i6 
NATURE NOTES. 
six to fifteen. Five only ventured to write descriptions. The highest number of 
birds on one list was 112 ; the lowest ii ; but it was something for a little boy to 
have so used his eyes and memory, that he knew eleven birds when he saw them. 
Some of the writers failed because they gave too much. Such birds as the osprey, 
mocking bird, and golden eagle were scarcely likely to be found in this neighbour- 
hood in the winter ! Several names were new to me — as chitty-ryne, lingy, 
chivy, siskin, turnstone, knob, scobby yellow youling, snow bird, fieldy, corby, 
apple-pecker, and shivapple. I found, on asking, that the chivy was my old 
friend the chaffinch, and that a water-crow was the water ouzel. The heron 
is called here herotisafe. 
Alston, Cumberland. I. E. Page. 
A New Plea for Sea Gulls. — There is a cliff in Waterford Harbour that is 
much frequented as a breeding place by sea gulls : and which was lately pointed 
out to me by an old pilot, who said that, to his certain knowledge, these birds had 
been, under Providence, the means of saving many lives, by preventing a ship from 
running on the rocks during a fog. One day, he said, in his capacity of pilot, 
he had charge of a large vessel making for the river’s mouth, when a thick fog came 
on, and he could not see his bearings. Suddenly he heard a great flutter of wings 
and screaming of sea gulls, which had been frightened from their nests by the near 
approach of the ship, and thus he knew at once that he must be sailing straight for 
a shore that would have been eertain destruction to the ship, and perhaps to all on 
board. “ And so,” said the old man, “ the birds saved our lives ; as I knew it 
could only be at that one spot where there were so many birds together ; and 
I am sure they have saved many more ships in the same way.” If those who so 
thoughtlessly shoot and destroy these beautiful creatures would realize that they act 
as a “ fog signal ” to ships at sea, perhaps they would not be so free with the use of 
their guns. 
Waterford. Isabella Horne. 
“Wings” up to Date. — I remember, years ago, hearing a song called 
“Wings” — rather a favourite, I think, with ladies. Can you kindly inform me 
whether the subjoined version is correct? I remember that the first line sounded 
very much like that given below; but I am not at all clear about those that 
follow. An Anxious Inquirer. 
Wings, to wear all over. 
From each bird that sings ! 
Wings ! I’d like to cover 
Every part with wings ! 
Wings, like bright birds swimming 
Round my well-poised hat — 
Could you name a trimming 
Tastier than that ? 
Wings to make a border 
For my sweet “ grebe ” muff — 
Wings — I’ve giv’n an order ; 
Will they send enough ? 
Wings to edge the flounces 
Of my smartest dress — 
Wings by pounds, not ounces, 
Please me, I confess. 
Wings to flash and glitter 
Ev’n from top to toe ; — 
What could there be fitter, 
When we’d make a show. 
Wings — I’m told, to get them 
Many birds are slain ; 
If it must be, let them ! 
I don’t feel the pain. 
A Useful Hint. — A young lady writes — “ I am just now seeing a good deal 
of the Bethnal Green Woi^house children, who have their school in Fowell 
Buxton’s old house. The otner day a little blue tit dashed its head against the 
window and was killed. I took it in for thfe boys and girls to see. They all 
begged to have the tiny thing in their hands, and seemed very much interested in 
the beautiful feathers and markings. If one were clever at talking to them, a 
great deal might be done to interest these little London-born children, I think.” 
I think so, too. As much may be done by such simple means, and the use of 
common opportunities, as by the more ambitious and costly efforts of philan- 
thropy. 
Theodore Compton. 
