352 RECREATIONS OF A NATURALIST 



Wilson, the foreman on the South Gare Break- 

 water, at the mouth of the Tees, which bears 

 directly on the question at issue. 



On the morning of October i6, fine and cold, 

 wind northerly, Wilson was at the end of the Gare, 

 when he saw a " Woodcock Owl " (Short-eared Owl) 

 "come flopping across the sea." As it came 

 nearer he saw something between its shoulders, 

 and wondered what it could be. The Owl came 

 and lit on the gearing within ten yards of where 

 he was standing, and directly it came down a little 

 bird dropped off its back and flew along the Gare. 

 He signalled for a gun, but the Owl saw him 

 move, and flew off. He followed the small bird, 

 however, and secured it, and on taking it to the 

 local bird-stuffer for preservation learnt that it 

 was a Golden-crested Wren. 



To see its irregular, and apparently weak, flight 

 in passing through the air on a stormy day, it would 

 never be supposed that so tiny a creature as the 

 Golden-crested Wren would attempt to cross the 

 sea, or would succeed in doing so if it tried. But 

 that it travels to and from the Continent in spring 

 and autumn is a fact which has been well ascertained 

 by many competent observers. On the coasts of 

 Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, says Mr Cordeaux, the 

 autumnal migration of the Gold-crest is as well 

 known as that of the Woodcock, and from its 

 usually arriving just before that species, it is known 

 as the "Woodcock Pilot." The North Sea fisher- 

 men assert that these little birds often alight on 

 their boats, and in foggy weather perish by hundreds. 



