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NOTES ORNITHOLOGY. 



representation of the boulder for its sign ; there is also a tradition to 

 the effect that it was once in use as a Druidical altar stone on 

 Julian Bower, a locality not far distant from its present position. 

 Chapter xix of Bayley's ' Notitise Ludae,' 1834, is devoted to the 

 ' Blue Stone,' from which the following extract may perhaps be 

 amusing: — 'Conjecture is endless, and the positive opinions of men 

 who have given some attention to the subject are very numerous 

 and unsatisfactory. Some think a land flood, others an influx of the 

 sea, others the Noachic flood [1] to have caused the presence of this 

 stone here.' 



NOTES— ORNITHOLOG V. 



Flamborough Bird. Notes.— The season for the arrival of some of our 

 summer visitants was very far advanced this year before they made their appear- 

 ance here. The cold wintry weather no doubt accounts for that. The first to 

 arrive was the Pied Wagtail {Motacilla liigiibris). March 1st ; several Yellow 

 Wagtails {Motacilla rati), April 24th ; Swallows [Hij-ujido riistica) and the Lesser 

 Whitethroat {Sylvia curnica), April 29th. I have been informed of two or three 

 Wheatears {Saxicola cenanthe) seen ; I have not seen any, nor the Redstart {Ruttci/la 

 phiBuiciirns) up to this date. The Blackbirds, Thrushes, Linnets, etc., have 

 appeared very plentifully. — ^LA.'J"THEW Bailey, Flamborough, May 2nd, 1887. 



Flamborough Bird Notes.— Since writing to you, May 2nd, we have 

 had the summer migrants in abundance. ^^Tleatears {Saxicola ccnanihe). Redstarts 

 {Kuticilla phcznicurus). Pied Flycatchers {Muscicapa atricapilla). Ring Ousels 

 ( Turdics torquattis), Stonechats {Saxicola rubicola). also the Whinchats {S. nibetra). 

 — Matthew Bailey, Flamborough, May 12th, 1887. 



Flamborough Bird Notes. — Several Turtle Doves {Tiirtin- aiiritiis) 

 seen about the Headland, May 14th ; also a pair of Hooded Crows {Co}-viis cornix)^ 

 believed to breed here, May 21st. I saw one male Snow Bunting {PlcciropJiancs 

 nivalis), May 28th, a very rare occurrence in summer. The first Swift {Cypselus 

 apiis) seen June 4th. A flock of Wild Geese (Canadian) passed over the Headland, 

 June 9th ; seen again, June nth. I have been informed of several Dotterel 

 {Eudrotnias niorinelhis) having been seen in the neighbourhood of Speeton, ]\Iay 

 24th. — Matthew Bailey, Flamborough. June 13th, 1887. 



Great Spotted Woodpecker and Hawfinch near Harrogate. 



— This bird, which has always been regarded as rare and local, has been fairly 

 numerous during this last winter. The first specimen that came under my notice 

 during the winter was shot on Harlow Moor, on November 30th, l)y Mr. R. F"ortune. 

 During the latter end of December one was shot at Goldsborough, and others 

 have since been shot. This bird has been observed at Ripley, Plumpton, Hare- 

 wood, and on several occasions lately I have seen it in the gardens of the 

 Hydropathic Establishment, Harrogate. During the summer I have seen it at 

 Ripley, where, I believe, one or two pairs breed yearly. Amongst other rare 

 birds that I have noticed in the Hydropathic grounds are the following : — Pied 

 Flycatcher {Muscicapa atricapilla), a specimen of which was obtained by the 

 gardener in June of last year and brought to me to identify ; it is now in my 

 possession. On Friday last (February 25th) I saw a pair of Hawfinches {Cocco- 

 thraiistes vulgaris) in the grounds. Mr. Basil T. Woodd, of Conyngham Hall, 

 wrote me last week concerning this bird, as follows: — During last winter several 

 Hawfinches used to come and feed on the crumbs thrown out of my window, and 

 I have reason to believe that some of them nest in the higher parts of my grounds. 

 — F. R. Fitzgerald, Harrogate, >rarch ist, 1887. _____ 



N.-ituralist, 



