1740 The Zoologist— July, J 869. 



be seen with such a background. Whimbiel I found in plant}', but 

 wary and difficult to get near. Swifts were in some numbers, and 

 haw king close to the ground. Peewits everywhere ; and a couple or 

 two of wild ducks, evidently residents in the district. Whinchats, 

 wheatears, pipits, yellow wagtails and sky larks on every bank and in 

 every field. On the Humber, but some distance from the bank, was 

 a suiall flock of scoters, males and females : as I watched them a 

 beauliful mature lesser black-backed gull came sweeping along the foot 

 of the embankment, sailing just below me ; then turned and came 

 back over the same ground : surely, I thought, you must know of the 

 " Bird Bill," so let him pass in safety. Late in the afternoon, when 

 returning home, having given up all chance of seeing any dotterel, 

 I came most unexpectedly on to a small trip of six, and as they rose 

 dropped two. Poor little fellows ! Now I had them in my hand, I 

 wished them alive again ; and although 1 had been out that day for 

 that purpose alone, walked homewards with something of a heavy 

 heart. This shooting is the worst part of an ornithologist's work, and 

 at such times even the " sacred cause" itself seems hateful. Often, 

 after watching with my glass some little group of birds, noting down 

 all their pretty ways and habits, and looking as it were into their 

 dark truthful eyes, I have felt the greatest reluctance in taking up my 

 gun. It is all very well when birds spring up suddenly and unex- 

 pectedly, but this shooting in cold blood, sneaking up under cover of 

 bank or hedge, is not pleasant work. In all our ornithological rambles 

 it is well to bear in mind that beautiful sentiment of the poet — 



" He prayeih well who loveth well 

 All things, both great and small ; 

 For the clear God that loveth us, 

 He made and loveth all;" 



and to make it a rule never to destroy more than is absolutely 

 necessary for the pursuit of knowledge. 



Spoiled Fhjcaicher. — May 10th. First appearance. 



House Martin. — May 11th. First seen : a single bird, and the only 

 one observed up to the present day, the 19th of May. 



Gray Plover. — May 11th. Common as this species is on our "flats" 

 in May, owing to their extreme wildness I have never yet had the 

 good fortune to obtain specimens in the full summer dress ; nor, as 

 far as I am aware, have our numerous gunners been more successful. 

 On a stretch of coast, less than half a mile in extent, I have this day 

 seen upwards of a hundred in flocks of from ten to twenty ; and, what 



