77 



birds varied, some resembling the Hooded and others the Carrion 

 Croiv in their plumage. 



" The Great or Thick-kneed Plovers breed on the fallows, and often 

 startle the midnight traveller by their shrill and ominous whistle. 

 This is supposed to be the note so beautifully alluded to by Sir 

 Walter Scott in his poem of The Lady of the Lake, 



' And in the Plover's shrilly strain 

 The signal whistle's heard again.' 



for it certainly sounds more like a human note than that of a bird. 



" The Rough-legged Buzzard breeds occasionally in a precipitous 

 dell near Hackness. A marked female returned the following year 

 with a new mate to her former favourite haunt. 



" Three species of the genus Lestris, the Glaucous Gull, Little 

 Gull, Great Northern Diver, Little Auk, and Long-tailed Duck are 

 obtained generally during the prevalence of strongnorth-easterly winds . 

 Temminck's Tringa and the Olivaceous Gallinule have been killed near 

 Scarborough. The Sanderling visits the shore in May and Septem- 

 ber. Good §port is sometimes gained at IFborfcocA-shooting in March, 

 when from any cause these birds are prevented continuing their 

 journey northward. In one or two instances a Woodcock has been 

 seen there as late as June." 



August 23, 1836. 



Thomas Bell, Esq., in the Chair. 



In consequence of the lamented decease of the Secretary, E. 

 T. Bennett, Esq., the usual routine of scientific business was sus- 

 pended. 



