242 THE ZOOLOGIS'. 
in the more exposed portions of the district that on several 
occasions last winter, during a walk of ten miles amongst the 
fields and lanes of Walney Island,—where small birds as a rule 
are fairly plentiful,—with the exception of the semi-domestic 
Sparrow, I did not meet with a perching bird of any description, 
all having either perished or migrated to more sheltered regions. 
At the same time Larks, Starlings and Finches, and even an 
occasional Rook, might be seen searching for food amongst the 
snow in our leading thoroughfares; whilst in the adjoining shops 
the poulterers exhibited for sale unusual quantities of half-starved 
Ducks, Plovers, Snipe, Woodcocks, and smail birds of all sorts. 
In the midst of such wholesale destruction it is pleasant to be 
able to record that in no previous winter, to the best of my belief, 
has the system of throwing out a daily supply of scraps, for 
the benefit of the hungry birds, been so widely adopted by the 
occupiers of country houses in this neighbourhood as during 
the past season; and I feel sure that to this cause alone may be 
attributed the preservation of hundreds of our feathered friends. 
On February 20th I happened to be present at one of these bird 
banquets, and could not help being amazed at the way in which 
the various species came flying in from all quarters as soon as 
the food was thrown out. The Rooks, in particular, created much 
amusement by the longing and yet undecided manner in which 
they eyed the feast from afar, half afraid to approach, until, their 
appetites overcoming their shyness, they would make a sudden 
dash and carry off the largest lump of bread which they could 
seize to a place of safety. On the other hand, the Tits exhibited 
extraordinary boldness, caring apparently for no one, and showing 
a partiality for old bones and fragments of meat. 
Partridges in this neighbourhood did better last spring than 
was the case farther south, owing probably to the fact of their 
nesting, as a rule, on high ground out of reach of floods; numbers, 
however, fell victims to the frost, and it will take some years to 
make up the loss. Grouse do not appear to have suffered at all, 
and Pheasants—thanks chiefly to the artificial protection afforded 
them—did not take much harm. 
Taking my notes in chronological order, I find that one of 
the first entries for the year 1879 relates to Windermere Lake. 
During the latter portion of January this magnificent sheet of 
water was frozen over from end to end, and skaters were able to 
+ 
