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The Spotted Crake (Porzana maruetta) breeds in the marshes 

 on the north side of the estuary, and is frequently shot in the 

 autumn. Baillon's Crake (Porzana lailloni) and the Little Crake 

 (Porzana parva) have been met with in the same place. 



In stormy weather the Storm Petrel (Procellaria pelagica) and 

 the Little Auk (Mergulus alle) are often driven into the estuary. 

 On the 22nd November, 1884, I got a fine specimen of the latter, 

 and others were seen. 



The Great Snipe ( Gallinago major) is occasionally shot in the 

 marshes. The Jack Snipe (Limnocryptes gallinula) and the 

 Common Snipe (Oallinago ccelestis) were, until late years, 

 abundant, the latter breeding there. In speaking of the Common 

 Snipe, Brewster, in his List, says : — " I am informed that there 

 is a Snipe sometimes shot in the marsbes, which is commonly 

 called the Eussian Snipe ; it is larger than the Common Snipe, 

 and differs from it in the white lines on the back, and some other 

 marks of the plumage. As I have not yet seen a specimen, I 

 know not whether it be a distinct species or only a variety of the 

 Common Snipe." 



Of rare birds that have been procured here, I may mention the 

 Avocet (Recurvirostra avocetta), the Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia), 

 and some Pallas' Sand Grouse (Syrrhaptes paradoxus), shot at 

 Port Clarence in 1863, which went to Mr. Oxley's collection at 

 Redcar ; two bought at his sale are now in the Newcastle 

 Museum. 



A Bee-Eater (Merops apiaster) was shot some years ago under 

 peculiar circumstances. A wild-fowler had seated himself in a 

 slag-bank to wait for birds, when suddenly a bird alighted on the 

 barrel of his gun. He shot it, and it turned out to be a specimen 

 of this rare bird.* The commonest of the Falconidas are the 

 Kestrel (Tinnunculus alaudarius~) and the Sparrow Hawk (Aecipiter 

 nisus) ; and the Merlin ( Falco msalon) is by no means uncommon 

 in the autumn and winter months ; while the Iceland Falcon 

 (Falco islandus), the Hobby (Falco subbuteo), and the Rough-legged 

 Buzzard (Archibuteo lagopus) have been shot here, and I have 

 heard of one of the latter being noticed inland this autumn (1886). 



* Mr. Hancock (' Birds of Northumberland,' &c, p. 28) says an example 

 of the Blue-tailed Bee-eater (Merops philipinus) ' was shot near the Snook, 

 Seaton Carew, in August 1862.' I have not been able to ascertain whether 

 the above refers to the same bird as my own note, made several years ago 

 from information communicated by a friend, who saw the bird. 



