NOTES AND QUERIES. 155 



met on the "prowl" will receive the warm welcome of a prosecution for 

 trespass and law-breaking. — Kobert Warren (Moy View, Ballina). 



Birds killed by Ticks. — In reference to the note on the above 

 subject by Mr. W. S. M. D'Urban (ante, p. 108), I may state the 

 following experience. On April 19th, 1884, during a voyage to 

 Calcutta, and while in the Red Sea — one day out from the Suez Canal, 

 I shot on the deck either a White Wagtail (Motacilla alba) or a very 

 nearly allied species. The Wagtail had several brownish-grey Ticks 

 adhering to its head in the neighbourhood of the eyes, but the eyes 

 themselves were uninjured. The bird was obviously ill, much ex- 

 hausted, and in wretched plumage. I did not preserve its skin, which 

 I now regret. — J. E. H. Kelso (Chesterfield, Elm Grove, Southsea). 



The Birds and other Animals of Thetford Warren. — An article on 

 Thetford Warren (ante, p. 100) in some particulars seems so unfair to 

 my friend Mr. W. Dalziel Mackenzie, the owner of this warren and the 

 adjoining property, that I cannot help asking you to kindly insert this 

 letter. At pages 102-3 Mr. Clarke remarks : " A somewhat similar 

 attempt was made in 1885 to acclimatize Black Grouse, but the half- 

 dozen turned out in the autumn did not survive the winter." This 

 statement is inaccurate, as not only in 1885, but for many years after, 

 Mr. Mackenzie spared no expense in turning down Black Game, " not 

 half a dozen in the autumn," but upwards of twenty in a single season ; 

 not only did they " survive the winter," but many winters, and several 

 nests were hatched off, although it seems doubtful if any young arrived 

 at maturity. When covert-shooting on this estate I have often seen 

 half a dozen in the day. In May, 1896, 1 flushed thirteen hens in one 

 small flock. During the last few years the numbers have decreased in 

 spite of fresh birds having been turned down almost every season (I 

 believe the last in 1900). After this very exhaustive experiment it 

 seems useless to continue. 



On p. 103 your contributor remarks : " Lapwings have decreased 

 in numbers of late years, chiefly owing to those who consider their 

 eggs a delicacy, and so make collecting profitable." This statement 

 might be taken to imply that my friend allows the eggs to be collected. 

 This is not the case. No Plovers' eggs have been taken on the Thet- 

 ford property for many years with the sanction or knowledge of the 

 owner, and any keeper found molesting these birds would be instantly 

 dismissed. No doubt the Green Plover has decreased in numbers 

 during the last few years, but not from this cause. The Norfolk 

 Plover has increased, thanks to efficient protection during the breeding 

 season ; in fact, every interesting bird can find a haven of refuge on 



