OCCASIONAL NOTES. 31 
DISAPPEARANCE oF Sxy Larxs.—Mr. Robert Service, of Maxwelltown, 
N. B., attributes the diminution in the number of Sky Larks in that district 
to Starlings destroying their eggs. Without wishing or being able to 
disprove the fact, I think (speaking from experience in the Midland 
Counties of England) that the excessive rains and floods of the last few 
years, at the nesting time of these birds, have more to do with their decrease 
than the Starlings. In the Dove and Trent meadows especially, num- 
bers of nests of Sky Larks, Meadow Pipits, Yellow Wagtails, Reed 
Buntings, and Landrails have been destroyed during the last few years, the 
result being that in such districts these birds are not nearly so numerous 
as they formerly were——H. G. Tomutnson (Burton-on-Trent). 
STARLINGS DESTROYING Larxs’ Eaes.—With your permission I should 
like to pass a few remarks on the notes which have appeared in the 
‘Zoologist,’ respecting Starlings and Larks (Zool. 1878, pp. 427, 451). 
It is certainly new to me this asserted egg-destroying propensity on the 
part of the Starling, and from my own experience with these birds, no 
small one by the way, I am loth to believe it. Here, near Sheffield, 
Starlings breed in numbers, and throughout the year frequent the pastures 
in search of food; the Sky Lark, too, abounds, yet, so far as I can learn, 
both species live in peace together. The Starling, as is well known, is a 
gregarious bird, and seeks its food, as a rule, in flocks. Now these flocks, if 
closely observed, will seldom if ever be found on the breeding-grounds of the 
Sky Lark (which by the way is usually amongst the mowing grass, or in the 
corn-fields), but seek their sustenance on the pasture lands, so that a Lark’s 
nest would rarely be met with. Sky Larks, though gregarious in the 
autumn and winter months, at the approach of spring separate into pairs 
and spread over the entire district, seldom more than one or two pairs 
inhabiting the same field, so that the chance of their nests being 
plundered by the Starlings would be reduced to a minimum. Again, 
admitting that Starlings are partial to their eggs, which I deny, are 
not the parent birds well able to protect their charge? The disappearance 
of the Sky Larks may probably be explained by a migratory movement in 
search of food, and when spring time once more arrives they will 
doubtless reappear in their usual numbers. Again, are not the eggs of all 
other ground birds exposed to the same danger,—the Pipits, the Wagtails, 
and the Chats,—and may not the Weasel, the Foumart, or even Field Mice 
be answerable for these robberies, if it can well be proved that such robberies 
take place? Do not, I pray, cast blame upon the poor Starling, for not a 
more harmless bird exists. —Cuartes Dixon (Heeley, near Sheffield). 
Lirrte Aux near Norwica.—A Little Auk was picked up yesterday 
(December 17th), in this parish, and brought to me alive.—J. H. Gurney, 
Jun. (Northrepps, Norwich). 
