202



Correspondence.



I do not append the following particulars as being of great

value, because I am now unable to do what I used to do ; but the

results obtained, although half-hearted, are w T ell on the side of

accuracy, because they could well have been supplemented by

individuals who have more leisure or to whom a mountain side, thick

wood, or sloppy marsh was not an obstacle to investigation. The

species are mostly Passerine because I am more interested in such

groups, but a few notes with reference to certain Picarian birds, Owls,

Hawks* Waders, Ducks, Gulls, etc., may not be out of the way.

I am inclined, however, to say without hesitation (eliminating

disappearing species like the Kite) that with the ordinary run of birds

their numbers are as good to-day as when I was a boy, and in some

cases a style of cultivation or game-preserving has apparently either

increased them or perhaps drawn them from elsewhere. The real

local extinction or “ lessening ” of a species (as apart from wholesale

slaughter by the gun for various reasons) I can, without exception,

trace solely to altered conditions of country, and wherever conditions

remain good, continual and reasonable toll of their numbers seems to

not affect them adversely. Since the days of Gilbert White people

have been more inclined to observe small items of this kind, and, of

course, that’s (from a natural history standpoint) only yesterday !

In consequence we have much to learn, and we are often at a loss to

give any logical reason as to why a species removes itself to just over

the way, or w T hy it is apparently more common in a local area this

year than last. We sometimes forget that we are not everywhere

at once, and that the numbers of a species are as much affected by

incidents occurring during their absence from these shores as when

they are here, which is applicable to winter or summer birds or

such resident species as are migratory, and how many are not ?

Whatever we do we must not start reports because our personal

“ luck is out ” on a day’s investigation, because, as before stated, we

can only draw impressions from the sum total of reports received

from competent observers who know their birds by ear and distance

as well as when they are under their noses.—Yours faithfully,


Allen Silver.



