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THE ZOOLOGIST:

A MONTHLY JOURNAL

OF

NATURAL HISTORY.

THIRD SERIES—VOL. XVIII.

EDITED BY

fee HARTING, F:L.58., F. 42.8%

MEMBER OF THE BRITISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ UNION.

J aig
ay DELECTANDO PARITERQUE MONENDO,

4° of

)

LL Ul
Le,

|
LONDON: Ui

SIMPKIN, MARSHALL, HAMILTON, KENT & CO., LIMITED.

1894, Cpe

SCA ase

3011 T

“fe _ LONDON

J WEST, NEWMAN AND CO., PRINTERS
7 ‘

<< 4 HATTON GARDEN, E.C.

i ,

CONTENTS.

a

ALPHABETICAL LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS.

Apuin, O. V., M.B.O.U.

Bank Vole in Oxfordshire, 52;
Range of the Mediterranean
Herring Gull, 58; Ostrich taking
to the water voluntarily, 62;
Notes on the Ornithology of Ox-
fordshire, 1892 and 1893, 91;
Stoats in ermine dress, 148, 223;
Date of arrival of Lesser White-
throat, 158; Cuckoo seen in
March, 190; Eges of the Tree
Sparrow, 228; Early Cuckoos in
1894, 263; Whimbrel in the Mid-
lands, 266; Marsh Harrier nest-
ing in Oxfordshire, 268; The
autumn song of birds, 410

ARCHIBALD, CHARLES F’.

Ring Dove pairing with Domestic
Pigeon, 23; Woodcock breeding
in the Lake District, 188

ARNOLD, Rev. F. H.

Autumnal migration of the Meadow

Pipit, 426
ATKINSON, E. W.

Young Cuckoo reared in a Swal-

low’s nest, 340
BarRRETT-Hamiuton, G. E. H.

English and Irish Jays, 61; The
Marten in Ireland, 124, 187;
Waxwing near Newmarket, 152;
Polecat in Cambrigeshire, 303

BatTeRssy, Mrs. FrRANcEs J.

Squirrels destructive in planta-

tions, 148
Bayty, H. L.

Marten in Co. Wicklow, 394;
Woodcocks nesting in Co. Wick-
low, 430

Buace, EH. W. H.

Water Vole at a distance from

water, 223
Buatuwayt, IF’. L.

Palmated Newt in Herefordshire,

191
Borrer, Wituiam, M.A., F.L.S.
Cuckoo seen in March, 189

Bou.LEnGceER, G. A., F.R.S., F.Z.S.

On the variations of the Smooth
Snake, 10; On the size of the
British Newts, 145

BRADSHAW, GEORGE W.

Uncommon birds in Sussex, 60;
Notes from Hastings, 228; Avo-
cet in Sussex, 346

Brown, J. A. Harvisz, F.R.S.E.

Albatross at the Feroe Islands, 337

BuCKNILL, J. A.

Cats catching butterflies and moths,
24; Notes from Epsom, 25; Karly
nesting of the Heron, 152; Birds
nesting near Epsom, 429

Burien, A. G., Ph.D., F:L.8.

Breeding of the Saffron Finch in

confinement, 460
Butter, Lt.-Col. E. A.

Cuckoos calling on the wing, 338;
Late nesting of the Goldfinch,
344

CAMBRIDGE, Rev. O. P., M.A., F.L.S.

Early arrival of the Cuckoo in

1894, 224
CAMERON, ALLAN GORDON

The origin and purpose of the horns
and antlers of Ruminants, 241,
281; Cuckoo calling on the wing,
307

CAMPBELL, JOHN M.

White-beaked Dolphin in Kil-

brannan Sound, Arran, 424
CARTER, JAMES

Cuckoo seen in March,

Habits of the Otter, 457
CHAPMAN, ALFRED C.

Habits of the Otter, 108; Short-
eared Owls in Northumberland,
114, 226; Hooded Crow breeding
in Northumberland, 227

Curisty, Minuerr, F.L.S.

Food of the Otter, 53; On an early
notice and figure of the Great
Auk, 142; Serotine Bat in Essex,
423

190;

lV CONTENTS.

CLARKE, Wo. J.
Palmated Newt at Scarborough,
191; Blind Gudgeons, 230
CLELLON, R. M.
Little Auk in Co. Sligo, 64
Cosunn, F.

Great Grey Shrike in Worcester-
shire, 21; White Wagtail in
Worcestershire, 24; Waxwing
in Worcestershire, 24; Red-
breasted Snipe in Ireland, 63;
Common Scoter in Warwick-
shire in August, 63; Grey Phala-
rope in Staffordshire, 112; Swim-
ming powers of the Dipper, 112;
Bank Vole in Warwickshire and
Worcestershire, 8038; Cuckoo
calling on the wing, 8307; Hooded
Crow breeding in Warwickshire,
344; Mealy Redpoll in Worces-
tershire, 545

CorsBin, G. B.

Variation in the colour of the Fox,
335; Cats catching butterflies
and moths, 8836; Green Wood-
pecker pursued by a Sparrow-
hawk, 840; Montagu’s Harrier
in Hants, 341

CoRDEAUX, JOHN

Lapland Bunting at Flamborough,
19; Bird life in Arctic Norway,
121; Cuckoo seen in March, 224;
The Fauna of Lincolnshire, 253

CoRNISH, JoHN B.
Lumpsucker at Penzance, 231
DaAvIEs, SuTTON A.

Ornithological notes from Mid-
Hants, 295; Nesting of the Bit-
tern in Hants, 311

DENWOOD, JOHN R.

The Badger, its period of gestation,
186; Woodcock breeding in the
Lake District, 187; Nesting of
the Dipper, 269; Dimensions of
Otter, 423

DILLoNn, Sir Joun, Bart.

Food of the Badger, 109; Hen

carrying off a Waterhen, 150
Dosir, W. HENRY
The White Wagtail in Anglesea,
227
Dopson, EDWARD
The size of British Newts, 191
Dovatass, G. NoRMAN

Contributions to an Avifauna of

Baden, 166
DowLine, J. J.
Marten in Co. Dublin, 149

EwLrort, J. STEELE

Nesting of the Sparrowhawk, 24;
Swimming powers of the Water
Ouzel, 59; Palmated Newt in
Worcestershire and Shropshire, —
154; Bank Vole in Worcester-
shire and Shropshire, 223; Os-
prey in Bedfordshire, 395; Nest-
ing of the Lesser Redpoll in
Bedfordshire, 427

ELLison, ALLAN
Cuckoo seen in March, 189
FLEMING, A. J.
Cuckoo seen in March, 150
FLEMYNG, Rev. WiLL1AM W., M.A.

Habits of the Badger, 186; Cuckoo
calling on the wing, 308; A visit
to Puffin Island, Co. Kerry, 308

Fox, W. Storrs

Buzzard in Derbyshire, 342; Dot-

terel in Derbyshire, 344
FrRowHawk, F. W.

A list of birds observed at Tooting-
Beck Common, near London,
178 :

GriBBons, Capt. A. H.

The preservation of African Big

Game, 201
GoLpsmitH, H. Sr. B.

Uncommon birds in Somersetshire,
21; Early laying of the Cuckoo,
224; Lesser Redpoll breeding in
Somersetshire, 228, 265, 304;
Shag on Somersetshire coast,
2671 Nesting of the Grey Wag-
tail in Somersetshire, 804; Nest-
ing of the Hawfinch in Somer-
setshire, 304

GRABHAM, OxLEY, M.A.

Variation of plumage in Cuckoo,

225
GrirFitH, A. F., M.A.

Baillon’s. Crake at Brighton, 427 ;
On the attitudes of a Little Bit-
tern in captivity, 454

GuRnNeEY, J. H., F.L.S., F.Z.8.

On the partial assumption by |
female birds of male plumage,
15, 153; Ornithological notes
from Norfolk, 88, 191; Ducks ~
assuming drakes’ plumage, 153 ;
Dark variety of the Barn Owl,
226; Razorbills and Puffins cast
ashore, 267; On the beak of the
Secoter, 292; Black-backed Pur-
ple Gallinule in Hampshire, 427

Haaervp, A. T.
Notes from Greenland, 56

CONTENTS. Vv

Hateu, G. H. Caton

Lapland Bunting in Lincolnshire,
61; Wildfowl in Merionethshire,
110; Black Redsart in Kent,
226

Fiat. J.
Cuckoo seen in March, 181
Hamitton, Epwarp, M.D., F.L.S.

Supposed occurrence of the Black

Stork in Devonshire, 429
HammMonpn, W. OxENDEN
Snipe affected by soot, 60; Great
Snipe in Kent, 429
Hart, H. Cuicuester, B.A., F.L.S.
Cuckoos calling on the wing, 340
HartTeERT, ERNST
The migration of Partridges, 18
Harrine, J. E., F.L.S., F.Z.S.

The Otter, 1, 41, 879; Choughs,
Crows, and Rooks, 47; Red
Grouse in Germany, 55; Barred
Warbler in Yorkshire, 58; The
Marten in Ireland, 100, 222; An
egg of the Great Auk, 108; Hy-
brid Sparrows, 111, 118, 154;
Cuckoo seen in March, 189, 224;
Destruction of Martens in Ire-
land, 222; Variation of plumage
in Cuckoo, 225; English records
of Coronella austriaca, 229; Me-
morial to Gilbert White, 259;
The Indian Antelope — period
of gestation, 260; Reported
nesting of Marsh Harrier near
Oxford, 804; The new Act for
the Protection of Birds’ Eggs,
179, 821; The Weasel, 417,
445; American Golden Plover,
428; Albino Swallows, 430; The
Bergylt, 431; Gestation of the
Badger, 458; On the recent
occurrence of the Yellow-browed
Warbler in Yorkshire and Nor-
folk, 459

Hastep, Artuur W.

Snow Buntings in Co. Kildare, 114;
Great Spotted Woodpecker in
North Wales, 115; Pied Fly-
catcher and Grey Wagtail in
North Wales, 115; White Robins
in Surrey, 150

Herrick, Francis H.

The reproduction of the Lobster,

413
HorssravueH, G. B.

Nesting of the Great Crested Grebe
in the North of Ireland, 113;
Lesser Redpoll breeding in

Somerset, 265; Large clutches
of eggs, 428
JEFFERY, H. J.
Serotine Bat near Hastings, 261
LANGDALE, Rev. H. M.
American Red-breasted Thrush in
Leicestershire, 459
LEvINGE, H. C.
Marten in Co. Westmeath, 423
LitFrorpD, Rt. Hon. Lord, F.L.8.
Barbastelle in Northamptonshire,
187 ; Cuckoo seen in March, 189 ;
Notes on the Ornithology of
Northamptonshire and _ neigh-
bourhood for 1898, 210; Pheasant
nesting in a tree, 266; Bar-
bastelle in Huntingdonshire, 395
LonGRIDGE, Capt. C. C., Assoc.I.C.H.
Continental Oyster culture, 361
Lowe, Joun, M.D., F.L.S.
Albino Swallow, 480; Small birds
and flowers, 271
Mackay, HueH
Early Cuckoo in 1894, 263; Whis-
kered Tern in Dumfries, 268
MacrHerson, A. Hours, M.A., F.L.S.
Hybrid Finches at the Crystal
Palace Bird Show, 114; Cuckoo
calling on the wing, 306
MacPHERSON, Rev. H. A., M.A.
Lapland Bunting in Sussex, 60;
Pink-footed Goose in Dumfries-
shire, 114; Waders on the Solway
Firth, 115; Little Gull on the
Solway Firth, 115; Habits of the
Bank Vole, 149; Cuckoo seen in
March, 190; Sapphirine Gurnard
in the Solway Firth, 230, 270;
The Ptarmigan in Lakeland, 326;
Greater Spotted Woodpecker
nesting in Scotland, 344; Hybrid
Mallard and Sheldrake, 396, 427;
Bonito in the Solway Firth, 397;
Barrow’s Goldeneye, 426; The
Bergylt off Whitehaven, 431
MatHew, Rev. Murray A., M.A.
Lesser Grey Shrike in Hampshire,
345; Crossbills in Somersetshire,
346; Occurrence of the ‘‘ Cape
Pigeon” at Bournemouth, 396
Matruews, B. St. JoHN AtTwoop
Swimming powers of the Water
Ouzel, 23
MeEADE- WALDO, Epmunp G., F.Z.S.
The Badger, its period of gestation,
221 :
Mitts, F. H.
Black Rats on ships in port, 186

vi CONTENTS.

Morg, A. G., F.L.S.

Supposed occurrence of Vespertilio
murinus in England—Correction
of an error, 148

Murpocu, G. W.

Woodcock breeding in the Lake

district, 112
NEAVE, NEWMAN
Unusual abundance of the Bank
Vole in 1893, 109
Oaitviz, F. Mrenteita, M.A., F.Z.S.
Cuckoo calling on the wing, 307
OLDHAM, CHARLES
Mammals of Cheshire, 803
PATTERSON, RoBERT
The Marten in Ireland, 141; Wax-
wing in Co. Down, 150
PayNE, J. W.
Cuckoo calling on the wing, 306
PERCIVAL, J., F.L.S:

Grey Plover on the Yorkshire

Moors in August, 429
PLAYNE, HERBERT C.

Nesting of the Marsh Warbler
near Bath, 304; Lesser Redpoll
breeding in Somersetshire, 305;
Cuckoo calling on the wing,
806; Ornithological notes from
France, 309

PLEYDELL, J. C. MANSEL, F.L.S.

An assembly of Vipers, 25; Green
Woodpecker pursued by Spar-
rowhawk, 58; A brood of white
Swallows, 59; Black Guillemot
inland in Dorsetshire, 60

Popuam, H. LEYBORNE

Albatross at the Feroe Islands,
338; Habits ofthe Herring Gull,
343

Pratt & Sons

Leach’s Petrel on the Sussex coast,
25; Wildfowl on the Sussex
coast, 60

RaEBURN, HAROLD

Mobbing by Crows, 116; The pre-
sent status of the Hooded Crow
in Southern Scotland, 261; Birds
observed in Mid- Wales, 406

RatFeE, P.

Uncommon birds in the Isle of
Man, 63; A naturalist’s visit to
the Calf of Man, 161; Sea-bird
colonies in the Isle of Man, 386

RamsBotuam, R. H. :

Curious accident to an Adder, 64

Raw.ines, F. C.

A list of birds observed in the

district of Barmouth, 828

RospeERtTson, R. S.

Ornithological notes from West

Surrey, 110
Ropr, G. T.

Emyslutaria turned out in Suffolk,

311
SALTER, J. H.

Period of incubation of the Spar-
rowhawk, 841; Nesting of the
Dotterel in Lakeland, 343; Un-
usual number of -eggs for the
Marsh Tit and Willow Wren,
345

SapsworTH, A. D.

The Hawfinch in Epping Forest,

188
SERVICE, RoBERT

The Black Guillemot on the Solway
Firth, 55; Mortality amongst
Short-eared Owls in Scotland,
57; The Squirrel in the Southern
Highlands, 260; Homing in-
stinct in Ferrets, 261; Short-
eared Owls in Solway, 264;
Great Northern Diver choked
by a Gurnard, 265; A_ bifid
worm, 271

SHERIDAN, J. R.

King Hider off Achill Island, Co.
Mayo,151; Surf Scoter off Achill
Island, 151; Mealy Redpoll in
Achill Island, 152; Buffon’s Skua
off Achill Island, 152; American
Goldfinch on Achill Island, 396

SmitH, J. N. .

Cuckoo chased by a Rook, 22; The

Crayfish, 65
SouTHWELL, T., F.Z.S.

Early mention of the Waxwing in
England, 62; On the occurrence
of the Bearded Seal on the Nor-
folk coast, 81, 187 ; Notes on the
Seal and Whale Fishery of 1893,
128; Cuckoo seen in March, 189,
262; The Bergylt on the Norfolk
coast, 2830; Scorpena dactylop-
tera on the Norfolk coast, 481

SpraRs, JOHN R.
The Corbin Game Park in New
Hampshire, U.S.A., 203
SpeNcE, A. C.
Rabbit breeding above ground, 458
Stott, C. E.

Snow Bunting at Bolton-le-Moors,

151
Swann, Henry K.

Nesting of the Spotted Flycatcher,

59; Marsh Harrier nesting near

CONTENTS.

Oxford, 227; Eggs of the Tree
Sparrow, 309
THOMAS, OLDFIELD, F.Z.S.
Unusual abundance of the Bank
Vole in 1893, 54
Tuck, Rev. Juuian G., M.A.
Storm-driven sea-birds, 21; Blood-
Olph, a name for the Bullfinch,
22; Wildfowl on the Norfolk
coast, 64
UssHER, W. J.
Redstart breeding in Co. Tyrone,
306
WARREN, RoBERT
Little Auk in Co. Sligo, 20; Great
Shearwater in Killala Bay, Co.
Mayo, 22; Sand Martins nesting
_inaruin, 305; Cormorant choked
by a Flounder, 308
WHITAKER, J., F.Z.S.
Garganey at Rainworth, Notts,
116; Varieties of the Goldfinch,
Greenfinch, Reed Bunting, and

vii

Blackbird, 150; Varieties of
Rooks, 269; Variety of Water-
hen, 270; Curious proximity of
nests, 309
WHITLOCK, F. B.
The birds of Derbyshire, 110
WickuHam, Miss F.M. -
Pheasant nesting in a tree, 227, 266
WILLIAMS, EDWARD

American Golden Plover in Ireland,

428
WILLIAMS, W.

Turtle Dove breeding with Com-

mon Dove in confinement, 64
WINTON, W. E. DE

On a neglected species of British

Field Mouse, 441
WITHERBY, Harry F.

Woodcocks breeding in the Lake
district, 152; Dotterel in Had-
dingtonshire, 266

WYkKEHAM, Rev. H. W.
Robin nesting in a church, 269

ALPHABETICAL LIST OF

Adams’s Northern Diver, 119

Adder, curious accident to, 64; Aipy-
ornis, remnins of. 119

Africa, South, preservation of Big
Game in, 201; English Oysters for,
231

Albatross in Feroe Isles, 837, 388

Amphithoe littorina, nest in a bottle,
315

Antelope, Crawshay’s, 28; Dwarf,
194; new from Somaliland, 195;
Indian, period of gestation, 250;
Sable head of, 32; Waterbuck, 33;
of Pungue Valley, 119; S. African,
350, figured

Antlers of Ruminants, origin and |
purpose, 241, 281; of Fallow Deer |
affected by removal of testis, 315

Ants and plants associated, curious
examples, 65

Auk, Great, egg, 108,—early notice |
and figure, 142; Little, in Co. Sligo, ©
2), 64,—in Suffolk, 21,—in Isle of
Man, 68,—in Norfolk, 90

Auerhahn, derivation of the name, 177

Avocet in Norfolk, 86; in Sussex, 346

SUBJECTS.

Baden, contributions to an Avifauna,
166

Badger, food, 109 ; habits, 186; period
of gestation, 186, 221, 458

Bat, Barbastelle, in Northampton-
shire, 187,—in Huntingdonshire,
395; Mouse-coloured, correction of
error respecting, 148; Serotine,
near Hastings, 261,—in Essex, 423

Bedfordshire.—Osprey, 395; Lesser
Redpoll, 427

Beetle, Goliath, 28, 463

Bergylt on Norfolk coast, 230; off
Whitehaven, 431

Big Game, African, 32, 86, 202,
348

Bird-life in Arctic Norway, 121

| Birds, female, partly assuming male

plumage, 15, 153, 856 ; small, punc-
turing flowers to attract insects, 271 ;
sea, storm-driven, in Suffolk, 21;
- uncommon, in Somersetshire, 21,—
in Sussex, 60,—in Isle of Man, 68;
of Derbyshire, 110; of Baden, 166;
observed at Tooting-Beck Common,
near London, 178; Wild, Protection

vill

Act (1880) Amendment, 179, 321;
observed in district of Barmouth,
328,— in Mid-Wales, 406 ; autumn
song, 410; nesting near Epsom,
429; of Staffordshire, 279; of Isle
of Man, 886; of West Cheshire,
395; of Denbighshire, 897; of
Flintshire, 397; of Rainham, 434;
of Pembrokeshire, 437

Bird-skins from Greenland, 56

Bison heads from Lithuania, figured,
353

Bittern in Oxfordshire, 93,—in Hants,
302,—nesting in Hants, 811,—in
Surrey, 110, 429; breeding in con-

_ finement, 88 ; Little, in Norfolk, 88,
—in Sussex, 454,— attitudes of, ob-
served in captivity, 454

Blackbird, variety, 91, 150

‘** Blood-olph,” a name for Bullfinch,
22

Bonito in Solway Firth, 397
Books REVIEWED :—

Horns and Hoofs; or, Chapters on
Hoofed Animais, by R. Lydekker,
Bl

Travel and Adventure in South-
east Africa, by F. C. Selous, 35

The Tercentenary Edition of the
Complete Angler, or Contem-
plitive Man’s Recreation, by
Isaak Walton and Charles Cotton,
edited by J. E. Harting, 70

Monograph of the North American
Proctotrypide, by William H.
Ashmead, 76

The Birds of Derbyshire, by F. B.
Whitlock, 78, 110

Les Coguilles des Eaux Douces et
Saumatres de France, par Ar-
nould Locard, 79

Bird Life in Arctic Norway, by
Robert Collett, translated by A.
H. Cocks, 121

Text-book of Zoology, by H. A.
Nicho!son, 198

The Partridge, by Rev. H. A. Mac-
pherson, A. J. Stuart Wortley,
and George Saintsbury, 199

Life and Rock, a Collection of Zoo-
logical and Geological Essays, by
R. Lydekker, 286

Lost British Birds, by W. H. Hud-
son, 239

The Birds of the County Cork, by R.
J. Ussher, 240

Five Months’ Sport in Somali-land,
by Lord Wolverton, 275

CONTENTS.

The Hawks and Owls of the United
States in their relation to Agri-
culture, by Dr. Hart Merriam
and A. K. Fisher, 277

Ornithology in relation to Agricul-
ture and Horticulture, by various
writers, edited by John Watson,
278

The Birds of Staffordshire, with
illustrations of local Bird-haunts,
by Alexander McAldowie, 279

The Royal Natural History, edited
by Richard Lydekker, with Pre-
face by P. L. Sclater, 316.

British Birds, being Coloured Illus-
trations of all the Species of
Passerine Birds resident in the
British Isles, with some Notes in
reference to their Plumage, by
Claude W. Wyatt, 317

Alternating Generations, a Biolo-
gical Study of Oak-galls and Gall-
tlies, by Hermann Adler, 319

The Badminton Library: Big-game
Shooting, by various contri-
butors, edited by C. Phillipps-
Wolley, 347

Game birds and Shooting Sketches:
illustrating the Habits, mode of
Capture, stages of Plumage, and
the Hybrids and Varieties which
occur amongst them, by John
Guille Millais, 354

The Grouse, by the Rev. H. Mac-
Pherson, A. J. Stuart Wortley,
and George Saintsbury, 358

Birds of West Cheshire, Denbigh-
shire and Flintshire, 397

Notes on the Birds of Rainham,
including the Distiict between
Chatham and Sittingbourne, by
Walter Prentis, 434

The Birds of Pembrokeshire and
its Islands, by the Rev. Murray
A. Mathew, M.A., 437

A Reprint of the ‘North American
Zoology,’ by George Ord, with an
Appendix by Samuel 8. Rhoads,
466

Allen’s Naturalist’s Library, edited
by R. B. Sharpe: A Handbook
to the Birds of Great Britain, by
R. B. Sharpe, 468

Breeding of Green Woodpecker,

Grasshopper Warbler, Common

Snipe, bullfinch, Nightjar, Dab-

chick, Lesser Whitethroat, King-

fisher, and Mallard at Epsom, 26;

»

CONTENTS.

of Turtle Dove with Common Dove
in confinement, 64; of Hawfinch
and Sandwich Tern in Norfolk, 88;

of Red-backed Shrike and Barred |

Woodpecker in Oxfordshire, 95, 96 ;
of Woodcock in Lake District, 112,
152, 187, 188; of Hooded Crow in
Northumberland, 227,—in War-
wickshire, 344; of Lesser Redpoll
in Somerset, 228, 265, 804, 805 ; of
Long-eared Owl, Tufted Duck, and
Stone Curlew in Hants, 298, 299,
300, 301; of Redstart in Co. Tyrone,
3806; of Saffron Finch in confine-
-* 460; of Rabbit above ground,
58

Buceros melanoleucus, nesting habits,
233

Bullfinch, ‘ Blood-olph”’ a name for,
22,—nest of, with three eggs of
Bullfinch and one of Cuckoo, 23,—
and Goldfinch, hybrid between, 90 ;
Russian, in Norfolk, 85

Bunting, Cirl, in Hants, 297,—nesting
in Surr ey, 429 : Lapland, at Flam-
borough, 19,—in Sussex, 60, —in
Lincolnshire, 61,—in Norfolk, 83,
89; Reed, variety of, 150; Snow,
great flight of, in Yorkshire, 20,—
in Oxfordshire, 99,—in Wales, 113,
—in Co. Kildare, 114,—in Lan-
cashire, 151,—in Hants, 302

Butterflies tamed, 846; and moths,
cats catching, 24, 886; with wings
of male and female, 117

Buzzard in Derbyshire, 342,—nesting
in Wales, 409; Rough-legged in
Norfolk, 84

Cambridgeshire.—Varieties of Gold-
finch, Greenfinch, Reed Bunting,
and Blackbird, 150; Waxwing,
152; Polecat, 308; Otter, 423

Camel, wild, of Lob Nor, 234

Capercaillie hen assuming
plumage, figured, 356

Cats catching butterflies and moths,
24, 3386; wild, in Lincolnshire, 257

Caterpillars mimicking fruit, 463

Cheshire.—Bank Vote, 109; Mam-
mals of, 303; Squirrels and Coni-
fers, 336 ; tamed butterflies, 846

Choughs, 47

Cormorant choked by Flounder, 308

Cornwall.—Lumpsucker, 231

Coronella austriaca, 10; English re-
cords of, 229

Crab, Hermit, figured, 72

male

1x

Crake, Baillon’s, at Brighton, 427;
Spotted, in Hants, 302

Crayfish, 65

Crossbill in Norfolk, 89 ; in Somerset-
shire, 346

Crow, variety of, 215 ; Hooded, breed-
ing in Northumberland, 227, —
breeding in Warwickshire, 344, —
present status of, in Southern Scot-
land, 261

Crows, 47; mobbing by, 116; attack-
ing Short-eared Owl, 264

Cuckoo chased by Rook, 22; seen in
March, 97, 150, 189, 190, 191, 224,
262; early arrival in 1894, 224,
263; early laying, 224; variation
of plumage, 225; calling on the
wing, 264, 806, 307, 308, 338, 340;
young, reared in Swallow’s nest,
340

Cumberland.—Woodcock, 112, 152,
187, 188; Bank Vole, 149; Badger,
186; Cuckoo, 190; Dipper, 269 ;
hybrid Mallard and Sheldrake, 396,
42.7 ; Otter, 423; Barrow’s Golden-
eye, 426; Bergylt, 431

Curlew, Pigmy, in Hants, 300; Stone,
breeding in Hants, 301

Cynogale bennetti, a rare mammal of
Borneo, 194

Derbyshire.—Birds of, 78, 110; Buz-
zard, 842; Dotterel, 344

Devonshire.—Black Stork, 429

Dipper in Oxfordshire, 97; swimming
powers of, 112; in Northampton-
shire, 210; nesting of, in Cumber-
land, 269; in Hants, 296, 301

Diver, Black-throated, in Norfolk, 84;
Great Northern,choked byGurnard,
265; White-billed Great Northern,
119

Dolphin, White-backed, in Kilbrannan
Sound, Arran, 424

Dorsetshire. — Vipers, 25; Green
Woodpecker pursued by Sparrow:
hawk, 58; White Swallows, 59;
Black Guillemot, 60; Cuckoo, 224

Dotterel in Northamptonshire, 218;
in Haddingtonshire, 266; nesting
in Lakeland, 343; in Derbyshire,
344

Dove, Ring, pairing with Domestic
Pigeon, 28; Turtle, breeding with
Common Dove in confinement, 64,
—breeding in Hants, 299

Duck, Australian, 67; Bimaculated,
85; Hider, on Norfolk coast, 64,—

X CONTENTS.

off Achill Island, Co. Mayo, 151;
Long-tailed, in Sussex, 60, — on
Norfolk coast, 64,—in Wales, 113 ;
Pintail and Wild, hybrid between,
85; Tufted, on Sussex coast, 61,—
breeding in Hants, 300

Ducks assnming Drakes’ plumage,
153

Dunlin, variety, 85

Durham.—Otter, 108

Eagle, Sea, mobbed by Rooks, 84

Karthworms, geographical distribu-
tion of, 29, 195

Kehidna, structure of young, 68

Egg of Great Auk, 108

Eggs, wild birds’, new Act for protec-
tion, 179, 321; of Tree Sparrow,
228, 309; unusual number of, for
Marsh Tit and Willow Wren, 345 ;
large clutches, 428

Emys lutaria turned out in Suffolk,
311

Essex.—Otter, 53; Hawfinch, 188;
Serotine Bat, 423

Feroe Isles, Albatross, 337, 338

Falco vespertinus in Oxfordshire, 91

Falcon, Peregrine, in Somersetshire,
21; in Oxfordshire, 91; attacked by
Ravens, 219

Fauna of Lincolnshire, 253

Ferret, homing instinct, 261

Finch, Mountain, and Greenfinch,
hybrid between, 90; Saffron, breed-
ing in confinement, 460; Serin, in
Norfolk, 86

Finches, hybrid, at Crystal Palace
Bird Show, 114

Fishes, Marsipobranch, abnormal, 29,
—of Mt. Kenia, 68

Fly, Tsetse, 68

Flycatcher, Pied, in Wales,
408; Spotted, nesting of, 59, —

abundance of, in Northampton. |

shire, 216

Food of Otter, 58, 108; of Badger,
108

Fox killing Short-eared Owls, 57;
variation in colour, 335

France, ornithological notes from,
309

Frog, movements of, 462

Gadwall in Norfolk, 84, 86

Gall-flies, 319

Gallinago major and Common Snipe,
hybrid between, 90

115, |

Gallinule, Grey-headed, in Norfolk,
85; Black-backed Purple, in
Hampshire, 427

Game, African Big, 32, 36, 202, 308 ;
preservation of, 201; in Corbin
Park, New Hampshire, U.5.A.,
203

Garganey at Rainworth, Notts, 116 ;
in Norfolk, 87

Germany, migration of Partridge in,
18 ; Red Grouse introduced into, 35

Golden-eye, Barrow’s, 426

Goldfinch in Isle of Man, 64,—and

Bullfinch, hybrid between, 90,— ~

variety of, 150,—Jlate nesting of,
344; American, on Achill Island,
Co. Mayo, 396

Goosander on Sussex coast, 61; in
Northamptonshire, 219

Goose, Brent, in Sussex, 61,— in
Hants 802; Pink-footed, in Dum-
friesshire, 114; Bean and White-
fronted, hybrid between, 214

Gonioctena variabilis, specimens of,
illustrating discontinuous variation
in colour, 233

Goshawk in Norfolk, 86

Grebe, Eared, in Isle of Man, 63;
Great Crested, in Oxfordshire, 99,
in North of Ireland, 113,—in North-
amptonshire, 219,—in Hants, 302;
Red-necked, in Hants, 300; Scla-
vonian, in Norfolk, 89,—in Wales,
113

Greenfinch, variety of, 150; and
Mountain Finch, hybrid between,
90

Greenland, ornithological notes from,
56; bird-skins from, 56

Grouse, Red, introduction into N.W.
Germany, 55; in Northampton-
shire, 218

Gudgeon, blind, 230

Guillemot driven ashore in Co. Sligo,
21,— driven ashore in Suffolk,

21,—caught by baited hook 90,— ©

caught in a fishing-line, 302;
Black, on Solway Firth, 55,—in-
land in Dorsetshire, 60,—on Nor-
folk coast, 64, 90

Gull, Glaucous, 90; Herring, habits
of, 843; Iceland, in Norfolk, 85;
Little, on Solway Frith, 115,—in
Norfolk, 85, 90; Mediterranean
Herring, range of, 58

Gulls eating candle-ends, 808

Gurnard, Sapphirine, in Solway Firth,
230, 270

‘

CONTENTS. Xl

Habits of Otter, 108, 457; of Bank
Vole, 149; of Badger, 186; of Her-
ring Gull, 343 ; of Weasel, 417, 445

Hampshire. — Vespertilio murinus,

- 148; Badger, 221; Memorial to
Gilbert White, 259 ; ornithological
notes, 295; Bittern, 311; Fox, 335;
Cats catching butterflies and moths,
38386; Green Woodpecker pursued
by Sparrowhawk, 340; Montagu’s
Harrier, 341; Lesser Grey Shrike,
345; ‘‘Cape Pigeon,” 396; Black-
backed Purple Gallinule, 427

Hampshire, New (U.S.A), Corbin
Game Park in, 203

Harrier, Hen, in Norfolk, 84, 89;
Marsh, reported nesting of, near
Oxford, 227, 268, 304; Montagu’s,
in Harts, 341

Hawfinch breeding in Norfolk, 88,—
in Epping Forest, 118; nesting in
Somersetshire, 804; nesting in
Surrey, 429

Hawks and Owls of United States, 277

Herefordshire.—Palmated Newt, 191

Heron carrying off Waterhen, 150,—
early nesting, 152

Hobby in Northamptonshire, 216

Hoopoe at Hastings, 228

Horns of Ruminants, origin and pur-
pose of, 241, 281

Huntingdonshire.—Barbastelle, 395

Hybrid Pheasant, 28; between Turtle
Dove and Common Dove in con-
finement, 64; between Pintail and
Wild Duck, 85; between Green-
finch and Mountain Finch, 90; be-
tween Goldfinch and Bullfinch, 90;
between Bean and White-fronted
Geese, 214; between Common
Snipe and Gallinago major, 90;
Sparrows, 111, 118, 154; Finches
at Crystal Palace Bird Show, 114;
between Mallard and Sheldrake,
396, 427

Treland.—Little Auk, 20; Great Shear-
water, 22; Red-breasted Snipe, 63;
Little Gull, 64; Marten, 100, 134,
149, 187, 222, 894, 423; Badger,
109, 156; Great Crested Grebe, 1138;
Snow Bunting, 114; Squirrel, 148;
Heron carrying off Waterhen, 150;
Waxwing, 150; King Hider, 151;
Surf Scoter, 151; Mealy Redpoll,
152; Buffon’s Skua, 152; band
Martin, 305 ; Redstart, 306 ; Cuckoo,
808, 840; Cormorant choked by

Flounder, 808; a visit to Puffin
Island, 308; Gulls eating candle-
ends, 808, 848; American Gold-
finch, 8396; White-beaked Dolphin,
424; American Golden Plover, 428;
Woodcock, 480

Jays, English and Irish, 61

Kent.—Snipe, 60; Crayfish, 65; hy-
brid Finches, 114; Black Redstart,
226; Great Snipe, 429

Kestrel pursuing Rabbit, 87

Knot in Sussex, 61; great flight in
Norfolk, 87

Lake District, Woodcock breeding in,
112, 152, 187, 188; Ptarmigan, 326;
Dotterel, 343

Lancashire. — Snow Bunting, 151;
Woodcock, 188

Lark, Shore, in Norfolk, 89; Sky,
passage of, in Northamptonshire,
215, 219; Wood, in Sussex, 61,—
in Oxfordshire, 95, — nesting in
Hants, 299

Larus minutus in Sussex, 60

Larva of Sphinx Moth mimicking
Tree Snake, 463

Larve of Lepidoptera, influence of
environment upon colours of, 232

Lewcestershire. — American Red-
breasted Thrush, 459

Lepidosiren paradoxa, 232

Lincolnshire.—Lapland Buuting, 61;
Cuckoo, 224; fauna of, 258

Lobster, reproduction of, 413

Locust at Sierra Leone, 68

Lumpsucker at Penzance, 231

Madeira, Mediterranean Herring Gull
on coast of, 58

Mallard and Sheldrake, hybrid be-
tween, 396, 427

Mammals of Cheshire, 303

Man, Calf of, naturalist’s visit to, 161

Man, Isle of, uncommon birds in, 63;
sea-bird colonies in, 386

Manatee, female and young, 28

Marten, figured, 73; in Ireland, 100,
184, 149, 187, 222, 894, 428; skull
of, 117

Martin, Sand, nesting in a ruin, 305

Middlesex.—Spotted Flycatcher, 59;
Cuckoo, 806

Midlands, Whimbrel in, 266

Migration of Meadow Pipit, 426; of
Partridges, 18

Xil

Monmouthshire.—Water Ouzel, 23

Mouse, British Field, on a neglected
species of, 441

Mud-fish (Protopterws annectens),
reproduction of, 195

Nest of Bullfinch with egg of Cuckoo,
23; «f Barn Owl, 87; Goldcrest,
228; Hawfinch, 228; Peewit, 23;
Long-tailed Tit, 86; of Robin in
house, 193; Quail, 217; Song
Thrush, 299; Amphirhoe littorina,
315; Swallow, with young Cuckoo
in, 8340; Wasp, 196; curious prox-
imity of, 309

Nesting of Sparrowhawk, 24; Spot-
ted Flycatcher, 59; Marsh Warbler
in Oxfordshire, 95,—in Somerset-
shire, 304 ; Quail in Oxfordshire, 98,
—in Northamptonshire, 217, — in
Hants, 301; Great Crested Grebe
in North of Ireland, 113; Heron,
152; Grasshopper Warbler in
Northamptonshire, 215, 216; Phea-
sant in a tree, 227, 266; Horn-
bill, 233; Robin in church, 269;
Dipper in Cumberland, 269; Shel-
drake in Hants, 800; Grey Wag-
tail, Lesser Redpoll, and Hawfinch
in Somersetshire, 304; Sand Mar-
tin in a ruin, 305; Bittern in
Hants, 311; Dotterel in Lakeland,
343; Goldfinch, 344 ; Greater Spot-
ted Woodpecker in Scotland, 344;
Lesser Redpoll in Bedfordshire,
427; Hawfinch and Cirl Bunting in
Surrey, 429; Woodcock in Lake Dis-

trict, 112, 152, 187, 188,—Co. Wick- |

CONTENTS.

| Northumberland.—Short-eared Owl,
114, 226; Hooded Crow, 227

Norway, Arctic Bird-life in, 121

| Notes, ornithological, from Epsom, 25,
—from Greenland, 56,—from Nor-
folk, 83, 191,—from Oxfordshire,
91, 153,—from West Surrey, 110,—
from Northamptonshire, 210, —
from Hastings, 228,—from France,
309

Nottinghamshire.— Garganey, 116;
Cuckoo, 191; Rooks, 269; Water-
hen, 270; Tree Sparrow, 309;
curious proximity of nests, 309

Ornithological Notes (see Notes)

Ornithoptera paradisea from Finis-
terre Mts., New Guinea, 197

Osprey in Norfolk, 88, 89; in Bed-
fordshire, 395

Ostrich taking to water voluntarily, 62

Otter, 1, 41, 879; food of, 53, 108;
habits of, 108, 457 ; dimensions of,
423

Ouzel, Water, swimming powers of,
23, 59

Owl, Barn, eating Bat, 87; nest of,
with Rabbit’s leg in, 87; variety
of, 226; Long-eared, in Oxford-
shire, 92, — breeding in Hants,
298, 299; Scops, in Norfolk, 84;
Short-eared, mortality amongst, in
Scotland, 57,—killed by Fox, 57,—
in Northumberland, 114, 226,—in
Solway, 264,—attacked by Carrion
Crows, 264

Oxfordshire. — Bank Vole, 54}; or-

low, 430; of Buzzard in Wales, 409 |

Newt, Palmated, in Worcestershire
and Shropshire, 154;

at Scar- |

borough, 191; in Herefordshire, 191 |

Newts, British, size of, 145, 191

Norfolk.— Blood-olph”’ a name for |

Bullfinch, 22; Wildtowl, 64; Beard-
ed Seal, 81, 187; ornithological
notes, 88, 191; female birds assum-
ing male plumage, 15, 153; Cuckoo,

189, 262; Barn Owl, 226; Bergylt, |

230; Razorbills and Puffins, 267;
Scoter, 292; Scorpzna dactyloptera,
430; Yellow-browed Warbler, 459

Northamptonshire.—Barbastelle, 187 ;
Cuckoo, 189; Grasshopper War-
bler, 215, 216; Woodlark, 215;
ornithological notes, 210; Pheasant
nesting in tree, 227, 266; Phalarope,
219; Quail, 217

nithological notes, 91, 153; Cuckoo,
97, 190, 263; Stoat, 148, 223;
Marsh Harrier, 227, 268, 334;
Marsh Warbler on stones, 95;
Quail nesting, 98; eggs of Tree
Sparrow, 228; Robin, 269

Oyster culture, Continental, 361

| Oysters, English, for South Africa,

231

Partridge, migration of, 18; variety
of, 84, 155
Peewit, date of hatching, 93; abun-

dance of, in Mid-Hants, 296
Peregrine attacked by Ravens, 219
Petrel, Fork-tailed, in Norfolk, 90;

Leach’s, on Sussex coast, 253

Storm, in Sussex, 21
Petrels trom Kermadec Isles, 29
Phalarope, Grey, :in Somersetshire,

21; in Staffordshire, 112; in Wales,

CONTENTS.

113 ; in Northamptonshire, 219; in
Hants, 302

Pheasant, Common, variety of, 68;
nesting in a tree, 227, 266

Pheasants, hybrid, 28

Pigeon, Cape, at Bournemouth, 396 ;
Domestic, pairing with Ring Dove,
23; Wood, large flights of, 85, 91,
210, 218, 220,—killed and eaten by
Hawk, 92

Pintail and Wild Duck, hybrid be-
tween, 85

Pipit, Meadow, flock of, settling in
trees, 93; autumnal migration of,
426

Plover, American Golden, in Ireland,
428; Grey, on Yorkshire moors in
August, 429; Kentish, in Sussex, 60

Plumage, male, partly assumed by
female birds, 15, 153; variation of,
in Cuckoo, 225

Polecat in Cambridgeshire, 303

Porphyrio, Grey-headed, in Norfolk,
85; Black-backed, in Hants, 427

Proctotrypes, figured, 77

Ptarmigan in Lakeland, 326; and
Grouse, hybrid, figured, 359

Puffin driven ashore, 21, 84, 90, 267;
in Oxfordshire, 96, 99; Island, a
visit to, 8308

Quail in Norfolk, 90; nesting in Ox-
fordshire, 98,—in Northampton-
shire, 217,—in Hants, 301

Rabbit, young, pursued by Kestrel,
87; historical and geographical,
notes on, 401; breeding above
ground, 458

Rats, Black, on ships in- port, 186;
gnawing through leaden pipe, 462

Ravens attacking Peregrine Falcon,
219

Razorbill cast ashore, 267

Redpoll, variety, 90; Lesser, breeding
in Somerset, 228, 265, 304, 305,—
nesting in Bedfordshire, 427;
Mealy, in Achill Island, Co. Mayo,
152,—in Northamptonshire, 220,—
in Worcestershire, 345

Redstart breeding in Co. Tyrone,
805; Black, in Norfolk, 84,—in
Kent, 226,—in Sussex, 228

Redwing, large flock of, 92; variety
of, 220

Reptiles from Mt. Kenia, 68

Rhinoceros, Burchell’s, in Mashona-
land, 194

Xili

River-hog of Madagascar, 119

Robin nesting in a church, 269;
nests, abnormal situation, 193;
white, in Surrey, 150

Rooks, 47; varieties, 269; mobbing
Sea Eagle, 84 ; ejecting pellets, 67 ;
law as to, 50

Ruminants, horns and antlers, their
origin and purpose, 241, 281

Sandpiper, Curlew, in Hants, 300;
Green, in Northamptonshire, 216,
219; Wood, in Norfolk, 89

Scorpena dactyloptera on Norfolk
coast, 430

Scoter, Common, in Norfolk, 85,—
in Warwickshire, 63; variation
in beak of, 292; Surf, off Achill
Island, Co. Mayo, 151; Velvet, on
Sussex coast, 61 |

Scotland. — Short-eared Owl, 57;
Otter, ‘108; Pink-footed Goose,
114; Squirrel, 260; Hooded Crow,
261; Cuckoo, 268, 806, 807; Dot-
terel, 266; Short-eared Owl, 264;
Great Northern Diver choked by
Gurnard, 265; Whiskered Tern,
268; bifid Worm, 271; Greater
Spotted Woodpecker, 344

Sea-birds, storm-driven on Suffolk
coast, 21; colonies of, in Isle of
Man, 886

Seal, vision of, 28; Bearded, on Nor-
folk coast, 81, 187

Seal and Whale Fishery of 1898,
notes on, 128

Serin Finch in Norfolk, 86

Shag on Somersetshire coast, 267

Shearwater, Greater, in Killala Bay,
Co. Mayo, 22,—in Norfolk, 85

Sheldrake in Sussex, 60,—in North-
amptonshire, 219 ,— nesting in
Hants, 800,—and Mallard, sup-
posed hybrid between, 396, 427;
Ruddy, in Norfolk, 89,—in Hants,
302

Shrew, Water, piscivorous habits, 65

Shrike, Great Grey, in Worcester-
shire, 21,—in Northamptonshire,
210,—in Hants, 295 ; Lesser Grey,
in Hants, 345 ; Red-backed, breed-
ing in Oxfordshire, 95, 97

Shropshire.—Cuckoo, 150 ; Palmated
Newt, 154; Bank Vole, 223

Skua, Buffon’s, off Achill Island, Co.
Mayo, 152; Pomatorhine, in So-
mersetshire, 21,—in Norfolk, 84, 90

Snake, variations of Smooth, 10, 229 ;

XiV

vertebra of earliest known, from
gault of Portugal, 233
Snakes, Australian, poison of, 313
Snipe affected by soot, 60, — abun-
dance of, in Sussex, 61; Common
and Gallinago major, hybrid be-
tween, 90; Great, in Kent, 429;
Red-breasted, in Ireland, 638
SocrETIEs, SCIENTIFIC :—
Linnean, 26, 65, 117, 155, 192, 282,
271, 462
Zoological, 28, 67, 119, 157, 198,
238, 278, 315, 463
British Ornithologists’ Union, 235
Entomological, 29, 69, 119, 158,
195, 235, 274, 481, 465
Solway Firth, Black Guillemot on,
55; Waders on, 115; Little Gull
on, 115; Sapphirine Gurnard in,
230, 270; Bonito, 397
Somersetshire. — Uncommon birds,
21; Cuckoo, 224, 306; Lesser Red-
poll, 228, 265, 804, 305; Shag, 267;
Grey Wagtail, 304; Hawfinch,
304; Lesser Redpoll breeding, 228,
265, 304, 805; Marsh Warbler,
304 ; Crossbill, 346; large clutches
of eggs, 428
Song, autumn, of birds, 410
Sparrow, Tree, eggs, 228, 309
Sparrowhawk, nesting of, 24; pur-
suing Green Woodpecker, 58, 340 ;
period of incubation, 341
Sparrows damage thatch, 99; hybrid,
111, 118, 154
Spiders, British Trapdoor, 193
Spindle, achromatic, in Elasmo-
branchs, 463
Spoonbill in Norfolk, 86, 87
Squirrel destructive in plantations,
148; in Southern Highlands, 260 ;
and conifers, 336
Staffordshire.—Grey Phalarope, 112;
Water Vole, 223
Stictonetta nzvosa, 67
Stoats in ermine dress, 148, 223
Stonechat nesting at Epsom, 429
Stork, Black, supposed occurrence in
Devonshire, 429
Suffolk. — Sea-birds, 21; Bullfinch’s
nest with egg of Cuckoo, 23; hybrid
Sparrows, 111, 154; Cuckoo. 307,
338; Emys lutaria turned out, 311;
Goldfinch, 344
Surrey. — Ornithological notes, 25,
110; white Robin, 150; Heron,
152; birds observed at Tooting-
Beck Common, 178; Badger, 186 ;

CONTENTS,

Cuckoo, 189; Meadow Pipit, 426
birds nesting in, 429; Bittern, 429

Sussex. — Cuckoo chased by Rook,
22; Leach’s Petrel, 25; Lapland
Bunting, 60; uncommon birds, 60;
Wildfowl, 60; accident to Adder,
64; Cuckoo, 189; ornithological
notes, 228; Serotine Bat, 261;
Avocet. 346; Meadow Pipit, 426;
Baillon’s Crake, 427; albino Swal-
low, 430; Little Bittern in capti-
vity, 454

Swallows, white, 59, 430

Swan, Bewick’s, in Norfolk, 85; in
Wales, 113; wild, in Northampton-
shire, 211, 212

Tern, Black, in Norfolk, 87, —in
Northamptonshire, 219; Sandwich
breeding in Norfolk, 88,—in Hants,
802 ; Whiskered, in Dumfriesshire,
268; White-winged Black, in Nor-
folk, 86, 87

Thrush, American Red-breasted, in
Leicestershire, 459; Missel, killed
and eaten by Hawk, 92,—nesting
in Hants, 297; Song, nest without
mud lining, 299

Tit, Bearded, in Norfolk, 87; Long-
tailed, in Isle of Man, 64,—numer-
ous nests of in Norfolk, 86; Marsh,
unusual number of eggs for, 345

Variety of Marsipobranch Fishes, 29;
of Swallow, 59, 430; of Common
Pheasant, 68; of Partridge, 84,
155; of Dunlin, 85; of Snipe,
90; of Redpoll, 90; of Blackbird,
91, 150; of Teracolus halyattes,
117; of Goldfinch, Greenfinch,
Reed Bunting, and Robin, 150;
of Water Vole, 155; of Carrion
Crow, 215; of Redwing, 220; of
Barn Owl, 226; of Rook, 269; of
Waterhen, 270

Vespertilio murinus (see Bat, Mouse-
coloured)

Vipers, assembly of, 25

Vole, Bank, unusnal abundanee in
1898, 54, 109,—in Oxfordshire, 54,
—habits, 149,—in Shropshire, 228,
—in Worcestershire, 223, 303,—in
Warwickshire, 303 ; Water, variety,
155,—at a distance from water,
223

Waders on Solway Firth, 115 :
Wagtail, Grey, in Norfolk, 86, —1in

a

CONTENTS.

North Wales, 115,— in Northamp-
tonshire, 214, 217, — abundant in
Hants, 296, 8302,—nesting in Somer-
setshire, 304 ; White, in Worces-
tershire, 24,—-in Oxfordshire, 93,—
in Anglesea, 227

Wales.—Dipper, 112 ; Wildfowl, 113 ;
Greater Spotted Woodpecker, Pied
Flycatcher, Grey Wagtail, 115;
White Wagtail, 227; birds of Bar-
mouth district, 828 ; Sparrowhawk,
841; Marsh Tit, Willow Wren,
345 ; Mid-, birds of, 406

Warbler, Barred, in Yorkshire, 58;
Grasshopper, in Oxfordshire, 95,—
meeting in Northamptonshire, 215,
216; ilcterine, in Norfolk, 89;
Marsh, nesting in Oxfordshire, 95,
—in Somersetshire, 304; Yellow-
browed, in Yorkshire and Norfolk,
459

Warwickshire.—Common Scoter, 638 ;
Bank Vole, 808; Cuckoo, 3807;
Hooded Crow, 344

Waterbnek, head of, 33

Waterhen carried off by Heron, 150;
variety, 270

Waxwing in Worcestershire, 24; early
mention in England, 62; in Co.
Down, 150; near Newmarket, 152;
in Norfolk, 86

Weasel, 417, 445 .

Weir, J ohn J enner, death of, 184

Whimbrel in Norfolk, 87,—in North-
amptonshire, 216 ; in the Midlands,
266

White, Gilbert, memorial to, 259

XV

Whitethroat, Lesser, date of arrival,
98, 158

Wild Birds Protection Act (1880)
Amendment, 179, 821

Wildfowl on Sussex coast, 60; on
Norfolk coast, 64; in Merioneth-
shire, [13

Woodcock breeding in Lake district,
112, 152, 187, 188; in Co. Wick-
low, 480

Woodlark,
215

Woodpecker, Barred, breeding in Ox-
fordshire, 96,—in Hants, 295, 296;
Greater Spotted, in North Wales,
115, — nesting in Scotland, 344;
Green, pursued by Sparrowhawk,
58, 340

Worcestershire.—Great Grey Shrike,
21; White Wagtail, Sparrowhawk,
Waxwing, 24; Water Ouzel, 59;
Palmated Newt, 154; Bank Vole,
223, 803 ; Mealy Redpoll, 345

Worm, bifid, 271

Wren, Willow, unusual number of
eges for, 3845; Wood, in Oxford-
shire, 95,—in Hants, 299, 300

rare in North Hants,

Yorkshire. — Lapland Bunting, 19 ;
Barred Warbler, 58; Cuckoo, 190,
225, 840; Palmated Newt, 191;
Gudgeon, numbers of Blind, 230;
Grey Plover, 429; Otter, 457;
Rabbit breeding above ground, 458;
Yellow-browed Warbler, 459

ILLUSTRATIONS.

Puate I. Tue Otter, Lutra vulgaris . . : To face page 1

», II. THE WEASEL, Mustela vulgaris . - ai 417

» LII. AtritupEs oF LiTTLE BITTERN IN CAPTIVITY . Pe 455

» LV. THE Harvest Mouse, Mus messorius . Re 454
VARIATIONS IN SNouT oF SmootH SNAKE, Coronella austriaca page 138
HeapD oF SABLE ANTELOPE, Hippotragus niger 32
HEAD OF WATER-BUCK, Coleus ellipsiprymnus 33
HERMIT CRAB IN SHELL OF WHELK ENCRUSTED WITH BARNACLES 72
THe Marten, Martes sylvatica 73
ProctotryPes, Latreille . P : ; . , 77
FIGURES OF ALCA IMPENNIS, from Seller’s ‘ English Pilot’ 143
BEAK OF THE ScoTER, Gdemia nigra 293
Big GAME ON THE SIRINGETI PLAINS 348
SoutH AFRICAN ANTELOPES 850
Bison Heaps FrRoM LITHUANIA 353
HEN CAPERCAILLIE ASSUMING MALE PLUMAGE 356

SUPPOSED HYBRID BETWEEN PTARMIGAN AND GROUSE

357

1 289? ted

“91.00 67TLA
er ule)

AgN'T
ou

“PESL VEL [9 0 7,

THE ZOOLOGIST
No. 205.—J pie 1894.

THE OTTER, LUTRA VULGARIS.

By tHe Epirtor.

Frew animals have been more maligned than the Otter, or
more misunderstood. ‘The majority of people know little or
nothing of its habits from personal observation, and are under
the impression that, as it is a great destroyer of fish, its presence
in a trout-stream, or salmon river, is on no account to be tolerated.
But “live and let live” is a very wholesome motto, and we shall
always maintain that so long as the fishery-laws of this country
are respected, and illegal netting is prevented, there will be
always enough fish in our rivers for anglers and otters too.

Moreover, it is a fallacy to suppose that the Otter, as stated
by Bell in his ‘ British Quadrupeds,’ “lives exclusively on fish.”
This is by no means the case, as we shall presently show; nor is
it the fact that it confines its attention to salmon and trout,
despising the coarser kinds. But before treating of its food, it
will be proper to say something of its structure, so well adapted
as it is to the creature’s habits.

In the Otter we find the general organization of the Weasel
family specially modified for an aquatic life. The skull shows
some approach in form to that of the Seals, being short, oval,
broad, and much flattened, with the occipital region strongly
developed. Between the orbits it is much compressed, so that the
eyes look upwards. The molar-teeth have very sharp tubercles,
well fitted to retain their grip of hard-scaled and slippery fish.
The limbs are short but powerful, with very flexible joints, per-
mitting every freedom of movement in swimming. The intestine,

ZOOLOGIST, THIRD SERIES, VOL. XVIII.—JAN,. 1894. B

2 THE ZOOLOGIST.

as in most piscivorous animals, is of considerable length; in an
example examined by Macgillivray it measured 10 feet 10 inches.
Externally the head is oval and depressed, with a broad obtuse
muzzle, naked round the nostrils, and provided with long stiff.
whiskers. The ears, provided with a fold of skin which closes
them when the animal dives, are short and rounded, almost con-
cealed by the hair. The-body is lengthened and depressed, the
tail flattened and rudder-like, the toes webbed to the claws. A
close coating of fine silky under-fur protects the animal from cold,
while the outer covering of close-lying glossy hair presents no
resistance in passing through the water. Thus every detail in its
structure combines to fit the Otter for its amphibious life, and to
enable it to pursue its prey in the water with a rapidity, ease, and
grace in which it is only surpassed by the Seals.

There is one peculiarity in its anatomy which has generally
escaped observation—namely, the smallness of the gullet... Those
who have watched an Otter feeding, as we have done repeatedly,
must have noticed that instead of tearing out large pieces of flesh
and bolting them like a dog, with very little mastication, it feeds
more like a cat, with the head on one side, biting very small pieces
at a time, and champing and chewing them well before swallowing.
From this point of resemblance “ water-cat”’ would be a more
appropriate name for it than ‘“‘ water-dog.”’ *

The smallness of the animal’s gullet is no doubt comma
with its habit of seizing prey under water. It is thus enabled by
muscular contraction to close the gullet while the mouth is anes
and so to escape suffocation. t

That the Otter is able to remain a ine time. onde pape
without coming up to breathe, or ‘‘vent”’ as it is technically
termed by otter-hunters, is a fact well known to the fraternity.»

It is also said to be able to travel under the ice, and an
ingenious explanation has been given by an American observer
of the mode by which it is enabled to obtain a sufficient a
of air during submersion. He says:t—

« As we all know, there is no air space between the water and the i ice,
and the Otter cannot draw the air through the ice from above, and does
not put his nose up there to cool it. Then what is the explanation? It is

* The name ‘‘ Water-dog”’ is given to it both in Ireland and Wales. The
Irish call it Maclaidh wisce, or Dobharehu, and the Welsh Dy/rgi.
+ ‘Forest and Stream,’ March 14th, 1889,

- THE OTTER. 8

this, and a very interesting and scientific process, not generally known.
The Otter presses his nose against the ice, then exhales the air from his
lungs, which forms a flat air-bubble around his nose, and between the ice
and water; the air is allowed to remain there a few seconds, and thus by its
contact with the ice and water is cooled, purified and re-oxygenated, then
the same is inhaled into the lungs, and the Otter is ready for a new start;
this may be repeated for a number of times, until the loss and wastage of
air requires a new supply. You will at once see the beauty and usefulness
of the process. The Beaver and some other animals do the same, to enable
them to ‘live under the ice a long time, without taking breath.’”

We are not able to confirm this from personal Pas
and may remark that upon the only occasion that we know of;
when an Otter plunged through a hole in the ice at the side of a
lake, it was drowned, and the body was not recovered until the
ice broke up. This was a tame Otter belonging to Mr. Assheton
Smith, of Vaynol Park, North Wales, which was accustomed to
follow its master in his walks. It would hunt a trout-stream for
his diversion, coming back when called, like a dog, and was quite
accustomed to the lake above mentioned, from which we have
often seen it bring out a fish.

. Apropos of Otters on the ice, a curious incident happened
during a severe frost in December, 1879. <A farmer, residing
near the river Irfon, a short distance above Llanwrtyd Wells,
when walking by the river observed a great commotion in the
water close to the edge of some thick ice; on going nearer he
found it was caused by an Otter, which, strange as it may appear,
was firmly frozen by its tail to the ice. Probably the Otter had
been for some time sitting on the edge of the ice in wait for
a passing fish, and on plunging in to secure its prey, found itself
in durance vile. The poor beast’s nails were quite worn to the
flesh by scratching against a rock, and its teeth broken by biting
the ice in its vain attempt to free itself. The Otter was secured
and taken home by the farmer, but died the same night.

That Otters are capable of being tamed and trained there is
abundant evidence to show. We might quote Albertus Magnus,
Aldrovandus, Gesner, and other ancient writers to prove this,
but more modern testimony will be preferred. Every angler will
remember the passage in Izaak Walton where ‘‘Piscator” ex-
presses. a wish to have one of the young Otters which the
huntsman had found, and exclaims, “I pray, Sir, save me one;

B2

4 THE ZOOLOGIST.

and I'll try if I can make her tame, as I know an ingenious
gentleman in Leicestershire, Mr. Nicholas Seagrave, has done;
who hath not only made her tame, but to catch fish, and do many
other things at pleasure.”

Goldsmith mentions an Otter which would plunge into a pond
at word of command, and driving the fish up into a corner, would
Seize upon one of the largest and bring it to land. Bewick,
Shaw, Daniel, Macgillivray, and Bishop Heber (in his ‘ Indian
Journal’),* record instances of the animal’s docility in this way ;
and McDiarmid, in his ‘Sketches from Nature,’ gives an account
of several tame Otters, one of which, belonging to a poor widow,
kept her well supplied with fish from the river Urr and its
tributary streams. One kept at Corsbie House, Wigtonshire,
he says, evinced a great fondness for gooseberries; and another
belonging to Mr. Monteith, of Carstairs, though very tame, would
steal away at night to fish by moonlight, returning to his kennel
in the morning. A cobbler at Rothbury, on the Coquet, had a
tame Otter, which was allowed its liberty, and would go off to fish
and return to the house, bringing a Trout, after helping himself.
He lived about five years, and was then accidentally killed in a
gale of wind by a door slamming against him and crushing him.

Our old friend, Mr. F. H. Salvin, of Whitmoor House, near
Guildford, has reared and tamed many young Otters, and has
proved them to be most delightful pets. He writes :—

«My reason for saying that Otters do more good than harm is that
they kill those fish which destroy spawn and young fry, and their presence
really indicates an increase of the best fish, such as Trout, Grayling, and
Salmon.”

As regards the power of the Salmon in ordinary water to
escape the Otter by superior swimming, it is certain, whatever the
theory upon the matter may be, that the Otter does constantly
take Salmon in all sorts of water, as any angler of experience can
testify. We have heard of a case in which an Otter was seen in

* Azara gives an account of a South American Otter, Lutra braziliensis,
which answered to its name, and followed its owner like a dog. See also
Jerdon’s account of the Indian Otter, Lwtra nair, in his ‘Mammals of
India,’ and Swinhoe on the habits of a tame Otter, Lwtra Swinhoei, Gray,
which was captured on the island of Gawkang, near Amoy. Proc, Zool, Soe.
1870, p. 625,

THE OTTER. 5

a deep long pool to capture a grilse of 6 lbs. or 7 lbs. weight in
the height of the season. Mr. F. H. Salvin once witnessed a
struggle between a tame Indian Otter, belonging to Mr. Hulse,
of the Rifle Brigade, and a large Pike in a deep pond in Stoke
Park, near Guildford. The Pike was eventually beaten, and on
being landed was found to weigh 20 lbs. 11 oz., while the Otter
weighed but 18 lbs.

«The fish,” says Mr. Salvin, “which I find they generally kill are
Roach, Dace, Chub, Loach, Miller’s-thumb, Jack, and Kels. Many of these
fish take to the sides upon seeing their enemy, and he surprises them under
the banks, where they fondly imagine they are hidden from view, and
consequently safe. I believe they kill a considerable number of Water
Rats, and I know they catch Water-hens. I have seen an Otter of mine
hunt one like a Spaniel.”

We have received confirmation of this from a gamekeeper of
Lord Egmont’s, as well as from Lieut.-Col. Levett, of Mitford
Hall, Stafford, who wrote that in January, 1881, he saw an Otter
with a Water-hen in its mouth, with which it dived at his approach,
and he subsequently found the spot where the bird had been
killed. In hard weather it would seem that Otters are compelled
to take other food besides fish, which are then not so easily
procured.

Mr. 8. J. Hurley, of Killaloe, who has had many tame Otters,
wrote in Sept. 1889 :—

«You may take my word for it that Otters, when hard pressed for food,
do hunt and kill Water-hens, and, indeed, other species of water-fowl as
well. On one occasion I even caught an Otter in the act of killing a
goose. I had been out one morning fishing in a tributary of the Shannon,
and as I turned a somewhat sharp bend in the river, I found Madame
Lutra tearing the feathers off a goose which she had just killed. I have
kept tame Otters for many years past, so know something about them.
One beauty that I had used to hunt everything she met with, both on land
and in water—fish, feather, and fur. One day, in winter, we were going
after the Snipe in the marsh, where it was impossible to work without a
retriever. My favourite Irish water spaniel being laid up at home at
the time, I could not bring her, but thought I would give Loo (the
Otter) a chance of signalising herself. I took her to the marsh, and
no spaniel in the world could have performed better. She put up the
Suipe splendidly, and retrieved any birds that fell into the big pools or
bog-holes.”

6 THE ZOOLOGIST.

In Nov. 1885, Mr. Gow, gamekeeper at Dalnaspidal, in Perth-
shire, came upon the track of an Otter in the newly-fallen snow
by the side of a mountain stream. Having his gun with him, he
followed the trail in the hope of falling in with the Otter. After
proceeding a short distance, the tracks left the water-side, and
showed where the animal had made a bound and caught an old
‘cock Grouse. Returning to the stream, it had crossed on to a rock
in the centre of the water, where it deposited its prey. To those
acquainted with the feeding peculiarities of the Otter, it will not
be surprising to learn that it did not finish the bird at its nocturnal
meal, but left well-nigh one-half of the Grouse upon the rock.
Mr. Gow, after examining the remaining portion of the Grouse,
followed the track of the Otter up stream until it terminated in a
deep moss-hole, where the object of his pursuit had gone to
ground. Having no terrier with him, and as the day was closing,
he set to work, and with stones stopped the hole as firmly as the
circumstances would admit of. Returning early the following
morning with his gun and terriers, he found to his mortification
that the Otter had scraped a new hole and escaped, while a fresh
fall of snow had obliterated its tracks. .

Another correspondent informed us that while walking along
the bank of a stream in Scotland, he found the unconsumed
remains of a Mallard which had been killed ane partially eaten
by an Otter.*

Mr. F. H. Salvin reports that Otters also kill and eat Rabbits;
and this is confirmed by Mr. T. Speedy, who, writing from The
Inch, Edinburgh, 17th Dec. 1885, says.:—

‘Many years ago, when trapping Rabbits in a hedgerow on the bank
of a small, sluggish brook on the Ladykirk estate, I was much annoyed by
finding that for several consecutive mornings a number of Rabbits were
dragged out of the traps and carried off by some animal. As no traces of
either the depredator or the Rabbits were discoverable, I naturally con-
cluded it was the work of some wild animal, but of what sort I could not
determine. As there were no fish of any description in the ditch, the idea
of Otters never entered my head. Determined to find out the thief, I made
an artificial hole in the bank, and set the strongest-springed trap I could
find, using a rabbit split up as bait. On the following morning 1 was not
a little surprised to find a large dog Otter secured, which measured 3 ft.
10 in. from point of nose to oP of tail.”

* For further instances of Otters killing Wildfowl see ‘The Field,
3lst May, 1873.

_ THE OTTER, 7

As the Otter is amphibious in its habits, it is not un-
reasonable to suppose that it should feed on rats, voles, and
rabbits, more especially when fish are scarce.

-Eels are especially liked by Otters, and are easily captured
by them. Izaak Walton was of opinion that the Otter can scent
them under water, and there appears to be some truth in this.
Mr. F. H. Salvin writes, “I know they scent them under water,
and bring them up from the mud; indeed, they prefer them to
everything.” In a subsequent letter he added :—

‘Some years ago, when I found that Otters have the power of scenting
under water, I used to amuse myself by sinking a fish on a string with a
bullet, and after dragging it some distance, J hid it undera stone. Then
I turned in the Otter, which soon hit off the scent, and dived beautifully to
the spot and brought up the fish. Then I used to take him out in a boat
on a pond, and repeat the same thing in very deep water, where I knew
the bait would enter the mud at the bottom; but the Otter diving an circles
(as they always do in deep water) never failed to find and bring it up. In
order to show how easily they can take eels, and how much they live upon
them, I may relate what an Otter of mine once did in the river Wharfe
in Yorkshire. Ata turn in the river, below Mr. Scott’s seat, Woodhall,
the water had formed a sand-bank which did not appear above the surface,
but could be plainly seen when the water was clear. Upon arriving opposite
this place, the Otter dived directly for the sand-bank, and I could see he
intended mischief, for his shovel-shaped head was immediately driven well
into the mud, and he came up with such a large eel that it lapped round
his thick neck.

** As eels can be scented under water in the mud, their capture becomes
all the more certain, for they have no chance to escape by swimming.”

In addition to the prey already mentioned, Otters are par-
ticularly fond of frogs, which they catch at their spawning-places
in spring, and at other times in low-lying damp meadows. Mussels
also furnish food to Otters. Numbers of their shells have been
found in an Otter’s haunt with the ends bitten off, and evident
marks of teeth upon the broken fragments, the position of the
shells indicating that the Otter, after having crunched off one end,
had sucked or scooped out the mollusc in much the same way
as those who are partial to shrimps dispose of that esculent
crustacean.”

ro

* Harting, ‘Rambles in Search of Shells,’ p. 88, The Magellan Sea
Otter, Lutra felina, habitually preys on a large spiny Crab, Lithodes ant:
arctica.—Coppinger, ‘ Voyage of the Alert,’ p. 58.

8 THE ZOOLOGIST.

Mr. H. S. Thomas, in his entertaining volume, ‘The Rod in
India,’ 1873, p. 198, writes :—

“The way the Otter has of taking a bite or two out of a fish and then
leaving it to catch a fresh one, and thus destroying many more fish than
he needs to devour, though against him in a wild state, is certainly a
peculiarity to be taken advantage of in a domesticated one; for a mere
snack should suffice him, and he would be game to hunt again at once.
The heads might very well be spared to the Otter if the rest be kept by
the master.”

An Otter has been known to seize a Trout which had been
hooked, and to break away with it, line and all.*

In ‘The Field’ of Nov. 14th, 1885, Mr. R. B. Lee gave an
account of a tame Otter dying of distemper contracted from an
Otter-hound puppy with which it was being brought up. Com-
menting upon this in a subsequent number (Noy. 28th, 1885),
Mr. 8. J. Hurley, of Killaloe, wrote :—

“Some years ago a similar instance came under my observation. At
the time I refer to I had an adult female Otter, which by months of care
and kindness I had brought to the most perfect state of tameness. She
used to live in the house, follow me about like a dog, fish in the widest and
deepest part of the Shannon, stay out whole nights together with her wild
relations, and in the morning, when all the romping and fishing were over,
she would return home and scratch at the hall-door for admittance. To my
joy, I discovered that she was in young, and, lest any injury should befall
her, I resolved to keep her at home by night, and take her out to fish by
day. Just about this time I happened to have two brace of Irish setter
puppies down with distemper, and one day, while giving them a little
gentle exercise in a field opposite my house, the Otter went into their
kennel and lay down in the straw. In a few days she showed unmistakable
signs of distemper, being attacked in precisely the same way as the young
setters, and, in spite of all I could do, she died. I have had several other
tame Otters in my time, the greater number of which I obtained when
about a month old. Once I got a brace of young ones scarcely a fortnight
old, and, as they were very weak, I put them to a foster mother in the
shape of a cat, rearing kittens at the time. The plan succeeded, and I had
little trouble in taming them. In June last I procured a brace of baby
Otters about a month old, and in less than a week they became perfectly
tame, and used to follow me about the roads and fields. Before they were
two months old they would go into the river at the bridge here, and come
out again to a whistle, or call, like a water spaniel.

* €'The Field,’ Oct. 16th, 1875.

THE OTTER. 9

‘*¢ Many people are hard on the Otter on account of its fish-killing pro-
pensities, but, from long experience, I maintain that they do comparatively
little harm in a mighty river like the Shannon. During the last twenty-
five years I have heard of only one instance of a spring or summer Salmon
having been killed by Otters. I admit that they will sometimes kill a
spawned salmon or well-mended kelt in the winter or spring; but what of
that? I have many times seen my Otters fish in parts of the river that
were full of salmon and trout, and yet they would be satisfied with an eel.”

One of the most remarkable incidents in the life of an Otter
occurred in the case of a tame one that learned to hunt one of its
own species. Mr. J. Davison, of Andover, has given the following
account of it in ‘ The Field’:—

“One Sunday afternoon, taking a walk down by the Thrum Mill, near
Rothbury on the Coquet, to exercise our dogs, on getting to the top of the
rocks one of the puppies gave tongue, and out came an Otter with two
whelps by her side, making for the river. We got in front, when the
mother gained the rocks ; but we secured the two whelps. We took them
home, and put them with ‘ Bell,’ an otter-hound, who had a litter of three
puppies. One of the whelps died, but the other took to the hound, and
throve famously ; he mixed with the puppies, but fought like a demon, and
was soon master of the situation. Wherever they went he went with them,
fighting everything that he met with. He also became a pet with all the
householders, who never missed a chance of feeding him. His special
treat was bowls of milk and broth; to get these he would find his way into
dairies, larders, &c. Thus he went on, until we had to enter the puppies
for otter-hunting. We had him fastened in a yard with high walls, as we
felt sure, if we took him with us, he would join his own species. On our
return he bullied and fought the entire kennel of five. About a week after
I had to go to Brinkbarn Priory, and took the dogs with me. ‘Sandy,’ the
tame Otter, would go, and into the Coquet they soon got on the lair of an
Otter. They swam him through a deep pool, when he took to the bushes.
Soon I saw ‘Sandy’ side by side with * Rufus,’ close to the wild Otter. I said
farewell to ‘Sandy,’ but presently I heard the pleasant sound ‘ worry, worry.’
I thought ‘Rufus’ had him, but on coming in sight, to my astonishment,
‘ Sandy ’ had him fast by the neck, and held him till the dogs came up. From
that time he was the leader in all our hunts, and was in at the death of
nearly twenty Otters. But, alas! poor Sandy soon came to his end. Love
of broth led him into the larder of the Star Inn. ‘The cook, finding him
wallowing in the broth, struck him with the wooden ladle—more to frighten
than to hurt him; but his skull was fractured, and, after lingering for some
days, he died, to the inexpressible regret of all who knew him.”

10 THE ZOOLOGis?.

We must reserve for another occasion’ some remarkson
variation, measurements, and weight; and on the much-vexed
question of the period of gestation, and the season of repro-

duction.
(To be continued.)

ON THE VARIATIONS OF THE SMOOTH SNAKE,
CORONELLA AUSTRIACA.

By G. A. Bou.LEnGceEr.

Tue first record of the Smooth Snake, Coronella austriaca,.
Laur. (C. levis, Lacep.), as a British species, was published by
the late Dr. J. E. Gray in this Journal in 1859 (p. 6730), from a
specimen obtained at Bournemouth, and presented to the British
Museum by the late Lord Arthur Russell. In the same volume
the late Mr. F. Bond (p. 6787) informed the readers of ‘The
Zoologist’ that he had, some years previously, discovered the
snake near Ringwood.* ‘There is yet an earlier claim to its
discovery in Britain, which must, however, be dismissed as based
on anerror. A small snake figured by Sowerby (Brit. Miscell.
pl. ili. 1804) as Coluber dumfrisiensis, and stated to have been
caught by a Mr. Simmons near Dumfries, has been regarded as
belonging to this species, and the name C. dumfrisiensis appears
in most of the recent synonymies of Coronella austriaca.- The
specimen has not been preserved, but 1 am fully convinced that
Sowerby’s figure is taken from a young bleached specimen of
Coronella doliata, L., a North American species. t

Since 1859 numerous instances of the occurrence of Coronella
austriaca in Hampshire and Dorsetshire have been recorded in
‘The Zoologist’ and ‘The Field.’ The specimen obtained by
Lord Arthur Russell has been figured in Cooke’s ‘ Our Reptiles,’
pl. iv., and another figure, accompanied by a most interesting

* The Rev. O. P. Cambridge, who accompanied Mr. Bond on that occasion,
kindly informs me that the exact spot where the first specimen was caught
is near the St. Leonard’s public-house, Ringwood Heath, just within the
borders of Hampshire.

+ Coluber tetragonus, Latreille, introduced by Fatio in the synonymy of
Coronella austriaca, I regard as identical with the South African Homa-
losoma lutria.

ON THE VARIATIONS OF THE SMOOTH SNAKE. 11

account, has been given by the Rev. O. P. Cambridge in the
‘Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History Club’ (vii. 1886,
p- 84, pl. vi.) But no special_attention has as yet been paid to
the variations among British specimens.

One of the most important characters for the distinction of
Coronella austriaca from its European congener, C. girondica,
resides in the shape of the rostral shield, the depth of which is
much greater in the former, so that a considerable portion of it,
forming a triangular area, is bent back on the upper surface of the
snout. In the typical C. austriaca (of which several specimens
from the original locality, viz. the environs of Vienna, are in the
British Museum), the upper portion of the rostral measures about
half its distance from the frontal shield; whilst in the form which
predominates in Italy and Sicily, and which has been named
Zacholus fitzingeri, Bonap., and Coronella italica, Fitz., the snout
is more pointed, projects more beyond the mouth, and the upper
portion of the rostral equals at least two-thirds its distance from
the frontal. The difference between extreme specimens of the
two forms is very striking, whether the head be examined from
above or in profile, and a C. fitzingert is more suggestive of a
Simotes or Hhinechis than of a typical Coronella. But there is an
almost complete transition between the two extremes, and most
recent authors have been content with distinguishing them wee
as varieties or subspecies.

That this form with prominent snout is not confined to lieis
was first pointed out by Schreiber (Herp. Eur. p. 308, 1875),
who states that he has examined specimens from the Pyrenean
Peninsula (no precise locality mentioned) which agree in every
respect with the Italian ones. I may add that the only Portuguese
specimen I have ever seen, obtained near Coimbra by M. Paulino
d’Oliveira, and preserved in the Brussels Museum, belongs to
that form; likewise two specimens from N.W. Spain (Corunna
and Pontevedra), which I have since received from M. V. L.
Seoane. Not long ago Dr. F. Werner (Verh. Zool. Bot. Ges. Wien.
xli. 1891, p. 764) recorded the occurrence of individuals of
the var. fitzingert near Vienna, and he has been so kind as to send
me four for the British Museum. ‘Two of them are particularly
remarkable in showing a still greater development of the rostral
shield, which reaches the prefrontals, entirely separating. the.
internasals. (See p. 13, fig. f).°

12 THE ZOOLOGIST.

It is probable that if greater attention were paid to individual
variations of this widely-distributed snake, many more new
localities for the var. fitzingert would be brought to light. In
fact, I am now able to point out its occurrence in England. A small
specimen, 330 millim. long, was caught by Master J. L. Monk on
August 21st last in Talbot Woods, Bournemouth, and kindly pre-
sented by him to the British Museum. In this specimen the
rostral is wedged in far between the prefrontals, which form but a
very short median suture, and the length of its upper surface
exactly equals its distance from the frontal. In the specimen
received from Lord Arthur Russell, the upper portion of the
rostral measures three-fifths of its distance from the frontal, and
in that presented by Mr. Bond one-half; the snout is also more
obtuse, and both pertain unquestionably to the typical form. On
examining some specimens, three in number, from Hampshire,
received from the Zoological Society, I find that they are referable
to the var. fitzingert; the upper portion of the rostral in one
measures two-thirds its distance from the frontal, whilst in the
two others it equals that distance. I must therefore conclude
that the character on which C. fitzingert is based, which I may
add is not correlative of any other either in the lepidosis or in
the coloration, is merely an individual one, more frequent in some
localities than in others, but by no means geographically limited,
as was hitherto believed to be the case. Prof. Camerano, in his
recent Monograph of the Snakes of Italy (Mem. Acc. Torin. xli.
1891), refers all the Italian specimens to his subspecies jitzingert.
But a young specimen from Bologna in the British Museum,
received from Prof. Bianconi, belongs to the typical form, the
upper portion of the rostral being only half as long as its distance
from the frontal, and the shape of the snout not differing from
that of the form described by Laurenti as C. austriaca. I should
add that I have considered the question whether the aberrant
specimens from Hampshire might not be the result of some
importation from southern parts of the Continent; specimens
thus brought over for sale in Bournemouth might have been
ultimately turned loose in the neighbourhood by their owners
and recaptured, as sometimes happens in London, where snakes
are occasionally taken in the public parks. I therefore wrote to
Mr. A. Green, the well-known naturalist in Bournemouth, to
inquire whether any of the snakes he sells were ever received

ON THE VARIATIONS OF THE SMOOTH SNAKE, 13

from the Continent. His answer was that he had never imported
any Coronellas, and that there is no one else in Bournemouth
who deals in Reptiles in any way,

The following figures show the amount of variation in the
shape of the snout, and the size of the rostral shield in six
specimens :—a, b, and f from Austria; ¢ and e from Hampshire ;
and d from Piedmont.

d e

The number of scales across the middle of the body is
invariably 19. The number of ventral shields varies from 158
to 199; the anal is nearly always divided, but I find it entire
in one specimen from Travnik, Bosnia; the number of ventral
shields varies from 42 to 70 pairs. The following are the num-
bers of ventrals and subcaudals in the seven British specimens
examined by me :—

3. Bournemouth. A. Russell. V. 158. C. 61.
9. rf J.L. Monk. ,, 165. tne ae
3. Ringwood. F. Bond. »» 154. es
3g. Hampshire. F. Beckford. ,, 154. 9 OG.
3. a Zool. Soe. tT. Vee lt Es
3. ” ” ” 163, ” 54,
M4 e 9 9 ” 177. 9 55.

Tn his well-known paper on the scale-pits of snakes (Vidensk.
Meddel. 1860, p. 209; German translation in Arch. f. Nat. 1861,
p. 127), Reinhardt states that the pits are single in Coronella
austriaca, and this has even been given as a diagnostic character
of the genus Coronella by Cope (Proc. Amer. Phil. Soc. xxiii.
1886, p. 487). I have examined a large number of specimens

14 : THE ZOOLOGIST.

and always find at least a few of the scales with two pits; whilst
some specimens may even have most of the scales with two, as,
amongst others, the specimen found near Bournemouth by Master
Monk, .

The Smooth Snake rarely exceeds the length of two feet.
The largest specimen in the British Museum measures 28 inches
(720 millim.). The startling record of a Danish specimen over
4 ft. long (1280 millim.), by Sarauw (Nat. og Mennesk, Copenh.
x. 1893, p.216), is possibly based on some exotic specimen escaped
from confinement, the more so as the number (218) of its ventrals
is outside the known range of variation of C. austriaca. This
species is ovoviviparous, and the young at birth measure 5 to 6
inches.

The upper parts are brown, yellowish, or redial often with

one or three more or less distinct lighter stripes, and with small
dark brown, blackish, or brick-red spots usually arranged in pairs,
or forming ill-defined cross-bars ; frequently two dark stripes on
the nape, usually confluent with a large dark brown or black
blotch on the occiput; a dark brown or black streak runs along
each side of the head, from the nostril to the angle of the mouth,
passing through the eye, sometimes extending along each side of
the neck. ‘fhe belly is often brick-red or orange in the young,
usually reddish or purplish brown or lead-grey in the aie
uniform or speckled with blackish or whitish.
_ A remarkable male specimen (480 millim. long), obtained
between Kierling and Weidling, near Vienna, has been sent to me
by Dr. Werner. Its snout is remarkably short and broad (see
p- 18, fig. a), the opposite extreme to the var. jitzingert; the frontal
shield is much longer than its distance from the end of the snout.
The snake is pale brown above, with four blackish parallel fine lines
along the anterior fourth of the body, the median pair enclosing
large reddish brown black-edged spots forming more or less
regular bars, these markings producing the ladder-pattern well
known in the half-grown Rhinechis scalaris. The belly is red
dotted with black, the lower surface of the tail with a black spot
in the middle. of each subcaudal shield. The specimen is further
remarkable in having two small yellowish, dark-edged spots close
together on the back of the head, separated by the suture between
the parietal shields.

The only notice of melanism in Coronella austriaca-is to be

ASSUMPTION BY FEMALE~.BIRDS OF MALE PLUMAGE, 15

found in an appendix to. Mr. Cambridge’s paper (Proc. Dorset
Nat. Hist. Club, vol. vii. p. 91), where Mr. William Penney, of
Poole, is stated to have gis near that place two specimens of a
black aap

ON THE PARTIAL ASSUMPTION BY FEMALE BIRDS
OF MALE PLUMAGE.

By J. H. Gurney, F.L.S., F.Z.8..

Tus is an interesting subject, and one which has engaged
the attention of such naturalists as John Hunter, Darwin, and
Yarrell, whose paper read before the Royal Society is classical.*
In the last number of ‘ The Zoologist’ (1893, p.458), Mr. Coburn
has referred to the case of affemale Merganser, Mergus serrator,
assuming male plumage. A similar case came under the notice
of my late father.- He proved by dissection that a supposed
young male Merganser, showing a considerable amount of black
plumage about the-head and neck, was a female. Such cases as
these indicate that the change is not a result of semi-domestica-
tion, although the likelihood of the metamorphosis is increased
by domestication, as demonstrated in the cases of the hen, duck,
and pheasant.

It would be interesting to ascertain what species among the
Anatide have exhibited this abnormal tendency. Four may be
named :—the- Mallard, Anas boschas, the Wigeon, A. penelope,
the Tufted Duck, Fuligula cristata, and the Scaup, F. marila.
The Rev. H. A. Macpherson, in his ‘Study of British Birds’
(pp. 71, 72), is my authority for the Tufted Duck, and the late
Edward Blyth for the Scaup. The normal adult plumage of a
female Scaup is a white face and brown head and neck turning
sooty black (A. C.. Chapman, Zool. 1887, p. 8). The female bird
ated in Dresser’s ‘ Birds of Europe’ is not adult.

‘The late Mr. Cecil Smith remarked this masculine ieee
m a female Wigeon (‘ Ibis,’ 1888, p. 228), and it has been noted
not unfrequently in the ordinary Wild Duck, A. boschas, in
England, with one exception (Birds of Northumb. and Durh.,

* Phil. ‘Trans. 1827, p. 268—275. See also a paper by him on the
assumption of the male plumage by the female of the common Game-fowl,.
Proc. Zool. Soc. 18381, p. 22.

16 . THE ZOOLOGIST.

p. 152), always in a domesticated state. These ducks sometimes
live to a great age. My father had one which was believed to be
twenty-nine years old, and I have another, in perfect male attire,
believed to be now ten years old: this is the same bird which a
decoy-drake treated as a veritable male and bullied, while his

own mate looked placidly on. The Tufted Duck mentioned by.

Mr. Macpherson was twelve years old.

In passing, it may be remarked a ready way which may be
adopted of acertaining the sex of Mergansers, which I have tried
in Leadenhall Market, is by passing the finger and thumb down
the neck and feeling for the enlargement of the trachea. But
such a test would be of no avail in the Wigeon and Tufted
Ducks.

Mr. Coburn does not state that the ovary of the Merganser
examined by him was diseased, and in my father’s specimen
there was no sign of disease, so probably they were both healthy
birds. The diseased condition of the ovary which is sometimes
presented in a hen Pheasant may be seen in Yarrell’s illustration
on page 108 of vol. ili. of his ‘ British Birds.’ Yarrell, it will be
remembered, was of opinion that disease always accompanied the
change of plumage; but birds may recover from disease with or
without any resumption of the normal colour; a hen Pheasant
of this description, which was caged by my father, recovered its
ordinary female plumage. Again, there may be a diseased condi-
tion of the ovaries without any indication of it by a change of
plumage.

It would be interesting to know whether, after this change
of plumage, the Anatide are capable of laying fertile eggs.
Gallinaceous birds almost always become barren, but apparently
some Passerine birds do not, such as Redstarts and Red-backed
Shrikes, though there does not appear to be any ascertained cases
of their having reared young.

There is a recorded instance, and only one, so far as I am
aware, of a domestic hen in cock’s plumage producing young.
This is mentioned in ‘ The Field’ of Nov. lst, 1884. This seems
to be the only incontestable instance of any female bird in male
plumage having young ones—or perhaps I should say recorded
instance of what may occasionally happen and nevertheless
escape notice.

I have seen certainly four, if not five, female Redstarts

Xw

ASSUMPTION BY FEMALE BIRDS OF MALE PLUMAGE, 17

assuming male plumage, but none of them had completed the
change. Blyth wrote that he had detected similar examples by
their smaller size (‘ Field,’ June 17th, 1871), adding that the
feathers are overlaid with dingy tips, as in newly-moulted males
in autumn. But those which I examined wanted the freshness of
colour of a young male Redstart or a newly-moulted adult, and
though they laid eggs there is no evidence that the eggs were
fertile.

In 1886 I exhibited a series of Redstarts to the Norwich
Naturalists’ Society, including one of those anomalous females,
and described its plumage. The most noticeable feature about it
was the throat, which had not the pretty mottling of a young male,
neither had it the pure black of an old male; its hue was grey,
a little darker than the back of an ordinary adult male Redstart.
The white forehead was slightly shown, but the breast, though
much redder than a female’s, had not half the depth of colour of
an adult male’s.

In ‘ The Ibis,’ 1888 (p. 229), a list is given of twenty-four
species of birds, in which one or more instances of a female
assuming male plumage are recorded. ‘To make it complete the
following should be added, making thirty-three species, referable
to five families, or thirty-five if the Woodchat and Golden Oriole
are included: of these seven have been figured, but no Passerine

_ bird among them, which is to be regretted, as the transformation is

LO See

characteristic in Ruticilla and Lanius :—Montagu’s Harrier (‘ Ibis,’
1875, p. 222); Bearded Titmouse (‘ Field,’ Sept. 14, 1872); Cirl
Bunting (Bull. Soc. Zool. France, ii. p. 23); Black-headed Bunting,
Ei. melanocephala (ditto); Crossbill (‘ Naturalist,’ 1889, p. 52);
Pyranga estiva (Audubon, Orn. Biog. v. p.518); Summer Tanager
(‘The Auk,’ 1891, p. 815); Macaw (‘Gentleman’s Magazine,’
1785, pp. 782, 959) ; and Tufted Duck (Macpherson, Brit. Birds,
pp. 71, 72).

There is no bird which demonstrates this metamorphosis so
often as the Common Pheasant, as sportsmen know well. It is
pretty frequent in the Capercaillie, and Black Grouse also, though
more so in the former, according to Mr. Millais (‘ Game Birds,’
p. 40), and examples occasionally turn up in Leadenhall Market,
but in the Pheasant it is very common. While making these
notes (Dec. 18th) I shot one, and saw another the previous week;
a quick eye can detect them even when running about.

ZOOLOGIST, THIRD SERIES, VOL, XVIII.— JAN. 1894. C

18 ll4 2a. Se mreonoew

Mr, Gunn, of Norwich, among the many. which have passed
through his hands, has never seen one so perfect that it could not
be distinguished from a cock. Neither have I, save in the single
instance of the one mentioned in the ‘ Transactions of the Norfolk
and Norwich Naturalists’ Society’ (iv. p. 184), and that was a
perfect plumaged cock Pheasant without spurs; but the sex may
not have been, and probably was not, ascertained with certainty.
Nevertheless, if a female Duck and a Chaffinch can attain the
perfect masculine garb, why not a Pheasant ? i

Mr. Gunn has one which comes very near to perfection, but
the black chest-spots and breast-markings are smaller, and the
tail not so long as that of the cock.

In Mr. Millais’ beautiful ‘Game Birds,’ already referred re
there is a plate of an adult Black cock assuming the plumage of
the Grey hen. A similar instance is given of a Barn-door cock
figured in Mr. Tegetmeier’s ‘Poultry Book’ (p. 133). Such eases,
however, are of extreme rarity.

NOTES AND QUERIES.

BIRDS.

The Migration of Partridges.—In ‘The Zoologist’ (1893, p- 433)
a correspondent enquires whether Partridges are known to migrate, from
which I conclude that the occurrence of the so-called “* Zughiihner ” (i. é.
“ wandering partridges”) in North Germany is not so generally known in
England as in Germany, where almost every educated forester and hunter
has at least heard of it. It may therefore be of interest to the readers of
‘The Zoologist’ to supply a few notes on the subject. . In the northern
parts of Germany large flocks of Partridges were noticed by a number of
observers to appear suddenly in autumn or winter, ‘and to disappear again
before the breeding season. They were also seen in packs of from fifty to
at least five hundred, always kept close together, and could not be dispersed.
They strayed restlessly over the fields, were extremely shy, and weré
difficult to shoot. These wandering Partridges are said to be distinctly
smaller, greyer than the common German Partridge, and to have darker
feet. I met with such Partridges once. When shooting with my father
in the long lyme-grass, Elymus arenarius, behind the sand-dunes on the
Baltic in East Prussia, and following some single Partridges, we saw, to our
surprise, more than two or three hundred birds get up some hundred yards

| a

NOTES AND QUERIES. 19

in front of us. Being by ourselves we tried to follow them, but they were
80 shy that we could not get a single shot, and they were soon out of sight and
never seen again. I know of others who were fortunate enough to procure
one or two of such birds, but I have never examined a specimen myself.
The ‘“ Zughiihner” apparently belong to a different race, and must not be
confounded with the well-known large grey Russian bird which is brought
to the London market in enormous quantities. Naumann, the great German
ornithologist, wrote: —“‘ Partridges are stationary birds, straying about
under certain circumstances only. The majority never leave the neigh-
bourhood of the place where they are hatched, though exceptionally, if
much disturbed and short of food, they will stray away for a time, but to a
short distance only, returning as soon as circumstances are more favourable.
In North Germany, however, by the end of October or in November, foreign
Partridges appear, coming apparently from northern countries, and driven
from their home by severe weather, cold, and want of food, to seek this and
shelter in our comparatively milder climate. Sometimes they do not forsake
our fields before the early spring. These Partridges, called “ Zughiihner”
by German sportsmen, seem to be smaller than ours, perhaps because they
are natives of a more barren country. They do not differ, however, in
colour and markings, except in the slightly darker colour of the feet, and
there is no difference in their note and habits, except that they keep
together in immense packs and that they are exceptionally shy. They often
appear in parts of the country where there were no Partridges before, and
in flocks of from fifty to a hundred. One of my brothers once saw a pack
of perhaps five hundred wandering along very hurriedly, half on the wing,
half running, in a direction from east to west, and covering a narrow track
for a distance of perhaps three hundred yards. They were constantly moving
onward, all in the same direction, those in the rear flying over those in
front, and so quickly that all disappeared out of sight within a few minutes.”
Naumann then details his reasons for not considering these Partridges to
be of a distinct species. A comparison, nevertheless, of a number of
specimens of these migratory birds would be very desirable at the present
day, when the study of local forms is far more advanced than it was sixty
years ago, when Naumann wrote the sixth volume of his immortal work.—
Ernst Hartert (Zoological Museum, Tring).

[Some pertinent remarks on this subject have lately been published by
Mr. H. A. Macpherson in a volume on the Partridge issued by Messrs.
Longman in their so-called “ Fur and Feather” series. Of this volume we
hope shortly to give a notice.—Ep. |

Lapland Bunting at Flamborough.— Mr. Matthew Bailey having
sent word that he had several times seen a flock of from sixty to eighty
Lapland Buntings near Flamborough village in the second and third

C2

20 THE ZOOLOGIST.

weeks in November, on the 21st of that month, when staying at Flam-
borough, I accompanied him to the spot, and after a little search found
them on a barley stubble. This field, which had all the appearance of bad
cultivation, was much frequented by small birds for the sake of the various —
seeds of weeds to be found there. There was a flock of about one thousand —
Snow Buntings, besides droves of the common Sparrow, Chaffinches,
Greenfinches, and others. It is surrounded by rough unkept hedges.
The Lapland Buntings, like the other birds, were on the stubbles, but flew
up in rather close a body to the hedge, and then began directly to drop
by twos and threes to the stubble. On our moving a few steps they
again took to the hedgerow, and this sort of thing was repeated while we
remained. I should say that Mr. Bailey’s estimate of sixty to eighty was
very near the number we saw then, although on subsequently visiting the
place later in the day I calculated the flock at one hundred to one hundred
and twenty. When on the hedge they were very favourably placed for
examination through the glass. Like Snow Buntings, they show con-
siderable diversity of plumage. The flock was a mixed one, males and
females, and probably also young; the males had the black parts much
broken and mottled, and amongst them were several Linnets and three
very bright Siskins. In their flights between the stubble and hedge
the grey markings on the wings and outer tail-feathers afforded a very
distinguishable feature, and they appeared to me to spread their tails
considerably more than do some small birds, recalling in this respect the
flight of the Crested Lark, which I have seen in Germany. They might
easily be passed over for Tree Sparrows, having exactly the same habit of
crowding a hedgetop and straggling down to the stubble to feed, and on
the least disturbance all flying upina body. Mr. Bailey told me that on
one occasion, on the road between Flamborough village and the lighthouse,
the whole flock dropped from the hedge to the footpath about twenty yards
before him. During the day I saw two or three with Snow Buntings about
a shallow pool in a field, one of these being on the floating weed. I also
saw, on Nov. 22nd, a ‘“ Leaf-warbler” like a Chiffchaff on the side of a
plantation hawking for flies.« It is a curious fact that during the hurricane
from the north on the 19th, several Terns were seen near the extreme
point of the headland. Immense flights of Snow Buntings came in at
Flamborough in the same week as the Lapland Buntings, and I saw many
large flocks on the stubbles there during my visit—JoHn CorDEAUX
(Great Cotes, R.S.O., Lincoln).

Little Auk in Co. Sligo—When walking on the Enniscrone Sands,
on Nov. 19th, I picked up the remains of a Little Auk, Mergulus alle,
destroyed by the Gulls. It was ina perfectly fresh state, however, and

* This was not a Chiffchaff; it had a distinct bar on the wing.

NOTES AND QUERIES. 21

had evidently come ashore but a few hours previously. Along the same
sands I also found several Puffins, Razorbills, and Guillemots, all driven
ashore by the N.W. gale of the two previous days.—RoBert WARREN
(Moyview, Ballina).

Storm-driven Sea Birds.— After the terribly destructive gales of
Noy. 19th and 20th, a Storm Petrel was picked up at Livermere, near
Bury St. Edmunds, and an adult Puffin within the limits of the borough,
which is nearly forty miles from the sea. The latter bird was alive and
well when found, and was taken to Mr. Travis, the Bury taxidermist, whe
kept it alive for a week, but it refused to touch either fish or flesh. The
Puffin is a far more uncommon bird in Suffolk than the Little Auk; the
late Mr. N. F. Hele, in his ‘Notes about Aldeburgh,’ was only able to
record the occurrence of three specimens in about thirty years. Mr. Travis
had at the same time another adult Puffin from March, in Cambridgeshire,
which I purchased in the flesh, and this bird had evidently met its death
by flying against some obstacle, the contact with which had fractured the
skull. A local paper records the fact that two days after the gale “ more
than twenty sea-birds were picked up on the warrens near Icklingham and
Mildenhall, driven in by the terrific storm of Nov. 18th. There were
amongst them Guillemots, Razorbills, Puffins and Little Auks. Mr. Howlett,
of Newmarket, had no less than thirty brought to him, some of them alive.”
—Juian G. Tuck (Tostock Rectory, Bury St. Edmunds).

Uncommon Birds in Somersetshire.— About the end of last November
one or two uncommon birds were shot near Bridgwater, amongst others a
Peregrine Falcon, a Grey Phalarope, and an immature Pomatorhine Skua,
Stercorarius pomatorhinus. The last named was brought to me, in the
flesh, for identification, and, as far as I know, it is the first reported
occurrence of this bird in Somerset. On Nov. 3rd a Guillemot was shot in
the river close to the town, just opposite a brick-yard, an unusual time of
year at which to find this bird here. All these are in the collection of
Mr. C. W. H. Tucker.—H. Sr. B. Gotpsmiru (King Sq., Bridgwater).

[The Pomatorhine Skua, though not included by the late Mr. Cecil
Smith in his ‘ Birds of Somersetshire,’ has been several times met with in
this county. See the Rev. M. A. Mathew’s ‘ Revised List of the Birds of
Somerset’ in Proc. Somerset Archeol. & Nat. Hist. Soc. 1893.—Ep.]

Great Grey Shrike in Worcestershire. — On the 28th November last
an unusually large specimen of the Grey Shrike, Lanius excubitor, was
shot at Brandwood End, King’s Heath, Worcestershire. It had but one
white wing-spot, was delicately vermiculated on the breast, and measured
ten inches and three-sixteenths in length. Mr. H. EH. Dresser, who examined
the bird, said that it was L. excubitor, and of the variety known as L. major,
though not the true L. major.— F. Copurx (Holloway Head, Birmingham),

22 THE ZOOLOGIST.

Cuckoo chased by a Rook.—At Midhurst last summer a Rook was
seen chasing a Cuckoo, and shortly after a Cuckoo was picked up dead.
When skinned and dissected it was found to have died from a clot of blood

on the heart, evidently the result of fright and the speed at which it was.

forced to fly. The bird is now in my collection. Can any one tell me why
the Rook should have been antagonistic to the Cuckoo?—J. N. Smiru
(30, Shooter’s Hill Road, Blackheath).

(The Cuckoo is frequently chased by other birds, apparently mistaken
for a hawk, the common enemy to their race.—ED.]

Great Shearwater in Killala Bay, Co. Mayo.— On the 28rd April
last, whilst standing on the end of the pier at Enniscrone watching a play
of Gulls, I was surprised to see a flock of eleven Shearwaters beating about
amidst the crowd of Gulls and Guillemots. Their mode of fishing was very
peculiar, and quite different from that of the other birds; for, while in full
flight close along the surface of the water, and without the slightest pause,
they would suddenly dash into the water with a splash, and disappear beneath
the surface for some moments, reappearing again some yards furtheron. This
mode of fishing they continued while beating to and fro over the spot where
the fish were, like sporting dogs quartering a field for game. I had a very
good though distant view of them through my glass, and from their much
larger size than the Manx, and from not displaying the pure black and
white plumage of that bird, I have no doubt of their being the Great
Shearwater, Puffinus major. None of those that I saw were dark enough
underneath for the Sooty Shearwater, P. griseus. I continued to watch
them for an hour, and regretted that, being Sunday, I was unable to obtain
a gun and boat and go in pursuit of the flock. I have never before known
this species to appear on our coast in April. Is it probable that a few
pairs may breed on some remote part of the Irish coast? No doubt there
are many islands and island rocks that have never been visited by com-
petent naturalists—Ropert WarREN (Moyview, Ballina, Co. Mayo).

“Blood-Olph,” a name for the Bullfinch.—‘The Zoologist’ for
December contains a review of Prof. Newton’s ‘ Dictionary of Birds,’ in
which the following passage occurs :—‘* It is stated that ‘ Blood-Olph’ is a
not uncommon name for this bird (the Bullfinch); but we have never met
with it, though we have been in almost every county in England.” It may
be worth pointing out that the name, spelt as “ Bloodolf,” occurs in
a list of local names in use in Norfolk, contributed by the late Mr. J. H.
Gurney to ‘The Zoologist’ for 1878 (p. 288), and in the first volume of
the ‘ Birds of Norfolk’ (p. 234), Mr. Stevenson writes :— The provincial
name of ‘ Blood Olph’ is commonly applied to the Bullfinch in Norfolk, in
the same way that ‘ Green Olph’ is used to denote the Greenfinch, as before
stated.” It is hardly necessary to add that the name is derived from the

$=

NOTES AND QUERIES. 23

carmine-red of the breast of the male Bullfinch, and I venture to say that
if one of these birds were exhibited in any village school in Norfolk or
Suffolk, it would be recognised as a “ Blood-Olph.” A friend, who has for
many years taken much interest in the Suffolk dialect, has appealed in vain
in the local press for information as to the origin of the name “ Olph.”
Montagu and St. John, in their respective works on British Birds, give the
name “Alp,” the latter adding in his index, “ Bloodulf, a name for the
Bullfinch.” It may be of interest to add that in May last I had a nest of
the Bullfinch brought me, with three eggs of the Bullfinch and one of the
Cuckoo, which I believe to be thoroughly genuine,—Jutian G. Tuck
(Tostock Rectory, Bury St: Edmunds).

Ring Dove pairing with Domestic Pigeon.—During the past summer
a Ring Dove, Columba palumbus, paired with a House Pigeon at Rusland,
and two, if not three, clutches of eggs were laid during the course of the
summer in the buildings. Though both the parent birds attended zealously
to the task of incubation, I am sorry to say the eggs proved unfertile. The
birds were much attached to each other, and the tame bird seemed proud
of the alliance. The cushat, a hen bird, was quite tame, and fed fearlessly
on the lawn and in the A PR mah F, ArcurBatp (Rusland Hall,
Ulverston).

[Several cases are on record of the Wood Pigeon breeding in captivity,
but instances of its interbreeding or pairing with other species are rare.
In ‘ The Field’ of July 22nd, 1876, Mr. Tomalin, of Northampton, reported
that a male Stock Dove paired with a hen Wood Pigeon in his aviary, and
two eggs were laid, but were unfortunately broken, having been evidently
Ske by one of the birds. The late Mr. Robert Gray, of Glasgow, several
times succeeded in rearing young Wood Pigeons from eggs placed under a
House Pigeon, but in only one instance did he know of a Wood Pigeon
breeding in captivity. This was a hen bird which was taken young and
restored to liberty when full grown; but instead of flying away she paired
with a House Pigeon in a dovecote at Cummock. The pair had eggs
three times, but only one young bird was reared. This was larger than
the domestic Pigeon, and resembled the female parent in its general
markings, —KEp.] i

Swimming Powers of the Water Ouzak —The question has often
been asked whether the Water Ouzel can swim. I have myself, in the
course of an experience of nearly half a century as a fisherman, very often
seen this bird dip into shallow water running quickly over gravel, and
disappear for a short time. I believe that it can run on the bottom. But
on the 19th October last I was fishing for salmon in the River Usk at
Llanguttor, Monmouthshire, in a part where the stream was wide, very
strong, and certainly five feet deep. I was accompanied by a friend,

24 THE ZOOLOGIST.

Mr. C. W. Walker, of Pontrilas. We saw a Water. Ouzel fly into the
middle of the stream, settle there, dive more than once, like a Dabchick,
and when we got quite near to the place, rise from the water and fly away.
There was no question what the bird was. How it accomplished these
feats is more than I can say, but that it did so I am a witness.—
B. St. Joun Artwoop Marruews (Pontrilas Court, Hereford).

[We have repeatedly seen the same thing when fishing in Northumber-
land and in North Wales, and supposed it well known to all observant
anglers on streams where the Dipper is common. It has a pretty habit of
alighting on the water, or entering it from a stone in mid-stream, and
allowing itself to be carried down by the current. You see what appears to
be a little ball of white foam approaching you, and when within a few
yards it turns out to be the white breast of a Dipper, which suddenly rises
and flies away.— Ep. |]

White Wagtail in Worcestershire.x—On the 6th May last I shot a
White Wagtail, Motacilla alba, at Brandwood End, King’s Heath}; and on
the 13th April another was shot within a few miles of Brandwood End.
These are the first I have on record for Worcestershire. I saw another,
but did not interfere with it. I watched it almost daily until the end of
June.—F’.. Copurn (Holloway Head, Birmingham).

Nesting of the Sparrowhawk.— Having for some years particularly
noted the materials used by this bird in nesting, I have found that three-
fourths consisted not only of the usual twigs and sticks, but also of a quantity
of small pieces of bark, on which the eggs are laid—not necessarily the
bark of the tree in which the nest is built, for, in one case that came under
my notice, a Sparrowhawk repaired the old nest of a Carrion Crow that had
wintered many a year in the top of a large holly tree, with the bark of both
fir and oak for lining. I have found Sparrowhawks not only utilising nests
of the Carrion Crow in several instances, but returning to old nests of their
own species after a lapse of one or more years, these nests having in the
meantime been occupied by Long-eared Owls. In the majority of cases,
however, they seem to build entirely fresh nests.—J. 8. Exiiorr (Dixon’s
Green, Dudley).

Waxwing in Worcestershire.—A portion of the flock of Waxwings,
Ampelis garrula, which visited us last winter, made their way to the Lickey
Hills, Burnt Green, Worcestershire. A solitary specimen was picked up
dead at the foot of Rednall Hill, and trought to me on the 23rd February
last. I saw a Waxwing fly from some trees on the banks of the River
Mawddach, near Barmouth, North Wales, on the 28th December, 1892.—
I’. Copurn (7, Holloway Head, Birmingham).

Cats catching Butterflies and Moths,— May I ask if you have known
many cases of a cat catching butterflies and eating them? I was staying

NOTES AND QUERIES. 25

in Devonshire last summer at a house where there was a large quantity of
over-ripe fruit on the ground. ‘ Red Admirals” were in numbers also,
settling on the pears and apples as they lay broken open by their fall, or
eaten away by wasps, &c. I repeatedly saw a cat stalk and catch these
«Red Admirals” in her paws, play with them like a mouse, and eventually
chew them to a shapeless mass. I never saw her miss catching one, and
she invariably touched them so lightly that they fluttered about a good bit
when she was playing with them.—J. A. Bucxniti (Hylands, Epsom).

[We do not remember to have seen a cat catch butterflies, for, as a rule,
they fly too high; but we have repeatedly seen one catch small moths upon
the lawn on a summer evening and devour them with apparent relish.
On one occasion we saw this cat with her paw knock down a Long-eared
Bat which was skimming low along the ground in pursuit of the same
moths.—-ED. |

Notes from Epsom.— It may be of interest to record the breeding
of the following birds near Epsom, only some sixteen miles from the
middle of London:—Green Woodpecker, Grasshopper Warbler, Common
Snipe, Bullfinch, Nightjar, and Dabchick. The Lesser Whitethroat has
built freely all over the common, and a pied Rook has frequented the fields
for some weeks. This bird seems to feed at some distance from and usually
at a different time to the others. The Kingfisher has nested both this and
last year on the Mole near Cobham, as well as the Mallard; I have seen as
many as four of the former together.—J. A. Bucxnixiy (Hylands, Epsom).

Leach’s Petrel on the Sussex Coast.—You might like to record in
‘The Zoologist’ that we have received three specimens of Leach’s Petrel
during the late gales—one picked up at Arundel, another shot at Southwick
by Capt. Curtis, and a third caught alive on the beach near the Brighton
Aquarium on Dec. 9th, which lived until the following day. They were all
extremely thin and light. The two last mentioned were males, the first-
named a female. We have also received lately a handsome specimen of the
Little Gull, Larus minutus, in immature plumage, sent to us for pre-
servation by Capt. Curtis, of Southwick, who shot it there during the gale
on Dec. 13th.—Prartr & Sons (11, North Street Quadrant, Brighton).

REPTILES.

An Assembly of Vipers.—Un a sunny bank in a wood near here, my
gamekeeper came suddenly upon a bunch of full-grown Vipers, all inter-
twined. Having his gun with him, he fired a charge of shot into their
midst, and this had the effect of disabling eight, which were afterwards
killed with successive shots, and scattering others, which made their escape.
I take it to be a rare occurrence for so many adult Vipers to be found in
company.—J. C. ManseL PLeypDEeLt (Whatcombe, Blandford, Dorset).

26 THE ZOOLOGIST. ©.

SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES,

Linnean Socrety or Lonpon.

November 16th, 1898.—Prof. Stewart, President, in the chair.

Messrs. R. Assheton, H. N. Bernard, and W. H. Wilkinson were
admitted Fellows.

Mr. J. H. Veitch exhibited a large and interesting collection of economic
and other vegetable products of Japan, recently brought by him from that
country, and described the various uses to which different kinds of wood,
fibre, grass, &c., were applied for domestic purposes, as also the way in
which various sea-weeds were collected and prepared for food. As the
vegetable product was in every case labelled with the scientific name of the
plant from which it was prepared, the series was a most instructive one,
and a hearty vote of thanks was accorded to the exhibitor.

Mr. A. G. Renshaw exhibited a remarkably large specimen of the Giant
Puffball, Lycopodium giganteum, which he had gathered at Catford Bridge,
aud which was considered to be above the average dimensions.

On behalf of the Rev. Prebendary Gordon, M.A., the Secretary oxhibited
a plant of Veronica salicifolia of New Zealand, found growing in Langland’s
Bay, Mumbles, Swansea, the seeds perhaps having been introduced? in
ballast from some homeward-bound ship.

A paper was then read by the Rev. G. Henslow, M.A., “ On the Origin
of Plant-structures by self-adaptation to the environment, exemplified by
desert aud xerophilous plants.” The purport of this paper was to prove by
a direct appeal to facts the probably universal application of Mr. Darwin’s
assertions, viz. (1) that Natural Selection has no relation whatever to the
primary cause of any modification of structure (‘ Animals and Plants,’ &c.,
vol. ll. p. 272); (2) that modifications of structure are due to the direct
action of the environment (jide Darwin, Weismann, Spencer, &c.); this
always results in “ definite variations,” by which Mr. Darwin signifies
(3) that all, or nearly all, the individuals became modified in the same way
(‘Origin of Species,’ 6th ed. p. 106); and consequently (4) that ‘a new
variety would be produced without the aid of natural selection” (‘ Animals
and Plants,’ ii. 271; ‘Origin of Species,’ pp. 72, 175). Mr. Henslow
showed (1) that all the species constituting the peculiar facies of a desert
flora are the direct result of their climatic conditions; (2) that these
peculiarities are in nearly all cases of the utmost benefit to the plants, such
as the hardening of the tissues, the reduction of parenchyma, the minute
size of the leaves, the dense clothing of hair, a thick cuticle, the presence of
wax, storage of water tissues, &c.; but (8) these features are just those
which systematists utilise as descriptive characters of varieties and species,
Mr. Henslow observed that by Darwin's assuming that “indefinite varia-

?

SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES. QF

tions ” which are characteristic of cultivation were equally so in nature, he
reasonably requires natural selection to correspond with artificial selection,
but that assumption he believed to be erroneous. For experiments proved
that by sowing seeds in a very different medium, all the seedlings vary in
the same direction, viz. that of adaptation to the new environment, verifying
Mr. Herbert Spencer’s statement that ‘‘ under new conditions the organism
immediately begins to undergo certain changes in structure, fitting it for its
new conditions.” The conclusion is thus arrived at which is expressed in
the title of this paper. The functions of natural selection therefore become
limited as follows:—(1) The survival of the constitutionally strongest
amongst seedlings. (2) Delimitation of species by the non-reproduction of
intermediate forms. (8) The geographical distribution of plants by self-
adaptation. An interesting discussion followed in which Prof. Reynolds
Green, the Rev. Dr. Klein, Mr. Perry Coste, and others took part.

December 7th.—Prof. STEWART, President, in the chair.

Mr. A. Trevor Battye was admitted a Fellow of the Society, and the
following were elected :—Messrs. J. H. Cooke, H. Cummins, R. HK. Leach,
C. Sharp, A. Smith, F’. C. Smith, A. H. Teague, and H. L. Thompson.

Mr. C. T. Druery exhibited and made remarks upon a new example of
apospory in Scolopendrium vulgare, and Prof. Bower brought forward a
similar case in Trichomanes Kaulfussit.

Mr. George Brebner exhibited some new and rare British Alga,
including Haplospora globosa, Tilopteris mertensti, Hctocarpus tomen-
tosoides, and Polysiphonia spinulosa v. major.

Mr. F’. Enoch, with the aid of the oxyhydrogen lantern, exhibited ‘he
various stages of development of the black-currant mite, Phytopus ribis, and
"gave an interesting account of its life-history.

Mr. Thomas Christy exhibited a gigantic reed from the Zambesi, with
drawings of sections. It appeared to be allied to Sanseviera cylindrica, but
differed conspicuously in the greater size of the leaves, which measured
nine feet in length, instead of from eighteen inches to three feet. The
remarkably tough and strong fibre which it produces is considered to be of
great commercial value, being equal to the best Sanseviera hemp.

Mr. W. F. Kirby read a paper on the Dragonflies of Ceylon, with
descriptions of some new species. ‘The paper was based chiefly upon a
collection made by Cel. Yerbury, which he had presented to the British
Museum. Seventy-five species were enumerated, of which fifty-five had
been collected by Col. Yerbury. Another collection, made in Ceylon by
Mr. E. Green, had been dealt with in a previous paper (Proc. Zool. Soc.
1891, pp. 208— 206).

On behalf of Signor Martelli, the Secretary read a paper “On the
cause of the fall of the corolla in Verbascum,”
resting discussion.

which gave rise to an iute-

28 . THE ZOOLOGIST.

Zootocicaa Society oF Lonpon.

November 21st, 1893.—Sir W. H. Friower, K.C.B., LL.D., F.RB.S.,
President, in the chair. |

The Secretary read a report on the additions that had been made to
the Society’s Menagerie during the month of October, 1893, and called special
attention to an example of the Goliath Beetle, Goliathus druryi, the
largest of known Coleoptera, obtained near Accra, and presented October
5th by Mr. F. W. Marshal; and to an adult female and a young of the
Manatee, Manatus americanus, captured in Manatee Bay, Jamaica, and
most kindly sent home for the Society’s Collection by Sir Henry A. Blake,
K.C.M.G. Unfortunately the Manatees had reached the Gardens in a
very exhausted condition, ana died soon after their arrival.

The Secretary read an extract from a letter addressed to him by
Mr. J. S. Mackay, of the Kangra District, Punjaub, relating to a young
Snow-Leopard which he had in captivity, and exhibited some photographs
of this animal.

Mr. Sclater exhibited and made remarks on a mounted specimen of an
African Monkey, Cercopithecus albogularis, belonging to the Leyden
Museum.

Mr. W. B. Tegetmeier exhibited and made remarks on two hybrid
Pheasants, believed to be crosses between the Common Pheasant and the
Gold and Silver Pheasants.

A communication was read from Messrs. G. W. and E. C. Peckham, on
the Spiders of the family Attide of the Island of St. Vincent, based on
specimens collected in that islaud by the agency of the joint Committee of
the Royal Society and the British Association for the exploration of the
Lesser Antilles. The series had been collected by Mr. Herbert H. Smith
and Mrs. Smith, who had been specially sent to the island as skilled
collectors by Mr. F. D. Godman.

A communication was read from Mr. P. R. Uhler, containing a list of
the Hemiptera-Heteroptera collected in the Island of St. Vincent by
Mr. and Mrs. Herbert H. Smith, with descriptions of new genera and
species.

Dr. G. Lindsay Johnson made some observations on the refraction and
vision of the eye of the Common Seal, Phoca vitulina.

Mr. Sclater read a paper on some specimens of mammals from Lake
Mweru, British Central Africa, transmitted by Vice-Consul Alfred Sharpe,
through Mr. H. H. Johnston. The specimens were referred to seventeen
species, amongst which was a new Monkey of the genus Cercopithecus,
proposed to be called C. opisthostictus, and a new Antelope allied to the
Waterbuck, which was named Cobus crawshayi, after Mr. RK. Crawshay,
who had first discovered the species.

SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES. 29

December 5th.—W. T. Buanrorp, F.R.S., F.Z.S., Vice-President, in
the chair.

The Secretary read a report on the additions that had been made to the
Society’s Menagerie during the month of November, 1893. Among these
special attention was called to a Cunning Bassaris, Bassaris astuta,
obtained by purchase; to two Jerboas presented by Capt. R. A. Ogilby;
and toa fine adult female of the Caucasian Wild Goat, Capra caucasica,
presented by Mr. H. P. Deasy.

Prof. G. B. Howes exhibited and made remarks on some specimens of
abnormal Marsipobranch Fishes. These were two heads of the Lamprey
with the first pair of gills only imperfectly developed, and a Hag, Myaine
glutinosa, with a supernumerary gill on one side.

Mr. F. E. Beddard gave an account of the general geographical
distribution of EKarthworms, as treated of in a work on the subject which
he had in preparation. Mr. Beddard recognized 69 genera of this order,
divided into six families; and after some preliminary remarks on the
artificial introduction of EKarthworms into districts colonized from Europe,
called attention to a series of tables in which the genera found in the six
generally recognized regions of the earth’s surface were shown. In
addition to these six regions Mr. Beddard was disposed to recognize, in the
case of Karthworms, the existence of an Antarctic Region, to embrace New
Zealand and most of the Antarctic Islands.

A communication was read from Mr. C. J. Gahan, containing an
account of a collection of Coleoptera sent by Mr. H. H. Johnston, from
British Central Africa. Amongst these were examples of eight species new
to science.

A communication was read from Capt. F. W. Hutton, containing a
report on a collection of Petrels from the Kermadec Islands. Amongst
these was an example of a new species proposed to be called 'strelata
leucophrys.

Mr. G. A. Boulenger gave an account of Vipera renardi, a newly-
recognized European Viper from Southern Russia and Turkestan.—P. L.
SciaTer, Secretary.

ENTOMOLOGICAL SocriETY oF Lonpbon.

December 6th, 18938.—HeEnry Joun Ewes, Esq., F.LS., President, in
thé chair.

Mr. W. F. Kirby exhibited, for Dr. Livett, a series of specimens of a
moth taken at Wells, which Dr. Livett considered to be varieties of Dasy-
campa rubiginea, but which many entomologists present thought were
varieties of Cerastis vaccinit. Mr. Kirby added that specimens similar in
appearance to those exhibited had been taken rather freely during the past

30 THE ZOOLOGIST.

autumn in Berkshire, and it was suggested that they might be hybrids
between D. rubiginea and C. vaccinit.

Mr. Lovell Keays exhibited a series of Lycena alexis, with confluent
spots on the under sides of the front wings. He drew attention to the
fact that the insects were all taken within a short radius, and probably
were in the ratio of about one in forty with reference to the ordinary forms:
All the examples, with one exception, were females.

Mr. C. O. Waterhouse exhibited the type-specimen of Coptomia
opalina of Gory, from the Hope Collection at Oxford, and pointed out
that it was quite distinct from C. mutabilis, W. The distinct punctuation
of the whole insect, and the striolate pygidium in C. opalina, were
sufficient to distinguish it at once. Mr. Waterhouse called attention to
this, as some French entomologists maintain that these insects are the
same species. He also called attention to Silpha atomaria, of Linneus
(Syst. Nat., ed. xii., i., p. 574), a Swedish species which appeared to have
escaped notice, and was not included in any catalogue. The type is still
extant iu the Linnean cabinet, and Mr. Waterhouse said he was of opinion
that it -is Olibrus geminus of our collections, but he had not had an oppor-
tunity of making a critical examination. He also exhibited male and
female specimens of a Helopeltis (the Tea-Bug), which he considered a
distinct species, and stated that it had occurred only in Assam.

Mr. M. Jacoby exhibited certain species and varieties of the genus
Ceroglossus from Chili, and Dr. D. Sharp, Mr. J. J. Walker, and
Mr. Champion made remarks on their geographical distribution.

Prof. Scudder exhibited the type-specimen of a fossil butterfly—
Prodryas persephone —found in beds of Tertiary Age (Oligocene) at
Florissant, Colorado. He said the species belonged to the Nymphalidae,
and the specimen was remarkable as being in more perfect condition than
any fossil butterfly from the European Tertiaries. He also stated that he
had found a bed near the White River on the borders of Utah, in which
insects were even more abundant than in the Florissant beds.

- Mr. Goss exhibited hybernating larve of Spilothyrus aleee@, which had
been sent to him by Mr. F. Bromilow from St. Maurice, Nice.

Mr. W. F. H. Blandford read a paper entitled “The Rhynchophorous
Coleoptera of Japan. Part IIT. Scolytidee.”

Mr. G. T. Bethune-Baker read a paper entitled ‘ Notes on some
Lepidoptera received from the neighbourhood of Alexandria,” and exhibited
the specimens.

Mr. C. O. Waterhouse read “ Further Observations on the Tea-Bug
(Helopeltis) of India”; and Dr. F. A. Dixey communicated a paper “ On
the Phylogeny of the Piering, as illustrated by their wing-markings and
Geographical Distribution.”— H. Goss and W. W. Fow sr, Hon. Secretaries.

eure.

NOTICES OF NEW BOOKS.

Horns and Hoofs; or, Chapters on Hoofed Animals. By R.
LyDrEKKER. §8vo, pp. i-vul, 1-400, with 82 illustrations.
London: Horace Cox. 1893. :

THis volume consists mainly of a reprint of articles con-
tributed to the natural-history columns of ‘The Field’ during ~
the last two or three years, with one or two from other journals ;
but the author informs us in his Preface that, since their original
appearance, several of the chapters have been more or less recast,
in order to bring them up to the present state of zoological
knowledge, while they have been embellished by the addition of
a number of new illustrations. All the animals dealt with in the
work come under the designation of Big-game, but include only
certain groups of the order Ungulata. ‘The reason of this
limitation we are unable to understand, nor is any explanation
given in the Preface for the omission of such highly important
species as the Wapiti, Black-tailed, Virginian, and Mule Deer,
Pronghorn Antelope, and Rocky Mountain Goat. The American
Moose is very cursorily referred to (pp. 821-3822) under the head
of Elk in the chapter on Asiatic Deer, and the account given of
the Big-horn, Ovis canadensis, is wholly inadequate, notwith-
standing the two good illustrations of the head and skull of the
Kamschatkan race, Ovis nivicola, reproduced from Guillemard’s
‘Cruise of the Marchesa.’ This omission of the North American
Ungulata, above mentioned, is a serious defect in a book which,
from its title, would naturally be supposed to be thoroughly
comprehensive.

Even in the case of the American Bison, to which some six
or seven pages are devoted, we find little more than quotation
from Mr. Hornaday’s recent book on this animal (Washington,
1889), while the much more important monograph by Mr. J, J.
Allen on ‘American Bisons, living and extinct’ (published with
twelve plates and a map in the ‘Memoirs of the Museum of
Comparative Zoology at Harvard College’) is not even so much
as mentioned.

Leaving the North American species, then, out of con-
sideration, the groups dealt with are Wild Oxen, Wild Sheep,
Wild Goats, the Antelopes of Asia, African Antelopes, the Deer

32 THE ZOOLOGIST.

of Asia, the Deer of South America, Wild Pigs, and Rhinoceroses,
ancient and modern. None of these chapters are exhaustive, and
some of them are even meagre in their details. Perhaps the best
of them is that on African Antelopes, and this is fairly well
illustrated,

Fic. 1.—Herap or SaBLeE ANTELOPE, Hippotragus niger.

We give here, by permission of the publisher, two of the
heads figured, namely (Fig. 1), head of the Sable Antelope,
Hippotragus niger, and (Fig. 2), head of the Waterbuck, Cobus
ellipsiprymnus.

The great variation in the shape and curvature of the horns
in the African Antelopes is very remarkable, and has led to
considerable difficulty in the way of systematic classification.
As a rule, they are more or less lyrate in shape, with a sub-
circular cross-section, and an upward direction. They may,

{7

NOTICES OF NEW BOOKS. 83

however, be almost straight, as in the Gemsbok (Oryx); curved
backwards and marked by bold rings as in the Sable Antelope

Fic. 2.—HeEap oF WATER-BUCK, Cobus ellipsiprymnus,

(Hippotragus) ; ridged and spirally twisted, either on its own
axis, as in the Eland (Oreas), or in a corkscrew shape, as in the
Kudu (Strepsiceros), or sharply bent down and then upturned, as
in the Gnu (Conochetes). In the Hartebeests (Bubalis), we have
a different form again. In this genus the horns are characterised
by a remarkable divergence at the base, so much so that in one
ZOOLOGIST, THIRD SERIES, VOL. XVII.— JAN, 1894. D

34 THE ZOOLOGIST.

species (Cooke’s Hartebeest) they form a right angle with the
middle line of the face. In no case, however, do the horns
assume the characteristic form and curvature of the true goats,
or sheep.

As to what constitutes the difference between Wild Sheep
(clothed as they are with hair instead of wool), Mr. Lydekker
remarks :—

“All species of Sheep have glands in both hind and fore feet, whereas
in the Goats these glands, if present at all, occur only in the fore feet. In
the Oxen they are invariably absent. The absence of a true beard on the
chin,* and also of a strongly marked odour in the males of sheep, are
important points of distinction from the goats. Inthe more typical species
of sheep, the horns are triangular, and marked by parallel transverse
wrinkles, extending completely round them, their first curve being directed
downwards and forwards, and the second curve turned outwards; while
their colour is either light brown or greenish [quere, greyish] brown.
Certain species of sheep, however, such as the Bharal of Thibet (Ovis
nahura) [with smaller, smoother, and more spreading horns], present
so marked an approximation to the goats in the structure of their horns
as well as in some other features, that it is extremely difficult, if not
impossible, to draw up a concise definition between the two groups so far
as these points are concerned.

‘So closely related, indeed, are the sheep to the goats, that Dr., A. R.
Wallace, in his well-known ‘Geographical Distribution of Animals,’ has
proposed to include the whole of them in a single genus—the genus Capra
of Linneus. This view, however, has not commended itself to the majority
of zoologists, who class all the sheep in the genus Ovis. In this respect,
therefore, zoologists and sportsmen are for once in accord, and although, as
already mentioned, some of the more aberrant species of sheep approximate
to the goats in several respects, yet neither zoologists nor sportsmen find
any practical difficulty in deciding to which group any species brought for
the first time under their notice should be referred.”

The chapter on Asiatic Deer is an interesting one, dealing
as it does with a large number of species; but it is disappointing
in the brevity with which each species is treated. If economy of
space were an object, it would have been useful to have referred
the reader to other works in which some account of the haunts
and habits of these animals are given from personal observation.
For example, under the head of Cervus maral, Mr. Lydekker
might have quoted or referred to the interesting account of this

* In Ovis cycloceros, however, of Northern India, we have an inter-
mediate form with a beard on the throat.—Ep.

‘
‘

NOTICES OF NEW BOOKS. 35

fine deer given by Col. Gordon in his ‘ Roof of the World,’ as he
quaintly termed his volume of travels in Turkestan.

By the way, the Gazelle of Turkestan (or, as the people there
call it, Djeran), of which Col. Gordon shot a fine example at
Togha Sulvok, between forty and fifty miles from Maralbashi (the
Stag’s haunt), is not noticed by Mr. Lydekker. It is described
(op. cit. p. 71) as “measuring 27} inches at the shoulder, and
resembling the Indian Gazelle [which stands 26 in. only at the
shoulder], except that the horns are larger, and curve outwards,
the tips being turned sharply inwards towards one another,
making a very handsome head.” We presume this must be
the Persian Gazelle, Gazella subgutturosa, which, according to
Mr. Blanford (‘Mammalia of British India,’ p. 528), is found not
only throughout the highlands of Persia, but over a considerable
area in Central Asia, extending through Eastern Turkestan to
the Gobi desert. It has been well described and figured by
Mr. Blanford in his account of the Mammals of the Yarkand
Expedition. ° ;

But, to return to Mr. Lydekker. His book, as it seems to
us, is a disappointing one. A fine theme is inadequately treated.
There are gaps remaining to be filled, and many references to be
supplied, before it can take rank as a satisfactory handbook on
the subject of which it treats. No doubt, as a popular exposi-
tion of the great groups of Ungulates, with brief notices of the
species, and figures of the heads of many of them, it will serve a
useful purpose; but it is not worthy of the author’s reputation.
Let us hope that in a future edition the defects will be remedied,
including the substitution of “ capitals” for “‘ lower-case” initials
to the English specific names, which are very irritating to a busy
reader.

Travel and Adventure in South-east Africa: being the narrative of

_ the last eleven years spent by the Author on the Zambest

and its tributaries; with an account of the colonization of

Mashunaland, and the progress of the gold industry wm that

country. By F.C. Srnovs. 8vo, pp. i—xv, 1—508. With

24 full-page illustrations, and numerous text-cuts. London:
Rowland Ward & Co. 1893.

ELEVEN years ago we had the pleasure of reviewing (Zool.
1882, p. 78) the first work published by Mr. Selous, namely, his

36 THE ZOOLOGIST.

‘ Hunter’s Wanderings in Africa,’ which was a narrative of nine
years spent amongst the game of the far interior of South Africa.
In the opinion of naturalists, explorers, and sportsmen, it was the
best modern book of its kind, and the praise which we then
bestowed upon it was speedily justified by the book going out of
print, and a second edition being called for. In the long interval
which has elapsed Mr. Selous has been again “ wandering” in his
happy hunting grounds, and the volume now before us contains
the narrative of his further adventures during his eleven years of
absence.

It is indeed a stirring narrative, and one calculated to excite
the admiration and envy of sportsmen and naturalists. We place
the sportsman first on this occasion, because it is as a hunter of
“‘big-game ”’ that Mr. Selous conspicuously excels. Few have had
longer experience or better opportunities for observing the wild
animals of South Africa in their natural haunts, and none, we
should imagine, have been more successful in chasing and slaying
them.

As a mere record of sport his book is instructive, setting
clearly before the reader the qualifications necessary to constitute
a hunter. One of the first essentials is a knowledge of the
country, and this is only to be gained by experience such as Mr.
Selous has acquired in years of travel. ‘Then an insight into
native character is important to enable one to set a proper value
on replies given to questions, and to escape attempted imposition.
A knowledge of ‘‘ tracking” is almost indispensable, not only for
the purpose of following hunted game, but to enable one to find
one’s way back to camp after a long and perhaps intricate chase
in a new and difficult country. This may often be rendered un-
necessary by the services of native hunters, to whom one may
turn for assistance; but it is as well not to rely too much upon
attendants, in case of accident, or separation from the party,
when one’s own safety may depend upon a little self-reliance, and
the exercise of independent judgment. Resolution and nerve, it
goes without saying, are all-important in such undertakings, as
well as fertility of resource and promptness of action in an
emergency. Expertness in the saddle and with the rifle are
qualifications without which but little success can be hoped for
or expected, and some knowledge of the habits of the animals
hunted is almost a sine qua non, although this may be acquired

Oe ne ee ee

NOTICES OF NEW BOOKS. 37

by experience and by the teachings of others. Lastly, if the
object of the sportsman be to secure trophies of the chase for
transport to England, it is evident that he should know how to
take off a skin and preserve it.

These are some of the qualities which go to make a mighty
hunter (such as the author of this book evidently is), and which
are admirably brought out in his narrative. It does not always
do, however, to be too self-reliant; one should draw the line
between courage and foolhardiness, as witness the adventure with
lions described on pages 144-145.

Two small objects were seen out in the open plain the best
part of a mile off, looking like two ant-heaps. They proved to
be lions’ heads, and this was what happened :—

“The animals got up, and were walking slowly over the open plain,
one behind the other. I saw at once that they were lions from the length
of their bodies, and the way they held their heads below the line of their
backs. I could see, too, that they were males, from the thick humpy look
of their necks caused by the mane. Oh, for a rifle and ten cartridges, and
then, as I was very well mounted, I should in all probability have added
two more lion-skins to my collection. Thinking that, as I could not shoot
them, I would like to have a look at them, I mounted my good horse, Bob,
and galloped towards them. They continued to walk slowly along, until
I was within 400 yards of them, when, after first turning to look at me,
they went off at a heavy canter, but soon commenced to trot, and when
I was about 200 yards from them stepped, and facing round stood side by side
with their heads held low and their mouths slightly open, and all the time
twitching their tails and growling savagely. I continued to ride straight
towards them, thinking they would give way and run again; but when
within about 100 yards, as they still stood defiant, and one of them, a very
fine dark-skinned animal with a handsome mane, seemed particularly
furious, I slightly turned my horse’s head so as to pass them at a distance
of sixty or seventy yards. Whilst executing this movement, the dark-maned
lion came slowly towards me for a few steps, and then, bounding forward
and growling loudly, charged out at his best speed. As I had to half turn
my horse and get him into his stride, the lion got within some ten yards or
so of his tail before he was going at his best pace, and stuck close to him for
some distance. How far he chased me I am afraid to say, but a very
considerable distance, and certainly twice as far as I have ever been pursued
by any other of his kind. When at last he pulled up, he trotted slowly back
to his comrade, and they both lay down on the bare open ground, with their
massive paws outstretched, their heads held high, and their mouths half
open, with their tongues lolling out, for it was a very hot day.”

38 THE ZOOLOGIST.

After this observation on the attitudes of lions, the following
criticism upon the positions of Sir Edwin Landseer’s bronze
lions in Trafalgar Square is worth oe as coming from one
well qualified to judge:—

“They lay almost exactly in the position of Landseer’s lions in
Trafalgar Square, and it is quite a mistake to say that that great artist has
made an error in representing lions lying with the fore paws straight out
like adog. When on the alert a lion always lies like this, and only bends his
paws inwards, like a cat, when resting thoroughly at his ease.”—(P. 147).

On page 32 we have given a figure of the head of the Sable
Antelope. The way in which this animal is able to defend
itself with its horns, in spite of their backward curvature, is
thus graphically described by Mr. Selous :—

“The foremost dogs soon caught sight of the Sable Antelope, which,
badly wounded by Van Rooyen’s bnllet, was making off slowly towards
the stream which ran down the centre of the open ground. We ran as
hard as we could to call the pack off, and despatch the beast before any of
our valuable dogs were killed; for we knew from experience what havoc a
wounded Sable Antelope can make amongst a pack with its long and curved
horns. Just as we were nearing the water, two of my own dogs came
howling up the bank, both badly wounded, and the loud barking of the rest
of the pack, coupled with the defiant snorts of the Antelope which
proceeded from the bed of the stream, let us know that the brave beast
was still making a gallant fight, and doing his utmost to sell his life
dearly. A moment later we despatched him with two bullets through the
head and neck, and not a moment too soon. Four of our best dogs lay
dead around their quarry; four more were badly wounded, one of which
subsequently died. My old bitch ‘Ruby’ had one more very narrow
escape. She had been struck right through the throat by the sharp horns
of the Antelope, though fortunately it had only pierced through between
the skin and the windpipe.

“T have mentioned this instance of the able manner in which a Sable
Antelope can use its horns when beset by dogs, to show that these animals
are often very savage when wounded, and I would caution young sportsmen
against approaching either a sable or a roan antelope, a gemsbuck, or
a wildebeest, when any of these animals are standing at bay.” — (Pp.
191=192).

Apropos of Ostriches:—Many persons suppose, and indeed it
has been stated on high authority, that the process of incubation
is carried on by the male bird only. This is a mistake, as we

NOTICES OF NEW BOOKS. 39

have elsewhere had occasion to point out*; and the observations
of Mr. Selous, which follow, confirm the view we have expressed :—

*« At mid-day on the 16th July I found myself on the edge of the ae
country in which the Mazoe takes its rise. * x * * oe
It was getting late in the afternoon, when I suddenly descried a black
speck, which looked like an Ostrich, far away in the distance. Pulling in
my horse, I looked intently at it. As I did so, it suddenly disappeared.
I felt sure that it had lain down in the grass, and knew that if it really had
been an Ostrich, it was very probable that it had a nest there, for it was the
breeding season for these birds. I accordingly rode steadily in the direction
where whatever it was I had seen had disappeared, and at length began to
think I had overridden it, when up jumped a hen Ostrich from a little patch
of long grass, about eighty yards in front of me, and ran away slowly with
outstretched drooping wings and lowered neck. I might have hada splendid
shot at her, but from the way she ran I knew she had got off her nest, and
so did not fire, as I felt sure that if I now went the right way to work,
I should in all probability be able to secure the cock bird. Riding up to
the patch of grass from which the hen bird had risen I saw she had a nest
there containing thirteen eggs.”—(P. 82.)

Further on he makes the state of the case clearer :—

“ Between Inyati and the Umniati river we did not find very much
game. * * * Just after crossing the river Vungo, Jameson and I,
having taken a ride round, came upon a hen Ostrich on her nest. We went
up to the nest, which was just a large shallow hole scratched in the sandy
soil, and found that it contained twelve eggs. Thinking that either the
cock or the hen would put in an appearance just at sunset, which is the
time these birds relieve one another whilst incubating, we cleared out a little
space in the centre of a small thick bush, about thirty yards from the nest,
in which my friend took up his position. * XK ** o *K 2
He shot the hen bird as she was returning to the nest just at sunset. She
was in very good plumage, and worth about £10, the feathers of a fine cock
being worth about £25 at that time. The next day we sent some Kafirs
back for the eggs, of which we afterwards made some very good omelettes
and pancakes.”—(P. 463).

Amongst other stirring incidents related in this book is a
curious case of cattle struck by lightning, which is thus de-
scribed :—

“In December, 1882, I was travelling south from the Matabili country,
and was in charge of about a hundred head of cattle belonging to

* See ‘Nature,’ March 22nd, 1883,

40 THE ZOOLOGIST.

Mr. Fairbairn, a well-known trader. I was just inspanning the waggons
one afternoon amongst the hills skirting the Inkwesi river, when a heavy
storm of rain came on, accompanied by much thunder and lightning. The
boys herding Mr. Fairbairn’s cattle now drove them up alongside of the
waggons, and they stood thickly clustered together amongst the trees.

Suddenly from where I stood in front of my waggon, I saw some splinters
of wood fly from a tree near me—about sixty hards off—whilst all the
cattle standing beneath it fell to the ground. On going up to see what
-had happened, I found thirteen fine oxen lying dead. Most of them must
have had their heads down feeding, and had been struck dead so instan-
taneously, and fallen so suddenly, that their necks and heads were bent in,
under their bodies. I could not get a Kafir to come near the dead animals,
and they seemed quite frightened at what had occurred. I turned all the
carcases over, but could find no mark of any kind upon them.”—(P. 447).

With this extract we must close the volume, although we had
marked several other passages for quotation. ‘To the general
reader, probably, the most interesting portion of the book will be
that which relates to the occupation of Mashunaland, and the
guidance of an expedition by Mr. Selous to a spot on the
Makabise river, about ten miles S.E. of Mount Hampden, where,
on Sept. 11th, 1889, the British flag was hoisted, and the country
taken possession of in the name of the Queen; and here the town
of Salisbury was soon after laid out.

But we must not be led into a discussion of politics, which
would carry us entirely out of our province. We must be content
to refer the reader to Mr. Selous’s vindication of the justice of
the occupation of Mashunaland (in spite of the indignant protests
of Portuguese statesmen), as explained by him in a letter to ‘ The
Times,’ which is here reprinted (pp. 313-325).

We note that the spelling of native names adopted by the
author is that recommended by the Royal Geographical Society,
and Mr. Selous has been fortunate in getting his MS. revised by
so good an authority as Mr. John Coles, the Map Curator of that
Society. The publishers, Messrs. Rowland Ward & Co., seem to
have spared no expense in the production of this book, which has
been beautifully printed by Clark, of Edinburgh, and is well
illustrated by such good artists as Messrs. Wolf, Whymper,
Lodge, and others. A map at the end shows the routes traversed
by the author during the past eleven years, and, with the aid of
the text, furnishes a valuable contribution to geographical science.

THE ZOOLOGIST

No. 206.—February, 1894.

THE OTTER, LUTRA VULGARIS.
By tue Epiror.

(Continued from Zool. 1894, p. 10).

Ir must not be supposed that the Common Otter, as has
been asserted, is found only in fresh water. Carew, in his
‘Survey of Cornwall’ (1602), was quite right when he wrote :—

* The Otters, though one in kind, have yet two severall places of haunt ;
some keepe the cliffes, and there breede, and feede on sea-fish ; others live
in the fresh ryvers, and trade not so farre downe, who being less stored
with provision, make bold now and then to visite the land, and to breake
their fast upon the goodman’s lambs,* or the good wives pultrie” (fol.
Q2 verso).

Topsell was in error when giving an account of the Otter, in
his ‘ Historie of four-footed Beasts’ (1607), he wrote that “the
Beaver goeth both to the salt waters and to the fresh, but the
Otter never to the salt,” for the exact converse of this is the case.

The late Jonathan Couch, of Polperro, was able to confirm
Carew’s view of the Otter’s haunts in Cornwall, and observed
that it will go out fishing a mile from the shore in summer and
during fine weather. In his ‘ Cornish Fauna,’ commenced in 18388
(of which a second edition appeared in 1878), he remarked :—

“ By far the greatest portion of these creatures in Cornwall derive their
food from the sea, where they may be seen diving for fish even where the

** We have never known an instance in which a lamb was proved to
have been killed by an Otter, and suspect that in any such reported case a
Fox must have been to blame. That the Otter will take ducks and other
fowl we have already shown.

ZOOLOGIST, THIRD SERIES, VOL. XVIII.—FEB. 1894, E

42 THF ZOOLOGIST,

waves are very tempestuous. Several instances are known of their being

drowned in crab-pots, into which they had entered in search of prey, and —

had not afterwards been able to find the opening.”

Upon this it may be remarked that either the crab-pots in
Cornwall are much larger than we have observed them to be on
the coast of Sussex, or the Otters captured in them must have
been small ones. : |

We have a note of one that was caught from a yacht lying
230 yards from the shore, and others have been captured in
fishermen’s nets still further-out at sea.*

Donovan once found a very young Otter alive and uninjured
on a sandy shore of the Bristol Channel, and finding it so far
removed from its natural haunts, supposed it had been dropped
there by a Kite or other bird of prey. That was in the days
when Kites were far more common in the West of England than
they are at the present time.

The Otter is well known to frequent many parts of the coast
in Scotland, on which account at one time it was supposed that
there were two species, one inhabiting fresh and the other salt
water. Sir Robert Sibbald, for instance, in his ‘ History of Fife
and Kinross’ (1710), noted that “‘the sea-otter which differeth
from the land-otter, for it is bigger and the pile of its furre is
rougher,” frequented the Firths of Forth and Tay.

In Ireland, says Thompson :—

‘‘Sea caves and holes among the rocks are resorted to by the Otter,
along the northern coast, where there is no river in the neighbourhood; and
some of my southern correspondents have made the same observation in
reference to their districts. A gentleman residing in an inland situation
considers that the species is there on the increase, in consequence of the
measures now adopted to preserve the fish in rivers, and also owing to the
withdrawal of rewards for Otters’ heads.” +

In Bell’s ‘ British Quadrupeds’ (2nd ed. pp. 178-179), some
prominence is given to the opinion of the late Mr. Ogilby, who
considered the Irish Otter to be a distinct species from that of
England. But this opinion was expressed a long while ago (Proce.
Zool. Soc. 1834, p. 111), was founded on very insufficient reasons,
and, as admitted by Bell (p. 179), before Mr. Ogilby had had an

* ¢The Field,’ 1884, p. 560; 1886, p. 331.
t ‘ Natural History of Ireland,’ vol. iv. p. 6.

—

THE OTTER, 48

opportunity of comparing it minutely with the Common Otter, or
of examining its osteology. Under these circumstances, it is not
surprising that he subsequently changed his views on the subject. *

For choice, the Otter prefers a river which contains deep
pools alternating with shallows, and sandy or pebbly spits which
form convenient landing places; while the hollow banks with
overhanging roots of trees afford secure places of retreat in time
of need. In some such hollow, under a bank, often extending in
for a considerable distance, the Otter has his “‘ holt,” from which
itis extremely difficult to dislodge him without the aid of terriers.
In parts of the country where the river, though holding fish,
offers no good abiding place, he will take up his quarters in some
brake, or bed of fern or gorse, in which he will lie concealed during
the day, travelling to and from the river at night, and at early
dawn. Indeed we have known several cases of Otters being
disturbed by a shooting party in a game-covert far away from
any water.

In the Norfolk Broads, where Otters are not uncommon, and
where they find plenty of good food in the shape of pike and eels,
which abound there, they are obliged, from the nature of their
surroundings and the general absence of banks, boulders, and
overhanging hollow trees, to ‘‘lay up” in a very different
fashion. t

Here their retreat by day is in the midst of some great reed-
bed, where they construct a nest, almost as a Coot does, with
broken reeds trodden and flattened down, paved with smaller
pieces which are bitten off, and lined with the softer and drier
panicles.

These curious ‘nests,’ which are peculiar to the district
referred to, and are discovered by the reed-cutters, have been well
described by Mr. Southwell, who, as a naturalist resident in

* See Thompson’s Nat. Hist. Ireland, vol. iv. p. 6.

+ We learn from a note on ‘Otter Hunting in Norfolk and Suffolk,”
contributed by Mr. M. Knight to the ‘ Eastern Counties Collectanea,’ that in
the 16th century the river Yare so abounded with Otters, that in 1557, in
some regulations made by the Norwich Assembly for the freshwater fishermen
between the tower at Conisford and Hardley Cross, it was provided that
‘every man shall be bound to keep a dog to hunt the Otter, and to make a
general hunt twice or thrice in the year or more, at time or times convenient
upon pain to forfeit ten shillings.”

E2

44 THE ZCOLOGIST.

Norfolk, has had excellent opportunities for becoming acquainted
with the Otter in that county.* That they are not merely nesting-
places used by the Otter in the day time, is proved by their being
lined with the flowering heads of the reeds, and also by the fact
that quite young Otters have been found in them. Mr. South-
well (J. c.) mentions one found in a reed-bed near Dilham, from
which four young were taken, and carried home alive; another at
Hoveton Broad, from which a young one was retrieved by a dog;
and a third at Barton Broad, from which the keeper took three
young ones. The Ranworth keepers, he says, speak of the
“ Otter’s nest” as “a heap of rough stuff collected together in a
reed-bed.”’

These facts furnish a curious illustration of the marvellous
way in which animals will adapt themselves to new or altered
conditions of life. In less-known exotic forms such a divergence
of habit might be taken to indicate a difference in species, and
we have no doubt that this has frequently happened in countries
vastly larger than our own, where examples of the same species
have been described as distinct for no other reason, apparently,
than that they have been found living a considerable distance
apart under different conditions of life.

But those who have seen our Otter amidst the beautiful
woods and rocks of a Devonshire river, or in a salt-water loch
on the west coast, or in the dreary, treeless waste of reeds and
water in a Norfolk broad, know full well that he is the same
wary, watchful animal, ever on the alert, always distrustful of
man, displaying wonderful adaptation of structure to habits, and
extraordinary resource in self-preservation.

We hear too much of the destruction of Otters. ‘‘ Capture of
a large Otter” is the heading of a paragraph which appears
constantly in the columns of country newspapers; and cuz bono ?
Do we hear or read of any corresponding increase of fish? Not
at all. If Otters were as destructive to fish as some people
would have us believe, their unlimited numbers before the
invention of shot-guns or steel-traps ought to have resulted in
the destruction of all the fish in our rivers. But all reflective
persons know that nothing of the sort has happened. The
enormous rate of increase in fish, as compared with the rate of

* Trans. Norfolk & Norwich Nat. Soc. 1872-78,

THE OTTER. 45

increase in their natural enemies, will always result in there
being enough and to spare for man and otter—aye, for king-
fisher and heron, too. It is only when man, with his charac-
teristic greed, steps in with his illegal netting, and, in season
and out of season, takes fish wholesale, and prevents the salmon
from ascending the rivers to the spawning-beds where they may
deposit their ova and so reproduce their kind, that real mischief
is done to our fisheries. Homo sapiens, not Lutra vulgaris, is
the real culprit.

No one, we feel sure, who has enjoyed the pleasure of watching
unobserved by him the actions of an Otter, in his natural haunts,
will grudge him the toll he takes of our coarse fish, or the
occasional salmon or grilse of which he deprives the angler.

We know of no writer who has more accurately or felicitously
described the habits of the Otter from personal observation than
the author of ‘Lays of the Deer Forest,’ a work replete with
beautiful descriptions of Highland scenery and the wild creatures
which were observed, and legitimately and scientifically hunted,
by two accomplished sportsmen and naturalists.* Here is an
extract :—

“ One morning, having been out in the forest all night to wait for Roe
in the two twilights, I came down to cross at the pool. There was a broken
and dangerous ford at its throat, passable only when the water was low.
I observed the track of Otters across the little sandy bank, which swelled
out on the east side of the ford, and that they were going up the stream
and none descending.

“In ascending a river, if the bank will admit, the Otter invariably
leaves the water at the rapids, and takes the shore to the next pool; so that
if there is an Otter on the stream, his up-track is sure to be found at those
places. In returning, however, he will often float down the rapids with the
current. The prints which I found in the sand had been made during the night.
There was a chance that the Otters had not returned, and I climbed into an
oak over the pool to see what might come down. LEnveloped in the screen
of leaves which the brightness of the surrounding sun made more obscure
within, I had a view of the rapid above, and into the pool beyond.

‘«‘T had sat in the oak for about half an hour, with my eyes fixed on the
stream and my back against the elastic branch by which I was supported,

* ‘Lays of the Deer Forest; with Sketches of olden and modern Deer-
hunting, traits of Natural History in the Forest, traditions of the Clans, and
Miscellaneous Notes.’ By John Sobieski and Charles Edward Stuart. Two
vols. 8vo. Blackwood & Sons. 1848,

46 THE ZOOLOGIST.

aud rocked into a sort of dreamy repose, when I was roused by a flash in
the upper pool, a ripple on its surface, and then a running swirl, and some-
thing that leaped, and plunged, and disappeared. * * * * Presently
I saw two dark objects bobbing like ducks down the rapid between the two
pools, but immediately as they came near distinguished the round, staring,
gogele-eyed heads of two Otters, floating one after the other, their legs
spread out like Flying Squirrels, and steering with their tails, the tips of
which showed above the water like the rudder of an Elbe scuite. Down
they came as flat as floating skins upon the water, but their round, short
heads and black eyes constantly in motion, examining with eager vigilance
every neuk and rock which they passed. I looked down into the pool below
me—it was clear as amber—and behind a large boulder of granite in about
eight feet of water I saw three salmon—a large one lying just at the back
of the stone and two smaller holding against the stream in the same line.
They were sluggish and sleepy in the sunshine, without any motion except
the gentle sculling of their tails.

“‘The Otters were steering down the pool, bobbing and flirting the
water with their snouts, and now and then ducking their heads till they came
over the stone. In an instant, like a flash of light, the fish were gone, and
where the Otters had just floated there was nothing but two undulating —
rings upon the glossy surface. In the next instant there was a rush and
swirl in the deep, under the rock on the west side, and a long shooting line
going down to the rapid, like the ridge which appears above the back fin
of a fish in motion. Near the tail of the pool there was another rush and
turn, and two long lines of bubbles showed that the Otters were returning.
Immediately afterwards the large salmon came out of the water with a
spring of more than two yards, and just as he returned, the Otter struck
him behind the gills and they disappeared together, leaving a star of
bright scales upon the surface. * * * * The skill with which they
pursued their game was like that of well-trained greyhounds in a course.
Whenever they came to the throat of the pool they pressed the fish hard
to make him double into the clear water, and one was always vigilant to
make him rise or turn, the increased effort of which exhausted his strength.
With equal sagacity, they worked him at the tail of the pool to prevent
him descending the rapid. * * * % With this race the fish began
to tire, and the Otters continued to press him, until at length one of them
having fixed him by the shoulder-fin, he was dragged up the bank, apparently
quite dead.”

After some further details, which are too long to be here
quoted, the writer adds, in the spirit of a true naturalist :—

‘“‘T could easily have shot them during their hunt, and more surely
when trailing the fish up the bank, for they were not thirty paces distant,

CHOUGHS, CROWS, AND ROOKS. 47

and my double gun was loaded with BB (for Roe); but the intense interest
of this chase left no other thought, and I was curious to see the end
of their proceedings. Finally, descending from my tree, I carried home the
salmon, which weighed twelve and a half pounds.”

This graphic account of the way in which an Otter hunts
and kills a fish shows what keen pleasure may be derived from
observation of the habits of wild animals in their natural haunts.
We commend it for general perusal, but especially for the perusal
of those who, knowing little or nothing about natural history,
never see or hear of an Otter without thoughtlessly devising
measures for its destruction.

CHOUGHS, CROWS, AND ROOKS.

By tae Epiror.

In a recent number (Zool. 1893, p. 332), allusion was made
to the fact that the name ‘‘ Chough” was in old time commonly
applied to the Jackdaw. In addition to the illustrations already
given (I.c.) of this use of the word, it might have been mentioned
that the Jackdaw was so styled by Act of Parliament.

In the year 1533 (temp. Hen. VIII.) a statute was passed, the
title whereof is ‘ An Act to destroy Choughs, Crows, and Rooks,’
and the preamble runs as follows :—

“For as much as innumerable number of Rooks, Crows, and
Choughs do daily breede and increase throughout this realm, which rooks,
crows and choughs do yearly destroy, devour and consume a wonderful
and marvellous great quantity of corn and grain of all kinds; that is, to
wit, as well in the sowing of the same grain and corn, as also at the
ripening and the kernelling of the same, and do make a marvellous
destruction and decay of the coverture of thatched houses, barns, ricks and
other such like, so that if the said Crows, Rooks and Choughs should be
suffered to breed and continue as they have been in certain years past
they will undoubtedly be the cause of a great destruction and consumption
of a great part of the corn and grain which hereafter shall be sown throughout
this realm, to the great prejudice, damage and undoing of the tillers,
husbanders and sowers of the earth, within the same. For remedy
whereof,” &c. The statute enacted that every owner and occupier of land
“should do as much as in him lay to kill and utterly destroy all choughs,
rooks and crows coming, abiding, breeding or haunting on his lands on
pain of a grievous amerciament.”

48 THE ZOOLOGIST.

Then followed numerous other provisions for the destruction
of the unfortunate ‘‘ Choughs, Crows and Rooks.”

The inhabitants of every parish were bound for the next ten
years to provide and set nets in which to capture the birds, and
were made liable to a fine of ten shillings for every day such nets
should be wanting. A yearly meeting was to be convened of
tenants, who were to survey the buildings and trees in their
neighbourhood, and conclude by what means it would be easiest
to destroy the young broods of the year. Any parish not com-
plying with this regulation was to forfeit twenty shillings. By
another section power is given to any person ‘‘ minding to destroy
the said Choughs, Crows and Rooks,” after request to the owner
or occupier of the land where they bred, to enter thereon and
carry them away “ without let by the owner or occupier.” The
word “Chough” in this Act refers, of course,/to the Jackdaw,
which in former years was very generally known by that name.

By a later statute of Elizabeth, passed in 1566, and entitled
‘An Act for the preservation of Grain,’ the provisions of the
Act of 1533 as to the keeping of “crow nets’’ were revived, but
all the other branches of that Act repealed. By this statute
power was given to churchwardens to assess the farmers in their
respective parishes every year, and to expend the money thus
obtained in rewards to be paid for the destruction of certain birds
and animals supposed to be prejudicial to agricultural interests.
A long list of rewards is fixed for heads and eggs of various
‘* birds of destruction and noyful fowl,” as, for instance, ‘‘ for the
heads of three old crows, choughs, pies or rooks, or of six young
ones, or for six eggs, to be paid one penny.” These rewards
were regularly paid long after the passing of this Act.

In the old account books of the period are found entries
which show that in some quarters at least an attempt was made
to carry out the existing law. For example, in the Household Book
kept by the steward of Squire Kitson at Hengrave Hall, Co. Suf-
folk,* commencing Ist Oct. 1572, we find the following entry :—

* Hengrave Hall, one of the finest Elizabethan buildings in this country,
which has a history that may be called national, and which has been
repeatedly illustrated in books and prints of architecture, has been sold,
with 4500 acres of land, to Mr, John Lysaght, an ironmaster of Bristol. —
The Atheneum, Tth Oct. 18938,

CHOUGHS, CROWS, AND ROOKS. 49

©1595. Oct. Nov. To the collectors of Chevington for the statute of
Crows and destroying of vermin . , - : ¢ eae

Again, in the Churchwarden’s Accounts at South Cadbury, in
Somersetshire, commencing in 1590, very faded and imperfect,
the following items occur :—

©1592 imprimis a Rooks nett : : : sina), ee
1625 o a Rooks nett ; 3 A ;
1627 for mending the Rook nett ; : : ; js. vjd.”

In the succeeding reign, however, it would appear from a
memorandum made by John Aubrey, that although the statute
was still unrepealed, it was either disregarded or not strictly
enforced. In his notes for a ‘Natural History of Wiltshire,’
written between 1656 and 1691, and edited by John Britton,
F.S.A., in 1847, the following paragraph occurs :—

“In the peacefull raigne of King James I. the Parliament made an Act
for provision of Rooke-netts and catching Crows to be given in charge of
Court-barons, which is by the stewards observed, but I never knew the
execution of it. I have heard knowing countrymen affirme that Rooke-
wormes, which the Crowes and Rookes doe devour at sowing time, do turne
to chafers, which I think are our English locusts; and some yeares wee
have such fearfull armies of them that they devour all manner of green
things; and if the Crowes did not destroy these wormes, it would often
times happen. Parliaments are not infallible, and some thinke they were
out in this bill” (op. cit. p. 67).

We gather from this observation that the truth was then
beginning to dawn upon agriculturists that the Rook, instead of
being an enemy to crops, might be a useful ally in extirpating the
destructive wire-worm.

The statute in question was cited as late as the year 1824, in
the case of ‘‘ Hannam v. Mockett,”’ then tried in the Court of
King’s Bench.* The plaintiff in this action declared that he
was “‘seised of a certain dwelling house with a vivary, there
called a ‘ Rookery,’”’ which Rookery “ was ornamental and advan-
tageous to his said dwelling-house, and afforded great satisfaction
and delight to him the said plaintiff,’ and he sought to recover
damages against the defendant for maliciously firing guns near
his Rookery, whereby the Rooks were so “disturbed and terrified ”

* Hannam v. Mockett, 4 D. & R. 518; 2B. & ©. 934

50 THE ZOOLOGIST.

that they ‘‘ then and there flew away and wholly forsook the said
Rookery.” The plaintiff obtained a verdict, but the decision being
appealed against, was ultimately reversed, the judges declaring, on
the strength of the last-mentioned Act, that Rooks were considered
by the legislature as a nuisance to the neighbourhood where they
were, and that therefore no one could be held to suffer damage
by being deprived of them.

As this statute, however obsolete, does not seem to have been
repealed, it follows that the Rook has no legal status among us,
but is, in the eye of the law, a trespasser and an outlaw. As
these birds are not maintained at the expense of any individual
or individuals, no one can have any property in a rookery built
in his trees, or in the bodies of the rooks themselves if shot by a
neighbour. And since they cannot be reduced into possession,
they are not a subject of larcency. In other words, respecting
Rooks which have their liberty (except when too young to
obtain it, and then they are the property of the occupier),
it has been decided, in the case above cited, that an action does
not lie for shooting them, at the suit of the owner of the rookery,
whether they are within or outside it, since they are not protected
by the common or statute law.

As to the kind of net formerly known as the ‘‘Crow-net” or
‘*‘Rook-net,” a figure of it is given by Leonard Mascall in a
folding-plate to his ‘ Booke of Fishing” (1590).*

It is thus described: by Gervase Markham, in his Art of
Fowling, 1621:—t

‘Now for the generall way of taking these Land Fowle where many
kinds are taken together, it is either to be done by day or night; if by day,
then with the great net which commonly is called tho Crow Net, which
either is made of double twisted thred, or fine whip packe-threed, and it
differeth nothing in length, depth, bignesse of mesh, manner of laying and

* A Booke of Fishing with Hooke and Line, and of all other instruments
thereunto belonging. Another of Sundrie Engines and Trappes to take
Polecats, Buzards, Rattes, Mice, and all other kindes of vermine and beasts
whatsoever, most profitable for all Warriners and such as delight in this
kinde of Sport and Pastime. Made by L.M. [Woodcut of fisher and fowler.]
London. Printed by John Wolfe, and are to be solde by Edward White
dwelling at the little North doore of Paules at the signe of the Gunne.
1590. sm. 4to.

+ Hunger’s Prevention or the whole Arte of Fowling by Water and
Land. 12mo. London, 1621.

CHOUGHS, CROWS, AND ROOKS. 51

overturning from the Plover Nette (formerly spoken of in the Water Fowle),
only if it be larger and the coards longer it is not amisse, this Net being
before or neere unto Barn doores where Corne is a thrashing, or in any
such place where Corne hath beene winnowed and the chaffe remaining,
with which you shall ever observe to cover and hide the net as soone as it
is laid, so as it may not be seen, and then as soone as the flockes of birdes
come, and are scraping amongst the chaffe, you lying aloofe off conceald,
with the coard in your hand, shall sodenly draw it and overturne the net
upon the Birds, by which at one pull you may take many Crowes” (p. 90).

This description has been paraphrased by Nicholas Cox, in
his ‘Gentleman’s Recreation’ (1674),* in the section ‘ Of
Fowling,” without any acknowledgment of the source whence he
derived it.

“The general way of taking these Land-fowl of several Sorts together,
is either by Day or by Night. If by Day, it is done by the great Net,
commonly called the Crow-net, and not at all differs in Length, Depth,
bigness of Mesh, manner of laying, etc. from the Plover-net ; only it will
not be amiss if the Cords be longer.

“This net you may lay before Barn-doors, or where Corn hath been
winnowed, also in Stubble-fields, so concealing the Net that the Fowl may
not discern the Snare. When you perceive a quantity within the Net
scraping for Food, and you lie concealed afar off, with your Cord in your
Hand, suddenly pull the net over them.”

The chief time for using this net would seem to be in the
winter months, or at all events after harvest time, when the
fields have been cleared. Richard Blome, in his ‘ Gentleman’s
Recreation,’ a fine folio printed in 1686, thus describes (p. 145)
* how to take wildfowl with a net called a Crow-net” :—

“ There is an Invention for taking wild Fowl in Winter with the Crow-
net, which may be used in the Day time. It is made of double twisted
thread, or fine packthread; the Meshes should be two Inches wide, the
length about two Yards, and three in depth; It must be verged on the
sides with good strong cord, and extended out very stiff upon long poles
made for that purpose.

“‘ When you are on the place you intend to spread your net, open it, and
lay it out at its full length and breadth; then fasten the lower end of the
net all along on the ground, so as only to move it up and down. The

* ‘The Gentleman’s Recreation; in four parts, viz. Hunting, Hawking,
Fowling, Fishing.’ There have been numerous editions of this book (1674,
1677, 1686, 1697, 1706, and 1721), which was at one time exceedingly popular,
though only a compilation, and is even now esteemed by collectors,

52 THE ZOOLOGIST.

upper end of the net should stand extended on the long cord, the further
end thereof being staked fast to the earth by a strong cord about five yards
distant from the net, which cord place in an even line with the lower edge
of the net ; the other end of the cord must be at least twenty-five yards, to
reach unto some natural or artificial shelter, by the help of which you may —
lye concealed from the fowl, otherwise you can expect no good success.

‘*‘ Your net must be in that exact order that it may give way to play on
the fowl upon the least pull of your cord, which do smartly, lest the fowl
be too quick for you.

«This device may be used for Pigeons, Crows, or the like, in corn-fields
newly sown; as also in stubble-fields, provided the stubble conceal the net
from the fowl. It may also be used for small birds, at barn-doors; but
then lay for them some train of corn or chaff to entice them to the net
lying concealed.

“This Crow-net may also be spread to great pleasure and profit in the
mornings and evenings, where you know their haunts are; at which times
in hard weather Fowl use to fly in great flocks to and from the land, with
and against the wind; and then they fly close to the ground in open
countries and low lands, which generally are not full of inclosures; and
when they are within reach of yeur net, let go, and it riseth over them, and
brings them back to the ground with a notable blow.”

The author of ‘The Sportsman’s Dictionary, or the Country
Gentleman’s Companion,’ 2nd ed., 8vo, London, 1744, after giving
a description of the Crow-net, evidently borrowed without acknow-
ledgment from one or other of the writers above quoted, adds :—

‘The Crow-net may also be spread to great advantage and pleasure in
the mornings and evenings, where you know their haunts are, at which
time in hard weather fowl are wont to fly in great flocks, to and from the
land, with and against the wind, and then they fly close to the ground in
open countries and low lands, and when they are within reach of your net,
let go and it will rise over them, ana bring them back to the ground with
a smart blow.”

This net, in point of fact, much resembles the modern plover-
net, which has been minutely described and figured by Sir R.
Payne Gallwey in his ‘ Fowler in Ireland’ (1882, p. 185).

Indeed, an Irish plover-catcher, still living, has declared that
with this form of net he can catch Rooks when flying low against
the wind.

In these more enlightened days, however, the persecution of
Choughs, Crows, and Rooks is not only not enforced by statute,
but Rooks at all events have come to be regarded with some

NOTES AND QUERIES. 58

favour, as their natural habits and the nature of their food have
become better understood.

Not many years ago it was the practice amongst farmers in
some parts of the country to scatter poisoned grain broadcast,
for the purpose, as they alleged, of destroying the Rooks, which
they imagined to be hurtful to their crops. In this they were
mistaken, for the evidence of ornithologists has sufficiently
demonstrated many ways in which the Rook is useful to agricul-
turists ; and the short-sighted policy of the farmers, resulting as
it did in the wholesale poisoning of Partridges and Pheasants, the
legislature had to interfere, and an Act of Parliament was
passed in 1863, by which the use of poisoned grain was declared
illegal.* The recently published ‘ Report of the Departmental
Committee appointed by the Board of Agriculture to inquire into
a Plague of Field Voles in Scotland” (1893), contains evidence
of the repeated admissions by Scottish farmers that Rooks not
only do good by devouring destructive larve, but are extremely
useful in destroying large numbers of Field Voles, especially in
the young stage, when they are found in the nests, which are
systematically sought for and dug up.t

It seems strange that it should have taken 360 years to bring
about this revulsion of feeling in the case of a bird which, being
sufficiently familiar and everywhere common, may be so easily
studied by those who will take the trouble to observe its habits.

NOTES AND QUERIES.

MAMMALIA.

Food of the Otter.—In the interesting article upon the Otter in the
last number of ‘ The Zoologist’ (p. 1), I see no reference to this animal’s
fondness for the common cray-fish, though another member of the same
‘genus is mentioned as preying habitually upon a large spiny crab. Last
spring, on the bank of a river not far from here, in which Otters were
numerous (to judge from the evidence they left of themselves), I gathered
up, and still have, a large handful of their dried droppings, which I found

* ¢The Poisoned Grain Prohibition Act,’ 1868, 26 & 27 Vict. c. 118,
+ See the Index to the Report, under ‘“‘ Rooks,”

54 THE ZOOLOGIST.

were composed in about equal proportions of the remains of cray-fish and
small fishes.—MiLLEer Curisty (Pryors, Broomfield, near Chelmsford).

Unusual abundance of the Bank Vole in 1893.—The Bank or Red
Vole, Microtus glareolus, is generally supposed to be a somewhat rare
animal, at least as compared to its brown relative the Short-tailed Field —
Vole, Microtns agrestis, and its occurrence in this or that county has been
from time to time noticed in ‘The Zoologist,’ a distinction which has
probably never befallen agrestis. During the past year, however, it seems
to have been surprisingly abundant everywhere, for of a large number of
Voles trapped and sent to the Natural History Museum by various friends
who are aiding in the formation of a better collection of British small
mammals, the majority have proved to belong to the Red species. Thus,
beginning northward, of about thirty Voles sent from Elgin by Mr. W. R. O.
Grant, all but two were glareolus; all those obtained in Cumberland by
Mr. J. Paul, by Mr. KE. W. H. Blagg in Staffordshire, by myself in
Middlesex, and by Mr. R. J. Pocock in Dorsetshire, proved to be the same,
while in the Isle of Wight I found the two species apparently equally
numerous. All these collectors were trying to procure as many specimens
as possible, irrespective of species. This reversal of the usual relative
frequency of the two species seems worthy of mention in ‘ The Zoologist,’
even though it may possibly be explained by the presumption that in order
to conceal the traps more effectually they may have been placed oftener in
hedges and copses than in the open fields, where agrestis is generally to be
found. A second disturbing factor may be a difference in the readiness
with which the two species will enter traps. The relative frequency of the
different small terrestrial species may be a little gauged by the fact that
the above-named five collectors, without special local knowledge, setting
traps hap-hazard in likely places, caught about sixty Mus sylvaticus, fifty
M. glareolus, ten Microtus argrestis, thirty Sorea vulgaris, one S. pygmaeus,
and one Crosopus fodiens, in the course of the summer and autumn. No
dormice or harvest mice were obtained. Any readers of ‘ The Zoologist’
who may be able and willing to contribute specimens to the National
Collection should send them to the Museum by post as soon as possible
after they are caught.—O. Tuomas (Natural History Museum, Cromwell
Road, S.W.).

Bank Vole in Oxfordshire.— Last December (1893) one of my
nephews, at my instigation, began to trap field mice at Bodicote, and on
the 29th he caught a male Bank Vole. Some time ago I picked up a
partly-decomposed specimen at Bloxham; but I have never hitherto made
any especial search for this species in Oxfordshire, and although, from
its distribution in England, there is every probability of its being fairly
common with us, I believe this is the first published record of its
occurrence in this neighbourhood.—O. V. Apxin (Bloxham, Oxon),

NOTES AND QUERIES 55

BIRDS.

The Black Guillemot on the Solway Firth.—In ‘ The Zoologist’ for
October last, Mr. J. J. Armistead records (p. 295) the capture of a Black
Guillemot on the Solway Firth, and states that it is only the second
specimen he has seen there in seven years. It is certainly a species of
considerable rarity within the actual limits of the Firth (that is within a
line drawn betwixt Balmae Head and St. Bees), and I can only add two
occurrences to that of Mr. Armistead’s. Both of these were defunct
examples noticed amongst the Common Guillemots, Razorbills, and Puffins,
which at times strew the Solway shores—victims of some mysterious
epidemic or more than usually severe storm, which now and again has
destroyed these birds in thousands. Outside the Firth proper, but still
within the Solway area, I do not think the Black Guillemot is so rare as is
generally understood. I have been informed on reliable authority that it
is pretty regularly seen at the breeding-place of the Common Guillemots at
the Ross at the mouth of the Dee. The last time I was at the Scaur
Rocks, which lie at the entrance to Luce Bay, midway betwixt Burrow -
Head and the Mull, a pair of Black Guillemots flew about during the
three or four hours I was on the Big Scaur. The time was the last week
in May, and I formed the strong opinion that this pair of Black Guillemots
was nesting there. I know that towards the west of the Mull the Black
Guillemot is an almost daily visitor in summer, and it would be strange if
this were not so, for the species breeds at Ailsa Craig, and also at Rathlin
Island, while it is generally understood that there is still a small breeding
colony on the Isle of Man.—R. Service (Maxwelltown, Dumfries).

Introduction of Red Grouse into N.W. Germany.—In the illustrated
German sporting journal, ‘ Der Waidmann,’ of the 13th October last, Count
Kniphausen gives an account of his attempts to introduce Red Grouse from
Scotland upon his domain in Kast Friesland, where an extensive tract of
heather seemed to favour such an experiment. He says:—* In the autumn
of 1891, I ordered from a game-dealer in England five pairs of live Grouse
for my game-preserves near Wittmund in Hast Friesland, as an experiment
in the way of naturalising this foreign game-bird with us. My prospects
regarding this attempt did not appear to me unpromising, as I could offer
the birds on my sporting domain freedom from disturbance, plenty of
water, heather, and various berry-bearing plants, and patches of buck-
wheat, to all of which these birds are said to be partial. The Grouse
were transported across the North Sea in November. They were sent
from Scotland via London and Flushing, the consequence of which
was that, by reason of the long railway journeys, the birds suffered
very much, and succumbed, chiefly, I fear, from want of water—at any rate,
I only received one pair alive on their arrival at their destination. J had
taken pains beforehand to erect for them, in a thicket, an aviary of wire-

56 THE ZOOLOGIST.

netting, with canvas overhead, provided plentifully with water and buckwheat,
and with the wire-netting stuck full of sprigs of heather, partly so that they
might feel themselves more hidden, but chiefly because I understand that
heather-tops are their chief source of nourishment. After a few days’ rest,
I had one of the sides of the enclosure raised, so that the Grouse might go
out of their own accord. In the spring of 1893, I was rewarded by coming
across the cock grouse in the company of a black cock on my preserve and
had the pleasure of listening to his call. It also came to my knowledge
that the hen was alive, and that she had incubated for about fourteen days,
though too late in the year, for it was during the harvesting of the buck-
wheat that she was disturbed by the mowers. The cock and hen both flew
away, and the hen, alas! never sought her nest again. The eggs, fourteen
in number, I have preserved. This delightful discovery, that a pair of
Grouse had lived all but two years on my property, and had even made a
good attempt to rear a brood, made me resolve to go ou with my experiments.
The dealer to whom I addressed myself undertook, for twenty marks the
pair, to deliver ten brace of Grouse to me, and we came to an understanding
that he should send them at my cost from Hull to Bremen, that he should
undertake their being carefully secured in boxes made expressly for the
purpose, and that he should not be bound to make good any losses that
might occur. Messrs. Weltmann, in Hull, who forward goods for the North
German Lloyd’s Company, kindly undertook the delivery of them, and
promised to see that they did not want for food or water on their thirty-
hours’ sea voyage, and thus, to my joy, my gamekeeper, whom I had sent
to Bremen to fetch the birds, was enabled to deliver to me the whole lot of
seven brace (more were not to be had at the time), without loss or damage.
The birds this time flew strongly when let out in their enclosure, but did
not hurt themselves, owing to the canvas spread over the top. My sporting
neighbours all belong to the Prussian and Oldenburg Forest and Moor
Game Preservation Societies, to both of which I successfully applied, and
they have, as before on the introduction of black-game, promised that for
some years to come the protection of these Grouse shall be looked upon by
them as a strict duty. So it is to be hoped that this attempt to naturalise
them in the plains of North-West Germany may succeed, as it did with the
black game, which had for many a long year been extinct there.”

Notes from Greenland.—During a short sojourn, in January, 1893,
in Copenhagen, I visited the Zoological Museum of that town, and noted
some new acquisitions from Greenland, As ‘The Zoologist’ contains an
extended report of my little book, ‘ The Birds of Greenland,’ I think the
readers will like a short record of the novelties I saw. The most recent
acquisition of the Museum was a collection of bird-skins from Hastern
Greenland north of 65° N. lat., collected by the Danish Expedition, which
had recently returned from these tracts. I hope that eventually we may

NOTES AND QUERIES. 57

- have a detailed account of the Expedition, but as it surely will not come in
a near future, I think a summary of the chief results will be acceptable.
The most remarkable were two skins of Anser segetum, both taken in June,
1891 (as far as I remember on the 5th and 17th). This makes it probable
that it breeds there. So far as I know, these are the first examples taken
in Greenland or in America; but as the species commonly breeds in
Iceland, it is perhaps remarkable that it has not long ago been met with in
Greenland. I also saw a downy young of Branta leucopsis only a few days
old. The exact place of capture of this and of the two A. segetwm I cannot
state precisely—only that it was about 70° N. lat., on the eastern shores of
Greenland. Amongst other things which I saw, under the guidance of
the Inspector of the Museum, Mr. H. Winge, was a skin from Greenland
of the European Hirundo rustica (which I had not ventured to include in
my ‘ Birds of Greenland’). Somateria V-nigra, also, must now be admitted
as a bird of Greenland. I saw five skins from Godhaab, in South Green-
land, taken by Mr. Krabbe. The V-marks of Nos. 1 and 2 were very
distinct, as in S. spectabilis; in No. 5 the mark was not continuous, but
consisted of only a few black feathers, which nevertheless were distinctly
V-shaped. Nos. 3 and 4 were in transition between Nos. 2 and 5. That
they could be hybrids between S. mollissima and 8S. spectabilis is quite
out of question ; sooner might No. 5 (and perhaps Nos. 4 and 3) be hybrids
between S. mollissima and S. V-nigra. In all things—but the V-mark—
they seemed to me to be perfectly like S. mollissima, and the transition
observable in the skins might indicate that S. V-nigra is not a well-defined
species. In conclusion, I may state that in a lot of bird-skins which I
have got from Greenland, there is a skin of an adult Crex pratensis taken by
Sikkertoppen in South Greenland on May 11th, 1892; on the label it is
stated to be a male.—A. T. Hagerup (Kolding, Denmark).

- Mortality amongst Short-eared Owls in Scotland.— With the collapse
of the Vole-plague, the great horde of Short-eared Owls which concentrated
their numbers on the Vole-infested tracts in 1892-93 disappeared in
November last. On some of the farms where fifty—or even more—pairs
might easily have been counted, it is doubtful if even one pair remained on
Noy. 13th. Here and there an odd one might still be found, but these were
in most instances quite away from the places so sorely ravaged by the Vole
myriads. Within the last fortnight of November I was shown a pair of
Short-eared Owls, one of which had been shot as it flew from a tree. On
going to pick it up another one was found lying dead just underneath where
the first one had been perched. Both were in the last stage of emaciation.
A curious fact—which shows how the working of natural laws is always in
the direction of keeping down the undue predominance of any particular
species—came under my notice the other day in reading a very interesting
article in the ‘ Annals of Scottish Natural History,’ by Mr. Peter Adair :—

ZOOLOGIST, THIRD SERIES, VOL. XVIII.—FEB. 1894. F

58 THE ZOOLOGIST.

A fox on Howpasley was suspected of a liking for lamb, and its earth was } dug

up. Besides a quantity of Grouse, Black-game, Partridges, Ducks, Curlew,

Plover, Rats, Voles, and Lambs, the earth contained no less than seventy-
six dead Short-eared Owls. Eight of these were old birds, and the remainder
unfledged young. Of course, the nests of the Short-eared Owls being placed
on the ground amongst the heather and long grass, the helpless young
would fall an easy prey to a prowling Fox. One could hardly have suspected
that Owls would have had any serious enemy except man himself.—RoBERT
Service (Maxwelltown, Dumfries).

Range of the Mediterranean Herring Gull, Larus cachinnans.—

Mr. Backhouse, in his ‘ Handbook of European Birds,’ quoting Mr. Seebohm, ~

writes of this yellow-legged species :—‘ Resident in the Mediterranean and
Black Seas, and ranges eastward through the Caspian and Aral Seas to Lake
Baikal and the valley of the Amoor.” But he makes no mention of its
occurrence on the Atlantic seaboard. It may therefore be worth while to
report that while we were coaling in quarantine at Madeira, on the 8th
September, 1892, I had good opportunities all day of observing a little flock
of yellow-legged Herring Gulls, which appeared to get their living chiefly
from the leavings of ships putting in there. Also that on the 28th June,
1893, in the beautiful bay of Vigo (again, alas! under the yellow flag),
a number of these gulls, young and old, were feeding on the bread, banana,
orange-peel, and other debris thrown overboard after lunch, and enabled me
to watch them at my leisure at close quarters. The yellow legs are very
noticeable in the adult, but in the immature birds the legs are flesh-
coloured. The cry was similar, to my remembrance, to that of our English
Herring Gull.—O. V. Apiin (Bloxham, Oxon).

Green Woodpecker pursued by Sparrowhawk.—A few days neta
Christmas my gamekeeper was surprised to see a Green Woodpecker fly
towards him, and pitch upon the trunk of a tree near which he was
standing, without showing. the slightest fear of his presence. It was
closely pursued by a Sparrowhawk, which would doubtless have seized it
had it not caught sight of the keeper and sheered off. Curiously enough,
that very week the same man saw another Green Woodpecker chased by a

Sparrowhawk. One would have supposed that the rapid undulating flight of

a Woodpecker, now rising, now falling like a dart, would have quite baffled
a hawk.—J. C. Manset Pirypetu (Whatcombe, Blandford, Dorset).

a

Barred Warbler in Yorkshire.—An example of the Barred Warbler,

Sylvia nisoria, was shot at Kilnsea, in Holderness, by Mr. G. E. Clubley,
on the 18th November last, making the third reported occurrence of this
species in that district. The first was obtained at Spurn by the Rev. H. H.
Slater on the 28th Aug. 1884 (Zool. 1884, p. 489), and the second at the
same place on the 19th Oct. 1892 (Zool. 1892, p. 424). It was first added to

NOTES AND QUERIES. 59

the list of British birds by Prof. Newton on the acquisition of a specimen
near Cambridge (Proc. Zool. Soc. 1879, p. 219), and it has also been met
with twice in Norfolk (Zool. 1884, p. 493; 1889, p. 135), in Lincolnshire
(Zool. 1892, p. 424), and in Co. Mayo (Zool. 1890, p. 310). Its occurrence,
therefore, as a straggler from Europe to the British Islands seems to be
fairly well established.—J. E. Harrina.

Swimming Powers of the Water Ouzel.— Perhaps the following,
taken from my note-book on April 22nd last, may add further interest to
the editorial note on this subject (pp. 238-24). Having found a nest of five
young Dippers, I proceeded to take them, when one of them fluttered from
the nest—which was built under the mossy stones of a small waterfall—
into the stream below. Hurrying quickly down to save it, as I thought,
from a watery grave, I was astonished to see it immediately dive, and swim
under water with ease (chiefly with the use of its wings) to some stones at
the water’s edge, some eighteen to twenty feet distant. Making a feint to
capture it, again it dived, and swam some three feet more before coming
to the surface, and thus again and again did it dive to avoid my out-
stretched arm; but at last, not endeavouring to cross the pool, I restored
it to its mossy home to wait until its pin-feathers should grow sufficiently
before another venture, and then probably an aérial instead of an aquatic
flight.—J. S. Exxiorr (Dixon’s Green, Dudley).

Nesting of the Spotted Flycatcher.— Referring to Mr. Whitaker’s
note in ‘ The Zoologist’ for December last (p. 459), I may state that I have
twice found the nest of this bird placed in a similar situation, both instances
being in Highgate Woods six years ago. The first nest was placed in an
open situation in the fork of a branch of a little crab-tree, and only four feet
from the ground; it was the most perfect nest of the species I have ever
met with. The second nest was in a fork in the centre of a hawthorn, and
about five feet from the ground. The fork had previously held-a Chaffinch’s
nest, which some one had removed, and the Flycatcher’s nest was placed
upon the remains of it. The majority of Flycatchers’ nests I have seen
have been placed against the trunks of oaks, or sometimes upon horizontal
limbs. I have found one nest of this species in a hole in a pollard-willow,
as far in as a Redstart would go, and another in a disused nest of the
Blackbird, eleven feet up in the side of a haystack.—H. K. Swann (Euston
Road, N.W.).

A Brood of White Swallows.—During the past summer a brood of
four white Swallows, Hirundo rustica, was reared in a shed at Bere Regis.
Of these at least three survived as late as the month of October, when
I saw them on Deverell Down in company with several other Swallows.
They were apparently then congregating previous to migration, and I have
little doubt that they contrived to leave the country unharmed.—4J. OC.
MansEL Pieypex (Whatcombe, Blandford, Dorset).

FR

60 THE ZOOLOGIST.

Lapland Bunting in Sussex.—The Lapp Bunting is a much com-
moner bird in the southern counties than many ornithologists suppose.
For example, a few have been annually taken near Dover for the last
dozen winters. Last year (1892) was an annus mirabilis for this species in
Southern and Eastern Britain. This season, on the other hand, Lapp
Buntings have been rare in Sussex ; and although the birdcatchers know
them well, only three were caught near Brighton in November. Two of
these, fine strong male birds, were sent to me. Others have been taken
near Dover as usual.—H. A. MacpuHerson (Carlisle).

Black Guillemot inland in Dorsetshire.—A bird of this species was
driven inland by the storm of Dec. 19th, and was picked up alive on the
following day at Milborne St. Andrew, a distance of sixteen miles from the
sea.—J. OC. Manset Pieypett (Whatcombe, Blandford, Dorset).

Snipe affected by Soot.— During the last frost, two letters appeared in
‘The Times,’ recording discoloured snow, and one of these attributed the
discoloration to London smoke, although the writer lived at a considerable
distance from London. I remember that I observed, when Snipe-shooting
some years ago, that all the Snipe that I killed had their under parts
discoloured, apparently by soot, and this was the case from about November

till January. To the best of my recollection this happened in more than |

one season, and it must have been between 1877 and 1887, because the_
keeper who was with me when these sooty breasts puzzled us, was In my
service during that period. I have never seen it since, however, although
I have shot over the same beat more or less every year since. Can this
have been London smoke also? The distance as the crow flies cannot be
less than fifty miles from London, probably more. Certainly these birds
may have soiled their breasts in some marshes nearer London, before they
visited the district; but it seems odd that it has not occurred since those
years. W. OxenpEN HamMonp (St. Alban’s Court, near Wingham, Kent).

Uncommon Birds in Sussex.—Since writing to you about Larus
minutus, I have seen three other specimens in the flesh, all of which were
shot in this neighbourhood. One of these was an adult male, the others
immature. The adult was shot on the 8th inst., on the coast between
Hastings and Bexhill. The plumage was in good order, but the bird was in
poor condition, weighing but four ounces, The feet and legs were of a
coral-red colour, and not dark as in the immature birds. On the same day,
as I learn from Mr. Bristow of St. Leonards, an adult male Kentish Plover
was shot in this neighbourhood, and four Sheldrakes appeared on Pett
Levell, one of which was shot. The thermometer on that day registered
seventeen degrees of frost.—G. W. BrapsHaw (Hastings).

Wildfowl on the Sussex Coast.—You may perhaps like to insert in
‘The Zoologist ’ a notice of various wildfowl which were obtained along the

NOTES AND QUERIES. : 61

Sussex coast during the late frost, with their respective measurements.
An adult male Goosander, in splendid plumage, with very rich salmon-
coloured breast, was shot at Havant on Jan. 8th. The shooter said
it looked like a ball of fire coming towards him. Scaup with us have been
the commonest of ducks. We have had some splendid males killed on our
Sussex coast; also Mallard, Tufted Duck, and Merganser. A female
Velvet Scoter was picked up alive in Mill’s Terrace, West Brighton, in an
exhausted condition after the severe weather. Snipe and Jack Snipe have
been unusually abundant throughout Sussex, and several have been picked
up dead. Teal, Brent Geese, Knots and Godwits have been shot on and
near the river Adur. Bramblings and Wood Larks have occurred in small
flocks. Most of the birds obtained appeared to be in good condition. We
have taken weights of a few of the Ducks for you as follows :—Goosander,
male, 3lbs. 130z,; Scaup, adult male, 2lbs. 1d0z.; ditto, 2lbs. 30z.; ditto,
2lbs. 40z.; ditto, young female, 2lbs. loz.; Velvet Scoter, female,
Ib. 100z.; Mallard, male, 1lb.130z.; Merganser, male, 1lb. 7oz.; Tufted
Duck, male, 11b. 12 oz.—Prarr & Sons (Brighton).

English and Irish Jays.—As I am in want of a few Jays (both English
and Irish) for purposes of comparison, might I ask readers of ‘The
Zoologist,” who live in parts of the country where these birds are plentiful,
to kindly send me one or two specimens, the receipt of which will be at
once acknowledged.—G. E. H. Barrert-Hamitton (Trinity College,
Cambridge).

Lapland Bunting in Lincolnshire.—The Lapland Bunting, Plectro-
phanes lapponicus, has appeared this winter on the Lincolnshire coast in
considerable numbers. I first met with a flock at North Cotes on Dec.
2lst, but they were so excessively wild that I was unable to identify them
with certainty on that account, orto shoot a specimen. On the following
day, however, with a south gale and heavy rain, I found the flock feeding
under shelter of the sea-bank, and killed four at a shot, and shortly after-
wards another single bird near the same place. This flock numbered from
twenty to thirty birds, but subsequently I found many small parties of from
two or three to halfa dozen, scattered about amongst flocks of Larks in the
vicinity. I saw this Bunting frequently up to Jan. 4th, the first day of the
recent severe weather. On that day we had a violent easterly gale, with
ten degrees of frost and a little snow. I saw at once that the Lapp
Buntings had received a considerable accession to their numbers, and there
must have been quite one hundred of them on the coast. I did not visit
this locality again until the commencement of the thaw on Jan. 9th, and
then saw two single birds only, both of which I shot. Since that date I
have gone round all their old haunts several times without seeing a single
individual. Probably the hard winter had driven them further south.
While here they frequented grass land and young wheat ; also the heaps of

62 THE ZOOLOGIST,

rubkish thrown up by the tide on the edge of the saltings, invariably in
company of Larks, the flocks sometimes containing a few Snow Buntings,
Greenfinches or Reed Buntings. They appeared to perch even less frequently
than the Snow Bunting, and I only once saw them alight on a hedgerow.—
G. H. Caton Hateu (Grainsby Hall, Great Grimsby, Lincolnshire).

Ostriches taking to the water voluntarily.—In your review of the
‘ Dictionary of Birds,” you quote Darwin and Dr. Cunningham in support
of the fact of the American Rhea taking to the water voluntarily. I can
give another instance of its doing so. On the 25th November, 1892,
while riding along a river in Uruguay, which just there was free from
“monte” in places, I saw about a dozen Rheas swimming across a broad
laguna, perhaps rather wider than the Isis at Oxford. The habit is not
common, I believe, for a river boundary is usually looked upon as an
effective check to the bird’s wanderings. The weather was very hot and dry
at the time, and this little flock of Ostriches had probably crossed the river
in the hopes of finding better pasture, and were going home again
disappointed, as I know they belonged to a camp on that side of the river
for which they were making.—O. V. Apirin (Bloxham, Oxon).

Early Mention of the Waxwing in England.—Although well known
to Sir Thomas Browne, who (as pointed out by Professor Newton in the
fourth edition of Yarrell’s ‘ Birds’) noticed this species in a letter to Dr.
Merritt, dated Sept. 18th, 1668, the earliest record of its appearance in
England seems to be that of two specimens which were killed near York
in January, 1680 (old style), and which are described and figured in the
‘Phil. Trans.’ 1685 (p. 1161, fig. 9), by John Ray, from information sup-
plied to him by Dr. Martin Lister. It is interesting, therefore, to find a
record almost as early, if indeed it does not refer to the same year, no pre-
cise date being given, in the recently published Thirteenth Report (Append.
Pt. 2) of the ‘ Historical Manuscripts Commission.’ In that portion which
relates to the MSS. at Welbeck Abbey (pp. 295-6) we find that Thomas
Baskervill, in some notes on a journey from Oxford to Gloucester, in
January, 1682-3, referring to Hosbury Bridge, four miles from Gloucester,
writes :—‘‘ Here Thomas Stevenson did kill a strange bird [date not men-
tioned], which none in the country hereabout or elsewhere had seen before.
This strange bird having another by it on the tree where we killed it, is
near upon as big as a Wind-thrush ;* upon the head and bill, which some-
thing resembles that of a Bull-finch, it hath a fine tuft of feathers of a
cinnamon colour; the feathers of the neck, breast, back, and part of the

* ¢Wind-thrush,’ the Redwing; so called in Ireland (Rutty, ‘ Nat, Hist,
Dublin,’ 1772) and ‘Winnard’ in Cornwall (Couch, ‘ Hist. Polperro’).
Doubtless a corruption of Wine-thrush (Germ. Wein-drossel), from its fond-
ness for frequenting the vineyards.—Eb.

NOTES AND QUERIES. 63

wings, something darker; the upper part of the tail where the feathers
join to the body is ash-coloured, then a ring of black, and on the extreme
part of the tail-feathers a ring of aurora flame, or gold colour, but under
the tail a perfect cinnamon. The prime flying feathers of the wings are
curiously diversified, for upon each wing, whose feathers are for the most
part black, are white spots, answerable to each other. Then the extreme
points of nine of the longest pinion-feathers are tipped with white and
lemon or gold colour ; the lesser pinion-feathers, which are seven in num-
ber, are tipped with white, and the extreme part of these seven feathers on
each side are of a pure vermillion colour, but these vermillion tips are no
feather, but of the nature of the stem of the feather, though dilated
broader at the ends.” This accurate and extremely intelligent description
of the Waxwing (Ampelis garrula) makes it regrettable that so capable an
observer as Mr. Thomas Baskervill did not devote more of his Journal to
the birds which he met with in the course of his itineraries, which, though
full of interest, give what in the present day we should consider an undue
prominence to the excellence of the inns at which he “lay” and the good
cheer which was there to be obtained.—T. Souruwe.t (Norwich).

Red-breasted Snipe in Ireland.—On October ]]th, 1893, I received
from County Tipperary, Ireland, an adult female of the Red-breasted Snipe,
Macrorhampus griseus, changing to winter plumage. Professor Newton,
who has examined this bird, gives its dimensions as — bill, 2°65; tarsus
15; wing, 6. It will be seen that these measurements closely approach
those of the supposed western form, but it seems to me that eastern and
western forms cannot be with certainty distinguished. Lord Lilford has
had a figure of this specimen drawn for his ‘ Illustrations of British Birds.’
—F. Copurn (Holloway Head, Birmingham).

Common Scoter in Warwickshire in August.—On August 7th, 1893,
Mr. H. C. Grove shot a Common Scoter, Hdemia nigra, on Powell’s Pool,
Sutton Park, Warwickshire. The bird is apparently an immature male,
but it had been roughly skinned, and the skin was nearly putrid when I
got it, so that I cannot positively state the sex. The date seems a most
extraordinary one for this bird to be found at such a spot. Mr. Grove sug-
gested that it had probably been bred in the park, but there is no proof
whatever to support this supposition. No other birds of its kind were seen
in the pool, but later Mr. Grove shot a female Pochard. This is the first
record I have of the Common Scoter for Warwickshire.—F. CoBurn.

Uncommon Birds in the Isle of Man.—Mr. G. Adams, taxidermist,
of Douglas, Isle of Man, has shown mea Little Auk, Mergulus alle, which
was sent him from Peel, for preservation, in the last week of December. It
displays a considerable amount of dark mottling on the lower part of the
front of the neck. He has also a Grebe which, from its medium size and

64 THE ZOOLOGIST.

short straight beak, I take to be Podiceps auritus. This specimen was ob-
tained in a trammel-net at Derby Laver, also toward the end of December.
It is a very pure dark and white plumage, with no trace of tufts about the
head. The Goldfinch, Carduelis elegans, a bird which, though twenty or
thirty years ago abundant, has lately been very scarce, is again showing
itself more commonly n various districts this winter. On Christmas-day I
saw at Tromoole, one mile from here, a flock of some seven or eight Long-
tailed Tits, Acredula rosea. This appears to be only an occasional visitor
to this island.—P, Rare (4, Queen’s Terrace, Douglas, I.M.).

Wildfowl on the Norfolk Coast.—On Jan. 12th I received in the flesh
from Hunstanton, Norfolk, a female Eider and a Black Guillemot, and, a
few days later, a fine mature male Long-tailed Duck, the first fully adult
drake I ever saw in the flesh, though females and young males are common
enough. All these birds were shot off Hunstanton during the severe
weather, and I am indebted for them to the kindness of Dr. Whitby, of
Hunstanton, St. Edmunds. In addition to locally-shot examples of the
birds mentioned above, that gentleman’s interesting collection contains,
among other rarities, examples of the King Eider, Gull-billed Tern, Iceland
Gull, and Sand Grouse shot in 1863 and 1888, all obtained within a few miles
of Hunstanton.—Juiian G. Tuck (Tostock Rectory, Bury St. Edmunds).

Little Auk in Co. Sligo.—On the 27th of December last I received
a fresh specimen of the Little Auk, Mergulus alle, which was found alive
about four miles from the sea, but died shortly after capture. Another
specimen was shot on Lough Gill, Co. Sligo, and is now in the possession
of Mr. Owen Wynne, Hazelwood, Co. Sligo.—R. M. Cxretton (Castle St.,
Sligo).

Turtle Dove Breeding with Common Dove in Confinement.—
A propos of the note on Ring Dove pairing with Domestic Pigeon (p. 28),
I may state that a male Common Dove, which I have had in my aviary for
some time, paired with a female Turtle Dove, and successfully reared two
hybrids. I would like to know if it is a common occurrence. The Dove
which I have called the Common Dove is the ordinary cream-coloured bird
with black ring round neck, which is commonly kept in confinement. The
female is the wild Turtle Dove, Turtur communis.—W. Wittiams (19,
Garville Road, Rathgar, Dublin).

REPTILES.

Curious Accident to an Adder.—A few years ago I killed an Adder,
Pelias berus, under singular circumstances. I was walking down a hedge-
row in the company of two of my brothers, when we saw an Adder glide
over a bank a few yards in front of us. When we got to the spot we
were surprised to see it hanging by the throat to the spike of a male bramble.
We watched it for some time making frantic efforts to escape; it was, how-

SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES, 65

ever, so firmly-fixed that I had time to fetch a pair of sheep-shears from a
farmhouse about a mile away, with which I cut off its head, as we wished
to see how deep the prickle had penetrated The bramble was about a yard
from the bank, and where the Viper was hanging was about 2 feet from
the ground. It seemed to us that the Adder must have made’a spring
from the top of the bank. This occurred at Crowboro’ Warren, Sussex.—
R. H. RamsBotuam (Beetham, Milnethorpe).

CRUSTACEA.

The Crayfish.—Last December, whilst dissecting the Common Cray-
fish, Astacus fluviatilis, I had one, a female, with three genital pores, the
extra one being on the thirteenth appendage, or third leg (according to
Prof. Huxley’s nomenclature) on the left side (or right side when on its
back); the oviduct leading to these two was bifurcated just before the
- entrances to the pores, and the ovaries were full of ova. I preserved the
specimen, but unfortunately spoilt the dissection of the oviduct in trying to
preserve it.—J. N. SmirH (30, Shooters Hill Road, Blackheath, S.E.).

SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES.

Linnean Soormty or Lonpon.

December 21, 1898.—Prof. Stewart, President, in the chair.

Gen. Sir H. Collett and Mr. H. H. Johnson were admitted, and
Messrs. G. E. Greene and A. G. Tansley were elected.

Mr. P. L. Simmonds exhibited a collection of New Zealand mosses
found by Mr. G. W. Simmonds while surveying in H.M.S. ‘ Pandora.’
Mr. Murray offered some critical remarks on the nature and value of the
collection, which the owner was understood to say would be presented to
the Botanical Department of the British Museum.

The President exhibited and described two curious examples of
associated ants and plants, namely, Iridomyrmex caudatus, with Myr-
mecodia beccari and Camponotus planatus, with Pseudomyrma belti, the
plant being Acacia hindsit.

Mr. J. EK. Harting exhibited some shells of Planorbis corneus, which
had been found by the river-side at Weybridge, and which from some
unascertained cause were curiously bisected. Alluding to the piscivorous
habits of the Water Shrew, Sorex fodiens, he suggested that it might be
the work of this little animal. Mr. A. D. Michael thought it likely to be
the result of frost, the lower half of each shell being preserved by being
imbedded in or adherent to the frozen mud.

Referring to a MS. letter of Dr. Stephen Hales (the author of ‘ Vegetable

66 THE ZOOLOGIST.

Staticks,’ and a friend and neighbour of Gilbert White), which was exhibited
by Mr. G. Murray, an excellent engraved portrait of him was exhibited by
Mr. Harting, who made a few remarks upon his life and work. As this
portrait was not to be found amongst the 600 engravings of ‘ Scientific

Worthies,’ lately presented to the Library by the late Lord Arthur Russell,

he offered it for the acceptance of the Society.
On behalf of Mr. H. N. Ridley, Director of the Gardens and Fotati
Department, Singapore, the Secretary read a paper dealing with all the

Orchidege hitherto recorded from Borneo. In the discussion which followed -

Mr. C. B. Clarke made some interesting remarks on the distribution of
these plants in the Indian and Indo-Malay Regions, and on the way
in which a knowledge of the species had been gradually acquired and
extended.

On behalf of Mr. R. Spruce (whose unexpected death the Society had
recently to deplore), Mr. A. Gepp read a paper on the Hepatice collected
by Mr. W.R. Elliott in the islands of St. Vincent and Dominica, and took
occasion to describe in some detail the nature and extent of Mr. Spruce’s
work, which he characterised as a most careful and excellent contribution
to botanical science. The paper was accompanied by a series of minute
and beautiful drawings.

January 18th.— Mr. W. Carrutuers, F.R.S., V.-P., in the chair.

Messrs. T. B. Cato, W. Elburne, and R. E. Leach were admitted, and
the following were elected:—Sir Hugh Low, Messrs. G. B. Rothera and
Thomas Sim.

The Chairman, before proceeding to the business of the evening, referred
to the loss which the Society had sustained by the recent death of
Mr. Richard Spruce, who had travelled and collected much in South
America, and who was the recognised authority on Hepatice. It was
much to be regretted that having but lately presented to the Society a
valuable paper on this subject, containing descriptions of a great number
of new species, and illustrated with careful and beautiful drawings, he had
not lived to see the published result of his labours.

The Chairman also referred with regret to the death of Mr. Algernon
Peckover, of Wisbeach, who had been a Fellow since 1827, and who by
his will had bequeathed to the Society a legacy of £100.

Mr. E. M. Holmes exhibited a flowering specimen of a new species of
Cascarilla (C. Thomsont) and the bark of the tree, from New Grenada; also
two new foreign sea-weeds, Gelidium Beckeri, from South Africa, and
Leptocladia Binghamia, from California, and three new British marine
Alge, viz. Entophysalis granulosa and Symplaca atlantica, from Swanage,
collected by himself, and Vaucheria coronata, from Arbroath, collected by
Mr. J. Jack.

,
———_

SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES. 67

Mr. Thomas Christy exhibited and made observations upon some
remarkably long tendrils of Landolphia Kirkii, which served as an
illustration to a paper subsequently read by Mr. Henslow.

Mr. J. E. Harting exhibited and made some remarks upon the plant-
débris ejected in the form of “ pellets” or “castings” by Rooks, and stated
that a number of these pellets which had been examined were composed of
the cuticles of the succulent roots of the couch-grass, Triticum repens,
commonly called ‘‘ scutch,” ‘‘ squitch,” and “ twitch” -grass, a most trouble-
some weed to the farmer. Mr. Harting also exhibited a rare Australian
duck, Stictonetta nevosa, Gould, which had been obtained at Gippsland
Lake, Victoria, and of which very few examples were to be found in
collections. —

A paper was then read by the Rev. G. Henslow, M.A., on the origin of
the structural peculiarities of climbing stems by self-adaptation in response
to external mechanical forces. ‘The purport of this paper was to prove by
an appeal to facts and experiments the existence of the power in living
_ protoplasms of responding to external and purely mechanical forces by
enveloping supportive tissues, by means of which the plant is enabled to
resist the effects of gravity, tensions, pressures, &c. In the case of
climbers, not only is this principle illustrated wherever a force is felt; but
whenever a stem is relieved of a force atrophy or arrest of mechanical
tissues takes place, supplemented, however, by an increase in the number
and size of vessels. The conclusion arrived at was that while, on the one
hand, the peculiar structures of climbers are all the outcome of a response
to the external mechanical forces acting directly upon the stems, such
structures are precisely those which are most admirably suited to the
requirements of the stems themselves. The variations of structure charac-
teristic of species, genera, and orders of climbing plants have been thus
acquired in a definite direction, viz. of direct adaptability, this being effected,
according to Mr. Darwin’s statement, “ without the aid of natural selection.”
The paper was criticised by Dr. D. H. Scott, Prof. Reynolds Green, and
Mr. G. Murray, who, while testifying to the number of interesting facts
brought forward by Mr. Henslow to support his views, were yet unable to
agree with him in some of his conclusions. The paper was illustrated
by a great variety of specimens and drawings, and was listened to with
considerable interest by a very full meeting.

ZooutocicaL Society or Lonpon.
January 16th, 1894.— Sir W. H. Frower, K.C.B., LL.D., F.RB.S.,
President, in the chair.
The Secretary read a report on the additions that had been made to the
Society's Menagerie during the month of December, 1894.

68 THE ZOOLOGIST.

Mr. Sclater exhibited and made remarks on a drawing of the head of a
Monkey, Cercopithecus erythrogaster, in the Paris Museum, forwarded to
him by M. Pousargues, of that institution.

An extract was read from a letter received from Mr. C. B. Mitford,

describing an invasion of Locusts observed at Free Town, Sierra Leone. ©

Mr. C. O. Waterhouse had referred the specimens of these insects sent
home to Pachytylus migratoroides. A further extract from the same letter
gave an account of the occurrence of Elephants in the district of Sierra
Leone.

Mr. R. Lydekker gave an account of some of the principal objects
observed during his recent visit to the La Plata Museum, calling special
attention to the splendid series of remains of Dinosaurian Reptiles, of
Cetaceans, and of Ungulates of three different suborders. Mr Lydekker
also made remarks on some of the specimens of Edentates and of the
gigantic birds of the genus Brontornis, and further exhibited a painting of
the head of a Wild Goat, Capra e@gagrus, of unusual size.

On behalf of Mr. J. Jenner Weir, a specimen of the Tsetse Fly, Glossinia
moristans, from the Transvaal was exhibited.

Mr. Tegetmeier exhibited a curiously barred variety of the Common
Pheasant.

A communication was read from Prof. W. N. Parker, containing remarks
on some points in the structure of the young of the Australian Echidna.

A communication was read from Mr. Roland Trimen, giving an account
of a collection of Butterflies made in Manica, Tropical South-east Africa,
by Mr. F. C. Selous in the year 1892. Of 166 species represented in the
series, 44 were stated to be of general distribution, and of the remainder
(amongst which were 9 apparently new to science) 26 were peculiar to the
South-Tropical area of Africa.

A communication received from Dr. A. B. Meyer contained remarks on
a rare African Monkey, Cercopithecus wolfi, accompanied by a coloured
drawing.

Dr. A. Giinther gave an account of a collection of Reptiles and Fishes
made by Dr. J. W. Gregory during his expedition to Mount Kenia. The
collection contained examples of thirty-seven species of Reptiles, nine of
Batrachians, and thirteen of Fishes. Several species of Reptiles were new
to science, amongst which were two new Lizards—Bunocnemis modesta, g. et
sp. n., of the family Geckotide, with imbricate scales and large scattered
conical tubercles on the hinder part of the hind limbs ; and Agama gregorit,
to A. cyanogaster, but with lateral, not tubular nostrils. Six new fishes allied
were also characterized and named:—Chromis niger, C. spilurus, Alestes
affinis, Labio gregorti, Barbus tanensis, and B. taitensis.—P. L. ScLatsr,
Secretary.

SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES. 69

EntomontoaicaL Society oF Lonpon,

January 17th, 1894.—The 61st Annual Meeting.—Mr. Frederic
Merrifield, Vice-President, in the chair. An abstract of the Treasurer’s
accounts, showing a balance in the Society’s favour, having been read
by Mr. J. Jenner Weir, one of the Auditors, the Secretary, Mr. H. Goss,
read the Report of the Council. It was then announced that the
following gentlemen had been elected as Officers and Council for
1894 :—President, Mr. Henry J. Elwes, F.L.8.; Treasurer, Mr.
Robert McLachlan, F.R.S.; Secretaries, Mr. Herbert Goss, F.L.S.,
and the Rev. Canon Fowler, M.A., F.L.S.; Librarian, Mr. George C.
Champion, F'.Z.8.; and as other Members of the Council, Mr. Walter
F. H. Blandford, M.A., F.Z.8., Mr. Charles J. Gahan, M.A., Mr.
Frederic Merrifield, Prof. Edward B. Poulton, M.A., F.R.S., Colonel
Charles Swinhoe, M.A., F.L.S., Mr. George H. Verrall, Mr. James J.
Walker, R.N., F.L.8., and the Right Hon. Lord Walsingham, LL.D.,
F.R.S. Mr. Merrifield then read the President’s Address, in which, after
alluding to the principal events of the past year, and the prosperous
condition of the Society, he referred to the additions which had been
made in 1898 to the literature of Entomology, calling attention
to the ‘Butterflies of China and Japan,’ by Mr. J. H. Leech; the
‘Moths of India,’ by Mr. G. F. Hampson; the ‘ Butterflies of
North America, by Mr. W. H. Edwards; ‘Lepidoptera Indica,
by Dr. F. Moore; and the continuation of the ‘ Biologia Centrali-
Americana,’ by Messrs. F. D. Godman, F.R.S., and Osbert Salvin,
F.R.S. He also commented on the recent publications of the Grand
Duke Nicholas Mikhailovitch, Mons. Charles Oberthiir, and Dr.
Staudinger, on the Continent. The President concluded by referring
to the losses by death during the year of several Fellows of the Society
and other Entomologists, special mention being made of Prof. H. A.
Hagen, M.D., the Rev. Leonard Blomefield, M.A., Mr. A. C. Horner,
M.R.C.S., Prof. J. Wood-Mason, the Rev. Henry Burney, M.A., Mr.
J. OC. Bowring, F.L.8., the Rev. F. O. Morris, B.A., Mr. J. Batty, Mr.
Francis P. Pascoe, F.L.S., Herr Kduard Honrath, and Dr. Adolph
Speyer. A vote of thanks to the President for his Address was pro-
posed by Colonel Swinhoe, seconded by Mr. Jenner Weir, and carried
unanimously. Mr. Merrifield replied for the President. Lord Walsing-
ham proposed a vote of thanks to the Officers of the Society; this was
seconded by Mr. Waterhouse, and carried unanimously. Mr. McLachlan
and Mr. Goss replied, and the proceedings terminated. — H. Goss,
fIon, See.

70 THE ZOOLOGIST.

NOTICES OF NEW BOOKS.

The Tercentenary Edition of the Complete Angler, or Contem--

plative Man’s Recreation. By Izaak Watton & CHARLES
Cotton. Edited, with Notes from a Naturalist’s point
of view, by J. EK. Harrina. 2 vols. 4to. London:
Bagster & Sons. 1893.

SomE years ago, when noticing the publication of a facsimile
reprint of this esteemed book (Zool. 1882, pp. 357-360), we
gave a list of the various editions which were then known to
exist, and which at that time, on the authority of Messrs. West-
wood and Satchell, were said to number no less than eighty-
seven. Since that review appeared there have been several fresh
issues, including a beautiful reprint of Major’s edition published
by Messrs. Nimmo and Bain in 1883, with original etchings, and
all the illustrations laid down on india-paper. Then we have had
Mr. Robert Marston’s handsome quarto, and one or two others
of less importance..

It is curious to note how, in all these editions, the natural
history lore of Izaak Walton has been neglected. His critics, as
perhaps was only natural, have been fishermen who looked at the
practical value of the book, although others, like Sir John
Hawkins and Sir Harris Nicholas, have shown considerable
literary research in their annotations, dealing with a variety
of subjects that have little or no connection with fishing, beyond
the fact that some allusion is made to them by Walton. And yet
there is a good deal in the book to attract the curious naturalist,
especially if his tastes incline to the antiquarian side of natural
history, and he have some acquaintance with old authors. To
such a one it is pretty evident that Walton was not what would
be termed in these days an observant out-door naturalist. He
used his eyes, no doubt, so far as they served his purpose as an
angler; but most of his ideas about animals and plants seem to
have been derived from the books he read rather than from
actual observation. He was truly a “contemplative man,” and
turned his reading to account. Such books as Dr. Philemon
Holland’s translation of ‘Pliny’ and of Camden’s ‘ Britannia,’

-—

NOTICES OF NEW BOOKS. . tL

Bacon’s ‘Sylva,’ Topsell’s ‘ Historie of Four-footed Beastes,’
Sylvester’s translation of ‘Du Bartas,’ Drayton’s ‘ Polyolbion,’
Gerard’s ‘Herbal, Montaigne’s ‘ Essays,’ and Dr. Hakewill’s
‘ Apology or Declaration of the Power and Providence of God in
the Government of the World,’ were amongst his favourite
authors; and from these and others he borrowed and para-
phrased as occasion suggested, sometimes with acknowledgment,
sometimes without. His want of knowledge as a naturalist often
led to his quoting fable as fact, and to his confounding the habits
of one animal with those of another of quite a different species.
_ At the same time his knowledge of zoology and botany must be
gauged, not by our standards of the present day, but by the state
of knowledge on those subjects put in evidence by the authors
from whom he quoted.

To give Izaak Walton his due in this respect, to show the
extent of his acquirements as a naturalist, and to point out some
of the errors into which he has fallen, may be said to. constitute
the raison détre of the present edition, which marks the tercen-
tenary anniversary of the author’s death and the centenary of the
publishing house of Bagster. It may be observed that so long
ago as 1808, Mr. Samuel Bagster published an edition of the
‘Complete Angler,’ which was edited by SirJohn Hawkins and
was so well received that several issues of it appeared, both in
quarto and octavo. The notes to that edition, though sometimes
very discursive, and even irrelevant, are in other passages very
much to the point and worth quoting at the present day, as the
reader of the new edition will find. The same publisher, many
years ago, commissioned Hayter to visit Salisbury for the
purpose of copying the excellent portrait of Walton by Housman,
which forms the frontispiece to the first volume of the present
edition.. He also accompanied John Linnell to Ashbourn, in
Derbyshire, to copy the portrait of Charles Cotton by Sir Peter
Lely, which forms the frontispiece to the second volume of this
work, Linnell availing himself of the opportunity to sketch some
of the charming scenery amidst which Izaak Walton and his
friend Charles Cotton were in the habit of fishing together. From
these sketches Mr. Percy Thomas has produced some beautiful
etchings which, printed on Japanese vellum, form most appro-
priate illustrations to the volumes before us. It may be a matter
of opinion amongst art critics whether it was worth while to

72 THE ZOOLOGIST.

re-issue in this edition Audinet’s engravings from Wale’s
pictures, seeing that they ‘are neither new, nor altogether free
from defects; but it may be observed that they have been so
admirably printed on vellum, at the Ballantyne Press, as to give
them a cachet which they never had before, and so to make the
very best of them.

THe Hermit Cras, Hupagurus bernhardus, IN SHELL OF WHELK
ENCRUSTED WITH BARNACLES.

Then we have Mr. George Lodge’s pretty text-cuts of river-
side animals and birds, produced with a fidelity which is only
possible where the wood-blocks are drawn and engraved by the
same hand. This is a gift which very few artists possess, and
seeing that it obviates all risk of misinterpretation, is to be
valued accordingly. The Heron flying with characteristic flap of
wing, the Bittern cowering amongst the sedge, the Polecat which
loves to track the Eel at night through the wet riverside grass,*
the Marten which haunts the rocky and wooded glen through
which the trout-stream runs, the Hermit Crab which seeks

seclusion in the empty shell of a Whelk, and the Lark and

Nightingale which delight the listening ear of the fisherman, are

* See ‘ The Zoologist,’ 1891, p. 292,

Ol ———— -

NOTICES OF NEW BOOKS. 73

all here faithfully pourtrayed, with others, in their natural and
characteristic attitudes.

This is not the place, for obvious reasons, wherein to criticise
the editor’s annotations, but it may be of interest to mention a
few of the subjects alluded to by Izaak Walton which in this new
edition have elicited comment, explanation, or elucidation.

THe Marten, Martes sylvatica.

There is a pretty allusion (vol. 1. p. 47) to ‘the honest Robin
that loves mankind both alive and dead,” referring of course to
the old notion of the Redbreast covering the dead with leaves
which has been noticed by Shakespeare in ‘Cymbeline,’ and by
John Webster in the lines—

‘** Call for the Robin Redbreast and the Wren,
Since o’er shady groves they hover,
And with leaves and flowers do cover
The friendless bodies of unburied men.”

Auceps, in his enumeration of the several kinds of hawks
used by falconers (p. 50) includes “the Stelletto of Spain, the
Blood-red Rook from Turkey, the Waskite from Virginia.” What
species are referred to by these names? and where did Walton
find allusion to them? Perhaps some of our readers can supply
this information.

It is not surprising that he should describe a Whale as a fish
(pp. 59 and 69), seeing that many persons so regard it even at
the present day, in spite of all the science-teaching in schools.

ZOOLOGIST, THIRD SERIES, VOL, XVIII.—FEB. 1894. G

74 THE ZOOLOGIST.

Again, who is “the ingenious Spaniard” (p. 67) who says
that “rivers and the inhabitants of the watery element were
made for wise men to contemplate, and fools to pass by without
consideration?” The sentiment has been generally attributed to
Juan Valdesso, but is not to be found in his ‘ Considerations,’
which was translated at Oxford by Farrar in 1638.

Some of the “many strange creatures collected by John
Tradescant, and others added by my friend Elias Ashmole, Esq.,
who now keeps them carefully and methodically at his house near
to Lambeth, near London,” are described (p. 71). They were
subsequently removed to the Ashmolean Museum at Oxford, and
are mentioned in a catalogue of the collection entitled ‘Museum
Tradescantium,’ printed in 1656, or three years after the publica-
tion of the first edition of ‘ The Complete Angler.’ .

The Cuttle, Sepia officinalis, is curiously confounded with the
Angler-fish, Lophius piscatorius, of which an illustration is given
(p. 74), to remove misconception. The habits of the Hermit Crab,
Eupagurus bernhardus, of which also a figure is given, and here
reproduced, are thus quaintly noticed :—

‘And there is a fish called a Hermit, that at a certain age gets into a
dead fish’s shell, and like a hermit dwells there alone, studying the wind
and weather, and so turns her shell that she makes it defend her from the
injuries that they would bring upon her.”

The habits of the Otter are perhaps more copiously described
than those of any other animal mentioned by Walton, and a
characteristic and quite unconventional figure of the beast, by
Mr. G. E. Lodge, is given (p. 92) from life. Of course, Walton’s
idea about the use of the herb Benione to keep away Otters from
fish-ponds (vol. 1. p. 92; vol. i. p. 64, n.), was derived from Top-
sell’s ‘ Historie of Four-footed Beastes,’ 1607, which, in turn, was
mainly a translation of Gesner’s ‘ Historia Animalium.’

The antiquity of fish-hooks is alluded to (vol.i. pp. 65, 80), as
also of fish-bowls for keeping fish in dining-rooms (p.110). Five
years before the date of Walton’s fifth edition, viz. in 1671,
Dr. Martin Lister published ‘A Table of Spiders found in
Kingland,’ enumerating ‘thirty and three kinds.” Walton, who
quotes this fact, would be astonished (were he living now) to
know that in Great Britain alone more than 500 species haye
been described.

NOTICES OF NEW BOOKS. Td

The caterpillars of the Privet Hawk-moth, Sphinx ligustri,
and of the Puss-moth, Dicranura vinula, are fairly well described,
sufficiently so, at least, for identification.

Amongst some of the fables retailed we find, of course, the
story of the supposed generation of Barnacle Geese from the
cirrhiped Lepus anatifera, as noted by Du Bartas :—

“So rotten planks of broken ships do change to barnacles,”

and by Gerard, in his ‘ Herbal,’ aud Camden, in his ‘ Britannia.’
So also we note the allusion to the belief that ‘‘ Hares change
sexes” (i. p. 173).

The distribution of the Grayling in English rivers is discussed
(i. p. 183), with a note elucidating the subject, and an interesting
point is raised (p. 188) as to when the Salmon became extinct
in the Thames. The vexed questions affecting the repro-
duction of Eels, and of Snakes swallowing their young in time of
danger, are fully dealt with in foot-notes by the editor (ii. p. 2,
and i. p. 203), and, in view of the authorities quoted and evidence
adduced, may be said to set these matters at rest.

As to the plants, the notes furnished on lady-smocks and
culver-keys (ii. 28), candocks (11. 63), willow-catkins (ii. 185),
reates, roits, or water-crowfoot (i1. 63), pickerel-weed (i. 194, 204),
hops (i. 215), and many other species, show that in this old
fishing-book the botanist may find almost as much to entertain
him as the zoologist.

It is a curious and remarkable fact that Izaak Walton no-
where quotes Shakespeare, although the latter died in 1616, and
the first folio edition of his plays was published in 1623, or thirty
years before the appearance of ‘The Complete Angler.’

This omission cannot be due to the absence of allusions to
fish and fishing by the bard of Avon, for Walton might have
referred to ‘Twelfth Night’ (ii. 5), where Maria, on the appearance
of Malvolio, exclaims, “‘ Here comes the Trout that must be caught
with tickling,” and to the song of Caliban in ‘The Tempest’ (ii.
2), “No more dams I'll make for fish,” as well as to the lines in
‘Much Ado’ (iii. 1) :-—

« The pleasantest angling is to see the fish
Cut with her golden oars the silver stream,
And greedily devour the treacherous bait,”

76 THE ZOOLOGIST.

But Shakespeare, although a “ contemplative man,” seems to
have found but little “recreation” in fishing, and it is perhaps
on this account that Walton has evinced no appreciation of his
immortal verse. Michael Drayton, however, his “ honest friend,” —
is often quoted.

Monograph of the North American Proctotrypide. By Wi1LLtaAM
H. Asumeap. Bulletin of the United States Natural
History Museum, No. 45. 8vo, pp. 472. With eighteen
plates. Washington Government Printing Office. 1893.

Tue Proctotrypide are considered by some authorities to be
closely allied to the Chalcidide, and in a systematic arrange-
ment of the hymenopterous families usually follow them in our
manuals and catalogues. Mr. Ashmead, however, who in this
volume has worked out the species found in America north
of Mexico, considers that they have but little affinity with the
Chalcidide, and that this arrangement is unnatural. They are
in every respect, he believes, more closely allied to the Hymen-
optera-Aculeata, the Chrysidide, Scoliide, Mutilide and Thyn-
e@ide, while in the Terebrantia they approach closest to the
parasitic Cynipide (Allotria, Eucoila and Figites) In a natural
arrangement, therefore, he considers they should be placed at the
head of the Terebrantia, for after the removal of the group
Mymarine, which (agreeing with Halliday) he regards as
forming a separate and distinct family allied to the Chalcidide,
there is no relationship with the last named. With the My-
marine removed, there will be no difficulty in distinguishing at a
glance a Proctotrypid from a Chalcid. In all true Procto-
trypids the pronotum extends back to the tegule, and the
ovipositor issues from the tip of the abdomen, the sheaths,
except in a few abnormal cases, being conjoined and forming a
more or less cylindrical tube or scabbard for the reception of the
two spicule and the ovipositor proper; whereas in all Chalcids
the pronotum never extends back to the tegule, and the ovi-
positor issues far anterior to the tip of the abdomen, reposing in
a central slit or groove, while the sheaths are always distinctly
separated, never conjoined.

From the families of the Aculeata they are separated by
having (except in a few cases) 2-jointed trochanters, and in

NOTICES OF NEW BOOKS. 77

venational and antennal characters. All Aculeate Hymenoptera,
with few exceptions, have the antenne 12-jointed in the female,
and 18-jointed in the male, while in the Proctotrypide such is not
the case; either both sexes have the same number of joints, or
a less or greater number in the opposite sex.

Before dealing with the systematic description. of the
divisions, genera and species, Mr. Ashmead enters very fully
upon a description of the external structure, habits of the perfect
insects, transformations or life-history, distribution and classifi-
cation, subjects which occupy the first thirty pages of the volume.

ProctotRyPEs, Latreille.

Then follow detailed descriptions of -all the species, with the
habitats, and an indication, in nearly every case, of the collection
in which the type or types are to be found. The volume
concludes with several pages of bibliography, which the reader
will find extremely useful.

As a piece of thorough good work, and a valuable contri-
bution to entomology, it may be recommended as a model to
future monographers.

78 THE ZOOLOGIST.

The Birds of Derbyshire. By F. B. Wutrtock; annotated with
numerous additions by A. S. Hurcuinson, Taxidermist to
the Derby Museum. 8vo. Pp. 239. With a Map and Six
Illustrations. London and Derby: Bemrose & Co. 1898.

Mr. Wuirtock’s name will be well known to the readers
of this journal as that of an enthusiastic ornithologist, and his
zeal has prompted him to try and write a book about the birds of
his county. This very laudable design he has carried out, no
doubt to the best of his ability ; but it seems to us that his book
might have been very much better if he had not been in such a
hurry to publish it. It is evident that he had not sufficient
materials for the purpose, as may be gathered from two or three
circumstances. We have been surprised to find no reference to
the most important collection in Derbyshire, that of Sir Vauncy
Crewe at Calke Abbey, a collection which includes many very
noteworthy birds obtained in the county; while in his endeavour
to extend his list of species, Mr. Whitlock seems to have
travelled quite outside the limits of the area he had to deal with,
and has recorded a number of rarities that, upon his own
showing, were not obtained in Derbyshire.

For instance, he includes specimens of the Glossy Ibis and
Purple Heron which were killed in Staffordshire and Notts, and
a Hen Harrier which was shot on the moors near Macclesfield in
Cheshire. The Hawfinch is stated to “breed regularly near
Sheffield, a few miles from the boundaries of Derbyshire”; and
a pair of Smews in the author’s possession came from Beeston
Rylands in Nottinghamshire. Doubtless the boundaries of a
county are more or less artificial, and as it is impossible to set a
limit to a bird’s flight, it is in some cases highly probable that a
species may have sojourned for some time within the county in
question, and be subsequently killed beyond the boundary. But
to entitle it to a place in the local avifauna, some more direct
evidence of its occurrence within the county limits is desirable.

Again, we have evidence here and there that Mr. Whitlock is
but imperfectly acquainted with several of the localities of which
he writes, some of which even he does not appear to have visited.
For example, he refers on page 8 to Lathkill Dale as “ treeless,”
whereas it is well wooded for two or three miles on one side, and
for some distance on the other,

NOTICES OF NEW BOOKS. 79

But making allowance for such shortcomings, which in a first
attempt perhaps are inevitable, we must do Mr. Whitlock the
justice to admit that he has brought together in one volume a
number of scattered records relating to the birds of his county
which will be of interest to Derbyshire folk, and of utility to
ornithologists for the purpose of comparison with lists from
other counties. Itis to be hoped that this book will attract the
attention of those who will be able to give him much further
information, and so enable him in a future edition to make his
record much more complete than it is at present.

Les Coquilles des Haux Douces et Saumdtres de France. Descrip-
tions des familles, genres et espéces. Par ARNoutD Locarp,

Roy. 8vo. Pp. 327. With 302 figures. Paris: Bailliére
et Fils. 1893.

In ‘ The Zoologist’ for 1892 (pp. 447, 448), we noticed a
former work by M. Locard on the marine shells of France,
published in that year. ‘he present volume, which is uniform
in size, type, and style of illustration, deals with the fresh-water
and -brackish-water species. It is well printed, copiously illus-
trated, and contains detailed descriptions, not only of all the
Species usually recognized in French waters, but of a large
number of varieties which have been elevated (as it seems to us,
unwisely) to the rank of species, and named accordingly. Many
of these, we should say, are merely individual variations, and to
treat them as if they were so many distinct species, is to create
considerable difficulty for the student of conchology. The
differences in many cases are so slight, that even after a careful
perusal of the descriptions, and a comparison of the figures, it
is almost impossible to find sufficiently well-marked characters
to warrant distinction.

It would have been preferable, we think, to place these
varietal forms upon a different footing, and to treat them as local
races, or at most as subspecies, provided always that they present
characters which are constant and sufficiently well marked to be
apppreciable.

We are quite unable to accept the view (as M. Locard would
have us do) that there are, for example, 127 species of Limnea,

80 THE ZOOLOGIST.

or 227 species of Unio to be found in the rivers and pools
of France. Doubtless we have to recognize the fact that these
two forms are extremely variable, but once we begin to describe
individual differences, we commence a task which may have no
ending.

M. Locard’s method, it is true, makes us acquainted with a
larger number of described forms than are to be found in the
works of his predecessors, but this does not mean any great
advance in the science.

Moreover, although M. Locard describes the shells very
minutely, he ignores the animals inhabiting them. Had he
selected a typical species for example in each genus, and given us
a description of the mollusc, with some account of its mode
of life and reproduction, he would have added considerably to
the value of his treatise.

As it is, he has produced a book rather for the shell-collector
than for the naturalist, and might have made it even more useful
to the former, had he described the sort of situation in which each
species is to be found. It is not enough to say of Physa acuta,
for example, ‘“‘ commun; presque partout, surtout le centre et le
Midi.” The collector wants to know whereabouts to look for it;
whether in stagnant water, or running streams; whether buried in
the mud from which it must be dredged; crawling amongst the
herbage on the bank; or adhering, perhaps, to the under side of
the leaves of some Nymphea, Nuphar, or other water-plant.

As to the figures in the text, of which there are about 300,
they have been carefully drawn, no doubt; but many of them, as
Limnea and Physa are, as one may say, “un peu trop solide.” We
miss the delicacy, lightness, and semi-transparency which charac-
terise these shells, and serve to distinguish them at a glance
amongst their fellows. |

On the whole, then, we are disappointed with M. Locard’s
book, though we cannot but admire his great power of discern-
ment, and the extraordinary industry which he has displayed in
collecting and describing so large a number of shells.

THE ZOOLOGIST
No. 207.—March, 1894.

ON THE OCCURRENCE OF THE BEARDED SEAL
(PHOCA BARBATA) ON THE NORFOLK COAST.

By Tuomas Sovuruwett, F.Z.S.

Tue vertebrate fauna of the British Isles is so thoroughly
worked out that the addition of a new species must of necessity
be of rare occurrence, and it cannot even be hoped, so closely
have all the residents been studied, that such addition is likely
to be made by the subdivision of any recognised indigenous
species, as happened with Arvicola glareolus; it follows, there-
fore, that we must look for such increase to exotic stragglers,
and even these must be confined to birds and marine mammals.
Of the former the county of Norfolk has been exceptionally prolific,
and of the latter we can point to at least one species, viz., Phoca
hispida. It gives me great pleasure, therefore, to record the
occurrence of yet another species, which I think I am right in
saying has not previously been recognised as British.

On Dec, 10th, 1892, Mr. H. Laver, of Colchester, very kindly
informed me that a living Seal was being exhibited in that town,
’ which he could not recognise, and which he suggested, from its
hairy muzzle, might be Phoca barbata. The description which
Mr, Laver gave of the animal was briefly as follows:—Length,
five or six feet; sex, male; skin, black with a few hairs only on
the shoulders, which were otherwise quite bare; head remarkably
narrow and flat, suddenly falling off toa broad nose; fore flippers
armed with strong claws, fully two inches long, curved, the third
digit the longest; beard long, curved, and very abundant, the
individual bristles flat and smooth.

ZOOLOGIST, THIRD SERIES, VOL, XVIIIL—MARCH, 1894. H

82 THE ZOOLOGIST.

It had when Mr. Laver saw it evidently been captured some
time, as it was very gentle and would permit any amount of
handling; it seemed very intelligent, and possessed great freedom
of motion in its fore limbs. The man who was exhibiting the
Seal expressed his intention of visiting Norwich on his way back
to Lynn, where he lived, and promised to communicate with me
on his arrival here, but did not keep his promise. Mr. Laver
sent me one of the bristles of the moustache, and from this and
his description I was strongly of opinion that his suggestion as to
the species of the Seal was correct, although the bristle differed
in length and curvature from those in my possession, which I had
obtained from undoubted skins of this species in the Dundee
warehouses.

My endeavours to trace the man William Hudson, who
exhibited the Seal at Colchester, were for some time unsuccessfual,
but Dr. Plowright, of Lynn, learned that the animal had died in
that town early in February, 1893, and came into the hands of a
man named Williamson, who buried it in his garden in a bed
which was sown with onions; there could be no question as to
the identity of this animal, for in addition to Hudson’s statement
as to his disposal of it, it was described to Dr. Plowright by its
last owner as having “no hair on its back, in consequence of its
having been kept jn too small a box,” and its whiskers were stated
to be “six inches long.”

At this stage of the proceedings I communicated with
Mr. S. F. Harmer, of the University Museum of Zoology, Cam-
bridge, with the result that he agreed to purchase the animal for
that Museum, and after the crop of onions had been harvested,
the body was exhumed and sent to Cambridge. On the 13th
October, 1893, Mr. Harmer sent me the skull for inspection after
comparing it with other skulls of the same species, and there is
not the least doubt that the animal was a young male of Phoca
barbata, in evidence of which the mounted skeleton will in due
course be placed in the Cambridge Museum.

The tale told by the man Hudson not being in all respects
satisfactory, the Rev. S. E. Blomefield, of Burnham Sutton, also
Rector of Burnham Overy, was so kind as to make enquiries for
me on the spot, and learned from a man named Rudd that he,
assisted by three others—Parr, Atkins, and Smith—captured this
Seal in a creek in Overy Harbour by driving it into a strong net

NOTES FROM NORFOLK, 83

in which it became entangled; they then placed it in a donkey-
eart and brought it home. Afterwards they put it into a boat
with water, and exhibited it in the neighbourhood, amongst others
to Mr. Blomefield and his family. The precise date of capture
I cannot ascertain, but it was some time before May, 1892. After
some months Rudd sold the Seal to a man at Lynn known as
“Tater Billy,’ who proves to be William Hudson.

In his memoir on the Seals in the ‘Challenger’ Reports
(vol. xxvi. part 2, p. 61), Sir William Turner points out that
Phoca barbata differs externally from the other species of Phoca,
“in having a broader muzzle, in the middle digit of the manus
being the longest instead of the digits slightly decreasing in
length from first to fifth, and in possessing four, and not two,
mamme.” ‘To this may be added, as stated in my little book on
the ‘Seals and Whales,’ that the mystacial bristles are ‘‘ simply
_ flattened hairs without the impressed pattern found in the bristles
of the known British species,” and this I believe to be a good and
ready mode of distinguishing this animal. Of course the cranial
characters afford the best mode of distinction, but these are not
always available.

I wish to record my indebtedness to Mr. Laver, Dr. Plowright,
and Rey. S. E. Blomefield, for the very considerable amount of
trouble they took in assisting me to trace and identify this
interesting capture. :

ORNITHOLOGICAL NOTES FROM NORFOLK.
By J. H. Gurney, F.Z.S8.

My last notes ended somewhat abruptly on September 30th,
1892, and missed recording what the following two months,
October and November, were remarkable for — viz., a quite
unprecedented visit of Lapland Buntings. Dr. Power was the
first to notice the northern incursion of this species on Oct. 13th
at Cley, where some remained for the winter, but the greatest
number were seen on the Caister denes, near Yarmouth. There
the arrival of Lapp Buntings was greeted by such hostile recep-
tion on the part of birdcatchers, bird-dealers, and others, that
I am sorry to say that at least fifty-six were netted and shot.
This migration was probably due to a gale from the east on

H 2

84 THE ZOOLOGIST.

Oct. 14th. The effect of that gale in Yorkshire may be ascer-
tained by reading Mr. Cordeaux’s article (Zool, 1892, p. 417).
It resulted in the most remarkable rush of migratory birds ever

witnessed by that good observer in his long experience. The

veteran Herr Gatke noticed this “‘rush” also in Heligoland, but
no Lapland Buntings were obtained there. I find they do well
in confinement, and are fond of oats. They perch like Snow
Buntings, but their more terrestrial habits were noticed in a wild
state. In Juiy the males in my possession had black throats,
which were retained by one of them until October, and a hen
bird became pied.

On Oct. 16th two Grey Shrikes were shot, and others seen
about this date, being perhaps some of those seen by Mr. Cordeaux
at Spurn Point (Zool. 1892, p.419) after the great gale just men-
tioned. On the same day a Sabine’s Gull was caught at Wells
(Feilden, Zool, 1892, p. 423), and my duck-pond was visited by
a Shoveller and a Pochard from Saham Mere. A Rough-legged
Buzzard was shot at Holkham. 28th.—Black-throated Diver at
Cley. 29th.—Hen Harrier and Merlin in Yarmouth Market
(Patterson). 3lst.—Black Redstart caught at Yarmouth (Smith).

Nov. 2nd.—I received from Mr. Patterson the remains of a
Pomatorhine Skua, which he had found on the shore, and a few
days afterwards a Puffin was found on the beach at Cromer.
7th.—A Sea Eagle was seen at Northrepps, first on an ash-tree,
and then on the wing, mobbed by Rooks; it was shot next day at
Runton. 11th.— Mr. Roberts, of Norwich, received from Sir Savile
Crossley a singular melanistic Partridge, shot at Campsea Ash, in
Suffolk, which was exhibited by him to the Naturalists’ Society
at its next meeting. It had a black chin and black cheeks, and
the rest of the plumage may be described as many shades darker
than the ordinary type. In 1891 Sir Savile Crossley’s party shot
several others similarly coloured. 18th.—A female Scops Owl was
obtained near Holt (C. Dack), not so grey as the Cromer one of
1861. Anyone interested in Owls may see in the Norwich Museum
a good series of the genus Scops, which is now divided and sub-
divided into sixty-five species (not counting Heteroscops, G@ymno-
scops, and Pseudoscops), represented in the Museum by 248
specimens. 19th.—Mr. Patterson saw a Shoveller at Yarmouth.
21st.—I received a male Gadwall from Saham Mere, where fifteen
others were seen by Mr. Partridge on the following day. A Grey-

NOTES FROM NORFOLK. 85

headed Porphyrio was shot at Stoke Ferry this month, which had
most likely escaped from confinement in the North of Ireland
(vide ‘Field,’ April 29th, 1893).

From Mr. G. Smith I learn that a young Iceland Gull, which
he identified by its measurements, was shot at Yarmouth on Dec.
6th, and to him also I am indebted for the information that a
Greater Shearwater was obtained at Caister on the 22nd, and
another Iceland Gull at Scratby on the 28th. I have since had
the pleasure of inspecting all three. The Shearwater is a very
dark bird above, and pure white beneath, without a smoky patch
on the belly. The Iceland Gulls are, from their size and measure-
ments, undoubted. One of them is a bird of the year, but the other
is older, and is white all over, except a tinge of brown and some
brown chequering on the secondaries. There has been a small
migration of them this year to the east coast. The Greater
Shearwater is an addition to our county list, and the fourth new
species which has been recognised since the completion of ‘ The
Birds of Norfolk.’ 24th.—A white, or rather very pale, variety of
the Dunlin was shot at Wells by Mr. F. D. Wheeler, with which
the list of rarities for 1892 concludes. |

Before passing on to another year, I may remark that the
supposed “ Bimaculated Duck”’ taken in Suffolk in January (Zool.
1892, p.110), judging from a very good picture of it, was a hybrid
between a Pintail and a Wild Duck. It has now passed into the
possession of M. Suchetet, who is making a study of all wild
hybrids, and was good enough to send the painting for my
inspection.

Jan. lst, 1893.—Five Bewick’s Swans were shot at Yarmouth
(Smith), and eight others were seen. 2nd.—'lhousands of Wood
Pigeons appeared at Yarmouth (Smith). 6th.—A Little Gull at
Yarmouth (Smith). 9th.—A Scoter, which must have lost itself,
was shot at Northrepps, flying over a wood half-a-mile from the
sea. 10th.—A Wellingtonia and a Japanese Cyprus were barked
by Green Woodpeckers until their stems became quite red, the
colour of the under fibre, and the trees were in danger of perishing.
22nd. A Russian Bullfinch (Pyrrhula major, Brehm) was shot on
Caister denes. Its measurements exceeded those of a common Bulls
finch considerably :—thus, length 5°7 ; expanse of wing 9°7; wing
from carpus 38°8 (¢f. Trans. Norfolk Nat. Soc. p. 421). P. major
is more easily separable than many so-called subspecies, and it is

86 _ THE ZOOLOGIST.

probable that this is not its first octurrence in England, though

it may have been one of the introduced Bullfinches mentioned by
Mr. Tuck (Zool. 1892, p. 145). |

There is little to record in February, except that the
Sparrows were picking all the yellow crocusses to pieces, and
some Waxwings made their appearance, as will be mentioned
presently.

Mr. Southwell reported an adult female Goshawk on March
29th at Somerleyton, and later on in the spring a Serin Finch
came under his observation. The latter was taken by a bird-
catcher named Crompton at Saxmundham, in Suffolk, and was sent

to Yarmouth, where Mr. Patterson is confident he saw another.

It lived in a cage until July, and was a female bird, very dark in
plumage, the result possibly of confinement, and more or less
artificial food.

In January, February, and March, there was a considerable
incursion of Waxwings in Norfolk, and twenty-five are noted in
my diary as having been killed, while several others were seen,
the latest on March 6th, at Weston, and March 20th at Warham.
The slaughter was not so great as it was twenty-six years ago,
and one fine bird which paid me a visit was allowed to pass on
unscathed. Whitethorns with haws upon them are the chief
attraction to Waxwings.

April 18th.—A Grey Shrike was seen near Holt by Mr. Pashley.
22nd.—A Grey-headed Wagtail at Bradwell (T. Southwell). The
Rev. Maurice N. Bird reported, through Mr. Southwell, that two
Avocets were seen at Hickling on the 28rd, a pair of Jack Snipes
on the 24th, thirteen Spoonbills on the 28th, and a White-winged
Black Tern and two Gadwalls on May 5th.

Turning now from rare birds to some of the commoner
species, I may note that April was very prolific of Long-tailed
Tits’ nests, of which there were six at Keswick—two in white-
thorn, two in yews, one in a box-tree, and one in a juniper. The
old notion that these nests have two holes is not quite exploded,
notwithstanding they have only one; and it is very comical to see

both head and tail sticking out of the one aperture at the same ~

time. How the young escape suffocation is a mystery.

At Wroxham several Tits—presumably Parus major—were
reported to be seen feeding on wasps, which were so abnormally
abundant in August as to be a perfect plague. It was reported to

NOTES FROM NORFOLK. 87

our Naturalists’ Society, and the members were very glad to hear
it, that the Bearded Tits were increasing in numbers in the Broad
district, and this was afterwards confirmed by Mr. Bird. Would
that the same could be said of the Garganey, which is now very
rare, although Mr. Bird saw some on April 10th and August 22nd,
and one or two off and on between those dates.

About this date, a curious incident occurred at Northrepps.
A hen Kestrel and a small rabbit were taken together at the same
time in the same steel-trap, which was placed a foot down the
burrow. I mention it partly for the singularity of their capture,
but it is the first time I have known a Kestrel pursue a rabbit;
and this summer, also for the first time, I saw a rabbit’s leg in a
Barn Owl’s nest. ‘This, however, was a very small one, and the
offence was condoned by the presence of numbers of mice remains,
five small rats in pellets,-a sparrow, and some shrews. I have
never identified bats’ bones in owls’ pellets; but a caged Barn
Owl ate a bat as if it was not for the first time. A nest of the
Barn Owl in the park, on April 27th, contained seven eggs.

On May 5th the “lumps” left by the receding tide on
Breydon water were reported to be black with Turnstones,
Whimbrel, Knots, Godwits and Black Terns, and at the same
time Black Terns were seen at Morston and Hickling. At the
latter place, ten days later, Mr. Bird saw thirteen Black Terns,
and on the same day Mr. Pashley wrote word that they were
passing Cley in flocks, going west, while scores came up as high
as the quay. There was evidently a great passage going on, for
three Spoonbills were seen, and according to Mr. Pashley (whose
account was afterwards confirmed verbally), ‘thousands of Knots,
in such numbers that the noise made by their wings resembled a
passing train.” ‘There were great numbers of Scoters also, and
the next day (the 16th) two White-winged Terns were seen. The
Knots may possibly have come froin Spain, on their way north-
ward to their breeding-haunts, for Lord Lilford has remarked
that never in his life has he seen feathered fowl in such numbers
as the Knots at the mouth of the Guadalquivir in May, 1872.
He describes them as being in “‘ countless myriads” (‘ Birds of
Northamptonshire,’ p. 287). They would naturally be going
northwards at this time of year, and Cley might be another
halting-place.

Local naturalists will be glad to hear from the Rev. Maurice

88 . HE ZOOLOGIST.

Bird that three broods of Hawfinches flew at Shropham by June
5th, and on that day he saw two Nightingales’ nests in the same
lime-tree, one six feet, the other ten feet from the ground; and
a Blackcap’s nest eighteen feet up. There must have been
something to account for these extraordinary altitudes,—perhaps
the presence of Stoats, which have been unusually abundant, so.
much so that the keeper at Hempstead had caught the unprece-
dented number of fifty by July 26th, and others subsequently.

On May 12th Col. Feilden saw an Osprey at Holkham, where
a pair of Pink-footed Geese stayed behind, as he observed, until
June 8th, long after their companions had left. He last saw
them at the end of May, after which he left home; but they are
believed to have been seen by the head-keeper as late as June
26th. The abundance of this species during the previous winter
had been noticed and commented on (1891—2).

June 20th.—Young Sand Martins were dying in their holes at
Keswick from the excessive drought.

July 3rd.—A Little Bittern was unfortunately killed at
Rollesby, and on the 4th another, by the same keeper, who
thought he was doing a clever thing in shooting them!
Mr. Lowne reports that the second, which had been feeding on
Perch, “‘ had the appearance on the under parts of having been
sitting,” but that they were both males. Lord Lilford has
observed, in the case of Common Bitterns which have nested in
his aviaries, that the male has occasionally taken part in incu-
bation, so that there would be nothing remarkable in a Little
Bittern doing the same.

Mr. Bird reports two Herons’ nests at East Somerton.

Mr. Pashley is of opinion that two pairs of Sandwich Terns
bred on Blakeney Point, and eggs from one nest, or more, were
taken by some boys, with the usual result that they were broken,
and therefore the interesting fact is not clearly proved. He
writes :—“‘ George Long tells me his boys went to the beach for a
few eggs, and they brought back three large eggs of a kind he had
never seen before; they were larger than the Common Tern and
coloured differently. The boys gave them to a son of Mr. George
Hudson.” Long considers that one clutch were hatched, as he
saw the old Sandwich Terns flying past his smack at different
times with ‘‘ Sand-launces” (the Lesser Sand-eel) in their beaks,
evidently intended for their young. These large Terns were also

NOTES ROM NORFOLK. 89

seen by Mr. Evershed and other competent observers, and in
August a young one was shot, but I think it was old enough to
have come from the Farne Islands, where this species regularly
breeds. In September about seventeen more were shot, as I am
informed, a very uncalled-for and reprehensible slaughter,
although they were migrants from further north. If they did
breed at Cley as supposed, this is the first time they are known
to have done so in Norfolk.

Aug. 13th.—A Crossbill at Burgh (Southwell). 17th—A
Wood Warbler at Cley. 24th.—A Ruddy Sheldrake was shot at
Salthouse. It was a female in faded and pale plumage caused by
very light edges to all the feathers. There seems to be as much
reason for regarding this as a wild bird as the nineteen specimens
which were recorded last year (Zool. pp. 392, 427), all my
enquiries failing to elicit that anybody had lost one. <A Sclavo-
nian Grebe and two Wood Sandpipers were shot at Hickling
(Bird), and five or six other Wood Sandpipers about this time at
or near Yarmouth (Southwell).

Sept. 4th—A male Icterine Warbler was shot at Wells by
Mr. N. H. Joy. Itis considerably greyer than the bird figured
in Dresser’s ‘ Birds of Europe” (vol. 11. p. 521), but agrees
pretty well with a skin from Westphalia :—Wing, from carpus,
3.35; tarsus, .95; culmen, .22; tail, 1.9. These measurements
slightly exceed those of the Blakeney bird (cf. Trans. Norfolk
Nat. Soc. iv. p. 39). This is the sixth British specimen recorded,
the last having been obtained in Yorkshire (¢f. Cordeaux, Zool.
1891, p. 305), and the second which has been met with in Norfolk.
11th.—Two large hawks, believed to be Marsh Harriers, were
seen hovering over a dead dog on Gorleston beach by Mr. South-
well. Shore Lark shot at Yarmouth. 12th.—A Little Gull at
Yarmouth (Patterson). 14th.—A Lapland Bunting was shot at
Cley (Power), and an Osprey was seen at Hickling (Nudd)
15th.—A Wood Sandpiper was seen at Cley by Dr. Power. 21st,
— Pink-footed Geese returned to Holkham (Feilden). Shore Larks
were seen at Cley (Gunn), and three Lapland Buntings were
shot; others were seen at Yarmouth (Smith). 22nd.—A Lapland
Bunting was shot at Yarmouth, and three more netted. A great
many ‘I'wites were seen (Smith). 24th.—Tree Sparrows were
noticed on Yarmouth sandhills (Patterson). 25th.—Lapland Bunt-
ng at Cley (Gunn). .26th.—Sclavonian Grebe at Cley (Gunn).

90 _ THE ZOOLOGIST.

' There is nothing which calls for particular remark in my
note-book for October except the occurrence of a Quail at
Northrepps on the 20th of that month. It was so fine up to the
middle of October that strawberries were gathered out of doors,
and migratory birds passed on without halting. .

Nov. 9th.—A Guillemot seized a hook baited with a herring,
from the Yarmouth pier, and was hauled up alive (Patterson).
10th.— Received a Pomatorhine Skua from Mr. Patterson. 16th.
—A Little Auk was picked up on Overstrand beach by Mr. Cole,
and about the same time three others were procured at Cley, and
one at Yarmouth. Mr. Pashley had a Fork-tailed Petrel, and
Mr. Smith another from the Bure Marshes on the 2lst; two
Glaucous Gulls and three Little Gulls were shot about the 24th,
but two of them were lost. These “ waifs and strays’”’ were due
probably to the tremendous weather which at that date cost
many lives and the loss of nearly £100,000 worth of fishing-gear
at Yarmouth alone. Undoubtedly the gales were the cause
of many buffeted and half-starved Guillemots, Puffins and Razor-
bills being washed up dead at Cley, Cromer and Caister, and
amongst them on the 23rd a young Black Guillemot which was
sent alive to Norwich.

Dec. 4th—Mr. Lowne received a very large russet-coloured
female Snipe from Caister, answering to Gould’s Gallinago
russata, but from the white of the under parts being less exten-
sive than is usually the case, it might be a hybrid between the
Common Snipe and Gallinago major. He brought it to Norwich,
where Mr. Southwell examined it, and I compared it from
memory with a very curious Snipe which was shot in 1886 and
shortly described at the time (Zool. 1886, p. 392). 9th.—A
hybrid, tame-bred, between a Greenfinch and a Mountain
Finch, which was exhibited at the Norwich Show, showed no
trace of the Brambling in its plumage; another evidence that the
parentage of hybrids taken in a wild state is not always to be
judged by their colour. This cross must be very rare, as it has
not been noticed by Mr. Macpherson in his remarks on ‘‘ Hybrid
Finches” (Trans. Norfolk Nat. Soe. iv. p. 867). Several hybrids
between Goldfinch and Bullfinch were also exhibited, as well as
a white Redpoll with a crimson forehead, one of the most beautiful
varieties I remember to have seen,

( 91 )

NOTES ON THE ORNITHOLOGY OF OXFORDSHIRE,
1892 anp 1898.

By Ouiver V. Apuin.

Where no other locality is mentioned, these notes refer to
the parish of Bloxham.

1892.

Jan. 24th.—After severe weather, with snow and frosts most
of the month, the weather became mild about this date. A Chaf-
finch sang both parts of his song many times, but both parts much
curtailed. Afterwards heard from Mr. Fowler that Chaffinches
were heard at Swansea the same morning. 80th.—Flock of Ring
Doves, a hundred at least, in clover lea at Barford. 31st.—Yellow
Bunting and Linnet singing. Received news from Mr. A. W. S.
Fisher, Winchester College, that he saw on Jan. Ist, in a small
spinney near Godstow, one mile and a half from Oxford, a small
hawk, with pointed wings and a long narrow tail, fly out of a tree.
It flew over his and his brother’s heads and settled on a tree
further on. The sun was low and shining full on the hawk’s belly
as it flew about thirty or forty feet above their heads, and its under
plumage appeared to both of them to be black, no bars or markings
being visible. He afterwards identified it at the Museum as Falco
vespertinus. Also had news from Mr. W. M. Foster-Melliar that
he had heard of a Peregrine Falcon being shot at Rousham. It
was believed to have come after the flocks of Ring Doves at
Tackley Heath. |

Feb. 3rd.— Examined at Mr. Wyatt’s a local pied Blackbird,
recently received—a very old glossy black male, with brilliant
orange bill, head much and rather evenly mottled with pure white ;
the only other white about it was on one or two feathers about
the under tail-coverts and thighs. I think that, after the head,
the thighs are the parts which most commonly show white.
13th.—Put up a covey of Red-legged Partridges, and afterwards
watched them for some time in the middle of a ploughed field.
They were evidently pairing and were very noisy, calling loudly,
“chuck chuck chuckar, chuckar-chuck.” Grey Partridges have
been paired since the last few days of January. 20th.—Still
great numbers of Wood Pigeons on the clover.

March 12th.—Red-legged Partridges paired. Found to-day

99 THE ZOOLOGIS'T.

the remains of a Missel Thrush and a Wood Pigeon killed and
eaten by a hawk on the banks of the Swere; this makes two of
the former and three of the latter which I have found there lately.
138th.—Very cold weather again. Saw some boys walk across
the ice on a pond. Peewits on the fallows for the first time.
16th.—Mild again. Blackbird singing. 19th.—Saw a Chiffchaff
catching gnats in a very sheltered spot. Afterwards had news
from Mr. Fowler that he saw one on the 18th on the sheltered .
side of a wood at Kingham; also that it was reported from
Oxford on the 20th. On the 23rd I saw two close together,
and on the 26th I noticed four along the parish brook within
a dozen yards of one another, while a fifth sang at a little
distance; this was the first I heard. In ‘The Field’ of the
19th, Mr. J. G. Cornish, referring to a note in the previous
week’s issue of a Thrush singing from the top of the Warden of
Keble’s House, which used to sing on a pine in front of the
Museum, says that Oxford is the only town he knows in which
Blackbirds and Thrushes sing from the tops of houses.’ He
attributes it to the fact of the nesting sites being so close to the
houses; the habit is not uncommon there. A Thrush, he said,
sang at that date from the roof of Hertford College, and Black-
birds not infrequently sang from gable ends of villas in the north
of Oxford. 25th.—Examined, at Mr. Wyatt’s shop in Banbury,
a pair of Long-eared Owls, sent to him from Chipping Norton on
the 21st. The male was a very grey bird; the female warm
brown, and slightly larger. He said the eggs in the ovary were
quite small. 26th.—Saw two male Wheatears, and a pair, in the
arable fields north-east of the village. The former were very pure
grey, with distinct black head-marks. The buff underneath was
only developed on the throat and upper breast, and I think this
is generally so in our early, or small, spring birds. I saw a pair
on April 24th on a fallow; and on May 10th I observed a very
large Wheatear (male, grey on upper parts), doubtless one of the
large race of late migrants. It frequently settled, after being
disturbed, on the top of a fairly tall hedge, and never on the
ground, though the turf was very short. The Wheatear does not
breed here, save very exceptionally. At Kingham, in the afternoon
(March 26th), Mr. Fowler and I saw, in the Evenlode meadows,
a flock of Redwings containing, I should think, quite two or three
hundred birds; they were very noisy. One apart in a tall hedge

NOTES FROM OXFORDSHIRE. 93

sang his “trui trui trui,” but not very full. A flock of fifty or
sixty Meadow Pipits in a meadow (some little parties at Bloxham
in the morning); when flushed they, or most of them, settled in
trees for a few minutes, which a recent writer says they never do.
- 27th.—Kingham; another little flock of Meadow Pipits. The
migration of this bird must be in full swing.

April 8rd.—Put up a Jack Snipe at my feet from a ditch
running into the Sorbrook. 10th.—Redstarts have arrived in
some numbers. (On May Ist I noted that they were in greater
abundance than ever; ‘this bird seems to arrive in steadily in-
creasing numbers each year.) Being over the borders, in
Warwickshire, below Edgehill, on April 2nd, to see the Parlia-
mentary Steeple‘Chase, I noticed the Lesser Whitethroat in song
—a very early arrival; it appeared here on the 11th. On the
10th saw a pair of Barred Woodpeckers in some big alders on
the Sorbrook bank towards Broughton. ‘Tree Creeper in song.
16th.—Saw a White Wagtail in a sheep-fold. Peewit’s nest of
four hard-set eggs on ploughed field; nest merely a hollow with
a few short bits of flattened manure-straw. 18th.—A. White
Wagtail on the banks of the Cherwell at Bodicote. An old farmer's
widow, who formerly lived between here and Woodstock, knows
the Wryneck, and enquired of me lately if the ‘‘ Cuckoo’s mate”’
had arrived, describing its note at the same time. Now at the
present day the Wryneck is a rare bird in Oxon, and this is
further evidence of its comparative abundance years ago, which
I have mentioned before. 24th.—Common Sandpiper on the Sor-
brook near Broughton. A little flock of Meadow Pipits; this is
late for these passing migrants.

May 8rd.—Saw, at Mr. Bartlett’s, a Grey Shrike, apparently
adult; it showed a little white on the secondaries and a good
patch when the coverts were brushed aside a little; but the rump
and upper tail-coverts were wonderfully dark grey. It was sent
from Hook Norton on April llth, a late date for this bird to
occur in Oxon. “F. W.L.” records seeing four or five Barred
Woodpeckers in an elm near Norham Gardens, Oxford, early in
the morning of April 2nd. He has seen them in St. Giles in the
daytime (‘Oxford Times’); I am acquainted with this observer’s
name. A Bittern was shot in the Windrush in the early part of
March, and taken to Mr. Wells, of Burford (‘ Oxford Journal’),
7th,—Flocks of Fieldfares below Buttermilk Hall, near Barford,

94 THE ZOOLOGIST.

numbering one hundred at least. Mr. F.C. Aplin saw a flock at
Bodicote the same day. This is very late for them to be here in
numbers. 8th.—Flock ofa score or so of Fieldfares near Barford.
11th.—Listened to-night for some time to a Nightingale in the
lane leading from this village to Milton. It is now a good many.
years since one was heard in the parish. Curiously enough, I was
only talking about them to the present occupier of Wickham Farm
and Mill a few days before; he said they always used to have them
at Wickham years ago, and had an idea that the wet summer of
1879 killed them all; but it was before that date that they left
off visiting this parish. He rather startled me by saying—

“¢ A thorn in my nest
Disturbs my rest,’

that is what they say.” He said he had heard this rhyme all his
life, since he asked as a child why Nightingales sang at night, and
was answered thus. It seems a rather interesting local survival.
12th.—Heard a Whimbrel, which called as it passed over, going
N.N.E. at a great height apparently. This was at 9.30 p.m.,
wind calm, but had been easterly in the day, rather cloudy, and
full moon up about half-an-hour. These birds pass over here
pretty regularly at migration times, but very rarely alight.
13th.—Under this date Mr. Fowler writes from Oxford :—‘ This
morning I went to Marston Wood, where the number of Nightin-
gales was quite astonishing. Iam not surprised to hear of yours.
I really think they are increasing. We have one in the Parks.”
16th.—A Bodicote mason, who knew all about the former
abundance of the Nightingale at Bodicote about five-and-twenty
years ago, told Mr. F. C. Aplin to-day that there was one about
a mile from the village, where the latter subsequently heard it.
21st.—Green Woodpecker’s nest about fifteen feet up in the trunk
of an elm between here and Milcombe. On account partly of the
abundance of timber on that side of the parish, and partly of the
numerous ant-hills on Milcombe Gorse, close at hand, these birds
are really common here. ‘The Vicar of Milcombe showed me a
Goldcrest’s nest in his garden, and told me he had half-a-dozen
pairs of Goldfinches about. This is another bird which has
increased considerably of late years. I donot consider it at all an
uncommon thing to see two or three pairs in a summer's day now.
A day or two after this there were two males in song in a small

NOTES FROM OXFORDSHIRE. 95

apple-orchard at Little Barford. To return to Green Wood-
peckers, I may state that on the same day that I found the pair
nesting we saw, in the afternoon, one bird, and heard others in
the distance ; this was while merely walking across the few fields
which divide the villages. 25th—Mr. F. C. Aplin saw, not far
from Balscote (at the point where the lane from Shutford cuts
into the Stratford road), a pair of birds which could only have
been Wood Larks. Described as being smaller than Sky Larks,
very short and “dumpy” in shape, and having a remarkably
large crest, and the brown plumage distinctly marked on the
shoulders and sides of body with narrow whitish marks. They
were on a low flat-topped wall bordering a line of plantation.

June 18th.—I went to Kingham, to see the Marsh Warblers
which Mr. Fowler has already written upon (Zool. 1892, p. 303),
and on this and the following day heard and saw a good deal of
them. Sedge Warblers and one Reed Warbler also inhabited the
osier-bed, and I may add now that in 1893 (the osiers having been
cut in the spring) Mr. Fowler found one or two pairs of Grass-
hopper Warblers in possession; the osier-bed has therefore held
four species of River or Swamp Warblers. 19th.—In Bruern
Wood we heard a Nightingale in good song between 12 and 1 p.m.
Garden Warblers common aud especially noticeable. Observed
Wood Wren in the oaks, and others in Churchill Heath Wood.
80th.—Examined a young Hawfinch caught this month before it
could fly, in a garden at Neithrop, Banbury. I afterwards saw a
young bird in the flesh, shot at the Elms, Banbury, on July 26th,
where others, old and young, had been seen.

July 14th.—Mr. Darbey, of Oxford, assured me he had cased
up the nest and eggs of a Marsh Warbler, taken from a laurel-
bush at Wolvercote this summer. Mr. Darbey knows the nest
and eggs of the Reed Warbler well; these eggs had larger and
more distinct blotches. I have not yet been able to examine the
specimens. 15th.—Observed a female Red-backed Shrike close
to their old haunt near the brickyard on the road from Broughton
to Banbury ; it had just impaled a yellow-banded bumble-bee ;
indeed the Shrike was in the act when I caught sight of her.
30th.—Saw a pair of Red-backed Shrikes, with young on the
wing, in a small close with tall hedges just outside the village.
They were still there two days later, and it is curious that the
old birds escaped notice before; but, until the hay-grass is cut,

96 THE ZOOLOGIST.

many of our fields afford birds perfect seclusion. These are the
first I have seen in this parish during six summers’ residence,
38lst.—Heard that there were several nests of the Hawfinch in
Cornbury Park and the adjoining parts of Wychwood Forest this
year. In the house I noticed the following local specimens :—
Scaup, 1868; Shoveller, male, Jan., 1871; Pochard; Golden-eye,
young male; also a female Harrier with no label, which, as far as I
could see (the case being in a bad light), was a Marsh Harrier.

August 2nd.—The Rev. J. Goodwin told me that one evening,
a day or two ago, he saw a Nightjar fly out of a tree at the edge
of Milcombe Gorse; he knows the bird well in Norfolk. Here
the Nightjar is a rather rare bird, but Milcombe Gorse is a
suitable locality for it, 12th.—Mr. Goodwin told me of a pair of
Barred Woodpeckers which hatched out in a hole in an old
Portugal laurel, which they had hewn out when a branch had
been blown off and the wood was rotten, in a garden at Swerford
this year; the young were seen running about the tree afterwards.
Early in July, while fishing in the Swere here, I saw a Barred
Woodpecker settle on a dead, barkless willow on the other side the
stream, and go into a hole. I crossed over, and as I approached
the tree the bird went out; it was either a female or a young bird.
The hole was neatly cut out, quite round, and about the width of
my two first fingers. As I had never examined the nest of this
bird, I could not resist the temptation of cutting it out. I found
it went down six or seven inches. At the bottom was some
touch-wood and one wing-feather of the bird. I can hardly think
breeding had not commenced, and I do not know if this species
rears two broods; perhaps the bird I saw was a young one going
in for shelter; it was late afternoon and very cold. As usual
with Woodpeckers’ nests, there was a quantity of chips below the
hole. 28th.—Observed a Common Sandpiper on the Cherwell at
Bodicote. The Swifts left on the 18th or 19th; they arrived on
May 7th, and have been exceptionally abundant this year.

I left England on Sept. 2nd, 1892, and did not return until
June 30th following. The notes relating to the period between
these dates have been, save when otherwise stated, collected by —
Mr. F. C. Aplin.

_ A Manx Shearwater, with a slight pink tint on breast, was shot
at Bodicote on Sept. 8rd. A Puffin was caught alive in the canal
at Banbury on Oct, 18th,

NOLES FROM OXIORDSHIRE, 97

1893.

March 28th.—The Cuckoo was reported by Mr. W. Wyatt,
of Banbury (who ought not to be mistaken), as heard by him
on this date. I confess I am not myself an unhesitating
believer in March Cuckoos. Swifts arrived on May 8rd, and were
numerous the next day. A Nightingale sang for about a fortnight
early in May, 1893, in the Bodicote Vicarage gardens; the Vicar
believed there were two. One took up its quarters in the Blox-
ham-gate Spinney, on the Bloxham Grove estate, as the owner
informed me. Formerly they were heard there annually, but this
is the first which has been heard since 1874. Mr. T. Bennet, of
Deddington, tells me that there were again some (as there have
been for the last few years) on the south side of that place. Some
have been heard also at Milcombe this year, as the Vicar informs
me. I have recently examined a Nightingale’s egg of the Blue-
throat type, which was taken from a nest of four eggs at Islip on
May 5th, 1893. I have previously noted the occurrence of this
type in Oxfordshire (vide Zool. 1892, p. 245). Mr. M. Foster-
Melliar saw three Wild Swans (doubtless Whoopers, with which
the observer is acquainted) on the flood in a large meadow known
as Bestmoor, North Aston, on Jan. 24th, 1898 (in litt.). A Dipper
was reported to Mr. Fowler as seen on more than one occasion in
mid-August, 1893, on the banks of the Cherwell, in the Oxford
“Parks”; and he had information from another friend which put
the matter beyond doubt. For an account of the Marsh Warbler
breeding at Kingham, see Mr. Fowler’s note (Zool. 1898, p. 308).
I received reliable information that, during the severe frost of
1890-91, a man who had been along the Cherwell with his gun
returned with no less than sixteen Kingfishers.

July 8th.—The Rev. J. Goodwin told me he had seen two
pairs of Red-backed Shrikes at Milcombe this summer. One
night, ahout the third week in this month, I heard Godwits
passing in a south-westerly direction over Bodicote.

Aug. 5th.—Saw a male Red-backed Shrike, much excited, in
the same small close in which I saw a pair last year. The bulk of
the Swifts departed on the 10th or 11th, and I did not see even a
straggler after that date.

Sept. Ist.—Partridges exceptionally abundant, strong on the

ZOOLOGIST, THIRD SERIES, VOL. XVIII.—MARCH, 1894. I

98 THE ZOOLOGIST.

wing and wild, and in some cases reported as “packed.” 16th.—A
good many Meadow Pipits about.

Oct. 1st.—A Chiffchaff in song in the early morning, and a
Chaffinch singing, imperfectly. It has been a “Quail year.”
A nest of eggs was found near Deddington, as Mr. T. Bennet
informs me, and I have seen an egg from another taken at
Otmoor, near Islip, on May 22nd. Mr. Bennet tells me also of
one or two killed early in September at Deddington. Mr. W.
Warriner shot one in a cabbage-field at Adderbury on Sept. 30th.
and one is recorded in ‘ The Field’ as having been killed in the
early part of October by a brother of the recorder, who lived near
Banbury. In the same newspaper (Nov. llth), Mr. W. Kinch

records that seven were shot in the parish of Deddington in the

second week of September. Swallows and Martins took their
departure rather early. I could see none at Kingham or Bloxham
on the 9th; and none at Oxford (where they usually stay so late) on
the 18th. 2]st.—Saw a Turtle Dovel; late. 22nd.—Saw a Barred
Woodpecker. Received information from a friend, who knows all
our common birds well, of a little party of birds seen on a bare
barley-stubble, which, from his description of their appearance and
note, must have been Twites. I searched the field a day or two after-
wards, but could not find them. I have no authentic record of
the appearance of the Twite here. 28th.—Saw a Pied Wood-
pecker between here and Barford; and a small hawk, which I am
pretty sure was a Merlin. 29th.—Disturbed a Turtle Dove,
drinking at the brook here; as it was not two yards off when it
rose, and in its hurry entangled itself for a few seconds in the
tall thin hedge on the other bank, I had a good view of it. This
is a very late date for it to be here; but it does not seem very
unnatural, for honeysuckles, single and double dahlias, heliotrope,
geraniums, auriculas, nasturtiums, sunflowers, stocks, canariensis,
roses, and other flowers were blooming in the gardens, and a dish
of raspberries was gathered the week before in the adjoining
parish.

Noy. 7th.—Saw Fieldfares. 18th.—Severe snowstorm from
the north, of the ‘‘ blizzard”’ order, and very severe frost at night ;

a man frozen to death near Wardington. More snow next day, but

rain and thaw at night. Nevertheless on the following day some
of the lanes were impassable, and had to be dug out, and remains
of the drifts were to be seen until Dec. 8th in sheltered ditches.

aX ———eEOoEeEeEeEeEeEeEeEOeEeEeEeEeEeEeEeEEeE—————E

———- SE _—s-

NOTES FROM OXFORDSHIRE. 99

27th.—Received from Mr. Fowler an immature Puffin, which had
been picked up a few days before in a swede-field at Stonesfield,
and died on the 25th; another was caught in Banbury about the
same date.

Dec. 8th.—News from Mr. Fowler of a Great Crested Grebe,
apparently immature, shot on the Isis, just below Oxford, and
brought to him. 9th.—Large flocks of Fieldfares here now,
which are making short work of the abundant and well-ripened
crops of haws. 10th.—News from Mr. Sutton A. Davies, Win-
chester College, of a Snow Bunting, showing a good deal of white,
which was shot at Goddington, near the north-eastern boundary
of the county, on or about the 5th inst., and sent to him in the
flesh. The Snow Bunting is a very rare visitor to Oxfordshire.

The North Newington Sparrow Club destroyed during the past
year 2906 birds and 1328 eggs. In four years 10,300 birds and
4700 eggs. There are also Clubs at Shutford, Adderbury, Milton,
and Deddington. The damage done by Sparrows to ripening
corn and thatched buildings in this neighbourhood of late years
has been enormous. |

In October some Rooks came to three or four elm-trees on
the outskirts of the village and built three nests, but I do not
think they laid eggs. No Rooks have been known to breed there
before. Some rook-trees between here and Milcombe have been
recently cut down, and the birds, now forced to find new quarters,
may have belonged to that colony. October was very warm. In
‘The Field’ of Nov. 11th, a correspondent, writing from Charl-
bury, stated that about three weeks before two pairs of Rooks
began building there, completed their nests, and began sitting.
Subsequently he saw one bird feeding the other on the nest. There
were no other Rooks’ nests there, the nearest rookery being
a quarter of a mile off, at Cornbury Park. At Sarsden two or
three nests were built, and in one of them young birds were
actually hatched and fed until they were well grown; but it is
believed they perished in the severe weather which set in on
Nov. 18th.

12

100 THE ZOOLOGIST.

THE MARTEN IN IRELAND.
By tHe Eprror.

WHEN discussing the question whether there is more than
one species of Marten in the British Islands (Zool. 1891, p. 403),
we pointed out that the elder Macgillivray, who had good oppor-
tunities for examining specimens in Scotland, came to the con-
clusion that the young animals have yellow throats, and are the
‘Pine Martens” of authors; while in old individuals the fore
part of the neck and breast are white, or greyish white, or pale
grey mottled with brownish. The Irish naturalist, William
Thompson, of Belfast, arrived at similar conclusions, remarking
that all the native specimens which had come under his own
notice were yellow-breasted,* with the exception of one, which
had the breast white, and was killed in the Co. Antrim. He
had, moreover, observed that the yellow colour gave place to
white with advancing age, and explained the greater number
of yellow-breasted specimens obtained by their comparative
immaturity.

It remains to be proved whether, as is likely, Martes sylvatica,
Nilsson, is the only species of Marten indigenous to Ireland; but
there is no doubt that the animal was at one time comparatively
common there, particularly in the north and west, since a
lucrative trade in Marten skins was formerly carried on.

Writing on Irish mammals in 1857, the late Sir William
Wilde remarked}:— “The Marten formerly abounded in our
woods, and a few still exist in some localities where portions
of the ancient forests remain, among which I may specify Ballykyne,
near Cong, Co. Mayo, and Kylemore, Connemara, Co. Galway.”

To these localities might be added the woods and crags near
Loughs Mask and Corrib in Mayo and Galway. Martens were
also formerly common on the borders of Clare and Galway,
where they were preserved in the woods on the estate of Raheen

* This remark has been confirmed by other observers, e. g., see Eyton,
Ann. Nat. Hist. 1840, p. 290. In 1870 Mr. Glennon, the taxidermist of
Dublin, received for preservation no less than thirteen Martens from
different parts of Ireland, not one of which had a white breast (Zool. 1870,
p. 2282). See also ‘ The Field,’ March 18th, 1874.

+ In museum specimens the yellow colour of the throat fades so much as
to become at length hardly perceptible.

{ Proc. Roy. Irish Acad, vol, vii. p. 194,

THE MARTEN IN IRELAND. 101

Tomgraney, Co. Clare, by the English proprietor, who, about 1860,
had purchased the property in the Encumbered Estates Court.

In former times the Marten was much sought after for the
sake of its fur, as we have already had occasion to remark
(Zool. 1891, p. 404), and this no doubt has contributed to its
gradual extinction in parts of the country where it was once
common.

In the 16th century it appears that Marten skins formed an
important article of commerce in Ulster. Peter Lombard, who
died in 1625, mentions the wild animals, including the Wolf and
Wild Boar, which were common at that period in Ulster, and
adds “‘ preecipue Martes quorum pelles plurimum estimantur.’*

In Charles the First’s time Lord Deputy Strafford, in a letter
to Archbishop Laud, dated Dublin, 27th November, 1638, wrote :—

* Before Christmas your lordship shall have all the Marten skins I could
-get either for love or money since my coming forth of England, yet not to
the number I intended. The truth is that as the woods decay, so do the
Hawks and Martens of this kingdom. But in some woods I have, my
purpose is by all means to set up a breed of Martens; a good one of these
is as much worth as a goood wether, yet neither eats so much or costs so
much attendance; but then the Pheasants must look well to themselves,
for they tell me these vermin [7. e. Martens] will hunt and kill them notably.
Perchance you think now I learn nothing going up yonder amongst them
into the forests and rocks.” +

At one time, in all probability the Marten must have been
generally distributed throughout Ireland, but as civilisation has
extended inland from the east and south, and as woods have been
cut down, and the country opened up by railways, drainage, and
cultivation, so has this animal been gradually driven into the
wilder portions of the north and west.

The following statistics, gleaned from a variety of sources,
will convey some idea of its past and present distribution.

ULSTER.

Co. Donrcau.—Mr. R. Patterson, of Belfast, writes that about
1880 one was caught in a rabbit-trap at Horn Head, and another
at the Ards; in 1884, two near Ballyshannon; and “some years
ago,’ two near Glenties; others seen at Glen Veigh, and Lough

* ‘De regno Hibernie Insula Sanctorum.’
+ Strafford’s ‘ Letters and Despatches ’ (1688), vol. ii. p. 249.

102 THE ZOOLOGIST. ~

Esk. In September, i883, a Marten was killed not far from the
town of Donegal. Mr. Chichester Hart saw one at Glenalla in
1879, and thought that the species was then certainly decreasing
(Zool. 1880, p. 18). He added that it is invariably known as
Madaidh crainn, i.e., tree-dog, and not Cat crainn (a name he
never heard). Mr. R. Patterson writes that, about twenty-five
years ago, a pair made their home in the thatch of an outhouse
near Coxtown. |

Co. LonponperRy.—Castle Dawson and Toome Bridge are
localities in this county mentioned by Thompson as former
haunts of the Marten prior to 1852, and in all probability, when
writing this note, Thompson had in view the specimen in the
Belfast Museum labelled ‘‘Toome Bridge,” which, however, is
in Antrim.

Co. Antrim.—In the Belfast Museum there is a specimen
labelled “‘Toome Bridge, Co. Antrim,” May, 1851. Another
was killed at Glenarm in 1866. In 1871 a third was taken at
Shane’s Castle, and in June, 1887, a fourth, a male, was obtained
at Cookstown. Other localities in Antrim mentioned by Thompson
are Glenariff; Shanes Castle Park; vicinity of Larne; Tullamore
Lodge; Castle Dobbs; and Malone House, within four miles of
Belfast. At the last-mentioned place a pair of Martens were
discovered, he says, in possession of a Magpie’s nest. Similar
cases occurred in Belvoir Park, and Tollymore Park, Co. Down.*
Mr. R. Patterson reports one seen at Benvarden, and one (perhaps
the same) caught at Portglenone, in March, 1893; another caught
at ‘Templepatrick, in May, 1893; and, in the same year, one at
Glenarm.

Co. Tyronet.—In 1870 one was caught at Moy.

Co. FrermManacu.—In this county, according to Thompson
(Nat. Hist. Ireland, vol. iv. p. 9), the Marten has been met with
at Florence Court. This was prior to 1852.

Co. Monacuan.—No records.

Co. Armacu.—Prior to 1852 Thompson noted that the
Marten had been met with in Lord Gosford’s demesne, as well as
at ‘l'andragee, and at Churchill, where it has been again met with.

Co. Down.—Amongst former haunts of the Marten in this
county, noted by Thompson prior to 1852, may be mentioned

* The Marten has been known also to take possession of a Rook’s nest
cf. ‘The Field,’ April 4th, 1874). |

THE MARTEN IN IRELAND. 103

Hillsborough Park; Tollymore Park; Donard Lodge; and
Belvoir Park, where a Marten inflicted a severe bite on the hand
of a boy who unexpectedly found it in the nest of a Magpie.
Examples have been trapped in the demesnes of Lord Roden
and Lord Annesley, at Castlewellan, and two were taken some
years ago at Ballynahinch, Monteith (Mr. Kerr). These were
both dark brown with yellow throats. In 1882 a Marten was
trapped at Castle Ward, near Downpatrick; and in January,
1886, another (a male) was killed at Warren Point. In 1884
Martens were seen between Bangor and Donaghadee.

Mr. Sheals, taxidermist, of Belfast, reported that in April,
1891, a large male Marten was trapped by Major Maxwell’s
keeper at Finnebrogue, Downpatrick (Zool. 1891, p. 304); and
Mr. Robert Patterson reported that in October of the same
year another was killed by Lord Roden’s keeper, at Bryansford,
near Newcastle. This was a male, which measured 28 inches
from tip of nose to end of tail, and weighed 33 lbs. Amidst the
wild and broken ground of the Mourne Mountains in this
county, the Marten will probably for some time yet to come defy
the efforts of its would-be exterminators.

Co. Cavan.—No records.

LEINSTER.

Co. Lonerorp.—Prior to 1852 a Marten was taken at
Carrickfergus.

Co. Mratu.—No records.

Co. Loutu.—No records.

Co. WestmeatH.—No records.

Co. Kinpare.—No records.

Co. Dusiin.—Dr. John Rutty, in his ‘ Natural History of the
County of Dublin,’ 2 vols. 8vo, 1772, states that “the Martern, or
Marteron, vulgo Marten, is found at Lutterel’s town, that it
destroys rabbets and poultry, and is almost as mischievous as a
fox” (vol. i. p. 281).

Co. Wicktow.—Mr. H. Chichester Hart reported that a
Marten was killed at Luggielaw in 1865, and another at Avon-
dale in 1872 (Zool. 1880, p. 18). The latter, which had been
trapped and had a broken leg, was sent by Mr. Hart to the
Dublin Zoological Society, but died on the journey. The
occurrence of the Marten in Wicklow has been noted also on the

104 THE ZOOLOGIST.

authority of Mr. A. B. Brooke, of Colebrook, Co. Fermanagh.
One killed by him in this county in March, 1870, measured 28 in.
from tip of nose to end of tail, and weighed 2 lbs. 12 oz. (Zool.
1870, p. 2282); this proved to be a doe with three young.

Kine’s County.—No records.

QuEEN’s County.—No records.

Co. Cartow.—No records. :

Co. Kinxenny.—Sir R. Payne Gallwey, in his ‘ Fowler in
Ireland’ (p. 326), mentions the woods of Desart in this county as
a former haunt of the Marten.

Co. Wexrorp.—In 1876, as reported by Mr. R. Patterson,
at least four were killed at Stokestown; and in 1881, a female
Marten and two young ones were taken at Oaklands. - Mr.
C. B. Moffat, writing to ‘The Irish Sportsman’ on June 4th,
1892, stated that the survival of the Marten in this county had
been conclusively proved by his friend Mr. Arthur Ruttledge,
of Coolbawn Cottage, near Killanne, Enniscorthy, who, on the
first of May, he says, ‘‘ was fortunate enough to take in one of
his traps a handsome specimen, which he immediately forwarded
to the Zoological Gardens in Dublin. Mr. Ruttledge informed
me that this capture was quite accidental, there having been no
suspicion of such a creature’s presence until it was found a
prisoner in a trap that had been set for rabbits. I consider
that this fact much enhances the interest of the capture,
suggesting as it does with what ease so wary and wild an animal
may exist (even in the vicinity of poultry-yards, sheep-folds, and
game-preserves) without attracting attention to its presence,
unless by such a mishap as has befallen Mr. Ruttledge’s victim.
That relations of the captive Marten still haunt the woods
about Coolbawn and other places at no great distance cannot be
doubtful.”

To this communication the editor of ‘The Irish Sportsman ’
appended the following note :—

“There are several districts not far from the bounsaaall
of the County Wexford where the Marten still exists in some
numbers, and we believe that the animal in question was rather —
a straggler to the Co. Wexford from one of these more favoured
localities than a resident in the county. It is said that the
Marten is an animal which is very readily trapped, and that if it
exists in a locality where rabbit+traps are used, it is certain to be

THE MARTEN IN IRELAND. 105

caught; indeed, we have read that the use of rabbit-traps is the
principal, if not the sole cause of the extermination of the
Marten in some parts of Great Britain.”

MUNSTER.

Co. CLarE.—On the estate of Raheen Tomgraney, in this
county, about 1860, Martens were considered fairly common, and
were protected by the English proprietor, who had purchased
the property in the Encumbered Estates Court.

Mr. J. F. Darling, writing from Clonakilty, Co. Cork, in
1888, forwarded the measurements of one that had been captured
in the Co. Clare in that year, and which weighed 2 lbs. 5 oz.*
(Zool. 1888, p. 252). It measured, from tip of nose to end of
tail, 29 in.; length of head, 42 in.; tail, 12 in.; ditto to end
of caudal vertebre, 8} in.; fore limb, from head of humerus to
end of claws, 63 in. ; hind limb, similarly measured, 83 in.

Co. Trpprrary.—In the woods about Clonmel (Thompson).

Co. Limericx.—No records.

Co. Krerry.—In the neighbourhood of Killarney, more espe-
cially near Lough Carragh, still fairly numerous. In 1856 no
less than ten were trapped on the Lansdowne estate. In April,
1877, Lord Kenmare’s keeper at Killarney spoke of trapping
Martens there as no uncommon thing, and mentioned 7s. 6d.
as the usual price he got for the skins (Zool. 1877, p. 292). In
1882 they were reported to be still fairly numerous about Lough
Carragh. In ‘Land and Water’ of July 30th, 1892, a cor-
respondent, signing himself ‘‘ Cloonee,” wrote :—‘‘ At a shooting
I rented some years ago, in the wilds of Co. Kerry, Martens were
very common in the dense rocky mountain woods, and we used
to trap numbers of them, but I never saw one in a tree, although
my dogs have put up plenty in the close covert. I found the best
plan of trapping them was to tether a young live rabbit to about
18 inches of string fastened to a peg, and place four strong steel
traps around it, lightly buried under the grass, and secured by
chains to other pegs, being careful not to touch the traps with
the naked hand. ‘The result was that we frequently secured one

* Mr. H. A. Macpherson, in his ‘ Fauna of Lakeland’ (p. 24), states
that the average weight of a male Marten is from 4 to 5 lbs. One caught at
Glenarm, Co. Antrim, in 1885, weighed 5 lbs.

106 THE ZCOLOGIST.

or more Martens; but as their habitat was in a wild place, a long
way from our lodge, we did not often set the traps. I wrote the
other day to the agent of the property to enquire if he could
procure me some young ones alive; but he replied that they have
no keepers there now, and no trapping appliances, so I should say
that Martens in that country are as plentiful, if not more nume-
rous, than they were at the time to which I allude—some fifteen
years ago.”

Co. Corx.—According to Dr. R. Ball, the Marten has been
met with near Youghal, and Dr. Harvey, in his ‘ Fauna of Cork,’
mentions Barry’s Court, Dunmanaway, and the woods near
Bandon, as localities in which it has also occurred.

Co. WaTERFoRD.—About 1850, according to Mr. Ussher, three
blind newly-born Martens were taken in the roof of a summer-
house at Cappagh, and the mother was subsequently caught.
Another was taken the same year at Colligan, and a pair occupied
the thatch of a summer-house at Meadborough.

CONNAUGHT.

Co. Mayo.—Mr. W. C. Horsfall, writing from Tourmakeady,
Ballinrobe, Co. Mayo, in April, 1874, stated that in his woods,
- about twelve miles from Castlebar, he had known several instances
of the occurrence of the Marten (‘ The Field,’ April 11th, 1874) ;
and Mr. W. Garnett, in 1882, reported its occurrence at Castlebar.
Sir Wm. Wilde, as above noted (p. 100), has testified to its former
abundance about Ballykyne, near Cong.

Co. Sitigo.— There is a specimen in the Belfast Museum which
was received from Hazlewood, in this county, in 1845; and
several have been killed near Sligo, two in 1887 (one in May,
the other in August), and another in Nov., 1888. Col. Whyte
also has furnished independent testimony as to the occurrence
of the Marten in this county. On June 10th, 1876, he published
the following remarks in ‘ The Field’:—‘‘I often see lamenta-
tions over the destruction of wild animals, and the Marten’ Cat
mentioned as one that is almost extinct. About a fortnight since,
the keeper on a distant mountain reported to me that he had
found the feathers of several Grouse, destroyed by vermin. I
gave him half-a-dozen traps, and desired him to bring me the
animals or their skins. I received to-day (June 5th) the eleventh
Marten Cat, some of them being of immense size. Now, as this

THE MARTEN IN IRELAND. 107

mountain was severely trapped last season, and these animals
have strayed from certain woods belonging to my neighbours, it
does not appear to me that there is much fear of the animal
becoming extinct; and if any of the gentlemen who lament the
probability would like to procure a few specimens to turn into
their own coverts, I shall be happy to put them in the way of
doing so.” But this was written eighteen years ago. We have
seen a specimen preserved in the collection of Mr. Borrer, of
Cowfold, Horsham, which was sent to him by Col. Cooper, of
Markree Castle, Sligo.

Co. Lerrrima.—The occurrence of the Marten in this county
has been noted on the authority of the late Col. J. Whyte, of
Sligo (cf. ‘The Field,’ June 10th, 1876). In the Belfast Museum,
where several specimens of the Marten are preserved, is one
which was procured in this county in 1881. Martens used often
to be seen at Glenfarne.

Co. Roscommon.—No records.

Co. Gatway.— At Kylemore, Connemara, according to Sir

Wm. Wilde (Proc. Roy. Irish Acad. vol. viii. p. 194), the Marten
was formerly abundant, as it was also around Lough Corrib, and
at Ballynahinch.

Of late years its chief enemies have been game-preservers
and their keepers, who seldom or never lose an opportunity of
trapping or shooting it. Nevertheless it is gratifying to know
that, notwithstanding this persecution, there are still many wild
districts in Ireland where Martens may hold their own for many
years to come.

For any additions to this list of Irish localities for the Marten
the Editor will be grateful. It is remarkable that in the first two
series of ‘ The Zoologist’ (1843—1876) not a single note is to be
found on the subject of the Marten in Ireland.

In a future number it is proposed to give some information
respecting the life-history, food, and habits of this animal, and
to notice some interesting facts concerning it of which no
mention has been made in the standard work on British
Quadrupeds.

108 THE ZOOLOGIST.

NOTES AND QUERIES.

An Egg of the Great Auk. — There was considerable excitement
amongst ornithologists and oologists in London on Feb. 22nd, when an egg
of the Great Auk, Alca impennis, was offered for sale by auction at the
well-known sale-rooms of Mr. Stevens in King Street, Covent Garden. This
egg, which formerly belonged to Yarrell, was purchased by him with other
eggs for a trifling sum at Boulogne, about 1838, and while in his possession
was figured by Hewitson in his standard work on British Birds-eggs. After
Yarrell’s death, in 1856, it was sold for £21 at Stevens’s Sale-rooms, and
through the intervention of a dealer, became the property of the late
Frederick Bond, in whose beautiful collection of eggs it remained for
something like twenty years, until upon the sale of his collection, in 1875,
it passed into the possession of Baron Louis d’Hamonville, who bought
the entire collection, and by whom it has now been once more offered for
sale. An egg with so good a pedigree, and so well known to English
collectors, many of whom must have seen it while in Bond’s collection,
was not likely to exchange hands for a trifle. Mr. Stevens, after reminding
those present at the sale that the last egg of the Great Auk sold by him in
1888 realized £225, opened the biddings at one hundred pounds. £110
was quickly offered, and the biddings, mounting up by ten guineas at a
time, eventually reached the exorbitant sum of three hundred guineas
(£315), at which price it was declared to have been purchased by Sir
Vauncey Crewe, Bart., of Calke Abbey, Derbyshire, whose name will be
familiar to many readers of this Journal.

MAMMALIA.

Habits of the Otter.—Referring to the Editor's interesting article on
this animal in ‘ The Zoologist’ for February, 1894, I would point out that
the ‘‘ nests” constructed by the Otters amongst the reed-beds are really not
“peculiar to the district referred to.” When observing birds in certain
marshes in West Jutland last May (18938), I came across “airs” or
“ nests” of Otters, formed in reed- or cane-brakes, precisely similar to those __
described by Mr. Southwell and referred to by the Editor (p. 48). These
nests did, in fact, much resemble those of Coots, except that they weremuch
larger, and, if my memory serves me correctly, I believe I saw similar
‘‘ Otter nests’ in the Outer Hebrides, on certain islets in the lochs, some
eleven years ago.— ALFRED C. CHapMaNn (Moor House, Leamside, Durham).

Food of the Otter.—<dpropos of the statements (pp. 7, 53) that the
Otter’s food consists not only of “ fish, flesh, and fowl,” but also of mollusca
and crustacea, the following quotation, from Messrs. Harvie Brown and

<< lhc mr Te

NOTES AND QUERIES. 109

Buckley’s ‘ Vertebrate Fauna of Argyll and the Inner Hebrides’ (p. 17), is
very much to the point :—* On the island of Soay, amongst many inhabited
holes of the Storm Petrel, a most interesting Otter’s resting-place was
discovered, and with a spade was laid open for inspection from end to end.
After cutting away the earthy peat and close turf of an almost cheese-like
consistency throughout the whole length of the tunnel, laying back carefully
each square or parallelogram of sod, we measured the length, and found it
just fifteen feet. The tunnel was in average size throughout about one foot
in diameter, except just at the far end, where it decreased to about four
inches. Here and there it was widened out into most evident circular or
oval chambers, and the sides and roof were smooth and glossy, rubbed and
polished by the passage to and fro of the animal's fur. The habitation had
a cunning and gradual incline upwards into the peat bank from the entrance.
The latter was simply an uneven, rough, grassy-edged and semi-concealed
doorway in the face of the peat slope. The passage led into and out of
these larger chambers over little ridges or elevations across the floor of the
passage. Though the walls of peat were damp, smooth, and glossy, and
even slimy to the touch throughout both passages and chambers, yet water
could not lie in the hole, unless just at the aforesaid ridges, which inter-
sected the entrances of the tunnel below each chamber. Near the entrance
of the hole, and about two to three feet from it, was evidently the family
*kitchen-midden’ of the Otters, consisting of a very considerable heap of
the domestic ‘rejectamenta,’ not less than five or six inches in height and
nine inches in width. This occupied a side chamber made to one side of
the tunnel. Harvie Brown gathered up a handful of this material, which
on examination was found to consist of fragments of shells of mollusca, and
upon a more minute examination afterwards, remains of fish, lobster-shells,
and the hair of some small mammal were identified. It is much to be
regretted that we did not have a photograph of the place taken on the spot,
laid open as it thus was to the light of day, and the internal economy of the
Otters’ home displayed.”

Food of the Badger.—On Jan. 18th we caught a Badger in a trap
with a Wood Pigeon in its mouth. I know that a Badger will take young
birds and rabbits, but I did not imagine that it could capture so wary a
bird as a full-grown Wood Pigeon.—(Sir) Joun Ditton (Bart.), (Lismullen,
Navan, Co. Meath).

Unusual abundance of the Bank Vole in 1893,—The remarks by
Mr. Oldfield Thomas in ‘The Zoologist’ for February (p. 54), on the
unusual abundance of the Bank Vole during the past year, have been to
some extent confirmed by my own experience in trapping near Macclesfield.
I commenced trapping about four months ago, October to February, and
during this period I found Mus sylvaticus decidedly the commonest species.
Next in order of frequency I found Microtus glareolus and (some way below

110 THE ZOOLOGIST.

in point of numbers) M. agrestis, of which I got very few. I have never —
caught anything but Mus sylvaticus in cold or stormy weather, which tends —
to show that this species is the hardiest. Since the commencement of the —
New Year, however, I have hardly had any Bank Voles in the traps, not —
more than two or three, while Mus sylvaticus is as plentiful as before.
Possibly the few nights we had of severe frost may have killed off the less
hardy Voles. I have also secured several Shrews, three specimens of Sorex

vulgaris, and one of S. pygymeus.— Newman Neave (Rainon, near Maccles- _

field).
BIRDS.

The Birds of Derbyshire.—A propos of the criticism of Mr. Whitlock’s
book, ‘The Birds of Derbyshire,’ which appeared in the last number
(p. 78], and of the reviewer's remark that he had not found any reference —
to the most important collection in that county, that of Sir Vauncey Crewe,
at Calke Abbey, the author writes to us as follows :—‘ With regard to the
Calke Abbey collection I can only say that the noble owner, for reasons,
which were no doubt quite competent, did not find it convenient to allow me
an opportunity for inspection. But while I regret the absence of Sir |
Vauncey Crewe’s notes, I did not feel called upon to indefinitely postpone —
its publication on this account alone. Moreover, it is inaccurate to state
that no mention is made of the Calke Abbey collection. As an instance,
T may quote the case of the Whiskered Tern, perhaps the most interesting
of all the accidental visitors to Derbyshire, particulars of which are given
on page 218.” After referring in some detail to other points in the review —
with which he is dissatisfied, and which we cannot find room to discuss, he
concludes with the remark that if, as the reviewer suggests, there are some
who may be able to give additional information relating to the avifauna of
the county, he will be very glad to receive their notes or criticism. a

Ornithological Notes from West Surrey.—I send the following notes
from my diary for 1893, in case they may prove of interest :—On January
3rd Mr. S. A. Davies saw a Bittern, Botaurus stellaris, in the water-
meadows at Hurtmore, Godalming. In this month a Pochard, Fuligula
ferina, appeared on the River Wey below Godalming, and remained several
days. Mallard and Teal were fairly plentiful throughout the frost in the
water-meadows. In February a small flock of Lesser Redpolls, Acanthis
rufescens, appeared in the alders below Godalming, and three were taken
by a local bird-catcher. In March large numbers of Ducks appeared in the
water-meadows between Godalming and Shalford. On March 31st Mr. ~
S. A. Davies saw a Buzzard of some species on a common near Elstead,
and on April 3rd I went with him to the place and saw a pair of
these birds. On April 10th I observed a pair of Geese in a meadow near
Catteshall ; they turned out to be Canada Geese which had escaped from

NOTES AND QUERIES. 111

confinement ; one was afterwards shot. On April 11th Mr. Davies saw a
pair of Green Sandpipers, Totanus ochropus, on migration near Elstead.
Nothing of special interest occurred during the summer months, but during
the first week in August we again saw several Green Sandpipers with
Common Sandpipers on migration; the latter were very common on our
river all this month. On Sept. 11th I went with Mr. Davies to a large
pond in the neighbourhood of Farnham, where, to my great surprise, I saw
a solitary Golden Plover, Charadrius pluvialis, among some Peewits, an
unusually early date for this species. We also saw a Greenshank, Totanus
canescens, feeding on the shores of the lake; this bird was very wary, but
with the aid of a glass we were able to identify it perfectly. On the 16th
we saw an unusually large “charm” of Goldfinches, quite forty or fifty
birds. On Sept. 20th I heard a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Picus minor.
On Oct. 9th the first winter Snipe arrived, and on the 17th the first Teal ;
both these species breed in the neighbourhood, and we have found the nests
within the last few years; they do not appear in the river valley in the
summer months. On the 17th the first Fieldfares arrived. On the 31st
a Kestrel, Falco tinnunculus, was found in a bedroom of our house. On
Nov. 5th I was surprised to see a Snipe sitting on a boundary stone; also
a Willow Wren or Chiffchaff, I am not sure which, as it was getting dusk
at the time. On the 6th the first Redwings arrived. On the 15th the
first Siskins, Chrysomitris spinus, arrived; five were taken by a bird-
catcher, and the others have been with us ever since in considerable num-
bers, feeding on the catkins of the alders; they may be seen clinging to
the twigs in every conceivable position, like Tits, and keeping up a low but
incessant twittering,—with them are a few Lesser Redpolls; and Gold-
finches, which seem very plentiful this autumn, consort with both species.
On Dec. 17th I saw five Snipe sitting on a rail, and on the 18th Mr. Davies
and I saw two Snipe perched on the top of an alder, quite 80 feet from the
ground.—R. S. Roserrson (Godalming).

Hybrid Sparrows.—The Rev. J. G. Tuck has recently forwarded for
my inspection a Sparrow which was shot with a number of others on
Jan. 13th, in a farm-yard near Bury St. Edmunds, and which he considered
to be a hybrid between Passer domesticus and Passer montanus. In this
opinion it is pretty evident he is right. The bird has the plumage of the
Tree Sparrow, but with only a faint indication of the black cheek-patch, and
has the crown almost grey, like that of the House Sparrow, while the beak
in size and form is intermediate between the two. Considering that the
Tree Sparrow is locally common, and the House Sparrow generally
abundant, such hybrids as this might be expected to occur frequently in a
state of nature. Possibly they do; but if so, they are rarely detected.

Several instances have been reported of the two species pairing in captivity.
_ One such case occurred in an aviary at the Zoological Society’s Gardens in

112 ; THE ZOOLOGIST.

1880, though the eggs were not hatched. Another and more successful
instance was noted at Norwich, where a young hybrid was reared and is
now preserved in the collection of Mr. J. H. Gurney. But I have not
hitherto met with more than one reported case of such a hybrid occurring
in a wild state. This one is mentioned by Mr. A. Suchetet, in his very
useful papers on Wild Hybrid Birds (part iii. p. 275) published in the
‘Memoires dela Societe Zoologique de France’ (vol. v. 1892). It was
obtained in France by the late M. Lemetteil, of Bolbec, Seine Inférieure,
in December, 1868. The additional instance now brought forward by
Mr. Tuck is, therefore, of some interest. Onacomparison of his specimen
with that in the possession of Mr. Gurney, it was found to be greyer on the
crown, to have less black upon the throat, and to have the black cheek-
patch not nearly so well defined. Mr. Tuck having kindly entrusted it to
my care for a few days, I took the opportunity of exhibiting it at a meeting
of the Linnean Society held on the 15th February last, when it naturally
attracted much attention from the ornithologists who were present.—J. EH.
Harring.

Woodcocks Breeding in the Lake District.— A short time ago 1
learnt incidentally that for several years past Woodcocks had bred regularly
in that part of the Lake District lying between Coniston and Skelwith,—
that is, in the thickets of Grisedale, Tilberthwaite, and Eller Water.
Being anxious to ascertain the truth of the report, I visited the locality, and
was fortunate in interviewing an intelligent man now employed as foreman
and book-keeper at the Tilberthwaite slate-quarry. He had formerly been
a gamekeeper in the employment of the Duke of Buccleuch, and (for a
gamekeeper) had a loving knowledge of the habits of birds. He assured
me that for some years back—‘“ about seven or eight "—Woodcocks had
remained in that neighbourhood, and had reared their young in the copses.
He had seen many nests, and had watched the life-progress of the young
ones. The whole of the land and the woods in this district (or nearly so)
are the property of Mr. Marshall, and it is sincerely to be hoped that
efforts will be made to protect the many birds at present to be found there.
On the occasion of my visit I noted by the way-side, and in the woods and
in the air, twenty-two different kinds of birds. The day (Feb. 5th) was
a phenomenally genial one, and I heard Song Thrushes, Robins, and
Chaffinches singing gaily.—G. W. Murpoca (Kendal).

Grey Phalarope in Staffordshire.—An adult female of this species,
changing to winter plumage, was shot on Oct. 4th last, at Willenhall,
Staffordshire, by Mr. Taylor. It was found upon a small stream, and was
alone. This is, I think, the first on record for Staffordshire.—F. CoBpurNn
(Holloway Head, Birmingham). [No; see Garner’s List, p. 285.—Ep.]

Swimming Powers of the Dipper.—If any additional evidence to
that given in the ‘ Zoologist ’ is needed, I may state that last August, when

EE

NOTES AND QUERIES. 1138

shooting near Towyn, Wales, I saw a Dipper, Cinclus aquaticus, enter the
water from the opposite bank of a wide, but still stream. It swam steadily
and easily, in a slanting direction up the stream to the other side, swam
low in the water, and looked very much like a Water Vole crossing a
stream.—F’. Cospurn (Holloway Head, Birmingham).

Wildfowl in Merionethshire.—Following the great gale of November
last, between the 16th to 20th of that month, several birds appeared at
Penrhyndeudraeth, Merionethshire, which, though common enough on the
east coast of England, seldom visit North Wales. On the 18th, during
the height of the gale, I shot an immature Long-tailed Duck, Harelda
glacialis, as it was diving close under the rocks in the estuary there. On
the 22nd I saw a Sclavonian Grebe with fully developed ruff—a late date
for this bird to retain the summer plumage. Early on the morning of the
27th I noticed a pair of Bewick’s Swans on the north beach; they did not
remain long, however, but passed inland, disappearing over the hills to the
N.E. On the evening of the same day, while waiting for Ducks at flight
time, I killed a Grey Phalarope, Phalaropus fulicarius, at the edge of a
pool on the saltings near the village of Talsarnan. Lastly, on Dec. 4th, I
shot a Snow Bunting, Plectrophanus nivalis, from a flock which was
feeding in company with Linnets on the mud banks in Pensarn estuary.—
G. H. Caron Hateu (Aber-Ia, Penrhyndeudraeth, Merionethshire, N.W.).

Nesting of the Great Crested Grebe in the North of Ireland.—
In March last year, being in Ireland, I went on the 29th of that month
—a beautifully fine day—to a village about three miles from the one in
which I was then staying, to have a look at a large artificial lake which I
had heard of as being the resort of some Great Crested Grebes, Podicipes cris-
tatus. On approaching the lake we could see their white breasts glistening
in the sunshine. There were nine of these birds on the lake. We walked
round to get a nearer inspection of them, and on our way we flushed
three Snipe, also a flock of nine Teal and some Wild Ducks. While
looking at the Grebes we saw two of them lower their heads suddenly and
‘Swim rapidly towards one another, and when they met (their heads being
parallel to the water till they did so) they crossed their beaks and raised
themselves slightly from the water; they then swam away again. This
strange performance I am told they go through before they commence to
make their nests. A friend mentioned to me in a letter that on this lake,
later in the summer, he saw a Great Crested Grebe swimming about, fol-
lowed by some young ones, and he had no doubt that more than one. pair
had nested there. The lake is in the north of Ireland, but I do not want
to give the name of the situation, for who can tell what molestation these
fine birds may experience if any “collector” should chance to go that way.
—G. B. Horsprueu (4, Richmond Hill, Bath).

ZOOLOGIST, THIRD SERIES, VOL. XVIII.—MARCH, 1894. K

14 YHE ZOOLOGIST.

Hybrid Finches at the Crystal Palace Bird Show.—At the recent
Bird Show at the Crystal Palace there were not quite so many hybrid finches
as usual. Only a dozen specimens were exhibited, the most interesting
being crosses between the Bullfinch and Redpoll, the Siskin and Goldfinch,
and a bird numbered 1559, but undescribed in the catalogue, which, in my
opinion, was a Linnet and Goldfinch hybrid. The specimen awarded first
prize was entered as “ Linnet and Bullfinch,” although this was apparently
a mistake, for the bird appeared to be a cross between the Bullfinch and
Goldfinch, of which some other fine examples were, as usual, on view. The
entries in the classes reserved for Canary mules numbered 138, including
crosses with the Goldfinch, Linnet, Siskin, Bullfinch, Redpoll, and Green-
finch. Of the other birds, in the British classes, the most interesting were
some Kingfishers, a Tree Creeper, a Redstart, and two fine Cornish
Choughs.—A. Hoitr Macruerson (51, Gloucester Place, Hyde Park).

Pink-footed Goose in Dumfriesshire.—In former days the Bean
Goose was the most common grey goose on the Solway Firth. Of late years
it has, in my experience, been replaced to some extent by Anser brachy-
rhynchus. I lately identified the remains of a Pink-footed Goose, which
had been shot out of a flock on the Scottish side of the estuary, between
Annan and Gretna.—H. A. Macpuerson (Carlisle).

Short-eared Owls in Northumberland.—Mr. R. Service's description
of the extraordinary destruction of young Short-eared Owls by Foxes
(Zool. p. 57) must, I think, have caused no little amazement amongst your
ornithological readers. During the whole of the spring, summer, and
autumn of 1893 we had these Owls constantly on the grouse moors adjoining
Cheviot and Hedgehope, in Northumberland. When shooting at Ilderton
last week (Jan. 31) I still noticed them hunting about as usual, but I had
not heard that any special mortality exists here amongst them. Though
without actual proof, I have little doubt that these birds bred on the
Northumberland moors during the spring of 1893.—ALFRED C. CHAPMAN
(Moor House, Leamside, Durham).

Snow Buntings in Co. Kildare.—During the winters of 1891-92 and
1892-93 a great number of Snow Buntings (Plectrophanus nivalis) visited
the Curragh of Kildare. During the winter of 1891-92 I was in England
from Oct. 15th to Dec. 30th; previous to the first of these dates no Snow
Buntings had arrived; after my return to the Curragh I first noticed them
on Jan. 7th, 1892, from which date I frequently saw them until Feb. 26th,
after which day I saw no more. During the winter of 1892-93 I was away
from the Curragh from Oct. Ist to Dec. 14th, and had not seen a Snow
Bunting before I left; but on Dec. 15th I saw a large flock of about thirty
birds, and continued to come across them almost daily until March 10th,
which was the last day I saw any. This winter the flocks were larger than
the last, and there were certainly more of these birds about, Although rE

NOTES AND QUERIES. TI5

was constantly out over the country all round the Curragh, yet I never
came across any Snow Buntings except on the open downs of the Curragh
itself. I should very much like to know about what date Snow Buntings
may be expected to arrive at the Curragh. Arruur W. Hastep.

Great Spotted Woodpecker in North Wales.—A bird which I think,
from the description given me, was most likely Picus major, was seen by a
friend of mine in the garden at Tyn-y-Coed, Arthog, N. Wales, during the
first week in November last.—Artuur W. Hastep.

Pied Flycatcher and Grey Wagtail in North Wales.—I saw a pair
of the former, on May 5th last, at Arthog, N. Wales, and am told that
Muscicapa atricapilla is frequently met with in that part of the country.
On the same day I had the pleasure of watching a pair of Grey Wagtails,
Motacilla boarula, for some time.—Artuur W. HasteEp.

Waders on the Solway Firth.—It is a curious fact that the Solway
Firth is visited almost every year by certain species which are excessively
rare on the west coast of Scotland. The Spotted Redshank, Totanus
Juscus, and the Little Stint, Tringa minuta, are species in point. A few
Little Stints visit us every year, and we meet with them both on the
Scottish and English sides of the Solway Firth. Since we have searched
for the Spotted Redshank, it has been met with in immature plumage
nearly every autumn, almost always in the same part of the Solway. The
Grey Plover, Squatarola helvetica, is seldom seen on the west coast of
Scotland. The numbers that visit the Solway Firth vary very much,
especially in the spring of the year, when assuming the black breasts before
their departure. One was brought to me lately which had been stuffed by
a farm servant ; he did not think the black feathers of the breast sufficiently
deep in colour, so had tried to improve upon Nature by staining them with
ink, which has left a purplish stain upon the plumage. We can rarely get
a black-breasted Grey Plover; the bulk of the old birds that ;winter on
the Solway Firth delay their arrival with us until after they have assumed
full winter livery. I have seen birds killed in nuptial plumage in September,
and Mr. Seebohm thought they must be spring-killed birds. The birds in
nuptial livery that visit us in autumn are always very wild and difficult to
approach ; unlike the Golden Plover, which always seem to me to be
tamest when in full livery—H. A. Macruerson (Carlisle).

Little Gull on the Solway Firth.—Although the Little Gull, Larus
minutus, wanders to the Solway Firth at not infrequent intervals, I never
met with it on the Scottish side of our estuary until the present winter. In
January last an immature bird of this species was shot on the Solway
between Annan and Dumfries. It is in very similar plumage to a specimen
which was obtained on the English side of the water on the 25th of October
last.—H. A. Macpuenson (Carlisle).

116 THE ZOOLOGIST.

Garganey at Rainworth, Notts.—Though I have already mentioned.
in ‘ The Field’ that a pair of these ducks were seen on the lake here in

April last year, I should like to note in‘ The Zoologist’ that they were
seen on April 9th and 10th. This was the first time they had ever been
observed on any of the ponds about here, although we have looked for them
for years, and their occurrence therefore is of some interest.—J. WHITAKER
(Rainworth, Notts).

Mobbing by Crows.—Most naturalists will remember Bates’s account
of being mobbed by Curl-crested Toucans, Pteroglossus Beauharnaisii, on
the Amazons. Birds less gregarious will sometimes do this; of course it is
easy, by holding up a young bird, to bring down the parents within a few
feet from among acrowd of Gulls and Terns on their breeding-grounds ;
but the Crow is, as a rule, not abundant or bold enough in this country to
assemble for the purpose of mobbing anyone. In Denmark, however, in
the fine beech and fir woods that stretch for about 20 miles north of
Copenhagen, from Charlottenlund to Hornbaek, the Hooded Crow, Corvus
cornix, is very abundant, and exceedingly impudent and tame, being but
little molested there. I was once fairly driven away and routed by them.
I had ascended a tree in order to inspect a nest of young Crows, which
were so well fledged, however, that, on my head appearing over the edge of
the nest, they all fluttered out, two falling to the ground near the foot of
the tree. J accordingly descended, and, after a little trouble, caught one
of them and proceeded to examine it. At first it kept quite quiet, until I
tried to open its beak to examine the colour of the palate. This, however,
seemed more than it could stand, and it called out so noisily, and so startled
me with its suddenness and violence, that I almost let it drop to the ground.
At once the ‘other young ones began screaming also, and in a few seconds
the parents appeared, settling overhead, and adding to the din. Presently
two others came hurrying up, then more and more, until there must have
been upwards of two dozen, and the noise—to use an expressive Scoticism
—was fairly “deaving.” The fury of the birds was remarkable; they were
simply convulsed with rage, and could hardly remain quiet on the branches.
The noise became so unendurable that I was forced to beat a speedy and
ignominious retreat. In this case, of course, the cry of the young bird was
the exciting cause; but these Crows do not always require that incentive,
for once coming suddenly to the edge of a small swampy savannah in the
forest, I surprised a flock of thirty or forty feeding ; these at once rose on

the wing, but, instead of flying away, began to wheel about and follow me

along the edge of the wood, each vying with its neighbour in abusive outs
ery. This only lasted for a minute or so, for—like a flash—a little male
Hobby, whose mate was sitting on eggs close at hand, appeared amongst
them, and, with a few lightning-like “ stoops” right and left, dispersed the
entire flock. They seemed frightened at the Hobby, though they torment

:
:

SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES. 117

and mob the Buzzard unmercifully. In England and Scotland I have
brought the mother Crow, C. corone, within a few yards by holding up a
partly-fledged young one; but the male bird usually keeps well out of gun-
shot, and none other than the Crows immediately interested show any
concern.—HaroLtp RarBurn (Halifax).

SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES.

Linnean Socrety oF Lonpon.

February 1st, 1894.—Prof. Stewart, President, in the chair.

Sir Hugh Low and Mr. F. C. Smith were admitted Fellows. Dr. Johann-
Mueller and Mr. K. Mitsukuri were recommended by the Council for election
as Foreign Members.

The President exhibited a remarkable specimen of a South-African
butterfly, Teracolus halyattes, from Natal, in which the wings on one side
were those of a male and on the other those of a female, and made some
remarks on hermaphroditism in the Lepidoptera.

On behalf of Mr. William Borrer, of Cowfold, Sussex, there was exhibited
a skull of the Pine Marten, Maries sylvatica, Nilsson, from a specimen killed
near Orawley (Zool. 1891, p. 458), an examination of which confirmed the
view of the late E. R. Alston (Proc. Zool. Soc. 1879, p. 469), that, so far as
could be ascertained, this is the only species of Marten found in the British
Islands.

On behalf of Mr. W. B. Tegetmeier, there was exhibited a drawing of a
Snow Leopard, taken for the first time from life—namely, from the animal
now living in the Zoological Society's Gardens, Regent’s Park. The long,
thick, and soft fur, suggestive of a cold habitat, and the unusual size of the
wide-spreading feet, well suited for travelling over an expanse of yielding
snow, were noteworthy features.

Mr. Malcolm Laurie read a paper on the Morphology of the Pedipalpi.
He considered the first two ventral sclerites to the abdomen to be appendages,
and not sternites. The first of these—the genital operculum—covers the
ventral surface of two segments, the genital aperture, and the first pair of
lung-books lying beneath it. The first pair of lung-books, he thought,
probably represent the remains of the appendage of the second seg-
ment. The arrangement of this region resembles that in Eurypteride
and in the spiders (e.g. Liphistius), while differing markedly from that in
Scorpions. The posterior end of the intestine is dilated into a large stercoral
pouch which is part of the mid-gut, the malpighian tubes arising from its
posterior end. ‘The cephalothoracic portion of the mid-gut differs in

118 THE ZOOLOGIST.

structure from the abdominal portion, and, in addition to lateral diverticula,

has two median ventral diverticula. The coxal gland opens at the base of

the third pair of appendages, and a sensory organ of unknown function
occurs on each side of the last segment. An interesting discussion followed,
in which Mr. R. J. Pocock, Mr. H. M, Bernard, and the President took
part, and Mr. Laurie replied.

A paper was then communicated by Mr. W. West, “ On the Fresh-
water Algez of the West Indies,” in which several new species were
described and beautifully illustrated. Mr. G. Murray, in criticising this
paper, testified to the extreme care and accuracy with which the species
had been worked out.

Feb. 15th.—Prof. Stewart, President, in the chair.

Mr. Linneus Greening was elected, and Mr. Albert Smith was admitted
a Fellow of the Society.

Mr. W. B. Hemsley exhibited some germinating seeds of Lemna Pe
some flowering plants of Lemna gibba, upon which, in his absence, some
remarks were made by Mr. C. H. Wright. From the observations made,
it was inferred that although Lemna minor and L. gibba are usually regarded
as distinct, they are respectively the male and female plant of one species.

On behalf of the Director of the Royal Gardens, Kew, Mr. C. H. Wright
exhibited and made some remarks upon a collection of native plants from
the neighbourhood of Cape Town, which had been presented to the Her-
barium by Miss Yorke, and which was remarkable for the skilful way in
which the natural colours of the plants had been preserved.

On behalf of the Rev. J. G. Tuck, of Tostock Rectory, Bury St. Edmunds,
there was exhibited a hybrid between the Common House Sparrow and the
Tree Sparrow, Passer montanus, which had been taken near Bury on the
Jan. 13th last. Only one instance of a similar wild hybrid was said to
have been previously captured, although two or three instances were on
record of the two species interbreeding in aviaries.

Mr. J. C. Willis gave an abstract of a paper on the Natural History of
the Flower (Part II.), in which he dealt with the mode of fertilization
in Brodiga ixioides, S. Watson; Stanhopea tigrina, Bateman; Pimelea
decussata, R. Br., var. diosmefolia, Cotyledon umbilicus, L.; Hydrolea
spinosa, L.; Ziziphora capitata, and made some remarks on cleistogamy
in Salvia verbenaca, L. A discussion followed, in which Dr. D. H. Scott,
Prof. Reynolds Green, and Mr. A. B. Rendle took part.

The Secretary read a paper, by Miss D. F. Pertz, “ On Hygroscopic

movements connected with seed-dispersal,” in which the author partially
reviewed the literature of the subject, and detailed the method of observation
adopted by previous workers and by herself.

|

SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES. 119

Zootoaican Socrety oF Lonpon.

February 6th, 1894. — Sir W. H. Frower, K.C.B., LL.D., F.B.S.,
President, in the chair.

The Secretary read a report on the additions that had been fail to the
Society’s Menagerie during the month of January, 1894.

Mr. Sclater exhibited a fine specimen of the River-hog of Madagascar,
from the Tring Museum, lent for exhibition by the Hon. W. Rothschild,
and pointed out that three distinct species of this well-marked genus of
Suid@ were now known to occur in the Ethiopian Region. A communication
from Mr. Last gave an account of the habits of this animal, as observed in
Madagascar.

Mr. Sclater also exhibited a stuffed specimen of the White-billed Great
Northern Diver, Colymbus adamsi, from Norway, which had been lent to
him by Prof. R. Collett, and made remarks on the distribution of the
species, and on its interest as occasionally occurring on the British coast.

Prof. Howes read a paper on synosteosis and curvature of the ae in
fishes, with especial reference to the Common Sole.

Mr. F. E. Beddard gave an account of the development of the tadpole
of an African Frog, Xenopus levis, as observed in specimens of this
Batrachian hatched and reared in the Society’s Gardens.

Mr. Chas. W. Andrews gave an account of some remains of the extinct
gigantic bird (A%pyornis) which had been recently received at the British
Museum from several localities in Madagascar. These were referred to
three species—. muelleri, AL. medius, and AL. titan, the last being of
larger size than even Ai. maximus. Another set of remains showed
differences which might eventually prove to be of generic importance, and
were perhaps referable to the newly-established genus Muellerornis.

Mr. M. Barkley read some notes on the Antelopes of the Pungue Valley,
Kast Africa, as observed by him during a recent hunting expedition i in that
district.

The Marquis of Hamilton made some observations on the pone
met with by him during a recent excursion from the Pungue along the
coast northwards towards the Zambesi.

Mr. O. Thomas read the description of a new species of Bat of the genus
Stenoderma from Montserrat, West Indies, proposed to be called 8. mont-
serratense. ‘This bat was stated to be very injurious to the cacao-plantations
in that island.—P. L. Sctatgr, Secretary.

ENTOMOLOGICAL SocrETy or Lonpon.
_ February 7th, 1894.—HeEnry Jonn Exwes, Esq., F.L.S., President, in
the chair.
The President ianenured ihe he laa eacuunted the Rt. Hon. Lord
Walsingham, LL,D., F.R.S.; Professor Edward B: Poulton, M.A., F.R.S.,

120 - THE ZOOLOGIST.

and Colonel Charles Swinhoe, M.A., F.L.S., Vice-Presidents of the Society
for the session 1894—95.

Mr. Walter F. Baker, of 18, Hyde Terrace, Leeds; Mr. Percy M. Bright,
of Roccabruna, Bournemouth; Professor Lewis Compton Miall, F.R.S., of
the Yorkshire College, Leeds; and Mr. Edwin Wilson, of Cherry Hinton
Road, Cambridge, were elecied Fellows of the Society. |

Mr. Jenner Weir exhibited, on behalf of Mr. J. M. Adye, a specimen of
Plusia moneta, Fabr., which had been captured at Christchurch, Hants,
and remarked that this species, which had been found in this country for
the first time so recently as June, 1890, was apparently becoming a
permanent resident here, as it had been since taken in several of the
southern counties. The food-plant, Aconitum napellus, though rare in
England as a wild plant, was very common in gardens. Mr. Jenner Weir
also exhibited a nearly black specimen of Venilia macularia, L., the yellow
markings being reduced to a few small dots.

Mr. Hamilton Druce exhibited a female specimen of Hypochrysops
scintillans, lately received by him from Mioko, New Ireland. He said that
only the male of this species had been as yet described.

Mr. F. Enock exhibited a nest of the British Trap-door Spider, Atypus
piceus, recently found near Hastings by Mrs. Enock.

Mr. W. F. H. Blandford stated that he had recently obtained an
additional species of Scolyto-platypus from Japan, which, though closely
allied to the species he had formerly described, showed a very distinct
modification of the male prosternum.

Mr. M. Jacoby exhibited and remarked on a specimen of Leptispa
pygme@a, Baly, which was doing much injury to sugar-cane in the Bombay
Presidency of India. Mr. G. C. Champion stated that he had found an
allied species on bamboo.

Dr. F. A. Dixey read a paper—which was illustrated by the oxyhydrogen
lantern— On the Phylogeny of the Pierine as illustrated by their wing-
markings and geographical distribution.” A long discussion ensued, in
which the President, Mr. Osbert Salvin, Mr. Jacoby, Colonel Swinhoe,
Mr. Jenner Weir, Mr. Hampson, and Mr. Kenrick took part.

Dr. T. A. Chapman read a paper entitled “‘ Some notes on those species
of Micro-Lepidoptera, allied to Micropteryx, whose larvee are external feeders,
and chiefly on the early stages of Hriocephala calthella.” Mr. Hampson
and the President made some remarks on the subject of the paper.

Mr. Hamilton H. Druce read a paper entitled “ Description of the
female of Hypochrysops scintillans, Butler.”

The Rev. Dr. Walker communicated a paper by Mr. R. H. F. Rippon,
entitled “ Description of a variety of Ornithoptera (Priamoptera) urvilliana.”
—H. Goss & W. W. Fowtsr, Hon. Secretaries.

THE ZOOLOGIST
No. 208.—April, 1894.

BIRD LIFE IN ARCTIC NORWAY.*
By Jonun CorpDEAvx.

ORNITHOLOGISTS will be grateful to Professor Collett, of
Christiania, and his translator, Mr. Alfred Heneage Cocks, for
a useful and pleasantly-written pamphlet on ‘Bird Life in
Arctic Norway,’ the observations recorded being the results of
wanderings within the Arctic circle made by the author during
seven summers.

In these days Norway annually attracts hundreds of tourists,
sportsmen, and naturalists of all nationalities. Year after year
the stream of those who set their faces northward increases, and
we need not be surprised at this when we consider the marvellous
attractions of a part of Europe the scenery of which surpasses
anything that can be found within the same easy distance of our
shores. Ina few hours, and with little exertion, we find ourselves
transported as if by magic from the conventionalities of civiliza-
tion and the cares of business, into a primitive world of the
grandest and most diversified features—a land of surpassing
beauty, with snow-clad mountains and shining glaciers, deep
fjords and sounds, matchless waterfalls, exquisite transparent
lakes in deeply sheltered valleys, belted with an almost southern
vegetation; above these dense pine forests, and, higher still,
mountain wastes of immense extent with a sparse vegetation,
beyond the birch-zone, of lichens and dwarf shrubs and grey

* © Bird Life in Arctic Norway’; a popular brochure, by Robert Collett,
Professor of Zoology in the University of Christiania; translated by Alfred
Heneage Cocks, M.A., F.Z.S. R. H. Porter, London.

ZOOLOGIST, THIRD SERIES, VOL. XVIII.— APRIL, 1894. L

122 THE ZOOLOGIST.

willow, studded with lakes and bogs where the migrants from the
south come to nest and hatch out their young. In this notice,
however, we have to deal solely with that part of Norway within
the Arctic circle. Some knowledge of the birds which resort
thither, and of the exquisite beauty of the fauna and flora, cannot
fail largely to enhance the interest and pleasure of the traveller, and
itis particularly on these grounds that this little work should be in
the hands of all who intend to visit the land of the midnight sun.
Prof. Collett divides Norway into three natural zones :—

I. The coast district and island belt up to the North Cape.
II. The deep fjords of the Arctic Ocean, and river basins in
East Finmark.
III. The interior plateaux.

The further north we travel on the Norwegian coast we find
that, although the species decrease, the number of individual
birds increase, and nowhere perhaps is bird life more richly
displayed than on the furthest shores of Europe facing the Arctic
Ocean, in—

‘A land that is lonelier than ruin,
A sea that is stranger than death.”

One of the most remarkable of the many bird-rocks is the
Sverholtlubb, alittle to the east of North Cape; it is perhaps the
largest and most densely populated station in the world, and is
almost exclusively occupied by the Kittiwake. Here are concen-
trated millions of birds on cliff-walls about 900 feet in height.
Prof. Collett calculates that for every breeding pair (with entirely
white head) there are eight to ten young individuals, distinguished
by the black ring on the nape, which are not breeding. This
enormous colony of Kittiwakes appear to subsist chiefly on small
crustaceans, enormous masses of which are moved to and fro by
the currents and form the food of Rudolph’s Whale and the
gigantic Sibbald’s Whale.

It is remarkable that several pelagic species found in the
more open parts of the Atlantic and the Faroes do not nest
anywhere along the Norwegian coast-line, such as the Storm and —
Fork-tailed Petrels, the Gannet, and the Manx and Greater
Shearwater and Fulmar; these, although occurring more or less
off the coast, do not breed.

On scattered lands within the mystic circle of the Arctic Seas

BIRD LIFE IN ARCTIC NORWAY. 1238

nest incredible numbers of some species, as the Spitsbergen and
Briunnich’s Guillemots, Little Auk, the Glaucous, Iceland, and
Ivory Gulls, and others which never breed so far south as
Norway. The Razorbill does not breed beyond the northern part
of Norway, and it is probable that its large and extinct relative
the Great Auk never occurred, except accidentally, north of the
Arctic circle. It was on Horné, near Vardo, the most easterly
bird-rock of Finmark, that in 1848 a reputed Great Auk was shot
by Herr L. Brodtkorb (Mitth. Orn. Ver. Wien. 1884). Professor
Collett still gives credence to this story, but Professor Newton, in
his latest contribution to the history of this species (‘ Dictionary
of Birds,’ art. Gare-fowl, p. 305), declines to accept it, the whole
matter, in his opinion, having been thoroughly sifted by Wolley
forty years ago.

An interesting question is raised by the author as to where
all these enormous hosts of high Arctic birds pass the winter,
some of them only occurring sparingly off the Norwegian coast,
and the Spitsbergen Guillemot, Uria mandti, being unknown on
any European coast.

The young of the Razorbill, ushered into the world on a bare
wind-swept ledge exposed to every storm, to sleet, snow, and rain,
is almost entirely naked, but the young Puffin, born in a deep
and sheltered hole, is a living ball of down, the apparent un-
fitness of this arrangement is one of those points in the economy
of nature difficult to understand; for it does not appear, in this case
at least, that the wind is tempered to the shorn lamb. Illustra-
tions of the young of these, also of the Kittiwake, are given.

On the belt of islands which fringe the coast the most
characteristic birds are Oystercatchers, Ringed Plovers, Turn-
stones, and various Gulls and Terns. On the larger islands, or
egg-holms, nest great numbers of Hiders, the Grey-lag Goose,
the Great Black-backed Gull, and Arctic Skua. On an island in
Lofoten have bred for years a pair of Bernacle Geese, a bird
which nests nowhere else in Europe, nor does the Brent Goose,
but in the spring immense numbers of the latter come on a fixed
day in May to the Naze, and more follow; then in rows as
straight as a line they sweep northward along the whole coast
till they fetch the outermost north-westerly Skerries, and from
thence “northward” is still the cry to Spitsbergen, Nova Zembla,
and further still into the infinite unknown beyond.

L2

124 THE ZOOLOGIST.

There is no better station than Tromsé for observing Arctic
bird-life. Everywhere may be heard the harsh chatter of Field-
fares, nesting in colonies, but never more than one nest on each
tree, with generally a pair or two of Redwings in each colony.
Many of the characteristic birds of the north are to be seen, as —
Motacilla viridis, Arctic Bluethroat, Red-throated Pipit, Bramb-
ling, Mealy Redpoll, Phylloscopus borealis, and Sedge Warbler
(Acrocephalus phragmitis), besides numerous waders and ducks.

Many of our more common birds reach Tromsé, and their
highest northern range is about lat. 70° N., where they sing and
nest in the dense birch-woods and willow-scrub which clothe the
luxuriant basins which debouch on the sides of the Arctic fjords ;
such are the Song Thrush, Garden Warbler, Blackcap, Redstart,
the two F'lycatchers, Tree and Meadow Pipit, Ring Ouzel, Wheat-
ear, White Wagtail, Hedgesparrow, Willow Wren, and Cuckoo,
with others. The Chiffchaff hardly goes further than just beyond
the Arctic circle. To these valley bottoms also come innumerable
Martins (Chelidon urbica), breeding in colonies, several hundred
pairs together, on the precipitous mountain walls, under shelves
and small projections of the rock, attaching their nests just as
they do on the cliffs at Flamborough. The Sand Martin also
goes as far north as it can find nesting-places, and will drive its
horizontal tunnels into the peat-roofs of houses, exactly as we
have seen their holes driven into the perpendicular sides of the
deep peat drains cut on Thorne waste in Yorkshire. Space will
not allow of following Prof. Collett in his charming pictures of
the nesting haunts of such well-known Arctic birds as the Snow
Bunting, Shore Lark, and Lapland Bunting, the former of these
feeding its young especially on the large crane-fly (Tipula).

The author thinks the song of the small birds is not quite
the same, some of the strains being different and unknown in the
south, and this variation he attributes to the immensity of the
areas, and to the habitable spots being so few and far between, so
that each male sings only to its mate, and competition can never
arise, each song being independent of the influence of others.
Those who are interested in this subject cannot do better than
consult the Encyclopedia Britannica, art. Birds, “ song.”

But of all the bird-voices in these desolate wastes, none is
so conspicuous as the call of the male Willow Grouse, which
exactly resembles that of the Red Grouse of Britain, from

BIRD LIFE IN ARCTIC NORWAY. 125

which it differsin no other respects than in the possession of per-
manent white remiges and the assumption of a white garb in
winter. The Ptarmigan of Scandinavia is identical with our
Scotch bird; its place is taken in Greenland and Iceland by a
closely-allied form, the Rock Ptarmigan (Lagopus rupestris). The
Spitsbergen Ptarmigan (L. hemileucurus) is now supposed to be
a Willow Grouse, in which case it is suggestive of a former much
greater extension northward of the continent of Kurope. Perhaps
the most interesting to ornithologists amongst the smaller birds
frequenting the birch-woods is the Siberian Willow Wren (Phyl-
loscopus borealis), a species which the author says was unknown
west of Archangel before 1876. This little bird has a mono-
tonous note of only one syllable, “ zi-zi-zi,” quickly repeated,
with occasional short pauses of half-a-minute. The nest, whichis
domed, but without feathers or hair, is placed at the root of a
tree in the densest part of the forest, and well concealed by wild
flowers. There is a nest with the young sitting side by side on
a branch in the Museum at Christiania, the only young of this
species hitherto exhibited. The bird has occurred in Heligoland,
and probably once on our east coast at Flamborough on Nov.
2ist, 1895,* just after the great gale from the north and north-
east. Its winter home is in China and India, and in the Archi-
pelago, and as it does not appear to have been recognised on
migration in the southern parts of Norway, it probably follows
the eastern route across Russia.

The Willow Warbler (P. trochilus) breeds as far north as the
Cape, and its nest is lined with a handful of the white winter-
feathers of the Willow Grouse.

On desolate holms along the coast, and within the Arctic
fjords, breed many species of Tringa, and on the driest spots,
where grows a brown carpet of Hmpetrum nigrum, the Arctic or
Richardson’s Skua. Sometimes the two parents differ in one
having a white and the other a black belly, or both may be black-
or white-bellied. In the down, the young are all black, but later
become variegated like the parents. Some islands are entirely
occupied by the Arctic Terns. Buffon’s Skua inhabits the

* Since I have had an opportunity of inspecting Mr. Dresser’s skins of
the Phylloscopi, I am convinced that a Leaf-warbler watched by me at thig
date. was Phylloscopus borealis. (See ‘The Naturalist,’ 1894, p. 40.)

126 4 THE ZOOLOGIST.

mountain plateaux, and shows no variation in plumage. The
Pomatorhine or (as Prof. Collett would call it) the Broad-tailed
Skua nests nowhere in EKurope but in the Eastern Siberian
tundras. In the high stony uplands the reindeer-moss grows
most luxuriantly, the district is studded with innumerable lakes _
and extensive morasses, covered with dwarf birch and willow
scrub. ‘These are the breeding quarters of various species of
ducks. Some Whoopers, the Lesser White-fronted Goose, no
bigger than a Mallard, and the Bean Goose (Anser segetwm), two
skins of which, lately added to the Copenhagen Museum, were
obtained in 1891 by the Danish Expedition in Eastern Greenland
in latitude 65° N.

In the more stony tracts, amongst silver-grey lichen, saxi-
frages, and other dwarf plants, nests the Dotterel (Hudromias
morinellus), here completely alpine in its. habits, and rarely
nesting below the highest tree-line. Here, too, is found Lanius
excubitor, a species subject to variation in the wing-markings, but
which Prof. Collett has clearly shown must be considered one and
the same, and breeding indiscriminately amongst themselves.

In great Lemming years, when these little rodents increase
beyond all calculation, the uplands swarm with large predacious
birds, especially Rough-legged Buzzards, Short-eared Owls, Snowy
Owls, and from the richness and abundance of their prey, these,
too, become unusually and abundantly prolific, the Snowy Owl
having as many as ten eggs in a nest. It will be remembered
that exactly the same tendency to unusual fecundity has often
been recorded before, and especially was observed in connection
with the Short-eared Owls during the recent plague of Field
Voles in Southern Scotland (see ‘ Zoologist,’ 1893, p. 181).

Of late years the Arctic avi-fauna has shown a decided
tendency to take up ground to the west. The Shore Lark—
which in the last thirty years has become so common a migrant
across Heligoland, and more recently on the east coast of
England—is a case in point, so also probably the Siberian
Willow Wren. There are, however, species found in Northern
Russia which, so far, have not occurred in Finmark ; such are the
Rustic and the Little Buntings, Motacilla citreola, Anthus gustavi,
and the Terek Sandpiper (Yerekia cinerea), Bewick’s Swan, the
Smew, and the larger White-fronted Goose, the former two being
north-easterly forms, have not been found nesting in Norway.

BIRD LIFE IN ARCTIC NORWAY. 137

The lovely Steller's Eider does not breed nearer than the
Murram coast, the north-west corner of Russia between Norway
and the White Sea, but it occurs in large numbers in the Varanger
Fjord in winter. We can recollect the time when this very rare
wanderer to the British coasts, then better known as Steller’s
Western Duck, was, in our imagination, scarcely second in value
and rarity to the Red-breasted Goose, and even the Great Auk
itself. Now, thanks to Arctic exploration, we know much more
of its haunts and habits. An idea of the immense number to be
found east of the Taimyr peninsula and in Bering’s Straits may
be gathered from the observation of Mr. EH. W. Nelson, the
naturalist who accompanied the United States Revenue Cutter
‘Corwin’ in 1881, and also from more recent narratives of
exploration in those high northern latitudes. In the cruise of
the ‘ Corwin,’ Steller’s Hider is said to be excessively common
on the north coast of Siberia and about Cape Wankarem in
August, in company with an equal number of King Eiders and a
few Pacific Kiders. The narrative states that “‘soon after the
expedition came to anchor off the native village the body of birds
arose from the estuary a mile or two beyond, and came streaming
out in a flock which appeared endless; it was fully three to four
miles in length, and considering the species which made up this
gathering of birds, was enough to make an enthusiastic ornitholo-
gist wild with a desire to possess some of the beautiful specimens
which were filing by within gunshot of the vessel.”

It is interesting to know what are the small European birds
which succeed in braving the winter in the birch-woods of
Troms6; these are Parus borealis, the Lesser-spotted and the
Three-toed Woodpeckers, some Yellowhammers, Tree Sparrows,
Bullfinches, Mealy Redpolls, and Golden-crested Wrens, a solitary
Tree Creeper, and rarely the Long-tailed Titmouse; and amongst
the larger birds the Siberian Jay, one of the most amusing and
entertaining birds in the northern forests. The Common Sparrow
has succeeded in reaching Oxfjord, just south of Hammerfest,
but it is to be hoped will find the winter too cold to stay in those
high latitudes; this has been the case in Greenland, where, from
the latest accounts, the Sparrow seems, from the damp and cold
climate, unable to hold its own.

Some resident northern birds, as the Magpie, Lesser Spotted
Woodpecker, and the Northern Marsh Tit, and some others, show

128 THE ZOOLOGIST.

very considerable climatic variation from southern forms in the
direction of having more white in the plumage, but it is by no
means clear that these changes are due to Protective Selection.
In the Willow Grouse and Mealy Redpolls this divergence from
the original type is much more marked and established.

In concluding this notice of Professor Collett’s interesting —
pamphlet, it is to be observed that much of the most important
and scientific part of the original has been omitted by the trans-
lator. At the same time the English edition contains not only
much original matter — the. result of personal observation —
but also, in an Appendix (added at the suggestion of Mr.
Sclater), a most useful list of the birds which breed in Norway,
and of the non-breeding feathered visitors.

NOTES on THE SEAL ann WHALE FISHERY of 1898.

By Tuomas Souruwetu, F.Z.S.

THE uncertainty of all connected with the Seal and Whale
Fishery was never more manifest than in the season of 1893,
which has been the worst known for many years for the vessels
leaving the Newfoundland ports, the produce being little more
than one-third that of the two preceding years.

In order to understand the reason of this failure, it is
necessary to state that on the east coast of Newfoundland there
are believed to be always two more patches of breeding Harp
Seals; one is known as the Southern and the other as the
Northern Patch, these two nurseries being situated at a distance
from each other of a hundred miles, sometimes much more, some-
times rather less. ‘The young seals on the Southern Patch are,
I am informed, born in the last days of February, or the first
days of March, those on the more northern ice between the
10th and the 15th of March. The former, too, are larger than
the latter, their pelts, with fat attached, weighing from 50 to
60 lbs., whereas those found on the northern patch do not exceed
from 40 to 45 lbs. at the same age.

Owing to the great destruction of old seals in the season of
1892, the steamers were not allowed to leave port till two days

THE SEAL AND WHALE FISHERY oF 1898. 129

later than usual, namely on the 12th of March,* and killing was
prohibited before the 14th; no second trip was allowed, and the
season closed on the 20th April. It happened in 1893 that the
seals were very far south and farther than usual from the shore,
and the ‘Esquimaux’ was the only vessel which cleared from
St. Johns, eleven leaving Greenspond, 150 miles further north,
six others sailing from Seldom-come-by, further north still in
Fogo Island, and one even so far to the north as St. Anthony ; it
thus happened that all the vessels practically missed the southern
pack, being to the north of them, and when they should have
fallen in with the northern pack, owing to the gales of wind from
the W.N.W., the ice had been so driven off the shore and broken
up by the sea that it was impossible for the men to approach the
scattered seals on foot over the loose ice, which, on the other
hand, was not sufficiently open to admit of their pulling to them
in boats. The sea, too, which amongst the pack-ice is quite
smooth, amongst these loose streams was very rough, and in
addition the crews suffered greatly from frost. Had all the
vessels cleared from St. Johns, as was formerly the case, and
started on their voyage two days earlier, it seems highly im-
probable that the breeding seals would have been missed. The
same adverse conditions of the ice which so prejudicially affected
the pursuit of the Harp Seals rendered the fishery for the
Hooded Seals equally unproductive, and the three vessels which
fished to the west of Newfoundland in the Gulf of St. Lawrence
did not a¥erage better than those to the east.

The twenty-two steamers engaged in the Newfoundland fishery
make a return of 129,060 seals, old and young, all the vessels
participating to a greater or less extent, the largest number,
12,770, being secured by the ‘ Kagle,’ the ‘Nimrod’ following
with 12,182, but these were the only two vessels whose catch ran
into five figures, the average of the whole being 5866, which
number was exceeded by eleven of the vessels, whereas the
remaining eleven were below it. This compares very badly with

* Sailing vessels may sail for the Seal Fishery on the 1st March, and
remain out as long as the Captain thinks fit, taking seals whenever he has
the opportunity. The custom in sailing vessels is for the crew to get ones
half of the catch for their share; in the steamers they only receive ones
third.

180 THE ZOOLOGIST. ©

a general average of 17,486 in the season of 1892. The ‘ Eagle,’
of St. Johns, was subsequently lost in Lancaster Sound, where
on the 27th July, she was nipped in the ice, and her crew, after
bravely sticking to their rudderless and sinking ship, made
Dexterity Bay on the lst Sept., where they and the cargo were
taken on board the ‘Aurora’ and the ‘Esquimaux,’ and the
damaged ship was then deserted. She had on board at the time
the produce of two whales and a “sucker,” amounting to about
a ton of bone and twenty-five tons of oil, in addition to seals,
walruses, &c.*

The Greenland and Davis Straits sealing in the past season
was very unimportant, and I am told that not more than 40,000
seals in all were killed, only 325 falling to the share of the Scotch
vessels; of these 235 were brought home by the ‘ Perseverance,’
which had wintered in Repulse Bay, and the ‘ Kclipse’. and
‘Nova Zembla,’ from Davis Straits, killed forty-two and forty-
eight respectively ; four of the vessels were away at the Antarctic
fishing, to which I shall refer further on. The total result,
therefore, of the Northern Seal Fishery in which six Scotch
vessels took part, was only 17,256 old and young seals, producing
204 tons of oil, representing at £19 per ton £3876, and the skins
at an average, say, of 7s. each, a further sum of £6040, a total of
£9915, as compared with a like valuation of £35,152 in the
previous season.

Turning to the Davis Straits whale fishery, the result com-
mercially is much more satisfactory. There were four Dundee
vessels present, all of which secured fair cargoes, the ‘ Aurora’
taking the lead with nine whales and two suckers; the ‘ Kclipse’
following with eight all very fair fish, and the ‘ Esquimaux’ and
‘Nova Zembla’ with four each.

The weather was very bad in the early part of the season, and
the ‘Kclipse’ was the only successful vessel at the east fishery
ground, killing two whales on the 13th and 16th of May, but she
was detained in Melville Bay by heavy ice and stormy weather
until early in July. Immediately upon reaching the west side of
the Strait she fell in with whales, and after losing one on the

_ * In addition to those already mentioned, 21,500 seals were brought
into St. Johns by local sailing vessels which do not come within our
province.

ee eee

THE SEAL AND WHALF FISHERY OF 1893. 131

5th July, killed on the 6th, 7th, and 9th, one on each day, and
three others were killed early in September. In Pond’s Bay
Capt. Milne varied the pursuit by a little Reindeer-shooting; of
these he secured twenty-seven, with occasional seals and walrus.

The ‘Aurora’ was very fortunate in crossing Melville Bay,
and found the ice in Lancaster Sound in good condition. Her
Captain lost his first whale, on June 26th, but next day killed two
old females and their two ‘“‘suckers.” Again, on the 2nd July,
he lost a whale, but on the following day killed a third female
and sucker, and on the 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th a whale was
killed each day; one of these was accompanied by a sucker, which
escaped, but was subsequently killed by the ‘ Eagle.’

The summer fishing being now over, the ‘ Aurora’ steamed
along the west shore of Lancaster Sound to Clyde River and
Bute Island looking for whales, but without success until Sept.
' 27th, when two whales were sighted in Coutts’ Inlet, and both
killed; during the next fortnight many other whales were seen,
but bad weather rendered their pursuit impossible, and it was
not till Oct. 8th that her thirteenth and last whale was killed.

The ‘Nova Zembla’ was not successful till Sept. 17th, when
she killed two very fine whales north of Coutts’ Inlet, one yielding
25 cwt. of bone. Two others were subsequently killed and another
lost. Amongst Capt. Guy’s miscellaneous cargo were sixteen
bears and four walruses.

The ‘ Ksquimaux,’ like the ‘ Nova Zembla,’ was very late in
finding the whales, but eventually killed one on Sept. 9th, two
others early in October, and ultimately added a fourth, making
her total catch four Black Whales, one Finner, thirty-nine Wal-
ruses, twenty-eight Seals, and five Bears.

The season was thus a very favourable one, notwithstanding
spells of bad weather, and whales seem to have been plentiful.
The result must be very cheering to those concerned, after the
repeated bad seasons which have been experienced. It is much
to be regretted, although inevitable, that the sucking calves,
which are of small value, four of which were killed, should fall
victims with their mothers, instead of surviving to grow into
value; the death of the parent, however, seals the doom of the
offspring, and it can hardly be expected that prizes so rich should
be spared when opportunity offers for their capture. It is very
satisfactory to hear of this evidence of the natural increase of the

182 | THE ZOOLOGIST.

whales in the Straits, the occurrence of suckers in the Greenland
Seas being extremely rare.

Our friend Capt. David Gray could not content himself at
home, and the ‘ Kelipse,’ of whose success I have already spoken,
having been disposed of, he took command of the ‘ Windward,’
which was the only Scottish vessel in the Greenland Seas. The
only whales seen by Capt. Gray were met with on May 6th, in
lat. 78°46° N., 22’ East; of two seen at the same time one was
killed, which yielded 19 tons of oil, and 19 cwt. of bone; the
other escaped. ‘The ice was found to be too far to the westward,
so as to leave no cover on the Spitzbergen feeding banks, and
after a fruitless search, he left for the south fishing-ground early
in June, where no better success awaited him; finally, at the end
of July, he made for home, weary and disappointed. The absence
of the whales from the Greenland Seas in the past season is very
remarkable, and a great contrast to the abundance which showed
themselves in Davis Straits.

The total produce of the whale fishery was 33 Whales,
382 White Wales, and 75 Walrus; these yielded 389 tons of oil
and 20 tons 16 cwt. of bone; the oil may be valued at £21 per
ton, but as no bone has yet come into the British market the
price is very uncertain; it may be taken, however, at about
£1600 per ton, the price at which it is now selling in America
(a very serious reduction upon the previous season), and at that
price the total produce of bone and oil would represent a sum of
£41,449, against a like valuation of £19,666 in the previous
season.

The Dundee expedition to the Antarctic Seas, to which
I referred in my last report, has proved commercially a great
disappointment, and, so far as I can learn, of very little scientific
importance. A large number of seals were killed, but, owing to
the low price of produce, not sufficient to pay the expenses of the
voyage, and no species of Right Whale was met with. The
general professional opinion appears to be that the vessels started
too late, and they were still further delayed by heavy weather
before getting fairly on the voyage. The experiment, so far as
Dundee is concerned, will not be repeated at present, but I under-
stand that the Norwegian whaler ‘Jason’ has made a second trip
southward, and probably, owing to the more economical manage-
ment of these vessels, may find it to her advantage. The southern

THE SEAL AND WHALE FISHERY OF 1898. 138

seals are not so gregarious in their habits, and therefore more
scattered, and not to be cleared off in the same wholesale manner
as at the Newfoundland and Greenland young sealing; this is in
their favour, but if they are pursued with the same relentless
avidity as in the north, and do not speedily learn to shun their
new enemy, their days are certainly numbered. A member of the
late expedition writes to ‘The Times’ as follows :—

“The present generation [of Seals] has never seen man, and they
survey him open-mouthed and fearful, during which process they are laid
low with club and bullet. Sometimes they are so lazy with sleep that
a man may dig them in the side with the muzzle of his gun, and, wondering
what is disturbing their slumbers, they raise their head, which quickly
falls pierced with a bullet. There may be only one seal on a piece of ice,
which is usually the case with the larger kind; but the smaller kinds lie
in half-dozens and tens, and as many as forty-seven were seen on one
piece. Seldom do they escape—one cartridge means one seal.”

Of the species of the seals met with I have no certain infor-
mation ; I have seen nothing definite published, and no material
seems to have reached our National Museums; but in a single para-
graph devoted to this subject in a paper read by Dr. W.C. Donald
before the Scottish Geographical Society in Edinburgh in January
last, the species are said to be four in number, and are probably
identical with those observed by Ross and previous voyagers in
the same latitudes—namely, the Leopard Seal, Stenorhynchus
leptonyx (de Blainville) ; the Crab-eating Seal, Lobodon carcino-
phaga (Gray); Weddell’s Seal, Lyptonychotes weddelli (Lesson) ;
and the rare Ross’s Seal, Ommatophoca rossi (Gray); but I hear
that Prof. D’Arcy Thompson, of Dundee, has had the zoological
results of the voyage submitted to him, and we shall probably be
better informed in due time. The only Cetaceans seen were a
single individual of a species of Megaptera, which was harpooned
and lost, a large number of Balenoptera, a species of “ Grampus,”
a “ Bottlenose,” and several schools of what was “possibly a
species of Globicephalus.” Of birds, twenty species in all were
obtained.

The vessels left the Falkland Islands at dates varying from
the 8th to the 11th December, and were no more heard of till the
‘Polar Star’ touched at Stanley Harbour on the 17th February,
the interval having been spent in cruising in the neighbourhood

184 THE ZOOLOGIST.

of the South Shetland Islands, reaching as far south as lat. 67°,
and encountering great diversity of weather.

The commercial results of the voyage were 4000 seals taken
by the ‘ Active,’ 5226 by the ‘ Balena,’ 3572 by the ‘ Diana,’ and
1908 by the ‘ Polar Star,’ or a total of 14,706. The Norwegian
ship ‘Jason’ is also stated to have returned with some 5000
seals; no Monachus, nor Otarié were met with, and all the seals
are said to have been in poor condition.

I have to express my thanks to Mr. David Bruce and Mr. R,
Kinnes, of Dundee; Capt. David Gray, of Peterhead ; Mr. Michael
Thorburn, of St. Johns; and Mr. Walter Thorburn, of Greenock,
for their kindness in supplying me with information from their
respective ports.

THE MARTEN IN IRELAND.
By G. E. H. Barrert-Haminton.

I HAVE been much interested in the article on ‘‘ The Marten
in Ireland” which appeared in the last number of ‘ The Zoologist’
(pp. 100—107), for I have been for some time collecting notes on
the distribution and life-history of this animal in Ireland, and
indeed of all our native Irish mammals. I had at first contem-
plated the publication of a list of localities in Ireland where the
Marten has been found of late years, but an accumulation of
notes has convinced me that this animal is much more common
in the wooded parts of Ireland than is generally supposed, and
consequently that such an article would be as unnecessary as one
on the distribution in Ireland of such common Irish mammals as
the Otter or Badger. I think the statement (p. 101) that “at
one time, in all probability, the Marten must have been generally
distributed in Ireland, but as civilization has extended inland
from the east and south, and as woods have been cut down, and
the country opened up by railways, drainage, and cultivation, so has
this animal been gradually driven into the wilder portions of the
north and west,” needs considerable modification. No doubt the —
Marten is now driven out from the east and south, but it is only
of late years that this has been the case, and I contend that even
in the more highly cultivated parts of the eastern counties of
Treland it would be an impossibility to name a county in which

THE MARTEN IN IRELAND. 185

the animal has not occurred recently. Taking the eastern counties
from north to south, the Editor’s own notes establish its occur-
rence more than once in Antrim in 1893, while in Down, again
(quoting from the same article), ‘“‘amidst the wild and broken
ground of the Mourne Mountains .... the Marten will probably
for some time yet to come defy the efforts of its would-be
exterminators.” From Louth and Meath I have no records by
me, but there is little doubt that stragglers are still occasionally
found in those counties, since they lie quite close to more favoured
counties. From the small county of Dublin there is no recent
record, but the outer parts of the county are not so far from the
woods of Wicklow, which are still one of the strongholds of the
Marten; and even in Wexford, ‘‘the model county” of Ireland,
its occurrence has been noted as late as June, 1892 (p. 104), a
fact which is not at all surprising when we consider that Wexford
comes next to Kilkenny, a county in some parts of which the
Marten is still plentiful.

I regret very much that I have not got by me all the notes
which I have been able to collect on the distribution of the Marten
in Ireland, but I propose to give such of them as I have, and
which are not included in the last number of ‘The Zoologist,’
under the headings of their respective counties and in the order
there adopted. I think it is a pity that the Editor should have
arranged his information under “ provinces.” It would have been
surely better to have followed some definite order, such as that
given in Mr. A. G. More’s ‘ Cybele Hibernica,’ and to have dis-
regarded the provinces altogether.

ULSTER.

Co. Donrcat.— Mr. W. A. Hamilton, of Coolmore, Bally-
shannon, writes (under date of Feb. 18th, 1892), “‘ The Marten is,
I should say, extinct here, but used to exist some twenty years
ago.” Mr. A. R. Wallace told me (in 1892) that he saw a Marten,
about ten years previously, on the carriage-drive at Lougheask,
near Donegal (vide infra, the Rev. C. Irvine’s notes for Co.
Fermanagh).

Co. AntRim.— The sex and length of the Portglenore specimen
were stated to be ‘‘ male: 2 feet 9 inches,” by a correspondent who
wrote in ‘ Land and Water’ (April 22nd, 1898), under the oongiue
“J. A.B.”

136 THE ZOOLOGIST.

Co. Tyrone.—See Co. Fermanagh.

Co. FermManaGH.—The Rev. C. Irvine wrote (Feb. 8rd, 1890),
“known about 1880 to exist at Kellindeas and other places along
Lough Erne, especially at Castle Caldwell, at the north end
of the lough.” He added that the “‘ Marten was formerly common
enough in certain places. Last actual occurrence July, 1869.”

LEINSTER.

Co. MgzarH.—The Marten trapped by Mr. Longworth Dawes
(vide infra, under King’s Co.) was trapped just over the border of
this county.

Co. WesTMEATH.—Capt. J. J. Dunne informs me that he has
met with the Marten in this county, but gives no instance.
Mr. R. B. Coffy, of Newcastle, near Killucan, has sent me a
description of an animal trapped there about 1885 by a rabbit-
catcher, as to which I have no doubt, from his description, that
it was a Marten.

Co. Kirpare.—Capt.J. J. Dunne informs me that he has met
with the Marten in this county.

Co. Dusirn.—A good many years ago two were trapped in
the gardens of Leixlip Castle” (F. and W. T. Longworth Dawes,
in lit., Dec. 30th, 1892).

Co. Wicxtow.—Mr. T. A. Tombe informed me (in 1891) that
Martens are plentiful in the woods about Glenealey, and that
Dr. Seeper, of Rathdrum, got nine in one season. They are
most readily killed when the bilberries are ripe, for they are very
fond of the berries. I have an interesting letter confirmatory of
this from Dr. Seeper, but cannot just now lay my hands on it.

Kine’s Co.—A female Marten was trapped in July, 1892, at
Greenhill, Emdenderry, by Mr. T. Longworth Dawes, who sent
it to Mr. Williams, of Dublin, for preservation. Mr. Longworth
Dawes writes that ‘‘It was a pretty old doe, and had not had
young that season; I trapped the whole place in the hope of
getting another, but without success. I heard since of an animal
being seen several times about four miles from this, which
I concluded was another Marten; but from what I have recently
learned, I think it is open to doubt whether it is not an escaped
Polecat-ferret.”

QuexEn’s Co.—Capt. J. J. Dunne states that he has met with
the Marten in this county.

THE MARTEN IN IRELAND, 137

Co. Cartow.—See Kilkenny. Mr. P. W. Trim, of St. Mullins,
wrote, in August, 1892, that he thought the decrease in ‘the
number of Squirrels in the woods of St. Mullins was due to the
presence of Martens. He added, ‘‘ The Marten produces about
six young ones in May or June, generally in old hollow trees,
clefts of rocks, &c.”” Mr. C. F. Deane Drake informs me that
the fishermen of the Barrow, about St. Mullins, state that the
Martens will enter the fishing-cots and take trout out of them.

Co. Kirxenny.—‘ The woods of Woodstock are frequented by
the Mustela martes, Yellow-breasted, or Pine Marten, a different
animal from the White-breasted Marten, Mustela foina, which is
destructive to sheep; the former never quits the woods, but
occupies the nests of scald-crows, killing their young” (Tighe’s
‘Kilkenny,’ 1802, p. 570). Mr. J. H. O’Connell writes that a
Marten was killed by the foxhounds, but cannot give the exact
date. In certain of the wooded parts of Kilkenny and Carlow
the Marten is still plentiful, and I have received specimens
within the last year or so, and heard of others which were kept
as pets in New Ross.

Co. Wexrorp.—The Marten probably occurs now only as a
straggler, from Kilkenny, Carlow, or Wicklow, though no doubt
it was regularly to be found in the wooded parts of the county
until a few years ago. I have the following notes from this
county: — Mr. Byrne, of Rosemount, New Ross, states that
*Marten-cats have been shot about twenty-five years ago, since
which time none have been seen” (‘ Irish Sportsman,’ April 2nd,
1892). Mr. John Plummer, lately steward at Kilmanock, stated
that about thirty years ago he saw and chased a Marten with two
terriers near Newtownbarry; it took to a tree, however, and
finally escaped. The Marten seems to have been common enough
then, for Mr. Plummer stated that they could be heard in the
night “‘ whistling,” and that people used to watch their lambs at
night to save them. Mr. J.S. Deane Drake, of Stokestown, New
Ross, wrote (Oct. lst, 1888):—‘‘I trapped three Marten-cats
(Pine Martens) here about fifteen years ago, but have not heard of
any since. They were taken in a wire-trap, and showed a great
fight with the dogs when let out.” No doubt these are the
“four” specimens alluded to on page 104 of the Editor’s article.
Dr. Cookman, of Kilkea House, Enniscorthy, wrote (Aug. 28th,
1888) :—“T think the Marten is now totally extinct in this

ZOOLOGIST, THIRD SERIES, VOL. XVIII.—APRIL, 1894. M

138 THE ZOOLOGIST.

neighbourhood. The last I have seen (now twenty-five years
since) were at my brother’s place, one and a half miles from
here. There was a large pine-grove, and about 150 yards from
it, in the centre of a field, was a clump of large beech-trees.
One was decayed near the stem, with a hole and a long burrow.
In this place two Martens made their residence, but they were so
wary that, although I watched them night and day, I could not get
near them. After some time, finding they were watched, they
moved away, and I never saw them afterwards, nor have I seen one
since, nor even heard of one. The common people call the Weasel
[t. e. Stoat] a Marten. Mr.C. B. Moffat wrote from Ballyhyland
(Oct. 16th, 1888) :—‘‘ A few years ago my father lost a number of
lambs in a manner that strongly suggested the work of an animal
of the weasel kind, the throats being cut, the blood sucked, and the
carcases left. Traps were set, and, after a considerable number
of lambs had been slaughtered, an animal was caught which the
men took for a young fox and released. The destruction of
lambs then ceased.” The animal could hardly have been anything
but a young Marten, as the events recorded occurred too early
in the spring for young foxes to be about. On May Ist, 1892,
a Marten was trapped at Coolbawn Cottage, near Ballyhyland, as
recorded in ‘ The Zoologist’ for March, p.104. Col. H. Alcock,
of Wilton Castle, in a letter to Mr. C. F. Deane Drake, stated
(Oct. 15th, 1888), that ‘‘ The last Marten-cat was trapped here
about fifty years ago.” Miss S. Fothergill told me, in 1887, that
about ten years previously a Marten was killed at Berkeley, near
New Ross; it had its home ina hole ina bank. Major James
Glascott told me (in 1887) that a Marten was killed at Alderton,
about six miles from New Ross, about ten years ago. He
remembers Martens in the county, and says that they used to kill
the lambs. “G.H. K.” writes to the ‘Irish Sportsman’ (June
18th, 1892), ‘I have the skin of one that was killed somewhere
New Ross way.” Most of the County Wexford is copse, highly
cultivated, and quite unsuitable for Martens.

MUNSTER.

Co. CuareE.— G. H. K., writing in the ‘Irish Sportsman’
(June 18th, 1893), confirms the statement that Martens occurred
on the estate of Raheen, Tangraney, and adds that, owing to the
protection afforded to them by the proprietor, ‘‘ they overran the
counties of Clare and Galway. One gentleman, near Mount

——

THE MARTEN IN IRELAND, 189

Shannon, lost seventeen pheasants in one night, destroyed by one
cat that was killed, gorged with blood, in the morning.” Martens
“are sparingly scattered all through Ireland, especially in the
wooded districts.” Mr. E. G. Pennington, Commandant of the
Royal Irish Constabulary Barracks in Dublin, states that in 1891
he met with the Marten about ten miles from Ennis. He writes:—
“T was fishing in that neighbourhood, and the local Sergeant of
Police told me of some Martens having robbed two bee-hives,
and, traps having been set, two were caught one night, and the
sergeant made the skins into a cape for one of his children.” In
the summer of 1892 Mr. Pennington was again in Clare, and
found Martens “ still fairly plentiful in the same locality. In the
woods in the neighbourhood there are a great number of wild
cherry-trees which bear a good deal of fruit, and the owner of the
property was lamenting the fact that the Marten-cats eat them
all, and was puzzled to know how they managed to get at the
fruit at the ends of the long pendulous boughs. Another place
I have heard of lately as still the haunt of the Marten is in the
large woods on the shores of Lough Neagh.” A skin of a Clare
Marten, kindly sent me by Mr. Pennington, measured 2 ft. 4 in.,
total length, and 1 ft. 7 in. to the base of the tail; the throat
was yellow, and the tips and backs of the ears light-coloured.
Interesting notes on the propensity of the Marten for honey and
robbing bee-hives will be found in ‘The Field’ for April 4th,
1871, May 17th, 1873, and Feb. 10th, 1877.
Co. Trpprrary.—Capt. J. J. Dunne informs me that he has
met with the Marten in Tipperary, and there is a specimen from
this county in the Dublin Museum of Science and Art at Leinster
House, presented by Mr.J.C. Springfield. Mr. E.G. Pennington
states that in 1861 he saw. one which was taken in a rabbit-trap
at Rockforest, near Roscrea. The present owner of Rockforest
informs me that ‘“‘The Martens here. are very seldom seen, and
are evidently very shy animals. The last I saw was in a grove,
and immediately it saw me it ran up an ivy-covered tree, where
it quickly concealed itself.” He states in another letter (Oct. 26th,
1892) :—‘‘ The Marten-cats have been often caught here on the
adjoining place (Timoney Park) from time to time, and there are
still some of them about, but they are not nearly so numerous as
formerly, and they are te gee seen; in fact, a one of

them was observed last year.”
M 2

140 THE ZOOLOGIST.

Co. Kerry.—Mr. J. C. Parker, of Winchester, informs me
that Martens are still fairly numerous on Lord Kenmare’s
property. Mr. J. Charney, of Portarlington, writes that while
out shooting he once came across a Marten at Glenbeigh House,
midway between Rosteigh Harbour and the Hotel at Rosbeigh.
I got four skins .... from ‘ Monghalevane’ in the ‘ Black Valley’
between Killorglin and Kenmare, at the southern side of the
Reeks of Killarney, and I have heard that at one time, some
fifteen years since, no fewer than sixty skins were got for the
late Mr. Herbert, of Muckross, in the same place; the throat-fur
being a creamy yellow ..:. Ihave seen more of their skins at the
house of the MacGillycuddy of the Reeks, but I never saw one
alive, except on the occasion mentioned above—that is, a wild
specimen.” Mr. T. Longworth Dawes informs me that he has
seen skins from this county. Mr. W.F.de V. Kane, writing from
Ardtully, Kenmare (June 25th, 1893), states that “‘I hear there
are Marten-cats frequently to be seen here in the woods.”

Co. Corx.—Capt. J. J. Dunne has met with the Marten in
this county, but gives no exact locality nor date. Mr. E. G. Pen-
nington writes:—‘‘I met with the animal at Killarney about
1863. I had taken down some otter-hounds to hunt the country,
and, when in a very remote part of the mountains, came on a very
hot drag, which led us away towards some high rocks, in which a
Marten took refuge, but not before we had run him well in view
for some distance. I have no doubt that in that remote and
savage region the Marten still holds his own.”

CONNAUGHT.

Co. Stico.—There is a specimen from this county in the
Dublin Museum of Science and Art. Mr. H. Lyster Jameson
writes (March 26th, 1893):—‘ The Marten still abounds in the
Ben Bulben range in Co. Sligo. I saw unmistakeable signs
of its presence in the caves of Gleniff, and the boy we took for a
guide knew the animal well. Inland, at Markree Castle (the seat
of Col. Cooper), the keeper has met with it, but thinks he has
by this time exterminated it.” |

Co. Lrerrria.—Mr. Williams, taxidermist, Dublin, had a
specimen from Manorhamilton in 1892. In reply to a letter of
enquiry, Mr. J. G. Phillips, of Manorhamilton, writes (Dec. 30th,
1892) :—-“ The Marten-cat is fairly plentiful here, The speci-

THE MARTEN IN IRELAND: 141

men Mr. Williams is stuffing for me was caught on Glencar
mountain. I believe they also frequent Glenode and Glengariffe,
and I have known one to be killed by a terrier, quite close to
this town, in the open fields.” ,

Co. Gatway.—Capt. J. J. Dunne has met with the Marten in
this county. The Hon. L. G. Dillon, of Clonbrock, Ahascough,
writes (Feb. 9th, 1892) :—‘‘A ‘Pine Marten’ was shot here, I
believe, long ago, but I have heard of several being killed in
other parts of the country lately. Sir William Gregory, of Coole,
near Gort, has a coat trimmed with the fur of some killed quite
lately in his woods.” Vide also G. H. K.’s notes under Co. Clare.

The above rough notes, combined with the Editor’s statistics,
leave only the counties of Monaghan, Cavan, Louth, Limerick,
and Roscommon, absolutely without records, though the pre-
tensions of some few other counties to include the Marten in
their fauna are somewhat slender. It must be remembered that
much of Ireland is now open, and unsuited to the habits of the
Marten.

I regret very much that I have been unable to make this
article more complete. I have numerous other notes on the
Marten, on which I cannot now lay my hands, and a good many
references to records of its occurrence in Ireland, which have
from time to time appeared in ‘ The Field.’

I will conclude by giving an extract from a law still in force
in Ireland, which shows how common Martens were in that
country a hundred years ago, insomuch that the reward for
killing either an Otter or a Marten was the same. By the 27th
George III. chap. 35, it was enacted, amongst other things,
“That from and after the Ist day of July, 1787, any person or
persons who shall take, kill or destroy otters, martens, weazels,
rats, cormorants, kites or magpies, shall receive for every otter
or marten, 5s.; for every weasel, 1s.; for every cormorant or
kite, 6d.; for every magpie, 3d.; and for every rat, 1d.”

Mr. Robert Patterson, of Malone Park, Belfast, sends the
following corrections and additions for Ulster :—

Co. Donrcat.—Thompson says, “J. V. Stewart notes the
yellow-breasted Marten in his catalogue of the mammalia of this

142 THE ZOOLOGIST.

county.” Itis also mentioned by the late Col. J. Whyte. Major
Hamilton, of Ballintra, informs me that in one year, between
1865 and 1870, he shot one and trapped another, and he had
trapped some before these dates. He says they used to steal
plums on the garden wall, and be caught on the top of it.

Co. Antrim.—Two were killed in Glenarm Deer Park in
1866, and Lord Antrim informs me this is the only instance
where a pair was caught at one time. About forty years ago
one was trapped at Garron Tower. Cookstown is not in Co.
Antrim, but in Co. Tyrone.

Co. FerMANAGH.—In former times it was frequently found
in wooded demesnes along the shores of Lough Erne, but now
seems to be quite unknown there. The last Marten seen at
Florence Court was killed by Lord Enniskillen about thirty years
ago. One was taken in July, 1869, at Killaleas, Lough Erne.
The Earl of Erne tells me that about twenty years ago he killed
a Marten while covert-shooting on an island in Lough Erne.
An old man who was with him at the time stated that they used
to be plentiful there when he was a boy, but that he had not
seen one for at least forty years. ,

Co. Monacuan.—In 1891 one was trapped at Glasslough.

Co. ArMAGH.—Capt. Bond Shelton has sent me the skin of
one trapped at the Argory, about twenty-four years ago.

Co. Down.—It was in 1854, not in 1884, that some were seen
at Portavoo, between Bangor and Donaghadee. Montalto,
Ballynahinch, is the name of Capt. Ker’s property.

ON AN EARLY NOTICE AND FIGURE OF THE
GREAT AUK.

By Mituter Curisty, F.L.S.

AurHouen the early literature relating to the Great Auk
seems to have been, on the whole, pretty thoroughly investigated,
the record to which I have now to call attention has been almost
entirely overlooked, while the figure accompanying it has, I
believe, wholly escaped notice, although both the passage and the
woodcut are by no means devoid of interest.

The record in question appears in the Fourth Book of John
Seller’s ‘English Pilot’ (London, folio), a work which went

EARLY NOTICE AND FIGURE OF THE GREAT AUK. 148

through a number of editions in the latter part of the seventeenth
century and throughout the eighteenth. The first edition, which
was published about the year 1673, does not contain the pas-
sage, which first appears (so far as I have been able to discover)
on p. 17 of the edition of 1728. It occurs among some direc-
tions for sailing upon the coast of Newfoundland, and reads as
follows :—

“Some Directions which ought to be taken notice of by those who
sail to Newfoundland.

“The Bank of Newfoundland would be of very great service
to those that are bound to that coast, was the said Bank exactly
laid down. * * *

“There is also another thing to be taken notice of, by which
you may know when you are upon the Bank. I have read an

wp Uy

nent iy apis a
“Gy ce fh = WL

\

WS = WR

[Figures of Alca impennis, from Seller’s ‘English Pilot.’]

‘‘ Note.—These fowls never fly, for their wings are very short, most
like the fins of a fish, having nothing upon them but a sort of Down
and short Feathers.”

Author that says, in treating of this coast, that you may know
‘this by the great quantities of fowls upon the Bank, viz. Sheer-
waters, Willocks, Noddles, Gulls, and Pengwins, &c., without
making any exceptions; which is a mistake, for I have seen all
those Fowls 100 Leagues off this Bank, the Pengwins excepted:
It’s true that all these fowls are seen there in great quantities:
but none are to be minded so much as the Pengwins, for these
never go without the Bank as the others do, for they are always on

144 THE ZOOLOGIST.

it, or within it, several of them together, some times more, other
times less, but never less than two together. They are large
fowls, about the bigness of a Goose, a coal-black Head and Back,

with a white Belly, and a milk-white spot under one of their

Kyes, which Nature has ordered to be under the right Eye, and
extraordinarily remarkable. For my part, I never saw any with
such a spot under their left Eye, the figure of which I have here
set down to facilitate the knowledge of them, &c.”

This information also appears in identical terms, or with
wholly unimportant variations, in the editions of 1787, 1755,
1760, 1775, and, I suppose, in that of 1794 (which, however,
I have not seen), to judge from the fact that Sir Richard Bonny-
castle, in his ‘Newfoundland in 1842’ (London, 2 vols., 8vo,
vol 1. p. 232), quotes a portion of a very similar passage from the
edition of that year. The same figures (here reproduced) occur
in all the above-mentioned editions, unless they be omitted
from that of 1794.

Mr. Grieve (who does not seem to have referred to Seller direct)
quotes the fragment given by Bonnycastle, with further variations
of his own (‘ The Great Auk,’ p. 66, n.); and, like Bonnyeastle,
he makes no reference to the figures, which appeared in the

various editions of Seller’s work, and which are here reproduced |

in facsimile by the photo-zinco process. Prof. Newton, too, in
his article on ‘‘ The Gare-fowl and its Historians,” published in
the ‘ Natural History Review’ for October, 1865, refers (p. 483)
to Seller’s ‘English Pilot’ as ‘‘a work we ourselves have not
been able to examine,’ and quotes, in consequence, only the
fragment given by Bonnycastle. My attention has been kindly
drawn to these facts by the Editor. As, therefore, two leading
writers on the history of the Great Auk have been unable to
obtain access to the original work, it seems well worth while to
reproduce here the passage and the illustrations in question.
Whilst upon this subject, it may be worth while to men-
tion that, upon many of the earliest charts of Newfoundland
(1500-1560), which I have lately had occasion to study, there
are represented several islands bearing the names “ Ilha aves” or
“Isle des Oiseaux,” which may certainly be regarded as an
indication of the abundance of sea-fowl—the Great Auk, no
doubt, being among the species—upon some of the islands off

Sizk OF. THE BRITISH NEWTS. 145

that coast. Thus, on the map of New France, drawn by Jacomo
di Gastaldi about the year 1550 for the third volume of Ramusio,
we find Newfoundland divided into a number of islands, upon
which are shown large birds and bears, while on the intersecting
water-ways are more birds, and in the adjacent seas are repre-
sented various fishes and cetaceans—to say nothing of several
curious little devils upon the imaginary ‘Island of Demonios.”
In several places, natives are represented shooting at the birds
with bows and arrows as they rest upon the land near the sea-
shore, which may be taken to indicate that the birds intended to
be represented were large and tame, and were, therefore, very
likely Great Auks, notwithstanding the. fact that some, at least,
of them are represented with wings; for a non-observant seaman,
or his draughtsman, might, under the circumstances, think it most
proper, when drawing birds, to draw them with wings, whether
the particular species possessed them or not.

It may be also worth while to mention that the name Fugla-
skeir, or Fow! Skerries, on the south-west coast of Iceland, which
is commonly supposed to have arisen in consequence of the large
number of Great Auks inhabiting the rocks in question, is very
ancient ; for the name appears in the form of ‘‘ Flogascer”’ (Fogla-
sker) on the celebrated Zeno map, which was drawn within a few
years of the close of the fourteenth century, though not published
until 1558.

ON THE SIZE OF THE BRITISH NEWTS.
By G. A. BovuLencer.

THis is an enquiry which has hitherto been somewhat
neglected. We know, of course, that the Crested Newt, Molge
_ eristata, is the largest; that next comes the Common Newt,
M. vulgaris ; and last, the Palmated, M. palmata; but few accu-
rate measurements have yet been published of the maximum
length to which each species is believed to grow in this country.
I have for some time been endeavouring to collect the finest
Specimens procurable for the British Museum, and have kept
note of their dimensions, as well as of the length of the largest
continental specimens mentioned in the literature or preserved
in the Museum. Curiously, within the last twelve months I have

146 THE ZOOLOGIST.

-succeeded in adding to the collection specimens of all three
species, which, with the exception of the male M. palmata, are
larger than any on record, whether British or continental. I would
request the readers whom this note may interest to endeavour to
ascertain whether any specimens can be found exceeding the
dimensions indicated below. ;

1. Molge cristata. |

De Il’Isle (Ann. Sc. Nat. xvii. 1862, p. 366) for France, and
Fatio (Vert. Suisse, ili. p. 530) for Switzerland, give the following
dimensions of the largest specimens measured by them :—

Males. Females.
Nantes. Basle. Nantes. Geneva.
Total length ... ... millim. 141 137 150 148
Length to cloaca... a — 70 — 71

Schreiber (Herpet. Eur. p. 48), without specifying locality or
sex, says the species grows to 160 millim.; and Bell (Brit. Rept.)
gives 6 inches (152 millim.) as the maximum length.

The largest specimens I had examined until quite lately were
sent to me from Argenton (Indre), France, by M. R. Paratre, and

measured :—
Male. Female.

Total length ... .. millim. 142 157
Length to cloaca... as 72 76

In the second week in February, of the present year, Mr.
Edward Dodson found in some puddles at Hampton, Middlesex,
numerous specimens in full breeding costume, some of which he
kindly brought me for the Museum collection. I visited the place
with him three weeks later, and, with the aid of a small net, we
succeeded in capturing 66 specimens in half an hour. Among
these some even exceeded, if but slightly, my French specimens,
and are, so far as I am aware, the largest on record :—

Male. Female.
Total length ... ... millim. 144 162
Length to cloaca... Bs 17 87

2. Molge vulgaris.

The length of the largest specimens (from Basle) is given by
Fatio as:—

SIZE OF THE BRITISH NEWTS. 147

Male. Female.
Total length ... .. millim. 98 80
Length to cloaca... 3 45 40

which concords with the length assigned to British specimens
by Bell.

Larger specimens, from Knockholt, Kent, were presented to
the British Museum in May last by Mr. W. Blackwell. They

measure :-—
Male. Female.

Total length ... ... millim. 104 94
Length tocloaca ... - 45 46

I had previously collected nearly equally large specimens near
Brussels.
3. Molge palmata.

This is the smallest European species. Schreiber’s statement
that it is usually somewhat larger than M. vulgaris, unless
copied from Leydig, is to be explained by his having confounded
M. bosce and M. palmata under the name of Triton helveticus.
His specimen, 88 millim. long, therefore, probably belongs to
M. bosce. The largest specimens studied by Fatio (op. cit.), from
Switzerland, Lataste (Faune Herpet. Gironde), from S. France,
and vy. Méhely (Math. Term. Késlem., Budapest, xxv., 1893,
No. 4), from Freiburg i. Br., present the following dimensions :—

Males. Females.

ns a iS
Geneva. Freiburg. Gironde. Geneva Freiburg. Gironde.
Total length* millim. 86 74 67 73 76 74
Length to cloaca ,, 37 34 — 34 34 —

Specimens which I obtained in April last, at Fowey, in Corn-
wall, nearly equal (3%) or exceed (2) any of the above :—

Male. Female.
Total length ... ... millim. 80 85
Length to cloaca... ‘ 36 42

* Including the caudal filament.

148 THE ZOOLOGIs‘,

NOTES AND QUERIES.

MAMMALIA.

Supposed Occurrence of. Vespertilio murinus in England: Cor-
rection of an Error. —In reply to enquiries as to the evidence for including
the Mouse-coloured Bat (V. murinus) in my List of the Vespertilionide
found in the Isle of Wight (see Venables’ ‘ Guide,’ 1860), I may explain
that it was the late Mr. F. Bond who wrote me that he had obtained this
species at Freshwater, and I relied altogether upon his identification,
knowing how very accurate and careful he was ; but, some years afterwards,
he wrote that the large Bat which he had found at Freshwater was the
Noctule, V. noctula, and not V. murinus. I remember, also, that the same
mistake was communicated to the Linnean Society by the late Prof. ‘Thomas
Bell, to whom I had meutioned it. Another Bat, given as Daubenton’s Bat
in Venables’ ‘ Guide,’ Mr. Bond told me proved to be V. mystacinus. Both
errors were set right by myself in a list of Isle of Wight Quadrupeds
given in Jenkinson’s ‘ Practical Guide to the Isle of Wight’ (1876), and
I am only sorry that I did not make the correction more generally known,
since it concerns such a very dubiously British species. —A.G. More
(Dublin).

Stoats in Ermine Dress.— A nearly white Stoat was caught in a
mole-trap, near here, on March 5th. The only parts retaining the brown
colour are narrow rings round the eyes. A precisely similar example was
killed at the end of February or beginning of March, 1891. I have
examined several other Oxfordshire examples of these ‘“spectacled ”
Stoats, and it appears that a ring of fur round each eye are the parts which
least often become white. In a previous note (‘ Zoologist,’ 1884, p. 112)
I have remarked upon the assumption of the ermine dress by English
Stoats in mild winters.—O. V. Apiin (Bloxham, Oxon).

Squirrels destructive in Plantations.—A short time ago we remarked
the ground beneath a spruce fir strewn with young shoots, cut off at the
terminal joint of each sprig; the cluster of buds at the severed joint and
most of the single buds at the extreme point were empty. Another spruce
has since been attacked, and we are much afraid of the havoc extending to
a very handsome American pine close by. As during the past winter some
cattle belonging to aneighbour were killed by browsing upon a yew, my
husband cut off the lower branches of a fine old tree on our lawn, and, on
passing by it a few days ago, he was much surprised to find the ground
strewn with terminal shoots nipped off, as if with a pair of clipping shears,

NOTES AND QUERIES 149

On sending a boy to pick them up, he returned with two good-sized baskets
filled with sufficient yew shoots to have killed most of the cattle now feeding
on the lawn; these, I need hardly say, were promptly buried. Squirrels
have become very numerous in our plantations, and one has been seen
under the spoiled spruce fir, but not in the act of nipping off the young
shoots. Our puzzle is, if these little creatures are guilty of the mischief,
how do they reach to the ends of the branches, which in some instances
would hardly support the weight of a small bird? If they are not guilty,
what could have caused the young shoots to fall off in such a strange
manner? One tree seems completely bared. Is it possible that the one
night’s frost which killed so many indoor plants, and even broke their
china flower-pots, could have injured trees in such a manner ?—F rances I.
Barrerssy (Cromlyn, Rathowen, West Meath).

Habits of the Bank Vole-—Mr. Newman Neave suggests (p. 109)
that the Bank Vole is less hardy than some other small mammals, and
succumbs to hard frost. I do not think that this explains why the species
becomes less plentiful in winter. What we find in Lakeland is, that in
cold weather the Bank Vole lies up in its favourite winter home, 7. ¢., in
heaps of turnips. It is generally found in parties of five in winter. We
have had some mounted for the Carlisle Museum, and at my suggestion
Mr. Thorpe made a glass case for them, so that our taxidermist could keep
them in the bird-stuffing room and mount them from life. Those we have
kept this winter have entertained us not a little by their life and energy ;
they have fought a good deal, and I confess we enjoyed their tussles, as
they bite and spar with one another in the angriest way. Unfortunately
one of their battles ended fatally, and the vanquished Vole was eaten by
his rival. It is pretty to see the little fellows sitting up on their haunches,
nibbling the pips of apples which they hold in their paws. They are very
fond of preening their fur, which they manage to keep in splendid order.
Their appetites are truly astonishing ; we feed them chiefly on apples, but
they are very partial to turnip-roots, and where numerous must do a good
deal of damage to the root crops.—H. A. Macpusrson (11, Victoria Place,
Carlisle).

Marten in Co. Dublin.—In reply to your request for information
respecting the occurrence of the Marten in Ireland, I have much pleasure
in informing you that in the month of November last I saw what was
undoubtedly a Marten in the neighbourhood of the village of Golden Ball,
Co. Dublin. I was at the time driving, and the animal ran for about a
hundred yards along the road in front of the pony. At first I thought it
was a Stoat (known in this locality as a Weasel), but it suddenly stopped
and sat just in the attitude depicted in ‘The Zoologist’ for February, and
I have no doubt whatever that it was a Marten, When I got within about

150 THE ZOOLOGIST.

twenty yards of it, it slipped quietly into the bushes, at the roadside, and
was lost to view.—J. J. Dow xine (Stillorgan, Co. Dublin). :

BIRDS.

Varieties of the Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Reed Bunting, and Black-
bird.—In October last one of the prettiest varieties of the Goldfinch I~
have ever seen was caught with other Goldfinches near Cambridge. It is
pure white, having on each wing a broad band of the brightest yellow ; eyes
pink. A pale grey female Greenfinch was shot near Cambridge about the
same time. In December a very pretty white variety of the Reed Bunting
was shot, also near Cambridge; it has many grey feathers interspersed
amongst the white ones, and isa striking and uncommon variety. I have
added these birds to my collection of varieties, which now contains over
450 specimens of 107 British species. When in York, in November last,
I bought a very curious variety of the Blackbird. The plumage is slate-
coloured ; the top of the head pure white; and the throat, wings, and
breast also white.—J. WHITAKER (Rainworth, Notts).

Heron carrying off a Waterhen.—A Heron came down on a Water-
hen at the brink of a pond here ashort time ago, carried it off toa high
bank (both birds screaming), and, after giving it two or three pecks, flew
away with it. I have known Herons to carry off Water Rats, but never
heard before of their getting hold of Waterhens.—Joun Ditton (Lismullen,
Navan, Co. Meath).

White Robins in Surrey.—In the summer of 1898, among a number
of Robins hatched in the garden of Wilmer House, Ham, Surrey, was one
white bird. I had two opportunities of watching the bird at very close
quarters, as he was very tame, and a short time ago I heard that it had
been shot by a boy friend, and have since seen it in its stuffed state. It is
a very large specimen, nearly white, save for a little brownish colour on the
back, and a slight reddish patch on the throat ; legs long and slender, and
semi-transparent ; eyes black, which I am informed was their colour in the
flesh. I heard of another white Robin having been seen in Richmond
Park.—ArtHuR W. HastTED.

Waxwing in Co. Down.—On February 23rd last, I examined a
Waxwing, Ampelts garrulus, sent in from Portaferry, Co. Down. It was an
immature male, had seven “‘ wax” points on each wing, and measured eight
inches from tip of bill to end of tail. It had been found in a potato shed
and was much emaciated, weighing only 1} 0oz.—Roperr PATTERSON |
(Malone Park, Belfast).

Cuckoo seen in March.— We are accustomed annually to hear reports
of the Cuckoo being seen or heard long before the usual date of its arrival.
Such rumours, however, generally come from irresponsible persons, some

NOTES AND QUERIES. 151

of whom do not know a Cuckoo from a Hawk, and others probably are
deceived by cuckoo-clocks in cottages, or by clever imitations of country
lads. It seldom happens that we receive such circumstantial evidence as
the following. Dr. A. J. Fleming, of Ragleth House, Church Stretton,
Salop, writing on March 6th, says :—‘ When driving along a country road
yesterday (March 5), I had a very good view of a Cuckoo. As it is more
than a month earlier than the date at which the birds usually arrive, I
thought it might interest some of your readers to record the fact. I am
quite satisfied that it was a Cuckoo which I saw, and that I did not
mistake any other bird for one. We get a great number of these birds
here every spring, and I am quite familiar both with their appearance and
mode of flight. Moreover, my servant man, who also knows the birds
well, saw it also. It flew out of the hedge nearly opposite my dog-cart, and
flying low along the ground for about fifty yards, again entered the bottom
of the hedge. I marked the spot, and on coming close to it the bird flew
out again, and again flew along in front of me and entered the hedge as
before. This was repeated four times, so that I had a very good opportunity
of observing it. The first time I was somewhat doubtful whether it was
not a Sparrowhawk, which the Cuckoo somewhat resembles, and had I not
seen it a second time I should have remained doubtful of its identity. Its
mode of flying along the bottom of the hedge, and the way in which it
popped in and out, were not at all like the movements of a hawk. It gave
no note. Assuming the accuracy of my observation, it is an interesting
question how it comes to be here so much before the usual time. Can it
have passed the winter in this country? or might it possibly have reached
our shores aided by the long-continued south-west gales to which we have
been treated this winter? Ishould be glad to hear what some of those
who are learned insuch matters have to say on the point.”—A. J. FLEMING.

Snow Bunting at Bolton-le-Moors.—It may be of interest to place on
record the appearance of this species in this district, two female birds
having been shot at Horwich during the last week of February. In both
the ovaries were much developed.—C. EK. Storr (Bolton-le-Moors).

King Eider off Achill Island, Co. Mayo.—On the 12th Dec., 1892, I
fellin with a fine male King Hider, Somateria spectabilis, near Dugort, Achill
Island. It must bea rare visitor to the West of Ireland, for I never saw
one in the flesh before, although, considering the numerous bays and inlets
about here, it is quite likely that other specimens have occurred and
escaped notice.—J. R. Sueripan (Dugort, Achill Island).

Surf Scoter off Achill Island, Co. Mayo.—The Surf Scoter, Zidemia
perspicillata, has several times occurred here of late years. I have myself
seen three. Two were met with in October, and one in December. One
of these I shot on the 25th Oct., 1870. The two were very tame, and
allowed me to approach within twenty yards of them. Unfortunately, I

152 THE ZOOLOGIST.

had only a large rifle with me at the time, and so failed to secure more than
one. The protuberance at the base of the upper mandible, and the white
patch on the back of the neck, were very conspicuous, and it was therefore
impossible to mistake the species. The third specimen [ observed in
December, 1890, in Duach Bay. It was diving outside the breakers, and
I saw it distinctly through a glass. The surf was too heavy to allow of a
boat being launched, so that I was unable to go in pursuit of it. The only
one of these three which I shot was an immature female, and I am
informed by Mr. A. G. More, of Dublin, that this is the eighth specimen,
so far as is known, which has been obtained on the coasts of Ireland.—
J. R. SaeRmpan (Dugort, Achill Island).

Early Nesting of the Heron.—On March 8rd a friend and I found a
Heron’s nest containing five eggs. Is not this an unusual number?
None of the others examined contained more than two, though the remains
of an egg below one of the nests in which two were noticed leads us to
believe that three had been laid in that one.—J. A. Bucxnitu (Hylands
House, Epsom).

Woodcocks Breeding in the Lake District.—In connection with
Mr. G. W. Murdoch’s note under this heading (p. 112), I may mention that
in the spring of 1888 I found a Woodcock’s nest within a couple of miles of
Keswick. It was placed on some heathy ground and contained four eggs,
from which the old bird rose as I passed. An interesting point in the dis-
tribution of this species during the breeding-season is the fact that it nests
every year in considerable numbers in the New Forest, Hampshire.—
Harry F. Witsersy (Blackheath).

Mealy Redpoll in Achill Island, Co. Mayo.—Two specimens of
Linota linaria, Linn., a rare visitor to Ireland, were shot in Achill Sound,
in February, 1893, by a lady resident there, Mrs. Harvey, of Glenderary,
who presented one of them to the Dublin Natural History Museum. I am
inclined to think that this bird visits Achill Island every winter, but
escapes notice from its small size. I remember seeing some, several years
ago, feeding on a bunch of thistle-heads, as I informed Mr. A. G. More by
letter, but not having secured a specimen, I suppose he did not consider
the identity of the species sufficiently established to record it.—J. R.
SueEripAn (Dugort, Achill Island).

Buffon’s Skua off Achill Island, Co. Mayo.—On the 29th Sept., 1892,
I shot one of these birds near the village of Duach. Being a male in the
adult plumage, I had no difficulty in identifying it.— J. R. SHERIDAN
(Dugort, Achill Island).

Waxwing near Newmarket.—Mr. Baker, the taxidermist at Cam-
bridge, has a male Waxwing which, he informs me, was shot at Balsham,

EE ee EEE

NOTES AND QUERIES. 158

near Newmarket, and was sent to him for preservation on Feb. 26th.—
G. E. H. Barrerr-Hamitton (Trinity College, Cambridge).

Date of arrival of Lesser Whitethroat.—A slight error has crept
into my “ Notes,” p. 98. The date of the arrival of the Lesser Whitethroat
in Warwickshire in 1892 should be April 9th, not April 2nd. But the 9th
even, is a very early date for it. The average date of my observation
of this species in North Oxon for twelve years (1880-1892, omitting 1883,
when I probably overlooked it, and did not note it until May 2\st), is
April 29th. If 1892 is omitted, the average date for the eleven years is
April 30th. On p, 98, for “two yards” read “ ten yards."—O. V. APLIN
(Bloxham, Oxon).

Ducks assuming Drakes’ plumage.— My remarks on the partial
assumption by female birds of male plumage (p. 15) has elicited from the
Rev. H. A. Macpherson a very interesting correspondence, in which he
mentions a female Scoter, Gidemia nigra, shot and dissected by Mr.
Bartlett, of Maidstone, in which the brown plumage of the upper parts
was replaced by black. He has also reminded me of a similar case of a
female Velvet Scoter, Qi. fusca, in my own collection, which has no lore
spot and no ear spot, and a dark brown belly unsuffused with any grey, and
a very dark back. Both these birds are considered to be cases in point,
viz., females assuming male plumage, but I had forgotten all about the
Velvet Scoter when writing on this subject before. It does not appear,
from our standard works on Ornithology, that the adult plumage of the
female Scaup Duck has been recognised by British writers, and as the
females on two or three occasions have been suspected of assuming male
plumage, I should like to say something about them. From the Rev. H.
A. Macpherson I have received eight picked female Scaups; from Mr.
Caton Haigh, three ; from Mr. Coburn, two; and from other sources, seven ;
and I have subsequently examined five or six more, besides reading the
experience of Mr. A. C. Chapman, who has written at length on the
plumage of the Scaup Duck (Zool. 1887, pp. 7-9). Of these twenty-six
ducks inspected, fifteen were proved to be females by dissection, and the
others were assumed to be females from their plumage. Seventeen
of them have white faces, and of these, seven have besides sooty black
heads faintly shot with green, but this green tinge does not approach in
brilliancy the bottle-green head of a fully adult drake. Ducks in this dress
are adult, but are not to be regarded as females assuming the male plumage.
It is stated, however, by Mr. Macpherson that such cases sometimes occur
(Study of British Birds,’ p. 72), and he has had good opportunities
of investigating the different phases of plumage in the Scaup. In fully
adult female birds the depth of colour of the head, and the purity of the
white of the face, vary a little, the two finest I have seen being one from

ZOOLOGIST, THIRD SERIES, VOL. XVIII.—APRIL, 1894. N

154 THE ZOOLOGIST.

Leadenhall, and one of Mr. Coburn’s, killed in Ireland lately. Mr. Mae-
pherson has one very remarkable Scaup Duck, a female by his own dissec-
tion, shot April 28th, 1888, with the greyest back of any female Scaup I
have seen, and a black face instead of a white one, which I think must
certainly be an instance of a female assuming male plumage, and such he
also considers it, but the ovary was not diseased. Its cheeks, however,
and the side of the neck, are as brown as those of any female Scaup, and
the breast is a mixture of brown and black. Mr. Chapman, however, tells
me that in his opinion the old female Scaups almost lose the white face
every summer, adding that he has frequently seen in a private garden near
Newcastle, an old female Scaup at midsummer, with a sooty black head
and only a trace of the white face remaining. A female Scaup, shot in
Sweden by Mr. J. P. Johnson on July 2nd, as he tells me, has a light-
coloured face of a brownish or dirty white tint, which bears out Mr.
Chapman’s observation. It does seem that there is a good deal more yet
to be learnt about the plumage of our common ducks than is to be found in
books; and it is further complicated by the fact that females of some
of them occasionally assume the male plumage.—J. H. Gurnzy (Keswick
Hall, Norwich).

Hybrid Sparrows.—When commenting upon a hybrid Tree and
House Sparrow, forwarded for inspection by Mr. Tuck (p. 112), I observed
that I did not remember more than one reported case of such a hybrid
occurring in a wild state, and referred to the one mentioned by M. Suchetet
as having been taken in France in December, 1868. I had overlooked
the two other cases recorded by Mr. Macpherson in his ‘ Fauna of Lake-
land.’ He states (at p. Ixxx of his Introduction) that he had, on two
different occasions, seen wild birds which presented all the appearance
of having been bred from a male Tree Sparrow and female House Sparrow,
and of these he has given full particulars. The second of these examples
was obtained at Aiglegill, so recently as the spring of 1892. It follows,
therefore, that Mr. Tuck’s specimen is not the first of the kind which has
been procured in a wild state in England.—J. E. Harrine.

REPTILIA.

Palmated Newt in Worcestershire and Shropshire.—During the
height of the present breeding-season (middle of March), I have found this
species particularly abundant in the many small pools and water-holes of
the Wyre Forest. They are common on both sides of the Dowles Brook,
which runs through the forest, forming the boundary line between
Worcestershire and Shropshire. Newts in general are known as “asgulls”
in this locality. To the best of my knowledge this species has not been
recorded before for either of these two counties.—J. S. Exurorr (Dixons
Green, Dudley).

( 155 )
SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES.

Linnean Society oF Lonpon,

February 15th, 1894.—Prof. Stewart, President, in the chair.

Mr. A. Whyte was elected a Fellow of the Society.

Dr. Maxwell Masters exhibited a remarkably good specimen of Peziza
tuberosa on roots of Anemone. It is only comparatively recently that the
hard lumps (sclerotia) in the soil of anemone-beds have been definitely
associated with the fruit of this Peziza; at one time the sclerotia were
regarded as diseased masses of the root-stock. Dr. Masters also exhibited
some root-galls on plum caused by Cynips (Biorhiza) terminalis. Mr.
Cameron in his monograph on the Cynipide, published by the Ray Society,
has noticed galls formed by this insect on the beech, pine, and vine, but
not on the plum.

Mr. Digby Nicholl exhibited a singular variety of the Partridge, Perdix
cinerea, which had been shot by Mr. A. Waugh, near Creswell, Northum-
berland, in September, 1893. In colour it resembled the Red Grouse,
having the breast and flanks suffused with large patches of dark reddish
brown, and the dorsal plumage very much darker than usual. Mr. Harting
pointed out that this variety was described and figured by the late John
Hancock, in his ‘ Catalogue of the Birds of Northumberland,’ where it had
been met with more than twenty years ago, and in this county he himself
had also procured a specimen at Corbridge-on-Tyne, which was preserved
in the collection of varieties formed by the late Mr. F. Bond.

Mr. Norman Douglass exhibited a black variety of the Water Vole,
Arvicola amphibius, captured at Banchory, Kincardineshire, remarking that
this variety, which was at one time considered to be restricted to Scotland,
had been met with in several English counties (Zool. 1892, pp. 281—298),
and was well established in the fen country of Norfolk and Cambridgeshire.

Mr. George Brebner read a paper on the “ Origin of the filamentous
thallus of Dumontia filiformis,” in which, by the aid of the oxyhydrogen
lantern, he demonstrated—(1), that D. filiformis has a creeping basal thallus
by which it adheres to the substratum; (2), that the creeping thallus is
perennial, and when epiphytic is attached to its host by plugs of tissue
which cause marked disintegration of the cells of the host; (8), that the
ordinary filiform thallus owes its origin to the intercalary transverse
septation of the articulations of certain branches of the creeping thallus.
The group of active filaments may be endogenous or exogenous, and the
order in which the rows of cells become specialized is generally centrifugal ;
(4), these specialized outgrowths emerge from the creeping thallus—
remaining attached to it by the basal portion—and by the subsequent growth
and division of the constituent filaments give rise to the annual well-known

156 THE ZOOLOGIST.

D. filiformis thallus. The paper, which was listened to with great interest,
was criticized by Dr. D. N. Scott, Mr. George Murray, and others.

On behalf of Mr. D. J. Scourfield, a paper was communicated by
Prof. Miall on “ Entomastraca and the surface-film of water.” Briefly sum-
marised, the principal views advanced in this paper were the following :—
(1). To many Entomostraca, the surface-film of water is a very dangerous
element in their environment. To this category belong large numbers
of the Cladocera and Ostracoda. (2). To some others, on the other hand,
the surface-film affords peculiar advantages. This class includes, so far as
yet known, only a few specially modified Cladocera and Ostracoda, and
some Copepods, which do not, however, present any apparent structural
modifications. (3). In all cases (except where some Copepods possibly
make use of the properties of the surface-film to attach themselves to
aquatic plants above the general water-level) the relation to the surface-film,
whether beneficial or the reverse, depends fundamentally upon the same
physical principles,—namely, the upward pull of the surface-film when
forming a capillary depression,—and the possession by the animals of water-
repellent shells, ridges, scales, or sete, capable of penetrating the surface-
film, and producing capillary depressions.

March 15th.—Prof. Stewart, President, in the chair.

Mr. A. G. Tansley was admitted, and Messrs. J. H. Barkill and J. C.
Lisbon were elected Fellows, and Mr. Thomas Hick was elected an
Associate of the Society.

Mr. Clement Reid exhibited some cones of Scotch fir, and also some
carbonised pine-wood from a peat-moss at Parkstone, Dorset. He said the
pine had become extinct in the South of England after Neolithic times,
and had been reintroduced only recently. Its extinction was commonly
supposed to be due to forest fires. He found that every piece of pine-wood
imbedded in the peat-moss was similarly charred, while portions imbedded
in sand were little altered, and he suggested that the appearance of burning
might possibly be due to the action of the growing peat, and have nothing
to do with fire. A discussion followed, in which Messrs. Carruthers,
Hanbury, Christy, and others gave reasons for adhering to the older theory.

Mr. Carruthers exhibited a diagrammatic table, showing an accurate
counting of the annual rings of growth in three gigantic specimens of
Wellingtonia, Sequoia gigantea, from which he calculated the age of the
trees. A section of one in the British Museum (Natural History), 15 feet
in diameter, which was a living tree when cut down, he estimated to be
1330 years old. As illustrative of the size to which these trees grow, he
mentioned that he had measured two in America, one of which was 92 feet
and the other 77 feet in circumference. A discussion followed on the
conditions which accelerated or retarded growth; and Mr. G. Murray, in
reply to a suggestion of Mr. Reid, pointed out that a number of experiments

SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES. 157

had been made on various trees to test their rate of growth under different
conditions of weather and temperature, but that the results varied to such
an extent as to afford no basis for sound conclusions.

Mr. A. B. Rendle exhibited the fruit of Melocanna bambusoides from

the Mauritius, where it had been introduced, and gave some account of
its structure and mode of growth, referring to the figure of it given by

Roxburgh, in his ‘ Plants of the Coast of Coromandel’ (pl. 243), under the
name Bambusa baccifera.

Mr. C. B. Clarke gave the substance of a paper “ On certain authentic
Cyperacee of Linneus,” describing the results of his examination of the
type specimens in the Linnean Herbarium, with suggestions for some
rectifications in the nomenclature. Referring incidentally to the history
of this Herbarium, he regretted the additions which had been made to it
since the death of Linneus, and the introduction of plants which Linneus
had never seen. In the discussion which followed, Mr. Carruthers and
Mr. Daydon Jackson explained under what circumstances these additions
had been made, and showed that it was antecedent to the collection coming
into the possession of the Society, since which time no alteration in its
condition had taken place.

Mr. George Brebner read a paper ‘On the development of the mucilage-
canals of the Marattiace@,” in which, with the aid of some excellent lantern-
slides, he showed that these canals are schizogenous intercellular spaces
arising from the separation of cells, and are lined by a persistent epithelium.
The secretion is thus the product of the activity of the living cells, and
not the result of cell-degradation. An interesting discussion followed, in
which Dr. D. H. Scott, Prof. Reynolds Green, and others took part.

ZootoaicaL Society or Lonpon.

Feb. 29th.—Prof. G. B. Howzs, F.Z.S., in the chair.

A report was read, drawn up by Mr. A. Thomson, the Society’s Head-
Keeper, on the insects bred in the Insect House during the season of 1893.
Examples of 17 species of Bombyces, 29 of Diurnal Lepidoptera, and 24 of
Nocturnal Lepidoptera had been exhibited during the past season, of which
many had not been shown in former years. Amongst these were specimens
of the fine insect Actias mimosa, from S.E. Africa, hatched from cocoons
by the Rev. H. A. Junod.

Mr. Oldfield Thomas called attention to the skin of a Giraffe from
Somaliland, sent for exhibition by Mr. Rowland Ward, and pointed out its
difference from the South-African Giraffe,

A communication was read from Dr. R. W. Shufeldt, giving particulars
of the methods used in preparing specimens of certain Invertebrates for
public exhibition employed in the U.S. National Museum.

158 THE ZOOLOGIST.

Mr. Sowerby read a communication forwarded to him by Dr. O. F. von
Moellendorff, giving an account of a collection of Land-Shells from the
Samui Islands, Gulf of Siam. These land-shells were referred to thirty-
three species, of which many were described as new to science.

A communication from Dr. D. Sharp contained a list of the Hemiptera
Heteroptera of the families Anthocoride and Ceratocombida, collected by
Mr. H. H. Smith in the island of St. Vincent, with descriptions of new
genera and species, prepared by Prof. P. R. Uhler, upon specimens submitted
to him by the West-Indian Committee.

Mr. O. Thomas read the third of his contributions towards our knowledge
of the mammals of Nyasaland, based, like the two former, on specimens
forwarded to the British Museum by Mr. H. H. Johnston, C.B., H.B.M.
Commissioner in British Central Africa. The present paper contained
remarks on thirty-five mammals, of which two were described as new, and
were named respectively Lepus whytet and Procavia johnstoni.

A communication from Dr. R. W. Shufeldt gave an account of the
conclusions to which he had arrived respecting the affinities of the birds of
the order Steganopodes.

ENTomMoLoeicaL Society or Lonpon.

Feb. 28th, 1894. — Colonel Cuartes Swinuoz, M.A., F.L.S., Vice-
President, in the chair.

Professor August Forel, M.D., of the University of Ziirich, was elected
an Honorary Fellow of the Society, to fill the vacancy caused by the death
of the late Professor H. A. Hagen, M.D.

Mr. John Pratt, of the Cedars, New Barnet, and Mr. Michael Yeatman
Woolf, of 1, Marlborough Place, St. John’s Wood, N.W., were elected Fellows
of the Society.

Mr. G. C. Champion called attention to a supposed new Longicorn
beetle, described and figured by Herr A. F. Nonfried, of Rakonitz, Bohemia,
under the name of Callipogon friedlanderi, in the Berl. Ent. Zeitschr. 1892,
p. 22. He said that the supposed characters of the insect were due to the
fact that the head had been gummed on upside down! He also exhibited
an extensive collection of Coleoptera and Hemiptera-Heteroptera made by
himself in the island of Corsica in May and June last.

The Rev. Theodore Wood exhibited a variety of Saturnia carpini, with
semi-transparent wings, a large proportion of the scales being apparently
absent, bred with several examples of the type-form at Baldock, Herts; also —
a pale variety of Smerinthus populi, which was said to have been bred, with
several similar specimens, from larve marked with rows of red spots on
both sides.

Mr. R. South exhibited a variety of Argynnis aglaia, approaching the
form known as var. charlotta, and a variety of Huchelia jacobee, in which

SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES. 159

the crimson costal streak was continued along the outer margin almost to
the inner margin, taken by Mr. Fowler at Ringwood, Hants, in 1893; a
variety of Argynnis euphrosyne, taken by Mr. Mead in Epping Forest in
1893; and a series of black and other forms of Phigalia pedaria, bred during
the present year from a black female captured last spring by Mr. Rose, of
Barnsley.

Mr. H. Goss exhibited, for Mr. C. B. Taylor, of Jamaica, a beautifully
coloured drawing of the larva of Papilio homerus, Fab.

Mr. F. W. Frohawk exhibited drawings showing the complete life-history
of Argynnis aglaia and A. adippe, every stage being figured; also enlarged
drawings of the segments of the larve in their first and last stages, showing
the remarkable difference in structure. Mr. Merrifield commented on the
excellence of the drawings.

Mr. G. C. Champion read a paper entitled ‘‘On the Tenebrionide
collected in Australia and Tasmania by Mr. J.J. Walker, R.N., during the
voyage of H.M. Ship ‘ Penguin,’ with descriptions of new genera and
species”; and he exhibited the specimens comprised in the collection.
Mr. J.J. Walker and Colonel Swinhoe made some remarks on the paper.

Mr. Champion also read a paper entitled “ An Entomological Excursion
to Corsica,” in which he described an expedition to the mountains of that
island in May and June, 1893, in company with Mr. R.S. Standen, Mr. A. H.
Jones, Colonel Yerbury, R.A., Mr. Lemann, Mr. Raine, and others. Mr.
Osbert Salvin, Colonel Yerbury, and Colonel Swinhoe took part in the
discussion which ensued.

Mr. Edward Saunders communicated a paper entitled ‘‘A List of
Hemiptera-Heteroptera collected by Mr. Champion in Corsica, with a
description of one new species.”

Mr. W. F. Kirby read a paper entitled “ Notes on Dorydium west-
woodt, Buchanan White, with observations on the use of the name
Dorydium.”

Mr. Charles B. Taylor communicated a paper entitled ‘ Description of
the larva and pupa of Papilio homerus, Fab.”—H. Goss, Hon. Secretary.

March 14th. — Colonel CHartes SwinHoz, M.A., F.L.S., Vice-
President, in the chair.

Mr. William Bateson, M.A., Fellow of St. John’s College, Cambridge ;
Mr. H. Caracciolo, of the Port of Spain, Trinidad; Mr. G.C. Dudgeon, of
53, Montague Square, W.; and the Rev. Frank E. Lowe, M.A., of St.
Stephen’s Vicarage, Guernsey, were elected Fellows of the Society.

Dr. D. Sharp exhibited a collection of White Ants (Termites), formed by
Mr. G. D. Haviland in Singapore, which comprised about ten or twelve
species, of most of which the various forms were obtained. He said that
Professor Grassi had recently made observations on the European species,
and had brought to light some important particulars; and also that, in the

160 THE ZOOLOGIST.

discussion that had recently been carried on between Mr. Herbert Spencer
and Professor Weismann, the former had stated that in his opinion the
different forms of social insects were produced by nutrition. Professor
Grassi’s observations showed this view to be correct, and the specimens

now exhibited confirmed one of the most important points in his observa-

tions. Dr. Sharp also stated that Mr. Haviland found in one nest eleven
neoteinic queens,—that is to say, individuals having the appearance of the
queen in some respects, while in others they are still immature; these
neoteinic queens were acccompanied by kings in a corresponding state.

Mr. Haviland gave an account of the structure of some of the nests,
and of the cells of the females, and stated that two of the species of White
Ants exhibited certainly grow fungus for their use, as described by
Mr. Smeathman, many years ago, in the ‘ Philosophical Transactions.’
Mr. H. Goss remarked that the fact that the different forms of social insects
were produced by nutrition was known to Virgil, who referred to it, and to
the subject of Parthenogenesis in Bees, in the ‘ Georgics,’ Book iv. Mr.
McLachlan, Colonel Swinhoe, Mr. Champion, Mr. Jenner Weir, and Dr.
Sharp continued the discussion.

Mr. O. E. Janson exhibited specimens of Dicranocephalus adamsi,
Pascoe, from Sze-chuen, Western China, and D. dabryi, Auz., recently
received from the neighbourhood of Moupin, in the same district; he ob-
served that, although the latter had been quoted by Lucas, Bates, and
others, as a synonym of adamsi, the two species were perfectly distinct;
the females of both were unknown to the authors when describing them,
and presented a remarkable difference, for whilst in dabryi this sex is
similar to the male in colour and sculpture, in adamsi it is entirely dull
black, with the upper surface minutely and densely punctate.

Mr. C. O. Waterhouse exhibited, for Mr. E. A. Waterhouse, a specimen
of Colias edusa, closely resembling C. erate, a Continental species, which
was taken on Wimbledon Common ; a varied series of Chrysophanus phleas,
from Barnes Common; and a series of Lyc@na arion, from Cornwall.

The Rev. Canon Fowler read a paper entitled ‘‘Some new species of
Membracide.”

Mr. F. Merrifield read a paper entitled “‘ Temperature experiments in
1898, on several species of Vanessa and other Lepidoptera.” He said that
the results tended to confirm Dr. Dixey’s conclusions as to the origin of the
wing-markings in the Nymphalidae, brought out many, presumably, ances-
tral features, and in some cases were very striking. There was much

difference in sensitiveness between the seasonal broods of the same species, ~

even in V. c-album, although both broods of that species passed the pupal
state in the warmer part of the year.

Dr. F. A. Dixey read a supplementary paper “ On Mr. Merrifield’s
experiments in temperature-variation as bearing on theories of heredity.”
—H. Goss & W. W. Fowter, Hon. Secretaries.

THE ZOOLOGIST

No. 209.—May, 1894.

A NATURALIST’S VISIT TO THE CALF OF MAN,
By P. Ratrs.

THE southern extremity of Man, with the adjoining rocky
islet, has long been well known as a sea-bird station, and has
acquired a classic celebrity as the early recognised breeding-place
of Puffinus anglorum, which received thence its trivial English
name. Sir Wm. Jardine’s ‘ British Birds’ contain many allusions to
bird-colonies as they existed there half-a-century ago. I have many
times visited this locality, but in the summer of 1892 was able to
explore its recesses more fully than ever before, although less
completely than I could have wished. The long mountain range
which forms the main portion of the Isle of Man ends at the
south in a small stretch of low land, on which stands the town of
Castletown, and which crosses the isle, here reduced to a mile in
breadth, from Port St. Mary to Port Erin. Beyond this level
strip rises another mass of rugged though comparatively low
upland, of an oblong shape, about two miles by one mile and
a half, partly cultivated and partly covered with heath, on which
stands, with the bare moor rising behind its cottages, and bearing
near its summit (430 feet above sea-level) a beautiful and perfect
pre-historic stone-circle, the old-world village of Cregneish. This
piece of upland, which forms the south-western extremity of
Man, is called—or at least its highest point is called—the Mull
(variously spelled, but locally pronounced ‘‘Myool”’). Its coast,
precipitous all round, comprises the highest sheer cliffs of Man.
Beyond this is a rocky strait, 300 yards wide, and across it another
rugged isolated hill, the so-called Calf of Man.

ZOOLOGIST, THIRD SERIES, VOL, XVIII,—MAY, 1894. 0)

162 THE ZOOLOGIST.

“The Calf” is 616 acres in extent, irregularly triangular, and
generally pretty compact in shape, though broken at its southern
side. An isolated Stack stands at the south, and another at the
west. The greatest height of the islet, near its western end, is
421 feet. On the north its coast has no cliffs, and on the east
the only high point is the “ Kione Rouayrt,”’ but the rest of its
circuit shows a fine face of precipice, rising almost to its summit.
Near the edge of the high western cliff are two lighthouses,
which formerly showed the position of the Chickens reef, a
little to the south-west, but which have been disused since the
erection of a lighthouse upon the rock itself. Further inland is
a farmhouse, and a part of the Calf, chiefly in its neighbour-
hood, towards the centre of the islet, is cultivated.

It was on June 9th that my visit was made. The weather
was beautiful; a soft haze rested on the calm sea and obscured
the distant view. It was about two o’clock in the afternoon, when,
having procured a boat through the kindness of a Port St. Mary
friend, our party set out from that picturesque little haven.
Leaving the land-locked harbour, and the houses clustered closely
under their sheltering hill, we rowed round the low outstretching
shelves of limestone, curiously formed and rich in fossils, which
separate Port St. Mary from the creek of Perwick—one of the
many Norse names which recall the days of Viking settlement.
Round the point, the low coast gives place to the bold broken cliffs
of slate rock which form the usual Manx sea-margin. On the west
side of Perwick these are not yet lofty, but steep and picturesquely
caverned, and round their edges runs a strip of lovely greensward
which, a month before our visit, was pale with the crowding
blooms of the vernal squill, Scilla verna, which grows so
thickly as to give the cliff-margin the prevailing tint. This is a
favourite haunt of the Wheatear, Sazicola cnanthe, and just
outside is one of the “Shag Rocks” of the island, on this day
untenanted, for these birds in their breeding-season more or less
forsake their ordinary roosting-places. Crossing the opening of
Perwick, we heard the note of the Oystercatcher, Hematopus
ostralegus, and saw a party of some seven or eight of these birds
scudding along by the white-shingled strand of one of its inner
creeks. They probably breed somewhere in this district sparingly,
as they do more numerously on our sandy northern coasts.
Until past Perwick we had seen nothing of rock-birds, but on

A VISIT TO THE CALF OF MAN. 168

reaching, at its further side, the high point called “ Kione-y-
Ghoggan,” Razorbills, Alcea torda, began to pass and repass as
the coast rose into a series of shelves far above the sea, the grey
of the schist-rock, sometimes so dark here, weathered almost
into whiteness. We noted, to our surprise, a pair of Common
Sandpipers, T'ringoides hypoleucus, running at the weedy foot of
these great rock-walls, a situation which seems at variance with
the usual habits of this species, but which I have several times
observed in other parts of the island. Beyond ‘‘ Kione-y-
Ghoggan” is a wild recess where the cliff ledges (not, as on the
outside, bare even of a blade of grass) are thick with a rich
vegetation, the light glaucous hue of the sea-campion, the glossy
green of sorrel, and the flowering beds of samphire, Crithmum
maritimum, varying the rock surface. In the centre of the recess
lies the block called ‘‘ The Anvil,” and the further cliff is pierced
by the cave so well known to tourists as “The Hall,” the other
end of which enters into the Bay of Stacka. Opposite its opening
is the huge pyramidal stack, the “ Sugar-loaf,” from which the
bay derives its name, and both on this and the adjacent main-
land, are shelves which hold a considerable number of Guillemots
and Razorbills. Larus argentatus also breeds abundantly in the
recess at the “ Anvil,” and on the “‘screes”’ of the Stacka Bay,
where the cliff-face is encumbered with vast masses of fallen
stones and debris. At the summit is the show place called the
“ Chasms,” the slipping of the cliff-side having caused deep rents
in the hill above, but the precipitous shore beneath is infinitely
grander than these narrow crevices. The whole surface here is a
waste, and covered with ling, Calluna vulgaris, rising to one of
the highest points of the Mull, the ‘“ Cronk-ny-Arrey” (or as the
people of the neighbourhood, with a strange mixture of Manx and
English, say, ‘Cronk Watch”), one of the many watch-hills of
the anciently warlike islanders.

Leaving the ‘“ Sugar-loaf,” we proceeded to the somewhat
less-known cliffs on the further side of Stacka Bay. These reach
their greatest height in “ Spanish Head,” a fine perpendicular
precipice, the name of which is often connected with the wreck
of some ship or ships of the Spanish Armada. The association
seems to be groundless,* but the sheer and massive precipice,

* See Rey. T. Talbot, in ‘Transactions of Isle of Man Nat. Hist. &c.
Soc.,’ vol. ii, Pp: 109 & seq.
O02

164 THE ZOOLOGIST.

rising from a deep clear sea, is probably the grandest in the Isle
of Man. Hitherto we had seen Guillemots and Razorbills, but —
the more local Puffin, Fratercula arctica, now began to appear, —
and we noticed the first nesting-place of these birds among the
rock debris on the eastern side of the Head. Both water and air
were now alive with birds; Puffins, Guillemots, and Razorbills
sped down from the rocks, and swam and dived around our boat,
while young Shags, Phalacrocorax cristatus, brown, ugly, and
stupid, sat ranged just above the water-mark. The number of
Shags, however, which we saw on this day was not very great.
A little to the west of “ Spanish Head,” a bit of broken ground
high up, is another breeding-place of the Puffin, where, though too
far off to be seen to advantage from the sea-level, we watched the
crowds of birds streaming to the water. From “ Spanish Head”
we crossed the Sound towards ‘‘ the Calf,’’ which was a matter of
no difficulty, the tide being in our favour and the water smooth,
We kept southward at a little distance from the east coast of the
islet. Passing the * Kione Rouayrt,” we observed the same crowd
of rock-birds, and noted the sharply-cut inlet called the “ Ghaw
Yiarn,” or Iron Creek. Before us now, with a strip of lower coast
extending towards it, was the southern horn of “the Calf,” with
the perforated stack called the Burrow at its extremity. Just
opposite, the uncultivated land was richly cushioned with blooming
sea-pink, Statice armeria. Rounding the Burrow, and crossing
the mouth of a rocky inlet, we passed the ‘‘ Caigher,” another
projecting point, and rowed underneath the western coast of “the
Calf,” the fine line of cliffs already spoken of. Here the Razor-
bills and Guillemots appeared again, and up on the cliff-top we
saw some birds flying, which were probably Choughs, Pyrrhocoraxz
graculus. ‘These birds are still not uncommon on the opposite
mainland, and I have watched them walking on the turf near
“the Chasms,” or perching on the craggy sides of an old stone
quarry near the shores of the Sound. Off this side of the Calf
is the ‘‘ Stack,” consisting really of two connected pieces of crag,
though when seen from the north side, where it is visible for a
great distance, it looks like a single pyramid, or even a ship
passing the end of the Calf. It is perhaps 100 feet in height.
Here we landed, and easily ascended the rock, but its landward
side is very precipitous, and as we climbed upwards, we scattered
numbers of rock-birds off the ledges. Young gulls, Larus argen-

A VISIT TO THE CALF OF MAN. 165

tatus, were hiding, motionless, on the bare stony surface, which
was strewed with long trailing sprays of the sea-beet, Beta
maritima.

From the Stack northward the whole west coast of the Calf
was one great colony of Herring Gulls, the most extensive I have
met with. The cliffs here are less precipitous than under the
lighthouses, and the steep slopes of stony rubble, mixed with
grassy ledges and green sloping brows, are such ground as this
gull loves. Low down we saw Puffins coming out from the broken
ground near the bottom; and here we went ashore, there being
no difficulty in landing anywhere on so calm a day. Among the
stones there was a rank growth of sea-campion and other plants,
and the surface was strewed with nests of the Herring Gull, mostly
empty, though one contained two eggs. Broken egg-shells of the
Puffin were lying around. In our hurried inspection, we saw in
one hole among the stones an egg, and in anotherabird. Owing
to these burrows being under and among great fragments of rock,
they were in many instances quite impregnable.

We drew the boat off, and, resting to lunch, looked up at the
vast brows, whose luxuriant upper ledges were blue with masses
of hyacinths, and here and there, in some sheltered spot, a streak
of pale yellow showed where the primroses grew plentifully in the
rich mould, the whole range being reflected softly in the glassy
water at its base. When we rowed on into the Sound, completing
our circumnavigation of ‘‘ the Calf,” the tide had turned, and our
Port St. Mary friend, a knowing pilot, told us to take in our oars.
Then, on a blue and golden sea, borne by a swift though smooth
tide, we drifted, as it were to some enchanted land, accompanied
by the fairy forms of the white sea-gulls. Flocks of these birds
rested on the water, and we noted that some of them would drift,
like ourselves, with the tide, and then fly up and return to the
spot from whence they started, to repeat the action as if for the
mere pleasure of the voyage.

Throughout our return journey the tide still helped us, and,
passing the mainland cliffs again, we reached Port St. Mary in
time for the last train back to Douglas.

During the day’s excursion we met with two colonies of the
Lesser Black-backed Gull, Larus fuscus, and one of the Kittiwake,
IL. tridactylus. I need not indicate the particular sites of these,
for although neither is rare as a British bird, and both are

166 THE ZOOLOGIST.

protected by law in this island, it is only here, so far as I know,
that L. fuseus breeds in any numbers, and the Kittiwake settle-
ment is the only one I have seen or heard of in the island. The
nesting-places of L. fuscus were two isolated rocks, and we saw
no birds away from the immediate neighbourhood of these. The
Kittiwakes occupy a cavernous situation beneath a high very steep
cliff. As we rounded a corner, we heard their unfamiliar note
breaking out amid the murmur of the Guillemots and the harsh,
laughing cry of the larger Herring Gulls, and immediately after-
wards saw a crowd of those beautiful dove-like birds in agitated
flight, while others sat on the ledges above the cavernous recess
up which the still deep water washed, the darkness of its great
terminal cave contrasting strongly with the glow of the sunny
sea-levels without. This small colony is divided into two parts,
though these are very close together. We landed here on low
and narrow weedy shelves at the foot of the precipitous wall,
studded with the cups of that curious sea-weed, Himanthalia
lorea, and one of our party climbed to several nests of the
Kittiwakes, but all he reached were empty, while on others, a few
feet above, the occupants still sat, refusing to be scared away.

I may add that neither on this, nor on any other occasion
when I have been in this locality, did I see a single Black
Guillemot, Uria grylle, although this species has been reported.
by other observers here, and breeds in limited numbers in other
localities in the Isle of Man.

CONTRIBUTIONS TO AN AVIFAUNA OF BADEN.

By G. Norman Dovetass.

Ir would be worth while to undertake the preparation of a
new avifauna of Baden, if, as I believe to be the case, no attempt
has been made since 1849 to revise Kettner’s list, published in
that year. In this list are enumerated some 318 species,—a
number which Niisslin has reproduced in his short general.
survey of 1883,—and, though some of them may be safely struck
out, the balance might be restored by the addition of others
he has omitted, such as the Yellow-browed Warbler, Red-breasted
Flycatcher, and one or two still more “occasional stragglers.” As

CONTRIBUTIONS TO AN AVIFAUNA OF BADEN. 167

it stands, the list exceeds that of any other province of Germany ;
and this abundance of bird-life is due both to the varied character
of the surface of the Grand Duchy, and to its geographical
position in the centre of Europe, in proximity to the Alps, and
on special lines of migration. The basin of the Lake of
Constance is a meeting point for migratory aquatic fowl ; numbers
come in winter to its open waters from smaller continental lakes;
some accidental visitors find their way along the Danube, or from.
the Adriatic, like the Pelican, Flamingo, or the Ibis, of which a
recent specimen, now in my possession, was shot in 1886, though
not in Baden territory. Most of the marine species—Gulls,
Swans, Mergansers, Scoters, &c.—must follow the Rhine Valley,
and among these is the Razorbill, shot by an English sportsman
some years ago, and, to the best of my knowledge not previously
recorded. The list also includes several peculiar alpine species,
and others from still further south—immigrants by way of the
Rhone, such as the flock of Bee-eaters that established itself
for a short time on the sunny slopes of the Kaiserstuhl. Although
the rarer migrants, notably raptorial, stand no better chance of
surviving here than in England, and though the favourite haunts
of others are diminishing every year, the country has special and
permanent attractions for ornithologists, as the literature of this
subject will prove; but whoever wishes to work it out thoroughly
and up to date will have to consult not only Kettner and
Walckner, the majority of whose dates are prior to 1835 (though
the first-named published some interesting details much later),
but also scattered notes in recent standard works and current
journals, to say nothing of the inevitable correspondence.
Perhaps some resident in Baden may be induced by these indi-
cations to take up the task, if only in order to keep the country
up to the level of most other German states in this respect. I have
avoided all references, and am confining myself to a few personal
observations which terminate with the year 1889. The result is
little more than a catalogue of the commoner birds to be met
with in the neighbourhood of the capital ; and for many of these
—very many—lI can find no entries, so that my only excuse in
presenting such an incomplete list is that it may serve to give an
idea of the general status of pird-life, as compared with England,
and of the periodical scarcity and abundance of certain species,
a subject that will acquire more biological value in proportion as

168 THE ZOOLOGIST.

statistics accumulate. In the classification and nomenclature I
have followed ‘ ‘lhe Ibis’ List of British Birds. :

Turdus viscivorus is relatively uncommon, and 7’. musicus
also, at least in winter, when numbers emigrate to warmer
climates. It avoids the town more caretully than merula.—T.
iliacus and pilaris. Both observed in the neighbourhood of
Karlsruhe, the former scarcer.—Z’. merula. ‘The proportion be-
tween Thrushes and Blackbirds in summer is about equal. In
other portions of the continent and in parts of England I find
merula preponderates: a younger form, it appears less delicate,
diffident or particular as to site and construction of nest. It
begins to sing sooner (I have heard it with the thermometer at
freezing-point), and nests perhaps earlier, qualifications that may
contribute to this ascendancy.—Mr. KH. Barrington writes to say
that he has noticed 7’. torquatus in the Black Forest, Kaiserstuhl
near Freibury, and Hohentwiel near Constance.

Pratincola rubetra. Near Riegel, on the Kaiserstuhl.

Ruticilla phenicurus and titys. Both common, the latter
apparently more so. ‘They arrive about the time (March 15th
to 25th) when Bluethroats are said to come in considerable num-
bers, and remain till the first week of October.

Hrythacus rubecula is not so abundant or familiar as in
England, and affects out-of-the-way places. Slghtly on the
increase.

Daulias luscinia. Numerous in and around Karlsruhe, where
it breeds principally in the Grand Ducal “ Schlosspark’” and
** Phasanengarten,” aud still commoner in the wvods bordering
the Rhine. My earliest date for hearing the song is April 2nd,
and the latest June 13th. Iam told a heavy fine is imposed on
those who are found catching Nightingales, and that this is the
cause of their abundance here, whilst in other parts of Germany
they have become practically extinct. It sings occasionally, con-
trary to habit, from the branches of trees, about twenty to thirty
feet from the ground.

Perhaps the commonest Warbler, though it has the gift of
keeping out of sight, is Sylvia cinerea. It breeds late, 1 suspect
in order to await the growth of vegetation, in which to conceal
its nest.—I stumbled against a nest of S. cwrruca in a private
garden of the town: it contained ten eggs, probably the product
ot two-hen birds. Qy. Could all the young have survived in the

CONTRIBUTIONS TO AN AVIFAUNA OF BADEN. 169

limited space, and would one bird have been able to feed the
whole brood? I have found this species also at Forchheim, in the
Rhine woods.—Mr. E. Barrington tells me that he observed S.
orphea in July, 1890, near Karlsruhe.—S. atricapilla and hortensis
are found in the proportion of about five to three, the former
still increasing ; they generally arrive by the first week in April.
The female Blackcap sometimes performs most extraordinary
antics and contortions, more so than any other bird I know, and
doubtless in order to entice an intruder away from her brood.—A
nest of S. nisoria, of which I acquired an egg, was taken in May,
1887, in the ‘“‘Hardwald,” and not many hundred yards from the
town.

Regulus cristatus. Wanders through the Hardwald in company
with Creepers, Tits, and Nuthatches, but, like the Crested Tit,
it never enters the town in winter, as the others do.—I have also
noticed R. ignicapillus several times, and have seen a specimen
of it, captured after a strong gale, in the centre of the town.

Phylloscopus rufus. Rarer than either trochilus or sibilatrix,
the former of which used to be the commonest of the three.
Now the balance is in favour of sitbilatrix. Why?

Hypolais. icterina. Throughout the Rhine woods. A nest
obtained near Daxlanden was situated about eight feet from the
ground, and lined with green grass. The delicate crushed-
strawberry tint of the egg fades, unfortunately, very soon.

Acrocephalus streperus. Plentifully distributed over the Rhine
plain, in suitable localities. Numbers build on the River Alb,
near Karlsruhe, generally between two to five reeds; often in
bushes, brambles, or rank vegetation, the nest almost touching
the ground. An author praises the “ providential ”’ forethought
of the following species, that forbids it to construct its nest too
early; but this sort of instinct is hardly more than a habit,
sometimes even at fault, as was seen in the spring of 1887, when,
during a fortnight of fine weather, the Reed Warblers’ nests on
the Alb were built unusually early, and were all destroyed by a
flood. I have never heard the song of this bird before the Ist
of May. The local German expression “to scold like a ‘ Rohr:
spatz’” (7.¢., a Reed Sparrow) probably has reference to its
notes.—Mr. HK. Barrington writes that he has obtained a nest of

A. twrdoides on the same river.—A. phragmitis is rather scarcer
than in England.

170 THE ZOOLOGIST.

Accentor modularis. Relatively uncommon.

Cinclus aquaticus. Generally distributed along the mountain
streams of the Schwarzwald. Two, that had apparently lost their
bearings, were obtained at Karlsruhe.

Acredula caudata may be the commoner form.—I have only
identified A. rosea for certain. It keeps to the tops of trees,
occasionally visiting the town. Referring to the question of the
height at which the nests are situated, the highest I have seen
was some twenty-five feet up, the lowest actually touching the
ground, on a bank among the roots of a tree.

Parus ater and major occur in about equal numbers. This
genus would increase more in the neighbourhood of Karlsruhe,
as the surroundings are favourable so far as food-supply and
immunity from its usual enemies are concerned, but unfortunately
the number of nesting-sites is limited.—P. palustris is also not
rare; anest I looked into at Eggenstein, about one foot from the
ground, was composed of hare’s fur, and the eggs were carefully
concealed under old leaves, presumably for protection against
weasels, &c.—P. ceruleus and cristatus occur at present in almost
reversed proportions in the Hardwald, and I have elsewhere
observed the identical phenomenon, viz., numerous appearance of
ceruleus coupled with a marked decrease of cristatus. I daresay
the more errant, independent, and fin-de-siécle disposition of the
former has something to do with the change.

Sitta cesiais similarly increasing, and not only near Karlsruhe.
During the breeding season it retires to nesting quarters, mostly
on the summit of old oaks, and its erratic notes are not heard
for some time. One nest I observed occupied an old Wood-
pecker-hole in a pine tree, and was formed exclusively of thin
transparent strips of pine bark, which must have taken very long
to collect. On another occasion the chosen hole, being of incon-
venient size, was plastered up: this proceeding attracted the
attention of a pair of Great Tits, who were so pleased with the
alteration, that they forcibly entered into possession as soon as it
was completed. The diet of the Nuthatch is almost omnivorous,
and largely sought on the ground, as can be seen in winter, when.
the smallest snowfall—but never frost alone—is sufficient to drive
it to one’s windows. In the case of one Nuthatch I shot, the
upper mandible of the beak, instead of fitting on to the lower
one, diverged at an angle: many analogous malformations have

CONTRIBUTIONS TO AN AVIFAUNA OF BADEN. L7t

been recorded, and a Starling in my collection has the upper
mandible curved upwards, so as to be entirely useless. Unless
these birds were fed by others, it is a marvel how they could sur-
vive with such imperfections.

Troglodytes parvulus. Somewhat rarer than in England.
Schlosspark.

Motacilla alba. The commonest of its genus near Karlsruhe.
It nests in huts on the “‘ Exercierplatz,” and in the cabins of the
baths at Maxan on the Rhine, and uses feathers as lining,
whereas lugubris prefers hair.—M. melanope. On all streams on

the hills, and quite close to Karlsruhe (Hohenwettersbach, &c.).

M. flava. Notrare. Nests along the Alb.

Anthus pratensis and trivialis are both scarce in comparison
to England.

Oriolus galbula. Hardwald, and still commoner in the Rhine
woods. I have never heard its melodious song before the begin-
ning of May.

Lanius excubitor. Observed at all seasons of the year in the
plains of Baden and the Bavarian Palatinate, but difficult to
approach. Some may have been major.—I came across a nest of
L. minor along a path in the Hardwald, and quite close to the
town. It was four feet from the ground, and contained five eggs.
—L. collurio. Universally distributed, even in the centre of the
Rhine woods. It is said to be good eating (?).—L. pomeranus.
Once observed, and that just outside Baden territory (at Tutt-
lingen), but common enough, to judge by the number of stuffed
specimens one sees everywhere.

Ampelis garrulus. Near Grotzingen; was shot in some num-
bers in the gardens of Karlsruhe, in winter, 1885.

Muscicapa grisola prefers the oak trees of the “ Wildpark.”
In the Hardwald it is supplanted by M. luctuosa, which generally
arrives a few days earlier, and is common both here and in the
“Schlosspark.” In June, 1886, the Pied Flycatcher was espe-
cially numerous, but forced by the perpetual rain to look on the
ground for its food (vide ‘ The Zoologist’ of that month): this
consisted principally at that time of the battered remains of
those annoying green caterpillars that dangle from the trees by
invisible threads at the exact height of one’s face. In 1889, for
some unexplained reason, luctwosa was much rarer. This species
frequently ousts the Crested Tits and other birds from their

172 THE ZOOLOGIST.

accustomed nesting-places. — M. albicollis. Observed once or
twice. An egg, taken in the Hardwald, in size 18 x 12°5 mm., of
pale blue-green colour, was given me as belonging to this bird.—
M. parva. Mr. E. Barrington tells me that he observed a pair at
the Titisee, near Freiburg. _

Hirundo rustica. Commoner in the villages. Generally
arrives the first week in April, leaving during the second week of
October (the 26th of that month is quite an unusual date), and
seems more regular in its arrival and departure than in England,
—probably on account of the less capricious climate,—as also in
its nesting habits. The Sparrow, in its semi-domesticated con-
dition, has become quite careless in the latter respect, and this
irregularity appears to be reflected, so to speak, in the uncertain
colour, shape, and size of its eggs, that depart from the typical
standard of the Tree Sparrow (as do those of domestic and cage
birds, fowls, canary, &c.). The Swallow, also, now and then
builds at the last moment,—clearly a modern habit, and a per-
nicious one for any migratory bird that has considerations for its
offspring.

Chelidon urbica. Abundant.—Cotyle riparia. Formerly nesting
along the ‘‘Stadtgraben,” where it issues from the town of
Karlsruhe. Common in old quarries and cuttings in the neigh-
bourhood, but especially so on the Kaiserstuhl, whose “ Loess”
supplies an ideal material for excavation.

Certhia familiaris. Scarcer in the Rhine woods than the
Hardwald. I have twice seen it settling on the ground, and was
most surprised once, while watching a Tichodroma, to recognize
close by, my familiar friend the Creeper, indulging in an amateur
performance on the rocky surface, as if in imitation.

Carduelis elegans. With the clearing of woods and marshes —
many species of birds become scarcer, but this is counter-
balanced by a proportionate increase of others, like the Sparrow,
various Finches and Buntings—mostly of the seed-eating kind—
that profit by the change, and are rather attracted than repelled
by towns and cultivated fields. The Goldfinch, though much
sought after as a cage bird, is no exception, being decidedly com-
moner than it used to be in Baden and elsewhere. Nests at —
Palmbach and Grétzingen; abundant also on the Kaiserstuhl.

Chrysomitris spinus. Black Forest; not rare.

Serinus hortulanus. Spreading northward throughout Ger+

CONTRIBUTIONS TO AN AVIFAUNA OF BADEN, 173

many, and has been observed near Karlsruhe since the year 1818.
Nests in the gardens and immediate neighbourhood of the town :
eggs pale green with orange spots.

Ligurinus chloris. Hardwald and elsewhere. Pientiful.

Coccothraustes vulgaris. Schlosspark, Hardwald and Rhine-
woods. Shy, but considerably increasing in numbers. Large
flocks in February, 1888.

Fringilla celebs. On the Kaiserstuhl I noticed a curious
Chaffinch’s nest, built against the upright stem of a walnut-tree.
It was supported solely by a piece of detached bark, and adap-
tively ornamented on tle outside, exactly resembling a round
excrescence in the wood. Hedges being absent in the country,
many nests are constructed in low bushes, not more than five feet
from the ground, and externally formed of green moss.—F'’. monti-
fringilla. Sometimes visits the streets of Karlsruhe in winter,
but not often. The peasants of the Bavarian Palatinate kill
numbers of Bramblings—locally called Bé-hammer—in winter,
when they are in excellent condition, by observing where the
flocks settle down to roost, and shooting them by torch-light with
blowpipes and small bullets of clay, one by one, as they sit
huddled together in rows. As each bird drops, its neighbour
dreamily steps into its place and falls in its turn. The sport
continues till one bird, not sufficiently stunned, gives the alarm.

Pyrrhula europea. Common, especially in Schlosspark.

Loxia curvirostra. Frequently observed. The tenacity of
life of this species has often struck me as unusually great.

Emberiza miliaria. Rarer than E. citrinella, which is one of
the commonest birds.—H. scheniclus. LHggenstein, Daxlanden,
and other places near Karlsruhe.

Sturnus vulgaris. Wildpark and elsewhere.

Nucifraga caryocatactes. The few I have seen in the Black
Forest, probably residents, were remarkably tame. Others,
arriving in winter, may belong to the slender-billed form.

Garrulus glandarius. Generally distributed, but occasionally
conspicuous by its absence in districts which it otherwise fre-
quents (periodical migration ?). There is a good deal of local
variation in the pitch and tone of its voice. It imitates
other birds—the Buzzard, for instance—to perfection.

Pica rustica. Rarer than in England, and more so near
Karlsruhe than in the Rhine woods,

174 THE ZOOLOGIST.

Corvus monedula. Kaiserstuhl, Freiburg.—C. corone. In
Baden the Crow has modified its nesting habits, perhaps for
greater security, and often builds in the centre of the densest
woods, instead of in its usual conspicuous look-out positions.

C. cornix. A winter visitor, remaining pretty late sometimes. —
A propos of the Siberian hybrids of this and the preceding
Species, Kettner wrote, in 1849: ‘“C. cornix and corone form
only one species. My collection contains numbers of transitional
types. The variety called Hooded Crow is not nearly so common
as the black Carrion Crow. In December, 1846, a specimen was.
shot near Baden with the grey parts of the Hooded Crow black,
and the black parts grey.”—C. frugilegus. In the fields round
Karlsruhe, in winter.—C. corax. Observed at the Schurm See,
and near the Wild See, in the Black Forest.

Alauda arvensis. Plentiful. Some remain throughout the
winter.—A. cristata. Much rarer in 1887, as the rains of the
previous season had probably destroyed many broods. Frequent
in the town in winter.

Cypselus apus. Generally arrives April 25th to 30th; my
earliest date is the 17th of that month. Nests in Karlsruhe,
under the eaves of the New “ Kunstschule,” and on the Kaiser-
stuhl, in quarries, promiscuously with Sand Martins.

Caprimulgus europeus. Not uncommon in the Hardwald. I
have also heard it high up in the Schwarzwald (Kniebis Pass).

Picus martius. In the Black Forest I have generally started
this bird off the ground, where it seems to find more food than
on the well-kept timber. I observed one in the Rittner-wald
near Karlsruhe, and another one, quite close at hand, in the Wild-
park ; the latter was unfortunately shot by a gamekeeper.

Dendrocopus major. Common enough on pine trees, firs, and
poplars. Nests in boxes nailed up for the use of Starlings, in
the Hardwald.—D. medius. Schlosspark and elsewhere. Some-
what rarer, but more tame and sociable, than the preceding.
By its knack of climbing up the thinnest branches of trees, it
can be distinguished in any light from D. major.—D. minor.
Observed in the Wildpark, and in gardens of the town. The —
females seem to preponderate numerically.

Gecinus viridis. Near Karlsruhe there is rather a deficiency
of old trees, and ant-hills are few and far between; still there are
generally one or two of these birds to be seen,—G. canus,

CONTRIBUTIONS TO AN AVIFAUNA OF BADEN. 175

Commoner than might be supposed, principally near villages, in
fields, orchards, and on the edge of beech woods, in company
with Jays and Missel Thrushes.

Jynx torquilla. Abundant in Baden and the Bavarian Pa-
latinate.

Alcedo ispida. Visits the lake of the Stadtgarten now and
then, but generally leaves the same day. A pair breeds regularly
on the Alb, on one or the other side of the Soldiers’ bathing
establishment, but the nests are seldom unmolested. ‘They are
very shy, and the young disappear from the district as soon as
they can fly. Another pair haunts the “ Bibersgrund” (Beavers’
meadow), opposite Maxan, on the Rhine.

Upupa epops. Not rare in the plain on both sides of the
Rhine. One pair comes every year to the Wildpark.

Cuculus canorus. Generally distributed. Occasionally lays
in the nest of the Icterine Warbler.

Strix flammea. Observed once or twice; used to be frequent
at Scheibenhard, near Karlsruhe.

Asio otus. Perhaps the commonest species. Hardwald, &c.
The peasants imagine the hooting of Owls predicts rain, because
they feel the approaching cold: a superstition like this is alluded
to in an English nursery-rhyme.

Athene noctua. Also not rare.

Buteo vulgaris. Common, breeding in the Wildpark, but
much persecuted. It is rather scarce in the Bavarian Palatinate.

Aquila clanga. I may record the capture of a specimen (as
this has probably not been done) near Wiesloch, in the winter of
1887; it was afterwards sent to the Zoological Gardens of
Karlsruhe.

Astur palumbarius. Observed several times, chiefly in autumn.
An adult female was shot at Karlsruhe in 1886.

Aceipiter nisus. More numerous than the Kestrel, at least near
the capital, probably on account of its wariness and swift flight.
It is seldom that these birds fly into one’s hands, but such was
the case with one, which was caught, while pursuing a Redstart,
by a person in the street.

Milvus ictinus. Slightly rarer than the Buzzard.—M. migrans.
A specimen from near Karlsruhe lived twenty-three years in con-
finement, and may be alive still.

Tinnunculus alaudarius.—I am told the country people, in

176 THE ZCOLOGIST.

parts of the Black Forest, protect the Kestrel, and acknowledge
its usefulness by allowing it to build on their houses.

Pandion haliaétus. I noticed two pairs on the Rhine, batwaall
Schaffausen and Constance, in 1886.

Phalacrocorax carbo. Maxan; once observed.

Ardea cinerea. Occasionally visits the Stadtgarten lake, and
the meadows at Gottesau, close by. There is a heronry near
Oos; but I could form no estimate of the number of nests, for
they were out of sight, on the summit of high firs. Another colony |
on the Neckar, I believe, was founded long ago by some emperor
expressly for the purposes of falconry.*

Botaurus stellaris. A good number of this class of birds are
still obtained, principally during the Snipe season. A migrating
Bittern was caught—in 1886 I think—in an exhausted condition,
in a stable not far from Karlsruhe.

Ciconia alba. Not so familiar as in some parts of the conti-
nent, though most villages possess one pair, the Storks arrive early,
in the latter part of February, and lose no time in arranging and
re-arranging the materials for their nests, the foundation of which
is usually an old cart-wheel. I once noticed quite an unusual
number of them (twenty-nine) collected together on some flooded
meadows near Gottesau. One stork used to live in the streets of
Karlsruhe, and was remarkably tame, till somebody took the liberty
of painting his legs blue, since which time it has not been heard of.

Anas boschas. Large flocks of this and other species pass
over the town in winter ; I have not had an opportunity of seeing
any of them at close quarters, but a glance at Kettner’s list will
show that the country has a surprising variety of visitors, natatory
as well as grallatorial.

Columba palumbus and C. @nas. Both appear slightly on the
increase.

Turtur communis. More plentiful in the Bavarian Palatinate.

Phasianus colchicus. In parts of the Hardwald and Rhine
woods (Forchheim). The call-note differs a little from that of
the English bird.

Perdix cinerea. Common in the plain.

Coturnix communis. In fields near Beiertheim.

Tetrao bonasia. Appears to be well-nigh extinct in most

* The truth of this supposition might be ascertained possibly by reference
to the archives preserved at Heidelburg.—ED,

CONTRIBUTIONS TO AN AVIFAUNA OF BADEN. 177

parts of the Schwarzwald, like the Blackcock already is. I saw
a specimen shot not many years ago at Lautenbach.—T. urogallus.
Pretty abundant in certain localities, as at Rippoldsau and Wild-
see. The derivation of the German name “ Auerhahn” seems
puzzling. Many older authors call the bird “ Ohrhahn,” on
account of its ‘‘red ears,” but this may be popular etymology.
Some, including Grimm, I think, derive the word from “ Aue,”
signifying wood (“cock of the wood”); others think it is con-
nected with an old affix “ur” (cf. “ur wald,” &c.), meaning
“ oreat,” and therefore referring to its size. When the ancient
term ‘‘ Der Ur” (Auerochs) became less familiar in proportion
as the animal died out, the impression of it may have been
revived by adding “ ochs,” and thus “ Urochs” and ‘‘ Urhahn”’
have been unconsciously brought together. Tschudi says the
latter form was exclusively employed during the Middle Ages.

Crex pratensis. Occasionally heard on the hills.

Gallinula chloropus. Not rare on the lower parts of the Alb.

Fulica atra. Forchheim.

Glareola pratincola. I once observed this bird on the Alb, not
far from Karlsruhe; it is popularly called “‘Himmelsziege”’ (Air-
goat), in allusion to its peculiar notes and upward flight.

[This observation seems misapplied, and refers doubtless to
the Common Snipe, the old name for which in England is
“‘heather-bleater,’ bestowed upon it from the peculiar sound
which it makes during the breeding season, while on the wing.
If a bird is “popularly called” by any particular name, we are to
infer that it is common enough to be popularly observed; but
this does not seem to be the case with the Collared Pratincole in
the district referred to.—Ep. |

Vanellus vulgaris. At Eggenstein, and sometimes on the fields
near Karlsruhe.

Gallinago celestis. Both this and the Jack Snipe are not rare

below Eggenstein.

—E——SSSS—— eee =

Tringoides hypoleucus. On the Rhine, as well as along all the
rivers of the Black Forest.

Sterna fluviatilis. The Common Tern and the Black-headed
Gull are frequently to be seen near Maxan. Kettner enumerates
twenty species of Gulls and Terns in his list.

Podicipes fluviatilis. Observed once or twice on the Lower
Alb. All the Grebes are said to occur in this district.

ZOOLOGIST, THIRD SERIES, VOL. XVIII.—MAY, 1894. P

178 THE ZOOLOGIST. —

A LIST OF BIRDS OBSERVED AT TOOTING- BOK E
COMMON, NEAR LONDON.

By F. W. Frowawk.

Havine resided in this neighbourhood during the last seven
years, and kept an accurate account of the birds observed in the
immediate vicinity by my brother and myself, I think the following
list may be of interest, considering that the locality is but five
miles from Charing Cross. The species followed by an nm have
been found nesting :— .

1. Sparrow Hawk. 82. Tree Pipit. n. 7
2. Kestrel. 33. Meadow Pipit. :
8. Barn Owl. n. 34. Sky Lark. n.

4. Red-backed Shrike. 35. Yellow Bunting.

5. Spotted Flycatcher. n. 36. Chaffinch. n.

6. Missel Thrush. 2. 37. Sparrow. 7.

7. Fieldfare. 38. Hawfinch.

8. Song Thrush. 2. 39. Greenfinch. n.

9. Redwing. 40. Goldfinch.

10. Blackbird. n. 41. Linnet.

11. Hedgesparrow. 12. 42. Lesser Redpoll.

12. Robin. 2x. 43. Bullfinch.

13. Redstart. n. 44. Starling. n.

14. Stonechat. 1%. 45. Carrion Crow. 1.

15. Whinchat. 2. 46. Rook. n.

16. Wheatear. 47. Jackdaw.

17. Sedge Warbler. 48. Jay.

18. Nightingale. n. 49. Green Woodpecker.

19. Blackcap. n. 50. Lesser Spotted Woodpecker,
20. Garden Warbler. n. 51. Wryneck. ”. [n.
21. Whitethroat. n. 52. Tree Creeper.

22. Lesser Whitethroat. n. 53. Wren. n.

23. Willow Warbler. 2. 54. Nuthatch. n.

24. Chiffchaff. 1. 55. Cuckoo. 2.

25. Golden-crested Wren. n. 56. Kingfisher.

26. Great Tit, n. 57. Swallow. 1m.

7. Blue Tit. n, 58. House Martin. n.

28. Coal Tit. n. 59. Sand Martin. April 4th,
29. Marsh Tit. 60. Swift. 2. (1894.
30. Pied Wagtail. 61. Nightjar.

31. Yellow Wagtail. 62. Woodpigeon, 2.

LIST OF BIRDS AT TOOTING-BECK COMMON. 179

68. Stock Dove. 70. Herring Gull.

64. Pheasant. 71. Common Gull.

65. Woodcock. 72. Bar-tailed Godwit, and

66. Water Rail. 73. Curlew. March 25, 1894,
67. Water Hen. 11 p.m.

68. Wild Duck. 74, Wader, sp. not determined.
69. Teal.

_ The Bar-tailed Godwit and Curlew I heard passing over,
apparently a large flight from their cries, going north-east.

Every spring and autumn, during night-time, a bird is heard
—probably some kind of wader—that utters continually a short
note repeated four times in quick succession, greatly resembling
in tone the note of a child’s squeaking toy. From the direction
of sound it apparently flies about in an aimless manner, and
often appears to be circling round, especially on dark stormy
nights. Once at midnight, while crossing the Common, I flushed
one by a clump of furze ; it rose quite near me, but I was unable
to see it, for the night was very dark. It called immediately it
rose, and from its notes appeared to take a zigzag line of flight.

What species it is I have as yet been unable to discover,
although I have frequently made enquiries of my ornithological
friends. It is certainly abundant during migration. I have
heard the notes annually since 1877, in which year I first noticed
them on a very stormy August night, during a thunderstorm,
when the bird which uttered them was heard calling in all direc-
tions, and appeared to be flying wildly about.

[The description of the flight, and the short note, repeated
three or four times, remind us of the Common Sandpiper, T'ring-
oides hypoleucus, which would be a spring and autumn migrant in
the neighbourhood referred to.—Ep.]

WILD BIRDS PROTECTION ACT (1880) AMENDMENT.

Tue following is the text of the Bill which has been re-
introduced into Parliament during the present session by Sir
Herbert Maxwell, Bart., M.P., and which has for its object the
protection of eggs.

Memorandum.—The present Bill differs from a Bill on the
same subject which the House of Commons passed through all

P2

180 THE ZOOLOGIST.

its stages last year in that certain amendments made therein in
the House of Lords are incorporated as alternative to the original
provisions. Under the Bill as it is now presented, County Councils
are empowered to apply for an order— .
(1). For the prohibition of taking eggs within specified areas;
(2). For the prohibition of taking the eggs of named species
of birds;
(3). For the addition of any bird, not included in the schedule
of the original Act, to the said schedule.

A Brtt to AMEND THE Wiup Birps Protection Act, 1880. ©

Whereas it is expedient to provide for the better protection
of certain species of wild birds in the United Kingdom:

Be it therefore enacted by the Queen’s most Excellent Majesty,
by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and
Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled,
and by the authority of the same as follows:

l. This Act may for all purposes be cited as the Wild Birds
Protection Act, 1894, and shall be construed as one with the Wild
Birds Protection Act, 1880 (hereinafter referred to as “the
principal Act’’), except as hereinafter provided. |

2. A Secretary of State may, after the passing of this Act,
upon application by the County Council of any administrative
county by order prohibit—

(1). The taking or destroying of wild birds’ eggs in any year
or years in any place or places within that county; or

(2). The taking or destroying the eggs of any specified kind
of wild birds within that county or parts thereof, as
recommended by the said County Council and set forth
in the said order. 4

(3). The application by the County Council shall specify the
limits of the place or places, or otherwise, the particular
species of wild birds to which it is proposed that any
prohibition in the order is to apply, and shall set
forth the reasons on account of which the application
is made. .

3. A Secretary of State may, on the representation of the”
council of any administrative county, order that the principal
Act shall apply within that county or any part or parts thereof to-

WILD BIRDS PROTECTION ACT AMENDMENT. 181

any species of wild bird not included in the schedule of that Act,
as if that species of wild bird were included in the schedule of
that Act, and on the making of such order that Act shall apply
accordingly.

4,—(1). The council of an administrative county shall in every
year give public notice of any order under this Act which is in
force in any place within their county during the three weeks
preceding the commencement of the period of the year during
which the order operates.

(2). Public notice under this section shall be given—(a). As
regards each place in which an order operates, by adver-
tising the order in two local newspapers circulating in
or near that place; (b). By fixing notices of the order in
conspicuous spots within and near each place in which
the order operates; and (c). In such other manner as
the Secretary of State may direct, or as the council may
think expedient, with a view to making the order known
to the public.

5. Any person who, after the passing of this Act, shall take or
destroy, or incite any other person to take or destroy—(a) the
eggs of any wild birds within any area specified in the order; or
(0) the eggs of any species of wild bird named in the order, shall,
on conviction before any two justices of the peace in England,
Wales, or Ireland, or before the sheriff in Scotland, forfeit and
pay for every egg so taken or destroyed a sum not exceeding
one pound.

6. Any expenses incurred by the council of a county under
this Act may be defrayed by that council as expenses for general
county purposes within the meaning of the Local Government
Act, 1888 (51 & 52 Vict. c. 41), or, so far as respects Scotland, the
Local Government (Scotland) Act, 1889 (52 & 53 Vict. c. 50).

7.—(1). This Act shall apply to Scotland with the substitution
of the Secretary for Scotland for a Secretary of State.

(2). This Act shall apply to Ireland, with the substitution of
the Lord Lieutenant for a Secretary of State, and of the
grand jury for the council of an administrative county,
and any expenses incurred in carrying this Act into
effect in Ireland shall be defrayed out of the grand
jury cess,

182 THE ZOOLOGIST.

Writing in ‘ The Times’ of the 18th April last, Mr. T. Digb:
Pigott thus criticises the provisions of this Bill, and gives ar
abstract of the Dutch laws which affect the protection of wild
birds’ eggs :—

“By common consent it is desirable, if our rarer species
birds are to be saved from possible extinction, that their eggs
should be protected. As to the manner in which such protection
can best be secured doctors differ, and it is by a process of elimina-
tion that we are most likely to arrive at a satisfactory conclusion.

A general protection of all wild birds’ eggs is admitted by
every one to be out of the question, and, in the opinion, I think,
of most who have given attention to the subject, the likeness of
the eggs and breeding habits of many common and rare birds
makes any discriminating law which would protect the eggs of
certain species and leave those of others unprotected scarcely less
impracticable.

A proposal made in an early stage of the agitation, that eggs
might be legally collected if taken for food, but not for any other
purpose, was disposed of by Bishop Wilberforce, who convinced
the House of Lords that it would be unreasonable to compel
‘a man of science’ to prove his right to keep a treasured egg in
his collection by eating it.

A later proposal is Lord Walsingham’s, made last session, for
the establishment of ‘sanctuaries’ where birdsnesting should be
@ crime within a charmed line, though legal outside. Excellently
as such an arrangement may work in an undeveloped country—as.
applied, for instance, by Lord Onslow’s Government to ‘ the Little
Barrier’ and another outlying island of New Zealand —it is
scarcely, perhaps, so well suited to the conditions of life and
property in crowded England. Squire A and Lord B, if they are
sensible men, might not object to their adjoining properties being
placed on different footings; but Tom Smith, with a cottage on
this side of the brook, would find it a little difficult to appreciate
the justice of a law under which his boy has to go before them as
magistrates for taking a nest, while Bill Jones’s boy, just over
the bridge, strings eggs by the dozen without a word from the
policeman.

I venture, with all deference to one of our highest authorities
on matters connected with natural history, to think that a better
remedy is to be found in another direction.

WILD BIRDS PROTECTION ACT AMENDMENT. 183

Our practical neighbours in Holland have had the same
difficulty to face as ourselves, and have met it effectively by simple,
and, as I have been assured, popular laws, based on the common-
sense principle that—common law notwithstanding—a man has
as much right to protect the eggs laid on his ground as he has
to protect his gooseberries, and that any one taking the one or
the other without his leave is equally worthy of punishment.

In case you should think them just now of sufficient interest
to be worth publication, I enclose two translations, the one an
extract from the Dutch Game Law, the other an Act now in force
in Holland ‘for the preservation of animals of service to agri-
culture and woods.’

Extract from the Dutch Game Law of June 18th, 1857 :—

‘ Article 22.—It is forbidden to search for or to collect, to expose for
sale, or to carry away the eggs of wild birds. This prohibition does not
refer to the eggs of wild ducks, nor, during the months of February, March,
and April, to the eggs of Divers, Waterhens, Snipe, Curlews, Sandpipers,
and Plovers, or of Pewits, if the searching and collecting is undertaken in
company of the proprietor or rightful owner, or with a written permit from
the latter, to be shown on demand of any one of the officers appointed to
carry out this law. ‘The buying, exposing for sale, or removal of the eggs
of Pewits is allowed up to and on May 5th.’

Dutch Law of the 25th of May, 1880, for the protection of
species of animals useful for agriculture or woodcraft :—

‘ Article 1.—IJt is forbidden to catch, to kill, to remove, to offer for
sale, to sell, to supply, or to possess for the purpose of delivery for sale
mammals or birds living wild, which are useful for agriculture or woodcraft.

Article 2.—Of the birds referred to in Article 1 it is forbidden :—(1) To
remove, destroy, carry away, offer for sale, sell, deliver, or keep in readiness
for delivery the eggs. (2) To disturb or destroy the nests.

Article 3.—A list will be drawn up and issued showing what mammals
and birds shall be considered, either for all time or for a section of the year,
as being useful for agriculture or woodcraft. This list will be obtainable
from our Commissioners in the provinces.

Article 4.—The Minister is empowered, on special occasions for a
scientific purpose, to exempt certain persons from the penalties attached
to infraction of one or more of the clauses of Articles 1 and 2.

Article 5.—The capture or slaughter of the animals referred to in this
law, when they are found on isolated private property, such as gardens,
crofts, or orchards, is permitted to the owner and employer of the ground,
‘and can by them be made over to a third party. The same exception

184 | THE ZOOLOGIST.

applies to the removal, disturbance, or destruction of eggs. By isola
property is meant what is surrounded to the height of at least a métre
a wall, hedge, screen, fence, or trellis, or surrounded to the breadth of
least two métres by a ditch of a depth of at least 1 métre 50 centimetres
below the surface of the ground.

Article 6.—Except in the cases described in Articles 3, 4, and 5, all
infractions of Articles 1 and 2 will be punished by a fine of from 50 cents
to 20 guldens. The repetition of the offence within two years, or repeated
cases, may be punished by a double maaimum fine, or by imprisonment of
at least one day and at most seven.

Article 7.—On each offence, the dead or captured animals, together
with the eggs, and all objects by which the offence was committed, shall be
seized. Living animals will be set at liberty. The dead animals and the
eggs will be given to the officials to be destroyed.

Article 8.—The carrying out of this law is administered by the officers
of the Royal or communal police, and by the officials of the Treasury.”

NOTES AND QUERIES.

The late John Jenner Weir, F.L.S., F.Z.8., F.E.S, — It is with
much regret that we have to notice the death of this ardent naturalist,
in his seventy-second year, on the 28rd March last. Mr. Jenner Weir
was born at Lewes in August, 1822. He early displayed a keen love for
Natural History, and with his brother, Mr. Harrison Weir, kept a multitude
of living creatures, at one time having no less than a hundred different
species of vertebrates in captivity. The scientific spirit manifested itself in
careful observation of their habits and in experimental breeding. In 1840,
it would seem from his diary, that he had definitely turned bis attention
to Ornithology, but this was merely an indication of the growth of his love
for Natural History generally, for in 1844 we find him ‘“treacling” the
palings of the garden at Camberwell, whither his parents had removed
from Lewes in 1831. In 1845 his first note was published; it appeared
in ‘The Zoologist,’ and clearly shows the close and accurate observation
and spirit of scientific enquiry which continued his habit throughout life.
The note is on an entomological subject, and the few observations from his
pen which are scattered throughout the volumes of ‘The Zoologist’ are
indiscriminately entomological and ornithological. But while these were
his chief hobbies, he took all nature for his province, and no branch of
Natural History was without interest to him. He was a sparing writer,
putting his observations into the most concise language and the fewest
words; indeed he had a vast store of knowledge that the world would gladly

NOTES AND QUERIEs. 185

have shared, but which unfortunately he did not publish. In 1845 he was
elected a member of the Entomological Society of London, and formed
many friendships amongst the entomologists of the time, of whom but very
few remain. It was not until 1869 that his first paper was contributed to
the Society. He had worked assiduously for many years at the Micro-
Lepidoptera, but in 1868 he undertook a series of experiments on the
relation between insectivorous birds and the colour and edibility of
Lepidoptera and their larve. This paper was the outcome of these
experiments, and a second followed. With Darwin he was in regular
correspondence, and frequent reference is made to these experiments in
the ‘ Descent of Man’ and other of Darwin’s works. His later writings
have appeared principally in ‘ The Entomologist,’ the last of them being
published in the number for April, which contained, alas! the announcement
of his death. He became Vice-President and Treasurer of the Entomological
Society, and Fellow of the Linnean, Zoological and Royal Horticultural
Societies, and was a member of the South London Entomological Society
from its commencement. He was an active member of the Finance Com-
mittee of the Zoological Society, and was on the Scientific and Narcissus
Committees of the Royal Horticultural Society, where he was a regular
attender at the fortnightly exhibitions. His love of gardening found room
to develop after his removal to Beckenham, and it was a pleasure to go
round the shows with him, and hear of his plants, and how many of them
had especial interest from their connection with different friends, or with
places he had visited. At one time he and his friend Edward Newman
used to spend their Saturday afternoons at the Zoological Gardens, the
interest of such visits being perhaps all the greater from the fact that their
opposite views on the Darwinian theory gave rise to frequent philosophical
argument. Mr. Weir entered the Customs Service in 1839, and remained
until 1885 ; in 1874 he became Accountant and Controller-General, having
climbed from the bottom to the top of the tree; his promotion gave universal
satisfaction in the Civil Service. He used to allude to his own life as an
illustration of the advantage of persevering steadily at one thing in spite of
_ all temporary hardships and discouragements. Always kindly and tolerant
with young men, he was especially ready to help them in science, and thus
he took great interest in the South London Entomological Society, of which
he was for several years President or Vice-President, from time to time
communicating various papers. The love of Nature was to him, he said, a
passion; he thought deeply, and spoke of what he knew and loved; so that
his conversation was an education and a delight. A wide circle of friends
will mourn his loss.

186 : THE ZOOLOGIS'.

MAMMALIA.

Habits of the Badger.—In neither the Editor's very interesting
article on the Badger (Zool. 1888, p. 1) nor in Bell’s ‘ British Quadrupeds,’”
do I find mention of a circumstance that came under my observation —
on the 9th April last. There are a good many badger-earths in Curragh-
more, the demesne of the Marquis of Waterford, in my parish, and
while examining one of these, a hole near the entrance of a very
large burrow was pointed out to me by the head gamekeeper. This
hole was partially filled with the excrement of the Badgers, and was
evidently the place that was constantly used by them for the purpose. The
whole surroundings of the burrow were perfectly clean. It is, I believe,
well known that Badgers are very cleanly animals. An instance of this is
given in the Editor's article (p. 7), and I think the circumstance I have
mentioned confirms their character in this respect. Mr. Gordon, the game-
keeper, told me that he had often seen places of the kind near the entrance
of badger-earths, but it was, I confess, a new experience to me.—WILLIAM
W. Fiemyne (Coolfin, Portlaw, Co. Waterford).

[Some years ago, when staying on a visit with Mr. Assheton Smith, at
Vaynol, North Wales, where Badgers are not only plentiful, but are strictly
protected, our attention was particularly directed to the trait above referred
to, and during our rambles in the woods we had ocular demonstration of
the truth of it. We remember, too, the amusement of our host on our
remarking that it was evident the Badger was the original inventor of the
‘earth-closet,” though modern patentees had sought to deprive him of
the credit which properly belonged to him.—Eb. |

The Badger: its period of gestation. — On April 7th, 1893, a
female Badger was trapped at the mouth of its “earth” in Isell Woods,
and after having been kept in close confinement for twelve months she gave
birth, during the first week of April, 1894, to two young ones. Is not this an
unusual occurrence, for no other Badger is known to have had access to her
during her captivity ?—J. R. Denwoop (Kirkgate, Cockermouth).

(The average period of gestation in the Badger is believed to be about.
twelve months, but instances are on record in which these animals have
produced young after being in confinement for thirteen and even fifteen
months. A good deal of evidence on the subject will be found in ‘ The
Zoologist’ for 1888, pp. 12, 18.—Eb. ]

Black Rats on Ships in Port.—The man from whom the Black Rats
were obtained is a professional ratcatcher. He lives at Birkenhead, near
Liverpool, and makes his living by catching rats on the large rice and grain
ships when they are in port. Those lately taken were caught on the
s.s. ‘Clan Ronald’ while she was lying in a dock at Birkenhead. The
‘Clan Ronald’ had shortly before arrived from Bombay, and had a cargo

NOTES AND QUERIES. 187

of grain and seed aboard. The rats which the ratcatcher caught on this
ship were all black ones, and he believes that there were none of the
ordinary brown ones there, for he never either caught or saw any, though he
says that he has seen both sorts together on other ships. They are very
fond of warmth, and remain on the ships, whatever the cargo may be. He
catches them in round cage-traps with a special kind of bait, but he would
not say what it was. The tail of the Black Rat is—so he says—always
half-an-inch longer than its body, and its ears are exceptionally thin.
They breed very freely. I remember that the man from whom I used to get
them in London told me that he used to catch them on the different ships
in the London Docks.—F. H. Mitts (Red Hill, Beaumaris, Anglesea).

Barbastelle in Northamptonshire.— A solitary specimen of the
Barbastelle, Synotus barbastellus (Keys. & Blas.), was found under the loose
bark of an old elm, at about twelve feet from the ground, near Pilton, Oundle,
on March 22nd, and was brought to me alive. This species is recorded by
Jenyns (Manual Brit. Vertebrates, 1835, p. 29) to have occurred in this
county, but the present is the first that has come into my possession therein.
I may mention that of the eight species of bats hitherto recorded as having
been found in Northamptonshire, I have now handled living specimens of
six. The remaining two not yet found by me are Vespertilio daubentonit
and V. emarginatus. I have good reason to believe that the Serotine, Ves-
perugo serotinus, is to be found in our neighbourhood, but up to the present
I have no proof of its existence here.—Litrorp (Lilford Hall, Oundle).

Bearded Seal on the Norfolk Coast.—In my note on the above
occurrence (p. 82), 1 stated that ‘‘the mounted skeleton of this animal
would in due course be placed in the Cambridge Museum” of Zoology.
A letter which I have just received from Mr. Harmer, I regret to say,
necessitates the modification of this statement, for he informs me that the
skeleton is not complete enough to be worth articulation, but that the
separate bones will be kept there, and their origin properly recorded in the
Catalogue.—T. Sours we. (Norwich).

The Marten in Ireland: Corrigenda.—P. 136, Co. Meath, for Dawes
read Dames, and so throughout the article; Co. Wicklow, for Seeper read
Leeper. P. 137, Co. Carlow, for P. W. Trim read P. W. Finn. P. 138,
Co. Wexford, delete young before Marten ; and for copse read open. P. 141,
Co. Galway, for Ahascough read Ahascragh. Correspondents should write
proper names more distinctly.

BIRDS.
Woodcock breeding in the Lake District.—If you will kindly allow

me, I would like to add a little to what has already been stated (pp. 112,
152) on Woodcocks breeding in the Lake District. Last year, in Isell

188 THE ZOOLOGIST.

Woods, which are five miles from Cockermouth, I knew of three nests. In
these woods a few pairs have bred for several years. The nests were,
without an exception, placed beneath low bushes on high dry ground.
During incubation the birds allowed me to approach closely to them. The
same year, in a wood within half-a-mile of Cockermouth, I also knew of a
nest which contained four eggs, but they were destroyed.—J. R. Denwoop
(Kirkgate, Cockermouth).

As two recent notes (pp. 112, 152) may give rise to the impression that
Woodcocks only nest sparingly in the Lake district, and that this is a
development of recent years, it may be worth while to quote the following
passage from the Rev. H. A. Macpherson’s excellent ‘ Fauna of Lakeland’:
‘Those of us who have grown up within the last thirty years, during which
the Woodcock has been generally recognized as breeding abundantly both
in England generally and in the Lake district in particular, are hardly
competent to understand the interest which attached to the nesting of the
Woodcock early in our own century.” Mr. Macpherson further states that
T. C. Heysham was aware of the fact that Woodcocks nested in the
district in 1831, and that the eggs were actually found near Carlisle in
1837. So commonly do Woodcocks nest with usin Furness, that, though
only at home at intervals, I have on two occasions seen a Woodcock
carrying one of her young ones as described in ‘The Zoologist’ for 1879
(p. 433). In one of these instances the burden must have been heavy,
for, on hunting for the rest of the brood, I put up one of the young birds,
which was sufficiently fledged to be able to fly away. The whistling and
croaking of Woodcocks during their evening flight is almost as familiar to
us in Lancashire as the drumming of Snipe, or the call of the Curlew.
Richard Holme, a local gamekeeper and an excellent observer, informs me
that he has hearda peculiar sound at night, which he attributes to a Wood-
cock keeping her brood together. Can anyone confirm this belief? He
has frequently caught Woodcocks in steel traps set for rabbits.—CHARLES
F’, ARCHIBALD (Rusland Hall, Ulverston). [As the setting of spring traps
for rabbits above ground is now prohibited by Section 6 of the Ground Game
Act, it is to be hoped that Woodoocks will in future escape this danger.—ED. ]

The Hawfinch in Epping Forest.—The Hawfinch is exceptionally
abundant in Epping Forest this spring, and during a walk on the morning
of March 12th I came across three large and noisy bands, each flock num-
bering from forty to fifty birds. Epping Forest has always been the home
of this shy and interesting species, and the late Henry Doubleday was the
first to notify its permanent residence and nidification in this country, from
observations taken in this neighbourhood. During this same walk I iden-
tified no less than thirty-three species of birds,—a fair winter record for a
district only twelve miles from London,— A. D. Sarsworta (Higham
Lodge, Woodford Green).

NOTES AND QUERIES. 189

“Cuckoo seen in March.”—With reference to the note under this
heading (pp. 150, 151), I would like to ask, “ Is it at all probable that the
bird in question was a Cuckoo?” Many times as I have seen Cuckoos, and
observed their habits, I have never seen one fly along the bottom of a hedge,
and then enter in the manner described. On the contrary, this is exactly
what the Sparrowhawk often does when beating the hedgerows for prey.
The Cuckoo almost always flies at some elevation, and alights in some
conspicuous place; for example, the top of a stone heap, a fence-rail, or, if
in a tree, on some large branch. Nor would the Cuckoo, which is an
exceedingly shy bird, fly along as described in front of the observer. It is
a far more likely assumption that the bird was a hawk than a Cuckoo that
either survived the past very stormy winter in this country, or arrived on
these shores more than a month before the usual time. Some years ago
I observed a Cuckoo in the County Wicklow on April 7th, an exceptionally
early date, and the bird then attracted my attention by its note.—ALLAN
Exison (43, Cintra Park, Upper Norwood, S.H.).

I have not as yet ever seen a Cuckoo that was even supposed to have
been obtained in this country before April; till I have seen a specimen
positively sworn to by a competent person as so obtained, I shall remain, as
at present, entirely incredulous.—Litrorp (Lilford Hall, Oundle.)

Having kept notes of the arrival of the Cuckoo in this country for
more than thirty years I find the earliest to have occurred on the 6th
April, 1844, but about the 14th is the more usual date. There isa saying
in Sussex that it is turned out at Heathfield Fair, which is held on that
day —the name of the village is rustically pronounced ‘ Hevel.”——WiLLIam
Borrer (Cowfold, Horsham).

From numerous observations made by competent naturalists in different
localities it appears that the usual time of arrival of the Cuckoo in this
country is between the 20th and 27th April; and the average date of its
appearance may be said to be on the 23rd of that month, St. George’s Day.
In no instance, so far as I am aware, has the bird been heard, or seen (by
any competent observer) before the 6th of April. On that date in 1872 it
was observed at Torquay, but this was considered by my informant an
unusually early date at which to meet with it. April the 28rd is taken as
the average for the whole of England and Scotland. In the South of
England April the 15th would be nearer the date of its arrival. It is
surprising how few people are to be trusted, either in the matter of eyes or
ears, in regard to the Cuckoo, Many do not know a Cuckoo on the wing
from a male Sparrowhawk, and others convince themselves that they have
heard this bird’s notes when they have been listening to a clever imitation
by some village bird-nesting boy, or to the still more deceptive notes of a
cuckoo-clock in a neighbouring cottage.—J. E. Harrine.

Such a bird as a “‘ March Cuckoo” has no place in my experience. It

190 THE ZOOLOGIST.

has struck me that where any attempt has been made to describe these
early birds, the few and very vague particulars given have always appeared .
to indicate the plumage of the young bird, an obvious absurdity, but very
suggestive of the Kestrel. I have now before me a table of ‘‘ Indications
of Spring,” extending over a very long period, and kept by a succession
of naturalists of the same family, and in the same parish; the date of the
Cuckoo's first note is there recorded for 106 years, the earliest being on the
9th April, 1752, the latest on the 7th Mav, 1767, and the mean of the 106
years the 23rd April— Tuomas Soutawett (Norwich).

_ There is no inherent impossibility in Cuculus canorus arriving (from its
winter quarters) in Great Britain a few weeks earlier or later than usual.
In the North of Scotland we look for the arrival of this Cuckoo during the
first days of May, fully a fortnight later than in the South of England.
Experience teaches us that the bulk of species popularly termed “ our
summer migrants ” are annually seen and heard in Southern Britain about
the same date every year; but you may rest assured that irregularities are
frequent.—H. A. Macpuerson (Carlisle).

As to the Cuckoo, I have nothing much to add to what I have already
published in my ‘ Birds of Oxfordshire’ as to the date of its arrival. The
Cuckoo seldom reaches North Oxon before the last week in April. In twelve
years—1878-1889-—the average date of my own observation of it has been
the 27th or 28th. The earliest date is the 20th, in 1883. The dates of
my observation of it since that work was published are—1890, April 26th;
1891, April 27th; 1892, April 29th. In 1893 I was abroad. In my
“Notes on the Ornithology of Oxfordshire,” in ‘ The Zoologist’ for March,
I mention a Cuckoo reported as heard last year on March 28th by a
Mr. W. Wyatt, who is a birdstuffer, and ought not to be mistaken. I may
add that I am not an unhesitating believer in March Cuckoos. But March
at the date mentioned is almost out, and I am informed that the remarkable
summer of 1893 had then already commenced, I think it possible that the
observer was not mistaken. The appearance of a Cuckoo in the last days
of March, in an exceptional season, is, however, quite another thing from
the arrival of the bird in the first half of the month in a normal year.—
O. V. Aprin (Bloxham, Banbury).

On referring to my son’s diary, which I have before me, I find that the
earliest record of the arrival of the Cuckoo during the last twenty years was
on April 17th, 1875, and it is usually about the third week in April before ~
it is seen here. Often have I been told “in March” that the Cuckoo had
been seen or heard, but on investigation it proved to be a Kestrel which had
been seen, or a boy imitating the Cuckoo that had been heard. It is
surprising to hear the accuracy with which some boys can repeat the note
of this bird, deceiving sometimes a well-practised ear.— JAMES CARTER
(Burton House, Masham, Yorkshire).

NOTES AND QUERIES. 191

- T quite agree with you regarding the period of the Cuckoo’s arrival.
The earliest record I have is April 16th. I was talking lately to an old
lady who is 82 years of age, and has lived here in the park for upwards of
fifty years. Her husband was gamekeeper at Levens in the time of the late
Hon. Mrs. Howard. During all those years she never saw or heard a Cuckoo
in March. She told me that there was an old saying that the ‘ Cuckoo
never comes to the bare thorn.” Strange to say I once shot a young
Cuckoo as late as the 3ra of October.—J. Haun (Head Gamekeeper to
Capt. Bagot, Levens Park, Milnthorpe).

Norfolk Notes; Corrigenda.—lI shall be glad if you will make the
following correction in my notes under this heading :—For “‘ my duck-pond
was visited by a Shoveller” read ‘the ducks on my pond were increased
by the addition of a Shovoller."—J. H. Gurney (Keswick, Norwich).

REPTILIA.

The size of British Newts.—lIn an article on this subject (p. 145),
Mr. Boulenger alludes to his having captured sixty-six specimens in half-an-
hour in some puddles. A description of the locality, which is well known
to me, may be of interest. It was originally an extensive gravel-pit, which
subsequently became a small lake. In this, no doubt, the Newts bred and
thrived undisturbed for a number of years ; their inaccessibility and seclusion,
as also the large number Mr. Boulenger had to select from, will probably
account for the fineness of the specimens mentioned. Last year the pit
was filled in, and when the Newts once more resorted to their breeding-
haunts they found but a few small pools, which proved little better than a
death-trap for them. The whole of the specimens obtained were from two
puddles, the combined superficial area of which did not exceed eight square
yards. I again visited the spot on April 4th, and found numbers of dead
Newts on the ground, while the majority of the remainder were blind and
diseased, through the partial drying up of the water.—HEpwarp Dopson
(Taxidermist, Spring Grove, Hampton).

Palmated Newt at Scarborough.—On April 2nd I had the pleasure
of identifying several specimens of the Palmated Newt, M. palmipes, which
had been taken, with Common and Great Crested Newts, in a pond near
Scarborough. The specimens included two males and two females, whilst
many others were observed by their captor, Mr. Oxley Grabham. I believe
I am correct in saying that this is the first record of this amphibian in the
Scarborough district, although it has been reported from Whitby, twenty
miles further north.—Ww. J. Ciarxe (44, Huntriss Row, Scarborough).

Palmated Newt in Herefordshire.—About the beginning of April
last I obtained several of this species, together with the two commoner
kinds, from a small pond in Edoin Woods, near Bromyard. So far as

192 THE ZOOLOGIST.

I know, it has not been previously recorded as occurring in Herefordshire. —
F. L, Biarawayt (Bromyard),

SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES.

Linnean Soormty or Lonpon.

April 5th, 1894.—Mr. F’. Crisp, Vice-President, in the chair.

Mr. L. Greening was admitted, and Messrs. W. C. Grasby, J. D. Havi-
land, J. Smith, and J. F. Wilkinson were elected Fellows of the Society.

Sir Joseph Hooker, K.C.S.I., C.B., exhibited a portrait in oils of
Sir Samuel Bentham, Kt., a Colonel in the service of the Empress of
Russia, painted at St. Petersburg in 1784. He was father of George
Bentham, the distinguished botanist and former President of this Society,
1861—74 (Proc. Linn. Soc. 1886, pp. 90—104).

Mr. B. Shillitoe exhibited some specimens of a primrose having abnormal
leaf-like bracts immediately below the true calyx, and found growing with
ordinary flowers of the same species.

An exhibition of some trap-door spiders and nests, by Mr. F. Enoch,
was deferred to a subsequent meeting.

Mr. R. H. Burne read a paper “On the aortic-arch system of Sacro-
branchus,” in which he elucidated the method by which respiration is
effected in certain fishes which in tropical countries, but more especially in
India, have acquired the power of living for a longer or shorter time out of
water. Referring particularly toa paper by the late Surgeon-Major Francis
Day, ‘“‘On Amphibious and Migratory Fishes of Asia” (Journ. Linn. Soc.,
Zool., vol. xiii. p. 198), he detailed the results of some recent investigations
he had made, and which were characterised by Prof. Howes as original and
valuable.

The Secretary read a paper, by Mr. H. N. Ridley, ‘‘ On the Orchidee
and Apostacee of the Malay Peninsula,” from the Kedah state (long. 99° 30’
to 104° 80’ lat. 7° N.) to Singapore, including the islands adjacent to the
west coast, and those on the east coast of Johore, with the addition of a few
from Southern Siam, on the borders of the Malay Peninsula, the entire area
comprising about 50,000 square miles. Mr. C. B. Clarke, who criticised
the paper, commented upon the important additions made to the existing
knowledge of the Orchide@ of this region, of which so large a portion was
even yet botanically unknown.

April 19th.—Prof. Stewart, President, in the chair.
Sir Joseph Hooker exhibited a portrait in oils of Jeremiah Bentham,
father of Jeremy and Sir Samuel Bentham, b. 1710, d. 1792.

SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES. 198

Dr. Prior exhibited specimens of Pinus pinsapo, with undeveloped
catkins, like berries, and other specimens of conifers in flower.

Mr. J. R. Jackson exhibited an Afghan knife, the sheath of which was
bound with bark of Carragana decorticans, selected on account of its bronze-
like appearance, and gave some account of the various native uses to which
this bark is put.

On behalf of Mr. George Mayor and Mr. F. R. Maw, some photographs
of abnormally-situated nests of the Robin were exhibited, one of which had
been built upon a book-shelf in one of the studies at Tunbridge School,
and another in an old tin tea-pot which had been flung aside as useless, and
had lodged in a poplar.

Mr. B. Shillitoe exhibited and made remarks upon an abnormal
hyacinth.

An account of British Trap-door Spiders was then given by Mr. F.
Enock, and by the aid of the oxy-hydrogen lantern and some excellent
slides, their appearance and mode of life were graphically delineated and
described.

In view of the approaching Anniversary Meeting, the election of
Auditors was next proceeded with, when Mr. Batters and Prof. Howes were
nominated on behalf of the Council, and Mr. Michael and Mr. J. Groves
on behalf of the Fellows. :

In the absence of the author, Mr. George Murray gave an account of
Graf zu Solms Laubach’s Monograph of the Acetabulariea, and the principal
points were illustrated with lantern-slides. The limits of the group were
defined as excluding Dasyclade@, and containing the living genera Aceta-
bularee, Polyphysa, Halicoryne, and Pleisphysa, of which the author
maintained only the first and third named. The extinct forms, principally
Acicularia, were dealt with very exhaustively, and their relation to the living
ones indicated. The paper consisted of a morphological account of all the
forms, as well as a detailed systematic review of them, and the author’s
views of the relationship of the group to the forms of Dasycladea, Cymopolia,
Neomeris, Bornetella, &c., possessed much novelty and interest.

Zoouocican Society oF Lonpon.

March 20th, 1894.—Prof. G. B. Howss, F.Z.S., in the chair.

The Secretary exhibited and made remarks on a photograph of a young
male Indian Bison, Bos gaurus, proposed to be sent home as a present to
the Society’s Menagerie by Major G. S. Roden.

Mr. F. G. Parsons read a paper on the myology of the Hystricomorphine
and Sciuromorphine Rodents, and stated that it was based on the dissection
of the muscles of examples of twenty-one species of Rodents, belonging to
many families of the Hystricomorpha and Sciuromorpha, made at the

ZOOLOGIST, THIRD SERIES, VOL. XVIII.—MAY, 1894. Q

194 THE ZOOLOGIST,.

Society’s Gardens. The results of these dissections had been compared
with the writings of other observers, and arranged, firstly under the
of the different muscles, and, secondly, under those of the different families
The arrangement of the muscles coincided in a marked manner with the
usual classification of the order, and seemed to depend much more upon
the affinities of the animals than upon their habits and mode of life. The
muscles which seemed most characteristic of the two principal sections
were the masseter, the long flexors of the foot, the sterno-scapular, and the
digastric, Three genera of the Dipodide had been examined, and were
found to resemble the Hystricomorpha in many respects, while in others
they approached the Sciuromorphine type.
A communication was read from Babu Ram Bramha Sanyal, containing
remarks on a rare carnivorous mammal of Borneo, Cynogale bennetti, based
on a specimen living in the Zoological Gardens of Calcutta.
A communication was read from Dr. R. W. Shufeldt, containing an
account of the osteology of certain Cranes, Rails, and their allies, with
remarks upon their affinities.
A communication was read from Mr. O. V. Aplin, containing field-notes
on the mammals of Uruguay, made during his recent expedition to that
country.

April 3rd.—Sir W. H. Frower, K.C.B., LL.D., F.R.S., President,
in the chair. |

The Secretary read a report on the additions that had been made to the
Society’s Menagerie during the month of March, 1894.

Dr. Giinther exhibited and made remarks on some specimens of the
American Lepidosiren, Lepidosiren paradoxa, from the Upper Rio Paraguay,
collected by Dr. Bohls.

Capt. H. G. C. Swayne, R.E., gave a description of the physical features
of Somaliland, and an account of the expeditions he had made into the
interior of that country during the past nine years, pointing out the localities
in which the larger mammals were usually met with. The paper was
illustrated by the exhibition of a large series of well-mounted heads of the
various species of Antelopes and other animals of Somaliland.

Mr. O. Thomas read a paper on the Dwarf Antelopes of the genus
Madoqua, in which three species from Somaliland were described as new, and
named M. swaynei, M. phillipsi, and M. guentheri. A revised classification
of the six known species of this genus of Antelopes was added.

Mr. R. T. Coryndon gave an account of his pursuit of the White or
Burchell’s Rhinoceros, Rhinoceros simus, in Mashonaland, and of the way
he had obtained the specimens, which would shortly be placed in the British
Museum, the Tring Museum, and the Cambridge University Museum.

A communication was read from Miss KE. M. Sharpe, containing a list

SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES. 195

of the Butterflies collected by Capt. J. W. Pringle, R.E., while on the
march through British East Africa from Teita to Uganda. A new Papilio
was proposed to be called P. pringleit, and a new genus and species of
Satyride was named Raphiceropsis pringlet. Altogether examples of
184 species were obtained.

April 17th.—W. T. Buanrorp, Esq., F.R.S., Vice-President, in the
chair.

Mr. Sclater made some remarks on the possibility of breeding the
African Mud-fish, Protopterus, in the Society’s Gardens, and called attention
to a recently-published paragraph, in ‘Le Movement Geéographique, in
which some account was given of the phenomena of reproduction of this

‘Mud-fish, as observed by the French missionaries on Lake Tanganyika.

Prof. Karl von Bardeleben, of Jena, read a paper on the bones and
muscles of the mammalian hand and foot, in which he explained his views
on the rudiments of the sixth and seventh digits or rays. These rudiments,
as he showed, are situated both on the inner and the outer borders of the
hand and foot; they are present in nearly all the orders of mammals,
especially in the lower forms, and are always provided with special muscles.

Dr. G. Herbert Fowler pointed out the characters of a new species of
Sea-Pen of the family Veretillide from a specimen belonging to the Madras
Museum, and proposed to call it Cavernularia malabarica. Dr. Fowler
likewise exhibited and made remarks on an example of Lidaria phalloides,
belonging to the same Museum.

Mr. F. E. Beddard described two new genera comprising three new
species of Karthworms from Western Tropical Africa.

A communication was read from Mr. Oldfield Thomas, containing an
account of a new Antelope from Somaliland, which he proposed to call
Neotragus rupicola. Capt. H. G. C. Swayne, R.E., and his brother, Capt. E.
Swayne, B.S.C., had discovered this Autelope during their recent explora-
tions in that country, but had not been able to bring back specimens. Two
skins and a frontlet, lately received by Capt. H. G. C. Swayne from his
native hunters, had enabled Mr. Thomas to establish the species.—
P. L. Sctater, Secretary.

ENTOMOLOGICAL SoctETY oF LONDON.

March 28th, 1894.—Hunry Joun Exwes, Esq., F.L.S., President, in
the chair.

Mr. Perey H. Grimshaw, of 58, Coniston Road, Edinburgh, was
elected a Fellow of the Society.

Mr. McLachlan announced the sudden death, on the 23rd inst., of

Mr, J. Jenner Weir, who joined the Society in 1845, and had been one of

196 THE ZOOLOGIST.

its most regular attendants. He also commented on the scientific attain-
ments of the deceased, and his social qualities. Mr. Goss and Mr.
Merrifield also spoke of their long friendship with the deceased, and of the
respect and esteem which they entertained for his varied knowledge and
amiability of disposition.

Mr. W. Borrer, jun., exhibited a wasp’s nest which had been built in
such a way as to conceal the entrance thereto and to protect the whole nest
from observation. He believed the nest to be that of Vespa vulgaris
(of. Proc. Ent. Soc. London, 1892, pp. xx and xxi). Mr. McLachlan and
Mr. Biandford made some remarks on the subject.

Mr. G. F'. Hampson exhibited a specimen of Gaudaritis flavata, Moore,
from the Khari Hills, and called attention to the existence in the males of
this species, in the closely allied British species Cidaria dotata, Linn., and
also in two Japanese species (C. agnes, Butl., and an undescribed species), of
an organ on the under side of the fore wing, which he suggested might be
for stridulation ; this organ consisting of a small scar of hyaline membrane
situated just below the middle of vein 2, which is much curved: this scar
is fringed with long hair, and has running down its middle a row of sharp
spines situated on the aborted remains of vein 1, and which is curved up
close to vein 2; the spines would naturally rub against part of the costa
of the hind wing, but no spines or unusual roughening seems to exist on
that or on any of the veins on the upper side of hind wing against which
they could strike ; below the scar is situated a large shallow fovea or pit in
the membrane, slightly developed in dotata and flavata, but much more
prominently in the two Japanese species, and, should the organ prove to be
for stridulation, would probably act as a sounding-board. Mr. Hampson
said that in the Japanese species C. fiwrent of Brem, exceedingly closely
allied to flavata, the males have no trace of this organ; and he hoped
that entomologists who have an opportunity of observing dotata in life
would make some experiments on living specimens during the ensuing
summer; probably confining males and females together would lead to
some results. The President, Prof. E. B. Poulton, Lord Walsingham, and
Mr. Hampson took part in the discussion which ensued.

The Rev. T. A. Marshall communicated a paper entitled ‘‘ A Monograph
of the British Braconide, Part V.”

Mons. Louis Péringuey communicated a paper entitled * Descriptions of
new Cicindelide from Mashunaland.” !

Prof. Poulton gave an account of his recent tour in the United States,
and commented on the entomological and other collections contained in the
American museums. Lord Walsingham, Mr. Hampson, and the President
also made some remarks on the subject.

April 11th.— Henry Joun Exwss, Esq., F.L.S., President in the chair ¥
Mr. F. W. Jones, of 63, Carlton Hill, St. John’s Wood, N.W., and -

;

SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES. 197

Dr. William Steer Riding, B.A., M.D., of Buckerell, Honiton, Devon,
were elected Fellows of the Society.

The Hon. Walter Rothschild exhibited male and female specimens of
Ornithoptera paradisea, Stdgr., from Finisterre Mountains, New Guinea;
O. trojana, Stdgr., from Palawan ; O. andromache, Stdgr., from Kina Balu,
Borneo; Ginetus mirabilis, Rothsch., from Cedar Bay, Queensland; and a
few other splendid species from the Upper Amazons. The President,
Mr. J. J. Walker, Mr. Osbert Salvin, Lord Walsingham, Colonel Lang,
Mr. Champion, and Mr. Hampson made remarks on the geographical
distribution of some of the species and the elevation at which they were
taken.

Mr. H. Goss exhibited, for Mr. G. A. J. Rothney, several specimens of
a species of Hemiptera (Serinetha augur, Fab.), and of a species of Lepi-
doptera (Phauda flammans, Walk.), the latter of which closely resembled
and mimicked the former. He said that Mr. Rothney had found both species
abundantly on the roots and trunks of trees in Mysore, in November last,
in company with Ants (several species of Camponotus and Cremastogaster).
The Hemiptera appeared to be distasteful to the Ants, as they were never
molested by them, and he thought that the species of Lepidoptera was
undoubtedly protected from attack by its close imitation of the Hemipteron.
Mr. Goss said he was indebted to Mr. C. J. Gahan for determining the
species. A discussion followed on the mimicking species, in which the
President, Mr. Waterhouse, Mr. J. J. Walker, Colonel Swinhoe, Mr.
Hampson, and others took part.

Mr. J. W. Tutt exhibited (1) a typical specimen of Lycena corydon,
captured in July, 1893; (2) a hybrid male (L. corydon and L. adonis), taken
im copula with a typical female L. adonis, May 20th, 1893; (3) a typical
male L. adonis, May 20th, 1893; (4) a female L. adonis, the pigment
failing in one hind wing; (5) a pale var. of L. corydon, probably to be
referred to var. apennina of Zeller, usually taken in Italian mountains, or
var. albicans, H.S., taken in Andalusia. Mr. Tutt remarked that, of the
first, Staudinger (Cat. p. 12) says “ pallidior,” of the latter “albicans.”
He also remarked that the hybrid retains the external features of the
Species corydon, but has taken on to a great extent the coloration of
L. adonis. It was captured in copuld with a female L. adonis, at a time
when L. adonis was very abundant, and some weeks before L. corydon
occurred (vide Ent. Record, iv. p. 280).

The question having been raised by the President as to the number of
meetings of the Society which it was desirable to hold during the year,
and the most convenient dates for such meetings, a long discussion on the
subject ensued, in which Mr. Waterhouse, Mr. Salvin, the Hon. Walter
Rothschild, the Rev. ‘[. Wood, Mr. S. Stevens, the Rev. J. S. St. John, and
others took part.—H. Goss, Hon. Secretary.

198 THE ZOOLOGIST.

NOTICES OF NEW BOOKS.

Text-book of Zoology. Fifth Edition. Re-written and enlarged. —
By H. A. Nicuouson, Regius Professor of Natural History
in the University of Aberdeen. 8vo. Blackwood & Sons, —
Edinburgh and London. 1894.

Tis volume, when compared with its predecessor of 1886,
shows an increase of 13 chapters, 177 pages, and 94 woodcuts.
This is found to be mainly due to extension of the section
dealing with the Vertebrata, and more particularly of the
chapters devoted to Pisces and Mammalia. These show an
increase of 20 and 64 pages, or 100 and 120 per cent. respec-
tively; an analysis which renders perfectly clear the author’s
special acknowledgments of indebtedness to the recently pub-
lished work on the Mammalia by Sir William Flower and
Mr. Lydekker. And further perusal of the work justifies the
suspicion, which this circumstance arouses, that it is a com-
pilation of mere text-book knowledge.

The faulty nature of the earlier editions of this treatise and
its more advanced associate the ‘ Manual of Zoology,’ has been
in the past notorious; but their author, adhering to his original
scheme with true British pluck, has so far emended and
improved the succeeding issues, that both books are now pre-
sentable and reliable. Their chief weakness has all along been
due to insufficient recognition of the study of development, and
the leading novelty in the present volume is the incorporation
of a chapter on ‘‘ Reproduction and Development of Metazoa,” —
presumably designed to overcome this. This chapter extends to
14 pages only, and deals in a most elementary and out-of-date
fashion with the earliest stages of the developmental process.

Evidence is forthcoming that this work is primarily designed
for the use of the horde of medical students who yearly flock to
the Scottish universities, to come under the influence of a
system, under which, time that might be better spent in the
wards is devoted to lengthy courses in botany and zoology. In
the progress of his career the Scottish medical student is
subjected to a recurring diet of ‘‘ Embryology,” in both the
purely scientific and strictly professional departments of his
study. We question, however, whether the “ too many cooks”
do not here spoil the (embryological) broth, and whether the

NOTICES OF NEW BOOKS. 199

educational value of the science is not, by the means adopted,
lost. The facts which have provoked us to this expression
of opinion appear to have weighed with the author in the
limitation of his new chapter, but this is so sketchy and
insufficient, and in part so erroneous, that it might well have
been left over until recast and extended. The “ biological”
discipline, as understood south of the Tweed, appears to us
unquestionably the right one for the medical student, so over-
crammed and under-educated. So long, however, as this
remains insufficiently recognized on the northern side of the
border, it is better that the student should obtain a knowledge
of facts concerning things that are and have been, such as he
will find treated in a sound and uniform manner in the book
before us, than that he should be led astray by profitless specu-
lation concerning possibilities which may (or may not) have
occurred, in the fashion of certain other “ text-books’’ which
might perchance fall in his way. The system upon which we
have commented is bad; the book, written up to it, although in
many respects antiquated and by no means free from error, is
withal sound and well-balanced, so far as it goes.

The Partridge. Natural History by the Rev. H. A. Macpuerson;
Shooting by A. J. Stuart Wortitey; Cookery by Grorar
Saintspury. 8vo, pp. 276, with Illustrations. London:
Longmans, Green & Co. 1898.

Tuts is the first volume of a new series treating of the furred
and feathered game of Great Britain, and edited by Mr. A. E.
Watson. The title above quoted shows the divisions of the
subject, the novel feature being the section on Cookery; and
after all, when we consider the enormous quantity of game
| which is killed annually throughout the United Kingdom, it is
as well to have some authoritative advice as to the best means
: of utilising it. Under the guidance, then, of the above-named
writers, we are made pretty well acquainted with almost all
there is to be learnt concerning this most popular of game-birds.
Finding him at early dawn in his proper haunts, we follow him,
with Mr. Macpherson, throughout the day, watch where he rests
and feeds, ascertain the nature of his food, listen to his well-
known call, see the covey pairing off for the breeding season,
find the nest and note the materials of which it is composed,

200 THE ZOOLOGIST.

together with the number and colour of the eggs; await the
period of incubation, and observe the behaviour of the hen bird,
and the growth of the chicks until they are old enough to take
eare of themselves, and are strong enough on the wing to come
under the notice of Mr. Stuart Wortley. We are then instructed
in the whole art of Partridge-shooting, whether by walking
them up in line, shooting over dogs, or driving; and to the
majority of readers, we imagine, this will prove the most

attractive portion of the book. In view of the two volumes on ~

Shooting which form part of the Badminton Library, Mr. Stuart
Wortley had no easy task before him when he undertook to
write the treatise now before us. It was difficult to go over the
eround which had been so well traversed in those earlier
volumes by such a past master as Lord Walsingham, without
risking some charge of plagiarism, or at least some want of
originality. Mr. Wortley, however, has surmounted the difficulty,
and very well has he done it. The secret of his success, as it
seems to us, lies in the fact of his drawing upon his own
experience, which is evidently extensive, and saying what he has
to say in a bright, fresh and original manner, which carries the
reader with him through every page, ‘‘ from find to finish.”

We have been particularly struck with his last chapter,
headed ‘‘ Verbum sap.,”’ in which he discusses the present aspect
of the Game Laws, and the silly clamour which periodically
arises for their abolition. His observations on the whole are
just, and often forcible. Thus :—

“The late Mr. Peter Taylor, M.P., who was about as good a judge of
the relations between landlord, tenant and labourer, as a modern alderman
would be of a Roman triumph, loudly demanded and eventually obtained
the last Select Committee on the Game Laws twenty years ago. His
discomfiture was complete when it was found that the great weight of
evidence given by farmers was in favour of retaining them! ”

Mr. Wortley insists that good farming and a large stock
of Partridges are absolutely compatible conditions, and are often
seen together. ‘‘ This,” he says, “‘the farmers cannot deny.
If they do, depend upon it they are discontented men and bad
farmers, and consequently not worth having as tenants.”

We should like to make further extracts, but the demands
upon our space preclude this. We must content ourselves with

commending the book, which is well planned, well written, and —

has, moreover, some excellent illustrations,

THE ZOOLOGIST

No. 210.—June, 1894.

THE PRESERVATION OF AFRICAN BIG GAME.
By Capt. A. H. Gipsons.

[A Committee of English sportsmen and naturalists having been
formed for the purpose of devising some scheme for the protection of
South African mammals, chiefly Giraffe, Zebra, Eland, Gnu, Koodoo, and
other Antelopes, several of which (owing to indiscriminate slaughter) are
already on the verge of extinction, the following statement has been drawn
up by Capt. A. H. Gibbons for the consideration of the British South
African Chartered Company.— Ep. |

Ir is a notorious fact that many species of South African
game, notably such as have not receded northwards before the
advance of colonisation, are becoming so scarce, that some of the
rarer species will shortly follow in the wake of the now extinct
Quagga, unless steps are taken to preserve them before it is too
late. To meet this end it is proposed :—

(1). That a Society be formed which shall have for its object
the preservation of small herds of each of the thirty-five or forty
distinct species having their habitat within measurable distance
of the district selected for the enclosure proposed below.

(2). That for this purpose a suitable tract of country—of say
100,000 acres—be enclosed with a wire-fencing, strengthened by
a strong live fence of thorn on the outside. It is hoped that the
British South African Chartered Company, in consideration of
the objects of the Society, may allow such an enclosure to be
made in the district near Fort Salisbury which has already been
reserved for game by the Company. In this district the Eland,

ZOOLOGIST, THIRD SERIES, VOL. XVIII.— JUNE, 1894. R

202 THE ZOOLOGIST.

Koodoo, Roan, and Sable Antelopes, Hartebeest, Zebra, Blue
Wildebeest, Reedbuck, and other species still exist, herds of which
could with little difficulty be driven into the enclosure. To these
might be added the young of other species not indigenous to the
district. To avoid overcrowding the herds of each species would
necessarily be limited; the species marked * in the appended
list (as being more immediately threatened with extinction) to
twenty head, and others to twelve, or thereabouts.

Eland Red Rhebuck
Koodoo Vaal Rhebuck
Roan Antelope * Bontebuck
Sable Antelope * Blesbuck
Gemsbuck Duiker
Waterbuck Steinbuck
Blue Wildebeest Oribi
Tsessebe Grysbuck
Hartebeest, B. caama Klipspringer
= B. lichtensteini Bluebuck
Pallah Natal Redbuck
Bushbuck, 7. sylvaticus * White-tailed Gnu
Ss T. scriptus Damara Antelope
*Speke’s Antelope Giraffe
*Inyala Ostrich
*Sitatunga Warthog
Reedbuck Bushpig
Lechwe Zebra, EH. burchelli
**Pookoo » .chapmani
Springbuck * 4, EH. montanus

(3). That, as a means of profit, specimens be exported, at
market prices, for the use of existing Zoological Societies. For

this end calves would be taken from their dams as young as —

possible, reared on cow’s milk, and shipped at Beira, which will,
no doubt, shortly be connected with Fort Salisbury by rail.

A farm would be necessary outside the enclosure to provide milch- —

cows for rearing purposes. There seems to be no reason why
this farm should not combine stock-rearing on a sufficiently large
scale to cover all current expenses, especially since no further
increase in the staff would be necessary. An experienced South
African farmer, capable of superintending and protecting the
interests of the Society, would be appointed to manage the

.
|

:
|
|

THE PRESERVATION OF AFRICAN BIG GAME. 203

farm, and preserve the game inside the enclosure. It would
be necessary also, for the first few years at least, that some
responsible person should control the expenditure on the spot,
give general directions to the manager, and devote himself in
the calving-seasons to procuring as many species of game as
possible from various districts to be turned loose in the enclosure.
The estimated capital required for such undertaking would be
about £5000.

[While heartily sympathising with this scheme, and recommending it
to the consideration of the British South African Chartered Company, we
take the opportunity of anticipating adverse criticism as to the feasibility of
making and maintaining large enclosures for Big Game by showing what
has been done in this direction in America. The following account, from
our American contemporary ‘ Forest and Stream,’ of a large “‘ Game Park”
in New Hampshire, comprising some 28,000 acres, will be read with

interest by naturalists as well as sportsmen.— Ep. |

THE CORBIN GAME PARK IN NEW HAMPSHIRE, U.S.A,

By Joun R. Spears.*

SOME years ago a friend presented to Austin Corbin, the well-
known railroad man, a few young Deer. Mr. Corbin accepted
them, and having a great country seat that included many acres
of woods as well as cleared fields out on Long Island, he caused
a part of the woods to be suitably fenced, and turned the Deer
into the inclosure. Mr. Corbin, at that time, was neither a
Sportsman nor a naturalist, in the sense in which these terms
are generally understood. He had no especial interest in wild
animals of any kind. Nevertheless, as a lad he had lived on
a farm in New Hampshire, among the foothills of the White
Mountains, and had trapped Woodchucks, and shot Partridges,
and chased Foxes, and the good healthy delights of those days
lingered in his memory. Small wonder then that the gentle pets
his friend had given to him won their way into his affections from
the moment they became his. It was a new pleasure—something
he had never known before—to go and watch their graceful

* From ‘Forest and Stream.’

R2

204 THE ZOOLOGIST.

motions and gaze upon the beauty of their forms. Moreover,
Mr. Corbin had a son, and Austin junior was as much delighted
with the pets as his father. '

There was ample room on the Long Island estate for more
than the few Deer, and the Corbins decided that more should be
had. This led to the examination of sundry books on the subject
of Deer culture, if one may use the term, books like J udge Caton’s,
for instance, while ‘Forest and Stream’ and other periodicals
were necessarily read regularly. Certainly the love of nature
grows with what it feeds upon, if any emotion of the heart does.
If Deer could be kept, why not Elk, Moose, Antelope, and Buffalo
—especially the Buffalo ?

Mr. Corbin had lived in Iowa when a young man, and in the
days when the herds of Buffalo on the plains of Nebraska, Kansas,
and Texas numbered untold thousands. It was a great pity that
such noble animals were likely to become extinct, and the Corbins —
determined to join in the effort to perpetuate the species. They
had begun with a few Deer, and they added Elk, Antelope, and
Buffalo, and then it became apparent that the Long Island estate
was too small for the proper care of these animals, or at least
for the care which the owners desired to give them.

It is to be particularly noticed that the Long Island estate
was not suited to the treatment that the Corbins wished the
animals to have. From caring for their few pets had grown the
desire to rear herds of these animals under such conditions of ~
freedom as would leave them with all their natural characteristics. —
A pet Deer was beautiful, but it was not the Deer of the wild woods
after all. A pure bred Buffalo in a barn-yard was in fact a
Buffalo, but he was too much like a Durham bull to be perfectly
satisfactory. On the Long Island farm the animals could scarcely
become anything more than pets. :

So the thoughts of the elder Corbin went back to the days of
his youth and the foothills of the White Mountains. As most of ©
our readers know, there is plenty of land in New Hampshire that
is just as wild now as it was when Hudson first looked on the
ground where the Statue of Liberty now stands. There was a
deal of it in Sullivan County, perhaps not the wildest in the
State, but certainly plenty of unbroken forest that covered hills
and valleys, and surrounded little lakes, forests of birch and beech,
and maple and pine, and spruce and hemlock, and balsam—forests

THE CORBIN GAME PARK IN NEW HAMPSHIRE, U.S.A. 205

beautiful and fragrant enough to give a city man the heartache
when he thinks of them.

Mr. Corbin determined to buy from 20,000 to 30,000 acres of
these hills and valleys, and there establish a park for his new-
found four-footed friends in which they would find the condi-
tions as nearly as possible those to which they were best suited.
Mr. Corbin eventually got 22,000 acres in one tract.

The next thing was to fence it, and only those who have tried
building elk-tight fences can appreciate the job. Here was a
tract of over thirty-five square miles of land to inclose. They
started out with a wire-net six feet high, secured to stout posts
ten feet apart. Above the net they strung ten lines of barbed
wire, and that made a right good fence. But when eighteen miles
had been erected, they abandoned the wire-net and used barbed
wire only for the rest of the way. ‘That was cheaper and just as
good. It is not uninteresting to note that the fencing cost
74,000 dollars, or £14,800.

In all, nine gates were to be placed in this fence, with a
keeper’s lodge at each gate, made necessary by the presence in
every community of the skulking lout who will steal or destroy
the property of the well-to-do, and especially such property as
this fence would enclose. Mr. Corbin was sure his park would not
in any way interfere with the rights of legitimate sportsmen.

Here in this tract of woodland, with only enough cleared land
on it to afford meadows over which the animals would like to
wander at times, were gathered twenty-five Buffalo, sixty Elk,
over seventy Deer, half-a-dozen each of Caribou and Antelope,
eighteen Wild Boars imported from Germany, and an unknown
number of Moose—perhaps a dozen. He had four Reindeer
brought from Labrador, but all died. He hoped to have also a
community of Beavers, for the lakes and streams are admirably
adapted for these beautiful animals.

Quite ss interesting as any description of the park and its
inhabitants is the story of the gathering of the specimens. It is
too long to tell in full, but room remains for enough. The agent
employed to gather a large part of the animals from Canada was
Thomas H. Ryan, who had served Mr. Corbin in a number of
capacities for the previous twelve years. In October, 1890, Ryan
was commissioned to go to Canada to see what could be done
about getting “any wild animals there except Bears, Panthers,

206 THE ZOOLOGIST.

Wolves, and Foxes.” At Sherbrooke he met a friendly newspaper
man who said one [Dan Ball, of Megantic, knew all about the Deer
of that country, and so to Megantic he posted. He met Ball, and
found him able and willing to get the Deer. He then went fifty
miles to North Bay, 200 miles west, and from there to Mattawa, on
the verge of a region where Moose abound, Deer are plentiful, and
Beaver possible to obtain alive. A contract was made with a
trapper for a supply of all these animals—at least twenty of each,
if that number was possible. .

Meantime Dan Ball had gone to work at Megantic by
selecting a few friends, and looking over the woods to see where
the Deer were “yarding.”” In December the snow became five feet
deep in the woods, and Dan knew of one ‘‘ yard” where at least
300 Deer were gathered together. ‘Then he and six others went
on snow-shoes, with buckskin thongs, and one gun loaded with
powder only. Locating a bunch of Deer in a thicket, six of the
men crept up as near as possible to the leeward without alarming
them. Then the seventh came tearing down with the wind and
with a wild yell, and the discharge of the gun, scattered the
bunch like a flock of Quails before a cur pup. Some of the
fleeing beauties plumped into the snow, that was so deep and so
fluffy, that they sank out of sight at the first struggle, nor could
they escape till Dan and his friends kindly lent a hand. Inalla
dozen were captured thus, and with legs bound with soft leather
thongs, were carried to an old shanty in the woods some distance
from Megantic.

In January Ryan went away to bring the Deer to the park in ©
New Hampshire. Megantic is on the Canadian Pacific road. A
box-car was sent to a siding formerly used by a lumber mill, and
there carpeted with hay, straw, and a good supply of browse.
The ends were then partitioned off from the space between the
doors by means of poles, and within the spaces thus formed the
Deer were placed, being simply lifted in. They had been kept in ~
the meantime in the old mill unbound. With Dan Ball to look
after and especially to water the Deer, the car was hauled to
Newport, Vt., the location of the United States customs office,
where they were passed duty free, and were sent on to Newport,
N.H., by way of Concord, nearly 100 miles farther than necessary.
The extra ride proved disastrous, for one Deer died en route, and

THE CORBIN GAME PARK IN NEW HAMPSHIRE, U.S.A. 207

two after their arrival. Nine were as well and frisky as when in
their native forests.

The Buffalo in this park came originally from Montana, but
were purchased of a Minnesota man. The Moose, Elk, and
Caribou came from Minnesota also, and were captured along the
Canadian border. f

Among the interesting experiences in the transportation
of the animals for this park may be mentioned these: Moose
have been carried 2000 miles in four days without apparent
injury. The last consignment included sixteen Moose, three
Deer, and one Caribou. All arrived in good condition, but
eight Moose died afterwards, because, it is thought, of the change
in their diet, or water, or both. On one occasion, when thirty
Deer were en route, a collision with another train killed twenty-
two of them outright, and four more died afterwards.

It is noticed that the largest Deer most easily succumb to
railroad travel. None of the animals ever eat or sleep while the
car isin motion. On a side track they will eat a little. There
seems to be more danger of their suffering from heat in a box-
car than from cold, but the worst trouble is in the jerking to and
fro of the car when the train is stopping or starting. They are
fed on barley, corn, bran, and hay. In the woods they are
expected to live as they would naturally do, but places are
established where food is left for them, so that none shall lack.

Beginning with a few pet Deer in a paddock, the Corbins now
have a private zoological park, where, if at any such place in
the world, the animals in it may be seen and studied under the
most natural conditions. His outlay up to the completion of the
park is not far from 400,000 dols.

Since the foregoing was written we have obtained the
following information, chiefly in relation to the breeding of the
animals in their new environment, it can hardly be called captivity
when we consider that they are at liberty to wander over 28,000
acres of woodland, hill, and valley.

In respect of breeding, the park has proved a great success.
All the animals have taken kindly to their new surroundings, and
their numbers are being materially increased by births. Of the
twenty-two Buffalo which were turned out about a year ago, eight
of the cows proved in calf, and two young have been added to the

208 THE ZOOLOGIST.

herd. The Elk, which bred to a limited extent on Mr. Corbin’s
Long Island estate, have found their mountainous New Hamp-
shire home more to their liking, and have already increased
50 per cent. Next to the Elk, the most accurate count has been
kept of the Moose, which, unlike their gregarious brethren, go in
pairs during the rutting season. It was at first feared that these
unusually retiring animals would not breed in the park, but it
was subsequently ascertained that six of the cows were with calf.
There are upwards of sixty Moose in the park, and they make a
much wider range in travelling than the Elk (or Wapiti), which
keep pretty well to one locality where there is considerable brush
and small growth, and no doubt abundant feed.

The agent who was instrumental in securing for Mr. Corbin
the first denizens of the park, has the head of a particularly fine
Moose in his possession. The unmounted head weighed 300 lbs.
and the horns, which show eleven points, have a span of about
five feet. This head was bought of an Indian in Mattawa, and is
said to be the last green head taken out of Ontario previous to
the passing of the law forbidding the killing of Moose.

To come back to figures, the Wild Boars, imported from
Germany in September, have been frequently seen. They have
evidently gained by natural increase, and must be quick travellers,
as three or four herds have been reported in different localities at
nearly the same time by the gamekeepers. The old boars have
grown considerably, and are wonderfully fleet of foot, for, unlike
the domestic hog, they do not fatten. As far as can be ascer-
tained, all the other animals, including the several species of
Deer, have multiplied considerably, and their change of habitat,
and the fact that the big fence occasionally checks their extended
wanderings, does not seem to cast any blight on the even tenor
of their lives.

Included in the park are two ponds of twenty and thirty acres
respectively, and probably 100 miles of streams. The ponds
were cleaned out in 1890, and many eels and other fish destroyed,
and now the ponds and streams are all stocked with trout.

While in London Mr. Corbin purchased 20,000 hawthorn
trees. Four thousand of these were planted in the spring. They
are for the purpose of forming a hedge strong enough to prevent
the Buffalo and other large animals from getting out. This tree,
of which there are two varieties, the white and black, is used

THE CORBIN GAME PARK IN NEW HAMPSHIRE, U.S.A. 209

very extensively for inclosing the game-parks of England and
France. It grows from eight to ten feet in height, and is the
toughest and strongest tree that can be found, making, with its
interlocking and elastic branches, a hedge that would resist a
battering ram. ‘The trees are being planted inside the big
fence of barbed and woven wire, and will eventually take its
place when the latter becomes weakened through rust and
exposure. ;

There will be no hunting in the park at present, though in
future years, when the animals have multiplied beyond the
resources of their domain, it is possible that Mr. Corbin may
adopt this means of thinning them out.

The development of this enterprise is being watched with
decided interest by sportsmen and naturalists. Success in New
Hampshire, when it shall have been demonstrated beyond the
peradventure of a doubt, will prompt similar enterprises in other
parts of the country. While much interest is felt in the intro-
duction of foreign species, Americans are naturally most con-
cerned with the successful conservation of bands of American
big game, the Klk, and the Antelope, and the Buffalo. May
these wild creatures yet feed on a thousand hills of the New
England and other Hastern States, and on the game preserves
of the west !

Besides the New Hampshire park, Mr. Corbin has two other
game preserves. On his Long Island estate he now has twenty-
one Hlk and about eighteen Deer, and at Manhattan Beach he
has twenty-five Elk. At the latter place he has ten acres
inclosed with an open wire fence. There will soon be dug here
a large pond, which will be filled with salt water from the tides
of Sheepshead Bay. In this pond are to be a dozen Seals and
ten Sea-lions; the former from St. John’s, Newfoundland, and
the latter from the Pacific coast.

210 THE ZOOLOGIST.

NOTES on THE ORNITHOLOGY or NORTHAMPTONSHIRE
AND NEIGHBOURHOOD ror 1898.

By tHe Rr. Hon. Lorp Litrorp, F.L.S., F.Z.8.

I conTINUE my notes from the end of 1892 (Zool. 18938,
p. 97).

J ANUARY.

Ist. I received a letter from the Rev. Henry H. Slater, of
Irchester Vicarage, in which he informed me that he had ob-
served four Buzzards together (apparently on passage), near that
place, on Sept. 26th ult. I noticed my old Raven rolling with
evident enjoyment, and, if I may use the term, “ dusting” him-
self, in the snow in front of the house.

2nd. R. C. reported a vast flight of Wood Pigeons as passing
up our valley near Lilford in a westerly direction this morning;
he did not see the head of the column, but told me that he watched
the passage “‘in a thick stream”’ for at least ten minutes. Snow-
showers and 16 degrees of frost.

8th. Thaw set in, after a maximum of 27 deg. of frost on
5th inst. Some three hundred Mallard seen on a ploughed field
a few days ago, near Oundle Wood, reported to me by Mr. McKee,
of Oundle.

12th. A solitary male Pochard shot near Aldwincle.

14th. Our engine-man tells me that about the beginning of
this month he several times noticed a Dipper near the engine-
house and Lilford Locks, and that a good many Siskins are
haunting the alders along the river-side. Slight fall of snow.

15th. Two large Grebes seen on the river near our boat-house.

23rd. Dull, and very mild. Wood Pigeons in full “coo” near
the house.

26th. I heard from Mr. W. J. Horn, of Kingsthorpe, that a
Great Grey Shrike was seen and shot at near Weston Favell, on
Nov. Ist ult. R.C. reported that on 23rd inst. two Swans, that
he felt certain were Bewick’s, visited our park-pond.

27th. Nine geese passed up the valley near Lilford in a §.W.
direction. <A big lot of “fowl” reported on the river near Ald-
wincle. A large “parliament” of Rooks upon Pilton meadow
just before sunset. ‘These assemblages of Rooks are, in my

4

ORNITHOLOGY OF NORTHAMPTONSHIRE. 211

experience, almost invariably followed by a gale of wind, but this
instance proved to be an exception to the rule.

29th. Thirteen geese reported to me as going southerly over
Thorpe Waterville.

30th. The decoy-man reported having seen nine swans on
25th, and eight yesterday ; from his account, I am convinced that
the greater number of these birds, if not all of them, were Bewick’s
Swans. Mr. F. A. Irby, who was staying with us at Lilford,
reported a fiock of swans near Aldwincle to-day.

T'EBRUARY.

Ist. About a dozen geese seen near Thorpe Waterville.

2nd. My son, who left Lilford for London this morning,
telegraphed to me from Northampton: ‘‘ Swans on flood between
Ringstead and Higham Ferrers.” I heard from the Rey. J. T.
Watson, of Woodford, as follows :—‘‘ About a dozen Swans came
here rather more than a fortnight ago, and seem to have settled
down.” The decoy-man reported twelve swans near the decoy
on 31st ult.

5th. In reply to an enquiry about the Swans at Woodford,
I to-day received a letter from Mr. Watson above mentioned, to
the following effect :—‘‘I have just been looking at the Swans
through the best telescope that I can get, but I cannot be certain
about the colour of their bills. I feel, however, pretty certain
_ that they are light yellow and black. There are two grey birds,
all the rest are white. When they fly, I am told (though I have
not heard them myself) that they utter a short, sharp cry, ‘like
a baby crying.’”’

8th. The decoy-man told me that when he last saw the Swans,
on 31st ult. (cf. supra), they flew low over the decoy and settled
on the river near a spot that we call ‘‘Snipe-corner,” about a long
mile below 'T'‘hrapston by water. They made what he describes
as “a hidjus nize,’ something like a flock of tame geese, and
eventually waddled out of the river on to the flooded meadow,
and began to graze; they allowed him to get within about 200
yards, when they took wing, and flew up the valley of the river.
Two of the twelve had a good deal of grey about them. I heard
from Mr. H. H. Slater, above mentioned, that he saw four Swans,
of which two were grey, from the train near Ringstead yesterday.
Wood Pigeons are carrying about building materials.

319 THE ZOOLOGIST.

11th. I received a somewhat vague, but perfectly authentic,

report of Swans, Geese, Gulls, and many Ducks on the flooded
meadows below Oundle. |

12th. Mr. W. J. Horn, in a letter received this morning,
informed me that he visited Ravensthorpe Reservoir on 9th inst.,
and found between 400 and 500 wildfowl—Mallard, Teal, and
Pochards—thereon; he also noticed two grey-mantled Gulls, and
two birds which, from his description, must, I think, have been
Divers, in all probability Red-throated. Capt. J. A.M. Vipan, of
Stibbington, wrote to me, under this date, that on Jan. 24th ult.
he observed fourteen Swans on the floods near Water Newton;
he went down after them with punt and big gun, and found
nineteen in two “lots” of eleven and eight respectively; the
eleven would not let him get within 200 yards, but he could see
with the glasses that they were ‘all certainly Bewick’s Swans.”
He got a long shot at the other lot (amongst which he could
detect some Mute Swans), and eventually secured two Whoopers
and one Mute; one of the Whoopers weighed nearly 20 lbs. He
adds that he was informed that there were about twenty Swans
on the same spot yesterday morning (11th inst.).

13th. Four Swans seen near Ditchford Station L.N.W.R.

15th. Three Swans, “making a whooping noise,” on wing
near Achurch; reported by one of our gamekeepers.

16th. I heard from Capt. Vipan that he had seen nineteen

Swans swimming on the floods above Wansford yesterday, but —

they had been so disturbed that they would not allow him to get
near enough to make certain of their species; he adds that
amongst the eleven Bewick’s Swans seen by him on 24th ult.
(cf. supra) there was one grey bird.

17th. The Song Thrushes are re-appearing in force after a
nearly entire absence of about three months. Considerable
passage of Peewits, Mallard, and a few Golden Plovers, to the
north-east, observed near Lilford.

19th. Three ‘‘ wild’? Swans reported by our coachman near
Aldwincle.

23rd. Five Swans seen on wing near Aldwincle.

28th. Mr. G. M. Edmonds, of Oundle, writes of having seen
twelve Swans flying over his gravel-pit a few days ago; and our
coachman reported that he saw six Swans this morning near
Thorpe Waterville. One Goldeneye upon the decoy-pool.

ORNITHOLOGY OF NORTHAMPTONSHIRE. 218

MARCH.

Ist. About half-a-dozen Common Gulls passed over Lilford
to the south-west.—R. C.

3rd. Several Herring Gulls seen passing southward.—R. C.

7th. Mr, W. J. Horn, of Kingsthorpe, in a letter received
to-day, tells me of having seen many Bramblings in a spinney
near that place on 19th ult., also of return of Common Wagtail
on 28rd ult., and many male Reed Buntings on 6th inst.; he also
remarks the total absence of Grey Crows from the neighbourhood
of Northampton.

9th. R. C., having heard of two Swans near Barnwell Mill,
went down to have a look at them, and assures me that he could
perfectly identify them as Whoopers.

11th. Three pairs of Barn Owls found in hollow elms near
Lilford, but no eggs as yet laid by these birds.

20th. The first nest of Song Thrush reported to me, con-
taining three eggs.

27th. A pair of Wood Pigeons in our aviary have two eggs in
their nest in a box. The Bitterns in our aviary have been
“booming” at night for several days past.

29th. First eggs of Peewit of the season brought in.

380th. R. C. made an exploring visit to the many hollow trees
in the deer-park, and reports that almost every suitable cavity is
tenanted by a pair of Stock Doves. He found a nest of Tawny Owl
with three eggs, and two Barn Owls in another tree without eggs.

APRIL.

2nd. A very large flock of travelling Wood Pigeons seen near
Wigsthorpe.

Ath. Mr. Walter Stopford told me that on going to look at a
nest of Stock Dove near Aldwincle, in an old hollow willow-tree,
he found one of the old birds, freshly killed and partly eaten, at
the foot of the tree; and whilst he was climbing up to the cavity
that contained the nest an old fox jumped from it. My nephews
reported having seen a “large, slow-flying brown hawk” in the
park, hotly pursued by Rooks; in all probability a Common
Buzzard.

7th. Two nests of Barn Owl found in the park, containing
respectively four and one eggs.

214 THE ZOOLOGIST.

11th. A nest of Little Grebe found near Achurch, containing
three eggs. I merely record this because, although this bird may
be considered as abundant here during the winter months, this is
the first occupied nest hitherto found in this neighbourhood, to
my knowledge. A pair of Kingfishers nesting near Lilford.
I much regret to add that some thief subsequently dug out and
stole the eggs of this pair. Whimbrel and Redshank seen near
our decoy.

14th. Lieut.-Col. C. I. Strong visited the heronry at Milton
to-day, and informed me that he and his daughters counted about
130 nests, not, however, all occupied. Many young Herons could
fly well, but some were still in the nests. |

21st. First Partridge’s eggs of season found.

28th. Many Fieldfares have been reported to me during the
last ten days, and a very fine specimen was killed to-day.

29th. A female Starling in the aviary has paired with what
(for want of a better name) I must call a Sardinian Starling,
Sturnus unicolor. These birds have a nest and several eggs in a
nesting-box.

80th. Well-feathered young Long-tailed Tits in a nest near
the aviary.

May.

2nd. A female White-fronted Goose, paired with Bean gander,
has four eggs at aviary-pond. fPochard sits upon six eggs at
park-pond. An occupied nest of Barred Woodpecker was dis-
covered in an old hawthorn-bush near Lilford. I am glad to add
that a brood of five or six were safely reared and took wing from
this nest.

Ath. I received a letter from Mr. W. J. Horn, in which he
assures me that he positively identified a Grey-backed Wagtail,
Motacilla alba, at Kangsthorpe, on 30th ult. A very fine adult
Gannet was brought to me by one Tilley, who informed me that
it was caught by his dog on the roadside near Stanion on March
Ath ult.; he stated that it was alive and in fair condition, and
that he would not have killed it, “‘ only I thought it was a Hern-
shaw!” He sent the bird to be stuffed at Kettering by Mr. H.
Field, who had informed me of the occurrence in March last.

13th. A nest of Little Owl in hollow ash-tree in the park
contained several young.

ORNITHOLOGY OF NORTHAMPTONSHIRE. 915

27th. A Lesser Black-backed Gull, in adult plumage, hovered
for some time over my pinioned Gulls in the kitchen-garden.

JUNE.

8th. Several broods of Partridges hatched out on 29th ult.
reported to me to-day.

10th. A brood of Pied Woodpeckers have left the breeding
hole in Lilford Lynches.

11th. House Martins, hitherto remarkable for their scarcity
this year, swarming about the house at Lilford.

12th. A Sky Lark is sitting upon a nest full of eggs on a strip
of grass of not more than four feet in width, between the high-
road and foot-path near Achurch.

23rd. Mr. George Fitzwilliam sent me a curiously-coloured
variety of Carrion, or possibly Grey Crow, stuffed, for inspection,
with the information that it had haunted the park at Milton,
Peterborough, for two years, and was shot in May last on account
of depredations amongst poultry. ‘This specimen has a dark
brown head; the rest of the plumage is of a light buff or cream-
colour, approaching to white on lower breast and belly.

24th. A Green Sandpiper was seen at Lilford Locks to-day.

29th. The decoy-man to-day reported to me that he had heard
the call of a Quail near Tichmarsh on 3rd inst., and more than
once since that day, in the meadows near the decoy.

Before bringing my remarks for June to a close, I must
mention that in some very interesting notes sent to me by the
Rev. H. H. Slater, who is now Rector of Thornhaugh, near
Wansford, he alludes to the frequency and the nesting of the
Grasshopper Warbler in that neighbourhood, in April and May
of this year, and tells me that he heard and clearly identified a
Wood Lark singing in a clearing planted with young larches, in
Bedford Purlieus, on April 24th. In my experience, the Wood
Lark is a rare bird in this county at any time of year, and this is
the first occurrence that has come to my knowledge on undoubted
authority for more than twenty-five years. The Grasshopper
Warbler is (though not common in the immediate neighbourhood
of Lilford) certainly much more abundant in our county than was
formerly the case, as my next note goes to prove.

216 THE ZOOLOGIST.

JULY.

7th. Mr. W.J. Horn, in a letter from Kingsthorpe under this
date, informed me of the finding of several nests of Ce
Warbler, with eggs, not very far from Northampton.

15th. Several well-grown young Partridges picked up dead “ne
dying, with large indurated lumps of clay attached to their feet.

20th. A very noticeable decrease in the numbers of Swallows
and House Martins about Lilford.

22nd. Our gamekeepers report having constantly noticed a
Hobby, during the last few days, about the park and neighbouring
plantations. Curlews and Whimbrels heard at night, passing over
one of our woods near Lowick, by a person well acquainted with
the call of both species.

26th. Mr. W. J. Horn, writing under this date, informed me
that Mr. W. Tomalin reported Ringed Plovers, Green Sandpipers,
and young Common Sandpipers at Ravensthorpe Reservoir on
19th inst.

80th. I never remember to have seen Spotted Flycatchers in
such abundance about Lilford as I did on this day.

AUGUST.

5th. I was delighted to see several Kingfishers about the river
near Lilford. These birds, formerly abundant here, have been
comparatively scarce since the winter of 1890.

10th. We noticed two large Gulls, that I have no hesitation in
calling Black-backed, going over the pleasure-grounds at Lilford
in an easterly course. One of the gamekeepers brought down two
Brown-headed Gulls at one shot near 'lichmarsh; one of them,
only touched in the pinion-joint, is still alive in the aviary (April
19th, 1894). Very severe and prolonged thunder-storm in the
early morning hours.

17th. Mr. Hill, of Wadenhoe Mill, informed me that he had
recently been savagely attacked by a Little Owl in Wadenhoe
churchyard. It is not a little remarkable that he should last
year (July, 1892) also have been subjected to a similar totally
unprovoked assault (cf. Zool. 1893, p. 93).

18th. Rooks unusually clamorous throughout the day. Tem-
perature at sunset, 92° Fahr.

20th. Almost total disappearance of Swallows from about
the neighbourhood of Lilford. Tawny Owls have been hooting

ORNITHOLOGY OF NORTHAMPTONSHIRE. 217

throughout the day for more than a fortnight past. A Kestrel
lifted something from the lawn within twenty yards of me as
I sat in the shade, but in full view of the bird.

21st. Under this date, Mr. W. J. Horn informed me that a
Quail’s nest containing nine eggs was ‘mown out” on a field of
barley near Boughton, Northampton, on August Ist.

26th. The decoy-man reports the first Snipe of the season at
the decoy-pool.

27th. A considerable flight of Wild Geese passed over Barn-
well and Aldwincle between 12 and 1 p.m. My informants were
respectively Mr. H. Wickham and one of our gamekeepers, and
from their reports of the cries and the size of these geese, I have
- not a doubt that they were Grey-lags. Several Curlews seen by
the gamekeeper just referred to.

30th. A large slow-flying bird of prey reported by the falconer
as passing near the house at Lilford, hotly pursued by Rooks.
From his description, and one given by Lady Lilford, who saw
this bird on the next day, it must, I think, have been a Honey
Buzzard. The decoy-man to-day reported having seen the first
Teal of the season on the decoy-pool yesterday.

SEPTEMBER.

Ist. Mr. R. Stockburn, of Kettering, most obligingly despatched
a young Quail, shot by him near Loddington to-day, to me.

2nd. I recognised distinctly the cry of a Tern high in air
above my boat, but could not see the bird. The falconer positively
affirms that he saw four Redwings to-day on Pilton. The haw-
berries are in great profusion, and as “ forward” as they generally
are in the first fortnight of October, affording very welcome
sustenance to all Thrushes. My son told me of seeing an “old
blue Falcon” stoop at a Partridge near Tichmarsh to-day.

6th. Appearance of Swallows in great numbers (ef. August
20th, supra).

10th. First report of Grey Wagtail for the season, at Lilford
Locks.

12th. Col. C. I. Strong sent me a young Ruff, in the flesh,
shot by him in Whittlesea Wash a day or two ago.

13th. Swallows and House Martins in swarms about the
house at Lilford.

16th. Having of late heard many reports of the scarcity of

ZOOLOGIST, THIRD SERIES, VOL. XVIII.— JUNE, 1894. Ss

218 THE ZOOLOGIST.

Goldfinches, from various parts of the county, I was glad to see
Several “charms” of these beautiful little birds about a fine crop
of thistles on what ought to be a pasture field on one of our
farms to-day.

20th. First report of Merlin for the season.

24th. House Martins, which were swarming about the house
yesterday, have nearly all departed this morning, leaving many
Swallows with us. |

25th. Mr. F. W. Holland, of Eydon Hall, most kindly
presented to me a very fine male Red Grouse, stuffed, with the —
information that it was shot near Warkworth, in this county, in —
November, 1892, by a person with whom he is acquainted. I am
indebted to Mr. O. V. Aplin for the first intimation of this —
occurrence—unique, as I believe, in Northamptonshire. First —
Wigeon of the season reported on our park-ponds.

OcTOBER.

3rd. First report of Grey Crow for the season.

6th. I received a very young Dotterel, in the flesh, from the
Rev. W. Hopkinson, with the information that it was one of two
killed two days ago on Castor Field by a Mr. Hunt. These two
birds rose from a “stale tilth,” and were the only two of the
species seen. The other was sent to Burghley House, where it
was declared to be a young Golden Plover, and as I subsequently
learned, eaten with satisfaction as a “‘ Short-billed Woodcock” !
The specimen sent to me was unfortunately too far ‘‘ gone” for
preservation. Mr. W. Tomalin, in a letter received to-day,
informed me that two Quails were shot at, and missed, near
Hackleton on 4th inst.

8th. A large flock of travelling Wood Pigeons about the
beeches at Lilford.

10th. I heard notes of Brambling for the first time this season
at Lilford. Vast flocks of Peewits passing to the westward.

17th. First report of Woodcock for the season, at Clapton.

19th. I noticed a large number of Redpolls about our
pleasure-grounds.

21st. A large flock of Geese passed over Wadenhoe to the
south-west. A lady who was staying with us assured me that a
pair of Rooks have a nest, and in all probability eggs therein,
near Thorpe Station. First report of Fieldfare for the season.

ORNITHOLOGY OF NORTHAMP'TONSHIRE. 219

27th. I noticed Mistletoe and Song Thrushes in very unusual
numbers feeding upon the berries of the Irish yew in the terrace-
garden at Lilford.

30th. An immature female Great Crested Grebe shot near
our decoy.

NOVEMBER.

2nd. The falconer reported a great passage of Sky Larks
during the last few days. Two Swallows seen at Weekley by
Mr. G. Charlton.

9th. Mr. E.C. Burton, of the Lodge, Daventry, was kind
enough to send me a fine pair of Eared Grebes, stuffed, with the
information that they were shot upon Daventry Reservoir in 1869.
This is the only occurrence of this species in our county that has
come to my knowledge. In the case containing these Grebes was
a fine Sheldrake, also killed on Daventry Reservoir.

10th. First Jack Snipe of season shot near Tichmarsh. Three
immature Goldeneyes shot in the same neighbourhood.

11th. Ten Golden Plovers seen passing over Aldwincle.

16th. Mr. EK. C. Burton sent over for my inspection three
cases containing the following species, all killed at Daventry
Reservoir :— Ringed Plover, Grey Phalarope, Green Sandpiper,
Common Tern, Black Tern, Great Black-backed Gull, a pair of
Goosanders, and a Cormorant. The only dates given refer to
the Gull and the Cormorant, of which the former was killed on
May 13th, 1839, and the latter on March 31st,1891. Mr. Burton
was good enough to present me with these two birds. Mr. B.
Wentworth Vernon wrote informing me of the existence of a
small heronry, of which I had not previously heard, at his place,
Stoke Bruerne Park, near Towcester. Mr. Wentworth Vernon,
in a subsequent letter, informed me that about two years ago two
Jarge Eagles were soaring over his park and the neighbourhood
for several hours.

24th. Whilst we were sitting at luncheon, about 2 p.m.,
I heard my two tame Ravens making a great uproar close to the
front of the house, and on looking out of window I perceived that
they had got hold of a Peregrine Falcon, and had nearly killed
her. I sent out a servant, who brought in the Falcon, a bird of
(as I believe) the third year, in bad condition, and dying, not
only from injuries received from the Ravens, but also from the dire

S2

220 THE ZCOLOGIST,

disease known to falconers as the “ croaks.” This falcon showed
no signs of being trained, or of having ever been in captivity.
26th. I received from Mr. H. Tresham, of Peterborough, a
young Puffin that was picked up in Thorney Fen a few days ago.
I am glad to say that we have kept this bird alive and well here
for nearly five months. |

DECEMBER.

9th. The gamekeepers report many thousands of Wood Pigeons
about our old oak-woods, in which there is an extraordinary crop
of acorns. The Wadenhoe gamekeeper, to give some idea of the
numbers of these birds, sent me word that they are as “five to
one in the French war year,’ 1870-71, when we had more
Pigeons than in any other season in my recollection.

11. Mr. W. Tomalin was good enough to send me a Mealy
Redpoll alive, with the information that it was recently caught
by a Northampton birdcatcher near Roade. The falconer to-day
reported that on 9th inst. two Swans passed over Lilford in a
southerly direction, loudly trumpeting as they flew.

14th. Eighteen Geese reported as passing over Thorpe
Waterville.

18th. “ More Wood Pigeons than ever in the oak-woods,”
reported by many persons.

21st. Mr. Walter Stopford shot and sent to me, in the flesh,

a very beautiful, nearly pure white, variety of Redwing, of which ~
he had been in pursuit for the last two or three days, in the ~
neighbourhood of Tichmarsh. The head of this bird showed an
approach to the normal colour; there were a few pale brown —
feathers among the lesser wing-coverts; all the rest of the plumage _
a creamy white; beak of the normal colour; legs and feet pale :
flesh-colour. This bird kept company with a small flock of
Fieldfares.

24th. A very great diminution in the number of Wood —
Pigeons reported by our shooting parties. I am informed by |
everyone about Lilford that there is a very unusual abundance of :
Fieldfares in the neighbourhood. |

27th. The Aldwincle gamekeeper tells me that an old blue
Falcon has been “ drilling” the Wood Pigeons about our woods
for some time past.

I append, for what they may be worth, dates of first reports

NOTES AND QUERIES. 221

of arrival of spring migrants for 1893. These dates, with one
specified exception, refer to the immediate neighbourhood of
Lilford :—March 20th, Chiffchaff; 21st, Wheatear; 27th, Bank
Martin. April lst, Willow Wren; 2nd, Ray’s Wagtail; 5th, Red-
start and Blackcap; 7th, Nightingale, Swallow, and Tree Pipit;
11th, Whimbrel and Redshank; 14th, Sedge Warbler, Cuckoo,
and Wryneck; 16th, Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat; 17th,
Grasshopper Warbler (Thornhaugh, near Wansford); 18th, Corn
Crake; 19th, Wood Warbler and Whinchat; 22nd, Reed Warbler
and Turtle Dove; 26th, Garden Warbler; 27th, Red-backed
Shrike and Spotted Flycatcher. May lst, House Martin; 18th,
Swift and Common Sandpiper; 28th, Hobby.

NOTES: AND QUERIES.

MAMMALIA.

The Badger: its period of Gestation.—The following account of the
breeding of Badgers may throw some light on the subject of their period
of gestation. In the beginning of April, 1880, we dug out three Badger
cubs in Kent. They were then about the size of Wild Rabbits. They
became very tame, and would follow us about anywhere, even along the
roads, but always resented being picked up, although they would climb
into our laps. ‘They were fed on rabbits, birds, biscuit, and ate enormous
quantities of Wasp-grubs, eating the combs as well as the grubs. They
used also to procure numerous beetles and worms for themselves.
Towards the end of August of the same year we moved them to my
present home in Hampshire. By that time they had greatly grown and
were fine Badgers, the three together weighing 39 lbs.; one of them being
much smaller than the other two. They were temporarily placed in a
pigsty, but soon made their escape, and were lost for some days, when we
discovered that they had taken up their abode in a wood-lodge that was
filled with wood and faggots. They used to come out every evening to
feed with the dogs, and would run at them and try to knock them over by
putting their noses under them and lifting them up, but never tried to bite.
At night they wandered far away, but would come when I called them from
a long distance and put their paws on my knees; and on one occasion one
of them, without any provocation, quietly gave my knee a good nip.
During the end of September and the whole of October they were
exceedingly noisy; one of them was continually chattering, and another
uttering a loud drawling cry, which I have heard before in the autumn

222 THE ZOOLOGIST.

from wild Badgers. About this time the small one disappeared, and the
other two lived all the winter in the wood-lodge, having, as we could see,
carried in quantities of grass and bracken, the latter from some heaps
of small potatoes over which it had been thrown to keep out frost.
Numbers of potatoes were also carried away, but were never eaten. They
did not regularly hybernate, but sometimes did not show for several days.
After a fall of snow I tracked one of them a very long way to a sand-pit,
where there was a fox-earth. About the middle of March, 1881, we
distinctly heard young ones whining and chattering in the recesses of the
wood-lodge, and did not see either of the old ones for a fortnight, when the
female came out. She was very hungry, and wonderfully quick and active.
She had a smooth appearance about her head, and her hair looked thin,
reminding me in fact very much of a Ferret or Polecat under similar
circumstances. She came out every evening, and we could hear the young
ones continually. All this time we had lost sight of the male, and I had
to leave home for a fortnight, so for all that period I do not know what
happened. On my return home there was no sign of young ones; all was
quiet, and only the old female was seen. She used to come in the evening
from the other direction, and I traced her to the sand-pit about three
quarters of a mile off. She was always in a great hurry, but as tame as
ever, and she used to surprise me with the way she used to spring up a very
steep bank. She would go the round of all the dog-kennels for any scraps
they might have laid up, each dog always turning out for her. Now comes
the sad part of the story. My gardener told me that while I was away he
had heard a noise in the wood-lodge like a chain rattling, so I decided to
get all the wood out. This was done, and we came on two large nests,
right at the end of the lodge, and by one of them lay the male Badger
dead, entangled in the wood by the chain of a gin that the poor fellow had
on his foot. He smelt dreadfully, and this was of course the reason of the
female moving her young away. Now as these Badgers had young by the
time they were twelve months old, it cannot be said that twelve months is
the usual period of gestation. The noisy period in October was probably
the time when the female was in season, and if so, it would seem that four
to five months in this case was the period of gestation. Is it not possible,
that when a female Badger is caught when in litter, the development of the
foetus may be suspended until she gets over the shock of her capture? To
return to my story. The old female continued to visit us during the

snmmer, but towards autumn her visits became fewer and fewer and at last’

ceased. All that now remains isa thriving colony of Badgers in the sand-
pit to which she originally moved her young.—E. G. MraDE-WALDo (Rope
Hill, Lymington).

Destruction of Martens in Ireland.—In his article on the Marten
in Ireland (p. 141) Mr. Barrett Hamilton gives “an extract from a law”

NOTES AND QUERIES. 993

which he supposes to be “ still in force in Ireland,” and which provides a
reward of 5s. to any person or persons who shall take, kill, or destroy any
Otter or Marten. He refers evidently to Section 14 of 27 Geo. III. cap.
35, but he, and doubtless many others, will be glad to learn that this
enactment is no longer in force, having been repealed by 3 & 4 Will. IV.,
cap. 78, sec. 64.—J. HK. Harrine.

Bank Vole in Worcestershire and Shropshire.—During the months
of February and March I trapped the Bank Vole freely in the Wyre
Forest, which covers a considerable area of both these counties. It has
been recorded once before in Shropshire (Zool. 1888, p. 184), at Eyton,
some thirty miles distant, but, to the best of my knowledge, not in
Worcestershire. If more naturalists would pay attention to the distribution
of the mammals within their districts, this species would probably prove to
be far from rare, if occasionally somewhat local.—J.S. Exiiort (30, Dixon’s
Green, Dudley).

Water Vole at a distance from Water.— On March 16th a man
here showed me a Water Vole which he had just taken out of a mole-trap.
_ The trap was set in a field situate about half-a-mile from the nearest water
where Water Voles are found.—H. W. H. Brace (Cheadle, Staffordshire).

[The habit of the Water Vole to wander occasionally to some
distance from water was remarked long ago by Gilbert White. In his 26th
letter to Pennant he writes :—* As a neighbour was lately ploughing in a
dry chalky field, far removed from any water, he turned out a water rat
that was curiously laid up in an Aybernaculum artificially formed of grass
and leaves. At one end of the burrow lay above a gallon of potatoes
regularly stowed, on which it was to have supported itself during the
winter. But the difficulty with me is how this Amphibius mus came to fix
its winter station at such a distance from the water. Was it determined
in its choice of that place by the mere accident of finding the potatoes
which were planted there; or is it the constant practice of the aquatic rat
to forsake the neighbourhood of the water in the colder months?” Ina
previous letter (the 10th to Pennant), White suspects there may be two
species of Water Rat, and gives reasons for this opinion.—ED. |

Stoats in Ermine Dress.— With reference to my note upon this
subject (p. 148) it may be worth while drawing attention to the fact that
Pennant (‘ British Zoology,’ 1776, vol. i., plate 7) figures a Stoat in inter-
mediate pelage. In this specimen the white of the belly extends part of
the way up the sides; the basal half of the tail has become white, as has
also the hind leg and most of the fore leg. It is a very fair representation
of the manner in which the change takes place. Pennant writes (p. 91),
* With us [in Flintshire] the Stoat is observed to change its colour from
brown to white in November, and to begin to resume the brown the
beginning of March.”—O. V. Artin (Bloxham, Oxon).

224 . THE ZOOLOGIST.

BIRDS.

Early arrival of the Cuckoo in 1894.—In spite of the rather dogmatic
assertion of the Editor (p. 189) that “in no instance, so far as he is aware,
has the Cuckoo been heard or seen (by any competent observer) before the
6th of April,” I must beg to record my humble testimony on the point,
leaving others to judge, as may seem good to them, of my competency.
On April Ist of this year, 1894, two of my sons reported to me that they
had both heard and seen a Cuckoo; as both of them are, in my judgment,
competent observers, I did not doubt their accuracy, and the next day,
April 2nd, I myself had the pleasure of hearing one repeatedly. This
date is no doubt, in my own experience of, now going on I am sorry to
say for sixty years, exceptionally early,—the earliest in fact that I have
ever recorded. It may interest some naturalists if I add here the dates
of the first hearing or seeing, or both, of the Cuckoo which I have recorded
since 1866. In some years I made no record, being perhaps away from
home, or otherwise unable to believe that the first time I heard or saw a
Cuckoo was any real or approximate date of its first arrival here :—1867,

|
4

April 18th; 1868, 14th; 1869, 9th; 1870, 13th; 1871, 12th; 1872, -

13th ; 1873, 138th; 1887, 14th; 1891, 19th; 1894, lst. The latest date
at which the Cuckoo is heard is also, it seems to me, a point of interest.
On this I have the following notes :—“July 3rd, 1891. Heard three
Cuckoos this evening; one quite hoarse. July 5th, 1891. Heard one
again to-day.”—O. P. CamBrinGE (Bloxworth, Dorset).

[The Editor’s statement to which our valued correspondent takes
exception was actually published nearly twenty years ago, ¢. ¢., in 1875, in
‘Our Summer Migrants.’ We do not know why it should now be
characterized as “ dogmatic,” seeing that it is confirmed by the observations
of Mr. Borrer, extending over more than thirty years, as made known by
him in 1891 in his ‘ Birds of Sussex,’ and by the deductions of Mr. South-
well (p. 190) from records kept for the much longer period of 106 years.
Moreover, even now, no date earlier than April 9th is adduced by Mr.
Cambridge (except that noted for the present year), while the average for

the ten years’ observations given by him is from the 12th to the 13th of ©

April.—Ep.].

Cuckoo seen in March. — Like other correspondents (Zool. 1894,
p- 189), Iam no believer in the March Cuckoo. I have regularly taken
notes of its first appearance, and in thirty-one years, between 1863 and
1894, the earliest date that I have heard it in North Lincolnshire was on
April 14th (1869), the latest, May Ist (in 1873). The earliest date I have
ever heard it in England was April 8th, 1894, at Tunbridge Wells.—Joun
CorpEavx (Great Cotes House, R.S.O., Lincoln).

Early laying of the Cuckoo.—It may be interesting to note the
early laying of the Cuckoo this year in Somersetshire. My son took an

NOTES AND QUERIES. 225

egg on April 28th, in the nest of a Robin. — H. 8. B. Goipsmits (Bridge-
water).

Variation of Plumage in Cuckoo.—Apropos of the question of March
Cuckoos, Mr. Southwell, in the last number of ‘ The Zoologist,’ states that
the “‘ few particulars given have always appeared to indicate the plumage
of the young bird, an obvious absurdity.” Without any disrespect for
so high an authority, I should like to mention some facts that have fallen
under my own observation; once (some three or four years ago) in Epping
Forest; and again, only last week, on a certain moor some twelve miles
from Whitby. Cuckoos abound there this year. On the morning of May
14th two Cuckoos flew close past me. Noticing something curious about
one of them, I marked them down in a bare patch in the ling, and crawling
within about fifty yards of them, I had just time to get my glasses focussed
upon them, when they were disturbed by one of the moorland sheep, and
disappeared down a gully. For the short space that I had them under
observation, I was able to see distinctly that one was in the normal
plumage, and the other, which had its back towards me, was in all respects
marked precisely like a young bird of the year. I was unable to note the
colour of the flanks and under parts, as also the colour of the irides. On
returning home, and looking up the literature on the subject, I find in
Yarrell (ed. 4, vol ii., p. 407) notice of ‘certain examples, presumably
young, which put ona plumage very different from that generally assumed
and which have been described under the name of Cuculus rufus.” Whether
the bird seen by me was one of these, or a variety, I am unable to say; I
merely mention facts as I observed them; but taken in connection with
Mr. Southwell’s remarks, these birds certainly bear a close resemblance to
a female Kestrel, and the thought occurred to me, that when putting down
all early Cuckoos as Kestrels, the possible occurrence of this species or
variety, whichever it is, should be taken into consideration.—OxLry
GraBuHaM, M.A. (Croxton Villa, Scarborough).

[We understand Mr. Southwell’s remarks to mean that in certain cases,
where the early appearance of supposed Cuckoos has been reported, the
description of the plumage given by the observer has pointed either to the
Kestrel, or to a Cuckoo in the immature reddish brown barred plumage,
which so early in the spring (he considers) would be an impossibility, or, as
he puts it, “an obvious absurdity.” This raises the question whether
the Cuckoo ever retains the immature plumage until iis second year.
We have no doubt that it occasionally does so—it misses a moult, just
as trained falcons are occasionally observed to do—and the following
remarks in ‘The Birds of Middlesex’ (1866, p. 120) are to the point :—
* Occasionally an adult Cuckoo is obtained in the reddish brown plumage
peculiar to the young bird, but this happens very rarely. I know of two
instances in which old birds have been shot in this state of plumage, one

226 THE ZOOLOGIST.

having been previously observed for three summers, and the other for five
or six; they were both females, and I believe an adult male of this colour
has never been obtained. The adult brown Cuckoo is thought by some to
be a distinct species, and has been figured and described under the name
of Cuculus hepaticus.” If our memory serves us, for it is a good many
years since these remarks were penned, the two examples of adult brown
Cuckoos above mentioned were shot by that excellent field-naturalist, the
late Frederick Bond, and were long preserved in his collection.—EDb.].

Black Redstart in Kent.—On March 26th I saw a Black Redstart,
Rh. tithys, near the village of Wye. It flew up from the side of the road,
and perched on the roof of a cottage close by. It was apparently a young
bird in the uniform slaty-grey plumage.—J. H. Caron Haren (Aber-Ia,
Peurhyndeudraeth, Merionethshire, North Wales).

Dark Variety of the Barn Owl.—A very dark buff-coloured variety of
the Barn Owl, Stria flammea, was brought to Mr. Pratt, the taxidermist at
Brighton, on October 24th, 1893. It was caught in a barn near Brighton,
and proved to be a female. It must not be forgotten that there is a fulvous
or dark race of our Barn Owl, which I have occasionally seen (¢f. Zool. 1880,
p. 43; 1885, p. 52); but the present example is still darker, especially on
the back. Dr. Sharpe, in his study of the Barn Owls, confirms the general
opinion that any very fulvous Barn Owl is a migrant from Denmark, where
this dark race or species preponderates. The example now referred to closely
resembles one which I lately saw in Mrs. Dawson Rowley’s collection, which
is figured in the ‘ Ornithological Miscellany,’ vol. i. p. 62. This also was
caught at Brighton. Writing from memory, there is one in the Norwich
Museum darker and more richly coloured than either of these. This was
taken on our east coast in December, 1864, and is alluded to in Stevenson’s
‘Birds of Norfolk.’ Whether these dark owls can ever be maintained as a
species is doubtful, and that certainly was not my father’s opinion, nor is it
Dr. Sharpe’s, in spite of the immense difference between the extremes
of the two phases in respect of colour.—J. H. Gurney (Keswick Hall,
Norwich).

Short-eared Owl on Northumberland Moors.— With regard to certain
remarks which I made in ‘The Zoologist’ for March (p. 114), in
reference to the visitation of Short-eared Owls to certain Northumberland
moors, I may state that on the moors referred to they are not now present.
The voles having disappeared, the owls have apparently followed suit,
The keeper told me he had found several dead owls, and he attributed their
death to want of food, in other words, scarcity of mice; apparently a
certain area of moor has only a limited number of mice on it, insufficient
to maintain an indefinite number of owls.—A. C. CHapman (Moor House,

Leamside).

ee ae 2

NOTES AND QUERIES. 297

Pheasant nesting in a tree.—A hen Pheasant was recently found
sitting upon ten eggs in a Pigeon’s nest in a fir-tree at about six feet from
the ground, in a covert on my brother’s shootings near Barnwell, North-
ampton.—T. M. Wickuam.

[It would be interesting to know whether the eggs were duly hatched,
and how the young birds were brought down ; for, as stated in the 4th ed.
of ‘ Yarrell’ (vol. iii. p. 99), lofty situatious, such as old nests and squirrel’s
dreys in trees, are sometimes selected by Pheasants, but the entire brood is
rarely brought down in safety.—EDp.]

Hooded Crow breeding in Northumberland.—It may interest readers
of ‘The Zoologist ’ to know that the Hooded Crow, Corvus cornia, has bred
for some years in the neighbourhood of Cheviot in Northumberland. The
text-books, as a rule, define the border-line between England and Scotland
as the normal southern limit of breeding-range of this crow in this portion
of our islands, and as it is well known how commonly the Hoodie breeds
in southern Scotland, there is nothing extraordinary in its breeding in
Northumberland. In 1890 a friend of mine told me he had seen a pair
of Hooded Crows at a nest on his shooting near Cheviot, and that at the
same time certain young crows were fledged and flying about close at hand.
These young birds, which could fly only a short distance without alighting,
were Close to a certain nest from which young birds had recently flown, and
the two old crows in attendance were both Grey-backs. The young crows,
on the other hand, my friend told me, were all quite black and not hooded !
Last year (1893) a pair of Hooded Crows again bred close to the same old
nest, and the keeper shot one of the old ones off the nest, which contained
small young newly hatched. This spring a pair of Hoodies have again
nested close to the same old place. It may be added that Carrion Crows
are also exceedingly common in this region, although they are being rapidly
put down, owing to the havoc these birds work in any district where game
is preserved. The place where the Hooded Crows, above mentioned,
breed is within a very few miles of the Scottish border, and ordinarily one
would attach no importance to it, save for the purposes of county
ornithology.— ALFRED ©. Coapman (Moor House, Leamside, Co. Durham).

The White Wagtail in Anglesea.—While staying at Rhos Neigr, a
small village on the west coast of Anglesea, from April 28th to May 2nd, I
noted many Wagtails, some in small flocks and some in pairs, both on the
shore and on the banks of Llyn Maelog, which is close to the sea. All of
these were Motacilla alba, but I could not make out that any were
actually breeding. Further inland, on May 2nd, Motacilla lugubris was
the species I observed.—W. Hunry Dosix (Chester).

Marsh Harrier nesting near Oxford.—Some years ago I purchased
from Mr. Leonard Buttress, of Westbridge, Hendon, an egg of the Marsh

328 THE ZOOLOGIST.

Harrier, Circus eruginosus, which he himself took near Oxford in July, 1890.
The interest attaching to such a specimen induced me to write Mr. Buttress
for further particulars concerning the egg, and in reply he stated that so far
as he could remember the nest was situated on the ground, and composed
of a quantity of dry vegetation, which he thinks was chiefly reeds. I do
not think any other instance of the Marsh Harrier breeding in the above-
mentioned district has been recorded for a number of years, or, perhaps, if
we except Norfolk, from any other locality in the British Islands, so that
the present instance is of more than ordinary interest. The egg itself is
now in the British Collection in the Natural History Museum at South
Kensington.—H. K. Swann (Forest Grove, Colville Street, Nottingham).

Notes from Hastings.—On February 4th I picked up an immature ©

Puffin at Pett Level, near Hastings. It had been thrown up by the tide.
Also a Gannet in the same way, on February 19th. The weather had
been very stormy. On March 2lst I had sent me an adult male
Brambling, shot near Fairlight while feeding with sparrows near a rick
On April 1st a friend and I saw a Hoopoe in the marshes at Iden, near Rye,

Sussex, and I have since heard of one being shot at Lydd, Kent, whichis —

only a few miles away. On April 10th I saw, in the flesh, a male Black
Redstart, shot at Ninfield, near Bexhill; it was a bird of last year I should
think, as the white bar on the wing was not strongly marked. It is now
in my possession. On April 23rd a friend of mine at Ore, near Hastings,
took a Hawfinch’s nest containing four eggs; and a Goldcrest’s nest, with
ten eggs, was taken at Battle—G. W. BrapsHaw (Hastings).

Lesser Redpoll breeding in Somerset.—On the 15th inst. I saw some

eggs of the Lesser Redpoll, Linota rufescens, Vieillot, taken at Kilve, near —

Bridgewater. Two eggs were shown to me by the finder, who did not know
what they were; there were four eggs in the nest, and 1 immediately went
to get the other two, but found unfortunately that they had been taken and
part of the nest pulled out.—H. Sz. B. Gotpsmira (Bridgewater).

[The late Mr. Cecil Smith thought the Lesser Redpoll did not breed in

Somersetshire. He regarded it as a winter visitor, appearing in October

and staying until about the middle of March.— Ep. ]

Eggs of the Tree Sparrow.—Several years ago Mr. C. M. Prior called
attention to the fact that the Tree Sparrow always lays one egg very much
lighter in colour than the rest of the clutch. The other day a Tree Sparrow's
nest, with five eggs, which I found in this parish in a hole in an ancient
crab-apple tree, recalled the matter to my mind, and the light-coloured egg
in the first Tree Sparrow’s nest I ever found, just twenty years ago. Four
of the eggs found this month were olive-brown, with suffused markings,
and darkest on a zone round the biggest part of the egg; these hada

OO

resemblance to some dark eggs of the Sky Lark. The fifth egg had the

NOTES AND QUERIES. 229

ground-colour white, with heavy suffused brown markings at the big end,
darkest on the zone mentioned before; the rest of the egg was marked with
ashy grey spots. My small experience leads me to believe that this remark-
able light-coloured egg is always present, having observed it on every occasion
when I have found or examined a clutch of Tree Sparrow’s eggs. I should
be glad to hear the experience of other observers on the point, as (except in
the 4th ed. of Yarrell) I cannot find anything bearing upon the question in
the books on British birds and the local avifaunas I have by me. The subject

is thus referred to in Yarrell ;—‘‘ When the markings are collected in large

masses other splotches of ash-colour may be seen on the very apparent white
ground, and in most nests of this species there is one egg of this character,
whatever be the pattern of the rest” (vol. ii. p. 84). But I think the passage
hardly does full justice to this remarkable feature in the life-history of the
Tree Sparrow, which is perhaps unique in the history of our British passerine
birds.—O. V. Apiin (Bloxham, Oxon).

REPTILIA.

English Records of Coronella austriaca.—Mr. Boulenger’s remarks
on the variation of the Smooth Snake, Coronella austriaca (pp. 10-15), and
his allusion to the fact of its having been first noticed as a British species
in the pages of this Journal (1859, p, 6731), suggested the utility of
collecting all the references to it which have since appeared in ‘ The
Zoologist.. They are accordingly appended, and it may be noted that in
the same year in which Dr. J. EK. Gray made known the discovery of this
rare or at least local snake in this country, he announced the fact also in
the Annals of Nat. Hist. (1859, p. 317):—

Gray aad ave -. 1859, page 6731.

Bond a Ae see LODO NE pe hoe

Newman ... Sse wwe £BO2 4° 4 4 GRO:

De. Opel ... nat «> E865 ,, Oa0R;-9559)

Blackmore ... Ease cee LEGG. Se Ora

Newman .... oa se 1869 ON WOos:

Cambridge ... Gee wale ROM | oy eee deee

Kemp Welsh pe sus, LOPS Ti cote.

Corbin e. abt bee.) SOLE? YY Re eee

Cambridge ... fee seat LO7T9 eee

Ridley a Soe » L882 ,, 433 (Surrey).

Macpherson... _—... doe) TB8R De 4354.

Axford ae ast sae ( L888) a Bat

Ridley iM oa as LSSh vee eee.
To these references may be added :—‘ Intellectual Observer,’ vol. iii., p. 149,
and O. P. Cambridge, Proceedings Dorset Nat. Hist. Soc., 1886, p. 84,
pl. vi. Bell's ‘ British Reptiles’ having been published in 1887, before
Coronella austriaca had been ascertained to exist in the South of England,
that author’s only reference to this species is an allusion to its supposed
occurrence in Dumfriesshire, a supposition which, as Mr. Boulenger has

230 THE ZOOLOGIST.

shown (p. 10), was founded upon a mistake in the identification of the
species. In Dr. M. ©. Cooke’s little volume, ‘Our Reptiles,’ C. austriaca
is described as British, and a coloured figure is given of the species from
a specimen obtained in Hampshire.—J. E. Hartine.

FISHES.

Blind Gudgeon.—In a small pond near Scarborough are to be found

great numbers of Gudgeon, Gobius fluviatilis; nice, well-fed little fish, —

perhaps somewhat under-sized, but almost all of them blind. This
peculiarity has puzzled me for a long time, as it is not odd fish which
are thus afflicted, but about ten out of every dozen examined. I have also
been struck with a peculiarity in the pond—that even in the hottest and
driest period of last year the water did not dry up or diminish to any per-
ceptible degree. On causing enquiry to be made, I am informed that a
subterranean lake exists, having an outlet into the pond, which thus always
maintains the same level, independent of climatic changes. It has been
suggested to me that possibly the Gudgeon inhabiting the pond may have
been bred in the subterranean lake, which would probably in the course of
generations lead to the loss of sight, the fish then finding their way upwards
into the pond. I should be glad to know if this is a probable explanation,
and if so, what food-supply would the fish find underground? I would add
that numbers of Newts inhabit the pond, all of which appear to possess full
powers of vision.— WILLIAM J. CLARKE (44, Huntriss Row, Scarborough).

Sapphirine Gurnard in the Solway Firth.—The Sapphirine Gurnard,
Trigla hirundo, Linn., may now be added to the fauna of the Solway Firth,
for several specimens have been taken in our waters this spring. The
largest that has hitherto come under my notice was a female fish weighing
83 Tbs. It was caught on the Firth on May 19th, and proved to be full of
roe. The maturity of the specimen was further evidenced, as we ascertained
on dissection, by the form of the air-bladder. I had some reason pre-
viously to suppose this species visited our waters, but had not obtained
any specimens.—H. A. Macruerson (Carlisle).

[We are not surprised to hear of the occurrence of this fish in the |

Solway Firth, for although not so plentiful as the Red Gurnard, Trigla
cuculus, it is to be found all round the British coasts, and is widely
distributed, being known from Norway to the Mediterranean.—ED.]

The Bergylt, Sebastes norvegicus, on the Norfolk Coast.—Mr. A.
Patterson sent me a beautiful specimen of this pretty fish, for the Norwich
Museum, measuring 5% inches in length, which had been taken off
Yarmouth, in a shrimp-net, on April 29th. I am not aware that this fish
has been recognised as occurring on the Norfolk coast previously, and as
it is believed to be an inhabitant generally of “rocky bays, where the

NOTES AND QUERIES. 231

distance to the bottom is very great” (Day), it must have been very much
out of place in the sandy shallows fished by our shrimpers.—T. SourHWELL
(Norwich).

Lumpsucker at Penzance.—A specimen of the male or Red Lump-
sucker, Cyclopterus lumpus, was caught close to the pier-head here, in a
trammel, on May 2nd. The late Mr. T. Cornish considered it a rare
species on this coast, having seen only one specimen in thirty-four years.
The Blue form, or female, is not so uncommon. I saw a specimen, caught
in deep water near the Wolf Rock, on February 26th last.—Joun B.
CornisH (Penzance).

MOLLUSCA.

English Oysters for South Africa.—From a report to hand in the
‘Cape Times’ it appears that active steps have been taken to introduce
English oysters to these shores, a consignment of some 2000 Whitstables
having been brought out in the ‘ Norham Castle.’ These have been placed
at the mouth of the Swartkops River, Algoa Bay; Mr. Weatherly, the
Cape Government fishery expert, has been detailed to watch the progress
of the experiment, and so far all goes well. There is, however, still a great
deal to be done and learned before satisfactory progress can be made
towards the establishment of oyster-culture as a bond fide industry, able to
pay its way. Even though all the rocks and rocky points of the Zwartkops
River abound in the native South African oyster, it was not at the
commencement of the experiment known at what time of the year the
native oyster spawned. This, however, has now been decided, for the
whole of January the oysters were spawning, and it was quite easy to gain
the spawn for microscopic examination. About 800 of the Whitstable
oysters arrived alive after their long journey, and these were placed in the
water in trays and closely watched. No syndicate is likely to spend money
in the development of an industry that will become a valuable property,
without ample protection, and this it is now endeavoured to secure.
Application has been made for a protection right over the whole of the
river-mouth, not, it is carefully explained, that the whole will ever be
required, or that it will ever be necessary to use all this, but since the work
is at present experimental, it is thought advisable to have as wide a
protection as possible, so that the place may be taken where it is found that
the work can be best carried on. There is, however, very little doubt that
the selected area for the oyster-beds will be a strip of the rocky north
bank extending from the mouth for a quarter of a mile up the river. The
actual oyster-beds will be no impediment to rowing or sailing anywhere
over the surface of the water, and if ever the largest possible success
attends the scheme, and the banks should be conserved for three-quarters
of a mile, there will be still over ten miles of the better parts of the river
fishable.

939 THE ZOOLOGIST.

SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES.

Linnean Society or Lonpon.

May 3rd, 1894.—Prof. Stewart, President, in the chair.

Mr. J. H. Burkill was admitted, and Dr. Johann Mueller, of Aargau,
and Prof. K. Mitsukuri, of the University of Tokyo, were elected Foreign
Members of the Society.

Prof. Poulton exhibited the larvee of certain Lepidoptera to illustrate the
results of experiments which he had made in regard to the influence of
environment upon their colours. Variously coloured twigs and shoots, such
as occur in nature, were shown to influence the appearance of many twig-like
larve in such a manner as to aid their concealment. Commenting upon
this exhibition, Mr. A. K. Gibbs detailed the results of feeding the larvae
of Amphidasys betularta on birch which has brown shining stems, and on
an acacia the petals of which are of a green colour, the larve in these
cases being brown and green respectively.

Prof. G. B. Howes exhibited and made remarks upon the eggs and
young of Ceratodus fosteri, received from Prof. Semon, of Jena, who is
engaged in working out the development of this fish. Prof. Howes also
exhibited a specimen of Lepidosiren paradoxa, an extremely rare fish in
collections, from the backwaters of the Upper Rio Paraguay, and made
remarks upon its anatomy.

Mr. James Saunders, of Luton, with the aid of the oxyhydrogen lantern,
exhibited Plasmodium in the act of forming sporangia. The species, which
had been found on birch, was Didymium squamulosum.

On behalf of Dr. H. B. Guppy, the Secretary read a paper on the habits
of three species of Lemna. In this paper, the author detailed the results
of experiments made by him during a period of twenty months, and showed
that Lemna gibba can pass the winter either in the gibbous form, or with
fronds which in appearance come to resemble those of Lemna minor. The
flowering of Lemna gibba was observed in July, when it was found that the |
gibbous plants were producing thin flat fronds, which were also in flower
and floating detached. In both cases the flowers were hermaphrodite, but
they had the appearance of being unisexual, on account of the flowers of the
gibbous plant protruding the pistil only, while those of the flat fronds evolved
only the stamens. After describing the habits of the winter fronds of Lemna.
polyrhiza and alluding to Lemna minor, the paper concluded with a table
of temperatures relating to the germinating, budding, and flowering of
these plants.

A paper was then read “ On the fertilization of certain Malayan Orchids,”
by Mr. H. N. Ridley.

SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES. 238

May 24th, Annwersary Meeting. — Prof. Srzwart, President, in the
chair.

Messrs. G. B. Rothera and W. Frome Wilkinson were admitted Fellows
of the Society.

The Treasurer presented his Annual Report, duly audited, and the
Secretary having announced the elections and deaths during the past twelve
months, the usual ballot took place for new members of Council, when the
following were elected :—Dr. John Anderson, F.R.S., C. B. Clarke, M.A.,
F.R.S., Prof. J. Reynolds Green, Arthur Lister, and Albert D. Michael.

On a ballot taking place for the election of President and Officers,
Mr. Charles Baron Clarke, M.A., F.R.S., was nominated President, and
the Treasurer and Secretaries were re-elected.

The Librarian’s Report having been read, and certain formal business
disposed of, the retiring President delivered his Annual Address, taking for
his subject “the Locomotion of Animals, with special reference to the
Crustacea.” On the motion of Dr. D. H. Scott, seconded by Mr. Howard
Saunders, a unanimous vote of thanks was accorded to the President for his
Address, with a request that he would allow it to be printed.

The Society’s Gold Medal was then formally awarded to Prof. Ernst
Haeckel, of Jena, for his researches in Invertebrate Zoology, especially in
relation to the Medus@ and Radiolaria. It was received on his behalf by
Mr. W. Percy Sladen, who read a letter of acknowledgment and thanks,
prefaced by an expression of the writer’s regret at his inability to come to
England to receive the medal in person.

ZooLtocicaL Society oF Lonpon.

May 1st, 1894.—Dr. A. GuntHER, F'.R.S., Vice-President, in the chair.

The Secretary read a report on the additions that had been made to
the Society's Menagerie during the month of April, and called special
attention to a valuable collection of Mammals presented to the Society by
Dr. J. Anderson, F.R.S., being part of the proceeds of his recent expedition
to Egypt.

Dr. Giinther exhibited and made remarks on specimens of a South-
African Hornbill, Buceros melanoleucus, and of a portion of the tree in
which the nest was placed, and spoke of its mode of nesting and of its
extraordinary habits during that season. The specimens had been trans-
mitted to the British Museum by Dr. Schénland, of Grahamstown.

Dr. H. E. Sauvage exhibited a vertebra of the earliest known Snake
from the gault of Portugal.

Mr. W. Bateson exhibited a large number of specimens of Gonioctena
variabilis, a phytophagous Beetle, from Spain, in illustration of discon-
tinuous variation in colour.

ZOOLOGIST, THIRD SERIES, VOL. XVIII.—JUNE, 1894. T

234 THE ZOOLOGIST.

Prof. F. Jeffrey Bell gave an account of the Echinoderms collected
during the voyage of H.M.S. ‘ Penguin’ and by H.M.S. ‘ Egeria,’ when
surveying Macclesfield Bank. The collection, which had been made by
Mr. P. W. Bassett Smith, Surgeon, R.N., with the co-operation of Mr. J. J.
Walker, Chief Engineer, was very extensive, and contained examples of
many new species, some of which were of a very remarkable character.

Mr. Ernest W. Holt, Naturalist to the Marine Biological Association,
gave an account of some of the results of his recent studies in teleostean
morphology made at the Marine Laboratory at Cleethorpe. Mr. Holt spoke
first of some specimens of the Ling, Molva abyssorum, Nilsson. The
regular occurrence of this fish off the Faroé Islands, and its occasional
capture on the coast of Iceland, were now recorded for the first time, the
species having been previously observed only on the Scandinavian coasts.
The specimens, six in number, all of considerable size, were described
in detail, and the species was carefully compared with the allied form,
M. vulgaris (the Common Ling). Mr. Holt next proceeded to describe the
“ recessus orbitalis,” an accessory visual organ of the Pleuronected Fishes.
The organ in question was stated to be a highly elastic saccular process of
the membranous wall of the orbital cavity. It had been found to occur in
all the Flat-fishes examined, viz. the Halibut, Long Rough Dab, Brill,
Plaice, Flounder, Lemon-Sole, Dab, and Common Sole, and was believed
to occur in all Flat-fishes with well-developed eyes. Finally, Mr. Holt
spoke of an adult specimen of the Common Sole with symmetrical eyes, and
discussed the bearing of this specimen on ambicoloration. The specimen in
question, about 15 inches long, was perfectly normal in external con-
figuration, except that the left eye had retained its position on the left
side of the head, and was nearly opposite to the right eye. Antero- —
ventrally it had been somewhat overgrown by the skin. ‘The coloration
was normal, the right side being brown, and the left side white.

A communication was read from Mr. St. George Littledale, containing
field-notes on the Wild Camel of Lob Nor, as observed during his recent
journey across Central Asia.

Mr. Oldfield Thomas gave an account of a collection of mammals from
Oman, S.E. Arabia, which had been transmitted to the British Museum
by Dr. A. S. G. Jayakar, among which were examples of a new Hare, Lepus
omanensis, and of a new Goat of the genus Hemitragus, proposed to be called
jayakari, after its discoverer. Altogether seventeen species were repre-
sented in this collection, from a locality of which very little was previously
known.—P. L. Scravrer, Secretary.

SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES. 235

Tue British OrniITHOLOGISTS’ UNION.

The Annual General Meeting of the British Ornithologists’ Union was
held at the Zoological Society’s Rooms, in Hanover Square; on Wednesday,
the 9th inst. In the absence of the President (Lord Lilford), the chair
was taken by Mr. P. L. Sclater, F.R.S. The report of the Committee gave
a flourishing account of the finances, a good balance having been carried
over, after payment of the expenditure on ‘The Ibis’ for 1893. One
vacancy in the Union had been occasioned by death, and four by resignation
since the last Anniversary, and the Union was stated to consist at present
of 240 Ordinary Members, besides Honorary and Foreign Members.

Seventeen new candidates for election having been balloted for, Lord
Lilford was re-elected President and Mr. F. D. Godman, Secretary for the
ensuing year, and Lt.-Col. L. H. Irby and Mr. W. T. Blanford were placed
on the Committee in lieu of two retiring members. It was agreed that a
new (seventh) series of ‘ The Ibis’ should be commenced in 1895, with the
87th volume, and that Mr. P. L. Sclater and Mr. Howard Saunders should
be appointed as joint Editors of it. It was further resolved, on the motion
of Mr. Harting, that the Committee should take the necessary steps towards
the preparation of another volume of the ‘General Index’ from the com-
mencement of the Fourth Series to the end of the Sixth Series, and
consider at the same time the feasibility of improving it by including the
names of authors of papers, and such places as are mentioned in the titles
of papers.

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF Lonpon.

May 2nd, 1894.—H. J. Exwes, Esq., F.L.S., President, in the chair.

Mr. S. Stevens exhibited a specimen of Argynnis aglaia var. charlotta,
taken by the late Rev. James Watson in the New Forest in 1870.

Mr. J. A. Clark exhibited a curious variety of Chelonia caja, having an
extraordinary wedge-shaped marking extending from the outer margin to
the base of the left hind wing, and also, on the same wing, a small spot.
It was brown and white in colour, and had the appearance of having been
taken from the fore wing and inserted in the hind wing. The specimen
was said to have been taken at Abbotts Wood, in July, 1892.

Prof. HK. B. Poulton exhibited living specimens of the larve of Gastro-
pacha quercifolia, surrounded respectively during the early stages of growth
by black twigs and lichen-coloured twigs, the food being the same in both
cases. All the larve were shown upon a white paper back-ground, but
examples of the surrounding twigs which produced the change of colour
were shown beside each batch. Mr. Merrifield made some remarks on the
subject.

236 THE ZOOLOGIST.

Mr. EK. Meyrick communicated a paper “On Pyralidina from the
Malay Archipelago.” ;

Mr. C. J. Gahan read a paper entitled “A Supplemental List of the
Longicoru Coleoptera obtained by Mr. J. J. Walker, R.N., during the
voyage of H.M.S. ‘ Penguin.’”—H. Goss & W. W. Fowier, Hon. Secs.

NOTICES OF NEW BOOKS,

Life and Rock: a Collection of Zoological and Geological Essays.
By R. Lypexxer. 8vo, pp. 220. With illustrations.
London: Witherby & Co. 1894.

Or the twenty-one chapters contained in this volume the
majority are devoted to zoology, and especially to its paleonto-
logical branch, while a smaller number relate to geology proper.
While some of the former treat of the natural history of
particular groups or species of animals, others are more
especially devoted to a consideration of some of the many
interesting problems connected with evolution, development, and
mutual relationships of animals, which at the present day are |
attracting so much attention.

To enable the reader to form some idea of the nature and
variety of the contents, we give the titles of the chapters, which
are as follow:—‘‘ Elephants, recent and extinct; Tusks and
their Uses; Moles; Spiny Animals; Parallelism in Develop-
ment; Toothed Whales and their Ancestry; Whalebone and
Whalebone Whales; Ruminants and their Distribution; The
Giraffe; Lemurs; Armadillos and Aard-varks; the Oldest
Mammals; Crocodiles and Alligators; The Oldest Fishes and
their Fins; Living Fossils; The Extinction of Animals; Pro-
tective Resemblance in Animals; Sea Urchins ; Nummulites
and Mountains; A Lump of Chalk and its Lessons; and A Flake
of Flint and its History.”

On all of these subjects Mr. Lydekker has information to
impart; not much that is new perhaps, but yet a great deal in a
few words which have the merit of conveying to the reader just
what he wants to know, and what he has possibly looked for
elsewhere in vain. Thus, in a couple of pages, we get a clear

NOTICES OF NEW BOOKS. 237

exposition of the chief characteristics which distinguish Croco-
diles from Alligators; and in the chapter on “ Spiny Animals,”
the author explains in what respect the spines of Porcupines
differ from those of Hedgehogs. Thus in the Hedgehogs

“the spines, in place of terminating in sharp points, by which they are
but loosely attached to the skin, like those of the Porcupine, the spines of
the Hedgehog terminate interiorly in small knobs, which are placed
beneath the skin, and may thus be compared to pins stuck through a piece
of soft leather. Beneath the skin lies a layer of muscle known as the
panniculus carnosus ; and it is by the action of this muscle on their heads
that the spines are raised from a recumbent to a vertical position when the
creature rolls itself up into a ball—an action of which all Porcupines are
quite incapable. In the Porcupine the spines are most developed on the
middle line of the head and back, the hinder part of the body, and on the
short tail. But while those on the body are solid throughout and pointed
at each end, the spines at the extremity of the short tail are in the form
of hollow quills inserted by narrow stalks. It is these hollow quills that
make the loud rattling sound heard when a Porcupine is walking... .
Although the owner is unable voluntarily to eject the latter, their pointed
bases render them easily detached, and Leopards, which habitually feed on
Porcupines, are found to be actually bristling with their quills.”

We may supplement this remark with an observation of
Dr. Hart Merriam, to the effect that the American Panther, or
Puma (which usually preys upon Deer), is either particularly fond
of Porcupine, or else is frequently forced by hunger to make a
distasteful meal. It is certain, he says, that ‘‘it destroys a great
many Porcupines, and it often happens that a Panther is killed
whose mouth and lips, and sometimes other parts also, fairly
bristle with the quills of this formidable rodent” (Trans. Linn.
Soc., New York, 1882-84).

In his chaper ‘‘ On the Extinction of Animals,’ Mr. Lydekker
would have done well to have referred to an excellent paper on
this subject by Mr. Frederic A. Lucas, published, with several
good illustrations, in the ‘ Report of the U. 8S. National
Museum,’ 1888-89 (pp. 609-649). In this essay an account is
given of several species not mentioned by Mr. Lydekker, such
as the West Indian Seal, Monachus tropicalis ; the Californian
Sea Elephant, Microrhinus angustirostris; the Pacific Walrus,
O. obesus; the European Bison, B. bonassus; the Californian
Vulture; and the Tile-fish, Lopholatilus chameleonticeps. Some

238 THE ZOOLOGIST.

of these, of course, would be more correctly described
approaching extinction, rather than extinct, though it would b
unwise on that account to abstain from giving such reliable
information as can be obtained concerning them. Mr. Lydekkev’s
chapter, however, on this subject, is one of the most dis-
appointing in the book, and conveys the impression of having
been too hastily written. The facts which it contains are
jumbled and confused. The author passes from African Elephant
and Rhinoceros to the Tuatera Lizard and Moas of New
Zealand, then to the extinct birds of Mauritius and Rodriguez.
From these we are diverted to a consideration of the Northern
Sea Cow, Rhytina; back again to the Mascarene Islands for
Giant Tortoises and the Pied Starling of Réunion, P’regilupus ;
once more to New Zealand for a paragraph or two on Nestor
productus and Notornis mantelli. Then comes a single page
upon the Great Auk, followed by some remarks on the African
Blaubok and Quagga, from a consideration of which we are
carried back again to Bering Island, where Dr. Stejneger found
the remains of Pallas’s Cormorant in 1882, and thence to the
Sandwich Islands, where the fashion of making feather cloaks
for savage chiefs from a handsome little black-and-yellow bird,
Drepanornis pacifica, has resulted in its extermination. Two —
lines in allusion to the “ Diablotin, a remarkable burrowing
Petrel of the Antilles,” and eighteen lines upon the Pied Duck
of Labrador, and the chapter concludes with a paragraph upon ~
a South American rodent (Dinomys). This jumbling up of
mammals, birds, and reptiles, without any logical arrangement,
is extremely embarrassing to the reader, who must also be
disappointed at finding so little said about many of the species
named. In any new edition this chapter should be re-written.

We cannot say much for the text-cuts. Most of them appear
to have been borrowed from other books, and having been
printed from electros, have (as often happens) suffered in con- —
sequence. ‘This is to be regretted, for the letterpress deserved
to be better illustrated.

NOTICES OF NEW BOOKS. 239

Lost British Birds.) By W. H. Hvupson, Author of ‘ The
Naturalist in La Plata’ and ‘Idle Days in Patagonia.’
Published by the Secretary to the ‘‘ Society for the Pro-
tection of Birds” (Mrs. Lemon, Redhill, Surrey). 8vo,
pp. 32. With 15 illustrations. 1894.

ALTHOUGH we are not sanguine enough to believe that the
above-named Society will ever succeed in what appears to be its
principal object, namely, to persuade ladies to abandon the
fashion of decorating themselves with birds’ feathers, the series
of pamphlets which are published under its auspices will, we
doubt not, be productive of good, inasmuch as they tend to
remove certain erroneous popular notions in regard to birds,
and give publicity to facts which are worthy of consideration.
Amongst these pamphlets we have particularly noted two by
Professor Newton, on the ‘ Devastation of Bird-homes in
Florida,’ and on ‘The Zoological aspect of the Game-laws.’
Mr. Hudson, who has already explained a popular misnomer in
his tract on ‘Osprey, or Egrets and Aigrettes,’ has just con-
tributed to the series an essay of thirty-two pages on what he
terms ‘ Lost British Birds,’ that is, birds which from various
adverse circumstances have ceased to reside and breed in the
British Islands. The species dealt with are the Crane, Spoonbill,
Capercaillie (though this bird has been re-introduced), Avocet,
Bustard, Black-tailed Godwit, Great Auk, Savi’s Warbler, Black
Tern, Bittern, Marsh Harrier, Hen Harrier, and Ruff and
Reeve. The information given about each of these species as
formerly resident and breeding here is by no means exhaustive,
but so far as it goes is tolerably accurate. It is to be regretted,
we think, that while he was about it, Mr. Hudson did not make
more of his subject, which is an extremely interesting one, but
possibly he may have considered that any further amplification
would have carried him beyond the scope of the series to which
this pamphlet is contributed. The figures with which it is
illustrated, although recognizable representations of the species
named, are somewhat coarse in their execution, and by no means
comparable, for example, with those in his delightful volume on
La Plata, which has been already reviewed in these pages.

240 THE ZOOLOGIST.

The Birds of the County Cork. By R.J. Ussuer. Contributed
to the Journal of the Cork Historical and Archeological
Society. Thin 4to, pp. 23. Cork: Guy & Co. 1894.

Mork than a dozen years have elapsed since we endeavoured,
in an article published in this Journal,* to arouse the apathy of
Irish naturalists in regard to the preparation of a new Irish
Fauna. We pointed out the great need of either a new edition
of Thompson’s work, or a fresh undertaking, and urged the
formation of a Committee for the purpose of dividing the labour
and expediting publication. It was perhaps not too much to
expect that such a work might be completed in something less
than ten years; but twelve years have now elapsed, and the
matter is still apparently in statu quo! We are quite at a loss to
understand this want of energy on the part of our confréres in
Ireland. It is true that the formation of a Committee has been
long ago announced, but we have not heard of any meetings
of this Committee, nor of any instalment, published under its
auspices, of the great work for which we are so impatient.
That individual members of the Committee are not idle in
regard to Irish natural history we have good reason to know,
for they not only continue to favour us from time to time with —
excellent articles for ‘The Zoologist’ (for which we are duly
grateful), but they have also started a new journal, ‘ The Irish
Naturalist,’ which we trust will awaken a wider interest in the
subject throughout Ireland, and be the means of eliciting much
useful information from various parts of the country. Still we
are not happy. We want a new text-book on the Fauna of
Ireland, and would once more urge upon Irish naturalists the
extreme desirability of providing it.

Mr. R. J. Ussher has recently shown what can be done in a
single county by a contribution on the Birds of the County Cork,
and a goodly list he has been able to make out. It is perhaps
to be regretted that he has not prefaced his remarks with
some sort of introduction indicating the physical features of the
county, and summarising the results of the observations which
follow. But his notes on the various species which have been
ascertained to occur will be read with interest by ornithologists,
as well as the appended remarks by Mr. Robert Warren.

* «©The Annals of Irish Zoology,’’ Zool. 1881, pp.483—445; 473—483.

THE ZOOLOGIST

No. 211.—July, 1894.

THE ORIGIN AND PURPOSE OF THE HORNS AND
ANTLERS OF RUMINANTS.

By Atuan Gorpon CAMERON,

I. InrRopucrTory.

In the second part of Darwin’s great work upon the ‘ Descent
of Man’ (chap. xvii.), the frontal weapons of ruminants, whether
horns or antlers, are derived from the principle of sexual selection
as the result of male struggle and combat for the possession of
the female. This view has been generally accepted by naturalists,
and seriously questioned, so far as I am aware, by no authoritative
writer on the subject. The law of battle, leading to superior
calibre, and the power of charm, leading to superior ornament,
seem to admit of particularly forcible application to the cranial
armature of those polygamous and herding animals whose sexual
combats are so determined, and whose weapons of war are so
conspicuously ornamental. Dr. Wallace, who refuses for the
most part to recognise a vera causa in Darwin’s brilliant hypo-
thesis, concedes and restricts its application to the subject under
discussion; while Dr. Romanes, writing from Darwin’s stand-
point, affirms that in “arborescent antlers” we have phenomena
which can be explained only by sexual selection “if they are to
be explained at all.”

It was wisely said by Jevons that almost every problem in
science takes the form of a balance of probabilities; but a new

ZOOLOGIST, THIRD SERIES, VOL, XVIII,— JULY, 1894. U

249 THE ZOGLOGIST.

hypothesis must at least agree with the particular facts which it
is framed to explain, and, assuming that these facts are properly
established, it must agree with all of them. Tested by the facts
to which it is here applied, the hypothesis of sexual selection is
proved incompetent to play the part assigned to it; and is found
superfluous, because the broader principle, which secures the
preservation of favoured races in the struggle for life, provides a
fitter explanation of the phenomena in question. To establish
this conclusion will be the end of the present paper.

Antlers and horns, when viewed as something more than
the familiar trophies of sportsmen, represent the comparatively
finished product of a long biological adjustment, the factors of
which can be found only in the life-history of existing ruminants.
Two questions in chief are suggested by the study of these
weapons, and must be met by any sufficient explanation of them.
(i.) Inquiry into their purpose leads us to consider the type or
style of weapon as an adaptation of means to ends, and asks the
question how they came to be fashioned in this particular way ?
(ii.) Inquiry into their origin leads us to consider their partial
limitation as to sex, and asks the question why they are variably
present or absent in the females of genera and species whose
males possess them generally ?

Facing the subject from the standpoint of sexual selection,
Darwin confronted difficulties in both respects, and stated them
with characteristic frankness. In respect of structure, he rightly”
judged that the curiously curving horns of Antelopes, no less
than the branched antlers of Deer, were weapons ill adapted to
the purposes of sexual warfare between butting animals; failing
as an adjustment for attack, because (as Caton also thought) a ~
single straight point would have proved a far more deadly weapon ;
and disadvantageous as an adjustment for defence, because the
complex types were liable to become interlocked with fatal result
to both combatants. Explained as the effect of charm conse-
quent upon female choice, ‘‘ arborescent antlers” are beset with
further difficulties. As Darwin recognised, they weight their
owners with needless, if not injurious, ornament, and force the
somewhat hazardous conclusion that female preference in the
struggles of sex must handicap chosen males in the sterner
struggle for life. Female choice in pairing does not, however,
exist with herding ruminants in a state of nature, because the more —

THE HORNS AND ANTLERS OF RUMINANTS. 248

vigorous males take forcible possession;* and, even were it
otherwise, the struggle for life would render the charm of useless
ornament inoperative. Complex cranial weapons have survived,
therefore they have once been useful, though sexual selection
leaves their utility unexplained.

Equal difficulties arise, on the hypothesis, from the con-
sideration of frontal weapons in respect of sex. A theory of
horns and antlers, which finds their origin and purpose in the
sexual strife of rival males, requires the normal limitation of
such weapons to the sex for whose benefit they were primarily
developed and by whose combats they have been conditioned
through time. Their normal presence in the females of half the
genera, representing all the families, of surviving ruminants which
exhibit them, argues their mutual utility, and thence a wider
purpose with a common origin. In other words, structural
characters which are present in both sexes, whether partially or
universally, possess a functional importance common to either
sex, or they do not. If they are evidently useful, there is a
strong presumption that they owe their existence to a primary
adaptation for the common purpose, with which sexual selection,
whether by male combat or by female choice, can have absolutely
no concern. If they are useful to the males only, their enduring
presence in the females unquestionably conflicts with the retro-
gressive principle of natural selection, which promotes the
degradation and disappearance of superfluous and wasteful
organs. Darwin touched here an aspect of the problem which
was vital to his theory as a whole, and cut the knot with
Alexander’s sword. Carrying his argument into the wide battle-
ground of inheritance, he reached the conclusion that characters
originally proper to either sex might be transmitted to the same
Sex, or to both, according to the form of inheritance assumed in
transmission, and independently of natural selection.t To this
conclusion, as applied to the presence or absence of frontal

* The instance of a Red-deer hind referred to by Darwin is a case not of
choice on the part of the female, but of chance on the part of an inferior
male, while his superior is engaged elsewhere—a very different matter.

+ The embryological data, to which Darwin attached great importance,
admit of a phylogenetic interpretation which supports the view that the

presence of frontal weapons in both sexes was a primitive character.

U2

244 THE ZCOLOGIST.

weapons in female ruminants, there is the logical, yet sufficient,
objection (1) that we have no evidence in support of the explana-
tion other than the facts which it is framed to explain; and (2)
that in the explanation itself we invoke an unknown force which
really adds a greater puzzle to a less. Horned and hornless
females occur not only among genera constituting families, and
among species constituting genera, but even among individuals
constituting species, which occupy the same area of distribu-
tion and are subject to similar conditions of life. Horned
females, moreover, exhibit horns, as Darwin pointed out, in
every stage of a graduated series, from those which are of
equal calibre with the male weapons, to those which are of
lesser calibre, to those which are rudimentary, to those which
are disappearing. In ascribing all such cases to distinct forms
of inheritance acting concurrently yet indefinitely in the alter-
nate transference or non-transference of masculine characters
without regard to use or purpose, we enter a region of speculation
which betrays the weak point of our hypothesis.*

Apart, however, from any question of sex or structure, the
derivation of frontal weapons through sexual selection rests upon
a fundamental error of fact in taking too easily for granted, that
the possession of the female depends upon the calibre of the
horns or antlers of the male, or upon the presence of such
weapons at all—even in those species which normally exhibit
them highly specialised. Unquestionably among existing rumi-
nants, whether horned or antlered, the rights of the harem are
governed by the law of battle: but the law of battle is the law of
the prize-ring—that the fortune of war favours the heavy weight,
and the science of sexual warfare is the primitive science of the
battering-ram, which decides the issue in the clash of skulls by
the force of impact, and by the pressure of bodily weight behind
it, irrespective of the calibre of the weapon. It is a common
experience with British stock-breeders that the lighter horned
breeds of sheep and cattle are not a match for their heavier
hornless congeners; and the carefully observant Caton notes 0

* The legitimate assumption that “latent characters belonging to th
other sex are always present in each sexually differentiated organism ”
(Weismann) does not help us to decide what these characters may be for @
particular sex and in a particular case,—a matter which can be determined
only from the facts as we find them,

THE HORNS AND ANTLERS OF RUMINANTS. 245

the Wapiti Deer confined in his park at Ottawa, that the largest
antlers ever grown in his grounds were carried by a medium-sized
Deer who, in common with several others, was always subject to
the control of a larger Deer with smaller antlers than any of
them. But a theory relating to wild animals may reasonably
object to arguments drawn from domestic or semi-domesticated
subjects, reared in artificial conditions and leading an artificial
_ life, from which we can infer only what will happen if the condi-
tions remain the same. Our experimentum crucis, or crucial test,
must relate to ruminants in a state of nature, and under circum-
stances which place the issue beyond the shadow of a doubt.
Dr. Wallace has observed with justice that “the power of
predicting what will happen in a given case is always considered
to be a crucial test of a true theory;” and to this we may add
that when the predicted event happens to be the one legitimate
deduction from our assumed premisses, a conflicting result is
necessarily fatal to the hypothesis. In the common stag we have
the typical member of a group (Cervus) endowed with remarkably
combative instincts and possessed of remarkably formidable
weapons. ‘These weapons are limited by inheritance to the
males, and, according to the theory of sexual selection, have
undoubtedly been acquired as sexual weapons for fighting with
their fellow males. If we suppose, for argument, that a stag
absolutely devoid of the highly specialised cranial armature
which distinguished his fellows should strive to take and hold
a harem against these antlered rivals, how, on the theory, should
we estimate his chances of success? There is but one possible
answer to such a question consistent with the hypothesis, and
we know that Darwin gave it; yet the fact, though the great
naturalist was unaware of it,* is just the other way. “ Bald”’
stags without antlers, but otherwise perfectly vigorous, probably
eases of atavism, are of constant occurrence among the wild
Red-deer of North Britain. Though wielding no weapon and
displaying no ornament they prove to be in all respects a match
for their armed and (theoretically) more attractive rivals, are

* Mr. McNeill, of Colonsay, to whom Darwin applied for information
about the combats of Red-deer, can hardly have been unaware of a fact
which is of constant occurrence in the Island of Jura, where his experience
of Red-deer was gained; but he was evidently unaware of its significance
to the theory of the great naturalist.

246 ; THE ZOOLOGIST.

usually master stags, and sometimes acknowledged monarchs o
large herds. In other words, a Deer fightiny for a harem with
the bare forehead of his Miocene ancestors achieves success,
sustained and repeated, against rivals armed with complex and
deadly weapons, laboriously fashioned by countless ages of
sexual selection towards the very purpose for which they are
now proved useless.

The theory of sexual selection must therefore be set aside as
a scientific account of the origin and purpose of the frontal
weapons of ruminants. It does not explain their structure as an
adaptation to the assumed purpose, nor does it explain their
presence in both sexes as a result of the assumed origin, while it
is in absolute conflict with established facts relative to sexual
combat between armed and unarmed individuals of a species.

But the success of the bald stag in sexual warfare, which
forbids our finding in the discarded hypothesis a vera causa for
the derivation of frontal weapons, unmistakably indicates in what
direction we must look for a true key to the puzzle. Everyone —
who has hunted wild Deer with hounds, whether slow or swift, —
knows that an unarmed stag would instantly be torn to pieces
where a well-equipped Deer would kill his canine adversaries or —
fight his way through. ‘‘ The dog that would fly into the face of
a sambar stag is perfectly certain to meet a glorious death,” writes —
Sir Samuel Baker, whose wide experience of this particular sport —
lends authoritative weight to the statement; and Lloyd has —
recorded how the Swedish Elk, when pressed by hungry wolves,
will strike one dead with a single blow. Referred to a similar
purpose, the horns of Antelopes, which, from the point of view
of sexual combat, proved so great a puzzle to Darwin, exhibit —
throughout their several types a corresponding adaptation.
Weapons that ‘‘seem singularly ill fitted” for the strife of rival —
males, present when lowered to a carnivorous foe prepared to
spring a brace of spears in rest or sabres prompt to thrust on
either side. Sir Samuel Baker describes the horns of the Harte- —
beest as ‘‘ carefully arranged for defence”; and “it seems to be
undisputed that the spear-like horns of the Gemsbok are suffi-
ciently formidable to repel the attack of the Lion” (Lydekker).
Of the Beisa Antelope, Mr. Blanford writes that “their long,
straight horns are most deadly weapons”; and of the Sable
Antelope Mr, Selous tells us that “like the Roan Antelope and

4

THE HORNS AND ANTLERS OF RUMINANTS. 947

Gemsbuck it will commit terrible havoc amongst a pack of dogs—
indeed, I have known one to kill three with three consecutive
sweeps of its long scimitar-shaped horns.” * Further illustration
of a defensive purpose will be found in the (historically) later,
and more familiar, bovine types which include the wild and
domesticated sheep and oxen. From the unimpaired fighting
ability of hornless breeds we have already seen reason to infer
that, in sexual combat dependent on a clash of foreheads, laterally
spreading horns are of small account; but sufficient proof of their
service as defensive weapons appears in the single fact that the
Buffaloes of Asia and Africa are a match for the largest felines of
their respective continents.

These facts unavoidably prompt the question whether the
horns and antlers of ruminants are not the biological answer to
carnivorous teeth and claws—evoked by the necessities of race-
preservation in the struggle for life, and fashioned by natural
selection so as to unite comparative immunity in sexual warfare
with fatal efficiency against common foes? In this double pur-
pose working to the one result, protective adaptation, may we not
read the secret of the form and development of frontal weapons
from the simplest to the most complex? and may we not thus
account for the apparently anomaious fact, that weapons which
are dangerously effective in regard to the external enemies of a
species, become relatively innocuous in the strife of its fellow-
members one with another? I believe the facts authorise an
affirmative answer to these questions, and I propose to consider
them in three respects, historical, structural, and sexual, in the
order named. Assuming that horns and antlers are the result
of a protective adjustment consequent upon the mutual relations
subsisting between ungulates and carnivores through ‘Tertiary
time, it becomes of primary importance to inquire how far the
history of these relations corresponds with the requirements of
our theory. We shall then be in a position to consider, in the
second place, the type or style of weapon as a structural adapta-

* The defensive powers of the larger Antelopes have recently been made
a subject of remark by Count Teleki (on the Eland), Mr. F. J. Jackson (on
the Oryx), and Mr. K. A. Bryden (on the Gnu). A notable instance will be
found in Mr. Selous’s fascinating book on ‘Travel and Adventure in §,,
Africa,’ p. 190.

248 THE ZOOLOGIST.

tion of means to ends; and to ask, in the third place, why suc.
weapons are variably present or absent in the females of gene
and species whose males possess them universally.

Il. Histroricau.

In the history of frontal weapons the salient feature is their
gradual evolution in an ascending scale; in the history of ungu-
lates, it is the immense surviving majority of horned and antlered
genera; in the history of carnivores, it is the early appearance
in geological time of highly specialised and destructive types.
I shall endeavour to show the bearing of these facts upon a
protective theory of horns and antlers.

Sexual selection, in fixing the attention upon a particular class
of phenomena, leads us to over-estimate the part played by sexual
passion, and to under-estimate the part played by self-preservation,
in the struggles of ungulate life during the slow succession of
ages, when the inhabited earth was nothing but a wide hunting
ground at the mercy of the Cats and Dogs. Our ‘‘ zoologically
impoverished world”—our civilisation, which keeps in check the
larger flesh-eaters that still wait upon extinction—even our
subjective notions of “the ethical aspects of evolution,” combine
to hide from view the long reign of feline and canine “ butchering
machines, which have succeeded one another through the Tertiary
epoch, therefore for many thousands, or more probably millions,
of years” (Huxley), and have marked the course of the ungulates
in history with a continuous stream of blood. Darwin’s consoling
optimism that, in the struggle for life, “the war of nature is not
incessant, that no fear is felt, that death is generally prompt,” is
irreconcilable with the experience of those conversant with wild
countries and wild beasts. Sexual passion—the reproductive
instinct — occupies less than a tenth part of normal ruminant
life; fear—the self-preserving instinct—rules the whole of it.
“The beasts of prey,” writes a competent authority (Sir Samuel
Baker), “are the terror of the weaker species, which cannot even
assuage their thirst in the hottest season without halting upon
the margin of the stream and scrutinising the country right and
left before they dare to stoop their heads to drink. Hven then
the herd will not drink together, but a portion will act as
watchers, to give notice of an enemy should it be discerned while

THE HORNS AND ANTLERS OF RUMINANTS. 249

their comrades slake their thirst.” * Hunting man adds to these
fears, but is also feared by the beasts of prey, which before his
coming knew no restraint save their surly respect for one another,
and suffered no check save from the defensive armature of their
intended victims. Among the destructive agents of Tertiary times
a unique position was held by the (now extinct) Macherodonts,
tiger-like felines with immensely-prolonged upper canine teeth,
recurved sabre-like and sometimes with serrated edges, enabling
them ‘“‘to retain like barbs the prey whose quivering flesh they
penetrated” (Owen). Members of the genus exhibiting “the
most specially carnivorous type of dental structure known”’
(Lydekker) appear in the Kocene (Phosphorites of Quercy) and

traverse the whole of the Tertiary period, the scourge alike of the

Old and of the New World. Associated with the early Mache-
rodonts were ancestral Dogs, foreshadowing the Bears on the one
hand (Amphicyon) and the Civets on the other (Cynodictis) ; while
from the Pliocene, and onwards, Lions and Tigers allied to
living species, and true Canide—Dogs and Wolves, hunting their
prey in packs and of world-wide distribution—swelled the grim
record of flesh-eaters and forced the unremitting slaughter of
hosts of ungulates. In this great struggle the more adaptive
ungulate groups, chiefly of the pair-hoofed section (Artiodactyles),
becoming specially modified for a defensive purpose, survived and
multiplied ; but the less adaptive groups, chiefly of the odd-hoofed
section (Perissodactyles), failing modification in this respect, were
slowly exterminated.

He who surveys to-day the roll of existing ungulates in a
state of nature cannot fail to reflect upon the great numerical
preponderance of horned and antlered genera over those devoid
of cranial armature. Of the perissodactyle section there survive
but three genera (Z'apirus, Equus, Rhinoceros), and one of these
is horned; while of the artiodactyle section we have fifty genera,
forty of which are claimed by ruminants with horns or antlers,
and four by Pigs with tusks. Yet at the dawn of Tertiary time
the balance of numbers was far the other way. In the gypsum

* Comp. Mr. Selous on ‘“ the cold cruelty of Nature’s inexorable laws ”
(op. cit., 413), and Lieut. von Kohnel on the restless movement of the count-
less herds of animals giving life to the splendid panorama south of the Nyuki
river in Brit. EH. Africa—‘ There seemed to be always something suspicious
in the air. . . .” (‘Teleki Expedition,’ ii. 20).

250 THE ZOOLOGIST.

quarries of Montmartre (Eocene of France), among the fossil relics
of fifty species of quadrupeds, nearly four-fifths of the whole a
perissodactyle ungulates, which have left in this enduring monu
ment not only their bones but their footprints side by side with
those of their carnivorous destroyers. The use of the head for
defence, facing the foe, seems to have endowed ancestral ruminants
with protective capabilities, which were turned to decisive account
in the development of cranial weapons. Such weapons first appear
in the middle Miocene of the Tertiary geological period, bony
outgrowths from the frontal region of the skull, simple or pronged,
and covered with hairy skin, which marks the point of divergence
to the more specialised horns and antlers that succeeded. The
hair, in the one case, hardened into horn upon the bony core
beneath it (Bovide); the bone, in the other case, stripped of its
hairy covering, suffered alternate fracture and renewal till slowly
fashioned into a deciduous antler (Cervide). Weapons of the —
transition survive in the horns of the Prongbuck, which cast their
horny sheath like the velvet of the antler, yet retain the per-
manent bony core characteristic of the true horn. The stump-
like appendages of the Giraffe, which seem to recall the primitive —
type of weapon, are not, however, a process of the skull but of
independent ossification. When we reflect that the slender horns ~
of the little Indian Blackbuck will give pause to such a relatively
formidable opponent as the hunting Leopard, we need not doubt
that even the simple weapons of the Miocene sufficed at the
outset to inspire the destroying carnivores with a preference for
unarmed prey; and that this occurred in fact we have silent,
though eloquent, testimony in the complete extinction during this
period of whole families of hornless ungulates. The Anoplotheres,

a specialised group linking the pair-hoofed with the odd-hoofed :
section of the order, the tapir-like Paleotheres, the Anthra-
cotheres, pig-like and swamp-loving, do not survive the Miocene,
and are wiped out of the geological record thereafter.

Increasing destructive pressure, as carnivores multiplied and
herbivores declined, was met, on the part of the artiodactyles,
with further protective adjustment in the direction of more
powerful weapons, and caused, on the part of the perissodactyles,
a further diminution of numbers in the direction of gradual
extinction. When we pass to Pliocene times, we find a ruminant
fauna carrying frontal weapons absolutely differentiated and —

THE HORNS AND ANTLERS OF RUMINANTS 251

highly specialised: true Antelopes with horns lyrate (Gazella),
recurved (Palgoryx), or spirally twisted (Palg@oreas); true stags
with branched and spreading antlers; and, at the close of the
period, true oxen with long horns laterally projected and curved
anteriorly. Similar types recur in the Pleistocene and recent
formations, but with further differentiation of horn-bearing
genera (sheep and goats), and further specialisation towards
increased complexity and greatly increased proportions. We
find, on the other hand, that the altered numerical proportion
between the armed and unarmed ungulates becomes a striking
feature of each succeeding fauna. In the older Pliocene, repre-
sented by the famous Pikermi fossils, horse-like animals (Hip-
parion) are numerous, but armed ruminants (Giraffe and Antelope)
already hold their own; while in the later Pliocene* of the Cromer
Forest bed, artiodactyles,—including long-horned oxen, complex-
anthered deer, and tusked pigs,—largely predominate, gradually
(Pleistocene and Paleolithic) crowding the unarmed perisso-
dactyles out of the historical perspective. Of the genera Bos
and Cervus it may be said with truth that “there were giants in
the earth in those days,’ armed with cranial weapons of more
than proportionately gigantic size: buffaloes with long crescentic
horns measuring a dozen feet along the curves from tip to tip
(Bos antiquus); and huge elaphine stags,—some with round
antlers (Cervus Speleus) resembling, yet exceeding, those of the
Wapiti, and some with palmed antlers (Cervus giganteus) of a
weight and span that dwarf all existing types. ‘These, and other
Species, associated with great carnivora that preyed upon them,
are numerously represented in the river-gravels of Pleistocene
Kurasia, and were contemporary with paleolithic man, who
finally intervened to exterminate both the destroyers and the
destroyed.

Thus it appears that, from the early Tertiaries (Eocene) and
onwards, carnivores of destructive type have lived by incessant
slaughter of ungulates; that, in the middle Tertiaries (Miocene),
ancestral ruminants developed frontal weapons contemporaneously

* Prof. Boyd Dawkins assigns the Forest-bed series to “the Pleistocene,
or that period when the living higher Mammalia were abundant, and not to
the Pleiocene, in which there were only some three or four of the higher
Mammalia present in Europe.” I have followed Prof. Martin Duncan in he
text, but the disputed point does not affect my argument.

252 THE ZOOLOGIST.

with the rapid disappearance of hornless ungulate families; and
that, in the later Tertiaries (Pliocene) and onwards, the develop-
ment of horns and antlers follows an ascending scale which is
parallel, on the one hand, with the survival, multiplication and
lasting numerical preponderance of horned and antlered ungulate
genera (deer, antelopes, oxen), and, on the other hand, with the
decrease in a diminishing ratio to all but ultimate extinction of
perissodactyle genera not similarly endowed, though starting in
the race for life with a not less marked majority.*

In reaching the implied conclusion that horns and antlers
were aboriginally protective weapons, we may reinforce our
argument with the fact that these weapons have suffered a
gradual yet continuous loss of calibre throughout the human
period. Among various causes which have contributed to this
effect it must not be forgotten that, with advancing civilisation,
the conditions to which such weapons owe their origin must
inevitably cease to exist. Carnivores, great and small, are slowly
but surely disappearing in their unequal struggle with new
masters of the world; and the cranial armature of ruminants,
which proved a solid defence against teeth and claws at close
quarters, avails nothing against more cunning foes who fight with
missile weapons, whether flint, spear, or bullet. Horns and
antlers have declined with the declining influence of natural
selection, and illustrate the fundamental truth that “not only
does the survival of the fittest select the best, but it also main-
tains it” (Weismann), the most elaborately adjusted adaptation
being ‘‘handed over to a process of gradual destruction the
moment it ceases to be essential to the life of the species.”

(To be continued.)

* The predilection of the Puma for horseflesh leads Mr. Hudson to
suggest that the indigenous horses of America were exterminated by Pumas
(‘ Naturalist in La Plata,’ p. 33).

Oat Ne et lh

( 253 )

THE FAUNA OF LINCOLNSHIRE.

[In an Address to the Lincolnshire Naturalists’ Union, delivered at
Lincoln on May 31st last, Mr. John Cordeaux, as President of the Union,
made some instructive observations on the faunal areas of Lincolnshire, and
on the best mode of utilising the materials which exist for elucidating the
Natural History of the county. As those remarks will doubtless interest
many besides those to whom they were originally addressed, we give the
following abstract, omitting such observations as were of purely personal or
local application.— Ep. |]

LINCOLNSHIRE is the second largest county in England, its
total length being seventy-five miles by forty-eight in breadth, and
containing 1,777,879 acres, 85 per cent. under cultivation. The
surface presents a very considerable diversity of character, sea-
coast, marsh, wold, moor, heath, and fen, and some very consider-
able woodlands with much pleasant and typical scenery, without
anywhere rising into the grand and strikingly picturesque.

The county is not readily divided into what are called “faunal
areas’’—that is, districts more or less compact, with well-defined
boundaries, between which—one or the other—faunal distinctions
can be clearly established. In taking a general survey of the
whole area it appears capable of being irregularly divided into at
least six fairly marked districts; these are—

I. The Marsh and Middle Marsh—which is the whole of the
great alluvial flat which lies between the east coast and
the foot of the chalk wolds, as far as Spilsby.

IJ. The Fens—south of Spilsby and Wainfleet and east of
Billinghay, Heckington, Bourn, and Market Deeping,
with a branch extending westward of the Witham to
Lincoln.

Ill. The Chalk Wolds.

IV. The Heath—an irregular district, partly on the oolite and
partly on the lias, and not easily defined. In its more
southern portion it is split into two arms by the Witham
valley. It runs from 8.E. to N.W., and includes the
heaths near Woodhall Spa, the moorland near Market
Rasen and below Caistor, and the commons and rabbit-
warrens between Gainsborough and Frodingham, in the
north-west of the county,

254 THE ZOOLOGIST.

V. A portion of Kesteven, south of Grantham, and east of
Belvoir, of which Corby is about the centre, well wooded,
picturesque, and highly cultivated, and containing noble
parks and country seats.

VI. The Isle of Axholme, formerly moor, bog, and widelyal

extending heath and low firwood, but now 50,000 acres —
of rich warp, and bounded to the north-west by the great

level of Thorne waste in Yorkshire.
It must be clearly understood, however, that these divisions

are only approximate, and that with our present knowledge no ©

absolutely hard and fast lines can be laid down defining faunal
areas, and that there are yet portions of the county which it is
difficult to range under any of these divisions.

In the Marsh and Middle Marsh is included the whole of the
low-lying plain between the foot of the chalk wolds and the sea,
including the sea-coast itself and all its wide attractions. The
chief interest of this district rests in its Ornithology—more
particularly in the spring and autumn—and in connection with
the migration of birds. The total number of species which can
fairly be admitted at the present time into the Lincolnshire avi-
fauna is somewhat doubtful. In the Humber district, up to this
date, I have been able to record 290. This compares favourably
with the Norfolk list of 293, and Yorkshire with 310. With our
present knowledge as to the frequency with which rare birds turn
up during the period of migration, far out of their ordinary route,
I think we should attach very little importance to the increase of
any local or county list by the addition of mere wanderers. The
record of such is interesting as showing how far some birds get
driven out of their normal course. The chief additions to the
Humber district in late years have come from Spurn, but there
is no reason why equally good results should not be obtained
from our own coast.

The collection of facts in connection with the Botany of this
district commenced as far back as 1590, and the great naturalists
of former days—Gerard, Ray, Sir Joseph Banks, and Dr. Martin
Lister—have each in turn visited and investigated its floral
treasures.

As regards the Marine Mammalia (the Seals, and various
forms of Whale, Grampus, Porpoise, and Dolphin), although in
recent years considerable additions have been made to our local

‘

THE FAUNA OF LINCOLNSHIRE. 255

list, we still require further knowledge and more scientific in-
vestigations. The capture of a Seal or the stranding of a Whale—
and such occurrences are by no means unfrequent—should at
once be noted, and an examination carried out on the spot,
careful notes and measurements made, the skull, at least, pre-
served, and where possible a photograph taken before the carcase
is removed.

There is no other faunal area in Lincolnshire where the old
glories have so entirely vanished as in the fenland, formerly a
vast level of peat-moor, morass and bog, with league beyond
league of shallow mere, interspersed with a vast growth of reed
and bull-rush and various water-loving plants, and on the drier
portion deep sedge and doubtless some rich pasturage, with
thicket of sallow, willow, birch, and sweet-gale, which before the
dawn of history had usurped the place of oak, Scotch fir, and
yew. The whole of this vast level was a paradise for wild
creatures, beast, bird, and fish; and predominate over all, upon
the peat-stained waters of the shallow lagoons floated primitive
man in a canoe dug out from a single tree, and using weapons
tipped with fractured flint or fish-bone.

Of the natural treasures of the old fenland we have but scant
record. Unfortunately our forefathers, when they did write,
cared little for depicting their natural every-day surroundings,
yet we must be thankful for the few precious records which have
come down to us of those olden times, and enable us to form
some idea of the extreme richness of the Fen fauna and flora,
from the ‘ Liber Eliensis’; the Chronicles of Crowland; and the
writings of William of Malmsbury, Thomas Fuller, Camden’s
‘Britannia,’ and the naturalists Pennant, Ray, and Montaeu;
also the quaint verses left by Michael Drayton in his ‘ Polyolbion,’
and by ‘‘ Antiquary Hall,” of Llyn, in the doggerel rhymes depicting
a fenman’s daily hfe.

One aim of our Society should be the collection of any scrap,
oral or written, in connection with physical-archeology, and any
who have opportunities of inspecting old deeds, letters, and family
account-books, will do good service by extracting any small matter
which directly or indirectly bears on this subject. Such entries
were, no doubt, considered most trivial by the original writers,
but in the light of the present day they are of much interest and
importance, To cite one or two instances alone, how little

256 THE ZOOLOGIST.

historical record is left of the Great Bustard in Lincolnshire
The late Sir Charles Anderson, of Lea, in 1874, sent me the
following extracts from an old account-book kept by Charles
Anderson, at Broughton, near Brigg, from 1669 to 1673 :— ;

1670, September 26. To John Hall, brought Curlew . . . . Is.
»» October 23. Item to Thos. Beckett for killing two Bustards Qs.

Then there is the letter from the great Dr. Johnson, dated
January 9th, 1758, to his friend Bennet Langton, of Langton,
acknowledging the receiving a parcel of game, amongst other
things a Bustard, which he gave to Dr. Lawrence.*

A letter written to myself by the Rev. Edward Elmhirst,
November 29th, 1886, containing personal recollections of Lin-
colnshire ornithology, also his communication made to ‘The
Field,’ Nov. 27th, 1886, concerning the former nesting of Hen
Harriers in the moors near Market Rasen, are amongst the most
valuable contributions to the records of county natural history
in recent years.

Of infinite interest also, as throwing light on the past, would
be the account-books and records of captures made in the duck-
decoys at one period so common in the marsh and fen. We have
never met with more than one decoy-book in Lincolnshire, namely,
the well-kept register of the Ashby Decoy, near Brigg, worked
successfully for so many years by Captain Healey.

So marvellously abundant were wildfowl before the fens were
drained, that we are told a flock of wild ducks has been observed
passing along the north and north-east into the east fen in a
continuous stream for eight hours together.

Our next faunal area is very distinct and well marked—the
Chalk Wolds—in its greatest length, from Barton-on-Humber to
Burgh, fifty-two miles, and the greatest breadth, near Market
Rasen, fourteen miles; the highest point of the range, 549 ft., is
near Normanby Clump, and this is the highest land in the county. —
Before the general enclosure, at the commencement of the present
century, the wold was a wild and open region, a rolling upland,
more or less intersected by deep valleys. These rounded hills were
covered with heather and heaths, coarse rough grasses, like the —
barren brome, and Aria cespitosa, the turfy hair-grass, the most
graceful if the most useless of all, with thousands of acres together

* This letter will be found quoted in ‘The Zoologist’ for 1879, p.840.—Ep.

THE FAUNA OF LINCOLNSHIRE. 257

of gorse, and ancient thorns in clumps and single. It was a dis-
trict most admirably fitted to the habits of that noble bird the Great
Bustard, and the Stone Curlew, the former probably almost extinct
before the commencement of the century, the latter still holding its
own—a few pair nesting annually, though not now on the wold.

The two distinct ranges of chalk and oolite which run from
south to north of the county form elevated tracts, which in their
_ original condition were heath and moorland, and almost destitute
of timber trees. Along the flanks of these hills and in the inter-
vening low country stretched the deep forests of Kesteven and
Lindsey,—the Bruneswald,—oak, ash, elm, beech, fir, holly, yew,
and hazel, sufficient remains existing in some of our oldest wood-
lands to recall the ancient glories of the land. No better “happy
hunting grounds”. remain to reward the naturalist than these
comparatively undisturbed areas. Here in 1884 an example of
the old British Wild Cat (Felis catus) was taken,* and the Pine
Marten (Maries abietum) can scarcely yet be extinct; bones of
Red Deer (Bos longifrons), Wolf, Wild Boar, and Beavers have
been found in the becks. We have as yet no list of Lincolnshire
mammals, and I shall be greatly indebted to any of our members
who will enable me to complete a list, which is already partially
prepared, with notes from their respective districts.

The heath is another most charming faunal area, from the
fact that some few scattered portions are still in their primitive
condition, as in the neighbourhood of Woodhall Spa and the
warrens and commons of Scotton, Manton, Twigmoor, Crosby,
and Brumby in the north-east. The Ermin-street, that great
military highway of the Romans, which passed through the gates
of their chief fortress, Lincoln, followed the ridge of the oolite
from south to north—to east and west of this was a wide, open,
and continuous stretch of elevated tableland, the roads running
through leagues of purple heather where the pink and purple
Shading of the common and cross-leaved heaths intermingled
with the yellow blooms of the petty whin and sheets of pale blue
harebell, and the darker blue gentian (Gentiana pneumonanthe). A
glorious land it was to cross in those days, the long, lone, level line
of a well-kept war-path stretching like a ribbon over the heath,
and marked at short intervals with high stones or posts as a

* See ‘ The Zoologist,’ 1884, p. 380.
ZOOLOGIST, THIRD SERIES, VOL. XVIII.— JULY, 1894, x

258 THE ZOOLOGIST.

guiding line in fog and snow, in a solitude but rarely broke
except by the footfall of the legionaries and the dismal creakin
of the baggage-train and provision carts, and above under the
blue heaven carolled the Lark as now, and the plaint of th
Golden Plover sounded sweet from off the moorlands. |

The north-east corner of Lincolnshire, notwithstanding recent
changes and trade encroachments, is still rich in animal and
plant life, and presents a wide field for future research. Further
westward, and beyond the Trent, lies the Isle of Axholme; some
portion, adjoining the great Chase of Hatfield and Lindholme, in
Yorkshire, was once the hunting-ground of English kings. We
must turn to the pages of historians, as Leland, De-la-Pryme, Dr.
Stonehouse, and others, if we wish to learn its ancient condition
before the enterprise of the Dutchman Vermuyden transformed
its wastes and swamps and demon-haunted solitudes into fertile
lanes and at the same time banished its indigenous flora and
fauna. In fact, the entire district, including Thorne waste,
beyond our border, and portions also east of Trent, resembled
the “tundras” of Lapland and Northern Asia, and, like these,
were the breeding-homes of innumerable wildfowl and waders.
Most suggestive of a not remote Arctic character are the lingering _
of such plants as Selaginella selaginoides, Lycopodium alpinum, —
recently discovered by the Rev. W. Fowler, also Andromeda poli- —
fola, and Empetrum nigrum, on Thorne waste, Myrica gale,
generally, and the impressions of leaves of some Arctic willow in —
the laminated silts and peaty alluviums. x

Of our sixth district, that south of Grantham and east of —
Belvoir, I can tell you little, for, excepting in passing through by —
rail, it is a terra incognita to me. The chief attraction is Grims- _
thorpe Park, which contains many fine oaks, hornbeams, and
hawthorns, and a small herd of Red Deer—interesting as the only -
one left in the county, and descendants of those indigenous deer —
which at one period wandered wild, free, and unrestricted through
the length and breadth of the land. |

In our investigation into the natural history of this county,
we must remember that at no very distant period Lincolnshire
was part of the mainland of Europe, and there was no North Sea
as we know it now, and we must therefore expect to find close
affinity between the fauna and flora on both sides of the water.
Once, no doubt, a great central river, whose debouchure was over

NOTES AND QUERIES. 259

the Dogger Bank, received the waters of the rivers from each
side. The North Sea, if you will take the trouble to look at Mr.
Olsen’s map, is little more than a great plain covered by shallow
water; off the north-east coast of England it is twenty fathoms,
and as we go south even this depth is exceptional. The North
Sea contains some remarkable depressions, one of which, the
Silver Pit, is a narrow submarine valley fifty fathoms in depth,
forty miles off the north-east coast of Lincolnshire. The intrusion
‘of this great water, the North Sea, between ourselves and the
ontinent may have been very rapid, for when the chalk barrier,
‘which presumably at one time extended eastward from Flam-
borough Head (cropping out again around Heligoland) was once
breached and the central river taken in flank, there is no reason
why the great level plain of “intermediate” Lincolnshire should
not have been submerged in a period even of a few days.

Before closing these remarks,—as we are now engaged in
rocking the cradle of the Lincolnshire Naturalists’ Union,—
I should like to say a few words as to the possibilities of a future,
and the taking up of a useful position. There is no other county
in England in which the fauna and flora have so greatly altered ;
large numbers of birds, insects, and plants have been altogether
destroyed, or, in the former case, driven away by enclosure and
drainage. It becomes therefore an imperative duty to use our
best endeavours to preserve what is left, and to take care that our
Scarcer mammals, nesting birds, and surviving plants are not
ruthlessly destroyed nor unnecessarily banished.

NOTES AND QUERIES.

Memorial to Gilbert White.—The new water supply for the village
of Selborne, which has been given to the inhabitants as a memorial to
Gilbert White (Zool. 1893, pp. 201, 290), was made free for public use on
June 8th, the inaugural ceremony being performed by Lady Sophia Palmer,
daughter of the Earl of Selborne. Hitherto the inhabitants have been
compelled to obtain their water at a fountain situated at the spring-head,
and in some cases a quarter of a mile had to be traversed to obtain a
bucketful. About £250 was raised by subscriptions, and by means of a
hydraulic ram at the spring-head the water is now forced into a reservoir
erected eighty feet above the level of the village, and by means of gravitation

x 2

260 THE ZOOLOGIST.

the water is circulated through the mains, which are laid in the principa
streets. At certain spots taps are placed along the streets, at which th
people can obtain the water. Lady Sophia Palmer, accompanied by Lor
Selborne, arrived at the village in the afternoon, and having been presen e
with a bouquet, pressed a lever, by means of which the ram was set in
motion. Her ladyship subsequently proceeded to the village, and drew th
first bucket of water. Lord Selborne, in the course of a brief speech, saic
the villagers should congratulate themselves upon having a good water
supply, which was a useful and valuable gift. Water was one of the most
excellent of God’s gifts to man. Referring to the difficulties which the
people had heretofore experienced on this score, he remarked that if Gilbert
White had been asked what sort of memorial should be erected he would
doubtless have chosen the most useful and the most unpretentious. The
one they had provided would be the one he would probably have liked
best.

MAMMALIA.

The Indian Antelope: period of Gestation.—At a meeting of the —
Zoological Society, held on June 5th, Sir Edmund Loder made some
remarks upon the period of gestation in the Indian Antelope, based upon |
observations made upon a small herd of those animals in his own park in —
Sussex. Three does had produced fawns twice in the year, and the period —
of gestation was stated to be five months. The importance of these
observations may be inferred from the fact that none of the authorities on —
Indian Mammalia have published any statistics on the subject. Jerdon, in —
his ‘ Mammals of India’ (p. 277), quoting Elliot, states that “the rutting —
season commences about February or March, but fawns are seen of all ages |
at every season,” and this statement has been copied by subsequent writers,
When statistics in regard to other species can be otained, it will probably —
be found that in the smaller Antelopes the period of gestation is the same —
as with the sheep, five months, and not eight, as in the case of the

Cervide.—J. E. Hartine.

The Squirrel in the Southern Highlands.—At Glenrazie Woods
recently I noticed some Squirrels skipping amongst the trees, and this was
an occurrence of more than usual interest to me, as it gave ocular demon-
stration that these pretty little animals had become established to the
westwards of the Cree. When my friend Mr. J. A. Harvie Brown published,
in 1881, his ‘ History of the Squirrel in Scotland,’ I was unable to furnish —
him with any evidence that Squirrels had extended any farther westwards —
in Galloway than Cumloden Park, where the first one was seen in 1783. _
In 1892 Sir Herbert Maxwell, writing in the ‘ Annals of Scottish Natural
History,’ stated that Squirrels had been seen at Monreith about 1882, but —
that it was not till 1889 that he had noticed them himself. They soon,

NOTES AND QUERIES. 261

however, became quite abundant. The extension of the species throughout
Wigtownshire has, therefore, been very rapid.—R. Service (Maxwelltown,
Dumfries).

Homing Instinct in Ferrets.—One of the most familiar attributes of
some domestic animals is the faculty of being able to return to their homes
over roads of which they could have had no possible previous knowledge.
While dogs, cats, and pigeons have perhaps the largest share of the homing
faculty, some other of the domesticated animals—black-faced sheep, for
instance—are well known to depend on it for occasional and ofteu un-
desirable returns to their original home. I have just been informed by a
gamekeeper of an instance of this homing faculty in one of his Ferrets. It
is worth mentioning, because Ferrets are animals that one could hardly
suspect of “homing” under any circumstances. ‘This particular Ferret
was lost at a distance from home, as the crow flies, of about two miles and
a half. To return it must either have taken a much longer and more
circuitous route, or else swam across a pretty wide burn. But in less than
a week after it was lost the Ferret walked in at the open door of its master’s
house, looking none the worse for its temporary sojourn in the wilds.—
Rosert Servick (Maxwelltown, Dumfries).

[Other instances of the kind will be found recorded in ‘ The Field’ of
Jan. 25th, Feb. lst and 8th, 1873; Jan. 23rd and 30th, 1886.—Eb.]

Serotine Bat near Hastings.—I am forwarding a Bat obtained last
evening (May 29th), which I make out to be the Serotine, V. serotinus.
Please say if lam correct. It is one of a colony of about twenty established
in a house at Guestling, near Hastings. I have watched them emerge
about fifteen minutes past sunset, going off in parties of from two or three
to seven or eight. They all follow the same line, though not a direct one,
to a wood a short distance away, flying high and steadily until reaching it.
I obtained another at the same time, also a female, the fur of which is
distinctly brighter, and, judging from the more worn appearance of the teeth,
is older. This specimen is not hit so hard with the shot, and I am preserving
it. It agrees with Bell’s measurements except in the expanse of wing;
this is exactly 14 inches (before skinning).—H. G. Jmrrury (George Street,
Hastings).

[Ihe Bat sent is the Serotine, recognizable by its narrower wings,
longer and narrower tragus than the Noctule, and with two premolars less
in the upper jaw.—Eb.]

BIRDS.

The present Status of the Hooded Crow in Southern Scotland.—
Mr. A. C. Chapman’s note on the nesting of the Hooded Crow, Corvus
corniv, in Northumberland (p. 227), is, I think, of more importance than
he seems inclined to attach to it, Although nesting exceptionally much

262 THE ZOOLOGIST.

further south than the locality given—e. g. in Yorkshire (Clarke and Roe-
buck), and in Essex (Miller Christy),—still its breeding in the eastern
counties (at any rate, anywhere south of Perth, Forfar, and Kincardine)
must be considered sporadic and exceptional. The latest book on breeding
areas of British Birds (‘ Nests and Eggs of British Birds,’ by C. Dixon) is
in regard to this bird misleading; for under the heading Corvus corone, the
writer says (p. 8):—“ In Ireland it is rare and almost replaced by its close
ally the Hooded Crow; the same remarks apply to Scotland, although it is
not so scarce.” Now, far from being scarce, it is quite a common bird in
all the southern Scottish counties with which I am acquainted—Fife, —
Edinburgh, Linlithgow, Haddington, Peebles, and Northern Dumfries—_
while the Hooded Crow is merely occasional and sporadic. It is a curious —
fact, and one that almost leads to the idea that the black Crow is pushing
northwards, and that the real Hooded Crow was once the prevalent form in
the Scottish lowlands, that by gamekeepers, shepherds, and country people —
generally in that district the black Crow, Corvus corone is invariably called —
a “ Hoodie.” It used to puzzle mea good deal when at school in Fife,
where several score of Hoodies’ eggs were annually brought in, to under-
stand why they should be so styled, seeing that no vestige of a hood was
visible on any of the birds that laid the eggs. I have seen hybrids killed
at the nest in the county of Edinburgh, but the gamekeeper considered
them very uncommon. At an early spring roosting colony of forty or fifty
birds, almost within the bounds of the city of Edinburgh, not one of the
‘‘ Hoodies” was observed to have any grey about it. As regards the west,
and especially the N.W. of Scotland, no doubt Corvus cornia is the prevalent —
form, but we have it on the authority of Messrs. Harvie Brown and Buckley
(‘ Fauna of Argyle,’ p. 89), that Corvus corone is “ abundant on parts of the
mainland” of Argyle-—Harotp Ranpurn (31, Clare Road, Halifax).

March Cuckoos.—Nearly fifty years’ experience has taught me the
unwisdom of dogmatism ; far be it from me therefore to assert that Cuckoos
have not been heard or seen in this country in March, or any other
unaccustomed month. Consequently, when interrogated on the subject, —
I very guardedly replied, “such a bird as a ‘ March Cuckoo’ has no place
in my experience,” a statement of pure fact; but unfortunately I did not
end there, and Mr. Grabham’s courteous exposure of the weak spot in my
armour is the legitimate result. The Editor has correctly interpreted my
meaning (p. 225), but I should like to add that I was quite aware of the
very occasional occurrence of birds of this species during summer in the ~
reddish plumage of the first autumn; though as they are excessively rare in —
this country, it seemed to me hardly worth entertaining the idea that such
birds had, on at least several occasions, been detected at a time when even
the normal plumaged Cuckoo is not Jooked for. But perhaps I ought not
to have stated that a Cuckoo in immature plumage in March was an

NOTES AND QUERIES. 2638

“obvious absurdity,” but rather that it was “very remarkable” if true. I
was led to the conclusion at which I arrived not alone by the description of
the bird’s appearance, but also by its flight and actions, which certainly in
one of the cases reported this spring indicated the Hawk rather than the
Cuckoo. So far as I know, all the rufous coloured adult Cuckoos hitherto
met with have been females. May I add that early in last March I heard a
Ring Dove—I doubt not a young and inexperienced bird practising its love
‘song for the first time—which so much resembled the cry of the Cuckoo that
it might readily have deceived a careless or inexperienced person. May I
finish with a story of a Cuckoo written, and evidently credited by, a very
“painful” and observant naturalist, a F.R.S., and valued correspondent of
Gilbert White, to a lady of rank (in fact quite a high-life story) in the year
1790 2—“ My very estimable neighbour, Lady Walpole,” says the writer,
*‘informed me that her grandfather Hoskins, of Barrow Green, a few miles
from Godstone, in Surrey, at Sir W. Hoskins’ in the Christmas Holydays,
heard a Cuckow singing in a hollow tree laid upon the fire. I am thus
particular in the story,” he adds, ‘‘ because it is uncommon.” — T. SourH-
WELL (Norwich).

Early Cuckoos in 1894,—Since writing my note on March Cuckoos
(p. 190) I received undeniable evidence of the extraordinarily early arrival
of the Cuckoo in North Oxon this spring. A neighbour, who is interested
in, and has a good knowledge of, birds, heard the Cuckoo’s note at Mil-
combe on April Ist, at about 7.30 a.m.; on the 2nd he saw two of these
birds, and on the same day an old farmer heard it at Tadmarton, and
remarked truly that it was three weeks or more before its usual time;
several labourers heard it also. It was heard here by another farmer on the
5th, and by upwards of a dozen persons on the 8th. I did not happen to
hear it myself until the 14th ; but had I been at home on the 8th I should
certainly have heard it on that day, for the people in the house said a Cuckoo
was calling loudly all the morning. One was heard also at Kingham on
the 8th. The 14th is six days earlier than I ever heard it before. Is it
possible that the Cuckoos were deceived by a remembrance of the fine
warm nesting season we had last year into the belief that England really
had a summer, and so returned before their usual time? If so, they must
indeed have been woefully deceived. For the dreary, dismal May, with
little else but cold winds, frosts, and rain, which we have just experienced,
seems so far likely to be followed by an equally miserable June.—O. V.
Artin (Bloxham, Oxon).

The following note respecting the early appearance of the Cuckoo in
Dumfriesshire may be of interest. On April 15th, while out walking on
Lochar Moss, about a mile east of Newfield Farm, I distinctly heard the
call of the Cuckoo. I made for the few scattered trees from whence it was
evident the sound proceeded, and soon caught sight of the bird perched

264 THE ZOOLOGIST.

upon the projecting branch of an alder. About a minute afterwards it fley
from the tree and settled upon the support of a wire fence close by, wher
it was almost immediately followed by another Cuckoo, which came fror
an adjoining tree and settled near it on the same fence. I was close enougt
to observe that both birds were of the ashy-grey colour which denotes thé
adult bird.—Hvueu Macray (33, King Street, Dumfries).
[Will some of our correspondents state whether in their experience it i
a common occurrence, or not, for Cuckoos to call while on the wing. An
instance of this is reported in the Natural History columns of ‘ The Field
of the 15th March last as evidence that the observer who stated that he had ~
seen a Cuckoo in March was not mistaken.—ED. | |

Short-eared Owls in Solway. — On May 24th I once more spent ~
another long day in rambling through a corner of that delightful region of ~
Galloway known as the Southern Highlands, a country not yet known to ~
the touring public, and that has been but casually investigated by a few
field naturalists, mostly botanists and geologists. Here the last of the
scuthern outposts of the Ptarmigan were occupied till well into the present
century ; the Golden Eagle nested till far on in the sixties, the Osprey
having ceased to breed here only a few years sooner. The Peregrine and
the Buzzard still frequent its precipices, and the Dotterel nests annually om
its mountain shoulders, while round the margins of its tarns and lochs the
Dunulin breeds in numbers, and the young of the Greenshank have been
seen, The district is not likely to remain much longer a terra incognita, ~
for in Mr. Crockett’s very popular novel of ‘The Raiders’ most of the
scenes are laid within its picturesque bounds, which bids fair to senda crowd
of tourists into new haunts. But I am getting quite away from the subject
of my note. Between lochs Trool and Dee we noted at least four pairs of
Short-eared Owls on the wing, quartering the ground in the manner which
their recent great immigration has made familiar. Hastwards of loch Dee
a solitary individual of this species was fiercely assailed by a pair of Carrion
Crows, which were flying alternately at it. We watched the fight for a
long time, during which the Owl acted strictly on the defensive, but appa-
rently tiring of that game, it sought to escape its assailants by a circling
upward flight, and the three were finally completely lost to sight high abov
the summit of Meikle Millyea. The pair of corbies returned to their nest
in about ten minutes in a particularly vociferous mood. During our ramble
of some seventeen miles neither my companion nor | ever sawa single Vole,
and none of their workings that could be said to be quite recent. It is
rather singular to find even this small number of Short-eared Owls still
there, when they have disappeared, along with the voles, over the remainde
of the great extent of country that was under the domination of the plague
On the sheep farms of the Galloway hills the voles found their western
limit as a plague, and they were a year or two later than elsewhe

NOTES AND QUERIES. 265

in reaching a predominant abundance. At no time did these lands present
the same bare, verdureless, wind-blown aspect as did the Dumfriesshire
uplands. Very possibly the Short-eared Owls referred to may have
remained to prey upon a vole colony that still exists somewhere amongst
the glens betwixt Trool and Dee. — Rosrert Service (Maxwelltown,
_ Dumfries).

Great Northern Diver choked by a Gurnard.—Farly in April a Great
Northern Diver, Colymbus glacialis, was picked up on the shore opposite
Orchardton by one of the keepers there, and Mr. Robinson Douglas informs
me that on examination it was ascertained that it had been choked by a
Grey Gurnard, Trigla gurnardus, which was still sticking in the bird’s
gullet. Rospert Servick (Maxwelltown, Dumfries).

[We have not unfrequently met with instances in which Kingfishers
and Little Grebes have been choked in their endeavour to swallow the River
Bull-head or “ Miller’s-thumb,” Cottus gobio, but we never heard of a
Cormorant being choked by a fish, nor have we before heard of such an
accident happening to a Colymbus. The gullet in these birds is so dilatable
' that such a mischance probably happens but rarely. In the instance now
reported the long humeral and opercular spines of the fish, and the strong
and rough dorsal fin-rays (the second of which exceeds in length the depth
of the body beneath), no doubt caused the terrible struggle which ended
fatally to both bird and fish.—Eb. |

Lesser Redpoll breeding in Somersetshire.—I notice your remark

(p. 228) with regard to the Lesser Redpoll. I thought mine was the first
instance known of this bird nesting in Somerset, but in the ‘ Proceedings’
of the Somersetshire Archeological and Natural History Society for 1893,
which I have since seen, I find that the Rev. Murray A. Mathew, in his
«Revised List of the Birds of Somerset,” remarks that it is a resident in
limited numbers, that he has seen it in the summer time near Frome, and
once had a brood of young birds in his garden at Buckland Dinham.—
H. St. B. Gotpsmirx (King Square, Bridgwater).

Lesser Redpoll breeding in Somerset.—I have read with much
pleasure Mr. Goldsmith’s remarks (p. 228) on the nesting of the Lesser
Redpoll in Somerset, and send you some notes I have collected on this
subject. I found a nest of this species in the Lansdown district, Bath, on
May 6th, 1898. It contained four eggs, and was placed about eight feet
from the ground, on the end of a fir-bough. The old bird (the only one
visible) flew round in a state of great excitement, calling continuously.
Having written to the Rev. R. Chichester, of Prior Park College, Bath, for
information about the nesting of the Lesser Redpoll in the district, he
replied :—‘ Until this season I had no idea the Redpoll (ZL. rufescens) built
here. I have found two nests, one on May 14th, the other on May 21st,

266 THE zooLoaisi.

The first was in an apple-tree in an orchard between Coombe Down and
Midford, at a distance of ten feet from the ground. The nest was beauti-
fully made of small twigs and sticks, and lined inside with vegetable down
as white as snow. It contained four eggs, highly coloured but poorly
marked, and quite fresh. The second nest was taken a week later, on the
bank of a stream which runs through Midford near Tucking Mill. It was
built in a willow-tree overhanging the brook. The nest was composed of
twigs, lined with vegetable down, and in this case with plenty of hair.
There were five eggs, and incubation had commenced. There were Brown
Linnets breeding in each case in close proximity."—C. B. HorsBrueH
(4, Richmond Hill, Bath).

Pheasant nesting in a Tree.— With reference to the Pheasant’s laying
in a nest in a tree near Barnwell, as recorded in a note from Miss F. (not T.)
Wickham to me, and forwarded, at her request, for the last number of ‘ The
Zoologist’ (p.227), I heard yesterday from Mr. Henry Wickham, of Barnwell
Castle, that there were nine eggs in this nest when first found, that three
young birds were recently found dead at the foot of the tree in which the
nest was situated, and as all the eggs were hatched, it is hoped and believed
that the parent bird has taken off the remainder of her brood in safety.—
LILForD.

[Instances of Pheasants nesting in trees are not so uncommon as might
be supposed. Several such cases are noticed in Mr. 'Tegetmeier’s work on
Pheasants (2nd edition, 1881, p. 10), the height from the ground varying
from nine to twenty-five feet. In these instances the hen Pheasant had
appropriated deserted nests of the Wood Pigeon, Owl, Sparrowhawk, and
Squirrel, and in several cases the young of some of them had been brought
down in safety, though many had been killed by falling.—Ep.]

Dotterel in Haddingtonshirex—On May 22nd I saw a flock of eight
Dotterels, Hndromias morinellus, at a place called Dirleton, in Had-
dington. They were feeding on some ploughed land, and I was told that
they had been there some days. Is it not rather late, considering the
early season, for these birds to be in flocks? — Harry F. WiTsERBY
(Musselburgh, N.B.).

Whimbrel in the Midlands,—I have recently seen two Whimbrels
which were shot in the north-eastern corner of Buckinghamshire, not far
from the river Ouse, in the second week of May—about the 13.h—15th.
Although the Whimbrel passes (in N.E. and S.W. directions) over the
southern Midlands at the periods of migration, and is observed with tolerable
regularity while on passage, it very rarely alights in these counties.
When it does so it is, I believe, always in spring. At all events, I have no
record of the Whimbrel being shot or observed on the ground in Oxfordshire
in August or September. This observation holds good of Northamptone

NOTES AND QUERIES. 267

shire also. Lord Lilford wiites that although it passes along the Nene
valley in considerable numbers on the southern migration, and again in
much fewer numbers in May, yet in his experience he never saw a Whim-
brel on the ground in Northamptonshire, and he is convinced that on the
southern migration they hardly ever alight near Lilford, although he has
been assured of a few instances of their doing so in May. The only
example actually killed in Northamptonshire which he was able to record
was shot at Thorpe Mandeville on May 16th, 1881, as noted by me at the
time in the ‘ Midland Naturalist’ (vide “ Notes on Birds of Northampton-
shire,” pp. 309, 310). In Mr. Clark-Kennedy’s ‘ Birds of Berkshire and
Buckinghamshire,’ p. 148, the Whimbrel is referred to as less common than
the Curlew, “but occasionally a specimen is killed on the river [Thames]
in spring and autumn.” A correspondent also informed the author that
“a, few specimens of the Whimbrel are seen almost every winter [?] on the
banks of the reservoirs here.” But as no definite instance of the occurrence
of the bird is given with locality and date, we may fairly consider that the
work quoted does not afford conclusive evidence of the Whimbrel alighting
in the southern Midlands on the autumn migration. The only instances of
the Whimbrel being seen on the ground, or being shot in Oxfordshire of
which I can give exact dates are the following:—Bloxham, April 29th,
1880; Clattercote Reservoir, one seen, May 9th and 10th, 1885; Thame,
May 21st, 1886. In April, 1859, one was shot at Wormleighton Reservoir,
~ Warwickshire.— O. V. Aprin (Bloxham, Oxon).

Shag on Somersetshire Coast.—I am enabled to add the Shag (Phala-
| crocorax graculus) to the list of Somersetshire birds. A specimen of this
bird was killed between Brean Down and the mouth of the Parrett on
October 20th, 1892, and is preserved in the collection of Mr. Tucker, who
_ received it in the flesh from the fisherman who shot it—H. St. B. Goxp-
sMiTH (King Square, Bridgwater).

Razorbills and Puffins cast ashore.—In the early part of March last
some Razorbills and Puffins, waifs of the sea cast up on the shore, were
_ hoticed by the Rev. E. P. Larken about the tide-mark near Boulogne. On
_ the English side of the Channel, at the same time, some Razorbills and a
few Guillemots, but no Puftins, were to be seen on the shore in the vicinity
_of Brighton, starved, as often happens, from a continuance of rough
_ weather, which had driven the fish upon which they subsist too deep down
into the sea for diving birds to catch them (¢f. Proc. Nat. Hist. Soc,
| Glasgow, vol. i. p. 4). Such birds, if not already dead, are always mori-
_ bund, and Lam given to understand, when taken to the Brighton Aquarium,
_ never recover, or at best live but a very short time. To prosper in an

aquarium the Alcid@ should be netted, and have live fish to eat, for to give
| them what is not fresh is at all times dangerous, When I was last at

268 HE ZOOLOGIST.

Brighton, on March 28th, there were two Razorbills in the Aquarium,

which had lived there nearly three years. When they dived it could

immediately be seen how tightly compressed all the plumage was by the
weight of water, the vacuum made by the air in and beneath the feathers

encasing the whole body of the bird as in an envelope of silver. As the air
streams away, expelled from the Razorbill’s tail, it rises in a beautiful net-

work of bubbles to the surface. It is hardly correct to state as some have

done that the action of the wing under water is precisely the same as in

flight, because it is never fully extended, the beats are not so rapid, and the

motion is sustained with labour. Razorbills are probably able to see to a

great depth in still water, for when searching for food in their tanks it is to

be noted that they merely swim with about half the head immersed, just

enough for the eyes to be under the surface and no more.—J. H. Gurney

(Keswick, Norwich).

Marsh Harrier nesting in Oxfordshire. —In the interests of the
Oxfordshire ornithological record, allow me to say that I hope Mr. Swann,
or his informant, will see his way to give us more precise information about
the Marsh Harrier breeding in this county (p. 227). Those ornithologists
who know Oxfordshire will have read with no little astonishment that this
Harrier, hardly known even as an occasional visitor nowadays, should have
actually nested so recently as July, 1890. I only know one locality “ near
Oxford” in the least degree suitable to the requirements of this species. It
would be interesting to know the exact locality of the nest ; also how many
eggs it contained, how they were identified, and what became of the birds.
From Mr. Swann’s note it appears that his informant, from whom he pur-
chased the egg, was not very clear in his remembrance of the nest. Unless
the birds were satisfactorily identified it seems more probable that they were
Montagu’s Harriers—supposing it to be certain that they were Harriers at
all. I hope Mr. Swann will not consider this note as an unduly sceptical
one, and will understand that it is written solely in the interest of our county
avifaunal history—O. V. Artin (Bloxham, Oxon).

Whiskered Tern in Dumfriesshire.—On the 28th May last a male
specimen of the Whiskered Tern, Hydrochelidon hybrida, was forwarded
to me from Friars Carse, with the information that it had been shot on
marshy ground near the Carse loch, about eight miles from Dumfries. As_
I had never seen this bird before, I examined it in the most careful
manner, referring occasionally to my books, and comparing it with speci-
mens of the commoner Terns in order to ascertain the precise identity of the ©
bird before sending you this note. Convinced that it was the Whiskered
Tern, I gave the bird in the flesh to Mr. Robert Service, of Maxwelltown,
Dumfries, for examination, and he agreed in the identification, After
skinning it I returned the body to Mr. Service, so that he might examine

NOTES AND QUERIES. 269

the stomach, which he afterwards informed me contained semi-digested
portions of the fresh-water shrimp (Gammarus pulex). The length of the
bird is 113 in., wing 9 in. Referring to Mr. Saunders’ ‘ Manual of British
Birds,’ I find that up till 1889 only six specimens have been recorded, four
of which were obtained in England, one in the Scilly Islands, and one in
Ireland. The last specimen was obtained near Plymouth in 1865, and
unless there is a record since 1889, which has escaped me, I presume the
specimen now in my possession is only the seventh obtained in the British
Islands. It is a new and interesting addition to the Scottish list —Huau
Mackay (38, King Street, Dumfries).

Robin nesting in Church.—The following may interest some of your
readers. On March 31st, on going to clean the chapel, the woman found
on one of the book-ledges a heap of rubbish, evidently brought by a bird; she
cleared it away, but on going again the following Saturday, April 7th, found
a still larger heap and a perfectly finished Robin’s nest. This also, Iam
sorry to say, was removed ; but on hearing of it I had the nest put back in
the same place, but without any of the accompanying débris. On going to
see it this morning I was pleased to find the bird sitting on four eggs. As
the nest is not more than one foot from persons in the pew it will be
interesting to see whether she continues to sit during service. If she
should successfully rear her brood I will let you know, should you care to
insert this —H. W. Wyxenam (Thame Park, Thame).

Varieties of Rooks.—At Annesley Park there are three rookeries, and
during forty years there has never been a variety seen. Last week the
shepherd saw what he thought were two white pigeons, but on looking at
them more closely a second time he found they were Rooks. He informed
the park-keeper, who thereupon shot them. ‘They were strong fliers, iv
full feather, and as white as snow, with white bills and legs and pink eyes.
The owner, Mr. Musters, returned home the same afternoon, and on going
to another rookery in the park shot two pied ones, pale yellow and black,
with feet and legs mottled. Another has since been seen in a third place.
It is very curious that so many varieties should occur at one time in a
locality where none had been seen for so many years.—J. WHITAKER
(Rainworth, Notts).

Nesting of the Dipper.—I have known the same pair of Dippers
(Cinclus aquaticus) to build for the last fifteen years under an archway
close to my home. There is no mistaking their identity, for when a lad I
often used to catch the hen bird, which has only one leg. Their nesting
place is well known to boys in the neighbourhood, hence they seldom have
the good fortune to get a brood reared and flown. This year I found their
nests as follows:—April 11th, nest containing five eggs; 12th, nest and
eges gone; 24th, nest containing five eggs; 30th, nest and eggs gone;

270 THE ZOOLOGIST.

May 10th, nest containing four eggs; 11th, nest and eggs gone; 1
nest not quite built; 19th, nest pulled out again ; 22nd, hole lined thinly
with moss and containing one egg ; 28rd, egg gone. Thus three comple
and two incomplete nests were built this year, and fifteen eggs were laid.
Tt cannot have taken the pair more than six or seven days to build either
the second or third nest. The first two nests were built splendidly ; the
third was built loosely ; the fourth and fifth were never finished, although
an egg was laid init. The pilfering of their eggs and the destroying of
their nests are repeated year after year, yet I am sure from my own obser-
vation that they have never forsaken the place.—Joun R. Denwoop (Kirk-
gate, Cockermouth).

Variety of Waterhen.—Last summer a keeper told me he had seen
a white Waterhen on the lake below the house here, but though a good
look-out was kept it was never seen there again. On May 28th I was told
there was a curious Waterhen on a pond on the roadside about half-a-mile
off. On walking there I saw the bird. The man told me it came there
last summer, and was about all the autumn, but left in the winter. It
returned about six weeks ago. I got close to it, and found it to be of a
pale tawny colour; the back sandy yellow, shot with pale slate and grey,
the wings much abraded, with all the finer portions of the feathers worn
away; the head pale grey; neck and breast greyish blue. The bird was
well grown, and has paired with a hen bird of the normal colour which is
now sitting, and I am anxious to see how the young turn out as regards ~
colour. The pond is on the roadside, very bare, no weeds, and only a bit
of old hedge at one side. Scores of people pass the edge of it, and dozens
of carts every day. There are two small farms within twenty and fifty yards
where dogs are kept. Why these birds should have left the larger and
quieter pools here, surrounded by covert and abundant food, is a mystery
to me.—J. WHITAKER (Rainworth, Notts).

FISHES.

Sapphirine Gurnard in the Solway Firth.—I entirely concur in the
editorial suggestion that the Sapphirine Gurnard might naturally be
expected to occur in the Solway Firth, although this species generally
prefers much deeper water than is to be found in the upper parts thereof.
But I recorded its occurrence expressly to enable the readers of ‘The
Zoologist’ to add the species to the list of fishes found in our territorial
waters as contained in the ‘ Fauna of Lakeland,’ simply because the con- —
tinued absence of the species from the list might suggest the fallacy that
this Gurnard avoided our coasts. I could not include the species in our
fish-fauna until I had ocular demonstration of its occurrence. The printer
makes me say that the largest fish of this species caught locally weighed ©
33 tbs.; but this is a mistake. What I wrote was that it weighed seven

SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES, 271

pounds and three-quarters. There is nothing extraordinary about this

weight; but it is that of a large hen fish in good condition.—H. A.

Macpuerson (Carlisle), }
VERMES.

A Bifid Worm.—In April last Mr. Gilchrist Clark, of Speddoch, gave
me one of those rare abnormalities—a worm with two tails. It had been
found amongst some worms kept for angling purposes. The species was
the ordinary Brandling, Lumbricus fetidus. Considerably less than a dozen
instances of this curious malformation in worms are on record, and it so
happens that, including the specimen under notice, no less than four of
these have passed through my hands. So many as four having been in the
possession of one individual would seem to indicate that this “freak ” is
not so rare as is generally supposed. I have presented this specimen to
the Museum of Science and Art in Edinburgh.— Rospert Service (Max-
welltown, Dumfries).

[The Brandling (diminutive of Brand) is so called from its colour. It
may be of interest to note here that in many dictionaries Izaak Walton is
quoted as the first English writer who mentions the Brandling by this
name (1653), but the word occurs in Barker’s ‘ Art of Angling,’ 1651.—Hp.]

SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES.

Linnean Society oF Lonpon.

June ith.—Mr. C. B. Cuarxe, M.A., F'.R.S., President, in the chair.

Messrs. W. E. Bailey, F. W. Hildyard, and A. Zietz were elected.

The President nominated as Vice-Presidents for the year Messrs. J. G.
Baker, W. Carruthers, and F. Crisp, and Prof. C. Stewart.

Dr. John Lowe communicated the results of observations made by him
in Madeira and Teneriffe on the habit in certain insectivorous small birds
belonging to the genera Sylvia, Phylloscopus, and Parus (of which specimens
were exhibited) of puncturing the calyces of flowers for the purpose of
attracting insects on which they feed. An interesting discussion followed,
in which the President, Rev. G. Henslow, and others took part.

Mr. Carruthers exhibited a series of photographs of the celebrated
Cowthorpe Oak in Yorkshire, taken at long intervals, commencing with a
reproduction of Dr. Hunter’s engraving of 1776, and made remarks upon
the rate of growth and decay, and probable duration of life in this tree.

Mr. Raymund Dowling exhibited and made remarks upon a dwarf
Glaucous Pine, and some curionsly shaped Trapa fruits from Japan.

Mr. Thomas Christy exhibited specimens of two species of Polygonum
(P. sachalinense and P. cuspidatum), of value for forage, and pointed out

272 THE ZOOLOGIST.

that the roots of the mature plants, when cut, are in the former species
a whitish colour and in the latter of a bright yellow, enabling the two to
readily distinguished.

A paper was then read by Sir John Lubbock, Bart., M.P., F.R.S., «O
Stipules and the Protection of Buds.” A discussion followed, in which th
Rev. G. Henslow, Mr. A. W. Bennett, Prof. Marshall Ward, and Mr. John
Fraser took part.

Before the meeting adjourned, the President announced that a bust of
Charles Waterton, the Yorkshire naturalist, and author of ‘ Wanderings in
South America,’ had been presented to the Society by the Trustees of the
late Mrs. Pitt Byrne (née Busk). This bust was executed in 1865 (the —
year in which he died, at the age of eighty-three), by the late Mr. Waterhouse _
Hawkins. It is an excellent likeness, and the only bust of him in existence.
The only accessible portrait of him is a small engraving by Adlard, which
forms a frontispiece to the third volume of the ‘ Essays on Natural History,’
from an original oil painting by Charles W. Peale, made in Philadelphia in
1824, when Waterton was in his forty-second year. A comparison of this
portrait with the bust shows a remarkable correspondence, allowing for the
forty years which elapsed between the two sittings. |

June 21st.—Mr. C. B. Crarxg, F.R.S., President, in the chair.

Messrs. F. W. Hildyard and H. A. Cummins were admitted, and
Mr. W. Gardner was elected a Fellow.

Mr. G. Brebner exhibited and made remarks upon specimens of -
Scaphospora speciosa, Kjellm., a seaweed new to Britain, describing, with
the aid of lantern-slides, the structure and mode of fructification in this and
other allied Alge. |

Mr. J. R. Jackson exhibited the cone of a stone pine, Pinus pinea, Linn.,
which had been picked up by the Comte de Paris in the Coto del Rey,
Seville, and which had sprouted and continued to grow for a month
afterwards. ‘This peculiarity, which had been often noticed in the larch,
was said to be of rare occurrence in the pine.

Mr. Thomas Christy exhibited and made remarks upon a small-berried
coffee-plant from Inhanbane, East Africa, somewhat similar to a variety
from Sierra Leone and other parts of the West Coast. It was said to be
valued for its fine aromatic bitter taste which made it useful for flavouring
beans and other material ground up and sold as coffee.

Mr. A. B. Rendle gave an abstract of a paper upon a collection of
plants from East Equatorial Africa, brought home by Dr. J. W. Gregory
and Rev. H. Taylor, amongst which were several new species.

A paper followed, by the President, ‘On Tabulation Areas,” in whic
the views of Dr. A. R. Wallace and others on geographical distribution
were discussed, and the best mode of tabulating results considered. After
some discussion, the meeting adjourned to November Ist.

SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES. 273

ZooLoGcicaL Socrety oF Lonpon.

June 5th.—Sir W. H. Frower, K.C.B., LL.D., F.R.S., President, in

the chair.
_ The Secretary read a report on the additions that had been made to
the Society’s Menagerie during the month of May, and made some remarks
on the chief animals which he had observed during a recent visit to the
Zoological Gardens of Rotterdam, Amsterdam, Hanover, Berlin, and
Hamburg.
A communication was read from Dr. EK. A. Goeldi, containing critical
Bomarks on the Opossums of the Serra dos Orgaos, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Mr. O. Thomas gave an account of the Gazelles of Algeria, chiefly based
on specimens brought home by Sir Edmund Loder, and distinguished three
species, Gazella dorcas, G. cuviert, and G. loderi, the last being a new
species of which examples had been obtained by Sir Edmund Loder in the
sand-hills three days south of Biskra. A fourth Gazelle, of which a skin
and skull had been bought by Sir Edmund Loder in Algiers many years
ago, was referred with some doubt to Gazella corinna, the Corinne of Buffon.

Sir Edmund Loder then gave an account of his expedition in search of
Gazella loderi, called by the Arabs ‘‘ Reem,” and stated what he had learnt
of its habits and distribution. He concluded with some remarks on the
period of gestation in the Indian Antelope, as observed in captivity, from
which it appeared that this animal produces young twice a year, and that
the period of gestation is five months.

Prof. Howes communicated some notes by Dr. W. R. Benham on a
particularly abnormal vertebral column of the Bull-frog, Rana mugiens, and
on certain variations in the anurous column of this frog.

Mr. Lindsay Johnson read a communication on the form of the pupil in
the Felid@, and stated that, after an examination of the eyes of 180 domestic
Cats, as well as the eyes of all the species of Felide in the Society’s Gardens,
he had come to the conclusion that the natural shape of the pupil in Felis
is circular. Although under various degrees of light he found every shape
from the circle through all degrees of oval to a perfectly vertical line, yet
instillations of atropine or cocaine solutions caused every pupil to become
atrue circle. The younger the cat the greater the tendency in the pupil
to become pointed oval in ordinary light, and, conversely, the older the cat
the more frequently is the pupil circular. Brilliant light always caused
contraction to oval, and direct sunlight to a thin line in the smaller Felide ;
in the larger species, Mr. Johnson had frequently found the pupils contract
to a small circle. Suddenly alarming a cat had the effect of momentarily
dilating the pupil; while in sleep the pupil was always contracted. This
communication was illustrated by models and diagrams.—P. L. Scuarer,
Secretary.

ZOOLOGIST, THIRD SERIES, VOL. XVIII.—JULY, 1894. ¥

274 THE ZOOLOGIST.

ENTOMOLOoGICAL SocirEtTy or LoNDON.

June 6th, 1894.—Henry Joun Exwes, F.L.S., President, in the chair

Dr. K. Jordan, of ‘“‘ The Museum,” Tring, and the Hon. Nathaniel C
Rothschild, of Tring Park, Tring, were elected Fellows of the Society.

Mr. W. F. H. Blandford exhibited a series of eleven male specimens ¢
Rhina barbirostris from British Honduras, of which the largest and smalle:
examples measure respectively 60 and 17 mm. The difference in bull
Supposing the proportions to be identical, is as 43 to 1. He remarke
that this variation of the size is especially common in the Brenthida
Cossonide, and other wood-boring Coleoptera.

Mr. A. J. Chitty exhibited specimens of Cardiophorus equiseti taket
near Braunton, on the north coast of Devon, in May, 1891.

Mr. McLachlan exhibited for Mr. J. W. Douglas male specimens of a
Coccid (Lecaniwm prunastri), bred from scales attached to shoots of blackthorn —
(Prunus spinosa) received from Herr Karel Sulc, of Prague, and stated that”
the species was common on blackthorn in France and Germany, and shoulé |
be found in Britain. .

Lord Walsingham exhibited a series of Cacoecia podana, Scop., rearec |
from larve feeding on Lapageria and palms in Messrs. Veitch’s conser-—
vatories, Chelsea, including some melanic varieties. The Honble. Walter”
Rothschild stated that he had taken the species on lime.

Mr. C. Fenn exhibited a series of Selenia lunaria, bred from one batch ~
of eggs, which included both the spring and summer forms; and also”
two unforced specimens, which emerged in November. He observed tha
the variation between the two emergences, viz., spring and summer,
considerable, and also the range of variation inter se, especially in the
spring form; but it is remarkable that the summer form has one or twe
representatives among those of the spring emergence. The parent female
was taken at Bexley in May, 1893.

Mr. F. Lovell Keays exhibited a variety of L. alexis (female), having the
marginal ocelli on the hind wings without the usual orange-coloured lunules
The specimen was captured at Caterham on May 22nd, 1894, and was th
first example of the species observed by the captor this season.

Mr. J. H. Durrant exhibited a series of Steganoptycha pygymeana, Hb.
taken at Merton, Norfolk, between the 25th March and the middle of Ap
last. q

Mr. H. Goss read an extract from a report from Mr. J. R. Preece
H.M. Consul at Ispahan, to the Foreign Office, on the subject of damag
caused to the wheat crop in the district of Rafsinjan by an insect whicl
was called ‘‘Sen” by the natives, and which he described as “like a flying
bug, reddish olive in colour, with heavy broad shoulders.” Dr. Sharp sait
that in the absence of a specimen it was impossible to express an opinion as
to the species,

NOTICES OF NEW BOOKS. 275

The Rev. Canon Fowler exhibited for Miss Ormerod specimens of
_ Diloboderus abderus, Sturm, Eucranium arachnoides, Brull., and Megathopa
_violacea, Blanch., which she had received from the La Plata district of the
Argentine Territories, where they were said to be damaging the grass crops-

Mr. Hampson raised an important point as to what was the legal “ date
| of publication” of Part I. of the Transactions of the Society, 1894. He
| pointed out that the question of the priority of the names of certain new
| Species therein described would depend upon the date of publication. Upon
| this a long discussion ensued.
Professor Franz Klapalek, of Prague, communicated a paper entitled
|“ Descriptions of a new species of Raphidia, L., and of three new species
of Trichoptera from the Balkan Peninsula, with critical remarks on Panorpa
gibberosa, McLach,”

Lord Walsingham then took the chair, and a Special General Meeting,
convened under Chap. xvitl. of the Bye-Laws, was held.—H. Goss & W. W.
| Fowxrr, Hon. Secs.

NOTICES QF NEW BOOKS.

| Five Months’ Sport in Somali-land. By Lorp Wotverton. With
illustrations from photographs by Cononen Pacer. 8vo,
pp. 108. London: Chapman & Hall. 1894.

Anotuerr book on African big-game, the scene of adventure
this time being in Somali-land. In November, 1892, Lord
Wolverton and Colonel Arthur Paget, with Mr. Vine as carto-
grapher, made their way to Aden, and proceeding thence to
Berbera, purchased camels for transport of their food, water and
ammunition, and journeyed some 250 miles southward as far as
Galadi and Barri, on the River Shebeyli. The expedition
(occupied five months, and in the volume now before us (the
thinnest ever published on African sport and travel), Lord
{Wolverton has jotted down the most noteworthy adventures of
the party, which his brother sportsman has helped to illustrate.

The travellers were evidently not much impressed with the
resources of Somali-land, which depend first on the Goats, which
make very good skins; secondly, on the herds which will in the
future supply food; and thirdly, on Ostrich feathers, and gum
which is said to be of a superior quality. The only indication of
mineral wealth was furnished by the compasses which, when

276 - THE ZOOLOGIST.

placed upon the ground in certain localities, indicated by thei
oscillations the presence of iron ore.

Apropos to compasses, it was curious to notice how th
natives were entirely independent of such instruments. Asked |
to point in the direction of Berbera, Zeilah, or other places of
importance, they did so, and were invariably right. Their
power also of finding the way, even to a quarter of a mile of th
line of march, was wonderful. Being out one day on the fresk
track of a Rhinoceros, and following it for four hours in what the
author had imagined to be a contrary direction to that in which
the caravan was moving, he was surprised, when giving up a |
hopeless stern chase, to find from his shikari that he was quite
close to camp. ‘The sense of smell too in these untutored ©
savages must be very extraordinary. On one occasion the
shikart scented a wood fire at the camp, which was two miles |
distant, and by going straight to it saved the author and his
companions (who thought the camp lay in another direction)
much time and unnecessary fatigue. |

The chief feature of the expedition seems to have been the
number of Lions met with. Sixteen were killed in the five
months, and of these five were shot in six days.

It is to be regretted that there was no naturalist of the partys
for an opportunity was thus lost of making some addition to our —
knowledge of the fauna of Somali-land. The author writes of —
shooting ‘‘ Partridges”’ and “‘ Pheasants’ when he means Sand-
srouse and Francolin; refers to varieties when he means species; —
and employs the Latin specific names as if they were native —
names. ‘Thus he mentions (p. 55), ‘“‘ Shooting as we marched a |
considerable number of scemmeringi (sic), a species of Gazelle
which lives on the open plains”; why not have said “‘ a number
of Soemmering’s Gazelle’’? ‘This species, of which a figure is
given on p. 56, is lettered ‘‘ Owl, or semmeringi Gazelle,” instead
of “ Aoul, Gazella Soemerringi.”” Further on allusion is made to”
the shooting of a ‘ Giranook Owl,” a phonetic rendering of twe
Somali names, which is misleading. From the figure of the
‘“‘ Giranook Gazelle,’ which is given on page 96, it appears that
the species is Waller’s Gazelle, of which the Somali name ig
“‘ serenook.”’ Nor does the author distinguish the two species of |
Koodoo, Strepsiceros kudw and Strepsiceros imberbis. The only —
measurements given of Antelope horns are those of two pairs of —

NOTICES OF NEW BOOKS. 277

Oryx horns, which were respectively 32 and 34 inches in length;
but these are only average specimens compared with some that
have been procured in Somali-land, the longest on record
measuring 39 inches. A recumbent figure of Grevy’s Zebra, of

_ which seven were shot, is given on page 91, but is unfortunately

lettered ‘‘ Zebra grevu.”’ The ‘four big Geese,” one of which
was shot (p. 87), were not identified; nor is the big fish named
which was caught with hook and line, and weighed 20 lbs.
(p. 84). A large Snake, called abassa by the natives, stated to be
poisonous, and said to be new to the British Museum collection,
is not named, and as neither measurements nor description are
given, the reader is left altogether in doubt concerning its
identification.

The author would have done well to have had these points
cleared up before publishing his narrative, which, as it stands,
is a mere record of shooting, and adds nothing to what was
previously known concerning the natural history of the country
traversed.

The Hawks and Owls of the United States in their relation to
Agriculture. Prepared under the direction of Dr. Harr
Merriam by A. K. Fisozr. U.S. Department of Agricul-
ture. Bulletin No. 3. 8vo, pp. 210. With 26 coloured
plates. |

Amonest the many useful volumes issued by the United
States Department of Agriculture, and distributed so liberally on
both sides of the Atlantic, we have seen none more attractive
than that with the above title. It is brimful of facts, and
illustrated in a way that will make it extremely useful to those
for whom it is primarily intended, the object being to show that
birds of prey, commonly looked upon as enemies to the farmer,
and indiscriminately destroyed whenever occasion offers, really
rank among his best friends, and, with few exceptions, should be
protected.

The statistics here published concerning the food of Hawks
and Owls in America are derived from the critical examination
by scientific experts of the actual contents of about 2700 stomachs
of these birds, and may therefore be fairly regarded as a reliable
exposition of the natural food of each species.

Dr. Hart Merriam remarks that of the seventy-three species

278 | THE ZOOLOGIST.

and subspecies dealt with in this volume, only six are really
injurious by reason of their destruction of game, poultry, and

pigeons, and of these the two chief offenders are the Sharp-— |
shinned Hawk (Accipiter velox), which is very like our Sparrow-

hawk (Accipiter nisus), and Cooper’s Hawk (Accipiter Cooperi), a
larger and more powerful bird of the same genus. But even
these two have some redeeming quality, for they have learnt that
the English Sparrow is not only an acceptable article of food,
but is also readily procurable. Consequently of late years these
Hawks have been much more common during the winter months
in the larger parks of cities where Sparrows abound.

The actual number of specimens examined was 2690. Of
these 169 contained the remains of poultry and game birds ;
463 of other birds; 966 of mice; 897 of other mammals, and
623 of insects. Omitting the half dozen species above referred
to, the total number of specimens amounted to 2212. Of these
78, or 8} per cent., contained the remains of poultry or game;
257, or 11 per cent., of other birds; 945, or 423 per cent., of
mice; 309, or 14 per cent., of other mammals; and 599, or 27
per cent., of insects.

The useful information contained in this volume does not end
here. As it is intended to be of practical benefit to agriculturists,
short descriptions are given of all the species of Hawks and Owls
known to inhabit the United States, together with their respective
measurements, so that with this aid, and the coloured figures of
six and twenty of the more notable species, there ought to be no
difficulty in distinguishing friends from foes. For the benefit of
those whose interest in the subject extends beyond its economic
side, a short account of each species is also given with particulars
as to its characteristic habits and nesting. The volume accord-
ingly is one of very general interest, and the excellent coloured
plates by Mr. Ridgway add considerably to its value.

Ornithology in relation to, Agriculture and Horticultwre. By
various writers. Edited by JouHn Warson. Post 8vo,
pp. i—viii; 1—220. London: W. H. Allen & Co.

Wuutst naturalists in America have been busy collecting
facts under this heading, observers in this country have not been

.
|
|
|

————— eo

Pipa

4

NOTICES OF NEW BOOKS. 279

behindhand in contributing to the general literature of the
subject. In the little volume with the above title we have a
series of essays not only on Hawks and Owls, but also on Rooks,

_ Crows, Wood Pigeons, Starlings, Sparrows, and other small
_ birds, as well as on the Pheasant, Partridge, and Grouse.

We cannot say that this collection is particularly well edited,
either as regards arrangement of material, or editorial notes,
which in the entire volume do not amount to more than half a
dozen in number; but we have at all events an expression of

_ views from such good observers as Miss Ormerod, Messrs. Aplin,

Gurney, Nelson, Southwell, Tuck, and other contributors to this
Journal, all of whose essays contain useful and reliable infor-
mation. Several of the articles appear to have been previously

_ published in various periodicals, which causes certain statements

to appear somewhat out of date, and the editor would have done
well to have indicated when and where they originally appeared.

The Birds of Staffordshire: with illustrations of local Bird-haunts.
By AuexanperR McAtpowiz, M.D., Vice-President of the
North Staffordshire Naturalists’ Field Club. 8vo, pp. 150.
Printed for Private Distribution. 1893.

Dr. McAtpowre has rendered good service to Ornithology by
printing these collected observations on the birds of a county
concerning which we have had no comprehensive work since the
appearance some fifty years ago of Mr. Garner’s ‘ Natural History
of the County of Stafford.’ But, as will be seen by the two pages
of bibliography at the end of the present volume, there have been
a certain number of fragmentary contributions printed from time
to time in the pages of local Natural History journals and county
histories. From these and other sources (such as Plot’s well-
known work, 1686, and Ray’s translation of Willughby’s ‘Orni-
thology,’ 1678) Dr. McAldowie has compiled a goodly catalogue of
county birds, adding remarks of his own. But it seems to us
that a number of species have been included on very slender
evidence. For example, there appears to be little or no ground for
ranking amongst Staffordshire birds such species as the Dartford
Warbler, Aquatic Warbler, Bearded Tit (though this species was
thought to have formerly frequented Aqualate Mere), Richard’s

280 THE ZOOLOGIST.

Pipit, Mealy Redpoll, Pine Grosbeak, Black Woodpecker, Roller,
Marsh Harrier, Little Crake, and Roseate Tern.

The greatest ‘ornithological ornament of the county” is
stated to be the Great Crested Grebe, and the meres in the West
of Staffordshire, together with those of Shropshire, form one of
the chief breeding areas of this species in the British Islands.

The accounts given by Willughby and Plot of the great
breeding place of the Black-headed Gull at Norbury, in this
county, are of course quoted under the head of this species
(pp. 185-136), and Ray’s note of his visit to the spot in May,
1662, when on his way from Stafford to Nantwich (‘ Itinerary,’
pp. 216-217). But we are surprised to read that since Dickenson
wrote in 1798 to the effect that since 1794 scarcely a Gull has
bred in that neighbourhood, ‘‘there is no record of any more
recent nidification of the Black-headed Gull in this county.” *
Dr. McAldowie does not tell us whether this species has actually
ceased to breed in Staffordshire for exactly a century, or what is
its precise status in the county at the present time.

It is curious, too, that the author has not been able to find —

any record of the former occurrence of the Bustard on Cannock
Chase. Possibly in the days when Bustards frequented the wolds
of Lincolnshire and Yorkshire, and the downs of Berkshire,
Wiltshire, Hants, and Sussex, the heather upon Cannock Chase
may have been too long, and the ground too hilly, for a bird which
trusts so much to its legs and sharp vision in the open plains.

The seven illustrations with which this volume is embellished ~

are, with one exception, from photographs, and give a good idea
of some of the more notable bird-haunts to be met with in the
county. The views given are the Raven’s Clough (at the bare
and rugged east side of Cloud End), the Trent near Burton, the

summit of the Roaches (the breeding place of the Ring Ouzel and ~
Curlew), Dane Valley (the haunt of the Dipper, Grey Wagtail, —

and Sandpiper), Cannock Chase, Dovedale, and Aqualate Mere
the favoured resort of the Great Crested Grebe.

* This colony is referred to in an article on ‘‘Gulleries”’ published in
‘The Field’ of 2nd Feb., 1884.

ee ee ee

THE ZOOLOGIST

No. 212.—August, 1894.

THE ORIGIN AND PURPOSE OF THE HORNS AND
ANTLERS OF RUMINANTS.

By Atuan Gordon CAMERON,

Lf (Concluded from p. 252.)

III. SrructurRe.

History favours the view that horns and antlers were
aboriginally protective weapons, and an examination of their
structure reveals the fact that they are protective in a double
gsense—as an adjustment, on the one hand, to preserve the
species from destruction by external enemies in the struggle for
life, and, on the other hand, to save it from self-destruction
through sexual combat in the struggles of rivalry for possession.
I propose to take these points in order.

(1). Considered as an adaptation for defence, and notwith-
standing diversity of forms due to generic and specific divergence,
the frontal weapons of ruminants appear to be fashioned upon
one or other of two main types which may be defined from their
structural relation to the skull as either vertical and parallel or
transverse and crescentic. In the first-named type, which chiefly
distinguishes the Antelopes, and attains a characteristic develop-
ment in the genera Strepsiceros, Oryx, Hippotragus, the cranial

_weapons rise vertically from the skull, and whether lyrate, spirally
twisted, straight, or recurved, are relatively parallel to one another
and to the cranio-facial axis which falls between them. In the
last-named type, which chiefly distinguishes the Deer and Oxen,

ZOOLOGIST, THIRD SERIES, VOL, XVIII,— AUG. 1894. Z

289 THE ZOOLOGIST.

and attains a characteristic development in the genera Bos ant
Cervus, the cranial weapons diverge laterally from the skull, a:
set transversely to the cranio-facial axis, and usually assume a
erescentic form, of which the terminal points may be directe¢
upwards, as in most antlers and some horns, or inclined forwards, —
as in most horns and some antlers. The Sheep and Goats, which
are of comparatively late appearance in geological time, exhibit
a gradual and complete transition from one type to the other.* _

That weapons of both types are an efficient means of defence —
against carnivorous attack, is a fact generally recognised, and
sufficiently established by the constant experience of hunters

favours the conclusion that each type commands a relatively
greater efficiency in dealing with a particular form of attack.
Weapons that rise vertically and diverge but slightly from the —
line of the facial axis present a resisting force to a direct impact
which seems peculiarly adapted to meet the attack of carnivores
that creep on their prey by stealth and seize with a spring —
(Felide); while weapons that spread laterally and diverge widely,
give a sweeping reach to the swing of the armed head which
seems peculiarly adapted to meet the attacks of carnivores
that hunt their prey in packs and kill by mobbing (Canide). It
is therefore a significant fact that from Pliocene times the
Antelopes have been associated mainly with a fauna of deserts
and plains and with a predominant feline carnivora; while the
Deer and Oxen for the same period have been associated mainly
with a fauna of forests and hills and with a predominant canine
carnivora. Illustration of this particular defensive use of either
type may be found, on the one hand, in the lowered head of the
kneeling Gemsbok, who thus awaits and averts the threatened
attack of the Lion; and, on the other hand, in the familiar
spectacle of the hunted stag at bay swinging his antlered head
before a pack of hounds. That the complex branching of
antlers is a further and formidable adjustment for a defensive
purpose, will be questioned by no one who endeavours to come
to terms with a wounded Deer so long as he can use his head;

* Transverse types occur among the Antelopes, and vertical types amon g
the Deer and Oxen, but the general facies of the frontal weapons in both
cases is the other way, as may be seen from any extensive series of either.

THE HORNS AND ANTLERS OF RUMINANTS. 288

and even those phenomena of variation, whether in horns or
antlers, which concern the varying organism rather than the
_ modifying conditions, may lead us from our definitions of genera
) and species to reflect upon the pregnant remark of Weismann,
that “the struggle for existence does not cease with the founda-
_ tion of a new specific type, or with some perfect adaptation to the

external or internal conditions of life, but it becomes, on the
contrary, even more severe, so that the most minute differences

_ of structure determine the issue between life and death.”

(2). The passionate energy of sexual combat among poly-

-gamous and gregarious animals inclines the imagination to
picture fatal results which are, nevertheless, without foundation

in fact. Careful and repeated observation in the case of species

endowed with combative instincts, and armed with formidable
| weapons, unquestionably attests the conclusion that injuries of
any kind are rare, that fatal results are exceptional, that even
the want of weapons is no barrier to mastership. Such a con-

clusion will not surprise when we review the structural types,
which are a common character of cranial weapons, in relation to
the method of sexual warfare, which is the common heritage
of ruminants; and recall the difficulties that Darwin felt in
attempting to explain the one as an adaptation to the purpose of
the other. In a conflict which resolves itself into a butting and

_ pushing match with forehead pressed to forehead, weapons inter-

locked with weapons, and the issue decided not by force of arms,
but by wind, and weight, and persistent endurance, horns and

antlers, whether set transversely to the facial axis or vertically
extended in line with it, can play but an insignificant part or
none at all. The rare occasions of death appear to indicate that
the fatal thrust was dealt in pursuit as the beaten opponent
turned his flank in flight.

Illustration of sexual warfare through all groups would be
desirable, but does not occur in the recorded experience of

_ hunters, and in the circumstances it could hardly be otherwise.
_ The absence of evidence chiefly affects the Antelopes, in regard

_ to which Mr. Selous,* in his nine years’ ‘ Wanderings in Africa,’

* Should these lines meet the eye of Mr. Selous, the result of that

distinguished hunter’s experience on the subject would be greatly valued by

the present writer.

Z2

284 . THE ZOOLOGIST.

notes nothing on the present subject save “a dead Situtung:
ram that had been killed, apparently by a rival,” and exhibitec
‘‘a deep wound in the side, just behind the ribs.” In othe:
groups, however, sufficient examples are forthcoming to sub:
stantiate the previous statement, varying in extent of information,
but valuable in the cumulative effect of their agreement.

Among the Oxen, the Buffaloes of India and Africa are
distinguished by the calibre of their horns no less than by the
ferocity of their disposition, and their sexual combats are pro-
portionately determined. Sir Samuel Baker tells us that he
* frequently witnessed such battles between old bulls,” bat makes
no record of serious injury or death in the result. “In such
trials of strength the vanquished party generally retreats at full
speed, followed for a certain distance by its adversary, who
endeavours to drive his horns into the posterior. This is ¢
difficulty, as the great curvature of the horns renders a direct
thrust impossible.” On one occasion the fierce antagonists had
interlocked their horns, and, ranging side by side in their efforts
to pull clear, were killed by the enterprising sportsman with a
single bullet.

In regard to Deer, the remarks of Caton upon the Wapiti
confined in his park at Ottawa, Illinois, possess a special interest,
because they have particular reference to a question put by Darwin ©
concerning the utility of branched antlers as sexual weapons.
After a brief description of the mode of joining battle, and of the
care taken to secure accurate information, Caton concludes as
follows :—‘‘In none of the battles which have been witnessed in
my grounds has either combatant sustained injury, so that
I cannot explain the incidents of those which have been accom:
panied with fatal results (two cases previously mentioned), but
probably some obstacle has intervened which prevented the
escape of the vanquished, which has always been effected when
the contests have been observed.” ‘The same writer was an oan
witness of a “terrific battle” between white-tailed bucks, which
lasted for two hours without the animals being once separated,”
at the close of which, “I could not,” he tells us, ‘“‘ detect a scratch
upon either sufficient to scrape off the hair, and the only punish-
ment suffered was fatigue, and a consciousness of defeat by the
vanquished. Parallel with these statements, it is instructive to
compare the protective use of antlers in defence, as illustrated by

THE HORNS AND ANTLERS OF RUMINANTS. 985

a Wapiti stag in the same park, which, having killed one man and
treed two others, subsequently held at bay for a considerable
period a rescue party composed of three resolute men, each
armed with a pitchfork and stimulated by the expectation of
saving life.

No cervine species, however, has been made the subject of
such full and satisfactory observation as the wild Red-deer among
the bare hills of North Britain, where, as Sir Samuel Baker has
remarked with truth, “the great numbers of Deer, and the
facilities for acquiring a knowledge of their habits, offer a more
than ordinary advantage, and yield information that would be
difficult to obtain elsewhere.” The comparative indifference of
frontal weapons in sexual combat between individuals of a species
is here forcibly illustrated by the fact that neither abnormality nor
absence of cranial armature constitutes any apparent hindrance
to success in battle. Stags with one antler recurved goat-like, or
with both antlers abnormally fashioned in this way, or with a
single, though normal, antler, or without antlers at all, are found
to win and hold their harem against normally armed stags of
Similar size and weight, and to meet and conquer these, not on
occasion only, but year by year on their own beat, till overcome
in turn by a younger stag or killed with a bullet. Ears are split
and eyes are sometimes put out, as shown by occasional one-eyed
stags, and sometimes a point may reach the brain through the
cavity of the orbit, or gore the flank of the beaten Deer as he
turns to run; but, omitting the split ears, the above are excep-
tional cases, and it seems a probable estimate that, on an average
of seasons, not more than one stag out of two hundred will meet
his death by fighting.* The rarity of sanguinary hurts or fatal
injuries has, in fact, been a subject of surprise to the careful
observer since the days of the Stuarts half-a-century ago.

In regard to the sexual combats of Sheep, anyone who
happens to witness a fight between black-faced Highland rams
in the breeding season will satisfy himself that the ponderous

* This estimate refers to the fighting stags only, and was suggested (at
my request) by a gentleman who has investigated in detail the amount and .
causes of natural death among wild Red-deer, and to whom I am also
indebted for the preceding facts, all of which have come under his personal
observation.

286 THE ZCOLOGIST.

horns play no part in the transaction, the fight throughout par-
taking of that character which the battering-ram has rendered —
famous in the ancient history of nations. Even as a guard to
the forehead the horns of the Highland Sheep avail him nothing
in a bout with the hornless Leicester; nor do the admired
weapons of the Highland Ox secure him from defeat by the
polled skull of the more massive Galloway.
These and the foregoing facts point to but one conclu-
sion—that frontal weapons, which were originally protective,
have been structurally conditioned by natural selection during
their development so as to become protective in the double sense
of an adjustment, on the one hand, to preserve a species from
destruction by external enemies in the struggle for life, and, on»
the other hand, to save it from self-destruction through sexual
combat in the struggles of rivalry for possession. Had it been
otherwise, the horned and antlered genera must have been ©
suicidally exterminated in turning against each other the fatal
weapons to which, under existing circumstances, they owe their —
ultimate survival. ?
The periodical shedding and renewal of antlers appears to —
conflict with the theory of their protective origin, and to favour
the view which would associate them with the exercise of the
sexual function; but the apparent difficulty is found to rest upon
a narrow basis of facts, and disappears as we extend our horizon
in space and time, geographically and historically. Frontal —
weapons, whether permanent or deciduous, and both in the male
and the female, bear a more or less intimate relation to the
reproductive system; but there is no reason to assume a special
correlation between the shedding of antlers and the exercise of
the sexual function, since observation and experiment have con- ~
clusively shown (1) that in the individual Deer this function is ©
exercised independently of the presence or absence of antlers, —
and (2) that the shedding of antlers does not follow as a conse-
quent upon the period of rutting, being subject to indefinite
variation in different species. Paleontological investigation has —
taught us that the shedding of the velvet, and of the antler, are
inherited characters conditioned by the structure of earlier and
permanent weapons from which both horns and antlers were
aboriginally developed; and the periods of shedding, among the
Deer of Tertiary times, so far as they can be determined from ~

THE HORNS AND ANTLERS OF RUMINANTS. 287

the facts at our disposal, were of quite indefinite recurrence, as
with certain species in tropical India to-day. ‘ Throughout the
Tertiary period tropical conditions prevailed far into the tem-
perate regions” (Wallace); and it is significant that, ‘“‘ with one
exception, all the Pliocene Deer which can be brought into
relation with living forms are closely allied” to existing Oriental
species (Boyd Dawkins). Of Sambur and Axis we read in
Mr. Blanford’s authoritative work, ‘ The Fauna of British India,’
that “stags with perfect antlers may be found at all seasons,”
and of the first-enamed Deer, which represents the most widely-
distributed Oriental species, that ‘‘ individual stags retain their
horns for successive years.” These facts have an important
bearing upon the protective value of antlers to the Tertiary Deer,
for they enable us to infer the constant presence of armed males
in a herd.

Why the Deer of temperate regions carry their antlers for not
more than eight or nine months, and the circumpolar species
only for three or four, is a question which claims further in-
vestigation ; but the ascertained facts lend great probability to
Prof. Martin Duncan’s view that the creeping in of a colder
climate at the close of the Tertiary period, affecting the blood-
supply so as to induce a failure of nutrition, caused antlers
that were relatively permanent in the Pliocene tropics to
become relatively deciduous during the glacial conditions that
supervened.*

IV. Sex.

Weapons which owe their origin and purpose to protective
adaptation must have been profitable to both sexes, and their

* The origin of deciduous weapons must be sought in the wider subject
of physiological regeneration. Power to renew a lost part is present in
various groups of animals, though in different degree, and is probably due to
adaptation through selection, as suggested by Prof. Weismann, who points
out, in support of his view, that the capacity for regeneration appears
Specially in parts which are of biological importance, and are at the same
time exposed to frequent injury or loss. From the fact that primitive antlers
were constitutionally brittle and liable to separation by fracture, while
valuable as a means of defence, it seems legitimate to infer that some
physiological stimulus, similar to that which provides the Lizard with a new
tail, must have provided the Miocene Deer with new antlers. The burr, or
coronet, of to-day marks the original point of fracture and subsequent seat of
renewal, the skin-covered pedicel having survived (so to speak) im statu quo,

288 THE ZOOLOGIST.

variable presence or absence in the females of genera and species
whose males possess them, universally requires explanation from
the standpoint of the previous argument. A solution of the
problem will be found in the physiological antagonism betwee1
growth and reproduction, which seems to have been overlooked
by the theory of sexual selection, but which nevertheless, in the
higher mammalian organisation, lies at the root of all the more
distinctively sexual characters. In the organic economy of the
male the sum of vital force is expended on self-maintenance, and
growth continues till expenditure nearly balances nutrition; in
the organic economy of the female there is a reserve of vital force
to meet the cost of reproduction, and growth is arrested “ while
there is yet a considerable margin of nutrition, for otherwise there
could be no offspring” (Herbert Spencer). I think it probable that
frontal weapons of a simple type and for the common purpose of
defence were aboriginally developed without distinction of sex,
though not necessarily by both sexes and not necessarily by either;
but I think it certain that the development of such weapons must
have been differently modified from the outset by the physiological
organisation proper to either sex. In females the recurrent strain
of parturition, suckling, and anxious maternity would tend to
arrest the development of cranial structures necessitating for their
effective maintenance a large expenditure of vital force; would
tend, in the continuously severer struggles for life, to promote
their loss by retrogression consequent upon the paramount claim
and higher utility of rearing vigorous offspring; and would tend,
in any case, to throw the burden of protection primarily upon the
males, to the development of whose weapons, whether horns or
antlers, physiology would offer no check and natural selection
would afford a constant stimulus, the calibre of the weapon being
directly conditioned by the struggle for life. Female horns and ©
antlers therefore represent a compromise between conflicting —
forces, maternal and self-protective, whose variable incidence, —
according to the reaction of diverse constitutions upon diverse
conditions of life, has produced a variable resultant, and added a |

'

3
{
,

new factor to the problem; so that the quesion, whether protectve
weapons are profitable to the female sex, becomes subordinate to
the further inquiry, how far the development of such weapons
may have been compatible with the complete fulfilment of the —
maternal functions ?

THE HORNS AND ANTLERS OF RUMINANTS. 289

The view that frontal weapons were aboriginally developed by
both sexes in a majority of ancestral types finds support in the
relative facts as presented by the natural history of existing
ruminants. Modern zoology sanctions a division of surviving
Pecora (true ruminants) into four groups of family rank,—the
Deer, the Giraffes, the Pronghorns, and the Cattle,—of which
the Giraffes are allied to the Deer, and the Pronghorns to the
Cattle; and females with horns or antlers appear in every group,
and in the older sections of the larger groups. ‘To-day a single
surviving species represents the Giraffes, which were nevertheless
an abundant group in Pliocene times; as also the Pronghorns,
which recall in the structure of their characteristic weapons a
Miocene transitional and primitive type. Of Bovine genera with
females bearing horns three-fourths are Antelopes, the oldest
group in geological time; while Rangifer, the single Cervine
genus with antlered females, is linked to the elder group of Deer
not only by the telemetacarpal manus, but in the form of the
vomer posteriorly prolonged by ossification. Interpreted phylo-
genetically, the embryological facts, adduced by Darwin to confirm
his theory of “inheritance as limited by sex,’”’ point in the same
direction, and favour the belief that the possession of protective
weapons by both sexes was a primitive character. Investigation
of a number of cases showed that frontal weapons, when present
in both sexes, were usually developed at an earlier age than when
present in the males only; a crucial instance being afforded by
the Reindeer, in which the antlers appear “at a most unusually
early age, and at the same time in both sexes.” It must be
remembered, however, that ancestral Pecora, representing Deer
and Antelopes in the Lower Miocene, exhibit no trace of cranial
weapons in either sex; and, in the gradual differentiation of
genera and species, the tendency to reversion, which is potent
even in males, would combine with the maternal function in
females to modify their cranial weapons, whether towards inferior
calibre, or retrogression, or disappearance, just as we find to occur
in fact. For, associated with males which are normally horned or
antlered, we have horned and hornless strains of females, not only
among genera constituting families, as with Cervide and Bovide,
but also among species constituting genera, as with the Sheep or
the Gazelles, and even among individuals constituting species, as
with the Situtunga Antelope (Tragelaphus Spekii), the females of

290 THE ZOOLOGIST:

which are described as horned by Major Pinto on the upper Chobe,

but were found to be hornless by Mr. Selous on the lower reaches —
of the same river. Among horned females, again, while a majority

carry horns which, though well developed, are of generally lesser
calibre than those carried by their males, we find, at the two

extremes of a graduated series, that some have horns of equal

calibre, as in the Hippotragine Antelopes, which show ancestral
affinities with the oxen; and that others have horns which are
rudimentary or disappearing, as in the Pronghorn, the females of
which are usually horned, but occasionally hornless; or in the

Blackbuck, the females of which are usually hornless, but —

occasionally horned.

The comparative proportion of horned and antlered females
in their respective families is, however, by far the most striking
fact relative to the physiological interference of the maternal
function with the development of cranial weapons. Among
surviving ruminants with antlers (Cervide) a single genus repre-
sented by a single species exhibits these weapons in both sexes;
whereas among surviving ruminants with horns (Bovide) horned
females appear in a majority of genera and in an overwhelming
majority of species. Seeking an explanation of these different
results in the history of frontal weapons, we find it in the fact
that antlers arose from the intermittent fracture and renewal of
antecedent structures which otherwise remained permanent as
horns. There can be no question that the physiological cost of
maintenance in the case of cranial outgrowths which were periodi-
cally lost and renewed, must have been immensely greater than
in the case of outgrowths which were developed once for all, and
permanently retained thereafter. Hence we may conclude that
the reserve of vital force necessitated by the complete fulfilment
of the maternal function, though generally compatible with the
development of horns, was generally incompatible with the de-
velopment of antlers. The occasional and abnormal presence in
female Deer of simple antlers which retain their velvet (the
primitive hairy skin), are not shed, and exhibit a rudimentary

coronet (the point of primitive fracture) or none at all, appears

to be a remarkable reversion to the Miocene ancestry in which
similar weapons were aboriginal, permanent, and probably common
to both sexes.

The absence of defensive weapons on the maternal side found

THE HORNS AND ANTLERS OF RUMINANTS. 291

a certain compensation in greater speed and keener sense of
danger, but the solidarity of herding life provided a more effective
safeguard in the presence of armed males, who became the chief
protection of the herd. The herding Bison was more than a
match for the Wolf, and the herding Buffalo for the Tiger; the
herding Antelopes could hold their own with the Lion, and will
rescue a calf from the armed hunter; and among the herding
Deer, when danger threatens, it is the master stags that take the
lead. On the other hand, the undoubted maternal gain in the
possession of defensive weapons, when present, is proved not only
by their long-continued and extensive survival among female
ruminants, but more particularly by their marked development
in female oxen and in the females of certain Antelopes.

It may be noted, in conclusion, that frontal weapons, con-
sidered in respect of sex, present no difficulties to the theory of
their protective origin. Their generally inferior calibre and
partial absence on the female side admit of explanation as a case
of established biological laws relative to growth and reproduction ;
while their generically superior calibre and normal presence in
the males denote a physiological organisation capable of ampler
individual expansion, and a protective instinct which put the
fighting equipment constantly to the test of battle.

We may therefore conclude, generally, that the horns and
antlers of ruminants are the result of a defensive adjustment in
biological answer to carnivorous teeth and claws, and consequent
upon the relation of destroyer and destroyed which obtained
between carnivores and ungulates throughout Tertiary time.
They disclose their protective origin and purpose in a structural
adaptation which has secured, through natural selection, their
relative harmlessness in sexual combat between the individuals
of a species and their absolute efficiency against its external foes.
Their variable presence or absence, and their variable calibre
when present, in the females of genera and species whose males
possess them universally, is due to the physiological demands of
the maternal function, which were generally compatible with the
development of horns, but generally incompatible with the de-
velopment of antlers. Their historical appearance in the Miocene
age of the Tertiary period is contemporaneous with a vast ex-
tinction of hornless ungulate families, and their subsequent
development in an ascending scale corresponds with the gradual

292 THE ZOOLOGIsT.

thinning-out of unarmed ungulate genera and the gradually

increasing destructive pressure upon those, whether armed or

unarmed, that survived. Their evident loss of calibre since
paleolithic times may be traced chiefly to the coming of man
with missile weapons which, in altering the character of the
destroying agency, discounted the value of cranial armature in the
struggle for life. |

ON THE BEAK OF THE SCOOTER.
By J. H. Gurney, F.L.S., F.Z.S.

In the male Scoter, Oidemia nigra (Linn.), the black beak with
a yellow patch forms a characteristic feature of the genus and a
brilliant contrast of colour; but this patch is not always of the
same size or extent, nor does it invariably occupy the same posi-
tion on the upper mandible. This will be seen on reference to
the accompanying sketches. Fig. 1 shows the normal appearance
of an adult male Scoter, though sometimes the thin line of yellow,
which passes over the basal protuberance, does not reach to the
forehead. This is its usual appearance in winter, and a bird
shot in Caithness in June (now preserved in the Natural History
Museum) presents the same appearance, so that the drakes may
be presumed to be alike at all times of the year in regard to the
colour and shape of the bill. The beak of this bird is correctly
delineated in Dresser’s ‘Birds of Europe,’ but Yarrell, Gould,
and Macgillivray have either figured it incorrectly, or from
abnormal examples. Gould’s two plates—in his ‘ Birds of
Europe’ and ‘Birds of Great Britain’—are as different as
possible from one another, and the colour is of too deep an
orange for the normal living example. Neither of them, in fact,
is satisfactory. My outline, fig. 1, is merely given for com-
parison with the three which follow, and is that of a drake in
winter, in the phase familiar to wildfowl-shooters; but it will be
seen how unlike it is to Gould’s figure in the ‘ Birds of Great
Britain.’

Figs. 2, 8, and 4 represent abnormal deviations in the distri»

bution and extent of colour in the beak of the male Scoter, and
are taken from the heads of three examples shot at Brighton.
They have all been mounted by Mr. Pratt, of that place, who ten
years ago drew my attention to these variations. No.2 is still in

THE BEAK OF THE SCOTER, 293

4.
Fig. 1, from Caithness ; figs. 2, 3, 4, from Brighton.

294 THE ZOOLOGIST.

his possession, while fig. 3 is in the Booth Museum, in the Dyke
Road, and was shot, as I find from the late Mr. Booth’s note-
books, to which I have been allowed access, on Jan. 10th, 1881.
The yellow is continued to the extremity of the mandible in
No. 3, and was so when the bird was shot, any colour afterwards
put on being applied in correct imitation of the beak in life: its
plumage is a little pied with white feathers on the fore-neck, and
this may indicate that the bird was in a morbid state. I presume
it to be the second of the five described by Mr. Booth in the third
volume of his ‘Rough Notes on British Birds, though the
date is not given. There is one in the Norwich Museum with
a similarly coloured beak, and the bird figured by Yarrell, which
has done duty in four editions of his work, as well as in
Mr. Saunders’ ‘ Manual,’ is rather like it.

Fig. 4 was shot by Mr. Herbert Langton from the rocks ©
between Brighton and Rottingdean, and is rather like Mr. Booth’s,
but the yellow extends into a broader band as it nears the nail
or tip of the mandible. When first mounted the skin round
and above the nostrils, as well as the dividing line on the basal —
knob, was observed by Mr. Langton to be reddish orange in colour,
denoting a vigorous bird, I presume, but the plumage was entirely
normal, as usual. Gould may possibly have had before him a
Scoter resembling Mr. Langton’s; but even then I cannot think ~
it is quite correctly represented, although I am aware of the great
pains taken by him in details.

The extent of the yellow colour on the beak of the mal
Scoter is of more importance than at first sight appears, because
the American and North Pacific O. americana is only distin-
guishable from our bird by the amount of yellow on the upper
mandible. (See the coloured figure of the head and outlines of —
beak in ‘North American [Water] Birds,’ vol. 1. p. 91.) I do
not mean to suggest that they are not distinct species, though
Mr. Seebohm does not accord it more than subspecific rank; but —
the way in which closely related forms will approximate is very
remarkable (cf. ‘Ibis,’ 1893, p. 346).

Nowhere is this better exemplified than in the Raptores, aul
Ducks may follow suit. In O. americana, according to Mr. Trum-
bull, the yellow colour is not invariably co-extensive (‘The Auk,’
1892, p. 154), which shows it is not a very reliable character, and
he also points out how some previous authors have misdescribed it.

NOTES FROM MID-HANTS. 295

I do not view the three heads which I have drawn (figs. 2, 3,
and 4) in the light of very old birds, but rather as birds of super-
abundant vigour which have thrown out an excess of yellow
colour; as a cock Brambling will occasionally assume a black
throat, or a cock Sparrow a chestnut breast, or a Rose Pastor a
reddish head. Guillemots and Razorbills have been observed
occasionally to have yellow beaks,* which, however, may arise
from a deficiency of the normal colouring matter, albeit de-

scribed as being bright yellow in freshly-killed specimens.

ORNITHOLOGICAL NOTES FROM MID-HANTS.
By Surron A. Daviss.

Arter I had sent in my notes for 1892 (Zool. Jan. 1893),
a Barred Woodpecker, Dendrocopus minor, was shot at St. Cross
in the last week of December; and in the same week a Great
Grey Shrike, Lanius excubitor, was shot at Chilbolton, and sent
to Mr. Chalkley’s to be set up. I saw the bird, which showed
the white bar on primaries only, and therefore was probably the
L. major of Pallas.

JANUARY, 1893.

On the 9th, a male Tufted Duck, Fuligula cristata, was shot
in an osier-spinney at St. Cross, and soon after another came into
Mr. Chalkley’s hands from Winnall. On the 12th, two Curlews,
Numenius arquata, were shot at Alresford. The keeper at Fisher’s
Pond saw a Pochard, Fuligula ferina, on the 29th; he also
informed me that he had observed two lots of wild geese, Anser
sp.?, that winter, numbering seven and four respectively, a small
flock of Golden Plover, Charadrius pluvialis, and a very large
wisp of Snipe, from fifty to sixty birds in all. Teal had been
scarce on the pond this winter, but Mallard fairly plentiful. One
Woodcock only was killed. The Rev. P. H. Owen, of Colden
Common, informed me that he had heard the metallic note of the
Brambling, and had seen a small flock of Golden Plover passing
over. Partridges were paired by the 31st, and at the end of the

* Cf. Kriper, ‘Naumannia,’ 1857, p. 487; Newton, P. Z.S. 1877, p. 2;
and Pike, ‘ Zoologist,’ 1877, p. 57.—Ep,

296 THE ZOOLOGIST,.

month Mr. Chalkley received a Pied Woodpecker, D. major, from
Abbot’s Barton, Winchester, and a Barred Woodpecker, D. minor
from Ampfield, Romsey.

FEBRUARY. il

A very wet month. On the 5th a male Common Buzzard
Buteo vulgaris, measuring 3 ft. 9} in. across the wings, and
weighing 1 fb. 15 oz., was shot at Haston, near Winchester; thi
stomach, which I examined, contained the remains of several
mice, and nothing else. About the middle of the month the Pied
Wagtails, Motacilla lugubris, which had left us almost entirely
during December and January, began to make their appearance
in small parties of six or seven. On the 19th I observed the first
twig-bearing Rooks, and on this and the two following days we
were visited by immense numbers of Peewits on migration. These
birds would suddenly stream down into the water-meadows like
a shower of leaves, and seemingly coming from nowhere, for no
flocks were visible in the sky. All the while they kept up a
low confused chattering like the chorus of roosting Starlings.
The 25th was the first date upon which I noticed any signs of
the coming brown hood in the “ Black’”’-headed Gulls, Larus
ridibundus. Grey Wagtails, M. melanope, were commoner with
us in the winter of 1892-93 than I had ever known them before, ~
and the same thing was noticed at Andover. Last winter, how-
ever (Dec. 1898), they were still more numerous.

MARcH.

With March began the phenomenally fine weather which
lasted so long in 1893. On the 2nd a Rook’s nest was begun
in the Warden’s Garden at Winchester College, a place where
I have never known them nest before ; it was followed by a second
nest on the 4th, but I regret to say that the birds were shot at
and prevented from building. A rookery of eight nests was ©
established this year in ‘“‘New Field” at Winchester College. -
On the 11th I saw what was almost certainly a Dipper, Cinclus
aquaticus, on the river; as two have been shot in Hants within
a year, it is not unlikely to have been one. On the 5th we found
a Thrush’s nest in course of completion, which contained three
eggs on the 17th; and on the 16th Mr. R. C. K. Ensor found ~
three nests of this species, each with four eggs. A Herring Gull, —

NOTES FROM MID-HANTS. 297

Larus argentatus, visited us on the 5th, with the Black-headed
Gulls, of which we calculated that over fifty per cent. had the
brown head in some stage of development. On the 11th I put
up three Common Snipe and one Jack; they usually leave us
before this date. Onthe 12th Wheatears arrived on a bare warren
some three miles from Winchester—a favourite breeding-place ;
out of half-a-dozen seen only one was a female. On this date
I again observed a female Peewit shaping her nest with a curious
upward motion of the breast, as last year (see Zool. Jan. 1898).
On the 19th the Chiffchaff arrived, and was singing loudly at
2 p.m. The Rev. P. H. Owen reported its arrival at Colden
Common on the 20th. I also saw on the 19th a cock Cirl Bunting,
Emberiza cirlus, and a small flock of Golden Plover, on migration,
near Compton. On the 20th a clutch of Rook’s eggs was taken,
and I was therefore prepared to find eggs on the 21st, when
I inspected a large rookery. One clutch of five eggs was much
incubated, but most nests contained from two to three eggs. On
the same date we found two Coot’s eggs. On the 22nd a pair of
Tree Pipits arrived, and I watched the cock singing on the wing
for some time; and, in the afternoon, a solitary Sand Martin,
Cotyle riparia, was hawking up and down the water outside the
school bathing-place at Winchester. On this date—an unusually
late one with us—I saw the last ‘“‘ winter snipe.’ On the 23rd
I found a Mistle-thrush’s nest with three eggs; Mr. C. B.
Cobb reported one Wood Pigeon’s egg on the 25th; and on the
26th I found the first clutch of Peewits’ eggs, considerably in-
cubated. Mr. R.C.K.Ensor heard the Willow Wren at Fisher’s
Pond on the 28th, but this was a late date, as Mr. E. F. Atkins
had observed it at Andover on the 19th. The Rev. P. H. Owen
reported the Blackcap from Colden Common on the 29th, and
Mr. W. J. Horn, writing to ‘ The Field,’ reported Stone Curlews
“in Hampshire” on the 81st. On the 24th Mr. Chalkley received
a Pied Woodpecker from Micheldever, a bird included in the
schedule of the Wild Birds Protection Act.

APRIL.

I was in Surrey till the 18th, but Mr. Atkins, of Andover,
reported the following arrivals :—Cuckoo, 4th; Sedge Warbler,
10th; Swallow, 12th; House Martin, 16th. On the 18th I
_ observed several Stone Curlews near Whitchurch ; they were very
ZOOLOGIST, THIRD SERIES, VOL. XVIII.—AUG. 1894. 2A

298 THE ZOOLOGIST.

noisy. On this date the nesting of Wood Pigeons was general
we found several nests with very hard-set eggs. Mr. G. V. Clark
found young Tawny Owls in the New Forest. On the 19th
gulls were still with us, the main body having discontinued thei
visits. On the 20th Mr. Ensor found a young Wood Pigeor
quite fledged, and Mr. Fisher two clutches of Dabchicks’ eggs
one considerably incubated, and one of Moorhens’ eggs almos
hatching. On the 21st Mr. W. H. Turle wrote to say that he
had already found eggs of the Stone Curlew in Hampshire. On
the 23rd we found the first Wheatear’s egg, and Mr. Fishe1
reported Fieldfares. A nest of the Water Rail, Rallus aquati
with seven eggs, was found in an osier-bed between Winchester
and Twyford on this date. I had previously no record of its
breeding nearer than Avington. By the 24th the following species
had eggs :—Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Linnet, Wren, Blue Tit, Great
Tit, and Pied Wagtail. Mr. Ensor found a clutch of five Reed
Bunting’s eggs, and heard the Corn Crake. The first Swift,
Cypselus apus, arrived on this date. On the 25th we heard the
Turtle Dove, and found Wheatears nesting in considerable
numbers on a large stony warren five miles to the west of Win-
chester. Stone Curlews were seen in some numbers and were
calling continually. On this day we found two nests of the Sky
Lark, both with young birds. On the 27th Mr. Chalkley received
another Pied Woodpecker from Alton, and a Hawfinch, Cocco-
thraustes vulgaris, from Hursley. We found a clutch of Meadow
Pipit’s eggs, nearly hatching, and Mr. Clarke reported the first
Sedge Warbler’s eggs. On the 30th I observed some Stone
Curlews on a warren to the east of Winchester; they seem to
have been numerous this season throughout the county, and
Mr. Turle (in litt. Dec. 18th) says, ‘seen in great numbers this
autumn. Previous to the 30th Mr. Turle had found eggs of the
Barn Owl and Bullfinch. The Long-eared Owls, Asio otus,
again built this year in a wood not two miles from Winchester, —
and the nest, with two full-grown young ones and two smaller —
birds, was found on this date. |

May.

On the 1st we found two nests of the Snipe, Gallinago ceelestis, ;
near Stockbridge, one containing one egg and the other four eggs,
very “hard-set,” Linnets had young ones ready to fly, Peewits

NOTES FROM MID-HANTS, 299

young, and Yellowhammers eggs. Mr. Turle found three nests
of the Long-eared Owl near Whitchurch, one with young almost
ready to fly, one with six eggs, and one with five eggs. Mr. B. C,
Cobb found young Barn Owls, two nests of the Great Tit, and one
nest of five Jay’s eggs, incubated, in the New Forest. Mr.G.V,
Clarke found a clutch of Marsh Tit’s eggs, much incubated. Eggs
of the Creeper and Willow Wren were found at Basingstoke on
this date by Mr. A. S. Bates. On May 2nd, Mr. Turle found
three Snipe’s nests, each with four eggs; and Mr. R. C. K. Ensor,
a Whitethroat’s nest, with five eggs. On the 3rd, I saw the first
Spotted Flycatcher, Muscicapa grisola. On the 5th, Mr. Turle
found eggs of the Sparrowhawk; and on the 7th, a Wood Lark’s
nest, with five eggs, in the New Forest. On the 6th, Mr. G. B,
Cobb found young Yellowhammers; and a Nightingale’s nest
was found, in one of the few spots in the immediate neighbour-
hood where this bird builds, with three eggs. On the 9th, I found
a very-loosely constructed Song Thrush’s nest, with no lining of
mud. Mr. Cobb had found a similar nest on the 8th; and a
correspondent of ‘The Standard,’ writing from Alresford on
April 8rd, remarked that the same was the case in that place, the
extreme drought having prevented the birds from obtaining the
necessary materials. On the 10th, I found young Coal Tits,
Reed Warblers had begun to build on the 11th, and the first egg
was reported on the 19th. Mr. Stares found Nightjar’s eggs on
the 15th. On the 11th, we found a nest containing six eggs of
the Tree Pipit; and on the 13th, two eggs of the Turtle Dove
were reported. On the 22nd, a nest containing young and eggs
of the Long-eared Owl was found in a wood four miles to the
west of Winchester, where, as I had long suspected, this species
breeds. On the 11th, I saw asolitary “ Black”-headed Gull play-
ing with some rooks in the wind above Owslebury Down. On the
28rd, I observed the first Wood Wren, Phylloscopus sibilatria, I
have ever seen in this district, near Fisher’s Pond; on this date
I found eggs of the Swift and Flycatcher. On the 25th, Mr. John
Stares, of Porchester, saw a Spoonbill, Platalea leucorodia, as
recorded in ‘The Zoologist,’ 1898, p. 268. Mr. Ensor found a
~ Cuckoo’s egg in a Reed Warbler’s nest on the 24th. The above
detailed, and, I am afraid, somewhat tedious list of dates, I have
copied out to show what a great difference a dry season like that
of March, April, and May, 1898, makes to the times of nesting,
2A2R

800 THE ZOOLOGIST,

JUNE.
Sand Martins were unusually late in nesting with us in 1899
and it was not till the 1st that their nesting became general
Mr. Ensor observed a second Wood Wren at Hursley on the 15th.
On the 26th, Mr. Stares found young Redshanks in the down in
some marshes not far from Fareham. Turtle Doves nested with
us in great numbers this month. On the 20th, I went down to
Lyndhurst, and was greatly struck by the large number ol
Whinchats about.
JULY.

On the 6th, a solitary Herring Gull flew over Winchester
College, at 6.45 p.m. The Hon. A. H. Baring informs me that no
Tufted Duck’s nest was found at Alresford this year, although the
birds were occasionally seen about. This species, however, has —
bred this year in South Hants, for Mr. Stares saw a female and a
young one in the neighbourhood of Fareham on August 7th; they
are known as “ Norwegian Ducks” in that locality. The Sheld
Duck, Tadorna cornuta, nested in South Hants this year; Mr.
Stares saw the birds about continually, and told me he thought —
they had nested. It afterwards transpired that a labouring man had ~
tracked the old duck to her nest in the burrow and eaten the eggs!
I forbear to mention the exact locality, as they may nest again —
there. Mr. E. F. Atkins saw a Pied Woodpecker near Charlton
this month. He also informs me that a pair of Grey Wagtails, —
Motacilla sulphurea, frequented the neighbourhood all the summer,
and during the summer of 1892. It would appear that they bred
there.

AUGUST.

On the Ist, Mr. Stares saw two Greenshanks near Porchester.
On the 10th, Mr. Chalkley received a Hen Harrier, Circus —
cyaneus, from Basingstoke. On the 15th, Mr. Stares saw some
Pigmy Curlew, Tinga subarquata; and a Red-necked Grebe,
Podiceps griseigena, was shot in Portsmouth Harbour about this
date. The last Swift at Andover was seen by Mr. E. F. Atkins
on the 10th.

SEPTEMBER.

On the 5th, Mr. E. F. Atkins saw the last Cuckoo at Andover.
On the 6th, Mr. John Stares, of Porchester, saw an Osprey on

NOTES FROM MID-HANTS. 301

the shores of Portsmouth Harbour. On the 11th, a Herring
Gull was shot at Crawley, and forwarded to Mr. Chalkley; and
on the 13th, he received a Dipper, Cinclus aquaticus, which had
been shot on Chilbolton Down. It will be remembered that a
bird of this species was shot at St. Cross, Winchester, on Nov.
28th, 1892. On the 19th, I went down to Porchester, where I
saw some Curlews, Redshanks, and numerous Dunlin and Ringed
Plover. On the 20th, Mr. Stares saw four Greenshanks near
Porchester. I returned to Winchester on the 20th, and found
the place swarming with Pied Wagtails, mostly immature birds.
Mr. Thomas Groome, of Stockbridge, writing to ‘The Field,’
says: “A couple of Quail were killed by Mr. T. Cannon and his
party on Sept. 11th, in the parish of Nether Wallop, Hants.
Not far from the spot where they were killed, I flushed another
on Oct. 7th. Nearly every summer in this neighbourhood, when
the corn is standing, I hear their call, but seldom find them in
the shooting season.” Mr. W. H. Turle informs me that twenty-
three Quails were shot about Newton Stacey in September, “ far
more than we have ever had before.” Mr. E. F. Atkins told me
that they had no doubt bred this year near Andover, for he had
frequently heard and seen them at a place some two miles from
that town. Curiously enough, Mr. Stares had seen no Quails
this year at Porchester, where, generally, some occur every
autumn. Corncrakes were also scarce here this autumn, whereas
forty-seven were shot at Newton Stacey in September (W. H.
Turle, in litt.) ; and I was informed that a large number were
shot about Abbot’s Barton. The Hon. A. H. Baring informed
me that a Quail’s nest was found at Itchen Stoke, as in 1892.
On the 29th, I went down to the New Forest, where I observed
several Ring Ousels, Turdus torquatus, on migration; Mr. G. V.
Clarke informed me that he had seen numbers of Whinchats,
Pratincola rubetra, evidently on migration. The first appearance
of the Gulls on their daily visits was on the 28rd.

OcTOBER,

On the 10th Mr. Stares saw a flock of Tree Sparrows, Passer
montanus, on Titchfield Common. A good many Goldfinches about
on the downs this month. Mr. Ensor, on the 18th, saw five Stone
Curlews, Gidicnemus scolopax, on one of the warrens where they
breed in the summer, some five miles from Winchester. On the

302 THE ZOOLOGIST.

23rd Mr. Stares reported the first Hooded Crows, near Fareha
On the 28th I went down to the coast near Lee-on-the-Solent
Hoodies were numerous, and we saw a few Dunlins and R
shanks, large numbers of Ducks, and one lot of seven Brent Gees
On this date Mr. Stares saw the first Fieldfare at Titchfield; and
he informs me that a large migration of Goldcrests took place on
the 30th, the gardens at Porchester swarming with them. In the
second week of this month two Sandwich Terns, Sterna cantiacas
were shot in Langston Harbour, just on the borders; and in the
beginning a Grey Phalarope, Phalaropus fulicarius, was shot
near Winchester; special circumstances prevent me from giving
details more precise. On the 31st I saw the first Fieldfares, at
Winchester. Mr. Stares saw a Merlin near Porchester in the
course of the month.

NOVEMBER.

On the lst Mr. Ensor saw numbers of House Martins and
Sand Martins near St. Cross. On this date I went down to Por- —
chester, where I saw the first Jack Snipe of the year. Mr.G. B.
Cobb and Mr. Stares saw a single Snow Bunting, Plectrophanes
nivalis, but I was not with them at the time. Mr. Stares gave
me a live Guillemot, a young bird of the year, which had been
caught on a line by a man fishing in the Solent; I kept it fora
day or two, and then gave it to the “Abbey Gardens,’ Win-
chester, whence it unfortunately disappeared a few days afterwards.
On the 7th Mr. Ensor saw the first “ winter Snipe.” On the 9th
Mr. Stares sent me a young male Scaup Duck, shot at Hill Head,
on the Solent, on the 8th. On the 11th a Bittern was shot at
Worthy, and sent for preservation to Mr. Chalkley, who had also
received a Spotted Crake, Porzana maruetta, shot at St. Cross
on the lst. Mr. Stares saw a Great Crested Grebe in the Solent
on the 8th (im litt. Nov. 1lith). Goldfinches were unusually —
plentiful with us this winter, and Grey Wagtails more numerous
than I have ever known them before. On the 2lst we saw a
female Teal on the Itchen; we very rarely see this species near
Winchester. Mr. Stares tells me that he saw two Woodcocks
near Fareham on the 10th; a flock of Brent Geese, five Shel-
drakes, and a Great Northern Diver, in the Solent, on the 11th;
and a Bittern, near Titchfield, on the 28th. The Hon. A. H.
Baring informs me that a male Shoveller appeared on the lake at

NOTES AND QUERIES. 303

Alresford Grange after one of the big gales in this month.
Mr. E. Sillence, writing to the ‘Hampshire Independent,’ reported
seeing a Swallow (Hirundo sp. ?), flying round Romsey station on
the 14th.

DECEMBER.

On the 2nd Mr. Stares sent me a Razorbill, immature, from
Porchester. On the 12th I saw the eggs of a Great Tit, which
nested in a hole of a wall at St. Cross, but deserted on this
date, owing, I suppose, to the sharp frost of the night before.
Mr. Turle (in litt. Dec. 14th) says, “‘ There is a Harrier flying
about our place (Newton Stacey), but I have asked for it not
to be shot.”

NOTES AND QUERIES,

MAMMALIA.

Mammals of Cheshire.—For some time I have been collecting evidence
of the occurrence and distribution of the Cheshire Mammalia, with a view
to the compilation of as complete a list as possible, and now write to ask
for the assistance of any readers of ‘ The Zoologist’ resident in the county.
Information is particularly desired about the Polecat, Marten, Badger,
Lesser Shrew, Black Rat, Harvest Mouse, Dormouse, all the Bats, and the
Seals and Cetaceans of the Dee and Mersey estuaries. The presence in
any district of the various Voles, Mice, and Shrews may often be detected
by an examination of the embedded skulls in the pellets of the Barn Owl,
and if anyone is sufficiently interested in the matter to forward a supply of
these pellets, either to me, or to Mr. J. A. Coward, of Higher Downs,
Bowdon, who is co-operating with me, the help will be promptly and
gratefully acknowledged. During the next few months many opportunities
of obtaining Bats will doubtless occur, and we shall be glad to identify
and, if desired, return any specimens which may be forwarded to us.—
Cuas. OtpHAm (Brookside, Sale, Cheshire).

Polecat in Cambridgeshire.—Mr. Griffin, birdstuffer, at Cambridge,
has a very nice female Polecat, Mustela putorius, which he tells me
was killed at Swavesey, in the summer of 1892.—G. KE. H. Barrett:
Hamitton.

Bank Vole in Warwickshire and Worcestershire. — Until I read Mr.
Hlliott’s note (p. 223), I had overlooked the fact that this species had not
previously been recorded for Worcestershire. In May last I was at a bank
Situated so close to the boundary line between Warwickshire and Wor-

304 THE ZOOLOGIST.

cestershire that, for natural history purposes, it might be claimed by eitk
county. Bank Voles were numerous, and I watched their movements fo
some time. I killed one, and found that it was feeding upon the tende
young leaves of the hawthorn. It would dart out, seize a leaf, and retire
to devour it. I know several places in Worcestershire where this littl
animal is common, and I have one now in my possession, which, after a
severe thunder-storm, was washed into the middle of King’s Road, King’s
Heath.—F’. Copurn (Holloway Head, Birmingham). :
;

BIRDS. f

Reported Nesting of Marsh Harrier near Oxford.—With reference
to the notes on this subject which have already appeared (pp. 227, 268),
we are in a position to state that having made further enquiry of Mr. Swann
and Mr. Buttress, we are satisfied that some mistake has been made, and |
that there is no evidence to support the statement that the Marsh Harrier
nested in Oxfordshire in July, 1890.—Ep.

Nesting of the Grey Wagtail.—During the last week of March last, —
when staying at Nettlecombe, a village a few miles from Williton, I saw a
pair of Grey Wagtails (Motacilla sulphwrea) running about the drive and
lawn in front of the rectory, and perching on the trees and roof of the
house, apparently looking out for a nesting site. On mentioning the fact to —
my host, he informed me that a pair (of what he called Yellow Wagtails)
nested every year in the ivy or creepers on the house. The rectory is some
200 or 300 yards away from any water. I saw the pair every day while ©
I was there, and they remained the greater part of the day about the
house. I was surprised at this, for I have seldom seen them far from
water for any length of time, and on referring to Seebohm’s ‘ British Birds’ —
(vol. ii. p. 204) I found no mention of them in such a situation.—H., Sr. B.
GOLDsMITH (Bridgewater).

Nesting of the Lesser Redpoll and Hawfinch in Somerset. — Since
writing to you about the Lesser Redpoll (p. 265), I have heard of several
instances of its nesting in Somerset, and of some two or three nests being
taken this year in the county. The Hawfinch (Coccothraustes vulgaris)
has also nested in considerable numbers in the north-eastern parts of the
county this summer.—H. Sz. B. GoipsmirTH ( Bridgewater).

Nesting of the Marsh Warbler near Bath.—In June, 1892, I first
made the acquaintance of the Marsh Warbler (dcrocephalus palustris) im
Oxfordshire, where I was shown it by Mr. Warde Fowler; and in July,
1893, in company with Mr. Fowler, I both saw and heard several of these
birds in Switzerland, and found one nest (cf. Zool. 18938, p. 308). This
year I have found a pair of Marsh Warblers and their nest near Bath.
The nest which was found on June 19th in an osier-bed contained two

NOTES AND QUERIES. 805

typical eggs, and was suspended from stalks of meadow-sweet, and one
osier-stem. It was about 18 in. from the ground, and I have especially
noticed in this case, what has already been pointed out by Mr. Fowler, that
the stems passed outside the nest and through the rim only, whereas in
nests of the Reed Warbler the stems which support them are usually
worked into the sides of the nest from near the bottom to the top. There
was a little horsehair lining, and some pieces of wool were worked into the
foundation outside. The hen bird began to sit on four eggs on June 22nd;
I took one egg, and the remaining three were hatched on July 5th. The
cock bird was a splendid mimic, and it was most amusing on two occasions
when I took two friends, who know the Reed and Sedge Warblers well, to
listen to him. Among others he imitated especially well the Thrush, Sky
Lark, Great Tit, Whitethroat (both its song and alarm note), Swallow,

Willow Wren (song and alarm note), and Whinchat. On the same day on

which I found this nest I also found nests of the Reed and Sedge Warblers
near the same spot, and so had a good opportunity of comparing both birds
and nests of the three species.—H. C. Praynz (Clifton College).

Sand Martins nesting in a Ruin.—During the last week of June,
while visiting Garrison Island, on Lough Cullen, Co. Mayo, I was surprised
to see a number of Sand Martins flying about the castle walls, and passing
in and out of the crevices between the stones where the mortar had fallen
out. On landing to examine the place I saw traces of nests in the crevices,
and with a stick pulled out part of one; but the fissures were so deep, and
the mortar so hard from age, that it was impossible to get at either eggs
or young birds. The ruins are those of a circular-shaped castle, or tower,
probably the former, for the diameter of the circle enclosed by the walls is
eighteen or twenty yards; the portions of the walls standing are about
twelve or fifteen feet in height, almost level with the inside, which is filled
up with fallen stones and rubbish, overgrown with grass and nettles. At
the base of the walls outside, in a thicket of tall nettles, a Red-breasted
Merganser (Mergus serrator) was sitting on ten eggs; and inside, in some
long grass and nettles, was another nest of this species with a similar
number of eggs, on which the duck was sitting so close that she was almost
taken with the hand before leaving the nest. On the broad, flat, grassy
top of the walls three pairs of Common Terns had eggs, and four or five
pairs of Black-headed Gulls; while in the centre, on the grassy rubbish
were the nests and eggs (one with young just hatched) of five or six pairs
of Terns. At the bushy end of the island two pairs of Sandpipers (Totanus
hypoleucus) were noisily flitting about, evidently showing by their anxiety
that they had eggs or newly-hatched young close by. — Rosert WaRREN
(Moyview, Ballina).

Lesser Redpoll breeding in Somersetshire.—It may be worth men.
tioning that there are a good many of these birds this year on Clifton

306 THE ZOOLOGIST.

Downs, only separated from Somersetshire by the river, and nests hay
been found. I have seen the birds on the Somersetshire side of the river
but have not seen a nest, though I have no doubt they breed there also.- -
Hersert OC, Prayns (Clifton College).

Redstart breeding in Co. Tyrone. — On June 16th I visited Baron’s
Court Demesne, Co. Tyrone, which abounds in old timber. On enquiring
of Mr. James Maclean what birds bred there, he showed me a pair of Red-
starts which he said had bred three years in succession siuce he came to the
place. They had their nest in a hole in a birch tree. It contained fo
young, ready to fly, and some eggs that had not hatched out. Having seen
Redstarts in Norfolk last May, I had no difficulty in identifying them. On
the 26th and 29th May, 1888, the Rev. G. W. Peacocke saw and heard a
male Redstart singing in Rash Wood, also in Co. Tyrone, not very far from
Baron’s Court. Hitherto the Redstart has been recorded to breed in
Treland only at Powerscourt, Co. Wicklow, since 1885. Elsewhere in
Treland it has only been known as a very rare visitor, and supposed to be
much rarer than the Black Redstart, which probably visits our coasts every
winter.—R. J. Ussner (Cappagh, Co. Waterford).

Cuckoo calling on the Wing. —I have on several occasions heard the
Cuckoo calling on the wing, but always (I think) when pursuing another
Cuckoo, presumably the female. On May 22nd, 1893, at Winchelsea, I~
watched one Cuckoo chasing another for about an hour, and had a particu-
larly good opportunity of listening to the birds; for, after fying round the
neighbouring fields, they frequently settled on the tree under which I was
basking. The bubbling note of the female and the call of the male were
kept up almost continually both when the birds were on the wing and when
settled. I did not hear the female utter the syllables Cuwc-koo, though I am
by no means certain that she does not sometimes do so.— A. Hote
MacrHerson (51, Gloucester Terrace, Hyde Park). |

In the last number of the ‘Zoologist’ I note the enquiry (p. 264) }
whether it is a common occurrence for Cuckoos to call while on the wing.
This same question has already been asked me this year, so I have kept an
especial look-out, and in May watched a Cuckoo fly for some distance over ;
the Avon, calling all the time. This is the only instance which I have ©
noticed personally, but a friend of mine also observed a Cuckoo calling
while on the wing, near the same place, on another day.—Herpert C.
PuaynE (Clifton College).

I have a note that on May 14th, 1893, I saw a Cuckoo, which was
uttering its cry as it flew past me. There was a pair of them flying
together, slowly, but one only was calling. I have a distinct recollection
of the circumstance, but although this is the only case I have noted I am
sure I have heard the Cuckoo calling on the wing on several occasions of

NOTES AND QUERIES. 307

which I have kept no record. My observations were made in the south of
the stewartry of Kirkcudbright. The Cuckoo arrived there in 1893, on
April 23rd, about the normal time, or perhaps a day or two earlier than
~usual.—J. W. Payne (Edinburgh).

Referring to the enquiry on this subject (p. 264), I do not think it can

be a common occurrence for a Cuckoo to call while on the wing. Living
on a Highland hill-side, which happens to be a favoured haunt of Cuckoos.
I have had considerable opportunities for observing their habits at pretty
close quarters, and in my experience Cuckoos invariably call when perching,
the act of calling being accompanied with considerable dilatation of the
throat, and an apparent muscular effort, which seems to make the perch a
desirable point d’apput. Calling Cuckoos constantly fly for a short distance,
and will re-commence calling the instant after alighting, but never, to my
knowledge, during flight; although they will sometimes, when apparently
disturbed, fly off, uttering a low and rapid “ kok-kok-kok-kok,” quite distinct
from the “ water-bubbling” note, which I have also heard, and which
Mr. Howard Saunders (‘Manual,’ 278) ascribes to the female.—ALLAN
Gorpon Cameron (Ledaig, N.B.).

My own observations lead me to think that it is most decidedly an
unusual occurrence; but that Cuckoos do call at times when flying I had
positive ocular proof last year in the Broad District of Norfolk. The
swampy grounds surrounding many of the broads seem to be a perfect
paradise for Cuckoos, judging by the number that congregate there, and
dozens of them could be seen and heard in an hour’s tramp over the marsh.
On May 2nd, 1893, I was out a little after daylight, and saw as usual great
numbers of Cuckoos perched on the stunted alders scattered all over these
wet marshes, most of them calling vociferously, each apparently trying to
outcall the other. And one of these birds was so engaged in its vocal
exercise that it allowed me to get within a few yards of it. When at last
it saw me, it slipped hurriedly off the bough on which it was sitting and flew
off towards the “ broad,” emitting at least one perfect call as it went, and
while still quite close to me. This is the only instance which I can per-
sonally adduce of a Cuckoo calling on the wing.—F. Menreiru OeiLvi
(Sizewell House, Leiston, Suffolk).

According to my experience, it is a common occurrence for the Cuckoo
to call while on the wing. The following are extracts from my note-book of
this year:—April 21st. Saw two Cuckoos mating this morning. The
usual performance: she flying away, he persistently following her, and
erying “cuckoo” continually in deep and beautiful tones. My sudden
appearance caused him to swerve away ; she stopped in her flight, alighted
on a tree, and looked for his coming. When he approached with his
mellow “cuckoo,” she launched into the air and again lured him on.
May 11th. Cuculus canorus flew across my garden this morning, calling

308 THE ZOOLOGIST.

loudly as he flew. May 18th. Two Cuckoos flying across King’s Ro
the female first, the male following, calling “cuckoo.” May 21st. Saw tl
two Cuckoos again this morning, and have now seen them many time
The female always goes first, silent; the male follows in her wake, cryit
*‘cuckoo.” They are high in the air when they pass over.—F. CoBuE
(Holloway Head, Birmingham). .

I have heard the Cuckoo calling while on the wing, but so far as m
observation goes, I should say that such a thing is unusual.— Witt1am W
FLEeMynG (Coolfin, Portlaw, Co. Waterford).

[We have received several other communications on this subject, fe
which unfortunately we are unable to find room this month,—Epb.]

Cormorant choked by a Flounder.—Seeing the account of a Great
Northern Diver having been choked by Grey Gurnard (p. 265), brings tc
my recollection an instance of a Cormorant having been choked by a
Flounder. I was returning from Bartragh in my gunning punt, when
I saw a Cormorant lying flat on the water, with outspread wings, and this
unusual position attracting my attention, I rowed towards the bird and
picked it up, when I found a Flounder 8 in. in length partly swallowed,
and firmly embedded in its throat. The Cormorant had swallowed the
head and body of the fish as far as the anal fin, and the little sharp spine
in front of it got stuck firmly inside the throat. As the unfortunate bird
could neither swallow nor disgorge the fish, it was probably drowned when
unable through weakness and exhaustion to keep its head above water.—
RoBert WARREN (Moyview, Ballina, Co. Mayo).

A Visit to Puffin Island, Co. Kerry—On June 5th I visited this
island, near Portmagee, Co. Kerry. A notice of the ornithology of the island
may be found in an article by my friend Mr. Ussher (Zool. 1884, p. 481).
The Rey. A. Delap, Rector of Valentia, who was one of our party, found a
piece of composite candle on the west side of the island, where a good many
pairs of Herring and Lesser Black-backed Gulls were congregated breeding,
and where we saw a pair of Greater Black-backs. This piece of candle I —
have sent to the Editor. It was no doubt swallowed by one of the species
of Gulls which were seen around the spot, and what could not be digested
was cast up in the form found. Mr. Delap told me that he often found pieces
of candle on the coast at Temple Crove, Co. Donegal, where he was parish
clergyman before he came to Valentia. These pieces, he says, were evidently
thrown out by stewards on passing steamers, and, when cast up on shore, —
were eaten by Gulls! This fact may be worth recording, if only to show
the greediness of these birds, and how nothing comes amiss to them,
I was anxious to inspect the colonies of Terns mentioned by Mr. Ussher,
but not a single bird was to be seen. They had not arrived for breeding, ~
Nor was I able to get eggs of either Shearwater or Storm Petrel, although

NOTES AND QUERIES. 809

_ the boatmen who accompanied us got several eggs of Puffins. We landed
_ on the rocky islet near Puffin Island in hopes of finding a nest of the Great

Black-back. No eggs, however, were to be found. We got two eggs, in
Separate nests, of Herring, or Lesser Black-backed Gulls; which species it

_ Was impossible to say, as we did not see the birds on their nests. The

weather, I am sorry to say, was too unpropitious to allow a visit to be paid

to the Skelligs —Wintiam W. Fiemyne (Coolfin, Portlaw, Co. Waterford).

[The piece of candle forwarded by our correspondent is of the size,
shape, and general appearance of a “ blanched almond.”—Ep.]

Eggs of the Tree Sparrow.—I can quite confirm Mr. Aplin’s remarks

(p. 228) concerning the eggs of this bird. I have met with this locally-

breeding species somewhat commonly in three different vicinities, namely,
the sea-shore, in a spot near Ramsgate, where it breeds indiscriminately in
holes of trees or crevices and holes in the sandstone cliff: near Ilford, in
Essex; and in the neighbourhood of Harrow, Middlesex, where it is,
I believe, as common as in any other locality in the British Islands. In
this latter district I have observed its habits for the past six or seven years,
and during that period I have seen a very large number of nests, once as
many as three in a single old oak tree. I take the perfect clutch of eggs to
be five in number, and out of all the sets I have seen I never saw one of
that number which had not one “light” egg, with but few and pale
markings. Certainly some sets of four have had all the eggs dark, but
even in a few sets of that number I have had a light egg. One peculiarity
in this species is its habit of using the same nesting-hole year after year,
in spite of molestation. I know of one such hole in the vicinity of Harrow
which is used each season, first by a pair of Starlings, and later by the
Tree Sparrows, which will persist in their attempts to rear a brood in it,
although, from its exposed position, the nest has been robbed perhaps twice
or thrice in a season.—Henry K. Swann (Forest Grove, Colville Street,
Nottingham).

Curious proximity of Nests.—We have in the garden plantation
here two nests in such close proximity that I think it worth recording in
‘The Zoologist.’ They are those of a Wren and a Tree Creeper, and are
built in an old stump which is hollow and split. The Wren’s nest is at
the top, and only six inches from that of the Creeper. In the deer-shed in
the paddock here I have also a Thrush’s nest with young, and a Wren’s nest
at the side of it, the one actually touching the other.—J. WHITAKER
(Rainworth, Notts).

Ornithological Notes from France.—During the spring of this year J
spent twelve days with a friend in France, with the intention of seeing what
I could of birds, and especially anything connected with their migration,
and with the help of bicycles we travelled over a good deal of country,

810 THE ZOOLOGIST.

Starting from St. Malo, on April 14th, we passed through Dinan ani
Vannes, and reached Nantes on April 16th. Though the country abounde
with birds, especially Whitethroats, Yellow Buntings, Cirl Buntings, re
Pipits, Redstarts, and Magpies, we saw nothing of particular interest ti
we were near Vannes. Here we first came upon a colony of Sedg
Warblers singing in some thick bushes, and amongst the gorse on some
moorland a few miles further we heard Grasshopper Warblers, while in
the same neighbourhood we saw Hen Harriers. We were just five miles
from Nantes when suddenly several Nightingales in a thick hedgerow burst
forth into song. From this point we seemed to be always close to a Night-
ingale, and they were so numerous that I cannot help believing that we ha¢
suddenly met the “rush” of Nightingales migrating northwards; the
hedges and thickets resounded with their songs. The same evening it was
pleasant to see Swifts careering through the air over Nantes, and to hear
their screaming some days earlier than usual. We reached Les Sables
d’Olonne, our next stopping place, after a stormy day’s ride, on April 17th,
and early on the following morning I walked out on the sand-hills by the
sea, and saw parties of Swifts flying steadily northwards. From Les Sables
our day’s journey was to Lucon, and on the way, at Avrillé, in some trees
by the roadside, I found a small colony of Bonelli’s Warblers. How glad
I was to meet again this delightful little bird, and to be reminded of the
slopes of the Alps, where I first made its acquaintance last summer. On
this day also I met with the Crested Lark, and afterwards found it fairly
abundant in many places. The first part of the road from Lugon to La
Rochelle passes over a large tract of flat country intersected by many
ditches, where there are few bushes and trees, except by the roadside.
Here there were numbers of Stonechats, Yellow Wagtails, Corn Buntings,
Sedge Warblers, and a few Whinchats and Wheatears. In the trees by
the side of the road were many Magpies’ nests, some of them destitute of
any roof. The Magpies are so numerous, and apparently unmolested, that
they seem to have grown careless in building their nests. They were to be
seen sitting on their eggs in most exposed situations quite near the ground.
Near La Rochelle Wrynecks were most extraordinarily abundant, and were
often seen as well as heard on the trees by the road. One pair sat side by
side on a gate-post, calling in unison, and did not seem to mind my presence ~
in the least. From the midst of a thick osier-bed I had splendid views of
three Hen Harriers, two males and one female, which kept flying close to
my head, and the latter once perched on an osier-stump only a few yards
from me. In the evening of April 19th we reached Rochefort, and next
day rode on through some beautiful country to Blaye, on the bank of the
Gironde. On the way Hoopoes soon attracted my attention, and it was
delightful to watch them bowing as they uttered their well-known “ hoop:
hoop, hoop-hoop.” On the same day (April 20th), near Pons, I first saw a

ae = =

NOTES AND QUERIES. 311

Woodchat Shrike; nearer Bordeaux I saw two more, one of them singing
from the top of a vine-pole. In a reed-bed not far from Blaye were two
Great Reed Warblers, singing so loudly that I heard them some distance
away; they were not at all shy, and one perched in full view on a reed close
to me, as though pleased to have a listener. At Bordeaux we only made a
short stay, and I was unable to find any new birds; Nightingales were very
plentiful, but Chiffchaffs and Willow Wrens were not so numerous as they
were further north. In the evening of April 21st, while riding along the
bank of the Garonne, I noticed a very large number of Swallows flying
_ steadily down stream quite close to the water; there was a continuous
flight of them till it became too dark to see. Could they have been
_ migrants that had crossed the Cevennes, or were they only making for
some favourite roosting-place down the river? We travelled by train to
Saumur, and rode back to St. Malo through Rennes. On the sand-banks
in the Loire I saw Waders, which I believe were Dunlin, and near Angers
heard the only Landrail we met with. On our return we found Nightin-
gales plentiful near St. Malo, though none were there when we started.
What especially surprised me was that I could find no Wood Wrens in any
part of France we visited, though I searched for them in many suitable
spots ; there were plenty to be found as soon as we had crossed again to
Southampton. Nor did I see any Flycatcher or Red-backed Shrike; I
suppose it was too early for their arrival, even so far south as Bordeaux. In
all I made a list of seventy-three species, which I was able to identify, and
it might perhaps have been increased if a good deal of valuable time had
not been wasted in taking shelter from the heavy storms which we encoun-
tered almost every day.—H. C. Puayne (Clifton College).

Nesting of the Bittern in Hants.—The Rev. A. A. Headley has
lately shown me an egg which is undoubtedly that of a Bittern, Botaurus
stellaris. He obtained it of a working man in Alresford, who stated that it
was taken in Avington Park, some six or seven years ago, and that the nest
was built in the stump of a withy, and made “like a Jack Hern’s.” If the
record can be considered indisputable, it is a remarkable one. The Rector
of Alresford will, I have no doubt, be glad to submit the egg for inspection,
though it is, unfortunately, in a bad state of preservation.—Sutron A.
Davizs (Winchester College).

!

CHELONIANS.

Emys lutaria turned out in Suffolk.—In May, 1889, we placed
eleven Tortoises of this species in a pond situated in a plantation in this
parish (Leiston), where for a time they throve, and seemed likely to remain.
But before long they began to wander in various directions. The pond is
stocked with tadpoles, various aquatic insects and their larve, but is much
shaded by trees; and possibly this lack of sunshine may have been the

812 THE ZOOLOGIST.

cause of their leaving the place in search of some more congenial abode
In the beginning of June in that year a Tortoise with a marked carapa
was twice found some distance away in a road, and in each case replaced in
the pond. On Nov. 25th, 1890, one was picked up in the village by ¢
boy and brought to me. It was apparently in good plight, and felt very
heavy, notwithstanding it had passed the winter at large. Another w
found in the summer of 1891, and I was told that during that of 1898 a
boy picked one up, but I did not see it. On Feb. 10th of the present
year (1894) some men ditching in the meadows, rather less than a quarter-
of-a-mile from the pond, threw out with the mud two Tortoises. They
placed one of them on the meadow, at some distance from the ditch, and
went on with their work, but it soon made its way back to the water, and
I afterwards saw its tracks across the wet mud. They said that they had
also found one on the “ wall delf,” at a spot several hundred yards further
from the pond, when at work there shortly before Christmas; and that,
about three years before, they threw one out of a ditch which is over a
quarter-of-a-mile from their old quarters, and in the opposite direction. On
April 8th last a boy brought to the house a fine healthy specimen, which
he had found basking on a piece of wood by the river Alde, about half-a-mile
off. It felt heavy, and had a very perfect and handsome shell, the markings
being particularly bright, clear and distinct, as if surrounding conditions
had been favourable to its well being. Yet another was brought to me on
April 16th, which had been taken from a ditch near Iken Cliff, between
two and three miles from the pond from which it had wandered Since
these specimens were placed in the pond in May, 1889, no others have
been turned out here, and it is very unlikely that anyone else in the neigh-
bourhood can have liberated any; therefore four at least out of the original
eleven must have survived five English winters. On fine bright days,
while in the pond, several of these Water-tortoises would often clamber
upon a floating log in the sunniest part of the water, and there remain
basking in the warm rays; but so alert and quick were they to perceive
any threatening danger, that if anyone approached at all near to them,
however noiselessly, they would drop off one by one into the water like
stones. Those in the ditches are fond of lying, in hot weather, upon the
“scum” on the surface of the water, with the head raised high in the air, —
so as to get as good a view as possible of their surroundings, in order,
perhaps, to guard against a surprise. Sometimes the brightly-spotted head —
and wide-awake-looking eye is all that can be seen above the surface- Up
to the present time I have not seen or heard of any young Tortoises, and
should be very glad to know of any instance of the breeding of Hmys lutaria
in this country. Since writing the above we have turned out a few more.—
G. T. Ror (Blaxhall, Suffolk).

NOTES AND QUERIES, 813

REPTILIA.

The Poison of Australian Snakes,—Amidst all that has been written
about the poison of Australian snakes, very little indeed—in fact, only a
few stray remarks here and there—is concerned with its chemistry. As
Messrs. Martin and Smith, who are engaged in a systematic investigation
of the subject in Sydney, say, a complete investigation into the subject
of snake-poison must answer three questions :—1. What is the poison?
2. What is its exact physiological action? 8. How can we best prevent or
counteract its action? The great majority of workers have tried to answer
the third question first, and whilst it is of course possible, though it has
not been done yet, that one might by accident stumble across an
“ antidote ” to snake poison, still it stands to reason that the rational way
to begin is to try and answer the first two questions, and having got our
answers to these, we may then perhaps hope to scientifically deal with and
answer the third. There is the initial difficulty in the Australian snakes,
of obtaining a large quantity of poison, because a Black Snake, for
example, only puts out at one time perhaps a tenth as much as a fair-sized
Cobra or a Rattlesnake does. What it does put out is, however, sufficiently
virulent in nature, for, after drying the venom, it is found that the
injection of 1-1000th grain is sufficient to kill a rabbit weighing five
pounds in a hundred seconds. Messrs. Martin and Smith point out that
the amount of solid matter obtained by drying the liquid venom varies
considerably under different circumstances, such as previous discharge of
poison, feeding, time of year, &c.; and as the venomous property depends
on this solid matter, the virulence of equal quantities of wet snake-poison
varies considerably. In other words, it is quite possible that the bite
of the same snake might at one time contain enough poison to be fatal and
at another time be much less potent, even though the actual amount
of fluid injected on each occasion might be the same. They naturally
point out that this is an important element to be taken into account in all
experiments when the fluid is injected into an animal to ascertain its
effects, and that its not being taken into account unfortunately vitiates all
the experiments of the committee appointed by the Medical Society of
Victoria in 1875-6. Following the experiments of previous workers, it
was easily found that, by adding alcohol to the venom, the latter could be
divided into two parts, a whitish flocculent substance which is thrown down,
anda fluid. The next step in the enquiry is a very evident one, namely,
to find out if one or both of these elements contains the poisonous matter.
| Supposing now that we take three different substances—1, snake-poison as
put out from the snake’s fang; 2, the white flocculent matter which is
thrown down when absolute alcohol is added to the poison; 3, the fluid
which remains after the absolute alcohol has been added, and test their
ZOOLOGIST, THIRD SERIES, VOL. XVIII.—AUG. 1894. 2B

814 THE ZOOLOGIST,

action on some animal, say rabbits. We find always that the first and’
second produce identical results—those of snake-poisoning, while the third
is always harmless. It follows that the fluid venom contains some
material which can be extracted by the use of absolute alcohol, and to-
which the venom owes its virulent power. The next question whic
naturally arises is, what is the nature of this material? A series o
chemical experiments showed that it belongs to the class of substance:
formed of a combination of carbon, oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen, and
sulphur, to which chemists have given the name of proteids, and of whic
a very good example is albumin, or white of egg. That the poisono
effect is due only to the presence of these albuminous substances is proved -
by the fact that everything, such as absolute alcohol, which removes the
former from the venom, renders what is left behind perfectly harmless. If,
also, we subject the venom to conditions—such, for example, as long
boiling—which are known to alter and decompose proteids, then the
virulent is changed into a harmless fluid, There are a considerable
number of these proteids or albuminous substances, and by careful

investigation Messrs. Martin and Smith discovered that the poisonous —
élement is associated with special forms known as albumoses. These
albumoses are substances made by the addition of the elements contained
in water to albumins, and are produced, for example, by the action of
gastric juice on an albumin, such as white of egg, taken in as food, or in
some not yet understood way by the action on albumin of the cells which
constitute different organs of the body. They are of great importance in
the case of various diseases, such as diphtheria. The diphtheria bacillus,
or germ, produces in the body a ferment which, when it comes in contact —
with proteids taken in as food, forms out of them certain of these
albumoses, and it is the action of these which gives rise to the abnormal —
conditions which we recognise as the disease diphtheria. So again, in a
slightly different way, the anthrax germ forms albumoses ; and it is most
suggestive to find an identity of structure in the poisonous elements —
present in the case of diphtheria, anthrax, and other diseases, and in snake-
venom. In the poisonous snakes there is present a special poison-gland on

each side of the head, which consists of a mass of cells, by which the
venom is manufactured. The blood carries albuminous material to the
gland; and here, Messrs. Martin and Smith suggest, the cells of the gland

exert some special direct influence on it, and so transform it into the

poisonous albumoses which, when the snake bites, pass down a little tu

to the poison-fang, and so into the animal bitten.

€ 815 )

SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES.

| ZootoaicaL Society or Lonpon.
June 19th, 1894.—Dr. A. Guntruer, F.R.S., V.-P., in the chair.
| Mr. Sclater exhibited the skin of a Monkey of the genus Cercopithecus,
and pointed out that it belonged to the local form referred to in his recent
| paper on the Cercopithect as Cercopithecus diana ignitus. He also exhibited
the type specimen of Cercopithecus grayt, Fraser, which was formerly in
the Knowsley collection, and which, in his opinion, was identical with
| C. eralebeni, Pucheran.
_ Mr. H. Scherren exhibited a bottle in which an amphipodous crustacean
(Amp hithoe littorina) had built a nest with runs of sand and pieces of weed.
Prof. Ray Lankester read a paper on the external characters which
distinguish the two Dipnoid fishes, Lepidosiren and Protopterus, and
expressed the opinion that they should be referred to distinct genera.
! Dr. G. H. Fowler exhibited the horns of a Fallow Deer belonging to
Mr. J. A. R. Wallace, of Loch Ryan, which showed the effect of the
_ removal of one testis on the development of antlers; and made remarks on
the effect of different degrees of castration upon antlers, as shown by
specimens in the Museum of the College of Surgeons. ‘The continuity
of variation displayed in the total lengths, and lengths of brow- and tray-
tines, in abnormal antlers in the Natural History Museum, was also
commented upon.
_ Mr. P. Chalmers Mitchell gave an account of his observations on the
perforated flexor muscles in certain birds recently dissected in the laboratory
in the Society’s Gardens.
Messrs. R. R. Mole and F. W. Urich communicated biological notes
upon some of the Snakes of Trinidad, with a preliminary list of the species
of Ophidians recorded from that island.
_ Accommunication was read from M. E. Simon, containing the second
portion of a memoir on the Spiders of the Island of St. Vincent, based on
specimens obtained through the agency of the Committee for the exploration
of the Natural History of the West Indies.
Mr. W. E. Collinge communicated a description of a new species of
| Slug of the genus Janella, from New Zealand, with a detailed account of
its anatomy.

A communication was read from Mr. R.J. Lechmere Guppy, containing
‘an account of some Foraminifera from the Microzoic Deposits of ‘Trinidad.
Mr. Arthur E. Shipley read notes on some Nematode Parasites obtained

_ from animals formerly living in the Society’s Gardens.
_ Messrs. F, E. Beddard and P. Chalmers Mitchell gave an account of
| the anatomy of Palamedea cornuta as compared with that of its allies.

316 THE ZOOLOGIST.

A communication was read from Dr. A. G. Butler on a collection of
Lepidopterous Insects made by Dr. J. W. Gregory during his recent expedi-
tion to Mount Kenia. The specimens were referred to 215 species, of
which ten were stated to be new to science.

This meeting closed the session 1893-94.—P. L. Sonate, Secretary.

NOTICES OF NEW BOOKS,

The Royal Natural History. Edited by RicHarp LyDExKKER:
with Preface by P. L. Scuarer. In six volumes; illustrated
with 72 coloured plates and 1600 engravings. Vol. L.,
pp- 1.—xvi.; 1—584. London: F. Warne & Co. 1894.

Tue Editor and Publisher of this important work may well
be congratulated upon its satisfactory progress. Designed to
appear in thirty-six monthly parts, nine of these (or one-fourth
of the work) have now been published, and the first six parts
complete the first volume, for which the title-page, contents, and
index have been issued with part vii.

Commencing with the Mammalia, chapter i. deals with the
principles of classification, general structure, and characteristics ;
chapters ii.—viil. are devoted to the Apes, Monkeys, and Lemurs;
chapters ix.—xi. to Bats; chapter xii. to the Insectivora;
chapter xiii. to the Cat-tribe; chapter xiv. to Civets, and Wolf
and Hyznas; and chapter xv. to Dogs.

The more we have looked into the work the more we have
marvelled at the price at which it is being issued. Seeing that
each part contains about one hundred pages of letter-press, well-
printed and on good paper, fifty or sixty engravings, and two
coloured plates, we should consider it cheap at five shillings a part,
whereas the actual cost of each number is one shilling net!

It ought to have an enormous circulation, and, as an aid to the
diffusion of zoological knowledge, we hope it may. Mr. Lydekker
seems to have spared no pains in the preparation of the text, and
so far as we have been able to test it, the information in most
cases is well up to date. xtracts are given from the most
authoritative writers on special groups of animals, and we have
only to suggest, by way of improvement, that the titles of the
works or articles quoted should be mentioned in foot-notes, in

NOTICES OF NEW BOOKS. 317

order that the reader may be enabled to get fuller information, if
desired, on particular points which the editor, with a view to
economising space, has perhaps been compelled to treat a little
too briefly.

As regards illustration, we are inclined to think that in the
parts before us this has been a little overdone. There can be no
need to give several figures by different artists of the same species ;
one good figure is all that is required, and a bad one is worse than
none at all. We have noted several which are by no means satis-
factory, because the drawing is inaccurate, and they would have
been better omitted. No one, for example, ever saw a true Wild
Cat, Felis catus, with a white foot, an Otter with a recurved tail,
or a Ferret with a bushy tail like a Marten. The Shrews figured
on page 328 are positive deformities, and a Pipistrelle (p. 274),
Indian Mungoose (p. 469), Beech Marten (ii., p. 53), Sable (p. 55),
and Mink (p. 68), are as unlike the originals as it is possible to
make them. Still, these are exceptions, and the majority of the
illustrations, especially those drawn by Wolf and Zwecker, are true
enough in outline, and characteristic as regards their attitudes.

We trust that, with the issue of the last part, the editor will
see his way to give a scheme of General Classification, according
to the latest information, and indeed it would have been useful
to supply this by instalments at the head of each section. For
example, a key to the families and genera of Apes, Monkeys, and
Lemurs would have been of great assistance to the uninitiated
reader, who without it must experience a sense of great bewilder-
ment in dealing with so large a number of species as are placed
before him.

But the aim of the work is distinctly good, and, so far as we
are able to judge, it is conscientiously and ably carried out.

British Birds; being Coloured Illustrations of all the Species of
Passerine Birds resident in the British Isles, with some Notes

in reference to ther Plumage. By CuaupE W. Wyarvt. 4to.
London: W: Wesley & Son. 1894.

Mr. Wyatt's name will be favourably remembered in con:
nection with a Monograph of the Hirundinide which he published
in co-operation with Dr. R. B. Sharpe.

318 THE ZOOLOGIST.

The present handsomely illustrated quarto, now before us,
deals with the resident British Passeres. Fifty species are figured
(most of them life-size) on twenty-five plates, and the drawing and
colouring are extremely good. So good are they, that there is
very little room for improvement ; the most noticeable defect being
in the outlines of the beaks in the Corvide, which appear to us
to be too small and slender in proportion to the size of the birds.
The figures are so grouped as to bring several species of one genus
on the same plate, so that the allied forms may be easily com-
pared. The three plates of Paride should have been brought
nearer together, instead of being separated by the interposition
of the Dipper and the Reed Bunting, and although the Tree Pipit
is not a resident species, it might well have been figured on the
same plate as Anthus pratensis and A. obscurus, for which there is
plenty of room, in order that the Meadow Pipit and the Tree Pipit,
which are so frequently confounded by ordinary observers, might
be compared side by side.

Opposite each plate we find a few lines of explanatory letter-
press, of which, it seems to us, there is too little. A page of
type would not have been too much to do justice to the subject.
The information given relates almost exclusively to the seasonal
changes of plumage, and is by no means exhaustive.

No mention is made of the white-headed form of the Long-
tailed Tit, and Parus britannicus is accepted as a good species
without any indication of the characters by which it may be
distinguished from P. ater. In a long series it seems to us
impossible to separate them, the intergradation between the two
forms being so gradual. There may be appreciable differences
between specimens at both ends of a long series, but the inter-
mediate forms might be referred to either P. ater or P. britannicus
indifferently. This being so, we do not see how the latter can be
regarded as a good species.

Mr. Wyatt states (p. 11) that the Rock Pipit is usually
associated with rocky sea-coasts where it breeds, and that it
frequents also the flat sea-coast. He might have added that it is
to a certain extent migratory, and that in spring and autumn it
is found inland at a considerable distance from the sea.

The Wood Lark, Alauda arborea, is included by Mr. Wyatt
amongst the resident British Passeres, but there is reason to
believe that this bird, like the Pied Wagtail, leaves the country

NOTICES OF NEW BOOKS. 319

in large flocks at the approach of winter, and that the northern
limit of its winter range takes in the southern counties of
England. | |

We are informed by the Preface that it is proposed to publish
as a continuation of this work, and uniform with it, Illustrations
of all the species of Passerine birds which are migrants to the
British Islands, omitting the occasional visitors, and in a subse-
quent volume the resident and migratory Picarie. This will be
an expensive undertaking, but we trust, for the sake of the
enthusiastic author, that the list of subscribers’ names (which
are received by Messrs. Wesley & Son) may be sufficiently long
to justify him in carrying out his intention.

Alternating Generations: a Biological Study of Oak-galls and
Gall-fies. By Hermann Apter, M.D. ‘Translated and
edited by Cuartes R. Strraton. Post 8vo, pp. i—xliii;
1—198. With Coloured Plates and other Illustrations.
Oxford: Clarendon Press. 1894.

In an excellent Introduction of forty pages, with which Mr.
Straton paves the way for his translation of Dr. Adler’s essay,
he gives not only a clear review of the chief literature on the
subject of galls, but an instructive resumé of the different views
which have been expressed by eminent naturalists as to the
cause or causes of their formation. Darwin, and many writers
before him, held that gall-formation was due to a chemical
secretion injected by the gall-insect; Malpighi considered that
it acted as a ferment on juices existing in the plant; and this
was the view of Réaumur, but he added to it the thermal effect
of the ege, and the nature and character of the wound, which
varies according to the shape of the ovipositor of each species.
Dr. Derham thought the formation was partly due to the act of
the plant, and partly to some virulency in the juice, or egg, or
both, reposited on the vegetable by the parent animal, and just
as this virulency is various according to the difference of its
animal, so is the form and texture of the gall excited thereby.

Darwin speaks of galls as produced by a minute atom of the
poison of a gall-insect, and compares them to the specific local
processes of zymotic diseases. Sir James Paget, in 1880,

3820 THE ZOOLOGIST.

expressed the view that ‘‘the most reasonable, if not the only
reasonable theory, is that each insect infects or inoculates the
leaf or other structure of the chosen plant with a poison peculiar
to itself.”’

This, says Mr. Straton, may be taken as the view accepted
by scientists until Dr. Adler, of Schleswig, in the essay now
translated, showed conclusively that there is no foundation for
supposing that the gall-insect injects any irritating secretion
whatever ; and Beyerinck has proved that the fluid ejected by
the gall-fly is without taste or smell, and absolutely unirritating
if injected under the skin. It is probably nothing more than a
very mild antiseptic dressing applied to the wound made in the
plant. Both these authors show plainly that it is not in the
gall-mother, but in the larva, that we must seek for the cause of
call-crowth ; and that it is the nature of the salivary secretion,
and the manner of feeding of the larva (peculiarities inherited by
each species), which give the characteristic growth to the gall.

In the monograph here translated, Dr. Adler has described
those oak-galls and gall-flies which are most commonly found in
this country, except the Devonshire marble-gall, Cynips kollari,
which does not occur in Germany north of the Elbe. But as this
is one of the most familiar galls on English oaks, the translator
has added a description of it in an Appendix. He has also added
a synoptical table of galls, which will be extremely useful to those
who are just taking up the subject, a short bibliography, and a
classified list of the Cynimide.

Dr. Adler’s work was well worth translating, and Mr. Straton
has done it very well, elucidating the text with notes of his own,
which he has judiciously placed within brackets. On two of the
folding coloured plates, which have been very carefully chromo-
lithographed by Messrs. West, Newman & Co. from Dr. Adler’s
drawings, are depicted a large number of galls with, in some
cases, the flies magnified; and in another plate, in which the
figures are all drawn from photographs, we see the different
forms of ovipositor, with the ege, when accompanying it, drawn
to the same scale. The subject is one which, we can well
imagine, many people would find very fascinating.

THE ZOOLOGIST

No. 213.—September, 1894.

THE NEW ACT FOR THE PROTECTION OF
BIRDS’ EGGS.

AFTER a prolonged discussion, extending over two sessions,
Parliament has at length decided that it is desirable to make the
taking of certain birds’ eggs illegal, or, in other words, to give
those who are so minded a statutory power of protecting eggs
of such species as in their opinion stand in need of greater
protection than they receive under the ‘ Wild Birds Protection
Act, 1880.’

For several reasons, we consider this fresh legislation
unnecessary. In the first place, the eggs of the most important
species, that is, the eggs of all game-birds, and those of Swan,
Wild-duck, Teal, and Wigeon, are already protected by the
game-laws (1 & 2 Wm. IV. c. 82, sect. 24), and in Ireland this
protection is extended to Quail, Landrail, Wild-duck, or other
wildfowl, Plover, Snipe, and House-dove or Pigeon.

In the next place, the law of trespass can always be enforced
by summons against unauthorised egg-stealers who may be found
trespassing in search of eggs on private ground; and finally, the
Wild Birds Protection Act, 1880, makes it illegal to kill any bird
(with certain exceptions) during the breeding season, or between
the Ist March and the 1st August, providing a heavier penalty
for killing those which are specially named in the schedule to
the Act, than for those of less importance which are not so
mentioned.

ZOOLOGIST, THIRD SERIES, VOL. XVIII.—SEPT. 1894. 2¢

$22 THE ZOOLOGIST.

We have always maintained that if the sitting bird is properly |

protected during the period of incubation, there is no necessity
to impose a penalty for taking the eggs; for even if the first egg
or eggs be taken, and the nest is deserted, there is always the
good chance, if not the certainty, of the parent bird laying again
elsewhere, and eventually rearing her young in safety.

Twenty years ago, a Committee appointed by the British
Association to report upon the subject expressed and emphasized
this view, and stated, moreover, that the effect of birdsnesting on
species whose numbers are not decreasing (and their name is
legion) was inappreciable, and that consequently there was no
need of any legislative interference with the practice. This must

be apparent to everyone who considers that our forefathers have —

for generations in their boyhood persistently taken the eggs of
such birds as Blackbirds, Thrushes, Hedgesparrows, Robins,
Chaffinches, Buntings, Pipits, Wagtails, and other “common”
species, and that, notwithstanding this, these birds are still
“common”; while it seems to us equally evident that such kinds
of Plovers, Snipe, and Wildfowl as have ceased to be common as
bréeding species, have become so, not by reason of the continual
destruction of their eggs, but in consequence of the destruction
of their natural nesting haunts through advancing civilization,
and the cultivation and drainage of waste lands.

The seafowl, prior to 1869, when the first modern Act of
Parliament was passed for their protection, had become almost
exterminated on some parts of the coast, not because their eggs
were annually taken from them, but because parties of thought-
less and inhuman “gunners” (wholly unworthy of the name of
*‘ sportsmen” or “ naturalists”) were in the habit of going out in
boat-loads under the cliffs, and barbarously shooting the old
birds while they had eggs or young in their nests. The prohibi-
tion of this practice has saved many species from extinction.

It seems to us that what held good then, in the case of sea-
fowl, holds good still, in regard to land birds. Nothing was
needed for present requirements but a strict enforcement of the
Act of 1880, which, as we have said, protects the sitting bird
during the breeding season; and if (by reason of the fact that
a first offence is punishable only by a reprimand and payment of
costs) this Act is found in practice to be less effectual than it
should be, nothing would have been simpler than to amend it

THE NEW ACT FOR THE PROTECTION OF BIRDS EGGS. 823

by imposing a fine for a first offence, and increasing it for a
subsequent one.

The legislature, however, has thought otherwise; a Bill to
protect eggs was introduced (by Sir Herbert Maxwell), and had
to be discussed upon its merits. The principle of the Bill was
to protect certain named species, on the ground of their asserted
Scarcity, and the House of Commons deemed this reasonable.
The Bill passed the third reading, and, with some slight amend-
ment, went up to the House of Lords. Their lordships pulled
it to pieces as ruthlessly as any schoolboy ever pulled a nest
when unable otherwise to reach the eggs, and finally so altered
it in principle that its author could not recognise it, and was
compelled to repudiate it. The reason for this was that the
whole principle of the Bill had been changed. Instead of
protecting species, their lordships were advised (ill-advised, as
we think) that it would be better to protect areas, and so they
willed it.

The result of this alteration naturally would be, (1) to protect
a number of species which might not only stand in no need of
protection, but whose increase might be, for good reasons, very
undesirable; (2) to promote constant squabbling over boundaries ;
and: (3) to give local dissatisfaction at the legality of birds nesting
in one parish, and its illegality in another. Under these circum-
stances Sir Herbert Maxwell could hardly be blamed for declining
to accept this material alteration of his Bill, and so it stood over
until this session, when a compromise was arrived at.

The nature of this compromise will be seen from a perusal of
the Act, which has at length received the Royal assent, and which
we here subjoin.

It is now in the power of the County Council, upon the
request of an applicant under this Act, to apply for an order of
the Home Secretary to take one or other of the two courses
proposed; namely, an order prohibiting the taking of eggs of any
named species, or the taking of any eggs within a certain specified
or defined area.

In the event of such order being obtained, the County Council
will have to give public notice of it three weeks before it can be
enforced, (1) by advertisement in two local papers, (2) by putting
up notices in two conspicuous spots near the place in which the
order is to operate, and (3) in such other manner as the Secretary

2ACoR

994 .228 eorce +: +’. 2ZO0OLOGIST.

of State may direct, or as the Council may think expedient, with
a view to making the order known to the public. Maes

- It. does. not.need much reflection to be..convinced that the
‘machinery which will have to be put in force before a “‘ protection
order’ can be obtained. is of a much more intricate and costly
nature than the simple ‘‘ summons”’ under the old Act. Whether
many people will attempt to put. this machinery in motion, the
-cost of which may be chargeable on the rates, remains to be seen,
We confess that we are not over sanguine on the subject. At the
same time, we shall be very glad if, contrary to our expectations,
the new Act proves workable, and acceptable, and produces in
time the good results which our legislators claim for it.

The following is the text of the Act (57 & 58 Vict. c. 24),

which received the Royal assent on the 20th July last, and was
issued too late to appear in our August number :—

An AcT TO AMEND THE WitpD Brrps Protection Act, 1880.

BE it hereby enacted by the Queen’s most Excellent Majesty,
by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and
Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled,
and by the authority of the same, as follows:

1. Short title and construction.—This Act may for all purposes
be cited as the Wild Birds Protection Act, 1894, and shall be
construed as one with the Wild Birds Protection Act, 1880
(hereinafter referred to as “the principal Act’”’), except as herein-
after provided. !

2. Prohibition of taking or destroying Eggs.—A Secretary of
State may, after the passing of this Act, upon application by the
County Council of any administrative county by order prohibit—

(1). The taking or destroying of wild birds’ eggs in any year
or years in any place or places within that county; or |

(2). The taking or destroying the eggs of any specified kind
of wild birds within that county or part or parts thereof,
as recommended by the said County Council and set forth
in the said order.

(8). The application by the County Council shall specify the —
limits of the place or places, or otherwise, the particular
species of wild birds to which it is proposed that any
prohibition in the order is to apply, and shall set forth the
reasons on account of which the application is made.

THE NEW ACT FOR THE PROTECTION OF BIRDS’ EGGS. 3825

3. Order as to application of principal Act to other Birds.—
A Secretary of State may, on the representation of the council
of any administrative county, order that the principal Act’shall
apply within that county or any part or parts thereof to any
species of wild bird not included in the schedule of that Act, as
if that species of wild bird were included in the schedule of that
Act, and on the making of such order that Act shall apply
accordingly.

4. Publication of Order.—(1). The council of an admini-
strative county shall in every year give public notice of any order
under this Act which is in force in any place within their county
during the three weeks preceding the commencement of the
period of the year during which the order operates.

(2). Public notice under this section shall be given—

(a). As regards each place in which an order operates, by
advertising the order in two local newspapers circulating
in or near that place ;

(b). By fixing notices of the order in conspicuous spots
within and near each place in which the order operates;
and

(c). In such other manner as the Secretary of State may
direct, or as the council may think expedient, with a view
to making the order known to the public.

5. Penalties.—Any person who, after the passing of this Act,
shall take or destroy, or incite any other person to take or
destroy—

(a) the eggs of any wild birds within any area specified in the

order; or

(b) the eggs of any species of wild bird named in the order,

shall, on conviction before any two justices of the peace in

England, Wales, or Ireland, or before the sheriff in Scot-

land, forfeit and pay for every egg so taken or destroyed a

sum not exceeding one pound.

6. Hxpenses.—Any expenses incurred by the council of a
county under this Act may be defrayed by that council as expenses
for general county purposes within the meaning of the Local
Government Act, 1888 (51 & 52 Vict. c. 41), or, so far as respects
Scotland, the Local Government (Scotland) Act, 1889 (52 & 53
Vict. c. 50).

7, (1). Application to Scotland and Ireland.—This Act shall

326 THE ZOOLOGIST.

apply to Scotland with the substitution of the Secretary for Scot-
land for a Secretary of State.

(2). This Act shall apply to Ireland, with the substitution ot
the Lord Lieutenant for a Secretary of State, and of the grand
jury for the council of an administrative county, and any expenses
incurred in carrying this Act into effect in Ireland winx be defrayed
out of grand jury cess.

THE PTARMIGAN IN LAKELAND.
By Rev. H. A. Macpuerson, M.A.

One of the best known histories of the county of Cumberland
is that of John Denton, of Cardew, near Carlisle. This gentle-
man married a daughter of Sir John Dalston, of Dalston Hall,
and is said to have been imprisoned in the Tower of London, in
consequence of a quarrel between himself and Dr. Robinson,
Bishop of Carlisle. During his incarceration John Denton made
extracts from the records kept in the Tower. He compiled from
these his History of Cumberland, of which several copies, or
rather editions (for they all differ), are in existence. The original
copy is lost, but must have been written about 1610. In 1887
the Cumberland and Westmorland Archsological Society pub-
lished an edition of the work, based on a comparison of all the
available copies, or editions, existing in MS., and edited by my
friend Chancellor Ferguson, of Carlisle. This gentleman has
just shown me a newly-discovered MS. copy of Todd’s so-called
edition. It formerly belonged to Dr. Joseph Smith (who was
Provost of Queen’s College, Oxford, from 1730 to 1756), and is
now the property of the Rev. J. R. Magrath, Provost of Queen’s.
It is entitled ‘An Account of the County of Cumberland, 1737.’
Under the title of Wasdale, I find an interesting and entirely new
passage, which is of considerable interest to naturalists. It is as
follows:—‘ Further northwards, ascending by ye course of ye
River Irt (near unto ye Bankes whereof are vast and strong ffells
(great mountains) a large Territory of vast forest ground falls in
view from ye summit of ye great mountain called Scaw fell, weh
may dispute of height any Hill in Cumberland) at ye foot wherof
appears Wasdale chapel, which Dale whether denominated from
ye Wast land wherein ye same is situate or from ye washing of

THE PTARMIGAN IN LAKELAND. 327

ye said River, is left to ye judicious to conjecture. This territory
being part of ye large forest of Coupland (query if it is not now
reputed part of Enerdale forest) was formerly well replenished
wth Red Deer weh are now reduc’d to a small number, & upon
ye mountains & fells there is a store of black game and a certain
species of pouts wth white feathers & other pied, wch is a rarity
particular to these fells, Skiddaw hill, & some other fells in this
County, & not to be found elsewhere (as we are informd) in any
other County of ye Kingdom.” There is a note at the bottom of
the same page :—‘ These pouts are found upon ye Fells between
Shap & Kendal in Westmorland. Lancelot Jackson.” I do not
know what species can be referred to, unless it be the Ptarmigan,
Lagopus mutus. I do not think that the writer referred to pied
or albino Red Grouse, because such specimens occur as irregularly
in the Lake District as elsewhere. Certainly this supposition,
that the Ptarmigan is the species indicated, fits in well with the
various facts explained in my previous notes upon this subject.*
With regard to the footnote, I may add that my friend the vicar
of Stainmoor, who is a native of Westmorland, assured me two
years ago that one of the last of the Lakeland Ptarmigan was
killed near Shap by one of his kinsmen; such, at least, is the
traditional belief in his family.

If the notice in the Denton MS. relates to the Ptarmigan, it
carries our information about local Ptarmigan backwards for sixty
years, a fact which in itself will be thought by some to strengthen
the argument. Upon the opposite page of the MS. to that above
quoted there is the following entry :—‘‘ As Bustards, wch are very
scarce, & only to be seen on Salisbury plane. They are a pretty
large Bird, & run as fast as a hare along ye ground for a con-
siderable time before they can take flight, & are very difficult to
be taken ; as they will seldom come wth in a gun shot. A Bustard
eats well, and has a fine flavour.” ‘This remark was apparently
called forth by the passage relating to the ‘‘ species of pouts” on
the opposite page, but had no direct bearing upon the context. I
ought perhaps to add the reminder that the words “a certain
species of pouts’’ are underlined in the MS. Had the writer
referred to pied Grouse, he would hardly have called them a
“species of pouts,” but would have written of them as moorfowl.

* “The Ptarmigan in Lakeland,” ‘ Zoologist,’ 1893, pp. 97—99.

328 THE ZOOLOGIST.
A LIST OF BIRDS OBSERVED IN THE DISTRICT OF |
BARMOUTH.

By F. C. Rawtines.

Or late years many local lists of birds have from time to time
appeared, and so great and increasing is the interest taken by a
ereat portion of the public in Ornithology that little excuse is
~ needed for the publication of yet another list. With two or three
exceptions, all the species enumerated have been either procured
by, or otherwise come under the personal observation of, the
compiler, during a residence of nearly twenty years in the
locality. The district embraces a circle of about twelve miles
from Barmouth as a centre. I have followed the classification
adopted by Mr. Howard Saunders in his ‘Manual of British
Birds,’ and am indebted to my friends Dr. Hughes and Mr. Wilson
Roberts for their valuable assistance with the Welsh equivalents,
which are given in parentheses.

MisseL Turusu, Turdus viscivorus (Pen-y-llwyn). Resident,
common.

Sone Turvss, 7. musicus (Y Fronfraith, or Bronfraith). Resi-
dent, common.

Repwine, 7. iliacus (Coch dan aden; asgell coch). Some
winters very numerous.

FiewpFrarE, 7’. pilaris. (Socan Hira). In severe winters com-
mon, but always rarer than the preceding species.

BuacxsirpD, 7’. merula (Aderyn du; Y Fwyalchen). Resident,
common.

Ring Ovzeu, JT. torquatus (Y Fwyalchen; Mwyalchen y
Graig). Plentiful amongst the mountains, preferring the craggy
parts, and nesting on heather-covered ledges.

WHEATEAR, Saxicola cenanthe (Tinwen-y-Garreg). Very com-
mon; nests chiefly in rabbit-burrows and in stone walls.

Wuincuat, Pratincola rubetra (Aderyn yr Hithin). Common.

SronzcHat, P. rubicola (Captain Hithin; Crac y Garreg).
Resident, common; just recovering from the winter of 1889,
which thinned them terribly. During the frost in that year they
were picked up dead by dozens.

Repsvart, Ruticilla phenicurus (Llostrhyddun). Very common.

BIRDS OBSERVED IN THE DISTRICT OF BARMOUTH. 329

Brack Repstart, R. titys. A bird of this species, shot near
Towyn, was noticed in ‘ The Field.’

Rosin, Erythacus rubecula (Robin Goch). Resident, common.

WarrtetuHoat, Sylvia cinerea (Barfawg). Common.

_ Lesser Wuitetsroat, S. curruca. Much rarer.

BuackoaP, S. atricapilla (Penddu). Common; an increasing
‘species.

GARDEN WaReteR, S. hortensis. Rarer than preceding.

Gotpcrest, Regulus cristatus (Dryw Benfelen). Resident and
very common.

Cuirronarr, Phylloscopus rufus. Common.

Wititow Weesy, P. trochilus (Dryw yr Helyg). Common.

Woop Wrevy, P. sibilatric (Gwra). Plentiful; have found five
nests in one small wood.

SzepGE WaRBLER, Acrocephalus phragmitis. Common.

GRASSHOPPER WaRBLER, Locustella nevia. First heard six
years ago, and is increasing annually.

HepeEsparrow, Accentor modularis (Siani Lwyd). Common,
resident.

Dipper, Cinclus aquaticus (Mwyalchen-y-Dwr). Resident,
common ; nesting on every mountain stream.

Lone-TatLeD Tit, Acredula caudata (Sywedw). Common,
resident.

Great Tit, Parus major (Penloyn). Resident, common.

Coat Tit, P. ater (Pela Penddu). Common, resident.

Marsu Tit, P. palustris (Pela Llwydwyn). Notso common as
the preceding species.

Buve Tit, P. ceruleus (Glas Bach). Common, resident.

Wren, Troglodytes parvulus (Dryw Bach). Common and
ubiquitous, from top of Cader Idris to the edge of the sea.

TREE CREEPER, Certhia familiaris (Aderyn Pen Bawd). Resi-
dent, common.

Prep WacetatL, Motacilla lugubris (Brech y Fuches). Common
and partially resident.

Waite Wactarn, M. alba (Brech y Fuches). Numerous on
the spring migration.

Grey Wacrain, M. melanope (Tinsigl lwyd). Fairly plentiful.

Yeuttow Waetait, M. Rati (Tinsigl Felen). Observed but
rarely.

Tree Pririt, Anthus trivialis (Ehedydd y coed). Common.

830 THE ZOOLOGIST.

Mrapow Pirit, A. pratensis (Khedydd Bach). Resident,
common.

Rock Pirrt, A. obscurus (Gwas y gog). Common on the sea-
cliffs.

RED-BACKED SHRIKE, Lanius collurio (Cigydd Cefngoch).
Common.

SPoTreD FiycatcHeER, Muscicapa grisola (Gwybedog). Common.

Prep Fiyoarcuer, M. atricapilla (Gwybedog Brith). Common,
in suitable localities.

Swattow, Hirundo rustica (G@wennol). Common.

Martin, Chelidon urbica (Gwennol Fronwen). Rarer.

SanD Martin, Cotile riparia (Gwennol y Glennydd. Not scarce.

GREENFINCH, Ligurinus chloris (Aderyn Melyn). Common.

GoupFincH, Carduelis elegans (Nicol; Jacknico). Rare in
summer; common in winter.

SISKIN, Chrysomitris spinus (Dreiniawg). Observed most
winters.

Cuarrincy, Fringilla celebs (Y Bink; Asgell Fraith). Resi-
dent and common.

BrameBuine, Ff. montifringilla. Two procured from a small
flock in April, 1885.

Linnet, Acanthis cannabina (Llinos). Common, resident.

REDpPoLL, A. rufescens (Llinos Bengoch). Occurs in spring
generally, but has nested here.

Buuurincn, Pyrrhula europea (Aderyn-y-Berllan). Fairly
numerous.

Corn Buntine, Emberiza miliaria (Bras-yr-yd). Resident,
common.

YELLOW Buntine, LH. citrinella (Llinos Felen). Common.

Crru Buntine, L. cirlus. Has occurred once near Borddu.

Reep Buntine, EH. scheniclus (Golfan y gors). Resident
and common.

Snow Buntine, Plectrophanes nivalis (Aderyn yr cira). Gene-
rally observed in winter and early spring.

STARLING, Sturnus vulgaris (Drudwy). Resident, exceedingly
common.

CuovueH, Pyrrhocorax graculus (Bran big coch). A decreasing
species, nesting sparingly, or not at all, in its former haunts.
An egg, now in possession of the Rev. Mr. Tomlinson, Pontefract,
was picked up in the marsh under Harlech in April, 1888.

BIRDS OBSERVED IN THE DISTRICT OF BARMOUTH. 301

Jay, Garrulus glandarwus (Screch-y-coed). Common.

Maaprtr, Pica rustica (Pioden). Common.

JACKDAW, Corvus monedula (Coegfran). Common.

Raven, C. corax (Cigfran). Fairly plentiful, and does not
seem to be diminishing. Breeds in most suitable crags on the
mountains.

Carrion Crow, C. corone (Bran). Common.

Hooprep Crow, C. cornix (Bran Hedlyd). One bird in fine
plumage was seen for some weeks in the autumn of 1884.

Rook, C. frugilegus (Ydfran). Not common in the immediate
vicinity of Barmouth.

Sry Lark, Alauda arvensis (Khedydd). A common resident.

Woop Lark, A. arborea. Has occurred in winter.

Swirt, Cypselus apus (Wennol-y-dwr). Common.

NicHtTsar, Caprimulgus ewropeus (Aderyn-y-troell). Common.

GREEN WooDPECKER, Gecinus viridis (Cnocell-y-coed). Com-
mon.

Great SpotteD Wooprecker, Dendrocopus major. Much
rarer than the preceding.

KineFIsHER, Alcedo ispida (Glas y dorlan). Not uncommon
in winter.

Cuckoo, Cuculus canorus (Y-gog). Much rarer this year than
in 1893, when it was here in great numbers. Is this owing to
the long dry summer ?

Barn Ow1, Strix flammea (Aderyn-y-corph). Common.

LONG-EARED Ow1, Asio otus (Dalluan Gorniog). Occurs rarely.

SHORT-EARED OwL, A. accipitrinus (Dalluan Glustiog). Met
with most winters.

Tawny Own, Syrnium aluco (Dalluan Frech). Resident, common.

Common Buzzarp, Buteo vulgaris (Boncath, but locally called
**Barcutan,” the Kite).* Formerly common, but of late years,
owing to the persistent use of poison and traps, becoming rarer,
and many miles of mountain may be traversed without having a
glimpse of this graceful bird, or hearing its mewing cry.

SPARROWHAWE, Accipiter nisus (Cudyll glas). Not common.

PEREGRINE Faucon, Falco peregrinus (Hebog Dramor). A
regular visitor, but in limited numbers.

Meruin, F’. esalon (Gwalch Lleiaf). Common in autumn.

KEstTREL, F’. tinnunculus (Cudyll goch). Resident, common.

* See the Welsh names of Birds of Prey, Zool. 1891, p. 173.

332 THE ZOOLOGIST.

Cormorant, Phalacrocorax carbo (Morfran). Resident, common.

Suac, P. graculus (Morfran Werdd). Not so common as
Carbo, but breeds within the Bay. .

GANNET, Sula bassana. Occasionally seen.

Heron, Ardea cinerea (Creyr glas). Resident, common. .

Birtrrn, Botaurus stellaris (Aderyn y Bwn). Rare; one shot
in December, 1876.

GREYLAG GoosE, Anser cinereus (Gwydd Wyllt). More often
seen than obtained.

WHITE-FRONTED Goose, A. albifrons (Gwydd daleen wen).
Several obtained at Llwyngweil some winters ago.

Bran Goose, A. segetum. One specimen obtained from a large
flock in 1881.

Wuoorer, Cygnus musicus. Several times observed in winter,
but not obtained.

Common SHELDRAKE, Tadorna cornuta (Hwyaden yr Hithen).
Very common, breeding in the neighbourhood.

Witpy Duck, Anas boscas (Chwiaden wyllt). Resident,
common.

SHOVELLER, Spatula clypeata (Chwiaden lydanbig). Occurs
sparingly.

PintaiL, Dajfila acuta (Chwiaden lostfain). Commoner than
the preceding.

TEAL, Querquedula crecca (Corshwyad). Common.

Wicron, Mareca penelope (Chwiwell). In vast flocks most
winters.

PocuarD, Fuligula ferina (Hwyaden bengoch). A winter visitor.

Scaup, F. marila. Pretty common in winter.

GoLDENEYE, Clangula glaucion. Pretty common in winter.

Lone-taineD Duck, Harelda glacialis (Hwyaden lostfain).
One obtained, a bird of the year.

Scorer, Zidemia nigra (Chwiaden-y-mor). Common in winter.

VELVET Scorer, Gi. fusca. A few have been seen in company
of the preceding species.

GoosanDER, Mergus merganser (Hwyad daneddog). Has °
occurred on many occasions in winter.

RED-BREASTED MurGaNnsER, M. serrator (Trochydd Brongoch).
Common every winter.

Woop Picron, Columba palumbus (Yscythan). Resident and
common.

BIRDS OBSERVED IN THE DISTRICT OF BARMOUTH. 333

Stock Dover, C. enas. Occurs pretty frequently, but never
observed nesting.

Rocx Dovs, C. livia. A few pairs nest in the neighbourhood.

Turtte Dove, Turtur communis (Colomen Mair). Two seen
and one obtained, autumn, 1892.

Patuas’s Sanp Grousn, Syrrhaptes paradoxus. Said to have
been seen by a gamekeeper and others at Mochras during the
visitation of 1888, but no specimens were procured.

Rep Grovusr, Lagopus scoticus (Grugiar). Occurs on the
heather-clad mountains and moors.

PHEASANT, Phasianus colchicus (Ceiliog-y-coed). Flourishes
only where preserved.

PARTRIDGE, Perdix cinerea (Petrisen). Common.

Quart, Coturnix communis (Sofliar). One specimen noted.

Lanprain, Crex pratensis (Rhegan yr yd). Common.

SPoTTED Crake, Porzana maruetta. A few shot every autumn.

Water Ratu, Rallus aquaticus (Rhegan yr dwr). Common.

WatERHEN, Gallinula chloropus (Iar-y-dwr). Common.

Coot, Fulica atra (Cwtiar). Not generally distributed, but
numerous where it occurs.

Rincep Puover, Aigialitis hiaticula. Resident, very common.

GoupEN Puover, Charadrius pluvialis (Chwilgorn y mynydd).
Breeds on the moors.

Grey Puovir, Squatarola helvetica. Occurs in limited numbers
in winter.

Lapwine, Vanellus vulgaris (Cornchwiglan). Resident and very
common.

TURNSTONE, Strepsilas interpres (Hutan y mor). In spring
and autumn. Often seen as late as June.

OysTERCATCHER, Hematopus ostralegus (Pioden y mor). Resi-
dent, common.

Grey Puanarope, Phalaropus fulicarius (Pibydd Llydan-
droed). Noticed commonly on the autumn migration.

Wooncock, Scolopax rusticula (Cyffylog). Plentiful.

Snipe, Gallinago celestis (Giach). Common, resident.

Jack Snipz, G. gallinula (Myniar). Common.

Dunurn, Tringa alpina (Pibydd Rhuddgoch). Common, and
probably resident, as a limited number may be seen all through
the summer.

Lirtie Srint, 7’. minuta (Pibydd Lleiaf). A few procured.

334 THE ZOOLOGIST.

Curutew Sanppirger, TJ. subarquata. Generally with Dunlin,
early autumn.

PuRPLE SANDPIPER, 7’. striata. Fairly common, and observed
as late as the middle of June.

Knot, 7’. canutus (Myniar Goesgoch). Some winters in vast
flocks, others in limited numbers.

SANDERLING, Calidris arenaria (Pibydd y Yraeth). Occurs in
small flocks in spring and autumn.
Common Sanppirper, Totanus hypoleucus (Pibydd). Very
common.

Common Repsuank, 7’. calidris (Coesgoch). Resident.

GREENSHANK, J’. canescens (Coeswerdd). Rare.

BaR-TAILED Gopwit, Limosa lapponica (Rhostawg). Seen
chiefly in autumn.

Buack-TaILED Gopwit, L. belgica (Rhostawg). Rare; one
procured in August, 18953.

CurLew, Numenius arquata (Gilfyn hir). Resident, common.

WuimbekEL, NV. pheopus (Coef Gilfin hir). Common during the
latter part of May, fewer noticed in autumn.

Buack Tern, Hydrochelidon nigra (Ysgraen ddu). Single birds
occasionally seen.

Common TeRN, Sterna fluviatilis (Wennol-y-mor). Occurs
sparingly.

Arctic Tern, S. macrura (Wennol-y-mor). Rare.

LittLe Tern, S. minuta (Wennol-y-mor). Common.

Litt.Le Guu, Larus minutus. In severe weather of March, 1886.

BLACK-HEADED GULL, L. ridibundus (Gwylan-bendu). Common
in winter ; single birds occasionally in summer.

Common Guu, LZ. canus (Gwylan). Very common in winter.

HERRING Guuu, L. argentatus (Gwylan). Resident, common.

Lesser Buack-BackeD Guu, LZ. fuscus. In limited numbers.

GREAT BuAck-BAcKED GuLL, DL. marinus. Commoner than
last. Nests on islands in the lone tarns, also off the coast.

Guaucous Guut, L. glawcus. Several immature birds procured
during severe frosts.

Kittrwake, Rissa tridactyla (G@wylan benwen). Common.

Great Sxua, Stercorarius catarrhactes (Barcutan-y-mor). Fre-
quently seen during the herring-fishing season.

PomaTorRINE Sxua, S. pomatorhinus. One in full plumage,
May, 1898.

NOTES AND QUERIES. 835

RicHarpson’s Sxva, S. crepidatus. Occasionally.

Razorsitu, Alca torda (Lilwrs). Common.

Common GuILLEmotT, Uria traile (Gwylawg). Common.

Littte Aux, Mergulus alle (Garfyl Bach). Many washed
ashore dead in 1887.

Purrin, Fratercula arctica (Pal). Common in summer.

Great Nortuern Diver, Colymbus glacialis (Trochydd Mawr).
Occurs every winter.

RED-THROATED Driver, C. septentrionalis (Trochydd gwddfgoch).
Common every winter.

Great CRESTED GREBE, Podicipes cristatus (Gwyach gorniog).
Not common; a few have been obtained at intervals.

ScLAVONIAN GREBE, P. auritus. Commoner; in some winters
many occur.

Littte Grese, P. fluviatilis (Gwyach Lleiaf). Resident and
common.

Fuumar, Fulmarus glacialis (Gwylan y graig). Occurs rarely.

Manx SHEARWATER, Pufinus anglorum (Gwylan Manawg).

Storm Petret, Procellaria pelagica (Gwylan y weilgi). Several
obtained ; driven in during severe storms.

NOTES AND QUERIES.

MAMMALIA.

Variation in the Colour of the Fox.—A short time since I had the
pleasure of inspecting some twelve or fourteen heads and “ brushes” of
Foxes, all obtained, I believe, from the hunting-grounds of the ‘“‘ New
Forest,” ‘“ East Dorset,” and “South Wilts” Hounds, within the last
season or two. Individual variation would not, perhaps, be noticed in a
particular head or tail if seen alone, but when placed together the contrast
is marked and interesting. The ordinary red-brown head and light grey-
brown tail with white “tag” is undoubtedly the most common, but in one
or two instances the heads were of a much darker hue, whilst, on the other
hand, two at least were almost as grey as a rabbit; again, the “ brushes”
varied in an equal if not greater degree, from light to dark, and four or
five of the number had no white tip. To some extent, no doubt, age, sex,
and season will account for this variation ; for I observed that the lighter
or darker hue was occasioned by the longer hairs being tipped with black
or grey, which in a measure partially hid the “red” fur beneath. The
lightest coloured head was obtained in March last, and was altogether a pale

336 THE ZOOLOGIST.

specimen, even the back of the ears being brown instead of the usual velvety
black. This appeared to be the head of a full-grown Fox, but not very old,
judging from its teeth; indeed, in alluding to the light colour, I do not
refer to broken-teethed, grey-muzzled creatures resembling an old dog.
Whether the dark heads and tails, in the hands of the taxidermist, usually
belong to a similarly dark-coloured body, I am unable to say; but it is not —
necessarily so, as the following will prove. In November last a Fox with a
very dark tail was observed to frequent a furze-brake on the borders of a
wood; eventually it was hunted and killed, and I saw both head and
‘*brush”; the latter was unusually dark, with no white tip, but the head was
of the ordinary rufous colour, and, most remarkable, it had a conspicuous
white mark—rather elongated, about the size of a sixpence—just in the
centre of the forehead. I had previously seen one somewhat similarly
marked, but in that case the white spot was not very large, although
plainly visible at a little distance. During last winter I was informed that
a Fox had been seen in East Dorset with white fore-feet, but I have heard
nothing of it since; all the Foxes I have ever seen had, as usual, black
“ pads.” —G. B. CorBin (Ringwood, Hants).

Squirrels and Conifers.— Mr. A. O. Walker, in the last-published part
of the Chester Society’s ‘ Proceedings’ (No. 4, p. 203), writes :—“ I have
a good many Conifers of various kinds in my grounds, at Colwyn Bay, and
I should guess almost as many Squirrels. At any rate, it is certain that if
each Squirrel bit off only one leading shoot in each year, I should not have
an unmolested fir-tree in the place; whereas, on the contrary, it would
require a long and careful search to find a single tree so disfigured. It is
well known that Conifers sometimes lose their leaders from other causes in
places where there are no Squirrels.”

Cats catching Butterflies and Moths.— Some Cats have quite an
entomological taste, especially in the way of catching and devouring crickets
and cockroaches ; indeed, an old wife's theory I have often heard is that Cats
grow thin from eating them. With regard to Lepidoptera, both diurnal and
nocturnal, their movements are, as a rule, quicker and more out of reach
from pussy’s sharp claws, but I am sure that many entomologists will bear
me out when I say that Cats will often catch moths with great dexterity.
A friend of mine, who has a large garden, used often to remark how his
Cat would, of an evening, lie in wait and catch moths, especially some of _
the larger species ; and on one occasion I received a good specimen of the
death’s-head moth taken by this feline collector. Such an instance is far
from unique, for other species of moths have from time to time been obtained
under similar circumstances. I have also seen a Cat catch and chew—I can
scarcely say eat—both the garden white (Pieris rape) and orange-tip butter-
flies. I believe, however, that few, if any, Cats catch moths or butterflies

NOTES AND QUERIES. 337

for food, but pursue them as they would a wind-driven leaf—or indeed
anything else that moves—merely for sport.—G. B. Corpin (Ringwood,
Hants). [See a note on this subject in the January number, p. 25.—Ep. |

BIRDS.

Albatross at the Feroe Isles.— Before sailing for Faeroe in June
last, in the yacht ‘Daydream,’ I had heard from Prof. Newton of the
capture of an Albatross there. In Thorshavn, Herr Seysselmand H. C.
Miller entrusted me with the complete MS. of his ‘ Avifauna of Feroe,’
wherein the latest items recorded were—‘“ 151. Oriolus galbula, L. 1893,”
and 152. Albatross: ? Mygganaes.” Herr Miiller told me that the latter
bird was shot there, and that he was informed it had frequented the island
for forty years, living in amity with the Gannets. But at last it was shot
because it acted as sentinel for the Gannets, and the people could not catch
the latter asleep when they went to levy their usual toll of birds. The following
day, after seeing Herr Miiller (who told me he believed I could purchase
the bird from Mr. Petersen, of Naalsée, for 20 krone), we crossed to that
island. Mr. Petersen was not at home, but his wife was. She spoke almost
perfect English, and repeated the story of the Albatross, mentioning the
same period of time (forty years). I saw the bird-—a lovely skin, prepared
by Mr. Petersen, who had purchased it in the flesh from the (Mygeanaes ?)
man who shot it. I left the offer for it of 20 krone, but on returning to
Thorshavn some weeks later I learnt that it had gone to the Kjobenhavn
National Museum—a fitting resting-place for it; and on reaching home
I heard that it had been identified there as the Yellow-billed Albatross,
Diomedia melanophrys. On arriving at Frazerburgh and leaving the yacht,
in end of July, I went to Peterhead, to examine once more the Albatross
in the Museum there, which is labelled Diomedia melanophrys. The two
birds, so far as I could judge, were in every respect similar, except that the
Mygganaes specimen, fully adult, had no black superciliary streak. The
Peterhead specimen, identical in size, had a strongly-marked very black
(dusky at the edges ?) superciliary streak, and, if the same species, would be
possibly younger than the Mygganaes specimen. Referring to my journals
of 1882, May 16th, I find that, in company with Mr. George Sim, of
Aberdeen, I visited the Peterhead Museum, and made the following note :—
“ Diomedia melanophrys. This specimen was killed June 15th, 1878, in
lat. 80° 11’’ N., long. 4’ E., and was presented to the Museum at Peterhead
by Capt. David Gray, of the steam whaler ‘ Kclipse,’” as appears by the
label on the case as it now stands in the handsome new Museum buildings.
I have now to add that on July 18th, when off the Orkneys, and twenty
miles from land, I saw an undoubted Albatross, apparently about the same
size as the above-mentioned specimens. It was also seen by our captain as
he stood beside me. But it was distinctly an immature bird, judging from

ZOOLOGIST, THIRD SERIES, VOL. XVIII.— SEPT. 1894. 2D

3388 THE ZOOLOGIST.

the brown and mottled plumage of the back. I mention it here in connection
with the Froese specimen, but will write more fully of it later. Since
penning the above I have ascertained, through Mr. Harold Raeburn, that
the Albatross referred to is at present in the possession of a Mr. Andersen,
not in the Museum. Mr. A. says it is D. melanophrys, and Herr Winge
confirms this. Mr. Raeburn adds, “It is said that it has been living for |
thirty years amongst Gannets on Mygganaes.” I think T heard the
‘period put at from thirty-five to forty years both by Herr Miller and
Mr. Petersen. It may possibly turn out that it does not belong to the
species D. melanophrys, but to a closely allied form with black evebrows
which inhabits the N. Pacific, described by Mr. W. Rothschild as D. im-
mutabilis, and found by his collectors breeding in numbers in Laysan.
But the bird seen by me in Feroe, in Mr. Petersen’s possession at Naalsée,
had no black eyebrow, or only the very faintest trace; about the same
difference existed as between a Common Guillemot’s spectacle streak and
that of the so-called Bridled Guillemot. It seems to me that the Peterhead
bird and the Feroe specimen are indeed as closely allied as the two forms
just mentioned ; but I cannot say anything more decisive without further
knowledge of the genus than I at present possess. It would be desirable
‘to know more about the geographical range of these northern and southern
_Albatrosses, both during their sedentary nesting season, and during the
period of what our German friends would call their ‘‘ Wanderungen.”—
J. A. Harviz Brown (Dunipace, Larbert, N.B.).

While on a visit to the Feeroe Isles last spring, I was shown a skin of
an Albatross which had been shot by a fisherman at Mygganaes, the most
western island of the group. I took the following dimensions :—Length
from tip of beak to tip of tail, 3 ft. lin.; beak, 43 in.; wing (closed),
1 ft. 74 in.; foot, 5in. This is evidently not the Wandering Albatross,
but more probably the Yellow-billed Albatross, as I think it is called
(Diomedia melanophrys). I have no book of reference by me as I write.
Can this bird have found its way so far north? or has it escaped from
some passing ship ?—H. L. Popram (21, Ryder Street, St. James's, S.W.).

Cuckoos calling on the Wing.—According to my experience, Cuckoos
constantly call on the wing during the breeding season, uttering the usual
note, as well as the note which sometimes follows it, and which is some-
thing like the hubble-bubble sound of a hookah-pipe, as recently suggested
by the Rev. Julian Tuck (‘ The Field,’ June 9th, 1894), who attributes this
note to the female. I was always under the impression that it was produced
by the male, as I have certainly frequently heard the same Cuckoo utter
the ordinary note, and the “hubble-bubble” note also; and as the plumages
of the two sexes are so very similar, I do not understand how any person
can tell whether it is the cock or hen bird that makes this peculiar noise
without shooting one in the act of calling and dissecting it. There is

NOTES AND QUERIES. —839

another loud metallic note quite as difficult to describe as the last, which
this bird often utters, and which I have always taken to be the note of the
female, forthe simple reason that it is almost exactly like the note of the
female Koel or Indian Black Cuckoo (Hudynamys honorata), but I have had
‘no means of proving it. Now, whilst on the subject of Cuckoos, I may as
well relate a little episode that occurred here this year. The day after my
arrival at Brettenham, I noticed a pair of Cuckoos flying about the garden,
ealling and settling on an old dead tree in front of my window; this was
on April 4th. How long they had been in the neighbourhood I do not
know, but they were certainly there on that date; and I mention this as
there has been much discussion lately upon the subject of the early dates of
arrival of this species. I kept my eye on these birds for some weeks,
searching for their eggs, and on June 9th found one in a Pied Wagtail’s
nest, strange to say, within a foot of my egg-cabinet! The nest, which
was about 8 ft. from the ground, was built in the ivy running up the out-
side wall of my sitting-room, the cabinet being on the inside, and the nest
on the outside of the wall. Feeling sure that the eggs must have been
intended for my collection, I took the whole clutch to prevent disappoint-
ment, consisting of five Wagtail’s eggs and one Cuckoo's, the latter being
of the Wagtail type, and closely resembling those eggs. Not wishing,
however, to destroy the Wagtail’s nest, which was the second nest it had
built in the same piece of ivy, the first brood having hatched off safely, I
put five Spotted Flycatcher’s eggs into the nest, and in a short time these
were hatched off and reared, and the young birds are now flying about upon
my lawn, and able to take care of themselves. The Wagtails were probably
astonished that they did not run about the lawn after they left the nest,
according to the habits of their species; but they continued to feed them
nevertheless until they were full grown. It is very difficult to ascertain
how many eggs the Cuckoo lays, as they are so difficult to find; but I feel
sure they lay very few,—probably not more than four or five, if as many,—
for so few young birds are to be seen after they are hatched. This year I
only saw one young bird that undoubtedly belonged to these same Cuckoos,
and that was reared by another pair of Wagtails in my kitchen garden.
Had there been others about I must have noticed them. Possibly one or
two eggs may have got destroyed, but probably not, for I examined in-
numerable nests that had not been disturbed in the same locality without
finding one. As regards the size of the egg, it ig no doubt a provision of
nature that it should be small, for two reasons—first, in order that it may
correspond fairly in size with the eggs of the bird in whose nest it is placed ;
and secondly, in order that the bird may be able to carry it in its mouth,
which it could not do if it was larger, and which I believe it almost in-
variably does previous to depositing it in the nest of the foster-parents. In
some cases, of course, a Cuckoo may lay her egg in a nest in the usual way,
2D2

340 THE ZOOLOGIST.

but in most cases that have come under my notice the nest has been either
80 small, or so situated, that the Cuckoo could only have deposited the egg
in it with her beak .—E. A. Butter (Brettenham Park, Bildeston, Suffolk).

I have several times heard and seen the Cuckoo calling on the wing,
but always at a period of high domestic excitement. I have seen two
Cuckoos chasing one another, both calling, and uttering their other peculiar
June notes. This is a great district for Cuckoos.—H. Caicnester Hart
(Carrablagh, Lough Swilly, Co. Donegal).

[This observation is confirmed by several other correspondents.—ED. ]

Young Cuckoo reared in a Swallow’s Nest.—Here at Harswell
Rectory, in the East Riding of Yorkshire, a Cuckoo has been hatched and
reared in a Swallow's nest, in the verandah attatched to my house. The
young bird has flown, and as I write is sitting on the wire fence in front
of the house, and is still being fed by its foster-parents, who catch flies and
supply its wants. Is not this an unusual incident, and is there any
precedent for Cuckoos depositing their eggs in Swallows’ nests? A few
days ago I saw a white Swallow at Harswell.—E. W. ATxrnson.

[The Swallow is included in a list of birds in whose nests the egg of
the Cuckoo has been found, given by Professor Newton in the fourth edition
of Yarrell’s ‘ British Birds,’ vol. ii. p. 394, note, but such an occurrence is
exceptional. In ‘ The Ibis’ for October, 1892 (p. 524), the Rev. C. Wolley
Dod mentions a case of the kind which occurred at his residence, Edge Hall,
near Malpas. The Swallow’s nest was built on a ledge in a gardener’s “ pot-
ting shed ” formed against a garden wall, with a lean-to roof, and an opening
in front fifteen feet long by six feet in height. The nest was so situated
that the Cuckoo’s egg could only have been introduced by means of the
Cuckoo’s beak. ‘The egg was duly hatched, and the young bird reared, and
as soon as it could fly took its departure.—Eb.]

Green Woodpecker pursued by a Sparrowhawk.—Although not of
common occurrence, yet in the New Forest I have, on two occasions at least,
seen a similar chase to that already reported (p. 58), but in neither case was
the hawk successful in securing her quarry. Had it been otherwise, I should
imagine, the strong beak and claws of the Woodpecker would have proved
formidable weapons against even the Sparrowhawk’s dexterity and power.
Tn one of the instances referred to I was both interested and amused. It
was, I think, in July, some years ago, I had been insect collecting in the
forest, and about mid-day sat down under a large tree in a comparatively
open space in the wood to refresh the ‘‘ inner man,” as well as to watch the
wild life in such a charming spot. Whilst seated there, I saw a Green
Woodpecker come from a distant tree, and like a flash of undulating yellow
light, make towards a trunk at no great distance from the one that offered
me shelter, But suddenly it began to scream in a most terrified manner,

NOTES AND QUERIES. 341

and I observed a female Sparrowhawk dashing after it in close pursuit; the
Woodpecker went “ plump ” upon the tree to which it was hastening, about
six or seven feet from the ground, and the Sparrowhawk did likewise, but
with very different result, for it fell trembling to the foot of the tree, slightly
stunned, I suppose, by the sudden stoppage. I sprang up and ran towards
it, but in the meantime it had recovered itself sufficiently to prevent my
capturing it. The Woodpecker had quietly disappeared, I know not where,
and the whole transaction, from start to finish, occupied far less time than
my description of it.—G. B. Corsin (Ringwood, Hants).

Period of Incubation of the Sparrowhawk.—As I do not find any
information on this point in the various bird-books which I have consulted,
an observation on the subject may be acceptable. A gamekeeper assured
me last spring that the Sparrowhawk sits five weeks. As I thought he had
probably overstated the time, I purposely kept a nest under observation.
Five eggs were hatched, and the period of incubation proved to be from
thirty-seven to thirty-eight days. — J. H. Satter (University College,
Aberystwith).

Montagu’s Harrier in Hants.— Notwithstanding the almost universal
war which is waged against all the Hawk tribe, it is gratifying year after
year to be able to note their continued existence in our midst. During the
past summer I have known of two, if not three, pairs of Montagu’s Harrier
nesting in the valley of the Avon. One pair brought off a brood of three,
which were seen from time to time frequenting the place of their birth—
a low, somewhat damp, situation covered with coarse grass and other
herbage, amongst which Osmunda regalis grew tallest, with here and there a
few scattered birches of a stunted growth, the whole situation being overhung
by a noble oak-wood crowning the distant hill. That these birds, old and
young, should have escaped the vigilant eyes—or rather gun—of the game-
keeper is a mystery I cannot explain, except that the spot chosen by the
Harriers was some considerable distance from the dry situation where the
coops for rearing his “birds” were placed. Another pair of the same
species frequented a situation a few miles further down the valley, but I am
sorry to add both were killed, the male on June 4th, and the female ten
days later. From the denuded under-parts, the latter showed unmistakable
signs of nidification, and the keeper who killed the bird said he believed
she had young somewhere on the extensive heaths to the west of the river,
as she and her mate always came from that direction. It is somewhat
remarkable that three or four days after he had shot the male he observed
another ‘blue hawk” in company with the female, and even after she was
slain still a pair of old birds was left, so there must have been two pairs in
the vicinity, for the young, if hatched, were certainly not in the plumage
described. It is interesting to note the nature of the food of this species

342 THE ZOOLOGIST.

at that particular season. On dissection, I found that the stomach of the»
male contained the remains—particularly the legs—of a Yellow Bunting,
together with the eggs of that bird, and a small mass resembling fragments
of insects, amongst which the wing-cases of a small beetle were conspicuous ;
this latter probably from the stomach of the Bunting. The food of the —
female was even more varied, and her appetite apparently more vigorous ;
for the stomach contained no less than six legs of small birds (viz. two of
Bunting and four of Meadow Pipit), the tail and legs of a sand lizard, and a
considerable mass of broken eggs, amongst which those of the Sky Lark
were easily recognised; in fact, I should suppose the Harrier was killed
in the act of robbing the Sky Lark’s nest, as an almost entire egg of
that bird was in its throat, and the whole passage into the intestines
seemed gorged with similar food, whilst the action of the gizzard upon
the egg-shells of Sky Lark, Bunting, &c., had reduced them to an almost
unrecognizable mass ; indeed it seemed impossible that the body of a bird the
size of a Harrier could have enclosed such a quantity of food. From the fore-
going facts it seems that small birds and their eggs form the staple article of
food at this season, although the gamekeeper assured me that the hen bird
especially had been “ working” his breeding-coops; but 1 suppose anything
bearing the name or semblance of a “ hawk” has a like reputation from the
gamekeeping fraternity, as it is a well-known fact that even the “ Night
Hawk,” as the Nightjar is often designated, is by ignorant people persecuted
ag an enemy to their craft. My experience goes to prove that Montagu’s
Harrier is the commonest species of its class met with here; and although
last year I heard of three pairs of Marsh Harriers nesting in the forest, 1 am
doubtful as to identity of the species. In this district I have seen but one
specimen of the Marsh Harrier in the flesh, many years ago, and, if my
memory serves me, that was in late autumn or early winter, and in that
case a doubt existed in my mind as to its being a Hampshire specimen at
all. Of course the fact of my not having seen the species myself is no
proof against its occurrence. ‘Two years ago a specimen of the Marsh
Harrier, said to have been killed in this locality, was identified by a person
who possesses Yarrell’s ‘British Birds.’ When I saw the specimen,
however, a short time afterwards, a glance proved it to be an’ immature
male of Montagu’s Harrier.—G. B. Corin (Ringwood).

Buzzard in Derbyshire.— Early in July last a Buzzard (Buteo vulgaris)
was shot by a gamekeeper about two miles south of Bakewell, Derbyshire.
One foot had at some previous time been taken off at the ankle-joint, and
two claws were missing from the remaining foot. In the crop was found
the remains of a Stoat.—W. Srorrs Fox (St. Anselms, Bakewell). :

_ [It is to be hoped that this will prove a lesson to the keeper, who should ,
regard the Buzzard as a frieud rather than an enemy. It is true that this
bird takes toll of the rabbits when it has the chance, but when these are

NOTES AND QUERIES. 343

plentiful, what matter? It also destroys numbers of moles, mice, voles, and
rats, and on this account should be especially protected by the farmers.
The habit of the Buzzard is to sit upon some horizontal limb of a tree
watching for prey. Its quick eye detects the slightest movement of any’
small animal beneath it, and as soon as the latter is fairly visible, the bird:
glides off its perch and drops quickly upon it.—Ep.|

Habits of the Herring Gull.—It may interest your correspondent,
Mr. W. W. Flemyng, to know that I can confirm his observation (p. 308).
I also have found candle-erds on the Sovereign Rocks, near Kinsale, which
had evidently been swallowed by the Herring Gulls nesting there, and
been cast up by them. No doubt Mr. Delap’s explanation is the correct
one.—H. L. Popuam (21, Ryder Street, St. James’s).

Nesting of the Dotterel in Lakeland.— During a recent visit to the
Lake District, 1 made inquiries about the Dotterel, Hudromias morinellus.
Shepherds and anglers could mention former haunts, and tell of the value
set upon this bird by makers of trout-flies ; but the impression seemed to be
that few or none remain to breed at the present day. After some search I
met with a solitary bird of this species, on July 19th, upon the bare sum-
mit of one of the mountains, at a height of about 2740 ft. above sea-level.
It rose with a weak note, somewhat like that of the Ringed Plover,
Aigialitis hiaticula. 1 found its mate near the same spot, which they were
unwilling to leave, one or other of the birds being almost always in sight.
The ground was covered with sub-alpine mosses, dark in colour, and woolly
in texture, with here and there a patch of reddish shade. The hen bird,
which seemed most interested in my movements, watched me from a dis-
tance of about twenty paces, or took rapid runs of a few yards, stopping
now and then to pick up some insect or other food. When running, the
neck was drawn in, and head not higher than its shoulders. It was per-
fectly silent, and harmonised well in colour with the stones. I noticed an
occasional jerking movement of the head, which may have given rise
to the old idea of the Dotterel imitating the movements of the fowler.
After watching for half an hour, in a bitterly cold wind, I formed some
idea of the whereabouts of the nest. As I drew nearer, the bird shuffled
along the ground, squeaking like a rabbit; her white-tipped tail was
spread to a perfect fan, wings a little raised, and shivering. It was
not until I had watched for some time longer that I at length found
two eggs in a slight hollow in the moss. There was no nesting material
of any kind. Next day, on visiting the place, I found the bird sitting.
After watching her from a distance of four paces, I slowly lessened the
distance, and finally stooped and touched her before she slipped off the
nest. I thought this tameness of the sitting bird the more noteworthy,
as the eggs were not more than half incubated. I came across a second

: a

344 THE ZOGLOGIST.

pair on a neighbouring summit, but could see little of them owing to
the thick mist which prevailed. Both birds were much excited ; they
shammed lameness, sometimes springing a few feet.into the air, and flut-
tering down again, as well as going through a performance similar to that
above described. They doubtless had young, and must have led them away.
shortly afterwards, for on two subsequent occasions I could find no trace of
either old or young. I looked over much suitable ground iu other directions,
including spots which were formerly favourite haunts, but could see nothing
more of this most interesting species. —J. H. Sarrer (University College,
~ Aberystwith).

Dotterel in Derbyshire.—On May 27th last four Dotterel (Eudromias
morinellus) were shot by a gamekeeper on the high bleak pasture-land about
three miles due west of Bakewell, Derbyshire. The wings were saved for
fly-dressing, and the bodies were eaten! — W. Storrs Fox (St. Anselms,
Bakewell).

[The destruction of these birds on the eve of visiting their breeding
haunts is most reprehensible, and the offender should have been certainly
prosecuted under the Wild Birds Protection Act, 1880, for they were killed
during the close-time between March Ist and August 1st.—Ep.]

Late Nesting of the Goldfinch.—I found a Goldfinch (Carduelis
elegans) sitting upon five fresh eggs in a nest in an apple-tree in my garden
on August 24th. Surely this is unusually late in the season for these birds
to be breeding ?—E. A. Bur.er (Brettenham Park, Bildeston, Suffolk).

[No doubt a second brood.—Eb. ]

Greater Spotted Woodpecker nesting in Scotland—In the July
number of the ‘Annals of Scottish Natural History,’ Dr. Stuart asks for
information about the Greater Spotted Woodpecker nesting in Scotland.
Though, of course, a comparatively rare bird in the north of England,
this Woodpecker has nested for many years in the border counties, and
occasionally over the border. In 1888 a pair of Greater Spotted Wood-
peckers nested at Canonbie, N.B., but they and their eggs were taken by
a gamekeeper. As birds do not observe political boundaries, it is probable
that the species often strays into Southern Scotland to breed. I had two
fine nestlings of Dendrocopus major brought to me this year on July 10th,
taken from a nest distant about fifteen miles south of the Scottish border.
One of them soon died, owing, I fancy, to its having been savagely
attacked by one of my Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers. The other flourishes,
and will make a great pet, but the species is not so lively as the Lesser
Spotted one. The latter are extremely animated, and chip away at the bark
nearly all day long.—H. A. Macpuerson (Carlisle).

Hooded Crow breeding in Warwickshire, — It may be of interest to
state that about the year 1887 I found Corvus cornix breeding at Sutton

NOTES AND QUERIES. 346

Coldfield, in Warwickshire. ‘The nest was placed in a tall and solitary
tree. I happened to mention the fact to a local collector, and he had the
nest and eggs taken for his collection. — F. Copurn (Holloway Head,
Birmingham). .

Mealy Redpoll in Worcestershire.—On the 25th January last an
adult male Mealy Redpoll (dcanthis linaria) was caught at Selly Oak,
Worcestershire, and brought to me. It is the first which has passed
through my hands, and is new to my local list. — F’. Copurn (Holloway
Head, Birmingham).

Unusual Number of Eggs for the Marsh Tit and Willow Wren.—
During the past nesting season I found a Marsh Tit (Parus palustris)
sitting upon eleven eggs, and a Willow Wren (Phylloscopus trochilus) upon
twelve. In each case | imagine that from six to eight eggs is the usual
number.—J. H. Satter (University College, Aberystwith).

Lesser Grey Shrike in Hampshire.—I lately had the privilege of
visiting the collection of stuffed birds at Heron Court, in company with
Mr. Edward Hart, of Christchurch. The collection was formed by the late
Karl of Malmesbury, and all the birds were secured on this interesting and
beautiful estate. The first “ British” specimen of White’s Thrush is still
in very good condition, and is mounted with one wing raised, exactly as it
is represented in the well-known engraving in Yarrell’s ‘ British Birds.’
The first recorded ‘ Sabine’s Snipe,” also, is in equally good condition.
In the collection there are a great number of rarities, when one considers
that it was formed eutirely from one estate, but then the situation of the
property is most advantageous, being close to the coast, having a fine
stream, the Avon, running through it, and possessing a great stretch of
heathy ground, in which are swamps and quiet pools, as well as numerous
coverts, and woods of Scotch fir. Birds, in consequence, representing all
families, occur, so that in the collection are Ospreys, White-tailed Hagles,
Harriers, Bee-eaters, rare Anatide, Waders, Skuas, &. We sawa Squacco
aud a Little Bittern that had been shot together at one bend of the river.
Among the cases my attention was arrested by one containing a Shrike,
labelled “ Grey Shrike, shot Sept. 1842.” This proved, on inspection, to be
a good specimen of an adult Lanius minor. I had believed that one in my
own collection, obtained some years ago at Great Yarmouth, was the only
adult male of this species that had been met with in the British Islands,
but this example at Heron Court had been there long before. We saw a
case containing a fine pair of Great Black Woodpeckers, and were told that
they were foreigners, but that they replaced a pair, falling to pieces, that
had been shot many years ago in trees in the park.—Murray A. Matugew
(Buckland Dinham, Frome).

346 THE ZCOLOGIST.

Avocet in Sussex.—On July Ist, while at Pett Level, near Hastings,

I had offered to me, a few minutes after it was shot, an adult female Avocet

(ecurvirostra avocetta). Mr. Bristow, of St. Leonards, to whom I took it
for preservation, gave me the following particulars:—Weight, 94 ozs. ;

plumage good, but rather bare at the breast, as the bird had evidently been ©

sitting. In its gizzard were about twenty small worms. Mr. Borrer, in
his ‘ Birds of Sussex,’ gives, I think, 1870 as the date of the last one
recorded to have been met with in the country, but Mr. Bristow tells me
he had two others from the neighbourhood of Camber Sands some six or
seven years ago. I found on questioning the man who shot the one I pur-
chased that there were two together, and that he wounded the second one,
but it got away. Two days after one was sent to Mr. Bristow from near
the same place, and he found on skinning it that it had been wounded
before. I have no doubt therefore that it was the same bird. It was also
a female, but weighed an ounce heavier than the one first obtained, and
stood higher on its legs.—Grorcr W. Branpsuaw (Hastings).

[It is much to be regretted that public opinion or private enterprise is
not strong enough to put a stop to the repeated infringement of the Wild
Birds Protection Act, which is brought to our notice by correspondents in
various parts of the country. It would give very little trouble to apply
for asummons, and the offender on conviction would have to pay the
costs.— ED. |

Crossbills in Somersetshire.—A flock of from fifteen to twenty Cross-
bills appeared on the Scotch firs in our avenue on August 25th, and their
peculiar twitter first attracted my attention. A farmer complains that great
damage has been done in his orchard to some early apples by birds ‘ that
cut them open, and then leave them”’; so the Crossbills have evidently been
about here for some little time. I have heard of others having been noticed
at Newgale, in North Pembrokeshire, in the last week of June. — Murray
A. Matuew (Buckland Dinham, Frome).

INSECTS.

Tamed Butterflies. —The late Mr.J. Price, M.A., of St. John’s College,
Cambridge, penned a note on this subject which appears in the last published
part of the ‘ Proceedings’ of the Chester Society of Natural Science (No. 4,
p. 209). It is as follows :—* The young Thomases, of Llandudno (whom
I commended to you long ago as promising observers), have succeeded in
taming certain species of Butterfly, not the Common White, which is too
shy. They began by offering cautiously a sugared finger, on which the
insect perched and fed, returning when shaken off, and finally following
their friends up and down the garden, and alighting on them fearlessly.”

TECRERS )

NOTICES OF NEW BOOKS,

The Badminton Library. Big-game Shooting. By various con-
tributors, edited by C. Puinireps-Woxtitey. With numerous
Illustrations by J. Wour, C. Wuymeer and others. 2 vols.
8vo. London: Longmans, Green & Co. 1894.

VIEWED as a series of narratives by individual sportsmen in
different parts of the world, recounting merely their own experi-
ence, these volumes are pleasant reading enough; but there is
no disguising the fact that they are not well edited. Apart from
the fact that the Editor’s own experience as a big-game hunter
has been limited, even on the continent, with which he professes
to be most familiar (N. America), he seems to have made no
attempt to harmonise the work of his contributors, to reconcile
conflicting statements, to delete repetitions, or to supply infor-
mation on points which they have overlooked. This is to be
regretted, for the subject is a splendid one, and if properly
handled, would have resulted in the production of the best of all
the volumes on sport in this now celebrated series. And it is
the greater pity because with contributors of such wide experience
as the late Sir Samuel Baker, F. C. Selous, I’. J. Jackson, W. A.
Baillie Grohman, Abel Chapman, Heber Percy, St. George
Littledale, and others whose names are mentioned, a supply of
the best material was, so to say, guaranteed; all that was
needed was to mould it into proper shape. It is an ungracious
task, however, to point out shortcomings, and we prefer to
confine our remarks to an indication of the varied contents of
the two volumes in the order in which they are presented to the
reader.

The first volume, which deals with Africa and North and
South America, opens appropriately with a chapter on African
hunting as it was fifty years ago, written by the late W. C.
Oswell, whose name with big-game hunters is a household word,
and most fortunate was it for posterity that before his death
(which occurred only in May of last year) he was prevailed upon
to write these experiences. A sympathetic memoir of him by
Sir Samuel Baker (who was so soon to follow him) paves the way

for some reminiscences of that equally renowned hunter. Oswell’s

348 THE ZOOLOGIST.
account of his second and later visits to Africa, and of his sojourn |

7
‘(

Bic GAME ON THE SIRINGETI PLAINS.

SOBRE

with Livingstone in the Zambesi country, is full of interest for
naturalists as well as sportsmen. But on getting to the end of

NOTICES OF NEW BOOKS. 349

this section, which ends on page 158, we seem to have been
reading ancient history, for Oswell’s career takes us back fifty
years to the days of muzzle-loaders, and we miss here the want
of a chapter on modern South African hunting such as Mr. Selous
could have admirably supplied. This, however, we do not get,
for the next page carries us into Hast Africa under the guidance
of Mr. F.J. Jackson. A better guide under the circumstances one
could hardly desire, but having read what he has to tell us, we
cannot help feeling that the enjoyment of a hunter’s life such as
he depicts is only to be realized by a very few, namely, by those
to whom money is no object, and who can afford to carry with
them into African deserts no small share of the comforts of
civilization. It seems to us that he recommends the transport
of too large a ‘‘ battery,” and too many luxuries. Two good
rifles and a shot gun ought to suffice for any man. To carry
more, means an additional quantity of different sized cartridges,
and additional weight, for which bearers must be provided.
Moreover, we have it on the best authority that it is far better
to get accustomed to one good rifle, upon which you can depend
in case of emergency, than to be constantly changing from a
large bore to a small bore, from a light weight to a heavy weight,
and vice versd. Again, the sportsman who is roughing it in
Kast Africa may surely dispense with a bedstead, a bath, and a
bath-tent, and be content with a mattress upon the ground, and
a bucket of water.

But our concern is not so much with the sportsman’s outfit
and stores, as with the natural history of the country explored,
and the haunts and habits of the animals hunted.

From the naturalist’s point of view, the chapter on Antelopes
deals too briefly with the different species, many of which are
still very imperfectly known, and concerning which one would
like to have more information from a writer who has seen and
stalked them in their natural haunts.

The South African Lion has a chapter to himself, by Mr.
Selous, and a very good chapter too; but the South African
Antelopes, strange to say, are passed over in silence. Perhaps
the Editor considered that having given Mr. Jackson’s list of the
Kast African species, it would be superfluous to say more about
them. But there are species in East Africa which are un-
known in the south and vice versd@, and the present distribution

350 _ THE ZOOLOGIST.

of big-game in the south is a subject upon which one naturally
expects to find information, for Oswell’s experiences, related in
the earlier part of the volume, refer altogether to bygone times.

i '

SoutH AFRICAN ANTELOPES.

We come then to an account of the game of North America,
in which the Editor himself is the narrator. It is to be regretted

NOTICES OF NEW BOOKS. 851

that this section was not entrusted to someone with a wider
knowledge of the hunting-grounds of America, and greater
experience as a hunter, for Mr. Wolley shows almost on every
page that he is not equal to the task which he has set himself.
Not only does he omit mention of some of the finest hunting-
grounds of the west, but his experience as a hunter has, on his
own showing, been of such a limited character, as to deprive the
reader of much confidence in his advice. Nor are his observations
on the natural history of the animals hunted so accurate as they
might have been, some of his remarks on the habits and food of
certain species (the Moose and Cariboo, for example) - being
directly at variance with those of more experienced hunters. The
five pages devoted to the Bison are quite inadequate to do justice
to it, and some of the statistics given stand in need of correction.
Altogether this is a most disappointing chapter. The big-came
of America deserved fully as many pages as the big-game of
Africa, but while 320 are allotted to the latter, 80 pages only are
devoted to the former.

The account which follows of the big-came of Central and
South America (extending to less than three pages!) is simply
contemptible. Anyone having knowledge of the literature relating
to these countries would have been able to supply a_ better
account than this, without having ever visited the country! It
is to be regretted that this chapter was not undertaken by
Admiral Kennedy, whose ‘ Sporting Sketches in South America’
were noticed sometime since in this Journal.*

The first volume of the work before us concludes aa a
chapter on the Musk Ox by Mr. Warburton Pike. So far as his
experience has extended, his report is valuable; but it is merely
a personal narrative of an expedition from Fort Resolution on
the southern shore of the great Slave Lake, and does not supply
what was needed in a work of the kind before us. By the way,
Mr. Pike tells us that he can find no record of the Musk Ox
having been seen in Greenland. If he were a reader of ‘The
Zoologist,’ he would have remembered the information on this
point afforded by Colonel Feilden.t The southern range of
the Musk Ox is now satisfactorily established as far south on

* § Zoologist,’ 1893, p. 114.
+ ‘ Zoologist,’ 1890, p. 178; and 1893, p. 42.

i
a
* ”
r
~
~
1

the east coast of Greenland as midway between the parallels
of 70° and 71°, and will in all probability be found to extend
along the coast line of Egede Land to the 65th parallel of
latitude. 7

Turning to the second volume of ‘ Big-game,’ we find the
contents to be of a very varied and interesting nature. Mr.
Arnold Pike, writing on ‘‘ Arctic Hunting,” describes the chase
of the Walrus and the Polar Bear. Mr. Wolley deals with
the Caucasus, and his chapter is supplemented by Mr. St.
George Littledale with an account of the so-called Caucasian
Aurochs, although that name is wrongly applied to the European
Bison.

In the two succeeding chapters Mr. Baillie Grohman gives
his experiences in pursuit of the Chamois and the Stag of the
Alps, and shows himself perfectly familiar with the habits of
these animals, and with the wild mountainous country which
they frequent. He gives also some curious statistics from old
German game books relating to the size and weight of stags,
and the number of tines they carried in former days, as com-
pared with the degenerate animals which are now obtained by
sportsmen. |

Sir Henry Pottinger, dealing with the European Elk, describes
the chase of this huge beast in Scandinavia, and Major A. Heber
Percy writes on Bear-hunting in Russian Lapland. This is sup-
plemented by a chapter on Bear-driving in Russia by Lord
Kilmorey, and is followed by an account of Bison-shooting in
Lithuania. This animal being less known to sportsmen than
any other of the European big game, Major Percy’s description
of its appearance and size, as compared with the Bison of
America, is valuable. Referring to a fine bull which he shot
as it was driven with a small herd past his hiding-place, he
says :—

352 THE ZOOLOGIST.

‘‘He was much larger than any American Bison I have shot or
seen; his hair was finer, longer, and not so curly; his colour was a
shade lighter, and his horns do not curve at the same angle as those
of Bos americanus. His height at the shoulder was about six feet, but
he gave me the idea of being a leggier beast than the Bison of America.
I saw no difference between them which could not be accounted for by
climate and habitat.”’ :

ee ea ee er ee EY

NOTICES OF NEW BOOKS. 358

Messrs. Abel Chapman and W. J. Buck, whose recently pub-
lished work, ‘ Wild Spain,’ was noticed in this Journal not long
since,* supply a short chapter on the large game of Spain and
Portugal, amongst which they include the Red, Roe and Fallow
Deer, Chamois, Ibex, Bear, Wolf, Fox, Lynx, and Wild Boar. Of
these the greatest prize is the Ibex, not only for the sake of the

Bison HEADS FROM LITHUANIA.

splendid horns he carries, but also on account of the extreme
difficulty of stalking and shooting him. The late Sir Victor
Brooke wrote of the Pyrenean Ibex :—‘‘ They live in the worst
precipices I ever saw an animal in, and go into far worse ground
than the Chamois. They are very nocturnal, and are never seen
except in the dark, or early dawn, unless disturbed.”

We next come to the section on Indian Shooting, by Lieut.-
Col. R. Heber Percy, and this occupies the greater portion of the

* * Zoologist,’ 1898, p. 317.
ZOOLOGIST, THIRD SERIES, VOL. XVIII.—SEPT. 1894. 25

by ee): \\
- 3

(I

~ “a

354 THE ZOOLOGIST.

second volume. The writer shows himself perfectly familiar with
his subject, and his contribution is one of the best in the book.
Want of space precludes our following him through the long,
varied game list of India; suffice it to say that he has much good
advice to give, and his tables of measurements will be found most
useful to those in search of standards by which to judge their
own trophies.

Perhaps the most coveted of all heads is that of the great Wild
Sheep of the Pamir which has been named in honour of Marco
Polo, and Mr. St. George Littledale’s account of his adventures
in search of this grand beast, and of the success which he met
with in pursuing it, will be read with lively interest by naturalists
as well as sportsmen.

The volume concludes with some useful hints on camps and
transport, on the choice of rifles and ammunition, and on the
best method of preserving trophies.

In regard to illustrations, both volumes are well supplied with
process blocks from drawings by Messrs. Wolf, C. Whymper, and
H. Willink, as well as from photographs; and although the par-
ticular process employed does not always do justice to the
delicacy of the original sketches, many of the finer lines being
sometimes effaced, on the whole they must be regarded as
artistically drawn, and, with few exceptions, much more accurate
than many we are accustomed to see. It is satisfactory to note
that not one of them has been borrowed from any previous publi-
cation—they have all been expressly designed for the present
work ; and we are indebted to the publishers for permission to
reproduce a few, that our readers may judge whether we have
unduly praised them.

Game Birds and Shooting Sketches : Illustrating the Habits, mode
of Capture, stages of Plumage, and the Hybrids and Varieties
which occur amongst them. By Jonn Gumus Muinuats.
Second Edition. 4to. Pp. i-xiii, 1-185. With numerous
Illustrations. London: Sotheran & Co. 1894.

Tue author of this capital book has conferred a boon upon
naturalists and sportsmen by publishing his second edition upon

NOTICES .OF NEW BOOKS. 355

smaller paper. The size, weight, and cost of the first edition
placed it far beyond the reach of many who would like to possess
it, if they could afford it; and the handier form in which it
ig now issued will admit of its being placed side by side with
other works upon kindred subjects on the ornithologist’s book-
shelves. ee ee

To avoid misconception, it may be stated for the benefit of
those who have not yet seen it, that this volume relates exclu:
sively to the Grouse family, and being illustrated by the author,
who is fortunately an artist as well as a sportsman, the subject
is most graphically treated. There are eighteen full-page plates,
and no less than thirty-seven text cuts, representing Capercaillie,
Blackgame, Grouse, and Ptarmigan, with their natural surround-
ings, besides many varieties and hybrids, some of which are
extremely curious. |

Mr. John Millais is one of those enthusiastic gunners who
goes out not merely to shoot, but to observe. He takes his
sketch-book as well as his cartridge-bag, and utilises the long
watches between the grouse-drives or roe-deer-drives, as the case
may be, by committing to paper some of the charming incidents
afforded by a day in the forest or on the moor. His pictures of
‘Grouse resting”’ and “‘ Grouse disturbed,” ‘‘ Blackgame amongst
the firs and larches,” and “‘ Blackgame Tournament,” are abso-
lutely true to nature, while the accompanying descriptions show
how closely he has studied the habits and attitudes of his
feathered friends.

Here is an observation on Capercaillie:— —

‘*On one occasion, at Murthly, I remember, when I was out by
myself, and the keepers beating some woods near the castle for an
old Roebuck which had escaped for several years, that I arrived ata
small pass at which I was to stand, whilst the men worked up in my
direction. Then I noticed the branches of a large Scotch fir, within a
few yards of the place where I was standing, swaying about in an
agitated manner. ‘Thinking at first it was only a party of Squirrels,
which literally swarmed in the woods, I took no notice of it until at
length I saw the head of a bird I knew well, quietly nipping off the
young shoots at the ends of the branches. Putting down my gun, and
forgetting all about the Roebuck, I got into such a position that my
friend was out of sight behind the trunk of the tree, and crawled on

356 THE ZOOLOGIST.

my hands and knees to the fvot of the tree. My journey was but half
completed when [ discovered, by the flapping of a wily old cock as he
made off, that the one I had seen was not the only occupant, for, on
peering cautiously round the stem, there to my delight were no less
than five others all busily engaged on their evening meal. It was ten
minutes before the keepers came up, and in that time I think I learnt

SAAR Ine Re ee ee ee ee

HEN CAPERCAILLIE ASSUMING MALE PLUMAGE.

more about the positions and attitudes of Capercaillie than I have ever
done since. Though they never once thought of looking down at me,
it was very interesting to notice the simultaneous manner in which
they all stopped feeding on the first warning crack of the beater’s
stick.”’ |
Some excellent figures are given of hybrids, amongst others
of Capercaillie and Blackgame (p. 17), Capercaillie and Pheasant
(p. 31), Blackgame and Pheasant (p. 64), and Blackgame and
Grouse (p. 68). One of the most interesting is the supposed hybrid

—— Vs CULTS

NOTICES OF NEW BOOKS. 357

between Ptarmigan and Grouse (p. 183). Of this bird Mr. Millais
writes :—

«One would imagine that from the close association and similarity
of structure of the two species, Grouse and Ptarmigan would frequently
be found breeding together ; but such is far from being the case. There
is no perfectly authenticated instance of such a hybrid, and I have only

SupPposED HYBRID BETWEEN PTARMIGAN AND GROUSE.

given the illustration of this supposed cross becatise it is believed to be
such by more than one eminent ornithologist. This bird possesses all
the points that such a hybrid should have, the head and neck closely
resembling the head of an autumn hen Ptarmigan, and the tail and
tail-coverts being also alike, so that the bird is as likely as not to be a
genuine hybrid of the two species. It was shot on the 1st Sept. 1878,
by Mr. W. Houston, a well-known veteran Highland sportsman. He
killed it on the Ptarmigan ground above his house at Kintradwell,
Brora, Sutherland, as it was flying with a covey of Grouse. After-

358 THE ZOOLOGIST.

wards he sent it to Professor Newton, of Cambridge, who placed it in
the museum of that town.”’

The claims upon our space preclude our making further
extracts, and it must suffice for us, on closing the volume, to
recommend it cordially to the perusal of our readers.

We are indebted to the publishers, Messrs. Sotheran & Co.,
for the loan of the two illustrations which accompany these
_ remarks. |

The Grouse. Natural History by the Rev. H. A. Macruerson ;
Shooting by A. J. Sruarr Worriey; Cookery by GrorcE
SaINTsBuRY. S8yo, pp. 293. With Illustrations. London:
Longmans, Green & Co. 1894.

Most opportunely, like the work last mentioned, this book
makes its appearance at the commencement of the Grouse
shooting season. It forms the second volume of the ‘ Fur and
Feather’ series published by Messrs. Longmans, the first volume
of which (on the Partridge) was noticed in our number for
May last.

Mr. Macpherson, dealing with the natural history of the bird,
offers some preliminary remarks on the etymology of the name
“Grouse.” In so doing, he follows Prof. Newton (‘ Dict. Birds’)
in tracing the word to ‘an old French adjective griesche,
signifying grey, or speckled.” It seems rather straining a point
to write ‘‘or speckled’’; for while ‘‘speckled’’ well describes
the plumage of the Grouse, and ‘grey’ does not, the strict
meaning of griesche is surely grey. We have the modern form
of it (griéche) in the French name for the Grey Shrike, Pie
grieche, which, by the way, neither of the above-named writers
has noticed; but to say that ‘the plural word grice was early
modified into the singular grows” is to assume that grice was a
plural substantive instead of an adjective, and is scarcely sup-
ported by the quotation from Cotgrave (1611), whose meaning we
take to be that “ poule griesche [was) a moore-henne; the hen of
the grice [game] or moore game”’; in other words, that Cotgrave
employed the word grice as an adjective, and not as a substantive,
as Mr. Macpherson assumes, There is yet another explanation,

NOTICES OF NEW BOOKS. 359

or rather suggestion, which we will venture to make, and it is
this. Eighty years at least before Cotgrave published his
‘Dictionarie of the French and English Tongues,’ the word
grows was in use, and was applied in the first instance, as Prof.
Newton has hinted (op. cit.), to the ‘‘ black game.” These birds
from their colour and their haunts may well have been called
moor-crows by the uninformed, and it is easy to see how, on
dropping the prefix, “crows”? became ‘“ grows” in the pro-
nunciation of the vulgar. Whether there is any evidence of this
use of the word moor-crow, we are not at the present moment of
writing prepared to say ;* but we should not be surprised to find
it in the works of Hector Boece or Bishop Leslie, or their trans-
lators, or perhaps in Holinshed, who embodied so much of Boece
in his ‘ Chronicle.’ But we must not pursue this subject further,
interesting enough though it be, or we shall have no room for
further criticism of the book before us.

In the natural history of the Grouse, Mr. Macpherson has
found a delightful theme on which to exercise his pen, and being
himself a moor owner in Skye, with a knowledge of other moors
in the north, he has turned his opportunities to good account in
an essay of some seventy odd pages. As there is unfortunately
no index to this volume, it would have been a good plan if,
instead of the running headline ‘‘ Manners of the Grouse,” Mr.
Macpherson had substituted at the top of every right-hand page
the key-words indicating the contents of each page. Thus we
should have (from page 7 onwards) “ Distribution,” ‘‘ Introduction
into Shetland,” “ Exportation,” ‘‘ Time of Laying,” “ Nest and
Kggs,” * Food,” ‘Tame Grouse,” “‘ Perching in Trees,” “ Pug-
nacity,” ‘‘ Preponderance of Males,” ‘‘ Packing,” “ Separation of
the Sexes,” “Long Flights,” ‘‘Heather Burning,” ‘ Enemies
of Grouse,” ‘“ Vermin,’ ‘‘ Plumage,” ‘‘ Hybrids,” ‘‘ Weight,”
‘“‘ Poaching,” and “Netting.” These headings furnish a good
indication of the variety of subjects which are dealt with in con-
nection with Grouse; but the remarks on heather-burning are
much too brief, and we are surprised to find no allusion made to
the very important matter of Grouse-disease. Nor are these
subjects dealt with by Mr. Stuart Wortley in the second part of

** In Cornwall the Black-headed Gull is known as Mire-crow, and Carr-
crow is an old Lincolnshire name for the Black Tern.

860 THE ZOOLOGIST.

the volume which is devoted to ‘‘ Shooting.” A summary of the
present views of scientists on the nature and cause of Grouse-
disease would have formed a very useful chapter by itself, and we
cannot but regard its omission as a serious imperfection in the —
volume.

Mr. Stuart Wortley, who writes from long and varied expe-
rience of Grouse-shooting, describes the different phases of
‘‘ shooting over dogs,” and ‘“‘driving,” with a minuteness of
detail which shows him to be a “ professor,’ and his remarks
upon the different methods of Scotch and Enelish “ driving,”
illustrated by diagrams, leave nothing to be desired. Like Mr.
Millais, he is an artist as well as a sportsman, and his full-page
illustrations are excellent accompaniments to the text, as are
those, too, of his coadjutor, Mr. Thorburn. Indeed, from the
naturalist’s point of view, we have seen no better pictures of
bird-life for a long time than Mr. Thorburn’s ‘‘ Black Game on
the Wall” (p. 262) and his iy See amongst the Rocks”
(p. 248).

If we were disposed to be critical, we might suggest in
regard to the picture ‘‘The Shadow of Death” (p. 46) the
attitudes of the Ptarmigan are a little faulty, inasmuch as the
birds should be crouching with lowered heads as the Eagle passes
by, and not sitting with heads erect. The appearance presented
by driven Grouse as they approach a shooter is admirably
rendered by Mr. Wortley in his picture ‘‘ The Last before Dark”
(p. 216).

In the concluding third part of the volume, Mr. Saintsbury
discourses on the most approved methods of dealing with Grouse
after they have reached the larder, and those who know what it
is to dwell for a few weeks on a lone moor, many miles from
civilization, when Grouse in some form or other is sure to be
served up at every meal, will feel grateful to him for some of his
good recipes, although we agree with the writer when he says,
“A plainly and perfectly roasted Grouse is so good, that he
can in no other way be improved, though of course he may be
varied.”

THE ZOOLOGIST

No. 214.—October, 1894.

CONTINENTAL OYSTER CULTURE.
By Capt. C. C, Loneripas, Assoc. Inst. C. E.

For much of the information in these articles I am indebted
to Dr. Professor D. Carazzi, Director of the Museum at Spezia;
to Mr. J. G. Haggard, Her Majesty’s Consul at Trieste; and to
Signor R. Allodi, one of the Directors of the Austrian Society
for Fisheries and Sea Fishing. The subject is divided syntheti-
cally and analytically ; in the first articles the various methods of
culture are described, in the last certain practical conclusions
are deduced. Illustrations of the systems are in the hands of
the writer, from whom particulars can be obtained.

I.—ITALIAN OysTER CULTURE.

A typical instance of the Italian system is found on the
Oyster farms of the Mare Piccolo of Taranto. Behind the town
and to the east, the sea forms a small bay, and is divided into two
basins by the promontory of Penna. This tongue of land leaves
an opening of about 500 yards between the basin nearer the
town—the inner sea, and that more remote—the outer sea.
Neither of these basins is more than two miles wide, and the two
together are about five miles long. The north side of the Mare
Piccolo receives a few streamlets of fresh water, and the inner sea
covers two springs of fresh water, rising a few hundred yards
from the shore. The bottom of the Mare Piccolo is a black,
soft, odoriferous mud, which, near the town, is polluted with the
sewage of 300,000 inhabitants. Fortunately natural conditions

ZOOLOGIST, THIRD SERIES, VOL. XVIII.—ocT, 1894. 25

362 THE ZOOLOGIST.

ensure a steady flow of water between the Mare Piccolo and the
Mare Grande, and somewhat cleanse this cesspool. Taken at
633° F., the average density of the water is 1023, rising to
1025 near the railway. The depth of the sea varies from 26 to
89 ft. |

Here some thirty-two proprietors possess Oyster farms,
varying in size from 2000 to 8000 square yards. The Tarantine
Oyster farm (sciaia) is formed thus: into the bottom of the sea
four or five rows of stout piles, either single stakes (piombz) or
pairs (fwercr), are driven. The stakes are set about 15 ft. apart,
and project 3 to 6 ft. above water level. The form of this stake-
work or palisade is usually rectangular, 325 by 98 ft., giving a
moderate-sized farm. At the ordinary half-tide mark the stakes
are bound together with a thick grass rope (libano) extending
round the whole palisade. Every pair of opposite stakes also is
tied together; the parallel ropes so formed are called ventie,
and these with the libano divide up the whole farm into a number
of square spaces (camere), of which the sides are 15 ft. Lastly,
across these spaces, from corner to corner, diagonal ropes (cro-
ciere) are stretched. The purpose of this network of horizontal
ropes will be presently explained.

The method of collecting the young Oysters is a special
feature of. this system. In the natural course of events the
brood, after issuing from the mother, swim freely in the sea for
some two or three days. After this period they attach themselves
to any solid substance in their way, and develop as Oysters.
Failing to meet suitable materials, such as rocks, stones, wood,
&c., they sink to the bottom, and, if material for attachment is
there not forthcoming, they perish. Artificial collection therefore
consists in providing the spat with substances to which they can
cling; such substances are called collectors.

The typical Italian collector is a bundle or fascine of dry
branches. Chestnut, oak, plane-tree, juniper, furze are used,
but the lentisk (Pistacia lentiscus) is preferred. During the
months of March and April, so as to be ready for the spatting
season, the boughs are dried and beaten free of leaves. Then
they are tied up in bundles with a piece of grass rope. About
one yard of this rope is left free to be used for attaching the
bundle to the mooring-rope or steso. The fascines are next
dipped into a thick solution of lime mixed with a little hydraulic

CONTINENTAL OYSTER CULTURE. 863

cement. This not only preserves the wood, but facilitates the
adhesion of the spat. After drying, the collectors are ready
for use.

The operation of collecting begins with the spatting season,
that is, towards the end of April, and lasts during May and June,
Sometimes longer. Some 2000 to 5000 fascines are used by each
proprietor. A steso or mooring-rope is taken, and to this 110 to 130
collectors are tied, about 5 ft. apart. Then another steso is
treated, and so on. Every seventh or eighth collector is weighted
by a 16 to 20 lb. mooring-stone. All being now ready, the owner
chooses the position for his collectors, and begins to lay them
down. At Taranto the Mare Grande is selected, and the
collectors are deposited there, some distance from the farms.

When the spatting season draws to a close, the collectors are
withdrawn. This takes place generally in July, sometimes in
August, and is effected by a boat and grapnel. If the Oysters
are found to be few and small, the fascines are replaced. But at
the end of August, or at latest half-way through September, the
greater number of the collectors are in the farms. As soon as
they arrive, they are cast off from the steso and made fast to the
stake-ropes near the shore. This is a convenient position for the
next operation, which is carried out in the following manner.
Boys, generally the proprietor’s sons, under the direction of an
overseer, cut up the fascines on which are the young Oysters.
The boughs are divided into sprigs (zipolt) about 8 in. long,
which are put into baskets and carried back to the stakes. In
the meantime a number of pieces of rope 12 to 24 ft. long are cut.
One of these pieces is taken by a workman, a knot is tied at one
end, and near this end the strands are untwisted. An opening is
thus made, and into it one or two sprigs are set; the strands are
then released, and the torsion of the rope holds the sprigs tight.
Next the strands a little higher up are untwisted, more sprigs are
inserted, and so on, until about 18 in. of the rope is left. With
this free end the rope and its Oysters is tied on to one of the
horizontal ropes (ventie or crociere) in the sciaia, and allowed to
hang vertically downwards. Piece after piece of rope is treated
thus until the sprigs are exhausted. The horizontal network of
ropes attached to the stakes, as already explained, thus becomes
laden with vine-like pendants of Oyster-bearing ropes, called
pergolari. The length of these pergolari depends on the

2ZFR

864 THE ZOOLOGIST.

depth of water. Allowing one yard for the dip of the horizontal
rope at its centre under the weight of the Oysters, and another
yard as the distance the end of the pendant should be from the
bottom, the length of rope for 18 ft. of water would be about
12 ft.; for 80 ft. of water about 24 ft., and so on. The pergolari
are usually set about one yard apart; if closer, the Oysters do
not develop so rapidly.

As will be easily understood, many Oysters, during the above
operation, become detached from the fascines. Loose Oysters,
so detached, are laid side by side, base or joint upwards, in a flat
open basket. Over them is scattered a layer of one-year-old
Mussels; the basket with its mixed contents is then hung on to
the palisade. Hight or nine days suffice for the Mussels to
attach themselves to the Oysters and to one another. The
baskets are then withdrawn, and handfuls of the united Oysters
and Mussels are worked up between the strands of rope, and form
mixed pergolart. These are first hung horizontally (a radicola)
by tying the ends to the two opposite ropes of a camera. In this
way the strands hold tighter, and the shells are less likely to
drop. After a few days the Mussels adhere to the rope, and the
pergolari can then be hung vertically.

As the Oysters grow, overcrowding is avoided by remaking
the pergolart. This takes place in December. The sprigs with
the larger Oysters are collected and remade into separate pen-
dants; those with smaller shells are sorted out and reset; whilst
a few Oysters (a cunichiella) are formed into a third set of pen-
dants. A cunichiella is a name given to such Oysters as have
grown opposite each other on the same sprig, and are therefore
attached together only by a small portion of wood at the base of
the shell. Such pairs are cut off and inserted between the rope
strands, and are reckoned to produce the finest class of Oysters.
- Loose Oysters are treated with Mussels as before. The mixed
pergolart require a weeding out of the Mussels to give the
Oysters greater space for development.

At the beginning of the following summer some of the Oysters
are so far grown as to be ready for sale. These are detached,
and in numbers of 300 to 400 are placed in the nassa, a wicker
basket, in which they can be quickly drawn from the water
for sale.

By this system of culture a good part of the Oysters can be

CONTINENTAL OYSTER CULTURE. 365

sold at fourteen to eighteen months old, and nearly all the rest
at eighteen to twenty-four months.

The market classification and prices are as follows :—Ist
quality, or grossone,—these are the Oysters a cunichiella, twenty-
four months old; price £1 to £2 per 1000. 2nd quality, or
uso Bari,—these are the best selected out of those eighteen to
twenty-four months old; price £1 to £2 per 1000. 8rd quality,
or uso Napoli,—the ordinary run of Oysters between eighteen to
twenty-four months old. Their mean diameter is 22 to 2¢in.,
and average weight 88 lbs. per 1000. Price 5s. 6d. to 10s. per
1000. The uso Napoli constitute two-thirds of the annual pro-
duce. 4th quality, or sotto Napoliz—the Oysters rejected from
the above classes. Their mean diameter is 12 to 2in. Price
4s, 2d. per 1000.

The above are wholesale prices at the farms, and do not
include packing or delivery. The mean wholesale price of the bulk
of the annual produce may therefore be taken as 7s. 6d. per 1000.

As regards the working costs of the Tarantine system, an
estimate is given by Dr. Carazzi in ‘ Ostricultwra’ (Manueli
Hoepli). This estimate is for a moderate-sized farm, say of
3000 square yards. The rent is fixed at £18 per annum. ‘Two
hundred and sixty stakes, costing 4s. 2d. to 8s. 4d. each, are
reckoned at an average price of 6s. 3d., or in round numbers £80.
Three rough flat-bottomed boats cost another £24. Stakes and
boats together therefore cost £104. Calculating interest at three
per cent., and total depreciation in ten years, the capital sunk in
stakes and boats is represented by 13 guineas per annum. Pro-
bably 30 stakes a year will have to be replaced at a cost of
another £10; the boats also will require overhauling—say a
further £4 per annum. The total annual expenditure for stakes
and boats therefore is about £28. Grass rope, 15,000 lbs., may
cost another £32 per annum; and 2000 fascines as collectors at
24d. each, another £20; whilst for baskets £2 may be allowed.
For labour, six men are reckoned at 10s. per week, or 6 X 10s. x
52=£156 per annum; adding something for boys, the total
labour may be estimated at £160 per annum.

The average yield of such a property is 750,000 Oysters
per annum. These sold at 7s. 6d. per 1000 realize £281, so
that the balance-sheet is :—

366 THE ZOOLOGIST.

REcEIPTs. EXPENDITURE.

To Sale of 750,000 Oysters By Rent . .. »:«, ee
at 7s. 6d. per 1000 . £281 | ,, Stakes and Boats. 9

», Rope . : :

»» Collectors . : . 20
», Baskets ; ‘ ‘ 2
»» Labour. ; : - 160
Balance (Profit). - - oa

£281 £281

But how can an industry showing only £21 profit per annum
flourish? In the first place the above figures do not include the
sale of Mussels and fish caught on the estate; in the second, the
farm is usually worked by the proprietor and his sons, the labour
therefore is not entirely a cash disbursement; and in the third
place, the property is generally inherited from father to son, and
is gradually improved, so that the 13 guineas per annum for
depreciation, &c., may be neglected. But methods of lessening
the working costs are much needed to make the industry more
lucrative. Rent also is too high; and Government do little to
encourage the industry.

In Lake Fusaro is another example of the Italian or Tarantine
method, slightly modified. The bottom of the lake is generally
muddy, and in many places covered with posidonia.

A maximum depth of 20 ft. frequently shoals to less than 3 ft.
The water is turbid and rich in organisms. The density at 632° F.
is 1022. One modification here introduced consists in forming
some 260 small mounds of stones (roccht) in several parts of the
lake. On these are deposited a number of Oyster-mothers
brought from Taranto. Round these beds is planted a circular
shelter palisade, in the vicinity of which, when the spatting
season approaches, wicker baskets are sunk. Every morning
these baskets are examined, and as soon as spat is noticed, the
fascines used as collectors are immersed. Previously testing for
the presence of spat in this manner has a practical advantage,
in so far as the collectors are kept free from deposit and slime,
and the adhesion of the brood takes place more readily. For
mooring the collectors, stakes about 15 yards apart are planted
towards the centre of the lake, and united by a grass rope. To
this rope the collectors are tied, and weighted so as to be
immersed 1 to 8 yards, according as they are nearer to or further
from the stake. Other fascines are laid on the bottom. ‘The

CONTINENTAL OYSTER CULTURE. 867

collectors are left one to two months, when they are taken into
the stake enclosure. Later on the fascines are cut up and made
into pergolari. When the time comes for remaking these, the
big Oysters are not remade’ in pergolart or pendant ropes as
at Taranto, but are placed in closed wooden chests suspended
in the enclosures; the small Oysters, however, are remade as
before.

These illustrations may suffice to describe the distinctly
Italian system of Oyster culture. In the immediate vicinity of
Venice, however, Oyster rearing is carried on in rather a different
way. Breeding is not attempted, but young Oysters cast up or
dredged are laid down in shallows (valli), or portions of lagoon
with a varying depth of 9 to 12 ft., intersected by small channels
(ghebi). At low water the bed of the valle is dry, the channels
alone remaining navigable by small boats. The water is always
calm, with rapid currents in the channels at ebb and flow. Close
by debouches a branch of the river Brenta supplying fresh water,
and thus explaining the inaptitude of the locality for breeding
purposes. The Oysters grown here, for the most part on shelly
sand, are regular in form, clean and strong shelled, but their
development is slow. At one year old the average diameter
is $ to 1$ in.; at two years of age only a few are saleable;. the
majority must be kept another year to reach market size. This
system more resembles the French method.

II].—Frencu, Dutcu anp AusrRIAN OysTER CULTURE.

Along the French littoral of the Atlantic, especially at Arcachon
and Auray, Oysters are largely farmed. The basin of Arcachon,
one and a half hours by train from Bordeaux, has a circumference
of 50 miles. A tongue of sandy ground, wooded with pine,
extends from north to south, where an inlet places the basin in
communication with the Atlantic. Along the shore of this inland
sea, 10,000 acres of beach are dry at low water, and afford sites
for the farms (pares or clatres), which are divided and enclosed
by embankments of fascines and earth, serving not only to mark
the farm, but also to retain the water which at flood enters
through self-closing sluices. ‘The area of an average-sized farm
is 150 by 325 ft., and it is usually intersected by 6 ft. wide
canals,

For collecting spat, curved tiles are used. These are piled

368 THE ZOOLOGIST.

up in groups, fastened together by a wooden frame or iron wire, and
then dipped in lime and cement. From the 30th May to 16th
June is generally the best time for laying the collectors, which,
every three months, are taken to pieces, cleansed and relaid. __

After eight to nine months the tiles are taken ashore, and the
young Oysters removed by a special knife. This process is
called détroquage. When it is accomplished, the Oysters are
washed and placed in safes called ambulances. These are made
_ of rough rectangular tarred wood frames, provided with short
18-inch legs, and a moveable top. The ends, sides, tops, and
bottoms are mostly of galvanized netting ; thus the flow of water
is not impeded, whilst the Oysters are secured from their enemies.
Every day at low water the safes, which are then dry for several
hours, are examined, and the contents cleaned and re-arranged
if necessary. In five to six months the Oysters usually measure
12 to 2 in. diameter; and are then removed from the ambulances
and bedded in the pare.

At Cape Breton, however, the Oysters are not bedded, but
reared entirely in safes. Their growth is thereby accelerated,
and in seven months their diameter reaches 8+ to 82 in.

Oyster rearing at Thau, near Cette, is chiefly noteworthy for
the method by which the ambulances are secured. The Oyster
farms here are in reality rafts floated on empty petroleum barrels,
and moored in the canal leading from Thau to the sea. The
bottom of the canal is muddy sand, the current strong, and the
position unsuited for bedding; safes therefore are used. ‘These
are tarred wooden trays with wire netting or wooden lattice
bottoms. On these trays rows of 13 to 2 in. Oysters brought
from Arcachon are laid, one Oyster leaning against its neighbour,
joints downwards, the bigger Oysters in the centre, the smaller
at the sides. About twelve to fifteen trays are then placed on the
top of one another, and secured to an empty barrel by two chains
passing round the lot. The apparatus is then immersed and
moored to a floating beam. In this way the Oysters are left to
grow to maturity, but every three months the trays are raised
and cleaned by dashing water over them. In eleven months the
Oysters reach 2¢ to 34 in. diameter, and are ready for market.

It may passingly be noted that on the French coast of the
Atlantic, suitable localities for Oyster rearing are very numerous,
but those for breeding purposes are practically confined to

CONTINENTAL OYSTER CULTURE. 8369

Arcachon and Auray, whence numbers of young Oysters for
rearing are obtained.

DutcH OystTER CULTURE is very similar to the French pro-
cedure at Arcacl.on. ‘The farms vary in size and complexity
according to the amount of capital invested, but they conform to
a general type of the following character. Hach, says Dr. Fowler,
whose description I here follow, consists of two sections: the one,
an area of 12 to 150 acres in the bed of the Schelde, covered at
half-tide; the other, on dry land, comprising the necessary
buildings and ponds, or putten. The river section is generally
divided into one area for the collectors, and another often some
distance off, where the half-ware, or young Oysters, are placed to
grow to a marketable size. The river water is conducted through
a canal and sluices into the ponds, which can also be put into
direct communication with one another by other sluices. The
natural rise and fall of the tide effects the changing of the water.
The method of precedure is this:—The collectors, common roof
tiles, coated first with hard, afterwards with soft lime, and
thoroughly dried, are set about June in the bed of the Schelde at
low water, at right angles or broadside to the current, and sloped
so as to make little eddies, into which the swimming spat may be
swept; they lie there, except for being occasionally swilled in
water to wash off the mud, till September or October, by which
time, if the season be good, numbers of tiny Oysters will be found
adhering. The tiles are then brought ashore and arranged in a
pond in about 3 to 4 ft. of water, which, as explained, is constantly
changing. Here they remain till February, when the young
Oysters are detached, and placed in the hospitals or ambulances.
These, like the French, are generally made of tarred wood, and
are shallow trays about 6 in. deep, standing on legs about 6 in.
off the ground; they rest on the bottoms of ponds, singly or in
two tiers, according to the depth of water, 3 to 5 ft.; in some
cases they are allowed to float. Here the young Oysters remain
for about two months to recover from any damage they may
have incurred in detachment; at the end of this time they are
bedded out on the private beds in the Schelde. The grounds on
which they are laid are occasionally cleaned by dredging without
a net. The Oysters are considered marketable in the third and
fourth year, and are then dredged up and laid down in the store

370 THE ZOOLOGIST.

pond ready for use. The store pond is generally floored with
tarred planks, an expensive material, but found to be better than
either the natural ground, which becomes foul, or than brick,
which is too cold. The water is kept about 4 ft. in depth.

AusTRIAN OysTER CuLTURE is interesting as presenting a
combination and evolution of the preceding systems. The
Austrian Society for Fisheries and Sea Fishing appears to have
begun Oyster culture more or less on French or Dutch lines, but
to be now adopting mostly the Italian system. In 1889 the
society established a farm at Zaule, near Trieste. At some
120 yards from the shore, an area of 100 square yards was
enclosed by stake work, 20 yards long by 5 yards wide, with a
depth of 4 yards at mean tide. Above high-water mark the stakes
were united by cross bars with supporting piles at intervals of
24 yards. These stakes were also 24 yards out of water at low
tide, and were driven 4 to 5 yards into the thick muddy bottom.
From the cross bars were hung frames of galvanized wire netting,
2 by 3 yards, intertwined with branches for the double purpose
of collecting spat, and preventing it from being carried out of the
enclosed space by any seaward current. Within this space were
placed collectors of every kind, and between them Oyster-mothers
were placed in cages of wide-meshed wire netting, so fixed that
they hung 14 yards under water. During the months of January
and March the first young Oysters were detached from the col-
lectors to the number of 40,000, and, placed in breeding safes,
suspended from the palisade in about 2 yards of water. After
this trial the society enlarged the enclosure to 400 square yards,
half of which was to serve as a breeding, and half as a rearing,
ground. But in the spring of 1892 the erection of a petroleum
factory so polluted the water that the undertaking had to. be
abandoned.

The society then initiated experiments at Palazza, where
shallows of 80,000 square yards, with rather less than one yard
depth at low water, were used. The bottom is hard shelly sand.
In 1891, 5000 lime-coated tiles were laid in heaps as collectors.
In 1892, 100,000 young Oysters were detached, and placed to
grow in galvanized wire safes. These were suspended from ropes
attached to stakes, and hung 1} yards under water at low tide.
Both stakes and ropes were in the Moreri channel, which is about

CONTINENTAL OYSTER CULTURE. 37]

50 yards wide, and 5 to 8 yards deep, with an earthy mud bottom ;
the water is rich in organisms. In April, 1893, recourse was
had to the Italian fascine collectors, and the Tarantine system of
rearing. The growth of the Oysters so reared was very rapid.
After seven months’ treatment they increased to a diameter of
22 to 24 in., or at the rate of 2 in. per month.

At Bandon, near Fasana, Oyster culture under Signor A.
Gareis has for some time been in use. In a depth of 4 yards at
average half-tide, a palisade of fifteen rows of stakes has been
erected, the stakes being set 5 yards apart, and united by an iron
wire. From this wire, collectors laden with young Oysters from
Pola are suspended one yard apart. The first collectors were
metal rectangular frames 4 yards long, with thirty-six to forty iron
vertical blades about 82 in. long; but these were abandoned in
favour of wooden frames, from which hung juniper branches.
These wooden collectors, which proved cheaper and more durable
than iron, are dipped in pitch and sand before use. The young
Oysters remain on them until fully reared.

To give the final fattening, Signor Gareis has constructed a
small basin, 30 by 20 yards, with gravel and pebble bottom. The
basin is divided into compartments, 1 by 10 yards, and is fitted
with sluices opening with the flood and closing with the ebb. By
this means the Oysters even at low tide are still covered with 12 in.
of water, whilst at high tide there is more than one yard. The
sea-water near the basin is mixed with fresh, and the fattening of
the Oysters is very rapid.

Near Jagnina, artificial Oyster-rearing is conducted by Signor
S. Bielovucic. An arm of the sea, surrounded by hills, forms a
lagoon of some 200,000 square yards. The bottom is mostly
sand mixed with clay. The depth of water varies from 5 yards
at the extremities to 34 yards at the middle, whence it shoals off
towards the west shore, leaving there a slip of about 10 yards
wide dry at low water. The collectors used were, at first, ninety
heaps of lime-coated curved tiles, 20 in. by 6 in., sixty of these
being superimposed in layers to form one heap, or collector. The
tiles were strung together through a hole at each end, and the
whole pile rested on two blocks of wood. These collectors were
immersed in depths varying from 2} to 34 yards. Besides these,
eighty bundles of furze, as collectors, hung from a chain extended
from stakes in the centre of the lagoon, in a depth of 8 yards, and

372 THE ZOOLOGIST.

beneath them, on the bottom, Oyster-mothers were placed. When
13 to 2 in. in diameter, the Oysters are taken from the tiles and
bedded along the western shore. Those attached to the furze
collectors are treated on the Tarantine method, the necessary
palisade being erected in a depth of 83 yards at half-tide.

The French and Italian methods therefore are here worked
together. The Oysters grown on the former method are regular
in form, but slow in growth; those reared on the latter system

are less regular in shape, but rapid in development.

7 The Oyster culture at Lussinpiccolo is noteworthy for the
method of suspending the collectors. The sea here, even close
to the shore, is deep, and the fascines which the proprietor,
Signor Smircich, intends to adopt next year are to be suspended
from a raft. Hitherto slabs coated with tar have been so hung,
and the Oysters, when detached, have been reared in safes; but
it is likely that the Italian system of pergolari will be adopted.
Probably from a deficiency of fresh water, fattening cannot be
effected.

At Ponte, on the Island of Veglia, under the auspices of the
Prior of the Monastery and the Parish Priest, young Oysters
brought from Grado have been reared in safes supplied by the
Fishery Society. The trial has been so successful that an Oyster
farm, similar to that at Lussinpiccolo, is established, and here also
it is probable that the Italian or Tarantine system will be followed.

From this brief description of the chief continental methods
of Oyster culture, I shall now deduce certain practical conclusions.

III.—PracticaL Concuusions.

These refer to the selection of breeding, and of rearing and
fattening grounds, as also to the manipulation of collectors and
other details of the several systems described.

A topographical study of the various Oyster farms show that,
roughly speaking, breeding and rearing grounds seldom, breeding
and fattening grounds never, can be identical. In fact it may be
said that the more favourable are the conditions for breeding, the
less favourable they are for rearing and fattening, and vice versa.
Why this should be so is not so easy to tell. The question of
Oyster reproduction is indeed exceedingly obscure. Oyster-
mothers, or spawners, have been placed on rearing-grounds, they

CONTINENTAL OYSTER CULTURE. 373

have been observed heavy with spat, the brood has been emitted,
collectors laid around, and yet scarcely a trace of deposit has
been found. Whether, under the conditions favourable to artifi-
cial rearing, the spat is not properly fertilized, or the brood are
born too feeble to survive, or are deficient in the secretion by
which they adhere, or are otherwise wanting, is hard to say; but
the fact remains that the mixture of salt and fresh water, that is
most favourable to rapid growth and development, is apparently
fatal to successful reproduction.

This fact narrows the choice of a situation for a breeding-
ground, but the selection is further restricted by a condition that
every locality suitable for successful reproduction must satisfy, 2.¢.,
it should be near a rearing-ground. When first they adhere to
the collecters, the young Oysters are very small and delicate.
Now for several practical reasons the collectors should rarely be
left on the spatting-ground for more than two, three, or at most
four months. Hence the young Oysters have to be moved at a
critical age, and if the rearing-ground be not near at hand, the
mortality is likely to be heavy. It is only when the Oysters have
attained a diameter of 11 to 13 in. that they can be safely carried
to a distance. A salinity of sea-water, and contiguity to a rearing-
ground therefore are two conditions of aptitude for breeding pur-
poses; but inselecting a breeding-ground there are also some physi-
cal signs by which suitability may be further recognised. The most
unmistakeable sign of allis, the existence of an Oyster-bed. But
even where this is wanting, the presence of Oysters, especially if
they are numerous, is a sure indication of aptitude. Yet the
absence of Oysters is not a positive proof of inaptitude for
breeding purposes, for in many very suitable places this absence
has been traced to the deficiency of solid bodies on which the
brood could collect. Not unfrequently where Oysters were
scarce, the construction of a breakwater, or stonework, has sufficed
to make them numerous. Spezia and Venice may be cited as
instances. Another, and to some extent satisfactory indication of
fitness, or the reverse, is the nature of the bottom. A clear,
clean, and homogeneous mud, like clay, appears to be very suit-
able, and it is a favourable indication if the calcareous tubes of
Serpule (vermi anellidi tubicoh) are found adhering to any
submerged body. Grounds covered with alge and Zostera (sea-
wrack) are to be avoided, as also those of quartz sand, especially

874 THE ZOOLOGIST.

if near to a steep rocky coast exposed to a heavy sea. Shifting
sands and soft mud also are objectionable. These indications
are useful, but not absolute, especially as regards mud. This
per se would not be injurious to reproduction, if it had not the
disadvantage of being too soft and slimy.

When the presence of these marks indicate a likely ground, a
test may be made by laying Oyster-mothers, and, at the spatting
season, setting collectors. For test-collecting only, the kind of
_ collectors used is immaterial, but when it is a question of collecting
for rearing purposes, the collectors should be adapted to the
system in view. ‘Thus, if the Italian method of rearing is to be
used, wood fascines are preferable ; for they can be easily worked
up into pergolart. Butif the French or Dutch plan of bedding
is to be employed, then tiles are better, for the Oysters can be
more easily detached. Where both methods are to be adopted,
both sorts of collectors should be used. Collectors of small
shells and Oyster culch, as Signor Allodi points out, present
serious difficulties in detaching the young Oysters. As regards
the position for setting collectors, it may in general be said that
they should not be laid in shallow water, or too near the shore.
It is difficult to give figures, but at Spezia the collectors are
deposited a full 2 mile from the shore, and at a depth of 123 yards.
At Taranto the closest they are to the shore is 3 mile, but the
usual distance is more, and even as much as 124 miles; the
depth is 124 yards. Ofcourse, in setting collectors, it is advisable
to consider the direction in which the current is likely to carry
the spat, and to set them not end on, but broadside to the
direction of the current.

As to the number of collectors to be employed, the more the
better. In any case not fewer than 400 to 500 should be used at
any one point. Thus if a trial is to be made at two points there
should be a thousand collectors, and so on.

The time for setting the collectors naturally coincides with
that of the spatting season. The collectors therefore should all
be in readiness at the beginning of the month in which the spat
is expected. Ifitis considered desirable to keep them dry and
clean till the spat actually appears, and this is an advantage, then
test-collectors should be laid. These should be frequently and
carefully observed, for the shedding of the spat takes place almost
simultaneously among all the spawners, and unless the collectors

CONTINENTAL OYSTER CULTURE. 875

are immediately used, much may be lost. After immersion, the
collectors should be examined fortnightly, and if no deposition of
spat has taken place, they can with advantage be taken ashore,
quickly dried, and as quickly replaced. ‘Tiles should invariably
be dipped in lime and cement; this facilitates both the adhesion
and the removal of the young Oysters. Fascines also should be
dipped to give a better surface for adhesion.

How long, it may be asked, should the collectors be left after
the spat is deposited ? The less time the young Oysters remain
on the collectors in situ, the less will be the loss inflicted by their
enemies. On the other hand, the brood are at first very delicate,
and exposure to the air, or the sudden change from the deep
water of the breeding-ground to that of the farm, may suffice to
kill them. Consequently much experience and prudence is
necessary. At Spezia, the time allowed is usually forty, to a
maximum of sixty days; at Arcachon, eight to nine months; but
in this latter case the collectors are taken up and cleaned every
three months.

Another practical consideration in the selection of breeding-
grounds relates to the necessary physical conditions of the sea.
Both temperature and saltness are important factors in the
question of reproduction. Within ordinary limits, the higher
the temperature, the greater the quantity of spat emitted. Cold
may delay the spatting season, heat will accelerate it. As to the
best degree of saltness, it may be said approximately that at a
temperature of 68° F. to 86° F. the density of the water should
not vary much from 1025.

Turning now to the question of Oyster-rearing, it appears
that, in general, artificial rearing cannot be conducted in the
absence of three conditions. First, protection from heavy sea;
secondly, moderately shoal water; thirdly, the presence of a certain
amount of fresh water from either spring, river or canal. Wherever
these conditions are found, artificial Oyster-rearing is possible.
The necessity of the first two conditions is obvious: it is not a
question of laying down and withdrawing the Oysters ready for
market, but of continual attention and work which is not possible
except in calm water of moderate depth. The importance of
fresh water for rearing purposes is both negative and positive—
that is to say, it is on the one hand necessary to counteract
evaporation, which in shoal water, especially in warm climates, is

876 THE ZOOLOGIST.

likely to increase the salinity to an undesirable degree, and on
the other hand, its presence enables the fattening ground to be
identical with or contiguous to the rearing-ground, thereby
effecting economy of labour. For fattening purposes fresh water
is indispensable. The density of the most suitable mixture
appears to be about 1014. Positions then, where there are
surface currents or springs of fresh water, or which are near the
mouth of a river or canal, are, if other requisites are present, the
most eligible sites for rearing and fattening grounds. There
should be daily tidal changes of water; and the stronger the
current the better for the Oysters, as they thereby receive more
abundant nutriment. The beneficial effect of strong currents is
very noticeable at Thau. The water need not be limpid or clear.
Turbidity is not injurious, provided the Oysters are not allowed
to become choked with the mud deposited. Too much organic
impurity is to be avoided. As the upper layers of water are
fresher than those beneath, safes and baskets used for fattening
purposes should be suspended near the surface. For the same
reason, the Oysters near the top of the rope pendants in the
Italian system fatten quicker than those lower down, but equality
can be restored by occasionally inverting the ropes.

The lowering of the density from the 1025 of the breeding-
ground to 1014 at the fattening site, explains why the latter is
not suitable for breeding purposes, and why it is useless to set
collectors in the immediate vicinity.

The fattening power of fresh water, though known to antiquity,
is perhaps even to-day imperfectly understood. The result is
certainly not due to the great nutriment contained in the fresh
water, for in many cases it is freer from organisms than the sea
water. In his ‘ Ostricultura,’ Professor Carazzi attributes the
effect to the influence of fresh water in increasing the action of
the liver, and favouring metabolism or the assimilation of food.
This explanation derives support from the Oyster malady, called
by De Montaugé “hepatitis,” or inflammation of the liver,
met with in the case of over-fed geese and birds. This
affection is found only in Oysters put to fatten in too fresh water,
and can be cured by returning the patients for a time to the sea.
Whatever may be the true explanation of its influence, fresh
water is undoubtedly desirable in a rearing and essential to a
fattening ground.

CONTINENTAL OYSTER CULTURE. 377

But when it is present, and the site is otherwise eligible, there
is still the question of the bottom. The system of culture must
either be adapted to this, or a site must be found in which the
nature of the bottom is adapted to the system. This is the
general rule, but in cases where the Oysters are to be reared in
floating ambulances, as at Thau, the nature of the ground is
immaterial.

Except where the bottom is too hard for stake-driving, the
Italian Tarantine method can be used anywhere. But the best
site is where the bottom is of good holding material; and where
the water is not less than 4 yards nor more than 12 yards deep—
a less depth exposes the Oysters to sudden changes of temperature,
and a greater depth makes stake-driving difficult and costly.
The palisade may in general be rectangular, long and narrow,
with the head or short side facing the prevailing wind or
current.

For the French and Dutch systems of bedding, clean firm
bottoms, such as coarse sand, gravel, hard clay, are required, and
the best arrangement is one that permits the operator at will to
draw off the water at low tide, so as to sort and arrange the
Oysters at ease, and give them daily exposure to the air. This
periodical exposure is an important commercial item, as it is
found that Oysters so habituated live for a longer time out of
water.

The Austrian is not a hard and fast system, but inclining
mostly to the Italian practice, utilizes also French methods
according to the nature of the ground.

In comparing the relative advantages of the several systems,
it appears that Oysters laid to mature on the bottom, as in the
French and Dutch methods, are more exposed to the attacks of
worms, crustacea, and molluscs, &c., and, unless daily exposed to
the air, they do not acquire the property of remaining many days
closed when taken out of water; lastly, they develop slowly, and
do not reach saleable size till after the second or third year, and
are not sold as Oysters of first quality till the fourth year. On
the other hand, the system is perhaps cheaper, and the Oysters
are more regular in shape and stronger in shell. Where Oysters
are grown entirely in ambulances, the system shares the advantages
of the Italian method, in which the Oysters are suspended and

ZOOLOGIST, THIRD SERIES, VOL. XVIII.—OcT. 1894. 24

878 THE ZOOLOGIST.

better protected from their enemies, develop rapidly, and become
saleable in about half the time required by the French or Dutch
bedding method. Observations taken at Spezia show that out of
one hundred Oysters reared on the Tarantine plan, at fifteen
months of age one-third were saleable as second quality Oysters,
with a mean diameter of 34 to 82 in.; one-third as third quality,
with a mean diameter of 22 to 81in.; and one-third required
further cultivation. At eighteen to twenty-four months of age
one-half the Oysters were of first quality, that is, more than
31 in. diameter; and of the other half, part were of second quality,
and part of third quality—all being saleable.

It would therefore seem that where a keen demand and high
prices exist, any method of suspending Oysters during growth is
likely to be most successful.

It may not be amiss to add a few words as to the stakes that
form so important an item in the Italian Tarantine method. The
experience of Dr. Carazzi tends to show that Pinus pinaster, also
called Pinus maritima, or cluster pine, is the most durable
material. That grown on dry siliceous soil exposed to the sun
is preferable to that grown on damp clayey ground, sheltered from
sunlight; for the bark of the former is found to adhere more
firmly to the wood, and to resist longer the attack of the Teredo,
or shipworm. This adhesion is also favoured by planting the
stakes as soon as possible after they are cut. As a further pro-
tection against the worm, a certain number of the stakes should
be withdrawn every year, and taken ashore to dry until any
worms are killed, when they can be replaced. The life of a stake
varies from three to eight or ten years.

For protection from the Teredo, ambulances are usually
dipped in gas tar thinned with petroleum. This can be con-
veniently done by building a brick bath heated by a small
furnace.

( O38")

THE OTTER, LUTRA VULGARIS.
By tae Eprror.
(Continued from Zool. 1894, p. 47.)

In the last instalment of this article (pp. 41-47) we left off
with a graphic description of the actions of the Otter in its
natural haunts, as observed in Scotland by the Brothers Stuart,
and printed in their delightful ‘Lays of the Deer Forest.’ We
have read nothing better, or more true to nature. It is evident,
from their account, that the Otter, when undisturbed, enjoys a
frolic in the water with its kind, just as other animals will gambol
upon dry land. We have been eye-witness to this in the case of
Foxes, Badgers, and Squirrels, but it has never been our good
fortune to see what has been described and vouched for by several
American writers in the case of the Otter, namely, its enjoyment
in making and using a “slide”? upon the snow-covered slope of
a hill-side.

Sir John Richardson, one of the earliest writers to describe
with precision the habits of the North American Otter (Lutra
canadensis), has remarked that when its usual haunts are frozen
over, it will travel overland to a great distance through the snow,
and if then seen and pursued, it will throw itself forward on its
belly, and slide through the snow for several yards, leaving a deep
furrow behind it. This movement is repeated with such rapidity
that even a swift runner on snow-shoes has much trouble in over-
taking it. But this “sliding” is not only resorted to in the
endeavour to avoid pursuit, and is something more than an easy
way of slipping down a wet sloping bank to the water. It seems
to be a favourite mode of diversion. J. D. Godman, in his
‘American Natural History’ (Philadelphia, 1826), remarks :—

“Their favourite sport is ‘sliding,’ and for this purpose in winter the
highest ridge of snow is selected, to the top of which the Otters scramble,
where, lying on the belly, with the fore-feet bent backwards, they give them-
selves an impulse with their hind legs, and swiftly glide head-foremost down
the declivity, sometimes for the distance of twenty yards. This sport they
continue apparently with the keenest enjoyment, until fatigue or hunger
induces them to desist.”

Audubon has described this remarkable trait in the Otter from

personal observation. He says :—
242

8380 THE ZOOLOGIST.

‘The Otters ascend the bank at a place suitable for their diversion, and
sometimes where it is very steep, so that they are obliged to make quite an
effort to gain the top; they slide down in rapid succession where there are
many at a sliding-place. On one occasion we were resting on the bank of
Canoe Creek, a small stream near Henderson which empties into the Ohio,
when a pair of Otters made their appearance, and, not observing our
proximity, began to enjoy their sliding pastime. They glided down the
soap-like muddy surface of the slide with the rapidity of an arrow from a
bow, and we counted each one making twenty-two slides before we disturbed
their sportive occupation.

“This habit, he adds, of sliding down from elevated places to the
borders of streams is not confined to cold countries, or to slides on the snow
and ice; but is pursued also in the Southern States, where the ground is
seldom covered with snow, or the waters frozen over.”

These observations have been confirmed by subsequent writers,
and within the last few years. Thus a correspondent of ‘ Forest
and Stream,’ writing from the Grand Rapids, Michigan, in March,
1889, remarked :—

“The ‘Otter-slide’ is made and used for the same reason that boys
make a toboggan-slide, a place where they can play, and have fun. ‘The
Otters will play for a long time, sliding down, and scrambling back with as
much apparent enjoyment as dogs having a frolic, or boys on a toboggan,
and with no other motive. These facts were gathered from an old hunter
and trapper, who was one of a surveying party with the writer in Michigan.”

Again, in ‘Temple Bar’ for December, 1891, an “Old
Trapper” writes :—

‘‘ Otter-slides are as smooth and slippery as glass, caused by the Otters
sliding on them in play in the following manner :—Several of these amusing
creatures combine to select a suitable spot. Then each in succession, lying
flat on his belly, from the top of the bank slides down over the snow and
plunges into the water. The others follow, while he crawls up the bank at
some distance, and, running round to the sliding-place, takes his turn again
to perform the same evolution as before. The wet running from their
bodies freezes on the surface of the slide, and so the snow becomes a
smooth gutter of ice.”

Thus, extraordinary as it may seem, there appears no reason
to doubt what has been vouched for as an observed fact by those
who have described it.

Few animals vary more in size than the Otter, judging by the
measurements and weights which have been recorded from time

nal ——

THE OTTER. 381

to time by different observers; but allowance should be made for
age, and possibly also for sex, although there is no marked
difference in size between the male and female (the latter perhaps
being somewhat smaller), and both continue to grow for some
years after reaching puberty.

The measurements given by Bell in his ‘ British Quadrupeds ’
must have been taken from comparatively young animals. A
good Otter will measure about four feet in length, and weigh
from 20 to 25 lbs., the female a few pounds less. We can
searcely credit the statement of Pennant that (a century ago) one
was found in the River Lea, between Hertford and Ware, the
weight of which was 40 lbs. The weight in this case, probably,
was only estimated.

In September, 1888, we were Otter-hunting with Mr. Collier
in Somersetshire, and one day, after a run of some eight miles,
killed a good Otter, weighing 161lbs. On that occasion Mr.
Collier informed us that during the previous week he had killed
three Otters, whose united weight amounted to 64 lbs. In
April, 1892, we were out with Mr. Courteney Tracy’s pack on
the Wiltshire Avon, and saw two Otters killed. The owner, in
reply to our enquiries, then informed us that it would be an
unusually heavy Otter that would weigh 25 lbs.

Our old friend Mr. F. H. Salvin, of Whitmoor House, Guild-
ford, saw one killed in the Lune, near Lancaster, some years ago,
by Mr. Lomax’s Otter-hounds, of the exceptional weight of
25 lbs.; and Mr. Lomax then told him that the largest he ever
saw weighed 30 lbs. It was found in a hollow willow in Warwick-
shire, and from the worn condition of its teeth was considered to
be very old.

Mr. F. V. Starkey, of Wrenbury Hall, Cheshire, reported
that in February, 1886, an unusually large Otter was killed in
the brook which runs through his village. The length was stated
to be 484 in., and the weight 30 lbs.

The late Hon. G. R. Hill was of opinion that in Shropshire,
where he resided, and where, as is well known, he hunted a pack
of Otter-hounds, the average weight of a full-grown dog Otter is
from 20 to 25 lbs., and of a bitch Otter from 15 to 18 lbs. The
largest he ever killed, as reported in ‘The Field’ of June 20th,
1867, was an old dog Otter weighing 31 lbs. This is one of the
heaviest British-killed specimens of which we have been able to

382 THE ZOOLOGIST.

find any record, though it has been equalled by another which was
killed by the Carlisle Otter-hounds. We learn from Mr. H. A.
Macpherson, on the authority of the huntsman of that pack
(T. Parker), that in Cumberland, bitch Otters vary in weight
from 14 to 17 lbs., that he once weighed one of 20 1bs., and that
the largest he ever saw weighed 21lbs. ‘‘ Dog Otters,” he says,
‘‘when in condition, weigh from 22 to 26lbs. Otters of 27 lbs.
have been killed on both the Esk and the Lyne in recent years,
but they were very big fellows. The heaviest and longest Otter
that has been killed by the Carlisle Hounds was drowned in the
Eden opposite the Ambrose Holme. This grand dog Otter
scaled 31 lbs., and is preserved in the possession of Mr. Wilson,
of Carlisle.”* It has nevertheless been eclipsed by one that was
killed more than thirty years ago by the Bishop Auckland pack,
hunted by the late Mr. John Gallon, and which is stated to have
weighed no less than 32lbs.; but, in the words of the recorder,
“this Saul among the people must be regarded as a very extra-
ordinary specimen, and far beyond the usual size.”’ t

A large Otter, much above the usual weight, was killed,
according to Mr. Macpherson (op. cit.), in a singular manner in
October, 1891. It was run over by an express train while
crossing the railway line at Little Salkeld Station, M.R., and
was found to weigh 26lbs. Mr. Southwell informs us that a
similar fate befel an Otter in Norfolk in December, 1893, when
one thus run over was forwarded to Mr. Gunn, of Norwich, to
be stuffed. He has noted also { that one was taken in a bow-net
at Ormesby, which weighed 27 lbs.

A male killed at Ranworth, in January, 1871, after three
weeks’ intense frost, although in a very emaciated condition and
quite empty, weighed 80 lbs., its length being 50; in. A male
killed in March, 1866, weighed 30 lbs.; and an old male, killed
at Bowthorpe, weighed 37 lbs., being 48 in. in length. These,
however, are quite ordinary beasts compared with one, also a
male, taken by the Carmarthen Otter-hounds at the Cowen, and
which an old sportsman says he saw killed and weighed. The
ph galt) waly iw ly 4s ee re

* ‘The Fauna of Lakeland,’ 1892, p. 37.

+ ‘The Field,’ May 17th, 1862; and Meynell and Perkins, ‘ Catalogue of
the Mammalia of Northumberland and Durham,’ in Trans. Tyneside Nat,
Field Club, vol. vi. (1864), p. 182.

{ Trans. Norf. Nat. Soc. 1872—73, pp. 82, 89.

THE OTTER. 383

weight was 50 lbs., and the length, from nose to tip of tail, 66 in.*
If this weight was actually ascertained and not merely estimated,
we may well accept Pennant’s statement as to the Lea Otter,
which is said to have weighed 40lbs. The weight of an Otter
relative to its length must depend very much on its condition.

Otters, as a rule, are not liable to much variation in the colour
of their fur, which is very thick, close, and shining. This is
generally of a rich dark umber-brown, darkest on the back
(looking almost black when wet), lighter on the sides, and palest
underneath ; in this respect resembling our common Water Vole.
Nevertheless, white, cream-coloured, and even spotted varieties
have been met with and recorded at rare intervals.

In Mr. Henry Evans’s collection at Small Isles there is a pure
white Otter, which was killed at Jura, and another is preserved
at Kildalton House, Islay.t In the Belfast Museum also there
is a white Otter, which was killed in Islay in April, 1850.}

More than thirty years ago (‘Field, May 17th, 1862) two
cream-coloured Otters, killed in the River Aln, were in the
possession of Mr. Grey, of East Bolton; and about the same
time there was preserved, at Newcastle-on-Tyne, a stuffed speci-
men, which was “spotted all over the body with white ticks,
precisely similar to some pointer-dogs.”’

In ‘The Zoologist’ for 1869 (p. 1926), Mr. T. E. Gunn
reported the capture near Yarmouth, in March of that year, of an
old female Otter and two young ones about a fortnight old. The
coats of the latter presented two distinct shades of colour, one
being of a very pale brown, and the other very dark, nearly as
dark as the adult; the mother was slightly piebald, having a few
small patches of white on the crown of the head and neck.

In the ‘ Fishing Gazette’ of June 24th, 1893, Mr.S.J. Hurley,
of Killaloe, reported that a perfectly white Otter had been recently
seen in the Shannon, and that some years previously he had seen
one in the same locality with a white circle round its neck. A

* ¢Tand and Water,’ vol. ii. p. 51.

+ Harvie Brown and Buckley, ‘ Fauna of Argyll,’ 1892, p. 17.

{ When visiting Paris, in 1889, on the occasion of the last Exhibition
there, we saw in the Museum of the Jardin des Plantes a white Otter
which had been sent from China, and we had previously noted another,
which was exhibited in 1887 in the Loan Collection of Hunting Trophies in
the American Exhibition in London,

3884 THE ZOOLOGIST.

friend of the late Edward Alston once saw an Otter “with an
irregular white collar round its neck, seemingly formed of a
collection of spots.”

A specimen in the Museum of the Jardin des Plantes, Paris,
which has ‘‘the whole of the upper part of the fur irregularly
spotted with pure white,’ has been noticed by Bell,* who
remarks :—“‘ It is by no means rare to see an Otter having a few
white spots, though they are rarely as much marked as the one
above mentioned.” He adds:—‘‘It appears to be a variety
analogous to that which often occurs in birds having a few white
feathers, which at the moulting period are often lost, and replaced
by others of ordinary colour. This variety should not be con-
founded with albinism, which is retained for life.”

We have heard of a black Otter, but have never seen one.
A correspondent of the ‘Fishing Gazette’ reported (Oct. 8rd,
1891) that a fine specimen of the black Otter had been caught at
Burnhervie, Aberdeenshire. It is possible that the reporter may
have been deceived by the appearance of the animal when just
taken out of the water, for the fur of a dead Otter when wet and
lying close to the body looks much blacker than when the living
animal has shaken off the moisture from its coat. And here we
may remark how easy it is to be deceived by the appearance of
an Otter which has been stuffed for many years. From long
exposure to the light the fur becomes gradually paler, and in
extreme cases almost bleached, so that we can well imagine such
specimens may give rise to reports of cream-coloured Otters, and
even of so-called white ones.

Passing now from the subject of ‘‘ Variation,” we come to the
more vexed question of ‘‘ Gestation,’ and upon this many pages
might be written. But it must suffice if we summarise the
observations of some of our friends who have paid special
attention to the subject, and note briefly the results at which they
have arrived.

No one, probably, has paid more attention to the subject of
reproduction in the Otter than Mr. A. H. Cocks, of Marlow, who
got a pair to breed in confinement, and Mr. Southwell, of
Norwich, who, living in a county wherein these animals are more
than usually common, has enjoyed good opportunities in the

* ¢ British Quadrupeds,’ 2nd ed., 1874, p. 178.

THE OTTER. 385

district of the “broads” for learning much about their habits.
In the ‘Transactions of the Norfolk Naturalists’ Society’ for
1872-78, will be found an article (pp. 79—90), in which the last-
named observer has given some most useful statistics relative to
the number of young at birth, date when found, and probable age,
with a view to fix the date of birth. Mr. A. H. Cocks, in ‘The
Zoologist’ for 1877 (p. 100), contributed some further informa-
tion, chiefly in regard to the latter point; and, replying to his
remarks, Mr. Southwell (tom. cit. p. 172) dissented from his view
that Otters, like other animals, breed most commonly in the
spring, maintaining that the period of reproduction is in the
winter—namely, from December to February inclusive.

In the ‘ Proceedings of the Zoological Society’ (Feb. 1882),
Mr. Cocks gave an account of the breeding of a pair of Otters in
his possession, and published some supplementary notes in ‘ The
Zoologist’ for 1882 (pp. 201—204), chiefly in relation to the
growth and daily behaviour of the young, of which two were
produced, the period of gestation being estimated at sixty-one
days. It proved afterwards to be sixty-three days.

From a subsequent article by Mr. Southwell (Zool. 1888,
pp. 248—251), and communications from other contributors, we
are led to the following conclusions :—that the Otter breeds in
late autumn and winter, but more often in winter. Mr. Hurley, a
competent judge, says the young are born towards the end of
February—that the period of gestation is like that of the dog,
precisely nine weeks; that, although the number of teats in the
female is six, the number of young produced at a birth is generally
two or three, very rarely four; and that they are born blind, and
are suckled for six weeks, not touching fish until they are seven
weeks old. The fact that quite young Otters have been found in
every month of the year is explained by their being the progeny of
female Otters that have paired as they arrived at maturity. For
fuller details on all these points the reader may be referred to the
articles above quoted.

386 THE ZOOLOGIST.

SEA-BIRD COLONIES IN THE ISLE OF MAN.
By P. Rare.

For a number of years, but especially during the last three
summers, I have had opportunities of visiting the breeding-places
of sea-birds in the Isle of Man, and have during that period seen
nearly the entire coast. The extreme north has a shore of sand
and gravel, either flat or with cliffs of sand and clay. In the
neighbourhood of Castletown the sea-edge is of low limestone,
but with these exceptions our coast is of steep and often lofty
rock, broken by many curving bays and creeks. The principal
nesting-places are on the west and south-west (that is, between
Peel and Port St. Mary, going south), but the east has also at
least two points where sea-birds are present in some numbers.

As regards particular species, the result of the observations
I have been able to make is as follows :—

The Herring Gull, Larus argentatus, is here vastly the most
abundant of all species. At many points, and sometimes for very
considerable distances in almost unbroken continuity, its nests
are to be found. Its long protection by law has no doubt con-
tributed to this. It swarms also all the year round in our bays
and harbours, feeding upon fish-offal on the quays, and general
refuse in the harbours, and perching on the adjoining houses and
even the steamers lying alongside. In flocks of hundreds it follows
the plough, or settles in the fallow fields all over the country. It
would be an interesting question how far its winter numbers are
increased in spring by the arrival of gulls which have spent the
winter in places which offer them no nesting facilities.

As in winter a flock of the Herring Gull is often attended by
one or two Lesser Black-backed Gulls, LZ. fuscus, so a breeding-
station often contains a pair or two of the same species. But at
two spots the Black-backs have formed small colonies of their
own in the midst of the grey birds. Both of these are upon
isolated stacks, and they are not far distant from each other.
These colonies, like the Kittiwakes to be presently mentioned,
were first shown to me by my friend Mr. F. 8S. Graves in 1891.

I have seen and heard of only one colony of the Kittiwake,
Rissa tridactyla, of small extent, and inhabited perhaps by a few
hundred birds, as described in ‘ The Zoologist’ for May last. It
seems to be at no time common on our coast,

SEA°*BIRD COLONIES IN THE ISLE OF MAN, 387

The Shag, Phalacrocorax graculus, breeds at many points,
often in scattered pairs, here and there in considerable numbers.
At some of these places I have also seen a few Cormorants,
P. carbo, in early summer, but never noticed a nest of the latter ;
and common as the Cormorant is with us in winter (in Douglas
Bay at least it certainly outnumbers the Shag at that season),
I have never anywhere met with many at breeding time. Sir Wm.
Jardine, who visited the island about sixty years ago, remarks
(‘Birds of Great Britain and Ireland,’ iv. 238) on the Cor-
morant’s breeding on broad rock-ledges in the Isle of Man.
He also describes a Shag colony on the lofty cliffs of the island’s
southern extremity, which he says was ‘‘ the most extensive that
ever came under his observation,” and remarks that there were
*‘ hundreds of nests.”” Though still common there, I doubt if the
Shag’s numbers are anything like so great at the present time.

Of the Alcide, the Razorbill, Alca torda, is the most generally
distributed, and I think increasing in numbers, and possibly even
establishing new colonies. It does not, so far as I am aware,
breed on the east side. The Guillemot, Lomvia troile, is con-
fined to the south-west, but pretty abundant there. The Puffin,
Fratercula arctica, is more local than either, appearing only at
the southern extremity of the main island, and on the Calf, where
it is numerous.

The Black Guillemot, Uria grylle, is present, not in great
numbers, at a few points. At one station, which is frequented
every year, on May 21st, 1893, I observed a dozen or more of
these birds. A boat had been pushed into a creek immediately
beneath their haunt, some crevices under the beetling top of a low
precipice, and the whole sat crowded together, only a few
yards distant from the intruders, with outspread wings, uttering
a clear piping cry. Another small party resorts yearly to a
similar place about a mile distant. In another locality, not
far from this town, I had at various times in previous years
noticed a few when passing by steamer, and, as it seemed a very
suitable spot for their nesting, I went there twice last summer,
but failed to see any trace of them. At a fourth locality I saw a
few in 1890, but on subsequent visits have not been able to
observe any. Probably they are decreasing in number. The
Black Guillemot, as has often been observed, swims very close
under the rocks, and often takes refuge there when alarmed,

888 THE ZOOLOGIST.

One sees it only in the immediate neighbourhood of its holes at
nesting-time, and it is very confident and easily observed.
Beginning at the north of the island, and going down the
west coast, the sandy brows are exchanged for rock about two
miles south of Kirk Michael. A few Herring Gulls and a pair
or two of the Lesser Black-backed Gull, Larus fuscus, nest at
some spots north of Peel. But the first colony of any extent is
south of that town, and is easy—indeed too easy—of access. It
extends in an interrupted fashion for about two miles, but its
main strength is on a range of cliffs, called in Manx, no doubt
from the orange lichen which plentifully crusts its upper face,
Bing Buigh. A path leads from Peel Harbour across a waste
heathery hill to a slate-quarry, now deserted; about a quarter of a
mile before reaching this the track, skirts the highest of the
precipices, and looks down upon the stony strand which just at
that point lies at their feet. The cliff, perhaps 200 feet high,
here runs inland from the sea, and above the strand is almost
perpendicular, while diagonally across its face passes something
like a rude rock stairway, ironically known in local speech as
‘The Ladder.” On the other side of the strand steep grassy
brows, mixed with rock surfaces, descend almost to sea-level,
and allow of a rather risky scramble to the bottom. At the point
of the long precipice is a double cave, its two parts merging into
one internally, but at the entrance separated by a great offshoot
from the cliff above, which is prolonged into a singular mass of
rock some fifty feet high, the flat summit of which cannot be
reached from below. This outlier is a great Shag-roost, and
fifty Shags or so dive into the clear water below when a boat
approaches, while far up on the main rock-face others sit securely
on their nests, from which they are, when incubation has once
advanced, scarcely to be scared. A small colony of Razorbills
mingles with the Shags, and a row of them sit with their dusky
neighbours on the top of the outlier, the lower parts of which are
profusely strewn with fragments of the weed used by the former
in the construction of their nests (I saw it last summer strewn
also with the fragments of Shags’ and Razorbills’ eggs broken
there by some rapacious plunderer). In May the huge boulders
and fallen earth of the beach were gay with the large dog-daisies
of the Sea-feverfew, and up near the very top of the high cliff, on
luxuriant grassy ledges, many Herring Gulls were nesting in

SEA-BIRD COLONIES IN THE ISLE OF MAN. 889

undisturbed security. But it is rather in the less precipitous
and more varied surfaces on the other side of the strand that the
gulls delight. Part of these slopes are covered with a rank
abundance of the common nettle, and about here the nests are
thickly scattered, usually in situations a little sheltered by some
beetling brow. A little further south is another isolated rock,
the “Cashtal Vooar,” now commonly called, from its pointed
horn, “ The Church,” and on its sea-side is another Shag-roost,
while on its verdant top, and on the long steep brow of the main-
land slope opposite, are more gulls’ nests. Where the brow ends
abruptly in a low steep cliff Shags’ nests are pushed back into its
shallow crevices between the overhanging ledges. In spite of the
law, the Herring Gulls’ nests are persistently robbed wherever
they can be reached, but they nevertheless frequent the same
spots year after year, as, for instance, on the brow just named,
where there is no difficulty in walking down to and among them.
The nests vary as much as do the eggs, from a few stalks of
Cochlearia to a massive and almost neat structure of fine dry
grass and leaves of the Thrift. I have never seen a single Black-
backed Gull at this station.

Half-a-mile further south, also, at Traie Cabbage, so called
from the Sea-kale, whose masses of blue foliage and white bloom
enliven the strand, many Herring Gulls breed, and I have noticed
that among the boulders of the beach there is one place that for
twelve years or so has never failed to have a few nests. South
of this shore are some lovely cliff-edges, where, in early summer,
the sward is rich with rose-coloured Thrift, lilac-blue Squill, white
Feverfew, and Campion, forming a very garden of blossom. Here
and there, where some clear inlet leads to its cavern decked with
glossy Sea-spleenwort, a Shag or two breeds. At the Gob-ny-
Chassan, the extreme southern limit of the birds here, is a small
but pretty colony of Razorbills, as well as a few at another point
nearer Peel. When the tide is far out, the former station may be
walked past. I think it has been established only within the last
fifteen years.

Close to the Gob-ny-Chassan is the Ooig Vooar Cave, one
of the finest on the island. Both here and at Traie Cabbage
Jackdaws are abundant. For some little distance south of Glen-
may, round the low point of the Niarbyl, no colonies are to be
seen, but others are to be observed after passing the strand into

890 THE ZOOLOGIST.

which the “Lhag” opens. Of the beauty of the white beaches
the dark inlets, the green blossoming brows of this most charming
and little-known portion of our coast, this is not the place to speak.
Good numbers of Herring Gulls breed at Gob-yn-Ushtey; there
are several steeply sloping brows occupied, some nests being placed
deep among thick grass tufts, a thing of not common occurrence.
Underneath is a ‘‘Shag rock,” and some Shags nest in the
abrupt and caverned cliffs in which the slopes end. The further
side of the Gob (or point) is an enormous precipice, and the view
_ southward from its top has a character of stern and desolate
wildness very uncommon in our scenery. Beneath is the cliff
just mentioned, sheer and bare of vegetation, and from your feet
broken screes of stone and bracken, swarming with rabbits, fall
to the water’s edge further in front. Right ahead there heaves
up a great mass of highland, part of the back-bone of the isle,
presenting to the sea for miles a steep brow from 800 to 1400 feet
in height, capped by the wind-swept watch station of Cronk-ny-
Ircy-Lhaa, the whole reach without cultivated ground or inhabited
house. As a rule, however, the actual cliff of this imposing coast
is not of very great height, though the mountain is broken by
clefts which make the task of keeping as close as possible to the
sea a very toilsome one. Ina long and barren gully which falls
from the hill-top to the water les the ruin of a little immemorial
church, and beneath is a beautiful shore, where the rough white
beaches of the Geinnagh Vane alternate with dark points, from
whose dripping ledges springs luxuriant Osmunda regalis, and in
whose high deep cavern the rocky walls are hidden by the gigantic
growth of drooping Harts-tongue and Asplenium marinum. All
along the Herring Gulls’ nests are strewn, on the grassy ledges,
the rough boulders, the rushes of earth, and the rough sheets of
bare rock. Only one spot, the Stroin Vuigh, rivals the Gob-yn-
Ushtey on this reach of coast. Here and there Herring Gulls breed
all along to Fleshwick, the spots haunted by them conspicuous
by their brighter green. Scattered pairs of Shags also breed at
the more abrupt portions. At Stroin Vuigh a high cavern opens
below the bird-haunted crags, and here, as well as in less numbers
at one or two other places in the neighbourhood, the Razorbill,
Alcea torda, breeds. I saw last summer a few Lesser Black-backed
Gulls among the crowds of Herring Gulls here.

On the other side of Fleshwick, Bradda presents somewhat

SEA-BIRD COLONIES IN THE ISLE OF MAN. 391

similar scenery, and much the same birds. On its northern parts
many Herring Gulls breed, some on a series of craggy steeps
hardly accessible, others near the inlet called Ghaw Dhoo, on
brows where one can easily walk amongst them. Shags nest, but
not in any numbers, in two or three places not approachable by
land. Well on the Fleshwick side of Bradda is a cavernous
Opening occupying the inmost part of a recess between the two
points. In this, and apparently confined to a very small space,
is a colony of perhaps 150 Razorbills and Guillemots mixed.
When I scrambled down to the low point called “ Amulty,” from
which I could see the place, at a short distance, but across deep
cavernous inlets, the birds streamed around in ceaseless circles
in exactly the same beat, till the eye was weary of watching
the constantly recurring procession.

On the high southern cliffs of the island and on the Calf,
sea-bird life is more abundant and varied than elsewhere, the
perpendicular-ledged faces about the Bay Stacka and the Sound,
and the isolation of the Calf islet, offering the greatest facilities
and protection to the true rock-breeders. I have already some-
what imperfectly described these colonies, and will not at present
dwell further on them; they merit more minute investigation
than I have ever been able to bestow upon them.

On the east the colonies are, as I have stated, more
scattered. The most southern of these is a short distance from
that well-known trippers’ haunt, Port Soderick, but of the
thousands whom the railway brings there very few row round
the point of the Lhiack, or mount the abrupt rounded hill which
marks the breeding-places, at least before such birds as local
plunderers have spared have taken their departure. The colony
is only of small extent, and shelters only Herring Gulls, with
the usual odd Black-backs, a number of Shags which seem to
leave in spring only their immature birds, and a non-breeding
Cormorant or two.

From the summit of the high ground an apology for a track
leads down, past great plants of Foxglove, so characteristic of Man,
which in May have not yet displayed their rich spikes, over stony
débris beneath overhanging juts of crag, to a shadowy recess all
white with luxuriant beds of Cochlearia, emitting a faintly sweet
scent. The water which makes this plant flourish so trickles
from the cliff above, through the rubbish and rock-splinters half-

892 THE ZOOLOGIST. ~

covered with a giant growth of dock, clumps of Hemp-agrimony,
and the strange yellow-green of the golden Saxifrage. On the way
down you pass scattered Gulls’ nests, but to the right as you look
towards the sea, they are thicker in a snug hollow but little above
high water, and still further in the same direction you can see
craggy shelves not accessible from below, where, on the broad slate
ledges, the nests are placed against the sheltering rock. Under-
neath, as usual, where the ledges merge into sheer cliffs, are the
Shags; but, as above mentioned, all mature birds seem to absent
themselves here during the breeding season. From the topmost
pinnacle is heard the harsh croak of the Raven, and the pair will
keep watch, agitated yet defiant, until you are a mile away.
Suddenly a Peregrine, with his magnificent flight, dashes through
the crowd of Gulls. Far out over the slumbering sea he hastens,
then turning, makes direct for the rock again, his sharp cry well
distinguished amid their hoarse clamours. Rock Pipits, in their
breeding plumage, delicately pretty birds when seen close, fly
from stone to stone, amid the tangle-clad recesses near the water,
and the bushy weeds higher up. Down in a hidden corner, where
the bulging cliff-top yields them such a site as they love, a few
Martins flit like butterflies. Unfortunately, this place is too well
known to Douglas lads, and I fear few Gulls here bring off their
clutches safely.

A few Herring Gulls nest at Wallberry, and on the seaward
face of the stony desolate Barony Hill between Dhoon and Cornah
afew more; at the latter place, on rocks not far above high-water
mark, bare of vegetation, except for patches of Sea-pink, and
sprinkled with little pools of brackish water. Maughold Head,
the most eastern point of the island, with its curious humped
outline and picturesque pinnacled stacks, adds to its singular
beauty of outlook and its grey memories, the wild charm of sea-
bird life. Most of the Herring Gulls here occupy a place to
which they have given the name of Traie Foillan. In the caverned
faces on the Ramsey side some Shags also nest.

A few remarks on some species, which, though not properly
sea-birds, yet are often sharers of their stations, will not be out
of place.

One such is the Grey Crow, Corvus cornix. At intervals
pairs are scattered on the coast, and they are obtrusive on the
attention of the most casual visitor. Their nests are often very

SEA-BIRD COLONIES IN THE ISLE OF MAN. 3938

conspicuous. Though usually placed far out of reach of the spray,
and often under protection of the highest cliff-ridge topping some
brow, I saw one last year in a kind of gully, only some fifteen
feet above high-water mark.

The Raven, Corvus corazx, holds his own well on Man.
During 1893 I visited seven nesting-places, and there are
perhaps as many more. On May 9th I came upon two sites
within a mile-and-a-half of each other. The first was above an
unfrequented “ traie,’’ and exceedingly conspicuous, built on the
back of a projecting and overhanging shelf, with a similar shelf
behind it. It was only about twenty feet from below, and perhaps
seventy from the top of the cliff, for this was here comparatively
low. At one side a grassy brow ran up to a level with it, and
I could make out at least one well-fledged young bird. Higher up
was an old nest. The parents were very excited, and one of them
kept constantly plucking dry grass from the ledges, and showering
it around. The second site was on an immense perpendicular
cliff, near the top; another nest lay on the same ledge at a few
yards’ distance, and a third a little higher up, forming a triangle.
At this place also the pair of birds was in attendance. On May
14th I saw the young from another nest, which I have known for
fifteen years, flying and scrambling among the crags in the vicinity
of their birth-place. Even in winter the Raven does not entirely
forsake its nesting-place. Thus on December 26th last I saw a
pair at the usual spot.

Jackdaws are, in places, very numerous, often where no other
birds frequent, as, for instance, on the brows between White
Strand and Glen Mooar. I was, in 1898, disappointed in my hope
of seeing much of the Chough, Pyrrhocorax graculus, in its
narrowing limits, but in 1894 I met with it in several locali-
ties. Inexorable natural law, accelerated by the destructiveness
of man, is, here as elsewhere, working out the extinction of
this most graceful of the Corvide. Yet I think its scarcity must
be somewhat over-estimated by the informant of Mr. H. A.
Macpherson, who in his recently published ‘British Birds’ (p. 40),
speaks of it as limited here to a few pairs. In 1890, in one of its
localities, it appeared by no means rare. In the winter of 1893
—94 some were seen on the sandy northern shores, to which they
seem regularly to wander at that season. During the summer of
those two years I met with them at six other localities, four of

ZOOLOGIST, THIRD SERIES, VOL. XVIII.—ocT. 1894. 2H

894 4 THE ZOOLOGIST,

which are doubtless breeding-places. These breeding-haunts at

the present time are mostly remote and not easily accessible, and
I may be excused for not particularizing them.

Pairs of Kestrels are located round the coast at short intervals.
The rarer Peregrine frequents annually some of our finest head-
lands. The Rock Pipit is ever present, and pairs of the Stonechat
enliven the gorze covers of the brows. I have already mentioned
the Martin, Chelidon urbica. This bird is nowhere, I think, very
common in Man, but visitors to Port Soderick may have noticed
their nests clinging to the rock about the well-known “ Smugglers’
Caves,” and a few may be met with at various other places of
similar formation on the Santon and other coasts. In both 1898
and the present year a few nested on the gable of the pavilion of
Derby Castle, Douglas, which is close to the shore and to the
cliffs.

NOTES AND QUERIES.

MAMMALIA.

Marten in Co. Wicklow.— My attention having been called to an
article in ‘The Zoologist’ of March last, under the heading of “ The

Marten in Ireland,” in which the Editor requests further information —

relative to the haunts and habits of this beautiful animal, I have much
pleasure in stating my experience, although the circumstances I am about
to relate occurred so long ago as the winter of 1824. At or about that
period several Martens were taken alive at Ballyarthur, in the county of
Wicklow, under the following circumstances :—In the midst of a large
oak-wood, nearly half a mile from the nearest dwelling, there was an
octagon-shaped summer-house, one half being boarded at the back, about
seven feet high, and thickly thatched with heather, the inside being ceiled,
a space being left between it and the roof. In this secure, warm, secluded
place the Martens took up their abode. The first intimation we had of
their presence was seeing a hole in the thatch, about half-way up. We
frequently heard them moving about in the roof, after remaining perfectly
quiet for some time. This determined me to try and take some of them
alive. I consulted our Scotch steward, who after a time had a large
wooden box-trap made, open at each end, which answered the purpose
admirably. By this means several of them were taken, and put into a
clean hen-coop in the back kitchen of our house, with plenty of clean hay
to keep them warm; in this they remained for several weeks. We fed
them with birds, rabbits, &c.; the food was always eaten at night—never

NOTES AND QUERIES. 395

touched in the daytime. So wild and untameable were they that on going
near the cage they would rush about and never rest till we went away.
On one occasion the steward on visiting the summer-house one evening,
and when standing under the eave of the thatch, and near to the branch
of an oak tree which extended close to the roof,—and which was the only
way by which they could get on the house,—caught one when jumping off
the roof to the tree, and, although severely bitten and scratched, held him
till he took him to the house and put him into the cage with the others,
having half-a-mile to walk with him, no other person being present. By
degrees they all made their escape by gnawing away the boards of the coop.
The last Marten that was taken at Ballyarthur was in 1872, when one was
caught in a rabbit-trap during the winter of that year. I have no doubt
‘there are Martens still in that locality. All those taken had the yellow
throat and breast, and appeared to be fully grown.—H. L. Barty
(Portland House, Ryde, Isle of Wight).

Barbastelle in Huntingdonshire. — Another specimen of the Bar-
bastelle, Synotus barbastellus (see p. 187), was sent to me, alive, by Lady
Kthel Wickham, on Sept. 4th. I find that this animal was captured in a
cottage at Elton, and given to Lady Ethel for me by Mr. John Crisp, of
Warmington. The village of Elton is in Huntingdon, though I believe
that the boundary between that county and Northamptonshire runs within
a few hundred yards of the cottage in which this bat was taken. I have
therefore a scruple about claiming it as a Northamptonshire specimen.
The individual in question was a female, and had a great deal of grey hair
on the back and under-surface of the body. The former of these two

animals alluded to above was of an almost uniform black-brown.—LitrorD
(Lilford Hall, Oundle).

BIRDS.

Osprey in Bedfordshire.—On May 18th I visited Southill Pool, the
only regular nesting haunt of the Great-crested Grebe in Bedfordshire, a
pair of which, I am pleased to say, at that date, had a nest containing four
eggs, which were eventually hatched, and the young reared. ‘This pool I
found was haunted by an Osprey, which stayed several hours in my com-
pany, searching for food, occasionally plunging into the water, but unfortu-
nately at no time successfully. Now and again it rested on the over-
hanging trees surrounding the pool, sometimes amongst the thick green
foliage, and at other times on some dead branch, from which a good look-out
was easy. Nevertheless, the bird did not seem at all wild whilst on the
wing. ‘Twice it came within gunshot whilst I was standing in the open,
and each time made one’s blood boil (as the saying has it) to think of the
keeper in the immediate background, to whom all pleading was in vain,
and the Wild Birds Protection Act no intimidation. It is to be hoped,

396 THE ZOOLOGIST.

nevertheless, that it will escape destruction.—J. Srzete Extiorr (Dixons
Green, Dudley).

Hybrid Mallard and Sheldrake.—You may be interested to hear that
a man in this county has this summer reared some young hybrids between
the Sheldrake and Mallard. I hope to send you some further notes thereon
by and by.—H. A. Macrpuerson (11, Victoria Place, Carlisle).

Occurrence of the “Cape Pigeon” at Bournemouth. —I was in-
formed that a strange Petrel, pied all over, had been shot near the Old
Harry Rocks, at Bournemouth, while it was following a foreign steamer.
This was at the beginning of the present month. I have since received a
photograph of the bird from Mr. Thomas Cooper, the birdstuffer of Poole,
who had it to mount, and the bird is what I surmised it to be at the first,
a ‘‘ Cape Pigeon,” Daption capensis. Pelagic birds, from all parts of the
world, are liable to find themselves brought by accident to our shores, and
the “‘ Cape Pigeon,” a well-known bird, is abundant in both the Pacific and
Atlantic Oceans, and cannot be considered very extraordinary as a chance
visitor.—Murray A. Matuew (The Vicarage, Buckland Dinham, Frome).

American Goldfinch on Achill Island, Co. Mayo. — On Sept. 6th,
while in teem Bay, in company with some visitors to this island, I observed
a small bird feeding on a thistle by the sandy beach. Its yellow colour and
black head and wings made me think it might be an American wanderer,
and, having my 12-bore with me, I easily secured it with a charge of No. §
shot. It was in company with Linnets, Stonechats, and Meadow Pipits,
and seemed quite at home, flitting about, and uttering a soft mellow note.
After I had shot it, I was satisfied that I had one like it in my collection,
namely, one that I shot in America in 1873. I immediately sent it to
Mr. A. G. More, of Dublin, who identified it as the American Goldfinch,
Astragalinus tristis. The migration of North American birds to Achill
Head deserves attention, and on some future occasion I hope to deal
with the subject more fully, as I consider Achill Head and Crougham
great landmarks for migratory birds, as also the Blackrock Lighthouse,
which throws its revolving light seawards for miles. I am convinced that
many of the North American migrants visit our bold headlands, from the
fact that I have observed and secured many of them in Achill. I should
be glad to learn from any American naturalist how far north on the
American continent the bird in question has been observed. So far as I
know, this is the first example which has been taken in the British Islands.
J. R. SHeripan (Dugort, Achill Island).

[Through the kindness of Mr. A. G. More, we have had an opportunity
of examining the bird above referred to, which he has correctly named, and
from the much worn appearance of the wing and tail-feathers—the latter
especially being much abraded—we are decidedly of opinion that it had
been not long previously in captivity. It is not unlikely that it may have

i
pee

Se ee

NOTICES OF NEW BOOKS. 397

escaped from some homeward-bound vessel from New York, and found its
way to land on the west coast of Ireland.—Ep.]

FISHES.

Bonito in the Solway Firth.— A male example of the Bonito,
Thynnus pelamis, was found dead upon the sands near Silloth on Sept.
15th. It was nearly buried in sand, but some Gulls had opened the belly
and extracted part of the internal organs. The visits of the Bonito to the
Solway Firth are rare. The only specimen that had been taken on the
English side of the Firth previous to this was caught in September, 1856
(‘ Fauna of Lakeland,’ p. 477). In the present instance the fish is estimated
to have weighed about five pounds.—H. A. Macruerson (Carlisle),

NOTICES OF NEW BOOKS,

Birds of West Cheshire, Denbighshire and Flintshire. By W. H.
Doziz. Reprinted from the Proceedings of the Chester
Society of Natural Science and Literature. 8vo, pp. 282—
851. With folding Map. Chester. 1894.

Tux last part issued of the Chester Society’s ‘ Proceedings’
is an exceptionally good one. It contains papers on geology,
meteorology, botany, and zoology, most of them of local interest,
and all of them instructive. That by Prof. T. M. Hughes, of
Cambridge, on ‘‘Caves and Cave Deposits,” explains very clearly
their mode of formation, and the nature of the evidence upon
which theories as to their age have been founded. Mr, Alfred
O. Walker, to whose encouragement and support the Society is
much indebted, writes on the climate of Chester, and of the
north coast of Wales, as well as on the natural history of the
district explored by the Society, extending to the sea-coast of
Flintshire and Denbighshire, and including as much of Cheshire
as lies west of a line drawn southward from Warrington. Mr.
Newstead, the Curator of the Grosvenor Museum, Chester, con-
tributes an excellent paper on the Heronries of Cheshire and
North Wales, as well as a Preliminary List of the Mammals. In
the latter we note his allusion to a record of Daubenton’s Bat in
the old copper workings at Alderley Edge, the reference to which
he has forgotten. He will find it in ‘ The Zoologist’ for 1893,
p. 108, and in the volume for 1888 (p. 222), he will find another
notice of the capture in Cheshire of the Whiskered Bat. Four

instances are noted of the occurrence of the Marten (Martes
sylvatica, Nilsson) within the last few years in the Chester dis-
trict. One at Eaton on the Duke of Westminster’s estate on
the 8th July, 1891; another a few days later on the rabbit
warren near Hope; a third at Connah’s Quay on the 14th April,
1892, and a fourth, a very large male, near Llanfairfechan about
the 28th April, 1892. The measurements are given of three of
these. According to Mr. Newstead the Dormouse has only been
met with in two localities in the district, namely, at Thornton-le-
- Moors, and at Nant-y-glyn, Colwyn Bay. The Harvest Mouse
is included with doubt in his list; while the Bank Vole (Arvicola
glareolus) is stated on the authority of the Rev. C. Wolley Dod
to be common near Malpas.

But the most important contribution to this part of the
Chester Society’s ‘ Proceedings’ is that by Mr. W. H. Dobie on
the ‘‘ Birds of West Cheshire, Denbighshire and Flintshire,” of
which, as above noted, we have received a separate copy for
review. It extends to seventy pages, and has a useful map.

As twenty years have elapsed since Brockholes’ list of the
Birds of Wirral appeared in the first number of these ‘ Pro-
ceedings,’ it was time that some fresh effort were made to deal
with the avifauna of Cheshire, and Mr. Dobie’s contribution
is therefore very acceptable. The district to which his obser-
vations relate includes a great variety of country both in regard
to altitude, ranging from the coast up to 1850 feet above the sea,
and to the character of both land and water. According to Mr.
A. O. Walker,

3898. THE ZOOLOGIST.

It comprises one side of the estuaries of the Mersey and Conway,
and both sides of the Dee, having large areas of sand and mud laid bare
at low tide, and eminently adapted for the wading and swimming birds.
In Cheshire there are ranges of hills of triassic sandstone, covered
on their summits in parts with forest and heath, as is especially the
case in Delamere Forest. The low grounds are for the most part
pasture, and few fields are without old marl pits, now full of aquatic
plants, and the haunts of Moorhens, Dabchicks, and other waterfowl.
The two Welsh counties, though not possessing mountains equal to
those of Carnarvonshire, yet form a land of hill and dale with large
areas of elevated moorlands. Along the south-west side of the estuary
of the Dee rises the carboniferous range of hills, which forms a con-
tinuous outwork to the older formations extending from the mouth of

NOTICES OF NEW BOOKS. 899

the Vale of Clwyd to Llangollen. Behind these is the loftier silurian
range, forming the eastern boundary of the Vale of Clwyd; and on the
western side of this is a vast area of confused hills and valleys, also of
silurian age, mostly moorland, and sparsely inhabited. These two
ranges unite at the head of the Vale of Clwyd, and pass on southward
to the furthest limits of Denbighshire, including in this area the
beautiful Vales of Llangollen and the Ceiriog.

Nor is the climate much less varied than the physiography of the
district. That of southern Cheshire is practically the climate of our
midland counties generally; while that on the north coast of Flintshire
and Denbighshire more nearly approaches that of Devonshire in its
equable character; that of Chester and the low parts of Flint and
Denbigh being intermediate.

Why is it (says Mr. Walker) that with all this variety of soil, alti-
tude, and climate with sea-coast, estuarial mud flats, mountain, moor-
land, and cultivated land, the district of the Chester Society has not a
richer avifauna ? |

The answer, we presume, must be that, compared with other
counties, the number of observant ornithologists in Cheshire
is limited, while, as Mr. Dobie has remarked, ‘‘the district
happens not to lie in any of the great routes of migration.”
In this respect it cannot compare with the eastern counties
which receive the great autumnal bird-wave from across the
North Sea, and it even lies off the line of the west coast movement
of land birds, which are said to make their journey between the
Mull of Galloway and Anglesey by way of the Isle of Man.

The number of species recognised by Mr. Dobie on what he
regards as fairly good evidence of their occurrence in a wild state
is about two hundred and twenty, but of these a few seem to us
to challenge objection.

In regard to the Nightingale, it is stated, on the authority of
Mr. C. Wolley Dod, a good observer, that in 1889, in Loweross
Gorse in the parish of Tilston-by-Malpas, a Nightingale sang
every night through May; and Mr. W. E. Sharp vouches for its
having been recognised at Ledsham in 1898. Mr. Ruddy knows
of no authentic instance of its occurrence in North Wales, and
thinks the Garden Warbler has been mistaken for it.

The statement of a dealer (p. 291) that a pair of Bearded Tits
were shot in September, 1893, ‘“‘in a little ditch full of reeds
between Hoylake and West Kirby,” is so remarkable that we are
inclined to think there must be some mistake about it.

400 THE ZOOLOGIST.

The Marsh Harrier, being well-nigh extinct as a breeding
species, it is of interest to note that a nest was found on the
Berwyns in 1877, in which year one of these birds was shot on
Moel Ferna; while the rarer Greenland Falcon was met with in
April, 1876, when one was picked up dead, but in a perfectly fresh

condition, on the Llanbedr Estate, Ruthin. It was thought to

have been killed by coming in contact with telegraph-wires.

Mr. Newstead writes of the House Martin (p. 295) :—* At
Ince quite thirty pairs build their nests on rafters in the interior
of a barn, and have done so for a number of years. The barn
has a large opening without doors on the north side. Such a
situation is quite the home of the Swallow, but I never heard of
the Martin nesting in the interior of a building.”

“The difference in habits of the two birds in this respect
(says Mr. Dobie) may be connected with the fact that the
Swallow, where there are no buildings, sometimes builds in
caves, and presumably did so before the existence of masonry.
The Martin in like circumstances builds on the face of rocks;
but, so far as I know, not in caves.’’ On this subject we may
refer Mr. Dobie to ‘The Zoologist,’ 1882, p. 487; 1888, p. 34;
1884, p. 470 (between Conway and Bangor); and 1894, p. 124.
There is also a record of Martins’ nests on the basaltic N.W.
front of Pen-maen-Maur (‘ Field Nat. Mag.,’ 1833, p. 546).

In the Warrington Museum there is a specimen of the Spotted
Sandpiper (Totanus macularius), which was shot, with one or two
others, on the bank of the Mersey near Fiddler’s Ferry, in May,
1863. It was formerly in the collection of Mr. Gregson; and
Mr. Gurney considers it one of the six most deserving of credence
out of twenty-six recorded occurrences in Britain. (See his
‘Rambles of a Naturalist,’ p. 262).

Mr. Ruddy’s account of the foundation of a colony of Black-
headed Gulls on a small moorland lake near Llanderfel, nine
miles from Corwen (p. 348), deserves mention. Two pairs nested
there for the first time in 1888. Ten pairs nested there the
following year, and they were more than doubled in 1890; while
in 1893 there was quite a large colony.

These are some of the more interesting items of information
in Mr. Dobie’s Catalogue, and it is to be hoped that its publica-
tion will give encouragement to others to extend the observations
which he has so usefully collected.

pani

os

. ‘SIuphpny e720Isnyy
“TeSeoM UT,

“FEST L097
goe1eia

THE ZOOLOGIST
No. 215.—November, 1894.

NOTES on raze RABBIT, HISTORICAL ann GEOGRAPHICAL.
By Prorressor Herpert A. Strona, M.A., LL.D.

Tue oldest notices which we possess of the Rabbit, Lepus
cuniculus, point to Spain as the country of its origin. The
earliest reference to this animal in literature is to be found in
Polybius (circa B.c. 204), who tells us that there were no Hares in
Corsica, but that there were other animals («vvao) resembling
Hares, which burrowed in the ground, and in addition there were
Foxes and Wild Sheep (Mouffions). Athan, who lived in the
third century of the Christian era, tells us that he is no philo-
logist, but that he has heard that the word is a Celto-Iberian—
i. @. Basque-word; the Romans adopted the name with the animal,
and called it cuniculus, which seems to have been a popular
etymology from cuneus, a wedge, owing to the ease and rapidity
with which these rodents made their way into the ground. Some
of the ancient writers, like Varro and Pliny, thought that the
Rabbit derived its name cuniculus from the military mines whereby
towns were approached for attack; while other authorities, with
more probability, inferred that the mine was called after the
animal.* Of course the old English word ‘‘coney,”’ which also
appears as “conyng,” and the old French words connil and connin,
are derived from the same source, and the Romance words, like
the Italian conigho, all come from the original cuniculus. The
question then arises whence came the word xdvxaos, which Atlian
says he had heard was taken from the language of the Western

* Martial says Rabbits first taught men how to undermine towns, Ep. xiii.
60.—Eb.
ZOOLOGIST, THIRD SERIES, VOL. XVIII.—NOV. 1894. QI

402 THE ZOOLOGIST.

Iberians ? The obvious resource is to turn to the Basque as
spoken at the present day in Spain; and it appears that the
genuine Basque word for a Rabbit is wnchi. We must remember
that this word has in the course of two thousand years probably
undergone some mutilation, though to what extent we cannot tell.
It may have been preceded by an aspirate, or a guttural; in any
case, it seems likely that the Greeks saw in the Basque word
enough resemblance to their word for a dog (xuvdy) to coin a
bastard diminutive to express the strange animal which they
hastily and popularly identified with the dog. The ‘ Prairie-
dog,” or Marmot, we know to have been christened on this prin-
ciple; and we know also how common it is for settlers in a new
country to call unknown animals by the names of old-world
species to which they happen to bear some fancied resemblance.
The Greeks then will have called the Rabbit “the little dog” ;
the Romans, more practical, will have taken the name from the
Greek, and by a false etymology called it ‘‘ the splitter,” as indeed
they were accustomed to think of ploughing as “‘ findere terram.”

As for the name which the Rabbit has received in other
languages (and it has received some very hard ones in Australia),
it may be remarked that there is no native word for Rabbit in
any Celtic language; and this fact points to its comparatively
late introduction into Great Britain.* The Irish word coinin,
Gaelic comean (probably by popular etymology connected with
the Gaelic name for a horse), the Welsh cwning, and the Cornish
cynin, all seem, like the English coney, to be borrowed from the
French connin. The Breton konicl, or kounikl, comes directly
from the Latin cuniculus. The German kaninchen implies an
original word kanin, which has passed into High German under
different forms. It has passed into popular German under the
form kiiniclin, and kiinchel, probably under the influence of
kénigin, as if it were ‘‘ the royal” animal. The Slavs, again, call
the Rabbit, for some reason, kralik or krolik, “ the royal animal,”
the Slavish word for royal, coming probably from the name of
Charles the Great. The Spanish conejo explains itself. ‘The
French word lapin is assumed to be a crippled form of “ clapin,”
so that the original French conception of the Rabbit would be
the “squatting” animal, which reminds us of the Greek designa-
tion of the Hare as the “cowering” animal, and I find that

* See ‘The Zoologist,’ 1883, p. 482.—Hp.

NOTES ON THE RABBIT. 403

Huloet defines a coney-earth as a “‘clapper for conies.” ‘The
modern Greeks call Rabbits xovvéaw, a word obviously modelled
on the Italian conigli. The Gypsies, tolerably close observers of
nature, call the Rabbit kanéngro, the genitive plural of the Romani
word kan, an ear. But the common word for Hare, or Rabbit, in
all the European dialects of Romani is shosho, connected with a
Sanskrit root signifying “to leap.” For this information I am
indebted to my friend Mr. Sampson, the Librarian of University
College, Liverpool, who has lived much with the Gypsies, and
were he not the most learned of librarians, would probably be
king of the Gypsies at present.

The etymology of the word “rabbit” has been a matter of
dispute among the learned. But it seems quite certain that the
name was first of all applied only to the young of this rodent,
and the termination is none other than the French well-known
diminutive -ette, seen in briquette. In ‘The Book of Nurture,’ by
John Russell, Marshal in the Hall of Duke Humphrey of Gloucester,
A.D. 1424, we find directions given for carving “ conies,” and then
for carving and serving up their young, which are called “‘rabettes.”’
Du Guez (citedin Furnival’s ‘ Index,’ p. 74) gives as the French equi-
valent lapereau. The Frenchuse the word rabouillére for a Rabbit’s
nest; and it is possible that this may come from an older form of
rabou, from Spanish rabo, meaning a tail, in which case the French
may have merely adopted some local Spanish word, or a corruption
of it, and the English may have received the word from France.

It would be interesting to know the exact geographical range
of the Rabbit in Europe at the present day. I much mistrust the
testimony of foreigners on such a subject. But an English sports-
man tells me that he shoots Rabbits every year in Andalusia ;
that they much resemble the English Rabbit, but are smaller and
leaner, especially about the head. An Italian sportsman says
there are a few Rabbits in Sicily, and has promised to procure a
skin for me.* A Greek gentleman writes me word that he has
never seen any in Greece, and does not remember to have seen
any in Corfu, but has been told that they are still to be found in
a small island near Pireus called the Island of Komstndouros.t
(A.D. 230), who observed it near Naples (Deipnosoph, ix. 64).—Ep.

+ There are both Rabbits and Hares in the Cyclades, and their distribution
is somewhat curious. See Erhart, ‘ Die Wirbelthiere der Cykladen ; mit einer

karte tiber die Verbreitung der Hasen und Kaninchen,’ 8vo, Leipzig, 1858,
See also Heldreich, ‘La Faune de Gréce,’ 8vo, Athens, 1878, p. 14.—Hp.

404 THE ZOOLOGIST.

I never saw any in Norway, and was told of experiments which
had been made to introduce them into the islands on the western
coast, but the climate killed them off. There seem to be none
in Russia, so far as I can learn. An old gentleman in Scotland
states that in his boyhood there were no Rabbits to the north of
the Tay; there are swarms at the present day; indeed on Handa
there is hardly anything else, except sea-birds. Against this
I must set the testimony of a Frenchman who lived in England
in the year 1677, and who expressly states that there were Rabbits
in the Western Hebrides. His book was published anonymously,
and is called ‘Mémoires d’Angleterre’; in the same work he
alludes to the ferocity of the Scotch Wolves.

It is well known what an unwelcome introduction Rabbits
have proved in Australia and New Zealand. But I do not think
that anyone who has not witnessed with his own eyes the appalling
number of these pests can appreciate the terror with which settlers
regard them. In Victoria they threatened to eat out the first
settlers on the rich Western District, and the Messrs. Robertson,
of Colac, spent over £20,000 in exterminating them. They
imported Scotch rabbit-trappers and settled them in the now
flourishing township of Colac. These trappers dug out as many
burrows as they could, and blocked up others with masonry of
solid brickwork, and in the end the Rabbit had to give way to
the Scotchman. But it is needless to say that a number of
rabbit-trappers is necessarily employed upon every Australian
property situated in the neighbourhood of a Rabbit-infested
district, and this constitutes a heavy tax upon the proprietors.
None of the methods hitherto adopted against the Rabbits seem
to have met with much success.* Foxes were introduced into
the south of Victoria, but they seem to have come to the con-
clusion that it was easier to catch a Lamb than a Rabbit, and in
this frame of mind have continued to multiply. Ferrets were
turned out, but, in Victoria at least, were unable to stand the
cold in the winter, and this is natural, for the stock of Ferrets is
originally from the north of Africa, whence the ancient Spaniards
introduced them to cope with their Rabbit plague, just as the
Romans seem to have imported the Egyptian cat in order to cope
with that late but dreaded importation, the Rat. Weasels are
constantly being bought up and exported to Australia and New

* See ‘The Zoologist,’ 1888, p. 321; 1889, pp. 148, 823; 1892, p. 877.—Ep.

NOTES ON THE RABBIT. 405

Zealand (Zool. 1882, p. 21), ostensibly for the purpose of keeping
down the Rabbits, but as they destroy many other native animals
the wisdom of introducing them is very doubtful.

In the Mallee Country, in Victoria, which was a regular
forcing-ground for Rabbits, some settlers had tried to grow a few
vegetables round their house, and in order to prevent the incur-
sions of the Rabbits, had roped round their patch of kail-ground,
and fastened dogs at short intervals along the rope, so that they
could slip along the rope as they required in order to eatch the
Rabbits. But the numbers were so great that the dogs soon
ceased to look at them. A writer in ‘Chambers’ Journal,’ on
“ Rabbit-land,’ has very truthfully shown that even rewards
offered for the scalp of Rabbits were not always effective in
inducing settlers to endeavour to secure the reward. The settlers,
in one experiment, were to fix the amount of the bonus to be paid
on each scalp, and the State was to pay back 43d. of every 6d.
which the settler thus expended. The rent paid per acre being
almost nil, it paid the lessee better to maintain a good stock of
Rabbits with the view of obtaining a revenue from scalp-money
than to rear sheep and cattle. In another case a squatter paid
rabbitters 2d. for each tail that they brought back to the house.
In a short time a quantity of tailless rodents were seen running
about the station paddocks. These were not, as might have been
fancied, a new development of the genus Rabbit, corresponding
to the Manx Cat, but simply the old Rabbits whose tails had
brought in twopence each, and who were now turned out to
propagate their race, so that the honest rabbitters should not be
reduced to penury. Wire-netting is used on a very large scale ;
some of these fences are hundreds of miles long; but there is
always a chance of Rabbits burrowing under such fences, or
again of their being fenced in; so that such fences are at the
best but an imperfect remedy. Poisoning wheat has been tried,
but the Rabbits grew too cunning for the poisoners: M. Pasteur
proposed, as is well known, to inoculate the Rabbits with the
microbes of chicken cholera (cholera des poules).* But no
Government in Australia has seen fit to adopt his proposal,
though I believe that experiments are still being carried out in a
small island in Sydney Harbour. After all, a continent overrun
with mad Rabbits would not be a very cheerful place of abode.

* See ‘ The Zoologist,’ 1888, p. 321.— Ep,

|
406 . HE ZOOLOGIST. .

I have seen more parti-coloured Rabbits in Australia than
I have ever seen in Europe. Near Queenscliffe numerous
instances occur, not merely of white and black Rabbits, which
are common, but of Rabbits with beautifully striped skins.
I should think that rugs made out of such skins ought to fetch a
good price. :

It seems natural to suppose that as civilization and settle-
ment progress, the Rabbits will gradually disappear, just as
they have done in other countries. It is not until the tide of
emigration turns towards Australasia that we can expect to find
a steady diminution of these pests. It is much to be hoped that
the working-men of allthe Australian Colonies may one day show
enough unselfishness and Imperial patriotism to wish to encourage
the immigration of their poorer cousins of the Old Country
into their Eldorado. The picture which M. O’Rell has lately
seen fit to give of the Australian working-man is indeed calculated
to give an extremely unfavourable impression of him to the
Parisian badauds, and the charge which he brings against him
of habitual drunkenness is quite untrue. But it is unfortunately
true that there is a large party in Australia to whom the cry of
“ Australia for the Australians” means ‘“ We do not care to
develop our resources if such development implies the importation
of labour from over the seas.” The Australian working-man is
sober, and moderate in his diet, but it cannot truthfully be said
that he takes much interest in what goes on outside his own
colony. The best way to solve the Rabbit question, which is a
vital one for the Australian working-man, would be to encourage
the immigration of his British cousins to take the place of the
rodents.

BIRDS OBSERVED IN MID-WALKES.

By Harotp Rarpurn.

Durine a few days spent in Wales in May last the birds
given below were noted. The absence from the list of many
common species of course does not imply that they do not occur
in the district. The list is made up solely of species seen or
identified by note in a rather hurried walk through parts of
Montgomery, Radnor, and Cardigan. It is probably shorter, on

BIRDS OBSERVED IN MID-WALES., 407

account of bad weather, than it would otherwise have been, and
the observations were made almost entirely inland. No swimming
birds were observed, with the exception of Larus fuscus, of which
a single specimen, an adult in full plumage, was noted. The
authorities are silent as regards the Redstart in Mid- and North
Wales, but I found it a common, indeed abundant, bird in most
of the localities which I visited. The Pied Flycatcher also
appears to be pretty generally distributed. ‘The presence of the
Red Grouse on the grassy hills of Radnorshire is interesting, but
probably it does not stray very far from the heather. The
Dunlin, Tringa alpina, was not seen, but the Curlew, Numenius
arquata, is thinly scattered, and the Golden Plover was observed
in one locality. The Carrion Crow was abundant everywhere,
_ but only a single pair of Ravens was seen. The country may be
described generally as hilly, but not mountainous, with deep
wooded valleys, the prevalent tree being the oak. Woods of
considerable age exist in some parts, but the bulk consists of
‘this century’s growth, probably planted to replace those cut
down for shipbuilding. ‘The extensive damage done by the
frosts and N.E. winds of May last was well seen in the oak-woods
of the higher passes, where for miles the trees presented a mass of
brown withered foliage as in lateautumn. Some rugged “ cwms”
occur in places where the rocks appear through the sides of the
hills, forming small precipices, often wood-girt; but the hill-
‘outlines in general are smooth and flowing, sloping up to grassy
or heathery moorlands, without dominating peaks such as are
found north of the river Dyfi. Plynlimmon, 2469 feet, is the
culminating height of the district, but itis a dreary elevated moor-
land, rather than a mountain.

The birds observed by me were :—

Mistite Turusy; Tarusy; Buackpirrp.—Last two abundant.

Ringe Ovzey.—Not many; observed on the sides of the
“ ewms.”

WHEATEAR.—A few seen on the hill-sides and ‘* cwms.”

Wuincuat.—Several pairs by the roadside in the higher parts
of the valleys.

RepDsTartT.—In mnny places one of the most conspicuous of
roadside birds, haunting dry stone-walls, hedge- banks, and old
timber on the outskirts of the woods,

Rozsin.—Common,

408 THE ZOOLOGIST.

Common WuitEeTHRoAT.—Common. The Lesser Whitethroat
was not observed.

GARDEN WARBLER.—Fairly distributed, sometimes high up
the valleys. Nest and eggs from West Montgomeryshire.

WitLtow WaRBLER.—Common in most localities. |

Woop WarBLER.—Probably local; not heard, but nest with
eggs and hen bird seen.

SEDGE WaARBLER.—F airly common.

HrpeGe Accenror.—Common.

DiprER.—Only one seen, high up (Radnorshire).

Great Tit.—Common.

Buve Tir.—Abundant. To a nest with young the old birds
brought large green caterpillars.

Nouruatcu.—A pair had a nest with young in a hole in an
oak at the height of about fifteen feet. The top of the entrance
to the hole was slightly daubed with yellow clay mixed with
small stones. The old birds were very tame, bringing food while
I stood within a few yards of them. Their motions were Tit-
like, yet they kept their bodies close to the bark, like a Creeper ;
the note was low and inward, and inaudible a few yards distant.

Wren.—Fairly common, and at some altitude.

Prep Waeraiu.—Fairly common.

Grey WacTaIL.—Only one or two pairs noted.

Tree Pirrr.—Observed in parts.

Mzravow Pirrr.— Usually at considerable elevations.

Prep FiycatcHeR.—Observed in three different localities.
The birds always very tame, especially the males, which were
very conspicuous, and the nests easily discovered. Muscicapa
atricapilla in its general behaviour resembles M. grisola, but
struck me as being heavier, slower, and not so restless. It often
takes its prey from the ground, instead of capturing it on the
wing—in this respect resembling the Red-backed Shrike in its
motions. An attempt to syllablize the song is “ tzit-tzit-tzit—
tzui-tzui-tzui,” the last three notes very rapidly, almost in a trill.

SwaLLow.—Common.

Martin.—Not so numerous as the Swallow.

Sanp Martin.—Only observed in one locality in Cardigan.

GREENFINCH.—Very abundant.

House Sparrow.—Very numerous. No Tree Sparrow was
identified,

BIRDS OBSERVED IN MID*WALES. 409

CuaFrincy.— Very common.

Linnet.—Fairly numerous, ascending to 1000 ft.

BuLuFincH.—One, a male, seen in Montgomeryshire.

Common Buntine.— Not numerous in any district.

YetLtow Buntine.—Generally distributed and common.

STARLING.—One of the commonest and most generally diffused
birds here as elsewhere throughout the British Isles.

Jay.—The only one seen was apparently a hen bird putting
the finishing touches to her nest, which was built amongst the
small twigs growing from the trunk of an oak; height from the
ground, 8 ft.; above sea-level nearly 1100 ft.; the tree being
among the last stunted stragglers on a steep hill-side.

Maapriz.— One or two pairs only observed nesting.

JackDAw.—Abundant in many places; nesting in hollow oaks
in Radnorshire, and in the rocks above Falls of Mynach at
Devil’s Bridge, Cardiganshire.

RavEN.—Only one pair seen.

Roox.—Numerous, though perhaps less so than in most parts
of England. ;

Carrion Crow.—One of the commonest and most conspicuous
of large birds in most districts.

Sxy Larx.—Observed up to 1800 feet.

Swirt.— Very numerous, and generally distributed.

GREEN WoopPEcKER.—Heard once only, but unmistakably,
at the edge of an old oak wood in Radnorshire.

Cuckoo.—Common.

KESTREL.—Only one pair seen, nesting on small rock.

Common Buzzarp.—One pair, nesting on small broken rock.
Nest a very slight structure, a few twigs thrown together and
lined with tufts of grass and luzula, some fresh leaves of mountain
ash strewed around; position very exposed and easily accessible,
the usual tree in front and overhanging ledge wanting. Welsh
name Barcud, which really means a Kite; in N. of England and
Lowland Scots, Gled or Glead.

Heron.—Only one seen, in Cardiganshire.

Woop Picton. — Numerous, some large flocks seen; two
nests found in hazel and blackthorn thicket were both within two
feet and a half of the ground.

Stock Dove.—Only one pair identified, first by note and
female lifted off nest in an old oak-stump,

410 - THE ZOOLOGIST.

Rep Grovuse.—Not abundant in districts passed through, as
comparatively little heather grows there. It occurs. sometimes
on the grass at considerable distances from the heathy grounds.

PuHEASANT.—Numbers of cock Pheasants were heard crowing
in the woods; one in an oak thicket at over 1000 feet elevation. —

PaRTRIDGE.— Several pairs seen.

Lanprat.—Several heard.

WATERHEN.—One seen in Montgomeryshire.

GoLDEN PLover.—Two pairs, which had young, in Radnor-
- shire, on watershed peat-bog.

Lapwine.—Common, and generally distributed.

Common SANDPIPER.—One or two seen.

OysTERCATCHER.—Single bird seen from railway.

CurLew.—Thinly distributed, and far from numerous.

LessER BLack-BackED Gutu.—A fine adult bird seen from the
train inland.

THE AUTUMN SONG OF BIRDS.
By O. V. Apuin.

Wuy should some birds have an autumn song and others
not? Let me explain what I mean by the autumn song. The
birds’ summer ends with their moult; I speak now of birds
in general, without considering the exceptions, presented by
Swallows, for instance. Some species become silent shortly
before they moult in early autumn. They cease singing when
they have done breeding, or as soon as their young have hatched.
Others sing much later in the summer. After the song has
ceased and an interval has elapsed, in certain cases, we hear it
again. From mid-August on into November the second song
may be heard. This is the autumn song. Some birds, if the
weather be genial, strike up in November (or even in October),
and may be heard all through the winter in mild weather; but
this is not an autumn song, properly so called. It is the
beginning of their ordinary song, which they will continue through
the following spring. Such birds are the Song Thrush, Robin,
Wren, Hedgesparrow, and Starling. The Great Titmouse and
Mistletoe Thrush often begin their regular song in December.
This must not be confused with the autumn song. Leaving out
of the question this late autumn song—really the beginning of the

THE AUTUMN SONG OF BIRDS. 411

spring song before the old year is out—it seems that certain birds
have an autumn song which is heard pretty regularly, while
certain other species are never by any chance heard to sing at
that season. It will generally be noticed that the autumn song is
of very poor quality; that the strains are short and broken; and
that it gives one the idea that the bird giving utterance to it is a
beginner trying to sing. For this reason it seems likely that the
autumn song is chiefly the production of young birds of the year,
which, having completed their moult, find the year still mild and
genial, and therefore try to sing. Still we are puzzled why some
species should do so and others not.

The Mistletoe Thrush I have heard singing a few wild notes on
Sept. 16th, and in fairly full song on Nov. 6th. It often begins
its usual strain in December, and leaves off quite early. The
Song Thrush I have heard singing feebly at the latter end of
September and in October. The regular song is commenced some-
times as early as November. But I have never heard a Blackbird
sing the autumn song. In some seasons this bird will sing into
the latter half of July, but, unlike the Thrush, postpones the
opening of his regular song until the new year. In the district
in which I reside I do not find that he sings before February, and
it is often the middle of the month before his mellow notes are
heard. All three species of Leaf Warblers (Phylloscopus) have an
autumn song. The Willow Wren, which, with a few exceptions,
is silent soon after the middle of June, strikes up again about the
second week in August. But the Chiffchaff, whose spell of spring
song is very long, lasting from about the third week in March
until the last in July sometimes, naturally does not open again so
soon. It is heard in the last days of August, through September,
and even into October in some years. The Wood Wren I have
heard in August. But I never heard any of our best Warblers
(Blackcap, Garden Warbler, or Whitethroats) sing in autumn; they
sing well on into July, and in some cases to the end of the month.
Neither have I ever heard any of the river warblers sing the
autumn song. But I have a note from Mr. Warde Fowler saying
that he heard the Grasshopper Warbler this year on Sept. 15th;
I have heard it in summer as late as July 23rd. The Robin’s
autumn song is of course familiar to everybody. The broken
strains we hear at first are most probably the productions of
young birds just over their moult.

412 THE ZOGLOGIST.

The Nightingale, being so nearly related to the Robin, it is
rather curious that the young of this species do not sing; it
appears, however, that they do not. They must moult before
they leave us, for the young birds of this family wear the nestling
plumage for a very short time only. But I know next to nothing
about the Nightingale after it leaves off singingin June. I do not
even know when it quits the country. During the recent meeting
of the British Association at Oxford, Mr. Howard Saunders,
Mr. Warde Fowler, Mr. A. H. Macpherson, and I were walking
over Foxcombe Hill, on Aug. 12th, and saw a (young?) Nightingale
fora moment. Mr. Saunders identified it for us; but that is the
only one I ever saw in that month, to my knowledge. The old
Nightingales are as chary as the Robins are lavish of their song;
so perhaps we should not expect their young to make attempts at
singing in autumn, like the precocious young Robins. I should
like to know if the Nightingale is ever heard in autumn in its
winter quarters.

Looking at the case of some birds, we might at first imagine
that those species which leave off singing early in the summer
sing again in autumn, while those which sing throughout the
summer do not have a distinct autumn song. But too many
exceptions occur for this to be laid down as arule. For instance,
every autumn I hear the Chaffinch trying to sing; the song is
always very short, imperfect, and broken. I have heard it in
August (once, on the 16th), September, October, November, and
on one occasion in December (4th and 5th). The Chaffinch opens
song regularly, sometimes in the last days of January, but more
often in February. We should expect it to sing again in autumn,
because in summer it is rarely heard much after Midsummer-
day; but in the late season of 1888 I heard it up to July 19th.

On the other hand, the Yellow Bunting, which sings regularly
on into August, does not have the autumn song, and is not
heard again until it opens for the spring in late January,
or more usually in February. The same may be said of the
Corn Bunting. There are exceptions, of course; for instance,
in the fine autumn of 1884, I once heard a Yellow Bunting
singing on Oct. 28th. The Goldfinch may be heard in late
September and October, but the song is not full; the Linnet
on sunny October days. The Greenfinch I have heard in the
latter half of August (once), and once on Dec. Ist. Ona very

THE REPRODUCTION OF THE LOBSTER. 413

nice day on Nov. 29th, 1889, I heard a Bullfinch stringing three
notes of its song together. On the same day a Ring Dove was
cooing. Stock Doves and Ring Doves are both heard in early
autumn, but they breed so late on in the season that we can
hardly consider this as an autumn song. The Great Titmouse
has the autumn song, and is heard sometimes in September and
October. The Wren sings loudly in October, but this is probably
merely an early opening of.the regular spring song which goes on
in fine weather all the winter. It is also difficult to say whether
the vocal efforts of the Hedge Sparrow in late autumn are to be
regarded as the beginning of the winter song or an instance of
the autumn song—most probably the former. The Starling sings
in October; but here again there is a difficulty in determining to
which category its chattering notes and whistling should be
assigned. The Sky Lark—notwithstanding it is a winter singer
in bright, mild weather—has, I think, a real autumn song, being
heard from mid-September on into October. I have only once
heard the Pied Wagtail sing in autumn (2. e. on Sept. 30th, 1894) ;
at the same time I must confess that I have not often heard it in
spring. The only time I ever heard a Magpie distinctly trying
to sing was on Oct. 10th; he sat in a thorn-bush jerking out a
succession of queer and varied notes in the oddest manner.

The present short and incomplete essay is merely to direct
attention to a subject which I think, if more exhaustively treated,
might become a very interesting one. The remarks here offered
are founded on too few facts. I have not even exhausted the
material at my command; nor do I claim finality for any con-
clusions which I may seem to have drawn. I trust at some
future time to return to the question.

THE REPRODUCTION OF THE LOBSTER.

By Francois H. Herricr.*

Tue breeding habits of the Lobster, Homarus americanus,
is a subject about which many conflicting statements have been
made. These have resulted from insufficient observation, while
much has also been written in ignorance of ascertained facts.

** From the ‘ Zoologische Anzeiger,’ 1894, pp. 289—292.

414 THE ZOOLOGIST.

The questions of most immediate interest are :—(1) when are
the eggs laid? (2) What is the length of the reproductive period,
or how often are the eggs produced? (8) what is the law of
production, or the relation between the number of eggs and the
size of the animal producing them? (4) how are the ova fertilized?
(5) when do the young hatch? (6) what is the law of survival of
the larvee ?

I have recently gathered some new facts which bear par-
ticularly upon the first of these questions, and clear away much
_ obscurity which has surrounded it. Before giving these I will
first point out the condition in which this subject has remained
up to a very recent date. * :

It at first seemed probable that the breeding season of the
Lobster was not limited to a definite season of the year, but
further study convinced me that this conclusion was erroncous,
and in a paper published in 1891 the following statement was
made :—‘“‘ The spawning season is confined to the summer months,
and the eggs which are then laid are carried by the female
throughout the fall, winter, and spring, and are not hatched
under natural conditions until the following summer” (Notes on
the Habits and Larval Stages of the American Lobster, ‘Johns
Hopkins University Circulars,’ vol. x., Sept. 1891).

Bumpus (‘Journal of Morphology,’ vol. 11., Sept. 1891) tells
us, in his careful paper on the embryology of the Lobster, that
‘*the eggs are normally deposited during the months of July and
August.” Eggs collected in winter at Nahant ‘“ were almost
invariably in the same advanced stage of development—the eyes
large and bright, the appendages well outlined, and the yolk
occupying but a fraction, perhaps one-third, of the surface
exposed.” Of hundreds of Lobsters examined in May, 1890, at
Woods Holl, Mass., ‘not a single one had eggs in early stages of
development.” Verrill (‘ Report upon the Invertebrate Animals
of Vineyard Sound, &c.’ p. 745) affirmed that he had examined
Lobsters with freshly-laid eggs in December, and that the
breeding season extends over a large part of the year.

The true answer to the first question propounded above
seems to be as follows :—The majority of adult Lobsters extrude

* See “The Habits of the Lobster, and their Bearing on its Artificial
Propagation” (Bull. U.S. Fish Commission, vol. xiii. 1893).

~ ng
THE REPRODUCTION OF THE LOBSTER. 415

their eggs during the months of June, July, and August, but a
considerable number—probably as many as 10 per cent. of the
entire number which breed in the year—lay eggs during the fall,
winter, and spring months. Careful systematic data have been
collected by the U.S. Fish Commission during the past winter at
Woods Holl, bearing upon this and other questions relating to
the Lobster, and will be given in the detailed report now in the
course of preparation.

Newly-laid eggs have been collected in the fall and winter on
the coasts of Maine and Massachusetts. Microscopical examina-
tion showed them to be undergoing perfectly normal development
from yolk-segmentation onward. Mr. Vinal N. Edwards sent me
a number of live Lobsters from Woods Holl, Dec. 4th, 1893. One
of these had external eggs, which had probably been extruded less
than three weeks. At Eastport, Me., a female Lobster with
partially discharged eggs was taken from a Lobster-car April 30th,
1894, by Mr. W. J. Fisher. In this case the eggs were laid in
less than ten hours from the time the Lobster was placed in the
car. About one-eighth of the spawn was under the “tail”; the
rest was found in the body. |

This production of eggs out of the summer months seems
to be a perfectly normal process, although a somewhat unusual
one ; and it is possible that if the habits of many fish and other
animals, with a fairly definite breeding season, were minutely
studied, a similar variability would be found.

How often does an adult female Lobster breed? It had been
supposed that the mature Lobster laid eggs at least once a year.
In the paper already referred to I pointed out the important
economic fact that the adult Lobster could not possibly breed
oftener than once in two years, that annual breeding was out of
the question, as was “abundantly proved by the slow growth of
the ovarian eggs, by the immature condition of the ovaries at the
time when the young are hatched, and by the large percentage of
non egg-bearing females taken in the winter and spring.” This
fact was further established, upon the ground of anatomy, by
dissections and histological examinations of a large number of
individuals, representing every important phase in the growth of
the ovaries. This is confirmed by Garman (‘ The Aquarium,’
Jan. 1894, p. 91), who reaches conclusions similar to those already
expressed.

416 THE ZOOLOGIST.

The law of the production of ova may be expressed as
follows:—The numbers of eggs produced by female Lobsters
at each reproductive period vary in a geometrical series, while
the lengths of the Lobsters producing these eggs vary in arith-
metical series. According to this law we have the following :—

Series of lengths (in inches) 8 10 12 14 16 t
Series of eggs 5,000 10,000 20,000 40,000 80,000

An examination of nearly a thousand cases shows that this
law usually holds good.

The question of fertilization of the egg is a very difficult one,
and nothing is yet known of how the spermatozoon is conveyed
to the egg, and penetrates its membranes. We know, however,
that copulation takes place in the spring and summer months,
and probably at other times of the year; that fertilization is
effected outside the body; that the semen is stored in a peculiar
pouch or receptacle, where it may retain its vitality for months,
at least.

The eggs are carried, attached to the body of the female for
a period of from ten to eleven months, that is, on the coast of
Massachusetts, from the middle of July or the lst of August to
the middle of the following June. The period of fosterage
undoubtedly varies considerably in eggs not produced in summer,
some of which may hatch in the fall and possibly in the winter
months.

Some Lobsters become sexually mature when they are eight
inches long, while a relatively small number do not produce eggs
until they have attained a length of twelve inches. The majority
are mature when 104 inches long.

The law of survival of the larve I have discussed in a paper
already referred to (‘Bulletin of the U.S. Fish Commission,’
vol. xiii. 1893). It is probable that the survival of two out of
every ten thousand larve hatched is a high estimate, since the
female of average size produces upwards of ten thousand eggs at
a single laying, and may have the opportunity of reproducing
more than once in the course of her life. The number of
survivals must be less than the number of adults caught and
destroyed each year, since the fishery is declining, and in some
places has been destroyed through the persistence with which it
is carried on.

Shortly after hatching her brood, the mother Lobster moults,

Peay eee a ee”

sag ay © a

THE WEASEL. 417

but does not produce eggs again until the following summer,
Very rarely a female Lobster moults just before extruding her
eggs. In such cases probably two moults intervene between the
time of hatching of one batch of eggs and the extrusion of another.

Considering the fact that the American Lobster ranges

through twenty degrees of latitude—from the southern coast of

Labrador on the north, to Delaware on the south—there is
perhaps less variation in the breeding habits than we should
expect. In the north the eggs are laid somewhat later in the
summer, and the period of fosterage is undoubtedly longer.

It is probable that when the habits of the European Lobster,
Homarus vulgaris, are carefully studied, they will be found to
conform in all essential respects with those of its American
relatives.

THE WEASEL, MUSTELA VULGARIS.
By tue Epritor.
(PuaTE IT.)

Ir is surprising what confusion exists in the minds of most
persons concerning British species of the Mustelide or Weasel
family. The Stoat and the Weasel are frequently confounded,
even by those whose daily avocations afford them constant
opportunities of informing themselves. It has been our good
fortune to visit at various times, generally in the shooting-season,
nearly every county in England, and very many counties in
Wales, Scotland and Ireland, and to have conversed with game-
keepers “of all sorts and conditions” on the subject of the game
under their charge, and the so-called “‘ vermin” which they are
in the habit of destroying; and we have been struck with the
general want of knowledge displayed by them, either from lack of
observation, or for want of such reliable text-books as would
afford them the necessary information.

Owners or lessees of shooting, and indeed country gentlemen
generally, would render good service, and indirectly do more good
than the ‘School Board,” if they would help their keepers and
foresters to qualify themselves for a more efficient discharge of
their duties by placing within their reach a few good books
on Natural History with which to while away the winter
evenings, and to amuse as well as instruct them. It so often

ZOOLOGIST, THIRD SERIES, VOL. XVIII.—NOV. 1894. 2K

418 THE ZOOLOGIST.

happens that the elementary education provided -for the class to
which we refer, proves of little use to them in the walk of life to
which by choice or accident they are sooner or later called.
Reading, writing, and simple arithmetic are of course taught, and
are of course indispensable; but what information do they, or can
they, possibly acquire, except by experience, very gradually and
casually gained, on such subjects as the rearing of live stock; the
management of deer; the breaking and training of dogs; the
habits and natural food of the various wild creatures by which
they are surrounded; the characteristic mode of growth and
economic value of woodland trees; the cultivation of the kitchen
garden, or the profitable management of poultry and pigeons ?
These are a few of the subjects on which a series of simple
manuals might be usefully written and generally disseminated ;
and from the remarks which we have heard expressed, we do not
doubt that such handbooks would be highly appreciated. But to
serve any useful purpose they should be written in simple
language, clear and concise, free from technicalities, yet as full of
facts and practical teaching as possible. Were some such aid as
this within reach of the class referred to, there can be no
question that it would stimulate original observation and
research, and, sooner or later, naturalists would be placed in
possession of useful statistics which could be collected perhaps
in no other way.

But to return to the Weasel (A.-S. wesle), the smallest of the
Mustelide. The first thing that strikes us on looking at any
animal of this family of the Carnivora, is the curious adaptation
of their structure to their mode of life. The long snake-like
body, short legs, strong yet supple neck, and large and powerful
jaws, all combine to fit them admirably for pursuing, holding, and
killing the creatures (often much larger than themselves) upon
which they have to depend for their existence. So great also is
their keenness of sight, scent, and hearing, combined with
wonderful courage and activity (which extends even to climbing
trees), that no wonder their victims, though equally fleet of foot
it may be, seem paralyzed with terror on finding themselves
pursued. And here it may be well to offer a few remarks as to
the mode in which the Mustelide kill their prey. It is popularly
believed that when a Stoat or Weasel seizes a Rabbit or a Rat, it
severs some of the principal veins of the neck, and then hangs

THE WEASEL. 419

on and sucks the blood like a leech. Others maintain that the
first bite is always fatal, owing to the perforation of the spinal
cord at the base of tbe skull. In the case of young rats and
mice killed by the Weasel, this is doubtless true; their skulls
are so thin that they may be easily crushed between the finger
and thumb; but in the case of a larger animal like the Rabbit it
is otherwise.

Some years ago Dr. Buchanan, of Glasgow University, con-
tributed to the ‘Annals and Magazine of Natural History’ a
paper “On the Wound of the Ferret,’ in which he showed that
while small animals were killed by the brain being pierced, larger
victims died rather from nervous exhaustion, and in no case was
any blood-sucking observable. Mr. 8. Woodcock, of Bury, also,
writing in ‘The Field’ of Dec. 27, 1862, expressed a similar
opinion, his experiments proving that the assailant does not
retain his first grip as has been so often stated, but worries and
tugs at the head and neck, so that the cause of death seems to be
exhaustion and shock to the nervous system rather than the
effect of any mortal wound. ‘The late Mr. EK. R. Alston
examined a young Rabbit which had been rescued alive from a
Stoat. No external injuries were visible, save slight blood-stains
on the head and neck; but the poor beast was in a semi-torpid
state, sitting with its eyes half closed and its head twisted to the
left side. On being pushed, it moved one step in a helpless
mechanical way, and then remained motionless again. Post
mortem dissection disclosed a large quantity of clotted blood
beneath the skin, and on this being removed the skull was found
to be fractured in several places, and pressed in on the brain in
a way which fully accounted for the powerless and stupefied
condition of the animal.

After the prey is killed, the first tit-bit is usually the neck;
sometimes the eyes are torn out and devoured; and then the
carcase is dragged off and concealed near the habitation of the
destroyer. The power which the Weasel has of bending the
head at right angles with the long and flexible yet powerful neck,
gives it, as Bell has remarked, great advantage in the mode of
seizing and killing its prey. It also frequently assumes this
position when raising itself on its hinder legs to look round—a
very characteristic attitude, which has been well depicted by
Mr. G, EK. Lodge in the accompanying illustration (Plate IT.)

2K2

420 THE ZOOLOGIST.

It should be observed that the Weasel is a much smaller
animal than the Stoat, averaging 7 in. or 8 in. in length, exclusive
of the tail, which is about 2 in., as against 9 in. or 10 in. for the
sexes of the Stoat, which has a tail of 5 or 6 in. invariably
terminating at all seasons in a black tuft.

Weasels and Stoats hunt in family parties, and sometimes
even in little packs, like hounds. The late Mr. K. T. Booth, in
‘The Field’ of 6th Oct., 1883, gave a most graphic description
of an encounter which he once had in East Lothian with a pack
of Stoats which attacked a terrier he had with him, and of which,
with the aid of the dog and his breechloader, he killed a dozen
or fourteen.

Richard Jefferies also, in his ‘Gamekeeper at Home’ (p. 121),
has written from personal observation as follows :—

‘* Weasels frequently hunt in couples, and sometimes more
than two will work together. I once saw five, and have known of
eight. The five I saw were working a sandy bank drilled with
holes, from which the rabbits in wild alarm were darting in all
directions. ‘The Weasels raced from hole to hole, and along the
sides of the bank, exactly like a pack of hounds, and seemed
intensely excited. ‘To see their reddish heads thrust for a
moment from the holes, then withdrawn to reappear at another,
would have been amusing, had it not been for the reflection that
their frisky tricks would assuredly end in death. They ran their
quarry out of the bank and into a wood, where [I lost sight of
them. The pack of eight was seen by a labourer returning down
a woodland land from work one afternoon. He told me he got
into the ditch, half from curiosity, to watch them, and half from
fear—laughable as that may seem—for he had heard the old
people tell stories of men (in the days when the corn was kept
for years in barns and so bred hundreds of rats) being attacked
by these vicious little brutes. He said they made a noise, erying
to each other, short snappy sounds; but the pack of five I myself
saw, hunted in silence.” *

The female Weasel is smaller than the male, and is no doubt
“ the little reddish beast not much bigger than a field-mouse but

* Other instances of Weasels hunting in packs might be quoted on good
authority. See Atkinson, ‘Zoologist,’ 1844, p. 490; Shand, ‘The Field,’
21st July, 1891; and Witchell, ‘Fauna of Gloucestershire,’ 1892, p. 20,

THE WEASEL. 421

longer,” which Gilbert White mentions as being called a cane *
by the country people in Hampshire.

There seems to be a great disparity in the relative numbers
of the sexes, or else the female is better able to take care
of herself; perhaps her smaller size favours her concealment.
However that may be, most keepers assert that they trap and kill
many more males than females. It is stated by Bell, in his
‘ British Quadrupeds’ (2nd ed., p. 187), that two or three litters
are annually produced, but this appears doubtful, for, so far as
we are aware, there is no evidence on record to prove that any
of our native Carnivora breed more than once in the year.t ‘The
young, from four to six in number, are to be found in what may
well be termed a nest, for it is generally a hole in a bank or tree-
root, or in a stone or wall, lined with dry grass or leaves. The
period of gestation is presumably the same as in the Polecat and
Ferret, namely six weeks; but we do not know whether this has
been definitely ascertained by keeping a pair in captivity. A
young Weasel is very helpless for some time, and will remain
where dropped by the parent if she is disturbed when carrying it,
as she does, in her mouth. If the young are discovered before
they are able to take care of themselves, the old one will defend
them, and will courageously fly at the nose of any dog who
presumes to look in upon them.

There is no reason why Weasels should not be kept in cages
like Squirrels, for they make most amusing pets. They are
extremely playful, and although at first their natural timidity
causes them to hide a good deal, they gradually get over this

* Cane, a little dog, cognate with canis. In Surrey it is called Kéne.
In East Sussex it is known as Beale; in Yorkshire, Ressel or Rezgzel; in
Norfolk, Mouse-hunter; in East Suffolk, Whitethroat (male) and Mowse-
hunt (female). Gilbert White, also, has another observation on this animal
which is worth quoting. In his fortieth letter to Pennant, he writes :—
** Weasels prey on Moles, as appears by their being sometimes caught in
Mole-traps.” The fact of their being caught in Mole-traps is vouched for by
more recent writers (see, for instance, ‘The Field’ of 25th March and 8th
April, 1882), butit is possible that the Weasel might be merely following the
Field-mice which make use of the Moles’ runs.

+ Dr. Ritzema Bos, in his ‘Tierische Schiadlinge und Niitzlinge fiir
Ackerbau,’ states that in years when field-mice are exceptionally abundant,
there appears to be a second litter of young Weasels in the early autumn
mouths.

422 THE ZOOLOGIST.

shyness, and will come when called to take food from the hand.
Their activity is surprising, and their movements are sometimes
so rapid that the eye can scarcely follow them. This is especially
the case when a Weasel is surprised in the open and chased by a
terrier. If brought to bay they fight pluckily, and will hang on
to the nose or lips of a dog with the tenacity of a terrier. Like
Stoats they can climb well, and have often been seen to ascend
trees many feet from the ground; and this not only when chased
by an enemy, but from choice when in pursuit of prey. A
Weasel has been found in a tree twelve feet from the ground, and
has been even known to make its nest in a hollow tree. One was
seen to jump from the top of a limestone pit into some water
thirty or forty feet below, and swim acrose the pool. For both
Weasels and Stoats can swim well; we have often seen them
crossing a pool voluntarily. Sometimes they would carry a
young one across, sometimes a dead field-mouse, holding it in the
mouth as a cat would carry a kitten. On one occasion a Weasel
was observed to cross a river at high-tide, where the water was
fifty or sixty yards wide.

The Weasel, like the Squirrel, will catch small birds when he
can take them by surprise, and will carry off eggs between his
chin and fore paws, just as a rat will do. But his favourite and
natural food consists of field mice, Mus sylvatica, in the woods
and hedgerows, Mus musculus about the stacks and farmyards,
and Arvicola agrestis in the open fields and pastures; while he
will not hesitate to attack a rat, even if larger than himself,
should occasion arise. So frequently have we witnessed his
pertinacity in mouse-hunting that, on this score alone, we should
be inclined to forgive him for carrying off a chicken. We would
even go a step further. We have known stack-yards in which
Weasels were repeatedly seen and left unmolested. Hens with
chickens were daily pecking about the yard, but no chickens were
missed. It appeared that, so long as the Weasels could get mice
and rats, they preferred fur to feather. The late Mr. R. F. Tomes,
of Welford-on-Avon, once kept watch from a place of concealment
upon a nest of young Weasels, and saw the parent bring, ina
little more than an hour, five field mice for her young, which
were playing in and out of the hole. On her arrival with the
fifth, he shouted and made her drop it, when, on picking it up
for examination, he found it to be the Short-tailed Field Vole,
Arvicola agrestis.

NOTES AND QUERIES. 423

The utility of the Weasel in checking the devastation of field
mice was never more clearly established than by the evidence
which was tendered to the Committee appointed by the Board of
Agriculture to enquire into the plague of Field Voles in Scotland
in 1892.* Inthe Minutes of Evidence appended to the Report
of this Committee issued in 1898, will be found numerous state-
ments, elicited by cross-examination of the witnesses, which tend
to prove beyond doubt that the Weasel is the natural enemy of
field mice, and that no greater mistake could be made than to
destroy Weasels where mice or voles are numerous, and are
likely to become a plague.

(To be continued.)

NOTES AND QUERIES.

MAMMALIA.

Marten in Co. Westmeath.—Referring to your article on the ** Marten
in Ireland,” in ‘The Zoologist’ for March last, you may be glad to know
that I have found an entry in an ‘old Game-book which has been kept at
this house since the year 1814, to the effect that a Pine Marten was killed
at Knock-Drin in the winter of 1845-46. Tne exact date is not specified ;
but it was on some day between October 23rd, 1845, and January 3rd,
1846.—H. C. Leviner (Knock-Drin Castle, Mullingar).

Dimensions of Otter.—I have read with much interest your articles
on the Otter, Lutra vulgaris, which have appeared in ‘ The Zoologist,' and
I have noted particularly your remarks on the size and gestation of. the
same. I have in my possession a dog Otter, which measures from tip of
nose to tip of tail 564 inches. It was killed on the River Derwent, below
Cockermouth, about forty years ago, by a man named Thursby, from whose

daughter I purchased it. Anyone who would like to see it can do so by
calling at my address.—Joun R. Denwoop (Kirkgate, Cockermouth).

Serotine Bat in Essex.—Nearly eleven years ago I had the pleasure
of recording, for the first time in this county, the occurrence of the Serotine
Bat (Zool. 1888, p. 178, and Proc. Essex Field Club, vol.iv., p.iv). Since
that time the species has not again been met with in Essex, and the record
still stands as the most northerly occurrence of the species in Britain. Iam
glad therefore to be able to add that, about 1 a.m. on Aug. 25th last, a fine

* See ‘The Zoologist,’ 1893, pp. 121—138,

ies

5.

424 THE ZOOLOGIST.

male specimen entered my bed-room here by the window, which stood open
to the extent of about two inches at the top. I made every effort to secure
it, seeing that it was some uncommon species, but it was more than half-an-
hour before I succeeded, and then only by a novel expedient. It proved an
unusually large specimen. Its total length (tip of nose to end of tail) is
54 in., weight $oz., and expanse of wing 14 in., thus equalling the ordinary
dimensions of the Noctule in this respect. In colour it certainly did not
answer to the description usually given of the Serotine. Nowhere was there
any appearance of the ‘“ deep chestnut-brown ” which both Bell (Mammals,
p- 46) and Harting (Zool. 1891, p. 102) say usually distinguishes the
species. ‘The back was of a dark blackish brown, but the fur was tipped
with yellowish grey, thus giving much the same “ freckled” appearance as
the silvery-grey tips of the Barbastelle. The under parts were of a smoky-
grey.— MILuer Caristy (Pryors, Broomfield, Chelmsford).

CETACEA.

‘White-beaked Dolphin in Kilbrannan Sound, Arran.—On Sept. Ist
a female White-beaked Dolphin (Lagenorhynchus albirostris, Gray) was
captured in a singular manner off Dougarie, Arran, by John Galbraith, a
fisherman, of Carradale. It measured 9 ft. 8 in. in length, and contained
a foetus about 4 ft. long. It was fortunately secured for the Kelvingrove
Museum, Glasgow, by Dr. Dunlop, who, on Sept. 11th, furnished the
following account of its capture to the ‘Glasgow Herald.’ ‘This is so in-
teresting that I think many readers of ‘ The Zoologist,’ who do not see the
‘Glasgow Herald,’ may be glad to peruse the extract. On Sept. 25th the
same man caught in his drift-net, near the same spot, a male of the same
species, measuring 6 ft. 6 in. in length. ‘This also was sent to the Kelvin-
grove Museum. From this and personal observations I am inclined to
think that the species is not quite so rare as has been supposed, but is
mistaken for a Porpoise, as specimens above mentioned were so called
by their captor. —Joun M. Campse.u (Curator, Kelvingrove Museum,
Glasgow).

The account given by Dr. James Dunlop is as follows :—‘ On Saturday,
Sept. 1st, at four o’clock in the morning, he drew his trawl-net at a point
rather more than a quarter of a mile from the Arran shore, opposite
Dougarie, a district in the island near to which the Duke of Hamilton has
a shooting-lodge. Just before the bag of the trawl-net was got on board, it
felt heavy to draw, and by-and-by the large tail of what was then thought
to be an unusually big Porpvise was brought into view. With considerable
rapidity and no little skill, a rope was hitched round its tail, and the form of
the hitch was such that the stronger the pull upon the rope, the tighter the
hitch became. Besides, the shape, size, and position of the tail favoured
the non-slipping of the hitch. Getting the bag of the net rapidly on board,

NOTES AND QUERIES. 495

the Dolphin got away with great force and speed, running out about twenty
fathoms of cable of twenty-one threads thickness, not, however, before the
other end was securely made fast to what fishermen term ‘ the timmer-head’
of the smack. Mr. Galbraith, finding that the Dolphin was fast, at once
took the helm, and soon he found that his smack was being rapidly towed
through the water. As he had fully four miles of the Sound to cross
before he could reach Carradale Pier—the wind, a slight breeze from the
north-west, almost a dead head wind for him—he determined to try how
far he could guide the Dolphin in the direction of home. Away went the
Dolphin at a great speed, coming every now and then to the surface to
breathe. At first it made a powerful effort to get rid of the rope which was
securely fastened to its tail,,so securely that the rope left a deep mark on
the skin and flesh. It was observed by Mr. Galbraith that when it came
up to the surface in its early efforts to breathe, a jet of water was blown up
to a considerable height, but in the later efforts, when the towing of the
smack had somewhat exhausted its strength, more of the head was above
the surface and for a longer period, and that when it blew no water was
thrown out from the blow-hole. This observation is corroborative of what
has been stated by some naturalists, that Porpoises and Dolphins do not
take in water by the mouth and eject it from the blow-hole in expiration—
that the water thrown up in jets is merely the surface. water which is over
the blow-hole when it comes up to breathe. In the tow across the Sound,
from the Arran shore to the Carradale side, the course of the smack was
obliquely upwards, and some difficulty was at first experienced to get the
Dolphin to go in a right direction. Sometimes it put on a spurt, turning
its head down channel as if determined to make tracks outwards for Ailsa
Craig. At other times it headed straight up channel, north and by east, as
if it wished to get round Whitefarlan Point and to enter Lochranza. These
tactics on the part of the Dolphin did not suit Mr. Galbraith’s purpose,
and with considerable skill he compelled it to tow him almost straight for
Carradale Pier. He says that whenever the Dolphin headed down channel
and put a strain upon the tow-rope, he put the tiller, not the helm, hard to
starboard. The bow of his smack went rapidly to port, and going con-
siderably to port the tow-rope, acting like a long lever upon the tail, turned
the Dolphin’s head up channel; and then, when it was going too much to
the north, the tiller was put hard to port, which movement sent the smack’s
head more to starboard and the north than the Dolphin itself: this had
the effect of putting the tail to starboard, and sending the head in the
opposite direction. In driving a horse, the coachman, through the reins and
bit, gets the horse to take the side to which the pressure of the bit in the
mouth has been applied. Mr. Galbraith made his fishing skiff pull the
tail the one way in order to get the head to take the other. In rather less
than an hour the skiff was towed against the wind a distance of four miles,

426 THE ZOOLOGIST.

much to the amazement of the men of the fishing fleet who were in the
neighbourhood, who could not understand how, with neither sails nor oars,
Galbraith’s skiff was going fast yet dead in the eye of the wind. When the
Dolphin and skiff reached within three or four hundred yards of Carradale
the strength of the animal, which was observed to be flagging, suddenly
gave way. It had been coming frequently to the surface to breathe, and
seemed to have difficulty in getting down below the surface again. Mr.
Galbraith, taking in the slack of the tow-rope sufficiently, got a purchase
on it with block and tackle, and hoisted the tail upwards out of the water.
This action deprived the Dolphin of its power. Its head went down below
the surface of the water, and, after a short but violent struggle, it was
drowned. For the remainder of the distance it was towed into the pier by
the smack. About sixteen or seventeen hours after death it was in Glasgow,
and examined by Mr. Eglinton, of the Kelvingrove Museum, who found
that, owing to the exhaustion following great muscular effort and other con-
ditions, the skin had begun to slide, due to rapid putrifying changes, and
that it was unfit for preservation by stuffing, a matter of great regret to
Mr. Campbell and others. The skeleton, however, is preserved. The calf
is preserved whole in spirit, and is well worthy of examination.”

BIRDS.

Autumnal Migration of the Meadow Pipit.— On October 16th,
whilst walking along the shore at Emsworth, I noticed flocks of Titlarks,
Anthus pratensis, in such numbers as I have never seen before, evidently
on the point of migrating. J first observed them on the shore immediately
in front of Thorney Island, which they covered in a brown mass. The
different flocks, which were seen in several directions, must have numbered
many thousands. Knox, in his ‘ Ornithological Rambles in Sussex,’ gives
an account of similar flocks near Brighton, early in September, and
Mr. Borrer, in his lately published ‘ Birds of Sussex,’ says that by the end
of September most of them have departed for the winter. I think you may
like to place my date on record, as it is apparently an unusually late one.—
F. H. Arnoxp (The Hermitage, Emsworth).

Barrow’s Goldeneye (Clangula islandica),— Writing of ducks, it may
be of interest to record an attempt to rear the Iceland Goldeneye. Not
being able to go to Iceland myself, I asked my friend, the Rev. H: H.
Slater, to assist me. Mr. Halfdanarson kindly sent a man to Myvatn,
where he procured twenty eggs of Barrow’s Goldeneye, which were carried
home and placed under three hens. Unfortunately one of the hens broke
all the eggs in hercharge. The other two hens only hatched out one duck-
ling apiece, and these unfortunately soon died. Mr. Slater thinks that the
shaking which the eggs received on horseback must have addled the
majority of them. Perhaps some one else may be more fortunate in

NOTES AND QUERIES. 427

experimenting in this direction, for Barrow’s Goldeneye would be an in-
teresting addition to the various species of wildfowl kept on ornamental
waters in this country.—H. A. Macruerson (Carlisle).

Hybrid Mallard and Sheldrake.—I am sorry to report that the male
Sheldrake, which paired with a female Wild Duck, was not the male parent
of the young hybrids to which I referred (p. 396). Although the Sheldrake
was observed to pair with the duck, he seems to have been unsuccessful.
The eggs, it appears, were fertilised by an interloper, a Muscovy drake,
entirely unknown tous. The young birds are fine healthy specimens of
the cross between the Muscovy Duck and the Wild Duck. — H. A. Mac-
PHERSON (Carlisle).

Baillon’s Crake at Brighton.— On Sept. 2nd a good specimen of
Baillon’s Crake was caught by birdcatchers on the downs near the Ditch-
ling Road, Brighton. It was brought to Messrs. Pratt & Son, where I saw
it alive on the following day. On dissection it proved to be a nearly mature
female. The base of the bill in life was greenish blue, and the breast is
pale grey, beautifully and regularly barred and mottled with darker grey,
but the chin is uniformly pale grey or almost white. The top of the head is
a most beautiful fawn-colour, and the eyes very bright, the irides being
fawn-coloured. In Saunders’s ‘ Manual of British Birds’ the adult male is
said to have the base of the bill and the irides red. The white line on the
outer web of the first primary is very distinct, but narrow.—A. F’. GRirritH
(15, Buckingham Place, Brighton).

Black-backed Purple Gallinule in Hampshire.—In ‘ The Zoologist’
for 1866 (p. 229), the late Mr. H. Reeks, of Thruxton, recorded the capture
of a Purple Gallinule at Redbridge, near Southampton. Happening to be
in the neighbourhood, I thought it worth while to search this Porphyrio
out, which, with Mr. Edward Hart’s help, I did, and found it in the cottage
of the man who shot it thirty years ago; but instead of being Porphyrio
ce@ruleus, as we expected, it turned out to be aspecimen of the Australian
Black-backed P. melanotus. The plumage showed no signs of confinement,
but the bird was probably an escaped one nevertheless—J. H. Gurney
(Keswick Hall, Norwich).

Nesting of the Lesser Redpoll in Bedfordshire.— As the Lesser Red.
poll seems to have nested this year in greater numbers than usual in
Somersetshire, it may add further interest to the facts to note the fol-
lowing for Bedfordshire. Previous to this year I have only been able to
obtain information respecting one nest with eggs found in this county, and
that many years ago at Shefford. But this year I was able to obtain two
nests from the neighbourhood of Langford ; the first contained one egg, on
May 2nd, towards a clutch of five; the second nest was taken on May 12th,
with five eggs. Since then acorrespondent informed me that he secured a

428 THE ZCOLOGIST.

clutch of six eggs of this species, on June 10th, near Bedford, and on the
same day another nest with five eggs was found by a lad. Since then a
third nest was taken with three eggs, all in the same locality. From these
occurrences it appears that the Lesser Redpoll has this year nested in
the midland and southern counties in greater numbers than usual.—J.
STEELE Exxiorr (Dixon’s Green, Dudley). '

American Golden Plover in Ireland.— On Sept. 13th I obtained a
specimen of the American Golden Plover, Charadrius virginicus, amongst
a lot of Golden Plovers, which had been sent direct from Belmullet, Co.
Mayo. The bird is an adult, retaining a good portion of the black breast
of the summer plumage, and differs from the European species in being
longer in the tarsus. and having the axillary feathers smoke-grey instead of
white, and a broad band of white over the eye. This species has not hitherto
been detected in Ireland.— HK. Wriittams (2, Dame Street, Dublin).

[The closely allied Asiatic Golden Plover, which is doubtfully distinct,
has been recorded to have been met with on two occasions in Norfolk, viz.,
in December, 1874, and again in the autumn of 1882, as well as in Perth-
shire in August, 1883, and in Orkney in November, 1887; but we do not
remember any recognition of the American form in the British Islands,
notwithstanding its exceptional occurrence in Heligoland, as noted by Herr
Gatke. Some years ago we had an opportunity of examining and com-
paring a good series of the three recognised forms of Golden Plover, C.
pluvialis, C. fulvus (vel longipes), and C. virginicus (or, as it is now called,
dominicus), and of noting their differences and measurements (Proc. Zool.
Soc. 1871, p. 116). The colour of the axillary plume in the Plovers has
generally been relied upon as a good distinguishing character, being white
in pluvialis, grey in fulvus and virginicus, and black in Squatarola hel-
vetica ; but Mr. Cordeaux has observed that in pluvialis it is not always
uniformly white, but is occasionally more or less edged and broken with
smoke-grey (Zool. 1869, p. 1544), upon which we suggested (tom. cit.,
p. 1601) either that the Lincolnshire specimen, upon which his remarks were
founded, might have been one or other of the exotic forms, or that the ~
colour of the axillary plume, being variable, could not be relied upon asa
specific character.—ED. ]

Large Clutches of Eggs.—Seeing in ‘ The Zoologist’ (p. 345) a note
by Mr. Salter in regard to an unusual number of eggs having been found
in the nests of the Marsh Tit (Parus palustris) and Willow Wren (Phyllo-
scopus trochilus), I send you a list of some clutches (which I have in my
cabinet, and also some I have seen), which contain more than the average
number of eggs. I hope other oologists will relate their experience on this
subject. The following amongst others I have in my collection :—A clutch
of thirteen Coot (Fulica atra), from Aberdeenshire; seven Sand Martin

NOTES AND QUERIES. 429

(Cottle riparia), from Perthshire ; seven Bearded Tit (Panurus biarmicus),
from Norfolk; six Hen Harrier (Circus cyaneus), from the Orkney Isles
(six eggs seems to be the full complement for any hawk); a clutch of
seven Starling (Sturnus vulgaris), a nest of seven and another of eight
Redstart (Ruticilla phenicurus), all from a district near Bath; four Common
Tern (Sterna fluviatilis), from Dorset. I have also seen the following :—
Twelve Marsh Tit, three Great Plover, four Arctic Tern, fourteen Blue ‘Tit,
twelve Great Tit; and six eggs in the following nests:—Rook, Starling,
Jackdaw, Red-backed Shrike, Goldfinch, Dipper, Bearded Tit, Yellow
Bunting, Swallow, Sand Martin, and a few of the commoner birds. Six,
I think, may be considered to be above the usual number generally laid. I
have never found more than five eggs in nests of the Blackbird or Thrush.
—C. B. Horssruen (4, Richmond Hill, Bath).

Supposed Occurrence of the Black Stork in Devonshire.—On April
3rd, about 2.30 p.m., two large birds were observed standing on a rock
about twenty yards from the shore off Salcombe Cove, near Sidmouth.
They looked like Herons in size, or a little larger, and on examining them
with a binocular, the plumage was black or very dark, the beak red and
long, and the legs red and long. My informant, an Eton Master, is no
ornithologist ; but on showing him the coloured plate of Ciconia nigra in
Dresser’s ‘ Birds of Europe,’ he without the slightest hesitation recognised

it as the species he saw at Salcombe.—Epwarp Hamitton (16, Cromwell
Place, S.W.)

Birds Nesting near Epsom. — The Stonechat nested this year on the
common at Epsom, and several cases of the Hawfinch nesting in Newton
Wood and in the neighbourhood were reported, one nest having fully-
fledged young on June 3rd. This nest was near Mickleham, and contained
three young birds. The Cirl Bunting was observed on May 13th near
Mickleham, no doubt breeding, and the Wood Wren was watched in the
same place. About four years ago a Bittern was shot, in a fog, on Epsom
Common, and as I can find no evidence of its having been recorded before,
I mention it now. It is set up, and in the possession of the person who
killed it.—J. A. Buckn1Li (Epsom).

Great Snipe in Kent.—A Great Snipe (Gallinago major) was shot on
Oct. Ist by Capt. Plumbe, Royal Marines, who kindly sent it to me. It
was killed in the neighbourhood of Deal. — W. O. Hammonp (St. Albans
Court, near Wingham).

Grey Plover on the Yorkshire Moors in August.—Just after the
Grouse-shooting had commenced at Thornton Moor, Wensleydale, a pair of
Grey Plovers were most unexpectedly met with, and one of them was shot.
This bird, a male, still retained the black breast indicative of the breeding
season, The appearance of this species at such an unusual time of year

430 THE ZOOLOGIST.

seems worthy of note. As a rule the Grey Plover passes through this

country early in May on its way north to breed, returning early in October.
—J. Percivat (Carperby, Aysgarth, R.S.O.).

Woodcocks nesting in Co. Wicklow.—The following extract is taken
from my diary, dated ‘“Ballyarthur, Co. Wicklow,” August 3rd, 1866 :—
“When walking on a path in the wood with two of my brothers, in the
afternoon, five Woodcocks got up close to us, two old and three young birds ;
they only flew a short distance, when they again alighted. The young birds
were able to fly pretty well, owing to their apparent unwillingness to leave
the locality. I think they must have been hatched close by.” Old birds
have occasionally been seen at Ballyarthur during the summer months.—
H. L. Bayty (Portland House, Ryde, Isle of Wight).

Albino Swallow.—At Winchelsea, last month, I saw what I had never
before seen, though it may not be uncommon, possibly—an albino Swallow.
It was pure white, without a spot of colour; the body snowy white, the
wings a little less pure in tint. I watched it a long time flying around, and
was much struck with its apparent size; it looked much larger than its
dark-ccloured companions. This note may interest you if—as I suspect it
is not—a very common occurrence in the Swallow tribe. — Jonn Lowe
(4, Gloucester Place, W.).

[White or nearly white varieties of the Swallow are not very uncommon.
They are generally obtained in autumn, and are almost invariably young
birds. See ‘ Zoologist,’ 1880, p. 24; 1882, p. 372; 1885, p. 461;
1889, p. 418; 1892, p. 423; and 1894, p.59. Many years ago (Sept.
1871), when in a gunning punt in Pagham Harbour, we shot a white
Swallow as it crossed the bows in company with a flock of migrating
Sand Martins, and, having skinned it, presented it to the Natural History
Collection in the British Museum, where it is preserved. In October,
1892, a correspondent of ‘ The Times’ gave an account of a white Swallow
which had been captured near Westgate-on-Sea, and became tame enough
to feed from the hand. The following summer we received a photograph
of another, which was taken alive at York, and on two occasions we have
noted cases in which the entire brood was white (Zool. 1880, p. 24; 1894,
p. 59).—Ep.]

FISHES.

Scorpena dactyloptera on the Norfolk Coast.—In the Supplementary
List of Norfolk Fishes, published in the 5th vol. of the ‘ Transactions ’ of
the Norfolk and Norwich Naturalists’ Society, at p. 635, Dr. Lowe, on my
authority, includes Sebastes norwegica as a species new to the county of
Norfolk. It is with great regret that I now find I was in error in deter-
mining the species of this fish, and that it is in reality an example of
Scorpena dactyloptera, Delaroche. I may mention that this latter fish was

NOTES AND QUERIES. 431

quite unknown to me, and of course is not included in any of the books on

British Fishes; but being in Edinburgh last August, Mr. Eagle Clarke
gave me a copy of a paper which he had contributed to the Royal Physical
Society on the occurrence of Scorpena dactyloptera on the Yorkshire coast,
and I at once suspected that I had blundered in naming the Norfolk fish,
which upon re-examination I found to be the case; but to prevent any
possibility of further mistake, I sent the specimen to Mr. Clarke, who was
good enough to confirm me in this respect. Of course, the occurrence of
this species is of much greater interest than that of Sebastes, but neverthe-
less I regret the error. Fortunately it was only recorded in the ‘ Trans-
actions’ of the Norfolk Naturalists’ Society, and if those who possess
Dr. Lowe’s list will kindly correct the name little harm will be done, pro-
vided that gentlemen will forgive my having misled him. — T. SouraHwEL1
(Norwich).

The Bergylt off Whitehaven.—Iu August last my friend Dr. I’Anson,
of Whitehaven, asked me to come and identify a fish, which he thought
might probably prove to be a specimen of the Bergylt (Sebastes norwegicus).
I accordingly went over to Whitehaven to see it, and was glad to be able to
confirm its identification. It was caught off the Whitehaven coast at the
beginning of August last, and is the first specimen that I have seen in the
N.W. of England.—H. A. MacpueErson (Carlisle).

[The Bergylt, or ‘‘ Norwegian Haddock,” as it is inappropriately called
by the Aberdeen fishermen, for it has very little resemblance to the Cod-
like fishes, is common enough on the Norwegian coast, and ranges north-
ward to Greenland, but is not often recognised on the east of Scotland and
England, and is still rarer on our western, or rather north-western, shores.
The figure given by Couch in his ‘ Fishes of the British Islands’ (vol. ii.
pl. lviii.) gives a good idea of its form, though the colour is too brown.
When fresh out of the water it is red, darkest on the back, paler on the
sides, and the belly white.—ED.]

SCIENTIFIC, SOCIETIES,

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF LonpDOoN.

October 3rd, 1894.— The Right Honble. Lord Watsinanam, M.A.,
LL.D., F.R.S., Vice-President, in the chair.

Mr. Alick Marshall, of Bexley, Kent, was elected a Fellow of the Society.

Mr. W. F. H. Blandford exhibited specimens of a sand-flea, chigoe or
nigua, received from Mr. Szigetvary, of the Imperial Maritime Customs,
China, who had found them in the ears of sewer-rats trapped at Ningpo.
Mr. Blandford stated that the species was allied to, but not perhaps identical

432 THE ZOOLOGIST,

with, the American species, Sarcopsylla penetrans, L., one of the most trouble-
some pests in Tropical America and the West Indies to man and various
domestic and wild animals, the female burrowing into the skin, usually of
the feet, but also of any other accessible region. He said that the distribu-
tion of the chigoe was recorded over Tropical America and the Antilles
from 80° N. to 30° S., and of late years it had established itself in Angola,
Loango, and the Congo.

Mr. F. C. Adams exhibited a specimen of Mallota eristaloides, a species
of Diptera new to Britain, taken by himself in the New Forest, on July 20th
last. He said that the species had been identified by Mr. Austen, of the
British Museum, and that he had presented the specimen to the National
Collection. Mr. Verrall made some remarks on the species and on the distri-
bution of several allied species in the United Kingdom. Lord Walsingham,
as a Trustee of the British Museum, expressed his satisfaction at the
presentation of the specimen to that Institution.

Mr. Tutt exhibited specimens of a form of Zyg@na exulans, well scaled,
and with the nervules and fore legs of a decidedly orange colour, collected
during the last week in July by Dr. Chapman in the La Grave district of
the Alps, at a considerable elevation; also specimens of the same species,
taken by Dr. Chapman near Cogne, and others from the Grison Valley,
which were less densely scaled. He also exhibited Scotch specimens, for com-
parison, and stated that he was of opinion that the latter were probably as
thickly scaled as the continental ones; but that, owing to the differences in
the climate of Scotland and Switzerland, collectors had fewer opportunities
of getting the Scotch specimens in good condition.

Mr. P. M. Bright exhibited a remarkable series of varieties of Arctia
menthastri from N. Scotland, also series of Liparis monacha (including dark
varieties) and Boarmia roboraria from the New Forest; Zygena exulans
from Braemar; Noctua glareosa from Montrose and the Shetlands; Agrotis
pyrophila from the Isle of Portland, and Pitcaple, N.B.; red varieties of
Teniocampa gracilis ; and a specimen of Sterrha sacraria, taken at light, at
Mudeford, in October, 1893; also living larve of Hulepia cribrum.

Mr. J.J. Walker exhibited a living specimen of a large species of Pulea,
which he believed to be Histricopsylla talpe, Curtis, taken at Hartlip, Kent.
Mr. Verrall and the Chairman made some remarks on this and allied species.

Mr. K.J. Morton communicated a paper entitled “‘ Palearctic Nemoure.”

Lord Walsingham read a paper entitled ‘‘ A Catalogue of the Ptero-
phoride, Tortricide, and Tineidz of the Madeira Islands, with Notes and
Descriptions of New Species.” In this paper sixty-six species of Lepidoptera
belonging to these families were recorded as occurring in the Madeiras, of
which thirty were noticed as peculiar to the Islands, twelve as common to the
Madeiras and Canaries (of which two were known as occurring elsewhere),
and one extends its range only to North Africa. Over thirty species were

SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES. 438

added to the list, and one new genus, seven new species, and two new
varieties were described. Mr. Jacoby and Mr. Bethune-Baker made some
remarks on the species and their geographical distribution.

Mr. Blandford read a paper entitled “A Supplementary Note on the
Scolytide of Japan, with a list of Species.”

October 17th, 1894.—H. J. Eiwes, Esq., F.L.S., F.Z.S., President, in
the chair.

Dr. H. G. Breyer, of Pretoria, Transvaal, South Africa, was elected a
Fellow of the Society.

Mr. G. C. Champion read a letter, dated 15th August last, from
Mr. J. Y. Johnson, of Funchal, Madeira, on the subject of a recent
visitation of locusts to the island, and exhibited specimens. Mr. Johnson
mentioned that Darwin, in his ‘Origin of Species,’ recorded that in
November, 1844, dense swarms of locusts visited Madeira. He said that
since then, until August last, these insects had not visited the island.
Mr. Champion remarked that the species sent by Mr. Johnson was Decticus
albifrons, Fabr., not a true migratory locust. Mr. Champion also exhibited
specimens of Anthaxia nitidula, Velleius dilatatus, and Athous rhombeus,
taken by himself in the New Forest during the past summer.

Mr. H. Goss read a letter he had received from Capt. Montgomery, J.P.,
of Mid-Ilovo, Natal, reporting vast flights of locusts there, extending over
three miles in length, on August 31st last, and exhibited a specimen of the
locust, a species of Acridium. Capt. Montgomery stated that, as a rule, his
district, and most of Natal, was free from the pest, but that an exceptional
invasion had occurred in 1850.

Mr. J. W. Tutt exhibited four typical specimens of Emydia ertbrum
from the New Forest, and, for comparison, four specimens of the variety
eandida of the same species, taken at an elevation of 4000 feet, near Cour-
mayeur, on the Italian side of Mont Blanc. He stated that he had also
met with this form in the Cogne Valley, at an elevation of from 6000 to
8000 feet.

Mr. R. Adkin exhibited, for Mr. H. Murray, a specimen of Hrebia
@thiops, in which the last fore wing was much bleached, taken in August
last, near Carnforth. Mr. Adkin also exhibited a series of Acronycta
rumicis from Co. Cork, including light and black forms, with examples from
the Scilly Isles, Isle of Man, and North of Scotland, for comparison.

Mr. Elwes exhibited a series of Chionobas alberta (male and female),
C. uhleri var. varuna, and Frebia discoidalis, from Calgary, Alberta, N.W.
Canada, collected in May last by Mr. Wolley-Dod. He said that the
validity of C. alberta, which had been questioned by Mr. W. H. Edwards,
was fully established by these specimens.

Prof. Poulton gave an account of the changes he had recently made at

ZOOLOGIST, THIRD SERIES, VOL. XVIII.—Nov. 1894. 2h

ms ’ |

434 THE ZOOLOGIST. {

Oxford in the arrangement of the Hope Collections in the Department of
Zoology, and as to the rooms now available for students working at these
collections.

Mr. G. '[. Bethune-Baker communicated a paper entitled “ Descriptions
of the Pyralide, Crambidae, and Phycide collected by the late T. Veen
Wollaston in Madeira.”—H. Goss, Hon. Secretary. |

NOTICES OF NEW BOOKS,

Notes on the Birds of Rainham: including the District between
Chatham and Sittingbourne. By Watter Prentis. Post
8vo, pp. 92. London: Gurney & Jackson. 1894.

Tre author of this little book is not unknown to our readers,
who will recognise his name as that of an occasional contributor
to this Journal. We are glad to see that he has now published
some more extended observations on the birds of the district in
which he resides.

Rainham lies in the north-eastern parliamentary division of
Kent, and within sight of the Isle of Sheppey, Queenborough,
Sheerness and the Nore. Looking to the north-east, one may
see the mouth of the Medway, the Isle of Grain, and, on a clear
day, Southend in Essex. ‘To the west and south, there is no
view beyond the woods. ‘The soil of Rainham is a good loam
resting upon the chalk, more or less deep where the latter does
not approach the surface, more or less thin near the woods, where
the soil is flinty. Cultivation, Mr. Prentis tells us, is ‘‘ going on
as well as it can be done; almost everything that is either sown
or planted grows as a rule to an average perfection.”

From this it will be seen that the district is tolerably diversi-
fied, and with woods on one side of the parish, and marshes on
the other, it is not surprising that there is also a diversity of
bird-life. Many migratory species find at least a temporary
resting-place in the neighbourhood, although naturally in these
days of cheap guns and ten-shilling gun licenses, the larger
kinds soon get shot or driven away. We regret to find Mr.
Prentis enrolling himself amongst the local army of gunners, and
admitting (p. 10) that he and his friends were instrumental in
shooting at and driving away an Osprey, which for the time

-——" ee ee a a s

rre

ww C . .F

NOTICES OF NEW BOOKS. 435

being ‘“‘escaped, taking a direct course up the river.’ How
much better would it have been for the author to have used his
influence to secure its protection, and to have pointed out to the
game preservers in his neighbourhood that, so far as they were
concerned, the Osprey, from its piscivorous habits, would not be
likely to do any harm, while it would afford pleasure and
instruction to those who, watching its fishing operations, take a
keener interest in observing the actions of uncommon birds than
in pursuing and slaying them. [If our rarer birds are to be pre-
served from eventual extermination, it might well be through the
efforts of local ornithologists. A very good example in this
direction has been already set in Norfolk, and on the Farne
Islands, and we trust it may be followed in other parts of the
country.

We should like Mr. Prentis’s little book better if he had told
us more about the habits of the birds observed by him, their
coming and going, the period of their stay, and particularly the
food of the smaller species, which as an agriculturist he has
evidently good opportunities for ascertaining. Instead of infor-
mation of this kind, his remarks are too often limited to a mere
record of a particular species having been seen or shot at a
particular date. Occasionally, however, we come across some-
thing more interesting, as for example, under the head of
** Montagu’s Harrier’ we are told that this bird ‘‘ always comes
to us in the spring of the year, unlike the Hen Harrier, which
always comes in the autumn; that they take up their quarters in
the woods, flying over the fields and low coppices till they are
shot.”

The Shrike which Mr. Prentis saw on the top of a faggot-
stack, and which he describes as ‘‘a brown bird not unlike a
Thrush” (p. 17), was surely not the Grey Shrike as he supposes,
but a female Redbacked Shrike.

“The Bearded Tit,” he says, ‘‘has not to my knowledge
occurred in my district; but three were shot in a reed bed on the
banks of the Medway in the winter of 1865 near Maidstone.” Is
this the latest instance of its occurrence in Kent? Mr. Miller
Christy has chronicled its history in the adjoining county of
Essex (‘Birds of Essex,’ 1890, p. 91); and it appears from the
‘Reports on the Migration of Birds’ (ix. p. 20) that one appeared
at Landguard Lighthouse in the early morning of Feb. 16th, 1887,

436 THE ZOOLOGIST.

and left at noon. This, however, is a long way further north,
off the Suffolk coast. af

Another noteworthy bird, in this case obtained by the author
himself, is the Redthroated Pipit, Anthus cervinus, which was
shot at Rainham in April, 1880. This is not the first record of
the specimen however, and the author would have done well to
have mentioned this, as also the fact that it was identified at the
British Museum by Mr. R.B. Sharpe (ef. ‘ Zoologist,’ 1884, p. 272).

The migratory habits of the Rook are thus noticed by Mr.
Prentis (p. 48) :—‘ Throughout the summer I see but few; when
I begin to sow the wheat in the autumn they come by thousands,
and continue doing so, off and on, throughout the winter, leaving
soon after the barley is sown in the spring.”

The migratory habits of the Greater Spotted Woodpecker also
are alluded to (p.45). ‘‘ When they do occur, which is very rarely,
they invariably come in the month of October; several have
been obtained at that time of year, old birds, both male and
female.’’ The Lesser Spotted Woodpecker has been met with and
obtained on several occasions in the lower orchard adjoining the
marsh, a favourite locality both in autumn and winter.

An unusual site for a Cirl Bunting’s nest is described (p. 35):
‘In an old dried-up decoy pond, built on the ground amongst
the dead stems of the reeds”’; the writer adds, ‘‘ they are some-
times caught by the bird-catchers in winter.”

Mr. Prentis thinks that Magpies are kept down by foxes,
because he ‘‘ once found one which had been buried by a fox,
leaving the tip end of its tail in view.” Probably this was a
wounded bird, or a tame one which had made its escape; it
would take a clever Fox to catch a wild and uninjured Magpie.

The utility of Sand Martins in an unexpected direction is
worth notice. The author once saw ‘about 300 of these birds
all in a line upon a field of young turnips, sitting and fluttering
along, devouring the fly and the turnip beetle.”’ This, if we
mistake not, is an original observation.

The Red-legged Partridge is said to have “ spread within
these few years all over the district,” but Mr. Prentis need not
have added the remark that “their habit of running before the
dogs causes them to be of little use to the sportsman” ; for it is
well known that in districts where ‘‘ partridge driving” is resorted
to, the red-legged bird is considered invaluable.

NOTICES OF NEW BOOKS. 437

A few typographical errors should be corrected, as for
instance, Saxicolo (p. 24), Cole (p. 29), pipet (p. 33), melanoce-
phala (p. 35), which is not the right name for the Reed Bunting,
dikes (p. 48), scull (p. 59), gargany (p. 71), and Podiceps (pp. 76,
77), which, following Linneus, should be Podicipes. This was
pointed out by Professor Newton in a footnote to Babington’s
‘Birds of Suffolk,’ 1886 (p. 200), and has since been generally
and very properly adopted by ornithologists. The paragraph
relating to the ‘‘ African Whydah Finch” (p. 39) should be
deleted, this bird having no possible claim to recognition as a
visitor to this country, otherwise than through man’s agency.

The Birds of Pembrokeshire and its Islands. By the Rev. Murray
A. Maruew, M.A., F.L.S. 8vo. Pp. i—li; 1—131.
With Illustrations and Maps. London: R. H. Porter.
1894,

Tue avifauna of the Welsh counties has long stood in need
of investigation by some skilled ornithologist, and Mr. Mathew
has done good service by publishing the result of his obser-
vations made during eight years’ residence in Pembrokeshire.
Indeed, had not the accident of ill-health compelled him to
sojourn there, on account of the healthiness of the climate, it is
more than probable that we should still be without any connected
account of Pembrokeshire birds.

It is scarcely correct, we think, to state, as our author does in
his ‘‘ Introduction ” (p. xiii), that ‘“‘there are no Welsh ornitho-
logists who lived earlier than the present century.’ We have
some dim recollection of having read in an early volume of the
‘Philosophical Transactions’ some letters by Edward Lhwyd,
written about 1695, containing observations in Natural History
made during his travels through Wales and Scotland; but
writing at this moment amongst the beautiful woody vales and
snow-capped peaks of Carnarvonshire, far away from all note-
books, except the one in use, we are unable to state precisely the
nature of the observations in question, further than that they
had reference to, amongst other things, Blackgame, Storks and
Crossbills in Pembrokeshire. The Stork has no place in
Mr. Mathew’s list, and the Black Grouse has long been extinct,

438 THE ZOOLOGIST.

though the precise date of its extermination in the county has
not been even approximately ascertained. Within the memory
of man an attempt has been made to re-introduce this fine
game-bird into a county where the discovery of its bones has
proved its former existence, but hitherto the experiment has
been unsuccessful. The Black Grouse has also disappeared
apparently from several districts in South Wales, where it was
once common. Its former abundance, says Mr. Mathew, is
supposed to be attested by the number of inns scattered about
bearing the sign of the “ Blackcock.” This, however, may
either testify to the presence of the bird, or only to its heraldic
representative, as the Blackcock is the old crest of the Mathew
family, at one time owning large estates in various parts of
South Wales. It forms, therefore, a most appropriate device on
the cover of the volume before us, with the Welsh motto, “‘ Y fyn
Duw a fydd,” which signifies, as we are informed, ‘‘ What God
willeth will be.”

We were not prepared for the information that it is doubtful
whether the Red Grouse is still a native of Pembrokeshire, for we
had supposed that the Precelly ridge of hills, which stands out
so prominently to the north of the county, would surely yield at
least a limited annual supply of these much-coveted game-birds.
Indeed, rumour indicates their presence still, on the Cardigan-
shire side of the Precelly range.

Amongst the characteristic birds of Pembrokeshire, it is
satisfactory to note that on the cliffs along the coast, the Buzzard,
Peregrine, Raven and Chough are still to be met with, together
with the less noticeable Rock Pipit and Wheatear. In the north
of the county we learn that the Hen Harrier still quarters the
wilder moors. The Water Ouzel and the Grey Wagtail are
common on every mountain stream, and have for their companions
the Ring Ouzel and the Common Sandpiper. The Stonechat
may be seen on every common and is one of the characteristic
small birds. The Cuckoo and the Nightjar rejoice in the wilder
parts of the country, where as summer visitors they are said to
be exceptionally plentiful; while the Linnet, Yellowhammer, and
Chaffinch are very abundant. Amongst the soft-billed summer
migrants, the Chiffchaff and the Sedge Warbler seem to be the
best represented, the former occasionally remaining through the
winter. A walk in spring across any extensive common is sure

NOTICES OF NEW BOOKS. 439

to be enlivened by the strange ‘“‘ humming” of the Snipe, which
breeds in many places throughout the county. Our Author calls
the sound “ drumming,” as do many other writers, but we prefer
the term “‘ humming,” not only because it seems to indicate
more exactly the nature of the sound produced (as we are quite
convinced) by the vibration of the flight-feathers, but also
because the name “ mire-drum” is, or was, by common consent,
locally bestowed upon the Bittern, in former days resident
wherever there were meres and reed- and rush-grown bogs for it
to skulk in, and doubtless a common Pembrokeshire bird. In
the summer many of the cliffs along the coast, and most of the
islands, are thronged with sea-fowl, amongst which the Gannet
and Manx Shearwater are remarkable as having breeding-
stations in but few other places in the kingdom.

But in reviewing the Pembrokeshire avifauna, it seems to us
that the chief interest centres in those species which are con-
spicuous by their absence ; bearing in mind the western position
of the county, and the fact that many of these absentees are
unknown also in Ireland. According to Mr. Mathew, the
following species which are common in most of the English
counties, as also in Central and Eastern Wales, are either never
seen, or are extremely rare in Pembrokeshire, and of those
marked with an asterisk not a single example has been known to
occur :—Redstart, *Nightingale, Lesser Whitethroat, Garden
Warbler, *Dartford Warbler, Wood Wren, *Reed Warbler,
Nuthatch, Ray’s Wagtail, Great Grey Shrike, Red-backed
Shrike, Pied Flycatcher, Hawfinch, *Tree Sparrow, *Mealy
Redpoll, *T'wite, Cirl Bunting, Wood Lark, Great Spotted
Woodpecker, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Wryneck, *Osprey,
*Grey Lag Goose, Black Grouse, Spotted Crake, Stone Curlew,
and Dotterel.

Of these the Reed Warbler, the Garden Warbler, and the
Lesser Whitethroat, appear to be very rare throughout Wales, as
they are also in the south-west of England.

It is curious that the Yellow Wagtail is only seen in Pembroke-
shire as it passes in spring and autumn, there being no instance
on record of its having remained to nest. The number of species
ascertained to breed in the county is 113, but since the com-
mencement of the century three others have ceased to do so,
namely, the Kite, the Marsh Harrier, and the Black Guillemot.

440 THE ZOOLOGIST.

Not the least interesting portion of Mr. Mathew’s book is
that section of his “ Introduction” (pp. xxxv—xl) in which he
deals with the subject of migration, and the Reports from the
Pembrokeshire lighthouses, all of them well situated; the
“Smalls” in particular, which from its position fifteen miles out
at sea, in the centre of St. Bride’s Bay, where it is almost
exactly opposite to the lighthouse on the Tuskar Rock, that
stands seven miles off the Wexford coast, might afford valuable
statistics respecting the passage of birds between Pembrokeshire
and Ireland. The lighthouse on the South Bishops Rock off
St. David’s peninsula, the two lighthouses at the entrance to
Milford Haven, and the tall lighthouse on Caldy, are all important
stations from which the returns are of great interest. Such
lighthouses as those in Cardigan Bay, on the Smalls, and on
Lundy, are of special value from their isolated position so many
miles from land, where they must necessarily attract birds that
make their aerial journeys well out at sea. In fine weather the
birds fly wide of, or high above, the lighthouses; but in stormy
or misty weather, they flutter about them during the night and
the early hours of the morning in a bewildered manner, and
hundreds perish from dashing themselves violently against the
lanterns.

Mr. Mathew states, however, that he is quite unable to arrive
at any beyond the most general conclusions, as the materials for
forming any adequate theory are as yet far too scanty from the
returns supplied. They serve nevertheless to reveal the fact
that several species commonly regarded as residents are to be
included amongst the birds which periodically migrate.

The position of the Pembrokeshire lighthouses, as well as
those at a distance, which doubtless influence the direction of the
migrating flocks, is clearly shown on a folding map at the end of
the volume, while another map of the county indicates most, if
not all, of the localities which are referred to in the text. The
accompanying illustrations, from photographs of some of the
more notable haunts of sea-fowl in Pembrokeshire, furnish a
most appropriate embellishment to a well-planned and very well-
written volume.

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THE ZOOLOGIST
No. 216.—December, 1894.

ON A NEGLECTED SPECIES or BRITISH FIELD MOUSE,
MUS FLAVICOLLIS, Meucutor.

By W. E. pve Winton.

Tuts species of Field Mouse, described in 1834 by Prof.
Melchior, of Copenhagen, on page 99 of his work on Danish
and Norwegian Mammals,* has hitherto been disregarded by
British naturalists, although several writers, under Mus sylvaticus,
have mentioned that ‘“‘a larger variety measuring 44 inches,
exclusive of the tail, is sometimes found in woods” ;+ but beyond
this they do not go. Field Mice answering the description of
Melchior’s flavicollis, being abundant in some of our English
counties, I think this animal should find a place in the list of
British mammals; and for my part I quite agree with Melchior
that it is a perfectly distinct species, since, apart from its size
and colour, the special characters of the skull, hereafter to be
described, sufficiently entitle it to that rank.

In the first place I will describe its outward appearance, and
show how it can be distinguished from Mus sylvaticus.

The full-grown animal measures as follows :—Head and body,
108 to 115 mm. Tail, 108 to 115 mm. (the greater measure-
ments not necessarily belonging to the same animal, but the head
and body and tail measurements of each individual will generally
be found within 5 mm. of one another, sometimes the head and
body, sometimes the tail, giving the longer measurement). Hind

* ‘Den danske Stats og Norges Pattedyr,’ 8vo, pp. xvi. 298, pls. 18.
+ Cf. Jenyns, Man. Brit. Vert. An. 1835, p, 31.

ZOOLOGIST, THIRD SERIES, VOL. XVUI.—DEC. 1894. 2M

442 THE ZOOLOGIST.

foot, 24 mm. Ear, 18 mm. For the purpose of comparison,
I will here give a few measurements of Mus sylvaticus and
M. flavicollis, adult mice with worn teeth, and young in the
grey plumage. All figures are in millimetres, and taken from
specimens in the flesh by myself. The ear is measured from the
notch, and the length of the hind foot does not include the claw,
The measurement of the head and body + the tail may be relied
on as giving the total length of the animal.

Mus syLvaticus. || Mus FLAVICOLLIS.
SS; didi cadannaes 4 On ee ° | 2 | 6h
Head and body .| 93 | 92 | 92 | 97 /|108 {110 |110 |115
HGS it ace wcnee cee 17 | 16} 17 | 17.) 18 | 26) tee
Hind-foot.<..c.e 22 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 23 | 24 | 24
Ee Sdeesc den sas eee 86 | 82 | 78 | 85 108 {115 |112 |112
BM FLO coca caress a Vs te? le te ee ee
Head and body .| 83 | 83 | 71 | ... | 81 | 84 | 68
RAE Sew sert er ecetuee 16°} 16 | 16 16:; 16) 26
Hind-foot......... 22 | 21 | 20]... | 21 | 22 | 20
og | CEM Sn 75 (79 ' 59 !... || 84 | 83 | 60

All the specimens above measured were caught within an
area of thirty acres, but the species did not intermingle; yet there
was no natural boundary or observable difference in the soil on
which they were found.

In comparison with Mus sylvaticus, the general colour of the
upper parts in M. flavicollis is brighter, especially along the sides
and legs, and the under parts of almost pure white, excepting
the gorget or breast-plate of clear yellowish brown (from which
it takes its specific name); this band is about 8 mm. broad,
passing across the chest, immediately in front of the fore legs,
with a cross or longitudinal stripe in the centre extending forward
about 5 mm., and back along the sternum about 10 mm., where
it is entirely lost, unlike the slight dash of colour so frequently
found on the chest of Mus sylvaticus, and which varies from the
smallest spot on the breast to a decided yellow-brown tinge
extending over the whole belly.

The richer colouring of the upper parts in Mus flavicollis,
and the pureness of the white on the under side, with the very

ON A NEGLECTED SPECIES OF FIELD MOUSE. 443

distinct line of demarcation, give this mouse a peculiarly striking
appearance; it is almost as beautiful as a Squirrel. Its large
ears and wide-open prominent eyes, its long tail, and hind feet
are fully as much developed in proportion to its size as in Mus
sylvaticus, consequently the measurements are greater.

Now as to its structural peculiarities. The tail is made up
of 30 vertebre, whereas in sylvaticus I have never found more
than 27. In the skull the differences are not easy to describe—
the measurements being so minute—and are hard to work out,
owing to the difference in the size of the respective skulls; but
the skull of M. flavicollis is readily distinguished from that of its
near ally by its greater length, which is usually 29 mm. in the
perfectly clean skull. This may be only in proportion to the
larger size of the animal, but it is a longer-, narrower-, stronger-
looking skull; the point of the nasal bones where they join the
frontal is sharper, and—what is a far better character—the angle
of the suture of the frontal and parietal bones is more acute; the
Superciliary ridges are well developed, while in sylvaticus they
are hardly noticeable even in the oldest individuals. The orbito-
temporal fossa, or all the space between the zygoma and the skull,
is longer and narrower; looking at the skull from above and
behind, and likening it to a vase, the “shoulders” are much more
sloping. The dentition is the same as in M. sylvaticus.

The bright fawn-coloured band across the chest distinguishes
M. flavicollis at all ages and in all seasons, though in the plum-
bous-coloured young naturally the colour is not so bright; still
the more or less chestnut-tinged dark band is quite noticeable in
the smallest mouse that is ever likely to be caught in a trap. |

The general habits of this mouse are similar to those of
sylvaticus ; there may be slight differences, but I am not prepared
just now to fix them.

The distribution of this mouse seems to be very local,
and the localities in which it occurs are widely separated, not
occurring, so far as I know, apart from sylvaticus, yet never
crossing, as I believe, or even mixing with that species.

At first I was inclined to describe this mouse as peculiar to
Herefordshire, it being particularly abundant around Grafton-
bury in this county, and also at Bishopstone in the same county,
where, in 1885, three specimens, now in the National Collection,
were obtained by Mr. H.N. Ridley.

2M 2

444 THE ZOOLOGIST.

Among two or three hundred skins of Wood Mice, mostly
in the Collection now being formed by the efforts of Mr. Old-
field Thomas from all parts of the British Isles and Europe,
not one of this species occurred, until about a month ago one
appeared among some skins sent from Oundle by Lord Lilford,
and further search showed that there was another specimen
in the Museum Collection from Tharand, in Saxony. This
latter specimen clearly proved that the larger variety casually
mentioned by continental writers should also be referred to this
species.

When I thought I had come to the end of all literature on
European mice, I happened to come across Schiddte’s ‘ Zoologia
Danica’ (1878—93), and turning up Mus sylvaticus I found men-
tion of a form called by Melchior Mus flavicollis, as stated in
the commencement of this paper, and on referring to Melchior’s
work I saw my mouse described and fairly accurately figured ina
coloured plate.

Sixty years have elapsed since this species was described
and named, and yet it seems to have been entirely overlooked,
a fact which only shows how little work has been done in regard
to the smaller mammalia, and how necessary it is to see a good
series of specimens, such as I have already alluded to, when
working out a species. I am proud to say that I have already
contributed largely to this collection, and now add my fine series
of Mus flavicollis.

The peculiarities of the skull undoubtedly are only those we
should expect to find in a giant race, but seeing that they seem
constant in the adults, and that the colour variation shows itself
in the immature pelage, I think we have quite good reason to give
this mouse specific rank. The distribution, of course, is the
puzzle; had this mouse been an isolated form, or confined more
or less to a certain area, there would have been no question of
the species being valid; but these problems we must endeavour
to solve, and there certainly is no question that Melchior’s name
and work should no longer be left unnoticed.

I trust these remarks may be the means of showing how
much we have neglected our own small mammals, and I hope
before long to make known more interesting facts relating to the
local forms and distribution of other species.

In conclusion, I may add that Mus sylvaticus still fights the

THE WEASEL. 445

battle of life against the number of prowling cats and two-legged
enemies in our London parks, though in appearance it hardly
comes up to country form, and a friend has shown me some very
fair specimens recently taken at Fulham.

[Mr. de Winton has been good enough to show us several skins of his
Mus flavicollis, with others of Mus sylvaticus for comparison. There is
certainly a remarkable difference in size; but we have so frequently observed
such variation in the size of individuals of the same species (just as with
man himself), that we consider measurements go for little; while the other
points of difference relied upon are so slight (the dentition being admitted
to be identical), that it is doubtful whether they are of specific value. In
a review of Melchior’s work which appeared, soon after it was published,
in Wiegmann’s ‘ Archiv fiir Naturgeschichte,’ 1836, p. 76, the editor
expressed his decided opinion (p. 78) that Mus flavicollis of Melchior was
nothing but a large variety of M. sylvaticus, and subsequent writers on
the subject seem to have been satisfied with this opinion. The subject,
however, is one that deserves reconsideration, and Mr. de Winton does well
to bring it once more under the notice of naturalists.x—Ep. |

THE WEASEL, MUSTELA VULGARIS.
By tHe Epirtor.

(Concluded from p. 423.)

OnE of the witnesses, David Glendenning, who had been a
shepherd at Coom for eight years, on being asked by the Chair-
man of the Committee above mentioned whether he had ever seen
a Weasel kill a Vole, replied :—

«Yes; about three weeks ago I came upon a small brown Weasel
which had killed five in one of the sheep-drains. I followed it up, and
found it killing a sixth. A week past, on Sunday morning, I came down
a drain for 250 yards or so. A Weasel had been before me, and there were
twenty-two dead Voles in the bottom. I secured a specimen last night, in
order to show you the way a Weasel destroys a Vole. The blood is eutirely
drawn from behind the left ear. There is not a bit of the Vole marked
otherwise, except by the tooth-marks on the head. All those I have seen
were killed in the same way ” (222).

On being asked whether the Stoat and the Weasel eat the
flesh of the Voles they kill, he replied :—

446 THE ZOCOLOGIST.

“JT once saw a Stoat eat a Vole entirely, leaving nothing but the

inside (i. e. the entrails). In a general way they only suck the blood. They —

have to be very hungry before they meddle with the flesh ” (224).
Another shepherd, John Inglis, of Ropelaw Shiel, on being

asked to what cause did he attribute the plague of Voles then

existing, replied :—

‘We think it is on account of the Weasels being so very sorely killed by
the game-tenant’s keepers. That has allowed the Voles to breed to such an
extent ” (273).

James Hope, a shepherd at Medlock, after describing the
way in which Weasels and Stoats were caught in box-traps for
exportation, was asked whether he considered it a mistake to
allow them to be caught on the ground and sent out of the
country. He answered :—

‘Yes, certainly: I consider it a great mistake when it has come to
what it is” (referring to the plague of Voles).

“( —Because you consider they do so much good in killing Mice,
I suppose? A.—Yes” (1104-1105).

Mr. John Morton, tenant farmer at Nether Abington and
Elvanfoot, remarked :—

‘We are always glad to see a Weasel about the farmhouse. I insisted
upon the keepers protecting them near the buildings, because they killed
the Rats about the stackyards” (1255).

Asked, ‘Do you advocate importing Weasels ?” he replied :—

“Yes; I think that is one of the best things we could do. I would
willingly pay my share of the expense of importing them, if they could be
got anywhere. I have not seen a Weasel on my farm for some time. On
the neighbouring farm to mine I kuow that about half-a-bushel of Voles
were found lying dead round about the hole of a Weasel’s nest” (1259).

Mr. James Wallace, a tenant farmer, of Auchenbrack, thought
that “had the Weasels been as plentiful as formerly, the Voles
would not have been so numerous” (1972). ;

These are half-a-dozen specimens out of nearly a hundred
answers given by local witnesses on hill-farms affected by the Vole
plague, 1891-92.

Yet, notwithstanding the usefulness of the Weasel in killing
Mice and Voles, as deposed to by so many witnesses, there are
others who give orders for their destruction on the plea of their

—_—— = —_

THE WEASEL. 447

killing game. For instance, Mr. C.J. Massey, of Galloway House,
Garlieston, Wigtonshire, made the following admission (1710):—

“ Since I went to Galloway House I have taken a particular note of all
the vermin killed, and for that purpose I have a ‘ vermin-book,’ which the
keepers fill in, and bring a return to the head gamekeeper every week. It
is sent to me monthly, and I can see for myself from it how many have
been killed. We killed last season (1891-92) 556 Weasels at Galloway
House, and I believe that fully one-fifth were Stoats, the remaining four-
fifths being little Weasels.”

It would seem, however, that the Weasel is sometimes blamed
for the work of the Stoat. Andrew Watson, a gamekeeper in
Teviotdale, admitted that ‘‘ Weasels will not stop much up on
these high ranges,” where Grouse are. They are down on the
sheep-farms where the Voles abound, and where there is little or
no game, and about the farmsteads or ‘‘ shielings,” the haunts of
Rats and Mice. It is the Stoat which lives in the loose stone
walls on the higher ranges, and which preys chiefly on Rabbits,
which (according to the head keeper of the Duke of Buccleuch at
Drumlanrig) “are to a certain extent over most of our moors, and
where they are, the Stoats prefer them to Voles.”

The head keeper of the Duke of Buccleuch at Langholm,
Mr. John Kerss, having about 100,000 acres under his charge,
was asked (908) :—

“When you use the word ‘ Weasel’ do you apply that term in the

generic sense, including both the larger Stoat and the smaller Weasel ?—
Yes. .

“Do you mean to say that the smaller one of the two is destructive to
game ?—Yes; to a certain extent, but not to the same extent as the
larger one.

“Would you not say that the smaller animal hunts Rats and Mice in
their runs ?—Yes; it goes under the name of Mouse-hunter.

“Then you would not consider it so destructive (to game) as we have
been led to infer ?—Not nearly so.”

Both Weasels and Stoats were admitted by several witnesses
to be very useful in keeping the stock of Rabbits down within
reasonable limits. One witness, Mr. John Borland, of Auchen-
cairn, over whose farm Weasels had been exterminated, said, “‘ For
the last ten years we have had an annual plague of Rabbits, and
there is not a single Weasel left to prey on the young broods of
Rabbits.”

448 THE ZOOLOGIST.

It is satisfactory to know that this state of things is being
altered; that a reaction has set in in favour of the Weasel,
as well as of the Kestrel; and we have it on the authority of
Mr. John Bell, head gamekeeper to the Duke of Buccleuch at
Drumlanrig, that he “had instructions from his Grace not to kill
Kestrels and Weasels, which instructions, of course, have been
strictly adhered to” (2059).

In the granary and the straw-yard, as the late A. EK. Knox
has well observed,* ‘‘the Weasel is eminently useful, far more
- efficient than a cat, and a worthy ally of the White Owl. Indeed,
besides the quantity of Rats which it destroys, even during a
temporary sojourn in such situations, a still greater number of
those noxious animals are frequently induced to migrate from the
spot where it has once firmly established its quarters.”

The modus operandi, or we might say venandi, in the case
of the Weasel, has been accurately described by Dr. Ritzema
Bos, in his ‘ Tierische Schadlinge und Nutzlinge fiir Ackerbau.’
He says :—

“Chiefly during the night—especially in abundant mouse-years—but
also to some extent in the day, it is busily occupied in catching Field-mice.
As soon as the slender little carnivore creeps into a mouse-hole, the terrified
rodents may be seen springing up, as if possessed, from the neighbouring
burrows; but the Weasel has speedily seized a mouse by the throat, and
has bitten into the arteries of the neck, so that it may taste the blood of its
victim. Inasmuch as the Weasel, like other members of the Marten
family, only eats its prey when in need (being usually satisfied with merely
drinking its blood), it requires many Field-mice for its daily food. There
thus comes upon it a delight in killing, so that even when satiated it still
goes on killing for mere pleasure. Hence it is that a single Weasel may
easily destroy two dozen Field-mice, or it may be more, in the space of one
day. When the Weasel has young, it drags many dead mice into its nest.
As destroyers of Field-mice, the Weasels excel over other similar animals of
prey—firstly, by their far greater number; secondly, by their slender, snake-
like, active bodies, which enable them to search as no other animal can
for the Field-mice in all their holes and burrows; and, thirdly, by the
circumstance that they continue the destruction of mice through the
winter.”

The Weasel appears to be more sensitive to cold than the
Stoat, and during hard weather keeps to the shelter of the rick-

* *Gamebirds and Wildfowl,’ p. 256;

THE WEASEL. 449

yards and farm-buildings, wood-stacks and old hedge-banks,
where there is plenty of thick undergrowth. On the 3rd January,
after a sharp frost the previous night, we found a Weasel lying
dead and frozen on a fallow field, where, prompted to hunt by
hunger, it had succumbed to the severe weather.

Although in this country the Weasel does not turn white in
winter like the Stoat, it does so in the north of Europe, and in
its white garb is the Mustela nivalis of Linneus. Occasionally
albino specimens have been met with, but must be considered
rare.

In ‘ The Zoologist’ for 1866 (p. 884) Mr. T. E. Gunn reported
the capture of an albino Weasel in Norfolk, and in the volume
for 1868 (p. 1186) Mr. Cordeaux stated that “a white Weasel,
probably an albino, had taken up its quarters in an oat-stack in
his yard.” In 1879, the late Mr. Gurney, of Northrepps Hall,
Norwich, mentioned one which was killed there in Nov. 1878,
“evidently assuming a white winter coat, a circumstance which
is very rare in the Weasel, though not uncommon in the Stoat.
The front and sides of the head were already quite white, and
white hairs were appearing amongst the brown ones in all those
parts of the animal which are normally brown, and especially on
the flanks and tail” (Zool. 1879, p. 30). On Sept. 27th, of the
same year, the late Mr. F. Bond obtained “‘ a pure white Weasel,
full grown, a true albino with pink eyes. It was killed by a dog
in Soham Fen, Cambridgeshire” (Zool. J879, p. 455).

In 1884, Mr. J. J. Brigg, of Kildwick, near Leeds, reported the
capture, in the latter part of November of that year, of ‘‘ a Weasel
perfectly white, including the tail, and the eyes a dull pink”
(‘The Field,’ 5th Jan., 1884) ; and in Oct. 1889, Mr. Corbin, of
Ringwood, saw a perfectly white Weasel, which had been caught
by a man cutting faggots in the New Forest. It proved to be a
male, and a true albino with pink eyes (Zool. 1889, p. 449).
In addition to these, we have seen in the collection of Mr. Borrer,
of Cowfold, near Horsham, a pure white Weasel which was killed
at Willoughby, in Leicestershire, during the winter of 1867.

Referring to the change of colour which takes place in the
Stoat in winter, Bell states (Brit. Quad., 2nd ed., p. 196), that
“this is effected not by the loss of the summer coat, and the
substitution of a new one for the winter, but by the actual change
of colour in the existing fur.” On the other hand, the late

450 THE ZOOLOGIST.

Henry Wheelwright, better known as a writer on Natural History
under the signature of “The Old Bushman,” has asserted just
the reverse, stating that he had proved it by keeping specimens
in confinement.* This was also the opinion of the late Edward
Blyth, one of the most experienced zoologists of modern times.

On this subject the reader may be referred to an interesting

communication ‘On the Colours of Arctic Animals,” published
by Prof. Meldola in ‘Nature’ of April 2nd, 1885 (p. 505).

In Bell’s work, which for want of a better still remains the
text-book on British Quadrupeds, nothing is said about the
absence of the Weasel from Ireland. The late Mr. Andrew
Murray, in his ‘ Geographical Distribution of the Mammalia”
(p. 114), says the Weasel formerly inhabited Ireland, but is no
longer found there. Macgillivray states that it is “‘ generally
distributed in Ireland” ;t but Thompson{ says he has never met
with it there, nor does he consider that it has been proved to be
a native, though it may be so. On the other hand, the Stoat,

which is called the Weasel in Ireland, is common there. The

late Col. J. J. Whyte, of Sligo, a well-known sportsman and
excellent out-of-door observer, writing on this subject in ‘ The
Field’ (July 11th, 1874), observed :—

“Tam aware that it is the right thing to say that we have no Weasels
in Ireland ; certes, I never saw an animal of the sort without the black tip
to the tail. Many of them,—I may say most of them,—however, are so
small, that a man who does not profess to be a naturalist is left in doubt
whether he is not looking at a Weasel with a black tip. I have one before
me now, an old bitch, giving suck,—whose size is exactly that given by
Bewick as that of the Weasel, — 74 in. from nose to tail; tail 2 in.,
brush 3 in. I do not remember ever seeing any so small in England,
though common enough here, as well as the larger size.”

Another correspondent, resident at Acomb, near York, on the
5th Dec., 1885, on his return from Ireland wrote as follows :—
« Whilst travelling in County Mayo last summer, I found the Weasel

—by name at any rate—very well known on the west coast, and held in
great respect by the peasantry, to whom no greater offence could be given

———

* ©Ten Years in Sweden,’ 1865, p. 219.

+ ‘British Quadrupeds,’ in Jardine’s ‘ Naturalists’ Library,’ vol. vii.
p. 164.

{ ‘Nat, Hist. Ireland,’ vol. iv., pp. 6, 7,

THE WEASEL. A451

than by killing one, as I was told by a gentleman sportsman, native of the
country, they, in the remote parts, believing that the Weasels were the Cats
belonging to the country when the Danes held sway over it; but I made

no enquiry whether the Weasel was properly so called, or its near relative,
the Stoat.”

In July, 1887, the following letter was received from Mr.
Charles Meldon, of Woodpark, Scariff, Co. Clare :—

“Sir, — My attention was arrested, when reading ‘The Field’ of
Saturday, by a note of yours (annexed to a letter headed ‘A Trap for
Weasels’), stating that it is doubtful if the Weasel exists in Ireland, and
suggesting that the Stoat is the animal which is mistaken for it. Now I
am in a position to throw some light on this interesting subject. Living
in Ireland, and having had ample opportunity of becoming acquainted with
the enemies that attack game, I can state that until last Sunday week (July,
1887) I never saw in Ireland what is known in England as ‘the Stoat.’
My knowledge of this species of vermin is extensive, inasmuch as for some
years past I have had a shooting in Hants, where Stoats abounded until my
keeper got rid of them. The Stoat is very much larger than the Weasel,
much coarser, with a black-tipped tail, and emits when hunted or annoyed
a most pungent stench. The Weasel is much smaller, finer in the head,
sharper-looking, brighter and more piercing eyes, easily attracted by
imitation of the cry of the Rabbit, and, so far as I am aware, it does not
emit the same fearful stench as the ‘ Stoat.’ Of the smaller animal called
the Weasel I have seen (caught and shot) hundreds in Ireland ; they are
very numerous. ‘The Weasel in Ireland, as in England (where I have also
met with a large number), follows and destroys Ruts, which the Stoat (so
far as I am aware) does not do. As before mentioned, Stoats and Weasels
were numerous at my shooting in England, and I am well acquainted with
both animals and their habits. I have shot all descriptious of game in
Ireland, and have seen hundreds of what are called Weasels in England,
but have never seen a ‘Stoat’ until last Sunday week, when I killed one
under most peculiar circumstances. Having recently taken a shooting
here, where there are a fair number of Rabbits, I came to reside a fortnight
ago. On my return home, on the day named, one of my servants reported
the presence of a strange animal in the dining-room. Having proceeded
there, I killed a medium-sized Stoat, the skin of which I preserved as a
curiosity, as never having seen one in Ireland. When hunted, the Stoat
emitted and filled the house with the stench peculiar to the species. From
enquiries 1 have made about it, also because of the Rabbits not being so
numerous as they should be, and from their habits, which are in some
respects peculiar where Stoats abound, I believe that there are Stoats here ;
but I have not seen any except the one I killed. I have seen and shot

452 THE ZOOLOGIST.

several Weasels, however, during the past few days. The skin of the Stoat
I killed measures, from snout to tip of tail, 19 inches. I shall be glad to
send you the skin, as also the carcase, of a Weasel, if you care to have
them.

“With reference to Mr. Johnston’s letter, I may mention that the
Stoat or Weasel is easily attracted to a trap by suspending over ita bait in
the shape of part of a Rabbit, or dead Rat, or other strong-smelling piece of
an animal, the more stinking the better. Indeed this is the usual way of
catching both these animals. I fancy Mr. Johnston will find such a bait
equally attractive as the dead Weasel.—Faithfully yours, Cuarues H.
Mrxpon (Woodpark, Scariff, Co. Clare), 12th July, 1887.”

Replying to this communication, we pointed out that no proof
had been hitherto afforded by any one that the Weasel was a
native of Ireland, and urged the desirability of procuring
specimens in order to set the matter at rest. To this letter came
the following reply :—

« Thanks for your letter. I willsend forward some specimens of the
Weasel family as soon as possible. Frequently when one wants a specimen
delay occurs in securing it. I will, however, do my best. Since writing
my last letter, a gentleman in the neighbourhood, who comes here from
England, tells me that Stoats are numerous here, as also the Mustela
vulgaris.”

Notwithstanding this kind assurance, no Irish specimen of
Mustela vulgaris has yet come to hand.

Another correspondent, Mr. Samuel Coventry, having taken
up ‘The Field’ while at Galatz, in Roumania, and noticed the
editorial remark above referred to, wrote as follows :—

*«‘ T see there is still a doubt as to whether the Weasel occurs in Ireland.
I think both the Weasel and the Stoat exist there. I lived in the County
Cork from 1851 to 1867, and with my terrier I came across several
Weasels, as I thought, and one Stoat. The Weasels were light brown, but
the Stoat was chocolate-colour with a black tip to its tail. I also saw what
T considered a Weasel at Ballina, on the top of a wall, as I was riding one
day. The Stoat I killed with terriers after a tremendous hunt. Friends
of mine have also considered they killed Weasels in the Co. Cork. You are
at liberty to publish this if you like. I have no doubt of the existence of
the Weasel in Ireland.—Sam. Coventry (Galatz, Roumania).”

The most positive evidence which has hitherto been tendered
on the subject is that of our friend Mr. Borrer, of Cowfold,

THE WEASEL. 458

Sussex, who, writing in ‘ The Zoologist’ for 1877 (p. 291), stated
as follows :—

“ On the 5th Nov. last, when visiting a friend in the Co. Mayo, I saw a
Weasel one afternoon hunting about a stone wall at Currawn, near Achill
Sound, and, as I watched it for some time at the distance of only a few
yards, I could not possibly have been mistaken as to the species. I know
both the Stoat and Weasel too well to mistake the one for the other, and,
had I been aware at the time of the existence of any doubt on the subject,
I could easily have shot and forwarded the specimen.”

Thus the matter stands; and we can only express a hope that,
having here brought together such scanty information as is at
present available, some of our naturalist friends in Ireland will
seriously give attention to it, and help to set at rest more com-
pletely this much-vexed question.

In Scotland the Weasel appears to be generally distributed,
and Bell mentions one received from the extreme north. In the
summer of 1892, when accompanying the Committee appointed
by the Board of Agriculture to enquire into the plague of Field
Voles onthe lowland sheep farms, we found that the Weasel was
well known to most of the farmers, shepherds, and gamekeepers,
in the counties of Roxburgh, Selkirk, Dumfries, and Kirkcud-
bright, and its extreme usefulness in killing the Short-tailed Field
Vole was generally admitted.

Messrs. Harvie-Brown and Buckley include it in the ‘ Fauna
of Sutherland and Caithness’ (p. 77), where it is stated to be not
so common as the Stoat, and not ascending the hills to any great
altitude, preferring the proximity of houses and farmyards. In
Caithness the two species are looked upon as the same animal,
and both receive the local name of “ Whitteret”’ or “ Futteret.”
The last-mentioned authors, also, in their ‘ Fauna of Argyll and
the Inner Hebrides,’ refer to the Weasel as being generally dis-
tributed and common over most of the mainland, but absent from
the Isles,in which all “returns of vermin killed” may be held
entirely to apply tu the Stoat. On the mainland Weasels were
reported as travelling in companies, reaching new grounds in
either large family parties or several families joining forces, and
sometimes twenty or thirty might be trapped in a succession of
nights at the same spot.

The late Edward Alston, at p. 12 of his ‘Report on the Mam-
malia of the West of Scotland,’ remarked that the Weasel is

~

454 THE ZOOLOGIST.

absent from all the Western Islands with the exception of Islay,
but even there the fact of its occurrence has not been confirmed
by the enquiries instituted by Messrs. Harvie-Brown and Buckley.
In Skye, nevertheless, it appears to be well established. Mr. H.
A. Macpherson, who is familiar with that island, has seen it
trapped in a district where it is more numerous than the Stoat.*

In Shetland, according to tradition, the Weasel is said to
have been introduced many years ago, out of revenge, by a falconer
*‘ who had been denied his hawk-hens.”’ t

In Orkney, on the other hand, Messrs. Harvie-Brown and
Buckley, in their ‘ Vertebrate Fauna of the Orkney Islands,’ have
not been able to adduce any evidence of its existence.

In the accompanying plate (Plate IV.) we give a portrait of
the little Harvest Mouse (Mus messorius), which in the corn-lands
of England, particularly in the South, often falls a prey to the
Weasel. In a future number we propose to give some account
of it.

ON THE ATTITUDES OF A LITTLE BITTERN OBSERVED
ih CAPRTIVITY.
By A. F. Grirritu, M.A.
(Puate ITI.)

A youne male of the Little Bittern, Botaurus minutus, was
caught alive on the morning of Sept. 3rd, in a stable at Hove, on
the outskirts of Brighton. It was first seen about daybreak
flying round an enclosed yard. Later on it was observed sitting
motionless in a stable which leads out of the yard, and was there
caught, after causing its captor some misgivings from the uncanny
way in which it kept its long neck, head, and beak bolt upright,
with its bright yellow eyes always turned towards him, but other-
wise motionless. When he at last plucked up courage to lay
hands upon it, it lunged out viciously with its beak against his
hand. He then took it to Messrs. Pratt & Son’s, where I saw it
the same afternoon.

We placed the bird under a large glass shade, where we could
observe its movements at very close quarters. First it stretched
out its left wing downwards to touch the ground, craning its long

+ Cf. Sibbald’s ‘ Zetland,’ p. 22; Low’s ‘ Fauna Orcadensis,’ p. 29; and
Baikie and Heddle, ‘ Hist. Nat. Orcadensis,’ p. 11,

LITTLE BI'TERN IN CAPTIVITY. 455

neck to its full length, sometimes directly upwards, sometimes
swaying it forward or sideways, sometimes stretching it out, still
at full length, and inclined downward, till the tip of the beak just
rested on the ground. In all these movements the head and beak
were kept in a nearly continuous straight line with the neck when
the latter was extended. Then it would sink down with its long
neck folded against its breast, and its head and beak directed
straight upward, in which position the ‘‘ruff”’ of feathers on the
throat formed a smooth, regular, keel-shaped projection from chin
to breast. Directly we put our faces near it, it gave a vicious lunge
straight for an eye, which made us glad of the intervening glass.
But though it could never resist such an opportunity, it would
not, while I was there, trouble itself to attack a finger or hand
held out toward it.

To thoroughly appreciate the eerie look of the bird, it was
necessary to look wp at it from underneath while its head was
stretched straight up. Its bright eyes with their light yellow
irides glared down straight at me in a most unaccountable way,
and as I moved to one side or the other, its throat and eyes
seemed automatically to turn facing me, so that I could somewhat
sympathise with any wretched young frog or other prey that, in a
similar position to mine, might try to steal away unobserved.

The tarsi were usually inclined upward and backward, and the
bird appeared sometimes to rest with the proximal ends of the
tarsion the ground. The toes have a most remarkable prehensile
power, and when Mr. Pratt took the bird in his hand, it curled
its hind toes up so that the point of each not only touched the
base, but actually curled half-way up upon itself ina most
extraordinary way. It sat firmly on the perch of a Blackbird’s
cage, in which it was placed when first caught, and closed its hind
toe firmly and closely round the tape which formed the fastening
of the birdstuffer’s apron.

The attitudes were so remarkable that I prevailed on
Mr. Pratt to allow me to have it photographed; and though it
was 6 o’clock in the evening, and there was none too much light,
his neighbour Mr. Norman managed to get a few striking por-
traits, two of which (reproduced in Plate III.) may interest your
readers. Allowance must be made for lack of daylight and other
difficulties, but the drawings give a very fair idea of two of the
most grotesque attitudes indulged in.

456 THE ZOOLOGIST.

The second figure, showing the bird with its beak resting on
the ground, does not do full justice to the efforts of the bird to
be peculiar. When free to do so, it stretched out its neck at
full length, resting the tip of its beak on the ground and looking
for all the world lke a half-fallen and rotting stump of a bush.
But on this occasion it was too near the glass to be able fully
to extend its neck, and the waning light compelled us to be
satisfied with that position.

T may add that both this bird and the Baillon’s Crake reported
last month (p. 427) have been purchased by Mr. Henry Willett,
of Brighton, and presented by him to the Booth Museum, in which
the collection of birds is being gradually extended, care being
taken to case all additions in a manner worthy of the original
collection, and yet to distinguish them from the cases prepared
under Mr. Booth’s personal direction.

(The inference to be drawn from these remarks is that the curious
attitudes adopted by this bird, on finding itself observed, are assumed in
the exercise of what may be termed the instinct of self-preservation, and in
a state of nature must tend materially to favour its concealment. Whether
it be standing in or near a reed-bed, erect, with neck preternaturally elongated
and beak pointed upwards (as in fig. 1), or crouching (as in fig. 2) against a
river-side tree-stump, the attitude is calculated to deceive the eyes of all but
the keenest observers, especially since the colour of the bird’s plumage
harmonizes in a remarkable degree with that of the natural surroundings.

A similar habit has been observed and described by Mr. W. H. Hudson
(Proc. Zool. Soc. 1875, p. 629) in the case of a South American Little Heron,
Ardetta involucris (Vieillot), which frequents the borders of the La Plata, and
is occasionally found in the reed-beds scattered over the pampas. Without
the aid of dogs it was found impossible to secure any specimens of it,
even after marking the exact spot where one had alighted. “ This,” says
Mr. Hudson (1. c.), ‘« I attributed to the slender figure it makes, and to the
colour of the plumage so closely resembling that of the withering yellow
and spotted reeds always to be found amongst the green ones; but I did
not know for many years that the bird possesses a marvellous instinct that
makes its peculiar conformation and imitative colour far more advantageous
than they could be of themselves.” He then describes, in a very graphic
manner, the attitude assumed by one of these birds, which he had marked
down, but which for a quarter of an hour he was quite unable to see, “ for
he was perched, the body erect and the point of the tail touching the reed
grasped by its feet; the long, tapering, slender neck was held stiff, straight,
and vertical; and the head and beak, instead of being carried obliquely,

NOTES AND QUERIES, 457

were also pointing up. There was not from the feet to the tip of the beak
a perceptible curve or inequality, but the whole was the figure (the exact
counterpart) of a straight tapering rush; the loose plumage arranged to fill
inequalities, the wings pressed into the hollow sides, made it impossible to
see where the body ended and the neck began, or to distinguish head from
neck or beak from head. The entire under surface of the bird was thus
displayed, all of a uniform dull yellow like that of a faded rush.” We quote
here only a small portion of Mr. Hudson’s description, which is too long to
be given in extenso, but it deserves to be read in its entirety by all those
who delight in the out-of-door study of birds, and admire such traits in
their habits as are here described.—ED. |

NOTES AND QUERIES,

MAMMALIA.

Habits of the Otter. —I have just read in ‘The Zoologist’ the
interesting article, by the Editor, in which he alludes to the “ Otter-
slides” of North America. These, he tells us, are made and used by the
Otters for sliding down the snow-covered slopes of hill-sides for the same
reason that boys make a toboggan-slide, that is, simply for the purpose of
enjoyment and fun. Incredible as the statement may appear, from the
evidence adduced there can be no reason for doubting the truth of it. Of
course, English Otters have not such opportunities or facilities for enjoying
a quiet slide as their American cousins, otherwise it is probable that they
might occasionally indulge in the same pastime. I have been told of an
“ Otter-slide” down a soft muddy bank in Wensleydale, but have not
heard whether it has ever been used for recreation. Most probably it is
utilised as the quickest way of evading pursuit. It is beyond doubt that
when an Otter is suddenly disturbed on the top of a snow-covered slope
near the river, it will glide down so cunningly and quickly that it is rarely
seen. Several times I have been in close proximity to an Otter, and in
spite of my sharp look-out it has contrived to sneak down to the river
unobserved. I could relate several curious occurrences of this kind, but
one will suffice. A few years ago, after a fresh fall of snow, I was walking
along the banks of a frozen pool, about thirty feet distant from the river
Yore, with a steep slope between, when I noticed a hole broken through
the ice, which was of considerable thickness, and at the same time saw
a coarse fish, partly eaten, laid near the edge of the ice. After satisfying
myself that it was the work of an Otter, I turned round and then discovered
that the animal had been concealed under some snow-covered branches
close by, and whilst I was examining the spot it, had taken advantage of

ZOOLOGIST, THIRD SERIES, VOL, XVIII,—DEC. 1894. 2N

~458 THE ZOOLOGIST, *

my back being momentarily turned and glided down to the river, leaving a
furrow behind resembling that which would be made by a small barrel going
down endways. No traces of the pads were visible down the slope, but at
the edge of a fringe of willows by the river side, the four feet had been used
as a stop-brake to arrest its headlong course. In conclusion, I may add
that I have several times noticed places where an Otter has left the
river to enjoy a good roll on the sand, and also during winter time
amongst the snow. I can recollect this district having been hunted by
nine different packs of hounds, and the heaviest Otter that has been
killed within a period of about fifty years weighed, I believe, 29 lbs.
Mr. Wilkinson, of Neasham Abbey, is the present popular Master of Otter-
hounds which hunt the river Yore and its tributaries in this locality.—
James CartTeR (Burton House, Masham, Yorkshire).

Gestation of the Badger. — In an article on the Badger which
appeared in ‘The Zoologist’ for 1888, some statistics were furnished on
this subject (pp. 12, 18), which tended to prove that the usual or average
period of gestation in this animal is twelve months, though, from some
cause as yet unexplained, it has in several cases been prolonged much
beyond this time. It may be as well to note, as a further item of
information on the subject, that a female Badger which was captured alive
in Spain, and brought home to this country by Mr. Assheton Smith, of
Vaynol, in the month of February, gave birth in the February following
to two young ones, as nearly as possible twelve months after her capture.
This animal, although apparently an adult female, looked to me smaller
than the general run of English Badgers, but in other respects resembled
them.—J. EK. Hartine.

Rabbit breeding above Ground.—On Oct. 3rd I was out shooting,
when a Rabbit got out of a tuft of grass, was shot at, and missed. In the
seat which she had left, we found six young ones, about three days old.
The following day I went to look at them again, but they had been
removed. Is not this very unusual?—A. C. Spence (Kilnwick Hall,
near Hull).

[Instances in which young Rabbits have been found born above ground
are not common; nevertheless several have been reported. In ‘ The Field’
of Dec. 2nd, 1876, a case is mentioned by Mr. W. Southam, of Durrington,
near Amesbury, in which a flat “form” like that of a Hare was found
in turnips, and contained four newly-born young. The old doe was
unfortunately shot as she left the form, before it was discovered (Zool.
1877, p. 18). Mr. Cordeaux also has reported (‘ Field’ of Dec. 9th, 1876)
a nest of four young Rabbits, a few days old, out in a bare fallow field. In
this case, although the hollow in which they lay was bedded with down,
there was no covert or shelter of any kind around it. In the succeeding

NOTES AND QUERIES. 459

number of ‘The Field’ (Dec. 16th) a still more curious case is mentioned
by Mr. Hardy, of Burley-on-the-Hill, Oakham, who states that a nest of
five young Rabbits was found inside an old bag stuffed with straw which
had been used as a scarecrow, and had fallen to the ground.— Eb. ]

BIRDS.

American Red-breasted Thrush in Leicestershire.—Agreeably to
your request that I should furnish some particulars of the occurrence
of Turdus migratorius in Leicestershire, to which I referred in my last
letter, I have much pleasure in telling you all I know about it. The bird
in question was captured near Leicester, in October, 1893, whilst in
company with a flock of Redwings. Being in beautiful plumage, it was
kept alive by the man who caught it, and soon became pretty tame.
During the succeeding winter it came into the possession of my father-in-
law, Mr. Jacob, of Royal Cliff, Sandown, Isle of Wight, and has ever since
been kept in excellent health and feather. I have often seen it myself, and
can answer for the particulars above given.—H. M. LanapaLe (Compton,
Petersfield).

[This makes the third reported instance of the occurrence of Turdus
migratorius in England. See Zool. 1877, p. 14; and 1891, p. 219.—Ep. ]

On the Recent Occurrence of the Yellow-browed Warbler in
Yorkshire and Norfolk.—The attention which of late years has been
paid to the smaller migratory birds during their autumnal migration has
led to the discovery that several species which have been long regarded as
rare stragglers to England are most likely annual summer visitors; their
small size and unobtrusive colouring causing them to be generally over-
looked. Amongst these may be named the Marsh Warbler, Acrocephalus
palustris, the Barred Warbler, Sylvia nisoria, the Icterine Warbler, Hypolais
icterina, and the Yellow-browed Warbler, Phylloscopus superciliosus. The
last-named species has been met with in two localities during the past
autumn, and it will be well to place the fact on record in the pages of ‘ The
Zoologist’ for future reference. On Oct. 8th, Mr. Swailes, an observant
nurseryman, at Beverley, hearing the note of a small warbler which was
unfamiliar to him, shot the bird, and sent it for identification to Mr. F.
Boyes, who pronounced it to be Phylloscopus superciliosus, and on com-
municating this information, Mr. Swailes found and shot two others in the
same locality. Mr. Boyes having reported this interesting occurrence in
‘The Field’ of Oct. 27th, Mr. J. H. Gurney, in the succeeding issue
(Noy. 3rd), announced that on Oct. 1st one of these little birds was shot
on the coast of Norfolk by a labouring man, who fired at it merely for the
purpose of unloading his gun! As ten instances of the occurrence of this
species in the British Islands have now been made known, its claim to be

2n 2

460 THE ZOOLOGIST.

regarded as a British bird, which for a quarter of a century remained
doubtful, may now be said to be established. In appearance it might be
mistaken for a Goldcrest, Regulus cristatus, but, as observed by Mr. Caton
Haigh (Zool. 1892, p. 413), may be detected by “its quick and even flight
and brighter colour.” Moreover, there is a double bar of pale yellow across
the wing-coverts and a white superciliary streak, which suggested the
specific name. Its true home is apparently in Siberia, where Mr. Seebohm
found it breeding, in the forest between the Yenesei and the Koorayika.
The nest, a semi-domed one, was on the ground in a tuft of grass, composed
of dry grass and moss, lined with reindeer-hair, the eggs resembling those
_of the Willow Warbler, Phylloscopus trochilus.—J. EK. Harrinea.

Breeding of the Saffron Finch (Sycalis flaveola) in Confinement.—
For some years past I have from time to time attempted to breed Saffron
Fivches. It is generally supposed that these birds are easy to breed, yet,
until the present year, I was never successful ; until the winter of 1892-3
they never showed any inclination either to nest or to lay. Last year I
turned loose a hen of Pelzeln’s Saffron Finch, with two males and a female
of the common species, in my Weaver-aviary ; and this year I purchased
another pair, and turned them into a large flight-cage. In the aviary I hung
up some large boxes (somewhat after the pattern of sentry-boxes), and in the
cage I hung up a cigar-box, perpendicularly, one-third of the lid being
removed from the upper end, and the other two-thirds nailed down. The
hen bird in the cage began to sit early in May, the first young bird leaving
the nest on June 8th, and two others on the following day. These young
birds, bred from pure Ssffron Finches, were greenish grey above, with
black centres to the feathers, the throat yellowish, the breast clear yellow,
the chest, abdomen, and vent white. A day or two later I heard young
birds in one of the boxes in my Weaver-aviary, and on July 14th the first
young bird left the nest, followed on the two succeeding days by two others.
The latter were altogether duller and darker birds than those bred in the
cage, showing no yellow on the breast; I suspect them to be a cross
between S. flaveola and S. pelzelni, but as all four adult birds fed them, it
was difficult to decide as to their parentage, though they seemed to follow
the hen of Pelzeln’s Finch more than that of S. flaveola. Meanwhile, in
the cage, the parents began to chase their youngsters, and therefore I
removed the latter, when I discovered that their mother had already laid
again ; so that it was impossible to clear out the nest-box. This time three
young birds were carried out dead, and one only left the nest late in July.
Finches seem to object to bringing up single youngsters ; consequently the
male bird alone fed this fledgling, and at the end of a week he began to
persecute it. I removed it at once, and placed it with the three others of
the previous nest; but, when I went to clean out the nest-box, I found the

NOTES AND QUERIES. 461

hen sitting, so I foolishly left her alone, the result being that all the young
ones died. In August the pair in the bird-room again had a nest, for the
safety of which I became somewhat alarmed, when I saw the young birds
of the preceding nest following their parents into the box; but, upon
sitting down and examining them attentively with a pair of opera-glasses,
I ascertained that they were assisting to feed their younger brethren.
This they did regularly until three more left the nest. Of the four young
birds in the cage, three died; and I soon discovered that, when closely con-
fined, they quarrel a good deal, plucking one another on the nape and
flanks. In the bird-room, though they constantly pursue one another
there is no plucking, and the exercise, which is extremely vigorous, seems
todo them good. On the death of the third family in the flight-cage, I
immediately took out the box, and replaced it by a larger and cleaner one,
ramming a quantity of new hay into the bottom, and supplying the birds
with feathers, moss, and cow-hair. A fourth lot of youngsters can now be
distinctly heard (Sept. 26th), and will probably leave the nest early in
October. There seems to be a prevalent notion that Saffron Finches build
like Sparrows, but this is quite a mistake; the nest, though built in an
enclosure, is a tolerably neatly formed saucer-shaped structure upon a thick
foundation of hay and rubbish. At times the foundation is piled up nearly
to the top of the box, leaving only just room for the parents to creep over
the top; at other times it is quite deep down, so that, when feeding, the
birds have to jump down into the enclosure. Like all Fringilline, Saffron
Finches feed from the crop, and my young birds have all been reared on a
mixture of potato, bread-crumbs, preserved yolk of egg, ants’ cocoons, and
Abrahams’ food, together with canary, millet, and paddy-rice. At first the
old birds feed them chiefly on the soft food, but as the nestlings grow,
they also eat a good deal of seed, more especially the paddy and canary-
seed. Male and female feed alternately, each waiting until the other has
emptied its crop before entering the nest. In the bird-room the fledged
young torment their parents to feed them for about three weeks, though at
the end of a week they are well able to cater for themselves. As is well
known, the eggs are short ovals, more spherical than those of a Sparrow,
though somewhat like boldly-marked specimens of the eggs of Passer in
character. The hen alone incubates, fourteen days. Number of eggs
generally four to five; in most cases I had four hatched, but only three
reared. In captivity Sycalis appears to have no settled breeding season
like Serinus, but, if permitted to do so, will rear brood after brood throughout
the year; five nests in a year are not unusual, Young Saffron Finches
are well able to fly when they leave the nest, and on the second day their
flight is tolerably strong, though not sustained ; in a week they are as rapid
on the wing as their parents.—A. G. Butter (Beckenham),

462 THE ZOOLOGIST.

BATRACHIA.

The Movements of the Frog.— An extremely ingenious working
model of a Frog has just been submitted to us by Messrs. Herbert Crossley
and Theodore Birnbaum, the inventors and patentees. It is life-size,
composed of inflatable india-rubber, and coloured to resemble a living animal.
Connected with it is a long and very slender flexible india-rubber tube,
terminating in a small rubber-ball which is held in the palm of the hand.
On placing the frog on the ground or in the water and applying pressure
in jerks to the india-rubber ball, air is forced into the hind limbs, which
are thereby extended in the most natural manner, and cause the body to
move forward. By placing it on a convenient ledge the frog may be made
to dive into the water. It will remain and swim below the surface by using
slight pressure, which should be sharply removed at each stroke. In this
way the operator is able to produce the most life-like movements at any
desired rate of speed, and so study them at leisure. We are informed that
the “ automatic swimming frog,” as it is termed, will soon be procurable at
all the principal toy-shops in the metropolis.

SCIEN EIEIC. SOCIETIES.

Linnean Society or Lonpon.

November 1st, 1894. — Mr. C. B. Crarxz, F.R.S., President, in the
chair.

Messrs. Arthur P. Green and F. Lewis were elected Fellows. Mr.
Alexander Whyte was admitted.

Messrs. H. and J. Groves exhibited an undescribed Chara from West-
meath, and made remarks upon its peculiar mode of growth.

Mr. J. O. Tepper exhibited photographs of a new and remarkable
Fungus from South Australia, Laccocephalum basilapiloides, which explained
the formation of the peculiar stone-like nodules occasionally found when
clearing scrub-land. These were found to be due to the agglutinating
nature of the mycelium of this fungus, the grains being permanently
cemented by lime and ferruginous oxides.

The Rev. G. Henslow made some remarks on a peculiar mode of
propagation of Oxalis cernua, observed in Malta, and exhibited some views
taken during his sojourn there.

Mr. Miller Christy exhibited a long piece of leaden pipe which had
been gnawed through its entire length by rats, in a manner which showed
that the object was not, as generally supposed, to get access to water.

Mr. H. M. Bernard exhibited some photographs of corals taken with
the ‘ Kodak” camera.

SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES. 463

A series of that remarkable beetle, Goliathus giganteus, from West
Africa, was shown by Dr. Heath, and Mr. E. M. Holmes exhibited some
curious plants from Japan.

On behalf of Mr. A. W. Waters, a paper was then read “ On Mediter-
ranean ana New Zealand Retipora, and on a fenestrate Bryozoan ;” and, on
behalf of Dr. J. Miiller, a paper ‘‘ On Lichens in the Kew Herbarium.”

Nov. 15th.—Mr. C. B. Cuarxe, F.R.S., President, in the chair.
Dr. David Prain was admitted a Fellow.

Mr. J. EK. 8. Moore exhibited preparations illustrative of his investiga-
tions concerning the origin and nature of the achromatic spindle in the

spermatocycles of Elasmobranchs. His results were approximately in
agreement with those arrived at by Hermann in regard to the corresponding
elements in Amphibia, and more in accord with those of Ishikawa relating
to the division of Noctiluca. As to the spindle fibres themselves, it appeared
that during the diastral stage of the division they were the optical
expression of thickenings in the wall of a membranous cylinder stretched
out between the chromosomes.

The Rev. G. Henslow exhibited some curious iron implements, of some-
what varied pattern, used in Egypt for cutting off the top of the Alexandrine
fig, Ficus sycamorus, Linu.; the operation being necessary to render it
edible by getting rid of the parasitical insect Sycophaga crassipes, Westw.,
with which it is always infested. The practice was said to be very ancient,
being described by Theophrastus, and alluded to by the same word, xGw», in
the Septuagint version of the Old Testament (Amos vii. 14), in translating
from the Hebrew.

Mr. H.N. Ridley showed some drawings of the green larva of a Sphinx
moth mimicking a green tree-snake, Trimeresurus wagleri, as well as a
cluster of caterpillars mimicking a fruit, all of which were found in Singa
pore. He also exhibited a drawing from life of the tan-producing Gambir-
plant, Uncaria gambir, in flower.

Mr. Thomas Christy exhibited some germinating seeds of pepper,
showing the testa being carried up by the cotyledons.

A paper was then read by Dr. D. Prain on the plant yielding Bhang,
Cannabis sativa, illustrated by lantern-slides.

A paper on the proposed revision of the British Copepoda, by Mr.
Thomas Scott, was, in the unavoidable absence of the author, communicated
by the Secretary.

ZooLtocicaL Society oF Lonpon.
November 6th, 1894. — Sir W. H. Frower, K,C.B., LL.D., F.R.S.,

President, in the chair.
The President read a letter addressed to him by the late Emin Pasha,
containing a diary of ornithological observations made during the last part

464 THE ZOOLOGIST.

of his journey towards the Congo. This letter and journal had been taken
from the Arabs on the Upper Congo and forwarded to the President by the
Officers of the Congo Free State.

_ The Secretary read a report on additions to the Society’s Menagerie
during June, July, August, and September, and called special attention to

two fine specimens of the Hamadryad Snake of India and Burmah (Ophio-.
phagus elaps ; a series of mammals and birds from British Central Africa, —

presented by Mr. H. H. Johnston, and brought home by Mr. Alexander
Whyte; a young male White-tailed Gnu, Connochetes gnu, born in the
Menagerie on June 23rd, being the first occasion of this Antelope having
-bred in the Society’s Gardens; a female Kland of the striped form, Oveas
Canna livingstonit, from the Transvaal, the first individual of this variety
received by the Society; two Giant Tortoises, Testudo elephantina, from
the Aldabra Islands, presented by Rear-Admiral W. R. Kennedy; a
young male Antelope, Tragelaphus gratus, bred in the Zoological Gardens,
Hamburg, and received July 27th.

Mr. F. EK. Blaauw communicated some remarks on the colour of the
bill in a living specimen of Cygnus americanus.

Mr. R. Trimen forwarded a reply to remarks of Dr. A. G. Butler on
his paper on the Manica Butterflies collected by Mr. Selous.

Dr. R. W. Shufeldt sent a correction to his paper ‘‘ On the Affinities
of the Steyanopodes,” recently published in the Society’s ‘ Proceedings.’

Mr. O. Salvin exhibited a pair of the newly described butterfly Orni-
thoptera paradisea, from the Finisterre Mountains, German New Guinea.

Mr. C. D. Sherborn exhibited a copy of, and made remarks on, the
recently published reprint of George Ord’s ‘ American Zoology.’

Mr. G. A. Boulenger exhibited a Gecko, forwarded by Mr. R. T. Lewis,
which had been captured in winter, fully active, on the snow upon the
highest portion of the Drakensberg Range, Natal. It belonged to a genus
believed until 1888 to be characteristic of the Australian fauna, and differed
from its nearest ally, @idura africana, in the smaller and convex granules

covering the head, and in the rostral shield not entering the nostril.

Mr. Boulenger proposed for it the name Cidura nivaria.

Mr. Martin Jacoby read descriptions of new species of Gdionychis
and allied genera of Coleoptera.

Mr. W. G. Ridewood read a paper on the hyoid arch of Ceratodus. The
author instituted a comparison between the ventral elements of the hyoid
arch of Ceratodus and the basi- and hypo-hyal cartilages of the EKlasmo-
branchii. The relations of the hyomandibular cartilage were dealt with in
detail, and attention was called to the wide range of variation which this

vestigial cartilage exhibits. Arguments were also adduced to show that.

there is no connection between the reduction of the hyomandibular in the
Dipnoi and its adaptation as a secondary suspensorium in the hyostylic fishes.

=

a

SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES. 465

Mr. G. A. Boulenger read a third report on additions to the Batrachian
Collection in the Natural History Museum, containing a list of the species,
new or previously unrepresented, of which specimens had been added to the
collection since 1890, and descriptions of some new species.

Mr. R. J. Lechmere Guppy communicated an account of some Fora-
minifera from the Microzoic Deposits of Trinidad.

The Secretary read some remarks from Sir Walter L. Buller on a
Petrel lately described as new by Capt. Hutton under the name of Cistrelata
leucophrys.—P. L. Scuater, Secretary.

ENTomMoLocicaL SocteTy or Lonpon.

November %th.—Colonel CHartes Swinnor, M.A., F.L.S., Vice- -
President, in the chair.

Mr. W. P. Blackburne-Maze, of Shaw House, Newbury, Berkshire,
and Mr. Bertram George Rye, of 212, Upper Richmond Road, Putuey,
S.W., were elected Fellows of the Society.

Colonel Swinhoe exhibited a female of Papilio telearchus, Hewitson,
which he had received by the last mail from Cherra Punji. He said that
this was the only known specimen of the female of this species, with the
exception of one in Mr. L. de Nicéville’s collection, which he had described
in the ‘Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society’ in 1893. He
also exhibited a male of the same species for comparison.

Mr. ©. G. Barrett exhibited abnormal forms of Pararge meyera,
P. egeria, Melitea athalia, Chrysophanus phleas, Chareas graminis,
Lophopteryx camelina, Plusia gamma, Cucullia chamomille, Boarmia
repandata var. conversaria, Cidaria psittacata, and other species, all
collected by Major J. N. Still on Dartmoor, Devon. He also exhibited,
for Mr. Sydney Webb, of Dover, a long series of most remarkable varieties
of Arctia caja and A. villica.

Mr. Gervase F. Mathew exhibited seven beautiful and striking
varieties of Arctia villica, bred from larve obtained on the Essex coast,
near Dovercourt, in March and April, 1893 and 1894.

Herr Jacoby exhibited two specimens of Blaps mucronata, with soft
elytra, taken on a wall at Hampstead. The Rev. Canon Fowler and
Mr. G. C. Champion made some remarks on the subject of the elytra
of immature beetles.

Mr. H. Goss exhibited a specimen of Periplaneta australasia, received
from Mr. C. E. Morris, of Preston, near Brighton. Mr. McLachlan said
the species had been introduced into this country, but was now considered
a British insect.

Mr. B. G. Rye exhibited specimens of the following rare or local

466 _ THE ZOOLOGIST.

species of Coleoptera, and gave the names of the localities in which they
had been taken:—Cicendela germanica, Eumicrus rufus, Triarthron —
markelt, Mezium affine, Homaloplia ruricola, Anomala frischi var. julli,
Synaptus filiformis, Lixus paraplecticus, Balaninus cerasorum, Asemum
striatum, and Zeugophora flavicollis.

Mr. McLachlan exhibited, for Mr. G. C. Bignell, of Plymouth, two -
new species of Ichneumonide, from Devonshire, viz., Pimpla bridgmani,
Bign., a parasite on a spider, Drassus lapidicolens, Walck.; and Praon
absinthi, Bign., a parasite on Stphonophora absinthit, Linné.

Mr. C. O. Waterhouse stated that the dAcridium received from
Capt. Montgomery, and exhibited by Mr. Goss at the last meeting, was
Acridium septemfasctatum, and he exhibited the species with the wings
extended.

Mr. Ridley exhibited a species of a scale insect (? Lecantwm) found on
a nutmeg tree in Malacca, and made some remarks on Formica smarag-
dina, which makes its nest on the trees, joining the leaves together by a
thin thread of silk at the ends. The first step in making the nest is for
several ants to bend the leaves together and hold on with their hind legs,
and one of their number after some time runs up with a larva, and,
irritating it with its antenne, makes it produce a thread with which the
leaves are joined; when one larva is exhausted a second is fetched, and the
process is repeated.

Mr. Waterhouse read a paper entitled “‘ Some remarks on the Antenne
of Insects.” A discussion followed, in which Messrs. Champion, Jacoby,
McLachlan and Gahan took part.—H. Goss and W. W. Fow er, Hon.
Secretaries.

NOTICES QF NEW BOOKS.

A Reprint of the ‘North American Zoology’ by GrorGE ORD.
Originally published in the second American edition of
‘Guthrie’s Geography,’ 1815: taken from the Author’s own
copy; with an Appendix by Samuet 8. Ruoaps. 8vo,
pp. i—x; original title; pp. 290—361; Appendix and
Index, pp. 1—90. Haddonfield, New Jersey. 1894.

Tue name of George Ord, from his association with Alexander
Wilson, and as an early writer on North American Zoology, is
tolerably familiar from citation by subsequent authors; but the
publication on which his fame chiefly rests is of such rarity that
we have never seen a copy in this country, and have heard of only

NOTICES OF NEW BOOKS. 467

two which are preservedin America. Why it should be so rare we
cannot say, unless the bulk of the edition was perhaps destroyed
by fire. At any rate original copies are now quite unprocurable,
and we are indebted to Mr. Rhoads for enabling us to estimate
its scientific worth by means of an exact reprint which he has
just issued. As to the history and nature of the work, a few
words of explanation seem necessary.

In 1794-95 was projected and published, in Philadelphia, a
sort of General Gazetteer, or geographical, historical, and com-
mercial Directory, which, having too long a title for general
quotation, came to be known as ‘ Guthrie’s Geography.’ Between
the date of the original edition and that of 1815, to which George
Ord became a contributor, there appeared (in 1814) an important
publication entitled “A History of the Expedition, under the
command of Captains Lewis and Clarke to the sources of the
Missouri, thence across the Rocky Mountains, and down the River
Columbia to the Pacific Ocean: Performed during the years
1804-5-6: By order of the Government of the United States.”
Ord having examined the zoological collections brought home by
these explorers, and having named a number of species which
appeared to him to be new, or undescribed, or to require naming,
was induced to publish the results in an article on the Zoology of
North America in the new edition of ‘Guthrie’s Geography’
which appeared in 1815. His name was not appended to this, a
prefatory note from the publishers explaining that ‘the modesty
of the author forbids a personal acknowledgment which the
editors would have the highest satisfaction in making.”

Only through the recognition of his associates, and in a great
measure owing to the citations by Prof. Spencer Baird in his work
on the Mammals of North America, is the scientific world enabled
(as Mr. Rhoads puts it) “to accord to the author of ‘Ord’s Zoology’
the honour and distinction which he humbly sought to avoid.”

Such, briefly speaking, is the history of the work. The
scientific value lies in the lists of Mammals (pp. 291-92) and the
observations upon them (pp. 293-313); Birds (pp. 318-356) ; and
Amphibia (pp. 357-860) ; with a few remarks on Fish and Insects
(pp. 860-361), none of which are given in any other edition of
‘Guthrie’s Geography.’

Looking casually through the volume, we are inclined to think
that its value has been perhaps a trifle overrated,

468 THE ZOOLOGIsT.

Extracts are very properly given from the Report of Lewis
and Clarke, but there is also much compilation from the writings
of Wilson, Brackenridge, Umfreville, Pike, Lawson, Pennant, and
others. In other words, there is a lack of originality about the
work. The classification adopted is that of Turton’s edition of
Linneus, but there is no attempt at scientific descriptions, even
of species to which for the first time he gives scientific names.
These names are not always restricted to new species, and
sometimes even (as in the case of the Louisiana Marmot) are
- bestowed at a venture upon species of which he had apparently
seen no specimens.

But in noting these shortcomings, upon which we do not
desire to lay undue stress, allowance should be made for the
difficulties which must have attended the preparation of such
a work eighty years ago. Taking this into consideration, it must
be admitted that George Ord, according to his lights, rendered
good service to zoological science, and in future, whenever it may
become necessary to test the value or particular bearing of any
of his observations, we shall be able, thanks to Mr. Rhoads, to
refer at once to his exact words without fear of misquotation.

Allen’s Naturalists’ Library. Edited by R.B.SuHarper. A Hand-
book to the Birds of Great Britain. By R. B. SHarps.
Vol. I. Post 8vo., pp. i—xxil; 1—342. With 31 coloured
plates. London: W. H. Allen & Co. 1894.

Tus is the first of a new series of volumes on general zoology,
which has been planned, apparently, to enable the publishers to
use up the old plates of ‘Jardine’s Naturalists’ Library.’ That
work appeared fifty years ago (1833-43) in forty volumes, and for
many years later undoubtedly served a very useful purpose.
Every one is familiar with it; but it is now hardly ever referred
to, for the simple reason that it is “out of date.’ The study of
Zoology, like that of most other subjects, is progressive; and
since Jardine’s deservedly popular work appeared in a second
edition (1846-66), the discoveries by naturalists abroad, and the
researches of those at home, have completely revolutionised
many of the views that were put forth at the date referred to.

NOTICES OF NEW BOOKS. 469

In our humble opinion the publishers should have remembered
that “art” also is progressive; and to issue as specimens of book-
illustration, in 1894, plates that passed muster in 1844, is a
retrograde step which is much to be deplored.

To re-issue the text, also, with no more alterations than might
be necessary to bring it fairly up to date, sounds well in theory, but
in practice would be impossible. The changes in classification and
nomenclature, the discovery of new species, the extension of
knowledge on the subjects of distribution, migration, seasonal
changes of colour, and even, in some cases, of structure, ¢.g. in
the Puffin, would render any such attempt futile. There was
obviously nothing for it but to re-write the text de novo, and this
it has been decided to do.

At the outset we take exception to the title. In the old days
the name of the serial was associated with the name of the
editor, not that of the publisher. Why has this proper order of
things been reversed ? To the term ‘‘ Handbook ”’ we object for
two reasons: first, because it is ‘‘ preoccupied” in relation to
‘British Birds’; and secondly, beceause—the work being in more
than one volume—the term is strictly speaking inapplicable.
However that may be, the title is now published, and we have to
deal with the work as we find it. Whether it was wanted at all —
is a question on which we have some doubt; for it seems to us
that in the fourth edition of Yarrell, so admirably elucidated and
improved by Prof. Newton; in the excellent ‘ Manual’ by Mr,
Howard Saunders; and in the extensive field-notes and beauti-
fully coloured plates in Mr. Seebohm’s work, the modern student
of Ornithology has practically all that he can possibly desire or
wish for in the shape of text-books. Dr. Sharpe’s new volume,
if it teaches us anything, teaches us to unlearn much that we
knew before, and to commit to memory a new scheme of classifi-
cation and much new nomenclature. To this, on the score of
needlessness, we very much object.

Linneus (for whose nomenclature Dr. Sharpe very properly
professes reverence), in arranging his Orders of Birds, commenced
with the Accipitres, or birds of prey. In this he has been followed,
for more than a century, by the leading ornithologists of England,
France, and Germany, to say nothing of other nations. Some
five-and-twenty years ago the tide turned; Prof. Huxley proposed
a new scheme of classification, based upon the form of the palatal

470 THE ZOOLOGIST.

bone ;* this was adopted, with modifications, by Dr. Sclater, in
1873,¢ and followed by a Committee of the “ British Ornitholo-
gists’ Union,” which, ten years later, was formed for the purpose
of drawing up an authoritative ‘ List of British Birds.’ In this
classification (followed also in the ‘ List of Vertebrate Animals
living in the Zoological Society’s Gardens,’ and other works) the
scheme commences with the Order Passeres, and the first birds on
the list are the ‘'hrushes.

A few years later (1886) a Committee of American Ornitholo-
_ gists issued an authoritative ‘Check List’ of North American
Birds,j in which the Order Pygopodes, or Diving-birds, stands first,
headed by the Grebes; and this, of course, has been followed by
subsequent American writers. In commencing the new edition
of Yarrell’s ‘British Birds,’ Prof. Newton saw no reason to
depart from Linneus’s lead, in which we quite agree. Messrs.
Seebohm and Saunders, on the other hand (with proper con-
sistency we must admit), follow the classification which, as
members of the B. O. U. Committee, they helped to make and
promulgate. Dr. Sharpe, who in 1874 commenced the famous
‘Catalogue of Birds in the British Museum’ with the Accipitres,
has since altered his views, and, cutting adrift from both the
A.O.U. and the B. O. U. (that is to say, in the matter ef classi-
fication and nomenclature), now steers a new course, which starts
from the Crows!

In his prefatory remarks on the Order Passeriformes, section
Oscines or Singing-birds (in which, prima facie, it seems very
ironical to place the Crows), he observes :—

«The structure of a Raven or a Crow presents as complete an equip-
ment as one can imagine a bird to require—a powerful bill with well-
developed nasal plumes, a compact and regular plumage, strong wings and
tail, with every series of wing-covert beautifully patterned, and, lastly,
powerful feet and claws, with every scale distinctly indicated.

“The Crows, therefore. have a right to be placed at the head of the
Oscines, in preference to the Thrushes, which excel them only in singing,
beauty of voice being a feature to which the Crows can lay no claim.”

** Proc. Zool. Soc. 1867, p. 415.

+ ‘Nomenclator Avium Neo-Tropicalium,’ 1873. See also ‘The Ibis,’
1880, pp. 8340—350; 399—411.

t «The Code of Nomenclature and Check List of North American Birds
adopted by the American Ornithologists’ Union’ (New York, 1886).

NOTICES OF NEW BOOKS. 471

This appears to us illogical ; for, surely, at the head of the
Singing-birds should be placed those which “ excel in singing,”
unless Dr. Sharpe would begin at the other end of the scale in
the order of merit, and commence with those species which do
not sing at all, and end with the Thrushes, which sing
splendidly. But this he does not do; for we find the Thrushes
interpolated (pp. 241—303) between the Sylviide and the Accentor-
ide, a “family” which, with all due deference, we consider un-
necessary. The position we have always taken up is that, “ flight”
being the chief characteristic of birds as distinguished from every
other class of vertebrate animals, we should place at the head of
any scheme of classification those forms in which “ flight” is most
highly developed and perfected, namely, the birds of prey, which
are able to overtake and capture any other species when brought
into competition with it on the wing. Thus the highest type of
bird, from our point of view, is to be found amongst the long-
winged Falcons, which have the additional merit of possessing
the highest degree of intelligence amongst birds.

As to nomenclature, we are perfectly aghast at the changes
proposed by Dr. Sharpe. To take the genus Corvus, for example,
he will only allow it to include (so far as Great Britain is
concerned) a single species, corax. The Rook he would call
Tryphanocorax frugilegus, the Crow Corone corone, the Jackdaw
Coleus monedula, and so forth. This, as it seems to us, is
carrying differentiation much too far, and needlessly so; for
surely all these birds have sufficient points of resemblance to
justify their being grouped together, for all practical purposes,
in one and the same genus.

This brings us to another point. We utterly dissent from the
proposal to give the typical species of a genus the same name as
that of the genus, as Dr. Sharpe has done in the case of Corone
corone, Pica pica, Graculus graculus, Cannabina cannabina, and
a host of others. The adoption of such a course is to destroy
the whole value of the binomial system, and, as it seems to us, is
indefensible. We are told that it is justified by Linnzus himself,
who has described the Common Mackerel under the name of
Scomber scomber. But if this be the only justification that can
be pleaded, it may be at once dismissed by a very simple ex-
planation. What Linnzus wrote and intended to have printed in
this case was Scomber scombrus. This is proved by his own

é eae bra copy of the twelfth edition of the ‘ Systema Vat

THE Z 00Lo Gist.

(1766),—the last published in his lifetime,—which is prese: aA

the library of the Linuean Society. In this copy we fi *

necessary correction of the specific name from scomber to scom-
brus, showing clearly that he had no intention of taking the
course upon which Dr. Sharpe and others now insist. The
sooner, therefore, this misapprehension is removed the better ; for
future students of Ornithology.

As to the information given in regard to the occurrence of —
the “rarer visitors” to Great Britain, we do not find it so
complete or detailed as it should be in a new book on British —
Birds; but possibly this may be due to the exigencies of space,
and the wish of the publishers to condense as much as
possible, having regard to the number of volumes which the
series is to contain. The old plates, many of which are mis-
placed, we never admired ; the figures are flat and the outlines
hard. The few new ones by Mr. Keulemans which have been
introduced are far superior, and the old ones lose in merit by
comparison. Instead of figuring a number of well-known species
with which every one is more or less familiar, we should much
have preferred to see the outlay expended upon the delineation
of certain less-known species, such as Phylloscopus superciliosus,
Hypolais icterina, Sylvia nisoria, Anthus cervinus, A. campestris,
and A. Richardi, Emberiza pusilla, EH. rustica, and E. cioides,
Alauda brachydactyla, Fringilla serinus, F’. canicapillus, and
others. It is true that good figures of these may be found in
other works, but that is {ycase of course with all the rest, and
were we to adopt this plea we might dispense altogether with
illustrations.

It is far from our intention to disparage what Dr. Sharpe has
written. His long experience as an ornithologist, having consi-
derable knowledge of the birds not merely of Great Britain but
of the world, gives great weight to his words; but it is precisely
on account of his authority that we venture, in all friendliness,
to protest against tertain portions of his teaching, as being inde-
fensible in principle, and calculated to retard rather than advance
the study of Ornithology.

WEST, NEWMAN AN@ CO,, PRIRPERS GNA Mok GARDEN, LONDON, E.C,

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