1944 Thk Zoologist — December, 1869. 



I distinguished the note of the snow bunting, and saw a single bird of 

 this species perched on the " lide-iidge." 



8 A. M. Went off to breakfast and found a pair of guillemots in 

 winter plunoage, swimming near the yacht. An attempt to bag them 

 was a failure. 



9.30 A. M. When rowing ashore two strings of tern passed overhead. 

 I recognized the common and lesser terns, both of which species 

 breed at Spurn. There is also another tern which nests in small 

 numbers here, namely, the Sandwich [Sterna Boysii). Few young 

 birds get off: their breeding is a mere farce, as I find a regular trade is 

 carried on from this place with collectors. In the breeding-season an 

 almost daily search of the coast is made and every egg found is taken. 

 This short-sighted policy must ultimately drive the birds to seek out 

 some less frequented situation for their summer residence. On landing 

 we walked round by the Point towards tlie sea-side of the hills, and 

 thus came in for a very interesting sight: a school of forty or fifty 

 porpoises was passing out to sea from the H umber, and within gun- 

 shot of the shore. Some of these were of large size, and fully ten feet 

 long: they swam in two irregular lines, and the constant rolling over 

 of so many dorsal fins at once was most striking. Now and then 

 some big fellow would spring almost sheer out of the water. In 

 front of the porpoises a mixed flock of gulls was hovering and scream- 

 ing, making dashes at any little fish driven to the surface by these 

 sea-dogs. Hundreds of dunlins were seen on this part of the coast, 

 and one small flock of snow buntings. During the night some small 

 parties of goldcresls had arrived and were scattered amongst the 

 " marram" on the hills near the lighthouses. The name by which 

 these little follows are known at Spurn is that of " woodcock pilots," 

 as they invariably arrive a few days in advance of the woodcock. No 

 bird is more frequently taken at sea on board the fishing-smacks at 

 this season than the little goldcrest, and in foggy weather hundreds 

 perish. In rough thick weather it is only the strongest of their race 

 that can pass the " swan-bath " of the Viking — the wild north sea. 



I noticed during the day several common wrens on the coast, and 

 have regretted ever since not procuring specimens, as they struck me 

 as a slightly larger and stronger bird than the wren of our gardens, 

 and may perhaps have proved representatives of the northern species. 

 On the summit of about the only bush on the promontory was a beau- 

 tiful male branibling {Fringilla inonti/ringilla), which my friend 

 shot. Near the same place were a few stonechats. 



