164 MISCELLANEA. 



taking of a Hoopoe on September nth at Newbiggin-by-the- 

 Sea, reported by Mr. J. Alaric Richardson, and the appearance 

 of Siskins on migration. I came across a flock of seven or 

 eight Siskins in an old quarry near Kenton on September 27th, 

 and another single bird near Ovingham three days later. 

 Hawfinches were probably more numerous in the Tyne 

 Valley this winter than ever before, and one was picked up 

 dead at Woolsington, three miles north-west of Newcastle. 

 On December 15th, during a snowstorm, I saw a Goldfinch 

 by the west turnpike above Styford Hall, near Corbridge, and 

 had the pleasure of watching it for some little time. 



In the spring of 1902 a few of the migrants, though not the 

 generality of them, arrived unusually early. Wood Wrens 

 were singing in some numbers near Ravensworth Castle on 

 April 2 1 St, and a Corncrake was heard near Stocksfield on 

 the 24th. These are both early dates for the appearance of 

 the birds in question; but a much more remarkable instance 

 is the arrival of the Spotted Flycatcher as early as the 27th 

 of April, on which day I watched two of these birds for a 

 considerable time by the river Blyth near Stannington. 



E, Leonard Gill. 



