204 Arrivals, &g., of Birds. By John Aitchison. 



that time. "Willow Wren, April 10, a few individuals. Garden Warbler, 

 April 15, Black-cap Warbler, April 20, a male heard singing in a hedge and 

 seen to fly across the field. A pair of Eedstarts seen on April 20. This 

 species is not very plentiful here. Two Greater Whitethroats seen May 1st ; 

 they were plentiful in a week afterwards. Lesser Whitethroat, first saw 

 several individuals on May 6, and also on May 8. Heard a Sedge Warbler 

 singing late at night on April 22 and again on April 25, after which it sang 

 nearly every night for a fortnight and then became silent. Grasshopper 

 Warbler first seen on May 6th. Sand Martins made their appearance on 

 April 3, Chimney Swallows on April 8, and House Martins on following 

 day April 9. By the I5th both Swallows and House Martins were plentiful. 

 The Sand Martin is never abundant in this neighbourhood. Chimney Swal- 

 lows and House Martins were abundant here all summer, but not so numerous 

 as they were during the summer of 1879. They left us in a body on Septem- 

 ber 28th ; a pair last seen on October 7. Swifts, a pair, seen May 7 ; seven 

 or eight individuals seen near Belford, May 10, and last seen August 21st, 

 previous to which day they had been seen flying about in considerable flocks. 

 On September 12, 14, and 20 observed small flocks of Wheatears going south. 

 Greater Whitethroat last seen (three individuals) on September 20. Wood- 

 cocks have been observed here all summer. Two pairs bred in Detchant 

 Wood by Belford, and another pair is recorded to have been bred in the 

 Duke's Park at Alnwick. This species has been fairly plentiful here this 

 autumn, but not abundant. Saw several flocks in October, but they were 

 somewhat scarce up to near the end of November, when their numbers con- 

 siderably increased, and a good many were shot. Wild Ducks (Mallards and 

 Wigeons) were very abundant about Fenham and Wern Slakes during 

 November and December last ; and seaside shooters made some good captures 

 during the time of the snowstorm. They were also plentiful at Spindlestone 

 Call (Cauld), Swinhoe Lake, and other sheets of water inland in the district. 

 In the month of December, while the snowstorm lasted, several somewhat 

 rare birds were shot on the coast between Bamburgh and Holy Island. On 

 December 6th a Kingfisher was shot at Ross Low — a rather scarce bird now 

 and one becoming yearly more scarce in this district. December 11, an im- 

 mature specimen of Blackthroated Diver was shot at Wern Slakes by Mr John 

 TurnbuU, Belford. December 12 an example of the Water EaU was captured 

 alive by Mr Burn, on his farm at Glorprum. It was an adult specimen and 

 died soon after being taken. A Pintail Duck was shot at Fenham in the 

 early part of December, but I do not know the exact date. On December 

 2 let a specimen of the Waxwing was shot on Ross Links, by Nichol Weather- 

 ston, of Bamburgh, and is in possession of Mr Jas. McDougal of that place. 

 Very few specimens of the Waxwing have been observed about here this win- 

 ter. Mr John TurnbuU, Belford, shot on December 26th a somewhat large 

 example of the Common Cormorant near Wern MiUs. It measured 3ft. 2in. 

 length, and 4ft. 9in. from tip to tip of wings, and weighed 7j lbs. Large 

 numbers of Plovers, Curlews, and Lapwings were seen about the seaside, and 

 large numbers of Starlings were observed feeding on the salt grass about Fen- 

 ham, during the time of the storm. Some of our summer migrants would 

 seem to have remained with us all last winter. The note of the Cuckoo, as 

 you are aware, was frecjuently reported in the papers as having been heard in 



