n8 
Vertebrate Zoology. 
changes and it was impossible to forecast the future trend . He anticipated 
some changes for the better in the purification of rivers and the 
establishing of further sanctuaries. 
Mr. H. B. Booth next read a paper entitled ‘ The Great Crested 
Grebe Census and Enquiry of 1931 : The Yorkshire Area.’ The pamper 
dealt exhaustively with the status of the species in the county and 
will be of great value to ornithologists in the future. It is reprinted 
elsewhere in The Naturalist . 
At the evening meeting, Mr. K. Chislett read a paper entitled ‘ Recent 
Birdwork in Lapland and in the English and Dutch Marshes.’ The 
lecturer first showed photographs of the desolate wastes of Lapland 
interspersed with meres and rising through forest land to snow-covered 
mountains in the distance. The bird life was thinly scattered over a 
vast area, but the possibility of discovering a rare species more than 
compensated for the hard work involved in discovering nests. 
The Willow-grouse, Mealy Redbill, Redwing and Fieldface were 
first dealt with and the lecturer described the finding of a nesting colony 
of the latter in forests trees growing on a steep slope. Here and elsewhere 
that beautiful songster and mimic, the Blue-Throated Warbler, was 
fairly plentiful. In the swampy regions the Broad -Billed and Wood 
Sandpiper were found and photographed and the lecturer was also so 
fortunate as to find the nests of the Jack Snipe. In the mountains the 
Dotterel and Scandinavian Ptarmigan were found. 
The lecturer then described his experiences in Holland and showed 
photographs of the Gargancy Teal, Black -tailed Godwit and Bittern. 
The latter nest contained two young, one much older than the other. 
The feeding process of the nest was well illustrated, the beak of the 
adult being grasped by one of the young birds when a milky fluid was 
exuded. The adult then regurgitated a large fish, the head of which, 
having been swallowed first, was partially digested. The young pecked 
away at the softened parts after which the adult once more swallowed 
the fish and left the nest. Later she returned and repeated the process, 
digestion having proceeded further in the interval : this process was 
repeated a third time. When an eel is caught it generally contrives 
to coil itself around the neck and to make the plumage slimy, the bird 
then uses the powder down as a means of cleansing her plumage. 
Photographs were shown of the Marsh Harrier nesting in Holland 
where the species is plentiful, and these were followed by a series taken in 
Norfolk. Waterhens appeared to be the main article of food at the 
nest. Montague’s Harrier was next described and illustrated by photo- 
graphs taken on a wide semi-marshy common in Norfolk. The ‘pass’ 
or transference of food from the cock to the hen in flight was described 
and frogs, larks and plover were brought to the nest. The lecturer 
was remarkable both for the excellence of the photographs and the rarity 
of the subjects shown. 
Mr. Jefferson read a paper entitled ‘ A Duncombe Park Avian Quartet,’ 
in which he dealt with the Wood Wren, Nuthatch, Redstart and Pied 
Flycatcher. 
A large number of nests of the Wood Wren were examined before one 
was found that offered any scope for successful photography and this was 
built in a small clearing. The birds were very tame and gave the photo- 
grapher little chance as they dived into the nest, until a leaf was placed 
over the young, when a photograph was obtained of the hesitant bird. 
The food was obtained from the leafy foliage of the tree tops and consisted 
of caterpillars and wing'ed insects. 
The Nuthatch appeared to combine the athletic abilities of the 
Woodpecker, Tree Creeper and Titmice ; it seemed especially at home 
searching the bark of trees in all possible positions or clinging to the 
leafy tips of branches when hunting for caterpillars. It does not use the 
tail as a prop but relies entirely on the grip obtained with its strong 
The Naturalist 
