NOTES AND QUERIES. 
2CI 
sorts of good things we shall probably soon have an oecumenical synod of ladies to 
protect the birds from “slaughter in masses for purpose of fashion.” They may 
have a section for dealing with the slaughter of pigeons in masses by their husbands, 
lovers, brothers, and cousins, which is as much done in the service of “ fashion ” 
as the slaughter of birds for bonnets . — Pall Mall Gazette , September 30th. 
The Great Skua. — There is now on view in a shop window in Kirkwall 
four eggs of the great skua, a bird of peculiar habits and now almost extinct in 
Britain. Indeed its only known nesting place is the remote Island of Foula, Shet- 
land. So ruthlessly is the bird pursued for its now valuable eggs that last year 
out of about twelve nesting pairs only two eggs were hatched. A tourist when 
visiting Foula Island this year paid £40 for one egg . — Pall Mall Gazette. 
NATURAL HISTORY NOTES AND QUERIES. 
Date of Departure of Swifts. — Mr. John R. Eldridge, Epsom, writes: 
Th is year the swifts are staying with us much later than usual, as I observed 
seven or eight flying high overhead here this morning, the usual date of their 
departure, as I have hitherto noticed, being about the 22nd August ; and the date 
given by White, in his ‘ Natural History of Selborne,’ being the 20th. Several 
pairs have nested under the tiles of two of the houses in this road. It would 
be interesting to know whether any of your other correspondents have noted and 
can explain the reason of their prolonged stay. Is it possible that the boisterous 
weather has caused them to delay their journey across the Channel, or has their 
insect food been more abundant than usual and they are staying to devour it, 
although the coldness of the atmosphere would seem to be against this theory ? ” 
Having sent this query to Mr. Aubrey Edwards, of Orleton, probably the 
highest authority on the subject, we received the following reply : — 
“ The explanation is simple enough. The swifts come over here solely for the 
purpose of breeding, and as soon as the young are ready to fly they return to 
Africa. The weather and the food question have only an indirect influence on 
their movements. A fine season means early departure, because nidification goes 
on quickly and without interruption. Bad weather means a late departure, 
because it may mean a late arrival, late nesting, scarcity of food, and consequent 
slow growth of the young ones. The better the young ones are fed the sooner 
are they able to fly, and it must be remembered that as soon as they can fly they 
fly away. The swifts have been staying late this year simply because the young 
ones have not been ready at the usual time. Here their usual time of departure 
is August Iith, but ten days later there were still a dozen or more, and on 
August 30th I saw one. The swallows and martins have two broods, and there- 
fore have to stay later. They are not in such a hurry to be off as the swifts. 
The first broods have to wait for the old ones to show them the way, and they 
all go away together except a few belatpd ones. But when a family of swifts is 
ready it goes whether others are ready or not. My three-egg swift again laid 
her full number this year, but only one was fertile. Last year she only laid two, 
but had three in 1888 and 1889.” 
Alpine Plants from Seed.— The Rev. Wm. B. Moyes, The Manse, 
Strathblane, near Glasgow, writes : — “ I am trying to raise a collection of the 
above, and have to some extent succeeded. But there arc many specimens men- 
tioned in Robinson’s A /pine Plants which I cannot obtain seed of from the 
ordinary growers, such as Sutton and Sons. I wiite in the hope that you may be 
able to give the name of some seedsman or collectors from whom I might obtain 
seed of those of the above which can be raised in that way.” 
[Perhaps some of our readers can, from their own experience, answer Mr. 
Moyes’s question. If so, will they kindly write to him direct? — Ed. N.N.] 
