Yorkshire Naturalists' Union : Annual Report, iqio. 39 



alter his previous decision, but would issue very stringent 

 orders for the protection of both Birds and Eggs. From one 

 of the Officers, I received a letter saying that from personal 

 observation, both by himself and other Officers, since the 

 Railway was put along the Spurn, birds had not gone there. 



Bemptox. — Only one young Falcon appears to have been 

 hatched and it is thought to have got safely away, as it was 

 seen many times flying about at the close of the egging season. 

 The quantity of eggs taken by the gatherers seems to have 

 been about the same quantity as usual. 



Unfortunately the Ravens put down last vear have all left. 



North Yorkshire. — I have unfortunately a sad tale to 

 tell about the young Peregrines. Four eggs were laid, and 

 seen by Mr. Edmondson, who wrote expressing the care taken 

 by the watcher. On May 31st, I received a letter to say the 

 young ones had been shot on the nest. I at once put the 

 matter into the hands of the Police, who visited the place and 

 saw the man who was alleged to have shot them, but no real 

 proof could be brought against him and the matter had to be 

 dropped. I wrote the Royal Society for Protection of Birds, 

 who were equally desirous of taking the matter up. I also 

 put myself in communication with the Agents of the Estate, 

 and received the following reply : — "I have attended to the 

 matter and trust there will be no further cause for complaint." 

 There is no doubt that Falcons breeding in the middle of a 

 Moor run a great chance of getting shot as they are looked 

 upon by many people as vermin." 



Hornsea Mere. — There have been many Pochards and 

 Tufted Ducks this year. Both have done well, especially the 

 latter. A dead Sclavonian Grebe was picked up in December 

 last ; a most unusual thing. 



There have been more Great Crested Grebes this season 

 than for the last seven years, and all have done well, but 

 unfortunately the Mere has been much disturbed by military 

 operations. 



Many dead Swifts have been picked up ; also a Spotted 

 Crake. 



Stone Curlews. — Sons of the watchers, who have taken 

 great interest in the birds, and assisted in finding nests, have 

 all joined the Army, so that the nests have not been found as 

 before, but the usual quantity of young birds have been seen 

 and their calling heard in the evenings. 



Finance. — Expenses have not been as heavy as usual, but 

 the balance in hand will be useful when stricter watchfulness 

 can be resumed at the conclusion of the war. 



1917 Jan. 1 



