MISCELLANEOUS NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS. 
581 
the list quoted in the paragraph referred to under date of 21st 
December, 1811, and the number of Martens is given as three not 
forty-three, the other numbers quoted are quite correct. In reply 
to some doubts expressed by Mr. Harting as to the correctness of 
the number of forty-three (‘Zoologist,’ 1891, p. 455,) I ventured to 
prefer a local contemporaneous record to one published by Daniel 
‘ Rural Sports ’ (Supplement p. 585) two years after, especially as 
out of three records no two agree (see ‘Zoologist,’ 1892, p. 20), but 
at the same time expressed the opinion that “ the smaller the 
number the more likely it was to be correct,” which has proved to 
be the case. — T. Southwell. 
Sticklebacks as Manure. — In the ‘General View of the 
Agriculture of the County of Norfolk,’ by Arthur Young (1804 
but referring to a period before 1802), the author writes as follows : 
“These little fish, which are caught in immense quantities in the Lynn 
rivers about once in seven years, have been bought as high as 8d. 
a bushel. The favourite way of using them now, is by mixing with 
mould and carrying on for turnips. Great quantities have been 
carried to Marham, Shouldham, and Beacbamwell. Mr. Fuller 
there, is reported to have laid out .£400 for them in one year, they 
always answer exceedingly. Mr. Rogerson, of Narborough, has gone 
largely into this husbandry, laying out £300 in one year, at from 
Od. to 8d. a bushel, besides carriage from Lynn ; he formed them 
into composts with mould mixed well by turning over, and carried 
on for turnips : the success very great.” — T. Southwell. 
Rooks and Owls in Agriculture. — The following testimony as 
to the value of these birds to agriculturalists is to be found in 
Arthur Young’s, ‘ General View of the Agriculture of the County of 
Norfolk ’ (1804), p. 531 [Quoted from ‘ Marshall’s Rural Economy of 
Norfolk’ (1787), vol. i. p. 1 7 1 J. Rooks. “Seldom attempted to 
be shot in East Norfolk, where a notion prevails, and is, perhaps, 
well founded, that Rooks are essentially useful to the farmer, in 
picking up worms and grubs, especially the grub of the Cockchafer, 
[which, it is believed, is (in the original)] injurious to meadows and 
marshes. — Mr. Marshall. Confirmed in the following note by Mr. 
Johnson of Thurning : ‘I cannot but notice two growing evils 
with us, of which but little notice is taken : — 1st, the number of 
insects in the lands, owing to the loss of Rooks, by felling so manv 
rookeries, and not taking care of what are left ; 2nd the increase of 
mice, and, were I to give my opinion as to quantity and damage 
