OKNITHOLOGICAL NOTES. 281 



XXV. — Ornithological Notes. By John Hancock. 



The beautiful and occasional visitant of the British Isles, the 

 Waxwing, Bomby cilia garrula, Linn., has made its appearance 

 this winter (1866-7) in considerable abundance -within our 

 district. 



In the last week of November I received a fine specimen of 

 this bird from Sir "W. Gr. Armstrong, C.B., which was shot in 

 the neighbourhood of Rothbury along with four or five others, 

 most of which were unfortunately destroyed by a cat. 



About the same time (27th November) I see that the "Tees- 

 dale Mercury" records the capture of five specimens at Stanhope. 



In the "Newcastle Daily Journal" of the 4th December is 

 the following paragraph — "At Broomhouse, on Tuesday, Mr. 

 Embleton shot three Bohemian Waxwing Chatterers, and the 

 following day three more of the same." 



I am informed by Mr. J. H. Gurney, Jun., that about this 

 time seven of these interesting birds were shot at Berwick, four 

 at Durham, three at Norton Close, near Darlington, sixteen at 

 Stanhope, and eight at Alnwick ; and according to the Rev. Mr. 

 Tristram, a single individual was taken at Wynyard, and two at 

 Castle Eden. 



Lately my friend Mr. T. Thompson drew my attention to the 

 fact, that ten Bohemian Chatterers had been killed between Stella 

 and Ryton from the 15th to the 30th December. 



On the 16th January I visited the locality in company with 

 that gentleman. "We called upon Mr. Scott, a bird stuffer, liv- 

 ing at Blaydon, and saw in his possession fifteen specimens, ten 

 being those alluded to by Mr. Thompson, the five additional 

 being fresh captures. They were shot near some mountain ash 

 trees, close to the village. 



"WTaen in the neighbourhood we heard of two others which had 

 been shot at "Winlaton Mill, on Saturday, 12th January. These 

 I obtained in a fresh state, and they now form part of my col- 

 lection. I have been informed by Mr. Rowell, that early in 

 February, seven of these birds were shot out of a flock of eight 

 at Little Harle, near Cambo ; and on the 1 8th of February I 



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