44 



BIRD-NOTES FROM THE HUMBER DISTRICT. 



JOHN CORDEAUX, M. B. O.U., 

 Great Co/cs, Ulccby, Lincolnshire. 



Nutcracker {Nucifraga caryocatactes). November 6th, 1888. One, 

 now in the collection of Mr. G. H. Caton Haigh, of Grainsby Hall, 

 was shot on this date in the parish of Marsh Chapel, on the Lincoln- 

 shire coast, by Mr. Thomas Sargeant. This is the first recorded 

 example of the Nutcracker in the county. Two Yorkshire occur- 

 rences are given in the ' Handbook of the Vertebrate Fauna of 

 Yorkshire,' by Messrs. Clarke and Roebuck. It is probable the 

 Lincolnshire bird came in with the great flight of Woodcock 

 (Scolopax rusticidd) and other species, during the first week in 

 November, with a north-east wind. 



House Martin (Chelidon urbica). December 4th, 1888. Whitby 

 South Lighthouse, 10 a.m.. W.S.W. (4', B.CM. One seen going 

 south. Recorded by Mr. John Odgers, in the Migration Schedule 

 from that station. 



Ruff {Machetes pugnax). January 7th, 1889. A very fine 

 example was obtained on this day at Stonecreek, Sunk Island, on 

 the Yorkshire side of the Humber. When shot it was feeding in 

 company with a flock of Stints. I examined this bird, which was 

 fat, and in very good condition, in the flesh. This, as far as I am 

 aware, is the first instance in which the Ruff has been recorded in 

 Great Britain in winter. In Ireland, according to Thompson 

 ('Birds of Ireland,' vol. ii, p. 230), it has been obtained in one 

 instance as late as November 29th. 



January 1 8/7/, 1 889. 



NOTE— FUNGI. 



Agaricus (Pleurotus) revolutus near Thirsk. — I found several specimens 

 of this interesting fungus on the upright trunk of a black poplar, which had 

 been decaying for a number of years. I could find no fungus answering to its 

 characters in Cooke's Handbook ; but, on consulting Mr. Foggitt, our local 

 bo'.anical secretary, we found in the second edition of that work now publishing in 

 ' Grevillea,' and also in Stevenson's Manual, definitions of the above fungus, which 

 very nearly corresponded to the specimens. As we had still some little hesitation 

 Mr. Foggitt sent specimens to the Rev. Jno. Stevenson, of Glamis. He kindly 

 replied, saying — ' Your plant is what is now accepted as Ag. revolutus Kickx 

 as distinct fiom Ag. corticatus Fr. Yours is exactly the plant of Saunders and 

 Smith's Ag. corticatus, which = Ag. revolutus, as we interpret them at present.' 

 Mr. Stevenson further adds — ' I am in doubt whether the distinction between 

 Ag. corticatus Fr. and Ag. revolutus is a sufficient one. The difference lies 

 plainly in the gills being perfectly distinct in Ag. revolutus, not anastomosing 

 behind as in Ag. corticatus Fr.' I may add that, while no other fungus grows 

 on the decorticated upright stump, yet on a portion of the trunk which has been 

 several years on the ground, and therefore level, no other fungus grows except 

 Himeola auricula-judcE. — F. Addison, M.A., Thirsk, Jan. 9th, 1889. 



Naturalist, 



