BIRDS OF SOUTH-EAST NOBTHDMBERLAND. 313 



to the seaweed-covered rocks and pools to feed at low tide. The 

 slaughter that was carried on among these birds yearly is in- 

 credible. Mr. Eichardson, of Holywell, teils me that during the 

 year 1896 he had fifty birds to set up which had been shot in 

 the district. A local taxidermist informed me once that he never 

 had the " satisfaction of shootin' one o' them bonnie bords." 

 Where the satisfaction comes in it is hard to conceive. 



KoLLER {Coracias garrulus). — A specimen is recorded by 

 J. Hancock as shot " some years ago near Earsdon," probably 

 about 1854. 



Hoopoe {Upupa epops). — An extremely rare visitant in Sept- 

 ember, of which I have but two definite records. One which is 

 mentioned by J. Hancock was shot on the coast between Culler- 

 coats and Whitley on the coronation day of King William IV., 

 Sept. 4th, 1831, by Thomas Harvey, in company with J. Hancock. 

 This bird was only winged, and Hancock says he had the oppor- 

 tunity of seeing it alive, and of observing how the feathers on 

 the crest were arranged when erected. This specimen is an 

 adult male, and is in the Hancock Museum. A second example 

 was shot by Mr. Ewen at St. Mary's Island on Sept. 30th, 1878, 

 and is in his possession. It was stuffed by Bates, of Newcastle- 

 on-Tyne. Mr. Hancock once informed my grandmother, the 

 late Mrs. T. Vaughan, that one day, while walking on the banks 

 at Cullercoats, he had flushed five birds, which flew straight 

 away, and proved to be Hoopoes. I should probably say that this 

 would be on the occasion that the bird he mentions was shot. 



Cuckoo (Ciiculus canorus). — An occasional visitant on migra- 

 tion in spring and autumn. A bird of this species was caught 

 in the 'Huddleston Arms Hotel,' Cullercoats, while it was being 

 repaired, about 1897. It had probably just arrived, and was 

 much exhausted. This species seems to wander south early in 

 summer, as my uncle observed several passing down the coast 

 between June 20th and 25th, 1911, during the prevalence of 

 north-east gales. 



(To be continued.) 



Zool. 4th ser. vol. XV., August, 1911. 



