REPORT OF FIELD MEETINGS. 267 



In passing through the woods we noticed many decaying trees 

 whose bark bore traces of the Woodpecker, and near the top of 

 a tree whose head had been broken off by the wind, a hole 

 made by the bird, no doubt a nesting place, was distinctly 

 visible ; but no glimpse of the bird itself was seen. Retracing 

 our steps to the lodge where our brake was waiting for us, we 

 returned to Wooler by way of Lilburn and Ilderton, in time 

 for dinner and the evening train to Newcastle. 



One noticeable feature of this excursion was the abundance 

 of bird life observed, the following species having been seen 

 during our visit : — Black-headed Gull, Mallard, Coot, Rook, 

 Jackdaw, Grouse, Blackcock, Partridge, Pheasant, Curlew, Lap- 

 wing, Golden Plover, Snipe, Sandpiper, Dipper, Wood Pigeon, 

 Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Tree Pipit, Meadow Pipit, Common 

 Wren, Wood Wren, Willow Wren, Wheatear, Grey Wagtail, 

 Pied Wagtail, Swift, House Martin, Sand Martin, Reed 

 Bunting, Yellow Bunting, Common Bunting, Whitethroat, 

 Blackbird, Thrush, Missel Thrush, Ring Ousel, Blue Tit, 

 Great Tit, Starling, Corncrake, and Tufted Duck. This list 

 is still further increased by the observations of Colonel 

 Adamson, a member of the Society, who was staying at 

 Wooler at the time of our meeting, but who did not form 

 one of our party. The following most interesting letter was 

 sent by him to the Curator of the Museum, which I incor- 

 porate herewith : — 



" Dear Mr. Gill, — Last week I happened to be staying at 

 Wooler during the visit of the Natural History Society ; but 

 though there I did not to my knowledge meet any of the 

 members. I made some notes of the more interesting birds 

 seen during the week, within two miles of Wooler, by my sister 

 and myself. On leaving our hotel, " The Cottage," and walk- 

 ing down the side of the Wooler water as far as the Till, we 

 noticed a pair of Ring Dotterels on the gravelly bank of the 

 burn. Knowing that they would either have eggs or young, 

 we lay down and watched them carefully for a long time, and 

 at last having marked both birds to a small patch of gravel, 

 we proceeded to the spot and thoroughly searched it, the birds 



