The Zoologist — November, 1870. 2387 



Notes frum A^orlham Burrows. — During a recent visit to Noitham Burrows 

 I obtaiueil, on the dates staled, the following birds: — 



Curlew Sandpiper, on the 8ih of September. A large flock of this species has been 

 frequenting the mud-flats between Norlliam Burrows and Appledore for some time. 



Gray Phalarope, female, on the 10th of September, and another specimen, a male 

 bird in very fine plumage, on the 15th. 



Lesser Tern. On the 13th of September two specimens, both females, in immature 

 plumage. 



Little Stint. A pair on the 14th of September. 



Eeeve. A specimen on the 16th of September. This bird, together with a ruff, 

 I bad observed for some time previously in company with a flock of bartailed 

 godwits. 



Knot. A flock of knots frequented the mud-flats for many days, in association 

 with ringed plovers and dunlins, and from which I obtained a specimen in nearly full 

 summer plumage, on the 6th of September. 



I observed a pair of greenshanks on the River Taw, near Barnstaple, on the oih of 

 September, but, owing to their extreme wildness, was unable to obtain a specimen. — 

 Marcus S. C. Rickards. 



Preservation of Sea-fowl. — More than twenty years ago the late Archdeacon 

 Thorp, of Durham, took a lease of the Fame and Staples Islands, — I believe with no 

 other object than the preservation of the birds. His sou, the Eev. Charles Thorp, has 

 them now, and carries out his father's plan : he has two keepers on the island from 

 May to the end of September ; they prevent people taking the eggs or going on the 

 islands to shoot the birds. From the opening of the season to the 14ih of June they 

 take the eggs of the gulls, eider ducks, guillemots and cormorants, and sell them in 

 the surrounding district to be eaten : they are quite appreciated. After that time they 

 are not disturbed. Collections are also made, to a limited extent, of all the other and 

 rarer birds, and sold as specimens. There is no doubt the birds have largely increased 

 in number for some years, especially the cormorants and terns. The first year my son 

 and I visited one of the islands (soon after the Archdeacon took them) there were 

 three broods of cormorants; this year there were upwards of one hundred. What is 

 now wanted is to extend the " close time " for shooting from the 1st of August to the 

 1st of September. I can give my word that the number of young birds on the 1st of 

 August not strong on the wing was very large. After the 1st of September they dis- 

 perse all along the coast, and cannot be shot in great numbers. I believe that in future 

 the Rev. C. Thorp will not have the eggs taken after the 1st of June. There is no 

 doubt if the eggs were not taken at all the young would be able to take care of them- 

 selves earlier; but this mode of taking the eggs, to some extent, reimburses the rent 

 and the wages of the men to watch. The herring gulls and the jackdaws devour the 

 i eggs of the birds to a large extent. The shooting has been carried on this year to a 

 very small extent, in consequence of the prevalence of east winds and rough sea. The 

 first week in August a steamboat from Shields came down with a party to shoot, and 

 they swept some basaltic columns, where the guillemots and razorbills mainly lay, with 

 a cannon loaded with small shot, and I hear destroyed a great number, and probably 

 did not take up any of the dead. Urge the extension of the "close time" till the 1st 

 of September by all means. — George Mennell ; Bamborough, near Btlford, Northumber- 

 land, September 8, 1870. 



