R. LOFTHOUSE : THE RIVER TEES. 



15 



feeding on the stubbles — they eat grain and other seeds, and always 

 appear to be in good condition. I have examined them at all times 

 during their stay here, and never saw one in bad condition ; they are 

 exceedingly fat when they arrive in November. I witnessed their 

 arrival on a cold and stormy day the 3rd of November, at Tod Point, 

 last year. They appeared to be somewhat exhausted, but heading 

 inland in great numbers ; they apparently did not wait long to rest. 

 Larks {Alauda arvensis) swarm at times in the winter months by the 

 margin of the river ; and vast numbers of Brown Linnets {Linota 

 camiabina) and Redpoles {Linota rufescens) frequent some patches 

 of Sea Lavender {Sfafice limonium) on the south side of the river, 

 feeding on the seeds. Starlings {Sturnus vulgaris) and Lapwings 

 {Va7ielltis vulgaris), associated with Golden Plovers {Charadrius 

 phivialis), congregate in immense flocks on the marshes ; and in 

 very severe v/inter weather Wood Pigeons {Columba paliLmbus) 

 come down to feed after the receding tide. Reed Buntings 

 {Emberiza schcEiiiclus) frequent the reeds and long grass by the sides 

 of the saltwater ditches, and breed there; and Meadow Pipits {Anthus 

 pi-atensis) are abundant all the year. Kingfishers {Alcedo ispida) are 

 frequently met with by the river-side, and in the small tributaries, 

 but are sadly persecuted by gunners, their skins being readily pur- 

 chased by the dealers for half-a-crov/n each. Wheatears {Saxicola 

 KJiantJie) are common on the river-banks during the summer months, 

 and nest there; their numbers are greatly increased during the 

 autumn months when migrating — on August 22nd last year the 

 banks literally swarmed with them. This is one of the earhest of 

 the migrants to arrive with us, generally appearing about March 29th 

 or 30th, and I have seen it so late as October 9th. 



The Spotted Crake {Porzana maruetta) breeds in the marshes 

 on the north side of the estuary, and is frequently shot in the autumn. 

 Baillon's Crake {Porzana bailloiti) and the Little Crake {Porza7ia 

 parvd) have been met with in the same place. 



In stormy weather the Storm Petrel {^Procellaria pelagica) and the 

 Little Auk {Mergulus alle) are often driven into the estuary. On 

 the 22nd November, 1884, I got a fine specimen of the latter, and 

 others were seen. 



The Great Snipe {Gallinago major) is occasionally shot in the 

 marshes. The Jack Snipe {Lirnnocryptes gallinula) and the Common 

 Snipe {Gallinago ccelestis) were, until late years, abundant, the latter 

 breeding there. In speaking of the Common Snipe, Brewster, in his 

 List, says :■ — 'I am informed that there is a Snipe sometimes shot in 

 the marshes, which is commonly called the Russian Snipe ; it is 

 larger than the Common Snipe, and differs from it in the white hnes 



Jan. 1887. 



