Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 6 (1902).djvu/270

This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
224
THE ZOOLOGIST

records, unearthed a decade later, are corroborated by their earlier notes, often obtained from entirely independent and different sources of information.

In addition to these notes, I have had a number of interesting observations sent to me from both old and new correspondents, and have had the opportunity of examining a small but choice collection belonging to Mr. Barnard Hankey, of Fetcham Park, and these notes I have embodied in the present paper.

I might also add that, during 1901, I contributed a concise list of Surrey Birds to Dent's County Guide to Surrey, and a local list to Gordon Home's little work on 'Epsom.'

It may further be of interest to note that the protection afforded to birds in Surrey has been considerably increased by the repeal of the order of the Secretary of State for the Home Department, dated the 7th of March, 1896, and the substitution of another order dated the 27th of November, 1900. The alteration in this order is the inclusion of the following provision:—

"Section 4.—From the 1st of September to the 31st of January (both days inclusive), the killing or taking of any wild bird on Sunday is prohibited throughout the County of Surrey, except in the parishes of Little Bookham, Buckland, Burstow, Chessington, Chobham, Cobham, Elstead, Farnham, Puttenham, Reigate, Stoke-next-Guildford, Wallington, and Walton-on-Thames."

This for obvious reasons is an excellent addition to protection, which might, however, have been extended to the whole of the county without the exception of any areas; but, at the same time, some few species might with advantage be deprived of the benefits of this clause, such as the House-Sparrow.

Through the kindness of Mr. Reginald Haines, of Uppingham, I have had the opportunity of looking through a number of letters on ornithology, written by that veteran naturalist, Mr. Waring Kidd, of Godalming, in the sixties. They contain much "Selborne-like" philosophy, but, as was only to be expected, the most interesting letter is not forthcoming. In a letter dated December, 1868, he writes:—"I must leave the account I could give you of our winter visitors for another opportunity; they are almost as interesting to me as the others. Also of the occasional