BIRD-LIFE ON THE MOORS IN OCTOBER. 



109 



of October) they are often congregated during wet weather on 

 the bare black ground where the heather has been burnt, 

 and where they feed all night. Frost or snow at once drives 

 them off the hills. 



The oceanic birds, such as Solan Geese, Petrels, and Little 

 Auks, seem peculiarly liable to get driven inland after 

 stormy weather at sea. One often hears of instances of their 

 occurrence in most unlikely localities. Thus a young 

 Solan Goose was caught alive near Elsdon on October 31, 

 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 evidently refers 

 to another occurrence of this species (a young Solan Goose) 

 inland, and is sufficiently amusing to deserve insertion : — 



A wonderful bird has been found by a shepherd near Kirton-in- 

 Lindsaj, Lincolnshire. It is about the size of a Turkey, dark grey 

 speckled, web-footed, quite amphibious. The naturalists of the dis- 

 trict are quite puzzled, some thinking it to be a Northern diver, and 

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

 Newcastle Daily Journal, October 22, 1886. 



Small wonder, surely, that the naturalists of the district 

 should be puzzled with a Vulture which was web-footed, and 

 " quite amphibious " ! 



