278 



NOTES ORNITHOLOGY. 



Notes OH Notts. Birds.— A very fine Bittern (Botanrus stellaris) was 

 shot close to the town of Nottingham about Christmas, and another seen by the 

 Duke of St. Albans' head-keeper as it rose from the side of a pond in Bestwood 

 Park, in February. I was watching the wild fowl on pond here the other day 

 from the hall windows. On an open piece of water were two Tufted Ducks and 

 two Swans. Every few minutes one of the Swans swam after one of the Ducks, 

 which dived when the Swan got near. The Swan very eagerly dashed at the place 

 where it went down, and pecked at the spot ; about the third time the Swan 

 swam up to the place and at once put its head and neck under water, and by the 

 movements of its body was evidently trying to look if it could see where Mrs. Duck 

 had gone. I need hardly say I was very much amused. It was a smart move on 

 the part of Qygnus olor, but in the meantime, Fttligula cristata was twenty yards 

 away, giving itself a satisfactory shake of the wings. I am certain the Swan did not 

 put its head down to feed, as directly it drew its head out it again rushed after the 

 Duck. — J. Whitaker, Rainworth Lodge, Notts., March 15th, 1886. 



Brent Geese (Bernicla brenta) and Great Grey Shrike 



(Lanius excubitor) in Nidderdale.- -On January 7th, while walking 

 on the Nidd banks near Pateley Bridge, I was fortunate enough to get wtihin a 

 few yards of two Brent Geese ; and again, on the 8th, saw them near the same 

 place. There is no other record of the occurrence of this marine species for 

 Nidderdale that I am aware of. 



On January 18th, when watching a large flock of Fieldfares, I started two 

 Great Grey Shrikes, and followed them for a long distance, and could easily have 

 shot them had I been so inclined. This is the fourth instance of this bird which has 

 come under my notice in this district. — Wm. Storey, January 20th, 1886. 



NOTES— MAMMALIA. 



The Marten in Northumberland.— In July 1871, the late Mr. Fife, 

 of Lee Hall, while fishing in the North Tyne, Northumberland, saw a Yellow- 

 breasted Marten {Mastela martes) come down to the river edge in the Countess Park, 

 close opposite to where Mr. Fife was. It stayed some time, when, observing the 

 proximity of the fisherman, it went back into the wood again. Mr. Fife was an 

 excellent and practical naturalist, and there could be no doubt of its being the 

 animal he said. — E. Anne, Burgh wallis Hall, Doncaster, August 5th, 1886. 



Porpoise near Whitby. — May 24th : A Porpoise [Phoccena C07nmunis) 

 was captured off Whitby, on a baited hook set for fish. This is the first occur- 

 rence of such an event that has come to my knowledge. — Thomas Stephenson, 

 Whitby, August nth, 1886. 



NO TES— FISHES. 



Doree at Plamborough. — On the 3rd of March, Mr. Stephenson 

 Warcup picked up on the beach, where it had been cast up by the recent heavy 

 swells, a fine and perfect specimen of the John Doree {Zeus faber L.).— M. Bailey, 

 Flamborough, March 3rd, 1886. 



. Whitby Fish-notes. — August 6th, 1886: A Codfish {Gadus morrhua), 

 purchased and sent (among others) to the north by Egton, was found, when 

 opened here, to contain botli smear and roe. This is a remarkable occurrence, as 

 the male fish contains the smear or milt, and the female the roe. It was examined 

 by several persons, but when I heard of it, it had been packed up, and I was too 

 late to see it. — Thomas Stephenson, August nth, 1886. 



A splendid Salmon Trout {Salmo truita) was purchased here by Thos. Smailes, 

 length 29% inches, girth 22% inches, weight 15% lbs.; the finest fish I ever saw 

 for the size of it. It was purchased yesterday.— Thomas Stephenson, August 

 nth, 1886. 



Naturali>t ? 



