Alcedo Ispida, Kingfisher.—Languard L.H., September 17th, 6.40 A.M., one.
Cuculus Canorus, Cuckoo.—Farn L.H., May 18th, W.S.W., 3 P.M., first heard. Spurn, on 20th. Cromer L.H., July 29th, one struck at midnight, not killed. Coquet L.H., August 3d, 11 A.M., one; Farn L.H., August 13th, 6 P.M., one on rocks. Whitby L.H., September 21st, N.E. (6), one young.
Striges.—Asio otus, Long-eared Owl.—Longstone L.H., April 15th, N.E., light, one. A. accipitrinus, Short-eared Owl.—Languard L.H., September 16th, noon, E., one. Tetney "fitties," October 6th, two. Farn L.H., 7th, 1 A.M., one; and another at 6 A.M. Coquet L.H., 9th, one. Redcar, 16th, one; Spurn, 19th and 22d, several. Coquet, 24th, two. Seaton Snook, Durham, 27th, one shot coming in from sea. Farn L.H., 29th, one. Tees L.V., November 6th, 9 A.M., E., one. Owls generally.—Llyn Wells L.V., September 24th, "Owl" on mast-head, came from E., going S.W. Cromer L.H., October 28th, "Common Owl," at 3 A.M., flying around lantern. Nyctea scandiaca, Snowy Owl.—Mr Owen Boyle, of the Languard L.H., under date of February 9th, wind E., reports this species as shot by a visitor near the lighthouse. Subsequently, Mr Boyle writes, in reply to my letter, that he is sure the bird was a Snowy Owl. [Further information from the person who shot it, or the present possessor, would be very desirable.]
Falconidæ.—Longstone L.H., August 23d, S.E., one Sparrow Hawk (Accipiter nisus). Redcar, September 10th, immature Peregrine shot at Saltburn; early in November a second. Llyn Wells L.V., 21st, "large Hawk" on mast, and then to S.W. Tees L.V., 28th, "large Hawk." Norfolk coast, Goshawk (Astur palumbarius), caught at sea, and brought in alive to Yarmouth; date uncertain. Swin Middle L.V., October 7th, two young Hawks caught on deck. Donna Nook, Lincolnshire coast, October 9th, 10th, and 11th, two Kites (Milvus ictinus) seen over and about the rabbit warrens and sea banks. Cromer L.H., October 25th, very many Hawks seen about during the day. Spurn, 30th, Rough-legged Buzzard (Archibuteo lagopus), to S.; also several Merlin (Falco æsalon).
Phalacrocorax Carbo, Cormorant.—Dudgeon L.V., April 28th, thirty, N.W. to S.E. Tees L.V., May 16th, one hundred Cormorants passed; largest number ever seen here.—[H. H.]
Sula Bassana, Gannet.—Longstone L.H., March 21st to 31st, S. and W. winds, many daily to N., and to April 20th in less numbers. 21st, ceased altogether. Migration occupied a month, and was very persistent and continuous. Outer Dowsing L.V., October 2d, large numbers about, fishing for several days.
Ardea Cinerea, Common Heron.—Coquet Island, August 6th, one, and several up to November 4th. Tetney, Lincolnshire, August 27th, seventeen together on coast. Hanois L.H., September 14th, three, and then twelve Herons to S.W.; 15th, one to S.W. October 6th, four to S. A Purple Heron (A. purpurea) was shot on October 20th at Oulton Broad, near Lowestoft. Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia), June 6th, near Yarmouth.
Anser.—Anser cinereus, "Grey-lag" Geese.—Longstone L.H., October 6th, thirty seen. North-East Lincolnshire, fifteen Grey Geese over Grainsby Park on August 22d. "Wild Geese have been very abundant this year, except during the late frosts; flocks have gone over the Park almost every day."—[G. H. C. H.] Farn L.H., September 10th, Grey Goose to W. November 22d, sunrise, very large flock to S. 23d, several small flocks to N. Great Cotes, November 22d, 4 P.M., flock of Bean Geese N. to S. Brent Goose (Bernicla brenta), Tees L.V., February 27th; March 22d, 1886, large flocks off Tees; also Ducks and Widgeon. Coquet L.H., middle to end of August, many to north.
Cygnus, Swan.—Redcar, July 29th, 6 A.M., four seen at sea, going N.W. August 1st, eight (Mute Swans) all shot. Whitby L.H., August 1st, sixteen White Swans seen going north. Seaton Carew, Durham, July 25th, two to S. August 5th, three different flocks of Swans; shot at seven, wounded one, but lost it. 6th, four seen going inland.—[E. B. G.] I have no doubt the whole of these occurrences have reference to escapes from private waters and parks. I am told the Swans from the New Park at Grimsby were flying about in the Humber in August.
Ducks, Sheldrake (Tadorna cornuta).—Farn L.H., June 13th, old bird and nine young. Tees L.V., February 27th to March 22d, 1886, twenty-five in flock. November 5th, fifty-five. Common Teal (Querquedula crecca), Tetney, August 12th, large arrival. Cley, Norfolk, September 15th, first; Tees L.V., 16th, same. Widgeon (Mareca penelope), Tees L.V., April 7th, 1886, last seen, large flock. Yarmouth, March 1st, 1886, continuous flocks along coast. Cley, Norfolk, September 15th, Widgeon, with Teal. Tees L.V., 16th, flock. Tetney, October 6th, four shot. Languard L.H., October 29th, flock of eleven. Pochard (Fuligula ferina), very common on the Humber during the winter; many shot, including several old males. Scaup (F. marila), Great Cotes, March 8th, 1886, flock, all males, off sluice; 26th, flock at same place, males and females, in pairs. February 8th, 1887, same locality, flock of thirty-eight adult males and females in equal proportions. Cockle L.V., January 23d, fifty, both males and females. Harlequin Duck (Cosmonetta histrionica), Farn L.H., December 2d, three, two shot (went to well-known collectors). Long-tailed Duck (Harelda glacialis), Redcar, October 21st, three shot, young birds. Farn L.H., November 8th, 11 A.M., eleven flying N. Coquet L.H., 17th, one shot. Eider Duck (Somateria mollissima), Farn L.H., June 20th, Eider and five young, first brood. Coquet, October 8th, many, both male and female, off island. Velvet Scoter (Œdemia fusca), Redcar, October 13th, three; 18th, seven, two shot young. Common Scoter (Œ. nigra), Whitby L.H., April 30th, midnight, one killed. Leman and Ower L.V., May 9th, great numbers of Black Ducks at midnight to E., some killed. Large number of Scoters reported from various parts of the coast, on the move to and from their feeding grounds. Goosander (Mergus merganser), more than usually numerous in the Humber during the winter; in one case five were killed, at a shot, from a flock of twelve near Tetney Haven. Red-breasted Merganser (M. serrator), Farn L.H., December 24th, one, a drake, off island.