Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 2 (1898).djvu/251

Rh of Guillemots and Razorbills covered the ledges all over the face of the cliff, and as we passed flew off in thousands over the boat and settled in the water beyond. Large colonies of Cormorants were scattered about on the cliff, flocks of Jackdaws wheeled about with clamorous cries, and here and there a family of Puffins would fly out of some crevice and settle in the water round the boat. They do not seem so strong on the wing as the Guillemots, and when getting up from the sea splash a long way through the water before rising into the air. As we rowed by, a splendid Peregrine Falcon came out of a large crevice high up on the cliff, and flew rapidly down the coast out of sight. A few minutes afterwards we saw its mate. On the broken rocks and boulders of chalk which line the base of the cliffs several Rock Pipits were hopping about. I landed among these rocks, and found about a dozen Herring Gulls' nests, all empty. The Herring Gulls are the only birds which build so low down on the cliff, and the eggs of the other birds can only be got by means of a rope. It was a most interesting sight, and I only wished it had been later in the season, so that I could have got some eggs. In conclusion, I may add that Isaacs said the birds had greatly increased in numbers during the last ten years.— (Finchley Road).

Ornithological Notes from Scarborough.—On Jan. 15th I had brought for preservation a fine adult Shoveler Drake (Spatula clypeata) which had been shot on the river at Pickering. On Feb. 23rd a pair of beautiful adult Waxwings (Ampelis garrulus) were brought in, which had been shot on the roadside between Scarborough and Burniston. They were male and female, and were in company with a third, which escaped. On dissection I found they had been feeding upon the fruit of the wild rose, which they had swallowed whole. These make ten occurrences of this species, of which I have notes, since October last. More Crossbills than usual have frequented the fir woods throughout the district near Scarborough, and were still here up to within a month ago.— (44, Huntriss Row, Scarborough).

Notes from Great Yarmouth.—Sole. I received a Sole (Solea vulgaris) from the fish-wharf on Jan. 22nd. It was peculiarly stunted in length, measuring 11½ in.; it was 6 in. broad, being at least 4 in. short of its normal length.

Streaked Gurnard. An example of Trigla lineata came to hand on the same date.

Pole or Craig-fluke. No fewer than six pairs of fine Poles (Pleuronectes cynoglossus) were displayed on one fishmonger's slab on Feb. 3rd. This