1026 The Zoologist— January, 1868. 



October 16. Flamborough is remarkable for the number of rare birds 

 shot in the neighbourhood. Notices of many of these captures appear 

 from time to time in the ' Zoologist.' A considerable proportion of the 

 land on this headland is strictly preserved, consequently, I have little 

 doubt, many a rare visitor escapes undetected. A large owl chequered 

 all over black and white, and, as the man said, "as large as a great 

 blackbacked gull," was seen in a turnip-field on the 14lh. The man 

 who saw it went home instantly for his gun ; on his return, however, 

 the bird had disappeared — otherwise I might possibly have added 

 Surnia nyctea to the Avifauna of Flamborough. I have no doubt if 

 this place, like that wonderful little island Heligoland, possessed its 

 Professor Blasius and Herr Giitke, with free permit to wander where 

 they wished, many a rare visitor to our shores would be registered. 

 In the 'Zoologist' (S. S. 541) mention is made of a small flock of shore 

 larks seen during the spring of 1866. This flock, I am informed, num- 

 bered twelve birds ; they were found in a grass field on the coast, near 

 the highest portion of the Speeton Cliffs : they were very shy and wild, 

 and it was after much difficulty and driving that two were shot, the re- 

 mainder of the flock escaping, and I believe were not afterwards seen. 



Mr. Roberts (Zool. S. S. 947), writes that this summer two pairs of 

 peregrine falcons nested at Flamborough. I made particular inquiries 

 about these eyries, and found that one nest had been plundered by 

 some cliff-climbers. The other pair were more fortunate, and. escaped 

 unmolested, the young birds getting off. 



That portion of the coast uncovered at low water, to the west of the 

 northern landing-place, presents many attractions. The marine 

 zoologist will here find ample employment in exploring the numerous 

 clear and deep pools left by the receding tide. This limestone reef 

 presents a curious appearance to the eye, as nearly every exposed 

 portion of the rock is pitted with holes of various depth and size, and 

 has a curious reticulated appearnnce, like a gigantic piece of lace-work. 

 These shallow pits are the work of the limpet, here found in myriads; 

 the rock is everywhere studded with their conical houses. If we 

 pick off one of these limpets we find that it is slightly sunk below 

 the rock surface, in a shallow pit the exact size of its own shell : the 

 bottom of this little pit is tinged a light green colour, as if acted upon 

 by some chemical substance. These shallow pit-marks cover every 

 available space. The waves in time break down and wear away 

 the narrow walls left between these pits; other limpets again attach 

 themselves to the bottom of these shallow troughs, and thus in time 



