214 THE BIRDS OF YORKSHIRE. 



by the severity of the weather in the regions whence it com^ 

 rather than b}' that in this country, although it is often noticed 

 that a great influx precedes or follows gales from the north. 

 It was very abundant in 1860-61, 1869-70, and again 

 in 1871, a mild open season ; in 1872, 1873, and 1877-78. 

 In 1881-82 one of the heaviest migrations on record took 

 place ; an enormous rush extending from the 14th of November 

 until the end of December. The great rush at the Teesmouth 

 was from the 23rd to the 25th of November, and again from 

 the 6th to the loth of December, many thousands remaining 

 to feed on the adjoining corn stubbles. Another heavy rush 

 occurred in 1882 at the Teesmouth early in December, 

 preceding the snowstorm on the 5th of that month. 

 I have frequently observed the " ower-sea bird " coming 

 in from the east-south-east, and sometimes from north-east ; 

 and when off at sea have noticed flocks on migration. One 

 of the latest dates was on 29th December 1883, when about 

 twenty passed the boat at 1-30 p.m., flying west-south-west. 

 In 1892 there were more recorded from Spurn and Easington 

 than were ever before known, and the same winter an enormous 

 flight came in on the 24th of November at Redcar ; they 

 were plentiful also in 1895-96. On 31st October 1901, an 

 arrival from due north took place at Redcar, in company 

 with Siskins, Finches, and other small birds, and on the 

 22nd of November, after a gale from the north, the sand- 

 hills at the Tees Breakwater were swarming with new- 

 comers, mostly adults, nearly all of which left during the 

 next few days. 



On first arrival these Buntings feed on the seeds of salt- 

 loving plants, and are capable of withstanding more cold than 

 most other small birds ; even in the severest weather, long 

 after our resident birds are starving and have betaken them- 

 selves to the stackyards, the cheery chirp of the Snow Bunting 

 may be heard as it flits along the sand-banks or over the 

 hard frozen foreshore ; at these times it often resorts to the 

 sands below high-water mark and feeds amongst the sea-coal 

 and other debris washed up by the tide. Late in winter 

 they take to the fields and stubbles, and are frequently found 



