118 
SiEMOiR OF THE LATE JOHN SCALES. 
Mat G. 1856. 
. . . I thought I had a tolerable collection, and so I had . . . but it 
now shrinks into insignificance by the side of . . . Mr. Salmon’s, who, 
I may say, took up the study and pursuit from me.* . . . 
. . . I fear the Stone-Curlews will become very scarce birds, at least upon 
the warrens. . . . When I used to collect their eggs I invariably found 
only two eggs, and one of them more blunt, obtuse, or oblong than the 
other. ... I never knew an instance of the Woodlark breeding in 
Norfolk, neither did I ever see one, at least in our part of the county. It 
is possible it might be in the more woody and enclosed parts, and I have 
heard my father (who was a great observer of birds, from having had a 
beautiful collection when resident in London) say that the Woodlark was 
plentiful around London, but was not found so far north as Norfolk, therefore 
I am inclined to think with you that it is a new comer, and I can also bear 
out your observation as to its being extremely local in other counties. I was 
resident for two years near Eoss in Herefordshire where it was more abundant 
than the Skylark, and during the winter months I have repeatedly seen it 
running about in the sheepfolds. I also saw it in Monmouthshire, but not 
anything so plentiful, and more local. I also saw, at dififerent times and 
places, both in Herefordshire and Monmouthshire three or four of the Little 
Spotted Woodpecker. ... I was greatly startled when I first heard his 
note (about this time of the year) being new to me, and it was a long time 
before I could get a sight of the little fellow who was up among the higher 
branches ; but I never was able to procure a nest at that time, although I 
have a specimen found in Norfolk many years previous. ... I am much 
surprised at my name having been introduced by Mr. Yarrell in his history 
of the Einged Plover, as I do not recollect having had any correspondence 
with him until last year I was acquainted many years ago with the 
Eev. W. Whitear of Starston near Harleston, who at that time had a fine 
collection of British Birds’ eggs, and contributed some to me, and it was 
probably to him, when he was on a visit to my father, that I communicated 
the circumstance of their [Einged Plovers] breeding on our warren.f 
November 10, 1858. 
When I was in Paris in 1816 or 1817 I was introduced to all the principal 
professors of Natural History at the Jardin des Plantes, amongst whom was 
Slonsr. Lufresne, who had a very fine collection of eggs, amongst which he 
had two or three of the Great Auk, which (if I recollect correctly) he said 
* Salmon in a letter dated 16th of August, 1834, inserted in the first 
volume of his Diary and addressed to Lubbock saj^s ; — “ The only collection of 
eggs I have ever seen which I consider the best for a public museum is 
Mr. Scales’ and I should most certainly recommend the adoption of a very 
similar plan” in the Norwich Museum. — A.N. 
t See Sheppard and Whitear’s ‘Catalogue of Norfolk and Suffolk Birds’ 
(Trans. Linn. Soo. vol. xv. p. 37).— A.N. 
