CORDEAUX: HUMBER BIRD-NOTES FOR AUTUMN OF 1888. 3 



A flight numbering about forty Sand-Grouse was seen recently 

 near the Spurn, also on the Lincolnshire coast near Grainthorpe ; 

 those, and the birds seen near Withernsea, may all probably be 

 referred to one and the same flock, which pass to and fro between 

 the two counties. 



Nov. 24th. — A single Swallow (Hirundo rusticd) was seen by 

 Mr. W. Eagle Clarke hawking under the cliff side at Kilnsea. 



On the same day Turnstone (Strepsilas interpres) were rather 

 numerous. It is seldom we find them so late in the season, and this 

 must be considered quite an unusual occurrence. 



It is worth putting on record that on July 14th I received from 

 Mr. Winson, of Spurn, two eggs of the Oyster-catcher (Hcematopus 

 ostralegus), taken from a nest there. Mr. Loten, senr., of Easington, 

 also found a nest of the same species amongst the bents, and a third 

 nest with three eggs was taken near Kilnsea in June. The Oyster- 

 catcher has not nested at the Spurn within the memory of any now 

 living in the neighbourhood, but its final disappearance as a nester 

 from the opposite coast of Lincolnshire dates from a comparatively 

 recent period. 



Dec. 3rd. — Night Heron (Nydicorax griseus). I saw this day in 

 the shop of Mr. Jefferies, Grimsby, an immature example of this 

 species. Mr. G. H. Caton Haigh, to whom it belongs, informs me 

 that it was shot near Tetney Haven on November 26th by Mr. W. 

 Stubbs. It measured 24 inches in length; wing, 12 inches. The 

 irides were red ; naked skin on face, greenish-yellow ; legs, green, 

 with a shade of yellow. 



Dusky Redshank (Jotanns fuscus). One, now in Mr. Haigh's 

 collection, was shot on the ' fifties ' at Grainthorpe on Nov. 9th. 

 Subsequently, Mr. Haigh several times observed one on the coast at 

 Tetney, and the last occasion was on November 15th. It was always 

 very wild and shy. 



Swift (Cypselus apus). It is somewhat singular that my last note, 

 in this anomalous season of green peas and strawberries, should be 

 in connection with this bird. My neighbour, Mr. C. F. Davy, of 

 Little Cotes, observed a single Swift hawking near our ' beck ' on the 

 morning of Saturday, December 1st. I may add he is perfectly 

 well acquainted with the ' deviling,' which he sees in numbers every 

 day during the summer, and is quite certain he is not mistaken in its 

 identity. 



Why tarry in the chill northland, lone laggard ? Last of thy 

 tribe — day-long wanderer through summer skies — are not all thy 

 fellows six thousand miles due south ? Months now since they 

 left these shores to shoot in joyous bands over fruitful France and sun- 



Jan. 1889. 



