310 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



beaks (Howard Saunders, 'Manual of British Birds')- These 

 birds assemble in great numbers on the huge banks of sea- 

 weed washed up by the tide to the south of Curlew Point, St. 

 Mary's Island. On lifting this seaweed up large numbers of 

 insects are discovered, especially quantities of large white 

 maggots. In the year 1900 a bird with a lot of white on it was 

 often observed at Whitley, and another with white on the head 

 kept caged for three years. 



Eosp>CoLouKED Starling {Pastor roseus). — I have only one 

 record of this bird for the district, and that lies on rather slight 

 evidence, although I think that there is sufficient to allow its 

 inclusion in this list. It is a specimen which was caught alive 

 by someone signing himself " An Amateur Ornithologist" in the 

 ' Newcastle Daily Journal ' some time in 1870. He gave a full 

 description of it, and said that the length was only six inches, 

 and the crest very small. It is therefore to be presumed that 

 the bird in question was an immature female which had just 

 attained adult plumage, but was smaller than a mature bird. 



Magpie {Pica rustica). — Formerly of very occasional occur- 

 rence at Holywell ; now never seen. 



Jay {Garrulus glandarius). — Has been observed in Holywell 

 Dene up to ten years ago, but since then it has been unknown, 

 owing to constant persecution. 



Jackdaw {Corvus monedula). — Eesident and migratory ; I have 

 frequently observed numbers passing north in April. This 

 species breeds at Tynemouth Priory and in the adjoining cliffs. 

 The following occurrence was mentioned in the ' Newcastle 

 Weekly Chronicle,' May 21st, 1910, by " Charles Wain," Mr. 

 H. S. Wallace : '* A cunning Jackdaw watched two parent 

 Thrushes leave their little citadel for some worms. This was 

 securely placed high up on one of the girders of the roof of 

 Tynemouth Station. The Jackdaw was in the act of raiding the 

 nest when one of the * grey birds,' prompted doubtless by the 

 warning instinct of parenthood, swerved round and saw the 

 threatening act of piracy. It communicated the fact to its mate, 

 and the pair dashed back to their home. Then followed a spirited 

 attack by the smaller birds on the Jackdaw. He soon began to 

 get the worst of matters. So fierce was their onslaught that the 

 daw was obliged to retreat, abandoning all thoughts of rapine. 



