Page:The Zoologist, 3rd series, vol 1 (1877).djvu/184

158 During the month of October last we had an immense number of wild geese in this neighbourhood, more than have been known for a very long time. I think they were attracted by the quantity of food, for in consequence of the long continuance of wet weather many of the wold farmers were unable to gather the rakings of the stubble, and these formed an abundance of food for the wild geese, which at early dawn arrived in hundreds. On the 15th of that month a very fine female Rough-legged Buzzard was shot at Holderness. On the 21st another was shot: it had been seen in company with the one killed on the 15th: this bird unluckily fell into the Humber, and the tide going out it was lost. On the 18th November a third was killed at Hull.

A Shore Lark was shot at Spurn on October 21st, and an immature male Longtailed Duck on November 8th. On the 22nd of that month another Longtailed Duck was shot, a female, and on December 8th a third. These were obtained on the same piece of water where I had seen a small flock on September 29th.

On the 22nd November a fine male Osprey was brought for my inspection by Mr. D. Burton, of Cherry Burton, a village three miles west of Beverley: it had been shot the previous day by one of that gentleman's keepers just in front of the Hall. I may say that it was a most unlikely place for such a bird, as there is no water in the immediate neighbourhood. Probably it was passing over on its southward journey, or it may have got lost during the thick weather which prevailed about that time. Why it did not soar high enough to keep out of gunshot I cannot tell. I dissected it, and found it in very good condition, although not fat. The stomach was empty, except a piece of stick and some dead grass—foreign substances, swallowed, no doubt accidentally, with its natural food. This is the bird mentioned by Mr. Cordeaux as shot on the 23rd November, which is the wrong date, as I had word sent to me by the keeper the very day of its capture, and the bird was in my hands the following morning.

During the last week of November large flocks of Wood Pigeons (Ring Doves) passed over the town of Beverley, the wind at the time being westerly. These birds may generally be seen flying over this district during strong westerly gales, and invariably fly against the wind.

An old male Rednecked Grebe shot on our river on December 5th still retained some of the red on the throat.