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THE BIRDS OF THAT PORTION OF THE NORTH- 

 EAST COAST BETWEEN TYNEMOUTH AND 

 SEATON SLUICE, NORTHUMBERLAND. 



By J. M. Charlton. 



(Continued from p. 131.) 

 (Plate IV.) 



Mistle-Thrush {Tardus viscivoriis). — A fairly common resi- 

 dent. A few pairs breed annually in Holywell and Whitley 

 Denes. I have no records of any migratory movements. 



Song-Thrush {T. musicus). — Numerous both as a resident 

 and migrant. Large numbers of the latter go by, passing south 

 in autumn and north in spring. Many frequently pass inland 

 also in autumn from the north-east, and at the same time other 

 birds are leaving the coast and vice versa in spring. These 

 migratory movements occur so closely upon one another that it 

 is only with the greatest care that they can be distinguished. I 

 have seen during these migrations many hundreds of weary 

 travellers hopping disconsolately about among the numbers of 

 fishing cobbles lying on the top of the banks at George's Point, 

 Cullercoats, and doubtless these boats form an adequate shelter 

 for such as they when waylaid during stormy weather. Mr. 

 W. G. Monk informs me that, while he was on the lighthouse 

 on St. Mary's Island, in the autumn, during the prevalence of 

 hazy weather, numbers of these birds, together with Black- 

 birds and Starlings, frequently hovered around the lantern. 

 Mr. H. S. Wallace, writing in the * Newcastle Weekly Chronicle,' 

 March, 1910, mentions a large stone on Seaton Links used by 

 Thrushes as a means of breaking snail-shells. He identified the 

 following species of snails from the shells cast around : — Helix 

 nemoralis, H. Jwrtensis, H. hortensis minor, H. hortensis var. 

 lilacina, H. arhustorum. I have not come across many of these 

 breaking stones in the district. The local name for this species 

 is " Grey bird." 



