The Zoologist — June, 1873. 3565 



boys to carry naked and half-fledged young birds to the Zoological 

 Gardens on Whit-Monday to throw among the eagles and hawks. 

 If we really wish to protect our wild birds why not include all in 

 the list, and also prohibit the wanton destruction of their eggs and 

 young ? The present Act may be a check on some of the bird- 

 catchers, but I fear that many will disregard it altogether ; for on 

 seeing some of these men at their avocation a week or two since, 

 I asked if they were aware that it was against the law to catch 

 birds after the 15th of March. The answer was, " Yes, sir, we know, 

 but perhaps we are not catching birds that are protected," — at the 

 same time feeling determined that every hixA. should be "good" 

 and unprotected which came into their nets. Now had the words 

 " all wild birds" been mentioned in the Act, there could not possibly 

 be any excuse for them. Then, again, how many people will plead 

 ignorance of even the names of one half of the species mentioned 

 in the list ? 



April ] . Lesser blackbacked gulls very numerous in our harbour. 

 Observed a pair of razorbills, still in winter or immature plumage, 

 croaking loudly to each other in the Sound. 



April 3. Saw and heard several chiffchaffs at Mount Edge- 

 combe. 



April 4. Visited the neighbourhood of St. Clear, in Cornwall. 

 When crossing the river Tamar at St. Germans, on my way down, 

 noticed a large number of lesser blackbacked and herring gulls on 

 the mud-banks and flocks of ringdoves on the salt-marshes; many 

 green woodpeckers a ievf miles from Liskeard, which species, I am 

 glad to add, has become far more plentiful throughout Cornwall 

 during the last few years ; I also found kestrels and wood larks 

 numerous ; remarked several flocks of fieldfares, lapwings and 

 curlews on the moors; and by the trout-streams many pairs of 

 gray wagtails. Visited the neighbourhood of Launceston, and in 

 the Valley of the Tamar observed several swallows on the wing, 

 three common sandpipers on a small rock in the river, many 

 dippers, and a kingfisher, which latter was constantly flying down 

 the stream with a small fish in its beak, no doubt having a nest and 

 young not far off"; and on the river's bank I saw the remains of 

 a waterhen, which had been killed by some bird of prey. In the 

 woods were many green woodpeckers and nuthatches. 



April 15. Heard some willow wrens and saw more swallows. 

 Observed with a powerful pocket-telescope some starlings, among 



SECOND SERIES — VOL. VIII. 2 G 



