388 Record of Migration, &g., of Birds, by James Hardy. 



Most of the young had migrated from the upper part of Berwick- 

 shire before Oct. 31st. On Nov. 9th, nine or ten were present at 

 Oldcambus ; have been scarce throughout the winter ; fewer 

 nested here this summer, some of the old nesting resorts being 

 deserted. — /. M. Alnwick, Nov. 4th. Large flocks of Starlings, 

 mostly birds of the year, in immature plumage, feeding along 

 the coast ; also several Thrushes, Turnstones, Dotterels, and 

 Purple Sandpipers.' — T. H. G. 



Curlew {Numemus arquata). — Curlews were heard at Fans, 

 Jan. 22nd. Three were seen on March 3rd. They breed in that 

 neighbourhood. — R. R. h.t Oldcambus on Feb. 19th, there were 

 20 Curlews at the coast ; on March 3rd, they began to utter their 

 spring call. On March 9th, there were 30 at the sea-side, and 

 were still present on March 25th, but had diminished to 6 or 7 

 on March 27th and 30th; and to one bird on April 17th. One 

 appeared again on June 7th ; but on the 9th about 1 2 arrived on 

 the coast, and there was a great flock, Sept. 20th. By Dec. 16th, 

 they had shifted their ground ; one was heard on the 20th, but 

 only two or three were left by the end of the year. In 1879, 

 they left the coast on March 19th and 26th, and they began to 

 arrive in numbers on the shores on July 17th, but the first had 

 appeared on June 1st. Under Nov. 15th, Mr Gibb remarks: — 

 " A large flight of birds appeared over the town of Alnwick about 

 10 o'clock at night ; many of their number flew up and down 

 Bondgate Street, attracted by the light of the gas-lamps. It was 

 impossible, however, in the uncertain light, to make out to what 

 species they belonged ; but from their notes, there is no doubt 

 that many, if not all, were members of the Plover family. On 

 the following, night, the 1 6th, a migratory flock of Curlews also 

 passed over the town, but judging from their cries, they were 

 high in the air." 



Yellow-Hammer {Emheri%a citrinella). — "At Horsley, North 

 Tyne, there is a newly-built nest of Yellow-hammers, containing 

 two eggs." — {Keho CArow^c^6, Jan. 23rd, 1880). The Editor ques- 

 tions the veracity of the statement, but the bird is not very ob- 

 servant of seasons. In the same paper for Sept. 17th, as an 

 instance of late nesting, a Yellow-hammer's nest is said to have 

 been found, enclosing two healthy birds, at the bridge over the 

 railway at Lindean ; and in that of Sept. 24th, another pair in 

 the Hawick district is recorded as having reared four young 

 birds at that late period. On August 9th, I observed a Yellow- 



