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 A HISTORY OF WORCESTERSHIRE shire, and the abandonment of the extensive growth of beans on which the geese fed, and which gave the name to the present species. It was to and from that locah'ty that the several kinds of grey geese made their annual autumn migration to and from the low-lying lands near the mouth of the Severn, as men- tioned by Yarrell. The present writer well remembers the large flights of geese of more than one species which annually passed over on their way westward or on their return eastward ; and an old inhabitant of South Littleton, whose diary contains many curious and interesting entries, made the following record relating to wild geese : — '1839, Nov. 9th. A flock of 200 wild geese fled over Littleton in a north-east direc- tion in 4 separate flocks about 20 yards apart : this was the biggest lot together I ever saw ; there had been many small flocks seen flying that way a few weeks before at diiferent times.' To that the writer added the following : — 'Additional note. The 3 Geese seen on the 1 6th of December were flying westward instead of towards the north-east as stated above.' Gaggles of geese are now very rarely seen travelling, but on December 15th, 1898, about fifty grey geese passed over Littleton in a north-east direction, and on the follow- ing day three similar birds were seen pursuing the same line. [23. Pink-footed Goose. An chus, Baillon. brachyrhyn- Like the last species, the pink-footed goose was formerly fairly common in the Severn district. The large gaggles of wild geese which were seen journeying westward about Michaelmas were either of this species, the bean-goose, or the white-fronted goose. The writer has examined individuals of all three which have been shot, and has satisfactorily determined the species. 124. Barnacle - Goose. Bernicla leucopsis (Bechstein). The barnacle is included by Hastings in his list of Worcestershire birds, but he does not give any indication of its frequency or locality. That it has, however, occasionally frequented the Avon the writer can from per- sonal observation aflirm. It must, however, be regarded as a rare bird in the county. 125. Brent Goose. Bernicla brenta {PzWss). This can only be mentioned as another irregular visitor to Worcestershire. It has never, like the grey geese, made periodical moves in large flights, but has appeared in an erratic manner, and generally singly, during the winter. 126. Whooper Swan. Cygnus musicus, Bech- stein. According to Sir Charles Hastings, the whooper has occurred in Worcestershire on several occasions, chiefly in the Severn and Teme, namely, at Powick Weir on the Teme in February, 1830 ; one in the Severn be- tween Severn Stoke Church and the Rhydd in the same month of that year ; and another at Diglis, also in the Severn, on February 11, but the year not mentioned. Lees says that it appears, though rarely in severe winters, in the Severn and Teme. The present writer has known a small flight of these fine birds frequent the Avon near Harvington for several days. That was in the winter of 1894—95. It does not seem that any attempt has ever been made to distinguish the swans that have been killed, they have all been assumed to be C. musicus although it is quite probable some were C. bewicki. 127. Common Sheld-Duck. Tadorna cornuta (S. G. Gmelin). The present species is essentially a coast or estuarine bird, and appears in our inland streams only occasionally. It breeds in con- siderable numbers in the Severn estuary where it is known as the ' Borrow duck.' All the Worcestershire specimens I have seen have been immature. It is mentioned by Hastings as a straggler. 128. Mallard or Wild Duck. Anas hoscas^ Linn. A resident bird which breeds wherever there are suitable and protected places. The head of a pollard withy tree is not infrequently chosen as a nesting-place. 129. Shoveler. Spatula clypeata (Linn.). A winter visitor, appearing on our streams very occasionally. I do not find any mention of it as a Worcestershire bird in Hastings, but Willis Bund includes it in the list of birds of our county, and Lees mentions one which was shot at Rosebery Rock on the Teme. It appears occasionally in the Avon. 130. Pintail. Dafila acuta (Linn.). This duck is mentioned by Hastings as of ' frequent occurrence in the winter season in our various rivers and pools,' a statement that does not by any means accord with my know- ledge of the species. I have found it to be of unusual appearance in our rivers.