592 THE BIRDS OF YORKSHIRE. 



year 1836, in the summer plumage, in a drain, and in September of 

 the same year another was shot, in the winter plumage, in a pond near 

 Doncaster ; Dr. Farrar says of this rare and beautiful species " I have 

 obtained three specimens ; the first was caught alive, apparently 

 uninjured, in the low marshy grounds of Bolton-upon-Dearne, by a 

 party of poachers ; the second was shot on the margin of a small pond 

 adjoining a few cottages at Hound Hill, near Barnsley, in 1835." A 

 fine specimen that was taken up alive in a ditch a short distance from 

 York, came into my own possession a few years ago. 



The Grey Phalarope is an uncertain and irregular visitant 

 in autumn and winter, in some years being altogether absent, 

 in others odd specimens are recorded, and at rare intervals 

 it has appeared in considerable numbers, as in 1854, when the 

 late Rev. Henry Smith shot four at Redcar,* and the late A. 

 Roberts of Scarborough had fourteen brought to him for 

 preservation. The year 1866 also was unusually prolific 

 in birds of this species throughout the kingdom, the visitation 

 extending to this county, as recorded by the late W. W. 

 Boulton, who obtained two examples in East Yorkshire 

 (Zoo/. 1867, p. 540). It has been only once reported in 

 summer plumage, viz., in Allis's oft-quoted Report, the 

 individuals met with being usually in immature or winter garb. 

 It is most frequently brought under observation on the 

 coast during the prevalence of strong gales, and, as it is of 

 a remarkably tame and confiding nature, it falls a victim to 

 the first gunner who notices it. My earliest acquaintance with 

 this bird was in October 1874, when I saw one swimming 

 amongst the breakers near East Scar, where it was eventually 

 shot by a fisherman. 



The Grey Phalarope has occurred with more or less 

 frequency at most of the coast stations, after heavy weather. 

 The inland localities from which it has been recorded, in 

 addition to those mentioned by Edwards and Allis, are : 

 Kirkthorpe, near Wakefield, in September 1861, and two at 

 Horbury ; Denby, near Huddersfield, November 1873 ; 

 Hambleton ; Birchworth Reservoir, December 1876 ; Wetherby 



* Mr. Smith informed Mr. W. Eagle Clarke that these were Red- 

 necked Phalaropes, and as such they were recorded in the " Vertebrate 

 Fauna of Yorkshire." 



