92 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



two or three Turnstones at the same place — all young birds. A 

 few small flocks of ducks passed. On the 17th, between 6 a.m. 

 and noon. Ducks, Curlews, and Godwits passed over in immense 

 flocks ; a flock of 150 Scoters was also seen about five miles out 

 at sea, flying landwards. 



On August 18th about 400 Oystercatchers, in a flock, passed, 

 the weather on this and the previous day being calm to a slight 

 breeze, but on the 24th a storm threatened from N., and another 

 " rush" of ducks took place ; between 6 and 12 a.m. they passed 

 in immense flocks, from 100 to 500 birds in each. I have no 

 doubt but that this early departure of these birds from their 

 northern homes was caused by the severe weather we had towards 

 the end of August ; probably it was more severe in the north. 

 On the 17th the first migrant Dunlins passed, and on the 18th 

 I saw the first Knots of the season ; four passed over East Scar, 

 coming from eastward. 



On August 22nd a red-plumaged Knot and a Bar-tailed God- 

 wit, in faded red plumage, were shot at the Tees-mouth. Five 

 Richardson's Skuas were seen and two shot, one an adult white- 

 breasted bird, the other immature, dark plumaged. Several 

 Gannets and Richardson's Skuas were seen at sea. On the 28rd 

 I saw three Lesser Terns at the Tees-mouth. These pretty little 

 Terns are now very scarce with us, seldom more than one 

 small flock being seen in the course of each year. On the 25th 

 Common Terns going south ; I saw about twenty large flocks 

 heading against a fresh S.E. wind, most probably on their 

 departure to warmer climes. On the 26th a few Dunlins and 

 Sanderlings passed from eastward. A Woodcock was reported to 

 have flown in from the sea at 4 p.m. ; wind fresh from westward. 

 On the 27th, a strong N. gale blowing, saw a Shieldrake pass 

 East Scar. 



On September 1st, N. gale, several flocks of Oystercatchers, 

 Knots, Ducks, and a few Whimbrels passed ; a flight of immature 

 Herring and Lesser Black-backed Gulls also passed. On the 2nd 

 I saw two adult Gannets washed up on the shore ; the long- 

 continued severe weather possibly had been the cause of their 

 death. On the 3rd two Ruffs, immature birds, were shot from a 

 flock of seven seen, on Cowpen Marsh, by Mr. W. Chilton, also a 

 Spotted Crake and a Blue-winged Teal, Q. discors ; the last named 

 Mr. Chilton kindly presented to me, and I enclose a coloured 



