ANATIDAE—SWANS. 199
three pounds was shot in the third week of January, and Mr. Smee says he approached
within 120 yards of one in Hadleigh Ray, just after daybreak on the morning of
Feb. 15th. It is recorded (Chelmsford Chronicle, Jan. 31) that on the 28th of Jan.,
1879, " A group of these birds, twenty-three in number, were about the river, and
after having been fired at took their departure. Several have since been seen
close in-shore." On the 20th, one was " captured alive after being slightly
wounded in the wing, and was afterwards sold to Dr. J. H. Salter." Mr. Fitch
says that, in the same year, " twelve lit close by the high-road at South House,
Maldon, and I believe four were bagged. I heard the shots fired."
Bewick's Swan : Cygnus bewicki. Locally, " Little Swan."
A not uncommon winter visitor to our coast, especially during
long spells of severe weather, and occasionally met with inland.
In the Collection at Audley End is a specimen killed there in 1841. King,
writing in 1838, at Sudbury, says (20) :—
" Last winter one was shot on the Stour about three miles east of the town.
It was a beautiful specimen and the first I had ever seen ; but I was unsuccessful
in my endeavours to obtain it. * * * I subsequently obtained another specimen of
this bird, also shot on the river."
Dr. Bree records one (29) shot at Alresford Creek in the winter of 1880-81,
and now in the collection of Mr. Jas. Round, M.P. Mr. A. H. Smee says (34.
2552) that during the severe weather in Jan. and Feb., 1871, several flocks of
Swans were seen round the mouth of the Thames. " Twenty-six were seen in
one flock by the Nore Light-ship. Another flock of ten was seen on the mud-flats
opposite Leigh. The fishermen called them ' Little Swans,' evidently meaning
Bewick's." Two which were shot off Leigh on Jan. 24th and Feb. 13th respec-
tively, both weighed thirteen pounds. Mr. Hope remarks that both this species
and the Whooper are " not uncommon in winter." He adds : " I have seen them
going south in November and north again about April 7th. Dr. Laver describes
it as rare in the Colchester and Paglesham districts, but more frequent in both
than the Whooper.
Sheldrake: Tadorna cornuta. Locally, " Bargander," or
" Bar-goose."
A resident on our coast, though not common, and certainly
decreasing. Without doubt it used to breed much more commonly
than at present.
Merrett says (1. 179) : " Chenalopex vulpanser, a Bergander, nusquam alias
vidi nisi in Thamisi fluvio aiunt tamen Esse frequentem in insula Tenia (Thanet)
vocata et illic in scrobibus cuniculorum nidulari." Albin says (3. 190) : "They
are found about several lakes and rivers near the sea-coast of England and Wales,
but chiefly in Lancashire and Essex." Donovan also, apparently quoting Albin,
says (5. iii. Pl. lxxi) : " It is found in vast quantities on several of our sea-coasts,
and particularly about the rivers and lakes in Lancashire and Essex, where it finds
an abundance of small fish, marine insects, &c." Dale, in 1730, says (2, 405) :
" This I have seen at Braintree, brought from these parts [Harwich], it being
very frequent on the east side of England." Mr. Kerry says it is now " very
common" round Harwich in some winters. He adds that a pair bred near
Walton-on-the-Naze in 1888, and again in 1889. Mr. W. H. Hill, in 1835, says
(12. viii. 574) it " is common, either in pairs or in flocks of about a dozen, in the
creeks and inlets of the River Crouch." In 1838, it was " not common" round