740 Letters, Extracts, and Notes. [Il)i*, 



The rhyme applicable to the European bird will at first 



fit ours, 



" In April come he will, 

 111 May lie sings all day,"' 



but it must continue : 



" By first of Jnne, 

 He's changed his tune, 

 And does not ily 

 In J lily," 



for I have occasionally seen and heard one calling as late as 

 Angnst, but a very "changed tune'' by that time — a very 

 short " cuck" followed by a prolonged ''koo-o,"an almost 

 dove-like note. 



E. HoPKINSON. 



Gambia, West Africa. 

 30 May, 1922. 



A Defence of Egg-collecting. 



SiK, — I have read the remarks made by Lord Buxton on 

 the exhibition of clutches of birds' eggs at the last Oological 

 Dinner, and also the letter in tiie Jnly 'Ibis' signed by 

 Messrs. Elwes and Stuart Baker. 



It seems to me, however, that some defence of the much 

 abused egg-collector is necessary against the attacks levelled 

 by Lord Buxton and others^ and^ so far, I have not seen any 

 attempt at this. 



Although the point is much debated, let it l)e admitted 

 that the collecting of eggs is of comparatively little scientific 

 value. Let it also be admitted that it involves some cruelty, 

 though of this more anon. 



It must also be admitted that most forms of sport also, 

 including hunting, fishing, and shooting, involve far more 

 cruelty, and are just as needless. Yet I trust that few of 

 us would like to see these sports abolished. Fisji could be 

 netted and killed quickly in preference to '^ j)laying'' them : 

 foxes could be shot: birds could be killed in some manner 

 which precluded all chance of their being left to a slow and 



