412 BRITISH BIRDS. 



have been ascribed to Mr. G. W. Murdoch (c/. Birds of Yorks. , 

 p. 284, and Yorks. Weekly Post, 23, ix., 05). 



Hoopoe (Vol. I., p. 282). — One shot near Brackley, 

 Northampton, in May, 1908 (O. V. Aphn, Zool, 1908, p. 312). 



Little Owl (Vol. I., pp. 315 and 335). — Several were seen 

 in the summer of 1908, and five were hberated in Essex 

 (" A. W.," Field, 15, vm., 08). One was shot early in 1909 

 at Burton-on- Trent (F. C. R. Jourdain, in litt.). Of the one 

 recorded from Scotland (p. 315) Mr. G. Sim stated that he 

 had since heard of facts which led him to suspect that the 

 bird was an escape {Vert. Fauna Dee, addenda). 



Snowy Owl (Vol. I., p. 315). — Ireland. — One was seen by 

 Captain Kirkwood in December, 1906, at Bartragh, co. Mayo 

 (R. Warren, Zool., 1907, p. 73). An immature female was 

 obtained in co. Mayo about the beginning of December, 1906, 

 and an immature male (?) was shot near Ardagh, co. Kerry, 

 and was received on March 6th, 1907 (R. J. Ussher {fide W. 

 J. WilHams), Irish Nat.,' 1909, p. 100). 



Marsh-Harrier (Vol. I., p. 316). — The following have 

 been shot at HickUng, Norfolk :— Adult S May 9th, 1905 ; 

 adult S May 17th, 1906; and adult ? June 25th, 1906 

 (F. Smalley, in litt.). 



Montagu's Harrier (Vol. I., p. 317). — The following have 

 been shot in Norfolk : — Adult female, Hickhng, May 11th, 

 1906 ; adult female, June 1st, and adult male, June 17th, 

 1907, near Lynn (F. Smalley, in litt.). 



All these records point to the fact that the birds would 

 have bred in these districts had they not been shot. No words 

 are too strong to condemn this wanton destruction, and it 

 may be pointed out (since it is not generally realised) that, as 

 long as keepers know that they can dispose of such birds, the 

 more inclined will they be to destroy them. 



Rough-legged Buzzard (Vol. I., p. 319). — Ireland. — Only 

 twelve (eleven obtained, one seen) are recorded in the " Birds 

 of Ireland," and of these the one shot on October 4th, 1899, 

 is mentioned in the Appendix. The second example referred 

 to (p. 319) was received by Mr. Wilhams on November 5th, 

 1902, and not " in the early part of 1903," as recorded in the 

 " Irish Naturahst." Of the two seen in December, 1906, 

 the second — a female — frequented the moors during the 

 winter, and was eventually poisoned and received by Mr. 

 Wilhams on February 26th, 1907 (R. J. Ussher, in litt., and 

 Irish Nat., 1909, p. 100). There are thus seventeen records 

 from Ireland, sixteen obtained, and one seen. 



