Swift, Cypselus apus.—At Whitby L.H., May 14th, several at noon to N.W. At Spurn L.H., June 7th, 7 p.m., fifty perched on gallery, none killed. At Hunstanton L.H., May 17th, one.
Wood Pigeon, Columba palumbus.—At Hasbro' L.V., May 28th and 30th, one each day to E.
Dotterel, Eudromias morinellus.—At Spurn L.H., May 15th, four seen near Kilnsea; 25th, small flock of eight.
Ringed Plover, Ægialitis hiaticula.—At Teesmouth 5 Buoy L.V., April 2nd, first arrival at their breeding quarters on neighbouring sand, where about ten couples nest each year, leaving with the young in the autumn.
Limicolæ.—From the 1st to the 18th of May, northerly and easterly winds blew persistently day and night on to the Lincolnshire coast; the consequence was that we had an almost entire dearth of all those many flocks of shore birds—as Godwit, Grey Plover, Knot—which visit the Humber mud-flats during the first fortnight in May, on their passage to the north. On the opposite coast of Yorkshire, under shelter of the sandy promontory of Spurn, they assembled in large numbers, feeding daily on the great expanse of muds left uncovered at ebb, and at flood crossing to the sands on the sea side of Spurn. A correspondent writes that, on May 7th, "countless thousands of waders lined the beach, like wreck, on the sea-side about a mile above Spurn; there were more than had ever been seen at once before."
Anatidæ.—At Flamborough L.H., July 2nd, a flock of Grey Geese were seen flying N. At Goodwin L.V., June 6th, 7.30 a.m., a flock flying to the E. Mr. Gätke reports from Heligoland that, on May 19th, three Snow Geese, Anser niveus, passed boat quite close, "whiter than snow, bills and feet redder than oranges, but alas! no gun at hand." King Eider, Somateria spectabilis, is reported from the Farne Isles on May 29th, and during the summer (Zool., 1880, p. 514; 1881, p. 62). On Feb. 27th, 1880, large flocks of Widgeon came into the Tees, and thirteen were shot by one discharge of a single-barrelled shoulder-gun. At the Outer Dowsing L.V., April 18th, Wild Ducks were seen migrating to N.W.; and on April 30th, every hour during day, to N.N.W. At the Goodwin L.V.. May 19th, shoals of Ducks from W. to E. From the Teesmouth 5 Buoy L.V., May 25th, 11.30 a.m., my correspondent writes, "Saw two Sheldrakes leave their nest with ten young ones at low water; had to travel half a mile before they reached the water; the male kept about six yards behind the young, the female leading; they were fifteen minutes in reaching the water; appeared just hatched; cock bird often looked behind to see nobody was coming." With reference to the spring migration of Wild Geese, Major Russell sends me the following notes from a correspondent on the Essex coast, whose house is situated on the south slope of a steep high hill:—"The Grey Geese were seen on Saturday, Feb. 21st, from 600 to 1000 flying in a triangular form, in a N.E. direction. I have repeatedly seen them sometimes passing for whole days, and have always noticed that we have never had any winter to speak of afterwards. They generally fly about a mile high. We very seldom see them going south. I suppose because the days are shorter, or possibly some may go another way; but they generally go north about this time of the year. I used to try to shoot them with a rifle to see what sort of Geese they were."
Alcidæ.—At Longstone L.H., March 9th, Guillemots and Razorbills assembled; 24th, Puffins. At Flamborough L.H., May 3rd, hundreds of Puffins arriving throughout the day, and on the same day a great number of Guillemots. From May 28th to June 2nd, great numbers of Guillemots and Razorbills were seen all day in the neighbourhood of the Spurn L.V., at sea six miles S.S.E. Spurn Point. The Guillemots, Razorbills and Puffins are later in their arrival and departure at the southern than their northern breeding-stations.
Pelecanidæ.—At Longstone L.H., March 9th, numbers of Gannets flying N. At the Farne Inner L.H., April 16th, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Gannets were seen flying N. At Teesmouth 5 Buoy L.V., March 15th, twelve Cormorants came into Tees, about fifty in every year at this time, leave again after breeding-season till next March.
Laridæ.—At Farne Islands, April 8th, Gulls commenced assembling at their nesting-quarters. At Whitby L.H., Feb. 18th, Herring Gulls first appeared on the cliffs near lighthouse. July 4th, first young was seen on the wing. Sept. 2nd, all left, both young and old. At Spurn L.V.. May 28th to June 2nd, large numbers of Gulls were seen all day in the neighbourhood, along with Guillemots and Razorbills; these birds were probably not migrating, or even contemplating such a movement, but wanderers from Flamborough, following the shoals of small fry which approach the Humber about that period. At the Longstone L.H., April 29th, W., weather fine, first Sandwich Tern seen, and the last seen Sept. 8th. The Arctic Tern was first seen May 10th; last, Sept. 14th. At the Farne Inner L.H.. Sandwich Terns were seen on May 12th, and the Arctic May 15th, both species leaving together on Aug. 28th. The Siberian Herring Gull, Larus affinis, was seen at Heligoland on June 5th, and the Caspian Tern, Sterna Caspia, on the 22nd, the first Mr. Gätke has got there. July 23rd, repeatedly seen.