172 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



first they frequented a bare flat of sand and pebbles at some 

 distance above high-water mark on the sea-side, but very soon 

 transferred their affections to a long and narrow bed of dcbzis, 

 composed chiefly of the withered blades of the marine plant 

 Zostera maritirna, which had been heaped up by the tide into a 

 series of little hillocks and depressions, on the Humber fore- 

 shore. To this they were most constant, occupying themselves 

 in searching for food over its undulating surface, or basking in 

 the sunshine, in a crouching position, on one of its hillocks. At 

 all times they evinced but little fear, as I watched them with the 

 binocular from a distance of about twenty yards. On March 13th 

 I counted twenty together, which was the largest number seen in 

 one party. On this day the sun was very brilliant, and the old 

 males of the assemblage were very conspicuous ; the black of 

 their breasts, crowns, and patch below the eye, the fine brimstone- 

 yellow of their throats, the lateral horn-like tufts, and the warm 

 vinous tints on their napes and shoulders, contrasted advan- 

 tageously with the identical but more subdued colours of the 

 immature birds and females of the group. The mature males, 

 on a closer examination of specimens obtained, appeared to have 

 more massive heads and to be generally of a stouter build than 

 the others. The flight is jerky, and whilst on the wing they 

 uttered a note which bore a somewhat close resemblance to that 

 of the Meadow Pipit. The contents of all the stomachs examined 

 consisted of one description of food, which at sight appeared 

 to be the small coiled shells of a mollusk, but on examination 

 with a lens they proved to be seeds of a marine plant, and 

 perhaps those of Zostera. I saw these birds for the last time on 

 March 20th, on which day they most probably departed, for they 

 were not seen afterwards. I regret to say that no less than thirty- 

 three specimens were obtained, and a carefully compiled list of 

 these showed that the males predominated to the extent of five to 

 one. The great majority were immature males, which, so far as 

 I could perceive, were indistinguishable from the females. 



At Easington, on March 20th, I saw a Hough-legged Buzzard 

 flying leisurely along the coast-line, pursued by about a dozen 

 Grey Crows. In a remote locality among our north-western 

 fells, on March 2Gth, I was much gratified to observe a Common 

 Buzzard sailing over the craggy haunts that once knew this bird 

 so well, but from which it is now so utterly banished that I doubt 



