260 THE NATURALIST OF THE ST. CROIX 



I spent a good deal of time in the Geographical section 

 where some excellent papers were read by celebrated travellers 

 and the men sent out by Government to Abyssinia gave reports of 

 the nature of the country, etc. Mr. Whymper, who has just 

 returned from Greenland, read some very interesting papers he 

 had written on that country, chiefly relating to natural history. 

 I wish you had been there as it would have been the very thing to 

 suit you. 



I don't know of much new to tell you in the way of natural 

 history excepting that I have a box of eggs over from north- 

 west Greenland and if you want any eggs from there I shall be 

 glad to supply you. I heard from Liverpool to-day that a box was 

 there for me which I suppose to be the one from Krider ; but they 

 refuse to give it up unless I can produce endorsed bill of lading and 

 it is now in a place where it will soon incur about its own value 

 in expenses, so I am afraid it will turn out an expensive affair for- 

 me. Krider never told me how it was sent nor did he send bill 

 of lading or anything by which I can prove ownership so I am 

 afraid I shall be bothered to get it. I shall write and grumble at 

 him for not being more business like. By the way, I should like 

 very much to know if with you there is a close time for game or 

 birds, viz., a time when it is quite illegal to kill them, such being 

 the breeding season, and if such a law exists how it acts. 



They are now killing such quantities of sea birds for plumes 

 that people are thinking of having a close time appointed by law 

 and the British Association has appointed a committee (of which 

 I am a member) to report on it. I should be glad to see some- 

 thing done as there are such lots of gunners who destroy so many 

 birds in the breeding season, and one plume dealer on the coast 

 brags that he averages five hundred gulls per day through his 

 hands, and this in the middle of the breeding season, so you can 

 imagine the wholesale destruction of life amongst the deserted 

 young birds, and it is high time that in a closely inhabited country 

 like ours the birds should be somewhat protected, at least during 

 the breeding season. 



Hoping to hear from you again ere long, I remain 

 Yours truly. 



H. E. Dresser. 



