SELBORNIANA. 
73 
SELBORNIANA. 
“Sport” at Blackpool.— When some shocking story of gull-slaughter 
finds its way into the papers, says the Globe, the “ cockney sportsman ” is almost 
invariably held up to censure. No doubt he is sometimes guilty ; but a revolting 
account which comes from Blackpool, on the Lancashire coast, shows that some 
provincials are every bit as bad. It is the narrative of an eye-witness, and de- 
scribes how he lately saw “ three men in a boat ” put off from the shore. One 
managed the craft ; two had guns, with which they blazed aw.ay at the half-tame 
birds. Nor were they unskilled gunners. The gentleman who watched their pro- 
ceedings, estimates that nearly a hundred gulls were killed before darkness set in. 
As the shooting had begun between 9 and 10 a.m., and was vigorously pursued 
for about seven hours, his calculation does not look e.xcessive. But the most 
cruel part of the hateful work came when the gulls, frightened by incessant firing, 
gave a wide berth to the boat. It is the custom of these birds, when one of them 
drops in the water, to fly to the spot, either in the belief that it has found food, 
or to render assistance. Knowing this, the “sportsmen” threw overboard a 
wounded gull, and when its comrades flew back, the slaughter went on as merrily 
as ever. To vary this amusement they sometimes aimed at the maimed bird, 
while later on they enjoyed a fine battue at the margin of the sea, where some 
fishermen were cleaning fish and throwing the refuse into the water. As this 
brutal business happened in winter, when Blackpool offers no attractions to 
visitors, the whole blame must be placed on its inhabitants for permitting such 
abominable inhumanity. 
Starlings at Window (p. 56). — During the late severe weather I have 
had a great many starlings crowding to my bedroom window, where I am in the 
habit of putting food all the year round. The principal dainties I offer them are 
soaked sweet biscuits, oatmeal, and bread. I hope I have been the means of 
keeping several of these handsome birds alive during this winter, as also many 
others. They (the blackbirds, thrushes, chaffinches, greenfinches — of which 
quantities come — sparrows, robins, and last, but not least, the sweet little tits), 
knowing that they are always sure of finding food at my window, must have told 
others of their species this fact, for they all come in great numbers. I may 
here draw the attention of another of your correspondents, who asks the question, 
“Where are the tits gone?” Here, in the northern region in which I live 
(Westmoreland), they have certainly not departed to the south, but seem to 
flourish, and are now certainly, in spite of the still cold weather, thinking of 
“setting up house” (or nest). Can anyone tell me if there is such a thing as a 
cross between sparrows and chaffinches ? A little bird comes to my window 
which seems to suggest it. It is an exceedingly pretty bird, with very defined 
well-marked sparrow’s wings and chaffinch’s head and shape. S. S. 
I have frequently fed starlings on the sitting-room window sill, and a very 
noisy lot they are too. They were very numerous last year, and had scarcely 
standing room ; but this year they are very scarce, as I suppose the intense cold 
has driven them further south. 
Ferns, Ireland. G. E. J. Greene. 
Woodpecker at Window. — Among the numerous accounts of feeding 
birds during the recent severe weather, 1 do not remember to have seen any 
mention of a woodpecker. It may interest your readers to hear that a great 
spotted woodpecker has come repeatedly to two windows in this house, 
apparently attracted by the nuts put out for the nuthatch. He was too shy to 
stay more than an instant, but there could be no mistake about him. Our other 
visitors include, besides the nuthatch, robins, chaffinches, tits innumerable, 
starlings, hedge sparrows, wagtails, common sparrows, and blackbirds, but no 
thrushes. 
Fawsley, Daventry. S. W. Knighti.ey. 
An Appeal for Flowers. — Before the summer comes we are anxious to 
make an earnest appeal for more regular help in the work of obtaining flowers for 
distribution among the London poor. We feel sure that a far larger number of 
people would make an effort to supply flowers if they could in the least realize the 
