BIRDS OF SOUTH-EAST NORTHUMBERLAND. 215 



and autumn when on migration, but formerly it used to breed 

 regularly on Whitley Links. A young bird in the first plumage, 

 which was shot there on July 26th, 1877, is in the Museum. 



Stonechat {P. rubicola). — An uncommon spring and summer 

 resident. A favourite haunt is on the furze along the sea-banks 

 at Whitley, now fast disappearing. The first record I have is 

 of one, now in the Museum, shot at Whitley in 1835. It seldom 

 occurs in winter, and then only on migration. 



Eedstart {Ruticilla phcenicurus) . — It is only seen on migra- 

 tion, in spring and autumn, although formerly it probably bred 

 in the district. The first record I know of is one shot at 

 St. Mary's on Sept. 3rd, 1899, and which is in the Museum. 

 The usual date of the first arrival is April 14th. The local name 

 is " Nanny Eedtail." 



Black Eedstart {R. titys). — A rare winter visitant. A male, 

 which is in the Hancock Museum, was shot at Cullercoats in 

 1856 ; and in March, 1857, a female was shot at the same place. 

 These two are mentioned in J. Hancock's catalogue. I saw a 

 male on Nov. 23rd, 1903, at the rifle range near St. Mary's 

 Island ; it had only just arrived and was very exhausted, allow- 

 ing me to approach very close to it. - 



Blue-throated Warbler {Cyanecula suecica). — There are two 

 records of the occurrence of this species in the district. The 

 first I found among some notes of John Hancock's, written after 

 the publication of his Catalogue. He writes as follows: — "A 

 specimen of this interesting bird was shot at Cullercoats on 

 Wed., 8th Oct., 1879. I saw the bird at a birdstuffer's in Percy 

 Street a few days after it was shot. The specimen belongs to a 

 Mr. Eichardson." The birdstuffer would be E. Charlton, of 

 Newcastle-on-Tyne. The second bird was taken on St. Mary's 

 Island by Mr. J. Ewen, on Sept. 18th, 1883. It was stuffed by 

 Mr. Bates, of Newcastle, and examined by J. Hancock, who con- 

 sidered it to be a female of the northern form in winter plumage, 

 just having completed the moult. Mr. Ewen informs me that 

 he watched it in his garden on the island for several hours 

 before he shot it. This was the time of the large immigration 

 of this species on the east coast. The first example was also of 

 the northern or red-spotted form, which is usually the form 

 obtained in Britain. 



