Notes of British Association Papers. 



59' 



favourably situated for the observations of the ornithologist. Its 

 diversity of aspect, rich woodland scenery, and extensive fresh-water 

 reservoirs, together with the deep naturally excavated brooks of its 

 vicinity, afford that variety which assured the student of this branch 

 of natural history a rich field for cultivation. Though no large 

 river flows through the centre of this extensive district, the Don being 

 on its outskirt, art has supplied canals, fresh-water reservoirs, and 

 sheets of ornamental water in the parks, which afford food and pro- 

 tection to the water birds, and by that means they add both to the 

 beauty and liveliness of the landscape. Since Dr. Farrar's time yet 

 more extensive reservoirs have been constructed to supply the 

 Barnsley Corporation Works at Ingbirchworthi, the Dewsbury and 

 Sheffield Works at Broadstone, Dunford, and the Rivelin Valley, 

 which have furnished many instances of rare birds visiting their scenes. 

 Some breed there, and more may be tempted, as very fair protection 

 against destroying gunners is afforded. The following are among the 

 birds that breed in the district : — Falcons, 7 varieties ; owls, 4 ; 

 shrikes, 2 ; fly-catchers, 2 ; thrushes, 4 ; warblers, 18 ; tit-mice, 6 ; 

 wagtails, 3 ; larks, 2 ; pipits, 2 ; woodpeckers, 4 ; creepers, 3 ; cuckoo> 

 1 ; kingfisher, 1 ; swallows, 6 ; pigeons, 3 ; pheasant, 1 ; partridge, 1 > 

 grouse, 4 ; plover, 2 ; heron, 1 ; snipes, 7 ; rails or crake, 3 ; swim- 

 mers, 5; goatsucker, 1 ; divers, gulls, 2 ; buntings, 3 ; finches, 11 ; 

 starling, 1 ; crows, 5. Among the birds that bred in the district 

 within living memory, Mr. Lister had observed the stone chat, the 

 wheatear, nightingale (which breeds on all sides of Barnsley), reed 

 warbler, golden crested regulus, cole tit, long-tailed tit, bearded tit, 

 white wagtail, grey wagtail, woodlark, tree sparrow, hawfinch, mountain 

 linnets, mealy redpole, bullfinch, carrion crow, green woodpecker, great 

 spotted woodpecker, lesser spotted woodpecker, wryneck, creeper, nut- 

 hatch, swift, ring-dove, stock-dove, turtle-dove, black-grouse, quail, 

 golden plover, heron, curlew, redshank, teal, pochard, tufted duck, little 

 grebe, black-headed gull, &c. 



Miss Lydia Becker referred to the efforts made by Professor 

 Newton to obtain some legislation for the protection of our indigenous 

 birds, and expressed her regret that the Act was not working so well 

 as might have been desired. 



Mr. H. EiCHARDsoN, York, pointed out that the increase of villas, 

 with plantations, many of them like small parks, would tend to the 

 preservation of our birds. He also thought that the Gun i\.ct, imposing 

 a small license duty on those who carded guns, would be another aid 

 to preservation. 



