H4 



• ORNITHOLOGY. 



Migration of Birds on the West Coast of England and 

 Wales. — As the member of the British Association Committee in charge of the 

 above section of the migration report, I shall be pleased to receive from 

 ornithologists and others, as early as possible, observations on the migratory move- 

 ments of all species, and on the occurrence of rare and uncommon ones, within the 

 region (inclusive of inland localities) during the spring, summer, autumn, and 

 winter of 1885. When possible, the notes should be accompanied by observations 

 on the direction of the wind and state of the weather at the time. By such 

 assistance it is hoped to make the report more complete. All co-operation will be 

 duly acknowledged. — Wm. Eagle Clarke, 18, Claremont Road, Headingley, 

 Leeds. 



FlamborOUgh Notes. — I have to inform you of a rare visitor, the Shore- 

 lark ( Otocorys alpestris) being shot at Flarnborough, south of the headland, on or 

 about January 4th, 1886, by Mr. Christopher Forge. It is now in the possession 

 of Mr. Thomas Machin, Bridlington Quay. I remember shooting two out of a 

 flock in February 1865. In last week's issue of Land and Water, a gentleman 

 writes about the scarcity of land birds. Had he been with me to-day he would 

 have seen the turnip fields and stubbles literally covered with Rockdoves, Field- 

 fares, Redwings, Lapwings, Golden Plovers, Starlings, Larks, Thrushes, Black- 

 birds, &c. — Matthew Bailey, Flarnborough, March 3rd, 1886. 



Lapwing — Diversity Of Eggs. — The note by Mr. Roberts, in your 

 issue for March, on the varying size of eggs of the Corn Bunting, induced me to 

 take the measurements of two abnormally small eggs of the Lapwing in the collec- 

 tion of my brother, J. FI. Ashford. The smallest measures 26 by 20 mm., nearly 

 elliptical in shape, ground colour dark olive, relieved by a few small blackish spots 

 and two large black blotches ; taken on Flixton Moor, near Scarborough, April 187 1 ; 

 weight 102 grs. unblown. This egg is about the size of that of the Corn Bunting, 

 but rather broader. Another is a little larger than the preceding, 27*5 by 22*5, 

 broadly oval, the dark olive ground colour about half concealed by very numerous 

 blackish dots and spots, pretty evenly distributed ; from Flixton Moor, April 1869. 

 The usual size of the Lapwing's egg is about 45 by 33 mm., and weight, with con- 

 tents, 450 grains more or less. A third egg from the same locality makes a striking 

 contrast in size, shape, and distribution of markings. It is 60*5 by 33 mm., 

 remarkably produced towards the smaller end ; spots small, and scattered on one 

 side, but on the other larger, more numerous, and tending to condense into an un- 

 completed oval ring. — C. Ashford, Christchurch, Hants, March 15th, 1886. 



Eagle Owl near Huddersfleld. — On the 1st of January, 1885, 



Mr. Joseph Firth, while standing near a bushy place at Fixby, saw a big brown 

 bird flying rapidly from him, which he shot at, but failed to stop. After con- 

 siderable search he found it sitting in a large tree, close to the trunk, and a second 

 shot secured it. It was a beautiful specimen of the Eagle Owl, in perfect plumage, 

 and showing no signs whatever of having been in captivity. It is now in Mr. Firth's 

 possession at the Shepherd's Rest Inn, Cowcliffe, where it may be seen. It is a 

 male specimen. In length, from the tip of the beak to the end of the tail it is two 

 feet, and four feet four inches in expanse of wing ; in weight, a little over 4 lbs. 

 In my opinion, which is shared by Mr. Goff, taxidermist, Huddersfield, it is a 

 specimen of the Virginian Great Horned Owl {Bubo virgiilianus), being less in size 

 and finer in markings than the European Eagle Owl (B. maximus). — C. C. HANSON, 

 Greetland, Halifax, December 9th, 1885. 



[We asked the opinion of Mr. J. H. Gurney, who is the recognised authority 

 on the Owls, and have been favoured with the following reply : — ] 



I do not think it is possible from the information submitted to me to say whether 

 the Owl in question should be referred to B. ignavus or to B. virgiuianus, 

 especially as the latter is a very variable species. If I could see the bird I could 

 readily determine the question, but not otherwise. If the bird be an escaped one 

 it may possibly not belong to either of the above, but to some other species of the 

 genus Bubo ; but I doubt whether any reliable opinion could be given without 



personal inspection of the specimen. — J. H. Gurney, 9th February, 1886. 



Naturalist, 



