378 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



Island by J. Duncan on Nov. 16th, 1892, which is now in the 

 collection of H. Coxon, Esq. In 1904 two specimens (immature) 

 were shot, now in Mr. Eichardson's possession. 



Kestrel {F. tinnunculus) . — A not uncommon visitor to the 

 fields in autumn and winter when on migration ; numbers 

 appear to arrive on the coast in autumn. Nearly all the occur- 

 rences are of immature and female birds, adult males being 

 very rare. 



OspREY (Pandion haliaetus). — A rare visitant on migration. 

 Selby mentions one shot near Hartley, which must have been a 

 few years prior to 1831. I am indebted to Mr. E. Duncan for 

 the following trustworthy and interesting information concerning 

 this species : — " The first specimen I saw obtained was one shot 

 by a pitman of Hartley. It was feeding on the carcase of a 

 horse which lay in the passage between the island and the 

 mainland. This was about the year 1850. The second was 

 seen by myself at Tynemouth about 1860, where it was after- 

 wards shot. A third specimen was shot at Hartley about 

 1872. A fourth was seen on the flagstaff at the rifle-range near 

 St. Mary's Island. A pitman fired three shots at it, missing it 

 completely ; but the bird was so exhausted that it could not stir 

 from its perch. Eventually it was shot when the man ap- 

 proached within closer range. This would be about 1876. The 

 last bird was one which, although it had several shots fired 

 at it, escaped out to sea, flying close to the water with heavy 

 wing beats. This was in 1881. As far as I can remember, all 

 the above birds were seen or procured in September." The last 

 was procured in the year in which the remarkable number of 

 ten specimens were recorded on the east coast of England. 



Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo). — Occasionally passes 

 along the coast ; it is observed going north in spring and south 

 in winter in small flocks. " Gormer " or "Gourmet" are the 

 local names for the Cormorant. On several occasions during 

 the winter of 1910 a Cormorant took its stand on the Black 

 Midden Eocks at the mouth of the Tyne, and remained sitting 

 within thirty yards of the shore on a half- submerged rock. The 

 children assembled once and pelted it with stones, but the only 

 notice it took of the missiles was to occasionally move its head 

 out of the line of flight of one if it came too near. On Dec. 14th, 



