Spoonbills.



65



“Jack” tapping with his beak on the glass of the window to call

us ; and if I look out at night, I see him sleeping on his nest, with

his tail erect, resting against the pane.


Perhaps this little account may interest someone who keeps

a magpie. They may consider whether they should give their bird

freedom, as I do, which must make its life far happier than being in

an aviary, however large. If so, the magpie must be tamed, and have

perfect confidence in its owner first.



SPOONBILLS.


By J. H. Gurney, E.Z.S.


(Reprinted from ‘ The Zoologist.’)


In the opinion of the late Professor Newton, the Spoonbill

was in former days in the fullest sense of the word a native of

England, and there is no reason why it should not become so again.

Accordingly, throughout the summer, protection has been afforded to

any which had the good sense to avail themselves of a sanctuary on

Breydon'mud-flats. One longs for the time when a pair or two of

these splendid birds may again breed at Reedham, where there is a

wood admirably suited to them, in preference to the marshes of

Holland. Mr. S. H. Long, who has recently been in that country,

kindly obtained from the Secretary of the Netherlands Protection

Society some particulars about the laws enforced there, which are

somewhat strict and require to he observed by visitors. It appears

that for many years there have only been two, or at the most three,

carefully watched Spoonbill settlements in Holland, which at the

present time are situated as follows, viz.: one on the Naardermeer,

near Amsterdam, where there were ninety protected pairs of Spoon¬

bills nesting in 1913, and one at Zwanenwater, near Helder, where

about a hundred and fifty pairs were nesting. I learn from Mr. Long

that, by applying in the proper quarter, leave can be obtained to

visit Naardermeer, but Zwanenwater is barred a like to natives and

foreigners. Of the two places, Zwanenwater is slightly the nearest

to Norfolk, its position on the map lying a little to the south-east of

the latitude of Breydon.



