154 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



Pigeons were and are unusually abundant ; last summer in the 

 meadows, before the hay-making, they were in large numbers foraging 

 for the grass seeds, and since that time they have increased, but not 

 in the neighbourhood of the Forest to such an enormous extent as 

 they have in many other localities — as Essex and Isle of Wight. 

 This may be owing to a comparative scarcity of both acorns and 

 beech mast, for last season, I am told, was unfavourable for fruitage 

 of both oak and beech, consequently the birds are taking toll of the 

 farmer's greenstuff — clover, turnip-tops, &c. — and it seems almost 

 incredible the quantity of this kind of food a single Pigeon can pack 

 into its crop — it must be seen to be believed. Characteristically 

 wary and from density pf feathering hard to shoot, yet by means of 

 a stuffed decoy very fair "bags" have been made in the open fields 

 if the sportsman could secure enough shelter, but one man told me 

 you have to be quick. The best time to shoot them is after sun- 

 set, when, having had their fill, they come to the woods to roost. 

 A farmer told me that one evening he stood at the corner of a 

 wood near a brook and shot thirty Pigeons in little more than half 

 an hour. I have not heard of any disease of throat, beak, or feet 

 amongst our present visitors, as was the case some few seasons ago, 

 when I saw many specimens whose feet were quite deformed with 

 the malady. 



Otters. — The annual visit of the Otter hounds to this neighbour- 

 hood last season was not very successful, although from time to time 

 I heard of Otters and their workings in different parts of the Valley 

 of the Avon, where the river is too deep and broad for hunting. 

 Situated near a residence is a rather large fish-pond, enclosed with 

 wire-netting to prevent Foxes making too close acquaintance with 

 the several species of " ornamental " ducks that find a home on the 

 water ; on two sides is a small wood with undergrowth of bushes. 

 For some time it had been noticed that the fish were decreasing in 

 numbers without any apparent cause ; thieves and marauders of all 

 kinds were repudiated, but eventually a burrow was discovered 

 underneath the protecting wire, and a fine dog Otter, weighing 231b., 

 was caught — no fish have since been missed. Another dog Otter of 

 20 lb. was shot by a party who were " cripple-hunting " after a day's 

 shooting, and this fellow was disporting itself in the water, in the 

 noontide sun, in a very lively and frolicsome fashion when it was 

 killed, possibly it had a mate near which was unobserved. In 

 another locality farther down the stream I understand a " holt " was 

 discovered containing two cubs which were taken and are being 



