Page:VCH Rutland 1.djvu/97

BIRDS 25. Dipper. Clrclus aquaticus, Bechstein. A very rare visitor. One was killed about 1880 at Empingham, a second about 1889 at Burley. It has also been said to occur at Thorpe by Water and elsewhere on the Wel- land. The sub-species C. melanogaiter has not been recorded. 26. Bearded Reedling. Panurus biarmicus (Linn.) Two males were shot at Burley Ponds on 18 January (1905), being the first birds of this species ever accredited to Rutland. The reed beds at Burley afford perhaps the only suitable spot in the county for the habitat of the species. 27. Long-tailed Tit. Acredu/a caudata {Linn.). Locally, Bumbarrel, Puddin' bag. Common. Sometimes seen in parties of twenty or more, and in autumn in company with the other tits, tree-creepers, and goldcrest. The nest is built early, and I have found one ready for occupation on 5 March (1897) and 17 March (1896). 28. Great Tit. Parus major^ Linn. Locally, Oxeye. Abundant, perhaps more so than fifty years ago. This species is no doubt migratory to some extent. Nesting does not begin till late in April. A pair built several years running in a letter box at Exton Park. 29. Coal-Tit. Parus ater, Linn. Locally, Blackcap, Tomtit. Fairly common and more numerous near human habitations than in the woods, where its place is taken by the next species. Mr. J. G. Thring reports having seen a specimen of the European Parus ater, of which the English coal-tit is considered by some to be a sub- species, at Farleigh, Uppingham, in February 1904. 30. Marsh-Tit. Parus palmtris, Linn. This species is perhaps about as common as the preceding, and, though like it, is neater and more attractive in its appearance. It is said to peck out a new nest for itself every season, and to remove the chips from beneath the tree. A supposed sub-species of the Parus palustris, the so-called willow-tit, has not been identified as yet in Rutland. 31. Blue-Tit. Parus caeruleuSy Linn. The commonest of the tits. Not a favourite with gardeners. It has been known to place its nest inside a discarded nest of the black- bird. 32. Nuthatch. S'ltta caesia. Wolf. Locally, Jar-bird. Nowhere abundant in the county, except perhaps at Burley, Exton, and Ketton. Near Uppingham it is now almost non-existent, though a nest was found at Wardley Wood in 1 87 1, a pair frequented the churchyard at Uppingham in 1885, and there was a nest high up in an elm tree at Ayston (since cut down) in 1898. It has been reported also from Lyndon, Oakham, Edith Weston, Em- pingham, Normanton, Stretton, Glaston, and Caldecott. A pair at Lyndon were evicted from their nest by woodpeckers and their eggs thrown out. 33. Wren. Troglodytes parvulus, K.och. Very common everywhere. This species may be heard singing in every month of the year. A clutch of seven eggs has been re- corded three times. 34. Tree-Creeper. Certhia famlliarls, Linn. Resident and fairly common, but not close to human dwellings. It has a curious habit of associating with tits in the search for food, and I once saw six engaged on a combined picnic of this sort in Wardley Wood, and one of these perched upon a branch. At Ex- ton Park a nest with five eggs was found be- tween a window and the shutter. 35. Pied Wagtail. Motacilla lugubris, Tem- minck. Locally, Dishwasher, Nanny Wagtail. Common in the summer, but during severe weather only a small remnant stay behind wherever a little running water may be found. The migrants return in February. The cuckoo has a partiality for the nest of this species, and a wagtail's nest had a young cuckoo in it as late as 2 July (1901). On one occa- sion a second cuckoo's egg was laid in the same nest, from which an egg of the same species had been taken two days earlier. 36. White Wagtail. Motacilla alba, Linn. Has been reported from Exton by Lord Gainsborough, and from the Welland valley by Mr. W. J. Horn. It is no doubt fairly frequent, and perhaps breeds in the county. As it seems to interbreed freely with the pied wagtail {M. lugubris), it may be doubted whether it is really a distinct species. 37. Gray Wagtail. Motacilla melanope,Yd.z.s. A winter visitor arriving in September and sparingly distributed over the county. The great majority depart in April, but a few remain