BIRDS OF SOUTH-EAST NORTHUMBERLAND. 217 



Sedgk-Warbler {Acrocephalus phragmitis). — Although this 

 bird probably was, and is, a regular spring and autumn migrant, 

 yet, owing to its arriving at night, as do most migrants, and 

 quickly departing inland, I have no record of it, excepting three 

 which I myself saw in Briar Dene in 1905, just after they had 

 arrived. 



Hedge-Sparrow {Accentor modularis) . — Common. The local 

 name is "Bluie," on account of the colour of its eggs. 



Dipper (Cinclus aquaticus). — An irregular visitor in autumn. 

 Occasionally a bird is observed on the stream at Holywell. 



Long-tailed Titmouse (Acredula caudata). — A rare migrant, 

 arriving on the coast in autumn. The first record I can find is 

 one which was found dead at Tynemouth in November, 1852, 

 and was presented to J. Hancock by W. J. Forster, Esq. Han- 

 cock says of it : — " It was in a very good state of preservation, 

 and, when picked up, could not have been dead more than a day 

 or two. It had probably just arrived from the north of Europe." 

 This bird was a specimen of the northern form of this species, 

 the true A. caudata ; that is, the White-headed Long- tailed Tit of 

 some authors, owing to its having an entirely white head (Plate 

 IV.). This is the only pure specimen of this form which has been 

 obtained in England. It is figured in Hancock's Catalogue from 

 a drawing by the author from the bird stuffed by him now in the 

 Hancock Museum. (Howard Saunders, ' Man. British Birds,' 

 p. 101.) Of the British form of the Long-tailed Tit {A. rosea), 

 several examples have been obtained within the district. The 

 first was shot by Mr. Ewen at St. Mary's Island on Nov. 11th, 

 1892, and is in his possession. It was stuffed by Mr. E Duncan. 

 The second was shot at Spittle Dene, near Tynemouth, in about 

 1890, by Mr. J. Douglas, now of Cullercoats ; and another, a 

 mature female, was shot in Holywell Dene, in about 1898, by 

 Mr. Eichardson, of Holywell. The figure is from the first-men- 

 tioned specimen in the Newcastle Museum. 



Great Titmouse {Parus major).— k visitant by no means 

 common. 



Marsh-Tit {P. palustris). — A very rare visitor. I have 

 only one record, which is of one shot at Holywell Dene in 1905. 



Blue Tit {P. ccerideus). — A fairly common resident, frequent- 

 ing Holywell Dene chiefly. 

 2ool, 4th ser. vol. XV., June, 1911. s 



