49 
_ visits the marshes, but occasionally he seems to condescend to 
effect wanton slaughter. An instance of this was observed by me 
in March, 1886, in the neighbourhood of King Garth, when a 
4 Peregrine struck a tame duck on the Eden, within full view of me, 
_ and contented himself with a successful stroke, not troubling to 
eat or carry off the quarry. 
Such, then, is a slight sketch of the land birds to be seen upon 
these two salt marshes. Did space permit, I could treat of a good 
: many more which have occurred at one time or another, e.g., the 
Redstart (Ruticilla phenicurus), the Wren, (TZ. europeus), the 
_ Redbreast (£. rubecula), the Stockdove (Columba enas), and 
_others.* But the land birds can be studied in most localities, and 
the interest of the marshes of necessity centres in the various 
aquatic species which avail themselves of the shelter afforded to 
rear their young, or frequent the channels of the estuary in search 
"of subsistence. 
Of the latter number, not the least prominent is the Common 
Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo), a bird which never entirely 
_ deserts us, though most plentiful in winter, notably in hard weather. 
It is interesting to watch wild Cormorants feeding in the Eden. 
_ Their prey, which consists of small fish, is constantly obtained by 
diving. If a fish be seized, the Cormorant at once returns to the 
‘surface, tosses its head until the fish assumes a proper position, 
and then bolts it head foremost. More rarely, the fish is thrown 
p into the air, caught in its descent, and promptly swallowed. 
The majority of the Cormorants that visit the Eden are immature 
white-breasted birds, and it was only with some difficulty that I 
succeeded in supplying my collection with a really good old speci- 
men.¢ Another bird which constantly fishes in the estuary is the 
eron (Adea cinerea), Rockliffe Marsh being one of its most 
favoured resorts. Yet another fish-eater is the Gannet (Sula 
*i.e. Wrens, Redstarts, and Redbreasts take shelter in the marsh creeks 
while resting on migration. The Stockdove I have only seen crossing the 
marshes incidentally.—M. 
