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A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE 158. Ringed Plover. /Egialitis biaticula (Linn.) An uncertain straggler appearing sometimes in the winter. Mr. T. Ground of Birming- ham has a note of one at Haywood near that city. It has also occurred not uncommonly at Sutton Coldfield. 159. Golden Plover. Charadrius p/uvialis, Linn. A winter visitor to the county, and not uncommon, usually associating with lapwings. 1 60. Lapwing. Vanellus vu/garis, Bechstein. A common resident and breeding in many localities. [Turnstone. Strepsilas interpret (Linn.) ' Very rare.' Chase.] 161. Oyster-Catcher. Htematopus ostra/egus, Linn. A rare straggler which has appeared in many parts of the county. Mr. T. Ground has a note of one which was found in Broad Street, Birmingham, on 30 January, 1877. 162. Grey Phalarope. Phalaropus fu/icarins (Linn.) An uncertain visitor in winter, but in some seasons not very rare. It appeared in several localities in 1844, 1853, J ^57 all( l 1886. 163. Red-necked Phalarope. Phalaropus hyper- boreus (Linn.) ' Has occurred once at Tamworth.' Chase. 164. Woodcock. Scolopax rusticu/a, Linn. Common throughout winter in many places, and has bred in the woods near Alcester. 165. Great Snipe. Gallinago major (Gmelin) According to Mr. Chase the great snipe has once occurred near Tamworth. It is also mentioned by Mr. Steele Elliott as having appeared at Sutton Coldfield in January, 1892, and November, 1894. 1 66. Common Snipe. Gallinago caelest'n (Fren- zel) In the early part of the last century the snipe was abundant in many localities in the county. Snitterfield is said to have taken its name from the plentifulness of this bird in that neighbourhood. It is reported to have bred, though only sparingly, in the north of the county. 167. Jack Snipe. Gallinago gallinula (Linn.) A common though not very abundant winter visitor. 1 68. Dunlin. Tringa alpina, Linn. A very rare straggler inland. A few in- dividuals have been met with in the valley of the Avon, and one is recorded as occurring at Small Heath near Birmingham. One which was shot on the Arrow near Alcester has the feathers of the back margined by rich chest- nut, and the under parts partially spotted with black, as in the breeding season, but I have not the date of its appearance. 169. Ruff. Machetes pugnax (Linn.) According to Mr. Chase this bird has once appeared at Sutton Coldfield. 170. Bartram's Sandpiper. Bartramia longi- cauda (Bechstein) The first known example of this as a British bird was shot by the late Lord Wil- loughby de Broke on his estate at Compton Verney, Warwickshire, on 31 October, 1851. It was no doubt a passage bird which had alighted in the middle of a stubble field and permitted a near approach, as the writer was informed by Lord Willoughby himself. Com- pared with preserved skins from the United States, the Warwickshire specimen is paler in colour and the dark markings less distinct. 171. Common Sandpiper. Totanus hypoleucus (Linn.) A regular spring migrant appearing on our streams for a short time only, and not known to breed. In the autumn there is another appearance, consisting chiefly of young birds. 172. Wood - Sandpiper. Totanus glareola (Gmelin) Very rare. Mr. Chase records its appear- ance at the sewage farm near Birmingham. 173. Green Sandpiper. Totanus ochropus (Linn.) Has occurred in many localities in the county, but must be reported as rare. It seems to frequent pools or any other retired place, rather than navigable streams or canals. 174. Redshank. Totanus calidrh (Linn.) The redshank is reported by Mr. Chase to have appeared at the sewage farm near Bir- mingham. 175. Greenshank. Totanus canescens (Gmelin) A specimen in the writer's collection was shot out of a flock passing over the estate of Mr. J. R. West at Alscot near Stratford-on-Avon on 26 August, 1847. Mr. Chase mentions Castle Bromwich as a locality where it has occurred. 204