BIRDS. 
11 
Razorbill 
Sheldrake 
Teal 
Redshank 
Shoveller 
Tern 
Reeve or Ruff 
Skua 
Thick-knee 
Roller 
Smew 
Tystey 
Sanderling 
Snipe 
Whaup 
Sandpiper 
Solan Goose 
Whimbrel 
Scout 
Spoonbill 
Widgeon 
Sealark 
Stint 
Wild Duck 
Seamew 
Stone Curlew 
Willock 
Sea Parrot 
Stoneliatch 
Woodcock 
Sea Swallow 
Shearwater 
Summer Snipe 
Tarrock 
Woodpecker 
By the “ Act to explain the Wild Birds Protection Act,” 1880 
[August 22nd, 1881] , the Lark is added to the above list of protected 
birds. 
Whilst the above paper was in type, before printing off, I received 
the following communication from Mr. E. J. Gaskell, Secretary of the 
Wirrall Farmers’ Club, Birkenhead, which conveys such solid informa¬ 
tion that I have much pleasure in inserting it. It will be noticed that 
the damage caused by Sparrows was estimated by the judges of the 
farm crops to be one-third in some districts, and the details given of 
the plan acted on for lessening the numbers of these terrible crop-pests 
may be a help and encouragement to work in other districts. 
Mr. Gaskell, writing on December 13th, mentions:—“ Some months 
ago you wrote asking for information respecting Sparrows so as to 
help with your Annual Beport. I can now explain how I acted in our 
district. I sent a note to a suitable farmer, or other person interested 
in each township, asking them to act as paymaster, which they did, 
and for the summer months and autumn, till the end of September, 
we gave 3d. per dozen for old or young Sparrows or their eggs. 
“ We are now giving 6d. per dozen till the end of March. We had 
a settling-day on Tuesday last, and in most cases the paymaster had 
received subscriptions towards the expense from their neighbours, 
some handing me a balance over what they had paid, so that the Club 
was very little out of pocket; and we have had thousands killed, and 
hope to have a tremendous quantity killed this winter, it being the 
best time to get at them, as they are mostly about the homesteads and 
stacks at night. 
“We all think them very destructive, more so than any other 
birds, as they are more difficult to frighten, being so domesticated; 
and we think they can be well spared. The judges of our farm crops 
estimated the damage done by Sparrows to be one-third in some 
districts they judged crops in. 
“ If all Sparrows were killed, there are plenty of useful and harm¬ 
less birds left to benefit us.” 
