. In 1888 a larger number of birds visited Lanca- shire, the earliest of them reaching Walney Island on 19 May. 177. Black Grouse. Tetrao tetrix, Linn. Locally, Black-cock. An introduced species, at one time fairly abundant on certain of the Fells and Dales, but now very rare if not exterminated. 178. Red Grouse. Lagopus scoticus (Latham). Resident and abundant on the upland moors, of Furness specially. 200