14 



R. LOFTHOUSE : THE RIVER TEES. 



they are driven down from the moors. Wild Swans [? Cygnus musicus 

 and bewicki\ frequent the estuary in severe winter weather, and are seen 

 passing over in the autumn months. Individual birds are shot almost 

 every winter, both mature and young birds in grey and white plumage. 

 Sometimes they are observed singly or in pairs, at other times in 

 flocks of from five to upwards of one hundred. I have examined 

 many birds in private collections that were procured on this river. 

 In Brewster's List it is described as follows: — ' The Wild Swan visits 

 the marshes near the Tees in large flocks in severe winters. In the 

 beginning of the year 1823, several were killed at Cowpen, and also 

 in January, 1827.' The following actual records of the occurrence of 

 Swans in the Tees are copied chiefly from the last six years' Reports 

 of the Committee appointed by the British Association to collect 

 statistics from the lighthouse-keepers on the migration of birds : — 



1879. December 4th, — Six at Teesmouth, flying N. to S. 

 ,, „ 8th. — Five at Teesmouth. 



„ „ 14th.— Nine „ 



„ „ 15th.— Forty-three „ 



,, „ 1 6th. — Three „ 



„ „ i8th.— Two 



„ 20th. — Ten ,, 10 a.m. 



„ „ 20th. — Ninety-five „ u 55 



1879- 1 ^yjj^^gj. i One shot in BilHngham Bottoms : a young bird 



1880. ) \ in grey plumage. 



I Winter, — Two noticed at Durham side of estuary. 

 1882. j ' ^ 



1882. August 5th. — Six at Teesmouth. 

 ,, October 24th. — Six „ 



1883. March 25th. — One, Tees Light-vessel. 



1884. October 5th. — Nine at Redcar, flying N. 

 Semi-wild birds of the tame species or Mute Swan ( Cygnus olor), that 

 have escaped from confinement on ornamental waters, are frequently 

 met with in the estuary. Last winter one was shot ; and on August ist 

 this year (1886) eighteen put in an appearance, and on the following 

 day eight or ten were shot for wild birds ; a few of the remainder 

 were observed about for several days ; three were seen by a friend 

 (some distance inland), who supposed them to be wild birds from 

 their strong, steady flight. Bewick's Swan {Cygnus bewicki) has 

 been shot in the estuary on two or three occasions. Snow Buntings 

 {Flectrophanes nivalis) frequent the margin of the river in the winter, 

 arriving about the beginning of November, and departing again early 

 in the spring. They may be seen in vast flocks or clouds, sometimes 

 associated with Larks and other small birds ; in severe weather 



Naturalist, 



