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YORKSHIRE NATURALISTS’ UNION. 
~ SECTION FOR VERTEBRATE ZOOLOGY. 
On February 18th two meetings were held at .the Institute, Leeds ; 
Mr. W. H. St. Quintin, J.P., F.Z.S., presided at the afternoon meeting, and 
Professor, Patten, M.A., M.D., Sc.D., at the evening meeting. 
BEARDED Tits EXPERIMENT. AT HorNSEA MERE.—After disposing 
of the business in connection with the Yorkshire Wild Birds’ and Eggs’ 
Protection Acts Committee’s arrangements for the coming season, Mr. 
W. H. St. Quintin .outlined the scheme whereby - he intended shortly 
to liberate several pairs of Dutch Bearded Tits, or Reedlings, at Hornsea 
Mere. These birds had been in his aviaries for some time, and will be 
under Mr. St. Quintin’s. personal care and protection for the first few 
days. The birds (and their eggs, in case they should nest) will be under 
the close observation of the Yorksiire Naturalist’s Union’s bird-watcher, 
and of Mr. Constable’s gamekeepers. As this is quite a harmless species, 
no injury can result from the experiment, which, if successful, will give 
additional interest to Hornsea Mere. 
THE CHouGH.—Mr. E. W. Wade, M.B.O.U., read an exhaustive paper 
on the Chough, dealing with its structure, status, habits, nesting economy, 
and the probable reason of its steady and continual decrease in numbers ; 
illustrated by several good lantern-slides. Some of the slides showing 
the nests of these birds in cavities of rock cliffs, had been photographed 
by flash-light. Mr. Wade said the Chough was one of the oldest birds 
known to man; but beyond doubt, several species, such as Jackdaws, 
Rooks, etc., were known in those early days by that name; as by the 
quotations of their habits, and by the quantities of grain that they were 
stated at times to devour, it was quite plain that the species described 
could not be identical with our Pyrvhocorax graculus. Later this species 
became known as the ‘ Cornish Chough,’ because of its abundance in 
Cornwall, where now it has unfortunately recently become extinct. Mr. 
Wade opined that the Chough was dying out simply as an antiquated 
form, and just as races of men die out. Although the decrease of the 
Choughs at their nesting haunts was invariably followed by an increase of 
Jackdaws, yet he did not believe that either the Jackdaw or the Peregrine 
Falcon had really anytiing to do with the declining numbers. In the 
discussion that followed it was stated that the final extermination of the 
Chough in Cornwall had been hastened by a pair of these birds having been 
presented to the late Queen Victoria. This occasioned a demand for the 
birds in Cornwall, £2 and more being freely offered for young birds. Mr. 
St. Quintin said they were charming “pets, but difficult to keep in aviaries, 
and soon died off. He had found that they thrived best on ‘ Spratt’s 
Food.’ They would not eat any kind of grain, but were especially fond 
of mealworms, which, however, soon caused them to have fits. 
A YORKSHIRE Hoopor.—Mr. St. Quintin exhibited a Hoopoe that had 
been shot in mistake after a week’s sojourn at Thirkleby in 1896, on 
January roth, an unusual date for this species in England. The bird had 
every appearance of being a wild bird, and not an escape from confine- 
ment. At the time of its death it was well nourished, and had been 
recently feeding. 
THE SCAMPSTON AVIARIES.—The same gentleman exhibited eggs of 
many uncommon and interesting birds, including those of the Great Bustard, 
Little Bustard, Common and Japanese White-naped Cranes, Willow Grouse, 
Pink-footed and Bean Geese, Ferruginous Duck, Pine Grosbeak, and SHOW 
Bunting, which had been laid in his aviaries at Scampston. 
AMERICAN GREY SQUIRREL IN YORKSHIRE.—Mr. St. Quintin reported 
that the turning down of about eighteen pairs of the North American 
Grey Squirrel at Scampston Hall, in June, 1906 (see The Naturalist, 1907, 
Pp. 37), had not been an unqualified success. For the first two years they 
Naturalist, 
