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OBSERVATIONS OF THE ARRIVAL OF SUMMER 

 VISITANT BIRDS IN THE NORTH OF ENGLAND 



IN 1885. 



By WM. eagle CLARKE, F.L.S., &c. 



The following compilation giving the dates on which the Summer 

 Visitant birds were first noted in the northern counties of England 

 may interest some of the readers of this journal. Though no scientific 

 value can be claimed for such a collation, since the opportunity 

 of noting the arrival, or even observing a species within some hours 

 of its advent, can only fall to the lot of but a few peculiarly-situated 

 and zealous naturalists ; yet this much may be claimed for it, that 

 a fair idea is given of the approximate date of arrival of most species. 



Observations from the coast districts have, in some cases, an 

 enhanced value, for many of the species noted in such localities only 

 frequent them for a very short period during passage, soon to pass 

 inland to some favoured nesting habitat, or when returning, e7i 

 route for more genial winter-quarters. 



I have inserted for comparison, where obtainable, the dates ot 

 arrival, or rather of first observation, for the south of England, when 

 earlier than those for the north. 



The zoological sequence and nomenclature adopted is that of 

 the List of British Birds, compiled by a committee of the British 

 Ornithologists' Union. 



Ring Ouzel (Turdus torquatus). March 21st, Nidderdale 

 (W. Storey); 24th, Sedbergh, Yorkshire (H. Kerr); April 2nd, 

 Stacksteads, Lancashire (H. Kerr); 3rd, Rotherham (E. W. West) 

 and Baildon Moor, Yorkshire (J. Firth) ; 5th, Nottingham (F. B. 

 Whitlock) ; 6th, Skipton (C. C. Smith) ; and 14th, Spurn Head 

 (P. W. Lawton). 



Wheatear (Saxicola oenanthe). March 20th, Mansfield, Notts. 

 (J. Whitaker) ; 22nd, near Bradford (W. Illingworth) ; 23rd, Nidder- 

 dale (W. Storey) and Greetland, near Halifax (C. C. Hanson); 

 24th, Sedbergh (H. Kerr); 25th, Barnsley (T. Lister) ; 27th, Caw- 

 thorne, near Barnsley, female (T. Lister) ; 28th, Langsett Moors, 

 near Penistone, male (T. Lister) ; April ist, Rotherham (E. W. West) 

 and Stacksteads, Lancashire (H. Kerr) ; 2nd, Skipton (C. C. Smith) \ 

 3rd, Carhsle (T. Duckworth) ; 5th, Nottingham (F. B. Whitlock) 

 and Flamborough Head (M. Bailey). 



April 13th, Bahama Bank Light- vessel, off E. coast of Isle of Man, 

 fifty-two ' Stonechatters ' at lantern at 11.30 p.m.; twelve killed, forty 

 caught alive. Wind S. by E., fresh ; misty (J. West). 



June 1885. 



