ORNITHOLOGICAL NOTES. 



127 



Cuckoo Laying in a Pollard Willow— Some, few years ago I 



saw a young Cuckoo taken from a hole in a pollard willow in Lincolnshire. The 

 willows being much frequented both by House and Tree Sparrows for nesting 

 purposes, I was unable to determine certainly which of these birds was the foster- 

 jDarent. The nest was so situated that it appeared doubtful if the parent Cuckoo 

 could have laid her egg in it. At that time, these willows, which were close to 

 the city of Lincoln, were quite a stronghold for Tree Sparrows. They have now, 

 I believe, been felled. — T. N. Postlethwaite, Hallthwaites, Millom, Cumber- 

 land, December 8th, 1884. 



Albino Birds in Nidderdale— Whilst walki ng near Dacre Banks on 

 August 31st, I was struck by a noise which I heard, and on turning round I 

 noticed a flock of Swallows, and amongst them a white one, which appeared to 

 suffer attack from the rest. The swallow passed and re-passed, so that I had a 

 good opportunity of watching it ; this was also seen by many others, so that I can 

 vouch for the above statement. 



Also, during the summer of 1882, a pair of white Swallows appeared in the 

 same place, and there remained for three or four weeks. I regret to say one 

 was shot and the other disappeared. 



During the past spring a white Starling built a nest in a quarry in Pateley 

 Bridge, which shortly disappeared, probably having been shot. — Wm. Storey, 

 Pateley Bridge, September loth, 1884. 



Water-rail in Nidderdale.— On Thursday, October 30th, I had sent 

 ™e, by the Hon. H. E, Butler, a Water-rail (Rallus aquaiicus) which had been 

 shot on Hardcastle Moor by Mr. T. E. Yorke. This is, as far as I am able to 

 ascertain, only the second occurrence of this bird in Nidderdale, one having been 

 taken a few days previously at Bewerley. The one shot by the latter gentleman is 

 about to be added to his collection. — W. Storey, Pateley Bridge, via Leeds, 

 November 12th, 1884. 



Puffin in Notts. — Miss Webb of Mansfield Woodhouse, picked up on 

 the 1 2th of November, near the village, one of these birds alive on the road ; it 

 had been driven in by the storm of the previous day. As this is the first 

 occurrence of this sea-loving bird in this county, it will form a great addition to 

 my Notts birds. — ^J. Whitaker, Rainworth Lodge, Notts, November 20th, 

 1884. 



Little Auk in Lincolnshire. — On the 22nd November I received a re- 

 markably fine specimen of the Little Auk {Mergzdus alle) from near Boston. The 

 bird was in poor condition, though excellent in plumage. — E. B. Wrigglesworth, 

 I, Lawefield Terrace, Wakefield, December 17th, 1884. 



Little Auk at Settrington^ East Yorkshire.— a short time ago 



(say the latter end of November), after a stififish westerly gale, a fine mature male 

 specimen, in splendid plumage, of the Rotche or Little Auk {Uria minor)^ was 

 brought to me alive, having been picked up in the garden at Westfi eld, Settrington, 

 over twenty miles from the coast as the crow flies. I believe these birds seldom 

 leave the deep water except at special periods, such as breeding time, &c., and are 

 but rarely met with except out at sea. — A. W. Walker, York and East Riding 

 Bank, Malton, December 8th, 1884. 



Ornithological Notes from West Yorkshire.— A Little Auk 



{Mergidiis alle) was picked up in an exhausted state at Outlane, near Stainland, on 

 the 2 1st of November. 



A male Gray Shrike [Lajims exciibitor) was shot at Wike, near Brighouse, 

 November 22nd. 



Three Red-breasted Mergansers {Mergus serrator) were shot near Kirkheaton, 

 December 2nd. — C. C. Hanson, Greetland, December i6th, 1884. 



Jan. 1885. 



