NOTES FROM YORKSHIRE. 355 
time the actions of a fine male White Wagtail, as it ran nimbly on 
the stony bed of the River Wharfe. 
An extraordinary migration of Common Scoters occurred at 
Skipton, in West Yorkshire, on the night of the 24th April. My 
friend Mr. Hewetson happened to be in the locality the day after 
the occurrence, and kindly gave me the following notes, which he 
collected from various witnesses. Shortly after dark, the wind 
blowing gently from the east, cold and fine, but very dark; 
numerous birds were heard passing overhead. The rushing of 
their wings was very loud, and, together with a loud whistling 
pipe, completed the aérial confusion. The flocks passed over 
most of the night, during which time the ducks, evidently bewil- 
dered by the lights of the town, flew against chimney-pots and 
houses. Some were found in the rooms of a large mill; others, 
after flying about the streets, settled exhausted, and were captured 
alive. The greatest number, however, were taken in the vicinity 
of the railway-station, where the lights were especially numerous. 
Here they immolated themselves against the telegraph wires; 
and the largest share of ducks fell in the morning to the railway 
servants. One porter picked up seventeen, and several others 
five or six each. A considerable number were taken, out of the 
canal which passes through the town. In all, after careful 
enquiry, I calculated that about 150 had been taken, the majority 
of which were males. I obtained a male alive and quite un- 
injured ; also a Kittiwake, the tip of whose wing had been broken 
by flying against a chimney-pot. I learnt also that a few birds 
uttering the calls had passed over on the 25th; I was anxious 
to hear if any would pass on the following night, the 26th. 
Accordingly I went into the garden of the friend with whom I was 
staying at about eight o'clock. It was then drizzling; the wind 
N.E. and very slight; the sky dull and heavy. I had not been 
out long before I heard the cries of the birds on the west, the 
note being the same as on the night when the ducks were caught. 
For two hours at least the birds were passing, uttering a double 
flute-like pipe, which I hesitated to identify. This difficulty I 
cleared up most satisfactorily afterwards, for on letting out my 
male Scoter for a run on the lawn, when trying to rise the bird 
uttered this note. I noticed that as the birds approached the 
town over the moors they uttered very few call-notes, but when 
flying over the town the notes were uttered repeatedly, as if the 
