iiiiii FOR THE PEOPLE FOR EDVCATION FOR SCIENCE LIBRARY OF THE AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY EcHALAZ Collection. Lieut.- Colonel C. T. Echalaz. WATERLOO MUSEUM, LIVERPOOL. Compute ptstcrg oi the ®chak2 Collection. BY LIEUT.- COLONEL ECHALAZ. Late Indian Army. CROYDON : Printed by ROFFEY 6 CLARK, 12, High Street, ERRATA. Page 31, line 5. Read " Godhra " for "Godra. Page 85, line 19, Read " digression " for " disgression. Page 195, line 20. Read " 1891 " for " 1901." CASE. BLOCK B PAGE. H Baillon's Crake ... 32 167 S Bittern ... 69 320 F Blackbird 23 125 F Pied 23 126 F Brambling 21 116 F Bullfinch 21 106 Q Bunting, Reed 28 146 P „ Snow 58 269 F „ Yellow ... C 21 114 F Chaffinch 21 108 Q Chiffchaff 28 140 N Chough 52 246 K Cormorant, Common or Great 41 199 A ,, Shag or Green 1 37 C Coot 9 60 L Crow, Carrion 48 230 L „ Hooded ... 47 223 S Cuckoo 66 309 A Curlew D 2 42 K Diver, Black Throated 43 204 C „ Great Northern 11 64 E „ Red Throated 17 88 L Dotterel 45 217 BLOCK. J Duck, Eider B Gadwall ... E Mallard . . . B Pintail K Sheld-Duck Q Shoveller Q Teal 1 Wigeon G Dunlin ... F Fieldfare Q Flycatcher, Pied ... Q j> Spotted INDEX. G c Gannet L Godwit 1 Goose, Bean I ,, Brent 1 „ Grey Lag 1 „ White-Fronted . F Greenfinch R Grouse, Red R Black ... R „ Ptarmigan A Gull, Common ... A „ Herring B „ Kittiwake A „ Lesser Black-Backed J Guillemot, Black A „ Bridled D Hawk, Buzzard ... D „ Eagle (Golden) M Hen-Harrier CASE. PAGE 39 194 8 58 18 92 7 56 44 212 60 272 59 271 35 181 58 267 23 126 24 129 25 130 12 66 46 221 33 171 36 186 33 168 34 174 21 109 63 295 63 299 63 301 4 47 4 46 5 51 4 49 38 193 1 39 14 72 13 70 49 233 INDEX BLOCK R Hawk, Kestrel D „ Peregrine Falcon D ,, Sparrow-Hawk F Hedge-Sparrow . . . P Heron Q House-Martin F „ Sparrow ... J N Jackdaw N Jay K E Kingfisher L Knot ... L H Landrail L Lapwing F Linnet ... M N Magpie ... J Merganser, Red Breasted C Moorhen N Q ; Nightingale S Nightjar s Nuthatch 0 0 Owls, Short-Eared B Oyster-Catcher P R Partridge M Pheasant H Pipit, Meadow H ,, Rock H „ Tree CASE. PAGE 61 275 15 76 16 83 21 112 57 259 29 154 21 111 54 252 51 243 19 95 46 222 32 164 46 219 21 113 51 241 40 196 10 62 28 136 67 312 68 315 55 256 6 54 64 304 50 239 30 158 30 161 30 160 INDEX. BLOCK. L Plover, Golden L „ Grey P Ringed R Ptarmigan J Puffin ... K Razor Bill P Redshank F Redstart F Redwing F Robin ... N Rock Pigeon L Rook ... o o F F Q Q P Sanderling Q Sand-Martin P Sandpiper, Common 5 Shrike, Red-Backed A Skua, Richardson's H Skylark . . . R Snipe, Common R ,, Jack H Spotted Crake N Starling F Stonechat Q Swallow G Swift ... Tern, Common „ Arctic Thrush, Song „ Mistle Titmouse, Coal „ Blue CASE. PAGE 45 215 45 216 58 265 63 301 37 191 42 202 58 262 22 120 23 126 23 127 53 250 48 232 58 264 29 155 58 266 65 308 3 44 31 162 62 285 62 292 32 168 54 254 22 117 29 151 29 156 56 257 56 258 23 123 23 124 28 149 28 148 INDEX. G Titmouse, Great ... Q „ Long-Tailed S Tree-Creeper L Turnstone W E Water-Ouzel H „ Rail Q Wagtail, Grey G Pied ... G „ Yellow ... S Wax wing F Wheatear F Whinchat G White Throat R Woodcock 5 Woodpecker, Green 5 „ Great Spotted N Woodpigeon G Wren Q „ Golden Crested G „ Willow ... S Wryneck CASE. PACI 28 147 28 150 68 317 45 218 20 100 32 165 27 135 26 133 26 132 65 307 22 119 22 118 28 138 62 280 70 323 68 314 53 249 28 142 28 144 28 141 68 318 INDEX TO ILLUSTRATIONS. Photographs by The Marlborough Studios, Technical Photographers, Tooting Bee Road, S.W. 1908. BLOCK. CASE. PAGE. Lieut. -Colonel Echalaz .. Frontispiece Tiger coming through Jungle 32 B Kittiwakes 5 52 C Coots 9 132 C Great Northern Diver 11 64 D Peregrine Falcons ... 15 80 D Buzzards ... 14 72 D Eagle 13 24 D Sparrow-Hawks 16 120 E Kingfishers ... - ... 19 96 E Water-Ouzels .. 20 104 I White-Fronted Geese 34 176 1 Brent Geese 36 188 J Puffins ... .. 37 144 J Mergansers, with Young 40 196 K Black Throated Diver 43 204 K Razor Bills .. 42 160 K Sheld-Ducks .. 44 212 L Hooded Crows ... 47 224 N Choughs ... .. 52 248 P Redshanks, Sanderlings, Ringed Plove rs, Common Sandpipers, Dunlins, Tur n- stones. Snow Buntings .. 58 264 R Kestrel Hawks 61 276 R Red Grouse, Black Grouse, Ptarmigan 63 296 R Woodcock, Full Snipe, Jack Snipe 62 288 R Partridges .. 64 308 PREFACE. In compiling this Handbook for the Waterloo Museum, containing as it does a faithful account of the most important facts and particulars in connection with my collection of ornithological specimens, it is incumbent upon me to make the fullest acknowledgment of my great indebtedness to Howard Saunders for much valuable information obtained from his well-known " Manual of British Birds." The information contained in a Museum Hand- book should be based upon what is absolutely reliable and indisputable, and such do I consider Howard Saunders's Standard Work to be. I have therefore taken the liberty of quoting him freely upon all such matters as the nesting habits of our British Birds, the colour of their eggs, the dates of their arrival in and departure from our islands, and their geographical range outside our limits. Information such as this could not possibly have been afforded from my personal knowledge, which must perforce be only very limited ; I trust, therefore, that having stated clearly the authority in connection with each quotation, I shall be pardoned for having made such free use of Howard Saunders's work. lO PREFACE. To Mr. W. H. Hudson I tender my best thanks for many interesting paragraphs I have extracted from his valuable book on British Birds. These have helped me materially in making my Handbook not altogether dry-as-dust reading; my only regret is that, being a collector, I shall probably have incurred his displeasure. My thanks are also due to Mr. Swaysland for quotations from his book — •' Familiar Wild Birds " — to Mr. Pycraft for several references to his " Story of Bird Life," and to Mr. Henry Scherren for assistance in preparing my manuscript for the press. Caterham Valley Hotel, Caterham. September^ i^oy. INTRODUCTION. Having been requested by some members of the Urban District Council of Waterloo to give a sketch of my career by way of preface to this little Hand- book to the Collection of Birds, I will endeavour to be as brief as possible. My father, the Rev. Theodore Augustus Echalaz, was Vicar of Lullington, in the County of Derby- shire, and a Rural Dean. I was born at the Vicarage on the 9th of July, 1844. In my childhood days I evinced a strong predilection for an outdoor, rather than a sedentary life, or the study of books ; and, at about the age of ten, my parents decided that a soldier's life was the one for me; I remember when the subject was broached, and I was assured that it didn't necessarily follow that I should be shot, I was quite satisfied to be a soldier. My parents not being particularly well off, and therefore not in a position to make me an allowance, it was thought advisable, if possible, to obtain a nomination for me in the Indian Army. These nominations were no easy matter in those days, and required a good deal of influence ; luckily, my father possessed a good friend in the person of Squire Bracebridge of Atherstone Hall who happened to know Sir John Stuart Mills, at the India Office, intimately, so the matter was arranged. T2 INTRODUCTION. At about the age of twelve I was allowed a single- barrelled gun, and at fourteen, when staying at Catton Hall, as the guest of Lady Wilmot Horton, I shot my first pheasant on the wing and my first hare running in a wood; shortly after this my father died at Hastings, after an illness of several weeks. At the age of seventeen, I passed out direct into the Indian Service from the Kensington Grammar School, going up to the India Office for my examin- ation. On the 27th January, 1862, I embarked in the Peninsula and Oriental Company's SS. " Mool- tan," for Alexandria, visiting Cairo en route, doing the Pyramids, etc., then travelling across the desert by rail to Suez, where I boarded another P. and O. Steamer, "The Nubia," which landed me in Bombay somewhere about a month from the date of departure. At Bombay I was hospitably put up by the Chief Magistrate till my orders came for me to join the 72nd Highlanders, at Mhow, with whom I remained six months learning my profession, being drilled through the various ranks of private and non-com- missioned officer upwards. I then had to march nearly 200 miles in the rainy season and join the 1 3th Bombay N.I., at Neemuch, and the difficulty and hardship of that journey I am not likely to forget. In the cold weather of that year I marched 285 miles with the regiment to Ahmedabad, in the Province of Guzerat, where I had splendid shooting for about two and a half years ; game consisting of an occasional panther, any amount of antelope, and INTRODUCTION. 13 as for small game— such as Duck, Snipe, Quail, Florican (a small Bustard) — there was hardly a better station to be found in the Bombay Presidency. Then again there was excellent pigsticking and coursing with greyhounds; so that I look upon these two and a half years of my boyhood life as about the happiest in the whole of my military career. Ahmedabad was the Headquarters of the Northern Division, and was commanded by General Sir Charles T. Van Straubenzee. Owing to the facilities I had of meeting the General in the sporting field I began to know him very well, and, when he was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Bombay Presidency /r^ tem, in 1865, he offered me the post of one of his aides-de-camp on his staff, of which I gladly availed myself. Getting official orders soon after this, I joined him at the hill station of Mahableshwar, which is about 5,000 feet above sea-level, and the recognized Headquarters of the Bombay Commander-in-Chief and staff during the hot weather. Just after leaving Ahmedabad a most virulent epidemic of cholera broke out, and many men of my regiment died, as well as one officer — so I was lucky to be out of it. When the rains set in we all came down to Poona, which is on a plateau 2,000 feet above sea-level, and one of the gayest military stations in the Presidency during the season, viz., the monsoon months; dinner parties, balls, gymkhanas, horse racing, boating, etc., etc., being the order of the day. I must say I had a splendid time, but only too short-lived, for in 14 INTRODUCTION. a month or two I found myself gazetted to the Revenue Survey. The fact was, I had previously made application for an appointment in the Police, not being aware of the General's intention to select me for one of his aides-de-camp ; and the authorities, instead of grant- ing what I had asked for, had appointed me to the Revenue Survey ; I had to go, there was no help for it, much as I disliked surrendering my appoint- ment on the Headquarter Staff These civil appointments in India are often given to military officers in times of peace and sometimes act prejudicially when a chance of active service comes ; as in my own case, when the Abyssinian war broke out in 1868, I requested that my services might be placed at the disposal of the Commander-in-Chief, but was met with a refusal by the Superintendent of Survey on the grounds that I could not be spared. My next move was to Surat, which lies about half way between Bombay and Ahmedabad. There I reported myself to the Superintendent of the Guzerat Revenue Survey, and became an Assistant Superintendent ; but it was necessary, before receiv- ing full pay and allowances, to pass the Interpreter's Test in the Guzerathi language. I don't suppose I ever applied myself more studiously to books than I did just at that time — working from ten to twelve hours a day. Having passed the Staff Test in Hindoostani at Ahmedabad, I managed this language in something over three months, being gazetted as having "passed INTRODUCTION. 1 5 with credit." I was then sent out into the districts with an estabHshment of about twenty-one surveyors, eighteen of whom worked with cross staff and chain and three with theodolite. The duties of the cross staff men were to survey all holdings of the ryots or village leaseholders — the size of their fields being regulated according to the quality of the soil — to make village maps showing all the boundaries of these holdings, together with all details — such as rivers, streams, trees, wells, roads, paths, etc. The theodolite men traversed the boundaries of the villages, the whole being made into district maps in the rains and embodied in the Topographical Survey maps. My duties were to allot them their several villages, place my camp as nearly as possible in the centre, ride out every morning anything from five to ten miles, and test about ten per cent, of each man's work once every month with a theodolite. It was hard work — especially in the hot weather — as measure- ments in the field had to be plotted out to scale, areas computed, and any discrepancies investigated ; in addition to this, boundary disputes with foreign territories had to be inquired into, evidence being taken in writing, old maps consulted, etc., before any settlement could be effected. Whilst in this Survey I got my first tiger shooting. In September, 1866, I became seriously ill with fever, contracted, I suppose, in the jungles where I had been "big game shooting." I was laid up at Surat, and very nearly "pegged out." Eventually, 1 6 INTRODUCTION. however, I was sent in charge of an officer friend to Bombay, where I was comfortably put up in a Medico's house, and had the advantage of his professional skill. In due course I came round, and, as it was considered unadvisable to work in the same districts again, I was transferred to the Poona Survey, which necessitated my passing in the Murathi language. A though I used to have periodical attacks of fever every year, I was unable to ofet the Medical Authorities to send me to Eno- land on sick leave till the beginning of 187 1. I stayed at home two years, had a good time shooting and fishine, and returned to India two stone heavier. I remained in the Poona Survey for a year after arrival, then went back to military duty, joining the Marine Battalion or 21st Bombay N.I. During my stay with this regiment nothing very eventful occurred outside the usual routine of an officer's daily life in an Indian regiment — that is parades in the early morning in the cold weather months, annual course of musketry on the ranges. Courts- Martial, Committees of all sorts, etc., etc. Perhaps the most notable event was the presenta- tion of New Colours to the regiment by his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, our present King, in 1875 ; also, it might interest some to know that, I with two friends, one being a lieutenant, the other a civilian, attempted to get to the source of the Ganges in the year 1876. It meant ascending to 23,000 feet where there is an ice cave whence the water comes. We started from the hill station of INTRODUCTION. 1 7 Mussoorie, where we had to hire thirty coolies with a man called a tindal in command to carry stores, tents, etc. These stores were put into baskets called " kilters," and strapped to the men's shoulders, the Government weight allowed being 66-lbs. ; the addition of a cook and a man servant completed our party. We took a fair quantity of European stores with us, as the only things obtainable en route were fowls, eggs, flour, and an occasional sheep ; in the way of drinkables — nothing but whiskey. An average day's march would be about 1 2 miles, but we had no hard and fast rule about this, pitching our tent for the niofht wherever circumstances were most favourable. To describe these magnificent snow-capped moun- tain ranges, or the ever changing scenery we passed through, would require the genius of a Blackmore to do it justice, suffice it to say that, below the per- petual snow line of 17,000 feet, the mountains were a mass of luxuriant vegetation in which one would notice the Scotch fir, larch, etc., whilst rhododen- drons, wild fruits, and flowers were in abundance creating a perfume all through the air. A glorious country truly ! When we got up to about 11,000 feet we met a man of the Forest Department, and here we made a little diversion, leaving the ordinary track for a couple of days in order to get a little shooting. We divided into two parties, the lieu- tenant going with him, and the civilian with me. I managed on this trip to shoot a couple of wild sheep l8 INTRODUCTION, called bharal, which seldom come lower down than 13,000 feet. Before proceeding further it will be well to explain that our route followed the main tributary of the Ganges, and that as we got farther the mountains converged so closely that it was necessary to carry pedestrians across this stream by means of suspen- sion bridges — backwards and forwards — the Forest Department making the road on whichever side the mountain was most favourable. One of these suspension bridges was a great trial to the nerves, being only three feet in width, 300 feet across, and 300 feet above the bed of the river, suspended from two cables fixed into the ground over two posts on either side ; these cables dropped down in the centre like a skipping rope, whilst the planks of the bridge went up. It oscillated a great deal, and if you lost your head there was nothing to prevent you from falling into the bed of the river below. But I must draw to a conclusion. Finally, we got to a place called Gungotri, about 14,000 feet above sea-level where is one of the most celebrated shrines in India. Here a snow storm came on, obliterating the track for the time being, and not having sufficient leave at our disposal we had to return to Bombay, but I believe having got so far — had the weather been favourable — we should have reached the source in another two or three days. In May 1878 I went on a year's sick leave to England, being very ill with liver and impaired digestion. Not being fit to return to duty at the INTRODUCTION. 1 9 expiration of the year granted, I got three extensions of six months at a time bringing my total leave up to two and a half years. This period was almost entirely given up- to sport of some kind, such as salmon, sea, and brown trout-fishing, and shooting, the fresh air thus obtained — coupled with an excel- lent patent remedy recommended to me by a friend for indigestion — set me on my legs, and I went out to India aofain in the cold weather of 1880. In 1882 I was appointed to the ist Bombay Grenadiers, stationed at Mhow, as second in com- mand, to fill the place of Lieut. -Colonel Henslowe, who had been shot by a native soldier who had "run amuck." This regiment was one of the un- fortunate ones which, like the 66th Berkshire Regiment, was almost annihilated in the disaster which occurred at the battle of Maiwand under the command of General Burrows during the second phase of the Afghan war. When I joined, it was almost entirely composed of raw recruits, and there being no old soldiers left to give the men stability or discipline an unusual amount of leniency, tact, and judgment was required in dealing with them. I must say I rather resented being sent off in what seemed to me an unreasonable sort of way at a moment's notice, so to speak, putting me to a lot of expense ; but being told that I must take it as a compliment, having been selected out of a list of officers by the Commander-in-Chief himself, especially for tact, I was reconciled. It's difficult to write about one's self without appearing to be 20 INTRODUCTION. eofotistical, but what I state here is nevertheless true. After a short period with the ist Bombay Grena- diers, I was transferred back again to the Marine BattaHon in Bombay as commander of the left -half battalion. In March, 1885, all officers were recalled from furlough in England, general leave in India, etc., and had to be medically examined as to fitness for active service, as it was believed we should be involved in a war with Russia over the Penjdeh affair in Afghanistan. So near was it considered to be that most married officers sold their furniture and sent their wives home. The regimental transport and commissariat supplies for the ist Army Corps of 60,000 troops were in readiness to start at the proverbial " moment's notice," but the war, as every- one knows, never came off, mainly owing, I think, to the sagacity and foresight of the then Governor- General, Earl Dufferin. In October, 1885, I was gazetted as second in command of the 9th Bombay N.I. under orders for Aden. This was one of the two reg-iments sent from India to Malta when the Earl of Beaconsfield, as Prime Minister, wished to show the Russians — at the time they were threaten- ing Constantinople in the Russo-Turkish War of 1877 — that we not only had the English Army to rely upon, but also the Indian forces, who were loyal and true. We embarked for Aden in a troopship in December, arriving towards the end of the month. We were quartered in what is called the Crater, INTRODUCTION. 21 which is four miles inland from Steamer Point, where the artillery are stationed. The length of this crater I should estimate at about i|- miles, and the breadth threequarters of a mile, and it is the mouth of an extinct volcano. The chief feature of Aden is the very strong fort there, which commands the Straits of Babel-Mandeb, the entrance to the Red Sea from the Indian Ocean, There is no vegetation to relieve the eye, nothing but volcanic hills, the highest peak of which is 1,700 feet. The radiating heat from these volcanic rocks — often coupled with a breathless atmosphere at night — necessitated the use of punkahs, without which one could not sleep. The place would have been unbearable but for a very genial and hospitable General at Steamer Point, who did a lot for us in the way of entertain- ment ; and for an Ai European Regiment, the 54th Dorsetshire, who did their very best to make the time pass pleasantly. As they were quartered with us in the Crater, we knew them very well, and were very "chummy " together. At the end of the cold weather, the drill season being over and musketry course concluded, the com- manding officer went home on three months' leave, and I, as next senior, assumed command till my retirement from the Service on the ist of June, 1886. I embarked on the 8th June, travelling by easy stages across the Continent, arriving in Eng- land the beginning of July, 1886. In conclusion, perhaps I ought to mention that I entered H.M.'s 'Service as Ensign in 1862, obtained 22 INTRODUCTION. my Lieutenancy in 1863, Captaincy in 1871, Majority in 1882, and was gazetted out Lieutenant-Colonel on my retirement. That it was never my fortune to see active service was due entirely to the fact that the regiment I was with at the time did not happen to be one of those under orders for the front. How- ever, I may say that, having had the experience of facing a wounded tiger, I trust that, had I been called upon to face the bullets of any enemy to my own dear country, I should have acquitted myself like a soldier and an Englishman. SOME REMARKS ON THE COLLECTION In the year 1878, when on leave from India as a Captain, I was introduced by a clergyman friend to two gentlemen farmers, brothers, who had a sheep farm of about 1,000 acres at Mere, a country town about five miles distant from Gillingham in the county of Wiltshire. The younger of these two, Ernest Baker, was a great sportsman and naturalist ; eventually he became one of the truest and best friends I ever had, and after my retirement from the Service in 1886, I used to shoot with him mosdy every year till his death in 1892. He was a first-class shot and fisherman, and many a happy day have I had with him in the field. His death was an irreparable loss to me ; Requiescat in Pace. He had a fine collec- tion of birds in his dining-room, and seeing this I really think started the idea with me that I would try and do likewise. Having once got the idea of employing some of my spare time by starting a collection my next thought was, that to be of any interest and value to myself, it must be the outcome of my own individual effort and observation in the field, and this I have tried to carry out as far as possible. What I claim for the collection is, that most of the birds have been shot by me, or that I have been associated with them in the field when they have been shot or 24 SOME REMARKS ON THE COLLECTION. trapped ; the exceptions to this general rule being very few, viz., the Golden Eagle and the Great Northern Diver. For me to have obtained the former would have been an impossibility, and as regards the latter, though I tried very hard I was unsuccessful ; and wishing to complete my Divers, accepted the one now introduced. Of the others, perhaps the most valuable would be Baillon's Crake and the Spotted Crake ; next in order come the Dotterel and Grey Plover ; those remaining being common and not worth any special mention. I may also claim that the mountings in the cases — that is, the surroundings in which the birds are placed — are almost entirely my own ideas which have been imparted to the several taxidermists. The specimens themselves are mostly in excellent plumage, and have been obtained over a wide field, embracing the west coast of Scotland, Wales, the southern counties of England, and the south-west of Ireland. The mountings of the birds are intended to illustrate, as far as possible in a limited space, the habitat most natural to the particular species. Thus, the Golden Eagle is shown in a mountainous district — depicted in the back scene painting — standing amongst rocks and heather in a character- istic attitude over a Scotch hare — one of the com- monest of its victims. The Peregrine Falcons are represented with their eyrie in a cliff with eggs ; in connection with this case I am compelled to admit they are both female birds as I was unsuccessful in Block D. Eagle. Mountain Heather, with Scotch Hare. SOME REMARKS ON THE COLLECTION. 25 getting the male. The Buzzards are treated in much the same manner, but with this difference, that they are with their young. The Sparrow Hawk, being an arboreal species, has a woodland back- scene — the roughly constructed nest of twigs, and the male bird carrying a small bird to feed the hen sitting on the nest, are true to nature. I do not propose to go all through the cases seriatim, but think it will suffice if I speak of some of them in groups — such as the Great Cormorant, Puffin, Guillemot, Razor Bill, Kittiwake Gull, etc., the natural surroundings of which are sea-cliffs, sea- rocks, the mountings being made to accord with this fact. To show one or two birds of each species in a case would by no means convey the proper idea of these birds as they congregate in groups on the ledges of the cliffs, consequently, as many as are required to give a true representation of what they look like in their natural state are introduced. In connection with this group of cases, I wish to draw special attention to the one containing the Kittiwake Gulls, which faithfully portrays the nesting site of this species in regard to character of rock- work and small ledges on which the eggs are placed, with merely a little dry seaweed for the nest itself. To mention another group of birds which confine themselves almost entirely to the sea and its estuaries and creeks, I take the Great Northern Diver, Sheld-Duck, Merganser, Gannet, Pintail, Wigeon, Brent Goose, and Eider Duck. c 26 SOME REMARKS ON THE COLLECTION, The back scene of the Great Northern Diver is intended for a distant view of part of the Sound of Mull, with Oban Bay and Castle in the fore- ground ; the bird is supposed to have come up from the open sea with the tide into Oban Bay ; one characteristic of this species being to work towards the shores of sea lochs with the tide. The Sheld- Ducks are shown feeding in an imaginary estuary, with sandbanks on one side ; the Mergansers in a Scotch Highland loch, which they often frequent ; the Gannets in an imaginary sea- scape ; the Pintail in creek of the sea in Ireland ; the Brent Geese in an imaginary! sea-scape, with storm and shipwreck, one Goose standing as sentinel; the Eiders on the margin of a loch and water. To take another group — the Black-Throated Diver, the Red-Throated Diver, Mallard, Teal, Shoveller, Gadwall, Coot, and Moorhen. The first-named two, breeding, as they do, in fresh water, are shown with the eggs close to the edge of the water, the usual situation of the nest ; the other ducks are all treated with water and imaginary Highland loch scenes. The surrounding rushes in the two last mentioned cases are quite typical of the haunts of the birds. The next group I mention are the Crow family — Carrion and Hooded Crows, Jackdaws, Choughs, and Magpies. With the exception of the Jackdaws, all the rest have — as most suitable to their haunts — been treated with cliff and rock mountings ; the two most effective being, in my opinion, those of the Hooded Crows and the Choughs. The next group SOME REMARKS ON THE COLLECTION. 2/ I take are rather a miscellaneous lot : Grey Lag and Bean Goose, White-Fronted Geese, Herring, Common, and Lesser Black-Backed Gulls, Oyster Catcher, Curlew, Godwits, Skua, and Rock Pigeon. The Grey Lag and Bean Goose are supposed to be in the foregfround of some sea loch ; the White- Fronted Geese in a valley, with heath-clad mountains and boggy land below ; the Gulls amongst rocks near the sea ; the Oyster Catchers on the shores of an estuary — one pair with nesting site and eggs, the other with the young birds ; the Curlews on a sandy shore, with a receding tide on a summer's evening ; the Godwits, Knots, and Lapwings on an imaginary sea loch ; the Rock Pigeons on a cliff; but this, I admit, is hardly true to nature, for the mounting ought to have been a sea cavern. The next group — Grouse, Pheasants, Partridge, and Woodcock- needs very little explanation ; all I have to say about them is that the surroundings are as faithful to nature as the limited compass of each case will admit of. The Woodcock and Snipe case is a very favourite one of mine, and the treatment is quite self-evident. There are a few other birds to which I will briefly allude. The Bittern has been placed in surroundinofs almost identical with those in which it was found. The Heron near a loch, by the side of a waterfall, is quite natural to the species. The Water- Ouzel and Kingfisher are both placed in surround- ings in exact accordance with their favourite haunts. The sea cliff of red sandstone showing ledges with small shells and seaweed at its base is an C2 28 SOME REMARKS ON THE COLLECTION. excellent mounting for the little sea birds introduced ; this same remark applies to the case containing the Swallow, House and Sand Martin, etc. I will make one more allusion to the cases for the Spotted and Pied Fly Catchers and Grey Wagtails. These have been copied as nearly as possible from the actual position. In my concluding remarks on this collection, I think it only fair to mention the names of those taxidermists who have had the principal share in it. To Mr. Cecil Bisshopp, of Oban, belongs the credit of all the earlier part. Many of his cases have back scene paintings by a clever artist, which are made to accord with the mountings in the foreground, thus very materially enhancing theirgeneral artistic appear- ance. To select some of these, I take the Sheld- Duck, Merganser, Pintail, Brent Goose, Kittiwake, Common Cormorant, Razor Bill, Puffin, Woodcock, Kestrel Hawk, Heron, Black Throated Diver, and Hooded Crow. Mr. Pickin, of Manchester, who has confined him- self principally to small birds, has done some nice work in the way of stuffing. As an illustration of one of his cases, I will mention that of little sea birds on a red sandstone cliff. I have already borne testimony to Mr. Charles Thorpe, of East Croydon, for the very artistic cases he has turned out for me, notably the Tiger. Next to that the Water-Ouzel and Kingfisher cases. It now only remains for me to mention the name of Mr. W. R. Hine, of South- port. In the following cases, viz. : — The Eagle, SOME REMARKS ON THE COLLECTION. 29 Peregrine Falcons, Buzzards, Coots, and Moorhens, the credit of making them what they now are entirely belongs to him. They were not his work in the first instance it is true— the back scenes not being his — but they have been so altered and im- proved as to be very different to what they origin- ally were. In all of them, with the exception of the young birds, the work involved relaxing of the skins and re-stuffing. In addition to this the cases have been much enlarged in breadth, the mountings very much improved in regard to character of rock-work and general detail, and in one or two instances entirely altered. Again, much credit is due to Mr. W. R. Hine for the improvements made in the Sparrow Hawk, Great Northern Diver, and Part- ridge cases, all three having been very much enlarged. This relaxing, re-stuffing, and bringing the attitude of the several species more into conformity with what is natural to them has been no easy task, and Mr. W. R. Hine has earned my best thanks for what he has done. Besides these, there are a fair number of cases of Mr. Hine's own work, which are very satisfactory. I therefore con- fidently recommend to the Urban District Council of Waterloo his appointment as taxidermist to their Museum, knowing that in him they get a first- class man, who lives only a few miles away from Waterloo, and an artist who will give every satisfaction. I cannot more fitly conclude these remarks than by stating my reasons for presenting to the town of 30 SOME REMARKS ON THE COLLECTION. Waterloo what I now consider to be a valuable collection of ornithological specimens. Well, I think it was mainly because I had more associations with the town than with any other in England, my mother and brother having resided in the place for a good many years, and a married sister at Blundellsands ; that since my retirement from the Service in 1886 I had practically made it my headquarters, so to speak, when not away on some sporting expedition, and consequently that, not only on the ground of family ties, but on social con- nections as well, I came to the conclusion I could not make the offer to any town more deserving of my consideration. In making the offer I stipulated for a well-built, properly-lighted Museum Room, and suitable fittings for the several cases, all of which conditions, I must frankly confess, the Urban District Council of Waterloo have carried out to my entire satisfaction. It only remains for me to add that my object in offering this collection as a free gift to a public institution was, that all the labour and expense that has been expended on it might not be thrown away, but that the Museum Room might prove a valuable adjunct to the Carnegie Library, and not only serve a useful purpose from an educational point of view, but also afford to all those who are fond of ornithology an opportunity of whiling away an hour or so very pleasantly. MY FIRST TIGER, It's only a short story. In the hot weather months of the year 1866, I — being 21 years of age at the time — was working in the Guzerat Revenue Survey in a district called the Punch Mahals, which lies some 200 miles north of Bombay. Godra was the principal town, and there all the civil authorities in the judicial, revenue, and police departments resided. In those days there was no railway in that part of the Bombay Presidency, and as there were splendid teak wood jungles all round, it was a noted place for good tiger shooting. So far as my memory serves me — for it's a long time to look back to without any notes — it was at Godhra that I first met Major Bonnor, who was Superintendent of the Police of that District. The Major was an A i sportsman and a first class rifle shot, and had, I believe, bagged a fair number of tigers in his day. Seeing that I myself, though only a youngster, was anxious to be initiated into the sport of " big game shooting," he very kindly asked me to join his camp for a few days in the month of May on the chance of getting a shot at a tiger. Needless to say, I found my way over from my camp to his without much delay after getting the invitation. There were four of us in our party — Major Bonnor and a young brother of his (a lieutenant in the Royal Artillery), Colonel Walker, R.A., and 32 MY FIRST TIGER. myself. Very soon after I had joined the Major's camp his shikaree brought in news of a tiger, tigress, and one or two cubs — a family, in fact — on a hill, surrounded by dense teak wood jungle a few miles from our camp. Arrangements were then made for an army of beaters with tom-toms (native drums) and antiquated guns to shoot blank ammunition, etc., etc. A few native policemen also accompanied us to superintend the beat. When all was in readiness we mounted our steeds, and rode off to the hill where the tigers had been located, and after the Major had decided upon his plan of campaign, and assigned to each one of the guns the positions they were to take up, the beat began. The guns were formed in a sort of semi-circle at the base of the hill, Colonel Walker being on the extreme right, I next to him, young Bonnor next to me, and the Major on the extreme left. I was in a tree some 12 feet from the ground, with about three yards in front of me pretty clear, beyond that dense jungle. On my right there was a small clear space ; on my left I think was jungle. The beat had now begun, and my excitement as a boy can better be imagined than expressed. On came the yells of the natives with the beating of the drums, and occasional discharges of blank ammuni- tion. At last one of the tigers broke cover with two or three ominous roars, followed by a perfect yell of excitement from the natives. Bang ! bang ! from Colonel Walker on my right. Then I could Tiger coming through Jungle. MY FIRST TIGER. 33 distinctly hear the crashing of the tiger through the jungle coming straight on to my position. The sound came nearer ! nearer ! My rifle was already up to my shoulder, when I saw a great head just emerging from the cover into the open space in front. Bang ! from my right barrel at his bullet head ; bang ! with the left in quick succession as he passed under my position. No result ; the tiger went on as if untouched. " Strangre ! I thought I was on him, too !" such was my mental reflection. We then assembled again to discuss matters, and I was freely chaffed by the Major for missing. Whilst we were talking a native came up with a report that there was a " Bagh " or tiger 500 yards off. I said at once, " I don't believe that that is any other tiger than the one that passed me," adding in a rather superior manner, ''and I believe I've wounded him, too." My hopes now began to run high. The Major was inclined to agree with what I said, and consequently decided that we should follow him up before trying to get the other tiger, which had remained behind with the cubs on the hill, so, with the native leading the way, we all followed together in close formation, our second gun bearers being immediately behind us ready for any emer- gency. When we got to within about 1 50 yards of the place where the tiger lay concealed in the forest there were one or two terrific roars, the depth and volume of these notes seemed to impress me with the idea that, if this grand beast got in amongst a crowd, he wouldn't be lonof before he made short 34 MY FIRST TIGER. work of them. The animal's keen sense of hearing too struck me very forcibly ; as long as we stood still and didn't venture to take another step he remained quiet, but the slightest movement forward, even touching the ground lightly with only the toe, was enough to make him roar again, telling us plainly : " Thus far shall you come but not an inch farther." We all knew now that the tiger must be wounded, and the Major — under whose command we were — feeling the responsibility he had with inexperienced guns, decided upon taking up new positions, and trying to beat Master Stripes out of the place where he lay by means of blank ammunition and drums — - the beaters being instructed to keep at a distance and to scale up trees in case of necessity. I had not been long placed in my position before there appeared to be great excitement amongst the natives, and on my inquiring of my second gun bearer as to what it all meant, he replied that the beaters said the tiger was so badly wounded that he could not get up. The Major then ordered us all up to where he was, and we four, with rifles cocked and gun bearers behind, walked up to where this grand old tiger was ; he was paralysed, but had plenty of life in him. He had a splendid flowing beard beneath his head, and looked every inch of what he was — the Monarch of the Forest. Major Bonnor then said, " I think it is my turn to have a shot," and gave him his coup-de-grdce. On first examination of the skin Colonel Walker imagined on seeing a bullet hole between the tiger's hind legs MY FIRST TIGER. 35 that it was his. I said, " Wait a bit, turn him over and see where the other bullet hole is." This was found to be in his neck at the back of his head, so I at once said, " I don't quite see how you. Colonel, firing a broadside shot at eighty yards distance could have managed to hit the tiger at the back of his head for the bullet to make its exit between the hind legs, whereas I, who was immediately above the animal as he passed, could have hit him in no other way." The Major at once conceded that it was my tiger and that there could be no doubt about it, and I felt very proud. It was too late that day to do any more beating, so the trophy was carried back to camp in triumph by some ten or twelve natives — for it took that number to carry him— and then a war dance was executed round the animal in the evening. In my introduction to this Handbook I mention having- had to face a wounded tio^er. This was on another occasion not many miles from these same jungles when, with a civil engineer friend, I followed up a wounded tigress, tracking her by her blood for half a mile throuQfh dense forest with high ^rass through which we had to cut our way till we came suddenly on her. My friend was the first to see her as she was in the act of charging ; his firing a shot turned her from the direct line on us to one at right angles, when we pegged into her at about twenty- five yards off as fast as we could. In her mad course she jumped up at a tree, put her fore legs round it and clawed and bit it ; whilst in this 36 MY FIRST TIGER. position I gave her one behind the shoulder which dropped her. We then re-loaded, walked up to her with rifles at full cock, threw something at her to see if she was quite dead — this being a necessary- precaution, as they sham sometimes. In the present instance she was dead. On examining her skin we found she had received one or two fatal bullets. My best bag in tiger shooting was when with a friend, Captain McRae, and another civilian ; we had a tigress and three full-o^rown cubs marked down. My luck was in that day ; killing the tigress galloping through a bamboo jungle with one shot — a bullet behind the ear — and bowling over two out of the three cubs afterwards. In conclusion, I wish to congratulate and pay a tribute of praise to Mr. Charles Thorpe, Naturalist, East Croydon, for the very clever manner in which he has turned out of an old mounted tiger rug which had been in my family for about forty years, and which had been rather roughly used, the very realistic head and shoulders of the animal you see in the case. The skull is the actual one belonging to my first tiger — you therefore see part of the animal as near as it can be made, but, of course, a good deal of the brilliant marking of the head is gone, and the beard has been lost. Still, however, a fair remnant has been left. Mr. Thorpe has had a hard task to perform, has succeeded admirably, and earned my gratitude and thanks for preserving to me in a very pleasing manner the first and very best trophy of my life. CATALOGUE OF BIRDS. CASE h THE SHAG OR GREEN CORMORANT, THE BRIDLED AND BLACK GUILLEMOT. The Shag. Order, Steganopodes. Family, PelecanidcE, The Shag, also called the Green or Crested Cormorant, is fairly abundant in suitable localities. It is essentially a marine species, and unlike, there- fore, the Great Cormorant in that particular respect. "Its favourite haunts being rugged coasts honey- combed with caves, or islands margined with fallen rocks and large boulders, amongst which it often makes its nest." (H.S.) Localities such as the above abound on the western coast and islands of Scotland, on the western and southern coasts of Ireland, and also, though in a minor degree perhaps, on the western coasts of England and Wales. My own observation of and contact with these birds has been more in the western islands of Scotland than any other part of the British Islands. In suitable weather, I have often sailed down the rocky coasts of the islands of Mull, and there I used to see these birds sitting on all the jagged points of the cliffs, and emerging out of deep 38 CATALOGUE OF BIRDS. caverns that abound in that storm and weather- beaten coast line of the Atlantic. They were literally in hundreds, all busy in their breeding occupations, either hatching or attending to their young. The specimens in the case were, however, not obtained there, but in the year 1891 at the same time as the Eiders. I was out one day as usual in my sailing boat when I came across some of these birds, in beautiful plumage, as you see them in the case. This is quite worth careful notice, for you will then perceive how satin-like in smoothness are the feathers, also the distinct bronze and purple reflections of colour according as the light strikes them. Well, as my boat approached, these Cormorants left the open sea, and retreated into a sort of channel between some high rocks that formed part of a rather ruo;o-ed lookino' sort of an island. I followed after them into this somewhat dangerous passage — for the farther I went the more did I become aware of the suction of a strong current ; however I managed to secure my birds without any mishap. It seemed to me as if I were being impelled towards some mysterious cavern that lay underneath that island, and I was not particularly sorry when I got out of what I felt to be an awkward predicament. The nest in May is " formed of seaweed and grass, matted and plastered together and emitting a horribly fetid smell, is often placed in cliffs or amongst fallen rocks and large boulders ; but frequently it is on a ledge near the roof of a cave, CATALOGUE OP^ BIRDS. 39 and so far in that the sitting bird can scarcely be discerned amidst the gloom and spray mist " (H.S.). The eggs are like those of the Great Cormorant, though smaller and rough : pale greenish- blue in colour, which shows through a chalky incrustation : number usually three, but four are often found. Food : sea fish, for which it dives, and when necessary the bird uses its wings as well as its feet to propel itself through the water. The Bridled Guillemot. Order, Pygopodes. Family, Alcidce. As this bird is merely a variety, it does not appear to be necessary to treat it under any other heading than that of the Common Guillemot, from which it is distinguished by the larger white ring round the eye and the white line running backwards behind it. The specimen in the case was obtained in the year 1 89 1 when staying at the Castlebay Hotel in the Island of Barra ; the bird was shot from a sailing boat, I am afraid I have nothing very exciting to record in connection with that particular shot, as the bird being fairly confiding, the whole matter was easy enough, but although I have nothing particular to say in regard to my annexing the specimen for my collection, I have something to say about the species itself To begin with, the Guillemot is a member of the Auk family. I don't suppose there 40 CATALOGUE OF BIRDS. are many visitors to this Museum who have not heard something about the extinction of the Great Auk, and that the market value of the egg of that bird in the present day is about ;!^300 ; as for the bird itself it would not be far off the mark to set the value at /^6oo to £^00. Well, there is no fear, I think, of this particular Auk becoming extinct. Anyone who has been a traveller in the steamers that ply between the main land of Scotland and the western islands that lie out in the Atlantic will on a fine spring morning, when the sea is like glass, have noticed hundreds of Guillemots swimming along, and diving quickly down as soon as the steamer got within 50 or 60 yards of them. You will see them in early spring, but after that they are only to be found in their breeding-haunts, where they all congregate together in large colonies for breeding purposes. There are many such places amongst the western islands of Scotland, parts of the west and south coasts of Ireland, and the east coast of England. Flamborough Head is a noted place, and in connection with this particular locality I append a short extract from Mr. W. H. Hudson's book : "Of all the birds that breed in communities they are the most social, or. at all events, crowd closest together. Where they breed on the side of the cliff, as at Flamborough, they may be seen stand- ing in close rows and groups on every ledge or jutting rock large enough to afford them a footing." The same author further on remarks : "The single egg of the Guillemot is deposited on the CATALOGUE OF BIRDS. 4 1 naked rock, without any nest, often dangerously- near the edge. The sitting birds when leaving the rock are very careful to push the eggs from under them ; but when startled suddenly, as by the report of a gun fired from a ship or boat for the amusement of cockney excursionists, the eggs may be thrown off the ledge, and in some instances have been seen to fall in a shower down the cliff side. The Guillemot lays a handsome pear-shaped egg, very large for the size of the bird. No bird lays eggs so various in colour ; so greatly do they vary that two eggs cannot be found quite alike even amongst hundreds. The ground-colour in different specimens is white, cream, stone-colour, pale blue, reddish, and many shades of green, from a strong bright green to olive- green. The egg is spotted or blotched with brown, black, deep red, and grey. The Guillemot when incubating does not lie on its egg like most birds, but stands with the egg between its legs, which are placed very far back, as in all Auks, Divers, and Grebes." The Black Guillemot. This bird is dealt with on page 193, Case ^S, being devoted to the species. 42 CATALOGUE OF BIRDS. CASE 2. THE CURLEW. Order, LimicolcE. Family, Scolopacidcr. This species, probably familiar to most of us, is very widely and plentifully distributed over our islands in localities suitable to its requirements. Those are estuaries of the sea, marshy lands, mud- flats, creeks, and sand-banks from which the tide has ebbed and left uncovered seaweedy rocks. In spring the Curlew goes a considerable distance inland to breed, choosing wild moorland tracts and hills. The nest, according to Seebohm, " is on the flat and boggy parts of the moor, and not unfrequently placed amongst reeds or rushes." No doubt, too, the nesting -place is often in heather. I know that, although it is not supposed to be a concealed nest, it is an uncommonly hard one to find, as the parents are so artful in putting you off the spot. There are generally four large eggs, in shape like a pear — ground-colour, shades of olive-green to buff, blotched with brown, with underlying markings of purplish-grey. Now in regard to this bird's call -notes, for it can hardly be said to be gifted with a song, to me they are most fascinating, especially when they are breeding on the moors. Many a time have I stopped to listen to them ; I don't know any bird with such flute-like notes, or one possessed of so plaintive CATALOGUE OF BIRDS. 43 a cry. I have also often listened to the sweet gurgling trill of the Curlew's call on summer nights. The above is one side of the picture, i.e., court- ship, love, sentiment ; but take the other, when the Curlew intends to alarm every other winged species within a mile or so of an impending danger, then his call-note is harsh and shrill. I don't fancy there is any bird on our British list that troubles himself so much in watching and jealously guarding the safety and welfare of all his friends and com- panions. Be the species what it may, it doesn't matter. I know that when any Curlews are about it is hardly any use trying to stalk anything ; the bird seems to take a delight in spoiling your shot for you. The following instance of the Curlew's regard for the welfare of others is recorded by Howard Saunders in the fourth edition of Yarrell's " British Birds" : " The Editor has seen a Curlew, after shrieking wildly over the head of a sleeping seal, swoop down and apparently flick with its wings the unsuspecting animal, upon which the stalker was just raising his rifle." As soon as the breeding-season is over, I think Curlews are fond of the fields not far away from the coast ; they are quite partial to stubble and turnip fields. The specimens in the case were obtained in some fields not far from the shores of the Atlantic, and five or six miles out of Castle Gregory. I was out one day with young McCartie, mentioned in my particulars of D2 44 CATALOGUE OF BIRDS. the Brent Goose Case. I think I had been out to see a ship that had just been wrecked, and driving back saw a flock of Curlews feeding in some fields. As their position was decidedly a weak one, I thought I could manage to surprise them, and I did, getting a right and a left as they rose on the wing. In regard to the habitat of this species abroad, Howard Saunders says : " It breeds more or less plentifully in Scandinavia, Russia, Poland, North Germany, Denmark, Holland, and Flanders, as well as on some of the wastes of Brittany. Gatke has described the immense flights which cross Heligoland on migration ; and throughout Central and Southern Europe this species is well known on passage, ranging as far west as the Azores. It winters in Africa from the Mediterranean to Damara Land and Natal, and visits Madagascar." CASE 3. RICHARDSON'S SKUA. Order ^ Gavi Q o c b fj