Ill 



ORNITHOLOGICAL NOTES FOR 1899. 

 By R. G. Clayton. 



At the Club excursions, which I attended, but little bird-life 

 was visible, except the ordinary inhabitants of our district. In- 

 deed, there are few opportunities, nor is there much likelihood, 

 of making interesting observations, unless the Ornithologist can 

 get away from the highroads and footpaths into little frequented 

 places, where our feathered friends may hope for quietude 

 during the period of their housekeeping. 



The ramble along the Tees bank from Yarm to WorsaU 

 revealed nothing but hedge sparrows, blue-tits, thrushes and the 

 like, although the neighbourhood seemed a promising one. A 

 herring-gull was flying over the river, which caused me to 

 recollect that during the past few years gulls of several species 

 seem to go further into the country than was formerly the case. 

 My attention was called to this fact by several farmers, as well 

 as other friends in various parts of Cleveland. 



There ueems to have been an increase in the number of 

 carrion crows last Spring on the Moorlands. Several were 

 killed, where they had not been noticed for a considerable 

 period. 



On August 26th a white bullfinch was shot at Saltburn. I 

 examined this bird and found it was a pure albino with the 

 characteristic pink eyes. The faint shadings discernible in the 

 white plumage gave it a pretty effect. 



On the 3rd November I purchased of one of the game 

 dealers in the town a curiously plumaged grouse (male) Lagopus 

 scoticus) which had come, with other game, from a local moor. 

 The colour varied from cream to brown, but, principally, was of 

 a sort of rufous tint, almost devoid of the beautiful pencilling 

 usual with the normal feathered bird. Variations of plumage 

 amongst red grouse are somewhat exceptional, hence I mention 

 this specimen. 



In the same month a grey phalarope (Phalaropus fuUcarius) 

 was shot at Redcar. These birds are becoming rarer in their 

 visits now. 



