144 NELSON : ORNITHOLOGICAL NOTES FROM REDCAR. 
Middlesbrough taxidermist received a Spotted Crake (/orzana 
maruetta) which had been shot on the marshes on the N. side 
of the river. From the 18th to the 23rd Swallows and House 
Martins were continually hawking about on the Esplanade and in 
the High Street. (See Mr. Harting’s article on ‘ Belated Swallows’ 
in the ‘Field’ of 30th January, 1892.) 26th.—Three Eider Ducks 
(Somateria mollissima) were observed swimming near Redcar Pier. 
Although this sea-duck is very rare with us, it is quite probable that, 
now it is increasing so rapidly at the Farne Islands, owing to the 
strict protection afforded to it there, we may in future have more 
opportunities of recording its occurrence on the Yorkshire coast. 
Dec. 18th.—Frosty ; fine. An immature Great Northern Diver 
(Colymbus glacialis) was shot at sea. Two flocks of Geese passed. 
26th.-—-Snow Buntings came over in large flocks. 
Jan. 2nd, 1892, with a N.W. gale, both Skylarks and Snow Buntings 
migrated in considerable numbers, passing without intermission all 
the morning, and on the 7th, with a N.E. gale and heavy snow, there 
was a passage of Redwings and Fieldfares to the N.W. 11th and 
12th.—N.E. gale. Great numbers of Common Gulls (Larus canus), 
both adult and immature, passed to N.W. On the 12th an immature 
specimen of the Glaucous Gull (Z. g/aucus) was shot close to the 
town, and an adult Grey Phalarope (Phalaropus fulicarius) was 
obtained at the Tees Mouth. 24th.—The last arrival of winter 
migrants was noted. Wind S.W., light; fine and mild. Thrushes, 
Fieldfares, and Larks passed all the morning, and a large flock of 
Green Plover crossed about noon. 
February roth, 11th, and 12th.— Attracted by the numbers of 
Kittiwakes (Rissa tridactyla) to be seen about a mile out at sea, 
I procured a boat and went off to ascertain the cause of this vast 
assemblage of Gulls ; both E, and W., as far as the eye could reach, 
their graceful white forms were visible, many busily engaged dipping 
into the water and others flying overhead, and then darting down 
to pick up some object from the surface; I shot two or three 
examples and found that their mouths were full of small crustaceans, 
with which the sea was literally alive ; heaps of these were afterwards 
washed ashore by sea-winds, and afforded a feast for Starlings and 
other frequenters of the tidal line. (The crustaceans were submitted 
to the Rev. Canon Alfred Merle Norman, M.A., D.C.L., F.R.S., 
who refers them to Authemisto compressa, a species not hitherto 
observed in British seas), 18th.—A female Great Northern Diver 
was shot in the estuary. 21st.—A Fulmar was found washed up on 
the beach. 26th.—I saw two more Great Northern Divers and a 
Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus) near the Tees Mouth. 
Naturalist, > 
