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{Authors are responsible for notnenclahire used.) " ^ '"' 





The Scottish Naturalist 



NOS. 121 AND 122.] 1922 [JaN.-FeB. 



BIRD-CATCHING 



The autumn migration has been marked by the arrival in 

 this country of unusually large numbers of birds valued 

 as cage-birds, Siskins, Redpolls, Bullfinches, Linnets, Wax- 

 wings, and such like. This immigration, which has coincided 

 with a time of much unemployment, has given a fresh fillip 

 to the ancient trade of bird-catching. From many Scottish 

 areas reports reach us of the activities of bird-catchers, and 

 of the great numbers of birds that suffer capture ; and the 

 reports come not only from the coast, where the birds land 

 on the completion of their overseas journey, but from inland 

 places as well. On another page we print an account of a 

 Haddingtonshire method of bird-catching, in which it is 

 mentioned that in one day 95, and in one week over 300 

 birds were captured ; and in the notes we have accumulated 

 regarding the recent incursion of the Waxwings there are 

 several records of the almost total extirpation of small 

 flocks. 



What stand does the naturalist take in regard to bird- 

 catching? In the first place he must realise — and no more 

 than a round of the birdsellers' shops on a Saturday 

 evening, or a visit to a bird show, will be necessary to con- 

 vince him — that multitudes of people find interest and 

 pleasure in the keeping and tending of cage-birds. A 

 proportion, though not a very large proportion, of these are 

 121 AND 122 A 



