464 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



Every time the Skua came down on to the Gull the former 

 dropped its legs, and we could see them extended on each side of 

 its tail. So far as I could see, it struck with its feet or foot; and 

 it struck with effect, for several times it made small light feathers 

 fly. The poor Gull screamed, and met each swoop by dropping 

 its tail and bending up its neck and head backwards, so as to 

 direct its beak upwards, at the same time opening its beak wide 

 and threateningly. Either the Gull had nothing to give up, or 

 was very obstinate, but the Skua took nothing, and just as two 

 or three other Gulls came up, it made off, flying low over the 

 water, and looking, with its long pointed wings, just like a black 

 pirate. At 8 p.m., as we approached Sandnesoen, near the big 

 island of Donno, eleven Grey-lag Geese flew past us. On the 

 26th, outside the Trondhjem fjord, we saw a Red-throated Diver, 

 and a good many Oystercatchers, whose shrill, rapid, rattling 

 cries often attract attention when the steamer passes close to the 

 low rocky islets so common along this coast. 



Correction. — In justice to Norwegian railways, I may state 

 that "morning" (p. 422, third line from the bottom) should be 

 "evening." 



NOTES AND QUERIES. 



MAMMALIA. 



The Alleged Cruelty of Stag-hunting.— The following letter has 

 been sent to the Marquess of Salisbury : — 



" My Lord Marquess, — In view of the strong objections which have 

 now for several years been finding utterance privately and publicly against 

 the continuance of tame Deer hunting by her Majesty's Buckhounds, we, 

 the undersigned, hereby express our deep regret to learn that another 

 season's sport has been inaugurated. There is little need to point out the 

 unworthy nature of the park Stag hunt, for it has been repeatedly shown 

 that the sport involves unfair treatment of the quarry and merciless riding 

 of horses in the effort to save the Deer for another day. We think that 

 such a pastime is the reverse of creditable to those who indulge in it, and 

 that it is calculated to check the growth of humane feeling in all who 

 witness it, particularly the young. If the sport were carried on by a private 

 pack it would exercise this influence ; much more then must this be the 

 effect of the sport when it is conducted in the Queen's name, and at the 



