42 The Field Naturalist's Quarterly Feb. 



admirable bird. Opinions differ as to the causes of the 

 diminution in the numbers of the Quail that come to our 

 shores. This may partially be accounted for by the new 

 methods of cultivation now in use, that render the country- 

 side less suited to their habits; but the main reason, no 

 doubt, is the hideous slaughter of this species, while on 

 migration, in Italy and elsewhere. Where 150,000 used 

 to be taken at Capri in Italy, only 60,000 are now obtained. 

 Can we be surprised that but a few stragglers escape to 

 our shores ? However, it is still met with here and there 

 in Rutland every year, most probably breeding in suitable 

 places. The last record of a nest was in 1897. At least 

 one has been shot this year, in this case at Ridlington. 

 Experiments carried on in America point to the possibility 

 of breeding Quails that would remain with us all the year 

 round. This would be well worth doing if it were possible. 



A bird we would gladly entice back in greater numbers to 

 the Welland Valley is the Wild Goose. There was a time 

 when boys had to be hired to "shoo" off the Wild Geese 

 from the Gretton meadows, where their appetite and ex- 

 crement did much mischief. Now it is a rare event for 

 a "gaggle" of any of the Wild Geese — the Bean, the Pink- 

 footed, or the White-fronted — to settle in the meadows. 

 Those that fall to the gunner are mostly Canadian or 

 Egyptian geese from some ornamental water. The various 

 Ducks are, if anything, commoner, the ordinary Wild Duck 

 breeding in numbers, and the Teal occasionally. But the 

 records of rare Ducks come almost entirely from the ponds 

 at Burley and Exton. Snipe are still quite common, and 

 the full Snipe not uncommonly breeds with us. 



Among the smaller birds the Wheatear, though still a 

 breeding species, has certainly decreased in numbers, as it 

 has elsewhere, and the Stonechat is far more uncommon 

 than it used to be. The Nuthatch, a handsome and in- 

 teresting bird, though plentiful in certain localities of the 

 county, is entirely absent in others, and does not seem to 

 spread at all. 



Four species which could ill be spared, but which want 

 very careful protection, are the Hobby, which nests reg- 

 ularly ; the Pied Flycatcher, which certainly occurs ; the 



