1666 The Zoologist— May, 1869. 



Ornithological Notes from North Lincolnshire. 

 (Conliuued from Zool. S. S. 1544.) 



January, 1869. 



Kin^sher. — January 5. The stomach of a kingfisher, the muscular 

 coat of which is very thin, dissected to-day, was crammed with very 

 sharp needle-like bones of some small species of fish. 



Teal. — January 20. A teal drake shot to-day on the stream had 

 acquired the full mature plumage. 



rr7^^o«.— January 23. The males of this beautiful species are now 

 in full plumage. On the 27th there was a flock of forty off the mouth 

 of our creek, all full-plumaged males. On the 15th February a large 

 flock, seen near the same place, was composed of males and females, 

 swimming together in pairs. Wigeon may be readily distinguished, 

 even at great distances, from other ducks frequenting this coast, as 

 they look — like the traditional pirate craft of the novelist — long and 

 low in the water. Ou the 10th of March, I was amused in watching 

 a flock of these ducks from the bank with my telescope: the tide was 

 rising rapidly, and had already reached the embankment; the ducks 

 were drifting iu with it, every bird (thirty-three in number) asleep, 

 their bills tucked beneath the scapulars ; nearer and nearer they 

 drifted — now almost within shot. I had laid down my telescope, and 

 taken up my breech-loader, in expectation of a double shot ; ten 

 yards nearer, and 1 knew that at least two were doomed. Just too 

 soon an old drake raised his head — I am certain he could not see me, 

 and the wind was blowing towards the coast, yet evidently something 

 was wrong ; perhaps it was the nearness of the shore that alarmed 

 him ; be that as it may, the cautious bird instantly, in some way or 

 other, communicated his fears to the rest — every head was raised, and 

 each duck was paddling for dear life rapidly seawards : had they seen 

 but the lip of my cap, every duck would have instantly risen, and not 

 have trusted to swimming. 



Partridge. — I have known partridges pair earlier than has been the 

 case this season : on the 25th, although some had paired, many large 

 coveys were unbroken; pairing vvas not general before the first week 

 in February. 



Wood Pigeon. — There are three acres of cabbages close to a plan- 

 tation about a mile from this place, completely destroyed by these 

 birds ; every portion of the leaf is eaten except the central midrib 



