108 THE ZOOLOGIST. 
Harewood Park. A considerable number of Grouse were picked up by the 
men working on the North-Kastern Railway at the viaduct at Arthington, 
having been injured by contact with the telegraph-wires. The birds seemed 
quite bewildered, and it was thought vast numbers would never find their 
way back to the moors. Hares and Rabbits also, it was said, were dying 
in great numbers, and Partridges in some places were being fed with corn, 
in order to keep them alive while the country was covered with deep snow. 
During a severe winter some years ago we remember to have heard that in 
Caithness the Grouse were all down on the sea-shore, and hardly a bird was 
to be found on the moors.—ED.] 
Effects of Heavy Snow upon Grouse.—The late severe storm has 
worked sad havoc amongst the Grouse on the Weardale Moors. — Large 
numbers of birds were driven down into the lowlands in search of food, 
and many were observed in the immediate vicinity of this town and the 
surrounding villages. On Feb. 7th a friend, who had been in the country 
some eight or nine miles to the westward, said he had seen hundreds of 
Grouse in the fields by the roadside all the way as he drove home in a 
blinding snowstorm. It is to be feared that the majority of these will 
never find their way back to the moors ; for, being thoroughly starved and 
bewildered, they would fall an easy prey to their enemies, both biped and 
quadruped. On the Consett branch of the North Eastern Railway a great 
many birds have been killed by flying against the telegraph-wires, and not 
even within the memory of the proverbial “ oldest inhabitant ” in the Wear 
Valley has there been such an influx of Grouse into the low-lying country. 
The following extract from the ‘ Newcastle Chronicle’ will give some idea 
of the ravages of the storm in the adjoining valley of the Tees:—‘“ The 
continued hard weather in Teesdale has demonstrated the fact that foxes 
are numerous beyond expectation. Within the limits of the Earl of 
Zetland’s hunt great havoc has been made amongst poultry, and an evening 
or two ago no fewer than five turkeys were destroyed on the farm of 
Mr. James Byers, of Hast Shaws, near Barnard Castle. In open day 
foxes approach the farm-houses, commit depredations, and even retaliate 
upon intruders. In Lower Teesdale no fewer than sixteen hares were-seen 
upon a patch of growing turnips cleared of snow by the wind, and the 
timid Cushat has made its way into the streets. Grouse have been starved 
off the moors, and many landowners who are game-preservers have shot 
hares rather than allow them to become poor in condition.” <A corre- 
spondent, some three or four miles west of this, writes:—‘‘On Sunday, 
Feb. 7th, there were hundreds of Grouse in the fields here, and some of 
the hedges were swarming with them, feeding on the hawthorn buds.”’— 
T. H. Netson (Bishop Auckland). 
Buzzard and Bittern near Oxford.—A few days ago I saw a Common 
Buzzard, which had been killed in a trap on Feb. 5th at Horton, about six 
