522 president's address. 



to breed (on two of them, Bobinson and Grasmoor, I knew them 

 to do so) ; they were sold at that time of day, at ninepence a 

 piece, and were much in request for dressing trout flies. The 

 last record I have of their being shot on the moor, is on April 

 the 25th, 1857. Mrs. Pape, one of the poulterers who generally 

 had them for sale, tells me, however, that she has had them till 

 six or seven years since, but in gradually decreasing numbers, 

 and that the last were sold at four or five shillings each, for fly 

 dressing. 



On the other hand, some kinds of birds seem to have increased 

 in numbers. My old friend Mr. Bewick used to say, he had to 

 wait twelve years before he could obtain a missel-thrush to 

 engrave from ; now their harsh note is very prominent and uni- 

 versal in our spring choir. 



And about forty years since, the starling was a somewhat un- 

 common bird in this neighbourhood, while at the present day 

 they are only exceeded in number by the sparrow. 



Possibly, the ingenious reason of my friend, Mr. John Han- 

 cock, for the increase of the starling may apply equally to the 

 missel thrush; viz., that the sparrow-hawks, which were great 

 persecutors of the starling, have, like the magpie, been nearly 

 exterminated by gamekeepers, and now their old victims nourish 

 and increase uninterruptedly. 



To resume, however, the proceedings of the day : after seeing 

 the wild cattle and the heronry, the party returned to Chillingham 

 Castle, where tea was provided for them ; and then, after a visit 

 to the adjacent church, they walked to Wooler, and dined and 

 slept at the Bed Lion. 



September 15. — At 9 a.m. they walked to Langley Ford ; 

 some of the members ascending Cheviot, and enjoying the splen- 

 did view which it commands. They returned to the Bed Lion 

 to dinner, drove afterwards to Alnwick, and reached Newcastle 

 at 11.2 p%m. 



October 12. — St. Mary's Island was the last gathering place 

 of the season; about forty members attended; on their way 



