126 Protection of Wild Life im Yorkshire. 
England, we find their nesting habits differed somewhat from 
those in Holland at the present day, where they nest amongst 
the reeds in the midst and surrounding the meeres and lagoons. 
In England they were said to nest in tall trees like the Common 
Heron. The Black Tern, essentially a marsh loving bird, has 
too, been driven from its haunts. The fact of its being a 
regular visitor in spring and autumn induces one to believe 
there is always a chance of its returning to nest. There is 
another bird which is also a regular visitor from the coasts 
opposite. Unfortunately they almost invariably meet with a 
hostile reception. The Common Bittern, which might, if left 
unmolested, nest amongst some of our extensive reed beds, if 
not in Yorkshire, at anv rate in Norfolk. The note of this 
bird has been likened to several sounds, notably the bellowing 
of a bull ; to me it resembles very closely the noise made by a 
ship’s fog horn. 
A recent departure is that of the Dotterel, a most charming 
bird, which formerly nested on some of our highest hills. Its 
confiding nature and the demand for its feathers, which are 
highly prized for making fishing flies, were the causes of its 
passing as a breeding species with us. The tragedy of the whole 
affair is that feathers fulfilling the same purpose may be 
obtained from the common and abundant starling. The last 
pair I know which attempted to nest, some fifteen or more years 
ago, was destroyed by a keeper for the feathers. I am afraid 
the bird is rapidly decreasing all over our islands. 
That magnificent bird the Great Bustard formerly in- 
habited the Wolds in great numbers. The last of the race was 
killed at Hunmanby about the year 1830. Much as we deplore 
*the passing of such a fine species, we must recognise the fact 
that it is almost impossible for it to exist in its old haunts 
under the present system of cultivation. 
We can quite imagine, although we do not appear to have 
any definite records of the fact, that the White Stork at one 
time nested at least in the East Riding where conditions would 
be particularly favourable for birds of their habits. 
In addition to the birds which have already disappeared 
as breeders we have unfortunately a formidable list of species 
which are decreasing in numbers, some of them rapidly and in 
an unaccountable way. Indeed, I am.afraid the first I shall 
mention, the Common Buzzard, has for some years ceased to 
nest in the county. This is a matter for deep regret. It is 
a fine bird and practically harmless, but being a hawk, and a 
big one, it must be destroyed by the unthinking gamekeeper. 
When I was younger, I could in one part of the county, go to 
half-a-dozen nests in a day. A few years ago I searched 
regularly for several years in all likely places without finding 
a nest. Collectors of eggs are also greatly. to blame for the 
Naturalist, 
