133 



Notes on Birds observed in North Northumberland. By T. 

 H. Gibb, Alnwick. 



Little Auk (Aha Alle). — Vast numbers of these birds visited 

 the Northumbrian coast during the autumn of 1876. They do 

 not generally migrate so far south, being birds of strong north- 

 ern proclivities ; and doubtless those birds that reach our shores 

 are never willing visitors, but are carried hither by circumstances 

 over which they have no control. For the most part, those cap- 

 tured here were in a deplorably thin condition, and many of them 

 were found in very strange localities ; one was observed disport- 

 ing in a pool in a quarry situated many miles from the sea ; 

 another was seen paddling along the deep waterfQled ruts of a 

 rough country road ; whilst the beagles of Mr J. J. Horsley, of 

 Alnwick, during a run with a rabbit, caught one in a field 

 huddled together in a tussock of grass. Many specimens have 

 also been seen and taken in other inland localities ; and at the 

 same time they have been very plentifully and widely dispersed 

 along our seaboard. 



Wild Duck (Anas Boschas). — I never remember having seen 

 larger flocks of Wild Ducks than I observed whilst the north- 

 east gales raged so fiercely towards the close of last year. 

 They left the bleak and exposed coast in large numbers, and 

 betook themselves to inland rivers and ponds for shelter and 

 security. After the subsidence of the storms, numerous flocks 

 were to be seen making seaward again. 



Eased G-rebe (Colynibus auritus). — A male was shot in the 

 estuary of the river Aln in December last, and was of course in 

 its full winter dress. A few are to be found every winter. 



Tutted Duck (Anas fuligula). — A male was captured near 

 Longframlington. This bird is only an occasional visitant, and 

 at no times numerous. 



Longtailed Duck (Anas glacialis). — Large numbers of these 

 birds located themselves in the neighbourhood of Fenham Slakes 

 and Holy Island, where they are called " Jacky Forsters" by the 

 fishermen. The fully matured male bird of this species is not 

 often met with ; as the females and immature males, which in 

 many cases seem to be in the exact plumage of the other sex, 

 greatly preponderate in numbers. 



The same thing may be said of the 



