ORNITHOLOGY OF RIDING MILL ON TYNE. 95 



nest in a hedge, you ma_y expect to find another or two not far off. 

 There can be little doubt of the propriety of separating this bird 

 from the white-headed continental form ; the latter, as well as in 

 the bright yellow eyelids and white head, differs also somewhat 

 in note and habits. Tlie mere fact of the similarity of the 

 immature individuals ought not to have much weight ; the young 

 of the Rook and Carrion Crow are not separable, yet who doubts 

 that the species are distinct ? 



Great Titmouse, Farm major, L. ; Coal Tit, P. hritannicus, 

 S. & D. ; Marsh Tit, P.pahcstris, L. ; Blue Tit, P. ccenoleus, L.— 

 Common and resident. 



Nuthatch, Sitta ccesia, Wolff.— I cannot mention this bird as 

 having occurred near Riding Mill, but there is an adult specimen 

 in my possession, which was shot near Wolsingham in the year 

 1873, and which was skinned and given to me by the Messrs. 

 Tinkler, birdstuffers, of Stanhope. 



Tree Creeper, Certhia familiaris, L. ; Wren, Troglodytes par- 

 vulus, Koch. — Common and i-esident. 



White Wagtail, Motacilla alba, L.— On the 19th April, 1878, 

 I saw a fine male of this uncommon species, in full nuptial dress, 

 in a small field near Riding Mill. It was extremely tame, and 

 I watched it for some time with the greatest interest, being 

 occasionally within ten yards of it. I looked for it subsequently, 

 but in vain. 



Pied Wagtail, M. lugubris, Tem.— A common summer visitor. 

 I have never known it pass the winter at Riding Mill, though it 

 occurs sometimes as late as mid- October. 



Grey Wagtail, M. melanope. Pall. — Common in summer by 

 stream-sides, breeding in some abundance by the burn. I have 

 never seen it in the winter. 



Yellow Wagtail, M.raii, Bp.— A summer migrant, much rarer 

 than the last ; indeed I have only three records of its appearance, 

 April 18, 1875, June 15, 1876, and March 14, 1878. The bird 

 seen in the second instance, a young male, is in my possession. 



Meadow Pipit, Anthus ])ratensis, L. — A common summer 

 resident, leaving the neighbourhood (for the seaside, in all proba- 

 bility) late in autumn, and returning early in spring. I have 

 taken considerable pains to satisfy myself as to whether this 

 autumnal migration of the Meadow Pipit is partial only or com- 

 plete, and find it to be the latter. The Titlarks, with us, begin 



