8950 Birds. 
~ Migration of Goldencrested Wrens.—There is no doubt whatever about this bird 
arriving on the Yorkshire coast, from abroad (see Zool. 8879). After the 12th of 
October, as regular as clockwork, the first easterly wind brings us large flights of 
woodevcks from Scandinavia, and these flights are almost invariably preceded by large 
flocks of goldcrests: so regular, indeed, are these arrivals, that on the first occurrence 
of an easterly wind after the above-mentioned date, all the gunners on the coast of 
Holderness turn out, and frequently immense numbers are slaughtered. The largest 
flights of woodcocks occur when the weather happens to be drizzly. The lighthouse- 
keeper at Spurn, I have been told, frequently finds large numbers of golderests dead 
under the lights, having killed themselves by flying against the plate-glass. These 
goldcrests invariably precede the woodcocks.—G. Norman; Hull, January 4, 1864. 
The Waxwing in Norfolk.—These very beautiful and interesting birds have again 
paid our shores a visit, and, should the present state of the weather continue, I have 
no doubt their stay will be of some duration. Their appearance has extended over a 
considerable radius of ground, records now appearing for Norfolk, Yorkshire, and 
Scotland. During their last visit, 2. e. 1849-50, this county (Cambridgeshire) was 
rather fortunate in producing specimens. I do hope we shall yet have the honour of 
their presence: as yet I have failed to discover any traces of them, nor can I hear of 
any of my ornithological friends having been more fortunate. A friend from Norfolk 
has sent me notice of four having been obtained in that county, viz., male and female 
shot on the chase, Lynn; another male he says was shot at Titchwell, near Thorn- 
ham ; the fourth, and by no means the least interesting record, is that of a male 
having been captured alive (also in the vicinity of Lynn), and is now in the possession 
of the Rev. T. White, head master of the grammar school. I hope to be able to 
send you something further upon this most deeply interesting capture, should it con- 
mue to live. The appearance of this singularly handsome species is at most 
uncertain periods, but generally its presence is precursory of severe weather, and I 
think this instance will prove no exception. The most frequent number of wax-like 
feathers upon the wing of this bird is about four in number, but they occasionally, I 
believe, reach upon each wing as many as seven or eight; and a friend of mine 
assures me, in very old examples, these peculiar wax-like appendages are found upon 
their tails. The years 1810, 1822, 1823, 1827, 1849, and 1850, were particularly 
notable fur the appearance of the waxwing. It will be observed that long intervals, 
however, are by no means a rule, as to witness 1822 and the succeeding year. Upon 
the Continent its residences are subject to similar uncertainty—Samuel P. Saville ; 
Cambridge. 
A Yellow Sky Lark.—When out shooting with my brother, on the 26th December, 
our attention was attracted, on putting up a flock of larks, to one of a yellowish colour 
flying among them. Anxious to preserve so great a curiosity, we marked it down, and 
eventually succeeded in shooting it. The bird is entirely buff-yellow—the belly, wing, 
and tail-feathers slightly lighter. On dissection it proved to be a male. My brother 
has also obtained a sparrow, with the head, belly and rump cream-coloured.— 
Richard Tyrer, jun.; Weston Turville. Tring, January 13, 1864. 
Hawfinch at Weston Turville.—At the close of last month I shot a fine hawfinch 
in our garden: it had made its appearance several times before, and invariably under 
a yew tree, where it found something to eat—perhaps was swallowing grit. On dis- 
section his crop proved to be empty, but his gizzard was quite full of the kernels of 
plums or damsons (not sloes), which are very abundant in this neighbourhood, 
