140 



Field Notes. 



of test, of beak, deltidial plates, etc., will be lost. The method 

 was suggested by receiving, for description, from the Geologi- 

 cal Survey of India, a series of brachiopods from Burma, which 

 had been burnt by Mr. T. D. La Touche for the purpose of 

 extracting them from a rather intractable matrix. Many 

 showed as a consequence good internal details, and that fact 

 suggested burning other species to compare with them. 



BIRDS. 



Jackdaws occupying Magpie's Nest.— A pair of Magpies 

 built a nest this month in a Sycamore Tree, near Harrogate. 

 The eggs were taken. A pair of Jackdaws have now occupied 

 the nest. I have never known a similar case. Several pairs 

 have built in some small square open chimney pots, about 

 12 inches high, in Grosvenor Terrace. The nests are quite 

 open. These pots have now been occupied for some years, 

 and the birds never leave the locality, but are about in pairs 

 throughout the winter. — R. Fortune, April, 1912. 



Fame Islands Association. — Mr. Paynter in his Annual 

 Report states that 191 1 was a very good breeding season for 

 the various species of birds nesting on the Fames. The 

 weather was dry and warm, with the exception of the 24th 

 and 25th of June, when is was exceedingly cold and wet ; this 

 caused the death of a great many young Puffins and also a 

 few young Arctic Terns by drowning. It is satisfactory to 

 learn that the Sandwich Terns did not suffer. The Arctic and 

 Sandwich Terns were breeding on the Knoxe's, and Inner 

 Wideopens, in enormous numbers ; they have increased greatly 

 during the last few years. 



Many attempts were made in the earl}^ part of the season, 

 on foggy nights, to raid the breeding grounds of the Terns, 

 without, we are glad to say, any success ; but the watchers 

 had a very anxious time. 



Eider Ducks, Puffins, Guillemots, etc., were as numerous 

 as ever, and a few Razorbills bred as usual on the outer Wide- 

 opens. These birds do not increase, owing no doubt to the 

 lack of suitable sites, as they do not care to deposit their eggs 

 on the open ledges hke the Guillemot. It is interesting to note 

 that a pair of Common Gulls were again constantly seen during 

 the breeding season. The nest, however, was not located. 



The protection of these islands is not done without con- 

 siderable expense, and over £100 is expended annually in 

 watching them. This is all subscribed voluntarily. I notice the 

 names of four members of the Yorkshire Naturalists' Union 

 in the subscription list, and, no doubt, Mr. Paynter will be 

 glad to have more. If any of our members care to send a sub- 

 scription, his address is ' Freelands,' Alnwick. — R. Fortune. 



Naturalist, 



