214 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



Redwing (T. iliacus). — A fairly common winter visitant, 

 commonest during the time of arrival in autumn and departure 

 in spring. As a rule they arrive at the beginning of October, 

 but sometimes later. 



Fieldfare {T. pilaris). — A fairly common winter visitant, and 

 more so than the last species. The times of its most frequent 

 occurrence are the same as those of the Redwing. The average 

 date of the first arrival is Oct. 2nd. The local name is " Feltie," 



Blackbird (T. merula). — A common resident and migrant. 

 In April, 1910, a pair built a nest of string and clematis-stalks 

 in an old aviary in our garden. A pied bird was shot at 

 Seaton Delaval in about 1900, another at Whitley somewhat later, 

 and one with white markings on the head at Holywell in 1909. 



Ring-Ouzel {T. torquatus). — This species is rare here, and 

 the two specimens obtained were spring migrants which had just 

 arrived and were halting on the coast before passing inland. An 

 adult was shot at Cullercoats on May 1st, 1834, and is now in 

 the Hancock Museum. Another bird of this species was shot at 

 St. Mary's Island in April, 1904. 



Wheatear {Saxicola oenanthe). — A regular resident during 

 spring and summer, and more numerous in spring and autumn 

 when numbers of migrants arrive and depart respectively. 

 Breeds along the sea-banks at Whitley. Usual dates of first 

 arrival — March 30th or April 1st; the earliest record I have is 

 March 20th, which was in 1905. Young fully fledged are usually 

 seen by June 22nd. I several times observed a male utter- 

 ing its short and somewhat mixed song, hovering some six 

 feet above the grass on George's Point, Cullercoats, during 

 June, 1903, while his mate sat on her nest under the bank. 

 Mr. Hodgson informs me that several years ago he found a 

 nest of this species containing eggs in a hole in a stump in 

 Briar Dene. There were two entrances which had been formed 

 for a rope to pass through, and the bird retreated by the exit 

 opposite to the approaching observer. Unfortunately, as is the 

 same in many places, when he returned a day or so later, some 

 urchins had harried the nest. The latest record of the depar- 

 ture of this species is October 2nd, in 1909. The local name is 

 " Whiterump.'* 



Whinchat {Pratincola rubetra). — Now only seen in spring 



