86 /'ii'VH'7vs (Did Book Xo/iccs. 



In contrast to the action of the County Councils of the West 

 Riding-, it is pleasing- to note that the Councils of the North and 

 East Ridings have adopted the proposals of the Union. 



The actions also of the Town Councils of Scarborough and 

 Bridlington, in prohibiting the shooting of Gulls, &c. , on the 

 sands, is greatly appreciated by the Union. 



Nature in Eastern Norfolk. By Arthur H. Patterson. Methuen 

 & Co. 352 pp., witli twelve illustrations by F. Southsj^ate. Price 6/-. 



Not loiij< ag-o we noticed in these columns an interesting- work by Mr. 

 Patterson entitled 'Notes of an East Coast Naturalist.' In 'Nature in 

 Eastern Norfolk ' our author g-ives a more substantial volume, which is 

 exceedingly readable, and contains most reliable information on the fauna 

 of the district in which he resides. The volume is in two parts, the first 

 section being autobiographical, and also containing some general observa- 

 tions on the fauna ; the second being a catalogue of the various birds, 

 fishes, mammals, reptilia and amphibia, stalk-eved Crustacea, and mollusca. 

 Needless to say the first part of the work is that which will be at once read 

 bv every purchaser of the book, and the remainder is also full of facts and 

 records of the most useful character. It can be safely said that Mr. 

 Patterson has monographed the fauna of his district in a very creditable 

 manner. 



As an example of the information in the second part of the work, we 

 quote the following from the author's remarks in reference to the Bearded 

 Titmouse ; — ' This exquisite little bird has for )'ears past been most merci- 

 lessly slain and its eggs stolen by the mercenary part of the shooting 

 fraternity in the Broadlands. On November 19th, 1890, eight slaughtered 

 birds were exposed for sale in the market place, seven of which were so 

 badly mauled by duck-shot as to be useless for the stuffer's art. Four were 

 brought up from Filbv Broad on February 1st, 1895. F"or years a premium 

 placed upon nests and egg's, to supply a rapacious skin dealer in the 

 Midlands, was the means of sadly decimating this native species, of which 

 Norfolk naturalists are so justly proud. ' After the mild winters of 1862-63,' 

 writes Stevenson, ' these birds were more than usually plentiful at Hickling 

 in the following spring, and from this locality alone about five dozen egg's 

 were procured b\' one individual, n(jminall\' a collector, but in reality a dealer, 

 who thus for the sake of a few shillings would go far towards extirminating' 

 this beautiful species.' Old birds in some numbers were also killed at the time. 

 It will be a sad pity if eventually this beautiful creature should be lost to us. 

 It is a positive delight \.o watch a flock of these elegant birds flying in 

 company from one reed-clump to another, or creeping mouse-like up and 

 down the reeds, their bright rufous plumage contrasting sharply with the 

 green lanceolate Icjives, meantime uttering their clear nietalic pi'iif .' f>ing ! 

 a call note which, once heard, can never be confounded with any other.' The 

 following figures relating to the estimated number of nests in different years 

 tell their own story- — In 1848, 170; 1858, 140; 1868, 125; 1878, 90 ; 1888, 45 ; 

 1898, 33. \.y\<\ yet there are some who speak of the uselessness of the Wild 

 Birds' Protection Act ! The notes on the Bearded Tit are illustrated by a 

 charming colrjured plate, which the publishers have kindly enableii us to 

 reproduce (pl;itc 11.). We have pai-licular |)leasure in doing so, ])artly 

 because it gives our readers an idea of the nature of the twelve illustrations, 

 which are from drawings bv Mr. F. Southgate, and partly because the 

 Bearded Tit was recc^rded in these columns some little time ago as occurring 

 at Hornsea Mere a record we sliouki v<-r\' nuuli like repe.iting. 



Naturalist, 



