MISCELLANEA 247 



Wailes Cooke ; it had been found in his garden at Wylam. 

 Another was seen to flutter down during a snowstorm on 

 February 2nd in Grey Street, Newcastle, and was picked up 

 by Mr. R. J. Dewar and brought to us by Mr. G. G. Laidler, 

 jun. We kept this bird alive for rather more than a day, but 

 though it pecked and squawked vigorously when handled, it 

 would not take food. We forced bits of shrimp down its 

 throat, but apparently to no purpose. While it lived we kept 

 it in a large sink partly filled with water, and with rocks to 

 climb out upon. The rotundity of its form was noticeable, as 

 was the fact that it never sat up on its tail-end in the attitude 

 in which Little Auks are always shown by taxidermists and 

 artists. I have stuffed the bird in the position it invariably 

 adopted when it left the water — supported on its breast and 

 feet, with its head drawn well back and its little tail erect. 

 It is of course possible that a Little Auk in normal condition 

 is able to sit upright; this bird, like all that we examined, 

 was extremely emaciated and evidently starving. — E. Leonard- 

 Gill. 



Brent Geese at St. Mary's Island. — Mr. John Crisp, in the 

 letter quoted above (dated Feb. 3, 19 12), goes on to refer to 

 another matter. He says, "There has been a great migration 

 of Brent Geese, making north. Thousands of them have 

 passed here in flocks of from ten to fifty for the past week. 

 Several have been shot ; Mr. Charlton, of Cullercoats, has 

 shot three." It is many years since Brent Geese have been 

 seen in any numbers, or shot, at St. Mary's Island. 



White Variety of Woodpigeon. — While walking through the 

 General's Wood at Fatfield, on Monday evening, August 28th, 

 191 1, I noticed a white bird rise and fly away, which from its 

 flight appeared to be a young one. Flying against a tree 

 trunk it fell, and I was thus able to pick it up, and on 

 examination found that it was a pure white variety of the 

 Ring Dove, fully feathered, but as yet weak on the wing. 

 The eyes were black, thus showing that it was not a true 

 albino, and as it will be interesting to observe whether any 



