380 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



desert formation, and they are much favoured by flocks of 

 domestic Pigeons as well as Sparrows, which obtain the grit 

 from them. Quantities of shale occur just here. 



Shag (P. graculus). — An uncommon winter visitant. I have 

 very few records, and all of immature specimens : one shot off 

 the beacon point in front of our house at Cullercoats on 

 Jan. 17th, 1904 ; two in the possession of Mr. Eliott, Whitley 

 Bay, shot at Whitley, 1905 ; one shot by myself from a coble on 

 Dec. 14th, 1910 ; and in January, 1911, I several times observed 

 a bird of this species swimming about and diving in Cullercoats 

 Bay. At a distance it was distinguishable from a Diver by the 

 apparently greater effort it made in diving. 



Gannet {Sula bassana). — Formerly not uncommon, when, 

 my father informs me, several were often to be seen in summer 

 fishing off the North Pier, Tynemouth, being visitors from the 

 Bass Eock. Now the Gannet is but seldom seen. Mr. E. 

 Duncan informs me that one day many years ago, while passing 

 along at the island, he came upon one of these birds on the 

 sand. It was entirely unable to rise, and on his approach dis- 

 gorged a large quantity of fish, evidently partly in fear and 

 partly to lighten itself so as to escape. 



Common Heron {Ardea cinerea). — An occasional visitor in 

 winter. One or more are observed on the coast every j^ear. On 

 Aug. 3rd, 1903, I observed a Heron come directly over the sea 

 from the east, and on reaching the coast turn due south and pass 

 out of sight. Occasionally a bird of this species visits the dis- 

 used reservoir at Whitley, and remains a few days. 



Bittern (Botaurus stellaris). — A bird of this species was 

 caught alive in a public lavatory at Cullercoats in February, 1905. 

 This was the time that as many as six specimens occurred in the 

 north of England, but this bird was not then recorded. Mr. 

 Joseph Taylor, who caught the bird, kept it for several days, 

 but it pined away and died. It was examined at the Hancock 

 Museum, and set up by Mr. Taylor, who gave it to a Mr. Watson, 

 of Wallsend. When in confinement Mr. Taylor informs me that 

 it attacked him fiercely with its beak, and was handled with a 

 considerable amount of danger. 



(To be continued.) 



