148 THE HOOPOE 



quent one. Some years ago the late Mr. Howard Saunders 

 told us that the head-keeper at Ashburnham Park, in 

 Sussex, destroyed seven in one week, and that many a 

 one has been slain in Kent, at the point where they 

 alight after crossing the Channel. A few have, in spite 

 of persecution contrived to breed in our country in 

 southern counties chiefly. Sometimes numbers come to 

 England in the autumn, and it is generally an annual 

 visitor in small numbers to Ireland. As it is a useful 

 bird all should try to procure protection for it. 



