NOTES — ORNITHOLOGY. 



^5 



of individual trees : but to suppose or believe for one moment that 

 these should indicate anything of the future seasons is preposterous 

 m the extreme, and this also seems to be the opinion, though not 

 clearly expressed, of Mr. Hagger in his third paragraph. When 

 1 say not clearly expressed, I mean that it seems to me that 

 ]VIr. Hagger is not quite convinced in his own mind as to the truth 

 or otherwise of the legend; but I think that if we look the matter 

 fairly in the face we shall arrive at the conclusion that the sum of the 

 environments that liave been at work is the cause of the times of 

 leafing, and that there is no more scientific value to be ascribed to 

 the couplet than to the St. Swithin"s or any other similar weather 

 forecast. The time of leafing is the efl:ect of past causes, and not 

 in any way a cause or even prognostication of future events. 



NO TES— ORNITHOL OGY. 



Crested Tit near Keighley. — A few weeks ago a person at ^lany-AVells 

 expressed a wish that I should go and see what he described as a ' strange ' 

 Ijird, but thinking it would be — what .such examples usually turn out to be — a 

 common species, I neglected paying a visit. The bird in question is a Crested Tit 

 {Pams cj'istatus), and was shot by a farm servant near Keighley about the first week 

 in August, and brought to a local birdstufter. This is the second recorded occurrence 

 ■of this species in this district, the other having been shot, I l)elieve, on Thornton 

 Moor. Another Ijird, viz., the Green Sandpiper [Helodronias ochropiis). which is 

 an addition to our local avifauna, I saw on the loth of September last flying about 

 Many-Wells reservoir, in company with Redshanks {'lotaniis calidn's), one of 

 which had been wounded with a gvm-shot. On calling the other day at Mr. 

 Oliver's, the birdstufter, into whose hands many a rara avis has fallen, I am sorry 

 to add that the above bird (apparently an adult specimen) had been shot, and got 

 into his possession. — E. P. P. Butterfield, Wilsden, Sept. 20th, 1887. 



Flamborough Bird -notes. — The sea-birds at Flamborough have been 

 far more numerous this season, and the number of eggs taken supersedes in 

 quantity the take of all previous seasons. The other evening I had a very pleasant 

 sail round the headland, and was struck to see so many thousands of Puffins 

 {Frntercula ardica). ^lost of the Guillemots [Lonivia troile) and Razorbills [Alca 

 torda) with their young have taken their departure. The Puffins all round the 

 Robin Lythe Hole and neighbouring rock when on wing darkened the air. The 

 Sea Swallows, Skuas, }vlanx Shearwater [F2i_ffiiuis angloriini). also the Sandwich 

 Terns {Sterna cantiaca) have made their appearance. [Manx Shearwaters have 

 arrived in great numbers. — Matthew Bailey, August loth. 1887. 



Flamborough Bird -notes. — Perhaps it might be of interest to know 

 that the sea-birds. Guillemot {Lonivia troile). Razor-bills {Alca torda). Puffins 

 {Fraterciila arctica), Kittiwakes {Jvissa tridacfyla), etc., etc., on our coast increase 

 every year. I am sure that naturalists would be astoni.shed to see the quantities of 

 Skuas, Little Gulls {Lanes and ."Shearwaters. Fulmar Petrels {Fiil»iarics 



glacialis) have been seen, and one shot ; also one immature Sabin's Gull 

 {Lams sabini). and the Grey Phalarope {Phalaropiis ftilicarliis). .Several winter 

 visitants have already arrived on our coast I believe. The Hooded Crow {Cor-dus 

 comix) was the first to arrive, September ist, Crested Wrens {Regulus cristatiis) 

 and Ring Ousels {Tiirdiis torquaius) following. Yesterday several Woodcocks 

 {Scolopax riLsticicla) were shot on the headland ; unfortunately they have brought 

 with them very rough weather. — Matthew Bailky, Flamborough, October iith, 

 1887. 



Jan. i£88. 



