On the Pele Tower at North Sunderland, 8fc. 345 



English, and one shot at Pekin in winter. They all vary 

 much. In 1863, the Pallas Sand Grouse actually bred in 

 Denmark and Holland, and the young got safely away and 

 migrated. In May, 1861, there was a great irruption into 

 China, between Pekin and Tientsin. It appeared on the 

 Volga in 1853, and in Europe in 1859 and 1863." 



It is exceedingly to be regretted that the dropped bird was 

 not more severely hit ; had it been secured our doubts would 

 have been removed. As it is, if these six birds were Sand 

 Grouse, as Mr Coldwell confidently affirms, they would seem 

 to have been of the larger variety (Pterocles Alchatd), of 

 which the birds of the first year are, I believe, smaller than 

 the mature bird, and of which, so far as I know, we have no 

 recorded visits to our shore. The dropped bird was reported 

 to have been afterwards picked up ; but I regret to have to 

 add, after subsequent inquiries, that such report was unfor- 

 tunately not true. The description given accords most nearly 

 with that of P. Alchata. 



On the Pele Tower at North Sunderland, and some Coins 

 found in its Vicinity in 1832—3. By the Rev. F. R. 

 Simpson. 



The old Tower at North Sunderland, in or near to which 

 these large coins were found, was one of those old keeps or 

 peles, with which our Border country was once thickly 

 studded, and of which we have some still remaining ; as at 

 Fleetham, Beadnell, Embleton, &c. During its destruction 

 many other coins were found (several scores), most of them 

 similar in size and appearance to those in my possession ; 

 others apparently worn, and shewing no trace of design or 

 inscription. At the time the Pele was demolished, the lords 

 of the manor claimed all " treasure trove," and no provision 

 was made for recouping the finder ; and the consequence was 

 that the great bulk of these coins were secreted and 

 smuggled away, and have passed into private hands and 

 become dispersed or lost. The Tower was pulled down 

 forty years ago, having been removed when the present 

 church and vicarage were built. It was square, and of solid 

 masonry ; the walls being about five feet in thickness. It 



