xliv INTRODUCTION. 



even as a casual breeder, once nested in some abundance 

 on the cliffs at Flamborough. It is satisfactory to have 

 information so interesting on the high authority of Arthur 

 Strickland. The former breeding of such birds as the Black 

 Guillemot, Grey-lag Goose, Avocet, Ruff, Black-tailed Godwit, 

 and Black Tern, is mentioned under the head of the respective 

 species. 



Such are the principal losses which Yorkshire has sustained 

 in breeding birds, the result chiefly of the changes which have 

 taken place in the physical aspect of the county. 



To all rules there are, of course, exceptions ; and it is 

 therefore not surprising to find that winter visitants, like 

 the Short-eared Owl, Hooded Crow, and Tufted Duck ; 

 casual visitants, as the Bearded Reedling, Siskin, Crossbill, 

 Cirl Bunting, and Goshawk, have occasionally, and in isolated 

 instances, remained to breed. 



With respect to migratory species, the dates of arrival 

 and departure quoted are mainly those observed on the coast, 

 as more likely to be reliable than observations made in inland 

 localities. 



It is of interest to note that in addition to the Cuneate- 

 tailed Gull, and Bulwer's Petrel which are unique as British 

 specimens there are several other species whose first men- 

 tioned occurrence in Britain was in this county. Amongst 

 these are the Waxwing (1681), Red-breasted Goose (1766, 

 one also occurring near London about the same time), Scops 

 Owl (1805), Red-footed Falcon (April 1830), Orphean Warbler 

 (1849), anc * Lesser Kestrel (1867) ; and probably also the 

 Eagle Owl, mentioned by Pennant in 1768 as having once 

 been shot in Yorkshire. 



The species added to the Yorkshire list in recent years 

 are the Desert Wheatear, Barred Warbler, Yellow-browed 

 Warbler, Icterine Warbler, Blue-headed Wagtail, Blue- 

 headed Yellow Wagtail, Lesser Grey Shrike, Red-breasted 

 Flycatcher, Serin, Coues' Redpoll, Greenland Redpoll, 

 Northern or Russian Bullfinch, Siberian Meadow Bunting, 

 [Blue-tailed Bee-eater], Snow Goose, American Wigeon, Red- 

 crested Pochard, Rufous Turtle Dove, Capercaillie, McQueen's 



