The Zoologist — January, 1867. 547 



grains of wheat ; stomach as before. No. 3, August 6th, 5.30 P. M. 

 The crop empty ; the stomach was crammed with partly digested 

 wheat-grains and several small sharp stones. 



Missel Thrush. — Have lately seen several flocks of these birds 

 feeding in the low meadow grounds. They appear at this season to 

 prefer these low-lying lauds to the wooded portion of the district. 

 The stomach of one shot on the 26th of September contained the 

 remains of several large yellow caterpillars, and the wing-cases, &c, 

 of a large species of beetle. 



Common Redshank and Spotted Redshank. — Several flocks of the 

 common species seen on the " flats" during September : on the 22nd 

 I shot two out of a small flock : I came upon these birds suddenly in 

 rounding a projecting portion of our shore, and their alarm notes on 

 rising were particularly loud and shrill. They proved the young of the 

 year, and were in high condition ; in fact completely lined with fat. 

 Amongst some birds lately received by me, shot on the Yorkshire 

 coast, is one sent as a redshank, but which is really a very fine speci- 

 men of the spotted redshank in immature plumage: on comparing 

 this bird with the common redshank the difference is at once apparent. 

 The beak of Totanus fuscus is longer in proportion to the size of the 

 bird than in T. calidris, being quite equal in length to the tarsus ; the 

 under mandible alone is red at the root ; the legs of T. fuscus are of a 

 yellowish brown colour: nearly the whole plumage of this bird is a 

 dark smoky gray, finely spotted on the back with a lighter gray; 

 throat white ; a rather broad streak of brownish gray ruus from the 

 base of the bill to the eye ; above it a white streak. 



Lesser Blackbacked Gull. — Numerous during the autumn about the 

 mouth of the Humber. I have on several occasions lately seen these 

 gulls flying round in circles at an immense height over the Humber; 

 from this height they will, on perceiving their fellows in the water, 

 descend almost head foremost with wonderful swiftness and directness. 

 When a number of these gulls are together their cries are particularly 

 wild and trumpet-like, not unlike the clangour of wild geese, aud very 

 different from the hoarse bark or cough of the great blackbacked 

 gull. 



Swift. — Last seen on the 14th of August. 



Knot. — September 10. First observed on the Humber flats. 



Green Sandpiper. — October 9th. These birds have returned to 

 iheir winter haunts, the small streams in this neighbourhood. 



Whealear. — October 1 1th. Last seen.- 



