246 MISCELLANEA 



MISCELLANEA. 



Bird Notes. 



Little Auks in IQ12. — The "rush" of Little Auks, which 

 attracted so much attention in the early weeks of 19 12, was 

 strongly marked on our local coast. Mr. John Crisp, of 

 St. Mary's Island, writing on February 3rd, 1912, said, 

 " During the past three weeks the Little Auk has been very 

 numerous along the coast— flock after flock of them, all 

 making south. Large numbers of them have foundered : 

 they could be picked up all over the beach. I have never 

 seen so many, and they certainly have confirmed the common 

 opinion that we are in for bad weather when they are seen." 



Mr. Hugh V. Charlton, of Cullercoats, has supplied me 

 with some interesting notes on the same visitation, and the 

 following are quoted from them. "The first Little Auk 

 recorded was shot on January 7th off Cullercoats. On the 

 night of January 8th a severe blizzard swept over from the 

 south-east. On the 9th Mr. Crisp saw "dozens" swimming 

 round St. Mary's Island ; one was brought alive to us, but 



would not feed and died next morning January 



18th. South-east wind; flock of six seen passing St. Mary's 

 Island by H. V. C. We were told that many had been seen, 

 and the fishermen amused themselves by throwing stones at 

 them as they passed along by the shore. We were also 

 informed that one flock had about fifty birds in it ... . 

 January 21st. One was picked up alive in the fields half a 



mile behind Cullercoats January 23rd. J. M. 



C. saw one swimming off Cullercoats. The swimming birds 

 apparently used their wings when on the surface as an aid to 

 their feet, flapping them in the water beside them in their 



hurry to escape. January 24th I also saw 



four to-day ; one was quite at home riding over the great 

 breakers off St. Mary's Island." 



Many Little Auks were brought to the Museum, some of 

 them picked up far inland. One was brought alive by Mr. R. 



