148 



Northern News. 



It would most probably die. That they meant to kill it 

 is certain, and had not my presence, or something else, disturbed 

 them, they would have done it. What it had done I cannot say. 

 It might persistently have stolen twigs from the nests of other 

 birds — a dire offence w^ith rooks— or, perhaps, got at their 

 eggs. Some flagrant breach of rook-law had, doubtless, been 

 committed, and, after trial by a jury of its fellows, it had been 

 condemned to death. It was a remarkable scene, and from 

 the conclave of birds assembled to witness the execution, 

 and their complete and orderly silence, the proceeding had 

 something distinctly impressive about it. Doubtless this 

 tragedy has been witnessed by others, but I should imagine 

 by very few. Mr. W. Warde Fowler in his ' Tales of the Birds,' 

 recounts a similar incident, and, though it is told as a tale, 

 no doubt he either witnessed it himself, or had it from some 

 good and credible source. 



The fact of this tragedy having been seen by others, and 

 not being an isolated case, renders it more interesting, as it 

 points to a high state of established order, and even morality, 

 in the lives of these interesting birds and their dealings one with 

 another. 







Mr. Horace B. Woodward, F.R.S., assistant Director of the Geological 

 Survey of England and Wales, retired from public service on December 

 31st last. We trust that he may long be spared to enjoy his rest from 

 official duties, though doubtless he will still find much to occupy his time . 



We learn from ' Nature ' that Mr. Silva White, the Assistant Secretary 

 of the British Association, has resigned. At a recent meeting of the Council 

 cordial thanks were expressed to Mr. White, ' but it was resolved that the 

 Assistant Secretary should not be a member of the Council ; and as this 

 was the chief condition under which he would continue in office, his resip^na- 

 tion was accepted.' 



' The Yorkshire Herald ' for February ist, has three columns devoted 

 to ' A Yorkshire Naturalist — Mr. William Hewett and his work, who has 

 collected nearly 40,000 specimens.' It is illustrated by sketches of Mr. 

 Hewett, Sabine's Gull, Puffin, and ' Hewett's swing.' The last is not 

 prophetic, but is from a photograph of Mr. Hewett in mid-air at Buckton,, 

 collecting eggs of Guillemot, Razorbill and Puffin. We learn that the 

 British Museum ' take second place ' with regard to Guillemot eggs, Mr. 

 Hewett's being the finest collection in the world. He also is said to 

 possess a complete collection of British land, marine, and fresh-water 

 shells. In an examination recently on ' Evolution,' Mr. Hewett wrote 

 twenty-three sheets of foolscap in three hours. He has a certificate for 

 shorthand, knows French, and has recently been asked for a summary of 

 his life's work by an American publishing firm. We also learn that the 

 Rev. T. B. B. Ferris, M.A., formerly vicar of St. Thomas's, York, said, in a 

 letter to the ' Herald,' dated April 27th, 1882, ' Mr. Hewett, a most 

 enthusiastic naturalist.' Those who know Mr. Hewett will agree with 

 tliis ; those who don't, won't recognise him again from the " protrait " 

 given in the ' Herald.' 



Natural istj 



