Bolam: The Natural History of Hornsea Mere. 55 
killed, but lost in dusk: 27th, another female shot, eggs being 
again very small. After this date no more came actually to 
the hole so no more were shot, but many non-breeding Starlings 
remained about, and some of them at least appeared ready to 
breed if nesting holes were found. Yet all holes were not occu- 
pied and it can scarcely be supposed that the birds made any 
really serious efforts to breed. 
Had Taylor been available at first, more Starlings might have 
been killed at the hole, as it was seldom, between say gth and 
27th, that a few were not to be seen about it, often going into it, 
and the cocks singing just outside. Altogether, 25 were actually 
shot and several more believed to have been wounded. 
I do not think that the Woodpeckers were seriously inter- 
fered with by the shooting (without it the Starlings would cer- 
tainly have effectually prevented their nesting), but after the 
1oth they appeared to abandon the hole. One or other of them 
occasionally appeared in the vicinity during the next day or two, 
but after the 13th they disappeared altogether, and were not 
seen or heard again anywhere on the estate. 
GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER.—Never seen by me, but 
Taylor has frequently seen one or two in other years, and 
believes they have sometimes stayed to breed, or at least they 
have remained over the summer. 
KINGFISHER.—When I arrived at Wassand one of the first 
birds to attract attention was a Kingfisher, having its nesting 
hole in the bank just below the bridge over the ditch at the 
East Lodge. It frequented the place for a week or two, but 
never more than a single bird was seen, and it eventually dis- 
appeared. I examined the hole (which no one else went near 
as the soft mud of the ditch would have betrayed the foot- 
marks) and found it bored fully 3 feet into the bank, as 
measured with a stick; the bird was frequently noticed leaving 
it up to about the first week in May, and in former years there 
has been a nest here. A Kingfisher at times made use of the 
platform in our Boat House to fish from and batter its captures 
against, but there was never more than one seen, and apparently 
no nest brought off this year. 
THE CUCKOO was common, but not plentiful around the 
Mere. I saw and heard two individuals on 21st April, Taylor 
having heard the first of the season on the previous afternoon. 
No more appeared till 26th, when one was heard in early morn- 
ing, and one heard every now and again afterwards up to 5th 
May, when several arrived and remained. The last was heard 
on 25th June; one seen on 26th; these of course adults. No 
eggs were seen, and only one young one. It was hatched by 
Meadow Pipits in the park, and was just a few days fledged 
when the hay was cut. It was still there on 17th and 18th 
July, flitting about from one haycock to another. 
1913 Jan. 1 
