96 
NATURE NOTES. 
Expensive Pigeon-Shooting. — The Bradford Observer says:— “A 
certain class of sportsmen seem to imagine that by paying for a gun licence they 
become entitled to blaze away at everything that has wings and can fly. The 
Wild Birds Protection Act has, however, taught some of them better. Owners 
of long-distance homing pigeons, however, are still great sufferers from the 
lower class of ‘ pot hunters,’ and in the course of a season birds to the value of 
many thousands of pounds are shot down in the Black Country and various 
southern districts. One notorious ‘ pot hunter ’ has declared that until the police 
began to interfere with his practices he has brought down as many as fifty birds 
in a single day. These murdered voyage2irs are sold by their destroyers to the 
poulterers at the rate of 4d. or 3d. apiece, although their living value may have 
been to ;^5, or even more. Within the next few weeks an attempt is to be 
made in Parliament to see if something cannot be done to put down the practice.” 
Walled Off and Walled In. — The Daily Chronicle remarks that of 
course Mr. Waldorf (Walled-off) Astor, who bought Cliveden from the Duke of 
Westminster, hastened to shut out tourists with iron railings, and brick walls 
stuck with glass bottles. Visitors who were startled the other year by the great 
house with its high stone boundary- walls which has sprung up at West Malvern, 
may be pardoned for shortening the title of The Dowager Countess Howard de 
Walden into “ Lady Wall’d-in.” 
B. 
A Word for the Lightliouse Men.— I have often thought of the weary 
and watchful hours passed by the light keepers, as I have passed by in a com- 
fortable steamer ; and with them how little we recognise how much we owe to 
our silent workers of all kinds. We praise the heroic efforts of the life-boat, 
but the disasters that are prevented by the lighthouse and its patient workers are 
worthy of at least some consideration. Their very loneliness and isolation ought 
to win them our sympathy. 
Some weeks ago, I had to spend two days in Anglesey, and I took advantage 
of my’ visit to see the wonderful South Stack. Of its beauties of scenery and the 
marvels of its life-saving machinery, this is not the place to speak, but I want to 
say a word for the men. They are splendid fellows ! Silent, brave, patient and 
watchful, thousands owe their lives to them every month ! An hour’s forgetful- 
ness and what evils might happen. The man who showed me over told me 
many most interesting facts noted by himself and his mates concerning the birds 
seen by them, especially concerning the gulls, guillemots, and razor-bills which 
build in thousands on the islands and surrounding rocks. As an illustration of 
their intelligent observation let me quote but one of his sayings: “You see, sir, 
their eggs are laid on the bare rock, but they' don’t roll off ; if they are moved 
they roll round in a small circle, not being oval, like most birds’ eggs, but like 
a top, very sharp, as if this was a provision of nature against their being lost.” 
My wife and I have sent these men some books and some plants for their little 
gardens, and I hope that this note may induce others to contribute some little 
thing or things of the same sort, to encourage these fine fellows. 
Birmingham. Lawsox Tait. 
A Brabmin’s Impressions at the Chicago World’s Fair. — 
“ While our eyes are enjoying the sight of skilful works in gold, silver, 
copper, &c., and the mind is absorbed in the happy reflection that man can 
produce such marvels out of rude materials, our attention is suddenly drawn 
towards a butcher’s den by the shocking smell of the hides, carcasses, tails, 
feathers, &c., designated by the name of ‘furs.’ Amongst the ‘ flesh eaters,’ less 
cultured societies murder lower animals for the sake of making ornaments and 
garments, and the better cultured only for food. This desire of decorating them- 
selves with skins and dead birds is a remnant of the barbarism of ancient times, 
a remnant of which even the most barbarous communities ought to be ashamed 
in this era of science and art. The most lamentable circumstance about this 
barbarism is that it is cherished by the fair sex, which should be the source of 
gentleness, purity and kindness.” — Asiatic Quarterly Reviesv, January, 1894, 
p. 191. 
