15 



OCCURRENCE OF THE GERMON ON THE 

 CUMBERLAND COAST. 



Rev. H. a. MACI'HERSON, M.A., M.B.O.U., 

 Carlisle. 



I HAVE the pleasure of recording the recent occurrence of an 

 example of the Germon {Thynnus alalonga Giinther) on the coast 

 of Cumberland. The specimen in question was found stranded in 

 a creek on Burgh Marsh early in October 1889, by a fisherman. 

 It was secured for me in the flesh, and weighed 1 1 lbs. The long 

 sickle-shaped fin convinced me at once that the fish could only be 

 referred to Thynnus alalonga ; but, to anticipate gainsayers, I took 

 the fish to the Natural History Museum, where Mr. Boulenger 

 kindly confirmed our determination. Although this species has 

 occupied a place in the British list for a long number of years, this 

 appears to be only about its fifth occurrence in British waters, and 

 to be considerably more northern than the others, all of which refer 

 to the coasts of Cornwall and Devon. 



NO TES— OKNITHOL OGY. 



Waxwing and Dotterel in Central Ryedale. — Will my friend, Mr. C. W. 

 Smith, allow me to add to his interesting list two more notes on Birds of Central 

 Ryedale ? 



Waxwing (Atnpelis garnilus L. ). During some severe winters a pair or 

 more of these beaiitiful-plumaged birds were to be seen perched on the uppermost 

 branches of lofty fir-trees in 'Acus' plantation on the banks of the Riccal not far 

 from Helmsley. Others were noticed to frequent the fir-woods near to Cow-house 

 Bank, four miles north of Helmsley. 



Dotterel (Eudro/nias viorinellus L. ). Forty years ago numerous flocks of 

 these birds were to be met with on the Hambleton range of hills near Thirsk. 

 In walking across the plain from Dialstone Inn to South Woods I have put up 

 many hundreds. Their numbers are greatly diminished. A few may be met 

 with north of Limekiln House on the old Roman road leading to Osmotherley. 

 Anglers know the value of a feather from the wing of a Dotterel wherewith to 

 dress a 'March Brown' or an 'August Dun.' — JNO. H. Phillips, Scarborough, 

 8th November, 1889. 



Late Breeding of Starling in Northumberland. — In connection with the 

 recent controversy as to whether the Starling {Sturmis znilgaris) is double- 

 brooded or not, the enclosed paragraph from thisdays ' Newcastle Daily Journal ' 

 is interesting : — ' At present there is to be seen at Heiferlaw Bank, near Alnwick, 

 a brood of young Starlings; the old birds are feeding them.' — H. T. Archer, 

 Newcastle-on-Tyne, November 30th, 1889. 



NOTE— BOTANY. 



Draba verna in November. — On the 25th of this present month, my son 

 saw abundance of this plant in flower and with completely-formed silicules, on 

 a wall-top near Chathill, North Northumberland. I have half-a-dozen specimens 

 growing in a saucer. — P. J. Maclagan, Berwick, November 28lh, 1889. 

 Jan. 1890. 



