VOL. VI.] NOTES. 345 



NOTES FOR 1912 FROM YORKSHIRE. 



Shoyeler [Sfatula clypeata). — A flock of " upwards of thirty " 

 was reported upon reliable authority as frequenting for a 

 short time during July a private lake much resorted to by 

 wild ducks, not far from Scarborough. 



Shac; {Phalacrocorax gracvlufi) . — Formerly quite an unusual 

 visitor to this part of the coast, the Shag has been a winter- 

 visitor in annually increasing numbers since 1907. In 

 February of that year I saw six — all immature birds — which 

 frequented the Scarborough Harbour until well into the 

 spring. Each autumn since then this chstrict has been 

 visited by Shags, whose' numbers have increased year by 

 year. Probably a couple of hunched birds have wintered 

 with us during the past six months. They do not remain 

 to nest. 



Sooty Shearwater {Pufpnus griseus). — A specimen was 

 shot from a boat off Scarborough on the evening of October 

 10th, and was brought to me in the flesli. 



Common Guillemot {Uria troille). — On July 9th I saw 

 passing Filey Brigg, at a distance of about fifty yards, a 

 Guillemot which appeared to be as dark-coloured beneath as 

 on the back. No white was discernible. The bird was in 

 company Avith several other normally-coloured Guillemots, 

 and was certainly not U. grylle, being much too large and 

 lacking the white patches upon the wings. 



Little Auk {Alle alle). — A smaller movement than that 

 which took place in January was obser\ed in the neighbour- 

 hood of Scarborough during early November, when for about 

 a week specimens might be seen almost at any time, swimming 

 or flying past. The weather being calm, no great mortality 

 took place, but even under these favourable conditions 

 several birds, all very thin and weak, were picked up alive 

 on the beach. W. J. Clarke. 



TEAL X WIGEON HYBRID. 



On November 30th, 1912, tvhile staying near Southminster, 

 Essex, a duck which had been caught the previous day in 

 one of the few remaining Essex decoys, was brought to me 

 alive. It was at once apparent thatthis bird, which was a 

 male in almost full plumage, did not belong to any of the 

 usual British species. At first sight much like a drake 

 Teal (Aims c. crecca) though larger, it had the characteristic 

 slate-coloured bill of the Wigeon {A7ias fxnelope) and in other 

 respects, as will be seen, resembled the latter bird. The 



