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Tee ZOOLOGIS@T-
A MONTHLY JOURNAL
OF
NATURAL HISTORY.
FOURTH SHERIES.—VOL. VII.
EDITED BY
W.o> Lo oDISTANT.
LONDON:
WEST, NEWMAN, & CO., 54, HATTON GARDEN,
SIMPKIN, MARSHALL, & CO., Lrp.
1903.
——- re ] |
| PUBLISHERS ° §
if
PREFACE.
In writing a Preface for the Sixty-first Volume of ‘THE
Zoouoaist’ the question arises as to the work achieved by these
long successive yearly publications, and it is probable that it
is to the philosophical conclusions of Zoology that the greatest
contribution has been made. We are not alluding to any of
the directly philosophical papers that have from time to time
appeared, but are referring to the bionomical observations with
which our contributors have enriched these pages. They
directly appertain to the important problem of the status of
intelligence possessed by other animals than ourselves, and we
think we may challenge the existence of any other commen-
surate series of volumes, in any language, and over an equal
length of time, that record such a number of facts on this
subject. It is more than probable that many writers of these
notes have scarcely realized their philosophical importance.
Animal psychology is still in its infancy, and, like meteorology,
must depend largely for its progress on available observations.
Mr. Mallock has recently drawn attention to a contemporary
volume, emanating from Stonyhurst, on Psychology, in which
the writer, Father Maher, S.J., tes :— ‘‘ Careful reflection
must convince us, that no matte®what pains and industry be
devoted to the observation of the animals, our assurance with
regard to their subjective states can never be more than a
remote conjectural opinion.”
_ We believe that this statement is largely fallacious, and
that the pages of ‘Tue Zootoatst’ have already demonstrated,
1V PREFACE.
and will still go to prove, that the status of intelligence and the |
mental concepts in animal life are not a forlorn quest, but are
subjects which future naturalists will be enabled to compre-
hend—and to a no inconsiderable extent—from the bionomical
observations they will inherit from present workers.
With such reflections, the contributors to ‘ THE ZooLoaist’
may rest assured that their contributions will ultimately be
recognized as something beyond detailing the curiosities of
animal existence, and the present tale of sixty-one volumes
may largely influence the future study of an adequate Animal
Psychology.
CONTENTS.
ed
ALPHABETICAL LIST
Aptin, O. V., F.L.8., M.B.O.U.
Notes on the Ornithology of Ox-
fordshire (1899-1901), 5,59; Mi-
eration of Jays, 28; The status
of the Goldfinch in Britain, 152,
190; The Rock-Dove in Somer-
set, 153, 317; Additional notes
on the Birds of Lleyn, 201;
Breeding habits of the Pied
Woodpecker, 314; Tufted Duck
in Merionethshire, 316; Birds
mentioned by Aristotle, 319;
Natterer’s Bat in Oxfordshire,
349; The Hobby in South War-
wickshire, 351; Notes on Oxford-
shire Ornithology, by the late
Charles EK. Stubbs, of Henley-on-
Thames, edited by O. V. Apnin,
444
ARNOLD, E. C.
Bluethroat near Eastbourne, 389
AUSTEN, E. B.
Larve attacking Toad, 75
Batston, R. J.
Scolopax rusticula breeding in
Kent, 193
Bankes, ARTHUR
Hen-Harriers in Dorset, 152; The
status of the Goldfinchin Britain,
190
BANNERMAN, D. A.
Late appearance of House- Martins
at Eastbourne, 455; White-tailed
Eagle at Leadenhall Market, 458
BaRrett-HAmitton, G. H. H.
On the position occupied by the
legs of birds during flight, 139
Bewson, Rey. Cuarues W., LL.D.
White Wagtail at Balbriggan, Co.
Dublin, 389
Brrp, Rev. Maurice C. H.
Protective colouration of bird’s
eggs, 73; Cuckoo calling in
July, 433
OF CONTRIBUTORS.
Buatuwayt, Rev. F. L.
A habit of the Lesser Redpoll, 26;
Notes from Lincolnshire, 29,
436; Harly nesting of the Shag,
192
Bonuote, J. L., M.A., F.Z.S.
The status of the Goldfinch in Bri-
tain, 105; Variability in colour in
Duck’s bill, 107; A British ex-
ample ofthe Mouse-coloured Bat,
387
Brown, J. A. Harvis-, F.R.S.E.,
F.Z.S.
The status of the Goldfinch in Bri-
tain, 23; List of English-killed
Ospreys wanted, 234; British
Grey Geese, 315; Breeding of
Lesser Black-Backed and Her-
ing Gulls, 352; Can and do birds
reason ? do men also ? 396
Butter, Lieut.-Col. HK. A.
Goldfinch in South Africa, 227;
Mus sylvaticus wintoni in Suf-
folk, 811; Nesting of the Pied
Wagtail, 813; Nesting of the
Grey Crow in Suffolk, 350
BUTTERFIELD, EH. P.
A habit of the Lesser Redpoll, 72
BUTTERFIELD, Rosse
The status of the Goldfinch in
Britain, 70
BUTTERFIELD, W. RuskIN
The status of the Goldfinch in
Britain, 71; Black-winged Pra-
tincole in Sussex, 392
ButTuRLIN, SERGIUS A.
The bill of Anser rubrirostris, 233
CAMBRIDGE, FREDK. PiIcKARD-, F.Z.S.
The Giant Goby, 429
CaMBRIDGE, Rey. O. PicKarD-
Black Redstart at Bloxworth, Dor-
set, 454 cy .
CAMPBELL, J. McNavGui
Goat suckling a lamb, 311
; a
\
vl CONTENTS.
CLARKE, W. G.
Thetford Warren, 100; Sooty Tern
in Suffolk, 393
CLARKE, W. J.
Albino Hedgehog in Yorkshire,
387; Rare Cetaceans on the
Yorkshire coast, 387; Sabine’s
Gull near Scarborough, 394
Cozurn, F.
On the specific validity of Anser
rubrirostris, and its position as a
British bird, 46; Anser rubriros-
tris,—Dr. Radde’s evidence, 273
Cocks, ALFRED HENEAGE
WINGS DORIS WANS Less WIE O10)
Blind Rats and Mice, 480; On the
gestation of the Badger, 441
Couns, J., Jun.
Fire-crested Wren in Lancashire,
455
Corsin, G. B.
Abundance of Swifts in South
Hants, 266; Note on the Kes-
trel, 267; Note on Shoveler, &c..
in Valley of Avon, Hampshire,
274; Sea-birds inland, 277
CoTtNry, JOHN
Wigeon breeding in Ireland, a cor-
rection, 391
Cowarp, T. A.
Bird notes from Cheshire during
the winter of 1902-1903, 170
CummMInGs, 8S. G.
The status of the Goldfinch in
Britain, 104; A habit of the
Lesser Redpoll, 105; Purple
Sandpiper in Anglesey, 154;
Dotterel in Cheshire, 230; Cirl-
Bunting in Flintshire, 350
DALGLIESH, GORDON
Notes and observations on the
mammals collected and observed
in the Darbhanga District, Tir-
hoot, Bengal, 94; Notes on the |
Stoat and Weasel, 189; Orni- |
thological notes from Guernsey,
931,277; Natterer’s Bat in Sur-
rey, 349; Bird-life on an Indian
Marsh, 426
Distant, W. L.
Goldfinch in South Africa, 228,
432; Birds and the resonance of
war, 276; Reason and instinct,
396
Drxon, R. M.
The ecdyses of Snakes, as observed
in British India, 336
Dompratn, H. A. A.
Notes from Lincolnshire, 436
Dovusumpay, G. A.
Hairless specimen of the Common
Rat, 454
D’Ursan, W. G. M. i
The status of the Goldfinch in
Britain, 105; Birds killed by
Ticks, 198; Do wild birds die
instantly ? 108
ELuLiott, J. STEELE
Purple Heron in Hertfordshire,
107; Natterer’s Bat in Bedford-
shire, 349; Nesting habits of
Long-tailed Tit, 350
Hiiiison, Rev. ALLAN
Note on the Sedge-Warbler, 189;
The status of the Goldfinch in
Britain, 191; Birds killed by
Ticks, 194
Ems, KE. F. M.
Bird notes in Sark (1903), 260, 305,
352; Early notes in Oxfordshire,
in the neighbourhood of Witney
(1903), 463
Fiemyne, Rev. WinuiAm W., M.A.
Involuntary capture of a Swallow,
227; Siskin breeding in Co.
Wicklow, 456; Cuckoo’s note
uttered while flying, 457
Forrest, H. EH.
The status of the Goldfinch in
Britain, 71; Stone-Curlew in
Merioneth, 154; The birds of
N.W. Wales and the opposite
counties of Ireland, 176; Dart-
ford Warbler in Shropshire, 349
Fow er, W. Warps, M.A.
An unknown Warbler in Oxford-
shire, 848; Cuckoo calling in
September in Italy, 390
Fox, W. SToRRS
Rough-legged Buzzard and Mon-
tagu’s Harrier in Derbyshire, 268
Frouawk, F. W.
British Bean-Geese, 41
GODFREY, ROBERT
Blackbird laying on the ground, 70
GouaH, P.
Strange behaviour of Peregrines
in Ireland, 433
GRAVES, FRANK 8.
Grasshopper- Warbler in the Isle of
Man, 313; Tree-Sparrow in the
Isle of Man, 318; Stock-Dove in
the Isle of Man, 316; Water-
Rail in the Isle of Man, 317
CONTENTS.
Gurney, J. H., F.L.S., F.Z.S.
Ornithological notes from Norfolk
for 1902, with references to some
occurrences in other counties,
121
GYNGELL, W.
The status of the Goldfinch in
Britain, 105; Nesting habits of
the Lesser Redpoll, 106; The
early morning and late evening
singing of some British birds,
334
Hareu, G. H. Caton
Migration of birds in N.E. Lincoln-
shire during the autumn of 1902,
361
HEPBURN, THOMAS
The birds of Dungeness, 214
Horton, B. J.
Notes on the Pine-Snake in con-
finement, 30; Larve attacking
Toad, 74
Howapb, H. H., F.Z.S.
On sexual selection and the esthe-
tic sense in birds, 407
HowteEtt, W. F.
Note on water-mites, 355
JOURDAIN, Rey. Francis C. R., M.A.,
M.B.O.U.
The Lesser Shrew and Bank-Vole
in Suffolk, 69; The Harp Seal
in Great Britain, 312; On the
northern breeding range of the
Dartford Warbler, 423
KELSALL, J. E.
The status of the Goldfinch in
Britain, 71
Ketso, J. KH. H.
Birds killed by Ticks, 155; Nesting
of the Ringed Plover, 195
Kirpy, W. F., F.L.S., &c.
Description of a new species of
Mantide, 304
LEwWIs, STANLEY
The status of the Goldfinch in
Britain, 104; The Rock-Dove
inland in Somerset, 108, 230;
Nightingale’s late arrival in Som-
erset, 226
Litter, Frank M., M.A.O.U.
Can and do birds reason ? 328
Lones, T. B., M.A., LL.D., B.Se.
On the identification of some of
the birds mentioned by Aristotle,
241
LONNBERG, E1nar, C.M.Z.S., &e.
On the variation of the Bean-Goose,
vil
164; On the names of the two
species of Skua with pointed tail-
feathers, 338
LyprEkkKeEr, R., B.A., F.R.S.
The use of the Giraffe’s bilobed
canine, 225; The Burmese Gaur,
or Pyoung, 264
Mackenziz, DaLziIeL W.
The birds of Thetford Warren, 156
Matty, C. W.
Notes on the habits of a South
African species of Rhynchota
(Henicocephalus sp.), 466
M‘Lacuuan, R., F.R.S.
A second brood of Starlings, 390
Meyrick, Lieut.-Col. H.
Nesting of the Lesser Redpoll in
Somerset, 457
Mitts, Rev. H. Hotroyp
Breeding of the Lesser Black-back-
ed and Herring-Gulls, 317
Monk, J. LEONARD
Remarks on some African Chame-
leons, 321
Mortey, J.
Large flight of Rough-legged Buz-
zards near Scarborough, 433
Morris, ROBERT
Migration of Jays, 27
Netson, T. H.
British examples of the White-
spotted Bluethroat, 23; Stock-
- Dove in the Isle of Man, 391
Nicouyi, Micuaru J.
British examples of the White-
spotted Bluethroat, 431; Tawny
Pipit and Great Reed- Warbler
in Sussex, 431, 432
Nosit, HEATLEY
The birds and other animals of
Thetford Warren, 155
OLDHAM, CHARLES
Pintail inland in Cheshire, 229,
274; Honey-Buzzard in Che-
shire, 815; Little Stint inland
in Cheshire, 392; Black Tern in
Cheshire, 393; Lesser Horse-
shoe Bat in Carnarvonshire, 430 ;
Red-breasted Merganser in Che-
shire, 459
PatTEN, CHARLES J.
Carrion Crow in the Irish Channel,
192
PatrEeRson, ARTHUR
The Mollusea of the Great Yar-
mouth district, 182; Megrim and
other Fishes at Yarmouth, 354
b2
Vill
PAYNE, J. W.-
Late occurrence of Swift and Cuc-
koo in Scotland, 550
PEARSON, CHARLES FE.
The status of the Goldfinch in
Britain, 71
PENTLAND, G. H.
Strange nesting-place for a Mistle-
toe-Thrush, 312
Popmorg, P. St. M., F.R.G.S., M.A.
(Cantab.)
The hybridization of Columba pa-
lumbus, 401
RAaEBURN, HARoLD
Early nesting of the Shag, 153
Rare, P. 8.
Status of Goldfinch in Britain, 71;
White Wagtailin Isle of Man, 266;
Black Tern in Isle of Man, 460
RamssoruaM, R. H.
‘“* An unknown Warbler in Oxford-
shire,’ 389
Rawns.ey, W. F.
Parrot building in the open, at
Park Hill, New Forest, 1
ReaD, Ropert H.
Blackbird laying on the ground,
23; Lesser Redpoll nesting in
Middlesex, 26; Fork-tailed Pe-
trel in Somerset, 29
Rensuaw, GRAHAM, M.B.
The Black Emeu, 81; The Am-
sterdam aquarium, 382
RIVIERE, BERNARD B.
Arrival of the House-Martin, 152
Ropinson, H. W.
British Grey Geese, 268
Ropes, G. T.
Mammals, Reptiles, and Amphi-
bians of Suffolk, 31; Redshank
carrying her young, 275
SALTER, Prof. J. H.
The Dormouse in Cardiganshire,
104; The Lesser Redpoll in Car-
diganshire, 106; Lesser White-
throat in Cardiganshire, 226;
A vanishing British bird, 228, 278
SaxsBy, T. EDMONDSTON
Ornithological notes from Shet-
land, 157, 461; Variation in the
Guillemot, 230
SELoUS, EDMUND
Field notes (being a naturalist’s
diary of observation and reflec-
tion), 281, 371
SrerRvIcE, ROBERT
Nesting-sites of Blackbird and
CONTENTS.
Song-Thrush, 69; Hybrids be-
tween Domestic Pigeon (male)
x Columba cenas (female), 73
SHELFORD, R., M.A., C.M.Z.S.
A curious protective device in a
Lepidopterous larva, 161; Bio-
nomical notes on some Bornean
Mantidez, 293
Surpiey, A. E., M.A.
Applied Zoology, 467
SovEr, D. tz, Dir. Zool. Gard. Mel-
bourne.
Goldfinch in Australia and Tas-
mania, 191; The Australian
Kmeu, 461
SouUTHWELL, THomas, F.Z.S.
Occurrence of Box vulgaris on the
Norfolk coast, 31; Notes on the
Seal and Whale Fishery of 1902,
53; The occurrence of Mus syl-
vaticus wintoni, Barr.-Ham., at
Tostock, Suffolk, 150; Albino
Moorhens, 355
STEAD, Davin G.
Zoological Notes from Sydney, 234
Stupps, CHares E. (the late)
Notes on Oxfordshire Ornithology,
edited by O. V. Aptin, 444
Swainson, E. A.
Status of the Goldfinch in Britain,
104; A spotless Curlew’s egg, 352
SwinHok, Ropway C. J.
Further notes on chipped flint at
Yenangyoung, Upper Burma, 254
TickHurst, N. F., M.A., M.B.O.U.
Some notes of rare birds from Kent
and Sussex, 418
Tuck, Rev. Jutian G., M.A.
Variety in Domestic Geese, 28;
Wood-Lark in West Suffolk, 72;
Variety of the Hawfinch, 104;
White-tailed Eagle in Suffolk,
107; Great Grey Shrike in West
Suffolk, 151; Mus sylvaticus
wintoni in Suffolk, 266; Variation
in the Guillemot, 275; Natter-
jack Toad in Suffolk, 278; Sa-
bine’s Gull in Yorkshire, 353,
394, 436 ; Notes from Bridlington,
Yorkshire, 353; Nesting of the
Grey Crow in Suffolk, 390; Sea-
bird slaughter, 354, 395; An
October Cuckoo, 433; British
examples of the White-spotted
Bluethroat, 455
WARREN, ROBERT
Protection of Red-throated Diver
¢g
CONTENTS. 1X
at its Irish breeding-place, 154;
White Wagtail visiting Bar-
tragh Island, Killala Bay, 190,
226; Variation of Guillemot, 194
Watt, Huex Boyp
Cuckoo in Scotland, calling in July,
391
WESTELL, W. PERcIVAL
The status of the Goldfinch in
Britain, 105; Ring-Ouzel near
London, 454; Verlusia rhombea
in Lincolnshire, 466
WHITAKER, J.
Wild Swans at Rainworth, 28;
Great Crested Grebe on Mans-
field Reservoir, 231; Strange
nesting-place for a Mistletoe-
Thrush, 226; Osprey, Rough-
legged Buzzard, Hen-Harrier,
and Honey-Buzzard in Notts,
459; Gulls feeding, 461
Wiuuiams & Son
Great Bustard in Ireland, 153;
Snow-Goose in Ireland, 459;
Little Crake in Co. Kildare, 460
WItson, W.
Notes from Aberdeen for January
and February, 108; for August,
353
Workman, W. H., M.B.O.U.
Birds and sound of firearms, 318
Waricut, W. C.
Ornithological notes from Co. Done-
gal, 89; Ravens nesting in Co.
Antrim, 191; Waxwings in Co.
Antrim, 456
New species and races of animals described in this volume :—
MAMMALIA.
Bos gaurus readet, Lydekk.
Page 264.
INSECTA.
Deroplatys shelfordi, Kirby
Page 304.
CONTENTS.
ALPHABETICAL LIST OF SUBJECTS.
Aberdeen, notes from, 108, 3538
Accentor modularis, 268, 3864, 465
Accipiter nisus, 367
Acipenser sturio, 885
Acredula caudata, 350
Acrocephalus aquaticus, 418; phrag-
mitis, 189; sp.? 864; streperus,
465; turdoides, 482
Adgialitis cantiana, 216-219, 277; hia-
ticula, 198, 219
Africa, South, Goldfinch in, 227, 432;
East, some Chameleons of, 321
Alauda arborea, 72, 448; arvensis,
306, 366, 466
Albino Greenfinch, 21; Hedgehog,
387; Moorhens, 351
Alea impennis, 486; torda, 157, 278,
309
Alcedo ispida, 252, 566, 428
Amblystoma tigrinum, 385
Ampelis garrulus, 448, 456
Amphibians of Suffolk, 31
Amsterdam Aquarium (Plate VLI.),
382
Anabas scandens, 884
Anas boscas, 275, 318, 867; strepera,
275
Anodonta cygnea, 187
Anser albifrons, 270, 452; arvensis,
165,—and segetum, difference’ be-
tween, 44, 46, 165; brachyrhyn-
chus, 169, 269, 367; cinereus, 46;
fabalis, 164; ferus, 452; indicus,
427 ; rubrirostris, as a British bird,
46, 233, 273; segetum, 164, 270, 452
Anthus pratensis, 465
Ardeola grayi, 428
Arion ater, 188
Aristotle, birds mentioned by, 241,
316, 318, 898
Arnoglossus laterna, 354
Arvicola agrestis, 311; glareolus, 69
Asio accipitrinus, 866, 446; otus, 282,
446
Astur palumbarius, 446
Auk, Great? ?, 486
Australia, ‘‘ Flying Fox,”’ 284; zoolo-
gical notes from Sydney, 234; in-
troduced animals flourish, 191, 234;
Emeu, 461
Australia and Tasmania, catalogue
of nests and eggs of birds found
breeding in, 80
Avifauna of Outer Hebrides, 115
Badger, gestation of, 441
Baleeniceps rex, 159
Bat, Lesser Horseshoe, in Carnar-
vonshire, 4830; Mouse-coloured, a
British example of, 387; Natterer’s,
in Bedfordshire, 349,—in Oxford-
shire, 349,—in Surrey, 349
Beluga or White Whale at Scar-
borough, 3887
Bempton Cliffs, birds of, 37
Bengal, mammals of, collected and
observed in Darbhanga District,
Tirhoot, 94
Bernicla brenta, 452; leucopsis, 452
Bird, a vanishing British, 228; notes
in Sark, 260, 8305,—from Shetland,
157, 469; life on an Indian marsh,
426
Birds of Bempton Cliffs, 37; Wild,
do they die instantly ? 79, 108;
found breeding in Australia and
Tasmania, catalogue of nests and
eggs of, 80; of Thetford Warren,
100,155; killed by Ticks, 108, 155,
194; large, ring for, fig., 186; posi-
tion of legs during flight, 139;
of N.W. Wales and the opposite
counties of Ireland, 176; of Lleyn,
201; of Dungeness, 214; spring
rivalry of, 238; mentioned by Aris-
totle, 241, 316, 318, 398; sea, in-
land, 277,—slaughter of, 854, 395;
can and do they reason? 328, 396 ;
and sound of firearms, 276, 318;
some British, singing of, 834; mi-
gration of, 27, 123,—in N.H. Lin-
colnshire, 861; sexual selection and
zsthetic sense in, 407; rare, from
Kent and Sussex, 418
Birds’ eggs, protective coloration of,
73; legs during flight, 139
Bison europeus, 200
Bittern, 209
Blackbird, nesting-sites of, 69; and
Song-Thrush, hybrid between, 12;
laying on the ground, 23, 70
Blackeap, 177, 207
CONTENTS. Xl
Bluethroat near Eastbourne, 389;
White-spotted, British examples,
23, 431, 455
Bolborhynchus monachus, 4
Booxs Noricep :—
Index Animalium ; sive index nom-
inum que ab A.D. mdcelviii. gene-
ribus et speciebus animalium im-
posita sunt, &e., A. Carolo Davies
Sherborn, confectus, 32
A Naturalist in Indian Seas, or
Four years with the Royal In-
dian Marine Survey-ship, ‘ In-
vestigator,’ by A. Alcock, 33
Catalogue of the Library of the
Zoological Society of London, 34
Index Zoologicus: an Alphabetical
List of Names of Genera and
Subgenera proposed for use in
Zoology as recorded in the ‘ Zoo-
logical Record,’ 1880-1900, to-
gether with other names not
included in the ‘ Nomenclator
Zoologicus’ of S. H. Scudder,
compiled by C. O. Waterhouse,
and edited by D. Sharp, 35
Monographie des Cynipides d’Eu-
rope et d’Algérie, par l’Abbé
J.-J. Kieffer, 35
Monographie des Mutillides d’Eu-
rope et d’Algérie, par Ernest
André, 35
The Tanganyika Problem, an Ac-
count of the Researches under-
taken concerning the Existence
of Marine Animals in Central
Africa, by J. E. S. Moore, 76
In the Andamans and Nicobars—
the Narration of a Cruise in the
schooner ‘Terrapin,’ with No-
tices of the Islands, their Fauna,
Hthnology, &c., by C. Boden
Kloss, 110
Text-Book of Paleontology, by Karl
A. von Zittel, translated and ed-
ited by Charles R. Eastman,
111
Zoological Wall-Tables, drawn and
edited by Paul Pfurtscheller, 112
The Birds of North and Middle
America, Part II., Fam. Tana-
gridx, Icteride, Cerebide, and
Mniotiltide, by Robert Ridgway,
195
Variations in Animals and Plants,
by H. M. Vernon, 196
Catalogue of the Collection of Pa-
lzarctic Butterflies formed by the
late John Henry Leech, and pre-
sented to the Trustees of the
British Museum by his Mother,
Mrs. Eliza Leech, by Richard
South, 197
Country Rambles, being a Field
Naturalist’s and Country Lover’s
Note-Book fora Year, by W. Per-
cival Westell, 287
Nature Studies in Australia, by
W. Gillies and Robert Hall, 279
The Fauna of British India, in-
cluding Ceylon and Burma, ed-
ited by W. T. Blanford, Hymen-
optera, vol. ii. (Ants and Cuckoo-
Wasps), by Lieut.-Col. C. T.
Bingham, 280
The Big Game Fishes ofthe United
States, by Chas. Frederick Hol-
der, 319
A Naturalist’s Calendar kept at
Swaffham Bulbeck, Cambridge-
shire, 320
The Birds of Tennyson, by Wat-
kin Watkins, 356
The Norfolk Broads, by William
A. Dutt and other Contributors,
357
Fasciculi Malayenses—Anthropo-
logical and Zoological Results of
an Expedition to Perak and the
Siamese Malay States, under-
taken by Nelson Annandale and
Herbert C. Robinson—(Anthro-
pology, Part I.), 859
The Butterflies and Moths of Eu-
rope, by W. F. Kirby, 359
Turner on Birds, a Short and Suc-
cinct History of the Principal
Birds noticed by Pliny and Aris-
totle, first published by Doctor
William Turner, 1544, edited,
&e., by A. H. Evans, 398
A Monograph of the Tsetse-Flies
(Genus Glossina, Westw.), based
on the Collection in the British
Museum, by Ernest Edward
Austen, witha Chapter on Mouth-
parts, by H. J. Hansen, 400
A Treatise on Zoology, edited by
EK. Ray Lankester, Part. I., In-
troduction and Protozoa, 437
A Manual of Palearctic Birds, by
H. E. Dresser, 438
Observations of a Naturalist in the
Pacific between 1896 and 1899,
Vol. I., Vanua Levu, Fiji—a de-
scription of its leading Physical
and Geological Characters, by H.
B. Guppy, 439
Pictures of Bird Life on Woodland,
Meadow, Mountain, and Marsh,
by R. B. Lodge, 468
The Vertebrate Fauna of “ Dee,”
by George Sim, 469
Animal Studies: a Text-book of
Elementary Zoology for use in
High Schools and Colleges, by
David Starr Jordan, Vernon L.
Kellogg, and Harold Heath, 470
Birds’ Eggs of the British Isles.
Collated by A. G. Butler. Tlus-
trated by F. W. Frohawk, 471
On the Birds of Fernando Po, by
Boyd Alexander, 471
Edmonston’s Flora of Shetland,
edited and revised by C. F. Argyll
Saxby, 471
Bornean Mantide, bionomical notes
on some, 299
Bos (Bibos) gaurus, 99, 264
Boselaphus tragocamelus, 99
Botaurus stellaris, 29, 275, 867, 428
Box vulgaris on Norfolk coast, 31
Breeding of Red-necked Phalarope in
Ireland, 116; of Woodcock in Kent,
198; of Wigeon in Ireland—a cor-
rection, 391; habits of Lesser Black-
backed and Herring-Gulls, 308,
3852,—of Pied Woodpecker, 352 ;
range, northern, of Dartford War-
bler, 423; of Siskin in Co. Wick-
low, 456
Bridlington, Yorkshire, notes from,353
British Association at Belfast, 40
Buccinum undatum, 187
Bufo vulgaris, 74
Bullfinch, 210; in Australia, 236
Bulweria bulweri, 420
Bunting, Cirl, in Flintshire, 179, 350 ;
Snow, 208
Burma, Upper, chipped flints at
Yenangyoung, 254
Bustard, Great, in Ireland, 153
pute lagopus, 268, 433, 446; vulgaris,
Buzzard, Common, 180; Honey, in
Cheshire, 315,— in Notts, 459 ;
Rough-legged, 180,—in Derby-
shire, 268, — near Scarborough,
433,—in Notts, 459
Bythinia tentaculata, 187
Caccabis rufa, 449
Calidris arenaria, 369
Callichthys asper, 384; punctatus, 384
CONTENTS.
Canus aureus, 95; pallipes, 95
Carassius auratus var. japonicus, 384
Cardium edule, 184; exiguum, 184
Carduelis elegans, 23, 70, 104, 152,190,
191, 227, 236, 482, 465; spinus, 3865
Cathartes aura, 109
Cerithium reticulatum, 186
Cerivoula picta, 97
Cervus axis, 99
Ceryle varia, 428
Cetaceans, rare, on Yorkshire coast,
387
Chameleons, East African (Plate V.),
821; list of, 3827
Chameleontide, 321
Charadrius pluvialis, 806, 368, 450
Chaulelasmus streperus, 426
Check-list, A.O. U., 79
Chelidon urbica, 15%, 224, 805, 455,
461, 468, 465
Chen hyperboreus, 459
Cheshire, bird notes from, 170
Chiton cinereus, 186
Chordodes Shipleyi, 300
Chough, 179
Chrysomitris spinus, 456
Circus cineraceus, 268, 421; cyaneus,
152, 867, 420, 446
Clangula glaucion, 275
Clausilia rugosa, 188
Clupea harengus, 383
Coccothraustes vulgaris, 104, 448
Colobus, Cynopithecus, and Nasalis,
cerebral convolution in, 79
Coloration, protective, of birds’ eggs,
73
Coluber melanoleucus, 380
Columba cenas, 316, 391; 449 ; livia,
91, 108, 153, 230, 317, 449; palum-
bus, 238, 368, 401, 461
Colymbus arcticus, 30, 277; glacialis,
233; septentrionalis, 91, 154, 233,
453, 462
‘Concilium Bibliographicum,’ 116
Coracias garrulus, 449
Corbula gibba, 185
Coreidz, 301
Corvus corax, 191, 804; cornix, 350,
366, 449; corone, 192, 282, 366;
frugilegus, 232, 366, 465; monedula,
224, 366, 465
Cotile riparia, 224, 449
Cottus scorpinus, 384
Coturnix communis, 449, 466
County REcoRDs :—
Bedfordshire—Natterer’s Bat, 349
Cambridgeshire— Mouse-coloured
Bat, 387
CONTENTS.
Cheshire — Lesser Redpoll, 105 ;
Notes, 170; Pintail, 229, 274;
Dotterel, 230; Honey-Buzzard,
315; Little Stint, 892; Black
Tern, 398; Red-breasted Mer-
ganser, 459
Cornwall — Lesser Black-backed
and Herring-Gulls, 317; Giant
Goby, 429
Derbyshire — Rough-legged Buz-
zard, 268; Montagu’s Harrier,
268
Devonshire—Birds killed by Ticks,
108; Harp-Seal, 312
Dorsetshire — Hen Harrier, 152 ;
Black Redstart, 454
Hssex—Hairless Rat, 454; Ring-
Ouzel, 454
Hampshire—Parrot building in the
open, 1; Ringed Plover, 193;
Swift, 266; Kestrel, 267; Sho-
veler, &., 274; Sea-birds inland,
278
Hertfordshire—Purple Heron, 107;
Birds killed by Ticks, 194; Sedge-
Warbler, 189
Kent—-Woodcock, 193; Birds of
Dungeness, 214; Starlings, 390;
Rare birds, 418
Lancashire—Fire-crested Regulus,
455
Lincolnshire—Notes. 29, 436; Mi-
gration of birds, 361; Verlusia
rhombea, 466
Middlesex—Blackbird, 23; Lesser
Redpoll, 26
Norfolk—Box vulgaris, 31; Thet-
ford Warren, 100, 155; Notes,
121; House-Martin, 152; Mol-
lusea, 182; Moorhen, 351; Me-
grim, &c., 354; Cuckoo, 433
Northamptonshire — Pied Wood-
pecker, 314
Nottinghamshire — Wild Swans,
28 ; Mistletoe-Thrush, 226; Great
Crested Grebe, 231; Osprey, 459;
Rough-legged and Honey-Buz-
zards, 459; Hen-Harrier, 459
Oxfordshire — Notes, 5, 59, 444,
463; Lesser Redpoll, 26; Jay,
28; Landrail, 65; An unknown
Warbler, 343, 389; Natterer’s
Bat, 349; Badger, 441
Shropshire—Dartford Warbler, 350
Somersetshire—F ork-tailed Petrel,
29; Rock-Dove, 108, 153, 280,
317; Nightingale, 226; Lesser
Redpoll, 457
X1il
Suffolk — Domestic Geese, 28 ;
mammals, reptiles, and amphi-
bians, 81; Lesser Shrew and
Bank-Vole, 69; Wood-Lark, 72;
Hawfinech, 104; White-tailed
Eagle, 107; Mus sylvaticus, 311;
wintoni, 150, 266; Great Grey
Shrike, 151; Redshank, 275 ;
Natterjack Toad, 278; Pied Wag-
tail, 813; Grey Crow, 350, 390 ;
Sooty Tern, 393; Cuckoo, 453
Surrey—Natterer’s Bat, 349
Sussex—Jay, 27; Bluethroat, 389 ;
Black-winged Pratincole, 392;
Rare birds, 418; Tawny Pipit,
431; Martin, 455
Warwickshire — Pine-Snake, 30 ;
Larve attacking Toad, 74; Hob-
by, 351
Yorkshire — White-spotted Blue-
throat, 23, 431, 455 ; Lesser Red-
poll, 72, 106; Singing of some
British birds, 334; Sabine’s Gull,
358, 394, 437; Notes, 353 ; Albino
Hedgehog, 387; Rare Cetaceans,
387; Sea-bird slaughter, 395 ;
Buzzard, 433; Birds of Bempton
Cliffs, 37
Crake, Little, in Co. Kildare, 460
Creeper, Tree, 210
Crex pratensis, 451, 466
Crocidura cerulea, 96
Crossbill, 179; var., 8
Crow, Carrion, in Irish Channel, 179,
192; Grey, nesting in Suffolk, 350,
390; Hooded, 179
Cuckoo, 224, 306, 461; late, in Scot-
land, 350, 353, 891,—in Italy, 390;
calling in July, 483; in October,
433; note uttered while flying,
457
Cuculus canorus, 224, 806, 350, 358,
390, 391, 488, 457, 461
Curlew, Stone, nesting habits, 218 ;
in Oxfordshire, recollections of, 18;
in Merioneth, 154; egg, a spotless,
352,
Cyanecula suecica, 389, 421; wolfi,
23, 419, 431
| Cygnus musicus, 157, 453
Cymochorea leucorrhoa, 29
| Cyprinus carpio, 885
Cypselus apus, 266, 306, 350, 366, 461
Dafila acuta, 229, 274, 275, 427
Daulias luscinia, 226
Dendrocopus major, 314, 449, 462
Dendrocyena javanica, 427
X1V
Deroplatys desiccata, 295, 296, 304;
shelfordi, sp.n., 296
Diary, a naturalist’s, 281, 871
Dipper, 210
Diver, Red-throated, protection of, at
its Irish breeding-place, 91, 154
Donax vittatus, 185
Donegal, ornithological notes from, 89
Dormouse in Cardiganshire, 104
Dotterel in Cheshire, 180, 230
Dove, Ring, 212; Rock, inland in
Somerset, 108, 153, 208, 230, 317;
Stock, in Isle of Man, 180, 212,
316, 319; Turtle, 180
Dromeus ater, 81; irroratus, 82;
nove-hollandiz, 82, 461
Duck, Sheld, 180, — nestling, fig.,
181; Tufted, in Merionethshire,
316
Duck’s bill, variability in colour, 107
Dungeness, birds of, 214
Eagle, White-tailed, in Suffolk, 107;
at Leadenhall Market, 458
Egg of Curlew, a spotless, 352
Eggs of birds, protective coloration
of, 73
Emberiza cirlus, 305, 448 ; citrinella,
805, 353, 365, 465; miliaria, 305,
465 ; rustica, 419 ; schceeniclus, 365,
465
Emeu, Australian, 461; Black, 81,—
fig.,83; Common, 82; Spotted, 82
Erithacus rubecula, 262, 363, 461, 465
Kudromias morinellus, 230, 450
Falco exsalon, 367, 419, 445; pere-
grinus, 91, 92, 420, 421; subbuteo,
351, 421,445; tinnunculus, 92, 267,
306, 367
Falcon, Peregrine, 212
Felis chaus, 94; domestica, 234
Field notes, 281, 371
Fireflies ia writings of antiquity, 113
Flamingo nesting in Bahama Island,
40
Flints, chipped, at Yenangyoung, Up-
per Burma, 254
Flycatcher, Pied, 178
Food of Quail, 138; of Gulls, 461
Fowls, Long-tailed Japanese, experi-
ments with, 160
Fox, Flying, destruction by, in Syd-
ney, 234
Fratercula arctica, 277, 3810
Fringilla celebs, 157, 305, 865; monti-
fringilla, 365
Fulica atra, 224, 452
CONTENTS.
Fuligula cristata, 233, 275, 316; fe-
rina, 233, 275
Fusus antiquus, 187
Gadus morrhua, 883
Gallinago major, 421; cclestis, 369,
428, 451; gallinula, 369, 428; ster-
nura, 428
Gallinula chloropus, 158, 238, 351
Gannet, 213
Garrulus glandarius, 27
| Gaur or Pyoung, Burmese, 264
Geese, Bean, British (Plate II.), 41;
British Grey, 268, 315; Domestic,
variety in, 28
Gerbillus indicus, 98
Giraffe’s bilobed canine, use of, 225
Glareola melanoptera, 421; pratin-
cola, 420
| Geat suckling a lamb, 311
| Gobius capito, 429; paganellus, 429;
niger, 429
| Goby, Giant, in Cornwall, 429
Godwit, Bar-tailed, 208
Goldcrest, 210
Goldfinch in Australia, 191, 236; in
Tasmania, 191; in South Africa, |
227, 4382; status in Britain, 23, 70,
104, 152, 190
Goose, Bean, 209,—variation of, 164;
Snow, in Ireland, 459
Grampuses on Yorkshire coast, 388
Grebe, Great Crested, on Mansfield
Reservoir, 231
Greenfinch, albino, 21
Greenshank, 209
Grouse, Black. 180; Red, 212
Gryllacris, 296
| Guernsey, ornithological notes from,
231, 277
Guillemot, Black, 181; Common,
variation in, 194, 230, 275
Gull, Black-headed, nesting, 128, 224 ;
Common, 180; Herring, 308, 352;
Lesser Black-headed, 218, 308, 352;
Little, var., 172; Sabine’s, in York-
shire, 353, 394, 436
Gulls feeding, 461
Hematopus ostralegus, 308, 369
Halcyon smyrnensis, 428
Haliaétus albicilla, 107, 867, 445, 458;
leucocoryphus, 426
Hampshire downs, prolificness of
Sheep on, 40
Harrier, Hen, in Dorset, 152,—in
Notts, 459; Montagu’s, in Derby-
shire, 268
CONTENTS.
Hawfinch, 178; var., 104
Hawk, Sparrow, 212
Hebrides, Outer, Avifauna of, 113
Hedgehog, albino, in Yorkshire, 387
Helcion pellucidum, 186
Helix aspersa, 188; nemoralis, 188 ;
virgata, 102
Henicocephalus sp., habit of, 466
Herodias alba, 428
Heron, 213; Purple, in Hertford-
shire; 107
Heros sp., 384
Herpestes mungo, 95
Hestiasula sarawaca, 296, 802,—fig.,
297
Hierodula bipapilla, 801; dyaka, 2938,
298, 299
Hierodule, 298, 295, 301, 303
Himantopus candidus, 450
Hippocampus antiquorum, 383
Hirundo rustica, 227, 305, 365
Hobby in South Warwickshire, 351
Hybrid between Blackbird and Song-
Thrush, 12; between Domestic
Pigeon and Columba cnas, 73;
between Linnet and Bullfinch, 137
Hybridization of Columba palumbus,
401
Hydrobia pellucida var., 186 ; ; ulve,
186; ventrosa, 186
Hydrochelidon hybrida, 498; nigra,
393, 421, 453, 460
Hydrophasianus chirurgus, 428
Hymenopus bicornis, 299, 302, 303,
304
Hystrix leucura, 98
Ichthyosaurus thyreospondylus, skel-
eton from Yorkshire, 116
Idolum diabolicum, 298; diabroticum,
295
Indian marsh, bird-life on, 426
Insects, migration and dispersal, 240
Instinct and reason, 828, 398
IRELAND.—Notes, 89; Great Bustard,
153; Red-throated Diver, 154 ;
Birds of Dublin, &., 176; White
Wagtail, 190, 226, 889; Raven,
191; Carrion Crow, 192; Guille-
mot, 194; Swallow, 227; Mistletoe
Thrush, 312; Wigeon, 391; Pere-
grine, 433; Waxwing, 456; Siskin,
456; Cuckoo, 457; Snow-Goose,
459; Little Crake, 460
Isle of Man, White Wagtail in 266;
Grasshopper Warbler, 313; Tree-
Sparrow, 313; Stock-Dove,316,391 ;
Water-Rail, 317; Black Tern, 460
XV
Tynx torquilla, 232, 449, 462
Jay, migration of, 27, 179
Kestrel, 267
Kingfisher, 208
Kirkeudbrightshire, vertebrates of, 38
Kite, probable extinction of, 228, 270
Knot, 209
Lacuna divaricata, 186;
186; pallidula, 186
Lagopus scoticus, 157
Landrail in Oxfordshire, 65
Lanius collurio, 305; excubitor, 151,
462; rufus, 446
Lapwing, nesting habits of, 219, 222
Lark, Wood, in West Suffolk, 72; in
Australia, 236
Larus argentatus, 91, 278, 308, 317;
canus, 288, 854; fuscus, 808, 317,
352; leucopterus, 157; marinus,
309; ridibundus, 224, 277
Larva, lepidopterous, curious pro-
tective device in a (Plate IV.), 161
Larve attacking Toad, 74
Legs of birds during flight, 139
Lepus ruficaudatus, 99
Ligurinus chloris, 305, 365, 465
Limax agrestis, 188; maximus, 188
Limnea palustris, 188; peregra, 188;
stagnalis, 188
Limosa belgica, 436; lapponica, 370,
462
Limulus polyphemus, 383
Lincolnshire, notes from, 29, 486;
North-East, migration of birds in,
361
Linota cannabina, 305; flavirostris,
365; rufescens, 26, 72, 105, 106, 457
Littorina littorea, 186; neritoides,
186; obtusata, 186; rudis, 186
Lleyn, birds of, 201
Locustella nevia, 447; in Isle of Man,
313
Loligo vulgaris, 187
Loripes lacteus, 184
Loxia bifasciata, 420;
448, 462
Lucilia sylvarum, 75
Lucioperea sandra, 385
Lutra vulgaris, 96
gracilior var.,
curvirostra,
Macacus rhesus, 94
Machetes pugnax, 369, 436
Mactra solida, 185; stultorum, 185
Magpies and other birds in Russia
killed for ladies’ hats, 240
XV1
Mammals collected and observed in
Darbhanga District, Tirhoot, Ben-
gal, 94; of Suffolk, 81
‘Man’s Place in the Universe,’ 239
Mantide, Bornean, bionomical notes
on some, 299
Mantis religiosa, 296, 303
Mareca penelope, 275, 368
Martin, House, early arrival in Nor-
folk, 152; late, at Kastbourne, 455
Maternal impressions, influence of,
on offspring, 117
Megaderma lyra, 97
Megrim and other fishes at Yar-
mouth, 354
Merganser, Red-breasted, in Che-
shire, 459
Mergulus alle, 157, 453
Mergus albellus, 233; merganser,
4535 serrator, 92, 818, 459
Merlin, 211
Mesogonistius chetodon, 384
Metallyticus semizneus, 299, 308
Mice and Rats blind, 430
Micropterus salmonides, 385
Migration of Jays, 27; Rooks, 1238;
birds in N. E. Lincolnshire, 361
Milvus ictinus, 228, 278, 419; regalis,
446
Modiola modiolus, 184
Mole, 78
Molge pyrrhogastra, 385
Mollusea of Great Yarmouth District,
182
Montacuta bidentata, 184
Moorhen, albino, 351
Motacilla alba, 155, 190, 226, 266,
389; borealis, 420; feldeggi, 420;
flava, 420; lugubris, 313, 364, 465 ;
melanope, 90; raii, 364
Murex erinaceus, 187
Mus alexandrinus, 98; buduga, 98;
decumanus, 98, 454; musculus, 98;
sylvaticus wintoni at Tostock, Suf-
folk, 150, 266, 311
Musceardinus avellanarius, 104
Muscicapa atricapilla, 364; griseola,90
Mustela erminea, 189; flavigula, 96; |
vulgaris, 189
Mustelus vulgaris, 383
Mya arenaria, 185; truncata, 185
Myiopsittacus monachus, 1
Myotis myotis, 387; natteri, 349
Mytilus edulis, 183
Nassa incrassata, 187; nitida, 187;
reticulata, 187
Natica alderi, 186; catena, 186
CONTENTS.
Natural History Museum, number of
visitors to, 238
Nesocia bengalensis, 98
Nesting of Lesser Redpoll in Middle-
sex, 26,—in Somerset, 457; habit
of, 26, 72, 105, 106; of Flamingo
in Bahama Islands, 40; sites of
Blackbird and Song-Thrush, 69;
early, of Shag, 153, 192; of Raven
in Co. Antrim, 191; of Ringed
Plover, 198, 219 ; of Stone-Curlew,
218; of Lapwing, 219, 222; of
Black-headed Gull, 224; of Mis-
tletoe-Thrush, 226, 312; of Lesser
Black-backed and Herring-Gulls,
261, 808, 317, 352; of Pied Wagtail,
3183; habit of Long-tailed Tit, 350 ;
of Grey Crow, 350, 390
Netta rufina, 426
Nettion crecea, 368
Nettopus coromandelianus, 427
Nidification of Black-headed Gull,
128 ; of Ringed Plover, 129; Night-
ingale, late arrival in Somerset,
22.6
Nightjar, 211
Norfolk, ornithological notes from, for
1902, with references to some occur-
rences in other counties (Plate II1.),
121
Nucula nitida, 184; nucleus, 184
Numenius arquata, 224, 307, 352, 352,
358, 370; phzopus, 224, 370
| Nuthateh, 178
Nyctea scandiaca, 158
Nycticorax griseus, 450
Nyroca ferruginea, 426 ;
427
fuligula,
OBITUARY—
Carus, Prof. J. Victor, 199
Radde, M. Gustav, 199
Spencer, Herbert, 472
Octopus vulgaris, 187
Odostomia dolioliformis, 186; uniden-
tata, 186
(Hdemia fusca, 458; nigra, 368, 453
(idicnemus crepitans, 450 ; scolopax,
154, 216, 218, 306
Oriolus galbula, 447
Osmerus eperlanus, 383
Osprey in Notts, 459
Ospreys, English-killed, 234
Ostrea edulis, 183
Otis tarda, 368
Otocorys alpestris, 366
Ouzel, Ring, 211; near London, 454
{
;
CONTENTS.
Owl, Barn, 208; Long-eared, 208;
Short-eared, var., 187; Tawny, 180
Oxfordshire, notes on the ornithology
of, 5, 59, 444, 463
Paludina vivipara, 187
Panurus biarmicus, 447
Paradoxus niger, 95
Parrot building in the open (Plate I),
1; Quaker, 1
Partridge, curious accident caused by
a, 169
Parus ceruleus, 268, 318, 8364; major,
263, 364
Passer domesticus, 805, 3865, 465;
montanus, 313, 365, 448, 462, 465
Patella vulgata, 186
Pearls in Mussels, 238
Pecten opercularis, 183; varius, 183
Pelargopsis gurial, 428
Perdix cinerea, 462
Peregrines, strange behaviour of, 433
Pernis apivorus, 315, 367, 446
Petrel, Fork-tailed, in Somerset, 29;
Storm, 181, 209
Phalacrocorax carbo, 232, 307, 453;
eraculus, 91, 153, 192, 232, 307
Phalarope, Red-necked, breeding in
Treland, 116 ;
Phalaropus hyperboreus, 116, 436
Phoea groenlandica, 312
Pholas candida, 185; dactylus, 185
Phylloscopus rufus, 263, 363 ; sibila-
trix, 263, 447; trochilus, 364
Physa hypnorum, 187
Pica rustica, 232, 305
Pigeon, Domestic, and Columba cenas,
hybrids between, 73
Pintail, 209; inland in Cheshire, 229,
274
Pipit, Tawny, in Sussex, 431; Tree,178
Pisidium amnicum, 187
Planorbis complanatus, 187; corneus,
187; vortex, 187
Platalea leucorodia, 419
Platanesta gangetica, 99
Plectrophenax nivalis, 108, 157, 365,
448
Plegadis falcinellus, 419
Pleurotoma rufa, 187; turricula, 187
Plover, Grey, 208 ; Ringed, nidifica-
tion ‘Of, 129, 193, 219
Podicipes albipennis, 498 ; cristatus,
231, 370, 427; fluviatilis, 224; mi-
nor, 466; nigricollis, 10; rubri-
collis, 453
Porphyrio poliocephalus, 428
Porzana parva, 460
xvii
Pratincola rubetra, 224, 262, 362, 447;
rubicola, 262, 362, 447
Pratincole, Black-winged, in Sussex,
392
Procellaria pelagica, 91, 309
Proteus anguineus, 385
Pseudogryphus californianus, 109
Pteropus medius, 96; poliocephalus,
234
Puffin, 213
Puffinus anglorum, 90; major, 30
Pupa umbilicata, 188
Purpura lapillus, 186;
imbratica, 186
Pyoung or Gaur, Burmese, 264
Pyrrhocorax graculus, 90, 232, 305
Pyrrhula europea, 108, 232
Japillus var.
Quail, 208; food of, 138
Querquedula crecea, 275
Rail, Water, in Isle of Man, 209, 317
Rallus aquaticus, 233, 317, 368
Rat, Common, hairless specimens of,
454
Rats and Mice, blind, 430
Ravens nesting in Co. Antrim, 121
Razorbill, var., 158
Reason, can and do birds ? do men
also ? 396
Recurvirostra avocetta, 421
Redpoll, Lesser, 211; nesting in
Middlesex, 26,—in Somerset, 457;
a nesting habit of, 26, 72, 105, 106;
in Cardiganshire, 106
Redshank carrying her young, 275
Redstart, 177,—var., 187; Black, 177,
—at Bloxworth, Dorset, 454
Redwing, var., 29, 207
Regulus cristatus, 263, 363; igni-
capillus, 232, 419, 455
Reptiles of Suffolk, 31
Rhinolophus affinis, 97;
rus, 430
Rhombodera basalis, 299,—fig., 294
Ring for large birds, fig., 136
Rissoa inconspicua, 186; interrupta,
var,, 186; parva, 186; tridactyla,
278, 308
hipposide-
Roebuck, Mr. W. Denison, testimo-
nial to, 38
Rooks, a migration of, 128
Ruff, 180
Ruticilla phenicurus, 363, 447; titys,
3638, 454
Salmo irideus, 385
Sanderling, 208
XVIi1
Sandpiper, Common, 212; Purple, in
Anglesey, 154
Sark, bird notes in, 260, 305
Saxicava arctica, var., 185; rugosa,
185
Saxicola cenanthe, 90, 362, 447
Sciurus palmarum, 97
Sclater, Dr. P. L., 78; W. L., 198
Scolopax rusticula, 193, 233, 369
ScottanpD—Blackbird, 69, 70; Song-
Thrush, 69; Hybrids, 23; Notes,
108, 353; Shag, 153; Osprey, 234;
Goat suckling a Lamb, 311; Cuc-
koo, 350, 891; Swift, 350; Lesser
Black-backed Gull, 308, 352; Her-
ring-Gull, 808, 3852; White-tailed
Eagle, 458
Scrobecularia alba, 185; nitida, 185;
piperata, 185
Scyllium canicula, 3883
Sea-bird slaughter, 354, 395
Sea-birds inland, 277
Seal and Whale Fishery of 1902, 53
Seal, Harp, in Great Britain, 312
Sea-serpent ?, 38
Semnopithecus entellus, 94
Sepia officinalis, 187
Sepolia rondeletii, 187
Sexual selection and the esthetic
sense in birds, 407
Shag, early nesting, 153, 192
Shearwater, Manx, 213
Sheep on Hampshire Downs, 40
Shetland, ornithological notes from,
157, 468
Shoebill, or White-headed Stork, in
Giza Zoological Gardens, 159
Shoveler, &c., in Valley of Avon,
Hampshire, 274
Shrew, Lesser, in Suffolk, 69
Shrike, Great Grey, var., 67,— in
West Suffolk, 151; Red-backed,
178, 210
Sieboldia maxima, 385
Singing of some British birds, 334
Siskin, 178; breeding in Co. Wicklow,
456
Skua, names of two species with
pointed tail-feathers, 338
Snake, Pine, in confinement, 30
Snakes, senses of, 113; ecdyses of, in
British India, 336
Snipe, 212; Jack, 209
Solea lasearis, 354
Solen siliqua, 185
Sorex minutus, 69
Sparrow, Tree, 178,—in Isle of Man,
313; Hedge, 211,—var., 8
CONTENTS.
Spatula clypeata, 274, 368, 427
Spermophilus grammurus, 109
Spherium corneum, 187
Squatarola helvetica, 224, 368
Starling, 179, 211; var., 187; in Aus-
tralia, 236
Starlings, a second brood of, 390
Stercorarius crepidatus, 157, 3870;
pomatorhinus, 370
Sterna cantiaca, 277; fluviatilis, 216,
307; fuliginosa, 393; macrura, 216,
370; minuta, 216
Stint, Little, inland in Cheshire, 392
Stoat and Weasel, 189
Strix flammea, 232, 446
Stubbs, the late Charles E., notes on
Oxfordshire Ornithology by, 444
Sturnus vulgaris, 305, 366
Suecinea elegans, 188
Suffolk, mammals, reptiles, and am-
phibians of, 31
Sula bassana, 307, 461
Sus cristatus, 99
Swallow, involuntary capture of a,
227
Swans, Wild, at Rainworth, 28
Swit, late occurrence in Scotland, 350
Swifts in South Hants, 266
Sydney, zoological notes from, 234
Sylvia atricapilla, 363; cinerea, 262,
363, 464; curruca, 226, 262; hor-
tensis, 262; nisoria, 363; undata,
349, 423
Tadorna cornuta, 367
Talpa europea, 78
Tapes pullastra, 184
Tasmania, Goldfinch in, 191
Tectura virginea, 186
Tellina balthica, 184; fabula, 185
Tenodera superstitiosa, 298, 295, 303
Teredo navalis, 185
Tern, Black, in Cheshire, 393,—in
Isle of Man, 460; Common, 212;
Sooty, in Suffolk, 393
Theopropus elegans, 297, 299, 302
Thetford Warren, birds, &ce., of, 100,
155
Thrush, Mistletoe, strange nesting-
place for, 226, 812; Song, nesting-
sites of, 69; White’s, in Yorkshire,
116
Tit, Coal, 210; Long-tailed, 208,—
nesting-habits, 350; Marsh, 158
Toad attacked by larve, 74; Natter-
jack, in Suffolk, 278
Totanus calidris, 219, 275, 370, 450;
canescens, 370; fuscus, 370, 436;
CONTENTS.
hypoleucus, 90, 369 ; ochropus, 369,
421
Trachinus draco, 383
Trigla gurnardus, 383; hirundo, 383
-Tringa alpina, 353, 369; canutus,
369; minuta, 869, 392; striata, 154;
subarquata, 369
Trochus cinerarius, 186 ; zizyphinus,
186
Troglodytes parvulus, 268, 364
Tropidonotus natrix in confinement,
30)
Turdus iliacus, 29, 231, 362; merula,
23, 262, 362, 461; musicus, 158,
262, 362, 465; pilaris, 231, 362;
torquatus, 90, 282, 362, 447, 454;
viscivorus, 226, 262, 312, 362;
whitei, 116
Turnstone, 208
Turtur communis, 368
Twite, 178
Ulster Fisheries and Biology Associ-
ation, 160
Upupa epops, 449
Uria grylle, 90; ringvia, 93; troile,
157, 158, 194, 278, 309
Utriculus obtusus, 187
Vandeleuria oleracea, 99
Vanellus vulgaris, 108, 219, 307, 368
Verlusia rhombea in Lincolnshire,
466
Variety of Crossbill, 8; Hedge Spar-
row, 8; Partridge, 9; Greenfinch,
21; in Domestic Geese, 28; of Red-
wing, 29; Great Grey Shrike, 67;
Hawfinch, 104; Starling, 137; Red-
start, 187; Short-eared Owl, 137;
Razorbill, 158; Guillemot, 158, 194,
230, 275; Little Gull, 172; Moor-
hen, 551; Hedgehog, 387
Vertebrates of Kirkcudbrightshire, 38
Vesperugo abramus, 97; serotinus, 97
Viverra zibetha, 95
Viverricula malaccensis, 95
Vole, Bank, in Suffolk, 69
Vulpes bengalensis, 95
Wagtail, White, 178, 209,—at Bart-
X1xX
ragh Island, Killala Bay, 190, 226,
390,—at Balbriggan, Co. Dublin,
389,—in Isle of Man, 266; Grey,
210; Pied, nesting, 313; Yellow,
178
Watres—Dormouse, 104; Lesser Red-
poll, 106; Stone-Curlew, 154 ;
Purple Sandpiper, 154; Birds of
N. W. Wales, &c., 176; Birds of
Lleyn, &c., 201; Lesser White-
throat, 226; Kite, &., 228, 278;
Tufted Duck, 316; Cirl-Bunting,
350; Curlew’s Egg, 352; Lesser
Horseshoe Bat, 430
Warbler, Dartford, in Shropshire, 349,
—northern breeding range, 423;
Garden, 177; Grasshopper, in Isle
of Man, 313; Reed, 177; Sedge,
nesting away from water, 189; an
unknown, in Oxfordshire, 343, 889;
Wood, 177
Washington, National Zoo. at, 115
Water-mites, note on, 355
Waxwing in Co. Antrim, 456
Whale and Seal Fishery of 1902, 53
Whinchat, 177, 210
Whitethroat, Lesser, 177; in Cardi-
ganshire, 226
Whooper, 209
Wind-bags as adjuncts in courtship
among animals, 39
Woodcock, 180, 208; breeding in
Kent, 193
Woodpecker, Great Spotted, 179;
Green, 179, 211; Lesser Spotted,
179; Pied, 209,—breeding habits,
314
Wren, Wood, 211; Fire-crested, in
Lancashire, 455
Xema sabinii, 3538, 486
Yarmouth, Great, Mollusca of, 182
Zoarces viviparus, 382
Zonites cellarius, 188; nitidulus, 188
‘ Zoological Record’ or 1901, 37
Zoology, Applied, 467
ILLUSTRATIONS.
Plate I. Nest of the Parrot (Myiopsittacus monachus) . to face 1
» II. British Bean-Geese (Anser segetwm and A. arvensis) % 41
» III. Ringed Plover (#gialitis hiaticula) on Nest : mo ae 121
,, LY. Curious protective device in a Bornean lepidopterous 5
larva . F é 2 } é ; : be 161
» V. Some East-African Ghanvelsons : : os 321
5 WI. Characteristic Attitudes of the Common ‘“ Sea- Hore fe
(Hippocampus antiquorum) j : ; : [a eG
» VII. Columba palumbus Hybrids . ; : ; : | 40m
,, WIII. The Giant Goby (Gobius capito) . - : : ia 429
Black Emeu (Dromeus ater) : 3 5 ; ; : ‘ +, 883
Nestling Sheld-Duck . - 4 é : : : : - SE
Ring for large birds : ; : . : » “I86
Rhombodera basalis, De Haan, dlagnine its left mid- tes after ameal . 294 —
Hestiasula sarawaca, Westw., beginning to “display” . 5 aba)
NATURAL HISTORY,
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cd libiceaiaitiniaids amauta es
NEsT OF THE PARROT
We
Fig. 1.—Spring, 1901.
(Mytopsittacus monachus).
Fig. 2.—Summer, 1902.
“6061 [COZ
“it Sut
mah. ZOOLOGLS T
No. 739.—January, 1908.
PARROT BUILDING IN THE OPEN: AT PARK
HILL, NEW FOREST.
By W. F. Rawnstey.
Communicated by F. DuCANE Gopmay, D.C.L., F.R.S.
(Pxiate I.)
In the ‘ Avicultural Journal’ of November, 1900, there
appeared a short account of the nest which our Parrot had built
on the roof of the farmhouse at Pondhead, a small property
attached to Park Hill, Lyndhurst. As the Parrot has, alas !
disappeared, and the nest must in time disappear also, I propose
to give a fuller account of this unique and interesting structure,
with iilustrations of it in various stages of its growth, which
have been taken by, and are obtainable from, Mr. F. G. Short,
of Lyndhurst. cA
The Parrot, a South American bird, known as Myiopsittacus
monachus, and often called the Quaker Parrot, from its grey
head and breast, is elsewhere of an apple-green, with very
pointed tail and wings, and about ten inches in length from
beak to tail. It was caught by my farm-bailiff in the heather of
the open forest close to the farm in August, 1899; and, as it
disappeared about the time fixed for the Coronation (June 26th,
1902), its history, as far as we know it, extends over rather less
than three years, during the last two of which it had been flying
at liberty round the farm.
Zoot. 4th ser. vol. VII., January, 1903. B
bo
THE ZOOLOGIST.
When captured it had a partially clipped wing and a deformed
foot, looking as though it had been caught in a trap. It was put
into a cage, and kept at the farm through the winter. In the
spring the bailiffs wife gave it to my wife, and we kept it in a
cage in the drawing-room. But it never would talk, and only
screamed in a harsh voice; so that when in June, 1900, it
escaped whilst the cage was being cleaned, and, as its wing-
feathers had grown again, flew off, we did not greatly regret it.
It flew almost at once to the farm not a quarter of a mile away,
and fed daily with the chickens, but did not allow itself to be
taken, though it was never far from the poultry-yard.
In October, 1900, it was observed to be busy on the roof of
the farmhouse, weaving a tunnel-shaped bower with twigs, which
it did in a very well-chosen place where the thatched roof ran into
a brick chimney, getting both shelter from the wind and warmth.
This tunnel was about a yard long, and the mouth of it is the
lower orifice in jig. 1. In December, as it got colder, the bird
changed the direction of the entrance, and it retired to this
tunnel every night, and lived out the winter there. In the
spring of 1901 it added another tunnel parallel to the first, the
two openings side by side; but soon it blocked up this, and built
another above it, and then again turned the mouth of the tunnel
round towards the roof-tiles (see jig. 1), in order apparently to
prevent the wet south-west wind blowing direct into its tunnel.
It always occupied the latest part of the structure, often sitting
in the mouth of the opening by day, but retiring inside for
the night. The structure was now a yard and a half or two
yards long. In April it became necessary to put new thatch on
the roof, but this was done without disturbing the bird or its
building, and it soon became very active, snipping off the twigs
from a hawthorn hedge, and carrying them in its beak, screech-
ing as it flew, with a very quick beat of its thin pointed wings,
and with its pin-tail never spread. It worked most industriously,
taking a long time to fix each twig, and weaving them together
very neatly at the opening, which was about six inches across,
and all the way along the tunnel inside. The outside twigs,
though they all looked rather haphazard, were so interwoven
that no wind ever dispiaced them.
By May it had greatly enlarged the pile, and had brought it
PARROT BUILDING IN THE OPEN. 3
down and fastened it ingeniously to the elbow of the stack-pipe,
which gave increased stability, but made a bend in the tunnel
necessary. The whole structure was now seven or eight feet
long, and nearly three feet across at the lower end, and with this
the bird seemed content.
Thinking it a pity that it should not have a chance to breed,
we looked out for a mate for it in the summer. There was no
possibility of telling whether it was a male or a female as it was
flying about, but we argued, from its nest-building industry, that
it was a female, and got what was said to be a male, and, catching
our bird at night in its tunnel, we put the pair into a cage. They
agreed very well, but showed no signs which could certify that
they were male and female. Soon we let them both fly, and,
though they would keep together, the new one never offered the
slightest assistance in carrying sticks or building, though the old
one began to add a good deal to the existing pile. It is note-
worthy that it never used any but the prickly twigs of the hawthorn
as long as the hedgerows were bare, but when the leaves came
on the hedges it would have no more to do with them, but betook
itself to the hazel pea-sticks in the farm-garden, and bit off the
topmost twigs. Some of these were visible near the spout-elbow,
and many more on the roof-tiles. But, though the new mate did
not work, he did a good deal of mischief, for he picked off the
small green apples from the orchard-trees, and dropped them on
the ground in such numbers that we were obliged to catch him
and shut him up; and, lest he should have taught this trick to
the old one, about which we were uncertain, for we could with
difficulty tell them apart when loose, we caught and caged them
both until such time as the apples should be big enough to defend
themselves. But, alas! a rat got in one night and killed the new
mate. We set the other free, and no more apples were plucked.
In the autumn we noticed that the Parrot took longer flights,
sometimes going a distance of a quarter of a mile, and often
joining a flock of Starlings, with whom it would alight and
apparently feed in the park or on the lawn, and fly with them to
the big trees; but it never went off altogether. It passed another
winter (1901-2) safely, and was again surprisingly active in adding
to, and, we thought, rather spoiling, its nest, changing its door-
way again, and making it as seen in fig. 2. It would fly up to
é B2
4 THE ZOOLOGIST.
and over the house at Park Hill, and we were often afraid that
some of Mr. Lascelles’ Hawks “‘at hack ’’ might kill it. But it
survived, and I never saw any bird chase it either “for food or
play.” It was almost always to be found in or near the farm-
yard, and was a great pleasure to watch; it seemed so busy and
full of purpose, and looked so bright sitting outside or just in the
mouth of its home.
It was last seen at the time of the Coronation as first
fixed, and after June, 1902, we saw it no more. Whether it
departed with its friends the Starlings, or was taken by a Hawk
or a Rat—we incline to suspect the latter—we never knew; but
the place thereof knoweth it no more, and now we look at the
empty nest not without a feeling of sadness.
Since writing the above, I have seen, in ‘ Bird Notes’ for
October, 1902, a notice of this Parrot, which is there called
Bolborhynchus monachus, and is stated to be the only Parrot
which is known to build a nest, weaving its huge structure on to
the ends of branches, and building each spring a new one on the
top of the old. The nest, which is usually entered from below,
consists of an antechamber, with the true nest behind—the latter
lined with grass, thorny twigs being used exclusively for building
purposes. The bird is said to have an excruciating screech,
though it can learn to talk well. It is further stated that a pair
in the possession of Mr. Sidney Buxton built a nest five feet
high and six feet in circumference, and that other pairs have
also built in captivity.
NOTES ON THE ORNITHOLOGY OF OXFORDSHIRE,
1899-1901.
By O. V. Apuin, F.L.S.
WHERE no other locality is mentioned, the notes refer to the
parish of Bloxham.
1899.
January 5th.—News from Mr. W. H. Gale of a Corn-Crake
caught at Nuneham on the 3rd, and then quite at home in one of
the greenhouses.
19th.—Dr. Routh told me that about five years ago he saw
on several days at various spots between Epwell, Shutford, and
Sibford a pair of Hoopoes. It was in the late spring. He is
well acquainted with the appearance of this bird.
26th.—Fieldfares and Redwings have been fairly abundant
all the season. To-day there are a good many Song-Thrushes
about the grass-fields.
28th.—Bullfinches numerous, and very destructive to plum-
buds for some days.
February.—The floods in the Sorbrook valley in the early
part of this month were the largest we have had for a good
many years. Vioient storms at sea lately, and here also about
the 13th,
26th.—A Song-Thrush’s nest, nearly finished, in the shrub-
bery.
March 10th.—-Bullfinches have been singing a good deal this
last month. Several pairs of Peewits to-day in a rough grass-
field on this side of Duns Tew.
16th.—Blackbird sang here for the first time this season, to
the best of my knowledge; this is a very late beginning.
20th.—Mistle-Thrush’s nest in orchard, apparently finished.
Bitterly cold weather; snow last night, and the thermometer
at 24° this morning.
23rd.—Very cold dry weather lately ; severe frosts,
6 THE ZOOLOGIST.
24th.—Ring- and Stock-Doves cooing, and other signs of
softer weather.
26th.—A nest of the Long-tailed Tit, half finished, in a
broom-bush.
29th.—Saw two Chiffchaffs, and heard one in song. The
hedges show no sign of green, and the aspect of the country
generally is quite brown.
April 8th.— When Otter-hunting in the Cherwell valley, just
above Somerton, saw six pairs of Wild Ducks (all doubtless
breeding birds), a Snipe, and a Green Sandpiper. Mr. Foster-
Melliar told me he saw a Blackcap in his garden on March 19th ;
this bird had probably wintered there.
15th.—Heard the Wryneck. Not for many years have we
had such persistently inclement weather in spring. No summer
migrants except Chiffchaffs and Wheatears reported as yet, and
the Chiffchaff is almost silent.
18th.—Several Redstarts. Cuckoo.
19th.—Swallow, Willow-Wren, Tree-Pipit.
22nd.—Visited Clattercote Reservoir with Mr. A. H. Mac-
pherson, and saw there three Crested Grebes, a drake and two
duck Teal, Dabchicks, Coots, Moorhens, and two Common Sand-
pipers. Noticed arrival of Sand-Martin, Whitethroat, and Ray’s
Wagtail.
25th.—House-Martin at Charlbury.
26th.—Visited Blenheim with Mr. J. Whitaker, and noticed
a good many Coots on the lake. Blackcap near Glympton.
27th.—Mr. Fowler and I saw in Port Meadow, Oxford, seven
or eight Dunlins, and five Golden Plover on the wing. Mr. Darbey
told me he received a Grey Phalarope from the neighbourhood
of Oxford in the middle of February, and a Corn-Crake which
was killed by flying against the telegraph-wires on the 19th inst.
He also showed me two Crossbills (green and red), killed at
Pusey (three miles over our borders) earlyin the year. Noticed
the Sedge Warbler.
30th.—Lesser Whitethroat. Mr. Darbey informed me this
month that he received an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull in
the early part of the year, which had been shot near Oxford.
Mr. G. W. Bradshaw has recorded an adult bird of this species,
shot at Caversham Lock on the 30th April, 1898 (Zool. 1899,
p- 136).
ORNITHOLOGY OF OXFORDSHIRE. u
May 10th.—Mr. Fowier told me that he saw several Lesser
Redpolls in Christ Church meadow this morning. I saw one
there in the afternoon. Mr. Trench, of Lincoln College, told
me he heard Stone Curlews passing over Lincoln College, calling,
about 11 p.m. last night. He is well acquainted with the bird.
11th.—Swift and Whinchat.
12th.—Mistle-Thrush has been in song constantly up to this
date ; more than one sing in or close to the garden. I never
heard it in better form than it was this morning. At times one
bird sings a few notes in the manner of a Song-Thrush, but the
song usually consists only of the rollicking strain, followed some-
times by a few confused shrill hard notes, lower in tone.
13th.—Several of the twenty-eight young Rooks shot to-day
had more or less white chins, and some had part of the under
mandible yellowish white, one almost entirely so. I always
notice this variation at this particular rookery.
15th.—Spotted Flycatcher and Turtle-Dove.
16th.—A few Nightingales visited the immediate neighbour-
hood this season. ‘Two or three pairs are established on the
Grove estate, and a nest was taken later on in Bloxham Gate
spinney (a nest at the bottom of the plantation last year got off
safely); one was heard at Milton on the 28th April, and I heard
one near Lower Worton to-day. Mr. Charles Jeffreys informs
me that he has preserved a Peregrine Falcon which was shot at
Kirtlington on the 16th February.
18th.—A Redstart has a nest and seven eggs in one of the
new nesting-boxes here.
June 6th.—Heard the Mistle-Thrush singing. It sang regu-
larly and daily until the end of May.
7th.—A Mistle-Thrush perched on the house-roof ridge. The
next day it settled on the stable-roof.
8th.—Heard Nightingale at South Newington.
15th to 4th July.—Away from home.
July 8th.—Goldfinches have been seen feeding young lately
in my man’s garden, which adjoins mine.
21st.—In consequence of the very dry weather, Starlings,
Robins, and Warblers (Garden Warblers and Lesser Whitethroats
chiefly, with some Blackcaps) have been destructive to red cur-
rants, and Blackbirds and Song-Thrushes to gooseberries.
8 THE ZOOLOGIST.
August 3rd.—The drought continues with great severity.
Wheat harvest began here on the 24th ult. Birds (Starlings
and Robins included) have eaten great quantities of bush-fruit.
10th.—The country is wonderfully brown. Apples falling off
the trees; plums will not swell properly ; butter is very scarce ;
outdoor peaches already ripe. The air is wonderfully clear and
dry, and the golden mellow light of the afternoons remarkably
beautiful. But it is the most destructive drought experienced
for many years. In proof of the dryness of the air, it may be
mentioned that it is difficult to harvest beans, the pods bursting
when they are touched. Wasps are scarce, strange to say.
11th.—Many Swifts, noisy at evening.
13th.—Fewer Swifts.
15th.—Still a few Swifts. A good rain fell at last.
23rd.—The drought has resumed its sway. Harvest finished.
Blackbirds very destructive to ripening plums.
25th.—On a barley-stubble, very foul, and gay with poppies
which have flowered since the barley was cut, I saw a flock of
over two hundred Turtle-Doves, feeding almost in the manner of
Starlings. There is a spinney of ash-poles and thorn-bushes
near there, where some are bred, and all these birds were
probably bred in the district. The Turtle-Dove has increased
very much in North Oxon of late years. Twenty years ago we
considered it rather uncommon.
26th.—In the ‘ Field’ of this date it is stated by Mr. J. M.
Marshall, of Wallingford, that a pair of Hobbies had recently
bred in Brightwell Park, and that a keeper had shot one old and
two young birds. Mr. Darbey afterwards told me he had a female
from Brightwell this month. I was talking to-day to a man
(about thirty years of age) about the decrease in the number of
Fieldfares which visit us, when he told me that when quite a boy
he killed forty-five at three shots.
27th.—Flock of about a dozen Mistle-Thrushes.
30th.—Another rain; the drought somewhat abated. Mr.
Bartlett showed me two Crossbills which were shot in the larches
on the hill at Bodicote in the late autumn of 1897. They were
in very fresh plumage, of a brick-red mottled with yellow; the
latter colour more clearly defined in one than in the other. Also
a variety of the Hedge-Sparrow; it had two or three white
)
ORNITHOLOGY OF OXFORDSHIRE. i)
feathers in the wings, breast and belly white with the exception
of a few feathers, scapulars white, back nearly all white, crown
partly white. It was shot at Great Bourton in March, 1898.
Also two adult male Pied Woodpeckers—one from Tusmore, killed
two years ago; the other shot in the neighbourhood of Banbury
more recently.
September 1st.—Flock of Mistle-Thrushes. A Wheatear
and a party of about fifteen Pied Wagtails on a ploughing. A
Red-legged Partridge, fully moulted, had the legs, bili, and eye-
lids orange instead of red ; it was a heavy bird, requiring 18 oz.
and a sixpence to balance it.
5th.—Saw a Clouded Yellow Butterfly in a potato-field. Red
Admirals are very abundant, and feed on fallen plums and on
those hanging on the trees which the Blackbirds have pecked.
81° in the shade.
8th.—Shot a very curious Partridge on Bloxham Grove.
The rusty colour on the head, face, and throat very bright and
well developed. The grey vermiculated feathers on the breast
from the throat downwards mostly dashed with the same rusty
yellow. Sides of the belly and rump the same, and many of the
flank-feathers tipped and splashed with the same. The bright
rusty yellow of the upper throat extending over the breast and
belly suggests the colouration of Perdix daurica. I exhibited
the bird at the British Ornithologists’ Club meeting in April,
1900. Five or six brace of birds killed in the same field the
same week showed no signs of abnormal colouring.
9th.—A vast flock of Linnets (perhaps between one and two
thousand) on a barley-stubble, very foul with knot-grass and
other weeds, at Milcomb.
10th.—About dusk a Landrail rose from a strip of roadside
grass, and flew at once over a rather high hedge close to me.
13th.—Very big flock of Peewits in a field of thin swedes.
Partridges are fairly numerous and strong this season, though
scarcer on hilly ground than they should be, doubtless in con-
sequence of the great drought. On the 25th August I saw an old
Partridge drinking at a spring, a thing I never happened to see
before. Of “cover” there is practically none, swedes having
been an almost entire failure. Red-legged Partridges are
more numerous than ever. ‘To-day three brace out of thirteen
10 THE ZOOLOGIST.
and a half at Milecomb and South Newington were young Red-
legs.
14th.—News from Mr. Fowler of Hobbies haunting a great
roost of Swallows at Kingham (vide Zool. 1899, p. 476).
15th. — Swallows and Martins congregating on the roof of
this house this morning; being of rough ‘ stonesfield slate,”
facing east and standing high, this roof is a favourite gathering-
place.
22nd.—A great congregation of Swallows and Martins on the
roof until after 8 a.m. When they flew up they were like a
swarm of bees. They returned to the roof two or three times.
This has been going on for some days. Mr. Bartlett showed me
two Kared Grebes (Podicipes nigricollis) over the moult, or nearly
so, which were shot on a pond about three miles north-west of
Banbury on the 19th inst. I afterwards bought them. They
were proved by dissection to be a male and female, and are
probably a pair of adult birds which had bred, or attempted to
breed, in the neighbourhood. Although their irides were bright
yellow, not red, I do not think they were birds of the previous
year which had passed the summer with us without breeding, as
is, I believe, the case with Grebes in the first season after that
in which they are hatched; because the eyes of Grebes vary a
good deal (perhaps according to the season), and because the
male still exhibits some rufous colour on the sides of the head.
This colour is not shown by birds in the spring following that in
which they are hatched, and is certainly not assumed in autumn.
The birds had not been seen on the pond on which they were
shot before the morning they were killed, but there are several
large reservoirs in the neighbourhood—one of them not more
than four or five miles away—which would have afforded them a
congenial summer home. Three days after they were killed
their bills were blackish, and their legs blackish olive, or blackish
with a strong tinge of green. Upper parts of the body nearly as
dark as the summer dress. Throat white, the white extending
nearly to the nape in the female. In the male the sides of the
head tinged with rufous. Fore-neck intermediate between sum-
mer and winter plumage. Breast greyish. Mr. T. A. Coward
kindly sent for my inspection a male shot in Anglesey on the
lst August, 1892 (Zool. 1892, p. 358). I think it was hatched in
ORNITHOLOGY OF OXFORDSHIRE. 11
1891, and had not moulted in the summer of 1892. The sides
of the head are tinged with brown, not with rufous as in my
male. Plumage of the upper parts has a worn appearance.
25th.—On high ground near Tadmarton Heath, late in the
afternoon, found many Meadow-Pipits on stubble and among
“seeds.” Three brace out of twelve and a half at Milcomb were
Red-legged Partridges.
27th.—Chifichaff in song in the garden.
28th.—The congregation of Swallows and Martins, especially
the former, has been smaller the last two mornings.
29th.—Very few on the roof, but a good many about the
fields in the day. Many Pied Wagtails on the fresh ploughings
—quite a flock in two places. Coal-Tit with spring note.
October 4th.— Mr. C. Jefferys on this date received from
Kirtlington an immature male Hobby. A Marsh-Harrier,
believed to be a three-year-old male, wounded and captured on
the 2nd inst., has been recorded by Mr. T. Terry Cooper, of
Swallowfield, Reading (Zool. 1900, p. 143).
6th.—Again (after an interval) a good many Swallows and
Martins on the roof. A Landrail shot in the Mileomb Road
allotments. Very scarce this year. I only heard one in the
spring.
7th.—No Swallows or Martins on the roof to-day, and hardly
any to be seen anywhere. ‘Those on the roof yesterday were no
doubt passing migrants. A Starling here imitates the Green
Woodpecker’s cry pretty well.
8th.—A few Swallows passing slowly westward, although at
first sight they appeared to be merely hawking for insects.
1lth.—A good many Goldfinches about the thistly fields on
Milecomb hills. Blackbirds and Song-Thrushes swarm in the
hedges and in Milcomb gorse, where there is a wonderful crop
of hips, haws, and blackberries, the bushes of the last-named
looking perfectly black at the top with ripe fruit. Flocks of
Meadow-Pipits in long grass on hillside.
18th.—Great and Blue Tits carefully searching a row of large
plants of *‘ cottage kail”’ infested with the grey aphis, which has
done so much damage this season.
19th.—A Humming-bird Hawk Moth (numerous ae year)
at a petunia blossom.
12 THE ZOOLOGIST.
20th.—News of a Woodcock shot in potato-field at Hook
Norton on the 7th.
28th.—Redwings in the hedges, which look quite red in the
distance from the heavy crop of haws. At the end of this month
a Grey Phalarope (now in my possession) was picked up at Kirt-
lington. Mr. Darbey told me that he had a male Peregrine
Falcon from Tar Wood this month.
November 6th.—News of an adult Gannet caught alive in a
field at Lower Tadmarton on the Ist inst. Chaffinch sang all
its song, but poorly; and again the next day.
7th.—News from Mr. R. Surman, of Oxford, that he had in a
cage a bird he believed to bea hybrid between the Blackbird and
Song-Thrush. He caught it outside Worcester College gardens,
where it was probably hatched. I called to see the bird in July,
1900, when it had much the shape of a Blackbird, a dull orange
bill, back brownish black, and under parts mottled brown. At
the end of August, 1901, I saw it again; it was partly in moult,
Upper parts chiefly a dark rich bronze-brown or umber-brown,.
Under parts mottled. Bull yellow with a brownish tinge. Mr.
Surman said it sang a little, and that the song was peculiar,
although something like a Blackbird’s.
8th.—Saw in the large meadow called Bestmoor, in the Cher-
well valley above Somerton, a flock of about one hundred and
fifty Golden Plovers, with a lot of Peewits.
10th.—A few Fieldfares about. A flock seen going to roost
in the evergreens at Great Tew on the 8th. Great numbers of
Greenfinches, Starlings, Wood-Pigeons, and other birds roost
there. Two Goldfinches in the garden, and several about the
Milcomb hills.
18th.—Fieldfares often passing over now.
28th.—A good many Fieldfares and Redwings. News of a
Fork-tailed Petrel picked up dead in a ploughed field at South
Stoke about the middle of the month, after a strong gale from
S.W. and W.
December 2nd.—Three and a half out of ten and a half brace
of Partridges between Milcomb, Barford, and South Newington
were Red-legs. Many Fieldfares and Redwings.
8th.—Three or four wild Snipe in the Sorbrook valley here ;
scarce birds in these upper valleys.
ORNITHOLOGY OF OXFORDSHIRE. 13
11th.—Sharp frost. A Snipe at South Newington.
12th.—Three inches of snow on ground.
13th.—Snow all the forenoon.
14th.—Thermometer down to 17°, and 20° at 9.30 a.m.
16th.—Severe weather. Stock-Doves feeding on turnip-tops.
19th.—Steady cold thaw.
28th.—The want of rain during the autumn is severely felt
after the dry summer. Several wells, never known to fail pre-
viously, are now dry. Three or four Bramblings shot from a
flock near the village.
31st.—Large flock of Bramblings, with Chaffinches and a few
Sparrows, near the village.
I find I have met with the Barred Woodpecker on about half
a dozen occasions this year in the immediate neighbourhood of -
Bloxham. It may be slightly on the increase. As it is not
persecuted in any way, and is not known to or seen by one per-
son in five hundred at the most, it is strange that it does not
become numerous. It probably suffers much less than the
Green Woodpecker from severe weather, as it does not feed on
the ground ; but it seems to be a law of nature that Woodpeckers
should noé be numerous.
I am indebted to Mr. Heatley Noble for the following inter-
esting notes :—
In the shooting season of 1894-5 an immature White-tailed
Eagle remained for some weeks in Fawley Court Deer Park, and
enjoyed the protection of Mr. Mackenzie, who on one occasion
saw the Hagle settle in a tree just over his head. Mr. Noble
also saw the bird. —
A female Smew was killed on the river at Hennerton about
1881.
In J892 or 1893 a pair of Pied Flycatchers are said by the
Hon. and Rev. A. Parker to have nested in his garden at Bix.
The Royston Crow is occasionally seen in the neighbourhood
of Henley-on-Thames, but is rare.
Mr. Noble saw a Stone Curlew three times in one day, getting
quite close to it, on a rabbit-warren at Stonor, on Nov. 13th,
1899. This is the latest date in the autumn on which I have
known the “ Curloo ” to occurin Oxon.
14 THE ZOOLOGIST.
A female Scaup was shot on the river at Hennerton on the
13th November, 1888. The Tufted Duck, Pochard, Wigeon, and
Golden-eye all occur on that part of the river in winter.
Mr. J. A. Bucknill informs me that he saw about seven
Common Terns on Port Meadow, Oxford, as late as December
in 1891, and that one was shot on the 11th, and brought to him.
In February, 18938, he saw two on Otmoor, and another at Bab-
lock Hythe. A Green Sandpiper was shot (and brought to
him) on the river at Oxford on the 30th November, 1891, during
a heavy flood.
Mr. Bucknill saw a drake Golden-eye in full plumage on
Clattercote Reservoir on the 14th December, 1895. It is un-
common in this dress in Oxon. He also saw a flock of about
twenty Grey Geese on Otmoor during a very deep and heavy
flood about December, 1893. He believes three were killed by
a local gunner, but they were not identified.
1900.
January 2nd.—Very heavy rain last night. Blue Tit sings.
5th.—Corn-Bunting sings. Large flock of Bramblings near
Mileomb. ‘This is not the same flock as that seen near Bloxham.
6th.—Coal Tit with spring note. A Bittern was flushed on
the 16th December last from a ditch bordering an osier-bed
within a mile of Reading (but in Oxon) by Mr. W. T. Crawshay,
of Caversham Park, who recorded it in the ‘ Field’ of this date.
15th.—A good deal of rain recently.
19th —A male Bittern shot by a keeper at Shiplake. It had
been observed several times during the previous five weeks, and
‘his boom could be heard occasionally in the nights.” Recorded
by the Rev. J. Climenson, of Shiplake Vicarage, in a letter to the
‘Reading Mercury’ of the 20th.
20th.—A second male Bittern (weighing 2 1b. 7 oz.)) shot in
the same place by the same man. It was seen in the flesh by
Mr. Bradshaw, who wrote me word of it. The ‘ Oxford Times’
of this date reports a Bittern shot at Pinkle Lock, near Kynsham,
by Mr. G. Longford, and preserved by Mr. George Barson. |
Many others occurred in different parts of the country about
this time.
February 3rd.—Seven inches of snow on the ground ; no
ORNITHOLOGY OF OXFORDSHIRE. 15
drifting. Bullfinches eating plum-blossom buds. A number of
Bramblings with Chaffinches near Hook Norton reported yester-
day. Wind north.
6th.—Sharp frost. Mr. Coombs, of Chipping Norton, showed
me a Buzzard, shot at Ditchley in the early autumn of last year ;
also a Crossbill—an adult orange-coloured bird—one of a dozen
which haunted some larches near that town in the winter of
1898-99.
7th.—Very severe frost. Mistle-Thrush eating holly-berries
within a yard of my window. The berries are now nearly
finished ; last winter they were hardly touched. News from
Mr. Darby of a Grey Shrike shot at Nuneham on the 5th.
8th.—Severe frost (14°), and only 19° at 10 a.m.
11th.—Birds very tame. Mistle-Thrush eating berries of
Cotoneaster microphylla trained on house, and from another bush
in front of the dining-room window.
12th.—I saw a Hedge-Sparrow eat some grains of wheat
given to the poultry. We have here a Hedge-Sparrow with one
or two of the outer primaries in one wing white; these are con-
spicuous when it flies.
13th.—Great numbers of birds come to be fed. Intense frost,
14th.—Another deep snow last night. It lies about ten inches
deep on the lawn, and there are huge drifts. Mistle-Thrush
eating berries of Cotoneaster sumondsi, which are seldom eaten
by birds. Rook and Jackdaws with the other birds at the food
put out in the garden, and about a hundred Starlings this
morning. Where these have come from it is hard to say, for in
severe weather it is usually difficult to see half a dozen about the
village. They have gradually increased at the feeding-place from
day to day, and must have some means of communicating the
fact that food is to be had here to their fellows.
15th.—Furious storm of rain and snow.
17th.—Saw_a big flock of Ducks flying over.
19th.—Rapid thaw and heavy rain. Blackbird sings, and
Chaffinch. .
20th.—A flock of birds on a stubble consisted of about half
Bramblings (the maies getting very dark), and the rest Chaf-
finches and Tree-Sparrows. Very big floods in the valleys.
21st.—Ground white with fresh snow.
16 THE ZO00LOGIST.
22nd.—Very mild.
24th.—The floods have been larger than any since 1894.
26th.—Mr. Fowler writes from Kingham :—‘‘I rarely see a
Stonechat here ; but yesterday, in the morning, I found a pair—
the male in such gorgeous spring plumage that he shone re-
splendent even at a distance. In the afternoon the rector and I
found several more. All were on hedge-tops by the roadside, in
places which here are never their haunts.” Vast flocks of Bramb-
lings near the village at the end of the month. Over five inches
of rain fell this month.
March 3rd.—Only a small number of Brambliugs in their old
haunt. ‘To judge by the amount of their respective songs to be
heard, Blackbirds have withstood the severe weather better than
the Song-Thrushes.
5th.—Crossing an upland field near the village through which
a ditch runs, a Jack-Snipe rose under my feet as I crossed the
ditch. A large flock of Peewits in the meadows near Somerton,
though some were at the breeding-places on the fallows, and had
the spring calls. A big flock of Linnets ona clover-field.
12th.—Mr. Bartlett showed me a male Tufted Duck, shot at
Wroxton recently. Also ablue-billed Hawfinch, shot there from
a flock of twenty, and several Bramblings, which had been very
abundant in the east of Banbury, twenty having been killed at a
couple of shots; several of them were females.
17th.—About sundown a great flock of Starlings passed over,
going S.K. Although they were so high up that they looked no
larger than Tomtits, the rushing noise they made attracted my
attention. Possibly they were going to a large fox-cover called
Dene Hill, for I heard later that such vast numbers had roosted
there that they had caused the Foxes to vacate it.
18th.—About three inches of snow on the ground, and snow-
showers.
24th.—A Robin building in one of the boxes.
27th.— During a long and unsuccessful search for spring
migrants, I saw two Barred Woodpeckers, a female Redpoll, and
some Bramblings, including a good dark male: it is very late for
this bird to be with us.
30th.—Another Barred Woodpecker.
April 3rd.—Weather still very cold.
a
ORNITHOLOGY OF OXFORDSHIRE. 17
4th.—Robin in box has one egg.
10th.—Wood-Pigeons come here every evening to feed on
ivy-berries. A Chiffchaff was seen to-day by my brother in the
Cherwell valley; it was silent. Hedges show no sign of green.
12th.—Mr. Fowler saw one Chiffchaff at Kingham.
16th.—At Kingham he showed me Peewits’ nests with three
and four eggs, and he had seen two Swallows in the morning.
We could find no Chiffchaffs, but I saw a Wheatear from the
train on this side of Chipping Norton.
17th.—A Cuckoo flew over the garden.
18th.—The result of a long round in search of migrants was
one Swallow seen.
19th.—Quite hot in the sun. Found one Chiffchaff. In
spite of constant searches in all the most likely spots, this is the
first I have seen. Tree-Pipit arrived. Hedges just showing
green in places.
20th.—Redstart. Crow and two Magpies sitting.
22nd.—Hot day. Many butterflies; several Brimstones and
Small Tortoishells, one Peacock, and a Small Garden White.
23rd.—Willow-Wren and Blackcap. Away from home until
the 26th.
27th.—Cuckoo noisy.
28th.—Mr. A. Holte Macpherson and I noticed Ray’s Wag-
tail, Lesser Whitethroat, Whinchat, Sand-Martin, and White-
throat, but did not hear a Chiffchaff during a long walk in
beautiful sunny weather. Near the village we saw a very fine
example of the large race of the Wheatear. It was at one time
close to a cock Chaffinch, than which it was clearly a consider-
ably larger bird.
29th.— We noticed a Nightingale in Milcomb gorse, and
another near Broughton Grange; also the Grasshopper- Warbler,
House-Martin, and Sedge-Warbler. Also a Ring: Ouzel (quite a
rarity here) between here and Broughton.
May lIst.—Mr. J. Whitaker was much interested in the great
number of Lesser Whitethroats we noticed when driving into
Warwickshire. We heard several Nightingales by the roadside,
Only saw one Crested Grebe on Clattercote Reservoir. Little
Grebe chattering.
3rd.—Received news from Mr. Darbey of a Golden Oriole
Zool. 4th ser. vol. VII., January, 1903. c
18 THE ZOOLOGIST.
(a fine male) shot in an orchard at Southrop, near Letchlade,
which is only just over our county borders, on the 23rd April.
5th.—A Great Tit has eleven eggs in a nest in one of my
boxes; the eggs were piled up to-day.
6th.—Nightingale reported as heard in our paddock-walk (an
old haunt, long deserted, during the years this bird became un-
accountably rare in this district) a week ago. Swift appeared.
7th. Among some young Rooks shot to-day two had some
yellowish white on their bills, and one had a little white on the
chin. A Mistle-Thrush has built a nest in a pear-tree trained
like a pergola across the kitchen-garden path, seven feet from
the ground. To match the green leaves of the pear-tree, the nest
is formed externally almost entirely of green moss. There is a
very little mud in the walls, and a few bits of haulm and a bit of
tape. The nest is very inconspicuous, but my attention was
drawn to it by seeing several bits of green moss dropped on the
path. The nest had one egg in it to-day. I left home the next
day, and on my return found it had been deserted.
8th.—Mr. Henry Blea, who keeps the ‘ White Lion’ inn here,
happened this morning to see a case containing a pair of Stone
Curlews with young which I have in the hall. He then told me
that thirty or forty years ago he lived on a farm near Heythrop,
-and in those days the ‘‘Curloo ” (as this bird is called in Oxford-
shire) frequented Cold Harbour and Showell farms. These farms
are at an elevation of about 600 ft. above the sea, and between
them the land rises to over 700 ft. The soil is the stony “‘ stone-
brash,” and the country very open and bleak. Mr. Blea said
there were never to his knowledge more than one or two pairs of
Curloos there each year. He described the open country they
frequented, the pace they ran, their habit of getting up quietly
and stealing away, their two eggs laid on the bare ground, and
the great difficulty he had in finding the two or three lots of eggs
he ever found. I may here mention that two eggs of this species,
taken at Ipsden on the Chilterns about the year 1887, have come
into my possession. They are the only Oxfordshire examples of
these eggs I have seen.
12th.—News from Mr. Darbey of a Ring-Ouzel shot at Bletch-
ington on or about the 4th inst.
June 8rd.—Examined a Pied Woodpecker and a Hawfinch,
ORNITHOLOGY OF OXFORDSHIRE. 19
shot at Wroxton this spring. Heard and saw the Nightingale
in the paddock-walk, which has been there now for a month.
6th.—Mistle-Thrush singing well this evening.
7th.—Again singing.
8th.—Nightingale reported as unusually common at Great
Tew and South Newington Hill.
9th.—Heard Wood-Wren in a mixed plantation of beech and
some oak at Tadmarton Camp. Two Nightingales there this
spring. Mistle-Thrush singing.
10th.—Some young Starlings in a box against the wall, only
five feet from the ground. Mistle-Thrush sang well.
13th.—Bullfinch several times lately close to the house, I
believe in consequence of the bird-cherry having much fruit on
it this year. Saw one in the tree the next day.
15th, 16th, and 17th.—Mistle-Thrush still singing.
18th.—'I'wo pairs of Nightingales in the cover at South New-
ington were very noisy with the “‘sleet’”’ and the Edible Frog-
like “ turrr.”
24th.—A Barred Woodpecker noisy and excited all day in
my neighbour’s walnut-tree, and in trees in my garden. Possibly
had young just out of the nest.
July 4th.— Mr. Fowler told me of one nest of the Marsh-
Warbler, the young in which were hatched this morning. He
believed a second pair had a nest.
14th.—Saw a pair of Red-backed Shrikes on the telegraph-
wires below the Lessor Farm, Milcomb, a favourite haunt with
these birds, which are scarce and local with us.
17th.—A covey of young Partridges could fly.
19th.—Very hot; 90° in the shade, 76° at 9 p.m. Swifts
revelling in the hot evening.
24th.—Severe drought continues.
25th.—The hottest day I ever experienced in England ; 913°
in the shade. A fresh south wind and the very dry air made
walking possible. The air at night was of the ‘ well-cooked”’
kind that one knows in the South. Swifts delight in this
weather, and scream loudly.
29th.—A good rain at last.
August lst.—A soaking rain. A good deal of rain after this,
and stormy weather for some days.
20 THE ZOOLUGISY.
15th.—Swifts numerous and noisy.
17th.—Some Swifts.
18th.—None seen.
31st.—Flock of fourteen Mistle-Thrushes.
September Ist.— Many old Partridges without any young
brood. Three Landrails killed. Saw a Wheatear (migrant).
4th.—Red-legged Partridges are more numerous than ever
this year. I have seen two and a half and three brace killed in
a day, a thing unheard of about here ten years ago.
5th.—A big flock of Peewits about the arable land. There
are a few Clouded Yellow Butterflies about this year, and I have
taken one Pale Clouded Yellow, the only one I ever saw in this
district.
7th.—Five brace of young and one old Red-legged Partridge
formed part of our bag at Milcomb to-day. Heard of four Land-
rails bagged near Rollwright a few days ago.
10th.—A young Cuckoo shot to-day in my presence at Mil-
comb was changing its plumage.
12th.—Many Mistle-Thrushes in straggling flocks.
21st.—A few Meadow-Pipits, the first noticed.
24th.—Many in the swedes. °
27th.—Chiffchaff in song.
October 3rd.—Flock of about a score of Pied Wagtails;
many Meadow-Pipits.
8th.—Hedge-Sparrow singing for some days lately.
9th.—Very warm ; 70° in the shade.
11th.—News from Mr. Bartlett that he had stuffed for a lady’s
hat an adult Lesser Tern picked up at Croperdy a month ago.
19th.—Humming-bird Hawk Moth hovering over a. bed of
Michaelmas daisies about 10 a.m. Temperature up to 50° in
the day.
24th.—Song-Thrushes singing fairly well.
26th.—News from Mr. Darbey of a Buzzard (of the dark type)
trapped at Wytham on the 24th, and of a Death’s-head Moth
caught close to Carfax Church, Oxford, on the 16th. This is a
very fine specimen, and is now in my possession.
28th.—Some Redwings and Fieldfares.
November lst.—Examined a Partridge which was seen on
October 25th, at breakfast-time, to drop down into a narrow
ORNITHOLOGY OF OXFORDSHIRE. 21
enclosed courtyard at the back of a birdstuffer's house in the
High Street, Banbury. It was uninjured, but was easily caught.
I also obtained the skin of an albino Greenfinch, killed near
Oxford on or about the 2nd September. This specimen is white,
tinged with yellow more or less all over, except on the end of the
quill-feathers. The yellow is brightest on the shoulders and
the edges of the primaries and wing-quills, where an ordinary
bird has the brightest colours. Irides pink. Bill perhaps
rather paler than usual; the legs and feet appear to have been
pale flesh-colour, claws very pale.
8th.—News from Mr. Surman of a Dunlin shot at some
clay-pits at Summertown on the 3rd.
10th.—Red Admiral Butterfly in the garden.
12th.—A Peregrine Falcon shot at Boarstall Decoy to-day,
recorded in the ‘ Oxford Times.’
16th.—News from Mr. Surman of a Green Sandpiper shot at
Sandford-on-Thames on the 8th, and a Great Crested Grebe on
Port Meadow stream on the 12th.
22nd.—News from Mr. Fowler of an unusual number of Red-
polls in the birch-trees in the parks at Oxford, and that on the
previous day he saw a Water-Rail in a ditch at Kingham.
23rd.—Song-Thrushes sing well.
24th.—Singing well about 8 a.m. in a cold thick fog. Many
Bullfinches about. The fruit crop this year has been exception-
ally heavy. To say nothing of garden fruits, the crop of beech-
mast and acorns has been remarkable, in the case of the latter
With disastrous effects on the cattle in the fields where there are
oak-trees, although sheep and pigs have done well and not suf-
fered. The hedge-fruit is quite a sight—crabs, sloes (a very heavy
crop), blackberries, &c.—while the haws redden the big hedges.
26th.—Song-Thrushes now singing grandly. Yesterday, and
this morning between 7 and 8 a.m., it was, as an old farmer
remarked, ‘‘ quite a charm.”
28th.—News from Mr. Darbey of another Peregrine Falcon
(a bird of the year) shot at Boarstall yesterday.
30th.—Bullfinches chanting three double notes. During a
day’s shooting about Milcomb I met with Goldfinches three times.
One bird sang, but poorly.
December 6th.—Hxamined at Mr. Bartlett’s a well-pied
22 THE ZO0O0LOGIST.
Blackbird. To judge from the plumage it was a female, and an
old one, as it had a dull orange bill.
7th.—Very mild; 50°. In the afternoon a Blackbird sang
fairly well. I had never previously heard one sing in December.
8th.—The ‘ Field’ of this date contains a notice by “F.M.C.”
that a Grey Crow was shot at Henley-on-Thames on the 8th
October, and a Puffin was picked up alive but exhausted on the
20th November.
12th.—Blackbird sang a little in a low tone; 52°, with a
grey sky.
138th.—Examined, at Mr. Bartlett’s, a beautiful drake Shoveler
in the flesh, which had been shot on a pond at Wroxton. It was
with another “ less brightly coloured.”’ This is a rare Duck in
the north of the county.
20th.—Winter aconite flowering.
22nd.—Blackbird sang for some time in the afternoon. Song
perfect, but rather low in tone. Temperature at the time 38°;
air still.
27th.—Furious gale at night, and much rain.
28th.—Very rough stormy weather. While waiting for a
Partridge-drive near Hook Norton, I counted eight Magpies as
they came over a ridge of high ground in front of the guns.
29th.—Galanthus elwesi in bloom.
30th.—Rained all day and poured all nigh with a furious
gale from the north.
3lst.— The gale gradually subsided, having done much
damage. It knocked several conifers here out of the straight.
The floods this morning are the biggest we have had for thirteen
years. Some cottages with a foot of water inthem. At Wickham
Mill, on the Sorbrook, the occupier, who was born there, and
has lived there all his life, being now fifty-seven, said the flood
to-day was the highest he had known, and came up to the mill-
door. Twenty years ago this would have meant flooded meadows
for weeks, and hundreds of wildfowl; but now, with so much
drainage, floods, although more frequent, run off very quickly.
(To be continued.
NOTES AND QUERIES.
AVES.
Blackbird Laying on the Ground.—On April 26th, in the grounds
of a friend at Claygate, I was shown a nest with four eggs of the
Blackbird (Turdus merula) on the ground. The nest, so called, con-
sisted simply of a hollow without any lining whatever scraped amongst
the fallen pine-needles and trailing ivy in a shrubbery, the eggs being
laid on the bare ground. They were evidently deserted when I saw
them, but my friend’s son told me he had put the old bird off the eggs,
and the gardener also informed me he had twice seen it brooding on
them. About a week previous to the discovery of the eggs my friend
had pulled outa new empty nest of a Blackbird from a cypress close by,
and I think it probable the owner, not having time to build a new one,
laid her eggs on the ground a yard or two away from their destroyed
intended home.—Roserr H. Reap (7, South Parade, Bedford Park, W.)
British Examples of the White-spotted Bluethroat.—Referring to
the note of Mr. Nicoll on this subject in ‘ The Zoologist’ for December
last (p. 464), may I be allowed to state that the first British-killed
example of the White-spotted Bluethroat was obtained at Scarborough,
and described by the Rev. J. G. Tuck (Zool. June, 1876, p. 4956, and
‘ Field,’ May 6th, 1876).—T. H. Neuson (The Cliffe, Redcar).
The Status of the Goldfinch (Carduelis elegans) in Britain. —
_ Essex.—Resident, local, not abundant ; partly migratory ; decreas-
ing (Miller Christy, 1890).
Wiltshire. — Kiverybody knows: never so abundant as to beget
familiarity : rapidly diminishing in numbers. Very rare in North
Wilts (Canon Goddard). Not seen one for several years (Rev. A. C.
Smith, 1887).
Devon.—Resident ; formerly numerous; now scarce in most locali-
ties, except in autumn breeds. Decrease enlarged upon. A rare
event to see an example of this once abundant bird (Rev. M. A.
Mathew, 1892). Parfitt (1876) has it ‘frequent in orchards through-
out the county.”
24 THRE ZOOLOGIST.
Dorset.—In an imperfect copy I have of Mansel-Pleydell’s ‘ Orni-
thology, &c., of Dorset,’ he does not include it amongst his rarer
birds of the county in 1875. But about 1887, in his complete work, —
‘The Birds of Dorsetshire,’ he has it resident; more numerous since
the Bird Acts (Wild Birds’ Protection Act) passed.
Herefordshire.—D. Henry Graves Bull, in 1888 (‘ Notes on Birds of
Herefordshire’). Fairly plentiful and generally distributed.
Buckingham.—Rev. B. Binges (1855) merely mentions it in his
List, p. 103.
Devon.—Pidsley, in 1890. Resident, partly migratory ; formerly
numerous, but of late years a scarce bird. Decrease.
Sussex.—Borrer, 1891. Formerly very common, now comparatively
rare; near Bryston not one hundred may now be seen, even at the
most favourable time of the year. Diminution of the species.
Somerset.—Cecil Smith, in 1869. Not very uncommon ; resident.
Cornwall.—Hearle Rodd, in 1880. Not a scarce bird in Cornwall ;
local.
Wilts—Im Thurn in 1869. 0.
Derbyshire.—Myr. Whitlock, in 1898. Principally known as a local
autumn visitor. A few pairs breed in the south of the county, but
only in very limited numbers. Formerly far more common. Practi-
cally unknown in some districts. In 1836 abundant, in 1863 still
common at Burton-on-Trent. In the Peak district appears to be of
uncertain occurrence, evenin September. Partial extermination.
Northampton.—Lord Lilford, 1880-88. Decidedly less common,
Decrease accounted for principally by the careful field-weeding of
recent years, and birdcatchers.
East Kent.— Mr. Dowker, in 1889. Moderately common; not
common of late.
Pembroke. —M. A. Mathew, in 1894. Common, resident ; still
about. Six nests in his grounds one summer.
Nottingham:-—Sterland and Whitaker, in 1879. Common in parts.
Suffolk.—Babington. Generally distributed; not uncommon at
Gazely, but rare at Livermore. Less abundant than formerly.
Oxford.—Aplin, in 1889. Resident, but also migratory ; became
exceedingly scarce, but increased again in last three or four years.
Have kept up numbers in more secluded parts.
2 Durham.—Prentis in 1894, in his ‘ Notes on the Birds of Rain-
ham.’ I do not often see a Goldfinch in the course of a year.
London.—Mr. Swann, in his ‘ Birds of London,’ in 1893. Visitor
on migration; decidedly rare as a nesting species. At Stratford
** steadily on the increase ”
NOTES AND QUERIES. 26
London.—Hudson, in 1898; 0. Pigott, in 1892; 0.
Norfolk.-—Stevenson, in 1866. By no means uncommon through-
out the year.
Bueks and Berks.—Clark Kennedy, in 1868. Generally distributed
in the two counties. Greatly decreased during the last ten years.
More numerous in spring and autumn.
West Cheshire, Denbigh, and Flint.—Mr. Dobie, in 1893. Resident
and generally distributed, but not common in West Cheshire. In
Wirral a scarce resident; a good many in autumn. Not common at
Burton (West Cheshire). Common in Wales.
Stafford.—Mr. McAldowie, in 1898. Partly migratory; very rare
in summer, but more numerous in winter. Breeds in the north of the
county, but is very rare. Gradually becoming extinct in Stafford,
according to Mr. Yates.
Norwood district, Surrey. — My. Aldridge writes :— ‘“‘ Becoming
scarcer every year. Remorselessly hunted down. Certainly rare.”’
Yorkshire.—‘ Ackworth Birds.’ Mr. Arundel, in 1898. Previous
to 1860 was plentiful, since then diminished in numbers, and has
become scarce. Thinks it is still resident. The diminution towards
extinction has been going on over the whole of Britain, and quotes
J. H. Harting to the same effect, and Mr. Howard Saunders, who says
it has ‘‘ undoubtedly decreased in numbers during the last half-century ”’
(‘ Manual,’ p. 173). Mr. Howard Saunders, however, records (1898)
also that the Wild Birds’ Protection Act has operated in its favour
during the past twelve years; and adds, ‘‘ perhaps (also) agricultural
depression.”
Lancashire.—Mitchell, in 1885, does not mention it.
Rutland. —Mr. Montagu Browne, in 1889, has it resident, but
sparsely distributed. Hiven in Harley’s time it was ‘“ increasingly
rare.”
Northumberland.—Hancock, in 1874, had only seen it on two or
three occasions. Casual visitant.
Lakeland.—Rev. H. A. Macpherson, in 1892. Thirty years before
it was comparatively common, and nested freely from the Solway to
the shores of Morecambe Bay, and even in the heart of the Lake
District. Present stronghold is in the Eden Valley. Not met with on
the south-eastern border, but stated to be slightly increasing at Under-
barrow. ‘‘ Uniformly a very scarce bird.”’
Sherwood Forest. — Sterland, in 1869. ‘One of our commonest
song-birds’’ (p.117). [No thought apparently of any decrease then—
eee D.|
26 THE ZO0O0OLOGIST.
Birds of the Derwent Valley.—Mr. Robson, in 1896. * Casual
visitant,’’ and of doubtful occurrence in the rest of the county in
summer. [Evidently rare—J. H. B.]
Bird Life of the Borders. — Abel Chapman, in 1888. Not men-
tioned in index.
Cumberland.—Rev. H. A. Macpherson and W. Duckworth, in 1886
(see also Lakeland, 1892). Locally resident; generally decreased of
late years, though still numerous in the Eden Valley. A few pairs
breed sporadically in the north of the county. Very absent still in
Eden Valley.
—J.A. Harvir-Brown (Dunipace, Larbert, Stirlingshire, N.B.).
[Mr. Harvie-Brown, in a letter accompanying the above interesting
excerpts, expresses his wish that our contributors might bring the
status of the bird up to date, viz. to the end of last year. Any notes we
may receive on the subject will be reserved for some completeness with
other records, and then published together in a condensed form.—
Kp. ]
Lesser Redpoll nesting in Middlesex.—As there appear to be very
few records of the nesting of Linota rufescens in Middlesex, I may men-
tion that on June 28th last year I found a nest near Pinner. It was
built in a furze-bush, and contained five eggs. As usual with nests of
this species, it was lined with, and constructed very largely of, down
from willow-catkins, with some bents and a few horsehairs.—RoseErt
H. Reap (7, South Parade, Bedford Park, W.).
A Habit of the Lesser Redpoll (Linota rufescens)—While look-
ing through ‘ The Zoologist’ for 1901, I noticed, on p. 316, an account
of the rather mysterious disappearance of the eggs and lining of a
Redpoll’s nest. The writer of the note did not think the nest had
been robbed, but came to the following conclusion :—‘‘ Mayhap the
old birds may have removed it (7. e. the lining) to line a new nest sub-
sequently to the eggs being taken from the old one.” In reference to
this remark, my experience with two pairs of Redpolls which I found
breeding near Oxford a few years ago may be interesting. The follow-
ing is a condensed account taken from my note-books :—On May 16th,
1898, a Lesser Redpoll’s nest, which I had found a few days previously,
contained three eggs. I took two of these, and substituted a Linnet’s
egg. On visiting the nest a few days later I saw the hen bird in the
tree with some dry grass or roots in her bill, and on examining the
nest I found that it had been considerably pulled about, and that both
eggs had disappeared. A few days later nothing was left of the nest but
its foundation, though the birds remained in the neighbourhood, as I
NOTHS AND QUERIES. 27
saw them frequently on subsequent occasions, and I feel sure they were
building a new nest out of the materials of the old one, although a
careful search failed to discover it.
About the 24th of May, not far from the spot where the first pair
of Redpolls were breeding, I noticed a small nest in a young beech-
tree, and on climbing to it I found it was a Redpoll’s nest, which
appeared to have been disturbed, and which had lost some of its lining.
IT noticed that the tree had been climbed, so the nest had evidently been
robbed. On May 28th I again visited the same spot, and found that
the nest had almost entirely disappeared—in fact, only a foundation
was left—and I found among the topmost branches of a sallow-bush,
only a few yards from the beech-tree, a new Redpoll’s nest just ready
for eggs. On May 80th this nest contained one egg.
We have here instances to show that the Lesser Redpoll will not
tolerate any interference with her nest and eggs. I was very careful
to disturb the first pair mentioned above as little as possible, and
removed the two eggs with a teaspoon. The evidence from these three
cases also goes to prove that this species, when disturbed in nesting
operations, will remove the materials from the spot which has been dis-
covered, and use them in forming a new home. What becomes of the
eggs is less clear, but I suppose it is possible that they are transferred
also. If I could have found the new nest of my first pair mentioned
above, and it had contained the Linnet’s egg, the mystery would have
been solved.
In ‘ The Zoologist’ for 1894, on p. 228, is a note on the breeding
of the Lesser Redpoll, and it appears very possible that the birds acted
in the same way as the three pairs already mentioned. It would be
very interesting to hear the experience of other field naturalists on this
presumed habit of the Lesser Redpoll. Is it a common habit among
birds? I have studied birds out of doors as long as I can remember,
but cannot recollect having observed a parallel case. It requires,
however, very careful observation to prove that the original makers of
the nest are removing it to a safer place, and that it is not any chance
bird on the look-out for materials which has destroyed the deserted
nest.—F’, L. Buarawayrt (Lincoln).
Migration of Jays.—It is interesting that a very noticeable increase
in the number of Jays should have been observed in Hants and Dorset,
as a similar increase occurred in this part of Sussex. Garrulus glan-
darius is always fairly well represented in this district, but an unusual
number put in an appearance during the first week in October, an
influx which extended well into November, since when I have only
28 THE ZOOLOGIST
observed the usual number. The behaviour of these birds differed
somewhat from that generally observable in the species; they were
mostly single birds, not so easily alarmed, and frequented trees in open
situations to an extent not usual with the Jay.— Rosperr Morris
(‘‘Fernhurst,” Uckfield, Sussex).
Wirs reference to the note on this subject (Zool. 1902, p. 484),
Mr. Corbin may be interested to know that we have had more Jays than
usnal about here last autumn. Very few breed in this immediate
neighbourhood, but more visit us every autumn. Last year I noted in
my diary that there were a good many about on the 8th October, and
on the 29th, that there were Jays all about, and ‘clearly a migration.”
On the 4th November I-saw several on the side of the parish where I
only occasionally see Jays, and they were about there and very noisy
on the 2nd December. We have not many acorns this year.—O. V.
Artin (Bloxham, Oxon).
Variety in Domestic Geese. —The tenant of my Rectory Farm has
lately sublet some of his fields to a poulterer, who turned down more
than a thousand Geese on them, Though Goose-farming on a large
scale is an ancient industry in Kast Anglia, it is a novelty here; so I
went down to see the birds, and was surprised to notice that many of
them were clearly of Bean-Goose descent, having the brown plumage
of that species, with the black and yellow beak ending with a black
nail. The Geese, I was told, were not bred in England, but brought
over when young from Holland; and it seems pretty clear that in that
country Bean-Geese, either captured in nets or winged birds, must
have bred freely in confinement with ordinary Geese. I am not aware
that any similar instance has been recorded.—Jutian G. Tuck (Tostock
Rectory, Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk).
Wild Swans at Rainworth.—On Nov. 29th I was standing at the
front door, when I heard notes of birds, and on looking up I saw, at a
great height, a flight of what I thought were Wild Geese. I at once saw
they meant to settle on the lake below the house, which is a beautiful
piece of water in sight of a river, and covering about twenty-five acres.
After two or three flights round they came against a hill covered with
firs, and I at once saw they were Swans. ‘There were twenty-one of
them, six cygnets, and the rest pure white. After a great deal of flying
round in great circles they settled, and, as I wanted a Notts-killed speci-
men, my son, after a talk, decided to take his rifle. He had an easy
stalk behind banks of rhododendrons, and got within fifty yards of seven.
when, picking out the largest, he sent a ball through him. The rest rose
With great flappings, and two more were missed. They now were well
NOTES AND QUERIES. 29
on wing, and about forty yards high, when he senta ball right through
one, which fell with a great splash in the lake, and, with loud cries,
the remainder winged their flight away. On getting them, we found
they were Bewick’s Swans—a fine male, weighing 12 lb. and a cygnet.
We were very pleased with ourselves, and soon a big case will be
added to this collection. On Tuesday, Dec. 23rd, when Pike-fishing
on lake at Welbeck Abbey, six Swans flew over the boat, but as there
are any quantity of Mute Swans on this lake, I did not take much
notice, till I heard a loud ‘‘ whoop”; they settled near about thirty
tame ones, and began to feed, now and again giving the loud cry
“‘whoop whoop.” They did not mix with other Swans, but kept a
short way from them. When I left off fishing I walked up lake-side,
and they only swam about three hundred yards away from bank. They
were Whoopers, five mature and one cygnet. I noticed they looked
much bigger than Bewick, which they are, and sat higher on water.
The lake was let down to perhaps fifty acres, and on this were hundreds
of Duck—quite five hundred Tufted Duck, besides many Pochards and
several hundred Common Duck. I also saw a pair of Pintail. It was
sreat luck to see both species of Wild Swans on the water, and in an
inland county, within a month, and a treat I most thoroughly enjoyed.
I have never seen Wild Swans on the water before, and only twice on
wing in this county.—J. Wurraxer (Rainworth Lodge, Notts).
Fork-tailed Petrel in Somerset.—A specimen of the Fork-tailed
Petrel (Cymochorea leucorrhoa) was forwarded in the flesh a few days
ago by my brother from Cadbury, in Somersetshire. It was picked up
on Nov. 30th by his shepherd in one of the fields in an exhausted con-
dition, and died soon after being brought into the house. As Cadbury
is some twenty-five miles from the nearest point on the coast, the bird
had doubtless been blown inland by the recent heavy gales, but whether
from the Bristol or English Channel is uncertain, most probably,
however, the former.—Rosert H. Reap (7, South Parade, Bedford
Park, W.).
Notes from Lincolnshire.—I have lately seen the following birds
which have been sent for preservation to Mr. Nash, the local bird-
stuffer :—A buff variety of the Redwing (Turdus iliacus), shot on Dec.
11th near Brauston. The bird, which is a male, is chiefly of a pale
buff-colonr, shading off almost to white on the tail-feathers, and the
freckles on the breast are of the same pale colour. The flanks are of
the usual rich chestnut-red, which contrasts strongly with the rest of
the plumage. An adnlt male Bittern (Botaurus stellaris was shot on
30 THE ZOOLOGIST.
Dec. 1st near Washingborough, a few miles out of Lincoln ; and about
Dec. 14th an immature female Black-throated Diver (Colymbus arcticus)
was shot on the coast near Boston. On or about Nov. 27th a male
Great Shearwater (Puffinus major) was shot not far from the mouth of
the River Welland. This seems an unusually late date for the occur-
rence of this species.—F’. L. Buarawayr (Lincoln).
REPTILIA.
Notes on the Pine-Snake in Confinement.—This Snake (Coluber
melanoleucus), a native of North America, grows to a length of about
seven feet. It is very beautifully marked, and has very often—rare in
Snakes—a perfectly white throat, although the greater part of the
under surface is mottled with salmon-pink. The colour above is
whitish, with large dark brown spots edged with black; the scales on
the back are keeled, though on the sides they are quite flat, and there
are also along the sides a number of smaller dark brown spots. The
specimen which I possess was imported about six months ago, and is
now very tame and gentle, and never attempts to bite. Its food con-
sists almost entirely of young mice, and occasionally a small rat; but
it greatly prefers the first-named prey.
This Snake seems to possess elasticity of the jaws in a much lesser
degree than other Snakes. A young Boa which I have at the present
time, about two feet long, will take a half-grown rat with comparative
ease, but the Pine-Snake, measuring six feet, has often failed to
swallow a rat of the same size. My specimen always makes an attempt
to constrict its prey, but generally unsuccessfully ; this is doubtless
due to the difference in size between the Snake and its prey.
This species has the character of being somewhat of a cannibal,
but I cannot corroborate this by my own experience, though a friend
who kept two Grass-Snakes (7. natria) with a C. melanoleucus found
one morning the two smaller Snakes dead, with the appearance of
having been crushed. My specimen has only cast once since I had it,
the whole process taking some time.
The Pine-Snake is very hardy, mine being kept at from 55° to 60°,
but even if kept below this temperature it still remains quite lively.
It can also give a very loud hiss. This Snake, both from my own
experience and that of others, is a very suitable inmate for the
vivarium, not only on account of its hardiness, but also by the ease
with which it may be tamed.—B. J. Horton (305, Stratford Road,
Sparbrook, Birmingham).
NOTES AND QUERIES. 31
PISCHES.
Occurrence of Box vulgaris on the Norfolk Coast.—In tne middle
of December last (1902) a specimen of this fish was found dead on the
beach near Cromer. It measured 9 in. in length and 22 in. in depth:
Although the ‘‘ Bogue” has been met with several times on the south
coast of England, I am not aware that it has hitherto been recorded
for the Norfolk waters.—Tuos. SourHwett (Norwich).
BEB D1 OG RA PUY:
Mammals, Reptiles, and Amphibians of Suffolk.—Being engaged
upon a short account of the above for the ‘ Victoria History of the
Counties of England,’ I should be most grateful for the loan of any
local lists, however imperfect and fragmentary. Any information
bearing on the subject would be thankfully received. The Bats especi-
ally seem to have received little attention, and my list is at present a
very short one. Any well-authenticated records of the rarer species
are greatly needed.—G. T. Rorz (Blaxhall, Tunstall, Suffolk).
32 THE LOOLOGIST.
NOTICES OF NEW BOOKS.
Index Animalium ; swe index nominum que ab a.pv. MDCCLVIII.
generibus et speciebus animalium imposita sunt,” &e. A
Caroto Davirs SHERBORN, contectus. Cambridge Uni-
versity Press.
In these pages (vol. v. p. 39), we drew attention to this great
work, then in progress; the first volume is now before us,
consisting of about 1250 pages, and containing some 60,000
referential entries. The objects of the work, as set forth in the
preface, are ‘ (a) to provide zoologists with a complete list of all
the generic and specific names that have been applied by authors
to animals since Jan. Ist, 1758; (b) to give an exact date for
each page quotation; (c) to give a quotation for each reference
sufficiently exact to be intelligible alike to the specialist and to
the layman.”
How is it possible to review or write a general notice of this
giant undertaking ?; how few can realize the value of what to an
outsider will appear 60,000 bald references ?; and what still fewer
readers can appraise the awful labour and bibliographical capacity
that makes such a publication practicable? It is absolutely the
life of a man surrendered to the cause of zoology in one of its
most real, but certainly least popular aspects—assuredly not
a usual method of to-day. And yet this is one of the most
important zoological publications in recent years, it makes a
mighty concordance for the use of specialists, and affords a vade
mecum in zoological technics. In the present study of scientific
bibliography we are often hindered by the proposed reforms in
nomenclature by writers who correct their predecessors to-day
and again themselves to-morrow, in fact the subject has been
not less neglected by qualified students than obscured by a
plague of commenting flies. We have now what we may call a
rabbinical index to the scientific names proposed for animals,
one that will be accepted as the last word on an abstruse and
NOTICES OF NEW BOOKS. 38
dry subject to which most zoologists have frequently to refer,
and one which all descriptive writers will care to have near
them. We trust the author will complete his self-imposed task,
and although the labour is prodigious, and the circulation of the
published results only limited, he has the satisfaction of knowing
that the volume—and we trust volumes—must reach the hands
of those for whom it is designed, and long after we and our
views are forgotten, it is likely that the zoologists of the future
will often advise on this subject—*‘ consult Sherborn.”
A Naturalist in Indian Seas, or Four Years with the Royal Indian
Marine Survey Ship “‘ Investigator.” By A. Aucocx, M.B.,
LL.D., F.R.S. John Murray.
Ir is more than thirty years since Collingwood published his
‘Rambles of a Naturalist on the Shores and Waters of the China
Sea,’ the perusal of which we recall as we take up Dr. Alcock’s
volume on a similar subject, pursued, however, under very
different methods. For since the first date, the ‘‘ Challenger,”
amongst other expeditions, has shown what can be done by
deep-sea dredging, and the equipment of the ‘“ Investigator” is
largely due to that impulse. Moreover, many biological facts
and propositions in relation to animal life have been gained since
Collingwood’s time, with which Dr. Alcock has illuminated his
narrative.
There is still one great unexplored area of this planet, and
it is questionable whether mankind will ever have but a frag-
mentary and inadequate knowledge of the fauna of oceanic
abysses. The same gloomy depths, which many believe to
shroud the remains of an Atlantis, must certainly contain
animal life which a dredge is quite incapable to retrieve from
the ocean floors. The sea has not yet given up her life! It is
this mystery which, even taken alone, renders these pages of
such surpassing interest to the zoologist, who, like Dante,
“Turns to the perilous wide waste, and stands
At gaze.”
The cruises of the “Investigator” here recorded have been
confined to the Bay of Bengal, with particular reference to the
ool. 4th ser. vol. VII., January, 1903. D
b4 THE 4O00LOGIST.
Andaman and Laccadive Seas, where the dredge was freely used, |
and its captures have provided notable illustrations for the
volume. We are given much interesting information as to the >
animal life on the Adaman and Coco Islands, while the book has
focussed so much information on the oceanic fauna, that we do
do not know where else to find such a readable introduction to:
the whole subject. We have long expected to hear of the Shark
interfering with peaceful dredging operations, and we read that.
near False Point, “ our seine, which we used sometimes to lay.
out as a drift-net, was, with its sinkers, weighing over 450 lbs.,
carried bodily away by an enormous Shark, round whose remains
it was found some days afterwards, tied in a hundred knots, past
all surgery.” On the beach of South Sentinel Islet, Dr. Alcock |
was fortunate enough to witness the emergence of a brood of
newly-hatched Turtles, ‘a swarm of little objects, looking like
beetles, which all with one consent made for the sea.” |
The illustrations are ample, and are examples of a very
successful method compared with the whilom wood-block.
Catalogue of the Library of the Zoological Society of London.
(Fifth Edition.) Published by the Society.
Tus publication is really a contribution to a knowledge of
zoological bibliography. It contains the titles of about 11,000
different works now in the Society’s Library, exclusive of periodi-
cals, which are scheduled in #n appendix. The Library, it is
stated, now contains about 25,000 volumes. The catalogue has
been prepared by the Society’s librarian, Mr. F. H. Waterhouse,
with his usual care and accuracy, and he has made the catalogue
of a library a welcome guest for the book-shelves of any zoologist.
The points on which it may generally be consulted are: (1) date
and localities of publication; (2) complete titles and full names
of authors; (3) many good cross references; (4) useful annota-
tions, or references to other writers and publications, as to dates
of issue when separate parts have been published of works cata-
logued; (5) references to the original channel of publication of
works afterwards issued and distributed in separate form, &c.
NOTICES OF NEW BOOKS. 35
Index Zoologicus: an alphabetical list of names of genera and
subgenera proposed for use in zoology as recorded in the
‘Zoological Record,’ 1880-1900; together with other names
not included in the *Nomenclator Zoologicus’ of S. H.
Scudder. Compiled by C. O. WaTrRuousgE, and edited by
D. SHarp, M.A., F.R.S. Zoological Society, London, and
Gurney & Jackson.
WE have given the complete title of this publication, as it
best explains the scope and reason of the work. Few descriptive
zoologists are unconscious of what it means to provide a new
generic title. ‘To find an applicable name previously unused,
having reference to some peculiarity of a representative species,
and rendered according to the canons of the Greek and Latin
tongues, is not too easy. John Wesley is reportea to have said,
in reference to musical hymnology, that the ‘‘ devil had secured
all the best tunes.” In classificatory terminology it is practically
certain that previous writers have appropriated all the best
names, and consequently the need is urgent that we can refer
easily to the generic jargon of our predecessors before adding to
the awful list. Scudder, in 1882, gave us such a list to the close
of the year 1879, and the present work not only supplements
that, but also brings the record to the end of the year 1900. We
thank Mr. Waterhouse for his conscientious labours in this
dreary field.
Monographie des Cynipides d'Europe et d’ Algérie. Par L’Abbé
J.-J. Kigerrer. Paris: A. Hermann.
Monographie des Mutillides d'Europe et d’ Algérie. Par ERNEST
Anpre. Paris: A. Hermann.
THESE two thick volumes form a considerable addition to
our knowledge of the Palearctic Hymenoptera, and, both being
descriptive of the same order of insects, may be best noticed
together.
The Cynipid@ are perhaps generally known as Gall-flies, though
some are parasitfc on other insects. It was once supposed that
the galls we all so frequently see on some trees were of purely
vegetable origin, though now their true hymenopterous cause is
known to most school-boys. The author of the first book under
36 THE ZOOLOGIST.
notice has thoroughly discussed the bionomics of these interest-
ing insects, and has produced a work which is very much more
than a mere description of species, and one which will afford
much valuable information to the botanist as well as the ento-
mologist. L’Abbe Kieffer has treated his subject very thoroughly,
and has provided good bibliographical references to what other
workers have written on the subject. The volume is enriched
with twenty-seven plates, and may be described as a book for all
interested in galls and Gall-flies.
Mon. André’s volume is devoted to a large subfamily of
fossorial Hymenoptera, more or less parasitic in habits, and
exhibiting a marked dissimilarity between the sexes. It thus
appeals to entomologists as a rule, and to hymenopterists in
particular. ‘T'o those zoologists, few indeed !, who follow Darwin
and Wallace—most frequently at a distance—in an encyclopedic
or universal survey of the science, such a book escapes from the
restricted study of the specialist, and becomes material for great
generalizations. This is not the purpose, but is probably the
true salvation of a monograph, and marks its general canoniza-
tion. To know everything about one subject, and a little about
all, is perhaps the only possibility of scholarship, and is too
frequently the despair of a zoologist. Mon. André’s book is a
good brick for such an edifice, and is distinctly a treatise which
will be studied by the specialist.
(3Tan)
EDITORIAL GLEANINGS.
Tue ‘ Zoological Record’ for 1901, edited by Dr. David Sharp,
F.R.S., &c., was published towards the end of the year 1902. It
forms a bulky volume, and is the best evidence we have of zoological
enterprise and industry. The vast growth in zoological publication
is shown by a paragraph in the preface. In 1871 the list of periodicals
inserted by Professor Newton numbered 201, and occupied less than
six pages, whilst in the volume for 1901 upwards of 1000 are
enumerated, and account for 52 pages. The number of new generic
names registered in 1870 was a little more than 700; for 1901 no
fewer than 2102 are recorded. The numbers of papers published relating
to different Orders give some idea of the present trend in zoology :—
TITLES.
Mammalia .... me a 558 «=. | o0l
Aves... aN ane ae wie) ... 803
Reptilia and Batrachia ae si cng), 2450)
Pisces ... Bi oe ae Aan ... 244
. Mollusca aes US ek aaa we Se OLD
Brachiopoda ... tee te HG ee OS
Crustacea oie es che wv. = 268
Arachnida... ee ee ire Soniye Ai
Insecta wae ae AGE ous .. 1514
Dr. Sharp has made one reform in his subject-index for which we’
are deeply grateful. The word ‘‘mimicry” once denoted a philosophical
conception ; a few enthusiastic writers seem determined that this shall
be no longer possible. The Editor of the ‘ Zoological Record’ prefers
the use of the word ‘‘ resemblance.”’ Se
We have received a reprint from the ‘Transactions of the Hull
Scientific and Field Naturalists’ Club, of a paper entitled ‘‘ The Birds
of Bempton Cliffs,” by HK. W. Wade. This is a beautifully illustrated
brochure relating to the famed chalk cliffs of the Hast Riding, the
birds found there, and the adventurous men who pursue the “ dreadful
trade” of egg-collecting from the face of the cliffs. It can be purchased
separately at a small cost.
38 THE ZOOLOGIST.
Our well-known contributor. Mr. Robert Service, of Maxwelltown,
Dumfries, has sent us a revised copy of his ‘‘ Vertebrate Zoology of
Kirkcudbrightshire,”” reprinted from Maxwell’s Guide-Book to the
Stewartry of Kirkcudbright. As the author remarks—‘ Probably there
is no other tract of similar extent in the British Islands wherein may
be found so rich an assemblage of vertebrate animals as there is in
Kirkeudbrightshire.”” To a zoological visitor this publication is a
necessity, and, what is more, an exhaustive and trustworthy acquisition.
Ar the Annual Meeting of the Yorkshire Naturalists’ Union, held
at Hull on Wednesday, the 10th December, Mr. W. Denison Roebuck,
F.L.8., was presented with a handsome testimonial in recognition
of his past services as Secretary of the Union, and Editor of the
‘Naturalist.’ The presentation took the form ofa beautifully illuminated
address, in book form, and a clock and bronzes. References were
made by many speakers to the ability with which Mr. Roebuck had
worked in the interests of the Union. The new Secretary is Mr. T.
Sheppard, F.G.S., of the Municipal Museum, Hull, and the ‘ Naturalist’
will in future be edited by Mr. Sheppard and Mr. T. W. Woodhead,
F.L.S., of Huddersfield. The President for 1903 is Mr. Roebuck.
Tre following is the latest contribution to the tale of the great
Sea Serpent ?—narratives which we propose to regularly chronicle,
without comment, for future comparison and digest.
Extract from the log of the second officer of the s.s. Fort Salisbury :—
October 28, 1902, 3.5 a.m.—Dark object, with long, luminous trailing
wake, thrown in relief by a phosphorescent sea, seen ahead, a little on
starboard bow. Look-out reported two masthead lights ahead. These
two lights, almost as bright as a steamer’s lights, appeared to shine,
from two points in line on the upper surface of the dark mass. Con-
cluded dark mass was a whale, and lights phosphorescent. On drawing
nearer, dark mass and lights sank below the surface. Prepared to
examine the wake in passing with binoculars. Passed about forty to
fifty yards on port side of wake, and discovered it was the scaled back
of some huge monster slowly disappearing below the surface. Darkness
of the night prevented determining its exact nature, but scales of
apparently 1 ft. diameter, and dotted in places with barnacle growth,
were plainly discernible. The breadth of the body showing above
water tapered from about 30 ft. close abaft, where the dark mass had
appeared to about 5 ft. at the extreme end visible. Length roughly
HDITORIAL GLHANINGS. 39
about 500 ft. to 600 ft. Concluded that the dark mass first seen must
have been the creature’s head. The swirl caused by the monster’s
progress could be distinctly heard, and a strong odour like that of a
low-tide beach on a summer day pervaded the air. Twice along its
length the disturbance of the water and a broadening of the surrounding
belt of phosphorus indicated the presence of huge fins in motion
below the surface. The wet, shiny back of the monster was dotted
with twinkling phosphorescent lights, and was encircled with a band
of white phosphorescent sea. Such are the bare facts of the passing
of the Sea Serpent in latitude 5 deg. 31 min. S8., longitude 4 deg.
42 min. W., as seen by myself, being officer of the watch, and by the
helmsman and look-out man.—A. H. Raymer, Second Officer.
Mr. 8. G. Stephens (master of the Fort Salisbury) writes in
reference to Mr. Raymer’s narrative: ‘‘I can only say that he is
very earnest on the subject, and certainly has, together with look-out
and helmsman, seen something in the water of a huge nature as
specified.” —Daily Mail.
THe development among animals, and especially among birds, of
purely ornamental wind-bags, used as adjuncts in courtship, forms the
theme of an article in ‘Knowledge’ for January, by Mr. W. P. Pycraft,
who writes:—‘‘ These wind-bags, which, almost without exception,
may be inflated and deflated at the will ot the animal, differ much in
the nature of their origin. . . . Take the Common Pigeon, for
example. Could anything appear more silly than the strutting, bowing,
and cooing of the cock aided by this very practice of filling his gullet
with intoxicating draughts of the morning air, the which swell his
neck to unduly large proportions, and apparently, on this account,
make him so much the more fascinating? With the Pigeon tribe, no
special receptacle is provided for the indrawn air. . . . The present
greatness of the crop, we would point out, is due not so much to the
efforts of the prancing bird as to the care and selection of the breeder.
. A still more remarkable gullet pouch is that of the Frigate-Bird
of the Tropics. Bare externally, of a vivid scarlet colour, and capable
of being inflated till it is nearly as large as the rest of the body, this
pouch is an invaluable asset to its possessor when seeking a mate.
For here, as elsewhere, the successful suitor is he who makes the
most of his peculiar charms; the prize falling to him who is able to
display the biggest and most brilliantly coloured pouch. Only the
inales wear this ornament, which is retained only during the breeding
season. At this time a lively competition appears to take place, a
40 THE ZOOLOGIST.
dozen or so of these birds crowding together in a tree, and greeting
the approach of their prospective mates with inflated pouches and
drooping wings, accompanied by a peculiar apology for a song, de-
scribed as a sort of ‘ wow-wow-wow-wow, and a noise resembling the
sound of castanets, which is made by a violent chattering of the horny
beak. The pouch of the Frigate-Bird is formed by the upper end of
the gullet, and appears to be closed behind by a peculiar arrangement
of muscular fibres to form what is known as a sphincter muscle.
These muscles close up the tube of the windpipe much as the mouth
of a bag is closed by means of a double string.”
Mr. J. L. Bonuorte, in “ Field Notes on some Bahama Birds,”
published in the January issue of the ‘ Avicultural Magazine,’ has
given a good illustration and some interesting notes on the nesting of
the Flamingo in those islands.
Tue last November issue of the ‘ Irish Naturalist’ is devoted to a
special report of the recent meeting of the British Association at
Belfast.
Tue following excerpt is from an article by Cary Coles in the
‘Farmer and Stockbreeder Year Book for 1903’ :—
** As a proof of the hardihood and prolificness of Hampshire Downs,
I will give the result of the Shepherd’s Prize Competition of the
Hampshire Down Sheep Breeders’ Association for 1902 :—Dee. 1st:
56 flocks, containing 26,785 ewes in the usual proportion of mixed
ages, were entered, and on May 4th the decrease by death or sale
2°34 per cent. only, and the increase of lambs 116°82 per cent. on the
ewes entered Dec. 1st, 1901. The results from 47 flocks of ewe tegs
for the same period are also a very good illustration, the number
entered being 8836, and the total decrease between Dec. Ist and
May 4th, 64 sheep, only -72 per cent.; and I know as a certain fact
that this number practically, as far as losses by death are concerned,
should have been reduced to 54, as I sold ten ewe tegs from my flock
entry that were shipped to United States in April; otherwise there
was no loss in my tegs or in sixteen of the other flocks during the five
months. In one flock of Hampshire ewes, principally six and seven
years old sheep, their prolificness as published in the ‘ Farmer’ was, I
certainly think, remarkable, they breeding at the rate of 175 per cent.
of lambs from about 200 ewes. Previous to its being published,
I heard of this privately from an eminent Hampshire Down breeder,
who saw the ewes with their lambs.”
“NATURAL HISTORY SALE.
luding a very fine Collection of BRITISH LEPIDOPTERA
-_. formed by the late Mr. WILLIAMSON.
TUESDAY, JANUARY 27th, at 12.30.
[R. J. C. STEVENS will offer, at his Rooms, 38, King
Street, Covent Garden, London, W. G., an important Catalogue Be
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3 On view, Monday, January 26th, and morning of Sale. Catalogues
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‘ASHADNVAAG HSILIYG
THE ZOOLOGIST
No. 740.—February, 1903.
BRITISH BEAN-GEESE.
By F. W. FrRoHAwk.
(PuatE II.)
In his article on Anser paludosus (Zool. 1902, p. 441), Mr.
Coburn disagrees with my statements published in the ‘ Field ’ *
on the Bean-Geese (Anser arvensis and A. segetum), illustrated
with the figures of the bills of these birds, which I now reproduce
with the kind permission of the proprietor of that journal.
Before alluding to Mr. Coburn’s remarks, I may briefly state
my reasons for arriving at the conclusions I still maintain regard-
ing the specific differences of these Geese. More than a year
ago Mr. Serge Alpheraky, the distinguished Russian zoologist,
honoured me with his express desire to illustrate in colour his
great work on the ‘Geese of Russia,’ which necessitated not only
voluminous correspondence passing between us on this group of
birds, but the most careful examination of all specimens pro-
curable, the result being that our notes agreed on all points of
interest we found it necessary to comment upon. The enormous
mass of material, amounting to all the available works published
on the Geese, and the great number of specimens Mr. Alphéraky
has examined, enable him to speak authoritatively on the sub-
ject, and the Bean-Geese received his most critical attention. I
may say that his views on these birds agree precisely with my
* October 4th, 1902, p. 605.
Zoot. 4th ser. vol. VII., February, 1903. E
42 THE ZOOLOGIST.
own; in fact, this naturalist called my attention to the confusion
existing respecting A. arvensis and A. segetwm having been so
long confounded as one species. To quote from his letters on
the subject, he says :—‘‘ I should much like to know which is the
Bean-Goose of Great Britain; I am sure that under the name of
A. fabalis two very distinct species are confused by Count Sal-
vadori (‘ Cat. of Birds,’ xxvii.), one being segetum, the other
arvensis.” Ina subsequent letter he states :—“‘ It is true that I
was quite sure that both arvensis and segetwm (two very good
Species) must occur in England, but how could I prove it? It
is only through your kindness that I learn that is a fact.” And
again Mr. Alphéraky says :—‘‘ I am sure that although you have
in Great Britain A. segetum as a winter bird, it must be with you
a scarce bird, as it 1s, according to my investigations, everywhere
in Kurope. I suppose that in general, to every hundred arvensis
there exist in the world but one or two segetum. Such is my
impression, based on a goodly number of skins from different
parts of Kurope and Asia. I suppose that you will find but very
few British-killed specimens of segetuwm in your collections, and
that arvensis is the Bean-Goose par excellence of your country
in winter.”
Respecting the scarcity of segetwm, Mr. Coburn (p. 446)
remarks :—‘‘ It has been suggested to me that A. paludosus may
be identical with Brehm’s A. arvensis. A paper on the latter bird
has quite recently (October 4th, 1902) been communicated to the
‘Field’ by Mr. Frohawk, who endeavours to prove that this is
the common Bean-Goose of our land. I cannot at present agree
with him on several points he raises.”
From my investigations I have every reason to believe that
segetum is much the rarer of the two species, which is the
opinion of others, among whom I may mention such experienced
wildfowlers as Mr. Caton-Haigh; and Mr.J.M. Pike tells us, in
the ‘ Field, Dec. 20th, 1902, that during thirty years’ punt-
shooting he has only occasionally come across A. segetum out of
many hundreds of freshly killed Grey Geese.
Mr. Coburn admits the similarities existing between his
paludosus and arvensis, and I must confess, from the photo
reproductions which accompany his article, that the pattern of
colouration and the proportionate size of the nail in the bill of
BRITISH BEAN-GEESE. 43
paludosus agree very closely with arvensis ; but as the lamine can-
not be counted in the figure, and Mr. Coburn omits giving the
number in his description, and without actual examination of the
specimen, I will not express an opinion of its identity more than to
say it resembles arvensis closely, as will be seen by comparing the
bills in the two plates. But there is one point of difference shown :
the white band of feathers at the base of the bill in arvensis is
absent in Mr. Coburn’s bird, according to the figure, unless it is
the pale space between the dark band along the culmen and the
forehead; but this is not clear enough in the figures to make out,
although Mr. Coburn says that it is “curiously exaggerated by
the camera in figure ”’ (p. 445).
Mr. Coburn makes special allusion to the length of neck in
his stuffed paludosus, and seems surprised that I made no men-
tion of the long neck and swan-like feet in arvensis. Surely
Mr. Coburn must be aware of the danger of attaching much
importance to the length of the neck of a stuffed bird. He says
(p. 444) :— For their portraits to be taken the birds were placed
opposite each other on exactly the same level, so that a glance
will show the extraordinary disproportion in the length of neck
in each bird.” There seems to me nothing remarkable in this
excepting what applies to the taxidermist’s art. *.
Mr. Coburn also calls attention to the proportionate size of the
nail in paludosus, saying it is ‘larger in proportion than that of
A. segetum.” I think if he measures the nail in each figure he will
find he is wrong. The figure he gives of segetum is not that of a
typical bird as regards distribution of colour in the bill, although,
as I have pointed out in the ‘ Field,’ the colour, as well as the
number of lamine, are liable to vary; but the colour varies most.
On this character Mr. Coburn considers I arrived at too hasty a
conclusion, but perhaps he did not read the last paragraph in
my article, where he will find I said:—‘‘ There is, of course, a
certain amount of individual variation in each species, but the
characters pointed out hold good in each, especially the great
difference in the comparative size of the nail.”
Respecting the variation in the bills of both arvensis and
segetum, I will give an extract from a letter recently received
* Mr. Coburn in the following paper (p. 47) details his method, of
mounting these birds.—Ep.
E 2
44 THE 4ZOO0LOGIST.
from Mr. Alphéraky on the subject, which I think will prove very
interesting :—‘ In the younger A. arvensis (let us say up to four
or five years) the black and orange of the bill is disposed very
much in the same way as these two colours are disposed in
segetum. And this is the reason why the great confusion has
arisen. The colouring being similar, people could not dis-
tinguish the two species. In such cases the form of the bill and
the proportions of the nail to culmen will always (I think) help
to settle the question, and often the number of teeth will also
serve as a sure guide in difficult cases.”
I have lately had the opportunity of making a careful exami-
nation of four freshly killed specimens of segetwm, shot in Holland
by Mr. J. M. Pike, who at once forwarded them to the British
Museum. He says:—‘‘ We obtained five specimens out of a
small family of six Bean-Geese. These turned out to be all well-
marked examples of A. segetum in two old birds and three young
ones.” The following gives the length of bill along culmen,
including the nail, and number of lamine of these four speci-
mens, which are true segetum, having the large elliptical nail so
characteristic of the species, which in arvensis is proportionately
much smaller and rounder :—
1. Ad. f. Lamine each side, 21. Bill, 22 in.
2. ¢. Lamine each side, 24. Bill, 23% in.
Sito! iy zi Qi: Tee esi
Aer » 22 left side, 21 right. Bull, 142 in.
Although considerable variation exists in these four birds’ bills,
they are quite distinct from arvensis, both in form, colouration,
size of nail, length of bill, and number of lamine. Mr. Alphéraky
agrees with me in saying the number of lamine in segetwm varies,
attaining to as many as 24 in some specimens, just as occurs in
A. brachyrhynchus, and states that he has a specimen of segetum
from Kulguev with 24; but in the great majority of specimens
of both segetum and brachyrhynchus the number is from 20 to 21.
The chief points of difference between segetum and arvensis
will be readily seen by reference to the accompanying plate and
following descriptions :—
Fig. 1, Anser segetum, ¢ .—Bill (upper view) : average length
of culmen about 24 in.; nail large and elliptical—the nail has a
different length in proportion to the total length of the bill in the
BRITISH BHAN-GEESE. 45
two species, included in the total length of culmen three and a
half times ; colour black, with only an orange band between the
nail and nostrils in typical specimens, but the orange, as I have
remarked, is subject to variation in distribution in a more or less
degree, sometimes extending below the nostril, but this varies
according to age.
Fig. 2, side view of same. —Culmen considerably curved,
lower mandible deep and swollen about the basal third; average
number of laminz along each edge of upper mandible from 20
to 21; colour black, with orange band encircling bill in front of
nostrils; nail and corresponding portion of under mandible
black. Asa rule, no white feathers at the base of bill, excepting
in old birds, when a small frontal patch of greyish white may
occur.
Fig. 8, Anser arvensis, .— Bill (upper view): length of
culmen rather over 22 in.; nail proportionately small and
rounded, included in the total length of culmen four and a half
times. Orange colour extending nearly over the whole of the
upper mandible, having only a black bar commencing in front of
the nostrils, and running along the culmen to the base, where it
becomes paler.
Fig. 4, side view of same.—Straighter than that of segetum,
and the lower mandible less swollen ; average number of laminze
about 28 along each edge of the upper mandible; a few at each
end are very small, and hidden from view by the overlapping edge
when seen from the side only. Upper mandible almost wholly
orange, excepting the black nail on bar and along the culmen,
and one or two irregular blackish streaks on the sides. Lower
mandible: end black, anterior two-fifths orange, remainder black ;
conspicuous band of white feathers extending along the whole
basal edge of upper mandible.
46 THE ZOOLOGIST.
ON THE SPECIFIC VALIDITY OF ANSER RUBRI-
ROSTRIS (Hopeson), AND ITS POSITION AS A
BRITISH BIRD.
By F. Copurn.
Tue specific validity of this bird appears to have exercised
the minds of systematists very considerably from 1844 untii the
present day. It was in this year (1844) that Gray first separated
the bird from A. cinereus, and called it A. erythropus, probably
from its red legs; but this name properly belonged to the Lesser
White-fronted Goose. In the same year Hodgson, recognizing
the many characters which separate the bird from A. cimereus,
first named it A. rubrirostris, from the curious red colour of the
bill, upon which I shall dilate further on. Hodgson’s name was
recognized by Taczanowski in 1877, but Adams in 1859, and
Swinhoe at various dates from 1861 to 1870, named it A. ferus.
In 1871, however, Swinhoe recognized the bird as A. cinereus
var. rubrirostris, being followed by Dybowski in -1873-4, Prie-
valsky in 1878, and Seebohm in 1885. Severtszoff, in 1875,
named it A. cinereus P subalbifrons, probably from the very
distinct but narrow band of white at the base of forehead and
sides of bill. Finally—and without following the full synonymy
—Count Salvadori, in the Brit. Mus. Cat., Birds, vol. xxvii. p. 91
(1895), fully recognizes Hodgson’s name, and establishes the
bird as A. rubrirostris. This decision, however, does not appear
to have met with very general acceptance by British ornitho-
logists, some still considering the bird to be but doubtfully
distinct. It will be my purpose in the present article to
endeavour to prove its specific validity, and its occurrence as a
rare visitor to Great Britain.
It was on Nov. 28rd, 1901, that I received from Limerick,
Ireland, five Grey-lag Geese, which instantly struck me as pos-
sessing peculiar characters I had never noticed in these birds
before. They looked unusually large in size, very pale in their
general colouration, an unusually large amount of black on the
under parts of the adults, and a very distinct and sharply defined
SPECIFIC VALIDITY OF ANSER RUBRIROSTRIS. 47
but narrow band of pure white at base of forehead and sides of
bill, present in both adults and immature. But it was the very
curious colours of the soft parts which caused me to ponder
most, and to still more critically examine my birds, comparing
them with my series of A. cinereus, and with fresh specimens of
this bird. This was before skinning my five specimens ; and I
now made the important osteological discovery that the wings in
all of them did not reach the end of the tail by over one inch !
whereas in A. cinereus the wings not only reach the end of the
tail, but, if anything, slightly overlap. Upon investigating this
matter as fully as I could, I felt fairly confident that my birds
must be A. rubrirostris, and that this one osteological character
ought to be sufficient to definitely separate the bird from its near
ally. When I state that the wing in the adult male gave the
great measurement of 194 in. against 18 in. in the largest speci-.
men of A. cinereus in my series—a bird I have always regarded
as being a very large one—it will be readily understood that the
fact of this long wing not reaching the end of tail by over one
inch gives to A. rubrirostris a much longer and slenderer form
than A. cinereus. This is instantly and strikingly manifest when
the mounted birds are placed side by side, and one can see from
structure alone that they are distinct birds. I may here say that
all my wildfowl are mounted by me; I do not allow any of my
assistants to touch them. Consequently all are mounted upon
one principle, that being my own. I thoroughly study the
anatomy of my specimens, and replace in the skin an exact copy
of the body I take out; consequently I get perfect proportions
to every bird, and any anatomical peculiarities are bound to show
themselves. It is important that I make this statement, other-
Wise it might be said that this slenderer form was due to the
mounting. I feel quite confident that this slender form to a
large bird would be quite apparent if the living bird were seen
side by side with A. cinereus.
I took the adult male of my five specimens, together with
another Wild Goose—noticed in a separate paper *—to the
British Museum, and compared it with the series of A. rubri-
rostris in the National Collection, the result fully satisfying me
that my identification was correct. Some of the Indian skins
* Anser paludosus (ante, 1902, pages 441-8).
THE 4ZOOLOGIST.
were somewhat paler in the colouration of the body plumage,
but it can be readily understood that birds coming so many
thousands of miles from their usual habitat would be likely to
show some modification in their colours. ‘The general types of
character are present in all five of my specimens.
I exhibited this bird before the June meeting of the British
Ornithologists’ Club, and pointed out its distinctive characters.
In the discussion which followed, Mr. Stewart Baker, an authority
on Indian birds, fully confirmed my identification, and gave some
valuable information as to the colours of bill and legs in living
specimens.
I will now give a full description of the colours of the adult
male, comparing them with my finest adult male A. cinereus, one
of three, also received from Limerick, and from the same man
who sent the A. rubrirostris, but in January, 1896. The same
type of colouration runs through the entire series of both species,
so that the one can be followed just as easily as the other; in
fact, they cannot be mistaken.
Anser rubrirostris. Adult male. Received from Limerick,
November 28rd, 1901.
Head and neck a delicate and beautiful shade of dove-grey
gradually becoming paler on breast and under parts until the
abdomen and under tail-coverts become pure white. From the
lower neck to abdomen there are numerous broad patches of
black, almost as black as in some specimens of A. albifrons. The
flanks commence with the same delicate dove-grey, gradually in-
creasing to a hoary slate, margined with pale drab and pure
white. The mantle is hoary slate, gradually increasing to deep
umber on the longest scapulars, all margined with drab. Back
and rump a bluish slate. Upper tail-coverts white. The tail
has the centres of the feathers hoary slate, fringed and broadly
tipped with white, the white increasing until the outer feathers
are reached, the two outer ones being almost entirely white.
Outer wing-coverts very pale French grey, almost white ; medians
pale slaty drab, margined all round with dull white. Primary
coverts have the shorter ones hoary slate, fringed and margined
with white, the longer ones a velvety hair-brown, distinctly
fringed and margined with white. Primaries hoary slate,
SPECIFIC VALIDITY OF ANSER RUBRIROSTRIS. 49
becoming almost black towards tips, the rib white. Secondaries
black, delicately pencilled round with white. Tertiaries blackish
umber on the inner half, outer half rich velvety hair-brown, mar-
gined with white. Alula palest French grey. Under wing-
coverts and axillars pale French grey, almost white. The de-
scription of the plumage will be complete by repeating that at the
base of the bill, on forehead, and at sides there is a narrow but
sharply defined band of pure white feathers. This brings me
now to the important soft parts, these differing totally from the
other bird. The bill commences with a sharply defined crescentic-
shaped band of bright scarlet lake ;* from this, along culmen to
nail, it is a dull crimson lake, the sides (including nostrils) dull
orange-yellow, nail white. Lower mandible dull crimson, white
at tip. Gular sac dull orange-yellow. Eyelid reddish brown ;
iride dark hazel. Legs and toes a deep reddish pinky, almost
terra-cotta red. Webs darker, and nails nearly black. Length,
334 in. to end of tail, 343 to end of toes. Wing, 194in. Weight,
8 lb. Wings do not reach end of tail by over 1 in.
Anser cinereus. Adult male. Received from Limerick,
January 14th, 1896.
Head and neck a brownish drab, gradually becoming a lighter
drab towards breast and under parts, which are almost white,
becoming pure white on lower breast, abdomen, and under tail-
coverts. The under parts, across middle of breast only, sparingly
blotched with black. The flanks commence with pale drab mar-
gined with lighter, and gradually become a dark umber margined
with drabbish white. The mantle is a dark umber-brown, mar-
gined with pale dirty drab. Some might describe the mantle as
a dark hair-brown. Back and rump a dark bluish slate. Upper
tail-coverts white. Tail-feathers have the centres dark brownish
slate, fringed and deeply tipped with white, the white increasing
outwards, the three outer ones being almost entirely white.
Outer wing-coverts French grey, with darker ribs, gradually
becoming darker towards the medians, which are a slaty umber
margined with dull white. The primary coverts are hoary slate
margined with white for the shorter ones, pale umber margined
* Confirmed by Dr. Radde, cf. Dr. Bowdler Sharpe’s ‘ Handbook of
British Birds,’ vol. ii, p, 229.
50 THE ZOOLOGIST.
with drabbish white for the longer ones. Primaries hoary slate,
becoming almost black towards end, ribs white. Secondaries a
brownish black, delicately fringed with dull white. Tertiaries a
blackish umber on the inner half, dull hair-brown margined with
paler on the outer half. Alula French grey. Under wing-
coverts French grey, with darker ribs. Axillars dark French
grey. At the base of the bill on forehead there are a few ill-
defined dirty-white feathers.
In all standard works the bill of this bird is described as
fleshy white; and so it is after the birds have been dead for some
time; but those I shot in Iceland, and which I picked up and
examined before they were cold, had the bills a dull orange-
yellow. This I have found to be the case with other specimens
of this bird I have examined here while quite fresh. It may
therefore, I think, be taken for granted that the correct colour
of the bill in this species is dull orange-yellow, and not fleshy
white. The legs and toes are correctly described when they are
said to be pinky or fleshy white. Nails pale umber. Eyelid a
pinky flesh; iride dark hazel. Length to end of toes, 35+ in.
Wing, 18 in. Weight, 8¢ 1b. Wings reach slightly over end
of tail.
The immature A. rubrirostris differs from the same stage in
A. cinereus in several important points, but it will only be neces-
sary to mention the colours of the soft parts. In the former the
bill is a pale yellow, and the legs and toes a bright Naples yellow.
In the latter the bill is a dull yellow, and the legs and toes a
brownish flesh.
It will be seen from these descriptions, but much more
vividly when the birds are looked at, that the general appear-
ance of the two species is totally distinct, both in colours and
build—so distinct that it seems impossible that any practised
eye could glance over them and fail to notice it. The general
tone of colouration in the plumage of A. rubrirostris is a delicate
dove-grey and hoary slate; in A. cinereus a brownish drab and
brownish umber; in short, slate colour predominates in one,
brown in the other! Add to this the remarkably distinct coloura-
tion of the soft parts, and the structural features I have pointed
out; then I think there need not be the faintest hesitation in
accepting the bird as a perfectly valid species.
SPECIFIC VALIDITY OF ANSER RUBRIROSTRIS. 51
I was much pleased that Mr. Stewart Baker so completely
corroborated my observations on the colours of the soft parts ;
he added the valuable information that he had seen specimens in
which the red of the bill was running in streaks or veins into the
yellow of the sides, thus showing that at certain times the bill
may be entirely red, as was the case with one of my specimens. *
At the meeting of the British Ornithologists’ Club a question
was incidentally raised as to why this bird had been called the
** Red-billed Grey-lag.” A few words of explanation on this
point are necessary.
During the past winter (1902) the late Mr. Ernest C. Tye, an
ardent wildfowler, and whose subsequent untimely death I deeply
deplore, had a friendly chat with me, when I mentioned the great
numbers of Wild Geese which I had secured, incidentally naming
the ‘‘ Red-billed Grey-lag,”’ but not thinking for a moment that
he would consider my chatter of sufficient importance to publish.
This, however, he did in his column of the ‘ Shooting Times’ for
March Ist, 1902, and this caused some correspondents of the
paper to inquire what bird the Red-billed Grey-lag could be; to
which I replied. I can see no reason whatever why the bird
should not receive this as its common name; it is quite appro-
priate and distinctive, and I propose that it should be known
as the
RED-BILLED GREY-LAG, Anser rubrirostris (Hodgson).
The Grey Geese have been a puzzle to ornithologists from
the earliest times, their affinities running so close that the species
have not been properly discriminated ; it needed the sharp eye of
Bartlett to point out the characters which separate A. brachy-
rhynchus from A. segetum, while this latter was for long confused
with A. cinereus ; but slight though these characters are, everyone
now rightly admits its specific validity. Quite recently A. neglectum
has been separated upon even more slender characters! These
facts must not be overlooked in discussing this question; and
Mr. J. H. Gurney’s words, when speaking of the White-fronted
Geese (cf. ‘Ibis,’ 1962, p. 272), are very significant and much to
the point :—‘ And so long as the slightest difference in colour—
even to the colour of an eyelid—can be found, combined (as it is
in this case) with some difference of habitat, surely such birds
* The adult female.
52 THK Z00LOGIST.
ought to be kept asunder.” These words certainly apply with
great force to the case of A. rubrirostris.
Anser rubrirostris is an Eastern species, breeding in Siberia,
and wintering in India and China. It may be asked by some,
how such birds could have wandered so far from their usual
course. No surprise, I think, need be expressed on this score.
I have already pointed out, while discussing the case of Anser
gambeli, that many birds are varying their lines of migration,
and seeking ‘‘fresh fields and pastures new.’ Plenty of other
birds come to us occasionally from Eastern Siberia, and why
not A. rubrirostris? The very same time that this presumably
small flock of Geese came to our shores, a Baer’s Pochard (Nyroca
baeri), from the same regions, made its appearance on Tring
Reservoir! (cf. Bulletin, British Ornithologists’ Club, November,
1901), and fell to the gun of the Hon. Nathaniel Charles Roth-
schild; thus showing that there was a divergence in the line
of migration of Eastern birds at that time, and that probably
other specimens of Baer’s Pochard came to us, but were over-
looked.
I do not regard A. rubrirostris as an overlooked British bird,
but as a very rare visitor which has probably never occurred
before. I have taken a keen interest in the Ducks and Geese
for a great many years past, and I certainly think that this bird
has never before occurred within my memory. Four other speci-
mens were sent a few days later from the same man at Limerick,
but I deeply regret to say that I had not then fully made up
‘my mind as to the identity of the species, and, not wanting
to have such a large number of these great birds in my col-
lection, allowed them to pass from me. They were plucked
and devoured! However, all other Grey Geese which were sent
by this man from Limerick for the rest of the season I examined,
and they were all A. cinereus. From this we may conclude that
one flock of these birds visited Ireland, out of which nine were
shot. The birds remained through November, when, if any of
their numbers survived, they departed, probably never to return
again. Nine of these birds having fallen to the gun within a few
days points to the fact that they were strangers from a far-off
land where they did not fear man, as our wary Grey-lags have
learned to do.
53
NOTES ON THE SHAL AND WHALE FISHERY
OF 1902.
By Tuomas SourHweE.tu, P.Z.S.
At the last moment, after the bulk of the men had “signed
on,” the sealing voyage of 1902 was in danger of being ruined by
one of those modern trade disasters known as ‘‘ strikes” ; the
men, to the number of some three thousand, refused to join their
ships, or to allow others to do so, except on terms which it was
impossible for the owners to grant; but happily, by the inter-
vention of the Governor, and by mutual concessions, this calamity
was averted, and the ships left fully manned after very little
delay.
Much uncertainty existed as to the probable locality in which
the young Seals would be found, as no ice was to be seen from
the land, and it was thought that they would haul up on the
heavy arctic ice farther from the shore, which indeed proved to
be the case. The absence of ice on the east coast has by some
been thought to be due to a change in the direction of the set of
the Gulf Stream across the Atlantic, and to this also is attri-
buted the undoubtedly milder winter climate which has been
experienced of late in Newfoundland.
The first vessel to return was the ‘Newfoundland,’ which
arrived on the 23rd March, after a very unfortunate voyage, with
only 305 Seals on board. In forcing his way through the heavy
arctic floe which Captain Farquhar met with, he unfortunately
carried away the vessel’s stem, necessitating his return, and the
abandonment of the voyage.
The experience of the ‘ Leopard’ may be taken as typical of
the eastern fishery. She departed on the 11th of March, and
made direct for Funk Island, encountering the loose ice on the
13th, and a few Whitecoats about forty miles N. by E. of that
island; but, a gale coming on, she was jammed in the ice, and no
more Seals were met with till the 17th. On the 18th the main
54 THE ZOOLOGIST.
body of the Seals was struck about fifty miles N.H. of the
southern patch, and work commenced. The ice is described as
the worst ever seen; huge arctic pans were met with, and the
whelping-ice was so thin as to be dangerous, constantly opening,
and with ‘slob”’ in abundance—altogether different from the
conditions usually experienced; ‘‘a tremendous swell was among
it, and pans would split and tear asunder, throwing men into the
water without warning. It was highly dangerous work, and the
crews were forced to keep together.” On the 22nd March the
‘Leopard’ finished killing, but experienced very heavy weather on
the return voyage to St. John’s, where she arrived on the 27th of
March with 12,440 young Harps of excellent quality; the fat
was said to be over four inches thick, and the pelts weighed from
65 to 81 pounds. Although at the date when killing ceased the
young Seals were rapidly taking to the water, their fine condition
is advanced as a proof that a day or two’s delay in the departure
of the vessels would be beneficial to all.
Equally bad weather was experienced at the Gulf fishery.
The ‘ Harlaw’ left Channel (Basque) on the 10th of March, and
four days later struck a patch of Hooded Seals near Deadman’s
Island; but, as several schooners were there, and the patch not
a large one, she went in search of the main body of Harps, which
she discovered off Meat Cove. The greatest difficulty was expe-
rienced in getting the Seals, as the state of the ice was such as
to make venturing upon it very dangerous, and the swell was too
great to permit of using boats; about 8000 young Harps were,
however, secured, when a hurricane came on, and she had to run
for shelter to the Magdalen Islands, leaving thousands of Seals,
all of large size, on the ice. The catch of the ‘ Harlaw’ was
some 8000 young Harps, and about 1000 old and 500 young
Hoods, which are estimated to be equivalent to 13,000 young
Harps. Other vessels suffered by the terrible weather experi-
enced in the Gulf; the ‘ Algerine’ had a large number of Seals
panned, of which she secured some 3000, but had to run for
shelter to Prince Edward’s Island, and the remainder were all
lost to her; many Seals were washed ashore on Prince Eidward’s
Island, which doubtless were part of those killed by the
‘ Algerine.’
No vessels were wrecked this year, but the ‘ Newfoundland,’
NOTES ON THE SEAL AND WHALE FISHERY. 55
as previously stated, practically lost the voyage ‘through i injuries
received in the ice; the ‘Nimrod’ narrowly escaped being
jammed ten miles off Gull Island, and was beset for fourteen
days, losing a large number of panned Seals. The ‘ Terra
Nova’ and the ‘ Walrus’ both returned with flags half-mast ; the
former lost a man from pneumonia, and the latter, in addition to
losing one of her crew by death, landed an insane man at Bird
Island Cove. These events were sad, but, in view of the risk
and hardship to which 3978 men were exposed, the casualties
must be considered slight.
The sealing fleet of this season was increased to twenty by the
addition of the ‘ Hrik’; 274,589 Seals were landed, valued at
£80,525, the average number for the whole fleet being 138,727.
Ten vessels secured more than this average, and ten less; nine
had more than 15,000, and two less than that number, but over
10,000; the remainder were poorly fished, averaging only 5392.
The ‘ Vanguard’ headed the list with 25,707. The Seals were
of excellent quality, even better than in the previous season, for
although 70,849 fewer in number, their net weight was only
501 cewt. less; but the market for produce is not encouraging.
The Whale Fishery in the Greenland Seas has become quite
a thing of the past, and in Davis Straits, the season of 1902
has been remarkable, even in this inclement sea, for weather of
almost unexampled severity ; the success of some of the vessels,
too, was sadly marred by the disasters to others. Capt. Milne,
of the ‘ Eclipse,’ learned from the EKsquimaux that a small vessel
hailing from London, named the ‘ Perseverance,’ left Cumberland
Gulf on the 22nd of October, 1901, but has not since been heard
of, and it is feared that she has been lost with all hands. The
‘Alert’ also, the last of the Peterhead vessels, a brig attached
to Nobles’ Station, sent out te bring back produce from the
‘station at Cumberland Gulf, was wrecked there in September
last, but happily her crew was saved and brought home by the
‘ Kate,’ another small vessel in the same service, which had
wintered there. pepe this it is satisfactory to be able to state
that the ‘ Forget-me-not,’ a Yarmouth trawler, mentioned in my
last notes as missing, arrived safely at St. John’s, Newfoundland,
on the 24th of September, having wintered in the pack-ice in
THE ZOOLOGIST.
Frobisher’s Bay (where she was beset in September, 1901); she
was extricated from the ice and set on her way by the ‘ Windward
(Peary Expedition). The crew communicated with the Hsqui-
maux, and were very successful in hunting Walrus and Musk
Ox; but their voyage to St. John’s was a very perilous one.
From the first the whalers met with terrible weather. Early
in May the ‘ Kelipse’ ran on a rock near Disco, and, badly
damaged, put into Holsteinborg for temporary repairs; but,
more unfortunately still, during a fearful hurricane, accompanied
by blinding snow, the ‘ Nova Zembla,’ in running for shelter to
Dexterity Fjord, on the west side of the Straits, went on the
rocks, and became a total wreck. Her crew, forty-two in all,
after a terrible experience, was rescued by the ‘Diana’ and the
‘ Kclipse,’ which happily were sheltering in the same neighbour-
hood; but for this timely assistance in all human probability
the crew would have perished.
Of the five steamers which left Dundee, we have only four to
deal with, viz. the ‘ Active,’ the ‘Eclipse,’ the ‘Diana,’ and the
‘ Baleena.’ The first of these visited Hudson Strait, and brought
back the produce of one small Black Whale (9 cwt. of bone),
killedin the month of June; a second was killed, but lost in the-
ice. Whales were in plenty, but so great was the accumulation
of ice that it was impossible to get at them. She also had
11 White Whales, 54 Walrus, 205 Seals, and 77 Bears.
The ‘ Kelipse,’ as before stated, had an adventurous voyage.
She left Dundee on the 12th April, and experienced very bad
weather at the southern fishery. On the 4th of May, when in
the vicinity of Disco, and in a blinding storm of wind and snow,
she struck upon a submerged rock, where she remained firmly
fixed for some time, notwithstanding the exertions of her crew,
and in extreme peril of breaking up in the terrible sea which
broke over her; but happily the sea itself worked their deliver-
ance, and a great wave washed the vessel into deep water again.
Although badly damaged, they were able to run for Holsteinborg,
where the vessel was temporarily repaired. But even in this
crippled condition the brave crew did not neglect the object of
their voyage, for on the 10th of May, the gale having subsided,
they took their first fish. Fourteen days were lost at Holstein-
borg, and, then proceeding on their voyage, the second Whale
NOTES ON THE SEAL AND WHALE FISHERY. 57
was secured on the 20th June; a few days later a third, and in
another month, operations having been much hindered by the
large amount of floating ice, a fourth was captured,—all large
fish. Then came the terrible weather of September, and the
incident which enabled them to render assistance to the crew of
the stranded ‘Nova Zembla,’ after which the vessel returned to
the fishing-ground, and was successful in capturing yet another
fine Whale on the 5th October. Of her five Whales the bone of
the largest measured 10 ft. 6in., none of them being under 10 ft.
The run home was without incident, being accomplished in four-
teen days; and, although attended with great hardship, the
voyage was very successful, resulting in 5 fine Black Whales,
6 Walrus, 8 Seals, 31 Bears (one of which, a young one, was
brought home alive), yielding 57 tuns of oil and 70 cwt. of bone.
The ‘ Diana’ was also successful at the spring fishing. On
the 28th May she captured a very fine fish, the bone of which
measured 11 ft. 6 in.; a second Whale was-seen and unsuccess-
fully chased on the same day. Later on Capt. Adams (with
Capt. Milne of the ‘ Eclipse’) successfully rescued the crew of
the ‘Nova Zembla,’ and finally his exertions were rewarded with
four other fine Whales, returning to Dundee with 5 Black Whales,
1 White, 5 Walrus, 17 Seals, and 30 Bears, the total yield of
which was 70 tuns of oil and 91 cwt. of bone.
The ‘ Balena’ was less fortunate than the sister vessels ; she
did not capture a single Black Whale, but her 640 White Whales
are valuable; and, in addition, she had the produce of 14 Walrus,
4 Seals, and 17 Bears—the oil of the White Whales is estimated
at 65 tuns. The ‘ Balena’ was so unfortunate as to lose one
of her crew by death, which took place at sea on the outward
voyage. With this exception the health of the various crews,
notwithstanding the exceptional hardships of the voyage, has
been remarkably good.
The total result of the season’s fishing (including the produce
of 39 Walrus, 1750 Seals, 13 Bears, and 10 tuns of oil brought
home by the ‘ Kate’ from the Cumberland Gulf station) was
12 Black Whales, 652 White Whales, 118 Walrus, 1984 Seals,
and 168 Bears, producing 212 tuns of oil and 187 cwt. of bone.
The market value of bone is very high, transactions having taken
place at £2500 per ton. Oil is selling at £22 10s. per tun. and
Zool. 4th ser. vol. VII., February, 1908. F
58 THE ZOOLOGIST.
White Whale skin is also high. The total value of the produce
may be roughly estimated at, say, £32,420.
I have no special information as to the results of the fishery
from the Norwegian ports, but I am informed that the Bottlenose
fishery in the Greenland Seas has not been more than one-third
of that of last year. The Greenland sealing, so far as the
steamers are concerned, is virtually a thing of the past; but
during the past season, owing to the prevalence of heavy ice
throughout the summer, affording rest and shelter to the Seals,
as well as facilitating approach to them, the small sailing vessels
have done very well, some making two or even three voyages. In
fact, the heavy ice, packed by the long-continued EK. and N.K.
winds, is said to have extended south in the North Atlantic quite
to the Orkney and Shetland Islands, and a large ice-floe was
reported off the Treshnish Islands, and on the west coast of
Mull; whereas the east coast of Newfoundland, as previously
stated, has been unusually free from ice.
An extraordinary migration of Seals, said to be Bearded
Seals (Phoca barbata), and thought to have come from their
breeding quarters in the White Sea, is reported on the northern
coast of Norway, and the practical failure of the winter fishery
in that locality is attributed to their presence. ‘There is great
consternation among the fishermen, and it is feared that the
Lofodon fishery may suffer from the same cause.
Owing to the sad death of my valued correspondent, Mr.
Michael Thorburn, I am largely indebted to his brother, Sir
Richard Thorburn, and to the columns of the St. John’s
‘ Kvening Herald,’ for the details of the past season’s sealing
voyage; and to Mr. Robert Kennis, of Dundee, for those of the
Davis Straits fishery.
59
NOTES ON THE ORNITHOLOGY OF OXFORDSHIRE.
1899-1901.
By O. V. Apuin, F.L.S.
(Concluded from p. 22.)
190].
January 3rd.—Ring-Dove cooing, as if it were spring.
7th.—About an inch of snow on the ground ; birds are already
tame.
8th.—More snow.
9th.—About four inches on the ground. Over a hundred
Starlings at the birds’ feeding-place.
10th.—Mild again. Mr. Warriner told me that on the 5th
he saw a large flock of Wild Geese in wedge-shaped formation,
flying S.W., high up, over Bloxham Grove.
14th.—A few Bramblings at Tew. Wood-Pigeons cooing
frequently during the day, and the keeper there said they had
cooed regularly for the last three weeks. A dozen Goldfinches
feeding in bunches of ash ‘‘keys,” bits of which were falling
down.
23rd.—A charm of Goldfinches on the glebe farm.
27th.—Hard gale all day from W.N.W. ; torrents of rain and
hail at intervals.
30th.—News from Mr. W. H. Warner of a Bittern shot at
Ridge’s Weir on the Isis (Oxon) on the 26th; also of one shot at
Duxford in January, 1895.
31st.—Saw two Curlews on the wing here.
February 2nd.—The largest flock of Fieldfares I have seen
this season; they have not been numerous.
5th.—Seven inches of snow on the ground.
7th.—Ten degrees of frost. Two Snipe in a ditch running
through uplands at Milcomb.
8th.—Little flock of Linnets.
10th.—Slow thaw. Song-Thrush singing ; they have been
F2
60 THE ZOOLOGIST.
practically silent for some weeks, although there have been a few
about all the winter.
12th.—Severe frost again.
16th.—Severe weather continues. A Robin’s nest with six
eggs found in an outhouse one day before the 14th.
21st.—Weather persistently cold, with wind in the N.; slight
falls of snow and frost.
23rd.—Much milder.
25th.—Chaffinch singing for the first time.
26th.—Blackbird and Pied Wagtail singing.
March 1st.—Yellow Bunting singing. Mistle-Thrush pairing.
16th.—Song-Thrush’s nest nearly finished. A cold stormy
month so far.
17th. — Nice morning. Many Redwings; counted forty
together, which flew away in company. One or two others sing-
ing the “ trui trui trui.”
20th.—Cold; N.E. wind and snowy the last two days. Saw
a Chiffchaff for a moment as I was getting up.
23rd.—Still very cold. Some Bramblings; one fine old cock
repeated the wheezy ‘‘ weeech,” so much drawn out as to approach
the long note or song of the breeding season.
24th.—Some Meadow-Pipits.
25th.—Ground white with snow, and more fell during the day.
26th.—Nine degrees of frost; 27th and 28th, ten degrees,
and froze all day.
29th.—Eleven degrees.
30th.—Mild and stormy. A very cold March.
April 1st.—Two Chiffchaffs in the warm spot by the brook,
which I always search for early ones.
2nd.—Mr. Warriner sent over an adult Kittiwake, which he
had found in an exhausted condition near his house ; weighed
84 oz.
4th.—Two Wheatears.
5th.—Blackcap in garden.
8th.—Chiffchaff in song.
9th.—Tree-Pipit.
10th.—Very wet lately ; ground soaked and meadows flooded.
18th.—A Swallow reported in the ‘Oxford Times’ as. seen by
Mr. H. Webb at Oxford on the 8th.
ORNITHOLOGY OF OXFORDSHIRE. 61
17th.—Willow-Wren and Redstart. Chiffchaff in song for
the second time only this spring. The weather turned warm to-
day. I have not known the grass-fields so soaked with water for
some years at any season.
20th.—Swallows appeared in the village, and a pair went at
once into my barn-loft, where they always breed. Blackbird
singing while perched on a thatch-coped wall.
21st.—Nightingale and Whitethroats.
22nd.—Cuckoo noisy.
23rd.—Lesser Whitethroat common; Sedge-Warbler, Ray’s
Wagtail, Whinchat. A White Wagtail on a ploughed field close
to the village. A Nightingale in the paddock-walk again this year.
27th.—Mr. A. H. Macpherson and I sawa fine example of
the large race of the Wheatear near the weir-lock, Adderbury ; it
appeared to be half as large again as a Chaffinch, and had a
very rich buff breast.
28th.—No fewer than three Nightingales in Milcomb gorse,
and four reported from the spinney and fox-cover at Tadmarton
Camp, near there. The steady increase of this bird during the
last few years is most gratifying ; but it is as impossible to account
for the increase as it is for the Nightingale practically ceasing
to visit the immediate neighbourhood for many years. House-
Martin; Grasshopper-Warbler. Not a Stonechat to be seen in
Milcomb gorse or on T'admarton Heath, in both of which places
it was a few years ago always to be seen in spring ; in the latter
locality it used to be quite common, and a characteristic feature.
No reason for the disappearance can be given, unless it is that
the particular race of Stonechats which used to pass the summer
there has been exterminated by severe seasons. The Stonechat
was always a partial migrant in North Oxon, appearing in
February or March, stray birds being seen very occasionally
away from their summer haunts in winter, and more frequently
at the time of their return in spring. We watched a Goldfinch
shelling out the seeds of Scotch fir-cones.
30th.—Turtle-Dove.
May 2nd.—Could hear two Nightingales as I stood at one of
the windows to-night, a thing I never did before, although a
quarter of a century ago they were always to be heard about the
village,
62 THE ZOOLOGIST.
3rd.—We have four round the village, perhaps five, besides
those at Milcomb gorse.
4th.—Garden Warbler.
6th.—Saw a Swallow sitting on the top twig of a fairly high.
hedge. Mr. Blea told me about the numbers of Golden Plovers
which used to visit the high-lying arable land on this side of
Chipping Norton thirty or forty years ago. .
June 4th.—Arrived home after four weeks’ absence. Song-
Thrush singing while sitting on the ridge of the house-roof.
Red-backed Shrike near Springfields, Banbury, close to one of
the three favourite localities of this bird about here.
5th.—Song-Thrush again singing from the roof-ridge, and my
man says that it has done so for three days, sitting there for
hours from late in the afternoon.
6th.—Examined a Red-backed Shrike shot near Banbury.
8th.—Some young Rooks still in the nest.
10th.—Shot some branchers out of two or perhaps three neat
15th.—Found at Kingham a half-finished Marsh-Warbler’s
nest. I saw it again on the 22nd, when it contained four eggs.
This nest was hung to two stems of the meadow-sweet, and was
close to an osier-bush. The ‘‘handles” by which the nest was
hung to the stems were very remarkable; the attachment of one
of them to the stem was nearly two inches above the lower, or
normal, portion of the rim of the nest; of the other (most of
which was passed round the stem), over one inch. The nest was
formed of round stems of grass, with two bits of cotton-thread
(one of several strands) about the rim; it was lined with finer
grass and some hair. No moss in this nest.
17th.—Some Gulls seen in the Cherwell meadows near the
weir-lock, Adderbury. They are very unusual visitors at this
season.
22nd.— Young Rooks ‘‘ squawking” from a nest in the
Middle-ground rookery, and still there on the 24th.
24th.—There is a small oak spinney in this parish which I
have known well all my life. I always wondered that the Wood-
Wren did not visit it, and many a time I have looked for the bird
in vain. To-day I was passing the spinney at some little distance
when the well-known song caught my ear. I watched the bird
for an hour or two, and I believe searched every foot of ground
ORNITHOLOGY OF OXFORDSHIRE. 63
anywhere near the trees he frequented. But I could not find the
female or the nest, and I am inclined to think that the male had
strayed here alone. I may say here that I searched for it in
1902 in vain, and that I do not know any locality frequented
regularly by the Wood-Wren nearer here than Tew, about four
or five miles away, although I have observed it at Tadmarton
Heath spinney, not quite so far off.
30th.—Thrush sang on the roof again.
July lst.—Goldfinches have young about the garden.
5th.—Bullfinches bite off the tops, and bite open, the seed-
pods of the columbines, and eat the unripe seeds.
9th.—A pair of Shrikes very noisy in a tall hedge close to
Milton Close, one of the favourite haunts of this curiously local
species. They had young out of the nest the next day.
12th.—On two of the recent hot nights, once about 10 p.m. and
again about 11 p.m., a Hedge-Sparrow close to the house has
burst into a single strain of song. A pair have a nest with eggs
in a box-bush just there. In Uruguay I have known the Chin-
golo Song-Sparrow (Zonotrichia pileata) do much the same
thing.
16th.—The collection of bird-skins formed by the late Rev. A.
Matthews, formerly of Weston-on-the-Green, was sold at Mr.
Stevens’ rooms. I did not attend the sale, but the skins were
examined for use previously, and I afterwards handled a large
number of them and bought a few back into the county. With
the exception of a little series of the smaller Passeres (all obtained
at Weston in 1833 and 1834, and so labelled), the skins were
labelled with old parchment tickets. These (with few exceptions)
bore only numbers (doubtless referring to a catalogue). The
exceptions were a few with ‘‘ Weston” or “‘ Oxford” added.
“Oxford” evidently merely had reference to the place whence the
example was forwarded, possibly by some wild-fowl shooter, and
not to the actual spot where the bird was killed. And I have
little doubt that many of the birds were the examples referred to
in Messrs. Matthews’ articles on the ‘ Birds of Oxfordshire and
its Neighbourhood,’ which were published in this Journal in 1849
and 1850.
The following specimens may be here noticed :—
Night-Heron, ‘‘ Oxford,” adult. Doubtless the one killed at
64 THE 4ZOOLOGIST.
Standlake in the spring of 1835. This is now in my possession,
and I have had it set up.
Gadwall, male and female, ‘‘ Oxford.”” These were doubtless
shot at Standlake, the male in January, 1833, and the female in
the following winter. Male now in my possession.
Garganey, adult, male.
Bittern, ‘* Oxford.”
Hen-Harrier, female, ‘‘ Weston’’; now in my possession.
Red-necked Grebe, adult, in winter dress; now in my pos-
session.
Common Sandpiper, ‘‘ Weston,” @ 3 June 1834.” An in-
teresting date for its occurrence in Oxon.
Hobby, ‘* Weston” (tail worn; had been in confinement).
Dotterel, adult ; now in my possession.
Fulmar, ‘‘ Weston.”’
Manx-Shearwater, ‘‘ Weston.”
17th.—A pair of Red-backed Shrikes in the old place by the
railway on the Lessor Farm, Milcomb. All three favourite haunts
are occupied this year, but I have not seen any birds elsewhere.
18th.—My man tells me that a pair of Robins hatched a brood
in his garden, and as soon as the young were out of the nest they
laid again in the same nest. This brood is now hatched and
being fed, he thinks, almost entirely on red currants !
19th.—Warblers swarming in the kitchen garden ; Blackcaps,
Garden-Warblers, Lesser Whitethroats, and Whitethroats, all
feeding on red currants and raspberries. The Robins are as
bad as the rest. Very hot, dry weather.
28th.—Rain has fallen. The Warblers spend a good deal of
time in the pea-rows and broad-bean stalks, which are badly
‘blighted ”’ with a lead-grey or black aphis.
August lst.—Garden-Warbler sang several times; unusual
at this date. A Green Sandpiper flew low over my head, calling,
near Crouch Hill, where there are several small cattle ponds.
6th.—Goldfinch singing, and Starling a little.
10th.—Saw a Green Sandpiper near Nell Bridge, Adderbury.
11th.—Swifts screaming loudly at evening.
16th.—A few Swifts only.
19th.—Peewits in flock in swede fields.
23rd.—Many Ray’s Wagtails in Port Meadow, Oxford.
29th.—Linnets in flocks of a score or more.
ORNITHOLOGY OF OXFORDSHIRE, 65
30th.—Saw a female Sparrow- Hawk, now a scarce bird just
here.
September Ist.—Larve of the Death’s-head Moth are common
this year.
The Landrail, which has of late years become very rare here
in the breeding season, and has indeed almost, if not quite,
ceased to breed just round here (I did not hear one this summer),
passes us on migration in the early autumn (probably from the
west), sometimes in considerable numbers. This year, in con-
sequence of there being some standing barley and oats (not too
much to “ walk”) in the early part of the shooting season, we
had an opportunity of. finding a good many, and I have the
following notes of them :—
3rd.—Two shot and another seen. 4th.—F ive flushed in a big
piece of tall strong oats; as we had no dog working, it is highly
improbable that we flushed all the birds there were in it, for even
Red-legged Partridges lay well! Two more put up from seeds
and barley. I was told of seven shot on the 2nd at Hook
Norton, six of them out of one piece of barley. 6th.—One re-
ported shot out of barley. 10th.—Six flushed (five of them from
six acres of barley on a hill). Several have been sent to the
stuffers by this date. 19th.—One reported seen.. 24th.—Two
shot. Two of those killed on the 4th weighed 6% oz. and 7% oz.
respectively. Two on the 10th, 8 oz. and 810z. All were, I
think, young birds. Iris clay-brown with a strong tinge of
olive-green. Bill, pinkish-horn; culmen, darker and browner;
legs and feet, light korn. Of the two shot on the 24th one was
a small bird weighing only 5 oz., although in good condition.
The other, I think, was an adult, and weighed 8 oz. 5 drams.
This bird was found in a field of long wheat-stubble, and I saw
it running before me down the drills; it was not going very fast
and in a crouching attitude. I had to run in order to flush it.
I mention this because I never before saw a live Landrail on the
ground at this season. ‘The stomachs of at least one of those
shot on the 10th contained six or eight grains of barley, and the
apparent remains of more, with mashed-up insects. Neither of
the birds shot on the 24th contained any corn, but their stomachs
were full of the remains of insects, chiefly beetles, and a good
many little stones, some nearly a quarter of an inch across.
66— THE 4OOLOGIST.
3rd.—Some Meadow-Pipits; early.
5th.—Linnets in flocks of a hundred or more.
10th.—Flocks of from one to two hundred Linnets.
13th.—Heard two Chiffchaffs.
22nd.—News from Mr. G. W. Bradshaw that he saw yester-
day a fine adult male Hobby, in the flesh, shot on Goring Heath.
Weighed 53 oz. 4
October 1st.—-Saw many Goldfinches in different places during
a day’s shooting, chiefly on Milcomb Hills. This bird, except just
after a long severe winter, is by no means uncommon in ae part
of Oxfordshire.
8rd.—Blackbird singing in a low tone.
4th.—Again.
8th.—Again.
12th.—Flock of about a hundred Greenfinches sutisel by
themselves.
17th.—A Royston Crow shot about this time near Banbury.
Mr. Bartlett told me that about fifteen years ago he had a dozen
to preserve in one winter; but it is quite uncommon in this.
county.
24th.—Pied Wagtail singing.
November.—Swallows departed very early this year. I took
no notes on the subject, until I remarked that the birds were all
gone. But I do not recollect seeing even one in October,
Nevertheless, two were reported as seen at Sibford on the 24th
November (‘ Banbury Advertiser’).
2nd.—Fieldfares flew over garden.
3rd.—Starling eating pyracanthus berries.
4th.—Many Redwings and one Brambling. Goldfinches in
small charms, several times and places in course of a day’s
shooting.
6th.—A Golden Plover shot in a ploughed field at South
Newington Hill.
13th.—Snow fell in the night.
16th.— Half a score of Siskins in some alders.
17th.—A most destructive frost last night. Thermometer
down to 14 deg., and stood at 22 deg. at 10 a.m. to-day.
19th.— When we were shooting in a gale of wind from W.S.W.,
a male Peregrine-Falcon tried to carry off a Red-legged Partridge,
ORNITHOLOGY OF OXFORDSHIRE. 67
which, having been shot as it came down wind, fell a long way
from the guns. The Partridge being a big one seemed to be too
heavy for the Tiercel, which could not rise with it (although it
could just carry it along), and had to let it go.
21st.—Obtained a most beautiful example of Leach’s Petrel
in the flesh, which was picked up dead between Bodicote and
Adderbury on the 19th. When uninjured the plumage of this
bird looks as if it had a soft grey “bloom” on it. I was also
shown a Spotted Crake, shot near Banbury on the 9th inst.
24th.—News of a strange bird caught by the clap-netting
boys in a tall hedge on the night of the 22nd. I got possession
of it this evening, and found it was a Great Grey Shrike, inter-
mediate between Lanius excubitor and L. major, the white on the
secondaries only to be seen on raising the coverts. Unfortu-
nately, forty-eight hours of confinement with improper food had
been too much for it, and it died in the night. It was a male. -
29th.—Saw a young Barn-Owl, still retaining some down,
and the tail only half grown, which was sent to be stuffed a few
days ago.
The coldest November within most people’s recollection.
Twenty-three degrees of frost was registered on the banks of the
Cherwell on the 16th, and frost occurred on more than half the
nights of the month, while the day temperature very rarely
reached 50 deg. Less than an inch of rain fell, but the weather
was unusually foggy.
December lst.—A few Fieldfares and Redwings only; there
are no “haws”’ this year. A Blackbird a day or two ago ate
five berries of Cotoneaster simondsi. A Robin eats some of the
fowls’ corn daily.
3rd.—An increase in the number of Fieldfares and Redwings,
of which there are a fair number now. Goldfinches about the
fieids.
6th.—On Clattercote Reservoir there were about thirty Mallard
and about fifty Teal; five Tufted Ducks, three or four Pochards,
and a fine adult male Golden-Eye.
10th.—News from Mr. G. W. Bradshaw of a Little Owl shot
at Wyfold Court on the 7th November.
12th.—Furious snow-storm from north. The train service
on our branch line broken down.
68 THE ZOOLOGIST.
17th.—F lock of about a score of Golden Plovers between
South Newington and Barford. Blew and snowed at night.
18th.—Frost and snow-storm.
20th.—Goldfinches in the fields.
23rd.—Frost continues. A female Peregrine-Falcon, the
finest I ever saw, was shot at Barford, near here. It measured
18} inches in the flesh. Head, face, and nape very dark; mantle
pale and blue; throat, fore neck, and breast quite unmarked until
the extreme lowest breast is reached. On the lowest part of the
breast and the belly, the markings are indistinct and broken.
Flanks and thighs with very narrow dark bars. Throat, pale
parts of the face, the neck, breast, and belly deeply flushed with
reddish buff or dull salmon colour. I never before saw this
colour so dark or so rich in this species. Legs and feet lemon-
yellow, cere the same (a week after death, and probably
faded).
27th.—Charm of six Goldfinches and others. Some Bram-
blings.
28th.—Thaw.
There has been no Song-Thrush song this month or last (and
there was but little autumn song); a great contrast to last year.
We have, indeed, few 'l'hrushes remaining with us this winter.
69
NOTES AND QUERIES.
MAMMALIA.
The Lesser Shrew and Bank-Vole in Suffolk.—As the distribution
of the smaller mammals in Suffolk appears to be imperfectly known,
the following facts may be of interest :—In 1893-94 I found the Bank-
Vole (Arvicola glareolus) not uncommon in the plantations and woods
of Huntingfield (North-east Suffolk). On April 25th, 1901, while on
a short visit to the same place, I took about twenty-one pellets of the
White Owl (Stria flammea). These were afterwards analysed by Mr.
Lionel Adams, and amongst the skulls identified were twelve of the
Bank-Vole and two of the Lesser Shrew (Sorex minutus). The latter
species has, I believe, been only taken previously at Blaxhall, in Kast
Suffolk. A small series of twelve pellets from an old willow at Great
Thurlow (West Suffolk) also contained a single skull of the Lesser
Shrew. Probably further research will prove that it occurs in small
numbers throughout the county. —Francis C. R. Jourpain (Clifton
Vicarage, Ashburne, Derbyshire).
AVES.
Nesting Sites of Blackbird and Song-Thrush.—The note by Mr. R.
H. Read in the current ‘ Zoologist’ (ante, p. 28) is of considerable
interest to me, and I have been looking up my notes of abnormal
nesting-sites. There is a particular locality in one of my nurseries
where for a long series of years past I find almost annually one or
more nests of Blackbirds and Song-Thrushes placed right upon the
ground. These have all been found within a piece of land not more
than one hundred and twenty yards in diameter, and nowhere else
within an area which is some twenty acres inextent. The same birds,
or their descendants, have stuck to this ground-nesting, otherwise it is
difficult to account for. In April, 1889, I found a couple of Blackbirds’
nests at a distance of about one hundred yards apart. One was built
on the level ground at the bottom of a dry stone dyke where a stone
had been taken out, and within the little archway thus formed. The
other nest was placed midway on the grass slope, of about 18 in. high,
70 THE ZOOLOGIST.
that runs along the base of a thorn-hedge. It was in just such a spot
as a Robin would have chosen—a little hole in the bank. Somewhat
similarly placed Blackbirds’ nests have frequently been found since.
Then, in the following spring, I found a Song-Thrush’s nest on the
bare open ground in precisely such a situation as a Sky-Lark would
have selected—under the shelter of a tuft of grass. In 1898, within a
few yards of this spot, a Song-Thrush’s nest was found, built on the
ground betwixt rows of young beech-trees that averaged four to five
inches high. In subsequent years, as already stated, such ground
nests of both Blackbirds and Song-Thrushes have been pretty regularly
found. Plenty of hedges and bushes are all around, so that this pre-
ference for a lowly site cannot be explained because of any lack of
suitable convenience of the usual order. At one time I thought these
particular Song-Thrushes might turn out to be of the Hebridean form,
which very often, if not always, nests amidst the herbage on rocky
ledges ; but a close examination did not disclose either the dark coloura-
tion or the hooked beak-tips of that peculiar Thrush of our western
islands. Of course we know that some of the North American Thrushes
build as regularly on the ground as our Thrushes do in trees, bushes,
and hedges in normal circumstances. ‘Then there is our own Ring-
Ouzel, which is as often a ground-builder as a ledge-builder.—Rosert
Service (Maxwelltown, Dumfries).
Blackbird laying on the Ground..—Mr. Read's note on this subject
reminds me of a similar incident that came under my own observation
in Fifeshire on May 16th, 1891. At the junction of two walls a large
quantity of leaves lay blown together, and in the corner, on the leaves,
and without any further attempt at a nest, a Blackbird was sitting on
three eggs. On the day mentioned I put the Blackbird off the eggs,
and I took for granted that she had laid there through necessity, her
own nest mayhap having been harried when the first egg was laid.—
Rosert Goprrey (46, Cumberland Street, Hdinburgh).
The Status of the Goldfinch (Carduelis elegans) in Britain.*—
North Wales appears to be a stronghold of the Goldfinch. In Mont-
gomery from Welshpool to the west it is comparatively common, and
breeds freely about Welshpool, whilst farther up the Severn Valley to |
the source it is more local and scarcer.
Yorkshire (West Riding).—In the West Riding I know of no authentic
breeding of the Goldfinch ; formerly it used to breed sparingly (within
* We have received the following notes on this subject since our last
issue.—ED.
NOTES AND QUERIES. vial
the memory of living men). About two years ago I saw a flock of
about fifteen to twenty birds feeding on some alders fringing the River
Aire, near Bingley. This is the only time I have met with this species
in the West Riding, though I have many times looked anxiously for
it.—Rossze BurrerrieLp (Wilsden, Bradford).
Isle of Man.—lt had become very infrequent, but with the last
decade there have been signs of increase. Flocks have been noticed,
especially in the north of the island. — P. 8. Ratre (Castletown,
Isle of Man).
East Sussew.—During the breeding season I have noticed no dimi-
nution; large numbers of immigrants appear in autumn and through-
out winter. I do not think it can be said there has been any diminu-
tion during the period 1894-1902. — W. Ruskin Burrerrietp (St.
Leonards-on-Sea).
Notts—No doubt that its numbers have seriously declined within
memory of the present generation. An old man, whose young days
were passed in poaching and birdcatching, has several times told me
that he has on occasions caught fifty ‘‘ Proud-Tailors”’ before break-
fast. Now it would take a number of years to see the same total.—
Cuas. EH. Pearson (Hillcrest, Lowdham, Notts).
Hampshire.—When collecting information twelve years ago from all
‘parts of this county for a list of Hampshire birds, I found a general
‘consensus of opinion that it was increasing, thanks to the Bird Pro-
tection Act. Since then have lived in two parishes on south side of
New Forest, and found it fairly common and nesting. Mr. Meade
Waldo, writing in 1900 (‘ Victoria History Hants’), says, ‘‘ decidedly
increased in numbers during the last ten years.’’—J. HK. Ketsanu
(Milton, Lymington).
North Wales.—Roughly speaking, the Goldfinch is most numerous
in the south-east of Montgomeryshire and parts of Merioneth; whilst
it occurs in many scattered lowland districts throughout the other
counties in fair numbers. It has not been noticed as increasing except
in the first-named county.
Anglesey.—Mr. 8. G. Cummings says it is fairly common in Kast
Anglesey in suitable places, and Mr. R. J, Edwards states that at
Holyhead it is rather plentiful, notwithstanding birdcatchers. Others
speak of it as rather scarce. I am told it does occur on the south-west
coast, but never met with it there—district not suitable. Occurs at
lighthouses in November.
Carnarvonshire.—Owing to the mountainous character of the county
the Goldfinch is scarce, except on the lowlands, which are chiefly
h
72 THE ZOOLOGIST.
confined to the seaboard, and even there it is by no means numerous
as a rule. The only district where it is plentiful is in the Conway
Valley up to Bettws-y-Coed.
Merioneth.—Much of this county also is too mountainous for the
Goldfinch, but it occurs in small numbers along the western seaboard,
and is fairly common in some of the valleys, as at Llanbedr, Corris,
and round Bala. It is particularly numerous in the Dovey Valley
from the estuary up to Dinas Mawddwy, and all round Machynlleth,
where I saw nests in 1901. |
‘Flintshire and Denbighshire.—Occurs in many parts of these coun-
tles—in fact, seems to be generally distributed—but is not numerous,
except in the Vale of Clwyd, where it may be described as rather
common.
Montgomeryshire. — Generally distributed throughout the county,
but is less numerous in the western parts than the eastern. It is
particularly plentiful around Welshpool, Llanfair, and Montgomery,
and large numbers are caught in the autumn to be sold as cage-birds.
In this district the bird seems to be on the increase, and there is little
doubt that the Protection Act has done good, since it makes it im-
possible to expose the birds for sale in the close season.—H. H. Forrest
(Brayston Hill, Shrewsbury).
A Habit of the Lesser Redpoll (Linota rufescens).—Mr. Blathwayt
relates his experience (ante, p. 26) of the nesting habits of the Lesser
Redpoll in Lincolnshire, and asks for information from naturalists in
other parts of Britain, confirmatory or otherwise, as to its susceptibility
to forsake its nest on the occasion of its being disturbed. It is far
from being an uncommon nesting species in this district, consequently
I have had considerable experience of its nesting habits, but have never
known it forsake its nest, however much it has been disturbed. Only
last season a friend of mine interested in bird-nest photography ex-
pressed a wish that I should find him the nest of the species, which I
did, built on a horizontal branch of a Scotch-fir about nine feet from
the ground. It was building when it was found, and, although much
disturbed, almost daily, it still continued its operations. When it had
begun to sit my friend photographed the nest and eggs, but previously
to doing so it was necessary to lop the twigs in the vicinage of the
nest, thus altering altogether the character of its surroundings; yet
notwithstanding this treatment it persistently sat on, and ultimately
brought off its young.—H. P. Burrerrizyp (Wilsden, Yorkshire).
Wood-Lark in West Suffolk.—On Jan. 14th I saw two Wood-Larks
(Alauda arborea) in the flesh at Mr. Travis’s shop in Bury, which had
NOTES AND QUERIES. 13
been shot at Rougham. This is a bird little known in Suffolk, though
it breeds in the county ; and these are the only ones I ever saw in the
flesh. They were probably migrants from the north which the hard
weather had brought down, and in no way connected with those which
come into Suffolk later in the year for the purpose of nesting.—
Juuian G. Tuck (Tostock Rectory, Bury St. Edmunds).
Hybrids between Domestic Pigeon, 3, x Columba enas, ? .—In
‘The Zoologist’ for June, 1900 (p. 281), when recording a hybrid
betwixt a Homer Pigeon and a Collared Turtle, I described how a
friend had failed to rear some hybrids obtained betwixt various of his
Domestic Pigeons, and Stock-Doves he had hatched and reared from
eggs obtained from nests in the sea-cliffs near his house. Invariably
the young ones died within a few days after hatching out. In 1901
the same gentleman (Mr. James Blacklock, Southwick) obtained a
young Stock-Dove, in the squeaker stage, that had been caught by the
keepers on the estate when ferreting rabbits. It had bolted into the
net, rabbit fashion. This bird was placed amongst the Pigeons, and
soon became quite at home. Late in the summer of 1902 it paired
with a Blue Tumbler cock, and they successfully brought up a strong
and healthy couple of young, which I had an opportunity of examining
on 18th November last. They had then parted with nearly all evidences
of adolescence. In appearance they bear much more resemblance to
their maternal parent than they do to their father. All four were
flying with the other Pigeons in the courtyard, and no person could
have imagined for a moment that the Stock-Dove had ever been a wild
bird. Perhaps the term ‘wild bird” may not truly apply, because it
doubtless looked out upon the world for the first time when it bolted
into the rabbit-net.—Rosert Service (Maxwelltown, Dumfries).
Protective Colouration of Birds’ Eggs.—Looking over old diaries
I came across the following instance, which may be of interest to
readers of ‘The Zoologist’ :—On May 4th, 1898, I rescued five fresh
(i. e. unincubated) Great Crested Grebe’s eggs, which however, I am
glad to say, were not taken in this neighbourhood, from being blown.
On the following day I took them over to Hickling Broad, and put two,
two, and one into the nests of three Coots, which had not yet laid
their own full complement of eggs, removing three, three, and one
Coots’ eggs in doing so. Within two days Rooks—or Crows—had
sucked every one of the Grebe’s eggs, whilst numerous nests full of
Coots’ eggs were left unharmed near by. The slight difference in the
ground colour and the absence of the small black markings were appa-
Zool. 4th ser. vol. VII., February, 19038. G
74 THE Z00LOGIST.
rently sufficient to attract the leery eyes of the prowling Corvide.
Hence the necessity for, or one reason of, the ‘‘ Loon”’ covering her
eggs so deftly whenever she leaves them, an action which is so rapidly
performed that my binocular-aided eyes have sometimes been hardly
sharp enough to follow, and that at close quarters. There was a
correspondence in ‘The Zoologist’ (1898-1899) about the Moorhen
covering its eggs on leaving the nest. This habit is not indulged in
hereabouts, at any rate according to my own observations, which have
been long and frequent; nor have any of the local ‘‘ egging”’ marsh-
men whom I have consulted on the subject ever noticed it, although
one of them was sufficiently observant to mention to me the similarity
of the surface markings on Coots’ eggs to the black fungoid dis-
colourations on dead reed-leaves long before I saw any allusion to this
interesting fact in print. When at Cambridge (1876-1879) I found
several Moorhens’ nests on and around the much-frequented back
river, but never even there observed any other attempt at concealment
beyond the partial bending down of tall vegetation over and above the
entire nest. This habit is also indulged in, to a less degree, by the
Redshank. The Wild Duck and Pheasant often build in very similar
situations, and their egg-shells vary but little in shade; yet the land-
bird leaves hers open, whilst the water-fowl compensates for the
slightly less pigment in hers by covering them up.—Maovrice C. H.
Birp (Brunstead Rectory, Stalham).
ASVEP EE BA.
Larve attacking Toad (Bufo vulgaris).—One day last summer I
found a Toad which presented a rather curious appearance, having
both nostrils considerably enlarged. I took it home and placed it in a
case for more careful examination later on. This I was prevented
from doing for several days, and when I next looked, it was lying
dead on the bottom of the case, and with one of the eyes and the
greater part of one side of the head entirely eaten away by a number
of pale yellow larve about one-third of an inch in length, which from
their appearance I judged to be the larve of a dipterous insect; but
whether the larvee had attacked the Toad after being hatched from the
egg, or whether the eggs had been hatched inside the nostrils of the
Toad, I was unable to decide. I should be glad to know from some
of your readers (1) if this occurrence is common; (2) what species of
Diptera or other insect it is which makes the attack. The Toad in
other respects seemed in good condition.—B. J. Horton (805, Stratford
Road, Sparkbrook, Birmingham).
NOTES AND QUERIES. 75
[The larvee above referred to as attacking a Toad were doubtless
those of Lucilia sylvarum, Mg. (family Muscidae), one of the common
sreenbottle flies. Such cases are not uncommon, and entomological
literature contains a number of records of the destruction of Toads by
the maggots of this fly. It would appear that the eggs are deposited
on the Toad’s back, and that the larve on hatching make their way
into the creature’s eyes or nostrils. Toads are sometimes attacked in
a similar manner by the larve of blowflies (Calliphora), cf. L. G.
Guthrie, ‘‘On a Toad killed by the Larve of Blow-Flies,” ‘ Ento-
mologist’s Monthly Magazine,’ 1892, pp. 9-12. — E. E. Austen (Brit.
Mus., South Kensington).|
76 THE ZOOLOGIST.
NOTICES OF NEW BOOKS.
The Tanganyika Problem; an Account of the Researches under-
taken concerning the Existence of Marine Animals in Central
Africa. By J.E.S. Moors, F.R.G.S. Hurst & Blackett.
It is well within the memory of many, when Burton first dis-
covered Lake Tanganyika. Africa was then a dark continent, to
be only traversed by the adventurous leader of a big expedition ;
to-day it is an ordinary goal for a sportsman, and will soon be
tramped by the Cook’s tourist. The discovery of the lake was
the event of a geographical season; we are now studying the
origin of its fauna, which is the ‘“ Tanganyika problem” which
this volume has brought into the domain of real zoological
philosophy. The interest in the question has long been accumu-
lating from the time when Speke brought home a few shells he
had picked up on its shores, and which were recognized as
curiously marine. Then Jelly-fishes were discovered in the lake
by Dr. Bohm, and a British expedition—purely biological—was
despatched in 1896 under the direction of the author of this
work. The most definite result of that expedition appeared to
be that “‘the sea had at some former time been connected with
the lake, but when or how remained a mystery.” Prof. Ray
Lankester, who had organized the first expedition, now initiated
a second one, and Mr. Moore again started in 1899 for the
lake, whose marine molluscs compare, every one, with indi-
vidual prototypes in the remains of the old Jurassic Seas.
The problem was complicated by one of those speculative
assumptions which so often crystallize as dogmas in scientific
generalizations. Sir Roderick Murchison, from an examination
of then available geological and other facts, had concluded that
the interior of Africa had never been beneath the sea, and con-
sidered his view was confirmed by the absence south of the
equator “ of all those volcanic activities which we are accustomed
to associate with oscillations of terra firma.” Consequently, to
NOTICES OF NEW BOOKS. 77
prove his thesis, Mr. Moore had to disprove this theory before
offering his own explanation of the facts. His investigation of
the geological characters of Central Africa goes to prove that there
is no foundation for the Murchison hypothesis, and that there is
evidence of vast disturbance in the region of the great lakes.
Mr. Moore’s conclusion is that Tanganyika was originally stocked
with halolimnic animals * from a western sea, of which the great
lake itself, and the vast back waters of the Congo, may be said to
be the last remains. Owing to geological changes these became
a more and more land-locked sea, ‘‘ and in the course of time the
water in these areas became freshened, and consequently a large
section of the old marine fauna died out, while those fishes which
could withstand the change migrated to acertain extent through-
out the fresh waters of the continent.” The reader is not simply
asked to accept this proposition, but is afforded a long zoological
argument, based on well-marshalled facts, which makes a con-
trary opinion almost impossible.
We wish space would allow mention of many incidental facts
and observations recorded in this volume: such as the opinion
as to the origin of park-lands, which the writer of this notice has
often seen and pondered in the Transvaal ; that floral changes in
these areas are due to physical conditions, and not to the struggle
for existence among different species; and that in many of the
great lakes ‘‘ there is hardly so much variety of life as there is
in an ordinary American or Kuropean puddle.” The recently
discovered fishes of Lake Tanganyika, which consist of eighty-
seven species, of which seventy-four have been described as new,
are enumerated with Mr. Boulenger’s original descriptions,
accompanied by a reproduction of Mr. Green’s excellent drawings
of the same. The Molluscs, Gastropods, Crustacea, Medusa,
Sponges, Protozoa, and new Polyzoan receive ample treatment ;
while the whole work is so lavishly illustrated as to render it a
notable addition to our knowledge of African zoology.
* “ Organisms possessing definitely marine and somewhat archaic cha-
racters.”
78 THE ZOOLOGIST.
EDITORIAL GLEANINGS.
‘* A Contribution to our Knowledge of the Mole (Zalpa europea) ”’
is the title of a paper contributed by Mr. Lionel HE. Adams to the
‘ Memoirs and Proceedings of the Manchester Literary and Philosophical
Society ’ (1903). This memoir is a somewhat exhaustive one. It refers
to the whole literature on the subject, from Le Court (1798), Saint-
Hilaire (1829), Blasius (1857), to modern writers. A number of
illustrations are given to show the different structures of Mole- —
fortresses, and the writer concludes that ‘‘ these galleries are the
natural, incidental, and inevitable outcome of the work of excavating
the nest-cavity, and piling up the superincumbent mound.” There is
a seemingly enormous proportion of males to females in this animal,
but Saint-Hilaire discovered by dissection that the virgin Mole has the
same external appearance as the male, and Mr. Adams has given a
full translation of the main points in Saint-Hilaire’s demonstration.
Amongst the enemies of the Mole, the author mentions a fox-terrier of
his, who successfully hunted these animals. The writer of this notice
also once possessed a fox-terrier whom he scarcely ever took out for a
ramble over and in the Surrey hills and valleys without one or more
Moles being found, killed, and triumphantly produced by his canine
companion, and this without the slightest incitement.
‘Tur Asian Sporting Newspaper’ for Dec. 13th, 1902, has given a
full biographical estimation of Dr. P. L. Sclater, who, as generally
known, has vacated the post he has su long and ably held as Secretary
of the Zoological Society of London. One paragraph may at least find
place here :—
«« When Mr. Sclater took over the reins of the Society in 1859 the
number of Fellows on its roll was 1716, the income for the previous
year £14,034, and the number of admissions to the gardens 333,980.
For the last year of the century the number of Fellows was 3250, the
income £28,772, and the number of admissions 697,178. A greater
and more satisfactory progress during forty years could scarcely be
expected, or even desired. And all this is mainly, if noteentirely, due
to the untiring and ceaseless energy of the Secretary.”’
EDITORIAL GLEANINGS. 79
Ar the meeting of the Zoological Society, held on Jan. 20th last,
Mr. F. H. Beddard read a communication dealing with the surface
anatomy of the cerebral convolutions in Nasalis, Colobus, and Cynopt-
thecus. The wide differences which the brain of Cynopithecus shows from
that of the Baboons and its many points of resemblance to the brain
of Semnopithecus were pointed out. Colobus was shown to closely
resemble Macacus in the structure of its brain. Three brains of Nasalis
were reported on, two of which the author owed to the kindness of
Dr. Charles Hose, of Borneo. It was stated to be practically impos-
sible to distinguish the brain of this genus from that of Semnopithecus.
Mr. J. A. Atten contributes a most interesting article to the last
issue of ‘The Auk’ on the subject of the A. O. U. Check-list ; its
history and its future. It appears that the new and ever-increasing
workers at ornithology expend a large amonnt of energy on biblio-
graphical studies and consequent changes in nomenclature. This will
probably increase in future, and applies to Europe as much as to
America, and is not confined to ornithology. ‘‘ The danger of exces-
sive splitting is greater now than ever before, since we have reached a
point where comparatively few strongly marked local forms remain to
be discovered and named, while the number of enthusiastic young
workers is steadily increasing. Plainly, not every degree of differ-
entiation that can be recognized by the trained expert needs recognition
by name, and not every slightly differentiated form that can be dis-
tinguished readily on comparison of a large series of specimens should
be considered as entitled to a place in a list of North American birds.”
Tue following interesting communication is to be found in ‘ The
Condor’ in its last issue, commencing vol. v. :—
** Do Wild Birds die instantly ?—Mr. Wm. Earl Dodge Scott, in an
article on birds in ‘ The Outlook’ of July 5th, 1902, has made a state-
ment that is somewhat remarkabie in that it shows how differently
Nature reveals herself to different observers, and especially remarkable
because so emphatically backed up by his reference to hunters and
others whose occupations teach them to observe. He states that not
only do birds die instantly—which term must be here used in a com-
parative sense, and is a little strong—when injured or afflicted with
illness, but also that in all his experience he has never come across a
sick bird or animal in a wild state, nor met with anyone else who has
done so. My attention was attracted by this statement, because,
80 THE ZOOLOGIST.
although Mr. Scott probably has had much greater opportunities for
observation than I, my experience has been very different from his.
This may perhaps be accounted for by the mildness of climate, or a
lower proportion of bird enemies in the Pacific Coast collecting grounds ;
but it is a fact that occasionally sick or suffering birds and animals are
to be found in California. For example, I have found dead sea-birds
along the shore, with no signs of their having been injured, in a greatly
emaciated condition, showing that they had suffered for some time
before death. I have shot land-birds that were woefully thin and weak,
and have even taken one or two that were so afflicted with some
cutaneous disease that it seemed advisable not to handle them. The
Californian Jack-rabbit suffers to a great extent from lumps caused by
a parasite, and these are sometimes so large, and weaken the animal
to such a degree, that it can hardly get out of one’s way. Besides eye-
witnesses who can verify some of these observations of my own, there
must be others who have had similar experiences, and consequently
Mr. Scott’s statement cannot be accepted as an absolute rule.—
JosepH Mainuiarp.”—A writer under the initials W. K. F. adds :—
‘My own experience agrees perfectly with that of Mr. Mailliard.
During December, 1900, while at Monterey Bay, I saw a Heermann
Gull and many emaciated Brandt Cormorants which were dying a slow
death, and only yesterday (Dec. 22nd, 1902) saw another during a
short walk near the Point Pinos Light. On Laysan Island, Hawaiian
group, I saw a number of sickly birds among the seafowl, and found
a very rare Petrel in this condition. Mr. Scott’s rule does not obtain
among mammals, for, besides the example offered by Mr. Mailliard, I
found a large Sea-Lion near Cypress Point, which existed for days in
a perfectly helpless and moribund condition, until Prof. Harold Heath
and myself mercifully killedit. Dissection showed no internal injuries
nor parasites, while the teeth rather pointed to old age.”’
WE are glad to see from the last published Report of the Australian
Museum at Sydney that the preparation of the new edition of Mr. A.
J. North’s work has been continued. It is practically new, although
to some extent based on the former catalogue, and it has been decided
to call it ‘‘ Special Catalogue, No. 1, Nests and Eggs of Birds found
breeding in Australia and Tasmania.” The first part was issued
in June.
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Sain aa) s i i i i(a) i(a) i(a) i(a) i(s)
Ay ToS >8 i(>s)a _ >a i(>s) a i(8 a
Beda pl i i(a) i(s) s(i) i(s)s Lay itah a(i) i
From this table it may be seen that the intermediate charac-
teristics are most common, and that the others are distributed
in such a manner at both ends of the series, as well as in the
middle, that it seems quite impossible to divide the specimens
in two specific or even racial groups with the aid of these cha-
racteristics. I think accordingly that the conclusion may be
drawn from this comparison that it is impossible to maintain two
such species as Anser segetum and A. arvensis according to Mr.
Frohawk’s definition, because there are to be found all kinds of
intergrading and connecting specimens.
The great variability of the Geese has long been known, and
it is possible that the great variation found in these birds can
be explained partly by their habit of mating for lifetime (which
* The nail larger, but the number expressing the relationship smaller,
than in “ segetwm,”
VARIATION OF THE BEAN-GOOSE. 169
lessens the panmixie), and partly by their strength and in-
tellectual faculties. It is therefore evident that a slight varia-
tion in one or the other direction is of less importance for such
strong, intelligent, and watchful birds as the Geese than for
weaker birds not possessing so many qualities useful in the
struggle for life. It is also possible, and even probable, that
through isolation some divergences may be fixed, and geo-
graphical races, subspecies, &c., originate, or have already
done so.*
The variation of these birds is therefore well worth study,
especially in connection with geographical distribution and
biology, but the infinite splitting in “ species,” which cannot be
separated by any valid characteristics, does not do much good.
Upsala.
* Anser brachyrhynchus breeding in Spitzbergen is, for instance, a quite
distinct species, although related to the Bean-Goose, but now differing from
it in exterior as well as skeletal characters. Sushkin’s A. neglectus might
be another.
170 ; _ THE ZOOLOGIST,
BIRD NOTES FROM CHESHIRE DURING THE
WINTER OF 1902-1908.
By T. A. Cowarp.
In spite of the mildness of the weather in the winter of 1902-
1903 some interesting birds visited Cheshire, and possibly also
the absence of a prolonged frost accounted for the lengthy stay
of some of the more unusual visitors. It is not my intention in
this paper to give a diary of the winter months, but only to record
the occurrence of a few of the more noteworthy birds. The Knot
which was picked up at Bowdon on Oct. 24th has already been
mentioned in this paper (ante, 1902, p. 467), and the Pomatorhine
Skua and Gannet, which were obtained respectively at. Saughall
and Queen’s Ferry in October, were recorded by Mr. A. New-
stead (‘ Field,’ Oct. 25th, 1902).
For more than a week in the first half of October an immature
Cormorant frequented Redes Mere, a sheet of water over twenty
miles from the nearest tidal estuary; and another, a little later,
was reported from Great Budworth. Early in the month a
Cormorant was shot on the Mersey near Warrington, but this is
not so unusual, for the bird not infrequently ascends the rivers
for some distance.
A Bittern was observed on the margin of Budworth Mere at
the end of November, and was seen many times during the
following three months. It generally frequented a dense reed-
bed, but was observed in other places round the banks, often
crouching amongst the litter of dead reed-stems which marks the
highest point reached by the water. Amongst these brown
withered reeds its colouring rendered it inconspicuous. After
several unsuccessful searches I succeeded in flushing it from the
reed-bed ; it did not rise until I was about five yards away from
it, and then it flew with a loose heavy flight along the margin of
the mere, barely topping the reeds, its long green legs dangling
and its head only partially drawn back. A few days later Mr.
BIRD NOTES FROM CHESHIRE. 171
C. Oldham found it near the same spot; it was about three
yards away from him when it rose. This time, after flapping
across the reeds, it gathered up its legs behind it, drew in its
neck, and crossed the mere, flying like a Heron. When the
hounds met at Marbury on Feb. 14th they drew the reed-bed,
and again disturbed the bird, but probably owing to the number
of people on the banks it did not cross the water, but simply
moved out of the way of the dogs, crouching down again at once.
Four days later (the 19th) was the last date on which it was
noticed. The gamekeeper and others at Great Budworth are to
be congratulated that the bird was able to stay so long without
being shot.
_ On Dee. 14th Mr. Oldham saw an old male Goosander with
the Ducks on Tatton Mere, and on the 17th I went to look for
the bird, and found it in company with another—a brown-headed
bird. They swam apart from the other fowl—Mallards, Tufted
Ducks, and Pochards—and after a time got upon the wing,
flying to a part of the lake where I obtained a still better view,
being near enough to see the rosy tinge upon the breast of the
old drake. The brown-headed bird—a female or young male—
dived much more frequently than the old male; I timed some of
the dives, and found that they varied from a little under half a
minute to one minute forty seconds. Once one of the birds—I
think the old drake—uttered a long harsh “ karrr,”’ but this was
the only time we heard any of the birds utter any sound, though
we watched them many times during December, January, and
February. A few days later we again carefully timed the dura-
tion of the dives; as a rule they only lasted for from seventeen
to twenty seconds, but once again we found the old male remained
beneath the water for a hundred seconds. .
On Dec. 27th there were two green-headed males and _ three
brown-headed birds on Tatton, and at the same time there were
a couple of Goosanders, too far away to distinguish their colours,
on the neighbouring mere at Rostherne. Tatton. Mere was
frozen over during the frost in January, and though we visited
Rostherne, which remained open water, we failed to find the
Goosanders, but on such an extensive sheet of water, and amongst
a great crowd of fowl, it is quite possible that we missed them.
When the thaw came the birds returned to the former haunt,
172 THE ZOOLOGIST.
but we missed from amongst them the oldest drake, a bird
which showed a great deal of white when it flew; it is not 1m-
probable that it had been shot, for by this time the birds were
getting very shy and wild, as if they had been fired at.
It was not until the end of January that we discovered that
at least eight Goosanders had been in the neighbourhood. On
the 24th of that month we watched at close quarters six brown-
headed birds fishing in a narrow portion of the mere, and two of
the birds we had seen previously had been green-headed adult
males. The portion of the mere where the birds were feeding ~
is separated from the main sheet by a shallow strait; it is in
fact a sort of subsidiary pond. In the shallows the small fish
were jumping, no doubt frightened by the assaults of the birds.
Often five Goosanders were below the surface at once, and the
water was churned into swirls and eddies above them. At last
one of the birds saw us, and immediately submerged its body
leaving only its head and neck above the surface. Then it rose
followed by the others, but without a sound, save the splashing
of their wings and feet as they crossed the pond. Clearing the
water they swung round and again passed close to us, near
enough to reveal the detail of their plumage. During the
earlier part of their stay the Goosanders kept apart from the
Mallards, but later they often swam in company with the other
Ducks, and it was no unusual thing to see them standing or
resting on the grass of the bank amongst a large party of
Mallards. When this was the case, however, the Goosanders
were always close together, and not scattered amongst the other
birds. On the lst of March we saw them on the water for the
last time. A week later there were no signs of Goosanders on
Tatton.
On Dec. 26th, Mr. C. Oldham, Mr. F. Brownsword, and I
obtained an excellent view of a Little Gull as it rose from the
edge of the Manchester Ship Canal between Eastham and Elles-
mere Port. Its flight was desultory and strikingly different
from that of the Black-headed Gulls, with which, though there
were many in its immediate neighbourhood, it was not con-
sorting. It flew slowly up the canal, and then down again, twice
passing within a few yards of where we were standing on the
bank ; it gave us an opportunity of observing it both from above,
BIRD NOTES FROM CHESHIRE. 173
when it flew near the water, and from below, when it passed just
above our level. Its size, the roundness of its wings, the dark
markings on its nape, and the very dark colouring on the under
surface of its wings were noticeable, but what struck us most
was the entire absence of black upon the primaries and upper
surface of the wings when seen from above. The tail was quite
white and the legs bright red. Judging by the pureness of its
grey mantle and the absence of a tail-bar, it was an adult bird.
Gulls, as usual, occurred inland in some numbers. We met
with no Great Black-backed Gulls away from the tidal waters,
though we saw a few on both the Dee and Mersey estuaries.
Black-headed Gulls are now so common on the inland waters
that the presence of fifty or sixty at a time is hardly worthy of
special notice. At all seasons of the year this semi-marine bird
is to be met with on some of the meres and “‘ flashes,’”’ and it is
frequently abundant on flooded meadows and in the fields of
Cheshire. From time to time mature and immature Herring-
Gulls and Lesser Black-backs visited the different waters, and
Common Gulls were not infrequent. Two, and for a time four,
frequented Tatton from the end of November until March.
There were perhaps not so many winter Ducks upon the
inland waters as usual; the numbers of the different species
fluctuated considerably, but in such a well-watered county the
birds undoubtedly move from mere to mere, so that it is unsafe
to say that only certain species are present at any particular
time. Mallards, in considerable numbers, use the meres as
diurnal resting-places; early in October the flocks began to
frequent the waters; in February and March their numbers
decreased. At the end of November there were perhaps five
hundred Mallards regularly on Tatton; and on Jan. 17th, during
the short but hard frost, when Rostherne was practically the
only open water, the surface of this mere was dotted by thousands
of wildfowl, the great majority of which were Mallards.
Throughout the whole season we only met with a single
Shoveler, a drake which consorted with the Mallards on Bud-
worth during the second week in December. The rarity of this
Duck is noticeable, for in the winter of 1901-1902 there were
frequently one or two with the Mallards on both Tatton and
Budworth meres.
174 THE ZOOLOGIST.
‘Teal, singly or in twos or threes, accompanied the larger
Ducks all through the winter; quite early in the season we met
with them at Tatton, and on Budworth and other waters they
were present. Even when the light was so poor that we could
not distinguish the little birds, we could tell that they were
present when we heard the short sharp ‘“‘krit”’ amongst the loud
quacks of the Mallards. On the 19th of March I flushed thirteen
Teal from a secluded reed-fringed pond near Knutsford, on an
estate where for many years Teal have bred in safety.
Wigeon were never numerous, but odd birds turned up from
time to time on different waters, and they were reported as being
abundant in the estuaries; it should, however, be borne in mind
that amongst wildfowlers the name ‘‘wigeon” is applied to many
species of Ducks. .
The Diving Ducks were somewhat late in appearing ; it was
not until Nov. 2nd that we saw a couple of Tufted Ducks on
Tatton Mere. Later in the same month Mr. F. S. Graves saw
a mixed flock of Tufteds and Pochards on Redes Mere; he
calculated that it numbered upwards of sixty birds. THarly in
December, when Tatton Mere was half frozen over, some thirty
Pochards and a single Tufted Duck were noted, and about the
same time flocks of perhaps eighty Pochards and thirty Tufted
Ducks frequented Budworth Mere. Later in December we saw
a considerable number of Pochards, but no Tufteds, on Tatton
and Rostherne, but early in January both species were present
on Budworth. A little later—on Jan. 10th—there were from
seventy to eighty Tufteds and perhaps twenty Pochards at
Tatton, but four days after this there was not a single Tufted
Duck on Budworth, although there were quite one hundred and
fifty Pochards. Many of these birds remained on a small patch
of open water on this mere when the rest of the water was given
up to skaters. On Rostherne on the 17th, when Mallards were
so abundant, both Pochards and Tufted Ducks were present in
some hundreds.
After the thaw both species of Diving Duck visited Budworth,
and there were a few Tufteds on Tatton. Early in February the
numbers of these Ducks became still more irregular, seven or
eight Tufteds and a single Pochard being all that I could see on
Budworth on the 5th and 18th; while at the beginning of March,
BIRD NOTES FROM CHESHIRE. 175
though there were none on the big mere at Tatton, there were
over sixty Tufteds on the smaller and more secluded pool at
Booths. On March 14th, however, when the flocks of Mallards
on Tatton had dwindled down to some fifty birds, there were
perhaps one hundred Tufteds, but we failed to distinguish a
single Pochard.
One or two small parties of Golden-eyes spent some time
on different waters, and in every case they were noticeably shy,
flying even sooner than the nervous Mallards. Four or five
were present on Budworth in the second week of December,
and early in January we noticed four on this water and four on
Oakmere. All these birds were either females or immature
males.
During February and March several flocks of Siskins were
seen in different parts of the county. Parties frequented the
alders at Tabley, Chelford, and Heron Bridge near Chester,
and in the neighbourhood of Capesthorne they were seen at Old
Alderley, Monk’s Heath, Redes Mere, and Siddington. Some
of these last-named flocks may, of course, have been: the same
birds in different places, but the other situations where they
were noticed are widely separated. On March 25th Mr.S. G.
Cummings and I watched a large flock of Siskins in the fir-
woods at Burton in Wirral. The birds, the great majority of
which were males, were feeding amongst the slender branches of
a clump of larches. We could not be quite certain what they
were feeding upon, but it appeared to be the buds. Four days
later Mr. Oldham saw a single Siskin at Tabley, close to the spot
where flocks had been noticed several times earlier in the year.
Bramblings were more plentiful than usual. The largest
flock we saw frequented some beech-trees that lined a country
lane near Goostrey ; here they several times far outnumbered the
Chaffinches, which were also feeding on the beech-mast.
- A few Jack-Snipe turned up during the frost, and on Dec. 7th
Mr. Oldham put up a Sanderling from the border of Budworth
Mere. The bird moved about from place to place, keeping, how-
ever, to the margin of the mere, and Mr. Oldham had several
opportunities of examining it at fairly close quarters.
176 THE ZOOLOGIST.
THE BIRDS OF N.W. WALES AND THE OPPOSITE
COUNTIES OF IRELAND.
By H. EK. Forrest.
In ‘ The Zoologist’ for 1902, p. 17, Mr. Aplin compared the
avifauna of Bardsey and Lambay islands, situated nearly oppo-
site one another on the Welsh and Irish coasts respectively, and
concluded that, with certain exceptions, the two were similar.
On reading this paper it occurred to me that a comparison of the
birds of Western Wales with those of the opposite coast of Ireland
might prove interesting. Having been engaged for some years
in collecting materials for a work on the Vertebrates of North
Wales, I had ample details regarding Merioneth, Carnarvon, and
Anglesey, whilst Irish records might be compiled from the ‘ Birds
of Ireland.’
A glance at the map showed that the Irish counties opposite
our Welsh district were Dublin, Wicklow, and part of Wexford;
but as the isothermal lines in Ireland are further north than in
Wales, it seemed that the comparison would be fairer if Wexford
were omitted, although by so doing we should eliminate the
district most favoured by migrants on arrival in Ireland.
This paper then deals, on the one hand, with the counties of
Merioneth, Carnarvon, and Anglesey (=W.), and on the other
with those of Wicklow and Dublin (=I.). It is confined to a
brief statement of facts, and does not attempt to account for the
many surprising differences in the respective avifaunas. As
regards the statements themselves, the Welsh are derived from
my own note-books, and are the outcome of notes contributed
by nearly one hundred observers, to whom I render my sincere
thanks. The Irish are abstracted from the ‘ Birds of Ireland,’
and have been kindly revised by Mr. R. J. Ussher. It is fitting
that acknowledgment should be made of the valuable services
rendered to Irish ornithology by Mr. R. M. Barrington, who, by
long-continued observations conducted at his own expense at all
the principal Irish lighthouses, has amassed and reduced to order
BIRDS OF N.W. WALES AND IRELAND. 177
an enormous amount of detail on the migration of birds, besides
adding several very rare species to the fauna. It is chiefly
owing to him that the Pied Flycatcher finds a place in the Irish
list, while the Lesser Whitethroat and several other birds have
thus been added to it.
As it would take too much space to deal with every species,
T omit all those which are very rare, as well as those which are
equally common in both districts. In this way the whole of the
Thrushes may be disposed of as being common in both, though,
curiously enough, the Mistle- Thrush only colonized Ireland during
the last century.
WuincHat.—W. Fairly common, but somewhat local. I.
Much less numerous; a few breed in both counties.
RepDstart.—W. Common in the wooded districts. I. Very
scarce and local; a very few breed in Wicklow.
Buackx Repstart.—W. Recorded three times only. I. Pro-
bably visits south and east coasts annually on migration.
Lesser WuiterHroat.—W. Local. Occurs in the eastern
parts of Merioneth and Carnarvon, but apparently not on the
west coast. I. Almost unknown; has occurred twice on migra-
tion, in Donegal and Kerry.
Buackcap.—W. Common and generally distributed in all
suitable districts.* I. Rare generally, but occurs in parts of
Wicklow and Dublin, and is increasing.
GARDEN WARBLER.—W. Generally less numerous than the
Blackcap, and more local, but occurs in most wooded districts,
and is plentiful in some. I. Very local, and has not been known
to breed in Wicklow or Dublin.
Woop Warsier.—W. Exceedingly numerous in the wooded
parts of Western Wales. I. Very rare and local; a regular but
very scarce summer visitant to Wicklow.
Reep WarBier.—W. Very local in district, but has been
identified in several places in Carnarvonshire, whilst the nest
has been found three times. I. No reliable evidence of its
occurrence in Ireland.
* Anglesey is singularly devoid of woods, so that this and other wood-
land species are comparatively few. Still I have met with the Blackcap
there, and several other Warblers—the Sedge-Warbler and Whitethroat—
abound.
Zool, 4th ser. vol. VII., May, 1903. P
178 THE ZOOLOGIST.
Marsu Tit.— W. Somewhat unequal in distribution, but
common in many districts; rare on west coast. I. No authentic
record during last fifty years, nor is there any Irish specimen in
existence.
NutHarcu.— W. Very common in Montgomeryshire, but
rare elsewhere, and almost unknown on the west coast. I. Un-
known.
WuitE Waerait.—W. A regular spring migrant, passing up
the west coast, but seldom remaining to breed. I. Migrant up the
west coast of Ireland; neither known to visit Wicklow nor Dublin.
YELLow WaatTart.—W. Not uncommon as a summer visitant,
breeding in the east of Carnarvon and Merioneth, but on the
west coast known chiefly as a passing migrant. I. Extremely
local; nest found once near Dublin.
TREE-Pir1t.—W. In spite of repeated assertions to the con-
trary, the Tree-Pipit is quite a common bird in all the wooded
parts of North Wales, and I have also met with it on open land
where there were no’ trees, and even seen a dead one near the top
of Snowdon. I. No sufficient evidence from any part of Ireland.
Prep FLycaTcHER.—W. Surprisingly numerous in Carnarvon
and Merioneth, breeding in all suitable woods. I. Never known
to breed; has occurred seven or eight times at certain light-
houses on the autumn migration; and once in April, in Co. Sligo.
RED-BACKED SHRIKE.—W. Generally distributed, though not
numerous. I. Only once obtained in Ireland—in Co. Down.
Hawrincu.—W. Slowly spreading westward, but as yet rare
in Merioneth; unknown on the west coast, in Anglesey, or Car-
narvon except near Llandudno. I. Known as a scarce winter
visitor, but believed to have nested recently in Co. Dublin.
Siskin.—W. A winter visitor of uncertain occurrence, but
said to have nested once in Carnarvonshire. I. Much com-
moner in Ireland; resident, and breeds in both counties in fair
numbers.
Twitt.—W. Appears occasionally in flocks between autumn
and spring, but seldom if ever breeds. I. Common resident,
breeding in both counties.
TREE-SparRow.—W. Occurs in scattered localities in Angle-
sey and Carnarvon, but has not been identified in Merioneth.
I. Almost unknown except near Dublin, where there is an in-
creasing colony established some fifty years ago,
BIRDS OF N.W. WALES AND IRELAND. 179
Crosspitt.—W. An irregular winter visitor, said to have
nested once in Carnarvonshire. I. Much more common and
resident ; believed to nest in both counties.
Creat Buntine.—W. Occurs in many scattered Wealitiek! and
is resident. JI. Unknown, except by report of one seen.
STaRLING.—W. Very numerous, resident, and increasing.
Migrational movements on a large scale occur on the west coast
between autumn and spring. I. Numerous and increasing, but
only established as a breeding species within comparatively
recent years. Its numbers are greatly swelled in winter by im-
migrants.
Carrion Crow.—W. Extremely numerous in the mountainous
districts, especially in Merioneth, where it is to a great extent
gregarious. I. Almost unknown in Ireland; a very few may
survive on the coasts of Cork and Mayo.
HoopEep Crow.—W. A rare casual winter visitor, and par-
ticularly scarce on the west coast. I. The Crow of Ireland,
common and resident, breeding in both counties.
Jay.—W. Generally distributed and common in wooded dis-
tricts unless its numbers are artificially reduced. I. Very local ;
breeds in increasing numbers in West Wexford, but rare in
Wicklow and Dublin. Its range-is almost confined to certain
river basins. Outside this area it is practically unknown.
Cuoueu.—W. Formerly common, and used to breed all along
the coast, but is decreasing rapidly. Most of its old haunts are
deserted, so that it is now almost confined to certain parts
where the coast is precipitous. It bred in Merioneth and
Anglesey up to quite recent years, and there are possibly still a
very few pairs on those coasts. I. Used to breed on the coasts
of Wexford and Dublin, but has ceased to do so. It is still
common, however, in many other parts of Ireland.
Great SpotTteD Wooppecker.— W. Fairly common and
generally distributed in wooded districts. I. An accidental
straggler only, recorded twice in Wicklow and twice in Dublin.
Lesser SpottED WoopPEcKER.—W. Rather rare and local.
Occurs in Kast Merioneth, but not on the west coast. I. Two
recorded in Wicklow many years-ago, none since. No specimen
exists.
Green Wooprrecker.—W. Occurs throughout the district ;
P2
180 THE Z4OOLOGIST. -
more numerous in the eastern than the western part. I. Not
recorded in eithet of the two counties; only three instances in
Ireland.
Tawny Owit.—W. This is the commonest and most generally
distributed of the Owls in Wales, and numerous in the west. I,
Unknown, a bird shot in Co. Down, Nov. 19th, 1900, having
proved to be introduced.
Common Buzzarp.—W. Resident and breeds in fair numbers
in the wilder parts of Merioneth and Carnarvon, nesting both on
cliff-ledges and in trees. I. Now only a casual visitor, though it
bred in the north up to twenty years ago.
RovuGH-LEGGED BuzzaARpD.—W. Rather rare winter visitant,
chiefly to Hast Merioneth. I. Much rarer; only recorded once
in the two counties.
Stocx-Dove.—W. Common and generally distributed; par-
ticularly affects the coast, and breeds both in cliffs and burrows
in sandhills. I. Increasing, especially in Wicklow, but was un-
known in Ireland prior to 1875.
TurtLe-Dove.—W. Not uncommon as a summer visitant in
the eastern part of North Wales, and is increasing aud extending
its range westwards. On the west coast it is just establishing
itself, though as yet very rare. I. Occurs irregularly on spring
and autumn migrations, but there is no satisfactory evidence of
its breeding.
Buack GRousE.—W. Seems to have a precarious footing in
Wales, though it keeps turning up in unexpected places. At-
tempts to introduce it in fresh localities almost always fail. I.
Unknown except where introduced; soon dies out.
DotrEREL.—W. Rare, but occurs on some of the western
mountains during the spring migration. I. Very rare; not re-
corded in either county.
Woopcock.—W. Occurs in considerable numbers, but rarely
nests. I. More plentiful; nests in both counties.
Rurr.—W. Only recorded three or four times. I. Recorded
thirteen times in the two counties.
Common GuLu.—W. Fairly plentiful from autumn to spring,
but never stays to breed. I. Does not nest in Wicklow or
Dublin, but has several breeding stations in the north and west,
as well as one on an island off Kerry—its southernmost breeding
limit in Europe.
BIRDS OF N.W. WALES AND IRELAND. 181
Storm-PetReL.—W. Occurs in small numbers on the west
coast during rough weather, generally in autumn. I. More
common in Ireland; breeds in the west, but not in our two
counties.
Buack GUILLEMoT.—W. Said to have bred on the Orme’s
Head a century ago, but never does so now, and is indeed but a
rare straggler nowadays to North Wales. I. Breeds in small
numbers on the Dublin coast, less numerously in Wicklow. It
is more often met with in the north and west.
It is impossible to read the foregoing without wondering what
can be the causes which have produced such wide discrepancies
in the faunas of two districts so near together, and so similar in
climatic conditions. In the case of a sedentary species such as
one of the Woodpeckers we can understand fifty miles of sea
acting as a barrier; but if we take the case of a regular migrant
such as the Tree-Pipit, it seems passing strange that no in-
dividual of the species—so common on the one side of the
Channel—should ever find its way across the water to the
Kmerald Isle. Here is, indeed, ample scope for study and
reflection.
182 THE ZOOLOGIST.
THE MOLLUSCA OF THE GREAT YARMOUTH
DISTRICT.
By A. PATTERSON.
Unt very recent years the Mollusca of the Yarmouth Dis-
trict, like the invertebrates in general, have received very little
attention at the hands of local naturalists. Mr. J. B. Beckett
(now of Lynn) in 1889 drew up what was the first authentic list,
in which nearly eighty species are enumerated, covering his
researches for the previous two or three years among the marine
and other animals of this order. I myself have not so fully
studied the species, and have in consequence entered largely
into the “‘ findings” of Mr. Beckett, and have also had access to
the lists of one or two other county naturalists.
The Mollusca, especially the marine species, are not ad-
vantageously studied without some trouble on the part of the
investigator, so few comparatively being found on our flat sandy
shore, and then but mostly as broken fragments of shells; and
he must needs go afloat with dredge and proper apparatus to
secure the various species found frequenting the roadstead. I
have persuaded shrimpers to help a little in this matter, but, as
in the case of crustaceans, they either do not trouble, or have
not time to preserve ‘‘finds,” or even should anything more than
usually attract their attention it is laid aside and afterwards for-
gotten, or more often the remark is passed, ‘‘ I chucked it away,
seein’ as you didn’t come round for it.”
I have to thank Mr. F. W. Harmer, F.G.S., for a ticked list
of species found by himself and his son, Dr. S. F. Harmer, of
Cambridge, during a day or two’s dredging in the neighbourhood
of Yarmouth and Lowestoft, when they met with nearly forty
species.
The Cephalopods are uncertain visitors, except in the case of
the Little Squid (Sepolia Rondeletii), which is most abundant
here in the summer months.
MOLLUSCA OF GREAT YARMOUTH. 183
The Fresh-water Mollusca, of course, and those peculiar to
the marshy district, are less difficult of study, and if more
systematically worked “itis probable,” say the Messrs. Paget in
their ‘ Sketch of the Natural History of Great Yarmouth,’ ‘that
novelties would be met with in our salt marsh-ditches, in many
of which the weeds are covered with a variety of shells, which
could scarcely fail to be productive of interest.”
The list below will, for the purpose of those who may here-
after more diligently pursue the subject, be of some use, in-
asmuch as it will form a basis on which to continue investigation
and observation. It must be understood that the area worked
has been confined exclusively to the immediate neighbourhood
of Great Yarmouth.
As far as possible I have added the local status of the various
species, which the following abbreviations will make sufficiently
plain :—C., common; A., accidental; O., occasional; N. C., not
common; F., frequent; B., J. B. Beckett; H., F. W. Harmer.
Marine BIvatves.
Ostrea edulis, Linn. Oyster.—O. During the palmier days of
the local trawl fishery many ‘trunks ”’ full of very large coarse-shelled
Oysters were brought to the fish-wharf, the shells being rough and
distorted, and exceedingly thick, in many cases perforated with
hundreds of worm-borings, and covered with Actinia, Serpula, and
Zoophytes. This Oyster is a coarse rank-tasting morsel, and known
vulgarly as the ‘‘Smack-Oyster,” in distinguishing it from the
smaller, better-flavoured, cultivated molluse—the ‘real native,’ and
other brands. On occasion I have known anchors brought to the
surface covered with Oysters of all ages and sizes. Our roadstead,
however, with its strong tides and ‘‘live’’ sand, is not conducive to
the well-being of spat or the juvenile Oyster. Many years ago a
bed was discovered between Yarmouth and Lowestoft, but was soon
worked completely out.
Pecten varius, Linn. Pecten.—N.C. ‘‘A few specimens north
of Britannia Pier’’ (B). Single valves of this and P. opercularis are
occasionally washed up on the beach, and the shrimpers take small
examples.
P, opercularis, Linn.—O. ‘‘Common near Lowestoft” (B.).
Mytilus edulis, Linn. Mussel.—C. The Yare and the channel
on Breydon are in places literally ‘‘ paved”’ with this species, dredging
a)
184 THE ZOOLOGIST.
t
* for which formerly constituted a remunerative occupation to many
men in the winter months, among the shrimpers and certain ‘‘ Brey-
doners,”’ but, owing to the representations of several local doctors and
the Medical Officer of Health, the practice was discontinued. It was
alleged that certain cases of poisoning and numerous typhoid outbreaks
were traced to the eating of river-taken Mussels. It can hardly be
expected, with the abominable pollution of the local waters by sewage,
this mollusc could remain untainted. Swarms of small Mussels are
attached to the pier-piles at Gorleston, and any vessel long afloat in
the harbour becomes swarmed with Mussels and Acorn barnacles
(Balanus balanoides). A few bags of Mussels are sometimes sent
away for bait, and latterly a quantity have been sent away to the
Blakeney district, where the water is sufficiently pure for their culture.
Modiola modiolus, Linn. Horse Mussel.—C. ‘+ Common in drift-
sand, and on seaweed”’ (B.). Large examples are not often found,
although after strong northerly gales the roots of the oar-weed (Lami-
naria digitata) are sometimes seen with one valve attached. I have
received small examples from the shrimpers. After a rough series of
winds pecks of empty shells were, in company with hundreds of Star-
fish ( Uraster rubens), thrown up on the beach early in April, 1902.
Nucula nucleus, Linn.—F. Several have been brought me by the
local shrimpers.
N. nitida, Sowerby.—Found by Messrs. Harmer. Very common
at Lowestoft.
Montacuta bidentata, Mont.—‘‘ In drift” (B.).
Loripes lacteus, Linn.—R. ‘‘ One specimen, Gorleston ” (B.).
Cardium exiqguum, Gmel.—(H.).
C. edule, Linn. Common Cockle. — C. Numbers are found on
Breydon flats, of small size, about six or seven inches below the
surface, a few occasionally being found at the top under the Potamo-
geton. It seldom grows larger than a filbert-nut, and is never gathered
by the boys who in summer go ‘‘ winkling.’’ The Curlews and diving
Ducks that frequent Breydon in severe weather undoubtedly do collect
stray specimens. Some years ago, by accident, a very plentiful “‘ lay”
of Cockles was found in a sandy stretch by the river-side off Gorleston,
which, upon discovery, was allowed no rest until the colony was entirely
extirpated.
Tapes pullastra, Wood.—(H.).
Tellina balthica, Linn. —C. ‘“ After a gale the empty valves are
plentiful on the beach’’ (B.). The shells found are usually: quite
polished by the action of the sea. A few sometimes seen containing
the animal. This species is met with on Breydon.
MOLLUSCA OF GREAT YARMOUTH. . 185
T. fabula, Gron.—(H.). Te ats alt
Donaa vittatus, Da Costa. —(H.). I have received a few from the
shrimpers.
Mactra stultorum, Linn. Radiated Trough Shell.—C. In Decem- .
ber, 1899, after a strong wind and a scouring tide, bushels of this
Species were washed up on Gorleston beach. Undoubtedly this
molluse offers great attractions for the flocks of Scoters which occa-
sionally frequent this coast all the winter. I have had examples from
the shrimp-nets, and in the winter of 1901 found some large valves
near Gorleston Pier.
M. solida, Linn., var. elliptica.—(H.).
Scrobicularia nitida, Mull.—F.C. Harbour mouth.
S. alba, Wood.—‘‘ Few, harbour mouth” (B.).
S. piperata, Bellon. —C. Abundant on Breydon. The empty
valves, protruding from the mud in all directions, give the flats in
certain lights a very remarkable appearance. Living examples are
found a few inches below the surface.
Solen siliqua, Linn.—O. After gales a few empty valves are thrown
up on Caister beach. Some years ago several hundreds were cast up
alive; these drew together a great congregation of Gulls of various
species, delighted to find so abundant and palatable a supply of food.
Quite a sprinkling on beach, April, 1902.
Corbula gibba, Olivi.—(H.).
Mya arenaria, Linn. ‘‘Clam.’’—C. Abundant on Breydon, but
is never eaten, nor even used locally as bait. Mr. Southwell tells me
it ‘‘is both eaten and used for bait by the Lynn people.”
M. truncata, Linn. —‘‘ Young only found. In drift” (B.). I met
with a fine example, April 8th, 1902.
Saxicava rugosa, Linn.—O. (B.).
S. var. arctica, Linn.—(H.).
Pholas dactylus, Linn.—O. ‘In pieces of chalk” (B.). I have
occasionally found this species in lumps of chalk that undoubtedly were
originally used as ballast in vessels probably wrecked.
P. candida, Linn. — ‘‘ Few washed up on Gorleston beach ”’
(B2),) (Ete).
Teredo navalis, Linn. Ship-worm.—C. Was formerly exceed-
ingly destructive to the Gorleston piles, and to those of the piers.
The old laborious process of covering the lower parts of piling with
flat-headed nails has been superseded by saturation of the timbers
with creosote.
186 THE ZOOLOGIST.
Marine UNIvALVES.
Chiton cinereus, Linn.—‘‘ Scarce, harbour mouth ”’ (B.).
Patella vulgata, Linn.—C. ‘‘ Gorleston Breakwater” (B.).
Helcion pellucidum, Linn.—‘ In drift” (B.).
Tectura virginea, Mull.—R. ‘‘In drift” (B.).
Trochus cinerarius, Linn. Ash-coloured Topshell.—F. I have
received examples from the shrimp-nets.
T. zizyphinus, Linn.—I have had examples taken in shrimp-nets.
Lacuna divaricata, Fabr.—‘‘ Occasionally in drift ’’ (B.).
L. pallidula, Da Costa.— Few occasionally in drift”’ (B.).
L. var. gracilior.—* One specimen, Yarmouth”’ (A. Mayfield).
Littorina obtusata, Linn.—‘‘ Harbour mouth” (H.), (B.).
L. rudis, Maton.—R. Have found this on Breydon, and had an
example or two from the shrimpers.
L. littorea, Linn. Common Winkle.—C. Very fine examples are
abundant on Breydon, on the stretches of Potamogeton. All through
summer boys, and men occasionally, gather these, and sell for
food. Myriads of the smaller shells, with Hydrobia and others, are
gathered by the action of the tides and eddies into angles in the walls,
known locally as ‘“‘ shell corners,” and on a small scale form copies of
the crag formations.
L. neritoides, Linn.—C. ‘‘ Common on Breydon walls under the
bladder-wrack ” (B.).
Rissoa parva, Da Costa.—R. ‘“ Drift” (B.).
Rh. var. interrupta.x—C. ‘* Abundant in drift’ (B.).
R. inconspicua, Alder.—R. ‘* Rare on seaweed ”’ (B.).
Hydrobia ulve, Penn.—C. Every blade of Potamogeton is in
summer swarmed with this species. Various shore-birds and Palmi-
pedes feed in turn upon it.
H. ventrosa, Mont.—C. ‘‘Common on Breydon”’ (B.). ‘‘ Plenti-
ful in a ditch near Breydon ” (A.M.).
H., var. pellucida.—Breydon (A. M.).
Odostomia unidentata, Mont.—‘‘ Rare. Drift” (B.).
O. dolioliformis, Jefir.—‘‘ Rare. Drift’’ (B.).
Natica catena, Da Costa.—F.C. Several examples brought me by
shrimpers.
N. alderi, Forb.—O. Brought me by shrimpers.
Cerithium reticulatum, Da Costa. R. ‘‘ Harbour mouth” (B.).
Purpura lapillus, Linn.—F. Breydon. Several also brought me
by shrimpers.
P. lapillus var. imbricata.—(H.).
MOLLUSCA OF GREAT YARMOUTH. 187
Buccinum undatum, Linn. Whelk. —C. Frequently taken in
shrimp-nets. Also ‘‘on cod-lines” (B.).
Murex erinaceus, Linn.—F. Taken in shrimp-nets.
Fusus antiquus, Linn.—O. .
Nassa reticulata, Linn.—R. (B.).
N. nitida, Jefir.—* Few ”’ (B.).
N. incrassata, Strom.—(H.).
Pleurotoma rufa, Mont.—(H.).
P. turricula, Mont.—R.- (B.). - I have had one or two specimens
from a shrimp-boat. .
Utriculus obtusus, Mont.—‘* In drift” (B.).
CEPHALOPODA.
Sepia officinalis, Linn. Cuttlefish—oO. Occasionally flings itself
ashore; more often taken in the nets of the wolders and shrimpers.
Sometimes great numbers of the ‘‘ bones’’ washed ashore.
Octopus vulgaris, Lam.—R. Is occasionally taken. A fine ex-
ample entangled in a “‘drift’’ herring-net, October, 1901; another,
whose body was the size of a lemon, netted in 1902. This is rather
unusual with such deep-water species.
Loligo vulgaris, Lam. Squid.—O. Now and again found on the
beach. a.
Sepolia Rondeletti, Leach. Little Squid. — Numbers taken in the
shrimp-nets every year. i
FRESH-WATER BIVALVES.
Spherium corneum, Linn.—Common. Ditches on North Denes (B.).
Anodonta cygnea, Linn. Swan Mussel.—C. In Lound Reen,
Fritton, Filby, and other broads ; indeed, it is universally distributed.
Pisidium amnicum, Mill.—C. Abundant in dykes (B.).
F'RESH-WATER UNIVALVES.
Paludina vivipara, Linn.—F. I have met with this species on the
Bure, and in ditches at the west end of Caister.
Bythinia tentaculata, Linn. —O. ‘North Denes and Southtown
ditches ”’ (B.).
Planorbis vortex, Linn.—C. ‘‘ North Denes and Southtown” (B.).
P. complanatus, Linn. —C. ‘‘Common in dykes north of the
town ”’ (B.).
P. corneus, Linn.—C. Common in Southtown ditches.
Physa hypnorum, Linn.—R. Found ‘‘near ‘Spotted Cow’”’ (B.) ;
and Southtown marshes.
188 THE ZOOLOGIST.
Limnea peregra, Mill.—C.
L. stagnalis, Linn.—C.
L. palustris, Mill.—C.
Lanp SHELLS.
Arion ater, Linn.—C.
Limax agrestis, Linn.—C.
L. maximus, Linn.—C.
Succinea elegans, Risso.—O.
Zonites cellarius, Mull.— F. Myr. Beckett gives localities, Tower
Road and Burgh Castle.
Z. nitidulus, Drap.—‘ Caister and Bradwell ” (B.).
Helix aspersa, Mill. Common Snail.—Most abundant.
H. nemoralis, Linn., H. hortensis, Penn.—Abundant, but extremely
local in their habitats. After a heavy dew, or on a very damp morning
even after sunrise, the herbage on Breydon walls, within easy reach
of the salt spray, is found covered with varieties of Helix. The
furze on the North Denes used also to abound with the species, and
after a bush has been burnt many shells with fire-dried bodies inside
are exposed to view, sometimes with a dead Lizard or two amongst
them. Mr. Beckett enumerates seven varieties. Careful search would
undoubtedly add many more to the list.
Pupa umbilicata, Drap.— F. Mr. Beckett refers to examples
brought him from the neighbourhood of the River Bure.
Clausilia rugosa, Drap.—O.
189
NOTES AND QUERIES.
MAMMALIA.
Notes on the Stoat (Mustela erminea) and Weasel (M. vulgaris).—
Have any readers of ‘ The Zoologist’ noticed how much smaller white
or pied Stoats are than those of the normal colour? Nearly all those
I have examined in this state have been females. Mr. Lydekker, in
his work on the British Mammalia, gives the length of an adult Stoat
as—body 103 in., tail 64 in. Two specimens I have in my collection
in winter dress, taken in Surrey, measure, from tip of nose to end of
tail, 104 in. and 113in. I have also a fine male in summer dress,
which measures 20 in. On referring to the Weasel, Mr. Lydekker
says :—‘‘ Occasionally, though very rarely, the Weasel is stated to turn
white in winter, the tail then retaining its reddish hue, although be-
coming paler than ordinary.”’ I have the skin of a very small female
Weasel, measuring 74 in., taken in Russia, which is pure white
throughout.—Gorpon Daueuiess (Clairval, Collings Road, Guernsey).
AVES.
Note on the Sedge-Warbler.—It is well known that the Sedge-
Warbler (Acrocephalus phragmitis) is generally to be found in sedgy and
marshy localities in the immediate neighbourhood of water or stream.
I have, however, noted that about the time of this bird’s arrival in
spring, viz. about the first half of May, it may be met with not un-
usually in dry thickets or hedges, quite remote from any water or
marsh. I have observed it then in a garden shrubbery quite a mile
from the nearest spot which might be thought suitable to its habits.
Last year a pair nested in a small thick copse in this neighbourhood,
in a very dry spot, quite half a mile from the nearest water. This
copse is on a chalky upland, nearly two hundred feet higher than the
valley of the River Beane, where this bird is common. I had heard
the birds singing in the thickets for some weeks, and ultimately found
their nest in a dense growth of nettles surrounded by hazel and horn-
beam scrub. It contained three eggs, and I saw both the male and
female close to the nest.—Auuan Hutison (Watton, near Hertford).
190 THE ZOOLOGIST.
White Wagtail visiting Bartragh Island, Killala Bay. — It will be
interesting to ornithologists to hear that Motacilla alba has this season
visited the island of Bartragh on April 27th; two birds were seen, and
one specimen obtained by Captain Kirkwood, which I have forwarded
to my old and valued friend Mr. W. Oxenden Hammond, of St. Alban’s
Court, Kent. As this is the sixth year in succession in which the
visits have been recorded, since a regular look-out for the birds has
been kept up by Captain Kirkwood, I think there can be no doubt but
that a regular line of migration passes over Bartragh every spring,
probably of birds going to Iceland. The birds are generally observed
about the last week of April or the first week of May, and are
especially seen if north or north-easterly winds are blowing, when
the few birds visible are probably tired from flying against the winds,
and pause on their journey to rest for a day, or for a few hours only,
before resuming their northerly course. In my notes on the White
Wagtail (Zool. 1898), I gave dates of occurrence for that year, which I
need not recapitulate here, but give the dates for the five years since :—
1899. April 21st, one bird seen in stable-yard; May 4th, one seen
feeding about a manure-heap also in yard. 1900. April 23rd, one seen
in the garden, but Mr. A. C. Kirkwood, being very unwell at that time,
was unable to keep up his observations, which accounts for only the
one bird being noted. 1901. May 12th, two birds seen in yard; 20th,
one seen feeding on lawn outside parlour windows. 1902. May 8th, |
9th, 10th, and 11th, several birds were seen by Captain Kirkwood.
1903. April 27th, two birds seen and one obtained by Captain Kirk-
wood. As there are none of the common Pied Wagtails on the island,
M. alba at once attracts attention, and the light grey back and very
white cheeks and neck are so conspicuous that the attention of the
observer is at once directed to the bird.—Rosert Warren (Moyview,
Ballina).
The Status of the Goldfinch (Carduelis elegans) in Britain (cf. ante,
pp. 23, 70, 104, and 152).
South-east Dorset.—The Goldfinch has been increasing in the last
dozen years, and especially in the last four or five. The other daya
charm of sixteen was seen near Wareham.—Artuur Banxes (Leaden-
hall, The Close, Salisbury).
North Oxfordshire—It should be stated that our resident Gold-
finches, which are to be seen here in small charms at any time in the
winter, are of the small dusky race. In autumn we are visited by large
light-coloured Goldfinches, and it seems that some of these also come
in spring to breed.—O. V. Apuin (Bloxham, Oxon).
NOTES AND QUERIES. 191
Treland.—A common bird in Ireland. In Co. Wicklow it is very
numerous, and I used to find a dozen nests or more in the season
within a small area. In Wexford and Carlow I have found it equally
common. In the remoter regions of the west, except in the very moun-
tainous parts, it is numerous wherever there are trees or bushes large
enough to furnish nesting places ; indeed, in some of the wildest dis-
tricts, where trees are scarce, it is the commonest Finch.—AtLuan
Euison (Watton, near Hertford).
Goldfinch in Australia and Tasmania.—In reading Mr. J. A. Harvie-
Brown’s interesting notes on the general decrease of Goldfinches
(Carduelis elegans) throughout Great Britain, I thought it would be
interesting to know that these little birds are rapidly spreading in
other parts of the world; for instance, in many of the settled districts
of Tasmania, especially round Hobart, they are very numerous, and at
the present rate of increase will soon spread over that island. Then,
again, in the southern parts of Victoria, Australia, they are exceed-
ingly plentiful, especially in the gardens round about Melbourne and
Geelong, and in the latter city often nest in the elms and other trees
that are planted by the side of the street in the suburbs. Linnets are
also plentiful, especially in the thick scrub round the shores of Hob-
son’s Bay, by Melbourne. In the gardens round about Melbourne
Blackbirds and Thrushes are numerous and steadily increasing ; for
instance, in my own garden this season several nests of both birds
were found, and one pair of Thrushes reared two broods of three
young each from the same nest, which is not usually the case. The
Kuropean Starling can now be numbered by many thousands, and
large flocks roost in these Gardens every night; and we wish they did
not, as the mess made by about ten thousand birds is very considerable,
and when they are moulting the ground is littered with feathers under
their roosting-places. — D. tx Sovrr (Director, Zoological Gardens,
Melbourne).
Ravens nesting in Co. Antrim.—In ‘The Zoologist’ for 1902,
p. 194, I had the pleasure of recording the successful nidification of a
pair of Ravens (Corvus corax) in Co. Antrim, not many miles from
Belfast. Out of a nest of four young birds, I saw three on the wing
with the parent birds about the middle of May ; they then disappeared
from the district, and were not seen again that season. About the be-
ginning of March this year the parent birds returned, and immediately
commenced repairing the old nest, which was completed, evidently
to their satisfaction, about the 24th ; up to the 26th no eggs were laid,
and on the following day I was sorry to find a large piece of an over-
192 THE 4ZO00LOGIST.
hanging rock had fallen and swept the nest with it to the ground. The
poor birds, thus frustrated in their task by nature, are evidently not
going to risk the same site again, as I have not heard of them being
seen in the district since. Iwas fortunate in securing the accompany-
ing photo of the nest.— W. C. Wricur (Charlevoix, Marlborough
Park, Belfast).
[We have received the very interesting photograph of this nest.— Ep. |
Carrion-Crow (Corvus corone) in the Irish Channel—On March
31st, as I was crossing the Irish Channel from Dublin to Holyhead, I
noticed a Carrion-Crow (Corvus corone) following astern of the steamer.
When I first saw the bird we were still about twenty-five miles off the
South Stack headland. It appeared to fly away from a large flock of
clamorous Herring-Gulls which were greedily feeding on floating
refuse. Whether the Crow was attracted seaward from the Holyhead
district, where it is not uncommon, for the purpose of procuring food
or not, it is hard to say. It leisurely followed the boat, being strong
and buoyant on the wing; nor had it the appearance of a bird anxiously
heading for its destination, overcome by migratory fatigue. In the
distance I might have mistaken this bird for a Rook (Corvus trugilegus),
but when it came several times quite close to the deck where I was
standing, I could see by its characteristic flight and heavier build that
it was undoubtedly a true Corvus corone. I may mention, in passing,
that I am well acquainted with the flight of the Carrion-Crow, having
often seen this species on previous occasions in different parts of
England and Wales. When we came within three miles of Holyhead
the Crow (which up till then had followed the vessel somewhat closely)
left us, and steered for the land below the South Stack lighthouse. I
watched it until it ultimately disappeared among the shadows of the
cliffs. Although common in parts of Hngland and Wales, the Carrion-
Crow is extremely rare in Ireland, and it seems a curious fact that a
few wanderers have not occasionally ventured across the Channel.
This they may have done oftener than we think, as the Carrion-Crow
is easily overlooked and confounded with the Rook.— Cuaruzs J.
Parren (9, Summerfield, Broomhill, Sheffield).
_ Early Nesting of the Shag (Phalacrocorax graculus).—I was much
interested in Mr. Raeburn’s remarks on the nesting of the Shag (ante,
p. 158). My experience with this species in the breeding season is
very limited, but the following note will lend some support to the theory
that the Shag is an early breeder :—In 1898 I was staying in Sark from
March 22nd to 30th (cf. Zool. 1898, p. 274), and by the time I arrived
the Shags, which are rather numerous on the island, had built their
NOTES AND QUERIES. 193
nests, and some appeared to be sitting. | did not actually see any
eggs in the nests, as most of them were placed in situations difficult of
access, but I know that laying must have commenced, as on one
occasion I saw a Raven, which had a nest and young near at hand,
swoop down on a Shag’s nest and fly away with one of the large white
eggs in its bill.—F., L. Buarawayt (Monk’s Legs Terrace, Lincoln).
Nesting of the Ringed Plover (Asgialitis hiaticula)—The nidifi-
cation of this Plover is one of the most interesting adopted by British
birds, interesting not only in itself, but in the light it throws upon the
evolution or rather development in nest building of birds in general.
In this neighbourhood the Ringed Plover builds at least three styles or
classes of nests : —
Class 1.— What might be called primitive nests, viz. the eggs laid in
a very slight depression, without any attempt to line the cavity. This
occurs on smooth gravel banks, also on the rough shingle of the sea-
shore.
Class 2.—The eggs laid in fields, the cavity of the nest lined with
fragments of broken shells or small pebbles, sometimes both. In this
case the nest was situated in a field of sprouting wheat quite five
hundred yards from the seashore.
Class 3. —Is the most interesting. Constructed also in fields,
where the eggs are laid on small pebbles, with a few twigs placed on
the latter. There are also some twigs scattered about in the im-
mediate neighbourhood of the nest.
This to my mind suggests the commencement of building with
vegetable material, and to be only a few stages removed from the
built nest described and figured (Zool. 1902, p. 28). In my experience
the eggs usually lie with their pointed ends turned inward during the
whole process of incubation, but there are exceptions to this rule,
where one, two, or sometimes even three, point sideway. When a
Ringed Plover is surprised on her eggs, she almost invariably runs
some distance from the nest before taking flight. This run is com-
paratively short on the seashore, but when sitting in a field she runs
further; sometimes two hundred yards at least, before flymg. My
experience coincides with Mr. Gurney’s that the young are not hatched
simultaneously.—J. H. H. Kuuso (Southsea, Hants).
[Dr. Kelso has forwarded us some excellent photographs of these
nests, which we regret we have not space to reproduce.—Eb. |
Scolopax rusticula breeding in Kent.—It may interest some of the
readers of ‘ The Zoologist ’ to know that in the second week of last
4ool, 4th ser. vol. VII., May, 1903. Q
194 THE ZO00LOGIST.
month (April) a Woodcock’s nest was found in a wood in the neigh-
bourhood of Orlestone, Kent. It had four eggs, which had to be taken,
as the wood was being cut; they were all fresh and easily blown.
Another nest was found with five eggs, which have been since hatched,
and the young birds gone off. One of my keepers informed me that
there was still another pair of Woodcocks about, and he supposed they
must have a nest. We shot thirty-five Woodcocks last season, and left
several in the hope that they would stay and breed. When shall we
get a History of the Birds of Kent?—R. J. Bausron (Springfield,
Maidstone).
Variation in the Guillemot.—Mr. Saxby, in his very interesting
“Ornithological Notes from Shetland,” speaks of being puzzled by the
black plumage of a Common Guillemot obtained last January, and
that the Rev. Julian G. Tuck, to whom he sent the specimen, thinks
it may be a hybrid between the Common and Brimnich’s. I think
they are both mistaken as to its being a hybrid, for I believe that the
dense black-coloured plumage is the normal coloured winter plumage
of the Common Guillemot. The first winter specimens of the Common
Guillemot that I obtained in the month of December, for several years,
also puzzled me, for, never before having seen one in that coloured
plumage, I thought I had got a Briinnich’s until I observed the shighter
bill. Since then all the specimens that have come under my notice in
winter invariably exhibit this black plumage, quite as deep and pure
a black as that of a Razorbill or Briinnich’s. I met with several
specimens this winter thrown up dead on the sands of Enniscrone, and
all were pure black-coloured, none showing the least trace of the sooty
brown of summer.—Rosert WarreEN (Moyview, Ballina).
Birds killed by Ticks.—In reference to some previous notes under
this heading (ante, pp. 108 and 155), I may say that unfledged nestling
birds seem not unfrequently to suffer from the attacks of midges. I
have noticed this especially in the case of young Greenfinches, which
are often rather late in the summer in their nests, in shrubberies and
gardens where midges are likely to be troublesome. I have seen these
small but bloodthirsty insects satisfying their hunger from the bare
bodies of the unfledged birds, and afterwards crawling about the nest
distended with blood and unable to fly away. Indeed, the death of
the nestlings has sometimes seemed to be attributable to no other
cause but this—Atian Exuison (Watton, near Hertford).
195
NOTICES OF NEW BOOKS.
The Birds of North and Middle America. By Rozpertr Ripeway.
Part II. Fam. Tanagride, Icteride, Coerebide, and
Mniotiltide. Washington: Government Printing Office.
In ‘ The Zoologist’ for 1902 (p. 154) we had the pleasure of
giving a short notice of the first volume of this extensive work.
The second volume has recently reached us, and exhibits the
Same erudition, analysis, and completeness in reference and
synonymy as its predecessor. But will a final word in nomen-
clature ever be accepted? Ornithologists are not alone to-day
in the peculiar position of knowing practically all about a species,
but with no certain rule as to its scientific name. We will take
the Rose-throated Tanager as an example. The ‘ Biologia Cen-
trali-Americana’ cannot be considered an ancient work; most
oi us thought its nomenclature had reached maturity, and in it
Salvin and Godman, in agreement with Mr. Ridgway in 1873,
called this bird Pyranga roseigularis. Now Mr. Ridgway entitles
it “‘ Piranga roseo-gularis roseo-gularis.”’ Do we really gain by
this mixture of archaism and modernness? We do not accuse
the author of inconsistency; he has chosen his rule, and he
faithfully follows it; his book is too important to be neglected ;
his authority too great to be ignored ; but what name is a con-
scientious curator of an ornithological gallery to adopt, or a
bewildered writer on general zoology to follow? Entomology is
in the same condition. Douglas Jerrold, once writing to Dickens
from Bath—or perhaps the names should be reversed, for we
have not a handy reference—described that valetudinarian stone-
built city as exhibiting a people who had risen from the dead, and
built their houses with their tombstones. This archaic process
in scientific nomenclature recalls that operation.
196 THE ZOO0LOGIST.
Variations in Animals and Plants. By H. M. Vernon, M.A.,
M.D. Kegan Paul, Trench, Trubner & Co., Ltd.
Tuis book constitutes vol. Ixxxviii. of the ‘‘ International
Scientific Series,” and is devoted to a question which goes to the
root of the most prevalent conception of evolution at the present
era, for, as Wallace has remarked, ‘‘ the foundation of the Dar-
winian theory is the variability of species.” This variability
has been hitherto recorded in a somewhat loose or impressible
manner by different naturalists, whose observations have formed
most of the bricks used in current theories and conclusions. The
investigation has recently been pursued, and principally by friendly
advocates, by an altogether different method, and we are now
beginning to understand the teachings of a mathematical biology.
This is likely to attain vast results, for, although few naturalists
care for, and most naturalists dislike, figures, we have recently
read in an American publication that, in the opinion of Dr.G. B.
Halsted, about one in two hundred persons in America possessed
some sort of mathematical genius, a mental condition probably
not confined to that country. The work done by what we pro-
pose to call mathematical biologists is the careful measurements,
weighings, &c., of long series of a single species, found in a
special environment and under special conditions; the study of
these by a mathematical process, and the results given in mathe-
matical formula, thus providing for evolutionists a valuable
material for biological statistics. Dr. Vernon has largely drawn
on these data, and has thus focused very much valuable material
in a well-arranged way in his discussion of the subject; in fact,
his volume is a storehouse of collected information of facts
obtained by workers who have followed this process. The
author, of course, has also views of his own, to which we-can
only refer the reader, and we will conclude with a quotation with
which many will agree:—“ In spite of all that has been written
to account for the almost universally present adaptation which
we see in animate nature, there is still a lingering doubt in the
minds of many men as to the entire adequacy of the explanations
hitherto offered.”
NOTICES OF NEW BOOKS. 197
Catalogue of the Collection of Palearctic Butterflies formed by the
late John Henry Leech, and presented to the Trustees of the
British Museum by his Mother, Mrs. Eliza Leech. By
Ricuarp SoutsH, F.E.S. Published by the Trustees of the
British Museum.
THE late John Henry Leech was a wealthy and enthusiastic
lepidopterist. It appears from the biographical notice which
prefaces this volume that, after some desultory collecting, he
settled down to a distinct faunistic work, which resulted in the
publication of a great book, ‘‘ Butterflies from China, Japan, and
Corea.” Had he lived, it is more than probable that the same
course would have been pursued with the moths. The material
which formed the basis of this work was not only the result of
his own personal expedition to the Eastern Palearctic Region,
but also included the collections of other expeditions promoted
and subsidized by himself. With a splendid example of scientific
patriotism his mother has presented the whole of his Lepidoptera
to our National Museum, where it is now being incorporated with
the largest collection in the world.
This catalogue has been compiled by his intimate associate,
Mr. Richard South, and details the sexes, aberrations, and
varieties of each species. It is therefore a publication to be
perused by all students of Palearctic Rhopalocera, as it affords
a clue to what may be studied in the entomological catacombs
of our great Museum. A good portrait of Mr. Leech is given at
the commencement of the volume.
198 | THE ZOOLOGIST.
EDITORIAL GLEANINGS.
Mr. W. L. Scuater is returning to Cape Town to resume his duties
as Director of the South African Museum. He will be heartily wel-
comed back, as the reform and energy he has expended in the cause of
South African zoology has not been unrecognized. In the course of a
few years he has guided and superintended the rearrangement of the
collection in the new museum building at Cape Town. A series of
volumes devoted to the fauna of South Africa has been commenced ;
four volumes have appeared, two of which are entirely and one largely
dependent on his pen. The ‘“‘ Annals of the South African Museum ”’
has also been founded, and two volumes completed. This is a worthy
record. The position of Director of the premier Museum of South
Africa is a responsible one, and is virtually at the head of zoological
science in South Africa. A great feature of our colonial communities
is their ever-increasing scientific independence, and this is becoming
more pronounced every year. No longer is the greater part of the
zoological work of South Africa published in London; the Museum at
Grahamstown, now under Dr. Schonland, also inaugurates its own
annals. The same thing is true as regards Zoological Gardens.
Those at Pretoria are best suited for Ethiopian animals, in both
climate and soil, and fewer South African rarities will probably reach
Regent's Park in future years. The work of our London societies is
likely to become of a more philosophical nature, while the real
faunistic work will become more and more to be found in colonial
publications.
Ir is quite a pleasurable surprise to find biology once more a
subject matter for the ‘ Quarterly Review,’ and in the January issue—
a number very far removed from a weak one—not the least important
contribution is devoted to the question of ‘‘ South American Animals
and their Origin,” and bears the signature of R. Lydekker. The dis-
cussion is confined to the mammalian fauna, and is conducted on both
zoological and paleontological principles, and clearly demonstrates the
peculiarity of the South American mammalian fauna as a whole, and
its divergence from that of any other part of the world. The theory
EDITORIAL GLEANINGS. 199
of its primitive isolation is attested by facts, and, to use the words of
the author, ‘‘during the deposition of the bone-bearing formation at
Santa Cruz, South America formed an isolated continent, perhaps
still partially connected by chains of islands with Australia or South
Africa, or both. Here flourished in undisturbed possession of the
country the ancestral Spider-Monkeys, Marmosets, Glyptodons, Arma-
dilloes, Ungulates, Rodents, and Selvas, some of which developed into
their gigantic successors of the pampas period, while others, like the
Astrapothere and Prototheres, died out without descendants. Subse-
quently the North and South American continents became connected,
and a mammalian invasion from the north, and some migration from
the south, is the almost certain story derived from zoological and
palzontological evidence.””’ Mr. Lydekker has given a. full review of
our latest information on the subject, and the pages are illustrated by
four plates.
We much regret the death of Prof. J. Victor Carus, which took place
at Leipsic, in the eightieth year of hisage. Apart from his eminence as
a zoologist, he was perhaps better known as the editor of the ‘ Zoolo-
gischer Anzeiger,’ a position he held from the commencement of that
journal in 1878. He always took a very friendly interest in ‘The
Zoologist,’ and it was in deference to his wish made a few years ago
that we have since endeavoured to give the scientific as well as the
popular names of animals referred to in our pages. Our contributors
seem sometimes to scarcely realize that they are read by many
nationalities, and that our British or popular names for animals can
scarcely be recognized by foreign zoologists.
THE announcement has been received from Tiflis of the death of
M. Gustav Radde, the well-known naturalist and director of the
Caucasian Museum and the public library of Tiflis. His biological
work was principally connected with the fauna and flora of the South-
western Caspian region ; he also published accounts of his travels on
the Russo-Persian frontier.
Tue ‘ Neue Freie Presse,’ Vienna, publishes an interesting article
on a recent addition to the Schénbrunner Menagerie. The pair of
Wild Oxen, which have arrived at the Schénbrunner Menagerie as a
present from the Russian Emperor, are to be seen now in the finest
200 THE ZOOLOGIST.
condition after recovery from the fatigues of the journey. They are a
male and female of the European Bison (Bison europeus), also known
as ‘* Wisent,’’ a near relative of the American Bison, but not, as is
occasionally stated, Aurochs. The Aurochs, or Ur, with the exception
of those preserved in a single Polish game-park, had already died out
in the seventeenth century. The Austrian Ambassador, Freiherr von
Herberstein (died 1566), had yet seen both Aurochs and Wisent living
side by side in Polish menageries, and in his work, ‘ Rerum Mosco-
viticarum Commentarii,’ has left us pictures of both species. Later
the name ‘‘ Aurochs’’ was applied to the Wisent of Lithuania. In the
latter half of the last century this mistake was corrected, and it was
made evident that the Aurochs and Wisent were quite distinct species
of Wild Oxon. A semi-wild descendant of the extinct Aurochs may
be the park cattle of the North of England, which have been carefully
preserved for six hundred years by the rich territorial families in the
enclosed forest parks of Charily, Chillingham, and Cadzon Forest.
The Wisent also is in process of extinction. It only remains in a wild
state, strictly protected by game-laws, in a vast State-farmed district,
covered with beech and pine, on the Bielaja and the Laba in the Caucasus.
In these high valleys it lives at an altitude of between four thousand
and eight thousand feet, and only comes lower down in the winter.
For many hundreds of years the Polish kings and wealthy voevodas
preserved them in large parks at Warsaw, Zamosk, and Ostrolenka,
all of which were broken up in the time of the wars. A single such
Wisent preserve still remains, in Russian Lithuania, in the woodlands
of Bialovitza. Here the Wisent lives in herds of about twenty-five
strong in a semi-wild state, carefuily guarded by foresters. There are
perhaps one thousand five hundred Bison, here and in the Caucasus,
that prolong their contemplative existence, and in spite of all pro-
tection steadily dwindle. At the commencement of the eighteenth
century the Wisent was still fairly numerous in the border forests
between Poland and Prussia. There it was attacked by a contagious
disorder, communicated through contact with tame cattle, which soon
put an end toits continuance. Only in the larger zoological gardens,
as in Berlin, do the Kuropean and American Bisons thrive satis-
factorily. Specially deserving of mention, however, is the Wisent
herd of Prince Pless in the Mezerzitzer Forest in Upper Silesia,
where some Wisents received from the Bialovitza Forest have already
increased to seventy head.— Westminster Gazette.
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The Birds of N.W. Wales and the opposite Counties of Ireland, 3
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_ Noves AND QUERIES:—
Mammatia.—Notes on the Stoat (Mustela ermimea) and Weasel (M. 4 78) by
Gordon Dalgliesh, 189.
Aves.—Note on the Sedge-Warbler, Allan Ellison, 189. White Wastail visiting
Bartragh Island, Killala Bay, Robert Warren, 190. The Status of the Gold-
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Shag (Phalacrocorax gracwlus), F. L. Blathwayt, 192. Nesting of the ~
Ringed Plover (Aigialitis hiaticula), J. H. H..Kelso, 193. Scolopax rusti- —
cula breeding in Kent, R. J. Balston, 193. Variation in the Guillemot,
Robert Warren, 194. Birds killed by Ticks, Allan oe te ad
Novices or New Books, 195-197. i
Epirori1art GuEeanines, 198-200 : |
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PEE A200 L0GIiIS 4)
No. 744.—June, 1903.
ADDITIONAL NOTES ON THE BIRDS OF LLEYN.
. | By O. V. Apuin, F.L.S.
As I was anxious to pay another visit to the small islands
called Ynys Gwylan fawr and Ynys Gwylan fach, and in fine
weather if possible, I arrived at Aberdaron on the 27th May,
1902. But for two whole days the wind, that curse of Lleyn,
blew so hard that it was impossible to get out in a boat, and the
Bardsey men who came across early in the morning of the 28th
were weatherbound. The third morning, however, was calm, and
we got off soon after 7 a.m. There is a small breeding colony
of Guillemots and Razorbills on the larger island, and some
Shags breed, as also on Trwyn y Penrhyn, off which the islands
lie. Puffins breed on both islands, as I suspected; the eggs
were fresh, but much discoloured on account of recent rain
making the birds’ feet muddy. I found the nest of the Great
Black-backed Gull in exactly the same spot where I found it
two years before. It contained two eggs. ‘There was no built-
up nest such as the Herring-Guli makes, but merely a depression
in the ground among the scurvy-grass, nine inches in diameter,
and four inches deep, with a few bits of scurvy-grass at the
bottom. At the side of the nest lay a casting, half as large again
as a golf-ball, composed apparently entirely of Puffins’ feathers !
The deep-toned husky ‘“ caow”’ of the Great Black-backed Gull
is a very impressive bird-sound, as also the angry “ gag gag gag.”
Another pair inhabiting a stack off the mainland had possibly
Zoot. th ser. vol. VII., June, 1908. R
202 THE ZOOLOGIST. —
been robbed of their eggs ; they had none thenext day. I found
on the smaller island a substantial Gulls’ nest, just like that of a
Herring Gull, built of grass, scurvy-grass, &c., containing two
very small oval eggs with streaky markings. I examined all the
Gulls I could see very carefully, but could not detect L. canus,
so I came to the conclusion that the eggs were abnormally small
Herring-Gulls’ eggs, and took them; but when I blew them I
found that they contained yolks of a deep rich golden yellow
(almost orange-yellow), whereas the yolk of Herring-Gulls’ eggs
is of a pale yellow. I have only taken the eggs of the Common
Gull some years ago in Norway, and I forget the colour of the
yolk, but I am told that it 1s dark and richly coloured. Theeggs
in question, however, have the shape and appearance of Herring-
Gulls’ eggs, and are not in the least like the usual type of Com-
mon Gulls’ eggs. Rock-Pipits were common on the islands.
Wishing to make the most of the fine weather, I left for
Abersoch in the afternoon, and on arriving there at once went
out to St. Tudwal’s Islands. It was lucky I did so, for the next
morning one could not have landed on them. I found a little
flock of eight immature T'urnstones on the rocks. There were
some grand old Cormorants on the larger island, but I cannot
make sure if this bird breeds on the cliff or not. Shags were
still on their nests, and there were some full-grown brown Shags
and light-bellied Cormorants about. All, except the old Shags
at the nests, flew out in a body, and settled on a low rocky islet.
The Razorbills and Guillemots had laid a good many eggs, which
they were loth to leave. A Herring-Gull carried off a bright
green Guillemot’s egg just as our boat came up. It settled with
its booty on some low rocks at the foot of the cliff, and, as the
boat was going fast, I was in time to frighten the Gull away, when
we got the egg ourselves. The appearance of the Gull carrying
off this huge bright green egg was most curious, and, strange as
it may seem, the Gullhad grasped the big end of the egg between
its mandibles. ‘The egg is now before me, slightly indented on
one side at its largest diameter.
All these islands are really very pretty at this time of the year,
The thrift (Armeria maritima) is flowering so thickly in places
as to produce sheets of pink, and the dark rocks are often varied
by great splashes of a close-growing light yellow lichen; rich
NOTES ON THE BIRDS OF LLEYN. 208
green grass and masses of bright green Cochlearia, and clumps
of white-flowered campion, all contrasting with the blue sky and
sparkling sea of a fine sunny morning, and enlivened by crowds
of birds, make up a most fascinating scene.
I devoted the two windy days to going round the cliffs and
over the“‘mountains”’ about Aberdaron, although the gusts were
sometimes so furious that it was impossible to stand up. The
eastern cliffs, though often nearly sheer, are comparatively low,
and, being sheltered partly by the land, are often luxuriantly
clothed at the top with gorse, bramble, &c., and even clothed
with ivy. Kestrels, Pigeons, and Crows nest along them, and
the Heron is believed to have bred in one spot; the Barn Owl
also occurs. But the great cliffs on the west have a beauty and
grandeur of their own; their long steep sides sweeping down to
the sea are partly grassy, lined with tiny sheep-paths, and partly
clothed with long heather. At the foot are shelves of grey rock
brightened with dashes of yellow lichen, and in spring gay with
pink thrift where they merge into the grassy cliff. The cliffs end
with a broken outwork of jagged rock, or sometimes form a
perpendicular or overhanging rock-face, with an occasional hollow
or cave inhabited by Shags. There is a small colony of Guille-
mots, Razorbills, and Shags in the steep cliff and cave at Porth
Felen, and another at Pen y Cil. Herring-Gulls are to be seen
where the jagged rock joins the green cliff, and doubtless breed
here and there all along the coast in small numbers, as also do
Oystercatchers. The upper and exposed parts of Mynydd Mawr
and Mynydd Annelog are barren and wind-swept, sparingly
clothed with short heather and wiry grass, but strewn with
weathered stones; and all around the naked rocks—the bare
bones of Lleyn—peep out. Bird-life is very scanty. An occa-
sional Meadow-Pipit or Wheatear, a pair of Kestrels, and Jack-
daws, of course in numbers, may be seen; but I watched a Raven
sitting on a stone half-way down the cliff, and caught sight of a
Merlin as it skimmed over the top.
This is an old breeding haunt of the Chough. There are six
eggs in the Wolley collection, taken, according to Mr. Wilmot’s
MS. catalogue in the Cambridge Museum, ‘“‘ on a mountain in
Aberdaron in Carnarvonshire called Mynydd yn Nyclog, opposite
to Bardsey Island,” in 1852, and another, probably from the same
: R2
204 THE ZOOLOGIST.
place, taken in 1846 (vide ‘ Ootheca Wolleyana, part 11. p. 472).
There is no mountain of this name at Aberdaron, and it does not
look like a Welsh name. Probably Mynydd Annelog was in-
tended. I doubt if there are more than a couple of pairs of
Choughs now remaining all along this piece of the mainland
coast. What becomes of the young birds, which are undoubtedly
reared, is somewhat of a mystery.
A pair of magnificent Great Black-backed Gulls looked ex-
ceedingly well on a green-topped stack at the foot of the great
cliffs looking out towards Bardsey, but there were no eggs on the
stack. In one or two places among these barren storm-swept
mountains a little deep cwm runs in from the sea, with a
trickling stream at the bottom. These green cwms are so rich
and lush that the contrast is striking. Deep in the good grass
which makes Lleyn’s early lambs famous, they stand in spring so
thick in places with primroses in full bloom that one literally
cannot walk without treading on them. The bracken-fronds are
then just uncurling, and exceptionally tall spikes of the early orchis
make beds of deep purple to delight a gardener’s eye. From the
top of Mynydd Annelog most of Western Lleyn is spread out
before you. Northward lies a huge chessboard of banked fields,
brightened up by golden gorse and white-walled grey-roofed farms,
with perhaps a few low trees to shelter them. Small as these
clumps are, they are sometimes sufficient for the Green Wood-
pecker (which I have seen close to Aberdaron), the Tree-Pipit, and
Willow-Wrens. Where the plantations are more extensive, as
about the beautiful old house Bodwrdda, with its adjacent stream
and tiny valley, there are numbers of Wood-Pigeons and Mistle-
Thrushes, Song-Thrushes (not common in the district), Chiff-
chafis, Greenfinches, Spotted Flycatchers, Sedge-Warblers, &c.
The Goldfinch, too, breeds. About the banked fields the Corn-
Bunting skirls, and the Yellow Bunting is a very common bird.
At the back of Mynydd Careg there is quite a little wood, har-
bouring the most westerly rookery; the Rooks, however, are very
little seen at Aberdaron. ‘The next rookery I know, going east,
is at Sarn. In the middle distance is the dark brown mound of
Mynydd Ystum (400 ft.), with Castell Odo, and beyond it the
high moorland of Rhos-hirwaen. To the right is the wall of
barren-topped hills stretching inland from Rhiw at the corner of
NOTES ON THE BIRDS OF LLEYN. 205
Hell’s Mouth. It is said that of a great pack of Red Grouse
which were driven from the Kast Carnarvonshire mountains in
severe weather some five years ago, and settled down on these
hills, a few remained to breed, and still do so.
T went to Nevin to examine the bird-life at the Bird Rock
(Careg y llain, the “‘ Rock of the Leap ”’). Itis a remarkably fine
bird-station ; a big nearly perpendicularly-faced flat-topped but-
tress of rock, grey and pinkish on its face, and green-sided,
standing conspicuously out from the graceful line of the coast.
This grey rock-face is splashed with yellow lichen, and varied
with patches of brilliant ivy, light green fern, and grassy ledges
with bluebells, campion, and thrift. A jutting elbow of bare
rock is. washed white, and lined with rows of Guillemots and
dotted with Razorbills. About the top and a little way down
Herring-Gulls breed. Then comes a cliff-face with ledges occu-
pied by a very large colony of Cormorants—scores of fine old
birds streaming out over the sea one day when a boy rattled
stones down from the top. MRazorbills also are dotted about this
front. Below again are crowds of Guillemots, and lowest of all
(except one row of Guillemots) a vast crowd—thousands perhaps
—of Kittiwakes, which come out like a snowstorm when they are
alarmed, while their cries of ‘‘ kitty-wayke”’ break forth at times
into a volume of sound. On the south side there is alow rounded
green-topped cliff, frequented by the Kittiwakes and more Guille-
mots and Razorbills; and beyond that another small cliff, on,
which are many Cormorants, and a few Razorbills, Guillemots,
and Kittiwakes. Offit are two stacks with a few Herring-Gulls
on the inner, among the masses of thrift; on the outer a lot of
Gulls and Cormorants were sitting about, but not nesting. In
the face of the great cliff there is a high cave or hollow, in and
out of which Shags were passing. TFifteen species of birds
inhabit the cliff, if we include the Rock-Pipits, the Wrens,
whose song resounded among the rocks, and small blue Pigeons,
five of which passed, unfortunately overhead, and did not give me
a sight of their backs. I have good evidence that at least twelve
of these (without counting the Pipit and the Wren) breed there,
among them the Barn-Owl. Along the coast between Nevin and
the Bird Rock are little green pastures, divided by banks and
grey stone walls, sloping down, to drop finally in a green broken
206 THE ZOOLOGIST.
cliff, often thickly starred with primroses; brightened here and
there with the gorse so characteristic of Lleyn. But the fields
are valuable and kept clear of it; they were in May strewn with
daisies and buttercups, and stood thick with grass in which Corn-
crakes were calling; for this is as warm and forward a bit of land
as any in North Wales, sheltered by the mountains from the only
cold wind which ever blows here (N.E.), and hardly knowing
frost. Nevin itself is blessed with a very mild soft climate.
Some strong robust plants of Primula japonica in full bloom (a
plant which likes a mild moist climate, and one I can never keep
long at home) were growing in perfection in the inn garden, and
would have excited the envy and admiration of any gardener.
Potatoes had already been dug in the third week in May. This
soft climate and broken gorsy ground is very favourable for the
Stonechat, of which I have seen seven pairs in a day’s walk, and
small birds generally. The most noticeable are the Corn and
Yellow Buntings, Blackbirds, and Whitethroats.
The song of the numerous Blackbirds is quite a feature of
the country about Nevin and other parts of Lleyn, as also in the
numbers of the birds one sees. The Song-Thrush, on the other
hand, is by no means very abundant. The Sedge- Warbler is very
common on the coast about Nevin, among any bit of cover not
absolutely dry. In the interior of Lleyn, on the road between
Nevin and Chwilog, there are some considerable woods, and the
country is generally richer and more luxuriant than it is nearer
the coasts. We find big hedgerows, willows, orchard-trees, and
some little hedgerow timber. I noticed the Tree-Pipit more
than once, and the Wood-Wren, Chiffchaff, Green Woodpecker,
Mistle-Thrush, and many of the ordinary woodland birds.
Beyond the Bird Rock comes a green gorsy bwlch, and then
the great dark mass of Yr EHifl, with Vortigern’s green valley
gouged out of it, comes down to a shallow sheltered bay and a
blue sea subject to squalls from the mountains. Out across a
bit of blue bay the coast of Anglesey, from the sands of New-
borough Warren to the rock of Holyhead, is marked by a line of
pale yellow sand dividing the dull grey of the land from the soft
blue sea. But the Terns which breed there do not, for some
reason, like the shores of Lleyn. Like all Lleyn mountains, the
peaks of Yr Eifl are barren, their tops being little more than a
NOTES ON THE BIRDS OF LLEYN. 207
waste of grey weathered rock. Lower down their sides are covered
with short heather and moss, or, in the sheltered parts of their
inland slopes, deep heather and dwarf gorse. They are not high
enough to be very wet, or to have the spongy moss bogs one
knows so well in Merioneth. Only two peaks are to be seen from
the top of the Rock, the highest and that whose supplementary
crag drops into the sea. ‘I'rer Ceiri lies out of sight behind the
biggest. I saw no Grouse on them this year, and could not find
the Twite. Ring-Ouzels were about, just below the upper masses
of rock. There were also a few Stonechats, Wheatears, and
Meadow-Pipits, and Wrens in the rocks. Peewits may be seen
lower down. But the Peregrine Falcon finds this bit of moor-
land worth hunting, for I have seen him come from it heavily
weighted with some booty or other.
I have been able to get some useful information about the
birds of Western Lleyn from two men, who, although they did
not know the English names of the birds, are keen and accurate
observers of the ways of the birds about them. One of them
was very quick in picking out those he knew from Mr. Howard
Saunders’s ‘ Manual,’ which I always find so useful in this way.
Mr. G. H. Caton Haigh has also given me some valuable informa-
tion, especially about the eastern end of the district, enabling me
to add considerably to my list; and I have also to thank Mr.
Forrest for some notes.
I have added the following species to my list of Lleyn birds,
besides some ordinary winter visitors omitted here, which will
be included in the notes I made during a visit paid to Lleyn last
winter :—
Repwine.—Sometimes strikes against the St. Tudwal’s lighthouse.
Buacxcar.—On the 24th May I heard at least three singing in the
Bodfean Woods, and saw one.. Mr. Coward and I have visited these
woods previously without being able to find the bird; and I should
have thought it possible that the Blackcap, which was unusually
abundant in its usual haunts in 1902, had chosen this year for pushing
its range further west into Lleyn had not Mr. Caton Haigh informed
me that he had found it fairly common in the woods and gardens at
Broom Hall (east of Pwllheli), and that he had also heard it at Bod-
fean. I think the Blackcap is very locally distributed in Lleyn, and
that it is probably (at present) only fairly common in certain years,
208 THE ZOOLOGIST.
Lone-taitep Tit.—I saw a pair apparently breeding near Bodfean
Church on the 24th May. Mr. Caton Haigh tells me it is common in
the plantations and gardens at Broom Hall, east of Pwllheli.
KinertsHer.—Mr. §. G. Cummings kindly tells me he saw a pair
at Edeyrn in August, 1901.
Barn-Own.—This bird was well described to me as haunting the
cliffs about Porth Mendwy and the Bird Rock, where it is said to breed.
An amusing description of it was given by one man, who began by
saying there was a bird with a face hke a cat.
Lone-EARED Owxi.—Mr. Caton Haigh tells me that he has seen a
good many in the fir-plantations and park at Broom Hall.
Snow-Buntinc.—Mr. Caton Haigh has only seen one in the district,
vtz. a bird in immature dress, which flew in at a window in Broom
Hall, and was kept alive for some time.
Quatt.—Mr. Caton Haigh has only once met with it in Lleyn, viz.
a single bird in a turnip-field at Broom Hall in September, 1900; but
Mr. C. Lloyd-Edwards, of Nanhoran, told him that it had often been
shot on his land.
Rocx-Dove. — The Welsh name given to me for this bird is
“ Yscythan ”’ (the Ring-Dove being ‘‘Colomen y coed’’). Well known
to one of my informants, who took eggs this year. I searched the
locality with him between Porth Mendwy and Pen y Cil, on the 28th
May. We saw some Pigeons flying out of the cliffs, but they all
had blue backs. My companion, however, insisted that there were
some with white on their backs; and presently I had a good view of
what were, as far as appearance went, a pair of genuine Rock-Doves.
T saw five small blue Pigeons at Bird Rock, but they flew directly over-
head, and I could see only their under parts.
Grey Prover.—Mr. Caton Haigh writes that it is often to be seen
on the shore at Afon Wen in winter.
SanDERLING.—I saw two on the shore east of Pwllheli on the 21st
May, 1902; they were immature birds in partial summer dress, with
white under parts.
Bar-TAILbED Gopwit.—Il saw two immature birds on the shore west
of Pwllheli on the 26th May, 1902.
Turnstonr.—One on the shore east of Pwllheli on the 21st May,
1902, and eight on St. Tudwal’s Island on the 29th,—all in immature
dress.
Woopcock.—Plentiful at Aberdaron and on Bardsey Island in very
severe winters. About the middle of March, 1903, Mr. Caton Haigh,
when fox-hunting, put up a good many at Lianbedrog and on Carn
Madryn, which were probably on migration.
NOTES ON THE BIRDS OF LLEYN. 209
Jack-Snipe.—‘ Myniar.” Occurs in winter about Aberdaron. One
seen in November, 1902.
GremnsHank.—Mr. Forrest mentions that Mr. Day told him that
this species is rather numerous on the flat coast west of the mouth of
the Dwyfawr, and that he had shot six at different times.
Knor.—The same gentleman, in severe weather early in 1895, saw
a very large flock of Knots on the same coast, and shot several birds.
- Srormy Prerret.— Known at Aberdaron as appearing at sea in
changeable weather. The searches I have made for breeding birds
have not at present been successful.
SHoveLter.—Mr. Caton Haigh tells me that an adult drake was shot
on a pool on Pen y chain in the winter of 1900-01. Mr. Forrest saw,
while they were in the hands of a birdstuffer, a duck and drake, which
he subsequently learned were killed close to Pwllheli in the second
week in December, 1902, where they had been met with previously.
Pintart.—Mr. Caton Haigh once saw a small flock of these Ducks ©
on the Afon Erch, but did not shoot one.
Przp WooppecKEeR.—1 repeatedly heard the loud rattle of this bird
in the Bodfean Woods on the 24th May, 1902, but could not get a
sight of the birds, as I did not like to go into the woods at that spot. I
have always expected to find this species in the Lleyn Woods, and
Mr. Caton Haigh thinks he has seen it in the district, and that it has
bred in the woods at Broom Hall; Mr. Lloyd-Edwards, of Nanhoran,
told him that it was rare there.
Waite Waertait.—On the 18th April, 1898, Mr. Caton Haigh saw
a party of about seven or eight on the seashore at Afon Wen. I have
seen if on the Merioneth shore in May.
Warer Rait.—There is a stuffed Water Rail in a public-house near
Pwllheli; killed at least thirty years ago, and doubtless a local speci-
men. Mr. Caton Haigh has seen this species in the marsh between
Pen y chain and Pwllheli, but thinks that it is rather scarce.
Birrern.—Mr. Caton Haigh tells me that one was picked up in a
disabled condition in the marsh not far from Abersoch Station, and is
preserved at Broom Hall; and that two are said to have been seen by
the lake at Glasfryn, he thinks, in 1900.
Wuoorrer.—He also tells me that the Whooper has visited the
pools at Afon Wen several times.
Bran-Goosz.—Also that he saw a Bean-Goose there on the 20th
October, 1898, and that there is a local specimen preserved at Broom
Hall.
210 THE ZOOLOGIST.
I have made the following further notes on species mentioned
in my former papers :—
Diprer.—I saw a Dipper in the Afon Rhyd-Hir, near Hendre pen
prys, on the 26th May. On the coast near Aberdaron there is a little
narrow cwm where the Afon Saint comes down, emerging from a
tunnel, partly natural, into a narrow chasm with a tall ivy-clad rock-
face on one side. It is a very pretty place with luxuriant vegetation,
the rocks being decked with clumps of hart’s-tongue fern and gigantic
plants of the wall-pennywort (Cotyledon umbilicus) a foot or eighteen
inches high. The sides of the cwm spread out into broken ground
lower down, overgrown in parts with gorse and bramble bushes, a
favourite haunt of the Red-backed Shrike. The Dipper has often
nested inside the little tunnel; also in Aberdaron Mill, and this
season at a spot some way up the Afon Fawr. Mr. Cummings tells
me he saw Dippers on the Afon Geirch, near Edeyrn, in August, 1901 ;
and Mr. Caton Haigh says it is common on the Erch, and that he has
seen it in the Bod-y-groes river, and once in a little ditch near Coed
Rhos fawr. Nevertheless the Dipper cannot be called a common bird
in Lleyn, and you can go about the country a good deal without
seeing one, a thing you can hardly do in some parts of North Wales.
Grey Waaerait.—This also bred in the chasm at Porth Saint, on
shelves in the rock, for several years; but this season the birds had
probably changed their nesting-site for some spot in the ivy-clad cliff.
I saw a full-fledged young one there.
RED-BACKED SHRIKE.—I saw a male perched on the bramble bush
in the upper part of the ewm in which I found the nest the year before ;
also a pair about the foot of Mynydd Mawr, and another pair not far
off near the most westerly farm, close to Gwddel Moch, which had a
nest ready for eggs in some bramble on the top of a bank dividing two
little fields. This bit of country has a warm aspect, being sheltered
by Mynydd Mawr, and the broken ground is well clothed with gorse
and brambles. I also saw a female Shrike at Nevin. Mr. Cummings
has seen a pair with young at Aber Geirch, near Hideyrn, on the Ist
August, 1901.
GotpcrEest.—Seen at Bodfean and Llanbedrog. It has been known
to strike against the lighthouse on St. Tudwal’s.
Warncuat.—Quite uncommon. In 1902 I only saw two, both near
Nevin. Mr. Cummings saw one at Abersoch in June, 1901.
Buuirinco.—Not common. A pair at Bodfean.
Coat-Tit.—One at Bodfean.
TREE-CREEPER.—Bodfean.
NOTES ON THE BIRDS OF LLEYN. 211
Rine-OuzeLt.—Seen again on Yr Hifl, just below the mass of loose
rock of which the top of the largest peak is formed. The wings and
legs of two which struck St. Tudwal’s Lighthouse on Sept. 14th, 1901,
were sent to me.
Heper-Sparrow.—l find this is quite common.
Woop- Wren.—In addition to localities mentioned in former papers
I noticed it in Coed Rhos fawr between Nevin and Chwilog.
Lesser Reppott.—Mr. Cummings tells me he saw one or two near
Abersoch in June, 1901; this is the first record I have of the bird in
Lleyn in summer.
Srartinc.—On the 16th March, 1902, a large flock played round
the light on St. Tudwal’s nearly all night. There were thousands of
them. The keeper, going out on the gallery, was soon covered with
the birds. A visitation of this magnitude he had never known previously,
although the Starling strikes the light more frequently than any other
species.
NicuTgsar.—Fairly common. I heard two at once at the foot of
Carn Bodfean, and another at Abersoch. Mr. Cummings found the
young just hatched at Abersoch in June, 1901.
Green WoopPeckER.—Quite a common bird in Lleyn. Very com-
mon in the Bodfean Woods. I heard one hard at work inside a tree,
and waited until it put its head out of the hole, perhaps to rest and get
cool, as it remained with its head out for several minutes. I noticed
birds at Lianbedrog, Coed Rhos fawr, Nanhoran, and Nevin, and even
in a little clump of trees standing by a farm at Llanllawen, near Aber-
daron, the most westerly spot in Lleyn that it could well inhabit in the
nesting season. It would, indeed, be unusual if in May one passed
down that glorious road which with gentle windings sweeps along the
Nant of the Horan, now between belts of varied woodland, now hemmed
in with steep ferny and heathery heights capped with Carn Saethon
and Carn Anneddol (haunts of the Kestrel) without hearing the laugh
of the Green Woodpecker. When last I passed down the Nant, which
reminds one of parts of the Ardennes, a thick cold mist was drifting
through it, but even then its charm was strong uponme. At Nanhoran
itself, too, where the wild hyacinths make the woods in May a sheet of
blue, the Woodpecker’s cry, mingled with the Wood-Wren’s shiver,
the song of Blackbirds, and the ringing note of the Chiffchaff is often
to be heard. The green park-lands here, where Pheasants feed out at
the wood-edges in the evening, present a strange contrast to the bare
wind-swept country around.
Meriin.—Two nests were found this year on sea-cliffs, and I saw a
bird on Mynydd Annelogin May. One nest was at a place where the
212 ee THE ZOOLOGIST.,
cliff was in ledges ; it was near the top of the cliff, in a little hollow.
The other, which.contained three eggs on the 19th May, was on a little
ledge on a sloping buttress of rock, not far down, at an elbow in the
cliffs. The male Merlin sits on the eggs, as was proved in another
part of Wales.
Prrecrine Fancon.—I visited a breeding pair which had an eyrie
in an inaccessible place—a squarish hollow or cave, with sheer rock-
face below, and overhanging rock above. There was a good growth of
rich green grass at the mouth of the cave, and two big stones which
made it more difficult to seein. The young appeared to be hatched.
I also knew of another eyrie with young. ~
Sparrow-Hawk.—Not common. Mr. Cummings saw one on several
occasions at Edeyrn in August, 1901. Mr. Caton Haigh has often seen
it in the woods at Broom Hall, but remarks that it is not so common
as in most parts of England. He noticed several coming in to roost in
the woods at Nanhoran about the middle of March, 1903.
Stock-Dove.—Several about the Bodfean Woods. I had in the
previous year seen it inland between Sarn and Abersoch.
Rine-Dove.—This is much more abundant than I had supposed.
It is very. numerous about Bodfean. Here at the foot of the Carn are
the tallest trees (conifers, &c.) 1 have seen in Lleyn; tall trees also
erow in the humid belt of woodland which follows the course of a
streamlet there, where laurels and rhododendrons grow to a great
size. Numbers of Ring-Doves, too, are to be seen at Nanhoran, and
again east of Pwllheli, in the neighbourhood of Broom Hall. I noticed
a good many up one of the little valleys running inland from Aber-
daron, where I saw ten flying together in May.
Rep Grouss.—(lar Mynydd). About four or five years ago, in very
hard weather, I am told that some hundreds of Grouse came to Rhiw,
and many of them went on to Bardsey. From the latter they soon
disappeared, but some stayed on Rhiw and bred, and a few are said to
do so still (1902). They were doubtless driven off the high Carnarvon-
shire mountains by deep snow.
Common Sanpprper.—Mr. Cummings saw a pair near Porth Caered,
19th to 28th June, 1901. I have no doubt that the birds breed in
Lleyn, although the eggs have not yet been found.
Snrez.—I believe breeds in some marshy ground near Aberdaron,
where it is common in winter. In hard weather Snipes are trapped at
the springs on Bardsey.
Common Trrn.— Mr. Cummings has seen them when Mackerel
fishing off Trevor, 7th September, 1895—no doubt birds from Angle-
sey. I have often wondered why this bird and the Arctic Tern do not
breed in Lleyn.
NOTES ON THE BIRDS OF LLEYN. 218
Hrron.—Mr. Caton Haigh informs me that the heronry at Broom
Hall, near Pwllheli, consists of about fifteen or twenty nests, and that
there is another small heronry of six or seven nests at Gwyn fryn, just
on the eastern borders of the district. A pair of Herons are believed
to have bred though the nest was not seen) in the cliffs near Porth
Mendwy, where the cliffs are much overgrown with ivy, bramble, &c.
Gannet.—Often seen off Aberdaron in the Mackerel fishing season.
Mr. Cummings has seen them off Trevor in September, 1895.
Purrin.—The Puffins were late in coming to St. Tudwal’s in 1902,
not having arrived by the 1st April. Razorbills and Guillemots came
on the 10th March, about the usual time. With reference to my
remarks on the published illustrations of the Puffin, in which it is
represented in a wrong and the right attitude, I should like, in justice
to the artist and publishers, to call attention to the coloured plate in
Cassell’s (Brehm’s) ‘Book of Birds.’ On this plate the Puffin is
correctly depicted standing upon its feet (popularly so called) alone,
with the tarsi nearly upright. Messrs. Cassell have been good enough
to inform me that the book was published in 1870-2, and that the
plate was drawn by Mr. F. W. Keyl. ‘This then is the earliest correct
illustration (after Willughby !) of the Puffin in English books with
which I am acquainted. When I wrote my former paper (Zool. 1901,
p. 147) my copy of Donovan’s ‘Nat. Hist. of British Birds,’ 1794, was
in the binder’s hands, but I may as well say now that he too drew the
Puffin (plate viii.) resting on the whole length of the tarsi.
Manx Suuarwater.—I think the mass (two big handfuls) of short
grass one finds (in some cases) in the breeding-holes is collected by
the birds, for I found in one occupied hole bits of green grass which
had been gathered not more than twenty-four hours before at the most.
Lesser Biack-BackeD Guitu.—Not at all common. I saw one adult
bird at Pen-y-chain on the 21st May. ;
214 THE ZOOLOGIST.
THE BIRDS OF DUNGENESS.
By THomas Heppurn.
A FORTNIGHT or more spent in the vicinity of Dungeness
Beach enabled me to considerably amplify the notes which lL
made in 1900 on the birds of this interesting district. Making
my headquarters close to Rye, I extended my walks over the
whole of the beach, and over a much larger portion of the marsh
on the landward side than I did before, including also the
stretches of beach and marsh close to Rye on either side of the
estuary of the Rother.
A line drawn from a point on the coast somewhat to the south
of Littlestone, through Lydd to Jury’s Gap, would cut off a
triangle of land, with Dungeness Lighthouse at its seaward apex,
enclosing practically the whole of Dungeness Beach proper—an
area of land sometimes two or three miles wide, which is almost
entirely covered by a deposit of pebbles. To the north and west
is the marsh country, but the dividing line between the marsh
or grass land and the shingle is of course much broken up,
narrow points of grass land running into the beach; and occa-
sionally a long strip, generally with a big ditch, or sewer, as it is
called, running in the centre of it, makes a narrow gap through
the pebble country right up to the sea-front.
I do not know whether there is any scientific explanation or
reason why the sea should throw up a huge collection of pebbles
at particular spots on our coast. In the case of Dungeness it
has evidently been the work of a lengthened period of time, and
there are distinct ridges, roughly parallel to the coast-line, which
show how the sea has been gradually receding and leaving behind
it the banks of shingle. The more ancient of these ridges, where
they have been undisturbed, are becoming covered with vegeta-
tion, which generally grows most freely on the crests. In some
parts this vegetation consists of stunted blackthorn, sloe, and
broom bushes, which all seem to be trying to learn how to grow
THE BIRDS OF DUNGENESS. 215
horizontally ; in other places there are considerable clumps of
holly and elder bushes, trimmed off to a regular shape on the
seaward side by the wind. On the outskirts of the beach there
are many patches of gorse, which give a vivid mass of yeilow
when they are in bloom; and the sombreness of the beach is
otherwise relieved by beds of thrift and numerous solitary fox-
gloves, and nearer the sea by thriving plants of sea-holly and
horned poppies with their yellow blooms. The more recently
formed ridges are all beginning to show a faint tinge of green,
caused by straggling blades of fine grass, which must obtain what
nourishment they need from the decomposition of the minute
lichen or moss with which most of the stones on the surface of
the beach are covered. ‘This scanty beginning of a soil is added
to year after year by the dead grass-blades, until there is a
sufficient coliection to give growth to larger plants. Apart from
the birds, the chief living wild creatures to be seen on this waste
of stones are Hares, which are numerous, a few Rabbits, and a
good many Grass-Snakes.
The expanse of marsh land stretches back for miles, its limits
being almost accurately defined by the military canal, which runs
from Hythe to Rye and Winchelsea. This marsh land is a
perfect network of ditches, which drain off and carry away the
surface water from the soil, emptying themselves into bigger
channels (generally called ‘“‘ sewers’), which in their turn empty
themselves through sluice-gates into the sea. Many of these
sewers run through low-lying flats, where they spread out beyond
their banks, forming swampy places often overgrown with reeds,
and making a favourite haunt for Wild Ducks, Moorhens, Coots,
and Dabchicks. There are not many roads in this marsh, and
where the ornithologist finds most to interest him there are no
roads at all, so that he often has practical proof that the shortest
way home, after his day’s tramp, is a very long way round, owing
to the difficulty of finding the various planks and foot-bridges by
which to cross the ditches and sewers.
From Jury’s Gap to near Rye the marsh land runs close up
to the sea-front, a large tract of sand-hills forming a barrier be-
tween it and the sea in one part, embankments and the ridge of
pebbles thrown up by the tide protecting it elsewhere. In these
sand-hills, the fishermen tell one, Sheld-Duck used to nest years
216 THE ZOOLOGIST.
ago, but golf-links, with their accompaniment of numerous sharp-
eyed caddie-boys, do not make them a very desirable breeding-
ground for birds at the present day.
On the east side of the mouth of the Rother there are some
small stretches of shingle, and on the west side there are some
larger ones, but in neither case approaching in any way the
extent of the beach at Dungeness; and, owing to the proximity
of Rye and Winchelsea, they are not nearly such an interesting
hunting-ground for the ornithologist as the large beach surround-
ing Dungeness Point. It may be as well to say that the physical
difficulty of walking for a day over this loose shingle is a consider-
able tax upon one’s powers, and that it is the best plan to make
use of the wooden “ back-stays’”’ used in the locality, by means
of which one is able after a little practice to acquire a sliding
movement over the surface of the beach, and to attain a greater
speed at a less cost to one’s shoe-leather, as well as one’s muscles,
than one would by attempting to walk in the ordinary way.
It is the large expanse of pebbly beach near Dungeness
Lighthouse which forms the stronghold of the Kentish Plover
(Aigialitis cantiana), and the Stone Curlew (Gidicnemus scolopazx).
Neither of these two birds is to be seen at the present day, on
the smaller patches of beach on either side of the mouth of the
Rother near Rye. The colonies of the Common Tern (Sterna
fluviatilis), and the Little Tern (S. minuta), are also to be found
only on the Dungeness Beach; for, although I often noticed
individual birds of both these species feeding along the river
and in the ditches in the vicinity of Rye, as far as I-could make
out they did not take up permanent quarters gn any of the
stretches of shingle there. The Terns had hardly begun to lay
in any numbers before I left. The earliest date on which I heard
of the Common Tern’s eggs being found was May 16th, and I
saw some myself on the 18th May, and on that date I also saw
some Lesser Tern’s eggs, but in neither case were there more
than one or two eggs in a nest. I suppose there is a possibility
of a few Arctic Terns (S. macrura) breeding on the beach. I
watched a pair of them for some time one afternoon fishing in
the outer bight of a kettle-net. They came so close to me that
I was plainly able to distinguish the grey colouring of the breast
and flanks.
THE BIRDS OF DUNGENESS. 217
The Kentish Plover, notwithstanding all vicissitudes, seems
to hold its own, and I think I am safe in saying that there were
as many birds breeding on the bexch in 1902 as in 1900. My
fisherman friend, whose acquaintance I made on the occasion of
my former visits, gave me some interesting information as to the
numbers and distribution of this bird on the beach. During a
morning’s walk with him we saw two pairs of the birds, and he
told me that he knew at that time of three other pairs in different
parts of the beach. He also said that he had been recently
watching twenty or more birds of this species feeding in small
mobs on Romney Sands, which he considered to be last year’s
birds and non-breeders. The previous autumn (1901) he told
me he had counted forty birds in one flock, which were no doubt
getting together preparatory to leaving this country.
My companion had on the previous day (15th May, 1902)
found a nest belonging to one of the pairs of birds we had just
seen. On walking towards it we saw one of the old birds rise
about thirty yards from us, and it was almost immediately joined
by its mate, and both birds flew away quickly out of sight over a
ridge. After looking at the nest we concealed ourselves in a
hollow, from which we could watch the spot where the nest was.
In about ten minutes a single bird came back and settled on the
beach not much more than ten feet from the nest. After a
succession of short runs, several of which were made in reverse
directions, it stood for a few moments quite still (actually not
more than twelve inches from its eggs), and then with a short
quick run settled onthem. It was such a dull day that it was
most difficult to distinguish the bird as it ran over the pebbles,
and when it settled on its eggs it disappeared from my sight
altogether. We then again walked towards the nest, but I failed
to detect the bird move from its eggs, and only caught sight of
it when it took wing about ten feet away from its nest. The nest
contained three eggs, which I noticed were not all with the
pointed ends to the centre, and was situated on the crest of the
ridge of pebbles. ‘The nest hollow was scratched out close to a
mossy patch of stones, and it was thickly lined with short broken
pieces of rotten twigs and sticks. I think this lining of the nest
with vegetable matter is unusual. The hollow measured 3 in.
diam. by $ in. deep.
Zool. 4th ser. vol. VIL., June, 1908. s
218 THE ZOOLOGIST.
On the 19th May I was rather surprised to disturb three
Kentish Plovers feeding along the edge of a swamp three miles in-
land. There was no doubt about them, as I had a good view of them
through the glasses, and could see the broken pectoral band. On
the 20th May I was watching a pair for some little time on the
beach near Littlestone. As it was a bright sunny day I found
them comparatively easy to follow with the glasses. Occasionally
they came so close to me that I was able to distinguish all
the details of their plumage. They have a whistling call-note,
which is not unlike that of a Ringed Plover abruptly cut short
in the middle.
I should say that the Stone Curlew was, if anything, more
numerous than in 1900. I saw during my stay nine birds in
distinctly different parts of the beach. ‘The fisherman, men-
tioned above, told me that he had seen in the course of two days
birds of this species which he considered represented twelve
distinct pairs. (This was during the time of my visit.) And
that during the previous autumn (1901) he had counted forty-
eight birds in one flock, and had also disturbed numerous single
birds close to where he had seen the large flock. From informa-
tion given me by him and others, I counted that at least six
clutches of eggs had already been taken on the beach that season.
(May 16th, 1902.)
I spent some time watching one of these birds, which I found
on the 5th May sitting on a single egg. The bird rose from the
beach, close to a patch of broom and mossy ground surrounded
by shingle, when I was about fifty yards distant from it. I found
afterwards that it must have risen right off its egg. It flew away
close to the shingle, and after it had topped the first ridge of
pebbles I did not see it again, although I heard two soft whistles
a little while afterwards. The nest hollow was scratched out
close to a dead broom bush, in a spot where earth and pebbles
were mingled together. I visited the nest again on the 7th May,
this time coming up to it from a different direction where some
furze bushes gave a little shelter. When about forty yards
distant I saw the bird move off its egg, run a few yards, and then
crouch down on the beach. On my standing still and looking at
it through the glasses it flew away, never rising more than five
feet above the surface of the beach, and flying with very little
THE BIRDS OF DUNGENESS. 219
movement of its wings. This time I kept it in sight until it
settled about two hundred yards distant, and ran away amongst
some broom bushes. This was at ll a.m. At 3 p.m. I passed
the nest at some distance on my way home, and saw the bird
rise, apparently right off its egg, and fly away as before. On the
9th May I again looked at the nest. As I came up the bird
ran off its egg, and crouched down as before. On this occasion,
it being a dull cloudy day with a very bad light, the protective
powers of the colouring of the bird were strikingly exemplified,
for as soon as the bird crouched it seemed to disappear from
sight. It allowed me to come within ten yards of it, at which dis-
tance I was still unable to distinguish it until it moved, although
I was looking at the actual spot from which it flew. As I had
good reason to suppose that the nest had been found by some
boys, and was not likely to be left any longer undisturbed, I took
the single egg. It is possible that there is some truth in the
general idea amongst the men on the beach, that if a Stone
Curlew has its first clutch of eggs taken, its second clutch will
consist only of one egg. This egg was already showing decided
signs of incubation, and it is probable that this bird would have
laid its second egg at a shorter interval than six days if it had
been going to lay two eggs. The hollow of the nest was now
much more trodden down than on the first day I saw it, and
pebbles had been scratched into it and trodden into the earth,
making a smooth paving of stones over the whole of the de-
pression, which had also some small twigs of dry broom lying in
it. The Stone Curlew seems rather to favour the landward side
of the beach where grass and pebbles intermingle, or, if they are
seen more to the centre of the beach, it is where there are strong
patches of broom and gorse growing on the shingle.
Redshanks (TYotanus calidris) were fairly numerous, and Lap-
wings (Vanellus vulgaris) and Ringed Plovers (Aigialttis hiaticola)
were both very numerous. The latter are well distributed all
over the beach country, aud are quite as numerous on the shingle
near Rye as at Dungeness. I spent much time in observing both
the Lapwing and Ringed Plover, and began to consider myself,
towards the end of my visit, quite an expert in watching them on
to their eggs. Their behaviour when they have eggsis somewhat
similar. We may take one instance as an example: I started
- s2
220 YHE ZOOLOGIST.
watching several Ringed Plovers that were running about on the
pebbles, and by a piece of good luck I happened to concentrate
my attention on a bird that was the possessor of a nest and eggs.
After a short interval all the birds except the one I was watching
flew away. After it had been left alone about ten minutes it
started running over the shingle, going along for short distances,
and stopping a moment or two after each run; when it had gone
thirty or forty feet all in one direction, it turned and went back
in almost the same direction as it had come, taking some fairly
long runs without stopping; then, with a short run of about
twelve inches, it settled on its eggs, only its head and neck being
visible to the observer. When I rose from the pebbles and
walked towards it, I had not walked many paces before I saw it
crawl (it is the only word to properly describe its stealthy move-
ment) off its eggs, and run as hard asit could over the ridge, only
to be visible again when it took wing. After a short search I
found the four eggs in the nest hollow. I watched the same bird
on and off its eggs several times, and found that it invariably
returned to its eggs by a devious course, and when disturbed it
always ran a few feet before taking flight. Sometimes the eggs
were all with the small ends pointing to the centre, at others they
were lying in irregular positions. This seems to tend to prove
that the sitting bird makes a point of arranging its eggs with the
points to the centre, but that occasionally when leaving the nest
hurriedly it disturbs their position.
The same day (May 10th) I caught some nestlings of this
species. My impression is that the nestlings, lying close on the
beach as they do, are far more difficult to perceive than the eggs.
In this instance I saw two old birds with three young ones
through my glasses at some distance from where I was lying on
the beach. Keeping my eye on one of the young ones as well as
I could, I walked towards it. It started running away at first,
but, when it found I was overtaking it, it squatted. On coming
up to the spot I was unable to distinguish it, so lay down on the
beach to see if I could catch sight of it moving against the sky-
line, but without success. I was just moving to get up and go
away when I caught sight of it straight in front of me, and not
eighteen inches from my face. It was lying in the typical posi-
tion which these young Plovers always seem to take when they
THE BIRDS OF DUNGENESS. 221
are attempting concealment (and which is capitally illustrated in
the case of Stone Curlews at the South Kensington Museum),
seeming as though they were trying to flatten themselves on to
the ground longitudinally. I am not aware whether any of the
adult English Plovers besides the Stone Curlew adopt this
skulking habit, but I believe all their young do upon occasions.
I have noticed it myself.in the case of the Ring Plover, the Lap-
wing, the Oystercatcher, and the Common Sandpiper, and also in
the case of some of the Gulls and Terns. It is not a simple
crouching down on the ground; the outstretched neck and the
evident effort to keep the under side of the throat and body as
close as possible to the ground give it characteristics quite dif-
ferent to the ordinary skulking or squatting of many other birds
which are hatched on the ground. It is curious and not without
interest to note that the young of the Emu in Australia have
exactly the same habit. When a few days old it is not a difficult
thing to run down young Emus, and I have on more than one
occasion done so in New South Wales. As soon as the young
Emu found that it was being overtaken it would lie down in the
grass with the same tense drawn-out attitude that the young of
the Plover-kind assume. Might it not be reasonable to argue
the possibility of this instinctive habit, common to two such
widely different races of birds, being an inheritance from a com-
mon ancestor ?
The behaviour of the old Ring Plovers when one is handling
their young does not seem to be bound by any particular method
orrule. I picked up this little atom of down and took it away
at least half a mile to show to my wife. It was perhaps three-
quarters of a hour before it was returned to the beach. On
hearing its call one of the old birds immediately flew up, but it
seemed quite contented when its young one was placed on the
beach, running round it, and making a good bit of fuss over it,
but taking no notice whatever of the onlookers. On another
occasion, a few days later, when I caught a nestling, one of the
parent birds went through all the antics of simulating broken
legs and wings so often described in books, which culminated in
the bird lying on one side, flapping its other wing in the air as
though on the point of death. This bird seemed to be so pleased
with its acting that it kept it up for a long while after I had left
222 THE ZOOLOGIST.
its voung one, and I looked back through my glasses when I was
nearly two hundred yards distant, and still saw one wing waving
in the air.
The markings of the downy nestlings are well adapted to
conceal it from the observer, while the irregular shape of the
young bird and the rough surface of the down make it un-
doubtedly less noticeable than the eggs. Its upper surface is
grey, stippled with a darker shade of grey and some black, and a
little tinge of yellow, and there is a narrow ring of black down
round the back of the neck. The whole of the under side is
white, with no sign of the black pectoral band which is such a
distinctive feature of the old bird. The front of the tarsi and
the upper surface of the feet and toes are greyish lead-colour, the
back and under surfaces of the same parts being dull flesh-colour.
The tip of the beak is black, and the base flesh-colour. There
is a small tract of skin on each side of its neck, and under each
wing quite bare of down.
Another nest of this species, which had been found on the
15th May with four eggs all chipped, was shown to me on the
16th with all the four nestlings hatched out and still in the nest,
lying in the typical position already described, as close together
as possible, and with all four beaks pointing in one direction. I
could see no trace of any egg-shells anywhere near the nest. The
down of these was as already described, except that there was a
bare tract of skin on the shoulders. On the evening of May
20th I found a nest with two young ones hatched, and the other
two eggs chipped. The following morning, at nine o’clock, a
third bird was hatched, the down being still damp, and the three
young and the fourth egg being all in thenest hollow. Unfortu-
nately, as I was leaving the same morning, I was unable to watch
this nest any longer. I was rather surprised in both these cases
at the young staying so long in the nest after being hatched, but,
as we were having rather cold weather at the time, this would no
doubt influence their behaviour.
The conduct of the Lapwing about its nest and eggs was much
the same as that of the Ring Plover. It would settle on the
beach at some distance from its nest, and make a similar series
of devious runs, until with a final short run it would settle on its
eggs; also when disturbed it would generally run a short distance
THE BIRDS OF DUNGENESS. 223
before taking wing; but if taken by surprise—as, for instance, it
may be if its nest is anywhere near a bank or wall—it would rise
right off the nest. I also found that its eggs were often not
arranged in the nest as Plovers’ eggs are generally supposed to
be, but I think that the irregularity is only due to accidental
carelessness when the bird is leaving its nest. I caught a nestling
of this species on the 12th May. Its protecting colouring was
amply illustrated by the difficulty I had in finding it when I got
to the spot where I had seen it moving. Its upper surface is a
greyish dun-colour with black stipplings. There are patches of
bare skin on each shoulder, the skin itself being black. The
down on the under side is white with the exception of the black
pectoral band. Itis curious that the black pectoral band should
be present in the nestling of the young Lapwing, and not in that
of the Ring Plover, when it is quite as distinct a feature in the
adult of both species. The beak is blackish, and the tarsi and
feet are lead-coloured in front and above, and flesh-coloured
behind and on the soles.
I should be inclined to think that the Lapwing is a rather
more wary bird than the Ring Plover. The latter bird would
often go on to its eggs when the observer’s head and shoulders
were plainly visible to it, the only necessity being to get far
enough away, and to lie quite still. On the other hand, I was
never successful in watching a Lapwing on to its eggs unless I
got altogether out of sight behind a bush, or other suitable shelter.
This of course sometimes meant being a considerable distance
away, but the larger size compensated more or less for the extra
distance. One would have several fruitless watches for every
successful one with both birds, and it was often very puzzling to
diagnose the actions of the birds. But, as a rule, when both
birds of the pair were to be seen together, I came to the con-
clusion that they either had no eggs or an incomplete clutch, as
I was never successful on such occasions in watching the bird on
to its nest; or their eggs were hatched and the young were near ;
but in this latter case their excited behaviour would always
betray their anxiety, and a little longer exercise of one’s patience
would probably be rewarded by a glimpse of the young ones run-
ning among the pebbles. In the case of a full clutch of eggs,
with the bird sitting, you would almost invariably only see a
224 THE ZOOLOGIST.
single bird, which would be very quiet in its behaviour, and as
soon as things seemed safe would quickly commence its stealthy
run towards its treasures.
The smali colony of Black-headed Gulls (Larus ridibundus),
which nest in some pieces of water in the centre of the beach
at Dungeness, is not thriving. ‘There only seemed to be a very
few pairs breeding in the biggest of these ponds amongst
some rushes safely out of reach of anyone without a boat,
There can be no doubt that the birds are much persecuted.
I came across another colony of these birds some miles inland
ina reedy swamp. Unfortunately the birds here seemed to be
having quite as bad a time as those on the beach. The nests
were built in some coarse swamp grass growing in about two feet
of water. The fabric of the nest seemed to be started from the
ground, the foundation being formed of coarse sedges, and built
up to from three to six inches above the level of the water, the
cup of the nest being finished off with the finer tops of the reeds.
There were thirty nests in this colony, of which only ten con-
tained any eggs. ‘The previous day had been a Sunday, but had
not, I think, been a day of rest for the Gulls. There were three
Coots’ (Fulica atra) nests amongst those of the Gulls, and several
nests of the Little Grebe (Podicipes fluviatilis) in the ditches on
the edge of the same swamp.
It remains to be mentioned that I- saw the following birds
on this occasion, which I did not notice in 1900 :—Whinchat
(Pratincola rubetra), a pair on the marsh-land ; House-Martin
(Chelidon urbica) ; Sand-Martin (Cotile riparia) ; Jackdaw (Cor-
vus monedula), a thriving colony in the ruins of Camber Castle ;
Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus), frequently heard and seen on the
marsh-land; and Grey Plover (Squatarola helvetica), a pair on the
beach evidently on migration. The Common Curlew (Numenius
arquata) was less numerous, and the Whimbrel (N. pheopus) was
more numerous than in 1900.
225
NOTES AND QUERIES.
MAMMALIA.
The Use of the Giraffe’s Bilobed Canine.—In the course of his
memoir on the Okapi, published last year in the ‘ Transactions’ of the
Zoological Society, Prof. Ray Lankester drew attention to the circum-
stance that all the living, and many (if not all) of the extinct members
of the Giraffide, are distinguished from other ruminants by the crown
of the outermost of the four pairs of lower front teeth (corresponding
to the canines of other mammals) are bifid, or bilobed; this bilobed
structure having been observed in the Giraffe and the Okapi, as well
as in the extinct Sivatherium of India and the Samotherium of Southern
Europe. No explanation was at the time given for this departure from
the normal structure.
Recently I have had an opportunity of watching carefully the mode
in which a Giraffe plucks the leaves from a bough. The leaves are
first grasped by the long and extensile tongue, and are then stripped
from the bough by being drawn between the lower teeth and the front
of the palate in such a manner that the twigs of the bough itself are
left practically uninjured. The lower front teeth act, in fact, as a
kind of comb in stripping off the leaves; and I think there can be
little doubt that the broad bilobed crowns of the outer pair of teeth
have been developed in order to increase the breadth of this ‘‘ comb,”’
and at the same time to render its comb-like action as efficient as
possible.
Deer and cattle, when browsing, eat the twigs as well as leaves,
and since this difference in habit is correlated with a simple lower
canine, while there is almost certainly some good reason for the bifid
crown of that tooth in the Giraffe and its allies, there appears to be a
strong probability of the truth of the foregoing suggestion. Should
it be well founded it will be evident that the Sivatherium and other
extinct relatives of the Giraffe and the Okapi fed in the same manner
as those animals.—R. LypEKxEr.
226 THE ZOOLOGIST.
AVES.
Strange Nesting-place for a Mistletoe Thrush (Turdus viscivorus).
We have here a piece of land of about four acres, which we have
planted, placing the trees about ten yards apart. Most of them are
Scotch firs, and vary from three feet to four feet high. In one of these
is a nest of this bird, and is only two feet three inches from the ground.
It is seldom this fine Thrush builds so low; in fact, this is the lowest I
have seen. The little tree is on a wind-swept hill-side, and there are
trees of many sorts and all sizes in the vicinity, making it still more
curious.—J. Waitaxer (Rainworth Lodge, Notts).
Nightingale’s late Arrival in Somerset. — Nightingales (Daulias
luscinia) are fourteen days overdue in their arrival in this district this
year as compared with last; they are well distributed now (May Ist),
and steadily increasing. There are two pairs in Lyatt Wood, two pairs
at Dulcote, six pairs in Park Wood—these latter can be heard singing
from the Palace Moat (May, 1902). Many single pairs are to be met
with through the Twin Hills Woods and Ham Woods, and in the oppo-
site direction through Stoke Woods (abode of Long-eared Owls), and at
points along the valley to Axbridge ; I have not met with a Nightin-
gale between Axbridge and Weston-super-Mare. I have proved that
Nightingales live in harmony with Garden Warblers, for they nest
closely together ; but where I find Blackecaps I cannot find a Nightin-
gale. Dates of arrival :—1901, April 17th; 1902, April 14th; 1908,
April 28th.—Sranitey Lewis (Wells).
White Wagtails at Bartragh, Killala Bay.—Supplemental to my
notes (ante, p. 190), I may state that there was a recurrence of the
visits of Motacilla alba on the 17th and 18th of May to the island.
Captain Kirkwood, on the first-named date, met with a flock of ten
birds feeding on a wet sandy flat between his garden and the seashore.
(This is a favourite haunt, where they are almost certain of being seen
if on the island.) This flock remained only a few hours, but next day
(the 18th) he saw five birds in his garden, and evidently so tired that
some of them allowed him to approach within three or four yards to
where they were resting on some wire pea-supports.—Ropert WARREN
(Moy View, Ballina).
Lesser Whitethroat in Cardiganshire. — During a residence of
twelve years at Aberystwyth I have not met with a single occurrence
of this species (Sylvia curruca) until the present spring. On the
evening of May 9th I listened to its well-known song at Cwm Padarn,
about a mile from this town, and watched the bird as it made its way
NOTES AND QUERIES. 227
along the hedge. The occurrence of the Lesser Whitethroat in Western
Wales must be pronounced rare and exceptional.—J. H. Sauter.
Involuntary Capture of a Swallow.—The following is a cutting
from the ‘ Waterford Standard,’ May 16th, 19038 :—
‘A Srrance Occurrence. — Mr. Frank Davis Goff, of Rockmount,
Kilmacthomas, had, on Monday last, a new if not an absolutely unique
experience while fishing on the Tay, a stream that runs from the
Comragh Mountains. While walking along the bank with his rod in
an upright position, and the casting-line flying in the breeze, he felt a
weight somewhat like that of a Trout, and on looking up to ascertain
the cause he was amazed to see a Swallow dangling from the tail-fly—
the bird, doubtless, mistaking the artificial fly for the natural one. He
at once reeled in the line, and, gently taking off the bird, let it off, and
it flew away apparently none the worse for its mistake. Can any of
our readers relate a similar incident ?”
I cannot find in any of the text-books that I have on British Birds,
or in the pages of ‘The Zoologist’ for the last twenty-five years, any
account of a similar capture of Hirundo rustica, though I have often
thought that such an occurrence was quite possible. Mr. EH. F.
Bisshop relates (Zool. 1886, p. 417) that while fishing once for Tench
three Swallows perched on his rod at one time, but this was apparently
while it was fastened into the ground and stationary. The capture of
a Swallow by an artificial fly must be very unusual. It seems strange
that a bird with such a sharp eye could be deceived.—Wini1am W
Fiemyne (Coalfin, Portlaw, Co. Waterford).
[In Boosey’s ‘ Piscatorial Reminiscences and Gleanings’ (p. 240)
two records are given of Swallows being hooked in a similar manner.
I have met with other instances, but cannot for the moment remember
where published.—Ep. |
Goldfinch (Carduelis elegans) in South Africa.— With reference
to the note (ante, p. 191) on the extension of the range of this species
in Australia and Tasmania, I may mention that Mr. Barton, a soldier
in the Suffolk Regiment, who has lately returned from South Africa,
has two live Goldfinches at the present time in Bury St. Edmunds
which he caught on the hills at Heidelberg, in the Transvaal, when
stationed at Boxburg. He informed me that they were common half-
way up the hills and breeding, one being in the nesting plumage when
he caught it. I have seen these two birds myself, and they appear to
be exactly like the English Goldfinch, but if anything a trifle smaller.
So far as I can ascertain, this is the first occasion upon which the
228 THE ZOOLOGIST.
species has occurred in South Africa. Mr. Barton also showed me
some Canaries which he caught in the same locality, and from which
he has bred since he returned home, which I am unable to identify
with any of the wild species recorded from that region, as they vary so
much in colour and markings that no two of them are alike. Some
are nearly all yellow, others more or less marked with green, the
markings varying considerably, and being most irregular in their dis-
tribution. One bird is almost entirely yellow with a green cap, whilst
others are much marked with green about the wings and body as well.
They look just like the ordinary parti-coloured Canaries you see in
cages in England.—K. A. Butter (Plumton House, Bury St. Edmunds,
Suffolk).
[This is a most interesting record for one who, like myself, has
collected and observed birds for a period of four years in the Transvaal.
During that time I neither saw this bird nor heard the slightest
suggestion that it was to be found in a wild condition. It is practically
certain that the Goldfinches caught at Heidelberg must have been
escaped birds, and it seems as equally correct to say that nothing of
the kind was known up to near the end of 1896, when [I left the Trans-
vaal. A ‘friend who kept imported Goldfinches in his aviary at Pretoria
complained that they were difficult to keep alive for any length of time-
I have written to the Transvaal for further information on this sub-
ject.—Ep.}]
A Vanishing British Bird.—In the April number of this Journal
Mr. Robert Warren protests against the continued persecution of the
Red-throated Diver at its single Irish breeding-haunt. It is unfortu-
nately only too easy to point to other cases of a similar kind. But for
the greed of private ege-collectors, who fill their cabinets with clutches
of British-taken eggs of our rarer species, the Kite, though in small
numbers, and in a limited district, would be safe from all immediate
danger of extinction. Instead of this we find it reduced, as far as
Wales is concerned, to a miserable remnant of two or three pairs. All
who have seen Milvus ictinus upon the wing will agree with Knapp, the
Gloucestershire naturalist, when he terms it “the finest native bird
that we possess.”” Yet the present decade will in all probability see
its extinction as a British bird. It cannot be too plainly stated that
it is not the dealers who have harried the nests systematically for
years who are primarily responsible for its fate, but the wealthy
collectors who offer in some cases as much as £15 for a clutch of
Welsh Kite’s eggs. Many of them have never seen the bird in its
haunts, and appear to have no interest in it apart from its eggs. In
NOTES AND QUERIES. 229
this connection I may be allowed to quote from a letter received from
Mr. R. J. Ussher, the well-known author of the ‘ Birds of Ireland.’ He
says :—‘‘ It is indeed deplorable to think that one of our finest native
birds should be persecuted to extermination by the sordid greed of
dealers and of collectors who show by their purchase of British-taken
eggs of the Kite that the feelings of the true ornithologist are unknown
to them. Both the dealers and their clients are shy of notoriety, but
their names are known, and shall be handed down, that naturalists of
the future may credit them with their fair share in bringing about
the extirpation of this fine bird. For our present purpose it
matters not whether the eggs have gone to Warwick or to Suffolk.
The one clear conclusion is that the purchaser of British-taken eggs
of a rare species, be it the Kite, the Great Skua, or Red-necked
Phalarope, is directly contributing to hasten the extermination of yet
another member of our avifauna. Incidentally our efforts to protect
the Kite have brought to light other details of the war of extermina-
tion now being waged by the dealer and his patrons. We hear of
thirty-seven eggs of the Common Buzzard taken from Wales as the
proceeds of a single raid; of one hundred eggs of the Chough taken
last year from a single Irish island ; of £2 10s. offered by a Yorkshire
naturalist for a local clutch of eggs of the Stone Curlew. Doubtless
the increase in game-preserving, the felling of large woods, and open-
ing up of the country have driven the Kite from most of its former
haunts, but it must be insisted that it has finally succumbed to the
‘oologist,’ its last and most relentless foe. I have myself made the
largest collection of native birds’ eggs in Ireland, but have steadfastly
abstained from taking or procuring the eggs of any bird in danger of
extinction, such as the Golden Eagle or the Red-throated Diver,
though I could easily have obtained them. I trust that Knglish col-
lectors may be led to see how discreditable a thing it is to be instru-
mental in the extinction of a British species.’—J. H. Saurer.
Pintail inland in Cheshire. — Dajila acuta is a not uncommon
winter visitor to the estuaries of the Dee and Mersey, and, judging
by the number taken in recent years in the duck-decoy at Hale on the
Lancashire shore of the Mersey, it is becoming more plentiful. This
Duck seldom wanders far from the coast, and, as it does not appear to
have been recorded from any of the Cheshire inland waters, the occur-
rence of a drake on the pool at Norbury Booths, near Knutsford, on
April 8th, is noteworthy. During the time I watched it the Pintail
swam near to, but apart from, some Mallards, and did not associate
with the Tufted Ducks, four pairs of which were on the water. When
230 THE ZOOLOGIST.
I visited the pool on the morning of the 9th it had gone. — CuaruEs
OxpHam (Knutsford).
The Rock-Dove (Columba livia) in Somerset.—With reference to
my previous note as to the breeding of this species at Cheddar Cliffs,
I should like to mention that Mr. Alfred West, of Cliff Street, Cheddar,
has shot many of these birds on the bean-stubble about August; he
also informs me that he saw the two eggs of this species on a ledge
about four feet in a cleft of the rocks—no nest—1902. The following
remark to me from the same person, and quite unasked for, should go
some way towards proving the identity of these birds. I had told him
of my discovery of Rock-Doves in the cliffs, and that I had seen them
flying swiftly from out the ivy. He remarked, ‘‘Oh, yes; where did you
stand ?’’ I replied, ‘‘In the road”’ (beneath the cliffs). He con-
tinued: ‘‘ The best way is to walk along the cliffs’ head, and then you
can see their checkered wings and white rumps.’’ The local name is
Rock-Pigeon.—Sraniey Lewis (Wells, Somerset).
Dotterel (HEudromias morinellus) in Cheshire.— On May 8th, at
Sealand, near Chester, I had the good fortune to see a party of fifteen
Dotterel in their beautiful summer dress. When I first saw them
they were wheeling about in a compact body over a fallow-field
adjoining the high road; on alighting near some water lying in the
field they at once proceeded to wash—-with the exception of one bird
who acted sentinel—giving me a good view of their actions whilst so
employed. This is now a rare bird in Cheshire, though it is stated
that it occurs almost yearly in spring on the moors of North-east
Cheshire.—S. G. Cummines (King’s Buildings, Chester).
Variation in the Guillemot.—lIt is quite possible, as Mr. Warren
suggests (ante, p. 194), that the Rev. Julian G. Tuck and I are mistaken
in thinking the Guillemot described in ‘ The Zoologist’ (ante, p. 158)
might be a hybrid, but as to its being a very unusual ‘“freak”’ there
can be no doubt. I am quite aware that the winter and summer
plumage of the Common Guillemot differ in a marked degree, being
very dark in winter as compared with the sooty brown summer dress,
and we did not form our provisional diagnosis from the colour alone, as
will be seen from the rough description I gave. Many dozens of
specimens in both summer and winter plumage have been handled by
me, and I have watched the birds at all seasons, this last winter
especially, and I have noticed that, though in the usual winter plumage,
the back and upper parts are very dark; one occasionally comes across
a specimen having these parts quite the same as in summer. (Are we
NOTES AND QUERIES. 231
going to find the Common Guillemot playing the same pranks as its
black relative?) I must plead guilty to having slaughtered a great
~ many Guillemots last winter in the hope of getting another doubtful
specimen, but have failed utterly, as have others whom I asked to look
out for any exceptionally dark or curiously marked specimens.—T.
Epmonston Saxby (Halligarth, Baltasound, Unst, Shetland).
Great Crested Grebe (Podicipes cristatus) on Mansfield Reservoir.
My son and self drove over to this large sheet of water to see if there
were many Great Crested Grebes nesting on May 6th. The keeper’s
boy was there with the boat, and when we got well out I was surprised
to see so many Grebe. They were near the top end, where there are
the only small beds of light water-weeds; and, as the water was very
high after the big rains of the previous days, the nests showed well on
top of water. I was delighted to count eleven pairs —twenty-two
birds—all in sight, and the boy said there were twelve pairs. We
found five nests, and in one five eggs. The keeper, who has looked
after the water for twenty-five years, said he had taken great uotice,
but had never seen five eggs in a nest before ; so we took it for the
collection. On rowing back I had the delightful pleasure of seeing
twenty Grebe following each other up the middle of the water, and a
fine sight it was, and one I never, in nesting or other season, saw
before, This bird now nests on all the large lakes in this county,
but nowhere in such numbers as it does on this reservoir, which is
ninety-six acres in extent. There were numbers of Coots, Water-hens,
and two pairs of Little Grebe, also a pair of Tufted Ducks—a grand
sight.—J. Wurraxer (Rainworth Lodge, Notts).
Ornithological Notes from Guernsey.— The following notes have
been taken since my arrival on the island in November last (1902).
The exceptionally hard weather of last winter proved very trying to
many species, and I have picked up Robins and seen several other
small birds quite numbed with the cold. During the latter part of
November and in December the hedgerows were infested with hungry
hordes of Redwings and Fieldfares, which suffered much from the
guns of the local ‘‘ sportsmen,” and their dead bodies, together with
those of Blackbirds and Thrushes, which hung daily in the town
market, bore witness to the wholesale slaughter that is carried on
among the feathered tribe here. All birds are considered game to the
Guernsey ‘‘ sportsman,’’ and if severe measures are not taken soon to
prevent this cruel destruction, there will not be in time a song-bird left
in the island.
Repwine (T’urdus iliacus) and Fietprare (T. pilaris). — Both these
THE ZOOLOGIST.
Thrushes were very plentiful in November and December, but during
January I did not notice a single specimen of the Fieldfare, and no
Redwings at all.
Rine-Ouzet (T. torquatus).—I noticed one specimen hanging in the
market among a number of Redwings and Song-Thrushes.
Firecrest (Regulus ignicapillus).—I saw one on Dec. 9th, 1902,
feeding on a furze-bush, and another in the garden here in March.
Buuurincy (Pyrrhula europea).—I think this species must be very
rare. I have only noticed one, and I see Mr. Cecil Smith marks it as
‘rare ’’ in his list of the ‘ Birds of Guernsey.’
Cuouex (Pyrrhocorax graculus).—This interesting bird is nowadays
only an occasional visitor, though many years ago, I have been in-
formed, they were very common all round the island. I noticed one
specimen near Moulin Huet Bay in December, 1902.
Maeprx (Pica rustica). — The Magpie is exceedingly common, and
breeds in many places.
Carrion-Crow (Corvus corone).—Common all round the coast.
Rook (C. frugilegus). — Only an occasional visitor. One specimen
seen at the Forest on April 12th.
Wryneck (Jyna torquilla).—The Wryneck is very common, and is
locally called the ‘‘ Mackerel Bird.”’” It was first heard here this year
on April 1st.
KinGFIsHER (Alcedo ispida). — Only a winter visitor. I have a
specimen shot here in November last, and Mr. Jago, the local taxi-
dermist, told me he has had several to preserve during the last
winter.
Barn-Owt (Strix flammea).—Very common, and a resident.
LonG-EARED Ow (Asio otus).—A scarce winter visitor. I have a
fine specimen shot here last winter.
Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo).—I have not noticed many. The
next-named bird seems to be the commoner of the two,
Suae (P. graculus).—Very common indeed. A pair I watched a few
days ago appeared to be contemplating nesting. They had assumed
breeding plumage.
Heron (Ardea cinerea). — A fairly common winter visitor. I saw
in the local paper last year that ‘‘a rare bird of the Crane family”’ had
been shot, and was exhibited in the market. This turned out to be a
Heron.
Brent Goose (Bernicla brenta).—This Goose was fairly common
last winter, and I heard and saw several passing over the island at
night. |
NOTES AND QUERIES. 233
Turtep Duck (Fuligula cristata)—I saw a young female of this
species hanging up in the market in January.
Pocuarp (F’. ferina).—I saw a fine male preserved by Mr. Jago, and
he informed me they are not at all common here.
Smew (Mergus albellus)—I saw, hanging up in the town market,
two immature specimens which had been shot off the coast.
Woop-Pieron (Columba palumbus).—This species is very rare here.
I have myself only seen it twice.
Warer-Rait (Rallus aquaticus).—I saw one specimen at Les Quar-
tiers feeding beside a drain during March.
Mooruen (Gallinula chloropus).—Only a winter visitor. I saw several
exhibited for sale in the town market during December.
Wooncocx (Scolopax rusticolu).—I noticed one or two for sale in the
market during the last winter.
- Great Nortuern Diver (Colymbus glacialis).—Mr. Jago informs me
he has had several to preserve this last winter.
Rep-THROATED Diver (C. septentrionalis).—I saw one in December,
1902, quite close to the pier. — Gorpon Dauewiesx (Clairval, Collings
Road, Guernsey).
BIBLIOGRAPHY.
In a quotation attributed to Dr. Radde on ‘* Anser rubrirostris,”
Mr. F. Coburn (‘‘ On the Specific Validity of Anser rubrirostris,” &c.,
ante, p. 49) states that ‘the bill [of this Goose] commences with a
sharply defined crescentic-shaped band of bright scarlet lake,” adding
that this is ‘‘ confirmed by Dr. Radde, cf. Dr. B. Sharpe's ‘ Handb. Brit.
Birds,’ ii. p. 229.” This is a good example of these citations, copied
by one writer from the other without being verified. Even in the
‘ Catalogue of Birds in the British Museum,’ vol. xxvil. pp. 91, 92, the
colour of the bill of A. rubrirostris is described (as by Mr. Coburn) on
the authority of the late Dr. Radde (‘ Reis. Sibir.’ p. 858). But the
citation is wrong. Dr. Radde says (‘Reisen im Stiden von Ost-
Sibirien,’ &c¢., Band ii.; ‘ Die Festlands-ornis des stiddstlichen Sibi-
riens,’ St. Petersburg, 1863, 4to, p. 858) :—‘‘ Auch an diesem Vogel
sehe ich um die Oberschnabelbasis einen recht eclatanten rostbraunen
Ton sich verbreiten, der auf einem schmalen, vielfach von weissen
Federchen durchsetztem Bande, welches die Schnabelbasis einfasst, zu
brennendem Fuchsroth gesteigert wird. Ausserdem war der ganze
Schnabel dieses Vogels schmutzig weiss.”’ Quite clearly Dr. Radde
means here the colour of the feathers about the beak, not of the skin
of the beak itself (which was ‘dirty white throughout”). Dr. Radde
begins by ‘‘ auch” (also), because on pages 354, 355 he made some-
Zool. 4th ser. vol. VII., June, 1908. ; T
234 THE ZOOLOGIST.
what lengthy remarks on the rusty, sometimes fox-red colour of the
feathers of the head (Kopfgefieder) of ‘‘ Anser grandis’’ near the base
of the bill—Srrerus A. Bururzin (Wesenberg, Esthonia, Russia).
I would feel personally obliged to any of your correspondents who
would compile a complete or partial list of Hnglish-killed Ospreys,
with locality, date, authority, and county for each (or, if the last item
be undesirable, it may be left out). Iam preparing a little brochure upon
the Osprey, and desire to make this as perfect as I can.—J. A. Harvie-
Brown (Dunipace, Larbert, Stirlingshire, N.B.). |
ZOOLOGICAL NOTES FROM SYDNEY.
In my last zoological notes sent to you, I gave some particulars
about the ‘Flying Foxes” (Pteropus poliocephalus), and the de-
struction wrought by them (1900, p.849). The following is an extract
from the ‘Sydney Morning Herald’ on the same subject :—
«A party of about thirty shooters raided a ‘ Fiying Fox’ camping-
ground at the Burra, about five miles west of Moruya. The camp was
in a large gully, where the ‘Foxes’ were found in hanging masses sus-
pended from every branch and bramble in strings reaching almost to
the ground, and covering an area close upon a mile square. Every
cartridge was used. It is estimated that about two thousand ‘ Foxes’
were shot, as many as fifteen being got in one shot. Notwithstanding
the large number killed, apparently as many remained. ‘They are said
to be there in millions.”’
How wonderfully the Australian climate (or should I say climates ?)
seems to suit so many of the introduced animals. On every hand we
find them flourishing. What a crushing rejoinder, indeed, would it
have been to those ‘‘ old-timers ’’ who were wont to so repeatedly assert
that ‘‘wherever there is a place for an animal in Nature, there that
animal will be found.’’ There are ‘ Wild” Horses; then, in many
parts (especially in Queensland), we have large herds of ‘‘ Wild”
Cattle; then there are Pigs, which, consequent upon the free existence,
have become lean and wiry. (Occasionally these are hunted, and in
one year recently there were killed no fewer than 17,134.) Wild Cats
(the common Felis domestica) also abound in some districts. There are
also Cavies and common Norway Rats, the latter in some cases leading
an arboreal existence. Then, of course, must be mentioned the Rabbits
and Hares. Though I mention these last, the Rabbits must without
doubt take pre-eminence as regards numbers. Millions of them every
year are trapped, shot, or poisoned, and occasionally epidemic diseases
NOTES AND QUERIES. 235
carry off great numbers, and yet, notwithstanding all this, “‘ still they
come.” They are regarded by the settlers as a great curse, as they
eat up the grass that is intended for the Sheep. Not only do they eat
the blades of grass, but in many parts they scrape out every vestige of
a root, leaving the plains for many miles nothing but loose black soil,
to be piled into hummocks or hollowed out by every wind-storm. How-
ever, grass is not the only thing that Rabbits will eat, and at times
every green thing—and withal many things that are not green—are
consumed by them. In support of this, I was recently shown (by a
botanical friend) a photograph taken in some ‘ mallee country’ out
west, depicting a piece of mallee-scrub (Hucalyptus of species). All
the trees shown in the photo, and many thousands of acres besides, had
been ring-barked by the Rabbits from beneath the surface of the soil
up to as high as a ‘‘ bunny ”’ can reach, and in certain instances where
the tree-trunk was in an oblique position every sign of bark had been
removed for some distance from the ground. However, the Rabbits
are not having it entirely their own way, as some of them are turned
to good account, great and increasing quantities being exported every
year (last year, 1902, it ran into many millions), besides what are con-
sumed locally. In the Rabbit-infested country, beside the Sheep-runs,
miles upon miles of railway are enclosed with Rabbit-proof netting so
as to hinder, if not entirely prevent, the “‘ bunnies’”’ from migrating
from one part to the other.
Hares are also abundant, though not nearly so as the preceding.
During the year 1899 close upon 500,000 scalps of these animals were
brought to, and capitation fee paid by, the Stock Department of New
South Walesalone. English Foxes, too, are becoming rather painfully
common in many parts of the country. Many complaints have been
made regarding ‘‘ Reynard’s”’ depredations among the lambs, and the
pest—for such they have become—appears to be spreading throughout
the country to a most undesirable extent. In one case it was stated
that the shepherds had to surround the Sheep with a ring of fire at
night to protect them from the Foxes. Those animals, after killing
the lambs, tear out and devour the tongue only, leaving the remainder
of the body to rot. It is said that some flock-owners have lost as many
as 20 and 30 per cent. of their lambs recently from this cause alone.
This country being largely a Sheep-growing one, all things that are
detrimental to Sheep are regarded as curses. Our poor harmless and
interesting indigens, because they eat grass—that most valuable of
substances—have to go. So, to compass the destruction of these
creatures, large “‘ drives” are occasionally organized, at which at times
many thousands of marsupials of various kinds are annihilated; and
236 THE ZOOLOGIST.
upon the heads of several species a price is set, and a stated amount is
paid by the Government (through the Stock and Pastures Protection
Board) for all scalps which are brought to them. In compliance with
these conditions during 1900 the scalps of 122,855 Kangaroos, nearly
1,000,000 Wallabies, and 12,708 Dingoes (I do not include these last
amongst our ‘‘ poor harmless indigens’’), in addition to the Hares and
Pigs already mentioned, were brought in and paid for. It will be quite
evident that this cannot go on for ever.
Leaving the mammals, and turning to the birds, we find that the
Kinglish Starling, the Indian Maina, the Goldfinch, the Bullfinch, the
Lark, and very many others (not forgetting the almost ubiquitous
Sparrow) are rapidly spreading throughout the land, while the Ostrich
is being bred here and in South Australia for the sake of its plumes.
In my last communication to ‘The Zoologist’ (1900, p. 355),
I mentioned an instance where a ‘ Bronze-wing Pigeon” (Phaps
chalcoptera) flew aboard the disabled steamship ‘ Perthshire ”” when she
was about five hundred miles from the Australian coast. This calls to
memory another case of a somewhat similar character. Mr. George
Hutton, of the R.M.S. ‘Omrah,’ has informed me that recently,
while this steamer was making one of her periodical trips from London
to Sydney, they had left Colombo some hours when they discovered a
Crow (gen. et sp. ?) flying above the ship. This bird accompanied them
to Australia, resting on the ship at night time, or when fatigued. This
appears to me to be rather a unique occurrence; is it not so ?—Davip
G. Sreap (Arncliffe, Sydney).
(Geom)
NOTICHKS OF NEW _ BOOKS.
Country Rambles ; being a Field Naturalist’s and Country Lover's
Note Book fora Year. By W. Prercitvan Westetu. Llus-
trated with Photographs taken direct from Nature by J. T.
Newnan, and from Drawings by ArtHuR Martin. Henry
J. Drane.
Tuts is a book of lovely illustrations—in fact, we know of no
more charming collection of scenes in animal and country life—
and Messrs. Newman and Martin may well be congratulated on a
distinct success.
As regards the text, much may well be skipped. The author,
in his preface, remarks, ‘‘ There are some entries which may ap-
pear “‘trifling”’; whilst Mr. Aflalo observes, in his introduction,
** His style is throughout discursive.” In other words, the letter-
press might well be pruned by the hand of a friend who possessed
the senses of humour and proportion. The charm of Gilbert
White, Knapp, and other similar and well-known writers, is in
the fact of their knowing what, as well as how, to observe ; while
in these days one is expected to be more or less original. Ina
recent discussion in the press on the question, ‘‘ Why men did
not go to Church,” it was freauently adduced by correspondents
that ordinary sermons contained too many platitudes; we believe
these are fatal to a sermon, and they are certainly destructive to
a book. Mr. Westell is evidently a real lover of nature, and his
enjoyment of the sights and sounds around him is to be envied
and followed; his volume is a good guide to what may be looked
for each month in both plant and animal life.
238 THE ZOOLOGIST.
EDITORIAL GLEANINGS.
Pror. M‘Inrosn continues, in the last number of the ‘Annals and
Magazine of Natural History,’ his ‘‘ Notes from the Gatty Marine
Laboratory, St. Andrews.’ In this instalment we meet with a note
“On the Frequency of the Occurrence of Pearls in the Mussel (Mytilus
edulis),’’ &e. The frequency of the occurrence of pearls in the various
marine and fresh-water shells is fixed by no law. Hundreds of pearl-
shells may be examined without finding a single pearl, but, on the
other hand, a single Ceylonese shell will occasionally produce a pearl
worth a large sum. An experienced pearl-fisherman of the Tay con-
sidered that perhaps one in a hundred contamed a marketable pearl.
From an examination of seven hundred Mussels in the estuary of the
Eden, undertaken by Mr. Russell, there was a proportion of 42:8 per
cent. of pearl-bearing Mussels. In conclusion, the writer remarks that,
“in connection with Dr. Lyster Jameson’s views that the Hider-duck
and the Scoter are the final hosts of the parasites which form the
nuclei of the pearls, it may be stated that both occur in considerable
numbers in the estuary of the Eden, and feed on the Mussels. More-
over, the intestine of the Common Scoter in St. Andrew’s Bay harbours
large numbers of these and other parasites, and thus is in contrast with
that of such forms as the Guillemot and Red-throated Diver—birds
more purely piscivorous, and in which such parasites are rare, though
cestodes are common. It is possible also that other species amongst
the many birds frequenting the Mussel-beds, such as the Oyster-
catcher, may be found to harbour the same parasite.”
In the June issue of the ‘ Irish Naturalist’ will be found a most
suggestive paper by Mr. C. B. Moffat (originally read before the Dublin
Naturalists’ Field Club) on ‘‘ The Spring Rivalry of Birds.” The writer
approaches the question, ‘“‘ Why birds—and perhaps the higher vertebrate
animals generally—do not increase in number from year to year.” He
does not altogether accept the Darwinian explanation of the ‘struggle
for existence,”’ nor does he the theory of ‘‘ sexual selection.” In fact,
as regards birds, he assumes that each male bird is ‘“ cock of his walk,”
that he maintains his ground by combat, and that thus a very large
HDITORIAL GLEANINGS, 239
number of non-breeding birds of both sexes exist, prevented from
breeding simply by the fact that they have no suitable ground. The
chief and primary use of song, he conceives, is to advertise the
presence in a certain area of an unvanquished cock-bird, who claims
that area as his, and will allow no other cock-bird to enter it without
a battle. Hence bright male colours—apart from what is called
‘* Sexual Selection ’’—are means to a definite end; they are means by
which cock-birds impress certain lessons on one another. and if they
do not help a bird to win his plot of ground, they, at any rate, render
his subsequent possession of it less liable to disturbance. He con-
cludes that Natural Selection does not—as far as birds are concerned
—require a wholesale annihilation of the weaker ones as Darwin pro-
posed, ‘‘but can, and probably does, largely work by condemning to
unproductiveness the less powerful adults.”
Amone the many objectors to the recently expressed views of Dr.
A. R. Wallace on ‘Man’s Place in the Universe,’ the distinguished
French astronomer, M. Camille Flammarion, has entered the lists in
the last issue of ‘ Knowledge.’
Of the infinite, he remarks that it is ‘‘ that to which nothing can be
added.’ Of space, that ‘‘if we imagine any confine to it whatever,
immediately we pass in thought beyond it.’’ He continues :—‘‘ In
our solar system this little earth has not obtained any special privileges
from Nature, and it is strange to wish to confine life within the circle
of terrestrial chemistry. Nor is it less so to see a naturalist (whose
theories of evolution demand the action of time as the principal factor
in the succession of species) forgetting that the epoch in which we now
happen to be has no special importance; that the different worlds of
our solar family are at different stages of their evolution; and that,
for instance, if the Moon is a waif of the past, Jupiter, on the contrary,
is a world of the future. The effect of the hypothesis of Dr. Wallace
is to narrow our horizon, and to take us back again to the time of
Ptolemy, into the prison of a useless firmament. The greatness of
modern astronomy, on the contrary, is to burst all barriers, for our
science is but a shadow in the face of the reality. Infinity encom-
passes us on all sides, life asserts itself, universal and eternal, our
existence is but a fleeting moment, the vibration of an atom in a ray
of the sun, and our planet is but an island floating in the celestial
archipelago, to which no thought will ever place any bounds. The
careful study of our planet shows that the forces of Nature have Lirr
240 : THE ZOOLOGIST.
as their supreme end. Yes, life is universal, and eternal, for time is
one of its factors. Yesterday the moon, to-day the earth, to-morrow
Jupiter. In space there are both cradles and tombs. The red carbon
stars will soon be dead; the hydrogen stars, like Vega and Sirius, are
the stars of the future; Procyon, Capella, Arcturus are the stars of
the present. Aldebaran seems to be already an autumn fruit. Let us
open the eyes of our understanding, and let us look beyond ourselves
in the infinite expanse at life and intelligence in all its degrees in
endless evolution.”
We have received from Mr. J. W. Tutt a reprint of his articles on
the ‘‘ Migration and Dispersal of Insects,’’ which originally appcared
in the ‘ Entomologists’ Record.’ This booklet consists of a recapitula-
tion, in an orderly form, of many of the records made by various
travellers and naturalists on the subject, and hence is a very valuable
contribution to a knowledge of the observed facts, on which a future
explanation of the phenomena can alone be based. It is published by
Klliot Stock.
We are glad to find that the galleries of our great Natural History
Museum are not only a resort for the public at Hastertime, but also
that the visitors on Haster Mondays show an increase. The following
figures speak for themselves :—
April 16th, 1900, visitors 11,837.
April 8th, 1901, jad end ile o 5,
March 31st, 1902, is 11,069.
April 18th, 1908, 3 13,114.
Maepres, which abound in the environs of Moscow, have a bad
time in store for them. One Berlin firm alone has given an order
for the immediate supply of 80,000 of these birds, which will be shot
to provide trimmings for ladies’ hats. Russia has recently been
obtaining an unenviable notoriety for the slaughter of wild birds for
millinery purposes. Archangel is a well-known centre for the export
of the wings and feathers of birds. Black-throated Divers’ necks are
sold in vast quantities there for trimmings for ladies’ cloaks, muffs,
boas, &¢. The wings of the Willow-Grouse also are brought down in
large cargoes to Archangel, one such cargo recently amounting to ten
tons. ‘The white plumage of the Willow-Grouse has the unusual
quality that it can be dyed any colour and used for ladies’ hats.—
Daily Mail.
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THE ZOOLOGIST
No. 745.—July, 1908.
ON THE IDENTIFICATION OF SOME OF THE
BIRDS MENTIONED BY ARISTOTLE, ©
By T. EH. Lones, M.A., LL.D., B.Sc.
THe determination of the genera and species of the birds
mentioned by Aristotle has occupied the attention of many
naturalists and classical writers. Of the earlier efforts in this
direction, those of Gesner and Belon may be specially mentioned,
while in later times this difficult work of identification has
received careful attention from Billerbeck, Gloger, and Sunde-
vall. As a result of the labours of these and other workers,
both the genera and species of about ninety of Aristotle’s birds
are fairly well known, and of the remainder—about eighty in
number—the genera only of about forty have been determined
with more or less success. Among the birds whose identification
has caused much controversy may be instanced those which are
included, by modern naturalists, in the families Cypselide and
Hirundinide, and various water-birds probably belonging to
the families Anatide, Laride, and Podicipedide. The identifi-
cation of some of these birds will be considered in this paper.
There are two important points to which attention may be
drawn advantageously at this early stage of the inquiry. In the
first place, Aristotle was in an especial degree what would now
be called a comparative zoologist, and in many cases his descrip-
tions of birds are meagre, and serve mainly to illustrate general-
ized statements made about their structure and modes of life.
Zool. 4th ser. vol. VII., July, 1903. i U
242 THE ZOOLOGIST.
Sometimes—as, for instance, in the ninth book of his ‘ History of
Animals’—he gives descriptive accounts of various birds, but the
best of these accounts is very incomplete. The data upon
which the identification of Aristotle’s birds must rest are there-
fore often insufficient. Secondly, some of the names—such as
aapoc—used by Aristotle, probably indicated birds belonging to
more than one species, or perhaps even genus, according to
modern ideas of classification. Aristotle does employ a word
(sido) which can sometimes be fairly rendered by the modern
word ‘‘species,’’ and also a word (yévos) which may be repre-
sented occasionally by the word “ genus,’ but is usually more
nearly equivalent to one of the modern terms—class, order, and
family. Synonymy of the Aristotelian and modern zoological
names is therefore exceptional, as might be reasonably ex-
pected.
Let us first consider those birds referred to above as belong-
ing to the families Cypselide and Hirundinide. Aristotle deals
with them under the names apous, cypsellos, drepanis, and chelt-
don (abandoning, for convenience’ sake, the use of the Greek
characters). The following are the chief passages :—
* Also, there are weak-footed birds which, on this account,
are called apodes. They have well-developed wings, and some
birds nearly like them have well-developed wings but weak feet,
as, for instance, chelidon and drepanis ; for all these are similar
in habits and wings, and nearly alike in appearance. The apous
is seen during the whole season, but the drepanis when it rains
in summer, for then it is both seen and caught, but is a rare bird
on the whole.” (Hist. Anim., book i. 1, 9.)
‘‘And there are some which have neither their csophagus
nor crop wide, but a long stomach [or, perhaps, stomach and
intestines], these being small birds, such as chelidon and the
sparrow. (Ibid. ii. 12, 16.)
“ But sometimes self-coloured birds, black or dark, such as
the crow, sparrow, and chelidones, become white through seasonal
changes, as, for instance, when the cold increases.” (Ibid. iii.
Hoss)
“Wild birds, as I have said, usually pair and hatch out young
once a year, but chelidon and the blackbird hatch out young
twice.” (Ibid. v. 11, 1.)
BIRDS MENTIONED BY ARISTOTLE. 243
‘“‘ The thrushes, like the chelidones, make their nests of mud.”
(Ibid. vi. 1, 3.) ,
“The chelidon, to a greater extent than carnivorous birds,
nests twice a year.” (Ibid. vi. 5.) :
“*Many birds hybernate and do not all depart for warm
localities, as some say, but those which are near places such as
those in which they are resident migrate thither, as, for instance,
the kites and chelidones ; those which are farther away from such
places do not migrate, but hide themselves. For many cheli-
dones, entirely stripped of feathers, have been seen in the
valleys. .... Some of the wood-pigeons hybernate; others do
not, but migrate with the chelidones.” (Ibid. viii. 18.)
“On the whole, many other animals may be regarded as
imitating man in their modes of life, and a precision of purpose
may be seen more among the smaller than the larger animals,
as, first of all among birds, the building of its nest by the chelt-
don. For it combines mud with straws in the same way, since it
intimately mixes mud with straws, and, if mud is not available,
the chelidon, having wetted itself, rolls with its wings in the dust.
Besides, the chelidon uses straws just as men do, first placing the
rough ones below, and making [its nest] proportional in size to
its own bulk. Both [cock and hen] work hard to rear their
young.” (Ibid. ix. 8, 1.)
““We have before stated that the apodes, which some call
cypsellot, are like the chelidones ; for it is not easy to distinguish
[the apous] from chelidon, except that it has its metatarsus rough
[=hairy, or perhaps feathery]. These hatch out their young in
deep receptacles moulded from mud, having an entrance of suit-
able size. ‘They build their nests in a narrow place under rocks
and caves, so that they avoid both wild animals and men.”
(Ibid. ix. 21, 1.)
‘Both the wasps and the titmice, and also chelidon and
the bee-eater, injure them [the bees] very much.” (Ibid. ix.
27, 16.)
“Some birds hatch out imperfect and blind young ones,
these birds being such as are prolific and not large, such as the
crow, magpie, sparrow, and chelidon.’”’ (‘Generation of Animals,’
iv. 6.)
(The extracts given from Aristotle's ‘ History of Animals’
u 2
244 . THE ZOOLOGIST.
have been translated from Schneider’s edition, which is admitted
to be the best text. The extract from Aristotle’s ‘Generation of
Animals’ has been translated from Didot’s edition.)
The identification of the bird called drepanis has given rise
to much difference of opinion. Gesner and Belon considered
that it was the Sand-Martin, Gesner stating (Hist. Anim. lib. ii.
de Avium natura, Zurich, 1555. Folio, p. 545) that drepanis
seems to be no other bird than riparia, mentioned by Pliny, and
called by some Germans ‘‘ the little bird of the Rhine.” In
Billerbeck’s table (‘De Avibus ab Aristotele Plinioque commem.’
1806, 8vo) both the Sand-Martin and, apparently, the Alpine
Swift are given under the name drepanis. Gloger was of opinion
that the Common Swift, or the Alpine Swift, was meant, and
Sundevall preferred to identify drepanis with the Alpine Swift.
Now, drepane means a sickle, and it is very probable that the
name drepanis was given to the bird because the form of one of
its parts was suggestive of that implement. The great difficulty
is to decide to what part of the bird the name referred. Gloger
and Sundevall considered that this part was the wing, the former
stating, what is by no means certain, that the name could scarcely
be given on account of the form of the claws (‘ Dissert. . . . de
Avibus ab Aristotele commem.’ 1830, 8vo), and the latter pointing
out that the Alpine Swift (Cypselus melba) has the most sickle-
shaped wings (‘ Die Thierarten des Aristoteles,’ Stockholm, 1863,
8vo). It seems most likely, however, that the Alpine Swift, with
its exceedingly well-developed wings, short feet, and feathered
metatarsus, should be included under the name apous, together
with the Common Swift (C. apus). That C.melba is not drepanis
appears to be consistent with Aristotle’s statement -that the
drepanis is seen during rainy weather in summer, and is a rare
bird on the whole; for C. melba is common in Greece during the
breeding season, according to Lindermeyer, and is sold in large
numbers in the Grecian markets. Modern Greeks also give the
name drepanis to a Martin (according to Contopoulos), and, I
believe, the one to which the name is specially applied is the
Sand-Martin. The long and curved first claw of this Martin
might readily suggest the name drepanis to anyone who examined
one of these birds. Theodore of Gaza, at any rate, called the
Sand-Martin falcula, a word signifying a small sickle, and, by
BIRDS MENTIONED BY ARISTOTLE. 245
metonymy, a claw, in which sense Pliny also uses the word.
Further, the Sand- Martin is not common in Greece, as there are
few rivers there suitable to its mode of life. It may also be
stated that it would be more likely to be seen after heavy summer
rains than at any other time, and that its stay in Greece is com-
paratively short, Von der Miihle saying that the Sand-Martin
migrates south from Greece very early in the autumn, even
earlier than the House-Martin. All these facts tend to show that
drepanis was the Sand-Martin (Cotile riparia). At one time it:
seemed to me that the Crag-Martin (C. rupestris) was the bird
meant, but, although this is a rather rare bird in Greece, it has
been established that it is resident there, according to Linder-
meyer, Seebohm, and others. Aristotle’s drepanis does not
appear to have been resident. Besides, the Crag-Martin seems
to be called chelidént by some modern Greeks, according to Dr.
Hrhard’s ‘ Fauna der Cycladen.’
A consideration of the extracts previously given from Aris-
totle, and of the structure and modes of life of the Cypselide and
Hirundintde of Greece, would seem to show that the Swifts
(Cypselus apus and C. melba) should be included under the
ancient name apous, and that the Swallow (Hirundo rustica), at
least, should be included under chelidon. Whether the House-
Martin and the Crag-Martin, if that bird were known separately
by Aristotle, should also be included under chelidon, is difficult
to decide. The inquiry, as far as the Crag-Martin is concerned,
may best be abandoned, the data being wholly insufficient. With
regard to the House-Martin, Aristotle must have known this
bird well, as it is an exceedingly common summer resident in
Greece. When the extracts from Aristotle are considered, how-
ever, some are found to be not inconsistent with the view that
chelidon included the House-Martin; but, on the other hand,
there is one important passage which tends to show that the
House-Martin was regarded by Aristotle as one of the apodes.
This passage is given in his Hist. Anim. ix. 21, 1, which states
definitely that the apodes differ from chelidon in having a rough,
hairy, or feathered metatarsus (mun dageia), a statement clearly
applicable to the House-Martin, as Gloger said. Then follows
the nesting description, which appears to be intended to refer to
the apodes, but applies emphatically to the House-Martin of
246 THE ZOOLOGIST.
Greece; for C. urbica is (according to Dresser’s ‘ Birds of
Europe,’ vol. iii.) the Rock-Martin par excellence of Greece,
building its mud nests in the caves in which Greece and
Western Asia Minor abound. Again, there is a highly inter-
esting passage in book viii. chapter 60, of Athenzeus’ ‘Deipno-
sophistai,’ where the Rhodian method of collecting or begging,
called “‘ chelidonizing,” is described, it being stated that chelidon
has a white belly and black back, a description which does not
accord well with the actual colouring of Chelidon urbica. On the
whole, it would appear that the House-Martin of Greece and
Asia Minor is one of Aristotle’s apodes, and, adopting this view,
the difficulties of the nesting description in Hist. Anim. ix. 21,1,
disappear to some extent.
In the same passage (Hist. Anim. ix. 21, 1), Aristotle says
that the apodes are called cypsellot by some, and Pliny, as is so
often the case, copies him. Some writers, however, neglecting
Aristotle’s distinct statement, say that cypsellos was the Sand-
Martin, and Sundevall states that it is unlikely that cypsellos
was the same as apous, but that two distinct kinds of birds were
known in Greece under these names, but that Aristotle con-
founded them in his description. It seems to be more satis-
factory to take Aristotle’s statement as it stands, just as Gesner
and Belon did, and to regard cypsellot as a name applied by some
ancient Greeks to the apodes.
The water-birds which will be discussed in this paper are
referred to by Aristotle under the names cycnos, chen, micros
chen, chenalopex, aix, netta, boscas, penelops, phalaris, colymbis,
laros, and aithyia, abandoning the use of the Greek characters as
before. The following are the chief passages containing refer-
ences to these birds :—
“There are animals which obtain their food and pass their
time in water, yet do not take in water but breathe air, and breed
out of the water. . . . Someof these are winged, as, for instance,
aithyia and colymbis.” (Hist. Anim. i. 1, 6.)
“Also animals may be retiring and cautious, like the chen.”
(Ebidsi.l, 15.)
“Not all birds have cecal appendages of the intestine, but
most birds have them, as, for instance, netta, chen, and cycnos.”
(Ibid: 21.125) 17.)
BIRDS MENTIONED BY ARISTOTLE, 247
“The aithyia and the larot hatch out their young, two or
three in number, among the rocks by the sea, but the laros does
so in summer, and the aithyia in early spring just after the
equinox; they incubate like other birds, and neither of them
hybernates.” (Ibid. v. 8, 4.)
“The eagle sits about thirty days, and for other large birds
this is the period of incubation, as, for instance, in the case of
the chen and bustard.”” (Ibid. vi. 6, 2.)
‘Only the female chenes incubate, and, once they commence
to do so, sit continuously.” (Ibid. vi. 8, 1.)
‘* Also the stork and laros, and the laros is ash-coloured,....
and the crows feed upon animals cast ashore, for they are
omnivorous. Also the white laros, storm petrel, aithyia, and
thick-knee.” (Ibid. viii. 5, 7.)
‘¢The heavier. web-footed birds live in the neighbourhood of
rivers and lakes, as, for instance, cycnos, netta, phalaris, colymbis,
and also boscas, which is like netia, but smaller; and the cor-
morant..... Also, the great chen, the small chen, which is gre-
garious, the chenalopex, aix, and penelops.” (Ibid. viii. 5, 8.)
“The crane, cycnos, pelican, and small chena are gregarious
birds.” (Ibid. viii. 14, 6.)
“ The vulture and cycnos fight with the eagle, and the cycnos
is often victorious; the cycnoi, among birds, are especially dis-
posed to devour [? fight with] one another.”’ (Ibid. ix. 2, 9.)
‘* The cycnot are capable of singing, and sing especially towards
the end of life.” (Ibid. ix. 18, 2.)
‘“The web-footed birds, and those which have their feet
divided but flattened, so that they are in the same class as the
web-footed birds, have their necks long but their legs short for
swimming,.... and of necessity, on this account, some swim-
ming birds are simply web-footed, and others have their toes
separated one from another, but there is attached to each of
them something continuous throughout the toe, like an oar.”
(‘ Parts of Animals,’-iv. 12.)
The species of Swan included under Aristotle’s cycnos are
probably Cygnus olor and C. musicus, the former of which is
resident in Greece, and breeds on Lake Copais, according to Dr.
Kruper, and the latter is a winter visitant. The word aaanrogayo
(devouring one another) in the Greek text is difficult to under-
248 THE ZOOLOGIST.
stand. Sundevall prefers the reading aaanaogiac: (fond of one
another), but aaarnrouzxo (fighting one another), which has also
been proposed, would be the best reading, for the young Swans
fight furiously during the mating season. Athenzus, quoting
Aristotle in the *‘ Deipnosophistai,’ ix. 49, says that Swans are
disposed to fight, and that they kill one another. The remark-
able passage on the Swan in Hist. Anim. ix. 18, 2, has not been
given above in full, but it recalls forcibly Portia’s pretty speech,
delivered when Bassanio is about to make his fateful choice of
the caskets.
. The Goose (chen) referred to by Aristotle appears to have
been Anser cinereus, and perhaps A. segetwm, which occurs in
company with A. cinereus in Greece and Asia Minor. A. albi-
frons, which is about five inches shorter than A. cinereus, and
four shorter than A. segetum, may be Aristotle’s small chen. It
is not uncommon in Greece during cold winters. Beion and
Billerbeck regarded the chen as the Domestic Goose, and the
small chen as the Wild Goose; and Sundevall identified the chen
mainly with the Domestic Goose, and the small chen as A. albi-
frons. It may be mentioned that Aristophanes, with his usual
charming drollery, assigns to the chenes the genial task of using
their feet like spades in working the mud for the walls of
Nephelococcugia, or Cloud-cuckoo City.
Aristotle’s meagre references to chenalopex (the Fox-goose)
can, fortunately, be supplemented by a passage in Herodotus
(book ii. c. 72), which states that the lepidotus and eel of the
Nile, and also the chenalopex, among birds, are sacred; and by a
passage in Atheneus, 1x. 52, referring to a kind of boscades
larger than netta, but smaller than chenalopex. Pliny also says
that chenalopex belongs to the family of Geese, and Ailian states
that it has the appearance of a Goose, but is smaller and bolder.
There is no doubt that chenalopex was the Egyptian Goose
(Chenalopex egyptiacus), which was emblematic of Seb, the
father of Osiris, according to Rawlinson. The bird’s name
(chenalopex), and its corresponding Latin name (vulpanser), are
appropriate to the Egyptian Goose, which, Rawlinson says, dis-
plays great courage and cunning in protecting its young; Adlian
also says that it can be compared to the Fox in cunning.
Schneider suggests that Anas tadorna, Linn., the Burrow-duck
BIRDS MENTIONED BY ARISTOTLE. 249
or Sheldrake, may have also been included under the name
chenalopex, on account of its breeding in hollows in the earth,
like the Fox.
Much uncertainty exists respecting the bird called aix by
Aristotle. Gaza and Belon translate the word as capella, or
Lapwing (Vanellus cristatus); Billerbeck suggested that Anas
crecca or Scolopax gallinago was meant, and Sundevall thought
that aiz was one of the small Geese; while Schneider, although
translating aiz as capella, says that Camus rightly advises us not
to regard the bird as the Lapwing. Belon, describing le vanneau,
or the Lapwing (‘ L’hist. de la nat. des Oyseaux, Paris, 1585),
says that in his opinion this bird was called aix by Aristotle
because, when screaming, it seemed to make a noise like a Goat,
which says ‘‘aex aex.” However this may be, the modern Greek
for the Lapwing has no resemblance to aix, according to Conto-
poulos; besides, Aristotle’s atx was without doubt a water-bird,
and may have been one which darted or flew rapidly (azsso,
aixo, to dart, to move with a rapid shooting motion), such as
the Pintail Duck (Dajila acuta), which is tolerably common in
Greece and Turkey, according to Lord Lilford and Lindermeyer.
The data are, however, insufficient for the purpose of identifying
Aristotle’s atx with any reasonable chance of success.
The Mallard, or Wild Duck (Anas boscas), which is very
common in Greece, Turkey, and Asia Minor, is the netia of
Aristotle. The male is larger than the female, and its plumage
is more brightly coloured, according to Athenzus, ix. 52; and
Aflian says that the young nettaz take to the water immediately
after they are hatched. |
In determining the species corresponding to boscas, Athenzus
may be consulted with advantage. He states (ix. 52) that of the
birds called boscades, the male is marked all over with lines, is
less than netia, and has a short beak which is disproportionately
small compared with the size of the bird; also that there is
another species of boscades, larger than netta, but smaller than
chenalopex ; and that the birds called phascades are a little larger
than the Little Grebe, but resemble the nettaz in other respects.
From this it would seem that several species were included
under the name boscas, and that the Wigeon (Mareca penelope)
and Common Teal (Querquedula crecca) may have been two of
250 THE ZOOLOGIST.
them. The beak of the Wigeon is comparatively very short,
and the back and scapulars of this bird are finely vermiculated,
especially in winter. Again, the Common Teal has the back
vermiculated in a striking manner, and its beak, although longer
than that of the Wigeon compared with the size of the bird, is
rather short. Both these birds are abundant in parts of Greece
in winter, according to Lord Lilford. Sundevall seems to
identify the larger of Athensus’ boscades with the Sheldrake,
the smaller one with the Wigeon, and the phascas with the Com-
mon Teal. Belon, on the other hand, gives la sarcelle, or the
Teal, as the equivalent of boscas and phascas, and Billerbeck
suggests that boscas was the Wild Duck.
The identification of the bird named penelops is much more
difficult, the data being so scanty. Aristotle merely mentions it
among the heavier water-birds, while Aristophanes, who refers
to it at least twice, gives us no further information. I have not
found anything in Atheneus and Adlian. Ion, however, applies
the epithet “purple- or crimson-streaked”’ to a bird called by
him penelops. Alczus says that it has a variegated neck and
long wings, and Ibycus that it is many-coloured, and has a neck
of glancing or changeful hue. ‘These statements of Ion, Alczeus,
and Ibycus I have had no opportunity of checking, but they are
given on the authority of Schneider, who was a very reliable
scholar. Again, Stephanus (‘ Thesaurus Grece Lingue’) gives
a scholium on Aristophanes, which states that the penelops is like
netta, but of the size of a Dove (peristera). Pliny speaks of
certain birds, called penelops, being found in a lake in Africa,
from which a certain river Crathis flowed towards the Atlantic
(Hist. Nat. xxxvii.11). Assuming that these notices refer to the
same kind of bird——and such assumption is a bold one—it would
appear that penelops was a lake or river bird with long wings,
and variegated plumage in which purple or crimson was con-
spicuous, the neck being of striking brilliancy or variety of
colour; in addition, there is the above-mentioned scholium, the
value of which is uncertain. I know of no duck-like bird likely
to have been known by Aristotle which answers reasonably well
to this description. The Common Teal, with its moderately long
wings, green, buff, and deep chestnut head and neck, and green,
purple, and other colours of the wings, seems to approach nearest.
BIRDS MENTIONED BY ARISTOTLE. 251
According to Aristotle, phalaris is one of the heavier web-
footed birds living in the neighbourhood of lakes and rivers.
Athenzeus says it is rounder than owria, and is ash-coloured below
and somewhat black above. It seems probable that phalaris was
the Coot (Fulica atra), as stated by Billerbeck, Schneider, and
others. The Coot, it is true, has lobated feet, but would properly
come under Aristotle’s web-footed division of birds, as is clear
from the passage previously quoted from Aristotle’s ‘ Parts of
Animals,’ iv. 12. Belon, however, identified phalaris with la
piette, by which he probably meant the Smew (Mergus albellus),
and Sundevall follows him. The Smew is tolerably common in
Greece in winter, but the colour of its plumage does not answer
at all well with Atheneus’ description of phataris.
Colymbis—so called, as Athenzus says, from colymbao, to
dive—has been identified by Gesner, Belon, Gaza, Schneider,
and many others as the Latin wrinatriz, or diver. Billerbeck
appears to be undecided between the Pochard Duck and Goos-
ander, and Sundevall argues strongly in favour of regarding
colymbis as a species of Grebe. Sundevall’s opinion appears to
be correct, for Athenzus says that the little colymbis, which is
the least of all aquatic birds, is of a dirty black colour, has a
sharp beak, and dives much. This little bird is no doubt the
Little Grebe, and it seems reasonable to conclude that colymbis,
which Aristotle mentions among the heavier water-birds, was a
larger Grebe, perhaps Podicipes cristatus, a bird very common in
Greece and Turkey. ‘The lobated feet of P. cristatus need pre-
sent no difficulty in adopting this view, asis shown by Aristotle’s
‘Parts of Animals,’ iv. 12, previously quoted. ‘The Grebe is
called colymbos by modern Greeks, according to Contopoulos.
The colymbis might have included the Pochard Duck, which is
fairly common in Greece and Turkey, but the passage in
Athenzus on the little colymbis does not favour this suggestion.
There appears to be far less reason for considering colymbis as a
diver (colymbus), as understood by modern ornithologists, or as
the Goosander, for none of these birds occurs in Greece except
as a rare visitant, and even then only on the coasts, as a
rule. Aristophanes does not say much about colymbis, but
in the * Birds” Euelpides asks, ‘‘Who led the owl towards
Athens?” and his fellow-villain of the play, Pistheteerus, mentions
252 THE ZO00LOGIST.
colymbis as one of the birds which did so. It is scarcely likely
that Aristophanes would try to introduce into this part of the
comedy a bird probably unknown to the Athenian audience.
Aristotle’s laros included more than one species of birds, and
perhaps more than one genus. His descriptions point clearly to
the Gulls, and possibly the Terns, of which collectively there are
at least eight species common in Grecian waters. Belon seems:
to identify Aristotle’s ash-coloured laros with the Common Gull
(Larus canus), but Sundevall suggests that Aristotle used the
epithets ‘‘ash-coloured”’ and “‘ white” for young and adult Gulls
respectively, the plumage of which differs, as is well known,
according to age. It is scarcely possible to decide with any
degree of satisfaction which birds were intended to be meant by
the epithets, but the name laros may be fairly regarded as
referring in particular to LZ. canus, and perhaps the Herring-
Gull (ZL. argentatus), the Adriatic Gull (ZL. melanocephalus), and
others. Modern Greeks still call the Sea-gulls glarot.
The identification of Aristotle’s aithyia has caused much
difficulty and some confusion, arising chiefly from the fact that
Pliny describes, under the name mergus, a bird clearly intended
to be Aristotle’s aithyia, but represented by Pliny as nesting in
trees, whereas aithyia nested among the rocks near the sea.
Gesner gives aithyia as mergus, and repeats Pliny’s statement
that it nested in trees; while Belon similarly calls aithyia
mergus or plongeon de mer. Gesner seems to have been thinking
of the Goosander, and Belon of the divers. Amidst this con-
fusion it is best to consider carefully what Aristotle says of
the aithyia; it will then appear, as Sundevall suggests, that
Aristotle’s aithyia was probably none other than some species of
Gull which nests among the rocks near the coast early in spring.
Larus leucopheus, the Yellow-legged Herring-Gull, which is very
common in Greece, seems to answer well to this description.
This bird nests on the rocks near the coast in some parts of
Greece, and, according to Seebohm, who visited its breeding-
places on an island east of Cephalonia, its eggs are laid before
the middle of April.
It will be seen that the identification of Aristotle’s birds
attempted to be made in this paper rests partially upon assist-
ance given by two assumptions, viz. that the ancient Greek
authors referred to the same kinds of birds whenever they
BIRDS MENTIONED BY ARISTOTLE.
253
used the same names, and that the avifauna of Greece, Tur-
key, and Asia Minor, at the present time, may be taken
as a guide in forming an opinion as to the birds known by
Aristotle.
It would be very difficult to determine to what extent
reliance can be placed upon these assumptions, but the pro-
bability of comparatively extensive changes in the avifauna of
the countries mentioned since Aristotle’s time has been specially
impressed upon me by H. Seward, Esq., B.A. Oxon, to whom
my thanks are due for reading the manuscript.
That changes in
the avifauna of the countries mentioned have taken place since
Aristotle’s time cannot be doubted, but it would be reasonable to
contend that the assumption previously mentioned is reliable as
far as the common, or tolerably common, species mentioned
herein are concerned.
In conclusion, the following table will show, in a convenient
form, the chief results of this attempt to identify some of the
birds mentioned by Aristotle :—
Greek Names. English Names.
Scientific Names.
&irous (apous) (=xnpearos)| Common Swift.........
Alpine Swift............
House- Martin (?)......
dperravis (drepanis) ...... Sand-Martin .........
x%erdav (chelidon) — ...... Swallows cee
Crag-Martin (?) ......
. House-Martin (?)
HUKVOS (CYCNOS) ....0.000008 Whistling Swan ......
Mute Swat.) ees.
nvecolen)* 220i a, Grey Lag-Goose .......
Bean Goose ..........+.
5 (GUREE GAN) scope shabbeee:
xwananné (chenalopen) ..
aie (GD oe ee Eitan Darel aliases
Wee, (CLLG))” .. 005 0s0 00% Mallavd'ice cece cost:
Boones (boscas) ......... Wigseont eon 3,
Common Teal? ......
mnverod (penelops) ws... ‘Common Teal ?] ......
Paras (phalaris) ...... Common Coot .........
nonuz{3ts (colymDis) ........ Great Crested Grebe .
[Lg UGH ROE) tek Pen Common Gull .........
Herring-Gull .........
Adriatic Gull, &c. ..
aibue (uithyia)............) Yellow-legged Her- _
ring-Gull.
White-fronted Goose .
Egyptian Goose .........
Cypselus apus.
C. melba.
Chelidon urbica.
Cotile riparia,
Hirundo rustica.
| Cotile rupestris.
Chelidon urbica.
Cygnus musicus.
C. olor.
Anser cinereus.
A. segetum.
A. albifrons.
Chenalopex egyptiacus.
Dafila acuta.
Anas boscas.
Mareca penelope.
Querquedula crecca.
Q. crecca.
Fulica atra.
Podicipes cristatus.
Larus canus.
L. argentatus.
LL. melanocephalus, &c.
L. leucopheus.
254 THE ZOOLOGIST.
SOME FURTHER NOTES ON CHIPPED FLINTS
AT YENANGYOUNG, UPPER BURMA.
By Ropway C. J. SWINHOE.
In the last volume of ‘ The Zoologist’ (1902, p. 821) an account
was given of two visits, made by Lt.-Col. Nichols, R.A.M.C., and
myself to Yenangyoung, with the object of making further search
for traces of early man in that vicinity, in consequence of the in-
terest raised by papers published by Dr. Noetling on the occur-
rence of artificially chipped flints and a faceted bone, stated by him
to have been found in situ in a bed of ferruginous conglomerate
running round the Yenangyoung oil-field, and belonging to
Pliocene, if not Miocene, age. Our second visit resulted in the
discovery, practically at the place mentioned by Dr. Noetling, of
a number of flint chips, not, however, in the Tertiary bed, but
high above it, lying out on the surface of the plateau in such a
way as to prove that these chips are of much more recent date
than the Tertiary bed, and to have no connection with it.
On that occasion, however, we had so little time left to con-
tinue our search after coming upon these flints, that we were
obliged to leave two important matters undetermined. The first
was where the lumps of chert found partially or wholly chipped
up came from, and the second was whether similarly chipped
flints were to be found at other points on the plateau, or were
confined to the neighbourhood of the place where Dr. Noetling
found his.
These two matters have now been cleared up by a third visit
which I was able to make to Yenangyoung not long after the
publication of the previous paper in ‘ The Zoologist.’ There is
at Yenangyoung a plateau gravel, mentioned by Dr. Noetling as
being peculiar in containing very large rounded stones, mostly
of quartz, which must have come from a great distance, and have
necessitated great carrying power to lay them down where they
now are, probably some hundreds of miles from where they
started.
FURTHER NOTES ON CHIPPED FLINTS. 255
This plateau gravel is conspicuously seen on the summit of
the sand cliffs that abut on the left bank of the Irrawaddy at
Yenangyoung, and is met with at other points inland. A new
cart-road between Yenangyoung and Thittabwe (some two or
three miles further down the river) is cut for part of the way
through this gravel, and a good section is thus exposed.
As mentioned by Dr. Noetling, this gravel is chiefly composed
of large pieces of rounded quartz, but an examination of it-proved
that it contains also fairly numerous lumps of chert, and is un-
doubtedly the source from which the men who produced the
chips obtained their supply. The ground where the gravel exists
is naturaliy hard and unpleasant to sit upon, being composed of
large rounded stones, and it is clear that chert was obtained from
the gravel, taken a short distance away to where the ground is
soft and grassy, and there chipped up. At one place, not far
away, [ found a small collection of stones, among them several
pieces of chert, and numerous chips of the latter, while a search
in any direction resulted in the discovery of chips. So far from
being confined to the neighbourhood of the place where Dr.
Noetling found his, or to the places where the ferruginous con-
glomerate outcrops on the plateau, my experience was that it is
impossible to walk anywhere about the oil-field, either inside or
outside of the circumscribing band of conglomerate, without,
sooner or later, finding these chips, sometimes few and far
between, and sometimes in little bunches. Being for the most
part merely fragments, while even the deliberately worked scrapers
and other implements that are to be found are too inconspicuous
to attract ordinary attention, they have remained unnoticed, and
can be picked up among the oil-wells, lying where they have
doubtless lain since they were made. One symmetrically shaped
chip, which has the appearance of a diminutive scraper, or might
be a roughly finished arrow-head, I picked up within fifty yards
of the bungalow of the manager of the Burma Oil Company, as
I was on my way to breakfast with him. Being a shrewd man of
business, and an American, he was naturally unable to understand
that I was only searching for stone implements, and was not
spying out the land with a view to oil.
It was certainly a curious and instructive commentary on the
progress of the world to be picking up the rough stone imple-
256 THE Z00OLOGIST.
ments that represent the highest intelligence of primitive man in
tool-making, while at my very elbow great 40 ft. steel borers
were thumping their way for a thousand feet or more down
through the ground to reach the oil-sands, and all around beam-
engines were pumping the oil up to the surface. It is seldom, I
think, that such striking representatives of ancient and modern
industry can be seen at the same spot!
Mr. Oldham, of the Geological Survey of India, was with
Dr. Noetling when they found some chips ; he has seen what I
have collected, and has also been to Yenangyoung again, and
picked up some more for himself, and there can be no doubt
whatever that the pieces found originally by Dr. Noetling are
identical with those that are found scattered about everywhere.
As the plateau gravel, which is the source of the chert, rests un-
conformably on the Tertiary beds, the chips, apart from their
position on the surface, can have no connection with the Miocene
or Pliocene beds.
Dr. Noetling, although he was engaged for several months in
making a detailed geological map of the oil-fields, and examined
the plateau gravel, does not appear to have noticed either the
fact that chips, identical with those mentioned by him, are scat-
tered about everywhere in no inconsiderable numbers, or that
the plateau gravel contains lumps of chert, besides quartz.
Not having myself had the opportunity at that time of
examining any similar objects from India or elsewhere, I sub-
mitted several of them to Mr. Bruce Foote at Yercand, in
Madras, and that gentleman had no difficulty in finding a
similarity between them and objects of typical Neolithic age
from sites in Bellary, Kurnoot, Gujerat, and Kathiawar. He
judges them to be of late Neolithic or even early Iron age, but
distinctly not Paleolithic. Three or four specimens are well-
worked scrapers, of small size as compared with European speci-
mens, but good examples of their kind, with regular “‘ gasteropod”’
working faces and secondary chipping along the edge; others
are apparently scrapers of a larger and rougher kind, while
specimens of peeling-stones and so-called sling-stones are to be
found. Without, however, straining after resemblances, and
striving to find uses for what may in some instances be merely
accidental fragments, it is certain that among the chips are
FURTHER NOTES ON CHIPPED FLINTS. 257
many that are as deliberately worked human artifacts as any
ground and polished celt. It is perhaps not to be expected that
the best implements wiil be found at the place where the manu-
facture of them took place, as they would, it is reasonable to
suppose, be carried off, so that only “rejects”? would remain
behind; but a further search over a more extended area in the
vicinity of the plateau gravel is needed to ascertain how far this
is true. If the Neolithic men required suitable stones for
grooving hard wood or bone, for peeling the bark from arrow-
or lance-shafts, scraping skins, &c., there does not appear to be
any good reason why they should not have done the required
work on the spot. There are no high hills in the vicinity except
the extinct volcano Mount Popa, some twenty or more miles
away ; and if the stone-working men were a savage tribe living on
the sides of this mountain, while the plains were inhabited by
more civilized people, they could not have come down to the
river to get the material for their implements. I have three
ground and polished celts, kindly given to me by Mr. Berrill,
from Kyoukpadoung, that were found at the foot of Mount Popa,
and it is probable that there were Neolithic men living on Popa,
and using stone for their weapons, as there were on all the hills
round Burma, while at the same time other men lived on the
plains near the river, and used the chert which was found near
at hand. They would hardly have chosen to live inland when
they could live on the banks of a large river. So far the objects
found are all small, and there is nothing that can be definitely
called an offensive weapon, unless some of the specimens are
arrow-heads, as they certainly may be.
The date of the stone stage of civilization must of course
vary very much in different localities, but it would appear to be
of some considerable age, even in the hills now occupied by more
or less wild tribes around Burma, and would certainly be older
in the case of peoples living on the plains.
Ground and polished celts, axe-heads, scrapers, and other
objects are found in the Kachen Hills, to the north, in the Shan
States, in the Chin Hills, and on the Upper Chindwin, and in
Tenasserim in the south; but in no instance can any of the
present inhabitants of these parts recognize in them the work of
man. Universally they are considered, as in other parts of the
Zool 4th ser. vol. VII., July, 1903. x
258 THE ZOOLOGIST.
world, to be ‘‘sky-arrows,”’ thunderbolts that fall during storms,
and get deeply embedded in the ground, but gradually work
their way up to the surface, so that they may sometimes be
found actually on the surface ; sometimes may be turned up from
just beneath when cultivating their hill-crops (taung-yas), and
sometimes are discovered when digging for bamboo-rats, still
deeply embedded in the ground. How a thunderbolt can get
into the shape of a shoulder-headed celt, and how it can work its
way up to the surface, they do not stop to enquire; but the fact
that they have lost all idea of these things being ordinary human
implements seems to show that the Neolithic men, whoever they
were, are separated from the present inhabitants of these hills
and valleys by a considerable period of time. And this matter
is all the more curious, seeing that at the present day many of
these people use implements which are plainly lineal descendants
of stone implements. Thus, as an example, the Shans use a
hoe, now made of iron, which is often very little larger than its
ancestor, the shoulder-headed celt, and exactly resembling it in
shape, except that, in place of the solid stone haft that had to be
fitted into a hole made either directly through the handle, or in
a piece of wood that fitted into the handle, there is now a hoop
ofiron. This, however, is not at right angles to the blade, as in
a modern hoe, but in continuation of it, exactly as in the stone
hoe. This is sometimes fitted on to ashort piece of wood, which
is then fixed through a hole drilled in a long handle, or, more
generally, so far as I could see, a handle is chosen with a fork at
one end, resembling the brow-tine of an antler, and the iron hoe
is fitted to this fork. The connection between the Neolithic men
and the tribes at present living in these parts seems clear, but
the lapse of time has been sufficient for the intervening history
to be completely lost. The only person whom I met who seemed
to have any idea that human beings had had a hand in making
these implements was the late chief of the Shan State of Thibaw
(Hsipaw), who, however, had paid two visits to England, and
was consequently a somewhat enlightened man. He once told
me that there were two kinds of these stone implements—one
kind made by the nats (spirits), and dropped from the sky, and
one kind made by men; that if you found one of the latter kind
and smelt it, nothing would happen; but that if you did the
FURTHER NOTES ON CHIPPED FLINTS. 259
same with one made by the nats, blood would come from your
nose, and you would die. There was, unfortunately, no means
of telling which was which except by the result, so that it was as
well to carry about an antidote, which would be found in a ring
of pinchbeck, to be worn as an ordinary ring, and to be smelt
as soon as your nose began to bleed.
History is not a strong point with Mongolian people, and it
is perhaps useless to look to them for any account of the stone-
using tribes whose implements they have copied in iron.
Yenangyoung is not more than a few hours’ journey down the
river by steamer from the ruined Buddhist city of Pagan, and, as
the crow flies, perhaps not more than fifty miles, and it is hard
to suppose that people so far back in civilization as to use flint
scrapers and peeling-stones could be contemporaneous with the
builders of that great religious’ centre, whose massive temples,
unlike anything else east of the Euphrates, are still the wonder
and delight of travellers. Yet, if there is any truth in the
Burmese Royal Chronicle, the old kingdom established near
Prome came to an end about 95 a.D., and the ‘‘ Pyu,” who formed
a portion of that kingdom, fled to the north, and settled, under
Thamudarib, nephew of the last king of Prome, at Nyoungoo,
i. €. Pagan.
Whether Pagan was originally begun by settlers from the
south, or from Tegoung on the north, it is undoubtedly an
ancient site, and was probably a capital from the second century
A.D. By the eleventh century it was certainly a celebrated city,
with many fine temples, and was a centre of Buddhist learning.
Polished celts have been found, if not actually on the site of
Pagan, at any rate in the immediate neighbourhood; so that it
seems clear that the Neolithic men in Burma—at any rate, those
living on the plains in the vicinity of the Irrawaddy, and who are
responsible for the polished celts, and the chert implements at
Yenangyoung—must be referred to a date anterior to the
Christian era.
Further search on the spot, and especially the finding of any
drawings or carvings, may elucidate something more definite as
to their date and identity.
x2
260 THE ZOOLOGIST.
BIRD NOTES IN SARK, 1903.
By KE. F. M. Ens.
THE. following notes were taken between May 28rd and June
1st, during which time much enjoyment fell to my lot on this
interesting and beautiful island.
Sark, seven miles E.S.E. of Guernsey, is not more than three
and a half miles long, including Little Sark, joined only to Sark
proper by the well-known Coupée, an isthmus or causeway of
natural formation. The island at its broadest part is roughly
one and a half miles wide, and has a very indented coast-line with
precipitous cliffs, in some places about 250 ft. above low water-
mark,
Some of the country is under cultivation, but the greater part
is covered with gorse bushes, and divided up by numerous valleys,
down which the little mountain streams hurry. The vegetation
is rank and luxuriant, and, being so, it is a somewhat remarkable
fact that certain birds were not noted that might have reasonably
been expected to be abundant, and those few of certain species
that were observed did not appear to be nesting freely.
I should not have been at all surprised to have seen. the
Wheatear, as at the northern part of Sark the country is quite
suitable to its requirements, but not a single specimen was seen.
Other notable absentees were the Redstart, Nightingale, Black-
cap, all the members of the Wagtail family, Tree-Pipit, Spotted
Flycatcher, Jackdaw, the Columbe, and Gallinaceous birds. I
fear it is an impossible task for me to try to assign any reason
for the absence of most of them. Perhaps the close proximity
of the sea may possibly account for some, and of. course others
may have escaped my observation.
But it 1s with the sea-birds that one finds more interest in
Sark, and to visit them in their breeding haunts it is necessary
to take a boat, and positively suicidal to attempt a visit without
the help of a local fisherman. In fact, they would not, under
BIRD NOTES IN SARK. 261
any consideration, allow visitors to go by themselves, for the
strong currents, even on the smoothest day, are terribly swift
and dangerous except to the thoroughly seasoned and experienced
boatmen.
May 29th was the day selected for this pleasant excursion,
and, though the sea was generally as smooth as an inland lake,
we experienced one considerable “ bucketing’” when landing on
L’Etac de Sark, but this was the only difficult landing of the
day, and was due to the fact that the tide was ebbing.
After all such a trip is not really expensive, for it means about
seven hours’ work for the boatmen, and the charge is ten shillings,
with an additional two shillings for the two men’s lunch, and
whatever little tip you care to give them on the conclusion of the
journey.
I was much struck by the sociability of the various kinds of
birds that were nesting in close proximity to one another, and it
was to me an altogether new feature to hear of the Lesser Black-
backed Gull and Herring-Gull occupying the same nest. Our
boatmen spoke of it as quite a normal state of affairs, and seemed
quite surprised to hear that it was new to us. We all know that
there are a great many birds who are eminently sociable when
carrying out their marital duties, and we have also many a time
heard of two Partridges sharing a common nursery, and sitting
side by side on their eggs; but the fact of two different kinds of
birds, although closely affined to one another, laying in and
occupying one nest was, to me, at any rate, altogether new.
On landing at Grande Moie, I saw a Lesser Black-back fly
off, and, having climbed up to the nest, discovered therein two
eggs; one, the larger, which the boatmen assured me belongs to
the Lesser Black-back, is pale olive-brown in ground colouring ;
the umber spottings and blotchings are rather more confluent
towards the middle of the egg, and also to a lesser extent at the
larger end, and it has a few faint grey markings; while the
smaller one is a pale greenish stone-colour, spotted and dashed
pretty evenly all over the surface, and at the large end there is a
scribbly streak somewhat after the fashion of the Guillemot’s
egg, and in this one, too, there are faint grey underlying
blotches. These two eggs I have in my possession. I also found
another nest, containing three eggs, the dark variety of which
262 THE ZOOLOGIST..
was even darker than the one just quoted, and the other two
almost the same as the lighter kind described; these I did not
take, and have since regretted it, as it would have tended the
better to substantiate the occurrence of these two birds nesting
together. I do not altogether place too much reliance on the
fisherman’s statement, because I know very well that their. in-
formation, though not actually perhaps fickle, is at all events
sometimes a little inaccurate, and I should be very happy to hear
some other observer’s opinion as to whether this social and
economical instinct has been noted in these two Gulls before, or
whether it is that I have fallen into one of the many traps pro-
vided by the eccentricities of Nature for her youthful students.
The following is the list of birds, with notes on same, com-
piled during my visit :—
Mistie-Tarusa (Turdus viscivorus)—Not so common as the next
named, but met with several times singing from the tree-tops in various
parts of the island. Found no nest of this species.
Sone-Turus# (7. musicus).— Well distributed throughout the island,
but always keeping well away from the sea. One individual sang from
the trees opposite our windows punctually at daybreak, and again at
night, right up to 8.45 p.m. on one or two occasions.
Buacxsirp (7. merula).—Quite one of the commonest birds. Found
nests with eggs in various stages of incubation. On May 24th a nest
of four young ones in a furze-bush.
Warncuat (Pratincola rubetra).—Saw only one individual, and did
not see the nest. .
Stonecuat (P. rubicola).—This bird was quite abundant among the
gorse on the western coast, and again in Little Sark, but was less
noticeable in other localities which seemed to be equally suitable.
Rosin (Hrithacus rubecula)—Common. Saw two or three broods
of young ones, and found deserted nest with five eggs in hollow in
grassy bank at side of road near Beau-regard.
Wauirersroat (Sylvia cinerea)—Rather rare. Did not see this
species many times.
Lesser WuitretHroat (S. curruca).—I fancy I saw this bird once
near the Seigneurie grounds, but am not quite sure.
GarDEN WarBLER (S. hortensis)—Once heard one singing from the
tangle at the side of road running through the Seigneurie grounds,
and also saw one fidgeting about in brambles in the same neighbour-
BIRD NOTES IN SARK. 263
hood. This bird seemed to have a nest, but I did not discover its
whereabouts.
Gotpcerest (Regulus cristatus)—One sang from some firs close to
where we were staying ; it was not a common species.
Cutrrcuarr (Phylloscopus rufus) and WitLow- Wren (P. trochilus),—
A few in the neighbourhood of the Dixcart valley.
Woop- Wren (P. sibilatrix). — Less abundant than the last two
species.
- Hepee-Sparrow (Accentor modularis)—Common everywhere, seem-
ing to have no special preference for any one locality, and met with
often on the cliff sides.
Great Tir (Parus major).—More of these birds than any other
members of the family ; saw a family among the bushes at the top of
the Creux Derrible on May 26th.
Buvue Tir (P. ce@ruleus)—Not so many of these birds as might
have been expected. No other representatives of the Parine birds
came under my notice.
Ween (Troglodytes parvulus).—Very abundant everywhere on the
island. Found several dummy nests, one built into the side of a furze-
bush, and, as usual, none of them with any lining. On several occa-
sions the Wren was heard singing quite close to the sea, almost as
low down as the Rock-Pipit.
Meapow-Pipir (Anthus pratensis)—The breeding period, as a rule,
must have been over, for I saw no nests of this species with eggs,
They sang incessantly from the gorse-covered cliffs, launching forth
into the air, and descending in their own peculiar parachute-like man-
ner. On May 28th, on the cliffs above Havre Gosselin, saw a parent
feeding one of its offspring. The youngster, just able to fly, perched
on a spray of gorse, agitating its wings as though to balance itself,
and the parent (I am not sure which sex) hovered in the air over the
young one, and dropped what looked like a caterpillar into the opened
mouth.
Rocx-Prrir (A. obscurus).—Local name, ‘ Sea-Lark.” By far the
most common kind of Pipit, and even perhaps more abundant than
any other kind of bird, excluding of course the sea-birds. Spent much
time trying to find the nest, but without success. The fishermen,
though so familiar with this bird—a common species in the Channel
Islands—were mostly ignorant of its nest and eggs.
(To be continued.)
264 THE ZOOLOGIST.
NOTES AND QUERIES.
MAMMALIA.
The Burmese Gaur, or Pyoung.—It has for many years been a
question among naturalists whether the Gaur inhabiting the countries
to the eastward of the Bay of Bengal could be subspecifically dis-
tinguished from the typical Bos (Bibos) gaurus of India. A head of a
bull obtained from Myitekyina, in Upper Burma, by Mr. Joseph
Reade, and mounted by Rowland Ward, of Piccadilly, which I have
recently had the opportunity of inspecting, leaves little doubt that this
question should be answered in the affirmative, so far as regards the
Pyoung, or Burmese representative of the species. And if this be so,
there can be little or no doubt that the Saladang (Slading), a Malacca
form of the species, likewise belongs to a race apart from the typical
Indian animal. It is true that the young bull from Penang, living in
the menagerie in the Regent’s Park in 1890, and figured by Mr. Blan-
ford in the Zoological Society’s ‘ Proceedings’ for that year, did not
show any well-marked features by which it could be satisfactorily dis-
tinguished from the Indian form ; but this may have been due to imma-
turity, andit has been stated that the adult Saladang is characterized by
the rufous (instead of pure white) colour of its ‘‘ stockings.”” Whether
the Malay animal differs from the Burmese form of the species must,
however, await further investigation.
In my work entitled ‘ Wild Oxen, Sheep, and Goats’ reference is
made to certain observations which tend to show that the skulls of
Gaur from the countries on the eastern side of the Bay of Bengal
differ somewhat from those of the typical Indian animal. The main
difference appears to consist in the greater breadth across the forehead
of the eastern skulls, some of which are, however, said to exhibit a
certain approximation towards the Gayal type.
In the same work reference is made to certain observations of
Colonel Pollok, to the effect that the Burmese Gaur is taller than the
Indian animal, with the ridge on the shoulder extending further along
the back, the concavity of the forehead more pronounced, and the
NOTES AND QUERIES. 265
horns larger, heavier, and shorter, with the tips seldom worn. One
other point requires mentioning before further reference is made to the
new specimen. It used to be stated that the Gaur is characterized by
the absence of a dewlap, and of many specimens this appears to be
true. On the other hand, it is stated that in Travancore some of the
old bulls display a very strongly developed dewlap, although their
character is not constant in the district. More important still is a
statement by Mr. C. W. A. Bruce, published in my work on the ‘Great
and Small Game of India,’ &c., that the Burmese Gaur is always dis-
tinguished by the presence of a large dewlap in the old bulls, as well
as by their very dark colour.
Unfortunately, Mr. Reade’s specimen does not exhibit the whole of
the throat, but sufficient remains to show not only that there was a
well-marked dewlap, but that the upper portion of this, at any rate,
carries a tuft of long black hair. Such a throat-fringe is quite unknown
in Indian Gaur, and its occurrence in the Burmese form seems quite
sufficient to indicate the racial distinctness of the latter. In the speci-
men under consideration the hair of the face is marked by a number
of small light-coloured spots, very similar in hue to the light area on
the forehead ; whether, however, this is anything more than an in-
dividual peculiarity, Iam unable to say. Very noticeable is a band of
tawny hair immediately above the naked portion of the muzzle, which
is always light-coloured in Gaur. A trace of this tawny band is
observable in the plate accompanying Mr. Blanford’s notice of the
young bull from the Malay Peninsula, to which reference has been
already made ; but it is altogether wanting in the two mounted Indian
Gaur in the British Museum, in which the whole of the hairy part of
the muzzle is dark-coloured, with the exception of a small streak on
each lip.
It may also be mentioned that the general colour of the hair of the
Burmese head (both in the dark and light areas) apparently differs some-
what from that of Indian examples, although I have not had an oppor-
tunity of making an exact comparison in this respect. The horns, too,
are distinctly different in appearance from those of Indian Gaur, being
decidedly peculiar. In old Indian bull Gaur it is generally, if not in-
variably, the right horn that has its tip worn away by the animal con-
stantly using this horn more than its fellow. In the Burmese specimen,
on the other hand, it is the left horn that is thus worn. Whether this
is anything more than an individual peculiarity, I am of course unable
to say.
The foregoing comparisons seem to leave no reasonable doubt of
266 THE ZOOLOGIST.
the right of the Burmese Gaur to rank as a distinct race, for which I
propose the name of Bos gaurus readei, making as the type Mr. Reade’s
specimen (of which I hope to obtain a photograph later on). The dis-
tinctive features of the Burmese Gaur will be the large dewlap, furnished
with a fringe of long black hair, and the band of tawny hair above the
naked portion of the muzzle. Whether the Malay Saladang is or is not
identical with this race must. for the present remain uncertain. It is,
however, noticeable that the aforesaid young bull from Penang shows
a light-coloured area above the muzzle, and the absence of a throat-
fringe in that animal might well be due to immaturity.—R. LypExker
(Harpenden Lodge, Harpenden).
Mus sylvaticus wintoni in Suffolk—On June 15th my cat brought
in an example of this species or variety (cf. ante, p. 150), and on the
17th a second, both of which I sent to the Norwich Museum. They were
fine specimens, measuring in the flesh nearly nine inches from the tip
of the nose to the end of the tail, and, owing to the very cold weather,
reached their destination in good condition. The cat by whom they
were caught is very tender-mouthed, and nearly always brings in his
captures uninjured, the only exception I have noticed being a fine cock
Hawfinch, which he caught one day close to the front door. On this
occasion the bird probably bit him sharply, as he had mauled it so as
to render it useless. Should any readers of this Journal wish for a
specimen of the large Field-Mouse in the flesh, and will write to me, I
have no doubt that others will turn up, and I shall be pleased to send
them on.—Junian G. Tuck (Tostock Rectory, Bury St. Hdmunds,
Suffolk).
AVES.
White Wagtail (Motacilla alba) in the Isle of Man. — On May 38rd
last I observed a party of about twelve birds of this species feeding
amid cast-up and decaying wrack about high-water mark on the
shingle of Castletown Bay. They continued for a week at least to
frequent this locality. Mr. F.S. Graves saw a White Wagtail at Peel
on May 19th, 1892, and Mr. J. Townsend reported in the ‘Field’ of
April 29th, 1899, a pair seen at Port Erin in the spring of that year.
These are, so far as I am aware, the only Manx records, but, as the
species is traced on migration from Cornwall along the Welsh coast to
the Solway, Clyde, and the Hebrides, its occurrence in Man is doubt-
less regular.—P. 8. Raure (The Parade, Castletown, Isle of Man).
Abundance of Swifts (Cypselus apus) in South Hants.—The sum-
mer visitors to this part of Hampshire have been very irregular and
NOTES AND QUERIES. 267
uncertain in their appearance, arising no doubt from the changing and
unseasonable weather we have experienced. For the most part all
were late in coming, some as much as a fortnight behind the usual
date of arrival, and of several species the numbers were much below
the average. The Spotted Flycatcher, the Nightingale, and other
Warblers seem normally represented, but the Corn-Crake has scarcely
been heard at all, and, as far as I can learn, the Hobby is entirely
absent ; whilst the Cuckoo, Nightjar, Yellow Wagtail, and others are
certainly not so abundant as they are some seasons, and the Swallow
tribe are decidedly scarce compared with former years, the continued
chilly atmosphere causing most of them to flutter about in a semi-
dazed and benumbed manner. The most abundant appear to be the
Swifts, of which there are more than I ever remember seeing; they
literally swarm in sheltered situations, hundreds of them being on the
wing at the same time. Is it possible the migration further north was
hindered by the cold winds prevailing at the time of their arrival, and
that consequently we in the south have a double or triple share? It
is quite evident not one-tenth of the number nest in the neighbourhood,
and I am informed the birds are equally abundant in Kast Dorset. If
the poor birds have the power of recollection—which from personal
observation I have every reason to suppose they possess—this cold
season must have deceived their best anticipations, for in the evenings,
instead of their joyous, happy squeal as they dash in winged ecstasy
near their nesting-places in the old thatched gable, we see their ebon,
cross-like forms against the grey sky as in silent pendulizing flight they
glide to and fro in the rain; and, as the night approaches, there is
none of their well-known soaring, with screaming lay, into the space
where ‘‘daylight dies,” but they cling in clusters about any tall
building, and nota few perish. This clustering habit is very peculiar,
some of the festoons thus formed being from eighteen inches to two feet
in length, sometimes the outer and more benumbed individuals drop-
ping down from the general mass. The appearance reminded one
somewhat of the habit of the Hive-bee (Apis mellifica) when wax-forming.
Since the finer weather the Swifts are much more dispersed. It would
be interesting to know if they have gone further north._—G. B. Corsin
(Ringwood).
Note on the Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus).—Some time ago a game-
keeper brought me a Hawk, of the name of which he professed to be
ignorant, possibly with an idea that the value of the bird would be in-
ereased thereby. It was one of the best plumaged male Kestrels I had
ever seen, both in colour and feather, the usual ash-grey of head and
268 THE ZOOLOGIST.
tail being a decided blue, the black band of the tail appearing more
conspicuous from the whiteness of the tip, and the fawn-colour of the
back seeming to have a pink or rose-colour sheen above its sparsely
spotted perfection. The man volunteered the information that he had
seen it strike down a Wood-Pigeon (Columba palumbus), and in con-
firmation of this extraordinary statement he said he had baited a trap
with the Dove, and so secured the Kestrel, which had devoured some
portion of the quarry. If the Pigeon had been knocked down by any
bird of prey, in all probability it was by the impetuous dash of a
Peregrine Falcon; and as to the Kestrel having eaten any portion of
it, the dissection of the supposed murderer proved quite the contrary,
as no bird-remains were found in the stomach, but a mass of broken
and half-digested legs, elytra, and other hard parts of several beetles,
and two or three empty skins of medium-sized lepidopterous caterpillars,
too much pressed and torn to distinguish the species; amongst it all
were the lower jaw-bones of some small rodent—Mouse or Shrew—
and, what appeared to me rather remarkable, some pieces of flint,
parts of which were worn quite smooth, and such as one would expect
to find in the gizzard of a gallinaceous species ; had they been small
and ‘‘eritty,” I could have supposed they had been swallowed within
the body of some small bird the Kestrel had taken, but their size mili-
tated against such a conclusion, as some of the stones were nearly as
much in diameter as a threepenny piece. I do not recollect ever
finding anything like it in any kind of Hawk before (that is no reason,
however, that they do not thus occur) ; but do carnivorous birds require
“ grit’ to. promote digestion ? Beyond a broken leg the bird seemed
uninjured in any way; had its plumage been dirty or displaced one
might have thought that in its struggles to release itself from the trap
it might have picked up the stones, but in such a case I suppose they
would have been found in the ‘‘crop,”’ and not in the stomach.—G. B.
Corin (Ringwood).
Rough-legged Buzzard and Montagu’s Harrier in Derbyshire.—
On March 11th a Rough-legged Buzzard (Buteo lagopus) was trapped
on the moors between here and Sheffield. At the same time there
was a Montagu’s Harrier (Circus cineraceus) on the same moor, and
one or both these birds had been destroying a considerable number of
Grouse. The Harrier was shot towards the end of April. W. Storrs
Fox (St. Anselm’s, Bakewell).
British Grey Geese.—I have read with great interest the recent
articles in ‘The Zoologist’ (1908, pp. 41-52), and in the ‘Field’ of
various dates, on British Grey Geese, by Messrs. Frohawk, Coburn,
NOTES AND QUERIES. 269
&e., and would like to make a few remarks on these articles. To begin
with, I will take the Pink-footed Bean-Goose.
Pinx-FrooteD Bran-Goosse (Anser brachyrhynchus).—As I have said
before, I do not believe there are two species found in this country,
Since my letter in the ‘Field’ on Dec. 6th, 1902, when I gave the
weights of some of these Geese, I have obtained two which were heavier
than any of those I then mentioned, one weighing 73 1b., and the other
7+ 1b. Mr. Frohawk, in his article in the ‘ Field’ on Dec. 20th, 1902,
written in reply to my letter of the 6th, seems to lay great stress on
the number of lamine in the bill; but I think in a later article he has
come to the same conclusion as I did some time ago, that the number
of lamine is nothing to go by. In the former article he says that
A, brachyrhynchus never has more than twenty-one lamine on each
side of the bill, and that if more are present the Goose is A. neglectus,
and not A. brachyrhynchus. In support of this statement he quotes
the opinion of Mr. Serge Alpheraky, the Russian ornithologist.
In my large Goose which I mentioned in the ‘ Field’ of Dec. 6th,
1902, there were twenty-three lamine on one side and twenty-one on
the other side of the bill. The colouring of the carpal and lesser wing-
coverts varies very much in the Pink-footed Goose, as also does the
colour of the whole bird. A specimen which I shot on Jan. 21st, this
year, is almost black on the wings, instead of bluish grey, but still it
has twenty-one lamine on either side of the bill, and weighed 63 lb.
The length of the bill in my large Goose was more apparent than real,
owing to its slimness, but really it was only 3} in. longer than most
specimens, measuring 144 in. instead of 12 in., which is nowhere near
25, in., the length of billin the new species, A. neglectus. I agree with
Mr. Boyes in saying that there is much variation in the colour of the
feathers, according to age. My specimen with the large triangular
head and thin beak was a very light-coloured bird, an adult male,
number of laminz twenty-three and twenty-one, weight 7 lb. Another
specimen, an adult male, was very dark in colour, and had twenty-one
laminz on each side; weight, 631lb. Another dark-coloured specimen
had the same number of laminz, and weighed 71 lb.; this was an
adult female. Two other light-coloured specimens, a male and female,
weighed respectively 7? and 6 lb. I did not count the lamine in the
former, but in the latter they numbered twenty-one on either side. A
young specimen, a male, was also light-coloured, had twenty-one
lamin on one side and twenty on the other, and weighed 5 lb. 2 oz.
The bluish-grey birds are more numerous than the dark-coloured
ones, the proportion, as far as those which I myself have shot, being
270 THE ZOOLOGIST.
about six to one in their favour. The difference in colour is not due
to sex, aS I have shot male and female of both varieties ; neither is it
due to age, as I have shot old and young birds of the light-coloured
variety, and also of the dark-coloured. The White-fronted and Bean
Geese vary as much, or even more, in colour than the Pink-footed
species.
Tae WuitE-FRONTED Goose (Anser albifrons).—I will describe three
birds in my collection, all of which I obtained in the Hebrides during the
past winter. They all have the white line under the eye, although in
No. 3 it is dusky white.
No. 1.—White on forehead and face typical; breast white, and
covered with brown spots ; weight, 5 lb. 84 oz.
No. 2.—White on forehead very much extended, reaching to the
top of the head; white on face typical ; breast slightly barred, but not
nearly so much as on some specimens I have seen. Smaller in body
than No. 1, but almost the same weight, 5 lb. 8 oz.
No. 3.—No white on side of face or forehead at all, only a very few
white specks round the base of the bill. Breast dusky white, with no
spots or bars. Weight, 4lb.40z. The head of this bird was enormous
and very triangular, the neck very long, and it was much larger
in body than either of the others, although it weighed less, but still it
had the typical bill with the white nail of the species,* and the orange-
yellow legs and feet. Some White-fronted Geese I have seen have
been so heavily marked on the breast with black bars that they appear
to have jet-black breasts. Unfortunately I have not one of these
specimens set up. I take them to be fully adult birds. Messrs. Coburn
and Gurney seem to recognize three British species of this Goose, viz.
A. albifrons, A. erythropus, and A. gambeli. As with the other species
of Grey Geese, I think the variations in plumage are due to age. In
my three specimens mentioned above, I call No.1 a three-year-old,
No. 2 a four-year-old, and No. 3 a bird of the year. I do not think
they have the heavily barred breasts until six or seven years old, or
even older. I suppose that Messrs. Gurney and Coburn would call
No. 1 albifrons ; No 2 erythropus, on account of its small size and the
large amount of white on the forehead; and No. 3 gambeli, on account
of its larger size, heavy head, and long neck, although the colour of
the breast does not agree with their description of this so-called
species.
Tue Bean-Goose (Ansen segetum).— The Bean-Goose seems to be
* The bill was not quite typical in No. 3. The nail was Bi! at the
base and black at the tip; half-white and half-black.
NOTES AND QUERIES. 271
a still greater puzzle to some ornithologists. Mr. Frohawk (ante,
p. 41) describes the two supposed species arvensis and segetum, and
gives drawings of the bill. He says that segetum is the rare species,
and that arvensis, with the band.of white feathers at the base of the
bill, is the common British species of Bean-Goose. Has Mr. Frohawk
got his numbers mixed? Should plates iii. and iv. with the white
band be segetum and not arvensis, and vice versa? I ask this question
for a very good reason, viz. that the few Bean-Geese that have passed
through my hands have had no white band, and therefore must have
all been the rare species, segetum! Of course, compared with the
Pink-foot, White-fronted, and Bernicle Geese, I have not had much to
do with the Bean-Goose, but still the fact remains that the few I have
handled have had no white band, and, according to Mr. Frohawk’s
plates, must have been specimens of segetum. Of course I do not
believe for a moment that there are two species of Pink-foot and Bean
and three of White-fronted Geese occurring in this country. I think
that the variations in plumage are merely due to age, and perhaps sex
may also have something to do with it, although I rather doubt this
latter statement after my observations on the Pink-footed species.
Mr. Coburn gives an example of arvensis which had no white band
of feathers at the base of the bill, as mentioned in Mr. Frohawk’s
article (ante, p. 41). This shows that there are variations between the
bills of segetwm and arvensis, which makes me more confirmed in saying
that there is only one species of this Goose. We might as well make
out this example to be yet another species. Again, Mr. Frohawk says
that in A. segetum there are, as a rule, no white feathers at the base of
the bill, excepting in old birds, where a small frontal patch of greyish
white may occur. More variations between the so-called two species.
I should rather say that the white patches at the base of the bill in the
Bean-Goose are a sign of immaturity, and not of old age.
Mr. J. M. Pike’s letter in the ‘Field’ (Dec. 20th, 1902) shows,
again, that there are variations between segetum and arvensis. The
following is an extract from his letter describing A. arvensis :—‘‘ The
bills of the better defined specimens are orange-yellow, with the
exception of the nail, an elongated heart-shaped piece running up
towards the feathers, and the ridges of the indentations beneath ;
these are black. This agrees with Mr. Frohawk’s statement, but it is
limited to the better defined specimens.” He goes on to say :—‘' The
amount of yellow on the bill varies considerably, to such an extent that it
appeared possible that a complete series from the single band seen in
A, segetum to the nearly all yellow of A. arvensis could be obtained.”
272 THE ZOOLOGIST.
He then mentions his five examples of A. segetum, shot in Holland out
of a flock of six. Note the number of the lamine in four of them,
given in Mr. Frohawk’s article in ‘The Zoologist’:—1. Ad. ¢.
Lamine each side, 21. Bill, 22 in. 2. g. Lamine each side, 24.
Bill, 25, in. 3. @. Lamine each side, 2i. Bill, 24 in. 4. @.
Lamine 22 left and 21 right. Bill, 142 im. There is some variation
here in the so-called A. segetum alone, which shows that in the Bean,
as well as in the Pink-footed Goose, the number of laminz, as well as
the length of the bill, varies a good deal. To identify the Bean-Goose
at a glance, I always look for three things, viz. the yellow legs, the
black nail, and the orange band on the bill. Mr. Frohawk now tells us
that this orange band is only found in segetwm, the rare species, and
that the upper mandible in the beak of the common species, arvensis,
is almost wholly orange-coloured.
A statement by Mr. J. H. Gurney, mentioned in Mr. Coburn’s
article (ante, p. 46), shows the current tendency to create new species.
It is as follows:—‘‘And as long as the slightest difference in
colour—even to the colour of an eyelid—can be found, combined
(as it is in this case) with some difference of habitat, surely such
birds ought to be kept asunder.’’ This statement, I think, is inde-
fensible. We might breed hundreds of new species of birds every year.
If every variety of a bird is to be called a new species, the science of
ornithology is limitless. All the fancy varieties of the Pigeon are far .
worthier of classification as distinct species than these little differences,
say, between dA. brachyrhynchus and A. neglectus, or A. segetum and A.
arvensis. I might say that all my observations on these Geese have
been taken not from museum specimens, but from freshly shot birds,
and I have several times kept winged birds of the Pink-footed, White-
fronted, and Bernicle Geese alive for short periods, in order to study
them. I may be wrong, but Mr. Frohawk’s remarks on these Geese
seem to show that he has studied museum specimens, and got his
other information secondhand from fowlers in different parts of Hurope.
It would be very interesting to have Mr. J. G. Millais’ opinion on Grey
Geese.
My acquaintance with the Grey Lag-Goose is almost nil, but I hope to
know it better this winter. Mr. Coburn mentions the late Mr. Ernest
C. Tye’s opinion on his Red-billed Grey Lag-Goose. Although Mr. Tye
may have been a very keen wildfowler, I think, from his articles, that
his experience may have been limited to about three days’ shooting in ©
the year, viz. on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and New Year’s Day ; so,
as far as practical experience goes, if such was the case, his opinion
NOTES AND QUERIES. 273
was not indubitable. Of course, the Mr. Tye I have in my mind may
not have been the same gentleman mentioned by Mr. Coburn.
It may be of interest to state that last winter, on two certain little
islands adjoining one another in the Hebrides, I came across all the
British Geese with the exception of the Pink-footed species, White-
fronted and Bernicle being especially very numerous. Two pairs of
Grey Lag-Geese are nesting on one of these islands now. Besides
these there were a great many Swans, Bewick’s chiefly, but a fair
number of Whoopers also, with afew Mute. In another part of Scot-
land I saw more Pink-footed Geese than in any previous winter ;
there must have been between four and five thousand of them in this
place alone.
I trust that some authority will settle this question on the Geese
once and for all, and show that really there is but one species each,
of the Pink-footed, Bean, and White-fronted Geese.—H. W. Rosinson
(Lansdowne House, Lancaster).
Anser rubrirostris. Dr. Radde’s Evidence.—M. Sergius A. Butur-
lin is to be thanked for the interest he manifests in our Wild Geese ;
his desire to see that all references are correct is most laudable,
but, if the citation he gives us in German from the late Dr. Radde’s
work on ‘The Birds of the Mainland of North-East Siberia’ (ante,
p. 233) has been correctly printed, it must have sorely puzzled all who
have read and translated it. As printed, the quotation does not appear
to me to be in very graceful German ; a little transposing, however,
would make it read thus:—‘‘ Auch an diesem Vogel sehe ich um die
Oberschnabelbasis einen recht eclatanten rostbraunen* Ton sich ver-
breiten, der zu brennenden Fuchsroth gesteigert wird (und reicht bis)
auf einem schmalen, vielfach von weissen Federchen durchsetztem
Bande welches die Schnabelbasis einfasst. Ausserdem (7. e. with this
exception) war der ganze Schnabel dieses Vogels schmutzig weiss.”
This, freely translated, would read thus :—‘‘ Also (or again) in this
bird I notice around the base of the beak a very marked rusty-brown
(or red-brown) colour, which becomes a burning (or flaming) fox-red,
and this reaches up to a small band with numerously interspersed
white feathers, which surrounds the base of the beak. With this
exception the whole of the beak was of a dirty-white colour.”’
Here then M. Buturlin supplies us—apparently quite unconsciously
—with a perfect confirmation of the accuracy of Count Salvadori and
Dr. Bowdler Sharpe’s translation of Dr. Radde’s words! Indeed, no
* Perhaps in the original this is rothbraunen=red-brown.
Zool. 4th ser. vol. VII., July, 1908. Y
274 THE ZOOLOGIST.,
person who had seen a recently killed specimen of this bird could place
any other interpretation on them. The suggestion that Dr. Radde
referred to a band of flaming red feathers on any part of the body of a
Wild Goose must be instantly dismissed. It is clear to me that Dr.
Radde gave his description from a bird which had been dead for several
days. The whole of the colours gradually faded from the bills of my
five birds, leaving them of a dirty-white colour, but the space occupied
by the brightly coloured crescentic-shaped band remained distinct on
the bill for a very long time, and can be faintly traced even now. The
most important confirmation of my observations on the colours of soft
parts in this bird is that of Mr. Stewart Baker, quoted by me (ante,
p. 49), a gentleman who has seen the living birds.—F. Cosurn
(Holloway Head, Birmingham).
[We have printed the above letter in deference to Mr. Coburn, but
the quotation given by M. Buturlin is not only correctly printed, but
was compared at the time and found to be verbatim with the remarks
of Radde. Whether Mr. Coburn is justified in transposing the original
words of Radde into more ‘“‘graceful German,” and then “freely
translating’ same, is of course an open question.—Ep.]
Pintail inland in Cheshire.—Shortly after sending you my previous
note on this subject (ante, p. 229), I had an opportunity of examining
a Pintail drake which was shot on the pool at Toft, near Knutsford, in
the spring either four or five years ago. The bird is in the possession
of a gamekeeper, who had noticed it for a fortnight or more on the
pools at Toft and Norbury Booths before he shot it. He assures me
that he used to see the Pintail daily in the company of a Mallard duck,
with which it had paired. When the Duck had laid and begun to sit
he took the eggs and put them under a hen. The young hybrids
naturally showed no trace of their father’s handsome plumage, and as
they only differed from their companions, some young Mallards, in
having nearly white under parts, the keeper did not attach any value
to them. Unhappily they were turned down on the pool with the other
Ducks, and were shot in the autumn.—Cuas. OtpHam (Knutsford).
Note on Shoveler (Spatula clypeata), &c., in Valley of Avon, Hamp-
shire.—This handsome species is said to have bred in this neighbour-
hood more than once, but I have never been able, from personal
observation, to confirm the statement, although I have on several
occasions seen some very immature birds, as far as plumage is con-
cerned, but none so young that they were unable to fly. As a winter
visitor its numbers are rather uncertain ; some three or four years ago
I knew of ten or twelve having been killed upon a piece of water of no
NOTES AND QUERIES. 275
very great extent, but that occurrence was exceptional, and half that
number is nearer the average. Last year, throughout the spring months
and well into the summer, a pair frequented a large piece of meadow-
land in the vicinity of the river, and near a wood, but whether they
nested or not Iam unable to say, but I was informed that the male
was not noticed after the middle of June, a date I imagined far too ad-
vanced for any Duck to go north for nesting. I believe the male of
this species dofis his gay plumes after nesting, like the ordinary Mal-
lard, and it is possible he is overlooked in his more subdued dress. It
may here be mentioned that the river and almost every foot of its
environs are under the strict watch of the game-preserver, very different
to what it was in my bird-nesting days. This season the birds are still
in the neighbourhood, having been seen in pairs at three different
places, especially during April and May, and on one occasion three
males were seen together. Last winter I knew of only two or three
being shot, and those not in the locality where either pair were seen.
Whilst on the subject of wildfowl of the Avon, it may be interesting to
note that last winter, although the weather was so mild and open, I
knew of at least three Gadwall (Anas strepera) being met with on one
shooting where the species is very seldom seen, and some eighteen or
twenty of the Pochard (Fuligula ferina) were killed where in previous
winters it had almost disappeared. Wigeon (Mareca penelope) and Teal
(Querquedula crecca) were not abundant; Wild Duck (Anas boscas)
were about of normal quantity, but Golden-eye (Clangula glaucion) and
Tufted Duck (Fuligula cristata) were few and far between, and I knew
of but one Pintail (Dafila acuta). Two or three Bitterns (Botaurus
stellaris) were seen, and I am glad to say their lives were spared. It is
gratifying to know that the Redshank (Totanus calidris) nests in several
places hereabouts, where a few years ago its presence was compara-
tively rare.—G. B. Corsin (Ringwood).
Redshank carrying her Young.—A relative living at Orford, Suffolk,
told me a short time back that he had lately seen a Redshank (T’otanus
calidris) carrying a young one in its feet. The bird flew close over
him, and he saw distinctly the chick held underneath her. This was
at some little distance from the river, and the bird was probably con-
veying her young from the breeding-ground to the saltings and marshes
by the river.—G. ‘[. Rorr (Blaxhall, Suffolk).
Variation in the Guillemot.—Having no opportunities here of ob-
taining Guillemots, I thought it best to return the curious specimen
(cf. ante, pp. 158, 194, 230) to Dr. Saxby, and still believe that itis a
276 THE ZOOLOGIST.
hybrid between the Common and Briinnich’s Guillemots. Whether
the Icelandic breeding-grounds of the two species overlap 1 do not
know, but the bird in question, which Dr. Saxby sent me in the flesh,
was very thin, and gave me the idea of being a storm-driven wanderer.
I just missed getting the Cambridgeshire Briinnich’s Guillemot which
we have here (cf. Zool. 1895, p. 109) in the flesh, but should imagine that
no two birds could be found more similar in size, structure, and habits
than the two species of Guillemot, and more likely to interbreed. We
have here a hybrid between the House-Sparrow and Tree-Sparrow
(cf. Zool. 1894, p. 111), and the interbreeding of Pied and White Wag-
tails is not uncommon. Should Dr. Saxby ever obtain another Guille-
mot like the one he kindly sent me, and which I felt all along ought to
have been in his own possession, no doubt he will record it; but my own
impression is that he will not soon meet with a similar one.—JuLIAN
G. Tuck (Tostock Rectory, Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk).
Birds and the Resonance of War.—I remember reading, after the
termination of the Franco-German war, and the fall of the Commune,
that birds had been scared from the neighbourhood around Paris by
the sound of the heavy firing, and the farmers had consequently
suffered from a multiplicity of insect-foes. I had always concluded
that such an occurrence was inevitable where the din of warfare had
abounded, and have been considerably surprised by meeting with what
appears to be somewhat contradictory evidence in the annals of the
recent war in South Africa.
Thus at the battle of Colenso, or Tugela River, very heavy firing
took place, and, in the words of a bandsman, “ the crescendo in Rossini’s
‘William Tell’ was fairly eclipsed by the effect of the guns.”* Mr.
Bennett Burleigh, writing on this engagement, says :— ‘‘ The battle
proceeded with undiminished fury; yet, as in ail big actions, there
were those unaccountable and strange lulls, when the sound of conflict
drifted into silence, the birds took up their songs,” &c.+ (the italics are
our own).
Again, during the siege of Ladysmith, Chief Engineer C.C. Sheen,
R.N., writes :—‘‘ The gum-trees were full of the hanging nests of the
Weaver-birds, or South African Canary, as the inhabitants called
them; and the presence of these pretty little birds in the camp
seemed to lend an air of security and peace to the surroundings, in
spite of the incessant scream and splash of the shells, as they passed
* ¢The Epistles of Atkins,’ p. 51.
+ ‘ The Natal Campaign,’ p. 201.
NOTES AND QUERIES. 277
sometimes close over the camp, sometimes a few yards away on the
road in front of it, according as they were directed,” &c¢.*
Can some of our military readers support these statements from
their own experience ? or have others met with similar records in their
readings ?—W. L. Distant.
Ornithological Notes from Guernsey.—Since writing on the Birds
of Guernsey (ante, p. 231), I have added the following notes :—
Brack-THROATED Diver (Colymbus arcticus),—On May 10th I obtained
an immature male of this species, picked up dead on the beach near
Cobo. It was in very poor condition, and had evidently died of starva-
tion. This is an interesting record, as the species has only once been
recorded before from Guernsey.
Purrin (Fratercula arctica).—On May 31st I visited some rocks off
Herm, known as the ‘‘Humps,”’ and found the Puffins breeding there
in thousands. The soft ground was fairly riddled with their holes.
No young birds were found, but only highly incubated eggs. Besides
Puffins there were Razorbills, Guillemots, Stormy Petrels, and Her-
ring-Gulls, all breeding.
Sanpwicu Tern (Sterna cantiaca).—I have found this species fairly
plentiful here, and I know places where it breeds.
Kentisu Prover (Aigialitis cantiana).—This bird, if not common, is
found in some numbers on several parts of the coast, and I know where
it breeds.—Gorpon Dateuiess (Clairval, Collings Road, Guernsey).
Sea-birds inland.—During the months from early autumn to late
spring it is well known that various coast-loving birds—especially the
Gull family—often frequent inland waters, or even fallow-fields and
ploughman’s furrows, want of food, storm, and tempest driving them
from their favourite haunts by the sea, and doubtless the rough cold
weather of April, May, and the first half of June, together with the
continued rains and consequent floods, account for the unusual number
of such species as have appeared amongst us this season, the Black-
headed Gull (Larus ridibundus) having been particularly abundant.
Very few people in this neighbourhood—even those in the habit of
carrying a gun—were acquainted with the species in its nesting-dress,
and their occurrence has excited considerable interest and many
inquiries as to their origin and purpose here. It is pleasant to know
that of late years the species has showed a decided increase in num-
bers, and with this consideration their occurrence perhaps is not
remarkable, as I understand a colony of the birds exists at no greater
* * Naval Brigades in the South African War, 1899-1900,’ pp. 212-13.
278 THE ZOOLOGIST.
distance than the neighbourhood of Poole, and we are well aware
ridibundus has no particular preference for salt water, but their
presence here in such numbers at the time of nidification is very
unusual. Amongst them were a few Kittiwakes (Rissa tridactyla),
Herring-Gulls (Larus argentatus), and perhaps still fewer of L. canus ;
but the most remarkable occurrence was the capture of a Guillemot
(Uria troile), in full breeding plumage, on a small stream at Verwood
(Dorset), just over the Hampshire border ; whilst two Razorbills (Alcea
torda) were found dead, one near Fordingbridge, the other in the forest,
both apparently starved to death, and too decomposed for preservation.
More than one species of Tern (Sterna) oftentimes are seen on the river
in their spring migration, but this season none have appeared,—G. B.
Corsin (Ringwood, Hanis).
Extinction of the Kite: a Correction.—I regret that, owing to a
misplacement of quotation marks in my note upon this subject, several
statements are attributed to Mr. R. J. Ussher for which that gentleman
is in no way responsible.—J. H. Sauter.
AMPHIBIA.
Natterjack Toad in Suffolk—On June 17th, when at Wortham,
within a mile of the river which there forms the Norfolk and Suffolk
boundary, a boy called my attention to ‘‘a funny frog.” It proved to
be a beautiful little Natterjack Toad, about half-grown. This is, I
think, a new locality for this species.—Junran G. Tuck (Tostock Rectory,
Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk).
( 279 )
NOTICES OF NEW BOOKS.
Nature Studies in Australia. By Wm. Giuuiss, M.A., and Rost.
Hatt, C.M.Z.S., &c. Melbourne: Whitcombe & Tombs,
Limited.
Tus is a truly bionomical book, and shows that Australian
naturalists are also pursuing that observational method which
may be described as “ back to nature.”’ ‘The irony of the pro-
cedure, however, is that though the wholesome principle is
enunciated that we should observe animals ourselves, rather
than read about them in books, nearly every original observer
publishes a book himself, so that the literature is more ample
than ever. Still the number among us who can either see or
think for themselves is, and must ever be, so minute, that we are
thankfui for such publications ; to be independent of them would
constitute the standard of a Darwin. | :
The method of the book is of the conversational style, some-
what recalling Dr. Johnson and the immortal Boswell; but one
cannot read a page without meeting with a new suggestion, or the
- enunciation of little known facts. In our last issue (ante, p. 238),
attention was drawn to a recent proposition that each breeding bird
was occupier of a certain plot of ground. Our authors describe
the same thing in Australia, where rival Cuckoos are seldom seen
fighting. ‘‘ They seem to have so arranged their areas of action
as to map out all the Cuckoo-region systematically. In imagina-
tion you can pass from call to call all over this wide region of
wood and pasture.”
In concluding a notice of this interesting book, we must
allude to the ‘‘ Common Names of Australian Birds,” which are
given as appendix, The danger of these cognomens to any
non-ornithological observer can well be appreciated by two
citations :—
Crane (Blue) sie ... White-fronted Heron.
Heron (White-fronted) ... Blue Crane.
280 THE ZOOLOGIST.
The Fauna of British India, including Ceylon and Burma.
Edited by W. T. Buanrorp. Hymenoptera—Vol. IT.—
Ants and Cuckoo-Wasps, by Lieut.-Col. C. T. BineHam.
Taylor & Francis.
Dr. BLANForD is to be congratulated on the steady issue
of his volumes; of course no exact regularity can be maintained,
but the series of volumes already issued are an important con-
tribution to a knowledge of the fauna of British India. In an
age when biology demands philosophical conclusions, these books
play a prominent part, though they are as a rule purely technical.
A species must be known and recognized before any accurate
observation can be recorded about it, and therefore we must
cheerfully labour as descriptive hodmen before that golden age
arrives when the weary describer will be at rest, and remembered
only as a worthy writer of necessary muniments.
Col. Bingham has made the Indian Hymenoptera a special
study, and his book can therefore be received as authoritative.
It is on this ground that we feel sorry to read that he is now
leaving the Hymenoptera, about which so much is to be told, to
write the account of the Indian butterflies, about which more
is known. We trust, however, that he will complete both tasks.
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Notes: AND QUERIES :—
Mammat1aA.—The Burmese Gaus or Pyoting, R. Lydekher, 2 264. Mus syloati
wintoni in Suffolk, Julian G. Tuck, 266.
_ Aves.—White Wagtail (Motacilla alba) in the Isle of Man, Pos. Ralfe, 266. a
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_ AMPHIBIA. —Natterjack Toad in Suffolk, Julzan G. Heche 278 SEG }
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it ZO00LOGIST
No. 746.—August, 1903.
FIELD NOTES (BEING A NATURALIST’S DIARY OF
OBSERVATION AND REFLECTION).
By Epmunp SeEtous.
1899.
September 28th.—A Green Woodpecker this morning flew
down on to one of the flower-beds in my garden, and was there
some time. The flowers, however, prevented me from seeing,
and when I tried to stalk it, it saw me first and flew off. My
garden and meadow is part of this Woodpecker’s preserve, and
as the open sandy space, which I have called the amphitheatre,
is just opposite my house, across the river, and as I have seen
the bird that there haunts fly to some trees only a little beyond
my boundary, I fancy that the two are identical, making one in-
dividual who hunts round, daily, in a moderately wide circle.
Most animals, I suppose, have their regular hunting-grounds.
This seems to be the case with Tigers in India, however exten-
sive and varied and liable to sudden and complete change their
field of operations may be. It is the same, no doubt, with Lions,
who would, probably, not wander beyond a certain district they
were accustomed to if the game init did not become scarce. Thus
we have the great instinct of conservatism which in beasts shows
itself much in this way. The right path for them is the one in
which they have been accustomed to roam. To change it requires
an effort which, till some force arises sufficiently powerful to
compel them to make, they will not make—and so with men.
Change is, in fact, a great discomfort; even when it makes no
Zoot. 4th ser. vol. VII., Auqust, 1903. Z
282 VHE ZO0O0LOGIST.
difference to us outwardly, yet to think of it is upsetting to the
mind. So the world moves slowly, but the wonder, perhaps, is
that it moves at all.
I was watching some Swallows to-day flying about over a
sandy meadow, when a white butterfly that looked like a belated
cabbage one suddenly disappeared, engulphed by one of them. It
is not often that one sees a Swallow take so large an insect. In
fact, I cannot myself make out that butterflies are much preyed
upon by birds; they are not sufficiently so, at any rate, for the
fact to be forced upon one. It may be true that they fell victims
when introduced into parks, but here the conditions were some-
what artificial. ‘The bird that outnumbers all others in our parks
—or, rather, monopolizes them—is the Sparrow, and Sparrows,
especially London Sparrows, are “like French faleoners—fly at
anything.” The novelty, I think, too, must have had something
to do with it. Butterflies are thought to be scarce in England,
compared with continental countries. It is collectors, in my
opinion, rather than the birds, who keep them down. Is there
any other country than this where almost every boy has a box or
two of worthless, dry, stuck things, or any where men continue
so long to be boys, intellectually speaking? And then why speak
of the Continent as if it were allone? In Italy, indeed—perhaps
because the people are starved for the country to be a great
power—bird-life is deplorably scarce; at least, I am told so.
The Germans, however, are great bird-lovers, and where I was,
at any rate, birds seemed to me much more abundant than
here, both in species and individuals. So, too, did insects.
People who think that the abundance of a preying species must
mean the scarcity of species preyed upon seem to me to forget a
few facts, as e.g. the state of South Africa when the Dutch first
began to colonize it; the far greater numbers, formerly, of fish
in the Thames when Otters were also much more plentiful; the
teeming myriads of fish in the sea all eating each other, or being
eaten by hosts of Seals and birds. The law, indeed, would seem
to be, as one might expect, thst an abundance of the eater goes
hand in hand with a much greater abundance of the eaten, and this
law holds good, as a rule, till civilized man steps upon the scene to
upset, with greed, sport, and collecting, the balance of nature. The
vast herds of Bison that once roamed over the North American
FIELD NOTES. 283
continent maintained their numbers in spite of the savage, though
his powers of destruction were greater than those of an animal.
So did the Grizzly Bears, but with the advent of the civilized
savage all was quickly changed. And this universal destroyer,
who, wherever he goes, is responsible for the disappearance of
all animal and much of vegetable life, fixes his basilisk eye upon
Some very inferior imitation of himself, and cries, ‘‘ Hold!
enough!’’ This is a thing to make the gods laugh, perhaps; but,
for myself, ‘‘ my gorge rises at it.”
October 10th._— Whilst watching some Starlings feeding in my
meadow this morning the glasses suddenly revealed to me a
Green Woodpecker quite near—indeed, almost amongst them.
I watched this bird with the closest attention for perhaps a
quarter of an hour, during the whole of which time it was on the
ground searching for food. Its actions were almost identical
with those of the Starlings themselves—that is to say, it con-
tinually thrust its beak into the grass—probably the soil also—
and withdrew it. The Starlings shortly flew away, leaving the
Woodpecker hunting by himself. Ina minute or two he flew to
a little grassy mound just at the corner of my orchard (which has
about three trees with littie or no fruit), and this he commenced
to probe and search in the most thorough manner. He then
flew into a small tree in the orchard-hedge, where I lost sight of
him. Some five or ten minutes afterwards another flock of
Starlings descended on the field, and immediately the Wood-
pecker reappeared, flying towards them from the hedge, and went
right down amongst them. Unfortunately the crest of a little
rise concealed most of the birds as they touched the ground, and
amongst them the Woodpecker. But such a bird as a Wood-
pecker associating itself with Starlings, and searching the fields
in company with them, seems to me very interesting. The Star-
lings, however, soon flew off again, leaving their distinguished com-
panion as before. I now walked to the little hillock, and, stooping
down, looked carefully at it, before laying a hand on the grass or
disturbing it in any way. I soon observed two little holes amidst
the long thin grass, and, following them down, found the earth,
at the bottom of each, broken and pierced into to a slight depth,
not more than about a quarter of an inch. But, carefully
examining the broken earth, I could not discover any insect or
Z2
284 THE ZOOLOGIST.
other creature, which, however, does not at all prove that the
Woodpecker may not have done so.
November 3rd.—This morning, whilst being driven to the
station, I came upon a Green Woodpecker pursued by a Hawk,
and uttering loud cries. The Woodpecker seemed almost in the
grasp of the Hawk—the two were certainly touching—but it
managed to get clear, perhaps aided by the rattling by of the trap,
and the Hawk then flew off in another direction. ‘This Hawk
was of a light bluish or bluish-grey colour, and seemed hardly,
if at all, larger than the Woodpecker. It must therefore, I think,
have been a Merlin. I should be glad to think I had aided in
the Woodpecker’s escape, for it is distressing to think of such a
bird being done to death in such a way.
November 11th.— This morning I watched Starlings feeding
for some time on the lawn of a house at Richmond, where I was
staying. Their modus operandi is to thrust the beak repeatedly
and all about into the grass, at the same time opening the
mandibles, and continuing to open and close them under the
soil. They thus, as I suppose, search particularly the roots of .
the grass, though in many, if not in all, cases they must go deeper
down into the soil underneath, since they wedge the bill in right
up to the base. They must be searching about, and biting at
anything they feel, to get “a taste of its quality.’ After some
time I went out and examined the grass where these Starlings
had been. It was quite covered with little round holes that their
beaks had made. I probed many of these with a skewer, the
depth of most being about what I should judge to be the length
of a Starling’s beak. Some, however, were much shallower, and
here they seemed to have searched merely the immediate roots of
the grass. I dug down with my fingers into many of these holes
to see if they continued, as the burrows of worms, but this was
not the case in any instance. The tactics therefore of Starlings
and of Thrushes or Blackbirds m procuring food on the lawn are
quite different. The latter strike at a worm when they see it
lying with its head in the mouth of its burrow, and then, if
successful, pull it out by hopping backwards, as everyone knows.
The former search everywhere on chance, and make up for the
want of assurance by the continuity of their efforts. Whilst
watching the Starlings, here, I once or twice saw them pull up a
FIELD NOTES. 285
small worm, or part of one, and on other lawns I have seen them,
through the glasses, get fat white or whitish-grey grubs, which
had no doubt lain amongst the grass-roots. Such grubs, it is
to be presumed, do much damage, so that the Starlings, by de-
stroying them, must be a benefit to gardens. Hn revanche, they
certainly eat fruit, but very crowded orchards co-exist, in the
West of England, with immense flights of Starlings, and whilst
fruit is only to be procured in the autumn, worms, slugs, insects
and their larve, are destroyed throughout the year. Starlings
are nothing like so plentiful in Suffolk, where I live, as they are
in the neighbourhood of Gloucester and Cheltenham, and fruit,
especially orchard fruit, is in the same relative proportion. To
me it seems that the one is a corollary of the other, and, if so,
why need fruit-growers be afraid, seeing that the very abundance
of the Starlings proceeds from the abundance of their apples and
pears? Certainly they lose something, but how ample is the
margin of profit, and how must this be increased by the multi-
tude of insects slain all the year round! But they cannot see
it in this way. This is not all theory. Ihave watched numbers
of Starlings in a great orchard, and for every one that was peck-
ing a pear there seemed to me to be hundreds of thousands of
pears untouched ; whilst all about stood great baskets crammed
with them to overflowing. The birds have simply not time, and
are not sufficiently gathered in any one spot to do much damage
in proportion to the huge amount of fruit, and what they do do
I believe they pay for, for they feed all day long over the grass-
fields. Again, it is asserted that the roosting of Starlings in
such great numbers destroys the woods. I do not know what
the evidence of this is. In the roosting-place that I am best
acquainted with there is certainly a pungent smell, but everything
seems growing in the same way as elsewhere. Moreover, how-
ever large the numbers, the actual space required for their sleep-
ing accommodation is very small. The factis that the mere sight
of birds or other animals congregated together in great numbers
has an irritating effect on very many people. ‘They are moved
not so much to interest and observation as to ‘“‘slaughterous
thoughts.” ‘‘ They want thinning,” ‘‘We could do with a few
less of them,” &c. In fact, the deep-seated instinct of killing—
which is all that “sport” really is—is aroused by the sight of so
286 THE ZOOLOGIST.
much that might be killed, and to this is added, where actual de-
predation is witnessed, a feeling of hatred, and desire for revenge.
There can be no impartiality or discrimination in such an atmo-
sphere, no balancing of the arguments. The defence is unpopular,
and a cold ear is turned to any witness for it.
November 22nd.—Back at Icklingham. A Rabbit to-day ran
suddenly out of a bush, and almost over a Moorhen that was
feeding near it, for the bush edged her pond.. I do not know
whether this was accidental on the part of the Rabbit, or a
demonstration, as in the case of the Stock-Dove. ‘The Moorhen
was at first quite alarmed, but recovered herself, and could soon
browse calmly again.
November 24th.—This morning I noticed two male Pheasants
engaged in hostilities, or, rather, in threatening them. They
crouched opposite each other, the feathers of their breasts just
touching the grass, and about a foot apart. In this position each
would dart the beak forward, and, as it almost touched the
opposing bird’s, retire it again. The lunge, however, was not
made fiercely, but in a timid, half-hearted manner, as though
either bird would be glad of a good excuse for withdrawing from
the business. ‘This seemed to be particularly the case with one
of them, who at every little pause rose and began to walk away
with a half-dignified, half-unconscious appearance. But, upon
this, the other would always make a run at him, when he would
instantly front round and crouch into the same position, which
his opponent likewise assuming, the same proceedings recom-
menced. As the wish of the one bird to retire became more
marked, the rushes of the other grew fiercer, but a very little
facing about was sufficient to quell this martial ardour. ‘“ Resist
and I retire; retire and I pursue,” seemed to be the motto. It
was a Nym and Pistol affair, and a passing cart put an end to it.
This is strange fighting. I would all men were such warriors.
When these Pheasants were thus crouched before one another,
the tail of one of them was raised almost straight up in the air,
and expanded. This, however, I soon concluded to be the wind.
Perhaps I was mistaken, but the other one, who faced the wind,
had his tail straight out along the ground.
December 8th.—I spent a cold half-hour to-day in watching
Rooks feeding in a meadow. Several found something which
FIELD NOTES. 287
looked, as they held it in the beak, like an acorn or oak-apple.
This they placed on the ground, and, without holding it with the
feet, hammered at it powerfully with the beak. To me it seemed
that at each blow the beak was thrust into the earth, that there
was spade as well as pickaxe action—at least with one bird that
I watched, as well as I could, through the glasses. I could not
make out that this Rook broke up and ate the object, whatever it
was, and as he shortly walked away without it, it struck me that
he might have buried it, as a Squirrel does his store. A second
Rook, however, broke and ate, as well as I could see, a portion
of what he had, and a day or two before I had seen another one,
at the same place, do the same. A third, having pickaxed the
ground a little, had all at once something—I think, an acorn—in
his bill, which he swallowed whole. Walking to the spot, I found
the rind of two acorns, and, as both of these could not have be-
longed to the one he swallowed, it is probable that neither did.
Now, as the Rook swallowed the acorn whole, the blows with the
beak were not given to break it, one would think. It looks as if
it had dug up and swallowed a previously buried one. Twenty-
five paces away there was an oak-tree, and under it I found
quantities of acorns with pieces hacked out of them, and having
the appearance of having lain some time after they had been thus
treated. Probably the Rooks, having found an abundance, had
eaten daintily. I think they bury acorns, but could not see to be
sure of it.
December 9th.—Leave home at 7.15 a.m.
7.20.—First twitter of a small bird.
7.35.—First Rook seen flying, laboriously and alone. There
is twittering of small birds in the fir-trees and copses, but none
about yet.
7.40.—Rooks flying, and a Blackbird goes up from the road,
with its expostulation-note. Small birds now begin to fly from
tree to tree, along a row of firs—Chaffinches, Greenfinches, Tits,
&c. Wretched poor notings these for a naturalist, or any man,
to make, but I do not know what he can find better in a country
like this at this time of year, and of the morning. England is a
wretched place except for the very rich and the very patriotic.
7.47.—Rooks now flying very high, in opposite direction to
West Stow, where they roost. A Blackbird—male, I think—
288 THE ZO0O0OLOGIST.
flies from the ground in silence, though put up by me. Another
one—a cock this time for certain—does the same, with a very —
modified note, querulous and chattering—nothing like the well-
known one, the alarm-note, as it is called.
About 8, great bands of small birds are in full activity.
They are pillaging a straw-stack, to the sides of which they cling,
and, on being disturbed, fly from it, in a cloud, to some fir-trees
near, and then backwards and forwards at intervals. Their
wings, all vibrating together, make a powerful whirring noise,
which is at its maximum as they rise together in a cloud, lessen-
ing as they spread out, ceasing suddenly as they whirl into a tree
or on to the ground again.
A Pheasant walking and feeding quietly by the side of the
stack. Partridges scattered about the stubble-field, and begin-
ning now to feed over it. ‘Two Rooks, perched side by side on a
tree, are like bits of black night staying after the rest has fled.
The small birds making the flocks are Chaffinches, cock and hen
(the latter largely predominating, but on a thorn-bush I see two
cocks and six hens) Greenfinches (mostly hens, I suppose, yet
yesterday there was a great show of green as they rose) and
Yellowhammers—but these in twos and threes.
Two little Golden-crested Wrens are flying from fir to fir, and
pecking about the bark, as if for insects. Yet what can they get
on the 9th of December, and a cold frosty morning ? From the
little stream comes a peculiar trumpety note, made, I believe, by
a Mallard, for, looking in the direction it came from, I saw a bird
on the water, and, walking there a little afterwards, put a female
Mallard up. This great flock of small Passeres is now perched
all over an oak-tree, which looks in leaf and life again—a feathered
foliage. How bizarre is colour, in the dead of winter, here! All
that I can see now are Chaffinches and Greenfinches, and both
sexes are well represented. This is apparent, for the tree is full
of colour, and it is only the cocks that make it. Two—one of
each kind—are sitting side by side, close—almost pressed—
together, making a pretty effect, like a splotch on a painter’s
palette, but in feather-work—very much softer.
Whilst jotting this down a minute spider falls on my note-
book. This answers the question as to the Golden-crested Wrens,
«« What can they get ?’’—to a certain extent, at least. Many spiders
FIELD NOTES. 289
seem to hybernate in the chinks of, and especially underneath,
bark in winter, some of them in a sort of webby cocoon which
they spin. Numbers of small pups, too, choose—or have in
their pre-existence chosen—the same situations, and especially
that extremely common one, about here, of the Cinnabar Moth.
Its luridly-coloured caterpillar, banded with deep black and
yellow, is all over the common fleabane, that grows something like
a scanty crop over much of the sandy soil hereabouts, and when
about to pupate, as I have noticed with interest, it ascends the
trunk of the Scotch fir, and undergoes the change in one of the
numerous chinks of its flaky bark. I have seen numbers of
them thus ascending and entering, but I do not know from how
great a distance they come to the trees. Probably it is only
from quite near, for the majority, to get to them, would have to
travel farther than can be supposed possible, and, moreover, fir-
trees in these parts date only from some fifty years ago, I believe,
if so far back as that. Doubtless it is mere chance, but when
one sees them crawling towards the trees, and ascending as
soon as they get to them, it looks as though they were acting
under some special impulse. These caterpillars are, I believe,
nauseous to birds. I have thrown them to fowls, who appeared not
toseethem. This, I suppose, is an example of warning coloration.
December 10th.—Of all birds, Moorhens seem to me to utter
the most extraordinary sounds. They have purrs, mews, ex-
plosions, and so forth, all of them having a certain brazen
resonancy which suggests more a metal instrument than anything
made of flesh and blood. Transliteration is wholly impossible,
yet what say you to “chook-oo, chook-oo,” followed by a long-
drawn guttural note, something like—if it could be like anything
—‘“‘ger-oorrrrr,’ or to a sudden ‘‘currew-oo,” with an inde-
scribable resonant, burring trill in it ?
‘Que pensez-vous de ca mon chien ?
Que pensez-vous de ca mon chat?”
December 11th (cold frosty morning, but bright and fine.
Light snow on the ground).—At 8.50 a.m.I was by the streamlet,
at that part of it which I call the creek, behind and well concealed
by the willow, us yesterday, but in a more comfortable position.
As I got there I heard quite close, amongst the sedge, a peculiar,
almost squeaking, note, quite different to that of the Moorhen.
290 THE ZOOLOGIST. ~
It had a high needley sound, and was rapidly repeated, each in-
dividual note being short and of one syllable. Almost immedi-
ately two Dabchicks swam out into the stream, and one of them
uttered a note, not, indeed, the same as I had just heard, but
having the same character of sound. It was a sort of weak
chirruppy chatter, rather than a squeak; but shortly afterwards
I hear the same little needley squeaking, and now again a “ wee-
ee-ee-ee-ee-ee-ee” very rapidly repeated, and with a thin vibra-
tion. Itis a curious note, different from that of any other bird
I know of. If a tittering young lady were to be changed—or
modified—into a Grasshopper, but beg, as a favour, to be allowed
still to titter—as a Grasshopper—this would be it. It is also
like—indeed, very like—the hinney of a Horse, heard in the
farthest distance at which the ear can still catch it—immense im-
provements both on the imagined original. The Dabchick’s note
is given, in a well-known handbook, as “ whit, whit’’; so, as this
is not a whit like what it appears to me to be, I shall continue to
jot it down when I hear it, more particularly when I happen to
see the bird at the same time. At nine it commences to snow.
In the woods at Jerry’s Hill, where the Rooks roost, at 3 p.m.
The actual spot is a square plantation of gloomy firs, but skirting
this is another one of young oaks and beeches, from which, on
my approach, Wood-Pigeons in great numbers fly up. After I
have been for some time silently seated under a tree of the
dividing row—between the two plantations, that is—they return
“in numbers numberless,” almost rivalling the Rooks themselves.
They cut the air at a great rate, making a whistling, whirring
noise, and descend impetuously, into the oaks especially, which
are more numerous than the beeches. They like to be near one
another, so that, though their numbers are so great, and being
continually reinforced, they seem, rather, gathered into a few
trees that are close together than scattered amongst them gener-
ally ; no doubt they are this, too, though more thinly. I cannot
see all of the plantation equally well, but it seems as if some
trees are favourites, into which all the birds that can, descend.
In about twenty minutes, during all which time the plantation
has been filling, a number of the Pigeons fly out from the most
populous trees into others farther off, as if the ones they were
sitting in had become overcrowded. There is a constantly
FIELD NOTES. 291
recurring clatter and swish of wings, and then, in another ten
minutes, the great bulk of the birds (as it seems) rise suddenly,
with such a clapping as Garrick or Mrs. Siddons might have
dreamed of, fly rapidly about, descend into the trees again, leave
them once more, and depart—numbers of them, at least—in im-
petuous, arrowy flight. In a little while, though the plantation
seems still fairly peopled, the greater part of them, as I think,
have gone. Towards four, however, it becomes so cold that I
have to move, and all the Pigeons fly out of all the trees—a
revelation as to their real numbers, quite a wonderful thing to
see. Some of the trees, as the birds leave them—just in the
moment when they are going, but still there—are neither oaks,
nor beeches (nor ashes, elms, poplars, firs, syeamores, nor any-
thing, for the matter of that) but prgeon-trees—that and nothing
else. A wonderful sight! A wonderful thing! Something in
England, after all!
December 12th. (Hard weather. Slight snow on the ground.)—
I was up before four this morning, and got to the woods where
the Rooks roost at 6.20, an hour almost before they even began
to fly out. Whilst cycling down I saw a splendid meteorite, or
leonide, as they call them now. I did not merely happen to see
it, as it was falling, but my attention was attracted by a sudden
lighting up of the atmosphere, causing me to look about, when
I saw a great luminous green globe, in appearance as large as a
football, descending through the sky to my right. It was of a light
luminous green, brilliant, but softly brilliant—very distinctive.
I can think of no colour like it—earth is not like unto heaven.
The Pheasant’s habit of crouching favours, I think, the view
that the brilliant colouring of the male bird has been acquired
gradually. See this one now, in this little scanty plantation of
stunted oak and hazel-bush, thus trying to elude observation. It
is as though a torch should do the same. The bright burnished
surface of iridescent hues, the intense red round the eye, are
almost as conspicuous amidst the cold wintry surroundings—the
leafless trees with the deep glow of sunset beyond, against which
they stand like ink. But the hen Pheasant, from the plain stuff
of whose plumage the cock’s gorgeous tapestry has been evolved,
would be well-nigh invisible were she now in his place. How-
ever, stillness is, in itself, less conspicuous than motion. After
292 THE ZOOLOGIST.
all, there is nothing like not being seen, and foliage, as well as
mere luck, may secure this advantage to the most resplendent.
One cannot see all ways at once. But I believe that your thorough-
going advocate of protective coloration would look ata red lion,
stepped off a public-house, and cry out, ‘‘ How assimilative!”
There is one thing that my attention has been drawn to in
regard to the male Pheasant. It has upon the posterior portion
of the back a large patch of much less brilliant colouring than
the rest of it, or than the throat, neck, head, &c. When the
bird is in retreat—and it often retreats stealthily for some while
before crouching—this surface is turned towards one, and I have
thought, sometimes, that here was a sort of dull-coloured shield
to the bird’s brightness—it does, I think, act as such to some
extent. I look upon it, however, as that part of the body which
is least exposed, during courtship, to the observation of the hen,
and which has therefore remained comparatively dull.
A Robin is searching the newly flung-up mould of a Mole-
heap, and seems to find something, which he flies away with.
Looking closely at some similar mould afterwards, I can find
nothing whatever that a bird might eat. It is difficult to think
what birds do find on days like this. Squirrels have their
hoards, yet who would think to see them scampering over the
snow in the depth of winter? What make they out of their
warm hibernacula, where—happy beings—they may sleep away
not nights only, but weeks, months, a whole season at a time ?
That is what they are supposed to do—at least, I understand so.
True they lay up stores, and on a warm sunny day one can
understand them coming out to goto them. But why on such
a day as this? Has the weather really nothing to do with it,
but do they wake up, at certain intervals, hungry? But why
then should they hybernate at all? There must be food enough
for them surely. Fir-cones are quite a staple of their diet, and
these are on the trees through the winter. Then, again, they
eat bark, if all tales be true, though the bark made about it is
worse, I suspect, than their bite. Hybernation seems a splendid
remedy for a want of food, and that I have looked on as the
rationale of it. But surely, if a Hare or Rabbit can get through
the winter without hybernating, a Squirrel ought to be able to.
(To be continued.)
BIONOMICAL NOTES ON SOME BORNEAN
MANTIDAi.
By R. SHELFORD, M.A., C.M.4Z.S., Curator of the Sarawak
Museum.
Durine a five years’ residence in Sarawak, Borneo, I have
kept in captivity, and under close observation, many species and
specimens of Mantide@, and have from time to time jotted down
rough notes on their habits, their food, methods of feeding, life-
history, &c. The following account is a brief résumé of these
notes, and, though containing no very important or new facts,
may perhaps be of some interest to those readers of ‘ The
Zoologist’ who have never had the good fortune to observe these
curious insects alive for themselves.
Species of the genus Hierodula and T'enodera superstitiosa are
met with more frequently than any others in Borneo, and, as
they are strongly attracted by light and frequently fly into houses
at night when the lamps are lit, I have had plenty of oppor-
tunities of observing their habits in captivity, and of checking
my observations.
A Mantis such as one of these, when first captured, displays
considerable ferocity, grasping with its raptorial legs the fingers of
its captor with great force, at the same time trying to bite, but
after a few days many become comparatively tame, and some of
my captives would not only take food from my fingers, but would
devour it whilst resting on my hand. It is most interesting to
watch a Mantis, e.g. Hierodula dyaka (a bright green species),
attack a large butterfly, such as an Ornithoptera or Amathusiine
when introduced into its cage; the movements of the butterfly
are watched closely for some time, the Mantis turning its head
from side to side in what appears to be a very intelligent manner ;
the fore part of the body (the prothorax) is raised, the rap-
torial front legs are drawn up close against the side of the body,
and their yellow inner surfaces turned outwards; the abdomen
294 THE ZOOLOGIST. ~
is sometimes so strongly dilated as to show the black inter-
segmental membranes. The butterfly is seized with a sudden
snatch, and the Mantis nearly always commences operations by
biting through the costal nervures of the fore wings near their
origin ; if, however, the prey has not been seized in a position
favourable for this method of attack, the Mantis bites into the
chest so as to sever the wing-muscles. A large Ornithoptera,
when first seized, will dash its attacker with great violence
against the sides of the cage in its mad struggles for freedom,
Fic. 1.—Rhombodera basalis, De Haan; cleaning its left mid-leg{after
a meal,
but I have never yet seen a Mantis relax its hold; on the con-
trary, it will with much persistence literally burrow its way into
the thorax of the butterfly until the flutterings become weaker
and weaker, as one by one the wing-muscles are severed. If the
butterfly is one of the weak Satyrine or a small Nymphaline, the
Mantis commences its meal on any part that comes handy—the
head, the abdomen, or perhaps the legs; but strong-flying species
are always attacked, so far as my observations go, in the way
described, and as often as I have witnessed it, I have been irre-
F
NOTES ON SOME BORNEAN MANTIDZ. 295
sistibly reminded of a bull-dog trying to pull down a bull. If
the Mantis is hungry it will devour the whole butterfly, leaving
only the wings, and perhaps the distal part of the legs. After a
meal a Mantis will proceed to clean itself; the teeth of the fore
femora and tibie are picked over by the mandibles, then the fore
legs are repeatedly rubbed over the eyes and top of the head,
much in the same way as the House-fly, after rubbing its fore
tarsi together, passes its legs over its head; finally the tarsi of
the middle pair of legs are cleaned in the following way: the
prothorax is turned at an angle to the rest of the body, and one
of the front legs hooks up one of the middle legs and carries it
to the mouth ; it is held in position there whilst being cleaned
by the mandibles, and then released (Fig. 1). A great many
Mantide have, as is well known, the inner sides of the fore legs
coloured in a conspicuous manner, and these conspicuous mark-
ings are displayed whenever the insect is meditating an attack
on its prey. The green Hierodule, however, have the inner
side of the fore legs merely a pale yellow, which is certainly not
very conspicuous; still, as already stated, a Hierodula, when a
butterfly is introduced into its cage, always throws itself into an
attitude that displays these yellow surfaces to best advantage,
not, so far as I can see, to terrorize or fascinate its prey, but
merely because a sudden and powerful snatch is more readily
made from this position than from any other. I am inclined to
believe that in such an unconscious “ display’’* as this we may
see the beginnings of those remarkable attitudes assumed by
such floral simulations as the Empusides, which attitudes might
well be termed ‘‘ purposeful displays.” + Of course, many species,
e.g. Tenodera superstitiosa, do not attitudinize in any way what-
ever when excited, and that I am inclined to regard as the
primitive habit; but these species have not got the fore legs
coloured on the inside even as conspicuously as the Hierodule.
The dead-leaf-like form (Deroplatys destccata) has the inner side
* By the term ‘display’? I mean the sudden exhibition of brightly
coloured or conspicuously marked parts which are concealed during rest.
+ I find that I am anticipated in this supposition, for Dr. Sharp, in an in-
teresting paper on Idolwm diabroticwm (Proc. Cambridge Phil. Soc. vol. x.
pt. iii.), supposes (p. 180) that ‘‘in the past the function of catching in a par-
ticular manner has preceded the modifications of structure for doing so;”’
296 THE Z00LOGIST.
of the fore femora red-brown, blotched with black and pearly
white in a small oval patch on the front border. In another
dead-leaf-like species (D. shelfordt) the inside of the fore coxa is
red throughout its proximal two-thirds, pale bluish in the distal
third, the femur has a heavy black blotch about its middle.
D. desiccata, preparatory to seizing its prey, invariably behaved
like the Hierodula, i. e. the front of the body was raised, and the
fore legs drawn up close against the body, and slightly rotated
outwards so as to display their inner surfaces. The black and
white blotches show up very conspicuously against the red-brown
of the rest of the body. The under sides of the elytra in this
species are marked on their outer halves with conspicuous white
and madder blotches, but these markings are never displayed.
D. shelfordi used to adopt a very different attitude when prey
approached; the front of the body would be raised and the fore
legs stretched out widely at right angles on either side of the
body; sometimes the elytra would be raised up, and the wings
spread out fan-wise behind them,* the Mantis all the time this
attitude was maintained swaying slightly from side to side. The
under sides of the elytra in this species are bluish grey, with
four large fuscous patches, the wings on the costal border are
pale yellowish, but otherwise are coal-black mottled with in-
numerable fine pinkish- white lines.
A still more remarkable appearance is presented by Hestta-
sula sarawaca. This little Mantis, when at rest, 1s very crypti-
cally coloured with brown and grey ; its fore femora are produced
into large flat expansions, which causes them to be disc-like in
shape; they are held close together in front of the body, when
the insect appears to be of roughly the same diameter through-
out, and looks like a piece of wood or excrescence of bark. On
the approach of prey, or when irritated, a wonderful transforma-
tion takes place; the prothorax is raised, and the fore legs are
spread widely out on either side of it; the elytra, wings, and
abdomen are also elevated, the wings spread out fan-wise ; the
front coxe on their inner aspect are a deep crimson; the plate-
like femora are bright vellow, with a black sickle-shaped marking
*« A large species of Gryllacris, common in Indo-Malaya, when irritated.
always raises the elytra and wings fan-wise over the back. The Kuropean
Mantis religiosa “ displays” in the same way.
NOTES ON SOME BORNEAN MANTIDA. 297
extending along the posterior and proximal borders, and with
two small black spots on the anterior border; the under surface
of the prothorax is coal-black, and the wings are black, mottled
nearly all over with fine chrome-yellow streaks and dashes.
During this “display” the antenne are agitated so rapidly that
only an indistinct blur is seen in their place; the fore tibie
snap down on their femora with a clock-like regularity, a con-
tinuous rustling sound maintained by the wings, and the insect
sways from side to side, now bolt upright, then right over on one
side, then with a swing right over on the other side.
Fic. 2.—Hestiasula sarawaca, Westw.; beginning to “display :” front of
body raised, fore-legs opening out.
A green and white Theopropus (T. elegans, Westw.) “ dis-
plays” in much the same manner as Deroplatys shelfordi, but
neither the inner side of the fore limbs nor the wings are con-
spicuously coloured.
What is the meaning of these “displays”? It should in the
first place be remembered that they can be induced by irritating
the Mantis, as well as by the presence of prey. None of the
species described above look in the least degree flower-like when
Zool 4th ser. vol. VII., August, 1903. 3 Dd IN
298 THE ZOOLOGIST.. \
“displaying,” and it is absurd to suppose that butterflies or other |
insects can be fascinated or attracted by conspicuous markings"
or weird postures. I can only conclude that these Mantid “ dis-.
plays” are warning attitudes comparable with the warning
“displays” of many lepidopterous larve (cf. the eye-spots of
many species of Cherocampa amongst the hawk-moths, the black.
patch in larve of Dasychira spp. amongst the Lymantride, the
everted red processes of Papilio larve, &c.). '
Further, I believe that these “displays ” have originated from
the simple posture of attack or defence into which such a species
as Hierodula dyaka throws itself when stimulated by the presence
of its prey, or by an enemy’s attack. As already stated, that
posture—in which the fore legs are drawn up close against the
sides of the body, and slightly rotated outwards so as to show
their yellow inner aspects—is adopted because it is the most
convenient for making a sudden snatch at a moving insect, and
it has no other purpose. We may imagine that these uncon-
sciously ‘‘ displayed ’’ parts may become conspicuously marked
as in Deroplatys desiccata, that still later these parts become
more conspicuous, and the attitude better adapted for showing
them off, as in D. shelfordi and Hestiasula sarawaca; finally,
that the parts become flower-like, and the “display ’’ a more or
less permanent condition in the Mantis’s life, as in the Empu-
sides.* In other words, the floral simulation of the Empusides is
an outcome of a warning ‘“‘ display,” which again originated from
a simple posture of defence or attack.t These warning “ dis-
plays,’ having then been evolved from a simple posture of attack,
it is only natural that they should be made under the stimulus
of any excitement, such as the presence of prey or an enemy. A
Mantis is naturally a ferocious insect, and its first instinct when
stimulated is to seize and destroy the exciting cause; for
example, none of the dead-leaf-like species feign death when
* The Empusides are described by many observers as swaying gently when
at rest, apparently to imitate the swaying of a flower in a gentle breeze. This
swaying movement is, as shown above, characteristic of the warning display
of Hestiasula sarawaca.
+ Dr. Sharp (/.c. p. 177) thinks that the position in which the front legs
of Idolum diabolicwm is held is very unusual amongst the Mantide, but I
hope that I have shown that this is not the case.
NOTES ON SOME BORNEAN MANTIDZ. 299
irritated, as Phasmids and many other cryptically formed insects
do, but instantly prepare to attack their assailant.
A very curious and interesting species is Metallyticus semt-
eneus; it is a metallic-green and blue-black, is much flattened
dorso-ventrally, and has many other uncommon characteristics ;
unlike all other Mantide with which I am acquainted, it runs
with great swiftness, and with the gait of a cockroach, 1.¢. liter-
ally ventre a terre, the body not being raised well off the ground
as is the case with its relations. The species is found generally
on the bark of trees, but often underneath the bark, and it preys
on cockroaches. I endeavoured, with ill-success, to keep speci-
mens of this Mantis in captivity before I discovered that its
natural prey was cockroaches; butterflies, flies, termites were
never touched, but if a cockroach was introduced into a cage
containing this Mantid, it was either pounced on at once or else
captured after a long and exciting chase all over the cage.
Theopropus elegans has the curious habit of resting on the
femoro-coxal joints of all the legs; it progresses with a curious
swaying top-heavy motion, varied with an occasional scrambling
leap; the large fore legs of this species appear as if too heavy
for it. The hind wings are a beautiful iridescent white, very
finely speckled with purple.
Hymenopus bicornis, one of the Harpagides, is a floral simu-
lator throughout the whole of its life-history, with the exception
of the first stage. I shall have some remarks to make on the
young of this species later on. The adult is a cream-colour,
with some brown stains on the elytra; the mid and hind femora
are furnished with plate-like expansions, the prothorax is only
slightly enlarged, and the fore legs not at all. In the cabinet the
insect does not look very flower-like, but when seen hanging per-
haps upside down on a bush with the two pairs of ambulatory
legs spread wide out, it can readily be mistaken for some curious
orchid-like bloom. It makes no ‘‘ display” on the approach of
prey, but quietly waits till that comes within striking distance,
an exceptional habit induced doubtless by its floral simulation.
Some Mantide are much afflicted with a parasitic worm, a
long brown thread-like Gordian; the two species that I have
found to be most affected are Hierodula dyaka and Rhombodera
basalis ; it is, indeed, very seldom that one of the latter is found
PACD,
300 THE ZOOLOGIST.
without its parasite, which lodges in the fat body above the in-
testine. Professor Camerano has described this Gordian worm
as Chordodes shipleyt (Atti della R. Accad. delle Scienze di Torino,
vol. xxxiv. p. 3, 1899).
One of my objects in keeping Mantide alive was to test their
likes or dislikes for particular insects, and their appreciation of
the warning colours displayed by distasteful insects,* and with
this object in view my captives have always been furnished with
a most mixed diet. I may say at once that I have found little
evidence that Mantide appreciate warning colours, and still less
evidence that they prefer one sort of butterfly to another, or par-
ticularly dislike such acknowledged distasteful butterflies as the
members of the subfamily Danaine. The black and white day-
flying moths of the Deilemera (=Nyctemera) are, however, in-
variably refused, and left strictly alone, even when introduced
together with cryptical moths and butterflies that are presumably
palatable. I have never yet seen a Mantis attack one of these
distasteful species, nor have I ever found their half-eaten remains
in a Mantis’s cage. In this connection it is interesting to note
that the large and common Spider (Nephila maculata) manifests
the same dislike for Deilemere. I spent several hours one
morning introducing insects of the most varied orders into a
web of this Spider. All butterflies and many beetles were
devoured greedily, but Deilemera coleta, and another species of
the same genus, the little Bees of the genus T'rigona, and the
Reduviid bug (Velinus nigrigenu) were always cut free and
flicked out of the web at once. I have several records of Man-
tidé seizing and partially devouring such Danaine as Parantica
eryx, Trepsichrots mulciber, Tronga crameri, and then relinquish-
ing their hold as if their meal was too nauseous to be proceeded
with; but these rejected insects have always been dead when
relinquished, so that their warning colours were of no value to
them in securing them immunity from attack. My records of
Mantide seizing and completely devouring Danaine@ are, on the
other hand, much more numerous, and I have not even had
reason to suspect that a prolonged diet of Danaine butterflies
* See Trans. Ent. Soc. London, 1902, pt. iii. p. 297 et seq. for a series of
experiments on Mantid likes and dislikes, by G. A. K. Marshall (‘‘ Bionomics
of South African Insects’).
NOTES ON SOME BORNEAN MANTID. 301
has been prejudicial to the health of any Mantis, though Mr.
Marshall (/.c. p. 309) believes that in some cases a prolonged
Acrea diet was the cause of the death of some of his captive
Mantide. It is quite possible that the gaudy Acreas are more
nauseous than the Oriental Danaines; Limnas chrysippus and
other species of the same genus are found so rarely in this part
of Borneo that I have not been able to experiment with them,
which is a matter for some regret, as these are the most gaudy
members of the Danaine. I have also tried the experiment of
putting several species of butterflies—palatable and distasteful
species—into a Mantid’s cage all at the same time, and watching
to see if any selection was exercised; but, with the aforesaid
exception of Deilemere, the Mantid always appeared perfectly
indifferent in its choice, a Danaine being seized as eagerly as any
other species if it happened to get within striking distance. A
newly captured Mantis will seize and devour any fluttering insect
that may be introduced into its cage, purely, I believe, from sheer
ferocity, and I think that in all experiments of this nature this
fact ought to be taken into account; for example, I have seen a
newly-imprisoned Mantis pounce on a male T'repsichrois mulciber,
and, after nibbling atits head and legs, suddenly nip off the yellow
scent-glands which were protruding from the end of the abdomen
of the butterfly; the butterfly was then released, recaptured,
released again, recaptured again, and finally devoured. Two
very strong-smelling Coreid bugs, Mictis longicornis, were intro-
duced into a cage containing a species of Hierodula, and much to
my surprise were completely devoured. It is recorded in Mr.
Marshall’s paper, that two bugs, Cyclopelta sp. and Physomerus
sp., were never eaten, though often killed, by an Indian Mantis,
HMierodula bipapilla; on the other hand, that the Coreid Ano-
plocnemis curvipes* was devoured by Baboons.}+ On the whole,
* The Coreid@ are rather a puzzle to supporters of the mimicry theory ;
they all have a very strong and disagreeable odour, just as the brilliantly
coloured Pentatomideé have (cf. Catacanthus, Chrysocoris, &c.), and yet all
are cryptically coloured, and many have the leaf-like expansions on legs and
prothorax which we are accustomed to associate with palatable cryptically
coloured insects, such as Phasmids and some beetles.
+ Another species, Holopterna alata, in spite of its offensive smell, is
eaten in the Transvaal by a Lizard, Fowls, and Meerkat.—Hp. (Cf. ‘ Zool.,’
1902, p. 393.)
302 THE ZOOLOGIST.
allowing for the assumed greater distastefulness of Acreine, mv
results agree well with Mr. Marshall’s: we have little or no
evidence that Mantide appreciate warning colours; a distasteful
insect when seized is either completely devoured or else half
eaten and so killed, and neither here nor in Africa do Mantide
show that aversion to distasteful forms that one might expect,
nor do they exercise much, if any, selection in the capture of
their prey from amongst a number of butterflies.
I have been able to recognize two types of egg-cases amongst
the Mantide of Borneo: (1) that made by the members of the
tribe Mantides ; (2) that made by the Harpagides. The former
is a large rounded white structure adhering to vertical grass-
blades or plant-stems. It consists of two distinct parts—an outer
thick covering of spongy texture, being a dried froth, and a dense
central mass of eggs disposed symmetrically in closely apposed
follicles; the outside is streaked slightly, showing that the outer
covering was laid on in successive layers of froth. Such an egg-
case is figured in almost every entomological text-book. I
believe that the use of the spongy outer covering is to prevent
the attacks of parasitic Hymenoptera. An Ichneumon fly would
reauire a very long ovipositor to reach the central mass of eggs ;
yet such are to be found frequently in Borneo, and on one
occasion I disturbed a small Braconid (? Iphiaulax sp.) that was
resting on a Mantid’s egg-case. I reared young Mantid larve
from these eggs; so either the Braconid had not commenced
operations when disturbed, or else had no nefarious designs on
the nest at all. Very frequently an egg-case is tenanted by ants,
who scoop out much of the outer covering, leaving a mere shell
with the central egg-mass attached by a few strands only to the
outermost wall; the ants never seem to interfere with the eggs.
The Harpagides make a long narrow egg-case, generally cream-
coloured, and adhering to more or less horizontal stems and
twigs. The eggs are disposed symmetrically along a central axis,
and covered with a very thin layer of froth, smooth and shining
on the outside. Theopropus elegans and Hymenopus bicornis are
devoted mothers; a captive specimen of the former used always
to rest astride her egg-case, and twice I have taken the latter
close beside her eggs.
Hestiasula sarawaca makes a nest more or less intermediate
NOTES ON SOME BORNEAN MANTIDA. 303
between the Mantid and Harpagid types, 7. ¢. it is a long narrow
structure adhering to a horizontal twig, but it is covered with an
irregularly shaped mass of dried froth, not smooth on the outside,
sea-green incolour. The young of Harpagides walk straight out of
the ootheca on to the twig to which it adheres ; but the young of
the Mantides lower themselves from the suspended nest by silken
threads to the ground, or to a leaf, and only then begin to rid
themselves of the embryonic envelope in which they are encased
(see a figure in ‘ Cambridge Natural History—Insects,’ Part I.
p. 247).*
The young of Hierodule are green or yellowish, and quite
recognizable as the offspring of their parents. But this is not
often the case, e.g. the young of Tenodera superstitiosa, a
brownish-green species, are coal-black, except on the crown of
the head, dorsal surfaces of the meso- and metathorax, and the
legs, which are salmon-pink; the lateral borders of the prothorax
and abdomen are pearly-white; the eyes are pearly-white, with
a black streak running down the centre; the four basal joints of
the antenne each bear four long sete and look feather-like.
These little creatures are very active, and look remarkably like
ants. rca
The young of Metallyticus semieneus are chequered on the
meso- and meta-notum and on the dorsal surface of the abdomen
with white, and the legs are red. Unlike all the other larve and
pupe of Mantide that I am acquainted with, this does not carry
the abdomen turned up over the back of the thorax. The newly-
hatched young of Hymenopus bicornis, when they just emerge
from the ootheca, are sealing-wax red, with black head and legs;
they then bear a remarkably close resemblance to the young
larve of a Reduviid Bug, Hulyes amena, even to their method
of moving about with abdomen turned up. In this stage the
plate-like-expansions of the legs are not developed. After the
first moult the larve become pink or cream-colour, and the
femoral expansions make their appearance; from this stage on
the insect remains flower-like. The colour of the larva depends
a good deal, if not entirely, on the colour of the flowers that it
frequents. Recently I had brought to my notice a specimen that
* T have not come across any pre-larval stage such as has been described
for the Kuropean Mantis religvosa.
3804 THE ZOOLOGIST.
had been found on a yellow flower with crimson stamens; the
larva was yellow, with crimson lines on the abdomen and crimson
mid- and hind-axe. As far as my observations go, this species
cannot change its colour in adaptation to its surroundings with-
out moulting. A pink specimen found on a shrub with pink
flowers (? Melastoma sp.) was kept under a bell-jar standing on
a sheet of white paper. After a few days the larva moulted, and
was then pure white. A nymph of Deroplatys desiccata, on the
other hand, that was kept for some days in a box lined with
white paper, became noticeably paler in colour.
A full and accurate account of the habits of a pupal
Hymenopus bicornis may be found in a paper on the Insects of
the Skeat Expedition, by Mr. Nelson Annandale (P. Z.S., pt. iv.
1900, pp. 839-848). The same paper contains notes on other
Malayan Manitide. |
Description of a New Species of Mantide referred to in the above
paper by W. F. Kirby, F.L.S., &c.
DEROPLATYS SHELFORDI, sp. n.
Long. corp. 60 millim.; long. pron. 80 millim.; lat. 26 millim.
Female.—Dead-leaf brown; pronotum of a long bell-shape, regu-
larly curved and expanded backwards to its greatest breadth, the hind
border curving backwards and inwards to the extremity; lateral
borders denticulated on the basal half. Tegmina with no distinct
markings except a narrow yellowish discal stripe; wings banded with
blackish, and produced into long processes at the extremity, as in D.
truncata, Guér. Spines of the front femora and tibie# more or less
tipped with black; front femora with a black band towards the
extremity on the inner side, intersected by two or three short yellowish
stripes ; front cox with six or eight short straight spines.
Hab. Borneo; Sarawak (Shelford).
Apparently intermediate between D. truncata, Guér., and D.
horrijica, Westw., resembling the former in shape, and the latter
in markings.
( 305 )
BIRD NOTES IN SARK, 1903.
By E. F. M. Ems.
(Concluded from p. 263.)
ReD-BACKED SHRIKE (Lanius collwrio).— Saw several individuals.
They were mostly very clamorous, and were constantly uttering their
‘‘chirruping song, not unlike the attempted singing of a Sparrow in
sound.”
SwaLLow (Hirundo rustica),— A good many about hawking for
insects either inland or near the sea. Saw no nests, though several
open sheds were inspected. They probably breed in suitable places
among the sea-cliffs.
House-Martin (Chelidon urbica).—Less common than last. Nowhere
were there any of their familiar plastered nests under the eaves of the
houses. Perhaps they, too, breed among the cliffs.
GreenFincH (Ligurinus chloris). — Not an abundant species, but
occurring in localities suitable to it.
Houss-Sparrow (Passer domesticus),—As ubiquitous in Sark as else-
where, and nesting in trees.
CuarFincH (Fringilla celebs)—The remarks made on Greenfinch
apply here.
Linnet (Linota cannabina).— Considering the vast quantities of
gorse, one might have expected to find Linnets in hosts; not so, how-
ever, but they were fairly numerous, especially on the western coast,
and nesting freely in the gorse.
Corn-Buntine (Emberiza miliaria).—One or two noted on cultivated
land, but by no means common.
Yeuitow Buntine (F. citrinella).—Saw only one of these handsome
birds during the whole of our stay.
Ciru-Buntine (FE. cirlus).—Same as Yellow Bunting.
StTaRuine (Sturnus vulgaris),—Quite an uncommon species, com-
paratively speaking. Heard young ones crying from a hole in the
cliffs, to which the parent flew with food in its beak.
Cuover (Pyrrhocoraa graculus)—Did not see one personally, but I
hear it still hangs on, but in ever-decreasing numbers.
Magpie (Pica rustica). — One of the commonest of the Corvine
306 THE ZO0OLOGIST.
family, all keeping inland, and seemingly not so shy as in England,
feeding out in the open fields, or at the side of the road.
Carrion-Crow (Corvus corone).—Perhaps as common as the Magpie.
Saw several every day, generally in the locality of the sea, The Crows
and Sea-birds are sworn enemies, and a fearful uproar ensued one day
as one of these black rascals alighted on one of Les Autelets (com-
prising four isolated rocks), the inaccessible home of Guillemots,
Gulls, &e. On another occasion saw hostilities between a Crow and
an Oystercatcher, and at all times, when near the Gulls’ nesting
haunts, found many broken eggs lying about, the work of the Carrion-
Crow, no doubt.
Roox (C. frugilegus).—I have nothing in my notes about this bird,
but do not remember seeing one, and certainly there is no rookery.
Perhaps it is not altogether surprising, as there is only about one place
on the whole island suitable for their nursery.
Raven (C. corax).—Two specimens only came under my notice.
Sxy-Larx (Alauda arvensis) Common. Keeping preferably to the
more cultivated parts.
Swirt (Cypselus apus).— Nearly as frequently met with as the
Swallow. They, in common with the Swallows, seemed more abun-
dant on the western coast, and this was probably due to the fact that
during the greater part of our stay there was a north-easter blowing,
and the western side was more protected and warmer. This bird pro-
bably breeds in suitable crannies in the cliff-face.
Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus)—I have never seen more in one par-
ticular area. At the northern part of the island they were more com-
monly met with than anywhere, excepting perhaps Little Sark. They
delighted in perching on the rocks strewn about above Les Boutiques
caves, and sung the familiar song therefrom. On two or three. occa-
sions I heard the song rendered ‘‘ cuckoo, cuckoo,” and ending abruptly
with ‘‘cuc,’” and also the other variation of ‘‘cue-cuckoo.” It is
matter of some surprise that with so many Cuckoos in the dis-
trict, and the amount of nests found, that not one contained a
Cuckoo's egg.
Kesrret (Falco nunca — The only representative of the
Raptorial birds, seen hovering over a field of youn corn just before
sundown on the evening of May 24th.
Stone Curtew (Gdicnemus scolopax).—Met with none of them, but
was told by the fishermen that they were acquainted ae it, and that
it sometimes bred on the island.
GotpeNn Prover (Charadrius silboaates y= Sint in Sark in May,
BIRD NOTES IN SARK. 307
having migrated north to breed, but. they are seen in countless hosts
in early spring, probably when performing their migrations.
Lapwine (Vanellus vulgaris).—Same as last. I believe a great many
more species of this order are to be observed in winter.
Curtew (Numenius arquata).—On May 23rd saw two of these birds
on the rocky headland near Les Boutiques, at the northern end of
Sark, and a few days later my friend saw a solitary bird in the same
spot. At first I presumed that they would be non-breeding birds,
having no occasion to go north, but one of our boatmen says that
they do breed in small numbers on the Herm, an island between
Sark and Guernsey, and that there are more about in the winter
months.
Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo). —Nesting in considerable num-
bers at various points along the coast, generally in a small niche in
the perpendicular sides of the cliffs, and wholly inaccessible. One
nest on L’Ktac de Sark was empty, and this remark applies to another
on the Grande Moie, from which the bird flew off. The fishermen hate
the Cormorant, in common with the Guillemots and Razorbills, which,
as they say, fly through the water as fast as through the air, and
frighten what fish they do not devour. They are strict with their little
laws in Sark, and bird protection takes the form of a fine of £5 for
every egg or bird taken in the close season; but in spite of this the
men are only too glad to shoot through the Cormorants’ nests at
breeding time whenever the opportunity presents itself. The Cor-
morants’ chief breeding stations around the Sark coast are at L’Htac,
probably on Brecqhou—the largest dependency, but did not land
there—at Moie de Mouton, on Les Autelets, and Grande Moie. Of
these, all except Moie de Mouton are isolated rocks, and the Moie
de Mouton can only be reached in safety by boat. At Les Autelets
there is one curious flat rock slightly inclined, on which the Cor-
morants love to sit and ‘‘ hang themselves out to dry,’’ and which
is completely whitewashed with their excrement. This rock is
much like a large altar, from which the group get the name of Les
Autelets.
Suae (P. graculus).—In less numbers than the last named, and
breeding in the vicinity of Les Autelets, but impossible to reach their
nests. ;
GanneEt (Sula bassana).—Met with none of these magnificent birds
in Sark, but. I hear they are to be found earlier in the year. Saw
two, however, about mid-channel between Guernsey and Weymouth.
Common Trrn (Sterna fluviatilis).— Only a few individuals had
308 THE ZO00LOGIST.
arrived by May 29th, the majority putting in an appearance during
the first week in June. On the Moie de la Bretagne, where we
lunched, a nest was found containing one egg. Within a few days
our boatmen said there would be as many as two hundred of them
frequenting this tumbled mass of rocks, which lies off the western coast
of Little Sark. :
OysrEeRcatcHER (Hematopus ostralegus). — A fairly common and
always pretty shore-bird in Sark, and breeding on the lower lying
rocks of L’Ktac; also on Moie de la Bretagne, where I found a
nest containing two eggs. The fragments of a third were lying
some few yards away, probably having been pilfered by Crows.
This bird also breeds on Grande and Petite Moies, but found no nests
there.
Kirtiwake (Kissa tridactyla).—Breeding in considerable numbers
at the Moie de Mouton wherever a suitable ledge in the perpendicular
cliff permitted. In all cases their nests were totally inaccessible.
Hereine-Guut (Larus argentatus).—The commonest of all the Gulls,
breeding in incredible numbers at a great many gulleries all around
the coast, but in no case was it possible to approach the nests from the
land, and none too easy from a boat. Examined some thirty nests at
the various points touched at during our trip round Sark in a small
boat. All of them were large, 7. e. with wide diameters, but otherwise
slight structures of dead grass and other withered herbage and sea-
weed, and placed in a hollow among the rocks, or in thick grass
growing up the cliffs. Of all the nests I saw only one had more than
two eggs, and that was a Lesser Black-back Herring-Gull’s nest, con-
taining one egg of the former bird and two of the latter. This seems
rather curious, as the clutches are usually given as three, and that
laying, generally speaking, was finished, I am perfectly sure, as the
parents had all begun incubation, and some of the eggs I procured
contained an embryo in a slightly advanced stage of incubation. At
very low tide, when an expanse of sand is laid bare, the Herring-Gull
is very fond of probing about for Sand-eels, and as I learn the Herring
is never caught in these seas, the name gained from its habit in follow-
ing shoals of Herrings becomes a misnomer.
Lesser Buack-BackED Gutt (L. fuscus).—Breeding in numbers, but
is not so common a species as the last named. There seems a strong
social instinct between these birds and the Herring-Gull, nesting near
one another, and even in the same nest, as already noted. The nests
of the two species are to all intents and purposes identical both in
position and materials, and the eggs themselves are not easy to
BIRD NOTES IN SARK. 309
authenticate. One boatman says you can always tell, because the egg
of the Lesser Black-back is darker in colour, %.e. the background is
browner in this bird and greener in the Herring-Gull, and that in the
former the blotchings assume a deeper intensity of colour as to be
almost black in some cases, whereas in the Herring-Gull the markings
never get to a much deeper shade than deep umber-brown. I am in-
clined to think he was not altogether wrong either, for some eggs I
knew to be Lesser Black-backs were much darker than the Herring-
Gull’s, and two—one of each species—taken from the same nest, are
quite dissimilar, one being dark, and the other—the Herring-Gull’s—
lighter. But some of the eggs obtained were intermediate in colour-
ing between dark and light, and might equally well belong to either
species.
Great Buack-BackeD Guu (L. marinus).—Saw two of these noble
birds on an isolated rock off the Courbée du Nez, at the northern end
of the island. Iam not able to say whether or not they breed here-
abouts.
Stormy Perret (Procellaria pelagica).— When on the Petite Moie, I
most distinctly detected the musky odour that is always present near
this bird’s breeding haunt, and I have little doubt that a nesting bird
was within a few feet hidden away in some secret crevice in the rocks.
Our boatmen, too, noticed it, and, curiously enough, had never seen or
heard of such a bird before; nor did their knowledge come forward
when I referred to the Storm Petrel as ‘Mother Carey’s Chicken.”’
But since this pelagic little wanderer only comes to land for a few
weeks to incubate its solitary disproportionate egg, and is very
nocturnal in habits and small in size, it is perhaps no wonder that
these fishermen have never noticed it.
Razorsitt (Alca torda).—This bird and the next named are both
called indiscriminately by the fishermen “ Divers.’’ They say they
often take the Razorbill and the Guillemot on their lines when fishing
at some considerable depth. In Sark the Razorbill breeds on Les
Autelets, but apparently not nearly in such large numbers as the
Guillemot.
Common Guittemot (Uria troile).— Their chief, and, I believe,
only breeding station is on Les Autelets, and here a considerable
number were at all times of the day to be observed sitting on the
ledges, no doubt incubating their eggs. Les Autelets are practically
inaccessible, though they have been scaled by some foolhardy climbers,
so it was impossible to get near the breeding ledges, but round the base
of the rocks several broken eggs were found.
310 THE. ZOOLOGIST.
Purrin (Fratercula arctica).—I think L’Etac is their only breeding
haunt, being the only suitable islet providing a sufficient amount of
soft earth in which to make their burrows. As we landed the Puffins
flew out, and wheeled round and round this limpet-shaped dependency -
almost as thick as flies. This was on May 29th, and our boatmen
thought we were too early for eggs, but in this they were both
assuredly wrong, for the Puffin is not a late nester ; and, after feeling
about in a great many of their tunnels, and finding only one egg, and
that very stained and hard-set, I was fully convinced that instead of
being too early, the great business of the-year was practically over.
I caught one in its burrow, and it offered not the slightest resistance.
At close quarters the Puffin is a grotesque little creature, and it was
with much interest that we had a somewhat convincing demonstration
with regard to the wonderful power of its adze-shaped bill. A piece
of stick was selected, and the mandibles fastened on it like a vice, and
brought home to one the undesirability of having one’s finger sub-
stituted for the stick. The sitting bird always squats in the hole,
with its head towards the entrance, and feeling about in the hole
is best done with a gloved hand, and, on touching the bird, immedi-
ately grasp it firmly by the head before pulling it out, and then such
a calamity as experienced by the stick will be averted as regards the
human finger.
ee Bala)
NOTES AND QUERIES.
- MAMMALIA.
Mus sylvaticus wintoni in Suffolk.— With reference to the note on
the occurrence of this species in Suffolk by the Rev. Julian G. Tuck
(ante, p. 266), I may mention that I have often caught specimens at
Plumpton, in the parish of Whepestead, five miles south of Bury St.
Edmunds, and also at Brettenham Park, which is about ten miles
south-east of the same town. It does not appear, however, to be nearly
as common as M. sylvaticus, though its large size and bright colour,
especially the orange patch on the chest, at once attracts attention.
Probably it will be found to occur throughout the district now that the
difference between the two species has been pointed out (ante, p. 150),
and the present one becomes better known. Whilst on the subject of
Mice, I may add that the Common Field Vole (Arvicola agrestis) also
differs very considerably in size, and on one occasion I remember
catching such a monster at Brettenham Park that I thought it must
have belonged to a new species, and forwarded it to London for exami-
nation, but it was reported to be only an exceptionally large specimen
of the common species ; and I notice in Bell’s ‘ British Quadrupeds,’
2nd edit. p. 326, he refers to two other forms which were previously
described as separate species, viz. A. neglecta and A. britannicus, of
which, however, he says: ‘‘ The characters on which their distinction
was founded were merely external differences of tint and proportions,
which cannot in the least be depended on in so variable and difficult a
family as the Voles.’’ The one I caught was certainly far larger than
any Field Vole I have ever seen in England before or since, and I have
mentioned the fact in case the subject may be brought up at any time
hereafter for discussion. — H. A. Burner (Plumpton House, Bury St.
Edmunds, Suffolk).
Goat suckling a Lamb.—There is on the farm of Kilbride Bennan,
Arran, a Goat, the property of Mr. Murchie, farmer there, which yearly
suckles a lamb. The Goat is now thirteen years old, and every year
she has had a lamb put to her, which she readily takes to, and suckles
312 THE ZOOLOGIST.
as if it had been her own kid. During the period of her suckling she
has a plentiful supply of milk sufficient for the wants of her foster
child; indeed, in one year she had two lambs put to her, and evinced
great grief when one of them died. The most curious point, however,
is that she has never had any progeny of her own, and has never had
converse or association with any of her own species. I would be glad
to hear if any case of a similar kind is known.—J. MacNaueut Camp-
BELL (Kelvingrove Museum, Glasgow).
The Harp Seal (Phoca groenlandica) in Great Britain. — In a
letter dated March 28rd, 1903, Mr. W. R. Hall Jordan, of Teignmouth,
informed me that on March 10th he saw a very large Seal being
wheeled about Teignmouth in a barrow by some fishermen. It had -
been shot in the River Teign, where it had been seen for four days
previously. He describes the colour of the body as white, and the
muzzle and front part of the head as black. This was obviously a speci-
men of the rare Phoca groenlandica, Fabr., and it is unfortunate that
subsequent enquiries as to the disposal of the remains of this specimen
have hitherto proved unsuccessful. The ‘Manchester Evening News’
of March 23rd, 1903, contains a paragraph stating that a Harp Seal
(P. groenlandica) was killed in the Firth of Forth near Grangemouth,
‘‘a few daysago.”’ Possibly the publication of these imperfect records
may lead to the discovery of fuller details respecting the occurrence of
this rare and interesting visitor.—Francis C. R. Jourpain (Clifton
Vicarage, Ashburne, Derbyshire).
AVES.
Strange Nesting-place for a Mistletoe Thrush (Turdus viscivorus).
Referring to the note on this subject (ante, p, 226), if Mr. Whitaker
will refer to Messrs. Ussher and Warren’s ‘ Birds of Ireland’ he will
find a couple of instances where this bird built on the ground. I found
one nest this year in a tuft of bent-grass at the edge of a sand-bunker
on the links of the Co. Lough Golf Club at the mouth of the Boyne.
There were four eggs in the nest, and the bird was sitting on it. Un-
fortunately the caddies robbed it. This was about June 19th, so it was
probably a second laying. There are plenty of trees within easy reach.
The Mistletoe Thrush is supposed to be well able to defend its nest
against other birds, but I saw a Rook this spring deliberately devour
the newly-hatched young of a pair of Mistletoe Thrushes which had
built in an apple-tree in my orchard. The parents were dashing about
in great distress, but the Rook paid no attention to them.—G. H.
Pentianp (Black Hall, Drogheda).
NOTES AND QUERIES. 313
Grasshopper-Warbler (Locustella nevia) in the Isle of Man.—
When visiting the Curragh (an imperfectly drained depression of con-
siderable extent at the foot of the Northern Hills, between Ballaugh
and Sulby), with P. G. Ralfe and T. H. Graves, on May 380th last,
we had the good fortune to hear the strange song of this Warbler.
Although we had spent many hours in the Curragh, it was not until
we were returning at about 9 p.m. that we heard the first song. Soon
after we heard another, and altogether in a walk of half a mile in one
of the lanes crossing the swamp we heard at least six birds singing ;
sometimes two could be heard together. This bird has not been
noticed in Man before, but, judging by the number we heard in only a
small part of this area, there must be a considerable number in the
district. We stalked, and saw one of the singing birds at-night, but
the next day, after a prolonged search, we failed to see the bird or hear
its song. [Ralfe heard another bird singing in the swamp near Balla-
craine on June 7th.] —Franx S. Graves (Ballamoar, Alderley Edge).
Nesting of the Pied Wagtail (Motacilla lugubris).—I believe, as a
rule, this species only nests twice in the season, but this year the pair
that are in my garden have nested three times, and the hen bird is. at
present (July 27th) sitting on the third clutch of eggs close to the
window of the room in which I am writing. There are only one pair
of birds, and they arrive annually about the middle of. March. I did
not examine the first nest, but I saw four or five young birds running
about on the lawn with the old birds at the end of April and beginning
of May, and early in Junea second nest was built in a hole in the wall,
about three feet from the ground, just outside the window of my sitting
room. A Long-tailed Field-Mouse (Mus sylvaticus) disturbed the nest
one night, and carried off an egg, but the remaining four were hatched,
and the young birds reared, and these also, like the first brood, fre-
quented the lawn for several days with their parents. About July
20th I found the hen bird sitting on another clutch of eggs in a nest
about ten yards from the site of the second nest, and on the same wall,
about eight feet from the ground, but as it is in a creeper behind some
trellis, and in rather a difficult place to approach without disturbing
the sitting bird, I have decided not to examine it. Probably, however,
it contains four or five more eggs. —H. A. Burter (Plumpton House,
Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk).
Tree-Sparrow (Passer montanus) in the Isle of Man.—On July
5th, 1902, I saw a pair of these birds in the trees bordering the high
road at Kirby, near Douglas. These are the first birds of this species
I have seen in Man; they probably had a nest close to where I saw
Zool, 4th ser. vol, VII., August, 1903. 3 2B
814 THE ZOOLOGIST.
them, as there are numbers of old trees on this estate, where suitable
nesting-places would abound. This year (on June 22nd) I saw two, or
possibly three, Tree-Sparrows at Ballamoar, Kirk Patrick, feeding in
the farmyard with House-Sparrows, Chaffinches, and Yellowhammers.
There are many old trees on this estate also. (Since writing the above
T have heard from Mr. Ralfe that a Mr. F. W. Leach shot a specimen
at Road Island, Braddan, on Jan. 5th, 1896, and he has observed the
species on other occasions near Douglas.) — Franx §. Graves (Balla-
moar, Alderley Kdge).
Breeding Habits of the Pied Woodpecker.—When I was staying
with my brother in Northamptonshire in June, we went one evening
(23rd) for a stroll in a Fox-cover of mixed timber-trees with a heavy
growth of big elder bushes. We had just visited the Badger-earths,
and wondered afresh at the ‘‘roads”’ the Badgers had made when
dragging herbage, sticks, leaves, &c., into their holes; and wondered
too at the great patches of undergrowth beaten down flat by the
Foxes, and at the numerous remains of their good living. The light
was failing somewhat under the fir-trees as we walked along one of the
rides, and a Fox had just crossed in front of us, when we heard a
sound like the cry of a Barred Woodpecker, but, unlike the cry of that
bird, the sound was continuous. We soon traced it to a hole in an
old elder-bush, which evidently contained a brood of young Wood-
peckers. The cries of the young birds were redoubled when I touched
the tree, and the young birds, thinking that one of their parents had
settled on it, tumbled up to the entrance in a hurry to be fed; but they
dropped back again instantly, only affording me a momentary glimpse
of them. And I may add that, although I subsequently tried several
times at intervals, I could never get another rise out of them. The
trunk of the elder-bush was only about ten inches in diameter, and the
hole not more than three feet from the ground. ‘This seems a curious
nesting-place for the birds to choose, for there are plenty of good-sized
trees in the cover, some of which are quite riddled with holes bored by
the Green Woodpeckers, which are always to be heard and seen there.
But I do not think that the Pied Woodpecker (Dendrocopus major), to
which bird the nest proved to belong, cares to cut out a clean hole
entirely for itself (as the Green Woodpecker does) if it can get one
partly formed naturally. This particular hole was at a place where a
branch had long ago been torn off, and the weather had got in at the
wound and rotted the wood for some distance down into the stump of
the tree. The birds had merely turned out the rotten wood (which
lay at the foot of the tree), worked the sides of the hole out a little,
NOTES AND QUERIES. 315
and rounded off the edges of the entrance-hole, which was oval in
shape, not round. Isaw a Pied Woodpecker’s nest in Wales last year»
which was somewhat similar. It was in a small oak about twelve feet
from the ground, in a place where a branch had been torn away from
the trunk ; the young birds were very noisy. To return to the former
nest: when we were examining it we could hear the alarm-note ‘‘gik”
or ‘‘chick’’ of one of the old birds, so we retired into the cover on the
other side of the ride to watch. In a few minutes the old male came
down and settled on the side of the trunk (where the bark was quite
worn by the birds’ feet), and then sidled round to the hole in front.
The cries of the young were vociferous. The male remained at the
entrance for a minute or two, popping his head forward into the hole,
and, I think, feeding the young ; then he went inside for a few minutes,
came out, and flew away. It was now dusk, and we went home.
Returning to the spot the next morning, we noticed that we could hear
the young birds quite plainly when we were sixty yards from the tree.
We repeatedly saw both old birds close to the tree, and they even
settled on it ; but, though we had hidden ourselves much more care-
fully than on the previous evening, and at a greater distance from the
tree, they would not feed the young, or go quite to the hole while we
remained. While watching them I repeatedly heard one of them
(certainly the female in some cases) utter a curious cry, sounding like
‘‘trah”’ or ‘‘tray,”’ but the note they used chiefly was the ordinary
alarm cry ‘‘gik”’ or ‘“‘chick.’’ I almost wonder some of the numerous
Foxes (one of which crossed the ride in front of us about noon that
day) had not tried to get at these young birds, which took such pains
to betray their presence.—O. V. Artin (Bloxham, Oxon).
Honey-Buzzard in Cheshire —On the evening of June 5th an im-
mature Honey-Buzzard (Pernis apivorus) was shot in a ride in one of
the woods in Tatton Park. The bird lacks the grey head which
characterizes the adult, but resembles in the mottled brown and white
of the under parts, and the general character of its upper plumage, an
old male from Altenkirche, which is in the Dresser collection in the
Manchester Museum, and is figured on the third plate devoted to this
species in the ‘Birds of Hurope.’—Cuas. Onpuam (Knutsford).
British Grey Geese.—I am glad to see this matter cleared up, as I
consider it to be, by Mr. H. W. Robinson. I have compared several
specimens, supplied to me from the Outer Hebrides and Tiree Point,
and a considerable time ago came to the same conclusions as he has
done—that differences in coloration are due to age; that differences
in size are due to age; that the dark-breasted White-fronted Geese
316 THE ZOOLOGIST.
are old birds, and the mottled-breasted birds are young ones ; that the
white on the face, and especially on the lower mandible or feathers of
the chin, are signs of immaturity and not of old age ; and that colora-
tion of the soft parts is also no criterion. North American Snow-
Buntings of large size might be separated similarly from the European ;
the dark-backed Sand-Martin of east of the White Sea might be sepa-
rated from our Sandy-backed Martin of Britain, and perhaps have
some right to be described, as the usual order of geographical
variation between eastern and western specimens reversed—that
is, we might expect to find lighter-coloured and not darker-coloured
Sand-Martins to the east than in the west, but this is not so.
I suspect old Aristotle gauged these Geese fairly well, as described
in ‘ Zoologist’ (ante, p. 248), and present-day naturalists will not
be very far out if they leave them alone now. I write, with the
breast of a White-fronted Goose before me, which is almost black,
the broad bands merging into one another all over; and the other
extreme, faint grey breast mottled all over with black ticks. This
latter bird has the white chin. An intermediate one has dark black
bands on breast showing signs of merging, and has no white on the
chin nor below the gape, only on the front of forehead. With regard
to Anser rubrirostris, | have no remark to make, except that free transla-
tion of German sentences, graceful or ungraceful, is a “ ticklish tail to
tackle’’ at any time.—J. A. Harviz-Brown (Dumipetes Larbert, Stir-
lingshire, N.B.).
Tufted Duck in Merionethshire.—When passing Bala Lake in the
train early in the morning of May 23rd, I saw, close inshore, near the
upper end of the lake, three Tufted Ducks (Fuligula cristata), which
seemed to be a male and two females. I passed the lake on the 12th,
and again just a month later, without seeing them; but Mr. A. H.
Macpherson saw probably the same three Tufted Ducks on May 29th
and June Ist, each time about the same place. I do not remember if
this Duck has yet been recorded as breeding in Wales; neither do I
know if the Ducks I saw were breeding.—O. VY. Apuin (Bloxham, Oxon).
Stock-Dove (Columba cnas) in the Isle of Man. — Frequently
during the last few years I have seen a few Pigeons which I thought
were Rock-Doves or feral birds, about a certain part of the coast on
the west of the island, but, owing to their wildness, I could never get
near enough to them to see definitely to which species they belonged.
On May 18th, 1902, I disturbed a pair from some broken piled-up
rock full of crevices and holes near the foot of a steep sea-brow.
Feeling sure these could not be Rock-Doves, I hid and watched for
NOTES AND QUERIES. 317
their return, and then saw they were ‘‘ Stock-Doves,”” and were with-
ont doubt nesting in the crevices. Although I searched carefully, I
failed to find a nest. Soon after, near the same place, I saw three
more birds, and a day or two later, another flying over an inland rocky
mountain slope, where I had been told, when a boy, that Rock-Doves
nested. It seems that only one other Stock-Dove has been recorded in
the Isle of Man, that one being shot in November, 1900, from a flock
near Castletown.—F rank S. Graves (Ballamoar, Alderley Edge).
~The Rock-Dove (Columba livia) in Somerset.—I think the remark
quoted by Mr. Stanley Lewis (p. 230) rather tends to prove that the
birds in question were not genuine wild Rock-Doves, for these birds do
not have ‘‘checkered wings,” although ‘blue checker”’ is a common
colour in blue dovecot Pigeons.—O. V. Artin (Bloxham, Oxon).
_ [Probably Mr. Stanley Lewis can procure a skin, and thus settle the
question one way or the other.— Ep. ]
Water Rail (Rallus aquaticus) in the Isle of Man.—On June 6th,
1903, when again searching the Curragh, I flushed a Water Rail from
a nest containing eight eggs, and found two other nests empty. On
June 21st I found a fourth nest, with six eggs, within about forty yards
from the first one with eggs. I have only heard of one nest of this
bird having been found in Man before, but each winter a few birds are
shot. Possibly this is not an uncommon nesting species in this dis-
trict, and other similar places in Man.—FRranx §. Graves (Ballamoar,
Alderley Edge).
Breeding of Lesser Black-backed and Herring-Gulls. — Does Mr.
Elms, in his ‘‘ Bird Notes in Sark” (ante, p. 261), mean that he
actually saw the Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus) and Herring-
Gull (L. argentatus) sitting side by side on one nest ?* Otherwise, I
fancy it would be difficult to prove the statement of the boatmen that.
these birds commonly lay in and share thesame nest. Fishermen and
others will often tell you that they can distinguish at a glance the eggs
of these two birds; if so, they have a keen sense for minute differences,
which has been found lacking in many an eminent ornithologist,
Seebohm included, who says: ‘‘It is very important that eggs of this
species (i.e. Larus fuscus) should be carefully identified, as many of
them are indistinguishable from those of the Herring-Gull”’ (‘ British
Birds,’ vol. iii. p. 821). On Mullion Island, off the Cornish coast,
there is a large colony of Herring-Gulls, which I frequently visit.
Amongst the nests of these birds, thickly scattered on the top of the
* Mr. Elms has some further remarks thereon in this issue (ante, p. 308).—Ep.
318 THE ZOOLOGIST,
island, both on the bare rock and the grassy portion, a few pairs of the
Lesser Black-backed nest; while on a small island near Oban, N.B.,
the reverse is the case. This colony is that of the Lesser Black-
backed, with an occasional pair of Herring-Gulls. In both these
colonies I have identified and examined many nests, and for nearly
every shade of colouring of the eggs of the one bird have found a
similar egg of the other, except that I have not as yet identified an egg
of the Herring-Gull, with the peculiar black-ink-like scratchings, which
are sometimes found on the egg of the Lesser Black-backed. With
most of the Gulls it is common to find the three eggs differing very
much in colour, markings, and size, but this does not prove that they
are not the eggs of the same bird; nevertheless birds may, and probably
do, make mistakes sometimes, especially the gregarious species, which
possibly also accounts for the occasional clutches of more than three
eggs in the nests of Gulls. Only this season I found in Scotland the
nest of a Mallard (Anas boscas) containing ten similar and typical
greenish-white eggs of the Wild Duck, one of them which I have
measured being 2:2 in. x 1°7 in., while an eleventh egg in the nest was
much larger, and of a buffish tint, measuring 2°5 in. xX 1:8 in. This
latter I take to be the egg (which it resembles in size and tint) of the
Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator), deposited in the Mallard’s
nest.—H. Hoxroyp Mixus (Treslothan Vicarage, Camborne, Cornwall).
Birds mentioned by Aristotle-—When Aristotle says (ante, p. 247)
that the davos hatches out its young in summer (whereas the atthyia does
so in early spring) he was perhaps alluding to a Tern (‘‘ among rocks ”
need not necessarily mean ‘‘in rocks’’). Terns in this country breed
much later in the year than Gulls. Laros in Greek seems to include
both Gulls and Terns (vide Professor D’Arcy Thompson’s ‘ Glossary of
Greek Birds,’ p. 111); atthyia is clearly some kind of Gull.—O. V.
Arun (Bloxham, Oxon).
Birds and Sound of Firearms.—Seeing Mr. Distant’s interesting
note about birds under fire (ante, p. 276), I thought the following might
interest some readers of this Journal :—About two years ago I was
trying the pattern of a new 12-bore gun, and alongside me, in a hedge
not four feet away, was a party of Blue Tits (Parus ceruleus) hunting for
insects. I fired off a good many cartridges, but it did not seem to disturb
them in the least. Perhaps these small birds, like the Weaver and Tits,
have not such highly developed brains as to make them take fright at
sudden noise ; their power of hearing is probably not so well developed
as that of sight, for one often finds a sudden movement frightens a
bird much more than a noise-—W. H. Worxman (Windsor, Belfast).
(. 319 )
NOTICES OF NEW _ BOOKS.
The Big Game Fishes of the United States. By Cuas. FREDERICK
Hotper. New York: The Macmillan Company.
Tuts book is addressed to the angler, but it is also an addition
to the naturalist’s library. To capture with rod and line piscine
monsters weighing from 200 to 400 lb. is a new adventure for
Mr. Piscator, and many members of the gentle craft will register
a resolve to visit the Floridan and other American oceanic fishing
grounds. But the zoologist will not read these pages in vain;
many facts are recorded which only an angler would collect and a
naturalist observe. Mr. Holder has written lives of both Charles
Darwin and Louis Agassiz, and is therefore considerably more
than the ardent sportsman.
The Black Sea-Bass (Stereolepis he frequents the sub-
marine forests of the Californian coasts. ‘‘ The trees are repre-
sented by the so-called kelp, the Macrocystis, which attains a
length of several hundred feet, rising upward in broad deep green
leaves of gigantic size, which swing in the current, undulating
like living things, forming a maze or forest, which, while easily
seen, is a closed region even to the diver, owing to the convolu-
tions of the plants.” A specimen of this fish, weighing 419 lb.,
has been taken with rod and line. The Bluefish (Pomatomus
salatrix) is another so-called game-fish, affording much sport to
the angler. These fish are most voracious; the author has seen
them charge a school of small Mackerel, “‘ leaving the water filled
with silvery fragments,’’ and when “‘ crazed by the excitement of
the chase, amused themselves by biting the fleeing victims for
the mere wanton pleasure of killing.”’ Prof. Baird estimates that
a thousand millions of Bluefish may be found off the American
coast in summer, and if each one eats ten small fish per day, then
ten thousand millions of small fry must be consumed daily by
these fishes alone. Another destructive fish is the Drum (Po-
gonias cromis), visiting the Oyster-beds, and crushing the succu-
lent bivalves like paper in its powerful jaws. These fish are
often found in vast schools, each fish weighing from forty to
320 THE ZOOLOGIST.
sixty pounds, and one of these devastating hosts was captured in
a seine a few years ago, and numbered 218, and weighed nearly
9000 lb. Our space forbids further extracts, though we might
quote equally interesting facts relating to the l'arpon (T. atlan-
ticus), which has been seen by an angler to make ‘‘a thirty-foot
horizontal leap,” and has been captured by rod and reel of a
weight of 213 lb. The Leaping Tuna (Thunnus thynnus), of
which specimens weighing 1000 lb. have been harpooned, and an
example weighing 251 lb. fairly caught-with usual angling tackle,
divide into small squadrons of from fifty to two hundred, and
move “in the general form of flying ducks or geese, a large tri-
angular figure, with one or two large fishes perhaps in the lead.”
But we must pause—the subject is too enticing; the book can
be read with pleasure and instruction by both naturalist and
angler, and it is beautifully illustrated.
A Naturalist’s Calendar kept at Swaffham Bulbeck, Cambridge-
shire. By LEoNARD BLOMEFIELD (formerly Jenyns). Edited
by Francis Darwin. Cambridge: University Press.
Tuts Calendar, relating to plants, birds, and insects, was
founded on observations made near Cambridge between the
years 1820 and 1831, and is a model of method in bionomical
record. Blomefield’s observations are neither trifling nor re-
dundant. He is almost painfully concise and accurate. He
tells us that lis school-fellows nicknamed him Methodist, and
that through life “‘I have been a man of few words.” Perhaps
the most momentous event in his life was his refusal to go as
naturalist with FitzRoy in the ‘ Beagle.’ This may be said to
have prepared the way for the foundation of the ‘“ Darwinian
epoch.” We are all sometimes dumfounded when we see the
mere accidents that seem to promote or prevent man’s intellectual
evolution. Remove the ‘ Voyage of the Beagle’ from Darwin’s
career, and to-day the whole of modern thought might have been
of a totally different trend. And this was made possible by
the refusal of Blomefield ‘‘ after a day of hesitation.” He, how-
ever, subsequently described the fish in the ‘* Zoology” of the
‘Voyage.’ As a naturalist, Blomefield was known for his
“ minute and scrupulous exactness in matters of fact.”
Crown 8vo, Cloth extra, 206 pp. + xvi
A Flora of the Island of Jersey
WITH A LIST OF THE
PLANTS OF THE CHANNEL ISLANDS IN GENERAL
AND REMARKS UPON THEIR
DISTRIBUTION AND GEOGRAPHICAL AFFINITIES
BY
L. V. LESTER-GARLAND, M.A., F.L.S.
Principal of Victoria College, Jersey,
and formerly Fellow of St. John’s College, Oxford
WITH
Coloured Map by J. G. Bartholomew
HE Author has excluded all plants which he has not either seen
growing in Jersey himself or seen Jersey specimens of. In Jersey,
as elsewhere, the study of plants has often been pursued with more
zeal than discrimination, and a large number of records exist which still
“need confirmation,” and probably will continue to need it for some
time to come. A list of these doubtful records is appended at the end
of the Flora.
CONTENTS
J.—IntRopucrion.—Description of Jersey. Climate. Present Condition.
Sources of Information. Engler’s System.
T1.—A List or THE GENERA OF BRITISH PLANTS ARRANGED IN ACCOR-
DANCE WITH ENGLER’S SYSTEM.
IJ].—FiLora of JERSEY.
IV.—A List of tHe FrLorA or THE CHANNEL ISLANDS, WITH shuns
UPON THE GHOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION AND AFFINITIES OF THE
Specres.—List of the Species. Comparison of the Islands.
Relation to the Flora of Hurope in General. Relation to the
Flora of the French Coast. Naturalised Aliens and Casuals.
Loss to the Indigenous Flora. Minor Points of Interest.
V.— BIBLIOGRAPHY.
Vi.—Inpex or GENERIC NAMES.
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: “Fiela Notes ne a Natiwalist’s Diary © of
Selous, 281.
M.A., C.M.Z.S., "293. hee
Bird Notes in Sark, 1903, H. F. MM. Elms, 305.
Novrrs AND QUERIES :—
Mammatra.—Mus sylvaticus wintoni in Suffolk, Lieut. et if A. Butler,
Goat suckling a Lamb, J. MacNaught ‘Campbell, ‘811. The Harp
(Phoca groenlandica) in Great Britain, Francis C. R. Jourdain, 312. —
Aves.—Strange Nesting-place for a Mistletoe Thrush (Twrdus viscivorus), G.
Pentland, 312. Grasshopper- Warbler (Locustella nevia) in the Isle of Ma:
Frank S. Graves, 313. Nesting of the Pied Wagtail (Motacilla lugubr
Lieut.-Col. HE. A. Butler, 318. "Tree- Sparrow (Passer montanws) in the Isl
of Man, Frank S. Graves, 313. Breeding Habits of the Pied Woodpecke:
O. V. Aplin, 814. Honey-Buzzard in Cheshire, Chas. Oldham, 815. Brit
Grey Geese, J. A. Harvie-Brown, 315. Tufted Duck in Merionethsh
O. V. Aplin, 316. Stock-Dove (Columba ewnas) in the Isle of Man, Frank 7
i S. Graves, 316. The Rock-Dove (Columba livia) in Somerset, O. V. Aplin,
ay 317. Water Rail (Rallws aqwaticus) in the Isle of Man, Fr ank 8. Graves, |
be 317. Breeding of Lesser Black-backed and Herring- Gulls, H. Holroyd
i Mills, 317. Birds mentioned by Aristotle, O. V. Aplin, 318. Birds and
: Sound of Firearms, W. H. Workman, 318. i
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Plate V.
7 8
Fig. 1. C. xenorhinus.
2. C. johnstoni.
3. C. hoehnela. 6. C. mellerv.
7. C. parvilobus. |
8. c dilepis. ; showing difference in size of occipital lobe.
Fig. 4. C. tavetensis.
5. C. spinosus.
fh LOULOGILS I
No. 747.—September, 1903.
REMARKS ON SOME EAST-AFRICAN CHAMELEONS.
By J. Leonarp Monk. |
(Puate V.)
Our knowledge of the Chameleontide has within recent years
been remarkably increased, and is concurrent with the steady
progress of the opening up of the vast African continent—the
land of hidden wonders—thanks to such intrepid and scientific
travellers as Sir Harry Johnston and others, and to such close
observers as Boulenger, Tornier, Werner, &c., to the former of
whom I am much indebted for the valuable assistance accorded
me in the preparation of this paper.
The Chameleontide are divided into three genera—namely,
Chameleon, Brookesia, and Rhampholeon—the species ranging
in size from the diminutive R. brachyurus, of 49 mm., to the
gigantic C. melleri, of 520 mm., and are equally diverse in form,
some assuming most grotesque shapes, which to their natural
enemies must be very alarming.
There has been a particularly noteworthy increase in the
species recorded from Kast Africa, and it is an interesting fact
that the number from this part of the continent is about the
same as is known from Madagascar, which a few years ago was
regarded as the land par excellence of the Chameleon family.
The following figures will convey at once the progress that
Gool. 4th ser. vol. VII., September, 1908. . 2c
322 THE Z4ZOOLOGIST.
has been made in the study of this group. In the 1887 edition of
the ‘ Natural History Museum Catalogue ’ there are defined—
44 species of Chameleon.
3 RS Brookesia.
2 a Rhampholeon.
At the present time there are in this unrivalled collection—
60 species of Chameleon.
4 BS Brookesia.
4 fe Rhamphoteon.
Werner,* in his recent list, gives—
73 species of Chameleon.
Ff Fe Brookesia.
5 By Rhampholeon.
There were in 1887 only eight species of East African Chame-
leons listed in the Museum Catalogue, and one of Rhampholeon ;
now we have
18 species of Chameleon.
3 5 Rhampholeon.
While the new list already quoted shows
26 species of Chameleon.
5 Rhampholeon.
The separation of these animals into species (as in many
other groups) requires great care, and it is due to such careful
systematists as Mr. Boulenger and Dr. Werner that several have
been added which otherwise would probably have been over-
looked. ‘There is even now great diversity of opinion among
specialists of this. group regarding the value of certain charac-
teristics for specific purposes, and it is with these and other
interesting features of the Hast African Chameleons that the
writer intends briefly to deal.
We can group the species under several well-marked head-
ings, the first as the C. gracilis group, which comprises four
species separated mainly by the size of the occipital lobes, and
the presence or absence of a tarsal spur.
C. gracilis.—Distinct indications of occipital lobes, not mov-
able. Male with tarsal spur.
C. ropert.—Occipital lobes well developed, but small, entirely
separated from each other. No tarsal spur.
* “ Pyodromus einer Monographie der Chamaleonten,” von Dr. Franz
Werner (‘ Abdruck aus den Zoologischen Jahrbuchern, 1902’).
EAST AFRICAN CHAMELEONS. 323
C. quilensis (=parvilobus, Blgr.).—Occipital lobes larger than
C. gracilis. Male with tarsal spur.
C. dilepis.—Occipital lobes larger than C. quilensis, and in
contact with each other in the middle. Male with tarsal spur.
It is stated by Werner that he has examined a male C. ropert
which possesses the tarsal spurs; he therefore, with Boettger,
regards it as only a variety of C. dilepis. I have, however,
examined the five specimens of males in the Museum collection,
but could not find one in which the spur is developed. But for
this character it would be pardonable to confuse C. ropert with
either C. dilepis or C. quilensis, as the configuration of the lobes
of C. roperi varies considerably, although always conforming to
the characteristic of being separated on the median line.
This variation of the occipital lobes is also prevalent in the
species C. quilensis, as a female specimen labelled as from the
Niger has the lobes much as in C. ropert, a species believed to be
only found in East Africa.
Boettger also considered that the difference in size of the
lobes of C. dilepis and C. quilensis only entitles the latter to rank
as a variety of C. dilepis. I find, however, that the character is
well marked and constant, there being no connecting variations,
and I see no reason therefore for not regarding them as distinct
species.
The type (C. isabellinus), which Gunther separated by reason
of “‘ the large scutes of the occipital flaps and of the occiput,” I
am forced to the conclusion is only an extreme variety of C. dt-
lepis, on comparing it with the Museum series of the latter (which
has been considerably augmented since the describing of C.
isabellinus). ‘The large scutes of the occipital lobes, to which
Giinther attaches so much importance, are in three longitudinal
rows, and from that number I find among the specimens of
C. dilepis a complete gradation to the typical form of four, five,
and six more or less well-defined rows. The general scaling also is
variable, being on some specimens flat and on others tubercular.
C. levigatus, which has been confounded with the West
African C. senegalensis, is closely related to the species of the
first group, but entirely lacks the occipital lobes.
The second group of three species (C. biteniatus, C. elliott,
C. hoehneli) is interesting, as it introduces the question of gular
2c2
324 THE ZOOLOGIST.
pouches found in C. ellioti, and which is to be mentioned later,
for the general variability of outline, height of parietal crest, and
of scaling in C. elliott and C. biteniatus. Of the three species,
C. hoehneli is the most easily distinguished on account of the
tubercular nasal protuberance ; for this reason therefore it is
difficult to understand why Werner should regard it as only a
variety of C. bitentatus.
It is worthy of mention here that the Museum collection con-
tains one female specimen of an apparently intermediate form
between C. biteniatus and C. hoehneli: no rostral appendage, scales
tubercular, gular fringe more pronounced than in C. biteniatus,
the general form more stumpy than in C. hoehnelt ; it is at present
classed as C. biteniatus, but it is likely to prove a new species.
The third group contains most of the species possessing a
rostral appendage, fully developed generally in the male, only
rarely in the female, in which they are more often represented
by incipient protuberances. This condition of things is appa-
rently an interesting parallel to the history of the evolution of
horned mammals.
In the first edition of the ‘ Descent of Man,’* Darwin stated
“as probable that horns of all kinds, even when they are equally
developed in the two sexes, were primarily acquired by the male
in order to conquer other males, and have been transferred more
or less completely to the female”; the subsequent paleontological
evidence has tended to confirm this.
Dr. Forsyth Major+ has pointed out how the oldest members
of the Deer family from the Oligocene were absolutely devoid of
antlers, while later, not only did the males possess them, but
instances are on record of their occurrence in females, although
up to the present day the great majority of females of the Cervide
are, aS a rule, devoid of antlers. The two recent species of
Giraffe develop horns in both sexes, but in their Tertiary ances-
tors, the Samotheriums, the females were only beginning to
develop horns, which primarily were male sexual characters. In
the Bovine no instance of the occurrence of hornless females in
recent wild bovine animals is known. Itis clear that this is only
* Charles Darwin, ‘The Descent of Man and Selection in Relation to
Sex,’ 1871, vol. ii. p. 248.
+ Geol. Mag. decade iv. voli viii. No. 444, p. 241, June, 1901.
HAST AFRICAN CHAMELEONS. 325
a recent acquisition, for Dr. Major has described a female horn-
less skull of Bos etruscus from the Pliocene.
To the evolutionist these facts are full of significance, as
showing evident progress in the last chapter of the earth’s history
and transformation, and progression of the whole species. The
Chameleontide show several stages in this advancement. In
C. melleri the transference has been completed, the female pos-
sessing the development in as perfect a degree as the male. It
has been only partly performed in C. xenorhinus, the female
possessing only two incipient protuberances ; while in C. fischert
the horns are not apparent at all in some females, whilst they are
present in others.
The form of the rostral appendage varies in its formation
both as regards shape and composition.
C. jacksont.—Male with three long conical processes, with an
outer segmented horny sheath directed forward and curved up-
wards; these processes represented in the female by small conical
scales.
C. gohnstont.—Male with three rostral appendages, not so long _
as C. jacksont ; represented in female by conical scales.
C. xenorhinus.—Adult male with two long parallel compressed
rostral processes covered with flat scales; represented in female
by two small rostral protuberances.
C. fischeri.—Adult male with two long compressed rostral
processes covered with tubercular scales, slightly diverging ; not
represented, asa rule, in female. Itis a curious fact that they
_are present in some females.
C. tavetensis.—T wo scaly rostral processes slightly diverging,
and each with a double row of strong serrations dorsally.
C. mellert.—The dorsal surface of the snout extended into a
compressed scaly appendage, continued into a horny pointed
process in both male and female.
C.. spinosus.—A compressed soft rounded dermal lobe covered
with small pointed tubercles.
The fourth group comprises the limited genus Rhampholeon,
distinguished from the Chameleons proper by the spinose scales
on the soles of the feet and bicuspid claws. Itis with this group
that we can introduce the subject of the pits or pockets. The
fact of the occurrence of axillary pits in the Chameleontideé was
326 THE ZOOLOGIST.
first noticed by F. Mocquard* in 1893; this character, however,
proved to be of no absolute value for specific distinctions, as
pointed out by Boulenger in the ‘ Zoologicai Record’ of the
same year. To verify the statement of the latter author, I
have examined a series of C. brevicornis (about fifty speci-
mens), which is included by Mocquard in a list of those species
possessing the pit distinctly. It was found to be visible only
indistinctly in two or three of them. This character, however,
is not developed in the East African Chameleons proper, but
is to be found in R. platyceps and R. brachyurus very distinctly
and constantly, both of which have been described since Moc-
quard’s discovery. R. platyceps has the additional interesting
feature of inguinal pits in both sexes, a character hitherto un-
noticed in any Chameleons.
These inguinal pits apparently are different in structure from
Mocquard’s pits, which are to a great extent formed by the posi-
tion of the shoulder as applied to the body. In Rhampholeon
the pits take the character of large pores with small round ex-
ternal openings. An equally interesting character is the gular
pocket, which takes the form of a slit-like fold on each side of
the gular region, and are unnoticeable unless the folds are
pulled apart, appearing externally as the longitudinal ridges
found in many other species. My attention was first directed
to this on examining the only Museum specimen of C. goetzit,
before the publishing of Werner’s work, who, I find, mentions
the character in connection with the protrusion of the tongue.
Tornier, the describer of C. goetzii, makes no mention of it.
The same feature occurs in C. elliott in varying conditions. A
female specimen, 94 mm. in length, possesses a pouch measur-
ing 12°6 mm., darkly pigmented. This pigmentation, however,
is sometimes only partly present, or wholly absent.
An examination of the twenty-five specimens of C. ellioti in
the Natural History Museum reveals the following variation :—
Possessing | Not possess- | Deeply
pouch. ing pouch. | wrinkled.
Males ......... 1 4 5
Females ...... 9 6
* C, R. Soe. Philom. 1893.
EAST AFRICAN CHAMELEONS. 327
It would appear from the foregoing that although the cha-
racter is not sexual, it is adopted by the females much more
extensively than by the males, for what reason it is difficult to
say; neither is distribution the cause of it occurring as it does
in specimens from Mount Ruwenzori, Uganda, and West Ankoli.
It is interesting, however, from the fact that we might have
here the first stages of a new development in this already highly
specialized group.
List oF Hast AFRICAN CHAMELEONS.
Chameleon levigatus. Chameleon torniert.
- gracilis. 9p quadricornis.
. quilensis. us pfefferr.
3 dilepis. ie deremensis.
. ropert. Be temporalis.
‘ bitenratus. 5 johnstont.
fy elliott. 5 jacksoni.
nf hoehnelt. a mellert.
a tempelt. He spinosus.
55 goetzi. tenuis.
.. ajjinis. Rhampholeon kerstent.
56 tavetensts. a brevicaudatus.
i xenorhinus. 5 platyceps.
uA jischert. - spectrum.
» °(fuelleborni. a robecchi.
- werner.
328 THE ZOOLOGIST.
CAN AND DO BIRDS REASON ?
By Frank M. Lirtuer, M.A.O.U.
THis is.a subject upon which much has and can be said on
both sides. Opponents refuse to believe that any living being
other than man is endowed with intelligence. On the other
hand, the more liberal minded feel they cannot blind themselves
to many facts that come under their notice, which cannot be
accounted for except by the supposition of a reasoning capacity.
The matter has been dealt with at some length by Wallace and
Milne-Edwards; also incidentally by Dr. Carpenter in his great
work on ‘ Mental Physiology.’ Unfortunately the writings of the
two first authors are not available, so that I am unable to ascer-
tain how far their views correspond with those here expressed.
It is more particularly in regard to nest-building that dis-
cussion has been carried on. In the following notes other
points will be considered, and an endeavour made to show
that something more than ‘instinct’ is possessed by our
feathered friends. At the same time “instinct”? and “ intelli-
gence” merge so into one another as to become almost syn-
onymous terms, and what one would attribute to ‘‘ instinct ”
another would contend was “‘intelligence.” Dr. Carpenter*
says :— It would be impossible to find a better illustration of
the contrast between Instinct and Intelligence as springs of
action than is afforded by the comparison of the habits of birds
in a state of nature with those which they acquire when brought
into relation with Man. ‘There can be no reasonable doubt that
their architectural constructions, like those of insects, proceed
from an inherent impulse, which prompts each individual of a
species to build after one particular pattern, to choose a situation
suitable to its requirements, and to go in search of materials of
a certain kind, though others might be much more easily
obtained. But, on the other hand, in the working out of this
* ¢Mental Physiology,’ p. 85.
CAN AND DO BIRDS REASON ? 329
design, it is clear that birds often profit by experience, and
learn to use special means when special ends have to be provided
for.” ;
In any newly settled country or colony, where environments
are constantly changing, there is a wider scope for observations
on the intelligence of birds than in any highly and long culti-
vated area.
Dealing first with nest-building and some of its phases, it has
been somewhere remarked that each species (of birds) has built
on the same uniform plan from time immemorial. To this it
may be answered—Yes, quite so, provided the environment
remain unchanged.
The Golden Oriole, in its haunts undisturbed by man and
his inventions, constructs a nest of long fibrous vegetable material
flexible and strong enough for its purpose; but in localities
where man’s industry abounds, it borrows such materials as
are best suited for its purpose, ignoring those nature has sup-
plied. ‘There is no alteration in the design of the nest, but
simply the materials have been changed. ‘This would seem to
indicate that some degree of reasoning has been employed. The
question arises, how was it that ‘‘foreign” material first came
to be used? Was it curiosity that impelled the first Golden
Oriole to try the strange substances, and, upon finding them so
suitable, to communicate the fact to its fellows? I repudiate
the idea that it was all a matter of “chance.” Here in Tasmania
there are at least sixteen species of birds that use “foreign”
substances in the construction of their nests. Wool, cowhair,
and horsehair are the commonest materials. Naturally there
arises the question, what did these birds use prior to the advent
of sheep, cattle, and horses, and what caused them to take to
wool, cow-, and horsehair? ‘Take one species, for example, the
Yellow-rumped Tit (Acanthiza chrysorrhoa), whose bulky and
globular nest is often almost entirely composed of wool, while to
my knowledge one is never found that does not largely consist of
this substance ; and yet it is not really so long ago since domestic
animals were first introduced into this island. The Lesser White-
backed Magpie (Gymnorhina hyperleuca) constructs its nests of
sticks, but sticks become scarce in well-tilled agricultural dis-
tricts. The first reaper and binders introduced into Tasmania
330 THE 4ZO0OLOGIST.
were bound with wire, and when threshing, the wire from each
sheaf was thrown into a heap. In one district only a few giant
eucalypts remained in the fields, and as a natural consequence
twigs became very scarce. In their plight the Magpies took to
building their nests with wire cut from the sheaves. Some years
later string binders superseded wire, and the Magpies had to
make shift the best way they could. Wire was certainly a
“foreign’’ substance; if the birds had been guided by mere
blind “instinct,” they would not and could not have come to
such a substitute for twigs. The mere fact of their escaping an
awkward predicament indicates that they were endowed with
something more than “instinct.’”’ An English paper stated a
few years ago, that at Stoke Newington Priory the use of wire for
nests by the Herons was increasing, and that in the preceding
spring nine out of sixteen nests were constructed with wire.
There are records of other species of birds building with wire,
and such like substances, when there was no apparent necessity
for it; but in our utter ignorance of the birds’ motives we should
hesitate before calling such proceedings mere freaks without
rhyme or reason. Dr. Carpenter mentions an incident which he
terms ‘‘a very good example of intelligential modification of the
instinctive tendency.” The incident* is:—“ A pair of Jackdaws
endeavoured to construct their nest in one of the small windows
that lighted the spiral staircase of an old church tower. As is
usual, however, in such windows, the sill sloped inwards with a
considerable inclination, and consequently, there being no level
base for the nest, as soon as a few sticks had been laid, and it
was beginning to acquire weight, it slid down. This seems to
have happened two or three times; nevertheless the birds clung
with great pertinacity to the site they had chosen, and at last
devised a most ingenious method of overcoming the difficulty.
Collecting a large number of sticks, they built up a sort of cone
upon the staircase, the summit of which rose to the level of the
window:-sill, and afforded the requisite support to the nest; this
cone was not less than six feet high, and so large at its base as
quite to obstruct the passage up the staircase; yet, notwith-
standing the large amount of material which it contained, it was
known to have been constructed within four or five days. Now,
* Loc. cit. p. 86.
CAN AND DO BIRDS REASON ? 331
as this was a device quite foreign to the natural habits of the
bird, and only hit upon after the repeated failure of its ordinary
method of nest-building, the curious adaptation of means to ends
which it displayed can scarcely be regarded in any other light
than as proceeding from a design in the minds of the individuals
who executed it.”
Just another example of means to an end in nest-building
before passing on. In ‘Science Gossip’ (vol. v. p. 363), Mr.
W. W. Midgley contributed a note on a remarkable Song-
Thrush’s nest. This nest was built in a fir tree (Pinus cembra),
in a position exposed to the full force of south-westerly winds.
It was constructed in the usual fashion plus something extra.
* Utilizing the dead stalks of last season’s nettles, with bill and
claws they had fastened the ends into the nest and round the
trunk of the tree, again fastening the other ends into the nest.
Still further to guard against the equinoctial gales, they had
selected two of the largest stalks, slung them round the trunk
at the nodes, about fifteen inches above the nest, and wove the
ends into the sides of the nest so as to stay it.’”’ The birds had
learnt by experience that unless some special precautions were
taken their nest would be overturned by the first gale. They
were gifted with sufficient intelligence to reason out the best
method of averting an almost certain disaster. ‘If the birds
had ‘sense’ enough to safeguard their nest, why did they not
use the same ‘sense’ and remove to a safer situation?” I hear
someone ask. I can only reply that birds much resemble human
beings who develop an attachment for some thing or person;
this attachment causes them much embarrassment, and compels
them to perform certain acts hitherto unthought of. Neverthe-
less, not for worlds would they break that attachment. Our
feathered friends and ourselves have an inexplicable bias in our
natures—*‘ pure cussedness’”’ the Americans call it.
Why is it practically impossible to poison town-bred Spar-
rows? A few young birds sometimes fall victims, but very
rarely indeed an old one. Is it “instinct” or ‘‘ intelligence”
that tells them that grain strewn promiscuously on the ground
is not safe food? Many may say they have learnt by ‘‘ experi-
ence,’ which implies they are endowed with something more than
the mere blind “‘instinct,’’ which some would have us believe was
902 THE ZO0O0OLOGIST,
their only possession. Then, again, how is it that birds know
when their eggs have been touched, but still remain in the nest ?
Here, it seems to me, that the something we term “intuition”
has been brought to bear. As is well known, the Bower-Birds
(Ptilonorhynchine) decorate their ‘‘ playgrounds” and bowers
with all manner of objects; and some species have a penchant
for leaves, and those of a special kind. An interesting trick was
played on one of these birds a short time since in a part of
Queensland. All the leaves were removed from the playground,
and others closely resembling but of a different variety put in their
stead, but on returning shortly afterwards it was found that the
bird had thrown out all the leaves put there, replacing them with
others of its own choosing. There was no “instinct” about
that ; it was ‘‘ intelligence” pure and simple; and it is marvellous
to think that a mere bird could have distinguished between the
leaves put down and those placed by human agency. The
question arises: did the bird really know that its playground had
been tampered with, or was the knowledge merely automatic;
did it feel (without knowing why) that something was amiss,
and righted it without intelligently appreciating the alteration ?
I cannot answer this, but leave the question to some one more
fitted to reply.
I will now refer to an occurrence in which both “instinct” and
‘‘intelligence”’ were apparently at fault. In part iv. vol. 11. of the
‘Emu’ (the official organ of the Australasian Ornithologists’
Union) there appears a note from a Queensland correspondent
on an up-country station, relating to a Black and White Fantail
(Rhipidura tricolor) that had been fighting its own shadow in a
window for the past fourteen months, with scarcely a break, from
morning to night. Now, if this bird had any powers of reasoning,
should it not long ago have found out the futility of continuing
to fly against the window-glass? Should not its deductive
faculties (however feeble) have shown it the uselessness of
wasting time and strength in fighting a shadow? But at the
same time should not its “instinct”? (we readily admit it
being possessed by birds) have told it of its error? I am of
opinion it should have instinctively become aware of its foolish
action. From the above we get two negatives: first, want of
reasoning power (with which we do not feel inclined to credit
CAN AND DO BIRDS REASON? 333
the feathered tribe) ; second, want of instinctive faculty (which
we unanimously place to their credit). But, as I have said
before, “‘instinct”” and “intelligence” are sometimes so closely
related that it is almost impossible to separate them. It would
appear that “instinct” is a something that cannot be properly
defined. It is related in its action to the sub-conscious mind of
the human being. We sometimes say that we “ instinctively ”
feel, or know by “ intuition” (which amounts to the same thing),
that such and such a thing is going to happen. Yet we cannot
give any reasons sufficient to satisfy ourselves or our questioners.
Birds build their nests without any instruction in the art, for the
simple reason their “instinct” guides and compels them to do
so, that is, merely automatic; but it becomes volitional when
the environment is changed, also the materials out of which
nests can be constructed. It is here that their intelligence
comes into play, showing that they are not the mere automatons
some people believe them to be. We will say a House Swallow
(Hirundo neoxena) builds its nest in a certain position; it is
wantonly destroyed two or three times, and the bird gives up
the attempt, and moves to a safer locality. Some may say it is
prompted by its “instinct.” Yes, quite so; but at the same time
may it not be argued that it learnt or received an impression to
the effect that the present locality was safe and the recently
vacated one unsafe ?
The more the subject is investigated the firmer grows my
conviction that animals (such as quadrupeds and birds) which
are continually associated with man, altering their habits, &c.
(so as to conform with a new environment, or different con-
ditions of living), are possessed of an intelligence and power of
reasoning, small and feeble though these may be. The continual
warfare waged on them has been instrumental in sharpening their
faculties and developing traits that are absent, or, more properly
speaking, lying dormant, while in their primitive solitude.
Launceston, Tasmania,
334 THE ZO00OLOGIST.
THE EARLY MORNING AND LATE EVENING
SINGING OF SOME BRITISH BIRDS.
By W. GyYNGELL.
Early morning.—On or about the 21st of June, for several
years past, members of the Scarborough Field Naturalists’
Society have joined in an all-night excursion. Leaving the
town at about 10.30 p.m., the course usually taken is by fields
and lanes to a small reedy mere situated at the corner of a wood
which slopes up a steep hill-side to a heather-covered moor.
By the mere, the entomologists of the party, when weather per-
mits, indulge in sugaring; whilst those interested in the birds
listen to the songs of the Sedge- Warbler (Acrocephalus phrag-
mitis), Grasshopper-Warbler (Locustella nevia), Little Grebe
(Podicipes fluviatilis) (whose bubbling “ uddl-iddl-uddl-iddl-uddl-
iddl”’ is its song), the croak of the Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus),
the crake of the Land-Rail (Crex pratensis), the plaintive cry of
the Lapwing (Vanellus vulgaris), the hoot of the Tawny Owl
(Syrnium aluco), and the curious cry of its hungry young,—all
sounds which may be heard throughout the night.
Passing into the wood, the entomologists call our attention
to the perfectly audible sound made by night-feeding caterpillars
at their work of destruction amongst the leaves of oak and hazel.
The walk is then continued up on to the moors, where the chief
object of interest is the incessant churring of the Nightjar
(Caprimulgus ewrope@us), also to be heard all night. Then the
party settles down to wait for the coming dawn. But all
through the night, if fine, it is just sufficiently light to tell the
time by one’s watch. At about 1.30 a.m. our chatty party is
hushed by the ornithologists, who are eager to catch the first
sounds of song birds heralding the dawn. And we have not
long to wait. On every occasion the Sky-Lark has been the
first bird to sing.
The following time-table of song is the result of the writer’s
own notes for several years, and gives the earliest record for
each species :—
Sky-Lark (Alauda arvensis), 1.51 a.m.; Song-Thrush (Twur-
dus musicus), 2.9; Redstart (Ruticilla phenicurus), 2.10; Cuckoo
SINGING OF BRITISH BIRDS. 330
(Cuculus canorus), 2.13; Tree-Pipit (Anthus trivialis), 2.14 ;
Blackbird (Turdus merula), 2.15; Garden-Warbler (Sylvia hor-
tensis), 2.20 ; Willow-Wren (Phylloscopus trochilus), 2.25 ; Black-
cap (Sylvia atricapilla), 2.26; Robin (Hrithacus rubecula), 2.29 ;
Wood-Wren (Phylloscopus stbilatrix), 2.82 ; Yellowhammer (Hm-
beriza citrinella), 2.87; Wren (T'roglodytes parvulus), 2.48; Great
Titmouse (Parus major), 2.57; Whitethroat (Sylvia conerea), 2.58 ;
Chaffinch (Fringilla celebs), 3.0; Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus rufus),
3.0; Corn-Bunting (Emberiza miliarta), 3.6; Whinchat (Pratin-
cola rubetra), 3.12.
Sunrise at Scarborough, June 21st, 3.26 a.m. As the date
of the excursion is at the time when so many species of birds
are busily engaged in feeding their young, the songs of some
are less frequently heard than they would be a few weeks earlier.
This probably accounts for the Mistletoe-Thrush (T'urdus visci-
vorus) and a few others not appearing in this list, which the
writer hopes to extend in future years by making observations at
earlier dates.
Late evening. — The following time-table is compiled from
notes made by the writer during evening walks near Scar-
borough in June and July. As it is far from complete, perhaps
some other bird-lovers may be induced to extend it :—
Mistletoe-Thrush (Turdus viscivorus), 7.15 p.m.; Chifichaff
(Phylloscopus rufus), 8.0; Wood-Wren (P. sibilatrix), 8.0; Golden-
crested Wren (Regulus cristatus), 8.5; Linnet (Acanthis canna-
bina), 8.14; Chaffinch (Fringilla celebs), 8.15; Great Titmouse
(Parus major), 8.20; Wren (Troglodytes parvulus), 8.21; Garden-
Warbler (Sylvia hortensis), 8.25; Greenfinch (Ligurinus chloris),
8.30; Swallow (Hirundo rustica), 8.31 ; Lesser Redpoll (Acanthis
rufescens), 8.35; Willow-Wren (Phylloscopus trochilus), 8.35;
Robin (Hrithacus rubecula), 8.40; Hedge-Sparrow (Accentor
modularis), 8.40; Meadow-Pipit (Anthus pratensis), 8.41; Cuckoo
(Cuculus canorus), 8.42; Whinchat (Pratincola rubetra), 8.43;
Lesser Whitethroat (Sylvia curruca), 8.45; Yellowhammer (Him-
beriza citrinella), 8.46; Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla), 8.48;
Whitethroat (S. cinerea), 8.50; Corn-Bunting (Hmberiza mili-
aria), 8.50; Sky-Lark (Alauda arvensis), 8.52; Blackbird (T'ur-
dus merula), 9.0; Song-Thrush (7. musicus), 9.15.
Sunset at Scarborough, June 21st, 8.31 p.m., where daylight
on this day is thirty-one minutes longer than at Greenwich.
336 THE ZOOLOGIST.
THE ECDYSES OF SNAKES; AS OBSERVED
IN BRITISH INDIA.
By R. M. Drxon.
Tue skin in Snakes, as in other vertebrates, consists of two
layers, namely, a superficial (ectodermal) and a deeper (meso-
dermal) layer. ‘These two layers are respectively known as the
epidermis, or scarf-skin, and the dermis, or true skin. The
dermis is also known as the derm, derma, cutis, or corium. In
the epidermis there are two layers. The outer layer consists of
horny cells, and is termed stratum corneum, or the horny layer.
The inner layer is composed of protoplasmic cells, and is known
as stratum Malpighit, or the mucous layer. The inner layer
always serves as a matrix for the formation of the horny layer,
which is periodically cast off as one entire piece. The casting
off of the horny layer of the epidermis, unaccompanied by organic
development, is technically known as ecdysis. LHcdysts is a
simple moulting as in Snakes, and is quite distinct from meta-
morphosis, which is a change in form or structure resulting from
development, as in insects. The process of ecdysis in Snakes is
just the same as what happens in the case of mankind, only
human beings “shed their skins” bit by bit, almost every hour,
while Snakes shed theirs as one coherent piece at periodical
intervals. The moulting of feathers in birds is done on the
same principle. The ecdyses of Snakes resemble the ecdyses of
Crustaceans in a remarkable degree. The Common Crayfish
(Astacus fluviatilis) of Europe has been known to moult its skin
several times in the year, and I have noticed the Indian Rock-
Lobster (Palinurus vulgaris) shed its skin as one entire piece.
In all the Ophidia, over the surface of the eye, there is a thin
invisible miniature watch-glass-like capsule, which peels off with
the horny layer of the epidermis when that is shed. When the
time to moult the horny layer of the epidermis approaches, the
Snake looks dull and drowsy. The usual colour of the body
THK ECDYSES OF SNAKES. 307
grows dim, and the invisible capsule over the surface of the eye
becomes distinctly visible as a thin whitish film. The Snake,
when about to cast its horny epidermis, rubs its snout on a
hard surface, by which the portions of the horny layer covering
the lips are first separated. This being done, the Snake usually
looks for a projecting point, on which, by the aid of its glutinous
saliva, it manages to fix the portion of the horny epidermis
detached from its lower lip, and gently pulls the whole horny
layer over inside out so skilfully that frequently not a single
break is made in the skin from head to tail.
When the Snake has finished its ecdysis it looks bright and
lively, and, like a flash of lightning, darts forth from the spot
where it has cast off its scaly imprisonment. The newly-cast
skin does not preserve the coloration of the Snake, but it retains
every minute detail of the scales, shields, plates, and sometimes
even the pattern so distinctly, that the species of Snake to which
the skin belonged is frequently identified with very little or no
difficulty.
The time the Ophidians take to cast the horny layer of their
epidermis is indefinite and very variable even in the same species.
T have now and then observed that younger Snakes usually cast
their epidermis more frequently than older ones, and that in
captivity this does not happen so often as when at large.
Adolescent and adult Snakes in captivity generally take from
one to two months, whereas full-grown and older Snakes take
from two to even six months. It is probable that aged Snakes
cast their epidermis only once inthe year. ‘The interval between
two successive moults is regulated as much by the modus vivendi
as by the age of the individual Snake.
The cast skin is soft, delicate, and beautiful, but very light
and fragile. Among the natives of India it is regarded as a sure
sign of good luck by the orthodox people, who carefully preserve
it as a book-marker. Medicinally, it is believed to be very
useful in the treatment of ophthalmia. The newly-cast skin,
along with the fruit of the date-palm (Phenix dactilifera), if
internally given, is said to be an efficacious remedy in the
primary stages of leprosy.
Bombay,
Gool, 4th ser, vol. VII., September, i903. 2D
338 THE ZOOLOGIST.
ON THE NAMES OF THE TWO SPECIES OF
SKUA WITH POINTED TAIL-FEATHERS.
By Dr. Einar Lonnpere, C.M.Z.S., &e.
QUESTIONS of nomenclature are often sore points to touch,
but I think that most ornithologists will accept the following
notes endeavouring to settle the names of the two species of
Skua characterized by the pointed central tail-feathers. There
has long prevailed a great confusion* in the names of these
two species, which seems to stillcontinue. The name parasiticus
has been used sometimes for the Common Skua, at other times
for the Long-tailed Skua, in accordance with different authorities.
The name parasiticus is first given by Linneus. In ‘ editio
decima,’ 1758 (p. 156), as well as in ‘editio duodecima,’ 1766
(p. 226), we find a bird named Larus parasiticus, with the
following diagnosis: ‘‘ L. rectricibus duabus intermediis longis-
simis.” ‘These words may be just as well applied to the one as
to the other of the two species, for both have the two central
tail-feathers prolonged, although in a different degree. As no
conclusion can be drawn with certainty from this diagnosis, it
remains to be seen whether any other information is given by
the author; and this is provided in a most satisfactory manner.
When Linneus described the habits of his Larus parasiticus, he
used the following characterizing words: ‘ Piscature ineptus
(resp. ed. Xll. inepta ipsa) agitat congeneres vomituque ejectum
(resp. ed. xil. ut vomitu ab iis ejectum) cibum arripit (resp.
arripiat).”’ Itis evident that these words referred to the Common
Skua and its parasitic habits, and cannot be applied to the Long-
tailed Skua. But the matter is still further elucidated by the
quotations of Linnzus. In the first place, he quotes himself in
‘Fauna Suecica,’ and in ‘It. W.got.'—that is, ‘ Wastgota-Resa ’
* Prof. Newton says, in his valuable work, ‘A Dictionary of Birds,’
‘Their nomenclature is an almost bewildering puzzle.”
NAMES OF THE SKUA. 339
(Stockholm, 1847): and, in addition, a statement by Nils Gissler
(“ Anmarkningar am Labben-Sterna, rectricibus maximis nigris
Faun. Suec. 129”) in ‘K. Sv. Vet. Acad. Handl. 1753.’ Let
us now examine what is communicated in these quotations about
this bird. In ‘Fauna Suecica,’ Linneus informs us that his
‘“‘ Sterna rectricibus maximis nigris’”’ is to be found ‘‘in Anger-
mannia,’* a province of Sweden, in which the Long-tailed Skua
is not to be found, and in “ Finmarkia et alibi ad mare” (!)
As the Long-tailed Skua does not breed on the sea-coast, and
is not properly a marine bird, this note cannot probably refer
to it. Buta still more powerful argument is found in Linneus’s
narrative of his ‘ Wistgdta-Resa,’ because he there gives a full
account of what he observed with his own eyes at Marstrand,
on the west coast of Sweden. I wish I could give even an
approximate idea of Linnus’s vivid, expressive, and, at the
same time, humorous, style in the following modest translation :
‘““HKlofft was here (at Marstrand) the name of the blackish sea-
gull that cannot plunge down in the sea itself to catch fish, but
is only created a robber among the sea-gulls. One saw with
interest how this Cossack pursued the other gulls as soon as they
had caught a fish, and did not cease to pursue them till the
gull had vomited up the fish he had caught and already packed in.
I have seen with astonishment that a tame gull, which I have
had several years in the garden of the Academy (Upsala), even
if it has got ever so little food, instantly vomited it up if some-
body pursued it a little afterwards. This faculty of easily
vomiting, the Creator has used for the support of our Elof’s
family ; for, as the gulls often fish more than they ought to, they
can easily afford to pay tribute to Swartlasse ;{ but, on the other
hand, Nature has so arranged it that Labben§ may not in-
crease too much, and therefore it is also the rarest of all the
gulls. To this is added that this Struntjagar|| is not very
* No doubt he had got this information from Artedi, who had lived in
that province.
+ The fishermen’s name for the Common Skua in Bohusliin, Swedish
west coast.
; Another Swedish name for the Skua, alluding to its blackish colour.
§ A third Swedish name for the Skua.
|| Another name.
340 THE ZOOLOGIST.
squeamish; for sometimes the gulls must, when they have
nothing on the market-place, open the back door and throw at
him spoiled food, which he takes for good as well. - Swartlasse
is very adroit, so that he always catches the food in the air when
it is thrown at him by the gull. Nor is he shy, for when the
fishermen see him, and cry, ‘ Elof, Elof,’ with outstretched arm,
and showing him some little fish, Klof comes flying towards the
boat, and catches the fish as soon as it is thrown.” .. .
That every word of this description applies to the Common
Skua, and not to the Long-tailed, is apparent to everyone who
has any knowledge about these birds. The Long-tailed Skua is
also not to be found on the Swedish west coast, where Linnzus
made these observations, but where the Common Skua is not
scarce.
The third of the quotations from ‘ Systema Nature’ refers
to Nils Gissler’s account, as is already mentioned. This con-
spicuously refers to the Common Skua (not the Long-tailed).
The following points are conclusive. Gissler mentions the
dimorphism of the Skua, although he erroneously believes it to
be a sexual dimorphism, and says that the male is more biackish.
It can nevertheless not be referred to the Long-tailed Skua,*
for it does not coincide with the information that the bird in
question lays its two eggs on the uttermost rocks in the archi-
pelago, while the Long-tailed species in Scandinavia only breeds
on the fells of Lapland and adjoining parts. Thereafter Gissler
describes the parasitic habits of the bird—how it robs the
Gulls, &c.; how rapid and dexterous it is in its flight, and
how it can be attracted by the fishermen throwing at it a
herring, or some other eatable thing, and so on; all facts refer-
able to the Common Skua, and only to that species, not to the
Long-tailed one. These three references are, as already men-
tioned, quoted in the first place, and are the more important
because they are partly Linneus’s own—must have been so
thoroughly understood by him—as they were made by a con-
temporary author about a well-known Swedish bird. When
this is so it is perfectly evident that Linneus, with his Larus
parasiticus, meant the Common Skua, which he himself had seen,
* Only one instance of dimorphism being known about the Long-tailed
Skua.
NAMES OF THE SKUA. 341
studied, and described, and not the Long-tailed Skua, which is
not proved to be known to Linneus, even if some of the later quo-
tations in ‘Systema Nature’ should refer to that bird. Besides,
and finally, it is almost an insult to the great author to assume
that he should have made such a mistake as to name a non-
parasitic bird such as the Long-tailed Skua parasiticus, when the
matter lay within the limits of his own personal experience, as
this apparently did.
The name of the Common Skua must therefore Cpt as
Stercorarius parasiticus (L.).
It remains now to find out which name for the Long-tailed
Skua has priority. Reichenow has recently * for this bird (at
the same time as he, unlike the author of ‘ Cat. Birds, British
Museum,’ vol. xxv., correctly accepts the specific name para-
siticus, L., for the common species) readopted the specific name
** Stercorarius cepphus (Brunn.), 1764.” I suppose that Reiche-
now in this refers to the bird described by Brunnich in his
‘Ornithologia Borealis’ (Hafnie, 1764) under the name Catha-
racta cepphus. But the whole description of this bird makes
it clear that Briinnich had before him not a Long-tailed Skua,
but a young specimen of the Common Skua. To prove this
the following quotation from the diagnosis need only to be
made :—
*“Capite colloque luteis fusco longitudinaliter maculatis ;
reliquum corpus ex luteo fuscoque undulatum, abdomine palli-
diore, macula alari alba, cauda subequali,” which is still further
elucidated by the full description in the same style. It is just
as clear that Brunnich’s figure, although badly made, does not
represent a Long-tailed Skua.t
Catarractes parasita Pallas (Zoogr. Rosso-As. t. 11. pp. 310-
11) seems to refer to the Common Skua rather than to the
Long-tailed Skua,{ to judge from the measurements of the tail-
feathers, and from the statements: ‘“‘ Ala... composite medias
rectrices fere equantes.” ... “ Remiges... primarié rhachibus
albis,’ as well as from the references and quotations.
* ‘Die Kennzeichen der Vogel Deutschlands,’ Neudamm, 1902.
+ Briinnich’s names parasitica and coprotheres represent, of course,
respectively the light and dark forms of the adult bird S. parasiticus (L.).
{ As is indicated in ‘ Cat. Birds, British Museum,’
342 . THE ZOOLOGIST.
But already (1760) Brisson mentions, in his ‘ Ornithologia’
(t. vi..p. 155), under the name Stercorarius longicaudus, a Skua
which is said to have its ‘‘ cauda tredecim pollices longa”; and
there can be no doubt that this refers to the Long-tailed Skua,
even if the following synonyms (among which Larus parasiticus,
Linn.) are incorrect. Longicaudus must therefore stand as
the specific name of the Long-tailed Skua, and it seems quite
suitable.
(. 343)
AN UNKNOWN WARBLER IN OXFORDSHIRE.
By W. Warvr Fowter, M.A.
I FEEL that it is incumbent on me to put on record my expe-
rience this summer of a bird which I have been entirely unable
to identify, even with the help of several persevering young
friends, who did all they could to find the nest, and to note the
appearance and song. I was unluckily unable to bring any
ornithologist of larger knowledge than my own to bear upon the
problem; Mr. Howard Saunders was unable to come, and Mr.
O. V. Aplin was away from his home in the county. But I can-
not help thinking that, without shooting the bird, they would
hardly have got further than I did; and, as there was barely a
doubt that the bird was breeding, I would not myself take the
responsibility of destroying it.
All ornithologists know how difficult, and even impossible, it
is to identify our little Warblers with the aid even of strong
binoculars, unless we hear them sing, or track them to nest and
eggs. Especially is this the case with the tree-haunting Warblers
when the foliage is once fully out, and the bird of which I write,
with all the restless habits of a Phylloscopus, did not appear until
the second week in May, and then moved about continually in
the higher branches, so that, as a rule, we only saw it from below,
and in doubtful lights. But for its voice it would never have
attracted attention ; but that voice was so striking, and so unique
in all my experience in this country or the Continent, that even
when I sent a friend with instructions as to where to hear
it, being unable to accompany him myself, he recognized it
the moment he came within its range. I myself became so
thoroughly familiar with it that I should recognize it instantly
anywhere on the globe, and I can recall it in imagination with
perfect precision, though I cannot attempt to put it down on
paper, or in musical notation, any more than I could the song of
the Wood-Wren or the Grasshopper-Warbler. It is a sweet,
344 THE ZOOLOGIST.
continuous, liquid gurgle, interrupted here and there by notes—
usually three in number—of a more distinctly musical type,
which have a certain mellow yet reedy tone, not unlike some of
the notes of the Redstart ; but these are only given occasionally
in the song, which was often continued for half a minute or so,
and can only be compared to the noise made by letting a thin
thread of water fall somewhat irregularly into a basin with water
in it; or it may be imitated by blowing gently, but with varying
force, through an egg-blower into a tumbler of water. Thus it
has a distant resemblance to the voice of the Grasshopper-
Warbler, to that of the Wood-Wren, and also to that of Bonelli’s
Warbler, and, when I was first on my way to hear it, I had no
moral doubt that it would turn out to be one or other of the first
two of these, though I nourished a secret hope that it might be
Bonelli, a bird well known to me, and one which I have always
half expected to hear of in England some day; but no sooner did
I have a chance of listening to the song than I was forced to give
up all such expectations, and confess myself completely beaten.
It was on June 10th of last year that I was first taken to the
spot by Mr. W. S. Medlicott, of Magdalen College, who told me
that he had made acquaintance with the bird the year before
(1901), and had searched carefully for a nest without success.
The wood is very secluded, and I have never seen anyone there
except a friendly keeper ; the haunt of the bird is the southern
edge of the wood, and is limited to a space of about a hundred
yards square, within which limits it moves about continually,
seldom staying long in any one tree. Perhaps the favourite spot
was where a little cowpond at the very edge of the wood was
overshadowed by a young oak and some smaller bushes growing
out of a thick undergrowth; but it would sometimes retreat
some way into the wood itself, which was composed of oaks,
elms, ashes, and a few firs, none of them of any great size, with
small open grassy spots, admirably suited for ground-building
birds.
On June 10th I heard hardly anything of the song; it was
the afternoon, when even the most persistent of singers are apt
to be silent. I came again alone a week later, and heard enough
to make it quite clear to myself that I had never yet come across
this singer, but I could not get a good sight of it, and I had to ~
AN UNKNOWN WARBLER IN OXFORDSHIRE. 345
leave Oxford a day or two later. This year (1903) I heard from
Mr. Medlicott, who was not in residence at Oxford, that a friend
had reported the bird as returned for the third time, and the
next day I spent two hours alone listening and watching, but had
to leave the wood entirely mystified. On June 4th I took two
young friends with me to look for a nest. In this we failed, as
usual, but we learnt a good deal more about the bird; for
example, that it shivers its tail slightly when singing, but appa-
rently not its wings, as the Wood-Wren does; that it eats green
caterpillars; that it is the size of the Wood-Wren, or rather
larger and stouter; and that it has a white throat and a dull
white or buffish white breast, the back being, so far as we could
see, rather a rufous brown. On the whole, it was rather more
like a Garden- Warbler, as seen from below, than a Phylloscopus ;
-but its movements were more like those of the Wood-Wren than
any other bird. Yet assuredly its song had absolutely nothing
in common with that of the Garden- Warbler, and only the most
distant resemblance to that of the Wood-Wren. I may say that
during our many visits to the wood we never heard the song of
the Wood-Wren, nor its peculiar musical call.
On June 17th I went again to look at a nest which had been
found by one of my helpful young friends ; it was apparently that
of a Willow-Wren, but was curiously large and conspicuous,
‘composed chiefly of moss, and lined with Partridge feathers ; it
contained one egg, of a pinkish white ground colour, with pale
red spots all over it. We spent much time on this occasion and
afterwards in watching this nest, and the birds belonging to it,
but were never able to connect either it or them with the bird we
were trying to identify. It was probably the nest of a Willow-
Wren. Mr. Aplin, to whom I afterwards showed one of the eggs,
did not feel confident about it, and was inclined to lend an ear to
my suggestion that it might be Phylloscopus borealis; but, as far
as I can discover from books, no nest of that species has yet been
found with a lining of feathers.. As far as the evidence of the
nest and eggs-is concerned, I cannot attach any weight to it, and,
in spite of the most diligent search, we never came upon another
that could be in any way connected with our bird.
T spent a long time in the wood on June 24th, and again on
the 30th with my friend Mr. H. G. Maurice—still unable to come
346 THE ZOOLOGIST.
to any conclusion, but getting thoroughly familiar with the bird
and its ways. A day or two later Mr. Maurice, who was staying
in Oxford, bicycled out to the wood at daybreak, and stayed there
along time. He made careful notes on the spot, which he has
kindly placed at my disposal. I had myself become disabled by
rheumatism and neuritis, the result probably of spending too
much time in a damp wood in a very wet season. The general
result of Mr. Maurice’s observations was to disconnect the bird
with the nest we had found, and to suggest another spot as lhkely ;
but it was part of our bad luck in the whole business that he too
was unwell after a slight sunstroke, and was unable to search as
carefully as he wished. His notes made on July 2nd are, how-
ever, very interesting, as showing the food and appearance of the
bird, and I will quote the most important part of them :—
“*T reached the spot about 4.15 a.m., and left it about 6.30 a.m.
The bird sang the whole time without interruption. (This is
remarkable for so late a date.) At first it was in the trees so
much frequented on the occasion of my last three visits, and,
though it made brief excursions to other parts, it always returned
to this neighbourhood. I beat out the part where I thought I
saw the hen last evening, but without result. I had several good
looks at the bird, and saw him kill two caterpillars in the manner
I observed yesterday (i.e. by knocking them against a branch).
On the second occasion he was very close to the supposed nest.
The caterpillar was a very long and large one, and very light in
colour. ‘The process must have lasted certainly one minute,
probably a good two minutes. He paused several times, and
appeared to try to eat the caterpillar, but found it necessary to
resume the threshing process, presumably because the caterpillar
curled up and obstructed him. While threshing it, he held the
caterpillar by one end, so as to swing it full length. Twice in
the course of the battle he paused and sang a short snatch of
song, with the caterpillar still in his bill, though, as a rule, he
opens his mouth wide in singing. At length, whether by accident
or design I cannot say, he dropped the caterpillar. He followed
it at once, returned with it to a low branch, and devoured it in
the twinkling of an eye. He then sang, and retired singing to
his favourite haunt, not appearing to take any interest in our
nest, which now contains two young birds.
AN UNKNOWN WARBLER IN OXFORDSHIRE. B47
“My general idea of the bird’s colour and shape is much
clearer now. I do not believe that with a clear view one could
take him for a Chiffchaff or a Willow-Wren. He seems a larger
and stouter bird. The general colour of the upper parts is
decidedly dark; head dark brown right down to the throat, and I
could detect no sign of an eye-streak. The under parts lighter,
but suffused with a very decided grey. The general appearance
of the bird was to me much more suggestive of the Garden-
Warbler than any other bird I know.
“Once, while very near the spot where I thought the nest
would be, he descended with a curious fluttering flight, like a
falling leaf, into some low elder bushes, but did not remain there
long. He returned to them once or twice in the course of the
morning, but again did not remain there long. His movements
are generally abrupt. The wings as well as the tail quiver while
he sings, though less noticeably; the head is thrown back, and
turns slightly from side to side, and the mouth is very wide
open.” iy,
This last observation of Mr. Maurice’s, that the head is turned
slightly from side to side, is interesting when taken in connection
with the song, which is, or seems to be, always gently rising and
falling, and does not remain on the same musicai plane, if I may
use the expression. Probably the effect is produced, as in the
case of the Grasshopper- Warbler, by these motions of the head.
All that he says of the appearance of the bird coincides closely
with the observations of Mr. Medlicott, myself, and others. Last
year, when I had but a slight acquaintance with the song, I was
inclined to think that this was an eccentric Garden- Warbler, and
I thought on one occasion that I heard in the song of that species
—or, rather, of a single individual of it—some sibilant notes
faintly reminding me of our mysterious bird. This year, how-
ever, I have been obliged to abandon this idea; and in any case
it would be s most extraordinary circumstance if a Garden-—
Warbler were to develop a song so entirely different from that of
its species in all its main characteristics, and so unique among
all British birds. Again, were the bird a Garden-Warbler, why
did we fail to find a nest of that species, after moving about so
often in the haunt of the bird, and examining every nest in every
stage of existence ?
348 THE Z00LOGIST.
Both Wood-Wren and Willow-Wren must be considered out
of the question also, if we are to apply to them any of the ordinary
tests of identification. Of the latter species there were several
close at hand singing their familiar song. As I said at the be-
ginning of this paper, I have never heard anything like the song
of this mysterious creature either in England or the Continent.
I have searched Dresser’s ‘ Birds of Europe,’ and many other
works, for some account of a small bird’s song which might at
all resemble ours ; but among the numerous tribes of Warblers
I can find none, unless it be Phylloscopus borealis, and I cannot
honestly say that any description I have read, of the song, or the
plumage of that species gives me much encouragement. I am
still quite in the dark about the bird which gave me so much
interesting employment last June, and must postpone further
investigation till June of next year, in hopes that a bird which
has already spent three seasons in one particular spot may return
for a fourth. Meanwhile, it is possible that some readers of
‘ The Zoologist,’ who have a larger acquaintance than I have with
foreign birds and their songs, may be able to contribute some
suggestion towards the solution of the problem.
( 349 )
NOTES AND QUERIES.
MAMMALIA.
Natterer’s Bat (Myotis nattereri) in Bedfordshire.—During a visit
of a few days last year to the village of Turvey, Bedfordshire, I noticed
during the evenings several Bats frequenting the garden of the Crown
Farm, where I was then staying. Their light-coloured under parts
first attracted my attention as to their species, but it was not until
Aug. 8rd of the present year that I was able to procure a specimen,
which I obtained from a hole in a plum tree (an unusual sleeping haunt,
I believe, with this species) near at hand, and so confirmed this new
record for that county. — J. Sreexe-Huuiorr (The Manor House,
Dowles, Worcestershire).
Natterer’s Bat in Oxfordshire.—A Natterer’s Bat flew in at one
of the windows of this house on the night of June 26th, after a hot
day. It does not seem to be very uncommon in this county. The
last 1 had was found by some workmen who were repairing the roof
(of ‘Stonesfield slate”) of an old house in the village, in April,
1902. A Long-eared Bat was caught at the same time. Messrs.
J. G. Millais and H. Noble found Natterer’s Bat in company with
Daubenton’s, the Long-eared, and (one) Bechstein’s Bat in a chalk
eave near Henley-on-Thames (but in Berkshire) in March, 1901 (P.Z.58.
1901, p. 216). For other Oxfordshire occurrences, cf. ‘ Zoologist,’
1889, pp. 308 and 381. — O. V. Artin (Bloxham, Oxon).
Natterer’s Bat in Surrey.—In July, 1902, I caught a specimen of
Natterer’s Bat (Myotis natterert) in the room of a house at Milford,
Surrey. This may be worth recording, as I believe this species is
somewhat local. I ought to have recorded it before, but forgot until
the other day, when I came across the skin. — Gorpon DateuizsH
(Clairval, Colling’s Road, Guernsey).
AVES.
Dartford Warbler in Shropshire.—The occurrence of Sylvia undata
in this part of England has not hitherto been authenticated, though
recorded on slender evidence in Staffordshire. In the autumn of 1902
350 THE ZOOLOGIST.
Mr. J. 8. Lang, of Ludlow, noticed a pair of birds in a gorsy bit of
country near that town, which he suspected were Dartford Warblers.
He found them again in May this year, and they were then very tame,
often allowing themselves to be observed at close quarters, enabling
him to establish their identity beyond doubt. The male might fre-
quently be seen perched on the topmost spray of a gorse bush. Mr.
Lang found there were two pairs in the locality, and subsequently one
of the nests was discovered by Mr. J. Palmer, who has eggs. I may
add, on the authority of the last-named gentleman, that three pairs of
Hobbies again bred near Ludlow this season. — H. EH. Forrest
(Shrewsbury).
Nesting Habits of Long-tailed Tit (Acredula caudata).—It does
not seem to be generally known that, during incubation at least, both
the male and female frequently, if not always, occupy the nest at night
together.—J. Sreete-Kuxiorr (The Manor House, Dowles, Worcester-
shire).
Cirl-Bunting in Flintshire—On July 29th last, when in company
with Mr. T. A. Coward, a male of this species (Hmberiza cirlus) was
seen and heard singing by us at Tremeirchion. This is, I believe, the
first record of this bird in Flintshire. It is probable, however, that it
occurs in several localities in this county, and also in many places not
hitherto recorded in most, if not all, of the counties of North and South
Wales. It is undoubtedly overlooked in many instances, notwith-
standing its many distinctive characteristics, irrespective of plumage,
which distinguishes it from the ubiquitous Yellowhammer.—S. G.
Cummines (King’s Buildings, Chester).
Nesting of the Grey Crow in Suffolk.—This year a pair of Grey
Crows (Corvus cornix) have nested and reared a brood of young ones
at Gunton Old Hall, near Lowestoft, and my informant, E. W. Fowler,
Hsq., who resides there, writes me as follows:—‘‘I saw five Grey
Crows here for some days between the 1st and 15th of June ; two
appeared to be old ones and three young, and I believe they nested in
the wood with the Rooks. The young ones were poor flyers, and I
had to tap the tree they were on with my stick to move them, and
then they only flew a short distance. I saw one of them as late as
the middle of August. Two or three years ago I saw an old Grey
Crow here in July.” — HE. A. Burzer (Plumton House, Bury St.
Edmunds, Suffolk).
Late Occurrence of Swift and Cuckoo in Scotland.—Cypselus apus
has stayed with us later than usual this year. I saw several flying
NOTES AND QUERIES. 351
about over the city of Edinburgh, and uttering their scream, as is their
custom, on the evening of August 23rd last. In former years, and
much farther south—Kirkcudbrightshire—I found the 20th August
a late date for their stay. On this date, in 1894, I saw a group of
them on their southward migration. It is true I have also seen a
solitary straggler in the first days of September, but this is of course
abnormal, When on a holiday in the early summer of this year I
heard the Cuckoo’s call—practically unbroken—on the opening morn-
ing of July. I do not know whether this is in the nature of a record
or not, but I never have heard it after the month of June in former
years. A certain well-known writer of fiction (Sir Conan Doyle, in
‘Rodney Stone’) would lead his readers to think that it calls in
September. I have not heard it so late myself!—J. W. Payne (1,
Meadow Place, Edinburgh).
The Hobby in South Warwickshire.—A friend of mine in South
Warwickshire, not far over the Oxfordshire border, sent me a fine adult
Hobby (falco subbuteo) in the flesh on August 15th last, and wrote :—
**The keeper shot this in the wood; they build in fir-trees near the
pond; there are more there now.” Doubtless this remark refers to the
other old bird and the young ones reared this year. ‘The bird sent
proved to be a female, and measured 13:2 in. in total length; wing,
10:25 in. Legs and feet bright golden- or deep chrome-yellow. Claws
blackish horn. Bill horn-colour, paler and greenish at the base of
the upper mandible. Cere greenish yellow. lHyelids yellow. The
stomach contained fragments of small beetles.—O. V. Apuin (Blox-
ham, Oxon).
Albino Moorhens.—Pure albinism is, I believe, very rare in the
Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus) ; the only departures from the normal
with which I have hitherto met are pied varieties showing more or less
white, and individuals the plumage of which presented a silky or hair-
like appearance. Of the latter curious variety there are good descrip-
tions in the ‘ Birds of Norfolk,’ ii. p. 422, and by Mr. Gurney in the
‘Transactions of the Norfolk and Norwich Naturalists’ Society,’ iii.
p. 581 (with coloured figure). I was pleased therefore to have an
opportunity of examining two fully-grown young ones in beautiful
plumage in the shop of Mr. Lowne, of Great Yarmouth, to whom they
were sent to be preserved by Mr. Walter J. Corbett, of Rollesby Hall,
near that town. They were both females, and were killed at Rollesby
about the 1st and 3rd August last. The plumage in each case is
pure white, the legs and bills pale chrome-yellow, and the irides pink,
302 THE ZOOLOGIST.
as is usual in albinos; the other members of the same brood, Mr.
Lowne was told, were of the normal colour. — Tuomas SouTHwELL
(Norwich).
A Spotless Curlew’s Egg.—On the 19th of May last I found, in a
nest placed in a tuft of rushes in a swamp, three eggs of Numenius
arquata. All of them were normal in size and shape, and two were of the
usual colour, having an olive ground and dark brown and grey blotches,
while the third was of a clear bluish green and unspotted. In colour
it resembled a Heron’s egg. I think this variety must be very rare,
and I should much like tu know if any of your readers have ever met
with one anything like it.—H. A. Swatnson (Woodside, Brecon).
Breeding of Lesser Black-backed and Herring-Gulls.— Would Mr.
Elms more clearly define what he means (ante, p. 808) by ‘ Lesser
Black-back Herring-Gull’s nest, containing one egg of the former bird
and two of the latter,’ and his subsequent observations in the next sen-
tences? The difference between the eggs of the two species—darker
and lighter, &c.—alone is not sufficient for purposes of identification.—
J. A. Harvie-Brown (Dunipace, Larbert, Stirlingshire, N.B.).
[In answer to the above query of Mr. Harvie-Brown’s—what I
meant when making use of the expression ‘‘ Lesser Black-back = Her-
ring-Gull”’ was that there seemed a possibility, in this instance, of the
nest being common to both species, or, in other words, that these two
species were occupying the same nest, which contained one egg of the
Lesser Black-backed Gull and two of the Herring-Gull. I quite agree
that the colourings and markings of these two birds’ eggs are in-
sufficient for the purposes of proper identification, and with such
slight evidence as this I would not say that it was by any means an
established fact that these two Gulls frequently occupy the same nest.
Such a thing may at times happen, and on at least two occasions I met
with a nest that tended to point towards such an occurrence. I believe
the full clutch of eggs, both for the Herring-Gull and the Lesser
Black-backed Gull, is generally admitted to be three eggs, and all the
nests I saw, save the one quoted above, contained two only. I trust
this reply gives the information required.
I read the Rev. Holroyd Mills’s letter (ante, p. 317) with much
interest, and hasten to say that I did not see the Lesser Black-backed
Gull and Herring-Gull “sitting side by side on one nest.” I fear that
the evidence is not sufficiently substantial to allow of its being a fact
that these birds do habitually occupy a common nest; that birds do so
from mischance—perhaps more often than we are aware—admits of
no doubt, and Mr. Holroyd Mills furnishes us with an interesting
NOTES AND QUERIES. BD0
instance of the same thing with regard to a Mallard’s nest containing
one egg of the Red-breasted Merganser.—H. F. M. Exms.]
Sabine’s Gull in Yorkshire. — Mr. Machin, the Bridlington bird-
stuffer, tells me that on Sept. 1st an adult Sabine’s Gull (Xema sabinit)
in winter plumage was brought in for his inspection. This bird ap-
pears now to be an annual visitant to the east coast.—Junian G. Tuck
(3, The Crescent, Bridlington).
Ornithological Notes from Aberdeen for August, 1903.—General
feature of this season is late nesting. Swallows (Hirundo rustica) with
young in nest, Aug. 7th; still here, Aug. 31st. Iam quite convinced
of having seen two young Cuckoos (Cucwlus canorus) on Aug. 7th, but
did not see both at one time. They were newly fledged and chirping,
as well as closely attended by the usual foster-parents. One seen
again on Aug. 16th in normal plumage, which shows that this bird had
been in a similar position this year to many others, but exhibiting
more persistence in breeding than we would have credited it with a
month ago. By keen observation the plumage was seen to incline to
slate-colour. Curlew (Numenius arquata) last heard on Aug. 17th.
Dunlins (Tringa alpina) have disappeared during the month. Yellow-
hammer (Emberiza citrinella) hatched two young on Aug. 1st from two
eggs. The young seemed to be doing well.— W. Witson (Alford,
Aberdeen, N.B.).
Notes from Bridlington, Yorkshire While spending the month of
August at Bridlington, I had several opportunities of visiting the
Rempton cliffs. The close-time for this district is now extended to
Sept. lst, which gives the birds a fair chance of taking away their
young, as on the last day of August there was hardly a bird to be seen
on the cliffs, with the exception of a few Guillemots in charge of young
ones. Razorbills seem rather scarce, as in five visits to the cliffs I
could not recognize one, though I have seen them on the water from
a sailing-boat; but there were plenty of Puffins and Kittiwakes, and
early in August multitudes of Guillemots. Sandwich Terns appeared
in the bay here about mid-August, no doubt some of the Farne Island
birds on migration, and other birds I have noticed were a fine old
Gannet, several Cormorants, a few Scoters, all the six species of Gull
which breed in Great Britain, Kestrels, Carrion-Crows, and Rock-
Doves. ‘The Doves are a very mixed lot, some of them almost white.
The Gulls here are very tame and amusing, coming quite close to the
piers and the spa, and a flock may nearly always be seen at the outlet
of one of the sewers, where they will allow a boat to be rowed nearly
Zool, 4th ser. vol. VII., September, 1903. — QE
304 THE ZOOLOGIST.
up to them. There seems still to be a demand for sea-birds in some
milliners’ shops, as the following advertisement from an address in
Hissex recently appeared several times in a Yorkshire daily paper:
‘Wanted, small sea-birds; 1000 skins immediately ; cash”’; but the
extension of the close-time will be the means of saving hundreds of
Terns, though it is to be feared that a good many were slaughtered on
this coast early in September, as some gunners were ‘out on the
First”? by daybreak. Both in East and West Suffolk some birds are
protected by the County Councils all the year through, and a similar
order forbidding the killing of ** Terns or Sea-Swallows of all species ”’
and Kittiwakes on the Yorkshire coast would be an excellent thing,
as readers of this Journal would have thought, had they seen the pro-
ceedings of two men in a rowing-boat near this town. I must admit
that nothing would have given me greater satisfaction than to have
heard that one of them had shot the other, a state of things which
seemed quite possible-—Junian G. Tuck (8, The Crescent, Bridlington).
PISCES.
Megrim and some other Fishes at Yarmouth.—On July 28rd I
received from a fish-hawker a small flat-fish, which I identified as the
Megrim (Arnoglossus laterna); it measured 4 in. in length. This is,
as far as I can ascertain, the first example of Megrim brought into
Yarmouth—at any rate, recognized. A great many fine Hels have
lately been taken both by net and hook at the entrance of the harbour.
An Kel was recently caught by a ‘‘pick,’’ which, on being opened, was
found to contain two lesser Hels almost half as long as itself. I
observed a Common Gull (Larus canus) pick up a live 12-inch Hel and
swallow it, but its squirmings, which could be distinctly seen, made
the bird very uneasy, if not a bit frightened; but it held on, and in
about five minutes the squirmings had ceased. A large ‘“‘ grey’ Gull
_ adroitly captured a large Hel, upwards of a pound in weight, but was
glad almost immediately to let it go again. Hels have been gorging
themselves on Shore-crabs (Carcinus menas). When caught they are
usually full of them. One, however, lately taken, had several Sand-
launces in its maw. On June 19th I obtained a Lemon Sole (Solea
lascaris), 841n.in length.—A. Parrurson (Ibis House, Great Yarmouth).
[The Megrim is reported by Howse as taken on the Yorkshire coast,
but rare. Sometimes brought into the Tyne by the trawlers (‘Cat.
Fishes, Rivers and Coast Northumb. and Durham and the adjacent
Sea ’).—Eb.]
NOTES AND QUERIES. B00
ACARINA.
In 1871 I observed and drew the ventral surface of a water mite.”
At the breeding season the ends of the third pair of legs in the male
become inflated, and are kept in the genital orifice. When he em-
braces the female he inserts the germinal fluid with the third pair of
legs, using them like chop-sticks. No doubt this has been noticed
since, but I doubt if in any book, or even paper, on mites, or 1 must
have heard of it. There is a mite here parasitic on a Honey-eater
(Prosthemadera nove-zealandica), which has, in the male, claspers to
seize the female with. It is unlawful to shoot this bird, but sometimes
one can. The mites come and drink at the bird’s eyes.—W. F. How-
LETT (75, Ingestre Street, Wellington, New Zealand).
* Probably one of the Hydrachnide.—Ep.
356 THE ZOOLOGIST.
NOTICES OF NEW BOOKS.
The Birds of Tennyson. By Watxtn Warktins, B.A. Cantab.
R. H. Porter.
Was Tennyson an ornithologist? In the usual or strict
sense of the term we may gladly say—no; had he really deserved
that title he would probably not have been the great Victorian
poet. That he was a lover of birds, and a good observer of them
as he was of other natural creatures and objects, ‘‘ goes without
saying’ to anyone who is really conversant with the Tennysonian
literature. Mr. Watkins perhaps inclines to over-accentuate
Tennyson’s ornithological standpoint. There is the naturalistic
poet and the poetic naturalist, but this is nearly all that
can be said. It is reported that Karl Schimper, in a small
piece of poetry, for the first time used the word Hiszeit (glacial
epoch).
But is poetry expected to give us facts, or ideas? Is the
poet to describe or to idealize a bird? We incline to the latter
hypothesis. Of course a want of ordinary familiarity with birds
may cause a point to be altogether missed, as with Milton and
the Sky-Lark, in the well-known lines :—
‘*Then to come, in spite of sorrow,
And at my window bid good morrow.”
On the other hand, some of the highest flights in true poesy
have occurred in the idealization of animal life. In the great
Semitic epic, described by Tennyson himseif as “the greatest
poem whether of ancient or modern times,’ Jahveh, in addressing
Job, speaks of the war-horse in well-known pregnant lines, one
of which has been rendered by Carlyle as ‘“‘he laughs at the
shaking of the spear,” words which, certainly, can by no twist be
made by any enthusiastic mammalogist to imply a knowledge of
the Hquide. When we enjoy a beautiful sonnet, such as Kugene
NOTICES OF NEW BOOKS. B57
Lee-Hamilton’s ‘“‘ Sea-Shell Murmurs,” is it necessary to ask
whether the writer was acquainted with the Mollusca? Would
any botanist adversely criticize those exquisite lines which have
come to us from the ages, and will go down with them: ‘‘ Con-
sider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither
do they spin’”’ ?
We prefer to make our standpoint clear in noticing Me
excellent and conscientious compilation of the bird-lore of
Tennyson, which is a complete ornithological concordance to the
works of the most read and best loved English poet. But the poet
is always greater than his facts; the ‘‘ Merman,” ‘‘ Mermaid,”
and “* Talking Oak” are strictly outside the canons of biology,
and so we may thankfully say is all poetry. It may seem irony
for a zoologist to seek to defend poetry from the claims of his
own science, but, though the poet ceases to-be one when he is
untrue to nature, he is still outside all the ologies.
The Norfolk Broads. By Wiuu1am A. Durt and other Con-
tributors. Methuen & Co.
BROADLAND is alike loved by the naturalist, angler, and
boating tourist, though the increased visits of the last have
proved anything but an unmixed pleasure to the first; the
broads are rapidly becoming holiday resorts, and certain riparian
owners have asserted their most unpopular rights and privileges.
How a-_ Thoreau would have enjoyed and described these.
glorious meres, whose fauna, alas! is not now what the old-time:
Broadland marshmen so well remember. Who can forget the.
birds, the plants, or the big Bream of these winter, perhaps, but
now no longer summer, solitudes. No one book can exhaust.
the tale that the Broadland naturalist can unfold, and we have
long wondered why some wealthy naturalist, associated with one
of our mighty publishers, has not before this commenced to pub-
lish a large fully illustrated folio work on the fauna and flora of
this region. It is worth doing, and the men are now living in
Norfolk who could write it. It is no disparagement of Mr.
Dutt’s excellent and beautifully illustrated volume to say this;
it is, on the contrary, the perusal of this, the best book up to date
358 THE ZOOLOGIST.
on the subject, that has re-incited the craving for a work that
would be beyond the means of the general public, and could only
appear by the aid of wealth and interested subscribers. What
Godman has done for Central America might well be imitated
—a very much smaller undertaking—by some lover of Broad-
land.
Mr. Dutt, in his volume, takes us through the rivers and
broads, tells us what to see, and gives us much information and
local lore which can only be gathered by personal experience.
Some of the faunistic contributors are well known to the readers
of ‘The Zoologist.’ Mr. A. Patterson writes on the ‘“‘ Wild Life
of Breydon,” a subject quite his own; the Rev. M. C. H. Bird
deals with ‘‘ Bird Life”; Claude Morley, with Entomology; H.
K. Hurrell discusses ‘“‘ Pond Life”; and Botany is treated by the’
Rev. G. H. Harris. The angler and wildfowler are catered for
by A. J. Rudd and Nicholas Everitt.
We are glad to find in this volume a few bionomical facts
relative to the fishes of the Broads. It is strange how little we
know on this subject. Among the multitude of anglers there
seems scarcely an observation made, apart from the best time and
way, to hook and land the prey. What is the reason why ornitho-
logists and entomologists still bear the heat and burden of the
observational day ? while there is absolutely more bionomical in-
formation obtainable about our marine than our fresh-water fishes.
Much information is acquired that is never garnered. The de-
spised birdcatcher may relate a few of his observations to a mate
in an alehouse, but his knowledge dies with him. Mr. Dutt
remarks on the same waste with the broadsmen. ‘‘ Their methods
of gaining a livelihood made them close observers of the habits of
fish, bird, and beast; the knowledge of natural history that was
lust when an aged broadsman died would, if it had been printed,
have made his name famous.”’
We heartily commend this book to all who can feel an interest
in an unique aspect of our “ rough island-story,’ and to those
naturalists who love the detaiis of a local fauna.
NOTICES OF NEW BOOKS. 359
Fasciculi Malayenses: Anthropological and Zoological Results of
an Expedition to Perak and the Siamese Malay States,
1901-1902, undertaken by Neuson ANNANDALE and HeER-
BERT C. Ropinson. Anthropology, Part I. University
Press of Liverpool.
It was once well said that, thanks to the researches of a few
eminent men, we have a far clearer knowledge of the primitive
Aryans than we have of certain states of society actually existing
at the moment in Africa and Asia. But this reproach to anthro-
pological investigation is now being rapidly removed. We
recently drew attention to a work on the Andamans and Nico-
bars, in which the veil was lifted from the mysterious race who
inhabited the interior of the Great Nicobar. A similar service
in this publication is done for the Semang and Sakai tribes
which inhabit the Malay Peninsula. We do not say that Messrs.
Annandale and Robinson are alone among modern writers on
these people, but we can safely affirm that they have produced
and will continue the publication of by far the fullest and most
authentic account of them. It is remarkable how little was
really known, anthropologically, concerning these tribes, and
our ignorance was partly due to the few travellers who were
interested in the investigation, and the then lack of scientific
method in the few actual studies made. Thirty-five years ago,
when the writer of this notice resided for two years in the
Malay Peninsula, nothing but hearsay and tradition could be
gleaned concerning the Semang and Sakai tribes; now we possess
the first instalment of a really exhaustive memoir, beautifully
illustrated, and conforming to the rigid requirements of anthro-
pological research.
The Butterflies and Moths of Europe. By W. ¥. Kirsy,
F’.L.S., &e. Cassell & Co., Ltd.
In our last volume attention was drawn to the commencement
of this publication, and we have now received part xxxii., con-
cluding the work. Mr. Kirby, in 1882, published a similar work,
in which all the species were described that were included in the
catalogue of Staudinger and Wocke (1871); the present volume
comprises descriptions of all the butterflies and larger moths
360 THE ZOOLOGIST.
enumerated in the great catalogue of Palearctic Lepidoptera
published by Staudinger and Rebel in 1901. His older work
has also been completely revised, and the few species found in
Madeira and the Canary Islands, but not met with on the Con-
tinent of Europe, have also been included. Mr. Kirby has thus
provided a most useful and beautifully illustrated work for con-
tinental tourists, and those who pass the winter in the Atlantic
islands, and beirg written in our own language, and provided
with so many excellent figures, is likely to prove a standard work
on the subject for many years to come.
Although the book is intended to be a popular one, and not
beyond the intellectual capacity of the ordinary reader, and is,
as far as possible, free from scientific technicalities, it has still
avoided the offence of being only composed for the “ man in the
street.”’ The lepidopterist will find many references to descrip-
tions of larve which are little known or have been generally over-
looked, for our author is a well-known entomological bibliophile,
and is particularly at home in the literature of his subject, both
in its modern and more ancient aspects.
Crown 8vu, Cloth extra, 206 pp. + xvi
A Flora of the Island of Jersey
WITH A LIST OF THE
PLANTS OF THE GHANNEL ISLANDS IN GENERAL
AND REMARKS UPON THEIR
DISTRIBUTION AND GEOGRAPHICAL AFFINITIES
BY
L. V. LESTER-GARLAND, M.A., F.L.S.
Principal of Victoria College, Jersey,
and formerly Fellow of St. John’s College, Oxford
WITH
Coloured Map by J. G. Bartholomew
HE Author has excluded all plants which he has not either seen
- growing in Jersey himself or seen Jersey specimens of. In Jersey,
as elsewhere, the study of plants has often been pursued with more
zeal than discrimination, and a large number of records exist which still
“need confirmation,” and probably will continue to need it for some
time to come. A list of these doubtful records is appended at the end
of the Flora.
CONTENTS
I.—Intropuction. II.—A List or THE GENERA OF BritisH PLANTS
ARRANGED IN ACCORDANCE WITH ENGLER’S SystEM. IIJJ.—lFLorA or
JERSEY. IV.—A List oF THE Fuora oF THE CHANNEL ISLANDS, WITH
REMARKS UPON THE GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION AND AFFINITIES OF THE
Species. V.—BripiiocRapHy. V1I.—INDEX oF GENERIC NAMES...
‘‘Mr. Lester-Garland has published .. . a ‘Flora of the Island of
Jersey,’ which we can commend to all visitors to that favoured spot. .
Very carefully compiled, well printed, and provided with an index of
genera.’ —Gardeners’ Chronicle.
‘‘The general form in which the Flora is presented leaves nothing to
be desired. . . . Well printed on good paper, neatly bound, handy and
portable for the use of the field-worker, and has an excellent map... .
Should be in the hands of all critical students of the British Flora.”—
Journal of Botany.
Price Six Shillings Net
LONDON: WEST, NEWMAN & CO., 54, HATTON GARDEN
And all Booksellers
The ine Morning and Late igondie. Singing of ‘som =
— -BB4.
On the Names of ie two Species of oie with Pointed Tail- feathers, D
Lonnberg, C.M.Z.S., éc., 338. o
An Unknown Warbler in Orton lence. W. Warde Fowler, M.A., B43.
NovtrEs AND QueERius: —
Mammatia.—Natterer’s Bat (Myotis nattererz) in Bedfordshire, J. Steele E
349 ; in Oxfordshire, O. V. Aplin, 349 ; in Surrey, Gordon Dalgliesh,
Aves.—Dartford Warbler in Shropshire, H. H. Forrest, 349. Nesting Habits |
Long-tailed Tit (Acredula caudata), J. Steele- Elliott, 350. Cirl- Bunting
Flintshire, S. G. Cummings, 350. Nesting of the Grey Crow in Suffo
Lieut.-Col. E. A. Butler, 350. Late Occurrence of Swift and Cuckoo
Scotland, J. W. Payne, 350. The Hobby in South Warwickshire, O. V. —
Aplin, 351. Albino Moorhens, Thomas Southwell, 351. A Spotless Cur- —
lew’s Egg, H. A. Swainson, 352. Breeding of Lesser Black-backed and
Herring-Gulls, J. A. Harvie-Brown, EH. F. M. Elms, 352. Sabine’s Gull in
Yorkshire, Rev. Julian G. Tuck, 358. Ornithological Notes from Aberdeen —
for August, 19038, W. Wilson, 353. Notes from Bridlington, Yorkshire, Rev. —
Julian G. Tuck, Does um
Pisces.—Megrim ad some other Fishes at Yarmouth, A. Patterson, 354.
' Acarina, W. F’. Howlett, 355.
Notices oF New Books, 356-360.
FOR SALE. a
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Fine Paper Edition, 5s. per annwmn.
CHARLES MOSLEY. The Museum Press, Lockwood. Hndderstivlds
Zool. 1903. Plate VI,
Movement in vertical plane. Movement in horizontal plane.
Tail slightly flexed. Tail strongly flexed.
At rest on floor of tank. Body bent
into an S-shape.
CHARACTERISTIC ATTITUDES OF THE Common “ Sra-Horse ” (Hippocampus
antiquorum), FROM EXAMPLES IN THE AMSTERDAM AQUARIUM.
TEE ZOOLOGIS ST
No. 748.—October, 1908.
MIGRATION OF BIRDS IN N.E. LINCOLNSHIRE
DURING THE AUTUMN OF 1902.
By G. H. Caton Hateu.
Tne cloudy and unsettled autumn of 1902 was on the whole
favourable to migration. The prevailing winds were easterly or
north-easterly, usually very light, and often accompanied with
fine rain.
Birds came in steadily and evenly throughout the autumn,
and nothing approaching a “‘rush”’ took place. The periods at
which the most important movements occurred were Sept. 8th to
llth, 20th to 24th, and especially Oct. 6th to llth; while there
was an exceedingly large immigration of wildfowl into the
Humber on Nov. 30th and Dec. Ist, and immense numbers of
Wood-Pigeons came in during the last fortnight of the year.
Waders of all sorts, except Curlews and Peewits, were extremely
scarce.
As is usually the case in a season in which easterly winds
prevail, several of our rarer birds appeared—for example, the
Black Redstart, Barred Warbler, Shore-Lark, White-tailed
Eagle, Honey-Buzzard, Bittern, Great Bustard, and Spotted
Redshank. }
On the other hand, a few birds which one expects to meet
with annually were either absent or very scarce, such as the
Garden- Warbler, Grey Shrike, Goldfinch, and Long-eared Owl.
Zoot. 4th ser. vol. VII., October, 1908. 2F
362 THE ZOOLOGIST.
Turdus visciorus. Mistle-Thrush. — A large flock in a
turnip-field near the coast at North Cotes on Sept. Ist. This
species was very abundant in the coast districts throughout the
autumn.
T. musicus. Song-Thrush.— A good many Thrushes in
turnips near the coast on Sept. Ist. Large numbers again
present on 12th and 19th, and especially from Sept. 30th to
Oct. 8th.
T. iliacus. Redwing.—This was a great Redwing year. One
or two appeared on Oct. 9th, a few more on the 10th, and from
that date till Nov. 10th the species steadily increased, the largest
arrivals taking place on Oct. 11th, 16th, and 24th.
T. pilaris. Fieldfare.—The Fieldfare was somewhat late in
its appearance. I saw three or four at Brigsley on Nov. 7th,
and about a dozen on the coast on 15th. On Dec. 4th, with a
light fall of snow, a few were passing north over Grainsby, and
they were very abundant in the hedges near the coast. On Dee.
23rd a few were coming in from the sea, and I saw a flock of
auite a thousand assembled on a piece of grass-land known as
North Cotes 100 acre.”
T. merula. Blackbird.—The first arrival of Blackbirds took
place on Sept. 20th, and a larger number, consisting mostly of
young cocks, came in on the 22nd. A further immigration took
place on Oct. 6th to 9th, those coming in on the first-named day
being principally young cocks, with a few old cocks; while on
the following day old and young birds of both sexes were present.
On Oct. 24th and 25th Blackbirds were again abundant on the
coast, almost all being old birds. The last noticeable passage
occurred on Novy. 15th.
T. torquatus. Ring-Ouzel.—Very scarce; I saw two in hedges
near the sea at North Cotes on Oct. 6th.
Saxicola enanthe. Wheatear.—A few Wheatears appeared on
“the sea-bank on Aug. 8th. On 30th I saw a flock of about a
dozen perching on the sea-bank and on an adjoining hedge.
Wheatears were again fairly numerous on Sept. 13th.
Pratincola rubetra. Whinchat.— A few in the vicinity of
the coast on Sept. Ist. I noted single birds on 11th, 22nd,
and 24th.
P. rubicola. Stonechat.—A single Stonechat—the only one
MIGRATION OF BIRDS IN N.E. LINCOLNSHIRE. — 368
seen during the autumn—in a hedge near the sea at Marsh-
chapel on Sept. 24th.
Ruticilla phenicurus. Redstart.—The first Redstart appeared
on Sept. 2nd, and from that date to Oct. 11th the species was
always present in the vicinity of the coast in small numbers,
except on Sept. 8th, when it was fairly numerous.
R. titys. - Black Redstart.—On Oct. 10th I shot a bird of this
species from the roof of a brick shed near the sea-bank at North
Cotes. It was a young bird in the uniform dark grey plumage.
I saw a few Common Redstarts on the same day. _
Erithacus rubecula. Redbreast.—The first Robins arrived on
the coast on Sept. 20th and 22nd, but the principal movement
occurred from Oct. 6th to 11th, when they were extremely abun-
dant. They remained, but in decreasing Bee up to the
18th, after which few were seen.
Sylvia cinerea. Whitethroat.—'The passage of this species
commenced on Aug. 30th, and continued until Sept. 11th, being
most pronounced about the latter date. A very few indi-
viduals remained to Sept. 20th, and I saw a single straggler on
Oct. 8th.
S. curruca. Lesser Whitethroat.—A few individuals of this
species appeared on the coast as early as Aug. 15th, and occa-
sional examples continued to come in up to Oct. 8th, but I never
saw more than one or two in a day.
S. atricapilla. Blackcap.—I shot a young male of this species
close to the sea-bank at North Cotes on Oct. 11th. The only
example seen during the autumn.
S. nisoria. Barred Warbler.—On Sept. 20th I shot a young
female of this Warbler at North Cotes. A light easterly wind
had been blowing for about twenty-four hours, with fine weather.
Many small birds were present on the coast, including numerous
Pied Flycatchers. This is the third Lincolnshire example.
Regulus cristatus. Goldcrest.— A good many Goldcrests
arrived on the coast on Oct. 6th, and a few were present until
the 11th, but the passage was much shorter, and the birds scarcer
than usual.
Phylloscopus rufus. Chiffchaff.—A single bird shot in a thorn-
bush close to the North Cotes sea-bank on Oct. 6th was the only
Chiffchaff seen during the autumn.
2FQ2
364 THE 4O00LOGIST.
P. trochilus. Willow-Wren.—Willow- Wrens were present on
the coast in small numbers from Aug. 25th to Sept. 19th, and
subsequently two immature birds appeared on Oct. 6th.
Acrocephalus sp. ?—On Sept. 20th I shot a Warbler in a hedge
at North Cotes which exactly resembled a Reed-Warbler, except
that the legs and feet were bright bluish green, inclining to
yellowish green at the joints and soles of the feet. The hedge
was a considerable distance from any reed-bed.
Accentor modularis. Hedge-Sparrow.—Hedge-Sparrows ap-
peared on the coast in great numbers on Sept. 19th, 20th, and
22nd. .
Parus major. Great Titmouse.—A single bird on the coast
at Tetney on Oct. 11th.
P. ceruleus. Blue Titmouse.—Much scarcer than usual. A
few arrived on Sept. 8th and 10th, a good many on 20th, and again
a few on Oct. 8th. :
Troglodytes parvulus. Wren.—A good many Wrens arrived
on the coast on Oct. 8th, and a few on 11th.
Motacilla lugubris. Pied Wagtail—Dozens of Wagtails in
the vicinity of the coast at Tetney on Sept. 12th, and again on
Oct. 8th.
M. raii. Yellow Wagtail.—Many in the vicinity of the coast
on Aug. 8th. On Sept. lst a few more appeared, and on 5th
scores of these Wagtails were present on the banks of the Tetney
drains and creeks, but by the 8th most of them had departed.
Anthus pratensis. Meadow-Pipit.— Very large numbers of
these birds were present on the coast on Aug. 25th and Sept. dth
and 12th, frequenting principally the sea-bank and “ fitties.”
A. obscurus. Rock-Pipit.—First arrived on Oct. 6th, and was
quite abundant on 11th.
Muscicapa atricapilla. Pied Flycatcher.—The heaviest migra-
tion of Pied Flycatchers that I have ever witnessed took place
during September, in two separate “ rushes,” which were at their
height on 10th and 22nd respectively. The first bird appeared
on Aug. 30th, and a few were always to be seen up to the 10th
and 11th of September, when they were very abundant. On the
12th, however, all had departed, and until the 22nd I only saw
occasional single birds, but on that day they were present in
quite unusual numbers. They remained a very short time, as
MIGRATION OF BIRDS IN N.E. LINCOLNSHIRE. 365
on 24th I only saw three, and no more appeared during the
autumn.
Hirundo rustica. Swallow.—On Sept. 2nd I noticed Swallows
coming in from the sea from N.E., many of them alighting on
the mud. Last Swallows were seen on Oct. 27th.
Ligurinus chloris. Greenfinch.—Large flocks of Greenfinches
arrived on the coast on Oct. 6th, frequenting the reed-beds,
hedges, and sea-bank.
Carduelis spinus. Siskin. — On Oct. 9th I shot a Siskin
among the bushes of sea-buckthorn at Donna Nook.
Passer domesticus. House-Sparrow.—Very large flocks of
Sparrows along the sea-bank at North Cotes and Marshchapel
on Oct. 24th.
P. montanus. Tree-Sparrow.—One or two Tree-Sparrows on
a hedge near Tetney Lock on Oct. 11th. On 24th I noticed a
few among the flocks of House-Sparrows above mentioned, and
on Nov. 15th a flock of about two hundred in a hedge near the
sea at North Cotes. ,
Fringilla celebs. Chaffinch.—Many in the vicinity of the
coast on Oct. 24th, and again on Noy. 13th;.as usual, all male
birds.
F.. montifringilla. Brambling.—I shot a female Brambling
at North Cotes on Sept. 19th. On Oct. 8th I saw another, also
afemale, and on 10th they were very numerous in all the hedges
and thorn-bushes near the sea, all, without exception, being hen
birds.
Linota flavirostris. Twite. The first small flock arrived at
North Cotes on Oct. 18th, and very large numbers followed on
the 24th.
Emberiza citrinella. Yellowhammer.—Hundreds of Yellow-
hammers appeared on the coast on Sept. 24th, and again on
Oct. 24th.
E. scheniclus. Reed-Bunting. — A few—all or almost all—
females on the coast on Oct. 6th, and a considerable number
on 16th.
Plectrophenaz nivalis. Snow-Bunting.—Very scarce through-
out the winter. I shot a fine old cock at North Cotes on the
unusually early date of Sept. 17th, and I saw a couple of young
birds on Nov. 10th.
366 4 THE “4OOLOGIST.
Sturnus vulgaris. Starling.—By the 8th of August, Starlings
were already very abundant near the coast and on the ‘“fitties,”’
and they continued to increase throughout the autumn, although
I never saw them actually on passage.
Corvus monedula. Jackdaw.—A few Jackdaws were present
among the large flocks of Rooks, passing west over Grey on
Oct. 23rd.
C. corone. Carrion rowan few Crows on the coast on
Oct. 6th were apparently coming in from the sea, and on the
24th I again noticed a good many on the shore and adjoining
fields. Later on in the winter Carrion-Crows swarmed in the
woods at roosting-time, and I frequently saw from one hundred
to nearly one thousand in a flock outside some favourite covert.
C. cornx. Grey Crow.—lI saw the first Grey Crow at Tetney
on Sept. 30th, and three more passing N.W. on Oct. 8th, but
the principal movement occurred on 24th, when these birds were
passing inland to N.W. all day.
C. frugilegus. Rook.— A few straggling parties of Rooks
passing inland to S.W. from midday till about 2 o’clock on
Oct. 8th. On Oct. 20th a few going W. On Oct. 23rd and 24th
large numbers also going W., on the latter day in continuous
flocks until about 2.30 o’clock. On Nov. 13th many on the sands
and fields near the sea; also flocks passing inland to S. till
2 o'clock.
Alauda arvensis. Sky-Lark.— The principal immigration
took place from Oct. 6th te 10th, and a further movement
occurred on 24th.
Otocorys alpestris. Shore-Lark.—On Oct. 8th I shot four
Shore-Larks on the sands at North Cotes. All proved to be
males.
Cypselus apus. Swift.—Swifts began to grow scarce about the
middle of August. I saw two or three at Tetney Lock on Aug.
25th, and a single bird on Sept. Ist.
Alcedo ispida. Kingfisher. —I saw the first Kingfisher on
Aug. 14th at Grainsby. On Sept. 2nd one on the coast-at Salt-
fleet. Several at North Cotes and Tetney on Sept. 20th and
Oct. 6th.
Asio accipitrinus. Short-eared Owl.—I flushed one of these
Owls from the bottom of a ditch near the sea. at North Cotes on
Nov. 22nd.
MIGRATION OF BIRDS IN N.E. LINCOLNSHIRE. 367
Circus cyaneus. Hen-Harrier.—On Oct. 10th I saw two large
Hawks, probably of this species, come in from the sea and pass
away to S.
Halaétus albicilla. White-tailed Eagle. — An immature ex-
ample of this species, which I saw at the shop of Mr. H. Kew, of
Louth, was shot by a farmer at North Somercotes on Oct. 10th.
Accipiter nisus. Sparrow-Hawk.— A good many Sparrow-
Hawks appeared in the vicinity of the coast on Nov. 10th and
15th.
Pernis apivorus. Honey-Buzzard.—A Honey-Buzzard, which
I saw at Mr. Kew’s shop, was shot by a coastguard at Donna
Nook on Sept. 29th.
Falco esalon. Merlin.—I saw a Merlin perched on an old
hamper on the sands at North Cotes on Noy. 22nd.
_ F. tinnunculus. Kestrel.— Several Kestrels in the coast
marshes on Nov. ]5th, but this species has been scarcer than
usual throughout the autumn.
Botaurus stellaris. Bittern.—A Bittern was shot at Tetney
by one of the wildfowlers on Jan. 15th, 1903. I also heard of
the occurrence of several other specimens in different parts of
the county about this time.
Anser segetum. Bean-Goose.—A Bean-Goose was shot by a
North Cotes wildfowler on Dec. 27th. It was alone when shot,
and weighed 53 |b.
A. brachyrhynchus. Pink-footed Goose.— This was a great
Wild Goose year. I saw the first flock—eighteen in number—on
Sept. 13th, flying low along North Cotes sands. On Oct..4th a
flock of nearly two hundred Geese passed over Thoresby, and
many other flocks were seen during the month. In November
and December they were scarce, and I only saw one small flock
on 12th of the latter month; but in January and February, 1903,
they were very abundant, and flocks often numbering several
hundreds were frequently seen.
Tadorna cornuta. Sheld-Duck.— A flock of about twenty
Sheld-Ducks seen at North Cotes were probably home-bred birds,
but the species was numerous on the Humber throughout the
winter.
Anas boscas. Mallard.—An immense immigration of Ducks
into the Humber took place on Nov. 30th and Dee. Ist, and large
368 : THE ZOOLOGIST.
numbers were killed by fowlers on the coast. During January,
1903, very large flocks of Ducks came inland, frequenting the
great fields on the wolds. Indeed, I have never seen so many
in the district before.
Spatula clypeata. Shoveler.—I saw a few Shovelers at Tet-
ney at the end of August, and the keepers say that at least one
pair bred there.
Nettion crecca. 'Teal.—A few at Tetney on Aug. 8th, and a
good many on 15th.
Mareca penelope. Wigeon.—First seen at Grainthorpe Haven
on Sept. 8th. Some large flocks passed over Tetney Lock, going
S.W., on Jan. 7th, 1908.
Gidemia nigra. Scoter.—Much scarcer than usual. I noticed
some small flocks on the sea off Donna Nook on Sept. 17th.
Columba palumbus. Wood-Pigeon.—Several flocks going W.
over Grainsby on Noy. 5th. From Dec. 17th to Jan. Ist large
flocks of Pigeons were passing W.. over Grainsby daily, some-
times from morning to night, and this great immigration was also
noticed by the North Cotes wildfowlers. Most of these Pigeons
passed inland, few remaining in the marsh district.
Turtur communis. ‘Turtle-Dove.— Turtle-Doves were very
numerous until the latter part of August, but nearly all had left
by Sept. lst, and the last were seen on 20th.
Rallus aquaticus. Water-Rail.—First seen on the coast on
Noy. 10th.
Ottis tarda. Great Bustard.—On Dec. 8th I saw, at the shop
of Mr. I. Jeffreys, at Grainsby, a freshly-killed Bustard, which
had been sent in from Weelsby. This bird was a female, but I
could obtain no further information about it. On 29th a second
Great Bustard—also a female—was shot by a wildfowler on
Tetney cow-marsh. It measured 381 in. in length, and weighed
7% |b.
Charadrius pluvialis. Golden Plover.—A few appeared at
North Cotes on Oct. 10th, and a large flock on Nov. 10th, but
the species was somewhat scarce throughout the winter.
Squatarola helvetica. Grey Plover.—Very scarce. I did not
see one until Sept. 8th, but a few appeared on Oct. 9th.
Vanellus vulgaris. Peewit.—A very heavy immigration took
place during October, the principal movements being on 9th and
MIGRATION OF BIRDS IN N.H. LINCOLNSHIRE. 369
10th, and again from 20th to 24th, the direction of flight being
S.E. to N.W. A further passage took place on Nov. 12th and
13th, the direction of flight being E. to W.
Hematopus ostralegus. Sea-Pie.—Several flocks appeared on
Grainthorpe sands on Sept. 2nd.
Scolopax rusticula. _Woodcock.— A very poor Woodcock
season. The first bird was seen at Grainsby on Oct. 2nd. On
29th I shot one on the sea-bank, and the principal flight probably
took place about this date.
Gallinago celestis. Snipe. — Extremely scarce throughout
the whole season. I found a good many in the North Cotes
drains on Dec. 11th.
G. gallinula. Jack-Snipe.—The first arrival took place on
Oct. 6th, when I shot two couple near the coast at Tetney.
Tringa alpina. Dunlin.— A few small flocks appeared on
North Cotes sands on Aug. 8th.
T. minuta. Little Stint.—I saw several small parties of Little
Stints on Sept. 1]th, and from that date until Oct. 6th a few of
these small Waders were always present, frequenting fresh-water
creeks near the coast.
T. subarquata. Curlew-Sandpiper.—On Sept. 2nd I shot an
adult still retaining a good deal of the summer plumage from a
small flock near Grainthorpe Haven. On Oct. 9th I saw a single
bird on the side of Saltfleet Haven.
T’. canutus. Knot.—On Sept. 2nd I noticed a few small
flocks on North Cotes sands, but the first really large arrival
took place on Nov. 13th, when some immense flocks appeared.
Calidris arenaria. Sanderling.—Very scarce; a few on the
sands between Saltfleet and Grainthorpe on Sept. 2nd, and a
good many at North Cotes on the 138th.
Machetes pugnax. Ruft.—I saw the first Ruff on Aug. 8th,
and from that date throughout August and September I saw
single birds or small parties not unfrequently. Lastly, a single
Reeve at Tetney on Oct. 25th.
Totanus hypoleucus. Common Sandpiper.— A couple on
Tetney Haven on Aug. 8th. Very abundant on 25th, and last
seen on Sept. 20th.
T. ochropus. Green Sandpiper.—Very numerous throughout
August, frequenting fresh-water creeks and drains near the coast,
and many of the brooks inland.
BYiUE ne THE ZOOLOGIST.
T. calidris. Redshank.—Redshanks were abundant on Tet-
ney fitties on Aug. Sth, but no doubt many of these were local
birds. A considerable increase, however, took place on Sept. 8th.
T. fuscus. Spotted Redshank.—I saw a couple of these birds
on Tetney Haven on Aug. 25th.
T. canescens. Greenshank.—Greenshanks were late in their
appearance. I heard the calls of some passing over Grainsby at
a great height on the afternoon of Aug. 26th, but could not see
the birds. I saw one on the coast on 30th.
Limosa lapponica. Bar-tailed Godwit.—Scarce; I saw the
first on Sept. 3rd, a few on 8th, and a good many on 17th.
Numenius arquata. Curlew. — Two or three Curlews on the
coast on Aug. 8th. They were fairly numerous throughout the
winter.
N. pheopus. Whimbrel.—Very scarce; I saw the first on
Aug. 8th.
Sterna fluviatiis. Common Tern.—A few of these Terns off
Donna Nook on Sept. 2nd, amongst the much larger flocks of the
next species. On Sept. 17th a great number of Terns appeared
on the coast, and, though the majority were Arctic Terns, many
belonged to this species.
S. macrura. Arctic Tern.— As usual, Arctic Terns were
abundant during the autumn, particularly on Sept. 2nd and 17th.
Stercorarius pomatorhinus. Pomatorhine Skua. — Several of
these Skuas, with a good many of the commoner S. crepidatus,
flying about over the “‘ fitties” and adjacent land at Tetney and
North Cotes on Sept. 12th—a stormy day, with heavy squalls
from the north. I also saw a single bird off Donna Nook on
Sept. 17th.
S. crepidatus. Arctic Skua.—A single young bird at Donna
Nook on Sept.2nd. A considerable number at Tetney and North
Cotes on Sept. 12th, and both old and young birds were quite
numerous all along-the coast on 17th.
Podicipes cristatus. Great Crested-Grebe.—I saw one of
these Grebes at Donna Nook on ee 2nd. It was diving close
in to the shore.
Csi)
FIELD NOTES (BEING A NATURALIST’S DIARY OF
OBSERVATION AND REFLECTION).
By Epmunp SELouvs.
1899.
(Concluded from p. 292.)
December 13th.—This morning, standing by a small willow-
tree, my attention is attracted by a Hooded Crow, which, whiist
flying, keeps uttering a series of very harsh, hoarse cries—
“‘are-rr, are-rr, are-rr’’—the intonation is much rougher and
more unpleasant than that of Rooks. He does not fly right on,
and so away, but keeps in approximately the same place, hover-
ing about, and still continuing his clamour. I fancy I hear an
answer to it from another Hooded Crow in the distance, and then,
all at once, a number of Rooks fly up and join him—two small
bands, I think, coming from opposite directions, and amalgamat-
ing, as they meet round him. I am not quite sure of this—they
are there so all at once—but, anyhow, there must be from twenty
to thirty Rooks who have come as at a recognized signal; and,
having come, they all hover about in the air, over a space corre-
sponding with a fair-sized meadow, the Crow making one of them,
and still, at intervals, continuing to cry, the Rooks talking much
less. Then, in some few minutes, all are gone, dispersed, again,
over the country, nor do any go down where I can see them.
What—if anything—is the meaning of this rendezvous? All I
can imagine is that when the Rooks heard the repeated cries of
the Hooded Crow, they imagined he had found something eatable,
and therefore flew up to share init. Seeing nothing, they hovered
about, for a time, over a considerable space, on the look-out, and
then gave it up and flew off. I can form no idea, however, of
what it was that had excited the Crow, for excited he certainly
seemed—it was a sudden burst. of “‘are-ing.” He did not go
down anywhere, so that it can have had nothing to do with a
372 THE ZOOLOGIST.
‘find,’ and I feel sure, from the way he came up, and the
place and distance at which he began to cry, that he had not
seen me.
Quite a number of Moorhens are swimming in the little
stream this afternoon, or feeding on the banks of it. One of
the latteris very pugnacious. Heruns at another from some dis-
tance with his head down and held straight in front of him, the
beak almost touching the ground—like a bull—putting this other
to flight—a swift, determined run made with the greatest resolu-
tion. Afterwards he swims across the stream into the reeds.
Instantly there is a scuffle there; and then, pursued by him,
another bird swims out, and almost immediately takes flight to
the opposite bank. There is peace, now, for a time, but after-
wards this same Moorhen, being again on the bank, makes his
swift bull-like run first at one and then at another bird, driving
them both away, one uttering a cry of distress. Again, a bird
has been feeding, and is now walking off towards the stream. All
at once, and ex nthilo, another one rushes swiftly after him from
a considerable way off. The pursued bird takes to his wings, when
the other does so too, keeping just at his tail, pursuing him very
hotly and determinedly. It is always the same bellicose bird, I
think, but cannot be quite sure. Moorhens are pugnacious,
therefore, even in winter. ‘Timid and wary they are, too, like
other birds, the last perhaps in a higher degree, and, as with
other birds, it is difficult when one sees them one thing, to think
of them as the other. Whatever they are, they seem, whilst they
are it, to be the genius of. ‘They are little Perditas—but I can-
not quite recall the passage. ‘lwo come now along the bank of
the little streamlet, on the opposite side of which I am lying—
some half-dozen paces off. Though I seem to be well concealed,
as they get almost opposite to me they become suspicious. One
retreats, not running, but with a quick step, his neck craned
forward and held high, his feathers pressed against his body, so
that his thinness and peculiar keel-like shape appears. He looks,
now, much smaller as well as lankier than just before, his legs
set more behind—prepared to run and fly at any moment. Was
he ever a bold bird, ruffling and swelling out, running like a bull
at another? I cannot believe it.
The other Moorhen remains for a few seconds at his ease, but
FIELD NOTES. 373
then becomes suspicious too, and retires in the same way. Beyond
these two, and further inland, another one, after browsing a little,
sits on the snow-decked grass, seeming to nestle there and make
himself warm and comfortable. Rising then, he comes forward
with a very peculiar gait—a sort of mincing half trot—lifting the
feet up very high, and with great ‘‘springiness.” This curious
motion, which seems to imitate that of a high-actioned horse, I
have not observed before—at least, I do not remember it—in our
own Moorhen; but I think I have remarked it, even in a more
developed degree, in one of the Gallinules in the Zoological
Society’s Gardens. But this may be a mere dream (the Gardens
is a nightmare), one of those odd sensations of having seen a
thing before, as though in another world. But whatever I may
have seen once, I certainly see this Moorhen now, and so
strangely does he look, that I think, at first, he must have hurt
one or both of his feet. Now he sits down again, then rises and
advances in the same way, till he enters the water just opposite
me. Here he becomes suspicious, and swims fast away, with his
tail flirted vigorously at each paddle. ‘Then, again landing, he
runs at a great pace, looking about half his former size—proving,
if proof were needed, that his feet and legs are perfectly right.
Whilst watching the Moorhens, a Robin flies on to some
water-weeds that lie upon the stream, and thence to the trunk
of an alder-tree, where, for a second or two, he clings. It is
easy to see how the tree-creeping habit may have originated.
Most small, perching birds do occasionally—and some of them
by no means clumsily—what the Tree-Creeper does always, and
from tree-creeping—though not from the Tree-Creeper—the
Woodpeckers have probably come into being.
A Dabchick comes up on the water now, but dives down again,
as it were, before he comes up, a splash of water being all that I
can see—the bird invisible. And now two of these little birds
are sporting and ducking about in the water together, uttering
from time to time a shrill, quavering note that sounds like—or
something like—‘‘ queek, queek, queek, queek—queek, queek,
queek, queek.” ‘‘‘Queek,’ pas ‘whit,’ Monsieur Fleurant.
‘Whit’! Ah, Monsieur Fleurant, c’est se moquer. Mettez,
mettez ‘ queek,’ s'il vous plait.” They come along, these little
queekers, till they are only about three—at last, perhaps, only
374 THE ZOOLOGIST.
about two—paces from where I am, and “queek” from that dis-
tance. I keep hearing the little, tittering note, too, which I have
attributed to them before. I have no doubt it is they, but they
seem always to utter it when invisible amongst the reeds.
December 14th.—(A fine bright day, but very cold. A hard
frost.) At creek, by the fallen tree, in the morning. ‘“ The bride
has paced into the hall,’”” and a Moorhen along the bank—easy,
elastic steps, head nodding and tail flirting in unison—nestles, .
then, on the grass, rises again, and steps along, as before—stands
on one leg a little—puts it down—steps—draws it up again—
glances about—inclined to preen feathers, but-does not—nestles
—a shoulder-glance—half “spies a danger’’—rises and tiptoes
out of sight. What a-little bundle of caprices and apprehen-
sions! But they all become her. ‘‘ All her acts are queens.” |
Now comes a “chack, chack” with great suddenness and
energy, and then “ chee-ee, chiroo,” both very sharp and high.
Then one Moorhen chases another, flying and scudding through
the water to land, having gained which the chased bird runs
fiercely at a third that was feeding there, and pursues him all
about. It is like that scene in ‘The Rivals’ where Sir Antony
bullies his son, the son the servant, and so on. ‘‘ Tis still the
sport’’ in natural history, to see poor humanity aped. Really it
is very humorous, the study—‘‘ teems with quiet fun,” as Gilbert
says.
Again a Moorhen runs violently at an intruder—as he seems
to consider him—on his territory, and chases him away. Another
one nestles down amidst the snow and frost, fluttering his wings
above his back, as a cabman might slap his arms across his chest
on a frosty morning. For afew seconds there is a full, vibratory,
vigorous flutter of both—equally and together—and then each is
flapped separately, twice or thrice, before being folded. There
are several more chases, and one bird keeps driving others all
about, making sometimes quite a “‘ sauve qui peut.” He starts,
often, from a good distance off, and runs like a bull, as yesterday.
Now, too, through the glasses, I can plainly see a Moorhen
pecking at, snipping, holding in his bill, and then swallowing, the
small, light, frosted blades of grass—‘“‘in the morning, in the
morning, when the earth is fresh and dewy.” One is sitting on
a tuft of bent and crumpled flags, half a foot above the water,
FIELD NOTES. 375
‘and pecks at weeds. Half a dozen or so are browsing over the
meadow. Now the-one upon the crumpled reeds nestles down
upon them, softly and mousily.
Though the flirtation of the tail is very habitual with Moor-
hens, though nine times out of ten, when you see them either on
land or water, they are flirting it, still they do not always do so
—‘Nonnunquam dormitat bonus Homerus.” ‘‘Non semper
tendit arcum Apollo.’”’. One that I am watching is keeping his
quite still, and one may see, sometimes, many together, browsing
in this reposeful way. It can be a quiet, well-behaved tail enough,
but let any kind of emotion, almost, possess the owner, and,
heavens, how it flirts !
There is a Moorhen, now, preening and cleaning itself on the
margin of the stream. It fans out the primary quills of: each
wing, whilst still keeping them pressed close to the sides, so that
the wings make a little house for the tail, inside which it is both
wagegled and flirted, and so rubbed and polished by the quills.
At the same time the whole body of the bird is wriggled, and the
skin moves loosely upon it. The wings, too, now and again,
brush down each side of the. body alternately, whilst the beak
keeps preening and making much of the feathers of the throat
andyneck.s |) + ’
There is a Snipe feeding with the Moorhens—that is to say,
one or other of them is often browsing near him. He thrusts
his long bill down amidst the muddy roots of grass-tufts in the
shallow water, then works it rapidly up and: down, withdraws it,
seems to be enjoying something, thrusts it in again, and so on.
He walks slowly and sedately through the water, then, on the
grass, increases his pace, looking longer, lankier, and narrower
than before. Now there are two feeding vigorously, always in
the same way, the bill thrust down into the tufty, “ patchily-in-
shallow-water-standing grass,’ withdrawn, sometimes immedi-
ately, sometimes after a few workings about with it, making so
many little nid-noddings of the head. The mandibles seem always
working against each other—opened slightly and-again closed—
just like the Starlings; and @ propos a Starling flies down now
and feeds side by side with these two Snipes, and in much the
same way, except that his head does not work up and down quite
so constantly and methodically. They—the two Snipes—seem
376 THE 4ZOOLOGIST.
getting something all the while, and sometimes the whole body
seems to quiver with the satisfaction of it. It is a searching,
probing, finding, and then gobbling down process. One of them
brings up something out of the mud—something big, held at the
end of the beak. At first I think it is a frog; but, no, it seems
to be a lump of mud and grass-roots about the size of one—a
grown one. He bobs his head up and down with it—just as he
has been doing all the time—raising it from the ground and
bringing it down upon it again, as if to divide and search it.
Hach time it descends it is lost to me in the grass, and, after two
or three bobs, the bill comes up without it. The superiority, as
an implement, of a Snipe’s bill to that of another bird—a Star-
ling’s, for instance—seems to me one of degree merely, not of
kind. It is used in just the same way.
This reminds me of quite another way in which some people
suppose it to be used, for I was asked by a countryman about
here—one of the old yeoman class, so unhappily passing away—
whether the Snipe, when it flew up, really raised itself on its
beak, using this—so I understood him to mean—as a sort of
jumping-pole to swing up from. I said I should not have
thought that it ever did so, but that all I could be sure of was
that sometimes it didn’t—so he remained doubtful.
Besides the Starling there was a Chaffinch, at one time feed-
ing with these two Snipes. What an incongruous trio! but I
am often struck with the way in which quite different kinds of
birds come together. The Chaffinch both hops and walks, but
his hop is not springy, and, it seems, rather, a transition between
the two modes of progression.
Squirrels are about, again, in the pine plantations this after-
noon. It is fine and bright, certainly, but a hard frost and very
cold. A Blackbird is hopping and picking about amongst the
dead leaves. He pecks them up and throws them, with leaves
and sticks, to one side or the other, shovels them, too—using
both head and beak as the shovel—and gives an occasional
scratch as well. Whilst thus clearing a space, he crouches right
down on his breast, amongst the leaves, in a brooding attitude.
Several Blackbirds are doing this now, but, having watched a
cock one from quite near, and marked the exact spot, I wait till
he has flown off, and then walk straight to it. The more or less
FIELD NOTES. B17
cleared space is circular, and almost as large as a saucer, with a
new-laid dropping in it to leave no room for doubt. Carefully
examining it, I find two little fresh green vegetable substances,
some rabbit-dung—but only one pellet looks as if it had had a
slight peck—a weevil about the size of a small fly, and another
minute coleopterous insect. The weevil is at first either torpid
or feigning death—probably the latter, as many weevils do (or
appear to do) this—but he soon becomes active. This gives a
hint as to the food of Blackbirds on cold, frosty days in mid-
winter—by inference of other birds too, but not many are such
burrowers.
** Chi, chi, chi, chi, chi, chi,” as the Blue Tit says—for that
is one of his notes. I see him now clinging to the trunk of a
fir-tree, which is the first time I have since my last entry of it in
October. He does not, however, either ascend or descend the
trunk, as on that occasion, but, after clinging a moment, flies
on toa bough. Others are hanging on the under sides of the
fir-cones, pecking at them and at the fir-needles, often fluttering,
on a little whirr of wings, just above a bunch of these, before dis-
appearing amongst them. Long-tailed Tits, too, are hopping
about in the top twigs of some tall slender oaks—the oaks in
this fir-plantation are, like the firs, tall and slender—hanging
head downwards from the twigs. A Robin flies to a large Scotch
fir, and clings to the trunk; remains there a few seconds, then
flies down to the ground near its base, from there fits up again
and clings some two or three feet from the ground; then an
encore, as if he had known what I wanted, and so flies off.
Hooded Crows seem to dig a little in the ground for food, as
do Rooks, though nothing like to the same extent. They both
walk and hop—as do Rooks—but they hop more than Rooks
do. Several I am watching now, have, I am sure, hopped, where
Rooks would have walked. These Crows are funny birds. When
one flies away from another, this latter, two or three times, lowers
his head to the ground, and up again, each time that he lowers
it uttering a low, deep note, like “‘croo, croo.’”’ When rejoined
by his companion, he again makes his two or three bows, but I
now hear no note, so that it must either have been absent or
lower. Now when this bird, after being again left alone, rose
and flew to some trees, uttering his “ crar, crar,” a number of
Zool, 4th ser. vol. VII., October, 1908. 26
378 THE ZOOLOGIST.
Rooks rose, too, from all about, and, after circling and flapping ~
around a little, flew to a plantation, where, shortly, the Crow
flew also. It was not quite the same thing as yesterday. there-
fore, since the Crow was not immediately joined in the air, when
he cried out. Still it much resembled this, and the one case
gives point to the other. The Rooks all rose as at a signal, and
flew off to somewhere near to where the Crow had flown, and
there, shortly, he went too. ‘The whole gave the idea of some
curious, oblique sort of relation between the two species, but
what it was, or what it is, [know not. Yesterday I thought that
the Rooks flew towards the Crow’s cries, thinking he had found
something. But now, since this was not the case here, and the
two incidents are so much alike, “‘ I do let loose mine opinion,
hold it no longer.”
The Golden-crested Wren’s note is a little needley one, lee
the Blue Tit’s “‘ zee, zee, zee, zee, zee,’ only thinner, a still
slenderer needle of sound.
December 15th.—A dark, misty day—frosty withal, but not
‘‘kindly ’—darkest and mistiest and frostiest, I think, in this
clump of alders, growing amidst the muddy water of a muddy
swamp. It ought not to be a frost to-day—it does not look like
one—but it is. Frosty powder is on the litter of dropped twig
and crumpled leaf that lies dead on the dead, dank earth: frost
beads the upper stalks and sorrowfully drooping heads of the
dilapidated reeds: beads, too, the thin threads of gossamer that,
even now, loop them about—shaking still-ly with them in the still,
sad air—whilst crumbs of it lie loose in the grooved channel of
each long, narrow leaf, now brown and bare and brittle. It is
all frost, and the black water in which everything is growing oozes
under thin ribs of frosted ice. But it is a frost that saddens, not
that braces and exhilarates. It seems born out of the mists that
hang over all—a dead, dank sodden world, till a little spot of
crimson life glows through the alders, and the Robin has perched
onabough. It was death, coldness, darkness before—now it is
life, warmth, and colour.
December 16th.—It is very cold at 7 a.m.; trees and every-
thing covered with white hoar-frost. Notwithstanding this there
are numerous Squirrels about in the plantation, and actively
feeding. ‘They feed on the fir-cones, which should be a banquet
FIELD NOTES. 379
for them throughout the winter, as I said before. There is the
saw-note of the Great Tit amongst the pines, now, as in the
spring, but not quite so loud, and it does not last so long. Also
the Coal-Tit’s spring note, which is very much the same.
I counted twenty-three Moorhens to-day, browsing together,
over the meadow by the little stream. One of them rushed
violently from a considerable distance, at a group of three, put-
ting them all to flight. A swift, determined bull-headed rush, as
before described—the head held down and forward, in a straight
line with the body.
December 17th.—At the creek this morning. A pair of Dab-
chicks play about for a little, in each other’s company. Their
note, at first, is a quiet “‘chu-chu-chu-chu-chu-chu.” Then side
by side, and with their heads close together, they burst suddenly
forth with ‘“‘ cheelee, leelee, leelee, leelee, leelee, leelee.”’ It is
as if they said, “Shall we? Well then—now then,” and started.
This is the Dabchick’s contentment note. You know what it
means directly. It expresses satisfaction with what has already
been accomplished, present complacency, and a robust determina-
tion to continue to walk—or swim—in the plain path of duty and
pleasure. What a pretty little scene! And how grand to be
watching it from a few yards off with not a Dabchick the wiser!
You little shy, cool-dipping, reed-haunting things—so dapper
and circumspect! Whatthen! Have I ‘‘torn out the heart of
your mystery” ? No doubt about what you say for the future.
I have it here. Yes, and I know what it means, and how you
say it.
December 18th.—At the creek, to-day, there is the most extra-
ordinary note, on the bank just opposite, either in some alder
trees or amongst the grass at their base. I now see a Snipe on
the ground, near the alders, and to him I must. attribute this
strange sound. There are two feeding—and another I see in the
shallow water, just off the bank. One of the two—but an alder now
hides them—utters a hoarse, grating, lengthened cry, like “‘chac-
cha-a-a-a-a-a” (a as in ‘‘air’’), and this is more than twelve
times repeated. The other one, whilst in full view, and quite
near, suddenly disappears in a mysterious way. He does not
seem to move, but is all at once gone, and I search for him in
vain, with the glasses. Now, however, I see him—just where he
262
380 THE ZOOLOGIST.
was, but I had mistaken him for a piece of horse-dung. I beg
his pardon. I see this bird feeding, quite plainly, both in the
meadow, a little way from the stream, and just off the bank,
wading in the water. He searches the ground with his long
bill, as before described, and keeps working the two mandibles
together. Asa rule they do not open much, which suggests that
he gets small things only—but once they do, rather more, and I
see the cleft between them all the way up. No doubt but the
Snipe’s bill is an instrument of high efficiency. What strikes
me, however, is that the Starling seems to do just as well
with his.
Now comes another most remarkable sound, uttered by a
Snipe, but not by this one. It is hoarse and cat-like, and is
repeated twenty-six times (!) close together, at the very least—
then continues, again, after a little pause. I could never have
imagined—at least could never have been prepared for—such a
sound as this. Unfortunately, I could not actually see the
bird uttering it, as he had just walked behind one of the clumps
of alders. These bird-cries are most remarkable. An instru-
ment that would accurately reproduce those of the Moorhen,
Snipe, and Dabchick would make a sensation in any drawing-
room, and a fortune on the Aquarium stage.
A Moorhen is now taking a bath—not afloat like a Duck,
but standing just off the bank, where the water is not above
a few inches deep. She ducks her head, then, jerking it up,
lets the water run down her neck, and over her back, flirting it
about with her wings and tail. At the end of:the bath she
gives both her wings a violent shake above her back, lasting for
some seconds, and then proceeds to preen herself carefully—a
pretty toilette scene, as pretty as ‘“‘ Gipsy toilette,” that very
pretty picture. A characteristic action and attitude is the one
wing extended and pointed backwards towards the ground, the
corresponding leg being similarly extended and raised against it,
suggesting that the claws are passed down the primary quills,
as being out of comfortable reach of the beak, but whether
this is really the case I am not quite sure. This bird walked
from some way off, in the meadow, straight to the bank, evi-
dently with the purpose of taking a bath in her mind, and now,
having carried it out, she walks back, and. continues to browse.
FIELD NOTES. 381
Three more Moorhens come, at intervals after this, to the bank,
and bathe in the same way, just off it, standing in a few inches
of water. Not one of them has bathed right in the water, like a
Duck, and this, I think, if it is habitual, is an interesting trait,
for surely it looks back to a time when the bird was not so
aquatic as it is now—when it was more a wader and less a
swimmer. It would then have feared to bathe out of its depth,
and, though it has no need to fear it now, yet the old habit
remains. Probably the last things to change in a gradual
change of life would be those which were least affected by such
achange. Bathing has nothing to do with the getting of food,
or with sexual activities—with hunger or with love—and as
long as the water-bird did not get a long way from the land, it
might be almost as conveniently performed on the one element
as the other. Not quite, however, and therefore, as the course
of life became more and more aquatic, this and almost every
other habit would, at last, become modified. Now the Coot very
closely resembles the Moorhen, but it is fin-footed, it dives
better and far more habitually, and it bathes afloat on the water.
In all this we can see a longer course of weaning from terrestrial
life than the latter bird has undergone.
I counted to-day twenty-five Moorhens—as a minimum—
browsing together—sometimes close together—over the meadow-
land. There were frequent panics, when either all or consider-
able numbers of them would fly to the water, beginning to come
again, sometimes, almost as soon as they had got there. It was
very interesting to see how some birds, after looking all about,
prepared, at any moment, to follow their companions, would yet
resist this impulse to flight, concluding, evidently, that there was
no real ground of alarm. Here we have individuality and character
showing themselves more in some birds than in others. Once the
whole flock were put up by a Heron, who, however, only came
sailing leisurely by, and went down not far off; and again by
some other bird that I missed, and whose hoarse cry in the air
I did not recognize.
Squirrels about in the pine-plantations to-day. ‘‘ Quobba-
wobba-wobba-wobba” is the class of remark they indulge in.
It is much milder to-day, certainly, but, having seen them run-
ning over snow, in the hardest weather, I doubt if this has much
to do with it. They were about on the 12th, for instance.
382 THE ZOOLOGIST.
THE AMSTERDAM AQUARIUM.
By GraHAmM RensHaw, M.B.
(Prate YI.)
Frew of the zoological collections of the Continent are so
interesting as the valuable series of living creatures exhibited
in the Gardens of the Society ‘‘Natura Artis Magistra” at
Amsterdam. Founded in 1837, the grounds have been repeat-
edly extended, until at last the final addition granted by the
Municipal Council in 1877 completed the great enterprise.
The land was ceded to the Society on condition that it should
be used as the site of an aquarium, in which higher zoological
teaching should be given partly at the expense of the Society.
The splendid building which was duly erected will bear com-
parison with any rival institution. It was opened on December
2nd, 1882. An attempt is made in this paper to describe its
contents as they appeared at the time of my visit, although
to be fully appreciated this fine aquarium requires personal
inspection.
On ascending the broad marble staircase the visitor enters a
spacious hall, which, instead of being decorated with paintings,
has its walls pierced by the plate-glass windows which form
the fronts of the’ various tanks. On one side are ranged the
marine exhibits, while the other is devoted to the fresh-water
series.
Commencing with the salt-water fish, the first tank was very
fully stocked with Blennies (Zoarces viviparus), quaint fish
somewhat resembling the Loach of British streams. These odd
creatures, of all sizes and ages, lay on the sand of their tank
in palpitating crowds, or crept over the rocks in a most uncanny
fashion, their long compressed bodies recalling the tails of Efts
or Salamanders. ‘The odd expressionless faces of these Blennies
were very comical as they stolidly stared unwinkingly through
the glass.
THE AMSTERDAM AQUARIUM. 383
The second tank contained huge Codfish (Gadus morrhua),
which swam slowly to and fro; great Weevers (TZ’rachinus draco)
—one of the few really poisonous fishes known—lay in the sand,
their striped bodies half buried in the yellow carpeting of the
tank; and Grey Gurnard (Trigla gurnardus), whose marbled
sides were beautifully spotted with silver, stalked about on their
elongated fin-rays as on so many spidery legs.
The third tank was filled with glittering Herring (Clupea
harengus) ; while a huge shoal of Smelts (Osmerus eperlanus)
seemed to make the tank itself quiver as their teeming numbers
rippled to and fro, like a piece of streaming seaweed entangled
in a strong current. On the sand beneath, in contrast to
so much beauty, there scuttled a number of fussy King-Crabs
(Limulus polyphemus), their mailed bodies recalling those of
Armadillos, whilst their long tails resembled the handles of
frying-pans. One unfortunate Crab lay sprawling helplessly
on its back, like a turned Turtle, whilst its gill-leaflets pulsated
in rhythmical sequence, as one might turn over the pages of
a book.
In the fifth tank were some large Codfish, and also some
Sapphirine Gurnard (Trigla hirundo). In spite of their odd
shape these Gurnard are very beautiful fish.. Their carmine
bodies and enormous blue gill-fins besprinkled with spots remind
the entomologist of some huge grasshopper or locust, rather than
ef any denizen of the sea; moreover, the edges of the gill-fins
are dazzling with a superb iridescence, which recalls the sheeny
hues of a morpho butterfly.
Further on in this interesting series was a small Shark
(Mustelus vulgaris)—the ‘‘ Smooth Hound” of British fishermen.
The curious gill-slits pulsate with every respiration of the fish,
like ventilators regulated by a hidden mechanism—as indeed they
really are. A number of Dogfish (Scylliwm canicula) also swam
to and fro, diligently inspecting everything with an intelligent
scrutiny very different from the dull apathetic gaze of Cod and
Mullet, Haddock and Ling.
The most interesting of all the marine tanks, however, was
that which contained the Sea-Horses (Hippocampus antiquorum).
There were over forty of these curious little creatures on exhibi-
tion. Purplish black, like a dried raisin, or dressed in a livery of
384 THE ZOOLOGIST.
greyish brown, the Sea-Horses swam slowly about, propelled by
the quivering action of the dorsal fin. Some lay anchored on the
bottom, their tails curled round the seaweed, and the intelligent
little horse-heads swaying this way and that in a charming man- -
ner (cf. Plate VI.). These weird-looking fish, with their truncated
snouts and crested heads, bore a remarkable resemblance to the
knight or rook in a set of chessmen, whilst their odd appearance
was heightened by their deeply sculptured bodies, and their tails
prehensile, like that of a Chameleon. Some of the Sea-Horses
wandered over the seaweeds like cattle in a meadow; others
rose or sank quietly, their buoyant bodies moving gently in the
still water. The Dutch keeper informed me that these fish had
come from Bordeaux, and did not seem to think that they would
do well in the cold weather.
The remaining marine tanks contained Sea-anemones—a
subaqueous flower garden ; Sea-Scorpions (Cottus scorpius), with
immense heads armed with spines; also more King-Crabs and
Herring.
The large and well-lighted room at the end of the aquarium
hall was mainly devoted to a living collection of tropical fish,
and I went systematically round all the tanks, examining the
contents of each. Here were to be seen some Japanese Gold-
fish (Carassius auratus var. japonicus), each of which was adorned
with three tails. Here also the gorgeous Paradise Fish (Poly-
acanthus viridiauratus) from China, richly striped with ultra-
marine-blue and bice-green. ‘These Paradise Fish had bred in
the aquarium, and were the largest I have ever seen, The North
American Chetodon (Mesogonistius chetodon) and the Striped
Sunfish (Apomotis obesus) were exhibited close by, as were also
examples of the armour-clad Callichthys (Callichthys asper) from
Surinam, whose gaping mouths were fringed with long barbules,
and whose roughened bodies were enmailed with greenish scales.
The Chameleon Fish (Heros sp.)—dull coloured enough at the
time of my visit—was also on view. There was also an example
of the Indian Perch (Anabas scandens), which is alleged to climb
trees. The gem of the tropical collection, however, was the
lovely Speckled Callichthys (Callichthys punctatus), a fish of ex-
quisitely beautiful shape, and golden green in colour, mottled
with greenish black. These more delicate species were all
THE AMSTERDAM AQUARIUM. 385
carefully kept warm, the heat of the water being maintained at
between 70° and 80° F.
Besides the fish, the end hall contained a considerable number
of amphibians—Frogs and Newts. Here one saw the Red-bellied
Newt (Molge pyrrhogastra) of Central Europe, whose carmine
abdomen contrasted brilliantly with the dull black upper parts.
There were also several Olms (Proteus anguineus)—that strange
blind Eft from the caverns of Carniola, whose pinkish-white
body betokens that it lives in perpetual darkness. The Amster-
dam Olms had been exposed to the light, and were gradually
becoming greyish. The collection also included eight Mexican
Salamanders of huge size—the ‘‘ Axolotl” of naturalists. All
these eight individuals were black, white Axolotls being very
rare. However, in the next tank there reposed no fewer than
eight white Axolotls, lying huddled up together, their long
pinky-white bodies suggesting a number of Ferrets in a basket.
The pulsation of the blood in the gills of these albinos was easily
discernible. Both black and white Axolotls are the tadpole
stage of the Amblystoma tigrinum, and there were a couple of
magnificent Amblystome in the Aquarium; their richly mottled
skins well merited the name ‘‘tigrinum,” bestowed on them by
scientists.
Returning by the long hall first entered, the survey of the
Aquarium was completed by an examination of the fresh-water
fish in the series of tanks facing the marine collection.
Amongst the fish in the fresh-water series were crowds
of Black Bass (Micropterus salmonides), in flourishing condi-
tion; the strange Perch-Pike (Lucioperca sandra), a fine fish
whose appearance combines the characters of both Perch and
Pike; and a Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio), of enormous
dimensions.
A very interesting exhibit was a tank of young Sturgeons
(Acipenser sturto), about three feet long from the tip of the
snout to the end of the tail. Above these Royal fish swam a
teeming shoal of Rainbow Trout (Salmo irideus).
Last of all, one may mention the huge Purple-black Sala-
mander (Sieboldia maxima), from Japan. This species once
made the Amsterdam Zoo famous, for as long ago as 1860 one
of these hideous Salamanders was brought safely alive to the
386 THE ZOOLOGIST.
gardens—a scientific treasure, if not a beautiful one, being pro-
bably the first ever sent over.
The above is but a short account of the inmates of this truly
splendid Aquarium. The visitor might profitably spend hours,
and the naturalist days, if not weeks, in noting the habits of the
commercial food fishes, and others so excellently displayed.
Enough, however, has been said to indicate how rich a collection
has been accumulated in the Dutch capital, and how splendid
a contribution was made to Science in the founding of the
Amsterdam Aquarium.
( 387 )
NOTES AND QUERIES.
MAMMALIA.
A British Example of the Mouse-coloured Bat.—On going through
the Bats at the Cambridge Museum recently, I came across an un-
doubted specimen of Myotis myotis, the Mouse-coloured Bat, labelled
‘‘ Girton, 1888, H. Gadow.’’ Dr. Gadow tells me that it was taken at
Girton, and brought to him alive by one of his lady students. There
can therefore be no doubt that this is a genuine wild-taken specimen
of this species, although probably brought over from the Continent
with some plants or other produce. This species is only known in
England from some examples taken in the British Museum grounds in
Bloomsbury prior to 1835. The actual specimens have been lost sight
of, but it is tolerably certain that an example now in the Museum and
labelled ‘‘ England ”’ was one of the original specimens. It has since
then been twice recorded, but in both cases the record has been con-
tradicted, so that the Cambridge specimen is the first thoroughly
authentic British example. The species is extremely abundant on the
Continent, and from its large size very conspicuous, so that if it usually
occurred in these islands it would not be likely to be overlooked, and
we are inclined to think that the specimen under consideration must
have owed its transportation to some artificial means.—J. Lewis Bon-
HOTE (Fen Ditton Hall, Cambridge).
Albino Hedgehog in Yorkshire.—On Aug. 8th I had brought to me
a very beautiful albino Hedgehog, which had been captured at Goath-
land, Yorks, on Aug. 1st. It was a very pure white upon the spines
and hair, the eyes, nails, and naked parts of the skin being of a delicate
pink colour. It was alive when brought to me, but, owing to lack of
proper nourishment, was in a dying condition, and only lived a few
hours after it came into my possession. — W. J. Cuarke (44, Huntriss
Row, Scarborough).
Rare Cetaceans on the Yorkshire Coast.—On Aug. 19th my atten-
tion was drawn by Sir Robert Lloyd Patterson to the fact that a
Beluga or White Whale was disporting itself very close inshore in
the South Bay at Scarborough. I was unfortunately too late to see it
388 THE ZOOLOGIST.
myself, as it had headed away to sea, but it was noticed both upon
the same and also upon the following day by several boatmen and
others who were out in the Bay. When last seen it was about two
miles north-east of the Castle Hill, and rose close to a boatload of anglers,
who were considerably alarmed at its close proximity. Sir Robert
Lloyd Patterson very kindly gave me the following account of what he
had seen :—
‘‘Understanding that you are the Recorder of the local Natural
History Society, I put in this form, for reference, the substance of
what I told you to-day relative to the appearance of a large cetacean
in the Bay here this day shortly after noon. I was at the south end
of the Spa promenade on the sea front very shortly after high water»
the sea still breaking against the wall, when I noticed what at the first
glance I took to be a breaking wave; but almost instantly I saw that
it was a good-sized animal which, but for its colour, which was about
as white as this paper, I should have taken to be a Rorqual of eighteen
to twenty feet long. It was swimming north parallel to, and about
120 yards distant from, the Spa wall. I walked along, and saw it rise
several times again—perhaps eight or ten times altogether—when it
headed out to the eastward, increasing its distance from the shore, and
was finally lost to view. It had no dorsal fin that I could see, and I
have not a shadow of doubt but that it was a Beluga, or White Whale,
a most interesting and, I take it, quite unique occurrence. Unless
albinism occurs among the cetaceans—a thing I never heard of—it
cannot have been anything else but a Beluga. I leave it to you to
communicate the foregoing, on my authority, to such scientific journals
as you think proper.’’—Rh. Luoyp Parrerson.
‘« P.S.—The animal was so white and so large that one could see
its white form beneath the surface before it rose above it. It was swim-
ming in a very leisurely manner, not more than five miles an hour.”
I think I am correct in saying that this most interesting occur-
rence is the first recorded for the Yorkshire coast, and only the second
for England, and it was extremely fortunate that the appearance
should have been witnessed by such a competent authority.
On Aug. 30th, while on Filey Brig at the portion known as the
‘‘ Kmperor’s Bath,’ where there is twenty feet of water close up to the
rock edge, my attention was attracted by three tall black objects
appearing and disappearing on the surface of the water, which was
somewhat turbulent. As they drew nearer, I was able to see that they
were the dorsal fins of three large cetaceans, and they eventually
approached to within fifty yards of where I was standing, and I was
able clearly to see that they were Grampuses. They were swimming
NOTES AND QUERIES. 589
slowly and with great regularity, all rising together, and descending at
the same time. They raised their heads high out of the water, so that
the under jaw and the distinctive white patch behind the eye were dis-
tinctly visible. Once or twice they descended, and remained below
water for a considerable time, but eventually, after having been within
a few yards of me for upwards of half an hour, continued their journey
southward, and were finally lost to view amidst the broken water,
into which they fearlessly entered. A Filey man, who came along at
the time, told me that he had seen three similar ‘fish’ on the previous
day, which he said ‘“‘ were barking like dogs.’”” The specimens which
I saw uttered no sound.—W. J. Cuarxe (44, Huntriss Row, Scar-
borough).
AVES.
Bluethroat near Eastbourne.—On Sept. 20th, when walking near
Eastbourne on some rough shingle with bushes scattered about it, I
saw a specimen of the Bluethroat (Cyanecula suecica). I am well
acquainted with the’bird in Norfolk, and told it at once by its tail.
Mr. A. H. Streeten, who has also shot the bird in Norfolk, was with
me, and recognized it directly I pointed it out. We were at one time
within ten yards of it, so we can hardly have been mistaken. The
occurrence seems specially noticeable, as, when I left Norfolk on the
18th, no Bluethroats had been taken there this season.—H. C. Arnoup
(Blackwater House, Hastbourne College).
“ An Unknown Warbler in Oxfordshire.’”— When residing in West-
moreland some years ago, I used to notice a bird resembling a Willow-
Wren, but rather larger and with darker plumage on the back than
any I had previously observed of this species. Being unable to identify
it, 1 referred to Bewick, and came to the conclusion that the specimen
under observation was what is locally known as a ‘ Strawsmeer.”’
Bewick does not describe this bird very minutely, but says that it
arrives early in April, begins to sing at once, and continues singing till
August. I did not make any notes of my observations, but I believe
this bird has an eye-streak. Is it possible that the Warbler seen by
your correspondent, Mr. Warde Fowler, is a ‘‘Strawsmeer’’ ?—R. H.
Ramssoruam (The Hall, Meole Brace, Shrewsbury).
White Wagtail at Balbriggan, Co. Dublin.—I saw a male White
Wagtail (Motacilla alba) on Sept. 4th at the Delvin River, two miles
from Balbriggan. Its broad white forehead and grey back first
attracted my notice as it flew about from stone to stone in the bed of
the little river, which is the boundary between the counties of Dublin
390 THE ZOOLOGIST.
and Meath. It then flew up on the telegraph-wire over the railway
viaduct, when I had a good opportunity of noting the diamond-shaped
black mark on the throat and breast, and the very long tail. The
picture in Morris’s ‘ British Birds’ very aptly represents the bird as I
saw it at the Delvin. I had never seen one in Ireland before, and but
once in England, near Clifton Suspension Bridge. Mr. Ussher, in his
‘ Birds of Ireland,’ has some interesting records of the occurrence of
this bird, and Mr. R. M. Barrington, in his ‘ Migration of Birds,’
notices its occurrence at the Blackwater Bank and Codling Lightships;
he also received a fine specimen in 1900 from Inishtrahull. — Cuaruzs
W. Benson.
[In these pages Mr. Robert Warren has recorded the presence of
this species—the sixth year in succession—on the island of Bartragh,
in Killala Bay (cf. ante, p. 190).—Ep.]
A Second Brood of Starlings.—A year or two ago I sent you a note
(Zool. 1897, p. 3384) as to a pair of Starlings having reared a second
brood in the roof of an adjoining house. That brood came to an un-
timely end through having been frightened out of their nest by work-
men before they were sufficiently mature. I have for some time been
aware that a second brood was in progress this autumn in the roof of
the same house. (Were they the progeny of the same parents as the
former brood ?) On Sept. 27th five healthy and vigorous young birds
were ‘‘grubbing”’ on the lawn, practically strong enough to take care
of themselves, but receiving occasional help from their parents.—R.
M‘Lacutan (Lewisham, London).
Nesting of the Grey Crow in Suffolk.—Referring to Col. Butler’s
note (ante, p. 850), I may mention that the late Mr. N. Fenwick Hele,
in the second edition of his ‘ Notes or Jottings about Aldeburgh’ (p. 77),
records the nesting of the Royston or Hooded Crow at Hazlewood,
near Aldeburgh, in 1872 and 1873; and not long ago, when arranging
the eggs in the Ipswich Museum, Mr. Woolnough and I found an egg
marked in Mr. Hele’s handwriting, ‘“‘ Royston, Hazlewood,’ among
them.—Junian G. Tuck (Tostock Rectory, Bury St. Edmunds).
Cuckoo calling in September in Italy.—In the last nuimber of ‘ The
Zoologist’ (p. 350), Mr. J. W. Payne alludes to the fact that Sir Conan
Doyle, in ‘ Rodney Stone,’ makes the Cuckoo call in September. Allow
me charitably to suggest that Sir Conan had heard the bird in the
South of Europe, for I have just had a postcard from my friend Mr.
B. W. Henderson, Fellow of Exeter College, Oxford, dated Bibbiena,
Sept. 6th, in which he writes :—‘* Heard the Cuckoo yesterday in first-
NOTES AND QUERIES. 391
class voice among walnut forests on my way from Vallombrosa here—
a ten-hour tramp over the mountains with a knapsack.” He adds
that the heat was excessive even for Italy, and that it had not rained
for nearly two months.— W. Warne Fowzer (Kingham, Chipping
Norton).
Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) in Scotland; calling in July—Observa-
tions made in Braemar during the last two summers have some bearing
on Mr. J. W. Payne’s note (ante, p. 851). In 1902 Cuckoos continued
calling ‘‘ loud and oft’ up to July 9th; on that date one was seen and
heard in Glen Lui at an altitude of 1300-1350 ft. In the evenings the
calling continued till about 10 p.m., and it frequently wakened me as
early in the morning as 2.30 a.m. In1903 it was quite different, only
one bird being heard on July 6th—a faint and wavering call.— Hueu
Boyp Wart (8, Victoria Drive, Glasgow).
Wigeon breeding in Ireland: a Correction.—In ‘ The Zoologist’ for
1901 (p. 269), a note appeared from me announcing the discovery of
the Wigeon breeding in Ireland. I am afraid that the evidence for
identification was not sufficiently complete, as Mr. Ussher relied
entirely on the down taken from the nests to identify the species.
Mr. Noble, who has made a study of Ducks and down, says that the
down is not sufficient, and the down of Wigcon and Shoveler vary so -
much in type and resemble each other so closely that it is impossible
to distinguish between the two. As Shovelers were in the majority on
the occasion referred to, I think the question of Wigeon breeding in
Ireland not sufficiently established.—Joun Cortney (Hillsborough, Co.
Down, Ireland).
[A similar disclaimer from Mr. Patterson appears in the last issue
of ‘The Irish Naturalist.’ He writes:—‘‘ There is little difference
between the down of some Shovelers and the down of some Wigeon,
but there is always a difference in the small feathers found among the
down. In the Wigeon these small feathers are pure white with light
grey bases; in the Shoveler they are pale buff with dark brown centres.
This is stated on the authority of Mr. Heatly Noble, who has made a
special study of Duck’s eggs and down.’’—Ep.|
Stock-Dove (Columba cnas) in the Isle of Man.—The note of Mr.
F’. Graves on this subject (ante, p. 316) recalls to my memory the fact
that in May, 1896, Mr. W. Hi. Teschemaker and I found a nest of this
bird, containing two young ones, in a hole near the cliff-top between Sea-
field (St. Anne’s) and Derbyhaven. The young Doves were kept ina
wicker cage, but did not take kindly to captivity, judging from the
392 THE ZO0O0OLOGIST.
quaint remark made in the following year by the Manx servant who
attended to them: “It is not tamer they are getting, but wilder,’ and
soon afterwards they were set at liberty. In August of the present year
I saw a pair of Stock-Doves near St. Anne’s Head. With reference to
the Tree-Sparrow, I may observe that my friend Mr. J. C. Bacon in-
forms me he has known of its nesting in the garden at Seafield for
several years past.—T. H. Neuson (The Cliffe, Redcar).
Black-winged Pratincole in Sussex.—On July 18th last a Black-
winged Pratincole (Glareola melanoptera, Nordmann) was shot near
Rye, and, having been sent to St. Leonards for preservation, was
brought in the flesh for my inspection. It was carefully sexed, and
proved to be a female. This forms the second recorded occurrence of
G. melanoptera in Britain (cf. Dr. N. F. Ticehurst, Bull. B. O. Club,
xii. p. 78, June 30th, 1903. The bird recorded by Dr. Ticehurst was
a male, and somewhat brighter than the present specimen). For
obvious reasons I am precluded from giving fuller particulars—a
circumstance I much deplore, as the occurrence of the species so far
westward is very noteworthy. (G.melanopiera differs from G. pratincola
chiefly in having the under wing-coverts and axillaries black instead of
chestnut. Mr. H. EK. Dresser gives the summer range as “ South-east
Europe, in Russia north to about 564° N. lat. ; ... Asia Minor and Asia
east to the Altai Mountains” (‘ Manual of Palearctic Birds,’ ii. p. 780).
W. Ruskin Burrerrierp (St. Leonards-on-Sea).
Little Stint (Tringa minuta) inland in Cheshire.—A sand-spit at the
mouth of a little brook which flows into the mere at Great Budworth
often serves as a halting-place for wading birds on passage. Here, on
Aug. 29th, I found a Little Stint feeding at the water's edge. The
bird, as is the wont of its species, was extremely tame, and during the
half-hour I spent with it allowed me to repeatedly approach within
five paces. ‘That distance, however, marked the limit of its confidence,
and it evaded any attempt at a nearer approach by flying out over the
mere, only to return to the spit again and resume its feeding a few
yards further away. When on the wing it constantly uttered a soft,
low, trisyllabic note. Before taking flight it sometimes retreated,
wading belly-deep in the water, and once or twice it swam for a few
inches. At such close quarters I could see its black bill and legs and
the details of its plumage very clearly, and was even able to make out
its hind toes when it ran along the sand. It was a young bird in
autumn dress, having white feathers on the scapulars, and an ill-
defined and hardly perceptible buffish band on the breast; the rest of
the under parts were white. The wing-coverts and the long secondaries
NOTHS AND QUERIES. 398
were dark brown, each feather being broadly edged with buff. The
white forehead and cheeks and the broad ‘white eyebrows showed up the
greyish-brown crown, and a streak of the same colour which extended
from the lores to behind each eye.—Cuas. OxpHam (Knutsford).
Black Tern (Hydrochelidon nigra) in Cheshire.— On Sept. 6th
Mr. F’. Brownsword and I watched a Black Tern for some time at Bud-
worth Mere, near Northwich: Now and then the bird would rest on
one or other of the posts which project above the water, but it: spent
most of its time flying in a buoyant, desultory fashion up and down the
mere, dropping diagonally at frequent intervals to snatch food from
the surface of the water, or just above it. It was a bird in immature
plumage, the forehead, collar, and entire under parts being white, the
mantle not uniformly slate-grey, but marked, especially along the
carpal joint, with grey of a darker shade.—Cuas. Otpuam (Knutsford).
Occurrence of the Sooty Tern in Suffolk.—At the latter end of
March or beginning of April, 1900, Mr. J. Nunn and Mr. G. Mortimer,
jun., found a bird lying dead on the heathland between Thetford and
Brandon, in the parish of Santon Downham. The bird was found on
some bracken, about half a mile from the river Little Ouse and the
highway between Thetford and Brandon, and a quarter of a mile from
Thetford Warren, which is in the administrative county of Norfolk.
Mr. Nunn, who lives at Little Lodge Farm, sent the bird to Mr. F.
Rix, of Thetford, who stuffed it, and informed the owner it was a
“Black Tern.” It remained at the farmhouse until September of this
year, when Mr. W. A. Dutt, of Lowestoft, and the writer called and
saw the bird. Neither of us, though confident it was a rarity, was able
accurately to determine the species. I therefore took a written de-
seription of it, and on my return to Norwich quickly identified it as a
Sooty Tern (Sterna fuliyinosa). This was subsequently confirmed by
Mr. T. Southwell. The bird is an adult, in good plumage, and well
stuffed. Mr. F. Rix, who stuffed it, informs me that the bird was
very decomposed when taken to him early in April, 1900. It must
-have been dead at least: five or six days, and he had great difficulty in
skinning and mounting it. The breast-bone was ‘almost like a razor.”’
There was nothing in the crop or bowels but dark clayey moisture, and
no marks of shot or any wounds upon the skin. He came to the con-
clusion that it had died from exhaustion. March, 1900, was a month
of uniformly low temperature, but there appear to have been no heavy
gales from the south-east or south-west to account for the presence of
a Sooty Tern so far from its usual haunts. This record is the fourth
only for the British Isles, and the seventh for all Hurope. The British
Zool. 4th ser. vol. VII., October, 1908. 2H
B94 THE ZOOLOGIST.
occurrences were at Tutbury, near Burton-on-Trent, in 1852; near
Wallingford, Berks, in 1869; and near Bath, in 1885. The records
for the Continent (both lists are taken from Mr. Howard Saunders’s
‘ Manual’) are—one near Magdeburg, one near Verdun on June 15th,
1854, and one captured in a Trout-net in Piedmont on Oct. 28th,
1862. This is consequently a fresh species for either the Suffolk or
Norfolk lists —W. G. CuarKe (Norwich).
[In our last volume (1902, p. 855) Mr. Chas. Oldham recorded the
occurrence of this bird in Lancashire. The specimen was exhibited
at the meeting of the British Ornithologists’ Club last November.—Ep.]
Sabine’s Gull near Scarborough.—On Sept. 5th a very fine fully
adult female Sabine’s Gull (Xema sabinii), in perfect winter plumage,
was shot a little to the south of Scarborough, and was brought to me
in the flesh. On the 20th a good many small migrants were moving
upon the coast, both departing and arriving. Amongst the latter I
noticed, and examined closely with the glasses at a short distance, a
Black Redstart, a female or a young male. The bird was still at the
same place on the 22nd. On the 21st a second adult Sabine’s Gull
was shot in Filey Bay. The bird, which had not moulted, still retained
the black head characteristic of the breeding season. I also had the
opportunity of examining this bird in the flesh. During the first week
of September a considerable movement of Greenshanks took place
along the coast, and I saw five or six specimens which had been shot.
W. J. Cuarke (44, Huntriss Row, Scarborough).
Sabine’s Gull in Yorkshire.—On Sept. 3rd, by the merest chance, I
obtained an adult Sabine’s Gull (Xema sabinii) from a sea-bird shooter
who had just come into Bridlington Harbour with his spoils. When
walking on the North Pier before breakfast, I saw the boat coming in,
and, turning my binoculars on it, noticed the Gull lying on one of the
seats. Thinking that a timy Gull with a dark grey head must be
Sabine’s Gull, I lost no time in getting down to the landing-stage, and
found that my recognition was quite correct. My bid for the bird,
which the shooter called a ‘‘ Swallow,’ was accepted, and, as we were
leaving Bridlington the following day, I was able to bring it home in
the flesh and set it up here. It has made a very good specimen, and
is an interesting addition to our collection. The bird is a female, in
full summer plumage, with the exception of a few white feathers on
the chin and throat, and dark markings on the inner webs of four tail-
feathers ; the under parts are pure white without any roseate tint. As
it was hardly cold when I obtained it, I noticed that the yellow on the
NOTES AND QUERIES. 395
tip of the bill was very bright, the inside of the mouth orange-red, like
that of a young Cuckoo, and the legs and feet pale brownish grey.
Sabine’s Gull in immature plumage has either been more frequently
obtained or more often recognized of late years than formerly, but in
the second edition of his ‘Manual,’ Mr. Saunders was only able to
enumerate the occurrence of six adults. One of these was shot in
Bridlington Bay in August, 1872 (Zool. 1872, p. 3316).—Junian G,
Tucx (Tostock Rectory, Bury St. Kdmunds).
Sea-bird Slaughter. — What I wrote on this subject in ‘The
Zoologist ’ (ante, p. 354) was fully confirmed by the events of the first
few days in September. A resident in Bridlington told me that one
shooter obtained twelve dozen birds in one day, and I think it is no
exaggeration to say that for the first few days of September the number
of birds shot (chiefly Terns and Kittiwakes) averaged over a hundred
aday. Mr. Oxley Grabham has pointed out (Zool. 1901, p. 228) that
there isa market for them at sixpence each, and this statement exactly
agrees with information given to me on very good authority. A
wounded Tern fluttering in the water acts as a decoy, and brings
others up to the boat, or a dead bird thrown up and allowed to fall
into the sea is used in the same way. ‘There are two classes of
shooters from which the sea-birds suffer: the shooter for the millinery
market referred to above, and the shooter who fires for his own
amusement at anything from a downy Guillemot upwards, and often
does not even care to pick up his birds. I believe there is now some-
what stringent legal protection afforded to the sea-birds on the east
coast of the United States, and a pretty sharp look-out is kept on any
boat from which a gun is fired. While there are no easier birds to
shoot than the Terns and ‘‘ Kitties,” there are no birds more difficult
to shoot without being detected, as the killing is done on the open
water, and when there is light enough to shoot by, the boat can be
watched. If only Yorkshire naturalists could see their way to agitate
either for a close-time still more extended, or the absolute protection
of certain birds all the year round, they might feel certain of the sup-
port and co-operation of their brethren elsewhere, for the Terns which
pass down the Yorkshire coast in late summer and early autumn have
more than a local interest. There can be little doubt that they are
the identical birds protected at considerable cost and with much trouble
at their breeding-grounds on the Farne Islands.—Juuian G. Tuck
(Tostock Rectory, Bury St. Edmunds).
396 THE ZO00OLOGIST.
ANIMAL PSYCHOLOGY.
Can and do Birds Reason? Do Men also? (Zool. ante, p. 328).—
May I endeavour to reply shortly to the above question? ‘‘ Instinct”
—as a.term—always seems to me to be a refuge of the destitute.
“ Intelligence,” I take it, is an active principle ; ‘‘ influence.”’ a passive
principle. ‘‘ Instinct’? and “inherent impulse’ are vague and un-
explainable expressions. So is ‘prompting each individual’? vague
and unsatisfying. But “ environment” is the better expression. This
does away with another vague expression, viz. “chance.” ‘*‘ Intelli-
gence”’ seems to me, if credited to birds, &c., to be a misnomer. How
would it do to say instead, ‘‘forcefulness from outside environments” ?
In other words, ‘‘ environing circumstances”’ to each and all. I take
it this is the true explanation of many natural-history phenomena. But
these environing circumstances vary in many and diffuse directions, and
therefore the results vary. Soin nest-building; so inhabits; soinmigra-
tions and dispersals; so in the whole history of birds and. the whole
animal kingdom. ‘The pressure of environing circumstances acts—acts.
It is not will-power in the bird or animal, but the direct action of the
surrounding circumstances, which may well include theexample or tuition
of the parents, where that is exercised ; of foster-parents also. In how
far does heredity or transmitted brain-energy come in? Perhaps the
most helpless of all infants is the human infant, and the helplessness
continues longer. That is probably because the human infant is of far
greater complex nature than any of the lower animals, and in con-
sequence knowledge takes long to develop. But even man is not proof
against environing circumstances. Possibly angels may be. Another
word often used is ‘“‘intuition”’ (op. cit. p. 382). What dictionary
successfully defines it? I do not mean defines it to our uses, but I
mean defines it correctly as a scientific expression. The writer 1 am
replying to, or trying to reply to, admits his belief in ‘‘ the possession
of instinct by birds” (p. 882), and says, ‘‘ We unanimously place (it)
to their credit.” Do we? What is instinct? Instinct we cannot
scientifically define ; therefore, instinct is an unknown quantity. We
may accept the descriptive phrase—automaton—in lack of a better,
only, however, because of the similarities or the differences caused by
environment.— J. A. Harviz-Brown (Dunipace, Larbert, Stirling-
shire, N.B.).
[We quite agree with Mr. Harvie-Brown on the extremely vague
conception appertaining to the term ‘instinct.’ It is perhaps most
clearly understood as a theological proposition, used by a school of
thought advocating an essential difference between man and other
NCTEHES AND QUERIES. d97
animals. Thus Paley defines an instinct as ‘‘a propensity, prior to
experience, and independent of instruction.” Naturalists have also
been swayed by a similar predilection. Blumenbach went so far as to
state: ‘‘ Man then alone is destitute of what are called instincts.”” He
also maintained that ‘‘ instinct always remains the same, and is not
advanced by cultivation, nor is it smaller or weaker in the young
animal than in the adult.”’ Reason, on the contrary, he held, could
be compared to a developing germ. Waitz, the anthropologist, urged
that ‘‘ we must not, however, estimate too lightly what animals really
learn from experience. The mysterious word ‘instinct’ conceals, in
the psychical life of animals, more intellectuality and less mechanism
than is usually assumed.” But he perhaps goes too far when he
states :—“‘ Just as the civilized man conquers the savage, so does the
latter overpower the brute, not so much by physical as by mental
force. He uses their instincts in a variety of modes to deceive them,
imitates their sounds, catches them by baits, and hunts each species
according to its peculiar habits.’’ But the last sentence at least would
apply to most animals in their necessitarian war upon one another.
It is possible that when using the term ‘‘instinct’”’ we are expressing
the limit of our own reason. The word has become inseparable to our
language, and is used in a loose way, as when we speak of a hasty
judgment or action as ‘‘ instinctive,” or describe one with whom we.
do not agree as ‘‘an unreasonable man.’’—Kp. |] :
398 THE ZOOLOGIST.
NOTICES OF NEW BOOKS.
Turner on Birds: a Short and Succinct History of the Principal
Birds noticed by Pliny and Aristotle, first published by
Doctor W1tu1AM TurRNER, 1544. Edited, &., by A. H.
Evans, M.A. Cambridge: at the University Press.
Parristic zoology is a charming and interesting subject,
particularly when we give the early Fathers fair consideration
—that is, to estimate their writings as in advance of the know-
ledge of their time, and not to compare them too strictly with
the science of to-day. The late Rev. H. A. Macpherson has
given a short appreciation of Turner as an ornithologist in these
pages (1901, p. 376), and with our appetites thus whetted we can
the better enjoy the fuller information contained in this volume.
Turner lived in an age when theology was considered the
queen of the sciences. Polemical writings on this much hack-
neyed subject formed the larger portion of his intellectual occu-
pation, as befitted one who had absolutely sat at the feet of
Ridley and Latimer, though he preferred quoting Aristotle from
the Latin translation of Gaza, the learned papist, who had served
under two Popes. ‘Thus natural history formed, even at this
time, a meeting-ground for theological doctrinaires, as well as
for Mr. Morley’s “neutral man of the world.” In connection
with this translation, Mr. Evans makes a very apposite remark
which might well find a place in the ‘ Hibbert Journal’: “ Kxact
transcription of a text was considered by no means necessary in
those days; consequently we find many observations and ex-
planations inserted in the text of Aristotle and Pliny which had
no place in the original.”
Like our own illustrious Gilbert White’s leaning to a theory
of the hibernation of Swallows, so did Turner find it impossible
to quite break away from the mythical procreation of the Bernicle
Goose. Both sought concurrent testimony, and Turner, dis-
satisfied with the belief of all the iongshore-men of his own
NOTICES OF NHW BOOKS. 399
country, and even doubting the testimony of Gyraldus, the his-
torian, relates that he took council of a certain man, whose up-
right conduct he had often proved, ‘‘a theologian by profession
and an Irishman by birth, Octavian by name, whether he thought
Gyraldus worthy of belief in this affair, who, taking oath upon
the very Gospel which he taught, answered that what Gyraldus
had reported of the generation of this bird was absolutely true,
and that with his own eyes he had beholden young, as yet but
rudely formed, and also handled them,” &c. ‘This statement
should find a welcome by Mr. Tegetmeier, who has for so long
been drenched with similar testimony relating to the more than
questionable proceeding of the Adder swallowing its young.
It is surprising how much actual observation and frequent
acute criticism is contained in this small work, ‘‘ written in a
space of less than two months,” by this sorely vexed divine; at
one time imprisoned for preaching without a license; again
fleeing his country to escape the importunities of other divines
during the reign of Queen Mary; and even under Elizabeth, as
dean and rector, suspended for nonconformity. Is it pre-
sumptuous to imagine that many of these trials might have been
avoided, and the knowledge of ornithology very greatly advanced,
had Turner been able to quench his dogmatic fire in the still
pure stream of nature? For he writes as an original observer,
though sometimes he gives what is perhaps a sample of contro-
versial style in other subjects, as, when advocating that Aristotle’s
Spinus is the Greenfinch, he feels that some may probably object
to this identification, and rejoins: “‘I should like the man who
thus objects to me to know,” &c. But enough is said on this
subject; evidently Turner was a naturalist at heart, but in-
tellectually dominated by a passion for theology.
We thank Mr, Hvans for giving us a delightful little volume,
which should be read, and then certainly treasured, by not
ornithologists alone, ‘There is a literary impression on every
page that will charm a competent book-lover, and we hope the
Syndics of the Cambridge University Press may see their way
to publish further contributions to a knowledge of patristic
zoology.
400 PHE ZOOLOGIST.
A Monograph of the Tsetse-Flies (Genus Glossina, Westw. ), based
on the Collection in the British Museum. By ERNEST
EKpwarp AvusTEN; with a Chapter on Mouth-parts, by
H. J. Hansen, Ph.D. Printed by order of the Stee
of the British Museum.
THIs monograph is devoted to seven species of insects, which
represent a genus that has proved a curse to the development of
South and Central Africa; was sufficient to cause the ruin of the
early Portuguese expeditions in the sixteenth and seventeenth
centuries; and wrecked an early Boer trek in 1836 which was
migrating from British influence towards Delagoa Bay. Donkeys
have been credited with an immunity from the attacks of these
flies, and many an expedition has been organised with Donkey
transport, with a prospective defiance of the Tsetse and an
almost certain bait for Lions. It will thus be seen, that this fly
is an enemy of the first importance to be dealt with in the
industrial development of a country, which it is now a misnomer
to call the ‘‘ Dark Continent.”
The first real contribution to a scientific knowledge of the
destructive powers of these flies was made by Col. Bruce, who
proved that the deaths of horses and cattle caused by Tsetse
were due to the introduction into the blood of the victims of a
minute parasite, the Trypanosoma brucei, a discovery afterwards
confirmed by similar observations made in South America and
Algeria. Castellani has also discovered a Trypanosoma in the
cerebro-spinal fluid of nearly seventy per cent. of the vast holo-
caust of natives who have recently succumbed to “sleeping-
sickness.”
In order that the subject should be made entomologically
applicable, the Director and Trustees of our National Museum
entrusted Mr. Austen, who is well known as a dipterologist, with
the task of preparing a monograph of the genus. This he has
done in a very thorough manner, and has added a bibliographical
list of many books in African literature which refer to these
insects. The seven species are also fully and accurately de-
scribed, and beautifully illustrated by coloured plates. Dr,
Hansen, of Copenhagen, has also contributed a valuable paper
n ‘The Mouth-parts of Glossina and Stomoxys.”
i,
ohh ine
A rIC, &e., Teil and ase copied, from 10d.
r 1000 words. Good references and testimonials for all
DyPIST, 238, Roya ParaprE, Croypon.
BOOKS ON NATURAL HISTORY.
xx A few of the following Works can still be had.
LPTs OF RUSTICUS ON NATURAL HISTORY. By
Kpwarp Newman. Demy 8vo. Price 5s.
A NATURALIST’S RAMBLE TO THE ORCADES. By A. W.
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Dee Wa Fh Goria te = ah
Plate VII.
Zool. 1908.
*snoysaumop *Q X snqunjod *p
priqAyy eaoqg-suny
0
‘(pray “)) yoo, antg
‘a
“Duy “D X (snoysaumop "pH X snquunzod *))
piiqAyyT eaoq-sunny fo sunox
W
paar
Faia
FS
Zool. 1903.
THE GIANT GOBY: Gobdius capito, C. & V.
Plate VIII.
sry
PHE ZOOLOGIST
No. 749.—November, 1903.
THE HYBRIDIZATION OF COLUMBA PALUMBUS.
By P. Str. M. Popmorg, F.R.G.S., M.A. (Camb.).
(Prate VII.)
THE origin of species and their powers of hybridization are
subjects of profound interest to all students of zoology. In
the typical Lower Miocene beds of Allier and Puy-de-Déme
have been found an enormous number of ornitholites referring
to nearly fifty species, including Colymboides, which may be
placed in the Colymbide, and among existing genera—Anas,
Aquila, Bubo, Collocalhia, and Columba, &c. ‘To prove the con-
necting-links between the Colymboides and the innumerable
varieties of domestic Pigeons and wild Doves distributed over
the globe would be an undertaking too gigantic for an ordinary
lifetime.
Hybridization, so closely allied with evolution, is a study much
neglected, and yet of the greatest importance. Zoologists realize
this, and Prof. Newton remarked in a recent letter I received:
“The subject of hybridism is a most attractive one”’; and, again:
‘We, however, know very little about animal hybrids, and I wish
more people would take up the subject.”
The tendency to distribute one’s energies over too vast an area,
and the want of definite concentration, might account for much
Zool. 4th ser. vol. VII., November, 1908, 21
402 THE ZO0O0LOGIST.
lack of success. If a number of enthusiasts were to unite their
labours, each devoting a lifetime to one particular definite pur-
suit, and become associated in a school or college for the study
of experimental results, science would make some rapid steps in
advance.
The very limited area of my own studies, and the dogged
determination to prove a personal theory regardless of time and
labour, have contributed to my success. My original ambition
was to produce a new variety of Pigeon that would not only prove
the swiftest flying bird, but also the most useful adjunct for the
table. To carry this out I ignored the existing varieties of C.
domesticus, and turned my attention to the British wild Doves.
During the past fifteen years I have reclaimed and bred hybrids
from C. palumbus, C. enas, C. turtur, and C. livia. These years of
labour have been marked by many failures and disappointments.
In addition to the weariness of working alone and without
sympathy or recognition, I was confronted with the fact that no
ornithologist whose writings I had consulted at the libraries of
the universities and learned societies made any mention of the
prolificness of Ring-Dove hybrids. Many doubted even the
possibility of domesticating and hybridizing the bird, and all were
agreed that such a bastard would prove barren and worthless.
Sir W. Jardine, in ‘The Naturalist’s Library,’ remarks :—
‘‘For the bastard produce of the common Wild Turtle of the
aviary (C. risoria) has been proved by frequent experiment to be
barren, although the two species from whence it originates
appear to be closely allied, and such we have no -hesitation in
saying would be the event if a cross could be obtained between
the Common Pigeon and the Ring-Pigeon, the Wood-Pigeon, or
any other species.” ,
Comparing this statement with my own notes on the hybri-
dization of C. palumbus, I quote the following :—
“During this year (1899) I became decidedly disheartened,
having lost, from different pairs, no fewer than forty young birds,
from causes that at the time appeared unaccountable”; and
again, on 2nd August, 1899, I wrote: “ Eleven days seem about
the extent of life permitted to the young of this curious cross-
breeding. Both birds that died to-day are well nourished, and
bear the characteristics of the Wood-Pigeon, both in shape and
HYBRIDIZATION OF COLUMBA PALUMBUS. 403
plumage. This is the first time that both birds have lived so
long. Last year, in each case, the hen died on the fifth day, and
the cock on the eleventh.” It happened, however, that just at the
time when I was about to give up my experiments success arrived.
Tn September, 1899, I reared a Ring-Dove hybrid that has proved
one of the healthiest and hardiest of the Pigeon tribe. On 2lst
January, 1902, this bird was forwarded to me from 388, Bowery,
New York. It arrived in excellent condition, and, notwith-
standing nine months’ absence, it recognized me again.
My letters, published in the ‘ Field’ during 1897, and my
subsequent articles, published by Mr. Upcott Gill, have brought
me many interesting replies from different parts of the world.
Some ornithologists had reared hybrids to the stage mentioned
in my notes (1899), but it was only recently that I received the
following :—‘‘I read with pleasure your recent paper on the
Wood-Pigeon hybrid. You may care to have the enclosed
photograph of a hybrid youngster bred some twelve or fifteen
years since. The parents of this bird were a red chequer Homer
cock and a very tame hand-reared Ring-Dove hen. The hybrid
is a light red chequer, taking after the hen bird in shape and
size. I had some six or seven nests, but never more than one
egg in a nest was fertile. The bird photographed was the only
bird that lived until feathered. All the young were strong and
apparently healthy birds,” &c.
The photograph enclosed was unfortunately taken from a
stuffed specimen, and therefore worthless for publication; but I
deeply appreciated the kindness and interest of this gentleman,
and invite any readers of ‘The Zoologist’ to write to me upon
this subject.* Photographs of hybrids will always be acceptable,
and possibly an exchange can be made.
A reference to the accompanying Plate may induce the most
critical to acknowledge the success of my work. C is the hybrid
bred September, 1899; Bis mated to the hybrid, and the mother
of the young bird A, now two months old. Bis a long distance
flying Homer. The position of the birds permits of comparison.
The flight-feathers and general construction of the wings (A)
* Letters addressed ‘The Zoological Society of London” will receive
due attention, or I could arrange interviews between 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. on
Mondays at the office.
212
404 THE Z4OOLOGIST.
would suggest both swiftness and endurance superior to B, and
unequalled by any existing variety. This photograph was taken
from life by Mr. David Eddy of St. Leonards-on-Sea, Oct. 16th,
1908. 5
Mr. M. Cox, writing from Alexandria, on May 29th, 1897, says:
‘‘ Some eight years ago we tried hybridizing both the Stock-Dove
and Wood-Pigeon with Homers, and succeeded in getting at least
two pairs of young, but both pairs died from some unknown cause
just after fledging.” And, again, another suggests :—‘ Probably
had I given the old birds a plentiful supply of green food with
small unripe seed—such food as the Wood-Pigeon would obtain
in a wild state—in place of the dry corn on which they were fed,
I might have had more success in rearing hybrids.”
Both Bechstein and Wallace ‘‘ know of no result attending
the mating of the Ring-Dove with the domestic Pigeon.” Such
statements as these from recently published books suggested
this article to ‘The Zoclogist.’ It may therefore be of interest
to describe the history of the Ring-Dove hybrid. It was taken
from the nest when only seven days old. I first mixed a little
castor-oil in a bread-pill, as I had noted nearly all the birds had
died from soured crop. After four hours I fed with a small piece
of raw beefsteak reduced to a warm pulp, and administered in
the smallest quantities so as to avoid internal irritation. Three
hours after I gave freshly crushed lettuce-leaves, followed with
warm crushed dari, wheat, and buckwheat, sprinkled sparingly
with the grit tonic prepared by Hyde. LEHarly the next morning
I gave the bird a sulphur pill, continuing the treatment of the
previous day, with the addition of a few seeds of linseed at
night, over which boiling water had been poured. I found
heated elder-berries were eagerly taken. Guided by the clear-
ness of the eye, the general fledging and development, I con-
tinued judiciously the castor-oil pills, sulphur, and linseed,
never neglecting fresh lettuce and a few grains of medicinal grit.
The bird thrived wonderfully, became very tame, and in a month
could fly. When he was three weeks old I fed him-upon ordinary
seed that had been soaked in warm water for about an hour, and
the lettuce-leaves he pecked from my hand. This bird has
shown much attachment to me, cooing at the sound of my
voice, and flying to my hand or shoulder when summoned
HYBRIDIZATION OF COLUMBA PALUMBUS. 405
by a signal. He is the most affectionate bird I have ever
possessed.
On April 12th, 1900, I made the following note:—‘ The
Ring-Dove hybrid, now over six months old, has mated to a
Blue Carrier hen. He was very: fierce during the process of
mating, and at one time I feared the hen would be pecked to
death. His blows were delivered with beak and feet. He used
the feet in a somewhat ridiculous fashion, taking short flights,
and spurring the hen upon the back. This method of bullying
deprived her of many feathers, and caused me ultimately to
separate them.
While building the nest the hybrid made many fruitless
attempts to place the twigs crosswise over the perch, taking the
material in his beak, and lowering the head until it was in line
with the breast-bone. A fan-like spreading of the tail was
observable after a short flight towards his mate.
The Ring-Dove hybrid had a curious habit of twisting his
body playfully in mid-air while flying for exercise in the con-
servatory. This attitude recalled to mind the remarkable twist
of the wild Ring-Dove when turning in swift flight from a sus-
picious-looking danger spot. When alighting he would open wide
the shoulders of his wings, and spread the tail-feathers widely
apart. While paying court to his mate the beak was opened and
closed several times, and the feathers of the neck raised. The
note after mating was uttered very loudly twice, instead of three
times, as with the Ring-Dove. The note of the bird is a curious
mixture of both parents. When enticing the hen to nest it is
somewhat similar to the grating sound of the Stock-Dove, but
when paying addresses to the hen he has a curious custom of
taking short hops, and then bowing the head, inflating the chest
and spreading the tail in mid-air like the Ring-Dove cock.”
Prof. Newton, in his admirable ‘ Dictionary of Birds,’ p. 162,
says :— ‘‘No sharp distinction can be drawn between Pigeons
and Doves, and in general literature the two words are used
almost indifferently, while no one species can be pointed out to
which the word Dove, taken alone, seems to be absolutely
proper.” Valuing as I do the learning and kind sympathy of
this celebrated zoologist, it would be presumptuous on my part
to take exception to the above quotation. This I will not do,
406 THE ZOOLOGIST.
but merely state that I personally have observed a marked dis-
tinction between the Pigeon and Dove that appears to apply to
the wild varieties of America, Australia, and India, &c., as well
as to the British species. For example, observe their gestures
during the process of mating. A Dove bows the head, inflates
the breast, and expands the tail in air. The Pigeon moves
the body in circles, and sweeps the ground with his expanded
tail. IfI were asked to distinguish between a Dove anda Pigeon
unscientifically, I should say, ‘‘ A Dove bows to his lady-love, but
a Pigeon turns his back upon her”’; or, ‘‘A Dove jumps with
delight when he is rewarded with reciprocated affection, whilst a
Pigeon merely sweeps his mate along the path of love, ignoring
her preferences in the matter.” Therefore the British Columbide
would consist of Ring-Dove, Stock-Dove, Turtle-Dove, and
Rock-Pigeon. My present knowledge of comparative structural
anatomy restrains me from drawing scientific distinctions, but
possibly mere observations may in course of time become con-
firmed by facts.
( 407. )
ON SEXUAL SELECTION AND THE ASTHETIC
SENSE IN BIRDS.
By H. E. Howarp, F.Z.S.
PECULIARITIES in the development of the plumage of different
birds, together with eccentricities of behaviour during the mating
period, which from time to time have come under my notice,
have raised doubts in my mind as to the efficiency of sexual
selection—in the way in which Mr. Darwin interpreted it—to
account for phenomena in the development of plumage, &c., to
which it has been applied. Mr. Darwin, in his ‘ Descent of
‘Man,’ has paid much attention to the colours of birds, their
plumage, and its display at the pairing season; and it is on
this latter circumstance that he founds his theory, that both the
plumage and the colours have been developed by the preference
of the females, the more ornamented males becoming the parents
of each successive generation. Many cases of the actual display
are given, nearly all of which are in reference to species in
foreign countries ; those that do refer to this country are on the
evidence of one observer, and on species keptin confinement. I
therefore propose to give more or less in detail—and it is neces-
sary for the purposes of my argument—cases of actual display
amongst some of our native species. [I feel convinced that, if it
were not for the difficulties inseparable from watching a display
so quickly executed, some such display as I am about to relate
would be found to be inherent in the males, occasionally perhaps
in the females, of all species.
The males then, as I have seen them, have three different
ways in which they can display their beauties to the female: they
can display the colours of their plumage and any special orna-
ments which they possess, they can display their vocal powers,
and they can display the beauties of their form ; this latter per-
haps needs some explanation. The most perfect. development
of plumage amongst all birds is reached in the spring, immedi-
408 THE ZOOLOGIST.
ately preceding actual pairing; it will then be found that the
colours of the feathers and the feathers themselves are in the
most perfect condition—a condition which is absolutely essential
if the form is to be perfect—and therefore, I think, it will be
understood that if a feather is missing, or if the feathers are
abraded and not their proper length, the lines as lines of beauty
must necessarily be imperfect. This state of perfection is, as a
rule, of very short duration; practically it only exists between
the time at which the full development for the season is reached
and the time at which the actual pairing takes place—that is to
say, during the period in which the display of beauty is essential.
I have noticed in the case of many different species—and there-
fore by analogy the same fact may probably be assumed to occur
amongst all—that within a few hours after actual pairing has
taken place the colours of the plumage begin to fade; and it
must be common knowledge to those who have in any way inter-
ested themselves in birds, that within a few weeks of this time—
as a result of the fading of the colours and the abrasion of the
feathers—all intrinsic beauty may be said to have vanished.
Amongst those birds in whom the power of song is exceedingly
developed, in addition to the display of their vocal powers,
there is to some extent a display of their plumage. Such an one
is the Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla). Two males, as a rule,
pursue the female, singing intermittently, the song at this time
being far superior to the song at other times; when very near
the female the song subsides to a very beautiful warble, the notes
being very rich; the feathers at the same time are thrown out
all over the body, the tail being sometimes carried almost at
right angles to the body. The Garden Warbler (S. hortensis)
acts in much the same way, only in this case all the powers of
the bird seem to be even more devoted to song. The male
Nightingale hops about in front of the female, flirting his tail,
the feathers being thrown out all over the body, the bright patch
above the tail showing very strikingly, especially, as is frequently
the case, when the display takes place under bushes in a subdued
hight.
Two or more males pursue the female Chiffchaff (Phyllo-
scopus rufus). When near the female the male throws out his
feathers all over his body, drops his wings rather loosely, spreads
ON SHXUAL SHLECTION IN BIRDS. 409
out his tail, and slowly waves it from side to side. The Lesser
Whitethroat (Sylvia curruca) acts in much the same manner as
the Chiffchaff; the tail is spread out and slowly waved from side
to side ; the tail, however, in this case is, when spread out, very
beautiful.
The Grasshopper- Warbler (Locustella nevia) always interested
me, as the male always appears to take more care than the males
of other species in the display of his plumage. The female
walks on the ground; the male follows, spreading out his wings
and tail to the full, raising the feathers on his head and back,
and throwing them out on his breast, meanwhile flapping his
wings slowly up and down, and when in this position he fre-
quently walks along the lowest branches of some small bush. In
order to appreciate the effect the display must be seen. The
male Stonechat (Pratincola rubicola), perched on the top of a
whin-bush, jerks his tail almost at right angles to the body, drops
his wings in order to show the conspicuous white wing-coverts,
and sings vigorously, at times mimicking other birds. The
Greenfinch turns from side to side on a branch with wings and
tail outspread. The Sky-Lark raises his tail, and bows to the
female, the feathers on the body being thrown out in the same
manner as those mentioned previously. The Lesser Spctted
Woodpeckers (Dendrocopus minor) at this period make a great
commotion, and their display is very pretty. They spread their
wings out to the full extent, and slowly flap through the air;
this, I have little doubt, is only part of.the display, but. the
Woodpeckers are a difficult class of birds to watch when courting.
The male Blue Tit performs in the same way, extending his
wings and slowly flapping about. It is interesting to notice that
in these last two cases, in which the display is to some extent
different, the wings, when fully extended, are very beautiful, and
would make rather an imposing spectacle. Whether the males
in these cases are conscious of the beauty of their wings forms
the subject of this article. These two cases seem to point to
some such conclusion as being probable ; yet, in the case of the
Grasshopper- Warbler previously cited, the wings are spread out,
although there are no special markings to be shown to advantage.
The rapid descent of the Snipe, which through specially formed
feathers in the tail causes a peculiar vibrating sound, the soaring
410 THE ZOOLOGIST.
and the singing of the Lark, and the dances of various birds, are
frequently placed in the same category as the display of plumage ;
but inasmuch as the Snipe performs his flight, and the Lark
soars and sings, after the young are hatched, I do not see how
such actions can be connected with the display used only for a
short period for the purpose of courtship. It is indeed a difficult
matter to discriminate between the display which takes place
during courtship and the display at certain periods after the
birds are paired. A display of this latter kind can frequently be
seen among many different species, especially among the Coluwm-
bide. Wood-Pigeons, Stock-Doves, and Turtle-Doves raise
their tails, lower their heads, distend their throats, and utter a
peculiar cooing sound; Finches go through a peculiar dancing
movement, but such actions as these must not be confused with
the display used preceding pairing. The fact that a large pro-
portion of the examples I have given belong to the Sylviine may
cause remark; the reason is, that being specially interested
in the various species belonging to this order, and having ample
opportunities for watching, I have given them more attention.
The advantages claimed by Mr. Darwin as likely to accrue to
the offspring of those males which proved through sexual selec-
tion attractive to the females, always appeared to me to constitute
a very great difficulty—a difficulty which does not usually appear
to have been fully recognized, although, as will be seen from the
following passage in the ‘ Descent of Man,’ fully recognized by
Mr. Darwin himself. He says:—‘ Our difficulty in regard to
sexual selection lies in understanding how it is that the males
which conquer other males, or those which prove the most
attractive to the females, leave a greater number of offspring to
inherit their superiority than their beaten and less attractive
rivals. Unless this result dues follow, the characters which give
to certain males an advantage over others could not be perfected
and augmented through sexual selection.’”’ Instances are brought
forward to prove that the courtship.is of long duration. Such
instances are the leks of the Blackcock in Germany and Scandi-
navia, which last from the middle of March into May, and the leks
of the Capercailzie, which last from the end of March to the end
of May; in North America the Partridge dances of Tetrao
phasianellus last fora month or more, &c. No evidence, however,
ON SEXUAL SELECTION IN BIRDS. 411
is adduced to prove that selection by the female is being carried
on during the whole of this period, and that such should be the
case is highly improbable, for if, as must be. so, both sexes are
in a fit condition to breed during the whole of this period, con-
siderable and valuable time will have lapsed before any choice on
the part of the female takes place; such loss of time, owing to
reasons which must be apparent, could only result in being the
reverse of beneficial to the species, and contrary to the laws of
natural selection. But apart from such a consideration as the
above, I cannot call to mind a single instance in which the
selection has taken more than a very short period; sometimes it
is a day or so, frequently only a matter of hours, and with
migratory species the duration of this period appears to vary to
some extent with the condition of the seasons. For these reasons
I am convinced that the selection is usually of short duration,
and, this being the case, it will readily be seen what a difficult
matter it becomes to understand in what direction the young of
those individuals that were first paired could gain any advantage ;
food being as plentiful for the late as the early broods. Whether,
amongst those species which rear two or more broods, the fact of
one pair of individuals commencing to breed a few hours before
another could be of any advantage is very doubtful; on the other
hand, a very large number of species do not rear two broods. I
fully admit that an advantage, however small, when maintained
over such a vast period, must be effective, but in this case I can-
not see where the advantage lies; and, on the contrary, it might
frequently happen, owing to adverse climatic conditions at the
time when the young are hatched, that the young of those in-
dividuals that were the later breeders might thus have an advan-
tage. Mr. Wallace, however, has pointed out an objection which
makes it almost impossible to believe that sexual selection can
act in the way in which Mr. Darwin interpreted it. Briefly it is
this: that the extremely rigid action of natural selection must
render any attempt to select mere ornament utterly nugatory,
unless the most ornamented always coincide with the fittest in
other respects; and if such is the case, then no other kind of
selection is necessary. The force of such an objection will at
once be seen.
In the same work Mr. Wallace gives his reasons for regarding
412 THE ZOOLOGIST.
the display of the male solely as a sign of vigour and health, and
thereby attractive to the female, and finally denies any xsthetic
sense to the female. He says :—‘‘ We have thus no reason for
imputing to her any of those esthetic emotions which are excited
in us by the beauty of form, colour, &c., or the still more im-
probable esthetic tastes which would cause her to choose a mate
on account of minute differences in their forms, colours, &c.”
Here Lam unable to follow him. As natural selection continually
acts for the future good of a species, it is evident that in order to
attain this end a healthy female is as essential as a healthy male,
and therefore those females which are first ready to breed, and
before whom the males display their plumage, must be in a
healthy and fit condition ; if the reverse were the case, and an
unhealthy female had as great a chance of securing a mate as a
healthy one, then such a theory as Mr. Wallace puts forward
would become untenable. But the evidence in support of such
a supposition is strong. The females of all the migratory species
arrive after the males, the interval between the sexes varying in
different species. The arrival of the females is spread over some
days; at first they come sparingly, but later increase rapidly.
Among the Ducks, a female desires to choose a mate; to her all
the drakes pay homage, regardless of other females round, who in
their turn are apparently disinterested spectators of the display
of the males. Natural selection therefore has probably im-
planted in the female a faculty whereby she becomes conscious
of the fact that she is in a healthy and fit condition to breed.
According, then, to Mr. Wallace, in order to obtain the same
result attained in the female, natural selection has caused the
males to go through an elaborate display, and in addition has
developed in the female the power of selecting the most vigorous
male. Surely this is a fallacy. It would have been a far more
simple process, and one more in keeping with the working of
natural selection, as we know it, if the same power developed in
the female had also been developed in the male; and supposing
such were the case, then, no explanation is afforded by such a
theory for the display. There is another objection directly
arising out of this theory, which alone makes it almost incon-
ceivable that colours, &c., could have been developed in this
manner. It is this: that if all plumes, colours, song, and form
ON SEXUAL SELECTION IN BIRDS. 413
are due to a surplus vital energy, and their development to the
preference shown by the female for the healthiest male, then how
is it possible that health and vigour alone could have developed
that wonderful harmony of colour, &c., which we call beautiful ?
Birds might have developed into ungainly creatures, our most
beautiful songsters might have developed shrieks; and yet, if
Mr. Wallace’s theory is accepted, such a development as I have
indicated would have served the purpose of natural selection
equally as well, in that it would have been just as much a sign to
the female of health and vigour in the male. From the beauty
of the colours previously referred to, and from the harmony with
which variations tend to develop, it is evident that there is in
nature some direct power continually at work fostering and
developing all that is beautiful. As touching on the question of
song, it is a curious fact that I have never heard the male Black-
cap while mating attempt to mimic other species; yet, during
July, I have heard him mimic—and mimic the Nightingale ex-
ceedingly well. It must be as great—probably a greater—effort
on the part of a bird to mimie than to sing its natural song, and
therefore, in this case, it seems to point to some other power,
beyond mere vigour and health, immanent in the bird, which
gives it control over its vocal powers, and in this respect it sup-
ports my general argument.
What, then, is the explanation of this display ? For some
years I have been impressed with the exceeding variation in
plumage, and song, amongst individuals of the same species, and
I have come to regard these variations as coincident with
the age of the individual. I cannot call to mind any instance
amongst our common species in which this variation does not
to some extent occur. A few examples will illustrate my mean-
ing. The vinous tint on the breast of the Whitethroat varies
considerably ; the older males possess it in. a marked degree,
while in some of the younger birds it can with difficulty be
traced ; the older males also have brighter grey on the head and
neck, and much more intense fawn on the flanks. The male
Grasshopper-Warbler is generally described as having dark
spots on the neck; the older males do not possess these spots,
but have instead a rich fawn-colour ; they also have a much
purer white on the belly. than the younger bird.
414 : THE ZOOLOGIST.
The old Blackcaps have a much finer song than the younger
birds, and in addition have much finer plumage ; the feathers on
the belly are a much purer white, the back is more olive-green,
and the eyelid is much whiter. The Wood-Warbler shows very
great variation, but here the colours are so delicate that a
description is:almost impossible; the different shades of green,
however, are much more intensified in the older birds. The
Stonechat affords an excellent illustration, especially as several
pairs are frequently close together, and allow of comparison.
As arule the feathers of the back are edged with black; some-
times, in birds of the first year, they can hardly be said to show
any black at all. In the old birds, however, the back may be
said to be as black as the head, and in addition the rufous colour
of the breast is much deeper, and the belly a much purer white.
The Brambling in winter is another good illustration, because
the different grades of colouring are so marked; the old males
have the head and back a much deeper black, and the breast a
more intense red. The old male Yellowhammers are marked
with a much more intense yellow, especially on the head. In
many cases also the feathers are longer, consequently the form
is more perfect. A development of the same kind takes place in
the song of many birds; the Blackbird is most noticeable, and
the attempts of the younger birds can be easily picked out, such
attempts being often very feeble. Here, then, we have firm
ground on which a theory can be based, 7. e. that the tendency
for the colours to become more intensified, and the plumage and
song more perfect, is proportionate to the age of the indi-
vidual. Such a tendency could not exist without motive on
the one hand, and support on the other; this support is, I
believe, supplied by esthetic sense. If, as a bird matures, it
becomes more beautiful, what reason, it may be asked, can there
be for any display ? What necessity for any other power? I
wish, however, to show that such beauty is not solely dependent
on age, but must necessarily be subservient to some other
power. ‘Those who have studied sexual selection amongst any
species will understand how difficult it is to happen to be present
when the final selection takes place, and therefore to place on
record specific cases as proof of the most perfect males being
chosen is a most difficult task. I can, however, in the case of
ON SHXUAL SELECTION IN BIRDS. 415
the Stonechat, affirm that I have seen the finest old males first
paired. Under such conditions, where the older and more
beautiful males prove more attractive to the females, any theory
which is primarily based on supposed advantages gained by a
male, which, having through some slight variation proved more
attractive, is first paired, and which includes the transmission of
such a variation to the offspring, making them in their turn more
attractive to the females, inasmuch as such offspring in com-
petition with more mature males would not be first selected,
becomes untenable. I have already given my reasons for con-
cluding that all the males which are competing for a female are
in an equally healthy and vigorous condition; natural selection,
therefore, at this point, as far as the future of the species is con-
cerned, has done its work, and beyond this point sexual selection
comes into play for the development for beauty only. In pro-
portion as each successive season a male develops and sees the
advantages that accrue from such development, so will the desire
for further development increase; when the limit of such de-
velopment is reached, variations will tend to occur—I use the
word variation for want of a better; exceeding development
expresses my meaning more clearly—such variations will be
transmitted to the offspring, and will appear and be developed
as the young matures. :
Very little appears to be known concerning ine: age at which
a bird commences to kreed; this much, however, we do know—
that there are yearly great numbers of individuals that do not
breed, and the evidence seems to show that such individuals are
immature. We have then a gradual process of development,
amongst the healthy individuals of a species, due to the action
of inherent sthetic sense in combination with a tendency for.
the plumage to develop with age, on exactly similar lines—and
that this development should be as perfect as possible, a careful
display of the male is essential.
One of the arguments used against Mr. Darwin’s theory of
sexual selection was that it was improbable that females in
different places should have chosen the same variation; but
here such an argument could not be used, inasmuch as variations
are due to continuous laws of growth, and only developed by
inherent esthetic sense. The plumage of the female develops
416 THE ZOOLOGIST.
with maturity in the same manner as that of the male. In the
female, however, the colours are, as a rule, duller, and pro-
portionately as they are duller, the variations at different stages
of maturity are less striking ; in addition to this the plumage is
not developed to such an extent, and consequently the form of
the bird is less perfect. These facts appear to support my
theory. The tendency to develop is there, but, inasmuch as the
males court the females, and not the females the males, the
rivalry, which on this account exists amongst the males, is un-
necessary among the females; consequently the power, which
acts as a stimulant to further development of the plumage of the
male, is absent in the case of the female.
Mr. Darwin, in his ‘ Descent of Man,’ mentions various cases
in which the females are brighter than the males, and concludes
that in these cases the order is changed, and that instead of the
females selecting the males, the males select the females. In so
far as it is due to the selection of one sex by the other being
reversed, I agree with him; but, as I have previously pointed
out, I differ from him in the manner in which sexual selection
works,
It will be seen, then, that my suggested explanation of the dis-
play and selection differs very materially from others; more espe-
cially in this fact, that it is not based on direct advantages gained
by the offspring of the most successful males, but on the natural
development of inherited laws of growth; and, in addition, it re-
gards the action of sexual selection, together with this tendency to
develop with age, solely as a means for the development of beauty.
In contemplating animated nature we see a development of beauty
so marvellous that we can only conclude that such a development
must have been equally as important in the history of the world
as the development of the fittest in other respects.
We see in man the esthetic sense developed to the highest
degree, and if we regard that higher idea of creation, which the
word Evolution embraces, as applicable to man, then we must
look upon this sense as having been dependent on a very modest
origin. ‘lo deny, therefore, to the lower animals a sense in pro-
portion to their development seems to me inconsistent with the
whole theory of evolution. The origin of this sense, and of
beauty, remains—despite the lengths to which the Weismann
ON SHXUAL SELECTION IN BIRDS. 417
conception of natural selection has taken us—as great a mystery
as ever. Creative power—that power which evolution reveals at
every turn—can alone supply an answer. Itis difficult to under-
stand how such a condition of thought could have arisen, which,
while admitting the principle of evolution, denied the possibility
of creative power. Such questions as have here been discussed,
together with others of equal interest, can only be solved by the
closest study of animal life. By life 1 do not mean death. This
may sound paradoxical, but it is none the less true; for, until it
comes to be recognized that the knowledge of the working and
development of the mind of an animal is of greater importance
than the knowledge of the body—is the human mind considered
of little importance ?—the solution of such questions will remain
in doubt, and no progress will be made towards supplying an
answer to the great mystery alluded to in the following beautiful
lines :—
‘Flower in the crannied wall,
I pluck you out of the crannies ;
I hold you here, root and all, in my hand,
Little flower—but if I could understand
What you are, root and all, and all in all,
I should know what God and man is.’’
Zool. 4th ser. vol. VII., November, 1908. 2K
418 THE ZOOLOGIST.
SOME NOTES OF RARE BIRDS FROM KENT
AND SUSSEX.
By N. F. Ticeuurst, M.A., M.B.O.U.
THE past twelvemonth has been so remarkable in its pro-
duction of rare birds in this district (i.e. S.W. Kent and S.E.
Sussex) that it seems well worth while to bring together all the
records that I have been able to collect during that time.
It would seem that the conditions were particularly favourable
last autumn for staying the birds on this coast during their
migration, and, though I was unable myself to make many
observations, I certainly heard the birds passing over at night in
apparently greater numbers than usual. Wagtails, both Yellow
and Blue-headed, as well as the Pied, lingered longer than usual,
and several Pied Flycatchers and Black Redstarts were observed.
Of the waders, certainly more than the usual numbers of Little
Stints, Curlew-Sandpipers, Knots, Reeves, and Dotterel—all
rather rare birds on this coast—were seen and obtained.
In the following lst will be noticed the occurrence in this
district of no fewer than three species for the first time in this
country, viz. the White-spotted Bluethroat, the Black-headed
Wagtail, and the Black-winged Pratincole. For the majority of
the specimens I am indebted to Mr. Bristow, the well-known
taxidermist of St. Leonards-on-Sea, for permission to examine
and record them. Where they have been previously recorded, I
have given the reference, so that there may be no confusion if
any future workers want to make use of the records.
August 8th, 1902.—Aquatic Warbler (Acrocephalus aquaticus),
male, shot on the military canal at Winchelsea.
1lth.—A female shot at the same place. This pair, the fifth
and sixth examples that have been recorded in this country, were
exhibited at the British Ornithologists’ Club on Oct. 22nd, 1902,
by T. L. Bonhote, Esq. (vide Bull. B. O. C. xci.).
RARHK BIRDS FROM KENT AND SUSSEX. 419
September 22nd.—A young male Rustic Bunting (Hmberiza
rustica) shot at Westfield. It was seen by my brother in the
flesh, and exhibited by me at the British Ornithologists’ Club,
Oct. 22nd, 1902 (vide Bull. B. O. C. xci.). This is the second
time this bird has occurred in Sussex, and the fourth time in this
country.
October 6th.—A fine adult male of the White-spotted Blue-
throat (Cyanecula wolfi), picked up dead under the lighthouse
at Dungeness. It was exhibited by Mr. M. J. Nicoll at the
British Ornithologists’ Club on Oct. 22nd, and is probably the
first authentic occurrence of this race of Bluethroat in this
country (vide Bull. B. O. C. xci.; Zool. 1902, p. 464).
14th.—A young Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus) shot at Kast
Guldeford in Romney Marsh.
25th.—A fine adult male Glossy Ibis (P. falcinellus) shot be-
tween Pevensey and Bexhill. A young male Spoonbill (Platalea
leucorodia) was also shot on this date at Broomhill, in Romney
Marsh. It was a very small bird. Mr. Chapman, of Rye, to
whom the bird now belongs, informs me that it was shot just on
the Sussex side of the Kent ditch. On this day also several
Spotted Crakes were seen by a party of sportsmen near Rye, and
one (a male bird) was obtained.
29th.—An immature female Water-Pipit (Anthus spipoletia)
shot at Rye Harbour by Mr. M. J. Nicoll, and was exhibited on
his behalf at the British Ornithologists’ Club by. Mr. Howard
Saunders. It was a remarkably small specimen. ‘This is the
seventh record for this species in Sussex (vide Bull. B. O.C. xcii.).
November 7th.—An immature female Merlin (Falco esalon)
was shot at Ninfield bya man named Sergeant. It is nowin my
collection.
8th.—An immature Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus) shot be-
tween Pevensey and Kastbourne. This is probably the bird seen
by Mr. A. H. Machell Cox at Pevensey Sluice on Nov. 6th, and
reported by him in the ‘ Field’ of Nov. 22nd.
12th.—A male Firecrest (Regulus ignicapillus) shot by Mr.
M. J. Nicoll at Camber.
December 12th.—A female Kite (Milvus ictinus) trapped by
a gardener between Battle and Robertsbridge ; a second bird was
also seen.
2K2
420 THE ZOOLOGIST.
24th.—The second Kite (a male bird) was shot near What-
lington, and therefore had not wandered far from where its mate
was trapped. The female is now in the collection of Fleetwood ©
Ashburnham, Esq., of Broomham Park.
26th.—A female Two-barred Crossbill (Loxia bifaseean shot
by a Mr. H. Dale at Woodchurch, in Kent. It was a dull grey-
brown bird, with a slight tinge of yellowish green on the flanks,
and a poor specimen from being kept a long time before being
skinned. It was exhibited on my behalf at the British Orni-
thologists’ Club (vide Bull. B. O. C. xev.).
February 8rd, 1908. — A male Bulwer’s Petrel (Bulweria
bulweri) picked up dead on the beach near Beachy Head after a
succession of strong S.W. gales. It was seen by me in the flesh,
and had evidently been dead several days. It was exhibited on
my behalf at the British Ornithologists’ Club (vide Bull. B.O.C.
xcy.). This is only the second time that this Petrel has occurred
in the British Isles.
April 27th.—An adult male Hen-Harrier (Circus cyaneus)
shot at Fairlight.
May 13th.—An adult male Black-headed Wagtail (Motacilla
feldeggt) and two males of the Grey-headed Wagtail (M. borealis)
shot near Willingdon, Sussex. This is the first occurrence of
the former in this country (vide Bull. B. O. C. xcviii.). An adult
male Peregrine (Falco peregrinus) was also shot on Beachy Head
on this date. Two others (both males) were also shot this year
early in March at the same place.
2]st.—A nest and five eggs of the Blue-headed Waatail (Mota-
cilla flava) was found by a man named Potter in his allotment-
garden at Winchelsea. There were two pairs of birds seen, and
itis to be hoped that the other pair hatched off successfully.
It was in this same garden that the nest was found in 1901, as
recorded in ‘ The Zoologist’ (q. v. p. 389). The above nest was
exhibited by me at the British Ornithologists’ Club (vide Bull.
BOL Cs xcix,):
30th.—A male Collared Pratincole (Glareola pratincola) shot
by Mr. Southerden at Jury Gap, in Romney Marsh. It was seen
by me in the flesh, and exhibited at the British Ornithologists’
Club (vide Bull. B. O. C. xcix.). Thisis probably the first occur-
rence of this species in Kent.
RARE BIRDS FROM KENT AND SUSSEX. 421
June 1st.—A male Black-winged Pratincole (G. melanoptera)
shot by Mr. F. Mills near Dungeness Point. This is the first
occurrence of this species in the British Isles, and is recorded
by me in the B. O. C. Bulletin, xcix.
These two Pratincoles are now in the collection of Mr. Fleet-
wood Ashburnham, at Broomham Park.
19th.—An adult female Squacco Heron (Ardea ralloides) shot
near Hast Guldeford, in Romney Marsh.
22nd.—A second adult Squacco Heron (A. ralloides) shot
between Icklesham and Winchelsea. ‘These two specimens are
the third and fourth that have been procured in this locality
within ten months.
July 19th. — A female Black-winged Pratincole (Glareola
melanoptera), in rather worn plumage, shot near Rye (¢f. Zool.
ante, p. 392).
August 24th.—An adult female Hobby (Falco subbuteo) shot
at Ninfield. It was well on in the moult.
29th.—Animmature female Solitary Snipe (Gallinagomajor) and
two Green Sandpipers (T'otanus ochropus) shot at Brede. During
this month a number of Black Terns (Hydrochelidon nigra) were
seen on the River Rother above Rye, and five were procured, all
adult birds, which is rather unusual for this time of year, old
birds being generally seen during the spring migration only. An
Avocet (Recurvirostra avocetta) was also shot between Rye and
Lydd.
September 11th.—An adult male and an immature Bluethroat
(Cyanecula suecica) shot near Pett.
15th.—A second immature male Bluethroat shot at Pett.
In addition to the above record of the nesting of the Blue-
headed Wagtail, I have to record the attempted nesting of
Montagu’s Harrier (Circus cineraceus), and the successful nesting
of the Peregrine (Falco peregrinus).
The Harrier returned this year to its former haunt (which
there is no need to further particularise) for the first time
for ten years; but, as happened then, no sooner had incubation
commenced than she went the way of all ‘‘ vermin.” So far as I
know, the cock escaped, and it is to be hoped will succeed in
finding a mate and returning next year, when perhaps better
luck may attend them.
422 THE ZOOLOGIST.
The Peregrine nested at a spot where, so far as 1 am aware,
no Peregrine has ever nested before—at any rate, there is no
record of the fact; but for obvious reasons the exact locality
need not be made public. They successfully reared four young
ones, and all six birds were seen on the wing on many occasions.
Unfortunately two of the young were shot by a prowling gunner,
but the others soon after took their departure. Having there-
fore been once successful, I trust they will return and rear full
broods every year. At any rate, whether they do or not,
steps will be taken to secure their safety both at this spot and
on Beachy Head, where they evidently are in sore need of it.
( 423 )
ON THE NORTHERN BREEDING RANGE OF THE
DARTFORD WARBLER, SYLVIA UNDATA (Bopp.).
By tHe Rev. F. C. R. Jourpatn, M.A., M.B.O.U.
Mr. H. E. Forrest’s most interesting note (ante, p. 349) on
the breeding of this species in the neighbourhood of Ludlow
confirms the supposition that the northern breeding range of S.
undata has hitherto been imperfectly known, and that further
research may result in the discovery of new breeding haunts. Such
a skulking and inconspicuous species is always liable to be over-
looked even in well-worked localities. At the time of the publi-
cation of the fourth edition of ‘ Yarrell’ it was not known to breed
north of the Thames in any county except Middlesex. Since that
time Prof. Newton has recorded his observations on its breeding
habits in Hast Suffolk (‘Ootheca Wolleyana,’ p. 344, &c.), and
Mr. Howard Saunders, in the second edition of his ‘ Manual’
(1899), gives the following account of its distribution in the
breeding season :—‘‘It is known to breed in nearly all the
southern counties from Cornwall to Kent inclusive, especially in
Hampshire (and the Isle of Wight), Surrey, and Sussex; spar-
ingly in the valley of the Thames, and perhaps in some of the
midland counties, while it has been observed in Cambridgeshire,
and undoubtedly nests in Suffolk and Norfolk.” (It will be seen
from the above extract that Mr. C. Dixon’s account of the
nesting of this species in the Rivelin Valley near Sheffield is not
considered to be authenticated. No subsequent observer has,
as far as I am aware, met with it in the neighbourhood.)
Mr. Forrest’s information places the fact of its having bred
in Shropshire in 1902 beyond dispute, and it will be seen that
there is every reason to suppose that it has also nested in the
neighbouring county of Stafford. Itis included by Dr. McAldowie
in his ‘ Birds of Staffordshire’ (1893) as ‘‘ occurring on Cannock
Chase,” on the authority of Mr. Yates, but no details are given,
and until recently no confirmatory evidence was forthcoming.
424 THE ZOOLOGIST.
However, last year I was informed, by Mr. J. Henderson, of
Hinchley Wood, Mappleton, who lived for many years at Tixall,
on the borders of Cannock Chase, that in or about 1870 he met
with this bird for the first time, and found a nest with eggs
among some bushes not far from the Shugborough Road.
Having a butterfly-net in his hand at the time, he managed by
a lucky stroke to capture the sitting bird, and took both bird
and eggs to a friend, Mr. Mayne, who was naturally incredulous
on being told that a Dartford Warbler’s nest had been found,
but the production of the nest, and, finally, the old bird,
effectually convinced him. Mr. Henderson is a keen observer
of birds, and has a distinct recollection of the peculiar throat
and chest coloration which is so characteristic of this species at
close quarters. Unfortunately he did not realize the importance
of his capture, and took no steps to preserve the skin, or to pub-
lish any account of the occurrence.*
The most northerly locality where specimens of this species
have been actually secured is Melbourne, in 8. Derbyshire, where a
pair were shot during the hard winter of 1840 from the top of a
furze-bush half covered with snow (J. J. Briggs, Zool. p. 2486).
F. B. Whitlock hazards the suggestion that these birds may
have wandered from Charnwood Forest, but it is at least equally
likely that they made their way down the gradual descent of the
Trent Valley from Cannock Chase to Melbourne. It was by
this route that the Red Grouse (which almost certainly came
from the Chase) made their way down to the low-lying country
between Tutbury and Derby in the winter of 1860-61, and
heavy snow on the moors of North-west Derbyshire frequently
drives them down the Dove Valley. Moreover, according to
Mr. M. Browne, the Dartford Warbler has not occurred in
Leicestershire.
That this bird wanders in winter to places remote from its
usual haunts has long been known, and probably, like the Stone-
chat, its numbers are much diminished by a spell of severe
weather. I have myself seen a pair within the precincts of the
** Mr. Henderson’s name will be familiar to students of Messrs. Harvie-
Brown and Buckley’s ‘ Fauna of Argyll and the Inner Hebrides,’ as former
essee of the shooting of Tiree, and a contributor of ornithological notes to
that volume.
BREEDING RANGE OF DARTFORD WARBLER. 425
city of Oxford—hardly the place where one would naturally
expect to meet with it—and other instances are on record of its
turning up in unlikely places.
It is satisfactory to know (as Mr. Forrest informs me) that the
Ludlow colony consists of two pairs of birds, and that one pair
managed to bring off their young.
Although much reduced in numbers of late years in many
of its old breeding haunts in the south, I am glad to say that
in one locality, at any rate, it is still an exceedingly common
bird, and ten or fifteen pairs may be seen in a day; but up to
the present the spot has remained practically unknown to egg-
collectors, although a few birds are annually taken for cage
purposes.
426 THE ZOOLOGIST.
BIRD-LIFE ON AN INDIAN MARSH.
By Gorpon DALGLIESH.
Tue marshes of Bengal are large tracts of land almost entirely
covered with water after the rains, but which dry up to a certain
extent in the hot weather, leaving behind deep pools, which are
covered with beautiful water-lilies and bordered with rushes.
Rice is grown around the edge and in the shallow water, and
affords both food and shelter to all kinds of wildfowl.
A favourite haunt and shooting-ground of mine was such a
marsh that was situated close to the Tirhoot State Railway.
Standing on a road that ran alongside the marsh, at sunset, one
heard the whistle and rush of many wings, caused by the huge
flocks of Duck which came to feed on the rice. The natives
used to snare these Duck and other birds by stretching long
nets hung between two poles, and on dark nights the birds,
flying low over the water, got entangled in the meshes, and were
so found in the morning, when they were taken away and sold
alive in the bazaars.
The commonest of all birds on these marshes were the
Coots (Fulica atra), which simply swarmed in thousands, a few
pairs remaining to breed in the hot weather. A great enemy to
these birds was Pallas’s Fishing Eagle (Haliaétus leucocoryphus),
and many a Coot have I seen carried off by this robber to feed
two voracious young in a nest situated in a neighbouring simul-
tree.
One of the handsomest of all the migratory Ducks was the
Red-crested Pochard (Netta rufina). A curious fact I noticed
about this bird, was, that one always invariably came across large
flocks consisting only of males, and small flocks of only females,
though of course at times they became mixed.
Keeping very much to the shelter of the rushes, and never
wandering far from them, were small flocks of White-eyed
Pochards (Nyroca ferruginea), which was, with the Gadwall
(Chaulelasmus streperus), the commonest Duck on this marsh.
BIRD-LIFE ON AN INDIAN MARSH. 427
As a rule they were tame compared with other fowl, and one
was pretty certain of bagging a couple or so out of every flock
that came across. One summer I kept a number of these Duck
in an aviary, in the hope that they would breed, but in this I
was disappointed. th
On several occasions I came across the pretty little Tufted
Duck (Nyroca fuligula), but for some unknown reason they were
very irregular in their migrations, and in some years were almost
common, while in the next year perhaps not one would be seen.
When rising off the water they skim the surface like a Coot, and
dive rather than fly when danger threatens them.
The Pintail (Dafila acuta) was the wariest of all the Ducks.
After firing a shot they would rise up right out of range, and,
after circling round once or twice, would fly away, to return
no more until all was quiet again. During the cold season of
1897-98 these Duck came in such enormous flocks as to cause
considerable damage to the rice-crops. I once or twice came
across the Shoveler (Spatula clypeata), and on those occasions
found it far less shy than many other fowl, and when wounded
did not resort to diving. ‘The flesh of the Shoveler is always
said to be rank and fishy in flavour. I certainiy did not find
this the case; the ones I ate were delicious.
Both the Cotton Teal (Nettopus coromandelianus) and small
Whistling Duck (Dendrocycna javanica) were common and resi-
dent on the marsh. In some places I have seen the latter bird
in flocks of hundreds; indeed, it was a marvel to me where they
all came from. Both these species are good divers, and are
seldom recovered if ‘‘ winged.’”’ Harly one morning in December
I came across a couple of Barred-headed Geese (Anser indicus)
feeding in the stubble.
I remember one bitterly cold morning in December arriving
at the marsh for a shoot at 4a.m. ‘The day was just dawning,
and clouds of mist were rising off the water. ‘The first bird I
noticed was a Great Crested Grebe (Podicipes cristatus), which
looked twice its real size in the weird grey morning light. After
chasing it about the water for an hour and a half (trying to get
within range, which I could not do on account of its repeated
dives), I bagged it—a fine male. This was the only one I got.
There were two more, which J tried for another day, but failed
428 THE ZOOLOGIST.
to obtain. ‘I'he diving powers of these birds are astonishing. I
know of no bird that can touch them in this (except, of course,
the big sea-divers), though Hume says the Smew dives even better.
I doubt it.
The Little Grebe (P. albipennis) was a common resident, and
bred during July and August. The Purple Moorhen (Porphyrio
poliocephalus) was common, and in August constructed huge
nests of paddy or rice. The pretty little Water Pheasant (Hydro-
phasianus chirurgus), whose plaintive mewing cry must be
familiar to all Bengal sportsmen, was plentiful, and made a
nest amid the lotus leaves and rice.
Fishing near the shallows were numerous species of Terns,
the most common being the Whiskered Tern (Hydrochelidon
hybrida), which bred somewhere near at hand. Feeding on the
mud were numerous Small Waders, as Sandpipers, Black-winged
Stilts, &&. Once or twice I have shot Curlews, but they were
very shy and difficult to approach, and always had a sentinel
posted to warn them of any danger or suspicious object.
Three species of Snipe are found here: the Common Snipe
(Gallinago celestis), the Pintail (G. sternura), and the little
“Jack” (G. gallinula).
One of the most familiar of all Indian birds is the little Pond
Heron, or Paddy Bird (Ardeola grayi), and is to be found quietly
fishing by nearly every piece of water. I once had the good
fortune to secure the Great White Heron (Herodias alba). I
never came across another. It was by this marsh that I first
made the acauaintance of the Bittern (Botaurus stellaris), and
narrowly escaped having my hand run through with its powerful
bill, when I went to pick it up after shooting, before it was dead.
Kingfishers of four species are met with, namely, our own
Alcedo ispida, the White- breasted Kingfisher (Halcyon smyrnensis),
the Stork-billed (Pelargopsis gurial), and Pied Kingfisher (Ceryle
varia). The last-named species catches its prey like a Kestrel,
first hovering over it, and then, with a quick downward plunge,
securing the fish, which it swallows while on the wing.
( 429 )
THE GIANT GOBY (GOBIUS CAPITO, C.& V.).
By Freperick Pickarp-Camprince, F.Z.S.
(Prate VIII.)
In ‘The Zoologist’ for 1899 (p. 429) an editorial note refers to
the discovery of this magnificent fish on the coast of Brittany by
Mr. G. A. Boulenger, a species which had hitherto been taken only
in the Mediterranean. It was remarked by the captor at that time
that in all probability this Goby would also be found in the South
of England, presumably off the coast of Cornwall; for Couch, who
lived at Polperro, spoke of Gobdius niger attaining the length of
9-10 in., and being confined to rock-pools. The true G. niger, as
usually identified by authors, however, never attains a greater length
than 5in. With the object of finding out if possible what this big
Goby might be, at Mr. Boulenger’s suggestion I hunted the rock-pools
in the vicinity of Port Scatho, between Falmouth and Fowey, in Corn-
wall, where I happened to be during August and September of this
year.
The result was highly gratifying, for the Giant Goby was there
in plenty, both large and small. It is certainly strange that Couch
should not have distinguished between this fish and the Black Goby,
for the same characters distinguish it from this species as serve for
a distinction between the Black Goby and the Rock Goby (G. paga-
nellus); and Couch was well acquainted with the distinctive characters
in the latter case. Couch’s figure of the Black Goby (G. niger) is
obviously taken from one of these large rock-pool Gobies.
The discovery of this new British fish in Cornwall shows how much
there is still to be done in identifying species of fish and ascertaining
their distribution, apart from the question of their habits and foodstuffs.
Messrs. Holt and Byrne have published a most excellent monograph
on the British Gobies, but unfortunately the recognition of the Giant
Goby in British waters was not made in time for its inclusion in that
work, only issued at the beginning of the year.
[We have to thank the publishers of the ‘Field’ for their courtesy
in lending us the block to illustrate this paper.—Ep.|
430 THE ZO00LOGIST.
NOTES AND QUERIES.
MAMMALIA.
Lesser Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus hipposiderus) in Carnarvon-
shire.—As the distribution of the Lesser Horseshoe Bat is still im-
perfectly known, it may be of interest to record the occurrence of the
species in Carnarvonshire. I have recently seen an example which
was taken on Sept. 24th near Tal-y-Bont. The Bat was hanging with
about a dozen others of the same species to the roof of a cave on the
bank of the Afon Dulyn, a tributary of the Conway. — Cuas. OLDHAM
(Knutsford).
Blind Rats and Mice.—In cutting peas in one of my fields here on
August 38rd, five young Rats, estimated at about a month old, were
killed, and a short distance off a pregnant doe Rat, which was probably
their mother. The doe and one of the young ones were in normal
condition, but the other four were blind of both eyes; in one instance
one of the eyes was gone, and the lids had coalesced, requiring con-
siderable force to separate them, showing the injury was of some days’
standing. The only explanation I can suggest is that this was the
work of a pair of Red-backed Shrikes which were nesting in an
adjoining hedge, in the same way that Magpies and Jays treat
Rabbits ; but the pea-haulm afforded excellent cover, and it is remark-
able that. within the few days which can only have elapsed since the
young Rats first left the nest the butcher-birds should have sueceeded
in pecking both eyes of four individuals, which subsequently escaped
them. The only other explanation that occurs to me is to ask whether
there is any beetle or other invertebrate of any sort known which
attacks the eyes of nestling small mammals? One occasionally meets
with an adult Rat blind of one eye, but that I have always attributed
to one or other of the many accidents that Rat-flesh is heir to—such
as wounded by man,. by shot, or stick, or fighting one of its own
species. At my old home at Great Marlow I met with hundreds of Mice
blind of one or both eyes. Many years ago an Iceland pony which I
imported went blind, and it seems just possible that the form of
ophthalmia from which he suffered may have been contagious, and
NOTES AND QUERIES. 431
have communicated itself to the Mice. Certainly at first the blind
specimens were all captured in or round the stables, but later they
were obtained from all parts of the garden, and the house itself; but
no other Horse orother animal suffered, and I am not sure of the date
when I first began noticing these blind Mice. — Aurrep HEnEAGE
Cooks.
AVES.
British Examples of the White-spotted Bluethroat.—Under this
heading (ante, p. 23), Mr. T. H. Nelson writes that the first British-
killed example of this Bluethroat was obtained at Scarborough, and
described by the Rev. J. G. Tuck (Zool., June, 1876, p. 4956). On
‘referring to this note I find that a specimen of the bird was picked up
under the telegraph-wires near Scarborough on April 12th, 1876. It
was described by Mr. Tuck as a female bird, and containing well-
developed eggs. If Mr. Nelson will refer to Dresser’s ‘ Manual of
Palearctic Birds’ (1902), p. 62, he will find that Mr. Dresser, in de-
scribing the female of the Red-spotted Bluethrvat, says that the
‘female and young resemble those of the White-spotted form, ‘there
being no character by which they are distinguishable.”’ At the end
of his note Mr. Tuck says that only one other individual of this type
is recorded as having been met with in Britain. I may as well
mention here that this was the example supposed by Mr. Hancock to
have been taken near London in May, 1845. It was, however, pur-
chased from a dealer whose traffic with Holland was notorious
(cf. Saunders’s ‘ Manual of British Birds,’ Ist edit. (1889) ). I think I
am therefore justified in saying that the bird I exhibited at a meeting
of the B. O. C. last October, and recorded in ‘ The Zoologist,’ is the
first authentic British example of the White-spotted Bluethroat.—
Micuart J. Nrcour (10, Charles Road, St. Leonards).
Tawny Pipits (Anthus campestris) inSussex.—At the one hundredth
meeting of the B. O. C., held on Oct. 21st, I exhibited two pairs of
Tawny Pipits, which I shot at Rye Harbour, in Sussex. I obtained
the first pair on Sept. 22nd ; they were feeding on a stretch of swampy
sround which had just been left bare by the falling tide, in company
with a large flock of Meadow-Pipits. Their: note was a soft double
chirp, not unlike that of a Linnet. On Sept. 24th, at the same place,
_ I met another pair, which, like the former, were in immature plumage,
though all were just beginning to get a few new feathers on the upper
parts. They appeared very pale in coloration when alive, and walked
very upright. There have been about nineteen previous records of
this species in Sussex, in which coynty most of. the British examples
432 THE 4ZOOLOGIST.
of this bird have been taken. Probably numbers of others have been
overlooked,.as amongst the large numbers of Meadow-Pipits (Anthus
pratensis) which appear on our south coast during September it is
quite likely there are many rare Pipits such as A. cervinus every year.
At the same meeting of the B.O.C. I exhibited an adult male
Great Reed-Warbler (Acrocephalus turdoides), which I shot on Sept.
25th on a disused brickfield close to the West St. Leonards Railway
Station. I first saw it feeding at the top of some sallow-bushes, but
on finding itself observed it became very skulking, and it was not till
an hour later that I rediscovered it in a bed of nettles, and shot it. The
tarsi and toes of this specimen were dark slate-grey, and its gizzard
contained earwigs. As Mr. Howard Saunders remarks (‘ Man. Brit.
Birds,’ p. 83), it is curious that this species, which is so common on
the Continent, should so seldom visit our shores. Its size alone would
at once attract attention. The bird I shot uttered no note, but it was
plainly visible at a distance as it hopped about the bushes, and looks
like a very large Garden- Warbler. This is the fifth authentic record
of this bird in Britain, and the first in Sussex, for although Mr. Borrer
(‘Birds of Sussex,’ p. 64) mentions a bird having been seen which was
believed to be this species, it was not obtained.— M. J. Nicoun
(10, Charles Road, St. Leonards).
Goldfinch (Carduelis elegans) in South Africa.—A few months ago
there appeared in our pages (ante, p. 227) a statement made by a Mr.
Barton, of the Suffolk Regiment, that Goldfinches were common half-
way up the hills at Heidelberg, in the Transvaal, and were breeding
there. I thought it best to add a qualifying note to this record, as it
was against my own experience in the Transvaal, and I stated that I
had written to that country, and to that locality, for further information
on the matter. Mr. F. G. Nicholson, who then resided at Standerton,
within easy distance of Heidelberg, replied :—‘‘I have seen no Gold-
finches near Standerton or Heidelberg, and am of opinion that even
though the soldier mentioned did capture them, they must have but
recently escaped from confinement.’’ He added he was making further
inquiries, and I have just received another letter from him on the sub-
ject, in which he says :—‘‘I have done all I can, and have interviewed
Heidelbergians, but can find no confirmation of the story.” Mr. A.
Ross, of Johannesburg, also gives me the same negative information.
I therefore think that the presence of the Goldfinch in a wild state
either at Heidelberg or any other district of the Transvaal can be
considered as a record probably based on hasty and inexperienced
observation.—W. L. Disranr.
NOTES AND QUERIES. 433
Cuckoo calling in July—Whilst at a bowling party at Stalham on
Aug. 17th ult. a Cuckoo flew across the green; one of the players
thereupon told me that he had heard one calling in the Broad district
on Aug. 13th. From my own notes I cull the following :—Earliest
appearance, W. Rudham, Norfolk, April 13th, 1891. Latest seen,
Potter Heigham, Norfolk, Sept. 25th, 1901. Earliest egg (Greenfinch
nest), Canvey Island, Essex, May 8th, 1882. Latest ege (Wagtail’s
nest), Hickling, Norfolk, July 7th, 1899. Latest calling, July 8th,
1891; Brunstead, Norfolk.. How late the Wood-Pigeons are breeding
this autumn! On Sept. 19th there were eggs still unhatched at Cat-
field. Shooting there on Sept. 21st, my dog brought me an unfledged
squab from a very low nest in an alder-stub, and our ‘‘ bag” included
eleven with particles of down still adhering to their neck-feathers, and
nineteen such were accounted for at Horning on the following day.
My log-book, however, reminds me that I handled a ‘“ brancher’’ of
this prolific species on Dec. 2nd, 1886. — Maurice C. H. Brepv (Brun-
stead Rectory, Stalham).
An October Cuckoo.—The occurrence of a Cuckoo in October seems
almost as improbable as the oft-repeated story of the Cuckoo in March,
but my friend the Rev. H. A. Harris, of Aldeburgh, came to me for a
night on Oct. 1st, and assured me that a young Cuckoo was siill
frequenting some of the gardens in that town. On Oct. 7th he wrote
to me :—‘‘I have to-day again seen the Cuckoo. I followed him up
and got quite near him in a garden close to our house. He perched
on the ground, or rather on a heap of garden-refuse, and began to eat
what I think were cabbage-butterfly caterpillars, of which there were a
great number crawling about seeking some place to spin up in. He
was very dark indeed; even the neck and chest were a dark cigar-ash
colour, and the abdomen was barred with reddish brown.’’—Ju.ian G.
Tuck (Tostock Rectory, Bury St. Edmunds).
Large Flight of Rough-legged Buzzards near Scarborough.—On
Oct. 16th about a dozen Rough-legged Buzzards (Buteo lagopus) were
seen hovering about on the moor near to the racecourse; four fine
birds were secured, and the remainder are now scattered about the
locality, some having since been seen in the carrs, others on the wolds,
and on the cliffs. The following birds have also been captured near
Scarborough, viz. a fine mature male Peregrine Falcon, Little Gull,
Crossbill, Black Tern, and a fine variety of pied Stock-Dove. — J.
Morey (King Street, Scarborough).
Strange. behaviour of Peregrines in Ireland.— We have received
Zool. 4th ser. vol. VII., November, 1908. 2 L
434 , THE ZOOLOGIST.
from Mr. A. H. Evans, of Cambridge, the following very interesting
letter from one of his correspondents :—
‘* Probably you may remember leaving your address ee me when
here with Mr. Ussher last April; as I intended writing you, with
a view to your obtaining me a purchaser for the young Peregrine
hawks, if the gentleman who usually took them from me did not
want them this year. The nest, as I will relate, was very unfortunate.
You will remember Mr. Ussher going to it, and reporting ‘ three eggs,
one a beautifully marked one.’ Four or five days after, I noticed
what I thought was a strange Peregrine on the cliff im which the
Raven bred. After starting it from its perch, it arose in the air,
when the local tiercel suddenly made its appearance, and after some
slight aerial encounters the two birds flew inland, one apparently
in pursuit of the other. I said to myself, this is evidently either a
strange Hawk, or else the Falcon must have forsaken her nest in the
adjoining cliff; so I will take a run over and have alook- I went
across directly, and found the Falcon sitting snugly on the nest, when
IT became certain that a strange Hawk was around. I went on the
morrow to the cliff on which I saw the strange Hawk the preceding
day, and, peering cautiously over the cliff-top, I saw this bird on a
jutting crag, looking like an immense Falcon; while, singular to tell,
almost the exact spot on which she stood was a breeding-site of the
local Peregrines from which I saw Mr. Ussher take eggs some twelve
years ago, and from which I took young Peregrines some six years pre-
viously. After straightening myself up, the Falcon at once saw me, and,
with loud screams, took wing and flew away ; but I came again late in
the evening of the same day, and found her roosting in the cliff. Next
day I saw the local tiercel and herself having those aerial encounters
again, and I could hear the Falcon emitting those wild cries peculiar to
the bird at the beginning of the breeding season. I then went across
to the breeding-site, and found the local Falcon sitting all right
on the nest. A day or two after I found two Peregrines (I had the
glass with me) sitting on the wall of the old ruin (which, you may
remember, overlooked the Raven’s nest) within four yards of each
other, and apparently on friendly terms. My curiosity was aroused,
so I hurried across to the breeding-site of the Peregrines, from which
I could command both a view of the nest and of the two birds
at the same time. On the nest I still found the Falcon sitting
tightly, when I thought this tiercel of mine is fast becoming a
polygamous bird, and evidently intends presenting me with another
clutch of young Peregrines this season. A few days passed, and I
NOTES AND QUERIES. 435
paid another visit to the breeding-site. I had the glass with me,
but scan the nest as I would, I could not discern a trace of the
Falcon ; and I went next day, with a like result. I was completely
surprised and nonplussed at the absence of the bird at such a critical
stage of the incubation, which was somewhere about the last week
in April. Next morning my servant was out doing some work by
the cliff-side, and on his return he told me he had seen a great fight
between the two big Hawks (i.e. the Peregrines), that they clawed
each other in the air, and were both falling into the sea when they
separated. One flew upward, and the other fell into the sea, but
after striking the water it rebounded again, and, flying shoreward for
some yards, fell again into the sea, when it commenced flopping and
floundering towards the shore, which it reached after much ado, and
in a most bedraggled condition. The place which the bird reached
cannot strictly be called ‘the shore,’ as deep water is there at every
stage of the tide, but there are shelves at the base of this particular
cliff, from which the sea recedes at low water, and on which an
incoming wave floated the poor bird. I made a search for the bird a
short time afterwards, but without result. Probably the tide, which
flowed in the meantime, must have carried the Hawk away.
My theory of the whole matter is this. The strange Falcon must have
ultimately seduced the local tiercel from his allegiance to his mate, and
the latter remained on the eggs forlorn, until hunger compelled her to
go foraging for herself. She must have been on one of these foraging
expeditions when she chanced to fall in with her rival, and, as she was
weakened by starvation and worn out by her long period of incubation,
her rival easily overcame and vanquished her. I intended going down
to the nest to see how matters stood there, but as I was expecting
Mr. Ussher, I put off the visit until he came, about a fortnight
after. I told him all I have written, and thought he might like to
go down and see the nest. He was, however, suffering from a sore
knee, and could not go. I then proposed to go myself, as I was
really anxious to see how the eggs fared. Mr. Ussher said I would
probably get no eggs, as the Grey Crows would have carried them off.
I went down, and found only two eggs, very much discoloured and
stone-cold. So thus fared the Peregrines’ nest this season. I have to
apologise for asking you to wade through this tedious letter, but I
thought the circumstances of the case rather novel, and that you
might like to learn the whole details. I hope you will keep me in
mind as regards a sale for the young Peregrines next season, as 1 may
have occasion to write to you.—P. Govueu (Island-Stradbally, Portlaw,
Treland).”’
436 THE ZOOLOGIST.
Sabine’s Gull in Yorkshire.—Another Sabine’s Gull (Xema sabinit)
was shot in Bridlington Bay on Oct. 7th, and received here in the flesh
two days later. This one was a bird of the year, and except for the
black-tipped tail much resembles a young Black Tern in plumage. It
makes up five in all (four adults) obtained on the Yorkshire coast in
less than six weeks, while probably others have been sent away with
Terns for millinery purposes.—Juuian G. Tuck (Tostock Rectory,
Bury St. Edmunds).
Was it a Great Auk? ?—I have under me a Finn, who is a great
hunter, trapper, &c., and who is well acquainted with all sea-birds,
Mammalia, and everything else pertaining to these parts. The man,
knowing that I am greatly interested in ornithology, came to me one
day and said, in his broken Norsk, that he had seen a bird swimming
and diving about in the bay which he had never seen before. It was,
he said, quite tame, and was close in to the wharf. He described it as
nearly all black, and with a big beak, but not a beak like the Cor-
morant, but more like a ‘“‘ Lunde”’ or Puffin. Ithought at once of the
Great Northern Diver, but on showing him the figure in ‘ Yarrell’ he
laughed, and said it was a bigger bird; and besides, he knew the Diver,
and told me at once there were two, one small and one large. I
showed him dlca impennis, and he said that was just like it, only he
did not see any white on it. This, if swimming, is possible. He would
have gone for his gun, but did not like to do soin work hours. I can-
not say I regret that he did not. I give you this for what it is worth.
I know the man well, and that he could have no possible object or in-
clination to concoct a tale. I have found all his information abso-
lutely reliable — H. A. A. Domprain (BritishVice-Consul, Brettesness,
Lofoten).
Notes from Lincolnshire.—The following birds are in the hands of
Mr. Nash, of Lincoln, for preservation. All of them were obtained
between Sept. 20th and 29th near the outfall of the River Welland :—
Black-tailed Godwit (Limosa belgica), male; Spotted Redshank (TVotanus
fuscus) ; Reeve (Machetes pugnax), immature; and Red-necked Phala-
rope (Phalaropus hyperboreus), male, immature. — F, L. Brarawayr
(5, Monks Leys Terrace, Lincoln).
(Ze)
NOTICES OF NEW BOOKS.
A Treatise on Zoology. Edited by HK. Ray Lanxester, M.A.,
LL.D., F.R.S., &c. Part I. Introduction and Protozoa.
Sec. Fascic. by J. B. Farmer, D.Sc., J. J. Lister, M.A.,
E. A. Mincuin, M.A., and 8. J. Hickson, F.R.S. Adam
& Charles Black.
THe term “serious students” is probably exact, but too
suggestive ; we may propose ‘real students,” and all such will
appreciate another volume of this advanced series. It is not
addressed. to the collector of natural history curios, nor specially
to the bionomical observers who are the salt of the pages of this
Journal ; but it contributes to the faith and evidence for a quali-
fied biologist. It is one of the strongest volumes yet issued, and
the opening chapter (continuation of Protozoa) on “ The Structure
of Animal and Vegetable Cells,” by Prof. J. B. Farmer, is a con-
tribution to the knowledge necessary for a real recognition of
the “something”? which makes for evolution. It is in such
minute studies that we can almost watch the earliest pulsations
of life.
Dr. Lister writes on the Foraminifera, a treatise which Prof.
Ray Lankester states “‘ contains much that is new and original.”’
It is probable that, to the general reader, the order Globigerinidea
of this Class is best known, and that owing to the classical
lecture by Huxley ‘“‘ Ona piece of Chalk.’ Dr. Lister will guide
those who wish to travel farther in this study. Perhaps the
subject which will attract most modern students is that of the
Sporozoa, written by Prof. Minchin. The Sporozoa are always
with us. ‘‘ There is perhaps no species of annelid, mollusc,
arthropod, or vertebrate which is not liable to become the host
of some kind of sporozoan parasite—at any rate in certain locali-
ties—while many animals harbour several species of these in-
truders at the same time.’ Sometimes their presence is almost’
unnoticed, but in other cases they ‘‘ produce dangerous or even
438 THE ZOOLOGIST.
fatal diseases, and may be the cause of ravaging epidemics.” The
Sporozoa have even been suspected as a cause of that cruellest of
human maladies—cancer, and hence these parasites are indi-
vidually and collectively enemies to the human race, to be studied
and ever combated by biologists and pathologists; thus the
importance of Prof. Minchin’s treatise can scarcely be over-
estimated. The Infusoria by Prof. Hickson is the last contribu-
tion to the volume. We remember as a boy, in the early sixties,
turning over the pages of ‘ Pritchard’s Infusoria,’ without much
appreciable profit or enlightenment, save the charm and awe
which such publications impress on the juvenile mind. These
pages impress us with the different information that is now so
readily attainable, and inspire an optimism as to the advance of
biology by future generations.
We hear much of evolution in these days; it has almost
become a catch-word, and a text for a ready speaker, but how
few have really assimilated the idea, or understood the pro-
position! A student of these volumes can fortunately find much
of the evidence on which the evolutionary doctrine rests, and thus
obtain a real grasp of the greatest of human conceptions.
A Manual of Palearctic Birds. By H. EK. Dresser, ¥.L.S.,
F.Z.8S., &e. Published by the Author at 3, Hanover
Square, W.
DressEr’s ‘Birds of Kurope’ is a recognized classic in
ornithology, but it is necessarily a costly book, above the means
of many; and, again, its bulky volumes constitute a library book,
quite unsuited for the travelling naturalist. We therefore wel-
come this Manual, which not only gives us the essence of the
larger work, but something more as well; for Mr. Dresser has
now taken under his purview the birds of the whole Palearctic
region, and in defining this region he has allowed himself con-
siderable latitude in drawing its southern boundary. Africa has
offered no difficulty, for the Sahara is all-sufficient there; but
when we come to Asia authorities disagree. The author of this
Manual defines the southern limits of the region as running
northward of the Arabian Desert, including the tableland of
Persia, the highlands of Baluchistan, the whole of Afghanistan,
NOTICES OF NEW BOOKS. 439
and the Himalayan Range above about 6000 ft., stretching to the
south of Tibet, and north of the valley of Yang-tse-kiang as far
as the Pacific, and then round Corea and the main islands of
Japan. This is doubtiess a good working Palearctic proposal,
though the inclusion of the Himalayas is perhaps more novel,
and Japan, though orthodox, possesses a considerable Oriental
element. Consequently this work is valuable as covering a very
wlde and interesting area.
We have been impressed, in consulting these pages, by the
wealth of bionomical information that is afforded beyond the neces-
sary guidance to the identification of the species. In addition to
the range of dispersal, we have the wintering quarters of most of
the migratory species, and details of the call-note, song, food,
habits, and nidification. Another very strong point is the list of
common or trivial names under which the bird is known in its
different habitats, an enumeration much fuller than any other
with which we are acquainted, and which must prove of the
greatest value to the comparative paleloge: as well as to travel-
ling or field naturalists.
The absence of trinomialism in nomenclature is a prominent,
and, to many, a most welcome feature in these pages; subspecies
are admitted when they appertain to the rank of what some style
in preference “local races,” but we notice that the author prefers
to give a separate number to these, as is applied to distinct
species. Some difficulty is in this way created in estimating the
whole enumeration. Thus Acredula caudata is numbered 223,
and the following six subspecies are also numbered 224-229,
It is quite a relief to be able to demur to a single method in
such a publication. It is a vade mecum for the Palearctic
ornithologist, and may well be placed between Newton’s ‘Dic-
tionary’ and Saunders’s ‘ Manual.’
Observations of a Naturalist in the Pacific between 1896 and 1899.
Vol. I. Vanua Levu, Fut; a description of its leading
Physical and Geological Characters. By H. B. Guppy,
M.B., F.R.S.E. Macmillan & Co., Lim.
Tus volume is entirely devoted to an exhaustive dissertation
on the geology of the island, but its interest, although primarily
440 : THE ZOOLOGIST. |
geological, indirectly refers to some of the most disputed points
in the discussion of zoo-geographical distribution. Dr. Guppy
tells us that his investigations were largely connected with the
study of plant-distribution, the details of which are promised in
a second volume. It is probable that no real knowledge of a
fauna or flora is possible without some acquaintance with the
geology of the floor on which they flourish, and it is more than
probable that the biology of the future will embrace a much
larger geological consideration than it does at present.
Dr. Guppy has his own views and forms his own conclusions
on the debatable question of submerged continents; he is con-
vinced that ‘‘islands have always been islands’’; he denies that
there is any evidence that the various islands of the Fiji Group
were ever amalgamated, or that they were ever joined to the
Solomon Group. He thus gives no support to the hypothesis of
a Pacific Continent, nor to the theory of a Melanesian Plateau.
He advocates the view that these islands are due to ‘‘ emerg-
ence,’ which has been in operation probably since the later
Tertiary period, and is even now not suspended. Such an argu-
ment, it is, however, admitted, cannot apply to Hawaii in the
North Pacific, which exhibits no evidence of emergence, and
bears the impress of antiquity by the number of its endemic
plants and animals, and his hypothesis must therefore be con-
fined to the southern portion of the tropical Pacific. Conse-
quently the fauna and flora of the Fijis must be considered as
due to derivative migration, and not to the survivors of an older
and submerged continent. Beyond the work of ocean currents,
Dr. Guppy refers much to the direct agency of birds, more par-
ticularly as to plant distribution, but for proofs and details on
this question we must await the pnblication of the second volume.
Whether these views are generally accepted, or the reverse,
there can be no doubt that this volume affords a brilliant example
of the way in which a purely geological study can be made the
preface for the most important zoological discussion.
Raw:
AUTHORS? MS., SCIENTIFIC, MEDICAL, DRA-
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JOURNAL. OF BOTANY
BRITISH AND FOREIGN.
Hipitep sy JAMES BRITTEN, F.L.S.
_ Contents oF NovemBer NumBer.—Glyceria festuceformis in Ireland (with
Plate), by A. B. Renpuz, M.A., D.Sc. Some Mosses and Hepatics of South Donegal,
by H. W. Lert, M.A., MR. if A. Notes on Rhinanthus, by G. CLARIDGE Drvcn,
M. As; BES: Mr. Kiissner’s British Hast African Plants. —III. Asclepiadacee, by
SPENCER Moors, B.Sc., F.L.S. A New British Hepatic, by Rev. D. Lintin, B.D.
Two New South African Ser ophulariacee, by W. P. Himryn, F.R.S., F.L.8. The
~ Mosses and Hepatics of Worcestershire, by Jans E. BAGNALL, A.L.S. Biographical
Index of British and Irish Botanists, by JAMES BRITTEN, K.S.G., F.L.S., and G. 8.
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me EDITED BY RICHARD SOUTH, F.E.S.
ConTENTS oF NovemBer Numser. — Description of a New Longicorn Beetle
from British East Africa (with illustration), by EH. A. Hearn, M.D., F.L.S.
Beyrameis cardui, Plusia gamma, and Nemophila noctuella, by "Roper ADKIN,
#.E.S. Plusia ni at Penzance, by Witutam Daws. Descriptions of Four New
_ Species of Vespa from Japan, by P. Camzron. Two New Jamaican Culicide, by
_ Frep. V. THeopatp, M.A. A List of the Lepidoptera of une, Island of Capri; with
' afew Notes, by C. Srvmour Browne. Current Notes.—No. : 2, by G. W. KirKaLpy,
_ Notes and Observations. Captures and Field Reports, Societies. Recent Litera-
ture. Obituary.
Lonpon: WEST, NEWMAN & CO., 54, Harron GarpEn.
‘The Hybridization i Comer Maile
‘Some Notes on Rare Birds from Kent and Sear N. F. Pic
The Giant Goby (Gobius capito, C. & V.), ee Plate), valor
F.R.G.S., M.A. (Camb.), 401. Bi
On Sexual Selection and the Aisthetic Sense in Birds,
418.
Ree F.C. BR. Jourdain, M.A., M.B. . U., 423.
Bird-Life on an Indian Marsh, Gordon Dalgliesh, 426.
bridge, F'.Z.8., 429.
NovtgEs AND QUERIES :— Bonet
Mammatia.—Lesser Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus hopes in Carn
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AVES. — British Hxamples of the White-spotted Bluethr oat; Tawny Pipits (Ani
cantpestris) in Sussex ; Michael J. Nacoll, 431. Goldfinch (Carduelis e
in South Africa, W. Ti, Distant, 432. Cuckoo calling in July, Maurice
Bird, 488. An October Cuckoo, Rev. Julian G. Tuck, 488. Large F
of Rough-legged Buzzards near Scarborough, J. Morley, «ABS. Stra
behaviour of Peregrines in Ireland, P. Gough, 433. Sabine’s Gullin Yo
shire, Rev. Julian G. Tuck, 436. Was it a Great Auk??, H. A. A.
brain, 486. Notes from Lincolnshire, FP. L. Blathwayt, 436. rite
Nozicrs or Nuw Books, 487-440. ;
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BIRDS’ EGGS.
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19th, at 12.30.
M* J.C. STEVENS will offer at his Rooms, 38, King
Street, Covent Garden, London, W.C.: The Second
Portion of the Collection of Birds’ Eggs formed by Epwarp
BipwEeLt, Esq., including Golden Eagles, Swallow-tailed
Kite, Cuckoos, with their fosterers, &c., &c. Catalogues on
application. .
ANTED.—WILD GEESE.