NOTES FROM NORTH-WEST IRELAND. 485 



many who are interested in ornithology ; it is the differences in 

 the note, or rather in the tone of the note, of a bird, in different 

 parts of the United Kingdom. I have observed a great difference 

 in this way in the North of Scotland as compared with Worcester- 

 shire, and again between the birds here and in Worcestershire. 

 The difference seems to exist more among the birds that are 

 resident during the year, but of this I cannot be quite sure, as I 

 have not been in the district during the time of year when the 

 Warblers were singing. The difference is most noticeable in 

 the note of the Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Hedge-Sparrow, and 

 Wren. I say note, because it is more in the call-note than in 

 the song, and, I think, more in the Chaffinch than in any of the 

 others ; but in all of them the note seemed to be pitched lower. 

 Probably it is the climate that has some effect, the same way as it 

 does on the human voice ; but it is a point that will take a great 

 deal of clearing up, and I shall be glad to learn the opinion of 

 more observant naturalists than myself. 



Before concluding this article I should like to mention the 

 wholesale destruction of sea-birds that goes on round the north 

 coast of Ireland. 



There is a certain class of people, who come chiefly from the 

 large towns in the north, and who call themselves sportsmen, and 

 whose only idea of sport is to shoot as many sea-birds as possible, 

 and leave the bodies lying with their legs cut off ; the legs, I 

 presume, are kept as trophies. The slaughter is indiscriminate ; 

 even bodies of Black Guillemots have been picked up floating 

 about minus their legs. 



I was told by a native that the destruction of Cormorants had 

 done him a great deal of damage, by the number of sheep he lost 

 over the cliffs. His farm is situated close by a breeding haunt of 

 the Cormorants, and while they breed there the smell is so strong 

 that the sheep will not go down the cliffs. Now this breeding 

 place is destroyed, and, there being no longer any odour, the 

 sheep wander down after food, and are often lost. 



I mention this slaughter in the hope that it may catch the eye 

 of some one who may be able to exert his influence on behalf of 

 the sea-birds. 



