2952 Birds. 



parallel passage, St. Luke, xii. 6. For such reasons, then, I gladly join in earnestly 

 intreating all lovers of nature henceforward not to practise or encourage the indiscri- 

 minate and unnecessary destruction of our rare feathered visitors, hut on the contrary 

 to use their best exertions to protect them ; and possibly the resnlt may be, that here- 

 after such birds as the golden oriole, the waxwing, and the hoopoe, now aliens (and 

 treated as the bitterest enemies), may become denizens of the shrubberies, orchards 

 and woods of England, a consummation, it will surely be acknowledged, devoutly to 

 be wished. — Arthur Hussey ; Rottingdean, August 30, 1850. 



On the Cruelty of Swallow Shooting. — I am anxious, through the pages of the 

 ' Zoologist,' to say a few words in reprobation of that wanton and barbarous amuse- 

 ment of swallow shooting, which is followed by some sportsmen (?) during the summer 

 months. The destruction of these useful and very interesting birds answers no one 

 good purpose, and can only be looked upon in the light of wanton barbarity. It has 

 not even the excuse of being a good practice for other kinds of shooting, as a good 

 shot at a swallow may be a very bad one at game. By simply waiting until the bird 

 takes its turn in the air, at which time it is poised on its wings and almost montionless 

 (this is more particularly the habit of the martin), it requires no more art than is re- 

 quired to shoot a sparrow from a house-top. It ought to be remembered by these de- 

 stroyers, that the cruelty is much increased by the fact that at this period the swallows 

 have their young to provide for, and the destruction of the old birds of course involves 

 that of their young also. This reflection alone ought to prevent the least considerate 

 from pursuing this inhuman sport. There is something cheering and poetical in the 

 very appearance of these birds. They are harbingers of spring, reminding us that the 

 winter is gone, and that the joyous summer time is coming. To the lover of nature 

 the song of the swallow, the twitter of the martin, and the scream of the swift give the 

 most agreeable sensations ; and if it were in my power to convey to the mind of the 

 swallow-shooter (I will not say sportsman) the delight many experience from hearing 

 their notes and watching their manners, he would not only speedily abandon his pur- 

 suit, but be surprised how he could have taken pleasure in so cruel an amusement. 

 Mr. White, in speaking of the Hirundines says, not more truly than eloquently, "They 

 touch no fruit in our gardens ; delight, all except one species, in attaching themselves 

 to our houses; amuse us with their migrations, songs, and marvellous agility; and 

 clear our outlets from the annoyances of gnats and other troublesome insects." I was 

 led into this train of thought by witnessing, a few days since, at the ferry at Twicken- 

 ham, two gentlemen enter a boat with their double barrels, and in as complete sport- 

 ing costume as if they meditated a sporting campaign on a Norwegian fiord. I asked 

 a boatman standing near what the gentlemen were going to shoot, and I give his an- 

 swer verbatim, — " Swallows, sir, the cruellest sport there is." — R. Wakefield ; Lower 

 Clapton, August 21, 1850. 



Occurrence of the Hobby (Falco subbuteo) at Lewes and Worthing, Sussex. — A 

 beautiful adult female specimen of the hobby was captured in a bird-catcher's net 

 near this town in September last, and is now in my possession. Another male speci- 

 men, obtained in a similar manner at Worthing, also came into my possession at the 

 same time. — J. B. Ellman; Lewes, October 18, 1850. 



Occurrence of the Kite (Falco milvus) near Market Weighton. — This bird was shot 

 by the Earl of Londesbrough's keeper, on his lordship's estate, near Market Weighton, 

 on tie 5th of July last, and is now in the collection of Mr. Sedgwick of Borobridge : 

 it is a female. — James C. Garth ; Knaresborowjh, October ]4th, 1850. 



