VOL. VII.] NOTES 327 



isles of Scotland, as if so it would lend considerable support 

 to the above theory. The influence of the wind mentioned 

 by Mr. Wade is, I am convinced, often made of too much 

 importance. It does not, of course, follow that because 

 a south-easterly wind was blowing on the Yorkshire coast 

 that the wind was in the same direction and of the same 

 force at the point and time when the birds started. 

 Moreover, I cannot agree that a south-easterly wind would 

 be unfavourable to birds crossing the North Sea, and have 

 always thought it was the opmion of experienced observers 

 that Woodcocks almost invariably do arrive on our east 

 coasts at a time when the wind is blowing from some 

 easterly point. 



I may add that the light records for January do not 

 help us one way or the other, as they are entirely negative, 

 the moon reaching its full on the 12th of the month. The 

 emigratory theory may be, I think, at once dismissed : it 

 was too early in the year ; the birds were tired and had 

 evidently not been engaged in the leisurely northern 

 return movement : they were for the most part not 

 found in usual Woodcock haunts, and they were con- 

 centrated in unusual numbers and many remained for 

 a month or six weeks. — ^N.F.T.] 



LESSER BLACK -BACKED GULLS IN LANCASHIRE 

 IN WINTER. 



It may be of interest, in reference to the status of Larus 

 fuscus a/finis and L. f. fuscus in Britain in winter, to give the 

 following notes of those I have seen on Skerton Weir, Lan- 

 caster, during the past winter. In several cases the birds 

 in question were in company with one or more Great Black- 

 backed Gulls, and in nearly all cases with Herring-Gulls, so 

 that the intensity of the colour of the mantle could be judged 

 fairly accurately by comparison with these, but in no case 

 are flying birds included, these being ignored altogether, as 

 the colour of their mantles could not be gauged with any 

 accuracy. I will call them light and dark respectively, as 

 I could not be absolutely certain of their identity, but give 

 my observations for what they may be worth : — 



With dark mantles : 1913. — ^November 5th and 8th, one ; 

 December 1st and 6th, one. 1914. — January 29th, two; 

 February 1st and 4th, one, 18th two, 19th three, 21st, 24th 

 and 25th, one ; March 12th, one among seventeen or eighteen 

 light; March 13th four among a dozen light; March 19th 

 and 21st, one, 



