ME SELBY ON THE WINTER OF 1838. 189 



had accumulated to the depth of ten or twelve inches over the whole 

 surface of the country, the frost, at the same time continuing to 

 increase in intensity, till every brook and pool was locked up in ice 

 and frozen snow. In consequence of this deep covering the birds, 

 particularly those of the insectivorous tribe, or whose chief pabulum 

 consists of wonns and insects, soon began to feel the effects of famine ; 

 and blackbirds, redbreasts, hedge-sparrows, &c., were reduced, at a 

 comparatively early part of the storm, to a deplorable state of weak- 

 ness, and were daily found dead or dying from the combined effect of 

 hunger and cold. Many fieldfares also perished at this early stage 

 of the frost, though the great body of this migratory species, soon 

 after the commencement of the storm, moved southwards ; the thrushes 

 also, which I have previously observed were singing at Christmas, 

 entirely disappeared, a precaution I have observed for man}' years to 

 take place in regard to this species, whenever a storm or frost of any 

 continuance has occurred. I may remark, that, previous to the 

 commencement of the storm, all the haws and other berries which are 

 the occasional food of the thrush tribe, had been devoured by them, 

 so that no resource of this nature was left them to fly to when the 

 frost fii-st set in. About this period of the storm, that is, after a 

 fortnight's continuance, the arrival of a great variety of the rarer kinds 

 of water-fowl along the line of coast proclaimed the intensity as well 

 as the wide extended range of the cold. "Wild swans then made their 

 appearance in flocks, and for two or three weeks several of these birds 

 took up their residence in Budle Bay, when, as viaj be supposed, their 

 imwonted presence caused an active pursuit, and many individuals 

 were shot. Among them, I may mention two that were taken alive, 

 having been wounded, but only so as, in conjunction with their reduced 

 condition, to incapacitate them for flight ; these soon became very 

 tame, and were afterwards placed by W. B. Clark, Esq., of Belford 

 Hall, in a piece of water, where one of them continues to thrive, 

 and now associates with a common goose ; the other died during 

 the course of the summer, apparently from the effects of some 

 internal wounds it had received. Both of these were of the common 

 or elk species ( Cygims ferus), nor did any specimen of Cygnus 

 BeivicHi come under my observation, though I am aware that 

 a few individuals of this species were taken in other parts of 

 the kingdom. In other districts of the country, and in the south 

 of England, the destruction of these beautiful and noble birds was 

 very great. Among the rarer species of water-fowl killed upon our 

 coast, the following are deserving of notice. Larus mimitus (little gull) 

 near Embleton, the first instance, I believe, of its occurrence upon the 

 Northumbrian coast; this is now in the possession of our brother 

 member, Mr E. Embleton. Several specimens also of the Mergus 

 alheUus (Smew), in the adult male plumage, in which state it is con- 

 sidered a rare bird, were killed upon different parts of the coast ; and 



