FORTY-SIXTH ANNUAL REPORT, FOR 1907. 
9 
October nests with young of Hedge Sparrow, Robin, and Swallow 
were noted. Spotted Flycatchers were especially late in arriving, 
but were very abundant when they did come. 
The latter days of October and the early days of November 
witnessed an enormous migration of Redwings in the West Riding. 
Every night they could be heard passing over in considerable 
numbers. The migration e\"idently covered a large extent of 
country. 
The almost total absence of wild fruits promises a bad time 
for the birds should the winter be at all severe. Elder trees are 
in blossom in November, the blossoms dying away without the 
tree fruiting. This in itself is an excellent example of the results 
of this abnormal season. 
For the North Riding, Air. Nelson reports : — The past year 
has been devoid of special interest. During the severe weather 
immediately following Christmas, great numbers of wild fowl 
appeared on the coast — various kinds of duck, including Pochards, 
Tufted Ducks, and Golden Eyes, also several Grebes. 
Immense flocks of Golden Plover were on the Tees sands 
between Christmas and the New Year, moving southward after 
two or three days ; there was great mortality amongst small 
birds — Bramblings and the Thrush family suffering heavily. On 
the spring migration two Ruffs and a small trip of Dotterel were 
observed. 
Ring Plovers and Sheld-Ducks nested as usual at the Tees- 
mouth. 
In August and September, Richardson's Skuas and Gannets 
were unusually abundant, as many as forty to fifty of the latter 
species being noticed fishing together in the Tees bay. 
On the autumn migration a great rush took place on the 
22nd of October, the flocks consisting of Fieldfares, Redwings, 
Starlings, Finches, Pewits, and Hooded Crows, with many Short- 
«ared Owls, a few Woodcock, and a Great Grey Shrike. 
Taking the North Riding" generally, nothing of special im- 
portance has been noted, with the exception of the breeding of 
the Red-backed Shrike at Cawthorne, near Pickering. 
In Mammalia nothing has been recorded worthy of special 
mention. Mr. Whitaker continues his investigations upon the 
Bats, and the results which have been recorded in the "Naturalist" 
have proved of great interest. 
Reptiles and Amphibians furnish no records. 
Fishes. — This is a branch of study which requires more 
observers. Mr. T. Stephenson's interesting notes in the 
Naturalist " upon Marine Fishes are practically the only 
records we have (with the exception of a large Trout near Harro- 
gate). It would be a great advantage if we could arrange to have 
an observer in each coast town and village. 
