428 THE ZOOLOGIST. 
Destruction or Woop Picrons 1x ScorLand.— Speaking at the 
Central Banffshire Farmers’ Club on the 15th August, Viscount Reidhaven 
said :—“ I daresay some of you will remember some years ago, when I had 
the pleasure of addressing you in Mr. Longmore’s hall, that I ventured 
to suggest the getting up of an association for the destruction of Wood 
Pigeons. However, that fell to the ground; but I wish to read to youa 
few returns showing that my father did not forget about the Wood Pigeons. 
I will read you the returns of what has been done at Cullen House between 
1876 and 1879. In 1876, 1256 eggs were destroyed. In 1877, 1172-old 
Pigeons, 1038 young Pigeons, and 6593 eggs were destroyed, making a total 
of 8798. In 1878, 1821) old birds, 446 young birds, and 5946 eggs were 
destroyed, making a total of 7712. In 1879, 804 old birds, 124 young 
birds, and 1399 eggs were destroyed, making a total of 2327. Besides these, 
there were killed by my father and shooting friends 436 old pigeons during 
two seasons. My father gives so much money to anybody who brings 
young or old birds or eggs, and the amount of money which he had expended 
in this way from 1876 to 1879 has been £117 18s. 8d. The total number 
of birds and eggs that have been destroyed altogether during these years 
has been no less than 20,529.” 
Curious Dreatu or A Moornen.—F rom the last ‘ Annual Report and . 
Proceedings of the Belfast Naturalists’ Field Club,’ obligingly forwarded by 
the Secretary, we learn that at one of the meetings Mr. Thomas Darragh 
brought under the notice of the members a Moorhen which had been 
brought to him for preservation. ‘his bird was found dead on the banks 
of a small pond in the neighbourhood of Richmond, on the Antrim 
Road. When found it was still warm, and it did not- appear to have been 
killed by violence. Curious to know the cause of death, Mr. Darragh made 
a careful examination, and found, on dissection, that death had resulted 
from the presence of several small annelids, apparently leeches, one of which 
he found firmly adhering to its lungs, another to its liver, and two almost 
embedded in its kidneys. The only way he could account for their presence 
in the viscera was by supposing they had entered by the windpipe, pierced 
the lung, and found their way to the other parts of the body. It was stated 
that the pond near which the bird was found is supplied by the overflow 
water of the town basin, and that it was a matter worthy of serious con- 
sideration whether or not:these dangerous annelids were derived from that 
source; and if so, whether there is any possibility of their reaching the 
water-cisterns, and causing fatal results to the. ratepayer who may uncon- 
sciously imbibe a few. The specimens, which are upwards of three inches in 
length, were exhibited, and Mr. Darragh, on the suggestion of the President, 
pronised to hand them to a competent authority for examination. 
