204. A FEW WORDS ON FEN-LAND. 



(^Machetes pugnax), and has ceased to eat his Sunday Bittern QBotaurtis 

 steUaris~)—didds that, alas ! the three Harriers are now no more, that the 

 hurried twittering of the Sedge-bird (Salicaria phragmitis), the reeUng note 

 of the Grasshopper-Warbler (Acrocephaks ncevius), and the harsher melody 

 of the Reed-Sparrow (^Emheriza schoeniculus) have given place to other 

 sounds. 



These, with that pretty little bird of disputed affinity, Panurus 

 biarmicus* (^once so common at "Whittlesea Mere), are gone; and the 

 habitat of many a strange fen-fowl has ceased to be. 



Too Ions: would it take me to enumerate all the losses we have 

 sustained : Mr. Stevenson well describes them, and winds up with the bold 

 and honest declaration that the modern condition of the fen district is, to 

 the ornithologist fond of ancient memories, almost the " abomination of 

 desolation." 



With the vanished fens various kinds of English shooting will soon 

 have disappeared, and the remark of Thompson ('Birds of Ireland,' 1850, 

 p. 273) that "in many parts of England Snipe-shooting is still obtainable" 

 will not apply ; there was, however, some fun in the observation at that 

 period. At this time the bird is found in non-natural places : thus, in 

 November 1869, Lord Lansdowne picked up one on the Esplanade of the 

 Horse-Guards, under a lamp (c/". ' Land and Water,' Jan. 5, 1878) ; also a 

 full Snipe was shot at Oulton Park, Tarporley, November 10, while running 

 about the slate roof of a building, apparently probing the eaves with its bill 

 in search of food (cf. 'Field,' Nov. 20, 1875). 



* Wtat I believe to be the last Huntingdonshire bird (a male) of this species (shot 

 at Eynesbuiy, November 1866) is now in my collection — a sad reminiscence ! 



