NOTES AND QUERIES. 431 



watcher on the Outer Fames, on the same date, reported : — ' The Ducks, 

 on the whole, I think show a very fair average, as I have seen a good many of 

 their young ones.' Mr. Paynter, who for many years has taken very great 

 interest in the birds during the breeding season, writes : — ' I should say 

 only about sixty Eider Ducks hatched off their broods, instead of a hundred. 

 The Gulls, both Black-backed (the Lesser) and Herring Gulls are quite as 

 numerous as ever; also the Terns, Oystercatchers, and Dotterels, about 

 the same. Puffins and Guillemots, rather more numerous, especially the 



Bridled Guillemots If the weather had been warmer, and not so wet, 



I think there would have been far more young birds than usual. Cormorants 

 were much the same, about fifty nests. As far as I could make out, there 

 were only two pairs of Roseate Terns.' Many visitors made excursions to 

 the islands during June and July, and, except in two cases, the rules I drew 

 up were strictly adhered to. I received many applications for leave to 

 take eggs, but these, with one exception, I declined to grant. I gave 

 permission to representatives from Her Majesty's Office of Works to take 

 some young birds from the islands, for the purpose of being turned out in 

 the lake at St. James's Park. With the exception of four or five young 

 Puffins, they are all doing well, and next season I hope they will be au 

 object of interest to many who frequent the Park, and who are never likely 

 to have an opportunity of seeing such birds in their natural habitat. Some 

 of the local fishermen were very troublesome. On several occasions they 

 landed on the islands and took eggs away. In one instance the robbery 

 was so open and determined, that I felt it impossible and inexpedient to 

 pass it by without taking some steps to enforce our rights. Consequently, 

 after consulting with Mr. Paynter, I commenced an action in the County 

 Court against the most prominent offender, with the result that he (Robson) 

 was fined £1 Is., and had to pay the costs of the action. This decision in 

 our favour by His Honour, Judge Holl, I consider was most satisfactory, 

 as it establishes the right of an owner or lessee to the eggs deposited on 

 his property, and it will probably put a check on future robberies of eggs 

 from the islands." 



Spotted Crake in Holderness. — A bird of this species was killed on 

 the '21st September, by flying against a roadside telegraph-wire, during its 

 autumnal migration, between Hornsea and Beverley. The only injury 

 visible was an abrasion of the feathers in front of the head. The Crake is 

 in beautiful plumage, and has the appearance of a bird of the present 

 year. — Peter Inchbald (Grosvenor Terrace, Hornsea). 



Unrecorded Habits of the Starling.— Whilst sailing on the Thames 

 just below Erith, on the 3rd June last, I was surprised to see some 

 Starlings flying close to the surface of the water, and picking up pieces of 

 bread floating there. When one had secured a piece, it immediately made 



