Birds. 9595 



Arram, ou the 18th of March; I purchased it in the flesh for my 

 collection. The pintail frequently finds its way into the Hull Market 

 with other ducks shot by the punt men on the Humber; but the 

 specimen I have recorded is the only pintail I have seen that had 

 been shot on our own river, the Hull. 



SlonecJiat. — I have never met with the stonechat in the immediate 

 neighbourhood of Beverley until the present month. On the 25ih of 

 March an old male of this species was shot on Swine Moor, one of 

 our common pastures, by Mr. Bell, jun., of Beverley. I secured it, in 

 the flesh, for my collection. -When shot it was alone, and no other of 

 the same species has since been seen. I once saw a specimen that 

 had been shot near Cottingham, about five miles from Beverley ; it is 

 in the possession of, and was shot by, Mr. P. Martin, gamekeeper, of 

 that place. 



Rock Dove.—Thh undoubted originator of the now almost number- 

 less varieties of domestic pigeon breeds on the more lofty and rocky 

 portions of our eastern coast. In the winter months flocks of these 

 birds come inland searching for food, and from the widely distant 

 points where they may be seen throughout East Yorkshire at this in- 

 clement season of the year, I conclude they traverse great distances to 

 their feeding-grounds, like their congener, the passenger pigeon of 

 America. In the " carrs" of this portion of the Elast Riding flocks of 

 the rock dove may frequently be seen at times feeding along with 

 wanderers from the neighbouring cotes, and I am informed occasionally 

 returning with the domestic birds to their more genial abodes. A cross 

 between the wild rock dove and common domestic pigeon is often 

 met with as the consequence of this intermingling of the races. These 

 birds are fertile inter se, are smaller than the domestic birds, are very 

 hardy, and are endowed with wonderful powers of flight. They are 

 much sought after for trapping at pigeon-matches, as they afford better 

 sport in consequence of their greater agility on the wing. I obtained 

 an old male rock dove the other day that had been shot by Mr. Grant, 

 of Arram, together with another of the same species, in the "carrs" of 

 Arram, near Beverley. I understand that they have been unusually 

 abundant during this long and severe winter. 



Gray Wagtail.— T\n% species, known here as the "winter wagtail," 

 may be seen, almost any bright winter's day, gracefully flitting or 

 running along the river's brink, or the margin of one of those numerous 

 drains and streams that intersect our pastures or fringe our lanes with 

 their silvery thread. But with the advent of spring they leave us for 

 more favoured breeding haunts. I was surprised to see at Mr. Richard 



