238 BIRD-LIFE OF THE BORDERS 



The oceanic birds, such as solan geese, petrels, and 

 little auks, seem peculiarly liable to get driven inland after 

 stormy weather at sea. One frequently hears of their 

 occurrence in most unlikely localities. Thus a young- 

 solan goose was caught alive near Elsdon, October 31st, 

 1883. It was in an exhausted condition, and did not 

 long survive ; but that was hardly surprising, since the 

 only food he was offered was cold mutton ! 



The following cutting from a local paper obviously refers 

 to another occurrence inland of this same species (a young 

 solan goose), and is sufficiently amusing to deserve 

 insertion : — 



"A wonderful bird has been found by a shepherd near 

 Kirton-in- Lindsay, Lincolnshire. It is about the size of 

 a turkey, dark grey, speckled, web-footed, quite am- 

 phibious. The naturalists of the district are quite puzzled, 

 some thinking it to be a Northern Diver, others a Vulture 

 escaped from a ship, or driven away by the gale." — 

 A T eivcastle Daily Journal, October 22nd, 1886. 



One's sympathy goes out to those "naturalists of the 

 district." Small wonder that they should be puzzled 

 with a vulture which was web-footed, and "quite 

 amphibious ! " 



