JANUARY. 7 



THE WELCOME OF THE SHOT-GUN. 



Besides its effect upon our home-staying wild life, 

 it is the weather which regulates the winter visits of 

 very rare birds to these islands, though it is not the 

 abnormal temperature, but the unusual direction of 

 the wind, which brings them. Unfortunately for 

 them, and for all who would like to catch a glimpse 

 of them, there is always some one waiting to do the 

 honours of the British Isles to these distinguished 

 visitors with a shot-gun. Thus a single number of 

 the " Zoologist" recorded the waxwing, the little owl, 

 Montagu's harrier, peregrine falcon, and many rare 

 sea birds all " shot." And in November four wax- 

 wings were killed by one man at a single discharge ! 



A CHARMING VISITOR. 



One was killed in my own neighbourhood, and 

 I felt it as a personal loss ; for the waxwing makes 

 a beautiful addition to our bird life. He is so con- 

 spicuous and quaint, however, that even the sparrows 

 draw attention to him by their chatter ; and he has 

 no chance of escaping the local gunner, as he runs 

 about on the ground boldly gobbling up the privet 

 or hawthorn berries. His short, unfamiliar note of 

 alarm catches the ear, too ; while his striking colour- 

 ing, and graceful, dipping flight equally arrest the 

 eye. No ; until the law really protects rare birds, 

 England is no place for the waxwing, or the hoopoe 

 either : though the latter is, I think, quite the most 

 delightful bird that man can have near his dwellings, 

 not excepting even our own robin. 



