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at this date, and there were immense flocks of Dunlins and King 

 Dotterels while a good many Curlews (Numenius arquata) were 

 about. I also noticed about half a dozen Duck, which I think were 

 Teal, but the light at the time was not very good. On the 24th 

 several Bar-tail Godwits (Limosa lapponica) and Turnstones 

 (Strepsilas interpres) were noticed, and two of the former shot, and 

 one or two Common Terns (Sterna fluviatilis) were shot for identifi- 

 cation in the place frequented by the Terns before mentioned. A 

 smal lflock of Little Stints were also noticed, and Sanderlings were 

 frequently seen ; this is one of the most restless of shore birds, 

 being always in motion, and running at a very rapid pace for so 

 small a bird. On the 25th I noticed three or four darker birds 

 in the flock of Terns ; these were probably Black Terns 

 (Hydrochelidon nigra). On this date I picked up a fine Turnstone 

 in winter plumage. About the end of August I heard of two 

 Little Stints being shot at the Durham side of the Tees estuary, 

 and one at Bedcar. Some Sandwich Terns (Sterna cantiaca) were 

 also shot at Bedcar. 



About the second week in September I noticed a flock of Terns 

 about ten miles up the river, apparently Arctic or Common Terns, 

 or probably both. About the 17th September an immature Buff 

 (Machetes pugnax) was shot in Cowpen Marshes, and on the 18th 

 two Spotted Crakes (Porzana maruetta). On a visit to the Tees 

 Breakwater in the early morning of the 18th September, I noticed 

 four or five Cormorants (Phalacrocorax carlo) fishing on the sea 

 side of the breakwater close into the shore ; this is a favourite 

 fishing-ground for Cormorants. The morning was bright and the 

 birds seemed singularly large as they circled round and round, 

 every now and again dashing with lightning rapidity into the 

 seething water, sending the spray several feet high, and emerging 

 again in a few moments. A few hours later these same birds may 

 be seen sitting on the rocks opposite Huntcliffe, with their wings 

 spread out to the sun to dry, and presenting a very odd and 

 curious spectacle. Numbers of Gulls and a few Skuas were about, 

 and we witnessed some very pretty chases, the latter invariably 

 seeming to effect his purpose, as evidenced by his sudden drop 

 after a severe chase, to intercept the fish given up by the Gull. 

 On this same morning the sands between the breakwater and 

 Bedcar were alive with Wheatears (Saxicola cenanthe) and Pied 

 Wagtails (Motacilla lugutris), particularly the former, and there 

 was evidently a migration taking place overhead as well ; numbers 

 of Larks seemed to be coming in from the north or north-west, 

 and passing on inland. 



