122 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



country was obtained at Hartley by John Hancock, and the 

 only example of the white-headed form of the Long-tailed Tit 

 {Acredula caudata) obtained in England was the one found 

 dead at Tynemouth in 1852. Secondly, with reference to 

 Northumberland, the species which have occurred within this 

 locality and stand alone for the countj^ are the Yellow-browed 

 Warbler, Eustic Bunting, Pectoral Sandpiper, Avocet, and 

 Levantine Shearwater. One of the two Golden Orioles obtained 

 in Northumberland was shot at Tynemouth ; the fourth and 

 last example of the Wood-Lark was procured in this district ; 

 one of the few Hoopoes was shot at Cullercoats ; John Hancock 

 mentions that the only occurrence, to his knowledge, of the 

 Grey Plover in summer plumage was procured here ; the second 

 example of the Spotted Kedshank was got here in 1831 ; the 

 occurrence of the Iceland Gull is one of the few for the county. 

 The natural hybrid between the Reed and Yellow Buntings is an 

 unique occurrence, and the record of the Chiffchaff in winter is 

 also of great interest, and is the only one for the county. This 

 latter would not be of so much interest were it not for the fact 

 that the district is so little suited to the habitation of such a 

 frail bird in winter, when insect-life is almost entirely absent. 

 This species frequently passes the winter in the more sheltered 

 southern counties of England, but its occurrence so far north is 

 extraordinary. The first record of the White Wagtail for the 

 county was shot here. 



As I have before stated, the district is very unsheltered, and 

 affords but little seclusion to any birds which may visit it, 

 especially of the land species. This accounts for the fact that 

 most of the birds mentioned in the following pages have only 

 been passing on migration, and were not making any stay in 

 the neighbourhood. The only places which offer shelter to 

 birds of retiring habits belonging to the Passerine species are 

 Whitley, Briar, and Holywell denes, situated a short distance 

 from each other, and the last two in direct communication with 

 the sea. The rest of the country is almost devoid of trees, but 

 here and there a few isolated clumps stand bare and rigid, 

 facing the cutting blasts of the north-east wind. The only 

 sheets of fresh water are at Whitley Dene and Tynemouth Park, 

 the former, once used as a reservoir to supply the district, being 



