Protection of Wild Life in Yorkshire. 131 
stuck in unnatural attitudes in glass cases. Now-a-days 
they are not used for hat trimming as they were formerly. It 
would be a great pity if these two species, our most brightly 
plumaged birds, were not allowed to increase and multiply in 
peace. 
The Little Tern had almost vanished. The policy adopted 
by the Union’s Protection Committee, of keeping a watcher on 
the breeding ground at Spurn during the whole of the nesting 
season, has had very happy results. Unfortunately, natural 
causes frequently handicap the colony severely. We had an 
instance this year when on May 30th a tidal wave swept over 
the breeding ground, destroying every nest. Sand storms are 
also a great danger, and frequently bury the eggs under a 
considerable layer of sand. Despite these drawbacks, the 
colony is flourishing and increasing, and another one has re- 
established itself in another part of the county. As it is the 
only Tern nesting in Yorkshire, no efforts should be spared to 
ensure its safety. 
The Committee are also responsible for the great increase 
which has taken place in the Kittiwake colonies. They had 
been practically cleared out of their usual breeding haunts 
by gunners, there being at one time a great demand for their 
skins for millinery purposes. They are once again found 
frequenting the cliffs in normal numbers. One of the most 
delightful of birds, the charm of their breeding haunts is 
beyond any powers of expression. 
House Martins had at one period considerably decreased in 
our midst. I know scores of buildings that used to harbour 
numbers of nests under their eaves, many in Harrogate, which 
have for years been deserted. I am thankful to say they are 
now on the upward grade, and many old haunts have been 
occupied again. In their natural habitats among the cliifs 
at Bempton they return regularly in large numbers, also to 
that inland resort of theirs the great cliff at Kilnsey in Wharfe- 
dale. Numbers are destroyed by bird catchers on their 
migration routes in the south of Europe, and their ranks were 
decimated in this country several times by the extremely 
inclement weather experienced soon after their arrival here. 
(To be continued ), 
—- 0 :———— 
The John Dory (Zeus faber) at Redcar.—A specimen, 
18 inches in length, was washed ashore at Redcar on the 18th 
March. It was alive when found. This is the first example of 
this fish that I have seen here, but two others are known to 
have been taken within the past twenty-five years.—T. H. 
NELSON, Redcar, 22nd March, rg16. 

1916 April 1. 
