512 Notes on Birds in 1878-9, by T. H. Gibb. 



instances in the white plumage is sufficient, in connection 

 with other peculiarities mentioned by Yarrell, to constitute 

 it a distinct bird." I may add, that the bird captured at Aln- 

 mouth is pure white. Referring to Hancock's " Birds of North- 

 umberland and Durham," he says, "The Polish Swan is men- 

 tioned as having occurred at Hartlepool, on the authority of a 

 Mr J. H. Gurney, jun., in Starling's ' Handbook of British 

 Birds,' " p. 154. I am informed, however, by Mr Gurney him- 

 self, that the authority of this notice rests only on a newspaper 

 paragraph. I therefore do not venture to include it in this 

 catalogue ;" so that so far as the two northern counties of England 

 are concerned, the Polish Swan is indeed a rara avis, and this is, 

 so far as I know, the first time its capture has been recorded in 

 those districts. 



Bewick's Swan {Cygnus Bewichii). — Two more Swans have 

 been shot near Warkworth, one of which was sent to me, and 

 this I found to be an adult specimen of Cygnus Bewickii. What 

 the second was I cannot determine, not having seen it ; but from 

 the description of those who have, I have no doubt it was another 

 specimen. I have also heard of four specimens having been 

 shot by the Holy Island fishermen at that favourite rendezvous 

 and feeding ground for all sorts of wild fowl, Fenham Slakes. 

 The severity of the weather, and its long continuance, doubtless 

 have had much to do with the appearance on our sea-board of so 

 many birds belonging to more northern regions. 



Effects of the Winter. — We have noted that the severe 

 winter has played sad havoc in the ranks of our feathered 

 friends — the greatest sufferers having been the Redwing, Field- 

 fare, and the Song-thrush ; but it has also reached birds of a 

 hardier nature, such as the Blackbird, Starling, the Finches, 

 Wood-pigeon, and even the Eook, whose hardihood and aptitude 

 to adapt itself to circumstances is proverbial. During the storm 

 we observed that the Rook preyed on birds weakened by its 

 severity, and many a hapless Thrush, in its last stage of ex- 

 haustion, was given the coup de grace by the sable marauder, and 

 devoured. 



Alnwick was visited by hosts of Chaffinches, Hedge-sparrows, 

 and Tits, which daily were seen picking up whatever edible sub- 

 stances they could find in front of our shops, and in our narrowest 

 lanes. A Thrush regularly visited a certain yard, surrounded on 



