598 THE BIRDS OF YORKSHIRE. 



they strike the lanterns of our sea beacons, many being 

 thus immolated at Spurn and Flamborough ; at the latter 

 station in October 1864, a Woodcock dashed through the 

 quarter-inch glass, and was picked up dead and mutilated 

 amongst the lamps. A south-east to north-east wind is most 

 favourable for coast observation, as the birds on arrival are 

 exhausted and ready to drop anywhere, and under these 

 conditions, with the addition of a foggy or drizzly atmosphere, 

 the coast gunners are always on the alert for the " Cocks' ' 

 advent to take advantage of the opportunity to make a 

 good bag. 



A quaint reference to the migration of this bird is made 

 in a communication from Ralph Johnson of Brignall, to the 

 renowned John Ray, thus : — " Brignall, 7th May 1686. Sir 

 .... and Woodcockes from Norway come often so tired 

 to us." (" Correspondence of John Ray," p. 183.) 



At Flamborough, on arriving, they frequently drop at the 

 foot of the cliffs, being sometimes found amongst the boulders 

 on the shore, or seek shelter in the little ravines running 

 up from the beach ; several occurred there in October 1903, 

 and it is quite a mistaken idea to imagine they are lean or 

 in poor condition on first landing, for of their estimable 

 qualities I have personal experience. At Redcar they com- 

 monly find refuge in the benty grass on the sand-hills and 

 the Tees Breakwater, and occur in most unlikely situations : 

 in the streets, in doorways and on window-sills, in yards, 

 gardens (I flushed one, on 21st November 1902, in the garden 

 behind my house), on the sands, and amongst the fishing 

 cobles. Although generally observed singly on migration, 

 they do occasionally cross the sea in company ; I have on 

 three separate occasions seen two together, and, in November 

 1877, when they were very abundant in Cleveland, a small 

 party of nine was noticed coming in from seaward. 



According to the information supplied to the British Associa- 

 tion Migration Committee, and detailed in their Reports, it is 

 found that great arrivals of Woodcock took place as follows : — 



1881. 19th to 20th October. Upwards of a hundred 

 shot at Spurn. 



