134 On Birds in North Northumberland, by T. H. Gibb. 



Goosander (Mergus merganser), for out of twenty of these birds 

 not more than one matured male on the average will be found. 

 A fine fully matured male with the salmon colour of its breast 

 at its greatest perfection, was shot on the river Coquet. 



Stock Dove ( Columba CEnas). — Several Stock Doves have been 

 observed in the vicinity of Alnwick. They were associating 

 with the Woodpigeons, which arrived here in countless numbers 

 during the early part of January ; from which it may be inferred 

 that they too must have crossed over the north seas from Norway 

 and elsewhere, to find a more congenial habitat here. They are 

 easily distinguishable from their congeners by their smaller size ; 

 their more rapid and elevated flight ; as well as by their more 

 graceful movements. 



The Rock Dove ( C. livia), has never come under my notice, 

 not at least in its normal state ; for the few so-called Eock Doves 

 which frequent some of our rocky headlands, have been so 

 crossed and recrossed with the domestic Pigeon, that they have 

 quite lost their individuality. 



Starling (Sturnus vulgaris). — Of late years Starlings have 

 greatly increased in numbers ; and being gregarious in their 

 habits sometimes the flocks have been very large. I observed 

 one, which I computed to contain many thousands of birds. 

 This flock was made up every evening, by detachments varying 

 from a few individuals- to as many hundreds, pouring in to a 

 chosen rendezvous at the close of the day. The first flock or 

 company, and this was always under the guidance of some chosen 

 leader, whose will to the rest seemed perfect law, generally 

 arrived about two hours before sunset, and speedily selecting a 

 roosting place for the night, alighted. This was quickly followed 

 by a succession of fresh arrivals ; until at length a vast and 

 bustling multitude had congregated together ; the loud scream- 

 ing and chattering of which produced a strange but pleasing har- 

 mony of sounds. This concert continued till darkness finally set 

 in, and then began to subside, but in a very gradual manner — I 

 presume, by reason of the sleepy-headed members of the com- 

 munity placing their heads underneath their wings, while the 

 more wakeful spun out their cadence to the dying day. On 

 the following morning the birds departed in one body ; but 

 in the evenings they never failed to arrive at their roosting place 

 in isolated detachments. These movements I saw repeated 



