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TUE ZOOLOGIST: . 


A MONTHLY JOURNAL 


OF 


NATURAL HISTORY. 


FOURTH SEHERIES.—VOL. XI. 


EDITED BY 


a DIST ANG 


LONDON: 


WEST, NEWMAN & CO., 54, HATTON GARDEN. 
SIMPKIN, MARSHALL & CO., Lrp. 


1907. 
A14A428 


PREFACE. 


Tue year 1907 will be remembered by British ornithologists ; 
it has marked the passing of two great authorities—Professor 
Newton and Mr. Howard Saunders. It is also a year in which 
a number of county bird volumes have appeared. We have been 
able to draw attention in these pages to Mr. Patten’s ‘ Aquatic 
Birds of Great Britain and Ireland,’ Mr. Whitaker’s ‘Notes on 
the Birds of Nottinghamshire,’ Mr. Davis’s ‘Birds of Kent,’ 
Mr. Nelson’s ‘ Birds of Yorkshire,’ and Mr. Haines’s ‘ Birds 
of Rutland.’ Our ‘‘ Notes and Queries” are still recognized as 
the storehouse for records on British Birds; while annual 
reports for Norfolk, Oxfordshire, and Surrey have received ample 


and able treatment. 


Mammalia have not received quite so much attention as 
usual. The recent completion of Mr. Millais’s great work may 
have probably, for the time, induced more reading than writing 


on the subject. 


Pisces have been the subject of some excellent work in 
this volume. Prof. MecIntosh’s ‘“‘ Scientific Work in the Sea- 
Fisheries” is of national importance. Prof. Clark has com- 
menced a valuable ‘‘ Annotated List of Cornish Fishes,’ while 
other writers have given yearly records for their counties. 


The Insecta have not been neglected. Two points of great 
biological interest have been described in Mr. Gahan’s note 
on a ‘“ Luminous Insect from Brazil,’ and in Mr. Shelford’s 
paper on ‘‘ Aquatic Cockroaches.” Hconomic entomology might 


1V PREFACE. 


well assume a larger feature of our pages. The ravages of 
insects on crops and flowers are always problems to the farmer 
and horticulturist, and we greatly want a Miss Ormerod among 
our contributors. 


A general interest in British Zoology has been maintained, 
from Mammals to Isopods; and ‘THE Zoonoaist’ may still be 
expected to fulfil its mission in authority, in the vanguard of. 
bionomical record, and as the journal for the field naturalist. 
In the years to come it will probably inherit its full zoological 
status, and then include in its purview Anthropology and 
Paleontology. 


CONTENTS. 


— 


ALPHABETICAL LIST 


AINSLIE, DouGLas 
Little Owl in Bedfordshire, 353 
ALEXANDER, C. J. 
' Winter notes from Wye, 
1906-7, 197 
ALEXANDER, H. G. 
Late appearance of Bramblings in 
Sussex, 236 
Merine OF Vig Hedico. ME. On. 
Dunlin in Northamptonshire, 72; 
Great Northern Diver in Glou- 
cestershire, 72; Notes on the 
Ornithology of Oxfordshire,1905- 
1906, 321 
ARNOLD, FRANK A. 
Carnivorous propensities of a Slug, 
309 
Bankes, Hustace R. 
The Mole-Cricket in Dorset, 34 
Beprorp, Mary DucHESS OF 
Status of Grey Wagtail, 194; Arti- 
ficial additions to the British 
fauna, 238 
BrEston, Harry 
Observations of an attempt of the 
Swallow tribe to winter in South 
Hants during 1906-7, 227, 267, 
303; Extended breeding range 
of the Marsh-Warbler into 
Hampshire, 446 
Benson, Rev. Cuarues W., LL.D. 
Swiss birds in July, 1906, 113 
BentTHAM, C. H. 
Ring-Ouzelin Surrey, 30 
Bone, H. Perers 
Westward movement of birds dur- 
ing snow, 112 
Booru, Harry B. 
Is the Black-headed Gull an ege- 
thief ?, 432 
Bunyarp, Percy F. 


Kent, 


Nesting of the Lesser Redpoll in | 


Kent, 383; Nesting of the Lesser 
Tern in the Outer Hebrides, 
386 


OF CONTRIBUTORS. 
BUTTERFIELD, EK. P. 

Bird-notes from the Wilsden dis- 
trict, 855; Food of the Black- 
headed Gull, 387 

Buxton, P. A. 

Whiskered Bat in Somerset, 1938 ; 
Spread of the Little Owl in 
Herts, 480 

CAMBRIDGE, Rev. O. PickarpD- 

White variety of Nightjar, 307 

CAMPBELL, ARCHIBALD 
Mus musculus var. M. nudo-pli- 
catus, 1 
CHAMBERLAIN, CHAMPION LE 
Badger near Cheltenham, 274 
Cuark, JAMES, M.A., D.Sc. A.R.C.S. 

Recent occurrences of rare birds 
in Cornwall, 281; An annotated 
list of Cornish Fishes, 415. 453 

CLEAVE, H. P. O. 
Osprey near Plymouth, and other 
notes, 236 
Cocks, ALFRED HENnEAGE, M.A., 
F.S.A., F.Z.S., M.B.0.U. 
Stoat and Ferret hybrids, 27 
Corsin, G. B. 

Otters in the Hampshire Avon, 
30; Hybrid Pheasant, 32; The 
Dartford Warbler in Hants, 193 ; 
Hen-Harrier in South-western 
Hants, 195; Winter notes from 
Ringwood, Hants, 196; Large 
Helin the Hampshire Avon, 357; 
An albino Rook, 883; Variety of 
Coot’s eggs and others, 385 

CROASDAILE, ANNA 

Movements of birds in time of 

snow, 153 
Cummines, Bruce F. 

The occurrence of the Glossy Ibis 
and Long-tailed Duck in North 
Devon, with other ornithological 
notes, 21; Some fish-notes from 
the North Devon coast, 140; 
Notes on the habits of the 


b 


V1 CONTENTS. 
Greater Horseshoe Bat, 288; | Ganan, C.J. 
Notes on Terrestrial Isopods A remarkable luminous insect from 


from North Devon, 465 
DALGLIEsH, GORDON 

Some common Indian birds, 146, 
188; Yellow-necked Mouse at 
Witley, 151; Bibliographical 
query, 198; Carnivorous pro- 
pensities of a Slug, 277; Field- 
notes on some of the smaller 
British Mammalia, 299 

DeEwar, J. M. 
Arctic Redpoll in Midlothian, 31 
Distant, W. L. 

Obituary notice of Dr. J. W. Stroud, 
120; of Frederic Moore, 239; 
of Professor Charles Stewart, 
890; Biological Suggestions— 
Extermination in Animal Life, 
Part II., by Human Agency, 401 

Dresser, H. E., F.L.S., F.Z.S. 
Obituary notice of Professor A. 
Newton, M.A., F.R.S., 272 
Dunuop, Eric B. 
Notes on Kerry bird-life, 157 
Dyes, B. 

Smew and Mergansers at Yar- 
mouth, 111; Birds killed by 
telegraph-wires near Yarmouth, 
237; Richard’s Pipit at Yar- 
mouth, 428 

Epwarps, L. A. Curtis 

Westward movement of birds dur- 

ing snow, 112 
Ewuiort, J. STEELE 

Iceland Gulls in Donegal, 74; 
Cirl-Bunting in Hertfordshire, 
195; Brambling in Bedford- 
shire, 195; Little Owl in Bed- 
fordshire, 384 

ELuIson, Rey. ALLAN, 
M.B.O.U. 

Little Owl breeding 

shire, 430 
FLemMyNnG, Rey. WiLLiAm W., M.A. 

Hawfinch at Ballinasloe, Co. Gal- 

way, 70 
Forrest, H. EH. 


M.A., 


in Hertford- 


Honey-Buzzard in Montgomery- | 


shire, 32; Mediterranean Black- 
headed Gull in Cornwall, un- 
recorded examples, 33; Sea- 
Lamprey at Shrewsbury, 33; 
Fauna of North Wales, 116; 
Variety of Badger, 382 
Foster, NEvIN H. 
Status of Grey Wagtail, 194 


Brazil, 277 
GRAVES, FRANK S. 
The Seaup-Duck in Cheshire, 274; 
The Shoveler in Cheshire, 275 
Gurney, J. H., F.L.S., F.Z.S. 
Ornithological report for Norfolk 
(1906), 121 


_GYNGELL, W. 


Status of the Grey Wagtail in 

Yorkshire, 428 
Hart, H.C. 

White-sided Dolphin at Fanet, Co. 

Donegal, 3852 
Harvey, P. W. 

Peculiar nesting-site for the Wheat- 

ear on the Sussex coast, 69 
Harvir-Brown, J. A., F.R.S.E., 

PLEAS 

Marked birds, 116; Species, sub- 
species, &c., 143; Curious eggs 
of the Blackbird, 151; Nesting 
of the Lesser Tern in the Outer 
Hebrides, 482 

Hay, HK. F. A. 

Birds observed at Grindelwald, 
Switzerland, 73; Notes on some 
Welsh birds in 1995 and 1906, 
154 

HEpBuRN, THOMAS 
The birds of North Kent, 41 
Hote, 8. 
Status of the Grey Wagtail, 382 
Houuis, KpwINn 

Notes on the occurrence of Lesser 
Horseshoe Bat in Devonshire, 
110 

JOURDAIN, Rey. Francis C. R., M.A., 
M.B.O.U. 

Supposed breeding of the Rough- 
legged Buzzard in Cornwall, 
354; Little Auk in Derbyshire, 
388 


| Joy, Norman H. 


Westward movement of birds dur- 

ing snow, 154 
Kane, W. F. pe Vismess, F'.E.S., 
M.R.I.A. 

An apparent instance of the here- 
ditary transmission of a muti- 
lation in the Domestic Cat, 27 

Linton, Rev. HE. F. 
Great Grey Shrike in Dorset, 70 
Lopes, R. B. 

Experiences with Hagles and Vul- 

tures in Albania, 441 


CONTENTS. 


Macxerru, T. THornton 

Harly nest of the Dipper, 151; | 
Dipper’s nest with two clutches 
of eges, 235 

Marries, Stuart 
Little Owl in Hertfordshire, 353 
MASEFIELD, Joun R. B. 

Short-eared Owl in Staffordshire, 

31; Chelifer cancroides, 435 
McCtiymont, J. R. 

Provincial names and resorts of 
certain birds in the South of 
Scotland, 12; The geographical 
distribution of land-birds of the 
Banda Islands, 347 

McIntosH, Professor, M.D., LL.D., 
F.R.SS. L. & EB. 

Scientific work in the sea-fisheries, 
201, 247 ; Ichthyology in Japan, 
450 

' Meyrick, Lieut.-Col. H. 

Common Seal on the coast of Som- 

erset, 30 
Morris, Rospert 

Westward movement of birds 
during snow, 74; Nesting of 
the Lesser Redpoll in Sussex, 
352 

Movrirz, L. B. 
Ornithological observations in Sur- 
rey (1906), 92 
Murray, JAMES 
The encystment of Macrobiotus, 4 
MusskEt-Wuite, D. W. 
Eggs of Red-backed Shrike, 429 
Neztson, T. H. 

The first recorded British example 
of the White-spotted Bluethroat, 
498 

NEwstTEApD, A. 

Eared Grebe in Cheshire, 

Ruff near Chester, 386 
OGILVIE-GRANT, W. R. 

Obituary notice of Mr. H. Saun- 
Glos, Tallis InAs, JOB erishn | 
436 

OLDHAM, CHARLES 

Gadwall in Shropshire, 32; Smew 
in Cheshire, 71; Tree-Sparrow 
in Denbighshire, 235; Rough- 
legged Buzzard in Cheshire, 
236; Sanderling in Cheshire, 
237; Daubenton’s Bat in Hert- 
fordshire, 382 


1538; 


Parker, T. C. 
Curlews carrying their young, 
152 


vil 


| Parkin, THOMAS 


Occurrence of the Sardinian Warb- 

ler in Sussex, 274 
Parkin, W. H. 

Is the Grey Wagtail decreasing in 

number ?, 151 
Patterson, ARTHUR H., A.M.B.A. 

Albinic Mus rattus, 69; Birds and 
the great snow, 81; Four-horned 
Cottus at Yarmouth, 116; Non- 
breeding birds, 275; Tailless 
Sole, 276; Some holiday notes 
from Breydon, 361; Fulmar on 
the Suffolk coast, 888; Pere- 
erine and Greenshank, 431; Po- 
matorhine Skua at Yarmouth, 
434; Some fish-notes from Yar- 
mouth for 1907, 460 

PEarRsE, THEED 

Westward movement of birds dur- 

ing snow, 113 
Rare, P. G. 

Common Buzzard on the Calf of 
Man, 308; Notes on Manx sea- 
birds, 309 

Rensuaw, GrauamM, M.B., F.Z.S. 

The Californian Condor, 295 

Rosinson, H. W. 

Early nesting of the Green Cor- 
morant, 431; Flock of the Glossy 
Ibis in Orkney, 431 

Ropg, G. T. 

Habits and development of the 
young of the Spotted Sala- 
mander, 16 

RussELL, FLORA 
Fieldfare and Redwingsin London, 
111 
RussELL, HaRoLpD 
Water-Tortoises in England, 238 
SreLous, EDMUND 

Observations tending to throw light 
on the question of sexual selec- 
tion in birds, including a day-to- 
day diary on the breeding habits 
of the Ruff, 60, 161, 867 ; Sexual 
selection, 237 

SHELFORD, R., M.A., F.L.S. 

Aquatie Cockroaches in Borneo, 

221 
SouTHWELL, THomas, F.Z.S. 

Notes on the Arctic Whaling Voy- 

age of 1906, 66 
Stewart, CHARLES M.D. 
The Ndhlondhlo, 1838 
Tooaoop, Rev. CLIFFORD 

Notes from Sussex, 198 


vill 


Tuck, Rev. Junttan G., M.A. 

Bitterns in Suffolk, 71; Notes on 
the Cuckoo, 236; Mus flavicollis 
in Suffolk, 807; Notes on nest- 
boxes, 3808; Plumage of the 
young Cuckoo, 3538; Sandwich 
Tern in Norfolk, 886 

UssHER, R. J. 

Movements of birds in time of 

snow, 33, 155 
Watton, J. 8. T. 

Chaftinches, Greenfinches, and Yel- 
lowhammers in Northumber- 
land, 31; Clocking-hen and 
young Partridge, 308 

WARREN, RoBERT 

Is the Weasel a native of Ireland ?, 
29; Some rare visitors to Bar- 
tragh Island, Killala Bay, 72; 
Spring arrivals of Sandwich 
Terns in Killala Bay, 195; Dol- 
phin in Moy Estuary, Kallala 
Bay, 235; Breeding of Tree- 
Sparrows and Dunlins in Co. 
Mayo, 344 


CONTENTS. 


| Warrrs, ALBERT H., B.A. 


The mammals of South Cambridge- 
shire, 241; The birds of South 
Cambridgeshire, 339 

WHITAKER, J. 

Melanie Short-tailed Vole, 382; 

White Ringed Plover, 387 
Wayte, G. A. 

Chelifer cancroides in Manchester, 

388 
WI.Luiams, W. J. 

Sabine’s Snipe in Ireland, 71; 
Scops Eared Owl in Ireland, 
354; Montagu’s Harrier in Ire- 
land, 354; Osprey in Ireland, 355 

WILSON, WILLIAM 
The Cuckoo near Aberdeen, 307 
Workman, W. H., M.B.O.U. 

Description of Wild Ducks’ down, 
107; Hared Grebe in Belfast 
Lough, 111 

WRIGHT, FRANK S. 

Peachia undata at Guernsey, 198 
Waricuat, W. C. 

Glaucous Gull in Co. Antrim, 153 


Nrw SPECIES DESCRIBED IN THIS VOLUME :— 


Macrobiotus dispar, Murray . 
Rhicnoda natatria, Shelford. : ; Shi 


CONTENTS. 


1X 


ALPHABETICAL LIST OF SUBJECTS. 


Acanthias vulgaris, 460 

Acantholabrus palloni, 420 

Accentor alpina, 115, 283 

Acipenser huso, 412; sturio, 142 

Acridotheres ginginianus, 148; tris- 
tis, 147 

Acrocephalus palustris, 98, 98, 128, 
446 ; turdoides, 132 

Aethiopsar fuscus, 148 

Agonus cataphractus, 421 

Aix sponsa, 407 

Albania, experiences with Eagles and 
Vultures in, 441 

Alopecias vulpes, 39, 142 

Anarrhichas lupus, 453 

Anas boseas, 45; strepera, 32 

Angler fish, 462 

Anguilla australis, 80; japonica, 452; 
senegalensis, 80 

Animal life, extermination in, 401 

‘Annals of Tropical Medicine and 
Parasitology,’ 117 

Anser albifrons, 159, 196; indicus, 198 

Anthus pratensis, 307 ; richardi, 428 

Aphia pellucida, 423 

Aporia crategi, 413 

Arachnechthra asiatica, 190; has- 
selti, 190; zeylonica, 190 

Archibuteo lagopus, 236 


Arctic Whaling Voyage of 1906, notes | 


on, 66 

Ardea cinerea, 113; greyi, 191; ral- 
loides, 192 

Arion ater, 809 

Armadillidium nasatum, 469, 470; 
pulchellum, 469; vulgare, 469 

Arnoglossus grohmanni, 458 ; laterna, 
458 

Arvicola amphibius, 246; arvalis, 
246; glareolus, 246 

Asio accipitrinus, 159 

Athene brama, 189; noctua, 189, 353, 
384, 430 

Atherina presbyter, 463 

Auk, Little, in Derbyshire, 388 

Auxis rochei, 425 

Avocet, 286 

Ayu, a popular Japanese fish, 451 


Badger, 244; near Cheltenham, 274 ; 
var., 382 


Balzenoptera borealis, 319 

Balistes capriscus, 459; maculatus, 
459 

Banda Islands, land-birds of, 347 

Barbet, Blue-faced, 188; Crimson- 
breasted, 150 

Bartragh Island, Killala Bay, some 
rare bird visitors to, 72 

Bat, Barbastelle, 299; Daubenton’s, 
in Hertfordshire, 882; Greater 
Horseshoe, habits, 288; Lesser 
Horseshoe, in Devonshire, 110; 
Long-eared, 243; Noctule, 243, 
299 ; Pipistrelle, 243 ; Whiskered, 
in Somerset, 193 

Bee-eater, 283 

Belone vulgaris, 142, 464 

Biological Suggestions—Extermina- 
tion in Animal Life, by Human 
Agency, 401 

Biology-teaching in schools, Mr. Os- 
wald H. Latter on, 316 

Bird-life, Kerry, notes on, 157; notes 
from Wilsden district, 355 

Birds, provincial names and re- 
sorts of certain, in South of Scot- 
land, 12; movements of, during 
snow, 88, 74, 81, 112, 113, 138, 
1538, 154, 196; of North Kent, 41; 
sexual selection in, 60, 161, 367; 
rare, at Bartragh Island, Killala 
Bay, 72; observedin Grindelwald, 
Switzerland, 73; Swiss, 113; 
marked, 116; migration of, in 
Norfolk, 121; killed by hghtning, 
124; some common Indian, 146, 
188; Welsh, notes on some, 154; 
killed by telegraph-wires, 237; non- 
breeding, 275; rare, in Cornwall, 
981; Land, of Banda Islands, 347; 
a ‘“‘happy family ”’ of, 366 

Birds and the great snow, 81 

Bittern in Suffolk, 71; American, 
285 

Blackbird, 12, 73, 114, 8340; a white, 
23; curious eggs of, 97, 98, 151 

Blackeap, 114, 3840 

Black-game, 74; in Surrey, 93 

Blennius galerita, 141, 458; gatto- 
rugine, 453 ; ocellaris, 453 ; pholis, 
453 


x : CONTENTS. 


Bluethroat, 122; White-spotted, first 

recorded British example of, 428 

Booxs NoricEp :— 

The Mammals of Great Britain 
and Ireland, by J. G. Millais, 
35 

The Aquatic Birds of Great Britain 
and Ireland, by Charles J. Pat- 
ten, 37 

The History of the Collections 
contained in the Natural His- 
tory Departments of the British 
Museum, vols. I. & II., 75 

Catalogue of the Noctuide in the 
Collection ofthe British Museum, 
by Sir George F. Hampson, 
Bart., 78 

A Synonyinic Catalogue of Ortho- 
ptera, by W. F. Kirby, vol. IL., 
Orthoptera Saltatoria (Achetide 
et Phasgonuride), 78 

A Synonymic Catalogue of Homo- 
ptera, by W.L. Distant, Part I., 
Cicadide, 79 

Butterflies of Hongkong and South- 
west China, by J. C. Kershaw, 
79 


The British Tunicata—an unfin- | 


ished Monograph by the late 
Joshua Alder and the late Albany 
Hancock, edited by John Hop- 
kinson, with lives of the Authors 
by Canon A. M. Norman and 
the late Dennis Embleton, 199 
The Letters to Gilbert White of 
Selborne from his intimate friend 
and contemporary the Rey. John 


Mulso, edited, with Notes and | 


an Introduction, by Rashleigh 
Holt-White, 199 

The Douglas English Nature Books 
—Part I. Some Smaller British 
Mammals, by Douglas English ; 
Part II. Photographs of Bird 
Life, by RK. B. Lodge, 200 

European Animals, their Geologi- 
cal History and Geographical 
Distribution, by R. F. Scharff, 
240 

The Sense of Touch in Mammals 
and Birds, with special reference 
to the Papillary Ridges, by Wal- 
ter Kidd, 278 

A Hunter’s Wanderings in Africa, 
being a Narrative of Nine Years 
spent amongst the Game of the 
Far Interior of South Africa, by 
F. C. Selous, 279 


The Insect Hunter’s Companion, 
by the Rev. Joseph Greene, fifth 
edition, revised and extended by 
A. B. Farn, 280 

Rambles of an Australian natura- 
list, written by Paul Fountain 
from the Notes and Journals of 
Thomas Ward, 310 

Notes on the Birds of Nottingham- 
shire, by J. Whitaker, 311 

The Birds of Kent, by William J. 
Davis, 359 

Birds Ihave Known, by Arthur H. 
Beavan, 859 

Fishes of Australia—a Popular and 
Systematic Guide to the Study 
of the Wealth within our Waters, 
by David G. Stead, 380 

Wild Life in Australia, by W. H. 
Dudley Le Souéf, 391, 440 

The Birds of Yorkshire, being a 
Historical Account of the Avi- 
fauna of the County, by T. H. 
Nelson, W. Eagle Clarke, and 
F. Boyes, 392 

Malaria, a Neglected Factor in the 
History of Greece and Rome, by 
W.H.S. Jones, with an Intro- 
duction by Major Rh. Ross, and a — 
concluding chapter by G. G. 
Ellett, 393 

Notes on the Birds of Rutland, by 
C. Reginald Haines, 439 

The Nervous System of Verte- 
brates, by J. B. Johnston, 4389 

A Bird Collector’s Medley, by H. 
C. Arnold, 471 

Wild Life on a Norfolk Estuary, 
by Arthur H. Patterson, 472 

Botaurus stellaris, 71 

Box vulgaris, 417 

Brama raii, 426 

Brambling, 112, 137, 329, 332; in 
Bedfordshire, 195 ; late appearance 
in Sussex, 236 

Brazil, remarkable luminous insect 
from, 277 

Breeding of Shoveler in Devon, 22 ; 
of Tree-Sparrow and Dunlin in 

Co. Mayo, 344; of Hobby in Crow’s 

nest, 835; of Little Owl in Hert- 

fordshire, 430 ; supposed, of Rough- 

legged Buzzard, in Cornwall, 354; 

habits of Ruff, 60, 161, 367; range 

of Marsh-Warbler extended into 

Hampshire, 446 

Breydon, some holiday notes from, 

361 


CONTENTS. XI 


Brill, var., 461 

British Association at 
(1907), 318 

Bueeros bicornis, 238 

Budoreas taxicolor, 319 

Buffalo Society of Natural Sciences, 
‘ Bulletin’ of, 118 

Bullfinch, 324, 326, 828, 339, 340 

Bullhead, Greenland, 462 

Bunting, Cirl-, in Hertfordshire, 195 ; 
Ortolan, 122; Reed, 15; Snow, 15; 
Yellow, 340 

Burchell, William John, lecture on, 
by Prof. Poulton, 118 

Buteo vulgaris, 308 

Buzzard, Common, in Calf of Man, 
308; Honey, 284,—in Montgomery- 
shire, 32; Rough-legged, 284, 337, 
—in Cheshire, 236,— supposed 
breeding in Cornwall, 284, 354 


Leicester 


Cage-bird traffic of United States, 
395 

Calidris arenaria, 237 

Callionymus lyra, 427, 461; macu- 
latus, 427 : 

Cambridge Museum, mammals in, 
318 ; 

Cambridgeshire (South), birds of, 
339 

Cancer pagurus, 412 

Cantharus lineatus, 417 

Capercailzie, 74 

Capros aper, 423 

Caranx trachurus, 426 

Carcharias glaucus, 141 

Carelophus ascanii, 453 

Carp, Japanese, 450 

Carpophaga concinna, 351 

Casuaris australis, 408 

Caterpillar, intelligent movements of 
a, 320 

Caterpillar-eater, Ké, 349 

Cat, Domestic, apparent instance of 
hereditary transmission of a muti- 
lation in, 27 

Cats, half-wild, in Cambridgeshire, 
245 

Centriscus scolopax, 424 

Centrolabrus exoletus, 420 

Centrolophus britannicus, 427 ; pom- 
pilus, 426 

Centronotus gunnellus, 453 

Cephalopoda, luminous organs in, 
Dr. W. E. Hoyle on, 313 

Cepola rubescens, 454 

Chaffinch, 12, 31, 339, 340, 346 

Chalcophaps chrysochlora, 351 


Chelifer cancroides in Manchester 
(fig.), 388, 435 
Chiffchaff, Siberian, in Scotland, 80 
Cinclus aquaticus, 151, 235 
Circus cineraceus, 195, 354; cyaneus, 
92, 159, 195 
Clangula glaucion, 94 
Clupanodon melanosticta, 450 
Coccothraustes vulgaris, 70 
Cockroaches, Aquatic, near Kuching, 
Borneo, 221 
Coluber longissimus (C. wsculapii), 
186 
Columba livia, 160; palumbus, 113 
Colymbus glacialis, 72, 160 
Condor, Californian, 295 
Congo Free State, insects and other 
Anthropoda collected in, 117 
Congrettus anago, 452 
Coot, 85, 361; eggs, var., 385 
Coracias indica, 190 
Coris julis, 420 
Cormorant, Green, early nesting of, 
431 
Cornwall, recent occurrences of rare 
birds in, 281 
Corvus corax, 
splendens, 146 
Cottus, Four-horned, at Yarmouth, 
116, 461 
Cottus bubalis, 420; gobio, 420; 
grenlandicus, 462; quadricornis, 
116, 461; scorpius, 420 
County REcorDs :— 
Bedfordshire—Birds during snow, 
113; Brambling, 195; Artificial 
additions to British fauna, 238 ; 
Little Owl, 358, 884 
Berkshire—Birds and snow, 154 
Cambridge — Mammals of, 241; 
Birds of, 389 
Cheshire—Smew, 71; EKared Grebe, 
153; Rough-legged Buzzard, 
236; Sanderling, 237; Scaup- 
Duck, 274; Shoveler, 275; Ruff, 
386 
Cornwall — Mediterranean Black- 
headed Gull, 83; Rare birds, 
281; Rough-legged Buzzard, 
854; Cornish Fishes, 415, 453 
Cumberland—Curlew, 152 
Derbyshire—Little Auk, 388 
Devonshire—-Glossy Ibis, 21; Long- 
tailed Duck, 21; Ornithological 
notes, 21; Shoveler, 22; Short- 
eared Owl, 23; Blackbird, 238 ; 
Sheld-Duck, 24; Greenshank, 
25; Lesser Horseshoe Bat, 110; 


159; cornix, 159; 


Xii 


Fish notes, 140; Osprey, &c., 
236; Greater Horseshoe Bat, 
288; Terrestrial Isopods, 465 

Dorset — Mole-Cricket, 84; Great 
Grey Shrike, 70; Nightjar, 
307 

Gloucestershire — Great Northern 
Diver, 72; Badger, 274 

Hampshire — Otters, 30; Hybrid 
Pheasant, 32; Dartford Warbler, 
198; Hen-Harrier, 195; Winter 
notes, 196; Swallow tribe in 

- winter, 227, 267, 303; Large Hel, 
357; Rook, 383; Coot, &ce. (eggs, 
vars.), 885; Marsh-Warbler, 
446 

Herefordshire—Domestic Cat, 27 

Hertfordshire—Cirl-Bunting, 195; 
Little Owl, 353, 430; Dauben- 
ton’s Bat, 382 

Kent -—— Birds of North Kent, 41; 
Winter notes, 197; Lesser Red- 
poll, 388 

Lancashire —Chelifer cancroides, 
388, 435 

Lincolnshire — Short-finned Tun- 
ny, 388, 435 

Middlesex—Stoat and Ferret hy- 
brids, 27; Fieldfare and Red- 
wing, 111 

Norfolk — Mus rattus, 69; Birds 
and snow, 81; Smew and Mer- 
ganser, 111; Four-horned Cottus, 
116, 460; Ornithological Report 
for 1906, 121; Rarities, 122); 


Birds killed by lightning, 124; | 


Marsh- Warbler, 128: Bird varie- 
ties, 189; Birds killed by tele- 
graph-wires, 237; Non-breeding 
birds, 275; Tailless Sole, 276; 
Notes from Breydon, 861; Sand- 
wich Tern, 386; Richard’s Pipit, 
428; Peregrine and Greenshank, 
431; Pomatorhine Skua, 434; 
Fish-notes, 460 

Northampton—Dunlin, 72 

Northwmberland—Chaffinch,Green- 
finch, Yellowhammer, 31; Clock- 
ing Hen and young Partridge, 
308 

Nottinghamshire — Short-tailed 
Vole, 382; Ringed Plover, 387 


Oxfordshire — Notes on Ornitho- | 


logy of, 321 
Shropshire — Gadwall, 32; Sea- 
Lamprey, 83; Badger, 882 
Somerset — Common Seal, 30; 
Whiskered Bat, 198 


CONTENTS. 


Staffordshire — Short-eared Owl, 
381; Chelifer cancroides, 485 

Suffolk — Bittern, 71; Cuckoo, 
936, 353; Mus flavicollis, 307; 
Nest-boxes, 308; Fulmar Petrel, 
388 

Surrey—Ring-Ouzel, 80; Ornitho- 
logical observations, 92; Yellow- 
necked Mouse, 151; Water-Tor- 
toises, 288 ; Carnivorous propen- 
sities of a Slug, 3809; Smaller 
British Mammalia, 299 

Sussex—Fox-Shark. 39; Torpedo, 
39; Wheatear, 69; Birds during 
snow, 74, 112; Ornithological 
notes, 198;  Brambling, 286 ; 
Sardinian Warbler, 274; Lesser 
Redpoll, 352 

Wiltshire — Eges of Red-backed 
Shrike, 429 

Yorkshire — Grey Wagtail, 151, 
382, 428; Bird-notes, 355; Black- 
headed Gull, 887, 482; White- 
spotted Bluethroat, 428 


Crake, Spotted, 93 

Crane, 122 

Crateropus canorus, 188 

Creeper, Tree, 15, 340, 341 
Crenilabrus melops, 420 

Crex pratensis, 237 

Cricket, Mole, in Dorset, 34 
Crocopus pheecinopterus, 191 

Crow, Hooded, 15, 86, 441, 448, 444; 


House, 146; King, 149, 189 


Crystallogobius nilssonii, 423 
Ctenolabrus rupestris, 420, 463 
Cuckoo, 362; egg-depositing by, 18, 


129, 147, 149, 188, 286, 307, 334, 
840, 429; near Aberdeen, 307; 
plumage of, 353; feeding upon 
larve of gooseberry moth, 356; 
young, in Reed Bunting’s nest, 129 


Cuckoos, Indian, 147, 188 
Cuculus canorus, 18, 129, 147, 149, 


188, 236, 307, 334, 340, 429; micro- 
pterus, 189 


Curlew, 342, 865; carryingits young, 


152 


Cyanops asiatica, 188 
| Cyclopterus lumpus, 421, 462 


| Dafila acuta, 45 

Delphinus delphis, 235 

Dendrocitta rufa, 147 

Dentex vulgaris, 417 

Devon (North), ornithological notes 


from, 21; some fish-notes from, 
140 


CONTENTS. 


Dicrurus ater, 149, 189 : 
Dipper, 73; early nest of, 151; nest 
with two clutches of eggs, 235 
Diprotodon australis, 319 
Dissemurus paradiseus, 149 
Diver, Black-throated, in Oxford- 
shire, 322; 
338,—in Gloucestershire, 72 
Dog-fishes, 460; Greater, 464 
Dolphin in Moy Estuary, Killala 


Great Northern, 15, | 


X1il 


Equus przewalskii, 319 
Eudynamis honorata, 147 
Evotomys glareolus, 301 


| Exoccetus volitans, 39 


Falcon, Peregrine, 328, 336 
Fauna of North Wales, 116; British, 
artificial additions to, 238 


| Felis catus, 245 
| Fieldfare, 15, 112; in London, 111 


Bay, 235; White-sided, at Fanet, | 


Co. Donegal, 352 

Dormouse, 299 

Dotterel, 343 

Dove, Indian Ring, 191; Red Turtle, 
191; Spotted, 191; Turtle, 326 

Down of Wild Ducks, 107 

Drab, Smeared, 462 

Drepanis pacifica, 409 

Drongo, Black, 149 

Duck family, ideal haunt for, 44 

Duck, Ferruginous, 285; Golden- 
eye, 15, 98; Long-tailed, 285,— 
in North Deven, 21; Nyroca, 
122; Pintail, 45 ; Red-crested, 122; 
Scaup, 45,—in Cheshire, 274; 
Sheld, 45, 59,—nesting habits, 54, 
59,—aquatic habits of young, 24; 
Tufted, 49, 94; Wild, 841, 343,— 
description of down, 107 

Dunlin, 15, 843; in Northampton- 
shire, 72; breeding in Co. Mayo, 
344 


Eagle, Golden, 73, 442; 
444 

Eagles and Vultures, experiences 
with, in Albania (Plate III.), 441 

Kcheneis remora, 425 

Edoliisoma dispar, 349 

Hel, large, 357 

Hels, Edible, of New South Wales, 
80; Japanese, 452 

Eggs, curious, of Ringed Plover, 23 

Eggs of Marsh-Warbler (fig.), 128, 
129; of Common Tern two and 
Ringed Plover one, in same nest 
(fig.), 180, 181; of Coot, &e., vars., 
385; of Red-backed Shrike, 429; 
curious, of Blackbird (fig.), 97, 98, 
151 

Egg-depositing by Cuckoo, 13, 129, 
147, 149, 188, 2386, 307, 334, 340, 
429 

Emberiza cirlus, 195 

Emys orbicularis, 186, 238 

Eos rubra, 351 

Hpinephelus eneus, 417 


Sea, 441, 442, 


Finch, Serin, 114 

Firecrest, 15, 282 

Fish, notable captures of, in 1906, 
88; Angler, with fourteen fish in 
stomach, 462; Flying, Lieut.-Col. 
Durnford on problem of, 39; Fresh- 
water, Prof. Theodore Gillon paren- 
tal care among, 117; of Japan, 449; 
Cornish, annotated list of, 415, 453 

Fisheries, Sea, 201, 247 

Fish-notes from North Devon coast, 
140; from Great Yarmouth for 
1907, 460 

Flounder with young Flounder in 
stomach, 463 

Flycatcher, 340; Ashen, 349; Pied, 
283; Red-breasted, 122; Scale- 
breasted, 349; Spotted, 14 

Forkbeard, Lesser, 462 \ 

Fox, 245, 246 

Fringilla celebs, 113; montifringilla, 
236 

Fuligula cristata, 45 ; 
marila, 45, 159, 274 

Fulmarus glacialis, 388 


ferina, 45; 


Gadus eeglefinus, 454; esmarkii, 456; 
luscus, 454; merlangus, 455; mi- 
nutus, 455; morrhua, 454; polla- 
chius, 455; poutassou, 455; virens, 
455 

Gadwall, 285; in Shropshire, 32 

Galeus vulgaris, 462 

Garfish at Breydon, 464 

Garganey, 45, 47 

Giza (Cairo) Zoological Gardens, 119 

Gobius capito, 422; jeffreysii, 422; 
minutus. 422; niger, 422; paga- 
nellus, 422; pictus, 422; ruthen- 
sparri, 422; scorpioides, 423 

Goby, Transparent, 462 

Godwit, 342; Bar-tailed, 15, 286, 343; 
Black-tailed, 286; Cambridge, 343 

Golderest, 14, 282, 340 

Goldsinney, Jago’s, 463 

Goosander, 331; at Yarmouth, 111 

Goose, Barred-headed, query respect- 
ing, 198; Bean, 343; Grey Lag, 


XLV 


285, 3848; Pink-footed, 341; Snow, 
72; White-fronted, 285, 343 

Grebe, Hared, in Belfast Lough, 111, 
—in Cheshire, 153; Great Crested, 
15; Little, choked by Bullhead, 
3387; Sclavonian, 331 

Greenfinch, 31, 339, 840 

Greenshank, 15, 98, 365; in North 
Devon, 25; hopping on one leg 
while feeding, 365 

Grindelwald, Switzerland, birds ob- 
served at, 73 - 

Grouse, Red, 285; Sand, 122 

Gryllotalpa vulgaris, 34 

Guernsey, Peachia undata at, 198 

Guillemot, Black, 287 

Gull, Black-headed, 14, 88, 343,— 
food of, 861, 362, 364, 3887, —is it 
an egy-thief?, 482; Glaucous, 73, 
—in Co. Antrim, 153; Greater 
Black-backed, struck by lightning 
(fig.), 124; Iceland, 73,—in Done- 
gal, 74; Ivory, 287; Little, 286; 
Mediterranean Black-headed, in 
Cornwall, unrecorded examples of, 
33; Sabine’s, 286 

Gulls’ banquet at Yarmouth, 464 

Gymnogyps (Vultur) californianus, 
295 

Gymnothorax prasina, 80 

'Gyps fulvus, 443, 444 


Haleyon chloris, 350 

Haliaétus albicilla, 442, 444 

Harelda glacialis, 21, 159 

Harrier, Hen, 92, 95, 284,—in South- 
western Hants, 195; Marsh, 284; 
Montagu’s, 284,—in Ireland, 354 

Hawfinch, 340, 356,—at Ballinasloe, 
Co. Galway, 70 

Hawk-Cuckoo, 188 

Hebrides (Outer), nesting of Lesser 
Tern, 386, 482 

Hedgehog, 244 

Hen, Clocking, and young Partridge, 
308 

Hermaphroditism in Crustacea, Mr. 
Geoffrey Smith on, 316 

Herodias timoriensis, 403 

Heron, Pond, 191; Purple, 
Squacco, 192, 285 

Heron family in India, 191 

Herrings, immense quantity of, 464 

Herring-syle with Opossum Shrimps 
in stomachs, 365, 463 

Hierocoecyx varius, 128 

Hirundo rustica, 288 

Histioteuthis bonelliana, 314 


122 ; 


CONTENTS. 


Hobbies breeding in Crow’s nest, 335 
Honey-eater, Boié’s, 349 


Honeysucker, Amethyst - rumped, . 
190; Purple, 190 
Hoopoe, 234 


Hybrid Pheasant, 32; between Stoat 
and Ferret, 27 

Hypoglossum limandoides, 457; vul- 
garis, 457 


Ibis falcinellus, 431; Glossy, 122, 
285,—in North Devon, 21,—flock, 
in Orkney, 431 

Ice-fish, Japanese, 452 

Indian birds, some common, 146, 188 

Insect, a remarkable luminous, from 
Brazil (fig.), 277 

Insects and other Anthopoda col- 
lected in Congo Free State, 117 

IRELAND—Weasel, 29; Birds during 
snow, 83; Hawfinch, 70; Sabine’s 
Snipe, 71; Rare bird visitors to 
Bartragh Island, 72; Iceland Gull, 
74; HEared Grebe, 111; Glaucous 
Gull, 153; Birds and snow, 153 ; 
Kerry bird life, 157; Grey Wag- 
tail, 194; Sandwich Tern, 195; 
Dolphin, 235; Breeding of Tree- 
Sparrows and Dunlins, 344; White- 
sided Dolphin, 852; Scops Hared 
Owl, 354; Montaegu’s Harrier, 354; 
Osprey, 855 

Isle of Man, Common Buzzard on, 
308; Sea-birds, 309 

Isopods, Terrestrial, 
Devon, 465 


from North 


Jackdaw, 340 
Japan, Ichthyology in, 450 


Kent (North), birds of, 41 

Kestrel, 115 

Kingfisher, 342; a fishing habit of, 
25; White-collared, 350 

Kite, Black, 114 

Kittiwake, 309 

Knot, 366 

Konoshiro, a Japanese fish, 450 

Konosirus punctatus, 450 


Labrax lupus, 415 

Labrus maculatus, 419, 462,—var. 
lineatus, 419; mixtus, 420 

Lagenorhynchus acutus, 352 

Lagorchestes conspicillatus, 408 

Lambay, Co. Dublin, Natural His- 
tory of, 119 

Lamna cornubica, 142 


CONTENTS. XV 


Lampern, 464 

Lamprey, Sea, at Shrewsbury, 33 

Lampris luna, 426 

Land-birds of Banda Islands, geogra- 
phical distribution of, 347 

Lanius collurio, 429; excubitor, 70 

Lapwing, 14, 341 

Lark, Sky, 12; Wood, 15, 389, 340 

Larus argentatus, 160; canus, 71; fus- 
cus, 160; glaucus, 158; marinus, 
100; melanocephalus, 33 

Latrunculus pellucidus, 462 

Lepadogaster bimaculatus, 427; de- 
eandollei, 427; gouanii, 427 

Lepas anatifera, 464 

Lepidopus caudatus, 425 

Lepidorhombus megastoma, 458 

Leptocephalus labiatus, 80 

Lichia glauca, 426; vadigo, 426 

Ligia oceanica, 465, 466 

Limax flavus, 277 

Limosa belgica, 342 

Linnet, 339, 340 

Linota hornemanni, 31; rufescens, 
352, 383 

Liothrix lutea, 139 

Liparis montagui, 422; vulgaris, 422 

Leelia cenosa, 413 

Lophius piscatorius, 141, 454, 462 

Lory, Long-tailed Scarlet, 351 

Luciperea sandra, 412 

Lumpsucker, 462 

Luvarus imperialis, 426 


Machetes pugnax, 60, 161, 367, 386 

Macrobiotus, encystment of (fig.), 4 

Macrobiotus dispar, description of, 
6; macronyx, 10 

Macropus giganteus, 408; dorsalis, 
408 

Magpie, 340, 441; Common Indian, 
147 


Maguro, a Japanese fish, 450 

Maiwashi, a Japanese fish, 450 

Mallard, 45, 46,59; nesting habits, 49 

Mammals of South Cambridgeshire, 
241; of Cambridge Museum, 318; 
Field-notes on some of the smaller 
British, 299 

Manx Sea-birds, notes on, 309 

Mareca penelope, 45, 159 

Marten, 245 


Martin, Crag, 115; House, 325; 
Sand, 325 

Megalastris catarrhactes, 160 

Menura victorie, 409, 414 

Merganser, Red-breasted, at Yar- 


mouth, 111 


Mergulus alba, 388 

Mergus albellus, 71, 111; merganser, 
111; serrator, 111, 160 

Merlucius vulgaris, 456 

Mesophoyx plumifera, 403 

Mesopus olidus, 452 

Metoponorthus pruinosus, 469 

Mice (Mus musculus var. M. nudo- 

plicatus) from Australia (Plate I.), 

1; cross-breeding, 2 

Migration of birds, in Norfolk, 121 

Milvus regalis, 444 

Mole, 245; var., 299 

Molva vulgaris, 456 

Monarcha cinerascens, 349 

Motacilla alba, 341; flava, 94, 341; 
lugubris, 152, 841 ; melanope, 151, 
194, 342, 382, 428; raii, 151, 194 

Motella cimbria, 456; mustela, 456; 
tricirrata, 457 

Mouse, Common Long-tailed, 245 ; 
Harvest, 242, 245; Yellow-necked 
(De Winton’s Mouse), at Witley, 
151, 300 

Mullus barbatus, 419; barbatus var. 
surmuletus, 418 

Murenesox cinereus, 80, 451 

Mus decumens, 245; flavicollis (syl- 
vaticus wintoni), 151, 3800, 307; 
minutus, 245; musculus var. nudo- 
plicatus, 1; rattus, var.,69; sylva- 
ticus, 245, 300 

Museardinus avellanarius, 299 

Muzzlet, Waved, at Guernsey, 198 

Mynah, Bank, 148; Black-headed, 

148; Common, 147; Grey-headed, 

Jungle, 148; Pied, 148 

Myotis daubentoni, 882; mystacinus, 

193 

Myzomela boiei, 349 


Naucrates ductor, 426 

Ndhlondhlo, the, 183 

Neomys fodiens, 246 

Neophron percnopterus, 444 

Nest of Marsh-Warbler with three 
eggs (fig.), 128,129; with two eges 
of Common Tern and one egg of 
Ringed Plover (fig.), 129, 1381; of 
Dipper with two clutches of eggs, 
235; of Blackbird with five eggs 
and one egg of Cuckoo, 334 

Nest-boxes, notes on, 308 

Nesting of Marsh- Warbler in Norfolk, 

128; of Lesser Redpoll in Sussex, 

352,—in Kent, 888 ; of Lesser Tern 

in Outer Hebrides, 386, 482; habits 

of Mallard, 49, 58,—of Shoveler, 


XVI 


52,—of Sheld-Duck, 54; sites, pe- 
culiar, for Wheatear, 69,—for Pied 
Wagtail, 333; early, of Dipper, 
151,—of Green Cormorant, 481 

Nestor productus, 402 

Netta rufina, 121 

Nettion crocea, 45; formosum, 198 

New South Wales, edible Eels of, 80 

Nightingale, 114, 340 

Nightjar, 356; var., 307 

Norfolk, ornithological report for 
(1906), 121 

Nuthatch, 339, 340 


OBITUARY— 
Moore, Frederic, 289 
Newton, Professor A., 272 
Saunders, Howard (with portrait), 

436 

Stewart, Professor Charles, 390 
Stroud, Dr. J. W., 120 

(Hidemia nigra, 45 

(Hnopopelia tranquebarica, 191 

Onchorynchus keta, 451; mason, 452 

Oniscus asellus, 466, 467, 469 

Ophidium barbatum, 457 

Orcynus germo, 425; thynnus, 39, 
495 

Oriole, Black-headed, 148; Golden, 
149; Indian, 148 

Oriolus galbula, 149; Kundoo, 148; 
melanocephalus, 148 

Orkney, early nesting of Green Cor- 
morant in, 431; Glossy Ibis in, 
431 

Ornithological notes—Devon (North), 
21; Hants, 196; Kent, 197; Kerry, 
157; Manx, 809; Norfolk, 121; Ply- 
mouth, 286; Scotland, 14; Surrey, 
92; Sussex, 198; Wales, 154; Wils- 
den, 355 

Orthagoriscus mola, 141, 459; trun- 
catus, 459 

Osprey, 284; near Plymouth, 236; in 
Treland, 355 

Otters in Hampshire Avon, 380; 
attack and kill Water-Rats for 
food, 246 

Ouzel, Ring-, 14; in Surrey, 30 

Owl, Barn, 189,—utility of, 127; 
Brown, 342,—pursuing a Thrush, 
325; Eagle, 73; Little, 189, 337, 
—inerease in Bedfordshire, 353, 
384,—breeding in Herts, 353, 430; 
Scops, 284, 354,—in Ireland, 354; 
Short-eared, in North Devon, 23,— 
in Staffordshire, 31; Snowy, 73; 
Tawny, 823 


CONTENTS. 


Owlet, Spotted, 189 
Oxfordshire, ornithology of (1905-6), 
321 


Pachycephala phonota, 349 

Pagellus acarne, 418 ; bogaraveo, 418; 
centrodontus, 417 ; erythrinus, 418; 
owenii, 418 

Pagrus, Black, a Japanese fish, 451 

Pagrus auratus, 418; major, 400, 
451; orphus, 418 

Pammelas perciformis, 426 

Pandion haliaétus, 236, 355 

Panesthia javonica, 222 

Paradisea regia (Cicinnurus regius) 
237 

Partridge mobbed by Peewits, 382; 
and Clocking Hen, 308 

Passer montanus, 235 

Peachia undata, 198 

Pelamys sarda, 425 

Pelican on Breydon Broad (fig.), 180, 
131, 132 

Perea fluviatilis, 415 

Peregrine pursuing Greenshank, 431 

Peristethus cataphractus, 421 

Pernis apivorus, 32 

Petrel, Fulmar, on Suffolk coast, 888 

Petromyzon fluviatilis, 464; mari- 
nus, 33 

Phalarope, Grey. 286, 343; Red- 
necked, 286 


| Phalacrocorax graculus, 481 


Pheasant, hybrid, 32 

Philoscia muscorum, 467; couchii, 
468 

Phoea vitulina, 30 


| Phycis blennioides, 456 


Phylloscopus tristis, 80; trochilus, 
342 
Picus canus, 114 


Pigeon, Bengal Green, 190; Little 


Green, 851; Mace-eating, 351; 
Orange-breasted Fruit, 351; Rock, 
15; Wood, 18, 331, 340 

Pipe-fish, Broad-nosed, 461 


| Pipit, 78; Meadow, 340, 341; Ri- 


chard’s, at Yarmouth, 428; Tawny, 
283; Tree, 339, 340; Water, 89 


| Pitta, Vigors’, 350 


Pitta vigorsi, 350 
Platyarthrus hoffmannseggii, 468 
Plectrophenax nivalis, 158 


| Plegadis falcinellus, 21 
| Pleuronectes cynoglossus, 458; flesus, 


458; limanda, 458; microcepha- 
lus, 458, 462; platessa, 458 
Plover, 341; Green, 112; Grey, 15; 


CONTENTS. 


Golden, 112, 343; Ringed, curious 
eges of, 28; Ringed Sand, 15,— 
var., 387 
Pochard, 45, 46, 47, 94, 3438 
Podicipes nigricollis, 111, 153 
Polyprion cernium, 417 
Pond-Smelt, Japanese, 452 
Porcellio dilatatus, 468; levis, 468; 
pictus, 468; scaber, 465, 468 
Porzana maructta, 94, 237 
Provincial names and resorts of cer- 
tain birds in South of Scotland, 12 
Ptarmigan, 74 
Pterygistes noctula, 299 
Ptilopus xanthogaster, 351 
Puffin, 309 
Pyrrhocorax graculus, 158. 


Quail, 343 
Querquedula circia, 45 
Query, bibliographical, 198 


Raia radiata, 461 

Raniceps trifurcatus, 462; raninus, 
457 

Raven, 15, 73, 115, 340, 442, 443, 444 

Ray, Starry, with Skulpin in mouth, 
461; Torpedo, 461 

Redbreast, an albescent, 104 

Redpoll, Arctic, in Midlothian, 31; 
Lesser, 283, 839,—in Kent, 383,— 
nesting in Sussex, 352; Mealy, 15, 
283 

Redshank, Common, 15, 324, 365; 
Spotted, 343 

Redstart, 114; Black, 330 

Redwing in London, 111 

Rhicnoda natatrix, n.sp. (fig.), 223, 
226 


Rhinolophus terrum-equinum, 288; | 


hipposiderus, 110 

Bhipidura squamata, 349 

Rhombus levis, 457 ; maximus, 141, 
457 

Ringwood, Hants, winter notes from, 
196 

Robin, 340 

Roller, Indian, 190 

Rook, 340; albino, 383 

Ruff, breeding habits of, 60, 161, 367; 
near Chester, 386 


Salamander, Spotted, habits and de- 
velopment of young, 16 

Salamandra maculosa, 16 

Salana microdon, 452 

Salmonide, Japanese, 451 

Sanderling in Cheshire, 237 


XV1l 


Sandpiper, Bartram’s, 286; Curlew, 
in Surrey, 938; Green, 343 ; Pec- 
toral, 286; Purple, 15 

Saxicola cenanthe, 69 

Scizena aquila, 417 

Scolopax sabini, 71 

Scomber colias, 425; scombrus, 424 

Scombresox saurus, 142 

Scoter, Common, 15, 45; Surf, 285; 
Velvet, 285 

ScotLanp.— Macrobiotus dispar, 6; 
Provincial names and resorts of 
certain birds, 12; Cuckoo, 138, 307; 
Arctic Redpoll, 81; Siberian Chiff- 
chaff, 80; Marked birds, 116; 
Blackbird’s eggs, 151; Dipper, 151, 
235 

Sea-birds of Manx, notes on, 309 

Sea-fisheries, scientific work in, 201, 
247 

Seal, Common, on Somerset coast, 30 

Serranus cabrilla, 416; gigas, 417 

“Seven Sisters Bird,” 188 

Sex in Crustacea, with special refer- 
ence to the origin and nature of 
hermaphroditism, Mr. Geoffrey 
Smith on, 316 

Sexual selection in birds, 60, 161, 
237, 367 

Shark, Fox, a large, 39 

Sheldrake, 343 

Shoveler, 45, 46; breedingin Devon, 
22; nesting habits, 52, 58, 59; in 
Cheshire, 275 

Shrew, Common, 299; Little, 246; 
Oared, 246; Pigmy, 299; Water, 
244, 246 

Shrike, Great Grey, 283,—in Dorset, 
70; Red-backed, eggs of, 429; 
Woodchat, 323 

Siphonostoma typhle, 116, 142, 461 

Siskin, 288 

Skua, Pomatorhine, at Yarmouth, 
434 

Skull in Mammalia, thickness of, 
Prof. R. J. Anderson on, 315 

Slug, carnivorous propensities of a, 
277, 809 

Smew, 831; in Cheshire, 71; at 
Yarmouth, 111 

Snipe, 341, 343; Jack, 15; Sabine’s, 
in Ireland, 71 

Sole, tailless (fig.), 276 

Solealasearis, 458 ; lutea, 459 ; varie- 
gata, 459; vulgaris, 276, 458 

Somateria labradoria, 411 

Sorex araneus, 299 ; minutus, 246, 
299 


XVI 


Sparrow, Italian, 114; Tree, 15, 283, 
—in Denbighshire, 235; breeding 
in Co. Mayo, 344 

Sparus schlegeli, 450 

Spatula clypeata, 45, 275 

Species, subspecies, &c., 148 

Spence, William, particulars relative 
to, by Dr. G. B. Longstaff, 318 

Spermophilus, 410 

Spoonbill, 362; toilet of (fig.), 363 

Squirrel, 245 

Starling, 840; feeding on ‘‘ Daddy- 
longlegs,’’ 366 

Stercorarius pomatorhinus, 434 

Sterna cantiaca, 3886; minuta, 94, 
275, 386, 432 

Stilt, Black- winged, 127 

Stint, American, 286; Little, 286; 
Temminck’s, 286 

Stoat, 245 ; and Ferret, hybrids, 27 

Stonechat, 14 

Strix flammea, 189 

Sturnia malabarica, 148 

Sturnopastor contra, 148 

Sunbird, Van Hasset’s, 190 

Surniculus lugubris, 149 

Surrey, ornithological observations 
in (1906), 92 

Sussex, notes from, 198 

Swallow tribe, observations of an at- 
tempt of, to winter in South Hants 
during 1906-7, 227, 267, 303 

Swan, Bewick’s, 285; Polish (?), 90; 
Whooper, 122 

Swift, Alpine, 115; Common, 115 

Swiss birds in July, 1906, notes on, 
113 

Sylvia melanocephala, 274; undata, 
1938 

Synotus barbastellus, 299 

Syrnium aluco, 114 


Tadorna cornuta, 45 

Tai, Red, a Japanese fish, 450, 451 

Talpa europea, 299 

Teal, 45, 46, 342; Clocking, query 
respecting, 198 

Temenuchus pagadorum, 148 

Tern, Arctic, 864; Common, 364; 
Lesser, 93,—nesting in Outer He- 
brides, 3886, 4382; Little, 15; Sand- 
wich, 15,—spring arrival in Killala 
Bay, 195,—in Norfolk, 386 

Tetrodon lagocephalus, 459 

Thick-head, Brown-backed, 349 

Thrush, Song, 840; Mistle, 340 

Thrushes, great increase in Wilsden 
district, 355 


CONTENTS. 


Thunuus schlegeli, 450 

Tit, Blue, 115, 340, 341; Coal, 115, 
340; Crested, 114,115; Great, 74, 
115, 340, 341 

Titlark, 3389 

Tope, 462 

Torpedo helvetans, 141; 
39; vulgaris, 461 

Tortoises, Water, in England, 238 

Totanus canescens, 94, 160 

Trachinus draco, 427, 463; vipera, 
427 

Trichiurus lepturus, 425 

Trichoniscoides albidus, 467 

Trichoniscus pusillus, 467 ; roseus, 
467; stebbingii, 470 

Trigla cuculus, 421 ; gurnardus, 420; 
hirundo, 421; lineata, 421; lyra, 
421; obscura, 421 

Tringa alpina, 72; minuta, 286; sub- 
arquata, 93 

Trygon pastinaca, 142 

Tunny, Short-finned, on Lincolnshire 
coast, 39 

Turdus iliacus, 111, 118; pilosis, 111; 
musicus, 113 

Turtur riscrius, 191 ; suratensis, 191 

Twite, 15, 288 

Tympanuchus americanus, 413 


nobiliana, 


United States, cage-bird traffic of, 
395 

Uria grylle, 160 

Uromys banfieldi, 317 


Variety of Accentor, Hedge, 139; 
Badger, 882; Blackbird, 23, 139,— 
eggs, 98, 151; Brambling, 139; 
Brill, 460; Coot, &e. (eggs), 3885 ; 
Lapwing, 139; Mackerel, 461 ; 
Mole, 299; Mus rattus, 69 ; Night- 
jar, 307; Partridge, 139, 336; 
Plover, Ringed, 887; Redbreast, 
104; Rook, 3883; Vole, 382 

Vole, Bank, 301; Short-tailed, me- 
lanic var., 382 

Vultur monachus, 444 

Vulture, Black, 444; Egyptian, 444 ; 
Griffon, 442, 443, 444 


Wazetail, Blue-headed, 93; Grey, 330, 
—status of, 151, 194, 382, 428; 
Pied, 152, 3338, 389, 340, 342; 
Ray’s, 330, 356; White, Bd ; Yel- 
low, 151, 341 

Wates—Honey-Buzzard, 32; Fauna 
of North Wales, 116; Bird-notes, 
154; Tree-Sparrow, 2385 


CONTENTS. 


Warbler, Bonelli’s, 114; Dartford, 
193, 282; Garden, 114; Grass- 
hopper, 342; Great Reed, 122; 
Marsh, 114,—in Surrey, 93,—in 
Norfolk, 128, 129, — extended 
breeding-range in Hampshire, 446 ; 
Melodious, 282; Scandinavian, in 
Sussex, 274; Sedge, 115; Willow, 
342 

Waterhen, 342 

Weasel, is it a native of Ireland ?, 
29 

Weaver, Greater, at Breydon, 463 

Whaling Voyage, Arctic, of 1906, 66 

Wheatear, 96; peculiar nesting-site 
for, 69 

Whimbrel, 15 


X1X 


Whinchat, 114 

White-eye, Banda, 350 
Whitethroat, 340; Lesser, 281 
Wigeon, 15, 45, 46, 47, 94, 342 
Woodpecker, 74; Green, 15 
Wrasse, Ballan, 462 

Wren, 340 

Wye, Kent, winter notes from, 197 


Xantholema hematocephala, 150 
Xiphias gladius, 426 


Yellowhammer, 31 
Zeugopterus norwegicus, 457; punc- 


tatus, 457; unimaculatus, 457 
Zeus faber, 423 


PLATES. 
PAGE 
Plate I. Mus musculus var. M. nudo-plicatus to face tt 
Fig. 1. Contour feather from breast of Sheld-Duck 
I » 2. Down of Sheld-Duck , a 
we des », 38. Contour feather from breast of Mallard : 
», 4. Contour feather from breast of Shoveler | 
» Ill. Sea-EHagle (Haliaétus albicilla) on a Carcase . » 441 
ILLUSTRATIONS IN TEXT. 
Macrobiotus dispar,n. sp. . : 6 . : 5 : . 5 
Curious Eggs of Blackbird 98 
Greater Black-backed Gull struck by Pennine 124 
Eggs of the Marsh- Warbler ; ‘ 129 
Eggs of the Common Tern and Ringed Plover : : 3 : 131 
Pelican on Breydon Broad . : 5 5 . 5 j 152 
Larva of Lhicnoda natatria, n. sp. (figs. 1, 2, & 3). 223 
Tailless Sole (Solea vulgaris) . : 276 
A Remarkable Luminous Insect from Brace 277 
Spoonbill’s Toilet 363 
Chelifer cancroides (Gulateeuy', 389 


Portrait of Mr. Howard Saunders, F.L.S., F. Z. S., F. R. G. S. 


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Zool. 1907. Plate I. 


Mus muscuuus var. M. NUDO-PLICATUS. 


Peon LOOLOGTSt 


No. 787.—January, 1907. 


MUS MUSCULUS var. M. NUDO-PLICATUS. 
By ARCHIBALD CAMPBELL. 


(Puate I.) 


In May, 1904, when in the shop of a local dealer, my atten- 
tion was attracted to four Mice of this description. On making 
enquiries, I was told that they had been bought that morning 
from a man who said he had come from Australia, but my 
informant knew nothing more. 

Of the four—one was a full-grown male, slightly smaller than 
a common wild Mouse, and the other three—two males and a 
female—looked, from their size, about six weeks old. They were 
all entirely naked, and the whole body a mass of wrinkles; in 
the old male especially they were very thick, and the skin formed 
a kind of flap which extended along the sides between the upper 
part of the legs. There was a thick fold of skin across the 
shoulders, and over the back behind the ears. On the face the 
wrinkles were very thick above the eyes—which were almost 
closed by the thick skin-folds above them—down the nose, and 
on each side of the mouth. The belly was also very wrinkled, 
the skin forming a cavity out of which the legs came. All trace 
of hair on the body was gone with the exception of a few dark 
coloured vibrisse, which they all had, but the young ones still 
retained a few hairs on the legs and at the base of the tail. The 
corrugations on these were less pronounced than on the old one, 

Zool. 4th ser. vol. XI., January, 1907. B 


2 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


but with them the belly was quite smooth, though they had the 
fold of skin on the sides. The eyes were about the ordinary 
size, and the wrinkles had not developed enough to obscure 
their vision. In colour they were a dull white, with black eyes 
and dark ears and tail. They were to all appearance perfectly 
healthy, and, until they became blind, were as active as ordinary 
Mice. ‘Two of the males died shortly after I had them, and the 
female, though she lived for some months, never bred. 

After running the old male with two albino females I obtained 
a litter from each—one litter consisting of three, and the other 
of a single young one. These four Mice—a male and three 
females, the progeny of hairless and albino—were exactly like 
normal wild Mice in every respect. The male only had a small 
white spot on the face and belly. He was particularly large and 
healthy, and lived to be nearly two years old. 

The result of crossing these wild coloured Mice, inter se, and 
their offspring again, produced normal wild, black, white, black 
and white, wild and white, and twenty-seven of this “‘ corrugated 
hairless” type. These hairless were all for the first fortnight of 
their existence exactly like normal Mice, z.e. born blind and 
naked ; then the hair grew, and the eyes opened—and, in fact, 
it was impossible from a litter of that age to pick out the in- 
dividuals which would eventually develop these corrugations in 
the skin. 

When from three to five weeks old—for some took longer 
than others—they began gradually to lose their hair. The 
nakedness begins about the eyes and on the belly, then shows 
on the back and head, and gradually spreads over the body 
until they are perfectly nude, which usually occurs when they 
are between two and three months old. These corrugations are 
quite visible on the skin as soon as the nakedness appears, and 
eradually, as the animal grows older, the skin-folds and wrinkles 
become thicker, until the eyes are completely closed by the thick 
skin above them. In colour, twenty-two out of the twenty-seven 
corrugated which I bred were the usual wild shade before they 
became hairless, four were black then hairless, and one was a 
pure albino, with pink eyes and white ears and tail. 

With reference to the article by Gaskoin in the Proc. Zool. 
Soc. 1856, p. 38, plate—from which I have taken the name Mus 


MUS MUSCULUS var. M. NUDO-PLICATUS. 3 


nudo-plicatus—he states that four corrugated hairless Mice, in- 
eluding a pregnant female, were caught at Taplow. ‘Two of 
these died, and eventually the female ‘‘ brought forth five young 
ones,” two of which died, and the other three were reared, but 
did not breed. This appears to be the only recorded instance 
that I can find, of a corrugated female breeding in captivity. 
It was most unfortunate that none of the hairless females that 
I raised ever bred. Again, as to the question of age, he remarks 
in the same paper that these Mice were four months in the 
possession of a man ‘‘ Bond,” and six months in his; whereas 
five months and a half was the longest life of any of mine, and 
thirteen of them died when about two months old or less. 

The plate also shows two large, full-grown, corrugated Mice, 
with bright black eyes; and any of mine that lived to be three 
months old were by that time almost if not totally blind; so 
much so, that on several occasions they overran the edge of the 
cage, apparently without seeing it. 

I have quoted from this article to show where my specimens 
differed from the Mice he possessed. 

All the photographs were taken from living specimens. 


Fig. 1.—Six weeks old. 

Fig. 2.—Three months old. 
Fig. 8.—Four months old. 
Fig. 4.—Three weeks old. Hair coming out round eyes. 


Fig. 5.—Three weeks old. Nakedness showing near eyes, between 
the ears, and on back. 


Fig. 6.—One month old. Corrugations showing under the hair. 

Fig. 7.—Six weeks old. Hair at base of tail, and on head and legs.’ 
Hyes still open. 

Fig, chet mene old. Quite blind, and corrugations very 
thick. 5 

Fig. 9.—Seven weeks old. In this example the eyes are shut on 
account of the light, and not from the skin near them. 


Showing corrugations on belly at 
these ages. 


B2 


4 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


THE ENCYSTMENT OF MACROBIOTUS. 


By James Murray (Biologist on the Lake Survey under 
Sir John Murray). 


Many of the smallest animals, in common with some of the 
largest, experience regularly at some period of the year un- 
favourable conditions which threaten the destruction of the 
individual and the extermination of the race. This fate is 
avoided by one of two means—either the individual perishes, 
and the race is saved by the production of what are called 
Winter-egegs or resting-eggs, or the individual protects itself in 
some way, and lies dormant till better times, or, as it is called, 
hybernates. 

It is usually the cold of winter which constitutes the threaten- 
ing condition, hence the terms winter-egg and hybernation; but 
it may be quite the converse, and it may be the heat or drought 
of summer which has to be guarded against. Similar means of 
protection may be used against either evil. Many resting-eggs 
are laid in summer, and many animals, including Water-Bears 
and Bdelloid Rotifers, lie dormant during droughts. Using the 
term in the wider sense to cover all means taken to tide over 
untoward seasons, large numbers of animals hybernate—Bears, 
Tortoises, Water-Bears, Bdelloid Rotifers, Nematodes, &c. 

Bdelloid Rotifers resist desiccation by coating themselves 
with an air-proof varnish. Water-Bears (or Tardigrada) are 
equally well protected against desiccation, though the means by 
which they protect themselves are not understood. There is no 
coating of varnish in this case. The Bears are found among 
dry moss, rigidly extended as though in rigor mortis, but they 
quickly revive when placed in water. 

The process now to be described is of a totally different kind. 
Its occurrence at the beginning of winter suggests that it is a 
sort of hybernation ; the profound changes in the organization of 
the animals which characterize it suggest the name encystment. 


THE ENCYSTMENT OF MACROBIOTUS. 


3 Zam, 
2 Zp rips 


iia 


MACROBIOTUS DISPAR, 0. sp 


J. Murray del. ad nat. 


6 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


For some years I have frequently seen, in the moss-washings 
where I seek for Water-Bears (Tardigrada), little yellow elliptical 
or sausage-shaped packages, from which I could squeeze out 
animals of the genus Macrobiotus, in a quiescent state, but alive. 
I thought to connect these in some way with imperfect moults, 
but the packages differed from the moulting animal in that the 
yellow skin tightly enclosed the animal within, suggesting a 
comparison with pupz, or with mummies, and there were no 
limbs on the outer skin. The origin of these curious bodies 
was quite unknown, and the matter rested thus till I had recently 
the good fortune to watch the process of formation in one species 
which abounded in a shallow pond near Glasgow. 

The species observed was long supposed to be Macrobiotus 
macronyx, but the eggs have recently been found, and as these 
are spiny and are laid free, while those of M. macronyx are 
smooth and are laid in the moulted skin, the species would have 
to be placed in a different section of the genus. Prof. Richters 
agrees that the species is one hitherto undescribed, and I now 
give a description of it:— 


MacroBIoTUS DISPAR, n.sp. (figs. 1 to 5). — Large, hyaline, 
with yellow or brown stomach. Eyes dark. Claws of each pair 
very unequal, one very large, the other very minute, the dis- 
proportion less in those of the last legs. Pharynx large, shortly 
oval; thickenings three in each row—first a nut joined to the 
cullet, second a long narrow rod, third a rod half as long as the 
second. ‘Teeth curved, with very wide furca. Eggs spiny, laid 
free ; spines little sharp cones, separated by interspaces about 
equal to the diameter of the cones. Length up to 6004; 
pharynx, 80. long; larger claws, 48 « long; diameter of egg, 
over spines, 90 wu There are generally two large conical pro- 
cesses on the back (fig. 1), between the third and fourth legs. 
These are variable, and may be apparently quite obsolete. There 
appears, however, to be always some trace of them when the 
animal moults. 

This species was supposed by Prof. Richters to be M. ma- 
cronyx, which the adult closely resembles, and under that name 
I have recorded it in various papers. That species lays smooth 
eggs in the moulted skin, and has not the conical processes so 
frequent in M. dispar. 


THE HNCYSTMENT OF MACROBIOTUS. 7 


Pond at Nerston, near Glasgow, 1904; Loch Tay, 1905 ; 
pond near Edinburgh ; Shetland; Franz Josef Land; Spitz- 
bergen. 


Encystment.— The eggs of M. dispar appear to be very 
rare. They have only been seen on three occasions, and only 
once was the embryo seen in the advanced stage of develop- 
ment which led to the discovery of its connection with the adult 
animal. | 

While carefully searching for eggs in a very abundant collec- 
tion of the animals from the pond at Nerston, I noticed many 
little dark-coloured skins, bearing six stumps of limbs without 
claws, which, to my surprise, proved to belong to the Macro- 
biotus. I was thus led to study them carefully, and observed the 
remarkable series of changes which I now recount, 

Most of the animals appeared to be moulting; the normal, 
smooth, transparent skin was loosened, and the animal in its 
new skin could be seen moving inside. This may be regarded as 
an ordinary moult, as many emerged from the old skins, and 
continued the metamorphosis outside. Very often, however, the 
whole process took place within the original skin. After this 
moult the skin of the animal differs from the original skin—it 
is yellow and punctate, while the old skin is hyaline, colourless, 
and smooth. ‘The new skin appears also to be viscous dorsally, 
as there is generally much extraneous matter adhering to the 
back, which becomes of a rich umber colour. Gradually it con- 
tracts, till it is little more than half its original length, but 
remains relatively broad; it assumes a definite form (figs. 3 
and 4), only slightly reminiscent of the adult form; the colour 
darkens till it becomes grey, purple, or well-nigh black ; finally 
it becomes quite rigid, with brittle shagreened skin, and six little 
stumps of legs, without claws (fig. 3). This I call the outer cyst. 
The last legs have been drawn in before the hardening of the 
cyst, so that they do not show conspicuously like the others, and 
the claws of the other legs have also been withdrawn. If one of 
these cysts is squeezed shortly after its formation it breaks up 
and reveals a normal adult, having all the usual organs—claws, 
pharynx, teeth, stomach, eyes, &c. If it is examined at a some- 
what later period it is found that it contains, instead of the adult 


. 


8 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


animal, an elliptical, thick-skinned, yellow body (fig. 4), which I 
call here the inner cyst. f 

This inner cyst is smooth, and has no trace of limbs. It is 
considerably less in size than the outer cyst, in which it lies 
loosely. Just after it is formed it contains a complete animal, 
possessed of all the normal organs. This may be squeezed out, 
and may be seen to move feebly. 

When a large number of cysts were broken up, after the lapse 
of about a week from their first observation, it was found that a 
large proportion of the inner cysts had undergone further change. 
The cyst no longer contained a complete animal. Most of the con- 
spicuous organs had disappeared—claws, pharynx, teeth, &e¢.— 
and the animal would not have been recognized as a Tardigrade 
had its antecedents not been known. Only the pigment-spots, 
commonly called eyes, and the fat-cells in the blood were recog- 
nizable. There was a faint segmentation within the cyst, three 
transverse furrows dividing the body into four nearly equal parts. 
The pigment-spots were very diffuse. 

The animal contained in the inner cyst is so unlike a Tardi- 
erade that I have entertained the idea that it might be some 
parasite—possibly a Turbellarian or other worm. The com- 
plexity of the series of changes by which the final cyst is pro- 
duced, the constant form and size of the outer cyst, and the 
presence of all the organs till the last stage is reached—all tell 
against the theory of parasitism, and lead to the conclusion that 
we have to do with a normal process in the life-history of the 
animal. 

What may be the meaning of these remarkable changes we 
need hardly attempt to guess till the further stages have been 
observed. Cysts of other species have been seen, in which there 
were active animals which I supposed were about to emerge, 
but in view of the history of M. dispar, partly traced above, we 
may rather suppose that these cysts had just been formed, and 
that the process of simplification had not yet taken place. 

Till the full history is known it will remain inexplicable why 
the double moult should take place, the animal at each moult 
assuming a different form; and, finally, why the individual 
should undergo such a profound simplification. The curious 
outer cyst may be regarded not as the result of a moult, but as 


THE HNCYSTMENT OF MACROBIOTUS. 9 


the product of a secretion from the skin. Fragile though it is, 
it may be a sufficient protection to the inner cyst against the 
only enemies likely to be attracted by Water-Bears. 

Extraordinary though it may appear that an animal so high 
in the scale as an Arthropod should lose all its internal organs 
in the course of encystment, a well-known phenomenon in the 
same group (Tardigrada) supports the belief that this really 
happens. Nearly all species of Macrobiotus are known to have 
what Richters calls ‘‘ simplex’? forms. The teeth in these are 
reduced in size, and the rods in the pharynx are absent. Prof. 
Richters appears to have seen no further simplification, but in 
Scotland it is common for the whole alimentary canal in front 
of the stomach, with all its adjuncts, to be absent. There is no 
mouth, no gullet, no teeth, but some trace of the pharyngial 
bulb usually remains. We find large, strong, active animals 
whose stomachs appear distended with food, yet which possess 
no organs for imbibing food. No conclusion seems tenable but 
that reduction must have taken place since the food was imbibed, 
but this explanation is itself inexplicable, and we are further 
puzzled when we find that some eggs produce simplex forms. 

The applicability of the term ‘‘encystment”’ to the process 
which has been described may be questioned, but the word 
*‘ eyst’’ well describes the bodies formed; and, moreover, the 
formation of outer envelopes, within which the whole substance 
of the animal passes into an apparently simpler condition, offers 
sufficient analogy with encystment as we find it in the Protozoa 
to justify the adoption of the term. 

The formation of the cysts was going on in the beginning of 
winter, in October and November. This may indicate that it is, 
like the production of winter-eggs by various animals, a means 
of preserving the species through the rigours of winter. 

M. dispar is the only species in which the complex process 
has been traced so far as the simplex form within the inner cyst. 
Cysts similar to the inner cysts of M. dispar are known in several 
species. Among moss brought by Mr. W. 8. Bruce from Spitz- 
bergen in August, 1906, and examined in September, there were 
many cysts which were shown by the pharynx and claws of the 
contained animal to belong to M. echinogenitus, Richters. More 
recently the formation of the cyst of this species has been seen 


10 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


in examples from a bog-pool in Scotland. There is no outer 
eyst like that of M. dispar. The cyst formed within the moulted 
skin resembles the inner cyst, and contains a complete animal. 
The reduction to the simplex state has not in this instance 
been seen. 

M. dispar is one of the few Tardigrada which have their 
usual habitat in ponds. It is also the most boreal of known 
species, as it was found at an elevation of several hundred feet 
in Franz Josef Land by Mr. Bruce. Whether it is exclusively a 
northern species remains to be seen. At present its southern 
known limit is Scotland, but, in view of the close resemblance 
of the adult animal to M. macronyx, I suspect that some of the 
records made under that name really refer to M. dispar. 

In this country it lives in ponds liable to freeze in winter, 
occasionally at the margins of lakes, and it may be that the 
encystment is correlated with its life in permanent waters. The 
case of M. echinogenitus, cited above, suggests the possibility 
that species which normally live in moss may be induced to form 
cysts when they find themselves amid the different conditions of 
a pond. 

The publication of these observations in their incomplete 
state is made in the hope that other students of the Tardigrada 
may interest themselves in the “‘ encystment,” and that we may 
thus hope for an earlier solution of the problems involved. 


EXpuaNnaTion oF Ficures (p. 5). 
. Adult, dorsal view, showing the conical processes. 
Keg. 
. Outer cyst, showing shagreened surface, and legs. 
. Inner cyst, shown within outline of outer cyst; dorsal view. 
. Tooth, showing the very wide furca. 
(All the figures are drawn to the same scale.) 


or HR oo BO 


Since writing these notes I have received from Prof. Lauter- 
born an interesting little paper, in which he describes a similar 
encystment of Macrobiotus macronyx (Verhand.d. Deutsch. Zool. 


THE ENCYSTMENT OF MACROBIOTUS. 11 


Ges. 1906, p. 267). Prof. Lauterborn’s observations differ from 
mine in many respects, and it may be that the cycle of changes 
is not identical in the two species. It is curious that these two 
Species, which are believed by Prof. Richters to very closely 
resemble each other, yet differ profoundly in the details of repro- 
duction, as shown by the recent discovery of the spiny eggs of 
M. dispar. Prof. Lauterborn also refers to this remarkable pro- 
cess as encystment (Encystierung). Both M. macronyx and M. 
dispar live in ponds, and we might find in this the cause com- 
pelling to the encystment, but M. echinogenitus, which also 
encysts, is not especially a pond-dweller. 


12 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


PROVINCIAL NAMES AND RESORTS OF CERTAIN 
BIRDS IN THE SOUTH OF SCOTLAND. 


By J. R. McCuymont. 


Tue Blackbird is the most abundant of the birds which are 
par excellence singing-birds in that part of Roxburghshire which 
is situated between the Teviot and the Rule. Although it has 
several provincial names, not one of them is Lowland Scotch, for 
Blackie cannot be accounted a provincial name. The love-song 
of the merle is not easily forgotten. It consists of a series of 
crisp and harmonious phrases rendered with great precision and 
distinctness from a lofty branch. The pauses in the song are no 
less eloquent than the melody, and constitute an essential differ- 
ence between its lay and that of other songsters of the fields and 
woods. f 

The Chaffinch is, next to the House-Sparrow, the most 
plentiful of the resident Finches; large parties of them are 
often to be seen in autumn and early winter, picking up a liveli- 
hood on country roads. The Chaffinch is called the Shelfie in 
the south of Scotland. The word is probably an abbreviation of 
sheldapple, and sheldapple is compounded of sheld and dapple ; 
the name was doubtless bestowed on the Chaffinch because of 
the variety of colours in the body-plumage, and of the speckling 
on the wing-coverts of the male. In captivity I have found 
Chaftinches to be sprightly and intelligent birds, playful when 
two are together, assiduous bathers, much given to prying into 
every corner of their habitation, and keenly observant of their - 
owner’s movements. 

In the southern Scottish counties the Sky-Lark begins to 
sing in April, and sings till August. In these counties, “ If the 
lift were to fa’ the laverocks wad be smoored”’ is a proverbial 
saying which is often quoted. It is, I think, not quite certain 
that the words lark and laverock have a common origin and 
history. Laverock has, I believe, been traced to an Icelandic 


PROVINCIAL NAMES OF CERTAIN BIRDS. 13 


word lava, which signifies lark, and also bird in general, as if the 
Lark was the typical bird in Iceland; perhaps lava is connected 
with lavy, which is one of the names of Guillemots in St. Kilda. 
If so, we have an illustration of the fact that closely allied bird- 
names designate different birds in different languages. Lark is 
traced to the Anglo-Saxon word lawerce. Its remoter origin is, 
I believe, unknown. 

Those who have wandered through the environs of Edinburgh 
know the woods to the south of Blackford Hill, which, with the 
return of May, the Cuckoo reanimates with mellow notes. At 
the base of the range of the Pentland Hills, Cuckoos are not 
uncommon. In that locality they place their eggs in the nests 
of Meadow-Pipits, and the young Cuckoos check the numerical 
increase of those birds. ‘‘ You breede of the Gowk you have ay 
but one song” is a word of caution addressed to persons who 
always harp on one string. Gowk appears to be a word of the 
same origin as gawk—a simpleton or a clumsy person—and 
gawky. Gauche, and even cuculus and cuckoo, may be derived 
from the same root as gowk. That root, I believe, is not known, 
but, from the meanings of the derivatives, we may deduce the 
meaning of the root to be left—the contrary of right. The 
Cuckoo may have received the name gowk because it was sup- 
posed to be so clumsy that it could not build a nest. An allusion 
to its annual reappearance in spring may be found in the selec- 
tion of the first day of April as All Fools’ Day, and the expression 
‘*Hunt the Gowk,” and the custom to which that expression 
refers, may contain an allusion to the alleged practice of pro- 
spective or possible foster-parents who are said to hunt adult 
Cuckoos from the vicinity of their nests. We are reminded by 
the custom of those games in which certain Australian tribes 
imitate the movements of wild animals. 

From a shady dell watered by a small affluent of the Teviot, 
I have often heard the cooing of Wood-Pigeons. They are gene- 
rally distributed throughout the southern counties of Scotland, 
in wooded localities, and ‘“‘especially near the Moorfoot Hills, 
where they formerly nested (and perhaps still nest) in scores on 
the low branches of young larches and Scotch firs. In autumn 
they disappear from that locality. Their food consists chiefly 
of the seeds of docks and charlock, and of clover-leaves”’ (A. R. 


14 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


Reid): Their name Cushat was with us contracted into cushie, 
and I have also heard cushie doo. : 

The Lapwing is called the Peeseweep in Roxburghshire ; it is 
the most common limicoline bird in that county, whilst in the 
adjacent county of Selkirk the Curlew is more common. Lap- 
wings may be observed during the summer on unreclaimed land, 
and on hill-pastures, at an elevation of from 1000 ft. to 1500 ft. 
above sea-level, between the Rule and the Jed. Curlew frequent 
the hills which enclose the valley of the Yarrow—low, grass- 
covered, and almost treeless hills, on which Cheviots and other 
small sheep are depastured. The cries of the whaups are singu- 
larly in unison with the monotonous and solitary uplands in 
which they pass the spring and summer. An adage which runs 
‘‘There’s a whaup in the raip”’ is almost unintelligible when 
written thus ; but if we write it ‘‘ There’s a whaup in the rape,’ 
the meaning becomes clear at once. 

In winter Black-headed Gulls (which nest in inland places) 
may be seen in localities at least thirty-five miles inland. If, as 
is probable, they follow the courses of rivers—such as the Tweed 
and its tributaries—the length of their journey is much more 
than thirty-five miles. These Gulls are called pick-maws, a 
compound word in which pick may be connected with pica and 
pie; maw is said to be a variant of mew. Thus the whole word 
may signify ‘‘ pied gull,’ and may have originally been employed 
to denote Black-backed Gulls, especially Larus marinus, and 
have been transferred to the Black-headed Gull. 


I am indebted to Mr. Arthur R. Reid (Hobart), formerly a 
resident of Haster Duddingston, near Edinburgh, for the par- 
ticulars which follow relating to the local distribution of certain 
species. Mr. Reid’s communication relates to the eleven years 
extending from 1877 to 1887, and it is, of course, possible that 
some of the localities mentioned in it are no longer frequented 
by the species herein named :— 

Mr. Reid observed Ring-Ouzels in Peeblesshire and Mid- 
lothian on various occasions during the period which I have 
defined ; Stonechats in the latter county ; Goldcrests frequently 
in Bute, and occasionally in Midlothian ; Spotted Flycatchers 
at Easter Duddingston, where, in 1887, they were plentiful, and 


PROVINCIAL NAMES OF CERTAIN BIRDS. 15 


were seen nesting ; Tree-Creepers frequently, and Tree-Sparrows 
and Bramblings occasionally, in Midlothian; Twites on the 
Pentland and Hildon Hills; Reed-Buntings rarely, and Snow- 
Buntings with some frequency, in Midlothian; one pair of 
Ravens on the Moorfoot Hills ; Hooded Crows near Musselburgh ; 
Wood-Larks nesting near Portobello, and, near Melrose, two 
Green Woodpeckers. Wigeon and Common Scoters frequent 
the Mussel Scaup near Musselburgh in winter; Rock-Pigeons 
nest on the coast of Haddingtonshire; Ringed Sand Plovers, 
Dunlins, Common Redshanks, and Greenshanks are plentiful on 
the southern shore of the Firth of Forth in winter, and Mr. Reid 
found a nest of the Common Redshank in Strathallan, in Perth- 
shire, in 1884. The same observer shot a Purple Sandpiper on 
Craigentinny meadows between Leith and Portobello, and has 
seen a few Whimbrels at the Mussel Scaup, and Sandwich and 
Little Terns in the same locality. Three Great Northern Divers 
were shot in the Firth of Forth, near Portobello, in 1883, by 
Mr. KE. Johnston, and a Great Crested Grebe has been shot on 
Duddingston Loch. 

Of birds which are not known to me in Britain, Mr. Reid 
has seen Fieldfares, Mealy Redpolls, and Firecrests in Mid- 
lothian, and the last-named birds in Bute also; a Firecrest was 
shot near Musselburgh in 1885 by Mr. W. Logan. Golden-eyed 
Ducks have been seen frequently at the Mussel Scaup; a Grey 
Plover was shot by Mr. Reid near Dunbar in 1887, and a Turn- 
stone—one of a flock of about twenty—was shot near Mussel- 
burgh in 1885. Jack-Snipe and Bar-tailed Godwits have been 
observed in the same locality on several occasions. 


I add a few corrections to my paper on ‘‘Names of Birds of 
uncertain Origin or Meaning” (Zool. 1906) :—Page 272, line 11 
and line 17, instead of “‘alcatroz” read ‘‘alcatraz”; p. 278, 
line 8, instead of ‘‘ductus”’ read ‘‘Auctus.” In order to make 
the meaning clearer, read ‘‘ moreover”’ instead of ‘‘ however”’ in 
line 17 on p. 272. 


Hobart, Tasmania. 


16 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


HABITS AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE YOUNG OF 
THE SPOTTED SALAMANDER (SALAMANDRA 


MACULOSA). 
By G. T. Ropg. 


TuouaH I have for years kept a few of these handsome and 
interesting batrachians, they have never, except in one instance, 
produced young ones until this summer, when a number of tad- 
poles were born. 

As these were kept under pretty close observation, a slight 
sketch of their early life may not perhaps be unacceptable to 
some readers of ‘ The Zoologist.’ 

During April I received three adult Salamanders, two of 
which must, it seems, have been females. They were kept in a 
vivarium or reptile-case fitted with a zinc tank. The floor was 
covered with a layer of earth about two inches deep, on which 
were laid old mossy gnarled stumps and bits of branches, more 
or less hollow, rough stones, moss, &c. All three animals were 
in excellent health, and fed well. 

On May 3rd I found three tadpoles in the water-tank, and at 
once removed them to another vessel. 

Mr. Bateman, in his excellent and very useful work, ‘The 
Vivarium,’ describing the development of the young of this 
species, says :—‘‘ The fore legs of the tadpoles will be produced 
first, then the hind ones, and, lastly, the external gills are 
absorbed.” Bearing this in mind, and having had but little 
previous experience of the breeding and development of S. macu- 
losa, I was not a little surprised to find that my tadpoles were 
all born with four legs. They were kept in a large enamelled 
bowl with a two-inch rim of tin soldered round the edge, and 
slanting inwards, to prevent their escape; for towards the close 
of tadpolehood they become expert and persistent climbers, and 
can easily ascend a smooth enamelled surface, even where it is 
perpendicular. Their bowl was fitted up as an aquarium, with 


YOUNG OF THE SPOTTED SALAMANDER. W/ 


an island in the middle, and a few plants of frogbit and water- 
cress. 

On the 19th another young one was born, and on the 24th 
three more made their appearance. A further batch of four was 
produced on the 29th, followed by six more on the 30th. These 
last were found on land, or rather on wet mud, not in the 
water-tank, and were at the time all dead except two, which 
showed signs of life, and, being put into water, soon completely 
revived. 

As there is an interval of nearly four weeks between the birth 
of the first and last batches, these tadpoles could not have been 
the offspring of a single mother, and even if two females had a 
share in their production, it is curious that the whole progeny of 
each should not have been born at or near the same time, instead 
of making its appearance in varying quantities at intervals dis- 
tributed over a considerable period. 

I find that, according to my notes, the total number of tad- 
poles on May 30th was twenty-three ; I must, therefore, have 
omitted to jot down one birth. 

This number of young ones being too large for the home 
prepared for them, some were put into a pond in a plantation 
near the house. Those retained in the bowl were supplied with 
food by adopting the ingenious method recommended by Mr. 
Bateman, viz. by procuring from a ditch some-water containing 
minute forms of animal life in abundance, and then, by means 
of a syphon and some muslin, straining away a part of the 
water, and using the remainder for feeding purposes. A portion 
of this was given to the young Salamanders every morning. 

On May 18th, there being then only three tadpoles just over 
a week old, I offered them some very small earthworms, which 
they at once seized with great eagerness, and in a short time 
succeeded in swallowing. After this they were supplied with 
worms whenever any could be found small enough. In taking 
their prey their motions were exceedingly violent and rapid ; in 
fact, they went at it with headlong fury. They would follow 
and seize the point of a wire held in front of them, and two of 
them would sometimes make a simultaneous rush at the same 
worm, seizing opposite ends. In fact, their behaviour much 
resembled that of hungry Newts in the presence of their food. 

Zool. 4th ser. vol. XI., January, 1907. Cc 


18 hh THE ZOOLOGIST. 


At first it was no easy task to find enough worms small enough 
for them to swallow, but this difficulty eradually sey gpaeat as 
they grew bigger. 

‘When first born the young Salamander has a long fish-like 
body, but after a few weeks it grows stouter, and becomes more 
distinct from the tail. 

These little creatures are very clever at concealing them- 
selves, taking advantage, for this purpose, of the smallest 
shadows cast by such objects as weeds, stones, &c., and are very 
fond of lying close alongside some stone or bit of brick, or, if 
possible, partly under it; acting, in this respect, exactly as the 
Common Stone Loach does. 

On July 2nd I noticed that some of them were beginning to 
acquire the adult colouring, both colour and markings, however, 
being at first indistinct, and only suggested, as it were. In fact, 
it is not until they have left the water, and entered upon a more 
or less terrestrial life, that the brilliant black and yellow livery 
is perfected. The change of form from the tadpole to the adult 
state is rapidly accomplished. The eyes of these creatures 
during the larval stage of existence are quite small and incon- 
spicuous, but after undergoing their change these organs become 
large, black, and shining, as in full-grown examples. In spite 
of the small size of the eyes, however, these tadpoles are 
remarkably adroit in catching their very nimble prey. 

For some days after coming on land the young Salamanders 
took no notice of worms placed before them, but would occa- 
sionally go into the water and feed rapidly on the small living 
creatures it contained, snapping right and left at those which 
passed within reach. They did not, however, remain in the 
water long. 

On July 16th two more young Salamanders took to the land, 
and at that date only two were left in the water as tadpoles. On 
the 29th one of the latter was resting at the bottom of the bowl, 
and a small water-beetle about one-fourth of the size of a lady- 
bird was rushing;wildly about, going at a great pace. The tad- 
pole made a lightning-like grab at it as it swept past, and caught, 
but almost immediately let it go again. 

On July 20th one young Salamander measured two inches in 
length. 


YOUNG OF THE SPOTTED SALAMANDER. 19 


A handful of chickweed (frequently renewed) was placed on 
the island, and in this the little animals were almost always to 
be found, climbing about the labyrinth of moist leaves. 

On Aug. 8th the larger of the two tadpoles still living in the 
water finally left it, and climbed up to the top of the island to 
hide in the bunch of chickweed. This individual differed in 
some respects from its fellows. In size it surpassed them all, 
being nearly double that of the one remaining tadpole. The head 
was large and wide in proportion to the rest of the body, and, 
after completing its metamorphosis, this Salamander became of 
a dull pale yellow tint, with very little black, whereas the rest 
were brightly coloured, and prettily and distinctly marked. 
When in the larval state it would sometimes swallow two worms 
in quick succession, but as its change approached it became very 
dull and lethargic, refusing worms placed close in front of it. 

On the 22nd the last tadpole—a very small one—was first 
noticed to show signs of entering upon the final stage of existence, 
the upper surfaces of the thighs having begun to turn yellow. 
On the 24th the characteristic dark patch between the eyes and 
the two dorsal rows of yellow spots or patches could be made out, 
but as yet only indistinctly. By the 29th the upper arms, as well 
as the thighs, had become yellow above. 

On Sept. 3rd this young Salamander, having completed its 
change, came on land, and concealed itself in the chickweed. 
After a few days it was placed in the vivarium, to which the 
rest had already been transferred, and soon afterwards I found 
them all (the newcomer included) closely congregated together 
under the same piece of bark. At this period of their lives these 
little batrachians certainly appear to be socially inclined, for 
they huddle together in their hiding-places, one on the top of 
another, like pigs. Yet one or two of mine would sometimes be 
found lying up singly in a separate retreat. 

I have not found any of their cast-off skins, but that the 
operation was generally performed very soon after the meta- 
morphosis I have little doubt, judging from the sudden change 
from dull obscurity to great brilliance of colour and distinctness 
of markings. Before the old skin is shed, and its owner has as 
yet left the water, there is, as before stated, a faint indication 
discernible through its semi-transparent substance of the future 


C2 


< 


20 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


arrangement of black and yellow markings. In the case of a 
single young Salamander, born on June 6th, 1889, which 
acquired the adult form and colour about the second day of 
August following, the cast-off skin was found on that day entire 
and in the water. 

The young animals born during the past summer hardly ever 
leave their hiding-places to roam about at night, or take a bath, 
as it is the habit of their elders to do at times all through the 
winter. They have also taken very little food since October, 
though up to Noy. 26th, when the smallest of them devoured a 
comparatively large worm, they have continued to feed occa- 
sionally. 

The pale yellow individual described above measured, on 
Nov. 10th, exactly three inches, another of them being only just 
under that length. Assuming that these two were born on May 
drd, when the first tadpoles were produced, and which is most 
probable, their age would be just over six months and three 
weeks, but they may of course have been born later. 

On lifting the piece of bark under which they now live, on 
the evening of Dec. 13th, I found one young Salamander hungry 
enough to devour a worm offered it. They do not seem to object 
to the light of a lamp or candle being suddenly thrown upon 
them, unless the source of light be brought nearer to them than 
a foot or eighteen inches. They greatly disliked being touched 
by a beetle which found its way into the vivarium. If, while 
rambling about, this insect happened to come in contact with 
one of them, the little Salamander would jerk itself aside as if 
much annoyed, and make off at a pretty quick pace. 


(21) 


THE OCCURRENCE OF THE GLOSSY IBIS AND LONG- 
TAILED DUCK IN NORTH DEVON, WITH OTHER 
ORNITHOLOGICAL NOTES. 


By Bruce F. Cumminas. 


Axsout the beginning of September, 1906, a Glossy Ibis (Ple- 
gadis falcinellus) was shot on the River Taw near Fremington. I 
first learnt of the occurrence of this rarity from the Barnstaple 
taxidermist, who is preserving the bird. It seems that it was shot 
by a gentleman named Martin, living at Muddlebridge House, 
Fremington, but unfortunately my efforts in getting any exact 
details have so far been unavailing. It stands high on the legs, 
which are greenish black, with long slender toes. The bill is 
thick and stout, dull black, with the base of the lower mandible 
yellowish, as in the Whimbrel. The neck is long and slim, of a 
muddy brown colour, with white speckles. Head coloured ditto. 
Whole under surface muddy brown. Back, rump, upper tail- 
coverts, and tail black, with a beautiful greenish gloss. Wings 
similarly coloured, but more of a dull black, Ithought. I believe 
it was as long ago as 1869 that the last specimen occurred in 
North Devon. 

On Nov. 13th of the same year an immature specimen of the 
Long-tailed Duck (Harelda glacialis) was shot on our river, after 
heavy weather, off Instow. ‘The two elongated tail-feathers were 
in this specimen only half an inch beyond the end of the rest of 
the tail; ear-coverts greyish black, crown of head blackish, fore- 
head black, with a black line running from the base of the bill to 
the crown. Bill greenish, with blackish tip. Total length, 16 in. 
When first seen it was by itself on the river in some narrow guts. 
On being flushed it made for the open river, where it long eluded 
its pursuer by diving. 

This autumn (1906) has been remarkable for the large flights 
of Terns that have appeared on the estuary from time to time, 
roughly, between the end of August and end of October. I saw 


22 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


large numbers near Barnstaple, but they did not venture far up 
the riverasarule. They were mostly, I believe, Common Terns 
—at all events, those which were shot and shown to me were 
Common Terns, although, from descriptions given me by 
fishermen of others shot, a few Sandwich Terns would appear 
to have been secured. One Little Tern was also shot. I am 
sorry to say that they were killed in great numbers for ladies’ 
hats, and other reasons equally foolish; a few certainly did 
escape ! . 

Grey Plovers have also been very common. First seen on 
Oct. 10th, and at the time of writing (Nov. 3rd) they are still with 
us, but in diminished numbers. 

On Nov. 7th a Hooded Crow, which Mr. W. 8. M. d’Urban 
states to be a rare straggler to this coast, was shot on the Taw 
near Barnstaple. It is a fine full-grown bird, and is being pre- 
served. It was first said to be a “black and white Rook.” 

April 1st.—A Mistle-Thrush found with its legs entangled in 
some wool, with which it was going to build its nest. Since, I 
have discovered a young Greenfinch hanging to the outside of its 
nest, with one of its legs caught up in a horsehair-loop. Acci- 
dents of this kind to birds which line their nests with wool and 
horsehair seem to be so frequent that one wonders that their use 
as nesting materials has not been ere now discarded. 

14th.—For several days past I have been watching a pair of 
Common Wild Ducks courting and nesting among the marram- 
grass on Braunton Burrows. Peewits nesting in hundreds. 

18th.—Saw a fine male Shoveler or Spoonbill Duck. This 
species was first brought to my notice by a gamekeeper some 
two years ago. He said he had a couple of ‘‘ Spoonbills breed- 
ing over yonder.” Spoonbills! Imagine my surprise. ‘‘ Have 
you?” LI eagerly asked; ‘‘ by Jove, they’re rare birds.”’ “‘ Yes, 
sir, they are’; and then, as if attempting to show a little 
sympathy with my excitement, “‘and ’tis a beautiful duck.” 
“Duck?” said 1; ‘‘ why, yes, of course, a—er—er—duck!” I 
have it on good authority that a pair have bred in Devon on a 
secluded pond for the past three years. .On one occasion the 
female was observed sitting on her nest, so there could have 
been no mistake. However, this spring no nest has actually 
been found, but a pair, I have been told, are in the neighbour- 


ORNITHOLOGICAL NOTES FROM NORTH DEVON. 23 


hood, though I myself have not yet noticed the female. As a 
breeding bird I believe it is a new species for Devon. 

30th.—Yellow Wagtails in large numbers on Braunton Bur- 
rows. With us it is only a passing visitor, and not particularly 
common. Also distinguished one or two White Wagtails near 
the sea. The Grey Wagtail breeds here pretty commonly, in 
holes in bridges and walls, &. During the early morning, amid 
very grand and imposing scenery, I watched an interesting 
skirmish between a Peregrine Falcon and a pair of Ravens. 
Corvus corax got served rather roughly. The daring little 
Falcon, calling angrily, kept stooping, but the old Ravens 
always managed to flop out of the way somehow. Eventually 
the Ravens were defeated, but they did not exactly retreat, or 
surrender—they lazily faced out the fury of the Peregrine, with- 
out attempting to retaliate.’ 

May 15th.—A nest of the Short-eared Owl found on Braunton 
Burrows. Probably a pair breed there every year, but the nest 
is often destroyed. This is a great pity, for, as is very well 
known, it is a most useful bird, and a very beautiful one, too.. 
As you approach the nest the hen bird flies off it, and, joining 
the male, which has by this time put in an appearance, both 
‘‘park”’ and scream and hover over the head of the intruder in a 
very threatening way. This nest contained seven eggs. The 
young hatched out, but were taken and apparently killed before 
they were half-fledged. Ring-Plovers are breeding on all the 
inland pebble-beaches on the Burrows. I have not found 
one, this year, on the shore. I obtained a very curious egg 
from one nest situated on a small mossy mound. Its ground 
colour is very pale blue, with one big black blotch at the 
larger end; the rest of its surface nearly spotless. All four 
eggs in the clutch had this faint blue ground colour, and were 
somewhat larger than the ordinary Ring-Plover’s egs. 

28th.—‘A white Blackbird seen at Santon’ (‘North Devon — 
Journal’). 

29th.—Two Nightjars’ nests among the bracken on the sand- 
hills at Santon. Of the two eggs laid by this bird, one is gener- 
ally larger than the other. Is there any foundation for the 
statement that the large egg contains a male bird, and the 
smaller a female? The adults do not vary in size, I believe. 


24 : THE ZOOLOGIST. 


Goldfinches are becoming much commoner in North Devon, 
according to my observation of the past eight months. This 
evening I saw a caged Peregrine, which had been found in 
almost a dying condition beside a dead Pigeon, which it evidently 
had been tearing abroad. On examination, the feathers of the 
Pigeon (a worthless Homer) were discovered to be smeared with 
poison. No doubt it was sent up by a Pigeon-fancier, in hopes 
of getting rid of some of his winged vermin ; but this victim was 
found in time, and has completely recovered. I hope to induce 
its owner to release it. Buzzards can be seen in the woods near 
Ilfracombe, Lynton, Barnstaple, and along the sea-cliffs at Baggy 
Point, Hele, and Combe Martin. 

31st.—Watched a brood of Sheld-Ducks. They were about 
the size of Little Grebes or smaller, white, brownish black on 
the head, and dull brown blotches on the body, with the chest 
white, and bill lead-colour. They dive with ease, much to the 
discomfort of the attentive hen-bird. When under water they 
only use their feet, the wings being kept close in to the body ; 
the legs and feet are worked forwards and backwards, reaching 
far out beyond the extremity of the tail in the backward motion. 
To an observer watching their movements when diving, these 
little birds present a weird appearance. They look perhaps 
more like Hippocampi, or Sea-Horses, than anything else, or 
like huge Frogs. As soon as they reach the surface they 
become, as if by magic, transformed into little Sheld-Ducks 
again. 

June 4th.—At Croyde Bay picked up a fresh specimen of the 
Manx Shearwater, washed in by the tide. The colony of 
Herring-Gulls at Baggy Point is in a very thriving condition, 
and large numbers of Gulls are now nesting there. We noticed 
also a pair of Lesser Black-backs on the cliffs with a nest and 
three eggs, which the hen-bird was brooding. Apparently the 
eggs of the Lesser Black-back and those of the Herring-Gull are 
exactly similar. 

9th —Red-backed Shrike with six young birds in a thorn-bush 
at Braunton. 

July 18th.— Golden-crested Wren sitting on five fresh eggs in 
a larch-tree. 

August 22nd.—Visited Lundy Island. Puffins have gone, 


ORNITHOLOGICAL NOTES FROM NORTH DEVON. 25 


Guillemots and Kittiwakes numerous, and a large flock of 
Terns. 

28th.—At Lundy again. All the birds except the Herring- 
Gulls departed. 

September 14th.—A few Whimbrel on the Taw; also a pair 
of Greenshanks—a rare bird in North Devon. Rescued an 
exhausted Guillemot from the river to-day. It could not move 
any part of its body except its neck, which it feebly turned round 
when I approached it from behind. Three weeks after this a 
Heron was brought to me, which had been caught when in appa- 
rently the same helpless condition. It was extremely emaciated. 
I cannot account for this, as the weather has been very mild 
here up to the present. 

18th.—Common Gulls in some numbers on the river. A 
Curlew-Sandpiper has been frequenting the Taw for some 
weeks past. It was very tame, allowing me to examine it well. 
Redshanks and Bar-tailed Godwit fairly plentiful this year, 
but the former is never common, and is much rarer than it used 
to be. 

30th.—A Little Stint has been shot on the river near Barn- 
staple, and a Puffin in the bay néar Appledore. Razorbills and 
Guillemots are seen commonly in the summer months off the 
north coast of Devon, but Puffins rarely, and none of them so late 
in the year as was this specimen. Little Grebes and Kingfishers 
returned to the estuary to winter. 

October 12th.—A Cormorant shot at Black Torrington, about 
twelve miles from the coast; it was discovered by some local 
gunners perched on the church-tower, some sixty feet high. 

13th.—A Green Sandpiper for a fortnight past has been 
observed continually on the ponds and guts in the marshes ad- 
joining the river near Fremington. 

14th.—The Kingfisher has to alter its tactics when fishing in 
the estuary. There are no convenient boughs where it can sit 
and watch, so it hovers over the water after the fashion of the 
Kestrel, and on seeing a fish darts down in the usual manner. I 
saw a pair off the coast at Down End Point, Santon, fishing in 
this way. They were very noisy, screaming continually, and 
seemed to be quite unaccustomed to the big waves. They often 
had to move suddenly to escape a severe ducking. It was strange 


26 “oe  - THE ZOOLOGIST. 


to see this inland bird at the seaside, but North Devon scenery 
is noted for its wonderful combination of sylvan beauty with 
the splendour of the beetling sea-cliffs. At Heddon’s Mouth, 
where a little mountain stream empties itself into the sea, I 
have seen even Dippers perched about on the boulders on the 
shore. 

21st.—Two Little Stints on the river. They remained till 
about Noy. 12th. 

November 18th.—Stormy. Four Grey Phalaropes on the 
mud-flats off Pottington Point. 

December 27th.—A rather heavy fall of snow, causing an 
immense number of birds to seek the shelter of the valleys. 
Peewits were in thousands, and hundreds were shot. Golden 
Plover, Thrushes, Redwings, Starlings, and Fieldfares in very 
large flocks. The latter bird is not often seen here except after 
extreme cold. Several Bramblings with the Chaffinches at Taw- 
stock Woods, and there were one or two small flocks of them 
near Knowle, Braunton. A few Wild Geese seen flying westwards 
over the estuary of the Taw. 


( 27 ) 


NOTES AND QUERIES. 


MAMMALIA. 


An Apparent Instance of the Hereditary Transmission of a Muti- 
lation in the Domestic Cat.— When lately on a visit to a connection of 
mine, who lives at Penn Grove, Hereford, I noticed a yellow tom-Cat, 
apparently tailless, but found that there existed a short stump, scarcely 
noticeable. On enquiry I learned the following particulars :—His 
mother was of a tortoiseshell colour, and belonged also to my friend, 
and was born at the house with a full-sized tail, which was bitten off 
when she was a kitten of from twelve to fourteen days old. His 
father’s tail was of full length, but was broken in a door, and, though 
not truncated, became thenceforward limp and trailing. In due course 
of time the tortoiseshell-Cat gave birth to a single kitten (the above 
yellow tom-Cat that I saw), which when born had only a mere vestige 
of a tail as at present. The mother was then lost, so that no particu- 
lars can be given as to any subsequent progeny she may have had. 
The owner of these Cats is unaware of there having been any Manx 
strain in either parent, both of whom, however, as I have above stated, 
had been provided with the normal appendage ; nor was it known that 

any Manx Cats had lived in the neighbourhood. Further than this, it 
is a remarkable fact that I find the yellow tailless tom-Cat to which I 
refer, son of these two mutilated parents, was the father of three 
kittens last year by a Cat who is provided with a proper tail, two of 
which kittens were born without tails, and the third, like its mother, 
with a tail_W. F. pz Vismes Kans (Drumleaske House, Monaghan). 


 Stoat and Ferret Hybrids.—Mr. G. T. Rope will find his queries 
(Zool. 1906, p. 468) to some extent answered, if he will refer to 
P.Z.S. 1899, p. 2. Portraits of a specimen (in my collection) are 
published in ‘ Kton Nature-Study and Observational Lessons,’ by 
Messrs. M. D. Hill, M.A., and W. M. Webb, F.L.8. (London: Duck- 
worth & Co., 1908), vol. i. p. 87, from photographs specially taken for 
that work, under the direction of Mr. Webb; and these portraits are 
reproduced in an article by Mr. Webb in a magazine entitled ‘ The 
World’s Work and Play’ (Heinemann) for April, 1906. In March 


28 THE 4ZOOLOGIST. 


and April, 1899, I sent specimens which had died to Mr. F. G. 
Parsons, F.L.8., &c., of St. Thomas’s Hospital, who was good 
enough to take a great deal of trouble in the endeavour to arrive 
at a conclusion as to their pedigree by dissection, but unfortunately 
without any very definite result. So far as it goes, however, it is against 
their hybrid origin. In September of the above year, Mr. Parsons 
wrote :—‘ I have carefully examined the soft parts of several Stoats, 
Polecats, and Ferrets, as well as your suspected hybrids. Unfortu- 
nately the anatomy of these animals is so much alike that I have only 
negative results. Once or twice I have thought that I had found a 
definite anatomical difference, but on dissecting other animals of the 
same species I have found that it was merely an individual variation. 
The result of all this work so far is that I have acquired an accurate 
knowledge of the anatomy of these Mustelide, and am impressed with 
the near relationship between the Stoats and Ferrets. In consequence 
of this I am quite ready to believe that these animals might breed 
together.” Mr. Parsons goes on to say that he was in hopes that some 
result might be obtained from the osteology, and was therefore having 
_ skeletons prepared. In November of the same year Mr. Parsons 
wrote :—‘‘ I have now had the bones of your specimens prepared, and 
have carefully compared them. The hybrids you sent correspond in 
every particular to Polecats, and have no Stoat-like characteristics. I 
have taken the skull to Mr. Oldfield Thomas, .... who compared it 
with a large collection, and was quite of my opinion. There is one 
point in which the soft parts of Stoats and Polecats differed materiaily, ° 
and that was in the proportionate length of the intestine to the body 
length. In three Stoats the intestine was 3°5, 3°75, 3:4 times as long 
as the body. In two Polecats it was 4:8 and 4'7 times as long. In one 
Ferret it was 5°7 as long. In your hybrid (one was too decomposed) 
it was 4°7, again corresponding closely with the Polecat. Of course 
this does not disprove the fact that a Stoat may have had something 
to do with their origin, only that no Stoat-like characters (as far as I 
can tell) have been transmitted.” A great number of people, including 
some thoroughly ‘‘ competent naturalists,’ have seen specimens in my 
menagerie in the course of the last nine years, but I should not feel at 
liberty to quote, even if I remembered accurately, the opinion of each ; 
but I may say that I have received many most eulogistic ‘“ unsolicited 
testimonials”” concerning examples which I have sent away, while only 
in four instances has any doubt been expressed as to their being really 
of hybrid origin. If Mr. Rope, or any other brother ‘‘ naturalist,” 
can find his way here (when the days are somewhat longer and more 
genial), I shall be delighted to let them form their own opinions from 


NOTES AND QUERIES. 29 


such examples as I may then possess. — ALFRED Henxace Cocks (Poy- 
netts, Skirmett, near Henley-on-Thames). 


Is the Weasel a Native of Ireland P—A period of twenty-nine years 
has now elapsed since this question was discussed in the pages of ‘ The 
Zoologist’ for 1877, and yet, up to the present date, has not been 
decided in the affirmative, because none of the persons who alleged 
they had seen Weasels in Ireland have sustained and corroborated 
their statements by the production of an Irish-killed specimen in the 
flesh, with an authentic record of the dates and localities of capture. 
While in proof of its not being a native, we have the fact of there not 
being a specimen in any of the public museums, nor, as far as | am 
aware of, in any private collection either ; and also our best naturalists 
did not believe in its being a native. The late Dr. Ball, (I believe the 
first) Director of the Dublin Museum, never saw an Irish specimen. 
Neither did the late William Thompson, of Belfast, who, writing to me 
as far back as Sept. 28th, 1851, says: ‘‘ The Weasel is not known as 
an Irish animal.” My old and valued friends, the late Dr. A. Carte 
and Mr. A. G. More, both for many years Directors of the Dublin 
Museum, never saw one. Neither did my old friend Dr. J. R. Harvey, 
of Cork, who during a long life accumulated the finest collection of 
natural history specimens in the South of Ireland; and he, writing to 
me in September, 1877, says: ‘‘I never saw the Weasel in Ireland, 
and I don’t believe we have it. JI have had over and over again to 
prove to people that what they thought to be Weasels were in reality 
Stoats, and, like yourself, have still to-look for the pleasure of behold- 
ing an Irish Weasel.’’ So the matter rested in 1877. However, in 
‘The Zoologist’ for 1894, the question again turned up in a very in- 
teresting article by Mr. J. EK. Harting, ‘‘ On the Weasel and its Habits ’’ 
(pages 417 and 445), when, after speaking of it in England and Scot- 
land, he quotes from letters of various correspondents asserting they 
had seen Weasels in various parts of Ireland—some promising speci- 
mens, but, as far as I am aware, none were produced in evidence of 
their statements. I have never met a specimen myself, and have 
questioned shooting men, keepers, rabbit-trappers, &c., in various parts 
of the country, but never could obtain satisfactory proof of a Weasel 
being obtained by any of them. However, as rabbit-trapping has 
become so universal and widespread for the past thirty years through- 
out Ireland wherever there are burrows of any extent, it is manifestly 
iutpossible that this little animal could exist in the country without 
some specimens being taken along with the numbers of Stoats trapped 
every season.—Rosert Warren (Moy View, Ballina). 


30 ' THE ZOOLOGIST. 


Otters in the Hampshire Avon.—Twice during 1906—viz. spring 
and autumn—the Otter-hounds visited this neighbourhood, and, 
although comparatively unsuccessful in their quest, as far as ‘‘ kill- 
ing’’ is concerned, it must not be supposed that Otters have become 
scarce. Possibly the river is unsuitable for hunting, either from its 
depth or width or currents, but for some reason best known to the 
‘¢ craft ’’ the waters of the Avon are not hunted, and it is the smaller 
streams or brooks to which the ‘“‘ sport”’ is confined; but the banks of 
the main stream often bear unmistakable traces of the so-called ‘“ sly, 
goose-footed prowler,”’ and it is not long since two young. Otters— 
larger than terriers—were caught in a garden near the river, and their 
‘¢ holt’ was discovered not far off underneath one of the bridges close 
to Ringwood. During August and September I knew of three Otters 
—two males and a female—having been either shot or trapped within 
a mile of each other, the smallest weighing eighteen pounds, whilst the 
largest turned the scale at twenty-seven pounds, and measured fifty- 
one inches in length; and on one occasion a duck-shooter, whilst 
waiting in the ‘‘ gloaming’’ for the evening flight, saw two large Otters 
swimming and diving in the water only a few yards from him. A short 
time ago a local newspaper contained an account of a prolonged and 
fierce battle which took place, one morning in October, between two 
large Otters, in the river at Fordingbridge, and was witnessed by a 
number of spectators, who watched the fight for nearly an hour, the 
combatants still continuing the encounter as they passed down the 
stream, beneath the bridge on which the people were standing. These 
were stated to be two dog Otters weighing twenty-five pounds each, 
but how the sex or weight was ascertained it saith not.—G. B. Corzin 
(Ringwood). 

Common Seal on the Coast of Somerset.—On Dec. 17th last I saw 
a full-grown Common Seal (Phoca vitulina) close into the rocks here 
at high tide. Seals on this part of the Somerset coast are, I believe, 
of very rare occurrence.—H. Meyrick (Clevedon, Somerset). 


AVES. 


Ring-Ouzel in Surrey.—With reference to Mr. Mouritz’s note on ~ 
the Ring-Ouzel seen in Richmond Park on Sept. 10th, 1905 (Zool. 
1906, p. 434), my own records of the bird’s appearance in Surrey 
during that year may be of interest. They are as follows :—On April 
29th I noticed a Ring-Ouzel on the common-land in the neighbourhood 
of Chart. The bird was very wild, and on my approach flew away into 
some pine-woods, where I lost sight of it. On Sept. 24th I again met 


NOTES AND QUERIES. 31 


with the species, when a single bird was observed among some tall 
bushes growing near a mill-pond at-Oxted. A week later two birds (I - 
think a pair) were noticed on the North Downs, near Woldingham. 
These autumn migrants were quite as wild as the bird seen near Chart 
in the spring, but those on the downs I was able to watch through a 
glass for a considerable time, owing to the open nature of the country 
they were frequenting. Very rarely did any of these Ring-Ouzels turn 
the white breast-band towards me when they alighted, as if aware of 
its conspicuous appearance. I agree with Mr. Mouritz that this Thrush 
is a very rare visitor to Surrey, for, although I have rambled about a 
good deal in different parts of the county, until last year I had never 
met with the species. Although I have watched carefully for the bird 
during the present year (1906), I am unable to record a single instance 
of its appearance.—C. H. Benruam (‘‘ Keymer,” Hast Hill Road, Oxted, 
Surrey). . thay 


Chaffinches, Greenfinches, and Yellowhammers.— With reference to 
Mr. Robert Warren’s interesting account of the ‘‘ Disappearance of 
many of our Home-bred Birds in Autumn” (Zool. 1906, p. 459), I 
have for some years observed the disappearance in autumn—generally 
about the latter part of September—of local-bred Chaffinches, Green- 
finches, and Yellowhammers in this part of Northumberland, to be 
followed later by an influx of others, evidently of a more northern race. 
I have also noticed that during the winter months there are far more 
male Chaffinches to be seen than females, and I believe it was owing 
to this that Linnzeus named it celebs, or ‘“‘ bachelor finch.’”’ About the 
latter part of October we often have large flocks of Greenfinches, but 
they soon disappear, or become dispersed. — J. 8. T. Watton (Sunni- 
side, Stocksfield-on-Tyne). 


Arctic Redpoll (Linota hornemanni) in Midlothian.—On Dec. 29th, 
1906, I had a brief but clear glimpse of an Arctic Redpoll as it flew 
northward over a clearing on a wooded hill near Kdinburgh. The 
lower parts were white, the flanks unstriped, and the upper parts, when 
they came into view, had a greyish white appearance. The occurrence 
of this representative of an arctic species, coupled with the unusual 
‘arrival of some Mealy Redpolls at the same place, after a period of 
northerly gales and severe snowstorms, is not without significance.— 
J. M. Dewar (24, Lauriston Place, Edinburgh). 


Short-eared Owl in Staffordshire.—Authentic records of the Short- 
eared Owl in Staffordshire are few. Mr. HK. Brown says (1863), 
«* Many killed in the Burton district at beginning of winter” (‘ Nat. 


32 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


Hist. of Tutbury,’ p. 92). Garner only says, ‘‘ frequent ”’ (‘ Nat. Hist. 
of Staffordshire,’ p. 272), and Dr. McAldowie gives a few instances 
only (‘ Birds of Staffordshire,’ p. 88); so that a recent occurrence of 
this bird in the county is worth recording. On Dec. 19th last, when 
cover-shooting at Whiston Eaves, near Cheadle, a bird of this species 
was flushed from off the ground by one of the beaters, and identified 
by Mr. K. W. H. Blagg and myself as a Short-eared Owl (Asto accipi- 
trinus, Pallas). The bird was, Iam happy to say, not shot at.—Joun 
R. B. Maserietp (Rosehill, Cheadle, Staffordshire). 


Pernis apivorus in Montgomeryshire.—An immature female Honey- 
Buzzard was inadvertently shot by a keeper at Kerry, near Mont- 
gomery, on June 21st, 1906. This is the only example recorded in the 
county, and in the whole of North Wales the species has been known 
to occur only seven or eight times.—H. H. Forrest. 


Gadwall (Anas strepera) in Shropshire.—On Dec. 9th last there 
was a drake Gadwall on the lake in Hawkstone Park. It was swim- 
ming with a small party of Mallards about fifty yards from where I ~ 
stood. At that distance the close wavy markings on the neck, mantle, 
and sides of the body suggested a general dark cinereous coloration, 
with which the intense black of the upper and lower tail-coverts con- 
trasted strongly. Whilst the bird was on the water the white specu- 
lum was not noticeable, concealed as it probably was by the cinereous 
feathers of the flanks, but as it got on the wing the white spot showed 
very clearly, and the black rump and tail-coverts, being then more 
exposed, made a still stronger contrast with the general plumage than 
they had done before.—Cuas. OtpHam (Knutsford). 


Hybrid Pheasant.—That the Common Pheasant, often interbreeds 
with other or closely allied species is well known, but the following 
note may be of interest. During a shooting on an estate near here a 
peculiar looking bird was killed, which was, I suspect, a hybrid between 
Pheasant and ordinary fowl, although the gentleman who shot it had 
an idea that Pheasant and Black Grouse were indicated in the bird, 
but I could see no traces of Grouse, and the feet and legs were decidedly 
Pheasant or fowl. The bird in question was a very small immature 
male, and the plumage was too tattered for setting up. The front of 
the neck, breast, and under parts were black, many of the feathers 
having buff edges and shafts, whilst a few were barred alternately with 
buff and black; back, wings, and back of neck were of varied shades of 
brown, some feathers having the dark central brown mark so obsery- 
able in the hen Pheasant, but the cheeks were conspicuously red. The 


NOTES AND QUERIES. 33 


shape of the tail was the most remarkable, as it was short, like that of 
an ordinary bantam hen, and resembled the back in colour, or perhaps 
a trifle darker. It probably would have been a singular looking bird 
if it had been allowed to live and attain its full plumage.—G. B. 
Corsin (Ringwood). 


Larus melanocephalus in Cornwall: unrecorded Examples.— 
Recently, when visiting the collection of birds from Hawkstone (now 
in the possession of Mr. Beville Stanier, of Peplow Hall, Salop), I 
came across two examples of the Mediterranean Black-headed Gull. 
They are described in the manuscript catalogue by Harry Shaw as 
follows :—‘* The pair of birds in this collection were killed near Fal- 
mouth in March, 1851; the only specimens of their kind recorded as 
obtained in this country.” It is strange that Shaw never communi- 
cated this rare occurrence to the editors of the later edition of 
‘Yarrell,’ in which book the specimen obtained near London in 1866 
is mentioned as being the earliest record. Similar statements appear 
in Mr. Howard Saunders’s ‘ Manual,’ and other recognized text-books 
on British Birds, whilst the name of this species does not appear in 
Mr. Rodd’s list of the Birds of Cornwall.—H. H. Forrsst. 


Westward Movement of Birds during Snow.—The late snow, with 
harsh wind, commenced in Co. Waterford on the night of Dec. 25th, 
1906, and for the next four days flights and single birds passed all 
through each day, consisting chiefly of Redwings and Fieldfares, with 
many flocks of Sky-Larks and Lapwings. They were all hastening to 
the west. The frost was terminated on Dec. 30th by rain and a thaw, 
and the movement of birds ceased. I should like to know if a similar 
rush of birds has been observed along the south coasts of England 
towards Devon and Cornwall. I have repeatedly observed such a 
wholesale westward movement of birds here on the occurrence of 
severe frost and snow, which is an irregular, if not an exceptional, 
event in the South of Ireland. Our synclinal valleys run east and 
west, and thus lend themselves to the passage of birds towards Kerry, 
a county more affected by the Gulf Stream and the westerly winds, 
and consequently less frost-bound in winter.—R. J. Ussurer (Cappagh, 
Co. Waterford). 


PISCES. 


Sea-Lamprey at Shrewsbury.— A specimen of the Sea-Lamprey 
(Petromyzon marinus) was taken in the Severn below the Welsh Bridge, 
Shrewsbury, on July 23rd, 1906; itis nowin Shrewsbury Museum. It 
weighed just two pounds, and measured 24 it. Before the construction 

Zool. 4th ser. vol. XI., January. 1907. D 


34 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


of navigation weirs lower down the river the Lamprey used frequently 
to ascend the Severn even beyond the Welsh border, but it is now of 
very rare occurrence, though another was taken in exactly the same 
spot as the above in June, 1899.—H. HK. Forrzsr. 


INSECTA. 


The Mole-Cricket (Gryllotalpa vulgaris) in Dorset.—In response to 
the request, on p. 487 of the last volume of this magazine, for records 
of the occurrence of the Mole-Cricket in England, I may mention that 
specimens have been brought to me very occasionally from various 
parts of the Isle of Purbeck, Dorset, in which it is evidently widely 
distributed. The last example I received was captured therein on 
June Ist, 1903, and caused some excitement, for, after gnawing a hole 
through the stout piece of cotton-rag covering the glass jar in which 
it arrived (the jar had been laid on its side), it jumped off the top of a 
cabinet, four feet high, on to the floor, and was rapidly making for a 
sanctum behind the furniture when its recapture was fortunately 
accomplished.—Hustace R. Banxes (Norden, Corfe Castle). 


( 35 ) 


NOTICES OF NEW _ BOOKS. 


The Mammals of Great Britain and Ireland. By J. G. Miuuats, 
F.Z.S. Vol. IJ. Longmans, Green & Co. 


THE completion of this great work marks an epoch in British 
zoological literature ; it brings the subject up to date; is written 
by one who as sportsman and naturalist has seen much of what 
he records; and it has set the standard of illustration. These 
three huge volumes are, as many will find, somewhat expensive 
in cost, but are at the same time, according to our view, in 
actual artistic value, exceedingly cheap. No future work on 
British mammals is possible without a reference to Millais. 

The Hare receives full treatment, and its aquatic habits are 
fully recorded. We should have been glad to have found such 
material when studying the swimming capacities of these and 
kindred animals a few years back. But many other peculiarities 
of this creature are not of general knowledge, especially to those 
whose experience is principally related to shooting or coursing. 
‘Farmers can always tell whether Hares or Rabbits have been 
attacking turnips. Hares will peel off the outer skin and leave it 
on the ground, but Rabbits will eat skin and all.” The Irish 
Hare is treated as a subspecies of the Mountain Hare, under the 
name of Lepus tumidus hibernicus. 

In discussing the distribution of the Rabbit, Mr. Millais in- 
clines to the theory of Prof. Scharff, that the animal originated 
somewhere in or near North America, which necessitates the 
consideration of ‘‘the lost Atlantis,” a postulate receiving much 
support at the present day from other arguments than those of 
zoology alone. Lost continents with their lost civilizations have 
a most important evolutionary signification, and are the burial- 
places of many ‘‘ keys” and many “‘links.’’ With the Mammoth 
we get back in England to some fifteen thousand years ago, and 
in Ireland to a later date, where it ‘‘still livesin legend and story 
among the more superstitious.”’ Of the drawings of this beast, 


36 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


made by prehistoric man on cave-walls at Combarelles, in France, 
some twenty thousand years ago, Mr. Millais adds a note that 
they “‘ are a good deal better than many pictures of wild animals 
by modern artists, although they are not ‘ as good as Landseer,’ 
as one art critic described them.” 

The Deer occupy many pages, as might be expected from one 
who has already written on ‘British Deer and their Horns.” 
Mr. Millais joins issue with the opinions of Mr. Lydekker and 
the late Sir William Flower, ‘‘ that when the growth of the 
antler is complete, the supply of blood to it ceases, the skin dies 
and peels off, leaving the bone bare and insensible, and after a 
time, by a process of absorption near the base, it becomes de- 
tached from the skull, and is shed,” &c. Mr. Millais writes :— 
‘Having given much attention to this growth of antlers, and 
having killed many Stags at all stages of their horn-growth, I 
must differ entirely from this view, and can state definitely that 
it is erroneous.” The reader will also find much argument as to 
the subspecific splitting of these animals, which merit the deepest 
consideration, whatever opinion may be ultimately held; in fact, 
we find ourselves in Wild Deer exactly in the crux of Wild Geese, 
so far as taxonomy is concerned. We can only give one para- 
graph from Mr. Millais :—‘‘ No deerstalker, for instance, who 
has been much associated with Red Deer, whether in Eastern or 
Western Hurope, would found specific or subspecific distinctions 
on local variation in bodily size, colour, or antlers, being well 
aware that these are all exceedingly variable characters, not only 
among individual Stags in the same neighbourhood, but even in 
the same herd. It is clear, however, that Dr. Botezat’s classi- 
fication of Red Deer in Carpathia has been wholly based upon 
such characters, selected incidentally, no doubt, from a few 
specimens in which they are more or less strongly marked. I feel 
quite sure that in the Scotch island of Jura, thirty miles long, 
I could select three Stags which, to a zoologist of Dr. Botezat’s 
school, who had never previously seen a Scotch Stag, would 
constitute quite as good sub-species as the ‘ short-faced Red Stag,’ 
‘black mountain Stag,’ and ‘large grey lowland Stag,’”’ &c. 

The Bovide are beyond the limits of our space to adequately 
notice, but we may draw attention to a reproduction of Sir EH. 
Landseer’s well-known ‘‘ Chillingham Cattle.” 


NOTICES OF NEW BOOKS. 37 


It is, however, with the description of the Cetacea that this 
volume is almost unique. Mr. Millais has gone to sea to observe 
them, and, what is almost more, to illustrate them. We are 
introduced again to a great industry which has produced skilled 
and hardy mariners based on the old human instincts of sport 
and adventure. Of the old whaling days, in sailing-ship with 
hand-harpoon, little remains, and little is recorded; now we have 
the steamship and the gun! Almost as great a contrast as be- 
tween the old ‘Victory’ and the modern ‘Dreadnought.’ But 
whatever might have been written then, could only have been 
adequately illustrated by the modern methods of to-day. We 
have seen these creatures during the last forty years in all parts 
of the world; we have, however, only just seen in this volume a 
reproduction of a photograph by the Earl of March of Common 
Dolphins at sea, and have at last on our bookshelf a faithful 
representation of an old experience. 


The Aquatic Birds of Great Britain and Ireland. By Cuaruss J. 
Patren, M.A., M.D., Se.D., &e. KR. H. Porter. 


One of the greatest difficulties experienced in the composition 
of this interesting book must have been connected with its title. 
What really constitutes an aquatic bird? There are several 
included in this enumeration which would probably not receive 
universal acceptance in such a category. Thus we have the 
Bustards, which to some will appear as little entitled to the 
character of aquatic birds as would have been the Kingfisher had 
that bird been inserted. We make these remarks in no captious 
spirit, but as showing that the title of the book as applied to some 
birds it includes appears to be very elastic. 

Dr. Patten has written this book from the bed-rock of much 
personal observation, and has consulted considerable trustworthy 
authority ; it is amply illustrated, and contains some charac- 
teristic views of the haunts of shore-birds. Many of the records 
relate to Ireland. 


38 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


EDITORIAL GLEANINGS. 


TxHoueu the tropical heat and drought of the summer often greatly 
interfered with sport, and water and weather conditions at other times 
have been unfavourable, anglers have made some notable captures in 
the past year in river and lake, and large fish have been met with in 
salt water. : 

In the Thames numbers of good Trout and other fish have been 
taken. Landed by Mr. A. E. Hobbs in the Henley waters, the largest 
Trout scaled 91b. loz. Pike up to 221b. have been captured, also Chub 
of 541b. and 51b. 50z., an 841b. Carp (Egham), and some fine Barbel, 
the season for these fish showing an improvement on 1905. Thames 
Roach fishing has not been up to the average. The largest authenti- 
cated Roach of the season—one of 2 lb. 7 0z.—has been captured in the 
Lea at Ponders End by Mr. Strickland. 

One of the finest Salmon landed in Scotland was a specimen of 
43 lb., which was secured by Mrs. Arthur Sassoon, in the Karn. The 
Wye and Usk have furnished some good Salmon this season, and near 
Ringwood (Hampshire), Mr. A. G. Campbell established an Avon 
record for one day by landing six fish scaling 143 lb. 

The best Pike hail from Ireland and Wales—two thirty pounders ; 
one was taken in the Wye. The past year will be memorable among 
Chub anglers as yielding the largest specimen of this fish ever known 
to have been taken with rod and line. It fell to the rod of Mr. F. W. 
Smith, fishing in the Avon (Hampshire), and now ornaments a glass- 
case. It scaled 7 lb. 64 02. 

Wargrave-on-Thames and the Witham, near Boston, Lincolnshire, 
have each yielded specimen Bream of 6 lb. 2 0z.—fine fish—and some 
large Perch and Dace have been met with in various waters. Grand 
Roach up to 2lb. 40z. have been caught by London anglers in the 
tidal Arun at Amberley, Sussex. 

With reference to big fish caught by sea anglers, the Californian 
waters are an easy first. One angler at Santa Catalina Island has 
landed a black Sea Bass of 327 lb. on a light rod. 

Mr. Holcombe, of the British Sea Anglers’ Society, has probably 
taken the largest fish in our waters—a huge Skate of 183 lb., landed at 
Ballycotton, Co. Cork coast. Here a splendid Cod of 80 lb. has fallen 
to the rod of Mr. J.N. Hearn, another member. Fine Pollack, Bream, 


EDITORIAL GLEANINGS. a9 


and Bass has been taken in Sussex and Kentish waters, and one of the 
catches here was a 384 lb. “Angler” Fish (Lophius piscatorius), which 
fell to the rod of Dr. FitzGerald at Folkestone. The autumn and 
winter Silver Whiting season has been a disappointing one in a general 
way.—(Daily Chronicle, January 7th.) 


We have received No. 1, vol. 1. of ‘ The Hastings and Hast Sussex 
Naturalist,’ dated November 1st, 1906. In some Annual Notes on 
the Local Fauna, &c., by the Rev. EK. N. Bloomfield, we read :—“ Mr. 
Butterfield has informed me that a very large Fox Shark, Alopias 
vulpes, Penn., 12 feet long, was exhibited in Hastings some months 
ago, and a Torpedo, 7’. nobiliana, Bonap., was taken in August by one 
of the Hastings fishing-boats.”’ 


In the ‘Bradford Scientific Journal’ for this month, Mr. H. B. 
Booth gives the following record:—‘‘ During the third week in 
December a large fish, on view at the game shop of Mr. W. L. 

Blakeley, Horton Road, Bradford, attracted considerable attention. It 
was supposed at the time to be a Salmon hybrid, and it was stated 
that none of the fisher-folk at Grimsby had ever seen one like it before. 
The local evening papers of December 17th described it as a large fish, 
with the head of a Salmon, the body of a Porpoise, and the tail of a 
Shark. I yrecognized it as one of the larger species of the Scombride 
(Mackerels), and with the aid of ‘Our Country’s Fishes’ I was able to 
identify it with certainty as the Short-finned Tunny (Orceynus thynnus), 
a rare fish in British seas. Its length was 454 inches, greatest girth 
about 30 in., and weighed nearly one hundred pounds. Mr. F. King, 
of Grimsby, who sent the fish to Bradford, writes to say that it was 
caught on Dec. 10th, five miles to north-east of the Dogger Bank.” 


In the Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. (7), xviii. p. 827, Lieut.-Col. Durn- 
ford has published a second paper on the ‘“‘ Flying-fish Problem.”” He 
refers to arecent article in these pages as follows :— 

Lionel E. Adams, B.A., writes in ‘ The Zoologist’ (April 4th, 1906) 
an article interesting throughout. I quote from p.146: ‘“....Iwas 
often able to see them against the sky. . . . I could see quite distinctly 
that their tails were vibrating very rapidly from side to side during the 
whole flight, and that the wings would vibrate with an intensely rapid 
shivering motion for a second, then remain outspread motionless for 
one or two seconds, and then vibrate again. This vibration of the 
wings is not up and down as in the case when birds fly, but in an 


40 i THE ZOOLOGIST. | 


almost horizontal direction.”” That is a quite possible explanation of 
the mode of flight, provided that a sufficient. speed be acquired in the 
intermediate flappings, but this the known speed of the fish shows to 
be not commonly the case. 

Again, on p. 148: ‘‘I am perfectly well aware that a casual glance 
at Flying-fish from the lofty deck of a liner gives the impression that 
they soar like birds with motionless wings, but watch them at close 
quarters from the deck of a low-waisted tramp, and the vibratory 
motion of the tail and fins will be quite plain.”’ 

Interesting as is Mr. Adams’s paper, I cannot but think that he is 
partly mistaken in his views, and that the wing-vibration which he 
discerned was really less rapid than the movement in the period follow- 
ing which he believed to be one of stillness, just as the liner-passengers 
mistook his vibrations for stillness. I do not say that the fish could 
never arrive at a speed by which a very short aeroplane flight could be 
attained even with their low ratio ; but I do say that such is not their 
common speed, and that in any case their disregard of wind-direction 
disproves such flight. Therefore another way must be looked for, and 
we are driven back, perforce, to continuous wing-action, the manner of 
which may be here examined as carefully as our information allows. 

Premising that the flight varies greatly on different days and under 
different conditions, the following is probably a fair description of their 
methods in an ordinary flight :— 

1. The tail-impelled, visibly (to many) wing-assisted jump from the 
water to a height where the wings can work freely. 

2. The flight continued by an intensely rapid and laboured wing- 
movement—one easily mistaken for stillness, and usually seen, if at all, 
as blurr. 

83. Short periods of slowing down of wing-speed, during which the 
wing-movement becomes again visible. (These are the ‘‘ vibration ” 
periods, representing to aeroplanists loose wing-trailing, or dragging 
like a flapping flag—an impossibility ; and, to Mr. Adams, periods of 
wing-assistance—with limitations a possibility.) These periods often 
precede a special spurt such as is required to lift the fish over an on- 
coming wave. 

4, Hither sudden cessation of wing-movement and consequent im- 
mediate drop into the sea, or a short slow down into visibility (No. 3) 
previous to such drop. 

It is to be noted that this vibration so often seen before the fish 
enters the water is one of the many pointers to continuous wing- 
movement, for such a time is a proper one for slowing down, but an 
absurd one for renewal of wing-effort. 


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Plate Il. 


(From drawings by Miss Barling). 


1. Contour feather from breast of Sheld- Duck. 
2. Down of Sheld-Duck. 

3. Contour feather from breast of Mallard. 

4. Contour feather from breast of Shoveler. 


THE ZOOLOGIST 


No. 788.—February, 1907. 


THE BIRDS OF NORTH KENT. 
By Tuomas HeEppurn. 


(PuatE IT.) 


In a previous article on the birds of this district (Zool. 1904, 
p. 161), I stated that the observations of the field naturalist as 
regards birds would fall naturally into three categories—either 
as being connected with the coast-line, or the marsh-levels, or 
the upland districts. In the article in question I dealt with the 
birds to be observed along the coast. In the present paper I 
propose to give the result of observations, extending now for 
some years, on some of the birds to be seen in the marsh- 
levels. 

There is a strip of this low-lying, so-called marsh-land, 
extending right round the whole of the district I then defined, 
wherever the tidal estuaries of the Thames and Medway are 
touched by it. The tracts above Gravesend, and between that 
place and Woolwich, are either of such small size, or so en- 
croached upon by buildings and factories, as to be of only waning 
interest to the ornithologist. The same remarks apply, although 
perhaps in lesser degree, to those portions lying on the Medway 
close to Rochester. But between Gravesend and the point where 
the South Eastern and Chatham Railway terminates at Port 
Victoria, and along the lower reaches of the Medway, there are 
long stretches of marsh-level, sometimes broadening out to a 

Zool. 4th ser vol. XI., February, 1907. E 


42 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


width of two miles, sometimes diminishing to a narrow strip, 
which, except upon rare occasions, are only disturbed by sheep 
and cattle, and those who tend them. 

The preservation of Hares in this district for purposes of 
coursing also has a decidedly beneficial effect so far as the birds 
are concerned. The owners of the land are all animated by the 
desire to keep a quiet sanctuary for the multiplication of these 
rodents. Trespassers are therefore warned off, and so a place 
of refuge is given for many birds during the spring and the 
summer months. 

I make no apology for attempting first of all a short descrip- 
tion of this marsh-land, because physical geography must, or 
should, always be one of the foremost considerations of a field 
naturalist, whatever class of life he may be observing, deter- 
mining as it often does the species he is likely to meet. In the 
present case the extent and area of the waters of the marsh-land, 
the amount of cover afforded by aquatic and other vegetation, 
the denseness of human habitations, or the nearness of factories 
and towns, are the determining factors of the ornithological fauna 
of the district. 

In order to appreciate the present features of the country it 
is worth while to attempt to consider its condition before the 
river-walls were thrown up, and when it was still subject to the 
encroachment of every tide. The saltings yet unenclosed give 
one the opportunity of doing this. In them you have some 
large stretches of land that have evidently been formed by the 
deposits of the rivers which run through them. They are, 
practically speaking, level, but much cut up by large creeks and 
lesser natural gutters and runnels. By supposing such a tract 
to be enclosed by a wall so that the sea could no longer flow over 
it, you might then surmise how the marsh has come to its pre- 
sent state. The large tidal creeks, some of which are fifty yards 
or more across, have formed in the process of time what are 
locally termed ‘“‘ fleets ’’—large winding lagoons bordered now at 
the edges by reeds, bulrushes, sedges, and other vegetable 
growth. Many of the smaller runnels of the one-time salting 
have become filled up, and present at the present day winding 
hollows in the otherwise flat meadow-land, filled only after heavy 
rains. Others of the small creeks have been kept open by 


THE BIRDS OF NORTH KENT. 43 


clearing the mud out of them at intervals, and heaping it up on 
their banks. That is the history of many of the tortuous ditches 
which wind their way between the meadows. Then, in order to 
assist or complete the system of surface-water drainage, straight 
ditches have been cut connecting the natural ones already exist- 
ing. So that the waters of the marsh-land fall roughly into 
three divisions. There are the wide fleets, once the main creeks 
of the salt-marsh, now getting gradually narrower and shallower 
with the encroachment of their own vegetable growth. Then 
there are the narrow winding ditches, formerly the smaller run- 
nels of the salting in which the silting process of nature has 
been prevented by the intervention of man. And, finally, there 
are the straight ditches, which are quite evidently, in their 
entirety, the work of men’s hands. Some of the land has been 
enclosed within fairly recent years. It is called “‘ new land” by 
the residents, who nevertheless cannot recollect the actual 
enclosure of it. But, according to the documentary evidence 
of ordnance maps, there are evidently several large tracts which 
have been enclosed between the survey upon which the present 
maps are based and the survey upon which the older maps were 
based. But both these surveys were spread over such a long time 
that I have found it impossible to get exact dates. 

There is an interesting fact to note in connection with the 
silting up of creeks. It appears that those creeks which are still 
open to the tide, but in which there is no through scour, will shrink 
more quickly in width than those which have now been shut 
up from the sea for many years. The channel gets narrower 
although it remains deep. On the other hand, the fleets inside 
the wall get shallower, but remain their ancient width. The 
evidence on which I base this statement is that in the year 1840 
a winding portion of Dartford Creek was shut out of the tide- way 
by the cutting of a new straight channel. But this winding 
portion, although it missed the scouring of the direct current, 
has never been entirely shut off from the tide. Presumably its 
channel was as wide at the time of making the new cut as the 
rest of the creek—say, some eighty to a hundred feet. At the 
present day the winding portion of the old creek is scarcely 
twelve feet wide. All the fleets in the marsh are much wider 
than the creeks outside the wall, of which they were once a part. 

E 2 


44 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


They are, however, much shallower. The reason seems fairly 
clear. The filling agent in the tidal waters is the matter in 
suspension. In the case of the inland fleets it is the erosion of 
the surface of the land by rain and weather. The volume of the 
first must be greater—and, of course, more frequent in its appli- 
cation—than that of the second. In the case of the inland 
fleets the settlement will be an even and gradual spreading from 
the edges to the centre, because there is no current, and they 
will therefore get shallower without quickly getting narrow. In 
the case of the tidal creeks there must always be a wash in the 
centre of the channel, both in the rising and the receding of the 
tide, which would tend to cut chiefly the centre of the channel, — 
while not preventing its gradual narrowing from the edges. The 
daily deposit of suspended matter by the tide also accounts for 
the phenomenon (which I wondered at in my former article) of 
the level of the salting outside the wall being higher than that 
of the marsh-land within. If it were necessary to bring actual 
evidence to prove that the sea once flowed over the marsh, one 
could point to several beds of cockle-shells in the existing 
fresh-water fleets, and to the dead shells of periwinkles, and 
mussels and other bivalves, in soil dug out of the bottom of the 
ditches. 

Such a district as this, which I have attempted to describe— 
with its nearness to the wide reaches of the estuaries, with its 
quiet stretches of inland waters and lagoons, and with their 
dense growth of reeds and rushes—makes an ideal haunt for 
members of the Duck family. My notes include observations on 
eleven species of this family, three of which nest in the district, 
and five of which, from their late appearances in spring and 
summer, I am always hoping—perhaps against the dictum of 
high authorities—to include in my list of nesting birds. A 
gunner would doubtless add several more to the eleven species 
that I have noted ; for, whatever may be said against the prac- 
tice of shooting wild birds, it is the one certain and indisputable 
method of identifying a species. The quickest observer, with 
glasses or without, in the hustle caused by a rising mob of 
startled birds, may be excused for missing the distinctive points 
of the one or two birds which look different from the rest of the 
string, and’so lose his opportunity of adding a fresh name to his 


THE BIRDS OF NORTH KENT. 45 


record; while the large flocks floating on the river, or standing 
on the mud-flats a mile or more from the hard ground, are quite 
beyond the resolving powers of the best eyes or glasses. A list, 
therefore, of wildfow] made by a man who does not shoot, but 
who only observes, is not likely to be by any means a com- 
plete one. 

In my former article I already gave a provisional list of the 
names of the Ducks observed on the waters of the estuaries of 
this district (Zool. 1904, p. 166). Of three of the species there 
mentioned—viz. the Pintail (Dajfila acuta), the Common Scoter 
(Hidemia nigra), and the Scaup (Fuligula marila)—my notes are 
extremely scanty, the only observations of them being on the 
tidal waters, and during the winter months. All my winter 
notes of the Sheld-Duck (Tadorna cornuta) point to its being 
resident all the year, but, during that season, confining itself to 
the tidal waters and mud-flats. But in the winter the wild 
weather makes the quiet waters of the fleets pleasant resting- 
places for the birds after the buffetings of the wind in the river, 
and a walk along their edges will generally result in the disturb- 
ing of several strings of Mallard (Anas boscas), and most likely 
also of Wigeon (Mareca penelope), and Teal (Nettion crecca). 
Less common, but still sufficiently often seen at that time of the 
year to be looked for with expectancy, are small parties of from 
three to half a dozen of Tufted Ducks (Fuligula cristata). My 
only notes of the Shoveler (Spatula clypeata), the Garganey 
(Querquedula circia), and the Pochard (Fuligula ferina) are in 
the spring and summer, and always on the inland waters of the 
marsh. The three species which I know to nest, from having 
handled the eggs in situ, are the Sheld-Duck, the Mallard, and 
the Shoveler. Five others, which I hope some day to record as 
nesting in the district, are the Common Teal, the Garganey 
Teal, the Wigeon, the Pochard, and the Tufted Duck. The 
shepherds of the district declare that the three first mentioned 
of these five species are nesting birds; but still, since I have 
been watching the district, they have never been able to show me 
the nests. 

In the early days of spring the marsh seems simply alive 
with Ducks of all sorts. The mature Sheld-Ducks come in from 
the estuaries and the mud-flats, and may be seen standing about 


46 _ THE ZOOLOGIST. 


in pairs, striking and conspicuous objects upon the green 
meadows. Pairs of noisy Mallards rise from ditches and fleets 
everywhere. They are, of course, the commonest and most 
obvious of the species present. But almost as common at this 
time of the year, and perhaps more striking—and certainly 
more interesting—are the Shovelers. There will still be Mallard, 
Wigeon, and Teal—possibly many of them migrants—collected 
in large flocks, which will rise and fly away in scattered strings. 
And you may have the added interest of seeing odd pairs of 
Wigeon and Teal, and of disturbing, as I have during the last 
two years, a small party of Garganey, or half a dozen Pochard, 
male and female, easily distinguishable as they fly. 

In dealing with my notes of these birds more in detail, I will 
take first—of the breeding species, or possible breeding species 
—those which are least likely to become included in the latter 
category. As far as my own observations go, the Tufted Duck 
at present gives me the least evidence of nesting in the district. 
Up to the year 1903 my only notes of this species are in the 
months of October and November—generally, as I have indicated, 
in small parties of from three to half a dozen birds, put up from 
the quiet open spaces of water amongst the reeds and flags of 
the fleets. But in 1904 I have a note of a pair disturbed on 
March 14th; and in 1905 and 1906 I have notes of pairs seen 
as late as April 24th, at which date Mallards’ eggs may be found 
hard sat. This bird is not distinctively known to the shepherds, 
and I am therefore inclined to think that it has only recently 
commenced to frequent the district in the spring. And it is 
not unlikely, considering its spread as a nesting bird in various 
parts of England, that it may presently stay, in such a sulin 
locality as this, throughout the breeding season. 

The Common Teal is often enough seen all through the 
winter. But I have also notes of pairs of the birds as late as 
April 17th and 24th, in different years. This gives some 
countenance to the shepherds’ repeated assertions that they 
have found this bird nesting, though not during the last three 
or four years. The Teal is a bird thoroughly well known to, 
them, and I am inclined to think that the statement they make 
of its having nested may be believed. A mob of these small 
Ducks, disturbed in September of the present year (1906), 


THE BIRDS OF NORTH KENT. 47 


consisting of young birds of the year, and old together, seems to 
go towards corroborating their statement. But for myself, I can 
only say that I have not noticed any single birds or pairs later 
than the latter end of April. Concealed by my usual cover of 
the river-wall, I one afternoon (March 18th, 1904) quietly 
watched a large party of these Ducks playing and feeding in 
the shallow water of a wide fleet. It was a mixed flock of male 
and female birds, and the drakes were already decked in their 
breeding colours, and looked very smart as compared with the 
more soberly coloured ducks. They were a most lively party, 
continually on the move, turning tail upwards in the water as 
they tried to reach the bottom of the fleet, and every now and 
then breaking off the business of feeding to chase one another. 
Their most favourite action seemed to be to fly up into the air 
two or three feet, and then to fall into the water with a flop and 
splash, going right underneath. All the time they were playing 
they kept uttering a short sibilant whistle, and male and female 
joined in the play. 

The Wigeon, again, is a bird which, according to the shep- 
herds, has nested formerly, but not of late years, in the district. 
It is a bird which they know thoroughly well by sight, and of 
which also I have seen young ones of the year amongst mobs 
disturbed in early September. I have similar notes, as of the 
Teal, of flocks seen along the fleets in the winter ; and also of a 
small party of them swimming on the estuary at high tide one 
February day. On the same day I heard the shrill, long-drawn 
ery of the male on one of the fleets several times ; and I have 
heard a mob, when flying, uttering all the time a soft whistling 
note. But, again, my notes in the spring do not take one further 
than the end of April, through which month I always come across 
one or more pairs in various parts of the marsh. Iam aware, 
of course, that all authorities rule out any portion of the South 
of England as a nesting habitat of this bird. But given pairs 
already mated in the district in the early spring, and sufficient 
quiet and want of disturbance, there seems nothing inherently 
impossible in the idea of the bird becoming a breeding species. 

With regard to the Garganey and the Pochard, I feel abso- 
lutely certain that there were more than one pair of each of these 
Species nesting in parts of the marshes last year, and that it is 


48 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


only a question of having longer time to give to watching them, © 
or perhaps the assistance of a good dog, in order to have the 
confirmation of seeing their eggs. Taking the Garganey first, 
I believe one of my shepherd friends has already found this 
bird’s nest ; for such I take to be a nest of eggs laid by what he | 
described as a ‘‘ small pale blue duck about the size of a Teal,” 
which he found one year in the rough grass near the edge of a 
fleet. Apart from this, however, my own notes of the bird 
through last spring make me quite certain that it was breeding 
somewhere in the district. My first entry is dated April 16th, 
when I disturbed three of the birds from amongst a bed of 
reeds. On May 18th, and again on May 18th, I saw single 
birds, swimming on two different waters of the marsh—an 
observation pregnant with possibility of a sitting mate some- 
where near. ‘There is one field covered with a good bit of 
coarse tussocky grass, which I have in my mind as being the 
nesting-ground of one pair. My exploration of this meadow 
was prevented by a very obstinate shepherd, with whom I could 
not manage to get upon friendly terms ; and, rightly or wrongly, 
I lay the blame to his door of not having been able to confirm 
my suspicion as to the nesting of the bird. I am hoping next 
spring, either by diplomacy or strategy, to get the confirmation 
required. 

The Pochard is a bird that seems also to be unknown to the 
shepherds. It is, however, a sufficiently distinctly marked bird, 
and, although I only noticed it for the first time to any extent 
last year, I then had some very good opportunities of watching 
it. But I have an egg, hurriedly taken (April 19th, 1904) when 
bound by time to catch a train, which I believe to be a Pochard’s 
ege. The nest was in rushes close to the edge of the water of a 
wide shallow dyke. There were seven eggs in it, but no downy 
lining. The duck, as it flew off, had the appearance of being 
dusted over the back with flour. The peculiarity of its appear- 
ance made me take one of its eggs as I hurried along to catch 
my train. Unfortunately, 1 was unable to get back to the site 
of the nest again that spring, and so did not get any more 
definite observations concerning it. But my notes of this year 
are definite enough to prove the bird to have been nesting some- 
where in the district last spring. In the middle of April I 


) 
) 


THE BIRDS OF NORTH KENT. 49 


watched for some time a party of about half-dozen males and 
females. Although disturbed twice, they returned again to the 
sheet of water on which I first found them. A thick-set duck, 
somewhat smaller, or shorter than a Mallard when in flight, its 
red head, black gorget, lavender-grey body, and black tail-quills 
make the drake an easy bird to identify. The ducks flying with 
them looked a very sombre brown in their contrast to the light 
grey body-plumage of the drakes. In flight the birds utter a 
curious note, bearing no resemblance to the quack of a duck. 
My own attempt at the phonetic spelling reads ‘‘ quer-r-r-k.” 
To see one of the drakes on two later occasions, when I again 
visited that particular sheet of water, the second or third weeks 
in May, dozing peacefully on the surface of the centre of it, 
seemed to me sufficient proof that its partner was sitting in some 
secluded corner near by on a full clutch of eggs. 

Passing from these possible breeding members of the Duck 
family to those three species of which I have actually handled 
eges, the Mallard, as may be supposed, is the commonest of 
them. A resident species all the year round, it may neverthe- 
less be an open question whether those flocks seen upon the river 
and the marsh waters during the winter necessarily contain 
amongst them the birds which pair in the spring. Whether 
that be so or not, there are at any rate many more birds about 
at that season than have ever nested in the district, and a large 
proportion of the flocks must be winter visitors which scatter and 
leave in the early months of the year. It is not necessary to go 
much into detail as to the nesting of this species. There is a 
considerable breeding population, which does not by any means 
confine itself to the marsh-levels. Indeed, one keeper informed 
me that more pairs nest on the uplands than on the low ground. 
A good many take shelter for this purpose in one or two rough 
pieces of woodland, making their homes under bushes, in much 
the same sort of site you would expect a Pheasant to choose. I 
had one quite startling experience of the variety of positions 
chosen by them. A very bulky Magpie’s nest at the top of a tall 
stout blackthorn (a characteristic feature of one piece of wood- 
land) excited my curiosity by the wide openings at each side of 
the canopy of sticks, and by some white feathers projecting over 
the edge. The blackthorn was something like twenty feet high, 


50 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


and the nest was in the very topmost twigs. Without a thought 
of Wild Ducks in my mind, I made my way to the top somewhat 
painfully, on account of the strong, large, and very sharp thorns 
which covered the tree in profusion. As I put my hand over 
the edge of the nest the bird flew off almost in my face, seeming 
such a giant of a bird as it flapped about, that it was not till it 
had got clear of the tree that I collected myself sufficiently to see 
what it was. The nest contained ten eggs already very hard sat 
on April 24th. Of course, there is the old problem to solve 
here, as to how these young ducklings would reach the ground in 
safety. A shepherd living in a house on the marsh-levels told 
me this year (1906) that for two successive seasons a pair of 
these birds had nested on the ridge of a haystack near the 
house. He is confident that their method of getting their duck- 
lings down from such places is of the simplest. The day after 
all the eggs are hatched the duck, according to his account, 
leaves the nest, flies down to the ground underneath, and starts 
calling to its progeny. The latter hear the call, and, in obedi- 
ence to the instinct to follow it, or go to it, simply tumble down 
over the edge of the stack on to the ground. He says that he 
has watched the duck standing on the ground calling like this, 
and, although not near enough to see the ducklings fall, has 
shortly afterwards seen the brood following the parent bird down 
to the water. Talling over the edge of a haystack on to grass or 
litter is, however, a comparatively easy method of making a start 
in life for the young ducklings as compared to tumbling through 
the numerous prickly branches of an old blackthorn-tree. My 
sympathies certainly go out to the brood in the Magpie’s nest, 
which must have had a most thorny introduction to the struggle 
for existence. The most usual site chosen, taking my own 
experience as a basis, is the centre of a tussock of grass or 
rushes close to water. One somewhat unusual nest I found was 
right in the centre of an open space covered with the stumps of 
cut reeds. A raised platform had first of all been made with 
bits of reed, and on the top of this had been formed a circular 
wall of down fully nine inches high. With the bird sitting on it 
this structure looked like a mound raised some twelve or fourteen 
inches above the flat ground. It is also somewhat unusual to 
find the nest, when made, on the marsh-levels, anywhere except 


THE BIRDS OF NORTH KENT. 51 


near to margins of water. The nest just described was some 
distance from water. Another one of quite a different type I 
found in the centre of a meadow of rough grass. In this case 
the bird had scratched out a hollow in the ground in the centre 
of a very thick bunch of grass. The hollow was lined with 
grass-stems, and the down formed a thick top covering. The 
bird was off this nest when I found it, and the down was drawn 
right over the eggs. It was exceptionally dark, almost black, in 
colour, and on that account was very far from being an aid to 
concealment, looking, in fact, like some black furry animal lying 
in the grass. The bird, however, when sitting on this nest, was 
very difficult to see, as it sat low in the grass, which drooped 
over it so much as in a great measure to conceal it. Favourite 
nesting-places also are certain floating islands of aquatic vegeta- 
tion, which are numerous in some of the fleets. The nests made 
in these spots are somewhat after the type of the last one de- 
scribed. I think it is fairly certain that the bird does not start 
to make the downy portion of its nest until after the full clutch 
of eggs is laid, and it has begun to incubate. I have watched 
the layings in many nests, and they have always borne out this 
theory. The down is really just an outer covering quite separate 
from the nest-hollow, holding itself together by the nature of the 
filaments, and worked by the duck from the outside margin of 
the nest to the centre. If you find a nest with a covering drawn 
over the eggs, which is the natural way for the duck to leave it, 
you will always be able to separate the down from the centre 
without breaking its coherence, and you can push it back round 
the outside edge into a circular ring. You can then draw it 
together again with your fingers into the exact state in which you 
found it; and there is little doubt that in doing so you are doing 
with your fingers exactly what the bird does with its bill. My 
notes on the laying of the eggs point to one egg being laid each 
day until the clutch is completed. In the late spring you may 
often come on broods of the ducklings feeding with the parent 
birds along the ditches. Upon such occasions the whole family 
will often lie absolutely still upon the surface of the water 
amongst the growth at the edge of the ditch, putting all their 
trust in their protective coloration. The old bird generally lies 
with its head stretched out along the surface of the water. When 


52 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


they see for certain that they are observed, different tactics are 
made use of. The parent bird generally attempts the imitation 
of a wounded bird, while the young ones dive and scatter in all 
directions. 

My notes on the Shoveler are all dated between the beginning 
of April and the end of June. As far as my own observations 
go, the bird only comes into the district for the purpose of 
nesting. I should not care to say that the species may not be 
present amongst the big mobs of ducks on the estuaries in the 
winter ; but I have never seen them at that time along the fleets. 
They are a duck easy at once to identify upon the wing by the 
difference in the proportions, as compared to other ducks, of the 
comparative size of the head and body. The drake Shoveler in 
the spring time may be further distinguished from the Mallard 
by the bright chestnut band across its lower breast showing up 
plainly against the pure white, and also by its deeper, more 
abbreviated, and rather subdued note, which might be syllabled 
perhaps as ‘‘t-o-o-k.’’ In the first two weeks of April these 
birds become conspicuous in the marshes, almost invariably in 
pairs, standing on the banks of the dykes, or running in the 
meadows with alert movements. When disturbed they circle 
round with a very swift flight, and it may then be noticed that 
they have more sharply pointed wings than the Mallard, and 
swifter and less lumbering movements. Sometimes the first 
pair disturbed will be joined by another, and the quartette will 
circle many times round, coming down often as though fo settle, 
then rising again and doing another turn before finally alighting. 
By the middle of April they have begun nesting operations, and 
are not then nearly so demonstrative or apparent. They evi- 
dently begin laying soon after the first week in April, for on the 
19th of that month I have found a nest containing eight eggs, 
which would mean that laying had commenced at least eight 
days sooner. Close sitting possibly does not always follow: 
directly the clutch is completed, because in the case of this 
nest, although eight eggs were the complete clutch, yet the 
brood was not hatched out on May 13th—i. e. twenty-five days 
later—the bird being at that date still sitting on the nest. On 
May 18th the brood had gone off. Summarising my notes on 
the nests of this duck, gathered from the examination of six 


THE BIRDS OF NORTH KENT. 53 


nests in 1905, and five more in 1906, it appears that the bird 
keeps to one definite method far more than the Mallard does. 
Nearly always at some little distance from water, out in the 
middle of a meadow, where last year’s dry grass is still standing 
so as to afford some little cover, it will scratch a cup in the soil, 
some five inches in diameter and four inches in depth. This it 
lines thickly with grass. As in the case of the Mallard, it lays— 
at any rate its first few eggs—without making any covering of 
down. A nest with four eggs, found on April 16th, 1906, had 
no sign of down about it. The nest-hollow being made gener- 
ally amongst the standing blades of last year’s dead grass, as the 
spring advances, fresh grass grows rankly under the shelter of 
the old growth, and so helps to conceal the sitting bird. The 
downy covering is made after the same style of pattern as that 
of the Mallard. A peculiarity worth noticing is that both birds 
get a considerable amount of little short pieces of dead grass 
mixed up with the down. This grass appears asif it has been 
broken up into pieces by the bird itself, and, if so, this mixture 
with the down might perhaps not be accidental, because its 
entanglement is a distinct aid to holding the down together. 
Watching these nests, as I got opportunity—more especially 
during 1906—I found that the eggs were always covered by the 
down being drawn over them when the bird left its nest of its 
own free will. The eggs on such occasions were always very 
warm; in fact, the thick covering of down must be one of 
the best natural non-conductors of heat that could be impro- 
vised. Owing to the shadow cast by the long blades of grass 
these down-covered nests are not easy to see, passing, under 
careless observation, for rough clods of soil amongst the grass- 
stems. If the bird has commenced incubation it sits very closely 
on its eggs. I have stood right over one for some minutes, 
watching it; its head and beak were turned back over its 
shoulder, and its bright eyes were fixed upon me the whole 
time. It seemed to be able to depress itself amongst the grass- 
stems in quite a wonderful manner for such a comparatively 
large bird. ‘The grass having already begun to get long, it might 
have been easily passed without being noticed. When the sitting 
bird is disturbed it invariably brings into play all those well- 
known devices of fluttering along the ground in pretence of 


54 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


being maimed, in order to draw the intruder away from its nest. 
Then the characteristic proportions between the head, with the 
long wide beak, and the body are very apparent; and, further, 
as it flutters along with outspread wings, you can always see 
distinctly the patch of pale blue feathers on the carpal joints of 
the wings. When it is disturbed the bird stays a long while 
away from the nest. My own time is generally too limited to 
watch them back. I have, however, watched upon occasions for 
three hours in vain. After fluttering away the duck rises in the 
air, and is almost at once joined by the drake, both circling 
round together, sometimes calling at the same time, and finally 
disappearing to some other part of the marsh in order to allow 
time for the intruder to go away. In these marshes Carrion- 
Crows are the chief enemies of both this species and of the 
Mallard. In 1905 they seemed to be particularly unfortunate in 
this respect, as I found no fewer than four nests in which the 
egos had been sucked. In 1906 they were more fortunate, in so 
far as they came under my observation. Four out of the five 
nests I watched were hatched out, because late in the summer, 
when I visited them, I found the egg-shells of the hatched eggs 
trodden down into the bottom of the nest-hollow. 

The Sheld-Duck, locally called ‘‘ Bar-goose”—a resident all 
the year round—spends the winter months generally on the 
estuaries, and on the mud-flats when uncovered by the tide. 
But while during spring the only individuals of the other species 
of duck which remain in the district seem to be occupied in the 
business of nesting, large numbers of non-breeding Sheld-Ducks 
stay in the vicinity all through the summer, still being seen 
feeding on the ooze in flocks at the same time as breeding pairs 
will be scattered over the meadows of the marsh-land. Doubt- 
less this is one of those species which take two or more years to 
come to maturity, and the flocks in spring are perhaps composed 
of immature birds, only the older ones taking up the responsi- 
bilities of wedded life. It is worth while to mention an inter- 
esting observation which goes to prove that the very striking 
plumage of this bird does not necessarily make it so conspicuous 
as might be supposed. Roughly, it might be described as being 
a piebald bird. Its plumage is boldly patched with white and 
black and chestnut, but at a distance the markings do not 


THE BIRDS OF NORTH KENT. 55 


‘appear as colours, but simply as light and shadow. A party of a 
dozen or more of these birds which I was watching one winter’s 
day swimming in the rough water at the edge of the tide was 
most difficult to distinguish, owing to the fact that the light and 
dark patches of plumage corresponded almost exactly with the 
bright lights and deep shadows of the broken water. The further 
fact that I was once deceived into supposing that some white 
‘pieces of stone lying on the bank were Sheld-Ducks illustrates 
another way in which this striking plumage is an actual aid to 
concealment ; for, if the bird happens to be standing with a dark 
coloured background behind it, the dark patches will blend, at 
certain distances and under certain conditions of light, with the 
background, and all that will be visible will be the light or white 
patches of plumage, which bear absolutely no resemblance at all 
to the shape of the bird. The contrary effect takes place when 
the conditions are reversed. The light patches will blend with 
the light background, and the dark portions of the plumage then 
show up in the same way, as something that does not look at all 
like a bird. This gives a working theory as to protective colora- 
tion which may be applied to many more birds than the Sheld- 
Duck, and it is one worth while keeping in mind by the student 
of bionomics. It is especially interesting because it points to the 
' possibility of markings which at first sight might be considered as 
militating against a species, being really a protection to it under 
several distinct sets of conditions. But, notwithstanding all this, 
a Sheld-Duck standing in the centre of a meadow green with the 
spring growth of grass is a sufficiently striking object, and one 
which may be often seen on these marshes from the end of March 
onwards through the spring and summer while their nesting 
operations are in progress. In the raised banks formed by 
accumulations of bottomings from the ditches there are in many 
places rabbit-warrens of considerable size, and the burrows 
are what might be called the natural site in the district for 
these birds to choose for their nursery. During my first day 
spent on these marshes a shepherd informed me that Bar-geese 
nested in the rabbit-burrows, and, although I have not myself 
found any nests in them, several of my shepherd friends often do 
so; in fact, they generally take a clutch or two of eggs every 
year for some of the neighbouring farmers, who hatch them out 


56 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


under hens, and thus obtain an ornamental addition to the 
denizens of their farmyard. On an island in the old moat 
surrounding Cooling Castle, I have seen large numbers of wild 
Sheld-Ducks, attracted by a number of pinioned birds of the 
game species, sitting about quite fearless of the passers-by along 
the road within thirty or forty yards of them. But a much 
more interesting nesting-site than the burrows, showing as it 
does the adaptability of these birds to novel circumstances, is 
supplied them through the preservation of Hares for coursing. 
In order to give the Hare either a refuge or a chance of escape, 
long drain-pipes have been laid in some of the higher banks, or 
in any conveniently raised mounds in the meadows. These 
pipes, which measure from six to nine inches in diameter, are 
generally about eighteen feet long, open at both ends, but with a 
bend in the centre, so that one cannot look straight through 
them. Sometimes there are shorter ones, which run straight in 
with one end blocked. It is these blocked-up pipes which the 
Sheld-Ducks of the district more particularly favour. Of three 
nests which I examined during the spring of 1906, two were 
made in blocked-up pipes, at the end farthest away from the 
light; and the third one was made in one of the pipes open at 
both ends with an angle in the centre. The blocked-up end of 
the pipes is generally not very far from the surface of the 
ground, and with a little ingenuity or perseverance it is generally 
possible to make an opening near to the nest. The first nest I 
found on May 12th had fourteen eggs in it, three of which I 
blew, and found to be quite fresh. They were laid right on the 
bare earthenware pipe, with no down or feathers about them. 
This nest was quite close to a shepherd’s house, where the birds 
have nested for several years in succession, although the shep- 
herd often takes a clutch of eggs from it for his employers or 
friends. The remaining eggs of this clutch were taken by him 
a few days later for the same purpose. The second nest was in 
a pipe situated in a secluded part of the marsh. The bird was 
sitting on this nest when I found it, while its mate was standing 
in a meadow some hundred yardsaway. Looking in atthe open 
mouth of the pipe I could see the white breast of the bird as it 
sat on the eggs at the far end. As it caught sight of me it 
started hissing somewhat after the manner of a goose. A few 


THE BIRDS OF NORTH KENT. 57 


sods moved at the back end made it take its departure very 
hurriedly, running along the ground some distance before taking 
wing, when it was immediately joined by the mate, both uttering 
the half-bark, half-cackle, which their cry resembles, as they 
flew out over the river. This nest had ten eggs in it, which were 
quite fresh, and were also laid on the bare pipe, with no feathers 
or down around them. The third nest I did not examine in the 
spring, but I was told of the bird having been seen going in and 
out of the particular pipe in which the nest was situated. In 
early September I looked at this pipe, and found a great mass of 
- down at the bend in the centre of its length. It may be con- 
cluded from these observations that this bird, also, does not 
start to pluck its down for covering the eggs until after the full 
clutch is laid, and steady sitting has begun. The eggs in the 
two nests first mentioned differed enormously in size; three 
which I took of the clutch of fourteen measured as follows :— 
PO eal Join..2,(o1m. x I-95 and 2:70) ineis< 195) ine 
The two which I took from the second nest measured only 
2°55 in. X 1°75 in., and 2°50 in. x 1°75 in. I should be inclined 
to assume that the smaller eggs were laid by the younger bird. 
I believe the eggs of the Mute Swan and domestic Goose also 
vary in size according to the age of the bird. On June 15th, 
1902, I came across a young brood of these birds with their 
parents, swimming along the centre of one of the widest of the 
fleets. My attention was drawn to them, as so often is the case, 
by the excited behaviour of one of the old birds which I took to 
be the male. It started flying round me in circles near the 
sround, evidently in a great fluster, every now and then settling 
in the meadow, and running quickly and actively away from me. 
I was walking along the edge of the fleet at the time, and of 
course [ at once began to search in other directions than that of 
the excited bird for the cause of its behaviour, and then I saw 
the other old bird with seven youngsters swimming round it. 
The young ones had a most curious appearance, from the mark- 
ings of the down looking at a distance like black and white 
transverse stripes. More close inspection with the glasses 
seemed to point to the patches of black and white of the down 
corresponding very closely with what would be the markings of 


the mature bird. My sketch of these young birds made at the 
Gool, 4th ser. vol. XI., February, 1907. F 


58 THE ZOO0OLOGIST. 


time differed somewhat from the sketch given in ‘ The Zoologist,’ 
1903, p. 131, by Mr. J. H. Gurney. Passing back in the after- 
noon of the same day, I again saw this interesting family near 
the same spot, and the male once more went through the same 
series of evolutions to draw me away as in the morning. 

The members of these three species of ducks breeding in this 
district are, I think, on the increase. The Mallard has probably 
always been common as a nesting bird, but I believe that the 
Shoveler has only become a breeder here during the last five or 
six years. My first note of seeing the bird in spring was in 
1902; they have certainly increased in numbers greatly during 
the last two years. The Sheld-Duck perhaps has bred in small 
numbers for some time. I have been told all along, by shep- 
herds and farmers, of birds nesting both in the pipes and in the 
rabbit-burrows ; but I am certain that the numbers of nesting 
birds, of the non-breeding birds, and of the winter flocks have 
all increased during the last three years. 

A matter of some interest in connection with the nesting of 
various species of ducks is the identification of them by means 
of the down with which they cover their nests. Amongst this 
down there is always—I think one may say invariably—some 
admixture of small breast contour feathers. In my opinion 
these latter feathers are a much safer guide to go by for identifi- 
cation than the down itself. In the three species in question 
these small feathers from the breast have very distinctive 
markings, as may be seen from the accompanying Plate II. 
Of course, the Sheld-Duck’s nest is identified easily enough 
without any such aid as this, but still it is interesting to com- 
pare the three feathers together. In the Sheld-Duck the feather 
is a very pure white, with the tip shaded with sepia, so dark as 
to be almost black. The depth of this coloured tip varies some- 
what. Occasionally it is nearly lost through abrasion, and more 
rarely absent altogether, the feathers being then pure white all 
over. There are also a very few French-grey feathers of the same 
shape amongst the down. In the small breast-feathers of the 
Mallard the dark strip in the centre is deep umber in colour. 
This dark strip always runs out to the very end of the web. It 
sometimes widens out at the base so as to be hastate in shape. 
The rest of the feather-web is a dirty white. In the Shoveler 


THE BIRDS OF NORTH KENT. 59 


these feathers have a very deep umber or almost black spot in 
the centre of the web, leaving a pale margin all round. The 
fluffy part at the base of the quill is whitish grey, but the margin 
of the web surrounding the dark spot is a warm chestnut. As 
far as my experience goes, there can be no possibility of confusing 
the small feathers of the Mallard and the Shoveler, and I have 
never yet found a nest of either of these species which had not: 
some of the breast contour feathers amongst the down. The 
average size of these feathers corresponds to the size of the bird, 
the Sheld-Duck’s being largest, the Mallard’s next, and the 
Shoveler’s least. From an examination of the down itself, 
which, of course, forms the bulk of the covering of the nest, you 
find that every particle of down consists of a minute abortive 
quill, sometimes not much more than a scale of epidermis, from 
which radiate numerous filaments equivalent perhaps to the 
barbs of an ordinary feather. These are again branched through 
their whole length with what may be called barbules, the latter 
themselves being furnished with nodules, taking the place of the 
ordinary barbicels and hooklets. As regards colouring, the 
Sheld-Duck’s down is a greyish white, with a touch of lavender. 
The Mallard’s and Shoveler’s downs are both a deep umber-brown, 
with a pale centre verging on dirty white. Normally the Shoveler’s 
is of a much darker brown than the Mallard’s, but in the case of 
a Mallard’s nest, which I have described earlier (p. 51), the down 
was much darker than that of any Shoveler’s that I have seen. 
Therefore, as regards colour, these two downs are very apt to be 
confused. There is still, however, another means of differ- 
entiating them. Hach particle of down, if you lay it on a flat 
surface, will, roughly speaking, form a fluffy sphere. That of 
the Sheld-Duck is much the largest and most voluminous of the 
three, and measures approximately 1:7 in. in diameter; the 
Mallard’s comes next, measuring 1°3 in.; and the Shoveler’s is 
the smallest, measuring 1:1 in. 


60 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


OBSERVATIONS TENDING to THROW LIGHT on tHE 


QUESTION or SEXUAL SELECTION in BIRDS, IN-: 


CLUDING a DAY-TO-DAY DIARY on tot BREEDING 
HABITS or tae RUFF (MACHETES PUGNAX). 


By Epmunp Srxovs. 
(Continued from vol. x. p. 428.) 


April 28rd, 1906 (cont.).—1.15 p.m. The brown bird and 
one other—a recognized habitué—is now back. The latter soon 
goes, but the brown bird stays on alone, and has now been here 
twenty-five minutes. Shortly afterwards he leaves too. 

It is curious that with all the excitement—especially in the 
last instance—which the presence of the Reeve has caused, 
though there has been some desultory sparring, yet no prolonged 
or embittered duel has taken place init. I cannot, from my own 
observation, thus far, say that she is the teterrima causa belli, 
though she certainly has been of general commotion. 

Looking out, again, at 2.30, I see the brown bird, alone, on 
the meeting-ground. At 2.50 the other habitué, mentioned 
before, is back, these two being the only ones, till 3, when 
another, which I also recognize, flies in. 

The brown bird, now, on the arrival of two or three other 


ones, not only flaps his wings, stretching up on tip-toe, as — 


they circle round, but at last rises and hangs hovering in the 
air for a little. 

3.45.—There are now some six or seven birds, when a Reeve 
arrives. All but one sink, forthwith, upon the ground, and 
remain there prostrate, whilst she stands in about the centre of 
them quietly preening herself. The one Ruff who does not 
prostrate himself, but stands indifferent, has his feathers hardly 
at all grown. Amongst the others, after a time, there is a little 
bustle about, and then another, but with no real fighting. After 
each they sink down again, but seem now to be pretty much at 


SHXUAL SHLECTION IN BIRDS. 61 


their ease. Still it appears evident that they are in a state of 
real, though suppressed excitement, and the bustles are repeated, 
from time to time, without any independent cause—such, for in- 
stance, as the arrival of other birds—though when several more 
do fly in there is, naturally, a commotion. Amongst these there 
is the one that was caressed, several times, by a Reeve yesterday 
—whether she was the one now here I cannot say. He is not 
caressed now, however, nor is any other Ruff, and after a while 
the Reeve, followed by most of them—he included—fiies off. In 
about five minutes she returns alone. 

The fighting, on those occasions when the birds make their 
little bustles as I have called them—little runs or turnings 
whilst still crouched to the ground, and either close about the 
Reeve or yet, seemingly, with reference to her—is of very short 
duration—a spring or two, which is often hardly more than a 
threatening, and all is over. 

Most of the Ruffs that went off, a little while ago, with the 
Reeve, have now come back, but, before long, she leads almost 
all the flock off again. There are now, at 4.20, only four remain- 
ing, the brown bird and his former companion making two of 
them. Several times, after a blank space, these two have come 
and stood or sat alone, and they must, I think, spend two hours 
to most of the other’s one upon the ground, and an even greater 
proportion than that to the time that some of them spend there. 
The most interesting evidence of superior attachment to the 
meeting-ground on the part of some birds to others, was the 
persistency with which this same brown Ruff—he is the only 
one brown all over—stayed there, and returned again, shortly, 
whenever he left, when no other of them would, for a long time, 
alight, or stay more than a moment or two, if they did. 

April 24th.—Get to my watch-house about 3.15 p.m., putting 
up four birds, two of which are the brown one and that other 
habitué. After a time a Reeve arrives, all the Ruffs sink down 
in the orthodox manner, but one rises very soon, and is now 
standing with head turned back, and beak amongst its back 
feathers. All at once two birds bounce up and dash at each 
other. It is over, however, as usual, almost ere well begun, and 
another sudden commotion hardly leads to a fight. All this 
might have happened without the Reeve, and a fight which took 


62 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


place before she came was much more protracted. All now fly 
off with the Reeve, but in less than a minute most of the Ruffs 
come back without her. 

At a little before four a Reeve flies in, and immediately, on 
alighting, runs over the course to the brown bird, who stands on 
the opposite side, and I believe touches him on the head or neck 
with her bill. This, however, I could not quite make out, but, 
almost immediately, she was crouched in front of him, and he, 
rising up,* the nuptial rite is either performed or attempted. I 
should say the latter, for, at quite short intervals, now, the same 
thing is repeated four several times (making five in all), after 
which there is a longer interval, the Reeve standing by her 
brown bird. When she moved on these occasions, preparatory 
to the rite being performed, all the Ruffs frounced about on the 
ground, turning to this side or that, but whilst it was actually 
taking place—at least on the earlier occasions—they lay still in 
the curious prostrate attitude which is such a feature of these 
gatherings. After the fifth coition, or attempt at it, another 
Reeve flew in, and, going up to a handsome blue-gorgeted Ruff, 
with just the same assured manner in which the other had 
approached the brown one, touched him with her beak upon the 
head. Neither, however, did he rise, nor did she crouch, as in 
the other case. She remainded standing by him, and, a little 
while afterwards, went over to the brown Ruff, but whether with 
any design or merely as walking away I cannot feel sure, though 
I thought at the time that she had a motive, which, in itself, 
seems likely, At one time both the Reeves were close together 
beside the brown Ruff, and it was just then that two more pair- 
ings took place between one of them and the latter. There was 
so much bustling about of other Ruffs at the time that I could 
not say for certain which of these two Reeves it was that acted, 
on these occasions. I believe, indeed, it was the same bird 
throughout, but this is hardly more than an opinion. 

After each of the last pairings the brown bird made a rush 
over the course, and sprang at some other one, but the fight was 
almost instantly over—a mere violent leap or two. At these 
times, also, there was general excitement and running about 
leading to some other encounters of a similar character. Harder 


* He had, I suppose, sunk down at her approach. 


SHXUAL SHLECTION IN BIRDS. 63 


fichting than this there was not, nor, as I say, was there any 
interruption, by any other bird, of the nuptial rite. 

About 4.15 the two Reeves, with all or most of the Ruffs— 
some nine or ten perhaps—fly off, the Ruffs only returning, in a 
very short time. At 4.25, however, one Reeve returns, and, 
after standing for some time, quietly, always by the brown bird, 
the rite is again either performed or attempted. That it is the 
same Reeve who had first selected this bird I have little doubt, 
and I think, too, that I recognize her. She has yellower legs, 
and is a prettier bird than the other. Thus there have been 
eight pairings in all, seven of which were in quick succession, if 
we do not suppose that some, at any rate, were attempts merely. 
This I am inclined to conclude from the time occupied having 
been so extremely short, besides that the general appearance 
seemed often that of an unsuccessful attempt. This is not, I 
think, a matter of no moment, for the more difficulty there may 
be in the performance of the sexual act the more necessary 
becomes the co-operation of the female, and from a state of 
things such as this one would expect developments to be along 
the lines of the male’s conciliating rather than hectoring over or 
bullying her. Only had the male special organs of prehension, 
or some other sure means of making his will valid, might we 
expect otherwise. However, we should assume nothing, but get 
evidence. 

The attitude of the Ruff just before the performance of the 
rite was very striking. Bent almost in a semicircle, with head 
and tail touching, or nearly touching, the ground, his wings 
half outspread, and drooped, he seemed full of fire and conscious 
importance. This attitude was continued during the rite itself, 
and in its ample, proud cloak, so to speak, the little Reeve was 
covered up and almost lost. 

4.50.—Four birds, after the usual stretching up and wing- 
flapping, in view of fresh arrivals, rise and hang fluttering in 
the air at different heights a little above the assembly-ground. 
The arrival having been delayed, this took place again, but with 
three birds only, one of the four having flown off. Then a Ruff 
flew in, and afterwards a Reeve, who, however, stayed but a 
minute or so. 

I write the above outside my plaid, and, turning my head 


64 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


inside it, again, I see a number of Ruffs, newly come in, and one 
Reeve, if not two. If two, however, one soon flies away. This 
Reeve goes to no bird in particular, and there is no rite. The 
behaviour of the Ruffs, during her stay, is interesting and signi- 
ficant. Pressed to the ground in the usual manner, they seem 
all to be awaiting in a state of suppressed excitement something 
that will, or may, take place. At intervals, however—some- 
times owing to some slight motion on the part of the Reeve, 
sometimes without this incentive—they all frounce about, still 
hugging the ground, in the way I have described; then, rising, 
dart about over the course, sometimes springing at one another 
and sparring a little—but this is quite subordinate. Several 
may press about the Reeve in a way difficult to describe—indeed, 
it is all difficult. It indicates strong sexual desire, but the 
power of initiation seems wanting. In fact, they seem—and 
everything, up to the present, points to the fact that they are— 
governed by the consciousness of being able to do nothing with- 
out the co-operation of the Reeve—she must first signify her 
wish. Of display there is something, but it is not such a set or 
formal display as in the case, for instance, of the Pheasant or 
Pigeon—excitement seems to hinder this. The best example of 
it is when a bird, darting, first, right away from her, turns, 
and, darting back, again, right to her side, with ruff swelled out, 
and wing (I think on her side) drooped, seems,’ for a moment, 
as though he would overwhelm her with his gallant show, but, 
the next, sinks prostrate at her side, and remains thus glued to 
the earth. Though highly desirous, in fact, the birds seem to 
know that they must wait, and to fear to dare too much; there is 
a suggestion of enforced submission, an ‘‘ I would, an if I could” 
—the tempest is contracted, each wave seems to fear to break. 
For the Reeve, everything about her, her every action—still 
more her inaction, her easiness, and unconcern—suggests that 
she is complete mistress of the situation, that every Ruff on the 
sround is absolutely dependent on her will. In fact, she seems 
the plain and unconcerned little mistress of a numerous and 
handsome seraglio, each member of which, however he flounce 
and bounce, can only wait to be chosen. 

The pairing, then, has now commenced. Yet only two Reeves 
have come to the place from 3.15 to 7.380, and whether both or 


SHXUAL SHLECTION IN BIRDS. 65 


only one of these (as I am inclined to think) has paired, in either 
case it is with only one bird out of some nine or ten, perhaps, 
that were there, at the time—fourteen or fifteen, I think, being 
the full number of the Ruffs that came in during the afternoon. 
If this is a criterion of the general course of things, one would 
think that the majority of the Ruffs must suffer from enforced 
celibacy, and this would account for such sexual aberrations as I 
have before mentioned, and a further example of which took 
place this afternoon, a certain male, upon three or four occa- 
sions, coupling, to all intents and purposes, with a certain other 
one. This was during the second visit of the one of the Reeves, 
and in the height of the excitement consequent upon it. 

About 6.20 a Reeve—that one between whom and the brown 
Ruff the rite has several times been performed—flies in. This 
time the actual wooing of the males is more marked. Several 
press about her, ruffling their feathers, and one in particular—a 
handsome blue-ruffed one—the habitué I spoke of, and who has 
before been distinguished by female attention—presses more than 
once against her. She, however, is not moved by any, but when 
the brown bird comes up it is different. Now, however, there is 
interference, and the pairing, which I think would otherwise 
have taken place, is prevented. On one occasion, just when it 
seems about to be, a Ruff, almost devoid of nuptial plumage, 
runs up and gives the successful lover a peck. On another he 
has to fight with this or that bird whilst the general hurly-burly 
about the Reeve is greater. Thus things cannot reach their goal, 
and the Reeve, quite impervious to the charms of any other about 
her, stands, now, quietly, and looking quite unconscious, by the 
side of her own brown bird. At 6.40 she. flies off, some of the 
Ruffs having gone before. I forget if any accompany her—one 
or two do, I think—but the brown one, at any rate, remains. 


(To be continued.) 


66 THE ZOOLOGIST, 


NOTES ON THE ARCTIC WHALING VOYAGE OF 1906. 
By TxHomas SoutHWELL. 


THe year 1905 being the twenty-fifth consecutive issue of 
these whaling notes seemed a convenient period for their dis- 
continuance, but there are certain features in the venture of the 
past season which are of exceptional interest, and which induce 
me once more to ask your indulgence. 

I may at once say that the voyage for the crews has been one 
of great hardship, and of heavy loss to the owners of the vessels. 
It is only the very high price of whalebone, of which there is a 
ereat scarcity both in Scotland and in America, which has in 
some degree helped to meet the expenses of the four vessels 
which have been partially successful. 

In Davis Strait, which has for a long time been the only 
profitable resort of the Scotch whalers, only two medium Whales 
have been killed. This has been owing to the long-continued 
easterly winds having so compacted the ice that the vessels were 
unable, for the first time since the year 1878, to penetrate the 
pack in Melville Bay, and thus were excluded from the “‘ north 
water,” and the favourite resorts in the neighbourhood of Lan- 
caster Sound. The summer fishery in the ‘‘ middle waters,” 
generally a sure find, was also rendered impossible. The result 
was that the ‘ Eclipse,’ ‘Diana,’ and ‘Windward’ were clean, and 
the ‘Balena’ and ‘Morning’ only procured one Whale each, 
yielding 15 cwt. of ‘‘ bone” respectively. 

From Hudson Strait the ‘Active’ reports that the month of — 
July was characterized by strong winds, accompanied by rain 
and snow; she reached the mica-mines on 4th of that month, 
but was unable to force her way through Fox Channel, which 
was blocked by ice, and devoted the rest of the month to Walrus 
hunting, of which she killed some three hundred and fifty. On 
the 23rd she killed her only Whale, a small one of but 3 ewt. 
bone. The heavy ice preventing the vessel reaching the settle- 
ment in Lyon’s Inlet, the men whose turn it was to be relieved ! 


NOTES ON ARCTIC WHALING VOYAGE. 67 


only reached the ship after five days’ journey over water and ice, 
and the substitutes and stores landed on Sept. 12th in Repulse 
Bay had to be conveyed in the same tedious and exhausting 
manner on the return journey. After again visiting the mica 
station the ‘ Active’ bore up for home on Oct. 7th. 

Another remarkable feature in the past season is the fact that 
for the first time since the year 1899 Whales have been killed in 
the Kast Greenland Seas, Capt. Robertson, of the ‘ Scotia,’ having 
captured four small fish, yielding in the aggregate 40 cwt. of bone. 
From this there seems reason to hope that these valuable animals 
are still present in these seas in greater numbers than was sus- 
pected ; they are so dependent on glacial conditions that their 
absence may be more apparent than real. This was illustrated 
to a remarkable degree in the season of 1888, a most interesting 
account of which voyage, from the pen of Mr. (now Dr.) Robert 
Gray, appeared in your pages in the first three months of 1889. 
Although Whales were seen in abundance to the end of May, 
early in June the swell from the south-east broke up all the floes, 
and the Whales disappeared, only four being killed by the five 
vessels present (cf. Zool. April, 1889), three returning clean. 
Capt. Robertson remarks that ‘‘ when we get a tight pack-edge 
from 80° to 77° N. very few Whales are caught, and when the 
margin of the ice is in west longitude it is nearly always hope- 
less”; and adds: ‘‘ About the year 1891, Capt. David Gray told 
me he estimated there were seven hundred Whales in the 
Greenland Sea. In four seasons since then I have seen a great 
number of Whales, particularly in 1895, whereas only ten have 
been caught since that year. The race is certainly not getting 
exhausted in the Greenland Sea, and never will be. I consider 
the apparent absence of Whales at North Greenland (during 
some seasons) entirely due to ice conditions.” This optimistic 
opinion of a man of Capt. Robertson’s great experience is 
certainly very reassuring. 

Seven vessels were actively engaged in whaling in the past 
season, three of which were clean; the ketch ‘Queen Bess’ is 
attached to the Hudson Strait station, and the ‘ Albert’ is win- 
tering at Pond’s Bay. The total produce was: 7 Right Whales 
(4 from Kast Greenland, 2 Davis Strait, and 1 Hudson Strait), 
8 White Whales, 534 Walruses, 1264 Seals, 189 Bears, 817 


68 THE »ZOOLOGIST. 


Foxes, 111 tuns of oil, and 73 ewt. of bone. The Seals, Foxes, 
and Walruses were killed in Hudson Strait, and by the vessels 
wintering in Pond’s Bay. The present price of oil is £23 per 
tun, and the value of the bone about £2500 per ton. The 
total value of the produce may be roughly estimated at, say, 
eel S20: 

In Mr. Haldane’s account of the Finwhaling from the northern 
Scotch ports* mention is made of the interesting fact that six 
Atlantic Right Whales were killed in the past season by the 
steamers from Buneveneader (in Harris), and I am informed 
that a considerable quantity of this bone has come into the 
market, brought to New Bedford by an American whaler, but 
where obtained my informant knows not ; only a few years ago 
this species was regarded as all but extinct. 

As usual, I have to express my thanks to Mr. Robert Kinnes, 
and to Mr. Mitchell’s circular, for most of the above statistics. 


* Annals of Scottish Nat. Hist.’ January, 1907, p. 13. A large bull 
Sperm Whale was also killed. 


NOTHS AND QUERIES. 


MAMMALIA. 


Albinic Mus rattus. — On January 28th a Yarmouth fish-hawker, 
who is always on the alert to hunt up queer fish and other curious 
creatures, brought me a most interesting specimen of a freshly-killed 
albinic Mus rattus, the first of the sort I have yet met with. He assured 
me that he had just taken it from his cat, a procedure she did not much 
resent, for she had already, that evening, captured two normal-coloured 
examples of the same species, and had had her fill of them. The Rat 
was quite uninjured, and by lamplight the coat exhibited the palest 
bluish-white hue imaginable; with eyes, hardly yet dimmed, of the 
most fiery red. The tail was a creamy white, and slightly less elon- 
gated than in M. rattus generally, the ears being greyish. The same 
night I forwarded the Rat to Dr. 8. H. Long, of Norwich, who has a 
fairly good representative series of M. vattws and its cousins, including 
one lately sent him with a patch of white on the breast. The albino 
(a male) measured as follows: Head, 13 in.; head and body, 6 in. ; 
tail, 54 in.—Artuur H. Patterson (Ibis House, Great Yarmouth). 


AVES. 


Peculiar Nesting-site for the Wheatear on the Sussex Coast.—In 
June, 1906, whilst visiting the neighbourhood of Pevensey Bay, I 
observed several pairs of Wheatears (Saaicola wnanthe), which from 
their behaviour had nests in the vicinity. As there is nothing but 
long stretches of shingle beach, I could not locate the nesting situation, 
although I watched the birds disappear and then reappear as if from 
nowhere. I casually remarked on this fact to a lad who resided in the 
neighbourhood, and, greatly to my surprise, he informed me that he 
had “ built the nesting-places himself, and would show me a nest then 
and there.’ I accepted his offer with, I must admit, some doubt as to 
his veracity. However, after about a mile’s walk over nothing but 
bare shingle, he suddenly stopped, and, pointing to a small hole at our 
feet, not more than 14in. square, said, ‘‘there’s the nest.” After 
carefully clearing away the shingle he disclosed three bricks—two laid 


70 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


side by side about two inches apart, and one covering them, and upon 
lifting the top brick, there was a Wheatear’s nest with four fresh eggs. 
He informed me that he had several of these ‘ traps ’’—as he described 
them—on the shingle, which I understood had been built during the 
previous winter. I found several more nests later—one with young, in 
a disused drain-pipe. I think the foregoing tends to show that when 
birds favour a certain locality they will easily adapt themselves to the 
surroundings. — P. W. Harvey (Kilmartin Avenue, Norbury Park, 
S.W.). 


Great Grey Shrike in Dorset.—On the 29th of December last, when 
out with my son, EK. C. Linton, in the parish of Edmondsham, I saw 
three birds looking rather larger than a Starling, which were quite 
strange to us, and unknown in the district ; and, not being able at once 
to name them, I sent off descriptive notes to the Rey. W. R. Linton, who 
passed them on to the Rev. F. C. R. Jourdain. On Monday, the 31st, 
my son again saw the three birds, and got a nearer view of them, 
and could distinguish one as being of brighter plumage, presumably a 
male. With this clearer view of their markings we fixed on the Great 
Grey Shrike (Lanius eacubitor) as the bird we had seen. During 
January HK. C. Linton, who had once again, three or four days later, 
caught sight of one of birds, visited the South Kensington Museum for 
the purpose of identifying them, and was completely satisfied as to 
their identity with the Great Grey Shrike. Meantime I had received 
Mr. Jourdain’s opinion that this was the bird we had seen. There are 
some eight records of this species in the ‘ Birds of Dorset’ (1887), the 
last of which is dated 1872. At the time the birds we saw visited 
Hdmondsham almost the whole of Britain except the south-west was 
under snow, and severe weather no doubt drove them to a district 
where the little snow that had fallen did not lie.—EH. F. Linton 
(Edmondsham Rectory, Salisbury). 


Hawfinch at Ballinasloe, Co. Galway.—A former curate of mine, 
the Rev. W. Forster, kindly sent me a specimen of a Hawfinch 
(Coccothraustes vulgaris), which he shot near his house at Mount Ber- 
nard, Ballinasloe, on 81st December last. He tells me that he ‘‘ saw 
the bird twice, with about ten days’ interval. It was in exactly the 
same place each time, outside the drawing-room window on the gravel. 
There were perhaps two hundred Chaffinches with it, but none 
others of its own kind. There was a copper-beech overhead. It may 
have been picking the nuts, though I think it probable it was only 
picking gravel. I did not hear it utter any note.” I sent the bird 
to my friend Mr. Williams, Dame Street, Dublin, who says that its 


NOTES AND QUERIES. 71 


stomach contained haws. I have never seen Hawfinches here, but 
used often when lying in ambush to watch them at Copenhurst, 
Cheshire, some years ago. They bred there, and were not uncommon. 
They used to work destruction in the kitchen-gardens—shelling the 
peas, and ruining a whole row in an incredibly short space of time.— 
Wituram W. Fiemyne (Coolfin, Portlaw, Co. Waterford). 


Bitterns in Suffolk.—During the recent hard weather two Bitterns 
(Botaurus stellaris) have been shot in Suffolk—one at Bardwell, which 
was preserved by Mr. Travis, of Bury, and the other at Thorndon, near 
Hye, on Jan. 5th. The latter was shot in the evening by a farmer on 
his flooded meadows, and taken to the rectory to be identified. The 
parson, a naturalist-sportsman, was equal to the occasion, and by his 
good offices it came into my possession in the flesh. It was a female, 
and, as one might expect after the difficulty it must have found in 
obtaining food in ice and snow, in poor condition, but in perfect 
plumage. The rapid thaw on the night of Jan. lst produced extra- 
ordinary floods, turning our low-lying meadows into lakes, and on the 
following morning I saw Gulls (probably Larus canus) where I never 
noticed any before. Theattraction would doubtless be drowned worms. 
Juuian G. Tuck (Tostock Rectory, Bury St. Edmunds). 


Smew (Mergus albellus) in Cheshire.—On Jan. 15th Mr. T. Had- 
field and I saw a Smew on Tatton Mere. The bird was swimming 
among a number of Mallards, but its association with them was 
perhaps only accidental, for when we put the birds up it separated 
from the others, and went off at a great pace by itself. When we 
came across it again in another part of the mere it seemed equally in- 
different to the Mallards and other fowl which swam close to it from 
time to time. It was a duck or an immature drake, having a rufous 
crown, pure white cheeks, and a grey back. The bird swam low in 
the water, but the pure white of its breast and belly were very con- 
Spicuous when it rolled, as a Grebe does, to preen itself. This species 
is rare inland in Cheshire (cf. Zool. 1905, pp. 143, 144). — Cartes 
Oxpaam (Knutsford). 


Sabine’s Snipe in Ireland.—Three specimens of this rare variety 
have been shot in Ireland within a fortnight—one near Ballina, Co. 
Mayo, on the 10th December; one in Co. Leitrim, on the 15th; and 
the third in Co. Clare, on the 20th. The Co. Mayo and Clare speci- 
mens are almost identical, having no appearance of the stripes on 
back and head so noticeable in the Common Snipe; under parts of 
Wings and axillaries sooty black; breast, belly right down to tail, 


| 
| 
| 


| 


72 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


heavily barred with dark markings; tail very dark, with rich brown 

bars. The Co. Leitrim bird has narrow stripes down back and head ; 
breast heavily barred with brown, but not so dark as the other speci- 

mens; no appearance of white on breast as usual in Common Snipe; 

altogether an intermediate form between the Common Snipe and 

Sabine’s. It is interesting, if this is a variety and not a species, that 

three specimens shouid have been shot within such a short period.— 

W. J. Wiutrams (2, Dame Street, Dublin). 


Tringa alpina in Northamptonshire.—I have just seen a Dunlin in 
adult winter plumage, which was shot near Brackley on Jan. 30th.— 
O. V. Apuin. 


Colymbus glacialis in Gloucestershire.—A Great Northern Diver 
was shot on the Isis at Hempsford, near Fairford, about the middle of 
November, 1906. Mr. Darbey, who preserved it, informs me that it 
was in full summer plumage.—O. V. Apuin. 


Some Rare Visitors to Bartragh Island, Killala Bay.—The great 
snowstorm, and three days’ terrific northerly gale accompanying it, 
brought some rare and strange visitors to the island. On the morning 
of Dec. 30th last my friend Captain Kirkwood, of Bartragh, observing 
some Geese feeding on a swampy flat between his stables and the sand- 
hills—taking his glass to examine them more closely—was greatly 
surprised to see a flock of fourteen Snow-Geese, four white adults and 
ten greyish-coloured birds that he took to be young ones. Going down 
to the stables, and concealed behind the gables, he watched them for 
some time as they fed up to within two hundred yards of where he was 
standing; so he easily identified them, their black-tipped primaries 
denoting the species. Captain Kirkwood continued watching them — 
with great interest as they greedily fed towards him, when unfortu- 
nately a young dog, suddenly rushing out of the yard, disturbed them, 
when they rose and flew towards the mainland. Captain Kirkwood 
suggests that they were two broods with their parent birds, and this is 
very likely, for some years ago. meeting a flock of Bewick’s Swans 
when out in my punt, I failed to get a shot at them, owing to the 
watchfulness of a very large old bird accompanied by a pair of grey 
cygnets. The latter kept close to him, and whenever I approached 
with the punt he always drew off, uttering a low call, at once responded 
to by the cygnets swimming up to him, and keeping quite close while 
he called, while the other birds scattered widely as they swam away. 
So in this instance of an old Swan taking care of its young ones after 
their long flight from Siberia, is it unlikely that some old Geese would 


NOTES AND QUERIES. 73 


not take similar care of their young after arriving in this country from 

the far north? These Geese had evidently only arrived that morning, 

driven before the northerly gale, and, reaching Bartragh as the first 

land they met, dropped down to rest and feed. Another rare visitor was 

a splendid Snowy Owl, that Captain Kirkwood saw standing on a little 

hillock among the sand-hills. He watched it for some time, and was 

amused by the queer appearance of its great yellow eyes ag it turned - 
its head from side to side, watching every quarter. He left for a few 

minutes to send for his gun, but the bird disappeared before his return, 

probably to conceal itself among the high sand-hills of the rabbit- 

warren, where it could feed at its leisure on the rabbits. On the 8th inst. 

Capt. Kirkwood sent me a very fine specimen of the Glaucous Gull in 

its first year’s plumage, which was found dead on the shore, but uninjured, 

and evidently starved. On Dec. 9th an Iceland Gull passed close by 
me; and again on the 14th, walking near the shore here, another, or 
the same bird, passed by me again. On the 20th inst. my friend 
Mr. H. Scroope, of Ballina, saw an Iceland Gull, with two Herring- 

Gulls, flying about the river between the two bridges at Ballina; it 
pitched in a field close to the river, when Mr. Scroope remarked that 
it was smaller, and of much slighter build than the Herring-Gulls, 

thus proving that it was an Iceland and not a Glaucous Gull. This 

bird was in the creamy-coloured plumage similar to the bird I saw on 

Dec. 9th and 14th, and may have been the same bird that had wandered 

up the river.—Rospert Warren (Moy View, Ballina). 


Birds observed at Grindelwald.—In ‘ The Zoologist’ (1905, p. 129), 
I came upon an account by the Rev. A. Ellison of some birds observed 
at Grindelwald. I have just been spending a fortnight there, and so 
perhaps a few more notes might be interesting. It is curious that 
your contributor does not mention the Raven, a bird which appeared 
to be abundant. I several times got within fifty yards of them, and, 
as I am well acquainted with the Raven both in its wild state and in 
captivity, I do not think I can have made any mistake in identifying 
the species. They would sometimes feed with the Carrion-Crows by 
the river. With regard to Blackbirds, I saw three or four, as far as I 
could see, all cock-birds. I also saw by the river for a few moments 
a Pipit, but did not have time to identify it. Dippers were common 
there. I did not go up the Faulhorn, which, from Mr. Ellison’s letter, 
appears to be the best locality. In the chalet in which I was staying 
there was a fine specimen of an Kagle-Owl, shot at Grindelwald by 
Herr Boss, one of the proprietors of the Bear Hotel, who also told me 
that HKagles (mostly Golden) were almost common, particularly in the 

Zool. 4th ser. voi. XI., February. 1907. G 


74 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


autumn, and that there were also Ptarmigan, Black-game, and—I 
think—Capercailzie to be got. I heard a Woodpecker drumming, the 
noise being identical with that made by our Spotted Woodpeckers ; 
Chaffinches were common, I was struck by the unusual tameness of 
the Great Tits—they would fly about inside the balconies of the 
chalets in search of food, and also by the number of nesting-boxes 
hanging up in the trees.— EH. F. A. Hay (C. C. C. Oxford). 


Westward Movement of Birds during Snow. — Replying to Mr. 
Ussher’s enquiry (ante, p. 33), on Dec. 26th last a large number of birds 
passed south-west over this district, mostly in flocks; they were Star- 
lings, Sky-Larks, and Lapwings. A few small birds (Chaffinches) 
were moving in the same direction, but only single birds. On Dec. 
27th a few Starlings and Sky-Larks, and single small birds, presum- 
ably Chaffinches, all flying south-west. Dec. 28th, some flocks of 
Sky-Larks, besides single birds, and a few Lapwings were passing 
over.—Rosert Morris (Uckfield, Sussex). 


Iceland Gulls in Donegal.—On 30th December last (which was the 
first day of the thaw following the severe northern blizzards, accom- 
panied by the heaviest falls of snow that have been experienced in 
Donegal for many years past), I visited Rosbeg, one of the Herring- 
fishing centres on that coast. Amongst the hundreds of other Gulls 
that were congregated in and around the small bay to feed upon the fish- 
offal, I noticed at least three immature Iceland Gulls, and there were 
probably several others. As to whether the species visits the locality 
so commonly every year, I could not gain any information.—J. StrELE- 
Extiotr (Dowles Manor, Salop). 


NOTE Sa OLN Ei War eb OOK S: 


The History of the Collections contained in the Natural History 
Departments of the British Museum. Vols. 1. & Il. Printed 
by order of the Trustees. 


A uistory of our great Natural History Museum, written by the 
officers in charge of the collections, at the suggestion of Prof. K. 
Ray Lankester, the Director, is a publication that will be read 
by naturalists in all parts of the world. It records the gradual 
accumulation of that vast collection of natural objects which it 
contains, both animate and inanimate, with the sources from 
which a large portion of it was obtained ; so that it is a clue to 
the domicile of very many once private collections well known 
by repute, and now available for examination by students. The 
receptive process is still in progress, and one wonders what the 
ultimate contents of this vast biological repository may attain 
in size and number; one also cannot refrain from sometimes 
thinking what will be the condition of the present collection in 
a thousand years’ time! Will time have dealt so gently with the 
objects which we identify and study with such loving eare, that 
they may be available to posterity at the termination of another 
millennium ? 

The nucleus of our Museum was the collections of Sir Hans 
Sloane, and those known under the names of the Cottonian 
and Harleian, the three being brought together under the desig- 
nation of ‘“‘the British Museum,” placed under the care of 
a body of trustees, and lodged in Montagu House, Blooms- 
bury, purchased for their reception in 1754, and opened to the 
public in 1759. We read:—-‘‘ Admission to the galleries of 
antiquities and natural history was at first by ticket only, issued 
on application in writing, and limited to ten persons, for each of 
three hours in the day.’’ Even these visits were limited to a 


76 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


safe-conduct through the galleries by officers of the house; it 
was not until the year 1810 that the Museum was freely accessible 
to the general public, and then only for three days in the week, 
from ten to four o’clock. Since then progress has been con- 
tinuous; the fine building in Bloomsbury was completed in 
1845, its reading-room in 1857, and the present great Nature’s 
temple at South Kensington was constructed and handed over to 
the trustees in 1880. 

Vol. I. is devoted to the Libraries, and the departments of 
Botany, Geology, and Minerals. The collection of books, manu- 
scripts, and drawings relating to natural history is certainly the 
finest and most complete in the world. Botany and mineralogy 
are outside the purview of ‘The Zoologist,’ but geology is not, 
and paleontology is rapidly becoming an equipment necessary to 
every well-informed zoologist. We can trace the evolution of 
the paleontological collection. In 1767 we read of the acquisition 
of some remains of Mastodon americanus, and a molar tooth of 
M. humboldti; then each year’s acquisitions become more im- 
portant, and reflect the steady progress of the science. In 
1880, 50,000 non-British fossils were received from the Museum 
of Practical Geology in Jermyn Street. In that year the total 
number of acquisitions numbered 55,496. 

Vol. Il. refers to the various zoological departments, and 
here our interest centres, but our space contracts. In ‘“‘ Mam- 
mals’? we are glad to see a well-deserved tribute to Dr. J. H. 
Gray, apart from the question of his taxonomical views. ‘“‘ To 
his indomitable energy and enthusiasm, in the face of much 
opposition and discouragement from officials more interested in 
the Library and Antiquities than in natural history, the early 
erowth and position of the mammal collection is mainly due.” 
We may add that it is not likely to suffer from an absence 
of these personal qualities under the direction of Mr. Oldfield, 
Thomas. In the section devoted to Birds, Dr. Bowdler Sharpe 
has contributed at length, and his pages are of the greatest 
interest to ornithologists. The specimens procured during 
Captain Cook’s voyages have perished; they were inadequately 
prepared, and ‘‘ were always mounted.” ‘There is, however, 
apparently one relic—a Tree-Starling (Aplonis ulietensis). From 
similar causes much destruction has ensued to the Montagu 


NOTICES OF NEW BOOKS. 17 


Collection of British Birds. A good story is told of George 
Robert Gray, described by Professor Newton as a “‘ thoroughly 
conscientious clerk”: ‘‘ Being continually twitted about his 
ignorance of birds in the field, he one day hired a gun, and 
went into Hertfordshire to shoot birds. He was promptly 
arrested by a keeper for trespassing.” The great collection of 
Reptiles and Batrachians has wonderfully increased even in 
somewhat recent years. Mr. Boulenger tells us that Dr. Gray, 
working at the Lizards in 1845, had at his disposal only 428 
specimens, representing 152 species. During the years 1882— 
1886, when Mr. Boulenger revised this group and prepared a 
catalogue, the number of species recognized by him as valid was 
1616, of which 1206 were represented in the Museum by 9820 
specimens. The other groups have similarly increased in speci- 
mens. In 1858, when Dr. Giinther commenced the arrangement 
of the general collection of Fishes, it contained about 16,000 
specimens ; ‘‘at the present day the total number of specimens 
in the collection amounts to about 738,000.” 

When we come to the Insecta the roll-call is astounding, and 
the amount of work still to be done in identification is enormous. 
These vast hordes of insect specimens are appalling in number, 
and it is to the credit of the entomological department that so 
many have been identified, and the general collection so well 
arranged by a staff never large, but always enthusiastic. Private 
collections are continuously finding a home in the National 
Museum, and when we reflect on the number of insects still 
unknown and uncollected, the increasing number of our colonists 
who take an interest in entomology, and the many travellers who 
collect insects and present them to the nation, approximate 
numeration fails to afford a conception of what is likely to appear 
on the stock-taking list of this department in another hundred 
years. 

We await another volume devoted to the natural history col- 
lections of the British Museum, an institution of which all 
naturalists may be proud, and to which the much vexed and now 
lean taxpayer may give a grunt of satisfaction. 


78 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


Catalogue of the Noctuide in the Collection of the British Museum. | 
By Sir Grorer F. Hampson, Bart. Published by the 
Trustees of the British Museum. 


Tue author of this great descriptive Catalogue of the “‘ Lepi- 
doptera Phalene”’ has now completed his sixth volume, and the 
third devoted to the Noctuide of the world. This deals with the 
Cuculliane, the third of the fifteen subfamilies into which the 
Noctuide are divided, 692 species belonging to 111 genera being 
described in it. 

The moths enumerated and described in this volume are 
to a very large extent Nearctic and Palearctic in distribution, 
comprising a number of our British species; and as a thorough 
revision of the classification and nomenclature has been made, 
and a full list of habitats given to each species, it demands the 
attention of British lepidopterists. This latter feature alone 
would make the book important, for in many, if not in most of 
the volumes relating to our fauna, the dispersal of the species is 
not traced beyond these islands, and thus a stunted and in- 
adequate conception is given of their distributional position. 
At the same time affinities are shown to species lying beyond the 
limits of our fauna, and thus a greater biological interest can 
be afforded to a simple collection and identification of our British 
moths. 

Sir George Hampson still maintains his standard of monu- 
mental labour and precision, and such labour, perhaps unrecog- 
nized by those who prefer some evolutionary speculation, has an 
importance beyond mere taxonomical technique, and affords the 
material on which a future evolutionary structure will be raised. 
We notice that in this series of coloured plates the three-colour 
process has been discarded, and a reversion to chromo-litho- 
eraphy has taken place. 


A Synonymic Catalogue of Orthoptera. By W. F'. Kirpy. Vol. II. 
Orthoptera Saltatoria (Achetide et Phasgonuride). Pub- 
lished by the Trustees of the British Museum. 


We heartily welcome the second volume of this excellent 
catalogue, a compilation that will have the greatest influence in 
directing and assisting an increased study of the large order of 


NOTICES OF NEW BOOKS. 79 


orthopterous insects. Mr. Kirby applies the name Phasgonuride 
to the “‘long-horned Grasshoppers” frequently referred to the 
Locustide, while he recognizes as true Locustide the ‘ short- 
horned Grasshoppers,” which are as often called Acridiide, and 
these latter will form the material for the third and concluding 
volume of the catalogue. The method and style employed are 
the same as elsewhere used by this veteran compiler of synony- 
mic entomological catalogues. 


A Synonymic Catalogue of Homoptera. By W. L. Drstanr. 
Part I. Cicadide. Published by the Trustees of the 
British Museum. 


Tuts is a catalogue of the genera and species of that well- 
known family of insects, so well advertized by the resonant 
males, and of which only one species is found in these islands, 
It would be out of place to say any more than that the material 
for the volume has been collected during many years, and that 
every endeavour has been made to reduce errors to the smallest 
compass. 


Butterflies of Hongkong and South-east China. By J.C. Kersuaw, 
F.E.S., &e. London: R. H. Porter. 


We have received parts i.—-v. of this publication, which con- 
tains a large amount of observational matter, and is illustrated 
by coloured plates, which, however, have the dissimilitude of 
being much smaller than the size of the pages devoted to the text, 
probably owing to the limited extent in size to which the three- 
colour process can be applied. We reserve further notice till 
the completion of the work. It is printed in the Hast, but can 
be obtained from the London agency as above. 


80 THE: ZOOLOGLST. 


EDITORIAL GLEANINGS. 


In the ‘ Annals of Scottish Natural History’ (January, 1907), Mr. 
William Eagle Clarke records a new bird to the British fauna, by the 
occurrence of the Siberian Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus tristis) in Scotland. 
The specimen was received in October, 1902, from the Sule Skerry 
Lighthouse, a lonely rock-station situated out in the Atlantic, and 
some thirty-three miles west of Orkney, where it had been captured on 
the night of Sept. 23rd in the above-mentioned year. 


From the Report for the year 1905 of the Fisheries of New South 
Wales we extract the following information respecting edible Hels. 
The five species of economic importance are as follows :— 

(1) Tue Common Hen (Anguilla venegalensis)—This is found in all 
the rivers and estuaries of the eastern watershed of New South Wales, 
and is the principal Hel (because the commonest) of the Sydney fish- 
markets. It attains a length of over three feet, with a weight of at 
least ten pounds; three to four pounds is, however, considered a fair 
average. On the mud-flats of the harbours, rivers, and estuaries, and 
the creeks which debouch thereon, this species occurs in great quantities, 
and there is practically an inexhaustible supply. 

(2) Tue SHorr-rinnep Hen (A. australis)—This fish is, from an 
economic point of view, to be classed with the previous species, though 
it is found more particularly in the fresh waters. 

(8) Tae Concer Ket (Leptocephalus labiatus)—This Kel is more 
essentially a marine fish. It attains a weight of about twelve pounds, 
and a length of about four feet. There is reason to believe that it 
exists in these waters in considerable numbers, but nothing regarding 
that point can be said with certainty, owing to the haphazard nature 
of the Hel-fishery. 

(4) Tue Saver Het (Murenesox cinereus),—This large Hel attains 
a length of about five feet. It occurs in considerable numbers along 
the costal waters, but is of a roving predaceous nature. Owing to the 
many fine bones, this species is only used for smoking purposes (for 
which it is well adapted). The fish is split from beneath, and a piece 
of coarse cloth is rubbed along the cut surfaces, this ‘‘ picking up” 
the bones. 

(5) Tue Green Ket (Gymnothorax prasina).—This species is very 
common along the coast of New South Wales, but is usually only cap- 
tured by hook and line, as the fish lives in rocky situations. It attains 
a weight of several pounds, with a length of about two feet six inches. 


By E. F. M. ELMS. 


ORMATION is given respecting all British birds that breed in 
hese islands, and those that are regular visitors at one time of 
ear or another, with remarks as to a species being resident, inter- 
atory, or migratory. Each species is separately treated under 
eadings: Haunts, including distribution; Plumage, briefly charae- 
ng the predominant and striking featur es, with “differentiation of 
ecles nearly alike; Language, with. song and various cries; Habits; 
) : Nidification, with site and niaterials of nest; and number and 
iption of ges. For those who love the birds this ‘ Pocket-book’ 
ea constant and much appreciated companion. 


ak. to hecome field ornithologists. We are quite certain that if this pub- 
lication is rightly used and faithfully consulted, any field naturalist may obtain a 
gh introduction to a knowledge of the birds he may meet on his rambles.” 


e Mr. Elms’s book it is difficult to speak too favourably. It is of very 
ketable size, and quite thin, although it gives plenty of blank pages for notes. 
the amount of information conveyed i is extraordinary. With Mr. Elms’ in his 


Zr. Klms’ book is one of the best of its kind that we have seen. Itis for the 
and reference in the field, and should add a new pleasure to many a nature- 


point. We have nothing but praise for this carefully prepared and altogether 
ellent little book.’ '_Westminster Gazette. 

“An accurate, well-condensed little book of reference for the field naturalist.” — 
ve Outlook. 

The author deserves every success. Stronely enough bound to stand pocket 
, printed on good, easily handled paper, and withal only three-eighths of an inch 
thickness, it yet contains 143 pages teeming with just the information that a 
id rambler requires. And not only the field rambler will find it useful ; as a book 
eady reference in the study it can be highly commended by reason of the 
ticularly systematic manner in which the information is arranged.” — Burd 


Full of information conveniently arranged and compactly set forth.” — The 
g Standard. 

dmirable in aim and in execution, the volume is assured a hearty welcome.” 
inchester Courier. 

“Tt i is a wonderfully compact little work, and is good value for 2s. 6d.’’-— 
ooting Times. 

“An excellent compendium of information on bird-life. The book should be 
nd extremely useful.”—Cownty Gentleman. ; 
ie: ‘Mr. Elms’s useful little book, which is what its title proclaims.”—Academy. 


wasn, NEWMAN & CO., 54, HATTON GARDEN, LONDON. 


Simpxin, Marsuatt & Co., Lrp. 


"sramble. The information given is admirably arranged, and is very much ta- 


“The Birds of Sealy Kent (with. Plate) 
ie Observations tending to throw Light on 
; including a Day- to-day Dale on thes 
OE Edmund ae One 60. 


Norus anb QuERIES :— 
Mammaria.—Albinic Mus rattws, Ar thas Jal, Patterson 69. 
Avrs.— Peculiar Nesting-site for the Wheatear on the ‘Sussex Coast, J 

69. Great Grey Shrike in Dorset, Rev. H. F. Linton, 70. 
Ballinasloe, Co. Galway, Rev. William W. Flemyng, M.A., 
Suffolk, Rev. Julian G. Tuck, 71. Smew (Mergus albell 1 hesk 
Charles Oldham, 71. Sabine’s Snipe in Ireland, W. J. Williams 
Tringa alpina i in Northamptonshire, 72; Colymbus glacialis in Glouc 
shire, 72; O. V. Aplin. Some Rare Whsncs to Bartragh ‘Island, | 
Bay, Robert Warren, 72. Birds observed at Grindelwald, o FLA aa 
Westward Movement of Birds during Snow, Robert Morris, Ae - Tee 
es Gulls in Donegal, J. Steele-Elivott, 74. “ex 
-. Notices or NEw Booxs, 75-19. 
EDITORIAL GLEANINGS, 80. 


: All Articles and Communications intended for plblieurion, aud B 
and Pamphlets for review, should be addressed ‘‘ The Editor of 
Zoologist,’ c/o West, Newman & Co., 54, Hatton Garden, London ;” or dit 
to the Editor, W. L. Distant, Steine House, Selhurst Road, South Norv vO 


BS: Subscription for 1907, 12s. post free, is now due, and may be sent 
he the Publishers, Wusr, Nuwman & Co., 54, Hatton Garden, London, Ti 


- Bound volumes, 1906, can now - had at 14s. es also cases 
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rah ZLOOLOGIST.T 


No. 789.—Mareh, 1907. 


BIRDS AND THE GREAT SNOW. 
Be Artruur H. PAtrEeRson. 


Tue great snowstorm which characterized the close of 1906 
and the early days of 1907, and its effects on bird-life, will long 
remain fresh in my memory. I am amused sometimes by the 
prognostications of those who prophesy hard winters because of 
an abundance of hawthorn-berries, and Gulls flying inland, and 
the like; it seems to me natural that hawthorns, like apple-trees, 
should, after a year’s rest and unfruitfulness, bear well the 
following season, and that the birds should make short journeys 
for a change of food, or to avoid a breeze that might prove incon- 
venient. From many years’ observations in the open, at the 
best I can foresee but a few days’ probabilities ahead; but from 
some—let me call it intwitive—instinct I am led occasionally to 
look for a sharp winter. I cannot explain this, nor have I tried 
to; and by reference to my note-books I find that hard winters do 
not trouble us much oftener than once in nine years on the aver- 
age. And I have many times observed that unless we get heavy 
snows before the second or third week in December, we do not 
often get any real winter to worry over, and wildfowlers may 
expect a poor shooting season, here, for the remainder of the 
time. I made a few observations during the stress of the severe 
weather, and will give them as I have dated them. 

December 31st, 1906.—After a long spell of ‘‘ open” winters, 
something akin to the ‘‘old fashioned ‘uns ”’ obtained during the 

Gool. 4th ser. vol. XI., March, 1907. H 


82 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


last week of this year. On the 22nd it rained heavily well into 
the night, and next day snow began to fall. Birds began to 
show signs of restlessness, and the Black-headed Gulls had been 
for two or three days feeding in the river, flymg around the 
bridge, in the heart of the town—a fairly gcod sign of a change 
‘“‘of some sort” coming. The morning of the 23rd dawned with 
a fiery glow in the west, and shortly the red sky cooled into 
grey, and from out the deepening gloom snow began to fall fast 
and persistently, and in right good earnest. My first thoughts 
went out for ‘‘ the poor birds! ”—the birds that would die by want 
of food and the hail of shot. 

On the 22nd and 28rd flocks of various wildfowl were observed 
trooping along the foreshore southwards, one bunch—presum- 
ably of Duck and Mallard—numbering quite five hundred; and 
a newspaper paragraph from Aldeburgh reported that ‘“‘ huge 
flocks of Ducks, Wild Geese, Wigeon, and other fowl are con- 
tinually passing south to seaboard, indicating a continuance of 
the present severe weather.” 

Such sights and reports naturally set every owner, or friend’s 
owner, of a shoulder- or punt-gun to work furbishing up his 
weapon, and laying in stores of ammunition ; local ironmongers 
were loading cartridges by night and by day; and Wild Ducks 
began to fall to the guns of several frequenters of Breydon. 
Kvery amateur puntsman got afloat, and had I been an Excise 
officer I could have made a name by sorting over the regiment 
of those who, with every variety of gun imaginable—with, and 
mostly without, gun-licences—skulked around Breydon walls and 
the marshes. 

On the 27th I went for a stroll to Gorleston pier-head, having 
heard that in their distress some Wild Ducks, ‘‘ of a sort un- 
known,’ were to be seen inside the harbour, but I saw none. A 
few score small Gulls were to be seen floating on the ebb-tide by 
the North Sand just off the pier, all the larger Gulls having gone 
—somewhere, and few indeed were seen while the severity of the 
weather lasted. But I noticed a few Thrushes (stray Redwings 
and the like), Finches, and a Pipit or two cross over the pier, 
almost within arm’s length, in that steady purposeful manner 
peculiar to them during the normal period of immigration. On 
the 28th I went for a walk round, crossing the North Denes, 


BIRDS AND THE GREAT SNOW. 83 


sometimes wading through deep snow-drifts, with many a slip 
and stumble—for the undulations and sudden breaks of the sand- 
dunes were hardly traceable—and I finally reached the shore. 
A few out-flying Twrdide and Finches passed over me as [| 
floundered through the snow, but, when I reached the beach, I 
found Thrushes, Fieldfares, Redwings (in particular), Larks, 
Linnets, Pipits, Twites—and, indeed, insessores of all kinds, 
even including Goldfinches—flying due south, following the 
coast-line. Silently, like brown ghosts of birds, they flew—hour 
after hour—thousands upon thousands! I wondered whence 
they were trooping, and whether but for stress they would have 
still set at defiance the promptings that impelled many of their 
relatives two months ago on their migration southward. Surely 
these were they who had landed in Scotland, and would have 
stayed there! Bunches of five, ten, twenty, fifty straggled and 
struggled along—odd birds, fagged right out—alighting now and 
then to rest awhile. They passed almost within arm’s length, 
many of them, and their line of flight lay between the sea-licked 
edge of the snowy plain and low-water mark, over a clear ribbon 
of sand some fifteen yards in width. The silent hosts opened on 
either side of me, as might a regiment of infantry, as I walked 
north; they did the same as I came back homeward, slightly 
closing their formation as they proceeded ahead of me. Unfor- 
tunately the morning was gloomy, and my trusty Zeiss glasses 
a little too powerful for their nearness; so that the smaller 
hosts, had they contained rarities, would have passed on un- 
identified. I longed to have my smaller “‘ operas,” but no gun, 
for I abominate that spirit which leads to the slaughter of hosts 
of little migrants for the sake of (reputedly) adding a new species 
to a county’s fauna. I would rather spend half my life among 
the mud-flats, and not know that some rare and new species of 
wader was watching me daily, than know and name it, if it meant 
my taking away the life it is as much entitled to asl am to mine! 
Here the ichthyologist, however sentimental, scores, for all rare 
and most common fishes are more or less caught by accident! He 
may sit all day long for years angling from a rock, seeking in 
vain a Balistes capriscus, and to-morrow it may be cast up on the 
shore by the scornful sea! 

The poor Black-headed Gulls fared badly enough ; they left 


HQ 


84 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


Breydon en masse, and betook themselves to the lower reaches of 
the rivers. I surprised thirty or more of them by running un- 
expectedly—to them—up a river-bank, putting them to flight for 
a short time from ink-black sewage-water running from a sewer 
outlet. These birds swarmed the outlying gardens, and alighted 
on the public roads; persons fed them from the bridges, the 
kindly disposed fed them with table-scraps on their very door- 
steps in various parts of the town, and more than one brute 
made target-practice with them. One hapless bird would not 
make way for a cyclist, and was accidentally killed by his 
machine. 

Two or three times I visited Breydon walls during the con- 
tinuance of the snow and frost, but, having a fair knowledge of 
my own “fragility,” I wisely, I think, kept off Breydon itself. 
Coots in miserable flocks slouched about on the mud-flats, 
demoralized by incessant slaughter among their ranks. Parcels 
of wildfowl flew affrightedly to and fro, for every man’s gun was 
turned against them. “Strike” Sharman, a veteran Breydoner, 
remembering bygone winters, was tempted again to visit the 
mud-flats, and came home with the fore-deck of his punt covered 
with Mallard and Pochards. I visited his boat-shed on the 30th, 
and saw a rowof Pochards and Scaups lying on a bench. “ That 
poor Crested Grebe,” said he, ‘‘I picked up exhausted out of a 
hole in the ice. The tide had fallen ; it couldn’t dive away, and 
it couldn’t get on the wing.” 

The poor old Hel-pickers, and other water-side “‘ spaniels,” 
frozen out from drains and channels, hung dejectedly around 
the quay-sides, or crowded into their North Quay shelter, be- 
wailing the hard times, and indulging in reminiscences of similar 
days in the long ago. 

On the 29th I had a look round the Saturday’s market. On 
Edmond’s (late Durrant’s) game-stall I saw a number of Mallard 
and Pochards, the latter still in the plumpest condition, and a 
few Common Snipe hung there too; they were fat enough, 
although not tempting eager purchasers, but scores (and hun- 
dreds later on) were turned away as thin and useless. On the 
countryfolk’s stalls were numerous Tufted Ducks, Pochards, and 
others ; they had been having a fine time on some of the Broads 
—Hickling in particular—before the fowl] were frozen out. Only 


BIRDS AND THE GREAT SNOW. 85 


one Jack-Snipe was noticed in the market, but numerous bunches 
of Fieldfares, Thrushes, Blackbirds, and other small birds were 
on sale, and these found ready customers, which wildfowl 
did not. 

**So you’ve been killing your friends—the slug-eaters!” I 
said to a couple of different stall-keepers, touching the dead 
Blackbirds with my finger. 

‘** Yow’d think them friends, ’bor,” said one, ‘‘if yow saw ’em 
in the summer !” 

‘*Yow’'d think so,” said the other, ‘‘ if yow was jist to see ’em 
among our fruit!” 

But neither could tell me where they got their fruit from in 
winter ; but so vindictiveness had slain them, and petulance was 
exhibited even in referring to them. And as Blackbirds are 
esteemed uncommonly good eating in Yarmouth, no mercy is 
ever shown them. 

On the 30th I dropped upon “ Jigger”’ Halls, an intelligent 
young engineer, whose works throw their shadow into Breydon, 
and who is ever ready to show visitors this magnificent estuary 
in his motor-launch, and who also follows Breydon with a big 
sun, ‘‘ when there’s anything about.” He was just sitting down 
to his Sunday dinner, after a week’s wild life on Breydon, sleep- 
ing at night in his snug, roomy houseboat, returning home only 
at intervals with his game, which had a fairly ready private sale. 

**T closed down [the engineering shed] for the Christmas 
week,” said he, ‘‘ and have had a week on Breydon—and haven’t 
done so bad.” Let me summarise his experiences. 

He met with the first lot of fowl on the 23rd, getting several 
Mallard and seventeen Coots. On the 24th he killed twenty-five 
Coots at one shot with the big gun, and obtained altogether 
“‘two or three linen-baskets”’ of these birds. There must have 
been quite three thousand Coots on Breydon (frozen out from 
the Broads) ; they kept much in line, like soldiers in a regiment 
(as I have seen them here before in hard winters), and fed 
ravenously on the sweet, fattening stems of the Zostera marina. 
They make quite an audible scrunching noise in tearing it up. 
A wretched adult Crested Grebe sat miserably bunched up on the 
ice, literally starving; he knocked it over with an oar as he 
rowed along. 


86 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


About sixty Swans visited Breydon. Sharman killed three ; 
Halls killed one, which he believed to be a Polish Swan, and 
gave me a fairly representative description of it. It was quickly 
sold for eating. The majority of the Swans appeared to be 
Whoopers. Geese had been scarce; five Brents were seen, and 
a Grey Lag Goose been killed. Halls’s game-list for the week 
was as follows:—1 Swan, 34 Mallard and Duck, 6 Pochards 
(‘‘ Pokers’’), 5 Wigeon, 1 Teal (only one seen), 1 Golden Plover, 
1 Crested Grebe, 60 Coots. 

A few Golden Plovers hung about during the week, but were 
unusually shy. ‘‘ Hard-fowl ’—1. e. Golden-eyes, Tufted Ducks, 
and Scaups—were seen in small bunches, but they too were shy 
and wary. Never so many Pochards have been killed or seen 
for many years. 

The few larger Gulls remaining here have been seen chasing 
unwounded Dunlins whenever they flew near them, but these 
quick-turning little birds were too swift for them; escaped 
cripples fared worse. The Hooded Crows forsook the Breydon 
flats and the marshes, and kept to the open reaches of the rivers, 
and to the shore. I saw a dead Gull clean picked by them—as 
much of it as was not frozen into the ice on a ditch. One hungry 
fellow was observed making strange efforts to get some viand 
down his gullet, but his heart failed him ; prompted by curiosity, 
the rejected morsel was examined, and found to be a tablet of 
highly scented soap, much holed by his hard bill in trying to 
find, if possible, a sweeter kernel! Kingfishers have been 
observed miserably sitting about on posts and rails, looking 
abject in their hunger; and even those who usually have no 
pity were sorry for them. One came and tapped on the window 
of Halls’s houseboat. While out shooting on one occasion he 
left the door of the houseboat open, and a Wagtail that had been 
hanging around for scraps went in and cleared the fragments off 
his dinner-plate. 

And when killing a wounded Mallard by cutting its throat, so 
as not to damage its neck, as wringing will sometimes do, the 
blood dripped and congealed on the snow on the fore peak of the 
punt. While in the houseboat a hungry Starling flew down on 
the boat and ravenously ate the crimsoned snow, and when 
driven away returned again, and ate more of it. 


BIRDS AND THE GREAT SNOW. 87 


Halls said the 23rd was a ‘‘ wildfowl day beyond all memory.” 
Some small return bunches visited Breydon on the 28th and 
29th. The ice formed so rapidly on the night of the 29th that 
he had to return from the drain to hig houseboat, having no ice- 
hook to cut a way through, but on the 30th he managed to hack 
his way out to open water. 

Mr. J. H. Gurney wrote me on Dec. 26th, and remarked on 
“flocks of Sky-Larks going seawards.” He saw twenty Rooks 
that day eating a dead sheep. They devour putrid dogs on 
Breydon, and seem to think nothing of it—indeed, they rather 
like it! The Rooks around Yarmouth kept much to the various 
outlying gardens, and, when not progging for a morsel, sat dis- 
consolately on the topmost twigs of small trees, surveying the 
miserable outlook, and thinking of happier days. They hunted 
singly—every bird for himself. Chaffinches fared badly, and 
looked the most abject of all the Finches; on the 27th, as I 
stood near a rail on Breydon walls, one came to within ten inches 
of my foot to search a tiny patch of bare soil. The Meadow- 
Pipits seemed fairly happy, and hunted most of the time on the 
weedy edges of Breydon, and along by the river margins. Scamps 
of boys were to be seen catching here and there a miserable bird 
with a piece of herring-lint. 

Many wildfowl were observed on the rivers, and at St. Olaves 
some good bags were made. One gunner shot a Goosander, and 
three equally harmless Dabchicks were killed—for no useful 
purpose. In the neighbouring villages all the berries had been 
stripped from the hedgerows. ‘Two Snipe wandered into a 
cattle-shed on the marshes, where among the stable-refuse they 
probed and prodded, in hopes of finding some stray grub or 
worm ; their footprints in the snow led to their discovery, and, 
on a person cautiously slipping in, they promptly and safely 
dashed out. 

Wild Ducks were plentiful enough at Fritton Lake, and big 
bags were made at the decoys; as many as seven hundred birds, 
I am told, were netted therein in one day. ‘Truly a neck- and an 
arm-aching record! ‘To certain brackish ditches round the west 
end of Caister, on the edge of the marsh-lands, Ducks persist- 
ently resorted, which resulted in one individual, who has, since 
the conclusion of the Herring voyage, just before Christmas, done 


88 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


nothing but shoot in that particular neighbourhood, obtaining 
unusually good sport. On one occasion he secured a Mallard in 
a most unexpected manner ; hearing an unusual clamour among 
some tame Ducks kept hard by, he went out to see the reason of 
it. To his astonishment he at length discovered a Mallard sitting 
on the ridge-tiles of an adjoining house. It was but the matter 
of a few moments to slip back for his gun, and on his prompt 
return he shot at and killed that venturesome fowl. 

When skinning a couple of Coots, after they had been feeding 
for about a fortnight on the Zostera, I found them exceedingly 
plump and fat ; their stomachs and intestines were packed with 
doubled-up ‘‘ grass ’’-blades in various stages of digestion. The 
fresher grass still hung from their bills. I found a couple of 
small winkles in one of them. 

January 5th, 1907.—Yesterday a fine female Goosander was 
brought to me for identification; it was shot at Buckenham, 
where fowl during the past two or three days have been abun- 
dant. A few Goosanders and Smews—“‘ Sawbills’’—that only 
visit us In any numbers in very severe weather, appear to have 
kept off Breydon, although some Smews visited the upper parts — 
of it, and frequented the rivers. 

I went this afternoon to Belton and St. Olaves, and had a chat 
with one or two of my friends who like to watch birds, preferably 
down the barrel of a gun. In the washhouse of one hung some 
Coots and Ducks, and a bunch of Snipe—four Common and two 
Jacks. A young urchin, who had just left school to work in a 
cowshed, passed his noon hours during the bad weather near a 
ditch frequented by Snipe. He obtained three or four small 
spring-traps, and placed them in the water near where he saw 
footprints ; these Snipe were the proceeds of a few hours’ work. 
The boy’s father—a Mr. Brooks—assured me that thousands of 
Snipe came to the marshes just before the snowstorm, and they 
had haunted also the ronds and saltings. They were so put out 
by its continuance that seven were seen with Dunlins on the 
mud-flats. 

Brooks assured me he might have shot a pair of Smews on 
the river at Burgh, but, being eager to secure a Mallard swim- 
ming close by, in the end missed them all. Several Dabchicks 
frequented the river there. Geese in flocks of seventeen, twelve, 


BIRDS AND THE GREAT SNOW. 89 


thirteen, and ten respectively, mostly ‘‘a darkish grey sort” 
(probably Bean-Geese, the most common species here this 
winter), passed over; and a large hawk, which I have reason to 
believe was a Buzzard, flew out of a stackyard with straws de- 
pending from its feet, and I have no doubt a rat was mixed in 
amongst them. A large ‘‘ cloud” of Wood-Pigeons, containing 
some hundreds, passed over from the direction of Yarmouth, 
where another acquaintance of mine saw them a little earlier on 
the same date—no doubt the same flock. 

To-day I saw three birds feeding near Breydon, which I at 
first believed to be the Meadow-Pipit. On putting them to flight, 
which they appeared very reluctant to take, I noticed an uncom- 
mon amount of white on the two outside feathers on either side 
the tail. It struck me at the time as being rather unusual, but, 
not being prepared to suspect anything rare, I paid no more 
heed to them, and let them be. 

On taking up ‘ The Zoologist’ of December last, I happened 
to read an article on the Water-Pipit,* and on further reference to 
Saunders’s ‘ Manual,’ I was astonished to find how curiously my 
birds corresponded with the descriptions there given of the 
species. Ihave been back to the spot since then, but, as I was 
prepared to be, was disappointed at not again meeting with these 
birds. On cautiously introducing the matter and my suspicions 
to an old and observant gunner, he, strangely enough, spoke of 
seeing three birds a few hours previously at the harbour-mouth 
near the piles of the breakwater, which he noticed ‘‘ carried 
more ’an usual’’ white on their tails. There the matter for the 
present must end, for, were I to describe the species to any of 
those who prowl around with guns searching for ‘‘ specimens,” 
not a Meadow-Pipit would escape the general massacre ‘‘rarities”’ 
provoke. <A ‘“‘new” species had better remain unidentified ; but 
there—— 

“Pp. W.D.J.,” writing in the ‘ Daily Express’ of Jan. 5th, 
1907, commenting on the appearance of Wild Swans at Yar- 
mouth, remarked :—‘‘ I am informed there were fifty of the 
birds, but whether they were Whoopers or the smaller Bewick’s 
word has not reached me. Both species have been seen in the 
neighbourhood in fairly large flocks during hard winters, where 

* By Michael J. Nicoll, F.Z.8. 


90 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


they have been driven south by severe weather in their far 
northern haunts. Doubtless Mr. Patterson . . . knows all about 
these latest visitors.” 

As a matter of fact, I was extremely unfortunate with regard 
to seeing any of these Swans, alive or dead, and felt called upon 
to reply to the article in question; and, as my letter was given 
in almost its entirety, take the liberty of re-writing it as given by 
the editor :— 

“Mr. Arthur H. Patterson... . sends to the ‘ Express’ an 
interesting account of an attempt to identify a Polish Swan aiter 
the bird had been placed in the boiling-pot. Mr. Patterson 
first of all refers to the flock of Wild Swans which were mentioned 
in the ‘Express’ as having visited Breydon Water, near Yar- 
mouth. 

‘On very reliable authority, Mr. Patterson says, ‘1 under- 
stood that about sixty Swans were seen on that delightful old 
backwater. Unfortunately I just missed seeing them, and I 
was equally unfortunate in not seeing the four that were shot— 
three by one of my acquaintances, and one by another punt- 
gunner. I have seen as many as fifty at one time, and I can 
assure you they were a sight worth seeing. The odd bird shot, 
from a description given me, I took to be a Polish Swan, and it 
was sold to a carnivorous publican for forty-two pence. I saw 
him just too late, for on visiting his bar he assured me that the 
‘‘missus”’ had plucked it. Let me see but a foot, I begged; on 
which he called the ‘‘ missus,” who presently came forward. 
‘“‘ Let Mr. Patterson see the head and the feet of that Swan,”’ he 
said. She apologised, and said that both were in the saucepan, 
which she ran indoors and fetched, hauling out a foot on a huge 
fork; but I found boiled Swan’s foot was an awkward thing to 
swear the bird’s identity by, and would have defied Prof. Owen 
himself.’ ”’ 

January 12th, 1907.—The weather and bird-life generally 
have returned to the normal. To-day’s market was comparatively 
birdless. Only on one stall was there evidence of anything un- 
usual having occurred for a day or two. A haberdasher named 
Youngs (the hero of the Whistling Ducks)* had suspended, amid 
stockings and underclothing, a large display of Coots tied in 


* Cf. Zool. 1906, pp. 394-5. 


. 


BIRDS AND THE GREAT SNOW. 91 


couples, which he was selling—and freely, too—at sixpence a 
brace. I found they were exceedingly plump and in good con- 
dition ; these birds appear loth to leave the Zostera, and to go 
back to the Broads. This is the way with them when they have 
once tasted this succulent vegetable. Youngs, the day before, 
had shot a Shag, an unusual winter visitor here. 

The Gulls have now betaken themselves to their usual haunts, 
a few only frequenting the river in the neighbourhood of the 
town, and these the Black-heads. During the continuance of 
bad weather these birds made themselves extremely conspicuous 
in the heart of the town. An old lady carried a parcel of hare’s 
bones, broken pudding, and vegetables to the St. George’s Park, 
where they assembled in numbers. There was a great deal of 
squabbling over these coveted fragments, and Woods, the park- 
keeper, after they had devoured the softer morsels, smashed up 
the bones. In avery short time these were cleared away also. 

As usual, the greatest sufferers were the Redwings, a fact 
remarked on by observers who, like myself, came to the conclusion 
that extreme cold, as much as shortness of food, seriously affects 
this species; and it was noticeable, too, how in an unusually 
short time they drooped and died, while in other years, in 
more protracted frosts, without so much snow, they did not so 
soon succumb. Numbers were found dead at Filby, at Belton, 
and other villages. Some Chaffinches were also found dead, but 
Larks, as they usually do, took to the cabbage-gardens, and fed 
freely on the cabbages, to the undoing of the gardeners, and in 
many instances to their own. 


92 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


ORNITHOLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS IN SURREY: 1906. 
By L. B. Movurtirz. 


THE most interesting event in Surrey ornithology during the 
twelve months ending Dec. 31st, 1906, is the appearance of the 
Hen-Harrier (Circus cyaneus) in what is probably an old haunt, 
if not a breeding-ground. As I hope to observe them again 
next yeur, it is not advisable to mention the precise locality, and 
will only say that it is situated in the south-western portion of 
the county. On referring to the diary below, it will be noticed 
that the female of a pair was shot at Shackleford in February, and 
it seems as if the survivor procured a fresh mate, and settled 
down in the area where subsequently observed. 

The first occasion upon which I saw these birds was on May 
28th, when I had a splendid view, both of the ‘‘ Blue Hawk” and 
‘“ Ringtail,” as they quartered the ground in true ‘ Harrier” 
fashion quite close to where I lay hidden amid rank heather and 
stunted firs. I spent the whole morning in the locality, and 
had my glasses in use nearly all the time. On Aug. 6th I took 
a friend to see them, and was again fortunate in having a good 
view, although on this day they were circling overhead the 
greater part of the time, only now and again descending to the 
heather. After a space of half an hour or so, during which they 
had been gradually working nearer to us, the female flew past 
the clump of pines in which we were concealed, and I think 
caught sight of us, for shortly afterwards both birds flew away, 
and, although we waited for a considerable time, they did not 
return. Between these dates several other persons noted them, 
among whom Mr. Gordon Dalgliesh may be mentioned as having 
seen the male on July 10th in the vicinity. When I discovered 
them, and after having shown myself, their behaviour certainly 
convinced me that a nest was not far distant; but, in spite of a 
long and exhaustive search, I regret that I am unable to verify 


ORNITHOLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS IN SURREY. 93 


this conviction. Aug. 6th was the last time I saw the adults, 
but on the 28th of that month I found two large hawks, which I 
took to be immature C. cyaneus, near the old spot, but unfortu- 
nately was unable to identify them owing to their excessive wari- 
ness; on the same day I saw two more (possibly the same) some 
miles distant flying high overhead in a westerly direction. The 
appearance of these young birds is certainly suggestive, and 
it makes me deplore the fact that my searches for a nest were 
fruitless. Mr. C. H. Bentham saw either a female or young 
male on Oct. 27th at Frensham Little Pond, but it was mobbed 
and driven away by two Rooks almost before he could use his 
glasses. 

Amongst other rare county species may be mentioned the 
Marsh-Warbler, Curlew-Sandpiper, Black Grouse, Greenshank, 
Lesser Tern, Blue-headed Wagtail, Spotted Crake, and the 
Golden-eye. 

In point of rarity, the Marsh-Warbler (Acrocephalus palustris) 
and Curlew-Sandpiper (Tringa subarquata) are entitled to the 
premier position, as both are additions. With reference to the 
former, Mr. Bucknill writes :—‘‘I cannot say that I have any 
confidence in including it in the list of the Surrey avifauna.” I 
shared his opinion, for, excepting Mr. Blyth’s (now discredited) 
observations during the early seventies in Battersea Park, the 
species had not the slightest claim to be included. As regards 
the Sandpiper, there is no authenticated record in ‘ The Birds of 
Surrey,’ although the author mentions two or three which he 
presumes to have been taken within the confines of Surrey; but 
it is apparent to all that this wader has hitherto been admitted 
to the list on very meagre grounds indeed. It is therefore with 
creat satisfaction that I record the Frensham example. 

Alas! Surrey Black-game (cf. Saunders’s ‘ Manual,’ 2nd ed. 
p. 498) are on the verge of extinction, and I am sorely afraid 
that the present year will see the last of the species stamped out. 
I have received information—for which I am obliged—from Mr. 
G. W. Swanton, that in 1905 it still bred in a certain wild tract 
of country, although in greatly diminished numbers, only two 
pairs having been seen. I have not been able to examine this 
district personally to see if it is barren, but intend doing so 
during the present year. The only news of the species that 


94 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


I have been able to gather during 1906 is unfortunately limited 
to one bird, and this (a Greyhen) I saw myself in the spring. 

Both the Greenshank (Totanus canescens) and the Lesser 
Tern (Sterna minuta) are rare visitors, and it is surprising that 
no fewer than four of the latter have been seen during one year. 
All these visited Hedgecourt, which is a new locality for this, as 
well as for the Greenshank. The western lakes are generally 
the favoured stopping places for this class of visitor, but it 
seems that the ponds near Copthorne have been somewhat over- 
looked by the earlier writers, as very few records come from this 
district. 

Since Mr. H. T. Booth saw three Blue-headed Wagtails 
(Motacilla flava) on Wimbledon Common’in 1890 (Bucknill, 
‘ Birds of Surrey,’ p. 1388), no others have been recorded, having 
probably been overlooked, although really I do not suppose it 
has occurred other than an extremely rare visitor. 

The Spotted Crake (Porzana maruetta) has very seldom been 
observed in Surrey, and one has to go back to the eighties for 
records, although the species has no doubt visited the county 
since then, but, through its skulking habits, avoided detection. 

After the Pochard, Tufted Duck, and perhaps the Wigeon, 
the Golden-eye (Clangula glaucion) is the most often seen of the 
Anatide in spring, autumn, and winter, and probably occurs 
annually on the western lakes. Although the records up to the 
end of 1905 are comparatively few in number, the times that 
this duck has passed without comment no doubt greatly exceed 
the recorded visits. Besides the occurrences noted in the diary, 
Mr. Dalgliesh informs me that a pair were shot by a keeper in 
Lea Park during the winter of 1905-6. 

I have appended the observer’s initials after each record ; 
therefore C. H. Bentham’s notes are designated ‘‘C. H. B.,” 
G. Dalgliesh’s ‘“‘G. D.,” and I. K. Ford’s “EH. K. F.”” dinaime 
stances where initials are not given the notes are my own. 

The year’s diary is as follows :— 


JANUARY. 
7th.—Goldfinches feeding on burdock-seed ; Siskins and Grey 
Wagtail at Oxted; Little Grebe on Barrow Green Pond ; Hooded 
Crow in Titsey Park, which is a favourite haunt (C. H. B.). 


+: 


ORNITHOLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS IN SUREEY. 95 


Large numbers of Siskins and half a dozen Pochard at Rich- 
mond. The latter are quite common in winter, and are hardly 
worthy of note; although generally in small parties, sometimes 
over one hundred occur. 

14th.—Large flock of Ring-Doves at Old Oxted (C. H. B.). 

21st.—Tufted Duck on Hammer Pond, and Magpies on Royal 
Common (G. D.). The latter are very rare in Godalming neigh- 
bourhood, and during recent years appear to have ceased to breed 
there. Bucknill, however, was able to assert (1900) that it still 
bred annually at Northbrook and Royal Common. Hooded Crow 
at Godstone (C. H. B.). 

26th.—Enormous flocks of Sky-Larks at Hashing (G. D.). 

27th.—F locks of Meadow-Pipits at Richmond, where Herons 
were repairing their nests a few days later. 

31st.—Blackbird singing a little about 6.45 a.m. (C. H. B.). 


FEBRUARY. 

A4th.—Fieldfares at Tandridge (C. H. B.). 

11th.—Large numbers of Teal and Mallard paired on Hammer 
Pond, and flocks of Stock-Doves in Peperharow Park (G. D.). 
Several Hoodies and about one hundred and fifty Bramblings at 
Titsey ;. Kingfisher at Oxted Mill stream (C. H. B.). Lesser 
Spotted Woodpecker (HE. K. F.), Siskins, Redpolls, and Gold- 
crests in Richmond Park. The last named have been very 
numerous, and I have several notes prior and subsequent to this 
of all three. 

17th.—Gannet seen on the Wey; fifteen Tufted Duck and 
Little Grebe in breeding plumage on Hammer Pond. (The 
Dabchick may always be seen here—L. B. M.) Female Hen- 
Harrier shot, the male escaping, at Shackleford (cf. Zool. 1906, 
p. 114). 

18th.—Stock-Doves, Great Crested Grebe, and a party of 
twenty Hawfinches in Richmond Park. The erratic way in 
which the Grebes appear at the Penn Ponds early in the year 
is peculiar. On Feb. 18th there was one, but it had gone on the 
20th, to reappear on the 21st; then only staying for a day, as 
on the 22nd, 24th, 25th, 28th, and 8rd March no Grebes were 
to be seen. On March 4th and 10th there was one, on the 11th 
three, 12th two, 17th and 18th four, and 20th two; whilst on 


96 THE ZOOLOGIST. 
the 24th there were again three, after which only the breeding 
pair. 

19th.—Sky-Lark singing (E. K. F.). 

20th.—Kingfisher on Penn Ponds (EK. K. F.), and at Oxted 
(G, Jel, 183,)). 

Marcu. 

1st. — Rooks building at Milford (G. B.), and at Oxted 
(Ge Tale 1535))e 

2nd.—Coots paired, and ten Tufted Duck on Hammer Pond 
(G. D.). 

3rd.—Although several pairs of Rooks have commenced build- 
ing at Oxted, the majority still roost near Woldingham, about 
three miles distant (C. H. B.). 

4th.—Hight Crested Grebes—pairing—on Wimbledon Park 
Lake. 

6th.—Wind §.W.* Male Wheatear on warren in Richmond 
Park (EK. K. F.). This was reported in the ‘ Field’ at the time, 
and I believe was the earliest for the year. Bucknill says in his 
book :—‘‘ Out of a number of records of its first appearance (the 
notes coming from all parts of the county), few are earlier than 
30th March, and I think it may be concluded that its general 
period of arrival is about the week of which that date is the 
middle day.’’ Of course the 6th is a very early date for Surrey, 
but in the neighbouring county of Sussex they frequently arrive 
at the beginning of March (cf. Borrer’s ‘ Birds of Sussex,’ p. 58). 
I have myself several early dates for Surrey, but none earlier 
than this. 

10th.—(Golden Pheasant flushed by foxhounds from gorse on 
Winterfold Hill—H. Russell.) 

11th.—Goldfinch at Broadham Green; this bird has not been 
so abundant as during winter 1904-5 (C. H. B.). Two female 
Wheatears at Richmond. Magpies and Great Crested Grebes at 
Virginia Water. 

12th.—Greenfinch singing (G. D.). 

24th.—A female Great Spotted Vsodneeker w hammering ” 
in Richmond Park. It is generally stated that the males alone 
‘‘ hammer,” but this bird certainly had no crimson on the nape. 


** The wind had been from the south or south-west for three days before 
this. 


a 


ORNITHOLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS IN SURREY. 97 
31st.—Reed-Bunting singing a little (C. H. B.). 


APRIL. 


1st.—Rooks sitting at Tandridge ; several Hooded Crows and 
Stock-Doves at Titsey (C. H. B.). 

2nd.—Grey Wagtail at Oxted (C. H. B.). 

7th.—Wind EK. Wryneck at Kashing (G. D.). Sand-Martins 
at Godstone ; Chiffchaff at Tandridge (C.H.B.). Chiffchaff and 
Swallow at Esher. 

S8th.— Wind N.E. Kingfisher and Swallow at Oxted; Star- 
lings still in bands (C. H. B.). Sand-Martins, Willow- Warblers, 
male Yellow Wagtail, six Tree-Sparrows (and a Barn-Owl dis- 
turbed by Jackdaws, at 11.45, in brilliant sunshine, soared high 
overhead until lost to view) in Richmond Park. 

13th.—Mallard, Teal, and two Crested Grebes on Hedgecourt 
Pond, and six full clutches of Lapwing’s eggs in fields adjoining 
(C. H. B.). Whinchat—wind W.—two Common Gulls (Larus 
canus), Curlew-Sandpiper, female Golden-eye, seven Crested 
Grebes, three Tufted Duck, and a Curlew (which certainly kept 
up the bird’s reputation for wariness) at Frensham. The Curlew- 
Sandpiper was running along the side of the Little Pond, and 
allowed a close approach. I saw it examine several Limnea 
stagnalis and one or two Planorbes, but it did not swallow any. 
The characteristic bill was a shade shorter, and perhaps slightly 
less decurved than usual, and I presume therefore that it was a 
bird in its first spring. When it rose (the white tail-coverts 
being then conspicuous), and as it flew rapidly up and down the 
arm of the pond, it whistled several times. The bird was in 
winter plumage, but showed a considerable amount of chestnut 
on the head and interscapular region. 

14th.—Pied Flycatchers at Bramley (cf. Zool. 1906, p. 318). 

15th.—Curious eggs of the Blackbird, from Abrooke Common, 
Hsher. The centre one is the first I have seen zoned round the 
smaller end, and must be very uncommon. (See illustration on 
p- 98.) 

16th.—Wind §8.W. Cuckoo heard at Oxted (C. H. B.). House- 
Martins at Hashing (G. D.). 

21st.—Wind 8.W. Several Nightingales heard and seen at 
Addington (C. H.B.) and Grayswood (G. D.). Pair of Tufted 

Zool. 4th ser. vol. XI., March, 1907. I 


98 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


Duck and a couple of Common Sandpipers in Richmond Park ; 
the latter stayed until May 7th. Mr. Dalgliesh heard Wood- 
Warbler at Brook. 

22nd.— Wind N.W. Linnets still in flocks at Limpsfield 
(C.H.B.). Sandpipers at Thursley and Frensham ; also twelve 
Crested Grebes, Redstart, numerous Snipe, drake Golden-eye, 
and female Tufted Duck at the latter. 

24th.—Wind W. Spotted Flycatcher at Thursley (G. D.). 
Marsh-Warbler (Acrocephalus palustris) at Penn Ponds, Richmond 
Park (E. K. F.). I print the following letter received from my 
friend with regard to this rarity :—‘“‘I first noticed this bird on 
April 24th, 1906, and watched it almost daily until May 8th. 


Curious Haas oF THE BLACKBIRD. 


Between these dates, no matter when I went up to the Penn 
Ponds, I was certain of finding it somewhere—either at the 
edge of the water, creeping up and down the shrubs, pecking 
at the stalks, or on the bank; sometimes, but not often, in the 
nearest trees. It used to make curious little darts into the air, 


like a Dartford Warbler, and occasionally flew out and back ina — 


circle, as a Flycatcher does. Its colour was uniformly olive- 
brown above, slightly darker on the head; under parts buffy 
white ; the legs were so thin that it was almost impossible to 
see the colour, but, as far as I could judge, they were pale brown. 
I never heard the bird utter a note of any sort. On the 8th 


ORNITHOLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS IN SURREY. 99 


May, whilst I was following it about as usual, it flew a few yards 
ahead on to the bank of the upper pond, where it joined a group 
of other birds, apparently Warblers, for they all looked exactly 
alike as they rose, and flew away. I never saw it again. I was 
a little in doubt about recording this bird for your report, but 
Mr. Warde Fowler’s remarks at the conclusion of his article on 
the Marsh-Warbler in ‘ The Zoologist’ (1906, pp. 401-9) con- 
firms my belief that the bird I saw was one—the slightly darker 
head and entire absence of any rufous tinge on the body are 
almost positive proof.’ Mr. Warde Fowler states that this 
species is the latest of our summer visitors to reach its breeding- 
haunts, and he says that May 30th is the earliest he has seen 
them. It is therefore with some hesitation that I insert the 
above record and letter. 

26th. — Snipe near Bramley (H. Russell). Nuthatches, 
Creepers, and Marsh-Tits together, and twenty-six Herons at 
Richmond (EH. K. F.). The superintendent of the Park informs 
me that there are now between twenty and thirty nests in the 
Sidmouth Wood, and a solitary pair generally build in the 
Isabella Plantation. 

29th.—Wind W. Blackcap heard at Oxted (C. H. B.). 

30th.—Magpie’s nest at Crowhurst (C. H. B.). Five years 
ago I knew of two nests at Oxshott, and since then they have 
bred at Wisley, Virginia Water, and one or two other places; but 
it is now one of our rarest breeding birds. 


May. 


1st.—Spotted Crake at Brook; was also seen subsequently. 
Pochard sitting in Lea Park, where Common Sandpipers were 
reported several times about this date (G. D.). The Pochard 
note is most interesting, as these are genuine wild birds, and I 
believe this to be the first time it has laid eggs in the county; 
unfortunately these were not hatched, and, whilst the female left 
the Park in late summer, the male stayed on, being last seen 
there on Sept. 8th. 

2nd.—Wind 8. Whitethroat at Thursley; Kestrel sitting in 
Lea Park (G. D.). 

3rd.—Wind 8. Grasshopper-Warbler heard at Wisley (G. D.). 

4th.—Wind §.W. Turtle-Dove at Woldingham (C. H. B.). 


12 


100 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


5th.—Wind 8.W. Lesser Tern, Swift, and some Snipe at 
Hedgecourt Pond (C. H. B.). Whitethroat and Swifts in Rich- 
mond Park. 

7th. — Sedge-Warbler in Richmond Park (HK. K. F.); also 
heard at Oxted on the 5th (C. H.B.). 

8th.—Wood-Lark at Brook (G. D.). 

11th.—Wind 8. Nightjar at Brook (G. D.). Early. 

13th. — Sand-Martins—which are exceptionally abundant 
about Oxted, Godstone, and Limpsfield this summer—have 
established new colonies on Limpsfield Common and near Bar- 
row Green (C.H.B.); also in the sand-pits at Oxshott, where, as 
far as I can see, they do not appear to have been molested very 
much, in spite of the numerous picnic parties, ‘‘ school-treats,” 
&¢., which frequent this locality. Three pairs of Crested Grebes 
at Virginia Water, and twenty—pairing—at Frensham, where 
there were also a pair of Golden-eyes, an immature Blue-headed 
Wagtail which showed a few brownish feathers on the breast, and 
a Common Tern. This is very late to see adult Golden-eyes so 
far south. 

14th.— Wind N.E. Red-backed Shrike at Thursley (G. D.). 

20th.—Sparrow-Hawk’s nest with six eggs in an unfrequented 
larch-wood at Chart (C. H. B.). 

22nd.—Pair of Grey Wagtails at Oxted Mill; also seen the 
following day. Although this Wagtail is a regular winter visitor 
to this neighbourhood, it has generally left by the first week in 
April (C. H. B.). 

23rd.—Wind §.E. Corn-Crake at Oxted (C. H. B.). 

26th.—Drake Teal on Hampton Lodge Pond; also seen on 
the 28th. 

27th.—Hobby on RoyalCommon. I had a good view of this 
bird as he flew hurriedly out of a beech quite close to where I 
was standing. 

28th.—Chifichaff’s nest with eleven eggs at Brook (G. D.); 
evidently the produce of two hens. 

29th.—Wood-Lark and Lesser Redpolls building in the God- 
alming district. 

30th.—Hooded Crow found hanging on tree at Vachery Pond ; 
it had been dead for at least three or four days. This is a very late 
date, Lesser Whitethroats somewhat numerous near Cranleigh. 


ORNITHOLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS IN SURREY. 101 


JUNE. 


1st.—Twelve Pintails hatched on Enton Mill Pond—parents 
pinioned (G. D.). I found Little Grebes, Snipe, and Teal all 
breeding in several places in South-western Surrey about this 
date, but for obvious reasons it is better not to mention exact 
localities. 

2nd.—Immature Greater Black-backed Gull, female Tufted 
and Red-legged Partridges at Frensham Little Pond. 

3rd.—Kinegfisher and Heron at pond on Puttenham Common. 

4th.—Linnet’s nest with six eges in ling about a foot from 
ground on Walton Heath (C. H. B.). 

5th.—Kingfisher on Frensham Little Pond. 

10th.—Drake Teal and brood of four Crested Grebes (three of 
which afterwards perished) on Penn Ponds. Nightjar “‘ churr- 
ing” at 6.40 p.m. 

1ith.—Sky-Lark perched and singing on top of hawthorn 
(G. D.). 

16th.—Dartford Warbler seen by Mr. Dalgliesh. 

17th.—Garden-Warbler and Sparrow-Hawk near Elstead. 

18th.—Nest of Great Spotted Woodpecker with young in 
Godalming district (G. D.). 

22nd.—Mr. Harold Russell informs me that Little Grebes are 
to be seen regularly in winter on ponds in the Tillingbourne 
Valley, and that there is always a pair nesting near Hascombe ; 
that, although Grasshopper-Warblers are usually noticed on 
migration at Shere Heath, none have been observed this year ; 
and that Stock-Doves are very rare, although a pair probably 
nested in Albury Park last summer. . 

24th.—Wood-Lark in Richmond Park; I heard this bird 
singing in the evening of the previous day, and, looking again 
the next morning, was lucky enough to obtain a good view. 


JULY. 
3rd.— White Wagtail at Penn Ponds (EH. K. F.). 
17th.—Heron at Godstone Pond, and four Goldfinches at 
Limpsfield on the 21st (C. H. B.). 
22nd.—Pair of Grey Wagtails at Oxted Mill Pond; one also 
seen on the 29th (C. H. B.). 
28th.—Barn-Owl heard at New Oxted; five Herons on the 


LOZ THE ZOOLOGIST. 


wing at Westcott, and Red-backed Shrikes noticed to be very 
numerous on Ranmore Common (C. H. B.). 


AUGUST. 

4th.—Lesser Spotted Woodpecker on apple-tree in Elstead, 
quite tame, and allowed us to watch it for some time. Grass- 
hopper- Warbler seen and heard in the evening at Cutt Mill. 

5th.—A Dunlin, having black gorget well marked, Common 
Sandpipers (others noted later), Blue-headed Wagtail, and several 
Black-headed Gulls at Frensham. Gulls are generally to be seen 
here during late summer and autumn. Numbers of Teal seen 
about this date. 

8th or 9th.—Common Gull shot in Lea Park (G. D.). 

12th.—Lesser Black-backed Gull and a single Ringed Plover 
at Frensham. 

13th.—A party of Herons, said to be two old and five young, 
have been frequenting the neighbourhood of Shere for some time 
past. They were suspected of nesting in Albury Park, where 
there was a solitary nest a few years ago, but the nearest heronry 
is in Peperharow Park. Nightjars have been reported as un- 
usually numerous on Holmbury Hill and Peaslake Common ; 
on the other hand, the pair generally noticed on Shere Heath 
have not been heard or seen. Willow-Warblers singing well 
—(also in other districts up to Sept. 283rd—L. B. M.)—(Harold 
Russell). 

16th.—The pair of Great Crested Grebes nesting at Wimble- 
don only succeeded in rearing two young. 

19th.—Teal and Black-headed Gulls on Penn Ponds. 

22nd.—Kinefisher and Heron at Barrow Green (C. H. B.). 

23rd.— Lesser Spotted Woodpecker calling at Godstone 
(GELB). 

24th.— Two Green Sandpipers, fifty Mute Swans, and five 
Herons at Hedgecourt Pond; a small ‘‘ charm” of Goldfinches 
near Lingfield (C. H. B.). 

26th.—Ringed Plover, and Rook with large white patches on 
primaries of each wing at Frensham Great Pond. 

27th.—Lesser Redpoll in beautiful plumage on Royal Com- 
mon; Grey Wagtails at Thursley; Teal and Green Sandpipers 
seen on Forked and other ponds several times on and after this 
date. 


ORNITHOLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS IN SURREY. 103 


28th.—Great Spotted Woodpecker, Wood-Lark, two Grass- 
hopper-Warblers, and six Dartford Warblers seen near Hind- 
head. Over twenty old and young Grebe and an immature Cor- 
morant at Frensham Great Pond. I saw the latter arrive and 
depart; it only stopped for about fifteen minutes, dived con- 
tinuously, and, as far as I could see, caught some fish each 
time. 

29th.—Greenshank (?) at Devil’s Jumps. Little Grebes and 
Hobby at Frensham. I noticed the latter chase and strike down 
a Swallow—a most interesting sight. 

380th.—Garden- Warbler at Thursley, and White Wagtail at 
Frensham. Jack-Snipe, Green Sandpipers, Teal, and plenty of 
Wild Duck in the evening at Devil’s Jumps. The Jack is excep- 
tionally early, but I had this bird under observation for a con- 
siderable time, being within ten feet of it (behind a screen of 
pine-branches), so am positive that I was not mistaken. 


SEPTEMBER. 


8th.—Brood of three Dabchicks just hatched in Lea Park 
(G. D.). Common Sandpiper at Richmond. 

11th.—Kinefisher at Penn Ponds (EK. K. F.). Flock of be- 
tween fifty and sixty Swallows, apparently on migration, flying 
over Limpsfield Common (C. H. B.). 

12th.—Small flock of Linnets seen, and Chiffchaff heard in 
Richmond Park (HK. K. F.). 

16th.— About one dozen Little Grebes on Barrow Green 
(CH B:). 

22nd.—Some twenty-five or thirty Goldfinches on Itchingwood 
Common (C. H. B.). Three Teal and first addition to numbers 
of Mallard noted on Penn Ponds. I might here add that the 
Teal no longer breeds at Richmond (Hudson, ‘ Birds of London,’ 
p. 263). 

23rd.—About a dozen Goldfinches on Littleworth Common. 

29th.—Herons, a single Snipe, and scores of Black-headed 
Gulls at Kew, and Kingfishers on Thames at Richmond. 

30th.—Grey Wagtail at Godstone; several French Partridges 
on the North Downs near Oxted ; these birds are not uncommon 
on the lower parts of the hills (C. H. B.). 


104 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


OcTOBER. 


6th.—Flock of about four hundred Lapwings, two Green- 
shanks, twenty Goldfinches, and two immature Lesser Terns at 
Hedgecourt’ (C. H. B.). Mr. Bentham writes :—‘‘The Green- 
shanks were resting on the mud near the water, and permitted 
me to approach quite closely, so that with a good glass I could 
plainly discern the slight upward curve of their bills. I noticed 
that they jerked their heads backwards in exactly the same way 
as a Redshank or a Ringed Plover will do. The Lesser Terns 
were busily engaged in fishing, . . . and I had many oppor- 
tunities of studying them closely.” 

7th.—Kingfisher near Limpsfield (C. H. B.). 

13th.—One Lesser Tern (immature), four Herons, and one 
Hooded Crow at Hedgecourt (C. H. B.). 

14th.—Many small flocks of Mistle-Thrushes on the hills, 
and two Redwings arrived at Barrow Green (wind N.). A good 
many Swallows and a few House-Martins still haunting the 
marshy fields near Oxted (C.H.B.). Five Pochard, Sedge- 
Warbler, Bullfinch, Kingfisher, and great numbers of Coot (but 
no Lapwings) at Frensham. 

15th.—Mr. Dickinson informs me that Swallows are still in 
full force at Carshalton. Several parties of Goldcrests amongst 
the furze on Limpsfield Common; two Hooded Crows and a 
small flock of Redwings near Titsey ; Kestrels have been of 
frequent occurrence on the North Downs near Oxted during the 
last two or three weeks (C. H. B.). A good many Fieldfares and 
Redwings have been seen in most parts of Surrey this year, 
although, at Shere, Mr. Russell informs me that only a few of 
the former (and no Redwings) have been noticed, and that these 
only occurred during the sharp frost in late December. 

19th.—An albescent Redbreast in the Terrace Gardens, Rich- 
mond, with breast and back white, wings and tail brown, but 
rufous colour absent except for a small spot on forehead; the 
legs were flesh-coloured (H. K. F.), I saw this bird later, and 
gathered that it had been there since June, whilst it was observed 
up to about Christmas. 

20th. — A single Goldfinch singing in a garden at Oxted 
(C. H. B.). Tree-Sparrow at Ham; six or seven Kingfishers, 
eighteen Mallard, seven Herons, Grey Wagtails, Dabchick, Snipe, 


ORNITHOLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS IN SURREY. 105 


and Bullfinches near Leatherhead. Pied Blackbird on Great 
Bookham Common. 

27th.—Nine Crested Grebes—at least three young—and two 
female Pochard on the Great Pond ; anda mixed flock of Pochard 
and Coot on Frensham Little Pond; also a solitary Golden-eye 
—probably a young male —which dived repeatedly, never remain- 
ing on the surface for more than thirty seconds (C. H. B.). 

Date uncertain.—Albino Pheasant on Ranmore Common (H. 
Russell). 


NOVEMBER. 


4th.—Six Lesser Redpolls on alders at Godstone Pond, and 
at Lingfield on the 17th (C. H. B.). 

7th.—Very mild. Song-Thrush singing at Sanderstead, almost 
as well as in spring (C. H. B.); and elsewhere (L. B. M.). 

11th.—Three Goldfinches at Oxted; Carrion-Crow at Titsey 
(C. H. B.). About this date there seems to have been an influx 
of Hooded Crows, and Mr. Bentham sends me several notes of 
having seen parties of varying numbers in his district. Generally 
speaking, it is probable that since ‘‘ the good old days” this mem- 
ber of the Corvide has never been more numerous than at the 
present time. Grey Wagtails at Virginia Water. 

18th.—A female Shoveler on Penn Ponds, in company with 
the pair of pinioned birds kept there, which no doubt attracted 
it. This may have come over from Kew Gardens. Two House- 
Martins on Richmond Hill. 

25th.—Goldfinches near Barrow Green, and large numbers 
of Pigeons in different parts (C. H.B.). Pied Jackdaw at Barnes ; 
Hawfinch at Blindley Heath, two Kingfishers at Godstone Pond, 
and great numbers of Teal, Lapwings, Snipe, and Mallard at 
pond near Hedgecourt. There were probably some two hundred 
and fifty to three hundred Duck, three-fifths being of the smaller 
species. 

Date uncertain.—Mr. Russell writes :—‘‘ I saw a Hawfinch 
in the garden during November, and the gardener tells me that 
numbers with young used to visit the peas. They must have 
bred in the neighbourhood. I am told that on Leith Hill num- 
bers come to the peas; they are very shy, but not, I expect, very 
rare.” 


106 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


DECEMBER. 

1st.—Sparrow-Hawk at Croham Hurst. 

2nd.—Female or young Golden-eye at Penn Ponds. This was 
very wild, and would not allow a near approach, flying up every 
now and again to settle farther away. A few days later a friend 
got close to it two or three times by running along the bank 
whilst the bird was diving, but it always took fright on coming 
to the surface and seeing somebody near it. The bird’s wildness 
certainly points to its being truly feral, and not a visitor from 
Kew. 

9th.—A good many Teal, Snipe, and Mallard, two Herons, a 
Kingfisher, and three large Gulls—probably L. fuscus—at Hedge- 
court, and Bullfinches in the neighbourhood. 

16th.—Pair of Tufted Duck on Penn Ponds. 

23rd.—Cold, hard frost. Wood-Pigeons cooing in many 
places about Oxted, and a Brambling on alders at Mill Pond 
(C. H. B.). Lesser Redpolls in small flocks reported from diffe- 
rent parts. Seven Tufted Duck and Grey Wagtails at Hammer 
Pond. 

24th.—F lock of Pochard, Coot, and Tufted Duck on Frensham 
Little Pond. <A large number of Coot fell to the guns in the 
morning, but the ice stopped shooting to any extent. Woodcock 
flushed from heather on Stony Hill. 

25th.—Numbers of Full and Jack (?) Snipe, but no Teal, by 
the River Wey at Hlstead, having left the open country through 
the severe frost. 

26th.—F locks of Sky-Larks drifting over the snow-clad country, 
and immense numbers of Ring- and Stock-Doves in the woods. 

30th.—Pied Blackbird at Titsey (C. H. B.). 


In conclusion, I wish to convey my heartiest thanks to all 
correspondents who from time to time throughout the past year 
have so kindly forwarded me notes containing items of consider- 
able interest. It is to them and through their unmerited kind- 
ness that the preparation of this report has been found possible. 


(tore) 


DESCRIPTION OF WILD DUCKS’ DOWN. 
By W. H. Workman, M.B.O.U. 


Mr. Harvize-Browny, in ‘ The Zoologist’ for October last, gives 
some most interesting descriptions and directions for dealing 
with the downs of various species of Ducks, which will prove 
very useful to many of us younger ornithologists who cannot 
get access to very early volumes of this Journal and the ‘ Ibis.’ 

When I read the above quoted paper I expected we should 
have a string of notes from collectors all over the country, 
with descriptions of the British breeding Ducks’ downs; but, 
strange to say, nobody has taken up the thread. This made me 
look round my collection and amongst my friends for specimens 
of downs, and I am greatly obliged for kind help to Dr. Darling, 
Mr. Foster, and Mr. Malcomson—all experienced naturalists, and 
well acquainted with our birds. I have selected a few species 
from which the old birds were actually seen on or leaving the 
nest, and I think, with Mr. Harvie-Brown, it is much better not 
to give descriptions of downs from dealers, or not quite authenti- 
cated. I hope we will in time get together, in one journal, 
descriptions of all the British species. 

I keep my collection in small glass-topped boxes, about two 
inches square, with a full description noted on bottom of each, 

viz.—name, locality, date, name of collector, and notes about 

parent bird being seen—then in the bottom I put a small piece 
of naphthaline to keep out insects. This plan, if one has not got 
down and clutches of eggs together, answers well, and the little 
boxes, when packed full, hold quite enough to show the colour in 
bulk, and look well kept in a cabinet drawer. 

T examined the specimens given below in a good light, without 
sunshine, and I found the best way to hold the single sprays for 
Sommerfeldt’s method was to catch the little shaft with a pair of 
forceps, or in the split at the point of a steel pen; this latter way 
I found very handy, as you can lay it down while writing 


108 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


descriptions without its being blown away. The best method to 
hold the down is against a very dark background two or three 
feet away, when with a three-power pocket-lens the colour and 
construction can be carefully observed and noted. The pocket- 
lens suits much better than a microscope, which I found too 
powerful, giving too small a field; besides, putting the down 
between glass slips takes away from the natural shape and 
colour. 

I find in Sharpe’s ‘ Handbook of British Birds’ a fair de- 
scription of each down—probably in bulk—given after his note 
about the nest and eggs. The same is also given in Seebohm’s 
‘liggs of British Birds,’ but not so good. I hope Mr. Dresser, 
in his new book, ‘ The Eggs of the Birds of Kurope’—a work in 
which the three-colour process of photography has been.so suc- 
cessfully applied to eggs—will make some attempt to adopt this 
beautiful printing to the Duck’s down when he comes to describe 
their eggs. 

I have included below downs of Mute Swan and Canada 
Goose, both found wild about here. I believe—at a lake in 
this neighbourhood—the keepers have tried without success to 
frighten away and shoot this latter species; it was, of course, — 
originally introduced. 


DESCRIPTIONS OF Downs. 


SOMMERFELDT’S METHOD. | In Bux. 
TADORNA coRNUTA.—A large white A. WuitE Dowy. 
down loosely put together, with a | 1. Sheld-drake. — Down large and 
very whitecentrum. Ramilongand | loose, of a dull grey white, im- 
thin, with radii medium length, | possible to pick out centres, which 
getting shorter as they approach | only seem a little whiter. 
the tip, where they lie much closer, | 2. Mute Swan.—Down very large, 
and form into a hair-like ending; | not unlike No. 1, but tips not so 
through the glass this appears to fine ; it is whiter. 
be made up of gradually shorten- | 
ing fine radii. (See Class A, No. 1.) B. WHITE-TIPPED Downs. 
1. Mallard. — Down dark brown, 
CyGNnus mutus.— Down very large, with fairly large white centres; 
all pure white; rami long; radii the tips quite distinct, whitish 
fairly short, lying close, and not brown; the down generally not 
getting much shorter towards the compact, but feathery. 
tip, as in Sheld-drake. (See Class | 2. Red-breasted Merganser. — This 
A, No. 2.) down is light greyish brown, with 


DESCRIPTION OF WILD DUCKS’ 


SOMMERFELDT’S METHOD. 


DOWN. 109 


In Burk. 


Anas Boscas. —A fairly thin light 
down of a dull brown; centrum 
pure white, fading through brown 
+o the rami, which are long, with 
a greyish white tip composed of 
the rami and radii, which gradu- 
ally get lighter at ends; radii 
medium length, lying close. (See 
Class B, No. 1.) 


MERGUS SERRATOR.—I cannot quite 


agree with Sommerfeldt’s descrip- . 


tion, which may be quite correct 
for the down of a Northern Kuro- 
pean bird, but my specimen from 
Co. Down, Ireland, is a light 
brownish grey, not bluish grey ; 
otherwise the description is very 
good. (See Class B, No. 2.) 


BRANTA CANADENSIS.—This is a long 
loose down, with a general colour 
of light greyish brown to white. 
The centrum is white, with a dusty 
tinge. Rami long, and of a light 
brown, ending in a white tip. The 
radii are very fine, some having 
white tips; they seemed not so 
regularly distributed along the 
rami, but some may have got 
frayed off owing to their fine tex- 
ture. (See Class B, No. 3.) 


FULIGULA CRISTATA.—This medium- 


sized down is of a dusty brown 
colour, with ‘a whitish brown cen- 
trum, not very distinct when viewed 
separately, more in evidence in 
bulk; rami fairly long, of a light 
dusty brown; radii, which are not 
long, mostly have a distinct white 
tip; this, I think, accounts for the 
general dusty colour. (See Class C, 
No. 1.) 


grey centres, and very decided grey 
tips. 

. Canadian Goose. — Down greyish 
brown, nearly white, about the size 
of Mergus serrator, with white 
centres and light tips; some centres 
much whiter than others. 


C. Dark Down, witHout WHITE 
TIps. 


1. Tufted Duck. — Down of a dull 


brown colour, with pale centres, 
nearly white just at the shaft. I 
think this could not be classed — 
with white-tipped downs, although 
a few have pale tips. 


110 : THE ZOOLOGIST. 


NOT ES A ND OU ER GER Se 


MAMMALIA. 


Notes on the Occurrence of Lesser Horseshoe Bat in Devonshire.— 
In view of the small number of instances in which the Lesser Horse- 
shoe Bat (Rhinolophus hipposiderus) has been recorded as taken in 
Devonshire, and of the fact that none of these cases occur in the 
neighbourhood of Exeter, the following notes may be worth placing 
on record. Harly in December of last year, being anxious to replace 
the existing old and faded Bats in the Royal Albert Memorial Museum, 
Hixeter, I consulted a list of local mammals published in the ‘ Trans- 
actions’ of the Devonshire Association, with the object of seeing what 
could be obtained locally, and there found a manuscript note stating 
that ‘‘ both Greater and Lesser Horseshoe Bats were said to have been 
taken at Pocombe Quarry in 1879.”” This quarry is about a mile west 
of Exeter. Acting on this information, I visited Pocombe a few days 
later. There was no sign of either species in the quarry, but I took a 
male Lesser Horseshoe in the crevice of a rock near there, and on re- 
visiting the place two days later found a second male not many yards 
from where the first was obtained. The second one I had alive for five 
days, but, although insects were placed in its box, it then died, appa- 
rently without having made any attempt to feed. My next expedition 
in search of Bats (Feb. 2nd) was to Duryard. not quite a mile north- 
east of the city. Here, in a large disused cellar, I found two males 
and one female, all hanging separately, but within eight or ten feet of 
one another. I was surprised at this, having always understood that 
the sexes usually, if not invariably, frequent separate retreats. These 
three were also kept alive, but one died on the ninth day, the other two 
on the tenth day. On February 16th I searched some limestone rocks 
about ten miles west of Exeter, and in a cave there found a male, 
which I replaced on the rock. It is curious that those kept should not 
have lived longer at this time of year, when they are supposed to be 
hybernating, unless under natural conditions they wake up and feed 
upon the insects in their retreats. There was certainly a large amount 
of insect life in the cellar, and in the cave visited yesterday, but, as far 
as could be seen, none in the rock where the first two were taken. 


NOTES AND. QUERIES. 111 


Those kept in captivity seemed hardly to change their position while I 
had them, and all died hanging to the rock which was tied to the top 
of their box. It is strange that in four outings in search of Bats 
I should have found six of this one species, which is nowhere con- 
sidered common, without finding one of either of the reputed common 
species; and it probably points to the conclusion that—at any rate in 
this district—the Lesser Horseshoe Bat is not so uncommon as is 
generally supposed, for the fact that five males were found to only one 
female would lead one to suppose that several were overlooked, unless 
the proportion of males to females is very great. — Hpwin Hotuis 
(Royal Albert Memorial Museum, Exeter). 


AVES. 


Fieldfare and Redwings in London.—On Feb. 7th last I saw a 
Fieldfare (Turdus pilaris) in Hyde Park. The following day it was 
still in the same place—among some shrubs near the band-stand, and 
several Redwings (7’. iliacus) were there also looking for food. I do not 
think either of these are common visitors to London.—Ftora RussEn1 
(2, Audley Square, London). 


Smew and Mergansers at Yarmouth.—On Jan. 30th last a fine 
adult male Smew (Mergus albellus) was shot on Breydon. It is now 
fourteen years since the last old male was killed, which was shot on 
Breydon Broad, January 10th, 1893. This I purchased in the flesh 
(cf. Patterson’s ‘Nature in Hastern Norfolk,’ p. 198), and, strange to 
say, both these birds were shot by the same gunner, Mr. F. Clarke. 
These birds are mostly met with during severe winters, like the present 
one, but then only sparingly. The sharp contrast in the male plumage 
makes it very conspicuous, while it is one of the most handsome, and 
also the smallest of the genus; but young birds are more often observed, 
and two were killed three days previously. A male Red-breasted 
Merganser (Mergus serrator) has also been shot in the neighbourhood, 
together with several immature Goosanders (M. merganser). — B. Dye 
(Row 60, No. 10, Great Yarmouth). 


Eared Grebe in Belfast Lough.—I had the pleasure of examining, 
on Feb. 28th, a fine specimen of the Hared Grebe (Podicipes nigricollis), 
which was shot on the 28th by R. H. Leeke, Esq., of the Rifle Brigade, 
now stationed at Holywood, who brought it to Messrs. Sheals, of Cor- 
poration Street, Belfast, for preservation, where I saw it in process of 
setting up. It proved on dissection to be a male. This specimen was 
coming into summer plumage, the ear-tufts being well developed, and 


112 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


the sides just beginning to change to chestnut-brown. This Grebe is 
now known to breed in England (cf. Zool. 1906, p. 315, where a most 
interesting note is published by Mr. O. V. Aplin), and, according to 
Ussher & Warren’s ‘ Birds of Ireland,’ it has occurred about twenty-one 
times in this country, but only about three records being stated for this 
part of Ireland, and so it may be considered a rare visitor to our waters. 
It was accompanied by two other birds, presumably of the same species. 
I hear a Snowy Owl was shot somewhere in the neighbourhood lately. 
This year Ducks of various species have been very common on Strang- 
ford Lough; they include Mallard, Wigeon, Sheld-drake, Shoveler, 
and Brent Geese.—W. H. Workman (Windsor, Belfast). 


Westward Movement of Birds during Snow. — As Mr. Ussher’s 
request for observations from the south coast of England (ante, p. 38) 
has elicited but a single reply, and that from an inland locality (ante, 
p. 74), possibly the following notes from the Sussex coast may prove of 
interest, and lead to the publication of observations on this interesting 
subject from other localities. In this district the snow commenced 
during the night of Dec. 25th, and the following days witnessed a 
remarkable movement of birds along the coast. During the whole of 
the two following days there was an almost continuous stream of birds 
passing westward. My own observations did not begin until Dec. 27th, 
on which day the movement seemed to be mainly confined to Thrushes 
and Redwings ; but I am informed that on the previous day both Golden 
and Green Plover were moving westward in considerable numbers. 
Snow fell again during the night of Dec. 27th, and I spent the whole 
of the following day on the coast in the vicinity of Rye Harbour. On 
that day the westward movement was still in progress, though to a 
much less extent, the species moving being chiefly Thrushes, Red- 
wings, and Sky-Larks. I cannot say when the movement ceased, 
as I was unable to make any further observations during the next few 
days. I examined several Redwings that had been killed during the 
migration, and noticed that they were all in very poor condition. It 
may also be worthy of mention that at the same time there was a 
considerable influx of Bramblings in the Hastings district.—L. A. 
Curtis Kpwarps (31, Magdalen Road, St. Leonards-on-Sea). 


As confirming Mr. Robert Morris’s observations (ante, p. 74) in 
Sussex, and in amplification of Mr. Ussher’s suggestion (ante, p. 38), 
I desire to state that vast flocks of Starlings, Larks, Finches, and Lap- 
wings passed over this town, flying due west, on Dec. 26th last. This 
flight was followed by a much larger migration on Dec. 27th, and the 
movement practically ceased on Dec. 28th. It is undesirable to 


NOTES AND QUERIES. 113 


exaggerate, but I can truly state that this immense army of the 
feathered kingdom—flying from the bitter snow through the ‘ hard 
froze fields of air” to lands of greater promise and of more genial 
climate—could only be estimated in numbers at hundreds of thousands ; 
in fact, the flight was so remarkable that I have been much astonished 
that more notice has not been drawn to such a striking incident. The 
omission can only be explained by the fact that it is always easier to 
leave others to undertake an effort than to make it oneself. On the 
afternoon of Dec. 27th, I made an excursion to the fields some miles out 
of the town, and I found every patch of ground which was only slightly 
covered with snow comparatively alive with small birds, principally 
Larks, and along the seashore at the beach limit Finches—principally 
Chaffinches—were in large numbers. In the squares and enclosures of 
this town could be seen small flocks of Redwings and other members 
of the Turdide. An interesting question is—was this great movement 
at the end of December local only as regards the United Kingdom, or 
was it a vast influx of birds from Northern Germany and Holland? I 
am inclined to think that, considering the migration was such an 
extensive one, that it emanated from the Continent.—H. Pretrrrs Bonr 
(28, Adelaide Crescent, Brighton). 


On Sunday, Feb. 17th, there was a considerable migration of what 
I think must have been almost entirely Song-Thrushes (Turdus musicus). 
I was walking home about midnight, and the whole time (some twenty 
minutes) frequently heard the well-known call-note ; the birds appeared 
to be going from north-west to south-east, and must have been flying 
very low. I only heard once what might have been the note of the 
Redwing (7. tliacus). Since the cold spell birds—and particularly 
T. musicus—have been very scarce about here. The night of the 17th 
was very dark, with a westerly wind. Had this migration anything to 
do with the approach of the cold weather of the last few days? On 
Feb. 21st I saw eight Herons (Ardea cinerea) near here, standing 
together in a field away,from the river. As we have no heronry to 
speak of within many miles, this number seems very unusual, and may 
possibly be accounted for by the gale then still blowing. On Feb. 22nd, 
though the ground was covered with snow, and a piercing wind blow- 
ing, a Chaffinch (#’. celebs) was singing, and a Wood- Pigeon (C. palum- 
bus) was using its spring note; the latter are not at all common here 
this winter.—TuHEEp Prarss (Bedford), 


Swiss Birds in July, 1906—In my summer chaplaincy in 1906 I 
was not so fortunate in my observations as in the preceding year. My 
duty was at Thusis, at the entrance of the celebrated Via Mala, and, I 

Zool. 4th ser. vol. XI., March, 1907, K 


114 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


might say, at the gate of the Engadine. The Hotel Via Mala, where 
we stayed, is delightfully situated just above the confluence of the 
Hinter Rhein, the Albula, and the Nolla, at a height of 2500 ft. above 
sea-level, and is about eighteen miles from Chur or Coire, the capital 
of the Grisons. It is surrounded by mountains, the highest of which 
is Piz Beverin, 10,000 ft. The scenery all round is of an enchanting 
nature, and until lately the hotels were crowded with tourists in 
summer; the number has, however, diminished since the Albula 
Railway to St. Moritz (thirty-eight miles) was opened, as many 
travellers prefer not to break the journey. 


June 80th.—Arrived, and found many birds singing in the grounds 
of the hotel. In addition to our usual English songsters, I noted the 
Serin Finch and Black Redstart. 

July 2nd.—Birds plentiful, but Crested Tit the only notable. 

3rd.—Heard Syrnium aluco near Sils at 8.15 p.m. 

4th.—Bonelli’s Warbler very numerous; familiarized myself with 
its call-note. 

6th.—Marsh- Warbler singing delightfully near the Albula. Cuckoos 
and Siskins also singing. 

7th.—Beautiful morning. Charming bird-concert in the grounds— 
Garden-Warblers, Blackcaps, Blackbirds, Redstarts, Serins, and many 
more. 

9th.—Whinchats near Canova; heard also Picus canus for the first 
time here. We often heard this bird at Schinznach and Strassburg 
last year. 

10th.—Excursion to Bellagio via Spliigen Pass. We occupied the 
banquette in the diligence which started from Thusis at 6.85 a.m., 
and passed through the Schamzerthal—‘‘ Schéne Wiesen, Wilder, 
Weisen.”” ‘The only birds noted on the Pass—7056 ft.—were Alpine 
Choughs and Meadow-Pipits, though the Bernhardin close by was 
formerly called ‘‘Mons Avium”’ or ‘“ Vogelberg’’—so many migrants 
passed by every year. We reached Chiavenna—‘‘ Schliissel der Alpen- 
welt ’’—at 4.80 p.m., by those wonderful ‘‘zig-zags,”’ and then went 
on by train and boat to our destination at Bellagio, on Lake Como, 
where we arrived at 9.10 p.m., after a memorable and delightful day. 

11th.—Nightingales in full song close to our hotel, ‘La Grande 
Bretagne,’ and also near the Villa Serbelloni. A few Italian Sparrows 
also about, and the Black Kite, as usual, coursing over the lake. 
Bellagio is certainly a paradise, and if birds would sing anywhere, one 
would not wonder at them singing there, even though the time of the 
singing of Nightingales was past and over, 


NOTES AND QUERIES. 115 


12th.—Left Bellagio for St. Moritz via the Maloja Pass at 8.42 a.m., 
and arrived at 7.55 p.m. ‘The inscription on a house in Silva Plana 
took my fancy greatly—‘ Ille terrarum mihi preter omnes angulus 
ridet.”” 

13th.—An almost unprecedented snowstorm, so that it was hope- 
less to search for birds, as I had intended. ‘The hotels were crowded, 
and all the fires surrounded. 

14th.—Left to return to Thusis. The country covered with snow, 
the mountains glorious, and the pines bending—some broken with the 
weight of the snow. As we slid down cautiously for about 3500 ft. in 
the wonderful Albula Railway, through avenues of pines, the sight was, 
indeed, marvellous. Some Americans in our carriage were loud in 
their admiration; one said, ‘‘it was an experience never to be for- 
gotten”; whilst the Germans kept up constant cries of ‘‘Schén! 
Schon!’ At Thusis we found shrubs, bushes, and part of the glass 
roof of our hotel broken down, and the director said that never in his 
experience had there been such a snowstorm in July before. 

17th.—Crested Tits in the woods. 

18th. — Kestrels—called here ‘‘ Wanderli’’—plentiful at Tarn, 
5000 ft. We saw one Alpine Swift flying with the Common Swifts, 
and Herr Arpagaus pointed out to us a pair of Ravens in the field 
below the Pension Heinzenberg. 

19th.—Heard notes which I could not for some time identify, but 
found afterwards proceeded from Alpine Swifts, high in the air; they 
seemed to be nesting in the Crapteig, about 5000 ft. high. 

20th.—Rottanbrunnen. Sedge- Warblers singing, and Crag-Martins 
around the great rock over the Rhine. 

21st.—Great fire on the Domeschleg nearly opposite; the whole 
village of Scheid destroyed save two houses. 

26th.—Five Tits in evidence not far from the hotel—Great, Coal, 
Blue, Crested, Marsh. 

As we left on the 30th, I was unable to add to my list of sixty- 
eight species on the whole tour to seventy-four in the year 1905. 

It is remarkable that the following common birds at home were 
not observed :—Mistle-Thrush, Stonechat, Hedge-Sparrow, Sand- 
Martin, and Willow-Warbler. This last bird is very rare in most 
parts of Switzerland. — Cuartes W. Benson (Rectory, Balbriggan, 
Co. Dublin). 

N.B.—Perhaps some of your readers could mention localities in 
Switzerland where one would be pretty sure to observe the Alpine 
Accentor. 


116 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


‘Marked Birds.—In the next number of our ‘ Annals of Scottish 
Natural History’ (April) will appear a long list of numbers, which are 
those of soft zine labels, which are attached to the left legs (for the 
most part) of Starlings, which have been caught, marked, and 
liberated during December, January, and up to the date of February 
10th, 1907. I would be obliged by your giving this information a 
place in ‘The Zoologist,’ so that, should it meet the eye of any 
ornithologist, or other of your readers, who may succeed in re- 
capturing any of the marked birds, the history of such may be traced 
—in part at least—since the date of their release in each case. IL 
have sent a similar note of the facts to the ‘ Field.’ —J. A. Harviz- 
Brown (Dunipace, Larbert). 


PISCKES. 


Four-horned Cottus at Yarmouth.—For the first time, after many 
years’ seeking, I saw a locally-taken Cottus quadricornis, a shrimper 
bringing me no fewer than three examples on March 3rd. They were 
all of tolerable size, the largest measuring 84in. The ground colour was 
grey-brown, with lighter blotches on the upper surface, and an inclina- 
tion to spottiness on the under parts, the lower part of the gill-covers 
being strikingly spotted with white. The eye, fresh as in life, was 
beautifully freckled with red. Considering the species is new to the 
county of Norfolk, three specimens coming in at one time is interest- 
ing. The head of one fish, which had been gutted for some reason by 
the shrimper, I forwarded to Mr. T. Southwell, who confirms my 
finding. One of the perfect specimens will go to the Norwich Museum, 
the other will be located in the Tolhouse Museum at Yarmouth. Along 
with Cottus, the shrimper also left me five examples of the Deep-nosed 
Pipe-fish (Siphonostoma typhle), a rather unusual number to be taken 
at one time.—Arraur H. Parrerson (Ibis House, Great Yarmouth). 


Fauna of North Wales.—This important work, on which I have 
been engaged for the last seven years, is nearing completion, and will 
shortly be published. I shall be glad to receive notes from observers 
who have not yet contributed to the work, so that they may be incor- 
porated before drafting for the press. The area dealt with includes 
the six counties—Anglesey, Carnarvon, Denbigh, Flint, Merioneth, 
and Montgomery—and the entire estuaries of the Dee and Dovey. 
The mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and fishes (marine and fresh- 
water) are included, as well as the birds.—H. H. Forrest (Hillside, 
Bayston Hill, Shrewsbury). 


(ef) 


EDITORIAL GLEANINGS. 


Pror. TuHEroporE Gin has given us a real addition to the literature 
of bionomical ichthyology in his memoir on ‘‘ Parental Care among 
Fresh-water Fishes’ (from the Smithsonian Report for 1905). The 
writer remarks that the species which manifest care for their young 
are so numerous that in this publication he restricts himself to those 
inhabiting fresh water. To the question—‘‘ How did the parental 
instinct manifested originate?’’ Professor Gill considers it must be 
regarded as a development of an aptitude inherent in the fish itself; 
and the attribute of parental care is regarded as an ‘outcome of 
selfishness, or, if you will, self-love, a result of the sense of pro- 
prietorship. The eggs are the fishes’ own, and therefore they and the 
resulting larvee are to be cared for as such.’’ Much information is re- 
produced from the publications of various societies, and from other 
sources little consulted by other than specialists, and very many 
illustrations are interspersed in the text. The memoir is well worthy 
of separate binding, and thus securing a place for handy reference 
among our other ichthyological volumes. 


We have received the first number of the ‘Annals of Tropical 
Medicine and Parasitology,’ edited by Prof. Ronald Ross, in collabora- 
tion with other well-known authorities. This part is largely entomo- 
logical in matter, for, as well known, a knowledge of insects is nowa 
most important factor in the study of many. tropical diseases that 
attack mankind. ‘‘Insects and other Arthropoda collected in the 
Congo Free State” is the principal contribution, and is written by 
Mr. Robert Newstead, the late J. Everett Dutton, and Mr. John L. 
Todd. This paper must not only be consulted by the dipterous 
specialist—for new species are described—but the notes and observa- 
tions relating to very many other species possess an importance 
far beyond what has hitherto been largely the entomological stand- 
point. From the technical description and enumeration of species (to 
which some of us must so largely devote our time), or the attractive 
speculation as to the meaning of so much apparent insect simulation 
(which claims the enthusiasm of other workers), it isa matter of the 


~ 


1s) THE ZOOLOGIST. 


greatest satisfaction and import to find entomology now a handmaid of 
medicine, and on the consulting list of anthropology. 


Pror. Poutton, at a meeting of the British Association at Cape 
Town in 1905, delivered a lecture on William John Burchell, the 
materials of which, with a portrait of Burchell, appear in the Associa- 
tion Report, of which a reprint has been sent tous. As Prof. Poulton 
is preparing a fuller biography of this African traveller, nothing in the 
nature of a review need at present be contemplated. Burchell was 


both naturalist and traveller, and though, in a philosophical estimate, - 


he cannot be placed with either Humboldt, Darwin, or Bates, he was 
a very distinguished observer and collector, and a great pioneer 
traveller. After along life of scientific activity, he committed suicide 
when he had passed the eightieth year of his life, probably through 
mere weariness, as the work he had elected to do was then completed. 
Possibly he may have brooded on the absence of scientific recognition, 
but then his was a studious rather than a pushful nature, and he did 
not perhaps comfort himself with the reflection of Lessing, that ‘‘ some 
people obtain fame, and others deserve it.’ Many interesting foot- 
notes are added to the reprint of this lecture. 


Tue ‘ Bulletin of the Buffalo Society of Natural Sciences’ (vol. viti. 
No. 4) is devoted to a review of the work done by the Society in co- 
operation with the Public Schools. We read that, ‘‘ from the day of 
its inception, one fundamental principle has controlled the policy of 
the Buffalo Society of Natural Sciences. Realizing the important 
place which a great museum must eventually take in the educational 
system of its home town, we have always endeavoured to get into the 
closest and most effective relationship with the public schools of our 
city. Every facility which we had to offer to the student has been 
freely and continuously placed at hiscommand. For years the science 
teachers of the city have been in the habit of bringing their classes to 
our building, and we have supplied them with room and materials for 
their work. In the study of geology, thousands of high school pupils 
have received great benefit from our collections of rocks and minerals, 
and our display of native birds and animals has been of the greatest 
help to the classes in zoology and natural history. At the beginning 
it was the custom for the teachers to accompany the classes, and take 
charge of their work while here, the museum offering simply its collec- 
tions and rooms, no attempt being made to provide lectures or 


ae 


EDITORIAL GLEANINGS. 119 


instruction beyond what was displayed. In time, however, it was found 
that certain topics were of such universal interest that they would 
warrant special attention, and so the plan of special lectures for the 
schools came into being. A series of talks on ‘ Bees,’ ‘ Birds,’ and 
‘ Insects’ was arranged for Saturday afternoons, and were open to such 
of the grades as cared to come, and met with much success. ‘The 
attendance at these talks was entirely optional with the classes, the 
Department of Education simply recommending that as many schools 
as possible take advantage of them.” 


Tse ‘Irish Naturalist’ has made a most welcome innovation in 
publishing the issues for January and February in one cover, and 
devoting both entirely to the Natural History of Lambay, Co. Dublin. 
The island of Lambay lies in the Irish Sea off the coast of Co. Dublin, 
in N. lat. 58° 29’, W. long. 6° 1’, and has an area of 617 acres above 
high-water mark. With Mr. R. Lloyd Praeger were associated a 
number of other workers, and we have a full account of the Geology, 
Zoology, and Botany, with historical notes of this small island. It is 
beautifully illustrated, and we hope that this example may be followed 
elsewhere. No island is too small nor too near our coasts for this pur- 
pose, and the aggregate results of a number of these reports would 
probably afford some hints.and data at present rather outside the 
purview of many of our local societies. 


Tue Director of the Zoological Gardens, Giza, Cairo, returned from 
the Sudan on the 25th December, 1906, and among the living animals 
he brought back were three young African Elephants (two males and 
one female) from the Blue Nile. One of the males has small tusks, 
the other is still quite a baby Elephant. These, together with the 
three female Hlephants brought from the Blue Nile in 1905, now form 
a fine group of six African Hlephants, a feature probably never seen 
before in any Zoological Gardens. 


120 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


OBITUARY. 
Dr. J. W. Stroup. 


We have only just learned, and to our sincere regret, that Dr. 
J. W. Stroud died at Pretoria in November, 1905, in his seventy- 
third year. Dr. Stroud, who was a native of Bristol, had settled 
down in South Africa many years ago, in what may be called the pre- 
scientific days of that colony ; and, although his name was little 
known in natural history circles at the time of his death, he had yet 
acted as a pioneer in days when to be interested in zoological pursuits 
and not in the quest for wealth was looked upon as at least an oddity. 
His two principal publications are to be found in the ‘ Transactions of 
the Hastern Province (South Africa) Naturalists’ Society,’ which was 
established at Port Elizabeth, and are entitled, ‘‘ The Honey-Bee (Apis 
mellifica), its Natural History and Management” (1884), and ‘‘ The 
Nervous System and General Anatomy of the Articulata, including 
Millipedes, Spiders, and Insects ’’ (1885). 

It was, however, in the almost nightly gatherings at his house in 
Pretoria that he did most to foster philosophical discussion. Men of 
the most diverse views gathered round a hospitable and versatile host, 
and evolutionary discussions were common in at least one Trans- 
vaalian homestead. We still remember with affection our old partner 
at almost nightly whist, and the manner in which the best hands were 
shattered by his tendency to shunt on to a biological or theological 
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tah ZOOROGIST 


- No. 790.—April, 1907, 


* ORNITHOLOGICAL REPORT FOR NORFOLK (1906). 
By J. H. Gurney, F.Z.S. 


THERE is nothing very eventful in the Ornithological Budget 
of Norfolk Notes for 1906, or which calls for any special re- 
mark, except it be in connection with some rather abnormal 
movements. 

Vernal Migration.—The spring migration of 1906 brought an 
unusual number of Black Terns, but only one Spoonbill. It also 
brought the customary flights of outward-bound Grey Crows. As 
a rule, in Norfolk, the flight of the Grey Crow, and of migrating 
Rooks also,*takes place at less than a quarter of a mile high, but 
at Heligoland it is much higher. Gatke says these birds are 
often but mere specks in the sky, and sometimes only their calls 
are faintly audible from above when they themselves are out of 
sight. The visit of a small pack of Pallas’s Sand Grouse to the 
east coast in June, though resting on imperfect evidence, may 
be accepted, and it is rather a matter of congratulation than 
otherwise that none were shot. It is now eighteen years since 
their great visitation to the west of Kurope. 

Autumnal Migration.—Certainly the presence of such a large 
number of Red-crested Pochards (Netta rufina) at the beginning 
of September was very exceptional, but the great heat may have 
been the cause of their coming, for it would tend to dry up 

Zool. 4th ser. vol. XI., April, 1907, L 


122 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


whatever lake or marsh they were using. If they had been im- 
mature one might have suspected them of being the produce of 
somebody’s pinioned birds, but from their appearance they 
seemed to be adults. The great autumnal movement did not 
commence in earnest until Sept. 18th, but when it came it was 
far from being confined to Norfolk. In fact, the observations of 
Mr. W. Eagle Clarke, taken on Fair Island (Ann. Scottish Nat. 
Hist. 1906, p. 236), which is midway between the Orkney and 
Shetland groups, point to a wave of migration reaching from 
lat. 52° to lat. 59°. This extended front was chiefly made up of 
small birds (Passeres), but in Norfolk other Orders among birds 
were not unrepresented, as will be recorded further on. 

The rarities for the year, so far as they have been communi- 
cated to the recorder, are :—January: Nyroca Duck (two). April: 
Stilt (?), Crane, Nyroca Duck (four). May: Ortolan Bunting, 
Bluethroat, Nyroca. June: Sand Grouse(?). July: Pelican. 
August: Purple Heron, Great Reed-Warbler. September: Red- 
breasted Flycatchers, Glossy Ibis (four), Red-crested Ducks 
(fourteen). October: Red-crested Duck. December: Whooper 
Swans (about one hundred and fifty). 

As before, the letters ‘‘p. v.”’ denote ‘‘date uncertain”; and 
the figures following the direction of the wind are used in the 
same sense as in the publications of the Meteorological Office— 
force 2 is a gentle wind, force 3 a breeze, force 4 a high breeze, 
and force 5 and 6 a gale. 

My register for the rainfall was 25°43 ; that of Mr. Knight, 
which has been usually given, was 27°16. ‘The effect on birds of 
the arctic weather which set in on Dec. 24th was very disastrous; 
very many perished. 


J ANUARY. 


1st.—January, which opened with a sharp frost, brought a 
rarity with it—the Nyroca Duck, which the Rev. M. C. Bird has 
already alluded to (Zool. 1906, p. 75) ; while a still rarer one, if it 
had not escaped—the Baikal Teal—was taken in Essex. , 

5th.—A Water-Rail picked up at Tuddenham, with a Trout 
34 in. long sticking in its mouth, which is by nature a small one 
(KX. Gunn). About this time (Dp. v.) a Common Tern (immature) 
was, as I learn from Mr. W, Clarke, picked up dead on the edge 


ORNITHOLOGICAL REPORT FOR NORFOLK. 123 


of Thetford Warren—a somewhat extraordinary place, and cer- 
tainly a very extraordinary time of the year. 

18th.—Received from Mr. Arthur Patterson a live Gannet, 
which, according to the fishermen’s account, had been blown 
against the mainsail of a smack. Gannets are rather subject to 
accidents, especially when on the wing, and these misadventures 
no doubt generally happen in a fog; but in this case the bird 
may have seen some herrings on the deck. Though their sight 
is so acute at a distance, they have difficulty in distinguishing 
near objects, as I proved with this one, which, at the time of 
writing, is still alive on my pond. The usual buff colour on the 
head was barely perceptible when it came, but at the end of 
February it was recovering its tone, and in May this evanescent 
tint was fairly bright, but only to be lost again in October. 

23rd.—A Nyroca Duck, shot at Culford, in Suffolk, after a 
gale from N.E., and shortly after another was obtained (Hon. 
L. Cadogan). Goosander seen at Hickling (A. Nudd). 

29th.—Black-breasted Dipper at Snettisham (p. v.). 

30th.—Goosander at Blickling (Miss Buxton), and some more 
about this date at Hoveton. 

31st.—Some interest was aroused by the discovery, at this 
abnormal time of the year, of twelve young Partridges at 
Stratton Strawless, only a few days old. Of course there was 
not much chance for them. By Feb. 5th they were reduced to 
ten—as I learn from Mr. Birkbeck—and by the 22nd to two, and 
his keeper believes that these did not long survive. The tem- 
perature of the latter part of January was high, which may 
account for such early breeding. 


FEBRUARY. 


1st.—February commenced with a sprinkling of snow, in 
spite of which there was a Thrush’s nest with three eggs at 
Thorpe, and another with two eggst at Haton. The Pied Wag- 
tail-returned with its accustomed regularity, and Mr. Nudd 
noted his first Redshank on the 8rd; but Mr. Bird had already 
heard of some at Irstead. 

Tth.—A beautiful day. AIl kinds of birds are now paired. 
The number of Thrushes on pastures is very large for the time 


of year ; there must be many hundreds in Keswick and adjoining 
L2 


124 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


parishes. Permanent pasture, especially in the vicinity of — 
woods and gardens, is where they find worms, and here this 
thrifty bird may be seen at any time of the day, but especially 
after rain, quite motionless for some time, with head slightly 
turned as if listening, but in reality relying on their sharp sight 
which detects the slightest movement of the soil. 
8th.—W.N.W., 4. Birds killed by Lightning.—About 2 p.m. 
a violent storm of snow and hail, accompanied by twenty 
minutes of incessant lightning, blew up from N.W. Such an 


GREATER BLACK-BACKED GULL STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. 


unusual combination caused a stampede among the horde of 
Pink-footed Geese—estimated by Mr. Alexander Napier at nearly 
four thousand—which every winter make the preserved marshes 
of Holkam their headquarters. These, flying about, exposed 
themselves to the electric fluid, with fatal results in several 
cases. Mr. H. M. Upcher says that altogether nineteen Geese 
were picked up in the adjacent parishes of Bayfield, Holt, Kelling, 
and Weybourne, which had been struck by lightnine—viz. fifteen 


ORNITHOLOGICAL RHPORT FOR NORFOLK. 125 


Pink-footed Geese and four White-fronted Geese. Of the former, 
seven were lying more or less in a line, but in three adjoining 
fields, and these had possibly all succumbed to the same flash ; 
in one} of them there was a rugged hole three inches long in the 
back, and I hear others were struck in the same place. Mr. F. 
A. Perkins states that the four White-fronted Geese, when found 
two hours after the storm, were lying a few yards apart, facing 
due south, three of them in a straight line down wind. In front 
was an adult gander, which had been struck on the back; one 
of the Geese was apparently uninjured, while another had been 
struck on the edges of both wings, but no doubt death was 
instantaneous to all of them. During the same thunderstorm 
a Greater Black-backed Gullt was struck at Lowestoft, of the 
post-mortem appearance of which Mr. Southwell has given an 
account (Norw. Nat. Trans. p. 326). A photograph taken after 
it had been stuffed by Mr. Roberts, in such a way as to show by 
the raised feathers the place where the lightning struck it, is 
reproduced (ante, p. 124). : 

11th.—Green Sandpiner at Intwood. 

14th.—Red-throated Diver shot on the Little Ouse two miles 
beyond Thetford; when held up four Roach dropped from its 
mouth (W.G. Clarke). This was quite thirty miles from the sea. 

16th.—Mr. H. Buxton saw four Green Sandpipers on the 
Dunston stream. 

17th.—A female Ruddy Sheld-Duck shot near Thetford, as I 
am informed by Mr. W. Clarke—possibly an escaped bird; alsoa 
female Goosander the same week. 

23rd.—Green Sandpiper at Keswick. 


Marcu. 


Ist.—W., 5.—An exhausted Cormorant knocked over on 
Beachamwell Common (W. G. Clarke), where its presence must 
have been due to the gale. 

3rd.—Bittern booming on the Broads (Nudd). 

5th.—Another Green Sandpiper at Keswick, making seven 
in the same neighbourhood in less than a month. 

6th.—W.5S.W., 4. Grey Crows and Rooks going S.E. from 
7 a.m. until 12 a.m. at Northrepps, about one mile from the sea 
(W. Burdett). 


126 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


7th. —W.S.W., 4. Grey Crows going 8.E. 

8th.—W.S.W., 5. A party of five Goosanders on Gunton 
Lake—always a favourite place—seen by Miss Buxton. 

16th.—W.S.W., 4. Grey Crows going §.K. at Northrepps 
from 6 a.m. to 12 a.m. (W. Burdett) ; the usual March emigra- 
tion of these birds. 

18th.—W.N.W., 4. Grey Crows going S.H. from 6.30 a.m. 
to ll a.m., but the flight may have begun much earlier than 
6 o'clock, when my gardener observed it. 


APRIL. 

6th.—N.N.E., 3. Grey Crows going §.E. in straggling flocks 
(Burdett). 

10th.—Four Nyroca Ducks appeared on the Broads after a 
N.E. gale the day before (M. Bird). These southern ducks 
would certainly become commoner in the east of Norfolk if pro- 
tection could be assured them. 

11th.—E.N.E., 3. One flock of Grey Crows going 8.E. 

13th. — Several Gadwall, fifteen Sheld-Ducks, two Ruddy 
Sheld-Ducks (possibly turned out), and some Garganey Teal 
seen on Foulmere, in West Norfolk, by Mr. W. Clarke ; and two 
Garganeys and a Sheld-Duck seen at Hickling by Mr. Nudd. 
There are a good many Wigeon still at Breydon, but Jary says 
they are beginning to pair off. 

14th. — Hoopoe at Holkam (L. Mouritz), and another at 
Belton (W. Lowne). (‘Two were reported a few days earlier in 
Kent. | 

15th.—For the last three weeks a fine Crane, but not adult, 
has freauented Ormesby marram-hills and adjoining fields in 
Caister, as I learn from Mr. Knights (cf. Zool. 1906, p. 194). 

17th.—A pair of Garganey Teal on Breydon Broad (Jary) ; 
eight Common Teal+ at Hempstead. 

20th.—A Woodcock washed up on the beach (A. Patterson). 

22nd.—An Osprey seen on the Broads (M. Bird). A Great 
Orested Grebe, photographed by Miss E. L. Turner in the act of 
removing in its beak a hatched-out egg-shell from its nest, which 
contained two young ones hatched on the 19th. 

28th.—One Spoonbill came to Breydon Broad on a gale from 
S.E., but a high tide the same night drove it away (G. Jary). 


ORNITHOLOGICAL REPORT FOk NORFOLK. 127 


29th. —W.N.W., 4. A Black-winged Stilt reported on the 
Broads, and also an Osprey (Nudd). I hope they were not shot, 
even though it leaves the identity of the former uncertain. 


May. 


3rd.—Six Great Crested Grebest and seven pairs of Shovelerst 
on Hoveton Broad, and four Teal, one of which, by her actions, 
evidently had young ones. Last week (p. uv.) Mr. Hewitt found 
two Teals’ nests at Stow Bedon, one with ten eggs, the other 
with five. The number of Shoveler Ducks breeding at Hoveton 
is estimated by the keepers at nearly thirty pair. 

4th. — Discovered a pair of Wrynecks building in an old 
Woodpecker’s hole in a greengage tree, and close to the house. 
They were very noisy at first, their querulous ‘‘ qui, qui, qui”’ 
being heard continually ; but subsequently their cry was less 
loud and much less frequent, and had almost ceased by June 
23rd, when the young ones were hatched, and could be heard 
hissing. Unfortunately, on the 29th an inch of rain fell, which, 
penetrating through a crack, drowned most or all of the young 
birds. The old Wryneck, in spite of their size, carried three of 
them out of the hole and to a considerable distance, one—and 
that the largest—being found at fifteen feet from the hole. These 
nestlings did not exhibit the thickened heel-pad studded with 
tubercles, described in the ‘Ibis’ (1890, p. 411), probably 
because they were too old, but the length of their tongues was 
remarkable. 

5th.—Mr. Lowne had an Ortolan Bunting{t (male), which 
had entangled itself in some netting in a garden on the outskirts 
of Yarmouth, and was brought to his shop alive. It was naturally 
very wild at first, but, being put into a small cage, it soon became 
steadier, and lived until the winter. 

Tth.— Utility of the Barn-Owl.—l1 do my best to encourage 
the Barn-Owl by putting up tubs for them to nest in, but 
unfortunately they are generally forestalled by Stock-Doves. 
From the recesses of a hollowed oak, which they frequented but 
did not nest in, there were to-day abstracted nearly half a pail of 
pellets, which, soaked in water, gave the following results :— 
Highteen Finches (apparently Sparrows), two young Thrushes, 
eleven young Rats, twelve Field-Mice, and four Shrew-Mice. No 


128 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


remains of game. It always makes my blood boil to see this — 
useful bird proscribed by the unthinking gamekeeper. A few 
weeks afterwards another incident happened, which shall be 
related to the credit of Owls. A boy at Northrepps, noticing a 
young Long-eared Owl on the ground, concluded it had fallen 
out of its nest, which he searched for and soon found. The nest 
contained seven young Rats, which in a few weeks would have 
been full grown, and ready to prey on the young hand-reared 
Pheasants, of which these woods are full. 

7Tth.—Hight Black Terns seen on Breydon Broad (B. Dye). 

10th.—A gentleman photographed on the Broads a Garganey 
Teal’s nest of eleven eges; incubation already commenced. Two 
pairs had been seen a few days before (Bird). 

11th.—A Water-Rail’s nest with six eggs, and three Pheasant’s 
eggs as well, found by a reliable observer on the margin of one of 
the Broads (Bird). 

13th.—N., 2, stormy. Twelve Black Terns on Breydon Broad 
(Jary). 

14th.—N., 4. Four Cormorants at Hickling. 

15th.—N.N.W., 5. A good flock of Black Terns at Wells 
(p. u., Cringle). 

16th.—Blue-throated Warbler at Potter Heigham (M. Bird). 

17th. —Fifteen Black Terns on Breydon Broad (Jary). 

24th.—A small boy found a nest of three eggs at Sculthorpe, 
near Fakenham, which are apparently those of the Marsh- 
Warbler (Acrocephalus palustris). The nest was on the bog, on 
the side of one of the big tussocks which grow to the height of 
about two feet. The boy brought the eggs to Mr. A. P. Macklin, 
by whom the photograph of them was taken. Mr. Macklin has 
compared them with continental eggs of A. palustris, and finds 
that they agree both in ground tint and markings (cf. illustra- 
tion on opposite page). 

29th.—An Osprey seen by Mr. H. Buxton on Fritton Lake, 
and on the same day two were seen on Hickling Broad (Bird) ; 
fortunately none of them were shot. 

31st.—A Swallow which is building in our oemeaes Wus 
to-day rounding the inside of its nest with its breast, after laying 
on several good beakfuls of mud. 


ORNITHOLOGICAL REPORT FOR NORFOLK. 129 


JUNE. 

2nd.—Grasshopper-Warbler hatched (Bird), about the usual 
time. A pinioned Teal at Keswick has six eggs in the grass, 
which she carefully covers up with down when she leaves them 
(Knight). 
_ 4th.—Young Cuckoo in a Reed-Bunting’s nest, two whole eggs 
and one broken one lying outside (I. Barclay). During this 
week a pair of Bitterns were flushed at Ranworth, as I learn 
from Mr. 8. H. Long, who adds that one of them remained a 
considerable time. 


Kees or THE MarsH- WARBLER. 


6th.—A duck Shoveler leading seven young ones on Hoveton 
Broad (Barclay), and the following day, in a burrow at Wells, 
a Sheld-Duck’s nest} containing two rotten eggs and several 
recently hatched-out shells. -The old birds were in a creek not 
far off, but we did not find the young ones. This Duck has 
been steadily increasing from Wells to King’s Lynn during late 
years. 
© 8th.—Visited the Tern settlement at Wells with Mr. Hamond, 
which by his care and that of Lord Leicester has been for some 
years well protected. We found plenty of eggs, one nestt on the 
shore containing two Common Tern’s eggs and a Ringed Plover’s 


130 THE ZO00LOGIST. 


egg, as shown in Mr. Philip Hamonda’s photograph. Mr. Hamond 
thinks there are not half as many Lesser Terns breeding here as 
at Blakeney, but more Common Terns. Mr. Napier thinks the 
latter have decreased at Wells, because during the last few 
seasons so many young ones of the first hatch have perished 
owing to inclement weather. I cannot hazard a guess as to 
how many nests there were, but Mr. Hamond counted one 
hundred and seventy on the beach (cf. illustration on opposite 
page). 

10th.—Bearded Tit’s nest with five young ones at Hoveton 
(Barclay). 

1ith.—Mr. R. Vincent, who is familiar with all our Broad- 
land birds, writes to the Rev. M. C. Bird of his having seen a 
flock of about twenty Sand-Grouse on this day, “‘ chattering as 
they flew over him.” [Whether or not this identification was 
correct, there seems no doubt that six were seen in Hast Lothian 
at the end of May (‘ Field,’ June 2nd, 1906). In July some more 
were reported to Mr. T. W. Nelson in Yorkshire, and two in 
Holland, on August 23rd at Scheveningen, to Mr. Blaauw, but 
in neither case were any killed. The loud ‘ kutt-kutt”’ of Sand- 
Grouse as they flyin is sure to attract attention, the only similar 
note—and that hardly a comparable one—being the “teerp, 
teerp’’ of a flock of Bee-eaters. | 

14th.—Expedition of the Naturalists’ Society to Merton and 
Thompson Lake, where the members saw about twelve Tufted 
Ducks,t evidently breeding. 

15th. —Four Grey Plovers, one of them in fine summer 
plumage, seen at Wells by Mr. Philip Hamond. 

17th.—Ten Sand-Grouse seen by Mr. D. Annison at Somer- 
ton, as [ am informed by Mr. Bird, probably a part of the same 
flock seen on the 11th; and Mr. Annison, being familiar with 
them in 1888, was qualified to identify them again. A Hooded 
Crow seen by Mr. Patterson, and a few days afterwards (20th) 
no fewer than ten were seen on Yarmouth north denes by Mr. 
J. K. Knights. 

18th.—Black Tern on Breydon Broad (Jary). 

21st.—Another Grey Plover at Morston (P. Hamond), and 
many Sheld-Ducks and several Turnstones. 

24th.—Oystercatcher’s nest at Blakeney, threeeggs, examined 


ORNITHOLOGICAL REPORT FOR NORFOLK. 131 


by the Duchess of Bedford and Mr. Hamond, the latter of whom 
also identified three Arctic Terns. It is some years since I have 
heard of an Oystercatcher’s nest on the north side of the ‘‘ Bar.” 
A pair of Greenshanks also remained there during a part of this 
month. 

JULY. 

[5th.—The ‘‘ Pagets’ Pochard,” which was taken at Saham in 
1897, and which has been several times mentioned in these 
pages, died from eating some bread which had been doctored 
with ‘‘Vims” poison for rats. Every year it changed its 
plumage with great regularity, but it has unfortunately died in 


Eaces OF THE ComMOoN TERN AND RINGED PLOVER. 


moult, when the characters of its hybridism were not shown at 
their best. | 

A1st.—S.,4. About 5 p.m. a Pelican was seen by the watcher 
on Breydon Broad, slowly winging its way from the sea. It was 
soon observed by Mr. Patterson, who made a sketch of it dozing at 
the edge of Duffell’s Drain (cf. fig. p. 132). Four hours after arrival 
it was joined by a Spoonbill, both of them probably impelled by the 
same wind. It may have escaped from somewhere (cf. Zool. 1906, 
p. 198), but notices in ‘The Zoologist’ and ‘ Field’ failed to find an 
owner ; and it had not been turned out on the lakes at Woburn, 
although I understand from the Duchess of Bedford that the 
Duke has on previous occasions lost two or three. It took flight 


132 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


the next morning, about 9.30 a.m., in an easterly direction, and 
four days afterwards was to be seen at Whitstable (R. M. Pres- 
land, cf. Zool. 1906, p. 481), where, in spite of being once or 


PELICAN ON BrREYDON BROAD. 


twice shot at, it remained in safety until Nov. 20th, if not longer, 
as I learn from Mr. S. Saunders. 
27th.—Black Tern on Hoveton (Barclay) ; adult in change. 
28th.—Five Common Sandpipers and two Tufted Ducks seen 
on Hoveton Broad by F. H. Barclay. 


Avaust. 


1st.—A Great Reed-Warbler (Acrocephalus turdoides) seen at 
Horning by Mr. Bird. As it was only fifteen yards away, and a 
good view was obtained of it clinging to some reed, with tail and 
wings half-spread, he can hardly have been mistaken. Mr. Bird 
also believes he saw a pair on the River Bure in July, 1886, 
about a mile from where this year’s bird was seen. But even 
this is probably not its first occurrence in Norfolk (cf. Saunders’s 
‘Manual of British Birds,’ ed. i. p. 75). As it is a fairly com- 
mon visitor in summer to the North of France, it is singular 
that it has not been identified more often in England. 

2nd.—A young Great Crested Grebe drowned in a tunnel-net, 
into which it had squeezed itself through a hole not more than 
three inches in diameter (Barclay). The following temperatures 


ORNITHOLOGICAL REPORT FOR NORFOLK. 133 


of Grebes’ nests were taken this summer by Mr. Barclay :—First 
nest (three eggs): air temperature, 59°; water temperature, 61°; 
nest temperature, 65°5°. Second nest: air temperature, 58°; 
water temperature, 61°; nest temperature, 62°. 

8th.—Purple Heron} (immature) shot at Barton, where there 
is a broad (EH. C. Saunders). It proved to be a male. 

9th.—Garganeyt (male) shot at Hoveton Broad (Barclay). 

15th.—W. to 8.W., 4. Spoonbill on Breydon; seen again 
on the 17th, 18th, and 20th (Patterson). This or another was 
subsequently shot at Aldeburgh, in Suffolk, where I learn from 
Mr. Clarke of five being seen (D. U.). 

20th.—A Flamingo, with a fractured leg but perfect wings, 
captured near Dereham, was kept alive for a few days by 
Mr. Dillistone (W. G. Clarke). 

%1st. — Little Gull and Black Tern on Breydon Broad 
(Wary). 

22nd.—Saw a Bearded Tit in its peculiar first plumage, and 
heard several others, which my companion imitated, as they will 
sometimes answer to a call. 

23rd.— Another Flamingo, which, as already announced 
(Zool. 1906, p. 393), had been previously seen in Suffolk, shot 
on Morston sands. A third was reported later in the ‘ Aldeburgh 
Times’ on the Woodbridge River, and yet another on the coast 
of Holland, where also one was shot in November (‘ Field,’ 
Dec. 15th, 1906). It is possible that all these had escaped from 
the lakes at Woburn, where the Duchess of Bedford informs 
me the Duke turned out some full-winged Flamingoes during 
the summer, which the great heat at the end of August may 
have driven to the coast. One, if not more, was known to have 
flown away from Woburn. Baron van Schauburg also informs 
me of one having been lost from Lady Dunleath’s park in 
Ireland. If turned-out birds were ringed on the leg, with the 
owner’s initials stamped on the ring, their identity would be, 
comparatively, easily established. White metal interlocking 
rings can be made of any size to fit birds’ legs. 

30th.—Thousands of birds of all sorts on Breydon Broad, but 
the close-time ends to-morrow (Jary), when there will be plenty 
of gunners after them. 


134 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


SEPTEMBER. 
(The rainfall during September was only 1°15 in.) 


1st.—Therm. 88'4°. Grey-headed Wagtail at Blakeney (H. 
Pashley). 

2nd.—Six Black Terns on the Broads (R. Gurney), and two 
on the coast (A. Ritchie). 

3rd.—§., 2. A little flock of four Glossy Ibises seen on 
Breydon Broad were, Mr. Patterson assures me, well identified. 
There must be some connection between their advent and that of 
the thirteen Red-crested Pochards on the 4th, and the great heat- 
wave we are having—93° was registered to-day by Mr. A. W. 
Preston on a screened thermometer, and 92°2° yesterday. These 
Ibises were soon disposed of, for I presume they are the same 
which were shot in three different places in Ireland and one in 
Sussex shortly afterwards. Another was also killed in Devon- 
shire (ante, p. 21). 

4th.—N.W., 4. Immediately following the party of Ibises— 
and impelled no doubt by the same cause—came a misguided 
flock of thirteen Red-crested Pochards, which settled on Breydon 
Broad (Zool. 1906, p. 394), never to return. Hightt were taken 
to Mr. EK. Saunders, who, from the worn state of their tails, and 
their abraded plumage (particularly on the breast and lower 
parts), justly formed the opinion that they were all old birds. They 
certainly are in complete eclipse of plumage, even the drakes 
being quite dun-coloured all over, but with darker heads. — 

8th.—As announced in the ‘Field,’ another pair of Red- 
crested Pochards met their fate on our principal Broad; the 
remnant of the flock already mentioned. 

12th.—S.EH., 1. A second pair of Red-crested Pochards on 
the same Broad as the last, but, more fortunate than the pair 
on the 8th, they escaped. 

18th.—N.W. [E.N.E., 6, at Yarmouth.] Mr. Pashley con- 
siders that the first of those ‘‘rushes”’ of small birds which 
come to our coast almost annually commenced with the northerly 
gale on this day. As usual, the tide of little migrants ran 
strongest on that portion of Norfolk which lies between Wells 
and Sheringham, where more migrants make land than probably 
in any other place in England. 


ORNITHOLOGICAL REPORT FOR NORFOLK. 135 


19th. — E.N.H., 5. The passage of birds continuing, the 
following species were among those recognized by my corre- 
spondents, Mr. HE. C. Arnold, Mr. Power, and Mr. Napier, who, I 
may say in passing, seldom use the gun where binoculars will 
serve for identification :—Lesser Whitethroats, Pied Flycatcher 
(one), Red-backed Shrike (one), Tree-Pipit, Wryneck, Red-breasted 
Flycatchers (two young birds), Blackeap (one female), Garden- 
Warbler, Sedge-Warbler, Goldcrest, Bramblings (three), Snow- 
Bunting, Reed-Buntings, Redwings (five), Wheatears (many), 
Redstarts, Bluethroats (immature and adults in change). Mr. 
Arnold, who was watching the movement from a boat at the 
mouth of the Glaven, never remembers seeing so many small 
birds cross the estuary, most of them being Wheatears, and it 
seems that they were moving in a south-easterly direction. 

20th.—N.K., 5. The passage continuing, many Redstarts, 
three Bluethroats (Power), a Redwing, and one immature Red- 
breasted Flycatcher —a species which is now an almost annual 
visitor—were among the birds recognized. Mr. Arnold met 
with a Little Gull, which he describes as a very young one, and 
an immature Buffon’s Skua was caught on the River Yare 
(Lowne). [It may be mentioned that on this day Mr. Eagle 
Clarke saw several Red-breasted Flycatchers at Fair Island 
(cf. Ann. Scott. Nat. Hist. 1906, p. 236), and that in North 
Lincolnshire a Bufi-breasted Sandpiper was shot by Mr. Caton 
Haigh. | 

22nd.—Ring-Ouzel at Northrepps, Solitary Snipe at Briston, 
Buffon’s Skua at Potter Heigham (Lowne). [Rustic Bunting 
seen in Lincolnshire by Mr. Whitaker (cf. Zool. 1906, p. 392). ] 
During the next few days two Dotterel and a Greater Spotted 
Woodpecker were reported (EK. Saunders), as well as a Common 
Buzzard at Heacham (R. Clarke), a Honey-Buzzard at Stratton 
Strawless, and two Harriers (?) at Yarmouth. Also a Fork- 
tailed Petrel. 

29th.—N.W., 3. A young Gannet picked up by a railway 
porter on the line at Thursford, which is eight miles from the 
sea. It was very thin when I received it, but with careful feed- 
ing was brought round, though an injured wing, which seemed 
to have received a blow, never recovered its normal position. 


136 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


OcTOBER. 


(A fine month ; temperature exceeding 60° on eighteen days, 
A. Preston.) 


2nd.—S.W., 4, raining. Observed a good many Thrushes, 
Starlings, Sky-Larks, &c., moving against the wind. The plain- 
tive wails of a pair of Red-throated Divers were quite audible 
from the shore, and while watching them a Buzzard passed 
with a flock of some seventy Rooks, with which it had joined 
company. 

23rd.—S.H., 3. Received from Mr. Patterson a Red-throated 
Diver,t which retained quite a third of its red-neck patch, and a 
few days afterwards (30th) he showed me another which had 
moulted every primary and secondary quill in its wings, so that 
for two or three weeks it must have been much at the mercy of 
the tide. A Red-crested Pochard,t a male assuming its adult 
plumage, shot at Potter Heigham (EK. Saunders). 

24th.—Four Pink-footed Geese shot by Mr. Hamond. 

25th. — Thousands of Fieldfares coming in at Wells (P. 
Hamonda). 

29th.—N.W. to W.S.W.,5. At 10 p.m. a Woodcock passed 
through Howard Street, Yarmouth, and settled on one of the 
Town Hall windows, being ultimately captured (B. Dye). Many 
migrants watched arriving (Ramm). 

30th.—S., 6. Mr. Pashley was informed by shooters of 
their seeing from one hundred and fifty to two hundred Black- 
birds (which were unable to make headway against the gale 
which was blowing) round or near to an old railway carriage 
which had been placed for shelter about two hundred yards from 
the sea. 

NovEMBER. 


Qnd.—Little Gull at Cley, and a very late Wheatear ; also 
some Shore-Larks and Lapland Buntings (Pashley). 

3rd.— Two Gadwall and a Golden-eye shot on Hickling 
Broad. 

5th.—Mr. R. Gurney shot a drake Velvet Scoter at Hickling, 
as well as some Scaup, Shovelers, Pochard, Wigeon, and Mallard. 
Seven more Scoters were seen (Nudd). 

7th.—A Little Grebe picked up in St. Swithin’s Alley, which 


ORNITHOLOGICAL REPORT FOR NORFOLK. 137 


is in a crowded part of Norwich (T. E. Gunn). These little 
birds have been more plentiful than usual; a day or two ago 
there was one in a garden-pond at Keswick, and close to a large 
house. 

8th.—Eared Grebe on Breydon Broad (J. Knights). 

9th.—A Great Crested Grebet caught on a small pond at 
Siderstrand (S. Hoare): very thin, the stomach packed with its 
own feathers, which were apparently the only thing it had had 
to eat for some time. 

10th.—Mr. Pashley received a Little Gull. 

19th.—Little Gull at Yarmouth (Dye), the fifth this autumn— 
perhaps from Denmark, where they breed. 

20th.—Mr. R. Gurney saw a Goosander and a Glaucous Gull 
on Hickling Broad. 

23rd.—Three Bean-Geese out of five shot by Mr. F. Clarke 
(Dye). 

24th.—A young Whooper shot at Hickling by Mr. R. Gurney 
(1D we))é 

DECEMBER. 

2nd.—A herd of eleven Whooper Swans seen on Hickling 
Broad by the keeper (Bird). 

3rd.—W., 5. A great passage of Bramblings at Holkam, 
near the sea, where thousands mingled with other small birds, 
watched coming in by Mr. A. J. Napier, who informs me that 
they remained in Lord Leicester’s park for several days. The 
direction and force of the wind-—“‘ west, 5”’-—which they had 
been flying against probably accounted for their not having 
made land before daybreak. About this time or soon afterwards 
considerable flocks were reported at Rollesby, St. Faith’s, Han- 
worth, and Wroxham. We have not had what may be called 
‘a, Brambling year” for some time. 

24th.—A very sharp frost set in. Hundreds of wildfowl 
reported by the Yarmouth naturalists to be going south. 

26th.—Heavy snow fell during the night, and by 12 a.m. it 
was thirteen to fifteen inches deep on the level, exceeding, in the 
opinion of Mr. A. W. Preston, who has studied meteorology for 
many years, all snowstorms since January, 1881. 

27th.—Frost very sharp; thermometer in my garden down 


to ten degrees. The Rooks—poor things—very hard pressed, 
Zool. 4th ser. vol. XI., Aprel, 1907. M 


138 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


even driven to eating a dead sheep, which, with the help of one 
or two Grey Crows, they reduced to a skeleton. A general move- 
ment of starving Redwings, Sky-Larks, and other land-birds 
reported by Mr. Patterson and Mr. Knights to be taking place 
to the shore, where the frost is much less penetrating. 

28th.—H fects of the severe Frost and Snow.—To-day, between 
the edge of the snow and low-water mark, troops of birds were 
seen by Mr. Patterson passing incessantly, consisting of Field- 
fares, Blackbirds, Redwings, Thrushes, Sky-Larks, Rooks, Tit- 
Larks, Linnets, Twites, and even Goldfinches; but I did not 
hear of any Wood-Larks. So close were the flocks, writes Mr. 
Patterson, that no sooner had one lot passed than another was 
in sight. Hour after hour, some of them almost within arm’s 
length, they struggled on silent and weak for want of food. It 
would be interesting to know what became of all this host— 
whether they crossed the mouth of the Thames, and whether 
after that they attempted the English Channel, or were they 
among the thousands seen on the coast of Sussex (‘ Field,’ 
Jan. 5th, 1907). One effect of this severe weather was to bring 
us a larger number of Whooper Swans than Norfolk has had for 
sixteen years, but they went almost as rapidly as they came. 
One flock which passed over our largest Broad is said to have 
numbered one hundred and fifty Swans, and about the same 
quantity were seen at Blakeney (Upcher). Probably they were 
the same, and it may have been the breaking up of this large 
herd which accounted for five at Northrepps, five at Ingham, 
seven at Lowestoft (H. Bunn), thirteen at Surlingham, twenty- 
five at Calthorpe (R. Gurney), twenty-five at Caister (Knights), 
sixty at Breydon (Patterson), thirty-four at Fritton (H. Buxton), 
and twenty at Hoveton. No Bewick’s Swans were shot, but I 
learn from Mr. Bird that at least one flock belonged to this 
species. In three days’ time all these Wild Swans had passed 
on, and, as a matter of fact, I believe the greater part of them 
did not remain in Norfolk forty-eight hours. 

Various other wildfowl of sorts were seen, including several 
Geese and some good drake Golden-eyes, but between the frost 
and the gunners they had a hard time of it. Mr. Arthur 
Patterson reckons that not less than three thousand hungry 
Coots were feeding on the roots of Zostera marina on Breydon 


ORNITHOLOGICAL REPORT FOR NORFOLK. 139 


Broad, which were a great attraction to the shooters; they kept 
much in line, and made quite an audible noise in tearing it up. 
One Coott+ found its way to Keswick, and a Dunlint was driven 
inland to Ranworth (Long). The poor Redwings were in great 
straits, and, I am afraid, Barn-Owls suffered ; Sky-Larks fed on 
cabbages (Patterson), and Kingfishers moped on stakes or died of 
starvation. A Bittern was caught by a dog, but humanely re- 
leased (Davies). Near Fakenham a Heron was seen holding 
down a live rabbit, and pecking at its back. 

It appears (from the notes I received from Mr. EK. C. Saunders 
and Mr. Patterson) that this Siberian weather had a disastrous 
effect upon the Great Crested Grebes, many of which, frozen out 
of the Broads, betook themselves to the tidal water of Breydon, 
where Mr. Patterson speaks of the falling tide leaving one in a 
hole on the ice, from which it could neither dive nor fly away. 
Another was knocked over with an oar, and another found dead 
on Horsey Warren (Saunders). One birdstuffer in Yarmouth 
had no fewer than eighteen brought to him! 


VARIETIES. 


January 9th.—Pied Blackbird at Keswick. 

February 8rd.—Pied Blackbird at Keswick. 12th. Hedge- 
Accentor with a mealy tail.+ 

March 2nd.—Hedge-Accentor with white under parts at Over- 
strand (Davy). Brambling with black throat (Lowne). 

September 3rd.—Partridge, grey variety, at Catfield (M. Bird). 

October.—Pied French Partridge at Brandon (Gunn). 

December 7th.—Another pied French Partridge shot near 
Brandon, and a third seen (Gunn). 11th. Cream-coloured Lap- 
wing at Haton (Gunn). 24th. Fawn-coloured Lapwing (Lowne). 


Taothrix lutea.—With reference to an example of Liothrix 
lutea, recorded on the coast in November, 19038 (Zool. 1904, 
p- 215), the Duchess of Bedford informs me that about that time 
large numbers were turned out at Woburn, and this was probably 
one of them; several were seen about the fields at Woburn a 
year or eighteen months after being turned out. 


M 2 


140 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


SOME FISH NOTES FROM THE NORTH DEVON 
COAST. 


By Bruce F. Cumminas. 


I nave lately kept a record of any interesting fish that are 
caught from time to time off this coast, and have attempted to 
grasp the main facts of the distribution of fish in the Bristol 
Channel, as far as possible, from the catches which are landed 
on our shore at Clovelly, Ilfracombe, and Appledore, and else- 
where. 

It seems that the fishing industry, as a whole, is not as good 
as if used to be, and the boats employed are not of a size suffi- 
ciently large for remaining at sea for any length of time, or 
weathering any of those sudden storms that so often arise in the 
Channel, and frequently prove disastrous to small craft unpre- 
pared for them. 

The Herring gets scarcer every year, and during the season 
just ended (1906) fishermen have found it hard to get a living at 
all. Mackerel-fishing also is on the wane; the majority of the 
fish caught of this species and of the Herring are landed at 
Clovelly. Salmon, Bass, and Grey Mullet are in plenty at times 
in the River Taw, but of late years fewer Salmon seem to have 
been netted by the Barnstaple fishermen than were formerly. 

The rocky nature of our coast no doubt accounts for the large 
numbers of Conger and Skate. One day, last autumn, off Lyn- 
mouth, on a single spiller, twenty-four Conger and nine Skate 
were taken, one of the Congers reaching a length of 77 in. Cod, 
Ling, Sea-Bream, Pollack, Plaice, and Whiting are among our 
characteristic fish. 

Hake, Haddock, and the Red Mullet (var. swrmuletus) are 
rare, and I do not think Mullus barbatus has ever occurred here. 
It is said that the steam-trawlers from Wales catch them up 
before they reach us, although the Haddock appears to be gene- 
rally rare off the Devonshire coasts. 

Picked Dogfish, Small Spotted Dogs, John Doreys, Brill, 


FISH NOTES FROM NORTH DEVON COAST. 141 


Flounders, Red and Grey Gurnard, and Soles are all common. 
Soles are sometimes taken in some numbers in the Taw river. 

A Turbot (Rhombus maximus) taken in South Devon off Berry 
Head weighed 23 lb., and realized £1 9s. It is very rarely seen 
in North Devon. In 1905 one hundred and ninety-three Sharks 
were caught in Bideford Bay by the river fishermen within two 
or three days. One—carted to Barnstaple—was a small speci- 
men of the Blue Shark (Carcharias glaucus). 

A Torpedo Electric Ray (Torpedo hebetans), weighing nearly 
a hundredweight, and about five feet in length, was found 
stranded on the banks of the River Taw, near Barnstaple, on 
June 8th last year. It was in an advanced stage of decomposi- 
tion, but was carried to Barnstaple and exhibited. Shortly 
after another was found floating dead on the water, also in our 
river, making the third captured here in three years, the one 
recorded in ‘The Zoologist’ (1905, p. 112) being the first. All 
three were picked up dead several miles from the sea. Possibly 
it was the foul water that had a fatal effect on them. It is con- 
sidered a rare fish at Clovelly, where it is known as the ‘‘ Numb- 
fish.”’ 

I saw an immense specimen of the Sea-Angler (Lophius 
piscatorius) a year or so ago, lying in a hand-cart at Teignmouth. 
It is often taken at Clovelly. In June, 1906, one was caught 
near the Salmon-fishing weir at Lynmouth. In the following 
July a man landed, with a boat-hook, a small one about 13 ft. 
long, which was swimming just below the surface in our river, 
above Barnstaple. The man called it a ‘‘ Bellows” fish, and 
said he had never seen one so far up the river before. It was 
very vicious, and a large rope placed in front of its nose was 
promptly seized by the teeth, and it allowed itself to be lifted off 
the ground rather than release its hold. 

The Sunfish (Orthagoriscus mola) is frequent. Several seen 
in the little harbour of Clovelly in the summer of 1905. A large 
specimen was taken at Ilfracombe last year by a fisherman, who 
passed a rope under its big body, and so hauled it aboard. An- 
other was captured in the same year at Lynmouth with a boat- 
hook. 

Montagu’s Blenny (Blennius galerita) and the Shanny (B. 
pholis) are common among the rock-pools at Santon. 


142 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


_ In the summer of 1906 a Sturgeon (Acipenser sturio), weigh- 

ing 124 lb., was caught at Clovelly, and also a Porbeagle Shark 
(Lamna cornubica), locally known as the ‘‘ Bottle-nosed Shark,”’ 
about 6 ft. long, in the Mackerel-nets. Three more of this 
species were brought ashore at Ilfracombe during October, and 
which were taken in the Herring-nets. The first measured 5 ft. 
3-in., the second considerably smaller, while the third and 
largest was 8 ft. 2 in., being 3 ft. 11 in. around the girth. This 
monster played havoc with the nets. One man remarked that 
had they caught it in August, when Ilfracombe is full of visitors, 
they would have earned more money by turning showmen than 
by Herring-fishing all the winter ! 

A small specimen of the Sting Ray (Zygon pastinaca) 
occurred at Ilfracombe last year. I did not see it. A small 
Swordfish also is said to have been caught at Lynmouth. It is 
not safe, however, to accept the latter as a record, although it is 
probably correct. 

The Broad-nosed Pipefish (Siphonostoma typhle) is common 
in the weedy parts of the Barnstaple river. 

At Teignmouth, in South Devon, two Fox-Sharks (Alopecias 
vulpes) were taken in the Sprat-nets and brought ashore during 
the early part of November. 

During the early part of 1905 a Skipper (Scombresox saurus) 
was captured in the River Taw, and shown in the fishmonger’s 
shop at Barnstaple. It is thcught to be the first specimen ever 
captured here, at least in the river. 

The Garfish (Belone vulgaris) is taken in the Mackerel-nets 
more or less frequently every season. 


( 148 -) 


SPECIES, SUBSPECIES, &c. 
By J. A. Harviz-Brown, F.R.S.E., F.Z.S. 


THERE can be no great harm—and there is assuredly a good 
deal of usefulness—in all this new subdivision of species into 
subspecies, forms, varieties, or geographical races by means of 
trinomial extensions. It has been done before, and no doubt 
will be done again and again. But it ought to be remembered 
that the greatest Innovator—Brehm—many years ago did the 
same for species binomially, and described as new to Hurope 
some two hundred and odd ‘‘ species,’ but of which at the 
present time—a.p. 1907—scarcely a dozen are now recognized. 
In those days the knowledge of the plumages and simple seasonal 
changes even were not known, to say nothing of ages, nothing of 
geographical races, and nothing of the opportunities then, as. 
compared with now; but surely that ought to have afforded 
Brehm more cause for caution than the vast stores of cabineted 
specimens in our museums afford to more recent investigators. 
The practice is quite in keeping with what we know of Dar- 
winian ‘‘ evolution,” ‘‘ survival of the fittest,’ ‘‘ variation,” &c., 
and of the teachings of Wallace in his ‘ Distribution of Animals,’ 
and what we possess from many other recent authorities. But the 
question still—it seems to me—forces itself to the front place in 
all such considerations, vz.—Do we, with all our great series of 
specimens—hundreds and thousands of specimens of subjects 
from all parts of the world—do we yet possess en all-sufficiency 
of material? In even our largest collections, for instance, do 
we find we have a sufficient series of specimens of subjects from 
all parts of the world, male and female “‘ after their kind,” and 
of every age from nesting, through all the moults, to maturity, 
and again on the down-grade, from maturity to old age and 
decrepitude? I ask for information. Well, if we do possess 
such treasures, why is it that there is no great general work 
which thoroughly treats of all these (innumerable?) stages of 


144 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


youth, growth, maturity, and decline, or which give us satis- 
factory coloured plates of the same? If we do not possess these 
in all-sufficiency, and in large enough series at every inter- 
mediate stage, from every locality whence they can be obtained, 
why, then, should synonymy be further burdened, as it was 
burdened on the broader basis of species by Brehm ? It is true 
we have many great works on British and Kuropean, American 
and other lands—birds, for instance—and it is true that in some 
of these we have adult males and females figured, and in some the 
“young in down” of Ducks and Waders. And it is true also we 
have many illustrations of certain species in some one or more of 
their immature plumages; but in how many—or-any—of these 
great and splendid works has any attempt been made to efficiently 
illustrate a full succession of such plumages? Where, indeed, 
have any of such as have been given appeared, except as ‘‘ taking 
a back seat,” so to speak? Why have we never had presented* 
those various stages of plumage of all localities, seasons, ages, 
&¢., in intelligible foregrounds ? Is it because the materials are 
still awanting in sufficient quantities to make sure? It would 
almost seem so, judging from the fragmentary records which are 
published. It seems to me that there are other questions, too— 
yet undetermined—which require further time and experience. 
Only a few of these need mention in order to show that some 
initiatory investigations are still required before—even with all 
the great collections in the hands of specialists—risks should be 
run in multiplication of synonyms and trinomials. 

What do we yet know—or rather, what do we not yet know— 
about the extent and power of flight of migrants under scores of 
varying circumstances? What yet remains for us to learn of 
how far ‘‘ birds of the year’’ migrate, and how far succeeding 
generations of birds of maturer years migrate? Do birds of 
certain ages migrate at all, and, if so, how far? Some we do 
know of, but surely not all; and does any collection display 
series of all ages from all localities of even our own British 
summer migrants? Hven ‘that collection may not yet vaunt 
completeness ‘‘all along the line’’—in all the stages of change 


* IT do not speak of a few species here and there, but of the far more 
general treatment. 


SPECIES, SUBSPECIES, éc. \ 145 


in plumages, or even growth of pinions!—and other equally 
strange developments, due to ages and sex, and climate and 
surroundings. 


There are other phases of this question of congested synonymy 
which require considering, but I do not intend to discuss these 
here, except to add: that, at least, those who use this method to 
distinguish races, ought, I humbly think, to designate them by 
a geographical distinguishing name, and not by nonsense names ; 
and ought to be also assured that these geographical names 
truly depict their distribution at all seasons, and during the 
whole phenomena of migrations and change of localities at 
different seasons—their true geographical range, in fact—or 
otherwise their geographical range during their nesting seasons 
where such differ from Linnean types. 


146 THE ZOOLOGIST, 


SOME COMMON INDIAN BIRDS. 


By Gorpon DALGLUIESsH. 


THE new arrival in India cannot help being struck by the 
number of different birds that are to be seen in an ordinary 
garden, and even in the large cities and towns of the Kast bird- 
life is extraordinarily abundant. Though not nearly so many 
song-birds as one meets with in England, yet there are some 
which we can class as first-rate musicians, and others whose 
notes are at least striking and quaint. A pleasing feature with 
regard to a number of Indian birds is their remarkable tameness. 
and the reasons for this are not far to seek—one being that the 
‘‘mild Hindoo”’ is very much averse to taking life, and natives 
with guns are few; another being that one is so accustomed out 
there to see birds of brilliant plumage, that this does not cause a 
sensation like in England, where, if a beautiful bird is seen-—as, 
for instance, an Oriole or Roller—every gun in the place is out 
after it. 

In the following paper I propose to give a short account of 
some of the common birds one meets with in an up-country 
garden. The nomenclature is that of Messrs. Blanford and 
Oates in the ‘ Fauna of British India—Birds,’ vols. i.—-iv. 


Houss-Crow (Corvus splendens).—The old saying that ‘‘ fami- 
liarity breeds contempt” is certainly true with regard to the 
Crow, for he is perhaps the most familiar of all Indian birds, 
from the large towns and railway stations right out into the 
heart of the country. Contempt for the whole human race he 
certainly has, and the only thing he stands in awe of at all isa 
gun, and at the sight of this he is off at once; and, as they say 
of the Rook in England, he seems to smell powder. Nothing in 
the way of food comes amiss to him, from dainty tit-bits from the 
sahib’s table in the verandah down to the veriest filth and garbage 
of the bazaar. People accustomed to his nasty thieving and 
sneaking ways are apt to grudge him his scientific name of 
splendens, but in spite of his bad character it must be admitted 
that the name is an appropriate one. His whole appearance 


SOME COMMON INDIAN BIRDS. 147 


reminds one very much of the Jackdaw, but his altogether 
heavier build and dark eyes distinguish him from that bird. 
His soft and glossy plumage of purple and green reflections, 
erey neck, and black cap, all tend to make him a beautiful bird. 
The House-Crow breeds from April to July, and, as well as 
having to rear its own brood, it often has in addition to bring up 
the young of the Koél (Hudynamis honorata), a parasitic Cuckoo 
that deposits its egg in the Crow’s nest. The Crow is very fond 
of sipping the juice out of the pots of toddy, or native liquor, and 
occasionally becomes a victim to intemperance, and in this state 
falls into the hands of his most dreaded enemy, man, who is not 
slow to take advantage of the bird’s helpless condition, and pay 
it out for old scores. One poor bird was once found by my people 
which had the lower mandible cut off by some rascally native, 
and it was hand-fed for some time on sopped bread. 

Common Inpian Maepre (Dendrocitta rufa).—Though not such 
a bold and cunning thief as its relative the Crow, the Magpie is 
not above petty larceny and murder. Dr. Jerdon tells of one 
which used to visit daily a cage of small birds he had in his 
verandah. It at first only fed on the seed given to the birds, but 
apparently tiring of this fed on the birds themselves, and was 
for this misdeed promptly executed. I myself have often watched 
it feeding on callow nestlings, and it is also very partial to garden 
produce, such as peas, beans, and fruit of all kinds; but its chief 
diet is the eggs of numerous small birds. Unlike our English 
Magpie, the Indian bird seldom descends to the ground, but con- 
fines its movements to the leafy foliage of trees, and is far oftener 
heard than seen, its note sounding like ‘‘ kook a lee.” Unlike the 
English bird also, it makes no dome to its nest, though fond of 
building in similar situations, such as thorny trees and shrubs. 

Common Mynau (Acridotheres tristis).—I can never understand 
why Linneus gave the specific name of tristis to this bird, as it 
is quite a libel on the bird’s whole nature, for, far from being sad 
or melancholy, it is one of the most active and cheerful of our 
Indian birds. It is very likely Linneus’s description might have 
been taken from a stuffed specimen, and if such was the case 
then perhaps the bird as he saw it might well have looked sad 
and melancholy. The generic name Acridotheres, 1. e. ‘‘ grass- 
hopper-catcher,” is much more appropriate, as the bird consumes 


148 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


vast numbers of these insect pests. When the indigo is being 
_ brought into the vats the whole plant swarms with insects of all 
sorts and sizes, which delight the heart of the entomologist and 
the Mynah, and on these occasions both are in their glory. With 
stately and sidelong step the Mynah will pick the insects up at 
one’s very feet, and, indeed, at times such as these it is remark- 
ably tame, hardly troubling to get out of one’s way. Despite its 
usefulness in destroying insects, the Mynah will at times commit 
sad havoc among the crops when the grain is ripe, and is only 
induced to leave by the shouts of numerous small and scantily 
clothed boys posted on a platform of grass and bamboos, known 
as a “‘ machan,”’ whose duty it is from sunrise to sunset to drive 
the Mynahs and other grain-eating birds from their crops. Hven 
the veriest novice in ornithology can see at a glance that the 
Mynah is a thorough Starling. In its very actions, voice, and 
mode of nesting it closely resembles that bird, and, like it, lays 
pretty blue eggs of the regular Starling type. Nearly the whole 
of the Indian Empire is invaded by the Mynah, from Kashmir 
to Mergui, and it is found in the hills at moderate elevations. 

Among other Indian forms which are more or less familiar 
there is the Bank Mynah (A. ginginianus), closely allied to the 
present bird; the Jungle Mynah (#thiopsar fuscus) ; the Grey- 
headed (Sturnia malabarica) and Black-headed Mynahs (Teme- 
nuchus pagadorum), the last two being small birds, much prized 
by natives as cage pets; and the beautiful Pied Mynah (Sturno- 
pastor contra), which in its form approaches very closely to the - 
true Starling, and builds in societies on pepul and other trees 
large and untidy nests. : 

InpIAN ORIOLE (Oriolus kundoo).—One of the most beautiful 
of all our Indian birds that enlivens the too often dull monotony 
of the surrounding scenery. Its soft liquid notes, though not 
exactly amounting to a song, are much more pleasing than many 
of the songs of singing birds. Both this bird and the Black- 
headed Oriole (O. melanocephalus) are known to Anglo-Indians as 
‘*mango birds,” the bright yellow plumage resembling the colour 
of the ripe mango fruit. Their beautifully suspended nests are 
made on the branches of sisso and pepul trees, from ten to thirty 
feet above the ground. Their food is fruit and insects, and they 
are never seen on the ground, but confine their attentions to the 


SOME COMMON INDIAN BIRDS. 149 


very tops of trees. A resident for many years in India told me 
she once saw a Golden Oriole and a Roller perched on a clump 
of “‘ morning glory,” a plant of the convolvulus family with deep 
blue flowers, and she said that the light blue of the Roller and 
the rich yellow of the Oriole contrasted beautifully with the dark 
blue flowers, and was a sight—the whole being enlivened with 
brilliant sunshine—not easily forgotten. The Golden Oriole 
does not bear confinement well, and ought never to be caged, 
unless, of course, to send to England, where it would no doubt 
be thought a great deal of. The Indian Oriole ranges over the 
whole of India, where in the north-west it meets with the true 
Golden Oriole (O. galbula), a bird that has nested in England, and 
would doubtless continue to do so if not molested. 

Buack Droneo or Kine-Crow (Dicrurus ater).—As soon as the 
faintest glimmer of dawn breaks through the eastern sky the 
sweet note of the Drongo is sure to be heard, as this is the 
earliest Indian bird to rise. The Drongo may well be called the 
most characteristic of our Indian birds, and the traveller is sure 
to see it everywhere, for a specimen is to be seen on every few 
yards of the telegraph-wire as one looks from the railway carriage 
window. I must confess to having a great liking for the King- 
Crow. Though by nature pugnaciously inclined, he is no coward, 
and, unlike the Crow, is honest in all his dealings, and will not 
hesitate to attack a bird much larger than himself—a bird even 
as big as a Kite—-and is a most devoted husband and father. The 
King-Crow is a somewhat solitary bird, and does not fraternise 
much with other species, and jealously guards the post of vantage 
he regards as his own, whether it be telegraph-wire, tree-stump, 
or bovine back—for he has a great partiality for perching on the 
backs of cattle. His diet is purely insectivorous, and his mode 
of catching his prey is Flycatcher-like. In aérial evolutions he 
excels, and his curious twisting flight is very pretty to watch. 
The Drongo is so closely mimicked by a species of parasitic 
Cuckoo (Surniculus lugubris) that it requires a practised eye to 
distinguish the two birds at a glance. This impostor, trading on 
its likeness to the King-Crow, deposits its egg in that bird’s nest. 
The King-Crow has a larger and handsomer relative, the Racket- 
tailed Drongo (Dissemurus paradiseus), which has its outer tail- 
feathers lengthened considerably into bare shafts feathered only 


150 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


at the tip. When I was in Darjeeling I heard from the natives 
wonderful accounts of a king or rajah bird, which all small birds 
were said to follow to pay it homage. One was eventually shot 
and brought to me, which turned out to be the above-mentioned 
bird. 

The Barbets are essentially birds of the tropics, occasionally 
ascending the hills to moderate elevations, and in their brilliant 
colouring, shape of their feet, and mode of nesting resemble 
Woodpeckers. Nearly all the Barbets of India are fruit-eaters, 
many of the African and South American forms being insecti- 
vorous. As soon as the really hot weather makes itself felt 
throughout the Indian plains the monotonous cry of the 
Crimson-breasted Barbet (Xantholema hematocephala), or, as 
it is better known to Anglo-Indians as ‘“‘ Coppersmith,” is heard 
almost without ceasing from morn to night. The notes sound 
like ‘‘tonk, tonk, tonk,’’ and so closely do they resemble the 
hammering on a piece of metal as to almost deceive many 
people. Hence the name ‘“‘ Coppersmith.” If one is sufficiently 
interested in birds as to wonder from which one’s throat this 
curious sound proceeds, he will, if he looks carefully, discover, 
probably perched on the very top of some tall tree, two quaint 
little birds about the size of a Sparrow, but adorned with the 
most brilliant shades of green, crimson, and yellow. One of the 
birds sits perfectly motionless while the other one gravely bows 
to it, jerking out these curious metallic sounds in quick succes- 
sion. When you have seen this you may know that these are a 
pair of ‘‘ Coppersmiths”’ in love, and the male bird—the one 
who bows so gravely—is wooing his mate. These constant 
monotonous notes so get on our nerves that we often feel tempted 
to shoot the author of them, though no doubt they fall as sweet 
music on the ears they are intended for. Chacun a son gout ! 
The ‘‘ Coppersmith ” is almost entirely a bird of hot weather. It 
is true one may hear them occasionally in the cold weather, but 
then only for a short time, and then the notes are only uttered 
in a half-hearted manner. The nesting arrangements of this 
bird, as before stated, are Woodpecker-like, the hole being 
hollowed out in a tree or bamboo, and the eggs, which are pure 
white, being laid at the bottom of the hole, with no lining at all. 


(To be continued.) 


(Hain a) 


NODES) AND OU hiv Bs: 


MAMMALIA. 


Yellow-necked Mouse (Mus flavicollis) at Witley.—On March 14th 
last I found a dead specimen of this Mouse. It was the largest I have 
seen, and had the yellow pectoral band well developed. Unfortunately 
it was so decomposed as to render either preservation or the taking 
of measurements impossible. — Gorpon Daueuiesa (Brook, Witley, 
Surrey). 


AVES. 


Curious Eggs of the Blackbird.—The eggs of Blackbird recently 
figured (ante, p. 98) may or may not now be unique, but at one time I 
possessed what appears to have been identical with them. The blank 
parts of the shell were clay-colour, and the zone or markings at the 
ends—some on the larger end, some on the smaller—were very minute 
black dots, almost coalescing, as if sprinkled on with a nail-brush. The 
above may prove interesting to your correspondent.—J. A. Harvir- 
Brown (Dunipace, Larbert, Stirlingshire, N.B.). 


Early Nest of the Dipper.—JIn spite of the very severe spring 
weather we have had, I can record an early nest of the Dipper 
(Cinclus aquaticus). ‘The bird commenced building on Feb. 15th, and 
her fourth egg was laid on March 16th, when she commenced sitting.— 
T. Tsornron Macxeira (The Hall, Caldwell, Uplawmoor, Renfrew- 
shire). 


Is the Grey Wagtail (Motacilla melanope) decreasing in Number ? 
Now that we have the birds back to their breeding haunts, I would like 
to draw the attention of observers to the comparative scarceness of the 
Grey Wagtail in many of its hitherto favourite breeding haunts in the 
West Riding of Yorkshire, particularly so during the last three or four 
years. Not that I wish to make out that this species is now rare, but 
it certainly is not, in my opinion, so plentiful as, say, ten or fifteen 
years ago. Many of our little rock-strewn moorland streams, where 
at one time a pair or two nested, seem now to be deserted, for what 
reason it is difficult to surmise. The Yellow (Motacilla rati), on the 


152 THE ZO0O0OLOGIST. 


other hand, has increased considerably during the same period, and 
the Pied (M. lugubris), too, seems to be holding its own. The Grey— 
a great favourite of mine—is one that I grieve to find decreasing, for 
of all the graceful birds it surely must be admitted to be the most 
graceful, and perhaps, too, one of the most beautiful. Will other 
North-countrymen communicate their views anent its comparative 
scarcity or otherwise ?—W. H. Parxiy (Studholme, Shipley, Yorks). 


Curlews carrying their Young. — Last June a friend,. *~* % 
Great Salkeld, Cumberland, writing to a local newspaper, says :—» 
‘‘T had rather a strange experience with a young Curlew during the 
month. The Curlews had nested on the lower slopes of Wan Fell 
[close by Salkeld], and when the young were hatched they came into 
the fields near my house. I was very curious to know how the young 
birds managed to find the gates so as to get from one field to another, 
as the fields are mostly surrounded by stone walls, and so quite impass- 
able for the young birds; and on one occasion I saw one young bird 
in a small potato-field surrounded by stone walls on three sides, whilst 
the fourth side was protected by wire-netting, equally impassable for 
the young one. I could not see how it was possible for the young bird 
to get in itself. I questioned the man who farmed the field, thinking 
it possible that he had placed it in there to destroy the insect pests, 
but he denied haying done so, and said the old birds must have 
brought it in, as he was sure that they carried their young about from 
place to place. I have never seen them carrying their young, but have 
often wondered how the young, whilst still incapable of flight, have 
been conveyed over considerable distances in a very short time. This 
could be easily accounted for if the old birds actually do carry them. 
On mentioning the matter to my brother, he said he had noticed — 
a Curlew coming from the top of Lazonby Fell one evening with 
a large lump, either held in its bill or pressed between its bill and 
breast, and it had gone down to a favourite swampy spot to feed. It 
is well known that Woodcocks carry their young from place to place, 
so that it is quite possible that Curlews do the same, and I shall be 
much obliged if anyone can give me any information on this matter.” 
Perhaps some of the readers of ‘ The Zoologist’ will be able to throw 
some light on this interesting subject, as 1 can find no reference in my 
works on ornithology to the Curlew carrying its young, though in ‘The 
Zoologist’ for 1888, p. 3801, there is an instance of a Golden Plover, 
and for 1892, p. 860. of a Lapwing, both of which are reported as 
using this method of defending their young.—T. C. Parker (Carleton 
Derick, Penrith). 


\ 


NOTES AND QUERIES. 153 


Glaucous Gull in Co. Antrim.—On the 25th of February last I 
received an immature specimen (in the flesh) of Larus glaucus, posted 
from Ballyeastle, Co. Antrim. On writing to my correspondent, I 
learnt it had been shot by him on Rathlin Island on February 19th, it 
having been seen on the previous day with other Gulls, and was con- 
sidered to be a stranger by its large size; it measured twenty-seven 
inches from tip of bill to end of tail— W. C. Wricurt (Belfast). 


Ferris Grebe in Cheshire.—A Grebe of this species (Podicipes nigri- 
silis) was shot on the Dee Marsh, near Chester, in November of last 
year (1906). The specimen was in the possession of a taxidermist 
when I saw it, and he told me that it was handed to him as the Little 
Grebe. The stomach contained fish and insect remains, and other 
material which I was unable to determine. Two specimens are re- 
corded in Dr. H. Dobies’s list of the Birds of West Cheshire, Denbigh- 
shire, and Flintshire (‘ Proceedings,’ iv., C.S.N.8.), and a third 
specimen is contained in the local collections of this Museum, which 
was procured at Tranmere, Cheshire, in December, 1897.—A. Nrw- 
sTEAD (Grosvenor Museum, Chester). 


Movements of Birds in Time of Snow.—I have received the follow- 
ing notes from Mrs. Croasdaile, of Shanganagh Terrace, Killiney, a 
lady whose careful observations have been of great assistance to me 
when writing the ‘Birds of Iveland.’ The point that strikes me as 
most interesting is that, when the thaw had set in, Mrs. Croasdaile 
observed a return movement from the west, in which direction the 
flocks of birds had gone during the snowstorm. — R. J. Ussusr (Cap- 
pagh, Co. Waterford). 


G Exmouth, South Devon, 30th December, 1874. A snowstorm 
from the §.H., with great cold. Large flocks of Fieldfares and Red- 
wings kept passing in a 8.W. direction for some hours. 

** 31st.—Fieldfares and Redwings still passing in flocks this morn- 
ing to the S.W. Snow and storm from the S.E. 

“Ist January, 1875.—Thaw and rain set in. 

** Ind.—Snow gone. . 

“A4th.—At 7 a.m. fine and still morning. A steady stream of 
Fieldfares and Redwings was flying in a N.H. direction. I could see. 
them arriving across the sea from the South Devon and Cornwall 
coasts, evidently returning from where they had gone south-westwards 
in the snowstorm of December 30th and 31st. These flocks continued 
to pass until 9.30 a.m. 

‘‘ N.B.—Very mild weather followed.’’—Awna CroasDalLe. 

ool. 4th ser. vol. XI., April, 1907. N 


154 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


Westward Movement of Birds during Snow. — We had no snow 
here on Christmas Day, but awoke on the morrow to find the ground 
covered with about six inches. I was shooting all day on the 26th, 
and so had ample opportunity of watching the many flocks of birds that 
were continually passing. Sky-Larks were by far the most numerous, 
but there were many Starlings (in flocks of twenty to fifty individuals), 
and a good number of Fieldfares and Lapwings. I was rather surprised 
to note that all the birds were flying due south, as I had an idea that 
such a migration would have been westerly or south-westerly. The 
birds were not following a river valley or range of hills, as the small 
valley in which I was runs §.8.W., and thus they were crossing it 
diagonally, and they had, of course, recently crossed the Thames valley 
at right angles. I would suggest the following theory with regard to 
this migration: The cause was, I think, the complete cutting off of the 
food supply by the snow—Sky-Larks, Starlings, Thrushes, and Lap- 
wings being chiefly affected—and not the advent of cold weather. All 
those birds which happened to be situated away from the coast in Scot- 
land and England immediately migrated due south, and probably any- 
one observing at any spot in the whole length of the Thames valley 
would have seen the migrants crossing it at right angles, as I have no 
reason to believe I was situated in a special line of flight. Those birds 
near the coast probably concentrated there, and followed the coast- 
line, as observed by Mr. Patterson. As soon as the migrants arrived 
at the south coast they turned west, eventually crossing to Ireland, 
where, having once been set in a westerly direction, they kept on as 
far as they could. Why they did not cross the Channel when they 
arrived at the south coast it is hard to say. Had they an hereditary 
instinct that the weather was likely to be even worse on the Continent 
than here? Yet, if this were so, why did not they start off in a 
westerly direction? As they refused the Channel crossing, why did 
they not refuse the crossing to Ireland? Was it simply that they had 
absolutely no other choice ? At any rate, they seem to have followed 
the two sides of a triangle instead of going the shortest way. Mr. H. 
Peters Bone suggests that the great migration on the south coast 
emanated from the Continent. I think that, considering most of the 
birds from Scotland and England evidently arrived at the south coast, 
it is not necessary to suppose there were foreign migrants as well. — 
Norman H. Joy (Bradfield, near Reading). 


Notes on some Welsh Birds in 1905 and 1906.—For ten days in 
1905 and 1906 I had the opportunity of studying the birds on a little- 
known part of the Welsh coast. It was unfortunately rather early for 


NOTES AND QUERIES. 155 


the majority of birds, but Ravens had nearly fledged young in their 
nests. We knew of five eyries both years, and probably over a dozen 
young birds were reared safely from them. Two nests appeared to 
have been harried—one by shot, the other by stones. In 1906 the 
former of these contained an egg and a very small young bird on 
April 21st, which was almost certainly the result of the second attempt 
that year to breed on the part of one pair of birds. A couple of days 
after the nest was empty. It was remarkable what difference there 
was in the attitude of the individual pairs towards intruders. The 
owners of the nest nearest the village at which we were staying, 
accustomed more or less perhaps to human beings, were very noisy 
and bold at the nest. A pair two miles away, whose young were about 
the same age, kept so quiet that it was often difficult to see them at 
all. They would keep perhaps halfa mile distant, perfectly motionless 
and silent on the sky-line. The favourite way of spending the morning 
seemed to this family to be basking on a ledge just outside the nest in 
the hot sun. After the young Ravens had left the village nest—as I 
may call it—I witnessed a most interesting skirmish between a Pere- 
grine and one of the old Ravens, the cause of which was that two of the 
young ones had got near the Falcon’s eyrie (or where I suppose it was, 
for we found one near the same spot in 1905, and this year the birds 
were rather anxious if anyone approached). However, both com- 
batants appeared to have doubts as to the advisability of closing. I 
afterwards saw one of these Ravens steal an egg from a Cormorant’s 
nest—not, I think, spearing it, but carrying it in its beak. The other 
birds of prey were Sparrow-Hawks and Kestrels, the latter of which 
were common. A friend of mine succeeded in photographing a hen of 
the first-named species on its nest without much difficulty. This nest, 
which could be seen from a distance, contained five most beautifully 
marked eggs. A keeper of a large estate a few miles off told me that 
Merlins (!) bred annually in a belt of firs on his ground. He also said 
that he had several times seen a Peregrine kill a full-grown cock 
Pheasant ; that the Falcon found the bird on the ground, and, after 
putting it up by repeated stoops, promptly knocked it over. 

In the case of several species of birds, there was a curious fluctua- 
tion in numbers to be noticed. In 1905, on a projecting rocky head, 
there were several hundreds, I should think, of Puffins to be seen, and 
no other cliff-birds. In 1906 the opposite was the case. Nota glimpse 
of a Puffin was to be got, their places being taken by large numbers 
of Guillemots, which sat in lines on the cliff-face, or disported them- 
selves in the water below. Again. in 1905 we saw no trace of Shags, 


156 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


but the next year there was a whole flock of them. Cormorants, too, 
appeared to be commoner. ‘he Shags were for some reason less 
timid than the Cormorants, and what makes this the more remarkable 
was that the former were not breeding, and the latter were. Of two 
Cormorants’ nests, which were found side by side on a little point, one 
contained an egg. The next day the nests were deserted, and the egg 
lay unbroken six feet below, and directly underneath the nest it did 
not belong to. Iam quite at a loss to account for this. If the Gulls 
were guilty, why was the egg not eaten ? I?f the wind, why was it not 
smashed to atoms? A bird whose numbers were diminished in 1906 
was the Stonechat. This lively but very cunning little bird could be 
called common in 1905, but was scarce in 1906. Theease with which 
nests of this and similar species, which delight in leading the observer 
astray, can be found depends very much on whether there are eggs or 
young in the nest. One nest which contained eggs took six hours of 
patient watching; another with well-grown young took about an hour 
and a half, and then, when the camera was set up near, the cock, par- 
ticularly, showed little hesitation in coming to the nest. The Wheat- 
ears, too, were very cunning. The hen would go continually into the 
mouths of rabbit-burrows (which she had no real interest in), and then 
suddenly dart straight into her nesting-hole fifty yards away. Sheild- 
drakes were common on some sand-hills farther along the coast. One 
of the prettiest sights there, I think, is to see two or three pairs of 
these fine Ducks flying over the sand-hills, while you hear the soft 
whistle of the drake. We did not succeed in finding a nest, perhaps 
because it was too early in the year. The only other species of Ducks 
seen were Mallard and two Common Scoters, these last being out at 
sea. Meadow-Pipits were very abundant indeed, and Rock-Pipits in 
smaller numbers frequented the rocks near the sea. The first year 
two nests of the latter were discovered with eggs, the owner of one of 
which I succeeded in photographing. 

A large marsh, separated from the sea by a line of sand-hills, 
formed the breeding-ground of a great many Lapwings. One day a 
heavy hailstorm caught me there, and I ran for shelter into a hen- 
house close by. No sooner had I entered than a Plover settled down 
a few yards away with a hoarse ‘“‘ pee-wee,”’ and three tiny young ones 
ran to meet her. Iam sure that it was owing to the severity of the 
‘storm that the mother bird became so very bold and easily deceived. 
I found two of the youngsters, but the third absolutely baffled me. 
Snipe, too, bred on this marsh, and from the four eggs in one nest 
came faint squeaks, showing that the young were ready to come out. 


NOTES AND QUERIES. 157 


Snipe were common on the whole both here and in another marsh 
some miles away. In 1905 a flock of about two hundred Dunlins 
frequented the shore for some days, in full breeding plumage ; perhaps 
they were birds which did not breed that year. Ring-Plovers were 
fairly numerous. In 1905 I spent about an hour on a small piece of 
shingle without result, looking for a nest which, judging by the 
behaviour of two birds, I am sure was there. Last year, however, we 
found four nests with little difficulty amongst the rough grass on the 
sand-hills, where the eggs were rather conspicuous. One of my friends, 
on finding a nest, put up his camera to photograph it, when he was 
astonished to see the old bird come up and sit on the egos for a few 
seconds. Before he could photograph her she was off again, and 
refused to repeat her conduct, even when the camera was hidden, and 
a long thread attached for the operator at a distance. None of the 
birds were the least demonstrative. Other Waders which were seen 
were a flock of Turnstones, on April 380th, 1906, and a few Purple 
Sandpipers, which kept about the low rocks on the shore for some 
days. These last were remarkably tame, the tamest wild birds I have 
ever seen (with the exception of a Knot in Yorkshire, which allowed 
itself to be photographed within a yard of the camera, which I held in 
front of me without any attempt at concealment whatever). Ourlews 
were common, and bred, I feel sure, somewhere in the locality, though 
we failed to find them doing so. I only saw four Whimbrel the whole 
time I was there. 

Three species of Gulls were noticed—the Lesser and Greater Black- 
backed and the Herring. Of the three, the last was much the com- 
monest, the Greater Black-back being rare. The Gulls seemed to take 
little notice of the Peregrines. The only other uncommon (if they 
may be called uncommon) birds seen were Corn-Buntings, which kept 
up a terribly monotonous tune all day, Oystercatchers, a Razorbill, and 
a couple of Gannets in adult plumage. Unfortunately, no trace was 
seen either year of the Chough, which, according to the ‘ Birds of the 
County,’ is confined to the locality about which I have been writing.— 
ie HAY Evay (C. ©. C., Oxford): } 


Notes on Kerry Bird-Life.—While on a visit to Kerry at the end of 
January and beginning of February, 1905, I spent some very pleasant 
days with the birds. Circumstances were favourable for making 
observations—the weather was mild and for the most part fine, the 
climatic conditions being much the same as they are in mid-April in 
the North of England. Bird-life was plentiful and varied—indeed, a 
much longer time might be spent in the locality with both pleasure 


158 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


and profit. The particular district I have in view is very mountainous. 
Large tracts of bog are to be found in the valleys; on the hill-sides 
small lakes lie hidden, closely resembling the tarns of the North of 
England. Near by is a large bay—a river flows into it; the estuary 
is a very favourable place for observing the Waders, Redshanks flying 
up from the bay with a loud rush of wings in companies of twenty or 
thirty, and other species following in their wake. Rather farther down 
various species of Ducks may be noticed. The country is eminently 
suitable for the larger Falconide, and it was rather surprising that 
I did not meet with either the Common Buzzard or the Peregrine 
Falcon, though I believe the latter nests farther down the coast. The 
Tits were unaccountably scarce ; the Blue Tit was seen in fair numbers, 
and a single example of the Great Tit was noticed, but that was all, 
though there were several localities which seemed to be suited to the 
requirements of the Paridé in every respect. The Blackbirds and 
Thrushes were singing beautifully ; nowhere else have I seen either 
species in such large numbers. Additional records of sea-fowl would 
probably have been obtained if I had been able to get farther down the 
bay, but upon the days I intended to go the sea was invariably too 
rough for the boat to venture out. The following notes only refer to 
the more interesting birds, all mention of the commoner species being 
omitted :— 

The Snow-Bunting (Plectrophenax nivalis) comes first on my list. 
On only one occasion was this species noticed. There were about a 
score of them picking amongst the sand in a very lively manner; they 
were, however, very wild, and difficult to approach. 

The Chough (Pyrrhocorax graculus), according to the natives, is 
much scarcer than of old. I first saw this species on the bank of a 
stream, about a mile and a half from the sea. There was a pair 
of them. On the ground they appeared to be smarter in their move- 
ments than the Rook, picking about much more quickly, and moving 
in a sprightlier fashion. On the wing it is, at a distance, impossible 


to distinguish them from the larger bird. The Chough often feeds ~ 


in company with the Rook, the two species being on friendly terms. 
On one occasion two birds, one of either species, were observed feeding 
together ; when disturbed they flew some distance, but again pitched 
within a yard or two of each other. Their call resembles that of the 
Jackdaw, but is pitched much higher. In another locality which I 
visited they are still common, as many as a score being occasionally 
seen together, though they more usually go in pairs. These birds 
appear to be very fond of perching on the peat-stacks, where they sit 


NOTES AND QUERIES. 159 


with their wings drooping. I believe there are one or two inland 
crags in which they nest, but the site is usually very inaccessible; 
more often they nest in the sea-cliffs. 

Only two Ravens (Corvus corax) were seen; they were flying high 
over the crag-tops near a secluded lake. They are scarcer inland than 
on the coast. These birds were croaking lustily, their harsh voices 
according well with the wild scene. 

The Hooded Crow (Corvus cornix), which is better known to the 
Trish as the ‘‘ Scaul Crow,” was fairly numerous. Five or six of them 
could often be seen on the shore, some flying up and dropping shells, 
in order to break them and obtain the dainty morsel enclosed within. 
No Carrion-Crows were seen, but the Magpie was plentiful. 

The only Owl observed was an individual belonging to the Short- 
eared species (Asio accipitrinus). It was disturbed from the centre of a 
large tract of waste land. 

The Hen-Harrier (Circus cyaneus) was seen on three occasions— 
once inland, and twice near the sea-coast. Its flight at times closely 
resembled that of a Gull. More often it flew low, with a glide every 
few seconds, the wings being outstretched above the level of the back, 
as though about to alight. When crossing a fence the bird was noticed 
to rise just clear of it, and then fall below its level again. The natives 
called them ‘“‘Sea-Hawks.” 

The White-fronted Goose (Anser albifrons) was present in fair 
quantities. One fine gander which I stalked weighed six pounds the 
day after it was shot. Wild Geese are proverbially wary birds, but it 
is wonderful how they have learnt to discriminate between anything 
which threatens their safety and things which will do them no harm. 
One would have thought that they would have been terrified by a 
railway train, but such is not the case, for on one occasion I saw- 
a flock consisting of about twenty White-fronted Geese standing 
within a hundred yards of the line, and taking not the slightest 
notice of the passing train; yet if a man had appeared within two or 
three times that distance they would not have been long in making 
it greater. 

Wigeon (Mareca penelope) were present in enormous quantities, 
spending the days out on the bay, and flighting on to the ‘‘slob” at 
dusk in order to feed. 

Only one flock of the Scaup-Duck (Fuligula marila) was seen ; it 
consisted of about thirty birds. Locally they were known as ‘ Lake- 
Duck,” though I never saw them anywhere but on the sea. 

A fair number of Long-tailed Ducks (Harelda glacialis) were 


, 


160 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


observed. I first saw them when rowing out in the bay. The sea 
was rough; the Long-tails kept rising a foot or so above the water, 
and then dropping back again. When flying they usually went in 
parties of about half a dozen. They flew low, uttering their pecaliae 
call, which sounded to my ear something like the word ‘‘cockle.” I 
disturbed in a channel they refused to fly over land, but followed every 
turn of the water ; thus they often came comparatively close to the 
boat. On rough days they were occasionally to be seen far up the 
estuary. 

The Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator) was common. The 
local gunners called them ‘‘ Divers.’’ They ascended the river at high 
tide every day, but were very difficult to approach. Three or four 
usually flew together. 

The Rock-Dove (Columba livia) flies inland daily in order to feed, 
and is frequently shot when so engaged. ‘The flocks commonly consist 
of about a dozen birds. Eyl 

The Greenshank (Totanus canescens) was not very abundant. At 
low tide they were accustomed to fly up the river, and pitch in company 
with the Redshanks. On one occasion I encountered a flock of about 
thirty of these birds flying down the course of the stream, but this 
was exceptional, for at other times only a few odd birds were seen. 

Both the Herring-Gull (Larus argentatus) and the Lesser Black- 
backed Gull (LZ. fuscus) were to be seen on the coast, the Black-backed 
species being also seen inland. On one occasion a Gull (I was too far 
away to identify the species) was observed to carry something up and 
drop it, no doubt in order to break the covering and get at the contents, 
after the manner of the Hooded Crow. 

Single Great Black-backed Gulls (ZL. marinus) were often to be seen 
sitting solitarily on the edge of the sand, and were very shy and hard 
to approach. 

The Great Skua (Megalestris catarrhactes) was noticed on several 
occasions ; the sound of firing usually attracted them. No doubt they 
came in the hope of making a meal off a wounded bird. 

The Black Guillemot (Uria grylle) was only seen on one occasion. 
The sea was very rough, and it was doubtless stress of weather that 
had driven these lively little birds inshore. There were about a dozen 
of them. 

The Great Northern Diver (Colymbus glacialis) was. not at all un- 
common, one or two birds of this species being always in the bay. The 
Trish called them ‘‘ Loons” or ‘‘ Looms.’’—Hric B. Duntop (The Howe, 
Troutbeck, Windermere). 


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HAE LOOLOGIS . 


No. 791.—May, 1907. 


OBSERVATIONS TENDING to THROW LIGHT on tue 
QUESTION or SEXUAL SELECTION in BIRDS, IN- 
CLUDING a DAY-TO-DAY DIARY on tHe BREEDING 
HABITS or toe RUFF (MACHETES PUGNAX). 


By Epmunp SEtous. 


(Continued from p. 65.) 


April 25th.—To bed in my clothes—the right way for a right 
field naturalist—and, rising about 2.30, am on the spot an hour 
afterwards. Some birds went up in the darkness, but so near 
the hut, as it seemed, that I am not quite sure if they were the 
Ruffs or not. If they were they must have come back almost 
directly, for, as soon as I had safety-pinned my plaid round the 
sacking, and got into the camera obscura, I could make out some 
of their darker figures amidst the surrounding darkness, and, as 
it grew, imperceptibly, lighter, these began to move swiftly about 
over the surface of the ground, looking like enlarged rats in the 
first dim twilight of early morning. Then suddenly they would 
disappear, changing into pieces of cut turf lying here and there 
about the land, amidst a number of which the assembly-ground 
is situated. From this I knew that even at this early hour the 
birds were making excited runs and rushes at one another, 
between the intervals of which spasmodic energy they lay 
crouched and motionless on the ground, in a sort of sexual 
frenzy. On account of the darkness, and these disappearances, 
as, also, later, through the numbers and commotion, it was 
difficult to count the birds, but, even before new arrivals appeared 

Zool. 4th ser. vol. XI., May, 1907. 0) 


162 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


on the scene, there were, I should think, at least a dozen, exclu- 
sive of one Reeve, whose presence, as it lightened, became 
revealed. As the morning advanced, the rushes of the birds 
became swifter and more and more violent, whilst each spring 
which they made at each other was accompanied with a loud 
whirring of the wings. Evidently they were actuated by a much 
more intense and stirring spirit than I had yet seen, and this, 
as they were joined by others and yet others, till the party con- 
sisted of a score or more—for I never could count them exactly 
—exclusive of the Reeves, was an ever-increasing quantity. Now, 
too, it becomes more clearly evident that the whole end and 
object of the gathering is courtship on the part of the Ruffs, 
choice and acceptance on that of the Reeves; that the gatherine- 
sround is essentially the temple of Venus, not of Mars, and that 
such fighting as there is--violent, indeed, whilst it lasts, but 
never lasting long—is merely incidental to the one all-important 
purpose, the performance, namely, of the nuptial rite. This, 
however—again it seems clear to me—is entirely dependent 
on the will of the Reeve. As yet, in Shakespearean language, 
though not in the ordinary sense of it, she has not ‘‘ seemed to 
signify,’ and in despite of rufflings, crouchings, prostrations, and 
every form of voluptuous solicitation within the power of the male 
bird—in spite, too, of battles royal, which, though never more than 
beginning, are yet by their number and frequency never-ending 
—nothing has been ‘‘ got done,” in this way. So it is when, 
shortly after 5, with the sun rising gallantly, all fly off, a merry 
party, and circle several times, around, in the new-born sun- 
shine, before coming down again, when all goes on as before. 
There are now two Reeves that I can see—there may be more 
in the confusion—and at 5.15, whilst the sun brightens, and the 
frosted grass shines pure and fresh in the morning air, the first 
pairing takes place between one of these and the brown bird of — 
yesterday’s intrigues. Then some ten minutes afterwards the 
rite is again performed by the same Ruff, but whether with the 
same Reeve I am unable to say, for just before—as now—four 
were standing together almost equally near him, and amidst a 
little press of pleading and protesting males. Then, amidst the 
feather-waves of this little, turbulent ocean, I make out five or 
six Reeves, and shortly afterwards there are two pairings, each 


SHXUAL SELECTION IN BIRDS. 163 


with the same Ruff, not the brown one this time, but with that 
very other one—he of the blue-black mane and white, flowing 
head-plumes—which I saw chosen yesterday by a certain Reeve, 
who came up to him and touched him on the head with her bill. 
Whether it is this same Reeve, now, I cannot say, since Reeves, 
unfortunately, are not to be distinguished as are the Ruffs. On 
the latter point there is no doubt whatever. There is but one 
other bird that at all resembles this one, and though the re- 
semblance is so close that they must, I think, be brothers, yet 
they are sufficiently distinguished by the different colours of 
their bills (one red, the other black), and the shade of chestnut, 
as against cream, in the head-plumage of one of them. Thus the 
two birds which I have first seen pair have certainly been singled 
out, and that more than once, by one or more Reeves, and, as 
far as I have been able to see—and I think had it been so I must 
have seen—they certainly have not owed their good fortune 
either to fighting or superior vigour of any kind. They are, 
however—as to this there could hardly be two opinions—two of 
the finest and handsomest birds on the ground. 

The scene now is most interesting and quite beyond descrip- 
tion. Birds dart like lightning over the ground, turn, crouch, | 
dart again, ruffle about each demure-looking, unperturbed little 
attraction, spring at each other, and then, as though earth were 
inadequate as a medium of emotional expression, rise into the 
air and dart round overhead, on the wing. ‘The air resounds 
with the frequent dull shock of bodies, and the violent whirring 
of wings; it is all motion, all energy, at the very fever-point of 
excitement, and then, all at once, a sudden cessation, almost a 
sudden death—only the feathers of each bird’s back to be seen, 
or the tops of their head-gear, or ruff, or tail-feathers waving, 
here and there, in the wind, as they lie in tense, rigid immobility, 
like so many little bows of Ulysses, bent by themselves and 
ready, each moment, to spring back. A wonderful drama, truly, 
of bird-life, thus unfolding itself before me, in the early, bright, 
but bitterly cold morning, whilst learned ornithologists all over 
Europe lie sleeping in their pleasant beds! But they will come 
down all the fresher to breakfast, and perhaps issue bulls against 
sexual selection from their studies. In the midst of it all, but after 
a considerable interval—for it is long before things become quieter 

0 2 


164 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


—there are four more pairings, in quick succession, between the 
same brown Ruff and a Reeve, which, as I cannot identify her, 
I will not assume to be the same who chose him yesterday. 
Possibly, too, there is another nuptial consummation, in which 
the blue-maned bird before mentioned plays his part. Of this, 
however, I cannot be sure—it is a business, indeed, when all 
moves and changes so quickly, to make out all that goes on. 
Then, whilst things are at their height, the whole flock fly off 
together, to return, again, in but a few seconds. 

At 6.30 a Reeve makes her way, with evident intention, all | 
through the crowd of Ruffs—who “do protest” to her—and 
from one side of the lists to the other, to the brown bird so often 
alluded to, and not to be confounded with any other one, with 
whom she is soon ‘‘in the very lists of love,’ and then twice 
again, at short intervals, and once more, after a longer one. 
That is to say, I think so. Four pairings there most certainly 
are, but whether all with the same Reeve it is impossible to say 
with certainty, for another one is now there, and amidst the 
moving bodies, by which they are sometimes hidden, it is im- 
possible to keep them distinct. Now, a moment later, I count 
four Reeves in all, whilst, at one time, there have been. five, 
if not six. Another one now flies in—but before this some of 
the others have gone, so she may be one of them—and walks up 
to the attractive brown Ruff, beside whom she stands, but there 
is nothing further between them. The scene is quieting, and 
the pairing seems to be over for the morning. Possibly, had I 
stayed, I should have seen more, and something, perhaps, of 
new interest; but at 7.20, after enduring it as long as I can, I 
am constrained to come out on account of the intense and now 
wholly unbearable cold, which strikes through everything I have 
on, though short of the arctic regions I should have thought 
myself fairly invulnerable. Other elements, of a less straight- 
forward nature, such as I have before touched on, have not been 
wanting during these scenes. There have been, for instance, at 
least three male unisexual coitions, whilst one Ruff is at this 
moment assiduously courting another. My impression, how- 
ever, is that these false rites have been performed more often. 

Thus, then, in 4 hours—or, say, 34 from the time things may 
be said to have begun—there have been twelve pairings, and ten 


SEXUAL SELECTION IN BIRDS. 165°_ 


of these have been with one bird—the favoured brown Ruff. 
This, however, is a minimum, for it will be easily understood 
that, with so many birds and so much motion, it is quite possible 
to miss such a matter, salient though it be. It may be, therefore, 
that another Ruff or two paired with one or other of the Reeves, 
but I do not think so, and in my own mind feel sure they did not. 

I was at my lair again in the afternoon before 3, but the 
birds had been disturbed by some visitors who come here, from 
time to time, to be shown a nest or two. However, they may not 
have done much harm, but nothing very interesting, after what 
I have now seen, took place. A Reeve flew in once or twice, but 
did not go to any of the prostrated males—for they had all 
instantly gone down. About 4.30, however, there was a great 
acceleration of numbers, a party of Ruffs, with two Reeves, flying 
in to the seven or eight Ruffs already there. The two Reeves 
proceeded to the brown bird, and the scene then became some- 
thing like those of the morning, but only ‘‘ as moonlight is to 
sunlight, or as water is to wine.” The blue bird, as for short I 
will call him, now often alluded to, was a persevering lover, but 
in spite of his attractions, which this morning ‘‘ had been worth 
the whistle,” the one somewhat .‘‘ maimed rite,” as it seemed to 
me, was with the all-powerful brown one. Now this bird, when 
he is properly considered, must certainly be set down as one of 
the most handsome, his ruff being a very fine one—the finest, I 
think, of any—large, soft, and thick, and of a light golden- 
brown colour. His head-lappets, which rise above it, and are 
also very thick and soft—though short and rounded, not so 
flowing as in some others—are of a darker brown which well sets 
off that of the ruff. His bill is red or reddish, and so are the 
little warts or pimples of naked skin, which, commencing at its 
base, spread upwards over his cheeks. In fact, except for one 
other bird, which I, personally, think more handsome, but which 
is peculiar, and has no mistress, as far as I know, he and the blue- 
ruffed one with the white flowing head-gear, tinged with brown, 
strike me as perhaps the two most handsome. ‘That these two, 
then, should have been just the ones favoured is certainly curious, 
and still more so that the one so extremely fortunate should be 
distinguished by the superior development of that particular 
adornment which is specially characteristic of, and has given 


166 E THE ZOOLOGIST. 


the name to, the species. Thus we have not only selection, as 
it appears to me, but selection which, if constantly applied in 
this direction, would have made the male Ruff what he is. 

April 26th.—Rising about 280, was ensconced before 4, and 
witnessed between then and 7.30 scenes which, on the whole, 
were still more remarkable than those of yesterday. The follow- 
ing points were noted down by me, after coming out of my 
watch-hole, as soon as cold and stiffness would allow me to 
write. The pairings, this morning, were more numerous, and 
also more varied—that is to say, they were effected with a 
greater number of Ruffs—but as a greater number of Reeves 
were upon the ground—sometimes seven or eight at a time—it 
does not follow that the same birds who paired before with the 
others, paired now, with these. I noticed that one of the new 
birds selected—though he did not rise very well to the situation 
—was a Ruff that I had previously seen a Reeve caress by 
pecking or nibbling with her bill amongst his head-plumes. 
This was a very conspicuous bird, not to be mistaken for any 
other.* Indeed, to the great advantage of precise observation, 
every Ruff of the band is individually distinguishable from every 
other one. Were this also the case with the Reeves I could feel 
satisfied on some points that I am doubtful about. I can- 
not say how many Ruffs paired this morning, but, besides the 
two that had done so previously, and the new bird just men- 
tioned, I do not think there were more than another couple. If 
this be so, then out of five birds with whom actual pairmg has 
taken place two were seen by me to be unmistakably selected for 
this office, in the early days, before, probably, it had properly 
begun, whilst the third had been caressed by a Reeve in the way 
previously referred to. If we suppose the Reeves to remain true 
to a single Ruff that they choose, then, out of eight possible 
husbands—for I have never seen more than this number of 
Reeves together, and it seems likely that they would now all be 
present—five are accounted for. But how are we to be sure, or 
ought we to assume, that each Reeve pairs only with a single 
bird? First, if this were not the case, to any marked degree, 
one would hardly expect the nuptial habits of the Ruff to be what 
they are, for, as there would then be no difficulty in each bird 


* Hxcept one, which, however, seldom visited this meeting-place. 


SEXUAL SHLECTION IN BIRDS. 167 


satisfying its sexual instinct, why should there be all this emula- 
tion and strife? Again—this perhaps is a clearer indication—I 
have this morning seen three endeavours, I think by as many 
Ruffs, to force the compliance of the female, each one of which 
was unsuccessful; and, moreover, there must be something of 
conjugal relations amongst these birds, as for many days, last 
year, as I came down to the lands, and again when I returned, I 
used to see a Ruff standing in the near neighbourhood of a 
certain nest, with eggs, and that the bird incubating these was 
his mate there can, I think, be little doubt. This, however, is 
perhaps less irreconcilable with polygamy than with polyandry, 
and the fact that I certainly saw the brown Ruff, this morning, 
pair with at least two Reeves, whilst two others were close about 
him, seems against the latter view.* But if each male who pairs 
at all has more than one hetatra, and as many as he hasare true 
to him, how can five husbands be chosen by only eight wives ? 
Perhaps, therefore, the Reeves are really more numerous than I 
have been thinking. 

Supposing there to be promiscuity on the part of both 
sexes, would this, in the first place, lessen the fertility of the 
female? and, secondly, whether it did or did not, how would 
it affect the question of sexual selection? Supposing a small 
number of Reeves to be shared between a much larger number 
of Ruffs, yet choice might still be exercised by the former, and, 
if it were, it would still be the most attractive males that would 
be first and most often selected, for, as far as I have been able to 
see, certain Ruffs were selected by certain Reeves before any 
others, and of these, one—the brown bird—must have paired 
more than twice as often as all the others together, even on this 
one morning, when three or four more were also selected, since 
he did so, perhaps, a score of times. Moreover, besides that, 
three attempts to force the female bird have been unsuccessful, as 
mentioned before, one Reeve, at least, just before pairing with the 
attractive male, so often specified, had refused the ardent solicita- 
tions of another. This other was, if I mistake not, the blue bird— 
also ajoli gargon—and it was he, too, who on one of the occasions 
referred to failed in his attempt. These facts, as it appears to 
me, are good evidence of choice being exercised by the female. 


* See, however, further evidence, pp. 181, 182, and in continuation. 


168 THE ZOOLOGIST., - 


Another evidence of it is this. It was quite apparent that 
the female derived as much pleasure from the act of coition as 
did the male, or, at any rate, that she derived a high degree of 
pleasure from it. When she crouched, or stood,* to the male 
she drooped and quivered her wings, and her satisfaction during 
and immediately on completion of the act was abundantly 
evident. Those also who have seen hen birds soliciting their 
husbands, often to no purpose, must be aware that this is gener- 
ally—probably always—the case. If, then, the act is pleasur- 
able, what is it that makes the female so often and so stubbornly 
refuse the male? Satiety, no doubt, may be one reason, but 
this does not last long, nor can we apply it to such cases as that 
just mentioned, where the refusal of one male was ‘‘ followed, 
hard upon,” by the acceptance of another. The more generally 
probable interpretation seems to me to be that the hen may 
dislike or be repelled by some males, to an extent sufficient to 
discount the pleasure which the act itself procures, whilst she 
is attracted in a proportionate degree, and with opposite effects, 
by others. We must remember that, with the hen bird, it is 
seldom a case of Hobson’s choice. She may choose, as a rule, 
where she pleases, and therefore it would not be extraordinary if 
she became difficult to please. ‘To be more responsive to the 
charms of some males than of others is to have choice, just as 
much as we, in such matters, possess it—and such choice must 
be founded on something. ‘To think that the appearance of the 
male, even though specially decorated for the nuptial season, 
has nothing to do with it, is so irrational that some special 
explanation seems needed for the prevalence of such an opinion. 
It is to be found, I believe, in deep-seated theological prejudice, 
and in pure human conceit. 

More strange matter this morning. Not only is there what I 
have called unisexual coition, on the part of the Ruffs—instances 
of which I have again witnessed—but on the part of the Reeves, 
too. There were several examples of this, and on one occasion 
when the brown Ruff was about to perform his marital office, the 
bread, as I may say, was taken out of his mouth by another 
excited hen, who rushed in front of him, and was, apparently, an 


* Both attitudes are adopted, but the latter seems the more charac- 
teristic. 


SEXUAL SELECTION IN BIRDS. 169 


entirely satisfactory substitute. Again, the Reeves courted each 
other, and one, in particular, followed another about in a very 
persistent manner, and with unmistakable actions. Thus, then, 
it is perfectly clear that there is no want of sexual appetite on 
the part of the female Ruff, and her frequent and firm refusal of 
a number of males is all the more significant. 

The shortness of the intervals between the successive pairings 
of the brown Ruff—which now seemed to be always, or nearly 
always, successfully accomplished—struck me as remarkable, 
and the fact that I could only make this observation in his case 
shows how favoured—+. e. selected—he was by the Reeves. 

But it may be asked, ‘‘ Is it not the superior fighting powers 
of particular Ruffs which procure them the apparent choice of 
the female? Are not other Ruffs driven off by them, or do they 
not fear their resentment in a way which lessens their chances?” 
To all this I answer ‘‘ No,” nor do I believe that anybody who 
had witnessed what takes place could give a different answer. 
The fighting, as a matter of fact, has nothing to do with it. In 
the matter of the courtship it is not, as far as I can see, a 
working force at all. Prolonged encounters between rival 
aspirants, ending in the defeat of one of them, and thus leaving 
a champs libre to the victor, do not obtain. Instead, there are 
nothing but short spasmodic outbreaks, without direction or 
guiding principle, and producing no other effect than that of 
general commotion—‘“ confusion worse confounded.” The Ruff 
does not fight intelligently, and also he fights very much less 
than is popularly supposed, or than his name, in the Latin, 
implies. He simply darts and springs and kicks and whirrs his 
wings, like a frantic creature, and though this, on the part of a 
dozen or twenty birds, makes a great spectacular effect, yet, if 
we were to estimate the amount of time and energy expended by 
any individual in actual conflict during the whole day, we should 
find it very much less than we might have expected—little indeed 
compared, for instance, to the Redshanks—and what there was 
would have been dispersed amongst a number of individuals, 
met at haphazard, and on not one of whom it had exercised any 
effect.* There are Ruffs, indeed, who, owing to their being 
young or their plumage not being grown, or, as it has sometimes 


* In regard, I mean, to the main issue. 


170 - THE ZOOLOGIST. 


appeared to me, to their being a little stupid, if not actually 
half-witted, are easily disposed of ; but how can this come in, 
seeing that such birds could be no rivals in any case, and that 
there are other and more efficient ones all about? The long- 
continued fighting of any Ruff would be rather a disadvantage to 
it than otherwise, since it would be off the scene whilst other 
birds were actively courting the Reeves—and this may have 
something to do with my not having seen any such protracted 
duels whilst a Reeve was present, and only one moderately so 
during her absence. Again—and this, too, may be an effect of 
natural selection—it is a curious fact that, though, up to the time 
of the commencement of the rite, no Ruff is immune, yet I have 
seen no instance of interference with it whilst actually in process. 
Were it otherwise, then, with so many birds together, it is diffi- 
cult to see how the act could ever be accomplished. However, 
even before, and whilst the male is making ready in the most 
noticeable manner, he seems almost always to be let alone, and 
if not, it is by mere accident. In fact, I cannot make out that, 
by fighting, the birds seriously hinder one another in their 
designs, nor can I think of any one amongst them who has made 
himself particularly conspicuous as a combatant. Whether the 
Reeves pay any attention to the fighting I cannot say, but I have 
seen no evidence of it, whereas they are certainly not indifferent 
to the courting actions of the males, though they may be often 
either unnecessary or steadfastly resisted. But both in the first 
and the last case their choice may have been already made. The 
impossibility, almost, of both seeing and knowing that you see the 
first choice of any bird is to be regretted, but the evidence in 
regard to sexual selection is not thereby affected, since choice is 
choice whenever exercised, and the more so if reasserted. 

I was down again at 3 p.m., and about 4 some Reeves came 
in, and pairing took place, but only with the brown and the blue 
Ruff, before mentioned—with the latter only once, with the for- 
mer seven or eight times at the least. The Reeves were, at first, 
four, and then six in number, and the appearance was as though 
four, at least, constituted the brown Ruff’s seraglio. He certainly 
paired with two, but beyond this I could not identify them, owing 
to their similarity and change of position. He occupied the 
same position on the pairing-ground as this morning, and I here 


SHXUAL SELECTION IN BIRDS. 171 


note—which I forgot to at the time—that before the later and 
more frequent pairings with him took place, then, the Reeves 
moved down to where he stood, in a little troop of four or five. 
They did so also now, so that it begins to look as though 
different birds had little seraglios of their own in different parts 
of the ground. An observation just made seems to bear on 
this. About to pair, and full of the excitement incident to such 
a prospect, this bird—the brown one—kept delaying to do so, in 
order to give intermittent peckings to another Ruff, who lay 
crouched just in front of him. I could not, for some time, 
understand what the object of this was, but it, at last, appeared 
that this bird was in his way, and upon his at last taking the 
hint and running off, the intended Reeve, coming from behind, 
occupied the exact place where he had been, and the pairing was, 
at once, accomplished. It thus appears that this golden-ruffed 
Lothario has a certain place, or run, of his own, which is dedi- 
cated to the performance of the nuptial rite. The peckings 
administered to this particular bird—which seems to have chosen 
that place without an admitted right to it—I had noticed before, 
but could assign no particular meaning to them, and other of 
this favoured Ruff’s actions become, now, plainer to me; also 
his inaction this morning, for he did not seek the Reeves, but 
waited for them to come to him. I had not noticed this tendency, 
to the same extent, in the blue, and still less in the other chosen 
birds ; now, however, I do notice it in his case, and, since his 
place is close to that of the brown Ruff, this reduces the likeli- 
hood of the four or five Ruffs who came down to that locality all 
belonging to the latter. 

Does anything I have seen this afternoon—the driving off of 
this bird, for instance—call for modification of what I have said 
in regard to the part which fighting plays in the Rufl’s court- 
ship? As to this I must reflect and observe further—but I 
hardly think so. 

April 27th.—At my place, again, about 3.30 a.m., and shortly 
afterwards counted eight Ruffs fly in, in the semi-darkness, so 
that I think this must be their habit. Some, perhaps, may 
come in earlier or sleep there—if they do sleep at all during the 
night. I put none up, however, in coming to the place, as I 
should have done, I think, had they been there. Of this, how- 


172 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


ever, I cannot be sure, for, though I have done so on other morn- 
ings, it was then a little lighter, and this might make the differ- 
ence between their taking alarm or not. | 

4.45.— The first Reeve in. Much darting about. Some 
springing and sparring—more prostrating. Then suddenly all 
off, and back in a few seconds, after one circle. 

Four Reeves in now. One stands by the brown Ruff, two 
elsewhere, in different places, and by different Ruffs. Pairing 
has taken place six times with the brown bird and five with the 
blue—and now these two have paired several times more, and I 
have seen, besides, two other ones pair. The principal pairing- 
time was between 4.45 and 5.30. 

Impossible to make out satisfactorily whether the Reeves pair 
with certain Ruffs only, or promiscuously, but I think it is the 
first.* A Reeve with something distinctive about her, and who 
pairs with the blue bird, I have not seen pair with the brown, 
though both sit—and pair—near together. Nor have I been able 
to make out the brown bird pairing with more than two Reeves. 

There are now frequent sudden flights off of all the birds, 
with quick returns. These flights seem often quite instan- 
taneous, and are certainly not attributable to any extraneous 
cause. They are a psychological phenomenon, a part of the 
tout ensemble of Ruff habits when thus assembled together at 
the pairing-place. Such common impulses of various kinds 
affecting large—sometimes enormous—numbers of birds at one 
time are. frequent in bird-life, and are not, in my opinion, to be 
accounted for on any theory known to and admitted by what is 
called orthodox science. 

Each Ruff has certainly a place of its own, and the most 
envenomed fights appear to me to result from one bird pitching 
down in another’s place, when he flies in. The aggrieved bird 
instantly rushes at the intruder, and there is a fight which may 
last for a longer or shorter time. The birds have then a 
perfectly frantic appearance. They kick, strike with their wings, 
and especially endeavour to bite or peck each other. This biting 
is very noticeable, the mandibles seeming to snap with rage. 

** A good example is the sudden hush which falls upon a whole shrieking 


ternery. I am speaking of a widely extended one. But see pp. 181, 182, and 
in the continuation. 


SEXUAL SHLECTION IN BIRDS. 173 


Montagu says (speaking, I think, of birds in confinement), ‘“‘ when 
either could obtain a firm hold with the bill, a leap succeeded,” 
but to me the springing and biting have always seemed to be 
independent of each other. They leap, commonly, before they 
close, and then continue to do so, as a matter of course, the 
object seeming to be, as with other birds, to get above the 
adversary, and strike down upon him with wings and feet and 
bill. Of course, when one bird is displaced by another, others 
are displaced also, leading to general commotion, and moreover 
the mere anticipation of any fresh arrival is matter of excitement 
for every Ruff on the ground. 

I have noticed vicious conduct—if nature be vice—in a 
certain Reeve. This bird, after pairing with the blue Ruff, 
droops and quivers the wings, then, assuming the courting 
actions of the male, makes overtures to certain Reeves, which, 
however, do not seem to be understood. She even courted a 
Ruff in the same manner, but all in very inferior style. Whilst 
thus acting she had a very unpleasing appearance, but then she 
is not at all a pretty Reeve, and looks an old bird—some of the 
Reeves are pleasing and elegant in appearance. She has paired 
twice with the blue bird, but with no other. The blue bird has 
paired three or four times with this and one other Reeve—no 
other at all, as far as I have seen. The brown bird again has 
paired with, at least, two Reeves, but more I cannot be sure of. 

April 28th.—Down by 4a.m. Some birds fly off as I arrive, 
but are back almost directly. 

4,20.—Fighting caused by bird coming in. Pitching down, 
not quite in his own place, he disturbs some bird or other, and, 
each being jealous of its chosen place, fighting ensues. The 
above, I think, may be considered one of the principal causes of 
the Ruffs fighting, especially when no Reeve is on the ground. 
When the Reeves are there, too, it still has its place, for the very 
movements of the birds, towards and about her, produce this 
result. Itis now apparent that each Ruff has his special place 
in the lists, and, as the birds are many in proportion to the size 
of the assembly-ground, we can understand how an attachment 
to it may have had its share—perhaps a powerful one—in the 
development of the fighting instinct. This cause alone would 
have made skirmishes frequent, and, the appetite growing with 


174 THE ZOOLOGIST. : 


what it fed on, a pugnacious disposition would have been evolved. 
A social one, however, must have existed before, and it is curious 
and interesting, in watching these Ruff assemblies, to see the 
combination of the two. They are, indeed, so interwoven that 
the birds may almost be said to fight, and to love one 
another’s society, at the same time; but if the two things are 
irreconcilable, assuredly the one obtains till the other begins, 
and commences again as it leaves off. As, however, according 
to my own observations hitherto, that part of the twenty-four 
hours during which, in the breeding time, any individual Ruff is 
actually at blows with another, is probably, on the average, 
a good deal under half an hour,* it will be seen how small a force 
the hostile one in reality is, in comparison with the social. And 
although, as just remarked, the encroachment upon each other’s 
standing-places is one of the main causes of contention amongst 
Ruffs, yet, on the other hand, the way in which, if this encroach- 
ment does not take place, they will stand or sit for hours in close 
proximity, without coming into collision, is very observable. 
For instance, the apartments of the brown Ruff, and of the one 
which, for convenience, I distinguish by the word blue (his ruff 
does seem to me more blue than black), are next one another, and 
so close as to be almost, if not quite, contiguous. Consequently, 
when the Reeves are there, it is difficult, supposing them to be 
not shared in common, to tell which belong to the one and which 
to the other. Yet in spite of this, and though the pairing was 
frequently proceeding on each property at the same time, I have 
never seen the two birds have anything like a real fight. Once 
—and I think it was on one of the latter occasions—there was a 
demonstration, followed by a spring or two, but it was soon over. 
Otherwise, except for certain little ebullitions which have taken 
place at long intervals, and amounted to nothing, they have been 
like the best of friends and old cronies. The above remarks 
apply, more or less—and much more than less—to all the 
other birds—friendliness, in fact, or at any rate the love of, 
or feeling of comfort in, each other’s society is the foundation of 
the Ruff’s character. The little ebullitions to which I refer are 

* Tt is a curious and, to me, significant fact that much later in the season 


(on my former visit), when the pairing must have been over, fighting seemed 
to be not less, but more. 


SEXUAL SELECTION IN BIRDS. 175 


of the following nature, and constitute the second of the three 
principal causes which lead, or may lead, to strife. Hvery now 
and again, for no discoverable reason, a little emotional tempest 
of a warlike character seems to sweep through the assembly, or 
a portion of it. The birds who come under its influence awake 
suddenly, as it were, from repose or a reposeful attitude of mind, 
crouch, ruffle their feathers, give a turn or two about, or from 
side to side, and assume the fighting attitude (distinct from the 
crouching or prostrate one which I have mentioned) towards one 
or other of their neighbours. Then, on the part of a pair or so, 
there is some springing and fighting, but it quiets down almost 
before it has well begun, and, in a few seconds, everything is 
quiet again. What exactly the birds feel on these occasions is 
difficult to say. It may best be thought of, perhaps, as a sort of 
sociable and light-hearted hostility, or perhaps it is individual 
hostility breaking out of collective sociability, and guided merely 
by proximity—for I have seen but little sign amongst Rufis of 
enduring personal enmities, spite, or petty persecution. It is 
more like a convivial, though rather sleepy, assembly of jack- 
tars, all very friendly, but any two ready to stand up and spar 
at any moment. Imagine such an assembly, and a sudden 
passing idea of sparring sweeping at intervals through it, in a 
cust here or there, and one gets something I do not say like what 
these Rufi-meetings are, but like the idea that they give one. 
The third cause of fighting—of which, perhaps, the little ebulli- 
tions referred to are a sort of memory—is, of course, the presence 
of the Reeve, and the more the merrier in this respect. Till 
latterly, however, this has not produced nearly so much com- 
bativeness, or, at any rate, not nearly so many prolonged duels, 
as I was prepared to expect—but now I have seen some. Several 
times yesterday, for instance—l have only time, now, to get it 
in—two birds fought with the most tremendous fury and energy 
for perhaps two or three minutes at a time; but whether the 
watch would have made it as long as this I am doubtful. At any 
rate, it was, | am sure, upon each occasion well under five 
minutes. As fighting, however, I have never yet seen the like. 
The birds literally hurled themselves at each other, biting and 
kicking with the greatest imaginable fury, and striking showers 
of blows with their wings, the noise of which was like so many 


176 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


little thunder-claps. They spring very high, and when at an 
unusual distance from one another, one endeavours to get above 
the other, and to kick down upon him. Another character- 
istic of their fighting seems to be the rushing away after some 
‘‘ desperate close’ to get to the proper distance for another rush 
and leap—like two knights repairing, after their tilt, to opposite 
ends of the lists again. It is not always, however, that the two 
are of a like mind, in this respect, and generally, perhaps, it 
amounts to no more than that one bird after another, getting 
slightly the worst of it, or at any rate desirous of disengaging 
and making a fresh onslaught, can best do so in this way. Its 
opponent, however, may be too quick for it, and may dash upon 
and seize it from behind, as one frequently sees. Whilst fight- 
ing, Ruffs seem actuated by a sort of madness (‘‘ ira furor brevis 
est”), and it is more than rancour or malignity which their 
furious combats suggest. 

It is curious that the fighting out of which these few pro- 
tracted duels have sprung has been all amongst some three or 
four or half-dozen birds at one end of the ground, and it is 
amongst these that I have seen just a few, and, as one may say, 
stray pairings take place, as also several forcible but futile 
attempts on the part of the male; whereas the two birds who 
have almost shared the Reeves between them have fought but 
little, as far as I have been able to see. The Reeves have simply 
repaired to them, each on his.own holding, and though there 
has been commotion and excitement, with some fighting, on 
account of the Reeves, round about them, they themselves have 
had no particular pitched battles—the brown one none that I 
have seen—only, as is usual, and, as I have before described, 
just before pairing they would make an excited rush away at 
another bird at some distance, give a spring or two, and then, 
rushing back again, the rite would be accomplished. This, how- 
ever, was only on occasions, or the rush would end only in a 
threatening. Is it possible that whilst these favoured birds are 
old ones, who go on with their established harem of the last and 
preceding years, we see in these other turbulent wooers the younger 
males, who court the Reeves generally, and make a conquest 
here and there, either amongst new or old ones? It is true that 
the veterans, on this assumption, wooed their own Reeves when 


SEXUAL SHLECTION IN BIRDS. 177 


it was at all necessary to do so—which was not often the case— 
not, however, to win them—that, it was evident, had been done 
—but to induce them to pair. The ones I speak of, however, 
seem to have no harems, but to ‘‘ shoot folly as it flies,” so to 
speak, whilst passing by their part of the assembly-ground. For 
they, too, have had to stay in their own places, which happen to 
be all at one end—I do not mean in an absolutely hard and fast 
manner, but at that end they habitually were, and it was when 
the Reeves were there, too, that the wooing, fighting, and occa- 
sional pairing took place. Naturally, under these circumstances, 
the birds encroached upon each other’s places, and this may have 
had as much or more to do with the fighting as anything else. 
Except that the Reeves were there, it did not appear to me to be 
specially marked in relation to the pairing, nor did any success 
of the male, in this respect, that I witnessed, seem due to his 
martial powers, but directly to his courting actions, or if not 
that, then to himself, his presence—to separate which from his 
appearance appears to me to be a piece of prejudiced absurdity. 
Yet this idea of mine does noi appear very probable. Why should 
just two birds and no more be mature, and established in life ? 
The greatest part of the flock, surely, should be in that con- 
dition, and most of my supposed young wooers look as old as 
any. Nothing like a provisional hypothesis, however, with 
further observation to check it. 

Some birds, at any rate, whether younger or older, have not 
yet acquired their nuptial plumage, and these neither woo nor 
are regarded by the females. Of course, however, there are 
degrees in such acquirement. I have spoken of one bird which 
seemed, both on the first day I noticed anything of this sort, and 
also afterwards, to be favoured by a Reeve. This one’s plumage 
was not fully developed, but very nearly, and quite sufficiently so 
for it to have—with its coloration—a very striking appearance. 
Latterly, however, I think I may have mistaken the Reeve’s 
motive, which on one occasion, at any rate, was to get the bird 
in question out of the way. This Ruff, indeed, which I think 
must be a tenderfoot,* does not seem to have a place of its own 
like the others, and is consequently always in somebody’s way. 
I have mentioned the brown Ruft’s expelling him, in order to 


* In regard to the true relations of this bird see continuation. 
Zool. 4th ser. vol. XI., May, 1907. P 


178 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


pair, and he was expelled in the same way, and for the same 
purpose, by the blue one also, who pulled him up by the scruff 
of his neck with his beak, and sent him packing. It was when 
again in the brown Ruff’s territory that one of the latter’s Reeves 
pecked at him, as I now think, to have him out of the way. He 
was, however, unmistakably invited by another Reeve (not the 
first whose repeated caress I have recorded), though, instead of 
answering her expectations, he lost himself in a prostration. So 
implanted, indeed, is this habit that often a Ruff, instead of 
pairing, when, as in the above instance, he has every incentive 
to do so, sinks down in this way at the side of his mistress, and 
goes no farther. Yet on another occasion this same bird 
attempted, but unsuccessfully, to pair with a Reeve by force. He 
appeared to me to be somewhat stupid or half-witted, and I was 
struck with the fact that, although expelled on several occasions, 
in the manner I have mentioned, yet, as a rule, the Ruffs received 
him kindly. The brown one, for instance, would let him sit 
beside himself or just fronting him, and so would others. Yet, 
as I have said, encroachments of this sort are one of the 
main causes of fighting. They must have made, then, a 
difference in his case, either because he was a young bird, 
or that they recognized some mental deficiency—some want, 
that is to say—in him. Let that be the interpretation for the 
present.* 

Nothing special to note this afternoon. The only pairings 
which I saw take place were with the brown Ruff, and not more 
than three in number. They may not have been with more than 
one Reeve. Four, however, if not five, pressed about him, and 
appeared anxious for his ministrations, so that I feel sure, 
myself, that his harem includes these. That it includes three, I 
believe I have made out, for I have seen him pair with two, and, 
at another time, with a Reeve that had something salient about 
her appearance, and was, I am sure, neither of these. Neither 
is she the vicious Reeve (also peculiar-looking, and larger than 
any of the others, except a nondescript bird more like a male 
with female plumage, which I cannot make out), who has paired 
only, as far as I have seen, with the blue Ruff. He, however, 
pairs with at least one other, making two the bare minimum 


* See continuation. 


SEXUAL SHLECTION IN BIRDS. 179 


which I have been able to distinguish. Yet, as said before, 
I have only seen eight undoubted Reeves at one time on the 
sround. If, then, they are true to one Ruff, and if four belong 
to the brown one, and two, as a minimum, to the blue, this leaves 
but two for all the rest. But evenif promiscuous in their habits, 
yet I have only seen two other Ruffs—or, at most, three—besides 
the brown and blue ones, pair. Yet I have counted twenty-two, 
and already the pairing seems to be on the wane.* What, then, 
is to be made of this ? 

April 29th.—Overpowering weariness in the morning and 
headache for the rest of the day made me miss this date. I got 
down, however, by about 7 p.m. to arrange grass in my hole, 
and put up three or four Ruffs, amongst them those two in- 
evitable old clubbites, the brown bird and the blue—no Reeves. 
Is it not a noteworthy thing that these two, who are almost 
always at home, are just the two who, witha very few exceptions, 
as far as I have yet been able to observe, have had it almost all 
their own way with the Reeves ? 

April 30th.—Going to bed, boots and all, I was up and dteuned 
before 2.30, and on the spot by 3. I walked over the pairing- 
sround, but neither saw nor heard any Ruff go up. Yet at 
3.20, without my noticing it, whilst 1 arranged my camera 
obscura, a number—indeed, almost the whole number—were 
there. Thus it seems evident that Ruffs, in the breeding-time, 
feed during the night, and fly in to their haunt in the very early 
morning, so punctually that they get there almost all together. 
They may, however, feed together. There was a great deal of 
fighting in the darkness, and once three Ruffs, like three little 
storm-clouds that had rushed together, fought a triangular duel. 
Whether this fighting was all about the Reeves I do not know, 
but I suppose it was chiefly, for there were two or more there— 
how many I cannot say—and, very early, others flew in, till, as 
it lightened slowly—the night fading, as it were, into day—it 
became apparent that they were numerous, and also—though 
how long it had been taking place I cannot say—that pairing 
was proceeding in a very spirited manner—more so than has yet 
been the case. The scene, in fact, was a quite bacchanalian 
one. Darting about, fighting and scrimmaging, the Ruffs again 


* This, however, was a little premature. 
PQ 


180 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


made a wonderful spectacle, their time, when not thus occupied, 
being spent in pressing about the Reeves, and eagerly courting 
them—which of the two occupied the greater part of it I am 
unable to say. The Reeves, for their part, seemed just as eager, 
in their way. If the Ruffs courted, they, as evidently, came 
there to be courted, as they, from time to time, testified. How 
many Ruffs paired, exclusive of the blue and the brown one, I 
cannot say for certain, but I did not distinctly see more than 
four, and should doubt if more than six did. But things glowed 
more—‘‘the sweet influences of the Pleiades,’ it was evident, 
were more felt, Venus reigned more supreme than on any former 
occasion. Yet this was in the very early dawn, the grass all frosted 
and hung with dew, whilst a pure white mist curled up to a few feet 
above it, and there hung, presenting a most beautiful appearance, 
as the sun’s first rays—sent out before him—began to illuminate 
the delicate, filmy sea. Holland was Holland no longer, but a 
very flat fairy-land, in which danced houses and windmills. And 
it was in this chill mist and frostiness of the first morning—4, 
perhaps—that nuptial joys were at their height. This, of course, 
—though the mist was in partial abeyance over the bare, 
trampled space occupied by the birds—yet made it difficult to 
follow individual happenings closely, and when I have said that 
certain Rufis, besides the two Lotharios, now paired with certain 
Reeves, I have said all I can say with certainty. Six or perhaps 
eight others may have done so, but it did not strike me as so 
many. Three or four is all I can vouch for. 

During this early period neither the brown nor the blue Ruff 
had been very much occupied, and both, for the most part, had 
kept their places. Then, as the light lightened and observation 
grew easy, a little troop of Reeves pressed down, as usual, upon 
them, and began to make court, to the brown one especially. 
They pressed upon him, and as he lay, quiescent, after the first 
responses, either pecked him gently about the head or neck, 
or, crouching in front of him, walked backwards, and claimed 
his attention by a still more suggestive contact. Upon these 
various hints he “ spake”’ a good many times, but so eager were 
the hens that one would sometimes push another out of the way, 
and in several instances, instead of waiting, they paired uni- 
sexually, whilst once there was the strange sight of Ruff and 


SEXUAL. SELECTION IN BIRDS. 181 


Reeve hindering one another in the discharge of the marital 
office. When one sees hen birds coming up uninvited to the 
male, and acting in this way, one begins to wonder what that 
oft-used phrase, ‘‘ the coyness of the female,” really means, and 
one realizes forcibly the enormous proportion which mere assev- 
eration, repeated from mouth to mouth and from book to book, 
bears, in natural history, to actual ascertainment. If the hen 
acts like this at 4 in the morning, when all the world is in 
bed, it is conceivable that later, when it is up, she may be 
a little “coy,” i. e. sated. The question is whether the supposed 
coyness is not always to be explained by some fact which bears 
no real relation to the idea conveyed by the word. The male is 
often coy in the same way, and would be called so were he not 
the male. Disinclination to a certain act, for a variety of reasons, 
comprehensible in themselves, and shared by both sexes, is not 
an active principle of dislike confined to one sex only. Instead, 
therefore, of using the word in the loose way that we do, we 
should set ourselves to ascertain if there is really such a thing in 
nature as we understand by it. These Reeves, at any rate, had 
thrown off all modesty, if they ever possessed it, of which I have, 
as yet, seen no evidence. Possibly their numbers, by exciting a 
spirit of emulation, may have had something to do with the 
matter, but I rather suppose that more have come because more 
have felt the inclination to. I counted, at different times, ten, 
twelve, and thirteen, and as the one I have spoken of, who has a 
distinctive appearance, was not amongst them—at least, I never 
saw her—this makes fourteen, as the minimum number of Reeves 
belonging to the flock, exclusive of one or two nondescript-look- 
ing birds, whose sex I have not yet felt sure about. 

There were also one or two cases of male unisexual coition, 
but this was not so noticeable a feature as it has, at some other 
times, been. A Redshanks that, on two occasions, entered the 
charmed circle, was, each time, wooed by a Ruff, but ran only 
the faster. 

Now, too, it struck me, more forcibly than it has before, that 
the Reeves were pairing promiscuously—that the same bird, I 
mean, admitted two or more Ruffs. But, again, certainty in 
regard to this was impossible, and it may very well not have 
been the case. The general abandon of the scene was calculated 


182 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


to produce the impression, but as far as detailed observation 
goes I have no evidence. With one exception—not present—it 
is practically impossible to distinguish the Reeves, and, with so 
much motion and little light, I could never, for long, keep one 
distinct from the other. When it was lighter, and then quite 
light, I had no clear evidence of promiscuity, but the difficulty 
above mentioned was hardly lessened. Say, however, that eight 
Ruffs have paired, then if two have four Reeves apiece—and this, 
I believe, is a minimum—this only leaves one apiece for the 
other six, if we take fourteen as the full number of the Reeves. 
But then, again, there may be more Reeves, and all may not 
have come in at the same time. Still, the general features of the 
scene rather suggest promiscuity on the part of either sex— 
though limited, as far as the Reeves are concerned, by a some- 
what slender choice of Ruffs—than polygamy. The Reeves 
press up to this or that Ruff in twos or threes, or little batches, 
but the signs, on the part of each male, that these are his special 
seraglio, are not so prominent as one might expect. Such a 
sign would be his keeping, or attempting to keep, them together, 
and resenting their straying away amongst other Ruffs, but of 
this I have seen absolutely nothing—the reverse, indeed, is 
noticeably the case. Perhaps, therefore, I should rather have 
said that the evidence is all against the theory that each selected 
Ruff has a harem, or, at least, that he cares about having one. 


(To be continued.) 


( 183 ) 


THE NDHLONDHLO. 
By CuHarues M. D. Srewart. 


OF late years zoology has been enriched by the discovery of 
many new species. Here, on the contrary, I aim at placing on 
record evidence tending to establish the fact of the partial or 
complete extinction of a reptile during recent years. 

The Ndhlondhlo was a serpent well known to all the Kafirs 
of Natal and Zululand as exceeding all other venomous snakes in 
size, deadliness, ferocity, and swiftness of attack, and Ndhlon- 
dhlo was one of the titles of honour applied to the Zulu monarch. 
It was reputed to have upon its head a crest resembling a feather, 
and to whistle shrilly when excited. I hesitate to relate all I 
have heard concerning it, lest I should lay myself open to the 
charge of romancing. 

Even in the seventies it was so rare that some EKuropeans 
thought it to be only a very old Black Mamba, but whenever I 
suggested this explanation to Kafirs they emphatically repudiated 
it, and maintained that it was a distinct species. 

Colenso’s Zulu-English dictionary says that the Ndhlondhlo 
is ‘‘ crested—poisonous—the king of snakes—applied as a word 
of honour to a chief, and also, by way of reproach, to a woman 
of violent temper.” 

Recently, to my surprise, I learnt that it was unknown to 
science. Being rare, and possibly extinct, I have small hope of 
establishing the fact of its existence in the past except by 
circumstantial evidence. Although the evidence of natives upon 
points of natural history is often reliable enough when no super- 
stition intervenes to vitiate it, the prejudice against it so discounts 
its value that I am compelled to rely on the scant testimony 
obtainable from Europeans. 

I make my appeal, not to those who are scientists only and 
nothing more, but to those who, while interested in natural 
history, also possess the judicial faculty of appraising the value 


184 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


of evidence. My first step was to write to Mr. C. R. Saunders, 
C.M.G., who is Civil Commissioner in Zululand, and who has a 
great reputation as a keen sportsman and observer of nature. It 
goes without saying that he speaks Kafir fluently, and has that 
intimate knowledge of the people without which no Huropean 
can hope to acquire accurate information. Here is an extract 
from his letter in reply to mine :— 


‘‘To come to the main point of your letter—the question of the 
Ndhlondhlo. I am afraid I cannot throw much light on this, as all 
the information I have been able to gather is not much more than you 
possess. Some twenty years ago, and later, every native we met pro- 
fessed to know of the Ndhlondhlo, and they were in those times most 
emphatic as to its being a distinct species, and the most deadly snake 
known. ‘They all declared it was not a Black Mamba, but much 
larger, and with a feather on its head; that it often killed people 
herding cattle, which it would then drive away by whistling to them. 
The belief as to the existence of such a reptile was most universal 
both amongst the Zulus and the Natal Kafirs about the time men- 
tioned, and, as almost every man, woman, and child in those days 
knew the Black Mamba well, it is difficult to convince oneself that the 
existence of the Ndhlondhlo as a distinct variety or species at one time 
isa myth. At the same time, if it did exist in olden times, I fancy it 
must have become extinct, as one seldom or ever hears the name men- 
tioned now, and the majority of the present generation of natives know 
nothing about it. 

‘“‘T know almost every inch of Zululand, and a good deal of Swazi- 
land, Portuguese territory, and the greater part of Natal; but in all 


my travels, although they have extended to parts where Black Mambas’ 


are very numerous and attain to a very large size, particularly on the 
Libombo Mountains, I have not come across anything which I could 
describe with any certainty as distinct from the ordinary Black Mamba. 
The nearest approach to anything of the sort was one I shot myself 
many years ago—about 1874—near the Tongaat River, in Natal. It 
was the largest I ever saw, measuring sixteen feet in leneth, and 
though I then thought, and still have no valid reason to alter that 
opinion, that it was only a very old Black Mamba, most of the natives 
who saw it declared it was an Ndhlondhlo, the existence of which was fully 
believed in at that time. Every detail in connection with my encount- 
ering it is still vividly impressed on my mind, although I was only a 
youngster at the time, and to a certain extent corroborated the stories 
the natives told of the Ndhlondhlo. Iwas walking along the edge of a 


ee 


THE NDHLONDHLO. 185 


krantz through some grass which had recently been burnt, shooting 
Pigeons, and suddenly became aware of the presence of the snake 
coming towards me with its head raised some three feet or more above 
the ground. I noticed that it seemed to have a hood on the top of its 
head. I at once fired, killing it on the spot, and, although it was shot 
through the head, it was not injured in the slightest, as I was using 
No. 6 shot, and the distance was sufficient for the shot to have scattered. 
On examining its head there were some long scales—three, I think— 
which, when lifted up, formed a sort of hood. These scales were from 
half an inch to an inch long. Being very proud of my trophy, I 
dragged it several miles home, when it was examined by several old 
natives, and carefully measured, with the result stated. It was much 
lighter in colour than numerous other Black Mambas I have killed 
and seen, being of a dark slate-colour, particularly aloe the head, 
which was almost a pale bluish colour.” 


Mr. Saunders gives his testimony with admirable clearness.’ 
He declines to commit himself to a belief in the existence of the 
Ndhlondhlo as a distinct species, but his dictum is merely an 
expression of personal opinion. 

Now, upon the assumption that it was a very old Black 
Mamba, it would be a most interesting addition to natural 
history knowledge to learn that it was so completely differ- 
entiated from the normal Black Mamba as to induce, in natives, 
the belief that it was a distinct species. But this supposition 
seems hardly tenable. Black Mambas are now as numerous as 
ever. Why, then, are there no old ones to be seen nowadays ? 
Until this question is answered it seems difficult to come to any 
conclusion other than that the Ndhlondhlo was a distinct species, 
which is now quite or nearly extinct. 

The head of an ordinary snake is as bare of scales as the 
carapace of a Tortoise. Mr. Saunders says that the three scales 
were upon the head. Possibly this may have been an error, due 
to imperfect observation. Yet my old waggon-driver, Mataffayen, 
who had seen Ndhlondhlos dead and living, described them as 
having a feather or plume upon the head. On my questioning 
him closely, he replied that it was not a feather but resembled a 
feather when the creature was alive. 

Even if its existence is not established on the foregoing evi- 
dence, it is clear that the belief in its existence could not have 
been mythical, for, with Katirs, myths are persistent. Notwith- 


186 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


standing the experiences of the Zulu war, the recent insurrection 
in Natal showed that the Kafirs still retain the belief that they 
can be rendered bullet-proof by incantations. That the know- 
ledge of the Ndhlondhlo is dying out amongst the present 
generation of Kafirs can, therefore, only be ascribed to the 
decrease or extinction of the species. 

I interviewed Mr. Boulenger, whom I believe to be the greatest 
living authority on reptiles. He said that, as far as he was 
aware, no Black Mamba had ever been known to approach such 
a size as the snake recorded by Mr. Saunders, though he was 
willing to admit that Black Mambas might attain sixteen feet. 
The differentiation in colour did not trouble him, as snakes are 
especially variable in that respect. The crest was a difficulty to 
him, but he suggested that an old Black Mamba might give the 
appearance of a crest by elevating the scales of the neck just at 
the back of the head. With all deference to his vast knowledge, 
it seems difficult to conceive of such functional differentiation, 
unless there was at the same time some corresponding modifica- 
tion of the controlling muscles. I believe, too, that no snake 
has ever been known to raise its scales. The keepers of the 
Snake House at the Zoological Gardens have never observed 
anything of the kind. 

I felt that the disappearance of this species without any 
assignable cause was a difficulty, but Mr. Boulenger assured me 
that such cases of extinction are not unknown. He instanced 
the Coluber longissimus (often called C. esculapw), and the Emys 
orbicularis (Kuropean Pond Tortoise), which once were spread 
over Kurope, but which now can only be found in certain isolated 
localities, and even these small areas are steadily contracting. 

Recently Dr. R. J. Colenso and Mr. F. E. Colenso (sons of 
the great Bishop of Natal, whom I had the privilege of knowing), 
very courteously gave me their experiences of what they think 
may have been an Ndhlondhlo. Dr. Colenso, when a boy, saw a 
large snake of a dark colour moving through long grass at least 
three feet high. Its head was elevated considerably above the 
crass, and he distinctly observed a crest resembling a feather, 
which sloped back from the head, somewhat as the crest of a 
Cockatoo does. I asked whether the crest appeared to spring 
from the neck or fromthe head. He replied that it appeared to 


THE NDHLONDHLO. 187 


spring from the after-part of the occiput. Mr. Colenso gave 
me information which fully corroborated the experience of his 
brother. 

lt is to be noted that the snake was not irritated, but was 
calmly pursuing its way. The inference, therefore, is clear, viz. 
that the crest was not a mere elevation of neck-scales in a 
moment of anger, but that it was a true crest. 

I fear that, as no specimen of the Ndhlondhlo has ever been 
seen in a jar of spirits, and probably will never be so seen, it will 
be difficult to convince the majority of people that it ever existed. 
Still, the general evidence may convince some that the belief of 
a nation was founded on observed facts, and that the deadly 
king of snakes once was, although it may have now ceased 
to be. 


188 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


SOME COMMON INDIAN BIRDS. 
By Gorpon DaucuiEsH. 
(Concluded from p. 150.) 


A more beautiful bird even than the ‘‘ Coppersmith” is often 
to be seen in Indian gardens—the Blue-faced Barbet (Cyanops 
astatica), a most gorgeously coloured bird, with shades of blue, 
green, and bright crimson all blended together in exquisite 
harmony. The note of this Barbet differs considerably from 
that of the ‘“‘ Coppersmith,” and may be likened to the syllables 
‘‘kuturruk,”’ uttered at slow intervals, but is quite as monotonous 
as that of Xantholema hematocephala. 

To the exile in India, who is forced to remain indoors during 
the greater part of the long, hot, Indian summer’s day, the’ 
different cries and sounds of birds, beasts, and insects, heard 
day after day with no change, begin at leneth to become irksome. . 
I have above alluded to the none too melodious cry of the Bar- 
bets, but this can in no way compare with the cordially detested 
voice of the Hawk-Cuckoo, or ‘‘ Brain-fever Bird” (Hierococcyx 
varius). As sure as its voice is heard throughout the land, so 
surely is the summer approaching, with its heat and numerous 
discomforts. When the temperature is well over a hundred in 
the shade, then the ‘‘ Brain-fever Bird” begins to tune up, and 
its hateful cry is heard all day and night, too; indeed, it is 
a mystery to me how or when it finds time for eating or sleep- 
ing. If you can imagine someone whistling in a very shrill high 
key, and gradually ascending the scale to its fullest pitch, then 
coming half-way down again, and finally ending up with “ brain 
fever,” repeated several times—or, as some have it, ‘‘ we feel it” 
—you have a very good idea of the bird’s cry. Another render- 
ing of itis: ‘‘O lor’! O lor’! how very hot it’s getting. I feel 
it; I feel it.” The ‘‘Brain-fever Bird” is another of the para- 
sitic Cuckoos, and deposits its eggs in the nests of the “‘ Seven 
Sister’ Birds (Crateropus canorus). It has been said that ‘‘ India 


SOME COMMON INDIAN BIRDS. 189 


is a country cursed with Cuckoos,” and the list truly is a long 
one, and most of them have peculiar cries. There is one found 
in many gardens (Cuculus micropterus) that says most distinctly, 
** Make more Pekoe.” 

In a certain garden in Bengal that I know well stands an 
ancient banyan tree. This is the haunt of a colony of Spotted 
Owlets (Athene brama), birds closely allied to the Huropean 
Little Owl (A. noctua), the far-famed bird of Minerva. These 
Little Owlets are very noisy, and keep up a continuous chatter. 
A pair built their nest near the house, and for some reason or 
other one of the birds took a violent dislike to my father. It 
would swoop down and peck at his head if he went anywhere 
near the nest, and so violent were its onsets that it actually drew 
blood, and on one occasion lifted the cap from off his head. 
Other people, strangely enough, the Owl left alone, and my 
father was the only member of the household on whom it ever 
vented its spite. Most curious and quaint little birds are these 
Owls. If you should happen to disturb one from its sleep 
in some tree during the day it will blink and peer at you, snap- 
ping its bill the while, and going through the most absurd antics, 
bowing and courtesying. Unlike most other Owls, this one is 
somewhat sedentary in its habits, and prefers to sit and watch 
for its prey from some post of vantage, as the roof of a house or 
tree-stump. It comes out early in the evening, and retires late 
—just about the time the King-Crow begins to tune up. 

The list of Owls found in India is a lengthy one, and beyond 
the scope of the present paper ; but among the common forms I 
might mention the Barn-Owl, a bird often found in the neigh- 
bourhood of Indian houses, and of almost world-wide distribu- 
tion ; and, being subject to much climatic variation, has given 
rise to many bad species, and it may be as well to say that there 
is in reality only one Barn-Owl, and that is Strix flammea. No 
bird has suffered more at the hands of vulgar superstition than 
the Owl, both at home and abroad, and natives in India always 
speak of it as something devilish and uncanny, and if one should 
happen to enter a house they say a death is certain to take 
place. 

The Honeysuckers, or Sunbirds, to a certain extent, replace 
in the Old World the Humming-birds of the New. It would 


190 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


perhaps be hard to find more exquisite little birds than these, of 
which several species are to be found in Indian gardens. Van 
Hasselt’s Sunbird (Arachnechthra hasselti) is, to my mind, the 
loveliest of the whole family. Itis a small bird, about the size 
of a Goldcrest, and, indeed, the brilliancy of its plumage rivals 
many of the far-famed Humming-birds. The male has the 
whole head shining metallic green, -shoulders velvety black, 
upper back purplish green, throat bronze, under parts bright 
red. This description, I fear, cannot do justice to the bird, but 
some colours in nature almost defy description. The females of 
Honeysuckers are quite dull little birds, having for the most part 
a mixture of olive-green and yellow. The Purple Honeysucker 
(A. asiatica) is a Common species in many gardens in Bengal, 
and has for so small a bird a very loud and clear song, resembling 
that of the English Wren. The nest is made of cobwebs and 
moss, oval in shape, with an entrance-hole at the side, and this 
is usually suspended from a twig, rarely from the eaves of 
houses. The Amethyst-rumped Honeysucker (A. zeylonica) is 
often sold as a cage-bird in Calcutta, and I believe does weil for 
atime. A friend of mine had one which was fed on a moistened 
sugary paste. 

“‘ Wine feathers do not always make fine birds”’ is certainly 
true with regard to the Indian Roller (Coracias indica), which 
has a harsh unpleasant cry, and is moreover one of the most 
pugnacious of Indian birds, and rarely loses an opportunity of 
fighting with one of its own kin and sundry other birds. The 
Indian Roller—or, as it is better known to residents in India, as 
‘‘ Blue Jay’’—is, like the Golden Oriole and King-Crow, one of 
the features of an Indian landscape, and I do not think I am 
exaggerating when I say that on a journey from Bombay to 
Tirhoot, in Bengal, 1 saw from the carriage window, on an 
average, one Blue Jay for every two or three telegraph-poles. 
I once read in some book that the American globe-trotter’s name 
for the Roller was ‘‘ Surprise Bird,” and I think a very good 
name too. Seen as it sits on the telegraph-wires or posts, it is 
not much to look at, but see it as it takes to flight, and the 
startling display of dark and light blue is very striking. When 
not engaged in quarrelling the Roller is a sedentary and lazy 
bird, only leaving its perch to chase some passing insect. I have 


SOME COMMON INDIAN BIRDS. 191 


brought up young birds, which were not at all difficult to rear. 
On one occasion I saw a Roller hover over and plunge in water, 
like a Kingfisher, and this suggested to my mind an interesting 
theory. The Roller is very Kingfisher-like in many of its ways, 
and might not this taste for water have been inherited by a bird 
whose ancestors descended from Kingfisher-like birds? The 
Indian Roller is regarded as sacred by all pious Hindoos, and 
when I first went out to India, everything being new to me, and 
also being keen on collecting birds, I was in the act of shooting 
a specimen of this bird, when an English-speaking Hindoo lad 
that accompanied me laid his hand on my arm and said earnestly, 
“Do not shoot pretty bird, sir; like God!”” To his mind the 
beauty of the bird and that of his deity were one, and out of 
respect to his feelings I lowered my gun. It is a curious fact 
that, though Rollers appear to feel the heat as much as any bird, 
and sit with gaping bills during a hot day, they seldom drink. 

Among the Pigeon family one of the most noticeable is the 
Bengal Green Pigeon (Crocopus phenicopterus), a bird of exquisite 
plumage, which is very fond of the fruit of the banyan tree. Its 
call, which is a low soft whistling, has been likened to the sound 
of rippling water. As it keeps to the thickest and highest part 
of the tree, it does not afford much scope for observation. I have 
never seen them on the ground, and very much doubt if they ever 
do settle on it. ‘Two familiar Indian Doves are the Spotted Dove 
(Turtur suratensis), and the Indian Ring-Dove (T’. risorius) ; the 
latter has soft and pleasing notes, and a native rendering of 
them is ‘‘sissoo do,”’ 2. e. ‘‘ give mustard seed.”” The Red Turtle- 
Dove (nopopelia tranquebarica) is, to my mind, the most beau- 
tiful of any of our Indian Doves. The male bird is somewhat 
larger than a Thrush, and has the general plumage rosy pink, 
with slate-blue head and black collar. It is found commonly 
enough in some parts in small flocks among crops. 

Most, if not all, Indian gardens have in or near them water 
in some form or another, whether it be river, lake, or pond, and 
fishing quietly by the side of it will be seen the Little Heron, 
known to Anglo-Indians as ‘‘ Paddy-bird’’—or, to give it its correct 
name, the Pond Heron (Ardea greyi). I think one of the most 
attractive features of Indian bird-life is the Heron family, so 
generously distributed throughout the country—from the Common 


192, THE ZOOLOGIST. 


and Purple Herons, beautiful Snowy Eerets, to the little dwarf 
Bitterns. Every piece of water—I speak chiefly of Bengal—has 
its Herons in some form or another, and none are so common as 
the ‘‘ Paddy-bird.’”’ Its colour, as it patiently waits for its finny 
prey, so blends with its surroundings as to make it almost in- 
visible; but as it is disturbed it flies up, uttering a harsh croak, 
and displaying its conspicuous white wings—in fact, another 
‘Surprise Bird.” In the breeding season it is a lovely creature, 
resembling the Squacco Heron (A. ralloides) of Europe, to 
which it is closely allied. The breeding plumes of this and other 
Herons are much sought after by a class of natives whose busi- 
ness it is to snare birds, and a good price they fetch—or used to 
fetch—in the Calcutta market. Thanks to the trouble a lot of 
people have taken in India, a society for the protection of birds 
has sprung up, and the Herons, with many others, come under 
its influence. Such a good work as this deserves every support, 
for what would a country be without its birds? And the Herons 
are a family of birds we could ill afford to lose, and, as I have 
said before, add much to the charm of many an Indian land- 
scape. 

The above number of birds I have written about are only a 
small percentage of those found in and around Indian gardens, 
and a whole volume might be written on the avian inhabitants 
of these alone. To the naturalist birds are a source of never- 
failing interest, and thanks to them I have been able to spend 
many a long Indian day with full enjoyment, when otherwise 
time would have hung heavily on my hands. 


( 193 ) 


NOTES AND QUERIES. 


MAMMALIA. 


Whiskered Bat in Somerset.—While searching the Cheddar Caves 
on April 4th and 138th last, I took two specimens of the Whiskered Bat 
(Myotis mystacinus). This Bat is not recorded in ‘ Millais’ for Somer- 
set, though no doubt it has been taken there before, and not recorded. 
I was informed that Barbastelles lived there too, and I obtained 
Greater and Lesser Horseshoes and Long-eared Bats there myself. 
The Whiskered Bat was reported for Wells Cathedral, as also the 
Barbastelle, Greater and Lesser Horseshoes, Long-eared, and Pipis- 
trelles.—P. Buxton (82, Great Cumberland Place, London, W.). 


AVES. 


The Dartford Warbler (Sylvia undata) in Hants.—It is with great 
pleasure I have to record the reappearance in some of its old haunts of 
this little, dark, short-winged, but long-tailed species. Some thirty 
years ago it was not rare in several localities I used to visit—where the 
Stonechat resided, and the Whinchat passed its summer stay—and, 
being resident the whole year through, it was always an interesting 
object amongst the furze-bushes. It is one of those species whose 
acquaintance, once made, is not soon forgotten, for, although a poor 
Warbler as far as scope or compass of song is considered, I know of 
few more active and interesting, as it dives in and out of its much- 
loved furze-bushes, and assumes the most grotesque attitudes—remind- 
ing one of the Tits, flits and erects its tail like a Wren, or creeps away 
like a Nuthatch—amongst the prickly stems; often entering the bush 
low down, and as quickly departs from a more elevated position, only 
to go through the same performance in the nearest bush ; or at other 
times I have watched it very closely as it collected the minutest insects 
from the rough bark of the furze, keeping up a happy and continued 
chatter as it did so. The severe winter of 1881-2 seemed to have 
killed or driven away the whole community, and for many years my 
friends have searched for it in vain. In some parts of the forest it has 
always held its ground, perhaps in decreasing numbers, and of its 

Zool. 4th ser. vol. XI., May, 1907. Q 


194 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


present scarcity or abundance I cannot speak. More than a century 
has passed since the indefatigable Colonel Montagu wrote of the habits 
of this tiny bird, as observed in Devonshire, and very little can be 
added to its life-history to-day. Does it migrate? If so, when and 
whither? as it is often seen more frequently in the winter than in 
summer ; and yet I suppose there is no influx from more northern 
localities, where it is scarce or unknown. Asa ‘‘resident,” the scarcity 
of food in the colder weather may induce extra activity, and con- 
sequently it is oftener detected; but it seems rather curious it should 
disappear for a number of years, and then be found in the same locality 
as of old, yet such is the case I am told.—G. B. Corpin (Ringwood). 


Status of Grey Wagtail_— Your correspondent, Mr. W. H. Parkin 
(ante, p. 151), asks for the experience of others regarding the Grey Wag- 
tail. My own experience is that Motacilla raii and M. melanope are both 
local in their distribution, and that you do not find the two species in 
large numbers (if at all) in the same district at the same timeof year. In 
the valley of the Chess (Bucks), as also in that part of Bedfordshire with 
which I am most familiar, the Grey Wagtail is present in considerable 
numbers in winter. In neither locality have I seen it in the summer, 
when its place is taken by the Yellow Wagtail. Here, in the valley of the 
Tay, the Grey Wagtail makes its appearance with great regularity be- 
tween the 1st and 10th of April, and the local boatmen regard it as a 
summer migrant. It is now fairly plentiful, and if anything more 
abundant than it was six years ago. In the valley of the Tamar 
(Devon) there were a great many Grey Wagtails last autumn, but 
I have never seen a Yellow one there. A pair nested for many years 
on the ground in a corner of the verandah of our house, but the hen 
bird unfortunately got shut into the drawing-room one evening, and 
was badly frightened by my cat. It deserted its nest, and has never 
returned. — Mary DucuEess or Brprorp (Meikleour R.§.0., Perth- 
shire, N.B.). 

In the April number of ‘The Zoologist’ (ante, p. 151), Mr. W. H. 
Parkin writes re the decrease of the Grey Wagtail (Motacilla melanope) 
in the Shipley district of Yorkshire, and asks for the observations of 
other North-countrymen on this species. Perhaps Irish information 
may prove interesting to him as well as some others of your readers. 
The Grey Wagtail is not a migratory species here, but frequents the 
same localities all the year round. Of late years these birds appear to 
be on the increase in this district (Hillsborough, Co. Down). Five 
years ago I only knew of two pairs in this neighbourhood, but now 
there are at least six pairs, each pair apparently keeping to its own 


NOTES AND QUERIES. 195 


portion of the stream orrivulet. The Yellow Wagtail (MV. rait) is very 
local in Ireland, but breeds within twelve miles, while the Pied Wag- 
tail (M. lugubris), common in winter, is now seldom seen in the district 
during the breeding season, although some years ago it bred not rarely 
in the neighbourhood.—Nevin H. Fostr (Hillsborough, Co. Down). 


Cirl-Bunting in Hertfordshire, Brambling in Bedfordshire —Walk- 
ing past Cheldwick Manor on February 14th, I observed a male Cirl- 
Bunting (Emberiza cirlus) on the fence along the roadside; it was 
particularly tame, allowing me to watch it from a few yards distant. 
A few Bramblings were also seen in that county. On the high chalk 
lands between Luton and Barton, in Bedfordshire, flights of this 
bird were very numerous.—J. SreeLe-Hxurort (Dowles Manor, Shrop- 
shire). 


Hen-Harrier (Circus cyaneus) in South-western Hants.—Some in- 
teresting notes on the occurrence of this fine species in the neighbour- 
ing county of Surrey appear on page 92 of the present volume, and it 
may be remembered I gave a short account of a specimen having been 
found dead near here some monthsago. Since that time I have known 
of no fewer than five or six being slaughtered, and several others seen 
within a radius of six or eight miles, and, strange to say, the majority 
were females, or at least birds in the dark brown plumage. Iam aware 
that the male of this species is said to breed sometimes in the brown 
plumage of the second year, but four out of the six above mentioned 
were undoubtedly mature females, and I heard of but three ‘‘ blue 
hawks.” In flight —so different from that of the Peregrine Falecon—such 
a large and conspicuous bird as a Harrier is a great temptation to the 
game-preserving community, who lose no opportunity to destroy indis- 
criminately any of the Hawks and Owls, all of which are classed as 
“vermin.” Let us hope some of the Harriers may be spared to nest, 
and rear their fluffy brood in peace. Years ago, in the summer or 
autumn, the sight of its near relation, Montagu’s Harrier (C. cineraceus), 
was not altogether a rare sight, as it quartered the ground to and fro, 
on lithesome and sailing wing, over the moors and heaths of the forest, 
the stubble-fields on its borders, or, more rarely, even the meadows in 
the valley of the Avon, where I have seen it several times.—G. B. . 
Corzin (Ringwood). 


Spring Arrival of Sandwich Terns in Killala Bay.—As I have seen 
no records of the spring arrival of this species of Tern on the English 
and Scotch coasts, I shall be very pleased if some of your corre- 
spondents will supply dates of arrivals in next number of ‘ Zoologist,’ 


196 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


to be compared with some notes of the earliest that I have taken here. 
I give only March dates :—On March 28rd, 1852; 21st, 1854; 20th, 
1856; 29th, 1877; 24th, 1880; 31st, 1881; 30th, 1882; 30th, 1885 ; 
25th, 1886; 28th, 1887; 28th, 1889; 15th, 1890; 28th, 1891; 27th, 
1892; 23rd, 1893; 27th, 1894; 30th, 1895; 22nd, 1897; 26th, 1899 ; 
and 24th, 1907. These Terns must be very hardy, for cold weather 
does not appear to affect them after their arrival here. When they 
arrived on March 27th, 1892, there was four inches of snow on the 
ground, and the mercury in thermometer indicated six degrees of frost, 
and yet they were as lively and noisy as if it was the month of May.— 
Rosert Warren (Moy View, Ballina). 


Winter Notes from Ringwood, Hants.—The past winter, notwith- 
standing its brief severity, was not very productive of rare wildfowl 
upon the Avon. Wigeon were here rather earlier than usual, and 
later in the season were in large flocks; one or more small ‘ skeins ” 
of Wild Geese were seen, and, if an inference is to be drawn from the 
single bird killed, they belonged to the White-fronted species (Anser 
albifrons) ; several Gadwall put in an appearance, but in very immature 
plumage. The Tufted Duck was commoner than usual—this is scarcely 
to be wondered at, as comparatively recently it has become a nesting 
species in Hants, but the Shoveler, which undoubtedly sometimes 
remains to breed, was scarce, and this in face of the fact that birds were 
seen at intervals throughout the summer; Teal, although in some con- 
siderable flocks, were not so abundant as last season, neither were 
Snipe, although a fair number of Jack-Snipe were accounted for. Such 
species as Pintail, Goldeneye, Goosander, &c., which formerly visited 
us in severe weather, were ‘‘ conspicuous by their absence,” and I am 
glad to say I knew of but one Bittern having been killed, though 
several were seen in the neighbourhood; let us hope some of our 
sportsmen are becoming wiser in sparing this beautiful and interesting 
bird. We somehow escaped—to a certain extent—the great snow- 
storms such as visited other localities both east and west, but several 
migrants were abundant, such as the Redwing and Brambling, which 
latter were in countless numbers wherever the ‘‘ beech-mast’’ were to 
be found, and I saw a male in lovely plumage as late as April 18th. 
The poor Redwings seemed to suffer more quickly than most species 
whilst the frosts and snow continued, and many were picked up in a 
famished condition. A friend of mind, whilst ‘ flight’’-shooting in the 
dusk, shot a female Kestrel, scarcely knowing what it was, and on 
picking it up found it had an apparently starved Redwing securely 
clasped in one of its claws. Several Merlin were reported, and the 


NOTES AND QUERIES. 197 


Hooded Crows were too much in evidence for many a sportsman’s 
wounded quarry, and in some instances were very bold and crafty. 
The Short-eared Owl has deserted us altogether, and it is several years 
since I heard of one in this particular neighbourhood, although pre- 
viously it was not uncommon in the winter time, and I have occasion- 
ally seen it in the summer months ; the Siskin, too, does not visit us 
so regularly as it did once; the numbers of the Crossbill are very 
uncertain, and do not frequent this neighbourhood so much as they 
did formerly, when the fir woods were very extensive, giving both 
shelter and food to this handsome species. On a part of the river 
where the wildfowl are shot from ‘‘gazes”—(an interesting article on 
this particular mode of shooting is published in a recent number of the 
‘Cornhill Magazine,’ from the pen of a well-known sportsman)—the 
following birds were killed, from Noy. 28th to Feb. 15th, in five shoot- 
ings, averaging five guns, viz. :—Wild Duck, 421; Wigeon, 99; Teal, 
81; Tuited Duck, 34; Pochard, 8; Gadwall,3; Shoveler, 1; White- 
fronted Goose, 1; Coot, 176; Moorhen, 67. Thus it will be seen, 
from the amount of slaughter, that a large number of fowl were on the 
water, especially considering none were hand-reared, as was the case 
some years ago; and yet they were few compared with the vast flocks 
frequenting the same locality thirty or forty years ago. At that time 
such large bags were not made, and it may be the present systematic 
mode of shooting is one small item in the general decrease, and I sup- 
pose the improvement in firearms has a tendency in the same direction. 
Otters: since my previous note (ate, p. 80), I have been informed 
on very reliable authority that lower down the river a man shot three 


large Otters, weighing respectively 21, 22, and 24 lb.—G. B. Corsin 
(Ringwood). 


Winter Notes from Wye, Kent, 1906-7.—Nov. 12th.—Saw a Little 
Auk killed the previous day near Crundale. 

21st.—A Swallow flying round the church in the morning. 

Dec. 11th—Three Green Sandpipers by a ditch near the Stour. 

Feb. 6ti.—Watched a Buzzard sailing slowly over a wood near 
Crundale ; it was very pale in colour. 

Marci 1st.—One Siskin in an alder by the river; the only one seen 
this winter. Redshanks returned to their breeding-ground. 

3rd.—Greenfinches began to become common again. 

12th-17th.—Lapwings passing northwards. 

18th.—Golderest returned, after two and half months’ absence. 

21st.—Linnets arrived; not seen since early December. Last 
Hooded Crow seen. flying northwards. 


198 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


22nd.—Chiffchaff arrived ; Grey Wagtail last seen at its winter 
haunt. 

23rd.—Wheatear arrived. Water-Rail by the river. Kingfishers 
have been absent since December. —C. J. ALExanpER (South-eastern 
Agricultural College, Wye). 


Notes from Sussex. — About sunset on Monday, April 8th, I saw 
four Cuckoos within a mile of Barcombe Mills ; two were flying sepa- 
rately up the valley of the Ouse, and two, one of which I saw quite 
close, were 1n a small plantation at the mills. A flock of Curlew fre- 
quented the water-meadows here in January. At 8.15 on the bright 
night of March 29th a large flock of Wild Geese flew over N.N.E. 
March 30th, first Chiffchaff. April 1st, first Wryneck.— Cuirrorp 
Toocoop (Barcombe, Lewes, Sussex). 


Bibliographical Query.—Can any reader of ‘ The Zoologist’ tell me 
on what authority the Barred-headed Goose (Anser indicus) and the 
Clucking Teal (Nettion formosum) are included by some authorities on 
the British list; also if these two have ever occurred on the Continent 
of Kurope? Any information on the subject will be gratefully received. 
Gorpon Dateuiesa (Brook, Witley, Surrey). 


CaiALENTERATA. 


Peachia undata at Guernsey.—It is worthy of mention that on 
April 1st a fine specimen of the Waved Muzzlet (Peachia undata, Gosse) 
was found on the east coast of Guernsey by Mr. K. Sharp. This rare 
Anemone has been found at Herm (Gosse’s description is from this 
specimen), and was somewhat doubtfully regarded as occurring here, 
though none have been recorded for many years. It is rather remark- 
able that the locality, composed of fine sand, in which its non-adherent 
base was embedded, was being continually dug over by men seeking 
for ragworms for bait. This individual lived only a few days in con- 
finement, during which time it remained constantly expanded.— Frank 
S. Wricur (Guille-Allés Library and Museum, Guernsey). 


199 


NOTICES OF NEW BOOKS. 


The British Tunicata; an unfinished Monograph by the late 
JosHua ALDER and the late Atpany Hancock. Edited by 
JouN Hopxinson ; with lives of the Authors by Canon A. 
M. Norman and the late Dennis Eupieton. Ray Society. 


In ‘The Zoologist’ (1905, p. 319) a notice was given of 
the first volume of this excellent publication. Vol. ii. has 
now appeared, in which the work is continued in the same 
thorough manner, and marked by a similar loving care of which 
we have already attempted an appreciation. It is therefore 
possible to confine ourselves on this occasion to the notice of a 
prominent feature in this volume, consisting of biographical 
notices of both Alder and Hancock. In the previous volume a 
portrait of Alder appeared, in the second volume one of Han- 
cock constitutes the frontispiece. ‘‘ Alder and Hancock were 
naturalists of a bygone time. With only very moderate advan- 
tages as regards early education, they progressed greatly in 
knowledge by private study as years went by. An intense love 
of nature absorbed them, and they realized that everything else 
must be sacrificed to allow them to find out nature’s secrets. 
They were not well off; with the little they had they were con- 
tent; thought of marriage had to be given up, for nature must 
be their spouse.”’ So long as zoology escapes the limitation of 
a profession such men will be honoured and encouraged; their 
disinterested zeal is the compensation for lack of scientific 
training. 

The Letters to Gilbert White of Selborne from his intimate friend 
and contemporary the Rev. John Mulso. Edited, with Notes 
and an Introduction, by RasHuzicH Hout-Wauirtr, M.A. 
R. H. Porter. 

Most naturalists will find these letters a somewhat barmecide 
feast. Excepting the fact that anything relating to Gilbert 
White has a literary interest, it is difficult to understand why 


200 THE Z00LOGIST. 


this correspondence should have been printed. It is never 
brilliant, and only just misses the standard of common-place. 
Mr. Mulso appears to have been a very ordinary man in holy 
orders, of good education, as befits a Church of England clergy- 
man, and with a constant ambition for preferment. As a letter- 
writer he had no imagination, as a clergyman we should con- 
sider him a failure, and to natural history quite a stranger. 
It is a calamity that the letters Gilbert White sent him should 
have been destroyed, for what could he have written to interest 
Mr. Mulso? The correspondence probably provided the relaxa- 
tion that most men feel in the possession of a friend who cannot 
talk ‘‘shop.” To a novelist requiring a perfect study of an old- 
time cleric, this book should be invaluable. 


The Douglas English Nature Books. Part I. Some Smaller 
British Mammals, by Dovanuas Eneuisu, B.A. Part IL. 
Photographs of Bird Life, by R. B. Loner. 8. H. Bous- 
field & Co. 


Tuts series of small and low-priced books is intended for the 
nature lover. Each part contains one hundred reproductions of 
photographs taken from life, and we all know Mr. Lodge’s exploits 
in that field. There are also a series of notes on the species 
illustrated in each part. The notes are evidently of a modest 
nature, and adapted for one little versed in ornithology, but the 
photographic studies appeal to all. 


ENTLY PUBLISHED. Bo erce 28. 6d. 


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‘By E. F. M. ELMS. 


: NFORMATION is given respecting all British birds that breed in 
4 these islands, and those that are regular visitors at one time of 
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_ An inexpensive volume which well deserves to be a ‘ pocket-book’ for those 
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_ thorough introduction to a knowledge of the birds he may meet on his rambles.” — 
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* Of Mr. Elms’s book it is difficult to speak too favourably. It is of very 
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But the amount of information conveyed is extraordinary. With Mr. Elms’ in his 
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Tribune. 

** Mr. Elms’ book is one of the best of its kind that we have seen. Itis for the 
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excellent little book.’’— Westminster Gazette. 

* An accurate, well-condensed little book of reference for the field naturalist.”— 
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**The author deserves every success. Strongly engach bound to stand pocket 
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- Notms AND QUERIES :— 


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BOTANICAL DRYING PAPER 


|THE INSECT HUNTER’S COMPANION. Instn 


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pugnaxz), Hdmund Selous, 161. 


Mammatia.— Whiskered Bat in Somerset, P. Buxton, 19. Mice a 
Avrs.—The Dartford Warbler (Sylvia wndata) in Hants, G. -B. Mi 
_ Status of Grey Wagtail, Mary Duchess of Bedford, Nevin H. Fost 

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from Wye, Kent, 1906— 7, C. 7. Alexander, 197. Notes from Sussex, Re 
Clifford Toogood, 198. Bibliographical Query, Gordon Dalgliesh, 198. — 
C@LENTERATA.—Peachia undata a Guernsey, Frank S. Wright, 198. 
HOTECHS OF New Booxs, 199-200. Dee 


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fk ZOOLOGIST 


No. 792.—June, 1907. 


SCIENTIFIC WORK IN THE SEA-FISHERIES. 


By Pror. McInross, M.D., LL.D., F.R.SS. L. & E., Gatty 
Marine Laboratory, University, St. Andrews. 


Part I. 


BrFrorE proceeding with the main subject of this memoir— 
viz. the light which science has thrown on the sea-fisheries of 
our country—it may be well to take a brief glance at the condi- 
tion of this great—it may almost be said national—industry from 
the earlier times to the period when the aid of science was brought 
to bear on it. 

As might be expected, the most remote past is veiled in 
obscurity, for Britain had neither an Aristotle nor a Strabo, but 
authors* from the third century onwards, such as Solinus and 
Dion Cassius, as Dr. Fulton tells us, give occasional references 
to sea-fishes as the food of certain of the natives, or as occurring 
in numbers off the British coasts. Though the sea-fisheries of 
the country doubtless became more important in the subsequent 
centuries, they were far behind those of other nations, such as 
the Scandinavians, who led the way in the Herring fishery, 
and the Hanseatic leaguers, who supplied Catholic Kurope with 
Herrings. No nation, however, took a more prominent part than 


* An interesting series of articles by Dr. Fulton on this head appeared in 
the ‘ Fish Trades Gazette’ for 1893, and from which some of the facts have 
been drawn. I have to thank Dr. Williamson for kindly aiding me in this 
respect. 

Zool. 4th ser. vol. XI., June, 1907. R 


202 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


the Dutch, the enterprising successors of the Hanseatic leaguers, 
whose fleet of over two thousand “‘ busses’ swept the North Sea 
from Shetland to the Dogger, as well as searched the inshore 
waters all along the English coasts—to the chagrin of the native 
fishermen in the sixteenth and first half of the seventeenth cen- 
tury. It was not, indeed, till the middle of the seventeenth century 
that the supremacy of the Dutch was overthrown, and that British 
fishermen took the foremost place in sea-fishing. 

Throughout all this period the horizon of the sea-fisheries was 
often as cloudy as now, and occasionally even more so, for once 
in the thirteenth century armed Flemish fishermen attacked the 
unarmed English boats, and killed more than a thousand of their 
crews. Regulations as to close-times, meshes of nets, and small 
or immature fishes were frequently made, showing the anxiety of 
the legislature as to the safety of the sea-fisheries. Hven in 
Parliament, more than three hundred years ago, it was said that 
‘in divers places they fed swine and dogs on the fry and spawn 
of fishes, and otherwise, lamentable and horrible to be reported, 
destroy the same—to the great See eas and decay of the 
Commonwealth.” 

Since Britain attained supremacy in the sea-fisheries ever- 
recurring fears as to their decline have been conspicuous. Now 
it was the destruction of small Turbot on the sandy shores that 
aroused attention, for London as early as the seventeenth cen- 
tury needed eighty thousand Turbot per annum. Again, it was 
the incursions of French fishermen on the inshore grounds— 
especially after the peace following Waterloo—that caused the 
native fishermen to petition Parliament to stop what they con- 
sidered the ruin of the British industry. 

Ever the same distrust of the permanence of the supplies of 
the sea-fishes, and the intolerance of other methods of fishing 
than that thought to be legitimate by the local men, have charac- 
terized the chequered history of the subject. Yet throughout all 
these centuries the plenitude of the sea-fishes was beyond dis- 
pute. Moreover, successive Governments, whether representing 
the wishes of the people or not—both in England and Scotland 
—have always taken an exceptionally favourable view of the 
daring and hardy toilers of the sea, since. amongst other things, 
their ranks furnished the finest recruits for the Navy. Inauiries 


SCIENTIFIC WORK IN THE SEA-FISHERIES. 203 


and Commissions were numerous, and in the seventeenth cen- 
tury many protective Acts were passed, and companies floated 
to encourage the struggling fisheries; whilst in the eighteenth 
century the bounty-system was instituted, and was abolished 
only in 1830. 

Of the Commissions, it is only necessary to allude to one or 
two. Thus, in 1833, the Commissioners appointed by the House 
of Commons reported that the fishes of the British Channel had 
been declining since the peace of 1815, that the numbers of boats 
and men were decreasing, and that the fishermen and their 
families were dependent on the poor-rates for support. Now at 
that time it must have been extremely difficult to arrive at 
a right conclusion, since statistics of value were almost non- 
existent, and the Commissioners had little else to rely on than 
the evidence placed before them. It is at any rate certain that 
at.that period comparatively few fishermen had a knowledge of 
the finny wealth of the Channel. 

A great change was apparent in the Report of the Royal 
Commission of 1866. The Commissioners (Sir James Caird, 
Prof. Huxley, and Mr. Shaw Lefevre), after a prolonged inquiry, 
had no difficulty in coming to the conclusion that the supply of 
fish is increasing, and admits of progressive increase. Yet the 
Commissioners were not then fully aware of the marvellous 
powers of reproduction and the complex life-histories of the 
fishes. It has also to be remembered that the mode of fishing 
known as trawling (though a very old method) had not been 
developed as it now is, yet England had no less than nine 
hundred and fifty-five sailing trawlers working in the North Sea 
and St. George’s Channel, that were estimated to supply three 
hundred tons of fish daily. 

Shortly afterwards (1871) the United States Fish-Commission 
sprang into existence, mainly from the complaints as to the 
diminution of the stock on the American fishing-grounds. Ina 
few years (1878) this Commission commenced the hatching of 
sea-fishes, with what success will subsequently be shown. 

The conclusions arrived at by the Commission of 1866 held 
for twelve years, when complaints by the liners cauged Parlia- 
ment to arrange for a Commission of two (Messrs. Brekland and 


Walpole) to carry out an inquiry on the same lines as the last. 
R2 


204 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


The Commissioners reported (1878) to the same effect in regard 
to the abundance of fishes, and the absence of wasteful de- 
struction, and they made various suggestions concerning injuries 
done by trawlers to lines and nets. Steam-trawling had then 
begun. 

The occurrence of Fisheries Exhibitions in France, Germany, 
and Holland, as well as that at Norwich, stimulated the interest 
of the public in the Department, and led to a notable exhibition 
in Edinburgh in 1882, and next year to the still larger exhibition 
in London, from which emanated volumes of valuable addresses 
and papers. 

The rapid extension of steam-trawling and its spread into 
Scottish waters gave the Government little respite, for in 1883 
the pressure brought to bear was so great that a Royal Commis- 
sion (Lord Dalhousie’s)—comprehending, besides the Chairman, 
Mr. Marjoribanks (now Lord Tweedmouth), Prof. Huxley, Mr. 
Caine, and the late Sir Thomas Brady—was appointed to inquire 
into the complaints of the injuries done to the line and drift-net 
fishermen, and to ascertain what legislative remedy can be 
adopted without interfering with the cheap and plentiful supply 
of fish. This Commission introduced scientific investigations 
into the inquiry for the first time, and, mainly through the 
influence of Lord Dalhousie, a small marine laboratory was 
established at St. Andrews at the beginning of 1884, and was 
useful in preparing the scientific Report. Much evidence was 
laid before the Commissioners strongly condemnatory of trawl- 
ing—as destructive to the spawn of fishes, the grounds they 
frequented, to the fishes themselves and their young, and to the 
lines and nets of the fishermen. 

The Commissioners, while noting (from the evidence) a falling 
off of flat-fishes in territorial waters from the Moray Firth to 
Grimsby, and a diminution of Haddocks in certain places, found 
no decrease in the total catch of fishes in the North Sea, except 
in the case of Soles. Further, that the beam-trawl is not de- 
structive to the spawn of the Cod and the Haddock, or other edible 
fishes, nor does it cause wasteful or unnecessary destruction to 
the immature food-fishes. It has not been proved, moreover, 
that it is the sole cause of the diminution of fish in territorial 
waters, 


SCIENTIFIC WORK IN THE SHA-FISHERIES. 205 


Here, then, another Royal Commission was clearly not satis- 
fied as to the supposed widespread diminution of food-fishes in 
our waters. The Commissioners recommended the creation of a 
Central Authority for the Fisheries of Great Britain, if not of the 
United Kingdom ; that in the meantime the powers of the Fishery 
Board for Scotland be increased; and that statutory powers be 
siven to collect statistics—besides various minor recommenda- 
tions. One of the most important steps, however, followed, viz. 
the closure of certain inshore areas, and the carrying out of 
experiments therein—as recommended in the scientific Report. 

As the scientific Report was the first of its kind, special 
instructions had been drawn up for the guidance of the reporter. 
Thus the observations were to be made on board commercial 
trawlers upon the grounds they frequented at the different | 
seasons. Special note was to be taken of the proportional 
quantity of immature food-fishes at various seasons; of the 
destruction of the spawn of food-fishes; and of the proportion 
of living and dead fishes brought on board. Other points were 
the breeding of fishes, the temperature of the sea, and the 
sedentary and pelagic fauna of the fishing-grounds. 

The scientific observations—just alluded to—in trawling 
vessels on the various important fishing-grounds off the Hast 
Coast had this not unimportant feature, viz. that they were all 
carried out under the same eye and by the same hand on sea 
and on land. Moreover, a simple method of dealing with the 
food-fishes captured was adopted, viz. a division into ‘‘ saleable,” 
‘immature,’ and ‘‘unsaleable”: yet this division rested on a 
size-limit. It has to be remembered, however, that it was not 
the scientific observer who regulated the size of the ‘‘ saleable”’ 
fishes, but the fishermen, who knew the demands of the public ; 
and the same principle was followed in reviewing the subsequent 
experiments of the Scotch Fishery Board’s ship ‘ Garland.’ 

This scientific Report gave an account of beam-trawl fishing, 
and the kinds and proportions of the saleable and unsaleable 
fishes, the proportions of the living and the dead, and of the 
immature fishes ; the development and growth of the food-fishes, 
and the universal presence of floating eggs in all the ordinary 
food-fishes, except the Herring and the Wolf-fish. It showed 
that no noteworthy destruction of the spawn of food-fishes 


206 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


occurred; that the small or immature fishes (in the deeper 
water) consisted chiefly of Dabs and long rough Dabs. It gave 
the distribution of the food-fishes on the various grounds, and 
the relative position of the districts; lists of unsaleable fishes 
(chiefly Frog-fishes) ; the fauna of the trawling-grounds, surface 
and bottom ; food of fishes; temperature of the air, tempera- 
ture of the surface- and bottom-water, besides other points, such 
as the satisfactory condition of the fishes themselves: and the 
effects of frequent hauls of the trawl on the same ground. 

It demonstrated that the inshore was dependent on the off- 
shore for the supplies of eggs and young of various fishes, e.g. 
Plaice and Turbot, and that a gradual passage of the eggs and 
young shorewards, and of the growing fishes at a later stage 
seawards, took place. Thus legislation confined to one area 
might not be followed by much benefit. It showed that in a 
small bay like St. Andrews, constant and long-continued trawling 
did not exhaust the fishes, and that the local men almost in- 
variably kept to the same line in their operations—a state of 
matters which the history of the Brixham trawlers substantiated. 
Finally, that there was no proof of such serious diminution of 
food-fishes as to lead to extinction, or that the actual facts, when 
carefully considered, should conduce to anything else than vigil- 
ance. The condition, indeed, was such that hesitation was felt 
in interfering with moderate freedom in well-conducted modes of 
fishing. The Report also recommended the establishment of 
experimental hatcheries of sea-fishes, the closure of certain areas 
for experiments, and the keeping of records by all fishermen, 
showing the ground, weather, depth of water, and the nature of 
the fishes caught. 

From the earliest stage of the inquiry Lord Dalhousie was 
struck by the absence of reliable statistics, and he immediately 
took steps to remedy this condition in Scotland. His personal 
influence and initiative, indeed, have placed Scotland in advance 
of England in this respect. 

After presenting his Report to Parliament, Lord Dalhousie 
requested the scientific reporter to draw up a scheme for the 
experiments in the three areas selected for closure, viz. the Forth, 
St. Andrews Bay, and Aberdeen Bay; and the Chairman of the 
Scotch Fishery Board and its scientific member also visited 


SCIENTIFIC WORK IN THE SEA-FISHERIES. 207 


St. Andrews for details, so that the fullest information was at 
the Board’s disposal. Unfortunately, as it proved, the Board 
deviated from the advice given in regard to ship, staff, and 
apparatus, as well as in the regularity of the experiments in the 
closed areas, though, it is right to add, this may have been 
partly due to lack of funds. 

The Scotch Fishery Board thus entrusted by the Government 
with the important duty of carrying out the scientific experiments 
—experiments which were to form the basis for future fishery 
legislation —had recently been constituted (1882), and had begun 
to interest itself in scientific questions—such as the spawning of 
the Herring. Many would have thought that it would have 
thoroughly sifted this intricate subject in the closed areas before 
proceeding to avail itself of the increased powers the Secretary 
for Scotland (Lord Dalhousie) had obtained for it. The death of 
Lord Dalhousie, who always kept himself in touch with the pro- 
ceedings of the Board, seems, however, to have loosened the 
hands of the members. Having just commenced the trawling 
investigations in the areas, and before any reliable result could 
have been obtained, the Scotch Board closed a considerable area 
in the Moray Firth, being “of opinion that valuable scientific 
results might be obtained if beam-trawling was restricted in the 
district.’’ Moreover, while releasing Aberdeen Bay, it would 
appear somewhat hastily, the Board increased the closed areas 
in the Firth of Forth and St. Andrews Bay. 

Subsequently, the work of two summers in the closed areas— 
with an inefficient ship, and with observers new to the duties— 
was sufficient to make the Board forgetful of the labours of Lord 
Dalhousie’s Commission and its injunctions, for it appointed a 
Committee of its own members to form an independent judgment 
on trawling and the closure. After inquiries held at various 
fishing centres in Scotland, this Committee presented a Report 
on the subject to the Secretary for Scotland (Sir G. Trevelyan) 
in May, 1888. Whilst no one would have wished to cramp the 
energies of the Board in this or any other inquiry, the methods 
adopted were open to criticism. It is also probable that this 
inquiry would not have happened if Lord Dalhousie had been 
Secretary for Scotland. Their experimental ship had, as men- 
tioned, only searched the seas for two summers, when, misled by 


208. THE ZOOLOGIST. 


the high averages of captures (for last season’s work had been 
done in the warmer months), this Committee recommended the 
closure of the Firth of Clyde, and the territorial waters between 
Red Head and Kinnaird Head, and they were closed in 1899, 
because ‘‘ they were satisfied that within the area to which this 
bye-law applies (viz. between Red Head and Kinnaird Head) 
beam-trawling as a mode of fishing is injurious to the sea- 
fishings.” The Herring Fishery Act of the same year (1899) 
was the signal for closing the whole of the Scottish waters 
within the territorial limit. Still further closures occurred in 
1890, when the Moray Firth from the Ord of Caithness to Craig- 
head was shut against trawlers, the primary object, it was stated 
by the Board, being to prevent the capture by trawlers of imma- 
ture fish, which exist in large numbers in the area closed.* The 
entire Moray Firth, again, was closed in November, 1902—(1) 
‘to protect the fishes on their spawning-grounds (e.g. Smith 
Bank), and to ascertain the extent to which such measures are 
likely to be beneficial to the fish supply ’’; and (2) ‘‘in view of 
the repeated petitions from the line fishermen in the Moray 
Firth, and from a belief that trawling was really a source of 
injury to the fisheries there.” + 

Whatever basis, social or political, this action of the Scotch 
Board (and the Scotch Secretary) may have had, it cannot be 
said that it rested on a reliable scientific foundation. The sup- 
posed protection of the spawning areas in the Moray Firth was 
and is unnecessary, either in regard to the adults or their float- 
ing eggs and young. The spawning fishes—both round and flat 
—occur beyond the closed area of the Firth, as well as within it, 
for fishes respect no imaginary lines, and between them place the 
safety of the food-fishes beyond question. Lately much promi- 
nence has been given to the influence of the offshore on the in- 
shore areas, as if such were a new feature, but this was clearly 
pointed out in the scientific Trawling Report of 1884, and, when 
studied, will give little countenance to the closure of Moray Firth 
on scientific grounds. Besides, no report of the scientific results 
gained by the closure of this area has yet been placed before the 
public, unless it be the following{ :—‘‘ The quantity of fishes 

** Ninth Ann. Rept. S. F.B., p. xl. (for 1890). 1891. 


+ Eleventh Ann. Rept. (for 1892), p. xlix. 1893. 
{| Eighteenth Ann. Rept. 8. F.B., part iii. p. 7 (for 1899). 1900. 


SCIENTIFIC WORK IN THE SEHA-FISHERIES. 209 


procured by the ‘ Garland’ is therefore small, and furnishes a 
most inadequate basis for any conclusions as to the effect of the 
closure of so wide an area as the Moray Firth.” There is little 
satisfaction in this, especially as the Board was to show—by the 
closure of such offshore waters—how the spawning fishes which 
supplied the inshore with eggs and young could be protected. 
Moreover, so far as known, the proofs of the injurious effects of 
trawiing on the fisheries have not yet been demonstrated by the 
Board. The idea that the eggs of the fishes of the Moray Firth 
supply the eastern shores of Scotland and the offshore is chi- 
merical. Besides, both are independent of such supply. 

Science, therefore, declines responsibility for such a closure, 
for, as will subsequently be shown, it is satisfied that the closure 
even of small areas is not followed by an increase of fishes, and 
that the supply of eggs and young may be altogether independent 
of such closure. 

No one will, however, deny the right of the Government to 
close an area for the protection of the lines and nets of fishermen 
should they be constantly destroyed by trawlers, and it has to be 
remembered that about ten thousand fine fishermen frequent 
the shores of the Moray Firth. Nor would exception be taken 
if it were proved that such a measure was indispensable for 
the existence of these fishermen. But such grounds must be 
frankly stated and openly upheld. No thin veil of so-called 
science should obscure them. 

Before entering into the consideration of the results of the 
ten years’ experiments of the Scotch Fishery Board’s ship 
‘Garland,’ it is necéssary, in sequence, to notice a Parliamentary 
Committee of seventeen members (with Mr. Marjoribanks as 
Chairman) in 1893, and which with great promptitude presented 
a Report within five months of its appointment. This Com- 
mittee had the advantage of the statistics collected by the Board 
of Trade, and by the Scotch Fishery Board, and of the evidence 
of scientific men of experience in the fisheries. The Committee 
reported no falling off in the Herring fishery, that the Cod and 
Haddock fishery required no legislation, but that the flat-fishes 
—especially Soles and Plaice—had diminished, and that a size- 
limit (eight inches for Soles and Plaice, and ten inches for Turbot 
and Brill) should be fixed; further, that the three-mile limit 


210 ; _ THE ZOOLOGIST. 


should be extended, and that an English Sea Fishery Board should 
be established—besides other and minor recommendations. 

It is important to bear in mind, however, that a considerable 
part of the scientific evidence was founded on the statistics of 
scientific trawling as furnished by the Scotch Fishery Board. 
Now, as will by-and-by be shown, these data were not reliable. 
The faulty method of handling them had led to the view that the 
flat-fishes were decreasing. 

The search of the ‘ Garland’ along certain specified lines in 
the closed areas, and in the sea immediately beyond, for the long 
period of ten years can only be briefly dealt with here. It has 
been exhaustively studied elsewhere, and in a similar manner to 
the original trawling experiments in 1884, with the result that 
this costly but interesting scientific work showed that there was 
no striking increase in the fishes of the closed areas, but, on the 
contrary, that the fish-fauna stood at the end very much as at 
the beginning. It is true the Scotch Board considered, as 
already indicated, that there was a decrease of flat-fishes (espe- 
cially Plaice), caused, it was thought, by the destruction of the 
spawning Plaice and other forms by trawlers outside the closed 
areas, but it has been shown that this arose from a misappre- 
hension. The Board, indeed, contrasted the first five years’ 
work—in which the trawling was done in a larger proportion of 
warm months—with that of the second five years, in which the 
trawling was done in a larger proportion of cold months. The 
conclusions arrived at were equally erroneous with the earlier 
notion that a great increase of fishes had occurred in the closed 
areas, but it strengthened the Board’s supp®6sition that the de- 
crease in flat-fishes was due to the destruction of the spawning 
fishes beyond the limit. This view, moreover, formed an 
explanation and a justification for the closure of such an area 
as the Moray Firth. Long observation, however, has shown 
how futile such imaginary protection is in so small a bay as 
St. Andrews. How much more futile in the case of the vast area 
of the Moray Firth. 

The experiments of the ‘ Garland’ in the closed areas, and 
continuous observation in St. Andrews Bay and elsewhere—viz. 
on both sides of Britain from Shetland to the Channel Islands— 
in everything pertaining to marine life, have gradually formed 


SCIENTIFIC WORK IN THE SHA-FISHERIES. 211 


more rational views of the fisheries. No bay, for instance, is 
better known to men of science than St. Andrews Bay, which 
has been fished from time immemorial. It is probably about 
one hundred years since an elementary kind of trawl was used 
in its waters, and more than forty years since a fleet of local 
sailing trawlers swept it more or less every year. Moreover, ten or 
twelve steam trawlers also worked it for some years—before the 
closure for the scientific experiments of the ‘ Garland’ in 1886— 
when it was said to be ‘‘ trawled out.” Yet, on the cessation of 
trawling, there was no lack of fishes, and especially of flat-fishes. 
Further, it is a remarkable fact that the fleet of local sailing 
trawlers worked, weather permitting, invariably in the same 
line, by well-known land-marks; thus for more than thirty 
years setting at naught the fears of those who make a nightmare 
of ‘‘ trawling out,” and of ‘“‘barren areas” of the sea. Such, in- 
deed, might have been expected from the longer and more con- 
tinuous experience at Brixham. 

Notwithstanding the lamentable accounts of the condition of 
St. Andrews Bay as shown in the evidence before Lord Dal- 
housie’s Commission in 1883, its fishes, scientifically examined in 
1884, were very much as they are at this moment. Careful 
observations since that date have demonstrated that in their 
season, and by the use of anemones for bait, and then of gill- 
nets, Cod (said to be so rare) can be caught in hundreds by a 
single boat; that for a space of two years at a time (1905-1906) 
enormous numbers of saleable Haddocks may swarm in the bay, 
unaffected by the busy steam trawlers outside the limits ; that 
the larger Thornbacks (a kind of Skate) are and have always 
' been plentiful, and of the same size; and that much that has 
been said about the diminished size of the perennial Plaice 
needs modification, for in such a shallow sandy bay few mature 
fishes normally occur, only multitudes of young forms, which as 
they increase in size pass outwards to the deeper water—as of 
old. Further, the gill-nets demonstrated not only the abund- 
ance of food-fishes, but of numerous large Sharks (Porbeagle, 
nine feet), and many Porpoises, which would otherwise have 
been unknown, and every one of which levied daily contributions 
from the food-fishes. 

All this plenitude has been retained, though the number of 


212 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


men and boats has increased from six or seven yawls, with five 
men, to twenty-one modern boats, of treble the size, and with 
all the new appliances, so that six or seven men suffice. Besides, 
Broughty Ferry and Arbroath send a large contingent. 

The work of the ‘Garland’ in the closed waters of St. 
Andrews Bay and other areas will probably long remain unique, 
for it is unlikely that such a series of observations, continued 
over ten years, will ever again be made. With all the faults 
arising, amongst other things, from the small size of her trawl 
(25 ft.), and her unfitness for the rough seas of the eastern coast, 
the observations made by the aid of this ship have been note- 
worthy, and useful, by way of contrast, with those made in 1884. 
The results have corroborated the view that the marine food- 
fishes are able to withstand man’s interference. By its aid, 
more or less, the rate of growth of fishes, the size and age at 
which maturity occurs, the fecundity of fishes, period of spawn- 
ing, distribution of fishes—adult and young—and other features 
have been considerably advanced. Even Dr. Garstang, the 
author of a paper on the ‘‘ Impoverishment of the Sea,” 
observes :—‘‘ I am satisfied that the experiments have been 
largely successful in throwing light on the problem which they 
were designed to elucidate, in spite of the unfortunate errors of 
method with which the conclusions have been associated.” 

It is eleven years since the ‘ Garland’s’ experiments in St. 
Andrews Bay have ceased, and it is therefore quite fair now to 
ask, with reference to the supposed diminution of Plaice in it, 
where and when this has occurred? The introduction of Plaice- 
nets alone gave this notion a short shrift, not to speak of the 
swarms of tiny young along the tidal margin every spring, and 
of those of larger size all over the bay. The uncertainty, more- 
over, of relying on one line of investigation is shown by the fact 
that, at certain seasons, few or no Plaice can be caught in the 
gill-nets, whilst Dabs are abundant ; but if hooks baited with 
lobworms are scattered on the same ground—from which some 
suppose the Plaice have ‘‘ migrated’”—a good supply will be 
obtained. 

Since the publication of the ‘ Resources of the Sea,’ in which 
the details of the experiments in the closed areas are dealt with, 
a Select Parliamentary Committee, under the presidency of the 


SCIENTIFIC WORK IN THE SEA-FISHERIES. 213 


late Mr. Ritchie, was appointed in connection with the Jmma- 
ture Fishes Bill. It reported a diminution of flat-fishes in the 
North Sea, probably due to the destruction of immature fishes. 
The Bill, however, was rejected. 

Lastly, the Committee on Ichthyological Research appointed 
by the Board of Trade sat in 1901, and made various recom- 
mendations of importance in regard to improved statistics, in- 
crease of steamers for scientific work, establishment of a scientific 
department at the Board of Trade, a national Fishery Museum, 
and a co-ordination of the various administrative and scientific 
bodies. 

At this stage it would be well to retrace our steps to 1883 
—viz. the commencement of the scientific period—in order to 
review another phase in the scientific treatment of the fisheries. 
At this time (1883) the floating or pelagic condition of the eggs 
of the sea-fishes was almost unknown to scientific men in this 
country, though Prof. G. O. Sars, of Norway, about twenty years 
previously, had shown hat the eggs of the Cod, Haddock, and 
Gurnard were pelagic, and others had subsequently added the 
eggs of the Pollack, Bib, Pilchard, Mackerel, Flounder, Dab, and 
Plaice to the same category. No attention had been given to 
the subject in Britain, the most eminent men, indeed, believing 
that the floating or sinking of such eggs might be due wholly to 
the temperature of the water; whilst others deemed that the 
buoyancy was caused by the oil-globule, overlooking the fact 
that many were without such. As the investigations for the 
Trawling Commission advanced it was found how universal this 
pelagic or floating condition was. Moreover, steps were at once 
taken to put our knowledge of this important subject on a more 
creditable basis by constant observations with nets (including the 
large triangular midwater and bottom net of 10 ft. bars*), trawls, 
serutiny at low water-mark, and by the co-operation of liners and 
trawlers. Now this country is, to say the least, not behind any 

* We read of a ‘‘newera’”’ in fisheries’ work being inaugurated the other 
day by the use of a square net of this description. The era will have to be 
antedated by twenty years at least. Dr. Nansen took one of the St. Andrews 
nets to Greenland. They can be used at any depth, the finest hauls of young 
fishes of all kinds being obtained about a fathom above the bottom—say, in 


twenty to thirty fathoms of water. For inshore flat-fishes another form, like 
a beam-trawl, is employed. 


214 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


other in its knowledge of the reproduction, the development, and 
the life-histories of its marine food-fishes. Whilst St. Andrews 
took the lead in this work, it is only fair to say how ably the 
Laboratory at Plymouth exerted itself amongst the southern 
fishes, and the scientific staff of the Scotch Board amongst the 
northern fishes. 

Very early in these inquiries it was shown how easy it was to 
hatch the pelagic or demersal eggs of every sea-fish, even though 
they had to be transported from Shetland or the middle of the 
North Sea. A lecture on the subject, indeed, was given in the 
Royal Institution in 1889. This brings us to one of the recom- 
mendations of Lord Dalhousie’s Commission, viz. that experiments 
should be instituted to test the possibility of augmenting certain 
valuable sea-fishes by artificial hatching of their eggs. Much had 
been said to the Commission about the success of the Americans 
in this department, and the picture thus sketched was supposed 
to be somewhat discreditable to our country. In view of the im- 
portance of the subject the Scotch Fishery Board made inquiries 
in Norway, where Capt. Dannevig had hatched Cod in large 
numbers for some years, had a duplicate of his hatching-house 
and boxes made under his supervision in that country, con- 
structed a concrete tank, various enclosures of the sea, and 
started a hatchery at Dunbar in 1892 under the management of 
Dannevig’s son. The fishes selected for experiment were Cod, 
Plaice, Lemon-Dabs, Soles, and Turbot. In 1899 the hatchery 
was transferred to Aberdeen. For fifteen years the Board has 
continued the operations, and has endeavoured to test their value 
by stocking—e.g. with young Plaice—such areas as the upper 
reaches of Loch Fyneand Loch Gair. Unfortunately, no definite 
general result appears to have been obtained, for none has been 
published. Probably a considerable amount of time was lost 
from inexperience in the early efforts, but after the lapse of 
fifteen years’ expenditure the country has a right to know the 
result. Hatching operations have likewise been carried on at 
Piel, in Lancashire, by the North-Western Sea-Fisheries Com- 
mittee, under Prof. Herdman, but here also evidences of their 
practical influence on the sea-fisheries are wanting. In France 
considerable success has attended the efforts of M. Fabre- 
Domergue* to rear to the length of 12-15 mm. Soles, but the 

* ‘Développement dela Sole.’ Paris, 1905 


SCIENTIFIC WORK IN THE SEA-FISHERIES. 215 


experiment is on a small scale, and, in view of what takes place 
in the nets of the shrimpers, could not materially affect the 
situation. 

Allusion has been made to the work of the United States Fish- 
Commission, which for nearly thirty years has carried out exten- 
Sive experiments in sea-fish hatching. Yet, though Prof. Baird 
noted that small Cod of the grey or offshore variety (that used 
in the hatchery at Gloucester, Mass.) appeared in the harbour 
next year, where they never were found previously, and larger 
forms of the same variety in the two following years, no absolute 
proof is forthcoming, even up to date. It is true the American 
Fisheries Bureau* claims that there has been a general improve- 
ment in the shore-fishery for Cod, and that this improvement 
has been to some extent cumulative since the operations com- 
menced at Woods Holl and Gloucester, and that the increase 
followed the line of the adult fishes which were marked and set 
free after spawning. Even though hundreds of millions of fry 
of Cod and Flounders have been placed in the sea by the Ameri- 
cans, Mr. Fryer, one of H. M. Inspectors of Fisheries, holds 
that marine fish-hatching is immaterial, since there are so many 
young forms in the sea. Similar views are held by Petersen, of 
Denmark, who considers that it is of no consequence whether 
Plaice spawn in the Lim Fjord or not, as enormous numbers of 
small Plaice exist in the free waters outside, and migrate into it. 
Kven the long-continued labours of Capt. Dannevig, who for 
many years has turned the artificially hatched Cod-fry into the 
fjords of Norway, are held to be useless by Dr. Hjort, Dr. 
Knut Dahl, and others in that country. Similar remarks apply 
to the great hatchery for Cod at Dildo, Newfoundland. 

The enormous powers of reproduction of the sea-fishes, their 
pelagic eggs, the wonderful passage of the larval and post-larval 
fishes shorewards, or otherwise, according to definite laws, which 
are altogether independent of currents or temperatures, and their 
migrations outward to deeper water as they grow older, place 
them in a wholly different category from fresh-water and ana- 
dromous fishes—even without considering the marvellous and 


* T am much indebted to Dr. Goode Brown for valuable information on 
this head. 


216 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


unbroken chain of those organisms—from diatoms to fishes*— 
which form their food at every stage. 

On the whole, the conditions under which the adults of sea- 
fishes are kept for the artificial supply of eggs are not always 
favourable for health, and a comparatively small number of such 
adults in the open sea would produce a much greater number of 
healthy young. Besides, there is no lack of young fishes in the 
ocean. 

The whole history of the sea-fisheries of our country, from 
the earliest period up to date, thus affords no solid grounds for the 
pessimistic views either of scientific or practical men. It has 
not been proved that our seas have been depleted of food-fishes 
to a dangerous extent by man. In pre-statistical times the out- 
cry was as loud as now, even though the captures were small. 
After statistics were established, the complainers fixed on certain 
fishes, such as the nomad Cod and Haddock, till it was demon- 
strated that their fears were groundless. Then the flat-fishes 
(supposed to be sedentary) were singled out, and persistently 
held up—even now—as forms which were diminishing year by 
year before the hook and trawl. The public are thus constantly _ 
harassed by uncertainty and foreboding, whilst the legislature is 
ever invoked to satisfy one or other group of the pessimists. As 
Sir Spencer Walpole says, it is the old ery of ‘‘ wolf, wolf,” and 
yet the wolf has not come during all these years—it might truly 
be said, centuries. We know that, whitebait notwithstanding, 
the soundness of the position of the Herring, which furnishes so 
large a share of the total annual catch, is beyond cavil, and has 
long been so, and that the round-fishes, such as the Cod and the 
Haddock, have, though grudgingly, been admitted to be’ safe— 
both by their abundance in the market, and the vast areas over 
which they and their young are distributed. The flat-fishes, 
such as the Turbot, Sole, and Plaice, possess, not only in the, 
early condition, but throughout life, a protection which few 
round-fishes (amongst these the Sand-eel and Sting-fish) have, 
viz. the habit of living on the surface of, and often covered by, 
the sand. Moreover, the number of the pelagic eggs of the first 
named is enormous, viz. about ten millions. In their earliest 
(larval) condition they are, it is true, pelagic like their eggs, but 


* Lecture, Roy. Instit. of Great Britain, Friday, Feb. 1st, 1889, p. 10. 


SCIENTIFIC WORK IN THE SEA-FISHERIES, 217 


they soon gravitate to the bottom as the eye joins its neighbour 
of the opposite side, meanwhile approaching the margin of the 
tide, where they may be found in numbers amidst the muddy 
sand of the beaches, and where they are comparatively safe. 
During growth they are constantly shifting from the shallower to 
the deeper water, where the adults are found. Thus, while the 
adults may suffer from trawl or hook, their places are filled by 
an ever-constant stream of young—in the case of Plaice—in such 
numbers that hitherto their extermination has defied man’s most 
elaborate ingenuity and far-reaching cupidity. 

Bear in mind how often the approaching extinction of this 
and that fish has been predicted—how the fishery for Soles, for 
instance, has had its days numbered about a quarter of a century 
ago, even by scientific men, it may be, out of touch with the sea. 
Yet what does Nature teach us in the estuary of the Thames? 
For five or six hundred years at least the limited area of this 
estuary has been persistently and almost daily fished for Shrimps 
by man, and his nets have simultaneously captured and killed, 
amongst other fishes, numerous young Soles (and I have to 
thank Dr. Murie for his genial aid in the expedition to secure 
them)—tiny wafers which are blown on the gunwale of the boats, 
to which they adhere, in sifting; whilst the larger examples, at 
various stages, are picked out with the débris, and, as a rule, also 
killed. Since the area referred to has been calculated to send 
daily to London at least two thousand gallons of Shrimps,* the 
drain on these young fishes is enormous; yet, it may be asked, 
has it affected in any marked manner the prevalence of the adult 
Soles throughout these centuries, and, moreover, has the sea 
been impoverished in regard to Shrimps? Mr. Shaw Lefevre 
(now Lord Eversley) has recorded a case where, in Morecambe 
Bay, a far greater destruction of young flat-fishes was caused by 
the drying up of the shallow pools between tide-marks ‘by the 
sun than by al! the local shrimpers, of which the flounder- 
fishermen complained. The fishermen, however, had a ready 
rejoinder when this was pointed out by the Commissioners, viz. 
that the natural loss was allowed for by Providence, but not that 
caused by shrimping. It must not, however, be supposed that 
this wholesale destruction of young fishes is treated with in- 


* Mr. Spencer Walpole, Fish. Exhib. Lit. vol. i. p. 47, 1884. 
Zool. 4th ser. vol. XI., June, 1907. Ss 


218 Misti Abi - THE .4ZOOLOGIST. 


difference, or allowed to go on if it could be avoided. It is only 
cited as a proof of the wonderful resources of Nature, which for 
so long a period has maintained supplies in spite of the constant 
drain—natural and artificial. 

A noteworthy instance of the supposed extinction of a food- 
fish, again, is to be found in the American Tile-Fish (Lopholatilus 
chameleonticeps).* This fish was discovered in 1879, in deep 
water off the United States, when fishing for Cod and Hake with 
“trawls,” each about one mile long, and having one thousand 
hooks, and was caught in considerable numbers. In March and 
April, 1882, vessels entering the Atlantic harbours of the United 
States reported that they had passed through countless numbers 
of dead Tile-Fishes while crossing the northern edge of the Gulf 
Stream, the mortality being estimated at 1,438,720,000. For 
ten years no trace of the Tile-Fish was found, but again in 1892, 
and the following four or five years, some were caught, and in 
1898 a large number were captured by an expedition sent to 
their special grounds, the bait being Mackerel. Prof. Verrill 
thought that the destruction of the Tile-Fishes was due to the 
effects of a great storm, which lowered the temperature of the 
warm slope they inhabited. Their reappearance was connected, 
by Prof. Libbey, with the movement of the warm band of water 
towards the shore, which thus restored their former environment. 

Nor do the foregoing facts stand alone. A perusal of the 
English and Irish statistics, and still more of the Scotch official 
returns, which are at once the oldest and most complete, will 
show the soundness of the position. One instance will suffice: 
In 1897, the last return dealt with in the ‘ Resources of the Sea,’ 
the grand total of the Scotch fisheries was 5,001,672 cwt., of the 
value of £1,627,752. More or less steadily have these fisheries 
mounted up, till in 1905 (the last published Report) the grand 
total (exclusive of shell-fishes) reached 17,856,310 cwt., or 
2,854,638 cwt. more than in 1897, whilst the total value was 
£2,649,148, or considerably above a million more. So far as 
can be observed, therefore, and taking all the circumstances of 
increased means of capture into consideration, the result is not 
disquieting. Moreover, countries which began in fear—like the 
Americans—to spend large sums on the sea-fisheries, now find 


* Dr. H. C, Bumpus, Bull. U. 8. Fish. Com. vol. xviii. p. 321, 1898, 


SCIENTIFIC WORK IN THE SEA-FISHERIES. 219 


that there has really been no general reduction in prosperity, not- 
withstanding the development of modern methods and the vast 
increase of population.* The same may be said of the Lofoten 
Cod-fisheries of Norway, which for one thousand years have shown 
no diminution; of the perennially abundant Cod-fisheries of New- 
foundland ; of the vast fisheries of Canada (under the scientific 
‘guidance of Prof. Prince, of St. Andrews), which during the last 
thirty years have steadily maintained, if not exceeded, their pris- 
tine value. Hven the Lobster (by some regarded as a vanishing 
form) began in 1875 with 1,638,658 dollars, and ended in 1905 with 
3,906,998 dollars, the canneries and traps having increased ten and 
one hundredfold respectively. Yet in the most rigorously fished 
area (Western Nova Scotia) there was an increase in 1904 over 
1902 of 196,316 dollars. If a comparatively sedentary animal like 
the Lobster, which carries a limited number of eggs for many 
(eight to eleven) months, can survive, and even multiply, under 
such severe conditions, how much more fitted for endurance are 
the food-fishes, with their far greater number of floating eggs, 
their wonderful life-histories, and surroundings in an element so 
vast and so conducive to safety. 


VALUE OF CatcH (IN DOLLARS) OF IMPORTANT CANADIAN FISHES. 
THIRTY YEARS. 


Cod Haddock Hake | Mackerel | Lobsters | Oysters | Herring 
1875 | 3,249,000 | 282,385 152,756 1,245,570 | 1,638,658 | 12,000 | 1,377,175 
1880 | 3,900,000 626,300 656,894 1,181,000 | 2,843,100 nonce 1,233,000 
1885 4,302,454 | 785,245. 217,981 | 1,826,681 | 2,851,559 soe 2,645,447 
1890 | 3,449,640. 532,068 440,064) 1,958,492 | 1,648,348 Ho 2,294,914 
1895 | 3,688,519 | 444,703 210,856 736,655 | 2,210,096 se 2,800,556 
1900 | 3,614,775 | 608,067 520,504 1,549,448 | 3,055,350 Ae 1,858,237 
1905 | 3,421,400 | 806,743 | 447,665) 985,223 | 3,906,998 a 2,808,485 

| arrels 


* In Japan, likewise, boats are increasing in number as well as in equip- 
ment, and though Prof. Kishinouye thinks inshore fishes have decreased, yet 
the absence of reliable statistics shows that Japan is only passing through the 
experience of all old countries, 

s 2 


220 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


So long as the countless hosts of the young of the round- 
fishes, like the Cod and the Haddock, people vast areas of the 
open sea, regularly appear off our rocky shores, or fill the great 
midwater- and bottom-nets in deep water, or, like the newly- 
hatched Herrings, form a carpet on the sandy bays ; so long as 
swarms of the young of the flat-fishes frequent the tidal margin 
on sand or sandy mud, and are scattered, at a somewhat older 
stage, broadcast over our sandy bays; so long as the fishery 
statistics, not only of Britain, but of all the countries bordering 
the North Sea, show only the usual fluctuations of an uncertain 
pursuit, or point to an increase ; so longas the calm survey of the 
whole subject is as satisfactory as at present, it would be neither 
scientific nor practical to doubt the permanence of the marine 
food-fishes, or the marvellous resources of Nature in the sea. 

Such, then, is a brief and imperfect outline of the facts which 
make it clear that the British fisheries, notwithstanding all the 
restlessness and distrust of the fishermen and the public, and 
notwithstanding all the fears of the learned as to man upsetting 
the balance of nature, are, upon scientific grounds, not unsatis- 
factory. ‘The larger fishes on a given area may,-by constant 
work, be diminished, and the rest rendered more wary, but the 
ranks are soon filled up by the younger forms. When we come, 
in the following part, to consider the international statistics and 
observations—though some of these are from the hands of those 
who began the work imbued with the popular notion of the 
‘Impoverishment of the Sea ’—it will be interesting, after their 
unequalled opportunities and unequalled expenditure (of £70,000), 
to discover how far such a view has been substantiated. 


( 221 ) 


AQUATIC COCKROACHES. 
By R. Suenrorp, M:A., F.L.S. 


In 1897 the writer was collecting insects on a mountain close 
to Kuching, the capital town of the State of Sarawak, in Borneo, 
and, whilst examining a small pool at the base of a waterfall for 
water-beetles, discovered several Cockroaches lurking in the sod- 
den leaves scattered about the edge of the pool. The insects, 
when disturbed, took to the water, and dived to the bottom, 
where they hid under sticks and stones. The habit was suffici- 
ently remarkable and unexpected to deserve further investigation, 
and several specimens were captured alive, and placed in a glass 
tank with some water and an abundance of vegetable débris. All 
the specimens were immature, and of varying size, ranging from 
10 millim. to 25 millim. in length. It was observed that they 
could not endure total immersion in water for any length of 
time; if a specimen was confined in a tube full of water, and 
denied all access to air, it would struggle violently for a few 
minutes in its efforts to escape, and then sink to the bottom of 
the tube, and there expire. This is what one might expect from 
the results of certain experiments conducted by Prof. Plateau, of 
Ghent, on the relative staying powers of land- and water-insects 
when totally submerged in water. The distinguished Belgian 
entomologist found that, whilst terrestrial insects will support 
an immersion for a period ranging from 973 hours to 224 hours, 
aquatic beetles succumb in periods ranging from 653 hours to 
3 hours. The aquatic Cockroach drowns even more rapidly than 
aquatic beetles, and it was found that a terrestrial Cockroach, 
though enduring total immersion for a few hours, is unable to 
remain alive without air for even the minimum time recorded for 
terrestrial beetles. 

The aquatic Cockroaches that were kept under observation 
were very inactive, resting for hours at a time on the dead leaves 
with which they were provided ; generally the front part of the 


222 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


body was in the water, but the tip of the abdomen was never 
submerged, even when all the rest of the body was covered. The 
abdomen moved up and down with a rhythmic action, and 
bubbles of air issued at more or less regular intervals from the 
prothoracic spiracles. These air-bubbles were seen to form 
gradually, to grow larger and larger, and finally to break away 
from the spiracles; about twenty per minute passed through the 
spiracles. Air issued from the mesothoracic spiracles only when 
the insect was violently agitated. From these observations it 
seemed fairly obvious that the terminal abdominal spiracles were 
inspiratory in function, the thoracic spiracles expiratory, and 
that it was necessary, therefore, for the insect to have the tip of 
the abdomen exposed to the air, but that it was a matter of in- 
difference whether the expiratory spiracles were above water or 
below it. In order to settle the question beyond all manner of 
doubt, some specimens were fastened with cotton threads to 
strips of cork; -half the number were fastened head downwards, 
the other half head upwards. The cork-strips with the attached 
insects were then immersed in tubes of water. In the case of 
the reversed specimens the water covered the thorax and basal 
segments of the abdomen, but the tip of the abdomen projected 
above the water-level ; the other specimens had the abdomen in 
the water, but the thorax exposed. The results in every case 
proved the inspiratory and expiratory functions of the abdominal 
and thoracic spiracles respectively. The reversed specimens 
endured their constrained position for many hours (twenty-four 
to forty-eight or more), and when released seemed little the worse 
for their experience. On the other hand, the specimens with the 
abdomen immersed in water died in less than twelve hours, some- 
times in less than six. The structure of the thoracic spiracles 
in Cockroaches is quite different from that of the abdominal 
spiracles,* and a difference in function is only to be expected ; 
nevertheless, when repeating these experiments with terrestrial 
Cockroaches, such as Panesthia javanica, I was unable to demon- 
strate satisfactorily the functional differences of their spiracles. 
This failure may be accounted for—in part, at any rate—by the 
fact that this species struggled long and violently when pinioned 
to the cork-strips, and, as they are extremely muscular insects, 


** Miall and Denny, ‘ The Cockroach,’ 1886, pp. 151-155, ff. 85-88. 


AQUATIC COCKROACHES. 223 


their bonds had to be tightly fastened in order to keep them in 
position; even then the prisoners did not relax their efforts to 
free themselves, and I believe that they died of exhaustion and of 
injuries sustained in their struggles rather than from drowning. 
The aquatic species, on the other hand, remained comparatively 
quiet ; the reversed specimens, being fastened in a position more 
or less natural to them, and being able to obtain their supply of 
air in quite a normal and usual manner, were very little dis- 


Fic. 1.—End of abdomen of a larva of Rhicnoda natatria, sp.n., dorsal 
view; s.p. spiracular tube; c. cercus; s.a.l. last dorsal tergite. 


Fic. 2.—The same, ventral view; st. abdominal sternite; s. spiracle; 
t. abdominal tergite. 

Fic. 3.— Spiracular tube, highly magnified, seen in optical section; 
v.. vestibule; s. spiracle; m. muscle working 0., the chitinous bow; ¢. 
trachea. 


tressed by their bonds, and the other specimens were soon reduced 
to a comatose condition by the difficulty of obtaining air. The 
terminal spiracles of these aquatic Cockroaches are situated at 
the base of two tubes visible on the dorsal side projecting from 
below the seventh tergite, and external to the anal cerci (fig. 1). 


224 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


This same feature may be observed in many terrestrial Blattide, 
so that it cannot be regarded as associated with the aquatic habit. 
A microscopic examination of one of these spiracular tubes reveals 
the following features (fig. 8). The orifice of the tube leads into 
a short vestibule (v.), the vestibule joins a large trachea (¢.), but 
intervening between vestibule and trachea is the spiracle (s.), a 
narrow slit in a diaphragm ; the slit is opened and closed by the 
action of a chitinous bow (b.), worked by a muscle (m.) attached 
to the wall of the vestibule. This is essentially the structure of 
all the abdominal spiracles in Cockroaches, and the terminal 
spiracular tubes of the aquatic species are merely enlarged 
equivalents, shifted dorsally, of the short spiracular plates of the 
preceding segments (fig. 2, s.), which are situated on the ventral 
side of the abdomen. 

Externally, at any rate, the aquatic Cockroaches exhibit no 
particular modifications for their remarkable habit of life, the 
legs are not. different from those of allied terrestrial genera, and 
there is nothing in their general appearance to suggest their 
aquatic habit of life. During the experiments that have been 
described one distinctive feature, however, in the economy of the 
insects was notable, viz. the ease with which they could remain 
below the surface of the water. Most adult aquatic insects, e. g. 
Dytiscus, Coriza, Notonecta, can only keep below the surface by 
continuing to swim, or by propping themselves under some stone 
or submerged leaf; directly they relax their efforts they float to 
the surface. Again, if a large heavy Cockroach, suchas Panesthia 
javanica, is thrown into water, it flounders helplessly on the 
surface, and is quite unable to sink; whereas the much lighter 
aquatic Cockroach is able to swim, to dive, and to remain sub- 
merged with great ease. An explanation of these facts is found 
if the tracheal systems of the insects are examined. The tracheze 
of Dytiscus and of Panesthia present the usual appearance of 
opaque silvery tubes filled with air; the trachez of the aquatic 
Cockroaches, on the other hand, are transparent, flattened, strap- 
like structures, dilated here and there only with air-bubbles. 
Dytiscus and Panesthia are buoyed up in water by the plentiful 
supply of air stored in their bodies, but the trachee of the water 
Cockroach are mere air-passages, not storehouses, the respiratory 
movements are rapid, causing a constant circulation of air, and 


AQUATIC COCKROACHES. 225 


if the supply is entirely cut off there is practically no reserve 
supply contained in the body to draw upon. Hence the rapid 
death of the insect when totally submerged; if only partially 
submerged death supervenes less rapidly, probably because some 
air can be drawn through the thoracic spiracles. Panesthia 
javanica is able to endure total immersion longer than the partial 
immersion to which individuals were submitted, because these 
individuals, when bound, struggled so violently as to make heavy 
demands on their reserve air-supply ; their position was so. con- 
strained, so unusual, and so unnatural that they were not able 
to ‘“‘take matters quietly,’ even when fastened in a position 
presumably favourable to drawing in a fresh supply. Plateau 
has shown that aquatic insects drown more quickly than terres- 
trial insects, and suggests that this is because their supply 
of oxygen is quickly converted into CO, through their violent 
struggles to escape, whereas terrestrial insects, when submerged 
in water, soon cease to struggle, and, although they become 
comatose, they recover power of movement when restored to 
land. It would be of interest to learn if an aquatic insect such 
as Dytiscus would endure partial immersion, 7. ¢. with the tip of 
the abdomen exposed, as well as the aquatic Blattids. 

Dr. Nelson Annandale discovered some aquatic Cockroaches 
in the Malay Peninsula*; the females were wingless, and rested 
on floating logs, whence they dived into the water when dis- 
turbed ; the males were winged, and were seen to rise from the 
surface of the water, but were never seen to enter it. Dr. Annan- — 
dale states, moreover, that the egg-cases of this species were 
found in crevices of the floating logs. If the Malay Peninsula 
species belongs to the same subfamily of Blattide as the Bornean 
species, namely, to the Epilamprine, this discovery of egg-cases 
is of some interest, for the Epilamprine are, so far as is known, 
viviparous insects, the chitinous ootheca deposited by the females 
of other subfamilies being represented by a delicate membrane 
enveloping the eggs inside the brood-sac of the mothér. Unfor- 
tunately, Dr. Annandale’s specimens appear to be lost, so that 
they cannot be identified with certainty. 

Another species has been discovered in Formosa,+ and Dr. 


* Ent. Rec. 1900, p. 76. 
+ Shiraki, Ann. Zoolog. Japon. vi. 1906, p. 32, pl. 2, f. 4. 


226 _ THE ZO0O0OLOGIST. 


Annandale has found an immature specimen in Chota Nagpur, 
India.* It remains only to give a name to the Bornean species, 
which appears to be undescribed. The following description is 
drawn up from an unique female specimen in the Hope Museum, 
Oxford, evidently the adult of some of the larval forms obtained. 
The male is unknown.+ The Japanese species has been wrongly 
referred to the genus Opisthoplatia ; there is no doubt that it is 
congeneric with the Bornean species. 


Subfam. Eprnamprinm. 
Genus Ruicnopa, Brunner. 
Rhicnoda natatrix, sp. n. 

@. Castaneous. Allied to R. rugosa, Br., from Burma and 
Java, but larger, and with the dorsal segments less rugose. Head 
concavely depressed between the antennal sockets, this area 
cribrately punctate, rest of head with scattered punctures. Pro- 
notum just covering vertex of head, arcuate, posterior margin 
truncate, anterior and lateral margins slightly reflected; a few 
scattered punctures and a pair of impressions on the disc. Teg- 
mina rufous, exceeding the mesonotum in length. Meso- and 
metanotum and abdominal tergites slightly and irregularly 
rugose, the posterior margins of the sixth and seventh tergites 
plicated. Supra-anal lamina produced, apex emarginate, cerci 
abbreviated, spiracular tubes short; subgenital lamina ample, 
posterior margin sinuate, disc transversely wrinkled. Front 
femora with five spines in middle of anterior margin beneath, 
four spines on posterior margin ; formula of apical spines 2, 4, 4, 
front femora with no genicular spine. Posterior metatarsus 
equals remaining joints. Total length, 85°55 mm.; length of 
tegmina, 7 mm.; pronotum, 10 mm. x 17°5 mm. 

Borneo (Wilson Saunders collection, Hope Museum, Oxford). 

* Jour. As. Soc. Bengal (new series), vol. ii. 1906, pp. 105, 106. Dr. 
Annandale confirms my account of the respiration of these insects, and noted 
the ease with which his specimen was drowned when totally submerged. 

_ + Ima preliminary account of these Cockroaches (Rep. Brit. Assoc. 1901, 
p. 689) I stated that they consisted of two species—one an Epilamprine, the 
other a Panesthiine. ‘This is an error due to inaccurate information supplied 
to me at a time when my knowledge of the Blattide was less than it is now. 
All the specimens collected by me are immature, and are referable to two 
Epilamprine genera, Rhicnoda and Epilampra. The females of the former 
genus apparently lead a semi-aquatic life always. I expect that it will be 


found eventually that some terrestrial species of Hpilampra are amphibious 
or aquatic in their earlier stages. 


( 297 ) 


OBSERVATIONS OF AN ATTEMPT OF THE SWALLOW 
TRIBE TO WINTER IN SOUTH HANTS DURING 
1906-7. 

By Harry Beeston. 


For several years past I have taken a very deep interest in 
the migration of birds, both during the spring and autumn, and 
have noted some extremely interesting, yet withal puzzling, 
observations on the very late departure of the Swallow oul in 
the South of England. 

Havant—the town where I reside—is situated near the sea, 
the open Channel being only four and a half miles distant, while 
the waters of Langstone and Emsworth Harbours are within half 
a mile of the town. 

The locality is well sheltered on the north by the South Downs, 
and by the Isle of Wight to the south ; the atmosphere is humid, 
and the climate rather mild, even in winter, so much so that fre- 
quently gnats and flies are seen hovering over the streams and 
fields, in abundance, in the middle of winter. During a resi- 
dence of twelve years in the district I have never seen the 
streams frozen over. 

I mention these facts in order that the following remarks may 
be better understood; they have, in my opinion, a direct bearing - 
on the question of bird migration, and may be able partly to 
explain why Swallows and Martins arrive so early, and linger so 
long in the locality. 

It is more of the apparent desire of the birds to remain so 
abnormally late in the district, than of their early appearance 
on which I wish to dwell specially, with a view to obtaining some 
satisfactory solution to the problem. 

The fact is well known that members of the Swallow tribe are 
reported from various parts of the South of England very late in 
the season (autumn), but Hampshire seems greatly favoured in 
this respect, year by year, in the neighbourhood of Havant. In 
the year 1903 Swallows and Martins (two species) lingered well 
on into November, and a solitary House-Martin was seen flying 


228 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


about, and hawking for food over a stream in the locality, quite 
near to the town, on December 30th. This at the time was 
thought to constitute a record, but during the following years 
much later records have resulted. The next year (1904) Swallows 
(Hirundo rustica) remained well on into November, but during 
1905 and 1906 the birds remained abnormally late. 

First take 1905. Swallows and Martins, in fair numbers, 
remained on after the general southern exodus was over. Here 
follow the observations copied from my diary. 

On Noy. 18th siz Swallows and one Sand-Martin were observed 
vigorously feeding, and very strong on the wing. The day was 
very cold, and a keen N.E. wind was blowing. I mention the 
direction of the wind as it had been blowing from a northerly . 
point (N.E., N.W., or N.) from the 18th inst.; so that the birds 
had not apparently lingered because the wind was not in the 
direction most generally thought to be suitable to migration. There 
had been ample time and opportunity for departure. 

On Nov. 19th jive Swallows were observed—two adult birds 
and three young ones. The wind was still N.H. The Sand- 
Martin seen on the 18th had disappeared. 

The 20th was a bright day, with a cold, raw, frosty air, with 
wind due north. During the night there had been a keen frost, 
and the ground was white with hoar-frost. One Swallow only 
was seen—an adult bird. The others may have been in the 
locality, but were not seen, as the observation was made at dusk, 
and the birds may have gone to roost for the night. 

21st.—Two Swallows sporting about to-day, and very strong 
on the wing, although there had been ten degrees of frost during 
the night; the roads were frozen hard, and the puddles and 
ditches thick with ice, though the streams were not frozen over. 
The birds occasionally rested on a wire-fence by the side of the 
stream, and preened their feathers as though the weather was 
mid-May instead of winter. The wind was N.W. One of the 
birds noted to-day was adult, and the other appeared a young 
one, and in immature plumage. 

22nd.—Sudden change in weather—wind 8.W., and a mild 
showery day. During the night eight degrees of frost had been 
registered, yet two Swallows remained—to all appearance. the 
same as seen yesterday. 


WINTERING OF SWALLOW TRIBE IN 8S. HANTS. 229 


23rd.—Wind W., mild and showery. Two Swallows hawking 
vigorously for food over the stream. 

24th.—Wind S.W. One Swallow seen, and this appears 
to be the young bird, as it has several whitish (or greyish) 
feathers on the rump, and in the tail. 

25th.—Strong 8.E. wind. One bird still strong on the wing. 

26th.—Fierce gale from S.W., with heavy rain. One Swallow 
braving the blast, though finding great difficulty in beating against 
the wind up-stream. 

27th.—Brighter day. Wind W.N.W. Same bird present (by 
markings), strong in flight, and seemingly quite at home, and in 
no hurry to depart. 

28th.—Strong squally S.W. wind, with rain. Bird to-day 
seemed weary, and frequently settled to rest on wire-fence ; ap- 
peared to find a difficulty in facing the wind. 

29th.—Bright day. Wind N.E. Bird feeding as usual. 

30th.—Cold, raw day. Wind due 8. Bird still present. 

Dec. 1st.—Weather bright. Wind N.W. Bird strong on 
wing. 

2nd to 4th.—Fine mild weather. Wind N.E. Bird vigorously 
feeding and strong. 

5th.—Very mild. Wind S. Missed bird to-day for first time. 
Has it departed or died ? 

6th.—A changeable, mild day. Wind N.E. Much surprised 
to-day to find the Swallow back again over the stream, and quite 
lively. No doubt yesterday the weather had tempted the bird 
to leave the stream, and go on a foraging expedition farther 
afield. I was quite delighted to find the bird was still alive, and 
in its usual haunts. 

7th.—Fine day. S.W. wind. Bird very fit and vigorous. 

8th.—As yesterday. N.W. wind. Bird flying strongly, and 
making excursions across the fields away from the water. To-day 
winter and summer seemed strangely blended, for, while the 
Swallow was gaily skimming over the surface of the water, the 
Grey Wagtails from the northern districts: were taking short 
flights, and hovering over the siream for instants to snap up the 
gnats from the surface, displaying their long. white tail-feathers 
in the action, and then fluttering with a cheery ‘‘chiss-up! 
chiss-up!” to the weedy margin again. 


_ 280 cok aby -THE ZOOLOGIST. - 


-9th.—Wind N.W. No Swallow! 

10th.—Sharp rimy frost. Wind N.W. No Swallow! 

For several days from this date I have visited the stream, but 
the bird has not been seen since. Has it at last departed to a 
summer clime? I doubt it. In my opinion it has either fallen 
a prey to some predacious bird while on the wing, or a prowling 
cat has secured it from its roosting-place. 

On the 8th, when last seen, it was too vigorous on the wing, 
and swept over the meadows so full of life and animation that I 
cannot believe for a moment it died of starvation. I regret its 
disappearance very much, as I feel almost confident, considering 
the bird had safely weathered ten degrees of frost nearly three 
weeks before, that it would have stayed on until spring, food 
being plentiful. But this matter of ed and other interesting 
points I shall discuss later. 

I now pass on to last year (1906). Hven more interesting 
than the previous notes are the observations made pee the 
late autumn and winter of 1906-7. 

Up to the first week in November (1906) Swallows and House- 
Martins were common, as is the usual thing here, although not 
in great numbers, small parties of five or six—no doubt parents 
and their late broods—being occasionally noted sitting on the 
telegraph-wires, or skimming over the streams. 

I again follow my diary notes :— 

Nov. 11th.—Wind N.E. Three House-Martins seen. 

18th.—Wind N.W. Gale of wind and heavy rain. Five 
Swallows seen circling over the tops of elm trees, evidently on 
the feed. 

25th. — Wind N.W. Three Swallows, two House-Martins, 
and one Sand-Martin sweeping up and down stream in full 
vigour. 

27th.—Wind W. Two Swallows skimming over the water 
and fields. 

28th.—Wind N.W. Five Swallows sitting on telegraph-wires, 
evidently a family party, occasionally flying off together in search 
of food. 

29th.—Wind §8.W. Weather very mild. One Swallow and 
two Sand-Martins in full flight, hawking over. the stream. The 
two latter are evidently stragglers from some other locality 


WINTERING OF SWALLOW TRIBE IN S. HANTS. 231 


(northward), and the Swallow probably one of the five seen 
yesterday ; but this interesting fact is worth special note—that 
four of the latter have disappeared with a N.W. wind, and the two 
Martins have arrived; but why should one Swallow remain. and 
the.others depart? The two Martins may have travelled south- 
ward with yesterday’s N.W. wind, and have chosen to- rest and 
recuperate here, and then pass on, but later observations, it will 
be seen, prove that they did. not proceed farther, nor show any 
desire to do'so. 

Dec. 1st.—Strong N.W. wind. One Swallow only seen, strong 
and fit. 

2nd.—Two Sand-Martins and one Salon 

4th.—Wind N.W.; mild day. One Swallow only seen. 

5th.— Wind N. W. ; much colder. else Sand-Martins, but no 
Swallow. 

Note.—lt will be absenved that on some days the Swallow only 
was seen, and on other days the Martins were seen by themselves ; 
while frequently the two species would be together disporting 
themselves over the water. No doubt when they were not all 
together the absent ones had gone farther afield in search of 
food, or taken longer flights around the district, thus accounting 
for their apparent departure, as was proved on succeeding days 
by their reappearance. 

6th.—Wind N.E. One Swallow, two Sand-Martins. 

7th.—Wind N.E. Four degrees of frost, white rimy frost 
this morning, and roads coated with ice. The three birds (both 
species) in evidence.. The Sand-Martins are vigorous, but the 
Swallow seems very feeble, flying with evident labour just- over 
the surface of the water, occasionally dipping its beak into the 
stream, and picking off an insect. 

N.B.—From this date forward the observations, it will be 
seen, are almost a counterpart of those of 1905, and it is these 
facts which are so very interesting, and constitute so suggestive a 
study—I may almost venture to say, an unique and puzzling 
enigma—in ornithology. 

8th.— Wind N.E. Keen rimy frost, with hard icy Pode j 
change to rain in evening. Jwo Sand-Martins present; no 
Swallow. 

9th,—Keen strong N.W. wind. Another hard frost last night, 


232 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


and freezing hard all day. One Swallow and two Sand-Martins 
beating up and down stream in the cold N.W. wind, but hawking 
on the lee-side of willow trees and haystacks, which shelter the 
stream somewhat from the blast; birds quite close to the water, 
scarcely ever leaving the stream. Query: Why do these birds 
linger on? They are sure to perish ! 

In order to show how very keen the weather was at this 
time, and to what straits the birds were put to obtain food, I may 
mention that along the margins of the stream over which the 
Swallow and Martins were flying I observed the following species 
of birds which were seen fossicking for food at the same time 
(3.80 p.m.), viz. :—Stonechat, Meadow-Pipit, Wren, Grey Wag- 
tail (see note re this bird for 1903), Robin, Starling, Song-Thrush, 
Blackbird, Sparrows. 

10th.—Fine bright day. Wind N.W.; six degrees of frost 
last night. All three birds on the wing—the Sand-Martins won- 
derfully strong on the wing, and apparently unaffected by the 
cold weather ; the Swallow seemingly very feeble, but still keep- 
ing on the feed, resting occasionally on a wire-fence. As I stood 
on the margin of the stream, I could easily have caught the 
Swallow in a butterfly-net, or have touched it with my stick, so 
tame or heedless of my presence did it appear. As it rested its 
wings drooped languidly downwards, showing a distinct patch of 
whitish feathers in the middle of the back. It was this patch 
which served to identify the bird as the same which had remained 
on from Noy. 25th. It hardly seems possible for this bird to 
survive through another night of keen frost. 

1ith—Wind N.W. Thawing to-day; thick fog; heavy rain 
in evening; seven degrees of frost last night. To my great 
surprise, both Swallow and Martins on the wing, the latter 
fairly strong in flight, but the Swallow very feeble, taking short 
flights, resting a minute or so on the wire-fence, then back- 
wards and forwards along the stream, occasionally sweeping the 
surface, and picking off an insect with evident effort—a magni- 
ficent struggle of animated nature against great odds. Which 
will win, bird or weather? Alas for the bird ! 

12th.—Wind W.:;; cold, piercing, strong wind. As I antici- 
pated, Martins only in evidence to-day. The poor Swallow has 
evidently perished. I searched the ground below the wire-fence 


WINTERING OF SWALLOW TRIBE IN S. HANTS. 233 


where it rested yesterday in the expectation of finding its corpse, 
but failed to do so. It has probably died on its perch, or fallen 
into the stream, and, unable to recover itself, been carried away 
and drowned. It would be interesting to know its fate. 

13th.—Cold west wind; frost last night. The two Sand- 
Martins still on the wing. 

14th.—Wind N.W.; cold, raw, wintry day. Very hard frost 
last night ; roads frozen and covered with ice. One Sand-Martin 
only to-day, flying vigorously up and down stream, snapping up 
the gnats from the surface as it skimmed along, with no evidence 
of feebleness or discomfort. The weather is so wintry that the 
Song-Thrushes, which have been in full song up to this week 
(9th), are now silenced, being too busy seeking food to think of 
singing ; yet this belated summer bird seems to quite disregard 
the weather, and appears as strong and healthy as though it 
were midsummer. 

15th.—Wind N.W.; dull cold day. Both Martins present 
to-day. Ispenta couple of hours searching the beams, ledges, 
and floors of several barns and stables, where I thought it 
likely the Swallow, last seen on 11th inst., might have roosted 
at night, in the hope of finding its dead body, and thus satisfy 
myself that it had died a natural death (2. e. of cold and starva- 
tion), but my search was in vain. Evidently one of the Martins 
had yesterday made an excursion by itself away from its usual 
feeding haunts. A Grey Wagtail and a Snipe seen feeding by 
the stream to-day. 

17th.—Wind N.W.; mild dull day. Birds still alive and 
well, but to-day high in the air above the trees, outhouses, and 
fields, yet never going far from the vicinity of the stream. 

18th.—Weather and wind as yesterday. Birds very strong 
on the wing, and still circling high above the ground, and seem- 
ingly quite vigorous, and in no hurry to depart to warmer climes. 
The mild weather has once more incited the Song-Thrushes to 
commence singing again. 

20th.—Wind changed to N.E.; weather much colder. The 
two birds still in evidence. 

21st.—Wind N.E. Cold, with hard frost again. To-day a 
strange and curious thing has happened—the two Sand-Martins 
have been joined by a Swallow, a poor, bedraggled, miserable-look- 

Zool. 4th ser. vol. XI., June, 1907, T 


234 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


ing, half-dead object. There is absolutely no mistaking him (a 
male), with his reddish throat and long-forked tail, and without 
doubt none other than the bird seen on Dec. 11th.. But—and here 
is the mystery, if we grant it to be the same bird—where in the 
interval has the bird been—a matter of ten days? When seen 
last (vide 11th inst.) the poor creature could scarcely fly, there- 
fore it was quite incapable of taking a lengthy flight, and would 
scarcely be likely to go on a speculative journey in search of 
food when insects were fairly plentiful in the vicinity of the 
stream where it had fed so long. On the other hand, is it 
possible for tt to have existed for ten days without food? Had it 
been in a semi-torpid condition during that time in some warm 
corner of an outbuilding, protected somewhat from the cold 
weather, and then, having been partly revived by the milder 
conditions which prevailed from 15th to 18th, managed for once 
to struggle out in search of a scanty meal ? If so—and we grant 
it possible for a bird to exist thus in a semi-torpid state for several 
days—there might be some foundation for the accounts given of 
Swallows being seen in attics, church-towers, roofs of buildings, 
and other similar places, apparently dead; or of Sand-Martins 
being dug out of sand-pits and other sheltered places in a torpid 
condition, and actually returning to life when subjected to the 
effects of warmth. This theory of semi-torpidity does not seem to 
have been yet entirely refuted, though it is usually regarded as im- 
possible, but I am inclined to think there may be “‘ something in 
it.” Iwould like to have the opinion of ornithologists regarding 
the disappearance of the Swallow on Dec. 11th, and its re- 
appearance on Dec. 21st. It is quite certain that the Sand- 
Martins have not yet been in a torpid condition, as they have 
been observed almost every day from Nov. 29th. 


(To be continued.) 


235 


NOTES AND QUERIES. 


MAMMALIA. 

Dolphin in Moy Estuary, Killala Bay.—The carcase of a Dolphin 
was left by the tide on the shore of one of my fields here on the 
5th inst.; it was in an advanced stage of decomposition, having 
probably been killed some weeks previously by the Salmon fishermen. 
It was a male, 74 ft. in length. I could not measure the dorsal fin or 
flukes, both being partly cut away; the flippers were 14 in. long from 
the shoulders, while from blow-hole to end of lower jaw measured 
14in.; the same distance from eye to end of lower jaw. ‘The teeth 
were small and sharply pointed, those of the upper jaw fitting closely 
between those of the lower, and some of the teeth at end of upper jaw 
were wanting, but those of the lower were all perfect—forty-eight on each 
side. Ihave no books of reference by me, but suppose from the large 
number of teeth that the animal is the Common Dolphin (Delphinus 
delphis)—RoBertT WarrEN (Moy View, Ballina). 


AVES. 


Dipper (Cinclus aquaticus)—On April 14th I took a clutch of five 
Dipper’s eggs. Being near the spot again on April 30th, I dropped ~ 
down to have a look at the nest. The Dipper flew out as I approached, 
and, on examining, I found five fresh-laid eggs in the identical nest. 
Needless to say, I did not disturb this second laying. — T. THornton 
Macxeitu (The Hall, Caldwell, Uplawmoor). 


Tree-Sparrow (Passer montanus) in Denbighshire.—In the Dulas 
Valley, about three miles above Llandulas, there is a colony of Tree- 
Sparrows. The birds mostly nest in some ivy-covered oaks in the 
hedgerows which border the high road, but one pair, which Mr. W. 
Brownsword and I watched on May 22nd, was feeding young in a hole 
inanash. This species has been observed near Wrexham, and in the 
Ceiriog Valley (W. H. Dobie, Proc. Chester Soc. Nat. Sci. and Lit. i. 
No. iv. p. 298), and is, perhaps, not so rare in Denbighshire as is 
generally supposed. There are, however, few definite records of its 
occurrence in North Wales.—Cuar.es OLpHam. 


236 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


Late Appearance of Bramblings in Sussex.—During the winter, 
from Jan. 22nd onwards, there was one flock of Bramblings (Fringilla 
montifringilla) near Tunbridge Wells, but these left about the middle 
of March, and but for two on March 28th we saw no more until April 
16th. From that date to the 22nd they were quite abundant; alto- 
gether we saw them in four widely separated places during that time, 
on two of these occasions in considerable numbers, with other Finches. 
Other winter visitors stayed unusually late in the district—Redwings 
until April 16th, and Fieldfares until the 28rd (at least). On the 29th 
I saw a flock of Fieldfares in Surrey. — H. G. Auzxanpsr (3, Mayfield 
Road, Tunbridge Wells). 


Notes on the Cuckoo.—On May 28rd I found, in a rough grass- 
field near Diss, a Meadow-Pipit’s nest containing three eggs of the 
owner and two Cuckoos’ eggs. These eggs, laid by different Cuckoos, 
are certainly the produce of the same two birds which each deposited 
an egg in a Meadow-Pipit’s nest near the same place last June (cf. Zool. 
1906, p. 276), and that two hen Cuckoos should have survived the 
perils of a double migration, returned to the same place, and once 
again made choice of the same nest in which to place their eggs seems 
worthy of record. — Junian G. Tuck (Tostock Rectory, Bury St. Hd- 
munds, Suffolk). 


Rough-legged Buzzard (Archibuteo lagopus) in Cheshire. — On 
Noy. 5th, 1906, at Knutsford, a gamekeeper shot a Rough-legged 
Buzzard, which was devouring a snared Rabbit. The bird is in im- 
mature plumage, having the basal half of the tail brown.—CuHarLzs 
OLDHAM. 


Osprey near Plymouth, and other Notes—I have just seen an 
Osprey (Pandion haliaétus), shot by a gamekeeper at Bickleigh Bridge, 
which spans the Plym about seven miles from Plymouth. It was shot 
in September, 1905. The gamekeeper told me the wings measured 
from tip to tip 66in. He first fired at it below the bridge as it rose. 
The bird alighted further up the valley, where it was secured by 
a second shot. He did not know what kind of bird it was until I 
identified it. Among the birds of note which have been seen around 
Plymouth during the present year I may mention a Peregrine Falcon, 
which remained for several days between Penlee Point and Rhame 
Head. It was seen on Good Friday, and again on Haster Monday. A 
few years ago a female Peregrine was trapped near the same spot by 
the gamekeeper at Mount Edgcumbe. Towards the end of last month 
(April) I saw an Egyptian Goose on Plymouth Racecourse, but it was 


NOTES AND QUERIES. 237 


gone when I looked for it again the following week. On May Sth 
I visited Wembury Cliffs, the breeding-place of the Herring-Gulls. 
I was sorry to see that the Raven’s nest has been interfered with again. 
A pair have bred there from time immemorial, but for the last several 
years, to my knowledge, the young have either been taken or destroyed. 
Last year they were shot in the nest, and left there. The year before 
two of the young were sold to doctors in Plymouth, and now I see the 
nest is deserted, although I saw the female sitting in it last March, 
whilst the old male was flying about chasing the Jackdaws and Gulls 
in his usual quarrelsome way. There is, however, I am glad to say, 
no fear of the extinction of the Raven in Devon and Cornwall for a 
very long time to come, as they have many secure nesting-sites in both 
counties. I walked back to Plymouth by the coast, and saw the first 
flock of Whimbrel on the rocks near Bovisand. There were about fifteen 
of them.—H. P. O. Cunave (18, Leigham Street, The Hoe, Plymouth). 


Sanderling (Calidris arenaria) in Cheshire—On May 26th there 
was a Sanderling in nearly complete breeding dress on the mud at 
Cotebrook mill-pond, near Tarporley. Wuithit was a Ringed Plover, a 
bird of the small non-resident race.—Cuar.es OLpHam. 


Birds killed by Telegraph-wires near Yarmouth.—On April 23rd 
an example of the Land-Rail or Corn-Crake (Crea pratensis) was picked 
up on the New Road, between Yarmouth and Acle. It had evidently 
been killed by striking the telegraph-wires the night previous. It was 
in fine condition, and its plumage was uninjured. A Spotted Crake 
(Porzana maruetta) also met with a similar accident by striking the 
same wires on Aug. 27th, 1904. Both specimens are in my possession. 
—B. Dye (60 Row, Great Yarmouth). 


Sexual Selection.—My attention has been lately drawn to a descrip- 
tion of the nuptial ‘‘dance” and song of the King Bird of Paradise 
(Paradisea regia, also Cicinnurus regius), as given in a recent number of 
the ‘ Ibis’ by Sir William Ingram, whose observations were made upon a 
captive specimen in his possession. In this account the following occurs: 
—‘ He bends down on the perch in the attitude of a fighting-cock, his 
widely-opened bill showing distinctly the light apple-green colour of 
the gullet, and sings the same gurgling notes, without once closing his 
bill””—having, as I gather, previously sung them in the usual way. 
This, as it appears to me, is strong confirmation of a view which 
I believe I have been the first to bring forward, viz. that the bright 
colouring of the buccal cavity in various birds—as e.g. the Shag, 
Razorbill, Guillemot, Kittiwake, &c.—taken in conjunction with the 
display made of it during the season of nuptial activity, is only to be 


238 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


explained on the principles of sexual selection as enunciated by Darwin. 
Inasmuch as the protective theory, with its offshoots of recognition- 
marks, warning coloration, &c., seems here excluded, this question has 
an important bearing on that of sexual selection generally. Those, 
indeed, who believe bright colours to be but the effect of high vitality 
may claim the blazing gullet of the Shag as due to this cause alone ; 
but why, then, is the frequent and striking revealment of it a very 
marked feature in the bird’s nuptial philanderings? At pp. 169, 170, 
and 176 of my ‘ Bird Watching,’ and more particularly at pp. 55, 56, 
123—131, and 210, 211 of my ‘The Bird Watcher in the Shetlands,’ I 
have endeavoured to direct attention to this interesting and crucial 
point, but what I have had to say has hardly received a comment.— 
Epmunp SEtous. 

[Darwin (‘The Descent of Man,’ ed. ii. p. 426) called attention to 
the fact of the inside of the mouth of Buceros bicornis being black in 
the male and flesh-coloured in the female, but did not consider it 
explainable by his theory of sexual selection.—Ep.]| 


Artificial Additions to the British Fauna.—Last summer we turned 
out some Red-crested and Dominican Cardinals. Some of them re- 
mained with us all the winter, coming to feed with the wild birds on 
the food-trays in my garden. There is now a nest of young Red- 
crested Cardinals in the garden. The nest is very high up in an old 
cedar tree. I feel sure that one if not two other pairs have nests, but 
have not yet been able to find them.—M. Breprorp (Woburn Abbey, 
Woburn). ; 
REPTILIA. 

Water-Tortoises (Emys orbicularis) in England.—In the summer 
of 1890 or 1891 we turned six full-grown Water-Tortoises into a small 
artificial pond in the garden. Soon afterwards one was brought back 
by a man who said he had ploughed it up in a field a quarter of a mile 
away. A second was also brought back from some distance off. They 
hybernate during the winter, and reappear in April. The bottom of 
the pond is concrete, so that they cannot bury themselves in the mud. 
They occasionally get bits of meat, but are able to live on worms, dead 
gold-fish, and such other food as they find. Two of the original six 
were alive last summer, having survived about sixteen English winters. 
They may be still alive, but as last year we put in two others they 
cannot be identified. They spend the sunny hours on the edge, and 
slip into the water as one approaches. Their sight is exceedingly 
keen. I should be curious to know whether any have survived so long 
in this country in the open air.—Haroxtp Russext (Shere, Guildford). 


( 239° ) 


OBITUARY. 
Freperic Moores. 


Tars well-known Indian lepidopterist passed away on May 10th at 
his residence, Maple Road, Penge, 8.H.. He was born on May 18th, 
1830, at 33, Bruton Street, Berkeley Square, and was introduced as a 
youth to Dr. J. KH. Gray, who then required someone to draw Tortoises 
for him. While so engaged he attracted the attention of Dr. Horsfield, 
who was also in need of one capable of making natural history draw- 
ings, and shortly afterwards joined the staff of the Hast India Museum, 
then located in Leadenhall Street, City of London. He remained in 
this institution till its absorption with the National Museum, and then 
passed the remaining days of his busy leisure in following his favourite 
pursuit. He was an indefatigable worker, and, beyond numerous 
papers published by different scientific societies, his principal works 
are—‘A Catalogue of the Lepidopterous Insects in the Museum of 
the Hon. Hast India Company,’ two vols. (1857-59), which was written 
conjointly with Dr. Horsfield, whilst he alone wrote ‘ The Lepidoptera 
of Ceylon,’ in three vols. (1880-87), and was engaged in his great work, 
‘ Lepidoptera Indica,’ to the actual time of his death, and of which six 
volumes have appeared. 

Dr. Moore was an ardent and old-time naturalist. His path was 
remote from the stream of evolutionary conception; to him it was 
sufficient to describe the vast host of species which still awaited 
recognition, and to this work he brought an eye so trained for observ- 
ing the most minute differences, that his species were not always 
accepted by his colleagues. ‘The lumpers considered him a splitter. 
He thus incurred during his later years a considerable amount of 
severe criticism, but possessing that dogged determination found only in 
quiet men—and he was one of the quietest of men—it left him practi- 
cally unaffected, and he conscientiously continued his work according 
to his light to the end. He was pioneer in the study of Indian Lepi- 
doptera, and he knew these insects intimately better than any man 
living. In private hfe he was-an upright man, with a serene dispo- 
sition which trouble did not impair. His career was self-made and 
without reproach. 


240 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


NOTICES OF NEW BOOKS. 


European Animals ; their Geological History and Geographical 
Distribution. By R.¥.ScHarrr, Ph.D., B.Se., &e. Archi- 
bald Constable & Co., Ltd. 


Tuts book is a storehouse of facts which take precedence of 
theory, a welcome innovation to the frequent publication of a 
theory to which the facts are only subsidiary. The opening 
sentence of the book is the text throughout: ‘‘ The geological 
history of our animals is largely the history of their past wander- 
ings.” The method of treatment is a sectional one. Ireland, 
Scotland, England and Wales, occupy separate chapters, and 
others are devoted to different Kuropean regions; while many 
outline maps show the distribution of a particular animal or 
plant. This procedure focuses the local information, and sim- 
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available as a work of easy reference. And this is the merit of 
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much we may bepraise the derelict. The well-thumbed volume 
that promotes discussion lives longer than the volume possessing 
the imprimatur of general acceptance. 

Dr. Scharff is very familiar with the Irish fauna, and he 
writes :—‘‘ Taking into consideration the testimony yielded by 
the remains contained in the recent English Tertiary and post- 
Tertiary deposits, 1 am of opinion that the whole of the existing 
Irish fauna and flora is of pre-Glacial Age.” 

There are no footnotes, an appendix giving a list of works and 
papers which have been most frequently consulted. There appear 
to be a few slips in this or the converse. At p. 124 we read of 
Messrs. Wright and Upham as authors of a little work on Green- 
land, and on referring to the appendix can only find a reference 
to Wright and Warren. 


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Pah LOOWOGiS'T 


No. 793.—July, 1907. 


THE MAMMALS OF SOUTH CAMBRIDGESHIRE. 
By Reent H. Waters, B.A. 


I prsten in the following pages to describe what I have per- 
sonally observed in the district south of the Fenland of Cam- 
bridgeshire—say, from Waterbeach in the north to Chesterford 
in the south—a large part of which is upland and more or less 
wooded, but includes such marshy spots as Fowlmere and Dern- 
ford Fen. 

I confine myself at present entirely to the Vertebrata, and 
chiefly the Mammalia. Of the fishes, I shall say very little. In 
the district comprehended within a radius of fifteen miles round 
Cambridge I have spent most of my life, and when at home have 


been rambling about it almost daily, whenever I have not been _ . 


confined to the house by accidents which have laid me low—not 
a frequent incident, I am thankful to say. 

My observations go back to the sixties, and I cannot help but 
contrast the thickly inhabited Cambridge of the present day with 
what it was at the time when it was a garden city. Even in our 
place of business in the centre of the town we had a large garden 
on the east side of our house. But very little way from us, on 
the west side, was the old Physic Garden, the precursor of the 
present Botanic Gardens. On the south were the groves of 
Downing College, about the bird-life of which I have notes enough 
to make a volume. Even from the north there was an outlook 
over gardens and the ‘ Lion Hotel’ bowling-green. 

I have been in Downing Grounds from the time I could first 


toddle thither up to the closing of them to the public, ae the 
Zool, #th ser. vol. XI., July, 1907. 


242 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


building over the parts where as a schoolboy I sought every nest, 
and studied the birds, aided in this by another boy whose ad- 
venturous spirit was unquenchable, and who “‘knew” every nest 
in Downing, or in the meadows bordering Tennis Court Road. 

Even when not in the grounds, I was able to observe from the 
window of the uppermost room over our Dispensary, by the aid 
of a seaman’s telescope, not only the Rooks building or repairing 
their nests, and feeding their young ones, but in winter the 
advent of any large, singular birds resting on trees. But I must 
check myself, or I shall get on to writing about the birds of 
Downing College, and this would make this article far too lengthy, 
for, as I have just said, I could write a volume about them. 

While building Willoughby House, on the Mill Road, of which 
I was not only the architect but actually assisted in the practical 
work of erection, I had splendid opportunities for observing 
nature. Much of the work was done when the spring migrants 
were passing along the very tract, leading right across this part, 
which the birds pursued. When we had got the shell of the 
house up, and I was on the joists of the roof helping the carpenter 
nail on the slate-laths, I had a fir-tree close by my left hand, and 
this was one of a row of fir-trees to which the Siskins came. 

Looking south-west I had an uninterrupted view across corn- 
fields right away to the Gog Magog Hills. More to the right the 
horizon was bounded by the trees in Brookland’s Avenue, the 
best part of a mile away. Looking to the north-west the town, 
half a mile or so away, could hardly be seen for the bird-haunted 
trees in orchards and groves. Turning round, and looking east- 
ward, I could see, when on the ridge of the roof, right to the tall 
poplar-trees near the old paper-mills across meadows and low- 
lying semi-marshy ground surrounding a long pool of water, 
which has been filled up and built on for years. 

It was in the just mentioned corn-field that I was able to 
describe and sketch the method of the little Harvest Mice in 
building their wonderful nests, so cleverly tied to the corn-stalks 
by the little rodents. In our garden whereon we built my old 
house, Rabbits burrowed, and Weasels came after the Rabbits, 
although I have not seen one now about that part for over a 
quarter of a century. But I have seen them farther afield in the 
direction of Teversham and the Newmarket Road. A farm half 


MAMMALS OF SOUTH CAMBRIDGESHIRE. 243 


a mile or so beyond our house used to be known as Polecat 
Farm. When the growing town had begun to creep up Mill 
Road, I purchased a plot of ground much farther ovt in the 
country than Polecat Farm, and immediately on entering into 
possession had a lodge put up, which would, I thought, be con- 
venient for observing wild life, and yet not be too far from 
Cambridge and my tutorial work. Although in a very few years 
the increasing human population drove away the Polecats and 
the Weasels, I was, by being in this lodge late at night and very 
early in the morning, able to make notes enough on the wild life 
of this part to fill a volume. The lodge was fitted up with 
a fireplace, so that I could have meals when I desired to make a 
late stay or came off without any breakfast, as would naturally 
be the case when I went very early in the morning. 

Bats were abundant and so bold it was easy to catch them 
with a net made of cheese-cloth, and used like a butterfly-net. 
My object in capturing them was to make out a list of the species. 
They were mostly Pipistrelles, but there was an occasional 
Noctule. The last was plentiful about my residence and in the 
more immediate vicinity of the town. There have been Long- 
eared Bats also on one or two occasions, but Plecotus auritus has 
retired before the advancing town, and it is long since I have 
seen one about Cambridge. 

I am one of those persons who can hear very high-pitched 
sounds such as those of Bats quite perfectly, while I am deaf to 
grave ones. I can discriminate the squeak of the Pipistrelle 
from that of the Noctule, and the tone of the Long-eared Bat is 
different from either. I have often amused myself by trying to 
make out the species by the sound of the “tweets” alone ere I 
verified my guess by capturing the Bat. I have heard Bats 
squealing in a tone different from those of any of the four most 
familiar to me, for often when strolling by the river-side I have 
been gladdened by the extremely high-pitched note of Daubenton’s 
Bat. 

While I am on the subject of Bat whistling I may mention 
that these little mammals have different tones to express the 
emotions excited by eager pursuit of an evasive moth, love, fear, 
and anger. They have their cries of alarm as different to their 


other tones as are the notes of birds under like circumstances, 
u 2 


244 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


and they have their love-tones when they are calling to and 
pursuing one another. 

But I must defer to a future occasion all I have noted of the 
ways of the Cheiroptera, else I shall take up too much valuable — 
space. When going round the hedgerows with a lantern it makes 
such a picture to come across a Hedgehog feeding on a fat worm 
he has tugged out of its burrow that I wish it were possible for 
me to get a snapshot of it with my camera. The comical surprise 
and bewilderment at the sudden flashing on to him of the bright 
light made a picture well worth preserving. Sometimes it may 
be a pair of Hedgehogs engaged in amorous play—possibly, by 
creat good luck, they may have little ones with them. I must 
not include in this account of South Cambridgeshire wild life 
what I have seen in the lonely fenland, in the woods of the 
Breckland, and in the recesses of Epping Forest—all splendid 
places in which to observe wild life ; else I might say more about 
Hedgehogs and their family ways. 

Another nocturnal animal my portable search-light reveals to 
me when out at night is the Shrew. Shrews were very common 
about the district I have just been describing. The Water-Shrew 
was then to be seen by daylight, even, early on a summer morn- 
ing on the banks of the Stur rivulet. It still occurs, I believe, on 
the rivers Rhee and Granta. 

In the days when our professional duties took us over to 
Orwell, Badgers were not at all infrequent over that way. There 
is much of the ancient wild life still persisting in that district, 
and I should be glad to see the County Council or Government 
establish a sort of miniature Yellowstone Park, and preserve this 
remnant from destruction. It is the only part of Cambridgeshire 
where I can assuredly say the Badger still breeds. When oppor- 
tunity has offered I have regarded it as a pretty sight to see at 
early dawn a group of young Badgers and their parents returning 
to their burrow. The little ones are far less shy and suspicious 
than the old ones. I like, when observing wild life, to have a few 
tit-bits in my pocket or haversack. By patience and quiet move- 
ments I succeed in getting a near sight of creatures it would be 
impossible to observe effectively otherwise. Young Badgers, for 
instance, are very fond of dates, and a couple of pounds of these 
is a good investment if one wishes to make friends with them. 


MAMMALS OF SOUTH CAMBRIDGESHIRE. 245 


By the way, it is curious what a lot of animals love these sweet 
fruits. My Cat will beg for them, and eat as many as I like to 
give her. She is the kitten of one of those half-wild Cats whose 
progenitors were, I think, the extinct (so far as Cambridgeshire 
is concerned) Felis catus. Her mother was picked up on a 
country road, and had undoubtedly been born in a wood. These 
half-wild Cats with the stripes and short blunt tail, like Felis 
catus, are the sole representatives of the real Wild Cat now exist- 
ing in this county. I have had them breed in the plot of ground 
I have mentioned, which is partly wooded, and one summer, 
while camping out on it, a kitten or two got on friendly terms 
with me, and came regularly to share my meals. 

Although I have not for some few years seen the Marten in 
South Cambridgeshire, it was still to be numbered among the 
mammals in the days Iam writing about. But it has always in 
my time been a scarce animal in this county, and my knowledge 
of its ways has had to be gained in other districts. 

There was no necessity to be out very early in the morning 
in those days, or investigate at night with a portable search- 
light, in order to see the Stoats. These wild animals might be 
met with at any hour of the day. I have had one come and in- 
spect me while eating my lunch by the side of a field, and move 
so leisurely it was easy to see it was neither a Weasel nor a 
Polecat. 

My desire has been to see, by close observation, to what 
extent wild things vary individually in their ways and in different 
localities. I have long doubted whether the habits of any par- 
ticular species are stereotyped to the descriptions of the standard 
text-books. Therefore, I have thought that first-hand notes on 
the natural history of a district such as that of South Cambridge- 
shire may have its value, even if it is not to be compared with 
wilder spots. 

At the same time it is remarkable what a variety there was 
of wild life within walking distance of Cambridge a quarter of a 
century ago. The list of mammals observed by me, which | 
gave in the ‘Garner’ for 1886, included, besides the above- 
mentioned, a white variety of Mole, the Fox, Squirrel, a melanic 
variety of Mus decumanus (specifically different from M. rattus), 
the Common Long-tailed (M. sylvaticus) and Harvest-Mouse (M. 


246 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


minutus), the Water-Vole (Arvicola amphibius), a piebald variety 
of the Field-Vole (A. arvalis), and the Bank-Vole (A. glareolus). 

To the Shrews Ladd the Oared Shrew (Neomys fodiens), and the 
Little Shrew (S. minutus), which used to be called the ‘‘ Irish Shrew 
(S. hibernicus),” but I cannot positively say I have seen the latter 
south of Waterbeach. The Oared Shrew I have not seen in South 
Cambridgeshire for some years. I am now specially engaged in 
looking out for it. My plan is to endeavour to trap these small 
mammals in traps similar to mouse-traps. For Water-Shrews a 
bait of fish is frequently irresistible ; they are wonderfully fond 
of fish, and a piece perfectly fresh or a recently dead Stickle- 
back will frequently entice them into the trap. The best time 
to set the trap is early in the evening; they are hungry when 
they first come out of their burrows, and sniff about eagerly after 
something eatable. If one has sharp eyes, and there is light 
enough to see, it is interesting to observe how carefully a Shrew 
quarters the ground in its search for food, going over every square 
foot of it. Now and again it will stop and nibble a bit of grass, 
for the Shrew seems to like a bit of greenstuff occasionally. 

It may not be generally known that Otters attack and kill 
Water-Rats for food. Such is the case with those (few) I have 
observed on the Granta and the Rhee. If I were guided by my 
own personal observation of the South Cambridgeshire indi- 
viduals, I should say that Otters do quite as much good by 
destroying Rats as they do harm by eating fish. 

Foxes are more common in the south-east corner of the 
county. There they have increased so much that they are 
reported to be a serious menace to the Partridges, and some 
people cry out for their extermination. 

I have hesitated to say more about the Fox than just mention 
it, for fear | may be led by my enthusiasm to launch out into a 
lengthy dissertation on this good old English sport, so exhilarating 
and healthy. I wish it was always conducted after the example 
of Sir Roger de Coverley, and the Fox be allowed to keep the life 
it has fairly fought for when it has made a good, game run. 

We used to be over at Wimpole a good deal when the Fallow- 
Deer were there, and no one regrets more than I do that, except 
for one or two I seem to recollect being in the grounds of Peter- 
house College some years ago, these graceful animals disappeared 
from the South Cambridgeshire fauna when the herd was sold. 


Oi ZET) 


SCIENTIFIC WORK IN THE SEHA-FISHERIES. 


By Pror. McIntoso, M.D., LL.D., F.R.SS. L. & E., Gatty 
Marine Laboratory, University, St. Andrews. 


Part II. 


Since the initiation of scientific work in connection with the 
fisheries at the beginning of 1884 very considerable advances, as 
already indicated, have been made in this country in various 
directions—especially in our knowledge of the development 
and life-histories of the sea-fishes themselves. Statistics, more- 
over, have shown how prosperous, on the whole, the fishing in- 
dustry is,* and how, as the Royal Commission of 1866 had 
affirmed, there is still room for expansion. 

In now reviewing the work accomplished by the scientific 
stafi—especially that of the British section—into whose hands 
the International Fisheries Investigations were placed, it is 
scarcely necessary to explain that I fully appreciate all the diffi- 
culties of the task, as well as know the strenuous efforts to 
achieve noteworthy results. The subject, however, is of such 
importance to the country that perfect candour in dealing with 
the materials at hand (for the work is still unfinished) is indis- 
peusable. 


Gross Totats or FisH LANDED IN ScoTLAND. 


OWE pare. Aen Cwie 5, O01672 0. ws £1,627,752 
SOSH oe! iO GDT TOS Mee etl: 1,879,866 
ESIO) beshasum ce ae TAS OTOH es oa 2,189,933 
TOO ek = -51869,265 sd sccse: 2,325,994 
1900 ah ee:  NGBCS VaOMee eh 2,238,310 
LIOR do ae SENGISGG O2GR ei 2,502,668 
1903p sae a6: 5S, OSes Me .u: 2,410,287 
150L 0 ee 5 UD) tel ee 9,231,102 
1905 2G EMT B56 S10) 2,649,148 


* I had omitted to thank Professor Prince, Dominion Commissioner of 
Fisheries, Canada, for valuable information and statistics given in Part I. 

+ The last year embraced in the ‘ Resources of the Sea,’ where all the 
previous years are reviewed. 


248 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


In taking a brief survey, therefore, of the reasons which 
prompted our country to join the other nations in the investiga- 
tion of the sea in 1902, it would appear that the main object was 
the prospective benefit to the British Fisheries, the scientific in- 
vestigation of which had for eighteen years been actively carried 
out. It is also probable that the testing of the antagonistic 
views, viz.—on the one hand, of the ‘ Resources of the Sea,’ and, 
on the other, of the ‘ impoverishment of the Sea,’ which is really 
a revival of the old doubts and fears—may have influenced the 
decision. It had, however, immediately been shown how un- 
tenable the notion, for instance, of Dr. Garstang was—that, 
because one hundred fishing-ships now catch what fifty did 
before, the sea is impoverished. Nature was thus expected to 
fill each square mile of the sea with fishes by measure, and send 
its quota mechanically into each ship. The diminished catch in 
each of the one hundred ships (supposing such did occur) would 
be more in accordance with reason. Even the sea, by the laws 
of nature, contains only a certain number of fishes at a given 
time, and it should not be a matter for surprise that there are 
fewer fishes, e.g. large flat-fishes, in an area after one hundred 
ships have swept it, than after the operations of ten using a 
similar method of capture. Yet it would be unsafe to speak 
strongly of such diminution. A change from trawls to fixed nets, 
or to bait, might upset the conclusions by the discovery of nume- 
rous fishes. As Mr. Archer and Dr. Kyle assert, the average 
catch per boat is insufficient to prove over-fishing. 

The task, then, undertaken by the British naturalists was 
neither simple nor light, and there was no lack of courage in 
affirming that within the two years (for which the Government at 
first arranged) results would be forthcoming. A survey of the 
problem presented several lines of action, most of which had 
been laid before the Ichthyological Committee at the end of 
1901. To the scientific investigator a careful and extended 
survey of the main grounds frequented by fishermen in the 
North Sea stands in the forefront, together with the distribution 
of the food-fishes in the more distant waters. If, for instance, 
the round-fishes stretched far outwards from our shores, anxiety 
for the near grounds would be removed. This survey would 
include the distribution of the eggs, larve, and young of the 


SCIENTIFIC WORK IN THE SEA-FISHERIES. 249 


fishes, their growth, and the changes at the different seasons, 
together with the appearance of anadromous fishes like the 
Salmon, at various stages, and would decide as to the present 
position of the British sea-fisheries in the North Sea. 

Such a survey cannot be efficiently carried out by sub- 
ordinates whilst the chief remains on land, since the experience 
gained under varying conditions gradually takes a definite shape 
after years of careful observation and inquiry at sea. Such 
experience is not gained by examining boxes of fishes on shore, 
by the tabulation of recorded observations, or the manipulation 
of sheets of figures filled up by others on board the experimental 
ships. 

Another point, again, in these investigations is the effect of 
the operations of fishing-vessels in connection with variations in 
the abundance and in the size of the food-fishes. Such is a 
promising field for observation, but by no means international 
in character. It would include, for example, the effect of the 
work :— 

a. In temporarily diminishing the larger fishes, and render- 
ing the smaller more conspicuous. 

b. In making the survivors more wary. 

c. In driving the shoals of pelagic forms from particular 
grounds, or otherwise. 

d. In demonstrating the effective nature of sudden changes 
in the method of capture—e. g. the substitution of Anemones for . 
Mussels, of Cuttle-fishes for Herrings, of Lobworms for Scallops, 
and of the alternation of gill-nets with tempting bait of various 
kinds. Few appreciate the revelations made by such a change 
of method. 

Other important points that suggest themselves to the in- 
vestigator are the special study of hard grounds unsuitable for 
trawling, if any such exist in the North Sea. . 

The food of fishes and the pelagic fauna and flora are less in 
need of attention, since they already have been investigated 
sufficiently for all practical purposes. 

Such are some of the problems that would have suggested 
_ themselves for solution on facing this inquiry. 

It is difficult to ascertain precisely what the British investi- 
gators expected to discover, but the task of ascertaining ‘‘ whether 


250 ; THE ZOOLOGIST. 


the quantity and consumption of fish taken from the North Sea 
and neighbourhood are in proper proportion to the production 
occurring under the prevailing natural conditions, and whether 
any disproportion between production and consumption arises 
from a local over-fishing, or from an injudicious employment of 
the fishing apparatus at present in use,” is one which, if it were 
possible, would have taken many workers to accomplish. How- 
ever that may be, the observers also chose to include the syste- 
matic exploration of the small flat-fish grounds, an inquiry which 
would naturally fall under the first head already mentioned. It 
is evident that considerable ambiguity existed as to the nature of 
the task, since mention is made of the “ publication of annual 
results,” of ‘‘ discoveries of practical importance to the fisheries,” 
and of “‘ recommendations for international action ’’—all excellent 
in their way, provided the field had been a tabula rasa—that is, 
that others had not previously searched the sea. 

From the beginning of the arrangements for the international 
exploration of the sea one department placed itself in the front— 
viz. the hydrographical—and this probably was due to the in- 
fluence of those associated with the origin of the scheme. No 
one will deny that, if hydrography could solve the complex 
problems which exist, or are supposed to exist, in connection 
with the ever-varying captures of sea-fishes, with their distribu- 
tion, and their daily or seasonal movements, a great gain to our 
knowledge would result ; but a perusal of the publications of the 
International Council up to date shows that this is yet far distant, 
no reference, indeed, to fisheries’ problems occurring in some of 
these long reports. 

Those of us who have watched the hydrographical efforts 
since 1872—when the German ship ‘ Pommerania’ included 
these in her work in the North Sea; who have endeavoured, on 
the spot, to connect temperatures of the sea at surface and 
bottom with the captures of fishes; who have studied those of 
the Scotch Board in the eastern and western waters of North 
Britain ; and who have personally been interested in the Scotch 
Board’s international survey of the North Sea, in conjunction 
with the Swedish, German, Norwegian, and Danish Govern- 
ments in 1898-94, have, however, reason to maintain reserve on 
this head in connection with the sea-fisheries. The consideration 


SCIENTIFIC WORK IN THE SEA-FISHERIES. 251 


of the results of these surveys, indeed, does not lead us to expect 
_a solution of fisheries’ problems from the hydrographers, how- 
ever much we may appreciate their skilful and patient, though 
expensive, labours in other respects. Therefore, grave doubt 
was expressed, in 1901 and 1902, as to the propriety—at least, 
so far as Britain was concerned—of making such observations so 
prominent in the international scheme. 

The International Council has published four bulky quarto 
Bulletins annually, besides other papers, giving hydrographic 
details, temperatures, and tables of floating organisms. Few 
important additions have been made to the latter—except the 
long list of species of diatoms—since the subject was dealt with 
for a whole year in St. Andrews Bay in 1888. The hydro- 
sraphical remarks merit careful attention, since the British 
naturalists—from the experience acquired in these investigations 
—state that they are within measurable distance of explaining 
all the migrations of the fishes, as well as the fluctuations in the 
fisheries, by such means. Further, that ordinary trawling ex- 
periments are of little value, unless hydrographical, physical, 
and chemical researches go with them ; that the changes in the 
water cause the changes in the fishes which (species not men- 
tioned) may be in one place in autumn and another in spring; 
in short, here to-day and away to-morrow to their special waters. 
They narrate that, though the periodic Gulf Stream does not 
reach the North Sea, yet Atlantic flooding into this area occurs at 
the same time. There are, however, perturbations, the study of 
which belongs to the future. Dr. Otto Pettersson, indeed, thinks 
these disturbances show a two-yearly period—even and odd 
years—the even with more temperate waters than the odd, and 
accompanied by a warm-water area in the cold season—with a 
failure in fishing. He adds that the winter Herring-fishery in 
the Skagerak has returned with intervals, on the whole, of 111 
years—since 859. Other hydrographic researches—such as 
that of the Faroe-Shetland Channel and the Influence of the 
Kast Islandic Polar Stream on the climatic changes of the 
Faroe Isles, the Shetlands, and the North of Scotland—do not 
seem to bear on the main point at issue, and the same may be 
said of another on the compressibility of sea-water. 

So far as experience goes, it 1s scarcely possible to explain 


252 a THE ZOOLOGIST. 


the changes in the fish-fauna on these grounds. The movements 
of the Herring are independent of such phenomena, and we now 
know that the Herring abounds all the year round, and can be 
captured—irrespective of currents and temperatures—in con- 
siderable numbers at any time. Moreover, hydrographical 
influences are powerless to cause it to deviate in its progress to 
the coast to spawn. The sudden disappearance of the Herring 
from its wonted spawning grounds is not due to hydrographic 
influences, any more than to the guns of the artillery volunteers, 
as the fishermen supposed. Dr. H. M. Kyle, a trained marine 
zoologist, plainly says that neither the temperature-charts nor 
those for salinity exhibit a true parallelism with the biological 
phenomena, and suggests weekly instead of monthly data. 
Some, however, may be of opinion that even hourly records 
would be equally futile. It would almost seem to he as reason- 
able to explain the passage of the larve of animals dwelling on 
the bottom to the surface of the sea by similar data. 

It is well known that in a shallow bay a cold frosty morning 
is bad for fishing, that extreme cold kills fishes and their eggs, 
and that the high temperature of summer favours swarms of 
fish-food, which, however, equally abounds in the arctic seas. 
Fishes, moreover, are not so sensitive to changes of temperature, 
to changes in salinity, or to other phenomena, as supposed ; 
neither do they dread currents. The Salmon, the Sturgeon, 
and the Hel are at home both in the sea and fresh water, and 
the Flounder, the Mullet, the Sea-Perch, the Sprat, and the 
Sparling take little notice of varying salinities. The Baltic 
Herring can readily be acclimatized to fresh water, even to the 
extent of being killed, if by accident it suddenly falls into sea- 
water. The Shanny from the rock-pools is indifferent to immer- 
sion in fresh water. Even the transparent fioating eggs of the 
Flounder may be heated in a test-tube till they rush up and 
down with the currents, and yet may be safely hatched subse- 
quently. Further, irrespective of temperature and currents, the 
very young fishes invariably follow the laws which regulate their 
appearance at particular seasons. Thus the young Cod, Green- 
Cod, Haddock, and Whiting, after their earliest (larval) stage, 
are oblivious of currents in their movements—on the one hand 
to shallow, and on the other to deep water, and the same may 


SCIENTIFIC WORK IN THE SEA-FISHERIES. 258 


be said of the young of the flat-fishes. There is no reason to 
believe that the hardy adults are affected by temperatures, 
currents, or salinity in a greater degree, except in so far as 
storms may sweep into bays greater quantities of food; or a 
fish, to which cold water is congenial, may approach the coast 
more closely in winter, or follow the pelagic organisms character- 
istic of the season. 

It would thus be only reasonable and just to say—with Dr. 
Otto Pettersson—after all the complication and expenditure on 
this head in relation to the influences of such phenomena on the 
fisheries: ‘‘ The full answer, which practically is of vital im- 
portance, will not be at hand for years yet to come.” The great 
expenditure for hydrography in these investigations was not 
entered on without warning, and it is noteworthy that the 
Hydrographic Report by Dr. Pettersson was not adopted by its 
section, but was printed only as the private view of the author. 

We now turn to the publications of the senior naturalists 
whose efforts were to be directed to the special elucidation of 
fisheries’ problems, such as the present condition of the food- 
fishes of the North Sea, and who were, moreover, to make the 
** announcement of those discoveries which are of direct practical 
importance to the fishing industry,” as well as furnish ‘‘ recom- 
mendations for international action.” 

Commencing with the southern section, the first subject to 
be dealt with is the fisheries’ work of the Marine Biological 
Association, a body which more or less identified itself with the 
*‘Impoverishment of the Sea.” From its workers, therefore, 
with their new and unequalled opportunities, we looked for sub- 
stantial proof of the soundness of their position, more especially 
when it is stated that “‘ facts have been obtained upon which a 
proper understanding of the yield of the sea must in future be 
based ’—a pregnant sentence, which apparently dispenses with 
all previous observations at home and abroad. 

This statement appears to derive its origin, not from laborious 
surveys of the fish-fauna of the southern half of the North Sea— 
both practically and scientifically studied in the adult and young 
conditions—but from certain experiments with marked Plaice. 
The marking of Plaice has long been carried out by the Fishery 
Board in Scotland without important results, whilst the Americans 


254 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


have dealt with Cod. The Germans and the Dutch, again, 
joined in marking Plaice in the international work. The Ply- 
mouth naturalists, then, labelled a number of Plaice, returned 
them to the sea, and founded on the numbers of those sub- 
sequently captured several important conclusions, viz. (1) the 
migrations of the species, (2) the rate of growth, and (8) the in- 
tensity of fishing. 

In regard to the first head, viz.—the migrations—one Plaice 
travelled 175 miles and another 210 miles in three months, 
and Dr. Garstang considered that there was a general tendency 
to move from the small fish-grounds of Holland to deeper water in 
summer, and of those in the southern bight of the North Sea to 
move northwards. Of those below 93 in. most remained on the 
spot in winter, migrating offshore in a north-westerly direction 
the following summer; whereas fishes exceeding that size 
migrated southwards and westwards shortly after liberation. 
Dr. Bolau, the German experimenter, differs from Dr. Garstang, 
the former stating that Plaice leave the coasts in summer and 
autumn, and return in spring, whereas the latter gives spring 
and summer as the period for migration to the offshore. Here, 
then, is considerable variation in the results, and neither agrees 
with the condition at St. Andrews. Moreover, it may be that the 
irritation of the label may have had something to do both with 
the capture and the migration of some of the marked Plaice, for 
the wound made by the transfixing wire is often irritable, is in 
contact with bone, and may be felt by the fish when skimming 
over or into the surface of the sand. Besides, some of the cap- 
tured fishes were not well-nourished. If the white surface of the 
flat-fishes could be tattooed, such would be a great improvement 
on the present rough method, which even in the hands of a skilful 
operator leaves a source of constant irritation, and a permanent 
lesion. I have no doubt that Sir James Dewar could readily suggest 
an indelible and comparatively innocuous colour for this purpose.* 
The migrations of these marked Plaice and other forms, however, 
are interesting in connection with the distribution of the species 
and their general safety. The data are as yet too few, as Dr. 

* Sir James recommends the carbonaceous or Indian ink process. Experi- 


ments will shortly be carried out at St. Andrews. An instrument with nume- 
rous points would probably carry out the work quickly. 


SCIENTIFIC WORK IN THE SEA-FISHERIES. 255 


Heincke states, and the time too short for reliable observations ;_ 
and the same may be said of Dr. Fulton’s notion that the Plaice 
go against the current to compensate for the drift of their eggs. 
On the whole, it is doubtful if more can be proved than that the 
very young Plaice seek the tidal margin, and, as growth advances, 
gradually pass to deeper water, and that in this, as in other flat- 
fishes, considerable distances may be traversed. Their vigour 
and vitality, in any case, would enable them to sustain a long 
journey (e.g. to Australia). 

The second head—viz. the rate of growth—has ioe been 
studied, and the additional information gained in these investi- 
gations bears, as in Johansen’s observations, more on the pro- 
portional rate of growth in connection with locality. It was 
found, for instance, that small Plaice taken from the Horn-reef 
and liberated on the Dogger-shoal grew about five inches in seven 
months, the transplanted Plaice thus showing an increase of four 
times in length and six times in weight over those left on the reef. 
A.C. Johansen’s figures are—young Plaice on beach grew 2-3 em., 
those on Horn-reef 4-5 cm.; those onthe Skagerak, 10cm. The 
latter is thus even more favourable than the Dogger-shoal. 

It is accordingly suggested by Dr. Garstang that small Plaice 
should be transplanted from the crowded inshore to the offshore 
grounds, such asthe Dogger. The Danes, indeed, have done so 
for some years in the Lim Fjord, a sandy, land-locked lagoon 
formed by the breaking in of the sea about one hundred years 

ago, the young Plaice thus finding an entrance, growing in the 
lagoon, and forming a fishery. Their numbers can readily be 
augmented by artificial transplantation (for the fishermen do so at 
the rate of about two for a farthing), whilst they are tolerably 
safe from escape to the sea, which is forty miles distant. This, 
however, as an acute critic* has already pointed out, is a diffe- 
rent condition from an open seaboard like our own, where the 
Plaice are free to pass outwards as they grow older, and best 
know where to find suitable feeding-grounds. In this connection 
no difficulty was experienced twelve or thirteen years ago in trans- 
planting hundreds of Soles from Scarborough to St. Andrews 
Bay; but this would be a somewhat expensive method of in- 
creasing the yield of the sea, even were it necessary. ‘The life- 


* © Wish Trades Gazette.’ 


256 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


history of the Plaice does not seem to suggest it. It is possible, 
from the observations of Dr. Wallace on the ear-bones and other 
points in this fish, that its average rate of growth is higher in 
offshore than in inshore grounds. Experience would seem to 
show that there is little fear of suitable ground being left un- 
occupied by such fishes as Plaice. 

The third head—viz. the intensity of trawling in the North Sea 
—as indicated by the capture of the marked Plaice, is apparently 
considered an important discovery by the staff of the Marine Bio- 
logical Association. In all about 900 marked Plaice were liberated 
in the offshore and about 563 in the inshore grounds, the per- 
centage captured in the former being twenty and in the latter ten in 
twelve months, it being explained that fewer captures take place 
in the inshore grounds when trawling is prohibited. The Asso- 
ciation, therefore, considers that ‘‘ from this result if seems clear 
that the total annual catch of the fishermen no longer forms an 
insignificant proportion of the total stock of Plaice.” In short, 
fishing would thus appear no longer to be an uncertain pursuit 
in the hands of the Association. 

But, as pointed out in the first lecture, this conclusion is not 
supported by fifty years’ scientific experience of the Bay of St. 
Andrews, a bay which contains no spawning Plaice, which are 
in the open waters beyond, free to every trawler, nor does it 
appear to coincide with the history of the Plaice-fishery of the 
Cattegat. Again, in the old trawling days of nearly a quarter of 
a century ago, it was not uncommon to bring on board the dead 
Frog-fishes (usually with a slit on the under surface), and old 
utensils of other trawling-ships on well-known grounds, and, 
though this showed considerable intensity of fishing, yet the 
same grounds are regularly fished to-day in their season. There 
are various degrees of intensity of fishing ; thus, though Salmon, 
Green-Cod, Greenbones, and other forms occasionally abound off 
our shores, yet they seldom appear in the trawl. As already 
shown, fixed gill-nets for Cod and Plaice make us acquainted 
with various forms (Sharks, Porpoises, Sturgeons) rarely met 
with in-the trawl or on the lines. 

Besides, the numbers dealt with are too few for a conclusion 
so important, and there is considerable difference of opinion 
amongst the international observers themselves. It would seem 


SCIENTIFIC WORK IN THE SEA-FISHERIES. 257 


that the Dutch caught the largest proportion of marked fishes 
(but it was said that they liberated them on their own coast where 
a most active fishery goes on), the English following, whilst the 
Germans caught least. 

Bearing in mind, therefore, that many of the Plaice so marked 
may have been restless, indisposed to seek shelter in the surface of 
the sand, and less active in avoiding the trawl, though continuing 
to grow, it would appear that, whilst full credit is awarded to the 
observers, caution is necessary in accepting these data as proofs of 
the serious intensity of fishing in the North Sea and the Channel. 

The work in the northern section of the North Sea may now 
be referred to. It was hoped that the extended experience of the 
Fishery Board for Scotland would have produced during these 
five years a store of substantial information drawn directly from 
the fishing-grounds in their new ship. Personal contact with 
the varied phases of the capture of sea-fishes, with their surround- 
ings, and with their distribution, are indispensable for an accurate 
srasp of the subject. Further, the consideration of their move- 
ments, whether for food or otherwise, and still more of their 
development and life-histories, as bearing on the practical pro- 
blems to be solved, afford an ample field even for the most 
unflagsing investigator. It may have been the prospect of these 
opportunities that caused the scientific representative of the 
Scottish Board (Prof. D’Arcy Thompson) to guarantee results in 
so brief a period as two years. 

On turning to the large ‘Blue Book,’ published at the end of 
1905, with an interest intensified by the experience of the 
excellent original work, which for so long a period has charac- 
terized the Board’s scientific staff, surprise was felt on finding 
that about three-fourths of it consisted of hydrographical work 
(part of which has already been published elsewhere), of a record 
of pelagic fauna and flora, and of a review of eighteen years’ 
commercial statistics collected by the Granton Steam Fishing 
Company, by Messrs. Johnston, of Montrose, and by the Board’s 
officials at Aberdeen, the latter arranged according to the scheme* 


* Squares of one degree of latitude and two of longitude. Prof. D’Arcy 
Thompson says two degrees in latitude and one in longitude. Dr. Fulton 
arranged for these squares by taking every degree of latitude and every second 
degree of longitude (see his paper). 

Zool. 4th ser. voi. XI., July, 1907. x 


258 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


of the Board’s scientific superintendent, Dr. Fulton, who contri- 
butes the final paper in the ‘Blue Book,’ viz. ‘‘ The Distribution 
and Seasonal Abundance of Flat-fishes in the North Sea.” A 
second Report of a purely hydrographical nature has just ap- 
peared, as if to emphasize the surprise in connection with the 
first. 

Science, as well as the country at large, had anxiously looked 
forward to a new and original series of fisheries’ investigations 
in the North Sea, based on a well-considered plan, and carried 
out by the most skilful and experienced zoologists trained to 
fisheries’ work, and aided by all the scientific accessories of 
modern times. Pioneer’s work in this department is a thing of 
the past, and random efforts are wasteful as well as inopportune. 
The importance, indeed, of having zoologists trained to fisheries’ 
work on board the experimental ships was duly emphasized in 
the case of the ‘ Garland,’* in which those on board simply filled 
in blank forms, which were transmitted to the central office—far 
from the field of operations—and where the compiler was out of 
touch with nature. Unfortunately there is little evidence of the 
scientific methods just mentioned in this ponderous ‘Blue Book.’ 
If such experiments have been efficiently done in connection 
with the international work, they are still, at the end of five 
years, in obscurity. 

So far as can be gathered from these statistics, fishing rises 
to a maximum in August, and falls to a minimum in December, 
a feature shown a considerable time ago both in the pelagic 
fauna of the Bay of St. Andrews and in the work of the ‘ Gar- 
land.’ Many random observations on the maxima and minima 
of the food-fishes occur, such as that the Haddocks increase as 
temperature rises, and begin to abate as temperature falls, and 
that they show in recent years an inferior yield to the earlier 
ones. The Whiting reached its highest curve in 1901 (winter), 
and its abundance was generally converse of the Haddock. It 
is unnecessary to deal more minutely with these remarks, which, 
though interesting, have no real bearing on the present inquiry. 
Hiven less can be deduced from the Montrose statistics, except 
that they indicate a persistent rise to the present time. 

The opportunities afforded by the great captures of food- 


* The Scotch Fishery Board’s’first ship for scientific investigations. 


SCIENTIFIC WORK IN THE SEA-FISHERIES. 259 


fishes landed at Aberdeen do not appear, mathematically 
treated,* or otherwise, to have produced results of moment, 
though elaborate curves are given of the increase or decrease of 
particular fishes in each of Fulton’s squares in the northern 
part of the North Sea.t We are told, however, ‘‘ that by these 
methods, if we only had statistics enough, we should mark down 
accurately for each fish the time of the coming at every position 
in the North Sea, and then, weaving all the facts together, show 
the route followed in the migration of any species ’—amongst 
which the Wollf-fish or Cat-fish seems to be included. While a 
tribute may be paid to this enthusiasm, it must be confessed that 
not even the use of a Brunsviga calculating machine for the 
averages impresses the reader of the importance, in view of the 
, practical question demanding solution, of all these pages of 
curves and tables. One feature nevertheless is apparent, viz. 
that the fisheries of the North Sea, including the grounds long 
fished and near the Scottish shores, are in a sound condition, a 
conclusion, however, arrived at long before these international 
investigations commenced. Perhaps one of the most interesting 
contributions in this ‘ Blue Book’ is the series of monthly maps 
showing the position of liners and trawlers throughout the year. 
From these charts alone evidence of the wide distribution of the 
food-fishes on the old grounds as well as on the new is unmistak- 
able. They constitute, indeed, an answer in facts to certain 
aspects of the impoverishment theory. 

The Scotch Board’s further contribution on ‘‘ The Distribu- 
tion and Seasonal Abundance of Flat-fishes in the North Sea,” - 
by Dr. Fulton, is also largely a statistical paper—from the 
author’s position at the great fishing centre of Aberdeen. Though 
it omits many previous observations, it would be improved by 
condensation, especially as Dr. Henking’s work on the fishes of 
the North Sea and the Cattegat, and Dr. Heincke’s, overlap it so 
far as the flat-fishes are concerned. 

One of the main points in this paper is what is called comple- 
mentary and compensatory fluctuations in these statistics, viz.— 
one form taking the place of another, e.g. the ‘‘ Whitch” in 
square xiv, near the Fair Isle, during winter taking the place of 

* Mathematical theory of probabilities. 

+ The reporter thinks Witches or Pole-dabs recent fishes in the market. 


This is scarcely correct. 
x2 


260 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


Dabs, Plaice, and Lemon Dabs. There is, however, an element 
of uncertainty in these fluctuations, which are well known to 
fishermen considerably nearer home. The author, indeed, men- 
tions that Henking, who had found similar fluctuations, is of 
opinion that Plaice are caught in greatest abundance in winter. 
At St. Andrews such has generally been the case, viz. in late 
autumn and winter, whilst Dabs are mostly caught in summer 
and Flukes in early spring. At any rate, the working season of 
the fishermen at a particular fishing has to be considered, and it 
would have been more satisfactory, as in 1884, to have had the 
captures made under the observer’s eye, and with all the circum- 
stances before him. Consequently, it is doubtful how much 
weight can be put on the assertion: “‘I believe that the dis- 
covery of this principle or law of compensatory fluctuations, as 
described in this paper, will materially assist in the explanation 
of many points in the natural history of the food-fishes that are 
at present obscure.”’ 

It is further stated that the maxima of the captures in each 
fish correspond to the spawning season, but that some have 
two maxima and minima, the cones and curves of his illustrative 
diagrams thus being complex, and the cones of the immature 
may be in unison with those of the mature. No explanation, 
however, is given of a remark that the ‘‘ Witch” has a high 
cone in winter and a small secondary cone in the warmer season 
marking the spawning period. The same criticism applies to 
some of the cones of the Plaice, neither corresponding to the 
spawning season ; indeed, it is doubtful if much importance can 
at present be attached to some of these cones. The author is of 
opinion that congregation on the grounds and subsequent dis- 
persal, or migration from one area to another, will explain his 
curves, but as no steps were taken to ascertain their presence or 
absence by other methods, this is conjectural. Moreover, he 
observes that the scarcity of flat-fishes in the deeper water in 
winter is due to their withdrawal to the coast, and hints that 
the Moray Firth may be one of these areas of refuge. But 
St. Andrews Bay and the region beyond are coastal areas, and no 
support can be found there for such a view. A doubtful state- 
ment, again, is that Dabs do not penetrate to the deeper water 
at any period of the year. If by deeper water twenty to forty 


SCIENTIFIC WORK IN THE SEA-FISHERIES. 261 


fathoms is meant, that is just what Dabs do, and the young 
may be reared there—in marked contrast tu the Plaice, as was 
pointed out in 1884. Turbot and Brill extend over the greater 
part of the North Sea, yet the Turbot is at its minimum in his 
sauares at the spawning season. Its wide distribution is probably 
a guarantee for its safety. 

Taken all in all this contribution is of a different type from 
the preceding papers of the Scotch Board in this ‘ Blue Book.’ 
It is true most of the points of importance in regard to the flat- 
fishes were previously known, and it would sometimes appear 
that the check of actual work in the sea itself, and close contact 
with the fishermen, lead to misinterpretations. While interest- 
ing, moreover, it does not deal directly with the great question 
handed over to the Scotch Board to solve, but it furnishes sup- 
port to the views in the ‘ Resources of the Sea,’ since it shows 
that the total average of pounds per hour of fishing was :— 

Tne OOI Pickers nee ere neat Dehli. 
GOSH pes Pb eer a cot Va ea OMe erlioy 

Of the other fisheries papers ita the International Investi-. 
gations have produced few are of greater interest than an elaborate 
contribution by Dr. H. M. Kyle, ‘“‘ On the Statistics of the Sea- 
Fisheries in the Countries of Northern Europe.” Briefly, these | 
show that there is no decrease in the total quantities over this 
very wide field, though it is possible the average size of certain 
adults may be reduced, yet the intermediate stages of the Plaice - 
and the Haddock have increased. He finds the total quantities 
of fish of all kinds landed in the North Sea ports in 1000 kilos. 
(1 ewt.=50°8 kilos., 1 ton=1000 kilos. about) are :— 

For 1902 . oD od sah ROAD H RAREST aaa 
1908 .. ey Ha i COLON OO. 
Of these totals hou fifty per ail arises from the Herring 
fisheries. 

Again, the much vexed Plaice-fishery of the North Sea pro- 
duced, in 1902, 43,339,000 kilograms (1 kilo.=2°2 lb.), whereas 
in 1903 it was 838,958,000 kilos., but from the latter a deduction 
for Plaice brought from other grounds brings the total to 
45,000,000 kilos.—still considerably above that of the previous 
year. Dr. Kyle points out that the intensity of fishing in the 
offshore grounds is but a fraction of what it is in the inshore 


262 THE ZO00LOGIST. 


srounds. Moreover, he demonstrates that Dr. Petersen, an able 
Danish fisheries’ investigator, made an error in asserting that 
the Plaice-fishery of the Cattegat, which was begun in 1876, had 
reached its maximum, and was in 1894 declining. Dr. Petersen, 
however, believes—it may be with reason—that overfishing may 
occur when the numbers of fishes are stationary, or even in- 
creasing, a condition which perhaps, in the face of facts, might 
not be inappropriate for the scientific men in our country who 
uphold the impoverishment of the sea. Dr. Kyle, then, found 
in 1904—ten years after Dr. Petersen’s report—that not only 
was the Danish Plaice-fishery as productive, but even more so, a 
larger number of boats being employed ; and, as if to show the 
resources of nature, a new Plaice-fishery by the Swedes along the 
northern border of the same area had sprung up (since Dr. Peter- 
sen’s report), and was flourishing. In this interesting contribu- 
tion by Dr. Kyle many facts of importance are brought out. 
Thus, for instance, the quantities of Cod taken by Norway alone 
are three times those of all the other countries round the North 
Sea combined. He points out, moreover, the well-known fact 
that trawls only fish on the bottom, and thus are unable to give 
a complete account of the distribution of fishes, even on open 
grounds. The conclusions of Dr. Kyle are substantiated by an 
account, by A. C. Johansen, of the biology of the Plaice for 
Denmark, for he shows that as soon as the Plaice-seine was 
adopted by the fishermen (1872-80) the fishery grew apace. 
Thus the total yield of the Danish Plaice-fishery was :— 
183i eee ee eae O48 .000ikxomers 
190382 See OVE SSO AO OOF EEE 

The author is of opinion that the whole conditions in the North 
Sea are favourable, for with the increase of material there is a 
steady increase in yield. 

Another paper of unusual interest is that containing an 
account of Dr. Hjort’s work in the Norwegian sea. Many of the 
results were known, however, before the International Investiga- 
tions began. He found three fish-faunas in these northern 
waters, viz. an arctic fish-fauna on the northern side of the 
ridge, from the Shetland-Faroé channel to Spitzbergen; an 
Atlantic fish-fauna on the southern slope of the great submarine 
ridge (in the deep basin of the Atlantic) ; whilst a third, allied to 


SCIENTIFIC WORK IN THE SEA-FISHERIES. 263 


the coastal fauna, occurred on the ridge itself. But what most 
concerns us is his discovery of vast multitudes of young fishes of 
the Cod tribe from Jan Meyen southwards—enough, and more 
than enough, to supply all the needs of the North Sea. With 
such enormous resources at command Nature is able to cope 
with ever-increasing captures. 

Space would fail if allusion were made to all the scientific 
(zoological) fisheries’ papers, but some are so important on 
general grounds that they should be briefly mentioned. Thus 
Dr. Fulton found Cod, brought from grounds one hundred and 
eighty to one hundred and ninety miles north-east of Aberdeen, 
were spawning in autumn—another fact which increases the 
safety of the Cod. Joh. Schmidt gives important information 
on the young stages of the Cod tribe, of the Lings, Halibut, 
long rough Dab, and Torsk. Dr. Kyle produces two papers for 
the use of International workers, viz. ‘‘ On the Literature of the 
Ten Principal Food-fishes of the North Sea,” and a “‘ Catalogue 
of the Fishes of Northern Europe.” Dr. Wallace contributes an 
able paper on the ear-bones of the Plaice in connection with age 
and rate of growth. A.S. Jensen (Norway) writes on the ear- 
bones of fishes from the bottom of the deep polar sea, and shows 
that Cod may frequent the upper layers of the water and be 
overlooked. A. C. Johansen describes the life-history of the 
post-larval Hel. Dr. C. G. J. Petersen (Denmark) contributes 
papers on the larval stage of the Ling, the larval and post-larval - 
stages of flat-fishes, on the larval Eels of the Atlantic coast, and 
on the fisheries of the Cattegat and Sweden. Schmidt and 
Petersen give an important account of the spawning-ground of 
the Hel. 

On the whole, those papers on the larval and post-larval 
stages of the food-fishes do not, with a few exceptions (e.g. 
Schmidt and Petersen on the spawning-place of the Hel), show 
much that is strikingly novel, for they had long before been 
worked out from the egg to a recognizable stage at St. Andrews. 

Of zoological papers more suited for the work at marine 
laboratories, and the expense of which was unnecessary, are 
those on “‘ Crustacea Collected during the Hydrographic Cruises,”’ 
“New Crustacea,” ‘‘On Copepods,” and on ‘“‘ A Siphonophore 
(Muggiea atlantica).” 


264 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


Besides, it is not necessary, so far as Britain is concerned, to 
absorb time and money in the present special investigation on 
the food of fishes. That has long been sufficiently known for all — 
practical purposes. Neither would the great labour and cost 
bestowed on the temporary and permanent pelagic or floating 
organisms seem to be warranted. Enough has long been known 
to demonstrate the ever-abundant supplies from diatoms to 
fishes. Concentration in an inquiry of this kind is essential. 

In conclusion, therefore, a survey of the published work of 
the International Fisheries’ Investigations, excepting that of the 
Bureau, from the British standpoint, has failed to elicit a satis- 
factory answer to the fundamental question submitted to the 
British investigators, viz. ‘‘ Whether the fishes in the North Sea 
are,” to state briefly, ‘‘in proportion to their consumption, and 
whether any disproportion between production and consumption 
arises from an injudicious employment of present apparatus.” 

Though some zoologists, apparently less confident of solving 
the various problems in their own department, pin their faith to 
hydrography, this science is, to make a slight alteration on the 
words of its workers, still at an immeasurable distance from 
being helpful; whilst it has—formerly and now—entailed heavy 
expense. 

The results in the southern section of the North Sea—as to 
migrations, rate of growth, and the intensity of fishing—though 
interesting, are premature and inconclusive, and the distribution 
of the Sole has not been forthcoming ; whilst those in the 
northern section, on the whole, and though some are laborious, 
make little real advance on previous knowledge, yet they in- 
advertently support the view of the ‘ Resources of the Sea.’ 
Neither substantiates the theory of the ‘‘Impoverishment of 
the Sea,” and both leave much of the British area unexplored. 

On the other hand, in the light of long experience, a general 
consideration of all the facts of the British and Continental 
workers is fairly compatible with the safety of the fishes in the 
North Sea. 

The experience of this costly international work, however, 
shows that, with the exception of the Bureau, it is not well 
adapted for any practical gain to the British Fisheries, which 
are best managed by central boards and a carefully trained 


SCIENTIFIC WORK IN THE SEA-FISHERIES. 265 


scientific staff. Scotland and Ireland, to some extent, already 
have these; England has not, and Lord Dalhousie’s recom- 
mendation has additional force to-day. 

An endeavour has been made in these memoirs to show that, 
on scientific grounds, the British Fisheries are not unsatisfactory, 
and that Nature is capable, by her marvellous resources in the 
sea, of keeping pace, even with all the modern agencies of de- 
struction. Yet no supine attitude is advocated. Constant care 
and vigilance are becoming, under this great national trust of 
the sea-fisheries, and of the hardy race so largely dependent on 
them. The liner should be encouraged to adopt gill-nets in 
suitable inshore water, and also to vary his methods of fishing 
with bait. He has still, in the Herrings alone, about half the 
totals landed from the North Sea, besides Pilchards, Mackerel, 
Sprats, Lobsters, Crabs, Shrimps, and shell-fishes, not to allude 
to a share in the white-fishing, and the undisputed freedom of 
all the closed waters. In his case industry and sobriety never 
fail to afford a competence. 

It is, indeed, fortunate for this and other nations that the 
unbroken chain of circumstances combines to render the sea- 
fishes so capable of holding their own, not only in former 
geological periods when, for instance, the gigantic fish-eating 
Ichthyosaurt traversed the seas from pole to pole, but to-day. 
For what alternatives are before us ? 

Artificial hatching, while admirable in fresh-water and ana- ~ 
dromous fishes, has not yet been proved (and this is said with all 
deference to the splendid efforts of the Americans) to be of actual 
service in marine fishes, the young of which are everywhere so 
numerous. Besides, the heavy expenditure would ill be borne 
by the taxpayers when the foreign fishermen share equally with 
their own. 

Transplantation could readily be carried out, especially with 
flat-fishes, though under the same international disadvantages ; 
yet Nature in our open waters needs but little aid in this respect. 

More might be said in favour of a size-limit, but that more 
has much of sentiment in it ; for, whilst the ordinary fisherman 
dare not sell his small fishes, and could not possibly eat them, 
many—indeed, almost all those hooked—would perish. But 
what would the Legislature make of the destructive shrimper who 


266 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


cares neither to sell nor eat the small fishes ? Moreover, it is 
hollow legislation which imposes a penalty in the case of small 
flat-fishes, and is purblind to the slaughter of young round- 
fishes. 

The closure of large areas of the sea rests on no scientific 
basis, and there cannot be a doubt that the public are thus de- 
prived of a large and perennial supply of fishes of easy capture. 

To him who revives the barren fears and doubts of many 
centuries, and to the disciple of the ‘‘ Impoverishment of the 
Sea,” there is thus little to choose in the round of alternatives. 

On the other hand, the plenitude and the endurance of the 
sea-fishes are marvellous, yet true. Nature is even prodigal in 
their vast abundance and variety. Indeed, it is by no means 
certain whether the combined destruction caused by invertebrate 
marine animals, from the democratic Jelly-fish (Cydippe) to the 
predatory Cuttle-fish, by the food-fishes themselves, many eating 
their smaller brethren or the young of their neighbours—even 
the Herring swallowing dozens of the floating eggs of the white 
fishes with its food—by predatory fishes like Sharks, Dog-fishes, 
and Skate, by the vast army of piscivorous birds, by the multi- 
tude of Whales, single and social, and by the Seals—I repeat, it 
is by no means certain whether this combined destruction does 
not equal, if not exceed, in numbers at least, that of man himself. 
Let us, then, be chary of futile international or other expendi- 
ture in search of a phantom, but at once organize the scientific 
staff of the three centres of the kingdom on a modern (which 
means a separate, t.¢e. apart from agriculture), effective, yet not 
costly footing. Finally, whilst vigilant in guarding the great 
national trust, and in checking any avoidable waste of fish-life, 
let every well-conducted method of capturing the sea-fishes be 
free from unnecessary restrictions. 


( 267 ) 


OBSERVATIONS OF AN ATTEMPT OF THE SWALLOW 
TRIBE TO WINTER IN SOUTH HANTS. DURING 


1906-7. 
By Harry BreEston. 


(Continued from p. 234.) 


Dec. 22nd to 24th —Neither Swallow nor Martins seen. 
_25th.—Cold N.W. wind. It is not often that birds of the 

Swallow tribe are seen sporting about on Christmas Day in this 
country, and the occurrence of such an event as two Sand-Mar- 
tins on the wing on this date is almost unique ; but on the same 
date in 1903 a House-Martin was observed hawking for flies 
over a stream in this district, while on Dec. 30th of the same 
year a House-Martin, possibly the same bird, was seen near the 
same place. 

26th to 29th.—Weather very wintry. Wind N.W. On the 
morning of the 27th snow lay several inches thick on the ground, 
and cold frosty weather continued, with the thermometer down 
to twenty-four degrees below freezing-point (eight degrees of 
frost) on the morning of 29th. LHvidently the Martins had 
suffered severely, and were feeling the effects of the continued 
cold, for on the 29th only one bird was to be seen on the wing, 
and that appeared very weak, yet making a brave struggle to 
keep on the wing and obtain food. It would be interesting to 
know the fate of its companion. 

30th.—Change of wind and weather; mild S.W. wind. Both 
birds again observed, but beating up and down stream with 
weary flight and apparent exhaustion. How long will the un- 
equal contest last ? 

31st.—One bird only on the wing, but to-day it appears 
stronger. 

1907. 

Jan. 1st to 7th.— Weather variable. Sharp frosts on nights 
of 2nd and 38rd. Wind veered from S.W. (Ist) to N.W. (7th). 
The solitary bird has struggled on day after day, and now (7th) 


\" 
268 - THE ZOOLOGIST. 


seems quite recovered from its weakness, and is once more 
vigorous, sweeping up and down stream with easy flight, and 
occasionally taking short journeys over the adjacent meadows. 

9th to 13th.—Open and rather mild weather, with continuous 
N.W. wind. One bird only now appears to have survived, and is 
strong in flight. On the 11th, at noon, I thought this bird, too, 
had disappeared. After watching by the stream for some time, 
and not being able to see the bird either near the water or over 
the fields, I was about to depart somewhat disconsolate, when, as 
though to once more reassure me, the Martin came skimming 
along within a few feet of where I stood, dipped down close to the 
surface, snapped up an insect or two, and then disappeared again 
behind the farm-buildings. There is no doubt whatever in my 
mind that the bird has settled down to try to weather the winter, 
and, if insect-food holds out long enough, I have hopes it may be 
able to survive. But then the question arises—why has not the 
other Martin also managed to live, if it is only a matter of food- 
supply ? Here is a curious and interesting instance of the 
‘‘ survival of the fittest,” and an enigma in evolutionary migra- 
tion. 

14th to 17th.—Anticyclonic weather, with mild N.W. wind 
each day. The bird still in evidence each day, very vigorous, 
and only occasionally visiting the stream. Food is evidently 
plentiful just now away from the water. 

18th to 21st.—Anticyclone still continues; calm, mild, misty 
weather. Wind §.E. The Martin still on the wing, seemingly 
as strong and fit as ever it was in summer, and only occasionally 
does it hawk for insects over the stream ; evidently food is 
obtainable in sufficient quantity elsewhere. 

22nd.—Cold, wintry day; ground frozen hard. Wind N.E. 
Visited the stream to-day at noon, and was agreeably surprised 
to see the Martin still on the feed, up and down stream, and 
appeared quite strong and well, taking occasional flights away 
from the water over the fields. 

23rd.—Weather as yesterday, but cutting wind from N.E. 
Eleven degrees of frost last night! Martin still courageously and 
persistently hawking for food close to the surface of the water. 
It appears to-day very feeble, and is only just able to flutter 
along, and does not attempt to leave the stream as yesterday. 


WINTERING OF SWALLOW TRIBE IN S. HANTS. 269 


Last night’s severe cold seems to have lowered the bird’s vitality 
almost to the lowest ebb, and it is more than likely that to-day 
will be its last effort to survive; the odds are very much 
against its being able to stand a temperature as low as that of 
last night. 

24th to 27th.—Visited the stream each day, but no signs 
whatever of the Martin since 23rd; it has without doubt suc- 
cumbed, but it certainly deserved a better fate. 


Before finally dismissing these diary notes, there is one very 
puzzling point which I am unable to settle, viz. where during the 
time the Sand-Martins continued to remain in the district—1.e. from 
November to January—before finally perishing, did they roost or 
conceal themselves at night ? 

As is well known, these birds live in holes or burrows during 
their stay in this country, and sleep in the burrows at night, 
never, as far as I have been able to discover, in any other situa- 
tion. Immediately on arrival in spring the birds repair to their 
nesting haunts, and use the old burrows for roosting purposes. 
In the district around Havant I know of no place where Sand- 
Martins breed within a distance of thirteen miles of the town, as 
the geological formation is mainly chalk, which is quite unsuited 
to the requirements of these birds for breeding purposes. Hence 
it has puzzled me very much to know in what situations and 
under what conditions the birds found shelter at night. Would - 
they be likely to roost in reed-beds, or take shelter in out- 
buildings or stacks of hay or straw? The observations and 
criticisms of ornithologists on this point would be welcomed by 
the writer. 

The following weather table serves to illustrate my remarks 
and criticisms bearing on the subject of migration as dependent 
on wind direction, which Mr. EK. K. Robinson maintains so 
strenuously is a vitally important factor in bird migration (see 
table on next page). 

In the ‘Country-Side’ for week ending Jan. 5th, 1907, 
p-. 109, the Editor, Mr. EK. K. Robinson, to whom I submitted 
some notes on the abnormally late departure of Swallows and 
Martins, endeavours to explain the reason for the ‘‘ prolonged 
and untimely stay” of these birds in South Hants by saying 


270 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


that ‘‘no wind from the right quarter, presumably N.E., blew with 
sufficient strength or persistence to reawaken the instinct of migra- 
tion.” 


WeatuHer Anatysis Tasue, NoveMBER AND DEcEMBER, 1906. 


Date. Direction. Character of Weather, &c. 
Nov. 19th, 20th...... N.W. Wind steady. 
» Ylstto 24th ...| S.W. or 8.E. Gentle, but steady wind. 
», 25th to 28th...| N.W. or W. Breezy. Wind west on 27th. 
eee ZO blaibryeeen ae sleee S.W. Calm. 
sar blIn. Nectelencecisce N.W. Wind steady. 
Decralstiescascicscees N.W. Strong wind; bright clear weather. 
= py PAINE! (0) BUNS so00 N.W. Steady wind; S.W. on 8rd. 
 (Gulitomibhiercess N.E. Strong on 6th; frost on 7th. 
», Sth to 11th .... N.W. Strong cold wind on 9th and 10th, 
with hard frost. 
ng UPA coaccosocbos W. Strong cutting wind. 
Pealsthitomlothvees: N.W. Steady cold breeze. 
Po llth esssascccess S.E. | Mild, with ‘“ Scotch mist.” 
,, 17th and 18th N.W. Mild and calm. 
» 9th to 23rd... N.E. Steady breeze; hard frost 21st to 
23rd. 
yr Pa ok aocopeootee S.W. Steady breeze; hard frost followed 
by thaw. 
,, 2oth to 28th... N.W. Strong wind; blizzard and snow on 
26th, with keen frosts. 
POU eacenoonsenae N.E. Steady wind, but many degrees of 
frost. 
et OOLAN icemecserane S.W. Strong wind, thaw, and rain. 
ay OSU) weesosseeotine N.W. Steady breeze and milder. 


Now, it will be seen from the above weather table that, with 
the exception of one day (27th), from Nov. 25th to 28th the wind 
blew steadily from the N.W. 

This answers the point with regard to “ persistence,” and I 
should imagine a N.W. wind would be quite as favourable 
as one from the N.I. for migrating birds, or those, at any rate, 
which desired to migrate. A steady breeze from this direction 
would carry the birds across the English Channel, and land 
them safely on the shores of the Mediterranean in a few hours; 
whereas a N.K. wind would be more likely to carry them further 
out to sea, and thus render the journey much longer and more 
dangerous, because they would have to cross the Bay of Biscay, 
where adverse winds might carry them quite out of their course. 


WINTERING OF SWALLOW TRIBE IN 8S. HANTS. 271 


A short sea passage would be safer than a long one, and, besides, 
the advantages the birds would obtain by crossing a larger land 
area, by being able to stop if necessary to feéd; cannot be over- 
looked when considering the matter whether a N.W. or N.E. 
wind is the more suitable for migration. 

Without going through the table in detail, it will be seen that 
there were four days, from Nov. 25th to the end of the month, 
when the instinct of migration—whatever that may mean—could 
have been taken advantage of, but the birds did not for some 
inscrutable reason follow their instincts, but delayed their de- 
parture, or, as it seems to me, were quite content to remain, the 
reason for which I shall discuss later. 


(To be continued.) 


272 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


OBITUARY. 
Prorressor A. Newton, M.A., F.R.S., &c. 


Zoouoeists in general, but especially ornithologists and oologists, 
will deplore the loss of Professor Alfred Newton, one of our most dis- 
tinguished and soundest zoologists, who passed away on the 7th of 
June. Professor Newton, who held the Chair of Zoology and Com- 
parative Anatomy at Cambridge since 1866, was well known and most 
highly esteemed, not only in Great Britain, but in every country where 
zoology, and more especially ornithology, is studied, and his writings, 
though many, were not so voluminous as they might well have been, 
for he never put pen to paper until he had fully studied his subject, and 
in consequence nothing that he wrote will pass away, but will stand as 
a lasting memorial of the care and hard work he bestowed on all that 
he undertook. Extreme accuracy was with him the corner-stone of all 
his work, and he would spend weeks of labour and earnest research in 
verifying any reference. It is scarcely necessary here to enumerate all 
the works he has written, but amongst these I may especially name his 
‘Dictionary of Birds,’ written with the co-operation of Messrs. Hans 
Gadow, Richard Lydekker, Charles 8. Ray, and Robert W. Shufeldt, a 
work which is indispensable to every working ornithologist; vols. i. 
and il. of Yarrell’s ‘ British Birds’; his ‘ Ootheca Wolleyana,’ a cata- 
logue of the celebrated collection of eggs originally formed by the late 
John Wolley, and completed by Professor Newton himself, which, 
though commenced as long ago as 1866, was only completed shortly 
before his death; and his various papers on the Great Auk or Gare- 
fowl. 

As one of the founders—probably the chief of the small band of 
ornithologists who founded, nearly fifty years ago, the British Ornitho- 
logists’ Union—Professor Newton and his coadjutors gave an impetus 
to the study of ornithology which has had most gratifying and lasting 
results. 

A severe though a very fair critic, and a hard hitter when he deemed 
it necessary to administer salutary correction, Professor Newton was a 
firm friend, most courteous, genial, and pleasant in manner in personal 
intercourse, and especially kind and helpful towards young ornitholo- 
gists; therefore he was greatly loved and revered by all who came in 
personal contact with him. It was a constant custom with him to be 


OBITUARY. 273 


at home on Sunday evenings to young students of zoology, and all who 
have taken part in these pleasant reunions will know how helpful he 
invariably was to any young man who was working at any branch of 
zoology. In this, as in his influence on the study of ornithology, he 
will be sorely missed, and there is no one who can take his place. 

Although permanently lame, owing to an accident in early child- 
kood, he did good work as an outdoor naturalist, and travelled con- 
siderably, visiting Norway, Lapland, Spitzbergen, Iceland, the West 
Indies, and North America, making excellent use, as his writings show, 
of his opportunities to study the habits of birds in their native haunts. 

A keen oologist, Professor Newton amassed a very good collection 
of eggs, almost entirely of Palearctic species, and of some, chiefly 
northern, a very large series—and this valuable collection he has be- 
queathed to the Cambridge University Museum. His chief hobby was, 
however, his library of ornithological and zoological books, and when- 
ever a rare ornithological work was in the market he would use every 
endeavour to secure it, usually with success. Hence this library, 
which he has also bequeathed to the Cambridge University, is extremely 
rich, and contains several of the rarest and most valuable ornithological 
and oological works. 

Though very broad-minded, Professor Newton was somewhat con- 
servative, and to the last he was strongly averse to the extreme sub- 
division of species, often on the very slightest grounds, now so prevalent 
amongst some ornithologists of the present day, as also to the use (or, 
we may almost say, abuse) of trinomial appellations, he being essenti- 
ally a binomialist. 

Professor Newton was the fifth son of William Newton, of Elvedon 
Hall, Suffolk, formerly M.P. for Ipswich, and was born at Geneva on 
the 11th of June, 1829. Educated at first by a private tutor, he 
graduated at Cambridge in 1853, and was appointed Travelling Fellow 
of Magdalene College in 1854, and then visited the countries above 
enumerated. He was subsequently a vice-president of the Royal, 
Linnean, and Zoological Societies, and was awarded the gold medal of 
the Linnean Society, and in 1900 one of the Royal Society’s medals. 

I first made Professor Newton’s acquaintance in 1858, on my return 
to England from Finland, when he came to my father’s town house to 
examine the collection I had made during my sojourn in Sweden and 
Finland, and since then he has been the most constant and truest friend 


it has been my good fortune to possess. 
H. KE. Dresser. 


Zool. 4th ser. vol. XI., July. 1907. Y¥ 


© 274 THE 4ZO0O0LOGIST. 


NOTES AND QUERIES. 


MAMMALIA. 


Badger near Cheltenham.—A fairly large specimen of a Badger was 
recently killed at Brimpsfield, near here, in a wooded ‘‘ combe”’ at an 
elevation of about nine hundred feet above the sea-level. These 
animals are stated to be not uncommon in the STO sla OTA 
CHAMPION LE CHAMBERLAIN (Fairhaven, Uhelenam): 


AVES. 


Occurrence of the Sardinian Warbler in Sussex.—On June 4th a 
Sardinian Warbler (Sylvia melanocephala) was brought to me in the 
flesh for identification by Mr. G. Bristow, Jun., naturalist, of Silchester 
Road, St. Leonards-on-Sea. It had been killed the day before in the 
neighbourhood of Hastings, and proved on dissection to be a male. 
Being unable to be present at the British Ornithologists’ Club Dinner 
in London on June 19th, the bird was kindly exhibited on my behalf 
by Dr. C. B. Ticehurst, M.B.O.U., who informs me that this is the first 
really authenticated occurrence of this species in the British Islands, 
though Mr. W. D’Urban saw what was apparently a bird of the same 
species in his garden at Exmouth on April 16th, 1890. This is referred 


to in Mr. Howard Saunders’s ‘ Manual,’ where he writes :—‘‘ There is | 


not the least improbability of this bird occurring in the British Islands, 
since it is common in the South of France and in the Peninsula.” It 
probably got swept north in the tide of spring migration. I hope to 
record this occurrence of the Sardinian Warbler also in part iii. of 
vol. i. of the Journal (‘ Hastings and East Sussex Naturalist’) of the 
Hastings and St. Leonards Natural History Society. — Tuomas Parkin 
(Fairseat, High Wickham, Hastings). 


The Scaup-Duck (Fuligula marila) in Cheshire.—On the 12th May 
last I saw an adult male of this Sea-Duck on Redesmere, Cheshire. It 
proved to be very tame, and I was able to approach to within some 
twenty yards of it. The head, neck, and breast were black, glossed 
with green; mantle finely vermiculated with pale grey and white, 
which in the distance looked white, and was met with the white of the 


NOTES AND QUERIES. 275 


belly overlapping the wing; tail, rump, and flight-feathers black or 
dark brown; the bill, which was slightly upturned, was bluish slate- 
colour ; eye bright yellow. In the morning, when I first saw the bird, 
it was searching for food, and dived frequently in the shallow water of 
the narrow end of the mere; in the evening, when last seen, it had 
retired to the centre of the mere, where it was resting near a few Tufted 
Ducks, from which it was easily distinguished by its light back.—F rank 
S. Graves (Ballamoar, Alderley Edge). 


The Shoveler (Spatula clypeata) in Cheshire.—I noticed two birds 
of this species on Redesmere, Cheshire, on the 19th April last. 
They were adult male and female, and, judging by their behaviour, 
had paired, but when I visited the mere next day they had gone. These 
are the first Shovelers I have seen on this mere, or, indeed, in Cheshire, 
The poise of these Ducks on the water is remarkable ; the fore part of 
the bird is much sunk, as though weighed down by the large bill, and 
the tail stands clear of the water.— Frayx §. Graves (Ballamoar, 
Alderley Edge). 


Non-breeding Birds.—Quite from the beginning of May a pair of 
Little Terns (Sterna minuta) have remained on Breydon, instead of 
joining the assemblies of their species at Blakeney and at Wells. I 
have seen them every time I have gone on Breydon, and on reference 
to the note-book of the watcher Jary found dates, recording their con- 
stant presence, between my own. The female appears to be not nearly so 
strong on the wing as its mate, which is most attentive to it, continually 
fishing for it, and dropping tiny Herrings on the mud near it, or into 
its mouth, and what appeared to me to be Gobies and Shrimps as well ; 
these latter were fished out of the tinier ‘drains,’ the former being 
snatched out of the deeper ‘‘channels.’”’ At the present time the usual 
summer muster of Gulls is to be seen on the mud-flats; there are 
numerous examples of Black-backed Gulls, from the fine adult males 
to the last year’s ‘‘ greys,” including oddly blotched birds of the third 
and fourth years. ‘They are living fairly well now on the flotsam that 
drifts upstream on the flood from the shrimpers’ nets, and on Shore- 
Crabs scuttling about among the rank Zostera. The immature Common 
and Black-headed Gulls are very persistent in waiting upon the Herons, 
who, when satiated with Flounders and Kels, will continue to strike 
and capture prey, to be thrown away at length upon the flats. As late 
as May 26th some Knots in the perfect ‘‘ red” of spring were loitering 
on Breydon. If these were on their way to their nesting quarters the 
time they were enabled to devote to household matters must be exceed- 
ingly short.—Artuur H, Parrerson (Ibis House, Great Yarmouth). 


276 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


; PISCES. 
-Tailless Sole.—On June 19th I had brought to me by a fish-hawker 
a small Sole (Solea vulgaris), which at no period of its existence had 
owned a caudal appendage, the posterior extremity of the fish being 
perfectly rounded, and the dorsal and anal fins quite continuous, with- 
out a break. The fish measured 7 in. in extreme length, with a width 
of 84 in., inclusive of the fins. As will be seen by the photograph, the 


TAILLESs Sone (Solea vulgaris). 


fish is quite oval in shape. There was a slight damage to the fin- 
membrane at the extreme end, done probably in the trawl-net. I 
met with a specimen of this fish (vide ‘Notes of an Hast Coast 
Naturalist,’ p. 225) in 1890, somewhat similarly malformed, but in 
that instance the two fins turned in, making a V-shaped inlet.—Arruur 
H. Parrerson (Ibis House, Great Yarmouth). 


NOTES AND QUERIES. 277 


MOLLUSCA. 

Carnivorous Propensities of a Slug —On my visiting (June 11th) 
some traps I had set for Mice, I found a Bank-Vole caught, and 
feeding on it was a large Slug (Limax flavus). It had already devoured 
a considerable portion of the Vole, having made a round hole about the 
size of a shilling. This was a surprise to me, as I had no idea Slugs 
were carnivorous, and had always regarded them as purely vegetarians. 
—Gorpvon Dateuiess (Brook, Witley, Surrey). 


INSECTA. 


A Remarkable Luminous Insect from Brazil.—The female beetles 
of the group Phengodini—a group nearly related to our ordinary Glow- 
worms—are exceptionally interesting, not only on account of their 
remarkable luminosity, but also from the fact that they retain in adult 
life all the external features of the larva. Whether the specimen figured 
here is really a mature female or only a well-crown 
larva cannot at present be determined. ‘This 
specimen, by the kindness of Mr. J. Kempthorne, 
who brought it alive from Manaos, in Brazil, has 
been recently added to the National Collection, 
where hitherto the group was represented only by 
male specimens. It is very nearly 14 in. long, 
sparsely covered with hairs, especially at the sides, 
the general colour pale yellow, slightly brownish 
on the dorsal segments, with the head and last seg- 
ment reddish brown; the eyes, antenne, and 
mandibles black. The head and the front part of 
the first thoracic ring glow on all sides with a red 
light, like that ‘of a live coal, the light appearing 
to be concentrated in two centres, one in the head, 
the other in the thorax. Hach succeeding segment, 
except the last, has a pair of lights, which, in 
marked contrast with those of the head and prothorax, are of a dis- 
tinctly green colour, resembling in miniature the green signal-lights 
used on railways. ‘The possession of lights of two different colours 
appears to be confined to South American species of the group; at 
least, I have not been able to find any reference to the red light in the 
head in any of the accounts given of North American species. One of 
the South American forms has been described as having a red light at 
each end of the body, and a row of green lights along each side. The 
males are slightly luminous, the luminosity being confined to one or 
more of the ventral plates of the abdomen.—C. J. Ganan (Brit. Mus.). 


278 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


NOTICES OF NEW. BOOKS M 


The Sense of Touch in Mammals and Birds, with special reference 
to the Papillary Ridges. By Watrser Kipp, M.D., F.Z.S. 
Adam & Charles Black. 


Tuts is a very useful book ; if it does not propose or support 
a theory, or is somewhat inconclusive in result, it still becomes, 
by its illustrations and descriptions, a text-book on the subject. 
The impressions of the palmar and plantar surfaces of many 
mammals, especially Primates, will afford quite a new study to 
some zoologists ; while the literature on the subject, given in an 
appendix, is a most welcome addition. It is in the literature 
relating to the study of evolution that these books find their 
place; this one, having no novel theory, nor leading to any 
startling conclusion, may possibly and probably be little known 
beyond the ranks of a few students. The general reader requires 
a sensational summary. How many, to whom the name of 
Darwin is a household word, and ‘ Natural Selection’ and the 
‘Descent of Man’ accepted axioms, have really studied the facts 
on which those conceptions are founded ? 

According to Mr. Kidd, the Orang has a hand which ap- 
proaches nearly to the shape of the human hand. The Gorilla 
has a hand and foot of more powerful appearance than any other 
Anthropoid Ape, the hand resembling a clumsy human hand, 
while the foot is more powerful than that of the Orang. The 
hand of the Chimpanzee is most human of all in general form, 
but less complex as to patterns than the Gorilla or Orang, but 
more so than the Gibbon. The result of Mr. Kidd’s method of 
enquiry points out that the Anthropoid Apes are distinguished 
from all the Primates below them by marked simplicity of palmar 
and plantar pattern, and by higher development of apical pads 
in the Orang and Gorilla, the former change being common to 
the whole group, the latter to only two out of the four. 

Mr. Kidd seems to place a very high value—perhaps too high 


NOTICES OF NEW BOOKS. 279 


—on the use of the hand to man in the basal element of his pro- 
gress in civilization. Referring to the periods known as Stone, 
Tron, and Bronze Ages, he writes :—‘‘ It is easy to understand 
that in such a development of mechanical appliances as these 
titles indicate the sense of touch has played an extremely im- 
portant part.” We should consider it was more the evolution of 
human intelligence which produced the evolution in handicraft. 

There are one hundred and seventy-four illustrations and 
diagrams. 


A Hunter's Wanderings in Africa; being a Narrative of Nine 
Years spent amongst the Game of the Far Interior of South 
Africa. By F.C. Senovs. Macmillan & Co., Ltd. 


THIs is a new and fifth edition of a book with a deserved 
reputation and an evergreen interest. ‘To the real sportsman of 
big-game the volume requires no recommendation, but it is a 
question whether mammalogists and other zoologists are always 
aware of the valuable observations it contains—observations 
made in the field, and recorded at the time. This is particularly 
the case as regards the Lion. ‘“‘ All the Dutch hunters in the 
interior, as well as many HKuropeans who pretend to higher 
scientific attainments, say there are at least three distinct species 
of Lions in South Africa, while some assert that there are four 
or even five.” These distinctions are based on the length and 
colour of the mane, the general colour of the coat, the spots on 
the feet, and the comparative size of the animals. But Mr. 
Selous, with a healthy appreciation of variable characters, recog- 
nizes but one species, and most zoologists will entirely agree 
with him. Chapter xiii. is an excellent summary of the author’s 
experience of the South African representative. Another idea 
that may be laid to rest refers to the South African Buffalo. All 
representations of these animals “‘ charging with their heads 
lowered are purely imaginary, as they never do so, but, on the 
contrary, invariably hold their noses straight out, and lay their 
horns back over their shoulders. They lower their heads just as 
they strike.” Ae 

The work is well illustrated, and collectors who may have 
acquired head or horn trophies from South Africa will have little 
trouble in identifying the species to which they belong. 


280 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


The volume also possesses a sad interest to those who have 
wandered across the veld or through the bush of South Africa. It 
is a.tale of recent time, but as regards the game, of a long ago 
and a vanishing fauna. When Mr. Selous first visited the country 
there was no Johannesburg, but there was a hunter’s paradise ; 
Bulawayo had not supplanted the kraal of Lobengula, and Ele- 
phants could be found in places which will see them no more. 
Perhaps the time has come when the colonizing march in the 
southern part of the African continent will at least pause, and, 
apart from local gold and diamonds, one of the poorest countries 
in the world may be able again to exhibit its wealth in wild 
mammals. . 


The Insect Hunter’s Companion. By the Rey. JoszpH GREENE, 
M.A. Fifth edition, revised and extended by A. B. Farn. 
West, Newman & Co. 


GREENE’s ‘Insect Hunter’s Companion’ is one of the lesser 
classics to the British entomologist, and this revised edition in a 
very cheap form will doubtless procure it still more readers. Its 
contents are so generally well known that nothing more need be 
said than that it is indispensable to every young entomologist, 
while older ones can still look through its pages with pleasure. 
We have been more than once asked, when abroad, for a short 
concise guide to aid in the collection of insects. In the future 
this pocket volume will be the answer to that enquiry. 


“dust PUBLISHED 


Cloth extra, Foolscap Sv0. Price 1s. 6d. Postage 2d. 


Insect Hunter’s Companion 
By tae. Rev. JOSEPH GREENE, M.A. 

= FIFTH EDITION. 

= Entirely revised, and extended, by A. B. oe 


The Chapter on Coleoptera by Kpwarp Newman; on Hymenoptera by 
FREDERICK SmitH; on Breeding Gallfices by Epwarp A. Fircn. 


Tnstructions for Gallecuine and Preserving Butteriee “Mothe, Beetles, - 
~ Bees. Flies, &c., in all their stages from the Ege to the perfect Insect. 

The Fourth ‘Edition of this indispensable little ‘Companion’ was issued 
in 1892, and many additional facts and suggestions have been inserted in 
this new edition. It 1s also strongly and neatly bound in cloth, and is of its 
old handy pocket size. A further u-eful addition has been made in the blank 
pages for notes at the end of the book. 


“Tt is pleasant to welcome this ‘old friend in a new dress.’ The practical - 
_ little book of the late Mr. Greene, who, thirty years and more ago, was adding to » 
our knowledge of the Lepidoptera of Ireland, will still be useful to the young 
entomologists of to-day..... But the work is before all an insect hunter’s.com- 
panion, and the joys of the entomological chase, usually innocent, despite the 
rapacity of many collectors, are still as fresh as they were thirty years ago. 
Mr. Greene’s directions for the capture of moths, caterpillars, and pup are as - 
valuable as ever, and his anecdotes will not grow stale.”—The Irish Naturalist. 

“This terse and informative little manual.” —Bir ‘mingham Poste 

* A little volume that entomologists know and prize. "— Glasgow Herald. 

“This little volume makes an intensely interesting companion for the insect 
hunter.”—Irish Farming World. 

*‘ Will be welcomed by all beginners in entomological studies who desire prac- 
tical information as to the various modes of capturing, setting, and preserving 
- insects.”—The Tribune. = 
“Tt is excellent as a guide in collecting and eee butterflies, moths, 
_ beetles, bees, flies, and other insects.’ Lee Piehee 


Foolscap 8vo, Cloth, gilt top, 160 pp. + blanks for Notes. Price Qs. 6d. 


Pocket-book of British Birds 
By E. F. M. ELMS. 


NFORMATION is given respecting all British birds that breed in 
these islands. and those that are regular visitors at one time of 
the year or another, with remarks as to a species being resident, inter- 
“migratory, or migratory. Hach species is separately treated under 
the headings: Haunts, including distribution; Plumage, briefly charac- 
terizing the predominant and striking featur es, with “differentiation of 
‘species nearly alike; Language, with song.and various cries; Habits. 
Food; Nidification, with site and materials of nest; and number and. 
description of Eggs. For those who love the birds this ‘ Pocket-book ’ 
4 will be a constant and much appreciated companion. 


London : WEST, SEMAN ab c0., Des Flan Garden, EC. 


a & 


~The ie rails oe South Carabridbeshire, Albert H Wai 8 3 
Scientific Work in the Sea-Fisheries, . Prof. MeIntosh, ML D. 
Li & #., 94. 
Observations of an Attempt of the Swallow Tribe to Winter in 1 Sout 
oy 1906-7, Harry Beeston, 267. 
OpiTtuaRy.—Professor A. Newton, M. A B. R.S., oa UE. #. Dresser, 27 2 
Notes anv QuERiEs :— a 
Mammatia.— Badger near Cheltenham, Champion le Chamber la 274. : 
Avrs.—Occurrence of the Sardinian Warbler in Sussex, Thomas Park 
The Scaup-Duck (Fuligula marila) in Cheshire, 274 ; The Shoveler (Spa 
clypeata) in Cheshire, 275; Frank S. Graves. Non-breeding Birds, Art 
H. Patterson, 275. 
Pisces.—Tailless Sole (with illustration), Arthur H. Patterson, 276. 
Mo.uiusca.—Carnivorous Propensities of a Slug, Gordon Dalgliesh, 277. 
Insecta.—A Remarkable Luminous Insect from Brazil sae illustration), C. ; 
Gahan, 277. ae 
NoTtIcEs OF New Books, 278-280. 


Articles and Communications intended for publication, and Books und = 
Pamphlets for review, should be addressed ‘‘ The Editor of ‘The Zoologist,’ — 
c/o West, Newman & Co., 54, Hatton Garden, London;” or direct to the 
Editor, W. L. Distant, SHANNON LODGE, Selhurst Road, South Norwood. 


Subscription for 1907, 12s. post free, may be sent to the Publishers, 
West, Newman & Co., 54, Hatton Garden, London, E.C. ce 
. Bound volumes, 1906, can now be had at 14s. each ; also cases ie # 
Eaiue at 1s. 3d. each, post free. ; 


NOW READY. 80 pp., cloth, gilt, price 2s. 6d. 


FAMILIAR INDIAN BIRDS — 


5 GORDON DALGLIESH. 
ae, Illustrated by Half-tone Blocks from the Drawings of 
ok R. H. BUNTING and H.B. NEILSON. 


This little book is intended mainly for those who live in, eo 


and who wish to learn eae about them. 
_ personal knowledge and observation. 


an 


fo 


of 


Monthly Journal 
JATURAL HISTORY, 


| Edited by W. Lt. Distant. : 


fondon: 
WEST, NEWMAN &CO 


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Notes on the Habits of the Crenter Horseshoe Bat ope ) 
_ Bruce F. Cummings, 288. ‘ 
- The Californian Condor, Graham Renshaw, M. Be Hee, S., 295. 3 
- Field-Notes on Some of the Smaller British Mammalia, Gordon Daljueae 99. 
Observations of an Attempt of the Swallow Tribe to — in South a i 
1906-7, Harry Beeston, 303. 
Noris anp QuERIES :— 
Mammatia.—Mus flavicollis in Suffolk, Rev. Tian G, Tuck, 307. 
Avrs.—The Cuckoo (Cwuculus canorus) near Aberdeen, Wm. Wilson, 307. White 
Variety of Nightjar, Rev. O. Pickard-Cambridge, 307. Common Buzzard 
(Buteo vulgaris) on the Calf of Man, P. G. Ralfe, 308. Clocking Hen and ~ 
Young Partridges, J. S. T. Walton, 308. Notes on Nest-Boxes, Rev. Juli 
G. Tuck, 308. Notes on Manx Sea-Birds, P. G. Ralfe,399. 
 Mouuusca. —Carnivorous Propensities of a Slug, Frank A. Arnold, 309. 
Notices oF New Books, 310-312. 
EDITORIAL GLEANINGS, 313-320. 


Articles and Communications intended for publication, and Books and 
Pamphlets for review, should be addressed ‘‘ The Editor of ‘The Zoologist 
c/o West, Newman & Co., 54, Hatton Garden, London;” or direct to t 
Editor, W. L. Distant, SHANNON LODGE, Selhurst Road, South Norwoo 


Subscription for 1907, 12s. post free, may be sent to the Publishers, 

: West, Newman & Co., 54, Hatton Garden, London, H.C. 
Bound volumes, 1906, cun now be had at 14s. each ; also cases for 

binding at 1s. 8d. each, post free. ; a gona 


a 
3 
NOW READY. 80 pp., cloth, gilt, price 2s. 6d. . 


FAMILIAR INDIAN BIRDS 


GORDON DALGLIESH. 


Illustrated by Half-tone Blocks from the Drawings of < 
R. H. BUNTING and H. B. NEILSON. 


This little book is intended mainly for ee who live i in, or visit, Ind 


and who wish to learn something about them. The author writes 
personal knowledge and observation. . = Reon: 


London: WEST, NEWMAN & CO., 54, Hatton 


ies ZOOL OG S f 


No. 794.—August., 1907. 


RECENT OCCURRENCES OF RARE BIRDS IN 
CORNWALL. 


By James Cuark, M.A., D.Sc. 


In the present article an attempt is made to notify all specially 
interesting occurrences of uncommon birds in Cornwall during 
the last eight years, so far as they have not been already recorded 
by others in the pages of ‘ The Zoologist.’ Practically all refer- 
ence is omitted to the Birds of the Isles of Scilly, as these were 
fully treated in last year’s ‘ Zoologist’ by Mr. F. R. Rodd, of 
Trebartha, and the present writer. Where no authority is given 
for the capture of any particular specimen, the bird in the flesh 
or else the fresh skin was brought into the Schools by one of his 
students or observers, and identified by the writer. ‘‘ Reported ” 
specimens are such as have not been seen by him, though there 
is no doubt as to their genuineness. 

The Lesser Whitethroat was not observed on the Cornish 
mainland till the 11th of September, 1902, when an immature 
male was killed near Poundstock. The following year it was 
specially looked for in that district, and several were seen during 
the third week in September on the dense hedge-banks between 
Launceston and Bude. The two shot as voucher specimens were 
both immature females. In 1904 it was observed near Poughill 
on the 2nd of October, and an adult male was killed at Bodmin 
on the 26th of the previous month. Probably, through lack of 
observers, it was not recorded in 1905, but in 1906 a female was 
shot in a dense oak thicket near the top of Coomb Valley, Kilk- 

Zool, 4th ser. vol. XI., August, 1907. Z 


282 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


hampton, and an immature male about the same date just 
across the border at Holsworthy, in Devon. It is therefore at 
least a casual autumn bird of passage in the north-east of the 
COUNtY A 2 ee Pine Ni E waite : 

The Dartford Warbler was a fairly well-known resident 
throughout the county in the late seventies, but after the severe 
winter of 1880-81 does not seem to have been recorded till 1884, 
when Baily observed it near Penzance. After the hard winter of 
1886-87 it was not again observed till May, 1899, when Miss 
EK. A. Reynolds saw it in a garden at Hayle. In April, 1904, a 
nest with four eggs was found near Penryn. Shortly after 
hatching one of the young birds disappeared, but the other three 
were watched till fully fledged. In 1905 a nest with four young 
ones was discovered at Linkinhorne, and another with five eggs 
near St. Buryan. Last year birds were again seen about St. 
Buryan in the spring, and one was flushed from a turnip-field in 
the autumn. This year it has not yet been recorded for the 
county. 

The Firecrest has in late years been a fairly regular winter 
visitor. In October, 1900, several came in at the Lizard witha 
large flock of Chiffchaffs and several Redstarts, and one, a male, 
was shot to establish identification. From the 7th to the 9th of 
November that year two were observed at Kea, near Truro. In 
January, 1901, about a dozen frequented some pine-trees near 
Tregothnan, with a number of immature Goldcrests, for about a 
fortnight, and in November that year one was shot at Kea. In 
the first week of December, 1904, two lingered for several days 
near Gulval, at the head of Mount’s Bay, and one was killed 
later in the month at Helston. For a week or so in the middle 
of November, 1905, it was not at all uncommon among Gold- 
crests from Malpas down the left side of the river to King Harry 
Passage, and in November, 1906, it was heard and seen by F. H. 
Davey in Tresamble Lane between Ponsanooth and Bissoe. 

When staying at St. Goar, on the Rhine, in May, 1905, the 
writer received from a farmer near Liskeard the remains of a 
Melodious Warbler that had been shot near Sandplace, Looe, on 
the 12th of the month, under the impression it was a Nightingale. 
‘“We killed it,’ wrote the sender, ‘‘so that people should not 
laugh at us when we said we had heard the Nightingale in Corn- 


RARE BIRDS IN CORNWALL. 283 


wall.” The specimen, an adult male, is the first recorded for the 
county. 

For some years now a careful watch has been kept for the 
appearance of the Alpine Accentor at likely places along the 
south coast, and on the 11th November, 1906, an adult male was 
shot at Looe, where it had been noticed two days before sitting 
motionless for several minutes on a low stone wall, and, when 
disturbed, going off with an irregular Lark-like flight. On the 
16th September, 1899, a male Tawny Pipit was captured at 
Bodmin, but it refused to eat dead insects and ant-eges, and 
died in two days. This is so far the only specimen recorded for 
the Cornish mainland, though Pechell shot one at Scilly on the 
19th September, 1868. An adult male of the Great Grey Shrike 
was caught on limed twigs near Bodmin on the 26th November, 
1898, and reported by R. V. Tellam. An unsuccessful attempt 
was made to keep it alive. It took lean meat readily, but was 
never properly freed from the bird-lime, and this interfered 
seriously with its health. On its death the skin was unfortu- 
nately not preserved. In September, 1900, a male Pied Fly- 
catcher was killed at Liskeard. The last previous example 
recorded for the mainland was obtained near Wadebridge by 
D. Darell on the 23rd April, 1891. The Tree-Sparrow appears 
to be a casual winter visitor of infrequent occurrence, but may 
have been overlooked. The last three county specimens seen by 
the writer are—one shot by John Williams at Scorrier in 1897, 
and now in Lord Falmouth’s collection at Tregothnan; one, a 
male, at Pencalenick, in November, 1904 ; and a male at the 
Lizard on the 9th December, 1906. On the 19th December, 
1903, a Mealy Redpoll in immature plumage was shot at Feock, 
the second example recorded for the county. The Lesser Red- 
poll is a not infrequent winter casual, occasionally caught with 
Siskins at lLostwithiel, with Linnets and other Finches at 
Penzance, and shot or captured at intervals at Looe, Stratton, 
and elsewhere. The Twite is of rare occurrence. Seven were 
seen and two shot at Cardynham after the cold stormy weather 
of March, 1901; one was killed at Lostwithiel towards the end of 
November, 1904; andone, a female, near Bude on the 11th Decem- 
ber, 1906. An immature Bee-eater, a rare accidental straggler 
to the county, was obtained at Marazion on the 3rd October, 

z2 


284 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


1906, a few days after one had been shot at Scilly. The Hoopoe 
is apparently a regular spring bird of passage in the covnty, but 
is seldom recorded in the autumn. In October, 1905, however, 
it was seen by several observers along the south of the county 
from Liskeard to Penzance, and one was unfortunately shot at 
Gerrans, and another at Fowey. In the spring of 1901 a pair 
nested near St. Columb, and successfully reared four young birds 
out of a clutch of five eggs. The unsavoury nest was built in a 
chink between two stones in an old hedge-bank, about two and a 
half feet from the ground, and could just be reached by putting 
the arm in up to the elbow. When the young birds emerged 
from the egg the beaks were not at all conspicuous, though their 
gape was enormous. The crest-quills were decidedly in evidence 
when the writer saw them on the fourth day, and on the sixth 
the quills that covered their pink ungainly bodies clearly showed 
the russet-brown of the coming plumage, and the well-marked 
black and white bars of the wing. 

On May 2nd of the present year a male example of Scop’s Owl 
was shot close to Ludgvan, apparently the second that has been 
obtained on the mainland. Montagu’s Harrier has been a scarce 
summer migrant to the county for over forty years, and there 
was still one nest at least in the west last spring. The Hen- 
Harrier nested on the Goonhilly Downs till about 1841 (F. V. 
Hill). After that date it became a casual of fairly frequent 
occurrence. In 1903 it again nested in the county, and has 
done so every year since. The Marsh-Harrier is now a rare 
casual, but bred on Redmoor Marsh till 1855 (F. R. Rodd). The 
Rough-legged Buzzard bred in the county down to about 1850 
(Trathen and Harris), but is now a rare casual. An immature 
male in fine condition was killed near Carclew on the 16th 
November, 1905. Kleven examples of the Honey-Buzzard have 
been recorded for the county, including one at Land’s End in the 
autumn of 1901, one at Carclew in the autumn of 1902, and one 
at Ladock, near Truro, on the 21st October, 1904, reported by the 
Rey. Canon 8. R. Flint—all three in immature plumage. An 
Osprey was seen by the writer, and independently by T. Cornish, 
at Carbis Bay in September, 1902. A specimen was shot by the 
gamekeeper at St. Winnow, near Lostwithiel, in March, 1903, 
and is now in the collection of Sir C. B. Rashleigh. 


RARE BIRDS IN CORNWALL. 285 


The Squacco Heron is represented by over twenty specimens, 
the last of which, a male in superb condition, was shot at Pen- 
wethers, near Truro, by T. H. Rowse on the 1st June, 1907, and 
is now in the Museum of the Royal Institution of Cornwall, Truro. 
A male American Bittern was killed by two of the clerks in the 
employment of the Eastern Telegraph Company at Porthcurnow 
on the 12th November, 1906. The bird was first noticed on the 
footpath on the east side of the valley, and was chased down 
into a large clump of whins by the side of the stream and close 
to the beach, where it was secured with some difficulty. It 
proved to be a male with plumage in good condition, though the 
body was very emaciated. The Glossy Ibis is an accidental 
autumn wanderer, and is always in immature plumage. In 
October, 1900, it was reported from Hayle, and a month 
later from Saltash. On the 25th October, 1906, a male in 
second year plumage was shot close to Sennen Cove, near 
Land’s End. 

Of the five Geese recorded for the county the Grey Lag is by 
far the scarcest. A specimen was reported from Glendurgan, 
Falmouth, by G. H. Fox in December, 1901. Last winter two 
or else three gaggles of the White-fronted Goose visited the west 
of the county, and one specimen was shot by a farmer near 
Marazion. Bewick’s Swan was not uncommon last January on 
the north coast. Three were in evidence for several days at 
Newquay, and eleven appeared at Hayle. Swans were also 
reported from Bude and from Mousehole. 

The Gadwall has been procured at least six times on the 
mainland. A male was sent in to a poulterer’s shop at Bodmin in 
January, 1905, from one of the neighbouring moors, and a female 
was shot in the Land’s End district on the 10th January, 1907. 
An immature male of the Ferruginous Duck, the only specimen 
recorded from the county, was killed by some boys on the beach 
near Mylor on the 11th March, 1905, during very stormy 
weather. An immature female Long-tailed Duck was shot near 
Feock on the 31st December, 1906. Two specimens of the 
scarce winter casual, the Velvet Scoter, were killed on the Hel- 
ford River on 16th December, 1906, along with an adult male of 
that rare American vagrant, the Surf-Scoter. 

D. Darell reported a Red Grouse that had been shot by 


286 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


Arthur Menhennick, of Pennart, Port Isaac, at Penpetty, Tin- 
tagel, on the 1st December, 1906, the third specimen recorded 
for the county. 

An Avocet was reported by F. V. Hill from the Cober Valley, 
Helston, where it was killed on the 21st April, 1900, the only 
specimen recorded from Cornwall during the past twenty-seven 
years. The Grey Phalarope puts in an appearance in the autumn 
or winter of most years, but the Red-necked Phalarope is seldom 
seen. A solitary specimen of the latter was killed at Swanpool, 
Oct. 21st, 1902. No fewer than eleven examples of the Pectoral 
Sandpiper have been obtained in the county, nine at Scilly and 
two on the mainland. One of the latter was obtained at Gyll- 
ingvase, Falmouth, in the early forties (Cocks), and the other, 
a male in most emaciated condition, at Porthgwarra on the 
30th April, 1906. The Little Stint, an occasional visitor on 
spring and autumn migration, was obtained between Hayle and 
St. Erth on the 12th October, 1903, and at Swanpool, Falmouth, 
in the autumn of 1905. An American Stint was shot by 
W. H. Vingoe at Marazion on the 9th October, 1853 (Rodd, 
Zool. 1858, p. 4297). Another was killed by a fisherman near 
Mousehole in September, 1890, and bought in the flesh by 
W. E. Baily, of Paull, in whose collection the writer saw it in 
February, 1902, incorrectly labelled ‘‘ Tringa minuta.” Tem- 
mineck’s Stint is scarcer in the county than the Little Stint. 
One was obtained near Devoran in October, 1899, and one on 
the marsh at Gyllingvase on the lst November, 1904. Three 
examples of Bartram’s Sandpiper have been killed in the county, 
and all in the Lizard district. The last specimen was found by 
Dr. Owen hanging up in a poulterer’s shop in Falmouth in 
October, 1908, and is now in his collection. 

The Bar-tailed Godwit is an autumn visitor, occasionally in 
large flocks, but the Black-tailed Godwit is rarely seen. One 
was observed by the Rey. H. H. Mills near Camborne in October, 
1904, and a male was shot on the Helford River near Gweek on 
the 8th April, 1907. 

Sixteen specimens of Sabine’s Gull have been recorded from 
Cornwall, allin immature plumage. The last was shot between 
Lostwithiel and Doublebois in November, 1902. The Little 
Gull is also an occasional casual, last obtained at Hayle in 


RARE BIRDS IN CORNWALL. 287 


November, 1896, by E. Vingoe, and at Swanpool in November, 
1904. Two examples of the Ivory Gull were obtained in 
February, 1847 (Rodd, Zool. 1847, p. 1699), and two were seen 
and one shot in Hayle estuary on the 24th January, 1907, by 
L. Williams. The specimen obtained is an adult male in good 
condition. 

A Black Guillemot, one of the rarest casuals in Cornwall, 
was picked up dead near the St. Anthony Lighthouse, Falmouth, 
on the 12th March, 1905, during very stormy weather. A 
Sooty Shearwater was shot near Looe on the 21st August, 1899, 
and stuffed by John Ough, of Liskeard. The bird was seen 
and identified by the writer, but the captor’s name was not 
ascertained. 


288 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


‘NOTES ON THE HABITS OF THE GREATER HORSE- 
SHOE BAT (RHINOLOPHUS FERRUM-HQUINUM). 


By Bruce F. Cummines. 


Durine the past winter I explored, with two friends, some 
disused manganese mines (in what is known as the Pickwell 
Down Sandstone) which are situated in a deep valley run- 
ning from east to west, about nine miles north-east of Barn- 
staple. I had the good fortune of being quite successful in the 
. object of the exploration, viz. the finding of Bats. However, 
I met with only Rhinolophus ferrum-equinum, but an acquaint- 
ance had some years before found Lesser Horseshoes and one 
other species in these same mines. 

The mines were not extensive, but long enough to add a 
tinge of adventure to our expeditions. They consisted of three 
borings running into the side of a hill, the entrances being on a, 
level with the ground outside, and of four or five shafts, into 
which we were lowered by means of a rope. One passage (the 
largest of all) is impregnable on account of water; in places it 
must be, I should think, over seven feet deep, so wading was out 
of the question. 

I met with only about six specimens, two of which I secured. 
The first was in what I will call boring A, hanging from the top 
of one side of the passage. All the others hung from the same 
part, never from the roof, and usually with their faces to the 
wall. As soon as I saw it, it drew up by bending the joints of 
the hind limbs. Thinking it was awake, I quickly boxed him. 
But later Mr. T. A. Coward, to whom I am indebted for help and 
advice and a valuable correspondence on the subject of Horse- 
shoe Bats, informed me that it draws up in this way even when 
asleep, and this I soon found to be the case. This is apparently 
a pure reflex action. 

I kept this Bat in captivity between December 24th and 
29th, 1906, on which date it died. I kept it in a very cold 


HABITS OF THE GREATER HORSESHOE BAT. 289 


atmosphere—in fact, too cold—for it never woke up, and died in 
its sleep. | 

On Dec. 29th I visited the caves again. Boring A contained 
no Bats. Boring B, close at hand, contained two, one on each 
side of the passage. On entering this cave again in the evening 
we found that one Bat had disappeared; the other was just 
unfolding its wings, and almost immediately flew between my 
legs and out into the open air, or it appeared to do so, as we did 
not notice it anywhere on the walls in returning to daylight. 
These Bats evidently. were not hybernating. 

On Jan. 5th I went to the caves again. In boring Bone Bat, 
which was considerably smaller than the other, was hanging in 
exactly the same position at the same spot on the wall. The large 
specimen took flight before we could approach it, and went to the 
entrance of the hole, but, disliking the daylight, returned and 
pitched, when I caught it. Then we took both to a room in the 
deserted mine buildings, where we had a good look at the strange 
little animals. The large one was of a pale buff colour, and about 
125 in. across the wings. The colour of the fur of the small one, 
which was not much more than 8 in. across the wings, was dirty 
grey. Unlike the other, it made an attempt to walk on the table, 
but it was a clumsy gait. Both rose from the ground easily, and 
flew around the room. We took them back to the mouth of the 
boring, and they went in. It was now getting dark, and on our 
following them into the hole, after a few moments’ grace, they 
came out and disappeared. But when, before leaving, we went 
into boring A, previously empty, there were two Bats flying, and 
we concluded that they were the same pair we had just driven 
from boring B. On later visits, as I shall show, I repeatedly 
noticed Bats leaving the caves at dusk on warm nights, but 
these seemed most reluctant to go abroad, and I rather believe 
that this was possibly on account of the rain, which was falling 
very thickly, though the temperature was very mild. 

On Jan. 1ith entered borings A and B, which were empty. 
in B, I picked up, at the end of the passage, several elytra of a 
wingless geodephagous beetle belonging to the genus Pterostichus, 
possibly P. niger ; also remains of certain moths (Scotosia dubitata 
and Gonoptera libatrix), several dipterons (including, I believe, 
Eristalis tenax, or some closely allied species), and a few remains of 


290 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


the Cave-Spider (Meta menardi). This goes to show that the 
Bats feed in the caves, as it is very unlikely that they would find 
M. menardi outside. I also saw a good many specimens of both 
the before-mentioned species of moths on the walls and rotted 
timber in the caves, where they were hybernating. I saw none 
outside the caves. The same remark applies to the dipterons. 
The beetles were probably taken in summer, but it is, of course, 
an open question as to how the Bats caught these purely ter- 
restrial insects. 

At 4.30 p.m., following the advice of Mr. Coward, I took up 
my stand outside the large water-logged boring C, and waited. 
At 5.20 a small Bat flew in, and a few minutes later a Greater 
Horseshoe flew out. At 5.25 another flew out, and disappeared. 
It was a very mild day. 

I watched outside this cave again on Jan. 16th, at dusk, 
when the temperature stood at 46° F., and at 5.20 I saw two 
Bats, evidently Horseshoes, fly down across a field on my left. 
Clearly they had left the mines by way of the shafts higher up 
the hill. Insect-life, I observed, was on that night in plenty, and 
the Bats must have found no difficulty in getting food. : 

On the 19th we arrived at the mines with ropes. We got 
down one shaft, thus gaining access to the longest passage in 
the mines. My friend, who went down first, found a Bat almost 
immediately, and I thought that this augured well, but it proved 
to be the only one in the passage. Underneath the spot where 
it was hanging was a little heap of excrement. I noticed similar 
heaps in the other caves. It would thus appear that the Bats 
prefer hanging from the same spot. Later observations rather 
confirmed this view. 

We watched outside boring C between 5.10 and 5.36, but in 
that time no Bats flew out. It was a cold day, with a south-east 
wind. Borings A and B empty as before. Through being dis- 
turbed they finally deserted these two holes. 

Watched outside again for some time on Jan. 28rd, when it 
was freezing all day in the shade, but saw no Bats come out. 
This leads one to conclude that the Greater Horseshoe Bat goes 
abroad regularly in mild weather in winter, yet in the cold 
weather it stays inside the caves. 

The Bat which was caught on the 19th I brought away with 


HABITS OF THE GREATER HORSESHOE BAT. 291 


me, and kept alive for ten days. It lived in a lumber-room, 
where it was allowed to fly pretty freely. I observed its parti- 
ality for certain spots, to one or another of which it regularly 
returned after being disturbed. Mr. Coward said that with his 
Bats he noticed the same to some extent, but after a while they 
became less fastidious, and would hangup anywhere. As is well 
known, it always reverses, i. e. turns a sort of somersault before 
hanging up by its hind limbs. This aerial manceuvre is a very 
clever feat. It never pitches head upwards. It used to crawl 
about the walls a good deal, but always head downwards. When 
thus climbing it made use of its wing-claws. 

One most noticeable point was the incessant nervous twitching 
of the ears. It was more than a twitching—it was a series of 
distinct though rapid movements of the ears, which gave the 
little animal a very peculiar appearance. 

When hanging the interfemoral membrane is bent back over 
the back, and when flying it is stretched, of course, between the 
hind limbs, but with the tip turned up somewhat. This is 
difficult to see, but I chalked the tip of the membrane and 
the ankles of the legs, and, by judging the relative positions of 
the chalk-marks when it was on the wing, I was able to ob- 
serve that the tip was slightly turned up, as was indeed to be 
expected. 

When placed on the ground it rises with the greatest ease, 
and several times when flying it pitched on the ground with the 
wings sprawled out at full length, and the belly resting on the 
ground. Mr. Coward informed me that this was a pronounced 
habit with this species. When taking flight again from this 
position, I believe it uses its hind limbs as a “push off.” I 
only noticed an attempt to walk on two occasions. It once gave 
me a sharp nip with the teeth, and, although I found it rather 
spiritless, it never got really tame. 

It looks a curious animal when hanging up asleep, with its 
body enveloped in its wings, and its remarkable face ensconced 
between the two wing-joints, and its long thin legs stretched out 
straight, and kept close to each other. As has been pointed out 
before, it bears a resemblance, when in this position, to a 
pupa of the Lepidoptera. When sleeping the ears are gener- 
ally tucked in under the cavity formed by the antebrachial. 


292 THE 4OOLOGIST. 


The enveloping wing-membranes must be very useful in pre- 
serving warmth. 

I found it took no notice of fumes of camphor and ammonia, 
&c., solutions of which I presented to its nasal appendages by 
means of saturated cotton-wool. Bright gas-light never troubled 
it in the least, and Mr. Coward informed me that even a strong 
acetylene lamp or an explosion of flash-light powder has little 
effect on these Bats. It could hear my finger passing gently over 
my forehead, when I held my head a little more than nine inches 
away, for it would immediately look up, or move its ears; any- 
thing like the rattle of cup and saucer made it shake throughout 
the body. Its sensitiveness to sound was remarkable. If the 
shghtest noise was made when it was hanging awake from 
the wall, suddenly up would go its head, and the ears would 
vibrate for a short time, when it would subside and gradually 
fall asleep. 

It is an interesting sight to watch it ‘turn in”’ after flight, 
vz. e. fold its wings around the body in preparation for sleep. It 
hangs a little while with the wings down beside the body like an 
ordinary Vespertilionid, then in a quick movement it spreads 
them out around the body, at the same time forcing the fore arm 
over the back. The ears are taken in under the antebrachial. 
Occasionally one is left outside, but after an interval it is with- 
drawn under cover; sometimes it is left out altogether. My 
Bat had a predisposition to folding the left wing under the right, 
as this was the position of the wing nine times out of the eleven 
I especially watched. 

One curious point was noticed with regard to the times of 
waking of these Bats in captivity. Under natural conditions I 
found them on the wing between 5 and 6 o’clock ; but the Bat I 
kept in captivity woke up a little before 10 o'clock every evening, 
though the time varied somewhat. Mr. Coward found the Bats 
waking between 4.45 and 6 under natural conditions, but in 
captivity frequently as late as 11 o’clock, or even later. This is 
an interesting fact, but I cannot explain it. 

During the cold of the latter end of January my Bat slept for 
a longer period each night, and on the night of Jan. 23rd I could 
not wake it. I tried every means I could think of, but it slept on, 
though it moved; for instance, it ‘‘drew up,” folded back one 


HABITS OF THE GREATEK HORSESHOE BAT. 293 


wing when I pulled it out, climbed about the wall when I attempted 
to dislodge it, and turned over when I placed it on its back on the 
floor, but nevertheless it seemed asleep and unconscious, and its 
eyes were closed. However, as soon as I took it to a warm 
room it very quickly came round, and opened its eyes, vibrated 
its ears, and lifted its head, and then flew round the room. 

On several occasions during its captivity it made a sharp 
clicking sound, probably a snap of the jaws. I found it a very 
thirsty little creature, and Mr. Coward remarks that his Bat 
“drank like an old toper.”’ I was unable to persuade it to eat 
readily. It fed once or twice when I was not at hand. Mr. Coward 
observed that his captives, when they fed, did not feed on the 
wing. He suggests that this species, as a rule, does not devour 
its prey when on the wing, but conveys it to some spot where it 
can hang when feeding. This was ‘‘ the invariable method ”’ of 
his captives. He has sent me an analysis of the dung of these 
Bats. The dung was probably deposited in the warmer months, 
and the analysis was prepared by Mr. Newstead. Among other 
things, it states that about— 


68 per cent. of pellets examined contained remains of Lepidoptera. 


66 0 a A Coleoptera. 
24 “1 99 y Diptera. 
(ane, " a Arachnida. 
des op 3 he Hymenoptera. 
yo 59 4) Trichoptera. 


Of the Coleoptera, at least 44 per cent. were of the genus 
Geotrupes. 

On my fourth visit to the mines (Jan. 11th) my light suddenly 
went out, owing to a draught as I stood in the largest boring C on 
the edge of a deep pit of water. I was left incomplete darkness. I 
heard the echo from far away in the long dark passage stretching 
in front as each drop of water fell from the roof into the pool 
below. Itwasuncanny. Hach drop sounded distinctly, and had a 
mellow musical ring that was fascinating—more fascinating in 
the darkness. I felt well-nigh isolated. It is said that absolute 
isolation very quickly induces madness, but that horrible sensa- 
tion of absolute isolation is rare, if it exists. Except for the 
water, everything was as still as summer on the downs. But 
presently I began to detect a slight indescribable noise, so slight 


294 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


that at first I thought it issued only from my own head ; vet it grew 
gradually into a loud, sharp clicking, mingled now and then with 
squeaks and curious purring sounds— evidently the cries of Bats of 
some species. But I must not stay longer describing effects and 
sensations. I promptly relit my candle, and reached le grand air. 
My jacket (an engineering overall) was covered with red slime and 
drippings of both water and grease ! 

From these somewhat limited experiences, I arrived at the 
following conclusions, which may have to be modified after 
further observation. In a measure most of them agree with 
those suggested by Mr. Coward in his paper communicated to 
the Zoological Society in April. Mr. Coward’s observations were 
made in Somerset, some time previous to mine in Devon :— 

(1). The Greater Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus ferrum-equinum) 
does not hybernate, strictly speaking—at least, in the warm 
winter climate of North Devon. 

(2). In mild weather they leave the caves, and go abroad to 
feed. 

(3). In very cold weather, or during heavy rains, they probably 
remain inside the caves, and do not go abroad. 

(4). In this cold weather they probably feed on the insect-life 
contained in the caves, and on the spider Meta menardi, which 
lives in the caves, and which the Bats would not probably find 
outside. 

(5). They show a tendency to return to the same spot to hang 
up and roost. 

(6). Neither strong light nor strong smells have much effect 
on them, but they are very sensitive to sound. 

I hope to visit the mines or others in the neighbourhood when 
the Bats are breeding. 


THE CALIFORNIAN CONDOR. 


*‘Unguibus et rostro tarda trahet ilia vultur.”—Ovid. 


By Grauam Rensuaw, M.B., F.Z.S. 


® 


THE indirect extermination of animals, due to what may 
almost be termed accidental causes, has in recent years become 
only too rapid, and stillcontinues. The classical instance of this 
is perhaps the extinction of the Rhytina, or Sea-Cow, of the 
Northern Pacific, killed off for provision by men who were pri- 
marily mere fur-hunters. Here one has a wheel within a wheel, 
for the loss of the Rhytina also meant the extinction of the 
Cyamus rhytine, a sea-louse, parasitic on its hide, and of an 
unknown ascarid worm, which infested its stomach. In modern 
days the flightless Kakapo, or Ground Parrot, has all but vanished 
under the attacks of Stoats imported to destroy the New Zealand 
Rabbits ; the West Indian Doves have been decimated by the 
Rat-hunting Mongoose; the Haytian Solenodon—that curious 
insectivore—has become so rare that in five months a recent 
writer obtained but one specimen—thanks again to the Mon- 
soose. Another instance of indirect extermination is the gradual 
disappearance of the Californian Condor. 

The Californian Condor (Gymnogyps californianus) is a fine 
bird, measuring in good specimens nearly eleven feet in expanse 
of wing, and weighing from twenty to twenty-five pounds. The 
beak is whitish or pale yellowish, and is three and a half inches 
long; the nostrils are small, and pointed anteriorly ; the head is 
small, bare, and smooth, being, together with the bare neck, of 
a yellow or orange colour. General hue of the plumage sooty 
blackish ; upper wing-coverts tipped with white; under wing- 
coverts entirely white, a character by which the species is at once 
recognized. Thelegsare blackish brown; the closed wings reach 
a little beyond the tip of the tail. 

The eggs of this rare Condor are greenish white ; two is the 
number in a clutch, but sometimes there is only one. The nest 


296 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


is an untidy structure, built in the wildest part of the pine woods, 
on lofty trees overhanging a precipice, or on the very rocks them- 
selves. It is composed of thorny twigs and grass. The same 
pair use the nest in successive years, but do not trouble much 
about mending it as it becomes worse for wear. Incubation 
takes from twenty-nine to thirty-one days. The nestlings can- 
not leave the nest for five or six weeks, and have the bill and 
bare neck blackish instead of orange. I have seen a photo- 
engraving of a young bird which, with its curved beak, humped 
shoulders, and body swathed in down, marvellously recalls the 
Dodo as figured by the old voyagers! The sprouting quills in 
the wings, the big feet, and the absence of the tail heightened 
the resemblance, and one could well understand how the old 
ornithologists were at a loss whether to class the Dodo as 
vulturine, struthious, or rasorial. 

To-day the Californian Condor—the largest bird of prey in- 
habiting the United States—is represented by a miserable 
remnant lingering in South-west California; its distributional 
area, once extending as far north as the Fraser River in British 
Columbia, is now a mere dot on the map. In the old days it 
abounded every spring on the Columbia River, feeding on the 
Salmon cast up onthe shore. It hung round the Indian villages 
for the sake of the offal thrown away, and, together with Ravens 
and Turkey Buzzards, visited the waterfalls and cascades of the 
Salmon rivers. The fish, being obliged to take leaps at these 
places in their progress along the stream, often landed themselves 
high and dry amongst the bushes, and thus provided a meal for 
the expectant Condors. The present species also fed on carrion, 
and was very voracious. When gorged the birds perched on 
decayed trees, and, with necks retracted and wings drooping 
about their feet, presented a finished picture of satisfied gluttony. 
When on the ground this Condor walked with a strut, like a 
Turkey, but was obliged first to run or hop several yards before 
launching itself into the air. Once on the wing its flight was 
slow, steady, and graceful, its noble proportions dwarfing the 
Turkey Buzzards in the same valley to mere Swallows. 

‘‘Their quills are used by the hunters for tobacco-pipes,” 
observed Mr. David Douglas many years ago. Recently the 
Mexican and Indian gold-seekers have well-nigh exterminated 


THE CALIFORNIAN CONDOR. 297 


the Californian Condor for the paltriest of reasons—because, 
forsooth, their magnificent hollow quills afforded rough-and- 
ready purses for carrying gold-dust! Again, the hot summer 
compels the ranchmen to drive their herds into the cool valleys, 
where many cattle and sheep are destroyed by Puma and Grizzly 
Bear. To get rid of these giant vermin the half-eaten carcases 
are poisoned, and the innocent Condors, feeding on them, are 
destroyed in hundreds. In his day (1830), Mr. Douglas described 
the giant birds as swarming on a carease, so that a single doctored 
Sheep might well deal out as deadly destruction as a Maxim-eun. 
The range of the Californian Condor was never very extensive, 
including only California, Oregon, Washington, and part of 
British Columbia; essentially a forest dweller, its home is now 
limited to the wild gorges of the Sierra Nevada. 

The present species was first described under the name of 
Vultur californianus in the ninth volume of the ‘ Naturalist’s 
Miscellany’ by Dr. Shaw. ‘The type-specimen was deposited in 
the British Museum by Mr. Menzies, who had accompanied 
Captain Vancouver’s expedition. Many years afterwards a pair 
were shot by Mr. Douglas; these passed into the possession of 
the Horticultural Society, and the Council subsequently pre- 
sented them to the Zoological Society's Museum. At some 
time previous to 1827 a living bird, said to be a Condor, was 
brought to Europe, and may have belonged to this species; its 
plumage, however, was said to be brown, so that it may either 
have been immature, or else belonging to some other species, 
such as the rare and little known Brown Condor of Ecuador, 
not to be confounded, of course, with the Condor of the Andes. 
On June 22nd, 1866, Dr. Colbert A. Canfield, of Monterey, Cali- 
fornia, presented a Californian Condor to the London Zoological 
Gardens, through the agency of Prof. Baird. Capt. J. M. Dow 
had brought it across the Isthmus of Panama, and it appears to 
have been the first example imported alive into this country. 
The specimen was figured in the ‘ Proceedings of the Zoological 
Society’ for 1866; it was already a “‘scarce bird.” As regards 
recent examples, it may be mentioned that after four years’ efforts 
the New York Zoological Society succeeded in obtaining a young 
bird, which had been taken from the nest by a boy. It arrived 
at the Zoological Park on March 14th,1905. In January, 1906, 

Zool. 4th ser. vol. XI., August, 1907, 2A 


298 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


it had assumed adult plumage. Tame, and even affectionate, 
the bird was one of the choicest rarities in the collection. A 
photograph of it was published in the Annual Report for 1905, 
showing the Condor standing on a perch with lowered head and 
expanded wing, apparently inspecting some object in front of it. 
The characteristic white under wing-coverts are shown in the 
photograph. This valuable bird was killed by swallowing an 
indiarubber band given by some crazy visitor. Happily a second 
specimen had been purchased a few days before, and is now in 
the collection, protected from the public by two screens of wire- 
mesh. 

A flock of no less than twenty-six individuals was seen as late 
as 1894 by Mr. Stephens, and the species is thought to be hold- 
ing its own in the remoter mountains. It is also protected by 
law, but its ultimate survival seems to depend very much on 
chance, and to enforce the law in the inaccessible districts which 
constitute its last stronghold would be a difficult matter. Now 
limited to the coast ranges of California, it would be a thousand 
pities if this fine Condor, as large as the winged giant of the 
Andes, should share the fate of Steller’s Cormorant and the 
pigeon hollandais, of the Réunion Starling and the Labrador 
Duck. These have all utterly vanished, and the monarch of 
the western sierras—Shaw’s “‘ vultur niger, rostro albido ’’—may 
be the next to disappear. Res in cardine est. 


299 


FIELD-NOTES ON SOME OF THE SMALLER BRITISH 
MAMMALIA. 


By Gorpon DALGuLiEsyH. 


‘Tuesr notes are a continuation of those published in the 
preceding volume of ‘ The Zoologist’ (1906, p. 168). Nearly all 
my observations are confined to the south-west of Surrey. 


Noctute Bat (Pterygistes noctula).—This species I did not 
observe this year (1907) until May 11th, which is an exceptionally 
late date, owing perhaps to the backwardness of the season. 

BarBASTELLE (Synotus barbastellus}.—On May 6th a Bat came 
into my garden at Witley at 5.30 p.m., and stayed for a few 
minutes, but quite long enough for me to see that it was un- 
doubtedly a Barbastelle. 

Mote (Talpa ewropea).—I have a very pretty variety of the 
Mole, taken in Glamorganshire, the general colour of which is a 
clear cream, with the throat and under parts deeply suffused 
with orange-red. I caught one at Witley, in May, that is of the 
normal colour above, but has the whole under side a rich golden 
brown. 

Common SuHrew (Sorex araneus).— On April 4th, 1906, I 
found in one of my traps the hind foot of a Shrew, and a few 
mornings afterwards a Shrew with a hind foot missing was 
caught. This in all probability was the owner of the foot. I 
took a specimen this year (1907) in June, with two patches of 
white on each side of the head. An exceptionally large female 
caught in June measured (in millimetres), u.B. 80; tail, 40°5; 
Penn ebocd © 1ean.) O: 

Piemy Surew (Sorex minutus).— This little Shrew I have 
found not at all uncommon, and Mr. Oldfield Thomas informs 
me that it is far from rare throughout the country. It is not 
often trapped, owing, I think, to its extremely light weight 
enabling it to take the bait without springing the trap. 

Dormovuse (Muscardinus avellanarius).—On May 9th a Dor- 

2A2 


300 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


mouse was caught in my garden at Witley, in an old nest of a 
Song-Thrush. It was in a complete state of torpor. It died 
shortly afterwards from shock, and on skinning it I found it 
extremely fat. 

YELLOW-NECKED MousE (Mus flavicollis).—The name given for 
this Mouse by Barrett-Hamiiton in his excellent monograph on 
“* Mus sylvaticus and its Subspecies” (P. Z.8., April 3rd, 1900) 
is De Winton’s Mouse (M. sylvaticus wintoni), and at one time I 
was also inclined to agree as to its being merely a subspecies or 
variety; but I now think if Microtus orcadensis and Evotomys 
skomerensis are entitled to full specific rank, then Mus flavicollis 
must be granted it also. Therefore I prefer to use the name 
adopted by Mr. de Winton (Zool. 1894, p. 441). I have lately 
obtained several specimens of this Mouse near Witley. On look- 
ing at a Yellow-necked Mouse one cannot fail to be struck with 
the difference to that of the Common Wood-Mouse (M. sylvaticus). 
It has, on the whole, a decidedly more thoroughbred look, besides 
its superior size and brighter colour, to that of its near ally. In 
the typical sylvaticus the length of the tail never exceeds that of 
head and body, but, on the contrary, is always shorter. In 
jlavicollis the tail nearly always eaceeds head and body, rarely 
equalling it, but is never shorter. The yellow pectoral band is 
present more or less in quite young specimens. De Winton’s 
measurements for this Mouse are —head and body, 108 mm. to 
115; tail, 108 to 115; hind foot, 24; ear, 18. The skull is 
larger and stronger than sylvaticus; length, 27 mm. and up- 
wards (Barrett-Hamilton). 

The following is a table of measurements (in millimetres) of 
seven selected specimens of my own collecting :—- 


No. | Sex. | H. B Tail. |Hindfoot.) Ear. Skull length. Skull breadth. 
1) Maleiccety L0O))) |). 115 25 15 broken broken 
2; |} Male ...... | 110 110 25°5 13 29 13 
3 | Female...| 111 111 23 18 30 15 
4|Female...| 1075 | 108 | 28 | 18 broken broken 
5 Whale sc .ceee LO0y | 105 | 22 Gs 5 or 
6/Female.... 98 | 102 23:5 | 17°5 ‘ i 
7 | Female 4 71:5 79 14 14 is J 
|_(juv.) 


NOTES ON SOME SMALLER BRITISH MAMMALIA. 301 


For comparison, I give the same of seven selected specimens 
of Mus sylvaticus :— 


No. Sex. H. B. Tail. |Hindfoot.| Ear. Skulllength. Skull breadth. 


1 | Female ... 88°5 88 98 18 broken broken 
2 | Male ...... 112°5 83°5 24 16 5b 9 
3 | Male ...... 100 96°5 23°5 13 27 13 
4 | Female ... 95 85 23 20 broken 12 
5 |Female...| 90 damaged 23 13 24 12 
6 | Female ...| 103 83 23 13 20°3 13 
Tf || UBS epdone 97 88°5 25 17 broken broken 


From the above tables it will be seen that the Yellow-necked 
Mouse has a longer tail than Mus sylvaticus, and this difference 
alone would entitle it to specific rank, according to many 
zoologists, for we see that in the case of other small mammals 
measurements only can be relied on for discriminating the 
species; for instance, the immature Common Shrew and adult 
Pigmy Shrew so closely resemble each other that they can only 
be distinguished with satisfaction—so I am informed by Mr. 
O. Thomas—by the measurement of the hind foot, that of the 
Pigmy Shrew being much smaller. Again, the Skomer Vole 
differs only from the Bank-Vole in its superior size, though it is 
true the colour on the lower back is more grey; but apparently 
colour would go for nothing, as Capt. Barrett-Hamilton says, 
writing of Mus sylvaticus wintont, that the yellow pectoral band 
may or may not be present, which we ourselves would have 
thought to be a distinguishing character, and I agree with and 
follow Mr. de Winton in giving M. flavicollis full specific rank. 
The most beautiful specimen of M. flavivollis I have ever seen 
is one in my possession, taken during the winter of 1906 in 
Gloucestershire. I append a description :—Upper parts fawn, 
mingled with long black hairs; a broad black dorsal line; line 
of demarcation clearly defined; under parts snow-white ; a 
small yellowish pectoral band; under surface of tail pure white. 
I have found both M. flavicollis and sylvaticus in moult in May. 

Bank-Voue (Hvotomys glareolus).—This little animal is far 
more aquatic in its habits than is generally supposed. I have 
alluded to its partiality for swampy ground in a previous note 


302 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


(Zool. 1906, p. 172). Swampy woods, with the ground composed 
of black slimy mud, covered with marsh-marigolds and clumps 
of coarse grass, with here and there pools of water formed by the 
rain, is one of the favourite haunts of the Bank-Vole. I once 
trapped one in a ditch of running water in a trap intended for a 
Water-Shrew, placed on a stone in the middle of the water, 
showing that the Vole to reach the bait must have swum to it. 
On planting two bulbs in pots, and putting these on the top shelf 
of a greenhouse, I discovered shortly afterwards these had dis- 
appeared, having been scraped out by some animal. A trap was 
set, and a Bank-Vole caught. Now, the Vole to reach the pots 
must have climbed quite four feet up, and the distance between 
each shelf was a foot, and so, as there was no other means of 
getting at the pots, the animal must have sprung from shelf to 
shelf. Showing some skins of the Bank-Vole to a friend of mine, 
he said he had seen some like them, only very much larger, in a 
wood in Pembrokeshire. These might have been the Skomer 
Vole, as Capt. Barrett-Hamilton, who described this species or 
form, entertained hopes that it might be found on the mainland.* 
Skomer Island is, it might be as well to state, just off Pembroke- 
shire. Mr. Oxley Graham records a very large Bank-Vole found 
in Kent (Zool. 1898, p. 477), and gives the dimensions as ‘‘ 63 in. 
from tip of nose to tip of tail; length of tail, 2 in.” He goes on 
to say that the specimen was too decomposed to preserve. This 
might possibly have been identical with the Skomer Vole, and, 
as 1 have said before, in all probability this large Vole may 
occur on the mainland; field naturalists visiting remote districts 


of Wales and other parts of the country should be on the look- 
out for it. 


** €Proc. Royal Irish Academy,’ vol. xxiv. sec. B, pp. 315-19 (1908). 


( 308.) 


OBSERVATIONS OF AN ATTEMPT OF THE SWALLOW 
TRIBE TO WINTER IN SOUTH HANTS DURING 


1906-7. od 
By Harry BreEston. 


(Concluded from p. 271.) 


Ir we again refer to the table (ante, p. 270), we see that 
during the first fortnight of December, with the exception 
of one day (8rd), favourable winds prevailed, and especially 
so on the 6th and 7th, when a strong wind from N.E. was 
in force. Why, I ask, did not the birds depart then? There 
was not only this advantageous wind to assist the birds on 
their journey, but there was an additional reason for departure 
—viz. a very sharp frost on the night of the 6th—yet the birds 
remained. 

From the 8th to 11th strong cold winds blew, with six degrees 
of frost on 10th, and seven degrees on 11th; still the brave birds 
delayed their departure. From 12th to 18th the weather was 
fairly open and mild, but day by day, vigorous and strong, the 
Martins continued to skim up and down stream on the feed. 

A steady breeze from the N.E. prevailed from 19th to 28rd, 
and again gave the birds a favourable opportunity, but they 
evidently declined to depart, or their instinct for migration had 
died out—and so on from day to day they remained ; and it is 
quite evident that it was neither a wind from the N.E., N.W., nor 
from any other quarter, for which the birds waited. Strong and 
persistent breezes were not wanting, both at the latter end of 
November and the beginning of December. 

We must look for some other reason than mere wind to 
account for the abnormal departure from the generally accepted 
ideas regarding the migration of our summer birds. I do not 
say that wind is not to some extent an important factor, but in 
my opinion there are other and more potent causes, which largely 
control the movements of migratory birds. 


RO THE ZOOLOGIST. 


It has been suggested ‘‘ before the end of November the 
migratory spirit of a Swallow would under ordinary conditions 
be at rest.’ What explanation can be offered regarding the 
following instance, which seems completely to confute this pro- 
position :—While staying at Kettering, at Christmas (1906), I 
was shown three young Swallows (not Martins), nearly fledged, 
preserved in spirits, which were taken from a nest on Dec. 4th. 
The previous day they were being fed by on@ of the parent birds, 
but either from the bird’s instinct to migrate, or some other 
cause, the young were left to perish. 

Now, presuming that the mother (?) bird left her young to die 
of starvation in order to gratify the impulse of migration, why 
should she do so more than Swallows in Hampshire? There 
was more reason for her to remain than for the southern birds 
to delay their departure. 

To return to the discussion of the Hampshire birds—respect- 
ing the Swallow last seen on Dec. 21st—there seems no reason 
whatever for believing ‘‘ that the wind had brought him in a wrong 
direction.” 

From certain well noted marks on the plumage this was one 
of the Swallows which had been under observation since Nov. 
25th. It was a male adult bird in full plumage, and one of the 
parents of a family of five reared in a cowshed near the stream 
where these observations have been made. On Nov. 27th the 
young birds had all disappeared, only the two adult birds remain- 
ing; and on 29th the male bird only was left, and remained on 
until Dec. 21st, when it undoubtedly perished. But of the Sand- 
Martins—the first of which was observed on Nov. 25th, flying 
about with the Swallows, and on 29th was joined by another— 
these are the birds which were under observation so long, although 
one disappeared before the other. 

On another point. I do not agree with the suggestion that 
the ‘‘ birds were gradually starved while the winds were blowing 
from quarters which their instinct rightly bids them. . . to disobey.” 
As I have shown, so-called favourable winds blew, which would 
have carried them safely away, but they chose to stay, and at 
least one had not starved (when these notes were penned); and 
this is one of the most remarkable and extraordinary things 
about this puzzling feat of summer birds trying to winter in 


WINTERING OF SWALLOW TRIBE IN 8S. HANTS. 305 


England. The incident is unique, I presume, in the annals of 
ornithology. 

Neither is the following inference correct: ‘‘ Jt is not wm- 
probable that at the very last the right wind blew, and carried 
them in a few hours to summer climes.” No! One of the two 
Martins doggedly remained on, and undoubtedly perished on 
Jan. 23rd. I have no doubt whatever that the birds remained 
in spite of favourable winds for a good and sufficient reason, 
which I will endeavour to explain; and I am of the firm opinion 
that the birds deliberately chose to remain, and that wind-direc- 
tion had nothing whatever to do with their stay. The predomi- 
nating factor, in my opinion, was a plentiful supply of proper 
Jood, and this abundance is accounted for in several ways. The 
locality favoured by the birds is well sheltered, as already stated, 
and the climate of the district is mild even in winter, and insects 
abound in the immediate vicinity of the stream, which the birds 
haunt so closely. 

Without doubt this stream is the secret of the abundance of 
insect-life. A part of the water of the stream comes from a 
number of springs about a quarter of a mile away, but the 
volume of water is greatly augmented by the surplus water from 
the pumping-station of the waterworks, and a large quantity of 
heated water enters the stream from two parchment works. Now, 
as this heated water passes along the stream it produces a 
luxuriant mass of vegetation for a considerable distance before 
entering the sea, and in cold weather a perceptible mist is 
observable several feet above the surface, showing that the water 
is several degrees higher than the surrounding air. This humid 
condition favours the rapid and constant production of insect- 
life, so that it is no uncommon thing to see clouds of gnats 
hovering over the stream and its vicinity in the depth of winter. 
One only needs to see the numbers of birds, constantly on the 
feed along the banks, to know that suitable food is there in 
plenty. / 

To watch half a dozen Pied Wagtails in different places along 
the course of the stream busily feeding is a common sight every 
day. ‘They fly (or flutter) down stream, and occasionally hover 
in the air just clear of the surface, and snap up the insects from 
the water; curious and amusing is it to watch them as they 


306 - THE ZO0OOLOGIST. 


endeavour to balance themselves while hovering by means of 
their outspread tails. During the late winter it has been quite 
a common sight to see numbers of both Pied and Grey Wastails 
hawking for flies over the water in the manner described. 

Speaking of the Grey Wagtail reminds me of a fact I omitted 
to mention with regard to migration here on the south coast. 
Scarcely, I should say, in any other part of the British Islands 
can it be said that two great migratory movements—viz. the 
return southward of our summer visitors, and the arrival of 
our winter migrants—overlap, as is the case in this locality. It 
has been noted by local ornithologists that Geese and Ducks 
from far Lapland and Siberia often arrive on their feeding- 
srounds in Langstone, Emsworth, Chichester, and Pagham Har- 
bours before the Swallows and other summer birds have de- 
parted in the autumn. On the other hand, the same over- 
lapping occurs again in spring. In 1904 and 1906, before the 
winter migrants had returned northwards, they were overtaken, 
so to speak, by the returning spring birds. In both years Sand- 
Martins were observed as early as March 24th, the Chiffchaff was 
seen and heard on March 17th, 1906, and the Wheatear was 
reported on March 12th, 1906. 

It is very noticeable that these extremely early birds are seen 
either on the banks or in the near vicinity of the same stream 
where the Martins lingered so long this year. It seems almost 
certain that the birds know this particular locality as a good 
feeding-ground, and return to it year after year. In my opinion 
it is neither accident nor mere coincidence which can in any way 
account for the phenomena. 

If the Sand-Martin last seen on Jan. 23rd had managed to 
survive until February it would have been possible to establish 
the extraordinary record of the Swallow tribe for every month of 
the year for this part of Hampshire. As it is, the record is good 
for eleven months out of the twelve. 

In conclusion, I firmly believe that if our winters (in the 
south) were only a few degrees milder, and the birds—not merely 
the Swallow tribe, but others—could always be sure of obtaining 
suitable and abundant food, they would remain to winter with 
us, as these records tend to prove. 


( 3807 ) 


NOTES AND QUERIES. 


MAMMALIA. 


Mus flavicollis in Suffolk —Having given out that ‘‘ mice and rats 
and such small deer ’’ would be acceptable for a young Tawny Owl, 
which I thought would be safer in our keeping here than in the hands 
of the boy who possessed it, a bag containing three Mice was brought 
to me on June 19th. Two were common House-mice, but the third 
was the finest Mus flavicollis I have ever seen—nine inches in total 
length, and very richly coloured. Unfortunately it had been kept too 
long even to be made into a skin. — Junian G. Tucx (Tostock Rectory, 
Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk). 


AVES. 


The Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) near Aberdeen.—The Cuckoo, in 
1907, was heard here on May 7th, but there were not so many as usual, 
though there was a considerable amount of calling, which continued 
generally until near the middle of July, one being heard as late as the 
19th. The great feature of the year, however, is that there has been but 
one young Cuckoo seen in this neighbourhood, and it seemed to be an 
average bird, and of the average colour. This is one of the most remark- 
able events which has come under my notice. Negarding the wide 
area which these birds occupy during the year, it is impossible to say 
how and why the tide has thus turned in 1907. Did the cold May of 
1906 have much effect, or is it because the season became so unpro- 
pitious here at the end of May and in June? According to my observa- 
tions there has been a fair nesting season among other birds, though, 
of course, I cannot vouch for all; so that this incident of the Cuckoo 
becomes very phenomenal. So far as the foster-parent, the Meadow- 
Pipit (Anthus pratensis), is concerned, they were nesting early and 
successfully, so that they must have been relieved of a considerable 
strain upon their resources.— Wm. Witson (Alford, Aberdeen, N.B.). 


White Variety of Nightjar.—l have just received a perfectly white 
variety of the Nightjar, shot here on Aug. 9th. It isin good condition, 
and has neither spot nor stain of colour or markings anywhere. Num- 
bers of birds are, of course, well known to furnish colourless variation, 


R08). THE ZO00LOGIST. 


but this is the first instance of it that has come to my knowledge (nor 
can I find any previous record of it) in respect to the Nightjar.—O. 
PickarD-CamBripcGE (Bloxworth Rectory, Dorset). 


Common Buzzard (Buteo vulgaris) on the Calf of Man.—About 
20th June last a Port Erin boatman observed a large Hawk asleep on 
the rocks at Amulty, on the west side of the Calf. He crept up to it 
and secured it. It was taken to W. Collister, boat owner, of Port 
Hrin, who kept it alive for more than a week, during which it ate very 
little. On its death it was sent to be stuffed by Mr. G. Adams, of 
Douglas, who showed it to me. It is a mature bird, handsomely 
marked. This is the second Manx specimen recorded, the first having 
been obtained in October, 1902, in the southern part of the main 
island.—P. G. Ratre (Castletown, Isle of Man). 


Clocking Hen and Young Partridge.—About a month ago a farmer 
in this district had some ‘‘ Clockers”’ fastened up in a pen, when one 
morning one of the hens escaped, and was missing for the day. She 
returned in the evening to the stackyard, accompanied by five young 
Partridges, which she has brooded ever since. The little things will 
allow no one to approach them, though they will feed from the same 
dish as their foster-mother. It would be interesting to know how the 
old hen came by the young Partridges. In a field opposite the farm- 
stead a pair of Partridges have bred this year, and the old birds are 
often seen with only six young. The weather at the time when the old 
‘‘ Clocker’’ escaped had been very cold and damp. The only explana- 
tion I can offer is that the five young Partridges had been found by the 
old ‘‘Clocker’’ in a benumbed condition while scratching about the 
hedge of the field where the Partridges had their nest, the rest of the 
brood having gone off with their parents; and that she had brooded 
them, brought them round, and then taken them back with her to the 
farm.—J. §. T. Watton (Sunniside, Stocksfield-on-Tyne). 


Notes on Nest-Boxes.—Our list of tenants during the past season 
includes the Great Tit, Blue Tit, Nuthatch, Tree-Sparrow, House- 
Sparrow, Starling, Tawny Owl, and Stock-Dove. On March 13th the 
Owl had two eggs in a box put up in a yew tree quite close to the house, 
but deserted them, as the entrance-hole was hardly large enough to 
allow her to get out easily. However, a brood was brought off later on 
in an old alder-stump not far away, and we still (August 1st) hear the 
well-known ‘ kee-wick’’ of the young birds in the garden every night. 
There was also a nest in the church-tower in the same place, as 
recorded in ‘ The Zoologist’ for 1905 (p. 263), which came to nothing, 


NOTES AND QUERIES. 309 


as two eges were bad, and an owlet disappeared when only about two 
days old. A Stock-Dove had two eggs in a box on March 4th, which 
is our earliest record for this species. There were a pair of young ones 
on the 17th, but a few days later they had been taken by some marauder, 
probably a Rat. The first nest of the Nuthatch was a failure, as an 
egs was broken by a piece of clay falling into the box, and the bird 
deserted the remaining six. These were taken, and she returned later 
on, bringing off a brood of five—a welcome addition to our Nuthatch 
population. Last year we had about a dozen nests of Tree-Sparrow 
in the boxes, but this year only one, and the only explanation seems to 
be that the birds were killed off during the hard weather. We had 
one House-Sparrow’s nest in a box in the kitchen-garden, which, it is 
hardly necessary to add, was destroyed. —Juuian G. Tuck (Tostock 
Rectory, Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk). 


Notes on Manx Sea-Birds.—At the time of the publication of my 
‘ Birds of the Isle of Man,’ I was aware of one Manx colony only of the 
Kittiwake, but during this summer Mr. F. S. Graves and myself were 
told by a Port St. Mary boatman that ‘‘ Pirraghs”’ nested at another 
spot near the south end of the island, and later I was able to locate the 
colony—perhaps fifty pairs—in a cavernous recess among high preci- 
pices. The nests are, as usual, comparatively low down on the cliffs, 
many Guillemots on the ledges near, and numbers of Puffins on the 
green brows above. There has been a great extension of the breeding 
range of the Puffin on this southern coast within the last few years ; 
whereas it was formerly nearly confined, on the main island, to the top 
of the cliffs adjoining the Calf Sound, it now swarms in continuous 
colonies for more than a mile northward past the ‘‘ Sugarloaf,” and the 
place called ‘‘The Chasms.”—P. G. Ratre (Isle of Man). 


MOLLUSCA. 


Carnivorous Propensities of a Slug.—Referring to the note on this 
subject (ante, p. 277), the following may be of interest to your corre- 
spondent, Mr. Gordon Dalgliesh :—Mr. W. A. Gain, writing in the 
‘ British Naturalist,’ November, 1891, p. 225, speaking of Arion ater, 
says: ‘“‘ These Slugs attack their weaker brethren, gnawing the skin, 
and not unfrequently devouring the greater part of the victim’; and 
again, September, 1891, p. 194, ibid., he says: ‘Our two species of 
Amalia are exceedingly hardy, very voracious, and nearly omnivorous.”’ 
—Franx A. Arnoup (48, Martell Road, West Dulwich, S.L.). 


310 © THE ZOOLOGIST. 


NOTICH Ss” “OF NEW BOOKS: 


Rambles of an Australian Naturalist. Written by Paut Fountain 
from the Notes and Journals of THomas Warp. John 
Murray. 

Tue real author of this work is Mr. Ward, a Queensland 
stock-farmer, and the numerous and excellent natural history 
observations should, when referred to, be ascribed to his name. 
Mr. Fountain has apparently been more than editor, and has 
collated Mr. Ward’s notes. Itis necessary to make this clear, as 
_ the book is a storehouse of field observations, and is certain to be 
largely quoted. As regards the general physiography of Australia, 
we know of no other book that in an incidental manner gives us 
such an impression of Australian scenery—drear, and otherwise. 
And man is changing the scene; the giant eucalyptus trees are 
gradually being destroyed for his use; the aborigines—‘‘ the 
native black fellow’’—is doomed ‘‘by the immutable laws of 
progress, which knowledge and science may help on to the 
coming and ameliorate to the going, but cannot stop or alter” ; 
the agriculturist is modifying the fauna and flora; “in all the 
settled parts of Australia are many spots, sometimes entire 
estates, that might, if superficial appearances only are con- 
sidered, have been cut out of an Knglish county and bodily 
transplanted hither. Everything, from the house in its patch 
of hawthorn-planted park to the gooseberry bushes and gilli- 
flowers in the garden, is English. The horses, the dogs, the 
ducks, geese, and fowls, are all of British origin, if not of British 
breed,” &e. 

Mr. Ward has well observed the Termites and the growth of 
the giant ‘‘ant-hills”’ in Australia. By constant watching he 
has ‘‘perceived that small hills are thrown up comparatively 
more quickly than they are afterwards increased in size. In the 
first year they may be brought up to a foot in height; atthe end 
of seven years it is a good hill that is three feet high. After that 


NOTICES OF NEW BOOKS. 311 


the increase is very slow—a hill of twenty feet high is probably 
several hundred years old.” It is impossible to adequately 
notice the many facts, especially relating to the vertebrates, 
with which the volume teems, while Mr. Ward’s observations are 
never sensational, and have the imprimatur of a life acquaint- 
ance. Sometimes he trips, and has not been prevented from so 
doing by Mr. Fountain; the remarks at p. 83 on the Australian 
‘butterflies and other insects, which are identical with Kuropean 
species, requires modification. 

This book would have gained immensely by illustration. Mr. 
Ward must regret, as others of us have done, that we did not use 
the camera when the opportunities of a short lifetime allowed 
us to visit scenes we shall not see again. 


Notes on the Birds of Nottinghamshire. By J. Wuivaxer. 
Walter Black & Co., Ltd. 


Or all county books on birds this is the most readable and 
interesting of any we have seen. It is not confined to the mere 
county records of the Nottinghamshire birds, but is full of the 
original observations which gives the character to our “ Notes 
and Queries,” consequently one can read the book from start to 
finish with the liveliest interest and enjoyment. Mr. Whitaker 
is apparently a real lover of birds, both for field observation 
and for the enrichment of a private collection, which must be 
extremely rich in varieties. 

A book might be written on the casual and accidental manner 
in which rare zoological species have been acquired. Mr. Whitaker 
tells us the story of the way in which the Spanish Sparrow (Passer 
hispaniolensis) may claim inclusion in the Nottinghamshire list. 
An angler ‘‘ was fishing in the Trent near Wilford in the autumn 
of 1900; close to where he stood was a thorn-tree covered with 
ivy. At dusk a lot of Sparrows kept coming from a farm near 
by, and fiying into the tree. The noise they made and the quantity 
of birds attracted his notice, so he walked to the tree with rod in 
hand, thinking he would hit it and see how many birds there 
were. On getting close to the bush a crowd of Sparrows flew 
out, and he made a cut at them with his Pike-rod and knocked 
one down; on picking it up he saw it was a strange bird, so he 


312 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


took it home and set it up.” It was afterwards examined and 
properly identified. Such occurrences are numerous in the 
annals of entomology, and serve to maintain the justifiable 
expectation of every field naturalist. 

We can only find room for one more extract from Mr. 
Whitaker’s reminiscential store, and it relates to our old friend 
Strix flammea :—‘‘ Many years ago we kept a lot of Pigeons, but 
one spring could never raise a pie. On asking the keeper the 
reason, he replied, ‘It’s all along of those old Owls; they fetch 
them every night.’ I said, ‘I don’t believe it.’ ‘ Well, sir, if 
you will come at dusk, I will show you.’ We placed ourselves, 
and soon an Owl came and went into the dovecote. ‘ He’s gone 
for one,’ said the keeper. In a few minutes out he came with 
something in his claws, and was immediately shot. On picking 
it up we found not a Pigeon but a big Rat.” This narrative 
deserves a place in the brief held for the Tawny Owl. 

Two hundred and fifty-nine species are enumerated, irre- 
spective of a few others not sufficiently authenticated to add to 
that total—an excellent avifauna for a somewhat small inland 
county, and embracing some birds which would scarcely be 
expected to be found in such an area. 


313 


EDITORIAL GLEANINGS. 


BrartisH Association at Leicester, 1907.—The recent meeting held 
at Leicester was not a pre-eminently zoological one, astronomy and 
chemistry being its strongest features. The President’s address was 
naturally confined to astronomical subjects, but one remark may with 
advantage be pondered by zoologists. Astronomers “ have learned the 
lesson that human knowledge in the slowly developing phenomena of 
sidereal astronomy must be content to progress by the accumulating 
labours of successive generations of men; that progress will be 
measured for generations yet to come more by the amount of honest, 
well-directed, and systematically discussed observation than by the 
most brilliant speculation; and that, in observation, concentrated, 
systematic effort on a special, thoughtfully selected problem will be of 
more avail than the most brilliant but disconnected work.” 

The address to the zoological section by Dr. Wm. E. Hoyle was 
confined to a survey of the Cephalopoda, and one of its most interest- 
ing sections related to h discovery and investigation of luminous 
organs in the Cephalopoda :—‘‘ These have now been observed in no 
fewer than twenty-nine out of about seventy well-characterized genera 
of Decapoda, and have been found to present a most interesting variety 
in position and in structure. Before passing on, however, to consider 
the structure of these organs, it may be well to lay before you the 
evidence on the strength of which a photogenic function has been 
ascribed to them. The actual observations are remarkable chiefly for 
their paucity ; indeed, it may seem to some that the foundation of 
solid fact is too slender for the superstructure raised upon it, but still 
due consideration will show that this is not the case. ‘The first 
recorded occurrence of phosphorescence in the Cephalopoda is due to 
Vérany, and dates back rather more than seventy years, though it 
was not published till 1851. The description is so definite and concise 
as to be well worth quoting :—‘ As often as other engagements per- 
mitted, 1 watched the fishing carried on by the dredge on the shingly 
beaches which extend from the town of Nice to the mouth of the Var. 
On the afternoon of Sept. 7th, 1834, I arrived at the beach when the 
dredge had just been drawn in, and saw in the hands of a child 

Zool, 4th ser. vol. XI., August, 1907. 2B 


314 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


a Cuttle-fish, unfortunately greatly damaged. I was so struck by the 
singularity of its form and the brilliance of its colour that I at once 
secured it, and, showing it to the fishermen, asked whether they were 
acquainted with it. Upon their replying in the negative, I called their 
special attention to it, and offered a handsome reward for the next 
specimen secured, either alive or in good condition, and then passed on 
to other fishermen and repeated my promise. Shortly afterwards I was 
summoned, and shown a specimen clinging to the net, which I seized 
and placed in a vessel of water. At that moment I enjoyed the 
astonishing spectacle of the brilliant spots which appeared upon the 
skin of this animal, whose remarkable form had already impressed me; 
sometimes it was a ray of sapphire-blue which blinded me; sometimes 
of opalescent topaz-yellow which rendered it still more striking; at 
other times these two rich colours mingled their magnificent rays. 
During the night these opalescent spots emitted a phosphorescent 
brilliance which rendered this molluse one of the most splendid of 
Nature’s products. Its existence was, however, of short duration, 
though I had placed it in a large vessel of water. Probably it lives at 
ereat depths.’”’ * 

After describing the various luminous organs, Dr. Hoyle remarks :— 
‘‘The question of the utility of these variously coloured lights to the 
creature possessing them admits of an answer which is, at all events, 
extremely plausible. It was suggested in the case of deep-sea fishes 
by Brauer, and has been adopted by Chun in reference to the Cephalo- 
poda. They serve as recognition marks by which the various species 
can identify their fellows ; just as certain colour patches in the plumage 
of birds enable them to find their mates, so in the darkness of the 
ocean abysses do these fairy lamps serve their possessors. Another and 
perhaps even more obvious utility is suggested by the general dis- 
tribution of these organs. It has been pointed out that they are, 
almost without exception, on the ventral aspect of the body—that is, 
the inferior surface in the position in which the animal habitually 
swims. It must happen, therefore, that when the creature is moving 
over the floor of the ocean in the quest for food, this must be illumi- 
nated by its lamps, and the advantages of a series of searchlights 
playing over the ground will be at once apparent. 

‘«‘ Finally, we have the question, How is the light produced ? To 
this we can only say that this is an instance of the transformation of 
one kind of energy into another. We are quite familiar with the pro- 
duction of heat in the animal body by the processes of oxidation which 


** The species thus referred to was Histiotewthis bonelliana. 


EDITORIAL GLEANINGS. 315 


go on in it; we are also familiar with the production of kinetic energy 
when a muscle contracts under a nervous stimulus; and we are also 
aware that electric discharges are produced under similar conditions in 
certain organs of the ‘Torpedo and other fish. The production of light 
is a phenomenon of the same kind. When we can explain how stimu- 
lation applied to a nerve causes contraction in a muscle, then, and not 
till then (so far as I can see), shall we be within reasonable distance of 
explaining the action of these living lamps. 

‘One point is worthy of notice, which has been ascertained, not by 
experiments on the Cephalopoda but on other animals, namely, the 
remarkable economy of this illuminant. A perfectly infinitesimal pro- 
portion of the energy expended is wasted on the production of heat. 
From this point of view animal phosphorescence puts to shame our 
most modern devices. Whether we shall ever be able to rival Nature 
in this respect remains to be seen.” 

«The Thickness of the Skull in Mammalia”’ was the title of a 
paper read by Prof. Rich. J. Anderson :—‘ Light shines through the 
orbital roofs in the young Chimpanzee. The coronal and sagittal 
regions are opaque. The occipital fosse and roof and sides of the skull 
are translucent in the Ox. The Kangaroo and Camel have each trans- 
lucent roof and sides of skull (except in region of horns), so has the 
Seal. The parietal in part is translucent in both Manattee and 
Dugong. ‘The upper surface of the skull in Dogs is not so translucent 
as the sides. The Dolphin’s skull is opaque above and translucent 
behind, and at the central part of sides. The proliferation of the bone 
cells along muscle attached appears to co-exist with the diminution of 
the bone under brain and muscle pressure. The bone cells, like 
leucocytes, desire to avoid the centres of turbulent activity. The skull 
of the Porcupine is translucent over the frontal and parietal; the 
Capybara has a skull that is translucent on each side of the middle 
line in front of the roof, and also at the posterior part of the roof, where 
the translucency is strictly limited to the upper surface. It is some- 
times stated that the portions of the skull covered by muscle (or ‘ pro- 
tected’) are thin. The suggestion is that the skull is strengthened 
where most exposed. It seems better to refer the thinning to the 
pressure of muscle mass, brain, or organ. The ridges are due to the 
accumulation of bone-forming tissue at the points of origin and in- 
sertion of the muscles in question. The skull does not appear to lose, 
but to gain, in strength by the groining (J. Hunter and Holden). The 
osteoblasts, like leucocytes, seem to avoid the places where thrills or 
shocks are most common. ‘The former have greatest freedom outside 


316 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


the active centres, as the latter in the least disturbed nooks contribute 
to the formation of fibrin.” | aes | 

‘Sex in Crustacea, with Special Reference to the Origin and Nature 
of Hermaphroditism,’’ was discussed by Mr. Geoffrey Smith. We can 
only refer to his statement of the phenomena :—‘ The great majority 
of Crustacea have the sexes separate, and this is also true of the phylum 
Arthropoda as a whole. ‘There are, however, two large groups of 
Crustacea, the Cirripedia and the parasitic Isopoda, which are for the 
most part hermaphrodite; and since these two isolated groups stand 
alone in this respect among allied groups, we may be certain that the 
hermaphroditism has been secondarily acquired from some dicecious 
ancestor. It is therefore interesting to inquire under what conditions 
hermaphroditism may arise in a diccious species. 

‘‘The most searching analysis of hermaphroditism is afforded by 
the phenomena of parasitic castration, which was first discovered by 
Giard, and has been subsequently studied by the author and Potts. 
The result of these studies has been to show that a number of animals 
belonging to widely diversified phyla, but especially the Crustacea, 
when attacked by various parasites, undergo an alteration in their 
sexual nature of such a kind that at first the gonad in both sexes de- 
generates to a greater or less extent; secondly, the males assume in 
varying degrees the secondary sexual characters proper to the female, 
while the female, without assuming any male character, suffers a 
certain amount of degeneration in the secondary characters proper to 
the female. Finally, either on recovery from the parasite or else 
during the degenerative process, the male may develop ova in its 
testes, and these ova may grow to a very large size, lying side by side 
with mature spermatozoa. The females, on the other hand, just as 
they never develop male secondary characters, also never produce 
spermatozoa in their ovaries. These results apply especially to the 
effects of the Rhizocephala upon the Crabs which they infect. 

“We see then, first, that hermaphroditism in the Crustacea can be 
called forth in its completion by an external cause acting upon a 
sexually differentiated animal, and, secondly, that it can only be called 
forth in this way in the male sex, not in the female.” 

Mr. Oswald H. Latter, in his paper on ‘‘ The Teaching of Biology 
in Schools,” dealt with a subject which shows how far school authorities, 
as a rule, are still from a sound appreciation of biology and its methods : 
—‘‘ Lastly, a word of defence against certain opponents is necessary. 
It is by some maintained that anatomy and physiology are ‘nasty,’ and 
even indecent, and not fit subjects of education virginibus puerisque. 


EDITORIAL GLEANINGS. 317 


To come straight to the main point, it is the processes of reproduction 
to which objection is made. It is even urged that zoology may be 
taught if this part of the subject be left out. There is no more mis- 
chievous suggestion. Are we to do all we can to encourage the study 
of animal life, and then deny all information and guidance on pheno- 
mena which are bound to come under observation, as though these 
were something unholy and unclean? Curiosity on these matters is 
natural and inevitable, and it is far better—it is best—that this legiti- 
mate curiosity should be satisfied and instructed in a clean, wholesome, 
and scientific way than by any other means. It is only so that a 
reverent respect for the whole body, whether of brute or man, can be 
gained. Puris pura omnia.” 


In the ‘Annals of the Queensland Museum’ (No. 7, 1907), Mr. 
C. W. de Vis describes a Rat under the name of Uromys banfieldi, and 
writes :—‘‘ For an introduction to this Rat we are indebted to the 
observer by whose name it may fitly be honoured—Mr. K. J. Banfield, 
Honorary Keeper of Dunk Island, an island lying a little to the north 
of Cardwell, in lat. 15, long. 145. Some while ago that gentleman 
aroused our curiosity by informing us that a Rat upon the island made 
little or no nest for its young, but carried them about clinging to its 
back or to the outer side of its thighs—a habit, to say the least, very 
unusual among Rats and Mice of the genus Mus. The female first 
sent to us by Mr. Banfield as an example of the species had no young 
with her, nor were her mamme much in evidence; consequently, the 
advent of a specimen caught in the act of carrying young was awaited 
with interest. Fortune at length favoured our correspondent with an 
opportunity of placing the correctness of his observation beyond 
question. Of the second example procured by him, he writes :—‘ The 
other day my Dogs turned out a Rat, which made its escape from them 
by climbing a shrub, and I was able to secure it. You will see that it 
has a pair of infants attached to the teats. . . . I chloroformed the 
mother, and noticed that the young lived some time after her.’ On 
arrival the young were found detached. The conical corrugated 
nipples are, compared with the size of the animal, very long—one 
especially, 20 mm. in length, calls to mind a marsupial teat. Mr. 
Banfield finds this Rat to be gentle in disposition, never attempting to 
bite; it is, therefore, fortunate for it that it is under the protection of 
one who conserves the native life of the island so strictly that he will 
not allow a gun to be fired on it.”’ 


318 THE ZOOLOGIST, 


From ‘The Longstaffs of Weardall and Teesdale,’ by Dr. G. B. 
Longstaff, we extract the following interesting particulars relative to ~ 
William Spence, the well-known entomologist :—‘‘ William Spence, 
born 1783 at Bishop Burton, near Beverley (where his father farmed 
his own estate), served an apprenticeship with Messrs. Carlill, Green- 
wood & Co., Russian merchants and shipowners. He married Elizabeth, 
sister of Henry Blundell, with whom he shortly after entered into 
partnership, a partnership that lasted nearly fifty years. He lived 
- 1806-1811, and probably later, at Drypool, Hull, but in 1820 he was 
living at 40, Dock Street, Hull. For several years he was very subject 
to severe headache, which was, indeed, almost continuous, and as a 
consequence received the special permission of the commandant to 
walk on the ramparts of the Citadel, which afforded a quiet and 
secluded promenade close to his house at Drypool. He appears to 
have visited Matlock, Clifton, and Leamington in search of health. In 
1826 he went to the Continent, where he lived for about eight years. 
In 1888 he appears to have been living at College Green, Bristol, but 
in the latter part of his life (after 1848) at 18, Lower Seymour Street, 
London, where he died 6th January, 1860, aged seventy-seven. His 
wife died 5th April, 1855. He wrote on Political Economy, and was 
the first editor of the ‘ Rockingham’ newspaper, and 1815~1826 pub- 
lished, in conjunction with his friend the Rev. William Kirby, F.B.8., 
Rector of Barham, Suffolk, ‘An Introduction to Entomology,’ a 
voluminous standard work that passed through seven editions (the 
latest 1857). Mr. Spence was a Fellow and a Vice-President of the 
Royal Society, a Fellow of the Linnean and several other British and 
foreign learned societies. He and Mr. Kirby were two of the founders 
and first honorary members of the Entomological Society of London, 
of which he was President in 1847-8.” 

In the ‘ Transactions of the Hull Scientific and Field Naturalists’ 
Club for 1906’ (published 1907), under ‘‘ Bygone Hull Naturalists,”’ 
there 1s also another notice of this memorable man whose name among 
entomologists is almost a household word. This notice is accompanied 
by a portrait (plate xxxi.), which many will be glad to possess. We 
have affixed it to the fly-leaf of our copy of the classic ‘ Introduction 
by Kirby and Spence. 


We have received from Cambridge the ‘ Forty-first Annual Report 
of the Museums and Lecture Rooms Syndicate for 1906.’ Dr. 5S. F. 
Harmer reports that the year has been an eventful one in respect of the 
collection of mammals. Dr. EK. C. Stirling, F.R.S., of Trinity College, 


EDITORIAL GLEANINGS. 019 


has with great liberality presented a series of casts which form a com- 
plete skeleton of the gigantic extinct marsupial, Diprotodon australis. 
The original specimens, from which the casts were prepared under 
Dr. Stirling’s supervision in the South Australian Museum at Adelaide, 
have been for some time the subject of his special study, which has 
resulted in the discovery of much additional information with regard 
to the structure of this remarkable type. Dr. Stirling’s gift has already 
been announced in a letter to the Vice-Chancellor (‘ C. U. Reporter,’ 
1906-7, p. 594). Through the kindness of Mr. R. C. Haldane, the 
Museum has acquired a skull, with the complete set of baleen, of 
Rudolphi’s Whale (Balenoptera borealis). 

Shortly before this Report was prepared, His Grace the Duke of 
Bedford, K.G., sent from his collection in the park at Woburn Abbey 
two specimens of Przewalsky’s Horse (Kquus przewalskii), which has 
been regarded as the ancestral form from which the domestic Horse 
has been derived. The older of these specimens was one of the small 
herd originally imported from Mongolia by Hagenbeck, and purchased 
by the Duke of Bedford, while the younger individual was born at 
Woburn. The opportunity of obtaining this rare and interesting 
species was thus unique, and the gift must be regarded as one of the 
most important additions which has been made for some time. 

Mrs. Wyndham Somerset has given the frontlet and horns of the 
rare Takin (Budorcas taxtcolor) from the Mishmi Country, between 
Assam and Tibet. 

The collection of Antelopes has been largely increased, principally 
through the donations of specimens from Tropical Africa made by 
C. B. C. Storey, M.A., Clare College, A. L. Butler, Esq., Capt. E. 
Mackenzie Murray, and Major W. B. Emery. The receipt of Mr. 
Storey’s large and admirably collected series has been announced in a 
letter to the Vice-Chancellor (‘ C. U. Reporter,’ 1906-7, pp. 594, 595). 
The collection included nine skeletons and about forty skulls, with the 
corresponding skins. Although a certain proportion of the species 
were previously represented in the Museum, the gift is important not 
only in increasing our series of specimens of species hitherto in- 
adequately represented, but in particular in containing a considerable 
proportion of young specimens which illustrate stages in the growth of 
the horns, and of female individuals of species in which the horns are 
restricted to the male sex. The Museum, like most other Museums, 
is deficient with regard to immature and female specimens of many 
common species, owing to the natural propensity of sportsmen to 
select as trophies specimens which show a large development of the 


320 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


horns. The four collections of Antelopes above named are all im- 
portant in view of the fact that the experience of the last century 
justifies the belief that many of the large mammals of Africa are 
destined to become increasingly difficult, if not impossible, to procure 
in the future. 


Tue writer of ‘‘ Nature Notes’’ in the ‘ Evening Standard’ of 
Aug. 13th makes the following interesting remarks on the intelligent 
movements of a caterpillar :—‘“‘The signal difference between the in- 
telligence of a plant and the mind of an animal in some cases strikes 
me as Just one of slowness of movement and fixity of station. There 
are plants which have such a look of animality about them, seem so 
sensitive, and—as I have said of the black bryony in spring and early 
summer—even so watchful, that one may hesitate to pluck or handle 
them roughly (writes Mr. George A. B. Dewar). One would rather 
crush a caterpillar in the rosebud or tender young leaf unfolding than 
one would stamp on the black bryony trailer, feeling queerly its way 
across the tangled lane in May. To take this black bryony trailer 
among plants, among insects, the yellow and black barred caterpillar 
—TI think the Cinnabar Moth’s caterpillar—which is now feeding up for 
its chrysalid stage on the leaves of the yellow ragwort, does the cater- 
pillar really convey to us much more the notion of mind than the trailer 
of the plant ? I cannot say that to me it always does. About both of 
them there seems to be what I have called a physical intelligence. 
The feeding—almost incessant feeding—of this yellow and black cater- 
pillar of the ragwort, what is it but an act of physical intelligence ? 
Shake it off the ragwort. Presently it will climb up a neighbouring 
plant. It apparently tests the leaves of this new station, and, finding 
that they are not the right sort, refuses to nibble. But this is merely 
intelligence of the sense of taste, a physical matter. The black bryony 
would in the same way refuse to feed on certain substances that Nature 
has not included on its menu if these were set at its rootlet tips. It 
would be just as intelligent about its food, and just as fastidious as the 
caterpillar—indeed, many plants are much more fastidious and dis- 
criminating in this than many caterpillars ; which, their ordinary food- 
plant failing, or being denied them, in captivity will eat each other. 
The one mysterious matter in which the caterpillar seems slightly to 
excel the plant in intelligence is that of ‘shamming death.’ The 
bryony, at any rate, never does that! Or, to put it in a way that is a 
little less unacceptable, Nature never shams death for a plant when an 
enemy threatens it.” 


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No. 795.—September. 1907, 


NOTES ON THE ORNITHOLOGY OF OXFORDSHIRE, 
1905-1906. 


By O. V. Apuin, F.L.S., M.B.0O.U. 


1905. 


January 3rd.—Many Redpolls (quite one hundred) in little 
parties in the alders between South Newington and Barford, and 
with them some Goldfinches. 

6th.—Mr. R. W. Calvert saw thirty-three ‘‘Grey”’ Geese fly 
over Langley House, going due west, at 2.45 p.m.; they were 
low down and within shot. 

7th.—Mistle-Thrush singing. Few Song-Thrushes remained 
after the November frost. A Pied Woodpecker shot at Great Tew 
this week. 

12th. — Examined a Bittern, shot at Chadlington a few 
years ago. 

16th.—Bitterly cold, strong S.E.and E.8.E. wind; max. 21°. 
The most bitterly cold day since January, 1881. About 6 p.m. 
powdery snow began, and came through between the doors and 
windows and the frames. Fortunately the temperature changed 
all at once, and the snow ceased. Froze. 

17th.—A flock of about one hundred Fieldfares, the largest 
seen this season. A lot of Bramblings and Chaffinches under 
the Grove beech avenue. 

19th.— Wrens collecting to roost in hole in thatch. 

21st.—Redwings come close to the house, where I never see a 
Fieldfare. 

Zool, 4th ser. vol. XI., September, 1907, 2c 


322 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


23rd.—Hedge-Sparrow sang, the only bird singing now. A 
flock consisting of about a thousand smali birds were about 
three parts Tree-Sparrows and one part Linnets. Three or four 
Peewits (unusual birds in a frost) on high ground. A Black- 
throated Diver, adult in winter dress, which was picked up alive 
here on the 20th and died this morning, was brought to me. 
Length 25 in., wing 12, tail 3; outside of tarsus and outer toe 
and outside of part of middle toe blackish; rest of tarsus and 
toes more or less blue-grey; bill bluish horn, culmen and tip 
dark horn. This is the only really satisfactory record of the 
occurrence of this Diver in Oxfordshire. 

27th.—Wood-Pigeons cooing 24th and to-day, although still 
frosty. 

February 1st.—Three Mistle-Thrushes flew past, two of them 
at least singing in a hurried manner. 

3rd.—Stock-Dove cooing [this bird has been known to have 
egos by March 6th], and several Larks singing. 

4th.—Garden full of Song-Thrushes again, but there is little 
food for them. 

9th.—Crows pairing. 

28th.—Peewits on the breeding ground. 

March 8rd.—Rooks building. 

11th.—News that one hundred and fourteen Wood-Pigeons 
were killed by one gun at Kynsham on 1st. 

13th.—Pied Wagtails on ploughings. 

17th.—About a score of Redpolls and one Goldfinch feeding 
under alder trees by the Swere. Wren building. 

19th. — Little flock of fresh-looking Meadow-Pipits on Mileomb 
hills. Several Kestrels seen this month. 

22nd.—Chiffchaff. 

24th.—Several Chifichaffs. Another party of Meadow-Pipits. 
Coal-Tit’s spring note so fine and full as to be worthy to be called 
a song. 

26th.—F lock of twenty or thirty Meadow-Pipits. 

April 1st.—Near Crouch Hill about a score of Golden Plover, 
quite low and evidently just put up, flew past me. 

2nd.—Wheatear. 

8th.—Snow lay thick this morning. 

9th,—Mistle-Thrush sings now in early dawn and all day, 


ORNITHOLOGY OF OXFORDSHIRE. 328 


but not late in evening; unlike the Song-Thrush, which sings 
less in the day, but a great deal late in the evening. 

10th.—Redstart. Mr. R. W. Calvert reports in the ‘Field’ 
of the 8th that a Tawny Owl was found sitting, near Langley 
House, on six eggs on March 21st. 

12th.—Willow-Wren. Two Hedge-Sparrows’ nests (of four 
and three eggs) not six feet apart, in a row of box-bushes. Boy 
threw three young Carrion-Crows about two days old out of a 
nest yesterday. These are early. 

13th.—Report of Swallow seen on 8rd on the Grove Estate. 

15th.—Ray’s Wagtail and Tree-Pipit. Blackthorn full out. 

16th.—Blackcap. 

21st.—A Swallow over a pond here, looking feeble; the fifth 
day of cold N.EK. wind. 

24th.—Whitethroat. 

26th.—Cuckoo seen. 

27th.—Some Otter ‘‘ spraint’’ full of remains of Crayfish. 
Nightingale. 

28th.—House-Martin. Swallows singing about these premises 
this evening. 

29th.—A clutch of four Crow’s eggs brought by boy, who said 
he had thrown out of the nests four broods of ‘‘ bolched”’ (a. e. 
unfledged) young ones. 

May 1st.—Whinchat. 

8th.—A Hobby reported as shot on this date near Shipton- 
under- Wychwood. 

Away from home May 4th—June 9th. 

Mr. C. B. Chambers wrote me word from Fifield, Milton- 
under-Wychwood, that on each day from the 20th to the 23rd he 
saw and watched near there a Woodchat-Shrike, which he de- 
scribed accurately. On two days he watched it for a considerable 
time, but did not hear it utter a sound. It seldom settled on the 
hedge, but preferred to perch in the small ash trees that stood in 
the fence, flying down to the gronnd, hopping about for a second 
or two, and then up into the trees again. Sometimes it would 
sit motionless in a tree for five or ten minutes together. The 
Chaffinches ‘‘spinked” as though its presence was not required, 
but it seemed to be feeding on insects only. Mr. Chambers 


thought it was a male. It has only occurred in Oxon once 
2c2 


324 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


previously. Although it seemed attached to this particular spot, 
where it was a conspicuous object, it could not be — on the 
25th, or ever afterwards. 

June 13th.—I went with Mr. Fowler to a spot on the Isis 
above Oxford, where two pairs of Redshanks have been breeding 
this year. One bird was flying round, uttering the usual ‘‘ clip- 
clip-clip” of a bird with young ones, and I heard another. We 
put up a full-grown young one, which flew low and pitched in a 
bed of rushes on the river-bank, from which I could not again 
rouse it. Probably the rest were in the mowing-grass. The Red- 
shank is new to the list of birds known to breed in Oxon, although 
doubtless it bred commonly years ago. I examined a Hoopoe 
which flew against the telegraph-wires near Tackley on April 
_ 22nd, a Great Crested Grebe killed near Kirthngton at the season 
of Rook-shooting, and a Pied Woodpecker shot in Stowe Wood on 
May 12th. Many oaks and beech trees—in the valleys especially 
—are for about half-way up them quite brown, as if burnt by fire. 
This was caused by the great frost in May. 

15th.—Examined a Grey Plover (a very rare bird inland) in 
adult summer dress, which had been shot in an arable field near 
Farnborough, and only just over our borders, on May 27th. Also 
a female Hobby, shot on the 18th inst. at Tusmore (where they 
occur every year). Warblers, especially Lesser Whitethroats, 
scarce this year. 

17th.—Flycatchers have used the old Goldfinch’s nest again 
(vide Zool. 1906, p. 448), and laid five eggs ; there are some small 
feathers in the nest-lining. Goldfinches are probably breeding 
in the same tree—a very tall old pear—for they were about the 
tree, jerking their bodies from side to side in their peculiar 
stiff way. 

23rd.—A pair of Bullfinches have a nest with five eggs in a 
pyracanthus-bush which hangs down over our wall, and the nest 
could be reached by the village boys were not the bush of great 
width and verythorny! But here the Bullfinch has bred before, 
for there are two old nests in the bush. They also breed in my 
garden at the back of the house, but it is only of late years that 
they have become garden birds inthe summer. A few days ago, 
as I was getting up, I watched the first-named pair, the male 
feeding the female. Paired Bullfinches are always close together, 


ORNITHOLOGY OF OXFORDSHIRE. 325 


and as demonstratively affectionate as Love-birds. Linnets 
are unusually abundant this season, and are breeding down in 
the valley. 

27th.—As we were sitting in the garden just after 9 p.m.a 
Brown Owl pursued a Thrush (which was screaming) across the 
lawn; just as they passed out of sight over a yew tree, and out 
of the garden, the screaming ceased suddenly! ‘This is the only 
time I ever saw an Owl in chase of a bird. 

28th.—Probably the same Owl flew within six yards of us just 
after 9 p.m., and passed over the top of an ivy-arch in which a 
Blackbird was sitting on three eggs. She must have quaked ! 
Three Garden Warblers’ nests I have found this month have 
each contained only four young. 

29th.— Several Golden Plover passed, and hovered, over the 
village, 10.45 p.m. Dark and damp. An early date for migra- 
tion. 

July 1st.—Some ash trees have not yet recovered from the 
May frost, and will not be in full leaf this year. A Swallow’s 
nest in my stable is built against a cross-beam, its only support 
being a big iron staple driven into the beam. 

4th.—The Shrikes near the Lessor Farm have young, fledging, 
in an exposed nest in a blackthorn. 

5th.—Visited Minster Lovell village and meadows with Mr. 
Calvert. It is a limestone village with white dazzling roads and 
srey houses, and a fine place for the House-Martin which abounds. 
There were many nests—whole rows of them; some building, 
one of which, under eaves of thatch-roof, was only about eight 
feet from the ground. But the Sand-Martins, which love to feed 
about the Windrush, are badly off for nesting-sites, and breed 
here in a garden wall about eight or nine feet high bordering the 
village street. It has a flat coping of rough flag-stones, and 
under this the birds were going in and out, and also in one or 
two other places about six inches lower down where mortar or 
stone was displaced. The holes were very small. Although the 
Windrush is a Trout-river, with a full strong stream of remark- 
ably clear water, the banks are low and marshy—not steep and 
clearly defined like those of Cherwell and Evenlode. A thick 
growth of rushes and true feathery-topped reeds, and patches of 
yellow iris in places, often hide the river, and the banks are so 


326 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


ill-defined that in places there is a strip of ground which may or 
may not be under water. The river itself is often choked with 
Potamogeton, and arrow-head, yellow water-lilies, and large forget- 
me-nots brighten it up ; while the scent of crushed horse-mint is 
overpowering in the July air. The meadows are very swampy 
and liable to flood, especially above the village. Altogether it is 
a nice bit of marshy country, and visited in the winter by a fair 
lot of Duck and Snipe. We found two Moorhens’ nests with 
eggs, and a Little Grebe’s in mid-stream with five eggs. An 
anxious Wild Duck appeared to have young in the cover, and 
a couple of pairs of Peewits wheeled and screamed over the 
meadows. 

7th.—A Turtle-Dove’s nest with two eggs was only three and 
a half feet from the ground in a hedge. It was lined with butter- 
cup flower-stalks gathered green ; another nest on the 12th was 
lined with “‘squitch.” July seems to be the chief breeding month 
of this bird here. 

8th.—Bullfinches are unusually numerous this summer. To- 
day I found, in two of the hedges of a small field, three nests, 
two of them with eggs, and the other just finished. All three 
nests were thickly lined with hair—dark horse-hair, grey horse- 
hair, and a mixture of cow- and horse-hair. 

13th.—News of a brood of twenty Partridges hatched. All 
resident small birds are ‘‘swarming”’ now. 

August Tth.—Young birds continue to emerge. There are 
young Song-Thrushes hardly able to fly, and Wrens just on 
the wing. 

10th.—Many Swifts. 

12th.—Greenfinch’s nest with four fresh eggs in apple tree. 
A good many Swifts. 

14th.—Still a few. 

16th.—None to be seen. 

20th.—One Swift. Not for some years have I seen so many 
Swallows and Martins in the sky in the evenings. 

22nd.—A Wheatear. 

24th.—Over seventy Martins and one Swallow on the roof 
up to 8.30 am., and many more earlier in the morning. 

Rain on fifteen days amounted to about 4°50 in. 

September 2nd.—Two Land-Rails. Nearly all corn cut. 


ORNITHOLOGY OF OXFORDSHIRE. 827 


6th.—Lesser Whitethroat, as I was getting up, singing a low, 
sweet, warbling song; and again the next morning, close to the 
window. 

Sth.—Saw a Falcon. 

12th.—A fair Partridge season. Red-legs have done very 
well, but are late, and have recovered from the wet summer and 
winter of 1903. A few Meadow-Pipits, and a Cuckoo in dark grey 
dress. Three Land-Rails, I hear, were shot on this glebe in a 
bit of standing oats yesterday. 

16th.—There have been great congregations of Martins on the 
roof all this month, but the first lot must have gone to-day, and 
Swallows with them. 

19th.—Saw four or five Kestrels during the day ; one passing 
high was mobbed by a small flock of Starlings. A dark grey 
young Cuckoo seen; and I may here mention that I saw one just 
over the Northamptonshire borders as late as Oct. 17th. It was 
mobbed by Rooks. 

21st.—Hxamined a female Peregrine Falcon—a bird of the 
year—shot at Wardington yesterday while hanging round some 
tame Pigeons at a farm. 

24th.—After to-day a further great diminution in the numbers 
of Swallows and Martins. Wren singing. 

25th.—Many Goldfinches about the thistle-grown fields. 

27th.—Many Meadow-Pipits in the roots for the first time. 

28th.—Pipits going east, as usual. 

October 2nd.—F lock of two or three hundred Peewits passing 
west, high up. 

5th.— Hedge-Sparrow singing. 

9th.—A few Swallows and Martins about the fields. 

14th.—Song-Thrush singing. 

25th.—Lots of Fieldfares and Redwings (arrived about the 
middle of the month). Very few passing Pipits this season. All 
the Thrush family in numbers about the hedges, but the flocks 
of Mistle-Thrushes so remarkable at the end of summer and in 
September are not seen now. ‘Two Grey Crows (the first I heard 
of this season, when they were far more abundant than in any 
other year in my experience) were reported as seen on the Grove 
estate about the middle of the month. 

A cold October. 


328 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


November 2nd.— Mr. Bartlett said he had already had several 
Grey Crows this autumn—three in one week. 

4th.—An early autumn. All trees turned, and many of them 
bare of leaves; hedges much thinned. 

7th.—Flushed a Short-eared Owl in the ash poles at South 
Newington, which settled in a still leafy oak. Some Bramblings. 
Peewits on ploughings. 

13th.--Song-Thrushes singing well. 

14th.—We see and hear more Crows than usual, and some of 
them are probably Grey. All five members of the Thrush family 
now feeding on the fine crop of haws. 

17th. —Fieldfares, which early in the week were more nume- 
rous than for years past, have moved on to some extent. 
Bramblings all about. Blue, Great, and Marsh Tits to-day all 
feeding on beech-mast, gathering it, and flying with it to the 
ground or a stump or bough to eat it. 

18th.—Greenfinches numerous in the garden, eating the fine 
ripe sweet-briar hips. Weather very cold. 

19th. —27°, 29° 10.45 a.m. Previous days have been colder. 
Yesterday the thermometer here did not rise above 30° all day. 
Wind, E.to N.E. In Banbury it would doubtless be a little 
warmer, but still it was astonishing that House-Martins should 
be able, even if willing, to feed young. Yet as late as to-day 
Mr. E. Tyrrell (who has a good knowledge of birds) observed that 
the young in a nest near his house were being fed, but by one 
old bird only. 

21st. — Fieldfares again in large numbers; also Redwings, 
Goldfinches, and all hard-billed birds abundant. Flock of Red- 
polls in big alders near the Pest House. Bramblings numerous 
this autumn. A cold November. 

December 2nd.—Bullfinches abundant. To beseen about the 
village, and almost at any time in my garden. They have the 
last two years become permanent residents in the garden instead 
of unwelcome visitors in late winter and early spring, occasionally 
staying to breed. They have now bred for two, and I think 
three, years both in front and at the back of the house, and 
have been present constantly since summer up to the present 
time. They are also numerous about the hedges in the fields. 

6th.—I watched a pair of Peregrines—fine adult birds—in the 


ORNITHOLOGY OF OXFORDSHIRE. 329 


Cherwell valley under North Aston. The female appeared first 
ona small flock of Peewits rising and flying up the valley, but 
she only made a pretence at pursuit, and was then joined by the 
male. Nor were seven Herons feeding in the vicinity molested, 
but a pair of Carrion-Crows perched in an oak round which the 
Peregrines circled had a bad fright, and cried out. But these 
grand birds may have been fed up, for they betook themselves to 
toying in the air like two dignified butterflies, first one and then 
the other mounting in the air above its mate. During this toy- 
ing flight and their slow flights over the meadow their wings 
were raised rather higher above their backs than usual, so that 
(the day being very clear and sunny) the under side of the wings 
and the flanks could be seen very plainly. Once or twice a few 
‘“‘quayks ’ were uttered, but much lower in tone and softer than 
those we hear from angry and anxious birds at the nest. Twice 
the female settled in very shallow flood, taking great care to keep 
her tail dry, raising it indeed, at one time, almost like a Magpie. 
She stooped twice as if drinking, but stayed quite a few minutes 
doing nothing at all. They were fine blue birds, and the female 
had a remarkably pure white throat. These birds doubtless 
roosted in the woods about North Aston, in the direction of which 
they presently departed. 

7th.—Mistle-Thrush sang; one hears an occasional Song- 
Thrush now, but there have been few birds about since mid- 
November. A lot of local Wood-Pigeons in Banbury Market. 

8th.—Saw a Kestrel. 

10th.—News from Mr. Fowler of Siskins, with Redpolls, at 
Oxford, and Redpolls at Kingham; also Bramblings by the 
thousand. Redpolls are unusually common here this season. 

14th.—Hxamined an adult female Merlin shot at Tusmore in 
October. 

16th.—Bullfinches have been destroying the plum-buds this 
last week ; as many as three in a tree at one time. But I once, 
in another year, saw six ! 

21st.—Saw a Grey Crow with Rooks in a meadow near Ban- 
bury. 

23rd.—Winter aconite fully out, but flower not turned up. 
There is not much Thrush song this mild weather, consequent 
on an exodus in the cold weather in November. 


380 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


27th.—Great flocks of Finches on the stubbles ; among the 
Bramblings a fair lot of fine old males with conspicuous white 
backs. 

29th.—Two Nuthatches at Broughton. We have none here 
now. 

30th.—Stubbles full of Larks. Great flocks of Wood-Pigeons 
reported; I saw a small flock of about one hundred in a root- 
field to-day. Redpolls again feeding on willow-herb seeds by 
stream. 

31st.—Sharp frost and bitterly cold 8.E. wind. 

A rather mild and dry December. In Christmas week an 
example of Ray’s Wagtail was shot, with a Grey Wagtail, near 
the mill on the Cherwell at Banbury. I saw them both after 
they had been stuffed, and this is the only time I ever knew the 
former bird occur here in winter. 


1906. 

January 1st.—A Grey Crow, with the Crows, Rooks, and 
Jackdaws, leaving the arable land at roosting-time, and there 
may have been others. 

5th.—Mistle- and Song-Thrushes continue to sing well, as 
they did last month. 

6th.—A destructive gale from §.W., working out in N.W. 

16th.—A Siskin killed by a cat from a dozen frequenting a 
garden in Banbury. Redpolls still about here. 

23rd.—A fine male Stonechat in Grove lane, on the hedge 
between two ploughed fields. 

24th.—News from Mr. Darbey of a Black Redstart caught 
alive at Cowley, and two Little Auks and a Storm-Petrel picked 
up near Oxford early this month. 

26th.—Coal-Tit sings. 

27th.—Very mild. Song- and Mistle-Thrushes, which have 
sung all the month, are now in very fine and full voice. 

28th.—News from Mr. Fowler of Siskins in Christ Church 
meadows again. 

29th.—Blackbird sang [but not again until Feb. 16th]. The 
amount of Thrush-song is wonderful, and the birds have been 
numerous the last half of the month. 

A wet stormy month, with floods ; very mild at the close. 


ORNITHOLOGY OF OXFORDSHIRE. 381 


February 1st.—Larks singing. 

3rd.—News of five Grey Crows seen for some days early last 
month above South Newington. 

5th.—A flock of about one thousand Wood-Pigeons on turnips 
near Tadmarton Heath. A Fox sauntered right in among the 
flock with apparent unconcern. He had a dejected air, and his 
brush drooped. He seemed more interested in the sky and the 
view than concerned about Pigeons, and they on their part at 
length hardly got out of his way, so poor a creature did he seem. 
But just then he sprang into active life so suddenly that he made 
me, watching at a distance, jump; and in a few seconds he was 
away with his Pigeon. 

12th. —Rooks noisy at nest-trees. 

15th.—Chaffinch sang a very little. 

21st.— Rooks have quite ruined a field of winter-beans which 
should now be about two inches high; most of them, are pulled 
up. Damage to sprouted beans seems a new thing here. Several 
Grey Crows reported lately. 

22nd.—A Kestrel. 

24th.—Clattercote reservoir still only half full, and four Coots 
the only waterfowl there. A mixed flock of Finches on the banks 
comprised Chaffinches (chiefly females), a few Bramblings (two 
or three old males), Linnets, Tree-Sparrows, and one rosy- 
breasted Redpoll. 

A very rough cold month, constant changes and cold through- 
out. 

Mr. EK. Tyrrell, of Banbury, recently showed me an adult 
male Goosander, shot in the Broughton Fulling Mill brook in 
1895, and a Sclavonian Grebe, shot on the moat at Broughton 
in the early winter of that year. He also told me of an adult 
male Smew, shot at Broughton by EH. Freeman for the_ late 
occupier of the castle, and an adult Gannet, shot near the mill 
above Banbury two years before. 

March 2nd.—The cover-keeper at Wigginton Heath told me 
that last summer, after watching from a tree, he shot a yel- 
lowish-white Budger, which unfortunately rolled down into the 
earth. 

4th.—Two or three apricot-blossoms expanded. 

6th.—Greenfinches singing. 


3382 THE ZOOLOGIST. 

7th.—49° inshade. Flock of Meadows-Pipits on grassy hills. 

20th.—Mr. Fowler saw a Chiffchaff at Kingham. 

23rd.—A Song-Thrush’s nest in yew-hedge, which was nearly 
finished on the 7th, and was lined with ice about a week later, 
had to-day three eggs, although I had thought it was quite 
deserted. 

27th.—Rooks sitting ; hedges getting green in very sheltered 
spots. 

28th.—Wheatear at Mileomb on grassy hill with many ant- 
hills. From one of them it flew and settled on the top of a fair- 
sized tree, on which I have previously seen spring Wheatears 
settle. Two Wheatears seen on Bloxham Grove to-day. 

Cold and many slight falls of snow after the early part of the 
month. 

April 2nd.—F lock of about one hundred Wood-Pigeons ; some 
Redwings. 

8rd. — Chiffchaff at Broughton sang, Two Sand-Martins 
passed over Hanwell plantation, where I saw a Pied Wood- 
pecker ; I also saw the hounds put up a Short-eared Owl from 
a gorsy coombe near Wroxton. 

7th.—Put up a Snipe from brook-bank. 

9th.—When walking along the Icknield Way, near Watling- 
ton, I watched a cock Partridge being mobbed by four Peewits, 
a good many of which seemed to be breeding along the foot of 
the hills. I saw a pair of Stonechats, and two pairs the next 
day towards Lewknor. Again, this year, I noticed Marsh-Tits 
common about the beech-woods. 

11th.—A really hot day. Walking to Ewelme, I saw a score 
or more of Bramblings just before I got to Cow Common (vide 
Zool. 1906, p. 818). I went on to the Thames at Benson, but 
could not even see a Sand-Martin, and two Chiffchaffs were the 
only summer birds I noticed all day, although Tortoiseshell and 
Brimstone butterflies were on the wing in numbers, and I saw a 
Peacock butterfly at Ewelme. A pair of Goldfinches freauented 
the firs at Swyncombe cross-roads. 

13th.—Two Swallows here; seen at Adderbury yesterday. 

14th.—Blackcap and Redstart. A female Stone Curlew shot 
between Wheatley and Cuddesdon. 

15th.—Willow- Wren. 


ORNITHOLOGY OF OXFORDSHIRE. 333 


16th.—Ray’s Wagtail. Some migrant Meadow-Pipits perched 
in trees, as I have often seen them do at this season; these 
are late. 

21st.—Tree-Pipit (in song on 26th). 

22nd.—News of a Grey Crow seen between here and Barford 
as late as the 11th inst. A Green Woodpecker came out of an 
old nest-hole which it was enlarging. 

23rd.—Clutch of five Carrion-Crow’s eggs, almost froak and 
a clutch of three half-incubated brought in. 

24th.—Two Common Sandpipers by canal near Cropredy. In 
a day’s Otter-hunting did not see a single Swallow. 

25th.—Saw the following Crows’ nests climbed to: clutch of 
three hard sat; three hatching; five, five, and four, I think fresh. 
We gave up the attempt on two occupied nests, one of which was 
high up in one of the tallest solitary oak trees I ever saw. All 
these nests but one were in Bloxham parish. 

28th.—Put Wild Duck off nest in head of old low pollard 
willow in Hivenlode valley. Hedges late and not more advanced 
than in first week of April in some years. Hardly any summer 
birds about. 

29th. — Cuckoo reported at Bloxham Grove, and at Great 
Tew the next day. I did not hear it this month. 

May 1st.—Cuckoo. 

3rd.—Examined a Hoopoe from Alkerton on April 13th, and 
a Whimbrel obtained at Wroxton on the 27th. Also a remark- 
ably fine Stoat just getting a fine gloss on its fur of almost a 
purple shade. It was killed at Shenington on April 19th, and 
weighed 13 lb. 

4th.—Lesser Whitethroat. 

6th.—Swifts here—about a dozen. Seen in Banbury yester- 
day. 

7th.—Whitethroat, Sedge-Warbler, and House-Martin (plenty 
of the last in Tadmarton village). 

8th.—Away in Wales until June 19th. 

About May 17th a canal-boat loaded with Hartshill stone 
came into Banbury, and a pair of Pied Wagtails were seen 
flitting about it as the men were unloading it. A nest with six 
egos was found. In the same month a truck of coal arrived at 
the G.W.R. station in Banbury, in which was a Pied Wagtail’s 


334 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


nest with five eggs. I have seen both these nests. On the 19th 
Mr. EK. Tyrrell found, near Crouch Hill, a Blackbird’s nest with 
five ordinary eggs and one small one, which appears to be that 
of a Cuckoo. ‘They are now in my possession. 

June 2nd.—A Red-backed Shrike’s nest containing four very 
bright examples of the red type of egg was found at Franklin’s 
Knob, on the Cherwell, opposite Bodicote, the spot where my 
abnormal female (with her mate) was shot in 1890. Certain 
spots seem to have peculiar attractions for this very local species, 
and it resorts to them every year. 

23rd.— Saw near Barford what appeared to be a young 
Sparrow, white with a shade of brown. 

27th.—A very few Willow-Wrens sing now. 

29th.—Rain ceased this morning after falling for thirty-six 
hours. . 

July 15th.—Goldfinch, which laid six eggs and was sitting by 
this date, built its nest in an apple tree in my orchard entirely 
of dead seeding plants of the Procumbent Pearlwort (Sagina pro- 
cumbens), lined with some vegetable down and a little long light- 
coloured hair. 

17th.—Heard a Corn-Crake at Cropredy Station. 

25th.—-In the level open corn-lands on the north side of 
Wroxton listened to two Quails calling. The Corn-Bunting is 
fairly common there. Also saw two young Red-backed Shrikes. 

28th.—The Hedge-Sparrow—a most persistent singer—still 
sings. One was sitting on eggs on the 20th. Spotted Flycatchers 
are very scarce this year. 

30th.—Early this morning several young Thrushes, a Black- 
bird, and two Garden Warblers all eating the fruit of the bird- 
cherry. A fine hot July. 

August 4th.—The upland-breeding Peewits now frequent root- 
fields until the tops cover the ground. Shrikes are more common 
this year than usual. 

7th.—A great congregation of Martins seen on this roof early 
this morning ; misty morning. 

11th.—A family party of Shrikes on the railway between here 
and Milton. It seems possible that Shrikes follow the railway 
lines to some extent, and that their increase here of late years 
may be partly accounted for by the completion of this branch 


ORNITHOLOGY OF OXFORDSHIRE. 335 


line in 1887. News of a pair of Hobbies breeding in a Crow’s 
nest of this season in a big oak in one of the woods in West 
Oxon. On July 10th the nest contained one young one covered 
with white down and two ‘‘ pipped”’ eggs. On the 5th inst. the 
young were fledged, but still in the nest. The contents of the 
nest which were sent to me consisted of the elytra of large 
beetles, a foot and part of a wing of a Blackbird, one tail-feather 
of a Song-Thrush, some wing- and tail-feathers of a Blue Tit, 
and several “‘ castings.” 

12th.— The Barn-Owl has been noisy for the last week 
or two. 

14th. — Golden Plovers heard passing over at 9.30 p.m.; 
starlight. 

17th.—The morning congregation of Martins (with a few 
Swallows) has increased daily. 

20th.—Numbers of Swifts still here, and I doubt if there is 
any diminution in their numbers yet ; breeding was doubtless 
delayed by the cold weather in May. 

21st.—Willow-Wren singing. Country much dried up. That 
“* oipsy-migrant,” the Bullfinch, is much less common this sum- 
mer than last. Not so many Starlings bred with us this year as 
in the last season or two, when they occupied every hole they 
could find. Can it be that the invading host of Purple Starlings 
has passed on ? 

27th.—Not for years until last year and this have I seen so 
many Swallows and Martins in the air in the evenings. 

28th.—Blackbirds, finding little fruit this year, have left the 
garden to a large extent. Thrushes have gone as usual. 

A fine hot month on the whole, up to 84°. 

September 1st.— 87° in the shade. The country in a de- 
plorable condition ; grass-fields as brown as stubbles; shrubs 
dying. 

2nd.—88° in the shade. 

3rd.—In the forenoon a vast swarm of Swallows and Martins 
(most of the latter) in the air. 

7th.—A Land-Rail shot out of seedy saintfoin, &c., the only 
one seen so far. But we have walked no standing corn, the 
harvest being early. Many Mistle-Thrushes in flocks of twenty 
or thirty together on the clover and grass fields. 


336 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


12th.—The fine and very dry weather continued up till to-day. 
A good Partridge year. Forty birds killed at Milcomb to-day 
were made up of twelve old and twenty-eight young ones. Some 
very small squeakers are still hardly able to fly. Still flocks of 
. Mistle-Thrushes. 

15th.—A great congregation of Martins on the roof. 

18th.—Young Swallows still in nest in stable. 

19th.—Small flock of Meadow-Pipits in roots for first time. 
Goldfinches quite numerous about the thistles, now ripe. Some 
young Red-legged Partridges cannot fly yet, or do not. 

20th.--Rooks noisy and about and in their nests. 

23rd.—Another great gathering of Martins on the roof; no 
gathering since the 15th. 

24th.—Grey Wagtail arrived in stony shallow in the village 
brook. 

28th.—Another Grey Wagtail at pond. Lark sang. The bulk 
of the Swallows and Martins left either yesterday or to-day. 

Karly part of the month very hot; a fine warm month. 

October 5th. — Saw a Redwing, and heard the call of a 
Brambling—both very early. A flock of Martins apparently on 
the move. Some still in the nest. A few Swallows about. 

6th.— Several Redwings. Lots of Meadow-Pipits in the roots. 

10th.—Many Song-Thrushes. 

138th.—Corn-Buntings about their usual haunts; three or 
four together with their winter-flying note, “tick” or ‘‘jik.” 
Crows very noisy now. No Swallows since 10th. 

17th. — Hedges full of Blackbirds and Song-Thrushes; a 
lot of Redwings. A Peregrine Falcon rose from a high-lying 
stubble. 

24th.—Fieldfares. Yesterday a young and an old (probably 
1905) Partridge shot with white horseshoe mark. 

Some Quail this year. One put up out of swedes on Potter’s 
Hill Farm about the middle of September, and three or four shot 
at Asthal-leigh, about a mile off, in the same week. Two shot at 
Enstone on the 12th inst. October a mild month. Rainfall 
about 43 in. 

November 2nd.—Some Thrushes have been singing the last 
few days. 

15th.—But little song in comparison with the number of 


ORNITHOLOGY OF OXFORDSHIRE. 337 


Thrushes here, so they are probably passing migrants. Wren 
has sung all the month occasionally. 

26th.—Many Bramblings with the Chaffinches, and a few 
other birds about the fields where manure is being spread. Some 
elms have not shed all their leaves, and oaks are rather full of 
leaves, but brown. 

27th.—A Woodcock in Milcomb gorse. 

I received news this month of a Little Owl, shot on the 5th 
inst. near Shirburn. Probably all the Little Owls which occur 
now belong to introduced stock, but it is curious that the only 
three Oxfordshire examples of which I have dates were killed in 
the first half of November. This may point to an inclination to 
migrate or wander in autumn. 

Mr. Harvey has been good enough to give me particulars of 
the occurrence of three or more Rough-legged Buzzards in the 
vicinity of Dame Lys Game Farm, which is situated at the foot 
of the hills near Watlington, where there are a good many 
Rabbits, and the country is very open, but wooded on the hill- 
tops. Two were seen about the middle of November, and one of 
them was taken alive on the 18th. Two were again seen on 
Dec. 4th, quartering the ground, and on the 14th one was seen. 
They attacked the Pheasants, but did not appear to kill sen 

A mild month, with a good deal of rain. 

December 1st.—Saw four Herring-Gulls fly over Milcomb 
gorse, low down, going §.W., their usual course in autumn. 

6th.—Very stormy, W.N.W. About forty Peewits in field of 
thin swedes. 

7th.—A Kestrel; worth noting in this month and up to the 
end of February. 

11th.—A Little Grebe, choked by a Bulthead, and picked up 
in the brook near Broughton, was brought to me. They were 
quite fresh. I had great difficulty in getting the fish out; it was 
3 in. long and 2 in. wide across the head. It is curious that a 
Dabchick should attempt to swallow such a fish, but there had 
been a frosty or snowy day or two previously, and the bird may 
have been hard up for food. 

17th.— Song-Thrushes have stopped singing this cold but not 
severe weather. 

24th.—Bullfinches very numerous. 

Zool. 4th ser. vol. XI., September, 1907, 2D 


338 THE Z00LOGIST. 


26th.—Deep snow. 

27th.—Severe frost, 19°; 22°at3.30p.m. Only a few Field- 
fares remain. Larks on the move. 

28th.—The few Fieldfares very tame. There is only a small 
crop of haws this year. Mistle-Thrushes and Blackbirds began 
the holly-berries (of which there is a very fine show) in Novem- 
ber. All birds silent. 

31lst.—Thaw set in. A Bittern shot in an osier-bed between 
Somerton and Heyford. It was a female. Another was shot 
near Faringdon (Berks) the day before. 

Mr. Darbey informed me that he received a Great Northern 
Diver about the 138th inst., which still retained its summer 
plumage. It was shot at Kempsford, near Fairford, not very far 
over our borders. 

A cold snap about the middle of the month, and severe weather 
at the close. 


( 339 ) 


THE BIRDS OF SOUTH CAMBRIDGESHIRE. 
By Apert H. Waters, B.A. 


I WILL commence my account of the Birds of South Cam- 
bridgeshire with a list of those I observed in my boyhood days 
about Downing College Groves and the old Botanic Gardens, close 
by which we then resided. My notes on these are too voluminous 
to copy in full, abounding in observations on the ways of the 
Rooks and other birds enough to fill a book. 

The Birds of Downing College Groves.—The nests I found in 
Downing Grounds in the sixties include Greenfinches ; one or two 
I took for Hawfinches, but remark that I had never been able to 
get a fair view of the bird. The nests are described in my juve- 
nile note-book as being made of small twigs interweaved with 
roots and decorated with lichens off the dead branches. Outside 
they were guarded by a small cheval de frise of stiff twigs from 
thorn-bushes. The eggs were of a grey stone colour, with 
irregular brown markings and a few black dots. 

Chaffinches made their lichen-covered nests in the low trees 
every season. lLinnets and Bullfinches were always to be found. 
I record that I had seen the Lesser Redpoll about Downing 
Grounds, but was unable to say with certainty I had ever found 
the nest. 

Among the other birds I find recorded as nesting in Downing 
Groves are Pied Wagtails and Tree-Pipits. On the ground among 
the long grass, or in a tuft of nettles, were sometimes the neatly 
twisted nests of the Tit-Lark, and I have noted the occurrence 
of the Wood-Lark in the sixties. 

I find in my juvenile note-book a very interesting account of 
a Nuthatch’s nest, and remarks on the ways of the old birds, but 
it is too lengthy for quotation. It is illustrated by a drawing I 
made of the clever way in which the nest was made in a rather 
unusual position. It is the only Nuthatch’s nest I have ever 
seen in this spot, although I have seen the birds about the trees 


on several occasions. 
2d 2 


340 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


I was never able to find a Tree-Creeper’s nest in Downing, 
but the birds themselves I often saw running in mouse-like 
fashion about the trunks of the lime trees, and sometimes I 
noticed young ones with them. This looks as if they did really 
nest somewhere about the grounds, or else in what was then the 
old Botanic Gardens just across Pembroke Street, where the New 
Museums now are. 

With a telescope I have seen a pair of Tomtits fussing about 
an old Rook’s nest, and did not doubt they made their own nests 
there. The eccentricities of the Tomtit are more than I can 
find space for, interesting as my notes are. 

On Sundays it was quite a sight to see the granivorous birds 
flocking over from Downing, attracted by the sweepings of the 
then Corn Exchange opposite. Among them was what we 
schoolboys called the ‘“‘ Writing Lark’’—that is, the Yellow 
Bunting. Indeed, I think there was hardly a more favourable 
spot than this neighbourhood of St. Andrew’s Hill for the study 
of ornithology. At the back of our house was a large garden 
which stretched right away to St. Andrew’s Street, so altogether, 
what with the Whitethroats and Flycatchers, there were few 
small birds I did not make acquaintance with. 

Jackdaws, Magpies, and Starlings were not so numerous in 
Downing as in some of the other colleges with ancient buildings 
and towers. They came more as visitors than for purposes of 
nest-making. But they would have to be included in a complete 
list of the birds’ nests I have seen in Downing, which would run 
as follows :—Rook, Jackdaw, Magpie, Starling, Greenfinch, Haw- 
finch (?), Chaffinch, Linnet, Bullfinch, Wood-Lark, Pied Wagtail, 
Tree-Pipit, Meadow-Pipit, Nuthatch, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Coal- 
Tit, Song-Thrush, Blackbird, Wood-Pigeon. I need not say 
Cuckoos made the Titlarks and some other birds do unpaid 
nursing work for their young ones. 

Birds recorded by me as having been seen, but not, as far as 
I knew, nesting in Downing, were the Raven, Mistle-Thrush, 
Whitethroat, Sky-Lark, Flycatcher, Wren, Robin, Goldcrest, 
Blackeap, and I also record having heard the Nightingale. 

I used to see in those days some birds in the winter-time of a 
kind not likely to be seen in Downing were it not that in the 
then old Botanic Gardens there was a pond to which came 


BIRDS OF SOUTH CAMBRIDGESHIRE. 341 


‘** Pink-footed Geese, more than one species of Wild Duck, Snipe, 
and a Plover or two’ in severe winters. I quote from a 
manuscript ‘‘ Notes on the Birds of Downing College Grounds, 
made in the early Sixties.” In a profession such as ours we 
often had to be out very early in the morning. ‘Then was the 
time to see or hear the birds. Just as it was getting light on a 
March morning the migrants which had been resting during the 
hours of darkness were to be distinguished perching on the trees 
or wall, and preparing to take flight. 

The most interesting notes on the Waders and Waterfowl of 
South Cambridgeshire are to be found in an unpublished manu- 
script which I wrote in my schoolboy days, and called ‘‘ Random 
Notes on the Fauna of a Broadland of the Past.” This ancient 
land of broad and marsh stretched right away from the base of 
the Gog Magog chalk hills to the sea. Beginning at the south, 
there was an ancient broad remembered in the name Fowlmere, 
a village near Triplow. Dernford Fen, up the stream which joins 
the Granta at Grantchester, is another. Then comes Lingay 
Fen, a favourite egg-collecting or nest-observing locality of mine, 
where Lapwings and Plovers bred along with the Meadow-Pipits, 
which made their nests in the numerous tufts of soft rush. 
Then came the fenny tract which, under the various names of 
Sheep’s Green, Coo Fen, and Empty Common, stretched from 
Newnham to the end of the footpath by the side of Hobson’s 
stream, which runs past the Botanic Gardens on Trumpington 
Road. It was a splendid place for observing marsh-loving birds. 

Sheep’s Green consisted then of a series of little meres and 
ponds connected by rushy ditches, in which Sagittaria grew pro- 
fusely. In summer-time the bird-life was best studied by climb- 
ing the trees. In these I found nesting Tree-Creepers, Great 
Tits, Marsh-Tit, and Blue Tit. Once I found the nest and eggs 
of the White Wagtail (Motacilla alba), and I record having one 
day seen a pair in which the male bird was a Pied and the hen a 
White Wagtail. The commonest Wagtail on Sheep’s Green is 
M. lugibris. I record ‘“‘a rarer Yellow Wagtail which I have 
seen once or twice on Sheep’sGreen. This has a blue head, and 
is named Motacilla flava in the ‘Systema Nature’ of Linneus. 
They seem merely casual visitors, and I have not seen them 
attempt nesting. On the contrary, they vanished almost as 


342 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


soon as they appeared.” I also saw Wagtails on Sheep’s Green 
with “‘a distinct white eye-stripe and brown legs and feet, but 
with heads only faintly blue-grey. They are a trifle smaller 
than the Yellow Wagtail, and in all respects except the blue 
heads answer to the description of M. flava. And what is of 
importance, these Wagtails certainly nested, although I cannot 
see much difference between their eggs and those of M. campestris 
or M. raw.” 

I have only one record of the nesting of the Willow- Warbler 
(Phylloscopus trochilus) on Sheep’s Green. This nest was near 
the bottom of a decayed tree, among the rubbish in the partly 
hollow trunk :—‘ As the tree overhung one of the deep ponds the 
nest was neither easy to see nor to get at with safety. The eggs 
were much more decidedly spotted with red than those in the 
nests found on the ground” in other places. 1 have also notes 
of the occurrence of the nest of the Grasshopper- Warbler. 

‘Brown Owls nest in the holes in the tops of the pollard 
willows. ... The handsomest birds are the Kingfishers, but 
they are so persecuted by those who study natural history with a 
shot-gun in hand that they get no chance to lay their eggs, &c. 

‘‘The winter, or even late autumn or early spring, is the 
best time for naturalizing in this spot. Many times then I have 
had the Green all to myself, and could note down or sketch 
numbers of birds not to be seen at other times. On several 
occasions I have seen it flooded, and in its pristine state of a 
mere or broad. Then the Wild Ducks and Geese came to it, 
Teal swam about, the Wigeon was to be seen, and when the 
water had nearly gone off there were Godwits, Curlews, and 
Longshank birds.”’ 

Besides the above, I mention the Green Sandpiper, and in 
the spring the dun-barred Sandpiper or Dunlin, probably on 
migration. Waterhens were then more likely to be seen than at 
the season when the bathers and boaters scared them. Pied Wag- 
tails were to be seen all the winter running about on the bank of 
the river when the Green was a small broad, or the wet grass 
when the floods had gone down a bit; and among them would 
be the dark-footed Grey Wagtail (Motacilla melanope), less 
tolerant of being watched than is M. lugubris. 

There is a tract of what was formerly marsh-land lying 


BIRDS OF SOUTH CAMBRIDGESHIRE. 343 


between Coldham Road and the Stur rivulet, which up to the 
late sixties was full of interest to the ornithologist. It was dug 
over for the phosphatic nodules known as coprolites, and when 
the great pools of water were left ere it was levelled again, which 
was not till later, it looked in winter, or from autumn to late 
spring, like a series of mud-flats when the tide was low. I used 
to delight to walk along the high bank which confines the waters 
of the Stur, and, field-glass in hand, watch the birds on the mere 
like silt-beds ; I never knew what rare bird I might not see. The 
kinds I have noted between autumn and early spring are Snipe, 
Golden Plover, Dotterel, Grey Phalarope, Green Sandpiper, 
Spotted Redshank, Cambridge Godwit (Limosa belgica), Bar- 
tailed Godwit, Black-headed Gull, and Common Gull; Quails 
also came in their season, and Lapwings. Wild Geese and 
Ducks, too, came in winter-time. The Geese were the Grey 
Lag-Goose, White-fronted, and Bean. The Ducks were Sheld- 
Ducks, Mallard, and Pochard. 


344 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


BREEDING OF TREE-SPARROWS AND DUNLINS IN 
CO. MAYO. 


By Rospert WARREN. 


Ir is a very remarkable and interesting fact how steadily 
many of our native birds are extending their breeding haunts 
throughout the country, and into districts where a few years ago 
none of the species had been ever met with as breeding birds. 
For instance, Starlings, Common Gulls, Sandwich Terns, Sho- 
veler Ducks, Tufted Ducks, Dunlins, and Tree-Sparrows; but I 
was nearly forgetting the Common Scoters breeding on Lough 
Erne, while during summer Scaup-Ducks have been observed on 
some of the Mayo lakes; though as yet no nests have been dis- 
covered, they probably will be in the future when searched for 
with greater care. 

The Tree-Sparrows were first discovered in Co. Mayo by Mr. 
Wallace near Belmullet, and later at Kilecummin, near Killala, 
by Mr. C. Scroope, who, with his brother, again visited the 
locality this summer, when they found them breeding in holes 
in the old ruined walls of St. Cummin’s Church (supposed to be 
the oldest Christian church in the province of Connaught). 
They counted fourteen or fifteen birds, old and young, some of 
the latter having only just left their nests. Some time last 
month Messrs. C. and G. Scroope, visiting the old ruined castle 
of Castleconnor, observed a solitary individual about the ruins, 
the first Tree-Sparrow ever seen in this part of Co. Sligo. This 
species was also discovered last summer by Mr. N. H. Foster 
breeding in Co. Londonderry, and this present summer by 
Mr. J. M. McWilliam in Co. Donegal. <A wide extension of its 
breeding haunts since Mr. Blake Knox first discovered it as an 
Irish breeding bird at Dalkey and Baldoyle, Co. Dublin, noted by 
him in ‘ Zoologist,’ 1870, p. 2018. 

This summer Dunlins have bred on a little marsh on the 


TREE-SPARROWS AND DUNLINS IN CO. MAYO. 345 


island of Bartragh, of some ten or twelve acres in extent, and 
situated between the sand-hills and the estuary sands. The 
marsh is covered chiefly by a short sedge, having a few clumps 
of rushes on the wettest parts. Up to the present discovery no 
Dunlins had ever been known to breed or were seen on this | 
marsh in summer, its only denizens being Lapwings, and when 
searching for the nests of the latter the marsh has been 
walked over in all directions for many years past up to August, 
1901. Since that date—also that of the death of my much 
regretted and valued young friend the late Mr. A. C. Kirk- 
wood—it has not been searched for nests. But it is evident 
that it is some time subsequent to that year that the Dunlins 
have come to the marsh, for previous to the present dis- 
covery their nearest breeding haunt was a wide extent of flat 
wet bog on the Glenmore Hstate, near Crossmolina, Co. Mayo, 
twelve to fifteen miles from the sea, on which a few pairs 
were observed, but only one nest with eggs, found by Mr. 
J. F. Darling on May 17th, 1882. It was by the merest chance 
their haunt was discovered, for on July 1st I accompanied 
Mr. Scroope and his brother in my boat to Bartragh, to visit 
the great Arctic Tern haunt at the end of the island, and 
when proceeding there Mr. Scroope, walking through the marsh, 
flushed a Dunlin from the sedge, but after half an hour’s search 
failed in finding a nest. We then went on down to the Terns, 
which we found as numerous as ever, at least a thousand pairs 
having eggs or young. 

On our return, Mr. Scroope, again walking through the marsh, 
flushed the Dunlin, but after a long search again failed to find 
the nest. 

Thus, so far, our search was a failure, but, not wishing to 
be beaten, I suggested trying Wolley’s plan of dragging a rope 
held by two persons along the ground, others walking behind to 
mark when any birds rose from the rope as it passed over them. 
Captain Kirkwood, kindly lending a rope, we set to work, making 
a sweep along one side of the marsh, but without result. Turn- 
ing, we made another sweep alongside the first, and had not 
gone thirty yards when a bird rose from a nest and four eggs, 
almost from under Captain Kirkwood’s feet, after the rope passed 
over it. Taking the eggs, we continued the sweep, and not 


346 THE ZO00LOGIST. 


twenty yards from the first nest another bird rose before the 
rope from a nest, also with four eggs. Thus, having obtained 
all we wanted, and proved that the birds bred there, we aban- 
doned the search, highly pleased with our discovery. 

There may have been other nests about the marsh, but these 
birds rose silently, and, flying away about a hundred yards, 
stood quietly watching us. We saw cnly these two birds, so 
probably their mates and those of any other sitting birds were 
away feeding on the sands, which were bare at the time. 


THE GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION OF THE LAND- 
BIRDS OF THE BANDA ISLANDS. 


By J. R. McCuymont. 


THe Banda Islands are situated between eight and nine 
hundred miles to the west of the line of division between the 
Indian and Australian Regions which passes between Celebes 
and Borneo. The facies of the avifauna of Banda is therefore 
Australian. Halcyon chloris may be less characteristically 
Australian than the other birds of the islands, but as the King- 
fishers are quasi-cosmopolitan, and as the range of Halcyon 
chloris extends from Africa to Polynesia, its presence in the 
Banda Islands is not significant. At least four of the genera 
which are represented in Banda are typical Australian genera, 
namely, Rhipidura, Monarcha, Pachycephala, and Myzomela. 

The islands of the Banda Sea (with the exception of Letti 
Kisser and Wetter, which are in the Timor Group) constitute 
the Ceram Subgroup of the Moluccan Group; the principal 
units of the Subgroup are Buru, Amboyna, the Banda Islands, 
Ceram, Ceram Laut, Goram, the Matabela Islands, Kur, the 
Tiandu Islands, the Ké Islands, the Tenimber Islands, Babar, 
and Dama. The Banda Islands are eight in number, and con- 
sist of four central islands in close proximity one to another— 
Lonta or Great Banda, Banda Neira, Gounong Api, and Pisang ; 
together with several small islets—Rozengain, about ten miles 
distant to the south-east of the central group; Wai, at an equal 
distance to the west; Rhun, about eight miles almost west by 
south from Wai; and the islet of Suangi or Manukan, about 
seventeen miles nearly north by east from Rhun. 

When the Banda Islands are named in this paper as the 
habitat of certain species, the central group only is contemplated. 
On Great Banda and Banda Neira the trees of greatest import- 
ance are the kanary tree, and the nutmeg tree which was intro- 
duced into the islands by the Dutch in the seventeenth century. 


348 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


This list of the birds of the islands and summary of their 
geographical distribution are based upon the collections made by 
Dr. Wallace, and by the scientific staff of H.M.S. ‘ Challenger.’ 
Dr. Wallace visited Banda in December, 1857, May, 1859, and 
April, 1861, and collected eight species, namely, Rhipidura squa- 
mata, Pachycephala pheonotus, Myzomela boiei, Zosterops chloris, 
Pitta vigorsit, Halcyon chloris, Ptilopus xanthogaster, and Carpo- 
phaga concinna. H.M.S. ‘Challenger’ visited the islands for a 
few days in September and October, 1874, and during her 
sojourn examples were obtained of Rhipidura squamata, Monarcha 
cinerascens, Pachycephala pheonotus, Myzomela bower, Zosterops 
chloris, Halcyon chloris, and Carpophaga concinna.* 

Three other species, namely, Edoliisoma dispar, Eos rubra, 
and Chalcophaps chrysochlora, are recorded as Banda species in 
the ‘Catalogue of Birds in the British Museum.’+ The total 
number recorded is therefore twelve, which may be thus ar- 
ranged :— 

PasseRES.—Campophagide : Edoliisoma dispar, Salv. Musci- 
capide: Rhipidura squamata, Mill. and Schl.; Monarcha ciner- 
ascens, Temm. Laniide: Pachycephala pheonotus, Mull. Meli- 
phagide : Myzomela boiei, Mull. Zosteropide : Zosterops chloris, 
Mull. Pittide: Pitta vigorsi, Gld. 

Picartm®.—Alcedinide : Halcyon chloris, Bodd. 

Psrrract.—Loriide: Hos rubra, Gm. 

CotumBa.—Treronide: Ptilopus xanthogaster, Wagl.; Carpo- 
phaga concinna, Wall.; Peristeridee: Chalcophaps chrysochlora, 
Wael. 

Mr. H. O. Forbes, who visited Banda in 1882, relates that he 
saw traces of Cassowaries which had been introduced into Banda 
from New Guinea.{ The sea-birds which are recorded from the 
Ceram Subgroup are Sula fiber (S. sula, Linn.) Sterna bergu, 
S. anestheta, and S. melanauchen. 

The geographical distribution of the land-birds is as fol- 
lows :— 


* P.Z.S., 1878, p. 83. 
+ Vol. iv. p. 46; vol. xx. p. 25; vol. xxi. p. 612. 
; ‘ Wanderings of a Naturalist in the Eastern Archipelago,’ p. 287. 


LAND-BIRDS OF BANDA ISLANDS. 349 


EDo.LiisoMa DIspaR (Ké Caterpillar-eater). 
Edoliisoma dispar, Salvad., Ann. Mus. Civic. Genov. xii. p. 329. 
Ceram Group: Banda, Goram, Manavoka, Matabela Islands 

(Tiur), Ké Islands. 


RaIPIDURA sQuaMATA (Scale-breasted Flycatcher). 
Rhipidura squamata, Miill., Verh. Land-en-Volkenk. p. 189 
(1839-44). 
Papuan Islands: New Guinea, Waygiou, Salwatti. Ceram 
Group: Banda Islands. 
Food.—Insects. 


MonarcHa CINERASCENS (Ashen Flycatcher). 
Drymophila cinerascens, Temm., Pl. Col. iii. 480, fig. 2, 1827. 
Celebes Group: Celebes, Sula Islands. Timor Group: Kisser, 
Timor. Ceram Group: Amboyna, Banda Islands, Goram, Tiur, 
Ké Islands. Gilolo Group: Gilolo, Ternate, Batchian, Tifori. 
Papuan Islands: Aru Islands, Mysol, Mefur, New Guinea, Kchi- 
quier Islands, Admiralty Islands, Duke of York Islands, Fead 
Islands. 

Food.—Insects. 

An example from Kisser in the Dresden Royal Zoological 
Museum may be a local variety.* 


PAcHYCEPHALA PHmONOTA, S. Mull. (Brown-backed Thickhead). 


Myiolestes phaionotus, Mill., Mus. Lugd. Bonap. Consp. 1. 
p. 858 (1850). 


Mefur, Waygiou, Salwatti, Mysol, Ternate, Mareh, Motir, 
Tifori, Banda, Ceram Laut, Dama. 
Food.—Insects. 


Myzometa Borer, 8. Mull. (Boié’s Honey-eater). 
Nectarinia (Myzomela) boiet, 8. Mull., Verh. Land-en-Volkenk. 
p-. 172 (1839-44). 
Banda Island. 
Food.—Insects have been found in the stomach of a dis- 
sected specimen ;+ the bird probably consumes nectar also. 


*« A,B. Meyer, ‘ Ueber neue und ungeniigend bekannte Vogel, Nester 
und Hier aus dem ostindischen Archipel.’ p. 22. 

+ ‘Report on the Scientific Results of the Voyage of H.M.S. Challenger.’ 
Zoology, vol.ii. ‘ Report on the Birds Collected.’ By P. L. Sclater, p. 66. 


350 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


ZostERors cHtoris, Mull. (Banda White-eye). 
Zosterops chloris, Bonaparte, Consp. Gen. Avium, i. p. 398 
(1850), ex S. Mull. MSS. in Mus. Lugd. 
Banda Island, Buru.* 
Food.—Insects. 


Pirra vicorsr, Gld. (Vigors’ Pitta). 

Pitta vigorsit, Gould, ‘ The Birds of Australia,’ vol. iv. pl. 2 
(1848). 3 

Dammer (Damar), Banda Islands, Timor Laut. 

The geographicai distribution of this bird is involved in some 
obscurity. Gould separated the species from P. brachyura as the 
result of his examination of a specimen in the collection of the 
Linnean Society, which, he believed, might have been obtained 
on an island off the north coast of Australia, and adds that the 
species was said to inhabit Lombok.+t Von Rosenberg indicates 
Sumbawa and Australia as habitats.t Schlegel states that the 
only specimen in Holland was presented to the Royal Museum of 
Natural History by Prof. de Vries, and that it was not known 
from what island it was obtained. § 


Haucyon cHtoris, Bodd. (White-collared Kingfisher). 
Alcedo chloris, Bodd., Tabl. Pl. Einl. d’Aubent, p. 49 (1788). 


Abyssinia, India, Burma, Andaman Islands, Nicobar Islands, 
Cochin China, Sumatra, Banea, Billiton, Java, Borneo, Labuan, 
Luzon, Panay, Marinduque, Guimares, Negros, Sebu, Bohol, 
Leite, Dinagat, Mindanao, Kamiguin, Basilan Palawan. Timor: 
Babar, Letti, Flores, Solor, Sumba, Sumbawa, Lombok. Celebes: 
Sula Islands, Siao, Sangir. Ceram: Buru, Amboyna, Banda, 
Goram, Timor Laut, Dawalur, Luang. Gilolo: Ternate, Bat- 
chian, Obi, Mysol, Aru Islands, Gagie (Gag.), Pelew Islands, 
Vaté (New Hebrides). 

The dietary of this Kingfisher includes crabs, fish, and earth- 


** H. O. Forbes, op. cit. p. 410. 

+ ‘ Handbook to the Birds of Australia,’ ii. p. 527. 

{ ‘Overzigtstabellen voor de Ornithologie van den Indischen Archipel.’ 
p. 3. 

§ ‘ De Vogels van Nederlandsch Indié, Het Geslacht Pitta,’ p. 14. 


LAND-BIRDS OF BANDA ISLANDS. 351 


worms.* Eggs have been collected in Labuan and at Akyab in 
Burma.t+ 


Kos rusra, Gm. (Long-tailed Scarlet Lory). 
Psittacus borneus, Gmelin, ‘Systema Nature,’ 1. p. 318 (1788). 
Eos rubra, Wagler, Mon. Psitt. p. 558 (1832). 
Ceram, Buru, Amboyna, Haruka, Banda, Ceram Laut, Goram, 
Matabela Islands, Kur, Ké Islands (Ké Dulan). 
Food.—Seeds, insects, and nectar. 


PrILOPUS XANTHOGASTER, Wagl. (Orange-breasted Fruit Pigeon). 

Columba xanthogaster, Wagler, Systema Avium, Columba, 
sp. 29 (1827). 

Banda, Kur, Ké Islands, Timor Laut, Dama, Letti, Lesser 
Sunda Islands, Ladrone Islands (G. R. Gray). 

Food.—Probably wild fruits. 


CaRPOPHAGA coNCINNA, Wall. (Mace-eating Pigeon). 

Carpophaga concinna, Wallace, Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. (2), 
xx. p. 473 (1857) ; ‘Ibis,’ 1865, p. 383, No. 52. 

Aru Islands, South Celebes, Sangir, Ceram, Buru, Amboyna, 
Banda, Ceram Laut, Goram, Panjang, Matabela Islands, Kur, Ké 
Islands (Ké Dulan), Tenimber Islands, Dama (Riedel), Lesser 
Sunda Islands. 

Food.—Fruit. 


CHALCOPHAPS CcHRYSocHLORA, Wagl. (Little Green Pigeon). 

Columba javanica, Temm., ‘ Pigeons,’ 1811, pl. 26. 

Columba chrysochlora, Wagl., Syst. Av., Columbee, 1827, sp. 79. 

Timor, Letti, Wetter, Banda, Kur, Ké Islands, Timor Laut, 
South-eastern New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Northern to Eastern 
Australia, Lord Howe Island, New Caledonia (Nu, Port de France), 
Lifu, Maré, Aneiteum, Aniwa, Krromango, Tanna, Vaté, Ambrym, 
Mallicolo, St. Bartholomew, Santo, Api. 

Food.—Seeds and berries. The eggs of the Little Green 
Pigeon have been described. t 

* A. B. Meyer in ‘ Zeitschr. fiir die gesammte Ornith. 1884,’ p. 276. 
Schlegel, ‘ Vogels Ned. Ind. de Ijsvogels,’ p. 27. 

+ ‘Catalogue of Birds’ Eggs in British Museum,’ iii. p. 41. 

} Campbell, ‘ Nests and Eggs of Australian Birds,’ p.679. ‘ Catalogue 
of Birds’ Eggs in British Museum,’ i. p. 103, 


352 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


NOTES AND QUERIES. 


MAMMALIA. 


White-sided Dolphin (Lagenorhynchus acutus, Gray),—On July 22nd 
I picked up a skull on the Bottom Shore, Fanet, Co. Donegal, which 
Dr. Scharff has identified as that of this rare Dolphin. It was fortu- 
nate that I was on a picnic excursion on the day in question, and had 
a car close by, otherwise I fear I should never have carried the treasure 
seven long miles home. The spot was a little east of Bailywhorriskey, 
at the mouth of Mulroy, on sands that are only tide-swept in heavy 
storms. One or two natives of whom I made inquiries had paid no 
attention to the object, and had no idea to what “fish ’’ it belonged. 
Dr. Scharff referred me to ‘Irish Naturalist,’ vol. ix. p. 89, of which 
passage Mr. Lyster has kindly made a copy for me :—‘‘ This Dolphin 
is probably the rarest of all the Irish species of Cetacea, and has never 
been taken on the English coast. .... It was noticed near Portrush 
some twenty-five years ago by Mr. Ogilby, and duly recorded in 
‘The Zoologist.” More recently Mr. Barrett-Hamilton procured a 
lower jaw of this Dolphin on the Wexford coast, and presented it 
to the Dublin Museum”; to which National Collection I have had 
the pleasure of presenting my find also. It is a northern species, 
captured also in Orkney, in the British Isles, on two occasions at 
least, as mentioned in ‘ Bell.’—H. C. Harr. 


AVES. 


Nesting of the Lesser Redpoll (Linota rufescens) in Sussex.—I 
have no doubt that the Lesser Redpoll has nested here this year. On 
Aug. 22nd young birds were being fed at The Budletts, Maresfield, 
and while engaged in watching them I discovered a small nest among 
the topmost branches of a slender birch tree. The following day (the 
23rd) I solicited the aid of my young nephew, Richard Gilbert, who 
very quickly secured the nest for me, and which I cannot think to be 
other than that of a Redpoll. I do not know to what extent the 
Lesser Redpoll is now known to nest in Sussex, but Mr. Borrer 


NOTES AND QUERIES. 308 


(‘ Birds of Sussex,’ p. 184) does not admit it as a breeding species in 
the county.—Rosert Morris (Uckfield, Sussex). 


Plumage of the Young Cuckoo.—Till recently I was at a loss to 
understand what might be meant by a young Cuckoo “of a dark blue 
colour ”’ (¢7. Zool. 1898, p. 4381), but on Aug. 2nd one of this type was 
brought to me. It was hatched in a Pied Wagetail’s nest in some 
creepers on a house in this village, and was found dead soon after 
leaving the nest, having evidently flown against a window or a tree. - 
The upper parts are dark greyish blue, with the feathers narrowly 
edged with white, and there is a good deal of white on the head. 
Compared with a young bird of the ordinary rufous colouring, it looks 
like a Hobby by the side of a Kestrel. —Junian G. Tuck (Tostock 
Rectory, Bury St. Edmunds). 


Little Owl (Athene noctua) in Hertfordshire.—During 1906 several 
specimens of the little Owl were both seen and obtained in the 
northern part of Herts. The first case to come to my notice was of 
one being killed at Offley in January, and later one was observed at 
Pirton. On Sept. 20th a keeper shot one at Stevenage, at about 
five o’clock in the afternoon. This bird was brought to me, and is 
now in my collection. It proved on dissection to be a female, but is 
in very bad plumage. I have since heard from the same keeper that 
there are some more Little Owls in the neighbourhood, and that they 
have taken to an old tree covered with ivy ; if this is the case it would 
be reasonable to suppose they have nested here. — Stuart Map.es 
(‘‘ Kingsbury,’’ Stevenage). 


Little Owl in Bedfordshire.—I believe that it may interest some of 
your readers to know that a specimen of the Little Owl was seen near 
Sandy, Bedfordshire, last month. I was returning from a walk along 
the high road when I noticed the bird perched on a telegraph-wire 
close to the pole. It allowed me to approach within about five yards, 
and then slowly took flight to the centre of a large elm tree standing 
in the adjacent field, where I saw it alight about forty yards away. 
This occurred on Saturday, Aug. 3rd, and I should have informed you 
before this time of the event had I believed it to be of sufficient im- 
portance. I was going over the collection of birds at Newcastle-on- 
Tyne recently, and chanced to mention the fact to the curator, who 
assured me that the bird was sufficiently uncommon to make it worth 
while writing to you on the subject. I am sure the bird in question 
was the Little Owl, as I have excellent eyesight, and have collected 


) 


Zool 4th ser. vol. XI., September, 1907. ; 20 


354 THE 4ZOOLOGIST. 


all the birds that inhabit every corner of East Aberdeenshire. I 
possess stuffed specimens both of the Little Owl and the Scops Hared 
Owl, but the bird I saw was certainly the former. — Doveuas AINsiiz 
(26, Mount Street, Grosvenor Square, W.). 


Scops Eared Owl in Ireland.—A male was caught at the lantern of 
the Fastnet Lighthouse on the night of the 6th May. The bird was a 
male in beautiful plumage and condition, and is a rare visitor to 
Ireland, only seven examples having been recorded.—W. J. Wiiuiams 
(2, Dame Street, Dublin). 


Montagu’s Harrier (Circus cineraceus) in Ireland.— A male in 
transition plumage from the immature to the adult was trapped on a 
Grouse-moor in June near Sallygap, Co. Wicklow. It was nailed up, 
With other vermin, on the keeper’s cottage, and was in an advanced 
state of decomposition before reaching me for identification. It is 
very curious that all the nine recorded captures of this rare Species in 
Ireland have occurred in two counties—Wicklow and Wexford; five 
were taken within an area of ten miles, at different periods, in Co. 
Wicklow, and three in Co. Wexford. Two young birds were shot near 
Gorey, September, 1899, and an adult male in May, 1890.—W. J. 
Wituiams (2, Dame Street, Dublin). 


Supposed Breeding of the Rough-legged Buzzard in Cornwall 
(ante, p. 284).—The statement in the last issue of ‘ The Zoologist,’ on 
the authority of Trathen and Harris, that the Rough-legged Buzzard 
bred in Cornwall to about 1850, should not be allowed to pass without 
a protest, especially as it has already been made in the recently issued 
volume of the ‘Victoria History of the County of Cornwall.’ Sixty 
years ago little was known as to the distribution of this bird in the 
breeding season, and Hewitson, in the ‘ Supplement to British Oology’ 
(1842), describes it as ‘‘an abundant species in some of the extensive 
forests of Germany,’’ and adds that he noticed several in the wilder 
parts of Baden and Wirtemberg (sic). Now, there is nothing remark- 
able in the fact of a northern species, whose southern limit extends to 
the south of Germany, breeding in the British Isles; go that the 
naturalists of those days may perhaps be excused for their somewhat 
easy credulity in accepting the rather unsatisfactory records of the 
nesting of the species in Great Britain, especially as undoubted speci- 
mens were not infrequently secured during the winter months, and the 
Common Buzzard was then much more numerous than it is now, and 
might easily be mistaken for it. Thomas Edward’s assertion that it 
bred near Banff in 1864; J. Smith’s statement that it nested repeatedly 


NOTES AND QUERIES. B05 


near Ash Hay Gill, about three miles from Hackness, Yorkshire; aad 
the old records of Trathen and Harris from Cornwall are in all proba- 
bility due to confusion between resident Common Buzzards and stray 
Rough-legged birds shot in autumn or early spring. B. lagopus is a 
subarctic species, nesting in the north of Scandinavia, and in Norway 
on the high fjeld beyond the tree limit, down to about 592° N. lat., 
and also in the extreme north of Russia. It does not breed in the 
south of Scandinavia or Finland, nor in the Baltic Provinces or East 
Prussia ; so that the cases in which it is supposed to have bred in 
Pomerania and West Prussia must be regarded with suspicion. The 
whole case as regards the British records is parallel with the sup- 
posed breeding of the Bean-Goose in Scotland, which proved on 
investigation to be equally unreliable, owing to confusion with an 
allied species.—F’. C. R. Jourpain (Clifton Vicarage, Ashburne, Derby- 
shire). 


Osprey (Pandion haliaétus) in Ireland.—An adult male was shot 
near Drogheda on May 1st by a gamekeeper, who forwarded it tous as 
a Buzzard. The testes were large, but no other bird was seen, 
although a sharp look-out was kept. It is a pity this harmless species 
is molested, but as this particular keeper looks after the fishing as 
well as the game, he promptly destroyed it as a poacher, having seen 
it take a two-pound Trout, which it was in the act of eating when 
shot.—W. J. Winuiams (2, Dame Street, Dublin). 


Bird-Notes from the Wilsden District.—In spite of the past season 
having been of an exceptionally severe character, there has not been, 
with the exception of one or two species, any very marked decrease of 
our summer visitants to this district. The Swallow is said to have 
arrived on April 3rd, but not seen again until the 19th. The Wheat- 
ear and Ring-Ouzel also arrived early, but the bulk of migrants was 
decidedly later in their arrival than in average years. The most 
striking ornithological feature of this district in recent years has been 
the enormous increase of Thrushes during the breeding season ; 
especially is this the case as regards the Mistle-Thrush and Song- 
Thrush. Not many comparatively of the latter remain through the 
winter. One, however, came to our garden for two years in succession, 
and was very tame, feeding close to the feet of one of my daughters 
who was most assiduous in her attentions to its gastronomic require- 
ments, which were of no ordinary character. Nothing seemed to come 
amiss in its bill of fare—rice-pudding, calie, and bread appeared to be 
equally relished, and was carried to its young, as it remained to breed 


B06 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


in the neighbourhood, which is quite exceptional in the economy of the 
species. For a number of years we have been accustomed to provide 
food for birds in our garden, but this species is usually very limited in 
its bill of fare—much more so than the Blackbird—and will not eat 
bread except when pressed with hunger. The Nightjar has bred here 
this season more commonly than in any former year. One of our 
gamekeepers showed me a nest with four eggs, evidently the produce 
of two females, as the eggs were in pairs, two being much smaller and 
quite different in shape from the others, but whether introduced by 
human agency will ever remain a mystery. It is with some satisfaction 
that we have to record again the nesting of the Hawfinch, and, what 
is still more gratifying, that more than one brood has been brought off. 
We were asked to go some distance to identify a strange bird which had 
been picked up wounded beneath the telegraph-wires, and found it to 
be this species, which the owner gave me. In a few days it became 
quite tame, as it was allowed free use of a room for an hour or two 
each day, and would come out of the cage and eat hazel nuts, of which 
it was very fond, at my feet. It was fonder of these nuts than even 
green peas, and had a curious method of opening the pods of the latter. 
After about a fortnight of ‘‘durance vile’’ it was given its freedom 
in the garden, and allowed itself to be caught once or twice, but in a 
very short time it rose almost perpendicularly into an ash tree at the 
bottom of the garden, after which it made an escape on vigorous wings 
to a sycamore tree at some distance. In a garden on the edge of 
Bingley Wood, Cuckoos were very abundant this last spring, feeding 
upon the larve of the gooseberry moth. I had a very near view from 
the kitchen, and for some time they must have fed almost exclusively 
on this food, as they were in the garden from early morning ‘‘ to dewy 
eve,” if any dew can be said to have been deposited here this year. A 
Hedge-Sparrow was laying its eggs in a nest built in a whin a few 
yards away from this garden, and we were curious to note whether one 
or more of the Cuckoos would deposit their egg in the nest in question, 
but they did not avail themselves of this opportunity. We have never 
known of an authentic instance of this sort in the immediate district 
for fifty years. My son Rosse and I were walking on a heathy waste 
near Bingley Wood when our attention was arrested by a Ray’s Wag- 
tail having food in its mouth. As we were certain of its having a nest 
in the vicinity, we watched the female for some time without success. 
We both thought, owing to its being the rendezvous of Cuckoos for 
miles around, that possibly this species might have been selected as its 
dupe; so we determined to find the nest, and for this purpose we 


NOTES AND QUERIES. 307 


changed our venue for observation to a considerable distance. No 
sooner had we done so than we saw one of the parent birds fly near 
to a large boulder amongst the heather, and immediately fly away, and, 
on going to the place, we found the nest in the heather, with nearly 
fledged young. This is the second instance in this district of the 
species having selected such a nesting-site; a patch of bent-grass lay 
near this site, which appeared to bea much more suitable place for its: 
nest. 

Just when commencing to write these notes a relative called out 
to me to come into the garden and see a beautiful bird, which we 
found to be a Chatftinch, and, although there was an abundance of 
small seeds, it was hunting for insects nearly all the time we watched 
it. It came very near to us, and did not mind us in the least; it 
was a male bird of the year. A female bird of this species visited 
this garden almost all last winter—a rather unusual thing. To see 
how confiding the species can become if undisturbed during the 
breeding season, one should visit Bolton Woods, a seat of the Duke of 
Devonshire in Wharfedale, where they feed upon scraps of food at 
your feet, and will actually alight and hop about on the table pro- 
vided for visitors at Strid Cottage without manifesting the slightest 
fear, which has of late become quite an attractive feature to visitors of 
this place.—E. P. Burrerriexp (Wilsden). 


IIIS) (Uh isc 


Large Eel in the Hampshire Avon.—Some years ago a gentleman 
interested in fishing doubted if an Kel a yard in length was procurable 
from the river, and offered a sovereign for one of the length named. 
Some little time elapsed before such a fish was caught, but eventually 
two of the desired dimensions were obtained. On the morning of 
August 29th a man who has the superintendence of the Hel-stage at 
the flour mills showed me an Kel which had been caught during the 
previous night, ‘‘running,’’ I suppose, before the moon rose. Its 
weight was seven pounds, and I measured it as follows: three feet 
five and a half inches in length, and ten and a half inches in girth in 
the thickest part of the body, about eight inches from the head; a 
large specimen undoubtedly, but I understand not a record for the 
river, as two or three about the same weight have been taken in the 
immediate neighbourhood of Ringwood, and one or more larger and 
heavier near Christchurch. It is a well-known fact that Kels—like 
many other kinds of fishes—have decreased very much in numbers 


308 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


of late years. I suppose in ancient times they were more abundant, 
and considered quite as valuable as at present, for in documents as old 
as ‘Domesday’ we read of mills having been rented by payment of 
Eels caught in the river; and, if we may draw an inference from the 
amount chargeable, the higher reaches of the stream were more pro- 
ductive than parts nearer the sea, as, from an extract quoted in Wise’s 
‘New Forest,’ we find that Charford (Cerdeford) mill, between Salis- 
bury and Fordingbridge, was rented at lds. and 1250 Hels, but the 
mill at Ibsley (Tibeslei), a few miles farther down the river, had 
a vental of only 10s. and 700 Kels.—G. B. Corin (Ringwood). 


( 859 ) 


NOTICES OF NEW BOOKS. 


The Birds of Kent. By Writt1am J. Davis. J. and W. Davis, 
Dartford. 


Tuts book does not lend itself to detailed comment or review. 
It is the first attempt at dealing with the birds of the whole 
county, and must be of a somewhat pioneer character, for the 
area of Kent is moderately large and varied, and the observers— 
at least, those made use of by Mr. Davis—are not numerous. It 
is probable therefore that, however useful this book is, and will 
be to all bird-students of the county, very much more still 
requires to be done in the way of observation and locality, 
though its census is likely to be nearly adequate. 

We are glad to read that Alcedo ispida is not scarcer ‘‘ to any 
appreciable extent’ than it used to be in Kent. In Surrey, near 
the western borders of Kent, the Kingfisher is probably increas- 
ing in numbers, especially along the course of the Mole. With 
many of the birds, however, the author has not brought the 
narrative up to date. The pages of ‘ The Zoologist ’ seem to have 
been little consulted, and so many records have been missed 
which would have added tone to the volume, and it therefore only 
provides a sketch rather than a detailed account ; in fact, there is 
available material for a work of twice the size. 

We have not much fault to find otherwise, but there is one 
striking lack of proportion in biological comparison. Writing 
on Lucustella nevia, Mr. Davis states ‘‘ the note of this bird 
resembles that of a grasshopper.” The Orthoptera stridulate by 
special organs, and the sound they produce cannot be described 
as notes in the sense of the song or notes of birds. 

Birds I Have Known. By Arntuur H. Bravan. T. Fisher Unwin. 

Tuts is a chatty book about birds which the author has seen 
in various parts of the world, chiefly of common species which 
the average globe-trotter may expect to meet with. The orni- 
thologist will scarcely find original observations in such a volume, 


360 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


but the general reader can peruse its pages perhaps with greater 
advantage than he would those of a more scientific character. 
One of the most interesting incidents detailed is that of a vast 
flock of ‘‘a kind of grey petrel’’ seen in about 40° south, 
and about a thousand miles east of the Cape. They could be 
seen for about eighteen miles in every direction, and the sailing- 
ship took six hours to get clear of them with a steady 53-knot 
breeze. The doctor, ‘‘ who was a bit of a calculator,” estimated 
that they were in the centre of a circle of birds thirty-six nautical 
miles in diameter, or a square of thirty-six miles—+.e. 1306 
square miles—or 4,079,108,160 square yards; and, as each 
Petrel, clear of its neighbour, occupied about three square yards 
of water space, that would give 1,359,702,720 individuals. 

The illustrations are of an exceedingly middle-class descrip- 
tion. . 


Fishes of Australia; a Popular and Systematic Guide to the 
Study of the Wealth within our Waters. By Davin G. 
Strap. Sydney: W. Brooks & Co., Limited. 


Tuts is a well-illustrated popular book in the best sense of 
the word. ‘‘ Of over twelve thousand species of fishes at present 
known, about one-tenth have been recorded from the waters of 
Australia.” It has not been attempted to deal with the whole of 
these, but rather to give a comprehensive view of the fauna, and 
we think Mr. Stead has succeeded. The illustrations are good 
and ample, and the small book well fills a gap. The letterpress 
has been compiled with care. 


‘HERBERT Ww. MARSDEN, 
ATURAL HISTORY AGENT AND BOOKSELLER 
38, TRIANGLE West, CLIFTON, BRISTOL. 


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p Heads, Horns. &c., mounted for trophies. Rugs made up, &c. 

Send stamped wrapper for Ornithological Catalogue for 1905; Shell Catalogue, &c. 


N.B.—Mr. Marsden’s large stock of Insects is now made up into many useful 
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WATKINS & DONCASTER, 


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Norns AND QurERtEs :— 

Mammatia.—Variety of Badger, H. H. Forrest, 382. Melanie Short-t t 
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(Linota rufescens) in Kent, Percy F. Bunyard, 383. An Albino Roc 

~G. B. Corbin, 383. Little Owl (Athene noctwa) in Bedfordshire, J. Stee 
Ellhott, 384. Variety of Coot’s Eggs, and Others, G. B. Corbin, 385. Rut 
near Chester, A. Newstead, 386. Sandwich Tern in Norfolk, Rev. Julian 
Tuck, 386. Nesting of the Lesser Tern (Sterna minuta) in the Outer 
Hebrides, Percy F. ‘Bunyard, 386. White Ringed Plover, J. Whitaker, 
387. Food ofthe Black-headed Gull, EH. P. Butterfield, 387. Little Auk i n 
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ArAcHNIDA.—Chelifer cancroides (Linn.) in Manchester (with illustration), G. 
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Pe AOL OG ST 


No. 796.—October, 1907. 


SOME HOLIDAY NOTES FROM BREYDON. 
By Arruur H. Patrerson, A.M.B.A. 


My summer holidays, correctly speaking, start when the 
schools break up—when the slums and alleys and wandering 
children are for a time forgotten in my perambulations among 
the mud-flats and the vagrant birds that haunt them. All other 
days, too, that I can spare to visit Breydon are holidays. 

Turning over the pages of my ‘ Note-book,’ a few entries 
strike me as being of sufficient interest to include in this series. 
The persecution of the Coots* driven out from the frozen broad- 
lands went on well into February; my entry for Feb. 4th is as 
follows :—‘“‘ Coots still about Breydon, many miserable creatures 
hopping about on one leg from shot-broken limbs. Poor 
wretches!” 

The smallest Pink-footed Goose I ever saw was killed at 
Buckenham during the second week in February. I regret I 
was unable to take its dimensions. About two hundred Wigeon 
visited Breydon, March 9th. 

On March 31st I was sailing across the submerged ftats 
when I observed a large Gull busily engaged on some long white 
object, which I soon made out to be a large Hel as thick as 
my wrist. I got almost within punt’s length of it before it re- 
luctantly took to wing, when I pulled the defunct fish into the 
boat ; its head had been picked to pieces, a process undoubtedly 


* Of. ‘Zoologist,’ ante, p. 85. 
Zool. 4th ser. vol. XI, October, 1907. 2F 


362 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


begun the day before by a Heron, who found it ‘‘ too large an 
order ”’ to swallow. I showed it to the watcher, who envied me 
my possession, and it afterwards, accompanied by onions, made, 
he tells me, ‘‘a rattling good dinner” for him. 

A young Spoonbill most obligingly alighted on the edge of a 
flat in front of my houseboat, and started a thorough over- 
hauling of his already spotless plumage. With my glasses in 
one hand and a pen in the other, I knelt in my stern-sheets, 
using my hatch for a desk, and roughly dashed on a slip of 
waste-paper six very unorthodox attitudes, which no sane taxi- 
dermist would ever dare display in setting up a specimen. The 
accompanying illustrations, taken in less minutes than in 
number, are probably the only ones ever secured under similar 
circumstances. This was on May 11th. 

On May 12th, fifty-two Grey Plovers—beauties! dropped in. 

The manners of a Cuckoo, restlessly flitting about near the 
railway, not far from my houseboat, attracted my attention on 
May 18th. Fromits mouth depended a large black object which 
I have little hesitation in deciding was a slug—one of those big 
ditch-side prowlers, Avion ater; it seemed much too large to 
swallow, and I hoped, by harassing its captor, it would drop it 
for my especial edification, but I was disappointed. It would be 
interesting if if could be proved beyond a doubt that Cuculus 
occasionally preys on Limacide. 

Several Knots ‘‘in the red’’ of spring-time visited Breydon 
on the 25th. The watcher assured me that on the 13th a flock 
of between fifty and sixty came to the flats ; a rare thing nowa- 
days, for this bird which visited us in the spring in large flocks 
in the sixties very rarely puts in an appearance on the spring 
migration. 

I saw two very immature Spoonbills on June 7th. The visits 
of this species were very few during the season. The congre- 
gating of Starlings on the prostrate Zostera at low water, on 
their hunting trips for mudworms and stranded crustaceans, was 
a marked feature this year. 

During the early part of August the Black-headed Gulls spent 
much of their time picking mudworms (Nereis) out of the ooze. 
They are very quick in snatching out the luscious worm, often 
running to the edge of the ‘‘drain”’ in order to wash it. I tried 


SOME HOLIDAY NOTES FROM BREYDON. 363 


SPOONBILL’s TOILET. 


364 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


the birds with some fish-bones, not half-picked by myself, but, 
although many came quite close in order to satisfy their curi- 
osity, they utterly ignored them and hastily resumed their 
worm-catching. 

On the 13th they (the Gulls) and the many Common Terns 
then frequenting Breydon had a rare afternoon’s profitable sport 
in picking up small Herrings (syle) stranded in numbers on the 
flats left by the receding tide before they could ‘‘ draw down ”’ into 
the channel, and into comparative safety. 

A most unusual number of Common Terns used Breydon all 
through August, many of them birds of the year, and with them 
now and again small lots of Arctic Terns were seen. On easterly 
winds, when the water is ‘‘ sheer”’ (t.e. very clear), the fish swim 
lower, and are more alert. On such occasions the Terns fished 
with greater impetuosity, often throwing themselves into the 
water from a height of fifteen feet, submerging themselves all 
but their primaries and half of the tail. Their frequent hover- 
ing, after the manner of Kestrels, and their Gannet-like plunges, 
were exceedingly interesting to watch. Terns are wonderfully 
pugnacious. Sometimes they quarrelled among themselves, and 
every stray Rook that crossed Breydon was set upon most 
energetically by some spirited bird, who chased and harried the 
corvine until both would be almost lost to sight overhead, each 
one endeavouring to get above the other. 

On the 21st (August) two or three Terns flew past the watcher’s 
boat, wherein I stood watching them, accompanied by several 
Black-headed Gulls ; these imitated the smaller birds both in 
hovering and endeavouring to go below the surface, and clumsily 
as they performed this attempt, I noticed on several occasions 
they secured a small Herring. The fish, owing to the water 
being muddled and thick, swam nearer the surface. Mimicry 
of action is not a strong point with different species, but in 
this instance it was not only entertaining but profitable to the 
Gulls. Never did I see one, among the many Terns present, 
alight on the water; they do not appear to like wet feet. They 
will rest and preen themselves upon the drier muds, but prefer 
to settle on some inverted basket or other stranded object, and 
will crowd together ona bit of stump or timber. Scores remained 
with us until the shooting began on Sept. 1st, when many a one 


SOME HOLIDAY NOTES FROM BREYDON. 365 


who reckoned himself a sportsman made common cause against 
them. Scores were slain ere the remnant took the hint to go 
south ; those killed were eventually thrown in the refuse-box as 
useless. 

I was sufficiently interested in some plump young Herrings 
we captured one day in the watcher’s Smelt-net to dissect them, 
and found their stomachs packed with Opossum Shrimps. 

The Greenshank very much interested me this summer, and 
hardly a day passed but its clear ringing notes were heard on 
Breydon. Mostly in twos and threes this species haunts the 
rond-corners, where little pools and small runs afford easy cap- 
tures of small crustaceans and worms. The Greenshank is a 
restless, impulsive creature, and runs its sturdy mandibles in 
quick zigzag fashion in the shallow water, forming a con- 
tinuous series of figure 8’s without a break, differing in these 
respects from the Redshanks, which prefer usually to keep to 
the ooze and probe for mudworms, forming also figure 8’s, but 
separate and complete. The Redshanks also like to pick up 
with dainty action crustaceans stranded among the semi-marine 
vegetation. 

One afternoon I observed a Greenshank feeding, hopping on 
one leg as it proceeded. Watching it for some time, I naturally 
came to the conclusion that it had lost one leg by accident—by 
a gun-shot perhaps; but suddenly the hitherto hidden leg shot 
out, and the bird industriously scratched its head! It flew 
towards another of the same species, which itself was actually 
hopping on one leg; and they hopped in concert! From sub- 
sequent observations made, I feel safe in saying, I think, that it 
is a feature with the Greenshank, and practised more from 
caprice than necessity. Herring-syle, which this species might 
easily have captured this season, was not sought for by it. On 
one occasion I observed a Greenshank playing with a small 
Herring, finally dropping it as if half-reluctantly, and resuming 
its worming. 

Curlews visited us in some numbers late in August, and one 
evening, at closing-in time, fully two hundred came to an adjoin- 
ing flat. I wish this noble bird could be absolutely and entirely 
protected. We have lost the Avocet, and some other erstwhile 
British-breeding birds. Why not make sure to preserve this 


366 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


quaint and favourite species? Why wait until it shall verge on 
extinction ? 

Late in August, I one day crept up a bank and peered over 
into a marsh, up one low-lying corner of which was a puddle not 
twenty feet in circumference. I was delighted to see in and 
around it nine Redshanks, one Greenshank, three Lapwings, 
three or four Gulls, three Ringed Plovers, and three huge farm- 
horses, around whose legs some of the birds stood airing their 
freshly-washed clothes. Such a little ‘‘ happy family ” was, to 
me, intensely interesting. 

I watched two young and stupidly tame Knots on Aug. 30th, 
which fed within a few feet of my punt as I lay observing their 
tactics. This sluggish bird feeds in a very leisurely way, probing 
the mud less than half a bill’s length, and swallowing a captured 
mudworm with a shaky little movement of the head without 
bringing it to a level with its shoulders. And while the pert 
Ringed Plover scours over a superficial acre of ooze, the Knot is 
content in probing an area that might be covered with a blanket. 

On Sept. 18th, hundreds—some five hundred at least—of 
Starlings were busily feeding and squabbling on a low part of a 
Breydon marsh, smothered with the purple Michaelmas daisy. A 
gunner, who let two barrels into them, secured two dozen, mostly 
young birds with dingy brown heads. Being interested to know 
for what purpose they had congregated, I purchased a number 
and dissected them, finding their gizzards crammed with a mass 
of matted stuff which resembled cocoa-nut fibre, which on sepa- 
rating resolved itself into scores of legs of the ‘‘daddy long-legs”’ 
(Tipula) ; the softer bodies and the wings (if they actually swal- 
lowed them) were reduced to an indefinable pulp. A number of 
Hydrobiide and Shorehoppers (Orchestia littorea), with some 
beetles, and in one instance a winkle, were the only other objects 
I discovered. The huge number of these destructive pests the 
Starling must make off with ought to be favourably noticed by 
the farmer and the gardener, the latter of whom might forgive it 
the few mulberries it manages to pilfer from his trees. 


(1367 *) 


OBSERVATIONS TENDING to THROW LIGHT own tHe 
QUESTION or SEXUAL SELECTION in BIRDS, IN- 
CLUDING a DAY-TO-DAY DIARY on toe BREEDING 
HABITS or tHe RUFF (MACHETES PUGNAX). 


By Epmunp Sexouvus. 


(Concluded from p. 182.) 


April 30th, 1906.—In the course of this record I have more 
than once had occasion to mention a certain bird of very dis- 
tinctive appearance who seemed to have no settled abiding-place 
of his own, and was constantly getting into the way of other male 
birds by lying crouched in their particular quarters, from which, 
when occupied with the Reeves, they endeavoured, by frantic — 
peckings and draggings—but by no means always successfully— 
to expel him. An incident witnessed by me on the morning of 
the above date, and several times repeated, throws a new and 
unexpected light on the significance of this bird’s behaviour, but, 
in regard to it, I shall only here say that in its essential nature 
it somewhat resembled one which will be well known to students 
of ant-life, the theft, namely, habitual and premeditated by a 
certain parasitical or ‘‘ guest’’ insect, living in the nest, of a 
drop of honey which is in the act of being given by one ant to 
another. Passing to the afternoon, there was considerable fight- 
ing between several Ruffs on one side of the ground for the favours 
of some Reeves who had repaired there. Two of these birds 
were successful in their pretensions, but it did not appear to me 
that their success was due to superior prowess on their part, for, 
in this respect, all seemed much alike. Simply the Ruffs fought 
and the Reeves chose, but the general result of the commotion 
and storm was to bring nuptial matters to an end in this quarter, 
the Reeves going over to the brown bird, who stood on the oppo- 
site side of the gathering-ground, with whom they likewise entered 
into conjugal relations. In this, I speak of the Reeves as a body, 


368 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


but, there being several of them, I was unable positively to say 
whether the same individuals attached themselves, in this 
manner, to‘two or more birds in succession. Later, however, I 
saw a clear instance of polyandry on the part of one Reeve, at 
any rate, and there were signs of it, also, in others. The Reeve 
in question went twice from one Ruff to another—the same two 
in both cases—and the nuptial rite was performed with each in ' 
turn. The greater severity of the fighting was also, to-day, very 
noticeable. I also made the discovery of what seems to be 
another and much smaller meeting-ground. Some five or six 
Ruffs stood there in quite the characteristic manner, and strained 
up and whisked their wings forward when any other bird flew by. 
This they would do though the flying birds were far off. Once, 
indeed, I could not see them, but the action is too characteristic 
for its cause to be matter of doubt. Looking through the 
glasses, I did not recognize these birds, so that possibly we may 
have here a smaller independent gathering. If so, however, 
it will be contrary to the opinion of those who should best know 
these breeding-grounds. 

May 1st.—I was down at 8 this morning, but have nothing 
special to note. It was the same scene as yesterday, but up to 6, 
when the cold and discomfort drove me out, not nearly so pro- 
nounced. At first the Reeves showed a marked preference for a 
certain bird—a star that has lately risen—which I may eall the 
black Ruff, since his ruff is of that colour, or at least dark. This 
bird was very active and vigorous, darting about and fighting, or 
ready to fight, with any others; but whether he was more so 
than several of these others, with whom he several times 
encountered, I cannot say. It is easy, of course, to make his 
success with the Reeves the criterion of this, and to say he was— 
but that is to argue in a circle. It must be remembered that, 
during the first two or three days of the pairing—as far as I saw 
it—this bird had not obtained favour. The Reeves had then a 
most decided preference for a certain brown Ruff, and, after him, 
for another whose ruff was of a blue, or bluey-black, colour. Both 
these birds are fine, handsome males, but neither of them have 
made themselves especially pre-eminent as fighters, and the 
brown one, especially, has shown a strong predilection for the 
particular spot where he always stands or sits. If worried, or 


SHXUAL SELECTION IN BIRDS. 369 


apprehensive, whilst paying his attentions to the Reeves, he 
would make a rush or two, usually in one direction, against birds 
on the outer part of the territory, that I have not seen pair— 
the nuptial plumage, indeed, of several of these is not yet much 
advanced. On one or two occasions I have seen him come into 
collision with the other favoured Ruff, whose place is next his, 
but though these few encounters—I can only recall two—were 
brisk and spirited, they were only of some seconds’ duration, and 
seemed to be equal, or rather negative, in regard to results. In 
fact, though a powerful bird and equal, probably, to anything 
that may come in his way, he seems, for a Ruff, to be of rather 
a peaceable disposition, and is also more sedentary than any of 
the others. Much the same may be said in regard to the blue 
bird—who is also very fond of keeping still in his place—though 
his contests, in the last few days, owing to the chance of his 
position, have been more numerous. Though generally holding 
his own on these occasions, I certainly cannot say that he has 
done so more than several other birds with whom he has fought, 
and to all of whom he has been, till lately, preferred. There 
are, for instance, two, a good deal like himself—especially one— 
but from whom he is easily distinguished by the very striking 
character of his creamy head-plumes, and another black, or 
dark-ruffed one—not the favourite that I have mentioned—who 
seem to be quite his equals, and with the two first of whom I 
have seen him have several short fights, wherein he gained no 
apparent advantage. If there is a difference, however, I should 
say that he was not quite the equal in prowess of these birds,* 
and not so active as one of them—the black-ruffed one aforesaid, 
who seems a very energetic bird. Yet none of the three, nor 
any other bird except the brown, and now the successful black 
one, have had anything like the favours that have been accorded 
to him. 

In the early days I was struck by the way in which the 
Reeves repaired to this bird, and, still more markedly, to the 
brown one—by neither of whom, most certainly, have they, in 


* Such an opinion, however, is of little or no value. The fact is that the 
fighting is not sufficient, or sufficiently sustained for this point (of which 
so mucli is made by those who ignore the real one, the power of the hen, 
namely) to come out. 


370 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


any sense of the word, been won by fighting, or by any kind of 
physical activity—whilst leaving all others neglected. Then 
came coitions, far less frequent, with three or four other birds— 
perhaps six in all, I do not think more—and now this black- 
maned lion has become, apparently, the favourite, for the 
Reeves—it was so yesterday, and has been so again this morn- 
ing—go to him before they do to the brown or the blue one. 
Still, they have never abandoned these, and, as far as numbers 
are concerned, there have never been more at the disposal of 
this later fancy than at that of the brown bird, at any rate. 
Yesterday they came down to the latter in a little crowd, and 
this morning it was much the same thing, though he paired less 
often than yesterday, or usually. Hn, however, was not for 
want of invitations. 

How does the case stand then—as far as it is possible to 
follow anything so long, so intricate, and which one can only 
observe at intervals, and not from beginning to end? Jf the 
black-ruffed bird won the Reeves through his fighting qualities— 
of which | have not seen sufficient evidence—yet, most assuredly, 
neither the brown- nor the blue-ruffed one did. Yet these two 
were chosen first, during a comparatively quiet period, when 
fighting was not nearly so much in evidence as now; so that, 
having secured harems before anyone else, they should be the 
fathers of a good many first broods, which, by having been 
hatched early, would allow their mates good time in which to 
lay again; and, moreover, it seems but reasonable to suppose 
that they would secure a certain number of other Reeves later. 
This ought to make their characteristics predominant in the 
descendants left by the community in that particular year, and 
if there were only the same Ruffs and Reeves during following 
years, the process, it seems likely, would be continued, for, even 
if old attachments were not remembered, the tastes which had 
produced them would, in all probability, remain the same. 
Should new birds, however, join the community, this might 
introduce a disturbing element, but I cannot learn from inquiry 
that the number of the Ruffs on these shore-lands is increasing 
from year to year. I cannot help thinking, myself, however, 
that, as the Ruffs are undoubtedly polygamous, so are the Reeves 
polyandrous—in fact, that there must be promiscuity, though 


SEXUAL SELECTION IN. BIRDS. a71 


perhaps to a lesser extent in the one sex than in the other. Yet 
this, to go by what I have seen, would hardly complicate the 
question of sexual selection. For instance, though all the 
Reeves were to pair with all the Ruffs, yet those to whom they 
first united themselves would be more likely to become the 
parents of the first brood of young than any of the others would 
be, and so would have the best chance of transmitting their 
qualities, unless, indeed, the intervals between the first and sub- 
sequent unions were of very short duration, and this, according 
to my observations, was far from being the case. After the 
hatching-out of the first brood it is reasonable to suppose that 
the Ruffs by whom any Reeve had been first attracted would 
prove attractive to her in the same degree again, or, at any rate, 
would have a better chance of being first chosen. 

The reasons which make me think that all or most of the 
Reeves have paired with all the Ruffs that have been chosen 
amongst them are the following :—First, there is the definite in- 
stance which I have already mentioned. Secondly, I have seen 
the wish and intent expressed by other Reeves, either through 
direct solicitation or general deportment. Thirdly, this morning 
—and I have noted it several times before—the pairing took 
place, first, on one part of the ground, with the black-ruffed bird 
especially, and then, considerably later, on another part, with 
the brown bird especially. As the Reeves did not stay on the 
ground during the whole interval, I cannot be sure that they 
were the same in each case, but they came back in a way which 
makes me think they were, and their numbers were the same or 
about the same. I cannot help thinking, therefore, that they 
were the same individual Reeves. Again, if it were a different 
batch of Reeves that went to the brown Ruff, say, and to the 
black and other new ones, in a different part of the ground, why 
should the time for these visits have changed ? Why should the 
same batch, to put it another way, go to a certain bird—an old 
favourite—at a later time than they used to, if they went to him 
only ? Would they not be likely, after the recuperation of their 
sexual energies during the night, to feel, as they did before, an 
early inclination, and gratify it accordingly ? But if, as I 
suspect, the same birds go in batches from one Ruff to another, 
then the rotation of their visits would be according to the strength 


372 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


of their inclinations, and we can understand a new fancy taking 
precedence of an old one. Lastly, the largest number of un- 
doubted Reeves that I have seen on the ground, together, has 
been thirteen, which, with one away, that I remember, makes 
fourteen. If we suppose these to be all the Reeves, and if each 
Ruff that pairs here has a harem, then, allowing six apiece for 
the brown and the blue one—nor do I think it can be less—this 
only leaves two between the other four or six.* But the black 
Ruff’s harem must now, I should think, amount to six also, or, 
at any rate, to four. Without promiscuity, therefore, the num- 
bers would not be sufficient, and even if there be twenty-two 
Reeves, which is the largest number of Ruffs I have been able to 
count on the ground, this would still only leave ten between the 
four or six birds other than the brown and blue ones. Though 
I cannot feel sure about it, therefore, it seems to me more likely, 
on the whole, that the Reeve distributes her favours amongst 
several males. This, at any rate, is very clear, that the male 
Ruff does not take pains to collect Reeves together, and guard 
them against rivals. Only in exceptional circumstances have I 
seen anything like jealousy, and even to these, indeed, the word 
could hardly be applied. The Ruffs, in fact, do not really seek 
the Reeves. Rather they are sought by them, and when they 
have done with them they seem quite indifferent as to where they 
go or what they do. The two Ruffs with which the Reeve | have 
spoken of paired successively were quite close together, yet 
neither of them made the least objection, nor is anything more 
noticeable than that, as a general rule, to which there are but 
few exceptions, pairing Ruffs are not interfered with by others. 
Neither do the Reeves show jealousy, though it would be im- 
possible to be more jealous than female birds can be. The 
general look of things, in fact, suggests promiscuity. 

It was this morning that I saw the longest fight between two 
Ruffs that I have yet witnessed. I cannot say precisely how 
long it lasted, not having taken out my watch until some time 
after it had begun, but it was certainly, I think, under five 
minutes. These birds fought like demons, and, at the end, 
I noticed that the white ruff of one of them was crimsoned, here 


* T have reason to think that the breeding operations of both the sexes 
are confined to one meeting-place. (See pp. 369, 377.) 


SEXUAL SELECTION IN BIRDS. 373 


and there, about the throat. Yet neither of the two, as far as I 
can judge, have yet united themselves with any Reeves, nor have 
the latter made any advances to them. They have never done 
anything more, in fact, than dance about at their posts, whilst 
more fortunate males were being chosen on other parts of the 
ground. Nor were any Reeves near them at the time of this 
fight—at least I did not see any, though some were present. 
These and similar facts incline me to believe that though the 
fighting of male birds in the breeding-time is, in its origin, on 
account of the female, yet that it has now a tendency to develop 
as a separate factor. 

May 2nd.—Down at about 6.30, much too late, but in time 
to see two clear cases of selection on the part of as many Reeves. 
The first one walked up to the black-ruffed bird—latterly so 
much distinguished—and touched him on the head with her bill. 
During the performance of the nuptial rite which followed upon 
this, three Ruffs, any one of them entirely a match for the chosen 
bird, stood close by, turned towards it with heads bowed in 
that strange set attitude which (as well as the quite prostrate . 
one) Ruffs habitually assume in the presence of the Reeve, 
and which indicates strong sexual feeling. There were also 
several other Ruffs more or less near. It was impossible not 
to be very much struck with this. These three birds were 
all wooers of any Reeves who came to that part of the ground, 
and had actually been so, if I mistake not, of this very one, 
on the way to the Ruff of her choice. They were rivals, in fact, 
yet they stood thus submissive to the choice of the Reeve. I 
know not, at any rate, what other interpretation to put upon 
their behaviour, and, if it be the correct one, it certainly bears 
witness, in a remarkable manner, to the truth of Darwin’s views, 
those views which have received so little justice in the only way 
that justice can ever be done to them—that of careful and pro- 
longed observation. 

Coming to the second example of selection on the part of a 
Reeve—the second, I mean, this morning—in this instance the 
choice, though quite as apparent, was not so successfully made. 
The Reeve in question walked down towards a fine brown-ruffed 
bird whose head-plumage was of a deep chocolate colour, ap- 
proaching to black. On her way she was courted by a fine and 


374 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


very active and vigorous black-ruffed bird, but with him she 
would have nothing to do; but, after pausing a little and turning 
her head with a curious expression that, immediately preceding, 
as it did, her further onward course, had remarkably the appear- 
ance of an adverse decision, she went on to the other one, to 
whom she unmistakably manifested her partiality. The rival 
Ruff, however, now ran up, when a scuffle of no duration, and 
having no particular result, ensued between the two. They were 
then again separated, and the Reeve, going up to the same bird, 
invited him as before, but still more markedly. But again the 
black Ruff intervened (this was before the rite had begun, or was 
actually on the point of beginning), there was another scuffle, 
and, as the result of this, he retreated. Here then was a very 
decided case of partiality—twice shown—and the bird chosen 
was the victor in the second encounter—in my opinion as the 
direct result of the favour bestowed on him.* Now, then, one 
might have expected to see the rite consummated, but these 
scenes, apparently, had not been to the taste of the Reeve, and 
after standing, for a little, with a hesitating demeanour, she flew 
off. Disturbal had influenced her more than the victory of the 
bird for whom she had shown the most unmistakable preference. 
Theoretically devoted to ‘‘ vigour,” it had not attracted her even 
when favourable to her desires. In all probability, however, 
she would not have acted in the same way, in the quite early 
morning, but later, after the first saturnalia, the Reeves, as I 
have often noticed, are much more modest in their deportment, 
and the Ruffs themselves show less ardour. Such times are 
often more favourable for detecting the true actions and motives 
of the female than when these are more apt to be obscured by 
the general commotion and excitement that obtain. 

In the afternoon I am at the watch-house about 4. There 
is a considerable amount of activity, nine or ten Reeves 
being sometimes on the ground together, the Ruffs varying in 
numbers from about that to some fifteen. Of these only four are 
paid any attention to by the Reeves, viz. the brown, the blue, the 
black, and the brown-ruffed and black or chocolate-headed bird 

** A bird’s energy in battle is in proportion to the impulse from which it 


springs, and this factor is of such importance that it needs a great deal of 
physical inequality to nullify it. 


SEXUAL SHLECTION IN BIRDS. 375 


of the last-mentioned incident. The selection on the part of the 
Reeves is most evident. They take the initiative throughout, 
and are the true masters of the situation. Quiet and unobtrusive 
as they are, compared to the Ruffs, their whole manner betrays 
conscious power. When several are crowded together the effect 
of this is much lost, as is natural, but it is often very marked 
with single birds. Though there are some dozen cases of coition, 
there is not one of interference during the act itself, one only 
immediately preceding it. Acquiescence in the Reeve’s choice, 
by every other bird on the ground, is the general and marked 
feature.* My statement as to the three Rufis who, this morning, 
so prominently exemplified this law, being all equal, as fighters, 
to the favoured rival, was fully borne out by the fighting between 
all four of them this afternoon. The brown-and-black Ruff, too, 
seemed inferior, if anything, to the black one whom he defeated 
in the morning, though, to be sure, that was a small affair, and 
so were these. Short tussles, in which one bird desists before 
the other, rather than is defeated by him, are the common 
feature. Prolonged, envenomed fights are rare. 

Later on, the second of two coitions was interfered with, 
almost in the act, by a Ruff that ran from the other end of the 
sround. This was a bird who had received no notice, himself, 
from any Reeve. Such cases are very rare. 

May 3rd.—On the spot about 5 a.m. It was raining and 
blowing as I walked down, and soon came on to pour. This 
weather seemed to affect the birds. They were more erratic, I 
thought, ran about more widely, got more out of their places. 
Pairing took place, but not freauently, whilst I was there. I 
only saw it with two Ruffs, the usual all-brown one, and another 
of the brown-ruffed birds, with black or deep chocolate-coloured 
head, who stands on the opposite side of the ground to where the 
other one, who has paired before, does. This is a fine, well-made 
bird, who has ruffled, and fought before any Reeve that came 
near him, day after day, with the rest. But all this has been of 
no avail, and until now, when a Reeve comes deliberately to him 
and may be said to court him, he has never entered into nuptial 
relations whilst under my observation, nor, as I feel sure, at all. 
He can fight, too, as far as I can see, as well as another, but 


* Cf. also ante, pp. 293 and (1906) 424. 


376 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


fighting, or the capacity to fight, has done nothing for him—he 
has had to wait until chosen. Nor can he have been chosen as 
the most vigorous bird, for not only is he not specially dis- 
tinguished in this way, but, as the Reeves have not, hitherto, 
come much into his neighbourhood, he has had no particular 
opportunity of showing such extra vigour, did he possess it. 
Why, then, has he been chosen? All I can say is that he is a 
handsome bird, but this he has been all the time. But without 
a doubt, as it appears to me, and whatever the motive, on each 
occasion, may be, it is the Reeves who choose the Ruffs, and to 
them, and not to the latter, belongeth power. The very fact 
that the Ruffs have places where they stand and wait till the 
Reeves come to them—for a few dartings about over the course 
do not nullify this general truth—that they do not leave their 
end of the ground, when the Reeves are not there, and establish 
themselves at the other end, where they are, is almost, of itself, 
proof of this. The whole scene and course of events would be 
different if it was a mere matter of the hardest-fighting birds 
getting the greatest number of Reeves, and of the Reeves being 
won inthisway. But, as far I can see, things could not proceed 
on this rude principle. It would be a mere chaos, hardly to be 
settled. Nature has worked it out much better. The Reeve, 
most undoubtedly, both has and habitually exercises the capacity 
of choosing, and her presence and personality affect the Ruffs 
in such a manner that her choice is generally respected. Hven 
if, on any occasion, it is not, she has only to wait for another 
opportunity, nor can she ever, I believe, be made by force to act 
against her will. If unduly pressed or annoyed she can always, 
and often does, fly away. She is supreme, in fact, on the 
pairing-ground, but the position of the Ruffs is a far less satis- 
factory one. They have to await her good pleasure, and if the 
majority do not wait for it altogether in vain, as seems probable, 
they must do so, at any rate, judging by what I have seen, for a 
very considerable time. 

I have now found the second Ruff pairing-ground, or, if the 
smaller place that looked like one be really so, the third. Of its 
existence I have been convinced for some time, but, hidden 
always in my dark observatory, it is only on this last day that I 
have had time to do anything outside it. However, here it is, 


SHXUAL SELECTION IN BIRDS. 377 


almost as large as the other, and lying, like it, amongst pieces 
of cut turf that have grown to the soil, having, in fact, just the 
same characteristics and appearance. During the time I watched 
it—lying flat on the ground at only a short distance—there were 
some ten or twelve Ruffs there as a maximum, but, more often, 
from five or six to seven or eight. Of Reeves there were, at one 
time, some eight or nine, but usually only one or two, or three 
or four—quite as peopled, therefore, as is the other resort at a 
similar hour. Here, again, I saw good evidence of the power of 
refusal possessed by the Reeves, for when pestered by Ruffs that 
they did not want, on their becoming too obstreperous, they, on 
several occasions, flew off. At length, however, at about 5.30, 
one of them walked over, in a way not to be misunderstood—or 
that I, at any rate, cannot now mistake—to a Ruff at the further 
side of the ground, who had been the least forward of any, 
choosing him out of, perhaps, half a dozen, and nuptial relations 
would certainly, thereupon, have been entered into had it not 
been for the backwardness of the Ruff itself. This Reeve, how- 
ever, stayed by him, at first alone and then in company with 
some three or four other Reeves that subsequently flew in, and 
between one of this group and the Ruff in question coition was 
ultimately effected. I have little doubt, myself, that it was with 
the Reeve who had first singled him out, but, in any case, this 
bird had shown her partiality quite plainly before. To my eyes 
this particular Ruff—a stranger to the ground I have watched— 
seemed, rather, the plainest than the handsomest of those pre- 
sent. Closer inspection, however, showed that he had a full 
and ample ruff of speckled black and silver or silver-grey, with 
velvet-black head and head-plumes, and a face the naked skin of 
which was of a delicate greenish shade. Perhaps, therefore, 
though there are showier birds, this one is more esthetically 
handsome. His ruff is really a very fine one. Here, then, is 
one more case of marked predilection on the part of the female 
bird. 

This second pairing-ground is some three hundred and eighty 
paces from the other one, and almost in a straight line with it. 
As said before, it is almost if not quite as large as the other, 
and has the same appearance of having been habitually used by 


the birds year after year. It accounts for many new birds which 
Zool. 4th ser. vol. XI., October, 1907. 26 


378 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


I have latterly seen at the old place, for, as I have remarked 
during the course of this afternoon, though each one has its 
more special habitués, they each fly from one to the other. This 
of course takes away all value from the fact of several very 
handsome Ruffs, as they seem to me, never having paired with 
any Reeve on the ground which I have been watching—or my 
never having seen them do so, to speak more precisely. They 
were not at their own club, so to speak, but merely visitors from 
another one. At this other one, where I have already seen 
several of them, they may be in as much request as the brown, 
blue, or black-maned birds have been here. And yet there is no 
particular reason why they should be. Since the males of this 
species differ so greatly from one another,‘there is no general 
type of coloration which might indicate a standard of taste, and 
why should the average Reeve’s taste conform to our own ? 
Moreover, our own would differ, but if we try to imagine an 
average one and compare it with that of. the birds whose elections 
I have seen, the remarks which I have already made on this head* 
seem to me to apply. On this part of the subject, however, I do 
not wish to lay much stress. Much more evidence would be 
needed before, upon such observations, alone, one could arrive at 
any certain conclusion, and moreover it is clear to me that, if 
election is made by the female bird at all, it is made, in large 
measure, through the eye. But the Reeves do choose, they do 
make election, of that I have had clear evidence repeated again 
and again. ‘Their partialities are as real as our own, and they 
are not founded on the fighting powers of the bird that is the 
object of them, nor yet made inoperative through these. What, 
then, is the exact significance of a pugnacity which does not 
appear to be of use to the male in proportion to the extent to 
which it has been developed in him? ‘To answer this question 
it may be necessary to look to the past as well as to the present, 
for both are equally the province of evolution. That Ruffs, at 
one time, fought more and courted less, and that they will, as 
time goes on, fight still less and court still more, does not seem 
to me an altogether improbable supposition, in view of the state 
of things at present existing, for with much fighting—though less 
than is generally imagined, and rather collectively than indi- 


* Cf. ante, pp. 165-6. 


SHXUAL SHLECTION IN BIRDS. 379 


vidually—there seems but little need of it, and with every evidence 
of susceptibility, on the part of the Reeve, something yet seems 
wanting in the display of the male. I could almost imagine 
that, natural selection having first brought about the larger size, 
protective plumage and hard carunculated skin of the latter, 
sexual selection had more recently got to work on all three. 
What, in fact, could be a more potent solvent of masculine war- 
like prowess, as a factor in courtship, than an increasing 
supremacy of the will of the hen, which, not being influenced by 
such prowess, gradually rendered it nugatory ? To this solvent, 
as it appears to me, the hardy virtues of the Ruff are in course 
of yielding. His fighting, more particularly when it has directly 
to do with the Reeve*—when her presence is the immediate 
cause of it—seems the outcome of a generalized state of excite- 
ment to which actual achievement bears no very fixed relation. 
For the most part it is vagrant, desultory, nor does it last long. 
Furthermore, the birds either do not hurt each other at all, or 
but very little, so that a remark made by the authors of an 
interesting paper on the sexual relations of spiders, to which I 
have before referred (ante, p. 210), would apply almost as well 
here. It is this:—‘‘ The males were rushing hither and thither, 
dancing opposite now one female and now another. Often two 
males met each other, when a short passage of arms followed. 
The males were very quarrelsome and had frequent fights, but - 
we never found that they were injured. Indeed, after having 
watched hundreds of seemingly terrible battles between the 
males of this and other species, the conclusion has been forced 
upon us that they are all sham affairs, gotten up for the purpose 
of displaying before the females, who commonly stand by inte- 
rested spectators.’’ It is something like this with the Ruffs. 
Some influence seems at work to turn into mere pageantry the 
crim reality of war. I do not say that the battles—even the 
shortest—are fictitious—far from it—or entered into with any 
conscious idea of display, merely, nor have I observed that the 
hen bird seems specially interested in them. But the stream of 
evolution seems to be running in this general direction. The 


* Tt has appeared to me—and the fact would be significant—that these 
characteristics are less marked later in the season, when the hens, being all 
sitting, do not come to the ground at all. 

2Ga2 


380 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


scene, speaking generally, is of the following description : Some 
dozen or so of Ruffs are standing or sitting—often dozing— 
together, quite amicably, on their pairing-ground. Enter a 
Reeve. There are prostrations, rufflings, bustlings about, dart- 
ings hither and thither over the course, with occasional short, 
sharp encounters, and out of the whole of this the Reeve, quite 
coolly and as if she knew her business, picks her bird. With 
this object of her choice she, as a rule, can and does unite her- 
self. If she cannot she flies away. Another time her object 
will be accomplished. Nothing has been gained by the un- 
favoured rivals let them have blustered and skirmished ‘‘ never 
so.” She is not to be compelled, she is not to be intimidated, 
her caprices cannot be overruled. Thus, practically, she has 
the power, and it is along the lines of an increasing recog- 
nition of this fact on the part of the Ruff that things, as I 
believe, are advancing. This would lead to more and more reli- 
ance being placed by the male on the power of pleasing the 
female, and less and Jess upon the likelihood of winning her by 
force. 

As already intimated, I have seen no evidence of the Reeve 
being impressed by the fighting qualities, or by the ‘‘ vigour,” 
as such, of the male, or that these are elements of paramount 
importance in his courtship. In saying that a bird notably 
deficient in this way, and of a sluggish temper in general, is 
likely to suffer through such defects, I say all that the facts, 
so far as they have fallen under my observation, warrant me in 
saying, which is surely not much, for such a bird loses much 
more through not being a brisk suitor than by being a dull 
fighter. The above, however, if we exclude birds not yet in 
full plumage, and whose position, on that account, is altogether 
subsidiary, is almost a supposititious case. With one or two 
doubtful exceptions I have seen no mature-looking, full-plumaged 
Ruff of the sort. What I have seen strong and sustained 
evidence of is that the Reeve has the full power of choice, and 
that she exercises it in such a manner as to make it evident 
that she chooses this or that bird for himself, for something 
about him, that is to say, by virtue of which she likes him 
better than another, either always or at this or that time. I 
believe that this something is, in the main, his appearance, 


SEXUAL SELECTION IN BIRDS. 381 


and that in so far as vigour may be a selected quality, it is 
selected only incidentally to this, which, however, would often 
be the case. 


In conclusion, I would urge that the facts here brought 
forward by me, in regard to four different species of birds, are, 
both singly and cumulatively, strongly in support of Darwin’s 
second great hypothesis of sexual selection, and I believe that, 
as denial from the chair is replaced, or supplemented, by 
evidence from the field, the views of that great naturalist 
and reasoner will be triumphantly and often most strikingly 
vindicated. 


382 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


NOTES AND QUERIES. 


MAMMALIA. 


Variety of Badger.—In ‘The Zoologist’ (1904, p. 227) I described a 
variety of the Badger in which all those parts which are normally black 
were of a pale brown colour. A similar animal was recently trapped in 
Hawkstone Park, Shropshire, where there is a large and old-established 
earth containing more than one pair of Badgers. In this example, 
however, the eyes were pink, although the animal could not be styled 
an albino.—H. HK. Forrest (Hillside, Bayston Hill, Shrewsbury). 


Melanic Short-tailed Vole——On my way to Norfolk I stopped at 
Hly, and bought a half-grown specimen of the above species. It was 
of a pure jet-black. As animals of this colour are much rarer than 
either cream or white, its occurrence is of much interest to collectors 
of varieties. It was caught in a mowing-field near the city on July 7th, 
1907.—J. Wurraxer (Rainworth Lodge, Notts). 


Daubenton’s Bat (Myotis daubentoni) in Hertfordshire—On Sept. 
21st I saw several Daubenton’s Bats on the Grand Junction Canal in 
the neighbourhood of Grove Mill, near Watford. I am not aware of 
any previous Hertfordshire record, but this Bat is probably not un- 
common in suitable localities, and has merely been overlooked.— 
Cuas. O_puam (Knutsford). 


AVES. 


Status of the Grey Wagtail.—In ‘The Zoologist’ (ante, p. 151) 
Mr. W. H. Parkin asks for information relating to the status of the 
Grey Wagtail (Motacilia melanope) in the north. In Wensleydale, 
Yorkshire, a pair of Grey Wagtails are to be found by most of the 
larger becks running into the River Ure, and M. melanope is fairly 
common, though local, by the River Ure itself. Last summer I saw 
a small party of eight by one of the falls at Aysgarth, and this con- 
stitutes the largest number I have seen at one time in the same locality. 
I think that M. melanope is slightly decreasing in numbers; to what 
this is due I cannot say. The Grey Wagtail occurs in Wharfedale, 
where it is local and not very numerous. In the neighbourhood of 


NOTES AND QUERIES. 883 


j Leeds I have noticed it in the spring and autumn when it is migrating 
up and down Airedale respectively ; a few also spend the winter a little 
to the south of Leeds. In Wensleydale both the Pied and Yellow 
Wagtails occur, but the Pied, though common, is far exceeded in 
numbers by the Yellow Wagtail, which is very generally distributed ; 
this is contrary to my experience of M. rai round Leeds, where I have 
found it to be local and far from common.—S. Hotz (Rocky Bank, 
Belle Vue Road, Leeds). 


Nesting of the Lesser Redpoll (Linota rufescens) in Kent.—My 
inclination to place this species in the category of a rare breeding bird 
for the county is based on many years’ experience in ornithological 
work among the birds of the hop-country, having resided there the 
greater part of my life, and though having many friends still resident, 
who have done likewise, it is a significant fact that not one of us had 
a single authenticated record of these birds ever having bred. It has 
now fallen to my lot to record three nests, all of which are of recent 
date. The first of these was found on May 8rd, 1896, by Mr. R. Good- 
child, of Farnborough, in one of his father’s orchards, and was placed 
high up in a jarge greengage tree, and contained three eggs ; this nest 
I did not see in situ, but Mr. A. H. Meiklejohn was with me at the 
time the nest was shown, and we had no difficulty in identifying the 
nest and eggs, both of which were typical. On the eve of May 24th of 
this year I received a telegram from Mr. T. Gillah, of Forest Hill, to the 
effect that he had found a nest containing four eggs at Lower Sydenham 
(not more than six miles from the heart of London). Losing no time, 
T at once cycled over, meeting Mr. Gillah at Lower Sydenham Station, 
who took me to the nest. This was placed in a small beech tree, 
in a narrow strip of wood on the edge of a field, about fifteen feet from 
the ground. The bird left the nest as I commenced to climb the tree, 
and remained there for some time, giving me an excellent view of her. 
We also visited another nest a short distance away. This was situated 
in a small whitethorn, but unfortunately was forsaken. References 
to this species for the county by past writers are so meagre that I have 
not thought it worth while to refer to them. In conclusion, it is 
curious that, having had no previous experience with this species, I 
should find it breeding within a few miles of my own house.—Percy 
EF. Bunyarp (57, Kidderminster Road, Croydon). 


An Albino Rook.—We have all read, in the ‘ Natural History of 
Selborne,’ of the two white Rooks ‘“ having their bills, legs, feet, and 
claws milk-white,” which were wantonly destroyed by a “booby of a 


384 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


carter ’’; and perhaps the occurrence of white or light-coloured birds 
amongst their sable relations is no great rarity. About the middle of 
May last I saw a Rook, about three-parts grown, of a uniform creamy 
or rather dirty-white colour, except a: pale brown patch about the size 
of a shilling on the left side of its head, including the ear-covert ; its 
legs and toes were white, and the beak very ivory-looking ; its eyes 
were pink and apparently sightless, as is often the case with an albino 
(or at least my experience points in that direction), and its immaturity 
was indicated as much by its size as the feathered condition of the base 
of the beak. The plumage was both ragged and dirty, the bird having 
been kept in confinement for some fortnight or three weeks previous to 
its death, and I suppose at the time of its capture it had been crippled 
in some way, as the little girl to whom it belonged told me she threw 
her hat after it and knocked it down, and that its appearance amongst 
the other young Rooks was noticed as soon as it was able to leave the 
nest and get out upon the branches.—G. B. Corsin (Ringwood, Hants). 


Little Owl (Athene noctua) in Bedfordshire.—Bedfordshire is with- 
out doubt indebted to the late Lord Lilford for the addition of this 
nowadays resident species to our local fauna, who, after several years’ 
perseverance, succeeded in establishing this species at Lilford, where 
in 1889 a pair were found with eggs, and other pairs were afterwards 
recorded from year to year nesting around that locality. In 1889 there 
is a doubtful record of one killed at Meppershall, in Bedfordshire, some 
thirty miles distant from Lilford, in the south-east of the county. In 
1893 two were obtained at Woburn and Millbrook, in South-west Bed- 
fordshire. In the spring of 1894 it first appeared at Chawston, in the 
north-east corner of the county, and from that time appears to have 
made a stronghold of this neighbourhood. The unusual number of 
old pollard elms that may be seen in the locality is probably the secret 
-of its rapid increase there. In 1897 several were obtained in various 
other parts of the county, including Turvey, on the west border, and 
at Cranfield, a few miles further south. In 1898 increased numbers 
were sent in to the local taxidermists, two of which, shot at Southill 
and Chicksands Priory, were said to be birds of the year ; one was also 
caught in a brick-trap in a cottage-garden at Lidlington. In 1899 and 
1900 localities from which they are reported became more and more 
general. Luton, in the extreme south, is now first included in the 
latter year. In 1901 a nest of four young ones was safely reared from 
a nest at Green End, Great Barford, and also another nest was said to 
have been successfully reared off in another locality. A female killed 
at Southill, May 22nd, from along the roadside, was nesting at the 


NOTES AND QUERIES. 385 


time, a perfect ege being taken from the bird. In 1902 several pairs 
nested at Chawston and Wyboston, and two young were taken from 
a nest at Harlington. In 1903 seven pairs were reported as nesting, 
including a nest at Carlton in a dead tree lying on the ground, and 
the one reported at Ampthill (‘Field,’ July 18th). In 1904 young 
were also reared successfully at Elstow, Renhold, Kempston. From 
that year its nesting haunts and the numbers killed have been far too 
numerous to be worth individually recording; if one might venture to 
estimate their present numbers in that county it would be upwards of 
two hundred to three hundred pairs, as in every parish they appear to 
be known and probably nest. It is already the commonest species of 
Owl, and undoubtedly still on the increase. In April of the present 
year I saw no fewer than four during a day’s ramble, and others on 
numerous occasions since during visits to that county. Our local 
taxidermist kept a record of this bird as sent in to him until he had 
received upwards of fifty, and up to the present time probably three 
times that number have passed through his hands. He adds :— 
**T never yet found a feather in their stomachs, always insects or 
mice. One killed at Goldington was feeding on a Water Shrew. The 
sharp winters do not seem to affect them in the least.’’ The increase 
of the Little Owl has unfortunately been accompanied by the decrease 
of the one-time common Barn-Owl. They are exceedingly noisy at 
night, and soon make their presence heard. There is no doubt but 
that in a few years this species will extend its distribution over this 
country to a very considerable extent.—J. SreeLe-Huxiotr (Dowles 
Manor, Salop). 


Variety of Coot’s Eggs, and Others.—A river-keeper, who has a 
collection of eggs, showed me four taken late in June, and he supposed 
they were other than those of the Coot, but they undoubtedly belonged 
to that species—and, indeed, the man himself said the nest was very 
like a Coot’s. It is well known that the dark spots upon the eggs 
of this noisy, quarrelsome bird are generally small, and equally distri- 
buted over the entire surface of the shell, but in this case the spots 
-were large, and all collected at the larger end—at least upon three out 
of the four—and the ground colour being somewhat of a lighter stone 
shade than usual, the markings were the more conspicuous. As there 
were but four eggs in the nest, these were slightly incubated, and, 
being late in the season, it is quite possible they were the produce of 
a second brood, or at least of a second nest where the first had been 
robbed. I recollect many years ago taking eggs of the Moorhen not 
far from the neighbourhood where the above-named Coot’s were found, 


386 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


and the larger ends of those were clouded with reddish brown, as if all 
the usual spots had collected together, and were then distributed from 
a common centre, the colouring matter growing gradually lighter as it 
approached the middle of the egg, until lost in the general ground 
colour. In egg variation, is the explanation easy as to why the mark. 
ings are so often gathered at the larger end ?—as with this thought I 
was induced to give a casual glance at the contents of my small 
oological cabinet, and was interested in finding how many species 
show such variation, the peculiarity being very marked in Red-back 
Shrike, Reed-Wren, House-Sparrow, Common Bunting, Blackbird, 
Redshank, Snipe, and several other species. —G. B. Corsin (Ring- 
wood, Hants). 


Ruff near Chester.—I received (Sept. 12th) an immature specimen 
of Ruff (Machetes pugnaaz), which had been shot on the Dee Marsh, near 
Chester, and I am told that several other specimens were seen at the 
same time, but fortunately they did not venture within gunshot. Every 
year one or more of these interesting birds are more or less observed 
in the same locality, no doubt on the autumn migration.— A. Nrw- 
STEAD (Grosvenor Museum, Chester). 


Sandwich Tern in Norfolk.—On Sept. 19th I had a good view of a 
fine adult Sandwich Tern (Sterna cantiaca) perched on the outlet of 
the town-sewer at Hunstanton, and was able to bring my boat within 
thirty yards of it. By the aid of good glasses I could plainly see the 
(for a Tern) long black legs, and, compared with a young Tern of 
either the Common or Arctic species which sat by its side, it looked 
quite a large bird. Two days later I saw what was probably the same 
bird near the pier. One rather wishes that the protection of the eggs 
of “Terns, Sea-Swallows, Pearls, or Dip-ears”’ (all species) by the 
Norfolk County Council could be extended to the birds throughout the 
year, but happily there is no wholesale slaughter of sea-birds for the 
feather-market on the Hast Anglian coast.—Junian G. Tuck (Tostock 
Rectory, Bury St. Edmunds). 


Nesting of the Lesser Tern (Sterna minuta) in the Outer Hebrides. 
—On the north-west side of North Uist, almost in a line with Loch 
Maddy, there is a small sandy island called Kirkibost, the northern 
portion of which is covered with dunes, sloping gently down to 
high-water mark, which is fringed with small pebbles and the usual 
flotsam and jetsam peculiar to this part of the shore, and is here the 
home of a few pairs of Arctic Tern (Sterna macrura). While watching 
these birds my companion (Mr. T. Aldworth) called my attention to 


NOTES AND QUERIES. 387 


three among them that appeared to be of more slender build and of 
more graceful flight, suggesting to us at first Roseate Tern, and from 
their behaviour we felt certain that they were breeding. We at once 
decided to watch, taking up our position behind one of the dunes. 
We had barely time to make ourselves comfortable and fix our glasses 
before one of the birds alighted, and was immediately identified as a 
Lesser Tern (S. minuta); a diligent search, however, failed at first to 
reveal the eggs. Having resumed our watching, the bird was soon 
down again, and commenced scratching and shuffling about, at last 
settling herself down. We then made a concerted rush to the spot as 
the bird flew off, revealing to our view, though partly covered up by 
the sand, two eggs, which unfortunately she had broken in her attempt 
to bring them to the surface of the drifting sand. They were quite 
fresh (June 18th). As far as I have been able to ascertain, this is the 
first authenticated record for the Outer Hebrides, and I believe the 
most northern—and certainly the most north-westerly—for the British 
Islands.(Aberdeenshire). Of late years eggs appear to have been taken 
in the Orkneys (Saunders’s ‘Manual,’ p. 651); Aberdeenshire (See- 
bohm’s ‘ Eggs of British Birds,’ p. 103); Aberdeenshire (Irby’s ‘ Key 
List,’ 327, p. 55).— Percy F. Bunyarp (57, Kidderminster Road, 
Croydon). 


White Ringed Plover.—Through the kindness of Mr. Turner, of 
Swithland, I have been able to add this very rare variety to my collec- 
tion. Varieties of wading birds are rare. It was shot in Westray, 
Orkney.—J. Wuitaker (Rainworth Lodge, Notts). 


Food of the Black-headed Gull.—Referring to the circulars which 
have been addressed to farmers, &c., by the Cumberland County 
Council relative to the harmlessness or otherwise of this Gull, may I 
be permitted to express my views as based on observations in Upper 
Wharfedale in 1905, at which place I spent my holiday. A good 
portion of my time was passed between Cray and Buckden Pike—a 
wild and desolate tract, where the Lapwing breeds in some numbers. 
Day after day whilst there Black-headed Gulls used to visit this tract, 
each one of which was invariably mobbed by Lapwings, after which, 
in some cases, they flew away to some distance, but frequently the 
harried birds would only fly to comparatively short distances, quickly 
returning, only to be again repulsed. This went on more or less 
during the whole time I was there. These visits of the Gulls were 
not mere chance visits across the sphere of influence of the Lapwings 
in passing from one part of the country to another. They were here 


388 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


for some special purpose, and although no direct testimony can be 
given by me as to the Gull’s egg-eating propensity, the presumptive 
evidence during my stay was so cumulative as almost to amount to a 
demonstration. In this neighbourhood I had suspected this habit for 
some years, but the data rested upon insufficient evidence. From a 
humanitarian point of view I have been somewhat reluctant to men- 
tion the above conclusions, but sentiment should not blind us to the 
true nature of facts—G. P. Burrerrizip (Wilsden). 


Little Auk in Derbyshire. — When at Sudbury in June last I 
had an opportunity of inspecting a hitherto unrecorded specimen of 
the Little Auk, Mergulus alle (Li.), which is in the possession of Mr. 
J. Bottrell, of Sudbury. It was picked up dead on the ice of Sudbury 
Pond on November 29th, 1904, and sent to A. §. Hutchinson, who 
fortunately noted the date on the case. The bird had been seen about 
the pond for a day or two previously, and it is interesting to note that 
another example was shot on the Trent near Donington Park on 
November 24th, within a day or two of the same time (‘ Zoologist,’ 
1906, p. 139).—F rancts C. R. Jourparn (Clifton Vicarage, Ashburne, 
Derbyshire). 


Fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis) on the Suffolk Coast.—On Sept. 30th 
I received from a gentleman in Lowestoft a parcel containing the 
head, feet, and wings of a Fulmar Petrel, which he had a day or two 
before picked up, evidently uninjured but dead, on the beach at 
Corton, two or three miles north of Lowestoft. The head was perfectly 
white, and the bird was undoubtedly fully adult. Like two or three 
others I have myself met with thrown up by the tide, I have no doubt . 
the bird had gilled itself in the Herring-nets on the fishing-grounds 
and been drowned, to be thrown back overboard and carried south and 
shorewards by the tides. From report, this species appears to be by 
no means rare thirty or forty miles out in October, consorting with 
the Gulls, which find a genial occupation among the Herring shoals.— 
Artur H. Parrerson (Ibis House, Great Yarmouth). 


ARACHNIDA. 


Chelifer cancroides (Linn.) in Manchester.—This false Scorpion is 
well enough known to naturalists, but can hardly be called an abun- 
dant species in this country. Our present authority on the group, 
Rey. O. Pickard-Cambridge, when writing his Monograph in 1892, 
could refer to only four British specimens, all taken in London, and 
now in the British Museum. Since that date the species has been 


AR 


NOTES AND QUERIES. 389 


discovered in various parts of England and Scotland, in stores and in 
stables. The accompanying micro-photograph is kindly supplied by 
Messrs. Flatters and Garnett, Limited, who both prepared the slide 


CHELIFER CANCROIDES (enlarged). 


and took the micro-photograph, and is from a specimen (male)—one 
of two— obtained in the shop-drawer of a Manchester bakery in 1906. 
This species is distinguished from the other known members of the 
genus by the long, slender pedipalps, or second pair of appendages.— 
G. A. Wuyte (7, Charlotte Square, Edinburgh). 


390 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


OBITUARY. 
Proresson Cartes Stewart, F.R.S. 


Cuartes Stewart, an apparently light-hearted zoologist who 
neither wore his sorrows on his sleeve nor his scientific attainments 
as a Cloak of righteousness, passed away, to the real regret of many 
sincere friends, on September 27th. He was born in Plymouth 
sixty-seven years ago, and has held the office of Conservator of the 
Museum of the Royal College of Surgeons for the past twenty-three 
years. His scientific career has been varied and important. After 
studentship at St. Bartholomew’s Hospital he was qualified as a 
member of the Royal College of Surgeons in the year 1862. Admitted 
as a Fellow of the Linnean Society in 1866, he became President of 
that Society from 1890 to 1894. He was a Fellow and Vice-President 
of the Royal Microscopical Society; Treasurer of the Anatomical 
Society of Great Britain and Ireland from its foundation to the year 
1891; Fullerian Professor of Physiology at the Royal Institution 
from 1894 to 1897; admitted a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1896; 
and was also an LL.D. of Aberdeen University. We first met Pro- 
fessor Stewart when he was Curator of the Museum of St. Thomas’s 
Hospital, now many years ago, and subsequently not infrequently 
met him at the meetings of the Entomological Society of London. 
He had a love of all things zoological, and his visits to the British 
Museum (also not infrequent) were for the identification of the most 
diverse creatures. He thus gave the Museum of the Surgeons a more 
general zoological character, especially illustrating our conceptions of 
organic evolution. 

But he was a man of many parts and many interests—equally 
at home in his museum or at the Savage Club; he was the most 
genial of all Professors, and the most learned of all the really genial 
men we ever met. He has left many friends and a deserved reputa- 
tion. 


( 391 ) 


NOTICES OF NEW _ BOOKS. 


Wild Life in Australia. By W. H. Dupuy Le SovEér, C.M.Z.S., 
&e. Whitcombe & Tombs, Limited. 


Tuts is by far the best and most interesting book on the 
general Natural History of Australia that has appeared since 
Bennett’s ‘Gatherings of a Naturalist.’ It is crammed with 
observations on animal life, and is full of illustrations acquired 
through that truthful medium—the camera. Mr. Le Souéf, as 
Director of the Melbourne Zoological Gardens, is familiar with 
his subject, and in this book he confines himself to descriptions 
and impressions of a fauna in its natural and wild environment. 
When, as he tells us—and as unfortunately we too well know— 
that fauna is “‘fast disappearing,” his pages are calculated to 
be of lasting importance. 

Without laying much stress on evolutionary hypotheses, 
Mr. Le Souef has contributed much first-hand information on 
the relation of the colours of animals to their environment, and 
his observations throw much light on this intricate question. 
For the ornithologist there is abundance to charm and instruct. 
The account of a vast nesting colony of the ‘‘ Straw-necked 
Ibis” may be taken as a sample. The swamp at the time of 
visit was about six hundred acres in extent, and the minimum 
number of these birds was estimated as two hundred thousand, 
occupying about three hundred acres. This Ibis does not appear 
to be a mere automaton in mental process. ‘‘On one occasion 
they started nesting, and many eggs had been laid, when some 
very hot weather came on and the shallow water dried rapidly 
up. The birds evidently realized that it would be dry before 
their young were hatched, so they deserted it in a body, and left 
the eggs for the Crows to feast on.”’ Their food consumption is 
enormous. ‘“‘ The contents of an average crop of an adult bird, 
by actual counting, were 2410 young grasshoppers, five fresh- 
water snails, several caterpillars, and some coarse gravel, which, 


392 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


multiplied by 200,000, brings up to a big total of 482,000,000 
odd grasshoppers, as well as vast numbers of caterpillars and 
snails.” Such facts give sidelights to the carnage that occurs in 
the struggle for existence! We could multiply extracts that 
relate to animal bionomics, but our better course is to recommend 
the perusal of the volume. 

We have only one fault to find, or rather one suggestion to 
make, should another edition appear. Both animals and plants 
are, as a rule, only referred to by their popular or local names. 
This may be all very well for an Australian colonist, but the 
addition of the generic and specific name would vastly assist 
English naturalists, while for foreign readers it is almost im- 
perative. 


The Birds of Yorkshire; being a Historical Account of the Avi- 
fauna of the County. By T. H. Neuson, M.B.O.U., with 
the co-operation of W. Eacne Crarke, F.R.S.E., &c., and 
F. Boyes. Two vols. A. Brown & Sons, Limited. 


In ornithological literature the county histories have gradu- 
ally acquired a higher standard both in text and illustration ; 
these two volumes have reached the high-water mark! ‘There is 
such a fulness of detail relating to the large avifauna of York- 
shire, and such a wealth of illustration, that this publication 
can well rank higher than many volumes that are entitled 
Histories of British Birds. The Yorkshire Naturalists’ Union 
may be congratulated on their enterprise, while Mr. Sheppard, 
the Hon. Secretary, has carefully acted as its foster-parent 
through the press. 

There has been a considerable discussion in these pages as 
to whether the Twite may be considered as one of the “fosterer- 
Cuckoos.” It was erroneously reported as such near Aberdeen 
by one correspondent, and absolutely denied as ever being such 
by another writer. In the list of birds acting in this capacity to 
the Cuckoo we see that Mr. Nelson includes the Twite on the 
authority (H. B. Booth MS.). 

The shore and sea birds would alone make the avifauna of 
Yorkshire famous. The Dunlin breeds, and not too sparingly, 
in several areas of the county, and some beautiful illustrations 


NOTICES OF NEW BOOKS. 3938 


of the nest of that bird appear in the second volume. ‘‘ The 
Curlew’s ancestry in Yorkshire is of great antiquity, for it is 
mentioned in connection with the Nevell banquet at Cawood in 
1466, the items at the feast including ‘Curlewes 100’ (Leland’s 
‘Collectanea ’).”’ An excellent photo-block illustrates young 
Curlews just hatching. The number of photo-blocks of nests 
and eggs in these volumes give the best guarantee for the pre- 
servation of many species. The gun is now much less used by 
collectors, and nests will frequently have little molestation by the 
ornithologist who only “‘ takes” them with his camera. 

It is, however, unnecessary to give extracts from volumes 
which most ornithologists and lovers of birds probably already 
possess. The work has been compiled and written with the 
assistance of every competent observer and recorder in York- 
shire, and it is in the wise selection of records (for many given 
in all good faith are sometimes mistaken and not infrequently 
erroneous) that Mr. Nelson and his colleagues have shown an 
adequate discretion and a judicious discrimination. This county 
history can rank as a trustworthy history of British Birds, and 
that is probably the highest praise that can be given to a local 
publication. ; 


Malaria; a Neglected Factor in the History of Greece and Rome. 
By W. H.S. Jonzs, M.A. With an Introduction by Major 
R. Ross, F.R.S., &c., and a concluding Chapter by G. G. 
Kxiiett, M.B. Cambridge: Macmillan & Bowes. 


THE argument in this book is of transcendent interest. Was 
the decline in the Greece of Art and Philosophy and the Rome 
of Law and Conquest incidental to moral degeneration, or was it 
due to a physical cause ?—the moral degeneration being a subse- 
quence to malaria. Mr. Jones has apparently proved his thesis 
that malaria was introduced and spread in the area of those two 
great civilizations, and in doing this he has pursued the historical 
method, and searched for his proofs among the best of the 
classics. 

So far the argument has not entered the domain of zoology ; 
the full discussion of this point has been allotted to Major Ross, 
who has found renown in the discovery that the multitudes of 

Zool. 4th ser. vol. XI., October, 1907. 2H 


394 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


6 

minute animal parasites of the blood which produce malarial 
fever are carried from man to man by the agency of a class of 
gnats called Anophelines, which breed in small pools of water on 
the ground. ‘‘ Where such pools are numerous, in the hot 
months of summer and autumn, as in marshy localities, the 
insects generally abound; and if a patient with the parasites in 
his blood enters the locality, they become infected by biting him, 
and then pass the microbes on to any healthy persons they may 
feed upon subsequently.”” The suggestion is that the conqueror 
of Greece was Malaria, not the Macedonian or the Roman, but 
the disease-carrying Anophelines—a mosquito sufficient to destroy 
the mighty spirits of the Greeks and Romans. The dire result 
of persistent and intermittent malaria on the human system, the 
human will and energy, is detailed by Dr. Ellett. 

This small book, therefore, raises a question which is second 
to none in human interest, and if its argument is accepted, then 
»fhee mightiest civilizations that the world has produced may be 

‘ered by the agency of a horde, not of barbarians, but 
0°40 xcts—humble dipterons—gnats or mosquitoes, as one may 
preic’ ‘> call them—the Anophelines of entomology. This, 
indeed,’ ‘s a romance in zoology: oh, that it might have been 
suggested to Gibbon and described in his immortal prose ! 


( 895. ) 


EDITORIAL GLEANINGS. 


In the ‘Yearbook of the Department of Agriculture for 1906,’ 
recently published at Washington, Mr. Henry Oldys has published a 
most interesting paper on “ Cage-Bird Traffic of the United States.” 
We read that “three hundred thousand cage-birds, largely Canaries, 
are annually imported into the United States. Some of these are 
destined for zoological parks anda few for private aviaries, but the 
great majority find their way into the hands of those who desire to 
have a cage-bird or two to brighten the home. This yearly influx of 
captive birds may seem large, considering the comparatively small 
number usually in evidence; but it must be remembered that they are 
scattered over an area of more than three million square miles «4 
are distributed among a population of more than eighty m’* ; 
which allows but four birds a year to every one thousand per or 
about four hundred birds to a city of the size of Columbus, ( 

«The practice of keeping live birds in confinement iv orld-wide, 
and extends so far back in history that the time of its origin is 
unknown. It exists among the natives of tropical as well as temperate 
countries, was found in vogue on the islands of the Pacific when they 
were first discovered, and was habitual with the Peruvians under the 
Incas and the Aztecs under Montezuma. Caged birds were popular 
in classic Greece and Rome. The Alexandrian Parrakeet—a Ring- 
necked Parrakeet of India—which is much fancied at the present day, 
is said to have been first brought to Europe by one of the generals of 
Alexander the Great. Before this living birds had been kept by the 
nations of Western Asia, and the voices of Bulbuls and other attractive 
singers doubtless added to the charms of the hanging gardens of Baby- 
lon, while in China and Japan the art of domesticating wild birds has 
been practised for many centuries. 

“Tt is not difficult to account for the motive that underlies this 
widespread habit. The same spirit that leads to the domestication of 
wild flowers for adornment of the home and the pleasure derived from 
their beauty or fragrance is responsible for the similar transplanting of 
wild birds from their natural homes to those of their captors, and the 
parallel extends to the subsequent production of new varieties. 


396 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


«As a people, Americans have less of this spirit than prevails else- 
where. Despite the multitudes of birds weekly entering the country— 
a single vessel will occasionally deliver ten or fifteen thousand—our 
interest in avicultural pursuits is comparatively slight. In Hurope 
aviaries are numerous, and their owners maintain a common interest 
by means of avicultural organizations and periodicals. Bird shows 
are held annually or oftener in London, Berlin, and many other 
European cities. A friendly but keen rivalry prevails. among the 
owners of aviaries as to which shall first succeed in breeding. species 
that have not previously been bred in captivity, or in producing new 
hybrids. The journals and magazines devoted to aviculture serve as 
a medium of exchange of methods and experiences, and keep their 
readers in touch with each other. In Germany, particularly, the 
practice of keeping, rearing, and studying cage-birds is very common. 
In many a dwelling one room is set apart for birds, and these bird- 
rooms are not confined to a particular class, but are found in the 
homes of people of every rank and condition. As long ago as 1880 some 
two hundred societies of amateurs existed, and several weekly publica- 
tions and magazines devoted to birds attested the general interest in 
avicultural pursuits. 

«“The breeding of cage-birds for sale is a regular occupation in 
several parts of Europe. Germany produces hundreds of thousands 
of singing Canaries in the Hartz Mountains, those of St. Andreasburg 
being unrivalled songsters; in England, Scotland, and Belgium fancy 
varieties of Canaries are regularly bred for the trade ; and at the Royal 
Society’s Zoological Gardens of Antwerp, Belgium, the breeding of 
many species of foreign cage-birds is systematically conducted. 

‘“¢The United States has few aviaries, and most of these are devoted 
to Pheasants and other large birds. For a few years an avicultural 
periodical was published, but the support it received was apparently 
insufficient, and at present there seem to be no periodicals and very 
few associations strictly devoted to aviculture. Hence in this country 
there is not that community of interest and information that charac- 
terizes the avocation in Hurope. America supports a few small shows, 
mainly exhibitions of Canaries; and small exhibitions of cage-birds, 
mostly Canaries, are usually held as adjuncts to the annual poultry 
shows of New York, Boston, Chicago, Toronto, and other cities. The 
breeding of Canaries and cage-birds for the trade in any numbers is 
practically unknown on this side of the Atlantic. 

‘“‘ Traffic in Domestic Birds.—The once extensive trade in native 
American birds has dwindled to the vanishing point. Formerly 


EDITORIAL GLEANINGS. 397 


Mocking-birds, Bluebirds, Cardinals, Tanagers, Indigo-birds, and Non- 
pareils were caught in large numbers, and sold either here or abroad, 
and more or less trade in other species prevailed. Bluebirds, which 
are known as Blue Robins or Blue Nightingales in England and 
France, were imported into England some time before 1869, as in that 
year they were first bred in the London Zoological Gardens. They 
are regarded with much favour by amateurs, and have been repeatedly 
bred in private aviaries. Mocking-birds were bred in French aviaries 
before 1873. While intolerant of cage mates, they are much valued in 
EKurope for their song, which, however, is there considered inferior to 
that of the Nightingale—a judgment partly assisted, perhaps, by 
patriotic bias and association. Scarlet Tanagers and Cardinals are 
ranked very high in Europe, and frequently win prizes in bird shows. 
Tividence of the esteem as cage-birds in which the latter are held is 
shown by the fact that they are listed on the price list of a London 
bird dealer for September, 1906, at more than $5 apiece. Of interest 
in this connection is the statement of Gemelli Careri, quoted by Nuttall 
in his ‘Manual of Ornithology,’ published in 1882, that ‘the Spaniards 
of Havana, in a time of public distress and scarcity, bought so many of 
these birds [Cardinals] , with which a vessel was partly freighted from 
Florida, that the sum expended at $10 apiece amounted to no less than 
$18,000.’ Indigo-birds and Nonpareils are valued for their attractive 
plumage. Of the latter thousands were annually exported to Hurope, 
where they sold for $1.50 to $2 apiece. 

‘In consequence of the continual trapping to supply the increasing 
demand, several of these birds became rare in localities where once 
they had been common: Nearly every State had a law protecting non- 
game birds, but such laws were at that time imperfectly framed and 
ineffectively enforced. The usual exception authorizing the keeping of 
birds in cages as domestic pets was unaccompanied by any restriction 
on trade, which in consequence flourished. Imperfect as these laws 
were, they were rendered still less effective by the absence of public 
interest in their observance and adequate provision for their enforce- 
ment. Gradually, however, the influence of the bird-protective move- 
ment began to make itself felt, and the laws were improved. One State 
after another adopted a model law framed by a. Committee of the 
American Ornithologists’ Union, which, instead of simply prohibiting 
the killing of a few birds specifically named, as had formerly been 
done, prohibited the killing, capture, or possession of all birds other 
than game-birds and a few injurious species, and interdicted all trade 
in them. The interest in bird-life awakened by the efforts of this 


398 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


organization and the various State Audubon Societies caused these 
laws to be more or less vigorously enforced, and the trade in native 
birds declined proportionately. Supplies were still obtained, however, 
from States that had not adopted modern laws, and the export trade to 
Europe continued brisk. One by one these remaining strongholds 
were carried by the forces of bird protection, until finally, in 1904, 
Louisiana, the only State left from which birds were procurable, 
adopted the model law, and now, beyond a few surreptitious and 
illegal shipments, the domestic and foreign trade in native American 
birds has been entirely abolished. Occasionally a small consignment 
of Mocking-birds or Cardinals is smuggled to Hamburg or some other 
HKuropean port, but the life of the trade is gone. 

‘‘ Traffic in Foreign Birds——The importation of foreign cage-birds 
has grown to its present proportion, not only in this country, but in 
Europe as well, within the last fifty years. Up to the middle of the 
last century, apart from Parrots and some other of the larger species, 
few birds were imported into Europe, and as late as 1860 only about 
sixty different kinds of foreign birds were brought in, and these in 
moderate numbers. But about this time a rapid increase began, and 
by 1880 the species imported approximated seven hundred, and the 
individuals from 500,000 to 800,000. The Japanese Robin, a favourite 
cage-bird of to-day, was first brought to the London Zoological 
Gardens in 1886, and the Shell Parrakeet of Australia, now one of the 
best known of exotic birds, and sold wholesale in London for about 
$1.37 a pair, was first brought to England by Gould in 1840, and for 
the next ten years commanded $100 to $125 a pair. 

“In the United States the growth of importation has undergone a 
similar development, lagging, however, slightly behind the Huropean 
growth. In both cases the sudden invasion of the markets by foreign 
birds was due to the advantages of quick transportation. When 
supplies from distant lands were brought by sailing vessels but few 
birds survived the long voyages. But the steamship afforded oppor- 
tunity for conveying birds with speed and safety, and dealers were 
quick to avail themselves of the changed conditions. As long ago as 
1865 there was a brisk American trade in foreign cage-birds of all 
kinds, and by 1880 this had so increased that a single dealer in New 
York City handled 70,000 Canaries each season. 

‘* Number of Birds Imported.—The decline in the trade in domestic 
cage-birds has doubtless stimulated the trade in foreign cage-birds, 
which advanced from 235,433 imported under permit of the Depart- 
ment of Agriculture in the year ending June 380th, 1902, to 322.297 


EDITORIAL GLEANINGS. 399 


in the year ending June 30th, 1906—an increase of 37 per cent. in 
four years. At the beginning of this period the model bird-protective 
law previously mentioned had been adopted by sixteen States ; at its 
close it was in force in thirty-five. 

‘‘Of the birds imported in the year ending June 30th, 1906, 
274,914 were Canaries and 47,383 miscellaneous birds. The Canaries 
were nearly all raised in Germany. Thirty-three per cent. of the 
miscellaneous birds were from the Orient, 30 per cent. from Europe, 
22 per cent. from Australia, 7 per cent. from Cuba and Mexico, 6 per 
cent. from Africa, and 1 per cent. from South America. The remain- 
ing 1 per cent. were of unknown origin. In addition to these 2700 
Canaries, mostly from Germany, and about 6000 Parrots from various 
tropical countries came in without permit, no permit being issued for 
these birds when they are unaccompanied by others. | 

‘‘ How Birds are Secured.—A peep behind the scenes is always 
interesting, and when we see diverse and remote regions of the world 
pouring their treasures of bird-life into our country a desire is awak- 
ened to know by what means this is accomplished. 

‘‘In some cases the method is as old as the history of maritime 
commerce. From the time when vessels began to make voyages 
to other countries sailors have brought back trophies of various sorts, 
including specimens of the fauna of distant lands. Some birds are 
still thus brought in and are bought by dealers in the various ports of 
entry. 

« This method, somewhat systematized, prevails at San Francisco, 
where the trade, temporarily suspended by the earthquake and fire, is 
now beginning to revive. Supplies are here obtained from the crews 
of steamers coming from China and Japan, who make a regular 
business of transporting cage-birds, usually under an arrangement 
with the steamship companies by which they are employed whereby 
freight is paid out of the proceeds of sales. The birds thus imported 
are considerable in number, but few in species, being mainly Java 
Sparrows, Diamond Sparrows, Chinese Mocking-birds, and other 
common kinds. 

“But most of the birds imported are secured by more highly 
organized methods. Several of the leading importers maintain forces 
of men to secure the desired birds either in their native haunts or 
in Kuropean ports to which they are brought by the agents of other 
importers. 

“Parrots are generally taken while still in the nest. During the 
nesting season the leading American houses send men to Cuba, Mexico, 


400 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


or South America to obtain stock. Headquarters are established by 
these agents at some point convenient to the Parrot country, and 
natives are employed to secure the young birds, which are forwarded 
to the United States in periodical shipments. Agents have sometimes 
been sent from this country to Africa to secure supplies of the favourite 
African Grey Parrot, but these are usually obtained in Kuropean ports 
from vessels arriving with supplies for the large Huropean houses. 

‘© Small birds, other than Canaries, are generally captured with 
nets. Hixpert netters continually visit remote regions in the interest 
of wholesale houses of Hamburg, London, Liverpool, and other large 
cities of Kurope. Similar expeditions are dispatched. from New York 
and Philadelphia to Cuba and Mexico, and occasionally to more distant 
lands—even India; but the principal American houses maintain 
connections with establishments in Germany, through which their 
supplies of Old World and South American birds are more commonly 
procured. 

‘Canaries are obtained by agents who visit breeders in the Hartz 
Mountains, the Tyrol, and other parts of Europe. A few, however, are 
imported at San Francisco from breeders in China and Japan.”’ 


Y. With 180 Illustrations. Price 15s. net. 


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NERVOUS SYSTEM OF VERTEBRATES. 


By). b>... fOHNSTON. Ph. D;, 


Professor of Zoology in West Virginia University. 


JOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE STREET, W. 


TO ZOOLOGISTS AND MUSEUMS. 
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57, Haverstock Hint, Lonpon, N.W., 


Begs to announce the publication of a new Price List (No. 7) of MAMMALS, 
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JATURAL: HISTORY, 
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Bole Seneser cies Haiseminagon in cael Life. 
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_ An Annotated List of Cornish Fishes, James Clarke M. vi las D. Sea +s ; 

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FAMILIAR INDIAN BIRDS 


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Illustrated by Half-tone Blocks from the Drawings of 
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This little book is intended mainly for those who live in, or visit, India, 
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“Asa useful handbook to familiar Indian Birds we know of no better guide. 
. Well printed.” —Naturalist’s Quarterly Review. 


“A very handy little monograph. . . . As an accurate vade mecum of Indian a 
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fulfils its object.” —Morning Post of India. 


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London: WEST’, NEWMAN & CO., 54, Hatton Garden, B.C. 


ak ZOOM OGTS ! 


No. 797.—November. 1907. 


Be Ot OG CATV Ss U GG Es ELON Ss: 
EXTERMINATION IN ANIMAL LIFE. 


Part II.—By Human AGENcy. 


By W. L. Distant. 
(Continued from vol. ix. p. 345.) 


WHEN we examine the direct action of man in animal exter- 
mination we may safely affirm that from the time of his ap- 
. pearance the whole fauna ‘‘ groaneth and travaileth in pain 
together until now.” In his early stage, when he hunted for 
food, there had arisen a predatory foe against whom size was no 
protection, but rather an inducement for slaughter ; the substi- 
tution of the pastoral for the hunter stage of existence brought 
little amelioration, for then many animals were exterminated 
for the safety of the herds. Increasing civilization was the 
death-knell to many species, for sport not only claimed its own, 
but the industrial manufactures in daily life inaugurated a 
virtual reign of terror. Hides and tusks of mammals, feathers 
of birds, the oil of the cetacean, &c., were all brought to the 
altar of commerce, and frequently in such quantities as to have 
for ever destroyed the original contributors. Forests dis- 
appeared as mankind learnt to appreciate the value of timber. 
Animals hitherto little molested in the struggle for existence 
became almost decimated, as they were found to provide a 
delicacy for the table. Woman sought to increase her attrac- 
tion for man by adorning her wearing apparel with the feathers 

Zool. 4th ser. vol. XI, November, 1907. Dit 


402 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


of beautiful birds, and thus the inception of a new feminine 
fashion often meant and means an extensive avian massacre in 
tropical forests. Unhappy animated nature might be said to 
shiver aS man progressed; science has often been unable to 
preserve the remains of an exterminated species in a glass case. 
The prosperous tradesman who has achieved wealth in the sale 
or manufacture of the bodies of one class of animals has often, by 
these means, enabled his progeny to become wholesale slayers of 
others for pleasure ; thus sport succeeds business, and soon rarity 
precedes extinction. The wealthy orchid grower so dearly loves his 
plants that his travelling agent not seldom depopulates the area 
of a local species to satisfy the housing capacities of glass 
structures at home. If a bird or insect has unfortunately sunk 
to the condition of rarity in its native haunts, or has become an 
endemic species, its complete decay is at once accelerated by the 
eagerness of naturalists to obtain specimens before it is too late. 
The names of new heroes will in the future be known to sport ; 
the man who shot the last. Lion* will follow an earlier record of 
the fortunate who slew the last White Rhinoceros.t The name 
of the executioner of the last of the Elephants should not be 
forgotten in the coming days when the world may be a vast shop 
under the direction of a body of eminent financiers. 

The Beaver, exterminated in some of its former haunts, now 
lives on, it may be said, by a change of fashion. The case has 
been clearly stated by Marsh. When a Parisian manufacturer 
invented the silk hat, which soon came into almost universal 
use, the demand for Beaver’s fur fell off, and this animal, whose 
habits prove an important agency in the formation of bogs and 
other modifications of forest nature, immediately began to in- 
crease, reappeared in haunts which it had long abandoned, and 
can no longer be regarded as rare enough to be in immediate 


* « Africa is the only portion of the globe where the Lion remains lord 
of the forest, as the king of beasts. The question has frequently been dis- 
cussed, ‘ Why should the Lion have vanished from the scene where in ancient 
days he reigned in all his glory?’ The answer is simple—the Lions have 
been exterminated.’’—Sir 8. Baker, ‘ Wild Beasts and their Ways,’ vol. i. 
p. 307. 

+ The late Mr. J. H. Gurney writes:—‘‘ I have seen the man who 
exterminated the Nestor productus from Philip Island, he having shot the 
last of that species left on the island’ (‘ Zoologist,’ 1854, p. 4298). 


EXTERMINATION IN ANIMAL LIFE. 403 


danger of extirpation.* So small an insect as the gnat is. as 
pointed out by Mr. E. A. Butler, for its existence not independent 
of the action of man. In the evil days, when every house had 
its water-butt, and when stagnant ponds abounded on every side, 
often in close proximity to human dwellings, the conditions were 
so much the more favourable for the multiplication of gnats, 
and wherever such conditions now exist, the insects are liable to 
be both numerous and troublesome. But the extensive abolition 
of water-butts, the introduction of closed and indoor cisterns, 
and better land drainage have all tended to reduce the number 
of Culicide in this country, whatever may be the case elsewhere. t 
Small White Herons or Egrets are destroyed during the season 
in which they have their nests and young, in order to supply 
plumes for ladies’ hats. A better feeling having been aroused 
even in female devotees to fashion, the shopkeepers found it 
advisable to state that these plumes were then artificially made. 
The late Sir William Flower found that these plumes consisted 
of genuine feathers, and protested: ‘‘ One of the most beautiful 
of birds is being swept off the face of the earth under circum- 
stances of peculiar cruelty, to minister to a passing fashion, 
bolstered up by a glaring falsehood.” { 

If a sportsman visits South Africa for the first time, and has 
alone read the accounts of the game given by authors who wrote 
as recently as thirty or forty years ago, he will think he has been 
conveyed to the wrong continent. In many parts which then 
swarmed with game he will now find as many buck as he would 
meet with on a Surrey plateau, which some high veld so much 
resembles. Sandeman, travelling in 1878, bears witness to the 
charnel-house that then existed :—‘‘ While the waggons kept to 
the now well-worn track towards Heidelberg, A. and I took a wide 
tour of the veld in search of bok, but, although we came across 


* “Man and Nature,’ p. 84. 

+ ‘Our Household Insects,’ p. 284.—On the other hand, the destructive 
influence of these insects on man is detailed in a recent book reviewed in 
these pages (ante, p. 393), ‘Malaria; a Neglected Factor in the History of 
Greece and Rome.’ 

{ ‘ Nature,’ liv. p. 204.—Cf. ‘The Emu,’ vii. p. 71, where Mr. Matting- 
ley, under the title of ‘‘ Plundered for their Plumes,” records the destruction 
—‘ shot off their nests ’—of the Australian Egrets, Mesophoyx plumifera and 


Herodias timoriensis., 
212 


404. THE ZOOLOGIST. 


myriads of bones, skulls, and horns of Wildebeeste and Blesse- 
bok, bearing witness to the wholesale slaughter which took place 
only a few years ago, when the Boers first found out the value of 
the skins, we did not come across any bok, although we saw 
plenty of fresh spoor. The massacres which then took place 
have thinned the game—to an almost incredible extent for so 
short a time—throughout the greater part of South Africa. In 
many parts the veld is literally speckled all over with the white- 
bleached bones of the bok killed only for their hides, and when 
stripped left to rot away.”’* Alas! there is no zoological Ezekiel 
hardy enough to prophesy that there shall be a shaking and coming 
together of these bones. Man has indeed had dominion over the 
beasts of the earth in this neighbourhood, and these primi- 
tive Boers have proved Attilas to the South African mammalian 
fauna. The Elephant is gradually disappearing in British Central 
Africa ; this, according to Mr. Sharpe, is not due to the number 
killed by Europeans, but to the fact that the natives throughout 
the country are constantly destroying them.+ After the perusal of 
many African books on sport and travel one cannot help 
remarking on the amount of needless suffering inflicted on the 
Elephant by the inexperience of the sportsman in not striking 
the animal’s head where the bullet will penetrate the brain, 
thus not only ensuring instant death but also the safety of the 
destroyer. As an illustration, it is easy to cite from numerous 
records, and accounts of the unnecessary sufferings entailed on 
these creatures may be found in Von Hohnel’s ‘ Discovery of 
Lakes Rudolf and Stefanie,’ or in Andersson's ‘ Okavango River,’ 
compared with the more skilful and effectual slaying described 
by Mr. Faulkner in his ‘Elephant Haunts.’ Dr. Junker quotes 
Westendorp to the effect that the enormous destruction of Hle- 
phants to supply the civilized world with ivory is shown by the 
calculation that in the twenty years from 1856 to 1876 Africa 
supplied Europe on an average with 1,500,000 lb. of ivory 
annually, besides 250,000 lb. exported to India, and about 
150,000 lb. to America, representing altogether at least 51,000 
Elephants. Mr. Scott Elliot, in East Africa, describes the 
game as still abundant between Languru and the Kikuyu bush, 

* ¢ Hight Months in an Ox Waggon,’ p. 106. 

+ ‘Geographical Journal,’ vol. vii. p. 374. 

} ‘Travels in Africa, 1875-8,’ Eng. Transl., p. 304. 


EXTERMINATION IN ANIMAL LIFE. 405 


despite the exterminating proceedings of sportsmen. ‘A tale 
of 380 head in three months fell to one sportsman.”* Andersson 
mentions that his assistant Hans once shot with his own hand 
no fewer than nine Rhinoceros in the course of a single day ;tT 
he also states that Oswell and Vardon killed in one year no fewer 
than eighty-nine of these animals.t Instances could be multi- 
plied and recorded of the excessive and wanton destruction of 
the South African mammalian fauna, but they do not need 
repetition. The Boer still loves to shoot for sport while there is 
still a market to at least defray expenses ; EKuropean sportsmen 
still expend large sums to achieve the result of a ‘‘ record bag.” 
Could any game survive such a war? Is game preservation, now 
established, too late? The Tsetse-fly afforded these unfortunate 
ruminants some protection, for, though harmless to them, it 
caused cértain death to oxen, and hence the waggon, with its 
hunters, could not travel through the ‘fly country.”” But this 
immunity will soon be a thing of the past. Hunters do not care 
to shoot on foot in such a climate, nor could they easily do so, 
and thus the Zulu country long held large game. ‘‘ But now, 
since it has become the fashion for the hunters to arm natives 
to shoot for them, even in this country extermination is going 
on rapidly.’’§ 

In America the Bison is a well-known instance of man’s 
extirpation. For its destruction the telegraph-wire was actually 
put in use. According to Mr. Baillie-Grohman, in the early 
eighties, when the ‘‘ Northern Pacific”’ was being built through 
Dacota and Montana, the movements of the ‘‘ Northern herd,” 
which was practically the last big band of Bison in existence, 
was known from day to day to the gang of market-hunters along 
the railway, who were supplying the contractors with the game 
required to feed the four thousand navvies in their employ.|| Those 
engaged in the cattle-ranch business considered that the Bison 
could not be slaughtered too quickly, ‘‘for were not their 
thousands wasting the bunch-grass upon which the more valu- 
able domestic kine, driven in vast herds from distant Texas, 

* *A Naturalist in Mid-Africa,’ p. 17. 
+ ‘Lake Ngami,’ p. 58. 
t Ibid., p. 401. 


3 T. E. Buckley, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1876, p. 278. 
| ‘ Fifteen Years’ Sport and Life,’ &c., p. 29. 


406 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


were to fatten?’* Colonel H. Inman, late Assistant-Quarter- 
master of the U.S. Army, in his ‘ The Old Santa Fé Trail,’ states 
that in Kansas alone, between 1868-81, 2,500,000 dols. were 
paid out for Buffalo bones gathered in the plains, and used by the 
carbon companies. The price paid averaged eight dollars per 
ton of bones, so that according to his calculation the above sum 
represented the skeletons of over 31,000,000 Buffalo.t In 1885 
Peccaries were so abundant in the counties of Medina, Uvalde, 
and Zavalla, Texas, that their well-known trails were everywhere 
to be seen, while their favourite haunts could be readily picked 
out by the peculiar musty odour characteristic of these little 
animals. Shortly after this date, hogskin goods being in favour, 
a price of fifty cents each was offered for Peccary hides, with the 
result that by 1890 the Peccaries had become practically exter- 
minated.{ In 1873 Leith Adams stated that ‘the Moose is 
decreasing steadily ; indeed, considering the wholesale destruc- 
tion practised by settlers and Indians, it is remarkable how many 
survive.” 

The hunting spirit is still strong in America. Mr. T. 58. 
Palmer states that in the United States several States now 
require both residents and non-residents to secure licences before 
hunting. The returns for 1903 show that in ten of the States 
which have such a system, viz. Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Michi- 
gan, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Washington, Wis- 
consin, and Wyoming, the total number of licensed hunters was 
261,241. The largest numbers in any of these States were 
73,823 in Wisconsin and 95,250 in Illinois, and the average in 
all was 26,124. ‘‘ The destruction which an army of 26,000 
hunters roaming at will over any State might bring about is 
beyond computation.’’|| Again, according to the same writer, 
the population of the United States, on June Ist, 1905, exclusive 
of Alaska, Hawaii, and Porto Rico, was estimated by the Census 
Bureau at 82,565,005, and the population of the sixteen States 
which issued both resident and non-resident licences at 


* Cf. Baillie-Grohman, ‘Fifteen Years’ Sport and Life,’ &c., p. 29. 
+ Ibid., p. 169. 

| Lucas, ‘ Rep. Nat. Mus. Washington,’ 1891, pp. 610-11. 

§ ‘ Field and Forest Rambles,’ p. 90. 

|| ‘Yearbook Dept. Agric.’ 1904, p. 511. 


EXTERMINATION IN ANIMAL LIFE. 407 


23,848,780. The total number of licences issued in these States 
was 503,049. ‘‘ In other words, a little more than half a million 
persons were licensed to hunt, of whom only 3,043, or six-tenths 
of 1 per cent., were hunting outside their own States.”’* 

Guillemard writes that on Masafuera and Juan Fernandez 
Islands, off the coast of South America, a few skins of the fur 
Seals are still taken, ‘‘ and in bygone days the South Shetland, 
Crezet, and Falkland Islands were the resort of countless 
thousands of these animals. But they are now nearly extinct, 
and almost every Seal-skin that finds its way into the London 
market is obtained upon one or other of the islands rented by 
the Alaska Commercial Company.’’+ 

The inevitable destruction of the Alligator ‘ fishing ” 
Florida is being hastened by the robbing of the reptile nests . 
their eggs. According to Dr. E. D. Cope: ‘‘ Facts recently 
gathered by the Fish Commission show that the reptiles cannot 
long escape practical extermination.”” Between the years 1880 
and 1894 it has been estimated that 2,500,000 Alligators were 
killed in Florida.{ So persistently has the Wood-Duck (Aix 
sponsa) been pursued that, according to Mr. Wells W. Cooke, in 
some sections it has been practically exterminated. Hven in 
States in which it still breeds commonly, as in Delaware and 
Maryland on the Atlantic Coast, and in Illinois in the Mississippi 
Valley, public sentiment fails to recognize the importance of 
adequately protecting the bird, and the laws still permit it to be 
destroyed late in the spring. As a result the Wood- Duck is con- 
stantly diminishing in numbers, and soon is likely to be known 
only from books or by tradition.§ 

If we transport ourselves from Africa, the once paradise for 
Antelopes, to Australia, where marsupials hold a corresponding 
sway, we see the same process of destruction, the same inevitable 
extinction in progress. What availeth numbers when, at Peak 
Downs alone, as we learn from Carl Lumholtz, one of the sheep- 
owners told him that in the course of eighteen months he had 
killed 64,000 of these, animals, especially Wallabies (Macropus 


* U.S. Dept. Agric. Bur. Biol. Surv.’ Circular No. 54, p. 14 (1906). 
+ ‘ Cruise of the Marchesa,’ second edition, p. 142, 

{ ‘Ann. Rep. Smithsonian Instit. for 1898,’ p. 171 (1900). 

§ ‘U.S. Dept. Agric. Biol. Surv.’ Bull. No. 26, p. 8 (1906). 


408 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


dorsalis) and Kangaroo-Rats (Lagorchestes conspicillatus), and also 
many thousands of the large Kangaroo (Macropus giganteus) ?* 
What animal life can long withstand such wholesale massacres ?° 
The discoveries of Tasman, Dampier, and Cook will result in the 
total extinction of more than one human race, and in the partial 
extermination of a singular land fauna belonging to a mighty 
island-continent. The Kangaroo will follow the Aborigine, and 
both in time become parts of a story to be told, an incident in 
the battle of human civilization. Other animal life in Australia 
is beginning to feel the destructive appetite of civilized man. 
The Cassowary is too large and distinct a bird to escape atten- 
tion. Of Casuarius australis, Mr. Ramsay, in 1876, relates :— 
‘Tt was tolerably plentiful only a few years ago even in the 
neighbourhood of Cardwell, but since the advent of sugar- 
planters, &c., on the Herbert River and adjacent creeks these 
fine birds have been most ruthlessly shot down and destroyed 
for the sake of their skins, several of which I saw used for 
hearth-rugs and door-mats.” + Prof. Dendy, with good reason, 
urged upon naturalists in Australia and New Zealand the ad- 
visability of making the most of their time and opportunities in 
securing representatives of the cryptozoic (sun-hating) fauna ere 
it be exterminated by the wholesale destruction of forests that is 
going on. ‘‘ For when the clearing process is complete, and the 
last logs have disappeared from the ground, we may expect to 
lose sight for ever of many peculiar forms which formerly dwelt 
there.”{ Nearly half a century ago Bennett saw what was 
coming, and uttered his warning :—‘“‘ One of the exciting causes 
of the destruction of every living native animal that can be met 
with is the pretence of enriching our museums, while at the same 
time the overstocked market in Europe renders them for the 
most part unsaleable ; and it is a well-known fact that the skins 
of Australian birds, &c., have been re-exported from England to 
Australia. for sale.”’§ According to Coghlan (‘ Wealth and 
Progress of New South Wales’), the New South Wales Govern- 
ment spent in 1891 the extraordinary sum of £50,000 in bonuses 
* € Among Cannibals,’ p. 29. 
+ ‘Proce. Zool. Soe. Lond.’ 1876, p. 120. 


; ‘Address, Biol. Sect. Austral. Assoc. Adv. Sci. 1895.’ 
§ ‘Gatherings of a Naturalist in Australasia,’ p. 175. 


EXTERMINATION IN ANIMAL LIFE. 409 


for the destruction of 871 Emus, over one million of marsupials, 
65,000 Hares and Rabbits, 11,530 Dingoes, 3502 Eagle hawks, 
and some other marauders. From a back number of the ‘ Syd- 
ney Morning Herald’ it appears that in the year 1888 upwards 
of ten thousand Emus were destroyed in one: district alone, ~ 
while in the same period fifteen hundred of their eggs were 
broken on one estate.* The Lyre-bird of Australia, which lays 
but one egg each season, is doomed by the possession of a 
magnificent tail. Mr. Aflalo states:—‘‘ Not long since, for 
example, two enterprising brothers employed a number of men 
to shoot the luckless male birds, in which, after some practice, 
they were unfortunately so successful that five hundred dozen of 
the beautiful tails were reported to have reached Sydney in the 
course of a few weeks.t Of the Moas of New Zealand, some 
authorities consider that they were killed off by the race which is 
believed to have inhabited New Zealand before the advent of 
the Maoris.{ The Mamo, a honey-sucker (Drepanis pacifica), 
restricted in its range to the Pacific Islands, and now apparently 
extinct, has had a cause of its disappearance suggested by 
Mr. Scott Wilson. He saw some of the celebrated feather 
wreaths, or “‘ leis,’ of the natives composed of yellow feathers 
taken from this bird, and from the fact that the Hawaiian name 
of the bird ‘“‘ Mamo ”’ is the same as that of the costly war-cloaks, 
he concludes that the robes in olden times were chiefly wrought 
of the beautiful golden-yellow feathers from its back, which are 
much deeper in colour, as they are larger and longer, than the 
axillary tufts of the O-o (Moho nobilis). As only a few feathers 
on each bird were used, it may be imagined how many thousand 
birds it required to furnish the feathers of a single robe, and it 
is a greater wonder that there were enough birds than that the 
species of the brighter colour became extinct. Small bunches of 
these feathers were received by the kings as a poll-tax from the 
lower classes of the people, but there were not enough, so the 
chiefs used to have ‘“‘a regular staff of birdcatchers who were 
expert in this vocation.’’§ 

*« Cf. Aflalo, ‘A Sketch Nat. Hist. Australia,’ p. 104. 

+ Ibid., p. 131.—Cf. also ‘ The Emu,’ v. p. 57: ‘‘ Notes on the Victoria 
Lyre-bird (Menura victorie),” by A. E. Kitson. 

; Liydekker, ‘Phases of Animal Life,’ p. 152. 

: Cf. Lucas, ‘ Rep. Nat. Mus. Washington,’ 1891, p. 628. 


410 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


Kurope tells the same tale. Organized Government destruc- 
tion is often a most deadly means of extermination, especially 
when, as is generally the case, monetary rewards are paid for 
the animals slain. The following is the official list of birds and 
beasts of prey killed throughout Norway during the years 1893 
and 1894 :— 

Bears. Wolves. Lynxes. Gluttons. Foxes. Eagles. Hawks. 


18938. 72 50 56 40 11,409 969 4846 
1894. 57 37 44 46 8,646 1081 4727 


According to Sir H. Pottinger: ‘‘ Taking consecutive returns of 
from forty to fifty years ago, we find that, on a rough average, 
considerably over two hundred Bears were killed annually in 
Norway, about the same number of Wolves, half as many 
Lynxes, and a quarter as many Gluttons.”+ The comparison 
of these figures will tell its own tale. The Glutton alone seems 
to hold its own, a fact which, as the above-quoted writer points 
out, ‘‘speaks volumes for the stealthy habits of these animals, 
and the secure fastnesses which the Norwegian wilds afford 
them. They alone of all the outlawed tribes have succeeded in 
holding their own against the vengeful persecution of man.” In 
the palmy days of Rome many animals must have been more 
plentiful than now, and have been decimated by the requirements 
of the arena. We read that four hundred Bears were killed in 
a single day under Caligula; three hundred on another day 
under Claudius. Under Nero four hundred Tigers fought with 
Bulls and Elephants; four hundred Bears and three hundred 
Lions were slaughtered by his soldiers. Ina single day, at the 


* * Zoologist’ (8), xix. p. 425.—On the other hand, even administrative 
destruction is sometimes powerless to exterminate. As Prince Kropotkin 
writes :—‘‘ That terrible enemy of the crops of South Russia—the ‘ Soushk’ 
(Spermophilws)—of which some ten millions are exterminated every year by 
man alone, lives in numberless colonies; and while the Russian provincial 
assemblies gravely discuss the means of getting rid of this enemy of society, 
it enjoys life in its thousands in the most joyful way” (‘ Nineteenth Century,’ 
vol. xxviil. p. 704).—A similar record applies to the Rabbit in Australia, 
of which a few years ago, in New South Wales alone, the Government paid 
for the skins of twenty-seven million Rabbits in twelve months, and yet 
extermination is as far off as ever (writer in the ‘Times,’ quoted by the 
‘ Spectator,’ January 4th, 1896). 

+ ‘Badminton Magazine,’ vol. ii. p. 299. 


EXTERMINATION IN ANIMAL LIFE. 411 


dedication of the Colosseum by Titus, five thousand animals 
perished. Under Trajan the games continued for one hundred 
and twenty-three successive days. And, says Mr. Lecky, these 
are but a few of the many examples given by Magnin, who has 
collected a vast array of authorities on the subject.* 

It is probable that many species of wildfowl only continue to 
exist by their migratory habits and their consequent long absence 
from the neighbourhood of the gunner. What a more prolonged 
visit to the areas where shooting is in vogue would effect on their 
numbers may be estimated by the perusal of a few inventories 
of game-bags. “As many as eighty-five, and upon another 
occasion one hundred and six, Teal have been picked up after a 
well-directed shot from a punt-gun—the former by Sir Ralph 
Payne-Gallwey, the latter off the Irish coast.’+ ‘‘ Sometimes 
during a lull in a spell of rough weather vast flocks of Wigeon 
concentrate themselves on the ooze, and it is at this time they 
are sought by the puntsman or fowler. When good shots have 
been obtained at such masses of birds over a hundred have been 
killed at a single shot, and this explains why Wigeon are sold 
so cheaply in the markets.” { Long ago Kohl recorded that on 
the coasts of the North Sea twenty thousand Wild Ducks were 
usually taken in the course of the season in a single decoy, and 
sent to the large maritime towns for sale.§ After this, though 
no reasons are given, we are not surprised to read that the Pied 
Labrador Duck (Somateria labradoria), formerly abundant on the 
coast of Labrador and the mouth of the St. Lawrence, appears to 
have become extinct since 1852.|| Snaring is equally destructive. 
On the island of St. Kilda, with his fowling-rod one man has 
been known to have once bagged no fewer than six hundred and 
twenty Puffins in a single day.{/ On the same island it has been 
calculated that 22,500 Solan Geese have been caught and con- 


* *Origines du Théatre,’ pp. 445-53. Quoted by Lecky, ‘ Hist. Europ. 
Morals,’ vol. i. p. 280. 

+ Cf. Watson, ‘ Poachers and Poaching,’ p. 198. 

t Watson, zbid., p. 201. 

§ ‘Die Herzogthiimer Schleswig und Holstein,’ i. p. 203. Quoted by 
Marsh, ‘Man and Nature,’ p. 97. 

|| Ogilvie Grant, ‘ Royal Nat. Hist.’ iv. p. 355. 

‘| Kearton, ‘ With Nature and a Camera,’ p. 81. 


412 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


sumed in a single year.* One woman has been known to snare 
as many as 280, and another 127 Puffins in three hours ;+ while, 
on the authority of Mr. Sands, who lived on St. Kilda for about 
nine months, it is stated that in one year alone close upon 90,000 
were killed by the natives. { 

The giant Sturgeon or Hausen (Acipenser huso), with all the 
protection afforded by great fecundity, was at one time to be met 
with in the Danube by thousands, ‘‘ but relentless slaughter has 
greatly reduced not only their numbers but likewise their size.” 
In Russia the size of the Pike-perch (Lucioperca sandra) is be- 
coming smaller owing to the demand being greater than the 
supply. About 26,000,000 of these fishes are exported from 
Astrakhan every year.|| In Jersey Mr. Hornell states :—‘‘I have 
known as many as two hundred immature Guernsey Crabs (Can- 
cer pagurus) in one man’s basket, not one of which was of the 
proper size of 44 inches across the back, while time after time 
IT have seen men bringing back six to twelve or more Lobsters 
averaging from five to seven inches long. What wonder, then, 
that after such improvident and senseless procedure there should 
ensue a period of dearth ? At every spring. tide hordes of men 
and boys invade the littoral armed with basket and hook, bent 
on an indiscriminate collection of Crabs and Lobsters of any size 
procurable.’’{; We have heard of decrease in the fish of the 
Norfolk Broads, and we read:—‘‘In a fortnight’s fishing on 
Oulton Broad, Suffolk, a lady and er husband have landed 
2539 Roach.’’** 

It is needless to go on recording facts which are everywhere 
obtainable proving that man’s hand has fallen heavily on nearly 
every other living creature. What we have recorded is princi- 
pally the effect of his direct action. His indirect action has been 
equally destructive, and we can only find space to give a few 
instances. The domestic Cat was introduced to the island of 


* Kearton, ‘ With Nature and a Camera,’ p. 90. 

+ Ibid., p.112. 

+ Tbid., p. 113. 

§ ‘Roy. Nat. Hist.’ v. p. 515. 

|| Seeley, ‘The Fresh-water Fishes of Europe,’ p. 41. 
{| ‘Journ. of Marine Zool. and Microscop.’ ii. p. 75. 
** € Sun,’ October, 1902. 


EXTERMINATION IN ANIMAL LIFE. 413 


Rarotonga by missionaries, and for a time proved a blessing by 
keeping down the small indigenous Rat which then overran the 
island. Rats becoming scarce, the Cat took to hunting birds. 
Some species were soon exterminated, and other birds have taken 
refuge among the almost inaccessible rocks of the interior. The 
stillness of the forest is now intolerable save for the hum of 
insects.* We may mention the more or less complete extirpation 
of Rattlesnakes in North America that followed the introduction 
of hogs. In the Virgin Islands ‘the land mollusks were com- 
pletely destroyed by the practice of burning over the land, and 
only dead shells remain to show their former abundance in that 
locality.” + The most deadly enemy of the Prairie-hen (T'ympa- 
nuchus americanus) is the prairie fire in spring, which destroys 
every nest within its sweep. According to Mr. EK. W. Nelson, in 
the early seventies in North-western Illinois, the farmers in many 
places burned the prairies in spring after the Prairie-hens had 
nested, and often gathered for household use large numbers of 
the eggs thus exposed.t What the Boers have done to the 
fauna of South Africa by their annual grass fires can never be 
estimated, as we scarcely can tell what has heen destroyed. The 
small green Cicadas were very plentiful, and their shrill noise 
well known, at Sydney. Now, Mr. Le Souéf tells us, ‘‘ the im- 
ported Sparrows in the neighbourhood of that city looked upon 
these insects as one of their sources of food-supply, and when 
they heard their note at once attacked them. In course of time 
only the quiet ones will survive, or those that sing at night.’’§ 
Aporia crategi, a white Pierine butterfly, is now becoming very 
scarce in its old haunts in this country. According to Mr. Kirby 
it is supposed that its disappearance is due to the multiplication 
of insect-eating birds, a consequence of the Wild Birds Protection 
Act.|| The moth ‘‘ Lelia cenosa has become practically extinct 
in Britain during the last thirty years,’ Mr. Tutt remarks. 
‘This is generally supposed to have been due to the drainage of 
part of Barwell and Wicken Fens, but it was probably partly due 


* W. Wyatt Gill, ‘ Jottings from the Pacific,’ p. 126. 

+ Lucas, ‘ Rep. Nat. Mus. Washington,’ 1891, p. 613. 

Judd, ‘U.S. Dept. Agriculture,’ Bull. No. 24, p. 18. (1905). 
‘ Wild Life in Australia,’ p. 245. 

|| ‘ Hand-book to the Order Lepidoptera,’ vol. il. p. 141, 


tO rt 


414 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


to the greed of collectors, for a professional collector told me 
that the larve were so abundant five-and-twenty years ago (this 
was written in 1896) that it paid him to give up his ordinary 
work in order to collect all he could find, as he received from a 
London dealer about eighteenpence a dozen for them. This 
man alone collected some thousands every year.”* ‘‘In Victoria 
(Australia) the days of the Lyre-bird (Menura victorieg) are 
numbered, unless it develop the habit of nesting in trees or spots 
inaccessible to its far more dangerous enemy—an introduced one 
—the European Fox.” t 

The extermination of man by man, the extinction of aboriginal 
races by more progressive peoples, is a story well known to 
anthropologists, and requires separate detail. Wild nature must, 
have ever regarded the genus Homo as its deadliest foe. 

liven the American trees have suffered by vandal hands. 
Miss 8S. Fenimore Cooper tells us:—‘‘ At a particular point in 
the wilds of Oregon, near the bank of the Columbia River, there 
stood a single tree of great size—one of the majestic pines of that 
region, and long known as a landmark to the hunters and 
emigrants passing over those solitary wastes. The members of an 
expedition sent out to explore that country by the Government, 
arriving near the point, were on the watch for that pine to guide 
their course; they looked for it some time, but in vain. At 
length, reaching the spot where they supposed it ought to have 
stood—a way-mark in the wilderness—they found the tree lying 
on the earth. It had been felled and there left to rot by some 
man, claiming, no doubt, to be a civilized being.” { In Australia 
the big gum-trees near the township of Fernshaw, some fifty 
miles north of Melbourne, in size completely eclipse the Californian 
Wellingtonias, but are being rapidly exterminated. ‘‘ The land 
they grow on is good land, with twenty or more feet of vegetable 
soil in many spots, and it is wanted; and so the gums are given 
as victims to the axe and the firebrand.’’§ 

* ¢ British Moths,’ p. 86. 

+ Kitson, ‘The Emu,’ v. p. 58. Cf. direct persecution by man (ante. 

. 409). 
; i ; Journ. Naturalist in United States,’ vol. i. p. 255 (1855). 
Ward, ‘ Rambles of an Australian Naturalist’ (edited by P. Fountain), 

p- 86. 


( 415 ) 


AN ANNOTATED LIST OF CORNISH FISHES. 
By James Cuark, M.A., D.Se., A.R.C.S. 


In this list an attempt is made to indicate the present status 
and distribution of fishes in the Cornish waters, which is largely 
based on observations made and data obtained during the past 
eight years. References to the works of Couch, Matthias Dunn, 
Cornish, and Day are made only in the case of rare species, 
exceptional occurrences, or change in distribution, migratory 
habit or numerical status. The limits of the paper prevent 
more than an occasional passing remark on the habits, breed- 
ing, or food of the fishes mentioned, and as the fishes of 
Scilly will be treated separately, all special reference to them 
is omitted. 

The writer wishes to express his deep indebtedness to his 
fellow-members on the Fisheries Committee of the county, and 
especially to Mr. Matthias Dunn, son of the great fisherman- 
naturalist of the same name, and to Mr. EK. J. Pezzack, County 
Fishery Officer, for valuable help most generously given ; to his 
friend Dr. HE. J. Allen for placing all the resources of the Marine 
Biological Laboratory so freely at his disposal; to Mr. H. Rice, of 
Truro, for numerous personal notes on fishing in the St. Mawes 
district; to fishermen all round the county for specimens, 
and for frequent permission to handle their catches ; and lastly 
to his biological students at the Technical Schools, Truro, for 
loyal and enthusiastic assistance in every department of the 
subject. 

To distinguish between Matthias Dunn, father and son, the 
former is referred to throughout under his full name, the latter 
as Dunn f. (= /filius). 

The Perch (Perca fluviatilis, L.) is not indigenous, but has 
been naturalized in many ponds throughout the county. Thirty 
or forty years ago the Sea Bass (Labrax lupus, Day) appeared off 
the Cornish coast almost every year about the month of August 


416 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


in enormous shoals that made the surface of the water boil hike a 
strong tide (Dunn f.). These shoals specially favoured the Gwineas 
Rock, near Gorran, the Gull Rock, Portscatho, the Runnelstone, 
and the Wolf, and appeared occasionally in the sandy bays of the 
south and east, and at least once on the north coast, namely, at 
Perranporth about 1864 (Hicks). At Gwineas Rock Matthias 
Dunn found it impracticable to use a seine on account of the 
broken nature of the beach, and employed dynamite to kill the 
fish till stopped by Act of Parliament. By this means as many 
as six hundred fish, up to 10 and 12 lb. in weight, could 
be obtained in a morning (Dunn f.). In recent years vast shoals 
have been scarce, and till quite lately apparently restricted to 
the west of the county. During the past three years, however, 
they have been reported from Coverack, the Bizzies in Gerrans 
Bay, and the Gwineas Rock, as well as from the Runnelstone, 
the Wolf, and Land’s End. Bass, however, is usually common | 
throughout the summer, and especially in August and Septem- 
ber, all round the coast, and may be caught in abundance with 
hand-lines in favoured places like St. Mawes, the Gull Rock, 
Portscatho, west of the Manacles, and around Newquay ; and 
with long lines in deeper water. Mullet seiners, too, sometimes 
catch a small shoal of Bass, or come upon them when feeding 
where rocks abut on the sand. In stormy weather, both on the 
north and on the south coast, they often feed in numbers in 
shallow water close to the land, especially on a lee shore. They 
are then occasionally taken in a narrow trammel shot between 
them and the open sea, into which attempts are made to drive 
them by throwing stones. They are, however, difficult to 
frighten, and though they may dart away at the splash, return 
immediately, and swim through and round the centre of dis- 
turbance. Bass are often taken in the Fowey and Tamar, 
occasionally in fresh water beyond the reach of the tides. 

The Comber (Serranus cabrilla, Linn.) occurs frequently along 
the south coast on broken, rocky ground during the summer. 
It is often common at Polperro (Robinson), at Mevagissey and 
Gorran, and in July, 1905, was plentiful for a few days near 
Coverack. Day says it is rare at Penzance, but during the last 
eight years it has been taken several times to the east of 
St. Michael’s Mount, and occasionally in the Crab-pots at 


AN ANNOTATED LIST OF CORNISH FISHES. 417 


Newlyn. It is evidently common at times further west, as in 
August, 1906, the writer found several being used as bait at 
Porthgwarra. In July, 1904, a small specimen, about seven 
inches long, was sent in for identification from Sennen Cove, 
the most northerly point in the west at which it has been found. 
The Dusky Perch (Hpinephelus eneus, Geoffr.) was described and 
ficured by Couch from a Polperro specimen as Serranus gigas. 
Two or more examples were obtained subsequently, but it has 
not been recorded for the last sixty years. Stone Bass (Polyprion 
cernitum, Day) is evidently of more frequent occurrence than 
formerly. In July, 1891, four were gaffed at’ some floating 
barnacle-covered timber near Zennor; in 1892 Matthias Dunn 
sent one from Mevagissey to the Plymouth Laboratory, and in 
1894 or 1895 he took five or six close to Gorran Haven when no 
wreckage was in sight. In 1893 J. B. Cornish captured one 
near some wreckage at Newlyn. In August, 1899, two were 
obtained feeding on a barnacle-covered log at the south end of 
the Manacles; in July, 1902, one was taken on a hand-line near 
the outer Whelp Rock at the Dodman ; a few weeks later one 
was sent in from Newquay; and in June, 1906, several were seen, 
and one, twenty-two inches long, captured near Porthgwarra. 
Apparently the only example of the Maigre (Sciena aquila, Lacep.) 
identified recently is one, twenty-nine inches long, caught in a 
seine near St. Anthony Lighthouse, Falmouth, on the 11th of 
September, 1903. The Four-toothed Gilt-head (Dentex vulgaris, 
Cuy. et Val.) has not been recorded since 1851. The Black Sea 
Bream (Cantharus lineatus, Mont.) is very scarce. A young 
specimen, six and a quarter inches long, was taken by Holt in 
the Hamoaze, at the mouth of the Lynher, in July, 1897 
(M. B. A.), and three adults were captured with a hand-line 
baited with lugworm off Trewavas Head on the 7th of August, 
1902. The Bogue (Box vulgaris, Cuv. et Val.) has not been 
recorded since 1873. The Sea Bream (Pagellus centrodontus, 
De la Roche) is common all round the coast, and sometimes 
congregates in great numbers, especially in the late summer. 
After a large dumping of Mackerel, it is almost always much in 
evidence, particularly in Mount’s Bay. Very large specimens 
are often obtained off the Runnelstone, and occasionally near 
Newquay. The great hauls taken by the steam trawlers are 
Zool. 4th ser. vol. XI., November, 1907. 2k 


418 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


said lately to have diminished very considerably its numbers 
(Dunn f.). The young, called ‘‘ chad,” are often abundant in 
the coves, and take bait very freely in the summer and autumn. 
Spanish Bream (Pagellus bogaraveo, Brunn.) is now much scarcer 
than formerly (Dunn f. and Rice), but single specimens are 
still frequently taken with baited hooks along the south coast. 
During the last eight years examples have been identified from 
Polperro, Mevagissey, Percuil River, Cadgwith and Mousehole, 
and several others have been reported. Pagellus owenit Gunther, 
and P. acarne, Cuv. et Val., have each been recorded once from 
the county (Day). The Pandora, or King of the Breams (P. 
erythrinus, L.), is probably common, but is generally confused 
with other Breams. It was plentiful in Mount’s Bay in 1906, 
and several were taken at Cadgwith in 1907. Specimens have 
also been identified from the Edges, Polperro, from Gorran, and 
from the Manacles. Couch’s Sea Bream (Pagrus orphus, Risso) 
is represented in the British fauna by a single specimen taken 
near Polperro in 1842 (Day). The Gilt-head (P. auratus, L.) is 
another rare accidental visitor, last recorded in 1870. 

The Red Mullet, or Surmullet (Mullus barbatus var. sur- 
muletus, L.), is locally common along the south coast, but scarce 
on the north. Matthias Dunn used to say that it very greatly 
diminished in numbers after the wet, sunless year of 1879, and 
was never again so plentiful. In March it is taken by the 
trawlers fifteen to twenty miles out at sea, but by July it comes 
closer inshore, and is then taken chiefly by ground-seines, but 
occasionally by trammels and set nets. It appears to feed by 
preference where rocks and rocky ledges rise out of sand, and so 
close to the rocks themselves that on a highly favoured spot 
near St. Mawes, where thousands are taken every year, the boat 
has literally to scrape against the rock to be successful. Another 
favourite ground near Falmouth is a narrow inshore lane of 
sand, with shallow rocks inside and bigger rocks to seaward, 
that stretches from off Killigerran Head towards the Gull Rock 
beyond Portscatho. Near Mevagissey Matthias Dunn would 
occasionally take as many as six hundred in a day, and in season 
it is still plentiful on at least two very limited areas there. It 
is taken regularly and often in quantity off the mouth of the 
Helford River, and, with trammels, in the estuary itself. In the 


AN ANNOTATED LIST OF CORNISH FISHES. 419 


west, one of its favourite haunts is near Lamorna, but it is 
usually taken in some quantity in many other districts where 
congenial feeding-grounds occur. At St. Ives it is taken in 
seines, but is not plentiful. Specimens are occasionally taken 
inshore during the winter. One, for example, was captured 
near St. Anthony early in January, 1902, and another near 
Portseatho in December, 1908. It is doubtful if the Plain 
Mullet (WZ. barbatus, L., type) has ever been identified with 
certainty in the county. A careful watch has been kept for its 
occurrence for the past eight years, but without success. 

The Wrasses are a perplexing group, because of their re- 
markable fin and colour variation, and for the past five years 
they have in conseauence received considerable attention at 
Truro. Their strong hard flesh makes them very useful bait, 
especially for Lobster-pots. The Ballan Wrasse (Labrus macu- 
latus, L.) is very common on rocky, weed-covered shores all along 
the south and west, and in patches along the north coast. The 
most abundant forms are of a warm brownish-yellow or greenish- 
brown colour, with a bright blue or nearly white centre on every 
scale of the head and body. Bluish forms, too, are not un- 
common. The variety lineatus, Don., green with narrow longitu- 
dinal bands of yellow, is common at Mevagissey, at Gyllynevase, 
Falmouth, between the Manacles and Coverack, and on the 
north coast near Strace Pool, at the head of Watergate Bay, and 
probably occurs at intervals all along the coast. At Gyllyngvase 
yellow bands are occasionally replaced by smears of dull brown 
passing gradually into the green, and one has been obtained 
there of a dull bottle-green, with whitish spots. Forms in 
various shades of green, from pale sage to brightest emerald, 
sometimes with white body spots, but generally without them, 
have been brought in from time to time, usually from the Zostera 
beds at Falmouth and Helford. On the 13th of July, 1907, a 
fine specimen, over four pounds in weight, of greenish umber- 
brown with a broad orange band on both sides and a pale spot 
on each scale, was sent in from Cadgwith. A pale yellow form 
was common near the Gurnard’s Head in September, 1906. 
Red forms are usually scarce, but have been obtained in various 
shades, from pale carmine to deep mahogany; the former at 


Polperro and Scilly, the latter once at Cadgwith. Holt, however, 
2K 2 


420 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


has shown that within certain limits an individual may change 
its colours in comparatively short time. The Comber has been 
given specific rank, but is only a form with a more or less con- 
tinuous white band along each side, from the eye to the base of 
the caudal fin. About half-a-dozen specimens have been seen 
during the past eight years from the south coast, and one from 
St. Ives. The Cook, or Cuckoo Wrasse (Labrus mixtus, L.), is 
common along the south and west on rocky bottoms in deeper 
waters than the Ballan Wrasse. When fishing near rocks two 
or three miles out to sea, one often finds it unpleasantly plentiful. 
On the north coast it appears to be very local. The male of 
this species is Couch’s Blue-striped Wrasse, and the female his 
Three-spotted Wrasse. The colours show great variation. The 
Conner (Crenilabrus melops, L.) is plentiful in rock-pools, and 
close inshore on a seaweed bottom all round the coast, and 
especially in the west. The species is very variable, but it has 
not been found practicable to apply the varietal names. Jago’s 
Goldsinny (Ctenolabrus rupestris, L.) is by no means common, 
but occasional specimens have been found lately at Mevagissey, 
Coverack, Mount’s Bay, and one in July, 1906, near Sennen 
Cove. The only two British specimens of the Scale-rayed 
Wrasse (Acantholabrus palloni, Risso) known to Day were ob- 
tained near Mevagissey, the last about seventy years ago. The 
Rock Cook (Centrolabrus exoletus, L.) was not considered rare by 
Couch or Cornish; but the only specimens seen by the writer 
are two from Cadgwith in June, 1901, and one from a Crab-pot 
from Porthgwarra. It has been reported from Polperro by 
Robinson. A single specimen of the Rainbow Wrasse (Coris 
julis, L.) was taken in Mount’s Bay in 1802. 

The Miller’s Thumb, or River Bullhead (Cottus gobio, L.), is 
fairly common among the clearer streams of the county. The 
Father-Lasher (Cottus scorpius, L.), though a northern species, 
is of very frequent occurrence all round the coast in rock-pools, 
and in shallow water on weed-covered beaches. The Long- 
spined Bullhead (Cottus bubalis, Kuphr.) is plentiful on rocky 
bottoms from tidal pools down to deep water. The Grey Gurnard 
(Trigla gurnardus, L.) is very common on trawling-grounds all 
round the coast, but Dunn /. believes that the enormous quan- 
tities taken by the steam trawlers have perceptibly diminished 


AN ANNOTATED LIST OF CORNISH FISHES. 421 


its numbers. Up to about thirty years ago, he says, large shoals 
were of frequent occurrence in the Bristol Channel, and it was 
often caught by lines hanging over the stern of passing ships. 
Such shoals are occasionally reported still. An enormous one 
was seen off the Wolf in July, 1900, and another about ten miles 
south of the Lizard in June, 1902. One was seen about twenty 
miles north-west of Pendean in 1901, and another a little further 
to the north in 1905. The Piper (Trigla lyra, L.) varies greatly 
in number, but is at times fairly common, though usually 
scarce in winter. It was plentiful, however, some miles south of 
the Dodman in December, 1908. Cornish considered it a scarce 
fish in the west of the county, but steam trawlers in some years 
find it moderately common there. The Tub or Sapphirine Gur- 
nard (Trigla hirundo, L.) is usually more plentiful than the 
Piper in the trawling-grounds of the south and west, and is 
occasionally taken with bait on the north coast. The Streaked 
Gurnard (T'rigla lineata, Gmel.) was formerly considered very 
scarce, but off the south coast it is now of regular occurrence, 
and small catches of a dozen up to a hundred or more are 
brought in by Newlyn boats from the ‘“‘Gurnard”’ grounds. 
Similar quantities are occasionally noticed among the catches at 
Gorran and Mevagissey, and it is a well-known fish at Polperro. 
The writer obtained three along with Red and Grey Gurnard 
with a beam-trawl in the Silver Pits, Gerrans Bay, in July, 1902, 
and seven a few days later on the ‘‘ Steam trawlers’ Ground,” 
Falmouth Bay. Red Gurnard, or Elleck (Trigla cuculus, L.), is 
common at all seasons on the trawling-grounds round the coast. 
It is very largely used for Crab-pot bait, especially at St. Ives. 
The Lanthorne Gurnard (Trigla obscura, L.) was obtained nearly 
sixty years ago at Falmouth and Helford, but has not been 
recorded since. The Pogge, or Armed Bullhead (Agonus cata- 
phractus, L.), was well-known to Couch as a Cornish fish, but has 
apparently become very rare since, as it was never seen by 
Matthias Dunn or by Cornish. In July, 1897, Holt obtained a 
specimen from the mouth of the Lynher River; and in August, 
1902, two were dredged in the mouth of Helford River. The 
Armed Gurnard (Peristethus cataphractus, Gmel.) has not been 
recorded since the time of Couch. 

The Adult Lumpsucker (Cyclopterus lumpus, L.) 1s occasion- 


422 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


ally entangled in the Mackerel nets ten to twenty miles south of 
the Dodman (Dunn f.). It has been taken several times lately 
in Falmouth Bay, and is of fairly frequent occurrence about 
Penzance. Immature specimens, from 1 lb. upwards, have been 
fairly common lately some miles out at sea all along the south 
coast. Cocks found a solitary specimen of the Sea Snail (Liparis 
vulgaris, Flem.) in Falmouth Harbour, but it does not seem to 
have been found again in the county. Montagu’s Sucker (Liparis 
montagut, Cuv.) is evidently not uncommon, as it is frequently 
picked up under stones on the beaches of the south and west at 
low spring tide, and has been taken several times in rock-pools 
at Gyllyngvase Beach, Falmouth. 

The Two-spotted Goby (Gobius ruthensparri, Euphr.) has 
generally been regarded as rare in Cornish waters, but in August, 
1903, the writer dredged it in abundance from the edge of the 
Zostera bed downwards off the mouth of Helford River. Late in 
June, 1904, he obtained it in equal abundance in the entrance 
to Falmouth Harbour, and has obtained it several times since in 
Falmouth Bay. Specimens have also been sent in lately from 
Mevagissey and Marazion. Willughby’s Goby (Gobius paganellus, 
Gmel.) is very common in Falmouth Bay, Mount’s Bay, and 
round Land’s End in rock-pools, under stones near low-water 
mark, or in shallow water with a stony bottom. It has also 
been identified from Polperro, Gorran, and from near Cadgwith. 
The Rock Goby (Gobius niger, L.) is abundant in rock-pools and 
in shallow water all round the coast. In clear waters it may 
be frequently seen in Gerrans Bay swarming round the “scuddy”’ 
rocks, that is, rocks just peeping out of a sandy bottom. The 
Giant Goby (Gobius capito, Cuv. et Val.) was found by F. Pickard- 
Cambridge in the rock-pools at Portscatho in August, 1903 (see 
the ‘ Field’ for Oct. 24th, 1903).* On the 12th July, 1907, two 
were captured in a pool close to low-water mark at Gyllyngvase. 
It appears that Couch had identified his specimens as Gobius 
niger. The Freckled Goby (Gobius minutus, L.) is common in 
shallow sandy coves and estuaries all round the coast, but pre- 
sents considerable variation. The Painted Goby (Gobius pictus, 
Malm.) is said to be abundant along the south coast. Jeffrey's 
Goby (Gobius jeffreysit, Gunther) is a deep-water species that has 

* Cf. also * Zoologist,’ 1903, p. 429. 


AN ANNOTATED LIST OF CORNISH FISHES. 493 


been obtained near the Eddystone. A mature female of Gobius 
scorpioides, Collet, one of the smallest fishes known, was dredged 
by Holt in eighteen fathoms in Falmouth Harbour in July, 1897. 
The Transparent Goby (Aphia pellucida, Nardo) is abundant in 
Cawsand Bay in July, and has been taken in the Lynher above 
Waterlake in April (M. B. A.). Enormous numbers appear at 
times off Mevagissey followed by a shoal of Herrings, for which 
they constitute an attractive food supply. Great swarms have 
also appeared in Mount’s Bay (Dunn f.). In June, 1906, several 
were taken in a hand-net at King Harry Passage on the Fal. The 
Crystal Goby (Crystallogobius nilssonii, Dub. et Kor.) is common in 
the deeper parts of Falmouth Bay and, to judge from the specimens 
sent in, plentiful around Mevagissey and locally in Mount’s Bay. 

The John Dory (Zeus faber, L.) is common all round the 
coast. During the winter the majority evidently prefer deep 
water, but throughout the summer it delights in shallow inshore 
water where weeds and small fishes abound. It may often be 
seen in great numbers following up shoals of Sprats and other 
small fry, and, though usually slow and sluggish in its move- 
ments, shows remarkable activity as it jerks backwards and 
forwards with its mouth open among the smaller fish that serve 
as food. large specimens are often taken with bait, the most 
successful being a live young Chad fastened by the tail. When 
swallowed head first the spines of the Chad act as so many 
hooks. The finest fish are generally obtained by trawling in 
deep water, but good catches are often made in ground-seines 
both near the shore and two or three miles out at sea. The 
largest Cornish specimen that has passed through the writer’s 
hands weighed 11 1b. The Boar-fish (Capros aper, L.) up till 
1845 was regarded as one of the rarest of British fishes, but that 
year it appeared in large numbers from Plymouth westwards. 
Always very local, it vanished altogether in 1846, and was repre- 
sented by an occasional solitary specimen up to 1870, when it 
became remarkably plentiful along the south coast of the county, 
and for nine years was so abundant locally as every now and then 
to fill the trawls. As it is not a marketable fish, it became in 
places a veritable pest. In 1879, after a violent east wind, 
it entirely died out, and, though occasionally taken on deep 
trawling-grounds, was not again seen in shallow water till 1894 


424 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


(Dunn). At present it is locally plentiful on the trawling- 
grounds off the south coast and in the west. It is frequently 
taken in Crab-pots, especially when set with Spider Crab. The 
Trumpet Fish (Centriscus scolopaz, L.) is an extremely rare 
accidental vagrant from the Mediterranean. An undoubted 
British example was thrown on shore at Menabilly, near Fowey, 
in 1804. On the 16th of June, 1906, one of the writer’s biology 
students found a dead specimen in good condition on some wet 
mud near the mouth of the Helford River, where it had evidently 
just been left by the receding tide. When the writer received 
it wrapped up in paper two days later the odour of decom- 
position was barely perceptible, so that presumably it must have 
died only a short time before it was discovered. The specimen, 
which is 6’3 in. long, has been placed in the museum of the Royal 
Institution of Cornwall. 

Immense quantities of Mackerel (Scomber scombrus, L.) appear 
off the coast in spring and early summer, and are caught with 
drift-nets till the schools break up about the end of May or early 
in June, when they come more inshore, and are taken freely with 
the seine and the hand-line. The Cornish boats may in some 
years begin to fish with satisfactory results very early in January, 
but the regular fishing season is from March to June. At that 
period several hundred boats make their headquarters at Newlyn, 
and others at Looe, Mevagissey, Falmouth, and St. Ives. During 
March and April, the recognized time of the spring Mackerel 

fishery in Cornwall, the Looe boats fish for the most part five to 
twenty miles south-west to west of the Eddystone ; the Mevagissey 
boats off the Dodman and Falmouth Bay ; those from Newlyn and 
the neighbourhood off the Lizard to Wolf Rock and in Mount’s 
Bay, and those from St. Ives ten to sixty miles off that port. In 
May and June, the time of the summer Mackerel fishery, the 
Looe fishermen go to great distances south-west of the Eddy- 
stone, the Mevagissey men usually fish forty to sixty miles south- 
west of the Dodman, the Mount’s Bay men from south-west of 
Mount’s Bay to within sight of Ushant Light, and from there to 
Cape Clear in the south-west of Ireland. They also at times 
make big catches outside the Bishop Rock, Isles of Scilly. The 
St. Ives men go sixty or seventy and in some years (e.g. 1905) 
ninety miles, N.N.W. round to N.N.E., and in some seasons fish 


AN ANNOTATED LIST OF CORNISH FISHES. 425 


off the Isles of Scilly. The Cornish fishermen say that Mackerel 
is always most abundant where the water is green, and samples 
of such water is generally found to be very full of small ‘‘ bait.” 
In September and October the Mackerel, as a rule, return to deep 
water, but a few often linger behind, where small fish are plenti- 
ful, and grow rapidly in size. On the 26th October last year two 
were sent in from Falmouth, one of which weighed 2 lb. 1 oz. and 
the other 2lb. 240z. The Spanish Mackerel (Scomber colias, 
Gmel.) is an occasional visitor from the Mediterranean, some- 
times in small shoals. In June, 1901, about fifty were brought 
into Newlyn from near the Wolf; in the early days of June, 
1906, several were taken near Gerrans, and in the summer of 
1907 Dunn f. saw two that had been brought in from Mount’s 
Bay. The Short-finned Tunny (Orcynus thynnus, L.) is an 
irregular visitor, chiefly to the west of the county, from July to 
November. In September, 1899, several were taken in a Pil- 
chard drift-net near the Wolf Rock; in July, 1901, two were 
obtained about three miles south of the Runnelstone, and on the 
Sth of November one was taken to the north of St. Ives; in 
August, 1906, two small specimens were sent in for identification 
out of a number that had been caught to the south of Mousehole 
Island. The Germon or Long-finned Tunny (O. germo, Lacep.) 
is a rare vagrant that has not been reported since 1846. The 
Pelamid (Pelamys sarda, Bloch.) has been much confused with 
the Short-finned Tunny. Occasional specimens have undoubtedly 
been taken off the south coast, but the only specimen handled . 
by the writer was one weighing 4 lb. that had been taken in a 
Mackerel drift-net south of the Bishop early in June, 1908, and 
was reported in a local newspaper as a gigantic Mackerel. The 
Plain Bonito (Auzxis ruchei, Risso) is a very rare vagrant, not 
recorded since 1844. The Sucking-fish (Hcheneis remora, L.) 
was obtained by Dunn /f. in 1867, eighteen miles off the Dodman, 
and by Cornish from Mount’s Bay in 1877. Several Cornish 
specimens of the Scabbard Fish (Lepidopus caudatus, Kuphr.) 
are mentioned by Day, but none have been recorded since. The 
Silvery Hair-tail (Trichiurus lepturus, L.) has been taken at 
intervals, and, as a rule, singly along the south coast. One was 
obtained at the mouth of the Helford River on the 15th of 
December, 1899, and another at Sennen Cove, near the Land’s 


426 THE 4ZO0O0LOGIST. 


Hind, in January, 1905. The Sword-fish (Xiphias gladius, L.) 
is occasionally reported by fishermen, but rarely captured. 
Several instances of the occurrence of Ray’s Bream (Brama rau, 
Bl. Sch.) on the Cornish coast are collected by Day. In March, 
1891, a specimen about 1 ft. 8 in. long was taken with a gaff at 
Portscatho, and sent to the Marine Biological Laboratory by 
Matthias Dunn. On the 12th of March, 1905, after a violent 
storm, a large specimen was thrown up dead near St. Anthony 
Lighthouse, Falmouth. In 1887 one was obtained in a Grey 
Mullet seine at Scilly—the first capture off Cornwall in the open 
sea (Cornish). Two occurrences of the Opah or King-fish 
(Lampris luna, Gmel.) are recorded by Day, but it does not seem 
to have been taken since 1865. The only two known British 
examples of Luvarus imperialis, Rafin., were obtained in Corn- 
wall, one off the Dodman on the 30th of April, 1866, and the 
other exactly five months later at Falmouth. 

The Sead or Horse-Mackerel (Caran trachurus, L.) 1s com- 
mon and locally abundant in all the Cornish seas, usually 
appearing in April and returning to deep water in October, but 
the young often swarm in the coves throughout the winter. 
Being of little commercial value, it is often very troublesome to 
Cornish Mackerel and Pilchard fishermen by literally filling 
their nets. This year (1907) it has been unpleasantly abundant 
in the west about Scilly. ‘The Pilot-fish (Naucrates ductor, L.) 
is of frequent occurrence, not only as a companion of Sharks, 
but also as a follower of vessels. One was taken in Falmouth 
Bay on the 30th of September, 1899; two at Penzance in 
November, 1903; and one close to St. Mawes on the 23rd of 
June, 1907. Two examples of the Derbio (Lichia glauca, L.) 
have been taken in the west, the last in 1878. A stray specimen 
of Lichia vadigo, Risso, 19 in. long, was taken in a Pollack-net 
off Prussia Cove in 1892 (Gunther, Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. ser. 6, 
x. 335). The only British example of the Rudder-fish (Pammelas 
perciformis, Mitchill) was found alive in a floating wooden case 
about six miles from Penzance in October, 1874. About two 
dozen examples of the Black-fish (Centrolophus pompilus, L.) are 
recorded from Cornwall by Day. Holt describes six or eight small 
specimens, 12 to 14 in. long, taken in a Mackerel-net near the 
Runnelstone in 1891 (Journ. M.B.A. i. 265). In June, 1900, a 


AN ANNOTATED LIST OF CORNISH FISHES. 427 


Mevagissey Mackerel-boat that had been disturbed in its opera- 
tions south of the Dodman by several Porbeagle Sharks, brought 
in a specimen that measured 183 in. in length. Dunn ff. says it 
has appeared in Mackerel-nets once or twice lately in the mouth 
of the Channel. The Cornish Centrolophus (C. britannicus, 
Gunther) is a doubtful species. The only known example was 
thrown up on the shore near Looe in February, 1859. 

The two Weevers are deservedly dreaded by bathers, fisher- 
men, and shrimpers, because of the poisonous spines of the 
operculum and first dorsal fin. The Greater Weever (Trachinus 
draco, L.) is locally not uncommon at times round the coast on 
sand and fine gravel from between tide-marks downwards. It 
seems to be of most frequent occurrence where Shrimps abound. 
The Lesser Weever (7’. vipera, Cuv. et Val.) is apparently scarcer 
in the west of the county than the other, but is elsewhere locally 
common on similar ground. The gorgeous adult male of the 
Dragonet or Skulpin (Callionymus lyra, L.) is frequently obtained 
on sandy or gravelly bottoms at a depth of twenty-five fathoms 
downwards both off the south and north coasts, and may be 
common. The female evidently prefers shallower water, while 
the young are often plentiful close inshore. A fully developed 
male of the Spotted Dragonet (C. maculatus, Bonap.), a distinctly 
northern species, was trawled by Holt in Falmouth Bay in July, 
1897, at a depth of thirty to thirty-five fathoms. 

The Cornish Sucker (Lepadogaster gouanit, Lacep.) is common 
on the south coast in small rock-pools, under stones between 
tide-marks, and in shallow water. On the north coast it seems 
to be scarce or very local. The Double-spotted Sucker (L. bi- 
maculatus, Flem.) is by no means socommon. During the past 
eight years it has been dredged at a depth of fifteen fathoms at 
Polperro, and up to twenty-five fathoms in Falmouth Bay. It 
has also been taken at low spring tide at Gorran, Gyllyngvase, 
and near Mousehole, and dredged in shallow water in Nanjizal 
Bay, Land’s End. Couch is evidently the only naturalist who 
has obtained the Connemara Sucker (L. decandollei, Risso) off 


the Cornish coast. 
(To be continued.) 


428 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


NOLES WAND SO Ue Raise 


AVES. 


The First Recorded British Example of the White-spotted Blue- 
throat.—Having recently had an opportunity of examining the dis- 
puted specimen of the White-spotted Bluethroat, obtained near Scar- 
borough in April, 1876 (cf. Zool. 1902, p. 464; 1903, pp. 23, 431, 455 ; 
1904, pp. 31, 263), and which I exhibited at the British Ornithologists’ 
Club on the 16th October last, I am pleased to be able to state that its 
identity is fully established. It is in every way typical of the white- 
spotted form (Cyanecula wolfi), the white in the centre of the blue 
throat being most distinct, and about half an inch in diameter. The 
plumage, even after the lapse of thirty years, still retains its deep 
intense hue. On questioning the present owner of the specimen as to 
the facts of the occurrence, he corroborated in every respect the original 
statements of the Rev. J. G. Tuck and Mr. W. Eagle Clarke, though, 
as the females of the two forms of Bluethroat cannot be distinguished, 
it is unfortunate that a misleading statement was made as to the sex of 
this example, which accounts for its rejection by the authors of recent 
ornithological works. In case any sceptic may proffer a suggestion 
that it was an imported skin, my informant added that he remembers 
his father bringing home the bird, telling him he had found it below 
the telegraph-wires, and at the same time pointing out where it had 
been damaged by coming in contact with them. For further par- 
ticulars inquirers are referred to the ‘ Birds of Yorkshire,’ 1. pp. 38, 39. 
—T. H. Neuson (The Cliffe, Redcar). 


Status of the Grey Wagtail (Motacilla melanope) in Yorkshire.— 
Referring to the notes on this subject (ante, pp. 151 and 382), I may 
state that this species is sparsely distributed along the moorland becks 
immediately to the north of Scarborough, the eastern boundary of the 
breeding haunts in Britain of this and several other species of birds.— 
W. Gyneett (Gladstone Road, Scarborough). 


Richard’s Pipit at Yarmouth. — An example of Richard's Pipit 
(Anthus richardi) was netted on the North Denes at Yarmouth on 
October 22nd, and is now in the possession of Mr. W. Lowne. A few 


NOTES AND QUERIES. 429 


other specimens have previously been reported here at long intervals. 
The first one recorded for Norfolk was obtained in the same locality in 
November, 1841. Although an autumnal migrant, it is sparingly met 
with in Great Britain; yet it is freely distributed in the southern parts 
of Europe during the winter.. I once saw one of these large Pipits 
searching for food amongst the aquatic herbage which grows on the 
rands on the north side of Breydon in September, 1890. I noticed 
how extremely active it was in its movements. A Lark being near, I 
had a fine opportunity of observing the two species at one view.— 
B. Dyz (Row 60, No. 10, Great Yarmouth). 


Eggs of Red-backed Shrike (Lanius collurio).—It may interest your 
readers to learn my experience relative to this subject, and it will 
be interesting to me to know of their observations in the same direction. 
It seems common knowledge that many of our summer migrants 
return each year to the same nesting locality, and as an instance I 
will cite the bird under notice as one species apparently possessed. of 
this habit. In the county of Wiltshire I know of two spots, about six 
or seven miles apart, where a pair of these birds are regularly to be 
found during the period of their stay with us, and my observations re- 
specting the two nests extend over the years 1903, 1904, 1906, 1907. 
The first pair were noticed in 1908 near a railway bank, and their nest 
contained five eggs of the grey variety. They were seen in the same 
place in 1904, but the nest was not located. In 1905 no visit was made 
by me, but in 1906 they had again returned, and the nest discovered 
within a few yards of the one previously found in 1908. This con- 
tained as a full complement four eggs only, which on this occasion 
were of the pink variety. My observations of the second nest were 
made within the past two seasons (1906-7). The nest, situated about 
five feet from the ground in an overgrown thorn hedge, contained six 
eggs of the grey type, while the one discovered this year (1907) and 
situated quite near the other had five eggs, which were marked with 
pink blotches rather than spotted—quite an unusual type. It will 
therefore be seen from these remarks that, although the eggs were 
found in precisely the same localities—indeed, a few yards only was 
the space between each year’s nest in both cases—the eggs varied in 
colour as described above. My contention is, on the face of this 
experience, that the eggs are liable to this variation, and that there is 
little doubt that they belong to the same birds which return each year. 
While dealing with this subject I should like to mention that with 
regard to the eggs of the Cuckoo I have found no variation whatever, 
after some years of careful observation in certain localities. In one 


430 THE 4ZO00LOGIST. 


district I found eggs of the Cuckoo all in Sedge-Warblers’ nests, and 
absolutely identical, for four successive seasons (1903-6 inclusive), 
which leaves no doubt in my mind that the eggs were the production of 
one bird. This certainly seems very remarkable when one considers 
for a moment all the risks migration entails.—D. W. Mussen-WuitE 
(7, Jessica Road, Wandsworth Common). 


Spread of the Little Owl in Herts.—Noticing the note in the last 
number of ‘ The Zoologist ’ (ante, p. 8384) about this species, I thought 
it might be of interest to record what I could find out about it in the 
neighbourhood of Ware, Herts; sol wrote to my grandfather, T. F. 
Buxton, Hsq., of Hasneye, Ware, to ask him what he had observed in 
that neighbourhood. He tells me that they first appeared in the spring 
of 1897; that year they nested in an old pear-tree at Little Briggins 
Farm. They brought off two young, one of which was picked up 
dead. The old birds and the single young one stayed about, and next 
spring (1898) they nested again. This time it was in the loft of a barn, 
among some hurdles which were being stored there. No one knew of 
the nest until, unfortunately, it was found and disturbed in removing 
the hurdles for use. The foreman in charge at once stopped the work 
and locked the loft, but the nest with four eggs was deserted. The 
Owls stayed about till that autumn, and then disappeared. This 
species is still sometimes heard of in that neighbourkood.—P. A. 
Buxton (82, Great Cumberland Place, London, W.). 


Little Owl (Athene noctua) Breeding in Hertfordshire.—In con- 
nection with Mr. Stuart Maples’ note on the occurrences of the Little 
Owl in Hertfordshire during 1906 (ante, p. 353), and Mr. Steele- 
Elliott’s account of the spread of the species in Bedfordshire (pp. 384, 
885), it will be of interest to record that the Little Owi has been dis- 
covered breeding in Hertfordshire in two instances this past spring. A 
nest was found about the middle of June near Watton-at-Stone by 
some boys who saw the parent bird fly from a decaying oak. The nest 
was in a deep hole about ten feet from the ground, and contained four 
young just ready to fly. They were caught the same evening when 
they left the nest-hole and perched on the branches to be fed. ‘Two of 
them were released after being kept in captivity for some weeks; the 
other two are still in cages in this village, and are in good heaith and 
plumage, having become quite tame. Mr. W. Percival Westell has 
informed me of another nest found this year between St. Albans and 
Hatfield. It was in a hole in a willow-tree, and, although one of the 
birds was shot by a keeper, the young were safely reared. Mr. Westell 
adds :—‘* Several keepers have reported to me the presence of this 


NOTES AND QUERIES. 431 


interesting bird, and I know it is present in the Watford district. As 
far as I remember, I first saw a specimen here about five years ago, 
but the past season is the first I have known for it to nest here.” 
There is, however, a record of this bird having nested in Hertford- 
shire in former years. Dr. Hartert informs me that a pair nested and 
reared two young in 1897 on one of Mr. T. Fowell Buxton’s farms at 
Haseneye, near Ware. In the following year they again nested on the 
same farm in the loft of a barn, where, however, they were disturbed, 
and deserted their eggs. It is quite probable that the discovery of two 
nests in different parts of the county this year, together with the 
frequent appearance of the bird during the last year or two, points to 
the permanent establishment of the Little Owl as a resident species in 
Hertfordshire, as in Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire. — Annan 
Hutson (Watton-at-Stone, Herts). 


Peregrine and Greenshank.—A Peregrine Falcon, at the entrance 
to Breydon, on October 17th, gave chase to a Greenshank, which 
sent forth repeated terrified shrieks in a single clanging note. When 
nearly overtaken the hunted bird pitched head first into the water, and 
dived and swam in a most active fashion. The Falcon, baffled for the 
moment, wheeled round, when the wader again took to wing, loudly 
voicing its indignation and terror. It was again harried, only to 
repeat its diving and swimming. A friend of mine at this moment 
ran into his boat-shed to procure his gun, with the intention of securing 
the Peregrine if possible. A third time the swoop of the pursuing 
bird proved unsuccessful, when it gave up the attempt, and made back 
for Breydon; the Greenshank, profiting by its retreat, winged its way 
across the town beachwards. — Arruur H. Patterson (Ibis House, 
Great Yarmouth). 


Early Nesting of the Green Cormorant. — This year the Green 
Cormorants or Shags (Phalacrocorax graculus) started nesting remark- 
ably early in Orkney. They commenced building their nests in 
January, and the first eggs were found on February 24th on the 
island of Sules Skerry. The weather during these months was very 
stormy but not cold, and perhaps this latter fact had something to do 
with their early nesting, which is much earlier than has ever been 
known in Orkney before. — H. W. Rosinson (Lansdowne House, 
Lancaster). 


Flock of the Glossy Ibis in Orkney.—On September 24th a flock 
of nineteen or twenty Glossy Ibises (Ibis falcinellus) appeared at Sand- 
wick, in Orkney, a small township about four miles inland, and about 


432 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


eight miles from Stromness, where they frequented some marshy 
ground there. The man who made the discovery did not think of 
shooting them at first, and so for three days they remained in peace ; 
but on the 27th this idea seemed to strike him, and from this date 
until October 1st he shot two or three each day as they were feeding 
in a burn, until he had accounted for no fewer than ten. They were 
very wary, and rose high in the air when disturbed. Most of them 
were sent, I believe, to Mr. Mallock, of Perth, and it would be inter- 
esting to know whether they were old or young birds. I do not think 
there are a dozen records of this bird having visited Scotland, and the 
occurrence of a flock of them in Orkney is most unusual, as I believe 
the species has only occurred twice before in these islands—viz. a 
young bird near Stromness on September 19th, 1903, which I men- 
tioned in the ‘ Field,’ &c., at the time; and another near Kirkwall as 
long ago as September, 1857, exactly half a century ago. It will be 
noticed that the three occurrences were all in September during the 
autumn migration.—H. W. Rostnson (Lansdowne House, Lancaster). 


Nesting of the Lesser Tern in the Outer Hebrides (ante, p. 386, 
and ‘ Field,’ September 28th, 1907).—At the time Buckley and I issued 
the volume of our series of faunas relating to the Outer Hebrides we 
were not aware of any authentic instances of the nesting of the Lesser 
Tern anywhere in these islands. (It ought always to be remembered 
that we have consistently advocated chronological sequence of records.) 
But later I have recorded the earliest instances known of its nesting, 
and these will be found noted in my ‘‘ Avifauna of the Outer Hebrides’’ 
(Annals Scottish Nat. Hist., April, July, and October, 1902; and 
January, 1903, p. 15, of the latter Annals and number). May I 
also refer your correspondents upon this subject to a still later article 
by Mr. Donald Guthrie, ‘‘ Notes on Birds of South Uist, Outer Hebrides”’ 
(op. cit., April, 19038, p. 78). At those places the correspondents—in 
‘Zoologist’ and ‘ Field’—will learn the true sequence of the dis- 
persal of this species in the Outer Hebrides. The locality given 
(Zool. loc. cit.) near North Uist indicates a further dispersal of the 
species, and certainly, so far as I am aware, it is the most north- 
westerly recorded.—J. A. Harviz-Brown (Dunipace, Larbert, Stirling- 
shire, N.B.). 

Is the Black-headed Gull an Egg-thief?—In the last number of 
this Journal (p. 887) my friend Mr. E. P. Butterfield relates his expe- 
rience respecting the behaviour of a number of Black-headed Gulls and 
Lapwings on the breeding-grounds of the latter, and (presumably) 
during the nesting season of the Lapwings. Mr. Butterfield did not 


NOTES AND QUERIES. 433 


see any egg taken, nor any deliberate attempt to take any by these 
Gulls, but was convinced that the visits of the Gulls ‘‘ were not 
mere chance visits, but were for some special purpose.’’ The only 
* inference is that the Gulls wanted the eggs of the Lapwings, or else 
some special food from the ground whereon the Lapwings were nesting. 
Until I can get some actual proof of egg-stealing by the Black-headed 
Gull, I shall continue to believe that in this case the Gulls’ object was 
not in any way to interfere with the eggs or young of the Lapwings. 
Although I know the district between Cray and Buckden Pike fairly 
well, Ihave never witnessed anything of a similar nature between 
Black-headed Gulls and Lapwings, either there or in any other part of 
this district. I do not wish to doubt a single word of Mr. Butterfield’s 
statement, as I know him too well, and have known him so long, to feel 
certain that he would present the facts as fairly and as accuratély as it 
would be possible to do so. But Lapwings are very jealous guardians 
of their nesting areas, and will promptly fly at any fair-sized bird of 
very diverse habits which happens to cross their chosen territory. I 
will only say that for the past few years I have endeavoured (in this 
district) to bring to light a single fact to justify the statements of a few 
local gamekeepers that the Black-headed Gull isa harrier of eggs; but 
-up to now I have not met with a single jot of evidence to bear out this 
accusation—but I have learned much which tends to prove the con- 
trary. Last year, on the margin of one of our large reservoirs (where 
is situated the largest breeding colony of Black-headed Gulls in this 
neighbourhood), a Common Sandpiper made its exposed nest, and de- 
posited its four eggs. The water rose in the reservoir, and presumably 
covered the nest and eggs, and the birds deserted them. The water 
receded and left the eggs fully exposed to view. Now this particular 
spot is always a favourite resting-place of the Gulls, and as we 
approached quite a score of them arose from around the Sandpiper’s 
deserted nest and eggs. But even at the end of the season (on July 
28th) the four eggs remained untouched and intact, still neatly arranged 
with the small end pointing inwards. No excuse even could be made 
that the eggs were set, or they would have floated away, or would have 
become deranged with the rising of the reservoir. This convinced us 
that the Black-headed Gull did not interfere with Sandpipers’ eggs, 
whatever it might do with those of the Grouse or Lapwing. The same 
year a nesting colony of these Gulls were greatly persecuted and fired 
at by the gamekeepers for their supposed robbing the eggs of game- 
birds ; so that eventually about a dozen pairs nested near to a small 
tarn on a moor a few miles away. Fortunately the shooting there was 


Zool. 4th ser. vol. XI., November, 1907, 2 


434 THK ZOO0OLOGIST. 


under the control of a good sportsman and a fairly good ornithologist, 

and one of the best known public men in the district. Consequently 

the Gulls were allowed to rest in peace. After the shooting season the 

same gentleman informed me that at the particular part of the moor 

where the Gulls had nested they had made the best ‘‘ bag ’’ of Grouse, 

and better than in any past season on that part of the moor ; and that 

he had remarked upon this fact to his keeper at the time. Unfortu- 

nately he would not permit me to make known the full data for fear 

that it might ‘‘only be a coincidence.”’ Although I do not wish to 

infer that the increased ‘‘ bag’’ was in any way due to the Gulls, it is 

quite clear that their presence on this particular spot had not been of 
disadvantage to the Grouse. Referring to the insinuations of certain 

eamekeepers—it is much more likely to be the work of Rooks, Crows, 

or Jackdaws, and probably of Lesser Black-backed Gulls, which latter 

now pay regular visits in small parties, or in honeymoon pairs, to this 

district at just about the laying-time of the Grouse. With the average 

gamekeeper a Gull zs a Gull, just as a Hawk is a Hawk (even if it should 

prove to be a Cuckoo when shot). So far as I can see, the Black- 

headed Gull is essentially a farmer’s friend, and a scavenger in this 

district. Almost any day during the spring and summer a few of 
them may be seen ‘‘ fishing’’ on the River Aire below Shipley, and 

after the admission of the Bradford Beck (now almost a main sewer), 

and where the water is almost inky-black, and nothing but a Rat can” 
live in it. 

In the above I have only spoken for the Black-headed Gull in this 
district (where it is a summer visitor, arriving early in March and 
leaving at the end of September or early in October), where it has 
largely increased as the result of the construction of numerous sewage- 
beds along the Aire Valley. No doubt in districts where large gulleries 
are strictly preserved, and where no check is placed upon their increase, 
the birds will have to alter their food in order to meet the increased 
demand; but even under such trying circumstances I should be much 
surprised to learn that this species had taken to egg-stealing.—Harry 
B. Boor (Shipley, Yorks). 


Pomatorhine Skua at Yarmouth.—On October 23rd an immature 
example of the Pomatorhine Skua (Stercorarius pomatorhinus) was shown 
me in the flesh, and which had a few days before been captured by 
the crew of a fishing-lugger, among whose nets it had come to grief. 
The under parts were white, with a beautifully speckled gorget, very 
much resembling a Sanderling in the nuptial plumage. Some bars on 
the back were edged with fawn colour. Unfortunately the bird was 


NOTES AND QUERIES. 435 


useless as a specimen, the throat being greasy, while round the base of 
the bill the feathers were already very loosely attached. On opening 
the mouth I noticed some tiny larve of the blowfly, which rather 
surprised me; but it is just possible that in the warm cabin of the 
boat, situated as it is near the engines, sundry bluebottles had shipped 
themselves as members of the crew. — Artuur H. Parrsrson (Ibis 
House, Great Yarmouth). 


ARACHNIDA. 


Chelifer cancroides (Linn.).—It was a surprise to me to read, in 
‘The Zoologist’ (ante, p. 888), that the Rev. O. Pickard-Cambridge 
was only able to refer to four British specimens of Chelifer in 1892. 
Chelifers of this species have always been fairly common in this neigh- 
bourhood, and I have generally met with a few when sifting dead 
leaves in search of minute Helices, especially amongst beech and haw- 
thorn leaves. A paper on Pseudoscorpions was read before the Quekett 
Microscopical Society on October 25th, 1867, and in the discussion 
which followed it was stated that nine species of the genera Chelifer and 
Obisitum had then been found in Great Britain. The excellent micro- 
photograph of Chelifer cancroides in ‘ The Zoologist’ will, I hope, be 
followed by similar photos of the other British species. —Joun R. B. 
MaserteLp (Rosehill, Cheadle, Staffordshire). 


436 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


OBITUARY. 
HOWARD SAUNDERS. 


Ir is with deep regret that we have to record the death of Mr. 
Howard Saunders, F.L.S., F.Z.8., F.R.G.S., which occurred at his 
London residence on Sunday the 20th of October. After a long and 
painful illness, which he bore with the most heroic fortitude, he passed 
away at the age of seventy-two. His loss will be mourned by a very 
wide circle of friends and acquaintances in all parts of the world, but 
more particularly by ornithologists, for, though a man of many and 
varied tastes, he was best known through his writings on birds, and 
was more especially famous as the author of the widely known ‘ Manual 
of British Birds,’ and for his monograph of the Gulls (Larid@), which 
formed part of volume xxv. of ‘ The Catalogue of the Birds in the 
British Museum’ (1896). 

Mr. Saunders’s death, following so closely on that of Prof. Alfred 
Newton, makes the year 1907 an extremely sad one in the history of 
ornithology, for these two men were universally acknowledged to be 
our most learned authorities on British Birds. All difficult questions 
relating to British ornithology were invariably referred to one or other 
of them, and no one ever appealed for help without obtaining the fullest 
information and the soundest advice. 

Mr. Saunders was born in London in 1835, and was educated 4 
Dr. Gavin Smith’s school at Rottingdean, where at an early age he 
displayed a special interest in birds, and made his first recorded 
observation. Born of an old and honourable merchant family of the 
City of London, he received during his early years a business training, 
which may be tracedin his accurate and methodical manner of dealing 
with any subject he undertook. All his writings bear testimony of the 
same careful and painstaking treatment, and it is not too much to say 
that his ‘ Manual of British Birds,’ which is perhaps the best and most 
widely appreciated of his works, will always remain a model of accuracy 
and learning compressed into the smallest possible bulk. To each 
species he devoted only a page and a half of letterpress, but within that 
limited space he managed to include not only a complete description of 
its various plumages, but its geographical range, habits, and all other 
important details. j 

At the age of twenty Mr. Saunders left England in the clipper-ship 
‘Atrevida,’ bound for South America, and his observations on the 
Albatrosses noted during the voyage were published in a letter to the 
‘Tbis’ for 1866. During 1855 to 1856 he visited Brazil, Chile, and 


OBITUARY. 437 


Peru, and remained in the latter country until 1860, his time being 
chiefly spent in antiquarian researches, and in acquiring a perfect 
knowledge of the Spanish language. Subsequently he made a remark- 
able journey across the Andes to the head-waters of the Amazon, and 
descended that river to Para. Thence he returned to England, where 
he devoted the greater part of his time to the study of ornithology. 
Between the years 1863 and 1870 he paid frequent visits to Spain, his 
proficiency in Spanish being of great use to him during his travels. 
The results of his observations on the birds of the Spanish peninsula 


were published in a series of articles which he contributed to the 
‘ Ibis,’ 1869-1872. 

In 1868 Mr. Saunders married Emily, daughter of the late William 
‘Minshull Bigg, and his marriage proved an exceedingly happy one, for 
his wife took the keenest interest in his work, and the help which she 
afforded him in his scientific career cannot be too highly spoken of. 
His house was open to all naturalists, and it was one of his boasts 
that no one could ever upset his household arrangements or prove 
de trop, as he was always prepared for any chance visitors either at 
lunch or at dinner. In 1870 he was elected a member of the British 


438 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


Ornithologists’ Union, and took a leading part in its conduct, being 
still Secretary at the time of his death. He was twice Editor of the 
‘Ibis,’ from 1883-1886, and again from 1895-1900. From 1880-1885 
he was Honorary Secretary to Section D of the British Association 
for the Advancement of Science. He was a Fellow of the Zoological, 
Linnean, and Royal Geographical Societies, and served on the Councils 
of all of them, and from time to time contributed valuable papers to 
their ‘ Proceedings.’ He was also a Member of the Société Zoologique 
de France, Honorary Member of the American Ornithologists’ Union, 
and of various other European societies. 

It is impossible to estimate too highly the value of his life’s work 
in the cause of Palearctic Ornithology, but he did not devote himself 
solely to the study of birds, for he took the deepest interest in 
geographical research, more especially in that relating to the Arctic 
and Antarctic regions. 

His ornithological writings were noted for their excellence rather 
than for their number, for Mr. Saunders was by no means a voluminous 
writer. In 1882 he took over from the late Professor Newton the 
editorship of the fourth edition of Yarrell’s ‘ British Birds,’ and in the 
most admirable manner re-wrote the third and fourth volumes which 
were still required to complete the edition. Subsequently he con- 
ceived the idea of writing his greatest work, the ‘Manual of British 
Birds,’ mentioned above, which was published in 1889, and passed 
through a second edition ten years later. On this subject we have 
already touched, as also on his monograph of the Gulls. On these 
latter, to the study of which he had devoted the greater part of his 
life, he was undoubtedly the greatest authority in the world, and he 
possessed a remarkably fine collection of their skins, which was 
acquired by the Trustees of the British Museum in 1894. He pre- 
sented to the nation his fine collection of eggs of Gulls and Terns, 
and, from time to time, numbers of skins of birds from Southern Spain 
and other parts of the world. 

He was always ready to place at the disposal of others his great 
store of information, and a large number of books written by his friends 
passed through his hands for revision. He was a man of singularly 
sound judgment, and possessed of a wonderful sense of proportion, 
consequently his help and sympathy in both public and private diffi- 
culties were constantly sought and invariably forthcoming. The loss 
of such a man and such a friend has plunged the little community of 


British ornithologists into heartfelt sorrow. 
W. R. Ocitvie-Grant. 


( 439 ) 


NOTICKS OF NEW BOOKS. 


Notes on the Birds of Rutland. By C. Reainautp Hanes, 
NEARS ccs) Is Ee Porter. 


THis is a small book relating to a small avifauna of a small 
county, but a sterling ornithological publication, for not only is 
a carefully compiled account given of the 200 birds included 
with certainty in the fauna, but in the introduction some cogent 
reasons are given why more birds could scarcely be expected in 
the confines of this county. There is, of course, no sea coast, 
which means much; of its area of little over 100,000 acres not 
100 acres are waste land or heath, and not 200 acres are water ; 
there are scarcely 400 acres of woodland, while orchards cover 
less than 150 acres; permanent pasture absorbs more than half 
of the whole area, and rotation crops account for another 36,000 
acres. In reading such facts as these we feel confident that the 
time will soon be at hand when some competent and philosophical 
ornithologist will, with all the excellent county bird books now 
available for consultation, write a volume on the natural con- 
ditions which effect the distribution and status of birds in the 
different counties of Great Britain. 

The Rutland birds have waited for a recorder; Montacu 
Browne had not studied the birds of the small county as he had 
those of Leicestershire; and we are told that, ‘‘ with one important 
exception, there are no records or notes bearing upon the subject 
which date back more than a hundred years.” Mr. Haines has 
therefore rendered a distinct service in giving us, what cannot 
be doubted is, an adequate account of the birds of our smallest 
English county. 


The Nervous System of Vertebrates. By J. B. Jounston, 
Ph.D., &. John Murray. 
THIs is an important book for the serious student of animal 


evolution, though its method and practice are rather more 
abstruse than the bionomic and distributional features largely 


440 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


followed in the pages of ‘ The Zoologist.’ In the author’s words, 
an attempt has been made “‘to give an account of the nervous 
system as a whole, to trace its phylogenetic history, and to show 
the factors which have determined the course of evolution.” 
This functional point of view is intended to supply a study of 
the nervous system to supplement our observations on anima] 
bionomics ; we record the action ; Prof. Johnston seeks to describe 
the nervous system by which it is produced, and its evolution or 
unfolding from primitive to more specialized forms. Such a 
book for detailed review would be beyond the scope of ‘ The 
Zoologist.’ We will, however, advise its study by any sufficiently 
advanced student who can follow its method by the possession 
of sufficiently acquired familiarity with experimental and anato- 
mical methods. Our conception of evolution is largely dependent 
for its accuracy on such knowledge, but most zoologists are, in 
their decisions on this great question, very much in the position 
of a juryman whose verdict is not inconsiderably influenced by 
the light and leading of the personage who occupies the judge’s 
chair. We cannot escape it; many facts and much opinion 
must necessarily be acquired ‘‘ second-hand.” 

We have only one discrepancy to point out. In the chapter 
devoted to ‘“‘The Evolution of the Cerebral Hemispheres” the 
author writes that in man they are larger and more complex 
than ‘“‘in animals”; unless the word ‘‘ other” is interposed be- 
tween these last two words, what becomes of evolution ? 


A Correction.—In our notice of Mr. Le Souéf’s ‘ Wild Life in 
Australia’ (ante, p. 391), we expressed regret that there were no 
generic and specific names to distinguish the animals referred to 
in that very interesting book, which we read from start to finish. 
It has since been pointed out to us that an ‘‘ Index of Scientific 
Names” is inserted after the Index. We did not read beyond 
the index, and though we much regret our statement, we think 
that the publishers are largely to blame in inserting that appendix 
in such a position (without any reference to it in the text), though 
it is included in the ‘‘ Contents.’’ We read neither ‘‘ Contents”’ 
nor ‘‘ Index,” being absorbed in the other pages of a delightful 
narrative. 


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Zool. 1907. 


HSVOUVO V NO 


(9))2929) 


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WHIOV-VAG 


Pw Z00C%OGIST 


No. 798.—December. 1907. 


EXPERIENCES WITH EAGLES AND VULTURES IN 
ALBANIA. 


Bye dite JB, —lbyonyers, 
(Rrace il) 


Waite in Albania this year I was able to put into execution 
an idea I had long contemplated for the purpose of photographing 
Eagles and Vultures at close quarters—.e. to hide up in a hollow 
tree or other similar hiding-place, with the fresh carcase of some 
animal laid out as a bait. 

It is astonishing what a number of animals—horses, donkeys, 
calves, and cows—one sées lying about, having perished in some 
way or another. Many of them get bogged, and, unable to 
extricate themselves from the deep mud through which they 
are obliged to struggle continually, perish miserably, providing 
food for the Vultures and Eagles constantly on the search for 
food. 

Riding through the country it is a common occurrence to 
pass such a carcase, and to see on the neighbouring trees the 
carrion-eaters waiting to descend once more to their interrupted 
feast. From the innermost recesses of a half-devoured carcase 
I have seen dozens of the smaller fry, such as Magpies and 
Hooded Crows, emerge in a perfect cloud, which had been too 
busily engaged to notice our approach before. 

The commonest Eagle here is undoubtedly the Sea-Hagle 

Zool. 4th ser. vol. XI , December, 1907. 2M 


449 THE 4OOLOGIST. 


(Haliaétus albicilla). A few Imperial Eagles were observed, and 
once I saw a Golden Hagle on a tree near a dead horse in 
course of being devoured; but the Sea-Hagle is to be seen 
constantly. 

On the lagoons a pair of Sea-Eagles may often be seen harry- 
ing the big flocks of Coots and Ducks. From a distance one 
may frequently hear the noise made by the thousands of terrified 
birds all rising in the air together at the Eagle’s stoop at one of 
their number, and on one occasion we picked up a Black-headed 
Gull which we had just before seen struck down by one of these 
birds; but they also live largely on carrion. In a nest in a 
huge silver poplar, in 1906, which contained a nearly full-grown 
young bird, we found many skulls and blade-bones of calves and 
other animals, proving that the eaglet had been chiefly brought 
up on carrion picked up in the surrounding forest. 

This year (1907) two nests of Haliaétus albicilia were found 
not more than five hundred yards apart. Between these two 
nests was a small clearing, in the middle of which lay a defunct 
Donkey. It was only found after the whole of the flesh had been 
stripped from the bones; but, as there was a big hollow tree 
close at hand, and another dead Donkey within reach, I had the 
fresh carcase brought to the spot in a bullock-cart, and stowed 
myself away in the tree. Three whole days I spent therein, and 
a very tight fit it was in spite of a lot of axe-work to enlarge the 
shell of the tree. I have spent long hours in many uncomfort- 
able positions, but I think this tree was the worst place I was 
ever in. I had to stand—and it was only with the greatest 
difficulty that I could squeeze myself in after the camera was set 
up—and it was quite impossible to shift either of my feet without 
upsetting the tripod. After a few hours the discomfort of such a 
cramped and strained position became perfectly unbearable— 
such torture I was in from being unable to vary my position. 
The worst of it was that neither Eagles nor Vultures came to the 
spot. The hole in front was too big to be filled up naturally 
enough to deceive such keen-eyed birds, and the Donkey was 
gradually devoured each night by the Jackals, until it ceased to 
be an attraction. Magpies and Ravens were the only visitors in 
the daytime, though for hours three Griffons sat motionless on a 
dead tree close at hand. I could see them quite plainly from my 


EAGLES AND VULTURES IN ALBANIA. 443 


hiding-place; but if they could not see me they must have been 
able to see something which aroused their suspicions, for they 
finally took their departure without having partaken of the 
banquet I had provided for them. 

A few weeks later another tree was utilised in the same way. 
It was more conveniently situated, for instead of an hour’s ride 
through the forest it could be reached by walking about twenty 
minutes, and it provided much better accommodation inside. 
In fact, I spent a week comfortably sitting inside a huge prostrate 
trunk, with plenty of room to move about, or even to lie down, 
and at the same time perfectly hidden from the keen sight of 
my guests, which had not the slightest idea of my presence. 
Even the Ravens, suspicious and ever watchful as they are, 
came quite freely, sometimes a dozen ata time. I could often 
hear them settle on the trunk just over my head. 

The fare I provided for them was plentiful and good. First 
I bought a sick cow, and had it killed within easy distance, 
fifteen or twenty yards. When that was picked clean—as it was 
in a day—a succession of dead Calves and Donkeys was brought 
to the banqueting-ground by bullock-cart, and laid out con- 
spicuously. 

The worst of it was that, in my anxiety not to betray my 
presence in any way, I did not provide myself with a peep-hole, 
but only a round hole just big enough to take the lens. It was 
thus only possible to see my subject through the camera itself, 
and this proved to be a great drawback. The first bird to 
appear on these occasions was invariably a Magpie. First of 
all the curious cry would be heard in the bushes around, and 
then, with wavering flight, a Magpie would fly to the carcase, 
soon to be followed by others, until quite a number would be 
collected together. Then the Hooded Crows would begin to 
arrive. Presently the deep guttural croak of a Raven from the 
summit of some tree would tell me that one of these birds had 
made its appearance ; but not until it had satisfied itself that all 
was safe would it commence feeding. 

The first Griffon (Gyps fulvus) came rather late one evening. 
As mentioned before, I could only see the carcase through the 
camera, and then not the whole of it; so that, seeing the 


2m 2 


444 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


carcase—that of a large calf—suddenly shake violently, evidently 
dragged about by some powerful animal, I concluded that a dog 
had found it out. To make sure, however, I turned the camera 
slightly, and saw, to my surprise, a large Griffon energetically 
attacking the farther end. I was amazed to see with what 
apparent ease the bird could move such a heavy object. 

The next morning I was in position at an early hour, and 
soon heard the ‘‘swish-swish”’ of heavy wings beating the air, 
and the croaks of Vultures assembling for the feast. Then they 
began to descend, until there were over thirty Griffons, and one 
Black Vulture (Vuliur monachus), in a dense and seething mass 
of hissing, grunting birds, each one tearing off and gulping 
down as quickly as possible huge lumps of flesh and entrails. 
In the short space of an hour, or perhaps a little more, the 
whole of the calf had disappeared, and the birds one by one 
began to flap heavily away, leaving the Magpies and Crows to 
pick up the smaller fragments and clean up the bones. 

During this extraordinary scene I had been busy exposing 
plate after plate, until I had used my whole stock of eighteen, 
with but faint hopes, however, of success; for, most unfortu- 
nately, the morning was exceptionally dull, heavy rain-clouds 
obscuring the light of the sun. My misgivings proved to be 
only too well-founded, all of the negatives being hopelessly 
under-exposed. 

Another day at the end of March I was rather more success- 
ful in results. After photographing several Ravens and Hoodies, 
two Kites (Milvus regalis) appeared together, and remained some 
little time, giving me several chances. Then an [egyptian 
Vulture (Neophron percnopterus) came.into view of the lens, and 
there were quickly nine of these birds quarrelling and fighting 
over the tit-bits. A single Griffon also came, but departed before 
I could get a chance to photograph it. Then suddenly appeared 
in the middle of the carcase an immature Sea-Hagle (Haliaétus 
albicilla). 

The Neophrons retired to a respectful distance while his 
majesty dined. It was a splendid sight to see this noble- 
looking bird stare around him in majestic fashion if any of the 
Vultures presumed to approach too closely ; and, though he did 
not disdain to dine off carrion, it was done in a most dignified 


EAGLES AND VULTURES IN ALBANIA. 445 


manner, with none of the gulping and gobbling so characteristic 
of the Vultures. 

My further use of this useful hiding-place was stopped by 
ploughing being commenced close to my hosts, a family of 
Albanian farmers, with whom I lived, a self-invited guest, for 
over a week. 

A most interesting week I had with them in this forest, 
being treated with the utmost kindness and courtesy. True 
to their national hospitality they would take no payment in 
money, but accepted gladly my watch—a cheap American five- 
shilling watch—and my spurs; and I only hope that at some 
future time I shall be able to accept their pressing invitation to 
visit them again and stay for a month, or six months, or as 
long as I like. 


446 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


EXTENDED BREEDING-RANGEKE OF THE MARSH- 
WARBLER (ACROCEPHALUS PALUSTRIS) INTO 


HAMPSHIRE. 
By Harry BEEston. 


OrnitHoLoctists will learn with much interest that the Marsh- 
Warbler is extending its breeding area in the South of England 
to the eastward. 

This year I have reliable and unmistakable evidence that 
this rare (?) warbler has nested (I cannot say for certain reared 
a brood) in Hampshire. 

For obvious reasons I refrain from giving the exact locality ; 
it is sufficient to state that the birds have been noted in one 
locality at least, within two miles of the West Sussex border, 
between that boundary and Hayling Island. It is more than 
likely that diligent search another year may reveal their 
presence in other suitable localities, several of which exist in 
the district. The bird is in my opinion a much commoner 
species than is usually supposed, the nest and eggs resembling 
so very closely those of the Reed-Warbler that they are quite 
likely overlooked and mistaken for those of that bird. 

Briefly, the circumstances which brought the bird to my 
notice are as follows :— 

On June 7th, 1907, I had shown to me two eggs for identi- 
fication, which I thought at first were rather light-coloured 
specimens of the Reed-Warbler (Acrocephalus streperus). They 
had been taken by a boy (most good things are discovered, 
and too often destroyed, by either boys or dogs) in a small 
secluded reed-bed. 

No information could be obtained about either the bird or 
nest, except that the nest was built and suspended among the 
reeds, but had been torn out and destroyed. 

At first I concluded that the nest was that of Acrocephalus 
streperus, and that the eggs were a very light-coloured variety of 
that bird’s eggs. 


EXTENDED RANGE OF THE MARSH-WARBLER. 447 


The position of the nest seemed to confirm that view. The 
egos, as stated, were taken on’ June 7th, and a’ Reed-Warbler’s 
nest with four eggs was observed on the same date. The 
Marsh-Warbler’s nest only contained two eggs when taken. I 
was not at all satisfied that the eggs were those of the Reed- 
Warbler, so I made one or two visits to the reed-bed in the 
hope of seeing the birds and hearing the song; but I was not 
successful in doing either, and for a few days I heard nothing 
further. 

On June 15th I was much surprised at being shown four more 
eggs taken from a nest in the same reed-bed. These eggs were 
in every particular similar to the two previous ones. I now 
determined to go carefully into the matter, and was enabled to 
examine the nest (it had in this instance fortunately not been 
destroyed) and to obtain more details of construction and 
situation. 

It was built in the centre of the reed-bed, by the side of a 
small stream flowing through the bed, and was suspended about 
four feet above the ground, to four or five reeds, exactly like a Reed- 
Sparrow’s nest. 

Almost all authorities agree in stating that the nest of 
A. palustris is not suspended among the reeds, but placed ‘‘ in the 
herbage near the water” (R. Bowdler Sharpe, ‘ Lloyd’s Natural 
History of British Birds,’ vol. i. p. 282), and ‘“‘ often placed at 
some little distance from the water in low bushes overgrown with 
reeds, or in nettles and other water-plants.”’ 

In order that no mistake should be made, I forwarded nest 
and eggs to South Kensington Museum, to Dr. Bowdler Sharpe, 
on July 25th, 1907, and he forthwith pronounced them to be 
those of the Marsh- Warbler. 

I have made a very careful and critical examination of the 
nest, and find it constructed as follows:—The outside is com- 
posed of fine dry grass-stalks and grass-leaves, narrow strips of 
thin bleached seaweed, a few dried flower-heads of reed-grass, 
dead stems and flower-heads of an umbelliferous plant, an odd 
spider’s cocoon or two, and a greenish substance which I at first 
took to be moss, but upon examination with a lens I found to be 
a species of fine green alge, whether seaweed or freshwater 
weed I am unable to say, probably the former. Into the rim of 


448 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


the nest has been neatly woven a quantity of white wool, very 
much like cotton-wool, but in all probability pieces of sheep’s- 
wool from bushes and fences near the nesting site. Intertwined 
with the wool of the rim, and also forming part of the inside 
cup of the nest, is a quantity of the above-mentioned stems and 
flower-heads of reed-grass, the cup itself being lined with fine 
stems of dried reed-grass. 

The nest measures four inches in depth, across the rim two 
inches, and depth two inches. Outside, it is rather loosely con- 
structed, but the interior is neatly and compactly made. 

It contained five eges when first found, one of which was 
unfortunately destroyed. The eggs exactly correspond to the 
descriptions given by the best authorities, being quite different 
in ground-colour and markings from those of the Reed- Warbler. 
It almost amounts to a certainty that the breeding-range of this 
bird is much more widespread in the Southern Counties than is 
generally supposed. On account of its haunts, habits, song, 
nesting periods and sites being so very similar to those of its 
congener the Reed-Warbler, it is without doubt almost always 
passed over unobserved, until by some accident it is discovered 
and reported. It may be that further observation will reveal its 
presence in other parts of this and adjoining counties. — 

To show how little it is known in Hampshire, or, at any 
rate, how it may have been mistaken for its ally, I quote the 
following from the recently published ‘ Birds of Hampshire and 
the Isle of Wight,’ by Kelsall and Munn, with regard to its 
apparent rarity in this county:—‘‘ Arare summer visitor. In 
Mr. Hart’s collection there is a specimen (a bird) procured in 
May, 1869, and he has also a clutch of eggs taken near Christ- 
church. A nest with eggs was taken at Alresford Great Pond 
in June, 1868, by Mr. W. H. Smith.” 

The record concludes with these pertinent remarks :—‘‘ We 
do not think that this species is really so scarce as it is supposed 
to be, but rather is overlooked; though the bird resembles the 
Reed-Warbler its nest is placed in situations similar to the 
Sedge-Warbler’s.” It is evident this example is a clear excep- 
tion to the rule as given by most authorities. 

Have the bird and its nest been found and authoritatively 
identified in Hampshire since 1863? If so, when, where, and 


EXTENDED RANGE OF THE MARSH-WARBLER. 449 


under what circumstances? It would be interesting to have the 
information. 

It. appears almost certain, too, that there must have been 
more than one pair of birds in the reed-bed, as there was not 
sufficient time from June 7th, when the two first eggs were 
taken, to June 15th, when the second nest was seen with five 
eggs, for the same pair of birds to have constructed a new nest 
and completed a second clutch of five eggs, unless it is possible 
for the birds to have made the nest in three days, and then 
commenced laying immediately it was completed, which seems 
scarcely feasible. 


450 | THE ZOOLOGIST. 


ICHTHYOLOGY IN JAPAN. 
By Prof. McInroso, M.D., LL.D., F.R.S., &c. 


Tue third part of the first volume of the ‘ Fishes of Japan,’ 
chiefly in their economic aspects, by K. Otaki, A.B., T. Fujita, 
and T. Higurashi, No. 3, vol. i. and No. 1, vol. iv. (Shokwabo, 
publisher, Tokyo, Japan), contains an account of six species. 
The first is the Black Pagrus (Sparus schlegeli, Bleek.), which is 
not equal to the Red Tai (Pagrus major) in delicacy and popu- 
larity, but large numbers are captured in the shallower waters 
in summer by nets and lines. The spawning season is in May 
and June, and the pelagic ova of 1 mm. in diameter hatch in 
two days. Ina year they reach six inches in length, and in two | 
years ten inches and maturity—a rapid development. The 
Japanese fishes of the group to which this form belongs show, as 
Dr. Gunther pointed out long ago, an approach to those of the 
Mediterranean. -Indeed, the invertebrate fauna of Japan re- 
semble in certain instances that of the North Sea. The next 
species --the Maguro or Black Eye (Thunnus schlegeli, Steind.)— 
is caught by long lines and nets, and, as some reach the length 
of eight feet, the fishing is of an exciting character. On the 
Pacific Coast pound-nets of a complex character are employed. 
The preparation of the fish into ‘‘ fushi,” the dried fish-stick, is 
one of the important industries of the country. The Maiwashi 
or Sardine (Clupanodon melanosticta, T. & §.) is extensively 
canned, salted, and dried, as well as used in the preparation of 
oil, and as a fertilizer. Just as in the case of Herrings and 
Sprats, large flocks of Sea-gulls and the appearance of Whales 
warn the fishermen, who encircle the fish with nets, which are 
then drawn tothe beach. The pelagic eggs of this form have an 
oil-globule, and each fish is stated to produce forty thousand. 
Though the Konoshiro (Konosirus punctatus, T. & S.)—an ally of 
the former and, lke the Tarpon, with the last dorsal ray pro- 
longed into a whip-like filament—is an inferior fish, yet it is of 


ICHTHYOLOGY IN JAPAN. 451 


considerable commercial importance, especially in autumn. It is 
captured by fixed nets and seines. The Common Carp, again, 
has been an important food-fish in Japan since the beginning of 
the Christian era, and is taken by gill-nets, cast-nets, hooks, and 
weirs. The latter are made of bamboos, and are ingeniously 
elaborate. The Gold Carp has been considered good food for 
nearly as long a period. It attains the length of eighteen 
inches, and a weight of 3} lb. The four imperial quarto plates 
accompanying this part maintain the high standard of the 
previous plates, and are a credit to Japan and to science, and 
the same may be said of the figures of the nets, pounds, and 
other apparatus in the Japanese text. 

The first part of the fourth volume deals with nine important 
species, five pertaining to the Salmonide, three to the Apodous 
fishes, and the last is Pagrus major. Each species receives 
careful notice in regard to specific characters, coloration, habits, 
food, reproduction, distribution, and economic value, and the 
figures still maintain the same high character. It would be an 
improvement, however, if the English text were revised by a 
skilled reader, though it must be stated that no ambiguity 
results from the present orthography. 

The first species is the famous Red Tai or Madai (Pagrus 
major, T. & §.), so highly esteemed in Japan as to be a kind of 
national emblem. The largest attain the length of two feet 
and a weight of six pounds. It is estimated that the ova, which 
have an oil-globule and are 1 mm. in diameter, number eighteen 
million, so that it is clear they cannot all ripen at once. An 
interesting fact in connection with this fish is the use of a seine 
with body or bag and wings, together with a long auxiliary scare- 
line with keg-buoys and sinkers. No fewer than forty-six men 
are required to manipulate it, viz. twenty-four net-hands in two 
boats, ten auxiliary net-men in two boats, eight anchor-men in 
two boats, and four watchers or supervisors in a special boat. 
The plan of using a scare-line, as in certain other countries, is 
noteworthy. 

The Salmonide include Onchorynchus keta, Walb., the Dog- 
Salmon or Hake, one of the Quinnat Salmon found on both sides 
of the North Pacific. It weighs from seven to ten pounds, and 
is caught chiefly by seines in Northern Japan. Another species 


452 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


is O. masou, Brevoort, a land-locked form in Japan, and growing 
and maturing in suitable fresh water. Artificial flies for the 
capture of this and other Salmonide in Japan will soon be 
extensively used. The Pond-Smelt or Chika (Mesopus olidus, 
Palloc), with adhesive eggs 1 mm. in diameter, and the Ice-fish, 
Whitebait, or Shira-uwo (Salana microdon, Blkr.), also with ad- 
hesive eggs, but only about two thousand in number, are two 
small forms of considerable value. They are caught with seines 
and fixed nets. A fish very popular with the Japanese is the 
Ayu, Annual-fish, or Flavorous-fish, a form which was well 
known 200 8.c. It is about ten inches long, and much prized 
for its flavour and sweetness; so much so that protective regula- 
tions for its culture to supply the Imperial table were in force 
between a.p. 810-824. It passes its early life in the sea, and 
ascends rivers in March and April to spawn, the eggs adhering 
to the gravel. It is caught by nets, either fixed or cast, by hook 
and line, and by Cormorants—a method which has been in vogue 
in Japan for two thousand five hundred years. 

The Japanese Kel (Anguilla japonica, T. & §.) is valuable in 
the home-market, and almost all the fresh waters of Haido and 
the southern part of Hokkaido are stocked with it. Murenosox 
cinereus, T. & §., the Biter, attains a length of 2} ft., and is 
furnished with knife-like teeth. Congrettus anago, T. & S., the 
Anago or hole-dweller, frequents a bottom of sandy mud inshore. 
Both are captured by hand-lines, by trawls, trawl-lines, and 
drift-nets. 

The sea-fisheries of Japan are both extensive and valuable, 
and her position in the Pacific Ocean is such that it is unlikely 
that even her teeming population will ever seriously affect her 
marine food-fishes, however clamant local fears and prejudices 
may be. 


( 453 ) 


AN ANNOTATED LIST OF CORNISH FISHES. 
By James Cuark, M.A., D.Sc., A.R.C.S. 


(Continued from p. 427.) 


Coucu recorded the Cat-fish or Wolf-fish (Anarrhichas lupus, 
L.) from Fowey and Looe. One over three feet long was found 
on the beach at Whitsand Bay, Land’s End, in an advanced 
state of decomposition in December, 1906, after a spell of very 
stormy weather. The Gattorugine (Blennius gattorugine, Bloch) 
is common on rocky ground along the south coast from fifteen 
fathoms downwards, and has been obtained at St. Ives and 
Millook on the north. Single specimens have been obtained 
eight miles south of the Dodman in forty fathoms, and in July, 
1907, several were captured at Coverack. It is usually taken in 
Crab-pots with fine net over the bottom. Montagu’s Blenny 
(B. galerita, L.) is at times frequently captured in the rock-pools 
at Gorran, Gyllyngvase, and Mount’s Bay, and has been taken 
at Polperro, Mevagissey, Cadgwith, and St. Ives, but its numbers 
vary greatly, and in some years, as in 1901 and 1907, hardly a 
specimen was found. The Butterfly Blenny (B. ocellaris, L.) 
has since 1899—at least up to 1906—been quite common in the 
pools among the weed-covered rocks at Gyllyngvase, and as 
many as eleven have been captured in a single afternoon. This 
year, however, only two specimens have been found in nine 
visits. Three examples were dredged in fifteen fathoms off the 
mouth of the Helford River in June, 1904, and one was found 
dead on Marazion beach in February, 1900. The Shanny 
(B. pholis, L.) is common, and in places abundant, along the 
south in rock-pools and among stones. Round Land’s End and 
along the north coast it is very local. Occasionally numbers 
may be seen resting on rocks and in crevices above the surface 
of the pool, into which they jump when disturbed with a patter 
like big rain-drops. The Crested Blenny (Carelophus ascanit, 
Walb.) is said to be not uncommon in the south of Cornwall, but 


454 THE ZOOLOGIST 


rare in Mount’s Bay. The only specimen seen by the writer was 
dredged in twenty-five fathoms in Falmouth Bay in June, 1902. 
The Butter-fish or Gunnel (Centronotus gunnellus, Bl. Schn.) is 
often found between tide-marks on moist ground along the south 
and west, but is very local on the north coast. It is occasionally 
found in Crab-pots. A single example of the Red Band-fish 
(Cepola rubescens, Li.) was recorded from Mevagissey by Dunn. 
The Angler, Monk-fish, or Sea Devil (Lophius piscatorius, L.) is 
common all round the coast, coming inshore in summer and 
autumn, and often passing into the estuaries. Six years ago a 
specimen measuring 2 ft. 9 in. came up the Fal above Malpas. 
In 1905 a large Angler was caught in a trammel south of Mount’s 
Bay, with a Shag inside, and Dunn f. says this has occurred 
several times within his personal knowledge. 

The Cod (Gadus morrhua, L.) is still common both on sandy 
and on rocky ground all round the coast, but is not often taken 
in really good condition for the table. The Haddock (G. egle- 
jfinus, L.) is perhaps the most uncertain of the Cornish food- 
fishes in its appearance. For some years previous to 1870 it 
was plentiful at Megavissey, but that year it left the coast 
entirely (Matthias Dunn). In the early sixties the fishermen 
from Falmouth and St. Mawes took it in considerable quantity, 
and large catches were at least occasionally made further west. 
From 1870 onwards only occasional specimens were caught, but 
in 1886 over a hundred were taken near the Wolf Rock (Hicks). 
From that time it remained very scarce till five or six years ago. 
Lately trawlers have brought in up to four or five hundred occa- 
sionally from the Silver Pits, two to four miles south of Mouse- 
hole Island, and small catches of much larger fish have been 
made in the vicinity of Wolf Rock. In 1904 several were taken 
with hand-lines near Newquay. The Bib, Pout, or Whiting 
Pout (G. luscus, L.) is still plentiful all round the coast, though 
Dunn f. says it is not so abundant as formerly. It is one of the 
most local of fish, concealing itself in thousands in the same 
gully or channel or ledge on a sunken rock year after year, and 
venturing out to feed on low rock or sand only at night. In its 
gully or ‘‘Bib-pit”’ it takes bait, as a rule, most voraciously, and 
numbers may be taken in a remarkably short time, provided the 
exact locality of the Bib-chain can be hit upon, but only a few 


AN ANNOTATED LIST OF CORNISH FISHES. 455 


yards away one may fish for hours without a bite. It is occa- 
sionally taken at night by trawlers on sandy bottoms three or 
four miles out at sea. The Power Cod or Poor Cod (G. minutus, 
L.) is plentiful both on the south and on the north. It is often 
taken in large quantity by trawlers, especially in the spring, and 
comes to bait readily, but is of little use as food. The Whiting 
(G. merlangus, L.) is abundant, and, as a rule, in excellent con- 
dition all round the coast throughout the late autumn and 
winter. In the autumn it often feeds close inshore on young 
Pilchards, but promptly retires into deep water when the tem- 
perature of the water falls. Trawling is often highly profitable, 
and it comes readily to bait. The Poutassou (G. poutassou, 
Risso) is a Mediterranean Cod obtained in the adult state by 
Couch from Polperro in 1840. Great shoals of young fish 
appeared at Mevagissey in 1861, 1871, and 188] (Dunn). On 
May 28th, 1904, the water from Coverack round to the Manacles 
was literally alive with them, the largest not more than three 
inches in length. Dunn /f. says mature Poutassou are taken now 
and then by Newlyn boats twenty miles or more south of Scilly. 
The Coal-fish or Rauning Pollack (G. virens, L.) occurs all round 
the coast, and is often abundant, especially during winter and 
spring. It sometimes follows up the Pilchard shoals in large 
numbers, and is then taken in quantity along with Whiting 
Pollack. The long-line fishermen at Polperro and elsewhere 
often capture very fine specimens, but the largest are taken at 
the Runnelstone and round Land’s End, though in December, 
1905, one weighing 46 lb. was landed at Newquay. From its 
sreat strength and the violent rush with which it takes the bait, 
angling for Coal-fish is most exciting sport. In July, 1901, an 
enormous shoal of small fry appeared between Pendower beach 
and the Gull Rock at Portscatho, and in September, 1906, there 
were several thousand young fish from 5 to 7 in. long in Whit- 
sand Bay, near the Land’s End. Whiting Pollack or Pollack 
(G. pollachius, L.) is common on rocky ground all round the 
coast, and in some localities abundant. It is extensively caught 
by long-line fishermen all the year round, and is the amateur’s 
fish par excellence. live Sand-eels, rubber bait, and a slice of 
Mackerel are all very deadly, and the artificial fly is often used. 
In the west of the county, and on a specially favoured reef, the 


456 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


fish are often very large, and specimens weighing 9 or 10 lb. are 
of frequent occurrence. Matthias Dunn obtained specimens of 
the Norway Pout (G. esmarkii, Nillson) from the stomach of a 
Hake (not Pollack as reported) caught in a trawl forty miles 
north-west of St. Ives, two of which were sent to Holt for identi- 
fication in 1897. In August, 1900, Garstang identified a speci- 
men 7 in. long, taken in a ground-seine between Saltash and 
the Lynher River. Hake (Merlucius vulgaris, Cuv.) has been 
decidedly scarcer of late years than formerly, especially in inshore 
waters, and in some districts, like Falmouth, has almost com- 
pletely disappeared. It occurs all the year round, but is most 
in evidence in autumn and winter. It is still moderately common 
at times in deep water along the south coast, and in the mouth 
of the English Channel, and in the west and towards south-west 
steam trawlers make heavy catches. This year (1907) a large 
number have been caught with hand-lines by the drift-boats from 
Newlyn, many of them in very fine condition. Except at the 
mouth of the Bristol Channel, it is scarce on the north coast. 
The Greater Fork-beard (Phycis blennioides, Bl. Schn.) was de- 
scribed by Couch as common in the autumn and winter, but 
Cornish considered it rare. In 1892 one was brought in at 
Plymouth that had been captured on a Whiting-hook, and Holt 
records one that was trawled in Cawsand Bay. On the 10th of 
December, 1900, one was taken in a trawl at the mouth of the 
Helford River, and one was brought in at Newlyn this year 
(1907) that had been caught fifty miles N.N.W. of the Longships. 
Ling (Molva vulgaris, Flem.) is common on a rough bottom all 
round the coast, and is caught with hook and line during the 
winter and early spring. The finest are obtained at Scilly, 
which has long been celebrated for the excellence of its salted 
Ling. The Five-bearded Rock-Ling (Motella mustela, L.) is fairly 
common in rock-pools under stones, and in shallow water along 
the south of the county. In September, 1906, several were 
found in a small sand-pool on the shores of Whitsand Bay, 
Land’s End. It is evidently scarce and local on the north coast, 
but in the summer of 1905 was plentiful in pools in Widemouth 
Bay, near Bude. The Four-bearded Rock-Ling (M. cimbria, L.) . 
was recorded by Cocks from Falmouth. Holt mentions a speci- 
men 8 in. long in the stomach of a Hake trawled in or off the 


AN ANNOTATED LIST OF CORNISH FISHES. 457 


Bristol Channel (Journ. M. B. A. v. 348). The Three-bearded 
Rock-Ling (M. tricirrata, Bl.), sometimes called the Whistler 
about Penzance, is locally common in rock-pools and in weed- 
covered beaches between tide-marks down to deep water along 
the south and west coast. It has been found in the rock-pools 
at St. Ives, and one, 16} in. long, was taken with Herring-bait 
near Newquay in October, 1904. The Lesser Fork-beard (Rani- 
ceps raninus, L.) was taken by Matthias Dunn at Mevagissey, 
and several times by Cornish in Mount’s Bay. In recent years 
it has been taken at Polperro in 1899, in Falmouth Bay by hook 
and line in June, 1902, and again in July, 1907, and near 
St. Michael’s Mount in September, 1903. The solitary British 
example of Ophidium barbatum, L., was obtained at Padstow, and 
is now in the British Museum. 

Halibut (Hippoglossus vulgaris, Flem.) is occasionally taken off 
the south coast, but is not common. In July, 1901, one was 
caught in Gerran’s Bay that weighed 107 lb. In April, 1900, 
one weighing 42 lb. was caught on a spiller at Gorran; in April, 
1902, three weighing from 6 up to 11 lb. were taken with hand- 
lines at the Bizzies Rock, Portscatho; in February, 1905, one, 
84 1b. in weight, was captured near the outer end of the Manacles 
in Falmouth Bay. Last spring (1907) several were landed by 
liners at Newlyn. A single specimen of the Long Rough Dab 
(H. limandoides, Bl.) was obtained at Falmouth by Cocks prior 
to 1849. The Turbot (Rhombus maximus, L.) is pretty common 
along the south coast, and often attains a large size. It is also 
taken in the Bristol Channel, but gets very scarce off the north- 
east of the county. Brill (R. levis, Gottsche) is common all 
round the coast in shallow and deep water. Common Topknot 
(Zeugopterus punctatus, Bl.) is by no means scarce along the 
south coast, where it is frequently taken in trammels, and at 
times in Mullet-nets. Off Mevagissey and in Mount’s Bay it 
occurs usually on rocky bottoms that are not very rough, while 
in Falmouth Bay it seems to prefer weed-covered ‘‘ scuddy ” 
rocks. It has also been obtained recently at Sennen Cove, 
Land’s End, off St. Ives, and in April, 1906, at Bude. The One- 
spotted Topknot (Z. unimaculatus, Risso) has only twice been 
taken in Cornish seas, the last in 1880. Four specimens of the 
Norway Topknot (Z. norwegicus, Gunther) were trawled in July, 

Zool. 4th ser. vol. XI., December, 1907. 2N 


458 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


1891, between the Eddystone and Rame Head in twenty-five 
fathoms, and another—a ripe female—in March, 1892, six miles 
from Plymouth Breakwater. The Sail-fluke, Megrim, or Merry 
Sole (Lepidorhombus megastoma, Don.) is usualiy plentiful on the 
trawling-grounds along the south, is the commonest of flat-fish 
in the neighbourhood of Land’s End, and is taken in quantity 
about the mouth of the Bristol Channel. It rarely comes into 
shallow water, but two were taken with bait close inshore at Port 
Isaac in April, 1902, aftera storm. The Scald-fish or Seald-back 
(Arnoglossus laterna, Walb.) is common all round the coast on 
sand or gravel—the young inshore, the mature fish on the 
trawling-grounds. It is locally abundant in Mount’s Bay, Land’s 
End, and the Bristol Channel. Two specimens of the Broad 
Scald-fish (A. grohmanni, Bonap.}j, both females full of spawn, 
were trawled by Holt in Gerran’s Bay in July, 1897 (M. B. A.). 
Plaice (Pleuronectes platessa, L.) is usually abundant all round 
the coast, but most of the fish are immature, and consequently 
undersized. Certain well-defined areas between Polperro and 
Fowey and in the east end of Gerran’s Bay are among the 
finest Plaice-grounds in the county. Great shoals often appear 
in the more protected bays in the autumn. As winter comes on 
they pass into deep waters, but these they gradually leave in 
early spring, and in May are often fairly close inshore. The 
Lemon Dab (P. microcephalus, Don.) is somewhat local, but on 
the whole common along the south coast on trawling-grounds in 
clear water. The deep-sea trawlers at Newlyn often obtain it in 
quantity (Dunn f.). In the county it is often called the Merry 
Sole. The Dab (P. limanda, L.) is still common on a sandy 
bottom along the south coast, and locally in the mouth of the 
Bristol Channel, but Dunn f. says it is not so plentiful as twenty 
years ago. The Witch or Pole Dab (P. cynoglossus, L.) is a rare 
casual. Dunn /f., in 1905, saw two that had been brought into 
Newlyn by deep-sea trawlers. The Flounder (P. flesus, L.) is 
very common in the estuaries all round the coast, passing out 
into the open sea in spring for spawning purposes. The Sole 
(Solea vulgaris, Quensel) is common all round the coast, and, 
according to Dunn f., has not diminished in numbers during the 
last few years, as is apparently the case elsewhere. The Lemon 
Sole (S. lascaris, Risso) is a rare casual in Cornish waters, 


AN ANNOTATED LIST OF CORNISH FISHES. 459 


evidently not recorded since 1880. The Thick-back or Variegated 
Sole (S. variegata, Don.) is taken in fair quantity by deep-sea 
trawlers only, along the south coast and at the mouth of the 
Channel. It is also occasionally taken north and north-west of 
St. Ives. The Solenette (S. lutea, Risso) is generally overlooked 
through being mistaken for the young of the Common Sole. It 
is fairly common, and at times abundant on a sandy bottom 
from shallow water downwards. It is occasionally taken by 
trawlers in large quantity, and generally thrown overboard 
because of its small size. It has been identified at St. Ives and 
at Padstow. 

A single half-grown specimen of the subtropical Balistes 
maculatus, Gmel., in the British Museum, is stated to have been 
received from Polperro, but Day has great hesitation in accepting 
the species as British. Anexample of the File-fish (B. capriscus, 
Gmel.) was taken at Porthloe in 1865, and passed through Couch’s 
hands into the British Museum. The Globe-fish (T'etrodon lago- 
cephalus, L.) is an occasional casualin the south. One was taken 
in Falmouth Bay on the 8th of September, 1891, and was seen 
by the writer five days later. It measured 15} in. in length. 
Another was picked up by a fisherman on Seaton beach about 
the middle of August, 1905, and is now in the British Museum. 
The Sun-fish (Orthagoriscus mola, L.) is a frequent casual all 
along the south coast, and at St. Ives. A small one about 
24 ft. long and 21 in. deep was gaffed off Newquay in July, 
1902, three were recorded about Bude in 1905, and one, 4 ft. 3 in. 
long and 3 ft. 5 in. deep, was obtained off Trevose Head, Pad- 
stow, early in August, 1907. The Oblong Sun-fish (O. truncatus, 
Retz) is much rarer, only five having been recorded since 1855, 
the last, a specimen about 19 in. long, being thrown up on 
Porthcothan beach, near Padstow, in June, 1896 (Hicks). 


(To be continued.) 


460 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


SOME FISH-NOTES FROM GREAT YARMOUTH 
FOR 1907. 


By ArtHur H. Partrerson, A.M.B.A. 


Tue past year has been to me one of the least interesting of 
years so far as appertains to matters piscine. The long dreary 
months of gloom and chilliness seem to have been all against the 
local shrimper-folk, on whom I have greatly to depend for strange 
and uncommon sea-waifs; they had scant time to bestow upon 
anything beyond the manipulation of their nets and boats and 
the scraping together of a bare living, ‘‘let alone,” as they 
assured me, ‘‘ bortherin’ about curios.’’ Indeed, rare fishes and 
crustaceans appear to have been ‘conspicuously absent, and my 
pickle-bottles remained in their cuddies uncorked until the end 
of the season; and I have but one new species to add to my 
East Norfolk list, viz. the Four-horned Cottus. 

A large Conger was reported captured near Southwold and 
brought into Yarmouth on Jan. 30th; it weighed 53 lb., and 
measured 6 ft. 83 in. 

An attempt was made to sell Dog-fishes in the town in 
January, and an itinerant fish-vendor barrowed a number of 
goodly sized Picked Dogs (Acanthias vulgaris) about the town, 
having first divested them of skins, tails, heads, and fins. These 
two-foot lengths of ‘‘ Japanese Hake,” as he was pleased to term 
them, looked assuredly tempting, and very much resembled 
skinned Weevers, or Gurnards, pulled to an extraordinary length. 
He cleared out his stock-in-trade, some being sold outright, 
others being left out ‘‘on approval”; in two or three instances 
he was asked for more, but in other cases prejudice stepped in, 
and he could not argue his clients into a continuance of custom. 
The experiment was not a sufficient success to warrant the 
trouble of ‘‘ Dogs” being marketed, and only in exceptional 
instances, when any considerable number are netted, do these 
fish change hands. These are smuggled into the fried-fish shops 
of less scrupulous fishmongers, who prefer to hide them under 


SOME FISH-NOTES FROM GREAT YARMOUTH. 461 


the counter to exposing them in the window, until wanted. Dead 
examples of various sizes have not infrequently been washed 
ashore, having been pitched out of the Herring-luggers during 
the Herring-fishing. Quite a number of Picked Dogs ventured 
up Breydon in November ; I saw Jary the watcher, who pursues 
Smelts in the winter months, capture several at one haul. I 
amused myself—rather cruelly, I fear—in watching the move- 
ments of two or three I threw into a brackish ditch at the foot of 
the walls; their method of swimming near the surface was very 
erratic and undulating. 

I obtained in February a very beautiful 11 in. Brill, the upper 
side of which was entirely white, with the exception of four 
brown shilling-sized spots and three smaller ones; these were 
distributed around the fish, four being on the white dorsal fin— 
i.e. on the right side of the fish —one was on the base of the tail, 
and the other two on the anal fin. This fish was figured in the 
‘Countryside’ of Noy. 28rd. 

On Feb. 6th a twelve-inch Mackerel foolishly came up with 
the tide to Breydon, a most unusual locality for the species. 
The sewage-tainted water proved too much for its powers of 
endurance, and coming to the surface near the entrance of the 
Bure a person who had been watching its erratic movements 
deftly caught it by hand. 

A freshly captured Torpedo Ray (Torpedo vulgaris) was 
brought from Lowestoft by a fish-vendor, from whom I pur- 
chased it, on Feb. 9th; and from the same man I received a 
Starry Ray (fata radiata), the size of a dinner-plate, on Feb. 
20th. I discovered in its mouth a Skulpin (Callionymus lyra). 
I have been unable to ascertain the precise localities where 
these two interesting fishes were captured, but from their fresh- 
ness I am inclined to think they were taken in our Kast Norfolk 
waters. 

Knowing my interest in strange fishes, a fisherman’s wife 
called on me with three Bullhead-like fishes, which I at once be- 
lieved to be the Four-horned Cottus (Cottus quadricornis), a species 
for which I had been on the look-out for a number of years. The 
longest measured 83 in. in length. This was on March 38rd. 
With them came five Broad-nosed Pipe-fishes (Siphonostoma 
typhle). I could not learn from the woman the exact locality 


462 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


of their capture; I only ascertained that these Cottus were taken 
in the vicinity of Lowestoft, and sold there with other fishes. I 
have more recently seen an example taken by a friend on Yar- 
mouth Pier, which places its claim to my local list beyond 
dispute; but unfortunately he had made a most execrable attempt 
to preserve it, so that its value as a ‘‘specimen” was entirely 
gone. This species is my only addition to the Norfolk list for 
1907. 

On the same date, on the south beach, I found a mauled ex- 
ample of the Lumpsucker (Cyclopterus lumpus), upon which the 
Hooded Crows had been most industriously dining. On March 
4th a 83 lb. Ballan Wrasse (Labras maculatus) was taken in the 
neighbourhood. 

On March 11th a fine example of the Greenland Bullhead 
(Cottus grenlandicus) was given me, that had been placed on the 
top of a consignment of Herrings from Norway. 

A Smeared Dab (Pleuronectes microcephalus) came to hand on 
March 80th, the upper surface of which was of the normal colour, 
but the surrounding fins and tail were perfectly white. 

The washing ashore, on April 28th, of a number of heads of 
the Tope (Galeus vulgaris) without the bodies was to me highly 
suggestive ! 

A 26 lb. Cod, on May 17th, was so stunted in shape that its 
proportionately huge-looking head was exactly one-third its 
entire length. 

My first little stranger from the shrimp-boats came in on 
May 21st in the person of a very small Lesser Forkbeard (Rani- 
ceps trifurcatus), which measures barely 84 in. in length. 

From the stomach of an Angler (Lophius piscatorius) captured 
on Breydon, the date of which my informant (Jary) could not 
remember, he took four Flounders the size of one’s hand, one 
‘‘shp” (young Sole), three Viviparous Blennies, and six 
‘whitebait’ (8 in. Herrings). 

On June 6th a 15 in. Mackerel, entirely devoid of the charac- 
teristic back-stripes, was sent me by Mr. R. Beazor, fish-mer- 
chant, from the fish-wharf. On the 15th I obtained a Trans- 
parent Goby (Latrunculus pellucidus) from a shrimp-boat. 

The tailless Sole, taken in June, has already been referred to, 
and figured in ‘ The Zoologist’ (ante, p. 276). 


SOME FISH-NOTES FROM GREAT YARMOUTH. 463 


Jago’s Goldsinney (Ctenolabrus rupestris) must certainly have 
occurred in local waters this year in unusual numbers. Up till 
June, 1906, this species had not been recorded for Norfolk; on 
the 5th of that month I obtained an example from a local 
shrimp-boat. On June 24th of this year another was brought 
me, identical in size with that of last year (viz. about four 
inches), and two others subsequently. Three in one season 
certainly suggests the probability of others in the locality that 
were probably destroyed, as well as escaped the nets. 

Greater Weever (T'rachinus draco) taken on Breydon, July 
7th, the first | have known captured there. Lesser Weevers are 
abundantly taken in August. 

Herring-syle abounded on Breydon and on the rivers during 
August. Myriads of these small fishes. flashed at the surface in 
their sportive wanderings, to the great delight of the unusual 
number of Common and other Terns that came to share in the 
spoils. When left stranded in kicking shoals on the flats by the 
fall of the tide the numerous Gulls joined in the foray, and filled 
their crops with them. When netting with Jary the watcher on 
August 18th we unwittingly drew to the mud-flats numbers of 
these little Herrings, some of the more obese of which I dissected 
on my return to the houseboat. I found some examples literally 
packed with Opossum Shrimps; one little 43 in. fellow had its 
stomach so distended that the compact mass of crustaceans 
equalled in size a Barcelona nut. The Smelts had a high time 
among the ‘‘whitebait,” and the large number of Atherines 
(Atherina presbyter) frequenting Breydon this swmmer (!) also 
fed freely on the smaller ones. 

On gutting a Breydon-caught Flounder, on Annona 21st, to 
fry for my tea, | found in its stomach a younger Flounder—an 
unusual thing—that must certainly, from its size, have been 
doubled up in order to be swallowed. 

A queerly formed Kel was preserved for me by a local dealer 
in Hels named Brand. It was strangely ‘‘ crinkled” from the 
head to the tail, giving one the curious idea of a cockscrew that 
had been crushed flat. It is many years since I saw one pre- 
cisely similar. 

A lad when fishing from some baulks moored by the side of 
Breydon, observing the contortions of a queer little fish in a gap 


464 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


in the raft, deftly slipped his hand under it, and threw it on the 
timbers. I came up at the time, and it was handed to me, 
and proved to be a small Garfish (Belone vulgaris), about nine 
inches in length. This is the first record I have of one taken 
on Breydon. An example taken some years ago within five 
miles of Norwich must certainly have gone up river through 
this estuary. 

During November I met with two Lamperns (Petromyzon 
fluviatilis) which had been taken with Sprats near Southwold, 
and forwarded on to Yarmouth for my inspection and naming. 
It seemed that they were not well known to the Sprat-fishers. 
The Sprat season is, of course, in November, and Lamperns are 
usually met with in April when on their migrations. One was 
sent me from Gorleston. 

An immense number of Herrings were taken at the latter 
part of October, and so great was the crush of boats that many 
‘‘lasts”’ of these fish were spoiled before being able to find landing 
room. Great numbers were taken out to sea and thrown over- 
board, many of them to be washed ashore, to the infinite delight 
of huge swarms of Gulls, that gorged themselves for days on the 
offensive carcases rotting at the tide-mark. If ever Gulls were a 
blessing they were esteemed so at that time. The putrid Her- 
rings lay strewn for several days for miles along the shore. 

The Greater Dog-fishes (e.g. Porbeagles and the like) were 
conspicuously wanting this season, and the Picked Dogs only 
seemed troublesome. Cetaceans were scarce—probably frightened 
away by the numerous steam-luggers—and only two or three 
Porpoises thrown from the fishing-boats were stranded on the 
beach. A number of Goose Barnacles (Lepas anatifera) were 
washed ashore with a set-in of easterly winds in November, and 
afforded seaside shooters considerable interest. 


( 465 


NOTES ON TERRESTRIAL ISOPODS FROM NORTH 
DEVON. 


By Bruce F. CummMineas. 


Tae Woodlice in Great Britain have been somewhat neglected, 
and a great deal remains to be done by way of geographical distri- 
bution. Also, there are very few recorded observations on their 
habits, though they have received considerable attention from 
anatomists. It is therefore with the hope of enlisting more field 
observers of these crustaceans that I write the following few field 
notes. 

I have found Messrs. Webb & Sillem’s book, ‘The British 
Woodlice,’ invaluable for identifying species, and it also contains 
plates of all the British species. The Rev. Canon Norman has a 
series of notes in ‘The Annals and Magazine of Natural History’ 
on ‘‘ The British Land Isopoda.”’ In January this year Mr. C. 
Gordon Hewitt published a memoir on Ligia oceanica, which con- 
stitutes No. XIV. of the Liverpool Marine Biological Committee’s 
series of memoirs. With these books at your disposal it is 
possible to begin operations at once. Collecting Woodlice dove- 
tails well with beetle-hunting, and I have often reprieved a 
blank day with the Coleoptera by turning my attention to the 
Woodlice, which are to be found in precisely similar localities. 

The process of the shedding of the outer cuticular layer in 
different species of Crustacea has engaged the acute observation 
and descriptive powers of many well-known naturalists, from the 
classic records of the illustrious Réaumur, on the Crayfish, 
onwards, and the process is no less interesting in the Wood- 
louse. However, the following is by no means intended as 
exhaustive, or even as a full account, but only some of my notes, 
by the way, on moulting Woodlice. 

I took a specimen of Porcellio scaber last year, which began 
moulting almost immediately. Previously it was sluggish, and 
remained fixed to a clod of earth, though otherwise there was no 


466 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


sign to indicate the approaching ordeal. The cuticle split trans- 
versely across the middle of the thorax, and the posterior part 
became loose and white in colour as the air got in between the 
old and new skins. The Woodlouse then began throwing waves 
along the last half of the body; the soft jelly-like consistency of 
the new skin easily permitted this. In this way the old skin was 
loosened, and the animal, by walking forward, drew out its limbs 
and body free. As far as I could see, the legs of the old skin did 
not split to allow the regenerated legs to escape the more easily, 
as in the Lobster. As arule, each of the two halves of the skin 
are shed whole, but in this case the posterior half was badly 
fractured, and the animal took a considerable time in ridding 
itself of the fragments. The skin of the front part of the body 
was shed in the same way after an interval of two days, which 
allowed the hinder portion to become hard. 

On Sept. 25th this year I discovered a large Oniscus asellus 
underneath a log of wood with crowds of others. It had shed the 
last half of its skin, and the first half had so far severed its con- 
nection with the body that the animal had no power whatever 
over the half exuviated skin, but it walked about very readily on 
its hind limbs when disturbed, carrying the rigid front half of its 
body a little off the ground. It looked very ridiculous. At 
length the front part of the head grew white; this spread along 
the lateral borders of the segments, and finally down the middle 
of the dorsal surface, when, after a series of body-waves, the 
animal drew back and freed itself. However, it was some time 
before it left the shell entirely, for after the last effort it seemed 
to rest on its oars, so to speak, and scarcely troubled to come out 
of the old shell, though it was quite free to do so. The new legs 
were useless for some time, but the antennze were soon on the 
move, and waving nervously. 

Intermittently, 1 have been working for nearly fifteen months, 
and of the twenty six British species I have taken sixteen in the 
neighbourhood of Barnstaple. There is a list, in the recently 
published ‘ Victoria County History of Devon,’ by the Rev. 
T. R. R. Stebbing, which enumerates fourteen. Of these I have 
not yet taken Metoponorthus cingendus, which has only been 
taken in South Devon and in Ireland. 

Ligia oceanica, Linn.—Common everywhere on the River Taw 


TERRESTRIAL ISOPODS FROM NORTH DEVON. A467 


and the North Devon coast. At Plymouth Mr. Hewitt found 
them most numerous, and of maximum size on Drake’s Island. 
At Santon the smaller specimens, which are mottled with light 
patches (though these patches are faintly visible even in adults), 
I found most frequently near the water’s edge, and the large 
ones for the most part always a considerable way above high- 
water mark. On St. Kilda Mr. Hewitt has found these seashore 
feeders on a hill no less than 450 ft. above the level of the sea. 
They have very strong claws on the feet, a necessary equipment 
to allow them to run about under moving water. 

Trichoniscus pusillus, Brandt.—Common everywhere in grassy 
damp places. They are very delicate creatures. 

T. roseus, Koch.—On March 10th this year, underneath flat 
stones near a pool at Venn, Barnstaple, I noticed several of this 
handsome species. Three were white in colour instead of pink, 
but the yellow dorsal line was present in all. Since that time I 
have found them common at Venn within restricted limits. 
Occasionally they were consorting with ants and with impunity. 
As a rule, Woodlice keep clear of ants’ nests. 

Trichoniscoides albidus, Budde-Lund.—I base my record of this 
species on a headless specimen taken from the grass with which a 
Common Shrew (Sorex vulgaris) had built her nest in a field near 
Barnstaple. It was pure white, with large round tubercles on the 
dorsal surface (which Haplothalmus danicus, Budde-Lund, also 
has), the posterior angles of each thoracic segment were prolonged 
and protruded considerably, and the upper surface generally was 
flat. The lateral edges of each segment were serrated, there being 
about, on an average, five teeth to either side of each seement. 
[The figure of this species in ‘ British Woodlice’ shows eight or 
nine.| The species has been taken, as far as 1 am aware, only at 
Kton and in Sunderland, in Great Britain (W.M. Webb). Before 
feeling satisfied as to the correctness of my identification, I 
should like to take other specimens from the same neighbour- 
hood. If my fragment does not belong to this species, as far as 
I can see it can belong to no other species at present on the 
British list. 

Oniscus asellus, Linn.—Common. 

Philoscia muscorum, Scop.—Common everywhere in grass- 
tufts and under stones. The hind legs are very long, and it runs 


468 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


proportionally faster. Varies a great deal in colour. There are 
two distinct, clearly defined varieties, one light yellow and the 
other deep brown. On the extreme lateral part of each segment 
of the thorax they all have a longitudinal pink stripe. A speci- 
men which I took was marked almost entirely with pink, giving 
the animal, at a distance, the appearance of being as red as 
Trichoniscus roseus. On the coast at Santon the brown form.is 
very common, and I remember taking only two yellow forms in 
that locality. The yellows are prevalent in pasture-lands. At 
Reigate, Surrey, 1 have noticed the species frequently, and 
I took two from under the bark of a tree some distance from the 
eround. 

P. couchw. Kinah.—-Common on the beach at Santon at the 
base of the sandstone cliffs. It was originally discovered at 
Polperro by Prof. Kinahan in 1858, but has since been taken in 
South Devon. 

Platyarthrus hoffmannseggit, Brandt. —The only Woodlouse 
found in the nests of British ants. In North Devon I have seen 
it almost everywhere with the common Yellow Ant (Formica 
fusca). Only on one occasion have I seen it with any other 
species, and then there were several in the runs of a nest of the 
Black Ant (Ff. nigra); but on closer examination it looked, by 
the number of dead bodies of Yellow Ants lying about, as if the 
Black Ants had stormed and captured the nest, or at least a 
portion of it. Mr. EK. E. Lowe, late Curator of the Plymouth 
Museum, has taken it, according to Messrs. Webb and Sillem, 
with Myrmica rubra at Newton Ferrers. Nothing apparently is 
known of its relations with the ants. 

Porcellio scaber, Latr.— Common everywhere. At Santon 
I have taken a white specimen with only a few black scattered 
spots, the size of pin-pricks, on it. The common colour varieties 
are a grey pepper-and-salt and a pretty rust-brown. 

P. pictus, Brandt & Ratzeb. — One specimen only, under- 
neath stone. 

P. dilatatus, Brandt.—One specimen only, taken from under- 
neath our front-door mat! It is grey in colour. 

P. levis, Latr.—On Oct. 26th this year I took one from 
a grass-tuft in a meadow near Barnstaple. It is a well-marked, 
shapely animal. 


TERRESTRIAL ISOPODS FROM NORTH DEVON. 469 


Metoponorthus pruinosus, Brandt.— Of a faint blue colour, 
with two joints to the flagellum, and with long hind legs. 
Has occurred at Exeter (Parfitt) and Torquay (Stebbing). I 
discovered one only, in the vicinity of our own house. I rather 
fancy it escaped from a bundle of moss which | had brought 
home to examine for beetles. 

Armadillidium nasatum, Budde-Lund.— At Santon in large 
numbers on the cliff-top under stones. Last summer I took a 
beautiful specimen (19 mm.) of a handsome “‘ butter-scotch ”’ 
yellow colour ; also two smaller ones of the same colour. The 
ordinary grey form is also to be seen in numbers at Venn and 
near Braunton, and on the banks of the Taw near Wrafton. It 
is local. 

A. vulgare, Latr.— The Common Pill Louse. Common. I 
have not noticed it on Codden Hill and other high hills in the 
district. 

A. pulchellum, Zenck.— On Sept. 19th, 1907, I found one 
specimen under a piece of chert among the heather on Codden 
Hill (600 ft.). It is 6 mm. in length and smooth, but the dorsal 
surface is punctate. 

On the sands under seaweed, &c., at the estuary of the Taw 
and Torridge, I collected several specimens of an Armadil- 
lidium this spring which I have been unable to identify. They 
were slightly longer than A. pulchellum, of a white colour, 
with the distal joint of the flagellum three times the length of 
the other, and the upper surface not smooth but slightly 
wrinkled longitudinally. The antenne were short (14 mm.) ; the 
telson truncated at the end, and the frontal lobe low. One out 
of the six I took was close approaching the normal grey colour of 
the Armadillidia. 

There is much we do not know about the variations of the 
different species, and of the development of the young after they 
have left the brood-pouch. In the winter Oniscus asellus be- 
comes sluggish, but does not hybernate. Armadillidium seems to 
hybernate, and sleeps very deeply; at this time it cannot 
be unrolled without injuring the animal. Further, they seem 
to burrow deeply below the earth to hybernate, as I have found 
Armadillidium much less frequently in the winter. One spot I 
know, where I could scarcely see one specimen of A. nasatum at 


470 THK ZOOLOGIST. 


the present moment (Nov. 6th), yet in the spring they are there 
under the stones in hundreds. 

The most recent addition to our knowledge is the occurrence 
of Trichoniscus stebbingu at Glasgow. 

It should be added that in the moulting process the tendons 
and the chitinous lining of the mid-eut are also shed with the 
rest of the coat. Iam not sure whether the lining of the mid- 
gut is shed whole or not; I believe it breaks up in small pieces 
inside the animal, and is passed out with other waste material, 
or even a portion is digested and then re-secreted. Perhaps 
some reader can enlighten me ? 


(Cat) 


NOTICES OF NEW _ BOOKS. 


A Bird Collector's Medley. By HK. C. Arnoup, M.A. 
West, Newman & Co. 


Tus is a book written by an enthusiastic bird collector, who 
shoots and sets up his own specimens, and is his own artist. 
He has, however, fallen on evil times. As he remarks :—‘‘ Time 
was when the possession of a good collection of stuffed birds 
tended to distinguish a man as a naturalist; to-day he is more 
likely to find himself regarded as a cold-blooded and heartless 
butcher’’; and there is little doubt that, among Norfolk orni- 
thologists at least, the narrative of his foray on the Broads, and 
his shooting of some of the scarce and jealously guarded Bearded 
Tits, which resulted in his having spent ‘‘a thoroughly delightful 
day,’ will not eradicate that impression. 

But most of us, some time at least, have known the delights 
of collecting, and used the gun; the writer of this notice, at all 
events, must make that avowal, and it is not so many years ago 
that a rare bird would entice him, gun in hand, over many a 
weary trek on the Transvaal veld; he must also acknowledge 
his having, when a boy, shot his first bird on Patterson’s 
Breydon. It is living again the old life to read these interesting 
pages, and we must remember that many of the rare visitors 
secured by the collector would not have remained and bred 
if unmolested, nor would they have otherwise been recorded. 
Nevertheless, as we grow older the dislike of taking animal 
life becomes more pronounced, even apart from that of the 
rarer species; the killing of a wounded and disabled animal is 
always an ordeal. 

Mr. Arnold takes us over many good haunts of rare birds, 
and incidentally gives us many facts and hints. The ‘ Notes 
on Bird-preserving”’ contain nuggets of experience. On bird 
protection one paragraph is worthy of the utmost considera- 
tion :—‘‘ There should be scattered about, here and there in our 
island, a few well-chosen bird sanctuaries, where a gun is never 
fired, and where the birds can breed in peace. The Farne 


472 THE ZOOLOGIST. 


Islands and Wicken Fen are cases in point. The New Forest 
might well be made another, and if one or two Broads known as 
resorts of the Bearded Tit, and perhaps some recognized haunt — 
of the Dartford Warbler, were added, there would be no need to 
meddle with any seaside places, which, after all, are seldom 
more than temporary stopping-places for the birds.’ We are 
not quite sure as to the last view, but are entirely in favour of — 
the first proposition. 

The book is fully illustrated, twelve of the plates being coloured, 
and doing credit to the reproducers. 

Wild Life on a Norfolk Estuary. By Artaur H. Patterson. 
Methuen & Co. 

Tuts is a third book by Mr. Patterson on the fauna of 
Kastern Norfolk, and is almost entirely devoted to the Breydon 
estuary behind Great Yarmouth, a tidal water he has known so 
long and loved so well. In this volume he has probably ex- 
hausted his note-books, and the readers of ‘ The Zoologist ’ will 
recognize some narrative that has previously appeared from his 
pen in these pages. Its great charm and most original feature 
is the account of the rough, hardy Breydoners who have acquired 
a more or less precarious living by shooting over and fishing 
these waters. It also contains much valuable data giving com- 
parison of the Breydon fauna as it was in the early days of many 
who are living now, and its somewhat attenuated status of 
to-day. Mr. Patterson may well claim to be known as the 
natural historian of Breydon, and his three books will remain a 
repository of the annals of wild life around Yarmouth. When 
shall we find a naturalist who will give us a similar account, and 
based on the same long study and experience, of one or more of 
the great inland Norfolk Broads ? 

The illustrations induce special comment. They are by the 
author, who modestly states, ‘‘I am a self-taught amateur 
artist.” He, however, does not only draw birds, but gives us 
his long experience and observation of their pose, so that we may 
say we see their specific attitudes—not their appearance as in a 
well set-up case, but as live birds seen and drawn by a good field 
naturalist. 


PRINTED BY WEST, NEWMAN AND CO., HATTON GARDEN, LONDON, 


hn eae y* es. ho fee, oo ten MED s ne yh Sy a a 
Pes Ce ne elas ee aek VS * 2 ee ae Sia cruis vat ote vt . t 
= oy Peo Ses : Thiet p Se, co = 


| nHE “FAUNA “OF BRITISH INDIA, including 
CEYLON and BURMA. Published under the nena of the 
Secretary of State for India in Council. Medium 8vo, with numerous 
‘illustrations. RHYNCHOTA, Vol. IV., Part I., 10s. 
London: Taylor & Francis, Red Lion Chart Fleet Street. Calcutta. 
and Simla: Thacker, eee & Co. Bombay: Thacker & Co., Ltd. Burma: 
Myles Standish & Co., Rangoon. Berlin: Friedlander & Sohn, Carl- 
-strasse, 11. . 


PHOTOGRAPHIC LANTERN SLIDES IN NATURAL COLOURS. 
7 BRITISH WILD BIRDS. 


Orner Sugsecrs :——Lepidoptera and their Larve, Wild Flowers, &e. Photos 
in Colour of Larve, life-size, on Ivorine Tablets, to pin in the Cabinet. 
Colour Slides made to order from any Specimen or Coloured Drawing. 
For list apply to— 


CHARLES D. HEAD, 2, Mount ee Dele ouy Dublin. 


WATKINS & DONCASTER, 


Manufacturers of Natural History Apparatus, 
Cabinets, Store-Boxes, &c. 


A large stock of Insects, Birds’ Eggs, &c. (British, Huropean and Wxobic), 
List of clutches on application. Climbing Irons, best steel, with straps 
complete, 5s. per pair. Brass Blowpipes, ‘4d. and 6d. each. Drills, 2d., 
3d., and 9d. each. Label Lists of every description. New Preservative 
Soap, non-poisonous, ls. per box; 3s. 6d. per lb. ‘Taxidermists’ Tools. 
Artificial Hyes, Leaves, Grass, &c: ‘Taxidermy in all its branches. Price’ 
List (96 pp.) post free. : . 

36, STRAND, LONDON, W.C. (only address). 


Cloth extra, Foolscap 8vo. Price 1s. 6d. Postage 2d. 


INSECT HUNTER’S COMPANION 
By tHe Rey. JOSKPH GREENE, M.A. 
BIE TH EDITION. | 
Entirely revised, and extended, by A. B. FARN. 


The Chapter on Coleoptera by Epwarp Newman; on Hymenoptera by 
FREDERICK SMITH ; on Breeding Galiflies by Wpwarp A. Fircu. 


“Few books on oninoloee have done more to encourage the study and ~ 
collecting of butterflies and moths than this most usefullittle book... . Inevery way 
an excellent little book, and no young collector should be without it.”—The Feld. 

“We are glad to see a new and well got-up edition of this unpretentious but 
eminently useful little book, which has probably been in the hands of every — 
beginner in the study of our British Insects, and is still read with pleasure and 
interest by many more advanced workers.’-—Entomologists’ Monthly Magazine. 


A LisT_OF BRITISH BIRDS. ° For label and refer- 


ence. By Henry T. Wuarton. Price 6d. post free. 


London: WEST, NEWMAN «& CO., 54, Hatton Garden, E.C. 


F ag 


Experiences with Eagles ane Vultures i in ‘Albani (with ] 
‘Extended Breeding-range of the Marsh- -Warbler (Aer 
Hampshire, Harry Beeston, 446. x 
Ichthyology in Japan, Prof. McIntosh, M.D., LL. D., F. R.S., de. 450. 
An Annotated List of Cornish Fishes, James Clark, M.A. D. ‘Sou, A, 
Some Fish-notes from Great Yarmouth for 1907, Ar thur H. Patterso: 
460. 
Notes on Terrestrial Isopods from North Devon, Bue wee F. CES: 465. 
Notices oF New Books, 471- efi s 


‘The Zoologist,’ c/o West, Newman & Co., 54, ees G 
_ London” Ol direct to the Editor, Whale Distant, Shannon L E 
- Selhurst Road, South Norwood. 4 


SUBSCRIPTION for 1908, 12s. post free, beeames dae af 
this month, and may be sent to ae Publishers, West, Newman ee Co. 
54, Piaien Garden, London, E.C. 

Bound volumes, 1907, can shortly be had at 14s, each ; . 
cases for binding at Is. — each, post free. 


_ JUST PUBLISHED. 


Bird Collector's Medley 


Dato ARNOLD, M.A. a 
Crown 4to, Cloth, gilt, extra. Pp. 144, Price 10s. 3 


@ With Twelve full-page Coloured Illustrations and Eight Un 
coloured, from the Author’s Drawings. Illustrated in ae Tes 
by Twenty Process Blocks. “s 


Q A Book for Amateur Collectors ee Shore-Shooters. 


“Inasmuch as the author avoids quotations . . . and gives a plaint 
tale of his own oe his originality is welcome after the sam 
pervades the works 9fgo many of his predecessors.” —The Field. pe 
** Mr. Arnold gnide&,the reader to many pleasant places... .. T | 
of useful knowledge i in x work, which is ‘interspersed with lovely littl t 
the coloured illustrat¥ons are wonderfully well executed. ee 
British Sportsman. 


London: WEST, NEWMAN & CO., 64, Hatton G 


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