3 68 



NO TES— OR NIT HO L OGY. 



Late Stay of Swifts near Harrogate.— On Friday, 16th November, 

 I saw two Swifts flying- over a field between Starbeck and Bilton Woods. 

 In the trees immediately underneath several Hooded Crows were cawing-, 

 two extremes, north and south, thus meeting. 



I have frequently seen Fieldfares [Turdus pilaris) feeding on the fields, 

 and Swallows [Hirundo rustica) skimming over their surface, both in the 

 spring and autumn, but have never before seen the Corvus comix and the 

 Cvpselus apus so near together. — K. McLean, Harrogate, 19th Nov. 1900. 



Red-crested Pochard in Cleveland. — In 'The Naturalist' for October 

 (p. 304) occurred a short note under my signature on the occurrence of 

 a Red-crested Pochard in Cleveland. It was copied from a Yorkshire daily 

 paper, the name of which I could not give, as the account was on a clipping 

 or cutting sent to me by a friend. I have since ascertained that this 

 account, which also appeared in a Middlesbrough weekly journal, is 

 incorrect, and that Mr. T. H. Nelson's record in 'The Naturalist' for 

 October (p. 304) and November (p. 322) is the correct one. -J. W. Fawcett, 

 Satlev Grange, 2nd November 1900. 



Great Crested Grebe on the River Ancholme.— I saw a specimen 



of this bird [Podiceps cristatus L. ) on the river Ancholme between Brandy- 

 Wharf and Bishop-Briggs. This is the first time I have seen this bird 

 in Lincolnshire, but Cordeaux gives it as a visitor. The bird was either 

 moulting or was a voung bird of the year. 



The local name for it is ' Gaunt.' We have a local family who are said 

 to take their name from this bird. The family now spell it Gant, but fifty 

 vears ago the spelling was always Gaunt. Grebe Gaunt was a noted 

 horse-breaker some fifty years ago. — Max Peacock, Bottesford, via Don- 

 caster, 6th September 1900. 



Partridge in the Streets of York.— About 6.15 a.m. on the morning 

 of the 16th October a plump specimen of this species {Perdix perdix) was cap- 

 tured in Conev Street, York. The bird came out of a passage and ran from 

 its captor, and, after a short but sharp chase, took refuge in a doorway, 

 where it was secured. A subsequent careful examination failed to trace 

 anv wound, and it had every appearance of being- in the best of health. 

 I imagine it had flown in from the neig'hbouring country during the night 

 (like manv another .rural visitor to the cities, never to return ag-ain). The 

 previous night was, for the time of year, very frost}-.— William Hewett, 

 12, Howard Street, York, 25th October 1900. 



Golden Oriole near Scotton Common.— On the 4th September last 

 mv son cvcled over to Scotton Common with a friend in search of cater- 

 pillars, and was rewarded bv finding those of Clostera reclusa on the tips of 

 the low sallows, Xotodonta siczac, and the beautiful larva of Apatcla 

 leporina, with its mantle of long silky hairs covering its back like a veil ; 

 besides others which await identification. 



On their return I was told they had seen a large bird, of a brilliant 

 yellow colour, flying about the trees on the far side of a field, adjoining' the 

 road leading- to and not far from the common. They got off their cycles to 

 watch it, and, as they were standing", hidden by the hedge on the road-side, 

 it came almost directly over them, and on my showing them the figure of 

 the Golden Oriole [Orioius galbida) they identified it without hesitation. 



It is interesting in these days, when so many birds have been driven 

 from our land, to be able to record the appearance of rare visitors ; but is 

 it wonderful ? Is it not rather to be expected that with gu-n licenses, bird 

 and egg protection bv law, and private and public associations — to say 

 nothing- of the present rage for ornithological study in general — some of 

 the birds we have lost, and which were once common in our midst, may 

 return? Let the County Councils do their work. "Let the ' Bird Acts ' be 

 put in full force evervwhere, and the societies for bird protection encouraged, 

 and then we are sure to see many rare birds, which we have driven away by 

 our stupid persecution and love of slaughter, come back to their haunts 

 again. — F. M. Bl'RTON, Highfield, Gainsborough, 19th November 1900. 



Naturalist, 



