270 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



Autumnal Migration of Birds at Teesmouth. — By the middle of 

 October (1886) the autumn migration was in full swing ; Larks, Goldcrests, 

 Blackbirds, and most of the regular winter migrants were constantly arriving. 

 The first Fieldfares were seen on the 9th, Woodcock on the 11th, and Short- 

 eared Owl on the 16th ; while Hooded Crows were very late with us ; I did 

 not observe any until the 20tli — generally they arrive during the first week 

 of October. On the 14th, while out in a boat, I noticed great numbers of 

 sea-birds — Gulls, Ganuets, Skuas, Guillemots, and Razorbills. The Gulls 

 were principally Kittiwakes, Larus tridactylus. Guillemots and Razorbills 

 passed continuously to the south-east in small flocks of from three or four 

 to fifteen or twenty, and all around us for miles we could see birds flying. 

 Amongst others we shot an adult Gannet, three Richardson's Skuas, 

 L. parasiticus (one adult and two immature), and a male Great Skua, 

 L. cataractes. The last named is a rare bird in this district ; Mr. Mussell, 

 the birdstuffer at Redcar, tells me lie has never before had one through his 

 hands. It is many years since there was such a remarkable abundance of 

 bird-life off Redcar ; I never before remember having seen such a number 

 and variety of species at one time. Several of the fishermen said they had 

 not seen so many Skuas since the great flight on October 14th, 1879 — just 

 seven years previously. I saw one Pomatorhine Skua, and the next day 

 several of these birds were flying over the rocks before a south-east gale. It 

 is quite probable that the commotion amongst the birds at sea might be 

 attributed to the impending storm : the Guillemots, particularly, seemed to 

 be in great haste, hurrying away as though for dear life. I have frequently 

 noticed that sea-birds seem to possess a remarkable instinctive knowledge 

 of approaching change of weather, and there is a great deal of truth in the 

 saving that " To be a successful wildfowler a man should be also a weather 

 prophet." On October loth, a strong south-east gale blowing, many Gulls 

 and Skuas passed over the rocks to the north-west, as also a few Ducks ; and, 

 on the same day, I saw a large flock of Green Plover crossing from seaward 

 and flying high to the south-west. On the 16th a Red-throated Diver, 

 Colymbus septcntrionalis, with part of the red-throat patch. remaining, was 

 shot off East Scar. On the 18th the wind was strong from the north-east, 

 with heavy rain, and several Velvet Scoters, (Edemiafusca, were swimming 

 outside the breakers ; two rose and flew past over the sands, when I secured 

 one of them. In the afternoon I shot another Velvet Scoter from Redcar 

 Pier ; it came ashore with the flowing tide, and proved to be a young male. 

 On the 19th it was still stormy ; Ducks, Larks, Woodcocks, Owls, Gold- 

 crests and other small birds, crossed in considerable numbers. In the 

 afternoona young male Scaup was shot near the pier. On the 20th great 

 numbers of Hooded Crows and Larks crossed. On the 21st, at West Scar, 

 I secured a young male Long-tailed Duck, Harelda glacialis. On the same 

 day two female Long-tails were shot at East Scar. Hooded Crows and 



