president's address. 215 



the Nortliumberland Lakes, where there is a large colony of 

 this bird, at tlie time when the eggs were hatching, the 

 keeper of a neighbouring pro*prietor (I believe of Sir E. Blackett) 

 went lip armed with a bludgeon, brained all the young birds 

 who had just escaped from the shell, and smashed every egg he 

 could find, thus hopelessly destroying the whole progeny of the 

 year. When remonstrated with on his brutality, he replied that 

 they sucked the grouse eggs. Now, I do not mean to assert that 

 it is impossible for a little gull to have sucked a grouse's egg, but 

 every naturalist knows that it is not its natural food, and that 

 so long as the keeper and his dogs did not disturb the grouse 

 from her nest, her eggs would be perfectly safe. In like manner, 

 any falcon, kestrel, and owl, is destroyed that comes within 

 reach of the keeper's gun or traps, to the great detriment of the 

 game, and of the farmers, and to the real protection of the rats 

 and weasels. Who that has gazed on the falcon or the eagle 

 in its native wilds, would not think himself well repaid by even 

 the loss of an occasional rabbit ? Who that knows Castle Eden 

 Dene does not appreciate, among the ornaments of that glen, the 

 lively kestrels clinging to the rocks, or hovering over his head, 

 whose protection by Mr. Burdon has certainly not caused the 

 diminution of his partridges. 



In noble contrast to the careless indifference of too many 

 landowners, I should ill discharge a debt which we all, as 

 naturalists, owe, did I not gratefully acknowledge the persevering 

 care with which the Yen. Archdeacon Thorp has, for several 

 years, protected the sea-fowl of the Fern Islands. For no ad- 

 vantage to himself, and at no little cost, the Archdeacon has taken 

 those islands and maintains guardians (not gamekeepers) during 

 the spring and summer months, until the young birds shall have 

 been hatched and flown. The results are patent. The terns, 

 which, when he first took the rocks, were dwindling to a few 

 dozen, are already recovering their numbers; the guillemots 

 maintain their strength ; the rare roseate tern still lingers among 

 his fellows ; the eider duck, reduced to two pair, now breeds in 

 scores, and the little dotterel runs along every scrap of shingle. 

 Meantime, the eider has been chased from all its other haunts on 



VOL. IV. PT. III. 2 



