HABITS AND MIGRATION OP WILDFOWL. 19 



punt in the early hours before daybreak. Snow Buntings and 

 Sky Larks were also to be heard, and on October 15th, during a 

 severe gale from the south-east, I frequently put up Redwings 

 from amongst the black rocks, evidently birds newly arrived. 



Tins feature of migration is, liowever, so regular and so 

 certain in its annual recurrence, that it is doubtful if further 

 observation will much increase our knowledge of the subject. 

 Some birds, however, are very irregular in their immigrations. 

 On October iSth and 20th ult., two specimens of the Great 

 Spotted Woodpecker occurred at a point on the Northumberland 

 coast, which only confirms the observations of others that these 

 birds are immigrants to our shores. There was hardl}^ a tree in 

 the neighbourhood where they were, and one bird which flew 

 off the ground alighted on a gate-post for want of a better 

 perching place. In ' The Field ' for October 30th ult., an 

 instance is cited of the occurrence of this bird in Co. Down, 

 Ireland, and, though the exact date is not given, it seems to 

 coincide with my own observations. Probably there was a 

 "rush" of them about October 20th, at which time the weather 

 here was thick and foggy, though for several days previously a 

 severe storm had raged from the east and south-east. 



On October 15th thirty Swans were reported as having 

 been seen by some fishermen when following their calling about 

 seven miles out at sea, though nothing more was seen or heard 

 of them. They were said to be flying westward at the time. 

 These birds occur nearly every winter in Northumberland, and 

 when they are seen to alight they are usually obtained. My 

 brother (H.) shot a fine young Wiiooper, one of a pair, in January, 

 1881. Weight 17|- lbs. 



During the month of October enormous numbers of Peewits 

 come to rest on the oozes during the day. Golden Plovers are 

 also present, but in smaller numbers. Two shots fired at them 

 produced twenty-nine Peewits, two Goldens, and four Redshanks. 

 I say "rest" advisedl}', for I have watched them for hours, with 

 perhaps a score of birds within ten yards of the punt, everj^ bird 

 sitting abreast to windward and head tucked away in the back 

 feathers, sound asleep. So peaceful do they appear that they 

 allow the approaching flood to creep gently round them. Half- 

 inch by half-inch it gradually rises, till the Plovers actually seem 

 to be swimming in the water. When breast-deep they wake up, 



