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Studies THE NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE StaffordshireFIELD CLUB, TRANSACTIONS AND

A n n u a l R e p o r t

1936- 37. SampleEDITEDCounty BY H. V. THOMPSON, M.A.

Studies

VOL. LXXI.

Published by the North Staffordshire Field Club, Stoke-on-Trent.

STAFFORD: AM/ISON & BOWEN. Ltd . J 937-

COPYRIGHT. CONTENTS P age Council and Com mittees for 1936-37 ______4 StaffordshireAccounts ------7 Annual R eport 10 Congress of Arclueological Societies—Miss H. L. Tv. Garbett - 12 Anglo-American Conference of Historians—1'. Pape, M.A., P.S.A. 15

ADDRESSES AND PAPERS. Presidential Address—Miss M. S. Bickley, B.A. - 20 William Adams, 1736—1802—P. W. D. Adams, F.S.A. - 23 Dovedalc and Manifold Valley Properties of the National Trust —F. A. Holmes, F.R.G.S. ------26 In Memoriam, Revd. E. Deacon, B.A.—W. T. Boydon Ridge, B.Se. ______33 SampleREPORTS OF SECTIONS. A. Zoology.—B. Bryan ______County 35 B. Entomology.—H. W. Daltry, F.R.E.S. ----- 43 C. Botany.—W. T. Boydon Ridge, B.Sc. - 48 E. Geology.—F. W. Dennis, F.G.S. 49 P. Meteorology.—Graham C. Lawson, F.R. Met. Soc. - - 53 G Archioology and History.—G. J. V. Bemrose - - - 66

JOURNAL OF PROCEEDINGS. Field Meetings - Studies - 68 Evening Meetings ------77 List of Members ------81

APPENDIX. T. Smith.—The Birds of Staffordshire, Part VIII. (pages A213 to A248) PLATES. I. W illiam Adams, 1736-—1802 ----- to face 23 II. Dovedale—National Trust Properties - - - ,,26 III. The Grounds, Ilam Hall ------„ 28 IV. Wolfscote Dale: Hurts Wood and Hall Dale - „ 29 V. The Greek Temple, Hall Dale - - - - „ 3° VI. The Revd. E. Deacon, B.A. ----- „ 33 4

COUNCIL, FOR 1937-38. Elected March 19th, 1937.

StaffordshirePresident: P. C. D u t t o n .

Ex-President: Miss M. S. Bickley, B.A.

Life Vice-Presidents: F. Barke, F.G.S. A. T. Daniel, M.A.

Elected Vice-Presidents: (To retire in 1938) (To retire iu 1939) E. C. MyottSample, M.D. A. H untbach. G. J. V. Bkmrose. County F. M. Duncalf .

(To retire in 1940) A. H. J ohn, M.B., B.S. A. R. U. Saul.

Hon. Secretary : Hon. Treasurer : G. Bloore, U.R.I.B.A. W. T. Boydon RStudiesidge, B.Sc. Hon. Librarian : Hon. Editor: Mrs. A. H. J ohn, B.A. H. V. Thompson, M.A.

Chairmen of Sections: A. Zoology - - - B. Bryan B. Entomology - - H. W. Daltry, F.R.E.S. C. Botany - - - W. T. B o y d o n R id g e , B.Sc. D. Microscopy - - W. H ugill, M.Met., F.R.M.S. E. Geology - -- - F. W. Dennis, F.G.S. F. Meteorology - - G. C. Dawson, F.R.Met.Soc. G. Archaeology & History - G. J . V. B km r osk. H. Photography - - W. J . B. Blake. 5

Elected Members of the Council: (To retire in 1938). (To retire in 1939). J. A. A udley. R e v . E. A. E l l i o t , M.A. StaffordshireM is s J . B a l s il l ie , M .B. M rs. W. B. O ld a c r e . G. E. P hillimore. B. B. Simms. H. J. Steele. Mis s E . S. S t r o u d .

(To retire in 1940). A. W. Ashton, D.Sc. Mrs. T. C ra tg . M rs. A. E. Blizzard. J. W. M o x o n .

Committees eor 1937-38. Finance Committee:

T h e P r e s id e n t . T h e H o n . S e c r e t a r y . The Hon. Treasurer.Sample CountyH. V. T h o m p so n , M.A.

Library Committee : The President. Miss M. S. Bickley, B.A. The Hon. Librarian. A. H u n tb a c ii. The Hon. Secretary. G. E. Phillimore. G. J . V. Bemrose. W. T. Boydon Ridge,Studies B.Sc. H. V. T h o m p so n , M.A.

Staffordshire Collections Committee: The Hon. Secretary. P. C. D u t t o n . H. W. D a l t r y , E.R.E.S. W. T. Boydon Ridge, B.Sc. F. W. D e n n is , F.G.S. H. V. T h o m p so n , M.A.

Publication Committee:

T h e P r e s id e n t . M rs A. E. B liz z a r d . T h e H o n . E d it o r . H. W. D a l t r y , F.R.E.S. T h e H o n . S e c r e t a r y . A. H. J o h n , M.B., B.S. G. J. V. Bemrose. W. T. Boydon Ridge, B.Sc. 6

Hon. A uditor: Collector : H . C. Bladen. Miss P. W ells Bladen.

StaffordshireDelegate to the British Association :

A. S co tt, M.A., D.Sc., E.R.S.E.

Trustees: S. A. H . B u k n e , M.A. W. T. Boydon Ridge, B.Sc. H. V. Thompson, M.A.

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Studies StaffordshireANNUAL REPORT Read at the seventy-first annual meeting held at Stoke-on-Trent, Friday, March igtli, 1937. INANCE. The hon. treasurer’s report and financial F statement is better reading than it was last year, inasmuch as an adverse balance of £2 7s. 9d. has been converted into a credit balance of £12 10s. 8d. and there are credit balances in the Library and Trust accounts. M e e tin g s . The field meetings, numbering seven day and half-day, and two evening meetings, were well attended and all the places visited were without exception of great in­ terest to the members. The addressesSample at the fourCounty evening meetings have been upon very varied subjects. Most of the lectures have been exceedingly well illustrated and the subjects which were of exceptional interest created a lively discussion. The attendance at the evening meetings was not up to the average. Membership. This is now holding its own in numbers as last year’s figure of 455 is now equalled by a similar total. The individual figures are: New members, 31 Studies; deceased, 11 ; struck off, 7 ; resigned, 13. It is with deep regret the council has to record the death of the Rev. Ernest Deacon, past president and hon. editor, whose passing will be a great loss to the Club. Mr. E. S. .Stringer’s death has also to be recorded with regret; he will be remembered for his work 011 the Finance committee and as an old and keen member of the Club. Delegates. The Club is again indebted to Miss H. L. E. Garbett for her attendance and very excellent report of proceedings at the Congress of Archaeological Societies. Unfortunately, the Rev. S. J. Daltry was unable to attend this year owing to ill-health and for a similar reason Dr. A. Scott could not represent the Club at the Conference of Delegates of Corresponding Societies of the British Asso­ 1936-37- ANNUAL REPORT. II

ciation. The council also wishes to express its thanks to Mr. T. Pape for his able report upon the Anglo-American Con­ Staffordshireference of Historians. D altry Memorial Library. The library committee reports that there is a shortage of shelf room and recom­ mends that surplus unbound numbers of the Transactions and of miscellaneous literature should be weeded out and reduced. The council begs to acknowledge with thanks the following gifts to the Library :—A specially bound volume of his papers on Cheshire from Mr. W alter Smith, of Macclesfield ; a revised translation of the portion of Domesday book con­ cerning Staffordshire interleaved with the original by Dr. H. M. Eraser. Staffordshire Collections. The reception of a Bronze age urn at theSample Hanley museumCounty was reported. Reference was again made at the meeting of the Staffordshire Collections sub-committee to the need for better housing of exhibits and to the want of a new building. It is gratifying to hear that scholars now attend the Hanley museum for instruc­ tion in subjects which include natural history. A w a rd s . The council has awarded the Garner medal to Mr. H. W. Daltry, F.R.E.S., for his contributionsStudies to the entomology of North Staffordshire. G e n e r a l . A Staffordshire committee has been formed of the National Council for the Preservation of Rural England and the council of the Club has delegated Mr. S. A. H. Burne to represent them on it. CONGRESS OF ARCHEOLOGICAL SOCIETIES StaffordshireT will be a matter for regret to the whole Club that the I Rev. S. J. Daltry could not be present at the Congress of Archaeological vSocieties on November 17th 1936, or con­ tribute to our annual volume the liveliness of his report. The meeting was held as usual in the rooms of the Society of Antiquaries at Burlington House, the chairman being the president of that Society. After the reading of the report came the election of the council and Miss Mary Kitson Clark, Mr. Colin D. B. Ellis, Miss Kathleen Kenyon, Mr. Philip Laver, Mr. T. E. Morris and Mr. J. N. L. Myres were elected in place of the retiring members, Mr. E. Birley, Capt. Cun- ington, Sir Cyril Fox, Dr. Wilfred Jackson, Mr. R. S. Newall and Dr. R. E. M. Wheeler. The treasurerSample presented County his report, which showed that the finances of the Congress were in a satisfactory condition, the improvement in the balance being largely due to the collection of arrears. This had involved a large expenditure of time and, in order to avoid this in future, the treasurer proposed "that any affiliated Society which is in arrear for more than two years with its subscription or in payment for reports shall ipso jado cease to be a MemberStudies of the Con­ gress’’. The resolution was passed after some discussion, in the course of which it was pointed out that debtors were reminded of their obligation three times in the year and that special appeals were sent in some cases. The report of the Research committee followed. There had been fewer excavations than in 1935, as so many were drawn to the conference of Prehistoric Science at Oslo. Brief references were made to the chief sites explored, lead­ ing off with Maiden Castle, and it was specially noticeable how much work had been done in Ireland, where work in County Kerry, County Down, County Derry, Limerick and Belfast were mentioned. Comments were made on the researches at Leicester where part of the Old Jewry wall was proved to be of Roman origin, and on the work at Chester and at Wroxeter. The printed report, though full of interest, i 936-37- congress of archaeological societies. 1 3

reaches few of the members of the societies affiliated to the Congress, though the price is as small as 12s. per 100. Some societies took only twelve and the whole thing was sold at less than the cost of production. It was suggested that Staffordshiresocieties should send copies of the report out with their transactions, and this idea was generally approved. The report was approved. Mr. Iorwerth C. Peate, of the National Museum of Wales, opened a discussion on the collection and recording of Folk material. In a great many places the word ‘bygones’ was used for articles that had passed out of use, and the word ‘bygoings’ suggested by one of the listeners was just as bad. ‘Folk’ seemed the only possible word, though it was ad­ mittedly generally disliked, and at Cambridge “ The Old P'olks Museum ” was popularly used. According to the definition Mr. Peate adopted ‘folk material’ covered every activity of human life andSample he had classifiedCounty this subject under various heads, the first of which was domestic life ; section a of this dealt with the house, the fabric of the walls, roof and floors, and section b with dress and costume. Dress again might be (1) civil, (2) ecclesiastical, or (3) of the fighting ser­ vices. His next division dealt with corporate life and again, was divided into sections (a) civil (b) ecclesiastical and (c) dealing with the fighting services. ‘Transport’ Studies included all sorts of engines as well as vehicles and was necessarily an expansive section. With ‘education’ went superstitions of all sorts, cultural activities such as games and occupations. The very mention of such words as agriculture, brewing and pottery brought to mind a host of objects. The whole subject needed further consideration and the list could only be made complete by the use of further in­ formation such as that afforded by the use of dialect words in wills. It was pointed out that such a museum had been started at the one time Greyhound Inn at Cambridge. This was an old house and its character had been maintained so well that one day a man called and demanded half a pint of bitter ; PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS* StaffordshireSICILY. B y Miss M. S. B i c k l e y . VISIT to Sicily in January 1921 was the subject of the A presidential address for 1937. Miss Bickley first de­ scribed her journey from the coast of Italy to the coast of Sicily and said that the view of Messina was a most unin­ spiring one, all the buildings being in course of reconstruction following the disastrous earthquake. As they made their way southward, however, lemon groves full in fruit were seen, the first lemon harvest of the year just commencing. On arriving at a little seaport, a drive to Taormina, some 800 feet above sea level, had to be undertaken, and to drive was rather an ordeal in Sicily, as the Sicilian horses had very thin legs and their Sampleribs were extremelyCounty conspicuous. The journey provided ample compensation in the scenery. All the way to Taormina were intensely cultivated districts and the luxuriant green of the vegetation, the pink of the almond trees in full flower, the wealth of carnations and geraniums overhanging the walls of the gardens, Etna capped with gleaming snow emitting whiffs of smoke in the distance, and the blue sky above provided something which wasStudies beautiful beyond expression. Taormina was at one time part of the great Grecian empire and it had a fort in 600 B.C. Among its wonderful old buildings was a Gothic cathedral, an ancient Greek theatre (with a stage which had a view of Etna as a background), a Roman aqueduct and many long conventual buildings, now used as hotels or private houses. Following a stay of a fortnight at Taormina, the journey was continued to Syracuse, lower down the east coast of Sicily, lava stream after lava stream reaching to the coast being passed on the way. At Giardini were large depots at which large numbers of girls were employed to skin the gathered lemons for commercial purposes. The skins were piled into

♦Delivered at the seventy-first annual meeting, March 19th, 1937. 1936-37- Presidential a d d r e s s . 21

stacks for making into candied peel and the pulp was sent away to make lemonade and citric acid. Though Sicily was the great centre of the lemon growing industry, the vine was Staffordshirecultivated higher up, and higher up still the olive was cul­ tivated ; in fact every inch of ground that could be used was covered with vegetation. There was only one real river watering the area, but there were numerous dry river beds into which water flowed during the rainy season. South of Catania the coast was flatter and about ten miles from Syracuse were salt-pans into which sea water was pumped and left to evaporate, the salt residuum being then piled up, dried, ground by windmills and then sold. Syracuse, now only a small town on the peninsula, had exquisite bits of architecture in odd comers. Its cathedral, formerly the Greek temple of Minerva, had the Doric columns embedded in its walls. The museum was most fascinating, being well keptSample and possessingCounty a lovely “ Venus.” On the main land were the ruins of the Greek theatre (with a view of the sea as a stage background), the Roman amphitheatre and catacombs (like an underground town with ten feet wide streets), and many quarries from which the stones for the great buildings were hewn and into which prisoners of war were thrown to perish. The “ Fountain of Arethusa ” associated with the famous legend was disappointing.Studies Though once large enough for Nelson to water his fleet after the battle of the Nile, it was now a very small salt water pool surrounded by papyrus plants. The great days of Syracuse were about 400 B.C. when the Athenians were in power. Catania, on the way back from Syracuse to Taormina, was the chief trading port on the coast and here sulphur, oranges, lemons, wine, almonds and grain are exported. Under the streets which were busily being repaired were the remains of the Roman city. Dike other Sicilian towns, Catania suffered more privations after the war than during it, and the effect of the privations were everywhere evident in the streets. Skirting the west side of Etna by train, a journey was taken on the Circum-Etnean railway around the west side, 22 PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS. VOL. LXXI.

crossing innumerable lava streams in various stages of denu­ dation with here and there a brave little almond tree or sturdy yellow spurge standing in the desolate expanse. StaffordshireHigher up were bean fields in full flower. Bronte, which gave its name to Nelson, who was created Duke of Bronte, was passed just before the highest point of the railway was reached. Then down hill to Randazzo, where the passengers changed into another train for the descent to Giarre on the coast. This latter part of the trip was through luxuriant vegetation, firs, chesnuts and vines, an area which two years later was blotted out by a lava stream. After a few days rest on returning to Taormina, the town of Palermo, made important by the Norman kings about the time of the conquest of England, was visited. Palermo was at one time held by the Moors and when the Normans over­ came them they enlarged and adorned the magnificent build­ ings they foundSample there. The mosiacsCounty in the Cappella Palatina and the Monreale cathedral were most beautiful. The museum at Palermo, housed in an ancient monastery, was full of treasures of all ages. In the centre ground floor were the ancient cloisters open to the sky, the fountain in the middle being surrounded by growing papyrus. From Pal­ ermo the journey was continued throughout the heart of the island past the sulphur mines of Girgenti to seeStudies the Greek temples, all built before 409 B.C. Three things which remained uppermost in one’s memory were (1) the view of Etna from Taormina with the almond blossom against the blue sky and the even bluer sea to the east; (2) the row of Greek temples seen from Girgenti with the sea beyond them ; and (3) the unsurpassable jewelled mosaics at Monreale and the Cappella Palatina. Trans. North Staffs. Field Club. Vol. L X X I. 1936-37. Plate I.

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From the painting in possession of W illiam Anthony Adams, at Horsley Hall, N r. Kccleshall, Staffordshire.

1736] W iw ja m Adams of Bagnaee, [1802 Stoke-on -Tren t. To face p. 23] 1736] WILLIAM ADAMS [1802 StaffordshireBy P. W. B. A d a m s. T is just two hundred years ago since the birth of the I subject of this short notice. William Adams was born on October 4th 1736, betwixt the hours of 3 and 4 in the morning. He was the elder son of William Adams of Bagnall and Sarah his wife*, the daughter of William Whieldon of Ipstones and Kingsley. He came of a race of master potters and, while his father preferred the open air life of a small esquire, yet he, William the elder, could not keep away from his interest in potting, for his father Edward Adams, had been a potter before he retired from Burslem to Bagnall, and several of his cousins were potters. He was the sixth in descent from the William Adams of BurslemSample who is describedCounty in his will as a master potter, January 12th 1617. William Adams the elder was interested in potting so far as he had “ a muffle in a garden at Bagnall” , more especially for making trials in enamel painting for the salt-glaze ware of the period. Indeed Simeon Shaw in his History of the Staffordshire Potteries, Hanley, 1829, mentions this (p. 179) and tells us that the enamelling on salt-glaze ware Studiesin 1740—60 had reached its zenith and was sold extensively not only in England, but abroad. Prof. A. H. Church and other writers upon ceramics enlarge upon this. The reason for the kiln being at Bagnall (which is some three miles from the Pot­ teries) was because the Warburtons and Daniels, two noted early 18th century potting families, did a very good trade with Holland, and they brought over to England some Dutchmen who, to keep their operations in enamel painting private, used the muffle kiln referred to. ♦Sarah was the widow of Samuel Braddock, of Howard Park, Cheddle- toii who died in May 1734 and she married William Adams, who was a widower, July 15th, 1735, William Adams having first married at Stoke Parish Church May 4th 1730, Dorothy, daughter of Francis Meare of Norton Green Hall, by Dorothy his wife, the daughter of the Rev. J ohn Repton, B.A., Rector of Stoke-upou-Trent. 24 WILLIAM ADAMS. VOL. LXXI.

But it was Richard Adams who was the definite master potter of the family. He was the third son of William Adams and Sarah (Whieldon) and was born August 17th Staffordshire1739 and therefore three years younger than the subject of this notice. He had his works at Cobridge Stoke-on- Trent, the pottery was not far from Hanley Green and it is sometimes described as of that place. He was the father of William Adams, born 1772, the eminent potter of Stoke- on-Trent and thus a direct ancestor of the present potting family of Tunstall. William, born 1736, and Richard were brothers-in-law of Joseph Warburton (born 1721) master potter of Cobridge Gate, the second son of Joseph War­ burton of Cobridge Gate and Haslington, Cheshire by Abigail his wife, daughter of Doctor howndes of Norton, and Richard was connected with Warburton in his pottery works. It was in the days of the experiments on enamelling that Joseph Warburton beganSample his courtshipCounty with Elizabeth Adams, William the younger’s half sister. William Adams (born 1736) seems for the most part to have ignored trade, but took a kindly interest in his brother Richard’s pottery and undoubtedly gave him a helping hand. William would be only nine years old when Prince Charles Edward came to Bagnall in 1745 and, according to tradition, the Prince was billetted at his father’s house (probablyStudies on December 7th) on his retreat, to avoid encountering the Duke of Cumberland’s army, which was encamped at Stone- field. The salt-glaze teapot used by his mother on this occasion is still preserved. William’s home was at Bagnall Bank House where he dwelt all his life, his property ad­ joined Bagnall Hall, the home of the Murhall family. Wil­ liam Murhall of Bagnall Hall who died January 4th 1762 was high sheriff of Staffordshire in 1742 and a justice of the peace of the county. His daughter and heiress Dorothy, married William’s cousin, John Adams of Brickhouse, Burslem in 1747. The portrait given of William at the beginning of this short note has only recently come back to the Adams family, as after his death, or possibly before, it came to his cousin Trans. North Staffs. Field Club. Vol. L X X I. 1936-37. Plate VI.

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To face p. 33] Photograph taken in 1919. StaffordshireIn Jftemoriam. T h e R e v d . E r n e s t D e a c o n , B .A . Born March 10th 1872. Died February 24Ih 1937_ Y the death, early in 1937, of the Revd. E. Deacon the Club B has lost one who, for many years, had taken a prominent part in its activities. Deacon was born at Hetliersett, Norwich. He received his early education at the North Walsham Grammar School, from which he went to Durham University, where he took his degree. After ordination he became in 1896 curate of St. Saviour’s, Battersea Park, which appointment he held for live years. Erom there lie came to North Staffordshire as curate-in-chargeSample of Stanton. Subsequently he held livings at Croxden, Hartshill and Weeford,County the last of which he resigned through ill health in September, 1936. In addition to performing his duties as an incumbent, he was for many years organising diocesan inspector in the Archdeanery of Stoke-on-Trent, and assistant secretary of the Church Schools' Association, in which capacities he did much, by his counsel and energy, to improve the religious teaching in the schools with which he was thus broughtStudies into contact. In 1914, Deacon joined the Club and from th at time until his death he rendered conspicuous service to it in many ways particularly to the Botanical section. During his residence at Stanton and Croxden he thoroughly investigated the flora of those and the neighbouring areas, and thus added considerably to our knowledge of the distribution and habitats of the rarer plants in them. The annual reports of the Botanical section since 1914 give ample evidence of his work in this respect. He acted as leader on various occasions, on no less than seven meetings of the Club to localities in the Weever Hill area. As a result of his thorough knowledge of the district, 34 IN MEMORIAM. VOI,. EXXI.

its legends and its historical associations, and his un­ sparing efforts to make the meetings both informative and interesting, they will long be remembered by those who attended them as models of what such should be. StaffordshireAt the annual meeting in March, 1929, he was elected president, an honour which he had well earned, and a position which he filled with distinction. The following year he became editor of our Transactions, in which capacity he continued to act until the spring of 1936, when he was stricken down by illness. In addition to his interest in field botany, he was also a keen collector of the folk lore, legends, myths and customs of the area in which he lived. Possessed of a never failing source of dry humour and a devoted attachment to nature in all its phases, combined with a kindly optimism and a rich store of knowledge, he made an ideal companionSample with whom toCounty explore the countryside. Though of a retiring disposition, Deacon had a very sym­ pathetic nature and his memory will be held in high esteem by all those who were fortunate enough to come under his influence. He was exceedingly fond of gardening and while at Croxden was justly proud of the rose garden which he had planned there. His family, realising the affection he had for Croxden and the ruins of its old abbey, very appropriately decidedStudies that his last resting place should be near to the scenes he loved so well. W. T. B. R. REPORTS OF SECTIONS. StaffordshireA.—ZOOIyOGY : Chairman, B. B r y a n . Mam m als. HE only note I have to record of Staffordshire mammals T is that of a Noctule Bat, Pterygistes noctula, brought to the Hanley museum by a boy who said he had found it impaled on a barbed wire fence at Barlaston. It is most unusual for a bat to collide with a stationary object. On examining the bat, I found it had sustained an open wound on the underside of its body near the heart. I washed and dressed the wound, but all my efforts were of no avail. The bat lived only three days. A v e s . East May I received the interesting news that a pair of Curlews, NumeniusSample arquata County arquata (E-), had established themselves on Wetley moor. Their nest was found con­ taining four eggs ; incubation was well advanced and the young birds would have hatched out in a few days’ time. Unfortunately one of the old birds was killed and the eggs destroyed. Mr. T. Smith tells me that a pair of Curlews nested and bred at Whiston Eaves, quite close to the house. Eater, however, disaster overtook the young ones. It is stronglyStudies suspected that cats or sparrow hawks were the culprits. Mr. W. H. Nicholls of Cannock, Stafford, has supplied the following note:—“ 2nd November, 1936. It may be of some interest to report that two Swallows or may be House Martins visited us to-day, and were vigorously hawking round the house. I never remember seeing them so late before, but the day is warm and fine. ’ ’ The date is certainly a late one for these birds to be seen in the Midlands. I would suggest that the birds referred to were House Martins, as this species often has very late broods. On June 8th, 1936, I received a live Swift, Apus apus apns (L.) from Mr. R. Park, Hartshill, under the roof of whose house Swifts were nesting. The bird was found on the ground apparently unable to rise owing 36 ZOOLOGY. VOI,. LXXI.

to its very short legs and exceptionally long wings. I ex­ amined the bird in the hand and could find no trace of injury. After giving the bird a drink of water I took it to an open window and liberated it. After twice circling round the Staffordshirebuildings in Piccadilly, it made off in a bee line in the direc­ tion of Hartshill. From my vantage point, I was able to watch the bird Until it flew out of sight. No doubt it would eventually reach its nesting quarters. Mr. Alfred H. Johnson, of Scholar Green, Cheshire, has kindly allowed me to publish the following very interesting census of rookeries he has made within a four-mile radius of Stone. ' (I) Shallowford...... 330 nests. (2) Coldmeece ...... 131 nests. (3) Leasows, Hilderstone no nests. (4) Darlaston, Stone 104 nests. (5) BadenSample Hall, nr.County Mill- meece ... 90 nests. (6) Upper House Barlaston 87 nests. (7) Hilderstone ...... 75 nests. (8) Leasows, Hilderstone 69 nests. (9) Stallington "A” 59 nests. (io) Walton Hill, nr. Stone 57 nests. (n) Meaford ...... 56 nests.Studies (12) Yarlet H all ...... 52 nests. (13) Knenhall 38 nests. (14) Barlaston Station ... 37 nests. (15) Radfords, Stone 34 nests. (16) Barlaston Green 34 nests. (17) Cemetery, Stone 30 nests. (18) Haemies, nr. Coldmeece 24 nests. (19) Stallington “ B” 21 nests. (20) Richfield Rd. Stone... 20 nests. (21) Stallington “ C ” 19 nests. (22) Stallington “ D” T4 nests. (23) Burston ...... 12 nests. (24) Yarlet 7 nests. (25) The Convent, Stone... 2 nests. C.—BOTANY: Chairman, W. T. Boydon Ridge, B.Sc. StaffordshireIn the early part of this year we lost by death the Rev. E. Deacon, B.A., who for many years had been an active worker in the Botanical section. His knowledge of the botany of the Stanton and Weever Hill area of the county was extensive and many of the records he made for that area are to be found in the reports of the Club. I had the privilege of his company in many of my excur­ sions, when working up the necessary data for my "Flora of North Staffordshire. ’ ’ He was an excellent companion on such outings for in addition to his knowledge of plants he had a quaint fund of humour by which he thoroughly enlivened the jaunt. He will be milch missed by those with whom he came in contact. .Since he went to Weeford he had begun toSample study the County botany of that area and has supplied me with much material which I hope to use in the ' ‘ Flora of Staffordshire ’ ’ on which I am now working. During the year I have not many new records to make, the chief being :— Datura stamonium, E. Gipsy Dane, Stoke-on-Trent. One specimen was found. This plant is an alien and only occurs casually, either as a weed in gardensStudies or on waste ground. I found it some years ago in the same locality. Claytonia perfoliata, Donn. Hedgeside between Beech and Hatton. This is an alien and has been recorded for the county on few occasions. Ammi majus, E. On the edge of a field, Ashley ; only one specimen seen. It was recorded for Madeley, 1917 and then only one specimen was found. It is a casual alien. Callitriche obtusangula, Ee Gall. In a pond at Madeley and in one near Armitage. E.—GEOLOGY: Chairman, F. W. D e n n i s , F.G.S. During the summer, eight excursions were arranged and seven of these were carried through, but one was abandoned Staffordshireowing to torrential rain. There was an average attendance of eleven members and all of them were thoroughly enjoyed.

May 14TH, 1936. W e t r e y M o o r . The party went by 'bus to Ash Hall and walked along the course of the Ash Brook where a complete section of the Lower Coal Measures was examined. The Crabtree Coal and Little Row Coal were pointed out, together with the Red Grits which are a feature of this area. The two old shafts of the Hanley Hayes Colliery were pointed out. On the ridge at a height of 831 feet, the First Millstone Grit was examined. At one of these quarries coloured artificial slabs were beingSample made. County The journey was continued across the Moor in the direc­ tion of Kerry Hill and near this point the well marked fault with a downthrow east of 100 yards was shown. Walking through Green Fields, a quarry -j: mile N.E. of Saunders Bank was examined, where it was claimed that a fault separated the First from the Third Grit, but this was not visible during this visit. Studies The journey was continued down the Holehouse Brook where another complete section was examined.

May 21ST, 1936. G o r d en h ir r a n d L a t eb r o o k . After a preparatory discussion, a good section was examined from the Bassy Mine to some distance below the Peacock Coal. The Bassy Mine Ironstone was stripped off a bench and one of the directors of the Goldenhill Company stated that the thin seam of cannel in the ironstone was rich in oil. While at Birmingham University he had tested this on October 22nd, 19x4 and it produced 73.4 gallons of oil per ton. Later at the office, these samples were ex­ amined. 50 GEOLOGY. vor,. e x x i .

The quarry was examined and an attempt was made to correlate it with the section of the Jubilee Pits published in the Memoir. This did not quite fit in and it was pointed out that the quarry was actually on the turn of the dip. StaffordshireIt was shown that the dip at the quarry was actually N.W. while a little beyond Colclough Pane it was S.13. It was agreed that this turn of the dip would squeeze out and some­ what alter the section. heaving the quarry, the outcrops of the Spencroft, Great Row, Cannel Row and Chalky Mine were pointed out. The party proceeded to hatebrook where other outcrops were pointed out and an old furnace site examined. Another halt was made at Goldendale Ironworks where an interesting time was spent watching the molten metal being run from the furnaces and also examining the plant.

M ay 28th, 1936.SampleCounty During a previous excursion it was found that some of the members had never seen a fault underground. It was arranged on this evening to visit a local colliery with this object in view. The whole evening was spent underground and a trough fault, a normal fault and a step fault were examined. At the conclusion of the visit, the members looked a real working party. Studies

J u n e 5t h , 1936. H u lm e a n d W in t e r f ie e d Da n e . The party went by 'bus to Adderley Green and walked Up the old Hulme Colliery mineral line. Here the outcrops of the Bowling Alley, Holly Dane and Hardmine seams were seen. A large 90 yard fault line was pointed out that had a downthrow N. This fault passes between the two shafts of the Central Colliery to a point N.E. of Adderley Green Colliery. At this point a discussion on the local features took place particularly with regard to the Bullhurst seam. An interesting point made was that the local miners described the Bullhurst seam as a shy coal because of its appearance and disappearance when least expected. G.—ARCHAEOLOGY : Chairman G. J. V. B em r o se . Perhaps the most important event of the year was the Staffordshirediscovery of a late Bronze Age beaker at the Normacot Sand P it in June 1936. Mr. Norman Rhead, the owner of the sand-pit communicated the find to me by telephone and immediately I visited the site to see if any connected material was available. The beaker had been broken by the workman’s pick and the fragments were displayed on the ground surface. It appeared likely that more fragments remained in the interment so I secured a spade and dug out a number of pieces including the base. Under the supervision of Mr. W. F. Grimes of the National Museum of Wales, the pieces have been assembled into a complete vessel. The beaker is of the usual Eastern English type, 7" high by 5J" wide at the mouth Sample and in thicknessCounty throughout. It bears the closest resemblance to similar vessels found in Lincolnshire and Yorkshire. The material is a soft red clay evidently of local provenance and in fracture the usual dark core is clearly visible. It was found at a depth of 4ft. There were no associated remains but a number of pieces of charred wood had evidently been contained in the beaker which Mr. Grimes dates about 1500—2000 B.C. Studies Mr. Rhead has very kindly promised to report any future finds and to suspend work until a qualified person can visit the site. Further finds seem likely in view of this specimen and a previous beaker which was excavated in 1927. There is nothing to report from Trent Vale or the castle site at Newcastle, two sites which have yielded interesting material in recent years. The removal of Mr. T. Pape from the district is a great loss to local archaeology and is doubtless responsible for the suspension of work at Newcastle. In June 1936 I visited the church at Audley where fresh efforts had been made to effect an entry into the Audley tomb. Inadvisedly, it seemed to me, a cutting had been made in the outer wall of the north side of the choir. It was reported 1936-37- a r c h # o i.o g y a n d h is t o r y . 67

to me that the tomb was visible but no entry was made. I made a second visit to the church a week later in order to offer to return the lock of hair which was taken from the Staffordshiretomb some years ago, but, by then, the wall had been built up. Early in 1936 a very fine Bronze Age flint knife 5" long and ii" in width was brought to the Hanley Museum by Mrs. Twigg, of the School House, Doveridge, formerly of Burslem. It was found beneath an old house in the village of Doveridge (Derbyshire) during demolition operations. I Understand it will be presented to the Derby Museum.

SampleCounty

Studies JOURNAL OF PROCEEDINGS.

StaffordshireFIELD MEETINGS.

1. MARKET DRAYTON, MORETON SAYE AND HODNET. Saturday, April 25th, 1936. HALF-DAY meeting under the leadership of Mr. A. A Huntbaeh, the party travelling via the Logger­ heads to Moreton Saye, a pretty hamlet off the beaten track. Here they were met by the rector, the Rev. J. P. Adams, who described the quaint old church of 12th cen­ tury foundation and pointed out its unique features. Mr. Adams afterwards spoke of the fame of the parish as the birthplace of Robert, Lord Clive—“ Clive of India,’’ and gave many interestingSample factsCounty about the close association of the Clive family with the church and the district. From Moreton Saye, the party proceeded to the old-world village of Hodnet, anciently Odinet, a township of importance after the Norman conquest. Permission having been ob­ tained to walk through the beautiful grounds of Hodnet Hall, the seat of the Heber-Percys, the members took full opportunity of a peep at the lovely show of spring flowers in the succession of charming riverside rockeries andStudies emerged from the grounds by the fine old church. Inside the church, Mr. Huntbach sketched the history of the parish, which at the time of Domesday was held by Roger de Montgomery and subsequently passed through the hands of the de Lud- lows, the de la Zouches, the Mortimers, the Talbots and the Vernons. The visitors inspected the priceless collection of old books, among which is a bible printed at Nuremberg in 1474. The last place of call was Market Drayton church, where the Rev. G. B. Bardesley, the assistant priest, in the course of showing the party round, pointed out the dragon­ headed gargoyle on the lofty tower upon which Robert Clive is supposed to have climbed as a small boy. During tea 1936-37- FIELD MEETINGS. 69

at Hodnet, the president of the Club, Miss M. S. Bickley, thanked Mr. Huntbach for his excellent leadership and expressed the delight of the members that Mr. F. Barke, Staffordshirethough in his 94th year, was able to join in the meeting.

2. MACCLESFIELD FOREST.

Saturday, May 16th, 1936.

This meeting was arranged by Mr. F. M. Duncalf, who brought along with him Mr. W. Smith, the local historian, and Major Hoadley, former M.P. for Rossendale. The party left Stoke in the morning and proceeded direct to Maccles­ field, thence going along the main Buxton road as far as the Setter Dog Inn at Walker Barn, where a halt was made for luncheon and Mr. H. V. Thompson gave a short talk on the geologySample of tire area with particular reference to the glacial deposits. UnderCounty the expert guidance of Mr. Smith, the party then took a field path over the private estate of the Macclesfield Corporation, used as water gather­ ing grounds. The walk provided some enchanting scenery and a profusion of wild flowers and bird life was n o ted ; eventually the party reached Toothill, 1,350 feet above sea level, and on the summit both Mr. Duncalf and Mr. Smith gave short talks. Mr. Smith suggested that theStudies word toot was derived from the Anglo-Saxon verb totian, meaning a look-out place. Descending from the highlands to a lower level, the members inspected the parish church of Mac­ clesfield Forest, commonly known as the Forest Chapel. The vicar, the Rev. F. H. Davies, showed the visitors what was to be seen while Mr. F. Flint, one of the estate representa­ tives, gave the history of the building and the parish. The ceremony of rush-bearing has been observed annually in the Forest Chapel from time immemorial. It is a survival of the days when the floors of churches were of hard earth or rough paving and rushes were strewn on the floor for the purpose of warmth. Tea was at Dryknowl Farm, StaffordshireLIST OF MEMBERS. Corrected to July 31 st, 1937. f Garner medallist. § Spanton medallist, * Eynain prizeman. J Eife member.

H onorary M e m b e r s . Elected. i92i(a)'|'§ Barke, I1'., e .g .s., Prospect House, Alsager, Stoke-on- Trent. 1913 Blagg, Miss M. A., f .r .a .s ., High. Bank, Cheadle, Staffs. 1918 Cook, the Rt. Hon. Sir Joseph, G.C.M.G., Cortona, 53, Eiverpool .Street, Summer Hill, New South Wales, Australia.SampleCounty 1903 Hardy, Sir Reginald, Bart., M.A., d .l ., j .p ., Dunstall Hall, Burton-on-Trent. 1908 Eodge, Sir Oliver, d .sc., EE.d ., f .r .s ., Normanton, Eake, Salisbury. 1935 McDougall, Sir Robert, EE.d ., Eerryn, Carr Wood Road, Cheadle Hulme, Cheshire. 1933(b) W atts, Prof. W. W., sc.d ., i.e .d ., m .sc., f .r .s ., Hillside, Eangley Park, Sutton, Surrey. Studies 1926 Woodward, Sir Arthur Smith, RED., f .r .s ., Hill Place, Hayward’s Heath, Sussex. (a) Ordinary member 1876: (b) ordinary member 1882.

Or d in a r y Me m b e r s.

1910 Adams, Brittain, j .p ., Mereworth, Victoria Road, Tunstall, Stoke-on-Trent. 1934 Adams, Mrs. Brittain, m.a ., Mereworth, Victoria Road, Tunstall, Stoke-on-Trent. 1937 Adams, Brittain, junr., Sandon Eodge, Sandon, Stafford. 1937 Adams, Mrs. Brittain, junr., Sandon Eodge, Sandon, Stafford. 1908J Adams, P. W. E-, f .s .a ., The Manor House, Woore, Crewe. 82 IylST OF MEMBERS. VOE. I,XXI,

1913 Addison, J. F., The Bridge, Walsall. 1905 Adie, T. G., High Street, Stone, Staffs. 1937 Airey, Miss N. H., b .a ., 38, Osborne Road, Hartshill, Stoke- Staffordshireon-Trent. 1918 Alkins, W. E., d .sc., 16, West End Avenue, Reek. 1902 Archibald, Mrs. F. A., 51 Strand Street, Sandwich, Kent. 1935 Ashby-Bailey, Mrs. P. H., Danecourt, Whitmore Road, Newcastle, Staffs. 1917 Ashton, A. W., d .sc., Barlaston, Stoke-on-Trent. 1917 Ashton, Mrs. A. W., Barlaston, Stoke-on-Trent.

1931 Ashton, E. G., P h . D . , Barlaston, Stoke-on-Trent. 1915 Ashwell, Miss E. A., The Grove, Penkhull, Stoke-on-Trent. 1932 Ashwell, Miss E. M., The Grove, Penkhull, Stoke-on-Trent. 1924 Ashwell, Miss P., The Grove, Penkhull, Stoke-on-Trent. 1932 Ashworth, Miss E., The Woodlands, Oakhill Avenue, Stoke- on-Trent. 1936 Asling, MissSample D. M., n o ,County Richfield Road, Stafford. 1934 Atkins, H. H., Sunny House, Grindlev Dane, Blythe Bridge, Stoke-on-Trent. 1922 Atkinson, C. H., Westwood, Broadway, Harpiield, Stoke-on- Trent. 1937 Atkinson, Mrs. C. H., Westwood, Broadway, Harpfield, Stoke-on-Trent. 1925 Atkinson, S. G., b .sc., Alleyne’s Grammar School,Studies Uttoxeter. iSSsf Audley, J. A., b .sc., a .r .c.s ., f .i .c., f .c.s ., Cliff Bank House, Stoke-on-Trent.

1932 Babb, C. H., The Pads, Stone, Staffs. 1932 Bailey, E. N., Southgate, Newcastle Road, Stone, Staffs. 1928 Bailey, Miss M., Barlaston Old Road, Trentham. 1927 Ball, Miss M. H. 1931 Balsillie, Miss J., m .b ., ch.B., St. Andrews, Friar’s Walk, Newcastle, Staffs. 1899 Bamford, H. B., Eaton Rodge, Doveridge, Derby. 1929 Bamford, H. V., Eaton Rodge, Doveridge, Derby. 1929 Banks, R. W., 172, Trentham Road, Oakhill, Stoke-on-Trent. 1922 Barke, Miss K. H., Prospect House, Alsager, Stoke-on-Trent. 1911 Barlow, S. H., Highcroft, Rough Close, Stoke-on-Trent. 1936-37- LIST OF MEMBERS. 99

1898 Wooldridge, Mrs. F. R., Pen-maen, Lancaster Avenue, New­ castle, Staffs. 1899 Wooliscroft, Miss F., Cornliill Cross, Reek. Staffordshire1916 Worthington, F. S., 25, Curzon Street, Basford Park, New­ castle, Staffs. 1898 Worthington, H. W., 38, Park Road, Rugby. 1934 Wright, S., F.R.G.S., May Field, Old Road, Barlaston, Stoke- on-Trent.

1928 Yardley, R. B., M.A., 3, Paper Buildings, Temple, E.C. 4.

A s s o c ia t e M e m b e r s . To retire in 1938: Simms, B. Sample B., 117, ClaytonCounty Road, Newcastle, Staffs. To retire in 1939: Beardmore, O. T., Oakamoor, Stoke-on-Trent. fCarr, L. A., The White House, Market Street, Richfield. Tonkinson, A., Hill Top, 92, Buxton Street, Sneyd Green, Stoke-on-Trent. Winchester, J., 28, Diglake Street, Bignall End, Stoke-on- Trent. Studies To retire in 1940: Owen, H., Campion Avenue, Basford Park, Newcastle, Staffs. 1935-3 6 . THE BIRDS OR STAFFORDSHIRE. A213

ORDER CORUMB7E. EAMIEY COLUMBID/E.

R in g D o v e. StaffordshireColuniba palumbus palumbus R. Wood Pigeon, Queece, Betty-Woody, Queest (Pitt). Wherever large stretches of woodland exist Ring Doves are common and they breed locally in considerable numbers. In autumn vast droves appear from other regions, some of them possibly far distant. Every autumn Mr. T. J. Beeston sees Ring Doves in thousands moving southwards and crossing south-west Staffordshire without attempting to alight in the Stour valley woodlands and ' 1 their movement is principally in the early morning from 7 to 9 a.m.” (in lilt.). During winter great quantities frequent lowland woods and agricultural districts,Sample but only in a prolific acorn or beech- mast year are they really numerousCounty in the north of the county, where a few pairs nest in the highest plantations and small flocks are seen in newly-sown upland fields, from spring onwards into early summer. There were many hundreds in Ramsor woods near the Churnet valley in the spring of 1900 and at this season, as well as in autumn, many often occur in other upland localities where comparatively few remain in the depths of Studieswinter. Very large droves are seen in the Trent valley about Stone, frequently up to the end of April (P. 0 . Dutton). Ring Doves are exceedingly voracious and greedily devour various kinds of food, so much so that when shot their dis­ tended crops sometimes burst on coming into contact with the ground. They are very fond of clover-hearts and turnip- shoots and several can sometimes be killed with a single shot fired as a large flock rises from the selected feeding ground. On July 12th 1920, near Oakamoor I saw Ring Doves seem­ ingly feeding on bilberies. In winter they are largely nomadic, moving from one district to another in search of food. They are delighted with continued mild weather in winter and at such times A2 I4 THE BIRDS OB STAFFORDSHIRE. VOE. EXX.

“ coo” as gaily as in the nesting season. In severe spells many are shot on ' ‘ trails ” of maize laid down in woodland rides and keepers sometimes earn several pounds in a short Staffordshiretime by selling quantities of them and Stock Doves thus obtained. In June 1919 a pair nested in thick ivy growing against a house almost in the centre of Stone. They were seen only to visit their house during morning and evening twilight (J. R. B. Masefield). On February 4th 1919 a nearly white variety was killed at Wood Eaton Manor. It had two or three coloured feathers about the rump and black bands on the tail and, during previous years, apparently frequented the same coverts in February before passing on (53, 94, 1919).

StoCk -D ovE. Columba cenas h. Blue Sample Rock, CommonCounty Pigeon (Dickenson). Stock Doves are fairly widely distributed, but are local breeders and nowhere as common as Ring Doves. In winter both join together in large flocks and often appear in districts where the former are rare or absent during summer. In the north of the county Stock Doves nest at Warslow Hall and probably in other localities in this neighbourhood (B. R. S. Pemberton). In 1924 I found a pair Studies breeding in the ruins of Throwley Old Hall. Compared with their low­ land status, however, they are scarce among the hills in summer, but they occur sometimes plentifully in the upland oak woods in severe winters with Ring Doves. Until recently they nested regularly in holes in the fine old yews growing near Hales Hall pool and near by at Cheadle they have been induced to breed in nesting-boxes (J. R. B. Masefield). They breed locally round Stone, where Mr. P. C. Dutton once found eggs as early as April 10th (in lilt.) and the late W. W. Bladen recorded eggs apparently on April 8th 1895 (30, 49, 1896). Dr. R. H. Read has seen Stock Doves in the north-west near Aston without, however, recording their breeding 1935-3 6 . THE BIRDS OF STAFFORDSHIRE. A215

(28, 51, 1894). They occur about Aqualate and Norbury and probably more or less throughout west and south Staffordshire, and are common in the woods of the Stour Staffordshirevalley (T. J. Beeston). The Revd. R. W. Reed does not include them in his list of Clifton Campville birds, but they breed well about Burton, nesting often on adventitious branches of hornbeams and other trees and in holes of tree-stumps (G. H. Storer). In earlier days they bred "every year in rabbit holes in a marl-pit at Sliobnall ” (Mosley, 103) and were plentiful in Needwood Forest, according to Garner (270).

T u r t l e D o v e . Strcptopdici turtur iurtur (E.) Red Dove. Turtle Doves have increased considerably during recent years and nowSample nest throughoutCounty lowland Staffordshire. Among the hills they are found in small numbers in spinneys on the edge of the moorlands. They rarely appear in south Staffordshire before early May and in the north are first seen usually about the middle of the month. One was recorded at Stone on April 14th 1911 and by April 30th following a pair were nesting locally. Thereabouts they breed sparingly but regularly (P.C.Studies Dutton, in litt.). When newly-arrived they haunt freshly-sown cornfields and also seemingly peck out the shoots of young turnips. In 1884 Turtle Doves were beginning to increase notably in Staffordshire and they were reported from Sandon, Eccleshall and Weston (18, 51, 1884). They were present in the last-named district some years earlier and were first found nesting near Cheadle in 1887 (J. R. B. Masefield), extending their range subsequently across the Churnet valley. Turtle Doves are common in south Staffordshire and a nest was found within the town park at Wolverhampton in 1909 (Miss B. A. Carter). They were breeding regularly at Great Barr before 1893 (27, ii, 113,1893). A216 The birds of Staffordshire. vol. lxRI.

Even in north Staffordshire they often remain until Sep­ tember and have been seen in the Churnet valley after the middle of the month. I rose a young bird from a stubble near StaffordshireLeigh on September 16th 1919. One occurred at Stretton (south Staffs.) on September 21st 1909 (44, 71, 1910). Turtle Doves daily frequent farm-yards where poultry are fed, when once this is discovered. I have seen half-a- dozen or more feeding at my home near Oakamoor and Mr. P. C. Dutton noted their similar behaviour within the town of Stone (in litt.). Garner (270) considered Turtle Doves rare and noted their occurrence “ near Lichfield, Burton, and Heyley Castle.” Later he added Trentham, and in 1872 was told that they were frequent near Swynnerton (27, ii, 113, 1893). Formerly they were seen very occasionally about Tutbury, and many were shot near Burton. According to a Mr. Harley of LeicesterSample they wereCounty common in south-west Stafford­ shire at this time— circa 1863 (Mosley, 51, 103).

Studies 1936-37- THE BIRDS OF STAFFORDSHIRE. A2 I7

ORDER PTEROCDETES. FAMILY PTEROCDID7E. P a l l a s ’s S a n d -G r o u s e . StaffordshireSyrrhaptes paradoxus (Pall.) These Eastern birds have occurred in Britain many times and a few have been seen or obtained in Staffordshire. A great invasion of this country took place in 1863 ail(i on the evening of May 22nd of this year two were shot at Eccleshall by a man returning from rabbit-shooting. ‘ ‘ When too dark to see plainly, he turned to go home, when a flock of birds flew over his head, into which he fired, bringing down three, one of which he could not find, owing to the fading light, though on going in the morning to look again, he found it, but nearly all eaten by vermin (Science Gossip, 18, 232, 1882). Apparently there were about twenty in this covey, (Mosley, 407), andSample the two picked up together were stuffed and were in an excellent stateCounty of preservation thirty years later (27, ii, 114, 1893). According to W. Yarrell (A History of British Birds, 3, 34, 1882-84) the first British-killed birds of this movement were shot at Throptou in Northumberland on May 21st 1863, or a day before the Eccleshall occurrence. A Sand-Grouse was shot at Swinfen in 1866 {Zoologist, ii, 8, 3801, 1873). Studies Another important immigration was in 1888 and a hen Sand Grouse was shot at Rough Hill, Wolverhampton 011 May 23rd of that year. A cock was killed at Ipstones in the north of the county in September following and was one of four birds, of which another was wounded and picked up a few days later. They were shot for Partridges and when found were dusting themselves in a sandy liedge-bank (24, 23,1890). In June 1888 two others were shot apparently in the Dovedale district (E. B. Whitlock, Birds of Derbyshire, 184,1893) and in this year, some were seen at Market Drayton, just over the Shropshire border (23, 23, 1889), so possibly various coveys crossed Staffordshire. The Rev. J. O. Coussmaker reckoned that he saw a Sand Grouse at Hamstall Ridware on December 18th 1908 (44, 70,1910). 1936-37- the birds or Staffordshire. A235

Mr. A. W. Boyd [“ Notes from Staffs. Reservoirs,” Brit. Birds, (mag.), 26 to 33] finds that at Bellfields and Gailey the largest numbers occur in mid-winter. The following Staffordshire‘' counts ” give some idea of the fluctuations. 1932. Bellfields: February 7th, few; March 6th, three close groups of 150, 50 and 30 ; June 12th, more than 70 (they bred freely). Cannock Chase reservoir: September 12th, 150. Gailey pool: September 12th, 100; December 24th, 346 on one of the three pools and many more on the next. 1933- Gailey pool: March 29th, 30; September 17th, 130 ; December 10th, 400. Bellfields : February 19th, 200 ; March 29th, 80; August 20th, over 200; December 10th, 3. 1934. Bellfields : few. SampleCounty

Studies A236 THE BIRDS OF STAFFORDSHIRE. VOL. LXX1.

ORDER AEECTORIDES. EAMIEY OTlDIDAi.

L it t l e B u s t a r d . StaffordshireOtis tetrax orientalis Hart. A specimen of the Little Bustard at Aston Hall was re­ ported to have been shot at Birchfield many years prior to 1893. It was seen in the flesh by Mr. C. North of Oakfield Road, Selly Park, and stuffed by a man named Weaver (27, ii, 122, 1893). Another was shot at Warslow, by a keeper about the year 1899 [Brit. Birds, (mag.), 2, 148, 1909].

SampleCounty

Studies 1936-37- THE BIRDS OF STAFFORDSHIRE. A237

ORDER GAVI7E. FAMIRY EARIDA5—SUB-FAMIEY STERNIN/K.

B e a c h T e r n . StaffordshireChlidonias niger niger (E.) Formerly Black Terns were considered accidental visitors to Staffordshire, but probably they occur on migration every year. Garner (289) mentioned this species without any comment in his list. According to the late F. Coburn, they appear regularly at Norton pool, generally in May, and again in autumn. Sometimes they have arrived there in fair quantity and many have been shot at different times. He saw one resting on the water which carried its long wings almost vertically over its back ‘ ‘ just as a Swift does when on the ground,” and he added ‘' they are always very fearless and will hawk for flies within a few yards of one ” (44, 103, 1910). SampleCounty Three occurred at Stretton on May 6th 1909 (44, 71,1910). At the neighbouring Bellfields a young bird stayed from September 14th to 20th 1911 (46, 90, I912) and two more were seen on September 16th 1923 [Brit. Birds, (mag.), 17, 142,1924]. Seen at Bellfields and Gailey pool, once in May and six times in September between 1925 and 1935, usually solitary, one of which showed a fair amount of black on the breast (ib., 26, 250, 1933). Eatest d ate s: SeptemberStudies 21st 1925, September 16th 1928 at Bellfields, and September 19th 1935 at Gailey (Miss C. K. James) [A. W. Boyd “ Notes from Staffs. Reservoirs,” Brit. Birds, (mag.), 19 to 29]. Mr. W. E. Ward considered forty Black Terns which arrived at Gailey pools on August 15th 1887 were all immature. They remained several days “ catching flies and small fish ” (40, 49, 1906). Black Terns have occurred at Patshull (The Field, September 26th 1885) and in the Aqualate collection there are adult and immature examples obtained locally. One was seen flying over some water at Weston-under-Eizard on May 4th 1903 (W. Marchant). A238 THE BIRDS OF STAFFORDSHIRE. VOL. EXXI.

In the Hanley museum there is one which was shot on the mill pool at Madeley in May 1889. About Burton several were killed formerly, according to the late Edwin Brown (Mosley, 110), and one was shot by a gamekeeper at Rolleston Staffordshireon May 19th 1894. Three were seen at Reek on May 25th I 9I 3-

S o o t y T e r n . Sterna fuscata fnscata R. A Sooty Tern was killed by a stone, thrown by a deaf and dumb boy named Ault, on the Dove near Tutbury, in the summer of 1852. It passed into the collection of Sir Henry des Vceux at Drakelow near Burton (Moseley, 57). “ It appears to have been procured about the month of October, the precise date being unrecorded ” (F. B. Whit­ lock, Birds of Derbyshire, 221, 1893) and in a note, dated DecemberSample 20th 1852, itCounty is mentioned as “ killed about four months ago ” (Zoologist, 11, 3755- 1853). The bird was exhibited by W. Yarrell at meeting of the Rinnean Society in February 1853 (A History of British Birds, 3, 562, 1882-84) and was apparently the first recorded instance of a Sooty Tern appearing in Europe.

S a n d w ic h T e r n . Sterna sandvicensis sandvicensis Rath.Studies There is no satisfactory evidence of this Tern’s appearance in Staffordshire. On hearsay from Mr. G. H. Clarke, the late F. Cobum considered that three Sandwich Terns oc­ curred at Norton pool early in September 1909. Previously he had been told of Terns being occasionally seen there­ abouts which were larger than Common Terns and at times he noticed Sandwich Terns at Earlswood reservoir, over the boundary, and knew of one shot there (44, 104, 1910).

R o s e a t e T e r n . Sterna dougalli dougalli Mont. [Garner (289) mentioned this Tern in his list without com­ ment and according to Mosley (57) it had ‘ ‘ rarely appeared " 1936-37- the birds of Staffordshire. A 239

in the Tutbury and Burton district. No definite instance of its occurrence in Staffordshire is known].

Co m m o n T e r n . StaffordshireSterna hirundo hirundo E. Sea-Swallow Sea-Skewin. Common Terns occur on passage in Staffordshire but owing to their similarity to Arctic Terns (.S', macrura) both species doubtless are often confused. According to Mosley (57) Common Terns appeared with large quantities of Arctic Terns which visited the county in 1842 and the late Edwin Brown considered the former not scarce about Burton (ib., no). Thereabouts a Common Tern remained for a fortnight in June 1880 (27, ii, 132, 1893). Under the brief heading “ Tern (S. Hirundo) ” Garner (289) probably included this species. A Common Sample Tern was seen hovering over the Dove at Hanging Bridge on August 24thCounty 1901 (Zoologist , iv, 6, 457, 1902). Another was obtained and others were seen on Madeley pool in May 1889, together with Black Terns (24, 22, 1890). These Terns regularly visit south Staffordshire and they were the most numerous of locally-killed Terns examined by the late F. Coburn. He reckoned they came every year to Norton pool and the waters near Birmingham.Studies As late as June 6th 1909 twenty-three Terns were counted on Norton pool, the majority of them either of this or the Arctic species (44, 104, 1910). Common Terns were seen at Bellfields on September 15th, 16th and 20th 1911 (46,90, 1912). At Bellfields birds that were either Arctic or Common Terns were seen on September 6tli 1925, in June and August 1928, on September 23rd 1930 six birds and on June 20th 1931. Of others seen in 1932 in June, July and September, that in July was certainly a Common Tern and so was one seen by Mr. H. G. Alexander on September 27th ; and in 1935 Mr. H. G. Alexander saw a Common Tern on April 28th. [A. W. Boyd in ‘ ‘ Notes from Staffs. Reservoirs,” Brit, Birds, (mag.), 19 to 29]. A240 THE BIRDS OF STAFFORDSHIRE. VOE. I.XXI.

Mr. F. Bryan reckoned that two Terns he saw at Trentham on September 20th 1914 were Common Terns. Two in the Aqualate collection were obtained locally and one at Swithamley was shot thereabouts in 1862 Staffordshire(27, ii, 132, 1893).

A r c tic T e r n . Sterna macrura Naumann. Sea-Swallow, Sea-Skewin. Arctic Terns regularly visit south Staffordshire on passage and occasionally they appear elsewhere in the county. The late F. Coburn examined many, apparently from the Norton pool district, but he considered them scarcer than Common Terns (44, 104, 1910). In 1932 Mr. H. G. Alexander saw an Arctic Tern side by side with a Common Tern as they rested on the mud ; he saw it from a distance of six or eight yards, [Brit. Birds, (mag.), 26, 251, 1933J A young ArcticSample Tern was pickedCounty up dead near Wall Grange on September 18th 1914 and another one was shot near Fongton on July 1st 1911. Both are in the Hanley museum. Another young bird was found at Stafford in 1912 (47, 68, 1913) and an Arctic Tern was obtained near Hanley in September 1888 (23, 24, 1889). According to Garner (289) great numbers of these Terns occurred in Staffordshire in May 1842 and EdwinStudies Brown said they appeared “ sometimes abundantly” around Burton (Mosley, n o ). Terns of any description are rarely seen in north Stafford­ shire. I have occasionally heard of them being picked up in the Churnet valley but without identification and many indefinite records exist from other parts of the county.

IviTTEE T e r n . Sterna albifrons albifrons Pall, kesser Tern. kittle Terns are more rarely seen than either Common or Arctic Terns. 1936-37- TIIE BIRDS OF STAFFORDSHIRE. A24I

At Norton pool and in the Birmingham area they are irregular visitors; Mr. G. H. Clarke saw four at the former resort on June 6th 1909, a late date for their passage there­ Staffordshireabouts (44, 105, 1910). A Tittle Tern was killed very near the Staffordshire border at Drakelow on September 17th 1885, according to Mosley (57). It had quite probably frequented the vicinity of the Trent which here divides Staffordshire and Derbyshire. F. B. Whitlock (Birds of Derbyshire, 220, 1893) recorded a Tern which was shot on the Trent near Burton by Mr. C. Hanson before 1893. Another was shot near Tean in August 1894 (J. R. B. Masefield) and a male bird was picked up dead at Newcastle on May 6tli 1912 (47, 68, 1913). In August 1902 a Tittle Tern was shot near Pipe Gate (37, 64,1903).

SampleSUB-FAMITYCounty DARINAf. D ittt.e G u e e . Larus minutus Pall. A Tittle Gull was shot near Chasetown on December 2nd 1911. It was a female in full winter dress and passed into the Coburn collection (J. R. B. Masefield). Quite possibly some of these Gulls recorded by Mosley (58, no) and ljdwin Brown as shot on the Trent in several places were obtainedStudies in Staffordshire.

B e a c k - i ie a d e d G u e e . Larus ridibundus ridibundus T. Pewit Gull, Black Cap, Mire Crow (Pitt) ; Pewit (Plot), Sea Crow (Dickenson) ; Taughing Gull (Brown). These Gulls formerly bred in the west of the county, but they have long since ceased to do so. Willughby, Ray and Plot of ancient writers have all left accounts of their nesting and the first-named wrote of them as follows :—‘ ‘ Of this kind also are those birds which yearly build and breed at Norbury in Staffordshire, in an Island in the middle of a great Pool in the Grounds of Mr. Skrimshew, 1 A242 THE BIRDS OF STAFFORDSHIRE. VOE. I,XXI.

distant at least thirty miles from the sea. About the beginning of March hither they come; about the end of April they build. They lay three, four, or five Eggs of a dirty green colour, spotted with dark brown, two inches long, of an ounce and a Staffordshirehalf weight, blunter at one end. The first Down of the Young is ash-coloured, and spotted with black .... When the Young are almost come to their full growth, those entrusted by the Eon! of the soil drive them from off the Island through the Pool into Nets set 011 the banks to take them. When they have taken them they feed them with the entrails of beasts, and when they are fat sell them for four pence or five pence apiece. They take yearly about a thousand two hundred young ones: Whence may be computed what profit the Lord makes of them. About the end of July they all fly away and leave the Island ” (The Ornithology of Francis Willughby, J. Ray, 347, 1678). When on aSample journey fromCounty .Stafford to Nantwich in May 1662, Ray remarked : ‘ ‘ We diverted out of our way to see the puits which we judged to be a sort of Lari, in a meer at Norbury, belonging to Col. Skrimshaw. They build to­ gether in an islet in the middle of a pool' ’ (The Ray Society, Memorials of John Ray, 164, 1846). Plot’s account, quaint in many ways though it is and written in a superstitious age, is more generally known, yet certain portions of it will bear repetition here. Studies He referred to these birds as ' ‘ Pewits " and considered, somewhat superstitiously perhaps, that they had a special liking for the Skrimshaw estate, “ to which they have belong’d ultra hominum memoriam, and never moved from it, though they have changed their station often. They anciently came to the old Pewit poole. . . about 1 a mile S.W. of Norbury Church,’’ but for a short time subsequently shifted their quarters to Offley Moss near Woods Eaves. At the latter locality ‘ ‘ they continued about three years, and then removed to the old pewit poole again, where they continued to the death of. . .John Skrymsher lisq : which, happening on the Eve to Our Lady-day, the very time when they are laying their Eggs, yet so concerned were they. . . I 936-3 7 - THE BIRDS OF STAFFORDSHIRE. A243

that nothwithstanding this tye of the Law of Nature, which has ever been held to be universal and perpetual, they left their nest and Eggs ; and though they made some attempts of laying again at Offley-Moss, yet they were still so disturb’d Staffordshirethat they bred not at all that year. The next year they went to Aqualat, yet continued there but two years, and then returned again to another poole of the next heir of John Skrymsher deceased, call’d Shebben poole in the parish of high Offley where they continue to this day. . . . 9. But being of the migratory kind their first appearance is not till about the latter end of February, and then in number scarce above six, which come as it were as harbingers to the rest, to see whether the Hafts or Islands in the pooles (upon which they build their nests) be prepared for them ; but these never so much as lighten, but fly over the poole scarce staying an hour : about the sixth of March following, there comes a pretty considerableSample flight, ofCounty a hundred or more, and then they alight on the hafts, and stay all day, but are gon again at night. About our Lady-Day, or sooner in a forward Spring, they come to stay for good, otherwise not till the beginning of April, when they build their nests, which they make not of sticks but heath and rushes, making them but shallow, and laying generally but 4 eggs, 3 and 5 more rarely, which are about the bigness of a small Hen-Kgg.Studies The Hafts or Islands are prepared for them between Michaelmass and Christmas, by cutting down the reeds and rushes, and putting them aside in the nooks and corners of the hafts, and in the valleys to make them level; for should they be permitted to rot on the Islands, the Pewits would not endure them. 10. After three weeks sitting the young ones are hatch’t and about a month after are almost ready to flye, which usually happens on the third of June, when the Proprietor of the poole orders them to be driven and catch’d, the Gentry coming in from all parts to see the sport; the manner thus. They pitch a Rabbit-net on the bank side, in the most con­ venient place over against the hafts, the Net in the middle being about ten yards from the side, but close at the ends A244 THE BIRDS OF STAFFORD SHIRK. VOt. tXXl.

in the manner of a bow ; then six or seven Men wade into the poole beyond the Pewits, over against the Net, with long staves, and drive them from the hafts, whence they all swim to the bank side, and landing run like Lapwings into the StaffordshireNet, where people standing ready take them up, and put them into two penns made within the bow of the Net, which are built round, about 3 yards Diameter, and a yard high or somewhat better, with small stakes driven into the ground in a circle, and interwoven with broom and other raddles, as in Tab. 19, at the bottom whereof is represented in Sculpture, the poole, and whole method of taking these Pewits ; and Norbury Manor at the top, the seat of the Proprietor, a most generous Encourager of this work. 11. In which manner there have been taken of them in one morning 50 dozens at a driving, which at 5s. per dozen (the ancient price of them) comes to twelve pounds ten shillings; but atSample several driftsCounty that have been anciently made in the same morning, there have been as many taken as have been sold for thirty pounds, so that some years the profit of them has amounted to fifty or three score pounds, beside what the generous Proprietor usually presents his Relations, and the Nobility and Gentry of the County withall, which he constantly does in a plentifull manner, sending them to their houses in Crates alive, so that feedingStudies them with livers and other entrals of beasts, they may kill them at what distance of time they please, according as occasions present themselves, they being accounted a good dish at the most plentifull Tables. 12. But they commonly appoint 3 days of driving them, within fourteen days or thereabouts, by the second or third of J u n e ; which while they are doing, some have observed a certain old one that seems to be somewhat more concerned than the rest, being clamorous, and striking down upon the heads of the Men ; which has given ground of suspicion, that they have some Government amongst them, and that this is their Prince, that is so much concerned for its Subjects. And ’tis further observed that when there is great plenty of T936-37- THU BIRDS OF STAFFORDSHIRE. A 245

them, the Lent-Corn of the Country is so much the better, and so the Cow pastures too, by reason they pick up all the worms, and the Fcrn-flyes, which though bred in the Fern, yet nip and feed on the young corn and grass, and hinder Staffordshiretheir grow th” (Plot, 231-233). Plot (234) also mentioned a “ Pewit catch’t at Norbury with 4 leggs.” In 1798 Dickenson (96) remarked that “ great numbers, as described by Dr. Plot, continued to breed on the islands of pools, near Batchacre, Until the year 1794 ; when and since which time, scarcely a bird has bred in the neighbour­ hood.” They must have ceased altogether to breed there­ abouts very shortly after Dickenson wrote, for by 1816 Pitt (322) described “ the Shebben and Pewit pools,” as " now drained and enclosed and of course deserted by their former occupiers.” He continued that the '' lands, arable, meadow, and pasture, areSample mixed in dueCounty proportion throughout the parish, and are well cultivated.” He was informd by “ an aged person ” living in 1826 that the net was ‘ ‘ placed on the bank of the pool, as a snare. . .about two feet high; and when the young were driven and entangled therein, they were put in baskets covered with nets.” The site of Shebdon (Shebben) pool has now completely disappeared, but its area is shown on a large scale map of the manor of High Offley (c. 1800) in the possession ofStudies Mr. S. A. H. Burne. ‘ ‘ There was on all sides but the eastern a trimming of uncultivated waste land. Endorsed on the map is '' Haft for pewits” (57, 124, 1923). The Woods Eves locality is now represented by fields in which here and there a few rushes testify to a natural damp­ ness and which are still known as '' Pewit Eields ” (S. A. H. Burne). At the present time Black-headed Gulls occur at all seasons in many lowland situations and at ponds and flashes of water within the Potteries. In north Staffordshire they are not so common. Nine were seen in Calton pastures on May 24th 1907 (Zoologist, iv, 13, 112, 1909). Others occasionally A246 THE BIRDS OF STAFFORDSHIRE. VOL. LXXI.

appear in the Alstonlield district (B. R. S. Pemberton) and they have been noticed flying near Dovedale in spring (E. Grindey). In the Churnet valley and around Cheadle they are fairly rare. The late E. W. H. Blagg saw a flock of Staffordshiresixteen near this town on April 5th 1896. In the Hanley museum there is a bird of the year obtained at Moddershall on July 16th 1915. Dr. R. H. Read has noticed Black-headed Gulls in small flocks flying over north-west Staffordshire towards the north and they have been recorded from Madeley (25, 24, 1891) and Weston-under-Eizard (W. Marchant). They occur at Aqualate and other western pools, as well as at the southern reservoirs and large sheets of water. The Black-headed Gull occurs regularly at Bellfields throughout the year except about mid-summer; numbers fluctuate greatly and they seem to be most numerous at the year’s end, e.g. there were 150 on DecemberSample 27th 1926 andCounty over 100 on December 24th 1930. [A. W. Boyd, “ Notes from Staffs. Reservoirs,” Brit. Birds, (nrag.), 19, to 29]. In the summer of 1885, a pair remained near Brewood for some time (28, 57, 1894). Black-headed Gulls appear throughout the Trent valley ; they pass over the Stone neighbourhood on migration and apparently some are partially residential thereabouts (P. C. Dutton), as also in the Potteries area. Studies

Co m m o n G u l l . Lams canus canus E. Mew, Sea Mall (Pitt). Common Gulls are not so common in Staffordshire as Herring Gulls and Black-Headed Gulls and they are scarce in the north of the county Excepting Plot the earliest writers mentioned this species casually in their lists. The late E. W. H. Blagg considered he saw an immature Common Gull flying low and quartering the ground for food near Stanton on February 27th 1892. Common Gulls occasionally appear near Alstonfield (B. R. S. Pemberton) 1936-37- THE BIRDS OF STAFFORDSHIRE. A247

but I liave never seen, or heard of, any in the Churnet valley and near Cheadle they are very rarely observed. The late F. Coburn examined many mounted examples, chiefly in immature dress from around Chasetown and he reckoned Staffordshirethem regular visitors to Norton pool (44, 105, 1910), but they are of irregular occurrence at Bellfields. Between 1925 and 1935 noted seven times—in January, March, August, October and December [A. W. Boyd, “ Notes from Staffs. Reservoirs,” Brit. Birds, (mag.), 19 to 29]. They sometimes appear along the Trent. Mosley (57) remarked that they came to his district oc­ casionally in considerable quantity and about the year 1823 over a hundred stayed nearly two days on his pool at Rolleston. They visit the Potteries not infrequently and in small flocks, or singly, consort with other Gulls on flashes and pools. BeforeSample the great frostCounty of early 1895 Dr. A. M. McAldowie saw one near Hanford on some flood-land but shortly afterwards apparently the same bird was found frozen to death. With a usual antipathy towards Gulls, a Rook was seen mobbing it on one occasion (29, 57,1895). Usually these Gulls are seen crossing over north-west (Staffordshire in winter and in small flocks when passing north in spring (28, 57, 1894). Studies

H e r r in g G u i.i.. Lams argentatus argentatus Pont. Herring Gulls occur throughout the county on migration and in winter, when storm driven, they are often seen in low­ land Staffordshire. They visit all the Trent valley, various sewage-farms and the larger pools and reservoirs, as well as flashes and ponds within the Potteries. They are rarely seen at Bellfields. In 1935 Mr. H. G. Alexander saw three on February 7th; one adult on April 28th which departed to the north ; several on December 22nd [Brit. Birds, (mag.), 29, 352, 1936]. On March 1st 1936 Mr. A. W. Boyd saw two at Bellfields. A248 THE BIRDS OF STAFFORDSHIRE. VOR. I,XXI.

About 150 Gulls, chiefly Herring Gulls, were seen on meadows near Okeover on November 27th 1905 (41, 68, 1907). They pass over the northern hills in spring when Staffordshiretheir course is often towards some point of the north or west. Later in summer and in autumn it has a southerly or south­ westerly trend and at any time of the year few are seen flying east in north Staffordshire. Small parties also fly northward over the west and north-west of the country in spring.

L e s s e r B r a c k -B a c k e d Guu,. Lams fuscus grcellsii Brehm. Yellow legged Gull (Garner). Lesser Black-backed Gulls occur in the county during stormy weather as well as on passage. Many of those seen, like Herring GullsSample are immature, and this fact is confusing for observation when they flyCounty high. These Gulls often appear in the Potteries and are common in south Staffordshire (44, 105, 1910), while they follow very similar lines of flight over the uplands to those pursued by Herring Gulls. Seen occasionally at Bellfields: One in May and fourteen on September 6th 1925 ; in 1930 ; two im­ mature birds on May 17th (H. G. Alexander) ; in 1932 seven adults on April 24th ; in 1935 011 March 30thStudies Mr. H. G. Alexander saw an adult (and two immature birds presumably of this species) pass to the N.W. Also in 1935 single birds were seen in June, July, August and September. [A. W. Boyd, “ Notes from Staffs. Reservoirs,” Brit. Birds, (mag.), 19 to 29]. An adult Lesser Black-backed Gull I shot near Oakamoor in the early spring of 1907 had swallowed a young Puppy which latter is still in my possession. Garner (290) mentioned this species, but earlier writers omitted it from their lists.