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president’s address. 
I was so struck with the beauty of bird life of these 
islands that I induced Mr. Green, of Berwick, to photograph 
the various colonies, with the birds on their nests, which he 
has done most successfully, and copies of the series no doubt 
he would supply upon application. I certainly claim the 
credit of originating the idea of photographing the birds in 
their breeding haunts at the Fames. Since then Mr. Green 
has visited the Bass Rock, and has taken a splendid series of 
pictures of the Gannet. 
The Broads of Norfolk are also well worth a visit. There 
you will find that fast-disappearing little bird Panurus biar- 
micus, the Bearded Tit; the large reed beds in that county 
forming its last strongholds. In May last year I had the 
opportunity of seeing this species breeding upon one Broad. 
It is rather particular in choosing the spot exactly suitable to 
its requirements, and to a. casual observer many of the Broads 
seem equally suitable ; but as this species breeds early in the 
year, before the reed has grown to any height, they choose 
the outlying skirts of the reed beds where last year’s growth 
has not been cut, and place their nest close to the ground, 
amongst but not attached to the reed stems. The marshmen 
rob the nests time after time; the Tits at once nest again, 
and instances have been known where the birds have died 
upon the nest from sheer exhaustion—in fact, have laid them¬ 
selves to death ; even when the birds are allowed to rear a 
clutch, instead of eight or nine fine young birds hatched early 
in spring, only three or five are reared, and that so late that 
the young ones are hardly able to care for themselves before 
the cold weather sets in. During this same visit I also saw a 
flock of Ruffs (Tringa pugncuc ), which were associated with 
some Redshanks upon one of the marshes. I only saw one 
with his ruff fully developed, which was of rich black colour. 
Wild Ducks, Redshanks, and Lapwings breed plentifully in 
most of the fens ; also a few nests of the Water Rail can be 
found m almost inaccessible places amongst the thick sedge. 
The rarest nest I found was that of the Garganey Teal 
(Querquedula circia). The old bird flew from the nest almost 
under the feet of one of my companions, and the temptation 
being too strong, I pulled the trigger, and the Teal fell 
wounded. My friend, in his excitement to secure the speci¬ 
men, went nearly up to his middle in a blind dyke. On Ormsby 
Broad the Great Crested Grebes (Podiceps cristatus) are very 
abundant. I counted over twenty in sight at one time. 
The Scotch moors are well worthy of a visit, and you 
will find quite a distinctive class of birds in these wild and 
rugged districts. Some time ago, through the courtesy of 
