3l8 NOTES ORNITHOLOGY, 



though extremely rough and covered with barnacles, was re-traversed 

 without difificulty. The animals made excursions from their roosting- 

 places in any direction, so that no beaten tracks were formed. 

 As the shape of their scar corresponds exactly with the shape of the 

 shell, they invariably roost with their snout pointing in the same 

 direction. This direction is, of course, only constant for individuals. 

 The tentacles of two marked limpets, which were off their scars, 

 were excised. One speedily found its way back ; the other seemed 

 confused for several days, but after that time was found at its own 

 scar ; this limpet was near home when the operation was performed. 

 The space between a wandering limpet and its scar and the scar were 

 carefully washed again and again with sea-water, but in spite of this the 

 animal readily found its way home. 



NO TES— ORNITHOL OGY. 



Flamborough Bird-Notes. — This season, I am given to understand by the 

 cliff-climbers, has been a very successful one. On the whole they have done 

 remarkably well, having taken an immense quantity of sea-birds' eggs. This is 

 not to be wondered at, as the birds increase in numbers every year. On Sept. 2nd 

 a very fine specimen of the Wryneck {lynx torqiiilla) was brought to me to be 

 preserved, having been captured by Mr. David Atkinson, near the North Landing. 

 On Sept. 9th, two Sabine's Gulls (Xei)ia sabinii) were shot near the Smithie Buoy 

 — one a splendid specimen. On Sept. 12th Mr. Saltfleet shot a Black Guillemot 

 (Uria g7ylle), immature. To-day (Sept. 15th), Mr. George Emmerson shot 

 other two Sabine's Gulls, also a Little Gull (Lams }ninutus). — Matthew Bailey, 

 Sept. 15th, 1890. 



Since I wrote you, two more Sabine's Gulls have fallen to the last-named gun, 

 and two Black Terns{IIydrochelidon nigra). — Matthew Bailey, Sep. 20th, 1890. 



SwralloAVs' Nests. — The Swallows' nests described by Mr. Waite as built 

 against a wall without any support, are only occasionally to be met with in this 

 country, but in Western Germany I found that the Swallows usually built precisely 

 such nests as Mr. Waite describes, the nests bearing some similarity to those of the 

 House Martin, but being open at the top, and composed of less pure clay ; a little 

 fine hay being mixed with the clay, which moreover is not so thoroughly kneaded 

 together by the Swallow as by the House Martin. If Mr. Waite will refer to the 

 second volume of Mr. Seebohm's 'British Birds,' he will find the subject fully 

 discussed at p. 174. Mr. Seebohm himself considers these unsupported nests to 

 be the rule rather than the exception, on the continent. — -H. A. Macpherson, 

 Carlisle, Sept. 3rd, 1890. 



Yellow Wagtail in Swaledale. — I notice in reading Mr. Goodchild's 

 interesting list of avian occurrences in Upper Swaledale, in the August ' Naturalist,' 

 that he makes no mention of Alotacilla rail, the migratory Yellow Wagtail. In 

 the spring of 1888, while staying for a few days at Muker, I found this beautiful 

 species to be exceedingly common by the Swale. Any day I could find at least 

 half a dozen pairs of them among the moist meadows within about a mile of 

 Muker. — ^J. Backhouse, Jun. 



Spotted Redshank in Cumberland. — For some years past I have felt con- 

 vinced that, given a knowledge of the right fly- line, we should find certain rare 

 British birds annually recurring even in Western Britain. Prior to 1888 no speci- 

 men of the Spotted Redshank {lotanus fuscics) had been identified as shot on the 

 Cumbrian coast for half a century. In 1888 we hit on the right fly-line. Hence 

 a young bird was killed that year on August i8th. In 1S89 a second was shot 

 upon Sept. 5th. In 1S90 a third was shot on Sept. 2nd. Yet the species is veiy 



rare with us. — H. A. Macpherson, Carlisle, Sept. 7th, 1890. 



Naturali.st, 



