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FIELD NOTES. 



MAMMALS, 



Porpoises in the River Hull. — Several porpoises have 

 lately visited the River Hull. They ascended the river on 

 Tuesday, May i/th, at 4 o'clock in the morning. As they 

 passed under Sculcoates Bridge unsuccessful attempts were 

 made to procure them with boat hooks. They were afterwards 

 seen at Hull Bridge, near Beverley, still swimming up the 

 stream. At least one got as high up the river as Hempholme 

 Lock, and narrowly escaped being shut up in the lock-pit 

 which it had enterecl, just making its exit in the nick of time. 

 This lock is some twenty miles from the Humber, and to the 

 knowledge of frequenters of this stream for many years, no 

 porpoise has previously been known to ascend it. One of these 

 enterprising animals being in a dazed condition, was caught 

 and killed by a house-boater on the Friday, in the neighbour- 

 hood of Mikla Dike. It proved to be 48 lbs. in weight, was 

 forty-six inches long, with a girth of twenty-five and a half 

 inches. Its skin bore evidence of having been peppered with 

 small shot, which, no doubt, accounted for its easy capture. — 

 H. M. Foster, Hull. 



— : o : — • ' 

 BIRDS. 



White Wag-tail in Wharfedale. — Whilst strolling along 

 the banks of the River Wharfe at Arthington on April 6th, I 

 was rather surprised to see two White Wagtails amongst a 

 number of Pied Wagtails. The Pied and White Wagtails were 

 often very near each other, and I was able with little difficulty to 

 see the characteristic differences in the plumage between the 

 two. — S. Hole, Leeds. 



Curious Accident to a House Martin. — A House Mar- 

 tin in difficulties was recently discovered in the middle 

 of the road at Harrogate. The bird was unable to fly, as 

 a long hair had become entangled in its foot, and had then 

 twice encircled the left wing. After the hair was removed 

 the bird flew away. This is a sample of the many curious 

 accidents to which birds are liable. — R. Fortune, June iith, 

 1909- 



Golden Oriole at Gainsborough.— On the 12th instant, 

 walking with my daughter by the side of the Bale, a narrow 

 wood bounding Thonock Park, on the south, we had the good 

 fortune to see a Golden Oriole feeding on the bajik between this 

 wood and the high road. We watched it several times as it 



Naturalist 



