The Zoologist — January, 1866. 23 



forming a natural fosse to that wonderful defensive embankment 

 which from this point runs completely across the promontory. The 

 sides of this valley are clothed with gorse and tall herbaceous plants, 

 venerable hawthorns and a long line of plantation, with an under- 

 growth of broom, gorse and bracken, affording an admirable shelter 

 and retreat for many of our migratory birds on their first arrival, and 

 it is said a famous place for woodcocks. We walked along the top of 

 the embankment to the northern side of the headland, a distance of 

 nearly three miles, observing on our way numerous flocks of redwings 

 and fieldfares feeding in the old hawthorn-fences skirting the entrench- 

 ment; these venerable gnarled and moss-draped hedge-rows were 

 quite scarlet with haws, and will long afford an ample feast to any 

 flocks of Merulidge arriving on the promontory. The embankment 

 terminates on the extreme edge of the northern precipices, 330 feet 

 above the sea. From this point we turned along the cliff towards 

 Flamborough, and as we walked homewards watched the rock pigeons 

 returning from the stubbles to their cotes in the sea-caves below. 



October 18, wind S.E. A calm still morning, but as we perceive, by 

 the " drum and cone" suspended from the signal-station, not destined 

 to last. Went out in a boat in Bridlington Bay, with the intention of 

 fishing, and at the same time looking after any birds we might come 

 across ; pulled away in the direction of the Point, and as near to the 

 coast as possible, for the chance of a shot on the low reef of rocks, 

 uncovered at low water, which skirt the base of the cliffs. An oyster- 

 catcher, the only one seen during our visit, was standing on the 

 extremity of a line of low rocks, as yet barely uncovered by the water, 

 its bright red bill and white under parts contrasting strongly with the 

 dark sea-weed-covered rocks. Wild and difficult of approach as these 

 birds are, it allowed us to get so near that a green cartridge rolled him 

 over into the sea : it was in magnificent plumage and very fat. We 

 next gave chase to a duck, which gave some trouble, as it constantly 

 kept diving under the heavy seas near the shore : at last it took a long 

 dive out to sea, and gave me the chance of a shot as it rose again on the 

 summit of a swell, but dived again instantly as the shot lashed along the 

 wave; when it rose again it was at a considerable distance, but the 

 poor bird was evidently wounded : another shot and we succeeded in 

 getting it. This duck was unlike any I have ever shot ; its generic 

 characters were those of the goldeneye, and I thought it might 

 probably prove a young female of that species, although, on comparing 

 it with stuffed specimens of female goldeneyes, it varied considerably 



