MISCELLANEOUS NOTICES. 275 



that every time I walked there (the wood) I saw them, but could not make out which 

 nest they had fixed upon, (there were many old Rook's nests in the wood, the Hooks having 

 been shot by the kcepere;) at last I discovered which they had chosen— secreted myself, and 

 shot the hen hird; fired at the cock, which I failed to obtain although 1 feared at the time 

 I had wounded him, as- several feathers came from him. I got up to the nest, but only found 

 two eggs instead of four,— nothing more could I see of my friend; however on the 19th. of 

 the same month, I saw a female Hobby soaring above the trees; and on the 25th., I saw the 

 pair near the old spot. July 2nd., I saw which nest the hen came off— one near the old one ; 

 and being prepared with four coloured Bantam's eggs, I got up to the nest, and there found 

 only two eggs, which I took, and left two of my Bantam's eggs in their place. The following 

 day I left home for ten days. On my return I visited the Hobby's nest, put the old hen off, and a 

 friend of mine shot her in mistake for the cock, which I at last succeeded in procuring; but as 

 it was blowing hard we could not get up to the nest at that time. About four days afterwards 

 we went for the eggs, hut found only the shell of one of the Bantams, the others were gone 

 — I imagine taken by the Ja3S. I know of several other places where they breed in Suftblk. 

 Their food, I feel convinced, consists in a great measure of insects. A practical ornithologist, 

 Avith whom I am acquainted, has told me that on an evening he has seen the Hobby flying 

 round an oak tree, and catching in his claws the cockchafers, and transferring them to his mouth 

 while on the wing. A gentleman, who keeps many Hawks, gives it as a reason why he prefers 

 the Merlin to the Hobby, that the Merlin does not fly at butterflies as the Hobby does. / 

 have myself seen the Merlin chase a butterfly. In the crop of one Hobby that I shot was the 

 remains of a young Lark. — J. Fark, Frosteuden, Wangford, Suffolk, October 16th., 1853. 



Occurrence of the Eed-necked Phalarope, (Phalaropus hyperboreus,) at Benacre. — On the 24th. 

 of September I shot a nice specimen of the lled-necked Phalarope at Benacre; and the day 

 before a friend of mine shot two. I generally see several every year: it is very pretty to 

 see how buoyant they are upon the water. — Idem. 



Is our correspondent quite sure these were specimens of the Red-necked Phalarope'^ wliich 

 is very much rarer than the Gray Phalarope. — B. E. M. 



A hint to Naturalists. — It is with the deepest regret that, as each month's number of 

 "The Naturalist" comes to me, I find in its contents little else but accounts of wholesale 

 massacres of those sweet songsters, whose presence enhances so greatly the pleasure one must 

 ever feel in a country walk. A constant war seems to be waged against the feathered members 

 of creation, on the plea of furthering the ends of Science. Should any rare bii«I make its 

 appearance on our shores, it is very soon captured by some greedy collector of "specimens," 

 one who styles himself a "Naturalist:" but does the being a Naturalist consist in filling one's 

 study or museum with stuffed birds — with butterflies pinned in a case — with empty egg-shells 

 and nests? Are they not all rather monuments of cruelty .-" Does the killing of its subjects 

 further the ends of Natural History? Forsooth, if the slaughter increases as it does now, bye 

 and bye there will be no Natural History at all, or at least but a few scattered remnants 

 of its countless tribes, mourning in solitude their lost companions. Are there then no other 

 means of acquiring a knowledge of Nature's subjects than those I so strongly reprobate? How 

 did some of our most learned Naturalists, those who have taught us the most, obtain their 

 knowledge? Was it by means of the gun? Ah, No! but by observation, by diligent searching 

 into the ways of these happy denizens of the woods. Surely hooks enough have been written, 

 and are daily increasing, to supply every want of a Naturalist; or should we disdain to make 

 use of them for our guides, can we not see for oursdves? Among so many learned correspon- 

 dents as there are to this publication, some plan might be contrived whereby we could un- 

 derstand and know as far as is permitted these wondrous members of creation, not one of which 

 falls to the ground unless God wills it; and which would dispense with the cruel persecution 

 now almost universally resorted to. Should this succeed in softening the hearts of any of those 

 whose names so frequently figure at the head of Ornithological and Entomological captures, it 

 will be an abundant repayment — its pages will be filled with far more interest and in- 

 struction, and read, I am certain, with fiir greater pleasure. — Thos. G. B. Atkinson, 1, Mont- 

 pcllier Terrace, Cork, October 20th., 1853. 



Pectoral Sandpiper, (Tringa pectoralis) near Redcar. — Two specimens of this extremely rare 

 bird have occurred near here lately, one was obtained in or near the Tees mouth last August, 



