Ornithological Notes, by Mr T. H. Gibb. 433 



river during the night and crept through the dewy grass to 

 partake of a meal. He also mentioned that he once caught 

 a very large eel which had an entire water rat in its inside, 

 which it was supposed to have swallowed in the same manner 

 as adders do mice and frogs. 



Food of Creophilus maxillosus. — This is a ferocious 

 looking beetle, which lurks under carrion, dead moles, &c. 

 On the 16th of August, I was surprised to see it on the head 

 of a field thistle (Carduus arvensis), making a determined 

 effort to penetrate the impacted mass of down attached to the 

 seeds. The seeds, I found, were infested with a crimson 

 Cecidomyian larva, and these it probably intended to prey 

 upon. 



Ornithological Notes. By Mr T. H. Gibb. 



Turtle Dove, (Columba Turtur). — This elegant little 

 bird is seldom observed so far north as Northumberland ; 

 confining itself principally to the southern parts of England, 

 where it arrives in spring, and migrates usually in the 

 beginning of September. I am happy, however, to record 

 the appearance of a small flock on the Northumbrian sea- 

 board, during the latter end of October last ; one of which 

 was captured near to Newton-by-the-Sea, and I also heard 

 of another bird having been shot near Hauxley. The 

 former was a young male ; probably a bird of the year, as it 

 had not thrown out to its full perfection the black feathers 

 on the neck, and it was altogether of a greyer tint than the 

 adult bird. I have observed them near Henley, on the 

 Thames. The Turtle Dove appears to be a very active little 

 bird, and, like all its congeners, capable of very lapid loco- 

 motion. The usual time for the migration of the Turtle Dove 

 southwards appears to be during the early part of September. 

 It might therefore be safe to infer that the birds seen in this 

 locality, during the latter part of October, were individuals 

 which were driven by stress of stormy weather northwards, 

 whilst migrating from some of our more southern counties. 



Grey Shrike, (Lanius excuhitor). — During the last year 

 two specimens of this bird have been obtained — one near 

 Rothbnry, the other not far from Hawkhill. During their 

 migrations from the north of Europe, they sometimes sojourn 

 with us for a few weeks. 



