MR SELBY ON THK WINTER OP 1838. 189 



showers or falls of snow and hail, which, in consequence of the calm state 

 of tin? atmosphere, fell level upon the surface. It thus continued falling 

 at frequent intervals, more or less, for nearly a fortnight, when the snow 

 had accumulated to the depth of ten or twelve inches over the whole sur- 

 face of the country, the frost, at the same time continuing to increase in 

 intensity, till every brook and pool was locked up in ice and frozen snow. 

 In consequence of this deep covering the birds, particularly those of the 

 insectivorous tribe, or whose chief pabulum consists of worms and in- 

 sects, soon began to feel the effects of famine ; and blackbirds, red- 

 breasts, hedge-sparrows, &c., were reduced, at a comparatively early 

 part of the storm, to a deplorable state of weakness, and were daily found 

 dead or dying from the combined effect of hunger and cold. Many 

 fieldfares also perished at this early stage of the frost, though the great 

 body of this emigratory species, soon after the commencement of the 

 storm, moved southwards ; the thrushes also, which I have previously 

 observed were singing at Christmas, entirely disappeared, a precaution 

 I have observed for many years to take place in regard to this species, 

 whenever a storm or frost of any continuance has occurred. I may re- 

 mark, that, previous to the commencement of the storm, all the haws 

 and other berries which are the occasional food of the thrush tribe, had 

 been devoured by them, so that no resource of this nature was left them 

 to fly to when the frost first set in. About this period of the storm, 

 that is, after a fortnight's continuance, the arrival of a great variety of the 

 rarer kinds of water-fowl along the line of coast proclaimed the intensity as 

 well as the wide extended range of the cold. Wild swans then made their 

 appearance in flocks, and for two or three weeks several of these birds 

 took up their residence in Buddie Bay, when, as may be supposed, their 

 unwonted presence caused an active pursuit, and many individuals were 

 shot. Among them, I may mention two that were taken alive, having 

 been wounded, but only so as, in conjunction with their reduced condi- 

 tion, to incapacitate them for flight ; these soon became very tame, and 

 were afterwards placed by W. B. Clark, Esq. of Belford Hall, in a 

 piece of water, .where one of them continues to thrive, and now associates 

 with a common goose ; the other died during the course of the summer, 

 apparently from the effects of some internal wounds it had received. 

 Both of these were of the common or elk species ( Cygnus ferns ), nor 

 did any specimen of Cygnus Bewickii come under my observation, 

 though I am aware that a few individuals of this species were taken in 

 other parts of the kingdom. In other districts of the country, and in the 

 south of England, the destruction of these beautiful and noble birds was 

 very great. Among the rarer species of water-fowl killed upon our 

 coast, the following are deserving of notice. Larus minutus (little gull) 

 near Embleton, the first instance, I believe, of its occurrence upon the 

 Northumbrian coast ; this is now in the possession of our brother mem- 

 ber, Mr R. Embleton. Several specimens also of the Mergus cdbellus 



