138 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



practically no cherries, except a few which were not ripe, could 

 be saved for the table, the trees being too large to net. In 

 addition to Starlings, Blackbirds and Jays, the young of which 

 are now as big as their parents, and if possible more greedy, 

 help in the despoiling of the crop, also a few Thrushes ; but these 

 latter are not such fruit-eaters as the Blackbirds, and should 

 not be destroyed. Norfolk farmers have long had a grudge 

 against the Starling for grubbing up the autumn- sown wheat, 

 which it begins to do as soon as the blade is two inches high, 

 sometimes for the sake of the germinating grain, sometimes for 

 the wireworm or other grub to be found at it's roots ; but in 

 either case the young corn shrivels and turns yellow. Their 

 diggings are from three to twelve inches long, or even to twenty- 

 four, and are always where the drills run. Besides these 

 iniquities, Starlings also take a great deal of hard corn which is 

 put down for tame Pheasants, both at the coops and afterwards. 

 At the same time we must not paint the Starling blacker than 

 he really is, for he eats insects, as numerous dissections have 

 proved. The researches of Mr. J. Hammond, Mr. W. E. Collinge, 

 Mr. E. Newstead, Mr. J. E. Kelso, and Miss L. Florence have 

 established beyond question that insects may be considered as 

 the Starling's staple food for more than half the year.* 



8th. — A Hooded Crow was seen yesterday near Yarmouth by 

 Mr. Chasen. The breeding of this species in Norfolk, although 

 often suspected, cannot be said to have been proved up to the 

 present. 



12th. — Three young Tawny Owls observed by the gardener 

 near an " Owl- tub " at Northrepps, doubtless a family party. I 

 believe there have always been one pair in this wood, except when 

 the vindictiveness of game-preserving, or an accident — such as 

 getting down a chimney— has spoilt it. Wherever they are they 

 soon make their presence known ; noticeable also is the con- 

 stancy with which they cling to a suitable locality. In May Mr. 

 C. B. Ticehurst saw a party of six young Tawny Owls at Elling- 

 ham, very unusual if they all belonged to one brood. I have 



* In Australia, especially in South Australia and Victoria, where the 

 Starling was introduced, it is now looked upon with great disfavour (see 

 'Nature Notes,' May, 1905, and 'The Field,' October 1st, 1910), although 

 doubtless it eats insects there also. 



