166 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



Little Auks and Little Gulls at Scarborough.— I notice that in Mr. 

 Gurney's interesting notes from Norfolk, he remarks that the last two 

 winters have produced scarcely any Little Auks in his district. My 

 experience during the winter of 1895-6 was similar, as I noted only two 

 occurrences of single birds in each case ; but it may be interesting to record 

 that during the past winter this bird has occurred in greater numbers than 

 usual, although the migration has not nearly equalled that of the winter of 

 1894-5. The following extracts from ray note-book will give au idea of the 

 comparative abundance in which they have occurred: — 1896, Oct. 29th, 

 two seen in North Bay ; 31st, one shot in North Bay; Nov. 1st, one caught 

 alive in South Bay ; 5th, ditto ; 6th, two washed ashore. After the early 

 part of November they did not occur in numbers regularly, although a few 

 stragglers were noticed ; but in January and February of the present year 

 considerable numbers were seen, in small flocks of from three or four, up to a 

 dozen together. On Sunday, Feb. 7th, I picked up five which were washed 

 ashore dead, but all quite fresh, on the beach between Scarborough and 

 Gristhorpe. 



I notice also Mr. Gurney mentions that more Little Gulls than usual 

 have occurred. Four were noticed here during January, which is in excess 

 of the usual occurrence of the species in this district. They were all 

 immature birds. The Sclavonian Grebe has also been more abundant this 

 winter; I have had four examples brought to me, and have seen several 

 others. — W. J. Clarke (44, Huntriss Row, Scarborough). 



Red-legged Partridge Migrating. — As the Red-legged Partridge is not 

 usually considered a migratory species, the following notes may prove of 

 interest to readers of ■ The Zoologist.' I must first remark that this bird 

 has not extended its range, as a resident, into the Scarborough district, and 

 we have only three records of its occurrence during the last seven years, 

 which took place under the following circumstances :— On April 4th, 1890, 

 one was seen to come from the direction of the sea and fall exhausted on 

 Filey Road (only a few hundred yards from the beach), when it ran into a 

 doorway and suffered itself to be captured. On April 4th, 1896, another 

 was seen coming over the water from the east ; it alighted on the East Pier, 

 where it was picked up, too weary to make any attempt at escape. The 

 third example was seen coming over the sea from the east on March 22nd, 

 1897, and dropped exhausted in the water a short distance from land. It 

 speedily drifted ashore, and was secured and brought to me. The fact of 

 the only three examples of which I have records having all come in from the 

 east, at the same period of the year, in a very weary and exhausted con- 

 dition, seems to point to the conclusion that in isolated cases, at all events, 

 this species maybe classed amongst our migratory visitors. — W. J. Clarke 

 (44, Huntriss Row, Scarborough). 



