Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 4 (1900).djvu/261

Rh Grimsby, work sad havoc amongst them. One man alone took thirty-eight eggs back with him. The lighthousemen and the local policeman do what they can, but unless a proper watcher is again put on, as he most certainly ought to be, the birds are doomed. I found them so shy that they keep high up in the air, leaving their eggs to the heat of the sun and sand during the daytime, and only returning to them at dusk, when their enemies have departed. It is really iniquitous that our last remaining colony in the county of these pretty little birds should be so harried, and strong measures ought to be taken at once to ensure their breeding in peace. Was very glad to find a Shelduck sitting hard in a Rabbit-burrow on the sand-hills. Great numbers of Corn-Buntings about.

30th.—Metcalfe got a splendid photograph of a Golden Plover on her nest.

1st.—A fine Trout caught at Thorntondale, weighing 2½ lb.

10th.—Moore and I went to take a Nightjar on her eggs, which were just upon hatching. Working with sixty feet of pneumatic tubing, we got six good shots at her in various positions in a little over an hour; then we left her in peace. The difficulty was to keep her off the eggs. She was back again after each changing of the plates in a very short time. I wish someone would invent a method of changing plates without the operator having to leave cover—as, for instance, on pulling a string, the exposed plate to slip down into a compartment, and a new one pushed forward into position by a spring, or something of that sort.

11th.—Saw a curiously marked Fox-cub, having three large white stockings (one hind leg and both fore legs), and a large white patch on the back of the head, the size of the palm of a man's hand. Had a live Hawfinch brought to me that had been caught eating peas. I am sorry to say that many get shot in gardens owing to this habit.

13th.—Heavy storm; some lumps of ice fell as big as Blackbird's eggs, doing a great amount of damage.

15th.—Saw a curious Jackdaw with cinnamon-coloured wings.

19th.—Found a Little Grebe's nest containing three eggs. The nest was made of the following plants:—(1) Sparganium Zool. 4th ser. vol. IV., May, 1900.