Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 3 (1899).djvu/515

Rh many who are interested in ornithology; it is the differences in the note, or rather in the tone of the note, of a bird, in different parts of the United Kingdom. I have observed a great difference in this way in the North of Scotland as compared with Worcestershire, and again between the birds here and in Worcestershire. The difference seems to exist more among the birds that are resident during the year, but of this I cannot be quite sure, as I have not been in the district during the time of year when the Warblers were singing. The difference is most noticeable in the note of the Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Hedge-Sparrow, and Wren. I say note, because it is more in the call-note than in the song, and, I think, more in the Chaffinch than in any of the others; but in all of them the note seemed to be pitched lower. Probably it is the climate that has some effect, the same way as it does on the human voice; but it is a point that will take a great deal of clearing up, and I shall be glad to learn the opinion of more observant naturalists than myself.

Before concluding this article I should like to mention the wholesale destruction of sea-birds that goes on round the north coast of Ireland.

There is a certain class of people, who come chiefly from the large towns in the north, and who call themselves sportsmen, and whose only idea of sport is to shoot as many sea-birds as possible, and leave the bodies lying with their legs cut off; the legs, I presume, are kept as trophies. The slaughter is indiscriminate; even bodies of Black Guillemots have been picked up floating about minus their legs.

I was told by a native that the destruction of Cormorants had done him a great deal of damage, by the number of sheep he lost over the cliffs. His farm is situated close by a breeding haunt of the Cormorants, and while they breed there the smell is so strong that the sheep will not go down the cliffs. Now this breeding place is destroyed, and, there being no longer any odour, the sheep wander down after food, and are often lost.

I mention this slaughter in the hope that it may catch the eye of some one who may be able to exert his influence on behalf of the sea-birds.