I2 7 



NOTES on YORKSHIRE BIRDS. 



Albino Skylark at Buckton, Yorkshire.— In November 1900 a 

 white Skylark (Alauda aruensis L. ) was seen in a flock of several hundreds 

 at Buckton. — William Hewett, York, 18th January 1902. 



Albino Swallow at Bempton, Yorkshire. — On the 17th August 1901 

 a white Swallow (Hirundo ntstica L.) was repeatedly seen about Bempton. 

 — William Hewett. York, 18th January 1902. 



Cream-coloured Skylark at Bempton, Yorkshire.— On the 29th 

 July 1 901 a young" cream-coloured Skylark {Alatida arvensis L.) was noticed 

 at Bempton!— William Hewett, York, 18th January 1902. 



White Hedge Accentor at Beverley, Yorkshire. — On 8th September 



1900, when at Beverley, I called on Mr. Stewart, the taxidermist of that 

 town, who told me he had received the same day a white Hedge Sparrow 

 {Accentor ^nodularis L.) obtained at Beverley, but that it was badly in the 

 moult. W illiam Hewett, York, 18th January 1902. 



Merlins and Curlews on Rombalds Moor, Yorkshire. -The Merlin 

 (Falco eesalori) had four eggs on Rombalds Moor, Yorkshire, on the 12th May 



1 901. The hen bird was trapped, and the male shot a few days later. 

 Several pairs of Curlews [Numenius arquatns L.) were breeding on the 



moor on the same day. — William Hewett, York. 18th January 1902. 



Nuthatch at Helmsley, Yorkshire.— On the 24th January 190 1 

 Mr. J. Sumner told me that he had seen a few days previouslv in Ashdale 

 Wood, Helmsley, two lots of Nuthatches (S/tta ccesia), five or six in each 

 party, evidently family groups. He was sure there were two lots, and that 

 it was not one lot seen twice. He was also certain as to identity, as he saw 

 them at close quarters. — William Hewett, York, 18th January 1902. 



Red-backed Shrike in Yorkshire. On 22nd May 1898, when i$ l / 2 

 miles distant from York, and near Everingham, Mr. E. G. Potter and myself 

 saw a male Red-backed Shrike (Lcuiius collurio L.) fly along in front of us, 

 first on one side of the hedge and then on the other. 



On 26th May 1895, in company with Mr. E. G. Potter, at Spurn, we saw 

 a male Red-backed Shrike g-et up close to where we were standing and 

 settle on the telegraph wires. It allowed a near approach. The beautiful 

 red back and black line along the eye were conspicuous. — Wm. Hewett, 

 York, 24th February 1902. 



Bird Destruction at Bridlington.— I find the following stated in the 

 Times newspaper of to-day : — ' At Bridlington one person has contracted to 

 supply to London milliners 10,000 Kitiiwakes and Lesser Terns.' 



Is there no way of stopping this reckless slaughter of our sea birds? 

 Who are the landowners in this neighbourhood ? Surely they could be 

 appealed to. — J. ConwAy Walter, Lang-ton Rectory, Horncastle, 6th 

 February 1902. 



[We most emphatically re-echo Mr. Walter's question and protest. But 

 as much of the destruction doubtless takes place from boats, the landowners 

 can scarcely do very much. — Ed. Nat.] 



Cuckoo and its Foster Parents, York.— A Cuckoo [Cuculus canorus 

 L. )'s egg was found in the nest of a Hedge Sparrow {Accentor modirtaris L.) 

 containing four eggs, and was taken to the Retreat, York, and put under 

 a Canary on the 2nd June 1901. The young Cuckoo emerged on the 12th. 

 and on the 15th June it was put into the nest of a Spotted Flycatcher 

 (Muscicapa grisola L. ), which then contained three young birds. Three 

 days afterwards, i.e., on the 18th, the young Flycatchers were found on the 

 ground, outside the nest, having evidently been ejected by the young 

 Cuckoo, which was carefully tended by its foster parents until nearly full 

 grown. — Wm. Hewett, York, 24th February 1902. 



1902 April 1. 



