2 WHITLOCK: BIRD-NOTES FROM THE MID-TRENT VALLEY IN 1893. 
In his interesting article he puts forth the theory that the large 
numbers of this species observed (I presume in the Humber district) 
are immigrants from some locality in central, or other more distant 
part of Europe, and that they travel to their winter quarters by an 
east to west route. Now, while I admit the possibility of the 
theory, I think it more probable that the birds observed in the 
Humber district are for the most part British examples, which 
merely make that part of the east coast their rendezvous before 
taking their departure to the Continent. A note quoted by Mr. 
Cordeaux, of flocks observed by Mr. Caton Haigh coming in across 
s m the east, may have been nothing more than birds 
travelling down the Holderness shores, and apparently, when 
crossing the Humber to the Lincolnshire side, flying in from the 
east. hese large flocks were travelling by the route suggested 
by Mr. Cordeaux they would most naturally take the Humber and 
Severn route, and, unless they passed over beyond the range of 
ordinary vision, could not fail to be observed by ornithologists 
en route. am convinced, however, that the large number of 
Yellow Wagtails breeding in the Trent valley not only arrive in 
spring from the Humber district, which they have reached by the 
east of Spain, Rhone and either Seine or Rhine valley route, from 
their winter quarters, but that they return by the same, or nearly the 
same, route, and that continental ornithologists do not all of them 
= M. rail deesiam ee more common MV. flava, the differences of 
t being so marked as in the spring. 
f my contention is correct, it is not very remarkable that 
a straggler of the latter species so very rarely turns up in the Eastern 
or North Midland Counties. 
When flocks of JZ vaii arrive at the Humber in the spring 
I hold that they spread themselves fan-wise over the neighbouring 
counties, which will account for the fact of this species graduall 
diminishing in numbers the further away we get from the apex of the 
fan, the wave of migration slowly spending its numbers, and the 
Pennine Chain barring access to North-west England, where WZ. raii 
is decidedly scarce. No doubt much light would be thrown on this 
matter if readers of the ‘Naturalist’ would send short notes referring 
to this species, as to time of arrival, direction of flight and abundance 
during spring migration. 
The following notes arranged under the counties refer to Notts 
and Derbyshire, and to Leicestershire in a lesser degree. 
Fieldfare. Turdus pilaris. We had a many passing through 
during April, but the last had disappeared earlier than usual. 
Abundant in the autumn. 
Naturalist, 
