ii6 AN EAST COAST NATURALIST 



ejected pellets of remains of field mice. The flooding 

 of the marshes had been disastrous to many field mice, 

 that had been driven to such small patches of raised 

 turf as remained above the swamp ; here they were 

 falling an easy prey to the rapacious birds. My 

 friend repeated that the way they " shot up,"" and in 

 broad daylight, simply surprised him. I saw three 

 of the slain, finding them a male and two females. 



HARD WEATHER AND WILD BIRDS 



There is always an interest attached to the perusal 

 of a diary recording the doings and happenings of 

 years gone by, more especially if it is penned by 

 one's own hand. This thought occurred to me in 

 perusing my notebook for 1894. The following 

 terse notes chronicle my observations of the first 

 few days of that year: 



Weather and Birds. January 1st came in rough 

 and cold. To-day (2nd) snowing and blowing. 

 Wind east to north-east. Sheld-ducks numerous in 

 roadstead. Dunlins in units along beach in morning. 

 Fieldfares plentiful around town to-day. Shot 

 several for eating purposes. (Considered fine for 

 dumplings.) Lapwings "hard up." Shot a full 

 Snipe at dusk only three yards off with my old 



