388 THE ZOOLOGIST. 
nest of Tringa canutus in Grinnell Land than the British Expedition of 
1875-76. Both expeditions seem to have been singularly unfortunate in 
this respect. for the Knot during the breeding-season was tolerably common 
in the neighbourhood of Discovery Bay (Fort Conger station of the 
Americans), as well as around Floeberg Beach, the winter-quarters of 
H.M.S. ‘Alert,’ still further north. Our Arctic voyagers to the Parry 
Archipelago in the first half of this century seem to have found the Knot 
breeding there in great abundance, and its nest and eggs do not appear to 
have been considered difficult to find. I fancy that the Knot must be far 
more numerous there than in Grinnell Land. — H. W. FEILDEN (West 
House, Wells, Norfolk). 
Gathering of Swallows and House Martins. — There is no surer sign 
of the waning year—no better or more interesting indication of the advent 
of autumn days—than the congregation of many migratory birds ere taking 
their departure to the oases of Northern Africa. Swallows and Martins 
perhaps congregate, previous to migration, as much as, or even more than, 
any other birds. One of the prettiest of these “autumn manceuvres” it 
has ever been my lot to witness came under my notice on August 22nd last. 
I was travelling up to London by the South Western Railway from Exeter, 
and when about four miles from Salisbury we stopped for a few minutes at 
the little country station of Wilton. Close to the station is a large field 
crossed by two telegraph-wires, the posts being perhaps 150 yards apart. 
From end to end these wires were covered with Swallows (Hirundo rustica) 
and House Martins (H. urbica), the latter species preponderating. So 
thickly did they cluster that from a distance the wires resembled two large 
cables; and every now and then fresh arrivals would strive to alight by 
pushing off their companions, when the chain seemed broken for a moment 
ere every bit of room was again taken up. The air was one dense throng 
of fluttering “Swallows,” and their merry notes could be heard above the 
noise of the engine as it fretted and fumed, all impatient to be off again. 
It was indeed a pretty sight, just in the sunset hour, when the air seemed 
flooded with a soft almost unnatural golden light, and all Nature filled with 
repose. Hope beat high in each little Swallow-breast; the resistless 
impulse to migrate was dawning in each youthful bird; whilst dim 
recollections of distant Africa filled the old ones with desire to leave their 
northern home once more to sport and gambol over the palm-groves of the 
south. Yet how many of this fluttering throng will never reach the distant 
goal, but quietly succumb to the perils of the long journey before them !— 
Cuares Dixon (London). 
Lesser Black-backed Gull breeding on the Yorkshire Coast. — Mr. 
Carter’s interesting note (p. 346) has quite satisfied me that the Lesser 
Black-backed Gull nests on the coast of Yorkshire. ‘he comparatively low 
cliffs between Scarborough and Filey, with their grass-covered ledges, would 
