Arrival, Departure, <&c, of Birds, by Mr. Jas. Hardy. 283 



fowl, and passing into the cattle sheds. They continued their 

 visits daily till the black ground re-appeared. Lapwings scat- 

 tered themselves among the open runnels, or passed down to 

 the sea-shore. The Golden Plovers also betook themselves to 

 search for food among the tide-covered rocks. 



Dec. 23. Kestrel Hawk seen. Large flocks of Larks mingled 

 with Snow-buntings on melted patches of clover-lea near the 

 sea-coast. Both Larks and Snow-buntings frequented the 

 stackyard till the end of the month. Mountain Finches were 

 frequently heard, and there were several at corn-stacks. 



Dec. 25. A piece of new ground on a bank was turned up within 

 these few days, and brought together nearly all the Thrush 

 kind, except Blackbirds, for worms and insects. They almost 

 followed the men's progress in that and some other levelling 

 operations. The Missel Thrushes were very quarrelsome, and 

 attacked not only each other but also the Fieldfares ; and the 

 Fieldfares flew at each other. Song Thrushes mixed through 

 among the others, and there were a few Redwings, which are 

 very shy birds. There were also a few Moor-pipets, and three 

 Stone-chats (two females and one male) at the feast ; several 

 Robins, a Mountain Finch, and a number of Chaffinches, as 

 well as some Rooks. A Bullfinch was noticed, but I did not 

 observe it. 



Dec. 28. Starlings fewer, as well as the thrush kind. Some may 

 have shifted place, but several died of hunger and cold ; and of 

 such I noted afterwards among the fallen, although they were 

 not numerous, Missel Thrushes, Song Thrushes, Fieldfares, 

 Golden Plovers, and Lapwings. Three or four Gold-crests 

 frequented the furze bushes for food ; and the Blue and Cole 

 Tit were active there also. The Blackbird appeared to find 

 food there without shifting place. 



Dec. 31. Mountain Finches sore distressed. Fieldfares few. 

 Redwings have disappeared, the sea-banks having become 

 iced over. Only four Wild Ducks at sea, and no Cormorants. 

 A small flock of Wild Geese in the morning. 



Notices of Arrival of Birds, &c, at Weetivood Hall. 

 By R. G. Bolam. 



1873. 1874. 



Sand Martins April 17th.* April 15th. 



Cuckoo May 5th ,, 26th. 



Wheat Ear „ 7th. 



Sand Pipers „ 20th. 



Redstart „ 25th. 



Corn Crake heard .... ,, 28th. 



Hawthorn in blossom May 27th „ 27th.t 



* The Sand Martins appeared 17th April, 1873, hut cold weather coming, 

 they left again and did not reappear for some time afterwards. 



f This is the earliest day I ever remember to have seen and pulled haw- 

 thorn in bloom in this district. 1 K 



