NOTES ORIGINAL AND SELECTED. 71 



Vice-Presidents they would still have the great benefit of Mr. Rudler's scientific 

 knowledge and experience. The President's appreciation of the efforts the Club 

 was making to establish a local museum was one of the best evidences that could 

 be afforded that these efforts were being pursued on right lines, and Mr. 

 Rudler's address would not only be most valuable in itself, but would be a 

 great aid and encouragement in the future of the Museum. 



The vote of thanks was seconded warmly by Mr. T. V. Holmes, and carried 

 by acclamation. 



Mr. Rudler replied and thanked Prof. Meldola and Mr. Holmes for their 

 appreciation of his efforts, and the members for the way in which they had 

 endorsed the remarks which had been made. 



NOTES— ORIGINAL AND SELECTED. 

 ZOOLOGY. 



BIRDS. 

 Dotterel at Fowlness,— On Saturday, Sept. 2nd, 1905, 

 a Dotterel (Eadvomias movinellus) , a bird of the year, was shot in 

 Fowlness Island, and by the kindness of Mr. H. Matthams, of 

 Fowlness, it was sent to me for identification and preservation. 

 — Henry Laver, Colchester. [Christy (Birds of Essex) remarks 

 that the Dotterel is a rare passing migrant in spring and 

 autumn when on its way to or from its more northerly breeding 

 stations among the Scotch mountains.] 



How the Wild Birds are returning to the London 

 District. — In the Daily News for September 28th, 1905, is a very 

 interesting article on the return of the birds. The writer 

 says : — 



For some little time visitors to St. James's Park have enjoyed the beautiful 

 spectacle of a kingfisher flitting about the lake, his brilliant plumage glistening 

 rainbow-like in the sun as he darts after the small fishes in the water. Mr. C. J, 

 Cornish, the well-known writer on wild birds in the Thames Valley, yesterday 

 told a member of our staff that the kingfisher is not the only wild bird that is 

 beginning to make its home in London aftet long absence. 



' The presence of the kingfisher in St. James's Park may be accounted for,' 

 he said, ' by the enormous increase of fish in the ponds there. In spite of the 

 presence of cormorants and pelicans, the water swarms with fish. Roach and 

 dace are fed from the bridge just as the gulls are in winter, and probably there 

 is a large quantity of fry to attract the kingfisher. These birds are very bold 

 when they find nurseries of young fish, and I have known them rob infant trout 

 from the boxes of a hatchery. They have appeared before this on the pond at 

 Battersea Park, and a pair nested two years ago in the grounds of Chiswick 

 House. If the fish supply continues the kingfisher is not likely to desert St. 

 James's Park. London is becoming increasingly attractive to many kinds of 



