THE PROTECTION OF WILD BIRDS !N ESSEX.
255
very high (ante p. 215). The two experimental borings are dis-
appointing from the shareholder's point of view, but the results are
likely to prove of considerable geological interest when carefully
collated by the experts, and may lead to the selection of a more
fortunate place for the third attempt. We hope to give further
details in our next number.
THE PROTECTION OF WILD BIRDS IN ESSEX.1
WE have received the first annual report of the "Essex Bird
Protection Society," in which a satisfactory amount of
work during the past breeding season of the shore birds is recorded.
Twelve men of influence among the fishermen and gunners have
been appointed officers of the Society, and rewards were offered for
convictions against egg-stealers. Notices were placed in shops in
the chief Essex watering-places, asking visitors to refrain from
purchasing the eggs of sea birds. The reports from the breeding
grounds are very encouraging, and the passing of the Order, and
the efforts of the Society, appear to have borne fruit in the
increased number of nests, and in checking egg-hunting. One
reporter says :
" I have not had so many gulls breeding with me this year. They are
most all hatched off now (June 29th), some will soon fly. I hear that several
are breeding on Horsey Island, the back of Walton-on-the-Naze, so perhaps that
accounts for not so many being here. I think we have more Terns this year,
and they must have hatched off, as I am constantly seeing old ones with their
mouths full going to the breeding-grounds, but I don't go to disturb them as
long as I can see that no one else goes there. There are several Ring-plover
about. . . . The rooks have been a lot of trouble this year with the eggs ;
I know of about twenty nests destroyed this season ; cannot find anything to
prevent them. . . . Since writing I made it my business to go and look at
the Terns ; they are all hatched off, most of them in the down, but several of
them are leathered and can fly. I could not see them at first crouching in the
shingle, as the sun was shining. But as soon as I saw one, I could see them
by the score, They looked very pretty, the same colour as the shingle."
Another reporter writes :
" I can give a very good account as regards the breeding season down here ;
the birds have had a good time of it. We have had Oyster-Catchers, Shell-Duck,
and Long-tailed Ducks nesting here this season, and a good number of Terns. I
think that the rooks have played 'Old Harry' both with the eggs and young ones ;
1 See Reports printed in the present volume (ante pp. 42-51) and Mr. Russell's article (ante
pp. 218-222).