l82 



NOTES ORNITHOLOGY. 



The Weather and the Swallows.— The weather during the first week in 

 May was much as we usually experience. On the 8th a sudden change set in, the 

 wind veering into the N.E., and it grew colder and wilder until the 1 2th, when a 

 perfect gale blew, accompanied with heavy driving rain and sleet in the valleys, 

 and dry drifting snow on the moors. It was easy to foretell what would be the 

 effect upon the Swallows and other migrants if such wintry blasts continued. On 

 the willow bushes by the river side Swallows and Sand Martins perched and 

 fluttered in a most helpless way, and any number could have been knocked down 

 with a stick or caught in the hand. On the 13th — when the weather was, if any- 

 thing, worse, the thermometer standing only at 38 0 F. in the open at noon — 

 Swallows and Sand Martins were laid dead in hundreds over the country. One 

 could not walk far before finding victims to our treacherous climate. In one small 

 paddock thirteen were picked up, and altogether, hundreds of thousands must have 

 perished. All this tribe were unusually numerous before this dreadful storm, but 

 when the sun shone again a little on the 16th we noticed the destruction that had 

 been wrought among them. Now, in the course of a morning's walk, half-a-dozen 

 will be as many as will be seen. House Martins, too, have almost quite dis- 

 appeared, though very few of this species were picked up. Swifts did not suffer 

 nearly so much, but still felt the cold and want of food very much, as was evident 

 from their tameness and weak mode of flying. Many of the other migrants suffered 

 very severely. Since last week I have not seen or heard either Wood Wren or 

 Spotted Flycatcher ; and Willow Wrens are decidedly less in number. The down- 

 fall was very heavy, being greatest on the 12th, for which day my gauge showed a 

 fall of 1*50 in. The snow on the moors was six inches in depth above the heather, 

 and for three days extended low down in the valleys. Farmers generally agree 

 that more sheep were drifted over than was the case in the late tremendous snows 

 in the earlier part of the year. As far as I can learn from the keepers, the Grouse 

 will not have suffered much, as the hens were all sitting closely, and only a brood 

 or two of young birds had been seen. A large tract of marshy ground near here 

 called Snape Mires, on which in wet seasons is formed an extensive sheet of water, 

 filled to a great size in one day ; and I was told by farmers residing there that 

 on the 14th considerable numbers of ducks and sea-birds were seen. There were 

 different sorts and sizes of Gulls ; as far as I could learn from my informant, the 

 Black-headed being there in some numbers. As I write the weather is more genial, 

 but very unsettled. Unless fresh flocks of the Swallow tribe come over (which is 

 scarcely probable now) we shall sadly miss their pleasant company this summer. — 

 T. Carter, Masham, May 17th, 1886. 



During the past week we have had a sharp reminder that 

 Winter, lingering-, chills the lap of May. 

 On Wednesday and Thursday, the 12th and 13th last, a strong N. E. gale was 

 blowing, accompanied on the first-named day with a drenching rain. In the 

 western part of the county there was a heavy downfall of snow, the hills in Wear- 

 dale being covered to a depth of several inches. As a consequence of this severe 

 weather, the summer migrants, and especially the Swallow tribe, have suffered 

 greatly. At Flatts Farm, near Bishop Auckland, twelve Swallow's and two Sand 

 Martins were picked up dead on Friday last ; several others were found in a half 

 starved state, and were taken into the house, but died in the course of the day. 

 All these birds were in plump condition, so that it is evident they had succumbed 

 to the severe cold. In the streets of Durham many Swallows were found dead on 

 Friday ; and I notice, by the daily papers, that in other parts of the north country, 

 and particularly in the lake district, hundreds of Swallows have been found lying 

 dead in the fields and on the roads. — T. H. Nelson, Bishop Auckland, 17.V.86. 



From many districts around Leeds we have heard of Martins and Swallows 

 being found dead ' in hundreds ' on the 13th and 14th of May ; and there can be 

 no doubt in Yorkshire alone many thousands have perished, resulting in a marked 

 diminution in their numbers. The House Martins seems to have succumbed in 

 much the greatest numbers, and then the Swallows, while only a few Sand Martins 

 and Swifts have been picked up. We are of opinion, so far as this district is con- 

 cerned, that death has been caused by want of sufficient food to enable the birds to 

 withstand the prolonged inclemency of the weather. There would be no insects on 

 the wing for the greater part of the period between the 8th and 13th. But on no 

 occasion did the thermometer register a remarkably low degree of temperature, the 

 lowest, 37 0 , being registered early on the 13th. — Eds. Nato-alisT 



