Occasional JS^oles. 135 



" I observed them also at al)out the same date last year. 

 None ot' these could yet fly, and as I was down a month 

 earlier and failed to see any, they must have been still very 

 young and keeping hidden among the reeds on the shore. 



" I would like to add that both in October and November 

 of last year I was able to watch the trout laying eggs — so 

 that on the Klip, at any rate, these months were also trout- 

 breeding months. — Yours faithfully, 



"M.Napier." 



It seems clear that the Transvaal Game Protection Asso- 

 ciation has adopted the right course in refusing to take hasty 

 action. It is hoped that all Members of the Union will 

 forward imy records of the nesting of any species of Wild 

 Goose or Duck of which they have made observations, as it 

 is extremely important that sufficient data of really reliable 

 character should be furnished to enable the matter to be 

 settled authoritatively. 



The paucity of the present records is a remarkable instance 

 of the lack of knowledge of the habits of some of our well- 

 known birds, and the solution of the difficulty one in which 

 the Union ought to take a leading part and supply a clear 

 answer. 



(12) Destructive Birds. — A matter which demands very- 

 serious and careful attention of all ornithologists is the 

 complaint, which is now being constantly received, as to the 

 destruction of crops by various species of small birds. 



We have received recently a variety of complaints. 



Mr. Johnston, Chief of the Biological Division of the 

 Orange River Colony, writes : — 



"iln some parts of the 0. R. C. various kinds of grain, 

 such as wheat, oats, and Kafir corn, were seriously devastated 

 this year by birds, the chief depredators being, so far as can 

 be ascertained, the Red Katir Fink {Pyromelana oryx) and 

 the Kafir Fink or Sakabula {Coliopasser procne). On the 

 Modder River the Red-billed Weaver (Quelea quelea) has 

 increased to an alarming extent, whilst in the Korannaberg 



