Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 4 (1900).djvu/195

Rh {| style="margin: 1em auto 1em 10%; font-size:90%" It goes without saying that rare species soon change hands, the bulk of the commoner kinds going in hampers at night to Leadenhall Market.
 * colspan=4 | Dec. 6th, 1890.
 * colspan=2 | Tufted Ducks (several). || 5 || Golden-eyes.
 * colspan=2 | Duck and Mallard (several).|| colspan=2 |Pochard and Wigeon (several).
 * 1 || White-fronted Goose. || colspan=2 | Moor-hens and Coots (several).
 * colspan=2 | Snipe (several). || 1 || Red-throated Diver.
 * 1 || Goosander. || 2 || Curlews.
 * colspan=2 | Snipe (number). || 12 || Water-Rails.
 * 3 || Bewick's Swans. || 3 || Dabchicks.
 * ||(making 5 for week). || 2 || Short-eared Owls.
 * 3 || Barn Owls. || 1 || Kestrel.
 * colspan=2 | Small birds (many).
 * colspan=4 | Dec. 20th, 1890.
 * 1 || Bewick's Swan. || 1 || Red-throated Diver.
 * 23 || Scaups. || 1 || Redshank.
 * 9 || Wigeon. || 16 || Pochards.
 * 2 || Goosanders. || 1 || Shoveler.
 * 17 || Woodcocks. || 2 || Teal.
 * 2 || White-fronted Geese. || 36 || Knots.
 * 20 || Tufted Ducks. |||| Many small birds.
 * 1 || Shelduck.
 * }
 * colspan=4 | Dec. 20th, 1890.
 * 1 || Bewick's Swan. || 1 || Red-throated Diver.
 * 23 || Scaups. || 1 || Redshank.
 * 9 || Wigeon. || 16 || Pochards.
 * 2 || Goosanders. || 1 || Shoveler.
 * 17 || Woodcocks. || 2 || Teal.
 * 2 || White-fronted Geese. || 36 || Knots.
 * 20 || Tufted Ducks. |||| Many small birds.
 * 1 || Shelduck.
 * }
 * 17 || Woodcocks. || 2 || Teal.
 * 2 || White-fronted Geese. || 36 || Knots.
 * 20 || Tufted Ducks. |||| Many small birds.
 * 1 || Shelduck.
 * }
 * 20 || Tufted Ducks. |||| Many small birds.
 * 1 || Shelduck.
 * }
 * }

Up to within recent years local gunners, except in the case of isolated intelligent sportsmen-naturalists, were so eager to shoot birds en gros, and were so ready to turn their victims into pence, that many rarities without doubt escaped notice, and were consigned to the cuisine. Many a scarce Sandpiper has been strung together with a parcel of Dunlins, and so spoiled for a specimen. On Sept. 8th, 1881, a gunner killed six Little Stints (Tringa minuta), and, taking them home, cooked them, ascertaining their identity almost immediately afterwards. It is on record that Lilly Wigg, an old-time Yarmouth naturalist, cooked and ate a Red-breasted Goose (Bernicla ruficollis), and did not even guess as to its species until the feathers afterwards attracted his attention.

During the first invasion of Pallas's Sand Grouse, a local gunner shot an example on the North Denes, taking it to a dealer named Watson (who in his day received many a rara avis), who gave him half-a-crown for it; one long tail-feather had been shot away. Watson offered him another half-crown if he would find the missing one, which he did. Another rural sportsman emptied a bag of common birds on a dealer's stall some years ago, "throwing in" a specimen he did not know, and so did not value it. It proved to be a Buff-backed Heron.