86 
MEMOIR OF THE LATE JOHN SCALES. 
breast being perfectly bare. iS^ot being in plumage and [I] not 
being well I did not perform upon lier. I Avould not let the male 
bird be shot, though I saw him and heard the young ones repeatedly 
afterwards. . . . This is the hrst time I ever have known 
them to breed in this country . , . and shall like to hear your 
opinion on the subject. William Elwes’s servant ■when I called 
him to see the bird, said directly that there was a nest there this 
year. ’ Nine days later he writes : — “ Since I wrote to you last I 
have seen a great many Crossbills in cages for sale, and was 
informed by a mechanic that there were a great many taken a little 
time since on Claverton Downs, which I think is near Bath.” In 
anticipation of his return to Norfolk he adds : — “ I expect to see 
some great performances of the ornithologist when I draAV over to 
the Babbit AVarren ; ” and no doubt at this time Scales was busily 
occupied V'itli his collection of mounted birdskins and of eggs.*^ 
Another letter from Hamond, again ar Cheltenham, in which he 
describes himself as having just undergone a painful operation, and 
still being a pitiable invalid, seems from internal evideneef to have 
been written in 1823. In it he says : — “ I was about to visit a 
brother ornithologist in Northumberland who is now undertaking 
a most magnificent work on British birds, wdiich will be published 
speedily : and may be had by subscribers only. If you are about 
to visit London, you may see it at Hurst and Bobinson’s, Cheapside. 
I have been amusing myself these last three days in purchasing 
books opposite my lodgings where I can laij and bid ns there is 
an auction every day. Amongst a lot I yesterday purchased are the 
* Among the other letters belonging to this period is one signed B. Corbet, 
and dated G3 Piccadilly, Dec. I7th, 1821, the writer being evidently a bird- 
stuffer and egg-dealer in London, and naively stating, “ the Bustards arc the 
best birds you could send me,” but adding, “ I hate presents, I always consider 
them as baits.” 
Another letter to Scales from a Mr. John Cooper of Bungay (Dec. 25thj 
1821), refers to a collection of eggs sent to the writer, Avho was so sanguine 
as to suppose himself the possessor of a Jack Snipe’s egg, which, in return, 
he sent for inspection. Mr. Southwell has kindly ascertained for me, from 
Mr. Hartcup, before mentioned, who Avas an intimate friend and one of the 
executors of Mr. Cooper, that among his papers there are unfortunately 
hone of Scales’s letters. 
t Cf. Trans. Norfolk and Norwich Nat. Soc. ii. p. 400. 
