NOTES AND QUERIES. 4f)7 



Uncommon Birds near Scarborough.— Early in September several 

 Manx Shearwaters, Piiffiniis anglorum, were obtained near Filey; a Glaucous 

 Gull, Larus glaucus, in nearly mature winter plumage, having acquired 

 the light grey mantle, but retaining some of the light ash-brown feathers 

 on the breast, was shot on Scalby Ness; other specimens in immature 

 plumage have occurred along the coast, and are not uncommon in 

 some winters, though I have not known a mature example being 

 obtained for some years. The person who shot the Glaucous Gull also 

 obtained a Little Stint, Tringa mimita, about the end of August or 

 beginning of September, near Scalby Ness. This species is rare in 

 this neighbourhood, and the specimen referred to is the fourth that 

 has come to my notice within the last twenty-five years, and Mr. A. 

 Roberts, who was in business as a bird-preserver here for over thirty years, 

 told me he never had one during that time through his hands. On 

 October 3rd I shot an immature Velvet Scoter, (Edemia fusca, in Brid- 

 lington Bay ; all the upper parts of the plumage, with the exception of the 

 bar on the wing and a white patch before and behind the eye, were quite 

 black ; under parts dark grey ; feet, legs, and bill brownish black. A few 

 days ago I was much amused by observing the extreme fearlessness of a 

 Purple Sandpiper, Tringa maritima. I have frequently walked to within 

 half-a-dozen yards of two or three, but on the day in question I tried to 

 take one with my hat by creeping on the sea-weed, and so nearly succeeded 

 that the bird did not take wing until my hand was within half-a-yard of it, 

 when it flew out to sea, but returned again and settled on a rock at a few 

 yards distance. — R. P. Harper (2, Royal Crescent, Scarborough). 



Unusual site for Swallows' Nest. — I have just seeu a Swallow's nest 

 in a very unusual position. It is placed on the upper side of a transverse 

 beam running across the porch of a village post-ofl&ce, and is cup-shaped, 

 like that in the woodcut of the Swallow's nest in a sycamore tree in Yarrell's 

 ' British Birds.' The nest is very conspicuous, standing about seven feet 

 from the ground, and about midway along the beam. The visits of the 

 public to the post-office must greatly have interfered with the domestic 

 arrangements of the old birds. The postmaster tells me, however, that the 

 young were brought up and sent safely into the world. But the nest is a 

 last year's nest, and, as the old birds do not seem to have attempted to 

 return this year, it may be assumed that the discomforts of their first 

 experience were enough for them. The nest may be seen in situ at the 

 post-office of Dovers Green, near Reigate. — E. P. Lakken (Gatton Tower, 

 Reigate). 



Late Stay of Martins.— On the 15th of November, whilst driving past 

 Kearnsey Abbey, I and my companion counted five Martins flying about 

 the first reservoir between that place and Dover. The striking feature was 



