46 AN EAST COAST NATURALIST 



passed on to a naturalist to name, who identified it 

 as a Bluethroat (Cyanecula sueda). In September 

 1881 a local gunner killed six small birds, and 

 learned after he had cooked them that they were 

 Little Stints (Tringa minuta). In the earlier half 

 of the last century an old naturalist, who had a 

 great liking for eating birds, did a similar thing 

 with a Red-breasted Goose (Eermcla ruficollis\ and 

 immediately after was chagrined in seeing the 

 feathers identified as those of the species named. 

 A Pallas's Sand-Grouse on the North Denes sandhills 

 was thought to resemble a rat, and a gunner killed 

 it and sold it to a dealer for half a crown. Many 

 instances of spoiled specimens might be noted, and 

 many others of birds identified by competent 

 individuals, after "hairbreadth" escapes from de- 

 struction. 



Nowadays, however, "naturalists" are on the 

 alert for curious captures, either in bird-nets or by 

 shooting ; and nothing exhibiting unusual coloration 

 or strange markings and characteristics is passed 

 over before one or more have sat in judgment upon 

 it. Nor does the fortunate possessor part with it 

 until the market price, for him, has reached its 

 highest limit. 



