180 



The Naturalist. 



Blackbird, Oct. 28th. — Numbers of this species arriving at Spurn. 



Grey Crow and Jackdaw. — Arriving in parties from N.E. A grey- 

 crow attempted to carry off a sanderling I had shot, as it lay in the 

 water, although I was within about thirty yards of it. 



Siskin, Oct. 29th. — I watched for some time, at a distance of only a 

 few feet, a party of five of this species ; they were feeding on some 

 low seed-bearing herbs on the roadside at Easington. In their 

 movements they reminded me much of our familiar lesser redpoll. 



Purple Sandpiper, Oct. 29th. — I obtained a pair of these birds 

 (male and female) out of a party of three, as they were feeding at 

 high-water mark on the beach. They were in full winter plumage, 

 which is the most handsome in this species. 



Wheatear, Oct. 29th. — I shot a wheatear having a deformed bill ; 

 the lower mandible being bent down at an angle, allowed the upper 

 one to meet it only at the base. In spite of this it was in good 

 condition. 



Goldfinch, Dec. 26th. — A small flock in some market gardens in the 

 Meanwood-road, Leeds. This is the first instance that I have 

 heard of this species being seen near Leeds ; it is uncommon in 

 the county. 



Blackbird, Thrush, and Redwing, December. — These species 

 perished in thousands during the severe weather. The Spurn 

 postman informs me that about Christmas was the most deadly 

 period. He saw hundreds of dead blackbirds, thrushes, and red- 

 wings, but most of the latter species. But it is indeed " an ill 

 wind that blows no one any good," for the grey crows were in 

 clover, and, to use the expression of my informant, grew as fat 

 as butter " on the starved, weak birds. 



6, East View, Leeds, 

 April, 1879. 



EXORISTA HORTULANA (Meigen) IN BRITAIN. 



By R. H. Meade. 



Mr. Porritt having very kindly given me a male specimen of this 

 parasitic fly, which he bred from the larva of Acronycta alni, taken 

 near Wakefield, I have been induced to write a short account ofit, 

 as the species has not been described by Walker in the Insecta 



