14 



were^seen on land in the vicinity of Huntcliff, &c. Several 

 followed the becks into the country, and I obtained one which 

 was caught near Middlesbrough Goods Station. Also a flock 

 of these birds alighted and stayed some time in Newport 

 Board School play-ground. 



In January a male Spotted Woodpecker [Picus major) 

 was sent me from Brotton. 



On the 20th April a male Tufted Duck {Fuligula cristata) 

 was shot near Great Ay ton. 



A female Hobby (Falco subhuteo) was shot near or on Danby 

 Moors in June. This tpecies is very rare now in our district. 



On the 4th May the Club visited Battersby and Ingleby, 

 when a Blackbird's nest with four eggs was noted. • The 

 Chaffinch and Hedge Sparrow were building. Several Warb- 

 lers were about. The Pee- Wit was busy nesting. Pheasants 

 and Partridges much in evidence. 



On May 18tb, at Kilton, a very wet cold day, the Dipper 

 {Cinclus aquaticiis) had its complement of eggs, and the 

 Sparrow Hawk {Accipiter nisus) was sitting. The Engine- 

 house at Kilton Pit contained a Kestrel {Falco Hnnunculus] 

 nesting. The woods contained numbers of small birds calling 

 and flitting about. On the following Saturday, when the 

 JClub paid the visit they had projected for the previous week, 

 most of the small birds had disappeared, which the Keeper 

 attributed to the extremely cold weather that had prevailed 

 during the week. 



The exceptionally fine weather prevailing over the latter 

 part of the year must have been favourable for both migration 

 and food, as very few birds, comparatively speaking, were 

 observed, and no rarities, that I could bear of, obtained. 



Throughout the year there was a marked scarcity of birds. 

 The very severe weather in the Spring caused heavy mortality 

 amongst the small ordinary residents, and although April and 

 part of May were fine, yet a sharp spell of cold weather set 

 in about the end of the latter month, which decimated the 

 migrants before they had got settled dowri or inured to the 

 change of climate. The cold must have caused a diminution 

 in the supply of insect life, as many individuals of the Swallow 

 tribe were observed to fall to the ground apparently exhausted. 

 A female Sand Martin sent from Stokesley, on the 20th May, 

 had nothing whatever in its crop, and I was informed that 

 many of this and kindred kinds had been found dead in the 

 fields. 



