and Vegetable Life by the Winter of 1838. 335 



a fortnight, when the snow 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 worms and insects, soon began 

 to feel the effects of famine ; and blackbirds, redbreasts, hedge-spar- 

 rows, &c. were reduced, at a comparatively early part of the storm, 

 to a deplorable state of weakness, and were daily found dead or dy- 

 ing 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 emigratory 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 precau- 

 tion I have observed for many 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 first set in. About this pe- 

 riod 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 

 Buddie Bay, when, as may be supposed, their unwonted presence 

 caused an active pursuit, and many individuals were shot. Among 

 them, I may mention two that were taken alive, having been wound- 

 ed, 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 sum- 

 mer, apparently from the effects of some internal wounds it had re- 

 ceived. Both of these were of the common or elk species (Cygnus 

 ferus), nor did any specimen of Cygnus Bewickii come under my ob- 

 servation, 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 beau- 

 tiful and noble birds was very great. Among the rarer species of 

 water- fowl killed upon our coast, the following are deserving of no- 

 tice. Lurus minutus (Little Gull) near Embleton, the first instance, 

 I believe, of its occurrence upon the Northumbrian coast ; this is 



