198 NOTES—ORIGINAL AND SELECTED.
assumed that it must have travelled overland to the spot where it was found—
probably from the Blackwater beyond Maldon."—" Essex Weekly News," Nov.
3rd, 1893.
Earls Colne. "On Friday afternoon, December 22nd, a female otter, weigh-
ing 9 lbs., was caught in the river Colne, near the station, by Mr. J. Clark's dog."
—"Essex County Standard," Dec. 23rd, 1893.
In a paper in the current number of the "Zoologist" (vol. xviii. [3rd ser.],
pp. 1-10), by Mr. J. E. Harting, many facts are given, tending to confirm the
opinion long held by good observers, that otters are really the friends of the
angler, and should be preserved rather than exterminated. For instance, Mr. F.
II. Salvin, of Guildford, maintains that otters "kill those fish which destroy
spawn and young fry, and their presence really indicates an increase of the best
fish, such as trout, grayling, and salmon." Mr. S. J. Hurley, of Killaloe, writes :
"Many people are hard on the otter on account of its fish-killing propensities ;
but, from long experience, I maintain that they do comparatively little harm in a
mighty river like the Shannon. During the last twenty-five years I have heard
of only one instance of a spring or summer salmon having been killed by otters.
I admit that they will sometime; kill a spawned salmon or well-mended kelt in
winter or spring ; but what of that? I have many times seen my otters fish in
parts of the river that were full of salmon and trout, and yet they would be
satisfied with an eel." Mr. Harting sums up the matter in the opening paragraph
of his paper : "Few animals are more maligned than the otter, or more misunder-
stood. The majority of people know little or nothing of it; habits from personal
observation, and are under the impression that, as it is a great destroyer of fish,
its presence in a trout stream or salmon river is on no account to be tolerated.
But 'live and let live,' is a very wholesome motto, and we shall always maintain
that, so long as as the fishery laws of this country are respected, and illegal
netting is prevented, there will be always enough fish in our rivers for anglers and
otters too."
Falconidae in Essex.—The newspapers of November 17th reported that :
"Considerable excitement has been caused at Harold Wood by the reported appear-
ance of a very large eagle on the banks of the Ingrebourne stream. Several local
sportsmen have endeavoured to secure the bird." If this was really an eagle, it
was probably a White-tailed Eagle, which has often occurred in Essex, although
usually on or near the coast. On December 8th, the "Essex Weekly News"
recorded, under the heading, "Peregrine Falcon," that, "a few days ago a very
fine species of falcon was found floating in the Crouch. The bird, a hen,
measured 17 inches in length, and had been shot just above the leg—doubtless
by some sportsman who was unconscious of his success. The bird is now being
set up for preservation."
We cannot hear that either of the above birds was seen by any competent
ornithologist.
Aberrations of the Common Sparrow at Dagenham.—"A white
sparrow had been noticed in the district, and at about the same time a black one
was seen. Mr. Bowman shot the white one, and added to his collection of stuffed
birds ; last Thursday he brought down the black one also."—" Essex Times,'
Dec. 16th, 1893.
Feeding the Birds.—During the late inclement weather we have derived
much amusement by adopting (in addition to our usual devices for bird-feeding)