Ornithological Notes. By George Bolam. 355 



which the Mightiest Hand placed upon all their cliffs, as an index to the 

 hearts and prowess that should protect them." But it seems in vain to 

 regret the destruction of this fine bird, the inevitable consequence of 

 which must be that it will ere long cease to be a resident with us. Even 

 now its few remaining eyries in the district are not tenanted every year, 

 and I believe it did not nest on Cheviot this season. 



OspREY. Pandion halicetus, Linnaeus. 



In the beginning of May 1888, an Osprey was found dead upon the 

 beach at Holy Island by a fisherman named George Douglas, when 

 engaged in gathering shell-fish. It had been washed ashore by the tide, 

 but was found on being skinned to have been shot, though where or by 

 whom is not known. It came into the possession of Mr Charles E. 

 Purvis of Alnwick, who, when I called there to see the bird, informed 

 me that, two years before, he had seen an Osprey, engaged in fishing, 

 near the month of the Waren Burn. 



Another, shot by the late Mr Pawson's gamekeeper at Whitelee, on the 

 Keed Water, on 6th May 1889, was preserved by Mr Robert Duncan, in 

 Newcastle ; and in October 1886 one was seen hovering over the sea on 

 the look out for prey at Cresswell. 



Green Cormorant. Phalacrocorax graculus, Linnasns. 



A specimen, in my collection, in mature winter plumage was shot at the 

 Fame Islands a few years ago ; and Mr Charles E. Purvis has one in 

 immature dress killed there, at the Staple Rocks, in February 1889. A 

 pair or two of these birds seem to have bred pretty regularly at the 

 Islands during the last few years ; and in the Zoologist for this month, 

 (August 1892), I see Mr John Cordeanx refers to one seen there, upon a 

 recent visit. 



Bittern. Botaurus stellaris, Linnaeus. 



A very fine specimen, a rather unusually large bird, was shot at the 

 mouth of the river Whitadder, upon Gainslaw farm, by Mr Andrew 

 Edgar, on 23rd December 1890, and is preserved in the collection of Mr 

 Peter Cowe, at Oldcastles. The weather was at the time so severe that 

 all water in the neighbourhood was frozen almost solid, and having 

 observed the bird sitting near the opposite bank, Mr Edgar was able to 

 come within range of it by walking over the river upon the ice, a most 

 unusual occurrence at this place, where the rise and fall of the tide affects 

 the water to an extent of several feet. 



Another Bittern, measuring in extent of wings 48j inches, and from 

 the tip of the bill to the end of the tail 28 inches, was captured by hand 

 at the Mossy Ford, on Alnwick Moor, about the beginning of March 

 1892, and was taken alive to Mr George Thompson, bird stuffer, in 

 Alnwick. It had been reduced almost to a skeleton, and was in an 



