204 SHORT NOTES. 



I have conversed with old people, who say they can remember the time 

 when the birds were far more numerous than at present, which is probably 

 correct; for their nests are continually robbed of eggs, and some thousands of 

 birds must be destroyed in the course of a year. During the fine weather of 

 July, August, and September, you may often see a regular 6eet of cobbles out, 

 each with its cargo of gunners; besides these, a steamer or two from Scarbro' 

 will be occasionally cruising about. You may hear the murderous weapons 

 pealing volley after volley, awaking a thousand echoes, and making the caverned 

 cliffs boom and reverberate like distant thunder. I have stood on the edge 

 of a precipice near four hundred feet above the sea, and seen the poor 

 affrighted birds fly off b}' thousands and tens of thousands; some winging their 

 way far out to sea, others again settling on the rocky ledges, where human 

 foot could scarcely tread. It would be almost impossible to calculate the 

 deadly havoc made amongst them, but it is sufficient for me to observe that 

 a long and able article might be penned by some feeling heart in condem- 

 nation of the cruelty and wanton destruction here carried on; but as it forms 

 no part of my present paper, I will conclude with passing two or three 

 remarks on a place where a few days may be most agreeably and profitably 

 spent. Flambro' must ever be a delightful spot to the lover of Nature, 

 surrounded as it is with scenes of striking beauty and sublimity; it is 

 indeed a happy sunny-looking place; where you meet with kind attention, 

 good accommodation, and reasonable charges —three most important considerations 

 for your vagrant sort of traveller. The ornithologist will here find an endless 

 source of amusement, particularly if provided with a good telescope; the 

 botanist will be rewarded with many rare plants peculiar to the district; the 

 geologist has a wide field for study in the fossils of the chalk formation; and 

 the antiquary will find a very ancient church without a steeple, containing a 

 fine Norman font, a most elaborately-carved rood screen, some sepulchral 

 brasses of Flambro's early lords, and a host of interesting minor details; 

 while not far distant he may speculate on the ruins of the '^Danes' Tower" 

 and the earthworks about, rejoicing in the appellation of "Little Denmark." 

 The celebrated ravine known as the "Danes' Dyke" is close at hand, while 

 many tumuli may be found scattered about the district. There are few places 

 possessing such goodly store of attractions; and a volume might almost be 

 filled in illustration and praise of the "lions" of Flambro' Head. 



Leeds, 1854. 



SHORT NOTES FROM MY NOTE BOOK.— No. 1. 



BY CHARLES H. DASHWOOD, ESQ. 



Arrival of the Hinmdinidce in 1854. — The following are the dates on which 

 these birds were first noticed in this neighbourhood: — ■ 



Swallow, (Hirundo rustica,) April 15th. Sand Martin^ {Hirundo riparia,) 



