310 BRITISH BIRDS. 



" Feb. 2. — G^'eat north-east gale, snow and frost. Thou- 

 sands passing north during the height of gale, flying in small 

 parties of two to four, never more, and often singly. They 

 were flying hard to head into the gale, but some were quite 

 ' done,' and S3ttled on the rocks around us as we lay in wait 

 for Brent Geese. Some passed so close as to be within reach 

 of our guns had we held them up. On settling on the rocks 

 they assumed a recumbent, not upright attitude. Several 

 were caught hiding under stones, but some were less exhausted, 

 and rose when almost within reach. Even when caught and 

 placed on a stone they seemed at home, and lay quite quietly 

 ruffling their feathers, shaking themselves and even preening 

 their wings ! All we examined were terribly thin and 

 emaciated. A few were observed when the gale had abated, 

 diving near the rocks and apparently chasing small fish which 

 rose to the surface in their eagerness to escape when the 

 Little Auk was below. Feb. 3. — Wind north-east by east, 

 even heavier than Feb. 2. Hundreds of parties of two and 

 three passing north in the same manner as yesterday. Feb. 4. — 

 Dozens found dead on the shore, some frozen stiff, some alive. 

 Gale abated, wind to south-east. Feb. 5. — Dull, mild; wind 

 south-east. One caught alive. 



" During this storm a iew were found in the Newcastle 

 streets. Mention is made in Newcastle Daily Journal of a 

 ' colony ' of three hundred in the third week in January 

 passing south at Holy Island. The correspondent said that 

 he saAV the first early in December." 



Yorkshire. — Over fortv were brought to the local taxi- 

 dermist at Beverley. (F.' Boj^es, Field, 17.11.1912, p. 304.) 



Lancashire. — One was picked up by the head water-bailiff 

 on the River Lune near Lancaster on February 2nd, 1912. 

 It was under the telegraph-wires, against which it had been 

 kUled, the head being completelv severed from the body. 

 (F. Smalley.) 



" I can account for at least fifteen found near Lancaster. 

 Mr. Harrison, the Lancaster taxidermist, received six for 

 preservation, and Mr. Murray, the Carnforth taxidermist, 

 seven, whilst I picked the remains of two others out of one 

 rubbish heap close to the toAA^i, and have no doubt that a 

 walk doAMi the Lune estuary Avould have brought to light many 

 more." (H. W. Robinson.) 



Cheshire. — One was picked up dead in the village of 

 Prestbury, near Macclesfield. (R. E. Knowles.) 



Carnarvonshire. — " I saw a single Little Auk on February 

 2nd, flying westward over the sands in Llandudno Bay. 



