1644 The Zoologist— April, J 869. 



Slaughter of Sea-fowl at Weston-super-Mare. — During tlie winter Weston Bay is 

 frequented by large flocks of gulls, which are aiU:icted by the shoals of sprats then lo 

 be found in its shallow waters. The kitliwake is by far the most numerous of the 

 gull tribes which then put in their claim to a share in the fish harvest. But this last 

 winter the gulls themselves have been more than usually persecuted : they came to 

 capture, aud have themselves been taken. There are always a few desultory shooters 

 on the walth for ihem ; but this season the campaign against them was methodically 

 organized. Our fishermen found that, in consequence of the great demand for gulls' 

 wings for ladies' hats, it would he quite as profitable for them to shoot the birds as to 

 attend to their nets. The gulls were tempted within gun-shot by brt)ken sprats 

 being thrown overboard, and when one was killed it was allowed to float upon 

 the water to attract the curiosity of its companions and to draw thera within 

 range. Tliis method of shooting appears to have been a very successful oue, 

 as I have been told of gunners bringing back forty or fifty gulls each after a 

 morning's work, and I have myself met the men returning mote than once with large 

 panniers laden with dead gulls. One of the fishermen told me that he had noticed 

 several minute gulls in company with the others: he brought me one which he had 

 shot, and this is a very pretty specimen of the little gull in a state of plumage which 

 very closely resembles that of the " tarrock," or young kiltiwake, with the black patch 

 on either side the neck behind the ear, and the black upper wing-coverts, which are 

 the well-known characteristics of the tarrock. Another boatman shot an old fulmar, 

 not a common visitor to our southern coasts. I am very glad to see there is some 

 chance of the gulls and other clifl'-birds obtaining protection duiing the breeding- 

 season, fot with the present rajje for feathers of all description, there seemed a prospect 

 that every handsome bird which could be obtained by powder and .shot was doomed to 

 e^terminalion. No lover of Nature would care to miss the gull from the shore, and 

 missed he will be if something is not soon done to protect him. I am told that here in 

 Weston a great number of gulls were sold and eaten, the price obtained being about 

 twopence for each bird — j1/. A. Mathtw; Weston-sv per -Mare, February 23, 1869. 



American Robin. — Some readeis of the 'Zoologist' may not perhaps be aware that 

 the American robin is a thrush (Tardus migralorius), which will accouut for the use of 

 mud in its nest, as related in the interesting anecdote in the March number (S.S. 

 1604). This bird receives all the attention and kindness, and immunity from 

 destruction, in America, that our redbreast,does in England: and Nuttall tells us that 

 the "babes in the wood" legend has extended to the American robin. It has the 

 throat and the upper j)art of the chest black, with the rest of the under parts rufous. 

 Is the lameness and domestic character of the American robin due to the name which 

 some eaily settler from England gave it? or is it by nature confiding and fond of the 

 society of man, thus earning for itself the name which an emigrant Englishman would 

 always hold dear? Wilson tells ns that schoolboys hold the nest of the " robin" in 

 America more sacred than that of other birds. Neither his " red breast" nor his con- 

 fiding habits, however, prevent his being shot in the winter aud sold in the public 

 markets for food.— C. R. Bree ; March 8, 1869. 



Pugnacity of the Wren. — The pugnacity of the wren is well known to all who 

 observe the habits of birds; but I wish to record an instance which recently came 

 under my notice here. Accompanied by iny wife and brother, I was walking past an 

 ivy-clad rock, when our attentiou was attracted by a rustling among the leaves, and 



