MIGRATION IN THE HUMBER DISTRICT. 419 



horizontally over my shoulder, and then perched on a twig 

 within a foot of my nose. I had it in view for some minutes, and 

 never above two or three feet away. The most characteristic 

 markings, which at once catch the eye, are the conspicuous white 

 streak on the side of the head, the sulphur-green patches on the 

 side of neck, and the flame-coloured or orange-vermilion crest. 

 It was both a finer and brighter example (probably an adult male) 

 than the one I got from near the same locality on Nov. 4th, 1889. 



Next to the Goldcrests the Robins were tha most numerous, 

 swarming in every hedgerow, bush and garden. On the 16th, in 

 one corner of the warren cottage garden, I counted up to fifty, 

 and then gave it up. Several had found shelter in the sea-grass, 

 and I had to be careful not to put my foot on them, so reluctant 

 were some to rise. 



On the 15th about twenty Grey Shrikes were seen, four or 

 five together, the rest singly. On Sunday morning, the 16th, 

 I saw seven or eight between Easington and Kilnsea warren ; 

 one trying to seize a Goldcrest in a blackthorn swarming with 

 those little wanderers ; another was hovering, Kestrel-like, over 

 stubbles, frequently changing ground. Some on hedges; one on 

 the telegraph-wire, and another — a fine adult male with a single 

 wing-spot — was harassing the Robins in a garden, and sub- 

 sequently I saw him apparently trying to fasten an unfortunate 

 Goldcrest, held by the nape, on the upper wire of a spiked fence — 

 a most useful invention for the Grey Shrike, and one which he 

 seems quick to make use of. 



Other species seen during the three days were two Rough- 

 legged Buzzards, Long and Short-eared Owls, Rooks and Starlings 

 (large migration of the two latter), Larks in great numbers, Ring 

 Ouzels (many on 15th), Blackbirds, Redwings, and Thrushes; 

 some Wheatears (all I saw were perching on rails and quick- 

 fences), Snow Buntings (a few), Willow Wrens (very many) — 

 these seemed much browner and with less distinct eye-streak than 

 our local birds, which had all left by the middle of September ; 

 and now again we have quite a swarm appearing on migration 

 with others at Spurn from over the sea, and most probably from 

 Northern Europe. Hedgesparrows, great many; Stonechats, 

 some ; Woodcocks (first flight), Common Snipe, Jack Snipe. On 

 the 16t.h a few Fieldfares and flights of Grey Crows. 



Writing from Lincolnshire, Mr. Haigh says : — " The rush of 



% n 3 



