190 BRITISH BIRDS. [vol. xv. 



r. nificollis), and Lord Dunalley told me that about six weeks 

 previously he first noticed an old one with three young ones 

 about a day or two old and had seen them frequently since. 



E. G. Hope Johnstone. 



[For previous records cf. British Birds, II., p. 242 ; XIII.. 

 p. 172. — Eds.] 



SPOTTED REDSHANK IN ESSEX. 

 While shrimp trawling on the Stour River, about three miles 

 above Harwich, on October 9th, 1921, I heard the call-note 

 of a Spotted Redshank (Tringa erythropns). On sailing close 

 to shore to make certain I heard it again more distinctly. 

 On the next day I was at the same place in a punt and again 

 heard the note many times during the tide, but could not 

 get close and failed to pick out the bird from the flocks of 

 Redshanks it was with. I am well acquainted with the 

 .Spotted Redshank, and believe its call to be too distinctive 

 to be confused with any other wader. C. E. Hamond. 



LETTERS. 



THE ': BRITISH BIRDS " MARKING SCHEME. 

 To the Editors of British Birds. 



Sirs, — Dr. Landsborough Thomson in his "Critical Note" in the 

 December issue (pp. 146-150) undoubtedly gives a very true criticism 

 of the value of bird marking from the ideal scientific point of view. 

 Whether his constructive suggestions are practicable for the British 

 Birds Scheme is open to doubt. 



This contribution to the discussion is the expression of opinion of 

 an enthusiastic marker for British Birds who has very limited oppor- 

 tunities. It is given to very few to be able to devote their whole time 

 to scientific research work, and I feel sure that there are many who can 

 only devote week-ends and a short summer hohday to their hobby 

 who hailed the British Birds Marking Scheme, when it was first brought 

 to their notice, as a long wished for opportunity of helping the great 

 work of the advancement of science. It is an invitation to the amateur, 

 and a great encouragement to him to feel that he can be of real service. 

 But the scheme has done a great deal more for those who have taken 

 part in it than merely provide data on which the experts can work ; 

 the markers have found out many secrets of bird life which would 

 never have been noticed by them otherwise and, in particular, have 

 learnt how to read the signs which birds give when their nests are 

 near and that in the case of many species it is even possible to gauge 

 the age of the young birds before the nest is found. 



The British Birds Magazine exists for its readers. The success of the 

 Marking Scheme also depends on those readers. These factors have 

 to be borne in mind as well as the three requirements for success 

 mentioned by Dr. Thomson, when any serious restriction in the range 

 of the Scheme is considered. But does not Dr. Thomson's third 

 requirement — that the species should exhibit some interesting problem 



