89 
NOTES AND COMMENTS. 
AN OLD PLAN OF HORNSEA MERE. 
In view of the report on the natural history of Hornsea 
Mere which appears on pages 33-71, it is of interest to repro- 
duce herewith a plan of ‘ Hornsea Meer’ by R. Pele, dated 
‘Anno Dominy 1778,’ which we recently saw in the possession 
of Mr. Ringrose, of Hull, and of which Mr. Ringrose kindly 
allowed us to take a copy (Plate IV.). It will be seen that in 
those days there was a “ Kirkham’ and ‘ Fish House,’ while 
around the Mere were Hither Field, Far Field, and Land 
Wike. In the north-west corner was Brockham Stone and 
Brockham Gate; on the north shore is the suggestive name 
“Goose Hill,’ while there was apparently a ‘ Spaw ’—at that 
time so fashionable—in the north-east corner. The most in- 
teresting item, however, is the “ Decoy,’ situated at the south- 
east extremity of the Mere. So that Hornsea, in common 
with Meaux and Scorborough, once possessed its duck decoy. 
A SPRING OF ‘ VICTRIOLIC QUALITY.’ 
The following quaint description of the plan appears on 
the manuscript :— This Meer les on the West side of the 
town of Hornsea, in the East riding of Yorkshire, and is the 
Property of Marmaduke Constable, Esqr. It is situated within 
a Mile from the sea, extends 467 Acres of Land, is plentifully 
stored with varius kinds of Fish, as Pike, Perch, Roach, Eels, 
&c. There are in it 4 small Islands, to which an Incredible 
number of sea Fowls resorts in the summer season to breed, 
but on the approach of Winter they all leave the Country. 
There are above several Swans, & generally 2 or 3 Pleasure 
or Fishing Boats upon it. At the North-East end of it is a 
Spring of a Victriolic Quality nearly as strong as Scarbrough 
Spaw.’ 
eae 
X XX’ usually indicates something good, and under 
that number the British Ornithologists’ Club has recently 
issued a massive Bulletin containing the ‘ Report on the 
Immigrations of Summer Residents in the Spring of IgII; 
also notes on the Migratory movements and Records received 
from Lighthouses and Lightvessels during the autumn of 
Ig10. By the Committee appointed by the Ornithologists’ 
Club. Edited by W.R. Ogilvie Grant.’ The_title is fairly 
comprehensive, but hardly conveys an adequate idea of the 
mine of information the Volume contains in reference to the 
movements of over 30 of the more important species; details of 
which are elucidated by no fewer than 20 maps. The Report 
contains the digested and summarised reports from nearly 
four hundred correspondents. Certainly ornithological science 
owes a great debt to Mr. Ogilvie Grant for his herculean efforts 
as editor. 
1913 Feb. 1. G 
