76 THE ZOOLOGIST. 
small birds—Chaffinches, Green Linnets, and Yellowhammers—as 
usual, disappeared this autumn. I believe they began leaving in 
August, for on Sept. 1st no Chaffinches were about this place, and by 
Oct. 1st none of these species were to be seen anywhere about the 
district. It was not until Nov. 12th that any of the strangers put in 
an appearance here, when I observed about thirty birds in one of my 
fields; but no doubt the large migratory flocks had arrived inland 
some time previously, because for some days or weeks after their 
arrival they keep flocked together before dispersing over the country, 
and replacing the home-bred birds in the usual haunts. In the last 
week of November I noticed that the strangers had assembled in 
numbers about the stubbles and stackyard here, and about eight or 
ten days later I remarked that all through the district the birds had 
settled down, Chaffinches being especially numerous. With regard 
to the swimming birds and waders, Curlews did not appear to be as 
numerous as last season, and the Lapwings far less; while Golden 
Plover occasionally appeared in very large numbers, quite as numerous 
as last season. Wigeon appeared in their usual numbers, and during 
the few nights’ frost the first week of the New Year very large num- 
bers assembled in the estuary. But the Wild Ducks did not leave 
their inland haunts ; very few were down, because the frost was not 
severe enough to drive them from the bogs and lakes. On only two 
nights was the mercury down to twenty-five degrees, and unless there 
are at least ten degrees of frost very few Mallards come down to the 
estuary.— RoBERT WARREN (Moy View, Ballina). 
Wood-Pigeon Diphtheria.—Much public interest has been shown 
lately in the disease of which Wood-Pigeons have been dying so 
freely this winter. The subject is of considerable scientific interest ; 
moreover, it is quite possible, although it has not yet been absolutely 
proved, that this disease, which is most infectious amongst Wood- 
Pigeons themselves, may also be contracted by other birds, especially 
game-birds. It is of great importance, therefore, to find a means of 
stamping out the diphtheria. Before, however, any effective means 
can be taken to eradicate the disease it is necessary to discover its 
origin. To the January issue of ‘ British Birds’ Dr. C. B. Ticehurst, 
of Guy’s Hospital, contributed an article on the subject of Wood- 
Pigeon diphtheria, and explained that it was due to a specific micro- 
organism called Bacillus diptherie columbarum. At the same time 
Dr. Ticehurst pointed out that the etiology of the disease is most 
incomplete, and that much has to be learnt as to how it originates, 
when it comes, and as to its distribution before we can suggest a 
