NO TES— ORNITHOL OGY. 



Redshanks Breeding in Ripon Parks. — On June 13th I came across a 

 pair of Redshanks ( lotaniis calidris) in Ripon Parks. From their movements 

 they evidently had young in the neighbourhood. — Rii.EY Fortune, Harrogate, 

 June i6th, 1890. 



Albino Blackbird near Harrogate. — On June 2nd an albino Blackbird 

 {Tardus iitcrula), a beautiful specimen, white, with pink eyes, was captured near 

 Beckwithshaw, Harrogate. It is a young bird, and is now caged and doing well. — 

 Riley Fortune, Harrogate, June i6th, 1890. 



Breeding of Heron in Wensleydale, N. W. Yorks. — About the middle of 

 April a pair of Herons (Ardca c/in-rca) commenced a nest in one of the rookeries 

 between Carperby and Thornton Rust. The nest now contains three young birds, 

 and is the first case of breeding of the Heron which has come under my notice 

 in Wensleydale.— Fred Chapman, Carperby, Wensleydale. June 5th, 1S90. 



Snipe's Nest with five eggs and Black and White Blackbird near 

 Ripon. — On June ist I found in Ripon Park a nest of the Snipe {Galliiiago ccclestis) 

 containing five eggs. I have seen f|uantities of Snipe's nests, but this is the first 

 time I have found one with five eggs. They were only slightly incubated. The 

 lateness of the date would lead one to infer that it was a second brood. On the 

 same day we saw a black and white BlackbirtI near the town of Ripon. — 

 R. Fortune, Harrogate, June i6th, 1890. 



Notes on Migrants about Harrogate. — Landrails {Crex pratensis) are this 

 year very scarce in the neighbourhood of Harrogate. During a twenty miles walk 

 in an ideal country for these birds, we only heard two ; in former years they have 

 always been so plentiful. How can this scarcity be accounted for? Swallows 

 {Hiriiitdo rustica) and Marlins {H. iirhica) are, after a few years of great scarcity, 

 beginning to regain their lost ground in this district. When the Wagtails 

 {Motacilla alba) arrived this year they were noted to be unusually light in colour. 

 Has this been noticed in any other district? — R. F'ortune, Harrogate, June i6th, 

 1890. 



Black-headed Gull at Walton near Thorp Arch. — Last evening a farm 

 labourer of JNIr. Blanshard's, Walton, brought me a young bird of this species 

 {Lartis ridilniiidtis). It was noticed on the duck-pond, and seeing that it was a 

 stranger, the man secured it, and was surprised to find that ' it had Duck's feet.' 

 When brought to me it was in an exhausted and damaged condition, no doubt in 

 consequence of the rough treatment which it had received. The bird is in its first 

 plumage, and still retains some down about the head. It has, in all probability, 

 been bred in the district. Strensall Common is the nearest known breeding-place, 

 although but few jiairs nest there now in what once was a common resort. — 

 EDr.AR R. Waite, Walton Old Hall, near Thorp Arch, and The Museum, Leeds, 

 25th June, 1890. 



Auction Sale of North of England Rarities.— The sale of Mr. ^\"hitaker's 

 duplicates at Stevens', Covent Garden, May 22nd, 1890, included a few scarce 

 specimens from the northern counties of England, particulars of which may be 

 useful. 



Yorkshire. — Lot 31, a female Little Bittern {Ardetta iiiiiiuta), from 

 Mr. Fennell, obtained at Scalby Beck, North Harburn, Scarliorough, Mav i6th, 

 1866. 



Lot 38, a splendid Common Skua (Steirorariiis c-a/arr/iacUs), killed at Scar 

 borough, Oct. 27th, 1S66. 



Lot 142, a Rose-coloured Pastor (Faster rostiis), obtained in Yorkshire by the 

 late Mr. AUis. 



Northumberland. — Lot 143, a fine skin of the Roseate Tern (Sterna 

 donga///), from the coast of this county. 



Lot 39, a Storm Petrel (Procc//aria pelagica), from Mr. Hancock, 1848. 



Lincolnshire. — Lot 34, a Sclavonian Grebe (Pod/ceps auritus) in full 

 breeding dress, from the Lincolnshire coast. 



Cumherland. — Lot 31, including two female Two-barred Crossbills (Loxia 



hifasdata), 1846. — H. A. Maci'HEkson, 24th May, 1890. 



Naturalist, 



