LAPLAND BUNTING. 211 



coming in autumn from north Scandinavia, its line of 

 flight is more to the east of these islands, and it follows 

 the European coast line southward ; although its appearance 

 in considerable numbers in Fair Isle, in autumn, would lead 

 us to suppose it might be of more frequent occurrence on our 

 shores. 



The Yorkshire records are not numerous, and may be 

 given in extenso :— 



One was caught by J. Kitching, in Ruswarp Fields, about 

 a mile from Whitby, in the spring of 1870, or thereabouts, 

 and is now in the Whitby Mviseum (T. Stephenson MS.). 



At Scarborough one was netted with Skylarks, on 6th 

 January 1893 (W. J. Clarke MS.). 



The famous headland of Flamborough appears to be more 

 favoured than any other locality, there being no fewer than 

 three successive years when the bird was noticed there. 

 On nth May 1893, Messrs. M. Bailey and J. Cordeaux saw 

 an adult male close to the edge of Bempton Cliffs, as recorded 

 in the Zoologist (1893, p. 225), and in November of the same 

 year Mr. Bailey sent word to Mr. Cordeaux that a large 

 flock was near Flamborough village. Mr. Cordeaux proceeded 

 to the place on the 21st of the month, and found the birds 

 on a barley stubble, associating with Snow Buntings, "Redpolls, 

 Siskins, and other small species. It was estimated that the 

 flock comprised some one hundred and twenty individuals, 

 and the observers had abundant opportunities of inspecting 

 them at close quarters. They might be easily passed over 

 for Tree Sparrows, having similar habits to those birds of 

 crowding on a hedge-top and straggling down to feed, then 

 flying up in a body when disturbed {Nat. 1893, p. 356, and 

 1894, p. 39 ; ZooL 1894, p. 19). 



Mr. Bailey afterwards gave me a version of this visitation 

 confirming in every detail the account mentioned above. 



